Kyradia felt her head brush against something soft as she opened her eyes, she frowned what had just happened? where was she? She looked around she could see the trees and hills of Odessen how had she gotten out here? She turned to see the large stocky form of a sith pureblood sitting there meditating, Kyradia thought he looked farmiliar he had greying short slicked back hair and long jedi robes.

After a few seconds of silence he turned around with a bright smile "ah you're awake that's good" Kyradia frowned she definitely recognised him but from where

she had to ask even if it was rude "um who are you and uh how did I get here" she'd been in the med bay healing up how did she make it here

the pureblood continued smiling "well it's a shame you don't remember me, to clear that mystery up it's Dzûsa the hero of Tython" Kyradia's eyes widened of course it was wow he had gotten old "and after your little spill I thought I'd bring you somewhere that I like to use to calm down" little spill?

Suddenly it all came flooding back she had told Ashara about Ossus and she'd disappeared she looked around frantically how would she find her now "I'm uh sorry Dzûsa but I can't stay I've gotta go find my friend she's rather upset" Dzûsa's expression didn't change

he nodded "yes she seemed pretty upset when I saw her" Kyradia was only half listening as she was still looking around

Kyradia stammered "wait you know where she is? please please tell me" Kyradia started breathing heavily

Dzûsa took a deep breath "here's the deal I'll tell you if you take a second, think things through and let me help you calm down" Kyradia grimaced was this jedi blackmailing her into therapy.

Kyradia sat down in a huff "fine!" Dzûsa smiled seemingly satisfied with the arrangement

Dzûsa turned to her "so Kyradia what is the issue with the Ashara situation" Kyradia played with her hair awkwardly did she really have to do this

Kyradia sighed "well I uh made a mistake that she disapproves of and now she's super mad at me" hopefully that was enough

Dzûsa raised his eyebrow "Kyradia I'm going to need more than that" damn it what if he was mad too

Kyradia held her arm "well I kinda helped Darth Malgus remove the jedi presence from Ossus" Dzûsa nodded Kyradia couldn't tell if he was angry he was so emotive last time she saw him but now he was so calm

"hmmm yes that does make sense why she would be mad" Kyradia was shocked Dzûsa didn't seem mad at all but jedi was is whole thing

Kyradia stammered "um aren't you upset about what I did" Dzûsa smiled shaking his head

he let out a little hearty chuckle "not particularly the Jedi are just another group of force users with a different name, the faction is not important it's those within it who rise above like Lana and well you" Kyradia felt a small well of pride even if it wasn't deserved, Dzûsa chuckled "and the jedi always find a way to survive I'm not worried"

Kyradia was taken aback he didn't even care "um uh thanks for forgiving me I'm not sure Ashara will have the uh same view" Dzûsa cocked his head with a sympathetic smile

"Kyradia I've been forgiven for doing much worse" Kyradia frowned really Dzûsa the straight edge jedi he chuckled as he saw her expression "I'm assuming you don't know my history, I was a sith prodigy back in the great galactic war I did plenty of awful things, I left my family and everything behind and those jedi still forgave me" Kyradia was shocked she'd never bothered to learn about the hero of Tython was he really once a sith? and a GGW one?

Kyradia looked at the floor "the thing is I don't think I deserve to be forgiven" Dzûsa looked at Kyradia with an understanding smile

he put his hand on her shoulder "everyone deserves to be forgiven Kyradia even if they don't believe it, a very smart blond taught me that" Kyradia chuckled she forgot he was Lana's squeeze no wonder she was so cheerful earlier

Kyradia took a deep breath "uh thanks Dzûsa I think that helped" Kyradia went to stand but Dzûsa stopped her damn it more really?

Dzûsa smiled "just one more thing Kyradia I want you to calm down so I'm gonna teach you a little technique" Kyradia nodded ok that wasn't so bad if it got her the information "close your eyes and try to focus on something you have a connection to, reach out see if you can find it" Kyradia frowned that sounded kinda hard "if it doesn't work no issue it should help your mind get perspective" Kyradia supposed it couldn't hurt. She closed her eyes what should she focus on? something easy something she held close, what about her old nexu teeth necklace that'd do.

