"How are you alive?", the Eighth Brother stuttered, "We made sure that you died; that all of you-"
"Yeah well you did a pretty lousy job 'making sure' of that!" Kanan retorted, "'Cause we're alive and ready to kick your butts!"
Ezra's heart leapted in his chest. "You really did come!", he called out.
"Did you expect less from us?", Sabine joked.
The three inquisitors shook themselves out of their stupor. "And what makes you think that you'll be able to stop us this time?", the Seventh Sister asked. "Just because you can stand on your own two feet doesn't mean you won't fall again".
"That's why we brought some friends", Kanan replied.
Right on que, the elevator doors from across the platform opened, releasing the rest of the group.
"So you have", the Eighth Brother hissed. "Maybe you have returned prepared. But who's to say we won't win again, blind man?"
Kanan swallowed hard. "Because we're not gonna quit until we do".
The Eighth Brother nodded. "Fair enough. We'll let you do your best". He lowered his voice till it sounded like a growl. "But this time, you won't get out so easily".
Kanan ignited his lightsaber. "Bring it on!"
The Eighth Brother set Ezra down but kept him in a headlock. "Let's play!", he yelled, igniting his own double bladed lightsaber and holding it in front of himself and Ezra.
The other two inquisitors took their battle stances around the Eighth Brother. The P.R.A.E ignited their sabers and began circling the trio. Lux did the same, only he had his twin pistols. Ahsoka flipped over the inquisitors and landed right next to Kanan. "I thought I told you guys to stay in the ship", she whispered.
"Well we decided that your order was more of a suggestion", Kanan responded, smirking.
Ahsoka shook her head in disapproval. "We'll talk about this later", she muttered.
The first to make a move was Petro, Zatt, Byph, and Sabine. All three lunged at the Seventh Sister, only to be blocked and nearly knocked off their feet. Zeb, Katooni, Lux, Ganobi, and Gungi charged the Fifth Brother. Kanan and Ahsoka ran towards the Eighth Brother.
The final battle was finally in motion.
Though they were experienced the Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister were having trouble handling a large group; especially one with so many jedi. Though their faces were full of pure rage, deep down they were beginning to doubt their own strength. And seeing the band of rebels they thought they killed wasn't giving them much of a confidance boost.
The Eighth Brother was finding it slightly difficult to hold Ezra and fight off Kanan and Ahsoka. He was surprised that Kanan could fight just as well as he did before he was blind......maybe even better. No! It's just my imagination! It's your fears getting the best of you!
Turn that fear into anger, and channel it through the force! Destroy them! All of them! They will not win this time! They will not triumph!
Ahsoka rammed the hilt of her lightsaber into the Eighth Brother's helmet, sending it flying into the Fifth Brother's shoulder, which gave Katooni and Zeb the opportunity to push him to the ground.
Though he was temporarily stunned his grip did not loosen on Ezra, who had been struggling to break the headlock the whole time. But Kanan acted quickly. He grabbed Ezra's hand and pulled him away from the Eighth Brother. But the Eighth Brother kept a grip on Ezra's arm and tried to pull him back. It was then that Ezra got a good look at the Eighth Brother's face.
Images immediately flashed through his memory. He saw that face next to his parents, smiling down at him. That face had been with him when he took his first steps. That face had always been at the table as he and his parents ate. That was the face that would chase him around his room and tickled him till he cried. That face was a face Ezra once looked up to, but had so easily forgotten.
"U-Uncle Edward?", he finally got out, but was still unsure of the possibility.
The tug of war over Ezra suddenly stopped, and both Kanan and the Eighth Brother just stood there facing Ezra. Ahsoka had stopped too; her face was full of shock but she quickly recovered from it. The Eighth Brother's own yellow eyes stared back at Ezra's. "You do remember", he breathed, almost shocked, "I didn't think you would. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. I was going to tell you once we finished our 'game'. But now.....now I don't have to".
Ezra didn't say anything at first. His mind was still piecing everything together; from the day he ran away from the empire up to this very moment. But, that means....it was him. He killed my parents. But why? Why'd he do it?
"Why did you do it?" he asked, his fingers starting to curl into a fist, "Why did you kill them?"
Kanan sensed the sadness that suddenly clouded the Eighth Brother's heart. "Ezra, I......I am dedicated to the empire and the dark side. My job is to annihilate any and all force sensitive people that are against-"
"You still could've let them live!" Ezra interupted. His vision was becoming hazy from the tears that threatened to come out. "They were your family; we were a family!"
The Eighth Brother silently bit his lip and turned his eyes away from Ezra. There is regret weighing him down, Kanan realized. There's a part of him that is very upset about the past. But is he sorry?
Kanan suddenly sensed anger; a flame of inner hatred burning up. But it wasn't coming from the Eighth Brother.
It was coming from Ezra.
Kanan didn't even wait a beat. "Ezra!" he yelled, his grip still on Ezra. "Don't let your anger take control of you!"
"He killed my parents!" Ezra snapped back, whipping his head toward him. "He took everything I had; everything I knew and loved!"
Kanan could hear his apprentice's voice shake with sadness and anger. "He ruined my life! He's the reason I've been alone and scared for the past eight years! I have every right to be angry with him". Ezra looked back at the Eighth Brother, who still kept his head down. "You're a monster! I hate you! Do you hear me?! I hate you!"
