The second sun returned to its original shape. The flare divided, with the majority following Rey, and a small irregularity causing a flash of light to bathe the desert. Luke Skywalker exhaled as the Tuskens and Jawas around him cheered. In Luke’s brief attempts to Force Project before, he had crashed to the ground upon returning to his body. As he levitated in the air, he realized this was different.

C-3PO looked over to congratulate his old friend, but parts of his arms have begun to fade.

“Master Luke?” C-3PO walked over, worried. Luke looked down at his hand becoming transparent.

“One time, Threepio. Just Luke.” Luke realized what had happened. He only hoped he had more time than Yoda had.

“Yes… Luke,” C-3PO pieced together what was happening. “Can I contact someone? Perhaps Master Tano knows—“

“No, it’s okay,” Luke replied, as tears began to form in his eyes. “It’s my time. I just need to say my goodbyes.”

Loved ones, on and above Tatooine, and across the galaxy, felt a presence, warm but fading. Leia felt a right hand on her shoulder. Lando felt a left hand on his.

“Everyone,” Luke spoke out, and the Force echoed in his intended targets. Even R2-D2 experienced a new phenomenon, like hearing something without sound waves. “I don’t think I have much time left. I… want to say I love you. While I can.”

Caro and Lowbacca, victorious on the front lines, sped towards the last location they saw their old mentor. Lando rushed towards his hangar.

“It’s okay, everyone. I’ve had a great life. Caro, Lowbacca, all of my students. I am so proud of you. You have become far greater Jedi, greater peacemakers, and greater souls than I could have hoped for. Mara, Ahsoka, you’ve taught me more about the Force, and more about myself, then I thought was possible. I leave the future of our family in capable hands.

“Leia, I wish I could’ve helped your son. I’m so sorry.”

“No,” Leia uttered through tears. “This is on him, not you. You—“

“I know,” Luke responded. “I don’t blame myself. And you can’t either. Everyone here today, everything that happened, was because of you. Remember that. You saved the galaxy.

“Chewie,” Luke reached out specifically to the injured wookiee, recovering on Kashyyyk. “Artoo,” to the droid struggling to understand a new sense. “I don’t know if you can hear this, but get better soon. Someone needs to look out for these jokers.

“And Lando.”

Lando, almost taking off, stalled his engine. The tears in his eyes welled to the point of being unable to see. Luke paused, unsure of what to say to the man that had gone from a complete stranger to a complete friend. He settled on something simple, yet true.

“Thanks for the years.”

Lando laughed.

At this point, Luke was almost gone. C-3PO would have cried if it was possible.

“Oh, and Finn?” Luke sent out a private message, as of an afterthought to his heartfelt farewells. “She’s out there. And keep the lightsaber. It suits you.”

Luke’s body became pale and slowly his clothes began to sink.

“I’ve held on too long,” he said aloud, only to C-3PO. “I’m going soon.”

“If only it wasn’t on this contemptible planet,” C-3PO joked. “The furthest from a bright center of the universe.”

“I don’t know,” Luke whispered as he stared forward, leaving the mortal plane. “Just look at that sunset.”

(Moth)