AN: Thank you so much for the support! You guys rock so much! Sorry for the delay, next chapter won't be too far behind...I hope...I had way too much fun writing Luke and mini Ben (obviously not canon...or maybe some), so it much, much, longer than I first intended and many more chapters...but there is a point to all this...you will see...Kylo has a (very strange) plan!


Chapter twenty three: Old fables and new

Little Ben stood in the doorway to his uncle's office and watched where his uncle crouched next to Artoo and put something inside him. For someone who was supposed to be force sensitive, it took his uncle an awful long time to notice that he was being watched. It wasn't until Artoo pointed it out by beeping, that his uncle jumped up, startled as if he was expecting Ben to steal whatever secret he had put into the trusty droid.

"Ben, don't scare me like that. Go back to bed." His uncle flicked his finger to to close the sturdy door on him, but Ben jumped inside before it closed with a hiss.

His uncle groaned when he saw he wouldn't get rid of him that easily. "This better be important. I'm very busy. I have to finish this tonight." He sat down behind his wooden desk to go through stack of datapads while Artoo, rolled over to the furthest corner in the room and went into low power mode to sleep.

The rain hit the window frantically, like it was trying to break in or trying to break people out the academy, which was something Ben wouldn't mind, but that wasn't on his mind this minute as he surveyed, what he felt was the most Jedi unlike office in history, with a desk, sofa and bookcases. The only thing that were remotely Jedi-like were some ancient Jedi relics, sitting on bookshelves or hung up on the wall, which his uncle had collected during his years travelling around the galaxy, while looking for the first Jedi temple until he decided to give up on the endless search and build the new Jedi order instead, which so far only consisted of young, mostly bratty kids or adolescents.

However, Ben didn't care about any of those things, as there was one item in the room that held him captivated. An ancient lightsaber with a crossguard hung on the wall behind his uncle's desk and each time he had stepped into this office, he always felt drawn to it, most likely because of the strange red kyper crystal inside of it, as red was his favorite color. In fact Ben had based his toy saber on that design and even though his uncle was far from happy with that choice, he allowed it as it was only a toy.

Mesmerized Ben walked towards the ancient saber and he didn't wake up from his trance until his uncle snapped at him.

"Don't touch that!"

"Sorry..." Ben jumped away from the saber like he had burned himself.

"You might lose an arm." His uncle patted his robotic hand that was hidden under a black glove.

Ben was never quite sure if his uncle meant that he could lose an arm since he was untrained or because his uncle would literally chop his arm off, if he would touch that precious artifact. So far he hadn't dared to see which one it was and he was not about to do that now, since he wanted to have his uncle in a good mood.


KR: That's my saber.

You stole it from Luke's office?!

KR: Of course I did...and come on, that's not like it's the worst thing I did to him...and plan on doing...

Planned, you can't do it anymore.

KR: That's what you think...

That's what I know.

KR: That's what you think...


Little Ben sat down in a very uncomfortable chair before his uncle's desk, cleared his throat and used his cutest voice that was only reserved when he was buttering his uncle up. "Unca Luke...?"

"My little padawan, I have told you over and over to call me...master," said his uncle without looking from his work.

"Fine...master...why have you been avoiding me all day?" asked Ben and tried to keep his most polite voice.


KR: Yeah, why can't you just come out of hiding? It sure would spare me a lot of work trying to get the map.

You know that he can't do that...he took the Basha wow...

KR: That's no excuse.


His uncle sighed tiredly, stopped working and pinched the bridge of his nose in a exhausted manner. "I wasn't avoiding you. I've just been busy. You are not my only padawan you know...but you kind of are my favorite." He gazed at him seriously over his desk.

"Favorite?" Ben looked surprised at him.


Favorite?

KR: Obviously that has changed after you ruined his school and send him into hiding...

But I was always making trouble for him...still is...


His uncle smirked. "Yes, though some days I really want to kill you.." He waved his hands frantically when the scared look on Ben's face. "Not literally of course, I love you too much, so you have to take care of your health and go back to your dorm...son." he said the last part sternly.

"Son? I thought Jedi weren't allowed to have any attachments," said Ben snidely and stood up to pace around the room, as he didn't want to sit too long in that uncomfortable chair.

