Part 2, I Will Die for You
The last chapter! Alright, to any, and all of you who get emotional really easy, brake out the tissues! 'cause I almost cried writing some of this.
I blinked as the world came back to me. Tyranus was walking to Ezra, with both lightsabers and a sickening grin. Kanan had been using the wall to help him stand, but he was still hunched over with an arm pressed against the wall, frozen. The blood had drained from his face.
No. No. No. Damn it Kanan! I wanted to yell, but couldn't find my voice.
That was the second time ever, I had cursed on of my masters. It was one of the damnedest times too. Of course I cursed Haken a few times, but only once while he was teaching me. I sucked in as deep of a breath as my lungs allowed. My arms shook uncontrollably as I attempted to lift myself. My hand slipped, and I dropped back down.
"The angrier she became, the more reason she had not to do something."
Haken's calming voice filled my head. He was talking about my mother. My blood started to boil, as my jaw locked, and shoulders tightened. This time life, and fate, pushed me too far. Now I was gonna push back. Harder.
I'm sick of this world's abuse. I gritted my teeth.
I was not about to let it take away my best friend.
I hate fate.
It's virtually taken everything from me. Almost. It gave me a shorter fuse, and more amo. It's stripped my trust, leaving me with a barrier, and more scars than I care to count. It left me with hate, for a long time. NO more. I still have beliefs, and hope. I only held onto them, because of one person. And nothing was going to take Ezra while air still filled my lungs. I pushed myself up, locking my elbows, as I winced. The devil himself can escort me to the gates of hell. I don't care. The worst thing fate ever did. Was take from me. Screw it. Damned fate could never make me sit back and watch everything I had worth fighting for be taken away.
I'm still breathing. That meant, I still had one hell of a fight to put up, as I kept faith. I growled in my head, as I stood.
Blood rolled down my face, and dripped from my chin. I used the force to bring my hilt to my hand.
To hell with it all.
Out of the corner of my eye, Kanan watched me, some of the color, returning to his face. Somehow. I managed to run at Tyranus.
I refuse to give in.
Tyranus turned around just in time. His own lightsabers, inches from his face.
"Why don't you just give up!" He barked.
"Never." I snarled. "I thought I made it clear the first time. To get to him. You go through me." Tyranus smirked, and seemed amused. Out of the corner of my right eye, I spotted explosive barrels. I quickly knocked a lightsaber out of Tyranus's left hand, leaving him with one. His amused look turned deadly. Tyranus tried to hold me back with the force, as he turned on Ezra.
No! The words caught in my throat.
I don't understand how, or care, but I stood in front of Ezra as Tyranus swung his lightsaber. I dropped my own, as my arm wrapped around my side, and above my stomach. I fell to my knees, before crashing to my side.
"Ara!" Ezra cried, alarmed. Biting my lip, I slipped the silver medal from my wrist, and placed it on my hilt.
"Weak." Tyranus spat. "I was really looking forward to bringing out the killer in Mistan." He paused, looking down at me. "But the weak jedi should be dealt with at once." My jaw tightened, as I held back a pained moan, as Tyranus set a foot on my right side. He put more weight on it. With one motion, he rolled me off the edge. I reached back, my hand locked onto his ankle.
"Ladies first." I spat, a little weakly. I yanked Tyranus off the edge. I let go of him as he fell, while I used what strength I had left to hold onto the catwalk. Time slowed as I looked up at Ezra. Kanan was running to us. I knew. It was already too late. I could feel my strength fading. I couldn't hold on much longer. Both Kanan and Ezra yelled something, but I didn't hear either of them. All I could see and hear, were the good memories.
"What are you doing here?" Ezra asked, his face cloaked in the colors casted by the setting sun. My heart beat faster.
"Living." I answered as a breeze waved the tall grasses of the field. We watched the sun set, and Ezra reached for my hand. I took his. "I'm not leaving." I promised.
"I know. I trust that." Ezra said squeezing my hand.
Tears started to well in my eyes. "Thank you. goodbye." I whispered, as I lost my grip. Our fingers brushed as I turned, falling face first. Ezra tried to use the force to bring me back up, but couldn't. Time slowed even more, as Tyranus's lightsaber neared the barrles.
"You know you really scared us back there… But I'm glad your back." Sabine smiled at me, as we watched the sun rise.
"Yeah, I tend to do that a bit."I smiled again. Sabine pointed a finger at me.
"Well don't do anything like that again."
"I can't promise anything… but I'll try." We both laughed.
"Ara. You had us thinking you were dead. You could have kept it that way, but you came back. Why?" Hera asked, sitting next to me after Sabine left.
"I don't have much worth fighting for anymore. But it seems, when everything is taken away from me, I find something to hold onto. Even if it's small, if someone has something to hold onto, it brings a lot of fight out of 'em. Because whatever they believe it's worth fighting for. It gives them faith. That's what all of you have done for me. Strength when I stand, and faith when I fall."
