When Ezra had tapped into the Dark Side, Kanan became really concerned. Both of had waited for Ezra to show up for his training, only for him to not show. While Kanan moves off to meditate in his room, I go and prep the Phantom. The Force was singing in my ears, preparing for Ezra's test. After inputting the coordinates for the Temple situated on Lothal, Kanan and Ezra board together. I gesture for Kanan to take the helm, and he detaches us from the Ghost.
"So, where are we headed for this test?" Ezra asks in excitement.
"That's what you're gonna tell me." Kanan begins. "When I was your age, there were around 10,000 Jedi Knights defending the galaxy. Now, we are few." He states.
"And some of them who survived the purge, no longer consider themselves to be Jedi." I add. Kanan glares at me before continuing.
"But in those days, we had small outposts, Temples spread throughout the stars. The Empire sought out these temples and destroyed many of them, but not all." Kanan explains. "I want you to meditate, let the Force guide you to one of them."
"What if I can't find it?" Ezra asks.
"That is part of the test. Trust yourself." Kanan answers. "Trust the Force."
"So, did you take this test at my age?" Ezra asks after a moment.
"It was different for me, Ezra. Everything was different back then." Kanan sighs. "All that remains now, is the Force."
"And only my connection to the Force can lead me to the Temple." Ezra finishes.
"He can be taught." Kanan teases. Ezra immerses himself in the Force, letting it guide him.
"There's a massive stone, with a tunnel, I think. And a bright star inside of it… And it's right here, on Lothal." He exclaims.
"You sure?" Kanan asks.
"I can't give you the coordinates, but I can direct us there, I know I can." He affirms, only to see the Temple in front of us. "The stone from my vision." He says. "You already knew."
"I checked the Holocron back in my cabin." Kanan admits.
"And it told you there was a Jedi Temple on Lothal?" Ezra asks.
"The Holocron holds extensive star maps, but I was as surprised as you that there was a Temple here. While I couldn't be sure this is where you were meant to be, but it made sense. Lothal is your home."
"The reason you were surprised, Kanan, is because the Jedi had forgotten about this Temple. I would not be surprised if even Master Yoda did not know of this Temple." I explain.
"Then how do you know of it? You don't seem surprised." Kanan asks.
"Because I've been here before. I did some extensive exploring of Lothal when I arrived here. The Temple was one of the many interesting things I discovered." I say. "But I will not tell you how to get in, that is up to you." Kanan lands the Phantom, and the three of us depart.
"You better find a way inside. The Empire has access to all the old Jedi records, so this Temple may be under surveillance by the Empire." Kanan instructs Ezra, who circles the Temple swiftly.
"Nothing. No sign of an entrance. Not even a crack. But I know this is the place. I feel it." Ezra calls to us. "Seriously, can't you give me a hint?" He asks.
"Do not look. Listen. Feel the stone and hear it's story." I advise. Ezra places a palm on the stone, and it whispers to him.
"The stone. The Temple. It wants to admit me. No, wait, not me. Us. Master and Padawan. Together." He relays.
"Then together it shall be." Kanan says. They both step into the glyph and hold out their palms, calling to the Force, and opening the Temple.
"Whoa." Ezra says in awe.
"Don't lose focus. We don't want this thing crashing down on us." Kanan warns. I place my palm on the stone of the Temple, showing it my presence, and allowing myself access as well. As we enter, at a higher level than when I had ventured in, we come across the corpses of past Jedi, to which Ezra jumps in fright at the view, losing focus, causing the Temple to close. "You lost focus." Kanan scolds him.
"Well, dead guys are distracting." Ezra counters. Kanan simply sighs.
"In here, you'll have to face your worst fears and overcome them. And there's no guarantee of success." Kanan informs him.
"I have plenty of faith. Faith you'll keep me on track." Ezra answers.
"I'm not going with you." Kanan corrects.
"What? Where are you going to be?" He asks in shock.
"Right here. With them." Kanan says, gesturing to the corpses. "Masters who's Padawans never returned."
