The Battles of Light and the Dark
A rebel base was on high alert. Their compound had been compromised. They were under attack, forced to fall back and attempt to evacuate. Stormtroopers were closing in on the compound, advancing with their two-legged walkers that bombarded their defense turrets.
What made it worse for the rebels was that joining the troopers in the attack were the Imperial Force adepts. The darksiders brandished their red blades as they deflected blaster bolts and cut through the enemy.
And leading the charge was a darksider whose powers greatly surpassed his comrades'.
For he was no ordinary darksider. He wasn't a member of the shadow guard. Nor was he an Inquisitor.
He was a Sith Lord.
Darth Dread, new apprentice to the Emperor and Sith Lord Darth Drago, marched forward slowly, pausing only to cut down a hapless rebel who happened to have the misfortune to get in his way. His weapon had changed from his lightsaber pike. He now wielded a long handled lightsaber with a black metal hilt, circled with black spikes around the emitter end, and a wicked spiked point at the bottom of the hilt.
He no longer wore his helmet, allowing friend and foe alike to gaze into his menacing amber eyes. He was a tall man with a fit build. He had auburn colored hair with prominent sideburns. He wore entirely black, from his cloak, to his armor, and his boots.
His saber's red blade was active, cutting a scorched line in the ground as he went. Eventually his forces pushed the rebels back into their compound where they proceeded to shut the door and lock it to seal themselves inside a feeble attempt to hold out.
Dread paused just outside, smirking and snorting in amusement before he raised a hand and presented his palm toward the door. He focused his power on it.
On the other side the last of the rebels stood at the ready, weapons raised, and hearts hammering in their chests. Their hands were slicked in sweat, weapons trembling. Many of them couldn't help but think the same thing.
This was the end.
The metal door suddenly gave a loud creak. They tensed, staring at the door as it began to bend inward. Then both doors were suddenly blasted inward, flattening several of them in the process. Those that remained standing began to open fire as Dread walked in.
He waved and twirled his lightsaber around in a red blur as he deflected fire, forcing them back as he began to dwindle their numbers with their own fire. When only one rebel remained he extended his hand and used the Force to rip his weapon from his grip. The blaster flew to his palm, and within moments he curled his fingers around the barrel and crushed it.
As the last rebel contemplated running away Dread extended his hand once again. With a yelp the rebel slid across the floor before he stumbled before Dread. In an instant Dread's fingers were curled around the man's throat, constricting his airway with an unnaturally strong grip.
With a dark smile Dread stabbed his lightsaber into the man's chest, smirking as his eyes bulged and the light faded from them.
"Enjoying yourself?"
Dread glanced over his shoulder, eyes landing on a woman leaning against the doorway. "Immensely," Dread replied as he dropped the dead rebel. The base was taken, the rebels wiped out until only a single officer remained.
Dread wanted information. He wanted the locations of other bases, names, and of course information on the Jedi.
Dread slammed the man against the wall with his power, making him cry out in pain as he was held there.
"Tell me what I want to know and I promise to make your death quick," Dread said lowly. The rebel groaned and growled in pain before glaring at him. Dread dropped the man to the floor before advancing on him. He kneeled before him and held his hand up.
Immediately the rebel clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his neck as Dread attempted to rip the information he desired out of his mind.
"Your will is quite strong," Dread commented as the man managed to resist him. Dread stopped his forceful invasion as he stood up and grabbed his lightsaber. "Talk or I begin cutting," he threatened. The man glared up at him. Dread cocked back his arm.
"Really Dread?" Dread paused as he glanced back once again. "There are other ways to get what you want," she said, cocking her hip and smirking beneath her black masked cowl.
Dread frowned as he lowered his weapon. "And what would you suggest, Sister?"
The Nightsister rolled her eyes before stalking forward. She brushed past the Sith Lord before kneeling down. "Sometimes a softer touch can be just as effective," she said. She cupped the man's face, looking into his eyes. She trailed a red finger over his cheek before pulling her cowl back and lowering her mask to reveal her face to him.
