Ezra bridger: a Mandalorian story
Summery: with the Empire on the rise and the clans scattered a lone Mandalorian find herself on Lothal five years after the rise of the empire. During her visit she comes upon Imperials arresting a couple being helpless to spot it she then finds a boy far to young to be alone.
A/N: welcome back for the next installment of the story. this chapter will be going more into the history of clan Reed as well as be the first step of Ezra's future.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star wars in any way shape or form I'm merely a fan and lover of this Galaxy. I have nothing but respect and love to Gorge Lukas. So please don't send your Lawyers Disney I'll have to throw them out the air lock.
Chapter 2: the clan
It was mere hours after Ezra's kidnapping with the Lasat having been turned over to the empire. At current Ezra was fitting at a table inside not far from him stood Tulsa as she prepared a meal for the two of them.
"You have questions?" Tulsa asked him without looking away from the stove.
"I-what…" Ezra began unsure how to phrase his question about what it was he had done what he had seen her do, it was like something some one of the books his mom used to read to him.
"It's called the force" Tulsa answered already knowing what he was trying to ask. "it's a power that not many posses, but at one point the galaxy had been watched over and protected by a mighty order of warriors who weilded the power."
"what happened to them?" questioned Ezra.
"thats… complicated." Tulsa explaijned. "there were many things that led to them becoming scattered. They were betrayed, and they also could not overcome the Hubris that had begun to fester with in their order."
"despite that my people still hold great respect for the Jedi as worthy opponents."
"Oppo-whats?" asked a confused Ezra. Tulsa smiled and turned off the stove before making her way back to the boy.
"Opponents, it mean we fought" explained Tulsa.
"if they were good guys, why would you fight them?" asked Ezra.
"there are many answers to that question." she stated truthfully. "sometimes it was because we needed more, sometimes it was for revenge, but more often then not we fought the Jedi to test ourselves against them." she stated.
"but you can use Force powers like the Jedi" he stated.
"Yes, I can use the force but not all force users are Jedi."
"What about me?" he asked.
"Hm, that will be for you to decide" Tulsa stated. "no one can decide what you are except you"
"really?" asked Ezra like that wasn't a given. The fact a child was surprised they could choose their future disgusted the mandalorian.
"Really, as long as I'm Around Ezra no one will be able to decide your future for you." she said with a smile before she was suddenly wrapped in a hug. She hadn't expected such a strong reaction from the boy but she returned the hugs instantly.
"what if I wanted to learn about the force?" Ezra asked once he stepped back from the hug.
"If you wish to learn I can teach you, but know it'll be difficult" supplied Tulsa.
"I do cause then I can protect you one day" stated the boy with a determined look that made the mandalorian giggle from how cute he was being.
"Alright then tomorrow we begin training." said stated standing up. "for now you can learn the code my clan lives by." she said before clearing her throat. "there is no balance simply the force. Through war survival is possible. Through survival, the clan will thrive . Only together will Mandalore endure"
It was with that Ezra's days of training began under the watchful guidence of Tulsa. The training partly with activly practicing force abilities and also physical training. One day after months Ezra would ask Tulsa why he had to exercise or run and Tulsa explained any ability was only as good as it's weilder and without the conditioning of the body the training for the force was pointless. The days turned into months and months turned into years. Before eigther of them knew it three years had gone by. During that time Tulsa had become a well known face around central city with many people, especially those who didn't favor the empire, always coming to her for jobs she could do. This had eventually led the Tulsa and Ezra moving onto a plot of land a few miles outside of the city where Tulsa's Kom'rk was now parked and the due now lived in a small house that had been build on the land.
Ezra was curently outside in the field of their propery with a blaster in hand taking shots at a collection of lined up bottles. It was around a year ago when Tulsa had begun incorperating blaster training along find the fitness and force training and while he was far from winning any blaster competitions.
"I'm getting there" said the boy his hair had grown out and was often tied back into a wolf tail. He had begun making his way back towards the found when he stopped at the door hearing a raised voice from inside.
