Annnnnd Specter7 is here again! I am so happy with all the positive feedback I'm getting from this story! Thanks guys! :D :D :D I also read in one of the reviews that someone has challenged me to make this next chapter even better than the last. All I have to say to that is...

Challenge accepted.

I have stretched my creative brain to its limits and delivered the all new chapter that will blow your MINDS. I even found a quote (the one you're about to read) that is the perfect example of the relationship between Ezra's and Sabine's Jedi and Mandalorian sides. Read it, my friends and...

May the manda be with you.

The New Mand'alor: Chap. 5: Little Loth-rat

"Peace is not my profession, it is yours. War is my profession.

Should you fail at yours, I will not fail at mine."

Ezra lay on the Phantom II's floor, his hand propping his head up, both resting on his tan-colored backpack.

It was late at night and Mandalore's moon was high in the sky, yet Ezra still couldn't sleep. And by the sound of the occasional squeak from the pilot's seat, Sabine couldn't either.

Ezra stifled a sigh and stared up at the gray, metal-plated ceiling. He was worried about Sabine. Now, he knew he didn't know much about Sabine's Mandalorian culture and whatnot, and it was pretty confusing for Ezra, but still… How could her family abandon her like that? How could Arc reject her? How could her parents disown her? And Sabine of all people. Sure, Chopper reincarnated into a human, he could believe. Zeb too. Maybe even himself. But Sabine?

Ezra shook his head, getting angry just thinking about it. Her parents must be total jerks and completely blind to not see Sabine's potential and her uniqueness. Well, Ezra reflected, not everyone can be like Kanan and Hera.

Ezra turned his head from looking at the ceiling to looking at the back of Sabine's head. It was dark, so all he could see was her faint silhouette in the pilot's seat, but he could tell by her breathing that she was still awake.

"Sabine," Ezra whispered. "You up?"

There was a long pause. Then, "…Yeah."

Ezra stood and stretched, picking up his blanket and sitting himself in the co-pilot's seat. He sighed and propped his feet up. "Can't sleep either, huh?" He glanced over at Sabine. The teen was staring straight ahead at the starry Mandalore night.

"Nope."

Ezra just watched her for a moment, pursing his lips. Why did she seem so sad? So… closed off? Ezra looked closer through the Force, mentally touching her mind. He could fill a swirling storm of emotions battling on the inside of her. Anger, frustration, nervousness—

"Would you stop that?" Sabine interrupted, raising her voice.

Ezra was surprised and drew back. "Wait, you can sense me?"

Sabine glanced at him. "Yes. Every time you… you brush my mind like that it's creepy. Gives me chills."

Ezra looked at her curiously. He didn't have to see through the Force to know she was being distant. For some reason, she was being awfully quiet and unexpressive.

"You okay?" Ezra asked suddenly.

Sabine shrugged defensively and turned away from him in the pilot's seat. "Fine," she answered tersely.

Of course she wasn't fine.

Ezra sighed. "Is it your cousin?" he asked.

He watched with a lopsided grin as Sabine moaned, laying back in her seat. "You know," she said, "Sometimes I really hate you."

"But you love me all the other times?" Ezra asked cockily.

Sabine opened one eye to glance at him. "I guess so, you little loth-rat."

Ezra smiled, but then leaned over, his hands on his knees. "So," he began, "your cousin. I mean… what's wrong? I get she challenged you for Mand'alor but… what's up?"

Sabine was shaking her head. "She challenged me to a duel, Ezra. Single combat. And Arc's changed, a lot. I haven't seen her since I was twelve. Twelve. Seven years go by, and Arc's gone and joined Clan Caladon of all things. She's leader of her new clan, leader of her new house, and leader of the Death Watch… And what've I got besides the traitor's brand to my name and a ten thousand credits on my head."

"Aww, Sabine," Ezra said sadly and reached over to pat her knee. "It's a hundred thousand. Besides, you're going to do great tomorrow! You know that don't you?

"Of course," Sabine said sarcastically, looking strait ahead. "It's not like you and the rest of the Ghost crew and Rau and the Rebellion and all of Mandalore are counting on me to beat my own cousin in a duel."

He watched as she clenched her jaw and crossed her arms, still staring straight ahead. Ezra opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. The thing was… she was right. A lot of people were counting on her to recruit the Mandalorians. It was a lot of responsibility—and Ezra knew she could do it—but to force this stuff on her all at one time… that was pretty stressful.