"You're putting your life in my hands?" Ezra asks shocked.
"You put your training in mine. Good luck." Kanan explains. As Ezra enters the passageway, the door begins to close behind him. Swiftly, he turns back to us.
"Wait. What exactly am I looking for?" He asks quickly.
"Nothing, and everything." Kanan replies cryptically.
"That doesn't help." Ezra replies, moments before the passage shut.
"I know. But that's what my Master told me." He sighs.
"He will be fine, Kanan." I assure him. Both of us sit down, immersing ourselves into the Force. The Force shifts around me, whispering for me to open my eyes. As I do, I find myself no longer on Lothal, but back in the same place that brought me to the universe. I stand up, listening to the voices once more.
"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is." Yoda's voice echoes.
"What is this place?" Obi-Wan's voice asks.
"A conduit through which the entire Force of the universe flows." The voice of Qui-Gon Jinn, whom I never met in person, but had heard holo-recordings of, answers.
"A world created by the Ones." I muse quietly to myself. It made sense now, as to why the Father knew of my life.
"What you need, you already have. Unfortunately, you seem to be letting it all go."
"Hello?" Ezra's voice calls out, but not in an echo. "Master Yoda? Obi-Wan? Where are you?" He asks.
"Ezra?" I call out.
"Vex?" He calls back. I look to where the voice originated, where a slightly older Ezra was wandering in Scout Trooper armour. I make my way over to him, making him jump in surprise. "What? How did you get here? You died." He exclaims in confusion.
"No. Not that I know of at least. I was just with you in the Jedi Temple on Lothal." I state… then realisation hits me. Kanan isn't with him. My face takes a solemn expression. "Something tells me Kanan is gone." He looks at me in sadness.
"A lot happens after I get my crystal from the Temple." He states simply. He then turns his attention to our surroundings. "What is this place? And where are those voices coming from?" He asks.
"This is what you call a World Between Worlds. It brought me from my home to Christophsis during the Clone Wars. This place can change time and space itself." I explain, experience of what it has done to my life flashing before my eyes… only to disappear. "I know the Temple on Lothal had a portal to this place… is that how you got here?" I ask.
"Yes. The Loth-wolves advised as much… taking orders from Dume." He explains.
"Dume… and I take it that this 'Dume' appeared after Kanan died?" I wonder.
"Yes. It can't be a coincidence. Caleb Dume. A wolf named Dume. What does it mean?" He asks.
"If I had to guess, Kanan's will is still at work through the Force. Those who have passed on may still guide and influence the living. It has happened before." I answer, as we continue to walk along the path. A sudden hoot gains our attention, to which we follow the sound to its source.
"Hey, I've seen you before…" Ezra notes. "Yeah, whenever Ahsoka was around. You were always close by. How did you get here?" He wonders. The Condor hoots in response, flapping her wings and shuffling a little. "Can you help me? I was sent here… But I'm not sure why." He asks. The Condor hoots again, as the portal she perched on activates, the outer structure glowing blue. "What is this? What are you showing me?" He asks in worry. The portal itself darkens and shadows, as a voice calls through.
"Then you will die." The Voice of Darth Vader says. The image clears some more, showing Vader's back, and Ahsoka facing him. The Ezra of my time further in the background.
"No." The Ezra beside me says in disbelief.
"Ahsoka!" The one in the portal calls out, only to be pushed away by Ahsoka.
"It can't be." He adds.
"No! NO!" The Ezra in the portal is cut off by the Sith Temple. Ahsoka blocks a blow from Vader, who attempted to attack while she had her back facing him. After multiple blows were attempted by the two of them, the Condor squawks.
"What? What can I do?" He asks, looking toward the bird, before returning his attention to the portal. As Ahsoka enters a saber lock, Vader wheezes, the sounds almost seeming to be Ahsoka's name. The Temple, having been overloaded with power, begins to destroy itself. Ahsoka, in one last attempt to save her former Master, pushes him back with the Force, before embedding her two lightsabers into the floor, causing it to crack.