"You expect me to just drop my resposabilities here?" came the aggrivated voice of Tulsa. Inside Tulsa had a neautral look as she walked to the monitor that displayed an elderly man in black and red mandalorian armor his shaort hair was grey with streaks of black and most of his face was covered in scars.
"Your resposabilities to that world are minor to your responsabilities to the clan, Bu'ad" same the elderly man's voice. "the clan's are to meet and you've been chosen to be one of Reed's represenitives, I also expect you to bring the boy, he has yet to be properly inducted as a foundling.
"That is Ezra's choice if he wishes to become one, and his parents-"
"Likely dead" interupted the man before he sighed. "your as stubborn as your grandmother" growled the man.
"I'll take that as a compliment" came the snarky reply of Tulsa.
"You can't let that child believe is a future was likely can't be it's cruel"
"still I promised him I'd never make a choice for him, it'll be his choice weither he wants to join the clan or not"
"fine regardless, you'll be expected as my grandchild it's expected you have a week before the gathering" with that the feed cut off.
"Ezra stop eavesdropping" said Tulsa as she rubbed her eyes turning a shoot a glace at the door to their home as it opened and the boy stepped in.
"Hey" said Ezra awkwardly as he stepped in through the door.
"I guess you heard all that?" she asked getting a nod from the boy before she motioned to take a seat. Tulsa despite everything she had made sure to keep Ezra distant from her clan only passing on the teaching of the clan to the him. "Go ahead and ask your questions" as always she encouraged his curiosity and his desire for knowledge.
"What is a foundling?" he asked.
"It's a mandalorian term for children taken in by Mandalorians. They are considered junior members of a clan until they come of age and get the opportunity to become true Mandalorians."
"I see." said Ezra considering his nest words.
"I never intended for you to become my foundling, but my clan has been aware of you for around two years now"
"Why not?" asked Ezra with a tense tone. Tulsa could sense his emotions and so kneeled down to him.
"Ezra, don't mistake me I cherish these years we've had but I know your parents are out there" she said reaching up and cupping his cheek. "but if you want this I'd be more then happy to declare you my foundling." she said is a soft tone.
"Really?" he asked.
"Really, nothing is going to separate us" she promised
"Okay, I want to do it" Ezra declared.
"heh, think your ready to be Mandalorians?" she asked.
"I dunno but with your teaching me I can't fail" said Ezra
"alright good, then we have some work to do before we leave for Tracyn" she said standing up "Ezra go get the speeder ready we need to go inform people we'll be gone for a while"
"How long?"
"Hm at least a month possibly two depends on the clan" said Tulsa as she went to retrieve her helmet from the back of the house.
[Mandalorian Space]
"Ara'novor Kom'rk be Tulsa Reed Yaim'ol, Duumyc?" spoke Tulsa into the comm as her ship began to approach one of the worlds of the mandalorian system. The world in question was Tracyn, the third world of the system and the long time ancestral home of clan reed.
"Duumyc" can a gruff voice over the comms.
"that's where you came from?" asked Ezra from his seat in the co-pilot chair.
"yes, it's the home of my clan and soon it'll be your home also" said Tulsa as they cleared the uppermost cloud down below was not what the young boy had expected. The surface was arid dry and seemingly void of life with volcanoes and rivers of magma. As they flew through the sky a pair of signals came up on the ships radar as a pair of gunships came up on either side of the ship.
"Olarom, Tulsa" came a voice over the come
"Vor entye" came Tulsa's cheerful reply. Looking she could tell Ezra was lost in the comm chatter. "it's mando'a you'll learn it in time Ezra"
"Um, I'll take you at your word" was Ezra's reply as he scanned the horizon before finally spotting a color other then red or brown. As they entered a lush and green valley the valley was small with a full settlement with walls on all sides by by far the most eye catching this was a large fortress like castle that loomed over it where Tulsa and the gunship landed.
