#and the novels suggest he is in Ren's body(only a theory)

[agathazinha2009]

REALL

Bruh Kevin is literally Monsterverse's Willian afton. He already die 3 times I guess? also in the novel is sugested he's in Ren's body. like??

Bro Always come back

[bexterbex]

A Soul to Mend His Own | Ch. 4

Warning, if it hasn't been obvious in the movies there is Nazi symbolism within the First Order. I will expand on this much more throughout the story. If this is something that bothers you, please just exit the story. The author does not condone any Nazi ideals, this is just for fictional uses only.

A Kylo Ren x Modern! Reader in a soulmate au with some canon divergence. —————————————SLOWBURN————————————–

He is already the Supreme leader, searching the universe to find you, his Empress. Your name on his wrist has been the only constant in his life, while you have doubts about his existence and his acceptance of you. He isn’t in the database and why did the name Kylo Ren cover Ben Solo?

Originally posted on my Ao3 Crystallclover. (Incase you missed it) Chapter Three 

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Chapter 4: When the Machine Starts

Summary: “ALL REMAINING SYSTEMS WILL REMEMBER THIS, AS THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW EMPIRE!!!” Cannon fire was heard in the distance.

_______________________________________________________________________

“Y/N? What do you think,” asked Carter.

You thought for a moment and answered, “I don’t know, this is all so much to take in. When are you guys thinking about registering? I don’t want to go alone, there will be too many people.”

“I was thinking about going tomorrow morning. The registration office closest to me doesn’t open until 9 AM but I want to guarantee that a line will start 6,” said Carter. 

“I guess I really hadn’t thought that far to be honest. Too caught up in the alien thing,” said Hayden “Why don’t we plan on going together?” 

“I think that would great, but Y/N do you need to go to a special registration center? As an American,” asked Carter.

“Let me check online,” you said while pulling up the government website on your phone. “It says it I should be fine if I go to the motor vehicle registration office, the social insurance number office, or the immigration office. I need my passport, social security card, immunization forms, birth certificate, driver's license, and work visa. It also says that I will be in a separate line and that my registration will take up to 1 hour to complete.” 

“Sweet, I know you aren’t a fan of getting up early Hayden but what if we all go to the MVR office tomorrow at like 5:45 AM and just get it done together? We have no idea how long the lines will be or really how long it will take,” asked Carter.

“Fine, but like we need to get brunch afterward or I will riot in the streets. You guys don’t have to work tomorrow right,” asked Hayden. “Tony gave me the next few days off.”

“No, Henry gave us all time off. I’m pretty sure Scott and his wife will go awol. Like you should have seen him this morning. He was on his phone in the walkway for the first hour, late to our meeting. Ally had to message him asking if he was coming. He then walked finally went into his office and got ready. He blamed it on his wife being paranoid,” you said. 

“Yeah but that is such a Scott thing to do, I am surprised Talia hasn’t evaluated him yet that man is a walking HR nightmare,” said Carter.

“That isn’t even the worst of it. Immediately after the announcement he kind flipped out. Talking about how the First Order will brainwash us and how we shouldn’t stand for it. Like I’m pretty sure he was going to blow a gasket. Daniel told him off and then he went to talk to Henry but not until saying that this may be the last time we will probably see our families, then Henry gave us the week off basically,” you ranted. “I honestly hate the man he’s late to everything, even deadlines, he also can’t organize his office even if his life depended on it. Plus he’s always on his phone with his wife. Just all around unprofessional.” 

“Damn go off, I would hate to hear what you would have go say about me if I worked with you,” stated Hayden.

“Well, I’m glad we are just friends and not coworkers. Brunch sounds like a good idea to me, especially if we can start day drinking because guaranteed my registration is going to be more stressful than both of yours and I’ll probably need something to take the edge off. And if Scott is right about this being the last bits of freedom before the First Order starts brainwashing us or ‘probing’ us then I’d like it to be fun,” you ranted. 

“Probing, damn I wish I thought of that earlier. You know we should start watching some really cheesy Sci-FI movies before the ‘Supreme Leader’ announcement,” suggested Hayden.

Both you and Carter agreed and you set up your phone to keep steaming CBC News and you set up “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” on your laptop.

After your third movie, you all just decide to pull up the news to avoid missing the announcement. The seemingly perfect white brunette anchorman and similarly perfect blonde anchorwoman were explaining once again where to register while also talking about the average wait time to register. You always found their perfect hair, teeth, and skin; they were just too perfect. 

Live from Washington D.C. 

The camera focused in on the Supreme Leader, “People of Earth, the First Order has so far been impressed by the cooperation we have received from you. As it was mentioned before, if you remain calm and follow all orders directed towards you, you will be able to live a long and prosperous life here. 

Your respective nation’s leader should have informed you of more updates such as where to receive registration and changes to your planet's economy. The First Order and my self Supreme Leader Ren have a few more directives for you. 

First as mentioned to you many times today, everyone on your planet must register with the First Order as citizens. Anyone refusing to do so will be dealt with justly. Second, all citizens upon registration will receive an education on the First Orders and the beliefs of the new empire. Any citizen who has an issue with this education should direct their comments and concerns to any Stormtrooper or First Order officer at their local registration station. 

Finally, anyone found in favor of the New Republic or the Resistance will be dealt with immediately. The First Order would like to make this transition for Earth as smooth and as peaceful as possible. Any found being a traitor to the First Order may find themselves at a public execution!

My Allegiant General Hux has a few words for you.” He stepped to the side to reveal the ginger human-looking man. 

“Today is the is the beginning of the new empire! And the end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder! At this very moment, in a system far from here, the New Republic lies to the galaxy, while secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance,” The red hair man almost seemed to be foaming at the mouth while he was giving his speech. “Our alliance is a fierce machine that we will build, upon which we will stand, will bring an end to the Senate, and to their cherished fleet! ALL REMAINING SYSTEMS WILL REMEMBER THIS, AS THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW EMPIRE!!!” Cannon fire was heard in the distance and the camera came to a wide shot of the podium’s stage. 

On the stage, you could see the U.S. President, Supreme Leader Ren, Allegiant General Hux, and the silver armored soldier. Behind the stage, you could see the white house lawn filled with the white armored soldiers standing at attention. In the distance you could see there was now a banner over the white house, it was large and read with a hexagon with a star-like black symbol. You assumed this to be the flag of the First Order. 

The camera cuts back to the news anchors who were now conspicuously wearing pins with the same symbol that was on the banner. “I like the sound of that, don’t you Karen,” asked the male news anchor.

“I sure do Jim. A new galactic economy and protection from a powerful new ally to protect us from the treacherous Resistance. I don’t think we could have asked for a better ‘alien’ invasion, do you, Jim,” responded Karen.

“Now it's almost as if fate was on our side, or should I say the Force. For everybody, at home, both Karen and I have been registered and have started our First Order education. That’s where we got these cool new pins that you will be required to wear once you’ve been registered unless directed to do otherwise,” stated Jim. 

“Yes, it is important that all citizens register as soon as possible, and all citizens are asked to cooperate with the First Order. You all heard our new Supreme Leader Ren, they would like us to be peaceful and anyone found in contempt of the First Order may be subject to public execution,” stated Karen. “And I’m sure all of you remember 8th-grade world history when we learned about what happened to Marie Antoinette, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” She and Jim chuckled at her off-color joke. 

“I’m sure no one wants that so if we all stay calm no one should lose their head. There will be nightly updates every night at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time from the First Order. We have been informed that it will be various officers as our new Supreme Leader is very busy,” stated Jim.

“I’m sure he is, and what a wonderful Supreme Leader we have. Dedicated to our safety and the safety of the galaxy. I can’t wait to learn more about him from my First Order education. Now stay tuned to the weather,” said Karen. 

You muted your laptop once again. You, Carter and Hayden all sat in shock after what you just watched. 

Carter was the first to speak, “well at least be getting the registration and education over an done with as soon as possible. That General Hux guy seemed pretty intense.”

“Your boss might be right Y/N we may just all be brainwashed soon. Why do I have a feeling like the First Order may be something out of a George Orwell's novel,” said Hayden.

“Just promise us you won’t do anything stupid Hayden, we will all have enough to worry about. Tomorrow at the registration office you might want to keep your conspiracy theories to yourself. I don’t know how much the First Order will like them,” you responded.

Carter seemed to be in agreement with you, “Why don’t we all just call it a night? We can meet in the parking lot of the MVR office at 5:45 AM and I’ll bring coffee for all of us.”

You and Hayden nodded in agreement. Both of them packed up their things and left. You cleaned up the kitchen and plates. Shut your laptop before preparing for bed.

You grabbed your pajamas and went into the bathroom and took a shower hoping it would relax you. Getting you changed into your clothes, brushed your hair and teeth. 

