He cry'd out in pain while falling on his back on the snowy ground.
He groaned as he slowly tried to get up, his muscles twisting in pain and suffering with every movement he tried to make.
Then he stood up, almost losing his balance, having to use his other leg for support, while slowly drawing his training sword.
He gritted his teeth as he held the sword with both hands, they trembled, sweat trickled down his cheek as he slowly entered his defensive fighting position.
Vader didn't lie when he said he would get tough with him in training, since they went on the 'pilgrimage', he made Thorax suffer with every step he made, using nothing but his own scales to keep warm in the intense cold of the mountain, forcing him to hunt for his own food with nothing but his magic and hands.
He did not understand why he was doing this, he agreed to train to become stronger, and not to live more miserably, he did not help him in any part of the journey he did.
He just made him suffer.
Yes, he was indebted to Vader, but he didn't think he used it just for personal entertainment, is that what he was for the Lord? Just a toy for him to have fun until he breaks?
Vader just paced back and forth, his guard down, his helmet watched him without a splash of emotion.
Since they arrived at the destination that Vader had chosen, they had really started to train, in that Throax realized that he was stronger than before, his body was more rigid and his scales were grosser, his muscles were already showing off, and he could take it more pain than before.
In the early days, it was just a beating, Vader didn't hold back, and Thorax couldn't keep up with him.
He fell, he hurt, he cried.
It felt like his body burned, and with each beat, with each cut that was made, it felt like torture.
It was hours of this, day after day.
As time went on, he got used to all the pain inflicted on him, the more he was beaten, the more he started to manage to ignore them and focus on the battle ahead.
He managed to surprise his lord by going on the offensive the first time, finally managing to counterattack.
However, this only made him be punished much more severely.
With each passing day on that hellish mountain, he stopped crying, he stopped victimizing.
These emotions were exchanged for another, hatred, hatred for his master for making him go through so much physical pain, for not having an ounce of empathy for him, and for just watching him, while he was cold, while his injuries were opening.
His low guard just showed it.
He did not see him as a threat.
It made him furious.
He said that he chose Thorax because he saw potential in him, and instead of capitalizing on that potential, he just used it as a justification to beat him up daily for his own sick amusement.
Clenching his own jaw tightly with rage, making his whole face tremble in response, he let out a roar and stormed over to the Dark Lord, surprising him even if momentarily.
He started with a top-down strike where Vader holding his training sword defended himself, by holding with only one hand.
As the swords connected, Thorax proceeded with a sequence of frantic strikes to Vader, who defended himself with ease.
It only infuriated Thorax even more, with each blow he delivered, he put more strength, with each blow he delivered, he put all the anger he felt at Vader at that moment, for everything he had put him through.
In the first few days they had trained, Thorax held on, afraid to hurt the person who had saved him out of sympathy and admiration.
But now, all those feelings were gone, replaced by an intense hatred for the same.
He just wanted to make him feel the pain he went through.
With each blow that Vader defended he was forced to take a step back, he was surprised by the ferocity of the attacks, and even though randomly and without any technique, he was being forced to retreat.
Until with a sudden shoulder shove, and with a shout, Thorax took a powerful blow to Vader's helmet, destroying the wood sword in the process and causing Vader to almost lose his balance and taking a few steps back.
They were both silent after a few moments, the only noise being the rapid breathing of an exhausted Thorax, their hateful expression quickly changing to one of extreme tiredness.
Slowly losing his balance even though he desperately tried to stay upright, he slid to the snowy ground and fell to the ground, his eyes getting too heavy to stay open.
"The supreme merit is to break the enemy's resistance without fighting. Some salespeople still insist that speaking is better than listening.
Negotiators and leaders who have exceptional speeches, but fail to deliver what is in the speech, loses credibility very quickly.
The best way to gain credibility as a negotiator or as a leader is to deliver on what you promise."
Vader walked to one side to another, arms behind his back and his cape, while teaching Thorax, who would be sitting cross-legged with an expression of deep thought, he would stop, and look at Thorax.
