Chapter 9: The World Between Worlds
Ben found himself once again in the strange, ethereal space of the World Between Worlds, the shimmering pathways stretching infinitely before him. His trials here were relentless, forcing him to confront his past and deepest fears. This time, the memory that seized him was one he'd tried to bury for years—a moment from his early days under Snoke's control.
He was back in his younger body, barely more than a teenager, still Ben Solo, not yet lost to the persona of Kylo Ren. Snoke had pushed him mercilessly, demanding he train for twelve hours straight, berating him with every mistake.
"You are weak, boy," Snoke had sneered, his voice cold and full of contempt. "Press harder, or you will never be worthy."
Exhausted and trembling, Ben had tried to keep going, but his body gave out. He stumbled and fell, his feet slipping over loose rocks, plunging into a deep crevice inside a dark, foreboding cave. The air was thick with dark energy, oppressive and suffocating. Ben had panicked, the weight of fear crushing him. He was alone, trapped, with no way out.
He called for help, but Snoke did nothing. He knew Ben was down there—he had left him there on purpose. Ben spent the entire day in that darkness, cold and trembling. When Snoke finally returned, he loomed over the edge of the crevice, his cruel smile cutting through the shadows.
"How do you feel, boy?" Snoke's voice echoed off the walls. "You're no Vader. You're still stuck, weak, and pathetic. Why should I waste my time training such a fragile boy?"
The words had burned deep into Ben's soul, a wound that never fully healed. But this time, something shifted. Ben was no longer the helpless teenager stuck in the crevice. In the World Between Worlds, he could feel the strength of his adult self merging with his younger body. He ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade crackling to life. This time, he wasn't powerless.
With a surge of determination, Ben leapt out of the crevice, his weapon blazing in his hand. He confronted Snoke, their lightsabers clashing with violent energy. Snoke's mocking smile faltered as Ben pushed him back, nearly defeating him before the memory abruptly shifted.
Ben found himself grasping Snoke's weapon, but instead of reliving more of his torment, a new vision appeared—Rey. She was struggling, her presence dimmed by the darkness that surrounded her. A new Sith cult had emerged in the galaxy, one that sought to claim Rey as their leader.
Ben's heart tightened in his chest. He could see her clearly now—standing on a beach, the soft waves lapping at her feet. But she wasn't well. Her skin was pale, her eyes darkened with exhaustion and fear. She seemed desperate, longing for his presence, and Ben could feel her fear radiating through the Force. She needed him, and in that moment, he understood how fragile hope could be for both of them.
Without hesitation, Ben reached out to her through the Force, sending a wave of reassurance, of love. He saw her expression soften slightly, a flicker of hope sparking in her eyes as she sensed his presence.
"I'm with you," he whispered across the vastness of space, though she couldn't hear his voice. "Hold on."
But just as the connection solidified, Ben was pulled back into the World Between Worlds, facing yet another trial. The path ahead was unclear, and he had no choice but to move forward, knowing that every step brought him closer to something unknown—something he had to overcome if he ever wanted to truly be free.
The World Between Worlds shifted once more, and Ben found himself standing in the familiar throne room. It was the same moment that had haunted him for years—Snoke's towering figure, Rey kneeling at his feet, the air thick with the tension of what was about to happen. But this time, Ben knew it was different. This was another trial, one meant to test him, to confront the choices he had made in the past.
As he had done before, Ben ignited his lightsaber, slicing through Snoke's body with deadly precision. Snoke's face twisted in shock as he crumbled to the floor, lifeless. The trial required this—Snoke had to die, just as he had in the past. But what came next felt both familiar and foreign.
Ben turned to Rey, his heart pounding, his words heavy with meaning. He extended his hand, just as he had nine years ago. "Join me," he whispered, his voice filled with both urgency and longing. "Please."
As soon as the word left his lips, he felt an unfamiliar sensation—control. In this trial, it wasn't just a memory; it was a test of his will, his choices, and how he would act if given the chance to rewrite the past. Ben could feel the weight of his past decisions pressing on him, but this time, something was different. The world did not shatter beneath them. The ship didn't split in two.
Rey looked up at him, her face filled with the same uncertainty as before, but instead of rejection, she reached out and took his hand. The moment was transformative. The ship remained intact, the chaos held at bay. Ben felt a rush of relief, an overwhelming sense of hope. Rey's hand in his felt real, solid, and full of promise.
"I know I once asked you to rule with me," Ben said softly, his voice steady but filled with the weight of years of regret. "But I'm ready now, Rey. Let's go to the Resistance. Let's help them." He paused, searching her face for any hesitation. "I don't want power. I just want to be with you."
