Of Light and Shadow
--
I don't own How to train your Dragon or Star Wars.
--
Somewhere in the jungle, Devaron
"Come on, we're getting closer!", Heather said to her friends.
The pounding of her heart and her heavy breathing toned out the sounds of the world around her, as she continued to run. Occassonially she could hear boots hitting the ground, if it were hers, she didn't know. Her tunnel vision stopped and the sounds of nature returned, when Heather skidded to a halt in front of a gigantic fallen tree, which blocked the way. She heard her friends also halting behind her.
"Should we blow it up?", Ruffnut asked, holding a thermal detonator.
"No.", Heather said in a determined tone.
Heather closed her eyes and held her hands up. The others watched as the tree began to tremble.
"What is she doing?", Snotlout whispered.
"Using the Force.", Fishlegs whispered back.
Branches and vines snapped as the tree was lifted into the air.
"Whoah!", Tuffnut exclaimed.
Cracking sounds could be heard and splinters fell to the ground when the tree ws broken in half. The two parts were tossed to the side and Heather slumped, exhausted.
"I... I'll have to practice that.", Heather panted.
A cold shiver ran down her spine. Heather shuddered.
"Hurry, he's coming closer!" And with that they sped off again.
--
Temple of Eedit, Devaron
To say the gang was surprised when they stumbled upon a road was an understatement.
"Why is there a road in the middle of the jungle?", Snotlout asked.
"Don't know, don't care. The mere excistance of such anarchy is exciting.", Ruffnut stated.
"Indeed sister and behold these trees: glorious!", Tuffnut said.
"Uhm, guys those aren't trees these are vines. Huge vines.", Fishlegs told them, while Snotlout muttered something about the twins being scary like that.
"That's nice and all, but we need to follow... ", Astrid stopped her sentence and looked around to see Heather walking towards a large structure at the end of the road. "Heather..."
They ran after her. When they finally caught up to Heather, they had already reached the gate of the building.
"What is this?", Snotlout asked.
"I have no idea.", Astrid answered as she looked a the tall door that was covered in vines. "Heather?"
"This... this is a jedi temple.", Heather breathed.
"Wait? Another one?", Fishlegs said confused. "I thought the only one was on Coruscant."
"No, there are many temples spread around the whole galaxy.", Heather told him.
"We can barricade ourselves in there and hide from this... guy.", Astrid spoke.
"Why are we even running from him!?", Ruffnut asked.
"Yeah we're like more than him!", Tuffnut piped in.
"Because he's dangerous! He's a sith! A user of the dark side of the force! A merciless, cold-blooded killer! You can't do anything against him, he's too powerful. He'll kill you before you could even lay a finger on him!", Heather snapped and glared at them.
The twins took a step back and the others stared in shock at Heather's eyes which were glowing.
"W- w- we... still have t- to get in- inside.", Fishlegs stuttered.
"And how do you think we're going to do that?", Snotlout asked irritated.
"Simple.", Heather, whose eyes had returned to normal, said. She waved her hand in front of the large door. The doors began to open shortly after and after some protest the vines snapped, allowing the gate to open completely. Heather stepped inside, grabbed her lightsaber and activated it. The dark entry hall was bathed in the blue light, still after some meters the glow faded and the large hall was dark again. She turned around, facing her friends.
"Are you coming or what?", Heather asked with her lightsaber held high. She then began to cross the hall, aiming for a hallway. Astrid followed without hesitation and soon the others did too. The hallway was wet and the air smelled old. The gang continued to walk down the corridor when a crunching sound could be heard which ended in a 'thump'.
"What was that!?", Tuffnut demanded with, looking around, as if he was searching for something.
"The door.", Heather said flatly.
"Aren't there any lights in this Thors forsaken temple?", Snotlout complained.
"No, the power is down. We need to get to the control centre, so we can reactivate the power.", Heather answered.
"Heather.", Astrid began and laid a hand on Heather's shoulder. "What about this sith guy? We can't just pretend he isn't there!"
Heather sighed heavily. "I'll deal with him when I have to."
Astrid looked at her intently. Heather looked back, so they were looking into each other's eyes. Astrid's piercing stare didn't falter until Heather took a small step back.
"We'll be ready when he comes. Trust me."
A sinister chuckle rang in the darkness.
"Is that so?", a gruff voice sounded. Two red beams of light illuminated a man clad in black armor.
"Run! Now!", Heather yelled. The gang made a break for the door.
"We'll be ready, huh?", Fishlegs panted as they reached the grand hall again.
"Shut up, we need to get out of here!"