His uncle mouth twitched as he tried to come up with a good answer without contradicting his teaching material. "Well, you are the chosen one, my nephew and surrogate son. It's hard not to have you as my favorite. Great things awaits you...if you would just focus on your training and instead of troublemaking..."

"What are you doing...?" asked Ben, as he flopped himself onto the comfy sofa beside the desk and made himself at home, by pulling a blanket over himself.

"None of your business, young padawan. Now, make this quick and go back to your room. You are supposed to be sleeping," snapped his uncle as he tried to get back to work.

"How come you are up so late? Do you have any idea what time it is? Sleep is important, you know...master," Ben grinned and his uncle shot him a stern look.

"Don't talk back to your master. The nerve..." He shook his head and sighed.

"I'm a nerve-herder." Ben snickered, delighted by his own joke while his uncle didn't seem to be the slightest amused.

"Get it...? I just replaced eff with vii..."

His uncle stopped him before he could finish the explanation. "I know. Very funny. But you better not have come here just to tell me this...joke." He scowled at him in his best strict teacher/ headmaster manner which made Ben gulp.

"No...of course not..."

"Then why did you come?" snapped his uncle, impatiently despite him always lecturing Ben to be patient.

"Did you know mom and dad often called me that? Ben smiled fondly.

"What?"

"A little nerve-herder...when I got on their nerves...but also when they were just jesting...I miss them..." Ben hung his head sadly and finally his uncle understood why he was there in the first place.
"I know that you are homesick, but you can't go home yet and especially not in the middle of the night," said his uncle softly.

Ben glowered at him. "You don't get to decide that."

His uncle looked at him outraged. "Excuse me, I'm your master."

"You are not my father."

"I have the full authority here," pointed his uncle out.

"Dad told me I could go home anytime I want," said Ben in kind of bragging voice, like he believed his father ruled the galaxy or at least his destiny.

"That's wrong. I get to decide when your training is complete," said his uncle like only he was in control of Ben's destiny.

"Why?"

His uncle looked at him in disbelief. "Why...? Because I'm your master. When will you ever get that into your stubborn little head...?" He pushed the chair from his desk and advanced on him like he was going to throw him out of his office for being rude.

"I never asked you to be my master." Ben jumped off the sofa when he saw his uncle's intention, but his uncle caught him easily mid air with the force before he could escape." Hey!"

"You don't have a choice," said his uncle firmly as he force pulled him into his arms. "Bed, now."


KR: I chose the supreme leader as my master...no Vader!

I don't want any master...

KR: You just want your dad.

No...I want Rey...she's the only one I need.

KR: Yeah right...

"Wait! Can I call dad?" yelled Ben desperately when his uncle carried him with a thunderous expression to the door.

KR: Told ya, I know you better than yourself...

I was a kid...

KR: Is a kid...


"No," said his uncle firmly.

"Why not?"

"It's too late, it's in the middle of the night."
"I don't care."

"He cares. I care. Your mother cares." His uncle put him down beside the door, opened it up with a flick of his fingers and gestured him to leave.

"I just want to go home..." said Ben pleadingly.

"You can't. Stop asking for the impossible, go now or I will carry you like a little baby to your room. I'm busy right now." His uncle went over to his desk to fetch the datapads and one by one, he put them inside Artoo, who woke up to do his master's bidding.

"I...why do you use Artoo for everything? He's not a file cabinet, you know..." said Ben, when his uncle had finished loading Artoo who rolled out the door to deliver the datapads to someone or do something, Ben had no idea, as the secrecy surrounded this was too much.

"It's much safer that way. I would trust him with my life," replied his uncle.


Yet, he didn't keep the map to his hideout in Artoo but instead gave it to stupid Lor San Tekka who gave to stupid Poe who hid in stupid BB-8...

KR: I bet the rest of it is in Artoo.

Rest...?

KR: You didn't really think that stupid BB-8 has the whole map? How dumb do you think your uncle is...?

Erm...you never said anything else...

KR: Not that it matter, we have part of the map back at the First Order.

You do...?

KR: So I only NEED the rest of map from BB-8 and then I can skedaddle back to the First Order!

You are not getting it.

KR: I will get it...no matter how long it takes...

