Blinded by the dark side!
The Shinobi Council
has begun to unravel the mystery
of how the clone army was created,
and now fear the Raiju Lord, Dimitri was behind it.
Master Blaze searches for answers,
and during deep meditation,
she is able to contact the spirit of Maria Kintobor,
who reveals to Blaze that she must
manifest her consciousness after death
if she is to preserve the Shinobi Order.
Now, we find Master Blaze
deep in space searching for a path to
ones who will teach her
all she does not know of the Force...
Blaze's ship approached what looked to be a Nebula with a bright light in the middle "I believe this is the place Maria spoke of". Emerl beeped "So the gas is blocking our scanners, but there may still be a planet inside. I can sense it". They flew inside and the ship was suddenly flying on its own "Are you doing this?" Emerl beeped. Blaze closed her eyes "Then I will let the Force guide us". There was a bright flash and Blaze opened her eyes to see an orange planet. The ship headed towards the planet and landed in a small canyon. Emerl beeped "Oh, you're awake, my friend. I'm not sure where we are. But this place seems to be strong with the Force". They both exited the ship. Blaze pointed to a yellow beam shooting into space "There, you see. Life emanates from inside the planet". Emerl beeped and Blaze shoo his head "Don't bother using your scanners. They will not work here" she handed him her lightsaber "I won't need this". Emerl beeped "No, you must wait here. This journey is for me alone". She boarded the fighter "Do not worry. You will be safe, my friend". She took off and flew into a geyser that was shooting out the yellow strands of light. She eventually reached a massive underground area full of small floating islands. She landed on one of them which was covered in plants. She got out and looked around "Blaze" it was a different voice this time "Who is there?". A light appeared in front of her "I have travelled far, looking for those who can teach me" "The question is, are you worthy of being taught?". The light formed into a humanoid woman with wings and wearing a pink dress. She looked down at Blaze with a blank expression "You are late. We have been waiting for you, Master Blaze". Blaze was confused "Late? How did you know I was coming?" "We watch and study all who are strong with the Force in the universe. Now, come, if we are to begin" she guided Blaze across the island.
They eventually reached what looked to be a small temple which they then entered "Illumina, I have a guest" the room went dark, and Blaze could see orange outlines around her. An identical woman appeared next to Illumina but with an angry expression "You should not have brought him before us". Another Illumina appeared with a large grin on her face "Oh, nonsense. She is full of the Force. Can you not feel it?". Two more appeared, one with a confused expression and another with a sad expression "But why is she here? Why are you here?". The first one looked down at a confused Blaze "Why is she here? Why are you here?" she asked calmer than her cousin. "I was told to learn from you, that you could show me how to manifest my life after death". The sad Illumina leaned down to her "Oh, it's impossible. She will fail with the great gift. She will disappoint us. She will disappoint herself" "Oh, no. No, I do not see that" the happy one said. The emotionless one examined Blaze "Her destiny is already set. It is not for us to decide" "But why her?" the sad one said. "She is to teach one that will save the universe from a great imbalance. For this, the great gift will be hers". The angry one stepped in front of her "She has no idea what he seeks, the responsibility she will have" "I don't understand. But I know you will guide me" Blaze answered. The angry one looked down at her "And do you realize what you must do, what you must face?". Blaze sighed "No" "Good. Then you won't be afraid". All the Illuminas began to laugh before hovering above Blaze "Do I have a blessing that the training can begin?" the emotionless one said before they came together "It is so. We are one, and one is all" they all said. She turned to Blaze "Do you come to us with only good intention and light in you heart?". Blaze bowed her head "I do. Yes" "Then the blessing I give, and the training will begin".
The Illuminas began to spin around Blaze "Disappoint us not, little cat", a light flashed, and Blaze suddenly woke up back outside. She stood up and saw the emotionless Illumina "What is this place?" "All that surrounds us is the foundation of life, the birthplace of what your science call chaos energy, the foundations of what connects the Living Force and the Cosmic Force. When a living thing dies all is removed. Life passes from the Living Force into the Cosmic Force and becomes one with it. One powers the other. One is renewed by the other. Come with me". The Illumina led Blaze to the edge of the island where Blaze was forced to jump on floating rocks to get to another island with a dark cloud over it "At death, in order for you to preserve your identity, you must know yourself, our true self, and then let go. On that island dwells all that remains unconquered, what, in your existence, some call evil, otherwise known as fear, all which must be finally overcome before the journey can be taken. Free yourself, you must". Blaze stopped on the rock she jumped on "I am a Shinobi Master. I do know all that dwells within. I have mastered my weaknesses and conquered my fears" "Have you? You must face your evil on that island and defeat it" Illumina disappeared. Blaze jumped across the rocks and made it to the island as lightning suddenly flashed. Blaze followed a path and entered a forest, the sunlight slowly disappeared "Blaze" she heard a female voice say. Blaze looked around and saw a dark shape with red eyes leaping from tree to tree while laughing menacingly. Blaze kept walking "Blaze" she turned around but there was nothing there, but she could hear laughter "Show yourself". She looked around and saw a dark cloudy version of herself with red eyes "Blaze hates me. Yes" it laughed and jumped down and tackled Blaze to the ground "Blaze doesn't play with me anymore". It grabbed and dragged her across the ground "Blaze thinks I'm not worthy" it threw her to the ground. It charged but Blaze used the Force to throw it back "I do not recognise you". It laughed and began to circle her "See not what is inside Blaze?" "I choose not to give you power".