You shut off the lights to your apartment and walked over to your bed. You plugged in your phone and set an alarm before crawling into bed and drifting off into fitful sleep.

[aros001]

First time read through light novel vol. 17. Random thoughts.

Alright, from Shield Hero to Goblin Slayer to Re:Zero and now back again.

“As of this day, you shall lead our nation as the queen of Melromarc. You shall henceforth be known as Melty Q. Melromarc.”

Wait, that's what the Q stands for? I always just thought Mirelia had a weird middle name. So what was Melty's middle initial before this? The wiki says Malty's is S but what does that stand for? Second-in-line? Spare?

Right off the bat I love Naofumi and Melty's back and forth. He really does feel like the older sibling she never got to have. It's a reason I don't think they should be married (beyond the fact that she's a literal child and he's a grown man). She can act her age around him because Naofumi genuinely makes her feel safe enough to.

“If you don’t desire to marry Hero Iwatani, I have someone else I might like to suggest to you, Queen Melty.” The old man was looking at Fohl as he spoke.

Wait, Fohl? What?

“Huh?!” Fohl froze as though his spine had turned to ice with Trash’s eye upon him, and then he visibly recoiled. So he wasn’t up for it. I could understand that.

Wait...hasn't the implication been that Fohl and Atla might be the children of Trash's sister? I mean, I get that incest wasn't exactly uncommon in old royal families but he jumped on trying to set up his daughter with her cousin pretty quickly. You'd think he'd be a lot more protective over his youngest daughter but I suppose maybe his mentality is that a husband could help ease some of the burden off Melty and give her someone who could definitely protect her like Fohl or Naofumi. ...Doesn't make it that much less creepy. Again, Melty's, like, 12.

“No need to worry about that,” Trash responded. “Melty is quite capable of carrying a child.” So she was quite an early bloomer . . . Trash, hold on!

“Why do you know that?!” I retorted.

“There was much about Melty written in my wife’s diaries,” he explained. He almost made it sound like a good thing, whimsical and sweet. The queen had known about Witch’s virginity, after all, so I guess she would know about Melty too.

Mirellia: "Dear diary, I had a bit of false excitement today. My shadows informed me they witnessed Melty disrobing while she and the Shield Hero's party slept around the campfire. I thought my dear little girl had finally awoken an attraction for the opposite sex and was about to make her move. But alas, it was merely to sleep inside the feathers of his pet Filolial (Note to self: Once I clear Mr. Iwatani's name, find a way to bring up casually that I would like to try sleeping inside the Filolial also). Oh well. I suppose there is still plenty of time for that later. Still, it is the one and only area I feel she could stand to take note from her sister. The shadow I have assigned to the Spear Hero's party is very descriptive. I think I should consider switching in another shadow to replace her for a bit. She may be a little too into her job."

Back to reality, while I get why she would do that and why Trash would check, that was still more than I needed to know about any of that family. NOBODY GO HAVING SEX WITH MELTY!

I was now basically engaged to Melty. That might look like a Lolita complex from the outside. There were lots of women around me with adult bodies but who were actually quite young too—Raphtalia, Filo, Shildina, Keel, even Atla. From that perspective, it did start to make me feel a bit strange.

Wait, when did Filo get an adult body?! I thought part of Motoyasu's obsession was because she was going to be a near eternal loli. Or does adult body to Naofumi just mean Fitoria-sized?

“What? I mean, Naofumi, don’t you play for both—” Ren started.

“That’s enough. Say no more!” I cut him off. I really needed to nip this in the bud. It was true I tried to sleep with Fohl—just once—but there were all sorts of context to that encounter.

Raphtalia: "Was I the only one he didn't try and sleep with?!?"

“Ren,” I said.

“What?” he eventually replied.

“She’s not the sharpest when it comes to matters of the heart. If such a situation actually came about, she might change her mind. If you get lucky, the one you confess to may then start to take notice of you. It’s too soon to give up,” I told him.

“Okay, okay. I get it,” he said.

“But you also need to read the room a little. If you confess to her right now, I don’t think she’ll give you the nod. You need to get closer to her first and then let her know how you feel. Maybe even get the elation right after we save the world to give things a push,” I advised.

Raphtalia: "...F**k you, Mr. Naofumi. I love you but f**k you, you observant yet oblivious walking paradox."

In all seriousness, I like that Naofumi and Ren have been becoming good friends. I don't think Naofumi would have asked Motoyasu or Itsuki in the same way what they planned on doing after the waves.

Is it weird that of all the demi-human characters, Ruft is the one I don't want to grow up too fast? I want him to stay Naofumi's raccoon son.

A weird thought occurs to me. When Naofumi and the other three first arrived in Melromarc, would their clothes have had any stats? In most games even the very basic starting clothes will give you a +1 in something. I'm just curious because, as we see in the trips to and back from Kizuna's world, certain equipment doesn't function outside of its original universe and shows up as just scrambled text in the menu. The four would have just come from a different universe with their clothes/"equipment" still on so did the same effect apply but they never noticed because there's so little protection a shirt and jeans gives?

“Up you go! Up you go!” I said, lifting her up in the air.

“Little Naofumi?” Sadeena looked at me in bemusement. Wasn’t that what you did with a child? I’d done the same thing with Raphtalia when she’d been smaller too.

When?! When the hell did broody, depressed, recently framed for attempted rape Naofumi play "Up you go!" with child Raphtalia?!

I complained in my vol. 16 post about Naofumi and Raphtalia being separated again. Again, I knew even then it was a nitpick but I am still glad how quickly they were reunited after he returned to Kizuna's world. You never want to feel like a story is playing keepaway with you.

“Actually, about that,” I said. “When I was on the verge of death, I met Atla inside something like . . . I guess you’d call it the world inside the shield. She was still very much herself, anyway.” I showed Raphtalia the shield, and the gemstone glowed. Was that Atla taunting Raphtalia from inside the shield? The light did look a bit mocking, if light could be said to do that. Raphtalia seemed to have noticed the same thing, and her brow furrowed.

Atla: "I was his first kiss AND got to be inside Lord Naofumi first. Take that, Raphtalia."

Naofumi: "I don't know what she's saying but I feel very uncomfortable all of a sudden."

“I see. That’s quite incredible. I can see the curse fading even as I watch,” Raphtalia replied.

“Even so, it seems to be rooted pretty deep. It’s going to need multiple treatments to fully heal up,” I said. After we worked out it had curse-healing properties, I had tried it on Motoyasu too, but it had done nothing at all to him. I wondered what was going on there.

Either the curse is rooted too deep because he was under its effects for so much longer than everyone else had been under theirs or Motoyasu might be resisting the curse heals because he doesn't want to change back to how he was. That or he's genuinely had a mental breakdown after all his experiences and even magic can't cure true insanity.

Takt hadn’t been worried about the waves either, I recalled. A common characteristic of these lunatics. Even Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki had only really considered the waves events to make them stronger for the future. I felt like I was getting to the heart of things. Now we knew that the waves weren’t a natural phenomenon. That cast suspicions on the knowledge of the heroes. When I followed that line of thought, the summoning of someone like me—someone with no knowledge of a game that played like this world—had allowed for the sharing of power-up methods to go much more smoothly. And yet they continued to summon people with game knowledge. That knowledge had proven a barrier to becoming stronger.

It was as though game knowledge itself was some kind of impediment.

Well, Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki were the third options for their weapons, so I suppose one theory is that they were the ones most likely to accept the situation because of their exposure to the games but would also be held back by it, so it was something of a double-edged sword. Unless the force behind the waves or at least the vanguards is throwing in some interference or influence.

Itsuki being a bit down on his musical talent or not seeing it as much special makes sense, I suppose, given he comes from a world that basically has superpowers. It's one of the (many) reason Lex Luthor hates Superman and tries to convince others they should too.. Natural talent, intelligence, body-built muscle and so on don't feel like they mean much in comparison to bulletproof skin and the ability to fly. What does it matter how good you are with an instrument when others can play music just as good with no instrument at all? It can be hard to appreciate how good you are when you're surrounded by impossible standards.

“Eight, huh? Can you tell me all of them? Just in case. You’d better tell me about the four holy heroes too,” I said. We had the seven star weapons in the other world, meaning they had one extra here. I couldn’t quite explain it, but something felt off about all this. Like, maybe there was a secret eighth seven star weapon in our world too. When I was in the shield world, I had counted the lights and seen eight, if I recalled correctly, so the possibility seemed pretty high.

Now that's curious. Perhaps the eighth has some kind of ability to hide its existence from the world or erase any traces of itself, physical or in memory. I mean, it's certainly possible Raphtalia's world has genuinely just never discovered the eighth even though it resides somewhere in their world. The vassal weapons are strong and important but there's clearly more weight to the four Holy Weapons, so those would have been the priority, and it's not like they ever had any reason to suspect there were more than seven. Naofumi only suspects there's more because he's been to another world and interacted with the Shield's spirit world; two very unique experiences.