"Ezra, get her out of here now!" My own voice calls out from the portal. And if one looked closely, they could see part of my holding the main obelisk in the Temple, red and white electricity covering my left arm. As Vader moves his saber to kill, Ezra grabs Ahsoka, and pulls her through the portal. Unbalanced, Vader falls through the floor, saving him from the explosion that occurred moments later, throwing all of us back, darkness covering my vision.
As I open my eyes, the Force aiding my recovery, I look to Ezra, then Ahsoka. Both of them begin to stir, Ezra being the first to notice his surroundings.
"Ahsoka?" He asks in uncertainty, not knowing if he was seeing what he wanted to see or not. Ahsoka turns to face us.
"Ezra? Vex?" She asks in confusion. Ezra sports a small smile. "You both look… Wait. What happened? Where am I?" She asks in concern.
"You were fighting Vader." Ezra begins, Vader's voice echoing at his mention
"Obi-Wan once thought as you did." Ahsoka takes note of the voice, while tilting her head curiously at Ezra.
"We saw you in there. He was going to- So I-I grabbed you and pulled you out of there." Ezra explains.
"Anakin." Ahsoka whispers in sadness. The Condor hoots again, and Ahsoka notices her. "Morai. You're here?" She asks in curiosity.
"Morai?" Ezra asks, unsure of her background.
"I am the Daughter." The Daughter's voice echoes quietly in the background.
"She's an old friend. I owe her my life." Ahsoka explains vaguely. "And now I owe you that as well." She notes. "How did you get here? And where is Kanan?" She asks. Ezra looks down sadly.
"You've missed a lot." He replies solemnly. Ahsoka, understanding the meaning, immediately embraces him.
"I'm so sorry." She apologises.
"He is not entirely gone, though." I say. Ahsoka looks to me in confusion. "His will is still at work through the Force Sensitive Loth-Wolf Dume." I explain. "And I haven't actually encountered all of this yet. The crew in my timeline hasn't yet met you in person, 'Soka." I admit. "But I guess that is how I knew that Ezra was watching your battle, and why I called for him to get you out of there." I note.
"It makes sense. But I do not understand what this place is." Ahsoka says, looking around and analysing everything.
"A World Between Worlds. This is how I got to Christophsis all those years ago." I explain, to Ahsoka's amazement.
"Wait, so you aren't even born yet in this timeline?" Ahsoka asks incredulously.
"I don't know. My planet isn't on any star-chart, meaning either it was a planet renamed, undiscovered, or I'm not even from this universe." I explain. "But enough about me. How are you taking this, Ezra?" I ask the young Jedi.
"If Kanan was the one who sent me here, then…" He cuts himself off.
"What is it?" Ahsoka asks.
"I thought I was sent here to stop the Empire, but then I found both of you. Don't you see?" He rants.
"You think Kanan sent you here to help me?" Ahsoka asks.
"Not just you!" He exclaims.
"Want a ride?" Kanan's voice echoes.
"I can do it. I can save Kanan just like I saved you!" He exclaims.
"Ezra." Ahsoka begins, only for Kanan's voice to interrupt her.
"You can learn what it truly means to be a Jedi." At this, Ezra runs off in search for the right portal, the Force guiding him.
"Ezra, wait!" Ahsoka calls out, before both She, Morai, and I chase after him.
"Kid, I'm about to let everyone in on the secret." Kanan's voice echoes again. "I survived one war. I'm not ready for another… Battles leave scars. Some you can't see."
"This way!" Ezra calls to us, before running over to a nearby portal. "One of these portals must lead to Kanan." He states.
"Ezra, think about what you are doing." Ahsoka advises him as we catch up to him.
"I know what I'm doing! Here, in this place, I can change things. I can stop Kanan from dying." He exclaims.
"You don't know that." Ahsoka says.
