Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars Rebels or anything affiliated with the show.

Chapter 4

The thick, humid air filled Ezra's lungs as he quickly limped into the wild plains of Attolon, searching for a place to hide from the oncoming storm. His adrenaline was slowly depleting from his encounter with Kanan.

Pausing to catch his breath, Ezra looked to the sky and watched as a brilliant streak of white light zig-zagged across the inky sky, a clap of thunder not far behind. He was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts as a drop of liquid fell onto his cheek. Bracing himself against the sensor, Ezra held his hand out, feeling more drops of rain fall onto his hand.

Karabast. I hope this weather doesn't get bad here.

A roaring clap of thunder reverberated through the sky, shaking the ground beneath Ezra's feet. He groaned in pain as his ankle shifted. Somehow, he could sense that the weather would be even worse here than on his home planet.

Shifting his gaze out to the large coralline plants that littered Attolon, Ezra spotted one that hung low to the ground. Taking a shaky step forward, he stumbled toward the coral. Every step, however, caused him to wince in pain. He hoped he didn't break his ankle.

Ezra paused to rest his leg, lifting it so all his weight remained on his right foot. The rain began to pour heavier, soaking his clothing. A shiver reverberated through his body, causing him to rub his arms in an attempt to warm himself up. He was almost to the coralline canopy. Just a few more feet and then he could sit and calm down.

Now determined more than ever, Ezra started toward the canopy.

One step. Another. Another.

Ezra suddenly stopped, his body going rigid. The static in the air suddenly increased.

Something was wrong.

The force whistled to Ezra and, instinctively, he somersaulted to the side.

A white explosion erupted in front of Ezra, causing him to scream as he was thrown from the explosion. He scrambled back, casting his wide eyes upon the canopy, which had burst into flames. The ground where Ezra was standing was scorched black from the impact of lightning shooting up through the ground. Sparking in the middle of it was the sensor that he was using as support.

Ezra panted heavily as he sat on the ground, clutching his leg tightly. He glanced at his leg, then back at the fried sensor and sighed heavily.

"Now what am I going to do?"

A flash of lightning skimmed across the sky, its counterpart roaring wildly. Ezra shivered, folding his arms over his chest.

'Come on Ezra. Get moving.'

Cautiously, Ezra pulled himself up and stumbled to a standing position, covering his face from the rain that hounded on him. He then started toward another patch of plant life, pushing himself harder to get to his destination. As he slowly approached the overhang of plant life, Ezra began grinding his teeth together as he limped on. The wind was hounding at him, attempting to alter his course. This caused his injury to begin throbbing in irritation. Ezra simply groaned and pressed forward, biting his lip to keep the pain tolerable.

"At least this can't get any worse." Ezra muttered dryly.

As he slowly continued forward, Ezra took note that his leg began shaking the more weight he used on it. Looking down, Ezra took note of how large his ankle appeared as he walked.

'Great. Hera is really going to kill me when she finds out about this.'

Finally reaching the coralline canopy, Ezra ducked under a large piece of coral, entering into the large and openly spacious canopy. He looked up, seeing that the dark brown coral overlapped each other. The rain from outside was repelled by these giant coral leaves. Ezra smiled gratefully, happy to be out of the storm.

Walking deeper into the thickening canopy of coral, Ezra spotted a small area where he could sit and rest peacefully. He anticipated sitting and resting. Getting Kanan's haunting image out of his head would at least be one good thing out of this day.

The crack of another thunderclap shook the landscape, and suddenly, something was amiss. It was as if the Force was blaring a red alert signal in his head once more. Ezra felt the ground start to quake, the dirt beneath his feet shifting. The coral swayed. The rocks and pebbles began jumping.

Ezra gasped as the dirt beneath him gave way, sending him falling down a dark abyss. He screamed as his back smacked against the wall, scraping his head. His body was then forced forward, causing him to scrape the wall face first. He yelped at the contact, covering his face with his hands.

Despite the fear of him falling, along with the pain he was feeling, Ezra could sense the bottom of the cavern approaching. Immediately casting all other thoughts aside, Ezra closed his eyes and focused, using what he learned to land safely.

Ezra forced his hand down, a thick, overwhelming amount of power pushed against the ground, slowing his fall in the process. He squeezed his eyes shut and suddenly, he hit the ground, immediately transitioning into a roll in order to disperse his energy.

Rolling to a halt, Ezra collapsed on the ground, panting heavily. The landing wasn't perfect, but it was better than most.

Coughing, Ezra urged himself upright. It was dark where he was. Too dark to see anything. The only light came from the hole he fell from, and even that, the light was faint.

