Authors Notes:
Hi guys! This is my very first Star Wars fanfic, and I hope that you enjoy the ride. If you like what you're reading please give a review, a follow, a favorite or a watch. I'm not demanding it, just asking that you keep yourself in the loop of the story if you're enjoying it. Anyways, enjoy.
Title: The Shadow Races The Light
Characters/Pairings: Kylo Ren X OC & Poe X OC
Timeline: Takes place after The Force Awakens.
Author: Tsutabon, or a person who wrote alot of Dragon age smut, but needs another cathartic outlet.
Darkness.
It settled over him like a blanket, his mind only remembering the cold that surrounded him. Feeling the wind whip in his face as the snow moved. He could feel the warmth pull away from him. Feeling as if his own life was disappearing.
He would die here in the cold blanket of the snow.
The darkness that he so fondly remembered faded, alarmingly pulling him into the light of the world.
Ren opened his eyes, looking into the bright light in the medical room. His eyes adjusted, the brightness no longer his focus as he looked above. Hearing the angered voice of General Hux from the door.
" Beaten again by a girl."
He could sense the tenseness and annoyance in his voice,
"Now Starkiller Base is destroyed because of you. "
He sensed the anger now rising in the General, he turned away, focusing on anything other than the General's increasing annoyance and anger. His hand reached up, feeling the bacta bandage on his skin.
"You're lucky, it will only be a scar."
Hux spoke again, reminding him just how lucky he is to still be alive, regardless of the scar.
"I was.."
Ren stumbled in his words, forgetting what had happened for the moment, how had he got here? Where were they?
"Supreme Leader Snoke.."
Hux walked closer to the operating table as Ren began to slowly push himself from the cold metal surface.
"He commanded that we pick you up before Starkiller was destroyed."
Ren felt his leg throb, remembering the fight between him and Rey, how he moved on the offensive, his saber swinging intent on stopping the resistance. He could feel the earth move beneath him as the base began to crumble, the snow blowing violently. He had offered to teach her the ways of the force, and in turn she unleashed it's potential.
She sent him back, her strikes hard and precise, each passing moment she moved faster on the offensive. Until her saber swung up, scaring him instantly. He looked back on it now, finding himself lucky that the blade missed his eye.
"Any word from The Supreme Leader?"
Ren spoke, moving his legs over the table, lowering his feet onto the floor.
"He wishes to speak with you."
Hux crossed his arms, looking at Ren stumble to his feet, his hand still bracing against the table, the other pressing against his temple.
"Of course…"
Ren felt the disappointment well up within himself. Snoke could feel it, he knew that it would stretch across the force to him. This was something he was dreading, failure. He failed to find the map leading to Skywalker, he failed to get the droid, to stop the girl, he let Starkiller base be destroyed.
He worried now that his master would sense his failure, and be lost within it. He knew that this wouldn't end well for him, as disappointment never ended well for failed apprentices.
He gathered himself back up as he settled himself down. He was becoming too lost within himself, within his fear. Something that he knew that he needed to control. But this wasn't the time to focus on such things.
His hands reached for his helm, protecting his image, and separating himself even further from those occupying the ship. He felt the heavy metal begin to weigh him down, as heavy as his mind. But he had to move forward, Snoke had requested him, and in turn he had to comply.
The hallways were long, the silence was tense. Those that did walk past seemed even more sullen than before. Now that Starkiller had been lost, The First Order had lost a very important piece in the fight. Ren knew that, and knew that they would find him responsible. But he was an apprentice to Supreme leader Snoke. His mission was above the first order, and above the military that occupied.
He stilled the nervousness within himself as they moved towards the communication center. He knew Snoke would be waiting for them in there, waiting to chastise him. But he had to be prepared for any of the decisions that Snoke had for him.
Hux stood behind him in silence as the door opened, the holographic image of Snoke sitting in this makeshift throne awaited them. It wasn't the same height as the previous version was back at Starkiller. But this would do to convey his words and his image.
" Kylo Ren…"
He heard his name spoken in that same cold and calculated voice. Almost as if planning each word carefully, not to incite any fear. Each word to ensure that it was heard, and was considered before anything happened.
"Master.."
