Another step. Another attempt. Another pathway to cross.

Just a few more steps…That's what Arcann thought every time he felt like the end was near as if he was about to reach the end of this darkness and finally discover the light that called out to him. He felt many souls emerging in this mindscape, some more familiar than others, and all calling out to their comrades, imbuing their essence with an incredible will to fight and resist. There was no challenge Arcann couldn't overcome, no sacrifice too great.

"I did everything to protect you…" A familiar voice echoed from within his head, the one mirroring his own. "And you killed me in cold blood. Why, Arcann…Why?"

"No, I…I'm sorry, Thexan, I…" No, this wasn't real, and Arcann couldn't give it more power. He remembered Alek's words. He had to face the darkness head-on, let go of his fear, and embrace the battle. To stare into the Void's face and laugh back at it. To make the darkness kneel and tremble before him.

"Oh, Arcann…Why did you leave me?" Another voice, this time a plea coming from his mother, echoed in the prince's head. "I wanted to save you. I wanted to give you a second chance. I was ready to fight the whole galaxy for you, and you left me to die on Voss."

This wasn't real; this wasn't real. Only his spirit and the monsters that hunted it were. Once again, the lurkers emerged from the shadows and surrounded Arcann. Each of them was a shard of Tenebrae's power that now hungered for prey. They would drain him and feast on his bones. And this time, there were more, five, seven, nine, a dozen, every second brought more into the fold. Arcann clung to his lightsaber. He had to be strong to fight until the end.

"You betrayed me!" Vaylin's furious voice echoed in his head. "You left me alone with them! I trusted you…I hate you!"

"No, I…" His quivering voice allowed for a moment of weakness, which the predators gladly seized. One after another, the lurkers attacked Arcann and plunged their shadowy claws into his skin. They drained his energy so quickly that he didn't even have time to resist. They didn't just pierce his skin. They tore through his cybernetics, making Arcann fall to the ground. He felt all of his burdens and regrets becoming one, transforming into a giant cloud of darkness that let its acid rain fall upon him. It pushed him back into oblivion, eroding his desire to even stand up. What good was he if he failed each of his family members? If he terrorized the galaxy instead of becoming better than his father? He could've allowed himself to be taken alive back on Zakuul and face imprisonment and judgment from all the people he wronged, yet he chose his dignity over it. Just perpetuating the cycle Valkorion started…

"I'm disappointed, son." Father's cold, dismissive voice echoed in his head. "Rarely before have I seen a being with such potential squandering it in this disgraceful of a manner. Now, it is your time to become the ashes of history. It is what you earned, son."

Even now, a small part of Arcann's mind pushed him to agree. To admit his fault and that he was a failure, that all of this was his fault for never living up to his father's expectations. But he also knew that this was the inevitable moment for which he had been preparing all his life. It was just like Father told him.

"And when darkness finds you, you will face it…"

Despite the abundance of despair, Arcann still felt light's presence. Beyond the dark clouds, so close and yet so far. Warm, calming lights, full of love, acceptance, and hope. Everything that Arcann ever wanted was closer than ever, even in this dark, mortifying place. Yet they still fought together.

His father was wrong. He did not have to face the darkness alone.

"I…Will not submit!" Arcann shouted and, for the first time since Korriban, opened both of his eyes. A powerful lightning bolt sprung from them, crushing the predators that tried to kill him along with Arcann's black mask. Now, he embraced both light and darkness, as the teachings of Zakuul would have him do, and he felt unstoppable. This must be how Vaylin felt when she broke her chains, and Arcann would savor every moment. "I will find you, Father, and I will make you pay!" Arcann shouted into the Void as he finally stood tall with the ashes of those predators. He wanted to make him suffer and pay. No matter where he hides, Arcann will find him and tear him apart, limb after limb, until finally…

"Arcann?" He heard a soft, hopeful voice, which made the masked prince halt for a moment. The hopeful lights that he sensed were far closer to him now, and the moment Arcann turned around, he finally saw them. Senya and Thexan's spirits are in front of him, watching and unable to contain their shock. Suddenly, all the rage that guided Arcann faded away, switching his rage to a sudden yet soothing calm. The darkness faded. It was as if everything around him disappeared in an instant, leaving nothing but him and his family at the heart of it all. There was no mistake to be made; those were their real souls, not illusions or visions, only the ghosts of his past.

"M-mother, brother, is that…Is that you?" Arcann's voice shook. He sounded different now that his phantom mask had dissipated; he was much clearer, much more genuine, and pure. The three of them could barely speak due to the impending shock and disbelief.

