❝ battle of kro var ❞

A DEAFENING EXPLOSION tore through the air behind Alysia. With ears ringing, she swiveled around to see that a tall stone column had been struck. It began to collapse in pieces, forcing those beneath it to scatter. Instinctively, she and Obi-Wan both threw up their hands to slow the collapse. The other Air Shapers, led by Lynn, quickly joined them, and together they controlled the column as it came crumbling to the ground. The impact gave rise to a powerful dust cloud that blasted in every direction. Alysia raised an arm to shield herself while dust sprayed against her skin.

Once the worst of the dust settled, she looked upward. A squadron of ships bearing the Separatist insignia darted over the town square. The Jedi Starship that had been about to land had already changed directions and started firing at the enemy ships. A group of smaller Republic fighter planes followed suit, forcing the Separatists into retreat.

The Republic may have broken through the blockade, but a battle continued to rage overhead. Smoke began to consume the sky at an alarming rate, obstructing her vision, and the Jedi starship disappeared entirely. Another explosion burst overhead, and Alysia flinched.

"Do you have contact with Maia?" she asked Obi-Wan.

He nodded, and lifted his wrist to speak into the comlink attached to it. "Maia, come in."

There was only static as they both waited anxiously. Alysia's ears echoed horribly from the roaring noise all around her.

Her eyes flickered to Obi-Wan, who was trying the comlink again. There was only static and Alysia could feel herself starting to panic as he tapped the device. "Maia, come in."

A vibrant voice burst over the comlink. "Always a pleasure to hear your nagging voice, Kenobi."

Alysia let out an obvious sigh of relief. She put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, and he held up the comlink for her to speak into.

The corners of her mouth curled up as she asked, "How's it looking up there, Mayrose?"

For a split second, there was dead silence. And then the voice on the other side let out a ringing laugh. "No worse than the last time I came to rescue you."

"That bad?"

Gunfire echoed over the comlink. "Somewhere in that range," Maia replied. "You get me into a lot of trouble, girl."

"I missed you," Alysia said, a smile spreading across her face.

"I missed you too."

Obi-Wan watched the exchange. As a padawan, he used to be jealous of their easy camaraderie. Their friendship came easily, without any of the tension that existed between him and Alysia. There had been a time when he seemed to fight with her over every insignificant little thing.

The voice over the comlink quickly switched to business. "Now, unfortunately I'm a bit caught up at the moment. Obi-Wan, please tell me there's backup on the way?"

"I've already alerted Anakin and Ahsoka," Obi-Wan announced.

"That's good," Maia said brightly. The sound of more explosions burst over the speaker at an alarming rate. "Very good," she corrected. Her voice strained ever so slightly. "I need them here now!"

Obi-Wan and Alysia exchanged a worried look. There was nothing either of them could do from down below. The smoke cleared slightly, allowing them a clear view of the skies.

Before either of them could say anything, two Jedi starships appeared. They descended from the atmosphere, each followed by a squadron of clone fighters.

A maroon striped fighter pulled ahead, expertly taking out a series of droid starfighters as it whisked through the battle.

"Sorry for the delay, Master Mayrose!" a bright young voice chirped. "Someone couldn't break through his side of the blockade fast enough."

"I had more ships than you!" another voice burst over the speaker, this time belonging to a male.

"You had one more!"

"Ok fine, but mine were bigger!"

Obi-Wan shook his head in annoyance. "If you two could assist Master Mayrose without giving her a headache, that would be preferred," he said into the comlink.

"Yes, Master," Anakin Skywalker replied. It sounded like he was gritting his teeth. "It just hurts when Snips doubts my abilities."

"Naturally," Obi-Wan mused.

"I'm not doubting your abilities," the girl rebutted. "I'm critiquing them."

Alysia couldn't help it. She brought a hand to cover her mouth and let out a muffled laugh. Very few padawans had such a comfortable relationship with their master.

Her smile flickered; it reminded her of the bond she once shared with Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan sighed so deeply Alysia thought he must have practiced often.

A noise of disbelief escaped Anakin. "You—"

"Anakin," Obi-Wan interrupted. "Switch to another channel."

"Yes, Master."

The bickering voices went silent. Alysia and Obi-Wan watched as the Jedi starships regrouped with their squadron of clone troopers and began offensive maneuvers. Alysia suspected the two were arguing all the while.

Alysia reluctantly turned away from the airborne battle. A flash of movement in the corner of her vision caught her attention and she swiveled towards it.

Athena came to a stop in front of them, eyes ablaze. "Did you see where Nerezza went?" she asked.

Alysia spun around, furiously attempting to locate her. In the chaos of the moment, Nerezza seemed to have disappeared. Echidna and Typhon were gone as well, along with all of the Fire clan members.

"She must have run," Alysia said, angry at herself for allowing them to get away.

"Nerezza will head for the hangers," Athena announced, once they made eye contact. Her eyes glinted in the harsh light. "I heard her talking to Dooku about it. He was going to send ships for all of them."