Dread watched on curiously, having never seen her face. He watched as the man's eyes widened with a gasp. And while he looked stunned she pressed a finger to the center of his forehead. Immediately the man fell into a trance, his eyes glazed over and he became completely compliant.
He began to tell them everything he knew. The Nightsister stood up, pulling up her cowl and mask before turning to face Dread with a smug smile.
"Sometimes all you need is a woman's touch," she said before giving Dread a condescending pat on the cheek before waltzing past the Sith Lord proudly.
Dread stared after, deactivating his weapon with a snort.
He didn't like that woman.
He didn't like her at all.
An Imperial base was under siege. The rebel alliance was determined to take the compound, making off with their ships, weaponry, and whatever valuable intel they could find inside. The troopers inside were fortifying their base, trying to hold out until backup arrived to drive off the rebel insurgents. A majority of the troopers were gathered at the front entrance of the compound, knowing this was the most likely place where the enemy would get in and attempt to overrun them.
They kept their weapons at the ready, focused, and patiently waiting.
But the one leading the attack had decided to take a different approach. Above them they failed to notice the screws of a vent grate mysteriously started to unscrew themselves from the vent system. One by one the screws fell, unnoticed as they hit the ground.
They only looked up as the grate came off altogether and hit the ground. But before they could take aim a figure dropped down from the ceiling and into the room. The figure landed without a scratch, using the Force to soften her fall. As the stormtroopers lowered their weapons to take aim at her she raised a hand up. She channeled the Force into the palm of her hand, manifesting the light side into one powerful burst.
The stormtroopers cried out in pain as a blazing flash of golden light blinded them. They shook their heads to clear their vision, too afraid to fire given their state. Then they heard the familiar hiss of plasma blades. In the next few moments the enemy, a Jedi, was moving around the room in a blur of pink and gold, while her yellow and pink lightsabers moved swiftly in brilliant archs of light.
When she was done she deactivated her weapons and stood in the room's center.
The stormtroopers' visions began to clear. They took note of the Jedi standing in the middle of them and raised their weapons up to take aim, only for them all to immediately realize their weapons were useless, cut right through the barrel, metal still hot. They looked back to the Jedi as she threw her hands out to the side. In the next moment all the troopers were sent flying back with shouts of alarm, hurled against the walls of the compound and each other.
The Jedi surveyed the room with grass green eyes and smiled. She activated her wrist comm, contacting her comrades who awaited her signal. "Anna. It's safe to come in now."
She waited for her comrade to answer, only for the door connecting the outside to the room suddenly being blasted open by a powerful explosion from the other side. Smoke and dust were kicked up, obscuring the new opening before people began to enter.
The first to enter was a person dressed in golden armor. Mandalorian armor, marked with blue designs and the mark of the Alliance. Following close behind her were Rebel Alliance soldiers and clone troopers whose armors were painted with black designs with the addition of golden suns.
The Mandalorian walked up to the Jedi, smiling at her from underneath her visored helmet. "Good job Rapunzel," Anna said, impressed as she swept her head around the room, taking note of all the downed troopers.
"Did you really have to blow the door open? Everyone was already down," Rapunzel asked and pointed out, amused.
"No," Anna acknowledged with a shrug. "But I like to make an entrance."
Rapunzel chuckled in mirth before directing the rebels to take the compound and start securing the enemy. The Padawan had grown over the duration of the war under the instruction of her new master. Both in power and wisdom. Her skills in battle and her strength with the Force had come farther than she ever thought possible.
She'd changed very little in physical appearance, with her brown hair falling down just past her shoulders. Her outfit had changed only slightly, with her top a pink tunic with golden edges with no sleeves that bared her shoulders and upper biceps while the rest of her arms were covered in long lilac colored fingerless gloves that extended to just below her elbows. On top of them were golden cortosis weave armguards and bracers for added protection. Covering her lower body were cream colored pants and dark brown boots with a utility belt at her waist with several pouches.