The hunting tool, the jewels, the blunt instrument, and the ofuda (cards?) are the Holy Weapons of Kizuna's world. I'm trying to think if there's any similarity to the Shield, Bow, Spear, and Sword. Maybe it's just a difference in culture, since Kizuna's world is more Japanese themed while Raphtalia is more old England, but KW's weapons feel a lot more random than RW's. RW's are a very basic collection of standard weapons you'd find in any old battlefield. But three out of four of KW's weapons seem very indirect in terms of fighting. The best theme I could guess that they have going for them is that maybe there's a wider variety of things they can turn into, while the Shield, Bow, Spear, and Sword can only be...well, those specific things. Then again the bow can turn into a gun so that theory is shaky at best. Maybe that KW's have a more openly spiritual side to them.

Kizuna's world has more labyrinths and Raphtalia's world has more dungeons. Maybe that's a factor in the weapon spread. Objects that'd help more in puzzle solving and exploration vs. more beat-em-up focus.

This

freakin' d-bag looks like a Batman villain. Like a New 52 "hip and edgy" Music Meister; not as memorable as the original. On topic, I really like Naofumi's words to Miyaji. Diplomatic but still with strength to them. It's good to show that Naofumi isn't just completely lacking in patience when it comes to people he doesn't like (which is a consistently growing list).

“They were trash, so I killed them!” he replied. That didn’t sound good.

“But why were they trash? Were they trying to take over the world or something?” I tried anyway.

“They were getting all full of themselves, thinking they were so strong. So I had to put them right.” He wasn’t making a convincing case.

...I kind of miss when Glass was the antagonist. The Demon Dragon Emperor too.

Oh well, at least there's a chance we'll see Witch finally get killed, since she's here too for some reason.

“Mald, that person standing at your side is the very one who took in that megalomaniac Takt and attempted to use him for her own ends. There’s no justice on your side,” Itsuki said.

“Takt? He was just a sacrifice to form the foundation of our justice. His violence was purely intended to prove that we are just. We had every intention of swinging that justice hammer, but then you stepped in,” Mald replied.

Those are some impressive mental gymnastics right there. "We aided and abetted this monster of a man to murder, torture, and take over a country in order to prove how just we are and it's okay because we were eventually going to betray him and take him down once we no longer had use for him." I mean, a thing that's been made all too clear in recent years is about the two types of people who support bad causes. One type genuinely believes the bullsh*t justifications they give or that have been fed to them, while the other type knows it's bullsh*t, they just don't care so long as they get what they want. Witch is definitely the latter. Mald I could see being either but I'm leaning towards the latter again.

Also, Shield Demon King. You'd think rule #1 of fighting an enemy you despise would be to not give them an awesome title like that, even if you are trying to make yourself look like an even bigger bigshot by taking them down.

“Seriously . . . you could have just let that excitable womanizer kill you. You made things so inconvenient for me. You are so persistent, so annoyingly persistent! Just seeing you makes me want to throw up,” Witch said.

“Right back at you . . . In fact, due to my hatred of your very existence, I can comfortably claim to dislike you more than you dislike me. We have to stop meeting like this—and I intend to make this the last time. So be ready to die,” I told her. Her very existence disgusted me to the extent I could be sure my hatred for her face exceeded any malice she bore toward me. I was going to eradicate her from this world as painfully and horribly as possible . . . No, I was going to shred her very soul.

That was the only way to avenge the queen.

“Do you know these two?” Glass asked.

WHAT THE F**K DO YOU THINK, GLASS? I guess that old saying about couples starting to resemble each other holds some truth because that feels like something Kizuna would say.

“You must have grasped that we have suppressed your holy weapons. But you don’t understand how, do you? To put it plainly, we have captured all of the holy weapons in this world and used a technique to suppress the power of any opposing holy weapons—nullifying the holy weapons and techniques from other worlds,” she patronizingly explained. She had distinctively said “our.” That suggested this wasn’t something Miyaji had come to on his own, but something he had been provided with in order to contain us.

“The medium is the dragon hourglass. It suppresses the holy weapons. This was apparently a defensive mechanism for this world, created by the spirits of the holy weapons. It was to be activated if holy weapons were ever used in an invasion. Of course, it only works on holy weapons, magic, and techniques. It wouldn’t be worth using if it stopped us as well,” she continued.

I've noted it a few times throughout the series but I like how this was kind of set-up prior, so it doesn't feel like a Deus ex Machina that the villains can just shut down the Shield and Bow. We already knew that the Holy Weapons typically couldn't cross over into other worlds and that the worlds had precautions taken against each others' weapons. Witch and crew are merely exploiting a system that was already in place. While it doesn't do it as often as Goblin Slayer, I really like how often RoTSH sets things up and has them come back in major ways, like the Rucolu Fruits or defense rating attacks, making it feel more stratifying.

“Curse you, Shield Demon King! Only a coward would resort to illusions!” Miyaji bellowed.

But voodoo and curses are perfectly fine.

“I’m getting a handle on this now. Things aren’t going to go your way again! Jason Murder IV!” Armor put on a hockey mask that suddenly appeared in the air and started to swing his axe wildly.

What? What? What? What? WHAT? What? ...You know, if that's a reference to Friday the 13th part 4 being "The Final Chapter", then that's actually kind of a clever name for a finishing move (especially for one Armor kept on repeating and didn't actually finish off anyone).

I'm glad Itsuki was granted the Musical Instrument weapon. It how I feel about a lot of series where I don't mind the MC being special, but they shouldn't be the only one allowed to be special. Naofumi is important because he's the Legendary Shield Hero but the other three are still supposed to be his equals. So it's good that the Book weapon passed over him while Naofumi got the Mirror, not because Itsuki was unworthy, but because the Instrument was a much better fit for him. Naofumi shouldn't be the only one who can use the vassal weapons in an emergency situation.

A statue of Kizuna, standing like some temple effigy, with a fishing rod out in front of her. Was this really Kizuna? Not just some carving? The fishing rod looked accurate, but I didn’t really like the design overall.

You think they did that because she wouldn't stop pestering to them about wanting to go fishing? I'm sure it was probably the best way for the villains to keep Kizuna from being teleported to the waves but I like to imagine her just annoying the sh*t out of Witch and Miyaji.

This was all coming from the mirror’s power-up method. I still didn’t really understand why, but eating food now increased a new level that was separate from regular levels—it might be called the “food level.” It felt a bit like the system that Itsuki had described once. Eating food I had prepared caused experience to be earned and a separate level and status to increase. It looked like the type of food that was eaten changed the status that increased, but I still wasn’t sure how that all worked either.

I think Konosuba had a similar level-up method too. I'm not a huge gamer but those I've played tended to only give EXP for cooking food, while eating it only gave health and temporary bonus effects. I can believe it does exist in other games, I've just never personally experienced it.

“To be honest . . . I didn’t have the bravery to say that I was wrong and you were right, Naofumi,” he finally told me. His pride wouldn’t let him accept me, even though inside he knew the truth.

...

“I did something really horrible to Rishia. She was struggling with her low status and wanted to become a hero . . . but I looked down on her, just like so many had looked down on me. I thought it was only natural that I be praised and respected. I saw my past weaknesses in Rishia and so I discarded her,” he muttered, his voice full of regret, eyes downcast. “I have to spend my life to make amends to Rishia and stop Mald and the others. That’s the punishment for my sin.”

...

“In the past, I would have thought anyone opposing me was evil to be defeated. I don’t know how many times I’ve judged people simply based on one-sided opinions,”

Like with Ren, and with Trash last volume, this is definitely what I needed with Itsuki to be more on his side. Not just being able to understand his situation and why he did the things he did (which is still important, don't get me wrong) but have him actually acknowledge his wrongdoings and make efforts to atone for them. It's more meaningful now that he's in his right mind as opposed to the fried, near mindless state his curse had left him in where he'd do whatever anyone told him. I've harped on it before but that's what holds Motoyasu back for me somewhat. Yes, he's funny and yes, he's helping now, but he's also out of his mind. His redemption isn't really redemption because there has been not reflect and deliberate atonement for his actions like Ren, Trash, and now Itsuki have. He's just doing better than he was because of the curses' lingering effects on his mind and because he wants to get in Filo's pants.

But back to Itsuki, I'm glad I was wrong earlier about Naofumi only being able to have the post-waves conversation with Ren. Staying in the world and travelling feels like it fits Itsuki. He's not completely different from how he was before but he is on the track that'll help him grow as a person. Having him face Armor, his former party member, and have this growth be somewhat as a result of that is a really nice touch. Just like Atla sacrificing herself showed Naofumi the pain that'd be cause to those he'd leave behind if he did the same, sometimes a person really needs to see how they look from the outside. It especially works for Itsuki since Armor was someone he'd once considered an ally and a true believer of justice, so he was having to face off against basically what he had been to others.