She focussed reaching out as she felt her vision shift across the stars she assumed heading to Dathomir that's the last place she'd seen it but to her surprise it went to a different planet on what seemed like a transport ship. She frowned confused suddenly losing the connection and opening her eyes she had to admit she felt calmer.

Dzûsa smiled "did that help" Kyradia nodded she had to admit she felt calmer admittedly a little angry about whoever nicked her necklace

Kyradia turned to Dzûsa "can I pleease know where Ashara is?" Dzûsa's gave a wide grin nodding

"yeah she's just over that ridge" Kyradia sighed of course she should've know

Dzûsa chuckled to himself "good luck Kyradia and I wouldn't mind doing this again if you ever need it" Kyradia considered the idea it wasn't so awful

Kyradia nodded "sure why not" Dzûsa smiled letting her leave.

Kyradia rushed down the hill as quick as her injured stomach would let her until she could see Ashara sitting on a log crying. Kyradia felt so awful why had she kept it from her so long how could she have been so inconsiderate, Kyradia knew how her impulses. Kyradia shuffled up quietly sitting down opposite Ashara.

She didn't say anything until Ashara looked up and saw her, Ashara's face was covered in tears as she stammered "h-how do I keep f-falling for it" Kyradia sighed letting Ashara say her peace "I-I mean every time y-you say you've changed and I just blindly follow you believing everything you say as you manipulate me again" Kyradia knew she was right but she really wasn't trying to this time

Kyradia sighed "Ashara I-I promise this time I really just wanted to see you" that was the truth she knew it was

Ashara frowned her sadness turning to anger "then why didn't you tell me" Kyradia had no right answer for that how could she? she'd messed up so bad

Kyradia stammered "I told you I was scared of what you would say I-I-I'm so sorry it was a terrible thing to do the Jedi didn't deserve that" Kyradia had never agreed with Jedi methods but still she shouldn't have taken such pleasure in it

Ashara grimaced "You think I give a FUCK about the jedi, you used me as your personal 'oh I'm not such a bad person' buffer to feel BETTER about your fight with Kavaraa" Kyradia's eyes widened was that really what she had done? "you don't talk to me for like a year after our reunion and suddenly you want to SEE me all I was to you was away to feel better about the decision YOU regret"

Kyradia was at a loss for words she didn't even realise but she was totally right that was what she'd done even if she hadn't realised "Ashara I-I swear if I did that I didn't mean to seriously as far as I was concerned it was unrelated" she could see the tears welling up in Ashara's eyes again

"but it wasn't Kyradia you know it wasn't you used me for a purpose and only for that, fuck every time you just manipulate me for your purposes" she took a moment to compose herself "and I always fall for it because apparently that's my lot in life to be a stupid sucker" Kyradia had no idea what to do all she wanted was to do whatever she could to help her

Kyradia took a deep breath "I'm sorry Ashara I'm so so sorry I understand if you hate me and never want to see me again" Ashara's anger melted as she began to sob again

Ashara looked at her solemnly "Kyradia, you know you ruined my life right?" Kyradia felt the question hit her like a ton of bricks

She took a deep breath "yeah I know" it was the only fair answer she could give really

Ashara tried her best to compose herself "like I had promise as a Jedi and could've done great things but now I'm just some Jedi who's best friend is a sith who they hate" she took a long sigh "but somehow she always helps them because she's too invested with the idea they could be better, the idea that maybe she didn't throw her life away" Kyradia felt awful she had no idea Ashara had been going through this since they met.

Kyradia had to do this it was the only fair thing "well I can think of two solutions either you keep helping them try to be better and one day they might be an actual decent person, or you leave and the sith won't stop you for fear of manipulating the jedi further" she looked at Ashara dead in the eyes Kyradia was trying her hardest to keep herself together, please please choose the first option.

Ashara looked distraught tears covering her face as she stared back, after a long minute she stood up and began to walk away. Kyradia watched as she walked out of her view, she didn't blame her why would she want to stay Ashara had been right she was just manipulating her so she could feel better about her own shitty decisions. She hoped with every part of her she would come back but knew Ashara wouldn't want to stay with a bitch like her, Kyradia put her head against her knees and softly began to cry…