The Third and Fourth Glimmers Die
I don't own Naruto or Star Wars.
Naruto sat quietly in the cockpit of the Rogue Shadow with the ship in an asteroid field while Alar was somewhere on the ship with R2. Naruto casually gripped and asteroid with the Force and crushed it into with a rather large amount of effort. As he continued on this, Alar walked in and looked at her master.
"Master, the Council is calling us back to Tython." said Alar.
Naruto hung his head a little and crushed one more asteroid before heading back to Tython.
(Twenty Minutes Later)
Naruto walked into the Council Chambers with Alar and R2 and found Satele, Master Orgus, Master Kiwiks and her Padawan, Master Kaedan, and the Exile were all at the table.
"How have you been Naruto?" asked Satele.
Naruto remained silent and kept his gaze off anyone.
"Well, the Council would like to send you on a mission." said the Exile, "A group of Republic scientists on Tatooine were supposed to report in a week ago and never did."
"What would this mission entail?" asked Alar.
"Your mission would be to assess what the situation is and assist in any way possible." explained Master Kiwiks.
"Can you handle that?" asked Master Kaedan.
Naruto bowed then left the room.
"Please, forgive my master." apologized Alar, "He still hasn't gotten over the death of his sister yet."
"Didn't you have a talk with him about this, Satele?" asked Master Orgus.
"It's not my place." said Satele, "Tayuya was Naruto's only blood reletive. She took up an important place in Naruto's heart and it will take him a long time before that wound healed as it would with all of us if we lost someone that close."
Naruto sat in the forest behind the Jedi Temple with R2 and played a sad tune on his bes'bev. R2 got worried and Naruto smiled at him.
"Don't worry, buddy." said Naruto with a sad smile, "I'm not going anywhere this time."
Naruto put the bes'bev away and head up to the Rogue Shadow with R2.
(An Hour Later)
Naruto and Alar walked around Anchorhead with R2 behind them when Alar looked at her master.
"When are we going to check on the Republic Scientists, Master?" asked Alar.
Naruto ignored Alar and went to a man sleeping next to some tauntauns. He grabbed a bucket of liquid from the tauntauns and tossed it on the man, who awoke instantly and and began spitting and sputtering.
"What's the big idea?!" asked the man as he stood up and tried to get the taste of tauntaun out of his mouth.
"I'm looking for my buir, Shae Vizla." explained Naruto to the man, who suddenly froze at the name.
"Naruto?" asked the man, "Is that really you?"
"Alar, meet Theron Shan." introduced Naruto, "Master Satele's other son and my brother."
"Master Satele had another son?" asked Alar in surprise.
"Actually, she adopted Naruto." explained Theron.
"Where is buir?" asked Naruto again.
Theron seemed a little nervous and looked around.
"Come to the house just south of the city in about two hours." said Theron as he went off to get cleaned up.
"Master, we're supposed to be looking for the Republic scientists." reminded Alar.
"We are." said Naruto as he led Alar to a cantina near the edge of town, "Theron is in SIS and he was stationed at the place where the scientists were along with buir."
(Two Hours Later)
"It was just before dawn." said Theron over some hot beverages with Naruto and Alar, "Shae was leading a patrol but they came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tuskin Raiders. Shae had ordered the entire patrol back to the base while she held them off. From the accounts of the team and the number of corpses remaining, she managed to take down ten of them before she was overwhelmed."
Naruto took a drink and tried to remain calm.
"Those Tuskins walk like men but they're vicious and mindless." said Theron, "Thirty of us went out to get her. Only two came back. I've lost part of the feeling in my legs and can't stand for more than an hour. If I could, I would gladly go out there and try to find her but I can't until I heal. I don't want to give up on her but she's been gone a month."
Naruto nodded sadly then went outside. He stared at the sun for a few minutes before Alar came out and tried to comfort her master.
"You're gonna have to stay here." said Naruto as he phased into his older form and turned to his Padawan, "He's a good person, Alar. You'll be safe."
Alar hugged Naruto and he returned it in full. He then walked over to a speeder and sped out of sight.
Lazarus stood outside the Dark Council Chambers on Dromund Kaas and watched as the entire council filed out except for two. She went inside and found Darth Vowrawn talking with Darth Marr.
"Ah, Lazarus." said Darth Vowrawn when he noticed her, "You're just in time."
"How are things going on your end, Marr?" asked Lazarus.
"Swimmingly." replied the Dark Lord, "Should it ever come to it, all the forces loyal to me alone are ready to fight."
"I've got all the funding for our plan in place." said Darth Vowrawn.
