RUHLSAR000 Here! Sorry for taking so long. Life has become rather turbulent right now and that's making finding time to write hard and when I did write I kind of wanted to focus on drafting my novel. That and I wanted to make this one just right. So, enjoy. You know the drill.
"Ezra!" Jacen looks up terrified. They were practicing lightsaber forms when something called him into a cave… That wasn't there… No, it had to be… But…
Jacen looks around wildly. And now, they're in the middle of some sort of space corridor with hundreds of doorways. There are more corridors under them and above them, as well. Looking at one of the doorways, Jacen sees an older man, the same age as Ezra, with long green hair and a girl of fourteen next to him.
"Jacen…" Ezra's voice causes his attention to snap away from them and back to Ezra, who is trying to stand up while rubbing his head.
Jacen grabs Ezra's arm, pulling him up. "Where are we?"
Ezra scowls as he assesses their surroundings. "A place better off forgotten. Come on. We need to locate our exit. Too much power lies here to remain here for long."
Jacen arches an eyebrow. "That's not an answer." Jacen extends his senses. "Are we even on Lothal anymore?"
"No, this place exists outside of space and of time. Which is why it is so dangerous." Ezra says, looking through a doorway.
Jacen's jaw drops as he sees what's in it. "Is that… Is that the Jedi Temple on Coruscant?"
"It is. And that is not our door." Ezra says, turning away and continue on.
"These doors can take you to different times and places." Jacen looks around in wonder. So many wrongs could be righted. The Empire could be prevented. He could save the Jedi Order. He could move that stupid bully, Ryn Thro, to a different school. He could-
Ezra stops walking. "Drop it, Jacen. Nothing good can come from messing with this place."
"We could save Dad! Ezra!" Jacen says, missing all of what Ezra had just said.
With a burst of energy, Jacen races away. "Jacen!" Ezra calls out, quickly following. "Stop!" Jacen doesn't stop though, only ever pausing to look at portals. "Jacen!"
"Ezra, one of these portals must lead to Dad," Jacen pauses before rushing forward.
"One these portals must lead to Kanan!" A voice echoes through the world softly though just as desperate.
"Jacen think about what you're doing!" Ezra calls after him.
"I know what I'm doing," Jacen yells excitement in his voice.
Ezra takes a deep breath before increasing his speed and grabbing Jacen. The change in momentum throws them from their pathway. They bounce as they land on a pathway below, though Ezra maneuvering them so that Jacen lands on him. Air bursts out of Ezra's lungs and refuses to return.
"What are you doing? We can save Dad!" Jacen says. "Don't you want that?!"
"Every day." Ezra wheezes, as Jacen gets up. "But Jacen… This isn't the way. You don't know what you're doing?"
"Yes, I-"
"Yes, I DO!" A voice cuts Jacen off. They both look down towards the voice. A middle age togurta stands there next to a young man in Stormtrooper armor. She looks to be begging for some reason. The boy continues. "If I can change your fate, I can change his."
Jacen's eyes widen and he hesitantly whispers as he kneels down. "That looks like… Is that you and Ahsoka?"
"Yes…" Ezra kneels next to Jacen, placing a hand on Jacen's shoulder.
His younger self turns to the portal. The portal glows orange from the fire. Jacen sucks in a breath as he sees a man holding back the blast with the Force from within. "Dad…"
"I can reach him." Younger Ezra says.
"Ezra…" Ahsoka says. "Kanan gave his life so you could live."
Jacen closes his eyes. So, all his family could live. He knows this story. But, surely, they could… He feels Ezra squeeze his shoulder.
"If he's taken out of this moment you all die." No! Jacen argues in his head. There has to be away. There's always a way. She doesn't understand-
"You don't understand what you're asking me to do." Younger Ezra growls out as he fights off tears. Jacen looks at him. And then he looks at the older one next to him, who is fighting off tears as well. Ezra was raised by his father. Jacen has known this all his life but… Seeing the pain etched on the younger, still there on the older, the severity of that lost causes his heart to ache for his brother.
"Yes, I do," Ahsoka says. Anger flairs in Jacen. How could she- "You can't save your master like I can't save mine."
Jacen's eyes widen. "Ahsoka's master?"
But Ezra's eyes are locked on his younger self. "Don't."
"I'm asking you to let go," Ahsoka says. Jacen sucks in a breath as if he'd been punched. The words weren't for him, but that didn't make it any less of a direct hit.
Jacen feels the tears on his face as flames engulf his father and he hears a ghost of his mother's scream. It takes a moment for him to regain the ability to speak, and he suspects he's never going to get that gut-punched feeling to leave.
Ezra is silent, the pain clear on his face. Jacen leans into him, hugging him tight as the two of younger people walk away talking quietly. Thunder rumbles. Ezra pulls Jacen up quickly by his waist. "We need to go."
"Wha-" Jacen says as dark shadows emerge out of the portal.
"Run!" Ezra orders, pulling him along.
