All good Star Wars series come in threes, right? Well, here's the third in a series of commissions for  tylerfurlong and  renard_defleureax, with the story written by Renard! Previous entries can be found here and here.

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The battlefield was rife with the bodies of the fallen. How many Jedi, how many Sith had come to the battle? It didn’t matter, because now, there were only two.

Peace is a lie.

Darth Praetorus’ smirk twisted further as he spotted the lone jedi. The hulking Sith Lord lumbered his way across the battlefield, bolts of Sith lightning crackling in his hand. As he drew near, his smirk seemed to fade, but only for a moment. “Well, well. Look what came all the way from Coruscant just to visit little old me. I’d introduce you to everyone, but…” he chuckled as he gestured to his handiwork, the fallen bodies of Jedi and Republic soldiers all around him, “they’re a little indisposed.”

There is no Emotion, there is Peace.

Akari kept a solemn, determined visage as he stared the Sith Lord down, his stance strong and firm. There was a small rush of power as his blue lightsaber activated, illuminating the desolate area around him. “You’re not the only one who can fight, Renard. Your master, Darth Barris, is gone. I was forced to fight him to the death to get to you. Lay down your lightsaber, and I promise, the Council will treat you with mercy.”

Through Passion, I gain Strength.

“Renard. There’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.” Praetorus’ tail flicked once, and the large Sith cut the space between him and Akari. The Jedi stood taller than the Sith, enough to tower above him, but Praetorus had his massive strength and muscle to level the playing field. “I’m sure you see it as poetic justice after what I did to our old master, but you did me a favor by cutting Barris down… now there’s an opening on the Dark Council, just for me. So I’ll tell you what… walk away, and I’ll let you live. From one killer to another.”

There is no Ignorance, there is Knowledge.

There was a flicker of indignant anger across Akari’s face, and his tail swished in irritation, but he swallowed it. “I’m not a killer. Not like you.” The Jedi held his ground as the Sith drew near. Slowly, the two began pacing, circling each other in anticipation for the coming battle. Akari kept his guard up, his stance and poise flawless and graceful; trained to perfection. “It doesn’t have to end like this. You were a great Jedi, once. You can be again.”

Through Strength, I gain Power.

Renard scoffed, “Would you ask a slave to walk back into bondage? Please. I’m free, now. I’ve never felt so strong.” He flexed, his burgeoning muscle making his muscle creak. “I’ve never felt so alive.” His eyes crackled with the dark side of the force, sparks dancing on his finger tips.

There is no Passion, there is Serenity.

“It’s not freedom. You’re a slave to your emotions, your vices.” Akari breathed deeply, and felt the force flow through him. It wasn’t as blatant display as Renard’s show of force, but the tiger could feel every bit of the Force flowing through the two. He grimaced; they were almost perfectly matched in terms of power.

Through Power, I gain Victory.

“You’ve had your chance, Akari. Back down, or, at the count of three, you die.” Praetorus warned. “One…”

There is no Chaos, there is Harmony.

“We don’t have to do this. You know that. Hasn’t there already been enough bloodshed?” Akari gestured to the battlefield, “How can this fulfill you?”

Through Victory, my Chains are broken.

“…Three.” His smirk came back, and Praetorus fell on Akari with all the power of a ramming starship, slamming into the Jedi’s side. Lightning bursting from his hand, he swung his lightsaber in a massive arc…

There is no Death, there is the Force.

…only for Akari to expertly parry the strike. Summoning up all the Force he could muster, he flung it back at the Sith, throwing the huge warrior across the battlefield…

The Force shall set me Free.

And Darth Praetorus came roaring back to rejoin the battle. Lightsabers locked, the two dug in, summoning up their strength for their final battle. Only one would be allowed to live.