Aurora's POV
After we retreated down to the main portion of the city, I looked up and saw various gunships arrive and land near us. I was shocked and in disbelief at the sight before me. The Republic was aiding in taking back Mandalore, but at the same time, some Mandalorians were on the side of the Republic.
It was quite ironic given the history of the planet.
I looked down at my feet, as I watched a number of Mandalorians being escorted by the clones. Each of the ones that were captured by the clones were part of Maul's Shadow Collective, so in all seriousness, they had a right to be captured.
And potentially executed.
Though deep in my mind, I knew the latter wouldn't happen.
"You alright?" Korkie asked as he came to stand alongside me, along with Zara.
I shrugged. "Are you?"
He let out a sigh. "I don't know…I feel…numb."
I let out a huff of amusement as I wrapped an arm around my brother.
"That makes two of us." I remarked, as we continued to watch the various traitors be escorted.
"Here comes Alex." Korkie remarked as he watched Alex and Gar (the later who was now a prisoner) walked toward us.
Once standing in front of us, the tinest of smiles came onto my face.
"Did you get all your anger out?" I asked Alex, before looking at Gar's angered and annoyed expression.
"Is he still breathing?" Alex replied making Korkie stifle a laugh.
"I guess you kept some of it in." Zara murmured, before gesturing to some of the clones present to take Gar away from us.
The angered look that he had on his face was something I'll never forget. I never saw him so angry, but then again, his physical state didn't look good either. He had cuts and bruises all over his face, as did Alex, meaning the two of them got into a hell of a fight.
Honestly, I would've loved to witness it…I just hope it wasn't all because of me. I know there was bad blood between the two of them, some of it was over me…but not all of it.
Once he was out of earshot, Alex turned towards me.
"Where's Maul?" He asked in curiosity as the three of us started to walk along the bridge that overlooked Peace Park.
"Ahsoka's got him. In all honesty, I'm surprised that we captured him." I explained as I watched Bo-Katan start to walk towards us. "Where's Maul?"
"Ursa is overseeing placing him into a containment pod…the last one we have." She explained as she caught up to us. "Ahsoka is briefing the Jedi Council on the matters at hand…more so on the fact that Maul will be transported to Coruscant for questioning."
I shook my head. "Of course he is…I should go with her."
"You are needed here." She scolded. "You defeated the holder of The Darksaber, therefore you are the Mand'alor."
I turned to look over the remnants of Peace Park, frowning at all of the smoke, ash, injured civilians, and remnants of war that remained of it. All I thought of was how my mother would feel if she saw all this.
"I wish I was good at something other than war." I murmured as I looked over the city.
"The people need a new kind of leader, Ro." Bo sighed as she placed a hand on my right shoulder.
That's when I noticed the uninjured citizens helping those who were injured. Almost like the days of exile were gone, and peace had become present. Something I wanted to see occur on a planet like Mandalore.
"My mother tried that." I sighed looking down at my feet. "I never understood her idealism."
"I didn't either." Bo admitted. "But if she were to look at you now, I know she'd be proud of you. You and your brother were some of the best things she got right."
Korkie put an arm around my shoulder. "At least we have each other…and we're all together again."
He always tried to find the good in any situation.
He was too pure for this world.
I smiled back at him, knowing he was right. There were things to be happy about. We all survived, Mandalore was back under Mandalorian control, and a new era of leadership would begin.
The future looked bright…at least at this moment in time.
The thought that was still on my mind was Obi-Wan, and the conversation I promised him. In the back of my mind, I knew the conversation that the two of us (potentially three if Korkie wanted to join) was going to be bad, but I didn't know how bad it would be…at least, I knew there'd be screaming on my end (and potentially Korkie's, but I doubt it, since he's the calmer one out of the two of us), but I didn't know if Obi-Wan would try to yell at us.
"I'm going to check on Ursa and see if I can find the Darksaber." Bo stated. "I'll have the clones do another sweep over in the throne room, to see if they find anything."
I nodded to her, before she walked away. That's when I realized, that not only was I getting the Darksaber, but I was also getting another gift.
A ring.
