~Ezra Bridger POV~

Ezra landed with a heavy thud, kneeling low in the high grass plains as his father's ship took off for open space. Resting on one knee as he waited for the area to settle down into its gentle sway of the night. Completing his survey of the land around him before checking his HUD, seeing the location his father spoke of earlier only six klicks to his right. Rising from his crouched stance as he stood tall, his cloak gently blowing behind him as he set off towards the safe haven.

His body made almost no noise even as he was covered in his full suit of beskar. The grass parting like a vibroblade through flesh, returning to its original state as if never disturbed. The night continued slowly as Ezra was left to his own thoughts, wondering what would become of his clan and all of Mandalore. His mind went back to the weapon that had destroyed them in one swift strike.

"The weapon of a coward," he stated to no one but himself as he practically spit in disgust at the thought of it. His clansmen had been the superior force during the battle but the Empire cared not for honor it seems. The weapon had been their only salvation as his clan would've surely won the day had it not been for the walker.

Coming back to the present as he checked his course, he had drifted off slightly to the right as he had become engrossed in his own thoughts. Correcting himself before taking off back in the direction of his destination. Now only four klicks away and rapidly approaching as he picked up the pace, a wide mountain range coming into view. Internally groaning to himself as he was hoping to have a simple journey.

"You've got to be kriffing kidding me." The large jagged rocks appeared more and more clear as he drew near, hating the thought of having to climb up and over them to get to his desired place of rest and solitude. Coming to what seemed to be the base of the large mountain biome, taking in a long slow breath as he continued onward. The large rocks leaving little room to walk through but just enough for him to squeeze past if he turned his body in the right direction.

Ezra's attitude changed slightly as he found the path he was taking to be actually quite fast at helping him through the rocks. His mind once again wandered to his past, as his mind brought him back to a time where he was in a similar scenario with another mandalorian. Chuckling softly at the memory as it replayed in his head.

~Flashback Start: Two Years Ago~

"Do you even know where we're going Sabine?" Ezra asked for what was probably the millionth time during their journey, only receiving a slight grunt in response from his traveling companion. The dense forest foliage of Krownest shuddered in the night as piled snow crunched under their feet. She had told him that there was something he needed to see but she hadn't mentioned what or where it was.

"We're here," she stated loudly as she stopped a couple feet in front of him, standing on the top of a large hill that overlooked a surrounding valley. A large lake that had yet to be frozen over glistening in the moonlight, hearing her remove her helmet as he stood by her and watched on. Seeing the small shake of her head as her hair flowed smoothly back into place, a small rubbed bun kept her hair up as she looked at the young man staring at her.

A small smirk forming on her face as she placed her helmet under her arm and cocked her head slightly to the side, "see something you like?" A small teasing statement rolling off her lips as she watched him come back to the present. Shaking his head as he removed his own helmet, laughing softly at her remark. "Maybe I do," before moving his helmet under his arm in a similar fashion to Sabine's. Looking out over the valley as he took in the second most beautiful sight of that night, the first belonging to the woman standing next to him.

Sabine studied him as he took in the sight before him, his short raven blue hair nothing like the giant mop she was used to when they were children. A small smile formed as she recalled a sparring session between them, she had used his hair to her advantage as it was wild and unkept. Holding his head down and pulling him back and forth, no longer sparring but rather tormenting the boy as they both began to laugh and have fun.

Her hand slowly sneaking its way into his as she leaned her head against his shoulder, "I missed you." Feeling his grip tighten slightly as his eyes seemed glued to the valley, "I missed you too." Turning his head back towards the woman now using him as her resting post. Her brunette/black hair shone in the moonlight, making her golden amber eyes seem to pop as she looked up at him. Sucking in a breath of air as her armour almost seemed to glow in the night as the moon made her silver/gold armour flourish in the night.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared into his electric blue eyes, his orange/black armour making his eyes almost glow as she studied his face. Feeling the warmth of his hand as it caressed her cheek softly, slowly brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. A small blush creeping onto her face at the closeness from the man she hasn't seen in years.

Their eyes searched each other for any sign that they didn't want this as their faces slowly edged closer together. Their lips brushing against each other softly before fully meshing against the others. Sabine's eyes practically rolled to the back of her head as she had been waiting for Ezra to make his move for years now. Ever since their families had grown farther apart by the end of the Clone Wars. Now finally able to spend some time together after their time apart.