Have fun waiting then.

KR: Oh, I will have fun...at your expense!


"Wait, why are you still here? Go now," said his uncle sternly. "I warned you...don't test me..."

"I can't sleep..." said Ben in his most pitiful voice and his uncle stern teacher frown disappeared instantly and turned to a fatherly worry.

"Aww, that's too bad. You came here for a bedtime story? Why didn't you say so from the start?" He closed the door with a flick of his fingers and Ben snorted. "No...I'm way too old for that." He turned his head away from him to hide his real feelings.

"Do you want a bedtime story...?" His uncle took his chin and moved his head gently forward, as he saw right through him.
"Yes, please...I mean..I wouldn't mind...a little story...if you have time that is..." Ben twitched his nightrobe nervously in his hand.

"I have some time." Luke took Ben's shoulders and steered from the door and back to the sofa.

"You do?" said Ben surprised that anyone really had any time for him, except for maybe Threepio. "I thought you had some work to do."

His uncle lifted him up on the sofa and pulled the blanket over him. "You are far more important, son, but I will only tell you one on the condition that you will asleep during it...or after but no talking afterwards." He put a pillow under his head and Ben nodded solemnly, as he really wanted some quality time with him and be somewhere he could be safe from the darkness.

"Good, then I will tell you the story of how I met your mother, son," said his uncle smiling as he sat down next to him on the sofa and thought back to that time.


KR: That sounded like the beginning of a hookup story...

Shut up, he didn't know she was his sister...

KR: That was all Obi's and Yoda's fault...for separating them...hey maybe that's what happened to you and Rey...

That's so stupid, why would my parents need to hide her from me...? I was away in training when she was born...oh no...

KR: See...she could be your...

NO! NO! I'm not listening! It's far more likely...that she's Luke's daughter.

KR: Why is that more likely...?

Erm...if anyone would just leave a child stranded somewhere...it would be him.

KR: Why...?

I don't know...maybe he didn't like her mother or something...how should I know?

KR: OR too busy with you.

Me...? Why wouldn't he be paying attention to his own offspring instead...?

KR: What if...? He even called you son...

No! That's only because I'm...or rather was his surrogate son...he must have disowned me a long time ago. He was always thinking about bringing up the next chosen one and for some reason, he thought I was the next one...could he have left Rey behind because of something stupid like that...? Yeah, he definitely would...stupid uncle...

KR: Someone is bitter.

I thought you hated him.

KR: Well..we have a...complicated relationship...I can't really hate Vader's son...though I prefered to have been Vader's son, but you had to be born way too late!

Yeah, yeah...not sure how I could have become Vader's son though just be being born earlier...

KR: Or well I would. It's our destiny.

Hmm...so stupid...

KR: You're stupid. I don't think Luke even knows her...that is Rey...personally...

You are right, this is all too farfetched. Rey even thought he was a myth. Personally?

KR: He could've heard about her...

Okay...that doesn't make any sense. Anyway, uncle is long over that heart...headache...with my mom...

KR: I doubt that...no one can just get over something like that...maybe that's why he's such a prick...

Perhaps...but he wasn't a prick...all the time...was he...?

KR: He was, trust me.

Nope.


"No! Not that story. You have told me that story a million times," said Ben annoyed that he chose to tell that story out of every story he could tell.

"But it's a cool story," whined his uncle, as if it was his favorite story of all time.

"It's getting old," said Ben merciless, as he not just heard it from his uncle, but also from his parents, Chewie, Threepio, Lando, though he didn't come into the story until much later and even Artoo had beeped it to him, though he didn't understand the droid but from his happy beeping was certain that was what he was telling me. So Ben heard all the versions of it, from all different points of view, from the same people more than twice and had a long time ago gotten sick to death of it.

"I chose a story that you were familiar with, so you would be lulled into sleep because of the familiarity of it. Nothing too exciting or new...son," said his uncle defensibly but Ben shook his head with crossed arms and a frown.

"I don't want that story."


Hmm...it's that what you are trying to do?

KR: I don't know what you are talking about...but I'm falling asleep here...listening to stupid Luke droning on...and on...

Yeah, what's the point? I have far more important things to do that to listen to some bedtime story, can't we just leave?


