They just stood there for one moment, one moment of looking at each other. Right into each other's eyes, at least that's what Ezra was doing. He couldn't see Vader's eyes but he knew, he just knew that unlike last time he now had the Sith Lords full attention. In a way it felt good, that Vader cared enough to give him all his focus or that he thought Ezra was a big enough danger to him. Right now, he did not want to disappoint him.

He took one more breath before he leaped, his fighting style focused on aggression, using your strength and the force to overwhelm your opponent. Unfortunately, when their blades clashed as Ezra reached him, it was immediately understood that Vader had the advantage in strength so he had to make a change. He pulled back for a moment and attacked again but this time the blades didn't meet for more than a moment he pulled back and slashed from a different angle. He needed to use speed instead if he wanted to win this. As their blades met Ezra pulled back instantly and swiped his blade sideways.

Vader's own weapon met his and so he repeated the process again and again. Their weapons of light met a dozen more times before the Dark Lord started to move forward, Ezra didn't have choice other than step back as he moved in order to keep distance between them otherwise, he himself would be over whelmed. He held his blue saber with both hands and when he swung, he used a lot of his strength but Vader just batted his weapon aside with his own lazy swings from his red saber which he held with his right hand.

Ezra wasn't fooling himself, he was paying all of his attention to this fight but he was taught through experience that when in any type of fight, you should always mind your surroundings which is what led Ezra to notice that even though he was completely surrounded on all sides by what seemed to at least several squads of troopers, two of those what he can only assume are some type of elite trooper dressed in the same colors as the inquisitors but they held a type of light saber pike and three drop ships that where hovering overhead.

All of this and they weren't attacking, they were barely moving. It's as if Vader told them not to attack, which meant two things; he was wanted alive or Vader wanted to kill him himself. Neither could happen, Ezra wouldn't let it happen but as he was being pushed back, he realized that this was a very shitty situation. He didn't come into this with a backup plan, he just acted on instinct when he saw what was about to happen.

Deciding that he needed to regained some ground, as Vader slashed at him for a change Ezra didn't block him rather than ducked under the attack and moved in closer, he twisted his body and somehow made it past Vader's guard for a moment they were back to back, they both turned around at the same time and they both acted differently. Ezra used the force to augment his legs and leaped upwards while using his Saber to block the blind strike from his opponent.

Ezra's knee connected with the underside of Vader's helmet causing his head to snap backwards and Ezra could have sworn he heard a grunt come from the Sith Lord, that was forced to take a step back in order to steady himself. He didn't go much further up in the air, maybe ten or so feet before he started to fall back down. As he started to descend, his body twisted and his saber was raised for a downwards strike at the Sith lord who only now looked up to him. Though Ezra realized his mistake only when it was too late, this wouldn't work if Vader knew he was coming and he did, now he was committed to a move that his enemy knew was coming.

Vader batted Ezra's weapon aside and then stepped to the left causing him to land in his feet but before he could even stand up straight a large hand landed on the back of his neck. The first thing Ezra felt was the crushing sensation that blocked his breathing, then his body flying backwards through the air. He caught a brief glimpse of Vader's outstretched hand and all the troopers before his back crashed into what he could only assume was a vehicle. There was a slight daze to him as he fell forward onto his stomach.

He wasn't knocked out, after a few seconds he started to pick himself back up but when he looked forward positioned on his knees his vision was obscured by the Sith "I may have been mistaken for trying to kill on you Lothal" he said in his deep voice as he walked calmly towards him, his cape swaying in the wind and his red blade placing a glow on his face "you show much potential" Ezra stood up and swung again, though this was a lazy and easily seen attack that Vader blocked with ease "yes" he said as Ezra pulled back and attacked again "use your hatred, allow it to fill you, give you strength"

As he spoke, Ezra couldn't help but get angrier and angrier. Was this just a joke to him, a fucking lesson and as much as he hated to admit it. The more mad he got, the stronger he felt, it was like a drug, was this the dark side? He took another mad swing but this time it was one handed. When Vader blocked it, Ezra thrusted his left hand forward towards Vader's chest, he was trying to use the force to push him back just like he did on Lothal but something else happened. Something he just couldn't explain. He felt a tingling sensation that started at his shoulder and made its way down his arm until it reached the tip of his fingers, then it happened.

