https://youtu.be/T86DpiFjzGQ

3rd Person

22 BBY, The Battle of Geonosis. That singular catastrophic event had changed everything. 

Count Dooku, the well-respected former Jedi Master; unmasked as a Sith Lord. 

The clones fought their first battle alongside their Jedi Generals. 

Most importantly, for the first time in nearly a millennia, the galaxy found itself at war.

Adjusting to the new role of their order was difficult for many Jedi Knights. Nevertheless, war is not sympathetic or forgiving. As such, there were countless casualties within the first year. Those who were unfit or unwilling quickly died out. Adapt or perish, that was the only rule of the clone war.

Many of the unprepared Jedi fell victim to the Count's numerous agents of chaos. The ruthless Jedi-killer General Grievous was one of them, of course. The cyborg leader was slippery, crafty, the meaning of a "fair fight" was absent from his vocabulary.

The only other notable agent of death was Asajj Ventress. She appeared out of the shadows, her origins unknown to the order. Upon her debut, many Jedi scholars quickly assumed she was the Sith apprentice of the rule of two. After further contemplation however, they were skeptical. Count Dooku was a Dark Lord of the Sith, that much the council was sure of. Anything else was up in the air. 

One thing was certain, that one thing being that throughout the chaos, Ventress would continue killing. 

(y/n) POV

https://youtu.be/8V_NBZX76zI

"Neyo! Neyo, can you hear me?!" I desperately yelled into my commlink.

"No one's coming, dear." the Sith assassin cackled at my third attempt. She paced back and forth, her eyes incessantly fixated on my master and I. It was as if she was sizing up her prey. 

"Master, I'll get help!" I cried out, making my way toward the tiny passage we'd come from. 

"No! Stay here, padawan." Master Gallia insisted, her eye contact with Ventress unbroken. "That's what she wants. She could have any number of droids hidden down here."

"You're a clever one... I don't believe we've met." Ventress hissed. My master said nothing in return. "Not very talkative, are you? You Jedi are so boring, why can't you all be like Kenobi?" 

My master was silent, standing perfectly still in her form V stance. For a moment, it was as if time stopped. The only audible sound was the trifecta of lightsabers creating a buzzing harmony.

Then, Ventress struck. 

She accelerated so fast that I was unable to react. It became clear in that moment that, if she'd gone for me, I'd be dead on the cold cavern floor. Fortunately, my master intercepted the assassin's furious flurry.

"Ksssshhhh!"

"Kssshhh!"

"Kssh!"

Sparks flew from the trio of sabers, illuminating the catacombs as Master Gallia parried the blade dance Ventress unleashed upon her. The assassin showed her emotions unabashedly, an expression of utter hatred etched upon her face. She snarled as she was unable to break through my master's defense, despite her persistence. 

"Kssssshhhhhhhhh!" 

Ventress crossed her twin sabers together as she locked them against my master's singular saber. The struggle was brief, for the assassin overpowered Master Gallia frighteningly quickly. Thus, my master tactically retreated backward several feet before regaining her composure. 

'What can I do, other than watch?' I despaired. I wanted to help, to be of use. No... I'd just get in my master's way. I was powerless to do anything but watch. 

Adi POV

'She's going for my right.' I predicted while adjusting my weapon to guard my side. Sure enough, I deflected the crimson blade that had been aimed at my torso. 

She was strong with the force, very strong. In spite of this, the longer I crossed swords with the assassin, the more I became convinced that she had one fatal flaw. One damning flaw. 

"You can't win by running away, Jedi." Ventress taunted with her usual serpentine voice. I ignored her once more, opting to continue my impenetrable defense. Form V, specifically Djem So, excelled in the fluid transition between offense and defense. My opportunity for retaliation would come in due time.

"Kssshh! Ksshh! Kssshh!" 

The darksider became increasingly wild and desperate with her storm of slashes; her impatience was evident. Though each of my parries was successful, I could feel myself being pushed ever closer to the cavern wall. Just a bit more...

"Ksssssshhhhh!"

Her blows had even more weight behind them now. My arms quivered as they struggled against the force of her attacks, but I refused to yield.

'A bit more yet...' 

The assassin's next course of action was one I failed to predict. Without warning, she hurled one of her lightsabers such that it shot forward in a whirling frenzy. It flew past my ear by more than a meter, for I was not the intended target.

Thinking quickly, I spun backwards and used the force to push the weapon off course so that it missed my apprentice. (y/n) stared, shocked, at the scarlet saber embedded in the wall; the saber that had just narrowly avoided killing him. Flipping my head around to face my foe, I was met with a red blade careening toward my throat. No time to guard. I ducked instantaneously, her ambush failing. 

"Hmph!" Ventress snorted with anger, then summoning her thrown saber back to her hand. 

My apprentice should have safeguarded her weapon. We'll work on that. 

With the momentary distraction dealt with, I could now focus on my counterattack.

"Makashi, is it?" I pried as Ventress scouted for openings in my defense. Of course... she used form II, otherwise known as Makashi. Count Dooku, her master, was famous for it. 

"It took you that long to realize? Oh, how the Jedi have fallen." the assassin mocked.

"Well, I wasn't sure... seeing how poor your technique is." I rebutted, earning a scowl. 

My insult reignited the assassin's fury, bombarding my senses with her negative emotions. Anger, hate, resentment. They all infiltrated my mind, attempting to undermine my concentration. 

Hmph, as if.

