Star Wars Episode IX: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 12: Darkness Rises...

"Why are you crying Ben?" Leia asked a cross legged child who was sitting by a lake's edge. "I hate it here." Ben mumbled as Leia knelt down to his level. She took the edge of her sleeve and wiped away the droplets that flowed down her son's soft cheeks. "Why is he always gone?" The young boy asked. Leia offered a sympathetic smile. "Your father works hard for us, my love. He has to go when he's needed." Ben shook his head, his black hair sweeping across his forehead. "I never see him. He always leaves. I miss him." The boy cried, sniffling as he wiped his nose. "Does he not love me? Does he want to get rid of me?" The child asked. The sadness in his voice hurt Leia deeply. She missed Han too. "Of course he loves you Ben. We both love you very much. We would never abandon you." Leia promised as she wrapped her arms around her son.

As soon as the young boy wrapped his arms around his mother, she faded away. Opening his eyes, he realized it was now night and he heard yelling from inside the cottage he currently called home. "I can't just stay here all the time and you know that!" His father yelled. "Your son needs you. I need you." Leia snapped fearlessly. It fell silent for a moment as a now older Ben peeked around the corner, staying hidden from them. "I know you can't sense the darkness in him but I can. There is pain in his soul and he needs you, Han. You can't just keep leaving." His father tugged his mother into his chest as he gently rubbed his back. "He needs training that neither of us can provide. Luke can help. If there is darkness in him, Luke will be able to get rid of it."

Ben backed away from the wall, his heart cracking as he heard his parents words. They were afraid of him. Why were they afraid of him? He was just a kid. Ben turned around to find himself outside. He was watching the Millenium Falcon ascend into the stars as he stood next to his uncle in padawan robes. He felt crushing sadness as the ship disappeared from view. "It's alright Ben. It's okay to be afraid." His uncle spoke from next to him. "We all feel fear and sadness. We must not let it control us." Luke gave his nephew a small smile as he pulled Ben in for a hug. Ben allowed his eyes to shut as he felt the arms of his uncle protecting him.

When his eyes opened, he was staring at the green hue of a lightsaber. The blade was just above his eyes as he looked into the determined eyes of his uncle; in his uncle's eyes he saw fear. Ben, reacting on instinct, pulled the roof of his hut down. He ignored his uncle's screams for him to stop.

When Ben's eyes reopened, they were looking into the pained eyes of his father. A red hue surrounded them as he looked down to find his lightsaber in his father's stomach. Ben felt tears run out of his eyes as his father gently placed his hand on his jaw. "Dad... I love you." Ben's voice cracked as he saw the life drain from his father's eyes. A small smile formed on the older man's lips. "I know." he said before falling into the endless abyss below.

He heard the pained cry from Chewbacca before he too disappeared in front of his eyes. Ben frantically ran toward Rey, standing high above him in her scavenger gear. "Rey!" He called as he felt the floor begin to collapse beneath him. As he fell, Ben screamed for help. He screamed for his family who was watching him fall from above. But they did not help. Their eyes only showed one thing:

Fear.

Kylo Ren's body jolted upright, the thick blanket he was laying under pooling at his waist. He sucked in a breath through his teeth, the noise sounding almost painful as he caught his breath. He rubbed a hand down his sweat coated face and felt the familiar topography of his scar. It calmed him slightly to know that he was in the present. He looked beside him to find Rey looking up at him through her sleepy haze. "I'm fine. Go back to sleep." His voice was rough as he caught his breath. "You were screaming." Rey said quietly as she sat up and looked up at the man's tortured features. "It was just a nightmare." He mumbled, his eyes trained on his hands. He felt the softness of her touch on his back. "I get them too." She said softly. Their eyes connected and he could see no trace of gold, no trace of darkness in her gaze. She looked like the Rey from his dreams, the one that was afraid.