Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter three of "Not So Far." This chapter introduces the Force ghost forms of Anakin, Yoda, Obi-wan, and Padme. I feel that Ben would have gotten advice from the former two while Rey would have sought it from the latter two. Stay tuned for chapter four.
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Chapter 3: Talking with Jedi Masters and a Senator
A green parrot flew beneath the rainforest canopy an hour later. It happened to be a bit small. Its body was completely green with the exception of yellow on the tips of its tail feathers. Its beak had enough power to break nuts apart. It came to a branch just below the middle of a tree and landed on the edge. It flapped its wings to air them out. It folded them against its back.
Another parrot flew in and landed on the branch. It looked at its companion and let out a loud squawk. The other parrot squawked back while spreading its wings apart. It folded them against its back. Its companion bobbed its head, as did the other one with its own. They looked up, seeing another parrot fly overhead. They returned their attention to the ground.
The parrots heard footsteps and observed Marcus and Ben walking past them. The tiger and the Jedi looked around. They listened to the sounds of various animals, including roaring tigers and squeaking monkeys. The former emitted a soft yet confident growl. The latter smiled and patted him on top of his head. They picked up their pace somewhat.
"I know, buddy. I can't wait until we find us a critter to hunt and kill either," Ben whispered warmly. "I never saw myself living a simple life. I was always around technology when I was growing up. After landing here, I had to learn to live without it. It was hard transitioning at first, but I got the hang of it. All the lessons about living off the land my uncle gave me helped."
Marcus twitched his ears before moving his tail from side to side. He hit it against Ben's leg with a mischievous growl. Ben gave him a serious look. Marcus lowered his ears in shame.
"Meeting Rey was the best moment of my life. It was freaky seeing her sitting in my chair when she was really in an Imperial walker on Jakku. I didn't feel so lonely anymore with the exception of you," Ben explained and breathed deeply. "I couldn't believe how strong she was in the Force. It was like a light so bright that I could not see anything. I had to get her before Snoke got his hands on her. Anyone with raw and untamed power like we have would be unstoppable in the hands of evil."
Marcus spotted a small stream up ahead. He growled eagerly and increased his stride. He stopped before it and proceeded to drink water. Ben couldn't help but smile as he came to his side.
"That is a good idea, buddy," Ben commented, chuckling to himself. "I am a bit thirsty myself." He looked over at a log. "I will just sit over there."
Ben approached the log, sitting down with a loud grunt. He removed his canteen from his shoulder and opened it. He took a long sip of water. He smacked his lips before sighing in content.
"I never saw myself training my own padawan, but I am glad I have one. Rey has been an excellent padawan. She caught on very quickly. She did struggle with some tasks, but every padawan does at one point or another. The Force is not easy to master. Some padawans learn to do it more quickly than others do," Ben murmured. "I may be excited to become a father, but I am a little nervous too."
"Believe me, grandson. I was nervous about becoming a father myself," a male voice said.
"Understandable, that is," a second male voice said with a soft chuckle. "What is life without a little nervousness? An empty one, it is."
Ben turned to see Anakin and Yoda coming toward him. He could see their forms very clearly, especially their blue auras surrounding them. He sighed warmly as they stopped beside him. Marcus finished drinking and went to his companion's side. Ben scratched him behind his ears as the tiger sat down and curled his tail around his body.
"Grandfather, Master Yoda, it is good to see you two," Ben greeted.
"Good to see you too, it is, young Ben," Yoda responded, smiling when Marcus growled annoyingly. "Not forgotten you, I have, Marcus. Missed you both, I have."
Ben scratched the back of his neck. "I have missed you too, Master Yoda. I haven't seen you since the day Rey and I married. I have spoken with my grandfather several times since then."
"They have been very good conversations," Anakin replied, a soft smile forming on his face.
"Not surprised, I am," Yoda added while climbing up on the log. He turned around to sit down. "Important for grandparent and grandchild to have a good relationship, it is. Balked at this long ago, I would have. I believed it was best for Jedi not to have attachments. I saw it as the path to the dark side because of jealousy. Proven you and Rey have, not always the case it is."