Original Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/shieldbro/comments/kbxwzk/first_time_read_through_light_novel_vol_17_random/

[albatrossmuffin]

Free! Novelize Chapter 6: It’s Meaningless Without You

I cannot impart to you the miracle that happened for me to get this to you. It’s actually been ready for a couple weeks, but I haven’t had the time to type it up. SO before we begin, a couple notes:

-I apologize for the blatant irreverence for verb tense; it switches from present to past and back again. So I tried to leave it as similar as possible so it can drive all of you crazy too I apologize for that in advance.

-Also again with the spacing, practically everything has its own paragraph in the book.

-‘Dice Talk’ is literally what the phonetic vocabulary word is for the dice game in the chapter.

-There are a couple lines it is a bit hard to tell who is talking without seeing their speech pattern, so I added the first letter of their name in a bracket after the line just as an aid.

-And finally, the Japanese language frequently doesn’t believe in periods, causing a lot of run on sentences. I adjusted accordingly, but if anything seems overly long, that’s why.

Now then:

Chapter 6: It’s Meaningless Without You

~Haru’s Point of View~

It’s meaningless without you.

This is the second time I’ve heard Makoto say those words.

The first time was when we were in elementary school. The first time was when Makoto had invited me to swim in the relay together with Rin.

Without Haru…it’s meaningless without you!

I want to swim together with you—! 

Makoto is my childhood friend; he’s a natural existence that’s always been by my side since long ago. Therefore, for me, I’ve never formally thought ‘It’s meaningless without Makoto.’ And in the first place I only swim free. So even if I swam in a relay, there was no reason I had to swim together with Makoto. Of course, there was no reason I had to swim with Rin either. You’re always alone in the water. It’s irrelevant that you’re swimming together with someone. So the first time he had said “it’s meaningless without you,” I was a bit bewildered. In an instant I couldn’t understand how I should take Makoto’s words, how I should accept them. 

When we were in elementary school, I had stared fixedly at Makoto’s face without saying anything. In a time-sense it had probably just been an instant. But for Makoto that instant had probably felt like forever. He soon became flustered, and said “Sorry for saying something weird,” with a smile. At that time, I probably should have properly returned Makoto’s words. I shouldn’t have spoiled myself thinking that Makoto would understand me even if I didn’t say anything.

And now, after over 3 years of time has passed, I hear those words from Makoto’s lips yet again. The night of the training camp. The storm on the deserted island. Makoto was swallowed by a wave trying to save Rei, who was drowning in the night sea due to the sudden weather change. It had forcibly resurrected the ocean-related trauma Makoto had experienced when he was young.

I dove into the raging sea and rescued Makoto, who was sinking. Nagisa was saving Rei but I lost sight of them in the storm. Believing that the two of them were safe, I somehow pulled Makoto to a nearby small uninhabited island.

The rain pelted the beach as Makoto lay there, his breathing weak. I became absorbed in the task of trying to get air into Makoto’s lungs. I secured the airway, and brought my lips close to Makoto’s perilously open mouth.

But, before I could give him air, Makoto coughed sharply and regained consciousness. 

Fleeing the storm that ravaged the deserted island in the middle of the night, Makoto and I rested under the shade of a rock. Even though time had passed since we had come out of the sea, because of the slanting rain we were unable to dry, and remained soaked. I understood that our body heat was gradually being stolen away. In the first place, why had Makoto agreed that the destination of the training camp be the ocean? We could’ve probably had it in a place other than the ocean. Makoto has long held onto the trauma of losing the old fisherman he was close to when he was young in an accident at sea, deep in the bottom of his heart. So, why—?

Under the shadow of a rock on a deserted island, and in the middle of a storm that showed no sign of letting up; although it was almost drowned out by the sound of the wind and the devastating rain, that moment was when Makoto said those words for the second time. Those words, the same as when we were in elementary school.

Because I want to swim together with you again.

I want to swim a relay with you again.

Without Haru…it’s meaningless without you.

*******

“What’s wrong, Haru-chan?” Nagisa said worriedly as he peered into my spaced-out expression.

“Nothing…” I am looking out a window. The storm outside is already settling down.

We met up with Nagisa and Rei; when we took refuge in this abandoned rest house the storm had still been raging, but after we had searched for food and drink together and dried off our soaked bodies, Nagisa had suggested, “Why don’t we play Dice Talk?” as if to blow the heavy, dispirited air away. And while we were talking of silly things, the storm passed on. Makoto also regained his composure, and told Nagisa and Rei about his personal trauma. After we went outside, we were bathed in a sky full of stars, spread out before us after the storm. After that, we decided to go back in the rest house and wait for dawn.

It was at that moment.

In my head, I once again recalled Makoto’s words from before. It’s meaningless without you—

In the end, this time (now the second time), I couldn’t properly give Makoto a reply.

As I happen to look at Makoto, he appears to have already completely calmed down, and with an unopened instant coffee he found somewhere in hand, he asks me, “Do you want some?” with a smile.

The danger of this incident has also passed; all that remains is this time while we wait for dawn. Drinking coffee is all well and good, but now we should probably sleep, even just for a little while.

At that moment Nagisa spoke in a cheery voice, his eyes sparkling. “Hey hey, since we’re here, why don’t we play that game again until morning? Dice Talk Part 2!”

Nagisa has endless energy.

He means an invented game where we roll a dice that our names are written on, and the person whose name it lands on has to reveal something like an embarrassing experience or a love story. On this dice that was made in an impromptu fashion, Rei’s name is written three times, while Nagisa, Makoto, and my name are written one time each. 

“I have nothing else to say; I already spoke in abundance the last game…” [R]

“Well, probability-wise your odds were 2 to 1.” [M]

“This time, I want to hear all of your stories. Therefore, I am proposing new rules.”   

“What kind of rules?”

“The person whose name comes up when the dice is thrown says a topic they like. Then, based on that topic, everyone will talk in turns. This way it’s fair, and I can get to know more and more about everyone.” 

“I think that’d be good! Since we only heard your stories before, I was about to get sick of the game.”

“Nagisa-kun, how horrible! Weren’t you the one who made the dice in the first place?!”

“Eh?? But I just wanted to learn lots of things about you!”

It’s times like this where Nagisa is a little devil. Rei opposes his devilishness with a serious expression.

“I feel the same. I want to know more about everyone.” 

“Well then, why don’t we give it a try with Rei’s rules? I also want to hear everyone’s stories,” Makoto says, mediating between the two. “We haven’t met with you for these 3 years, Nagisa, and…” Makoto looks in my direction with a fleeting glance.

“I’ve always been together with Haru, but the idea that I can hear stories I don’t know yet, it would feel like a new and interesting discovery.”

“Well then, it’s decided. Here goes!” Rei threw the dice, and ‘Dice Talk Part 2’ began little by little. 

It rolls across the floor, and the first one to appear on top is ‘Rei.’ 

“Fine with me. I will propose a topic. Yes, first is…” 

After a little build-up, Rei forcefully pushed his glasses up with a finger and said:

“Do you eat the strawberry on top of a shortcake first, or save it for later? How about that??”

For that build-up it’s a pretty common question.

“Whaat, Rei-chan, you’re fine with that??”

“At first I’ll start with a light jab. Nagisa-kun, please go first.”

“I’m definitely on the side of eating it first, you know? Because after all, your favorite food should be the very first. Don’t you want to eat it when you’re hungry and you’re in high spirits? And listen. If I cherished it, when I’d be like ‘Yes, let’s eat it!’ my older sister would probably steal it from next to me.”

“I see. I thought that you would most likely eat it first. But for it not to be simply because of your desires, and for you to have such a theory…” 

“Nagisa has three sisters, after all,” Makoto says with a smile, and I supplement with an idiom.

“The weak are meat the strong do eat.”**

“Yes yes! ‘The weak are strawberries that the strong eat,’ is that the one?”

“That’s not an idiom. Next, Makoto-senpai, please answer!”

“I’m…well…”

“Ha! Mako-chan, it can’t be that you snatch the strawberries away from Ran-chan and Ren-chan like my sisters?!” Nagisa says jokingly.

“There’s no way that Makoto-senpai would do that,” Rei interjects without hesitation.

“Right! No matter which, Mako-chan is probably the one being stolen from.”

“Haha, Ran and Ren both love strawberries…but when I’m eating alone, I’m probably the opposite of Nagisa. I save the best for last. I make myself be patient, be patient…imagining the other times I’ve eaten it, the taste, the texture, the smell, getting more and more excited—! But, I still have to wait. When I get to the point of, ‘Ah~, I can’t take this anymore!’ I take the first bite…that’s about the gist of it?”

