Chapter 14: Time Bending
In the quiet morning light, Rey and Ben stood facing each other on a secluded plateau on Ahch-To. The air was still, thick with the calm that always preceded their training sessions. Only the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze and the faint hum of the Force broke the silence. Rey could feel its energy pulsing beneath her skin, alive and constant, a reminder of the powerful bond that tethered her to Ben. But today, there was something different—something deeper.
Their training began as usual, with a silent understanding between them. No words were needed to initiate the familiar sequence of movements. Rey ignited her lightsaber, its yellow glow reflecting off her face. Ben mirrored her action, the blue blade of his saber springing to life with a sharp hiss. The hum of their weapons resonated in the still air, but today, the energy between them felt even more charged.
They circled each other, their lightsabers crackling with power as they clashed. Yet as their blades collided, Rey felt a stirring sensation within her, a growing awareness of the dyad that connected them. Their bond had always been powerful, a connection that had once spanned the galaxy, but today it felt as if something was awakening between them, something neither of them had ever fully understood.
With each clash of their sabers, the space around them seemed to thrum with life. Rey could sense the Force responding, amplifying their presence, intertwining their movements in ways that felt almost choreographed by the Force itself. She stepped back, her breathing steady but her heart racing with the pulse of something ancient and powerful. Across from her, Ben lowered his blade slightly, his dark eyes reflecting the same sense of recognition she felt—a knowing that their connection was more than just a bond. It was alive, evolving.
Without speaking, they resumed their sparring, though now their movements were slower, more deliberate. It was no longer about testing each other's skills, but about exploring the strange sensations rippling between them. Each swing of a lightsaber seemed to resonate with the Force, sending waves of energy outward, like stones dropped into still water.
Rey deflected Ben's strike, and suddenly, she felt it—an invisible thread of energy pulling between them, not just a connection through the Force, but something tangible. Their bond was becoming physical, more real than ever before. She could feel Ben's emotions bleeding into hers—his surprise, his focus, and his struggle to comprehend the depth of what was happening. She had felt their connection across space many times before, but this was different. It wasn't just a link; it was an entanglement.
As this realization struck her, Rey stopped mid-motion. Ben paused, lowering his lightsaber, watching her intently. Rey closed her eyes and let herself fall into the bond, feeling the current of the Force flowing between them. She sensed Ben doing the same. Their awareness of each other grew sharper, more acute. There was no longer any separation. She could feel his heart beating in sync with hers, the rise and fall of his breath mirroring her own.
Then, in a single heartbeat, something shifted.
A surge of energy erupted between them, not the familiar flow of the Force they had known all their lives, but something far more powerful. Rey gasped, and before she could process what was happening, she and Ben were no longer standing on the plateau.
They found themselves in a vast, void-like space, a realm outside of time and place. All around them, the Force shimmered, an endless ocean of light and shadow. Rey felt Ben beside her, but even more than that—she felt him within her. Their consciousnesses were no longer separate. She could see herself through Ben's eyes, not as an outsider, but as if she was looking from his perspective, and he from hers.
The overwhelming experience sent Rey staggering backward. She clutched her chest, struggling to comprehend the vastness of their connection. Every barrier that had ever existed between them was gone. She felt Ben's thoughts, his emotions—his love, guilt, hope, and fear—flood into her, as if they were her own. And she knew he felt the same from her.
They weren't just bonded by the Force; they were the Force. Two halves of a whole, something infinite. The dyad wasn't merely a connection—it was a merging of their very beings.
In this place, the Force bent to their will without effort. Rey lifted her hand, and the light of the void responded instantly, swirling into intricate shapes that mirrored her thoughts. Ben's presence echoed through her mind, guiding the movements, and together, they explored the limits of their newfound power. Time and space warped around them, bending to their will as effortlessly as drawing breath.
A memory flickered in Ben's mind, a whisper of ancient lore about an ability long lost—Time Bending. Rey felt his recognition, understanding dawning in both of them at once. This new power allowed them to manipulate the flow of time within a defined space. They could slow it, freeze it, or speed it up. Rey's thoughts were racing. Time itself could be bent to their will. They could see visions of the past, glimpses of the future, and perhaps even alter the course of events.
