I figured I'd better put in a disclaimer before someone sues me, so here it
is!
Roses are red violets are blue.
Me no own so you no sue.
(I did not write this disclaimer myself, I read it on a Zelda fic but it summarizes everything. Whoever made up this disclaimer, please don't sue me!)
AN: Thanks a lot Jacen200015 and Teekoness for your reviews that made me want to keep writing so much! (You'd be amazed at how much you can write on a snow day!)
By the way, my response to Jacen200015's comment on chapter 5: The thing was in its shadow form (will be explained in this chapter) and he can't fight what he can't see! Don't worry, Aro and Del will both fight the Shadowraiths eventually. Now, on with the fic!
CHAPTER SEVEN
Del-Mon swiftly jumped aside, avoiding the attack. He quickly stepped back in and gave his opponent, Mace Windu, no chance to attack again as he swung his radiant green lightsaber about.
The two were engaged in a quick, five-touch bout in the gymnasium with their powered-down lightsabers. The score was tied at four touches to four touches.
The two men had both kicked off their boots and their shirts lay next to each other on a bench.
He did a quick and agile flip and twisted around, going clear over his opponent. He landed and tried to throw in a quick slash, but it did not work. Mace spun around on his heel and blocked the attack, this time managing to thrust his weapon out.
Del-Mon easily parried, and met the attack with a quick spin of his lightsaber, flicking Mace's weapon from his hand. Before he could use the Force to recall it as it skittered across the floor, Del-Mon held his blade at Mace's throat.
Mace smiled. "You win, friend."
Del-Mon returned the grin. "You are a formidable opponent, Mace," he said.
"Why thank you," said Mace.
They both deactivated their lightsabers and respectfully bowed to each other.
"May I suggest that next time you keep a better grip on your weapon?" said Del-Mon as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt and sat down on the bench.
Mace laughed, sitting next to him. "Yes, I will remember that next time," he replied as they both pulled on their boots.
Del-Mon said nothing as he reached for his shirt.
"So no apprentice this time, Del-Mon?" asked Mace.
"No, Mace, I'm not taking an apprentice and nothing you can say will change that," said Del-Mon.
"Are you sure? I noticed you were wavering towards Aro-Ken a bit," said Mace.
"Mace, I will not take the boy. He cannot control his emotions, he may turn to the Dark Side," said Del-Mon.
"Now Del-Mon, you don't know that. The other Masters sense that great things will come from him," said Mace.
"How can that happen when he is all ready on a transport to Taylon?" asked Del-Mon.
"Well, there have been famous farmers and agriculturists," commented Mace.
Del-Mon sighed in frustration. "Mace, I have told the exact same thing to Aro-Ken. I am not taking an apprentice," he said.
"All right, you win," Mace said, watching as Del-Mon rose and walked towards the door.
"For now!" he called just as Del-Mon started to close the door.
Del-Mon decided to take the long way back to his quarters. He went down the long hallways, deep in thought.
What if he had taken Aro-Ken? What if Mace was right? What if he'd just thrown away the best Padawan he'd ever have?
As he walked, not focusing on the path at all, the very person he'd just been thinking about crashed right into him at a full run.
Getting over his shock quickly, Del-Mon helped him up. "Aro-Ken? What are you doing here? I thought your transport left all ready," he said.
"Yeah, so… So did I," Aro-Ken panted.
"What are you doing here?" Del-Mon repeated.
"There's… There's something after me… I'm not… I'm not sure what it is," the boy panted.
Del-Mon took a quick glance down the corridor. He felt a chill all of the sudden. Something was not right. Something was seriously wrong in the Temple.
"We should get out of the hallway. Follow me," he said.
They quickly rounded the corner, heading for the garden. Near the entranceway to the garden were vines growing on a trellis that were known as balao vines. They produced beautiful blossoms at the right season, and were also connected to the Force. They seemed to come alive when the Dark Side was near, and would move, alerting people of its presence.