"We…We thought we lost you!" Senya's voice trembled as a few tears fell down her eyes, and her hands began to shake. "We could feel you and Vaylin die, but your spirits never joined us. I thought…I thought that Valkorion destroyed you, took you into the Void with him, and…" So it was true, Senya never was there when Valkorion fell. This meant that Arcann was looking into his mother's eyes for the first time since abandoning her on Voss and hearing her desperate screams.

"Perhaps father locked their my siblings' souls in the Outlander's mind." Thexan theorized. "Now, they've been freed."

"Yes, that would make sense, but still…I thought I would never see you again! I answered Revan's call only to have my revenge on Valkorion, but now…" She approached closer, making Arcann reflexively recoil, which Senya noticed. "What's wrong?"

"Mother, I…I don't deserve this." Arcann looked down in shame.

"What are you talking about?"

"I ran from you back on Voss and left you to fight the Outlander alone. I tried to fix everything later, but I failed. I couldn't help Vaylin, couldn't defeat Cassian, couldn't save our home…I failed you, mother."

"Don't even think about saying it!" Senya protested. "I only wanted to give you a second chance, and you made this possible! You helped me, you agreed to take on the ritual, and I…I chose to fight to the end. I wouldn't have surrendered to the Outlander, not when your life was at stake." To hear those loving words made Arcann's heart skip a beat as he realized that he had no words left to say. He stood in silence for a moment before looking at his twin brother.

"And you, Thexan, I…I should have more words for you, but I don't know what to say to you…We both know that no words can make up for what I did to you."

"No words are necessary. I saw the path you took and all that you've been through…I'm proud of you, Arcann." He could not hold it back anymore. Arcann felt tears streaming down his eyes as the weight of his guilt crushed him. He did not deserve this kindness from them, yet nothing could warm his heart more than their words. Moments later, he felt Senya's tight embrace.

"It's alright, son…We forgive you. And we welcome you back." Arcann gave years of his life waiting for those exact moments. He wished he could've realized that he could've had them much sooner if he had let go of his father's tyrannical ways. "What about Vaylin?" Senya asked with hope. "Was she…"

"She was with me, yes. We were trapped inside the Outlander's mind until now. We got along, eventually, and even fought together against this Tenebrae abomination.

"Thank Scyva, there's still hope…But where is she, then?"

"Father took her."

"No…Not again!" Senya clenched her fist. "This animal…He will pay for it!"

"I was on my way to help Vaylin before I met you. If we could travel together…"

"Lead the way, brother." Thexan encouraged him. "It's past time we end this cycle of suffering."

"I will not let him torment my daughter again, and nothing is going to stop me this time."

It was past the time they ended the fight. Arcann turned towards the next pathway, and no matter what kind of darkness or monsters they would encounter there…He wasn't afraid any longer.

…

"You are persistent. I was sure the Jedi exaggerated." Tenebrae said as he paced around a desolate isle along with his Valkorion form. Vaylin was there, too, locked in a circle and standing in silence. All of them waited for the Wrath to approach, and now that Cassian finally came here, Father would not let him go. "I'm glad actually…"

"Vaylin?" Cassian said with caution.

"Hello, Outlander…Surprised? Honestly, wish I could be, too." She said with annoyance.

"How are you here? I thought you were free after we destroyed Valkorion!"

"You thought wrong." She shrugged. "Dear old dad doesn't want to let me out of my cage, probably too scared of the consequences."

"Silence, child!" Tenebrae shouted.

"Fight back, Vaylin!" Cassian encouraged her with vigor and hope in his voice. "We shouldn't fight each other, not when the real enemy is right here!"

"Real enemy?" Tenebrae wondered. "An interesting choice of words because the memories I gathered portray a different picture. I wanted to ask you something that no one else seems to be sure of." He began, stepping aside for Valkorion to speak.

"When I occupied your mind, did I control you, or was it you who chose to murder my wife and son?"

"You never controlled me. When I faced Senya on Voss, she knew that Arcann was dangerous, and I would never risk overwhelming odds for some Voss ritual. I took an opportunity while Arcann was weak, brought an end to an end, my enemy…And gave justice to all who deserve it."

"So decisive and honest…You must have enjoyed it."

"I did what I had to do. There was no joy in it."

"I see…How unfortunate they're not here to help you now if only you…" Before Valkorion could finish, his family finally arrived, making Valkorion turn around. Now, Arcann could see genuine fear and confusion in his eyes and could feel his grip weakening. "Fascinating."

"Today, we will have our justice," Senya said sternly.

"Of course, you will. Your murderer stands before you." He tried to deflect, but Arcann wouldn't allow him such an opportunity.