And as Ezra looked closer through the Force, not caring if she sensed his presence, he could feel the turmoil and conflicting emotions boiling inside of her. Anger, apprehension, regret, anxiety, and even… even fear. And all for what was coming.

"Do you think you can do it?" Ezra asked suddenly.

He looked over to see Sabine frown and wrinkle her nose. "Beat Arc? I dunno. Maybe. Maybe not."

"Are you afraid?

Sabine shot up and looked at him dead in the eyes. "Mandalorians don't get scared," she growled.

"But are you afraid?" Ezra pressed.

She stood up, her hands subconsciously going to her blasters. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

Ezra turned from her and looked out the Phantom II's window. "Kanan once told me," he began, "that I can't be a Jedi if I can't learn to be honest. With myself, at least." Ezra hesitated. "And I think that applies to you too, Sabine."

He watched as the Mandalorian curled her hands into fists.

Ezra held his hands up. "Hey, I don't have to know what you're afraid of. I don't need to. But I'm just saying that the same principle goes for if you want to ever reach your full potential. You have to be honest with what you're afraid of. With what you hate. With what you love. If you don't, you'll never be able to fully grow."

Sabine sat into the pilot's chair with a huff. "What are you saying, Ezra?"

He hesitated. "Look, I… I know I don't really understand your people's culture but I know you."

He looked at Sabine and she looked back at him with her piercing amber-brown eyes. He was treading into dangerous territory here…

"And you're not like the other Mandalorians," Ezra continued, silently praying that she wouldn't hit him. "You're different. That's why you were the one to find the Darksaber and not your cousin, or you mother, or any of them."

Sabine sighed and laid her head back on the seat. "You know what you're implying, don't you?"

Ezra sat up, his hands on his knees. "Yeah, I do. Is it really so crazy?"

Sabine shot up in her seat again. "Yes! It is! I'm not a Jedi. There is no mystical, invisible Force guiding my fate! My destiny is in my own, Ezra. I make it."

Ezra shook his head angrily. Why wasn't she listening? Didn't she get it?

"I know that," Ezra stressed. "But it doesn't mean the Force isn't guiding you along! Sabine, if the Force is leading your footsteps, then it means something is very, very important about your journey. I've sensed it! Kanan has too!"

Sabine turned away, her lip curled in a snarl. "I don't want any mystic destiny," she bit out. "I just want to rally the Death Watch and get this over with."

Ezra watched helplessly as Sabine turned in her chair and flipped a few switches, shutting off the control panel so that the only light was from the stars above.

"Good night, Ezra," Sabine growled, officially ending their conversation and turning her back to him.

Ezra looked at her dark, silhouetted form and felt the waves of confusing emotions coming off of her—even pointedly at him. He stood and took the cover that was bundled in his hands, and tossed it over Sabine, knowing she'd punch him if he tried to drape it over her too perfectly.

"'Night, Sabine," he said and walked to the end of the Phantom II to catch a few winks before the sun came up and the duel began.

Darkness.

That was all there was.

That was all he could see.

Something pounded against him and Ezra held up his hands, trying to fend off the attack. But he couldn't see anything!

Wave after wave beat against Ezra. Anger swirled like a storm around him. Anger, fear, regret, anxiety, disgust, desperation, denial, hate… it pulled Ezra in different ways, tearing at his clothes, pounding on his skin, and creeping into his heart.

Ezra tried to reach out to the Force. He tried to summon the peace it brought, but it was as if… he were blocked. There was so many emotions rip-roaring on the inside of him, he couldn't think! Couldn't breath! He couldn't call on the Force just like he'd done so many times.

Ezra flung out his arms, grappling for anything solid, anything at all. But he felt nothing, only the impending darkness and cold.

"Please," Ezra cried out. "Please, someone, help! Someone help me—" Ezra finally touched something.

A hand.

He grasped on to it tight as the hand pulled him out. Out of the darkness, the cold, the emotion, and into…

The light.

Ezra sucked in a huge breath, his eyes snapping open, relieved to find blinding white light instead of the inky blackness.

"W-What—" he gasped.

"Ezra!" a voice said. "Ezra, calm down, it was just a dream!"

His eyesight finally cleared and he saw Sabine's worried face in front of him. Wait. The hand.

He was still holding it.

The hand that had pulled him out of the darkness… was Sabine's. She was grasping it tightly, and Ezra saw that he was clutching her hand so hard, her knuckles were white.

