Chapter 1: Greetings

(Disclaimer: I do not own star wars or any such character. Everything in this story is pure fiction, and for off writing purposes only).

Now that I have that out of the way, I can tell you readers a bit about my story! This is the first of many to come. Not quite sure how many chapters it will be, but I can tell you I already know the time span.

That being said, a few of my key plot elements I have based off of fan theories I believe to be true. Other scenes are what I think may happen in the next movie. So… spoiler alert.

The planet of Ach-To was very small, but what it lacked in size, it made up for it in other ways. Islands spread across the planet- some very large, and some quiet small. The rest was engorged by a blue sea, with hundreds of sea creatures that rarely made an appearance above water.

Being in the far reaches of this galaxy, Ach-To was not a part of any trade route, and had no inhabitants, besides the few on the island of Illa…

Rey held out Luke's lightsaber. Neither spoke. She couldn't quite make out his expression- was it confusion or recognition?

Luke made the next move. He paced forward and put his hand out. She placed the lightsaber in his palm. Inspecting it, he rotated it, admiring the marks and etchings. When he was satisfied, and with a small smile, he spoke.

"What's your name?" he asked. His voice was soft but loud enough for her to hear.

"Rey."

"Rey…" he seemed to ponder for a moment but snapped out of it. "Thank you." He gestured towards the light saber. "It's been… a very, very long time since I've seen this. I never thought…" he let his words fall.

"Come. Follow me. You have traveled a long way for an old man." He turned and walked the opposite way that Rey had come.

This was her chance for answers. But for a moment, her feet wouldn't move. For some reason, there was the slightest doubt to follow him. He was a legend-but she had never met him. The comfort of the Millennium Falcon beckoned, but she realized she had come very far for answers. So she followed.

They made an immediate right past the enormous grassy hill and walked up stone stairs. On the left was an open glen, one of the only flats she had seen on the island. In it there was a makeshift tent, held down with rope and stone, and a hut beside it. An extinguished fire pit sat in the middle. It wasn't much, but Rey was used to living with the bare minimum, so she could tell when something was home.

They had been walking in silence, but Rey had so many questions. "How long have you been here? Did you find the lost Jedi Temple?"

He gave a chuckle, something he probably hadn't done in a long time. "I will answer all of your questions, but in due time. I'm not used to speaking to people- it's been so long that I am out of practice." He gave another chuckle.

Rey gave him a small smile back.

"I have many questions for you too, but for now, let me show you around."

'I sleep in the hut- the other one is for all my food." He made a gesture to his nose. "The fish really started to stink my room up. And the birds are a nightmare!" he pointed upwards towards the sky. "… anyways, it gets pretty cold up here so the fire pit I'll use during the night, and I have blankets and handmade robes if you need any."

"Thank you, but I'll be fine for now."

"Are you hungry?" he asked, trying to be a good host.

"No, but would it be okay if I showed you something? Someone is waiting for you." She turned and walked back the way they had come.

He gave a small smile. "Lead the way."

About half an hour later, the two companions were in view of the Millennium Falcon.

"I never thought I would see her again…" Luke muttered behind Rey. She assumed he was talking about the ship. It was weird knowing that he had flown on it years before. She reminded herself to ask him how he had met Han at a better time.

Suddenly, a large figure came out of the ship, alongside a blue droid. She ran ahead, greeting him with a hug. Chewbacca muttered something along the lines of 'hello' and then looked on towards the approaching figure. He was very quiet.

"Hello, Chewie, old friend."

Chewie groaned, and then walked towards the man with open arms. They embraced, and after a moment, Luke asked, "How are you?! Where is Han? I have never seen you two leave each other's side."

Chewbacca mournfully said what Rey had been thinking, and she couldn't help but tear up a bit.

An expression of guilt came over Luke's face, the same one when he had met Rey. His eyes began to gloss over. "That's what I was afraid of. We have a lot to talk about." He was speaking to Chewie, but glanced to Rey. "I'm sorry Chewbacca. No matter what went down between Han and me… he was a great friend, until his very last." Chewie acknowledged with a head nod.

R2-D2 made a sad sound. "And you! I see you are working again?" The droid beeped enthusiastically. He started making a series of excited sounds, and Rey realized he was trying to tell Luke everything that had happened since he had woken up.

"There will be time for everything, R2."

Chewie groaned, inviting them inside.

"Maybe later…" Luke responded. He pulled Rey aside, out of the others earshot. "Rey I have to ask you something. And it is completely up to you with what your path is next. Although, I might know the answer."

Rey knew what he was going to ask, and she had already had time to think about it.

"Would you like to stay here and train with me to be a Jedi?"

She looked back to Chewie, to the Falcon, and realized this was where she was meant to be. All those years on Jakku… she hadn't found answers about her family there, but maybe she would with Luke.

"When do we start?"

That night was cold; probably the coldest Rey had ever remembered. The Falcon was now reparked at the end of the glen, making it easier to access. Chewie had stayed in the ship, preferring the rocking of the ship in the wind. She had preferred her makeshift tent next to Luke's hut, reminding her of Jakku.

Her mind was too cluttered for sleep. She rolled out of her sheepskin, and opened the flap of the tent.

The fire had been put out hours before, but small embers still remained. Stomping them out with her foot, she was met with a comfortable darkness.

Rey looked up and was met with hundreds of stars, but for the first time in her life, they weren't familiar. Somewhere up there was the desolate planet of Jakuu, the Resistance base, and she shuddered at the thought— the remnants of Starkiller Base. Plus hundreds of worlds she had never visited. Before meeting Finn, she never thought she would leave Jakuu. But something had grown inside her since she had arrived on Ach-To. It was hope.

She inhaled and exhaled, then hugged herself. It might have been the bitter wind, or the fact that she was exhausted, but she knew the next day would be the start of a new journey for her.

She went back to sleep.

Rey woke the next morning to the smell of smoke. She dressed herself, and walked out of the tent. Luke was cooking a stew.

"Morning, Rey." He turned towards his right and picked up a clay bowl. "Come sit, you must be hungry."

Now that he mentioned it, Rey had no idea the last time she had eaten a meal. Grateful, she smiled and took the bowl. Before Luke had even finished serving himself, she had devoured it. Rey walked over and gestured to the stew. "Do you mind?" she asked, wide eyed.

"Course not!" Luke chuckled. "Eat as much as you like."

"So… how long have you been here? Leia seemed like she hadn't seen you in a very long time."

At the mention of Leia, he turned, facing away from her. He didn't want Rey to see his reaction. "I'd say, it's been close to five years. Half a decade away from everyone you've known… it's a hard thing. Of course it took me a while to find this planet. Around a year to be exact."

"And since then?"

He sighed. "Looking for answers, just like you have. Coming to terms with everything that has happened. And since I found the temple, I've been studying the ancient scrolls for answers."

She nodded, understanding why it may have taken him so long. She wasn't sure if she should ask, but she did anyways. "Will you take me to the Temple?"

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Soon." He said. "But you need to train first." he brushed passed her, ushering Rey to follow him yet again.

"You have a lot to learn."