The Legend of the Jedi Queen

66. Luminous Beings

The sun was descending upon Anch-To once more. Nellith sat on the rock on the terrace outside of the temple, legs crossed in a meditation position, as Jaina had taught her.

Breathe. Just, breathe.

It wasn't Jaina's voice she heard in her mind, then. It was the sound of an older man's, an echo of what happened here many years before.

She closed her eyes, and then she saw it.

At least it was a different future this time.

Rey and Ben were surrounded, fighting off several Jedi. With the array of colors and some faces she did not recognize, Nellith didn't know who was who, or which side was winning. Jedi died in horrific ways, either impaled on lightsabers or victims of the power they were so proud to wield. Kiernan and Jaina were locked in a duel of their own, Jaina throwing her black lightning at Kiernan, who could only deflect it with his golden lightsaber.

Jaina was about to deliver the coup-de-gras, when Kiernan locked blades, and twisted it so Jaina's head and shoulders were detached from her body.

"NO!" Nellith screamed. But she wasn't there. She stayed home.

Kiernan twirled his lightsaber, and threw it—soaring through the battle, and landing in Rey's back. Rey froze, stiffening, and Ben dropped his lightsaber, time literally slowing down for all but him and Rey. He caught Rey in his arms as she took in her last breaths.

Feebly, her hand reached out to brush the scar she had left on Ben's face all those years ago, before it dropped limply to her side. Ben kissed her as her eyes closed for the final time, his shoulders shaking with grief as the battle froze completely.

For a few awful moments, the world held still as a ray of light died completely, and with it, the final spark within Ben Solo. When he looked up, his eyes were a Sith yellow, ringed with red. His red crossguard ignited as the world returned to normal, but her father was no longer Ben Solo.

Kylo Ren lived instead.

Nellith's hazel eyes burst open. She had to get to wherever the Battle was, and fast. As she stood up, she realized two things. Firstly, that she didn't know where the battle was, and secondly, that she had no way off of the island.

In anger, she threw her lightsaber down the cliffs, and didn't care where it landed. She felt so incredibly helpless, once again. She turned and stormed into the temple, and threw herself against the side of the Force pool, beginning to sob in frustration.

She didn't know how long she was sitting there for when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Expecting a fish nun, since all of her friends were gone, she was surprised to see a man in his early twenties with blonde hair like hers and dressed in all black. He held the hilt of her lightsaber out to her.

"I think you dropped this," he said.

"Thanks," Nellith said as she swiped the tears off of her face. She clipped Luke's old lightsaber back on her belt. The man sat down next to her.

"I, too, once saw a vision like yours," he said.

"Excuse me?" Nellith tilted her head to the side ever so slightly.

"I couldn't help but feel it," he said apologetically. "I was told by my mentor not to go after it."

"So you're saying I shouldn't do anything about it?" Nellith asked.

"No," the man answered. He held up his hand in a black glove. "I lost a hand, my friend was captured, and I learned a terrible secret. . . But my sister would've died if I hadn't come. And it was all better in the long run."

"I can't get off of the island," Nellith said frustratedly. "And I don't even know where they are. They wouldn't tell me."

"I couldn't help but see the desert surrounding them," Luke said. "I know the place. They're outside my old home, near Mos Eisley, on Tatooine. As for the other problem. . . I happen to know a solution."

He stood up, and led her out of the temple, to a peak of a mountain. He continued down the grassy side, and pointed to where an X-wing lay in the water.

"It probably isn't even close to working," Nellith complained.

The young man raised his eyebrows. "Not without a little help from the Force, no. I'll help you."

Nellith outstretched her hand, as did the man, and shaking ever so slightly, the X-wing rose out of the waters of Anch-To. It lit up, even, becoming a working X-wing once more. It set down on the hilltop, and Nellith turned to the man.

"Thank you," she said. She tilted her head as she realized that she had never made any physical contact with him. "Who are you?"

"My name is Luke," he said simply. "And your friends need you, Nellith Solo."

"I'd better go to them," Nellith said, looking to the X-wing. "Thanks, by the—"

When she looked back, the man was gone.

Nellith shook her head, and leapt into the cockpit, taking the controls. To her surprise, they were all working just fine. She punched in the coordinates for a hyperspace route to Tatooine, and waited.