Ezra slowly, forcibly, relaxed his fingers, but Sabine still held his hand. "Are you okay?" she asked him. Her head was tilted and she looked concerned—a foreign expression on Sabine. "You kept on calling for help."

Ezra swallowed hard and sat up, shaking his head. "Fine," he mumbled. "I'm fine. Just… Just a crazy dream."

Ezra watched as Sabine gently let his hand go and patted his leg. "C'mon," she told him. "It's almost dawn."

Ezra nodded wordlessly, but still made no move to get up. He couldn't stop thinking about the tormented flow of emotions that had been in him during the dream. He hadn't felt such confusion and confliction since he'd used the Sith holocron.

Ezra shook the thoughts aside and stood up. He didn't want to remember such a dark time in his life. Besides, this was about Sabine, not him. She had enough on her mind without having to worry about Ezra.

He stretched and looked around to see Sabine kneeling in front of Chopper. She had what was left of his robotic arm in her hands, examining it intently.

Chopper let off a series of sad, mournful beeps.

Ezra watched as Sabine tried to stifle a smile from forming on her lips. "No, Chop," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're not going to be deactivated. It's just an appendage replacement. We can get you a new arm when we finish up here and get back to Atollon."

IF we get back to Atollon, Ezra finished mentally, and he knew Sabine was thinking the same thing. Ezra watched as the girl stood, letting Chopper roll in between them.

"Ezra," she said finally. "Does anyone know you're a Jedi yet?"

He hesitated and shook his head. "No, I don't think so. But the Mandalorian who blasted Chop's arm off, Luc, he… He might be onto me. He thinks I fight with a blade and he even mentioned—"

"—A lightsaber," Sabine finished for him. She had her chin held in her hand, a concentrated look on her face. "I'll keep my eye on him. In the meantime, Ezra, you can't use the Force. At all, for the moment. It's too risky and Luc seems pretty sly. If he connects the dots, the result won't be pretty."

Ezra frowned. "I get what you're saying, but the Force isn't something I can just turn on and off. It's a part of me."

Sabine pinched the bridge of her nose, looking aggravated. "Well," she growled, "Try. Because if they find out you're a Jedi, they will kill us."

Ezra was getting angry. Sabine's stupid culture was so… so… stupid! "What is it with you Mandalorians?"

Sabine narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

Ezra paced inside the Phantom II. "I don't get it," he bit out. "The Jedi are—were—peacekeepers! We do good in the galaxy and all Mandalorians do is kill!"

Ezra was angry but Sabine seemed purely irate. The girl stepped closer to him, until they were only inches apart. "Say that again," Sabine snarled.

Ezra stepped back, throwing his hands in the air to make his point. "See?" he exclaimed. "This is what I'm talking about! You Mandalorians are so aggressive, it's stupid! I shouldn't have to hide my identity, because your people don't know how to forgive!"

"You do if you want to keep your heart beating!" Sabine shot back.

Ezra clenched his hands into fists. He wanted to punch something. Maybe that would release his frustrations. Ezra gritted his teeth and looked at Sabine. The haughty girl was practically the embodiment of her people. With Sabine's hand on her hip, the way her lip curled in a snarl, and the fire in her eyes as she glared at him, she stood for everything that made a Mandalorian, a Mandalorian; anger, hate, and war.

"What did we ever do to you?" Ezra shouted.

He watched as Sabine's eyes went wide with disbelief. "What did you do?" she repeated, her voice raising. "You Jedi ruined Mandalore! Why do you think most of this planet's a lifeless desert, huh?"

Ezra froze, staring at Sabine. She walked right up to him, jamming her index finger in his face.

"The Jedi bombed Mandalore and all the surrounding worlds," Sabine seethed slowly. "You were the ones who slaughtered us, without mercy, without honor, Ezra. Mandalorians hate Jedi. With every, single, fiber of our being."

Ezra's breaths were shallow and his heartbeat raced as he shook his head. No. No, it couldn't be true. The Jedi were peacemakers, helpers, guiders. They didn't kill! Not without reason!

"Reason," Ezra breathed. He glanced up at Sabine. "There has to be a reason," he growled. "Kanan told me the Mandalorian Wars were reactionary. Kanan said you Mandos started taking over systems, slaughtering innocents and the Jedi had to stop it. And," Ezra added proudly, "We won."

Sabine's fist pounded against the wall with a resounding THUMP.

Ezra reared back, surprised. He suddenly realized how angry she was. Sabine was fuming as she walked past him, shoving her shoulder against his own. "Sabine," Ezra groaned, a note of regret in his voice.

