text: Paris had fallen. The Imperial forces under Napoleon had made it to Fontainebleau, and while the Emperor was determined to march on the occupied capital and reclaim it from the Allies, his Marshals were not. And so it was that Michel Ney and the others entered the great hall where their frustrated overlord anxiously contemplated the situation. "My Emperor," Ney began, "it is time... to abdicate." Napoleon turned and cast a scornful glare at the Marshal. "Are you *mad*, Ney!?" The Emperor might have expected the other Marshals to share his own surprise at Michel's proposition, but they all seemed to line up behind the Bravest of the Brave. "There are always more recruits- we still have the National Guard! The Eagles will fly! The Grand Army *will* follow me to Paris and we *will* take it back from the Allies!" "No," Ney responded calmly. "The Army... will follow its generals." Napoleon turned away from his Marshals, clenching his fists in anger. "My Emperor, you *must* abdicate... or else..." Bonaparte slowly turned his head, glaring at Marshal Ney with yellow eyes. "Are you threatening me, Marshal Ney?" *Pssshew!* A red lightsaber ignited and the Emperor, with a devious grin crawling across his face, turned to face Michel. Ney, in return, brought his hand up and force-pulled his own lightsaber from his belt, igniting a blue beam. "Surrender, Napoleon... this is your last chance." "So be it," Napoleon replied, accepting the Marshal's challenge. Ney gripped his saber with both hands. "Leave us." The other Marshals, some more reluctant than others, retreated from the room. "Raaagh!" Napoleon flew forward in a devilish twirl, the power of the dark side propelling him towards his opponent. Ney reacted with keen reflexes, parrying a series of deadly blows from the Emperor. The hum of their weapons were interrupted by the terrible sound of their clashing; sparks flew in all directions and such was the display that any sane man would commit self-defenestration. Napoleon attempted to drive home a fatal blow utilizing *Dun Moch*, but was parried or frustrated by the more-defensive *Soresu* style of Ney. The duel may have been a stalemate, but Napoleon was gaining ground and Ney was forced to fall back in the midst of the Emperor's flurry. "Nyah!" Napoleon's palm flew forward - force-pushing Ney towards a window. The Marshal's lightsaber flew from his hand as he crashed through the window and down into the courtyard below. The Emperor, in his mad and enraged state, leaped from said window and attempted to deliver a deadly blow. Fortunately, Ney, ever-ready in the face of great odds, rolled to the side. All over the courtyard were Imperial soldiers, looking confused. They raised their weapons, but most did not know if they should aim for their Emperor, or the Bravest of the Brave. Force-lightning shot from the Emperor's palm and struck Ney as he tried to collect himself from the fall and the roll. "Aaaagh!" he cried out, suffering at the intense shock emitted from Napoleon. With his opponent subdued, the Emperor was able to put away his lightsaber and combine both palms into his deadly attack, electrocuting Ney with the power of the dark side. "Aaagh!" the Marshal cried out in agony. "F-f-f-fire!" he finally managed to spit out. There was a minor hesitation amongst the surrounding soldiers, but they finally opened fire on the Emperor. Napoleon was quick enough to re-ignite his lightsaber and deflect the beams, but there proved to be far too many and more and more soldiers opened fire on their Emperor. Napoleon fell with a whimper, alive - but barely. The Bravest of the Brave struggled to his feet, smoke rising from his clothes as he did so. Using the force he called Napoleon's red lightsaber to him. "My Emperor..." he began, igniting the weapon and placing it at Napoleon's neck.