Suddenly, they were back on the plateau, the wind blowing gently around them, the morning light filtering through the trees. But everything had changed. The Force, the galaxy, time itself—they were now capable of reshaping it all. They were more than just Jedi; they were something new, something boundless.
Rey looked at Ben, her breath catching in her throat. She could see the same realization in his eyes.
"Time bending," she whispered, the words lingering between them like an unspoken promise of what was to come.
Though Rey and Ben remained unaware, deep in the shadows, the Sith threat was watching their every move. Through a mystical looking glass—a beautifully crafted bowl filled with enchanted water—the Sith sorcerers spied on the pair. The water, shimmering with dark energy, served as a window into distant places, allowing them to see events unfold in real time without the need for any physical connection. With this ancient and forbidden art, they could observe their targets from afar, undetected, as if standing in their presence.
In the shadowed recesses of a hidden chamber, deep within the farthest reaches of the galaxy, the Sith cult gathered in silence. Their leader stood at the center, a figure cloaked in black, face obscured by a mask adorned with ancient Sith symbols. Around the chamber, glowing red runes pulsed with dark energy, casting an eerie light on the faces of those present. The air was thick with tension, anticipation seething beneath the surface as their leader turned toward the sorcerers assembled at the edge of the room.
The leader's voice, a whisper that seemed to echo through the Force itself, broke the silence. "It is time. The balance has shifted."
The sorcerers exchanged glances, murmurs of excitement rippling through the cult. The leader raised a hand, and all voices fell silent.
"I have felt him," the leader continued, a dark satisfaction creeping into their tone. "Ben Solo… has returned."
The words sent a shockwave of energy through the chamber, the sorcerers stiffening in response. The leader had felt the shift in the Force — the moment Ben Solo had re-entered the living realm. He had once been Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader nearly fulfilled the dream of bringing the galaxy to its knees. But with his fall and redemption, the Sith cult had lost what they believed to be the key to eternal domination. Now, however, they had a new path forward.
"Rey and Ben," the leader mused, pacing slowly as the dark robes swirled behind them. "Together, their bond is unlike anything the galaxy has ever seen. A dyad… but not just any dyad. A connection powerful enough to tear the galaxy apart and remake it in our image."
The leader stopped before the sorcerers, dark eyes gleaming from behind the mask. "Bring me the Looking Glass."
Without hesitation, the sorcerers began chanting in an ancient Sith tongue, their hands raised as they conjured a swirling portal of shimmering obsidian energy. The air trembled, and slowly, a crystalline mirror materialized, suspended in the center of the room. The Looking Glass, an artifact from the days of the Old Sith, could pierce the fabric of space and time, allowing the cult to witness events from afar.
The leader stepped toward it, hands clasped behind their back. "Show me… Rey Skywalker and Ben Solo."
The blackened surface of the mirror shimmered, revealing a distant world—Ahch-To, the isolated planet where Rey had once trained as a Jedi. In the image, Rey and Ben stood together on a cliffside, overlooking the endless ocean. The wind whipped around them as they moved in harmony, lightsabers drawn, training with the precision of warriors who knew one another's every move.
The cult watched intently, the Force flowed through them, the remnants of the ancient bond they had once shared as a dyad flickering to life once again.
"They are growing stronger," one of the sorcerers whispered. "But there is something new…"
The leader nodded, their gaze fixated on the image. As Rey and Ben sparred, a new energy began to pulse between them, a luminous connection that neither Jedi nor Sith had ever seen before.
"It's their bond," the leader murmured. "But different. More refined. Stronger."
As the two trained, the air around them seemed to shimmer, the Force bending and twisting in ways it had never done before. Their connection, once broken by death and resurrection, had evolved. What had once been a simple dyad, a tether of shared power, was now something more—a conduit for creation and destruction alike.
Rey swung her lightsaber, and as Ben parried, the Force around them seemed to amplify. A sudden burst of energy erupted, and for a brief moment, the cult witnessed something impossible: the world itself seemed to bend. The waves of the ocean paused mid-crash, the wind halted, the very fabric of reality shifting as though time had stilled. And then it resumed, the Force rippling outward in a shockwave that sent the rocks beneath Rey and Ben trembling.