The girl slapped his hand away, and snatched her helmet off a seat. Ezra watched helplessly as she slammed her helmet onto her head and pounded a fist on a button against the wall. The Phantom II's hatch slid open and Sabine took a step towards it, before she stopped.

"Ever since I was young," Sabine said quietly, tilting her helmet to look at Ezra from the corner of her visor. "My mother told me stories of the Jedi. She said you were a corrupt and dishonorable band of murderers. That your kind were arrogant, cocky and selfish. She told me I should never trust a Jedi.

"And maybe my mother wasn't lying."

Ezra watched as Sabine walked out the Phantom II, but he couldn't stop hearing her bitter words over and over again.

Selfish.

Arrogant.

Cocky.

Untrustworthy.

Ezra found he couldn't move. His eyes stayed glued to the spot where Sabine had been. The unspoken phrase hung in the air. Ezra could read between the lines.

She doesn't trust me.

Ezra felt his muscles lock up at the thought. Something bitter rose up in his throat and he shut his eyes tight. She doesn't trust me. ME of all people. After everything we've went through she STILL doesn't trust me.

Something broke inside Ezra and his frustration, aggravation and anger unleashed in a single scream. The urge to punch something came on strong and—for once—he listened to it.

She doesn't trust me.

Ezra punched the wall. HARD. And just like that, the angry frustration at Sabine drained out of Ezra. His chest heaved and his hands shook as Ezra finally took a deep breath and sat in the co-pilot's seat, cradling his now-swollen hand.

By the Force, he knew better than that, insulting Sabine's heritage the way he did. Of course, it still didn't change his position on the matter—Ezra still thought the Mandalorians were cruel, bloodthirsty warriors bent on killing and making war. Sabine was the only—and only—exception to what he thought. Sure, she was aggressive and she did love a good firefight…but unlike the other Mandalorians, Sabine had compassion. She had a good heart. She was actually likable, unlike that sleemo, Luc. Sabine only flew into a rage if one of three things were insulted: her art, her Mandalorian culture, or the Ghost crew.

Ezra chuckled to himself, remembering a time when an unhappy cantina-goer had cussed Ezra out, using several... colorful adjectives. Ezra hadn't thought much about it but Sabine on the other hand… well, the pile of teeth she'd knocked out of the guy's mouth spoke for itself.

Ezra shook his head sadly. She doesn't trust me. How could Sabine say that? How could she lash out at him like that? The bond between him and her was unbreakable—she knew that. So the thought that she didn't trust him?

True, Ezra had insulted her Mandalorian culture… and he knew it was important to her… but surely the friendship between Ezra and Sabine was more important! …Right?

Ezra shook the thoughts away and stood up. He was reading too much into what she'd said. Sabine had simply lashed out at him. She hadn't meant it; she was just angry. Ezra had undermined one of the most important parts of Sabine's life, and he'd payed the price for it. Of course, she had undermined him right back, insulting one of the most important parts of his life... but that was besides the point. Ezra had to be the bigger person and…

Apologize? Ezra exclaimed mentally. No way.

Ezra stood still for a moment. Thinking.

Fine, Ezra thought grudgingly. I'll apologize a little. Then she can apologize and I can see her off before she fights with her cousin and all that.

Ezra poked his head outside the Phantom II. There were a few Mandalorians milling about in the early morning light and they were all starting to gather in the middle of the valley.

"You know why Arc called a meeting?" one Mando asked another quietly, and Ezra pressed his back up against the inside of the Phantom II, listening intently.

"No," he heard another say. "But I'll bet a month of watch duty it has to do with the outsiders. You game?"

"No bet," the first Mandalorian countered. "It's gotta be about the Wren girl. Maybe Arc's holding her public execution."

"Eh," the other said unconvincingly. "I don't know. Wren seems too important to kill off. Besides, aren't her and Arc sisters?"

"Cousins," the first corrected. "But Wren has the Darksaber. There's no way Arc is going to let her keep it…"

Ezra watched discreetly as the two Mandalorians walked off to the stage, waiting for their leader to make an appearance. He rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly, stepping from off the wall and onto Mandalore earth.

The way those Mandalorians had made it sound, it seemed like the people were expecting one of two things to happen; either Arc executed Sabine in front of everyone, or she executed her in the duel.

They're acting like Arc's challenge is deadly, Ezra reflected, confused. I mean, it's not like the duel is to the death or anything. There's probably gonna be some hand-to-hand combat and whoever loses, yields… right?

