Epilogue

Edit: People, I need your help. Does anybody know what Inkitt is and if it's legit? I desperately need to know the answer.

Hello people. It's been a crazy ride these past few months. I've been attacked by rocks, started my senior year, and have been accepted into college. I don't have any excuses about putting this off for so long except that I was in a funk and didn't want to give you the final chapter of Compulsion that contained subpar quality.

I just want to say that is has been a wild ride this past year, writing my first ever fan fiction, and I'm glad I was able to enjoy it with all of you. I do not have any plans for a sequel despite last chapter's ominous warnings. I meant that as a way to tie the story into canon, as season two is going to be airing soon and I wanted it to meld. Kudos to those who pointed it out. If I get a lot of requests and I have an idea I might consider doing a sequel, but right now I'm going to be leaving this story as a standalone.

It's been a fun time, and I can't wait to write more stories that I hope you enjoy! Stay tuned.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars Rebels or any of its characters.

Two months later.

Run, Jedi, run.

Kanan's eyes flew open and his hand clenched around air. He gave his hand a glance before mentally forcing it to unclench. He looked around his room and gave a sigh.

It had happened again.

He wasn't very surprised anymore.

After finally rescuing Ezra and dealing with the Inquisitor, Kanan had thought that there would be some sigh of relief; that they could relax, go home and not worry about the Empire looming over them.

But those words haunted him.

Something was coming.

Kanan had no idea what it was, but that only served to unnerve him more.

Moving his body to the edge of his bed, he jumped out and landed lightly, hoping to avoid waking everyone up. Even though two months had passed, there was still this tense air in the ship, a giant elephant in the room, yet no one commented on it. Kanan could see that everyone was reeling from the effects of what had happened. Kanan smirked slightly.

What a mess they made.

The Jedi who almost lead his team into oblivion in his quest for vengeance.

The pilot who could often be seen in the background during training sessions, watching. Pondering. Worrying.

The Lasat who grumbles and complains, but slightly inches closer to his roommate. To his friend.

The artist who will pause and flinch as her legs twitch without permission from a wound that she had hoped had vanished completely. That she still hoped would disappear.

The droid that sits, patiently, observing when to shriek and rattle; when to pester, but never to hurt.

And the Padawan who will wake yelling, struggling against an unseen force that has not decreased in its ferocity despite time's efforts. His mind did not escape unscathed.

Kanan gave a sigh and exited his room to for something to drink, hoping that he would be able to get at least a partial night's rest.

What. A. Mess.

Hera watched the stars, gently turning the Ghost when they slightly veered off course. They didn't have any particular job at the moment, so they had decided to just wander.

Lothal had too many bad memories at the moment.

Leaning back in her seat, she tapped against metal side, listening as the sounds echoed through the large area. It was just her inside; everyone else should be asleep.

Well, maybe not Kanan. Despite his greatest attempts, this was her ship.

And you couldn't hide anything from her.

She had thought about confronting him the first couple of times his footsteps had been heard outside the door, but had thought better of it when she knew all she would get was excuses.

Their relationship was so fragile right now.

Everyone was fragile right now.

It was like eggshells were covering the entire ship.

And Hera hated it.

This ship was meant to represent hope, not despair! It was supposed to be filled to the brim with hope the moment Ezra stepped onboard, the moment Kanan took over so she could grasp Ezra and just hold him.

It didn't happen.

And no hope filled the air.

But she didn't show her disappointment. She put on her happy face with her too cheerful smile and watched as they tore themselves apart. But she kept on smiling, because if at least one person seemed okay, then the others would realize that it was okay for them to feel better too and not suffer from despair.

Because it would get better. Maybe not now, maybe not for a while, but it would get better.

As long as they had each other, things would get better.

Zeb blasted a dummy to pieces with his bo-rifle, breathing heavily. Zeb had no idea what time it was but assumed that it was early morning space time, the sounds in the hallways outside the training room revealing that at least some people were up. Zeb paid them no mind.

He blasted another dummy.

Zeb was itching for action, ready to knock some bucket-heads together and yet being denied that right by their space travel. Zeb knew the reason why they were avoiding the Empire right now, but that didn't mean that he was just going to sit down and do nothing.

He wanted some action. He wanted blood.

Not that he would tell anybody that. Sounded a little too worrying for Zeb's liking.

Wasn't like he wanted anybody to ask him if he was okay.

He was the big, strong, warrior Lasat! He was the muscle, the brick wall. He was fine.

Let them worry about the ones who needed worrying.

Like Ezra.

The kid's shouts resounded throughout Zeb's head, making him flinch and causing him to miss the dummy. Zeb frowned.

Next time, dummy. Next time.

The kid was always waking up from his never-ending nightmare, screaming at the top of his lungs. The first couple of times Zeb had attempted to comfort him in his gruff sort of way, but after seeing that haunted look in the kid's eyes, Zeb knew that he couldn't help him.

Zeb didn't know if anyone could.

So if he couldn't help the kid on a mental level, he would at least protect him from the things he could fight, like the bucket-heads that wanted them dead, Zeb decided.

He would not fail him again.

