A/N:

This is a pretty long chapter, but there is a good reason with it being so long, as there is quite a bit to cover. Hope you all enjoy it, and Happy Holidays to all.

- The Author

1 Month Later

Location: Sundari, Mandalore

Aurora's POV

I sighed as I walked through a long corridor in the palace. For some reason, I couldn't sleep. Something just didn't feel right. I felt something was wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I was wearing my pajamas, but because it was cold tonight in Sundari, I had on a long dark blue robe as well to cover my long sleeveless black nightgown. I walked onto one of the balconies that was overlooking Peace Park and began to look out into the city. Despite it being rather late at night, there were still some people out, though not many given the time…and I don't blame them. It was a very late, and chilly night in Sundari…I'd be in be asleep too…except I can't. The cold breeze made me cross my arms around my chest, as the wind blew my long hair back. Just as I leaned against the balcony and began to think about why I couldn't sleep, I became distracted at a rock being thrown up onto the balcony. Had I not moved out of the way, I would've been hit in the face by it. I frowned in confusion before looking over the balcony to see Alex down below in Peace Park, throwing rocks at me.

"Hi!" He said with a wave. "I'm glad I got your attention!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I practically shouted. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

"I said, I was trying to get your attention!" He explained. "And now I got it."

I rolled my eyes and smirked. "What do you want?"

"Can we talk?" He asked and I glanced behind me at the palace before looking back to him and nodding.

I quickly headed downstairs to the servant's entrance and allowed him access into the palace.

"Surprised to see you in Sundari." I explained "How did you get through the scanners?"

He shrugged as we walked through the palace. "I might've said that I was transporting a shipment of textiles for the Royal Family…and based upon what you're wearing…I hate to break it to you Princess, but I've seen you wear better."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry. What did you want me to do, put a crown on for you?"

"That's a start…it's just…I haven't seen you without blood on your face or covered in dirt in a very long time." He explained.

I laughed. "Well, when you're a Princess, you can't really be looking like that."

We both fell silent as we walked through the throne room and headed down one of the corridors that led to the Royal Family's personal living quarters.

"Why are you awake?" He asked. "It's late, unless you are an insomniac, which I know you are."

I shrugged. "I don't know. I couldn't sleep…something just doesn't feel right. Like something, is going to go wrong tomorrow, but I can't quite figure it out."

I opened the door to my bedroom and we both stepped inside.

"Is it related to your powers?" He asked.
I shrugged as I walked over to the balcony and closed the doors so that the cold breeze would not come through my room.

"I don't know…maybe?" I sighed in disgust. "I just wish those morons would tell me something useful instead of being cryptic."

"Speaking of cryptic morons." He began. "How's Ahsoka?"

I gave him a small smile. "From what Anakin has told me, she is doing well. She has started speaking with someone about what happened on Onderon, and her back is healed."

"I got worried about her after Steela's death." He explained.

"Yeah, me too." I said with a nod.

We both were silent for a moment before I interrupted our silence.

"Why are you here, Alex?" I asked in confusion.

He sighed. "I wanted to make sure you were alright. After what happened on Onderon, I got worried. I've never seen you so…"

"Emotional?" I asked with a small smirk.

"Broken." He blurted out.

I sighed as I took a step forward and placed my right hand on his left shoulder.

"I've been broken for a long time." I said with a small smile. "Though it's only started to creep up on me now."

He gently removed my hand from his shoulder and took it in his own.

"I know." He smiled back. "I'm in the same boat with you…you and I are more alike than you think."

"We both come from similar backgrounds, that's why." I explained.

"We both have crazy parents and were raised in palaces?" He asked with a smirk.

"Your dad is crazy, my mother is…optimistic." I said after a short pause making him let out a laugh.

"That's your best work for pacifism?" He asked trying to contain his laugh. "Optimistic?"

I shrugged pulling my hand away. "It's the best I came up with."

"Where's Geenine?" He asked looking around the room.

"She's with Korkie in the Cadet Academy. He's having final exams and is using her to help him study." I explained as I took of my robe and hung it on the back of my vanity chair.

"He's using my droid to study for exams?" He asked in disbelief. "I can't believe that."

"First of all, she's my droid, your father gave her to me." I explained as I turned back around. "And second, she is a great study partner. She may hate it, but she loves my brother…more so than me, I'm afraid." I retorted.

"It's not that hard Ro, your brother is nicer than you." He said with a small laugh.