Not just a ring though…an engagement ring…that is if Alex didn't destroy it or lose it.
"Do you still have my ring?" I asked as I turned to him. "Technically, I have to live up to my end of the bargain, considering we both survived."
He let out a small laugh, as he reached into one of his pant pockets, before pulling out a ring. I carefully scanned over the ring. It was a beautiful, the stone was blue, the cut was incredible.
It was perfect.
"When did you buy her a ring?" Korkie asked in confusion. "When did you guys get engaged?"
"It doesn't matter." I murmured, as I watched him place the ring on my left ring finger.
"Why weren't we consulted on the design?" Zara asked.
"Because you weren't on the run with us." Alex explained. "And to answer your question Korkie, I asked your sister a couple of months ago."
Korkie frowned in disbelief. "He did?"
"He did." I replied with a nod. "But I didn't accept until earlier today…because we thought we wouldn't make it out alive."
"I'm not mad at this." Korkie admitted, before giving Alex a pat on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family."
Alex let out a small laugh. "Thanks, Kid."
"If you hurt her I'll slit your throat while you sleep." Zara threatened, which made all three of us take a step back in shock, as it was unlike her.
"Sorry, that was so uncalled for." She said after realizing what she said. "Congratulations."
I let out a laugh, as Alex wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Things are going well then?" Ahsoka asked as she walked up to the four of us, clearly out of her meeting with the council now.
"For once, things are not going terribly wrong." I explained with a sigh.
"What was the congratulations for?" Ahsoka asked with a frown.
Korkie gestured to Alex and I. "They just got engaged."
Ahsoka's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her mouth looked like she wanted to say something, but no words were able to come out.
"Please don't scream." I explained putting my hands up. "You know I hate that."
"I'm so proud of you." She said with excitement as she pulled me into a hug. "This is very adult of you, Aurora Kryze…I've never been prouder."
I let out a small huff of amusement. "I'm glad."
In that moment, before she could reply, Bo, Ursa, and a couple others started wheeling Maul out, as he was now placed into a containment unit, that was specifically designed for force-users like himself. My mother outlawed them when she came into power, and this was the last one left in history.
And Maul was the one placed in it.
Ironic in a way, when I think about it.
"Impressive." Ahsoka said nodding to the relic. "I suspect even Maul couldn't get out of there."
Bo nodded. "A relic of a bygone era, when Mandalorians had reason to imprison you force-wielding maniacs."
Ahsoka frowned, before turning to me.
"I thought your mother outlawed such devices?" She asked in confusion.
"She did." I replied, before nodding towards it. "This is the last one."
"Here's your gift, Kid." Bo explained handing me the Darksaber.
Taking it into my hands, I looked at it in disbelief. Never in all of my years, would I think that I would be able to hold, let alone be allowed to yield such a weapon.
The Darksaber.
In my possession.
The weapon of the leader of Mandalore.
I was now the leader of Mandalore, because I defeated Maul in combat.
Holy shit.
Holy fucking shit.
"You deserve it, Ro." Ahsoka smiled. "There's no one better to lead the planet than you."
I looked up to her and smiled, before pulling her into another hug.
"I'm going to miss you." I murmured. "Please visit."
"Are you kidding? I want a wedding invitation." She said with humor in her voice, as we pulled away. "But I'm going to miss you too."
I smiled at her. "You have a Royal Commlink, please use it. Call me if you need me…I'm serious."
She nodded. "It would be my honor."
She then turned towards Bo, allowing for the two to shake hands.
"Goodbye, Ahsoka Tano." Bo said with graciousness.
Ahsoka gave her a nod, before getting on the Republic Gunship, complete with Maul, Rex, and the rest of the Clones.
I'll admit…I'm going to miss them.
All of them.
Ever since I came to know them, they had become my family. It was one of the greatest honors of my life to work with all of them.
It was bittersweet in a way.
The two of us watched as the gunship left the city, along with the rest of the republic gunships, once again leaving Mandalorians in control of the planet again. I sighed in disbelief.
I had a planet to rule.
"I'm going to miss her." I admitted to Bo, as we turned around and started to walk along the bridge again.