"We're here" said Tulsa standing up and grabbing her helmet. "Now follow me and remember the greeting I taught you" she instructed. During their two day hyper drive travel Tulsa had drilled Ezra on the expected greeting of clan Reed and while he wouldn't need it often for his first time meeting the head of clan Reed it was a must. Walking down the ramp Ezra and Tulsa were greeted by various mandalorain in varying shades of armor but the one who caught his attention was a trio. On the right stood a large towering man who was in full armor that was colored in dark blue and black and on his back was a large pack with an assault cannon his armor showing the wear and tear of battle. To the left stood a less intimidating man with wore no helmet with just a few pieces of beskar he had short red hair and smiled with pride upon Tulsa. And lastly in the center of these two stood the Baron of clan Reed how black and red armor bore signs of battle with a long furred cloak handing over one of his pauldrons and flowing down to his feet, this was none other then Andruin Reed a man who had been the veteran of man wars and had personally trained countless apprentices, some mandalorian some not all warrior he was proud of.
"Ba'buir, I've returned" said Tulsa with a slight bow with a hand on her chest while the other bent behind her back a greeting Ezra mimicking though his was much deeper
"Rise Tulsa I'm glade to see your return. And to finally meet the Ezra Bridger I've heard so much about" said Andruin.
"Ezra I'd like you to meet my grandfather Andruin, my uncle Xaran, and lastly my father Zane" said Tulsa introducing the three before Ezra. The large armored man being Xaran while the smaller man being Zane.
"It's nice to meet you sirs" said Ezra nervously.
"well he's certainly polite, about time to gave me Bu'ad" came the chuckling voice of Zane. Receiving an unentertained scowl from Tulsa
"Come now the boy should get to know his home" said Andruin as he began walking into the castle with the group following the elderly Baron. As they entered the main hall Ezra found an highly decorated room filled will trophies, weapons, and most importantly towering statues. Each of the statues depicted a mandalorian each unique. "This is our hall of remembrance honoring those that have come before" stated Andruin.
"what's with the statues?" asked Ezra out of curiosity. His eyes drawn to the back of the hall where it depicted a female mandalorian in highly decorated armor this statue being unique that she sat in a throne in her lap was a tucked helmet her face was depicted with a tattoo and scars.
"these are members of the clan that have done great deeds in the name of the clan, Trost Reed who fought in the mandalorian wars his actions saw the clan be rewarded this world from the Mandalore of the time, Vrask Reed who fought both Sith and Jedi earning the respect of both making them sign non-aggression treaties with the clan, and finally Leika Reed the enduring who saved the clan from extinction during a period called the old republic." spoke Andruin with great reverence
"Whoa" said Ezra in awe of the statue portrayals of the individuals before him. Ezra would be taken on a tour of the castle showing him everything he needed to see the tour ending at a spartan looking bedroom with only a simple bed inside it. It was revealed that the room was to belong to Ezra himself, it was surprising to the young Lothal native as the room alone was almost as large as the home her had with his parents.
"We'll leave you to get settled in Ezra" spoke Andruin before turning to Zane and Xaran. "you two can return to your duties.
"Of course father" stated Zane with a bow while Xaran grunted.
"Tulsa, follow me" ordered Andruin. He would lead the woman to an office where he'd direct her to take a seat as he took one himself. "I know you wish to ask questions Tulsa"
"I do, it's about the clan gathering"
"your worried about clan Saxon?" asked Andruin.
"Yes, they out of all the clans have welcomed them rather warmly." stated Tulsa.
"Saxon are a young clan if not for their ties to Vizsla they'd not have nearly any power or standing" stated Andruin dismissively.
"Despite that since the empire took the throne from Kryse they've been growing in power" countered Tulsa.
"true but they also would not know of our secrets"
"who else will be accompanying me to the gathering?"
"Markas, Rin, and a newer addition in Quintin Senta" answered the Andruin. "the gathering will be hosted by clan Eldar on Concordia, and yes Vizsla is expected to be in attendance"
"Anything else I should know?"
"Yes, baron Alrich Wren and Count Maotin Fett are expected to be in attendance with them bringing their children" Andruin stated as though he was amused.
"that sounds like Alrich" said Tulsa amused. She had dealings with the countship of clan Wren with Tulsa having a close friendship with the Countess herself after they worked together in their youth. Tulsa had yet to meet their children so she'd consider that a highlight.
"Is the boy ready, to be Mandalorian?" Andruin asked in a deadly serious tone.
