Hey guys, I'm back! Sorry for taking so long, again, but I've been busy and just now found time and motivation to do this. Before I do anything else, all of you please go to inkitt. com and vote for Red Rose Thorns in the Fanfiction contest. Another author on this website, grapejuice101, wrote it and they're amazing so help them win please! Okay, thanks to SonicBoomSaviour (Well, I can describe her but unless someone offers to draw her, no sorry.), FinishHimKombat (Okay, okay, here it is!), SWFangirl (Sorry, I've just been busy but it's here now!), Guest (You'll find out now, I promise ;)), StarWarsMCDragonChick (Okay, here we go!), Guest (Sorry, I'm just really busy.), Guest (Hmm, I like that idea so I'll use it here, hope you enjoy!), Sammyangel (Thanks and don't worry about it, honestly, I haven't watched this show in a really long time so it's okay.), SnowKi (Okay, you've got it!), WoodElfJedi (Sorry, but I've never really felt I was good at cliffhangers so I usually say that in case the point didn't come across. And Phil won't have a large role but he will have a role in terms of Kanan and Karma's past.), DragonKing19 (I take it you like it!) tails powler (I'm glad!), Ezraismybae (I'm pretty sure I answered your question already so I hope I cleared up any confusion!), Maximus Potter, Sprattfish33, animebella09, skullsarecool, ceceluvcookies, Eternal Sailor Solar, relena soulheart, LunarRazorblade20, iiDuskk Spectre 7, alexstauffer1019, Wolf Mage 13, jpeck2000, Serahpis88, stormrunner74, StarSuho, The One-Eyed Bandit, Kittykatty and maia222 for reviewing/following/favoring along with all 11,910 readers! Also, unrelated, I just learned that Dante Basco, who I am a fan of from Avatar the Last Airbender, is Jai in episode 5 and I didn't know! Kinda frustrating, but moving on. Here is the long awaited chapter and I hope it's worth the wait, even if it is shorter, sorry. Anyways, enjoy!
Karma kept her hands pushed together tightly as she paled even more and sweat formed on her brow. It was the only hint she gave that she was beginning to strain from the excise extension of her life force. But she didn't give up because she had to protect not only Ezra but Phil, Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper because all of them were counting on her to do this.
I can do this! Just a little longer! Karma told herself as she furrowed her brows the slightest bit. But it was becoming harder and harder until she finally fell to the ground, her world instantly becoming dark. The last thing she heard was Hera and Ezra yelling her name.
She sat on a rooftop as she played with her ever present cloak, humming to herself, if only to distract herself. It had been seven years, seven years since he betrayed the Jedi, betrayed her, and she lost the only parental figures she had as well as her best friend/crush, yes she finally admitted it to herself after all these years, and even now she felt broken. She lost everything that had made her Sabrina Jarrus and now all that was left was an unnamed and unknown girl who nobody cared for.
Just then, she sensed a strong presence near her. Even if the Jedi, and her training, had ended, she still had a strong, yet hidden, presence within the Force. Looking down, she saw a young boy, no older than ten at least, walking below her, alone and appearing sad. Suddenly, she felt the familiar shift that came with a vision of the future and closed her eyes slowly.
Lightsabers, she definitely heard those along with voices, blasters and a droid's beeping. Then, images blurred past her eyes so fast, she couldn't make them out. Except, of course, the last two. The first was a man with dark skin and light blue eyes. Caleb, somehow, she knew it was him. Then, the image changed to show a teenage boy, the exact boy that was walking below her now.
She opened her eyes and watched the boy when she saw him stop and look up, meeting her eyes. She saw the tears, the fear, in his eyes and knew he was just like her in that instant. She climbed down to the ground and knelt in front of the boy, pushing her hood back the slightest bit so he could see her face and the small smile she wore.
"Hi." She whispered, "I'm…Karma, Karma Dume."
"I-I'm Ezra. E-Ezra Bridger." The boy, Ezra, introduced in a small, stuttering voice.
"Well, Ezra, why are you walking around by yourself and why are you crying?" Karma asked.
"M-my mommy and d-daddy are g-g-gone." Ezra answered as tears fell down his cheeks. Karma instantly pulled him into her arms and shushed him. Once he calmed down, she whispered,
"Mine are too. You know, we…we could take care of each other, if you want."
"R-really?" Ezra asked, his eyes wide.
"Really." Karma nodded with a slight smile.
"A-alright." Ezra smiled causing Karma's to widen into a real, true one in return.
"Come on, let's go find somewhere to live." Karma said as she stood up. Ezra nodded eagerly and the two walked away, knowing they were no longer alone for the first time in a long while.