Ezra's brain was almost literally going off like a flurry of bolts from their weapons into the night. Having a crush on the daughter from Clan Wren since the first time his eyes had come across her, falling almost immediately right then and there for her. Both of them slowly pulled apart as their forehead stayed together, a soft "I love you." Escaping both of their lips as they once again stared into the others eyes. Their emotions spoke volumes that their words couldn't.

~Flashback End~

Ezra once again snapped back to reality as he smiled softly at the memory, there hadn't been a day that had passed that he wished to lay his eyes upon the daughter of Clan Wren again. Stopping at the edge of the mountain's biome as he had finally weaved his way through it. A small prick of fear, anger, guilt, and regret leaving him feeling sad as he subconsciously looked out towards the stars.

Seeing everything and nothing all at the same time that Sabine was in distress. Her emotions felt like a wildfire to Ezra as he knew that she was hurting but not exactly knowing why. He was aware that she had been sent to the capital as a show of good faith from Clan Wren to the Galactic Empire as they had come forth, wishing to help Mandalore rebuild and educate the populace.

Clan Bridger had shown no such hospitality as they had refused the help from the Imperial Ambassador sent from their capital, refusing and requiring the Imperial officer to leave their homestead and world altogether. The Galactic Empire's upbringing had been suspicious in itself as it seemed to rise at the very end of the war. So Clan Bridger had been cautious as to receiving any kind of 'help' from them.

Ezra chuckled to himself softly as his more sinister and twisted humor showed itself as he thought of what good had been of refusing the Empire's help. His mind pulled back to the stars as he felt another large wave of guilt coming from Sabine. No doubt thinking that she had been informed of his clan's destruction and that she probably thought he was dead.

Ezra pushed his father's warnings to the side as he kneeled on the rocky ground, assuming a meditative position that his mother had taught him a long time ago when they would spend time together. She had told him it was a way to 'connect' to the world around them and branch off to another form of separation from the present.

Ezra slowly slipped into his meditation as he focused solely on Sabine, pushing calming waves from himself to her as he sought to take away her pain. Feeling her take notice of the sudden change but welcoming it all at once. Embracing it as she didn't want it to leave her.

~Sabine POV~

The contents of her room had been neat and orderly once, but that was not the case anymore. Everything from her armour, pens, holotapes, linen, and clothes had been thrown around in a fit of rage. Pushing herself into a corner as her eyes once again threatened to break down her walls and push tears onto her face. The guilt of what she had done to his family and him pushing her over the edge as her dam broke, her eyes watering and finally allowing herself to cry and she curled in on herself.

Wishing that she could take it all back, wishing she had never designed the weapon, wishing she had never been sent to the academy, wishing that was instead back home with her family. She wished that she could embrace Ezra like she had that night that they spent together, telling him how sorry she was and begging for his forgiveness.

Her tears slowly stopped as she jolted upright, looking around her room as she felt a familiar presence seeming to take hold of her. Her guilt and anger being washed away by a sense of familiar comfort, wiping her eyes as she sat upright and looked out her viewport. Not understanding what was happening but knowing that she felt safe, almost as if she was back with Ezra on that night.

"I miss you so much," she stated to no one but herself but she had the feeling that he understood as the feeling grew stronger around her. Giving her enough energy to move towards the window and look around the academy she was currently in. For the first time in her life seeing it as more of a prison and not an academy, the vast amounts of security that was patrolling the perimeter and inside along with the large guns mounted on top of the various outside structures.

She turned back towards her room, looking at the mess as she made her decision. She was done working for the Empire and was leaving this place, her mind racing as she began to think of a plan to escape. Looking back over towards the stars, "don't worry Ezra, I'm coming."

~Author's Notes~

Hello everyone, I'm sure I'll find a better way to add my notes into the chapters but for now this is what I'm going to do. Anyways, sorry for the long wait for the update. I always hated waiting for stories to be updated when I casually read them and I still do but now I understand why it happens. This is by no means excusing me from the long wait but I see why it happens. I've become the very thing I swore to destroy. I wasn't really sure where to take this as I wanted to just progress the story towards Ezra reaching the safe haven and Sabine finally taking the thought to leave the academy. I'm thinking for the next chapter to time skip around a couple months to a year to fast forward the progress. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and please let me know what y'all would like to see in the coming chapters. Thank you again for your continued support and I can't wait to hear from y'all. May the force be with you, always.