This chapter is a long one. I took my time with it. It's in three parts. Lots of angst, mentions of war and temptations of the dark side. Enjoy!

PART 1: Intro

The not-so-distant future...

Din Djarin is now the Mand'alor, the king of a nonfunctioning government with a lost and interspersed culture. He is now the leader of all Mandalorians, at least for now. The blue whirling lights of hyperspace flickered on the beskar hilt as he examined his newly acquired weapon. The Darksaber had come to him with great responsibility. Now, he is on a mission to free himself of his sins.

Since Mandalore is in the same sector as Krownest, it only took less than a day to arrive. Kia and the others were right. The planet is not cursed, but uninhabitable. The air had become toxic after years of war and conflict. Din had been taught that redemption could only be found in the waters of the old mines of their homeworld. So he plans on doing it right, with vigilance and determination, to clean himself of his sins. In the end, he would ascend out of the caverns with his identity fully restored to him. Yet he knew he didn't have to come here.

There was so much history here. Blood was spilled here. The dreams of younglings were created and ignited here. But now, all that is left is broken-down ships, sand and melted rock. Nevertheless, he never regretted breaking his Creed. Not once. But as he stood in front of The Armorer for the first time in months, he felt a brief, yet foolish hope, that she or Paz would ask why he had removed his helmet. And then — maybe — they would understand his reasoning. But even as he was admitting his guilt, he felt a knife stabbing him into his throat. He knew he was the only one in the covert to have broken the vow.

Although Kia and the others made it clear that this voyage is not necessary, yet he needed to come here. He could have lived the rest of his life with the words of The Armorer repeating in his head. Yet even now, he could not ignore the motives of why he took off his helmet on Morak or on Moff Gideon's ship. Because he did it for his child. He did it to save the foundling that was in his care, and again to say goodbye to him. He would not have corrected anyone for their presumptions, and he would have allowed the two events to fade away in his memory. But this would mean that he'd completely lost his way...and he hated to lie.

He had broken his Creed and lost his soul, but he still felt like a Mandalorian. He still hunted, wore the armor, fought with honor and stayed loyal to those he felt earned his trust. He continued to care for his foundling and equipped himself with weapons he'd been trained to use. Yet he did not force himself to travel here, nor was it the advice of The Armorer that he decided to seek vindication. No. It's what he had to do. He had to see the 'cursed' planet for himself, but he didn't come alone.

Leaving Grogu at the Wren stronghold, Kia is accompanying Din on his journey to cleanse himself of his past transgressions. Risking the poisons, the ruined remains of mangled vessel fragments, and the graveyard of decaying durasteel, Kia has returned to Mandalore with a task of her own. Her fear of being reunited with the skeletons of her clan members on the deserted landscape, had gripped her heart three times before realizing that the haunting whispers was the Force enticing her.

The dark side is swirling all around her, but she does not flinch or concede. She is familiar with its thrashing winds of fury and torment. She may be afraid and angry, but she does not allow her feelings to overpower her rational thoughts. She has faced this type of energy before and has conquered it. She will not become its next victim. She had been well trained and felt ready to resist the darkness and the possibility of impending doom. The Force is crying out, and the voices get louder each second as they get closer towards the brownish world that is gradually coming into view before them.

***

In their need to maintain their control of the planet, it turns out that the remnants of the Empire had built a small outpost near the collapsed domed city of Sundari. Their sensors picked up life forms readings on the otherwise barren world. Yet as they slowly descend into the planet's atmosphere, all they see is white dunes and derelict starfighters as far as their eyes could see. The ground is littered with wrecked chunks of Kom'rk-class starships and TIE-fighters, scattered erratically in all directions, from horizon to horizon.

It seemed nothing of worth had been left in the debris fields. Any and all valuable materials or startship components had been stripped away by either the Imperial forces or the Scrapper's Guild. Following the conclusion of the battle, and the extermination of the population, the Galactic Empire began mercilessly mining the precious beskar from the many subterranean caves throughout the planet. As Kia and Din fly overhead the vast wasteland and discarded metal, no movement or activity could be detected with the naked eye.

Din began the landing cycle near an abandoned mine, his reasoning behind why he chose this specific spot was only because it was the first one they saw. Silence had fallen between them as their ship touched the soft dusty earth. Both of them were deep in thought as they step out onto the desert surface of the homeworld of their people. A sandstorm had recently ended. In the murky morning light on this forsaken world, they shiver under their armor. The souls of the dead who had been slain here echoed from all around them. Even Din felt their cries. Danger is lurking in the vicinity, and they both could sense it.