Karma groaned as she opened her eyes only to hear gasps of relief.
"Thank the Force you're alright!" A voice cried in relief as arms wrapped around her.
"Phil…?" Karma whispered, confused.
"He wouldn't leave until he knew you were alright." Hera stated as she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, Sabine right beside her, looking as relieved as Phil was.
"Wh-where are Ezra and Caleb?" Karma asked as she slowly sat up, wrapping a reassuring arm around Phil as she did so.
"The Empire was tracking us so they went to take care of it." Hera answered as Phil finally pulled away, only for Sabine to take his place. "They were worried sick though. You really need to stop giving us all heart attacks." Karma chuckled humorlessly.
"Sorry, it's something I've kinda always done, even under Master Yoda. It's why they put me with him after I finished my training as a Youngling." She explained.
"Still, scaring us, even now, is going to kill either Sabine, Hera, Kanan or Ezra." Zeb pointed out.
"Aw, Zeb, you don't care?" Karma asked as she looked up at him sadly.
"He's just trying to act tough, he was as worried as the rest of us." Sabine argued as she pulled away and took Karma's hand instead, Phil having taken her other.
"Well, there's no reason to be." Karma argued, "I'll be okay so you can stop worrying."
"Stubborn to a fault." Phil chuckled with a small smile.
"What was that?" Karma asked as she looked at the boy with a raised brow.
"Nothing!" Phil said quickly with a guilty grin.
"Uh huh, suuurre." Karma drawled as she gave Phil an endearing smile. Phil laughed slightly as Sabine, Hera and Zeb all smiled.
Karma sat in her room until Ezra and Kanan came back under Hera's direct orders, meaning she couldn't do anything or Hera would tie her down. When Ezra finally came, though, she could see he was both happy and scared.
"Ezra?" Karma asked, concerned. Ezra met her eyes and instantly ran into her arms, reminding her of when he was a child and he did the same thing whenever he had a nightmare.
"K-Karm…will you s-s-sing for m-me?" Ezra whispered, just like he did as a child. Karma looked up and noticed the rest of the crew stood at her doorway, looking concerned and confused. Karma smiled softly and gestured the group to come in as she began to sing softly, just like she had so many times before.
"Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always"
Kanan suddenly stepped forward, having heard the lullaby sung before and having sung it himself to both Karma and Phil, who followed Kanan. The two boys sat down next to Karma and Ezra respectively, Kanan taking Karma's hand and Phil placing a hand on Ezra's arm. In that moment, the four resembled a family as Kanan sung,
"Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
What they can't explain
I know we're different
But deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always"
Karma smiled at Kanan as she tightened her grip on his hand and ran her other hand through Ezra's hair to sooth him. This song has been with her since she was a baby, it having been the only gift her birth mother gave her because it was the only thing she got to sing to her before the Jedi took Karma to the Temple. The song had been written about Karma because the Jedi had given her parents a warning, simply because they found her so young that she still needed her mother. It was all Karma had left of them and she would never forget it and would pass it on. Smiling softly, she joined Kanan in singing the song.
"Don't listen to them
Cause what do they know?
We need each other
To have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
And destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on
Now and forever more
Oooo, you'll be in my heart
You'll be here in my heart
No matter what they say
I'll be with you
You'll be here in my heart
I'll be there always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always"
Ezra slowly pulled away and smiled up at his strongest parental figures and then at Phil before he whispered,
"Thanks guys."
"Anytime, Ezra." Karma smiled as she ran her hand through his hair once again. She then sent Kanan a look that he clearly read and nodded subtly. The two were going to talk later and he was going to explain what was bothering Ezra. For now, though, Karma laid her head on Kanan's shoulder as she took Ezra's hand in her own while Kanan kept his own in Phil's before he wrapped an arm across Karma's shoulder and the rest of the crew sat in front of them on the ground. For that single moment, they were just a family with no war and no Empire. It was just them and they soaked up all that they could of it.
There's the chapter! The lullaby is You'll be in My Heart from Tarzan, by Phil Collins, because I feel it fits this ragtag group and Karma's past in general. I hope you guys enjoyed a sweeter chapter for once and the fact that I refer to Karma as 'she' because she didn't feel she needed a name until she met Ezra, meaning he gave her a purpose in life again, which I thought was an important symbol. Also, Kanan and Karma's song is now What're You Waiting For by Miranda Cosgrove because I feel it fits them. Anyways, review to let me know what you think, go vote for Red Rose Thorns on Inkitt and please be patient with me! Anyways, see you later!
