Ezra quietly approached Kanan's door in the Ghost's main corridor.

As he reached his hand up to knock, he heard his masters voice beckon him.

"Come in Ezra."

Ezra complied and entered Kanan's room. His master was sitting in the middle of the simple grey space in a meditative pose. His mask was sitting next to him and his unseeing eyes were closed.

Upon seeing his masters calm state, Ezra relaxed a little, letting some of his pent-up energy go.

After a moment of silence Kanan sighed, "Alright kid, what are you up too?"

Ezra's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you know I was up to something?"

Kanan scoffed, "I can practically see your force signature bouncing off the walls Ezra. Also, I'm your master, I can tell when somethings up," he concluded, "So spill."

Ezra rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, I have an idea for helping Sabine out of her predicament."

When Kanan stayed silent, Ezra elaborated.

"What if I entered that tournament and married Sabine myself?"

Oh, now THAT got Kanan's attention.

His facial expression was one of surprise, which quickly twisted into amusement.

"Oh Ezra."

"What? I think it's a pretty good idea," Ezra defended himself, "If she's going to be forced into a marriage, why not get married to someone that's her age? Someone that, y'know, actually knows and cares about her?"

"I know how much you care about her Ezra-"

"I know, Kanan," he interrupted, "That's why I need to help her, as a friend!"

Kanan shook his head, "No Ezra, I mean I know how much you care about her."

Ezra looked at Kanan in shock, his face turning slightly red.

"Oh," was all he said.

"Yeah."

An awkward silence ensued for a moment.

After another moment, Ezra cleared his throat.

"So, uh-

"Which is why I'm not going to stop you."

"Wait, what?" Ezra blinked in confusion.

Kanan opened his now pale blue eyes, and looked in the general direction of his student, "I'm not going to stop you from going to Krownest Ezra."

"You aren't?"

Kanan shook his head, "No. You are walking down a very dangerous path. The Jedi are not looked upon fondly in Mandalorian culture, and there are going to be many that hate you for who you are. And I imagine that this tournament will be messy," Kanan hesitated, "But I know you are strong enough to face whatever challenge is thrown at you, and Sabine deserves better than what she's currently getting. I think you can succeed and I know you aren't going into this with selfish intents Ezra. That's why I trust you."

Ezra hesitated, "And about my, um, feelings?"

Kanan waved him off, "We don't need to talk about them if you don't want to."

Ezra breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at his master, "Thanks Kanan."

Kanan smiled back, "Don't mention it my young Padawan, I know what it's like to care about someone too. You'd better go tell Hera and get Sato's permission first before you go though."

Ezra nodded, "Yeah, I'd better go, I'll have to see if they let me borrow an A-wing."

"You better call up Fenn Rau and get some Mando armor as well, just so you fit in. I'd keep your identity hidden from everyone except Rau."

Ezra put a hand to his chin, "What makes you trust Rau so much?"

Kanan gave him a tight smile, "Let's just say that he owes us all one for saving his life."

Ezra snorted, "I doubt he'll see it that way."

"He's a good man, he'll help us out."

"Whatever you say Kanan," said Ezra as he began to walk out to find Hera.

"Ezra, wait a second."

Ezra stopped walking and turned back to look at his master.

"No kids before you turn twenty-one."

Ezra froze again, confused.

Then what Kanan had just implied hit him like a ton of bricks.

His face exploded into colors of red and he sputtered.

"KANAN!"

"What? It's a perfectly reasonable concern," insisted Kanan, "I mean you two are going to be married and married couples tend to have-

"Kanan! Just NO! STOP!" cried Ezra desperately.

"Ezra, if you have any questions about anything-

"I'm GOOD, thanks!" Ezra cut him off before he could even start, "Jeez Kanan, what makes you even think she'd want to do, well, that?"

"Maybe she cares about you more than you think?" Kanan shrugged.

Ezra blushed even harder, something that shouldn't have been possible, when he noticed the sides of Kanan's mouth were slightly turned upward.

His master thought this was funny!

He was doing this on purpose! Ezra fumed internally.

Well two can play this game!

"Well, you shouldn't worry yourself Kanan," he began casually, "I mean I'm not like you or anything, constantly sneaking into Hera's room when he thinks no one is looking, or-

Suddenly, Ezra felt his body being lifted up into the air with the force. With a yelp of surprise, he was deposited into the hallway outside of Kanan's door in a heap.

Back in the room, Kanan chuckled.

"Heh, still got it."

The Ghost's common room was quiet as Ezra entered.

