Morning light filtered through the thick canopy of Devaron's forests, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Luke Skywalker and Sabine Wren stood facing each other in a secluded clearing, lightsabers drawn. The hum of the blades broke the otherwise still silence of the forest, signaling the start of another training session.

Sabine, though she struggled with the deeper connection to the Force, was a natural warrior. Her strikes came with precision, yet there was always something in the back of her mind holding her back—an unseen frustration. Luke parried her blows with grace, guiding her rather than opposing her.

"Relax," Luke advised, deflecting a particularly aggressive swing. "You're forcing it again."

Sabine's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's hard to let the Force guide you when it's barely a whisper."

"The Force is more than just combat," Luke said, lowering his blade. "It's a part of everything. Don't think about controlling it—just let it flow."

She grunted, clearly still annoyed. After another few minutes of dueling, Luke deactivated his lightsaber and took a breath.

"Let's take a break. Farnay's probably finished breakfast."

They walked in silence back to the small village where Farnay had set up their morning meal—an egg dish that was simple but filling. As they ate, Sabine's eyes drifted from her plate to Luke and then over to Farnay, who was busy tidying up the kitchen.

Luke noticed Sabine's pointed looks and gave her a questioning glance.

"What?"

Sabine smirked, but she said nothing, filing away her thoughts for later. Luke was clearly involved with Farnay, even if he didn't express it himself. Sabine wasn't about to let that slide.

XX

Later that evening, Sabine found herself outside, staring up at the stars. The cool night air of Devaron brushed against her skin as she wrestled with her thoughts. She hadn't been able to shake the feelings she had been suppressing for so long—feelings about Ezra, their past, and the unresolved tension that had slowly built between them over the years.

Luke sensed her presence before she spoke. He turned his head slightly, finding her standing just behind him.

"Something on your mind?" Luke asked, his tone gentle.

Sabine shifted, clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah… you could sense it huh?"

Luke remained silent, giving her space to gather her thoughts.

"It's about Ezra," she began, her voice quieter than usual. "There was a time when I… well, I had feelings for him. I don't know if it was love or just a strong connection, but I cared about him more than I let on."

Luke stayed still, listening intently.

"But things changed after the Inquisitor—Spectre Seven—came into the picture," Sabine continued. "I started to feel like Ezra only saw me as a… distraction. And he was just lusting after her, and not actually caring about me. And I got frustrated, at him, at Spectre Seven… even angry at the rest of the Ghost crew for pulling him away from me."

Luke could feel the pain and frustration in her words, the bitterness that had built up over time.

"When Ezra left the Ghost crew to train you..." Sabine said. "I felt more distant from Ezra than ever. I blamed him for it. I blamed everyone. And I guess I've been carrying that anger around ever since."

"And when the Empire decided to decimate Mandalore and killed my family... I lost faith in the Alliance I fought side by side with..."

Luke was quiet for a moment, letting her words settle in the cool night air. Then, he spoke softly. "Have you ever talked to Ezra about how you feel?"

Sabine shook her head, folding her arms across her chest. "No. I… I don't think I can."

"You should," Luke said gently. "You owe it to yourself—and to him—to talk about it. Holding onto that anger is only going to weigh you down. If you can, forgive him... say sorry for being angry."

Sabine didn't respond immediately. Her jaw clenched as she considered his words. "I don't know if I can do that," she admitted.

"I'm not saying it's easy," Luke replied. "But it's worth it. Ezra cares about you, Sabine. He always has. Whatever happened between you two… talking about it might help you both move forward."

Sabine sighed, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I'll think it over."

XX

The next morning, the air was cool and crisp as Luke and Sabine headed out for their cardio circuit. It was deeper into the Devaron forests, originating from Spectre Seven's initial training of Luke. The terrain was uneven, and the workout intense, but Sabine threw herself into it with everything she had. The physical strain helped distract her from the emotional turmoil she had laid bare the night before.

Luke ran beside her, his breathing steady and controlled, but Sabine pushed herself harder, refusing to fall behind. As they reached a section of the trail blocked by fallen trees, Sabine leaped over them with the agility of a seasoned Mandalorian, her body moving with grace despite the fatigue.

"Not bad," Luke remarked as they reached a clearing. "Let's take a break."

Sabine slowed, breathing heavily as she grabbed her flask and took a long drink of water.

After a moment, she glanced at Luke, her smirk returning. "So, Luke… about you and Farnay. Are you guys a thing, or?"

Luke blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. "Uh… I guess you could say it's complicated."