A blast of what can only be described as lightening shot out of his fingers and connected with the Sith Lords chest. As it connected Vader let lose a pained yell as he was forced to take a couple of steps back. He didn't know why it stopped a few moments later but he assumed that he was so surprised by the outcome that was the cause of his loss of focus.

Vader's knees bent as he tried to steady himself, his breathing that was once a harrowing sound that could fill children's nightmares. Now it just sounded broken but weirdly, it sounded more human as well, there was something less machine about it. The worst think was that Ezra new this would be the best chance he had to attack but he was so shocked all he could do was stare at his hand.

It was only when the force screamed at him that he was able to take his eyes away from his hand and almost without thinking dived sideways in order to avoid the red saber that was flying towards him. However, as he was still in the air, Vader's left hand shot outwards and Ezra's entire body was encased in the force and was showed backwards much like before, if he didn't know any better, he would say that he was pushed back into the say vehicle as before. Expect this time he didn't fall forward, in fact the large dent he now doubt made when he first mashed against it was now so big Ezra didn't slide down to the ground but now rested on top of it.

From his sitting position within the broken beyond repair... speeder? He guessed. He watched as Vader walked towards him but his whole demeaner was different, instead of calmly walking like before he was now stomping with clenched fists, the very force around him seemed to shimmer around him with rage.

But he couldn't stop, he came here to save the woman who raised him and he wouldn't let anything stop him. His own bruised face started to snarl as he picked himself off the speeder ignoring the pain that spread all over his body as he did. Opening his hand, his saber lifted off of the ground by his feet and flew to his hand. He took the final step between them and attacked; Vader blocked him without any effort and went on the attack himself.

It took everything Ezra had to block the attacks but he knew all it would take is a little bit more power and nothing would stop Vader from forcing his own saber back into his own body. What Ezra could only describe as payback Vader battered his saber aside and upper cut Ezra with a force augmented fist, causing him to fly over the speeder. He landed on his back against the concrete, he only just picked himself up as the speeder was lifted off the ground. Vader used the force to rip it in two.

Ezra lifted up his saber which magically remained in his hand as he was punched. He took a ready stance as the Sith threw them at Ezra, he was able to sidestep the first but the second smashed into his chest knocking him even further back into what he can only assume was a building.

This time when he landed on the ground face first, he knew that he was down, he didn't even want to think about how many of his bones where broken. It took everything he had to look up and see his Saber a few feet in front of him and black boots a meter or two further than that. Slowly he started to crawl forward, he couldn't give up, he couldn't let him near her. He wouldn't lose her again.

"such persistence" Vader said as he walked closer, Ezra just ignored him as he continued to reach out to his weapon "there was not this much commitment at our last meeting" he added as Ezra used the force the pull his Saber to him, it slowly skirted across the ground past Vader's feet which he didn't even try to stop, like he knew Ezra wasn't a threat at this point "why is that?" he asked just as the weapon made to his hand. But before he could even activate it Vader reached down and grabbed him by the neck "what gives you such drive?" he asked lifting him up and holding him right in his face, in the light he could even see his own bruised and broken face in the dark helmet.

"I..." he started but stopped as he coughed up some blood "I... won't let you take her from me again" he said though he couldn't help but feel surprised that he was asking.

"her?" he asked.

Ezra's eyes rose to meet the eye plates of the Sith's "my mother" he snarled.