Jacen follow Ezra, "What-"
"Sith," Ezra says as the mist rolls up towards them. Ezra grabs Jacen and jumps to a higher walkway. The mist rolls upward, following them.
"It's coming," Jacen yells.
"Keep running. As long as he doesn't enter, his power is limited." Ezra orders, dragging Jacen down the left side of a fork in the path. Jacen doesn't question any of Ezra's orders as he navigates through the maze of pathways. Left. Right. Right. Up. Left. It continues on and on. Jacen's chest burns, but he pushes forward every time the smoke licks at his heels.
Finally, when Jacen feels he's going to fall from a lack of air, the smoke ebbs away.
"The mist is fading. We should be safe now." Ezra says, looking down at the mist pulling away.
"So, was that all a trick by…" Jacen gasping but stops when he realizes he has no idea who that was.
"The Emperor," Ezra says. "And I don't know. Could have been. He could have made an illusion to get me to drag him in here. Or he could have just used his power to appear at the portal where people were."
Jacen shrugs off the information. It doesn't matter. It was still a trick. "You've been here before?" Ezra is quiet. Jacen sighs, it's not like he could deny it. They had just seen a younger Ezra and Ahsok- "You've seen Dad die three times…" Jacen says as the realization hits him.
"Five…" Ezra corrects, sadness echoing through the air. "Plus, anytime my subconscious decides it hates me."
"Five times…" Jacen says, swallowing. Anger fills his chest. "Didn't you ever want to save him?"
"Of course, I did." Ezra snaps back.
"Then why not?! Or anyone else for that matter!" Jacen shouts at him.
Ezra takes a deep breath. "Jacen, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't want to find a way here and save Kanan, save my parents, Kriff, stop the Empire from taking over. But where does that end? Changing the galaxy to your liking. Changing History to your liking. It doesn't matter what your intentions were, that power is too much for anyone to have."
"But what if-"
"If I take Kanan out of that moment, Hera, you, Sabine, we all die," Ezra says. "I stop the fuel depo from being destroyed, Thrawn's tie gets mass produced and the Rebellion dies. Jacen, one change, no matter how good, can have a waterfall of unforeseeable consequences. That's why this place needs to be forgotten."
Jacen squeezes his fist tight, looking away. Directly into a portal containing his father and mother, both so young, laughing in the cockpit of the Ghost. He sighs in defeat, as he feels Ezra's hand on his shoulder.
"It's not fair!" Jacen says, tears streaming down his eyes.
"No, it isn't," Ezra admits, putting a hand on his shoulder and leading him away.
"I just want to meet him," Jacen says, trying to push away the constantly flowing tears. "Once would be enough."
"I know…" Ezra sighs.
"Ezra…" Kanan's voice echoes through another door coming from their right.
Jacen looks at it. "Can I see him? Not to change fate, but just…" Ezra doesn't say anything but walks them to the door. Kanan is walking towards them, his hair recently shorn. "He's amazing…"
"Yes, he is," Ezra admits.
"Ezra?" Kanan asks, holding out his hand and walking straight towards the door, which ripples.
And then he's there. "Ezra? What is this place? Why was I sensing two of you? What-" He is confused. Stunned, Ezra moves forward, hugging him, in part because, oh Force, it's Kanan and in part to make sure he doesn't fall off the pathway.
"Why do you feel like Ezra? You're taller and hairier." Kanan says.
Ezra lets out a strangled gasp, "I am Ezra, just not your Ezra. We are in a world between worlds, where different times can meet."
"You are kidding…" Kanan says, slack-jawed.
"Dad…" Jacen says, wondering if he messed up while sparring and this is actually some sort of concussed dream.
Ezra looks back at his fourteen-year-old student. "Kanan, there's someone very special I'd like to meet." Ezra gently leads him forwards before placing his hand on Jacen's shoulder. "Kanan, I'd like you to meet Jacen Syndulla, your son." Kanan is stunned for a moment, before leaning down to his level.
"Hi there… Jacen…" Kanan says, emotion clogging up his voice. "May…" He clearly doesn't know how to ask what he wants. But Jacen seems to understand.
He takes his father's hand and holds it to his cheek, whispering, "This is real?"
"Yeah," Ezra smiles, tears welling up in his eyes.
Kanan gently explores the face and head of his son. "Hair?" Kanan asks, surprised.
"Your genes kicked Hera's butt. He basically looks like a mini version of you if you dyed your hair green." Ezra smiles.
"I beat Hera at something. Well, there's a first time for everything." Kanan chuckles.
"Yeah, and the kid got your ugly mug because of it." Ezra teases Kanan with a lighthearted voice. Kanan cuffs him with a smirk.
Ezra pushes his hand away and hugs Kanan tight. Kanan after a moment returns it. "It's time to go, isn't it?" Kanan asks.
"I think so…" Ezra says, tearing as he pulls away.
"Already?" Jacen asks.
Kanan bends down and hugs him tight. "I'm afraid so. I have to go save you and your mom."
