Star Wars Multiverse
Universe 21: The death of Kylo Ren
A second's hesitation can change destiny. Our point of divergence is found in this one crucial moment; Kylo Ren laid on the ground unconscious after his struggle against Rey in Snoke's throne room. As General Hux entered the room, he saw several slain guardsmen, the Supreme Leader sliced in half, and his hated rival defenseless. In Universe 1, Hux did not have time enough to take the shot. In this universe, he had that precious extra second by virtue of having his weapon at the ready before entering the throne room. One shot to the head was all it took to end Kylo Ren's miserable life, bringing an inglorious finale to the Skywalker bloodline.
Hux attempted to take over the First Order himself, but his recent failings in the Battle over D'Qar had tarnished his standing among the First Order high brass. It was Allegient General Enrick Pryde who rose as the new Supreme Leader, days later. That said, Hux had no intention of letting all his hard work go to waste.
In that time, Leia and her Resistance remnant managed to get to Crait, where they remained for half a day before Rey landed on the planet, giving the Resistance a chance to flee to another world. Strongly demoralized, many soldiers outright contemplated surrendering. Leia herself, having lost her son, briefly succumbed to despair...
"Leia," Luke's voice echoed in her ears. "I feel your pain. I'm sorry."
"Luke," Leia said, getting Poe's and Finn's attention. "I know Ben died long ago, replaced by Kylo Ren. But I guess I held onto the hope he could be turned."
"He nearly did," said Luke's voice. "But his own anger and hunger for power prevented him from taking the right path."
"A part of me wishes I could blame you, as Han did," Leia admitted, a bitter smile on her face. "But even he had accepted the truth; our Ben simply had too much of Vader in him."
"I'm so sorry, Leia," said Luke's voice. "I tried to stop him, but-"
"Ben chose his life," Leia said, a sigh of defeat escaping her lips. "If you could not stop him, no one could. Don't blame yourself, my brother..."
Allegient General Pryde led the First Order through a highly successful, Galaxy-wide campaign of reconquest. World after world fell to the might of the First Order. Worlds like Naboo mounted a brave resistance, but were too quickly overwhelmed by the might of the Order. In a year's time, the First Order reigned supreme across the Galaxy, seemingly unopposed...
But in the world of Ach-To, a new generation of Jedi were being trained. Luke and Leia Skywalker had made their ammends, and Luke led his sister to the watery planet via the Force. She brought Rey and Finn with her, and the twins trained the two in the Jedi ways. Luke gave Leia her lightsaber back, reinducting her to the Jedi. Luke trained Rey, while Leia trained Finn.
Meanwhile, Poe and Rose Tico scoured the Galaxy, hoping to recruit allies for their new Alliance to Destroy the First Order. They found very many people willing to step up to destroy the wicked First Order: the Gungans of Naboo, the Daimyo of Tattooine, the Mon Cala, the Neimoidians, the Hutt cartels, veterans of the Rebellion, to name but a few.
With the Jedi making a new return, and the Rebellion reborn, the Galaxy would soon find itself amidts a war far more brutal than the previous one. Whispers of the return of Luke Skywalker and his Jedi Order created a new spark of rebellion, one the First Order would try to stamp out to no avail...
One day, a message was heard via every Holo-com in the Galaxy...
"At last, the work of generations is complete. The Great Error is corrected," said the voice of the dead Emperor Palpatine. "The day of victory is at hand. The day of revenge; the day of the Sith."
Poe and Rose stood by their Holo-Com, mouths agape, horror in their eyes.
"Th-that's impossible," Rose said. "P-p-Palpatine is DEAD!"
"Could be a hoax," said Poe, gulping, as BB-8 nustled up to his leg in terror. "A trick by the First Order. It...it has to be..."
But it wasn't. Allegient General Pryde ordered his troops to amass at Exegol, where the true Emperor awaited his loyal subjects. But unbeknownst to him, a spy was among his troops; a backstabber, one willing to step on his comrades to get himself to the top...