"The Outlander will suffer in time. But he is not backed into a corner, scrambling to survive…"

"You may not have killed any of us yourself, but you were responsible. For all of it." Thexan finished. Finally, his fear broke the aura, allowing Vaylin to tear her invisible chains apart. She turned around and unleashed her lightning at Tenebrae, causing the pureblood to shiver in pain.

"I like your markings, do you like mine?" She said playfully before obliterating Tenebrae. Now, it was just Valkorion left, and he began to fall back. It felt good, sensing his despair and terror, everything this monster inflicted upon others, and everything he deserved himself. The three siblings attempted to chase him while Senya stayed behind with the Outlander, at least for now.

"Don't run, father!" Arcann taunted him. "Seeing you unravel only adds to our strength!"

"You insolent children…You will pay for this!" Valkorion shouted before dissipating.

"That was close," Vaylin said with slight disappointment. "But he can't run for long, not anymore."

"Vaylin, are you…Are you alright?" Arcann asked, making her turn around.

"I am perfectly fine. He might have tempered with my mind, but that was temporary…You should probably worry about yourself. What's with the new look? Did you wash away your makeup?" She said before looking at Thexan. "And you…You are real, aren't you?"

"It's been too long, sister. I missed you." Those words make Vaylin pause for a moment as if she struggled to believe that what she saw was real. Arcann understood it; he had felt much the same just moments before.

"I…I missed you, too, Thexan." She said quietly. "I know I shouldn't, but…I was never good at controlling my emotions."

"I would be honored to fight by your side." Thexan smiled as he approached Vaylin, slowly raising his hands. "May I?"

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes. "Fine, just quickly, before mother sees it." She allowed Thexan to hug her. Arcann wished she would allow him to do the same, but he understood why she was hesitant. Soon after, Senya finally joined them. Here they were, one family, reunited at last. How long was it since they were all in the same space? It must have been before Valkorion sent Vaylin away to Nathema.

"Vaylin…" Senya looked at her with pained eyes, but the young woman just shook her head.

"No, Mother, I don't want to talk about it. Just kill father."

"At least I help you. We all have to fight together."

"Gladly…" Vaylin turned around towards the Jedi temple in the distance. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"

…

"No, your power is your weakness. It blinds you."

"Jedi nonsense!"

"Precisely. My students and I, who are we to resist your power. You knew you could dominate us all, tear a path through our minds, absorb our essence. Strengthening yourself, crushing through our defenses one by one. In time, your victory was inevitable; in time, you would claw your way here into the very core of my being. Into the heart of my trap."

"Trap? Hah…Look around you."

"Yes, look around me. Look at my students, each of them shaken to their core by the death and chaos that you helped create, eager for help, guidance, and strength! Had you focused on any one of them, you might have succeeded, but your ego wouldn't allow it. Why settle for one student when you could assault them all? And why limit yourself to the students when their master was close at hand? I never needed to beat you. I only needed to let you think you were invincible. Until now…Until every person who knows your weakness firsthand could come to face you. Until the two people who proved you can be defeated came here to destroy you. Once and for all!"

"I am master to all Sith. Not one could challenge my power!" As Tenebrae's voice dribbled with fear, the proud Sith Lord before him responded, preparing for the final confrontation.

"Have you forgotten our ways so quickly? To overcome your master is the heart of being Sith. Even you cannot escape it."

"Enough! You will all learn the true depths of my power!"

Arcann stood among those proud warriors who had cornered the Emperor for the last time. Revan, Alek, Meetra Surik, Lord Scourge, Jacques Elias, Darth Marrr…And there were more souls to follow them. The consequences his father evaded for so long have finally come back to avenge themselves and claim their justice.

"Finally, he's terrified." Arcann clenched his fist, unable to hold back his anticipation. "I am going to make him scream as I burn his body to ash!"

"You've grown quite bloodthirsty, brother." Thexan's voice echoed from behind, followed by a chuckle from Vaylin.

"He's taking after me. Notice the resemblance?"

But before they could continue, the whirlwind of Tenebrae's dark aura overtook them all. Arcann tried to resist, but the explosion was too sudden to contain. He felt the ground beneath him dissipate and crumble as the darkness pushed him away onto the nearby isle, right across the Void. Arcann felt Senya, Vaylin, and Thexan being forced in the same direction while others followed another trail.

When the dark mist finally disappeared, Arcann realized that he was on a different aisle now, a smaller one with two more nearby. Tenebrae must have thrown all of his power in an attempt to alter the mindscape, and he wasn't unsuccessful. He divided their forces and now must have thought that they would be easier to overcome. He was about to be proven wrong.

