Rey stretched out her hand, closing her eyes and concentrating wholly on her willpower.
Please, she begged the Force, please, give it to me. She took a deep, shuddering breath in, focusing on her energy and what gave her power; her hate. Hatred to this monster for killing Han, his father ...
… and the closest thing she had to one. The saber began to twitch, moving its shadow across the dark snow, but it didn't quite move. Kylo Ren gnashed his teeth together, summoning all of his hate and anger and betrayal, channeling it into this tiny silver object.
The saber began to twitch again, this time moving more shakily. Suddenly, both people felt a block coming from the Force, and the lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker flew mere inches past Rey's head and into the gloved hand of another. Rey and Kylo knew instantly who the hand belonged to—Rey because she felt it, and Kylo because he had spent the past decade hating this man.
"Luke," Rey managed to whisper.
Not five feet from the two stood a man in a worn brown cloak, his arms hanging loosely by his sides. In his right hand, which was covered in a black leather glove that had clearly seen better days, was clutched the lightsaber. Neither Rey nor Kylo could find the courage to move.
The man's hood covered his face, but Rey could just barely see a graying blond beard poking out of it that looked like it had been grown out of carelessness rather than want. The man's fist tightened around the saber, and in one swift movement he cast off his cloak and ignited the blade. The brilliant blue light was cast across the snow and trees, bathing the forest in an eerie sort of calm.
"No," Kylo growled, and for a split second Rey was afraid he was going to jump on her until she saw that his eyes were narrowed in disgust at Luke. "That blade, it belongs to me. It was my grandfather's. Give it, it's mine!"
Luke's blue eyes drifted downwards, and for a brief moment his face was cast in disappointment. "You lost your right to it long ago."
Kylo let out a harsh laugh. "So then I am beyond saving, uncle?" His question was more like a challenge, daring the man before him to break the calm and attack. Or surrender, either one would work.
"No." Luke's voice had dropped about an octave, but still held that quiet power of his, like the calm before the storm. "No, Ben. You will never be beyond redemption." Rey could swear she heard Luke's voice crack, but his posture remained just as rigid.
Kylo laughed again. "You didn't seem to think so, that night."
Now Luke looked truly disappointed. "I'm sorry for trying—for what I did, Ben, but you gave me no choice."
Ren growled again. "Yes. Of course. No choice."
Rey licked her lips nervously. She had experience, and from her point of view, it looked as though Kylo was about to have a rampage; she'd seen enough fights on Jakku to know the signs.
"I'm sorry," Luke repeated. Rey yearned to know what he was apologizing for, and why he was even apologizing to that freak in the first place.
Ren grinned sadistically. The planet began to shake beneath them, but none of the three payed any attention. "I would suggest you get out of my way, uncle, or you'll end up like my fool of a father. Dead."
Rey felt her heart freeze painfully in her chest. She brought a hand up to her face, realizing it was trembling. How could he, how could he even …
Luke closed his eyes briefly. "You don't mean that, Ben. I-"
"Don't call me that!"
Luke swung the blade, shifting to a fighting stance. He turned to Rey. "Get your friend. Run."
Rey's legs felt like jelly, and she could barely breath, but somehow she managed to walk over to where Finn lay and gently hoist him over her shoulder. Kylo sprang at her with all the enthusiasm of a starved lion, but Luke intercepted his blow. "Listen to me," managed the Jedi. "Take him and run. Don't wait for me. If I can catch up, I will."
Rey was about to argue—I'm not going to leave you!- but before she could say anything, Kylo swung his saber through the air again.
Rey gasped for breath, barely able to feel her fingers and toes as she hauled Finn through the snow and towards the Falcon. The day's excitement almost felt like too much; meeting Finn, meeting Han, getting captured, escaping, Han dying, meeting Luke. Almost too much, but she hadn't been able to survive Jakku without learning to adapt. Granted, though, it was difficult to adapt to something like what she had just gone through in the past two days.
She heaved another breath in, by now simple fighting to stay conscious. If she was being honest to herself, the only reason she kept going was for Finn's safety. Oh, and the fact that if she lives, she'll get to meet Luke Skywalker. Funny how dreams could come and go so quickly.