Groaning, Ezra sat back against the wall, hissing at the throb of pain from his head. Cautiously he went to touch it and retracted his hand. Glancing down, he could see a darker hue coating his fingers.

"Oh no." Ezra muttered.

He felt his vision faltering, a static-like view overcoming his senses. Ezra reached out, trying to do something - anything to bring his vision back, but it was futile. As the static sensation overcame Ezra, he fell limp against the wall, completely immobile.

Black.

Everything was black. For a moment, Ezra thought he had just fallen asleep on the Ghost. However, outstretching his hand to sense into the darkness, a being filled his mind.
Ezra gasped, retracting his hand in surprise. He knew who it was. He knew it was Kanan. He could feel his presence surrounding him. Hunting him.

"Go away!" Ezra gripped his head, screaming into the dark abyss.

Ezra could hear a raspy breath straining for air. Kanan walked with a shuffle, keeping his distance from Ezra. That didn't stop the boy's paranoia.

"You belong to us, Ezra."

Every hair on the back of Ezra's neck stood on end. Sabine. Ezra shook his head, covering his ears. Both were here to finish the job. For good. He could feel it in the air.

"You've always belonged to us. You must pay your due."

"Pay your due."

"Pay your due."

"Pay your due!"

The words spun around Ezra like a tornado. He closed his eyes, holding his head to stabilize the dizziness. He could feel everyone approaching; closing in on him. The air got clammy and warm. Their breath was just in arms reach. He was going to pay their due. There was no stopping this.

A tight grip clung to Ezra's shoulder. He shot his eyes open, reaching to his side instinctively.

It was almost instant. A low swing. A quick thrust. And those wide brown eyes boring into his own. There was no green mist. No decaying flesh. It was Sabine, plain and simple.

As fast as he could, Ezra shut his lightsaber off and dropped it, cautiously setting Sabine on the ground.

"S-Sabine? No, No, No, No, No! Hey, look at me, Sabine. Sabine!" Ezra was shaking. His hands trembled as he held Sabine's head up.

She glanced into his eyes, fearful.

"Ezra? W-Why? I was…just trying to help you."

Sabine leaned forward, grasping onto Ezra's shirt and pulling him close. Ezra sobbed, holding onto Sabine's hand.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I-It was an accident! I didn't-"

"This is all your fault. You… monster."

The pressure on Ezra's shirt ceased and Sabine fell back. Ezra stared, wide eyed.

He killed her.

Ended her life.

Tears of anguish trailed down his face, pained by the sight of Sabine. They weren't the monster. They never were. Ezra was.

"You killed her!" Kanan's voice called out from in the darkness.

Ezra felt a tightness in his throat. What a disappointment he must be.

"You failed your friends."

Ezra sucked in a breath as a distant memory flashed across his psyche. Red. Thorns. A menacing voice. He pondered it quickly before it vanished. Ezra's gaze rose, as he realized just who he was dealing with. It was as if everything connected inside his head. This wasn't Kanan. He remembered that voice.

"Your hope will die with them." A light cackle reverberated throughout the room.

That laugh. The deep, bellowing voice. It was unmistakable.

Maul.

"NO!"

Ezra flipped around, calling upon his lightsaber, which flew into his grasp. The saber hummed to life and immediately the world around him glowed green.

Everything around him was a haze of green, fluttering around like smoke from a campfire.

He couldn't see anything but green.

Green here.

Green there.

Red eyes staring.

Green smoke.

Ezra froze. He tightened his grip on his lightsaber, which only caused it to quake. He focused his eyes on the red ones, never letting them out of his sight. Never letting Maul out of his sight.

"Ha-Ha-Ha, very good, my young apprentice. You are one step closer to fulfilling your destiny at my side."

"Why are you here?" Ezra called out with a shaky voice.

Cackling resonated all around Ezra. Surrounding him. Like an animal caught in a cage, Ezra flicked his head left and right, waiting and listening for an attacker. Ezra furrowed his brow in frustration.

"I should have known it was you."

"Oh, but you have know. I've always been there."

No. That couldn't be right. They severed their bond. He couldn't be there. He couldn't! Ezra shook his head.

"I've been so caught up thinking that both Kanan and Sabine were out to get me, but it was you. All of it. You've been-"

Ezra didn't have time to finish, as he was knocked back by the slash of a saber. Ezra tumbled to the ground. Quickly, he used his momentum to stand on his feet, but was met with dual force from a blue blade. Kanan's blade. Ezra held in his fear; held the urge to scream, to run away from this monster, but he knew that deep down Maul was still in his psyche. Still plaguing his thoughts. Still trying to win his favor. Still using his friends, his family against him. Not anymore.

