Heir of Mandalore

Chapter 7: The Fight

Aeja -

The streets were cold, damp, and dark. When Ragnar said taking a walk, this was not what I had in mind. Citizens wandered about their evening, shopping or indulging in conversation. My arm clung to his as we journeyed. "Ragnar, you're an honest guy but when you said a walk- I thought you were talking about the gardens or maybe something else..." My eyes took in the side roads.

"Don't you enjoy a little sense of danger?" he teased.

"Ragnar, I'm-" I lowered my voice, "I'm the princess. You know if-"

"I know I know." he snickered.

I huffed. Mandalorians weren't the only species roaming the streets. A variety of beings came to Mandalore for trade, resources, or vacation. I felt Ragnar slow his pace. "What is it?" I whispered.

I smiled to pass it off as if we were having a wonderful little conversation if anything was amiss. "Ten clicks to the left," he replied, chuckling as if I proposed a joke.

I nodded my head. "Ver right down that alley."

My hand slid down to his and I pulled him forward. "Come on!" I giggled.

He knew what I was doing and he played along. I didn't have time to glance at who was a little suspicious of us and possibly following. As we entered the alley thinking we were clear, two Mandalorian jetpacked down in front of us and three rushed in from behind. Their armor was a clash of crimson red and black. "If it isn't the princess of Mandalore." one warrior spoke from behind us.

I cursed myself knowing I should have worn my helmet but then again, the crest on my shoulder gives my identity away. "Is there something we can help you, gentleman, out with?" Ragnar cleared his throat.

"In fact, there is." the Mandalorian stepped forward, flipping his cape over his shoulders. "You're related to Bo-Katan Kryze." he pulled out his vibroblade and held it again my neck.

The Mandalorian was boarding my limit of being too close. I could hear his muffled breath as his helmeted eyes stared. Ragnar tried to push him away. "She is, do you have a problem?"

"Look around burc'ya." he twirled his blade around his fingers. "Why do you think we're here? Because we wanted to take you out for some ale?! Oh ho! Don't make me laugh." he chuckled low.

"What do you want?" I crossed my arms.

"What I want? I want to hear you scream. I want to hear your family scream. I want to hear them cry from mercy at my feet."

I listened in horror. Who is this Mandalorian? "The royal family is under Viszla protection." Ragnar stepped in. "If you have a problem with them then you have a problem with us."

The Mandalorian laughed. "Do you think I care about Viszla?! Your father was weak just like his father before him! Mandalore will burn under Kryze's rule, just like before."

"You lie!" I yelled. "It's been years since we've had war with anyone!"

"You think so? Well, I guess that's what I would expect of a princess stuck in the fortress all day. You don't know what happens on the outside. You don't know your people."

"Now that is a lie." a voice laughed from behind the warrior.

We all shifted. It took me a sentence to realize that I was actually thankful for his interference. "The princess cares very much for her people. Just takes a bit for her to get to know who they are." Kipp states.

"What makes you say that?" the Mandalorian scoffed.

"Because I know her more than anyone else." He pulls out his blaster and nails the Mandalorian in the side.

Ragnar pulls me to the side to shield me as the factions shot at one another. Kipp takes on two hand-to-hand. I push Ragnar to the side and kick one in the back of the knee, bringing him to his knees. I take off the helmet and jab my blade into the side of his head. Red liquid poured out, and the man's eyes roll back as he dropped to the floor. Kipp, Ragnar, and I finish off the rest of them just as their leader jetpacked off. "You okay?!" Kipp rushed to embrace me.

I took the gesture. My hands shook and I gripped his clothing. Kipp slowly pulled away even though I didn't want him to. Ragnar. "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine." Ragnar snapped. "We could have handled it ourselves."

"Interesting gesture to the one who just saved your shebs."

"You didn't help our situation. If anything you made it worst!" Ragnar quicked his pace and grabbed Kipp.

"Enough! Both of you!" I yelled.

The two Mandalorians turned their heads to look at me. "Ragnar, apologize. Kipp, take it." I tried to calm myself. "Why don't we go home, okay? I think we got enough fresh air."

***

Kipp -

My mind still wandered back to a few days ago when I kissed her. I! I kissed her! I've always been fascinated by her. Her energy, her smile, her... beautiful. Even when we were kids.

"What's your name?"

"K-Kipp."

"I'm Aeja!"

"W-why are y-you talking t-to me?"

"You looked lonely. We can't have you be lonely now, can we?" she smiled, "Let's be friends!"

I've grown much since then. I'm no longer afraid. No longer worried about what others think. I'm able to speak my mind. I was so focused on Aeja that I didn't realize I bumped into someone. "Sorry sir." I bowed my head and went on.

As I walked, I spied two Mandalorians walking down an alley with their blasters at the ready. If there was a problem, I was thinking I could help them out. I followed their path when I overheard a conversation. "Do you think I care about Viszla?! Your father was weak just like his father before him! Mandalore will burn under Kryze's rule, just like before."

"You lie!" Aeja! What is she doing?! "It's been years since we've had war with anyone!"

"You think so? Well, I guess that's what I would expect of a princess stuck in the fortress all day. You don't know what happens on the outside. You don't know your people."

I shook my head and collected myself. "Now that is a lie," I stated, walking up.

They all shifted. Aeja's look of stress changed to a lovely face of relief. I'll get you out of this. "The princess cares very much for her people. Just takes a bit for her to get to know who they are." I explain.

"What makes you say that?" the Mandalorian scoffed.

"Because I know her more than anyone." I whipped out my blaster and hit the Mandalorian in the side.

Ragnar, being the protective future riduur, shields Aeja as it's an all-out war. I take two Mandalorians on, hand-to-hand. Dodging fists and blasts, I gain the upper hand shortly and take them out for the count. I plan to help Ragnar but find Aeja had jabbed her blade into the side of one of the Mandalorian's heads. I blinked, trying to process what I watched. Ragnar finishes off the last few just as we watch the leader jetpack off. I sighed, looking around. My eyes catch a glimpse of Aeja. "You okay?!" I rushed to embrace her.

She wrapped her arms around me. Her body trembled and her hands grasped onto my clothing. I didn't want this moment to end but Ragnar stared me down in that helmet of his. I slowly pulled away. "Are you two alright?

"We're fine." Ragnar snapped. "We could have handled it ourselves."

Seriously?! "Interesting gesture to the one who just saved your shebs."

"You didn't help our situation. If anything you made it worst!" Ragnar quicked his pace and grabbed onto me. 

"Enough! Both of you!" Aeja yelled.

The two of us turned our heads to look at the princess. "Ragnar, apologize. Kipp, take it." She looked frustrated and full of nerves. "Why don't we go home, okay? I think we got enough fresh air."