“How stoic…”

“That sounds painful~” 

“Makoto is the type to push himself.” In place of Makoto I jump in again.

“Which type are you, Haru-chan?”

“Either way works for me. I don’t really like or hate strawberries.”

“Okay then, what if it was mackerel?” [R]

“Ooh, mackerel shortcake!” [N]

“We’re not talking of such a fishy smelling cake! I’m talking about a normal meal set with mackerel grilled with salt, served with dried daikon, hijiki,** miso soup, rice, and pickled vegetables. In this situation, please consider which you’d eat first.”

“It depends on my mood that day.”

“Well, that makes sense for Haru…” 

It’s just as Makoto says. What I eat first changes with my mood that day. I just decide about that time at that time. I don’t like to be tied down by something. I always want to be free— 

As soon as I thought that, I suddenly realized something. 

I only swim free. As I say that, I am imposing being free on myself. Is that really being free? Compulsory freedom. The impairment of being free. What is really being free—? 

As if to save me, who had gone completely silent and lost in thought, Makoto asked Rei, “What about you Rei?” 

“Rather than think about whether to eat my favorite food first or not, I am on the side of always thinking about beauty as I eat. If I eat the strawberry first, then there’d only be cream left on top of the shortcake. I like to leave the attractive red of the strawberry resting on the pure white of the cream for the very end. However, as one is in the middle of eating the sponge, it loses its beauty. So that is where the theory of how to eat shortcake comes in.”

“There’s such a theory?”

“It is a theory I’ve created. While cutting the sponge, cream, and strawberry cleanly a little bit at a time, you can eat it beautifully while preserving an exquisite balance to the very end—!” 

“Is eating it that way really delicious?” Nagisa expresses his frank doubt, but Rei, unperturbed, clearly states:

“Being beautiful is the first priority!”

  After that Dice Talk continued. Probability-wise, there are more times when Rei asks questions.

“What is your first memory that you can remember even now?”

“What are your words to live by?” 

“If the Earth were going to be destroyed in one week, what would you do?”

“When you take a bath, where do you wash first?”

These are Rei’s “jabs,” as he called it. These typical questions are thrown out one after the other.

My first memory is water. The memory of the water I was soaked in for my first bath. I’ve told this to both my family and my classmates, but they replied ‘There’s no way you’d be able to have that memory.’ No one except for Makoto would believe me. However, I certainly still have that memory. The memory of up until that point I would cry fiercely, but as soon as I was soaked in the water, I was wrapped in a strange sense of security. So I suddenly stopped crying.

And of course, my words to live by are ‘I only swim free.’ I’ll leave it at that.

As for how I’d live my final week if the world would be destroyed, I wouldn’t do anything special. I’d live my life as usual, and at the end I’d like to welcome it from in the water. That’s it.

When I’m going in the bath, the first place I wash is of course, the bath tub. If I don’t wash the bath tub first, I can’t relax and soak in the water. That’s something even inside myself I absolutely won’t yield on.

“No not that, Haruka-senpai. I meant where on your body do you wash first…”

“Why would you ask that, Rei.”

“The first place you wash in the bath. This is supposed to reveal desires or aspects of one’s personality that are hidden.”

“No, Rei-chan! You can’t forcibly expose something Haru-chan is hiding!”

“No, I didn’t mean to force anything, I simply wanted to look from a psychological viewpoint—”

“Sure sure, Rei-chan. Don’t worry about that. Next, let’s go!”

Prompted by Nagisa, Rei reluctantly rolls the dice again. This time, the side with ‘Nagisa’ on it was revealed.

“Ooh, it’s finally me! It’s my turn to ask a question! Well then…”

Nagisa thinks for a moment, then looks around at everyone, saying “How about this: What is a dream you’ve had recently that’s been funny, scary, mysterious, or left an impression on you?”

“If you look at that question from a psychological perspective, couldn’t you deduce hidden desires as well?!”

“Really? Well, it’s fine isn’t it? Rei-chan, what’s a dream you’ve had recently?”

“I…hmm. It’ll have to be the dream where I can fly. I think it’s because I’ve always done pole vaulting, but even now I’ve had the dream where I can fly pretty often. But the dream I had a few days ago was best among all the dreams I’ve had about flying. In the dream, I was then thousand meters up in the sky, above a sea of clouds so I flew like I was swimming. By the way, from a psychological standpoint, a dream about flying conveys the meanings of an admiration of freedom and liberation.”

“Ooh Rei-chan, then you just keep being freed! Soo can you tell what my dream means then?!”

“Fine with me. Please tell me, and I will analyze it.”

“Let’s see…In the dream I had recently, I was playing with a penguin in the Antarctic, when this giant strawberry-shaped spaceship came from the sky and attacked. Then, to save the penguin they kidnapped I tried to transform and fight them but no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t transform! In the end I transformed into straight-from-the-pot udon noodles, but I couldn’t change back and I was covered in egg and eaten by a polar bear. But inside the polar bear’s stomach, I reunited with Rei-chan, who had grown a beard.”

“I don’t understand…”

“What? Even though I told you all that? Won’t you interpret my dream?”

“It is so theoretically illogical that it is impossible to interpret. More importantly, why do I show up in your dream inside the polar bear’s stomach with a beard?!”

“Not just a beard, but you were wearing a Santa hat too. Although you were wearing a suit and tie…”

“I am understanding it less and less!”

“Tch. Well, Haru-chan what dream have you had recently?”

“I don’t remember. Even when I have a dream I usually forget it quickly.”

“Wow, really? Then how about Mako-chan?”

“Me? Well, I…”

Makoto’s expression clouded for an instant. Did he remember having some kind of bad dream?

However, that expression soon disappears as he glosses over it saying, “I’m the same as Haru. I don’t really remember any dreams I’ve had recently…” He finishes with a smile. 

On the next roll of the dice, ‘Makoto’ was the name that it stopped on. 

“This time it’s my turn to ask a question? Well then…” 

After thinking for a moment, he asked this question:

“How about this: What are you most afraid of? I mean, I just told you guys about my fear of the ocean, so I’d kind of like to hear about what everyone’s afraid of…”

Nagisa raises his hand to answer first. “Okay! For me, I’m afraid of my older sisters. Especially the oldest. Usually out of the three, she’s the nicest, but if you make her mad…” As if he was telling a ghost story, Nagisa suddenly raises the tone of his voice.

As if he’s a little scared, Rei asks with a serious expression, “What happens if you make her mad?”

Nagisa answers as if he’s full-on telling a ghost story, “Do you want to hear?” He said it as if once you’d heard it, you’d never be able to go back.

“…No, let’s leave it at that. When I consider that whenever I hang out with you at your house, I’ll probably meet your sister, I feel that not knowing is probably more prudent.”

“Oh, as expected of Rei-chan! Then I’ll just end my story at that!”

Nagisa tried to end the story on a forcedly bright note, but stopping in the middle like that and not hearing the end heavily weighs on one’s mind. However, it seems that Makoto didn’t want to pry any further than that.

“Haru, what are you afraid of?” He cast it over to me. “What thing are you most afraid of? It doesn’t have to be a thing; it can be a concept.” 

A thing I’m afraid of, a concept I’m afraid of—

I work through my memories, thinking about it. 

At that moment, suddenly, the sight of Makoto drowning flashed through my mind. 

I see—. 

I realized. I felt as if an emotion I’ve not been able to put into words had finally become concrete for the first time. What I had felt at that time had been fear.

Makoto’s weak breathing as he lay out on the beach. The fear that I would probably lose Makoto like this. The fear that the existence that had been so natural to me up until that time would suddenly disappear—

“What’s wrong, Haru-chan?”

“Nothing…” I answer, but it seems I couldn’t hide my turmoil.

Makoto looks at me with worry. “Haru?”

I’m at a loss for words, but I answered quickly to gloss over it. “I…I’m afraid of water completely disappearing from this world. That’s it.”

   After that we continued Dice Talk for a while longer, but before long everyone became sleepy, and our senses became hazy. Nagisa dozes off first, and next Rei tiredly takes off his glasses. Before I knew it I also became sleepy, and I had a dream.

In the dream, I am floating on my back, slowly bobbing in the middle of the open sea. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, and there’s no wind. There’s not a single wave, and the smooth clear sea extends out as far as I can see with no land in sight. As I entrust my body to the drifting ocean water, I suddenly see something to the side of me. I see a toy orca floating there, bobbing and swaying. I’m not sure why, but I thought strongly that the toy was Makoto’s. However, I can’t see Makoto anywhere. Only the toy orca who had lost its owner is floating amongst the waves. Where is Makoto? Where did he go? I fall into a panic in an instant. The fear that the one who is naturally by my side has disappeared. In the dream that feeling of fear alone multiplies and is magnified, until I couldn’t bear it anymore and cried out:

Makoto! Where are you, Makoto!