The garden was a very large room with a glass roof. Trees, vines, flowers, and bushes of all kinds grew in the soil. Every place that was not occupied with a plant had grass planted in it. The pleasant aromas of the herbs and flowers, and constant sound of flowing water from the one large fountain gave the room a peaceful feel.
"All right, what does this pursuer look like?" Del-Mon asked as they headed to the center of the room.
"It's… It's dressed in these black robes, and its… Its skin is black and really cold… I don't know how it got on the transport… It flung Master Dondora against a wall after it… Just looked at him, and it did something to Master Runa and her Padawan… I tried to run away, but there was another that grabbed me," Aro-Ken explained.
"Oh Sith," Del-Mon muttered.
"What was it?" Aro-Ken asked.
"A Shadowraith. They're very rare, but very dangerous. They have found a way to connect to the Dark Side without being consumed," said Del-Mon.
"When we were in the air, it did something and we shot right down to the landing pad. How did it do that?" Aro-Ken asked.
"Shadowraiths can become shadows, and make anything they touch a shadow as well. It must have done that," explained Del-Mon.
"What was it after me for?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Probably one of three things. Either it was randomly selecting a hostage, it wants to convert you, or for whatever reason it wishes to kill you," answered Del-Mon.
Aro-Ken's eyes went wide.
"What should I do?"
"I'm not sure. But we should get to the Council immediately," said Del-Mon.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound near the door to the garden. Del-Mon felt cold. He looked, and saw that the balao vines were moving, coiling in and out of the trellis and occasionally closing their blossoms.
"It's here," Aro-Ken whispered.
Both of them instinctively ignited their lightsabers. Del-Mon looked around, all his senses alert. He could hear no sound other than Aro-Ken's breathing at his side.
"Where is it?" the boy asked.
"It must be a shadow. Be ready," Del-Mon replied.
He could sense Aro-Ken's anxiety, and could tell that he was afraid of the Shadowraith. Del-Mon sensed it coming closer and closer.
He looked on the ground, and spotted the shadow of the trellis shifting.
"There!" he said, pointing it out to Aro-Ken.
Almost instantly the boy fell to his knees. His lightsaber landed in the grass, starting to scorch it away as he released it to clutch his skull.
Del-Mon could feel Aro-Ken's pain in his mind. He had never had a kind of connection like this with anyone but his old Master and his two former Padawans.
He looked back to the shadow, and saw it suddenly leap from the ground, taking its natural form. Its glaring red eyes flashed towards him and it extended a hand as Del-Mon charged at it.
The Jedi found himself shoved backwards off his feet. He flew through the air and collided with the large fountain in the center of the room so hard that some of the stone crumbled and broke away.
Dazed, he struggled to his feet, knowing he had to help Aro-Ken. The Shadowraith must have thought he was unconscious because it was looking away from him and approaching Aro-Ken.
Del-Mon seized his lightsaber from where it had fallen and ran at the Shadowraith once more, yelling as he slashed as hard as he could with his blade.
He felt it go through flesh and bone, and half of the Shadowraith's lower arm fell to the ground, spilling black blood about.
The creature turned to Del-Mon and began to advance on him, releasing Aro- Ken from his torture.
Aro-Ken stayed on his hands and knees for a moment, gasping for breath.
"Aro-Ken, get out of here!" Del-Mon shouted at him.
The boy gave him a questioning look, and Del-Mon knew that he wanted to help him.
"Go now! Get to the Council, tell them we are under attack and hurry!" Del- Mon yelled.
Aro-Ken pulled himself up and frantically looked back and forth from Del- Mon to the garden door.
"Don't worry about me, just go!" Del-Mon roared at him.
The Shadowraith had reached into the folds of its large black robes with its good hand and pulled out a lightsaber, which it activated and pointed at Del-Mon. The blade was black, which did not surprise him. It cast a dark glow over the grass, making it look as though a shadow was consuming it.
