It took a moment for Padme to process what Ben had revealed to her. He was Mandalorian! No wonder he was fiercely protective of her!

"When we see each other again, I want you to tell me everything about Mandalore," Kylo pleaded with her.

"I promise. Why didn't you tell me before you were Mandalorian?" Padme asked.

Kylo paused. He did not want to tell her the real reason, that he found out from the jealous Jedi students that he killed. Instead, he replied,

"I was afraid you would reject me. Mandalorians are proud, fierce warriors. I didn't want to lose you."

"Oh Ben! You should not be ashamed of who you are. Did you judge me from growing up on Tatooine?"

"Of course not. You're my desert rose. I am sorry that I did not tell you earlier."

"Ben, I am curious about something that the Mandalorians keep mentioning. What is the Darksaber?"

Kylo explained the history of the Darksaber. It was created over a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the only Mandalorian Jedi at that time. The Jedi had kept in at their temple until the Mandalorians took the weapon back.

"They keep saying that their people will only unit under the leadership of the one who wields the Darksaber. How does one possess it?" Padme questioned Ben.

"The person would have to subdue or kill the previous possessor of the weapon in order to wield it," Ben told her.

After lunch, the Prime Minister, whose name for Flora Rau, gave Ezra, Sabine and Padme a tour of the palace. The last stop they made was at the royal throne room. Padme looked around and saw a glass case, with a weapon inside.

"Is this the Dark Saber?" she asked Flora.

"Yes, it is," Flora replied. "Whoever possesses the Darksaber will unite all of Mandalore. We have not found the person worthy to possess it yet."

"Who was the previous possessor of the Darksaber?" Ezra asked, thinking it was Bo-Katan, or another member of her family.

Padme stared at the glass case. The weapon was calling out. It was calling out to her!

"The last person to possess the Darksaber was Emperor Vader," Flora stated.

When she heard Vader's name, Padme extended her hand towards the encased lightsaber. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, and the Darksaber went flying. Three out of the four people in the room ducked for cover. Padme was the only one that did not fall down.

"Are you okay?" Ezra asked Sabine and Flora. They both nodded. He went to ask the same question to Padme, but dropped his mouth in shock by what he saw. Sabine and Flora were also surprised.

Padme stood strong, surprised herself, but not afraid. With both hands, she turned on the Darksaber. There was silence in the room.

"You have the Darksaber!" Flora finally exclaimed.

"You can unite Mandalore!" Sabine uttered breathlessly.

"You subdued Darth Vader?" Ezra asked in disbelief.

"It was calling to me," Padme said. "I know that a Mandalorian is suppose to have it..."

"Tell that to Vader and Maul," Sabine grumbled, remembering with disdain both deceased Dark siders.

"Again, you subdued Vader?" Ezra asked again.

"I don't want to talk about it," Padme growled. She could not tell them about her connection to the late Emperor. Ezra decided to drop the matter for the moment.

"Will Mandalore join the fight against the First Order if I ask them to?' Padme nervously asked.

"Padme, they will follow you to the death. In fact," Sabine said, glancing over at Flora. She nodded, and the two women knelt before Padme.

"We will follow you," both women exclaimed at the same time. Ezra could only shake his head in amazement. Padme's eyes widened. The realization of what just happened dawned on her.

"May I have a few minutes to myself?" Padme asked Flora.

"Of course. You are Mand'alor now," Flora responded. "You will need to address our people, to rise up and fight against the Order. I will let the houses know. Tomorrow, you will address the people from the royal balcony."

Flora and Sabine rose from their knees and left the throne room. Ezra, still shocked over what had occurred, looked at Padme and said, before leaving himself,

"You will have your privacy. But I still want my question answered."

Padme turned off the Darksaber and called out to Ben.

"Ben, I have something good to tell you!" she squeaked with excitement. He didn't answer her.

"Ben? Is everything okay?" Padme asked, now worried. Kylo finally said to her,

"I meant to tell you earlier, but I got excited when I heard you were on Mandalore. Padme, Hux is overseeing construction of a super weapon. He calls it Starkiller Base," he solemnly explained to her.

"So it's another Death Star?"

"No, it's worse. This weapon can destroy an entire system. He showed me a simulation of it. It was horrible!"

"Is there a flaw in it, like the Death Star had?"

"Probably, but I haven't found it yet. I will do my best to find it and let you know. So what is the good news you have to tell me?"

Now it was Padme's turn to not respond. She was thinking about Starkiller Base. If the weapon became operational, then the First Order could destroy the galaxy with it!

"Padme?" Kylo called out to her. She remembered the Darksaber, still in her hands.

"Ben, I have it," she whispered.

"Have what?"

"The Darksaber."

"WHAT?" Kylo cried out in disbelief. "But how..."

"It called out to me, and I reached for it and grabbed it. Everyone else was scared, but I wasn't. Ben, I am going to speak to your people tomorrow and ask them to join the Rebellion."

Kylo swallowed nervously. The Mandalorians would definitely follow Padme, since she now wielded the Darksaber. But if Hux found out about this, she could be in danger.

"Promise me that you will stay only until you make your speech," Kylo begged her. "I will not say anything, but if Hux finds out about this..."

"I know," Padme responded. "I wish I could speak today, but the Prime Minister said she has to let all the houses know."

"So once you make you speech..."

"My comrade and I will leave the planet."

"I am relieved to hear you say that."

"Ben, I wish you were here. This saber should really be possessed by a Mandalorian."

"Padme, can you do me a favor? I would like to hold the Darksaber. Can you turn it on, and hold out your hand? I will put my hand on tops of yours, so don't be frightened."

Padme extended her hand, and turned on the weapon. A second later, she felt Ben's hand cover hers. She could feel his joy and pain.

"There is a lot of history with this saber," Kylo whispered to Padme. "And now, my love, you are a part of it."

"This weapon is not mine to keep," Padme told him. "If you were here, I would gladly give it to you."

"You are sweet. But I am not worthy to wield the Darksaber. But you know someone who is, even though they do not want to possess it again."

Padme knew he was referring to Sabine. She turned off the Darksaber and said to Ben,

"I need to get going. Until tonight, my love." She felt Kylo squeeze her hand.

"I will see you tonight," he whispered, before his voice faded.

Kylo marveled at what happened. His smart, beautiful Padme possessed the Darksaber. She could have demanded Mandalore to follow her. But she didn't. She did not want to rule over Mandalore. She wanted one of his own people to be Mand'lor. For Padme to even suggest that he should have the Darksaber was an undeserved honor.

"She truly loves me." Kylo thought to himself. "She loves my people, as well. She's not like Maul, wanting to rule with an iron fist."

His thoughts were interrupted by a Stormtrooper.

"Kylo Ren, your presence is requested in the conference room," the Stormtrooper told him. "The General is having a special meeting. We are all required to attend."

"Great," Kylo groaned to himself, as the soldier escorted him out of his private quarters and to the conference room.