POV Rio
I landed my ship on Serenno. The place the Force was calling me to was a bit of a surprise. It was Dooku's palace. But I knew it wasn't the Dooku that I knew that lived here. But still I entered the palace. Palpatine had decided to clean house, and as such, all the major families of Serenno were wiped out. The current governor of Serenno was from a minor house and only came to power when the Empire fled the Outer Rim. But many of these old palaces were left abandoned for the last several decades.
'Hmm, I don't recognize this part of the palace. Must be a difference in Universes.'
I reached the area the Force was guiding me to, and it was a simple wall. But I felt like I should touch it. Once I placed my hand on the wall, the wall faded, and a dark hallway was all I could see.
'Hmm, that's strange. This wall should have a hallway here as there is no space for it. But then again, it's the Force, so it isn't that surprising.'
I walk down the hallway, and eventually, I find a door. But what I find as odd is that I recognize the door.
'This was my door when I lived on Serenno. How is this here?'
I open the door, and behind it is my room, exactly as I remember it. I try to figure out why the Force has made this room or what it is trying to tell me, but I can't think of anything, so I just look around. As I look around, I spot something out of place.
'This book should be on the shelf. I know I would never leave out a book. Dooku would be upset if I left behind a mess.'
I read the title of the book.
Forging The Future
'Interesting. I don't recall having this book.'
I look up to my bookshelf and see one slot open. I place the book on the shelf, and then I hear a click. The bookshelf then moves, and behind it is a room. A very large room. I walk in and see many things that I recognize.
'That's father's Solar Sailer. And those are the holocrons I used when I was first learning the Force. And that's a lot of credits. What is this place?'
Dooku: "This is the inheritance I left behind for you."
Rio: "Father! What are you doing here? And how is this all here?"
Dooku: "I am here because I am about to enter the reincarnation cycle, and I wanted to give you your inheritance before I left. This is here because the Force agreed to arrange this meeting. And before you ask, yes, this is all real. You can take everything here. And if fact you should as whatever you don't take will be lost forever. And lastly, I am here to say goodbye and give you one last test."
I hug him.
Rio: "It's great to see you again. And I will take everything here. But what is this last test?"
Dooku: "My final test is sometimes the hardest test anyone can try. I want you to let me go."
I let him go and then look at him with raised eyebrows.
Dooku: "Sigh. You know that isn't what I mean. I mean, you need to move on. But it isn't just me you have to let go of. You need to make peace with your past. Once you leave this room, you will appear before the Force Priestesses. They will oversee your final test for me. I will not say what you will see, but I hope you can pass it."
Rio: "Thank you. And I won't let you down."
We chatted for a few more hours about many things, and I got many things I needed to say to him before he moved on. I knew I couldn't make him stay as that was not my place. He didn't want to come back to life. So, I respected his decision. Once he left, I put everything in my inventory and then walked to the door. The door was a wall of white mist. I took one last look at the room, and then I let go of my past in the Star Wars Universe and moved on to the next part.
Serenity: "So you have arrived."
Anger: "It is about time. We had been waiting for him."
Joy: "Oh, this will be most interesting."
Confusion: "Oh, but will he pass?"
Saddness: "What if he fails?"
Serenity: "If he fails, it isn't our responsibility. The Force has willed this, so we must do as it asks."
Rio: "Greetings. I was told I was to complete a test here."
Serenity: "Yes, you should get comfortable. We will send you into the test, but your body will be stuck in the last position it was in when you started. And even we don't know how long it will last."
Rio: "Thank you for your assistance."
I get into position. I was in my human form, as I knew going into the trial; looking like I usually do would not be that useful. Once I was comfortable, the Force Priestesses began to circle me. They increased their speed, and then I closed my eyes. And when I open them again, I find myself in a place I thought I would never see again other than in my dreams. I walk to my first home and hesitate.
Knock Knock
???: "Come in!"
I open the door and see the kitchen to my left and take off my shoes before heading to the living room. I froze when I saw someone I hadn't seen in many years.
Rio: "M-mom?"
Rio's Mom: "Yes, it's me, Rio. Though I admit you look much more handsome than when I last saw you. What happened to the little kid that would run around the house and show me what he discovered outside?"
Rio: "I grew up. Got big and smart. Made a mistake and then died. Now I am not even human anymore."
Rio's Mom: "Ah, that was the past. You couldn't have known."