Instantly it lunged at Del-Mon, who jumped aside and tried to thrust in an attack. It was easily blocked, and the Shadowraith swung, making Del-Mon's hands shake as the two lightsaber collided.
Del-Mon managed to glance where Aro-Ken had been a moment ago, and discovered he was gone.
"Good, the boy finally had enough sense to leave," Del-Mon thought to himself. "Reminds me of me at his age."
He shook his head, clearing his mind and focusing on the duel once more. He jumped and ducked gracefully, all his moves synchronizing together. They were so natural, so skilled, that they seemed to flow together like water.
Unfortunately, Del-Mon's opponent seemed to be doing the same thing. And he was tiring, slowly but surely.
Suddenly, in an unexpected move, the Shadowraith dropped to the floor, and disappeared, becoming a shadow.
Del-Mon froze. "Sith," he muttered. He looked around, and saw that the Shadowraith must be blending in with another real shadow, because he saw no patch of black on the ground that looked out of place.
Suddenly, he heard a slight rustle of cloth behind him and whirled around just in time to move his lightsaber to block another hard slash.
Only this time, his lightsaber was smashed from his hand, and Del-Mon found himself on the ground with the force of the powerful attack.
Frantically, he reached out with the Force to seize his lightsaber again, but the Shadowraith beat him to it. He watched powerlessly as the Shadowraith clipped it to its own belt, and then drew back its lightsaber, preparing to plunge it into Del-Mon's throat.
He closed his eyes and turned his head away, preparing for the pain.
Suddenly, a voice shouted, "NO!"
Both Del-Mon and the Shadowraith turned, and saw Aro-Ken charging towards them, his lightsaber raised. Before the Shadowraith could react, it found a blue blade jammed into its abdomen.
Glaring menacingly at the dark creature with his teeth clenched, Aro-Ken pulled his lightsaber free, and the Shadowraith fell to the ground.
Aro-Ken let out a sigh of relief, and Del-Mon got to his feet, grabbing his lightsaber from the dead Shadowraith's belt.
"I thought I told you to go to the Council," Del-Mon said to Aro-Ken.
"I was on my way, and then I sensed something. I sensed that you were in danger, I knew I had to help you. You would have died if I didn't," the boy explained.
"Yes, you're right. Thank you, Aro-Ken. Now come, we must get to the Council," said Del-Mon.
They left the room at a slight jog, neither of them noticing as the shadow of a large muja fruit bush crept across the floor behind them.
When they were about halfway there, Aro-Ken said, "I feel cold, Master Wesia."
Del-Mon slowed a bit. "So do I. We are being followed," he said, turning around.
He spotted the shadow of a table shift a bit before freezing.
"It's the table's shadow. Run, Aro-Ken," he said before taking off himself.
They dashed along the corridors, Aro-Ken going as fast as he could and Del- Mon slowing his pace slightly so the boy could keep up.
Suddenly, as they went around a corner, the both halted. Four Shadowraiths were standing in the hallway in front of them, and the one that had been pursuing them in its shadow form halted behind them.
As both began to grab their lightsabers, the Shadowraiths all attacked simultaneously.
Aro-Ken staggered backwards and leaned heavily against a wall, shouting and clutching his head again. Del-Mon could slightly feel the splitting pain in the boy's skull.
The Jedi shot through the air suddenly, colliding with a metal door. He slumped to the ground, and before he could move he felt pain, excruciating pain in his skull.
He allowed himself to shout. He dropped his deactivated lightsaber to the ground and clutched his head as well. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aro-Ken fall flat, unconscious.
One of the Shadowraiths came forward and seized his limp form.
"NO!" Del-Mon shouted.
The pain overwhelmed him, and he collapsed, darkness invading his mind and consuming the world around him.
* * *
Well, what did you think? Feedback would be nice! I'm open to everything! You can say you hated my fic, complain about the cliffhanger, or anything you want! I really don't care! And I've decided to go along with other author's ideas of including my reviewers' names in the next chapter! Could it get any better than that?
