OH MY GOODNESS YOU GUYS THAT TRAILER WAS SO AMAZING! Ezra's all grown up! Kanan has an awesome beard! I love Sabine's hair!
Just keep in mind that while I will try to stick to the trailer as best I can but my story will no longer fit perfectly into canon.
So...uh...anyway... I apologize in advance for this. I know I made Maul appear rather suddenly last chapter, but believe it or not, I wrote this one first so I had to make things fit somehow. As for the "this" in I apologize in advance for this, well...you'll see why in a moment. I hope you enjoy!
Summary: When Maul arrives on the scene, things go horribly wrong.
Maul's presence stood out, red and evil. Ezra fumbled for his quarterstaff and pressed the button, causing the staff to snap to its full length despite knowing it would be no good against a lightsaber. Kanan ignited his lightsaber and Maul did the same.
When the three Force-users charged at each other, Maul was quick to remove Ezra from the picture by Force pushing him into a pillar, knocking him clean out. Kanan cursed and used the Force to guide his movements.
"Why are you here?" Kanan snapped.
"Isn't it obvious?" Maul replied. "I'm here to claim my apprentice and the holocron. Now, spare your former padawan the pain and get it from him."
"We don't have it with us," Kanan replied as he blocked a blow. "We're not stupid."
Maul's face morphed into rage as he grabbed Kanan's wrist and flung him to the ground.
"Told you I'd make it quick," he sneered. He raised his lightsaber to deliver the final blow.
Ezra whimpered as he opened his eyes to see Kanan being flung to the ground. He saw Maul prepare to deliver the final blow.
No. Not happening. Ezra wasn't going to let anyone else die on his watch. With a cry, he grabbed his staff and struck Maul from behind, knocking him away from Kanan. He struck him over and over until Maul, blinded by rage, flung him away. The rage was steaming off of Maul as he pinned Ezra to the ground and wrapped his hands around Ezra's throat, pressing down on his windpipe. Ezra began to sputter and gasp as he made a futile attempt to get air into his lungs. He tried to free himself but to no avail.
"If you will not join me," Maul growled, "then you will die."
Ezra, suddenly terrified, tried to move, but Maul was too heavy, his metal feet slowly crushing Ezra's wrists. Ezra needed help! He needed to get free! He was going to die if he didn't get free!
His mind let out a desperate cry.
"Kanan! Help!"
"Kanan! Help!"
Kanan heard Ezra cry out through the Force for help as regained consciousness. He turned to the source of the cry.
A strangled gasp tore out of Kanan's throat when he saw Ezra's signature dim until it was almost gone. Maul's evil red aura was on top of Ezra's almost as if Maul was strangling him.
Adrenaline combined with fatherly instinct and Kanan ran faster than he ever did before. His lightsaber was out and ready to end Maul once and for all.
Maul sensed the blow before it came and released his hold on Ezra, blocking the blow with his lightsaber. Kanan dove into the Force, letting it guide him, letting it become his eyes, knowing that there would be no underestimates this time.
Ezra tried to turn his head but his neck hurt too much. His windpipe felt like it had completely collapsed and Ezra could barely breathe. His throat and chest ached with each breath and tears streamed down his face.
He was terrified. There he was, unable to breathe or anything while his master was fighting Maul, the very man who started all this. Panicked sobs tried to tear themselves from Ezra's throat but they were caught in his crushed windpipe. With no other option, a silent scream tore out instead. Lead slowly filled his veins as the injured child began to lose consciousness. Something wet gurgled inside his throat and it pooled in his mouth in the form of blood. He couldn't turn over to cough it up and it further restricted Ezra's breathing.
Ezra knew this was it. He knew what was going to happen. He hated to leave his master in a fight for his life but...maybe...maybe it was better this way. He made a mistake. This was his punishment. His only regret was leaving Kanan in a fight for his life, but Kanan was strong. He would beat Maul. Ezra's hand lifted up, reaching towards his master before his vision greyed out and he sank into darkness.
"So this is what it is...to atone..."
Kanan felt Ezra lose consciousness as soon as it happened. He could barely see his signature, but judging by the waves of panic flowing through the Force, the situation was bad.
Kanan had to end this fight, and fast.
Maul thrust his red blade towards Kanan. "The boy is mine now!" Maul roared. "You will not take my apprentice from me a second time!"
"You might not get him!" Kanan roared as he blocked, anger in his voice. "You might have killed him!"
"If I can't have him!" Maul retorted. "Neither can you! He made his choice! If he survives, I will get him to change his mind even if I have to beat him into it!"
Maul swung the blade at Kanan and Kanan heard the swing. The swing was too wide.
Maul realized his mistake too late as Kanan swept Maul's legs out from underneath him and knocked him to the ground. Before Maul could react, Kanan placed his foot firmly on the former Sith's lightsaber before flinging him against the durasteel wall. Maul slumped to the ground, completely unconscious.
Kanan wasted no time. He rushed towards his padawan and held his head steady. That's when Kanan noticed something wet on his face. Kanan's breath hitched as he realized what it was. Blood. Holding the child's head as to not cause further damage, Kanan turned Ezra over and cringed as he heard a rough and labored cough, followed by soft wheezing sounds.
Kanan immediately turned Ezra back onto his back and turned on his comlink.
"Hera? Do you copy?"
A reply came almost immediately. "I copy. Is everything okay?"
"You need to get down here now! It's bad!"
"I'm on my way. I'll alert medbay." Kanan could tell Hera was trying to stay calm, but he heard her voice quiver. He leaned down and lightly tapped Ezra's face. "Kid? Can you hear me?" He didn't get a response. He heard the Phantom's engines rumble, followed by a soft thunk. A few seconds later, he heard Hera's strangled gasp.
Kanan turned towards Hera's frightened green aura. "Do we have a neck brace?"
Hera nodded and rushed inside. She emerged a few seconds later and rushed towards Ezra, strapping on the brace. Together, they lifted the critically injured teenager and took him to the Phantom.
They were long gone a few minutes later.
The following message is a recording, as Thiefy is currently in hiding from angry readers: Oopsie? Please don't virtually murder me! It's only a seven day wait! Right? Anyone? Oh, and before I forget, virtual hot chocolate and blankets are here for pickup! And I'll have more next chapter!
Remember, suggestions are now cut off. Thank you to all of you who suggested. I will start them soon. If I need to, I will reopen suggestions but until then, they are cut off.