Before I go on I want to make a little disclaimer. As you know, we just got some new info for season 3 in the form of a clip. And I wanted to get it out there that, because this story was originally written before we got this, the season 3 promo will not affect this story in any way. Ezra still looks the same that he has for the first 2 seasons, Sabine still has the same hair color (not that we got a look at what changes she had), and so on.
With that out of the way, on with the chapter. We are back to Ezra now. This chapter is definitely the longest (even without the Author's Note). Ezra will be broken and be warned for some Ezra whump and stuff.
When Ezra was brutally brought back to reality, the first thing he noticed was that Maul was sitting beside him on the bed. Ezra jumped, forcing himself to distance himself from the Zabrak.
"Welcome back." Maul greeted, both hands wrapped around his knee.
"GO away." Ezra ordered.
"I can't do that. The last time I left you alone to think, you went running back to your former master."
Ezra stood up and took a few steps away from the bed, in order to distance himself from the red and black Dathomirian.
"I feel betrayed Ezra." Maul stated, before making himself stand up. "You were progressing so well, and we were getting along, and this is how you repay me? I thought I wouldn't have to teach you another lesson ever again, but I guess routine and consistency is the only way for you to learn."
"Go ahead. I don't care what you do to me."
"How cute, you still have a little courage left behind all of that fear. Let's fix that, shall we?"
Maul cranked the collar's intensity to the highest setting, before officially activating it. Ezra did not utter a sound, feeling the electrical pain surge through his body. After several minutes, Maul allowed the punishment to cease, not wanted to overdo it. Ezra feel on to his hands and knees as Maul got closer to him.
"I hope his lie was worth the pain." Maul stated.
"He was not lying." Ezra growled, forcing himself to stand back up. "He is coming."
"Oh please, if he wanted to save you, he would have tried that weeks ago. Regardless of whether or not you denied his help, which you know you did."
Ezra's eyes widened in horror when Maul spoke those words, wondering how Maul could have possible known about his and Kanan's previous conversation.
"Oh yes, I knew about your conversation. You see, you were so tired that night that you didn't even bother to make sure that I wouldn't intrude. And the only reason you got away with it was because I choose to stay silent, allowing you false security."
"And? What does this have to do with this moment in time? What does that have to do with Kanan 'lying' to me?"
"Ah yes, if he really wanted to save you, he would have disregarded your demands, regardless of the risks. He's the adult and you're the child. He should have made the final decision, not you. You see, when people care about you, they don't just abandon you because you think that it's for the best. They would do anything to protect you. Let's also remember that he also didn't tell you that I was after you, and here you are."
"Considering what other ailments I was suffering from, I know Kanan was doing that for my wellbeing. Would I have wanted to know sooner? Of course, but it would do nothing to improve my quality of life."
Maul let out a sinister chuckle.
"For your wellbeing? More like smothering you in your own ignorance. I would have told you, just like I would have come to rescue you if I were him. He will never want you back. He didn't then and he he won't now. No Jedi wants a Padawan who has killed, nor would they want a scared Padawan who clearly cannot control his emotions. And considering how you look now, he definitely won't want you."
Ezra looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Maul grabbed Ezra by the neck and forced him to look into a mirror. The image in front of him revealed a horrific image that frightened Ezra. Strings of yellow branched out from the edge of his pupils, only to be contained by what little blue was left on the edge of his irises.
"Fear is a powerful thing. I was once told how a little green cretin said that fear is the path to the Dark Side. That is what made you this way. You're fear is making you one of us, and because of that, Kanan will never take you back."
Maul threw his apprentice to the ground. Ezra was only able to get himself up into a sitting position before Maul was hovering over him.
"So tell me, who is your master?"
"Kanan." Ezra bitterly growled.
A jolt of electricity coursed through Ezra's veins.
"Let me ask that again." Maul stated, letting go of the trigger. "Who is your master?"
"Kanan."
Another jolt of electricity shocked Ezra.
"You will answer this correctly Ezra, and until you do, I will continue to punish you. Fear is what got you this far, and fear will bind your fate to mine."
Ezra looked at Maul, terrified at the Zabrak's threat, and knowing that he didn't want what Maul was willing to offer.
"Again, who is your master?"
"Kanan."
This pattern of abuse continued. Maul would ask Ezra who his master was and when Ezra continued to reply with Kanan's name, Maul would electrocute him. When Maul's patience started thinning and the electrocution alone didn't seem like it was working, Maul started to add a beating Ezra to the electricity. Ezra still continued pulled through with what little courage and strength he had left. Then when the beating and electrocution stared to take its toll, verbal attacks started to surface. Some of the comments being thrown including calling Ezra weak and ungrateful, how he was nothing more than an unloved abandon reject, ungrateful, and how Ezra was a murderer.
The attack seemed to last for hours, but time seemed to blur. When it appeared that Ezra reached the end of his battle, Maul stopped. Ezra was lying on the ground, shaking, when the electricity subsuded. The bruises on his body only scratched the surface of the physical altercations. His wall appearing to have almost if not completely shattered as new emotions took place of what emotional strength he had left. The verbal abuse made sure of that, leaving nothing but fear, doubt and rage in its wake.
When Maul saw Ezra trying to move, he brought the boy to his feet. His hands placed firmly on Ezra's shoulders, so that the boy could stand on his feet.
"So tell me Ezra, who is your master?" Maul asked one last time.
Ezra did not answer for a few moments, his mind a little blank. The only response he could muster lifting his head up to make eye contact with the Zabrak.
"You are my master." Ezra robotically replied.
If I didn't completely break Ezra a few chapters back, he definitely is now. ^^;