The Path of a Jedi Book 2 (The Bad Batch x Reader)

Chapter 9

You and Maul tangle in an epic clash, the sounds of your sabers could be heard across the city. "You disappoint, lady (Y/N)," Maul yelled, "did you really think parading around in your shiny new beskar would save you," he said gesturing to your new armor.

You pushed off, leaning heavily with your saber locked against his, "at least I still have all my limbs," you spat.

Maul scowled and threw you back, watching you land lightly on your feet a few yards away. He ran at you, his onslaught becoming harder and harder to evade. As his saber locked with yours again, you quickly gripped the hilt of the darksaber still on your belt, quickly igniting it and using it to slice the hilt of Maul's blade.

He stumbled back from the blast, shock on his face as he looked between you and the weapon you were holding. At this point, Bo-Katan and the others must have disposed of Maul's forces as a crowd of soldiers now gathered in the debris of the throne room.

Maul laughed as he locked eyes on Bo-Katan, "how is it that you have let this Jedi carry the weapon that you have come here to possess?"

Bo-Katan looked at you in surprise but said nothing. Maul laughed and turned his attention back to you, "that is her only priority," he said gesturing to the darksaber, "she would gladly allow you to die if it meant she could wield that weapon."

"I don't plan on dying, today," you said, lowering your stance and gripping each of your sabers tighter.

Maul flashed you a wicked smile as he charged again, but there was no one that could stop you now, you wielded both sabers like they were extensions of your own limbs. You drove Maul back, knocking a saber out of his hands. He lifted his remaining weapon up, but was powerless against your onslaught.

With each blow, you thought about the jedi, your friends, your family, everyone in he Republic that you lost, all that pain, all that suffering, all the death you saw. You made Maul pay for each and every one of those feelings, your strength unmatched.

Maul was terrified as he could barely keep his balance, he fell backwards, landing on his back. You kicked the remaining saber out of his hands and held both your weapons high aimed at the defenseless Maul.

"(Y/N)!" a voice yelled. You turned and saw Hunter, he locked eyes with you, pleading you not to continue down the path you were on. There was still anger in your heart, but as you stared into Hunter's eyes, it started to melt away. You let the pain go, you let the anger flow out of you and you finally felt lighter and more like yourself.

You smiled at him for the first time in a while, and he sighed in relief. You turned back to Maul and lowered your weapons, turning off your saber and hanging it back on your belt, but you still gripped the darksaber.

Maul laughed from his position on the floor, "too weak to even kill your enemy."

You smiled down at him, "your life is not mine to take."

He laughed again, "no longer fueled by anger and revenge?"

"It is not my way," you said, stepping back from him, "but it is hers." You nodded for Bo-Katan to take a few paces towards you, now she stood at your side, looking down on Maul who's smile finally faded.

You turned off the darksaber and handed it to her, "it would be poetic for him to die upon the blade that he used to kill your sister."

She nodded, you turned but placed a hand on her shoulder as you turned your back and walked out of the throne room. You knew that Bo-Katan needed to kill Maul, knew that she could never rest until she got her revenge. But you had let go of the pain in your heart, you walked away from the darkness that crept inside of you, you left the past in the past where it belongs. But, you could not watch the slaughter of Maul, he may have deserved to die, but you had seen enough death.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

You sat on the edge of some fallen debris towards the main entrance of the city. Some hours later, Bo-Katan had sent word to the citizens underground to resurface, but it would take a long time for them to rebuild.

Hunter and the others walked up to you, "it is done," Hunter said.

You nodded, "I felt it."

"You can feel death?" Tech asked.

"Not all of the time," you explained as the others took seats around you, "but we are connected in the force, when a soul leaves that was impactful, good or bad, I feel them leave."

"Does it hurt?" Wrecker asked.

"Not really," you replied, "it just feels like a weight is lifted, like I am not carrying as heavy of a load."

Hunter nodded to the others, "why don't you guys go help the others organize the citizens."

They all nodded and walked away, leaving you and Hunter alone. "I'm so sorry, Hunter," you said as a single tear fell down your cheek.

He placed his hand over yours, "for what?"

You looked at him, "for letting the darkness consume me, I have not been myself and I fear I pushed you away."

Hunter looked at you confused, "what do you mean darkness?"

"Do you remember when I died and I was in the hallway with the choices?" you asked. He nodded and you continued, "there was a path there where I wield the darksaber and rule Mandalore, it was dark and tempting, but I turned away from it then, but gave into it now."

"But you didn't," Hunter reassured you, "you walked away."

You threw your arms up, "but I wouldn't have if you didn't stop me," you explained, "Hunter, if you were not there I would have killed Maul, and I would not have been able to come back from it."

He grabbed both sides of your face, "then I will be here, each time to pull you back into the light," he said forcing you to look at him, "I will always be here to catch you if you should fall."

You smiled at him and nodded, "I love you, Hunter."

He smiled and leaned in, placing a kiss on your forehead, "I love you, (Y/N)."

There was a soft cough behind you and you turned to see Bo-Katan and Kaska, "sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk."