Summary:
some time skip, Ben should be 9 here after last chapter he had his awakening at 5.
I'm not sure how long the chapters should be or how many chapters there will be total yet.
Few years had passed since Ben's awakening. The voice that once whispered to him had grown insistent and more potent, his burgeoning power spiraling out of control. Ben, always a sensitive child, found himself overwhelmed by the force within him, resulting in destructive tantrums. Toys were flung from shelves, windows cracked, and mirrors shattered whenever his anger flared. Han's absence only exacerbated the situation, as he struggled to handle Ben's explosive outbursts. Leia, on the other hand, reluctantly gave up on using droids to watch over Ben; he had a knack for dismantling them all except for C-3PO, who somehow escaped his destruction.
Leia now had no choice but to bring Ben with her to important meetings. Surprisingly, he behaved relatively well during these gatherings. Sometimes he would sit quietly and sketch on a holopad while his mother engaged with senators, or he would wander around the building exploring its nooks and crannies. On occasion, Leia's longtime friend Amilyn Holdo would sneak in candies for Ben to enjoy when Leia wasn't looking. Holdo had taken a liking to Ben; never having children of her own, she showered him with toys and treats and even encouraged Leia to bring him along more frequently. To Ben, she became known as 'Auntie Amilyn,' a source of comfort and indulgence.
When time allowed it, Holdo would take Ben on excursions with Leia's approval. These outings often involved exploring bustling cities or delving into ancient libraries filled with paper books chronicling history—a subject that fascinated young Ben beyond measure.
"How much longer till Mom's done?" Ben whined, dropping his holopad onto his lap, sitting bored in his aunt's office. "It's almost over. Did you want to go out for a bit?" Holdo asked as she stopped typing on her holopad.
"No, it's okay. I'm just bored. She's always in these meetings. Why do people need to do this so much? Can't they just agree already?" Ben huffed in frustration.
Holdo smiled at him. "If only it was that easy, but there are always people who will disagree on how things should be run," she sighed.
"But why? Isn't the whole point of the republic to help people? What's there to disagree about?"
"The disagreements are more about HOW they want to help people while also still benefiting from it," Holdo explained.
Ben scowled. "That's selfish."
"Yes, it is. There will always be people who care more about what they get instead of what they can give."
The door to Holdo's office swung open as Leia entered. "Ben, grab your things. Amilyn, thank you for watching him again, truly."
Holdo stood up and walked around her desk to hug Leia. "Please, Leia, Ben is great company."
Leia smiled. "I'm glad; he doesn't like anyone usually."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Let's go, Mom; I'm hungry," he said as he headed for the door. "Bye, Auntie."
"Yes, yes, your father just arrived home as well; he's waiting for us," she said as she walked out the door waving to Holdo who waved back.
Ben frowned upon hearing that; he hadn't seen his father in weeks and before that months and before that weeks again—the voice in his head whispering to him about how his father was ashamed of him—Ben shrugged it off and tried his best to ignore the voices.
"One day you'll see; I only ever tell you the truth; I'll protect you from them; I'm your only real friend."
They arrive and enter their home. As expected, Han is there waiting for them, welcoming them. His parents embrace each other with faint whispers, Leia punches his chest for being gone so long. Ben ignores them and goes to his room, still hurt that his father barely comes home anymore. Perhaps more hurt that the voice was right; his father is ashamed of Ben, which is why he's always absent from their life. Before long, C-3PO enters Ben's room and calls him, "Master Ben, your parents require your presence in the dining room." Ben rolls off his bed and walks with C-3PO to where his parents await him. To his surprise, several people are there besides his parents.
"Well well, if it isn't little Ben!" Ben is surprised to see an old face he hasn't seen in a long time.
"Uncle Lando!" he exclaims, smiling and running into the man's arms. Lando picks the boy up as he embraces him.
"Hey kid, it's been a while. Hope you're behaving," Lando says as he sets Ben down and ruffles his hair. Ben looks around and sees his uncle Chewie also there; he goes to hug him as well. The Wookiee growls happily at Ben and pats the chair next to him. Ben obliges and sits between Chewie and Lando.
"So what brings you here, Lando?" Leia asks as C-3PO starts bringing in plates and then goes back to the kitchen to bring in the food.
"Han and I just finished work together, and he invited me over. How could I say no?"
"I'm glad you came, Uncle Lando," Ben beams.
"I'm glad to see you kid; you've grown since the last time I saw you! Maybe next time I visit, you'll be as tall as Chewie," Lando laughs while Chewie growls in amusement too.
This might be the happiest Ben has felt in a long time: his parents' home together with his uncles. He isn't used to having a home filled with actual people before; usually empty except for droids cleaning the house—lifeless. Dinner goes smoothly, and Ben stays up with Lando listening to his stories while Han and Chewie tease him for exaggerating some facts for dramatic effect—nevertheless enjoyable.
Soon it was time to call it a night as they said their goodbyes; Ben gives Lando one last hug as Lando kneels down to him whispering, "I know you get lonely kid; maybe when you're a little bit older you can come by Bespin. I heard from your mom that you're good at fixing droids up; I could use your skills." Ben smiles and nods at him.
"I'd love that Uncle," says Ben as Lando smiles before heading off; Chewie calls it a night and goes back to the Falcon where he feels most comfortable staying—it's hard separating the Wookiee from the Falcon.
Ben turns to go back to his room when Han stands in front of him looking at his son working his jaw while Leia watches from behind, 3PO seen picking up dishes.
"You've been ignoring me, Ben," Han says.
Ben frowns at his dad. "It's easy when you're never around."
Han sighs as he scratches the back of his head. "I know I've been gone for a while but I'm here now okay? I heard you've been doing well lately with your mom," he says walking over to lightly punch Ben's shoulder.
"Yeah... It's boring though."
"Oh, I bet... I have a small task to do with Lando," Han starts but immediately notices Ben's face faltering. "Wanna come with? It's at Corellia; you've never been ther-"
"YES!" shouts Ben almost immediately; whatever negative feelings he had earlier towards his father almost completely disappear—excitement washes over instead.
"Haha alright then; make sure you sleep well because we're waking up early tomorrow," Han pats his son's back before watching ben head off to bed then looks back at Leia.
"I'm worried… Last time I took him something happened… ever since…" Han pauses fidgeting with hands in pockets.
"I know," Leia says walking over "but he misses you… sometimes I catch him looking up the sky and i can tell he's just wondering and… waiting when you'll come back..."
"I'm afraid of letting go but perhaps he needs it… he has improved this past few months, he even has a hobby"
"Oh, no more destroying our droids?" Han raises brow
"Hah no, calligraphy actually" she snorts
This time Han raises both brows "definitely not from me"
"Just please be careful ,he's a little older but still a child"
Han holds her shoulders "I will , It'll be a quick trip"
Corellia was not what Ben is used to. The busy skies and bustling city life surrounded them, with skyscrapers dominating the landscape, leaving little room for greenery. The air felt dense and heavy, perhaps due to the constant back-and-forth of freight ships or the lack of vegetation.
"I grew up here, ya know," Han said to Ben as they strolled down the streets. "It wasn't easy, but I made it."
Lando and Chewie followed behind, visibly unimpressed with the place. "Ugh, please tell me they have decent food here at least," Lando complained, waving his hand in front of his nose. "I can hardly breathe."
Han rolled his eyes. "Quit being dramatic. There are a few places I want to visit to see if they're still open." Just around the corner, Han found what he was looking for – an old pub. It wasn't the dirtiest place but far from clean either. As they entered, the smell of alcohol permeated the air. Han took Ben to the counter and ordered drinks for them. Chewie declined while Lando accepted.
Taking a small sip of his drink, Han sighed contently. "Ah, it's been a while. This here is a classic drink," he pointed at the Corellian Whiskey. "One of the best! One day when you're old enough, we can come back and grab a drink together," Han suggested warmly.
Ben leaned in to sniff the glass quickly; disgust twisted his face as he recoiled from the drink and looked at his dad. "That smells like jet fuel," he remarked while sticking out his tongue.
Han chuckled. "You're not wrong." Lando joined in on the laughter and patted Ben's back.
