(SWR AU Story Number 25) The nightmare of Lothal

It was all a dream

After everything Ezra had gone through, he finally realised it was s nightmare. But not just any nightmare, this was purposely done...but by who? Ezra was asking himself. As Ezra told the story the crew promised they wouldn't interfere, as it would help Ezra calm himself if he tells all of it to the crew.

Ezra: it began feeling like an ordinary day, we were sent out to investigate a sighting of the inquisitors on lothal. We pinpointed their location to the capital and me, Zeb and Kanan went on the ground while Sabine and Hera looked higher above ground. Ahsoka, Rex and other reinforcements were waiting in the stolen shuttle. We ran into the inquisitors and out of thin air they did done dark side magic or something which created this monster made from metal, which had the power to change its form after each defeat. Me Zeb and Kanan dealt with its first form while, then dealing with the inquisitors on lower ground when the monster fell through a courtyard...

As Ezra continued to tell the story of his supposed nightmare, something much more sinister was happening light years away.

Meanwhile...

The nightmare ended, and so did the curse. The cauldron's interior blackened, the red smoke disappears and all three are silent for nearly a minute. The inquisitors look at each other in shock at what just happened, and Vader stood with no movement, whilst questioning what had happened. The  atmosphere became dead and all that could be heard was the frightening sound of Vader's breathing echoing through the room.

The 7th sister's eyes move around the room, trying to get to grips on the reality of the situation. The 5tg brother stood still, trying to be cool, but rage was burning up inside. The inquisitors start arguing about the situation.

7th sister: what. Just. Happened!?
5th brother: why are you questioning at me 7th sister!?
7th sister: I'm not! I'm questioning how this is possible!?
5th brother: you think I would know!?
7th sister: of course I wouldn't, you don't know much at all.
5th brother: we don't know how this happened!
7th sister: we'll obviously.

As the two inquisitors carried on acting like children, Darth Vader walked up to them very slowly. As he towered above the two inquisitors, they both stopped arguing, and the 7th sister became very frightened of Vader at that point.

Darth Vader: not impossible. Disappointing.

7th sister: disappointing!?

Darth Vader: my mesters orders are clear. These rebels are to be radiated.

Vader began pacing up and down the room near the cauldron.

5th brother: what would you have us do my lord.

Vader stops as the 5th brother speaks, and he has his back turned to them. As Vader stopped his breathing filled the room again. Then Vader turns around to face the inquisitors.

Darth Vader: that should be obvious.

Vader then slowly walks towards them.

Darth Vader: go to lothal, find the rebels and wipe them out. Is that clear!?

7th sister: *gulps* crystal

Both the inquisitors walk out as fast as they can. And as they exit Vader's castle they look back and see the doors slamming shut. They both learnt a valuable lesson on Mustafar, and set out to follow their master's orders.

Back in the liberater...

Back across the galaxy, the ghost crew were in utter shock in what they were heading coming from Ezra when describing the nightmare he had.

Ezra: and after a while the whole city began to turn black, whilst hearing all your Voices, with it slowly closing in on me. Once I couldn't see anything at all, I woke up here.

Everyone around him were horrified on what he had experienced.

Kanan: that doesn't sound like a nightmare to me.
Ahsoka: I agree. It has harmed him mentally and physically.
Ezra: wait physically!? How!?
Kanan: that's what we're wondering, there is a mark on your right shoulder.

As he looked he turned pale as he realised that he could of taken damage after being thrown around by the monster before it's eventual death.

Ahsoka: you ok Ezra?
Ezra: no! No I'm not ok! What was this!?
Kanan: I don't know.
Ahsoka: wait a second. When I taught in the clone wars, I learned from the jedi order that some jedi have been subjects of curses.
Kanan: curses?
Ahsoka: yeah, and the ones responsible were the sith.
Ezra:.....the sith!

Ezra eyes suddenly filled with rage.

Ahsoka: the one we encountered on lothal, he had to be part of it.
Ahsoka: what about the inquisitors?
Kanan: if they were in Ezra's mind, then it's highly possible.

Ezra's rage spread like wildfire once their conversation ended.

Hera: Ezra, you should get some rest.
Zeb: yeah, you'll need it kid.
Ezra: ok.

As Ezra lied down in his bed he was soo full of hatred he could barely sleep, he'd need a miracle to calm down...and that's exactly what he got.

Sabine: Hera.
Hera: yeah.
Sabine: can I stay with Ezra for a bit? He looks a bit restless.
Hera: of course.
Sabine: thanks.

As Sabine walked into the med bay where Ezra was resting, she saw him with an angered look on his face, and decided to calm him down. She sat down next to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Sabine: you ok?

Ezra's angered face disappeared. He turned over to face Sabine and smiled at her.

Ezra: I am now.

Despite his best efforts Sabine was glad he was feeling a bit better.

Ezra: Sabine? If you don't mind me asking. What was I like before I woke up?

As he asked that question, Sabines face turned pale.

Exra: you ok?
Sabine: do you really want to know what happened?
Ezra: yeah.
Sabine: ok. You started by having a seizure.
Ezra: when was this?
Sabine: about 8 hours ago.

Ezra sat in shock.

Sabine: it went on for about 15 minutes, and after it you began to overheat so Kanan carried you out of bed and we docked to the liberator and brought you in here. After that you began having regular seizures, so I was glad I watched over you. About 30 minutes before you woke up you kept staring in your sleep, and we kept trying to wake you up.

Ezra: yeah, I heard you all.
Sabine: we were all glad you woke up.

After this talk Ezra suddenly felt calm and relaxed. Thanks to his best friend.

Ezra: thank you Sabine.
Sabine: for what?
Ezra: for telling me what happened.
Sabine: do you feel better?
Ezra: yeah.
Ezra: I'm glad. I'll let you get some sleep. Night.

Ezra smiled as Sabine left, and lied back down on his bed. As he closed his eyes he realised that he was in danger from the inquisitors. He grew a huge hatred to them. Knowing he couldn't take down the sith lord, he could at least show the inquisitors who they were messing with. Ezra then opened his eyes while looking at the sealing of the room and a red glow came from his eyes. Ezra...wasn't going to let this affect him any more.