Anakin seated himself beside Ben. "If only I could have had that chance myself."
Ben sipped some more water before closing the canteen. He laid it on the ground near him. He folded his hands and laid them in his lap. He was eager to hear what his grandfather was about to say.
"When your grandmother told me she was pregnant, I was pretty shocked at first, but shock turned to excitement very quickly. She wasn't sure what we would do herself. At the same time, she was really happy. She wanted to raise our baby on Naboo in the lake country. I agreed it was the perfect place. Then the nightmares of her dying in childbirth started not long after. I was afraid of losing her and the baby. I pushed that aside for a time. I did start to become nervous about what kind of father I would be and how we would be able to keep its existence a secret," Anakin explained.
"Sought me for counsel, your grandfather did. He told me about these visions he was having of someone close to him. Never mentioned Padme, he did. Began to suspect she was that someone, I did. They always did have a special bond. I warned him to be careful about sensing the future because the fear of loss was the path to the dark side. Attachment led to jealousy, I told him. I instructed him to train himself to let go of everything he feared to lose. It did not help him," Yoda added, a heavy sigh coming from him.
"I was determined to keep her from dying in childbirth. That made me easy pickings for Palpatine or Darth Sidious. I was a fool to ever trust him," Anakin grumbled bitterly. "I share the blame for the misery the galaxy went through under his rule. If I could take back all the terrible things I did, I would."
"Despite all the terrible things you did, you did bring balance to the Force like the prophecy said you would. The Chosen One, you were all along," Yoda pointed out matter-of-factly. "Falling to the dark side, not in the plan it was. Sometimes, we must fall and rise again."
Ben pressed his lips together. "But the Force went out of balance again when I came along. Uncle Luke sensed it from the start. I felt the darkness growing in me, but I was too scared to tell him. I thought he would banish me from the Jedi Academy if he knew."
"Blame you for that, no one does," Yoda assured in much gentleness. "Anakin found it difficult to confide in anyone at the Jedi Temple about his issues. Confided in Obi-Wan a few times, he did. His master dismissed them most of the time. Padme was very understanding each time he confided in her." He tapped his gimmer stick on the ground. "Hope she had for Anakin, she did even to the end."
"When my uncle stood over me with his lightsaber, I was really scared. I reacted in self-defense. I didn't mean to destroy his temple," Ben said with a soft sniffle. "I even felt tempted to join Snoke."
"But you resisted the call of the dark side," Anakin said very proudly. "That is not an easy task at all."
Yoda nodded in agreement. "Never has been, it is. All Jedi must face the dark side at one point or another. Faced it myself, I have several times."
"That was many years ago," Anakin said, glancing at him.
"Maybe so, but even grandmasters like me can fall to the dark side. No matter how strong we are in the Force, we can become easy prey for any dark side user, Sith or not," Yoda commented truthfully.
Anakin frowned quite a bit. "Like I did with Palpatine."
Ben rubbed the top of Marcus's head. He got a lick on the hand from him in response. Anakin shifted his attention back to his grandson, who raised an eyebrow.
"Even if I had not destroyed my uncle's temple, I believe it would have happened, anyway. I started to sense a growing darkness in Vari a few months before the disaster. She was very jealous that I was much more powerful than she was. She desired similar power," Ben muttered sadly.
"We sensed her fall to the dark side from the netherworld of the Force, young one," Yoda whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Easy pickings for Snoke, she was. Craved so much power, she did. She still does."
"She is no different from female dark side users or Sith of the past. She is cunning and vicious. She is very smart too. One thing is different. People tend to assume she is not dangerous because she is a woman. She does not hesitate to show she isn't," Anakin said fearfully and swallowed hard.
"When I sensed her fall, it was so cold that I started shivering. I refused to blame myself for it. I consider it her own doing," Ben said in determination.
"Good it is, you did that, Ben," Yoda responded with a small smile. He drew a line in the ground with his stick. "Never blame yourself for something someone else did. Not responsible, you are."