"Not so fast.", a smooth voice called out. They saw another man who wore black armor. He also held a red, double-bladed lightsaber. The gang stopped. They were cornered. One was blocking their way out and the other was behind them.
"There are two!?", yelled Snotlout.
"Stand back.", Heather warned her friends, as she got into a fighting stance. Astrid stood to her left, a little further back, her vibro-axe held in front of her. The of the gang stood behind them, weapons drawn.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?", the one with the smooth voice said. He wore a hood but his face was still visible. He had short brown hair and a beard, but the most notable thing were his eyes, which were a sickly yellow in colour. "A little jedi and her Rebel friends."
"What do you want?", Astrid hissed and stepped up.
"We're not here for you Rebel scum, but rest assured, you will be dealt with.", the man nodded to the taller one. "Are you sure that she is shadow? She doesn't look like much."
"Hey! Who are you even!?" Heather scowled and gripped her lightsaber thightly. She knew they were users of the dark side, she could feel it, but something was off.
"Oh where are my manners? I am Viggo and this is my brother Ryker. We are Inquisitors of the Empire or simply jedi-hunters.", the man now known as Viggo said mockingly.
At this the gang's eyes widened.
"And that includes you, Shadow!"
Suddenly Viggo surged forward an made a downward slash at Heather, but she dodged and parried his attack, before she tried to stab him. Viggo jumped out of the way, just to be smashed into the wall by Heather. Viggo scowled and ran to meet her. Heather blocked his swing but now they were locked, with him pressing down on her weapon. Surprisingly, to Viggo, she didn't even tremble, so he applied even more pressure. But Heather withstood without even flinching. Growing frustrated, Viggo made a powerful force push that sent her flying right through the thick doors.
Just as Viggo went to attack Heather, Ryker jumped towards Astrid. She rolled out of the way just in time, because where she had stood, there was now a lightsaber in the ground. Astrid got into a fighting stance and held her axe at her side.
"Do you really think you can take me on with that pathetic weapon of a barbarian?", Ryker mocked her.
Astrid's axe glowed golden and she charged forward, her axe now held in two hands. She swung sideways but Ryker blocked her attack and jumped back.
"No, I don't think so, I know so." Astrid glared at Ryker.
They circled each other and then Ryker lunged at Astrid, trying to behead her with one powerful swing, but he hadn't considered the fact that Astrid was a Viking, because she blocked his attack. Not even fased by the powerful hit she just absorbed, she threw his lightsaber back and tried to embed her axe into his chest, but Ryker jumped back before that could've happened.
"It seems like I have underestimated you.", he sneered.
Ryker then raised his hand and unleashed a barrage of force lightning at Astrid, but to his shock Astrid's axe absorbed it. Astrid grinned devilishly when she noticed that her glowing axe now also sparkled with lightning.
At this moment she heard a loud 'CRACK' and when she turned around, Astrid saw a hole in the massive doors which were then thrown open by Viggo, who rushed outside. Ryker used the short amount of time during which she didn't pay attention to fire force lightning at her again. Astrid was thrown back against a pillar and collapsed on the ground, smoke rising from her body. She groaned and tried to stand up, but she failed and only managed to kneel, while supporting herself on her axe. She could hear her friends shouting in worry. She looked up to see Ryker charging at her and realized that her friends could not help her, even if he reached her in time. Astrid closed her eyes and waited for the uninvitable but she didn't feel anything. When she looked up she saw an electrostaff blocking Ryker's blade.
Both Ryker and her mysterious saviour ramained still, their weapons still locked. Suddenly the man withdrew his weapon, jumped and hit Ryker with the other end of his electrostaff, which was facing upwards, knocking him out cold.
During this Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs had rushed to Astrid and helped her up.
"Shadow.",Fishlegs breathed.
Astrid had took note of what he wore under his black cloak by now: black boots, black cargo pants, a dark red shirt along black armour plates on his chest, shoulders, shins and knees. He also wore armored gloves, a utility belt with many pouches attached to it and a pistol-holster. His face could not be seen, because his hood cast a shadow over it. Astrid guessed his hight to be around 6'4"/1,95m.
Without turning around Shadow spoke:"We'll talk later." And with that he sprinted outside.
--
I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR THE LONG, LONG WAIT! But I have a life and I hope you can accept that I can't always find the time to write. Also I won't deny that I am lazy af :P
Anyway, new chapter. The mission on Devaron goes on and Shadow saves Astrid. How is she going to react?
What will happen with Heather and Viggo? Find out in the next chapter!
Reviews are very much apprechiated!
Bis zum nächsten mal! Until next time!
- Eric
