Chapter 36
"We've got to stop meeting like this," he said, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he smiled down at Neri. He reached out a hand and pulled her up to her feet beside him, towering above her in a field filled with fragrant grasses blown gently in the breeze.
His hand almost felt real. "You didn't tell me you were his grandfather," she said, brushing herself off. She wondered if she were finally dead, if the battle with Snoke had finally killed her.
Ani shrugged. "You didn't ask." He motioned for her to follow him and they walked leisurely through the field.
"Where are we?" Neri asked her companion, one of the most powerful wielders of the Force in all of history.
Ani smiled and Neri wondered what he looked like when he was full grown. This young man before her had been corrupted by darkness, transformed by fire and power until he barely resembled who he once was. Neri wondered what it said about him to be presented at such an age before he began his path into the Dark.
"A memory," he said, his voice dripping with nostalgia. He looked down at her, knowing that she was brimming with questions. "You're not dead. Not even dying this time. You have no choices to make today."
Neri nodded. "Why am I here?" She wanted to return to Ben, to her friends. She wanted to know that everyone was safe.
Ani chuckled. "Patience is something you've yet to learn, little one." He stopped walking, face growing serious. "I only wanted you to know that your family, the family waiting for you to meet them, is proud of you. Your mother, your father, especially your grandfather, they're all brimming with pride. You aren't ready for them just yet, but maybe with some more practice, they'll come to you as easily as I come to Luke. With their power thrumming through those veins, it's only a matter of time."
"What do you-"
"No more questions now little one, I'm sorry. It's time to go back. You'll understand some day. You're young yet, with a young soul. You've got ages to find answers." Ani looked over his shoulder, as though someone had called his name. "Ah, it's time we say goodbye." He braced her shoulders with his hands, gazing into her eyes as though he could see everything she was to become. "Remember Neri Lei, there is so much more to life than power. Don't forget it; don't let him forget it."
Neri opened her mouth to speak, to ask him what he meant when he spoke of her family, but she was falling into darkness, away from the field and his presence.
She called his name once more, gasping as her eyes opened to the face of Ben Solo.
"Ani," Neri gasped as she came to, breathing heavily in Ben's arms. Her eyes searched the world around her, for something Ben could not see.
As soon as her eyes landed on Ben's, Neri clung to him, pulling herself into his chest. Ben breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though he could finally relax. She pulled away suddenly, jaw set and eyes fierce.
"Don't you dare ever scare me like that again Ben Solo!" she nearly shouted, shoving his chest. "You scared all of us!"
Ben was genuinely surprised, unready to be rebuked. Behind him, his uncle tried to hide a laugh with an awkward cough.
Ben cupped Neri's face with both his hands and kissed her forehead gently. "I promise to never scare you again Neri Lei. So long as you promise the same." He pulled back, smiling at the woman he loved. "Who's Ani?" he asked, searching her face for answers.
"We can talk about that later," interrupted Luke, patting his nephew on the shoulder. "We should probably be going now, let your mother's soldiers do their job." He motioned to the trees, where members of the Resistance's ground forces were approaching.
Ben nodded and stood, pulling Neri up with him. She was unsteady on her feet and he scooped her up easily, holding her against his chest.
"I can walk, you know," she said, protesting.
He tightened his arms around her small body, feeling the tension of the day escaping him. "But where's the fun in that?"
They went through the forest and back to their ship, ready to return to the peace of the Resistance base. Their fight was over.