(A/N I've had this character concept forever now and I know I'm not the only one to think along these lines. But when I watched season 2 of The Mandalorian I found the perfect place to drop her. I wrote this way back when after watching "The Tragedy" and finally decided I 'otta polish it up and post it if I can.

This chapter is mainly just OC's backstory told as a bedtime story. I'm planning on changing a lot from my original writing bc I think I can rework it to be post season 2 instead of my initial thought of her being part of [what became] "The Rescue."

We'll see where this goes. Enjoy!)

"Tell me a story?"

"What do you want to hear?"

"The one legacy of the Duchess!"

"Again? I'm sure you know it better than I do by now."

"Please?"

"Alright. Many years ago there was war on Mandalore. This was not unusual for the people, as they were a race and religion of warriors, however this time it was different. A radical had seen the terrors of war and had mourned too many children and had decided to propose a pacifist government.

"It was unheard of and created a rift in the peoples. Civil war broke out and the radical was hidden away as she spread her message to her people.

"The Jedi, Force wielders who acted as peacekeepers, sent two of their own to protect her. She didn't trust them at first, as Mandalorians and Jedi had a history of constantly being at war with one another, but eventually the two gained her trust. She even fell in love with the younger one.

"When it was time for them to part ways he waited with baited breath for her to ask him to stay, for he would have left his order for her. But she stayed silent, because she didn't want any resentment to rise from her being the reason he'd left his purpose.

"He didn't know she was with child. If he ever found out, he respected her wish to keep it a secret.

"The Duchess was still on good enough terms with her sister at that time and the two sisters raised him together as their nephew. Not long afterwards the sister joined, and eventually led, a radical group that opposed the Duchess's pacifist culture.

"Years passed and Mandalore knew peace, or as close to it as they could get.

"Then the galaxy fell to the Clone Wars.

"The Duchess and the Jedi were brought together once more, but she kept her son from him. He met other Jedi, but never his father.

"Mandalore stayed neutral, despite the Duchess's friendship with some of the worlds. But the war in the galaxy gave opportunities to her enemies, and the Jedi's attachment to her gave his enemies inspiration. The warring faction of Mandalorians joined a Sith Lord, and the Duchess was killed.

"Her dream of peace died with her.

"Her son's peace died as well. He spent years hurt, angry, and alone, willing to fight and kill for the most base of reasons. Until he joined a clan, much by accident. He had been working as an assassin for hire, but one of his targets had a small group of Mandalorians as hired bodyguards. His attempt failed and he was captured.

"He never knew why they didn't kill him. They kept him tied down so he could not fight them, and they spoke to him. Taught him their stories, shared their history, their interests, the variation of Creed that they followed. Then, after some weeks had passed they let him go. He didn't know what to do or where to go. Much of his anger had faded as he saw they had the same pains he did. With no other direction, he stayed.

"And he fell in love.

"He remembered his father and the power that Jedi held, but he'd never had such power himself.

"But his daughter did.

"He did his best to teach her how to hold her elders accountable and when pacifism is beneficial, as he grandmother had thought. He taught her how to fight to defend both herself and those she cared for. He explained Mandalorian tribes and clans and the value of Beskar. He taught her everything he could, but he did not know how to train her to use the Force as her grandfather had.

"A friend from another time gave instruction on how to control it, to keep it from controlling her, but true mastery was far from her grasp.

"Her father believed that eventually she would find a teacher. The girl could be anything: a pacifist like her grandmother, a peacekeeper like her grandfather, an assassin like her father, a warrior like her mother, or a leader like her aunt. The world was at her fingertips."

"Whoa."

"Yeah. Sleep, little one."

"What are we doing tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, after your morning meditations, you learn to use a jetpack."

"Aunt Bo said I am too small!"

"And she is right. You will be learning basic controls and balance while connected to my pack-or your mother's. You will not be flying alone."

"Fine," she huffed. He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Good night, Teena."

"Good night, Father."

Teena fell asleep dreaming of the strangers from her father's story, never considering that the characters were not so strange to her.

.

They were arguing again. Aunt Bo wanted her to take her vows, to follow the Creed. Aunt Bo was amazing and she and Father had come to rely on one another, but many of the elders did not trust Teena. It was why they left to begin with, after all.

They asked Ahsoka to help. At least twice a cycle Teena would spend a day with the Togruta. They would meditate and she would explain the Jedi's history and how the Force worked.

Teena loved learning, so she loved her time with the not-Jedi. Though, she always assumed that Ahsoka's presence in her life was based on her parents having dealings they didn't want her around for.

But right now there was nowhere to go. She could only listen to her father, Korkie Kryze, argue with Bo Katan.

"She's still young."

"The Creed will make her safe. Have you met with any other factions recently? They're radicalizing."

"There have always been radical tribes."

"This is different. We've always been a confederacy, but they decided that anyone who doesn't follow their Way is not of Mandalore. They are not forgiving of imposters.

"We are stronger together; we always have been. Please rejoin Clan Kryze."

"I never left it. You know that. We offer our support the only way we can."

"You are separate. You need to come home. And Teena needs to choose to belong."

"I will not make her choice for her."

"It is not a choice! The Jedi are gone, and if they weren't she would have been taken from you."

"Ahsoka-"

"Ahsoka is not a Jedi."

"But-"

"And she will not train her either way."

"Teena will make her own choice when she is older. For now, we remain as we are and support as we do. If you need a warrior we are at your call."

"I just want to see my family safe. Your mother…"

"That wasn't your fault."

"I've made so many choices that I regret. Learn from me, don't imitate me."

"Thank you for your care and warning. All will be well."