Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. This one will be a tad shorter than the others of the Mortis arc, but will still be good.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 59- Dyad
Ben helps Rey up and over a boulder. Up ahead of them, the form of the monastery rises high against the sky, which is now darkening as night is beginning to fall. A light seems to shine from the entrance, making them think that the ghosts of the Jedi masters have already gathered again.
For the last two days on Mortis, Ben and Rey had trained and learned under the spirits of Revan, Arcann, and Praven. The lessons they had learned were very valuable, helping them gain a greater insight on how dark siders think and operate. Although they had some hope that there was still a chance to turn Kylo Ren back to the light, they had even more hope that when the time came, they would be able to defeat him and destroy the First Order.
After spending two days on Mortis teaching the two young Jedi, Revan had told Ben and Rey that their time on Mortis was almost over, and had sent them back to the monastery to see Anakin and some of the old Masters once more before finally leaving Mortis.
"We have definitely had quite a time here on Mortis, haven't we?" Ben says.
"Yes. We've learned so much. I didn't even realize there was so much for us to learn. And to think…there's still so much we have to learn," Rey says. She pauses for a moment, then says, "Being here…it's helped me realize how much there is to know about the Force. And through the rest of my life, I want to do all I can to learn its secrets."
"You're not the only one," Ben responds with a smile.
"I have so much to thank you and your parents for. I never would've experienced what I have, or become what I have, without you and your family," Rey adds, an almost shy smile on her face. A smile that Ben answers with one of his own.
Ben and Rey enter the monastery and make their way up into the monastery. As they reach the chamber that were once the Father's chambers up in the upper part of the monastery, they find what they expected: the spirits of Anakin, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Qui Gon, and Revan.
"Masters," the two say as they bow respectfully to the spirits of the old Jedi masters.
"Done well you have, Padawans," Yoda says with a bright smile and a slight laugh.
Obi-Wan then speaks up and says to them, "You have done well in all your lessons, our young apprentices. You have humbled yourselves and absorbed all that we have had to teach you, and you have learned well."
Revan then takes a step forward as he speaks up, "A thousand generations of Jedi live in you now. You are the culmination of thousands of years of Jedi learning and progress, and the heir to the legacy of all the Jedi who have come before you.
"Thank you, masters. Your praise is great, and we do not take it lightly," Ben says with a bow of his head.
Qui Gon now speaks up as he says, "There is much you have yet to learn, young ones. Your journey is only just beginning, and a true Jedi never stops learning, for there is always knowledge to gain. But you have proven yourselves already. You stand to be the greatest Jedi this galaxy has ever seen, and to lead the Jedi of both galaxies into the future. The fate of both galaxies rests on your shoulders, and we are confident you will carry it well."
"Thank you, Master Jinn," Rey says gratefully.
Anakin now speaks up. "You have much that you still must learn before you can defeat the darkness and restore peace to the galaxy. But those are things we cannot teach you. They are things you must discover for yourselves." He then looks firmly at Rey and says, "Rey, there are things you must learn in particular. Things about your past and about the Force itself. Some will be difficult for you to learn, but you must lean on those around you. A support structure is invaluable to a true Jedi, especially one with the burdens you bear. Just remember, it you who makes your destiny."
"I will remember your words, Master Skywalker," Rey responds, bowing her head in respect.
There is quiet for a moment before Anakin speaks again and says, "Tomorrow morning, the path out of here will open to you, and you will be able to leave Mortis. For tonight, you will sleep here, and ponder on all that you have learned before you depart in the morning."
"Thank you, grandfather, and you, masters. Your training has been of the greatest blessing to us. We promise that we will fulfill the responsibilities you have laid on our shoulders," Ben says in a reverent tone, drawing smiles from the Force ghosts gathered before him.
"I do not know if we will see you again while you are yet alive," Anakin says, pausing a moment before he says, "But you have proven yourselves worthy, and we are proud of the progress you have made." He pauses again, then says, "But before we leave you, we have one last lesson. One last thing to teach you."
