I do not own Star Wars or its characters. It will be updated with its sister story 'The Spark of Resistance'. I'm adjusting some time frames, so Rey will be a little older and Ben started training later. Please enjoy, and leave a review.
Chapter One
It had been three years since Luke agreed to train his nephew in the ways of the Jedi. He wished he could say that the boy was shaping into a great Jedi, but the truth was far from it. When Ben showed his potential with the Force at twelve, he had also shown his potential towards the dark side. Both parents worried for their own respective reasons. Han thought that this meant his son could turn into the next Vader, while Leia worried for a reason only known between the two siblings. Luke assured Leia that he would do everything in his power to resolve the darkness in Ben. Three years later, and nothing has changed. The darkness remained there as though it was a permanent part of the boy's spirit, haunting them all like a ghost of the past. Luke could feel it now, watching the boy meditate. Ben's frustration at being so far away from home and his parents, at his training, at Luke himself. It was a bit disheartening to know how much his nephew blamed him for his frustrations, and how right Ben was to blame him.
"Master Skywalker?" Luke turned to face the newcomer, sixteen-year old Kali'ra. "I was wondering if we could go over your lesson on visions? I didn't quite understand some things."
Luke gently smiled, turning away from his nephew to help the girl. Following the girl, Luke remarked on how different Ben was from the other students. Nearly all the students here sought to find their purpose in the galaxy as Jedi. Ben however, sought connection. It was part of what made training him difficult. Despite the familial love, Leia and Han lead busy lives that often left Ben on his own with that nanny bot. And despite Luke guidance, Ben could never fully open himself to him. Luke wondered what it would take for Ben Solo to open himself to someone.
Ben was wondering, not for the first time, whether his uncle truly knew anything at all. The purpose of meditation for a Jedi, was to clear one's mind and be open to the Force. This seldom happened for Ben, and the usual result was him stiff with a sore butt. There were times when he caught a fleeting something, but it would always be gone just as fast. Ben took a deep breath, and tried to empty his mind again. It was a difficult task when all his emotions kept interfering. He missed home, missed his parents, he felt like his training was going in a circle, he felt as though he had nothing in common with the other students. The loneliness hit him like a shot in the heart. Ben let out a reluctant sigh, and decided to end today's meditation there. Walking back to his room, Ben passed a few students practicing their teachings. He couldn't help but feel somewhat envious of them. To him, becoming a Jedi was a means to an end. What happens after he accomplished that, he didn't know, but Ben knew deep in his heart that he was not meant to be a Jedi.
Snoke coldly smiled down at his protégé. The girl was performing quite the beautiful display of violence against the Knights of Ren with just a quarterstaff. She has progressed well these past two years, channeling a great deal of rage and hate from the execution of her traitorous parents, just he predicted. However, the action came with an unfortunate price. The girl's foolish mother imparted words of love just before her death, planting a seed of light in the girl that refused to die. So long as that light resided in the girl, there would always be a possibility for her to turn. Should that ever happen, and the girl become a Jedi, she would have the power to destroy all that remained of the Sith. Snoke had a plan in case she did, but for now, he would continue to provoke the darkness in her. After all the girl is still only a child, he had the time and patience to temper her fiery spirit into a steel sword against the Jedi. Oh yes, the girl's hate will turn from him and the First Order, towards the Jedi and the Republic. And then, the galaxy will bow to the glory of The First Order.
Rey incapacitated the last of the Knight, signaling the end of the session. She was glad, as this meant she no longer had to endure Snoke's repulsive gaze on her. He loved watching her physical training. He thought it was beautiful, the way she took down her opponents. Frankly she couldn't care less about Snoke's opinion, she hated the man more than anything. With nothing more for the day, she returned her weapon to the rack.
"If that is all the business there is for today, I would like to return to my studies." She announced, turning to face the head marauder.
"Of course, my Lady." The Leader replied.
Rey tensed at the title, before quickly leaving the room. Out of everything the First Order took from her, losing her name stung the worst. She couldn't even remember what it used to be anymore, just her mother calling her Rey before she died. Whatever her name used to be was considered beneath a person of her stature, thus she was reborn Lady Oreina Palpatine. She saw the entire thing as a massive joke. She was the heiress of a fallen empire they deluded themselves into believing she would resurrect. Entering her room, she quickly regarded her metal cage. The walls were bare, with the exception of strategically placed knifes, her bed was adequate with red and black bedding, a desk cluttered with various texts and documents lined the far wall. She turned on the view screen, the blank wall changed into a wall of stars. Locking the door, she slowly walked toward the wall. Staring at the sea of empty space, she thought about how far she was from her birthplace Bespin, or any planet at all. She was trapped aboard this vessel, surrounded by people who wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she gave them a reason. Even if she did escape, there have been enough attempts on her life to prove she would be no safer out there than on board this ship. It was in these moments that she could allow herself to feel the immense loneliness of her situation. Turning away from the wall, she went to her bed to retrieve the only thing that could offer solace. Behind her bed, tucked in-between the wall and mattress, Rey pulled out a silver ring with blue weaving. Her mother's wedding ring. Her mother had given it to her, in case Rey got separated and needed money fast. It couldn't be worth more than a few hundred credits, but Rey always saw it as the most valuable object in the galaxy. Suddenly, she could feel a presence approaching through the Force. Thinking Snoke was coming to discuss something with her, she stuffed her ring back in its hiding spot. At the same time, lightyears away, Ben was about to enter his room when he felt something coming towards him through the Force. Confused, he checked both ends of the hall before proceeding into his room. He took two steps before stopping, startled by what he saw. A kid he has never seen before is standing in the middle of his room. A girl with dark hair and the most intense hazel eyes, wearing black shirt, pants, shoes, and fingerless gloves, is staring at him in confusion and awe. At that same time, Rey had turned around in time to see a tall lanky teenage boy in her room. He is tall with black hair framing his face, wearing grey robes and boots. His eyes, brown she noted, were observing her with confusion and curiosity. Neither were certain how long they stood there, but Rey is the first to react. Grabbing a knife by her night table, she threw it at the boy's head. The boy reacted a second too late, he couldn't dodge the blade in time. The blade went through the boy's head? Both of looked back and forth between each other, and the knife's resting place in the wall.
"How did you dodge that?" Rey demanded.
"Did you just try to kill me?" The boy questioned back.
Rey ignored him, grabbing another knife off the wall. The boy immediately steps back, holding out his hands in a placating manner. He begins to stammer something, but Rey ignores this too, and pursues after him. Readjusting the knife in her hand, she makes sweeping motions at the boy. He dodges easily enough, but seems either unwilling or unable to properly defend himself. Do not hesitate to take the life of a person who would not hesitate to take yours. The one lesson Snoke taught her that she took to heart. Whether it was someone within the Order, or someone the Republic sent, no one would hesitate to kill her without mercy. The boy dove behind her, and she spun on her heel, slicing the boy's hand. Holding his injured hand, the boy looked at her with fearful eyes. Flipping the knife so the pointed outwards, she lunged for the killing blow.