"Explain to me, why do so many follow me? Why don't they question me?"
Thorax was surprised by the question, but he would not hesitate to answer.
"Because you bring what many have failed, you build what many could not even imagine was possible, and you take them to heights that were impossible to achieve before, you did not only what you promised, you did above and beyond."
Vader was silent for a while, leaving Thorax a little anxious about what he was contemplating, he would slowly nod his head.
"Good answer."
Thorax released a sigh of relief while Vader continued.
"Another necessary skill that I have for you to learn, is the art of negotiation."
Thorax was surprised hearing this from Vader, he jokingly thought that the only way that his master negotiated was by chocking somebody until he did what his master told, but he kept those thoughts to himself, and kept hearing.
"One of the best negotiation tools is the ability to listen, when we know how to listen, we can understand, to understand the problems on the other side, we have to be ready to accept their arguments."
He explained while pointing his index finger high
"Some negotiators believe that accepting an argument means that they agree with it, to accept an argument is to give people the right to express themselves, which does not mean that they are right or wrong, only that there is respect for positioning, thinking or feeling."
He did not expect this teaching from Vader, he expected diplomacy and negotiations to be done with a show of strength, to show the opposite side that you could destroy him with just a snap of his fingers, but it seems that his master wanted more lasting results.
"Not only is this a skill that can be used with naive negotiators or novices, but it can also be used against yourself, it is a two edged sword."
He said while making movements with his hand to sympathize with what he said.
"Negotiators who have this ability can easily "disarm" their opponents, as "attacks find emptiness"; the void is the vacuum, and in the vacuum there is no resistance."
He told while holding his belt.
"You see, actions can scream louder than any motivational speech, but you should never underestimate your lips, they can be a weapon sharper than any dagger, it can not only intimidate an opponent, it can turn even the most loyal soul."
The changeling was silent, looking at the floor, absorbing everything that Vader had explained, he would slowly pass his gaze on the dark lord.
"You know a lot about this master..... It comes from experience....?"
This made Vader silent for a long time, reflecting on the words spoken to him.
"It comes from experience....?"
He could only remember that old bastard, and his story.
The story that seduced him.
It consumed him.
And took him to the dark side.
So powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life, He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying.
He still remembers that damned smile, that smile of an old man who knew, who had gotten a new pawn for his collection.
He slowly walked backwards, ignoring the raised eyebrows that Thorax had given.
"Take your training sword, time to spar."
Changeling slowly got up and hurried after Vader.
"B-but, you s-still have to teach me a-about m-military tactics!"
Vader would not stop, and would only return a look at Thorax from under his vizor.
"That was a statement Thorax, Not a question."
He could feel the aura of hatred that emanated from his master, and he just remained silent, not wanting to anger his master anymore, as he grabbed his training equipment he entered his fighting position.
When his master was like that, he vented all his anger on him.
Today he will have trouble sleeping again.
Both walked slowly circling each other, Thorax outlines a calm and calculating expression.
After a while, both stopped and drew their metal swords and charged at each other.
The swords collided, and they both started exchanging blows, up-down-right-left, and repeated the process.
It was like a synchronized dance, they both seemed to know what the other was going to do before they actually did it.
The sparks coming out of the colliding swords could be seen from a distance, just not being as flashy as the fire beside them.
Both remained in that stalemate for a long time, defending and attacking respectively, as if they were turns between them.
However, Thorax knew very well that his master was holding back, he knew that if he wanted to, he could very well slice him into pieces in the blink of an eye.
Even so, changeling couldn't stop the sense of pride he felt for making his master really have to try, really have to keep his guard up to prevent any scratches on his armor.
Suddenly, Thorax made a mistake, holding the sword too strong and giving Vader a breach, which he took promptly, making a quick but light cuts on the side of the changeling's belly, causing him to lose concentration enough for the ex-jedi to take a chance, tripping him and make it fall to the ground with a grunt.
When trying to get up quickly, he could only find himself with a sword aimed at his neck.
"You are dead."