Ezra pushed Kanan back, using the force as his aid. The room became illuminated with an aquamarine tint, highlighting everything around the two. Ezra dare not focus his attention away, however, for his adversary was Maul. Not Kanan. He wouldn't get distracted. Not this time.

"You failed, Ezra. It's too late for me. For us." Kanan boasted, clashing his lightsaber with Ezra's.

Glancing at Kanan with new found hope in his eyes, Ezra pushed Kanan back and stood tall, lightsaber drawn at his side.

"That's where you're wrong."

Kanan stopped, looking at Ezra with narrowed eyes. The boy in front of Kanan kept his gaze fierce. That fire. That passion. It was fueling Ezra. There was something different to him now. Something new.

"It's never too late, Kanan. You of all people have taught me that. I've been so distraught with my fear that I lacked the ability to move past it. It's corrupted me, and plagued my mind to the point where I became afraid of you."

Ezra dropped his lightsaber, the blue light spilling into the green. He stood with a fearless stature, looking at Kanan with determination.

"Fool! End him! End him now!" Maul's voice shouted throughout the clouded smoke.

Kanan tensed, his eyes began to glow a transparent hue of red. Behind him, a vibrant pair of red eyes broke through the smoke. Immediately, Kanan ran forward, lightsaber outstretched to his side. Ezra stood firm, watching as Kanan got closer and closer. Ezra watched and waited, hoping for an opening or for some way to fight back. As he watched Kanan's movements, he remembered a similar event. Back on Lothal, when he was undergoing his trials, The Inquisitor arrived, with a thirst to slay Ezra. Despite the fear raging inside him, Ezra stood his ground. What was different then? Why didn't the Inquisitor slay him? It was so long ago. What changed?

Like a bolt of lightning, Ezra realized what needed to be done. He took a deep, shaky breath and closed his eyes, drowning everything out. With a calmer resolve, Ezra spoke out.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

It was as if time stood still. Kanan stood completely frozen. He was just in arms reach of Ezra; almost ready to end him. Taking a step forward, Ezra set a hand on Kanan's shoulder, while looking out toward the green mist. He took a deep breath in and ever so slowly let it go.

"You are not my adversary, Kanan. You never were."

Releasing his grip, Ezra stepped forward, gazing into the green mist. Kanan's form began to scatter like dust, becoming one with the mist itself. Outstretching his hand, Ezra called upon the force, waving the mist away in one fell swoop. The room soon was washed away of all green, leaving a warm yellow hue surrounding him. Gazing to the corner, a small, green mist cowered away in fear.

It was Maul. Or at least that's who it seemed like to Ezra. Slowly approaching, Ezra outstretched his hand. The being turned to face Ezra, with its piercing red eyes glowering into Ezra's blue.

"I told you before and I'll tell you again. I will never be your apprentice. You are not wanted here anymore. Get out and stay out."

With a quick slash of his hand, Ezra caused the mist to scatter into a million pieces, dissipating into thin air. He watched each particle sizzle, and one by one, he felt lighter.

The dark fog surrounding him became clear. Maul was gone. Hopefully for good.

Ezra exhaled heavily, collapsing to the floor. It was over. He won. A small smile curled at his lips. It had been a while since he felt peace. With this growing rebellion, it was hard to find time to himself. Ezra hoped this was all he had to do, but deep down, he could sense that there was more to come as the rebellion grew.

Ezra furrowed his brow, perplexed as noises began to register in his audio receptors. It was muffled at first, but the sound of water was unmistakable. The ceiling above Ezra began darkening, causing him to look up. A drop fell onto Ezra's arm, wetting his sleeve. Looking at it perplexingly, he lightly touched it. It was damp. Another drop fell onto his other sleeve, then another, and another. Soon, the whole room became overcast with dark clouds that began to rain. Looking around, Ezra sought shelter. He attempted to stand, but immediately regretted doing so. The ground beneath him caved in, causing him to fall into a dark abyss once more. He screamed. Covering his head with his arms, Ezra accepted and embraced the impending darkness of his mind, falling prey to oblivion itself.

Hi guys, I'm back! I am so so so so so sorry for leaving you hanging for like a whole year. You have no idea how hard it was for me to find time to write this. Juggling 2 jobs, along with going to college full time really doesn't give you a lot of time for yourself. At all. But in any case, I really hope this chapter was satisfying. I will try my utmost best to finish up this series. There should be at least one more chapter, so be on the lookout within the coming weeks. Have a great day guys! Ciao~