Kanan's heart broke for his padawan. "Ezra! I know you're angry. And you have every right to be. But don't let it destroy who you really are. I was in the same position as you; I was so hurt and angry at the clones for turning on us and killing my master. For years I was always scared of being discovered, but wanted revenge all at the same time. I wanted to see the people who took everything I knew and loved suffer. That was all I felt and lived for until I met Hera and joined the rebellion. Suddenly the world wasn't about me and my loss. It became the well being of others; of my crew".
Ezra just stared at Kanan, his brow furrowed and teeth clenched. His yellow eyes were starting to become glossy, and his breath shaky. "I'll always grieve for my master, in my heart. But I'm past all the pain and the hatred. I know now that I'm avenging my master's death by working with the rebellion and continuing in the ways of the jedi. Holding onto my anger not only became a dangerous weapon toward my enemies, but a poison to my soul".
Now the Eighth Brother was staring at Kanan, his own yellow eyes glowing into the night. "The only way you're ever going to get back at your uncle is to forgive him".
He paused. "Forgiveness is the only way you're going to heal; by letting go of your anger you free yourself of all the pain he caused you".
Ezra looked back at the Eighth Brother. His body trembled as he stared at his uncle. His parents' killer. Why should I forgive him? I don't even know if he deserves it; is he even sorry for what he did?
That's the thing about forgiveness, his conscience told him softly. No one ever really deserves it. It's a choice you have to make. And both have consequences. You can either carry your anger with you the rest of your life and never truly feel free, or you can leave it behind and be free.
Ezra swallowed down the lump in his throat before saying, "What you did hurt me. You took everything away from me". He paused, almost unsure of what to say. "But.....I forgive you, Uncle Edward."
The Eighth Brother looked perplexed. "After everything I did to you......and your parents.....you should feel anger towards me. You're supposed to be angry at me. It's the way of things. It's the way of the sith."
Ezra just smiled and shrugged. "Well, as a rebel, I don't usually follow the way of things. And I'm not a sith; I never will be."
The Eighth Brother began to panic. "But you're a Bridger! You're supposed to carry on the Bridger tradition! You already have the eyes of a sith! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Ezra flashed one of his sly mischievous smiles. "I may have yellow eyes, but I'm no sith."
Kanan felt his own smile grow bigger. That's my padawan! Even Ahsoka had to hold back a chuckle.
The Eighth Brother's began to become short and shaky. "No.....no that's not right", he muttered.
Ezra felt his grip become tighter. Uh oh.
"No! You're supposed to be angry with me! Anger is the only way to survive! It's the only way!"
He yanked hard on Ezra's arm, nearly pulling him away from Kanan's grasp.
"Oh no you don't!", Kanan said sternly, pulling Ezra back.
Ahsoka lunged at the Eighth Brother, but was forced backwards into the side of the ship.
"Ganobi", she said weakly into her com. "Bring the ship around. And hurry."
"On my way, Fulcrum", Hera responded.
Ahsoka did a double take, then rolled her eyes and smiled. "I will never underestimate you Ghosts again", she muttered, standing up and running back into the fight.
"Let's go!", she called out just as Hera brought the shuttle to the landing platform.
The Fifth Brother was unconscious thanks to Zeb and the Seventh Sister had been force-flung into the side of the Eighth Brother's ship. Everyone took that chance to run to the ship.
Everyone that is, except Kanan and Ezra. They were still playing tug of war and, of course, it wasn't going anywhere.
Ezra was, of course, tired of it. "I'd prefer to to come in one peace, Kanan!", he yelled as he tried to break the Eighth Brother's grip.
"I'm doing the best I can!", Kanan yelled. "I could use a little more help!"
"I'm trying to!"
"Not from you from the crew!"
An idea popped into Ezra's head. "Kanan!"
"What?"
"You trust me?"
"Of course!"
"Then hold on tight!"
Ezra stretched his fingers out toward the Eighth Brother and channeled the force out to him as hard as he could. The Eighth Brother started to move back but kept his grip on Ezra. Ezra tried again, pushing out the force as hard as he could. But the Eighth Brother held on tighter. He was struggling to keep his feet planted.
Ezra could feel sweat starting to dampen his face. He was giving it all he had. Why was was it so hard?
"Keep pushing!", Kanan yelled, keeping a tight grip on Ezra's arm and the cuff of his shirt. Don't give up Ezra! Don't give up!
Ezra suddenly felt energy quickly swell up inside him. He hadn't had this feeling since he was.......
back in Vizago's ship.
"Kanan! Let go of me!", he yelled.
"What?! Why?"
"Just do it!"
Kanan quickly let go. Ezra thrust his free arm toward the Eighth Brother. Immediately blue electricity shot straight out of Ezra's fingers and onto the Eighth Brother. The Eighth Brother screamed and let go, only to be flung backwards off the building.
The Eighth Brother was gone.
Ezra took several deep breaths before falling to the ground unconscious. Kanan ran to where he heard Ezra's body fall. "Ezra?", he asked, feeling for Ezra's face. "Ezra, are you alright? Ezra!"
He felt a hand rest on his shoulder. "He's just unconscious", Katooni assured him. "But we have to go. Who knows when the inquisitors will wake up."
Standing up with Ezra in his arms, Kanan and Katooni ran into the small ship and took off into the night sky.
The light had finally taken the upper hand.