Rey paused, chest heaving for air. Her entire body was numb and chilled to the bone, and the snow was gathering on her eyelashes, making it so that she could barely see. Rey tightened her grip on Finn's legs, determined not to drop him; though, to be honest, she probably wouldn't feel it if she dropped him, she was so cold.
All Rey could see was blinding white snow and dark, blurry trees dotting her vision here and there. The ground beneath her was shaking dangerously, on the verge of cracking. She gasped for air, forcing her legs to keep moving. Almost there. Almost there. Almost there.
Something large was coming closer in the distance, but Rey hardly noticed it. The figure approached her, then leaned down, reaching for Finn. Rey tried to shout out, fighting back as best she could, but her efforts were in vain. The figure grasped Finn, then growled something.
"Chewie!" Rey managed, struggling to stay awake. "Thank the Force."
Chewie said something Rey couldn't discern in reply, they heaved her over his shoulder next to Finn. Rey finally allowed herself to drift off.
Chewie ran swiftly through the trees, doing his best to avoid falling branches and cracks in the ground. He had smelled the Kid while going to get Rey—he knew that she must have been in trouble.
Chewie growled something to himself, spotting the Falcon mere yards in front of him. He sprang up the shiny silver ramp, (gently) dumped Rey and Finn onto the ground, and then headed over to the pilot's seat.
Chewie twitched his nose; yep, that had definitely been Luke he had smelled. Only one thing Chewie knew for sure right now—he was not going to leave this planet without the Kid as long as he could. He knew that Luke would never forgive him if he risked someone else's life for him, though.
Chewie's paws flew over the controls, preparing the ship for takeoff. Rey moaned something from where she lay on the floor, and Finn subconsciously draped half an arm over her.
)(0)(
Luke's lightsaber was in a tight lock with Kylo's, both Force-users fighting for control. Kylo gnashed his teeth together, and in the hazy light, he looked just like a demon. Luke shoved back the pain in his heart, focusing only on defeating this monster. He's Leia's son.
Kylo finally sprang back, swinging his saber forward. Luke parried and stepped to the side, managing a kick towards Kylo's midsection.
Kylo aimed his lightsaber low, ducking his head as he did so. Luke jumped above the attack, barely missing the blade, but his left shoulder got grazed. Not that he was about to admit it to himself, but spending so long without openly fighting had made him pretty rusty. At least I didn't spend eight years on a island doing nothing, Luke thought to himself, barely suppressing a smirk.
Kylo growled again, waving his lightsaber crazily. Luke easily dodged him. "You're gotten weak, old man."
This time, Luke really smirked. "Don't tempt me, Ben."
"Don't call me that!" Kylo was teetering on the point of going crazy, his eyes glowing in a way that Luke hadn't seen since ... since the day that Ben had destroyed the temple.
Luke felt the ground shift dangerously beneath him, barely managing not to fall over. Kylo, however, wasn't so lucky. His anger had distracted him, and now he was lying on his back on the ground, head bleeding slightly from hitting it against a tree.
Luke sheathed his lightsaber, knowing that he had very little time. He glanced down at his nephew's still black form. I can't just leave him here.
Mentally banging himself on the head, Luke crouched down and heaved Kylo over his right shoulder. Barely able to walk as it was, the Jedi managed to take a few steps before nearly collapsing. Apparently, his shoulder wound was a little more that just a graze.
Cursing silently to himself, Luke took in a deep breath and began to move towards where he knew the Falcon was. His shoulder stung heavily with the weight that was added to it, and Luke cursed again, this time a little louder. Aunt Beru must be rolling in her grave.
Thinking of Aunt Beru put unexpected tears in his eyes. Shaking off his nostalgia, Luke squinted, struggling to see two feet in front of him. Hell, he was struggling to see at all.
Luke's legs nearly buckled beneath him, mostly due to Kylo's weight. He shifted the younger man as best he could, but the position was still uncomfortable. Breathing heavily, he at last came to what looked like a docking bay.