The leader leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "They have unlocked a new power… a power to control the flow of time itself."
The sorcerers gasped, their voices filled with awe. "They can manipulate time?"
"Yes," the leader hissed, fists clenching at the revelation. "Through their bond, they have discovered a way to bend reality—using the Force to alter the very flow of time in the space around them."
The Looking Glass flickered, showing the aftermath of the burst. Rey and Ben, breathing heavily, lowered their lightsabers, looking at one another in shock. They, too, realized what they had just done.
The cult members knelt before the leader, their faces alight with dark reverence. "What is your will, Master?"
The leader turned to them, eyes burning with ambition. "We must let them grow. Watch their training, but do not interfere—yet. When the time is right, we will strike. We will harness their power, control the dyad… and with it, the Sith will rise again, stronger than ever before."
The sorcerers nodded, and the leader turned back to the Looking Glass, watching as Rey and Ben stood side by side, unaware of the dark forces observing their every move.
"Our time will come," the leader whispered, the shadows seeming to coil around them. "And when it does… the galaxy will bow to the Sith once more."
As the day stretched on, Rey and Ben found themselves growing closer, their bond deepening with each passing moment, bolstered by their newfound mastery of a shared Force ability. This connection rekindled their trust, something Rey had desperately needed. But before today, there had been a lingering distance between them, a gap Rey couldn't easily bridge. Ever since Ben's return, she had been haunted by the memory of her kiss with Sky—a moment she couldn't erase. She tried to bury it deep within her mind, afraid of what Ben might think if he ever knew. She couldn't bear for him to doubt her loyalty or question whether her feelings had changed. I just need more time, she reassured herself, though the guilt gnawed at her.
Determined to push the unease aside for now, she moved toward Keira for training, focusing on the present. Meanwhile, Ben was across the courtyard, locked in a sparring match with Finn. Rey glanced their way briefly, watching Ben's movements—strong, precise, yet somehow softer than before. She knew the past couldn't stay hidden forever, but for today, she would hold onto the peace they had found.
Sky stood on the sidelines, watching Ben with a knot in his stomach. The way Ben moved—effortlessly blocking every attack and anticipating Finn's every move—reminded Sky of how out of place he felt. Despite months of training under Rey and Finn, no matter how hard he worked or how deeply he tried to understand the Force, Sky couldn't escape the shadow Ben cast. It troubled him, feeding the growing sense of inadequacy.
Though Sky noticed Rey keeping a certain distance from Ben, there were small, telling moments that revealed the depth of their bond. After training sessions, Rey would quietly drift toward Ben, her guard momentarily down. She'd kiss him softly, run her fingers through his hair, and often whisper how grateful she was to have him back in her life. Each intimate gesture cut deeper into Sky, a painful reminder of his place on the sidelines. The sight of their closeness was like a knife twisting in his chest, fueling an inner conflict he couldn't ignore.
Sky had long been aware of his manipulative tendencies, a flaw that had shaped much of his past. But meeting Rey had sparked a yearning in him—a desire to change, to be something better, if only for her. She had been the one person immune to his charm, unaffected by the allure he used to control others. Until that night by the fire.
That moment had changed everything. Sky had seen Rey drinking, her guard slipping just enough for something to stir between them. He knew the dark energy of the Sith had clouded the air, influencing their actions, but he couldn't shake the nagging thoughts: What if she liked it? What if, deep down, there was a part of her that wanted him just as much as he wanted her? He couldn't help but wonder.
I haven't hurt her like Kylo Ren—like Ben Solo, Sky mused, clinging to the idea. I could be what she needs. I could give her a life free from the pain he caused. The more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself that perhaps Rey was holding back, trapped in a relationship out of loyalty rather than desire. Maybe, just maybe, she was longing for something different—someone like him.
