Darkness on Sol!
All attention is focused on Blaze,
who claims to hear the voice of a
long dead Shinobi. Convinced that she is
guarded by Maria Kintobor, she finds
five priestesses, who will teach her
how to manifest consciousness after death.
After many trials, Blaze travels
to Magma Rift, ancient home planet of
the Raiju. For now, she must face the
true evil that may be her undoing;
and one that seeks to control the galaxy...
The ship headed towards Magma Rift, Emerl hummed nervously "We must be careful. This planet has been deserted for so many years and after so many wars". The planet was completely red, they flew across the mountains and landed outside an abandoned temple. Blaze exited the fighter, Emerl jumped out "I'm afraid I must leave you again, my friend. Guard the ship. If I do not return by three night falls take the ship to Mobotropolis. Tell them where I went". Emerl nodded and Blaze went toward the Temple. Emerl activated his sensors so he knew nothing would sneak up on him. She went up the stairs out of sight of Emerl and she sat down in the sand. It suddenly turned to night and snake like creatures slithered across the ground. They joined together and formed a centipede like creature with red eyes "We are the Raiju". Blaze stared blankly at it "I am not afraid of you" "We shall see". Blaze held out her hand and the centipede fell apart as it tried to attack her. A circle of Raiju priests appeared around Blaze and circled her "There is no life after death. Only nothing awaits you, Shinobi. Your fear feeds our hunger for power. They will know you are here. We will tell them". They started flying through Blaze pushing her back "You will die and be nothing" they all went right through Blaze before disappearing.
Dimitri was meditating on in his chambers onboard an Egg Carrier when a Swatbot entered "Sir, you have been ordered to go to Mobotropolis immediately". Dimitri opened his eyes "Tell Lord Mephiles I'm on my way".
Blaze entered the Temple and ignited her lightsaber for a better view. She eventually reached a tomb and walked towards the grave casket. Smoke was released from the casket and went towards Blaze. It formed into a creature with a snake like body, two thin arms and a wide head with a jagged mouth. He appeared to be made out of embers of fire. He looked curiously at Blaze "Why do you come to my tomb, Shinobi?" "To learn". It leaned closer to her "Do you know who I am?". Blaze glared at him "Yes. Dark Gaia. The ancient Raiju Lord". Dark Gaia moved around her "And you know why I am not forgotten?" "You created the rule of two". Dark Gaia nodded "The Raiju killed each other. Victims of their own greed. But from the ashes of destruction, I was the last survivor. I chose to pass my knowledge on to only one. I created a legacy so resilient that now you come before me". He started to laugh "Have you come to be my apprentice? You must kill me to gain my place". Blaze stared at him defiantly "You are already dead", he cackled "Then what stands before you?" "An illusion. You are not real". Dark Gaia angrily went right in front of her face "You do not fear me?" "No. You do not exist anymore". Blaze walked right past him and Dark Gaia was pulled back into the casket "No!". The casket then moved back and a tunnel was revealed "Blaze" she heard Illumina call.
Dimitri's shuttle flew through the city of Mobotropolis and entered the hanger of a tower. He exited the shuttle in full armour and was greeted by Mephiles "I sense we have a great opportunity to strike a deadly blow to the Shinobi Order. But we must act swiftly".
Blaze entered a large chamber where the Illuminas appeared "A warning I must give you" "Yes?" "All the trials that you faced have been our doing, and you have passed them well. But inside, there is a place we have no control, for it is a place of absolute darkness". "What happened here?" Blaze asked, "It is the chamber where the Raiju would sacrifice Shinobi. The Raiju of your time will find you there, and you will find them. Be careful, for what they may offer will certainly feel like an answer" they disappeared. Blaze then cautiously entered the next room.
Mephiles and Dimitri entered a large circular room with a basin of blue liquid held up in the middle "Only the presence of someone significant to you would allow you to sense this ripple through time and space" Mephiles said. Dimitri nodded "My old master. Blaze" "Yes. Master Blaze has come to Magma Rift, although why, I do not know. We shall, however, use the strong bond that once existed between you and your master to allow us to see things that we otherwise could not". Dimitri crossed his arms "How can this be done, Master?" "It is an old art of the dark side. Now, hold out your hand, Apprentice". Dimitri did so and Mephiles took out a knife "I need but a drop for the ritual to begin". He cut Dimitri's hand without him even flinching and a drop of blood landed in the basin turning it red "Kintik hadzuska sutta chwituskak! Kintik hadzuska sutta chwituskak! Jiaasjen Jidai". He fired beams of light into the basin and Dimitri did the same "Now, concentrate on Master Blaze. Bring all your focus to her" "But will she not sense our presence?". Mephiles laughed "We shall come to him with a familiar face, a long-lost face, one she would be eager to see again, one whom she would ask and want answered all the questions she seeks".