"I'm not mean!" I scowled as I sat down on my bed. "I can be scary and intimidating at times, but I've never been mean to anyone on this planet. If you've noticed, I've done more outreach to the common folk both here and Kalevala…they say I am The People's Princess."

"And yet there are some, who call you, The Rebellious Princess." He said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes at him before stifling back a yawn. I knew I was tired, and that I should get some form of sleep, even though I most likely wouldn't be able to.

"Maybe you should try and get some sleep…even though you don't want to." He suggested.

I sighed but nodded knowing he was right, I needed sleep. My entire body showed its exhaustion, based upon the dark circles I had under my eyes.

"You're right." I replied quietly.

He looked me over once. "Have a good night, Ro." He said quietly.

Just as he was about to exit, I did something I didn't expect I would do.

"Alex?" I called making him stop to turn around.

"Yeah?" He asked in confusion.

And the next words that came out of my mouth, I never thought I would say ever in a million years or rotations.

"Will you stay with me?" I asked.

He stood frozen in place for a moment, as I think he was unsure on how to respond, but eventually softened his facial expression.

"Yeah." He nonchalantly replied.

He kicked off his boots, and took his jacket off, before walking around to the other side of my bed and laid down next to me. I turned over to look at him.

"Thank you…for this." I said gesturing to the situation at hand.

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it…get some sleep Ro, I won't leave, I promise."

I nodded sleepily before I closed my eyes. I fell right to sleep. And once again, sleeping next to Alex, allowed me to get a good night's sleep. One that I deserved in trade for all the trauma I've endured over the years.

I felt a bright light shine on me, indicating the sun had risen over Sundari. The light started to make me slowly wake up. I slowly opened my eyes, to find myself with my head on Alex's chest, with his right arm around my shoulders allowing for his right hand to play with my hair. I carefully adjusted my body position, as I didn't know if Alex was awake, but my suspicions were interrupted by his voice.

"Don't worry." He began. "I'm already awake."

I moved my head so I could look up at him. "Did you sleep at all?"

He shrugged. "More or less. I was concerned more about you."

"I told you I would be fine." I explained.

He shrugged again. "And it confirmed my suspicions."

I sighed. "You better go before Zara comes in and sees you."

He glanced at the door, then back to me. "But wouldn't it be funny if she saw us like this?"

I sat up and glanced at him in disbelief. "If Zara were to come in here and see you here, she would kill me. Then you. Then me…then she'd tell Korkaran."

"Who would she tell, your mother?" He asked with a smirk, as he rolled onto his stomach and draped his left arm over my legs.

"No." I explained. "But they'd torture me with it for the rest of my existence, which is just as awful."

He nodded before getting out of my bed to put his boots and jacket on. He nodded toward the balcony, and I rolled my eyes.

"Have fun trying to get out of Sundari." I said with a smirk. "The guard's will have your head if they found out where your 'shipment' went."

He smirked and rolled his eyes at me, before he climbed over the railing of the balcony, disappearing from my view. Just as I was about to get up and close my balcony doors, Zara bursted into my room.
"Oh good, you're awake!" She said with a warm smile making me smile back. She gestured to the open balcony doors. "Did you sleep with those open all night? How were you not cold?"

I shrugged as I got out of bed. "My body adapted to it well."

Zara, being quite the perky one in the mornings, walked over to my closet, and pulled out a dark blue long-sleeved gown that had an open back, and was off the shoulder. After I took a shower, and changed into my gown, Zara began to fix my hair.

"Your mother has a Ruling Council meeting." She began as she brushed through my long blonde hair.

"I know, but for some reason, I have this horrible feeling in my stomach…like something is going to go wrong." I explained making Zara shrug.

"I'm sure everything will be fine." She said pulling my hair into a neat and tight bun. She made it so that I had two loose strands in the front, but everything else was wrapped tightly into a bun. She then placed a crystal tiara on my head, with the matching necklace around my neck. Just as I was about to reply, the door to my room busted open and in walked Rehana looking rather frantic.

"Your Royal Highness, Lady Kryze, I'm so glad the both of you are alright!" Rehana began with worry.

I frowned. "What is wrong Rehana?"

"Criminals have attacked multiple places in Sundari." She explained. "Apparently Zabraks, members of the Pyke Syndicate, and others have led multiple stringed attacks. Death Watch is getting rid of them."