Ben and Rey look at the ghosts of the old Jedi in confusion. Revan had given the impression that their lessons on Mortis had concluded after he sent them back to the monastery. Now, they're confused. Rey is the one who speaks up and asks, "What do you mean, Master Skywalker? I thought our lessons here had been completed."
"Mostly, yes. But there is one last thing we must instruct you on," Anakin says with a smile.
Revan then speaks up. "Ben, Rey…have you heard of a Force dyad before?" he asks the two.
Ben and Rey look at Revan in surprise, then at each other. "A dyad. Exar Kun said that during our duel with him. Right as we started to overpower him, he said that phrase, and said he thought it was impossible," Ben says to both Rey and Revan.
"Not impossible. Only improbable," Revan says. He pauses, then says, "A dyad in the Force is one of the rarest phenomena in the universe. There have only been a handful of recorded dyads ever recorded, and the last one to occur was in my time. In fact, I was half of that dyad."
"What is a dyad?" Rey asks.
"A dyad in the Force is a unique Force bond. A dyad is an unbreakable bond that exists between two individuals. It usually occurs naturally, but can be created artificially, though it is nearly impossible to do so. Nobody knows why dyads occur, or what causes them, but their effects are unique, and incredible. Individuals that are bonded through a dyad are bonded so closely that they are as one in the Force. Individuals who are part of a dyad are connected across time and space, able to feel each other's presence, and even thoughts and feelings, across the universe, no matter the distance between them, and even to communicate with each other. When communicating across such distances, it can appear that their locations exist together in space, able to interact with each other to some degree. A dyad is a power like unto life itself, and grants those who are bonded unique powers in the Force."
"As I said, I was part of the last known dyad. The other half of that dyad was Bastila Shan, who eventually became my wife. We shared a deep connection that was unexplainable by all other knowledge of the Force. It was once I learned of the concept of the dyad that I understood. Since then, no dyads are known to have occurred, making it one of the longest gaps between dyads in known history," Revan explains.
Anakin now speaks up and says, "Shortly after the defeat of the Brotherhood of Darkness at the end of the New Sith Wars, before even the prophecy of the Chosen One was made, a different prophecy was made by the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order at the time. In this prophecy, it was foretold that centuries from that time period, another dyad in the Force would come to be, with those bonded within it destined to lead the galaxy into a new era."
A sense of shock and awe begins to fill Ben and Rey as they listen to Revan explain. Rey is the one who asks, "And you…you think we are…"
"Yes. Ben, Rey…you two are the dyad in the Force that was foretold. The first dyad seen in many generations, bonded even more strongly than many previous dyads in recorded history. It was this bond that gave the two of you the strength to defeat Exar Kun, and Exar Kun recognized that," Anakin explains.
Ben and Rey look at each other, shocked by this new revelation. Then, something hits Ben, and he says, "That's why I could see you when we were trying to find you on Starkiller Base. That's why we felt like we'd seen each other before…because we had."
"Yes," Rey agrees, almost breathless from shock at this new revelation.
The two are quiet for a moment before Revan speaks up again and says, "The two of you are the prophesied dyad. It is this bond, and the strength that it gives you that will be critical in defeating the threats that you face. Together, the two of you will lead the galaxy into an era of peace. It will take time for you to learn how to utilize all of the powers that this unique bond gives you. But once you do, you will be able to grow your power to heights you never imagined."
Ben and Rey stand in silence, still reeling from this revelation. Anakin smiles a bit as he walks closer to them. "You are the hope of the future, and of the Jedi. We have taught you all we can. Now it's time for you to learn for yourselves." He stops in front of them, looks each of them in the eyes, then says, "I am very proud of you both. You will become what I was meant to be but never could. And I know you will do great things."
As they look back at Anakin, Ben and Rey see that his spirit is beginning to fade away. "Wait, grandfather…" Ben starts to protest, not wanting Anakin and the others to leave yet.
"You have learned all you need to from us. Now, you must rely on each other, and your loved ones that yet live. Take what you have learned to heart, and lead the galaxy into the future," Anakin says. And with that, Anakin's spirit fades away. With final smiles and whispered goodbyes, the spirits of the other masters do the same.