His uncle gave up on trying to convince him. "Fine, what kind of story do you want then?"

"A Vader one." Ben face lit up with excitement.


KR: Nice choice! Now, I'm wide awake!

Great...now we will never leave...


"Vader? You know I can't do that..." His uncle looked greatly taken aback by his request.


KR: Aww, come on! I was starting to like you!

Liar...

KR: Just a bit...


"Why not? I'm only interested in the fighting..." asked Ben surprised. "Mom's not here." He added.

"It's way too dark..and complicated for a bedtime story," said his uncle and wrapped the blanket around Ben's shoulder. "I changed my mind. Just go to sleep." He retreated back to his desk to continue working or pretend working. "Good night."

Even though his uncle looked so panic stricken all of sudden, Ben just scoffed. "Dark? Give me a break...so it's wasn't dark when mom was tortured, had her home planet blown up, your uncle and aunt were burned alive, your Jedi master was killed by Vader or how you blew up the Deathstar that was filled with innocent people." He sat up and threw the blanket of him on the floor in anger.

"Hey, I had to take out the Deathstar. It was dangerous," said his uncle, who picked the blanket from the floor and frowned at him sternly. "You are not getting a Vader story."

"Aww!" whined Ben.


KR: You suck Luke!

He really should've just told me the truth from the start. What did he think would happen? It can't be worse than what did happen...

KR: Stupid Luke, I want a Vader story!


"But, you're right...I...or rather we have to tell new stories...not to mention my story didn't end so well for me..." said his uncle deep in thought, as he gave Ben the blanket back and drew up a chair to be closer to him.

"Because you lost to Vader...?"
His uncle looked up startled by the question. "No, I'm not talking about that...I was talking about our last fight which I didn't lose...I won! Kind of..."

To Ben's surprise his uncle's eyes were filled with such great sorrow, that he knew there was something more to this story than just winning a tough fight, so he asked.

"How did you win?"


KR: Duh, he gave temporarily into the darkside...the only way to beat someone stronger than yourself.

I don't think that's true...

KR: Vader told me that's how Luke beat him, which means it's true.

Of course it does...


"You don't need to know to know that, it's forbidden," said his uncle and leaned over him. "It's naughty asking these questions. Just go to sleep." He flicked his forehead teasingly.

"Ow..." Ben rubbed the sore spot. "Why? Mom's not here, you can tell me. It might help me later," said Ben, but his uncle shook his head.

"You are too young for it now. One day...and I said no Vader story." He frowned at him for keep trying to trick him into telling him one. "Sleep. Listen to the rain, it's so soothing." His uncle closed his eyes as he listened to the raindrops hitting the roof and the window and took a deep calming breath. "Breathe. Just breathe."

However Ben had no longing to mediate, so disobeyed his uncle and asked. "What did you mean then...by it didn't end that well for you? Aren't you doing well today? Isn't this academy what you dreamed of...?" Ben spread out his arms to show him how big the academy was or just his office. "What happened?"

His uncle sighed, when he heard that Ben was not meditating. "It's complicated..." He opened up his eyes to look deep into his. "Just sleep...my child."


KR: Obviously, he's talking about the fact that the love of his life turned out to be his twin sister...

That must have sucked...but it's my mother, please don't put her and my uncle together, it's gross!

KR: Let's say hypothetically if Rey turned out to be your sister or rather your half sister, how would you react?

Why are you asking that? It would be horrible! I would be going through the same shit as uncle! Falling for a girl I'm related to! Unthinkable!

KR: So you would not even welcome her into your family...the poor girl who has no family? You would abandon her? Meaaan...

I never said that...

KR: But you implied it...

NO! I would of course keep on protecting her...it would just suck...but I guess I would get over it...eventually...

KR: Right.

But it's so farfetched! So I don't even have to worry about that possibility.

KR: Right...

You are scaring me...is there something you know...?

KR: Well...I'm not telling...

Jerk.


"Well, this isn't my dream." Ben crossed his arms with a pout and his uncle tousled his hair.

"I know, but you have to make your own story. Have your own adventure."