Right?

Oh, who was he kidding. The words 'Sabine,' 'Duel,' and 'Mandalorian' were all in the same sentence. How could it NOT be deadly?

What if something happens to Sabine? What if… Arc beats her?

Ezra took off running. No, no, no! This was ridiculous! A fight to the death was pointless—who cared if one Mando was better than the other? What would it prove? That one was fit to lead and the other wasn't? Ezra dodged the Death Watch members that were starting to crowd him. A few muttered curses in Mando'a as he shoved past them. Ezra craned his neck, trying to pick out a magenta colored helmet from all the dark green ones. The rising sun glinted off of the T-shaped visors, momentarily blinding Ezra.

"Where is she?" Ezra muttered.

He was so busy looking for Sabine, he wasn't watching where he was going and rammed right into an all too familiar face.

"You lost?" Luc asked, arching a blonde eyebrow.

Ezra felt his lip curl in a snarl and he pushed the young man away. "Ah, shove off," he growled. Ezra craned his neck, looking for Sabine. He had to find her before the duel started.

"Kid!" Luc called.

Ezra turned around, his hands balled into fists. "What?"

Luc didn't answer, just lazily lifted in arm, spinning his hand in a flourish, and pointed to his left. Ezra spotted where he was pointing to and noticed a magenta-colored Mandalorian. He sighed with relief, his shoulders caving.

Sabine.

Ezra started forward, and glanced over at Luc. Ezra hesitated and shook his head angrily, pushing past the young man.

"You're welcome!" Luc hollered.

Ezra ignored him and jogged up to Sabine. She didn't turn to him or tilt her helmet or even glance over. She stayed perfectly still, looking up at the stage, waiting for Arc to show.

"Sabine," Ezra prompted.

She still didn't acknowledge him.

Ezra was started to get angry. "Sabine," he said sternly. "Answer me. Is the duel a fight to the death?" It was less of a question and more of a statement. He already knew what she was going to say.

"Yes."

Ezra shook his head violently. "And you never thought to tell me?"

Sabine shrugged coldly, still looking up at the stage. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now."

Ezra felt his arms lock up as his muscles became taunt. "Sabine! Trash this Jedi and Mandalorian stuff, we're a team! We stick together. You don't have to face these kinds of things alone!"

"Yes, I do," she said bluntly. "You don't get Mando culture, Ezra."

Ezra pulled her to face him, turning Sabine around. His eyes searched her visor, wishing he could see face. "I know I don't get it," he stressed. "But I do get that you could die. Die! Sabine, you can't risk that!"

For the first time in there whole conversation, Sabine finally seemed to put her guard down and let emotion creep into her voice. "I can't risk it," Sabine whispered, "Or you?"

Ezra knew his face was contorted in fear as she had just voiced what he had been thinking. "Please, Sabine—"

She suddenly took off her helmet and Ezra saw her beautiful, amber-brown eyes. They were… sad. "Look," she said finally, "I didn't mean what I said, okay? I trust you with my life. I trust you more than I trust myself. But I'm making my own destiny, Ezra. And it starts here." Sabine paused before breathing her next question. "Do you trust me?"

Ezra looked at her a moment longer before moving closer, knowing that the next word would seal their fate. "Absolutely," he said with total confidence. Ezra watched helplessly as Sabine walked away from him to her cousin. Arc had just appeared on the stage, looking down at Sabine with a murderous glare

A duel to the death. That was what this was. Sabine could die. What would Ezra do without her? Ezra's chest was getting tight, just thinking about it. He couldn't live knowing he could have saved her.

He couldn't live without her.

Trash those Mandalorian customs, if Sabine was about to die, Ezra was jumping in. If she stayed angry at him forever, fine. If Sabine never talked to him again, he would be okay. Because at least she would be alive.

Ezra folded his arms and watched as Sabine walked up to Arc, ready to face her fate.

But behind him, on tree branch, sat a fairly small bird. It ruffled its light-brown wings, watching the scene before it with deep, knowing yellow eyes. It tilted its green-feathered head and let out a piercing cry that echoed from off the mountaintops.

The convor sat. Watched. Waited.

And observed it all.

Good manda, I've got MYSELF hooked! Well, did that pass the challenge, my friends? Because personally, this is my favorite chapter out of all of them. Tell me what you guys think! Remember, Follow/Fav and Review!

Chap. 6 is called Facing Fate ...Yeah, you guys are totally hooked.

Specter7 out.