"My family…" Valkorion's dismissive voice echoed as the image of his old man stood before him. "A mistake that I made after succumbing to mortal desires. Now, I will send you back to oblivion where you belong."

"Even now…" Senya stepped forward and clenched her fist. "Even as an incarnation of my husband that existed eons before Valkorion, despite seeing what he did to me and our children, you still show no remorse!"

"Your children were parasites, and they will perish like ones."

"You truly are a monster…Maybe you weren't always one, but definitely long before I met you. I will gladly make you pay!" Senya ignited her lightsaber and charged at Valkorion.

"I should not be surprised that mortal minds have no understanding of a god's schemes." Valkorion raised his hand, preparing to unleash lightning upon Senya, but Vaylin interrupted his attempt with her own powers, pushing back with force lightning even more powerful than Valkorion's

"You know what's funny?" She smiled as she stared her father into his eyes. "All those demeaning insults, all those hurtful things that father used to say, they just don't sound the same coming from you. Strange, isn't it? Almost as if you are nothing more than a pathetic clone who tries to imitate father's 'glory' without success whatsoever!"

"You have no idea of the power you are challenging." Valkorion attempted to sound confident, but Senya approached him, attempting to strike the image of father down. She managed to pierce his armor and make Valkorion recoil, leaving him weakened for a swift and fleeting moment.

"I…Will not be denied!" Valkorion shouted before unleashing another shockwave of dark energy. This forced all of them to fall on their knees; no resistance could prepare Arcann for this. "You decide to challenge me? Then so be it! I will show you the true power of the immortal Emperor!"

He raised his hands, creating crimson spheres of darkness all around the platform. They soon transformed into obelisks that pulsed with Valkorion's vile power, slowly corroding everything around them. Arcann could remember this feeling very well, the feeling of standing in father's shadow and the sheer horror it could induce. He was a creature beyond their understanding, hiding behind the mask of man, but now that this mask was no more, at least he could see this monster for what he truly was: an abomination.

"Thexan, with me!" Arcann commanded, not even realizing that this was the first time he was unafraid to take the lead of his brother and that he trusted him to follow without hesitation.

"On my way!" Thexan chanted moments before both twins charged toward Valkorion. They avoided one sphere after another, so familiar with the darkness that their fathers used that detecting a few spots free of his poison became second nature to him. As Father focused on overwhelming Vaylin, the brothers prepared for a precise strike. As they got closer to Valkorion, more crimson spheres emerged before them. Father clearly tried to prevent their approach, but his power was not nearly enough.

Together, Arcann and Thexan pierced the crimson obelisk before them, creating an explosion that interrupted Valkorion's flow of energy.

"Aaargh!" The Emperor shouted as the destructive power forced him to kneel. Arcann and Thexan felt the brunt, too. Both surrendered to the shockwave and found themselves lying on the edges of the isle. Arcann's soul was aching, but he knew that the battle wasn't over yet. He needed to take a stand and find another reason to continue the battle.

This hope came from sensing the struggle that continued on other isles. The one on the opposite side was controlled by Vitiate, the Sith Emperor. He faced both Jedi and Sith, representatives of those whom he manipulated and forced into an endless cycle of war. Jacques led the charge with Kira, Scourge, Satele, and Marr following behind, uniting the powers of light and darkness against the shadow that reigned over both the Republic and the Empire.

And on the isle that rose above the other two, a battle of the ancients unfolded, a clash between past and future, multiple eras becoming one. Cassian stood side by side with heroes of the past. Revan, Alek, and Meetra are the three fallen Jedi who fought in the Mandalorian wars and, later, the Emperor himself. Their opponent was Tenebrae, the man who rejected his humanity and became a ravenous beast. They had their enemies to battle, and Arcann had his. The end was in sight for all of them.

"I am endless, all-powerful…" Valkorion stood up, attempting to gather more power from sources that surrounded him.

"I think you said that already." Vaylin continued to taunt him. "Just for your sake, it sounds less convincing the more you do it!"

"You sound so proud, so arrogant…But I have seen your memories!" Valkorion spoke up. "Do you think I don't know how often you begged for mercy? How you cried, shivered in the darkness, begging for your mother to come and save you?" Arcann could feel Vaylin's powers wavering as Valkorion's might overtook her, making her shake and take a step back. "How, even after you were freed, you would still wake up screaming because you saw me in your nightmares?"

"I DON'T CARE!" Vaylin screamed as she tried to push the Emperor back despite him having the upper hand. "I am not afraid of you…Not anymore!"

"How peculiar…From what I've seen in your memories, you didn't like to lie."

"SHUT UP!"