"Now all that's left is to find the Emperor." said Lazarus, "He's not on his station and Lord Scourge won't tell me anything."
"We'll have to double our search." said Darth Marr before they all fell silent.
"It would appear that the Force has shifted." said Darth Vowrawn.
"And I think I know who the cause of this shift is." said Lazarus as she walked out of the room.
Naruto looked over a Tuskin Raider village in the middle of the night and quietly descended down into it. He drew his Darksaber and cut open a hole in one of the huts then stepped inside. It was empty of life but what he saw made his blood run cold. Shae's armor was on the ground with countless scratches and patches of dirt on them. Naruto took the helmet in his hands and cried quietly before he looked up and his eyes turned blood red with a hint of yellow and his pupils were slitted.
He flipped his hood up and drew Tayuya's lightsaber and cut down both of the Tuskin Raiders outside the hut. This alerted the entire village to his presence and they ran toward him with their weapons drawn.
Satele was meditating when she felt a disturbance in the Force.
Naruto! Naruto! Naruto, stop!
Satele shook the pain out of her head just as the Exile came in and sat down in front of her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Pain." answered Satele in confusion, "Suffering. I feel death. Something terrible has happened. Naruto is in great pain."
(The Next Morning)
Theron and Alar came out of the house just as Naruto got back and were both silent when they saw that Naruto had only returned with Shae's armor. He took it into the Rogue Shadow and passed R2 as he placed it in a stand before heading into his room.
(Ten Minutes Later)
Alar found Naruto working on R2 as she brought in a tray of food.
"I brought you something." said Alar as she sat the tray down on a table.
Naruto stood working on R2 and stood up.
"Why?" asked Naruto, "Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have."
He walked away from R2 and headed toward the meditation room of the ship.
"Sometimes, there are things no one can save." said Alar, "You're not all powerful, Master."
"Well, I should be." said Naruto through his tears, "Someday, I will be. I will be the most powerful Jedi ever."
He then turned to Alar and took several deep breaths.
"I promise you." he told Alar, "I will even learn to stop people from dying."
"Master..." said Alar in worry and fear.
"It's all Satele's fault!" he shouted, "She's jealous! She's holding me back!"
With those words, Naruto swept his arm and sent a table flying across the room. He began to break down and started pulling his hair out.
"I killed them." he confessed as he turned to his Padawan, "I killed them all. They're dead. Every single one of them. And not just the men. But the women and children. They're like animals and I slaughtered them! I hate them!"
He went into the cockpit and locked the door as he sealed the loading ramp and took off for Tython.
(Two Hours Later)
Naruto stood before the entire Jedi Council while Alar waited off to the side and waited for them to pass their judgement.
"You did well to come to us and confess to what you did." said Master Syo Bakarn.
"However, you gave into your emotions and killed innocents." said Master Nikil Nobil.
"And as such, the Council has decided that you will remain on Tython until further notice and placed under observation." informed Master Kaedan.
Naruto bowed and left without looking at Alar. He entered Satele's room and became distraught. Satele entered and Naruto cried into her chest.
(Two Weeks Later)
The Exile entered Satele's room and found Satele watching Naruto, who was in a hibernation trance.
"How long has he been like this?" asked the Exile.
"Since his trial." said Satele, "Did you get it?"
The Exile handed Satele a box with holes in it and she went up to Naruto. She sat the box down next to him and sat across from him. She then placed her forehead against his and closed her eyes.
"Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum." she whispered.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes as Satele pulled back and he looked away.
"What?" asked Naruto before he noticed the box, "What is this?"
"Well, I thought that I should get you something to cheer you up." said Satele, "I remember how, besides a droid, you wanted a pet so I had Meetra head back to Ibonihs to get that for you."
Naruto picked up the box and put it on his lap then opened it. He stared in surprise as the little puppy stuck its head out of the box and looked at Naruto curiously.
"I know it's early but Happy Birthday." said Satele with a smile.
Naruto gently pulled the puppy out of the box and began crying as he cradled it.
(The Following Week)
Alar walked into Naruto's room and found him playing with his pet dog while Elie was standing in the corner and looked a little scared.
"Master, the Council would like to see you." said Alar.
"What did I do?" whined Naruto, "I've been stuck on Tython for three weeks and helped you with your lightsaber form."
He sighed and headed out while Alar joined him, leaving Elie to take care of the dog. They entered the council chambers and found that only Satele, Master Orgus, Master Kiwiks, and Master Kaedan were there.
"What did I do this time?" asked Naruto.
"Nothing." assured Satele, "After consulting with the other members of the Council, we've decided to revoke your house arrest and send you on a mission."
"Excuse me for a moment, Master." said Naruto as he left the room without Alar.