She waves her hand as if it was nothing.
Rio: "But I should have known. I was warned that what I made would be disruptive. That those in power wouldn't like it. And that cost our family everything."
Rio's Mom: "Sigh. Rio, do you know why I am here?"
Rio: "I am not fully sure."
Rio's Mom: "I am here because you need to move on. One of those games of yours said that to forge the future, you must first break with the past. I never once blamed you for what happened. And neither does your brother. He would have come here as well, but he was too embarrassed to see you. I was told he was reincarnated in another world. Something about uniting Europe and making a utopia with his knowledge."
Rio: "Yeah, that sounds like him. He always loved history. That and engineering. But I am glad to hear he is doing well."
Rio's Mom: "Anubis had allowed this meeting. I am an echo of the original. But I am the real deal. So I am here doing what every mother should do. Making sure her child is okay."
I frown and take a seat next to her.
Rio: "I have tried moving on. But I can never forget that day. The day I lost everything."
Rio's Mom: "You never lost everything. You never once gave up. You could have easily wiped out humanity. And don't you dare say otherwise. I may not be super science-y smart, but I know enough to know you could do a lot of damage very easily. But you didn't. You instead chose to try and save humanity. And when you were given a second chance, you used your powers for good. I saw some of what you have done so far. The uncalculable amount of people you have saved. The criminals you brought to justice. You have done enough. We have all forgiven you even when there was nothing to forgive in the first place. Now the question is when will you forgive yourself?"
I pause and think about what I have done in my lives. All the good and what I plan to do in the future. Then, I looked up at the ceiling.
Rio: "I honestly don't know. I know I have done many good things, but even with all of that, I can't help but think of what might have been. I often thought of ways to bring you back to life. But I know that isn't feasible. And even if I could, I don't think you would want me to."
Rio's Mom: "You're right. I wouldn't be happy about being brought back to life. I lived a fulfilling life. I got to see my two sons grow up into productive members of society. I got to experience many amazing things. I have no regrets. And I died knowing that I raised you well enough not to become like those who broke apart our family. And you didn't. I love you and your brother, but sometimes you two can be really stubborn. So, I am going to say this again. You are not at fault. We are fine and happy. I was reincarnated as well, and from what I can tell, I was going to get to have fun with hunky Vampires."
Rio: "Ew, I didn't need to know that. And don't tell me you actually went to that place. Like you could have gone anywhere, why there?"
Rio's Mom: "Well, I think the characters there are hot, and the wishes I got made it so I was the strongest and safest there. And I have very little to fear about being there. It was that or Lord of the Rings. But Sauron seemed like something I wasn't too interested in dealing with."
Rio: "Well, as long as you are happy."
Rio's Mom: "So, are you thinking you might forgive yourself now?"
Rio: "Sigh. Yes, I think you are right. I need to move on. I feel much better knowing that both of you are doing okay and even thriving. But that won't mean I will forget either of you."
Rio's Mom: "Of course not. I will never forget my handsome little man. Or all the fun times we had. Oh, I guess it would be my handsome little pony."
Rio: "Sigh. That makes me think of all the horses and ponies you had. And all the other animals. But I think I will have to leave soon."
Rio's Mom: "I know. You have a family to get back to. I must say I have some adorable grandkids. I am happy to know you had such great parental figures after I left. I am certain Amore will keep you in line. Oh, and before I go. You need to hurry up and get a girl. I don't care what species they are; just get one. You shouldn't spend your life without companionship. Trust me, it isn't fun being without sexual release for so long."
Rio: "Gag. I do not need to hear that! That is beyond gross, Mom!"
Rio's Mom: "There's nothin' gross about it, you prude. I remember my grandma telling me about her crazy younger years."
Rio: "NO GOD! NO GOD! PLEASE NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOO!"
I try to close my ears, and she just laughs at me. Eventually, I feel the place we are in start to fade, and we hug each other and say our final goodbyes. I left the test feeling lighter than I had ever felt. When I leave the test completely, I find myself back in the palace on Serenno. I decided it was time to get back to work.
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Authors Note:
In case anyone couldn't tell, that was Rio's first mother from when he was a human. The place his brother went to was Earth, but in the 1200s. The place his mother went to was Twilight, but not the one Rio went to. The next chapter will be the final preparations for the Battle of Endor. Until next time Ciao.