Kia allowed Din to take the lead and they walk in silence towards the entrance of the mine. The Force was all around her as the old beskar quarry slowly emerges from the sandy mists. The Force is her ally, her companion and her guide, yet it was also her nemesis. It was both warm and cold, light and dark, life and death. It was powerful, bright and limitless; tugging, coiling, binding all at once. Due to all of the violence and destruction, the chill of the dark side is strong here, but Kia focuses her mind on the warmth of the light side and her affections towards those she cares for.

She knew what this energy is. She's sensed it before with her adoptive father and her clan, which had always given her counsel in her pain and grief. Now, it is her friendship with Master Luke and her love for Grogu, their powerful impact a beacon from across the vastness of space. It is also the attachment she has formed with Din Djarin, whose speechless presence provides her with a sense of calm and peace. It was mighty and ever-present bonds that's been forged through the Force itself, relationships she intends to encourage, nurture, and cherish now and forever.

***

The lights attached to their helmets traced the jagged edges of the cavern as they searched for a way down towards the crystal-clear pool beneath them. Tiny rocks skidded and plummeted down a deep pit, slashing into the water far below their feet. With every waterfall, the echoes within the sunless hollow reverberated louder by the second. It sounded as if the entire tunnel is collapsing from all around them, and then the voices suddenly faded into silence. The fear of being covered alive within the slick stone, deep under the ruined surface of Mandalore, chilled them from their core to their bones.

"Kia I — Uh, " Din's voice echoed in the blackness of the dark chamber. "I think I should do this alone," he continued to say as he looked at the dark trail ahead of them. Kia's black helmet swiveled in his direction, her silent protest was evident and clear.

"I will stay as long as you need," she replied firmly but with slight hesitation. With a single nod, Din leaves her at the entrance of the cave and disappears into the dark void of the tunnel.

***

PART 2: DIN

Checking his oxygen reserve, Din saw that majority of his tank is still remaining, so he scanned the pathway three times before stepping closer to the water's edge. His boots were worn and slick with the mildew from the cave, which slid against a sloped floor, forcing him to walk slower. But with steady breathing and positive steps, he made it to the outermost wall. Carefully, he shed his jet pack, being careful not to dislodge his oxygen tank or break the seals on his helm. He had to turn off his helmet's display so he could see past the red and orange visualizations, which are alerting him of the massive amounts of toxicity that are all around him.

His fingers shook with an icy chill that oozed past his thick flight suit. His beskar warmed his chest, head and the flesh of his limbs, but anything unprotected clenched tight to his skin from the cold. He wished he was back at the ship, wrapped tightly in Kia's warm embrace as he held her close to his chest. Regardless of what happens to him down here in the depths of the earth, he was going to make it back into her arms. He is not planning to die down here!

Another characteristic of the cave were the rocks themselves. From the manner in which his covert spoke of Mandalore and its dwindling resources, he expected the mines to be totally empty. Abandoned long ago, before the collapse of the government and removal of the beskar so sacred to the Mandalorians — and yet — this one wasn't. The walls were solid and could not be cut, or drilled into with any equipment he had at hand. Instead, he found a sizable rock that he could use to loop his grappling wire around and, using both legs hung over the side of a silky ravine, he descended further down.

He kept his helmet on and the light, aiming it down at the deep abyss, and he tried not to look around at the pitch blackness that encircles him. He now wonders if all the mines of Mandalore were this way. As he stepped onto the homeworld of his people for the first time, he thought that it would feel more significant to him. That coming here to find his soul again would feel more monumental. Regardless of what was had said to him or what others may think of him, it was necessary for him to rid himself from his regret.

Then as he landed a foot away from a narrow ledge, he swung his legs until his foot got caught on the edge, and then he pulled himself over onto solid ground. It became apparent that he miscalculated how short the platform expanded off the wall. The edge that dipped into the black pool felt too close for comfort, even as he leaned his back against the wall without his jet pack on. Then he had a thought, The Armorer may have truly believed that there was redemption for him here.

A near-impossible task except for the most strong willed, a foolish journey to a decimated battleground on a lost and forgotten planet. Yet still The Armorer gave him one last chance. And now he's standing in the dark within the depths of a planet he's never known as home, seeking forgiveness in spite of his loyal faith, as well as his promise that he would do it all over again if given the chance. He would break his Creed again. But he is here. Why? Because this is the Way? No. It was because he is now the Manda'lor and he needed to visit the home planet of his people.