I glanced toward Zara with my eyes widening in fear. This was it. The moment I feared. Death Watch was coming for our heads. I cautiously stood up and without saying a word, I walked over to the large trunk I had at the foot of my bed, and out of it, I grabbed 3 things, my commlink, which I placed in my ear, my vambraces, and a dagger that I concealed within my right vambrace.

"Go to the academy, get Korkaran, and get safely out of Sundari. Once you get Geenine, contact Alexsandr Vizsla and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Geenine has their commlinks and tell them of the situation and tell them that I told you to do it." I quickly explained.

I then walked right past Zara and Rehana and headed to the throne room. I practically broke out into a run, as I tried to make my way to the throne room as quickly as I could before Death Watch showed up. As I ran through the palace, I could hear chants from the citizens of Sundari outside.

'Vizsla! Vizsla! Vizsla!' They continuously chanted, and I knew they weren't talking about Alex…they were talking about his father.

As I turned the corner into the throne room, I was met by various guards shielding my mother, who sat on the throne. The chairs for the ruling council surrounding it.

"Mother." I began. "We need to leave."

She shook her head. "I will not leave my people, Aurora."

"But Duchess, Pre-Vizsla and his men have entered the palace. Should we stop them?" One of my mother's advisors asked.

My mother shook her head again. "Why should we? The people are on their side now."

I frowned. "Mother, please, we need to go."

Just as she was about to answer. My worst fear happened. Death Watch soldiers entered the throne room with Pre walking in behind them. I activated my vambraces carefully so I wouldn't cause attention to myself. The guards who were shielding my mother went into attack position, but my mother held her hand up.

"No!" She demanded. "There will be no bloodshed."

I looked at her in shock. Even in the moment she feared she would be killed; she kept her pacifist ways. I wish I could say the same.

"Mother." I began in disbelief as I carefully took my commlink off of my vambrace and placed it into the sleeve of my dress so no one would take it.

"But Duchess." One of my mother's advisors said in agreement.

"I will not be provoked to violence by these terrorists." My mother firmly stated.

Pre gestured to the chanting crowd. "Listen Duchess, do you hear the people? They cry out for change. Your weak-minded rule of Mandalore is at an end. The resurrection of our warrior past is about to begin."
Death Watch warriors began to fill the throne room, and grabbed my mother, and her advisors. Pre carefully walked over to me, and my mother watched the interaction in disbelief.

"I am giving you one more chance, surrender, and you can rejoin us." He began.

"And I told you, the minute you sold me out to Dooku, I stopped believing in your cause. I killed, so many people because of you, and I will no longer stand for it." I said firmly.

That's when he slapped me across the face. It didn't really hurt, as he's slapped me before, many times when I was a child. Within a matter of moments, my mother and I were placed into a cell.

"You cannot hold me here. I am the Duchess of Mandalore. Your actions will bring our civilization to ruin." My mother began.

"Is that you, Satine?" A familiar voice said.

"Almec?" My mother asked in disbelief walking toward the wall.

"Here for a visit, or has peace betrayed you too, Duchess?" Almec asked.

"Peace exists only in the minds of the faithful." She explained.

"And faith has been the greatest disappointment." Almec countered.

"Only when it is broken. What you did for the people as Prime Minister betrayed their trust." My mother continued.

"And you betrayed mine. Destitution leaves little room for faith. My actions allowed the people hope in your leadership. The supplies I bought on the black market kept you in power." Almec retorted getting angered by my mother and her comments.

"Another error of judgment. The people made willing sacrifices for their freedom. Corruption is not the answer." My mother firmly stated.

Almec laughed. "Then enjoy your freedom, Duchess. You'll have plenty of time to tell me all about it."

"Great, we're stuck in cells, and Grumpy is next door still complaining about the fact we put him in one." I said with an eyeroll.

My mother immediately turned around to look me in the eye. "I can't believe you. You were part of a terrorist organization, and willingly went against everything I stood for! You disobeyed everything our family and our clan believe in! I…I have no words for the terror you caused. All the times you said you were heading to do charity work on Concordia, you were being trained…all the times I left to go on diplomacy assignments, you went to kill another family…you are a terrorist Aurora…I am incredibly disappointed in you."

I shook my head. "I am not a terrorist…at least, not anymore. I have done some horrible things, yes, but I never liked doing them. I never appreciated the fact I was an assassin, but I will admit it has saved my life numerous times, and it has saved your as well. Thanks to Vizsla's training, I am one of the most feared and deadliest women in the galaxy…but I no longer kill people anymore."

