Author's note:
And here's another update, wohooo! Thank you so much for your kind feedback :3
As always, thank you so much, my beauitful beta readers:
- hellostarlight (AO3)
- Megara09 (AO3)
- Everren (AO3) or Everren327 (Twitter)
An imperial TIE-fighter zooms over the cracked surface of the planet, unnoticed by everyone else. It takes Ben only a short glance at the battle to see that the Resistance is not much of a resistance anymore. He'll have to hurry now.
Not that he personally cares for any of the Resistance fighters; he doesn't know them, but Rey does. These are her friends. And this is what his mother was fighting for her whole life.
He passes a parked X-Wing that looks awfully familiar. Luke's X-wing, he realizes. It must be the ship Rey took to come here. For a brief moment, he wonders what happened to his stolen TIE-fighter.
He steers the ship a little further, nearer to where the monolith is, knowing he's running out of time. The longer he takes, the more Rey will be in danger, and he has wasted enough time already. His whole life had been a waste until he met her. For the first time, he feels like he's doing the right thing. Because of her.
'Enough with this sentimentality,' he chides himself. 'You can tell her that if you both survive this.'
The shape of the monolith rises before him. There's no time for a smooth landing, so he dips the ship towards the ground. With a crack, it crashes into the rock and slides over it before it finally comes to a stop. It seems lately that all his ships are doomed to be destroyed.
He grabs the blaster he found in the ship before he stumbles out of it. Then he sprints towards the monolith and into the gap beneath, trusting the Force to guide his way through the pitch-black darkness. It feels strange not having his lightsaber with him anymore. It has been his constant companion through all these years. But he has only one thing in his mind now: get to Rey.
A large opening in the ground appears in front of him and he utters a curse, catching himself at the last moment. He peers over the edge where the lift should have been, but the platform is far below him on the ground. Well, he wouldn't have the time nor the patience to wait for a lift to bring him down anyway. He eyes the opening again. There are huge metal chains leading all the way down. He sighs. It would take quite some time to climb down safely...
Forget safety, he has to get to Rey. With no other thought, he hurls himself into the hole. He crashes into a giant metal chain, the impact punching all air out of his lungs. Pain shoots through his chest and his legs, and he wheezes, cursing himself for his stupidity. Then he gathers the Force around him and lets himself fall into the darkness.
He sees the giant statues as he falls, relieved that he's in the right place, knowing how these Sith places move to confuse the unwary. His landing is rough, but he's otherwise unharmed. He's dusting himself off when a flash of panic stops him in the middle of his movement. It takes him a few seconds before he realizes that the panic isn't his.
It's Rey's!
Sparing the statues no further glance, he hurries through the corridors, sending Rey a wordless greeting through their bond, a feeling of hope and reassurance. Instantly, the terror in the back of his head is replaced by a spark of surprise and then intense relief when she recognizes him. Her presence is pulsating with light and joy.
Then a thread of fear worms its way back, and he quickens his pace.
'Wait for me. I'm coming. '
But where to go? He has been here before but didn't think it necessary to explore the place properly then. And Rey's Force signature is dampened by the darkness everywhere.
Images of the throne and the way to reach it flash up in his mind. Ben smiles. He didn't even have to ask.
He passes the huge liquid-filled glass tanks and turns a corner. Then he skids to a halt. A red clad figure turns to him, but Ben has already drawn his blaster and shoots the guard down. Before they even hit the ground, Ben sprints past them, down a wide corridor, where he blasts more robed figures who stand in his way. Rey's presence is much stronger now. She must be just around the corner.
Six familiar figures, all dressed in black and carrying various weapons, step into his way.
The Knights of Ren.
The knights whom he himself has trained. Ben slows down and stops, watching them with a calmness he doesn't feel inside. He has to hurry and help Rey.
The knights slowly surround him, and Ben narrows his eyes, trying to discern their motives. The darkness in them is ever present, but somehow, he can't quite sense whether they are friendly or hostile towards him.
"The Jedi is about to take the throne," speaks Kiruk, who's holding a plasma blaster in his hands.
Ben inclines his head. "That's why I'm here," he says in a casual tone. He senses mistrust radiating from Vicrul.
"To join her, or to claim it for yourself?"
His hand twitches on the blaster, but he lifts his chin. "Neither."
"So you are betraying us," Vicrul hisses, the hatred clear in his modulated voice. "You are betraying us and the First Order and instead pledge your loyalty to this scavenger scum."
Ben balls his hand into a fist. "I don't have time for this. Either you follow me as your master or you don't." He widens his stance and his voice deepens into a threatening timbre. "But I won't let you stand in my way."
"You're a fool," the knight sneers, and the others close into him, their weapons ready. "You think the Resistance will ever accept you? They won't. And from the looks of it, they won't even get the chance to reject you, Solo ." He spits the name out like poison. "They are losing. They will all die. Just like you."
And with that, all six knights pounce on him. Ben draws on the Force around him and propels himself up into the air, out from the deadly circle. He lands behind one of the knights and shoots at his back. Grunting, he turns around, along with the other knights. Damnit. He isn't even affected at all.