"Adventure? I'm stuck here with you...what kind of a adventure is that?" snapped Ben and batted his hand away. "And I'm stuck inside while it rains...and I can't wake up until the darkness has gone," said Ben dramatically. "I can't go home until then...I'm stuck...wherever I go."

"Sometimes you have to start from a different place than you intended. I never dreamed of becoming a Jedi, let alone a master!" His uncle suddenly grinned from ear to ear like a little kid and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but Ben moved it away.

"Yes, it was a great leap from being a moisture farmer. Everything is better than that!" yelled Ben annoyed that his uncle was comparing his exciting adventure to this deadly boredom.

"And isn't being a Jedi better than being a smuggler...?" pointed his uncle out.

"No."

"But isn't this better than being stuck in a classroom...?" continued his uncle and hoped Ben would be won over by that.

"No, this is worse than school because I can't even go home after class," snapped Ben at him.

"You know why you can't go home and this like a boarding school. Don't forget that," said his uncle who had lost all humor.

"Can I go home during the holidays?" asked Ben.

"Erm..." Luke looked lost for words and Ben scoffed.

"I thought not, this sucks!"

A short silence followed Ben's words, until his uncle had enough and he shocked Ben, by ripping the blanket of him and taking hold of his hands.

"I changed my mind, you will go back to your room now." His uncle dragged him of the sofa and to the door again.

"No, why...?" Ben dragged his feet to postpone the inevitable, but his uncle just lifted him up and carried him the rest of the away.

"You are way too naughty."

"I'm not naughty!" Ben punched his uncle's back in fury. "Let me go!"

"You don't listen to anything I say, that's the definition of naughty. I told you to go to sleep and you are even more awake than before!"

"Hey, that's not fair! Let me down!"

"No, you are going back to your room." His uncle used his Ben free hand to flick his fingers to open up the door.

"NO!" shouted Ben.

"No?" His uncle was about to scold him harshly for continue defying him like this, until he saw how the small frame starting shivering in his strong hold. "Are you crying...?"

Luke held him in front of him and was shocked to see that his little nephew had indeed turned off the waterworks.

"You said you had time for me...you lied...no one has any time for me..." Ben sniffed miserably and his uncle bit his lower lip with a guilty look and petted his head awkwardly, like he was trying to find the off button to switch off his crying.


KR: You are always crying...

Well..it worked...he didn't throw me out...


"I...I said I had time for one story."
"That hasn't started yet," pointed Ben out, his uncle sighed, closed the door once more with the force and steered him back into his office.
"Because you didn't allow me to start one...the right one I mean." He went over to his desk, put Ben on top of it, opened a drawer, found a handkerchief and wiped his nephew's teary face. "There, better?" He put the handkerchief into his pocket after use and hugged him close. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you kid. I love you too much, you know that. I'm just thinking of what's best for you..." When Ben still didn't answer, he added: "If I allow you to sleep in here, can you promise me you will to go to sleep now...without a story?"

"Can't you just make up a new story...since all of the most interesting are off limits? A new one that I'm allowed to hear? Please..." said Ben, who had not given up on getting his promised bedtime story.

"I'm too tired, Ben," his uncle took a seat behind his desk and hid his head in hand as he tried to come up with an alternative way to deal with his nephew than killing him, so he could get some sleep this night.

"You are always tired," said Ben, who jumped of the desk, crossed his arms and frowned at him menacingly.

His uncle lifted his hands from his hands. "Running a Jedi school takes energy...and on top of that I have to deal with you."

"And I have to deal with you," snapped Ben back.


KR: Nothing has changed then.

I'm not dealing with him right now...

KR: Not directly, but we have the map...or we could have the map...it's so close...


"Ben, I'm too tired to argue right now. Let's talk tomorrow, okay?" pleaded his uncle and looked longingly at the sofa, but Ben was merciless, as he ran a finger over the dusty desk and asked: "Why do you even have a desk...it so un-Jedi like."

"You want to train in a...cold swap. Is that it?" snapped his uncle and glared at him as if he was thinking of dumbing on a next swap planet. "Because that's what I had to do...and I can tell you that sucked."
Ben backed away. "No, no...just..."

"Just what..?"