A moment later, they all heard Naruto cheering and everyone except for Master Kaedan chuckled.
"I'm back." said Naruto as he walked back inside like nothing happened.
"On to the task at hand." said Master Kaedan, "It has come to our attention that you know where Tasiele Shan is, correct?"
"Yes." said Naruto.
"We'd like you to go and retrieve her." said Master Kiwiks.
"Let me get this straight." said Naruto as he tried to grasp at what they were asking, "You want me to go to Dromund Kaas, enter Kaas City, and bring Master Satele's mother back?"
"Exactly." said Master Orgus.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that without getting shot at?" questioned Naruto.
"Don't you still keep in contact with Darth Lazarus?" asked Satele.
"Not really since I've been stuck here for almost a month." said Naruto, "But I'll try."
"Very good." said Satele, "Then I think we're done here. May the Force be with you both."
Naruto and Alar bowed and left the room.
"We can finally leave, Master." said Alar happily.
"Come here." said Naruto as he led Alar into a spare room.
They sat down across from each other and Naruto took a deep breath.
"Alar, if we go to Dromund Kaas, you must be extremely careful." warned Naruto, "It's steeped in the Dark Side. I'm just worried about you."
"You don't have to worry, Master." said Alar, "You've taught me better as have the other Masters."
"But it's like I'm a nexus for the Dark Side and all those I care about are getting hurt." said Naruto as he looked deep into Alar's eyes, "If you insist on coming with me, there is something we must do first."
"What, Master?" asked Alar.
"Follow me." said Naruto as he went and got R2 and his puppy.
(Three Hours Later)
After they made sure the puppy would stay and be warm with R2, Naruto and Alar went into one of the many crystal caves of Ilum and deep inside. Once they reached the end, Naruto stepped aside and allowed Alar to search for her crystal. It didn't take long as Alar had chosen a purple crystal and took the pieces for her lightsaber out of her robe. She sat down and placed all the pieces for her lightsaber in front of her then meditated. The pieces levitated and slowly came together. Naruto watched in happiness as Alar gripped her lightsaber and activated the purple blade.
(An Hour Later)
The Rogue Shadow came out of lightspeed around Dromund Kaas and Naruto took a deep breath.
"Here's hoping those codes I got from Lazarus still work." he said with worry.
He put in the codes and he and Alar waited with bated breath.
"You're cleared to land." said the voice over the com system.
Naruto and Alar let out a sigh of relief and Naruto took them down to the spaceport. After a quick change of clothes where they both dressed in black, Naruto and Alar stepped out of the Rogue Shadow with R2 behind them and the puppy on Alar's shoulder.
"It's okay." said Alar to the puppy when it whined.
Naruto led Alar out of the hanger and the spaceport to give Alar her first sight of Dromund Kaas.
"This is it?" asked Alar when she saw the dark swampy forest that was Dromund Kaas, "It feels so depressing in addition to how much you can feel the Dark Side."
"Keep calm." said Naruto, "Just remember why we're here."
They started walking and after about twenty minutes, they arrived in Kaas City.
"Stay close." ordered Naruto as they walked into the shopping district and Naruto led her to a small shop.
Alar looked around and the virtually empty shop and raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe she left because of the Sith." suggested Alar.
"No, she's here." said Naruto as he went to a door that led further back and knocked, "Grandmother, I'm back."
The door opened up a moment later and Alar was in shock at how much Tasiele looked so much like an older version of her daughter by about thirty years.
"Ah, my darling grandson." said Tasiele happily as she and Naruto hugged, "I see you rejoined the Order."
"Yes, grandmother." said Naruto proudly as he turned to Alar, "This is my Padawan. Her name is Alar."
"It's an honor, Master Tasiele." said Alar as she bowed.
"I'm no longer a Jedi." said Tasiele as she led them all to the back, which was an apartment for her, "I was exiled for saying that the Jedi could use their emotions to fight."
"Well, the Council has decided to retrieve you." explained Naruto, "They sent a team to the planet they exiled you on but you weren't there."
"The Empire had come in search of resources and I left with them." explained Tasiele, "Now, why would the Council want me back?"
"It may have something to do with your daughter being Grand Master." implied Alar.
Instead of shock like Alar expected, Tasiele just smiled happily.
"I could feel Satele getting stronger in the Force and I heard of her exploits." explained Tasiele, "I already knew about her being the Grand Master for years."
"Will you come with us?" asked Naruto.
"Give me some time." said Tasiele, "In the meantime, you both are welcome to stay here."
"Thank you, grandmother." said Naruto when all three looked back toward the shop, "We'll handle this."
