Present Day

Aurora's POV

I sighed as I reached for the sugar to my far right before pouring it into my second cup of caf. I was sitting across from Obi-Wan who was watching me intently as I poured the sugar into my cup. We were currently sitting in at a table in a restaurant that was in one of the more local areas of Coruscant, that wasn't near the Jedi Temple. I guess my stunt falling through the vents with Caleb was the final straw for him, and he finally realized I needed to get out. I grabbed my spoon and started to stir in the sugar.

"Sweet tooth?" He asked.

I tilted my head to the side before picking up the mug to take a large gup.

"Sort of." I explained as I put the cup down. "It use to be worse when I was a child, nowadays, I kind of have a craving for it every once in a while. Usually when I'm stressed…or when uj'alayi cake is around."

He gave me a small smile. "Do you get it every year for your Name-Day?"

I nodded. "I wait for it. It's been my favorite dessert since I was a child. My grandmother, being quite the regal monarch she was, would abandon her royal responsibilities for the day to make it for me…her uj cake was the best."

He was about to reply, but our server came back to the table and placed a large plate of food in front of me. It looked like some form of a breakfast sandwich of some sort, along with a side of fried protatos.

I hesitantly looked to Obi-Wan. "Did you order anything?" I questioned.

He gestured to the plate. "No, please eat."

I slowly nodded before glancing back down to the plate. I picked up the sandwich and took a bite, savoring it as I chewed. It was the first solid food I had in almost two weeks…and right now this greasy sandwich was the best thing I'd eaten in a long time. Quite possibly better than the chefs that worked in both the palace in Sundari and on Kalevala. I continued to practically shovel my food, as I felt so hungry.

"Slow down." Obi-Wan said calmly. "You're going to make yourself sick."

I swallowed what I had in my mouth before I took another sip of caf.

"Sorry." I replied with a small sigh. "This is the first solid food I've had in two weeks."

He nodded. "I know."

"So why did you take me here?" I ask as I sat back and crossed my arms. "There has to be a reason you brought me here."

"I wanted to talk to you." He explained.

"About?" I questioned.

"Wassakah." He replied and I rolled my eyes.

"Of course." I said with a huff.

"Aurora." He began. "You were tortured by an apprentice of Dooku, thrown into an unfamiliar planet, got attacked various times, and somehow came out alive, even though your injuries were extensive. How did you do it?"

I shrugged. "I've had a lot of intense training in my life. That entire experience reminded me of being trained by Vizsla."

"How?" He asked in confusion.

I turned to look out the window and got a distant look in my eyes. I did not want to get into how Vizsla and my aunt trained me, as they practically had to break me for me to accept their training ways…but they never knew I cracked under the pressure…I never showed weakness.

"I don't want to get into it." I murmured.

"If you need to talk, I'm here." He explained.

I nodded before I grabbed my caf cup again.

He was about to reply when both of our commlinks went off signaling the both of us to come back to the Jedi Temple. We quickly paid the check and headed back to the temple. Eventually both of us were whisked into a briefing room with Anakin and Plo Koon. The video on the Holo-projector showed a Republic patrol on Felucia being taken down by a group of rogues.

"The Patrol was cut down before they knew what had struck them, the survivors reported that it was Mandalorians leading this attack." Plo explained. "That is why we called you here Princess Kyrze."

"We need to know who they are." Anakin explained.

Plo then changed the holo-image to a display of what looked like Mandalorians battling through a Republic ship hallway, halting on a close up of one of the warriors that made me lean in close resting my hands against the holotable.

"...Saxon." I practically whispered.

A wave of anxiety, nausea, and fear ran through me. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest, and I began to have a feeling along the lines of the fact that I couldn't breathe. I knew just based on my physical reaction, everyone in the room was taking not of it.

"I sense that name means much to you. Who is Saxon?" Plo asked as he crossed his arms.

Even though I hadn't taken my eyes off of the frozen image, I could see out of the corner of my eye that Obi-Wan was rather concerned about me based upon my reaction.

"It would seem that the Death Watch are now entering onto the larger of the war. "Anakin explained. "The Senate has sent very unpleased messages to Duchess Satine over the Death Watch's contributions to Separatist victories and the situation on Onderon still remains unresolved."

"The Mandalorians on Onderon have grown to a far greater number than intelligence guessed, and they have full command of Dxun, and while they have not engaged against any Republic forces, they are making moves to other Systems." Plo explained.

"Aurora, what exactly does this mean for your mother if your people continue to feud against her rule?" Obi-Wan asked.

I sighed as I looked down at my feet before removing my hands off the Holotable and to stand up straight.

"My mother has turned a blind eye towards violence and chooses to ignore it. Though in the back of her mind, she knows she is in danger and has a huge target on her back." I explained.