He knew he shouldn't have feelings for Rey. Finn had made it clear that she was taken, and Ben Solo's return was proof of that. The name echoed bitterly in his mind, but it wasn't just Ben's past darkness that stirred his resentment. It was the way Ben's presence overshadowed everything, reminding Sky that no matter what he did, he could never measure up. Sky longed to be the one Rey trusted, the one she turned to. But every time he thought they were getting closer, Ben was already there. Even when Sky thought they were connecting, Ben's presence loomed like an insurmountable wall.
When Sky first connected with the Force, he felt an undeniable pull toward the light and gratefully embraced the teachings of the Gray path that Rey and Finn imparted to him and his sister. He admired the balance they preached, finding solace in its middle ground. But as the weeks passed, Sky's thoughts became increasingly consumed by Ben's growing role in the new Jedi Order Rey and Finn had established. At first, it had been easy enough to ignore, but then Rey made an announcement that shattered Sky's fragile peace—Ben would be more involved, stepping into the position of a full-fledged master to teach others. That was the moment Sky felt something inside him snap.
The idea of being taught by Ben Solo was unbearable to him. Sky didn't respect Ben. No, in truth, he resented him deeply, and the thought of being beneath Ben in the Order made his blood boil. He didn't just want to avoid Ben's teachings—he wanted Ben gone. Erased. Disappeared from Rey's life and his own.
What cut deepest wasn't just Ben's involvement, but the way Rey looked at him. Every time she spoke of Ben, her eyes filled with love, admiration, and pride. Sky hated those moments, the way Rey's entire demeanor softened when she was near Ben. She admired Ben in a way Sky craved for himself.
Sky had been holding onto the hope that, one day, he would prove himself. That if he became skilled enough, strong enough, Rey would look at him the same way—with admiration, respect, maybe even love. He wanted to be the one to stand beside her in the Order, to help her shape the future of the Jedi. But with each passing day, it became painfully clear that Ben Solo was the one who held that place, and it left Sky teetering on the edge of jealousy and despair.
Sky approached Rey, consumed by his swirling thoughts. She was walking toward the water, her training with Keira having just finished. Her skin glistened with sweat as she sat down on a cluster of rocks near the shore, her gaze lost in the horizon. Rey's mind, however, was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of pride for her Padawans—Keira and Sky. She had never imagined she would have her own students, and the satisfaction it brought her was immense. Despite the years of heartbreak and torment, she had built something powerful with Finn's help, and for the first time in a long while, she felt whole again.
Rey smiled to herself, breathing in the cold, salty air, reflecting on how far she had come. Ben's return had mended the deepest part of her, a part she hadn't even realized was still broken. He completed her in a way that nothing else could. And now, with the Jedi Order thriving, her Padawan's growing stronger, and a new Dyad Force power she and Ben had discovered—one that could manipulate time—she felt hopeful. There were dark forces rising, Sith cultists who sought to sway her and Ben to their side, but Rey knew they would resist, and soon, they would have to act. The cultists wouldn't back down, but Rey was ready. Everything was falling into place.
Lost in these thoughts, Rey barely noticed when Sky sat beside her, his hand resting gently on top of hers. She blinked, pulled back to the present, and turned to face him.
"I miss our time together, just us," Sky said softly, his voice laced with something deeper. "Master Rey, I want to be someone you're proud of, someone you admire. Maybe even... someone who could become a leader here, in your new Order."
Rey smiled at him, thinking nothing of the way his hand rested over hers. She was close to both Sky and Keira and cherished the bond they had formed. She truly hoped that Sky had moved past their brief, impulsive kiss from that night by the fire.
"I am proud of you, Sky," she said sincerely. "And your sister. But becoming a leader here—well, that takes years. You still have much to learn."
Sky didn't respond right away. Instead, he leaned in, and before Rey could react, he kissed her. For a moment, to her surprise, Rey kissed him back. There was something comforting about it, and for that brief instant, she allowed herself to get lost in it. But then she pulled away, her heart pounding. As she looked into Sky's eyes, she saw his feelings more clearly than ever—but she wasn't ready to acknowledge them, let alone confront her own.
"Ben's back," Rey whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sky's gaze softened as he studied her face. "I care about you, Rey. In a way you don't want to acknowledge. I... desire you."