"Surprisingly, so am I." She admitted. "What's this about a wedding invitation?"
A small smirk came on my face. "He proposed."
"Not surprising." She replied. "I knew it was going to happen eventually. I wish your mother was here to see it."
"So do I." I sighed, with my eyes landing on my brother in his beskar armor, speaking to Zara, who was also wearing beskar.
That's when it hit me. He was Mandalorian…but he never recited the Creed.
Neither did Zara.
I turned towards Bo. "Do you remember when I said the Creed as a child?"
She nodded. "How could I forget it, I taught it to you."
"Korkie never said it." I explained, making her turn her head towards me with the smallest smile on her face.
She knew where I was going with this.
Within a matter of moments, the five of us headed to the Mines of Mandalore, to go to the Living Waters. When I was taken into Death Watch, I had to say the creed, but I did it on Concordia in a small pond. Traditionally, you were to say it within the Living Waters, as they were utilized as a ceremonial ground during the time my grandfather was alive. Ever since he died, my mother had them closed off, and no one bathed in the waters since…until now.
"Where are we?" Korkie asked in confusion, as he looked around the cave.
"The Living Waters." Bo explained, gesturing Zara to come in, as she noticed her hesitance.
Korkie frowned as he began to read the plaque that had Mando'a written on it. "These mines date back to the age of the first Mandalore. According to the ancient folklore, the mines were once a mythosaur lair. Mandalore the Great defeated and then rode the mythical beast. It is from these legends that the skull signet was adopted and became the symbol of our planet."
"What're we doing here?" Zara asked with a frown.
"You and Korkie never spoke the Creed…it's time you did…along with myself." I said with a sigh, as I started walking toward the water.
"You already said the Creed." Alex said in confusion.
"I have to take it again…as Mand'alor." I explained, as I took a step into the waters.
I took a deep breath, before I started to recite the Creed.
"I swear on my name, and the names of the ancestors, that I shall walk The Way of the Mand'alor." I began, as I ventured further into the water. "And the words of the Creed shall be forever forged in my heart. This is the Way."
"This is the Way." Alex and Bo responded, making Korkie and Zara frown in confusion.
As I dunked my head under the water, I felt something in that moment. Something felt wrong. I could hear things…familiar voices…lightsabers crashing.
Voices I had come to know all too well.
"You must choose." A voice said, making me freeze…it sounded familiar.
"Don't listen to him, Anakin!" I heard Windu scream.
"It's not the Jedi way." Anakin protested. "He must live!"
"He's too dangerous to be left alive!" Windu countered.
"Please don't." The familiar voice pleaded.
"I need him." Anakin's voice said.
"Unlimited power!"
More lighsabers clashing were heard, and then I heard Windu's scream.
"What have I done?" I heard Anakin asked.
"Mustafar." I heard the familiar voice murmur.
My eyes immediately snapped open, as I came up from under the water, hyperventilating as I did.
"Ro!" Alex called, rushing into the water to help me out.
"Anakin?" I whispered in confusion, trying to make sense for what occurred.
"Ro, sweetheart, are you alright?" Alex asked, as we both started to walk out of the water. "You were down there for a long time."
I shook my head. "No."
"What's wrong?" Bo asked with a frown.
"Something's wrong." I explained. "Something terrible happened…I can't explain it…it involves…"
"Anakin." Korkie nodded in agreement. "I felt it too."
"I need to go to Mustafar…I think he's there." I said with confusion. "I can't explain why I think that way…but I do."
"You're not going by yourself; I'm coming with you." Alex confirmed with a nod. "That's all we need is for the new Mand'alor to die."
"I'm coming too." Korkie confirmed.
"No, you're not." I countered.
"I took on a Sith Lord." He replied, standing his ground. "I think that proves my worth enough."
"I'll take the Creed while you're gone." Zara sighed. "It's not that exciting, in all honesty."
"It really isn't." Bo sighed.
I looked to Korkie, then Alex, before sighing.
"To Mustafar then."
A/N:
We are now in Revenge of the Sith.
As always, let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.