Star Wars: The Tale of Darth Aolroth Book III - Fall of Darkness

Chapter Twelve

The Jedi strike force soon made it to the throne room where Emperor Aolroth was waiting for them. A female Jedi stands out.

Female Jedi: Emperor Aolroth.

Emperor Aolroth recognized her as he got up from his throne.

Emperor Aolroth: I remember you. You were Argos Karr's Padawan Kira.

Kira: I was a Padawan then. But no longer! I was sent here by the Jedi Council to take you down.

Kira says this as she pulls out her double bladed lightsaber and activates them. The other Jedi did the same, causing Emperor Aolroth to chuckle.

Emperor Aolroth: Then make it a reality Jedi. I will reunite you with your master!

Emperor Aolroth lets out a battle cry he attacks the Jedi strike force. The strike force of Kira and five other Jedi engaged the aged Emperor in a fierce lightsaber duel. He quickly kills two of the Jedi and Kira lands a small strike on his arm. In his prime, Darth Aolroth would've easily destroyed these Jedi without effort. Despite not being in his prime, Emperor Aolroth was still a clear threat to the Jedi attacking him. Emperor Aolroth then Force Chokes another Jedi to death and uses Force Lightning to electrocute another Jedi. Eventually, Kira and the remaining Jedi begin to overpower him. To give himself space, Emperor Aolroth uses Force Repulse to blast them away from him. One Jedi quickly gets up and charges at him, but Aolroth grabs him by the throat and crushes his throat killing him. Emperor Aolroth and Kira were alone and fought in a fierce duel. The fight begins to wear Aolroth down and this gives a moment to slash at Aolroth's chest. Aolroth retaliates by slashing her lightsaber in half with his own and Force Pushes her away.

Emperor Aolroth: What now Jedi?

Kira then uses the Force to grab one of the dead Jedi's lightsaber and arms herself with it. She activates the lightsaber and continues to fight. She sees Aolroth slowly but surely begin to be stagger. Kira takes the opportunity to land a fatal thrust into Aolroth's chest. Instead of falling to the ground, Aolroth continues to fight, forcing Kira to Force Pull another discarded lightsaber and continues to duel him. The pain from the lightsaber inside his chest didn't matter. He used the pain from it to fuel his anger and rage as his eyes turn black. Even in his state of pure anger, Kira was still able to keep up. His power had weakened in his age. Eventually, Kira lands a devastating slash at his chest, causing the Emperor to fall to his knees and blackout. As things go black before Aolroth's eyes, he sees his life flash before his eyes. He sees his loving mother and his hated father. He saw himself kill his father in vengeance for killing his father. He saw Darth Jahl recruiting and training him. But as his life flashed before his eyes, he saw Rhalkos Maron standing before him.

Rhalkos: You want peace. You will have it. Thousands will die. By your hand and many others. You tread the Path of Light and Dark. Through pain and war, peace will come.

The Seer retold his prophecy back to the injured Sith. This was the moment where he realized exactly what his prophecy was.

Emperor Aolroth: Is that so? The peace I sought wasn't that for the Galaxy, but for myself.

Aolroth lets out a small laugh. As the form of the Sith Seer dissipated and the form of his lost love Seras appeared before him.

Emperor Aolroth: S.....Seras.....

Aolroth embraced his long lost love.

Seras: You've been fighting and suffering for far too long Jaric. You're earned your Peace. You deserve to rest.

Aolroth rand his hand in Seras's face and caressed it. He pined for the love that was taken from him all those years ago.

Emperor Aolroth: Seras.....I've missed you so.....

Seras: Let go Jaric. You don't have to fight anymore. Let go.

The form of Seras disappeared. Seeing his love once more brought him a sense of peace.

Emperor Aolroth: Seras. I never stopped loving you. Seras......

As Aolroth spoke his words, he woke up from his dream like state. He takes the lightsaber from his chest and deactivates it. Kira turns around and readies herself for an attack. But instead of charging at her, Emperor Aolroth drops his lightsaber. She saw his eyes and they were no long the crimson eyes of the Sith, but his natural blue eyes. He looked at her, but didn't see her. He saw Seras standing there.

Emperor Aolroth: Seras....

Aolroth began walking. Kira was still in fear as she dropped her lightsaber. But as Aolroth slowly walked towards he, Kira prepared herself for death, but Aolroth walks past her. The injured Emperor saw his Empire collapse around him, but he didn't care. He kept on walking till he reached the platform overlooking the river of lava below. He saw the lava as a representation of his life: a life marked by violence, passion and fury. He had spent his entire life in a never ending pursuit of peace, but he would never get it, but he was at peace with that thought.

Voice of Seras: Let go Jaric.

And he did just that. He let go and fell to the lava river below. As he fell, Aolroth couldn't help be smile. Even at his own death, Aolroth found something he's long since lost. Something he lost when his mother was murdered by his father. Something he lost when his love was murdered by his master. He felt peace within himself. As the lava consumed Aolroth's body, his dreams for True Peace for the Galaxy died with him. But despite this, the man known as Jaric Orotekt finally found the peace he desperately wanted. And with that, the story and legend of Darth Aolroth was truly over.