Rey smiled, her eyes glowing with warmth, and in that moment, she stepped closer. "Ben," she whispered, her voice carrying a happiness he hadn't heard from her in so long. She leaned in and kissed him, softly at first, then with a deep sense of relief. It was as if the years of distance, of pain and separation, melted away.
Ben held her close, his heart swelling with joy in this surreal, dreamlike space. In the dizzying fog of life and death, time and space, this moment felt more real than any he had experienced in years. He had spent so long in the liminal space of the World Between Worlds, drifting between trials, unsure of his fate. But now, with Rey in his arms, he felt grounded, alive.
For what felt like years, Ben had been caught in this strange place, not always conscious, his memories scattered and his path unclear. But recently, the Force had given him a chance to return—to stop the new threat rising in the galaxy, and to reunite with Rey. He hoped, more than anything, that this time it would last. That this time, they could finally be together for the long life they both deserved.
Ben imagined the future—their future. He saw them teaching others, guiding new generations of Jedi. He envisioned the family they might start, the quiet moments of intimacy that Rey had longed for, and the life he had wanted to give her from the moment he had extended his hand all those years ago. His heart surged with hope as he held her, knowing that this time, they would have the chance to fulfill all their dreams.
Ben stood on the glass-like platform, suspended in the void of the World Between Worlds. The eerie silence around him felt suffocating, as if the very air was charged with an unseen force. He sensed it before he saw it—a presence behind him, dark and overwhelming. His breath caught in his throat, and every hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
Fear gripped him, primal and cold. He recognized it. Darth Vader.
The man he had idolized since he was sixteen. The symbol of everything Ben once aspired to become: menacing, powerful, unstoppable. But now, standing as Ben Solo—no longer Kylo Ren, no longer the reckless, angry teenager—he felt something he hadn't expected: conflict.
He could sense Vader's presence, looming behind him like a shadow. His younger self would have seen him as the ultimate figure of power and control, someone to be revered. But now, in his current state, Ben saw more than the fearsome exterior. He saw the man beneath the mask—the man who had been Anakin Skywalker. A man who had loved and lost, who had fallen so far into the dark that he couldn't find his way back.
Ben thought of the neglect Vader had shown his wife, Padmé, the woman he claimed to love but destroyed in his obsession for power. He thought of the suffering Vader caused his own children, Leia and Luke, forcing them to face the consequences of his actions. And for the first time, Ben didn't just feel fear or admiration—he felt pity. Pity for the man who had given up everything, including his own soul.
But along with pity, came a deep-seated fear. If Ben failed this trial, if he didn't overcome Vader, would he become him? Would he turn back to the darkness? He could see it—being a father to a son, and failing him, just as Vader had failed Luke. Becoming obsessed with power, losing himself in the need to control. Failing Rey. Breaking her heart. These thoughts haunted him more than any dark vision.
It was one of Ben's deepest fears: to become the very thing he had once idolized, to lose everything because of his own weaknesses.
Slowly, with a deep breath, Ben turned around. And there he was—Darth Vader. The figure that had loomed so large in his mind for so long now stood before him. The iconic black mask, the breathing that echoed through the silence, the imposing figure clad in darkness. This was the man who had dominated his dreams and nightmares, who had once been the ultimate symbol of what Ben thought he wanted to be.
But standing here now, as Ben Solo, he realized something. Vader may have been powerful, but he was also deeply flawed, broken by his own choices. And Ben wasn't that person anymore. He wasn't Kylo Ren, filled with rage and hunger for power. He was Ben Solo—a man who had found his way back to the light, a man who had Rey, who had hope.
Vader stood still, a towering shadow from the past, waiting. Ben knew what had to be done, but it wasn't just about defeating Vader. It was about overcoming the fear within himself—the fear that he was destined to repeat the same mistakes.
Ben clenched his fists, his mind racing. The presence of Vader was suffocating, but it no longer held the same control over him. Ben's hand drifted toward his lightsaber, but he hesitated. This trial wasn't just about combat. It was about the choices he would make. Would he fight Vader the way he had fought others in the past? Or would he face the deeper conflict—the battle within himself?
His heart pounded in his chest, but he took a step forward, standing tall. "I'm not you," Ben said, his voice steady, cutting through the tension. "I won't be you." The words felt like a declaration, not just to Vader, but to himself.
Vader's breathing filled the air, slow and steady, the mechanical sound relentless. He remained silent, but Ben could feel the challenge. This wasn't about physical strength or lightsaber skills. It was about breaking free from the chains of the past, from the idolization of a man who had lost everything.