The trip proceeded swiftly – delivering a parcel and picking up another one while Lando and Han ensured Ben stayed within sight during their negotiations with clients. Ben observed attentively, learning from the two men as they worked. He glanced around at his surroundings; some parts of the city appeared better than others, but where they were now was not a place he would be eager to live in.
Walking past people begging for food on the streets and others sleeping on benches highlighted by droid police arresting individuals for soliciting created a stark reality around them – litter scattered everywhere indicated that cleaning droids were scarce; likely stolen and sold off for parts.
Ben's guilt weighed heavily on him as he navigated the streets of Chandrilla, a planet where urban life blended with bursts of greenery. Despite the city not being as chaotic or impoverished as others, Ben couldn't ignore the struggles of its inhabitants. His mother, a senator, held power, yet the disparity in living conditions puzzled him. As he pondered this, a voice echoed in his mind accusing the authorities of indifference.
"I need to use the fresher," Ben muttered to his uncle Chewie, who nodded understandingly. Excusing himself from their conversation, Ben set off in search of a fresher. Along the way, he encountered a distressed woman, her pallid face drenched in sweat. Desperate for help finding the fresher, she clutched Ben's shoulders tightly.
"Please help me find it," she implored. Unsettled, Ben gently steered her towards the appropriate facilities before continuing on his way. However, a muffled scream soon halted his steps.
Approaching cautiously he entered the fresher, Ben discovered the woman cornered by a man brandishing a knife and demanding credits. Paralyzed by fear as the situation escalated, Ben found himself at a standstill while the woman trembled under threat.
"Don't move, if you walk away I will kill her and it'll be on you" the man warned Ben menacingly. Frozen in place, Ben watched in horror as the man's blade drew blood from the woman's neck. Overwhelmed by anxiety and dread, Ben stood helpless until he heard it once more —the voice that haunted him relentlessly.
'Use your powers, save her, it's the right thing to do'
Ben's breath quickens, the ringing in his ears intensifies, and the voice in his head sharpens. "These individuals don't merit kindness. The world would be better off without them. KILL HIM." The blade twists, plunging into the man's eye. His piercing screams echo through the corridor, splattering blood on the woman pinned against the wall who joins him in shrieking agony. Startled, the man locks eyes with Ben, who stands with an outstretched hand, his gaze devoid of life. With a menacing glare, the man attempts to rise and advance towards Ben but is forcefully pushed back against the wall by an unseen power. Gasping for air, he struggles as his throat constricts, futilely thrashing in a desperate bid for freedom until he succumbs to suffocation under Ben's unwavering gaze. A fleeting thought crosses Ben's mind about releasing him before a sinister voice interjects, 'if you spare him now, he will seek revenge. Finish it. Imagine if that were your mother...' Anger surges within Ben as he increases the pressure with his hand using the force; however, at the brink of irreversible harm, he abruptly releases his grip as the man chokes and sputters on his own saliva. 'Well done, my boy.' a voice whispers approvingly, 'You possess immense potential.'
Ben stood frozen, his mouth agape and breaths ragged, as he gazed at the man's crumpled body on the floor. The man's eyes reflected sheer terror, blood splattered across his face and trickling down his chest from the knife still lodged in his eye socket. Beside Ben, a woman also stared at the scene, her face contorted in a mix of screams, tears, and vomit.
As Ben turned to look at her, the last image etched in his mind was that of his father's horrified expression before darkness enveloped him, causing him to collapse under the weight of the harrowing sight.
In another part of their home on Corellia, Leia paced frantically in her office, her voice piercing the air with anger directed at Han. The aftermath of the incident spiraled out of control as news spread like wildfire on the HoloNet about an unknown attack involving mystical elements and accusations of attempted murder by a supposed Vader reincarnate.
Han and Lando found themselves entangled in a dangerous situation when they discovered that the man attacked by Ben was actually one of their clients involved in spice smuggling. With no choice but to flee Corellia to evade retaliation, they bid farewell as Lando departed on his own ship upon landing back on Chandrilla.
Leia grappled with using her political influence to conceal any connection between her son and the victim—a burden she never envisioned bearing as a senator.