And at the side of her head was a long piece of braided hair, symbolizing her status as a Jedi Padawan.
As the group was about to move onto the next room the door suddenly slid open with a hiss to reveal a figure in black. Rapunzel, Anna, and the others immediately took note of them and recognized what they were.
An Inquisitor.
The being before them was an Umbaran. Pale and slender to the point of what looked like emaciation. Her eyes were colorless with grey markings around them. She was bald and staring at them, specifically Rapunzel menacingly. She reached behind her, drawing her unique ringed lightsaber from her back and igniting the blade.
Anna began to raise a blaster up alongside the other rebels, only for Rapunzel to raise a hand and stop them. The rebels backed down, lowering their weapons and giving her space as she approached the Inquisitor. She stood right before her, well within striking range, something that made the Inquisitor cock her head to the side curiously.
"This compound is taken. You've already lost," Rapunzel told her. She shook her head, "There's no need to fight anymore." She awaited the Inquisitor's response, hoping that she could see reason and simply surrender.
The Inquisitor responded with violence. She quickly raised her saber up and took a swipe at Rapunzel, aiming for her head. Rapunzel simply leaned back, letting the blade sail over her face before she counterattacked. With a peaceful surrender obviously not an option she kicked the Inquisitor squarely in the gut.
The Inquisitor staggered back before thrusting her saber forward for a stab. Rapunzel side-stepped the attack, and as the Inquisitor attempted a swing she halted her mid attack by grabbing at her wrist. The Inquisitor growled in aggravation as she pulled her hand free and began attacking viciously.
Rapunzel backed away, dodging every strike with relative ease, not even bothering to draw her own sabers in defense. As the Inquisitor attempted an overhand swing, Rapunzel jerked out of the way. She grabbed her sword arm, keeping it angle downward before kneeing her in the stomach. As the Umbaran gasped for air Rapunzel tugged her arm forward and flipped her, throwing her to the ground on her back.
The Umbaran took a wild swing at her while she was on the ground. Rapunzel leapt back as the Umbaran leapt to her feet and turned to face her. Rapunzel threw her palm forward. With a cry the Umbaran was sent flying, hitting the ground hard before rolling and eventually coming to a stop when she hit a wall.
Rapunzel stared after the Umbaran who struggled to get up. She let out a breath, hoping the Umbaran would see she was severely outmatched. The Umbaran rose, lifting her head to glare at the Jedi before changing her lightsaber to its ringed saber staff form. Rapunzel started to rush her. The Umbaran tensed before making the blades on her weapon spin in a blur of red before she cocked back her arm and threw it at the approaching Padawan.
Rapunzel didn't stop, simply kept going as she approached the flying blades. Before they could touch her she leapt, flipping over it before snaking her hand out and grabbing it by the handle. The Umbaran gaped as her enemy took hold of her lightsaber mid-flight and whilst in the air. Rapunzel landed on her feet and threw the weapon back at her opponent.
The Umbaran flinched, jerking her head out of the way as one of the red blades sank into the wall to the right of her head. She gripped her weapon and yanked it out of the wall before she began to attack Rapunzel. Rapunzel nimbly dodged the Umbaran's flurry of attacks, feeling her frustration and anger grow.
As they spun away from each other Rapunzel finally curled her hands around the hilts of her lightsabers. She unclipped them from her belt and ignited both blades. The Umbaran stared at her, scowling in anger before gripping the hilt of her saber firmly in hand and rushing her. She alternated hands as the blades spun, blurs and wheels of red light almost too fast to follow.
Almost.
Rapunzel waited until just the right moment before lashing out. With a loud hiss she cut the ring at the center apart, sending the two halves of the blade flying away and leaving the Umbaran defenseless. The Umbaran froze in shock before raising her hands up in surrender as Rapunzel pointed her yellow saber in her face.
A crippling nerve pulse hit the Umbaran from behind and she crumpled to the ground unconscious. Anna stood behind her, blaster up.