"Obi-Wan felt responsible for my fall to the dark side. He told me he should've helped me more after I became one with the Force. I told him it was my own doing and that he had nothing to do with it. He mentioned he failed me. I said he might have, but I made the decision to become Vader on my own. I was responsible for my own choices. He finally came to terms with his failure," Anakin explained.
"The greatest teacher, failure is. We are what our apprentices grow beyond. That is the burden of all masters," Yoda murmured honestly. "Came to terms with his failure, your uncle did. He is back with the Resistance helping them fight the First Order."
Ben inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. He knew Yoda was right. He hoped Rey would never be tempted by the dark side. At the same time, he knew that it could happen one day. He saw her as the reason he had kept the darkness within him in check.
"If you want to know about the baby, it is doing very well. Rey and I felt it move a lot earlier," Ben said happily.
"That is great," Anakin answered, smiling.
"Indeed, it is. The future of the Jedi, you and Rey are," Yoda added while pointing his stick at Ben.
"We plan on training our child to be a Jedi," Ben pointed out eagerly.
"Great, that is," Yoda commented. "Of upmost important it is that you protect your youngling at all costs, Ben. On all things, this depends."
"Do you two think I should go back to my family? I do miss them, but I enjoy my life here. I am not sure if I can ever face them or the Resistance after what happened. Let's not forget that Rey may not want to leave," Ben said in uncertainty.
"That is up to you, Ben," Anakin said.
"Yes, it is," Yoda agreed and let out a heavy sigh. "However, a pity it would be for your parents to never see their grandchild. The same goes for your uncle in regards to his grandniece or grandnephew."
Ben, Anakin, Yoda, and Marcus looked ahead. They watched a green parrot fly overheard. They listened to its cawing.
00000
Rey was sweeping the hut's floor with a broom made of a long, thick stick and twigs tied to the end near the table. She put all of the dirt into a pile. She grabbed the dustpan that was carved out of wood off the table. She squatted as best she could to sweep the dirt into it. She rose to her full height with a loud grunt. She took the dustpan to the porch's left side and dumped the dirt on the ground. She couldn't help but chuckle.
"That is the last of that pesky dirt," Rey said in much proudness. "Yes, it is."
Rey went back inside and hung the broom on a peg on the wall next to the mirror. She headed outside to the clothesline, where several pieces of her and Ben's clothing hung from being washed yesterday. She touched each of them, finding they were all a little damp.
"It shouldn't be too much longer before they are all dry," Rey said while rubbing her hands together. "Washing, cooking, and cleaning are the least I can do since I am not able to hunt, fish, and train for a while."
Just then, cawing came out of nowhere. Rey turned around to see Phoenix sitting on the stair railing. He was rather large. He was completely gray with the exception of the tips of his chest and tail feathers being white. His beak was powerful enough to break open nuts and even small coconuts. The right side of his face contained a tiny dot. She approached him.
"Hello, Rey," Phoenix greeted.
"Hello yourself, Phoenix," Rey responded and patted him on top of his head. "It's good to see you."
"Good to see you too," Phoenix said and squawked. "How are you?"
"I am fine. You?" Rey said while tickling his beak.
"Me fine," Phoenix commented and emitted a soft caw. "You look so pretty."
"Why, thank you!" Rey said while petting his neck. "You are quite handsome yourself."
Rey ran her hands over her stomach. She smiled at the baby's moving and kicking. She patted it so lightly that it seemed she wasn't even touching it. She cleared her throat.
"I never saw myself becoming the padawan of a very powerful Jedi. I am glad I am. Ben has been an excellent teacher. He is very patient with me. He encouraged me when I struggled with some tasks at the beginning. Mastering the Force is very challenging," Rey commented and let out a soft snort. "I may be excited about becoming a mother, but I am a little nervous too."
"I know the feeling of being nervous about such a thing, Rey," a female voice said warmly.
"Most mothers would," a male voice added calmly. "They always wonder if they are doing okay with their kids."
