//------------------------------// // Rescue from the Sith Academy // Story: Rainbow Dash's First Trial: Clone Wars Year 1 // by Hikarikurai24587 //------------------------------// Chapter Two: Rescue from the Sith Academy “Great, now there is a massive wind storm blocking our only way in.” Obi-Wan stated before taking note of something. “Or so someone wants us to think.” Anakin was about to question what he meant when a scream echoed through the canyon then a roar shortly afterwards. The group looked at each other for a moment before running towards the Sith Academy. Anakin passed through first with no hesitation as the illusory winds died down the others following close behind.  “So it was an illusion.” Obi-Wan said thinking back earlier. He had noticed that none of the sand and dirt upon the ground had been disturbed despite the harsh winds. Anakin was about to say something when a voice echoed against the stone. “No! I won’t do it!” Tensions rose as the group prepared for a fight. “That didn’t sound good.”  A massive figure watching them from the second floor before letting out a roar slamming against something. The soldier with orange accents spoke. “And that didn’t sound friendly.” “The owner of the campsite and a large beast, great.” Anakin replied with a half hearted smirk, though he too was wary. The alien moved forward looking up towards the second floor prompting Obi-Wan to ask. “Is something the matter Master Fisto?” “I sense something powerful….” Master Fisto started when the large form of a beast was thrown off of the balcony slamming into the wall behind them. The group turned, seeing the large creature rising to all fours. The look of madness seeping it into the eyes and the spikes were the only things that could show that it was a native creature. Yet Anakin took in the massive form partially covered in short black coarse fur, and the powerful muscles beneath it. This wasn’t like any of the other creatures he had seen on this world. The powerful jaw in front wasn’t as large as the Tuk’ata nor did it have the forelegs of them either, the paws were flat against the ground, claws long and curled.  “The large beast.” Fisto said as Anakin turned on his lightsaber as did Obi-Wan and the soldiers with them raised their blasters ready for a fight. Master Fisto was about to when the creature spoke. “Rainbow Dash.” “CASSANDRA!” Rainbow Dash cried as she struggled to break free as she was lifted into the air. She couldn’t blocks out the voices from before and the words they spoke made her want to fight back. “She abandoned you.” “Submit.” “Fight back Rainbow Dash!” “You are weak.” “No wonder she didn’t want to be here.” “You will not struggle for much longer.” “Weak.” Something was trying to invade her mind and Rainbow was using her strength to fight back. Her wings started to move as she screamed in defiance. “You… talk.” Obi-Wan stated as the beast began to shake its head as if trying to clear its mind. “You are trying to tell us something I presume.” “I do not have… time for games.” the beast answered with great effort before looking at them. “Are you the reason those de… spirits took hold of my friend to set a trap for Jedi?” “How do you know this?” Anakin questioned, not trusting the beast or the tone taken towards them. “What are you anyways?” “I hear them talking, like you they treat me like a mindless beast and only run when I show my strength.” the beast told them before moving past them towards the stairs. “However… what I am, it does not matter at this moment. There is a trap for the Jedi, these demo… spirits want their revenge.” “How did your friend end up here in the first place, most know not to come here?” Obi-Wan questioned earning a rather irritated growl from the creature. It turned its head to look at him answering. “It was not her choice to come here, but she was sent here on a rescue mission. Yet I believe that she was sent to the wrong place and the spirits here lured her away from me.” “YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!” “You want us to help your friend.” Obi-Wan observed before looking at the beast who nodded its head. Anakin gave him a sideways look before posing his own question. “Why don’t you save her by yourself?” “I… cannot,” the creature admitted, looking ashamed. “Despite being linked they have blocked me from getting to her… they managed to get into her mind somewhat. They will know about me and how to get me to stand down.” “How are you so sure you can trust us?” Obi-Wan asked curious as to why the creature went to them for help. That seemed to anger the beast as it began to grow until the tip of the spikes on its back was brushing against the ceiling as it snapped its jaws. “Because if you intentionally harm her I will rip all of you to shreds! There will be nowhere that you can run to fast enough!” “I believe you misinterpreted the question, we are Jedi, three of us are.” Master Fisto chose to intervene, turning the attention of the creature to himself. “The Jedi Order is an Order of peace. We are all merely wondering with all that is going on here, why choose to trust the strangers that may have inadvertently caused this?” “I have no choice and if you are who you say you are… then you truly can help.” the beast told them its form shrinking to the size it was before. “I cannot do this alone.” “Then it was no accident that we came here when we did.” Master Fisto told her as he reached out and the beast placed its head against the palm of his hand the weapons deactivating. “If we are by your side we can distract the spirits.” “How are we so sure that we can trust you?” Anakin questions and Obi-wan let out an exasperated sigh. “Anakin, let’s not make the giant beast angry.” “I would say he has a point, you shouldn’t trust any random talking beast,” the creature said as it began to lead them up the stairs. “If you don’t trust me… then we all will perish. That I can promise you.” “Well then, while we distract the Sith Spirits, you, Rex, and Cody could have an opportunity to grab your friend.” Obi-Wan said, he really did want more time to plan and think this through. Yet they all knew the more time wasted the greater chance that this rescue would fail. The group made their way up the stairs and towards the platform. They stood on it before it began to rise up and Master Fisto decided to make some conversation to lighten the mood. “We should really get to know each other after this is all over.” “Do what you want.” was the uninterested reply from the creature but it didn’t seem to really dislike the idea from what Anakin saw. Everything went quiet as they drew closer to the top. All of them could feel the darkness radiating from here.  “What is up here?” Anakin questioned as the beast moved forward. It looked at him saying. “This is where the darkest and the most dangerous of the spirits reside.” “The Dark Council of the Sith.” Obi-Wan warned as they turned down another hall. “You said your friend was lured here?” “I was not careful,” They stopped outside of the door that the beast had led them to.  “I will not make the same mistake again.” The beast let out a roar that knocked the door and part of the wall away as the Jedi and troopers readied their weapons quickly. The room was large, with twelve thrones forming an oblong circle and statues behind each one. The ceiling was showing signs of wear and tear. In the center of the room was a female in her late teenage years. Large wings protruded from her shoulder blades, the shadows making it hard for her skin color to be made out, and her hair making up the colors of a rainbow. She was on her knees with her forehead resting against the ground. Her wings would twitch once in a while as she mumbled. “You can’t make me.” Shadows grew and twisted into humanoid forms as the whispers began to fill the air. “Jedi.” The mass of shadows charged the group, most went for the Jedi as the beast lead the charge towards the girl. Some were not as foolish as the others and changed their direction heading towards the soldiers. The creature moved quickly in front of Cody and Rex, swiping at the spirits with great strength. “GO!” Rex nodded his head as the beast began to fight off the Sith, one lifting it up into the air as they reached the girl. Cody, the soldier with the orange accents, took her by her shoulders causing her to open her eyes which were glowing white. As she was gathered into his arms she looked over at the fight seeing the creature trying to fight against whatever force was lifting it into the air. “No….” She struggled to get free as the beast was thrown into the wall. “Don’t hurt her!” “Don’t worry ma’am, the Jedi will help her.” Cody assured her as he got to his feet, the beast was lifted into the air again before being thrown into a throne. The spirits of the Sith surrounded them blocking their way out. Rex was firing at the spirits as the Jedi were getting overwhelmed. The girl could only watch helplessly as her weapon before was activated ready to destroy the beast. Her eyes opened full as her fingers tightened around an object in her hands as she yelled. “I said: DON’T HURT CASSANDRA!” A pulse rippled through the air as everything stilled. Then all light seemed to be drawn towards the girl as the stone knife in her hand began to glow. The form of the beast vanished as it too was pulled into the rock. The girl let out a pain scream as a shockwave erupted from her followed by a light that filled the entire room blinding everyone within it. When the light faded there were no more shadows as the dust floated around the room in a rainbow colored light. Small arcs of electricity of varying colors leaped from the dust and sand once in a while.  “The Force will set me free.” Were the last words whispered in the chambers. The Jedi moved to regroup with Cody and Rex who were doing their best to tend to the teen who was now unconscious. Master Fisto took note that the beast was also gone. As they got closer the Anakin took realized quickly that the girl now had vicious claw marks on her arms and a large one close to the right wing that were now bleeding heavily. Rex was trying to stop the bleeding of the wound in her shoulder. “We need to get her to the fleet.” Cody spoke using a healing stim that he had on him. “What do you think happened, sir?” “I’m not sure Cody,” Obi-Wan said as he began to ponder. “But there is more to this friend than the beast was willing to let on.” “I do believe the beast was once a female named Cassandra.” Master Fisto said as he picked up the stone knife. “That is one mystery solved at least.” “We should be on guard, I don’t believe the spirits of the Sith have been banished for good,” Obi-Wan pointed out before glancing at the girl. Master Fisto nodded his head as he placed a hand on her head. “I do believe she will be needing more than just physical healing.” “We should take her back to Coruscant, see what she knows when she wakes up.” Anakin said, he didn’t know what but there was something off about the teen. The Force was warped around her, they all sensed it. It was like it was all knotted up, weakened but strong, natural but unnatural. The group began to make their way into the lift as the dust faded into ash and sand.     Coruscant, home of the Jedi Temple, a world of cities built upon cities, Heart of the Republic, home of the Galactic Senate. This was where the team of Jedi returned to after getting their new charge healed at the fleet. The teenage girl was shrieking trying to escape the straps that held her down. Never once had she woken and yet it seemed like the spirits of Moraband had indeed fled into her mind. Obi-Wan and Master Fisto left to go speak with the council as Anakin went to escort her to the room where she was to be confined. He wasn’t going to leave the room until each of those spirits were banished from her mind. Yet it seemed like fate had other things planned as he was called away to give his report as well. As Rainbow Dash screeched seven figures of the different colors appeared around her.     “Barsen’thor, is there anything you can do?” the spirit of a violet color asked, this was Imperius.     “If I cut the spirits off from her they will not be banished and we will be at risk of being discovered.” the indigo colored spirit answered, placing a hand against the teen’s head. “They must be removed so we can uphold our promise.”     “Then we conceal ourselves and let the Jedi banish the tagalongs.” scoffed the massive red spirit staring down at the winged female. “Or I can eat them.”     “Gross, Tempest.” a yellow spirit pointed out, the others were silent at the moment. “We should jump in now, before the Jedi discover us.”     Each of the spirits vanished with any final word, Barsen’thor was last stroking the hair in place as the girl struggled and screamed. “I am sorry this must be done, old friend.” The spirit vanished as the door opened and the Jedi Council stepped to do what needed to be done. They were there to purge the dark spirits from her mind.