Rey treaded lightly through the forest and stopped with an unsure frown. She couldn't recall how she arrived or how long she had been walking. Scanning the horizon revealed sharp contrast between beams of sunlight slicing through the darkness of the forest. Moisture and pine scent filled the thick air. A clear path layed before her, though not her purpose, so she continued moving in the direction she was before coming to her senses. More time passed and the lack of non-plant lifeforms haunted the back of her thoughts. A crack sounded ahead in the distance. As she knew it did not come from a pinecone or branch her hand landed swiftly on her lightsaber hilt in response. Rey waited to ignite the blue blade. She cautiously footed her way around a cluster of trees, the path curving into a blockade of dull black fabric and a crackling red saber.

"We meet again." Kylo Ren's voice broke evenly through his mask. Rey's thumb hovered over the ignition switch on her saber hilt.

"No army?" Rey's eyes refused to sweep the area but stay intent on the tall threat.

"You know it's just you and me." Ren's mask tilted and his voice remained placid.

"Considering the outcome of our last duel, I'm surprised you didn't bring reinforcements."

"I've been training. And you should know I held back before. I did not wish you dead." Ren remained frozen in the path.

"And now?" Rey stared intensely at his mask.

"I think you would be a good student if you were willing."

"I've been training as well. And yes, I have been a good student thanks to a legendary teacher." Ren growled.

"Skywalker is an old fool and his teachings barely scratch the surface." Rey rubbed the ignition on her lightsaber and shifted her feet.

"Let's find out." Her blue blade ignited and Ren growled with satisfaction. He charged forward with a few massive steps and their blades clashed. Rey tried to control her surprise at the force of his blow. She passed back causing Ren to fall forward by his own momentum but he used it to lunge. The wind left Rey's lungs as she's tackled to the ground. Ren's weight on top of her disappeared as he pushed himself off her continuing to hold her wrists to the ground. Their lightsabers sputtered against the debris on the ground. Rey tucked her legs up between them and kicked him off, using the force to propel him in the distance. Not surprisingly he regained control and landed on his feet. Ren called his lightsaber to his hand and twirled it impatiently.

"Not bad, but still not good enough." Rey huffed and wiped sweat from her brow.

"You're still holding back. Why didn't you finish me there?"

"I want to fight you at your full power and you still have a way to go."

"This isn't satisfying enough for you?"

"It's entertaining, but no, not satisfying. I'm disappointed Skywalker let you go before your training was complete."

"Do you want me to kill you? Is that what you're waiting for?" Rey felt the haze in the forest clearing from a light breeze. Ren's restraint was not for her safety, but holding out for his future demise. She waited for a response, but nothing came from the faceless mask. Gritting her teeth, Rey stomped forward. "Well? Is that what you want?"

"I told you, I wish to fight you at your peak." Ren's reply was calm and Rey laughed bitterly.

"Lies." Ren's shoulders dropped and his leather glove groaned as he tightened his fist around his hilt. Rey smiled and raised her lightsaber in a fighting stance preparing for a charge. A distant whistle distracted both as it approached overhead with frightening speed. An object hit the tree above Ren and exploded, snapping the tree in half. The top half clanked against Ren's helmet before resting in the pine needles below. Rey stared in shock with wide eyes at Ren grabbing his helmet in pain and shouting before he managed to get the dented metal off his head. She glanced at the face of Kylo Ren on the ground between them before looking up and searching for the lost boy she suspected still existed.

"Don't do that." Ren grimaced and pointed his saber towards her. She nodded, knowing he knew why she looked at him with pity. No need to say it aloud. "You accuse me of bringing an army when clearly you brought your own." Rey glanced over her shoulder in the direction the projectile came. The forest floor vibrated from a great number of soldiers approaching, but not quite close enough to be seen. She looked back to Ren's unmasked face.

"They aren't with me." The two locked eyes for a moment letting their mental barriers down just enough to show the truth was being told.

"Let's not stay to find out who they are." Rey switched off her saber in agreement and ran quietly down the path with Ren behind her.

Rey finally stopped after her lungs felt like they were about to burst. She looked back at Ren who kept a respectable distant and felt perturbed that he wasn't as out of breath as herself.

"Brave to run in front of me. Though the fear I feel from you is for whatever is chasing us, not me. So perhaps not that brave," Ren rested his palms on his knees, steadying his breathing.

"I don't believe you want to kill me. And unless you've learned to project false emotions, I think I'm safe temporarily while there is another threat." Rey wiped sweat off her face.

"You wish we had water. There might be some ahead." Ren stood to his full height.

"I really wish you would stay out of my head," Rey rebutted.

"Your thoughts float freely to me. I'm not trying. You would know if I was."

"I recall," Rey huffed. Ren smiled and walked past her. He stopped again and looked back.

"I…can't tell if they're gaining on us or not," he admitted.

"The great Kylo Ren can't reach out and tell who they are? Or snap their necks?" Rey earned a glare from Ren.

"No."