"It might be cooler...but it doesn't have to be a swamp...just somewhere outside...in a bright and warm place...this is too gray and boring."
"A Jedi training is not supposed to be cool. We have a grassfield...isn't that enough outdoors?" His uncle pointed out the rainy window.

"But it's raining outside...and it's been raining for days now." Ben pouted. "I want to go home. It doesn't rain like this there."
"Stop whining, it's only been raining for two days and this would be way, way worse in a swap. In fact instead of whining, you should use this opportunity to write your essay. I'm still waiting for it, you know...for ruining all the padawan robes...with black paint...in fact, you were supposed to deliver it today. So where is it? Did you come here to bring it to me?" asked his uncle, even though he knew that was not the case.

Ben suddenly found his feet the most interesting thing in the world. "No..."

"Have you started it yet?" pressed his uncle on, even though he already knew the answer.

"No..."

"Why not?"

Ben leveled his uncle with his most hateful glare."This is exactly like stupid school. You are making me write an essay as a punishment. This is no adventure. This sucks. I want to go home!" He stomped his feet all over the floor in frustration.

"Stop that!" thundered his uncle as he stood from his seat. "You will wake everyone up!"

"No, you will with your shouting," countered Ben and if looks could kill, Ben would have died right there.

"Sorry...master. I will stop..." said Ben.

"Take a seat, young Skywalker." His uncle pointed at the chair in front of his desk.

"Skywalker?"

"Just do as I say."

Ben sat down and braced himself nervously from the lecture that was about to come.

"Now, listen carefully young padawan. Not every adventure is fun. You can go an adventure when you are older...after you have had a proper training to able survive one..." Something dawned on his uncle, who suddenly opened up the desk drawer, to take from it a notebook and pen. "In fact, I'm changing the punishment essay. I want you to make up your own adventure and write how you would survive it by using your Jedi training. You will hand it in tomorrow night or you will wash all of the ropes without using the force, are we clear?" He handed Ben the notebook and pen, who stared between it and his uncle, confused.

"How...survive...? Life...or die...?"

His uncle takes on of his gloves to show him his robotic arm. "Like for example, how I lost my hand during my first fight with Vader. How I fell down a shaft and I was lucky that your mother found where I was hanging from a weather-vane or I would've fallen endlessly through space. How your mother was tortured, had her planet blown up in front of her, how your father was put in carbonite. Even Threepio was shot to pieces and Chewie had to put him back together. And despite all odds we managed to survive all of that thanks to great teamwork, or I wouldn't be able to tell you this."


KR: Interestingly enough, all this happened because of grandpa...not in that order of course...


"And all of these horrible things happened because of Vader, so do you now understand why I don't want to talk about him...? Why it is forbidden?" asked his uncle as he rolled his sleeve down again and took a seat.


KR: No!


"But you are keeping me here because you are afraid I will turn into a mini Vader and yet you won't tell me anything, that might help me not do that, " said Ben accusingly and his uncle reached over his desk to give him a little pat on the head.

"I will give you all the information you need. Don't worry." He sat back in the chair.


KR: Liar.


"And didn't Vader...kind of save you when the emperor electrocuted you...? You would've died if not for him...changing his heart at the last minute...for some reason. Why did he change his mind? The history hologram gave no reason. What's missing? Why did he suddenly grow a conscience? I thought he lost to you in a fight," asks Ben and his uncle stiffens.

"I don't know and stop asking about him."

"How did you survive being electrocuted like that? Didn't your organs suffer any critical damage?" ask Ben and his uncle suddenly find the window most interesting.

"Erm...I guess I'm just that strong."


KR: I've been electrocuted. It's no big deal.

BB-8 doesn't count.

KR: I'm not talking about him.

Oh...who then...?

KR: If you had to guess.

Snoke...?

KR: I'm...not telling...

You poor thing...

KR: Shut up.


"Okay...but can I write about if I had to survive a fight with the emperor or Vader...?" asked Ben and put his pen to the paper as if he was thinking of starting writing that right away.


KR: Woah, that's so awesome! The Vader part, I'm not as keen as going head to toe with someone who likes to fry you. That hurt too much! Though of course I would lose to Vader...but still...so cool...

He might have killed you.

KR: He would never kill me, he doesn't kill family...that's kind of his weakness.

No, he just dismembers or tortures them or their loved ones.

