From the ashes, a fire shall be woken. A light from the shadow shall spring. Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again shall be king.
This speculation/meta can be tacked onto my Hearts of Kyber as I will be going into further detail of why I think Anakin’s/Legacy Saber will be mended/made into something new in Episode IX. Again this is all for fun and I really don’t know if this going to happen. I’m just making predictions and what I think may happen in the future Star Wars film. More below the cut!
So before I went over what kyber crystals are and how they “choose” their owners based on what we’ve seen already in Star Wars Lore. What I’m going to go over is how the Legacy Saber is based off story tropes, motifs, and mythology. There are few things that have been in all three trilogies so far. Two of them have been R2-D2 and C3PO which I find fascinating cause they’ve been in all the films (what if they are the ones retelling the story at the end of all of this). Another is Anakin’s saber. The only movies it is not in is EP I: The Phantom Menace and EP VI: Return Of The Jedi. In Ep I it was not made yet and in Ep V it was lost after Luke’s duel with Vader. What I find interesting about Anakin’s first saber is that it is “The Chosen One’s” lightsaber. This was the kyber crystal that was attuned to Anakin who was prophesied to bring Balance to the Force hence The Chosen One. But the sword was taken from him by Obi Wan after he lost to their duel on Mustafar. In a way, this follows the trope of a weapon failing its owner cause they were not worthy. Remember Kyber crystals are naturally light side attuned and there is a reason the Sith bleed their sabers, because a Jedi’s saber would resist or not always obey a dark side user. So they force their will on the crystal, thus turning it red and dominating it. Now we haven’t seen direct evidence of a saber not heeding a dark sider’s call except maybe we have…
Oh yeeeeaaaah…
Funny how “The Chosen One’s” saber would only answer the Force pull of Rey’s and not Kylo’s in The Force Awakens. I love that this is calling back the pulling the sword from the stone. This trope has been around forever and what makes me believe the Legacy saber had its inspiration from two swords from mythology. I believe it shares its inspiration that also inspire Tolkien’s Narsil/Andúril.
One sword that is the inspiration is Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur and where the sword and stone comes from. Excalibur has two origin stories one where Arthur pulls the sword from the anvil and stone from the Merlin story. The other is it’s given to Arthur by the Lady in the Lake, but we’ll focus on the former instead of the later. The sword stuck in something and only the worthy may pull it out is so old a myth that it pops up several times. There is even a saint with a similar story attached to it, the Legend of the Sword in the Stone of San Galgano.
The other sword that inspired Tolkien and I think the Legacy Saber is Sigmund’s sword, Gram from Norse mythology. What’s funny about this sword was it too was stuck into something and only the worthy owner can pull it. It was placed into a tree by Odin and any one who could pull it out can keep it as a gift and would find that it was the finest sword ever held. Sigmund was the only one who was able to pull it out. Later it was broken in half in Sigmund’s last battle and his wife saved the pieces as the sword was suppose to be passed down to their son, Sigurd. Their son reforges the sword and slays a dragon with the new Gram. There’s more to this mythology but it is a saga, the Völsunga saga to be exact and I highly recommend looking it up if you would like to find out more.
What is neat about the Reforged Blade trope is the symbolism of it. Taking something from the past and making something new and/or repairing it. I feel this going to be part of the message going into Episode IX.
These new Star Wars films had a tough task with transitioning of the old characters to the new generation. The Prequels didn’t have this issue as they were working from characters from the Original Trilogy and fleshing out their backstories to how they become how they were in Episode IV, V, and VI. The Skywalker Saga is a Generational Saga and is following its similar format with three distinct generations.
1. The first-generation protagonist is an immigrant.
Anakin Skywalker was born a slave in a world outside of the Republic control and is brought into the Jedi Order. He is taught by Obi Wan and the Order. He fights for the Republic and the Jedi Order under it morphs into the Empire and starts the major conflict.
2. The second-generation protagonist are assimilated in the host culture.
Luke Skywalker grows up on Tatooine knowing only the control of the Empire even though it doesn’t affect his life until two rebel Droids show up throwing him into the conflict. He learns to be a Jedi like his father before him and takes up their cause. His twin sister Leia is a princess from Alderaan who is already fighting for the Rebel cause and joins Luke in helping to bring down the Empire.
