A/N: Now, Eirika isn't one for senseless violence. She's a fighter if she has to be, certainly, but she much prefers negotiation and diplomacy over just shooting or stabbing people over and over. Which, of course, heavily conflicts with how Death Watch operates, and when they're about to unleash hell on the New Mandalorians? Things will sour quickly. But first, she still has to talk to Vizsla…


Concordia Central Mining Complex, 21 BBY

Eirika glanced up at the large structure built into the mountainside she'd found herself warped to after her encounter with the gateway. Ahead of her were her two escorts, and they passed several more Mandalorians on patrol, weapons ready. "This seems rather excessive for a mining operation," she said, having seen a few containers filled with ore lying about. "What is being extracted here that is so important to require such heavy guard?"

"Beskar, ma'am," said one of her escorts. "Mandalorian iron, as it is sometimes known. A metal significantly more blast resistant than common durasteel, able to withstand even lightsabers, the weapons of those 'peacekeeper' sorcerers, the Jetii."

"You seem to harbor much disdain for these… Jetii," Eirika noted at the Mandalorian's tone. "Is there a reason for such?"

"Over a millennium ago, Tarre Vizsla, one of our Mando'ad, was inducted into the Jetiise. There he forged the Darksaber, a great Jetii'kad, that is, a lightsaber, which upon his passing our ancestors claimed from the Jetiise temple." They paused. "Unfortunately, the Jetiise retaliated, declaring war on our forefathers–"

"Did you not say the Jetii were peacekeepers?" Eirika interjected.

"They're hypocrites, is what they are," said the other Mandalorian. "How can one be a peacekeeper and yet have no non-lethal weapons? Jetii'kad are notorious for being able to cleave durasteel plate like it was so much flimsiplast."

Eirika wasn't entirely sure what flimsiplast was, but she understood the implications. "I see… you may continue."

The first Mandalorian nodded. "In any case, the Jetii brought down the wrath of the Galactic Republic on Mandalore, and they proceeded to annihilate nearly the entirety of our once great world's surface; now aside from tiny domed cities jutting from massive caverns, there is naught but endless white stone."

The princess of Renais, having experienced such devastation before, blanched. "Surely this cannot be!"

Her two companions sighed and shook their heads. "Since that day, over a millennium ago, the endless conflicts for resources stripped what little Manda'yaim had left and, eventually, the great warriors of ages past gave way to pacifists from a neighboring planet, Kalevala. They are dar'manda, as in, no longer Mando'ad, having abandoned our ancestral ways, and they are also fools."

It was here Eirika made to interject once more, when she realized they'd arrived at a small meeting hall. She decided to remain silent as the doors were opened, and she stepped inside. At the end of the table was an armored individual bearing some kind of marking on his helmet, flanked by two more of their fellows. The helmets were removed, and she could see the one with the marking was a somewhat gaunt man, with a receding blonde hairline; his companions were a redheaded woman, quite tall as well, and a grizzled blonde man with a noticeable beard. Or, well, the makings of one, anyway. The presumed leader stepped forward, bowing slightly, as he introduced himself. "I am Governor Pre Vizsla of the humble moon of Concordia, Your Highness; to my right is Bo-Katan Kryze, my chief lieutenant, and to my left is Gar Saxon, a fellow commander. May I ask who you are, how you came to be here?"

Eirika nodded in turn. "Very well, Governor Vizsla. I am Princess Eirika of the kingdom of Renais on the continent of Magvel. My home continent was recently ravaged by war, and during the process of reconstruction my subjects encountered a gateway of some sorts; I went to investigate it, but found myself warped here through means I do not understand."

"An unknown hyperspace gate?" Vizsla said, curious. "Well, such as it may be, I couldn't help but overhear the discussion you were having with one of my fellow Mando'ad. If you would permit us resume that discussion? Tarre Vizsla was my own direct ancestor, so as such I remain quite knowledgeable of his history. I even wield his blade, which ever since its reclamation has served as the symbol which the Mand'alor, ruler of all Mando'ad, is to be identified by."

Eirika nodded. "I assume we may sit for this?" The governor, of course, nodded, and ordered some food be sent down for a more proper meeting. This handled, Eirika asked, "The two who found me were just telling me of the history of your world; a great cataclysm befell it at the hands of the Jetii, and when the needs for resources became too great, Mandalore erupted into civil war."

Vizsla nodded. "That is correct; and while it pains me to say this, during this time a large number of now dar'manda renounced our ancestral warrior ways, and amazingly, claimed Mandalore for their own. They have ruled it ever since, passing on title by birthright rather than through the leader's raw strength, and in combination with their pacifism, they have grown increasingly soft and self-assured."

"You of Concordia see this as, of course, a foolhardy decision," Eirika ventured. "For what reason? Surely peace would serve your devastated world much better, no?"