(y/n) POV

I shivered. Her anger, her hate, I felt it. I felt it, and that scared me. For the first time in my life, I had encountered someone with the intent to kill. It was surreal, but the intensity of the sith assassin's feelings was most definitely real. 

Was this it? Was this "The Dark Side" Master Yoda, no, all the Jedi spoke of? They'd never elaborated on its nature, but I never imagined it would be so... powerful. I shouldn't allow my fear to get the better of me, as I was taught so from a young age. Still... seeing my master put her life on the line for my sake, powerless to help her, it was terrifying. It was humiliating.

Was there really nothing I could do?

Adi POV

Asajj Ventress struck again, this time like a garollian ghost viper. 

Her technique was now tainted with the dark side of the force. Whatever form she previously possessed became more raw and animalistic. That aside, her raw power increased exponentially. 

Fortunately, I had a plan. 

"Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh!" Her sabers were now a blur with her newfound speed and ferocity. 

No time to think. Focus. 

I continued to deny her any sort of counterattack, carefully observing her each and every movement as I parried. Yes... it was form II. An elegant form that emphasizes balance and technique over raw power. Ironic. 

Her next horizontal slash was a fake, ending with her double flipping into the air to land behind me. I casually blocked her follow up attack without even turning around...

'Ouch!'  I cried out internally. A throbbing pain in my wrist had transpired. Unfortunate, to say the least. I ignored it for the time being. 

https://youtu.be/kSJPTXuHyew

Next up, another saber throw. This time I was the target. I sidestepped it quite effortlessly, refusing to break eye contact with the assassin.

"Now you're dead." Ventress snickered in anticipation. She was obviously referring to the red lightsaber that was now circling around toward my back like a boomerang. Yes, I noticed it. (y/n) screamed in terror for my safety, but there was nothing to worry about. 

"Oh, this?" I feigned ignorance as I reached behind my head-tails to catch the spinning blade in motion. Ventress and my apprentice stood in awe as I deactivated the weapon with a "Sshhhk" and hooked it to my waist.

"Your technique is unrefined, unfocused. It's hideous to watch you butcher such a beautiful form." I remarked coldly.

I now held my sapphire saber skyward in an eccentric pose, as if to goad my foe.

It worked. Enraged by my provocations, Ventress sped toward me without a thought. 

And......... now. 

I fended off her first diagonal strike, but this time my follow up was different. I twisted my torso rapidly, accumulating force into a spinning kick that blindsided the assassin. Her balance was now shaken... the worst case scenario for her.

I capitalized immediately, dishing out my first batch of attacks. First a horizontal slash, then a quick saber jab. They were simple, made to further deconstruct her. She kept up, but now she was on the backfoot. 

"Kssshh! Ksssshh!"

I was relentless. My movements didn't pack nearly as much power as the darksider, but they were more controlled. More precise. More focused. 

She attempted to retreat, force-jumping back to her overhead perch. 

No. I wouldn't allow that. I clenched my hand into a fist, using my force abilities to sever the overhang from the cavern wall. It came crashing back down to my level, as did she. Knowing she was cornered, the assassin went into another frenzy. 

"Kssssshhhhhhhh!" 

Our blades crashed together once more, sparks flying everywhere in a brilliant light. Previously, she had pushed me back in a physical struggle quite easily. 

Not this time. Her balance was still off. Time to finish this. 

Now for an overhead chop. She raised her scarlet blade to protect herself, but the attack was a feint on my part. 

My concentration was unmatched. My emotions, in check. Breathing deeply, the force coursed through my body like a river flowing through a canyon. 

With her midsection now exposed, I thrust my boot into her stomach. The impact was severe, knocking her against the cavern wall.

"Aaaagh!" Ventress shrieked with pain. I rushed her, not allowing her any time to recover. She leapt to her feet, knowing what was about to come.

"Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh!" 

It was as if our sabers moved at lightspeed.

"Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh!" 

I can go faster yet, this is just the beginning. 

"Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh! Ksh!"

Now I noticed it, the flicker of yellow in her eyes. 

"Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh! Kssh!"

My arms were getting heavy, whilst she only grew stronger. Could it be? Her pain gave her strength?

"Ksssssshhhhhhhhhh!" The strength behind her swing was so potent that it broke my guard, pushing me backward. 

'Aughh!' My vision flashed red with pain, said pain being fully concentrated in my wrist. Ventress continued barraging me with hefty, impactful blows. With each one, the pain grew sharper. 

Eventually, it was too much. I toppled to the floor, her stolen lightsaber falling from my belt. After retrieving it, she made her way to my position, both crimson blades ignited. Gazing into her now fully yellow-tinted eyes, I tried to muster the strength to raise my weapon.

I failed.

"I'm going to enjoy butchering you." Ventress spat with venom, raising her blades in the air. She intended to dice me into pieces, evidently.

'No! No... no...' my mind screamed, weakening with each repetition. A Jedi never showed emotion. I knew that better than anyone. Despite all that, I was frustrated. Angry. Angry at my own weakness. What a joke. 

Ventress brought her blades down for the killing blow. 

"Kssssssssssshhhhhhhh!"

What?

It couldn't be. 

Standing over me, pushing back against Ventress with all his might, was (y/n).

"Master, your technique is something else. But... technique is nothing without strength to back it up." He stated, gritting his teeth. 

Author's Note

Chapter a bit shorter than usual, but I feel it ended in a fitting place and felt adding more would just feel tacked on. Man, writing fights is tough. Hope you enjoyed!