Blaze entered the room and saw Master Chip dishevelled and restrained by blue ropes "Help me. Please, please free me" he said weakly. Blaze walked towards him "Chip? You're alive" "Help me, please, Blaze. I have been imprisoned here for so long". Blaze stopped in front of him "Do you know who did this?". Chip chuckled "What if I could tell you who the Raiju Lord is? Free me, and I will reveal it" "No!". Chip sighed "He knows how to achieve what you seek" "The Raiju are captivated by the physical realm". Chips stared at her confused "What else is there? Free me and together we can know who the Raiju Lord is, gain the power you deserve, and save the future" "No!" "You must free me!". Blaze shook her head calmly "The Raiju have nothing to show me" "We shall see". A blue flame surrounded Blaze and Master Chip morphed into Mephiles who began to laugh "Mephiles" Blaze said in surprise. A light flashed and Blaze was suddenly inside a gunship with a group of clones, Shadow and Fang "There is no question. The ship was carrying Dimitri. We've scanned the area and he's meeting with someone inside the building". Shadow nodded "Thanks, Fang. Master Blaze, what're your orders?". Blaze was looking around confused "Orders?" "Are you alright, Master?". Blaze held her head "Where am I?". Shadow stared concerned "I don't understand" ""You must tell me" "We're at the industrial sector on Mobotropolis. A rogue shuttle slipped through the security grid. We suspect Dimitri was on board". Blaze looked at Shadow in surprise "And?", Shadow was concerned "Master, this is your mission. Are you sure you're alright?".
Blaze sighed "The dark side has clouded my mind. Tell me who is inside?" "We intercepted a transmission calling Dimitri to Mobotropolis. We believe he is meeting with his master, the Raiju Lord". Blaze closed her eyes and concentrated "I feel it. I feel their power" "Your orders, Master?" "We will capture them. The time has come to discover the identity of this Raiju Master" "And if they escape?" "Escape, no. If it come to it then we must execute them. We shall end it now". The gunships landed inside the tower hanger "Move in". They ran through the halls and reached the room Mephiles, and Dimitri were in "It appears we have company" Mephiles said seeing them. Dimitri ignited his lightsaber, Shadow did the same "Take them!" and the clones started firing. Dimitri fired his beams of light at the clones throwing them back and unconscious. Shadow charged forward and fought Dimitri. Blaze slowly walked towards Mephiles "We meet at last, Lord Mephiles" "You cannot stop what is to come" he ran, and Blaze followed. She looked back and saw Shadow overpower Dimitri and cross the two lightsabers at his neck. Blaze stopped "Shadow, no!", Shadow coldly removed Dimitri's head.
Blaze sighed before chasing after Mephiles. They ended up outside on a metal railing, the two ignited their lightsabers and fought. Shadow came through a lower railing and jumped up to them. Blaze and Shadow stood next to each other, but this didn't deter Mephiles. Blaze pushed him back with the Force and Shadow charged forward to kill him "No!" Blaze yelled. Mephiles stood up and strangled Shadow with the Force and then fired beams of light at him causing him to scream in pain. He threw Shadow down unconscious and then fired at Blaze who managed to stop it with her hands. The energy built up and suddenly blew Mephiles off the catwalk. He however grabbed onto the railing supports, cut them, and then jumped back up. The railing began to collapse, Blaze jumped over to the one Mephiles was on but then saw Shadow was about to fall off. She immediately turned around and caught him with the Force before the railing he was on fell all the way to the ground. "Save him, Shinobi! Can you save him?" Mephiles fired light at her, she used her free hand to ignite her lightsaber and block it. "Why not let him go? Let him die and you can stop all that I will do". Blaze desperately tried to move Shadow to safety "No! The future is not yours yet. I will not be tempted by you. I am ready to sacrifice all". She deactivated her lightsaber and moved Shadow. Mephiles shot her in the back with light. Blaze ignored the pain and placed Shadow onto a stable part of the railing. The railing that Mephiles and Blaze were on began to collapse. Blaze saw Mephiles trying to climb to safety, but Blaze threw her lightsaber at the railing causing them all to fall. As they fell Mephiles began to laugh. Blaze grabbed him but his eyes were suddenly empty, and his body disintegrated but she could still hear laughing.
Mephiles pulled his head out of the basin "We have failed to break Master Blaze. She is strong. We will need more time if we are to defeat him and the Shinobi". Mephiles and Dimitri left the room.
Blaze was lying on the ground "Blaze. Come back to us, Blaze" she opened her eyes and saw Illumina "Have I died?" "In a way". She sat up "Now does my training begin?" "The one you know as Maria Kintobor will commune with you and guide your training. Like us, you shall learn to maintain your consciousness after death. Enlightenment , spirit, balance. There is another…". Blaze could hear ship battles, alarms and then herself saying the same thing as the Illumina. Illumina disappeared and Blaze could suddenly hear babies crying and a pained breathing. Blaze made it back to the fighter and was happily greeted by Emerl "Yes, my friend. It is time to go home" she said weakly. She got in and flew away from the planet
Blaze was in the courtyard of the Temple when Merlin and Espio walked up to her "The Council has assembled. They are eager to hear your report" "I'm afraid there is not much to say on my journey". Espio stared at her suspiciously "So nothing significant happened to you out there?" "Yes and no. We are coming to the end now". Merlin looked hopeful "Did your journey give you insight on how to win the war?". Blaze sighed "I'm no longer certain that one ever does win a war. For in fighting the battles, the bloodshed, we have already lost. Yet a path remains open that is unknown to the Raiju. Through this path, we may find victory. Not victory in the Clone Wars, but victory for all time". She walked with her two friends back into the temple.