3. The third-generation protagonist learn to appreciate their ancestral heritage.
Ben Solo, son of Leia and Han, has his past hidden by his parents and Luke who do not tell him of his grandfather’s history fully. Ben falls to the Dark Side like his grandfather and relates more to him for he feels alienated by his intermediate family. He is now at the stance that the past should be erased cause for him it just causes pain and turmoil. Rey has hidden her own past from herself because it is too painful. She uses the stories of old to help her carry on and give her hope. Finn had his past stripped from him as he was stolen as a child by the First Order. He ran away from the First Order when he couldn’t kill for them. He too draws hope from the past, but hasn’t come to terms with his own past.
The whole Sequel trilogy is the new generation coming to terms with their own past and the past generations. Let’s take the message that Kylo Ren was pushing in TLJ at the beginning.
“Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.”
We already know that he will be proven wrong since Luke’s sacrifice already showed this. He thought as Kylo did that the Jedi should end because of the errors they did. But he learned that it is the mistakes of the past that helps make and bring new answers and solutions for the future. Like Yoda said of the new generation
“They are what we grow beyond.”
The broken Legacy Saber represents the past. A past that had mistakes made and wounded others. That is why I believe it will be made into something new using the broken pieces. Mended and healing the wounds of old. The Saber will be what ties the past to the future.
This new Trilogy has been hard on some in the fandom. It challenged the past films, but I think many misconstrue that what TLJ was saying was that it should be thrown out. No, what it was trying to say was that the Jedi and heroes of old were flawed and made mistakes. But these mistakes are what will help the next generation learn and grow. It’s a hard lesson and its uncomfortable to have someone you idolize not only not take center stage after a long period, but to point out they are flawed. However that does not make them any less of heroes.
TLJ had a lot dark turns and was pretty bleak, but it has to be so the end film can be more satisfying with its conclusion.
Reblogging cause I’m tend to post my metas/speculations at odd times and I keep forgetting to tag those that might be interested in it. So let me do that:
A sword, broken by a father, repaired by a mother and given to a son. It makes me think of Anakin trusting his lightsaber to Padmé, and how we could draw parallels between her and Rey, another mother figure to be, that could heal the Skywalker legacy in behalf of Padmé.
Good one, very interesting read and I love this take on the ST is what grows beyond the OT and PT… Arguably, since it has so many parallels I think it is more what grows beyond the PT, the PT being the source of so much criticism and often seen as a disappointment, aka failure of sorts… so, yea, I love this parallel…
Oh, nonny: I’m so sorry to hear that! 😭 Please don’t feel that way.
There is absolutely a place for you in this fandom. You fill an important need. I actually had a couple of people contact me in the past 24 hours and ask for recs with no smut- so I’m on the lookout for more smut-free fics to rec! And I can think of several dear mutuals who try to steer clear of smut. You’re not alone.
I joke a lot about being a smut hound, and while that’s true (😂), I really am here for more than the porn. I think that’s true of almost everyone. At the end of the day, it’s about our sweet space babies. A beautiful story that you write about our OTP will be appreciated. Including by me, if I have the time to read it.
I will throw myself under the bus here: I shared the ask I just answered in one of my Discords earlier tonight, and when I explained that I sort fics by Explicit, everyone shamed me called me a bit extreme. 😂 I don’t think that every other Reylos does what I do. In fact, I think many are open to fics without smut.
I am too, in fact! It just takes a bit more work to bring these to my attention, since they’re not what I normally seek out. But I do read, and rec, smut-free fics.
So if you write a G or T fic and need a signal boost, please feel free to contact me over DM. I have a long running list of WIPs on my “to read” list, so it might be a while until I can read it myself– but I am always happy to signal boost. ❤️
I think fandom culture can seem especially thirsty (and I take full blame for my part in that 🤣), but the truth is that this is a very large, diverse fandom– you’ll find people with all sorts of interests and preferences.
It bears repeating, but there is a place for you here. We need you.