So let everyone worry about themselves. Let them get over the funk they're in, let them come to terms to what happened, and get over it.

And Zeb? Zeb would do his job.

Sabine wiped blue paint from her face.

She had been attempting to create another masterpiece when the leg that she had been precariously perched on had twitched and she had fallen into a bucket that promptly spilled its contents on her.

That had happened a lot, which frustrated Sabine to no end.

She could walk, she could run, she could fight till she was the last one standing, but when it came to standing still and painting, of all things, she just couldn't do it.

Kanan told her that it was all in her head.

Sabine thought it was her legs sucking.

Stupid legs.

Sabine grabbed some of her hair and squeezed, watching as blue paint dripped from the strands.

Yeah, that wasn't going to come out easily.

Giving up in making herself at least a bit presentably, she sighed and slumped onto the floor, uncaring of the mess that would soon dry around her. She didn't even know why she was trying. It wasn't like she had had an idea of what she was painting.

Her creativity had been dry for a while.

Sabine honestly didn't know what was wrong. She wasn't sad or angry or anything. She just couldn't think of anything to paint. It was like the situation with the Inquisitor had sucked the life right out of her.

At least it really did to it with the Inquisitor.

"Heh."

Sabine startled a little bit when the sound escaped from her throat. She belatedly realized that she had laughed.

Sabine hadn't laughed in a while.

Huh, it seemed like both happiness and sorrow came from the Inquisitor.

Getting up, she looked at her hair and armor that were sticky with blue paint. Sabine smiled.

Maybe I should stick with blue, she thought, it suits me.

It would be a new beginning.

Chopper sat.

And waited.

And waited.

And then waited some more.

The Lasat in front of him didn't realize he was there.

He would soon though.

Chopper couldn't wait.

Everyone was sad and moping around as if the kid had died or something, which only infuriated Chopper.

Things should be fine.

Except that they weren't.

And Chopper couldn't stand that.

Something needed to be done, and if no one was going to step up to the plate, well then it was up to him.

And he would start by electrocuting the Lasat a few feet away from him.

The Lasat would roar and Chopper would laugh, and he would be chased throughout the ship, causing Hera and Kanan to admonish them while Sabine and Ezra would laugh.

It was the perfect plan, one that Chopper had to make sure that he executed perfectly.

It was the only way he could bring back a sense of normalcy.

It was the only way he could fix things.

Chopper readied himself and approached the Lasat from behind, arm outstretched.

Ezra could vaguely hear Zeb's shouts.

Ignoring it in turn for what he was doing, he focused on the lights gently swaying around him.

They always brought him comfort when he was at his worst.

He hadn't slept in days, the nightmares too difficult to overcome, and he knew the others knew. There was just….so much anger and pain whenever he closed his eyes, he thought it would consume him.

It scared him.

Focusing on one light in particular, he let the others fade away. This light was weaker than the others, the glow fainter as it trembled. Ezra reached out and cupped it with his hands.

It was so tiny and weak.

Just like him.

"This world is a scary place, isn't it?" He asked the light, expecting no answer.

He got none.

A knock on the door caused him to pause and let the light fade away before answering.

"Yeah?"

"Can I come in?" Kanan's voice asked.

"Yeah. Give me a moment," Ezra replied, moving from his position and opening the door. Kanan was leaning against the doorway and gave a look at Ezra's face before going inside.

"You don't look good," Kanan said, sitting on a bed.

"Nightmares will do that to you," Ezra commented, making his way next to Kanan.

"I suppose they do."

Silence drifted between them for a few moments as they thought of what to say. Eventually Kanan just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

"I felt you accessing the Force just now."

Ezra glanced at him, startled.

"I do that a lot," was the reply.

"Not like that though. You don't do that very often, but when you do, I feel it."

Ezra looked away, trying to think of something to say. Eventually he sighed and turned back to Kanan.

"They make me feel better, I guess. They don't judge or turn away, they're just….there. And they comfort me."

Kanan's eyes pinched at that and a sad look entered them.

"We won't judge or turn away either, Ezra. We're here for you."

"I know that," Ezra told him, "It's just that….I don't know…."

"You don't want to let us down," Kanan concluded, "You want to be better for us, and you're scared we'll be disappointed when you're not."

"It's been two months, Kanan! I should be better."

"No, you shouldn't be. Two months isn't that long. It's okay to not be better. We'll still be here for you as long as it takes for you to get better. We'll never be disappointed. I want you to understand that."

"I do! It's just….," Ezra trailed off.

"You just can't convince yourself," Kanan says, understanding.

Ezra sighs.

"Exactly."

Kanan gives a small smile.

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait for you."

Ezra's eyes widen.

"Really?" He asks.

Kanan nods.

"We searched the galaxy for you; I think we'll be fine with waiting."

Ezra smiles. They'll wait. They let him come to terms with it on his own time.

He shouldn't have doubted them in the first place.

"Now," Kanan announces, getting up, "I do believe our resident droid is giving Zeb a run for his money. You coming?"

Ahh, so that was what those shouts were about.

Ezra gets up and opens the door.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

He could do this.

He could get over the anger and pain.

Because this was a new beginning.

A new hope.