A faint smile flashed across Alysia's face, grateful that Athena always seemed to know everything.   "Then we'll meet them there. Before she did anything else, she walked forward and pulled Athena into a crushing hug. "I'm glad you're ok."

Athena hugged her back. "Thanks to you and Obi-Wan," she said.

"Athena?" a hesitant voice broached.

They both turned to see Claj approaching them, looking abashed. A strange look passed between him and Athena. Alysia didn't know everything that had gone down in her absence, but she knew there were feelings of betrayal there.

Luckily, Athena didn't dwell on them. Claj had made the right decision eventually, and that was what mattered. She gave him a curt nod.

"Claj, I need you to take water clan to the temple. If Nerezza is leaving, she'll be sending Echidna and Fire Clan there to collect the sacred scrolls."

"They won't be leaving with them," Claj vowed. 

"I'm counting on it." Athena turned back to face Alysia. "I'm going to track down Typhon with Air Clan and anyone else we can gather."

"He's probably rallying Earth Clan," Alysia said. She glanced behind her at the members of Air Clan, numbering less than a dozen, awaiting Athena's instruction. It worried her how few of them there were. She turned to face Obi-Wan. He seemed to read her mind, and quickly shook his head. But she said allowed anyway, "Obi-Wan will go with you."

"No," both Athena and Obi-Wan chorused together.

"You need him for backup," Athena countered, "when you go after Nerezza."

"You need him more," Alysia argued. "We have no idea how many members of Earth Clan will come to your side if a fight breaks out. It could turn into a massacre. You're taking him."

Both of them looked like they wanted to argue more, but neither of them could say anything. They recognized that it was the most logical division of forces.

"Be safe," Obi-Wan warned, eyes wide with concern.

Her heart tugged as she remembered how he used to worry over the smallest of things. It had been a source of contention between them in the past, but now she couldn't remember it ever being anything other than endearing.

She brushed a hand lightly over his shoulder as she stepped past him, sending a shiver down his spine. The wave rippled all the way to his fingertips.

He clenched his hand and released it.

"You too," she murmured back.

Alysia moved past him and started walking in the direction of the Air Clan village.

"Alysia, where are you going?" Athena called after her, voice riddled with confusion. "The hanger is the other way!"

"There's something I have to grab first," she yelled back, before breaking into a run.

✦✧✦✧

Alysia ran faster than she could ever remember running in her life. She worried she might be too late, but there hadn't been another option. If she was going to fight Nerezza she needed a weapon.

After her stop at Air Clan she rushed towards the palace, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

A ship whisked overhead, and she looked up just in time to see it open fire. She whipped out the lightsaber now strapped to her side and deflected the blast back at the ship.

She didn't wait to see if it made contact with her target, but an answering explosion told her it had.

Once inside the hanger she finally came to a halt. Cautiously, she moved further in. Silence permeated the building. Disappointment filled her chest as she took in the empty building. Perhaps Athena had heard wrong.

Just as she thought the words, the hanger door connecting to the platform outside cranked open, revealing a transport ship. Nerezza emerged from the control room and started towards the vessel.

"Mother!" Alysia shouted.

The older woman paused in her tracks. For a moment she stayed facing the ship, but then she turned around.

"Yes, my dear?"

"I can't let you leave," Alysia said stoically.

"And why not?" Nerezza asked, fanning out her fingers.

Alysia inhaled deeply. "You're under arrest," she finally said. "For crimes against the Republic."

Nerezza stared at her for a moment expressionless. Then she burst out into abrupt laughter.

"Crimes against the Republic?" Nerezza asked, clearly amused. "My, you do sound like a Jedi."

"I am a Jedi," Alysia replied.

"Are you?" Nerezza questioned, tilting her head in an almost sympathetic manner "Child, you don't even have a lightsaber."

Alysia slipped her hand down to where the hilt stood at her side."Yes, I do," she said quietly.

Underneath her robe a lightsaber hid, ready to be unsheathed. She withdrew the weapon and balanced it in her hand. It felt odd after all this time, yet Alysia felt strangely sure in her decision.

For a fraction of a second, Nerezza startled at the sight, and Alysia knew she had surprised her.  Nerezza quickly recovered, eyes narrowing. "Well then. You think you're more powerful than me? Prove it."

"This isn't about proving anything," Alysia said with frustration. "I wish you could see that."

"Every decision I have made is to help the Shapers gain power. So we can finally hold a position of respect in the galaxy. You are too entangled with those pathetic Jedi to understand."

Everything the Jedi put Alysia through pushed to the forefront of her mind. She knew deeply of their faults, and felt constantly conflicted in their presence. To put her faith in them again would not come easily.

But she chose to focus on the belief she had in her friends. "I trust them," Alysia said firmly.

"I thought I taught you to never trust anyone," Nerezza tutted. "They will fail you every time. Only we can control our fate."

"I would rather have hope than be filled with hate," Alysia replied.

"Call it what you will," Nerezza shrugged. "You will never find the strength to defeat me."

Alysia ignited her lightsaber. It glowed a deep, royal blue, the color her crystal turned years ago when she uncovered it in the icy caves of Ilum. She let out a satirical hum and cocked her head. "Is it supposed to be difficult?"