"Yes, I do." Ezra argues. "If I can change your fate, I can change his." The portal near him begins to hum with energy, before the sound of an AT-AT firing can be heard. The portal shows as Kanan, his hair cut, uses the Force to slow the flames, protecting everyone. "I can reach him." He assures himself. At this stage, both Ahsoka and I could see the consequences… being that everyone dies.
"Ezra." Ahsoka begins. "Kanan gave his life so that you could live." She explains.
"If you take him out of this moment, you all die, Ezra." I add.
"You don't understand what you are asking me to do." He argues.
"Yes, we do. You can't save your Master, Ahsoka can't saver hers, and I can't bring my family back to life." I admit.
"We're asking you to let go." Ahsoka adds. Ezra stops himself, and lowers his head as Kanan pushes them away, moments before an explosion kills him.
"Kanan!" Hera's voice calls out in despair.
"I'm sorry, Ezra, but you must see. Kanan found the moment when he was needed most, and he did what he had to do, for everyone." Ahsoka assures him.
"That's the lesson. I didn't see it, but now…" Ezra sighs in defeat. "Sometimes I wish my life were different. I wish I could see my mum and dad… Why can't thing be like they were?" He wonders aloud. Thunder crackles through the space, as it warns us to leave.
"We can't stay here. You opened the door to this world. Do you know how to close it?" Ahsoka asks.
"I think I do." I interrupt. "Which of the three did you activate?" I ask.
"The female." Ezra answers.
"The Daughter, being of the Light side of the Force. She opens it, and so The Son, the male, embodiment of the Dark side of the Force, is the one you need to activate for the portal to close." I explain.
"Alright. Everyone will be so happy that you two are back." He says.
"I can't go with you." Ahsoka admits sadly.
"Perhaps I can." A voice calls from behind us. We turn to see that the Portal which we had watched Kanan's demise from, now showed the Emperor, Blue flames in front of him. He begins to cackle.
"Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano, mine at…" He cuts himself off as he notices me. At this, I smile in glee. I guess all the pestering I had done to him had affected him more than it seemed. "No. No, you are dead. Lord Vader stated as much!" He calls in shock, horror and anger.
"Not from what I can tell, Palpy McScrotum Face!" I reply in glee, before facing the others. "Go. I can take care of this fucker." I say with a smile. Both Ahsoka and Ezra nod swiftly, before running of to their respective portals.
"No! You will not get away!" The Emperor calls in anger, releasing blue flames of Sith Alchemy. As the come by me, I raise a Force shield, blocking it from advancing.
"I'm not finished with you, Palpy. Did the Inquisitor mention that you owe me an Inquisitor lightsaber?" I ask. Palpatine simply growls in response, increasing his efforts, to no avail. I had years to almost openly practise my Force powers, being easily hidden from the Empire. He would be fighting me for some time. I feel as Ahsoka's presence fades, as she returns to her time. Ezra soon follows, returning to his own. With a triumphant smile, I glare at Palpatine. "You have failed. But know this, if you want entry here, you have to get through me, Morai, Jazmin in phoenix form, The Father, and the Son." I explain, as I gather the Force in one large energy burst, pushing away the blue flames, and destroying the portal of which Palpatine was using. Taking a knee, I begin to catch my breath. While I can fake fatigue, Palpatine is powerful, and in all honesty, I would not have lasted much longer. I feel the place around me fade into nothingness, soon leaving me in complete darkness.
I open my eyes, the inside of the Lothal Temple filling my vision.
"The kid's taking too long." Kanan's voice catches my attention.
"Patience. Remember nothing of your own training do you?" Yoda's voice then echoes in askance.
"Master Yoda! It can't be. I'm losing it." Kanan replies, not believing his ears.
"Losing? Lost, yes. But what loss, hmm? The question, that is." Yoda says.
"Master? How can this be?" Kanan asks, his curiosity speaking for him.
"Be not concerned with how. Know I am here because you are here." Yoda answers as cryptically as usual.
"Thank you, Master." Kanan thanks him.