"That still isn't her safest option." Anakin began. "If the Republic occupies Mandalore..."

"No." Both I and Obi-Wan replied at the same time.

"It can't happen." I explained. "My mother would never forgive you for it."

"It's not about forgiveness." Anakin explained. "It's about your mother staying alive."

"My mother would rather die with her morals than to change them." I explained.

Plo nodded before walking out of the briefing room, probably to deliver my response to the council, Anakin and Obi-Wan stayed behind.

"Who is Saxon." Anakin asked.

I closed my eyes and sighed, using all my power and strength to say what I was about to say.

"Gar Saxon is one of Vizsla's top lieutenants in Death Watch." I explained as I crossed my arms and opened my eyes. "He worked alongside me and was my partner on jobs when I needed to assassinate someone for Death Watch."

"There's more to it, isn't there?" Anakin asked.

I nodded. "At one point we were…close…but it never meant anything to me, I guess it was more of a stress-reliever on my end, but to him he considered it as a relationship. When I left Death Watch he didn't take it well, and the only reason I know that is because he is the man who tried to kill my mother when she was here on Coruscant."

"He was the Death Watch assassin I fought?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes." I explained. "I should've killed him then and there, but my stupid emotions got the best of me. If either of you have the chance, I want you to kill him, or if it comes down to me and him, I want neither of you stopping me from killing him. Do you understand?"

Both men nodded and I then explained that I needed to head back to Mandalore, as my brother was probably worried sick about me. Thankfully, they loaned me a shuttle to transport myself that was like the Mandalorian shuttle that I took on the way to Felucia. Once I got into space, instead of piloting the ship to Mandalore, I set the coordinates for Dxun. Once the ship was in hyperspace, I began to right things down on a data pad, which were my list of demands that I had. Eventually, I made it to Dxun and began to scope out the terrain to try and find out where the main Mandalorian stronghold was. Eventually, I found the main castle, and landed the shuttle about a mile from the castle. I wrapped a hooded cowl around me, as it was snowing on Dxun when I stepped off the ship…plus no one would recognize me. Eventually I got to the gates of the castle and was met with two Mandalorians in full armor standing at the gate.

"What do you want?" One of them asked beneath his helmet.

"I want to speak with Duke Ordo." I explained.

Both guards laughed in amusement making me roll my eyes.

"Keep dreaming." The other replied. "The duke has much more important things to do than speak to you…now run along."

I looked between both guards before grabbing the small dagger out of my belt and stabbing the one on my right in an area that his beskar armor did not cover. He screamed in pain making me turn to the other guard, smirk, and put my hands up in surrender.

"How about now?" I asked.

The next thing I knew I was handcuffed and was walking through the halls of the Mandalorian castle with guards on either side of me. Eventually, I was led into a large room where various people sat at a table. Amongst them, sitting off to the side were Cira, Octavia, and Crashun's brother Barron.

"Duke Ordo." One of the guards began. "We caught this intruder outside of the gates, she stabbed one of our guards."

Another one of the guards pulled back my hood to reveal my blonde hair and my face making all the people in the room, including the guards look around in shock.

"Aurora?" Cira asked in shock.

I turned to her with a smile. "Hi Cira."

Everyone in the room looked shocked when they saw me act rather confortably, with being in a situation like this.

I started to walk forward towards Crashun, who was seated at the head of the table. I then quickly turned around and threw the now detached handcuffs back at the group of guards.

"Next time." I began with a smirk. "Get some cuffs that actually work."

The guards stood shell-shocked and were about to attack me before Octavia stepped in.

"Do any of you or'dinii's know who this is?" She began. "She is Aurora Kryze, the Princess of Mandalore, and one of the galaxy's most feared and dangerous assassins. Not only that but she is like a second daughter to me. If any of you kill her, I will make sure your heads all end up on spikes. Do you understand?"

The guards nodded before exiting the room as Octavia gave me a hug.

"You look well, but thinner…have you eaten recently?" She questioned as she pulled away.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll explain later."

"How do we know your even Aurora?" Barron asked as he moved towards me.

I rolled my eyes again. "When you were twelve you had a speaking assignment in the Academy and you peed your pants because of how nervous you were, and out of all of the people in that class the only person who didn't laugh at you was Korkie."

Barron then practically ran over to me and engulfed me into a hug.

"It is you." Barron said in excitement before he pulled out of the hug.

I looked to Crashun whose expression was unamused.

"What're you doing here Aurora?" He asked in annoyance.

I smirked. "I thought I'd grace you with my presence…and I need to talk to you…alone."

He sighed before nodding. "Everyone out."

"But Crashun…" People protested.

"Out!" He shouted in a demanding tone making everyone hurry out of the room.