In the middle of the calm sea that stretches on without end, I continue to desperately call out Makoto’s name.

Makoto—!

When I opened my eyes, the inside of the abandoned rest house had gotten slightly brighter. Outside of the window, the dawn had started to break.

Rei and Nagisa sleep very close to each other, letting out tiny even breaths in their sleep.

However, Makoto is not next to me.

“Makoto…?”

I snap awake at once. It couldn’t be that he really—?

I leave Nagisa and Rei asleep and I break into a run towards the outside.

Makoto stood on the beach in front of the rest house. 

Amidst the rising sun, he looks back at me. 

The quiet sound of the waves.

Makoto’s hair fluttered gently in the breeze from the ocean.

Seeing me flustered as I hurried out of the building, Makoto asked in confusion, “What’s wrong, Haru?”

I was a little embarrassed for having lost my composure; I turn away abruptly, saying “Nothing. When I woke up and saw you weren’t there, I was just a little worried…”

“Sorry, sorry!” Makoto says with a smile. “It turns out I couldn’t sleep, so I came out to feel the wind.”

“That’s fine then…” I murmur in answer.

 I’m thinking about properly talking to Makoto. About his earlier question. About what I’m afraid of. To talk about what I fear the most.

My greatest fear. It’s the fear of suddenly losing an existence that has been so naturally there. I thought that this answer will probably be a reply to those words: It’s meaningless without you! This feeling that until now I hadn’t been able to form into concrete words inside myself.

However, if I do it now, I feel like I’ll be able to properly put it into words.

Makoto. I—

“What is it, Haru?”

“I—”

I started to say it, but in the end I’m at a loss for words.

Formally putting something like that into words is embarrassing.

“No, it’s…”

Seeing me stammer like that, Makoto smiled.

Seeing that I thought, Ah, that’s right, reconsidering. Makoto sees through my heart.

Seeing Makoto’s smiling expression, I murmur to myself, as if relieved, “It’s nothing. Thank you, Makoto…”

Makoto understands me even if I don’t say anything.

Again, I’ve been spoiled by Makoto’s feelings.

------------------------

Several more notes:

-I’ll repeat my note about Makoto’s ‘perilously open’ mouth from before: The original word is insinuating that Makoto’s mouth is open because his life is in danger.

**The best translation for the idiom used is “The law of the jungle,” but as that didn’t fit with Nagisa’s next line I went with the other translation of it.

**This is daikon, and this is hijiki. To translate them literally would’ve ruined the flow of the dialogue, so I left them alone.

Finally, Makoto is hinting that he had a dream we should know about, and happily parts of it have been translated from the prologue here and here.

Now if anyone needs me, I’ll be screaming into the void because formally putting something like that into words is embarrassing.

I hope you enjoyed!

[theboywhocan11]

Ben Solo, the Reincarnation of Light!Revan??? (A Fringe Theory Analysis)

Okay, I know this one is NOT likely going to happen and it’s just a crackpot theory, but let’s take a moment to look at this as a thought experiment, shall we.

Disclaimer: The following post covers a fringe theory. A fringe theory is defined as a theory that is not based entirely within the Official Star Wars Canon lore. The purpose of this fringe theory is to go over a what-if scenario in regards to the subject of interest at hand. This post is not to advocate for any certain perspective, but instead it is to educate an alternative point of view in regards to characters and/or events in the Star Wars Lore (both Canon and Legends).

To start off:

This is Revan and Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. Two characters, one legend (might become canon) and one canon. According to Pablo Hidalgo, Revan is not the sole inspiration behind Ben Solo’s background story. However, over time, there have been many call backs to the Knights of the Old Republic story (Revan’s story).

For instance, in Star Wars Rebels, Kanan Jarrus mentioned the “Jedi-Mandalorian Wars” where Revan led a team of renegade Jedi who disobeyed Jedi Council orders in order to fight and stop the Mandalorian advance.

There’s another instance where in the official Star Wars Databanks, there’s a mention of “a mysterious connection" linking the two in analogous of the Force Bond between Revan and Bastila Shan.

In Legends novel, Revan, by Drew Karpyshyn, in Chapter 17, Bastila Shan stated, “I led that strike team. I don’t know why, but I took it when Revan fell. Perhaps even then I sensed our fates were intertwined.”

Now, with letting aside the background info about Revan and the possible connections on the elements of Legends and Canon material possibly linking Revan’s story and Ben Solo’s, let’s get to the main points of this “Fringe” theory.

In legends: When Revan was about to die at the Foundry (Emperor Vitiate’s Fortress), he was split into two: Light!Revan (good) and Dark!Revan (bad) as explained in the video below.

Then, there’s the deleted Clone War scene (below) where Dark!Revan talking to the Son of Mortis. Dark!Revan in the clip below tells the Son, the key to silencing his pain is to control the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.

Yes, during the [Star Wars: The Old Republic: Shadow of Revan] story, both Light and Dark!Revan did merge in the end. However…

Many fans hated this “Shadow of Revan” arc in addition to how that scene alone did not jive with the deleted scene in the Clone Wars (as shown above).

So, in alignment with the narrative of this fringe theory, what may have happened is that Revan did die in his fight with Emperor Vitiate in [Star Wars: The Old Republic]. Revan helped the Jedi Outcast to defeat Emperor Vitiate. Upon Revan’s death bed, Revan thanked the Jedi Outcast and reconciled with his descendant “Satele Shan”. When Revan passed away, his spirit was split into two: Light and Dark.

Dark!Revan remained in the “Chaos” realm of the Netherworld of the Force. “Chaos” is basically ‘hell’ where the dark siders reside. This Dark!Revan would make his way somehow to communicate with the “Son of Mortis”.

As for Light!Revan, thousands years into the future, he was re-born as Ben Solo. The possible reason for Light!Revan for being reborn as Ben Solo is stop a much darker entity who is bringing imbalance to the Force. When reborn as Ben Solo, Ben’s memories of his past life as Revan was no more. 

Why would Light!Revan’s memories be erased when reincarnated as Ben Solo?

According to many real life reincarnation theories, there are instances that when a person was reborn as another person, that person would not remember his/her past life. In order to remember such past lives, they have to undergo either hypnosis or some form of meditation. The only time a person can remember a past life if only that person suffered a traumatic event before death. Such memory would stick with that person even after being born in a new body, many years in the future. As for Ben Solo’s case, it’s uncertain on why the Force would not allow Ben Solo to remember his past memories as Light!Revan. Maybe it was done to hide his dormant power during childhood before being reawakened at later time, assuming Ben Solo is indeed Light!Revan reincarnated.

Furthermore, as Ben Solo, he would live his life as an individual harnessing the light and dark side of the Force as he was years ago as Revan. But, this time being more pulled to the light side of the Force. Thus, another source of Ben’s light is not only the light force itself, but the light from within…the light of his past life as Light!Revan. Also, Light!Revan, as Ben Solo, would bring back elements of his past life as a force user of light and dark in addition to wearing clothing similar to that of his past life when he was Revan. This may explain why Kyo Ren’s clothing is similar to Revan. This is something Ben Solo sub-consciously pulled out in designing his Kylo Ren clothing without realizing he was Revan in the past life. 

Furthermore, the ADDITIONAL reason (not the main reason) for Kylo Ren’s compassion for Rey and his so-called mysterious connection with Rey is either of the following items below:

(1) Rey is the reincarnation of Bastila Shan even though this may not be likely in canon.

or

(2) Within Kylo’s sub-conscious, the inner Light!Revan may have caused Kylo’s perception to confused Rey as Bastila Shan since Bastila Shan resembles Rey. See below.

or

(3) Rey is not a descendant of Bastila Shan and Revan, but her force signature is coincidentally so similar to Bastila’s that this caused this “force connection/link/bond” to happen between Kylo Ren (Light!Revan reincarnated) and Rey herself.

(Above) Adam Driver (Kylo Ren/Ben Solo) and Revan.

According to various reincarnation theories in real life, when person(s) reincarnate in their next body, they maintain their past live’s facial features. So, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo maintained his prior life’s appearance of Revan.

An example of this reincarnation theory in real life is the following picture(s),

(Above) Jennifer Lawrence and her Egyptian twin-actress Zubaida Tharwat.

(Above) James Dean and James Franco

Now, whether this particular reincarnation is true or not, that remains to be seen. But if you look at the following documentary below about this particular reincarnation theory, there may be something to consider.

Note: it’s uncertain on whether the above video’s content is authentic or not.