"You won't-" Jacen starts but changes his mind and just hugs him tight. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you, too," Kanan says, pulling back a little. His head nods a little to Ezra. "Both of you. And I am so proud of the both you." Kanan looks back at Jacen, "Do me a favor and look after Ezra? He is always getting himself into trouble."
"Hey!" Ezra tries to sound indignant but the tears of joy really ruin the effect.
"I'll try but I am no miracle worker." Jacen quips, causing Ezra to groan and Kanan to chuckle.
Kanan smiles, "You'll be just fine."
The two watch as Kanan returns through his portal, the door vanishing behind him. With a sigh, they walk back to their own portal. "So, what do we tell Mom?" Jacen asks.
Ezra sighs as the exit the world between worlds, "What do you want to tell her-"
A small yip interrupts him, startling them both. "Huh?" Jacen asks, connecting to the Force. He walks over to a rock. A small grey Loth-wolf pup's head pokes out licking his face. Jacen laughs as the loth-wolf settles into his lap.
"Where are its parents?" Ezra says looking around.
Jacen looks at the wolf, "I… don't think he has any…" Jacen and Ezra jump up as they see a Loth-wolf in the distance. After a moment the wolf walks away, seemingly trusting them with the pup.
Thank You Time! I need to stop going on writing vacations.
Thank you for following: ruby throne, knize, jpeck2000, UnfathomableFandoms, TheGoldenhand, The Disney Critic Gal, TMNTfan101, Sweetbaby162016, Shadowbridger, Sapphire Amethyst Isle, RebelStarbirdPadawan, Pebbles Flintstone, Oleoneeye, MaybeImARebel, Maximus Potter, MandalorianJedi, Kiku-Goldenflower, Jedibeta19, ImpossibleGirl01, Bezerker21, 1049, and 7lights13darknesses (That has to be a Kingdom Hearts reference).
Thank you for favoriting: TheGoldenhand, TMNTfan101, Shadowbridger, Sapphire Amethyst Isle, Pebbles Flintstone, Midnight Luna and InnerFangirl, Maximus Potter, MandalorianJedi, Lau-SR, Bezerker21, 1049, and 7lights13darknesses
Thank you for reviewing:
All Things Animated: Don't worry there will be more chapters coming and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.
Mogor: There will be more. You can read Sabine and Ezra as a couple if you want. I probably won't be directly addressing that for a while if at all. I am not a Sabezra shipper, but I won't stop you from reading my story that way unless it directly goes against the narrative I am crafting.
Lau-SR: Yep, he is training his little brother and Ezra swears he wasn't nearly as bad. And in a way, he's kind of right. Ezra stole the Phantom because he got a distress call, Jacen stole it cause he wanted to test the new engine.
Jamie Grimes: Next chapter bud. Though, it's less of a playmate situation and more of older/younger bros as Jacen's 4-6 years older than Ben. Younger Ben totally hero worshiped Jacen and Ezra as well as Anakin.
Guest: Thank you for wanting to push me to improve my story and have the expectation I will be better than most other fanfic writers. I strive to do so, so your input is greatly appreciated and I will take it under advisement. I would, however, like to point out a few things. I have not read most of the post-RotJ books and that I am doing the best I can. My decision to have Luke's academy mentioned was based on the assumption that he would eventually be making a Jedi academy, probably sooner rather than later with that eventually leading to his inability to help Ben. The academy could still be in its infancy if you insist. As for Jacen's Force sensitivity, it is well established in Legends that Force-sensitivity is genetic and dominate at that. So dominant in fact that of all the children of Force-sensitive I know, all of them are Force-sensitive as well. Moreover, from a writing standpoint, it would make very little sense to make him not when there would be no drama to him not being Force-sensitive. And finally, this is fanfiction. I happen to fall on the side of Jacen being Force-sensitive, especially with Sabine's comments about him, so I'll be writing him as such until I get confirmation that he isn't.
Midnight Luna and InnerFangirl: Personally I prefer Broccoli to Cucumber for Jacen's nickname but that just me. I'll see what I can do for your request. Though I will say this, I am not a better writer. I am a more experienced writer who doesn't let her bad drafts see the light of day. (*Somewhere in the dark confines of a desk, a short story about mermaids turning into vampire breaks out* Back, you awful attempt at fanfic, back! Or it will be the shredder!)You'll be great with a little more practice.
SonYukiGoku'sSister: I'll see what I can do. Those are a lot of good prompts. I'll see what I can do. The Lira San one has a lot of promise. Not sure about the Luke one though. On the one hand, I'd like to think that they are both adult enough to acknowledge the other's perspective and respect it while maintaining a professional relationship. However, I am reminded daily that very few people are adult enough to do that.
Guest: Awww! I'm glad you think its cute.
7light13darknesses: Wow! All three! You're awesome. I am going to have to reread the first chapter as I don't remember the refference.
W0lv35-0f-L16h7: Yep, it's a series of one-shots about Jacen. Though, they are connected.
AbbeEZ: Jacen was about five or six last chapter.