Hera was sitting at the game table, nursing a drink of some kind.

As soon as she noticed Ezra's presence, she gave him a smile.

"Hey Ezra, what's up?"

Ezra fidgeted nervously, "Well, it's about Sabine," he began hesitantly.

Hera gave him a look of understanding, "Listen Ezra, I'm glad you've decided to come talk to me about this, I know how you feel about her and I know that its deeper than that crush you had on her a little while ago. I didn't want to say anything, but-

Hera stopped talking as she noticed Ezra was gaping at her.

"Err, Ezra, are you ok?"

"Seriously, you know too?!" he exclaimed.

"Of course I knew!" said Hera, matter of factly.

Ezra groaned and flung his arms out, "Does everyone in this base know?" he demanded.

Hera chuckled, "Just Kanan and I."

"Ok, how did you figure it out then?" grilled Ezra.

"Just call it mother's intuition."

Ezra raised a disbelieving eyebrow, "Kanan told you, didn't he?"

"Maybe."

Ezra shook his head vigorously, "Y'know what? It doesn't really matter because this isn't about that! It's about helping Sabine get out of this arranged marriage!"

"What do you mean Ezra?"

"I mean what if I entered that tournament and married her myself?"

Hera put a hand to her chin in thought.

"Well I suppose that could work Ezra, but this is a big responsibility."

"I know Hera, but I can do this!"

Hera shook her head, "I'm not talking about the tournament Ezra, I'm talking about marriage!"

Ezra shifted slightly again, "I haven't really thought about that too much, I just thought that it would be more of a marriage in name while Sabine and I will just be friends still."

Hera shook her head, "Marriage is more than that, especially on Mandalore. You and Sabine are going to have to get close, closer than ever before. Marriage is not something to take lightly."

"I know Hera, it's something we'll have to work out. But you know that this is better than having some having some Mando sleemo come along and snatch her up."

"I approve Ezra, but only because I know it will be for the greater good," she sighed, "Poor Sabine, she's having a lot of choices made for her right now that she can't control."

"It'll work in the end Hera, I promise."

"I hope you're right Ezra, I trust you," said Hera, "It's been difficult without Sabine, and it will be difficult without you too. But I know that this is the best option for the both of you."

Ezra nodded, "Thanks Hera."

"And one more thing."

Hera stood up and enveloped Ezra in a tight hug.

"Urgh… Hera…crushing me!" he managed to force out.

She released him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Better get going Ezra, I'll let Sato know of your plans. In the meantime, you'd better go get ready."

"Will do Hera. See you all at the landing bay?" he asked.

Hera smiled, "Of course Ezra."

It turns out that Sato was in an agreeable mood that day and he approved Ezra one of the damaged A-wings. Its guns were useless, but it had a functioning hyperdrive and shielding so it didn't really matter too much to Ezra.

Holding his bag with some essential clothing and other various things, he approached the small craft and began to load it and check its flight systems.

"Leaving so soon?" he heard a familiar deep voice ask.

Ezra looked to his side and saw his family approaching.

He shrugged at Zeb, "Yeah, I got to get going, Krownest awaits!"

He hopped down from the small A-wing and suddenly felt himself enveloped in a bear hug from Zeb.

"We're gonna miss you kid," Zeb said, squeezing him tightly.

Ezra grunted from the force of it, "Zeb, too much!"

Zeb released him with a hearty pat on the shoulder.

"Good luck Ezra," said Hera.

"Remember Ezra, trust in the force," said Kanan.

Ezra smiled, "Don't worry about me guys, this will be easy," he said confidently.

After one last goodbye hug, and one last shock from Choppers electro prod, Ezra climbed back into the A-wing and switched the engine on. Giving one last thumbs up to his family, Ezra maneuvered the craft upwards into the skies and atmosphere of Atollon.

Looking at Atollon one last time and breathing out heavily, Ezra put the coordinates to Krownest v in the Navi computer.

"Well, here go's nothing."

With that, Ezra pulled the switch and the little A-wing blasted into hyperspace.

The travel to Krownest was mercifully short, which meant Ezra didn't really have too much time to focus on the doubts that were beginning to pile up in his mind.

Such as: what if Fenn Rau doesn't agree with this plan?

Or: what if I get my butt whooped by some angry Mandalorian?

Ezra was about to sink deeper into his second thoughts when the A-wing beeped at him and the small ship tumbled out of hyper space.

Well, no turning back now.

Trust in the force.

