When Ezra had tapped into the Dark Side, Kanan became really concerned. Both he and Vex 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.
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 favorite 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.
"He's 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 as modulation circuits, an energy gate. And Chopper even donated a power cell." Sabine adds. "He was pretty specific on what he wanted." Their curiosity and impatience is rewarded as Ezra walks towards Kanan, saber hilt in hand.
"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 giving him a schematic for how to build a 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.
A/N – Just a few changes with this one. I will release a chapter called 'Redacted' for what happens between when Vex immerses himself into the Force, and when he wakes up, but it will be done as a separate, bonus chapter, for a while. Take care and stay safe.
