(A/N). Hello everyone. Welcome back to my Star Wars fan fic.
Right then. Let's crack on with the chapter.
"Luke?" Anakin uttered his son's name in a gentle, yet inquiring tone, wondering how he felt about this revelation... "Are you all right?"
"Yes, father," Luke responded in an equally gentle tone, before turning around to face him.
Having returned after his conversation with Rey, Luke had been surprised by Qui-Gon's presence. He knew little of the man, granted, but that didn't matter. He could instantly sense a calming, wise soul within the spectral form, and was happy to see Obi-Wan reunited with his old Master... Qui Gon's revelation, however, that Ben Solo could be restored to life was a different matter altogether. This made Luke feel a sense of unease. Not because he suspected that Ben's turn to the Light wasn't genuine, as he knew in his heart that it was. Perhaps it was the whole risk of it all that made Luke feel a sense of trepidation.
Sensing the conflict within his old friend, Obi-Wan took a few steps towards Luke, before carefully guiding his gaze away from Anakin so that he could have his full attention. "You feel uncertain?"
"I...-" Luke lowered his gaze.
Wondering if a more familiar face would be more comforting, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and allowed his long years to come flowing back, his youthful facade quickly slipping away.
Luke couldn't help but smile in amusement on seeing this... "I wonder if I could do that?" The thought of appearing in a younger form suddenly starting to appeal.
"Believe me, it takes quite a bit of concentration." Obi-Wan returned Luke's smile...
"Although...I suppose that wouldn't matter anymore if we...ceased to remain here." Luke sighed, his mind once again wondering with doubts.
"Luke, in life and in death, I have always respected and trusted in Qui-Gon Jinn's words," Obi-Wan said. "He wasn't just my Master. He was a good friend, and I loved him like a father... But I've never been without my own mind. And when Qui-Gon first made the proposal, I too felt a sense of doubt and dismay. A feeling of danger, of risking this chance to still influence the world beyond death, with such a small chance of success." Having spoke frank so far, Obi-Wan continued to do so... "But then I found my wisdom once again. You see, Luke...our task, our role in this world is complete."
"Obi-Wan, she-" Luke shook his head slightly, wondering how best to word his thoughts. "Rey still needs guidance... If we fail, and she ends up alone, without me, or any of us to guide her, I-" Luke looked away from his old friend, his gaze turning towards the Lars homestead in the distance. "She doesn't have the strength."
"You don't know that," Qui-Gon said, stepping forward and facing Luke. "You are allowing your own fears to cloud your judgement."
"Rey has already agreed to train a new generation of Jedi!" Luke exclaimed. "We cannot squander this chance!"
"With Ben Solo by her side, she stands a much greater chance of success."
"And if we fail?" Luke questioned once more. "From what I gather, you cannot guarantee our success. You cannot even understand how you possess this knowledge."
"My connection with the Living Force has never led me astray." Qui-Gon turned to Anakin... "Not once."
Appreciating Qui-Gon's words, Anakin smiled slightly at him before looking to Luke...
Under his father's gaze, Luke took a deep breath and calmed his mind... "I'm sorry, Qui-Gon. I know you mean well, but-" Looking away once more, Luke suddenly began to walk away, not wanting to give way to another minor outburst...
"Luke?" Anakin made to follow, but Obi-Wan motioned for his old Padawan to remain still.
"He needs to be alone, Anakin."
Accepting this, Anakin nodded grimly...
.
.
.
.
.
"What am I doing?" Luke came to a sudden stop before looking to the sand underfoot.
Having walked and walked for what felt like miles, Luke had finally stopped and asked himself that very question. What was he truly afraid of? In defeat? In losing the galaxy's last hope? Of failing Rey and potentially leaving her without guidance? Perhaps it was a combination of all those things, but it could all be summed up quite easily... He was afraid of the unknown. Of what would become of himself, and those he cared so dearly for, once the spectral forms they had assumed were cast aside. And most importantly of all, he was afraid that without the influence of Jedi's past, the Order could never be rebuilt at all.
Closing his eyes and sighing, Luke was about to turn around and head back...when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence was close... "Leia?" he whispered her name breathlessly.
"I knew I'd find you here," Leia's voice responded, before she slowly materialised into view.
"Really?" Smiling, Luke turned to face his sister. "I'm not surprised. You're getting pretty good at hunting me down."
"Well, at least it makes a change from when we were living." Leia fondly returned Luke's smile, but it quickly faded. She knew something was wrong... "What is it?"
"What do you mean?" Luke responded in an almost tired, irritated tone.