Sabine raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Oh? Is it because you're too caught up in your Jedi duties?"

Luke chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Something like that."

They resumed their walk back toward the village at a slower pace, allowing the tension of the earlier conversation to fade into the background.

"You know, Sabine," Luke began, his voice thoughtful, "I kind of wish you could have come along on more of our missions. And get more training."

Sabine glanced at him, her expression softening. "Ezra never told you, did he? I was trained by a Jedi once. At least, in lightsaber combat."

Luke stopped, surprise flickering across his face. "A Jedi? Who trained you?"

"Kanan Jarrus," Sabine replied quietly. "He was Ezra's master before all of this. Even before Spectre Seven."

Luke nodded slowly, recognition dawning. "Ezra spoke about him. Said Kanan was a true Jedi. They didn't always agree, but Kanan was someone he deeply respected."

Sabine smiled faintly, though her eyes were distant. "Kanan was everything a Jedi should be. But Ezra… he's different. He didn't follow all the Jedi teachings. He's always been more in the middle, especially when it comes to combat. But when it comes to his friends, he's always had that protective, guardian nature."

Luke smiled. "Well, you may not be a Jedi, but you're still a worthy warrior. More than capable of freeing Mandalore."

Sabine placed a hand on Luke's shoulder, her grip firm. "You know… it wouldn't hurt if you came along for the ride."

Luke raised an eyebrow, considering her words. "Good point. I'll see if Vader can come too. He has an interest in taking down Gideon."

Sabine's expression turned skeptical. "You and Vader. I still don't get it. Aren't you supposed to be enemies? I know you're father and son, but with you both being separated for so long..."

Luke's face grew more guarded, not ready to reveal his true connection. "Let's just say we found a compromise. He realized he was being used by Palpatine, and now… well, he believes that keeping control of the Imperial Navy is the best way to avoid chaos in the galaxy."

Sabine gave him a long look before nodding slowly. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

They walked in silence for a while longer, the village now in sight. Sabine knew Luke would likely get wrapped up in whatever was happening with Farnay again, but before they went their separate ways, she stopped him.

"Hey, Luke…" she called out.

Luke turned, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for all the help," Sabine said sincerely. "I'm looking forward to going home."

Luke smiled warmly. "My pleasure. But we've got more training to do before I reach out to Vader."

Sabine grinned, already anticipating the next challenge. "No worries. I'm ready."

XX

Devaron's sun rose on another day of training. Sabine could feel the weight of her decision from the previous night—Luke's advice had been simple yet challenging. Confronting Ezra about her feelings and suspicions wasn't something she'd planned to face. Even if she'd agreed in theory, the execution of it still felt… impossible.

For now, though, there was the mission. She had to be ready for Mandalore and Moff Gideon. The sooner she could focus on that, the sooner she could push her internal conflicts aside.

Luke was waiting for her at the clearing again, his lightsaber in hand, though the look on his face was not one of a trainer preparing for another round. It was calm, almost peaceful.

"You ready?" Luke asked, handing her a training saber.

Sabine took the weapon and ignited it, the blade humming to life with a warm glow. "As I'll ever be."

But before they could begin, Luke spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "Sabine, about what we talked about yesterday… I just want to say, when I trained under Spectre Seven, I learned that sometimes the hardest battles aren't with others—they're with ourselves. Confronting the truth, the evil within our spirit, is just as important as mastering the blade."

Sabine didn't respond immediately. She wasn't ready to dive back into that conversation just yet. So she deflected the topic with a shrug. "We'll see. Right now, I'm just focused on winning this next sparring session."

Luke smiled, knowing when to push and when to let things be.

They moved into their usual stances, but this time, Luke had a different plan.

XX

Sabine was breathing heavily, her arms aching from repeated parries and strikes. The blade of her training saber wavered in the air as she struggled to hold her form. Luke had switched up the style, pressing her harder than usual.

"This… feels different," she muttered, panting.

"Combat isn't just about strength," Luke said, his blade still steady. "It's about perseverance, patience, and adaptability."

She grunted in response, stepping back to reassess her next move. Luke wasn't just teaching her how to swing a lightsaber—he was challenging her mentally, testing how she handled pressure.

"You're not letting me breathe!" she said, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Luke deactivated his saber, stepping back. "Neither will Gideon."

Sabine narrowed her eyes at him but didn't argue. He was right, of course. She couldn't afford to be anything less than prepared for what awaited her on Mandalore. This was her fight to win, and she needed to be ready for anything.