It began to advance on her "And yet you spend your days in the decadence of war, and with that, I grow inside you. Know your true self. Face me now or I will devour you!". Blaze lunged forward and the two engaged in a fist fight, she eventually managed to pin it to the ground "You are not part of me" "I am. I am part of all lives". It threw her away and began kicking her back before turning her around and strangling her "Why do you hate what gives you power?" it threw her across the forest. Blaze grunted in pain and struggled to stand up "Blaze thinks I'm not worthy". Blaze came to a realization "I recognise you" she closes her eyes. It charged towards her, but Blaze calmly grabbed it with the Force "You are part of me. But you do not have power over me. Through patience and training it is I who control you". She started pulling it towards her "You have no control over me", it desperately tried crawl away, but it was forced to stand in front o Blaze. She held its face "You are my dark side and I reject you" it burned up and fell to ash. Blaze fell to the ground exhausted when Illumina appeared "You have conquered your hubris. Now face the temptations you must".
Blaze was at the entrance to a cave "That creature was powerful" "What you faced was a reflection of your hubris and the shadow of your soul". Blaze sat down and sighed "And yet I thought I was clear" "The beast is you, and you are the beast. To deny it simply gives it power". Blaze answered "Now I see. The answer was simple" "Deep in your core, you felt that we had nothing to teach you, but you must trust in our teachings if you are to succeed". Blaze stood up "I am ready for what comes next" "You must enter the valley of extinction. Pass through without emotion, without attachment, for you will see all our faces there, and they will seduce you". The other Illuminas appeared and flew past her one at a time before disappearing "For we are confusion" "Anger!" "Sadness" "Joy!" "And Serenity". Blaze entered the cave and cautiously walked through "Stop! Stop!" she heard a scared male voice yell. Blaze was suddenly in the Shinobi Temple, but she heard bombs going off. There was smoke and debris, to Blaze's shock there were dead bodies lying on the floor including Merlin. She then heard coughing and saw Amy still alive on the floor "Master Blaze. Please… help me" she said weakly. Blaze ran over and held Amy "I'm… I'm dying" "What has happened here, young one? Who has done this?". Amy coughed "The Raiju" "How?" "You told me I would finish my training and become a Shinobi, but the Council expelled me. Why would you do that? Will I still become one with the Force when I die? Master, will I be a Shinobi?".
Amy's head fell back and her eyes, tears formed in Blaze's eyes "Young one. Amy, no. No. I wasn't strong enough. No. I failed you all". "Master Blaze" she heard a young voice say. Blaze looked up and saw a young blonde girl who she recognised "Hope?" "Let me take you away from your confusion, your anger, your sadness. Come with me, and you will never know pain, never know sadness. Close your eyes and I will guide you" she held out her hand. Blaze hesitantly took her hands and bright light enveloped them. Blaze was now in the courtyard of the Shinobi Temple on a sunny day "The Temple is beautiful, isn't it, Master Blaze?" Hope asked. Blaze saw multiple Shinobi in the courtyard speaking to one another. There were younglings running around playing. Blaze saw Amy still part of the Order sharing a joke with Clove. Blaze smiled "Yes, so peaceful, as it was before the war" "War? Oh, there is no war here, Master, only peace and tranquillity". Blaze was surprised by this "No war?". Blaze then saw Espio speaking to Maria Kintobor and an echidna. Blaze walked towards them and Espio saw her "Ah, Master Blaze. Master Dimitri was just telling us a tale of when he was your apprentice. Quite a humours story". The echidna turned around revealing Dimitri who smiled warmly at Blaze. She backed away in surprise "Dimitri?" "Yes, Master. I was telling them the tale of when we faced the giant fire beast on Downunda. What a terrible creature it was". Blaze was caught off guard by this "Yes. Yes. I remember" "We had wonderful adventures, Master Blaze and I". Espio nodded "I'm sure we'd all love to hear more, but it's time to join the others" "Yes. Coming, Master?" Dimitri asked as all the Shinobi all grouped up under a tree. Blaze smiled at her old apprentice and walked towards the tree before she stopped, and her face frowned.
She shook her head "No. This is wrong. These are lies". The Shinobi all scowled at her "You're dead" Blaze pointed to Erma, "You died on Albion" she pointed to Maria. Blaze gave a slight sigh before saying "And you betrayed us, my old apprentice". Dimitri's eyes turned red along with the others. A mist formed around all of them, and they disappeared except for Dimitri who ignited his lightsaber. He walked forward about to strike her, but she shook her head "No. This is an illusion, a falsehood". The light flashed, Blaze was now back on the island facing a lake. Illumina appeared "You have done well, but to succeed, your life must be spent learning, practicing". Blaze stepped closer to her "Please tell me, who are you?". Illumina tilted her head before disappeared "We are the key to what you seek, we live between the realms" "You are dead?" Blaze based as she looked around confused, "Yes" "How shall I complete my training?". All the Illuminas appeared "You all must face the ultimate test, the ultimate seduction, the gravest of journeys" the confused one said. The sad one stepped forward "You will travel to Magma Rift" "Magma Rift?". The angry one then stepped forward "Journey through the ancient home world of the Raiju. Face all that you fear, all that haunts your soul!" they all disappeared. The fighter then appeared at the edge of the island.
She flew out of the geyser where Emerl was waiting. He beeped happily "Hello, my friend" Emerl flew up and slotted into the fighter. He beeped "No, no. We must visit one more place to visit". They flew away from the planet "I have come from a strange place, but I have finished what I came for. Set course for Magma Rift". Emerl beeped making Blaze smile "Yes, we must be brave. I fear the worst is yet to come. I hope you can keep me safe" she joked.