My mother frowned in confusion.

"About 2 years ago I was on Coruscant going after a stolen Jedi Holocron. Count Dooku wanted me to retrieve it for him. Why? I have no idea. While on Coruscant, I was captured by the Jedi. That's how I met Skywalker, Kenobi, and Tano for the first time. They basically gave me a choice, either help them find the Holocron, or go on trial for being a war-criminal as I was wanted in 4 different systems." I explained.

"And you chose to help them." She said quietly.

I nodded. "Since then, almost every time I go off world, except when I'm with you, it's for them. I…I trust them…I trust them with my life. I consider them family. Anakin and Ahsoka are like my brother and sister, and Obi-Wan is like the father I never had. All of them care for me…so much…they made me feel like I belonged…and I could be myself, because I really hate to break it to you, I really hate wearing gowns and crowns."

My mother looked at me in disbelief. "You are doing good for the galaxy?"

I nodded. "Every single time. I'm making up for all the times I killed the innocent."

She gave me a small smile and a hug.

"I am sorry for everything Aurora." She began. "I am sorry about not giving you the childhood you wanted."

I gave her a smile as we pulled out of the hug. "You did your best…and I turned out ok. I mean, I have mental issues and psychological trauma but that's for another time. Though you probably should ask your son about his issues."

She took a step back in disbelief. "How did you…"

I smiled. "I know quite a bit now that I've been with the Jedi…also, did you know that we can…"

"Use the force?" She asked quietly. "Yes. You are both like your father in that matter."

I nodded before sitting down.

"Is Korkaran alright?" She asked me.

"I had Zara and Rehana go and get him to safety, along with having Geenine contact a couple friends of mine to get us out of this mess." I explained. "Now, we wait."

My mother and I fell silent but were startled when both Zabraks walked toward our cell. My eyes widened. One of them, was my torturer from Wassakah, and the other was the monster I had from my nightmares as a child. Korkie's and mine's dreams were coming true.

"I remember you." My torturer began through the glass. "I almost killed you above Wassakah."

I smirked and walked toward the glass. "And yet, here I am…alive and well."

"You are the former Duchess, Satine, are you not?" The other Zabrak asked my mother.

"What do you want, you monster?" She asked in anger.

"Mm, nothing yet, but I will have a use for you in time. Where are the other leaders of your people?" He asked.

"You should know already." My mother explained. "They've either sided with Vizsla or have been killed. There's no one left but Almec and I, but he's as corrupt and vile as you."

"Really?" The Zabrak smirked. "Hmm. Thank you for being so cooperative."

Both Zabraks walked away, and I turned to my mother and frowned.

"First rule about talking to criminals…never tell them what they want." I explained.

"I didn't know." She said with a shrug. "I've never been imprisoned before."

"You get used to it after a while." I said with a shrug.

"You've been in prison?" She asked in disbelief before standing up and looking at my torturer as the other Zabrak was mid-conversation with Almec. "He's a murderer. He caused the death of children."

"So did your daughter." I murmured.

"Quiet." My torturer ordered before dodging a blaster shot by a Death Watch warrior.

Eventually, the two Zabraks and Almec walked out of the cell and my mother, and I looked at each other in disbelief. More time passed, and then I started to feel uneasy. I started to become, almost eternified, like I could hear lightsabers clashing. I closed my eyes, and I hear screams and the sound intensified before I jolted my eyes opened.

"Aurora?" My mother asked in concern as she sat down next to me. "What's wrong Darling?"

I shook my head. "Pre Vizsla is dead…Death Watch are dismantled…but the terrorists are still in control."

I quickly activated my commlink to sync with the link I had in my ear and began to type Morse Code of coordinates of our location to Alex's commlink, hoping that he was still on-world.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Trying to contact Alexsandr." I explained.

"Alexsandr?" My mother questioned. "Pre Vizsla's son?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he used to be like his father, but he's not. He stayed over last night."

"What do you mean he stayed over?" She asked. "Where?"

"He slept in my room." I said with a shrug getting a frown from my mother. "Don't give me that look, I'm not a child…and nothing happened, we just slept."

"I am at a loss for words." She explained.

"Well, we're going to have to talk about something, considering until someone comes for us, we're going to be here for a while." I explained and she nodded knowing I was right, on the fact that the two of us were useless until someone came for us.