"Again," Luke said, reigniting their sabers.

XX

Later that afternoon, as they took a break, Sabine found herself reflecting on what Luke had said. She knew, deep down, that the emotional conflicts she carried with her were weighing her down. The Mandalorian part of her had always been able to compartmentalize, to push her feelings aside for the mission, for the greater cause. But this—her history with Ezra, her lingering suspicions of his feelings for Spectre Seven—it was like a constant thorn in her side.

Luke sat beside her, drinking from a canteen, his gaze thoughtful as he looked out into the forest.

"I'm surprised you never asked Spectre Seven about all this," he said suddenly, as if reading her mind.

Sabine frowned, picking at the moss on the ground. "It's not something you just… ask."

"Maybe not," Luke replied. "But Spectre Seven was your mentor, as unbelievable as it sounds. Maybe you'd find clarity there."

Sabine scoffed. "If I asked her about Ezra, she'd probably just give me some cryptic answer and walk away."

"Perhaps," Luke said with a small smile. "Or perhaps you'd find that the truth is simpler than you think."

Sabine sighed heavily. The truth was, she wasn't ready to face that conversation—not yet. But she did appreciate that Luke wasn't pushing her harder than necessary. He understood when to guide and when to let her find her own way.

"I'll get there," Sabine muttered, more to herself than to Luke.

XX

The next few days passed in much the same way—training, strategizing, and a lot of introspection for Sabine. She was getting stronger, more adept with the saber, but the connection to the Force remained elusive. Luke was patient, teaching her to trust in herself even if she couldn't feel the Force in the same way other Jedi could.

"You don't need the Force to be a warrior," Luke reminded her during one session. "But it can help you see beyond just the physical battle. It can give you insight into your opponents, into yourself."

"I've always relied on my instincts, not the force," Sabine said, but there was less resistance in her voice now. She was beginning to accept that there was more to the Force than just combat. It was about understanding. Balance.

One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Sabine found herself sitting with Farnay in the village tavern, nursing a cup of warm tea. Luke had stayed behind to meditate—something Sabine still didn't fully grasp, but she respected his dedication to it.

"So… you and Luke," Sabine said, leaning back in her chair. "You've got something going on, right?"

Farnay chuckled, shaking her head. "Luke... His heart is in the right place, but I think he's still trying to figure out where he belongs."

Sabine raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Farnay nodded. "He's torn between being a Jedi and just being Luke. Sometimes I think he carries the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders, but he doesn't let anyone see it."

Sabine could relate. In a way, she was in the same position. She was expected to help her people, to free Mandalore from the Empire, but deep down, she wasn't sure if she was ready for that responsibility.

"You ever talk to him about it?" Sabine asked.

Farnay smiled. "I try. But like I said, Luke's got so much going on in his head that sometimes I think he forgets to live in the moment. He says he does what is in front of him. But from his attitude and actions it is about preparing for the future."

Sabine nodded, her thoughts wandering back to Ezra. Maybe that was her problem too—too much thinking, not enough living.

XX

Two weeks later, the training was nearing its end. Sabine had grown more comfortable with the saber, and though she still wasn't as attuned to the Force as Luke, she could feel something shifting within her. She wasn't the same woman she had been when she arrived on Devaron.

The final day of training, Luke and Sabine stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the forest. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the landscape. The moment felt significant, like the calm before a storm.

"You've done well, Sabine," Luke said, his voice soft. "You're ready."

Sabine inhaled deeply, nodding. "Mandalore is waiting. Gideon won't know what hit him."

Luke smiled, there was a hint of wonder in his eyes. "You still want me to go with you?"

Sabine raised an eyebrow. "Come on Luke, you already know the answer. We could use a Jedi."

"Ok... ok," Luke relented. "I'll reach out to Vader too. I'll see if he can provide support for your mission. Gideon has more than just his Imperial forces."

Sabine sighed but nodded. "I get it. You've got bigger things to worry about than one Mandalorian cause."

"No," Luke said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Your cause is just as important. But Mandalore needs you, Sabine."

Sabine smiled, feeling the weight of his words settle into her. Maybe she wasn't the perfect warrior. Maybe she wasn't as attuned to the Force as Luke or Ezra. But she was a Mandalorian. And that was enough.

As they made their way back to the village, Sabine couldn't help but glance over at Luke, a question forming in her mind. Although, she would shrug it off until later.

With Mandalore on the horizon, Sabine knew one thing for certain—she was ready for the fight. But first, there was one more battle she had to face: the one within.