Leia's only response was to flash a knowing look.
Letting out a deep breath, Luke gave a small nod of his head. "Alright, alright. I should have known better, I suppose. You always could spot a facade from a mile away."
"It's why you felt the need to put on a facade at all that's bothering me," Leia replied in a concerned tone.
Luke sighed once again before casting his gaze downward.
"Hey." Leia stepped forward, leaning forward slightly in order to force her brother to look at her. "It's me."
Smiling once more, Luke relented. "Okay." Now casting his gaze to the stars above, Luke sought the correct words... "I'm not alone here, Leia. Obi-Wan is here, and his Master, Qui-Gon." Once again seeking the right words, Luke fell silent for a moment. "And...our father is here."
A hint of a troubled look appearing on her face, Leia gave a grim nod. "I know."
Since passing on into this strange, alien world between life and death, Leia had sought no contact with her father. The truth is, the man he truly was, Anakin Skywalker, could not really be viewed as such by her. In Leia's mind, it was Vader. It was always going to be Darth Vader. And it was on sensing his presence here this night that she had decided to remain absent.
As though sensing her entire frame of mind, Luke spoke honestly. "He's a good man, Leia... I was right about him, all those years ago."
Acknowledging the truth of that statement, Leia merely nodded slightly in response, knowing that it was her own failings and fears that were preventing her from seeing him.
No longer wishing to hang on this subject, Luke skipped straight to the main point of all this. "Do you know why they're here this night?"
"I think so," Leia replied in a soft, cautious tone.
"Then you know what the price would be? For us, I mean?"
"Death?"
Luke couldn't help but smile slightly. "A little late for that now, don't you think?"
"You know what I mean." Leia practically chided him.
"Yes." Luke turned away. "Qui-Gon says that in order to restore Ben to life would take all of us. All of those Jedi that have defied death and continued existing in this world. If we succeed, Ben will live. And we...we-" Not knowing how to correctly finish that statement, Luke merely shook his head. Slowly walking on, he continued. "Leia, I know the power we possess beyond death. I've seen what it can do, and it goes far beyond what a living Jedi could achieve. Master Yoda demonstrated that perfectly on Ahch-To by summoning a bolt of lightning."
"Really?" Leia seemed equally surprised and delighted. "I guess I haven't got the hang of this just yet." She looked at her spectral fingers with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"I hope I'm not going to regret telling you that." Now it was Luke's turn to playfully chide.
"Would I do such a thing?" She feigned mock outrage.
"Yes," he replied without skipping a beat.
"Well." She looked away sheepishly.
Appreciating his sister's presence immensely, Luke smiled at her fondly, wanting more than ever to merely speak with her about the good things, trivial matters, even. Not this... Forcing himself to go on, though, Luke continued... "But it's that very power, Leia, that...Force-" Luke furrowed his brow slightly and looked down. "So yes, Qui-Gon believes that if we give everything we have...we could restore Ben to life." Realising how wonderful that sounded on speaking the words, Luke did smile at the very thought of it.
Asking the very question that needed to be asked, Leia spoke the words that were resonating within Luke's own mind. "Then why are you afraid?"
Luke locked eyes with his sister, unsure of how to respond... Finally, he found the truth in his heart. "I have seen the very best, and the very worst of Ben Solo. I know and believe in the power of redemption, Leia. It was that power that allowed Ben to become truly one with the Force... But in my mind, nothing is more important than the continued existence of the Jedi. In wanting the Jedi to end I was being fearful, foolish and weak. I failed to truly believe in the power and the hope that the Jedi gives to the galaxy." Feeling a pang of regret on his own failures in life, in failing to restore the Jedi Order himself, Luke sighed before casting his gaze to the stars overhead. "They can be a beacon of light, Leia... The greatest beacon of them all."
Completing Luke's thoughts on the matter, Leia spoke grimly. "And you think Ben would be a bad influence."
Sighing once more, Luke closed his eyes and shook his head slightly, refusing to accept any truth in these thoughts. "No. No, I don't believe that."
"Then what?" Leia inquired almost impatiently.
"Leia...sometimes doing the right thing means you have to make a difficult choice. You know that." He turned back around to face her. "And I don't know if trying to...to reverse what happened to Ben is the right thing in terms of-"
"In terms of what?!"
"In terms of what the Force wills!" Luke exclaimed...
"Do you really believe that?" Leia inquired, once again peering into Luke's own thoughts... "Or is it just your own fears being given voice again?"