"I told you to be careful, how the hell did this happen?!" Leia screamed
Amidst their turmoil, Leia confronted Han about Chewie's involvement in the tragedy. Tensions ran high as Leia blamed Han for failing to keep watch over Ben. As Han tried to explain himself, recounting how he frantically searched for Ben upon hearing screams only to find a chilling scene that left him shaken to the core.
"You said you would keep an eye on him" Leia screams at him "what if-. What if.." she choked on her own words
Haunted by what he witnessed, Han confessed his fear of what their son had become. Stammering through his words, he admitted his inability to cope with Ben's transformation into something unrecognizable—leaving Leia grappling with her own fears and uncertainties about their son's dark descent.
"I saw him" Han said quietly still his eyes on the floor "I cant do this anymore.. I cant be here, I cant help him..whatever he is..he's.. I cant" Han stutters "he's just like.. I'm so afraid…"
Ben could hear everything, he could always hear them fight, the walls were never thick enough to muffle the sound completely.
'they fear you, they realize how strong you truly are'
"no.. you don't know what you're saying" Ben replies back in his mind, tears starts forming in his eyes and he walks away, he goes outside the mansion and sits on the grass by the back.
'But I do, when have I ever lied to you?, next thing they'll do is get rid of you, a boy they never wanted'
Feeling distraught Ben starts sobbing to himself, he pulls his knees to his chest
"I just wanted to help, I didn't want to kill anyone"
'I am proud of you, you did the right thing, you saved that woman from dying, they should thank you'
Ben shakes his head harder as tears starts flying off his face "I don't want to be thanked I just.."
The sound of the falcon starting gets Bens attention, he sees the ship hovering now above the mansion and he watches it being flown away further up the sky, he knows his father is there he can feel him, disappointment and shame rippled through the air as he watched the falcon go into hyperdrive and blinked away, not even saying good bye he cries even harder.
By the mansions windows Leia stood there watching the falcon leave 'No, I wont let him, Vader took everything from me, I wont let him take my son too'
The days following the incident, Leia reached out to Luke in desperation. She confided in him her fears of her son's downward spiral and Han's departure. In a moment of hopelessness, she turned to Luke, believing he was the only one who could save Ben from himself. They discussed options for helping Ben, with Leia suggesting that becoming a Jedi may give him the discipline and control he needed. However, as they talked about severing attachments, Leia couldn't help but feel torn. She loved her son more than anything, but she also knew that attachments had been Vader's downfall. She struggled with the thought of sending her son away, but if it meant saving him from a similar fate, she would do whatever it takes. However, deep down, she couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for Ben to gain control and if she was willing to wait that long.
Leia sat in the dimly lit room, staring out the window as she waited for Luke to arrive. She had reached out to him in desperation, unable to handle the situation with Ben on her own. She knew that Luke was the only one who could understand what she was going through, having experienced a similar darkness within himself.
As she heard a knock on the door, Leia took a deep breath before getting up to answer it. Luke stood in front of her with a concerned look on his face.
"Leia," he said softly, "what's wrong?"
Tears welled up in Leia's eyes as she led Luke to sit down. She poured out everything that had happened – from Han's departure to Ben's outburst and her fear of what he had become.
"I don't know what to do, Luke," she sobbed, "I can't bear to lose my son like this."
Luke listened intently, his heart breaking for his twin sister and her struggles. As Leia finished speaking, there was a long moment of silence between them.
Finally, Luke spoke up. "Leia, you know I'll do anything to help Ben."
Leia looked at him hopefully. "What can we do? How can we save him?"
Luke paused for a moment before responding. "There is one thing we could try...training him as a Jedi."
Leia's heart skipped a beat at the thought. It made sense – if Ben could learn control and discipline through the ways of the Jedi, perhaps he could overcome his darkness.
But then she remembered something else – how attachments were strictly forbidden for Jedi.
"Severing attachments...that was Vader's downfall," Leia said quietly.
"I know," Luke replied solemnly, "but it doesn't have to be Ben's downfall too. With proper training and guidance, he may be able to overcome that temptation."
Leia nodded slowly, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. She couldn't bear to be separated from her son, but she also couldn't bear to see him fall deeper into darkness. She knew that the decision wouldn't be easy, but ultimately, Ben's well-being was her top priority.