An unamused glare fixed the elder's face before she whipped herself and staff in an arc towards Alysia. The younger woman met the staff with her lightsaber and pressed back against the weight. The two matched blows with another, Nerezza's staff being made of a material resistant to kyber.

During her time at the Jedi Temple, Alysia had spared with many other students and Masters. The lessons she had been taught there were so deeply rooted within her that it was impossible to separate herself from them.

But her training as a Shaper also lived within her. The lightness of air, the grace of water, the firmness of the earth. These were all things that agreed with her Jedi training. They were easy to balance.

But fire she had only known in its most violent form.

Nerezza kindled her power tenderly before releasing it like poison. Alysia had witnessed so many of those on the receiving end fall.

Of course, the urge for fire tugged within her, the one Nerezza had tried for so long to get her to unleash. Destruction came easily to Shapers, and it was a constant battle for Alysia to remain balanced.

She found early on that refusing the fire helped. It was the most unstable, the most unpredictable. When she chose air her mother disowned her, but it brought her peace.

Unfortunately by refusing it, she grew to fear it.

Facing it took all of her strength.

Nerezza moved with such swiftness and aggression that it caught Alysia off guard. It never let up and with each blow she found herself sinking further into the defensive position. She cursed herself for letting her mother gain the upper hand. Unlike some Jedi, who thrived on the defensive, she never felt comfortable fighting cornered. It limited her abilities more than she cared to admit.

Their blades clashed against each other, and Alysia managed to slip beneath Nerezza and come up on the other side.

Suddenly the arena expanded for Alysia. Now they were fighting on an even playing field.

Alysia let go of the restraint she usually maintained to keep herself grounded, and allowed the Air Shaper within her to take over.

The fight turned to blurs of fire and wind that roared and hissed above the sound of fighting in the distance.

The disadvantage to fire was that it burned out quickly. Of them all, fire shapers most often went on to become Master Shapers for this reason. Mastering all of the elements made them that much more lethal.

The heat against Alysia lessened by the second, but she knew this tactic well.

Earth always came next.

She leaped forward in desperation, but Nerezza spiked the fire right before she made contact.

Alysia stumbled back and cried out at the burn.

When she looked back up, Nerezza grinned.

There was barely time for Alysia to suck all of the air she could around herself. The elder snuffed out the last of the fire and thrust her staff downward.

When it hit the ground, the earth began to tremble. Cracks began to splinter the floor and Alysia flew backwards propelled by the wind.

She held up her hands to send the powerful dust cloud splitting around either side of her.

When she finally regained her vision, a canyon had solidified between her and Nerezza. Alysia scrambled to the edge, only to see her mother walking into the waiting ship. She didn't look back.

A slight movement caused Alysia to shift her gaze to the figure still standing on the top of the ship platform. She and Count Dooku locked eyes, and his lips curled.

Come with me.

The thought exploded in her mind so powerfully she almost crumpled over. In an instant she could see what her life would look like if she gave in and went with him, as if in a dream painted by Dooku.

To shape the galaxy as she desired. They could work on abolishing slavery in the Outer Rims; Dooku knew she cared about that just as Qui-Gon had. He agreed with her, he would help her. She wouldn't need to worry about her mother ever again. Together, they would have the ability to overthrow Nerezza. He would help her do it, Nerezza had never been the one he wanted.

She was.

They could do it right now, if only she would join him. It would be so simple to destroy Nerezza and walk back onto the ship together.

As leaders of the Separatist regime.

The possibility lit a fire in her mind that began to blaze uncontrollably. Cognitively, she was aware of Dooku influencing her thoughts. It occurred to her that she should be frightened, but instead it intrigued her. Because they were still her thoughts.

They were all the traitorous thoughts she had ever had about the Republic, amplified, all at once.

She saw what Dooku saw.

It became clear to her why he chose the path he did. Her thoughts were filtered in a way that led to one irrefutable conclusion.

That power could restore a broken galaxy.

"Alysia?"

The gentle, questioning voice washed over her like a waterfall. It chased away the dark and a heaviness lifted, along with whatever hold Dooku possessed over her.

She turned towards the voice and caught a glimpse of Obi-Wan's face, filled with concern.

The next second she heard the sound of an engine firing. When she looked back the shuttle had already lifted into the sky. It sped away to safety as she watched.

Every bit of pent up anger Alysia felt towards her mother threatened to explode at once. Fear struck through her as she recognized what was happening. Energy hummed through her body like a current looking for an outlet.

It was a side-effect; the byproduct of feeding so deeply into her Shaper abilities. 

Normally she could control herself, but the anger struck more suddenly and pierced more harshly than usual. Her entire vision went red and she breathed heavily. She desperately tried to reach within for control, but she felt herself slipping away.

Spots flickered in the corner of her vision from the effort. She blinked to clear them but her vision only darkened.

Then everything went black and she collapsed to the concrete floor.

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hey friends! so sorry for the months between updates😭 i truly wish i could do more but for now the sporadic updates will have to suffice. thanks to everyone for being supportive😊