"I think I hear the water you're talking about. Let's head toward that and reassess." Rey brushed past Ren and continued to lead. Ren stared out into the blank forest, the sound of a progressing army still floating amongst the leaves with no visual signs. After walking for a few paces Rey became antsy and started to jog. She spotted the stream before breaking a fresh sweat. Ren kept his distance as they both found places to drink their fill of water.

"You think it's destiny?" Rey broke the silence.

"What?"

"I can't shake the feeling you want me to overpower you…kill you."

"That is ridiculous," Ren continued to cup water to his mouth.

"I don't know why I keep feeling that from you then."

"Maybe you shouldn't let your mind wander where it isn't welcome," Ren snapped. Rey wiped water from her mouth and continued walking.

"Fine." Rey felt a tug at her belt. She looked down to see her lightsaber hilt pull outward and swung around to stare down Ren. He flashed a wicked smile.

"I just had to see if it would come to me."

"I thought we already established who it belonged to the last we fought."

Ren shrugged, "But it still moves a bit toward me."

"Yes, seems like it's torn like you. Though it at least makes a choice." Ren ignited his lightsaber and slashed a tree in half. Now Rey flashed a wicked smile and he grumbled as he returned his hilt to his belt. At more sounds of men coming through the distant trees they continued moving at a rapid pace along the path.

"How have I not made a choice? I killed Han-" Rey whipped around so quickly they were nose to nose.

"Don't go there-"

"I already did go there." Rey tightened her jaw and turned away to get out of his personal space.

"You didn't kill me though."

"No, I haven't yet," Ren mulled thoughtfully.

"You don't think you will. You can't seem to hide that from me."

"We should really focus on-" A whiz and bang past Ren and Rey fell to the ground. She cried out in pain, holding her bleeding shoulder. Without thinking Ren lunged forward to check her injury. He pushed her hand back over it and looked back at the invisible enemy. Rey opened her eyes to find him hovering right over her. "I am going to carry you."

"Absolutely not. I can walk just fine."

"I doubt it, judging by the hole in your shoulder. And we need to get out of this forest."

"I said no!"

"I can just put you to sleep like I did before or you can shut up and not struggle. You don't have to like it, but we need to move." Rey grunted. Ren roughly picked her up, showing his disgust of the necessary gesture. As he carried Rey she caught a glimpse of his head wound. It still oozed steadily.

"You need to cover that," Rey blurted in between grunts from Ren's uneven walking.

"It will be fine." Rey's eyes widened as she saw another projectile headed their way. Just as she swung her body to shield Ren, he pulled her right in front of his body and fell forward to the ground with the hit. Rey pushed Ren up frantically, but it took him a moment to groan and move off her.

"Are you alright?" She moved her hands to his back but he quickly pushed her away.

"It's nothing."

"Why did you do that? Why did you protect me?" Rey searched his eyes, but his mind clamped down tight.

"I don't know." He gasped as he stood and motioned to pick up Rey again.

"You're crazy. No, here lean on my good shoulder." He silently obliged her request. They came out of the forest and to see the path continue to a cliff face. Ren scanned the cliff.

"There's a cave up there, see it?" Rey squinted in the distance.

"Yes, let's go." Ren let go of Rey to walk on his own and she glared at his stubbornness. He nodded to her shoulder.

"It's still bleeding bad." Rey looked down at her tunic to find it covered in blood.

"I didn't realize." She continued to follow Ren to the cliff. "How are we going to make it up there?"

"I'm going to give you a boost. Then you can use the force to propel yourself the rest of the way," Ren explained as if it's the simplest idea. Rey showed her skepticism in her eyes. "Rey, you're injured worse than me. You go first. I can make it up on my own." Rey realized hesitation would get them both killed so she stepped on his hands and placed a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. The last time they were this close she was being interrogated by him on Starkiller base. She could feel his breath coming out in ragged huffs and just as they locked eyes he threw her up to the ledge with a grunt. Rey landed just short and finished scrambling up the cliff face. At the top, she looked down and can barely make out Ren. She wiped blood off her hand looking for an injury to find none existed.

"Ren!" He waved once at her and sat with his back against the cliff.

Turn and walk further into the cave, Rey. It's the way out. Can't you feel it? Rey touched her head, unused to the ache of speaking this way. She closed her eyes to focus on the task.

Aren't you coming?

Neither of us will make it if you come back down here.

I don't want to leave you behind, Ren.

You need to go now.

You pushing me up here before yourself was-

Don't say it! Ren growled.

Maybe if I do say it you'll find the strength to come up here after me. Ren laughed, which sent a tingle through Rey's scalp.

Are you telling me to use the dark side?

Why stop now? Ren laughed again.

Rey, if you walk into the cave, you'll escape. This isn't the end. It's too much to explain now, but you will understand as soon as you do as I say.

Why should I trust you? Rey continued to look down at Ren, but he refused to look upward.

You don't have to…just look into my mind. Rey sat back from the cliff edge and closed her eyes. She opened them startled by the vision she saw.

What was that-

There's no time. Go! Now! Rey jumped to her feet, the sound of the army closing in, and ran into the darkness.