After discussing the idea further with Luke, Leia made the difficult choice to send Ben to train with him. It was a remote location where he could focus solely on his training without any distractions or temptations.
The day came and Luke arrived to Chandrilla to pick Ben up, C-3PO carried Bens luggage and walked with him towards the ship and greeted Luke.
"Master Luke, its so nice to see you"
Luke smiled "its nice to see you too 3PO but I don't think we'll need an of these" he said pointing at Bens luggage.
"Oh but I have all of the Princes favorite toys and-"
"none of that, Ben will have all he needs, the rest stays here" Luke says firmly.
"I see I understand" 3PO turns back around and looks at Ben "Good bye young Prince, I'll await your return, your items will be in your room for you when you come back"
Ben smiled at the droid "Thanks 3PO, you always looked after me"
With that 3PO took the luggage and left to go back in the mansion just as Leia came back out to bid farewell to Ben, she looked behind her at what 3PO was holding and spoke to Luke.
"I packed Ben's calligraphy supplies so he can continue his hobby. Can't he have it with him?"
"It's part of the attachment, Leia. It's better to let go."
"But it's just writing, Luke. It's no different than a holopad."
Ben watched as his mother and uncle argued over whether or not he could bring his calligraphy set with him.
Ben loves his calligraphy set but right now its such a trivial item compared to the fact that he is being shipped away, he's only met his uncle Luke the legendary Jedi hero a few times in his life, he has not much recollection of what his uncle is like only that he lives in a distant planet training a new set of force sensitive children, uncle Chewie and uncle Lando were the closest he had to actual uncles that he was close to and now he isn't even sure if he had them anymore, they probably hated him is what he thought, they don't want anything to do with him he thinks to himself, or is it the voice who thinks for him? he isn't sure.
"Alright fine, but just that nothing else" Luke finally gives in, 3PO gives the calligraphy set to Luke to hold on to.
Leia nods at him and thanks him, she turns to Ben and kneels down to him "Sweetheart, remember what we spoke of, be good to your uncle and listen to him"
Ben starts sobbing "I don't want to go, please don't get rid of me, I promise I'll be good ,I wont use the force anymore, I won't ruin the droids, I won't break things, I'll be good I promise, I love you mama"
Leia now also sobbing "I know, but you have to go, its for the best" she takes out something from her pocket and gives it to Ben "Take this its for good luck" Ben opens his palm and takes a set of dice, the same set his father always kept on the falcon "your father wanted you to have it" Leia hugged him one last time and kissed his forehead "be good Ben"
As soon as Ben's mother gave him the set of dice, he broke down in tears. He clutched onto her tightly, not wanting to let go. "I don't want to go," he sobbed. "Please don't get rid of me, I promise I'll be good."
Leia's heart was breaking as she held her son close. She knew this was hard for him, but it was necessary for his safety and the safety of others. "I know, my love," she whispered. "But you have to go. It's for the best."
Ben continued to cry as he looked at his mother with pleading eyes. He didn't understand why he had to leave everything behind and live with a stranger on a distant planet. He promised himself that he would behave, that he wouldn't use the Force or break things anymore.
Ben opened his hand to reveal a small set of dice - the same set his father always kept on the Falcon when they went on adventures together. His heart clenched at the sight of them, knowing that these were now all he had left of his father.
Ben hugged his mother one last time before standing up and wiping away his tears. He knew it was time for him to leave now.
"I love you mama," Ben whispered before turning towards Luke, leaving Leia with streams of tears falling down her face.
Luke takes Bens hand with his mechanical one "come Ben, its time" as they slowly walk up the ramp.
With one last look back at his mother, Ben followed Luke to his ship. He took one final glance at his home. little did he know this is the last time he would ever see his mother in person again, the last hug and last kiss.
'I told you, they would get rid of you, she didn't even say she loved you back'
Once they were on the ship, Ben sat in silence as Luke began to explain to him the basics of what it meant to be a Jedi. He talked about the Force, and how it connected all living things. He spoke of the Light and Dark sides, and how it was important for a Jedi to stay balanced in the light.
Ben listened intently, his mind filling with questions and curiosity. He couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of becoming a Jedi like his uncle. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the pain in his chest from leaving everything he knew behind.