The putrid air didn't burn his skin, though the longer it took for him to strip himself of his layers, the less he felt his fingers and toes. The process took longer as he moved his breathing apparatus, being careful not to push it too much or loosen the air canister amongst the black rocks, or worse, out into the pool. But soon enough he sat on the edge of the water, staring down into the bottomless pit wearing only his underclothes.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably as the cold crept into his fingers and toes, then up his arms and legs, threatening to grip his heart. How many had come here before him? He thought. How many froze in the water and sank to the bottomless pit, disappearing into the depths of Mandalore forever? That wasn't going to happen to him. He wouldn't let it happen to him. Because he needed to return to Kia and Grogu. He shook his head of vile thoughts and after a quick breath, shoved a hand into the water. Ripples fell away from his hand, his fingers were below the water line...but it felt...warm.

He pulled his hand out to cradle his chest, the sounds of splashing echoing around him. Then he slipped into the warm water. He didn't completely lose the nerves in his hands and feet; because the water was not cold at all. He stopped shivering and felt himself loosen up. Heat radiated through his body, up his spine and gave back all that had disappeared since entering the mines. But he wasn't finished yet. Now he just needed to dip his head under the water and then he would be okay.

Before he could persuade himself otherwise, he took a deep inhale and lifted up his helmet. Cold air rushed to meet his face and filled his nostrils, but as soon as his helm was placed safely on the ground at the water's edge, he pushed his entire body under water. A warm darkness he had never felt before flooded his senses. It was so warm. Then another thought came to him as he was submerged in the pool. He has a clan. He has his foundling back. And he has a woman he lo-wait!

Love. The word alone sounds odd to him. He's never felt this way about another person before. Sure he loves Grogu, yes, but that was different. He is just a baby. Then he brought his head up over the water then looked up. He watched in awe as specks of blue light of bioluminescence moved in a spiraling motions all around him, caught up in the air current of the cave

His mind and body was begging him to return to Kia's arms and he could no longer remain under Mandalore's surface. As he kicked and pulled himself up over the edge, breaking through the water to take a deep a breath in. He slipped his helmet on and began putting his armor back on. The moment he sees Kia again, he is going to do something about it and he's never felt this determined in his life!

PART 3: Kia

The second Din vanished into the black hole of the old mine, a sudden gush of grief jolted throughout her body and a tear flowed down her cheek. After the ache faded away, her anger began to blossom. The darkness rolled out inside her like a thick blanket, filling her with a wild hunger to push the limits of what she could get away with under her nose. It was at this moment when she realized how much she truly cares for the stoic bounty hunter in beskar. It's only been a few minutes and she's already missing the stubborn fool.

The dark side pressed against the edges of her mind. She lets it in. Just a little, making sure her presence was shielded. She gave in to attachment. She knew it was against the code, yet she allowed herself to fall in love with the Manda'lore. Then her rage burned, but the fire warmed her. The darkness sang inside her and filled her with that familiar sense of power, which she did not want. Yet she let herself feel it, her only excuse is that she wasn't actually using it. Just letting it in. That was all.

Time seemed to slow. Kia clutched her fingers onto the stone wall, desperately fighting to break away her rising panic. Din was taking longer than she thought it would take. A life without Din, she could not bear it. A journey to find your soul will take as long as it needed to. She knew this. She remembered her time on Illum to harvest her kyber crystal, a task meant to be accomplished alone.

"The dark side, can't you feel it?" A soft whisper is heard from outside the cave, so she follows it. She tries to reach her mind out to the warmth of the light side, but the darkness tightened around her throat, refusing to let her speak. A faint image of a Dathomirian woman appears in the foggy mists a great distance away. As the figure got closer, she recognized the person. It was Amina. "Kia, you are a coward for abandoning your training."

Kia shook her head. "No, I am not," she finally was able to whisper to herself as she squeezes her eyes shut. The light side was quiet underneath all the darkness, a suffocating cloud that had blanketed it, emanating from the battlefield and was about to be unleashed. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her body tensed, the Force screamed in both warning and agony.

She understands the allure of the dark side. It is power concentrated in its purest form, and it settles deep in her heart. There is an undertone that murmurs promises of forbidden pleasures, secrets and abilities beyond her wildest dreams. It roils around her, taking on a nasty sting. Then the dark lure vanishes in an instant, replaced by a violent heat. An electrical charge shoots through her body and her senses sharpen. Then she reopens her eyes.