"What am I supposed to do Kanan?" I asked, my throat burned.
"What I do know, is that if I had known, I wouldn't have let you come." Kanan said, resting a hand on my shoulder, almost protectively.
Even though he tried to hide it, I could see the joy in Kanan's eyes, as I hunched over laughing. He tried to seem mad, but he couldn't hide that, on the inside, he was laughing along.
"I'm glad you're back." Zeb sighed. I smiled at him, and he adverted his eyes. "Well someone needs to help to keep Ezra in line. And it's great to have a better opponent than that rustbucket." He motioned to Chopper, who started to beep in defence. We both broke out laughing, before we finished the round.
"Its hard to take the first step back to where you're meant to be, Ara. You need to tighten your grip on things. Everything will slip from your grasp if you don't." Haken looked at me. "You would give your life for that team, going back should be just as natural as breathing."
As the wind whipped my face, a single tear made it's way to my cheek. Tyranus's lightsaber hit the barrles, igniting an exsplotion that engulfed him. But I didn't see it. As my mother's voice sang a soft lullaby of a story.
My mother. She was beautiful. More than I'd ever be. He voice, smooth and calming, had it's own melody, as she retold one of my favorite stories, for the millionth time.
"Caleb was ashamed of running, but what he was doing, was actually really brave. He had to change his name so he could avoid being caught. He chose Kanan, to be his new name. Now Kanan was very smart and cautious, which is how he is able to live right under the empire's nose." She poked mine as she paused. "One by one, he took in people who didn't have a family. They rebelled together." My mother paused, putting a new part to the story. A wide smile grew across her face, as she looked down at me, as I was wrapped under my covers. "One day, Kanan was cornered, and no one from his team could help-"
"No! No! Not Kanan! Please momma." I interrupted, pleading for the life of my childhood hero. She gave me the sweat smile she always did when I interrupted.
"Out of nowhere a hooded jedi helped, and saved him from the evil grasps of the empire." I squirmed as she made her hands into claws. "This jedi was known as the Guardian. The Guardian helps protect the future. She wears a symbol that means guardian and hope. She stayed with Kanan, and became part of his team."
The tear slid down to my chin, but didn't fly off. The flames reached up, and I smiled.
"I'm coming home." I said, as more tears filled my eyes, but didn't escape. The flames reached higher, trying to suck me into them, but the shockwave, and, something else, threw me sideways. I landed away from the fire. As I hit the ground, my breath was forced from my lungs. I rolled a little, but finally came to a stop. Resting on my left side, facing the fire. The glowing embers floated down like. Like snow. I watched as more surrounded me. I had been a long time since I'd seen snow. It helped me relax, bringing some kind of peace with it. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and ran over my cheek. I looked up at Kanan and Ezra.
Why do they look so shocked? I thought they were happy I was back with them. The single tear rolled down my neck, as I smiled up at them.
A wave of pain hit me, but I still smiled, as another tear escaped my eye.
(Kanan POV)
The reality of what was happening hit me, as Ara smiled up at us as blood spilled from her mouth. My hand was on Ezra's shoulder, so he wouldn't jump down to her.
Damn it. Why did she have to smile? I thought, as my throat burned with the emotions, I have no clue why, I felt I needed to hold back.
I could feel our bond through the force, getting weaker. I looked away, almost feeling her pain, but ended up looking light in her eyes, that I had seen so bright, faded, and her head dropped. Ezra pushed past me, running to the stairs. Unconsciously I did the same, unable to think clearly. The flames were dying down, as I slowed to a jog. Ezra had already reached Ara. Then, I felt it. As violent as a snap of a bone, but even more blood curling. I stopped, shaking, and dropped to my knees as I felt our bond brake. It was like strong glass shattering out of nowhere. The emotions I had been holding back, broke loose. What made it ten times worse, was Ezra's reaction.
(Ara POV)
A bright light blinded me.
Am I dead? My thought echoed through the space.
For once, I wished I could get confused. I wished I couldn't figure out what was going on. But I knew too well, that every end I came to, was a silent answer. I lifted my hand to shield my eyes from the light, as figures appeared. My hand dropped to my side, as the silhouettes formed into a large number of people. My eyes widened, as I looked at the faces of past masters.
"Haken has taught you well." A tall man with a mustache and beard commented. I swiftly recognized him as my Uncle's master. Then I knew, I had heard his voice before.
"Caleb has too. He also has done well with the boy, Ezra. What does he go by now? Kanan, isn't it?" The master next to him said.
"Orin really needs to work on timing. Right along with when to back off." The master's voice deepened, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I thought I taught him better."
"I did too." Haken's master agreed, crossing his arms.
Masters, my thought rang out as if I spoke it, while I respectfully bowed my head.
