En Kylo
Kylo Ren guides his TIE fighter through the atmosphere of Naboo, for once unaccompanied by Stormtroopers. This is his break from fighting the Resistance, from finishing Darth Vader's work of creating a new Galactic Empire controlled by one man wielding the Force. He lands just outside of the planet's capital and removes his helmet, pulling his hood over his head to shield his face. Kylo Ren makes his way into the city, towards the state buildings.
He walks up the steps of Naboo's state mausoleum and stops just shy of the open doorway. He can sense two Force-strong presences and knows who they are. Still, he looks.
The girl kneels to Padme's left, dark eyes wide with wonder. Rey is as beautiful as their grandmother, and as powerful as their grandfather. Kylo Ren is jealous of her beauty and strength. (Ben Solo wonders what it would have been like growing up together). Rey listens as the other woman speaks.
Time has been kind to Leia Organa in ways that life has not. (Ben feels guilty for hurting his mother so much, so often). She is still beautiful, still sharp-minded and sharp tongued, and something in his gut twists. Kylo Ren listens too as his mother tells Rey the story of Padme Naberrie and Anakin Skywalker as far as they have pieced it together.
"But why not just ask him?" asks Rey.
"My father doesn't speak much of my mother," says Leia. "And on the rare occasions that he does, he only tells me. Apparently, I'm much like her."
Kylo Ren shifts out of the way, into hiding, as his mother and cousin pass by on their way back to their cruiser. He will not defile this place with their deaths. Though, he thinks, it might be nice to bury the whole family here. That way he can visit them all at once.
Still, he is more pensive than usual as he enters the mausoleum. He approaches the last of the tombs and looks down into it. Preserved forever at twenty-eight, Padme Naberrie sleeps her eternal sleep. At her feet is an urn containing the ashes of her husband. Someone - Kylo Ren suspects it was Leia - has left a branch of pear blossoms over Padme's heart. (Ben wishes he had brought a token of his own).
Kylo Ren kneels at the feet of his grandparents and prays. For the first time, it is not to Darth Vader.
"Forgive me, Grandmother, for I am sin in human flesh…"
"She won't answer you," says a voice from behind him. Kylo Ren turns, and there is Anakin Skywalker.
"Grandfather?"
"This is not your destiny," Anakin tells him. "It was mine, but not yours. You and I are not one and the same, Ben. Don't make my mistakes."
"I'm trying not to," says Kylo Ren. "But it's hard."
"Who told you life would be easy?" asks Anakin. "Not your parents. Padme… she would be sad to see what our family has become."
"What do I do now?"
"Trust yourself," says Anakin. "Trust your instincts, for they are always right. And remember, the Light is forgiving. If you choose to come back, they will welcome you home."
"How can you be sure?"
"They welcomed me. Think on it, and feel what the Force tries to tell you. It knows more than Snoke."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
Anakin is gone.
It is Ben Solo who returns to the TIE fighter. As he is leaving the atmosphere, he realizes that he has left his helmet behind. Somehow, not one part of him minds.