Please keep doing exactly what you’re doing, nonny. I know it can feel tempting to write how you think you should– that is, to cater to what most Reylos seem to want. It’s human– I get it 100%. But I truly believe that if you write whatever it is that you are interested in and passionate about, the audience will follow.
Chin up, nonny! Thank you for reaching out. ❤️
Anon, I’ve struggled with this deeply quite often too. My greatest advice is to write what YOU want to write – don’t write for others, write for yourself. I, for one, don’t write any smut (even my ABO fic has no smut… ha!) and it was a struggle at first, in this fandom especially, but I realized that writing makes me happy and that is what is the most important.
@raven-maiden thank you so much for the tag and the shoutout! I actually had a really long non-smut fic rec list in my drafts, about to be posted a few days ago, and then Tumblr deleted it… would be happy to work with you on it!
So…I say just own it. I only write T fics, and they are received well. I communicate that upfront…even go so far as to call myself the “Hallmark Channel is Reylo.” I have a lot of people grateful that there is something they enjoy that is smut-free and know it will stay that way. I think each author has to be true to themselves and write their story their way, with or without smut. A story is still a good story line regardless of that. I also don’t post until the fic is complete, partially because I hate waiting for updates, but also so that commenting doesn’t get in my head and make me second-guess my narrative. Be you, Nonnie!
THANK YOU AMAZING AUTHORS + REYLO FANFIC RECOMMENDATION LIST
I’m not sure this will get to the anon, but I can hope! Either way, it also might find some Reylos out there looking for non-smut amazing stories.
I own some amazing fic writers some thank yous and maybe now it is the time to set this right.
Personally, I’m not into smut fic, so I love authors like you nonnie that share your stories!! Sometimes I take the risk with some fanfic that it is obvious I can skip read the part, or the author gives a heads up that the rating will change or where to cut the scene or even when the author provides a T version for it. That said, here goes some authors who I remember from the top of my head and whose stories bright up my day and I dearly LOVE! Really, you guys make my day! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
My dear @raven-maiden here goes my recommendation list for non-smut fics, in case you feel like checking any of them or receives an ask with recommendation questions.
Here are authors and stories with fluff, adventure, real life struggles and everything non-smut:
@stargazer1116 AO3 HERE. I love ALL her stories! How she mixes canon elements, real life struggles and the arranged marriage trope with strangers to friends to lovers!
I love her stories, her smart sense of humor and how her characters surprise me in every turn. I love how she mixes romantic comedy with drama, angst and adventure.
@reylocalligraphy AO3 HERE. Her fics are on my “to read” list! I love the ficlets she writes and her excerpts. As far as I’ve read, her fics are just as sweet as she is!
@postedbygaslight AO3 HERE. If anyone has ANY doubt how much I love “You’ll be the One To Turn”, know I commented every single perfect chapter of it and you can find my fangirlings on my tumblr page. This is a canon-complient fic and, until ep. IX is out, this is 100% canon for me (fight me!!!) Oh the patience @postedbygaslight has with my ramblings!
Here are some authors I know write smut but that have non-smut works or skippable smut scenes:
@vvhenan AO3 HERE. “An Empire’s Fall” is to blame for pulling me into the Reylo AU rabbit hole LOL. I don’t remember now if there is any spicy scene (sorry I read this many months ago, so maybe this should be in the list above), but if there is, I managed to skip it. I love the suspense, mystery, romance, angst and redemption, as well as how canon plot points are adapted in this story!
@optimisticsprinkles AO3 HERE. I haven’t read her other fics, but I love “Soul Searching” and I’m very thankful she makes a T version for her readers, even though she has no obligation to do so(thank you so much!) The T version is always on her tumblr page.
So, those are the stories and authors I remember from the top of my head! I’m sorry if I missed anyone! THANK YOU ALL AMAZING WRITERS and I’m sorry this shout out took me ages!
Thank you so much to @reylocalligraphy (BAE ILU) and @lightaroundthecorner for the shout-outs! I am a solely T-rated author, and completely agree that it’s tough sometimes, know that what you write might be automatically passed by because of its rating, while E/M rated fics are incredibly popular. But with my first Reylo fic, Galactic Law, I decided that I was just going to write the story in my head for fun, and hopefully a few other people would like it too.