Rey spun around, seeing Padme and Obi-Wan coming her way. She could see their forms very clearly. This was especially true for their blue auras surrounding them. She smiled when they stopped before her. Phoenix spread his wings and flew to her shoulder. He landed on it.
"Padme, Master Kenobi, it is good to see you two," Rey greeted.
"It is good to see you too, Rey," Obi-Wan answered. He laughed when Phoenix let out an annoyed squawk. "I have not forgotten you, Phoenix. I have missed you both."
"Missed you too, Obi-wan," Phoenix said and squawked again.
Rey breathed deeply. "So have I. I haven't seen you since the day Ben and I married. I have spoken with his grandmother several times since then."
"I say they have been very good conversations," Padme said with a giggle.
"I can't say I am surprised," Obi-Wan said as he went to the first of three medium-sized boulders near the clothesline. He turned around, sitting down. "Grandparents and grandchildren aren't the only ones who should have good relationships. Their in-laws should too. This was unheard of in the old Jedi Order. I did everything I could to pound the importance of the Jedi Code into Anakin, but it never stuck. Now, I see it was outdated and should have been modified to include attachments."
Padme went to the second boulder to seat herself. "It would have been the one thing to have stopped Anakin from turning to the dark side."
Rey walked to the third boulder and sat down. She folded her hands before putting them in her lap. She was eager to hear what her grandmother-in-law was about to say.
"I was seven weeks along when I learned I was pregnant. I was really happy about it, but I was also scared because I wasn't sure what Anakin and I would do. It was more than seven months before we were reunited. During that time, there were rumors he had been killed. I revealed my pregnancy to him. He was shocked. He became quite happy quickly, though I mentioned my uncertainty about the situation. He told me not to worry about it. I told him I wanted to raise the baby on Naboo. He agreed. Then his nightmares started. He told me I would die in childbirth. He had no idea what would happen to the baby. I was worried about us being forced out of our positions. I also began to become nervous about what kind of mother I would make," Padme explained.
"Anakin never told me about his nightmares, but I did sense he was troubled. I told him that Palpatine had requested his presence. The Jedi Council learned he had made him his personal representative for it. Mace told Anakin he was on the Council, but he would not have the rank of master yet. Anakin got angry at that, but Mace told him to just take a seat. We discussed the most recent battles in the Clone Wars. There was a mention of a droid attack on the Wookies. It was agreed to send Yoda to Kashyyyk to help them. I revealed to Anakin that the council wanted him to report on Palpatine's dealings and find out what he was up to. He objected to spying on him, but I reminded him we were at war. I told him we were loyal to the Republic, not its leader. Anakin was not happy, but he accepted the assignment reluctantly. I confided in Mace and Yoda about it. Mace said he did not trust him. Yoda even mentioned the prophecy of the Chosen One could have been misread," Obi-Wan added.
"It must have been hard having to deal with Anakin refusing to confide in you about his issues in such a trying time," Rey commented.
"Oh, it was," Obi-Wan admitted. "I visited Padme to see if I could get any answers about what could be troubling him. She told me he was frustrated about the war dragging on and that he wanted it to end so much. I mentioned everyone had similar feelings. I said I was worried about him, but he would not tell me anything. I actually did not blame him. I had gotten in the habit of dismissing whatever he was dealing with at the moment. Now, I wish I had not."
"Ben said he never confided in Luke about the growing darkness within him because he was scared that he would be kicked out of the Jedi Academy," Rey pointed out.
"Like grandfather, like grandson," Obi-Wan said truthfully. "I can't say I blame him, though. In the old Jedi Order, we were not allowed to know fear. However, Anakin was scared because he left his mother at the age of nine. When I look back, I regret not standing up for him when he was put down by the Council more often."
"I have no doubt that was really frustrating for him," Rey murmured.
"Oh, it was. His fear of losing Padme made him easy pickings for Darth Sidious," Obi-Wan muttered with a heavy sigh. "After I became one with the Force, I realized it was okay to feel fear. You just can't let it take control of you."