Ren spoke as he walked forward, the door shutting behind them. He looked at the image before him in the center of the room, He stood the same height as him, making him seem as if he was a person. Something not to fear, but instead the master that has so far taught him everything that he needed to learn about the dark side of the force.
"Kylo Ren…"
His name was getting drawn out again, how Snoke drew out his name he knew that this was bad news for him. He feared suddenly that wearing his mask would do nothing more than make his connection to his master worse, his feelings and face would betray him regardless.
Ren pulled his helm from his head, setting the heavy metal to the side beside the communications He would no longer hide his emotions from the decision his master would make.
"Yes, Master."
Ren bowed his head, wincing in pain as he felt the pain run through his leg and emanate from the scar.
" You have been beaten. The First Order has been beaten, and here you are scarred from your fight with a girl. "
Ren took insult to the comment, pulling his head up from his reflexive bow,
"Not just any girl Supreme Leader. The force is strong in her."
Snoke turned his head towards Ren, a sneer spreading across his face in judgement,
"Indeed, not just any girl. A girl who bested you with no training with lightsabers, or with the force and she defeated you. She scarred you, her and her resistance destroyed our base."
Snoke's finger began to point accusingly.
"After we destroyed The New Republic. Millions, no billions dead because of our base."
Ren tried to argue the importance of the work that they had accomplished. Clutching his fist as he spoke.
"But we are no closer to finding Skywalker."
Hux spoke in the background, stepping forward,
"We took the girl and received no new information regarding the whereabouts of Skywalker. Instead she escaped by forcing the troopers mind. She escaped by simply uttering words."
Ren gritted his teeth, angered by Hux and his need to be apart of every conversation,
"I can force your mind too Hux, would you like to see an example?"
He turned quickly, his hand prepared to push the General.
"Kylo Ren."
He heard Snoke speak again, turning Ren's attention from Hux to the holograph.
"You are too consumed by your anger, by your fear, by disappointment. These are not your strengths, but are instead your weaknesses."
"Master?"
Ren suddenly was consumed by the negatives that Snoke just put forward. His anger began to rise as did his fear when he assumed the worst now. He was no longer worthy of the dark side. After all that he had committed, he was no longer worthy, he killed his father to pull away from the light. To no longer feel it's call and now here he stood, feeling the very fear that he couldn't control.
" I warned you Kylo Ren, I warned you about the power of the dark side, and here you stand. You took a chance, and here I will reward you."
Ren's eyes opened in shock as he looked at Snoke,
"Reward, Master?"
The fear began to slowly disappear, knowing now that he wasn't going to lose his apprenticeship with the Supreme Leader, that he wasn't going to die for his mistakes.
"Yes, Kylo Ren. I have sent you someone, someone who is versed in the struggle that you are feeling."
Snoke waved his arm from the holograph, beckoning the darkness forward.
"Master.."
Ren turned his head as he looked at the approaching black figure that seemed to lurk in the shadows, avoiding the light, avoiding eyes.
Ren looked to Hux to see his face seem unmoved, he had known this dark specter stood in here, awaited for them to be with The Supreme Leader. Hux turned to Ren, feigning ignorance,
"I swear Ren, I did not know."
He could feel the anger well up inside of him. He could control himself, his emotions, his anger and rage. It was his strength, his power with the dark side. It is was connected him to the force. He seemed to look over the figure, his eyes trying to connect with the darkened visage before him.
He looked over the long sleeves that covered the arms, getting no determination of muscle or mass. The gloves that covered smaller hands, a long tunic covering to mid thigh, the cut running high. Black pants underneath with boots and shin guards. He noticed the hood and small cloak that covered the shoulders. Hiding all identity underneath that hood, the black marking across the face like a representation of silence.
He briefly saw eyes from within the hood, brown. Brightened by the light that shown in the room. Anything more and he couldn't judge for himself. The silent specter remained a mystery to them both.
Hux turned to look at the figure that stood there, his eyes silently raking over the person that stood silent among them, making his own mental evaluation of who stood with them.
"Master?"
Ren looked back to the holograph, ready to argue his position,
"I need no teacher, no guide in this. You are my master."
