Chapter XIV

A/N: So this is just a filled chapter before the final chapter. I'm sorry it took me a while to write because ap testing is coming soon and I've been working my butt to study as hard as possible. It's a reason why this chapter might not be as good as the others, but hey I tried. Enjoy and don't forget to comment and vote!

Luke's POV

A week had passed by since the death of Rey. Nothing more was talked about except her tremendous bravery and her success in brining back General Organa her son. Her death had caused both Finn and Ben to fall sick. Finn struggled to live as the guilt of killing his best friend consumed him whole. The horrible nightmares kept him up at night with no rest. He relived the moment every single day which was torment for him .

I felt pity for the boy. He loved his best friend and he thought killing Ben would bring her peace, but he had never imagined she would have stood in between and trade her life for his.

Ben on the other hand refused to eat. He would talk to no one, not even his mother. He laid in his bed completely mute. From time to time a single tear would escape from his eyes and everyone could tell he was thinking of her.

There were times when I wanted to console him, but I found him best to be at the care of his mother. She was the only one who could understand the pain he was suffering.

I was also grieving the loss of Rey. I spent the most time hovering before her grave hoping she'd appear just like my father did after his death. I had been her guardian for most of her childhood until I had to send her away so she could remain protected. The memories of training her still replayed in my mind constantly. She was my only student who had grown interested in all the tales of the Jedi who lived long long ago.

My memories were so vivid I could swear I saw tiny Rey sitting patiently like she used to, begging to tell her more stories.

"Tell me more Master Luke. Tell me more."

Rey would jump up and down while tugging my robe in efforts to convince me.

"One more and then you go to sleep alright."

She'd nod her head and jump into bed and waited for me to start.

I'd Tell her the story of my father before he turned to the dark side. I remembered describing his ability for mechanics since hers was similar. I told her about how my mother and him met and how they had married in secret because it wasn't allowed for Jedi to marry. I'd tell her of the brave battles my father had fought alongside Obi- Wan Kenobi and I'd end right before my father turned.

"Where is your father now?"She asked.

"He's in a better place" I'd respond.

"What about my father?

I never had any answer for who her father was. When she was given to me I didn't ask questions about her father, but I knew enough to know her family line.

Once she grew older, I began teaching her the ways of the force. She was fascinated by everything I taught. She was the strongest force user of the younglings I taught and she knew it.

There was also Ben, my nephew. He desired to have too much knowledge of the force since he began training with me. The dark ways were already present in him and I intended to teach him the correct ways of the force for his mother. The last thing she wanted was for her son to follow in our fathers footsteps and I had failed her.

I thought that if I told him enough stories of what Vader did, the desire to be like him would eventually disappear, but I didn't. It only grew.

Snoke used his weakness to turn him into something he wasn't. He promised him power .

The day still haunts me when Rey came screaming to me. Begging me to save the others.

"Master Luke!!!"

She came rushing to me with frightful eyes.

"He's killing everyone. Master Luke you have to help me stop him."

I didn't need an explanation to know what had happened. Ben had turned. I had suspected all along. I just hoped it wouldn't be true.

"Rey we need to get out of here. "

I picked her up and ran for our shuttle as fast as my legs could move.

"What about Ben? We can't leave him behind, he's my friend."

I remember the shame I felt for failing my sister and Solo. The guilt I carried with me for not helping me when he needed me most.

"He's no longer Ben."

I could feel the arrival of Snoke and I knew if we didn't leave now Rey would join the dead younglings. I failed with Ben but I wasn't going to let the same happen to Rey.

Rey couldn't stay with me. The First Order would have eventually found her and murder her. The only safe spot I could think of was on Jakku. No one would search her there

Leaving her behind was the hardest thing I've ever done. She had to be torn from my arms. Her screams replayed in my mind. She begged and cried for me to stay. Rey would always be the daughter I never had.

"You didn't fail me."

She appeared before me with a bright smile on her face.

"Rey."

"You only wanted to protect me."

" I failed you I was supposed to protect you. " I reverted my eyes from hers. "I should have been a better teacher."

"You did the best you could."

"No if I had trained Ben the way I was supposed to he never would of joined Snoke. None of this wouldn't happen and you wouldn't be dead. "

"Things happen for a reason."

"I'm so sorry Rey. I hope you can forgive me one day."

Her life was cut short when she still had so much to live.

"There's nothing for me to forgive you for, but I do need your help."

"Anything."

"Help Ben. He deserves to be happy again. He can't mourn me forever, he has to move on."

"Maybe if you appeared before him and told him so yourself and..."

"No," she interrupted ," not yet. He has to come to grip the idea that I'm gone and that he has to move on. I want him to be happy. He has a second to start over and when he's ready I'll come back, but promise me you'll help him."

"I promise."

She gave me one last smile before she disappeared.

"Who were you talking to?" Leia asked as she approached me.

"No,just myself," I responded. "How's Ben?"

"Same as always. I want to help him Luke, but he won't tell me how and I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I never was a part of his life until now and I feel like he resents me for sending him away. I wish Rey were still here, she was the only one who could really get to him in a way I will never can."

I pulled my sister into a tight embrace in hopes to comfort her.

"Only with time will he heal."

"She gently sighed and nodded in agreement.

"Leia before you go can I ask you something?"

"Do you mind if I visit Ben?"

No else was permitted to interact with Ben except her.

"Of course. Maybe he'll listen to you."

With that she looked at Rey's grave With a slight smile and placed her hand in mine as a sign of farewell.

After a few minutes I did the same and headed to the clinic where Kylo was residing.

One of the few nurses directed me to the room he was in.

I lightly knocked on door before entering, but there was no response so I presumed to entering.

The walls were a pale as white as snow and Ben could have blended right in if not for his black curls. His back faced me and the once usual black clothes had been replaced with white ones.

Two platters of different meals lay on the table across from him untouched.

"I see you still haven't eaten anything."

No response.

"Ben talk to me or at least face me."

He did neither. It frustrated me to see him slowly giving up.

"You can't keep living like this. You have a second chance to do good, don't let Rey's sacrifice be for nothing. She died for you."

His body began trembling uncomfortably as whimpers escaped him. He pulled on the sheets as he brought them closer to his chest. Anger boiled inside him.

"It should have been me," he choked out. "I should have died! I was ready to die! She should've lived. She was a good person

I walked closer to him until I was facing him. His eyes were bloodshot red and his skin was pale and cold. Droplets of sweat had formed on his forehead.

"You didn't die. It's time for you to move on and it will be hard, but do it for Rey. You'd make her proud of you retook your life and started it living it with fear or anger. A new start. "

"What if I can't? What if I end up returning to my old self?" Fear still held a part of him captive,he had never learned to control it

"Fight the urge. Remember Rey's sacrifice and think of how you owe her your life that should be enough to stop you."

I left hoping my words had been enough to motivate him to live. I didn't want to resent him anymore. I wanted to believe that the Ben Rey had met and grew to love was still there and would always be.

~E