He blew out a long breath and threw himself on his back defeated on the ground.
Vader slowly tossed his sword aside, and sat beside Thorax at the campfire relaxed.
This routine made Thorax very strong and resistant, however, he still had many errors in his positioning and in his way of thinking, he could still be very predictable when stuck in a dead end.
Even so, the dark lord was very pleased with the progress he made with Changeling, he was bigger than before, his muscles helped him in that respect.
He had gained more confidence too, he was still a little afraid for Vader, but it can be fixed over time, he now believes more in his abilities, and he is a very fast learner intellectually.
He already surprised Vader a couple of times, almost creating sections of intellectual sparing matches when he taught Thorax in the combat and ideological arts.
The Sith slowly reached out and pulled out a bag that was close to them.
And then opening it, he removed a piece of preserved meat that had been left over from the last hunt, it didn't taste good, but it was edible.
Vader then threw the meat at Thorax, falling on his belly.
He gasped by surprise, but after getting up to a sitting position and seeing what fell on his belly he would just give Vader a playful smile.
"Feeling generous Master?"
Vader just ignored his apprentice's antics while he picked up the meat and started to eat, he would turn his gaze to the fire.
"You deserve it, the last food is not needed to be hunted this time."
The Changeling just goggles his eyes and almost chokes on the meat after his master's declaration, he then while running his hand around his neck he would look at Vader still surprised.
"Last food? Do you mean...?"
Vader nodded, while he looked at Thorax again.
"Your training is not finished, you still have a lot to be tested and a lot to learn."
Thorax raised an eyebrow at that and raised his hands in a confused way.
"If my training is not finished, why the hell are we leaving already??"
He said in a loud tone, unable to hold his frustration.
"I will continue with your training, however, preparations are complete, and I received reports that a skirmish has occurred between crystal guards and my troops."
Thorax would be bulging his eyes and gaping.
"Y-you mean...?"
Vader was silent for a while, ignoring the panic signals obviously present in his apprentice
"Yes, the conquest of the Crystal Empire will begun."
He then slowly rose, and look directly at Thorax.
"And you will be the one who will help me lead my legions."
Thorax felt that he would have a heart attack right there, his surprise could not be described in simple words, how could he?! Vader was the architect of human ascension, he was the one who designed the troops, who trained them, who inspired them, how could he, who was not even human, lead them??
"Are you crazy?? I didn't complete my training! And now you want me to help you command your entire army?? I am not the person for the job! That is inse-"
He shut up when a feeling of a metal hand touching his shoulder, he slowly shifted his gaze back to the Vader's mask, which looked at him with an intensity he had never seen before from his master.
"I can't do everything, even though I have a vast knowledge in charge, I don't know who to trust at the moment and who to rely, a defeat can cost much more than we can replace."
He with his other hand, poked the chest of his apprentice
"I am putting my trust in you, I trained you, and I know your capabilities, you are one of the only ones who ever fought with the Equestrians and you already have experience in combat, while also having a good heart."
He slowly moved away from Thorax, while the changeling was a little flushed and very shocked with so much confidence put in himself.
He watched Vader slowly placing his hand on part of his belt, and taking out a cylindrical object, A lightsaber, and holding it with both hands, he slowly approached the Changeling.
"I put you in a position that few would ever dream of, and along with these responsibilities, I give you, a gift."
The Shock couldn't get out of his face, there were so many things happening in such a short period of time, and he couldn't believe it.
Slowly he reached out and took the lightsaber, its design was elegant, with two pieces flanking the hole in which the fire was supposed to come out.
Pressing the button, a huge beam of purple light came out, and it illuminated the area, it was wonderful, fearful and elegant.
He tested it with a few slashes in the air to test it, it was very light and easy to use.
"Now, you have a weapon worthy of a lord."
Thorax looked at Vader and then returned his gaze to the lightsaber
"I, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, with your control over your emotions, your extraordinary development, and mastery with the sword, I am willing to give you the legendary lightsaber from an ancient and feard Sith Lord, and hand you the title of Sith warrior!"