Snoke gripped the throne he sat upon, her body lurching forward slowly,
"After what you have done, after all you have failed I should abandon you as my apprentice."
His words were dripping with anger as he spoke, sending all his feeling of disappointment to Ren over the force bond that connected them.
"But, I was swayed by the words of you teacher. Step forward, and meet your pupil."
Ren looked to the figure step forwards, moving past him and Hux as it bowed courteously to Snoke.
"Thank you master."
The voice was still quiet, wishing not to be heard, wishing not to be given away. He watched as the figure turned, towards him, looking directly at his face.
"Kylo Ren-"
Ren could feel those bright brown eyes staring into him, pushing towards his mind. He began to feel the force against him, like it had when Rey used her new found abilities to push into his mind. He looked over the silent figure, it's hands wavering grabbing the scarf covering the face.
"This will be your teacher-"
He felt the dread wash over him as he felt the concentration of power push over him like a wave. He watched as the other hand moved towards the hood, fingers gripping the fabric hiding identity.
"Cassiopeia-"
Ren could feel the wave of anger push him over as he looked upon the face of his new teacher. A woman.
"Master."
He spoke through gritted teeth. Feeling his head bow down as the rest of his body was weighted, pushed against his limit as his knees buckled.
"Ah."
He heard her finally speak, her mind forcing him into submission.
"Supreme Leader Snoke has thought about this decision Kylo Ren."
She slowly began to pace around him, her eyes flicking between Ren and Hux. Standing there in surprise, but also enjoying the view before him.
"The Supreme Leader has sent me here to teach you, to-"
Her hand gently waved in circles, as if trying to pull the words from thin air.
Her mind let go of Ren, causing him to reel back, his body aching from the pressure she placed upon him. He stood back up quickly, holding his lightsaber in his hand. Waiting for her to make the first move, his rage boiled over, a Sith..
" Expedite your training."
She looked into his defying eyes, her lips pulling into the gentlest smile, almost as if she enjoyed exercising her powers on others. Ren looked upon her features, expecting the worst if sent from Snoke. But she was human like him, her height only inches below his, which he suspected came from her boots.
All Sith he had ever known were pale, withered ideas of the people that they once were. But she stood there, her skin a light hint of brown, as if she had been touched by the sun on more than one occasion. Her hair spilled out in dark brown curls that moved past her shoulders, hiding beneath her small cloak that moved mid back.
His eyes looked into her's, the bright brown lightened by golden flakes around the iris. He could already see the Sith within those eyes, perhaps she was truly a master, and could muster the yellow and red rimmed eyes of the Sith. He had heard stories of the Sith only changing their colors by unleashing the darkness of the force. But after her exercising of power, it didn't seem to even scratch the surface of what she could unleash.
She looked almost normal, she had freckles on the bridge of her nose. Making her seem more innocent and childlike in appearance, but he already learned that was deceiving. She hid her power, and who she really was in her appearance, in her youthful look. Her face was heart shaped, her lips full and always in a state of tight lipped concentration. The smile he had seen was only for show, and possibly out of sadism. His eyes hovered on the small mole that stood above her lips, only drawing attention to them more.
He didn't like her, and he was sure there would be no benefit from her teaching.
"We will start tomorrow Kylo Ren. You should meditate on what your powers are and strengthen them. I will test their limits tomorrow, as instructed by Supreme Leader Snoke."
She turned halfway to the image of Snoke, nodding gently, and him responding in kind.
"Master-"
He looked at Cassiopeia, her eyebrow raised in question, hoping he'd correct himself.
"Supreme Leader.."
Ren tried again as he tried to gain his favor again.
"I do not need a teacher, you are my true teacher. You have taught me everything I know of the Dark Side."
Snoke held up his hand stopping the apprentice,
"And she will show you more than I can from this distance."
Snoke bent forward in his throne, hands digging into the arm rests as he spoke,
"After all-"
Ren looked up at her, Cassiopeia's lips were pulled again into a smile, this one more filled with pride than anything. He noticed then that her eyes had the red rim around them, hiding the full extent of the dark side of the force. His eyes quickly pulled away turning to Snoke, a Sith he would be trained by a Sith.
"-I trained her myself-"