"he's ready to become a foundling, though I intend on taking him as my apprentice"
it was the next day Ezra would be lead into a room that was more of a cavern then it was a room and told to remove his shirt. It showed a deep lake of water with crystals the metals through out the cavern, it also sported a forge and several Mandalorians were present along with a woman dressed in furs and some black and purple armor plating her helmet had a pair of curled horns coming out of the back of the helmet.
"Welcome Ezra bridger" spoke the woman as she approached the boy.
"Hello?" asked the boy confused looking towards Tulsa for help.
"No need to be worried" spoke the woman as she placed a hand on her chest. "I'm Marin Reed, I serve the clan as Forge master" she then begins making her way towards a table with a hammer and coals by it was a stone slab. "I shall be the one to induct you into the clan as foundling" spoke Marin.
"Alright, what do I need to do?" asked Ezra as he followed her.
"You must kneel and endure, we all have been thru this and our strength will be lent to you." stated Marin motioning for Ezra to kneel upon the stone slab. Ezra did as her was told. Picking up a pair of tongs she reaching into the coals pulling out a burning red piece of metal in the depiction of a wolf.
"Ogir naasad acyk, pakod trat" spoke the Mandalorians in attendance all pounding their fists against their chests.
"there is no balance, simply the force" spoke Marine translating the Mando'a "as a Reed you must embrace both the dark and the light to deny eigther is to deny the way the galaxy exists" spoke Marin as she placed the metal into his right shoulder blade. The pain engulfed the boy making him yell out but he held firm with tears welling up in his eyes. As if on cue Tulsa held up her arm and Ezra felt a sensation pass over his body.
"Adol akaan cuyanir ret'yc" spoke the Mandalorians who's voices now echoed around the chamber
"Through war survival is possible" translated Marin keeping the brand pressed into him. "the fight for survival to see the next day in itself is to declare war against death itself to tell it 'I will not go quietly into the night'" spoke the forge master. Next Xaran and Zane held up their arms making more sensations to pass over Ezra, the pain didn't lessen but with every line he felt like he could endure it more.
"Adol Cuyanir aliit atiniir" spoke the Mandalorians the echoes becoming a cacophony as though there were many more speaking the words then those that were present.
"Through survival, the clan will thrive." translated Marin now pressing the brand in with more force. "each member of the clan from the youngest foundling to the Eldest warrior contributes to the clan's survival for as long as one of us breaths the clan will thrive living through the individual. At this several other Mandalorians held up their hands focusing on the boy till the only one who hadn't was Andruin himself.
"Shi tome Manda'yaim atniniir" spoke the cacophonous chorus of voices it was in that moments Ezra could have sworn he was a countless number of Mandalorians in an vast array of armors and colors.
"Only together will Mandalore endure" spoke Marine as finally Andruin lifted his arm focusing on Ezra. "the strength of Mandalore and her children have always been our collective might and once united nothing could ever hope to conquer Mandalore" spoke Marine as she now pulled the brand off of him. As if on cue one of ghostly Mandalorians with purple and yellow armor with a tucked helmet stepped forward and kneeled before the boy.
"I welcome you into the clan child of Mandalore and Lothal" spoke a feminine voice as the ghostly figure stroked his hair. With that Ezra blacked out his body finally being caught by Tulsa before he hit the floor.
"You did amazingly Ezra" said Tulsa with pride. There were many who could not withstand the full ritual even herself didn't.
"You've found quite the foundling Ade" said Marin as she kneeld down hand hand over over the freshly branded skin as she focused his will making the wound seem to quickly heal till all that was left was a scar in the shape of a wolf.
End chapter
And that's a wrap. Ezra is now a member of clan Reed. For those that are concerned about the speed events are happening worry not things will slow down and next chapter we'll be seeing a gathering of the various Mandalorian clans and we'll also been seeing some familiar faces.
Mando'a translations:
Bu'ad = grandchild
Ade = child/son/daughter
Ara'novor = approach/block
Yaim'ol = return/homecoming
Duunmyc = approval/approved
Olarom = welcome(greetings)
Vor entye = thank you
Ba'buir = grandparent