Darth Minar

Chapter 13

"What are you talking about, Kanan?"  Hera asked, laughing off his previous statement. Kanan's expression was hard and sorrowful.  He hadn't gotten a replacement visor yet, so his milky eyes stared at her. She bit her lip, sensing his serious vibe, and quickly quieted herself.
"You're serious, aren't you?"  Hera asked quickly, looking around to be sure they were alone. Kanan nodded grimly, inhaling deeply.  "He's playing us?"
"Yes. When I showed him the message he sent, he seemed shocked. He was radiating disbelief.  I sensed the true Ezra for a second. Then, he convinced himself the dark side was the correct path. Afterwards, he quickly brushed everything away."  Kanan paused. He sensed Hera was shocked, and had become overwhelmed with sadness.
"We can't let him know we know the act is false, but we also can't let him go."  Hera nodded.  Kanan sensed she was trying to convince herself he was wrong.
She'd grown to love Ezra, and him being an orphan made her feel she needed to be his mother figure. They'd been close since their first encounter on Lothal; he was a street rat, stealing to survive. He was after the same shipment they were. They let him onto their ship. Hera convinced him to warn the others of the trap, and he went willing. He was captured by the Imperials. Then the Rebels went back to save him. Losing him was like a knife in her gut. She knew Kanan was feeling the same way. "His eyes?" She asked. He shook his head, shrugging.
"They were as blue as ever, it was a neat trick." Kanan shrugged. "But it wasn't him. I need to meditate."
"Wait, Kana-." Hera said, but Kanan had already left her. It was just like when they'd lost Ashoka. She was alone again.  She frowned, trying to prevent tears from flowing from her eyes.
"Hera?"  Sabine worriedly asked from above. Hera quickly wiped her eyes, looking up to Sabine. She had a concerned look on her face.  "Are you alright?"  Hera nodded in response, then shook her head slowly. She was having a breakdown.
"Oh, Hera."
"I've lost them both. Kanan and Ezra."  Hera coughed out as she cried. Sabine held Hera tightly.
"You will always have me and Zeb, and Chopper of course."  Sabine comforted.
"Ah, what a sad little reunion."  A voice said from behind. Both girls whipped their heads around to face none other than Darth Maul. "I'm just here for my apprentice."
"He's not your apprentice. He's not your property." Sabine said simply. Maul didn't even flinch.
"How did you get in?" Hera asked, confused. Maul smiled, revealing pearly teeth.
"There are a few dead bodies at the perimeter of your base." Maul said simply. A gasp escaped Hera's mouth.
"I'll just be off to find my apprentice."
"Well, jokes on you. Ezra is gone." Hera said sadly. Maul laughed; both deeply and hoarsely.
"You don't really believe that, do you? Wow, what a family you are." Maul said, laughing. Hera bit her lip, scowling.
"Fine, we'll take you to him." Hera said. Sabine narrowed her eyes in Hera's direction.
"Hera." Sabine warned. Hera shook her head.
"No.  If we can't do anything about it, surely Maul can't do anything. So, he can go ahead and try." 
"Hera."  Sabine warned through gritted teeth. "What about Kanan?"
"Oh, young one. Your Jedi friend has no reason to know I am here. Let's keep it that way, shall we?"  Maul threatened in a sickly sweet tone. Sabine felt her throat tighten momentarily, but didn't speak out.
"Won't he sense you?  Won't he hear about the dead guards?" 
"Foolish child!  Take me to Ezra now!"  Maul demanded. Hera set her hand on Sabine's shoulder reassuringly. Sabine swallowed her pride and followed stiffly.

