"Is the Dark Side really more powerful than the Light Side?" asked Rey.

They'd been meditating by the rocks on the shore, listening to the crashing of the surf. It had taken her more than an hour to work up the courage to ask the question.

"No."

"Then why do the Sith—why does Ben—say it is?"

Luke turned to look at Rey. "What do you know about the Dark Side?" he asked her. "What have you been told?"

"That the Dark Side is… evil?" chanced Rey.

"And?"

Rey scrunched her brow and tried again. "And force-users are seduced by its power?"

"The promise of power." Luke corrected her.

"But what is the Dark Side, exactly?"

Luke studied Rey for a moment, then said: "The Dark Side is simply the name given to the process of drawing energy from your emotions to amplify your abilities with the force."

Rey pouted. "That doesn't sound all that bad to me."

Luke smiled sadly. "No, it doesn't. I don't believe there is anything inherently wrong with channeling your emotional energy into your abilities."

"But the Sith—"

"The Sith, above all, are consumed with a lust for power—because they fear loss, or they desire something or they hate someone. And the Dark Side offers them power quickly, and easily, by channeling these emotions. It's a shortcut, essentially. But with the proper training, you, Rey, could become more powerful than the Sith Lords. That's the caveat though—with training."

"That's why I've come here," said Rey, "to train. To learn."

"Tell me, Rey, what emotions do you think Ben feels most of all?"

Rey answered instantly. "Hate. And anger. And… shame? And regret."

Luke nodded. "This is the tragedy of the Sith."

"So I must suppress my emotions?"

"That is what the Jedi taught, and it led to their downfall," said Luke. "They thought it was better to ignore this power altogether, and detach themselves from their emotions, lest they be led astray."

"Then—"

"But emotions are natural things. They are neither light nor dark. Not even hate, or anger. They may be unpleasant, but they are still a part of you, and you must recognize them as such. Everyone feels bad sometimes. But the Sith—the Sith indulge these feelings to increase their power. They let them fester like open wounds. And in time they are consumed by their anger, hate, and doubt. They become so reliant on them, they lose their ability to feel anything else."

"So the Dark Side is evil, then."

"I told you—it is possible to channel the Dark Side, just like a Sith Lord, without losing your way, without becoming like them."

"How?" asked Rey. "It sounds impossible."

"By focusing on love, and kindness. And hope," answered Luke. "But these emotions are much harder to cultivate, and take time, and practice, and humility—things a Sith Lord has no patience for."

"What must I do?"

Luke smiled. "Tell me, Rey, how do you feel about Ben Solo?"

Again, Rey answered immediately: "I hate him!"

"Well that won't do at all."

"I can't love somebody like that."

"I'm not asking you to," said Luke. "But what about compassion? Empathy?"

Rey searched her emotions. "I—don't know." she admitted. "I'm not sure it's possible, after all he's done."

"Then you are doomed."