The unknown soldier.

A warrior's tale.

Natalie's POV

****three weeks later****

I loved training on the roof of the building. Taking in the light breeze across my face, it was warm with a sweet smell of the spring seasons coming. Rihat was holding my new staff, its familiarity in my hands made me smile. I had trained day in and day out with him. My skills had improved so much more than I was when I first came. "Ready?" He asked. I nodded and he lashed out cutting to my left, I stepped to the right, and caught his staff with mine, forcing it upward, it knocked him off balance, giving me a chance to attack. I slashed down and he jumped over it, swiped at me with his leg. I flipped backward, then gained speed rushing forward again, roundhousing him across the helmet. He ignited his jetpack and flew up. "No fair!" I whined. "Is any fight?" he asked back. I used the force to help me jump up higher, yanking off his jetpack so he fell to the ground. landing on my feet I was prepared for his attack, slicing to my right, sidestepping it again, I grabbed the hilt and pulled him forward, slamming my knee into his stomach. He dropped his staff. I bent to pick his up, when he slammed me into the ground, knocking my staff out of my hand. 

"I win." He panted. Using the force I grabbed both staffs and in a split second, I had them crossed at his neck. "No," I smirked. "I win." I couldn't tell under his helmet but through the force, I could tell he was smiling. "You're ready." He got up and took me down to the throne room. "Mother." He said addressing the woman from a few weeks before. "She is ready to get the crystal." His mother came down to me and held my hand. "Her energy bleeds through the force, you can feel it. She is the balance between the good and bad." Her eyes opened as she looked into my eyes. "You have the spirit of your mother, strong, firm, determined, kind. But you fight like your brother, destructive, strategic, and ferocious. You have proven yourself to hold our sacred kyber crystal." She presented a black Kyber crystal in a black and white marbled box, its energy surrounding it, crackling around it. 

Carefully I took it in my hands. "The second crystal trusted to a Mandalorian many years ago, he fought with the light and dark powers, choosing his allies wisely. He died in battle, not one against another person, but a battle against himself. Being equally balanced is a gift, but if you don't control it, it will tear you in half, divided by both sides." She said. "His dying words were, 'give this to someone like me, balanced, brave, true, and ensure that one to not make the same grave mistake as me." I stood. "Thank you." I bowed. "Both of you." I nodded to Rihat. "Please." Rihat gave me a little silver cylinder, a Com-link. I put both the Radio and Kyber crystal in my bag. "Transmission us if you ever need the force of the Mandalore. But also be careful with the Krystal, it's already cracked, even more damage outside of a container may be deadly-oof." he was cut off as I gave him a hug. He was hesitant at first but hugged me back after that. 

Poe, Finn, and Rey came in as I let go of Rihat. "Thank you for letting us come here, we have all the information we need on the new Starfleet for the First Order." Poe thanked the Mandalorians. "I'm glad our resources could be of help." She bowed her head. "Natalie,"  Rihat called after me as we walked away. I turned. "Remember the warrior's tale." I nodded. Soon I stepped on the Falcon and fell asleep. 

POES POV

I watched as Nat hugged the Mandalorian. My heart wrenched. Not only had he been hugged by her, but he spent more time with her than I have. Three whole weeks to be exact. And when he called her back to tell her something, I swear I could have blown his head off right then and there. Back on the falcon, I went to her room to ask her how she was. I hadn't seen her all month, but she was fast asleep on her bed, blankets wrapped around her like a cocoon. I smiled lightly and headed to the cockpit. 

"You're jealous." A voice said behind me. Finn stood in the doorway and I plugged in our coordinates to take off into lightspeed. "No," I said annoyed while emphasizing the point with my head. Chewie roared. "Oh shut up will you?" I asked. "What's all the noise for in here?" Rey asked sitting behind me. "Poe is Jealous of Rihat." Finn poked at me. Batting his hand away, I said no again, only to be met by Chewies roars again. "Oh does he now?" Rey asked side-eyeing me. He roared again "He did?!" She exclaimed turning to me. "You care for Natalie? and you took her to your room the other night?" Her eyes were wide. 

"What did you two do Poe? Anything we should know about?" Finn teased again. My face reddened. "N-no! All I did was put her on my bottom bunk and I stayed on the top bunk." They teased me some more until we heard the light sound of footsteps patterig down the hall. Soon enough the door opened to a tired Natalie, wrapped in her blanket still, and her grey eyes were sleepy. "Why are you all yelling?" she yawned. "Good morning sleepy head." Rey laughed. "How was your stay with Rihat" Rey emphasised Rihats name knowing that I would get angry. Finn snickered.

"What?" Natalie asked. "Rihat is a nice man, I really had the pleasure of training with him. He is a fenominal teacher." Rey laughed as she stood. "Oh I bet."  Natalie still was confused as Rey left to meditate, and Natalie took her place, soon falling asleep until we pulled into port. 

**  **  **

"How did your mission go?" General Organa asked me. I nodded while looking over the information of the newset StarDestroyer. Its cannons were so powerful, if a couple gathered around a small planet, the place would become ashes. "Good, but what the First Order has in its hands isn't very good at all." Then, the incident on the way to Mandalor came crashing back. "Kylo Ren visited Natalie on the Falcon." I said solemnly. "What?" she exclaimed. "Why wasn't I informed of this." Shaking her head she walked to the Com-link and announced for an immediate meeting for all Resistance members. Then turning back to me she pointed a bony finger. "Dameron, you will be presenting the information to everyone. Then I will have a talk with both you and Natalie." 

Natalie's POV

I stood next to Rey as Poe presented his information to the Resistance. Finn stood by another girl I hadn't met before now, her name was Rose. I needed to know this information, but it was hard due to getting lost in Poes features. The high rise of his cheekbones, the little stubble along his soft cheeks and sharp jawline, his soft lips and bright, brilliant brown eyes. I also loved his hair, the floofyness of his hair just made you want to play with it. "hey." Rey whispered in my ear which made me jump. "Stare later, retain information now." She giggled as the tips of my ears turned red. The detales of the Star Destroyers were horrifying. Only a couple of ships could destroy a planet. The First Order had yet to activate it, due to a couple of problems with the heatsheilds. I found it funny that I was never informed of this new fleet when I was part of the First Order's council. 

Soon, the meeting was over, and Lea pulled Poe and I aside. "So Natalie, Poe here tells me that Ben visited you on the ship, is that correct?" Before answering I made to throw Poe a side-eye. "Yes he did. He was on the ship, he could tell by my surroundings, I don't know if he saw anyone else." Lea nodded at my words. "And what did he say to you." Taking a deep breath, I said. "He said I knew him, then threatened you all, and said he knew who I was with, but not where. He said he was going to find me." Lea's face was stone cold. Through the force I reached into her mind. "He knows I found you, he is going to out me, the resistance wont trust me."  "Anything else?" she asked. 

"He attacked her, chocked her Lea, he tried to kill her." Poe fumed. Her eyes snapped right back to me then back to Poe. "He is stronger than I remember..." "We have to do something!" Poe's voice raised. "Commander Dameron calm yourself, first we will find a way to destroy these new Star Destroyers. Then Ren. You both are dismissed." Poe and I turned at her words and went to the Mess Hall for some food. I would train with Lea in the morning.