If it wasn't for Ezra's nearly broken like state, he wouldn't have noticed it. Since he was captured by the empire before the Grand Inquisitor died. Kanan said that since Ezra had a good connection to the force, he didn't need to focus on it in order to find some pain relief, once he did it a time after time when he's been injured in the past on other missions, he just started to do it subconsciously.

As he hung there in Vader's grip, he could feel through the force that something was different with the Sith, he wasn't angry anymore. It's as if it all just evaporated and was replaced with something else. Ezra took that opportunity to try and strike Vader down, waving his saber to try and end its life.

As the weapon nearly made contact with Vader's arm, it froze from an outside force that was tightening around his arm barely an inch away from contacting him. The grip around his neck tightened causing him to chock. Vader quickly turned and threw Ezra to the ground in front of a squad of troopers "restrain him" he ordered and he felt himself being picked up and roughly dragged to his knees before his hands where placed in heavy bolted cuffs that were used on him the last time he was captured "tell the pilot to set a course to my ship"

He didn't have the strength in his neck to look up at the Sith lord but he could hear the heavy boots of him as he walked past "I want him in the brig under constant guard and keep him restrained at all times"

To pairs of hands grabbed him from both sides and dragged him backwards on to what he could only assume was a type of shuttle, all he could do right now was rest knowing that he would need his strength for what is to come next. If it was anything like last time, he probably won't survive long and if what he's learnt about Vader is true, he would last even less than that. The only thing he could take solace in was that he did what he set out to do, he saved his mother, she got away. He was sure of it. There was no way she would even be a priority once a Jedi was spotted.

He could feel the shuttle take up off the ground but he couldn't find himself to care. He just needed to conserve his strength.

He didn't know how long he was traveling for, couldn't have been more than a few minutes but what was abundantly clear was that the ship left the dome.

"so, what do you think's gonna happen to him?" he heard one of the trooper's whisper.

"Lord Vader wants him" another said "that's enough for me to know that I don't want to know"

"Quite" a deeper voice said.

Ezra's curiosity got the better of him and so he couldn't help himself from turning his head and looking up. He shouldn't have been surprised that it was one of those black armored Lightsaber pike guys, though now he wished he didn't look because as soon as the guy saw him looking his foot came up and smashed against his face.


All he could see is the gray that was the shuttles roof 'target is restrained'

...

His head rocked side to side as the burly figures rocked with it 'unknown contacts'

...

Blasts of fire came from the right-side of his field of view 'INCOMING FIRE!'

...

Heavy wind hit the side of his head, he subconsciously turned to see the Horizen as the sun started to set 'WE'RE GOING DOWN!'

...

He could feel himself being dragged across the rocky ground, the fire that he could make out at the bottom of his field of vision getting smaller 'protect the asset'

...

More blaster fire went across his eye line and the screams of people he didn't know. The last thing before he saw was the bruised face of the woman he hasn't seen in a very long, all he got was a wave of orange hair before he embraced the darkness "Ezzy?" the voice said.


The first thing he felt was a small and gentle breeze making its way across his face and chest. Accompanying that sensation was the soft feeling of cotton pressed against his back, he felt comfortable. The only thing missing was the ecstasy that would come from the warm body of his lover that was pressed against his own.

Finding the strength he needed to open his eyes, he was met with a field of beige. There was some blurriness that came with it but he was use to that at this point. After a couple moments his eye sight seemed to heal itself and he was able to get a good view of what he was looking at, it was either a type of cloth or leather, a soft flapping sound hit his ears and he was able to lift his head slightly in order to see what was making that noise 'I'm in a tent?' he realized confused. The last thing he could remember was the boot of that special type of stormtrooper smashing into his nose, why would he be in a tent and not some top-secret facility with Vader standing over him.

That was when the rest of his mind caught up with him and he remembered his moments in-between consciousness, most importantly. The face that was hovering above him. His facial expression turned into one of shock and awe, his mother? She was there?

