10

His Hardest Battle

Vendalla gasped. Zeph had never fought against Vendalla. Ever. Sure he had fought alongside her. Plenty of times. But for some reason Zeph never thought about having to ever fight her. Or Wotapuk for that matter.

They stood rooted to the spot. "I said Mardone and Andalon you two." Master Xata said. "Get moving."

Zeph and Vendalla slowly turned to face each other. "Well, I guess we should find a duel ring, huh?" Vendalla said slowly.

"Yeah. Over here."

Master Xata began her pre battle statements.

"Hey Zeph. This isn't going to change anything right. I mean we'll still be friends if we win or lose, right?"

"Of course. Don't go easy on me though."

The shock of the situation ended there. It was just a duel between two friends. A spar. Nothing more. They laughed as they listened to Master Xata.

"Begin."

Zeph activated his yellow lightsaber. Vendalla activated both of her purple lightsabers and held them in a defensive position. They stood facing each other for over a minute, concentrating on their first move and meditating on their opponents. Zeph slowly crept forward in a defensive position. Vendalla took the offensive. She lunged forward, lightsaber first. Zeph jumped lightly to the left to avoid the attack. Vendalla was quick though. She slashed with the other saber as she turned back to face him. Zeph parried and immediately parried her second saber. Vendalla did not let up. She continued attacking, and left no opening for Zeph to attack. Zeph continued parrying attacks and avoiding them. They both jumped high into the air. The attacks from Vendalla did not halt as they jumped. She continued attacking without any sign of slowing. She attacked high, low, quick, powerfully, and kept varying her attacks. Zeph stayed on the defensive looking for an opening.

Vendalla slashed toward Zeph who parried the attack. He lunged toward her in an attempt to take the offensive nut to no prevail. Vendalla spun around with both lightsabers held out and attacked Zeph's feet. He jumped high in the air and landed on the raised area for onlookers to watch the class. This was an area used usually for students who wanted to watch their friends' battles. Or when Jedi Masters watched the students, in search of an apprentice. Today no one was up here. Zeph tool a quick breath thinking Vendalla would not follow. But Vendalla was right behind him. They continued fighting. Slashing, parrying, dodging and trying to land a blow. Neither was successful.

Zeph concentrated on the force as he avoided yet another slash at his stomach. He held his hand out toward Vendalla. The force surged from him and Vendalla stumbled backwards. Zeph dived forward and took the offensive. He attacked as fast and as hard as he could. He couldn't let Vendalla back on the offensive. He attacked swiftly and accurately. He aimed towards her neck but she ducked and swiped at his stomach. He hopped back to avoid this attack. Using this momentum he flipped backwards and landed kneeling. He dove forward again trying his hardest to keep the battle in his control.

Vendalla twisted around to the left and jumped out of the way of Zeph's next attack. She put herself at some distance from Zeph. She summoned the force and in an attempt to pull Zeph off balance, pulled him towards her.

The force had already prepared Zeph for this. But instead of trying to resist the attack, he went with it. Using the momentum of the force that Vendalla had summoned, he dove forward, feet first, at an incredible speed. Vendalla had not expected this but jumped out of the way easily.

Zeph and Vendalla both turned around to face each other again. They attacked at the same time. They locked sabers as they parried each other's attack. Trying to force the other off balance. Their lightsaber sizzled and snapped as the two pushed on. Smoke began to slowly rise from the two locked sabers. Vendalla brought back her second saber. It was then that Zeph realized that unless she did something fast, he would lose. This was the move that Vendalla used against Storlon in their team battle the other day. She had him trapped and they both knew it. While he was locked with one saber the other would come down on him and strike his neck.

Vendalla attacked with her free lightsaber. Time seemed to slow as Zeph saw the lightsaber coming closer and closer. It came at a very fast speed. Zeph dropped to his back. In doing so he broke the saber lock and avoided Vendalla's attack. He jumped up but was attacked immediately. This close escape from losing came at a price. Vendalla now held the upper hand in the battle. He continued to parry attacks. He fought through his disappointment in losing the offensive. Then Zeph had an idea. He backed to the edge of the onlooker's area as he dodged an attack at his knee. He summoned the force and back flipped upwards. He landed on a pipe. The upper part of the high training rooms is where the pipes and supports were located. Vendalla did not back out yet. She jumped and landed on a pipe just above Zeph's.

Zeph jumped up to the pipe to meet her. They attacked each other as they jumped to an adjacent pipe. This is suicidal. Thought Zeph. They fought for control as they edged back towards the wall. Vendalla was trapped between Zeph and the wall. She had only one escape. She turned and jumped. She aimed herself towards the onlookers' platform. She landed and immediately went into a roll. She landed on her feet with out a scratch. The jump had to be at least fifteen meters down. Zeph jumped down after Vendalla. He landed in a roll as well. As he landed, Vendalla jumped back at the wall and kicked off from it. She dived both lightsabers first at Zeph. Zeph jumped above her and attacked as he spun. She twisted in the air to avoid his attack and landed on her feet.

She attacked again and took the offensive. Zeph parried the attacks. But Vendalla was pushing him towards the edge of the platform. He hopped backwards and landed on the ground below. Vendalla jumped down and attacked in mid-air. Zeph jumped over her head and twisted around. He hit the wall feet first and kicked off of it. Zeph spun with his lightsaber out in a whirlwind attack. Vendalla barely jumped backwards to avoid the attack.

Zeph's muscle ached. He more tired than any time he could remember while in a duel. Zeph could tell that Vendalla was tired ,too. They both had sweat dripping down their faces. Zeph pushed on. He took the offensive and attacked towards her knee. She jumped over him and spun around with her lightsabers both aimed at his stomach. Zeph barely moved out of the way. Vendalla parried another attack. She jumped out at Zeph. He was prepared to attack her attack. Vendalla flipped in mid-air and attacked. Zeph parried her attack but lost his balance. Vendalla flipped and twisted to land on her feet. She landed not two inches from Zeph. Using the momentum she built she spun again. The lekku that hung limp from her head slapped hard into Zeph. The two lekku hit him square in the chest and he fell on the ground, flat on his back. His lightsaber flew from his hand as he landed. Vendalla swiftly tapped him on the neck with her lightsaber. The battle was over.

They both breathed heavily and their tunics were damp from sweat. Vendalla reached out a hand to Zeph. He took it with no hesitation. As he stood up he felt relieved. "Good battle." He said in between breaths.

"Very." Vendalla said. They both laughed as they hunched over catching their breaths. Zeph used the Force and his lightsaber flew into his hand. He clipped it on his belt and realized that he was being watched.

The rest of the students had finished their battles, and Master Xata and the class had been watching them. Master Xata had a smile that seemed to be stuck on her delighted face.

"Miss Andalon, I knew I put you on the Duelers List for a reason. And Mr. Mardone, you too shall be added to the List." She turned and addressed the class. "Trust in the Force is all you need. A perfect connection to the Force is more important to a Jedi than his lightsaber, but only by a little bit. You all may go."

Keep reading everyone. I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it.

Lekku- the "tails" that hang from a Twi'lek's head, somewhat like a replacement for hair.