The Deep Breath Before

Northern Approaches to Agna Qela, Ratava

Ezra

I simply went back into a meditative state feeling more on the state of the Force. Which felt as though a silence before the deep plunge. The warning of Master Billaba came to me with a sense that soon Alderaan will be destroyed and the Galaxy would wage war upon itself with such unfelt fervor that the Galaxy which will emerge will be unlike anything before or after. Though the exhaustion felt from the long three days of being stuck on Appa's back is boring as kriff. I would take anything to happen now as we are all nearly at each other's throats. Then I sense movement from the water. I yell," Hold on to something!" As Appa gets hit by ice he is then frozen in place as we become surrounded I grasp my Lightsaber however they reveal themselves to be Water Tribe we have finally found them after three long days. While they drop the ice we are escorted towards their capital. Then I feel a second shock though not as loud nor frightening as Jedha but another feeling similar and I feel a place cross my lips I never knew a planet called Scarif. The headache is piercing however, it is not the feeling I expected. I know Alderaan is next on the targets and most likely Lothal. We are directed to an apartment within the city to leave our stuff as we are invited to dinner. Sokka is overjoyed and I am as well seeing as we haven't had much to eat since we left the Northern Air Temple. When the food is delivered before us. Sokka and I just devour it with such ferocity that it surprises some while Chief Arnook goes into a spiel about how happy he is that we are here and then we are introduced to his daughter Princess Yue. Whose birthday it is which he wants to celebrate in spite of the enemies massing beyond the gates.

I continue on with my feasting as I eat more food than I had in a long time since I was on Lothal most likely. While Sokka talks with Princess Yue, the force is in motion even more, showing many paths forward. These paths however distract me as I leave the hall following it. Many people notice my leaving as I walk off to clear my head. I quickly notice that someone is tailing me as I walk back to the apartment we have been granted. I enter and find a secluded area to meditate into the force from.

I quickly after a few minutes see the change in area with a cloaked Master sitting instead of Master Billaba. I rise to my feet looking into the Master's cold and icy stare which is empty of emotion. He walks towards me with a voice lacking the kindness of Master Billaba nor the whimsy of Master Yoda," Padawan Bridger, Are you ready to continue where your Master left off?" I look at him confused. Why did he say padawan instead of Knight?

I nod my head as he draws a Lightsaber from his hip and attacks. I quickly dodge the attacks before drawing my saber and parrying a blow towards my head. The two blades clash repeatedly leaving a rain of purple sparks. He laughs and says," Is this your best child for it seems all of your Masters are soft on you, Dume, Billaba, Tano, Kenobi, and Yoda. They did not have the willingness to show you true power with the blade." I do not let his words hurt me he is attempting to throw me off guard and throw me off balance. " I am amazed you survived this long. The Inquisitors were former Jedi, Maul, the Nightsister Ghosts, Vader, and The Emperor. How did you survive them? Oh, that's right your Masters put their lives on the line for you." I nearly lose my nerve as he keeps the offensive up, his attacks having no rhythm nor pattern throw me off as I deflect blow after blow which is well coordinated. I then realize the one place I have avoided looking into his eyes to see if it is truly him I look upon them as he runs into another flurry of attacks. I see the piercing golden eyes of a Fallen Jedi.

"You aren't any of my Masters, just a Darksider who has taken on the guise of a Jedi. Your words are enough proof to show me that you only have read my thoughts but not the wisdom of these events. Reveal who you truly are," I yell as the facade changes and the arena into a Sith-looking training area with the symbols of the Empire and Sith decorating Banners and Walls. The facade of a Jedi Master drops into the image of the Assassin plaguing my dreams; the hilt changes into a reverse grip with a crimson blade. He quickly goes on the offensive however a name remains on my tongue, a name I haven't uttered in many years," Galen." I attempt to figure it out by putting pieces that have remained dormant in my mind. I quickly focus and use the force," This is my mind you have no power over me assassin go back to the Darkness that you sprung forth from." I use a push to fling the visage from my mind.

I hear a taunt from him as he leaves," Found You Jedi scum!" He says with a sense of joy and satisfaction.

I woke up to see Sokka in front of me. I rise, feeling the truth of the assassin's words. My expression full of shock and terror is seen by Sokka for a minute," Ezra, What's going on, What happened?" I continue to avoid Sokka's inquiries. Then barks with such fury," What in the name of Tui and La did you see Ezra, please tell me." His expression is full of concern mixed with anger.

"The Empire has found me, The assassin in my visions and dreams knows where I am. He entered my Meditation in the guise of a Masters and fought me. I was able to drive him out of my mind but found Ratava. He's coming to kill or capture me!" I say with what little strength and courage is left in me with terror evident.

" By Tui and La, Ezra we will help you and remember we will be with you and Aang for the whole journey. You will always have our support both in-person and Mentally." Sokka says with faith and strength to bolster my sunken feeling in the force.

