Chapter Text
“I’m not a Jedi. I can’t be. I’m just a stormtrooper.” Finn said somberly.
They sat by the fire on the small island of Ach-to. It was another day of failure for Finn. The Force would not answer to him no matter how much he called it.
“And that is why you fail.” Luke said repeating words from a lifetime ago and then putting some encouragement in them; “you fail because you believe you will fail—so you do.” Finn just looked at him.
Luke continued his lesson. “Our pasts do not define us. Our destinies are the choices we make.”
Finn was silent, letting Luke’s words and the warmth of the fire wash over him. Luke continued. “Have you ever heard the story of the young slave boy from Tatooine?” He asked.
“No.” Finn said, not sure where Luke was going with this.
“He was a bright kid, happy, despite his circumstances. He believed fully in helping others and was strong in the Force. So when the Jedi came calling, he made the hard choice to leave his life and mother behind, for the greater good.” He stopped for a moment, poking at the fire with a stick. “A difficult choice to make. He became a great Jedi Knight—strong, powerful, and incredibly compassionate.”
Luke took a moment to think, looking out at the setting sun. “He had so much love for others he became consumed by a fear of losing those close to him and his fear led him to darkness. Ironically, everything he loved was lost to him because of this.” It was a sad ending, Luke’s eyes glistened from the fire or tears, Finn wasn’t sure.
Luke was silent again. “What happened to him?” Finn finally asked.
Luke smiled. “A farm boy from that same backwater planet saved him. Just a kid and moisture farmer of all things, can you believe it? Maybe he was brave or reckless but he saw this evil being that everyone feared…and called him father and decided not to fear or hate him. But to save him. And I did.”
Finn looked up then, of course he knew the story of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, but he’d never heard it like this. “I made a choice to save my father from darkness. He made the choice to let go of his hatred and save me.”
Luke had tears in his eyes. “You have that choice too Finn. You are more than a stormtrooper and always have been. You have already chosen to leave the First Order, now make a choice, believe in yourself and in the Force. It’s waiting for you, just let it in.”
Finn was silent and deep in thought. He closed his eyes and breathed. Just breathed. In and out, slowly and with purpose. He let go of his fears and relaxed, feeling a warmth flow through him. “You are a Jedi Finn, like me and my father before me.”
When Finn opened his eyes Luke’s old lightsaber was hovering before him waiting to be taken. So he did.