"Ahahaha…"

Valkorion called more crimson orbs to his side, restoring some of his power. The defensive aura he created broke through Vaylin's and pushed the entire family back as a wall of flame surrounded him. Arcann clenched his teeth as he attempted to resist it with all his might.

"Your power is nothing against mine. For each of you is but a family member, inheriting a fraction of my power without ever achieving its true purpose. Yours is primal and untamed power beholden to vessels undeserving of it…Mine is perfection itself. All the spirits I took, all worlds I devastated…They are one with me now!" He continued to speak and throw all of his might at his opponents, inevitably dabbing into the very raw power that he mocked. He was full of contradictions that he utilized in his attempts to appeal to fear, but all of them ended up reeking of desperation.

"You're wrong, Tenebrae." Arcann spoke through his pain as he raised his eyes, Thexan and Vaylin followed his example. "You're wrong if you truly witnessed Valkorion's memories. You know it. You punished us, abused us, made us fear and cower before you, all because you were afraid yourself…You knew that our potential far surpassed yours, and you didn't want to accept it. The pain you put us, especially my sister, through makes whatever you're trying to do now pathetic." Arcann and Thexan resisted the pain and walked through the flames, not backing down for a single moment. Valkorion persisted, continued his onslaught, and didn't want to back down, but it was inconsequential. "I was afraid when I felt your presence at first, but now I realize that you aren't him. You're just an echo desperately fighting for survival, but deep down, you already know the outcome."

"No…No!" Valkorion attempted to resist, but Arcann and Thexan had Vaylin's aura protecting them. She could overpower Valkorion in his prime, and this incarnation was hardly different. "I will not be vested by the likes of you. I am above you…I am the one who gave you purpose, a future, a life!"

"Our father made our lives agonizing…And all you're good for is repeating his mistakes."

"Now!" Vaylin shouted when her powers were at their highest, pushing Arcann and Thexan forward as they breached Valkorion's defenses. All the energy he created they absorbed and unleashed back at him as the Emperor was helpless to resist. He fell on his knees, pathetic and stripped of all his power. He could do nothing but look up at the three vengeful phantoms that looked down upon him.

He ran like a pathetic, cowardly creature, ran until a woman with a blue lightsaber impaled him from behind.

"Begone, Tenebrae…And this time, you will never rise up!"

…

The battle continued, yet the end was in sight. One after another, the monsters fell. Valkorion, Vitiate, and Tenebrae all became a cornered echo at the mercy of countless souls who celebrated the final hour of vengeance.

"In the end…You are nothing."

The final flash, the final scream, and the last gruesome weapon of Tenebrae became obsolete, leaving nothing except ash and broken chains behind. All the souls were finally released, including Arcann's, ejected into a dimension between life and death, the one where they will spend brief moments before becoming one with the force.

Freedom and peace, at long last.

Arcann opened his eyes in a calm place full of bright light. There was nothing else, yet the prince felt serenity and relief. The enticing smell reminded him of Zakuulan nature, of the days when he and his siblings ran off to live in the swamps for a month. Those beautiful days…Perhaps he will be able to relive them in his dreams. Vaylin was nearby, standing among the light, but her focus was clearly on something else.

"Vaylin?" Arcann reached out to her, making the young woman turn around. She was calm, for once, even relieved.

"We did it, Arcann…We did it."

"Yes, we have! The last echo of our father, his attempt at resurrection…We stopped it. And not only that, but we are finally free!"

"Yes…"

"You don't sound happy," Arcann said with concern. "If you don't want to go with me at the same time, I understand."

"No, it's not that." Vaylin shook her head. "I found something just before we fought, Tenebrae. Call it an opportunity…I want to take it." She took a few steps forward. "Thank you for entertaining me, Arcann. Never thought I'd say it, but…Maybe you aren't boring after all." She smiled one last time before her spirit disappeared, not even giving Arcann an opportunity to reach out. She wasn't here any longer.

"Farewell, Vaylin…"

"Arcann!" He heard Thexan's voice behind him, making the prince turn around. His brother and mother arrived just in time to alleviate the emerging feeling of loneliness within him.

"Are you alright?" Senya put her hand on Arcann's shoulder.

"I…I am." He smiled and comforted her. "I don't feel his presence any longer, and now that it's all over, we can finally be free."

"And where is Vaylin?" Senya asked, making Arcann look at the spot where she stood moments ago. Her spirit wasn't obliterated. She was still out there, somewhere…Finally able to make her choices. Their paths separated forever here, but it was fine. He only wished that she would find whatever she was seeking.

"She will find her way, mother."

As would way. Finally, after years of torment and scorn…

It was time to rest.