KR: I can't argue with that...but he told me he was done with that...so...he wouldn't hurt or kill me. In fact he's was always very nice to me when I spoke to his helmet.

Nice...? He's a Sith lord...

KR: But also family and always ready to listen. He said if he could he would hug me.

Okay...that's not the image I had in mind of him.

KR: Right? He's so awesome. Best granddad ever. Both nice and so cool!


The pen suddenly flew from Ben's hand and into his uncle's, who frowned at him. "No Vader. You are supposed to make up your own adventure. Just make up a new rival...it could be a girl."

Ben grimaced. "Why a girl? I would never fight a girl."

"Why not? Girls are strong, just look at your mother."


And Rey.

KR: Would you fight Rey?

No, I don't want to...and I would probably lose.

KR: No argument there.


"I know that...but why would I fight a girl? Mom would kill me and dad would scold me," Ben shivered while imagining their scolding.
"You have to figure it out yourself and you two could have some cool lightsaber fight...maybe in a snowy...forest," said his uncle and nodded happy with his idea.

"Why snow?" asks Ben.

"The light from the sabers would be so beautiful...in the night sky," said his uncle with dreamy look, like he could just picture it, however Ben stuck his tongue out.

"Urgh...beautiful...do want you want me to fall for this girl or something?"

"No."


Yes, if it's Rey.

KR: I thought you weren't going to fight her.

I'm having difficult time thinking of any other girl than her...

KR: So pathetic...she could be related to you, you know.

Shut up, you don't know that.

KR: Neither do you...


"This too poetic...it sounds like a love story," said Ben wanted to throw up, as that kind of story was the grossest thing he could think of when he was ten.
"It's not a love story...you can just make that girl your sister or cousin," said his uncle bitterly as he was speaking from an experience.

"I don't have one."
"Doesn't matter, it's fiction. At least that way it won't end up as love..." said his uncle but Ben interrupted him.

"Why would I fight someone in my family?"

"Maybe you turned dark, which will never happen, but it's fiction so...or she turned dark, and you or she are trying to bring each other back to the light. Yeah, I like that. A story full of hope," his uncle nodded.

"How is that not a love story? I would rather fight in a volcano to the death. Much cooler." Ben grinned.


KR: Yeah! Just like grandpa!


His uncle eye's widened in shock. "What! That's too dangerous. No."

"Come on, It's just writing. You said it just fiction, it's not like I'm going to do that."

"No."

"I can't even have fun writing...my own story..." Ben pouted.

"Just pick a safe spot for the fighting."

"Can it be on a planet that going to explode? Like the Deathstar?" asked Ben innocently despite the seriousness of the question.
"What no, that's stupid. You would never do that." His uncle leaned over him with a grim look. "You will never do that or I will ground you for life."

"Ground me? Not detention?"
"You will be grounded in fact I can just ground you now for even thinking about it..."

"No, no no need...but how about on a ledge or a bridge? With a bottomless pit all around?" asked Ben and his uncle shook his head vigorously.

"That's not safe."

"So you want me to lure my opponent... girl, a possible relative, who had turned dark or I had for some strange reason turned dark, to a safe spot...and beautiful spot...to fight to the death with laser swords...?" asked Ben as he tried to puzzle those strange images in his head for a coherent story that was not a love story, except for the fact they might be related.

"No, not to the death. Never. You are family. You will fight only to defend yourself...and then you will escape by being saved by your friends. Like I was...in my first fight," said his uncle shamefully.

"Lame...and I have no friends."

"Well, then you have to make some and for the fight itself, you will find a safe spot, can you do that...? In writing, I mean. No fighting in my school...unsupervised. Or you will get detention...for a month," he scowled darkly at him, but Ben only muttered. "I'm not doing the fighting..."
"What do you mean?" asked his uncle firmly.

"Do I know that this girl is my relative when I go and fight her?" asked Ben to go back to the essay.

"That's entirely up to you..." said his uncle with a sour look.


Rey is not my relative...

KR: Then you could be in for a shock...

I'm not listening!


"But, I would rather go out and have my own adventure. Then I wouldn't have to make something up." Ben looked longingly out the window, even though it's raining.