Knowing that she or the ones with her must have had something to do with his rescue, he somehow found the strength to sit up and ignored the bandages that where wrapped around his torso and stood up. It took a long more strength then he would like to admit. The roof of the tent kept himself from standing completely straight, turning around he saw that there was nothing in there with him expect for some medical equipment, his pants and boots which he had on but his lightsaber, blasters, everything else was gone. He limped on forward and exited the comfort of the tent.

He stepped outside to what he could only describe as a type of militia camp. There were dozens of more tents, must have been over a hundred men and woman, all completely armed and armored all walking around doing different tasks, above his head he saw several different star-fighters in similar deigns to his own. Movement caught his ears and he turned his head to see two guards that where standing on either side of his tents opening, both turning to look at him.

Without a moment of hesitation, they both placed a closed fist on their chest and dipped their heads. However what Ezra just now noticed was what the emblems on their shoulders, they were different. Glancing over his shoulder he saw that everyone walking about all wore different emblems, showing that everyone was from different clans and houses 'what is this place?' he couldn't help but ask himself. A type of resistance, or full scale rebellion. He didn't know.

"where is she?" he asked immediately.

"sir?" the one on the left asked in a professional manner.

"Bo-Katan" he stressed.

The two looked at each other before the one on the right responded "Lady Katan in the main command tent" she said pointing to a direction behind him.

Taking an anxious breath, he nodded and turned around heading deeper into the camp. He walked past dozens of different Mando's all of which gave him at least a sideways glance, making it clear that they all had an idea who he was, it was either Bo-Katan's son or a Jedi which he didn't exactly hide. Hell, it could have been both.

He couldn't help but notice that as he got closer to this command tent where his mother was, it didn't help that he past hundreds of tents as he walked. But his mother wasn't in any of them. No, the force was guiding him now and he wasn't going to try and question it.

He walked for another few minutes before someone's voice hit his ears "we're going to need to retreat and re-group" he stopped walking, his entire body froze. It almost felt like the force itself just stopped. Turning his head to the right he saw the open flaps of a large tent that was well lit with a holo table in the middle of it. On the opposite side of that table, he saw her with clear eyes. She had both hands on the table looking at it intently "we still have spies within the city" she spoke, her voice becoming more and more clear the closer he got "they'll lay low and give us a way in once we have enough forces to take back the dome"

He could see more and more people within the tent as he got closer, if he had to take a guess, he would say that these are the heads of the Houses that rejected the empire's rule over Mandalore. Seemed to be around seven, either that or they were lieutenants of some sort "we have the recourses to get us all out of the system" a man's voice he didn't recognize said "that's assuming the empire doesn't immediately send that super dreadnought they have in high orbit and we get packed up within the next hour"

Her face grimaced as she sighed, the bruising and damage still very present on her face "then we need to hurry, once we're ready well make course for Concord Dawn. The Protectors may have sided with the Empire but they're not stupid, they won't attack an entire fleet of Mandalorian ships and by the time the reinforcements they request get there we'll be long gone" all those around her nodded in agreement as he stood in front of the tent.

She looked up and her eyes met his, there was a moment of silence as they starred at each other. Her face not changing in the slightest "what are you waiting for? GO, WE'RE ON A CLOAK!" she yelled getting them all to move, before they did, each of them gave her a salute before moving. Each one of them not even giving Ezra a glance as they all walked past. Once they were gone Ezra stepped inside.

Neither one of them spoke first, they just looked at each other for a few moments. Katan slowly stepped around the table until stood calmly off the corner nearest him, without a word she slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out a very familiar Kyber crystal that was attached to a thread of leather turning it into a necklace. Looked at it in her hand for a moment before looking up at him with eyes that started to water "Ezzy?" she asked in nothing but a small whisper.