I was BLOWN AWAY by the response. People have been 100% amazing and kind with their words of support and encouragement, and have had comments about how normally they don’t read T-rated fics, but the strength of the story helped it stand on its own, without any kind of smut.
THEN I joined an AMAZING community of other Reylo writers with @thereylowritingden and I feel so appreciated and supported no matter what I write (… or how long it’s been since I’ve written). They’ve made writing Getting Personal and Steal Away With Me SO MUCH BETTER by being in my life.
So my advice is this:
1. Write the story in your head. Write it because it wants to get out, because you enjoy it and hey, maybe someone else will like it too. Kudos and comments warm your heart and make you feel happy, but at the end of the day, the story lives in you – you give it life because you want to.
2. FIND YOUR PEOPLE. I’m lucky enough to have a few people IRL I can trust with the information I write fanfic, but I am SO BLESSED to be a part of @thereylowritingden and have so many wonderful friends that are kind and caring and 100% understand what writing is like.
Good luck, and may the Force Be With You
This is such a good list! I have a few more to add from my own reading that I haven’t seen rec’d yet in no particular order:
T-Rated and Under Fic Recs
(Some of these are WIPs and as always could change ratings… I’m not in the author’s head!)
I’ll Be Seeing Youby @reyloandotherfandoms – a wonderfully detailed and thoughtful 1940s AU where Ben and Rey come from very different backgrounds, but still manage to build a beautiful and challenging friendship. Per usual, Ben starts off by putting his foot in his mouth and it only gets better WIP, T&Up, 14 chapters
Bondedby @reyloforcebalance – post TLJ fic exploring Rey and Kylo’s relationship as the Force bond between them grows, forcing them (no pun intended) to know each other and themselves more. Serious slow burn, but so worth it for the character development WIP, T&Up, 27/60 chapters
Deadbeat by @reylo-ology – a modern AU with all the angst you could ever want. Ben is the most earnest, heart-broken cinnamon roll in this fic, all because he just wants to take care of his two sweet little sisters: May and Annie, who are in Rey’s class Complete, G, 28 chapters
In Residenceby @reyofdarkness – apparently I have a thing for Ben taking care of children, because in this modern AU he has two daughters who are sweet and adorable and probably ship Reylo harder than you do. Rey lives next door as an artist-in-residence and gets sucked into the Solo household WIP, G, 7 chapters
Janusby @englishable – Ben is a desperate mess at the beginning when he meets his new neighbor Rey. Even though she seems to be doing better, they still manage to bring each other healing as their relationship grows. I reveled in the angst Complete, G, 3 chapters
Nine Livesby on_my_toes – a modern AU where Rey thinks she’s invincible, and it drives Dr. Ben Solo crazy. Not that he like cares or anything if she injures herself while trying to embody the spirit of YOLO. Super sweet, plenty of protective Ben Complete, T&Up, 16 chapters
And of course I’ve got to throw in a quick plug for my own T-rated fics because I have no shame:
My Favorite Color is You – Rey and Ben become closer than friends while growing up at Luke’s Academy. They have each other’s backs and keep each other’s secrets until Darkness intervenes. A dark Rey/Jedi Academy AU with plenty of fluff and angst Complete, T&Up, 15 chapters
Running Home to You– Rey Allen is the Flash, but Ben doesn’t know despite the fact that he’s been assigned to write the story of the mysterious Flash for the Cloud City Citizen. Cue the secrets and misunderstandings WIP, T&Up, 9 chapters
Seriously, check out all the recs in this post! I’ve read most if not all and they’re good stuff
I’d like to add another to the list!
The Machine by @vespaer77 – This is a great in-cannon simmering slow burn between Rey and Kylo Ren, but my favorite part is the world-building (galaxy building?). This author does a great job of creating a rich, complex backdrop for our OTP with excellent description of sights and sounds as well as development of other Star Wars characters like Hux and Finn. It also has what I feel like is the most creative driving concept of any reylo fic I’ve seen, which is exploring the military industrial complex in the Star Wars universe (the author was very inspired by the Canto Bight scenes in TLJ). So it’s a romance, but also just a very intelligent cannonverse fic. Any Star Wars fan would enjoy reading it, not just Reylo fans.