Upon entering, Luke saw that the place was very nearly deserted. The few personnel that were left were running like crazy, scrambling and fighting to get in a ship. No one payed any attention to the Jedi and the Knight of Ren he was carrying. The situation reminded Luke greatly of the Death Star, right before his father ... had …
Somehow, Luke managed to place Kylo on the floor in front of a ship. The boy was nearly conscious, and he could see a red-headed someone running up to him. He'd be fine. Luke glanced once at his nephew, then sprinted as fast as he cold back outside.
The planet was crumbling like crazy now. Luke ran quickly through the forest once more, shoulder stinging like hell. Grasping the Force, he used it to run faster, his mind near shutting down. At last, he stumbled into the clearing where the Falcon was, half-frozen. Not wasting any time, he managed to climb up the ramp. "We can go now," he called out into the ship, assuming that whoever was sitting in the pilot's seat was waiting for him to take off.
Wincing as how raw his voice sounded, Luke made his way to the cockpit, barely noticing the two young people lying on the ground. He dumped himself into the co-pilot's seat, murmuring a greeting a Chewbacca who growled in response, turning on the engines.
Luke's fingers flew over the controls, acting more from muscle-memory than paying attention. The Falcon finally took off, getting off the planet just before it was blown to smithereens.
Muffled noises came from behind the cockpit, followed by a grunt. Rey stumbled into the cockpit, coughing slightly. "What happened?" she asked groggily. Chewie responded, and by Rey's response, Luke assumed that she could understand Shyriiwook.
By Luke's calculations, it took Rey approximately thirteen seconds to realize that she was in the same room as the Galaxy's Last Hope. She had to grasp the back of a seat to remain upright, "You're Luke Skywalker."
Luke smiled in a way that he hoped wasn't awe-inspiring. Force knew he had enough groveling from fan girls who would love to come over while he was in bed as it was.
"Yes," he said. "Who are you?" He already knew, but wanted to hear her say it.
She didn't hesitate, holding herself slightly taller. Thought whether that was out of habit or trying to impress him Luke couldn't tell. "Rey."
"Rey what?"
"Just … Rey."
Luke nodded slowly. He had been half-expecting that, but still. Hearing that from his niece kind of hurt; it was a reminder of what he had lost.
Rey breathed in shakily, then averted her eyes to the view port. They were in hyperspace, but were probably going to exit within the next ten minutes. According to Chewie's calculations, at least. They had always been more exact than Han's estimates, though.
Luke's eyes stung again at the thought of Han. He pushed the feeling away, then returned his gaze to the window.
Rey cleared her throat slightly, too much in awe and confusion to speak. Luke could feel her feelings projecting through the Force; loss of Han, discovery of her new "family", and now finding Luke were nearly overwhelming her (and giving Luke a headache. He would have to teach her to learn how to shield, and soon.)
The transmitter suddenly crackled to life, making Rey jump slightly. Luke would have laughed if he could. Chewie growled humorously, then reached out with one shaggy paw and flipped the switch. Leia's voice soon filled the room.
"Are you alright?"
Much to Luke's and Chewie's surprise, it was Rey who answered. "Yes. Yes, we're fine." She opened her mouth, about to say something else, but Luke frantically signaled at her to be quiet. He had been hiding his Force-presence ever since he had been on the planet—that was how Snoke or Be-Kylo hadn't felt him. The Jedi wanted his sister to be surprised pleasantly, for once.
Silence reigned for a few seconds, then the comm crackled again. "Okay. Stay safe, Rey. And may the ... may the Force be with you." Luke could Leia's heartbreak through her words.
Rey nodded, then realized the General wouldn't be able to see it. "With you, too."
The transmitter shut off, and Finn came into the room, making Rey jump yet again. "Hey."
"Hey," returned Rey shyly.
Luke glanced at Finn curiously, then looked away, smiling slightly. He didn't know who the handsome, dark-skinned man was, but he was apt enough to realize that Rey knew him very, very well. In the ways that counted, at least.
A/N This is a combination of the first two chapters I posted on AO3. Same story, same username there. I already said it in the summary, but updates every Friday. Also, don't forget to let me know in the comments if you want this to be a Reylo fic, or if there is anything in particular you want to see (no promises :)