Ezra gave her a small smile before speaking "mother"

That seemed to be all she needed, Katan stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ezra realized a breath he didn't know he was holding in as he hugged her back. That right there was a moment Ezra knew he would never forget, a part of him asked himself whether or not this was a dream, like the ones he used to have when he was younger, after he was first left on Lothal. He felt a wetness on his cheeks but he didn't know if that was from tears or the kiss she just gave him.

It was another moment before he heard her chuckle, Ezra couldn't help but smile from the simple sound of her laughing "you've grown" she said pulling away looking up at him "strong" she looked down to his exposed chest and arms "I knew you would survive"

He found himself laughing at her words "yeah, been a busy year"

"I'm glad you took my advice, trusted in the force" she added reaching up and placing the necklace around his neck. That was when the smile left her face and a furious scowl made its way to her face "but don't you ever risk yourself like that again" she stepped away from him and moved to the opposite end of the table "not for me"

Ezra frowned himself as he looked at her as she gazed down at the map "what did you expect me to do?" he asked taking a step closer and placing both his hands on the table "just stand by and watch while he killed you?"

She looked up and met his gaze, her task of trying to plan what Ezra could guess was the evacuation "You weren't supposed to be there in the first place" she reached behind her and pulled something from the back of her belt. He couldn't help but sigh in relief that it was safe.

She pushed the button at the top of the hilt and a blue glow illuminated the tent "least of all, with this. Where did you get it?" she asked as she stared at the blade.

"I built it" he answered back honestly "and before you ask my master has been teaching me how to use it" he added.

Katan switched off the blade and placed it on the table "Ezra, I sent you to Lothal so you would be safe, so they wouldn't find you" she frowned again "not so you could shout out 'I'm the empire's number one target, come and get me'"

"I wasn't safe" he said back causing her to frown but unlike before this wasn't in anger but instead confusion and he knew that he had to continue "Mira and Ephraim" he started before taking a moment to sight with his head down "they were taken by the empire about three years after you left me with them" he said.

She was quite for a few moments "captured" she repeated in a quiet voice receiving a nod in return "so, it's safe to assume they're..."

"yeah" he said, as much as he hated to say it. Being in prison for so long by the empire, it was a fool's hope "I've been on my own up until about a year ago"

There were a few moments of silence as he gave her time to process that little bit of information, he couldn't blame her for that. He's had a while to do that, she turned around and without wasting a second, she slammed her fist into a table knocking all of its contents to the ground with a rattle. It was another few moment with of silence were the only sound was Katan's heavy breathing "please tell me there was someone who looked after you" she said.

Ezra's mind went to Zeebo and how he didn't keep his word "no, I was on my own" he admitted. He didn't know what was going through her head when it dipped even further exposing the back of her neck.

"So not only where the ones I asked to look after you get themselves taken, they didn't even make a plan encase they did get captured" she turned around but she was leaning back against the table she just smashed with her fist. The face looked between a mix of hatred and sadness.

"what they did" he started taking a step forward "they did because they believed it to be right" Ezra would be the first to say that he was resentful of the Brigders for what they did but he also knew without a shadow of a doubt they did it because they wanted to help "they were fighting the good fight" he admitted.

Her brows knitted as she stood on her own weight and leaned forward placing both her hands on the table in front of her in the middle of the tent floor "they shouldn't have been fighting anyone, they had a child to raise"

"raise your child when you couldn't because you were too busy fighting?" he asked sarcastically crossing his arms, not an easy thing to do when he was pretty sure he had a fracture in his arms.

She became very still when the words left his mouth. Her eyes locked on his and the anger he felt within her was potent "Leaving you there was without a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done" she said "I didn't sleep without tears in my eyes for months after, but I did what I had to do because I had a responsibility to all of them" she pointed behind him towards all the Mando's still moving about quickly "all of those people look to me to lead them and I no matter what anyone says, no matter how many times I tell myself. The Empire was here for you!" she wasn't yelling, she wasn't shouting but her voice had an intensity to it that made it clear she didn't need to shout.

