Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a normal happy occasion. The celebration of Jaster’s 30th year on the throne of Mandalore. As Jango looked out the window from his room he saw streamers and balloons lining the streeting, confetti being shot into the air, and the sound of bands playing was overshadowed by people cheering. All of this was for Jango’s father, Mand’alor the Reformer. He brought peace and justice to Mandalore. Mandalorians were able to express their warrior ways while not having to constantly be ready for war.
Jango was lucky, he never had to live through the times before Jaster was Mand’alor. Having been adopted as a baby 19 years ago, Jango only knew the Mandalore that had slight adjustments to its policies that made people's lives better. Before then, Jaster had to make great changes, changes that not everyone wanted. Turmoil was normal then. But now, everyone's lives were stable.
“Well, how do I look?” Jaster asked and spun around when Jango looked at him. Jaster wore his armor perfectly polished, even more so than usual.
“Like your armor went through a speeder wash.” Jango joked. He was proud of his father, but he couldn’t hold back his teasing.
“Jan’ika! Shush! You look great, buir.” Arla said.
“It’s fine. A leader needs someone to humble him.” Jaster smiled at his son and gave Jango a look.
“If you ruffle my hair.” Jango stepped back and held out his hand.
“Vod, get into your armor. The parade is in an hour!” Arla pushed Jango into the dressing room that held his armor.
“I can get in it in 3 minutes.” Jango rolled his eyes even though his sister could no longer see him as he buckled the leather straps to attach his thigh armor.
“You can do that if your armor looks sloppy.” Arla teased.
“I have to agree with Arl’ika on this one.” Jaster laughed.
Jango shook his head and started to mentally prepare for the crowds. He always hated how loud they were. Sure, the people were being nice and supportive but Jango almost always needed to use the noise suppressors in his helmet. He much preferred the one on ones, the events where he actually got to talk to and listen to people.
“Alright, I’m ready. Is this better for you?” Jango stuck his tongue out at Arla.
“Eh. Your vambraces are uneven,” Jango looked down at his vambraces to see what Arla was talking about, “Ha! Gotcha!”
“Osi’kyr!” Jango feinted dismay.
“Come along ad’ika. We have to go for pictures and let Ertus have his field day.” Jango said, referencing the palace’s photographer. Jango and Arla kept prodding each other with slight insults as they walked down the halls. It helped ease Jango’s nerves with facing all the people of Mandalore.
“Oh good! You all look wonderful as always.” Ertus clapped and quickly shoved the family in front of a backdrop.
“Good to see you too, How have you been doing?” Jaster asked as he placed an arm on each of his children's shoulders to pose for the picture.
“Good. Very excited for today! Your Highnesses, could you please remove your helmets but hold them to your side?” Ertus instructed. Jango and Arla did as they were told, used to the pattern of movements that was taking official pictures.
This continued for another ten minutes, at least Ertus was quick. The royal family made their way down to the hangar where they would leave from. As they walked Jango’s mind drifted to the thought of a world without his father as Mand’alor. Jaster had made it clear that he planned to step down after 35 years on the throne, only 5 more years. An election between himself and Arla would happen throughout all of the Mandalore System, the winner would be Mand’alor.
Jango didn’t know if he even wanted to be Mand’alor, the pressure would be too great. Sure, he would have the support of his father and both he and Arla had trained for the role. But Arla was better with the diplomats, she had plans for the well being of Mandalorian that she made Jango promise to carry out if he was chosen to be Mand’alor.
The open air speeder sat near the entrance of the hangar. Security milled around it, occasionally checking in on their comms. Jango always admired the ori’ramikad’e, they put their lives on the line for the royal family. Whenever he had free time Jango would go to watch them train. A few of them would sometimes invite Jango to train with them. It was this way that Jango met his best friend. Myles was in training as a ramikad and trained with the ori’ramikad and one lucky day their paths crossed.
“Jango!” A familiar voice shouted and Jango turned to see the waving hand of his friend.
“Hey! What’re you doing in your armor? Aren’t you gonna be in the crowd?” Jango asked as he ran over to Myles.
“Nope! I got put on sen’tra guard! I’m flying third row back right.” Myles smiled broadly.
“Nice! Congrats!” Jango clapped his friend on the shoulder.
“Jango! We have to get on the speeder!” Arla called to her brother. Jango rolled his eyes as he turned back to Myles.
“See you in the air!” Jango gave a half hearted salute and walked back to his family.
“Good. We'll be in the air in 10 minutes. How was talking with Myles?” Jaster smirked at Jango.
“Buuiiir! I don’t like him like that!” Jango complained as he followed his father into the speeder.
There were seats labeled for each of the family members. Jaster took his seat at the front and Jango and Arla took their seats at his side, placed slightly behind Jaster’s seat.
“I’m just saying that with time friendships can grow.” Jaster’s smirk grew as Jango’s face turned more red.
“Don’t worry Jan’ika, you’ll realize in time.” Arla patted Jango’s back.
“Sir, we’re ready to start when you are.” Montross, the head of the ori’ramikad’e, said to Jaster.
“Let’s head out in two minutes. I just want to talk to my kids.” Jaster’s deep voice rumbled. Jango noticed how Jaster’s smile got tighter and tone got more curt as he spoke to Montross.
“Okay sir.” Montross nodded and left to give the orders.
“Okay kiddos, it’s going to be just like you're used to. It’ll probably be a bit more loud and some more people but it’s just like other parades. You know the drill, smile and wave. At the end when we dock is when you can talk to people and accept flowers and gifts. Hand them to the security guards behind you and then you can look at them later. You’re going to do great.” Jango instructed.
“Buir, is this more of pep talk for you or for us?” Arla asked.
“Both?” Jaster laughed.
“We got it. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.” Jango smiled. He hoped that he put his dad at ease.
Jango looked back and saw Myles in the third row of ramikad on the same side of the speeder that Jango was on. He gave a short wave as he felt the engine of the speeder start up. Myles responded with a short nod but Jango could practically see the glowing smile beneath his friend's helmet.
As they exited the docking bay the gray steel walls turned into colorful crowds of people cheering and waving. Helmet at his side, Jango waved back and smiled. He saw kids holding flags of various colors and teens who were just starting to wear armor banging their vambraces together. He watched as Jaster held up his hand and bowed his head towards his people.
A few minutes passed as they followed the parade route through the streets of Sundari. The Mereel family passed between tall buildings where other families gathered on balconies and threw confetti.
As they exited the crowded roads between the buildings to fly between the large bleachers filled with people Jaster turned back to Arla and Jango.
“Good job. Ten more minutes and then we can get to Jango’s favorite part.” Jaster smirked.
“Eating food?” Arla teased.
“No, talking to people.” Jango leaned to hit his sister's elbow with his own.
“Riiight, you’re all Mr. Extrovert.” Arla smiled at Jango.
That’s when he noticed Montross, who was flying right beside the family’s speeder, pull something out of his belt.
That was when Jango’s world turned upside down.