Kylo Ren waited for the door of the command ship to swing down, the mild, fragrant air of Riosa came flooding in around him.

The Riosan delegation waited just outside the ship, "Supreme Leader, welcome," the Prime Minister said as Kylo Ren descended. He hadn't grown accustomed to that title yet and he hesitated briefly before nodding in return.

The ambassador escorted him to the diplomatic complex where he found a well-appointed suite prepared for him.

"If you need anything during your stay, don't hesitate to ask," the ambassador told him, backing out with a low bow.

Kylo Ren looked out the window onto the Riosan Misty Meadow.

The morning light filtered in through the trees in the eastern end, broken and cut by leafy branches.

"I'll destroy her!" Kylo Ren heard the words ring through his head again. He'd shouted them to his uncle Luke, so angry, so full of hatred.

Hatred for Rey.

Hatred for Luke and a burning desire to rebel against anything he said.

Kylo's anger and agony in that moment had clouded everything he could see, experience. She had left him. He offered her everything, his power, his connection to the Force, his life. She walked away. All he felt for her, she felt nothing. He was nothing to her but she was everything to him.

He realized she had come to turn him to the light and gain his help for the Resistance, she didn't see him as a person the way he saw her.

With Rey he felt complete, balanced and whole, but she'd left him so easily.

He wasn't sure he really knew who he was sometimes. When he saw Rey he wanted to become someone noble, someone who could save the galaxy, who never made a mistake along the way. His fists clinched as he thought again how she refused to help him, they could have done so much together. They could have been so strong.

He knew she wanted a family. He could feel it when he was near her on Takodana. Kylo could sense her attachment to Han, his own father. He knew she would never have found belonging there, as much as Han could love others; he was never the attachment type.

Luke had disappointed her. For that, he hated Luke even more. Rey had come to Luke desperate and alone, searching for a last hope, and searching for belonging.

Kylo Ren knew he himself had failed her as well though.

Just like everyone else had. He didn't deserve her. He wasn't worthy.

"I always felt the call to the light too," an airy voice said behind him.

Kylo Ren's entire body tensed, as he knew himself to be alone.

Slowly, he turned to face his grandfather.

Anakin's face was gentle but sad, emanating blue Force light. His hair was wavy and wispy around his narrow face.

"Grandfather, my master," Kylo Ren fell to his knees, "Darth Vader, I pledge myself to you."

"Ben Solo, get up." Anakin motioned for him to rise.

Kylo Ren raised his own ghostly white face to meet his grandfather's.

"You don't know what you're saying, Ben." Anakin shook his head.

Kylo Ren rose to his feet, his face stricken and rapt in horror, "Forgive me."

"Did my son not tell you how I died?" He drew his hands into the long, wide sleeves of his robe, clasping them together in front of him, completely hidden.

Ben Solo bowed his head, Luke had indeed told him about Darth Vader's one weakness, his love for his family and Padme Amidala.

"You saved Luke from Emperor Palpatine," he answered.

Anakin nodded, "Yes, I did."

"I endeavor to finish what you started." Kylo Ren extended his gloved hand toward the window. "To bring order to the galaxy, to bring peace, to bring justice, I do this in your name."

"And have you found peace, Ben?" Anakin asked.

Kylo Ren closed his eyes and bit his lips together for a moment before answering, truthfully, "I feel only agony and confusion, guilt and regret." Anakin nodded, silent for a moment, and then, "That is what I experienced as well, from the time I came under the influence of Palpatine until..." Anakin paused a moment, his eyes narrowed slowly on Kylo Ren, "I came back to the light."

"Did you regard it as a weakness?" Kylo Ren asked.

"No, Ben," Anakin sighed.

"The regret I live with now, that I would do anything to save you from, is that I held on to the darkness far too long. Even when I knew that I should have turned away, I was so under Palpatine's power...but ultimately, it was my choice, in the end. Unwisely, I stayed in the dark side of the Force."

"But-" Kylo Ren began, but Anakin continued.

"Until I couldn't bare it any longer, until the dark side threatened one I loved, the one I loved more than my pride." Anakin smiled softly, "Luke helped save me, but the one you love can't bear the burden for you. It is your compassion that would lead you back, but you decide your path."

"There is no one, I am alone." Kylo Ren looked away as he spoke.

Anakin laughed lightly, "Luke was right about you." He shook his head, amused.

Kylo Ren's eyes burned in fury.

"Choose your path, Ben, but my advice would be that you don't wait until you have wasted your life in agony and anger." Anakin looked down at his feet and faded away without another word.

Kylo Ren hurt to his very soul. The conflict consumed him and he shook in the agony he knew so well.

Then, for a brief moment, the light of the sun peeking into the window glinted in his eyes, piercing his mind and his heart, and in that moment, he breathed in peace.