Ben ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade humming to life. But as he held it at his side, he realized that defeating Vader wasn't about destroying him. It was about letting go of what Vader represented—fear, control, obsession. Ben wasn't bound by those things anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Ben stepped closer to Vader, his weapon still lit but lowered. "You were powerful, but you were lost," Ben said, his voice softer now, filled with a mix of compassion and regret. "I won't make the same mistakes you did."
And with that, Ben extinguished his lightsaber. The fear that had once gripped him loosened its hold. He wouldn't fight Vader. He didn't need to. He had already won by choosing not to follow the same path, by choosing the light, by choosing Rey and hope.
In that moment, the trial shifted. The dark figure of Vader began to fade, dissolving into the void. The platform beneath Ben remained solid, and he stood there, breathing heavily but feeling lighter than he had in years. He had faced his greatest fear and emerged on the other side, stronger.
This wasn't just a test of strength. It was a test of identity—of who he had become. And Ben Solo had passed.
Ben stood on the glass-like platform, gripping his lightsaber tightly, his heart racing as he turned to face the dark figure behind him. Darth Vader. The man he had once idolized stood before him, larger than life, his presence suffocating. This wasn't just a vision—it felt real, tangible. Vader's breathing echoed ominously, and Ben knew this trial was different. He had to fight, or he would lose everything.
The blue glow of Ben's lightsaber ignited, casting eerie reflections on the surface beneath him. He stepped forward, determined, but fear gnawed at the edges of his mind. Vader represented everything he had once wanted to be—power, dominance, control. But now, as Ben Solo, he saw Vader for what he truly was: a broken man who had sacrificed everything for the wrong reasons.
Without warning, Vader charged. Their blades clashed with a violent hiss, and Ben struggled to hold his ground. The sheer force of Vader's attack was overwhelming. Each strike felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of his past decisions bore down on him. Ben's muscles strained, his breath labored, but he fought back with everything he had.
The duel raged on, their lightsabers a blur of red and blue. Ben could feel the familiar pull of the dark side—its seductive whisper in the back of his mind, urging him to give in, to tap into the power that once made him Kylo Ren. But he resisted. He wasn't Kylo anymore. He was Ben Solo, and this fight wasn't about becoming something he wasn't—it was about reclaiming who he truly was.
But Vader was relentless. His strikes became more aggressive, pushing Ben back with each blow. In a swift motion, Vader swung his blade, catching Ben off-guard. The red lightsaber sliced through Ben's defenses, knocking him to the ground. Pain shot through Ben's body as Vader raised his blade for the final strike.
Ben's heart raced as he lay there, staring up at the towering figure. He could feel the darkness closing in, the fear tightening its grip on his soul. Was this it? Would he lose everything here?
Suddenly, a brilliant green lightsaber ignited in the air, intercepting Vader's strike with a flash of light. Ben's eyes widened as he saw Luke Skywalker standing over him, his presence calm yet powerful.
"Enough," Luke said firmly, his voice steady as he pushed Vader back.
The battle wasn't over. Together, Luke and Ben fought side by side against the dark figure. Ben, now reinvigorated by his uncle's presence, found strength he hadn't known he still had. The two of them moved in perfect synchrony, their lightsabers a blur of green and blue as they matched Vader's strength.
But even as they fought, Ben felt something shifting inside him. This wasn't just about defeating Vader. It was about confronting everything he had buried deep within—the guilt, the shame, the fear. And in that moment, as he fought alongside Luke, he realized he had been running from these feelings for too long.
With one final, powerful strike, Vader's lightsaber was knocked from his hand. The dark figure staggered, and in a flash of light, he was gone. The trial had ended, but the emotions lingered.
As the dust settled, Ben turned to Luke, his chest heaving with exhaustion. His throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. But then the words came, raw and heavy.
"Luke… I'm sorry," Ben said, his voice barely above a whisper. "For what I did… the temple, everything. I was lost."
Luke's face softened, and he looked at Ben with the kindness and understanding that had always defined him. "Ben, I'm sorry too," Luke replied quietly. "For everything that happened that night. For what I almost did to you. I failed you when I should have believed in you. I should have known, just as I knew with my father, that you could be saved. I should have seen that you were redeemable."
Ben's chest tightened as he heard Luke's words. For years, he had carried the weight of guilt and shame over what had happened. He had thought there was no path back, that he had crossed a line he could never return from. But hearing Luke's apology lifted a burden from his shoulders that he hadn't realized was still there.
