Welcome Back Everyone!

This chapter is an important part of where I wanted to go with this story. I really hope that you'll enjoy it! :D

Special Mention Time!

-Magic = Inquisitor is one of my fav villains too. I love how compose and elegant he is :3

-Solisstef1 = Personally, I love the feeling of seeing my suggestions being used after I gave them as much as I love seeing people being happy to read their own suggestions appearance. If you ever wish to see something happening, ask me and I'll see what I can do with them :3

Have a nice reading time! :3

P.s. I own Nothing!

Chapter 5

Ezra's electric blue eyes lost focus, moving as he was thinking, and his grey hands were clenched on the edge of his seat.

He was being blackmailed and he knew this threat was real! He didn't understand this 'Force' thing, but he somewhat knew the Inquisitor could turn this situation to his advantage. That he could use him to hit hard the Rebels and quench their spark of rebellion!

Why! Just Why did those Rebels had to rescue him again and made him doubt his resolve!? He knew he would become attached to them if he was to stay near them and learn to know them more! It would have been so easier to dump them if he still thought he would have been better without their help! Now, he feared that they could get hurt, that the Empire could take them away, and all because of him!... just like his parents...

If he had never spoken at school, if he had never said his parents were like heroes giving hope to others, maybe they would still be with him... Stupid, childish mistake made by a child proud of his parents... And now, if he had never tried to intervene in the Rebel's business, if he had decided not to tell them about the Wookies, they would have dropped him back on Lothal and never tried to help him again and again!

Or, would they? They were so good people... so much alike his deceased parents...

-"I see you have difficulties to settle this issue, young man." The calm tone of his old voice grabbed back Ezra's attention. "Don't worry, I'm not asking that you answer right away. In any case, I still have to completely figure out how to change us back. Please, take your time to ponder on it. I would like to have your honest and unwavering answer on this matter."

The blue-eyed Pau'an looked surprised, puzzled. Was the Inquisitor concerned for his feelings? Was he considerate of his real opinion?

He nodded and exited the Phantom, leaning his back on the door after closing it. Was the Inquisitor such a bad guy? Sure, he was an Imperial, he forcefully abducted him, he tortured him and now he was threatening him... but, he was still letting him decide if he wanted to follow him or stay with the Rebels... and, to be fair, he asked before attacking in Lothal's alley... and he was pissed by the boy's attitude so he punished him before asking one more time to join the Empire...

-"Arrrgg!" He reached a hand to his forehead and shook his head, frustrated and pissed. He preferred much more when it was simple and he knew the Inquisitor was his enemy... Or was he not? Would he keep his word and not tell anything about the Ghost's crew if he was to follow him?

Incapable of choosing what he wanted to do, he pushed himself back on his feet with a sigh and walked away. Just around the corner, he encountered the Twi'lek pilot.

-"Hera, why are you here?" He jolted, surprised.

She frowned. -"I was thinking you were staying too long near that 'Inquisitor'. I didn't see him for long, but, base on that and listening to Kanan, I know he can't be trusted. Don't talk to him too much, he may try to confuse you."

The boy smiled inwardly. She was wise. Good thinking, Hera. Just a little too late...

He sighed. -"I understand. Anyway, I'm a little exhausted after everything that happened."

She smiled softly. -"It's normal. But, where were you going just now?"

He was taken aback. -"I... I thought I was gonna sleep in the Inquisitor's ship. I mean, I didn't want to disturb you with the way I look and..."

She jolted in turn. -"What are you talking about? There's no way I'm letting you sleep on the cold and narrow floor of a Tie-fighter!"

-"But, I..."

-"I admit I thought it hard to believe at first, but, now that I have you in front of me, I know it's really you, Ezra," She gently grabbed his arm. "and I want you to know that you don't need to concern yourself with anything anymore. Now that we've got you back, we'll find a solution to help you get inside your shoes again." He smiled faintly and she took one of his big hands in hers. "Come with me, we'll find you somewhere comfortable to sleep on."

He followed her without any resistance and she led him to the lounge where she draws a blanket and made a simple bed with the couch.

-"There. It's not perfect, but it will be way better than the floor." She decreed, posing her fists on her hip.

-"Thank you, Hera. You're the best." He said, calmly, while sitting on the improvised bed.

She posed a hand on his head and a kiss on his forehead. -"Good night, Ezra. Sleep well."

For her, the appearance was never an issue. It was who you were inside that mattered.

Ezra was so surprised that he nearly didn't realized she was living until she closed the light! -"Hera?"

She stopped just before passing the door, turning to him. -"Yes?"

-"The... the Inquisitor." He hesitated. "He said he could see what I know about your activities and would reveal information about you to the Empire if I refused to follow him."

She looked surprised at first, then smiled softly again. -"You don't have to worry about that. You don't know that much that would hurt us if it was revealed. He can't shut us down that easily."

He smiled back, turning to sleep with the mind at ease.

...

The next day, he woke up with a warm meal beside him and ate it happily. What a good way to start a day! He had forgotten this feeling since his mother was gone. Maybe he could always wake up like that if he stayed with the Rebels...

