Disclaimers: All right reserved of the originals "Star Wars" Characters, Names, Places, etc., to George Lucas / Disney. I pledge to return all characters after the story is complete.

Warning: Major Spoilers of TRoS.

Note: This is a Reylo FanFiction (slow-burn)

「Part III」

「Act 16: Awakening」

「The Return of Ben Solo」

Blood is spilled while holding keys to the throne.

Born again but it's too late to atone.

No mercy - from the edge of the blade

Dare escape and learn the price to be paid

Let the water flow with shades of red now, Arrows black out all the light

Death is riding into town with armor, they've come to grant you your rights

He fell into darkness. Not quite the hot dark of embers, but a soft, hopeful dark. The dark that comes just before the sunrise, a kind of dark that helps the orange and gold blossom across the sky, like a small flower trembling open in spring. That dark encouraged him slowly to drift asleep as he closed his eyes, tossing and turning in a futile attempt to slip away into the depths of unconsciousness, blissfully unaware. The type of dark that occurred in a complete solar eclipse, blocking out the light, the noise, the feeling of being, leaving in the silence of serenity, if only for a few seconds. That was the darkness he had fallen in.

As the blackness came, he had calmly watched himself be erased, eyes closed, and seeing nothing at all, the only evidence of his being was the steady thump of his heart and the cool air in his lungs. Soon though, his heartbeat faded away, and the air from his lung was gone. Yet in a place so open to the skies, resting in an unfamiliar lullaby, his eyes were closed, and his body slowly ceased to be seen; it vanished completely from sight. His stardust atoms seeking the way to reach the Force. It was calling for him. And he was ready to accept the awareness. There, at last, he would be in peace; his pain would be gone. I will always be with you. He sent his last thought to her. He needed her to know; he was in peace now. She shouldn't be sad; she should accept that everything was alright now.

The Force welcomed him. Ben was ready to accept it and fall into it. He was now one with the Force. He could feel it. The Force was everywhere, in all little things. And as he was ready for the final journey. Everything became black. The Force that surrounded him was robbed from him. There was something else there with him. No. There was someone else surrounding him in blackness. The blackness was perfect, a sort of visual silence that gave revered awe. With eyes closed, there was the simple sweetness of existing, of being, of breathing, and how those moments extended with such grace until the dawn chose to bring back the colors. To bring back life itself inside him.

"Leia, it's time." came a soft voice that awoke her from her dream. She had given all her energy to reach Ben, and after she reached him, she had fallen into a deep unconsciousness as if she was dead. But she wasn't fully gone yet. The Force had not claimed her body yet. Something or someone was cutting her connection.

"It's time to save your son. The effort to save him will take everything you have left. But we are here to aid you to keep the connection open until it's done." Another voice added in a darker tone.

"Leia," Luke prompted. "Now or never! Follow my lead!"

It was a rare occasion to find three Force-Ghost -or better two Force-Ghost and one to be- working together to save someone dear to them. Honestly, none of them didn't know if it would work. Once Luke managed to become one with the Force without dying. Luke Skywalker was special like that.

"If it worked once, it will work again!" Anakin ensured Luke when he asked him to save Ben. They didn't have much time. Ben had already given everything to Rey, and a minute or two, the force would claim him. "Well, we all know that the Force, it's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."

"Everything you said is correct. But without a living being, it will fail. Force-Ghosts cannot interfere with the living process. You already know that." Luke clarified.

"We have Leia. The Force hasn't claimed her yet. It's now or never. We aren't going to let the last Skywalker die." Anakin uttered strongly as he turned and gazed at Luke and Leia, "Kids, focus now!"

They were still in the deep darkness of Exegol, lost in the blackness, between reality and Force's Energy Field. The Force was a mysterious energy field that bound the galaxy together. Mystics and scholars had long debated the origins of the Force, such as where and when civilizations first became aware of its power, resulting in many answers and none that were considered definitive.

The Jedi Ordered had decrypted some of its secrets, but there were so many abilities still hiding. Like the ability of healing or the ability to bring someone back to life. It was a new way to reach the Force. In the same way, the Skywalkers' Force-Ghosts would perform one more new ability. To bring Ben Solo back to life and sent him somewhere safe.

Leia knew how it was the ultimate act of hope, the last hope to save Ben. Leia reached for the Force one last time. It let it surround her, fill her. She felt a rush of strength and energy she had never felt before as she connected with every living thing. She reached deeper and deeper and even deeper. And there she found Luke. Who had become one with the Force again, guiding her on how to save Ben. Her life washed away from her and like a waved and into Ben.

