Blaze Of Glory | Kylo Ren

It's Not Your Fault

Anakia's P.O.V.

"I once fought alongside your grandparents and father. I protected Mandalore during the clone wars... With the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. I was only a Padawan of Anakin's at the time."

Ahsoka speaks up after finishing her plate. All of us are surrounding a campfire near their house. Poe and I sit beside one another on a log while Snips sleeps by the fire.

Ahsoka is sitting next to Grogu on the other side of the fire. It's nightfall now; all we have are the two moons, the campfire, and the stars surrounding this planet for light.

"That's how I know so much about your light saber... I fought against that saber when it was once Darth Maul's." Ahsoka sets her plate beside her while watching the fire in front of us. "The owner of your saber once took control of Mandalore... Whoever gave that light saber to you did not give it to you as a gift, but as a burden."

Rubbing her jaw, she sighs as if she's bitter about what she's about to say next. "Later on I left the Jedi Order... I'm not a Jedi knight, but a learner never forgets." Meeting my eyes through the fire, she confesses. "Din Djarin, Grogu's father, was a Mandalorian. He possessed the Darksaber and passed it down to me before he died. He knew little about how to wield it, but he knew it would be safe with me..."

Her words sink into my ears and only have me wanting more questions. Why did she leave the Jedi Order? What else does she know about my family? Where has she been during my training with Luke? Question after question keeps popping into my head.

"Anakia." Grogu speaks up after a few minutes of silence. "Your turn, it is."

"I... Well... I'm not sure how to start. Surely... Grogu's told you we were once Padawans of Luke Skywalker, Anakin's son."

Scratching my ear, I try to find simple words to explain how I obtained Maul's light saber. Glancing at Poe, who's quietly eating his food, I turn back to face Grogu and Ahsoka. Gulping, not wanting to explain much; I mumble.

"The night you came to rescue Grogu, the Knights of Ren massacre the younglings but took only me. Kylo Ren was once-"

"Ben Solo, Anakin's grandson." Grogu speaks up with his eyes on me. He nods as if he knows how troubled I am by explaining this. "Told you, I did... Ani and Ben. Close, they were."

"That's why the First Order and the Knights of Ren wanted me alive... They- they kept me in captivity for about four years. After that... Kylo Ren slowly gave me more freedom..."

Biting my bottom lip, I glance to the ground and ignore the memories. It's only now I realize I haven't thought about that time in my life in so long. 

Darting my eyes to Poe, I find him watching me with an expression I've never seen him wear before. Keeping my thoughts at bay, I clench my plate in my lap and tilt my head.

"Then I was offered complete freedom if I agreed to train with Kylo Ren. I accepted... He and Snoke gave this saber for me to use in combat." Sighing, I rub my face, trying to recall what else major happened. "That lasted about a year until the Resistance blew Starkiller up... Since then I've been slowly pushing myself away from the First order. However, two years prior to that, I gave my old light saber to a friend and so I've kept this one."

I go silent and begin moving the food on my plate around. I feel all eyes on me and I can sense pity in all their souls. 

I'm not sure why since they've had it just as bad as me since the attack on the Jedi Temple. I'm about to take another bite of my meal when I hear Ahsoka ask.

"Why did you pull away from the First Order?"

"I had family encourage me... Throughout the years." 

I mumble, not daring to move my eyes off my plate. Flashes of Luke and Han enter my mind. I can't help but scrunch my brows at the picture of them. Suddenly in amid silence, I hear Poe blurt out in awe.