I am BEYOND humbled to be included in this list, but also to see this list as I’m also someone who enjoys a fic primarily for the story first. A lot of great reading material on here.
Sorry I’ve taken so long to answer, but I’ve noticed that! I’m not really sure what to say about it since most of my fics are E-rated, but I did write a T-rated fic and there was a pretty obvious difference in stats. But I really don’t focus on stats.
Smut is great and it can really add to a fic, but how good a fic is has nothing to do with whether or not it has smut.
I don’t read much fic, but here are some T-rated ones I would definitely suggest!
On the first day of school, Ben notices a new girl.
She’s a brunette, three neatly wrapped buns protruding from the back of her head. Her hazel eyes twinkle, shining almost as brightly as her pearly white teeth when she flashes a dazzling smile.
There is just one problem.
A large, triangular oil grease stain takes up the center of her shirt, the dark yellow seeping into her collared white uniform.
And that may or may not have been Ben’s fault.
When Rey transfers into Ben’s high school, he is instantly intrigued. Unfortunately, his fat mouth simply cannot shut up in her presence.
“You walked all the way here under the rain without even a spell to protect yourself just so you could ask your estranged uncle, whom you hate very much and wished dead several times even in my presence, an advice on a ritual?” He doesn’t reply, and his cheeks turn crimson under her gaze, his eyes stubbornly fixed on the wall behind her. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
He clenches his jaw, finally lowering his gaze on her. If looks could kill, Rey thinks, but still – there’s a hint of red on his cheeks, and she doesn’t know if he’s angry or embarrassed.
“I can assure you I’m not”.
– or: Ben and Rey are the only ones in town with powers, and they hate each other. Except they don’t, not really.
Aspiring baker Rey works in a small shop in Wolverhampton with big dreams of becoming somebody. With the support of her flatmate Rose and their friends across the hall Finn and Poe, Rey enters into the journey of a lifetime as one of twelve bakers on the new series of The Great British Bake-Off.
On her journey, she meets other amateur bakers like herself, including one man who catches her attention right away. Hux is stoic, keeping most of his story under lock and key. But over the course of their weeks in the tent, they’re able to find common ground and open up to each other.
But as Rey insists, she’s on Bake-Off, not Love Island. She didn’t go to the tent to fall in love, she went to the tent with a determination and drive to win – and nothing will get in her way.
When Ben comes home for the first time in five years, it happens to be Thanksgiving dinner. He’s surprised to meet a girl who’s working for his father… an odd girl his parents seem strangely fond of.
Honestly, I’d suggest checking in with @reylocalligraphy. She writes some amazing fics (she’s got a T-rated A/B/O that is wonderful – Unknotting Unknots, and a Harry Potter crossover that is so, so good – Unwritten Oaths), and I’m guessing she’s got some great non-smutty fics bookmarked.
People…I think good stories are good stories. A story with smut should still be good without it, and a story can be amazing without it. I don’t buy that T fics don’t get the attention they deserve. I feel OK in my corner of the fandom with my solid T-rating fics. If you are a writer and feel like your fic won’t be read unless it has smut or a M/E rating but you don’t want to do that…you just do you and don’t worry about it! Tell your story and just own it. I’ll read it!
Agreed! A good story is a good story and I think for a lot of authors the attraction to the Reylo ship is as much about exploring complexities in the Star Wars universe as it is exploring the CRAZY chemistry these two have together. As a rated T author, I feel really supported. I think the Reylo fandom is just a naturally inclusive group.
If you want to check out an excellent rated T author see @vespaer77‘s The Machine on Ao3. This is a really smart canonverse fic with a delicious slow burn between Rey and Kylo Ren, excellent description and galaxy-building, and really smart themes about the nature of war.
@reyloforcebalance You are an absolute gem in this community, thank you so much for the rec. This is super high praise coming from such an amazing author of your caliber. I am humbled ❤
I can also attest to the lovely and gentle craftsmanship of @stargazer1116 as well.