Issues with this theory: 

So, far there is nothing in canon thus far suggesting reincarnation is an actual occurrence in the Star Wars Universe. Even though [The Phantom Menace Visual Dictionary] mentioned how the Chosen One Prophecy implied a reincarnation process of a Chosen entity coming back again and again to restore balance to the force, there is no official word from Lucasfilm story group confirming if reincarnation does occur in the Star Wars Universe. 

In addition, the narrative focus for Kylo Ren and Rey is that they are stand alone characters with NO BIG DIRECT connection to the heroes of the ancient past, i.e. Knight of the Old Republic. Rey’s narrative is about a normal individual from a completely separate family who can make a difference in a galaxy far, far away. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo’s narrative is about just another Skywalker trying to regain his humanity. Both of these characters do not have to rely on being a reincarnated entity to achieve their ends.

Now, there is a possibility of reincarnation occurring in the form of Ahsoka Tano coming back as a wolf being in [Star Wars Rebels Season 4]. However, some people stated that it could just be Ahsoka Tano as a Force Wielder entity who can shape shift. Others say said that the wolf is something separate from Ahsoka Tano itself. 

If “reincarnation” were to be canon, how is it going to be applied in the greater scheme of things in the Star Wars Canon?

Two ways:

(1) Use Force Wielder-type characters to be the reincarnation-based characters. Also, assuming the "Daughter" is to be alive, then the “Daughter” can be the one to pull off the reincarnation technique of being reborn in a fresh and blood body. 

(2) A completely new character who is not Ben or Rey, but either be Ben and Rey’s child or a friend/associate of Ben and Rey (after Episode IX).. This particular character would either be a wise man who is reborn again to help Ben and Rey in a future conflict or be another character who remembers memories of his/her past life and these memories help Ben and Rey to get out of a sticky situation in a future story (post-Episode IX).

In conclusion: Ben Solo may not be the actual reincarnation of Revan. But, Ben Solo may borrow certain traits from Revan himself, assuming Ben Solo is aware of Revan’s existence during his time as a Knight of Ren. If reincarnation were to be canon, it’s most likely other characters from other canon sources like the “Daughter of Mortis” or new characters being these reincarnated beings.

[talkstarwars]

Star Wars Insights | A Terrifying New Sith Ability?

Can we talk about Snoke for a second? Now I know that we have decided, collectively that Snoke is his own thing, that he isn’t Darth Plagueis The Wise, and that he may not even play that large a role in The Last Jedi. But I have a theory that might play into the dark and weird of it all, tie this trilogy to the prequel trilogy, and introduce a new and exciting element to Star Wars canon…

Rian Johnson himself has said that The Last Jedi will be dark and weird, and Daisy Ridley has recently commented that Rian has written a script that is unexpected but right. What could be unexpected about The Last Jedi? Could it be the introduction of new canon elements? New Star Wars lore? New rules? Well that wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened recently.

In the expended storytelling we have been introduced to the concept of Kyber Crystals and how they may very well be living things that exist within the Force, and how these crystals can be corrupted, or bled by dark Force wielders to be used in their own red bladed weapons. We have also learnt through the Ahsoka novel that this damage can be undone by a powerful light side user, like Ahsoka herself who restored the corrupted crystals of a Sith Inquisitor and placed them at the heart of her own white bladed lightsabers. Want something more spiritual? How about the Barash Vow? The Vow was recently introduced and explains why certain Jedi chose to sit by as conflict rages across the galaxy? This latter element could be a way to retcon the choices made by Yoda and Obi-Wan in the original trilogy. Retconning isn’t always bad.

It’s no accident that these elements are introduced to us in expanded storytelling. I believe we are being conditioned to understand certain things about Star Wars lore, how the galaxy far far away works, and how what we have accepted for years, may be viewed from a different point of view. 

So what could be introduced to Star Wars canon that both adds to the lore, but also retcons what has gone before, making the story more intriguing and more rewarding? How about a terrifying Sith ability?

Enter Snoke…

Let me start by saying that this theory allows Snoke to be Darth Plagueis if the writer so decides, but it is not especially necessary. This theory would retcon the rule of two and expand on a major story element in Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The Sith. Lets get started.

I believe Rian Johnson may very well introduce a new dark side ability that reflects the Jedi ability to retain their identity after death and become blue Force ghosts. But the Sith version of this must reflect the Sith preoccupation with retaining their physical connection to the world, and to it’s many pleasures. I have been referring to this ability as Force Possession. 

Here is how I see it working.

"To cheat death is a power only one has achieved…"  -- Darth Sidious

I believe that Darth Plagueis found a way to move a Force sensitive’s “being” from one physical form into another. Remember when Palpatine said, “He could even keep the ones he cared about from dying”, did Darth Plagueis find away to use the Midi-chlorians in a Force users body to facilitate a Force possession of another form? This would allow the Sith to survive a physical death and retain their identities, without giving up the physical pleasures (like power and influence) that they value so highly. I’m going to bury the lead here and suggest that this would give the writers the freedom to make Snoke either Plagueis himself, or one of those he cared so much about, possibly a student or a loved one, and the physical form that the Snoke entity is currently inhabiting is starting to break down, meaning he will need a new host soon.

Which brings us to phase two…

We learn in Revenge of the Sith that Darth Plagueis also learnt to create life by manipulating the Midi-chlorians. We have all accepted, I think, that this was intended to explain the apparent virgin birth of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One. Why would Darth Plagueis be interested in creating life? Could it be that he was designing new host bodies for his own use later on? If Darth Plagueis felt that he could simply move into another form, why not create a super powerful one and have it in spare? And where better to keep this spare physical form than right next to you?

"Always two there are."  -- Master Yoda

We have been told (through legends) that the rule of two is to reduce the amount of infighting between the Sith. That the order would exist in the form of two, one to have the power and one to crave it. What if Rian Johnson retcons this little piece of Star Wars lore so that it makes more sense. To frame this rule as simply Sith propaganda and the real purpose of the apprentice is to be a spare body for the master. It would be in the master’s best interest to keep this secret, and I suspect that Palptine’s intended purpose when recruited by Plagueis, was to play host to his form at the end of his life. Now, if Palpatine became aware of Plagueis’ true intentions and saw young Anakin as his potential replacement, it would make sense that he move against his master immediately, before he himself was killed, even if his own understanding of his master’s new found skill was limited. Palpatine must have been certain he could find the answer and move his Force essence into Anakin at some point. Might this explain why he was so cavalier with his own physical form in Revenge of the Sith? Because he believed he would be moving into Anakin’s form, Anakin’s very powerful physical form, soon? 

If this is true it would retcon the rule of two and reframe Palpatine’s reaction to Vader’s injuries at the hand of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Old Ben basically wrecked Palpatine’s new home. Which might be why the twins are so valuable to Palpatine and needed to be hidden. Not because they were simply a threat to his rule, but they might act as a vessel for the Darth Sidious entity to survive death. 

If we jump forward to the sequel trilogy and we carry this theory through, then Snoke might be either Plagueis or a loved one of Plagueis’ surviving in a withering form. As the master of Kylo Ren, might he be attempting to corrupt the former student of Luke Skywalker, much the same way the Sith corrupt the Kyber Crystals in order to purge the boy of any light side attributes and eventually take over that form? From the position of the young master of the Knights of Ren, Snoke could rule his new Empire, with his apprentice, Rey at his side, unwittingly providing his next physical form…

Thank you for reading,

Marc

[ultralifehackerguru-blog]

New Post has been published on http://www.lifehacker.guru/21-biggest-questions-seeing-star-wars-last-jedi/

The 21 biggest questions we have after seeing 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'

Warning: There are spoilers ahead. Do not read on if you have not seen “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is finally in theaters and fans are having a lot of different feelings about it.

Maybe you loved it. Maybe you’re mad at the number of unresolved answers provided from 2015’s “The Force Awakens.” (We want to know who Snoke is, too!) Maybe you’re just wondering what some of those weird scenes were about. The more you think about “The Last Jedi,” the less some of it starts to make sense.

Whatever you’re feeling about “TLJ,” we hear you. Let’s wade through this together.

Keep reading to see the biggest questions we have after the movie.

View As: One Page Slides

1. Who is Rey?

No, really. Who are you?

Lucasfilm

Let’s start off with an easy one.

Yes, we know Kylo Ren gave us some sort of answer. He said Rey is no one, a nobody from Jakku with nobody parents who sold her for money. Could Ben Solo have been lying? Rey seems way too advanced without proper training in the Force to not have some Jedi lineage.

If that really was the big reveal, boy was it a letdown.

You can read more on Rey’s reveal and what we know (or don’t know) about her here.

2. So, who was Snoke?

Does it even matter who this guy is at this point?

Disney/Lucafilm

Another letdown. “The Force Awakens” built up this mysterious villain, spawning two years worth of theories on his identity, only to kill him off without giving us any backstory whatsoever on him.