In what feels like an instant, the chamber seems to get darker with the disappearance of the ghosts, and a feeling of warmth they hadn't realized was there disappears. And the two are left standing by themselves in the dark, upper floors of the monastery.
The two stand there in silence for several long moments before slowly turning to each other. The two just stand there, looking at each other in shock for what feels like an hour, but is really just seconds, before Ben finally speaks. "Wow. That was…a lot to take in," he says.
"That's an understatement," Rey says, and the two chuckle a bit.
"What do we do now?" Rey asks after a moment.
"We do what my grandfather told us to do. We leave Mortis tomorrow, and continue our journey of learning together. The Force didn't bless us as part of a dyad without reason. If we stick together and keep learning together…we will win this war, and finally bring peace," Ben says.
"I suppose," Rey says before adding, "As long as you are there to help me, and all our friends are there to support us, I'll go with you wherever our path takes us."
Ben nods gratefully, a bright smile now crossing his face. Rey smiles in return, then speaks again, "Ben…I always knew you were going to be important to my life, well before I learned about our dyad in the Force. Thank you for helping me along this path, and supporting me the whole way."
"Of course, Rey. You are an amazing person, and I have only hoped that I could help you become the person you were meant to be," Ben says.
Rey smiles gratefully as she reaches out to take hold of Ben's hand. "Thank you…for everything, Ben," she says.
Ben nods, looking back into Rey's eyes.
Neither of them is sure who moves first, but after several moments of silence and stillness, Ben and Rey are holding each other tightly and kissing with an incredible passion. Both of them had had feelings for each other building over a very long time, almost since they first met. They hadn't even admitted it to themselves. But now, it is as if the dam has burst, and they can no longer hold back their feelings for each other.
Neither are sure how long their kiss lasts before they finally pull apart. But as they do, they stay close to each other, looking deep into each other's eyes. Rey is the first one to speak as she says, "Ben…I don't know exactly what I'm feeling…but all I know is that I can't stand to hide it anymore. I want to be with you forever and never leave you again."
"That's called love, Rey," Ben says with an almost teasing smile and tone before he says, "And I feel the same, Rey. I love you. It took me too long to realize it, but I know it now. I'm in love with you, and I feel like I have for a long time."
Rey's smile only gets bigger, her eyes watering a bit from happiness. "I love you too, Ben," she says. And then, she pulls him back in for another kiss.
The two kiss for a few seconds before Ben pulls back to look her in the eyes. "Rey…I know we have only just realized we love each other. But I feel like, with all we've been through, and how well we've gotten to know each other, I feel that I know you well enough, and love you enough, to ask you: will you marry me when we go home?"
Rey is stunned for a moment. She had not expected to hear that question. But, almost as soon as she hears it, she already knows her answer. Maybe it's hearing that they share this unique bond in the Force, or maybe it's just because she already secretly wanted it, but she knows her answer.
"Yes, Ben. I will," she says. Ben immediately responds by spinning her around as he kisses her again.
The two smile against each other's lips as they kiss. As the moments pass, their kiss grows more and more passionate. Then, Ben picks Rey up in his arms, and carries her over to the bedroom that lies on the same floor of the monastery.
As their last hours on Mortis tick away, Ben and Rey finally realize the depths of their feelings for each other, and share their first passionate night together.
And, I'll end there.
So, some of you had guessed that this is where I was taking Ben and Rey's relationship. Yes, they will be our romantic couple for this story. I tried to show them building up their feelings for each other through the story, especially during their journey together to learn the secrets of the Force, so this last scene would not feel out of place. I hope it worked well.
So, Ben and Rey's wedding will be in a few chapters. First, we have to catch up with some other characters, and actually see Ben and Rey return to Earth and break the news to their friends and family. But the wedding chapter should be in 4 chapters.
Alright. Next chapter will take us back to some old friends we haven't seen in a while, and that I honestly probably haven't featured as much as I should. The chapter should be up in a few days. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!