"Ben managed to stop his fear from taking control of him by refusing to join Snoke," Padme whispered, proudness lining her voice. "He sought redemption for destroying his uncle's temple. He found it by training you in the ways of the Jedi."
"I have to say you are well on your way to becoming a full-fledged Jedi, Rey," Obi-Wan said, a smile crossing his lips.
"Thank you," Rey said, sniffling softly. "Thank you so much."
Phoenix picked at Rey's hair with his beak. She patted him on top of his head before ruffling his back feathers. She laid her hand on her leg and tapped her fingers against it.
"The next time I saw Padme was after my clone troopers turned on me during the Battle of Utapau. Before then, Yoda and I went to the Jedi Temple to dispatch a squadron of clone troopers that had slaughtered everyone in there. I learned Anakin had led the attack. Yoda said he had become twisted by the dark side and that the boy I trained was gone and had been consumed by Darth Vader. I asked her when was the last time she saw him. She said it was yesterday. I told her he had turned to the dark side. She refused to believe me, even after I revealed I had seen him kill younglings. When I saw her cradling her baby bump, I realized Anakin was the father," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head in disbelief. "To be honest, I was actually beginning to question the forbidding of attachments by then. I considered Anakin a brother. That could qualify as such a thing."
"I can't imagine why it wouldn't," Rey said.
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "I know. I fought Anakin after he strangled his wife and considered me his enemy because I would not join him in the Empire. I came to realize I had failed him. I left him to die on Mustafar after severing his remaining limbs. I held myself responsible for his fall to the dark side, even after I became one with the Force. I came to terms with my failure after he told me he was responsible for his own choices."
"I was happy to be reunited with Anakin after he passed into the Force," Padme said, a sniffle coming from her. "He apologized to me for what he did. I forgave him. Even Leia forgave him after she read Shmi's journal that Luke found at the Lars homestead after the Battle of Yavin and learned he was a compassionate boy."
"That could not have been easy for her," Rey answered and licked her lips.
"Oh, it wasn't," Obi-Wan admitted. "When Anakin appeared to her the first time, she wanted nothing to do with him because of all the bad things he did as Darth Vader. He did tell her he would be there if she needed him." He blinked three times. "It was due to arrogance that the old Jedi Order fell. Luke's attempt to rebuild it failed because he took on too much at once."
Rey inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "It nearly caused Ben to fall to the dark side. He resisted it just in time."
Obi-Wan and Padme looked at each other. They understood how difficult it was for Jedi to resist the call of the dark side. They were grateful to Ben for refusing to join Snoke as it allowed him a chance to rebuild the Jedi Order himself. They had no doubt Rey kept the darkness in him in check. They turned back to Rey, who yawned.
"I confided in Ben that I felt a coldness pass through me the year before I appeared to him. He told that I must have felt Vari fall to the dark side," Rey admitted softly.
"Vari is the most dangerous dark side user in a very long time. It is very unusual she kept her name. All other dark side users or Sith changed their names to forget their pasts," Obi-Wan said.
"Even worse is people assume she is not dangerous because she is a woman," Padme said and shuddered.
"Heed this warning, Rey. You and Ben must never underestimate the powers of Vari and Snoke, or you will suffer Anakin's fate. It is very important you two protect your child at all costs," Obi-Wan said very seriously. "The three of you are the future of the Jedi."
Rey nodded at him. "I know. I promise to heed your warning."
Padme smiled. "That's good. By the way, how is the baby?"
"Moving around like crazy," Rey said, chuckling to herself. "Ben thinks it will be a boy. I think it will be a girl."
"Anakin admits he has been tempted to find out the gender of his great-grandchild, but he resists it," Obi-Wan said with a snicker.
"I can't say I am surprised," Rey said.
Obi-Wan formed a small smile on his face. "That's not to say he doesn't snoop around in my head from time to time."
Rey, Padme, and Obi-Wan looked ahead. They could see three gray macaws flying in the distance. They listened to their squawks.