IIII

It had been nearly two weeks yet his uncle still chose to punish him with confinement. Nana stayed longer than she was allowed to each day, rushing back to training before she could get into trouble. Leader Snoke continued to visit him in his dreams, showing him terrible images that he wasn't sure how to interpret yet.

He was beyond angry now and food nor sleep or meditation could soothe him. He jolted in bed propelled by Snoke hissing for him to wake up. He was thirsty but his jug was empty. He dressed and snuck out of his room, deciding to refill it at his uncle's private kitchen which was closer to his dorm. His uncle spent this time of night patrolling the grounds. He crept cross the ledge of the building, dropping down silently in front of the door. He forced the lock back mentally and tip toed inside. He found the kitchen, lying dark ahead of him. It was what was to his left that consumed his attention.

He crept up to the door.

Luke guided Nana's wrist as she swung her lightsaber. He patted her shoulder. "You still have tension in your right shoulder. It's preventing you from swinging in a more controlled manner. Soften this shoulder up."

She nodded in disappointment. "There are some in the First Order that fight with brute force, seemingly untrained but deadly. You've come across this style already." He noted without actually saying his nephew's name. Ben seethed. "Yes, I know. I want to help him so much but I'm lost. He leans on me but I have no one to lean on myself. He needs counsel. He told me not to tell but I need advice..." She trailed off and Ben hoped with all his heart that she would not betray him.

"Tell what?" Luke asked, his full attention on her.

"The dark side has been calling to him...he feels he might be giving in but I know he wouldn't because he's stronger than he thinks he is..."

"Traitor!" Ben yelled slicing through the door with his saber.

She instantly went on guard with her own. "You need help Ben! More than I think I can provide!"

He lunged at her."You promised you wouldn't tell! How can I trust you now?" He swung wildly at her, throwing off her game. Each swing was too unpredictable. He reached out and lifted her into the air with the force, throwing her across the room. He turned his attention on his uncle, coming at him quickly. His uncle was quicker than him. Their sabers clashed, Ben using all his might to push Luke's saber into his face. "Ben stop this! This isn't what you really want!"

"Yes it is! I will be great and powerful! I will separate from who I love and the dark side with guard my heart!" He yelled back. Nana slashed his arm, causing him to stumble for a few seconds. Ben gripped his saber tighter and plunged it into his uncle's shoulder, missing his heart on pure accident. Luke cried out in intense pain causing Nana to finally become serious. She moved so fast, Ben had trouble keeping up with her movements. She drove him from the quarters to the garden out back. He'd never seen her fight with her true potential and now he was more envious than ever before. She sliced his thigh and his knee dropped, sweat sliding down his forehead. Her face was soaked from tears, her jet black curls damp against her head from the early morning dew. "I don't want to hurt you Ben. I've never wanted to hurt you. But I will not let you kill Master Luke nor will I let you corrupt this academy."

He bared his teeth to her. "You have no clue what I am going through!" He spit at her through gritted teeth. She shoved the tip of her saber beneath his chin.

"You think you're alone? I've been resisting the call of the dark side since I was eight! When my mother finally took me from my disgusting brother and father...I have felt the temporary comfort that the dark side could provide. When she died and asked Master Luke to take me...it was then when he looked into my eyes I knew darkness was not the way. I still struggle but I make an effort to turn away from it! What is stopping you?"

Ben sat clutching the bleeding surface wound on his arm. She'd never revealed this to him before. There were a few parts of her past she resisted him probing. Knowing she'd been fighting the dark side all of this time as well, made him feel the purist love he'd ever felt in his whole life. He turned his saber off and dropped it at his side. She turned hers off in relief and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Ben, please find it within yourself to fight. You're so strong..."

He smiled sadly. "I know, you've told me everyday for seven years. I never believed it until this very moment." He kissed her, knowing resolutely what he had to do.

"I'm in love with you too." He finally admitted.

She smiled back at him happily, distracted, her pretty mouth contorting into pain seconds later. She looked down to where he'd pierced her through with his saber. "Why? Ben?" She uttered, falling back against his waiting arm. She coughed and blood sprayed from her lips. "I have to Nana! I can't turn back now. This is my destiny..." He tried to explain but now he watched her dying, still young and beautiful. Her trusting eyes still fixed on his face. He realized how his jealousy of her was another weakness he'd given into. He realized he didn't want her to die. "Nana, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Don't leave me...please don't leave me!" He choked out grasping her face in his huge hands.

"It was a lie?" She asked, her breathing quickening. He cried harder than when his mother had sent him away. He kissed her face, feeling his heart wrenched from his chest.

"No, it wasn't. I'm in love with you but I'm so confused. I want to get stronger but sacrifices had to be made. I don't want to lose you!" He kissed her lips, she parted his with her tongue. He tasted her blood in his mouth. "You must find your way back to the light my love. If you ever truly loved me, you'll consider it. Hurting and killing is not what you were created to do Ben Solo." Her eyelids drooped as she came in and out of consciousness. She weakly pulled his hand to her pendant. "Keep it. Against your heart. Never let it go. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you from the dark."

Her breathing came to a halt. He wailed in pain, his face buried in her chest where no heart beat anymore. He put her necklace on and tore cloth from her tunic. He tore two holes and tied it to his face as mask.

"Kill the others...go now..." Snoke hissed in his head.

He looked down at Nana once more before he set out to the dormitories.