Sorry, gang. Your theories didn’t matter. And that’s a plot point which is most likely going to fracture the fandom — annoying those who invested so much time in something that had absolutely zero payoff.

If you decided to pick up any of Disney’s tie-in novelizations you got a little more of a peek into Snoke (but not really). You can read more on the character here.

3. Is Luke dead?

Luke just peaced on this entire franchise. Deuces.

Disney/Lucasfilm

In short, yes. Luke finally made peace with his demons and found some sort of resolve with his nephew. Now, he’s one with the Force. Maybe we’ll see him return as a Force Ghost like Yoda.

And if you’re not convinced, director Rian Johnson confirmed as much during a post-screening Q&A.

“I had huge hesitance,” said Johnson. “I was terrified. It was a growing sense of dread when I realized this was going to make sense in that chapter.”

4. But is Luke going to appear in another “Star Wars” movie?

Who knows at this point?

Disney/Lucasfilm

Maybe with Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher out of the picture, Hamill decided it was his time to move on, too.

At the film’s post-screening Q&A, Hamill seemed hopeful he could return.

“I’m just still holding on to the line, ‘See you around, kid.’ I can be in Episode Nine!” Hamill said. “I might consider catering the film just so I can hang out.”

You can read more about Skywalker’s departure from “The Last Jedi” here.

5. Will R2-D2 stay awake or will he go back into his droid hibernation?

R2 has seen some stuff.

Disney/Lucasfilm

We know R2 was deep in droid sleep because he was sad his master Luke went into exile.

Though he woke up at the end of “The Force Awakens” when Luke’s location was found and was overjoyed to reunite with him in “The Last Jedi,” what will he do now that Luke is gone? Will R2 go back into a deep slumber or will he go back to hanging out with his best bud, C-3P0?

6. Is Carrie Fisher going to be in the next “Star Wars” movie?

It seems weird that Princess Leia is still alive at the movie’s end.

Disney/Lucasfilm

One of the most surprising reveals of “The Last Jedi” is that Princess Leia made it through the movie alive. Does that mean we’ll see her in “Episode IX”?

Disney CEO Bob Iger has said the company would not use CG to bring Fisher’s character to life.

7. What was that entire scene with Leia floating in space?

I’m sorry, but it felt like Disney was toying with our emotions a bit on this one.

Disney

Perhaps the most mind-boggling scene in “The Last Jedi” — and there are several — is one that occurs early in the movie. It looks like Princess Leia is going to be killed off, but then the rug gets pulled up from under us.

The camera comes back to Leia floating in space and she slowly wakes up and gets herself to safety.

What gives? Can people all of a sudden breathe in space? What sort of Force powers does Leia have where she can wake up (in space) and fly through the air like Peter Pan to safety?

We’re just going to sit tight and wait for answers right now.

7. Why is there a Force-sensitive kid on Canto Bight?

You can be a Jedi and you can be a Jedi. Everyone can be a Jedi!

Lucasfilm

Perhaps the strangest (and most unnecessary) reveal was that one of the kids in the casino city Finn visited is Force-sensitive. That revelation leads to a lot of questions.

Is that child related to a famous Force user? Are there more Force-sensitive kids on Canto Bight? Is the casino city a dumping ground for potential Force-sensitive kids or can anyone be Force-sensitive now?

In the larger scope of “Star Wars” lore, is this how we’re explaining Rey’s mysterious Force powers?

10. How does Rey know how to swim?

Shouldn’t she have drowned?

Disney/Lucafilm

Rey falls into a body of water on Ahch-To and masterfully makes her way to shore without a problem.

This girl has only ever lived on a desert planet her entire life. When did she learn to swim?

10. How does Ben and Rey’s Force talk work?

It’s like they were Skyping.

Disney/Lucasfilm

We know Snoke was responsible for connecting them together, but they were still able to speak to each other after the Supreme Leader was killed.

And how were they able to see each other while connecting? It’s never seemed to be that way in the past (that we know of). Luke and Leia and Luke and his father would communicate, but it only ever appeared that they heard each other.

Is Disney just making its own Force rules now?

11. If Snoke was linking Ben’s and Rey’s minds why did he connect them together when Ben was shirtless?

We appreciate shirtless Adam Driver, but that was weird.

Disney

Did Snoke think seeing Ben shirtless was going to get Rey to come running to their ship? That’s a bit invasive.

12. What was up with that trippy mirror scene?

Was Rey looking into the Mirror of Erised? This felt like something out of “Harry Potter.”

Disney/Lucasfilm

Rey didn’t get any answers about her parents from this magical Force cave in “The Last Jedi.” For whatever reason, she didn’t bother asking Luke about the mirror cave when he may have been the one person who knew what it was.

12. Why was Yoda the only Force ghost in this movie?

Is everyone else on vacation because we were hoping to be reunited with Obi-Wan.

Lucasfilm

Where’s his Force ghost dad or his old pal Obi-Wan Kenobi? We know Ewan McGregor wants in on some more “Star Wars” movies.

13. Why don’t all Stormtroopers have chrome suits?

It seems like it would be cost effective in the long run.

Disney/Lucasfilm

There’s a scene where Rose tries to shoot Captain Phasma late in the film and blaster fire bounces off of Phasma’s chrome armor.

If blaster beams bounce off of chrome armor, shouldn’t all Stormtroopers get with the times and wear chrome armor? Is it too expensive? Just leave Phasma with that awesome cape to stand out.

15. Why didn’t any allies respond to Leia’s cry for help near the end of the movie?

Leia told the Resistance to use her code specifically when they reached out to allies on Crait.

Universal Studios

Is everyone else dead who aligns with Leia or is there no hope left in the galaxy?

16. Is Rey going to have a double-bladed lightsaber in the next film?

Imagine this as a lightsaber.

Disney/Lucasfilm

Rey and Kylo Ren snapped Luke’s original lightsaber in half near the film’s end. Rey sat with the broken lightsaber next to Leia at the film’s end.

We’re hoping the kyber crystal from the weapon can be used to build her a new weapon and one that would resemble the staff she’s used to wielding.

17. Do the Jedi matter anymore?

This is a real question.

Lucasfilm

We seem to get some differing opinions on this matter from Luke Skywalker and Yoda. It’s a bit confusing and a bit frustrating.

Most of the movie, Luke preaches that the Jedi need to end.

I get it. Luke makes some good points about the Jedi giving rise to Darth Vader and Darth Sidious. They’re not perfect. The perfect balance of the Force would be something in between a Jedi and Sith, a true balance of light and dark which Luke never suggests.

Here are a few things he says about the terrible Jedi:

“I’ll teach you the ways of the Jedi, and why they need to end.”

“To say if the Jedi die that the Force dies is vanity.”

“The legacy of the Jedi is failure.”

When Rey leaves him to find Kylo Ren, Luke goes to burn down a sacred Jedi tree. He pauses, but then Force ghost Yoda shows up to finish the job. The two sit around laughing and smiling as they watch the tree go up in flames and decide that the Jedi are over.

A few scenes later, Luke meets up Kylo Ren (in hologram form, but whatever) and tells him that the Jedi will not end with him. There’s another. The scene cuts over to Rey.

What? You just said the Jedi were done Luke. Which is it?

18. Will “Episode IX” take place in the future?

“Episode VIII” doesn’t exactly leave you excited to see the next chapter right away.

Lucasfilm

Actually, what will “Episode IX” even be about? “The Last Jedi” sits nicely on its own as a standalone movie.

I guess the Resistance still has to take down Kylo Ren and whatever is left of the First Order, but what’s the real end game here? Are they trying to bring down Kylo Ren or turn him to the light side? Leia seemed to give up all hope on her son by the end of “The Last Jedi.”

The fact that Leia Organa is still alive at the end of the movie also makes it difficult to believe the film won’t have some sort of time jump. Disney has said it won’t CG her into future movies. Otherwise, the character would need to be awkwardly written out.

19. How did Rey get on the Millennium Falcon near the movie’s end?

Great to see you Rey, but when did you get on that ship?

Disney/Lucasfilm

After Rey leaves Kylo Ren, General Hux says that she took Snoke’s escape ship. When we next see Rey, she’s aboard the Millennium Falcon on Crait. Rey had to have stopped somewhere in between to ditch Snoke’s ship and get on the Falcon. For all we know, Snoke’s ship is just floating out in space.

20. Does Rey have the sacred Jedi order texts?

You may have missed this moment.

Disney/Lucasfilm

We thought we spied them tucked aboard the Millennium Falcon in a drawer, but we’re not 100% sure. (Others have told us they spotted them, too.)

Luke never made it into the Jedi tree to get them out. Yoda simply told him Rey had all the tools she needed to carry on.

21. Is Reylo going to be a thing?

Please don’t let them be related.

Disney

We were totally getting those vibes and we support it.

(C)