The truth of his sister's words stinging him, Luke cast his gaze downward. His resolve and belief in his own thoughts, fears and feelings still remaining strong, though, Luke closed his eyes, the conflict within him now raging... "It's such a risk."
"All of this is a risk."
"I know." Luke sighed...
"Luke, Ben is my son," Leia spoke the words in an almost pleading tone. "All my later years were spent in torment. Not only because he fell, but because I could do nothing about it... When he became Kylo Ren I could do nothing, because I wasn't there. And that was it. That was our lot for the rest of our lives... I could never reach him. I could never reach out and touch my son's face. I could never tell him how much I loved him and wanted him to come home. We were always apart." The weight of all this crashing into her, Leia's very spectral form seemed to fade ever so slightly... "Do you have any idea how that feels?"
Admitting the truth to Leia and himself, Luke gave a small shake of his head.
"Even when all my dreams and hopes came true and...and Ben came back-" Awash with emotion, Leia closed her eyes tight before carrying on. "We're still apart... Even now in death."
His own thoughts, fears and worries now firmly put into perspective, Luke looked at his sister and felt nothing but pride... Once again, she had served as a beacon of strength for him.
"Luke, I...I know that if we succeed and...restore Ben to life...I know what that will mean for me." Leia gave a nod of acceptance. "I know we'll still be apart." Quickly shouldering her responsibilities as a mother, Leia continued. "But that doesn't matter. I have to help my son... I have to help him find happiness."
Now completely converted, Luke smiled broadly at his sister. "Well, I...I do have to admit. Ben and Rey, they...they do make a nice couple."
"Yes." Leia reciprocated Luke's smile, before reaching out and holding her brother's hand... "Yes, they do."
Refusing to acknowledge his own fears any longer, Luke gripped Leia's hand tight. He didn't know how this would turn out. Success or failure in restoring Ben to life, losing all sense of self and consciousness in the attempt? Luke just didn't know. All he knew was that he wouldn't allow himself to dwell on it. All that mattered just now was that he and Leia were together.
Pulling him close to her, Leia wrapped her left arm around her brother before resting her head on his shoulder.
Knowing that first light wouldn't be far away now, Luke once again cast his gaze to the heavens, Leia immediately doing the same. The two twins merely content to enjoy the silence and peace of this moment...together.
.
.
.
.
.
"Be with me... Be with me."
Rey Skywalker opened her eyes...and beheld the sight of nothing but sand, and the stone wall she was facing...
This wasn't the first time Rey had tried to summon a connection with a Jedi from the past. Throughout her training under Leia, many times she had tried, and failed, to contact those Jedi that had passed on. But it was only on one occasion that her wishes, prayers and hopes had been answered. When all appeared to be lost, they had spoken to her. They had channeled their power through her and allowed her to defeat the evil emperor Palpatine once and for all... But this was no longer about anything as noble as that. In truth...this was only about two things. Longing...and loneliness.
Ever since Ben had passed over, ever since he had become one with the Force, Rey had tired to contact him. On so many occasions she had tried to reforge the connection between them, hoping that through love alone the barrier separating life and death could be cast down, and they could finally be together... But in her heart, Rey now believed this to be impossible.
Luke's words of wisdom had finally allowed Rey to find true purpose once again. She was the last hope for the Jedi to survive now. She knew the feeling of responsibility would be a burden to carry, but it wasn't all doom and gloom. In a couple of hours she would leave this place and return to her friends. To Finn, Poe, Rose, C-3PO, R2-D2 and all the others. She knew she could always rely on them. She would always find strength in them... But could she truly move on? Could she truly devote herself to the future while a part of her would always remain in the past, with Ben? Perhaps not. But nevertheless...Rey knew that she had to try.
She didn't know if Ben could hear her or read her thoughts. She didn't know if he was aware of her actions, or just how many time she thought of him... But just in case he could hear, Rey thought it was only fair to give him an explanation as to why, after this night...she would no longer call out to him... Opening her mouth slightly, Rey faltered. Now that the moment was here, she could not find the words.. But she had a feeling that it didn't matter. Whether he could hear her or not was of little consequence. For in his final moments, she knew that Ben knew the truth in her heart...
And so, feeling no need to give a long, rambling speech, Rey merely spoke the words that needed to be said...
"I will always remember you, cherish you...and love you." She closed her eyes tight once more, before whispering and letting go... "Goodbye, Ben."
(A/N). And so ends chapter 3. As you can no doubt tell, the next chapter will be the last.
All the best and once again thanks for the support. And please don't forget to leave a quick review. I love to hear from you.
Bye for now.