The Death Watch commander shook his head. "Not when war has engulfed the galaxy, and Mandalore stubbornly refuses to choose a side, thanks to their need to remain out of the war. With our ability to import vital goods devastated, and with little means of growing our own crops, the whole Mandalore system will surely starve, all to serve some broken ideal that should never have existed."

Eirika nodded. "I see… In that case, what are your plans to alleviate the suffering of your people?"

Vizsla's mouth formed into a sinister grin, and the princess of restoration found herself seeing flashes of the positively maniacal Valter and Caellach in the governor's expression. "If Duchess Satine Kryze, current dar'manda 'ruler' of Mandalore, will not see the foolishness of her choices, she will be made to see. And soon, rather than stand idly by, the Mando'ad will rise again and show the whole galaxy that warriors we were, and warriors, we shall always be."

The princess nodded faintly, even as she found herself shuddering at what the man before her intended to do; clearly he felt he deserved to be, in his own tongue, Mand'alor, but what would he do to ensure he found himself in the position? She held her tongue, even still. Best not anger the man whose forces, all great warriors with far superior weaponry and armor, surrounded her on a completely foreign world.

Eirika was broken from her musings by the governor saying, "In our culture, we have a saying: Aliit ori'shya tal'din. Family is more than blood. It is not uncommon for even fellow adults to adopt each other into their own clans, and from the looks of yourself you cannot be older than 20. The Mando'ad which brought you to me seem to have already formed something of a bond with you, and indeed, the elder is quite experienced: she is buir, a parent, having found and raised her son to aid her, the young man who was with her." The princess blinked, but as she turned to face the two who had found her, she realized Vizsla spoke true. The woman was battle-hardened; stocky, if on the shorter side, but clearly ready and willing to defend her family, and her allies. Her son was a bit of a fresher face, in fact Eirika could tell he was actually slightly younger than she was, but that belied a bulky physique that even behind the beskar plating Eirika could tell he was quite well-built. The woman, his mother, spoke on behalf of them both. "I am Rena Woves, and this is my son Axe. Bit of a handful, he is, but he'll certainly have your back if you need him… Eir'ika."

Eirika glanced at the woman, Rena, having heard the odd inflection she'd given her name. "I'm sorry, Ms. Woves, I believe you've messed my name up a little. It's Eir-ika, emphasis on the 'e."

"I certainly did not," Rena countered. "Also, if we're doing this properly, call me Rena'buir, Re'buir, or even just buir. None of this 'Ms.' nonsense."

"Very well, buir, but that still doesn't explain the pronunciation," Eirika sighed.

"It's kinda simple, actually," said Axe. "ika added to any word in Mando'a basically means you care a lot about that thing, usually a person. Toss it on a name and you can shorten it, and well, you're Eirika." He stopped, then added, "By the way, how do you spell that?"

"E-i-r-i-k-a," explained the princess, now a Mandalorian foundling.

"All the more reason to use Eir'ika then," laughed Rena. "It writes itself, really. You sure your parents weren't actually Mandalorian and you just got separated a long time ago?"

"I am quite positive I would remember such being the case," Eirika sighed. "Well, in any case, Re'buir, what happens now?"

Rena grinned. "Well, we need to get you some beskar'gam. After that, I want to see how well you fight. I see that kad you've got, looks pretty nasty to me. Blaster training won't hurt though."

Eirika nodded, and with that she followed her newly adoptive mother and brother (and wasn't that a weird thing to say) out of the meeting hall. She had to admit, despite her misgivings on their emphasis on martial prowess, her newfound culture was starting to grow on her. And she really needed to know what beskar'gam was.


A/N: And so Eirika meets her new Mandalorian family, the Woves of Clan Kryze! They're here because they serve under Bo-Katan, and they are technically canon! Or, well, Axe is. He's the dude that shows up with Bo when they meet Din over taking down the Gozanti. I figured since his actor is 43 as of now, and Mandalorian (the show) takes place 30 years after the Clone Wars, with a bit of age fudging Axe could be, say, 15 or 16. I imagine Eirika is also in that range, though slightly older (if only because her twin brother Ephraim does not strike me as only 15 or 16 years old)

His mom is an OC though. Either way, some Mando'a translations:

Jetii/Jetiise: Jedi

Manda'yaim: The planet Mandalore

Dar'manda: No longer Mandalorian (incredibly strong insult)

Mando'ad: Lit. 'child of Mandalore;' Mandalorian

Mand'alor: Lit. 'sole ruler;' leader of all Mandalorians

Aliit ori'shya tal'din: Family is more than blood

Buir: Parent, can be used as a suffix

'ika: Suffix denoting endearment

Eir'ika: Eirika's own Mando'a name; eir I will also consider a Mando'a verb meaning 'to heal,' which ties into Eirika's title as Lady/Princess/Queen of Restoration

Anyway, that's all from me for now, so review what you guys think!