The two stood there for a moment, the tension easing, the bond between them stronger than it had ever been. But it wasn't over.
Luke turned to Ben, his expression firm but gentle. "It's almost over, Ben," he said softly. "But there's one more thing. You need to defeat me. Fight me, and win. If you do, you'll be ready to return."
Ben's heart pounded in his chest. He knew what this was—another test. One final trial. But it wasn't about killing or overpowering Luke. It was about proving that he had truly let go of Kylo Ren, that he was Ben Solo now and forever.
They squared off, lightsabers igniting once more. The fight was intense but controlled, their movements deliberate. Ben fought with everything he had, but this time, he wasn't driven by anger or fear. He fought with clarity, with purpose.
As their blades clashed, Ben saw an opening. With a swift move, he knocked Luke's weapon from his hand, sending it clattering across the platform. But instead of delivering a final blow, Ben lowered his lightsaber.
"I don't need to kill you, Uncle," Ben said softly, his voice steady. "I already killed Kylo Ren. That's all that matters."
Luke smiled, his eyes filled with pride. "You've finally come home, Ben," he said quietly. "You're ready."
The platform beneath them began to dissolve, the trial ending. Ben stood victorious, not because he had defeated Luke, but because he had defeated the darkness within himself. He had faced his fears, his guilt, and his shame, and he had emerged as Ben Solo—stronger, wiser, and ready to return to Rey.
As the platform beneath Ben began to fade, he felt a sudden, sharp push. Luke had shoved him off, sending him plummeting into the unknown. He had no time to react as he fell through the endless void—until, suddenly, the icy shock of water consumed him.
Ben gasped, flailing as he plunged deeper into a vast, dark lake. The cold was biting, the water thick and oppressive. His body thrashed, desperate for air, but every movement seemed futile, the weight of the water pulling him further down. Panic gripped him as his vision blurred, and through the murky depths, he saw them—two figures standing on the shore.
His mother, Leia. His father, Han.
They stood together, watching him. The sight of them stopped him cold. Ben's body, moments from drowning, suddenly stilled. He stared up at them through the water, his chest burning for breath, but his mind oddly calm.
"I'm sorry," Ben whispered, though no sound left his lips underwater. "I know now that I can stand for what you stood for, Mom. I can bring honor back to the name Ben... Skywalker... Solo. I can bring hope again."
Leia and Han smiled, their faces soft with love and pride. Through the watery veil, Ben saw his mother's lips move.
"We love you," she whispered.
And suddenly, the water wasn't pulling him down anymore. He was no longer drowning. His limbs felt lighter, and the panic that had gripped him vanished. He didn't need to fight. He didn't need to struggle. Slowly, deliberately, Ben swam toward the surface, breaking free from the dark depths and emerging into the open air.
He gasped, filling his lungs with sweet, cold oxygen as he blinked against the bright sky. The vast lake stretched endlessly around him, but it no longer felt suffocating. Instead, it felt freeing. Ben floated on the surface, looking up at the open sky, and in that moment, a profound peace settled over him. This was the second time he had felt true peace—the first had been when he kissed Rey before his death, and now, here in the water, he felt it again.
But this time was different. He was alive. And he could feel Rey, not just through the bond they shared in the Force, but as if she were truly calling to him, reaching across time and space. His heart swelled, and he reached out with everything he had.
"Rey," he called softly, his voice carried by the Force.
Across the galaxy, in a quiet, hidden corner of a small hut, Rey lay motionless on her bed. For three long days, she had been trapped in a deep sleep, her body overwhelmed by the dark energy that had nearly consumed her. Delirium and fever had kept her bound, her mind lost in shadows.
But in that moment, something shifted. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering, her breath catching in her throat. She could feel him—Ben. Not just the essence of him, but him. Alive.
Her heart raced as her lips parted, and she whispered his name, her voice thick with emotion. "Ben..." she said, her voice trembling with happiness and relief, tears brimming in her eyes. "Ben..."
He was here. Not just a memory, not just a lingering presence in the Force, but truly, physically here. She could feel the warmth of him, the connection they shared stronger than ever before. And with that realization came hope—hope that everything could change, that the darkness wouldn't win, not as long as they had each other.
As Ben floated on the water, he smiled up at the sky, knowing that Rey had felt him, knowing that she had answered. They had faced darkness before, but now, together, they would face it again. This time, they would bring light, hope, and life to a galaxy that needed it.
Because as long as they had each other, the darkness could never truly win. Life would be hopeful once more.