Here’s a meta about Kylo Ren’s Hero’s Journey in TFA and TLJ, based on Joseph Campbell’s book Hero With A Thousand Faces
Thesis statement:
There are TWO warring Calls to Adventure happening with Kylo:
[ONE] Kylo’s Call to Adventure that comes from outside himself that he always refuses: “Return to the light and to your family, and to the Ordinary World”
[TWO] Kylo’s Call to Adventure that he chooses to answer instead: “Destroy the light, destroy your family, remain in the Underworld”
Kylo always refuses the Light’s call and answers the Dark, but he always fails in some fundamental way in answering the Call to the Dark. THROUGH HIS FAILURES, Kylo is in a roundabout way answering the first Call to the Light that he refused to answer. Each step that Kylo performs ends up being a step forward on the path of returning to the light (for example, while Kylo succeeded in his dark side goal of patricide, Kylo failed in the goal of becoming stronger by doing so and was instead considerably weakened. Ultimately, Kylo becoming weaker and unbalanced is a step forward on the Call to Adventure from the Light, so the confrontation with Han genuinely gave him a transformative boon. Every step involves another ‘failure’ of traversing the Evil Hero’s Journey that moves him more toward the light.)
Usually, the Hero travels to the Underworld to become initiated and transformed – Kylo Ren instead lives in the Underworld (cold dead space, or wearing a mask) and has difficulty crossing physically to the Ordinary World, though he can connect to it.
This is just my interpretation of Kylo’s story organized in mythic tropes, other people would probably have different ideas about it
detailed descriptions of each step under the cut (that will hopefully work on mobile, sorry if it doesn’t)
Inspired by Lilithsaur’s amazing artwork for her Demon AU, The Prince of Hell, Kylo Ren has arrived to offer Rey a gift but she soon learns that he has ulterior motives and her meeting doesn’t go the way she thought it would.
Excerpt:
The heavy oak doors flew open with all the raucous gusto she’d expected from the self aggrandizing princeling Kylo Ren. With a flourish of dark velvet, his cape opened as a black-gloved hand rose in exaggerated grace.
“My Dark Princess of the Underworld, insatiable Mistress of the Night and Feared Lady of the Lilithean, I, Kylo Ren have returned to you.”
Tapping her black nails on the armrest of her throne, Rey, Princess of Nothing and Mistress of runaway orphans, if truth be told, rolled her eyes at the overly dramatic, but expected show of courtesy. His flamboyant proclamations and theatrical entrances were legendary among Hell’s elite circles but Rey only found herself struggling not to laugh. Being the Lady of her small house, though, she composed herself for his audience.
“Kylo Ren, it’s been what, two or three days since your last visit? My, you have grown so much that I hardly recognize you,” she teased.
He smirked at her with a wicked gleam in his crimson eyes, the hint of white fangs protruding from his upper lip.
“If my presence offends you, my lady, I will take my gift and leave you in peace.”
Kylo’s presence was never offensive to her, of course, quite the opposite. She inspected him as she always did, her eyes traveling from his glistening black horns down to his chiseled face stubbled by dark facial hair and his sculpted, muscular body accentuated by his skin-tight leather wrappings. If anything his presence bordered on sinfully indecent and even as he approached, Rey, herself covered in little more than cheap jewelry and a nearly see-through gossamer skirt, reflexively uncrossed and recrossed her legs, noting how his gaze fell briefly upon the slowly dampening darkness between them.
“That won’t be necessary, Prince Ren. You say you have a gift for me? I do enjoy gifts and yours are almost always welcome. Almost always.”
It’s weird to see this here. I live in KC, and Lawrence is basically up the street from us. This was on all of our FB pages when the big storm rolled in over Thanksgiving, and now it’s making the rounds here.
During the standoff on the bridge at Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren yields to the light within him and accepts Han’s plea to leave with him, no questions asked. With the map to Luke Skywalker secured, the Resistance hastily relocates to an island planet in the Outer Rim, spurred by unsettling intel about recent First Order developments in tracking technology.
Meanwhile, Rey—untrained and stronger than she knows—grapples with the awakening of her power in the Force and struggles to determine where her path must lead. As uncertainty and strange dreams compel her to seek Kylo’s help, one thing becomes clear to them both: Whatever passed between them in the interrogation room was only a beginning, and the will of the Force is rarely easily understood …
Vespaer's Dark Side 