Chapter Text
Anakin Skywalker was many things in his life. Son, Jedi, brother, friend, teacher, mentor, husband, Sith Lord, father. Now, he spends his afterlife in the Force, basking in its glow and grace. But he knows that he’s needed, and he knows that he can return to the plane of the living. He knows now that no place is barren of the Force, nor is any place barren of the Light. And they who are one with the Force can always find the possibility of life.
Awareness precedes consciousness. The warmth is reveled in and drawn upon, even before the mind is aware of doing so. Next is the illusion of linear time, and only then does the sense of individuality come; a remembrance of what was and what is, a knowledge of one’s self separate from the Force. It gives a vantage point for experiencing the physical world in its complexity and ecstasy, but the pain of that separation is endurable only because he knows that unity will come again, and soon.
Anakin draws upon his memories of himself and takes shape, reassembling the form he last saw his true self having in his life. He feels his flesh wrap around his bones, hair and skin over flesh, and finally robes over skin. He draws down the hood of his cloak and looks on his grandson.
“Ben.”
*****
Kylo Ren sat on his throne, attempting to meditate on the dark side. The Knights of Ren surround him, standing silent and motionless, protecting their Master. As he meditated, he felt a tug of the Force. The bond? No, the bond hadn't activated since Crait. He was sure Rey was blocking him out purposely. No, this was something else entirely.
"Ben."
His eyes snapped open, scanning the room. Who had said his name? One of his Knights?
"Ben," he heard again. It was the same voice yet again. It definitely wasn't any of his Knights.
"Are you happy, Ben?"
In front of him stood the form of a Jedi. One he did not know. He knew from his years training under Skywalker that select Jedi could retain their individuality through the Force, but he did not recognize this Jedi.
He glared at the form before him. "Who are you?" he demanded.
He saw the Knights turn their attention to him. "Master?" Trudgen asked.
"Leave me," he ordered. "I wish to be alone."
Without hesitation, the Knights did as they were instructed. He appreciated that about them, that they followed his orders without question. It made for less problems than he had with some of the officers of the First Order who would often hesitate to carry out his orders despite his position as Supreme Leader.
"Answer the question, Jedi," he growled.
"Look into the Force, Ben, and you will find the answers you seek.
Kylo sank into the Force, focusing on his swirling emotions and demanding the answer from it. He snapped his head up, stepping off of his throne and dropping to a knee. "Grandfather."
Anakin would have none of this. "Stand up, Ben," he instructed. "I asked you, are you happy?"
Kylo hesitated for a moment. What was Grandfather talking about? He was Supreme Leader. He had killed Snoke and usurped his position, taking control of the First Order, and soon the galaxy.
"I was like you once. Filled with anger. Hatred for those closest to me. I felt alone. Abandoned by the ones I loved the most. My Master. My apprentice. My wife. For so long, I couldn't let go of it. I focused on it. All of it. The hatred. The betrayal. The power. But what did I get in return?"
"You had everything, Vader! You had control of the galaxy! You lost it in a moment of weakness!" Kylo shouted back. His grandfather did not flinch.
"It wasn't weakness, Ben. I saved my son from death. I finally realized that I'd been the architect of my own destruction. I was the reason my children grew up in a galaxy of darkness," Anakin replied, his face dropping in sadness. "I caused the death of my wife. The woman I loved more than anyone else in the galaxy. So I'll ask you again: Are you happy Ben?"
"But..." Kylo said. "The helmet...Your voice...You showed me the power of the dark side..."
"No," Anakin said. "That was not me. It was never me."
Kylo didn't say anything. His face dropped. He hadn't felt so dejected since he'd found Han Solo's dice on Crait, and Rey had closed the bond between them.
"I turned my back on the dark side, Ben," Anakin said quietly. "It wasn't too late for me. It isn't too late for you."
With that, Anakin Skywalker disappeared, leaving Kylo alone in the throne room. He felt more conflicted than ever. In the end, he wasn't sure what he would do, but in this moment, he knew what he had to do next.