Anakin had closed his eyes and surrounded the two of his children and his grandson with a protection Shield. Allowing the Living Force and the Cosmic Force to unite. "In darkness, cold. In light, cold. The old sun brings the heat. But were is heat there is breath and life..." Anakin whispered to the force.

The Living Force represented all lifeforms' energies, and now it had taken form and surrounded Ben's body. That energy was fed into the Cosmic Force, which was responsible for binding the galaxy together and communicating the force's will through. Leia and Luke worked and kept the energy in-between the tension, the balance, that bound the universe together. And brought Ben Solo back to life.

"In life, there is the Force..." Anakin continued as now Leia and Luke slowly drew back from the Force. Their work there was done. They had brought Ben Solo back to life. He was unconscious but very much alive.

"In the force, there is life." Anakin went on the shield that was protecting Ben's body became smaller but stronger. It was opening a gateway to project Ben Solo in safe land. "And the Force is eternal!" Anakin voiced up, gathering all his Force into the sending Ben away.

Then a whiting blast was seen; it was the brilliant white that would even make new snow look grey, the white that sears into your retinas and makes you temporarily blind. And Ben Solo's body was gone. It reached another planet somewhere in the Galaxy. Honestly, the Force decided were to send him. But at least he was alive and whole.

It was then when Leia's body vanished totally, and she became a Force-Ghost. Luke and Anakin awaited her. Anakin smiled and walked towards both of his children and hugged them both. Like that, all three vanished, becoming one with the Force. And they would appear again when they were most needed.

There was absolute stillness. No air stirred the land and sand. No clouds drifted in the blue above. No water dripped or flowed. It was all so quiet. Peaceful. Warm. Not a sound could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even Ben's own breath seemed to die as soon as it left his mouth. It was an eerie sort of tranquility, so instead of being soothed, his senses became heightened. He felt like the prey, even though no predator could be detected. It was as if the world were encased in a bubble, and there was no way out.

Solo felt suddenly the type of coldness that reaches into his bones, as if his heart was a door left wide open to the icy wind, slamming only to open again. And although his surroundings were hot and desert, his body felt cold. Only an hour ago, the blackness was absolute, but now the mist was visible, silvery. And the cold was slowly faded away. He suddenly could feel a dull throbbing in his leg; even while conscious, he felt the awareness of being alive; someone had saved him.

It was in that moment of absolute stillness when his lungs screamed in agony, and his eyes clenched tight as his body jolted upright so he could grasp at his sternum, lungs burning as if they had been deprived of oxygen for hours. His head started to pound in alarm as his entire body went into alert; he was alive. It wasn't a dream. The unbearable pain ensured him that the Force never claimed him. He was left behind. Left behind to pay for his wrongdoings. He thought. A prize he was willing to pay. Just as quick as the torture had suddenly manifested, the pain eased off his lungs and disappeared. Ben could feel his aching muscles spasm under his skin, and he gasped, choking on tears that continued to run from his eyes and off his chin into trembling fingers.

Finally, he had opened his eyes and gazed at the open, clear sky. He realized he wasn't any longer in Exegol. He was back outside, lying on the sand, but something was off. There was so much sand; the surroundings felt completely wrong. He sat up. The sudden move made him scream in pain, as his two ribs were still broken. He blinked, confused, not knowing where he was. His hand reached the wounded side and touched his ribs. He felt his own skin, surprised. He looked down at his body. He was naked. He dazed himself disturbed as he remembered that his body had vanished from Exegol, leaving his clothes behind. Ben looked on in horror, his mouth sour and stomach sick, as he felt dehydrated like never in his life. How long was he lying there in the hot and desert land?

Next, another thought sprang into his mind. Rey. For a second, he wished he was not so drained and weary to reach the Force... To Reach her. "No!" he screamed to himself. Rey already knew he was gone. She had already shed her tears for him. He would only bring her problems if she found out that he was alive. He decided he would put all his effort and energy to block their connection. As for him, he would stay in that forsaken place. Suppose the Force decided to bring him there. - He wasn't sure, but it felt as it was the Forces doing. This time he would put all his trust in the Force. He would remain there and spent his days to atone for his crimes. But first, he had to find something to wear and where in the Galaxy he was.

「 Upcoming Chapter: Act Seventeen」

Okay, guys, that's all. I hope you enjoyed reading the 16th chapter.

Thank you all so much! Stay awesome! Stay sweet!

And be nice to each other, see you soon, in the next chapter!

Feel free to Review and Follow the story!

Feedback is always appreciated!