Family and Flame [The Mandalorian]

The Cave

As I stood next to Luke, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension churned within me. "Whats inside the cave?" I asked, my voice betraying the curiosity that burned inside.

The cave before us was perched at the edge of a rugged cliffside. Its entrance framed by weather-beaten boulders and twisted roots that clung desperately to the rocky terrain. Moss and ivy crawled along the jagged edges of the cave's mouth, casting verdant shadows in the fading light of dusk.

Luke's gaze was steady, his expression serious yet gentle. "There are truths within that you must face, Mara. It is time for you to confront your past and embrace your destiny."

My heart skipped a beat at his words, a rush of emotions swirling within me. "But what will I find there?"

Luke's eyes seemed to pierce through me, as if he could see into the depths of my soul. "You will find the answers you seek, Mara. But you must be prepared for what you may discover."

With a nod, I gathered my resolve, ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery.

As I stepped into the cave, Luke's voice echoed, guiding me forward. "Trust in the Force, Mara. Let it lead you."

Venturing deeper, the darkness around me began to shift and shimmer, revealing a crystalline chamber unlike anything I had ever seen before.

"What is this place?" I whispered, my voice barely audible against the echoing walls.

Memories began to materialize within the sparkling crystals, each one pulsing with a life of its own.

My heart clenched as scenes from my childhood with my mother unfolded before my eyes. Moments of laughter and love, but also the gut-wrenching pain of her loss to the death troopers. The same ones Gideon had.

I felt a wave of grief wash over me. I had shut that part of my memory's away so I wouldn't have to deal with it again.

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I watched as another memory emerged.

The day I met Grogu, the tiny creature who would forever change my life. The one who was the first to become family to me.

Then the memory of when Mando found us stirred a mixture of joy and loss within me.

As each memory washed over me, I felt a surge of emotion unlike anything I had ever experienced. But amidst the pain and sorrow, there were moments of joy and hope, tiny sparks of light amidst the darkness.

But then, amidst the swirling patterns of light, something caught my eye. A glint of metal nestled between two crystals.

I reached out and grasped the object, feeling the cool touch of Beskar against my skin. As I lifted it closer, I realized what it was. The Mudhorn pendant.

My Mudhorn Pendant

Tears welled in my eyes. I never thought I would see it again.

"Searching for a family your whole life, have you?" A voice spoke.

I quickly turned around to see a short green creature sitting on one of the crystals. He looked like Grogu, but old.

"Fear not. Here to guide you, I am." He smiled, warmly. "Much pain I sense in you."

"I miss them....and I know I shouldn't." I sigh. "But I do."

"Hmm, a different path your on. Choose for yourself, you must." He raised his eyebrow. "Stay or go?"

"But if I go wouldn't all Mando have sacrificed be for nothing?"

"Worry so much of what others think, you do." He shook his head. "Jedi, you are not."

I looked down. My hand reaching up to grab my crystal. "Then why am I here?"

"To learn. Stronger you have become, hm?"

"I guess, but no matter how much I try I can't grow in the force."

"No try. Do or do not. There is no try." He smiled to himself. "Miss you, your family does."

"My family?"

"Yes." He laughed, tapping the hand holding the pendant with his staff. "There, you belong."

I looked down at my necklace as my crystal started to glow. The air around me felt alive. I closed my eyes.

I could feel it.

The raise and fall.

I was my own wall, blocking any growth.

"I did it-" I opened my eyes and he was gone. "Strange..."

With the pendant cradled in my palm, I felt a sense of connection to something greater than myself. For once I knew where I was going.

Home.

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AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I apologize if it was all over the place, I had a lot of ideas all at once.
Wc:751
Thank you for reading
Knout!