The comm in his small cockpit fizzled to life and an authoritative voice filtered through.

"Unidentified ship, please state your business and give the correct security codes or be shot down."

Ezra winced. Right, he had forgotten how fantastically paranoid the Mandos were.

"Right, um, I'm here to speak to Fenn Rau on a confidential visit," he began, "These codes should be enough to get me anywhere on the planet."

Ezra actually didn't know whether that was true or not, the access codes given to the rebels by the Wren family were supposed to be good, but in truth he had no idea.

After several painstaking seconds of silence, the voice came back.

"Alright, your codes are good, might we request your name?"

Ezra rolled his eyes, did these guys not get what the word confidential meant?

"That's going to be a no, this is a confidential meeting between me and Fenn Rau who is an old friend of mine."

"Very well then, would you like to speak with him right now?"

"Yes," Ezra said, almost too hastily.

A crinkling sound was heard as the call was transferred.

"Kanan, I hope you're right about Fenn," said Ezra through grit teeth.

The crinkling stopped, and Ezra heard Fenn Rau for the first time in weeks.

"Hello, who is this? Who decided that they were important enough that they needed to speak with me personally and avoid giving their identity?" Fenn said, sounded slightly irritated.

"Fenn, it's me, Ezra!" Ezra hissed in response.

"Ezra? Ezra Bridger?"

"Yeah, that's me!"

"Bridger, what are you doing right now? Why all this secrecy? Is this about Sabine or-

"That doesn't matter right now, I need to talk to you alone so I can explain myself," Ezra interjected.

Fenn Rau sighed in consternation, "You Jedi are absolutely maddening sometimes."

"Oh, and Sabine can't know I'm here either."

"And why not Bridger? You are acting very ridiculous-

"Fenn, I'll explain everything on the ground," said Ezra.

Fenn sighed, "Very well, I've sent you some coordinates for a secure landing pad."

"Thank you, Fenn," said Ezra as he cut the connection.

"Well that went better than expected."

And it continued to go better than expected as Ezra saw where he was going to be landing.

The small, circular landing pad was actually behind where the main Clan Wren stronghold was, and had a small, modest building next to it.

Is this where Fenn live? Ezra thought to himself.

Guiding the small fighter craft, Ezra brought it to a gentle stop on the snow covered landing pad.

Fenn was already waiting for him in the shadow of the building at the edge.

Seeing Fenn's regular frown and crossed arms also filled him with a bit more hope, and seeing as how he hadn't been shot at one time by anyone, he thought this mission was going absolutely dandy.

"Hey," he greeted casually, with a wave of his arm.

"Why are you here?" Fenn stated bluntly.

"I see your in an impeccable mood as always Fenn," Ezra tried again.

Fenn only gave him an impatient glare.

Ezra sighed, seems we are just business today.

"I'm here to marry Sabine."

Ezra enjoyed the way Fenn's face morphed from stoic inference to one of shock.

"Bridger, you cannot be serious."

"Yeah, actually, I am. And as a matter of fact, you are going to help me!"

"What? This is unheard of! Non-Mandalorians are not allowed to participate in this!"

Ezra shrugged, "So? Nobody has to know I'm not actually Mandalorian."

Fenn gave him a look, "Impersonating a Mandalorian is breaking every sacred code we hold."

"Jedi aren't supposed to fall in love and get married either! As a matter of fact, you could get expelled for doing something like that!" Ezra snapped back, "Yet look what I'm trying to do! We aren't exactly big on following codes!"

Fenn sighed and put a hand to his forehead, "If you win, and only if you win, you could be exempt from any kind of punishment, and there have been cases of non-Mandalorians becoming Mandalorians through marriage. But if you lose and your identity is discovered, there will be hell to pay."

Ezra crinkled his brow, "You're speaking as if you're going to help me."

"Because I am!"

Now it was Ezra's turn to gape, he hadn't expected Fenn to agree so quickly.

Fenn beckoned Ezra to follow him into the building and Ezra, still confused, decided to keep silent and follow him.

The house was as spartan as Ezra had expected it to be. The only decorations were old war trophies and memorabilia, other than that, the walls were bare. The furniture was built to last and didn't look terribly comfortable.

Ezra continued to follow him deeper into the house and they eventually came upon a room.

It was filled to the brim with the blue and grey trims of the Mandalorian Protector's armor.

"Woah," Ezra gaped.

"Pick one that is your size," Fenn gestured.

Ezra was about to oblige him, when he stopped himself.

"Why are you helping me?"