Rapunzel smiled as she deactivated her lightsabers and clipped them to her belts. She looked to the other rebels, motioning with her head for them to continue their operation. They nodded, surging past her and securing the compound and prisoners.
Rapunzel and Anna both beamed in pride as they called up their allies to tell them they'd succeeded.
Meanwhile, across the galaxy someone watched the Padawan from a dark place. A woman stared at her glowing green ball that displayed the young Jedi. She smiled with pride, but also ill intent. For she had plans for her.
"My little flower. You've bloomed so beautifully," she said lowly with a hungry grin. The child had grown very powerful. It seemed losing her to the Jedi all those years ago hadn't been for nothing after all.
"But it's time you return to your sisters, my little flower. It's time for you to come home to mother."
The door to Hiccup's room slid open with a whoosh, allowing the Jedi to limp inside with the help of his girlfriend. Merida held him up, slowly assisting him over to his bed while watching his face for signs of pain.
They had returned to the main rebel base, and after giving a debrief, Merida had escorted Hiccup to his quarters for some well needed rest and recuperation.
"Easy now Hic," she whispered to him. Hiccup nodded as they finally reached the bed. She helped him ease down and sit on the edge. "How do you feel?" she asked in concern.
"Fantastic. We Berkians love pain," Hiccup responded sarcastically.
Merida rolled her eyes. "You should consider yourself lucky you survived a fight with all those Mandalorians," she reminded him. Hiccup sighed and gave a nod. Merida grasped one of his hands, causing him to look up and into her eyes.
"I was worried about you," she whispered softly. She kissed his knuckles before placing his hand against her cheek.
Hiccup smiled as he caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Can't get rid of me that easily," he replied with a small chuckle. She let out a small laugh along with him before staring into his eyes lovingly. This had only been one of many close calls where Merida feared she'd lose him to their enemies.
But, out of sheer dumb luck, or maybe even the will of the Force he'd pulled through once again. She held his gaze as she bent down and leaned in. Hiccup closed his eyes as she gingerly placed her lips against his. He focused on the softness of her lips as he felt her emotions sweep over him.
Relief, joy, tenderness, and most of all love enveloped him, making him forget about all the worries of their dangerous and busy lives.
He moved his hand from her cheek to cup the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. Merida responded eagerly, moaning as she scooted closer, preparing to straddle him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed both her legs on either side of his thighs, but as she did her knees brushed against something in his pocket, pressing it against his leg and reminding him of its presence.
As Merida made to lock her arms around his neck he suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and gently pushed her away. Merida stared at him in confusion, only to find him looking strangely nervous.
"Actually Merida…there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," he said. Merida arched a brow but sensing the seriousness in his tone got off of him and took a step back before waiting patiently for what he had to say.
Hiccup took a few breaths, gathering his nerve and wits for what he was about to do. He stood up and held her gaze as he attempted to organize his thoughts.
"So…I've been meaning to do this for a while now. But I guess I've been putting it off, hoping for a better time," he began nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck and flushed. "Nothing like almost dying to make you realize that you have to do things while you can," he said with a chuckle.
"Ok?" Merida said, not understanding where he was going with this.
Hiccup cleared his throat as he prepared to speak. "Merida. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am that we met. Fighting alongside of you, falling in love with you, changing the code…it's opened up so many possibilities that I never considered for myself."
Merida flushed and smiled warmly at him.
"I've lost a lot. But I've gained much in you. A friend, a comrade, a lover, and now I'm hoping…" Hiccup paused as he reached and hand into his pocket and began to kneel down.
Merida's eyes widened as she realized he'd dropped down onto one knee. They became the size of dinner plates when she caught the metallic gleam from whatever Hiccup had pulled from his pocket.
"A wife," Hiccup finished as he held up a golden ring with a glowing green gemstone adorned onto it.
Merida had forgotten the biological need for air as she simply stared down at Hiccup in frozen shock. Her jaw hung low, leaving her with a gob smacked and stupefied expression.
"Merida DunBroch, will you marry me?"
done