A/N:
Sorry about the false alert that upset so many of you.
I separated another chapter, and didn't expect it to alter anyone about it. Won't be doing that again.
So to make up for that, I worked my butt off to get this new chapter out quick.
Hope you enjoy.
Darth Maul felt something... something... hidden... it was the feeling of... absence?
A lesser Sith wouldn't have noticed. However, when it came to Force tracking, there were few as skilled as Darth Maul. He could trace the presence of his prey from light years away... and feel everything going on within a few miles of himself. He was trained as a tracker, a hunter... a predator.
So the void of presence peeked his curiosity... and so... he tracked it...
Revan stopped, feeling the dark approach. Looking at the scouts that accompanied him, he warned, "We've been discovered." The Scout's immediately stopped, awaiting orders. Revan wanted to groan. He never did like the blind obedience so many gave to Jedi. Still it made things easier in situations like this, "Return to your queen. I will deal with this."
• A Few Hours Earlier:
Anakin was pouting something fierce. Revan couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of annoyance... and amusement.
"Why can't I go with you!?" The little boy demanded. "I'm your Padawan, right?"
Revan lost all traces of both emotions, as a frown set his face... that had been... an actual question. The Force agreed it was. The boy was legitimately questioning his place over so small a thing.
"Yes, you're my Padawan, and there will come a day when you'll fight by my side," Revan assured.
Placing a finger under the child's chin. Not allowing the boy to look away... and seeing the first trace of tears sparkle in his eyes. None of Revan's apprentices gave a damn, when they were ordered to stay behind.
Children really were, far more high maintenance then apprentices... was this why Qui-Gon thought Revan was being irresponsible to leave the boy behind?... but he couldn't bring him.
"Today is not that day," Revan informed. "You aren't ready, and I can't risk endangering you. You must stay with the Gongan civilians. Perhaps play with their children."
"While you're all fighting and dying?" Anakin's bottom lip actually trembled.
Revan smiled, feeling the spark of his own pride. "Anakin, if I wanted, I could shatter this world to it's very atoms. Then put it back together with the barest effort. Nothing this mere Sith can throw at me, can hope to challenge my power."
Anakin didn't look convinced. So Revan pulled him into a hug. "I'll be fine, my Padawan, and when you're ready, I'll gleefully bring you with me... but not before. Do my heart a kindness, and stay safe."
• Now:
Maul entered the forest, determined to find the nothing he sensed. Tracking it to a small clearing. There was a young man, sitting on a rock. He looked no older then Maul, himself.
A rather impressive mask was on the boulder beside him... and the human was wearing Sith robes.
"About time you got here," The young human huffed. Despite Maul still being hidden in the trees. "I was getting bored."
"Did Sidious send you?" Maul asked, knowing his master had other apprentices.
The nothing smiled, "Actually, I wanted to see if you would be willing to join my own... private group of force sensitives."
Maul sneered, stepping into the clearing, while igniting his Double-bladed lightsaber.
"So your some uppity pup, backstabbing our master," Maul growled.
The boy shrugged, "I was more willing to give you the chance to step back towards the light."
Maul growled more, but was confused to hear the boy continue.
"But now I see you were never apart of the Jedi. You were sold at a young age, the moment you displayed some aptitude for the Force. That's just how your people are. Males are slaves, good for breeding and dying. Don't you want more then that?"
"You're in my head," Maul accused. "Not very Jedi of you."
"Who said I was a Jedi?" The boy grinned, almost playfully. "There is more in this world then Jedi and Sith. Both paths are too narrow minded for my taste. I walk both roads.
"I sense it in you. You're master calls it weakness, but I can show you the power of your 'bleeding heart'. I could show you how to end Empires, and heal planets. To live in luxury, while giving to those who YOU believe both need, and deserve the help.
"I will show you how to think for yourself, and realize the Force is not a weapon, but a plaything. She wants to be used. She rejoices in it. She is a friend and ally. A playmate around the sandbox of the universe."
The human rose up from the ground, using the force to help him stand.
"You join me, and we will make it a priority to free your brother. As you so desperately want. Fighting, for the sake of fighting, makes you weak. Fighting to protect something you cherish. Well, there is a reason mother bears are so feared."
Maul eyed the strange human. "What, exactly, do you want?"
"To teach you," The boy shrugged. "To open your mind to both roads. To show you balance."
Maul scuffed. Deciding he'd wasted enough time.
He went to attack, but his body froze in place. He couldn't move, couldn't speak.
The boy walked up to him, reach towards his face. "Let me show you." the boy's eyes flashed Sith gold.
The trees began to scream. Maul could feel them, miles and miles of trees, shrieking through the Force.
The entire forests burst apart. Trees and grass,even the creatures taking shelter in them. They screamed, as their bodies were reduced to atoms. A dust storm, of all life for miles around them, raged on.
The dust twisted and flowed through the air. Spiraling around the human boy, that appeared to be in truth... a Dark God of the Sith. Killing all around him with a passing thought. Not even the grass was spared.
Darth Sidious shot up, feeling something... truly frightening. Power even he did not know.
It focused on Naboo. A Dark Sider of uncomprehendible power... but then, just as quickly as the power emerged.
Maul couldn't even tremble, as the would fell to dust... but almost immediately after, it began to swirl around them... the human's eyes turned back to blue... and the dust started to piece itself back together. The entire forest, the grass, even the critters, reassembled themselves... their very atoms guided back where they belonged... as if nothing happened.
If anything, the forest rejoiced at the experience of being atomized. Of temporarily joining with the Force itself.
Once everything was pieced back together, The God, as both creator and destroyer, released Maul, and smiled at him.
The God spoke, "I'd like to teach you, just what 'Balance' means."
Maul stared in awe of such power. Part of him wondering if all that had been in his head. Some illusion for his senses.
Dropping to his knees Maul grabbed a fist full of dirt. Ironically doing more damage to nature, then whatever the hell was in front of him.
"You've learned the dark side fine," The God continued. "Now let me show you how to blend it with the light."
Maul gulped, not meeting the eyes of whatever this thing was.
As Maul considered his words, Revan readied himself. Prepared to kill the man if he didn't say the words that proved he was truly ready to abandon the Dark side.
Then, Maul spoke, "It's... it's too late for me."
Revan grinned, before allowing himself to fall to the floor. Passing out from the strain that put on his body.
A/N:
Revan isn't going to blast through all obstacles, as going up against Sidious, most of those are going to be psychological.
The real question is, should we start praying?
After all, what would Anakin be like, if he fell after being trained by this guy?