Once everyone was gone, I walked over the other end of the table, sat down in the chair across from Crashun, and put my feet up on the table.

I smirked. "Isn't this nice?"

He still wasn't amused. "What do you want Aurora?"

"I brought you a present." I explained as I reached into the bag I brought. "Two presents actually."

"What are they?" He asked in annoyance.

I picked up the neo-Crusader helmet and Holo with the list of treasure stashes from Wassakah and passed them across the table. Crashun's face went from annoyed to surprised in a matter of seconds.

"A neo-Crusder helmet." He whispered in shock. "Where did you get this?"

I took my feet off the table, stood up from my chair, and moved closer to him so that I was sitting a few seats away from him on his left.
"It doesn't matter." I explained. "Consider it a peace offering and an acceptance letter."

"In regard to the peace offering, I accept. I do believe we've been arguing over nothing for far too long. With regards to my acceptance, what do you mean?" He questioned.
"Consider this my acceptance for taking me up on your offer. I want in." I explained.

His face became even more surprised. "Are you serious."

I nodded.

He smiled. "That's great! You don't know how meaningful this is to me."

I held up my right hand. "Hold on, I have terms for this."

He nodded as I reached in my bag and grabbed my data pad that I had been typing on earlier.

"Ok, number 1 is that if you do end up being Mand'alor, you will not kill any member of my family, including myself, my mother, my brother and my aunt…no matter how much treason Bo-Katan caused, she is still family." I began.

He nodded. "Alright, my men won't like it, but I can persuade them."

"The second is that I become your main political advisor. I understand that your wife is your advisor for politics but honestly, and I mean this in the nicest possible way…she's terrible at it." I explained.

"That's not true." He began. "And how would you know?"

"I spent almost two weeks in the Jedi Temple infirmary, I had time to do some research, and when it comes to your political endeavors, you sound like you are reading from a drilling manual. Which is why that I propose that I do all political negotiations, especially with leaders from other worlds, and you continue to lead your army…or armies." I explained.

"I think Helga does a great job at drafting my speeches." He countered.

My eyebrows rose in amusement. "The only reason you are saying that is because she is your wife and controls your sex life."

He frowned at me and his facial expression alone made me laugh.

"But long story short, neither of you have any political training. I on the other hand, have years of political training." I explained.

"But you hate politics." He began.

I nodded. "I do, but it is a pity on how poor the both of you are at them. Which is why I will take over all political negotiations so you won't have to. Plus it will make things easier on the both of us."

"How?" He questioned.

"You get to be on the battlefield most of the time, and I get to work my magic and manipulate other clans to follow either me or you, as we'll be on the same team." I explained.

He was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but what do you mean clans to follow either me or you?"

I sighed. "You and I are going to be partners in taking down Death Watch. I'll work with you and for you, if you let me be your partner in this…and you know I won't let you down."

Again, he was silent, but he slowly nodded. "What else?"

"You will help me train my brother, the proper way. You and only you. I want him to learn from you and me, as I know you won't harm him or do anything to trick him." I explained.

He smiled. "It would be an honor to train Korkaran, anything else you have to offer?"

I glanced down at my data pad before looking up at him. "I want new vambraces."

"I'll do you one better. How about a new beskar armor? I'll have my men reforge it." He explained as he held out a hand. "Do we have a deal?"

I hesitated before I shook his hand. "Deal."

I slowly stood up from my seat before I started to walk out of the room.

"Where're you going?" He called after me.

"Home." I explained.

"What made you change your mind?" He asked.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "Ask Korkie."

He smiled. "I guess I owe him a thank you. You drive a hard bargain you know."

I smiled back. "I learned from the best."

He then picked up the holoprojector. "What's this?"

"You wanted to know where I got the neo-Crusader helmet, it was from the people who had that…inside is all of their known treasure stashes." I explained before I continued to walk out of the room.

"Glad you're on my side Ro!" He called after me.

"Oh, I know!" I called back.

Eventually I made it back to Mandalore, and I practically ran to the Palace's library to find my brother. Of course, I found him in the same spot I left him all those days ago, reading old records with Geenine by his side.

"Hard at work?" I questioned.

My brother smiled and immediately got up to give me a hug.

"I'm happy you're alive." He explained.

I smiled, before I reached in my bag and handed him the Echani Vibro-blade.

"It's an Echani Vibro-blade, it's quite rare and dates to the old republic. I thought you'd like to have it." I explained.

"Will you teach me how to use it?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes, as will Crashun."

Korkie's eyes widened. "You spoke to him?"

I nodded. "Yes, and we both agreed to train you together."

"I guess I'm going to learn from the best then." He said with a smile.

I smirked. "Korkaran, everyone knows I and only I am the best."

"At what?" He questioned.

My smirk grew. "Everything."