Roses are red violets are blue.
Me no own so you no sue.
(I did not write this disclaimer myself, I read it on a Zelda fic but it summarizes everything. Whoever made up this disclaimer, please don't sue me!)
AN: Thanks a lot Jacen200015 and Teekoness for your reviews that made me want to keep writing so much! (You'd be amazed at how much you can write on a snow day!)
By the way, my response to Jacen200015's comment on chapter 5: The thing was in its shadow form (will be explained in this chapter) and he can't fight what he can't see! Don't worry, Aro and Del will both fight the Shadowraiths eventually. Now, on with the fic!
CHAPTER SEVEN
Del-Mon swiftly jumped aside, avoiding the attack. He quickly stepped back in and gave his opponent, Mace Windu, no chance to attack again as he swung his radiant green lightsaber about.
The two were engaged in a quick, five-touch bout in the gymnasium with their powered-down lightsabers. The score was tied at four touches to four touches.
The two men had both kicked off their boots and their shirts lay next to each other on a bench.
He did a quick and agile flip and twisted around, going clear over his opponent. He landed and tried to throw in a quick slash, but it did not work. Mace spun around on his heel and blocked the attack, this time managing to thrust his weapon out.
Del-Mon easily parried, and met the attack with a quick spin of his lightsaber, flicking Mace's weapon from his hand. Before he could use the Force to recall it as it skittered across the floor, Del-Mon held his blade at Mace's throat.
Mace smiled. "You win, friend."
Del-Mon returned the grin. "You are a formidable opponent, Mace," he said.
"Why thank you," said Mace.
They both deactivated their lightsabers and respectfully bowed to each other.
"May I suggest that next time you keep a better grip on your weapon?" said Del-Mon as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt and sat down on the bench.
Mace laughed, sitting next to him. "Yes, I will remember that next time," he replied as they both pulled on their boots.
Del-Mon said nothing as he reached for his shirt.
"So no apprentice this time, Del-Mon?" asked Mace.
"No, Mace, I'm not taking an apprentice and nothing you can say will change that," said Del-Mon.
"Are you sure? I noticed you were wavering towards Aro-Ken a bit," said Mace.
"Mace, I will not take the boy. He cannot control his emotions, he may turn to the Dark Side," said Del-Mon.
"Now Del-Mon, you don't know that. The other Masters sense that great things will come from him," said Mace.
"How can that happen when he is all ready on a transport to Taylon?" asked Del-Mon.
"Well, there have been famous farmers and agriculturists," commented Mace.
Del-Mon sighed in frustration. "Mace, I have told the exact same thing to Aro-Ken. I am not taking an apprentice," he said.
"All right, you win," Mace said, watching as Del-Mon rose and walked towards the door.
"For now!" he called just as Del-Mon started to close the door.
Del-Mon decided to take the long way back to his quarters. He went down the long hallways, deep in thought.
What if he had taken Aro-Ken? What if Mace was right? What if he'd just thrown away the best Padawan he'd ever have?
As he walked, not focusing on the path at all, the very person he'd just been thinking about crashed right into him at a full run.
Getting over his shock quickly, Del-Mon helped him up. "Aro-Ken? What are you doing here? I thought your transport left all ready," he said.
"Yeah, so… So did I," Aro-Ken panted.
"What are you doing here?" Del-Mon repeated.
"There's… There's something after me… I'm not… I'm not sure what it is," the boy panted.
Del-Mon took a quick glance down the corridor. He felt a chill all of the sudden. Something was not right. Something was seriously wrong in the Temple.
"We should get out of the hallway. Follow me," he said.
They quickly rounded the corner, heading for the garden. Near the entranceway to the garden were vines growing on a trellis that were known as balao vines. They produced beautiful blossoms at the right season, and were also connected to the Force. They seemed to come alive when the Dark Side was near, and would move, alerting people of its presence.