"He, was here for you" she snarled, Ezra knew exactly who she was talking about. The one in black, the Sith lord "I had to take you out of there, not just for you but for everyone else" she explained, her voice much more calm despite the anger when she referred to the Sith.

"But why?" he asked back immediately "why me specifically?"

"you cannot possibly ask me that when this" she blindly reached behind her and grabbed his Saber holding it in front of her "is right here"

Ezra took it from her hands before she could continue "Don't lie" he snapped "no-one could have known I was capable of using the force when I was that young and even if they did, we weren't exactly in the best relationship with the republic or the empire or whatever they were at the time, so I doubt someone told them if they knew" he explained, he temper starting to get the better of him.

That was when he saw it, right there in front of him. The fear, in the center of her eyes. She was afraid of something, something he just said "Ezra" she said in a quiet voice taking a step back as the lightsaber fell to her side.

"you're hiding something. Something important from me specifically" he started "there have been signs, notices that there's more to me then even I know. I knew this Senator, Gall Trayvis. Do you know what he called me? Bo Karan's little side project" he said quoting the dead senator "what in the force's name is that about?"

Silence was the only thing that met him, he didn't stop staring at her though, he could see the fear and shock in her eyes "where the hell did you meet Gall?" she asked but Ezra could tell she only said that for one of two reasons. Number one: she was so surprised that Ezra met him that she asked before she even realized that she asked or number 2: she was just trying to do something to derail his train of thought an with that the whole conversation.

"it doesn't matter" he immediately said back "what was he talking about?" he asked again.

"Ezra" she started taking a hesitant step forward but before she could get another word in, they were interrupted.

The tent flap was brushed aside as a Mando wearing an orange coloured armor came in "forgive me for the interruption my lady" he said placing a closed fist on his chest and gave a slight nod "we're another hour away from finishing the evacuation but according to our scout ships in orbit, that dreadnought is heading right for us"

Bo was quite for a moment before responding "we're leaving now" she announced "spread the word, everything that's not packed within the next five minutes gets left behind but prioritize the ships and weapons. We're going to need them"

"yes, my lady" he bowed again before running off.

She turned back to Ezra before taking a step forward, even though he was still closed off and on his toes after what just happened, she did wait to reach up and cup his cheek in her hand "you're right" she said honestly "there are things that I've hidden from you, things you have every right to know but now is not the time" a frown came on Ezra's face but before he could get to angry, she continued "once we're all out of here, on the way to somewhere safe. I'll tell you the truth" she let go of him and walked back to the other side of the table before pulling back a draw and grabbed a white shirt and throwing it at Ezra who caught it "but we need to hurry, we won't stand a chance against that ship" she said before walking out behind him.

Guys, I have no words right now. When I first started this, it was just for kicks, just because I could. But to think that one of my stories is one of the most favourited in a STAR WARS CATEGORY! I am just blown away. Thank you all so much.

But because of that, it's made me realises something. When you like a story on this site, and the writer doesn't update it, it's just annoying and upsetting and I personally hate it, there are so many good stories that are so long and have just a large following and then for no known reason the writer just stops. It sucks and it's even worse when they're the top favourited story. You'd think that because they're on the top that would give them more motivation to continue. That being said, I'm not going to be one of those guys.

So that being said, effective immediately I am putting all my other stories on hold until this one is finished. Now I may but doing one more chapter for my 'Return of Hope' Story but that is just because the next chapter for that one is nearly done.

So, I just wanted to put that out there, anyway let me know when you think in the reviews they really help motivate me to continue faster, if you want to give a little more support then by all means become a subscriber for my Youtube Channel with the same User Name(which does have my reactions for Star Wars Rebels)

P.S I know I said we would find out who Ezra's father is in this chapter but the timing for this chapter to end just felt right but don't worry it will happen next chapter along with Ezra getting back to the Ghost.

I'll see you all in the next chapter and may the force be with you.