What She's Worth (Reylo)

Chapter 32

Gasps and shouts surrounded Ben, warping into a cacophony of voices he couldn't understand. He felt the blood drain away from his face and his whole body felt as though it had turned into ice.

His mother was Darth Vader's daughter.

Which made him...Darth Vader's grandson.

Grandson. He was the grandson of a Sith. He had Sith blood in his veins, and suddenly, everything he had felt throughout his years, everything that creature, Supreme Leader Snoke had said...everything the deceased Yhorhan Barr and his followers had said...it all made sense.

"The darkness in you...and the light. You who are born equal parts of both sides of the Force. You have no idea, the power coursing through your body...the allure of it."

"Vader lives..."

Despite his ever growing turmoil, he managed to look up at the only person whose opinion mattered; the one person who would understand him if she knew the truth about herself. And so he looked up at Rey, who stared at him with wide, hazel eyes, her shock mirroring his.

No, they weren't the same. She was born of Dark Siders whereas he...he was born of an actual Sith; a Sith responsible for the deaths of millions. Nothing, absolutely nothing could be worse than that.

The broadcast continued, with Ransolm Casterfo declaring he had proof but it was evidence Ben didn't need to hear. He had already seen and felt Anakin Skywalker's fall, his horrific transformation into half-man, half-machine, and he didn't need to hear more. Didn't want to hear more, and so he ran out of the mess hall, shoving shoulders aside, gasping for air through the crowds until he spilled out into the hallway and ran as fast as his wobbly legs could take him.

Anakin Skywalker, hero of the Clone Wars, had become Darth Vader.

His grandfather was Darth Vader. All along.

And none of his family ever told him.

He stopped to catch his breath and found himself somewhere deep inside the academy's garden. He didn't know exactly where, nor did he care. What he needed now were answers, and so he took out the comlink from his pocket and contacted his uncle.

Luke answered almost immediately, but Ben spoke before he could.

"Uncle Luke, is it true?"

"You...heard the broadcasts?"

"Is it true?!" Ben demanded. "Is Darth Vader my grandfather?"

A long silence, followed by a deep sigh and the smallest voice Ben had ever heard Luke use. "Yes."

He swallowed and blinked away the sudden burning sensation in his eyes. "Do my parents know?"

"Yes."

"How long?" Ben gritted his teeth, his voice now coming out as a hiss. "How long have you all known?"

"Since the Battle of Endor. But Ben," Luke quickly interjected before Ben could say more, "your grandfather returned to the Light before he died. I was there. And believe me when I say your mother wanted to tell you, but she couldn't find the right time—"

"Right time?" Ben cut in, his eyes wide and incredulous. "Do all of you think I'm still a child? There was no right time! And now, I have to find out like this?!"

"Ben—"

"You're all liars!" Ben screamed into the comlink. "Liars, all of you!"

"Ben, listen to me—"