"Ad'ika, you left me here to die," her father's voice is heard amongst the dusty haze. She spots a blurry and faint image of a man in black and dark green Mandalorian armor in the distance. Then the ground starts to rumble beneath her feet, faint vibrations increasing in magnitude until the crashed starships around her began to shake and rattle her bones. She has to be strong; the dark side is the easy way out, and there would be nothing easier than to lose herself to its powerful influence in this moment.

"No! That's not true!" She cries as a tear rolls down her face. "My father loved me!"

She pulls her thoughts inward. She does not need the dark side. It can offer her enormous power, yet it cannot provide her the cool tranquility of the light. It can never give her what she wants. It would never give her peace or purpose. It will never bring back her father or the rest of her clan who died here.

So she closes her eyes and refocuses her mind on the kindness in Master Luke's eyes, and the wisdom and friendship she has found with him. She thinks of Grogu's babbling and cooing, the little padawan needs her devotion and guidance. Then she visualizes the loving embrace of Din, his dark brown eyes staring back at her, along with his mustache and lips kissing her. And then it hits her...she could not endure a life without him!

Then she sensed a threat approaching fast...

"FREEZE MANDO!" A platoon of stormtroopers in white armor encircled her, their rifles pointed at her head as her eyes fly open.

"All this death and destruction is their fault!" Amina's voice is heard inside her head. "Kill them! They deserve it!"

This is no longer the same lush world it once was. It is now a barren land, desecrated by genocide and bloodshed. Turned into a bone dry desert that has long forgotten the cool touch of water. It is no longer morning either, the midday sun is now directly above her. A fire sparks to life deep inside her. She fights the impulse to give in to her rage.

"This planet is under the control of the Empire. Surrender now, or we will open fire!" One of the stormtroopers call out.

"This planet belongs to the Mandalorians!" She snarls. She knew she had always danced the fine line between the dark side and the light side her whole life. She managed to stay on the light side, even after almost succumbing to the darkness when her entire clan died on this sands of this planet. She had felt rage and darkness that day, and she had hoped to never to use it unless it was necessary. But here it has returned in full force, and this time...she will allow it to enter her mind.

A bone-shaking scream escapes her mouth as she throws her arms out. Bolts of blue sparks whips out from her fingers and over the ruined battlefield, killing every stormtrooper that had been sent to arrest her. A hurricane of both dark and light swirled around her, both equally consuming her as explosions rocked the ground as the Force-lightning destroyed the entire platoon, and it felt liberating!

Suddenly everything fell still and deathly silent, all that could be heard was the small crackling of electricity in the air, small arcs of lightning-sparked around her fingers as she began to lose her strength. She collapsed to her knees onto the sand, staring blankly forward with unseeing eyes as her chest rose and fell as she gasped for air.

"Sorry Luke, I had to do it," she whispered as beads of sweat drips down her forehead. Then unexpectedly, she's being holstered up by a pair of metal arms and she gasped.

"It's okay, Kia. It's me," it was Din. The moment she realized it was him, she latched onto him for dear life.

"Din, get us out of here, please. I - I gave in," she cried softly. "I killed them all."

"Shh. It's okay. I got you, mesh'la. Let's go home," he tells her as they quickly dashed back to the ship.

***

Meanwhile, on a hidden outpost on Concordia...

"Pardon me, sir," an Imperial officer bowed as he entered the room.

"What?" Moff Gideon huffed as he turned in his chair, sliding the tablet across the table.

"One of our viper droids picked up something on Mandalore," the officer said, his posture was shaking as he was ready to flee.

Gideon inhaled, keeping his face neutral and held his gaze to the officer. He pursed his lips. "Well, play the recording!"

The officer reaches out to push a button on the control panel of the central computer. They see an image they could not explain. A display of a female Mandalorian is black armor, electrocuting an entire unit of stormtroopers using nothing but her hands.

"Sir..." the officer said after a moment's pause where Gideon did not speak. "It appears the Mandalorians have returned."

"That was no ordinary Mandalorian," it took Gideon a second before he realized what he was seeing on the screen. "That was a Jedi. Inform Grand Admiral Thrawn. He should know about this."

"Understood sir."

"Dismissed," Gideon drawled, watching the officer practically melt with relief and scurry away.