Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome to my new Kylo and Rey story! :D This story is in Kylo's Point Of View and is not a typical 'romance' but more so about strong attachments in their various forms. I hope you have as much fun (and drama) reading it as I did writing it! Here we go...

"Today's test," Master Snoke says, "is to bring me the heart of a forest animal."

I frown. Each day the tests have been getting harder. Yesterday's was to make somebody cry. I don't like making people cry, since it reminds me of when I was little and I would hurt people with my Force powers all the time when I didn't mean to.

Brendol Hux stands beside me, by far the most ruthless student in our First Order training program. He accomplished the task on his way out of Master Snoke's study yesterday. He told one of the child boarders staying at the school for the summer that her parents died in a spacecraft malfunction on their way out of the planet's atmosphere. She ran away crying and calling for her grandfather.

I glance over at him. He has this stupid grin on his face and I imagine he's planning the most gruesome way to get the heart of an animal. All the tasks so far have been easy for him. Nothing makes him feel bad.

"Go ahead then," Grand Master says, dismissing us. Hux turns and walks briskly out of the study, as though eager to get started. I'm not as fast and get stopped at the door.

"Ren," Grand Master says.

"Yes, Your Supreme Leadership?"

"Come and have a seat. I wanted to tell you this in private."

I walk back into the study and sit down, my heart pounding.

"Brendol isn't ready to hear of this yet. He believes he is my favourite student," Grand Master says. "And I admit that I do find his enthusiasm... praiseworthy. But he is not Force sensitive and doesn't possess any real power."

I nod, not sure what to say.

"Our new army, the First Order, will be all powerful. You and Hux will rule the galaxy together, and you will be the leader."

I sit completely still. Did he say I would be the leader? I'm two years younger than everyone else in the program. Grand Master has always believed in me, when no one else did and when even my uncle Luke was beginning to give up on me. But Master Snoke told me he'd foreseen it, that I would become great and powerful if I joined him in building up the new First Order.

"You have your grandfather's strength and Force sensitivity within you," Grand Master continues. "I will help you use it and you will become the most feared and most powerful ruler in the galaxy, like your grandfather was."

My chest fills and it's hard to breathe. I can't reply even if I wanted to.

"Your uncle has taught you well," Grand Master nods and I frown. Uncle Luke only held me back, always telling me to repress my emotions. But Grand Master encourages anger and rage and that has made me less angry somehow, and more focused. "What are his thoughts on your returning to summer training?" Grand Master asks.

I shift in my seat. "I haven't told him, Your Leadership."

"Good. And he will be proud of your progress when he returns to find you stronger, the true leader that you were meant to be."

I hold back a smile. I don't want to seem too eager for praise, which would be unfitting for a future Jedi Master.

"I have high hopes for you my boy," Grand Master continues. "You will become a powerful Sith Lord, the Lord of the Knights of Ren."

"Pardon me, Your Leadership?"

"All in good time." Grand Master nods slowly, his eyes never leaving me. "Stay focused on your daily tasks and tonight you must not sleep."

My chest deflates. "Am I being punished?"

"For asking me that, you will be, once I think of a suitable punishment."

My shoulders slump but I don't reply.

"It's to help you master your body and have greater self-control. In battle you don't sleep, for days, or even weeks, until there is victory. One night should be simple enough, even for you."

I nod. It's anything but simple, especially with how I feel the day after I get no sleep. For some reason Hux never has to do any of the self-mastery disciplines. Maybe Grand Master thinks he's already good at self-discipline. But I know there's nothing further from the truth. Hux lies and cheats and has no control over his temper or anything else that has to do with his emotions or desires. I shiver at the last thought.

"You must find your darkest emotions to truly become a Sith Lord," Grand Master says, watching me. "And I believe you will."

"Thank you, Your Supreme Leadership."

"Very well then, go on." He dismisses me with a small wave of his hand and I get up immediately, my head still spinning with all that he's told me. Now I have to go get the heart of a forest animal. I can't disappoint Grand Master.