Minar knew the charade was over the second Kanan left without returning. He fumed, until he heard someone clear their throat behind him.
"Ezra?"  A small voice squeaked. He took a deep breath and turned around.
"What's uh-you!"  Minar saw Maul and stopped what he was saying. His anger flared.
"Ah, my apprentice."  Maul said casually. Ezra's blue eyes flashed with anger. Then, he saw Hera and Sabine behind Maul.
"Hera?  Sabine?  What are you doing with this-thing!?"  Minar asked outraged. Sabine took a deep breath.
"Ezra, he came to check on you."
"No! This man has been haunting my dreams for weeks! My ma-captor said he was dead! He said he was killed by Obi Wan Kenobi years ago!"
"Yes, well Obi Wan never could finish anything, could he. His own training, my life, his Padawan's training, his Padawan's life."
"What?" Hera asked, confused.
"Darth Vader would be dead if Obi Wan wasn't a coward! He left him to die instead of finishing the job."
"SHUT UP!" Ezra screamed. "My master IS powerful!"
"Ha!" Maul laughed. Minar scowled, sending tremors through the force. Kanan felt it and snapped out of his trance-like connection with the force. He broke into a run, heading towards Ezra's cell.
"I could've taken you places, my young apprentice.  I wouldn't have abandoned you, unlike the so called master you now answer to."
"Maul!"  His voice ripped like ice from his throat.  Minar smirked as Kanan ran into the room, right up to Maul, and hoisting him into the air by his throat.  Maul smiled, kicking  Kanan in the stomach.  Kanan stumbled backwards, letting go and pushing Maul into wall with the Force.
"Kanan, stop." Hera said. Kanan turned his head to face her, his eyebrows crinkling in confusion. He held Maul against the wall. "Kanan, I brought him down here."
"You brought him down here!? You brought the only reason Ezra is lost down to meet him!?" Kanan asked, outraged. Hera offered a small nod. Kanan exhaled loudly.
"Alright, Hera. I'll be back when I'm needed." Kanan said, anger and hatred filling his voice. Hera shook her head as Kanan stormed off.
"Ah, you're losing both I see." Maul said perceptively.
"Can it!" Sabine forced from the corner, but she knew Maul was right. Kanan was breaking, slowly. Weirdly enough, the dark side seemed to be pulling at him.

Kanan could sense it the second he had pushed Maul into the wall. The dark side of the force had began to influence his actions. From losing his master in the Clone Wars, to losing friends and family, to losing Ashoka, and now he's lost Ezra. It was too much pain. It was too much loss. It was just too much.  He wanted it to all go away, but, at the time, he didn't realize that was exactly what the dark side was. The dark side was quick, exactly what Kanan wanted at the time. Kanan needed help.
"Kanan?"  A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to face Hera. He could sense her. And he could sense the kind smile on her face.
"Hera?"  He asked. She neared him.
"What's wrong, Kanan?"  She asked with compassionate.
"I don't know if I can do it anymore." Kanan said cryptically.
"Do what?" Hera asked, concerned.
"This. There are too many losses in my life to continue using the force. I need to be here when Ezra needs me."
"You don't know that he will be different, Kanan. Maybe it would be better if he didn't change back."
"What? Hera how could you say that?!" Kanan demanded, pounding the wall. Seconds later, he nursed his hand as he frowned.
"See, I can't control my emotions anymore. Why should Ezra stay the way he is?"
"You know how he was after the sith temple. When he learns that he almost killed so many rebels, he wouldn't forgive himself. He'll become worse off than he is now." Hera said and Kanan sighed, nodding his agreement.
"You're right. I feel selfish, Hera. I want him back."
"I know." Hera said quickly, but calmly. She wrapped her arms around Kanan's waist and they embraced quietly.

In Minar's cell, he had fallen into a deep, but restless sleep. Like most force users, he was plagued with mostly disturbing dreams. Well, disturbing to him at least. It seemed as if his inner conscious was trying to make him remember....

The first of his dreams was himself, but younger.  His hair was almost similar to how it was now; long and unkempt. He was much shorter and slimmer, and had a mischievous smile painted on his face.
"Nice work today, kid."  Zeb said, rubbing his head. Ezra smiled with pride.
"Yeah, nice job."  Sabine said, elbowing his shoulder smoothly. Ezra laughed it off, thanking her and rubbing his shoulder. Ezra was different than Minar, he needed to convince himself.  This child in front of him seemed, genuinely happy.
"You're getting better everyday."  Kanan said from behind. Ezra turned around quickly to face his master.

Kanan seemed definitely younger. He seemed more carefree. He wasn't blind and his beard was shaved neatly. His hair was also shorter in his pony tail. Ezra continued to smiled with pride, the feeling flooding Minar. For the first time in months, he had feelings. The Ezra in him was squirming to get free, and was succeeding.

Hi Readers!

I apologize it's been a month since my last update, but I've been having trouble deciding what should come next. I have had at least five, full different rough drafts before finally deciding on this one.
Please hang on tight, Darth Minar will be updating after this.

Also, another Star Wars fan fiction is in the making, and I will announce it's arrival in one of the next few chapters.

Thank you soooooo much for your support!