"Yes young one. We have been watching over you for a long time now." Master Bilbao informed.
"And we will until it actually is your time." Haken's master spoke. I was starting to come to more conclusions, when another master spoke.
"Your choice, it is, young one."
Master Yoda! I thought, a little shocked.
I only heard his voice, I didn't see him, and hoped he survived order 66. I looked through the crowd, as Orin's master, standing behind Haken, and Kanan's master, motioned to something on my left. Out of nowhere, ironically, I couldn't breathe. Ripples moved along, as my fingers skimmed, some kind of portal, maybe. I watched as Ezra shook my limp body.
"C'mon Ara. Wake up. Just. Just wake up." Tears streamed down his face, and dripped from his chin, as his nose started to run. "Wake up, please. I love you." He whispered, pressing his lips to mine. As tears rolled down my face, I reached up, and felt my lips. Somehow, I could feel the warmth linger, before they went cold. Ezra picked up my body, and started to rock back and forth. "Please, please. Wake up Ara." He sobbed. My bracelet was clenched in his hand. A silent tear ran down my cold face. "Just. One last word. Please, just one." His voice broke, as he whispered the last two words, crying into my limp shoulder. "we still need you Ara…. I… still need you." He brokenly whispered, resting his forehead on mine. "You promised. Damn it. You promised you weren't going to leave. You promised Ara." Ezra's voice broke, as he let out a violent sob. "You said you'd be there if… if we needed you.. I… I.. need you… Ara." Ezra started shaking, along with his voice. Then I watched my uncle Haken round the corner into the loading bay. He froze at the sight, along with Hera and Sabine. Haken immediately dropped to his knees.
I looked away, unable to watch anymore. Tears streaked my face, as I looked back at the masters. I wanted to go back so badly. But something, someone, was holding me here. My mother. Orin's master, lifted his chin.
"It is your choice. Choose wisely, Guardian." He spoke. I looked to the back of the crowd. My heart dropped, as I spotted a distant, familiar smile. The portal seemed to be slowly closing. More tears streamed down my face, as I found my voice.
"I'm coming home." I said, lifting an arm into the portal. I watched, as all the masters lifted their hands in unison, as their forms faded. I stepped back, feeling whatever power they had to offer, flow through me. It felt as if it healed me, as I became stronger.
I felt the warmth of Ezra's hand, heat my own, as I took in a breath. I sat up, clinging to him, I had no pain, as if nothing happened. The side of my head rested against his, as I brought Ezra closer to me. Ash fluttered down around us. Just like snow.
"I did make a promise. And you know damned well, I'm gonna keep it." I whispered, close to tears, as the single drop, slipped off my chin. I kissed away a tear, and Ezra blushed a little. Then we heard a crash, followed by a low moan. I looked over Ezra's shoulder, to see Haken with an arm pressed against the wall he just hit. He mournfully gritted his teeth as he drug his head down the wall. His shorter reddish brown hair, stuck out at odd angles. Ezra let me up, and he walked beside me, as I walked toward my uncle. Kanan looked at us shocked, and got up. Absentmindedly, I realized how much taller Haken compared to Kanan. Hera shook Haken's shoulder. He looked up, tears in his eyes, that only I saw, as he looked at me. I never saw him like this, so it killed me when I did. I understood, since I was all he had left. It wasn't that long ago he was all I had, before I met Orin. He stood up. That's when I broke into a run. Uncle Haken caught me, and I started to cry into his shoulder. Then it came over me that I made the right choice. I could feel his steady heartbeat on my shoulder, as we both held each other tightly.
I felt him sigh. "Why can't you follow orders?" He asked softly.
"Because of you." I lightly sobbed.
"What happened to Ara?" I heard Or- my father, demand.
"Orin?" Haken asked
"Yeah. There's that guy too." I managed to say through the ending tears. Haken pulled back, and kept a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, yeah." I said, remembering something. All three men gave me a strange and surprised look, as I told them what their masters had said.
I held on. I stayed strong. For this family of mine. Blood or not. These people. This family, is what I keep fighting for. The people I will defend. I would. I did. Die for them. But this time, death didn't have a strong enough hold.
My father hugged me. I hugged him back, without a second thought.
I am where I belong. I just had to realize it first. That it's always darkest before the dawn.
I sat next to my Uncle in his ship, that Ahsoka brought, as he flew behind the Ghost.
This family, forgave my mistakes. What I just realized, is that you can't always escape destiny, but you can damn well shape it. I'm home, where I belong. No matter what happens, I wouldn't leave them for anything. I may be the Guardian.
But that's not going to stop me.
Not from staying with the people I belonged with.
No matter what it takes, I will always,
find my way home.
I'm not fully done yet! I have a suprise, and I think all of you might like it. I'll try to post it tomorrow.