"Thank you? Hmm. Nothing have I done." Yoda replies. "Hmm. See you, I can. Before, I could not. Changed, something has." Yoda notes.
"I've taken on an apprentice." He answers.
"Apprentice? Hmm. And now a Master are you? Of this decision, honest you must be." Yoda asks.
"It's true. I'm not sure of my decision to train Ezra. Not because of him or his abilities, but because of me, because of who I am." Kanan answers honestly.
"Well, he at least learned what your favourite saying meant." I speak up. Yoda laughs audibly.
"Good, that is. Necessary to understand its meaning, if you start to teach." Yoda admits. He then hums in concern. "A dangerous time this is, for your apprentice, for you."
"I know. I can sense it." Kanan replies. "I feel as if his abilities are growing faster than I can teach him."
"You sense, or you fear?" Yoda asks.
"I lost my way for a long time, but now I have chance to change things." Kanan answers solemnly.
"Hmm. Last chance." Yoda advises.
"I won't let him lose his way. Not like I did." Kanan assures him. Yoda's presence fades away, as the passageway opens once more, Ezra walking out of it.
"How are you?" Kanan asks him.
"Different, but the same." Ezra answers.
"I know what you mean." Kanan acknowledges in understanding.
"I found this." Ezra shows a crystal to Kanan, its blue colour glowing ever so slightly, its song happy and warm.
"I don't believe it." Kanan says in amazement.
"What is it? It's good, right?" Ezra asks.
"Ezra, that's a Kyber Crystal!" Kanan exclaims.
"Oh, wow." Ezra says. "What's a Kyber Crystal?" He then asks.
"A lightsaber crystal." Kanan clarifies. "I have to admit, when I brought you here, I didn't see this happening." The three of us move to the entrance of the Temple, as it begins to open itself on instinct. "Getting a lightsaber crystal is a big step." The entrance is flooded with light, its brightness a welcome change to the darkened halls. We depart, returning to the glyph on the ground, where the Temple begins to close up once more.
"It's strange that it's just there." Ezra notes, looking at the hidden Temple.
"And it will be, for now, and hopefully, it'll be here long after you and I are gone." Kanan says.
"I don't think it will last forever. With its rediscovery, it's bound to one day attract attention." I say. "And before you ask, Ezra, no, it won't make a good base. People, and Jedi, would get lost in the masses of hidden areas within. Not to mention, it would be safer to leave it be, or the Empire may just find it faster." I add.
Weeks later.
"They have both been working on that thing for weeks. What kind of lightsaber could they possibly build with the junk we have lying around?" Zeb asks.
"Well, I had a few spare parts I found over the years." Kanan says.
"And I had some bits and pieces that might work modulation circuits, an energy gate. And Chopper even donated a power cell." Sabine adds. "He was pretty specific on what he wanted." I hear the voices of the crew ponder about Ezra and I. Both of us have been building separate lightsabers. Ezra's with the crystal he obtained at the Temple on Lothal, and me, using the yellow crystal I discovered back in the beginning. The time had never seemed right for me to build a lightsaber with it… until now. We both exit the room, moving over to Kanan.
"I thought I'd let you check it out first." Ezra says, and hands his newly crafted and functional lightsaber to Kanan. While Ezra had wanted some help with building it, I had told him the most that I can help, is by letting him watch as I built my own lightsaber. It was tradition for everyone to build a lightsaber without actual help, only having schematics, parts, and the crystal.
"Well, it's different." Kanan notes, looking at the design. "But that seems about right for you." He hands the lightsaber back to Ezra. "Go for it." He ignites it, and the azure blade lights up the common room. I take out my own, the makeshift hilt showing the Crystal. I ignite it, the yellow blade humming with vibrant energy. This marks a new dawn for all of us.
A/N – Updated. Vex's lightsaber has the same sound as Ezra's, hence I felt now would be the best time to have it built. This will also tie up a loose end from the original point of Vex knowing what events would occur.