" Thank You, Sokka for those words you have helped me though now I am confident enough to be happy for a friend like yourself," I say with gratitude as he is about to leave. " Where are you off to?"

Sokka turns to me with a bright blush upon his cheeks," To see Princess Yue."

" You like her don't you. do you want some advice Sokka," I ask with a cheekiness that was never lost on me? When he nods yes. " Don't be too clingy or push too far."

Sokka leaves, and shortly afterward I decided to take a stroll through the city since it is the first time I could remember being able to walk in a city without being attacked by local soldiers, police, or others. I see the city in full with it looking quite amazing and unique being one made of ice. I walk through the city with a sense of wonder for the Ice fortress. Which is with my mind being shielded again from all forms of mental incursions to give the assassin a harder time to find me. Which would buy us a lot more time though he will most likely be able to outrun Appa if it came down to it via Appa being slower than any freighter or starship. I continued to walk as the day quickly became short from my roaming around the city when I saw the Waterbender from the previous night who performed the show walking with a woman.

He talked to her about Aang almost complaining while she spoke of Katara from what it sounded like as I continued to follow them. I listened as the woman spoke first of a secret society," So we have the Avatar and a Jedi which grants us more than an advantage seeing as 'Sozin's warning' has come to pass as the Jedi has arrived. Though the Grand Lotus has told us of this alongside the Fleeing Fire Sage who delivered his message about the warning to us Pakku!"

Her optimism is quickly contrasted by the grumpy Master Pakku," I don't see pointing to them to reverse the invasion is coming, Healer Yagoda. The Avatar has no discipline and lacks focus and concentration. While the Jedi is far from being a pillar of wisdom, He is flighty, aloof, and lacks the wisdom that was common for his order and their Masters. That isn't even going into their companions; the boy lacks any leash upon his sister who believes herself to be above our traditions. They are a discoordinate mess of a team. They should have someone far wiser to guide them on their journey like Grand Lotus Iroh."

Yagoda quickly scolds him with a finger to his mouth to silence him," If you say his name we may be arrested and tried as spies for our enemies. Are you that much of a fool to say his name in public the Grand Lotus may be wise but he aids another on their own quest? They may lack many things but make up for it with spirit. Which you failed to notice plus the Jedi is far more powerful than we realized and has been observing our city…" I then make a misstep that alerts them as I continue to observe them. They both notice the sound of my boots on the street making noise. She quickly noticed me as my feet and body felt a chill go up my spine and ice cover my body freezing me in place as the two of them walked around the corner.

"Hello there, Master Jedi," Pakku said with a jab." How much did you hear of our discussion?"

"Wow, you really suck at interrogating people. Most of the Imps I saw or met would immediately go for a slap or electric shocks, not ask me point-blank. However, you wouldn't believe me if I said nothing so everything especially the bit about 'The Dragon of the West.'" I say it with a counterblow with Yagoda looking at me with fear. " Though I am not going to say anything to anyone if you take back everything you said about us!"

Pakku is about to respond when Yagoda speaks," He will accept your terms if you do come with me for I have questions about Healing techniques of the Force." I nod my head as I focus and break free of the ice holding me. The broken shards falling on the ground and the canal to their back with Pakku stunned and Yagoda smiling pleasantly. I follow her as we walk through the city to the place for healing. She leaves me to sit and shortly returns with a series of scrolls which are written in aurebesh. I sit and look through them one after another as she brings some food over to me as I continue my reading. In which I eat it avoiding the scrolls and see and begin to understand these techniques but I would never be fully versed and capable since these teachings are best reserved for a pure Lightside practitioner.

After a bit Yugoda walked over to me and I explained," These techniques are very complicated but I will only be able to use some of them since they are for someone who is a pure Lightside practitioner since that is what is required to perform some of them." She understands.

"I have something else for you to come with me," Yugoda leads me to a table that is circular and full of elegantly crafted wooden tiles. "Though I am second to Pakku in the Order of the White Lotus command here in the Northern Tribe. This thing can help you and the Avatar to get to safety and provide shelter. We communicate via Paisho which I will teach you on its principles, signs, and pieces on the board." Which reminds me of Dejarik though lacking the holographic pieces. She quickly declares me an initiate of the Order of the White Lotus. She also explains the code phrases of the Order. A way to show I am a member in Pai Sho. Which we begin to play a game which feels like Dejarik in more than one way it gives me that feeling as we play and I lose one game after another.

As I leave and head back to our lodgings and go to sleep for a first in a long time it is peaceful, no vision nor a nightmare full of death. The three of them come back and explain that Katara had fought Pakku and lost but was offered to be trained by him. They are happy for her and I know she will succeed due to her stubbornness. Though I can feel the coming storm is brewing in the Force.

I don't own either Star Wars or Avatar the Last Airbender both belong to their respective owners I need more reviews to know how this story is going or your opinion on it so I know what to fix. If you want private message me if you wish. Critique.