The Redemption of Fate ~ A Reylo Story

13

"You can't punish yourself, Ben. That was Kylo Ren, the murderous snake. The monster. The galaxy's villain. Well, guess what? He's gone now. He's dead. And so is Palpatine and Snoke, and any other figure that possessed you. Leia saved you from that. So did Han."
"I  still did those things." The despondency in Ben's voice was heartbreaking.
Rey stared down at Ben's ghostly palm in her lap, studying it as if all the answers she could ever need were written in it. Then she looked up to meet his downcast eyes.

"You were taunted since a child. No one, no matter how strong, could defeat what Palpatine forced upon you. That's why you became Kylo Ren--you had no other option. That's why your mother and father saved you. If your mother hadn't thought it was possible, she wouldn't have died for you. She wouldn't have undone the deeds that Palpatine once sewed. That took incredible strength for her--many Jedi's would have failed to even muster the power. But your mother's desire was so strong, she went back in time and erased your relation to the Dark Side, restoring you back to the child you never were--the version where Palpatine never infiltrated your mind."

Ben's chest suddenly heaved, his eyes flickered, dripping with tears. Tears that had been bottled up. Emotions that were suffocated for too long. Miserable feelings: guilt, remorse, anguish. He held onto that suffering. The kind that wracked his heart. Hurt his brain. Crushed his soul. But now, at Rey's explanation, they were relinquished--Ben was free of his pain.    
In one rush, he scooped Rey up into his arms. He squeezed her body to his. She squeezed him back. Ben rested his chin on the crook of her shoulder. "Thank you, Rey. I needed to hear something. . . anything."

"Of course." Rey replied as they pulled away from their warm hold.
Ben's expression suddenly became curious. His eyebrows creased knowingly. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
"What?" Rey already knew what Ben was referring to.
"I felt something, just now. Something's bothering you."
Rey reluctantly nodded. She grabbed a hold of Ben's hand. It was warm now, and it was relieving to hold. "Before I tell you, just please hear me out. Above anything else. Alright?"
A pressing look of concern passed over Ben's curious disposition. Rey knew he could sense the seriousness of it, but he nodded anyway. "Okay."

Rey sucked in a deep inhalation of air. It was now or it was never. And never was not an option. Without much warning, or even subtly, Rey cut to the chase. "I found out a way to bring you back to life, Ben."
Ben pulled back, eyes knowing. He sensed the sincerity in her tone, and he knew all too well. Rey was passionate and that was frightening. Ben bit down on his tongue as he heard the next set of words flow out of her. "I know how to. . . I have these powers. And I know it seems unnatural, but I can get you back, Ben. Back to life. You won't have to be a ghost. You can--"
"No." Ben shook his head adamantly. "You know that's not right."
"I haven't--"
"Yes, I'm aware you haven't finished, but I already know what you're going to say, and I am not letting that happen."

"Bu--"
Ben forcefully pulled his hand away. Heat began to rise inside of his apparition. "You will not use the Dark Side's power to save me."
Rey leaned closer to him. Her eyes wide. She threw her hands up in exasperation. "I'm not using the Dark Side. I'm simply using what is already inside of me. Don't you see?"
Ben laughed, though there was nothing humorous to it. "Your altruism is taking you to extremes. It's not right. I've had enough loved ones sacrifice their lives for me lately. You won't be one of them."
"Ben, please--"
"Stop." Ben suddenly jolted up from the floor. He stared down at Rey in a shameful concern.

"After all we have talked about regarding the Dark Side--Palpatine--why are you risking this? Don't be a hypocrite."
Rey stood up to meet Ben. "But I'm not a hypocrite--"
"You want what you can't have, and I'm one of them. You can't have me, Rey. And I can't have you." Ben was on the cusp of a yell. His voice lowered, but his eyes became as cold as stone. "That is just the way it is."
Rey was persistent. She pushed on. "It doesn't have to be that way."
"Yes, it does!" Ben blurted out, shaking violently, veins protruding from his neck.

Rey stepped back in shock. Ben raised a trembling blue finger. His voice became ominously serious. "If anyone knows about the Dark Side, it's me. And if anything were to happen to you. . . I just--I don't know how much more I could blame myself. Please, do not make me do that."
Ben didn't wait for a response; his ghost diminished. The blue glow of it sucked up into thin air, leaving only the light from Rey's saber.