"That's off limits. Only in writing. You really should be thankful for this opportunity. I didn't get a Jedi training until I was twenty years old. When you reach that age you will be so powerful that no one can hurt you...as long as you train diligently of course...we your family want to protect you. Teach you how you can protect yourself. So you will write that essay...with your own adventure. It will be a good thinking exercise. Thinking before acting," said his uncle and look most pleased with this teaching method.

"So no...?" began Ben.

"Absolutely no Vader or any volcano or anything dangerous or I will call your mom and tell her what you wrote, which would make her very unhappy."

"Hey, that's not fair. Come on, it's just fiction," Ben thought it unfair that he was probably the only child in the whole galaxy who could get into trouble for just making things up.

"Doesn't matter, son. Your father would be furious as well."

Ben exhaled loudly when he saw there was no way to win this stupid thing. "Fine...can I at least get a lightsaber...?" His eyes rested on the ancient lightsaber on the wall behind his uncle's desk. "It might help with my writing." He added, when his uncle turned around to see what he is looking at. He turns back to him.
"Not until you have earned it...with good behaviour."

"Never...then."

"Never say never. I believe in you. And don't you dare touch that one, it's a priceless artifact. It's one of the first lightsabers ever created." His uncle said with a solemn expression.

"Why isn't it in a museum then?"

"I need to research the old artifacts in order to understand our history...what the Jedi did wrong...and why they lost a long time ago."


KR: That's easy, they did everything wrong...and still do.


"Why don't you just ask grandpa?" asked Ben and his uncle stared furiously at him as if he had cursed loudly.

"I told you to stop asking about him!"

"Wha...I was just asking about grandpa not Vader. Grandpa was the chosen one...right? " asked Ben innocently was surprised over his uncle's over reaction, as he knew he had tried to contact Anakin's force ghost anyway. "He should know what happened."


KR: OF course, since grandfather killed most of the Jedi...


His uncle breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Oh...sorry...that's what you meant. My bad."

"What else would I mean...?"

His uncle cupped his own cheek in thought. "I guess I could try to contact his force ghost...though that will be very hard or I would've already...don't worry about that, just go back to your dorm and straight to sleep, no more talking and start thinking about your essay tomorrow, not now or that will keep you up all night. In fact I will give you a whole week to write it. How does that sound? Should be plenty of time to come up with something new, we didn't discuss about."

"I can't...sleep...I'm scared..." admitted Ben in his smallest voice possible.

"Of what? The dark?" His uncle sighed when Ben's only answer was his downcast face. "Are you still not getting along with the other padawans? You have to stand up for yourself, show them who's the boss."


KR: Ironic, since you...I mean I became master of the knights of Ren...your former bullies...

Speaking of bullies, how come you are called master of Ren, if you haven't even finished your darkside training?

KR: Erm...it's umm...I killed the last master of course...

Well...that's cheating! Not to mention wrong!

KR: That's just how the things works! I didn't make up the rules!

Then you break the rules!

KR: I'm always breaking the rules...well the light side ones...

I'm not talking about those rules!

KR: I also breaks my Hux's rules...does that count?

No.

KR: But how about when I create something...I always colour outside the lines...does that count...?

No and just shut up for a moment...

KR: Hey, you just don't ask me a question and then tell me to shut up. Don't you know the proper etiquette of interrogation? You ask to get answers!

It wasn't an interrogation...and we will never get out of here if you don't shut up!

KR: Then stop asking me questions you dumbass!

You don't have to answer you know...

KR: I don't like to keep you hanging...


"Can I sleep in here...?" Ben pointed at the sofa.

"No, then you will never learn to stand up for yourself."


KR: That's harsh man...

I told you he was a prick...


"And I would never be able to go to sleep, since you don't seem to stop talking," his uncle smirked at his own joke.

"Hey!" yelled little Ben insulted.


Hey!

KR: Actually, he, does have a point...sometimes...as you will see...

You are agreeing with Luke...?
KR: Only when it suits me...

Figures...

KR: Like it will in the next part...

Next part...? So it's not over yet...?

KR: Nope...I'm...I mean it's just getting started...

Will this never end...? Will I never return...?

KR: No spoilers, please...


Next up: Careless words and whisper of darkness