The garden was a very large room with a glass roof. Trees, vines, flowers, and bushes of all kinds grew in the soil. Every place that was not occupied with a plant had grass planted in it. The pleasant aromas of the herbs and flowers, and constant sound of flowing water from the one large fountain gave the room a peaceful feel.
"All right, what does this pursuer look like?" Del-Mon asked as they headed to the center of the room.
"It's… It's dressed in these black robes, and its… Its skin is black and really cold… I don't know how it got on the transport… It flung Master Dondora against a wall after it… Just looked at him, and it did something to Master Runa and her Padawan… I tried to run away, but there was another that grabbed me," Aro-Ken explained.
"Oh Sith," Del-Mon muttered.
"What was it?" Aro-Ken asked.
"A Shadowraith. They're very rare, but very dangerous. They have found a way to connect to the Dark Side without being consumed," said Del-Mon.
"When we were in the air, it did something and we shot right down to the landing pad. How did it do that?" Aro-Ken asked.
"Shadowraiths can become shadows, and make anything they touch a shadow as well. It must have done that," explained Del-Mon.
"What was it after me for?" asked Aro-Ken.
"Probably one of three things. Either it was randomly selecting a hostage, it wants to convert you, or for whatever reason it wishes to kill you," answered Del-Mon.
Aro-Ken's eyes went wide.
"What should I do?"
"I'm not sure. But we should get to the Council immediately," said Del-Mon.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound near the door to the garden. Del-Mon felt cold. He looked, and saw that the balao vines were moving, coiling in and out of the trellis and occasionally closing their blossoms.
"It's here," Aro-Ken whispered.
Both of them instinctively ignited their lightsabers. Del-Mon looked around, all his senses alert. He could hear no sound other than Aro-Ken's breathing at his side.
"Where is it?" the boy asked.
"It must be a shadow. Be ready," Del-Mon replied.
He could sense Aro-Ken's anxiety, and could tell that he was afraid of the Shadowraith. Del-Mon sensed it coming closer and closer.
He looked on the ground, and spotted the shadow of the trellis shifting.
"There!" he said, pointing it out to Aro-Ken.
Almost instantly the boy fell to his knees. His lightsaber landed in the grass, starting to scorch it away as he released it to clutch his skull.
Del-Mon could feel Aro-Ken's pain in his mind. He had never had a kind of connection like this with anyone but his old Master and his two former Padawans.
He looked back to the shadow, and saw it suddenly leap from the ground, taking its natural form. Its glaring red eyes flashed towards him and it extended a hand as Del-Mon charged at it.
The Jedi found himself shoved backwards off his feet. He flew through the air and collided with the large fountain in the center of the room so hard that some of the stone crumbled and broke away.
Dazed, he struggled to his feet, knowing he had to help Aro-Ken. The Shadowraith must have thought he was unconscious because it was looking away from him and approaching Aro-Ken.
Del-Mon seized his lightsaber from where it had fallen and ran at the Shadowraith once more, yelling as he slashed as hard as he could with his blade.
He felt it go through flesh and bone, and half of the Shadowraith's lower arm fell to the ground, spilling black blood about.
The creature turned to Del-Mon and began to advance on him, releasing Aro- Ken from his torture.
Aro-Ken stayed on his hands and knees for a moment, gasping for breath.
"Aro-Ken, get out of here!" Del-Mon shouted at him.
The boy gave him a questioning look, and Del-Mon knew that he wanted to help him.
"Go now! Get to the Council, tell them we are under attack and hurry!" Del- Mon yelled.
Aro-Ken pulled himself up and frantically looked back and forth from Del- Mon to the garden door.
"Don't worry about me, just go!" Del-Mon roared at him.
The Shadowraith had reached into the folds of its large black robes with its good hand and pulled out a lightsaber, which it activated and pointed at Del-Mon. The blade was black, which did not surprise him. It cast a dark glow over the grass, making it look as though a shadow was consuming it.