Rey froze, her hands trembling slightly at his words. I just wanted to be a good mentor, she thought to herself, the weight of the situation settling over her. I didn't want this.
She wasn't sure how to respond, how to navigate this delicate moment without shattering the bond she had with Sky. She didn't want to lose him as an apprentice, but his feelings complicated everything. So they both sat there in silence, the unspoken words and unresolved emotions hanging heavily between them.
"Sky," Rey said softly, her voice gentle but firm, "I care about you too. But Ben is the man I want. He always has been, and he always will be. We are linked in ways you can't understand, and I've thought of him as my husband for years now. You don't know the pain I've endured. When you first arrived, my nightmares were relentless. They didn't stop until Ben returned."
Rey looked at Sky, hoping he could see the truth in her eyes. "If you truly care about me, you'll understand that our relationship should remain as it is—mentor and student. Friends. Nothing more."
But instead of acknowledging her words, Sky leaned in again, his lips pressing against hers before she could react. Rey was stunned, frozen in the moment. And even though she knew he cared for her in his own way, something darker flickered in his actions—an attempt to bend her will.
"I know you enjoy me kissing you, Master," Sky whispered, his voice laced with an unsettling confidence. "So why fight it? Maybe, deep down, you desire me. Maybe you enjoy the way I want you. I see how distant you've been from Ben. Everyone does."
Rey's heart raced, her mind spinning. She could feel Sky trying to manipulate her, twisting her emotions. For a fleeting second, doubt and confusion gripped her. Was he right? Had she been distant from Ben? But the thought quickly dissolved as she steadied herself. She knew where her heart truly lay—with Ben. He had been through everything with her, had seen her at her lowest, and still, they had risen together.
Pulling away, Rey's voice trembled but was resolute. "No, Sky. What you're doing—it isn't right. I love Ben. He is the one I want, the one I will always choose. This isn't about you or me. Please, respect that."
Sky's gaze darkened for a moment, the rejection stinging, but Rey hoped her words had reached him. She needed to end this before it went any further, before their bond—one she had worked so hard to cultivate—was damaged beyond repair.
Sky looked at Rey with disapproval, his expression hardening. "I know what you feel, Rey. I know you want to be with me. If Ben had never come back, we would have been together—I'm sure of it. And I know you haven't told Ben about the kiss. Why not?"
Rey bit her lip, anxiety knotting in her chest. She couldn't meet Sky's intense gaze, her mind racing as she tried to form a response. "Because... I can't hurt him," she admitted, her voice low. "I know Ben would understand, but he would become overprotective. He'd encourage you to leave."
Sky's words weighed heavily on her, feeding into the doubts she had tried to bury. Maybe he's right, Rey thought for a brief moment. Maybe part of me does enjoy his advances. But it's just an infatuation—nothing more. She knew that in her heart. What she felt for Sky wasn't real, not like what she had with Ben.
Taking a deep breath, Rey straightened and forced herself to remain calm. She needed to put distance between them before things spiraled out of control. "I should go," she said abruptly, standing before Sky could respond or press further. "Try to focus on your training, Sky. I still want to be your mentor and your sister's. That's important to me."
Without waiting for his reply, Rey turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She hoped her words would be enough to stop Sky from pushing the boundaries again, but a nagging feeling told her that this wasn't over—not yet.
As Sky sat alone on the rocks, he hugged his knees to his chest, staring out over the water. Although Rey had rejected him, her words didn't sting as much as he thought they would. In fact, there was a part of him that felt almost... content. She had finally given him a clear answer, and that was something he had long craved.
"He'd encourage you to leave." Those words echoed in his mind, and Sky smirked. Ben already does that, doesn't he? Always watching, always keeping me at a distance. But what stood out to him more than anything was that Rey was proud of him—she still wanted to be his mentor. That gave him hope. Deep down, he knew she felt something for him; he had seen the flicker of it in her eyes, in the way she hesitated. He just didn't know how to get Ben out of the way.
As he sat there, lost in thought, a faint whisper stirred in the back of his mind, like a breeze rustling through the leaves but darker, more sinister. The voice was soft yet insistent, almost seductive in its persuasion.