Since Hera cleared his fears, he could really chose what he wanted to do with his life without remorse! He could decide whether he wanted to learn from the Inquisitor or from Kanan, and, even, if he wanted to stay out of this again! After all, he could always ask to be returned to Lothal... but, after all that happened, did he really still wanted that? That was without saying if the Inquisitor would let him be...

No, he got trapped by the exact thought that had made him leave the crew the first time. He grew attached to their warm and, somewhere, it still frightened him. Maybe, if he was to stay with them, he could get rid of this awful feeling... of this remorse... or, he could choose the Inquisitor and never get to feel this ever again. It's not like he could get nervous or sad at the idea of losing the stern Imperial man...

All he needed to do, now, was to determine if he could manage to pass beyond his old, ingrained fear.

He stood back and walked to the Phantom, ready to give his answer.

He unlocked the door and entered to sit in front of his old body who talked first.

-"Did you chose what you wanted to do?"

-"Yes" He answered, his blue eyes shining with determination. "And you, did you find how to change us back?"

-"Yes, and it won't be as painful as the first time." Assured the yellow-eyed boy. Ezra nodded and the Inquisitor continued. "So, what is your answer?"

-"I decided to stay with the Rebels." He answered firmly.

-"What a shame." Replied the tiny Inquisitor, saddened. "But, it was to be expected." He raised a hand. "Come closer, let us get it over with this thorn in our feet."

Ezra stoops his grey head and the tiny hand leaned on it.

-"Close your eyes," said his old voice. "Breathe calmly, think of nothing."

Ezra closed his eyes and felt his surrounding becoming colder. He opened them again and everything around him was like a foggy plain. A feeble breeze was moving the yellowish mist that was covering everything, ground and sky.

Looking around him, he soon heard something resembling the sound of metals rattling together. He then saw the silhouette of the Grand Inquisitor walking toward him, a glowing silver-blue chain in his hand trailing on the ground.

-"Where are we?" Ask the boy, feeling uneasy.

-"We are in my inner-self, and this" The Pau'lan pointed the chain. "is the link I borrowed from your inner-self to make sure we wouldn't get lost on your way back."

-"We? You're coming with me?" Ezra raised an eyebrow.

-"Yes," The Inquisitor let the chain fall to his feet and walked toward the boy. "I assumed this way of changing body was less sudden and harmful, but I discovered than an untrained mind might just get lost into it. Let me bring you back home."

Ezra, hesitated a little, then nodded.

The man stoops to grab a handful of mist on the ground and raised with a silver-yellow chain. -"To find my way back. After all, I'm at my first attempt, too." Then, he leaned a hand on the back of the boy and encouraged him to walk beside him.

-"Well, that's kind of you." Answered Ezra, taken aback. "I thought you would be mad because I refused to follow you."

The man walked right beside the blue chain, glowing on the ground, the yellow one following soundly. -"Oh, don't misinterpret my actions. I am quite sad with your decision. But, you'll discover in time that you are way stronger with the Force than me. Even if I could force you to stay with me now, you'll eventually return yourself against me."

Ezra shrugged and let the Inquisitor lead him in this foggy maze. Maybe that meant that he would also stop pursuing the boy and that, if he changed his mind about the Rebels, he could return safely to Lothal and stay neutral in this war... Maybe that would be for the best...

Soon, the mist changed from yellowish to blueish and the air became warmer. With each step, the glowing blue chain was harder and harder to spot on the ground. When his surroundings became totally blue, with no more yellow leftover other than the Inquisitor's chain, he finally felt at home.

-"You were right, it was way more comfortable to exchange body like that." He turned to face the Pau'an. "I suppose the only thing left is to wish you a nice journey back to your inner-self."

Swiftly, the expression of the Inquisitor changed evilly and he moved his hand, so quickly that it nearly couldn't be seen by the eye, right into Ezra's chest! Yelling under the surprise and the pain, the boy watched powerless as the man plunged the yellow chain right into his heart! He felt the metal gripped itself around it and between his artery! Reaching to extirpate the painful links biting into his flesh, blue chains raised from the ground and shackled him, wrapping his neck, his limbs and his torso, bringing him down on his knees!

The Inquisitor recoiled, smugly, to watch his work.

Fighting the suffering, Ezra raised his head to glare with hate and disgust at the Imperial. -"What have you done?!"

-"I was utterly disappointed to think you would stay behind with the Rebels. But, to be fair, I expected no less. So, as I searched to change us back, I found this place, this inner-self," He leaned a knee in front of Ezra and pointed the flesh and metal junction, smirking. "and discovered how to keep you with me."

-"What? I don't understand." The boy, panting, looking confused, glared at the chain. "What is that?"

-"It's a bond." Answered the Inquisitor with pride, standing back on his feet. "Not quite the same as a Master and his Padawan would normally share, but way more efficient."

And he turned to walk away, his evil laugh piercing Ezra even more painfully than the chain. The boy closed his eyes, pained by his stupidity. How could he have ever thought it was possible to trust the Inquisitor!

...

When he opened his eyes back, he was on the Phantom's floor, his body shivering from the cold that was now nesting in his heart.

The Inquisitor was standing beside him, looking down on him, still smirking evilly. -"Time to go, my boy."