The puppy hopped off Alar's shoulder and both she and Naruto went back into the shop to find a female human in Sith robes stumbled into the shop and glared at them. She then collapsed and Naruto and Alar helped her to the back.
(That Night)
The Sith awoke and found her arms and legs were bound and she struggled to get free.
"Don't bother." said Naruto from the shadows next to the door, "Now, who are you?"
"A child?" taunted the Sith, "How pathetic of the Empire to have a child take care of me."
Naruto phased into his older form and held his lightpike at the Sith's neck.
"This child is much stronger than you think." said Naruto as he scowled at the Sith, "Now, your name."
"Darth Lokess." said the woman.
"Darth Lokess?" asked Naruto, "Didn't you die almost fifty years ago?"
"You're a fool to think that I'd be killed like a dog." said Lokess, "I was put in stasis and tortured."
"Anyway, you're at an undisclosed location on Dromund Kaas so no one will be able to find you or hear you." said Naruto as he headed toward the door.
He headed out and looked at Alar, who was standing just outside.
"Watch her but don't listen to what she says." advised Naruto as he left and Alar entered the room.
(Ten Minutes Later)
Naruto poured some tea for him and Tasiele while Alar watched Darth Lokess and R2 played with Naruto's puppy that he affectionately called Ranmaru. He took a seat across from Tasiele and they both began sipping.
"So, what's Shae up to these days?" asked Tasiele.
She suddenly felt the temperature get colder and blinked.
"Was it something I said?" she asked.
"She's dead." said Naruto as he restrained himself and sipped some more of his tea, "Killed by Tuskin Raiders."
"I'm sorry." apologized Tasiele.
"It's nothing." said Naruto as he sat his tea down, "I've already lost so much of my family that I can stomach it without killing the person who even brings it up."
"I heard about that little skirmish on Naboo." said Tasiele, only getting the room colder as a result.
"My sister from Ibonihs was killed by another Jedi there." said Naruto in a slightly ticked off tone.
"I've really got to be careful about what I say." said Tasiele with a sigh, "How has your training been going?"
"Pretty good." said Naruto, "About a month ago, I was crushing asteroids about ten times the size of the fleet over the planet right now. Then, I practiced my saber skills on the tribe of Sand People that killed buir."
"You did what?" asked Tasiele in shock.
"I confessed to the Council and they put me under house arrest until they ordered Alar and I to come get you." explained Naruto, "Mandalorians are taught to honor family and I guess the Mandalorian in me just wanted revenge."
"But you know that revenge leads to the Dark Side." reminded Tasiele.
"I know." said Naruto with a sigh, "Satele keeps saying that I'm the Chosen One. But it looks more like I'm the Fallen One each day."
"Are you?" asked Tasiele, "We're only as strong as our minds allow us to be."
"I just don't know." said Naruto, "Satele has been telling everyone for years that I'm the Chosen One but I'm afraid of letting her down. She set these high expectations for me and I've always tried to impress her but I don't know how much longer I can keep pushing myself with that much pressure on my shoulders."
"That's one thing that I hoped Satele wouldn't get from her father." said Tasiele as she shipped her tea, "He was a soldier and he cared deeply for his men but he would always put so much pressure on them that they would crack under the weight of it."
"Do you think that I'm the Chosen One?" asked Naruto as he finished his tea.
"The Force is strong with you but I can't say for sure." said Tasiele as she observed Naruto before looking at his lightpike, "That's an interesting choice for a lightsaber."
"I read about them one time before the Sacking of Coruscant and thought they were interesting." explained Naruto, "It requires the same training as a saberstaff but without the other blade. I made it with some saber resistant materials but my others are inside R2."
"How many do you have?" asked Tasiele.
"Six." said Naruto, "One is a saberstaff, one has a curved hilt and the third has a cross guard."
"Interesting." said Tasiele, "I would like to see you in action when we return to Tython."
"You'll come back?" asked Naruto in surprise.
"Yes." said Tasiele with a smile, "It's about time I meet my daughter."
Naruto embraced Tasiele in a hug and Tasiele smiled as she hugged him back.
(The Following Afternoon)
Naruto looked out at the small rapids of a river in the forest of Dromund Kaas with his lightpike at his hip and he lowered his head.
"You've gotten better at that, Alar." said Naruto as he phased into his older form and turned to his Padawan.
Alar remained silent and Naruto sensed what was wrong with his Padawan.
"It isn't too late." assured Naruto, "You can still comeback."
"To what?!" asked Darth Lokess as she approached from Naruto's left.
He drew his lightpike and held it out in front of him and across his chest.