Ben grits his teeth. They were never loyal to him, never served him, but have always been loyal to Palpatine. They, like him, had only been tools to Palpatine, manipulated to serve the dark side. His title had been a facade all along, he realizes now.
Ben walks backwards, firing at them. Two knights twirl their weapons and jump at him, and Ben gathers the Force to push them a few meters away. Three others come at him from every direction. One of them runs into him from the right and sends Ben tumbling to the side, nearly into Ap'lek's executioner vibro-ax. The blade whooshes past his head, and he rolls to the side, shooting at him from over his shoulder.
The blaster shots don't do much damage, and not for the first time, Ben wishes he hadn't thrown away his lightsaber. Even though he was their master and knows all of their weaknesses, this fight is as good as lost. They have adopted his fighting style and perfected it, and even though they aren't as strong in the Force as he is, they are six against one, armed to the teeth.
Ben throws his arms out to his sides to stop two blaster shots in the middle of the air. Something hard hits him right in the stomach. He grunts, doubling over, and it requires all his concentration to keep the blaster bolts suspended in the air.
"I see I have trained you well," he wheezes, his face straining under the smile he tries to force to his lips.
Ap'lek growls and takes a swing at him, but he's too slow. Ben Force-pushes the weapon away from him. It falls to the floor with a clang and the knight stumbles from the loss of its weight. Ben curls his fingers and pulls Ap'lek towards him, right into the blaster bolts. He howls in pain and frustration, but with another shot, he silences and sinks to the ground with a thud.
One down, five to go.
Ben turns and dodges bolts and blades, answering with shots of his own. The air smells of sweat and burned flesh. But there are too many, and his movements begin to grow sluggish, his use of the Force less focused.
That's when a blow to his side brings him to his knees. He can barely limit the damage of the blade when a knee hits him under his jaw. His teeth slam painfully against each other, and his head whips to the side. Spit and blood spurt from his mouth. He catches his fall with one hand and, in his daze, aims his blaster blindly into a random direction.
A kick to his hand, and his only weapon clatters to the ground, out of his reach. They learned that dirty fighting style from him, too, he thinks bitterly. Another punch, and his face hits the cold stone.
'What's happening, Ben?' echoes Rey's worried voice in his mind.
He grimaces. 'I didn't think this through.'
Ben groans and tries to lift himself up, but they pound on him, each of their punches meant to hurt more than to kill immediately. Rage burns through him and the fierce need to protect... him.
Rey.
He would have reacted with warm and fuzzy feelings to her protectiveness if he wasn't busy being beaten up. He draws on the Force to shield himself. His whole body feels like a giant bruise, and he can barely move, panting against the floor, tasting dust and blood. He's losing this fight.
An image lights up in his mind. A blue laser beam. His family's lightsaber.
'Be with me,' her voice echoes softly in his mind, and he forgets the pain for a moment. 'Be with me.'
Then the warm tingling feeling transforms into a gentle nudge.
'Now get the hell up.'
His lungs burn when he takes a breath, then he releases the Force in one powerful blow. The knights sprawl to the floor, and Ben forces himself back to his feet. Hissing at the pain, he straightens to his full height.
Then the sound of thunder and the knights struggling to their feet dampens into a peaceful silence. The bond between Ben and Rey hums when it opens up, and their eyes meet.
Rey's eyes glisten with tears, and her shoulders relax. Their breaths synchronize as they hold each other's gazes, pain and fear washed away instantly. Rey lifts the lightsaber over her head and behind her shoulders, her eyes steady.
'Take it. It's yours.'
'What about you?'
Her eyes twinkle. 'I have everything I need.'
Ben exhales and nods in understanding. Rey mirrors the gesture and hands him the weapon, their fingers brushing. His hand closes around the cool metal of the hilt and the blade hums in his ears.
The sound returns, and the knights, who have gotten up and begun to close in on him again, back off at the sight of the lightsaber. Ben smirks and spreads his arms to the side, shrugging.
"Surprise."
Then he attacks them with an energy he didn't know he still possessed. He twists and rotates his body, twirling his lightsaber to attack and defend. His and Rey's minds intertwine, and he can feel Rey fighting against her own opponents, her determination spurring him on even more. The saber cuts through torsos and limbs, howls of pain echoing from the walls. Two bodies slam to the floor.
Only half of the knights are still standing now, though they are anything but easy opponents. He Force-pushes them away, deflects blaster shots and lands an occasional kick at them, but they are countering with as much fervor.
Only now, the Force is flowing smoothly through his veins and he feels more alive than ever before, despite his injuries. The lightsaber hums in recognition, almost like it's welcoming him back. For the first time, he feels right.
The knights are fighting him viciously now, and Ben lets himself fall back as they edge closer and closer to the throne room. They are forced into a single-file line when he enters a narrow corridor. It allows Ben to fight only one at a time, but he's not used to fighting in such confined environments. Sweat trickles down his neck as he concentrates on his opponent and the fight unfolding behind him.