Fenn hesitated, "When I suggested the idea of this tournament, I told Sabine that we needed to find someone who perfectly complimented her, someone who could match her strength and resolve. I didn't think that there would really be anyone that could," Fenn eyed Ezra, "But then you came along."

"Me?" Ezra asked.

Fenn nodded, "When I heard your voice over the comm, I wondered what would happen if you tried to join this tournament and won. Of course, I didn't really believe that you would be as insane to even attempt do so, but dealing in hypotheticals is what I am good at nowadays."

"And what did you see then?" asked Ezra, curious as to what Rau would say.

"I saw you and her work in tandem with each other against Gar Saxon. I saw you two banter and work together against the Empire. I saw you train Sabine in the art of the blade and how you two practically moved as one. I've seen you pledge your loyalty to her and I also saw you willingly give her your lightsaber to fight Saxon, something that I know is very hard for a Jedi to do," Fenn picked up and examined a helmet and then turned towards Ezra, "So as utterly ridiculous as this is, and no matter how utterly detestable I may have believed you were, I cannot see a more perfect candidate for Sabine than you."

And with that he handed the blue helmet to Ezra.

Ezra was speechless.

"I-I don't know what to say to that," he said, his cheeks warm.

"Mandalore must adapt and change, for almost all of our history, we have pushed and even punished outsiders. We alienated the galaxy and we paid the price for our arrogance. And then we turned on ourselves and we lost our way entirely," said Fenn sadly, "Now, we kill each other at the Empire's manipulation and with it, we are weakened.

"Did you just, criticize Mandalorian culture?" asked Ezra, flabbergasted.

"Did you not just criticize the Jedi code?" Fenn rebuffed, "Staying static will get us all killed, just like what happened to the Jedi order of old."

Ezra shifted on the balls of his feet and put a hand to his chin in thought.

"So, what does this mean?"

"It means that I believe Sabine is brave and foolish enough to lead our people, and she is going to need someone as brave and foolish as her at her side. And that person is you Ezra Bridger," he clapped his hand on Ezra's shoulder, "I may not have said anything before, but you have shown your bravery through your actions. And the sheer audacity you displayed by coming here and suggesting all the things you did proves your utter foolishness. You have earned my respect Bridger."

And with that Fenn granted Ezra the first smile he had given him.

Ezra returned the smile and looked down at the helmet he had been given, "I won't let you or your people down Fenn, I promise."

Fenn chuckled, "Good, I'll leave you too it then."

And with that, he turned and left Ezra to sort through the armor.

Once Ezra had finished, he stepped out into the main room of what was presumably Fenn's house.

"So, how do I look?" asked Ezra, his helmet making his voice sound filtered, as he crossed his arms in the signature Mandalorian pose.

"Properly Mandalorian actually, though you move as if you have never worn the armor before," Fenn replied.

"Yeah, well I haven't really worn any armor up to this point! How quickly do you think I can get accustomed to this?"

Fenn shrugged, "Hopefully soon Bridger, our armor is like a second skin to us Mandalorians and if you are going to survive this tournament you are going to need this armor."

"Never needed armor before," Ezra commented, "I always had the force as my guide."

"Well you can't use it here, at least not openly," said Fenn, "Any kind of force use will have to be reflexes only."

"I kinda figured that," Ezra suddenly looked anxious, "Oh, um, hey Fenn?"

"Yes Bridger?"

"Where am I supposed to stay and sleep?"

Fenn suddenly laughed, "My, but you didn't prepare for this at all did you?"

Ezra grinned sheepishly, "Not really, no."

Shaking his head, Fenn gesture to a doorway behind Ezra, "You can stay here, in one of the guest bedrooms, this is my house after all."

The doorway chimed after Fenn stopped talking and Fenn turned around.

"Come in, it's open!"

"Fenn!" Ezra hissed.

"What? You need to get acquainted to some other Mandalorians."

"Fenn, this is not the time-

The door opened, and Ezra stopped talking immediately as he saw who had just came through.

It was a helmetless Sabine, looking chilled from the frozen elements outside.

"Hey Fenn? I was wondering if you could help me with-

Sabine stopped talking as soon as she noticed the now fully armored and helmeted Ezra and she gave Rau a quizzical look.

"Uh, Fenn? Who is this?"

A/N: Every story that has some kind of tournament needs a coach right? Looks like Fenn is going to be that guy. And Kanan is still a complete troll. Let me know what you thought about this chapter!

Merry Christmas and make sure to watch the Star Wars Holiday Special!

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