Instantly it lunged at Del-Mon, who jumped aside and tried to thrust in an attack. It was easily blocked, and the Shadowraith swung, making Del-Mon's hands shake as the two lightsaber collided.
Del-Mon managed to glance where Aro-Ken had been a moment ago, and discovered he was gone.
"Good, the boy finally had enough sense to leave," Del-Mon thought to himself. "Reminds me of me at his age."
He shook his head, clearing his mind and focusing on the duel once more. He jumped and ducked gracefully, all his moves synchronizing together. They were so natural, so skilled, that they seemed to flow together like water.
Unfortunately, Del-Mon's opponent seemed to be doing the same thing. And he was tiring, slowly but surely.
Suddenly, in an unexpected move, the Shadowraith dropped to the floor, and disappeared, becoming a shadow.
Del-Mon froze. "Sith," he muttered. He looked around, and saw that the Shadowraith must be blending in with another real shadow, because he saw no patch of black on the ground that looked out of place.
Suddenly, he heard a slight rustle of cloth behind him and whirled around just in time to move his lightsaber to block another hard slash.
Only this time, his lightsaber was smashed from his hand, and Del-Mon found himself on the ground with the force of the powerful attack.
Frantically, he reached out with the Force to seize his lightsaber again, but the Shadowraith beat him to it. He watched powerlessly as the Shadowraith clipped it to its own belt, and then drew back its lightsaber, preparing to plunge it into Del-Mon's throat.
He closed his eyes and turned his head away, preparing for the pain.
Suddenly, a voice shouted, "NO!"
Both Del-Mon and the Shadowraith turned, and saw Aro-Ken charging towards them, his lightsaber raised. Before the Shadowraith could react, it found a blue blade jammed into its abdomen.
Glaring menacingly at the dark creature with his teeth clenched, Aro-Ken pulled his lightsaber free, and the Shadowraith fell to the ground.
Aro-Ken let out a sigh of relief, and Del-Mon got to his feet, grabbing his lightsaber from the dead Shadowraith's belt.
"I thought I told you to go to the Council," Del-Mon said to Aro-Ken.
"I was on my way, and then I sensed something. I sensed that you were in danger, I knew I had to help you. You would have died if I didn't," the boy explained.
"Yes, you're right. Thank you, Aro-Ken. Now come, we must get to the Council," said Del-Mon.
They left the room at a slight jog, neither of them noticing as the shadow of a large muja fruit bush crept across the floor behind them.
When they were about halfway there, Aro-Ken said, "I feel cold, Master Wesia."
Del-Mon slowed a bit. "So do I. We are being followed," he said, turning around.
He spotted the shadow of a table shift a bit before freezing.
"It's the table's shadow. Run, Aro-Ken," he said before taking off himself.
They dashed along the corridors, Aro-Ken going as fast as he could and Del- Mon slowing his pace slightly so the boy could keep up.
Suddenly, as they went around a corner, the both halted. Four Shadowraiths were standing in the hallway in front of them, and the one that had been pursuing them in its shadow form halted behind them.
As both began to grab their lightsabers, the Shadowraiths all attacked simultaneously.
Aro-Ken staggered backwards and leaned heavily against a wall, shouting and clutching his head again. Del-Mon could slightly feel the splitting pain in the boy's skull.
The Jedi shot through the air suddenly, colliding with a metal door. He slumped to the ground, and before he could move he felt pain, excruciating pain in his skull.
He allowed himself to shout. He dropped his deactivated lightsaber to the ground and clutched his head as well. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aro-Ken fall flat, unconscious.
One of the Shadowraiths came forward and seized his limp form.
"NO!" Del-Mon shouted.
The pain overwhelmed him, and he collapsed, darkness invading his mind and consuming the world around him.
* * *
Well, what did you think? Feedback would be nice! I'm open to everything! You can say you hated my fic, complain about the cliffhanger, or anything you want! I really don't care! And I've decided to go along with other author's ideas of including my reviewers' names in the next chapter! Could it get any better than that?