"Old ideals and narrow-mindedness?" asked Lokess as she walked to Alar and stopped next to her, "Your former Padawan and I know both those principels are misguided."
"Join us, Master." said Alar, "And we'll end this war and kill the Emperor."
"To Lokess's way?" asked Naruto, "You know that I won't."
"So be it." said Lokess as she and Alar drew their lightsabers and got into ready stances.
Lokess moved in first and she and Naruto activated their weapons and he quickly knocked her away as Alar came in with hers. He jammed the butt of his lightpike into Alar's gut and doubled her over for a moment as he got back to Lokess, who had recovered. He kicked her hard in the knee and she fellt to the ground but she made use of this and swung at his legs. Naruto blocked it with the handle of his lightpike and kicked the lightsaber out of Lokess's hand. Alar came back and Naruto went deeply into Soresu while Lokess ran to grab her lightsaber.
She came back a moment later and Naruto quickly got them back at length of his lightpike. They came in after a short moment and they all fought like they were doing a deadly dance. Naruto managed to get his lightpike angled exactly right as he forced Alar's blade to the ground and hit her hard in the back of the head, knocking her out.
"Are you so weak that you can't even kill and enemy when they're down?" taunted Lokess.
"Alar is not my enemy." said Naruto as he instantly turned his attention back to Lokess and went straight into Djem So.
Lokess countered with Makashi and they both reached a stand still with their bladework. Alar saw this as she regained consciousness a little and Naruto noticed she was waking up as well. He started to go faster but got sloppy as Lokess managed to pin Naruto's arm behind his back and struck his lightpike at its weakest point. The end where the beam came out began sparking and Lokess shoved Naruto forward before the tip exploded and forced Naruto onto the ground.
Lokess strolled up to Naruto and kicked him to Alar's feet. Lokess went around to Alar as Naruto got on his hands and knees and panted through the pain.
"Kill him." ordered Lokess.
Alar went around to Naruto's other side and held her lightsaber to the back of his neck.
"Is this really what you want?" asked Naruto without looking up, "To be a slave just like when you were a child?"
Alar hesitated and Lokess scowled.
"Kill him." ordered Lokess more forcefully.
"Look what she's turned you into." said Naruto.
Alar continued to hesitate and finally removed her lightsaber before she turned to Lokess.
"I won't kill my friend." she told Lokess.
Lokess had enough and went for the killing blow to Naruto, which Alar blocked. After a moment, Naruto saw a quick vision in the force and went dread. He turned around and barely ran two steps before Lokess impaled Alar. When his Padawan had fallen to the ground, Naruto was behind Lokess and put her in a chokehold while grabbing the lightsaber out of her hand and punched her away before tossing the lightsaber off to the side and kneeling next to his dying Padawan. Lokess quickly grabbed her lightsaber and Naruto pulled Alar's into his hand and went into a furious burst of Vaapad.
The alien style caught Lokess completely off guard and Naruto pushed her back before clipping her arm and stabbing her through the neck. Naruto came out of his rage and looked at Lokess in horror as how he had just been acting hit him. Lokess's corpse fell to the ground as Naruto pulled the lightsaber back and he dropped it before he rushed to Alar's side. He tried using the Force to find even a glimmer of life left in her but in was no use.
(Three Hours Later)
The entire Jedi Council stood in the hanger bay of the Tython Station as the Rogue Shadow entered and the loading ramp lowered. Satele walked forward and met Tasiele in the middle then hugged her.
"Hello, mother." said Satele.
"You've got my looks but your father's eyes." said Tasiele when they parted.
"How have Naruto and Alar been?" asked Satele.
Tasiele frowned and looked back toward the loading ramp and all eyes followed. Everyone stared in disbelief as Naruto slowly walked out of the Rogue Shadow with R2 and Ranmaru behind him and Alar's body in his arms.
"This is the lightsaber that struck her down." said Tasiele as she held out Lokess's lightsaber to her daughter.
Satele took it as Naruto passed and sent her a message through the Force as he passed.
No More.
I would like to take this chance and give credit to the YouTuber Maxwell Swet for putting up the Loyalty lightsaber duel, which inspired the duel in this chapter.
I would also like to address something that someone put in a review. R2 is one of my favorite characters from Star Wars and the favorite of a lot of other people. I personally don't like T7 so I decided to replace him with R2. Also, THIS IS FAN FICTION. Who cares if R2 wasn't around back then. Besides, Disney said that the expanded universe isn't cannon so that would mean that R2 could possibly exist back during the time of the Old Republic. I too hate the fact that Disney did this but it also opens up a lot of things for writers to put into stories. So, deal with it or don't read the story.
PLEASE REVIEW