Another knight collapses when he finally enters the throne room. Red robes twirl into his vision and Ben pulls the startled guard towards him, piercing him with his blade. With a rattling breath, he slips to the ground and doesn't move.
Rey and Ben twirl towards each other and their eyes meet. He quickly scans her for injuries, then gives her a small smile. She's holding another lightsaber in her hand - his mother's, he realizes.
"Ben," she breathes, "I can't believe you came back!"
"Took me long enough."
She smirks then rushes past him to take on the remaining Knights of Ren. Ben turns around and faces the last three red-robed guards. He rotates his lightsaber, deflecting blaster bolts, and with the other hand, he slams one of them to the ground with a crack.
Rey growls behind him and then yelps, crashing with her back against his. He turns his head slightly to the side as he keeps engaging the guards.
"You alright there?"
Another frustrated grunt, then he hears one of the knights scream and slam to the ground.
"Yeah, I'm fine! You trained your knights well, apparently," she pants with a touch of annoyance. "And you?"
He impales another guard and pushes him to the side. "I'm doing quite well, myself."
Then they pirouette around each other and switch places. Palpatine's croaky cackle echoes through the throne room as he watches them. Rey and Ben are fighting back to back, their movements fluid and synchronized. It's like a dance.
Three figures, two red-robed and one black-clad, sink to the ground. The fight is over. Rey and Ben are standing within a circle of destruction, black and red bodies lying on the ground. They turn to stare at each other, eyes wide, panting. This is what they were always meant to be. Partners. Together, they are invincible.
Rey's eyes are shining, and she has a look in her eyes that makes his heart beat just a little bit faster. She's looking at him in a way he has never dared to dream. Like she's proud of him, like he's her hope.
As she is his.
The clapping of a single pair of hands draws their attention to Palpatine, who's clearly amused by all of this.
"Good...good, young ones," he says and stops applauding, folding his hands together. "Two powerful Force-users, finally coming together as one… A true dyad."
Rey and Ben face him and raise their lightsabers in unison. The whispers around them turn into angry hisses. Palpatine hushes them with a gesture and focuses his dead eyes back on the pair. They move closer together, their shoulders touching, as they glare at him.
"How touching..."
"You're going to pay for what you did to Ben," Rey growls, teeth bared. "And me. And the whole galaxy."
"Yes. You will strike me down. Use your anger, your hate ." At his words, Rey clenches her teeth, her shoulders tensing. "I will kill your friends, your family..." He pauses and looks at Ben, the corners of his mouth turning down in disgust. "...and your little lover."
Ben's eyes flicker to Rey for a moment, but she stubbornly keeps her eyes fixated on the Sith Lord in front of them, tightening the grip on her lightsaber. He straightens and suppresses a groan as pain blooms in his side where he has been cut. Rey puts a warm and soothing hand on his arm, and he sighs softly.
Palpatine's head snaps to him. "The girl has made you weak, Kylo Ren."
"His name is Ben Solo," Rey hisses, but he ignores her.
"You have allowed your pathetic feelings to distract you from your true goal. You have wasted your potential, the power that flows in your blood, to pine after a girl since the moment you met her..." His expression turns cruel. "You gave up on ultimate power for what? Sentiment." He spits the word, and the corners of his rotting lips turn down. "That's what weakened Vader."
Palpatine spreads his arms and bows his head in a gracious gesture. "But that can be forgiven… You can still repair the damage you have done, you can still take the throne—"
"You don't fool me anymore," Ben interrupts him, his voice steady as he looks right into Palpatine's milky eyes. "Your tricks don't work anymore. When I was a child, I believed every word you said, every lie you whispered to me. Ever since I can remember, you sowed doubts in me, fed my greatest fears and filled them with lies." He begins to take slow steps towards him, not once taking his eyes off him. "Lies about my parents. Lies about my past."
"I never lied, boy," Palpatine says, his voice dark and cold. "I just showed you your fears, your weakness. Showed you what you could become."
Ben shakes his head and stops only a few steps away from him. "No. You are the weak one. You exploited the weaknesses of a child. You manipulated me before I could even begin to develop my own thoughts, taught me to fear, to hate myself, to mistrust the world around me. And you've taught me well. I gradually became what I hated most. A monster."
"You think you have freed yourself from manipulation?" Palpatine sneers, his face twisting into an even uglier mask. "Now you let yourself be influenced by this girl. Kill her and free yourself."
"I served the darkness once. I believed in it, thought it was the only right way. You were always there, in my mind; I've always known you. But now I finally understand you, see you for what you really are. A weak and pathetic creature." He turns to Rey, who is watching him with glistening eyes. "I know who I want to be now. I want to be more than this monster you've made of me."
Palpatine's cackle can't hide the rage in his voice. "You don't know what you're talking about, boy, what you're sacrificing."
Ben's head snaps back to him. "I won't fall for your tricks again; I won't be part of your plans anymore. I know who you are. You are my enemy."
Palpatine slowly raises a half-rotten hand.
"Then you must die."
Author's note:
Hope you enjoyed it! :)
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