Sand… speed… lightsabers… war… beauty… love… Images flashed across Ben's mind. Images of friendship and betrayal. Of fatherhood and redemption. Memories that did not belong to him. "What is this?" He asked.
"The truth" came a voice. A voice he had heard just moments earlier.
"Who are you?" Ben questioned.
"I am your grandfather, Ben." The voice announced. "You thought you knew me… as Vader." Ben stood in blackness, until the dark parted away to reveal a figure. It was his reflection. A reflection that soon faded away to reveal a different person, dressed in Jedi robes with sandy hair and a small scar on his right eye. "I am Anakin Skywalker."
Ben looked at his grandfather, standing before him so vividly, in amazement. The amazement soon turned to confusion and anger. Ben demanded to know. "Why are you here?"
"Palpatine's influence over you is gone now." Anakin responded. "Circumstances that prevented me from communicating with you are gone with him." Anakin took a step forward toward Ben. "Luke and Leia have joined with the force, and you have found the light."
"I still don't understand." Ben stretched his left arm out and pointed to the distance, to nothingness but as an expression of his thoughts. His eyes still on the ancient ghost. "You could have come to me years ago! You could have stopped so much pain and confusion!" Ben yelled "I thought I knew you, but it was just the voice of that decomposing sith!" Ben moved his arm to point at Anakin "Why didn't you come then?!"
Anakin looked down as if in shame. "I redeemed myself in the eyes of my son. In saving his life, I gave up my own. My death meant that I could not redeem myself in the eyes of all the others I had wronged." Anakin looked up, into Ben's eyes "Especially, your mother." Ben's expression of anger turned to surprise and sadness. "For years she shut me out, and you, as her son, adapted to her state of being." Ben looked away in contemplation "You kept me away, without realizing it." Anakin huffed "And this banishment, in addition to the dark influence of the Emperor, kept me from warning you."
"So this is my fault?!" Ben looked back up at Anakin in anger. In response Anakin only looked back with remorse. "It is my fault, Ben." Anakin motioned to his side with his arm. Images began to appear in the thick black. Images of Anakin turning to the dark side. Killing younglings and harming his wife. His duel with his old master Obi-Wan Kenobi. His transformation into Darth Vader. The images faded back into the dark, and Anakin returned his arm to his side. Ben looked at Anakin. His face revealing his effort to remain unfazed, but contorted with the knowledge of what it felt like to be on the dark side. "I thought I could save Padme's life. The dark side of the force gave me power, but it meant losing everything I loved." Ben looked down. His face finally giving away his grief and regret. "I died before I could fix anything." Anakin's expression changed from sad to hopeful "You've got a chance to make amends!" Anakin urged with encouragement.
With a quivering voice, Ben asked "How?"
"Use the light side of the force Ben! Believe in its power to do good!... Be with the ones you love." Anakin reassured. Ben looked up into the face of Anakin once again. Gratitude filled his chest. Anakin pointed at Ben "And do right by my children. I know your uncle can get a little ahead of himself sometimes, but he means well. Find the compassion to forgive him. He did the same for me." Ben clenched his jaw, but nodded. "Your mother gave the last of her strength to bring you home. Don't let her sacrifice be in vain." Anakin advised.
"Thank you… grandfather." Ben breathed. His emotions keeping him from saying much else.
"May the force be with you, young Solo…. Young Skywalker." Anakin smiled and light surrounded both men until it became blinding.