"Ben is your obstacle, Sky. He stands in the way of what you could become... of what you could have."
Sky's eyes widened slightly, the voice pulling him in. He knew the dangers of the dark side, but this whisper wasn't like the harsh, brutal promises of power he had heard before. This was something different—calm, persuasive, almost... reasonable.
"He will never allow you to grow. He fears your potential. Rey may not see it yet, but you do. You've already felt it, haven't you? The power you could wield... the strength to lead, to protect her, far better than Ben ever could. He's weak, bound by his past, by his guilt. But you? You're free, Sky. And you could make her see."
Sky's heart began to race, his thoughts spinning. He wanted to dismiss the voice, but there was a chilling truth in its words. Ben was weak, haunted by the mistakes of his past. Sky could be better. He could be the leader Rey needed, the one she deserved.
"It's not too late, Sky. You've already seen the way Rey looks at you. She may not admit it now, but she needs you. And you—could have her. All you have to do is remove the obstacle. Ben stands in the way of your destiny. He must be... removed."
The whisper lingered, its pull growing stronger, weaving through Sky's thoughts like a web. He could feel the temptation rising within him, the seductive promise of power, of finally having what he desired. But a part of him hesitated. He had always been drawn to the light, to the balance Rey and Finn had taught him. Yet, the darkness now seemed like a solution, a way to make everything fall into place.
Sky clenched his fists, his mind teetering on the edge. Could he truly take that step? Could he rid himself of Ben, once and for all? The whisper in his mind was waiting, patient as if knowing he was only moments away from deciding.
"You know what must be done, Sky. You have the strength. Claim your place. Claim... her."
His decision wasn't fully made yet, but the temptation was growing stronger with every passing moment. How could Rey ever love me if I join the darkness? Sky questioned himself, the doubt swirling in his mind. The darkness responded softly, its voice insidious and smooth.
"Rey will never truly love you as you are now. But she could if you embraced what you're meant to be. You may think Rey can't love someone who walks in the darkness, but that's not true anymore. She's on a path where light and dark blur, Sky. She could accept you if you allow yourself to embrace it. The darkness will give you the power to become someone worthy of her."
The voice dug deeper, its words planting themselves in Sky's thoughts like a dark seed. He looked down at his hands, feeling a strange sense of clarity wash over him. Maybe the Dark Side wasn't something to fear. Maybe it was something to harness, to control. If it could help him become the man Rey needed, what harm could there be?
"Embrace your destiny, Sky. Take what is rightfully yours. She will be yours."
Sky's chest tightened as a mix of excitement and fear surged through him. The Dark Side was calling to him, offering power, control, and the chance to be seen. This was the moment—he could either reject it and remain in Ben's shadow forever, or he could seize the power being offered and finally become more.
Without a word, Sky turned and walked away from the rocks, the whispers of the Dark Side growing stronger with every step he took. It was time to see what lay beyond the boundaries he had been taught to fear. If the Dark Side could give him the strength to win Rey's heart, then he would do whatever it took.
Rey, Ben, Finn, and Keira all felt the shift in the Force as Sky made his choice. He was abandoning the gray path and fully embracing the dark side. To leave the balance of the gray was to willingly surrender to the darker aspects of the Force—power, control, and self-interest—rejecting the harmony they had once sought. Rey rushed toward Sky, her heart heavy with worry for her apprentice, feeling the pull of his transformation. Keira, too, began to run, anxious for her brother, but it was already too late. A ship was approaching Ahch-To, its presence emanating with dark energy.
The dark side whispered to Rey the name of the ship: The Dreadmourn.
As the ship drew closer, it became clear it was no ordinary vessel. Crafted from blackened alloys and infused with Sith crystals, The Dreadmourn gleamed with a haunting, crimson glow, its pulsing light resembling the beat of a malevolent heart. Its jagged, asymmetrical form reflected the chaotic, fractured nature of its inhabitants. The ship twisted and warped in unnatural angles, its design a physical manifestation of the imbalance the dark side had taken hold of. It was a vessel of unadulterated power, meant to instill fear in all who dared to challenge it.