Disclaimer: The characters and places in this story belong to Lucasfilm and Disney.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for clicking. This is my first time writing for the Star Wars fandom, so I'll warn you now that I love angst and tend to put a lot into my fics. I hope you'll join me on this journey. :) Without further adieu, I bring you:


A Greater Balance

In the months since the battle of Crait, the Resistance has evaded capture and eradication by the First Order. Having learned years ago of her birth mother's origins, Leia and the Resistance have retreated on the Millenium Falcon to the planet of Naboo. She is hopeful the planet will provide safe haven for the last surviving child of the beloved Padmé Amidala.

The First Order, now led by Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, has stopped their pursuit of the rebels. Commander Hux has become suspicious of Kylo's motives and is investigating what truly happened in the throne room when Supreme Leader Snoke was killed. Kylo, sensing Hux's suspicions, has tasked him with the search for a suitable planet from which to rule his new empire.

Secretly, Kylo has ordered his Knights of Ren to conduct a search of the galaxy, hoping to discover the whereabouts of Rey.


Chapter 1

"Supreme Leader."

Kylo stood at the window of the Star Destroyer, wondering not for the first time which one of the stars Rey has fled to. This scavenger girl from no one and nowhere, who rejected his proposal, rejected him, had thus far evaded all his attempts at contact. He felt a pain in his chest at the thought, but ignored it. Annoyed at being interrupted he answered with a terse "Yes?"

A throat cleared and the messenger, a Knight of Ren called Zira Amla, said "We think we have found the location of the rebels."

Kylo whipped around. "And?" he demanded.

The Knight swallowed, the movement belying her external calm."The Millenium Falcon was last seen entering the Chommell sector."

Kylo frowned. The Chommell sector? "Do you have an exact location?"

Zira shook her head. "No we aren't sure which planet in the sector they landed on, but-" She paused as if unsure whether to continue.

Kylo narrowed his eyes. "Yes?"

Taking a deep breath she said, "The planet of Naboo is in that sector."

Kylo said nothing, but his eyebrows raised infinitesimally. "Yes of course," he said to himself. He turned back around and barked, "That will be all."

The Knight replied "Yes sir" but did not leave immediately. After a few moments of deliberation she asked, "Would you like me to inform Commander Hux?"

"No." Kylo thought quickly, turning back around and walking towards the Knight, his second in command among the Knights of Ren. "Say nothing to anyone. How many more are aware of the location?"

"Just myself and Knight Krye," she replied.

"Good." Kylo stepped closer, his gaze simmering. "Tell no one."

Unsurprised but nonetheless unnerved by the emotion in Kylo's eyes, Kira nodded. Kylo reached out a hand and she gasped , feeling the constricting of the force against her throat. "If anyone finds out, I'll know who told them and will not hesitate to punish you and your comrade severely. Is that clear?"

Zira nodded as best she could and Kylo let go. "Good. Now leave me."

Zira gasped as he released his hold on her, shock and anger that he would use such a tactic on her warring in her mind. Externally she stood tall and replied, "Yes sir."

Kylo narrowed his eyes at her as she left, feeling her emotions. Turning around, he walked back to the window, his mind racing. So his mother had fled to Naboo. An interesting choice, given their family ties there. Why go someplace so obvious? Unless…could the Resistance really be on their own this time? Hux had informed him of a signal sent from the based on Crait, presumably asking for help. Perhaps no one responded.

Fear gripped him as he pondered the outcome should Hux become aware of the rebels' location. He would stop at nothing to eradicate the Resistance, a sentiment Kylo would be forced to agree with if he wished to keep up the ruse he was now playing. In his anger and betrayal at Rey's refusal to join him he had felt the all consuming desire to eradicate everything on Crait, everything his parents had stood for, everything tying him to light. Now, however, the rage had cooled and in its place were fear and loneliness. Kylo embraced them, as it helped keep him tied to the dark, the source of his power in the force.

He felt a movement in the force within him, almost like a tug, and his breath caught. He had thought the connection broken. Swallowing the rush of emotions flooding his mind, he turned around. Rey stood several feet away, standing straight, her hands clasped behind her back. She didn't look at him, though whether this was because she did not see him or because she was preoccupied he didn't know. He suspected it was the latter.

"Rey." His voice was soft, pleading. Her eyes flicked briefly to him before returning to front. Her breath hitched, the only other sign that she could see him. He stepped closer, fear and hurt deepening at her refusal to acknowledge him. He swallowed again, wishing not for the first time that things had gone differently in the throne room. He opened his mouth, unsure what to say to get her to look at him.

"I know where you are."


Rey whipped her head to look at Kylo, fear blooming in her chest. She fought it down, swallowing and returning her gaze forward. She couldn't deal with Kylo now. She was needed here, in the moment. She felt conspicuous among the nobility of Naboo in her scavenger's clothing, and struggled to keep her feelings of self worth in check. On either side of her stood Finn and Poe, watching as Leia continued her plea to the current Queen.

"Your Majesty, first allow me to thank you for seeing us."

The Queen held up a hand. Rey tried not to stare at her regalia, never having seen the likes of it before. She was surprised to note that beneath the painted face and elaborate clothing was a young girl, possibly younger than Rey herself.

"It is no small thing to refuse the daughter of Padmé Amidala. You are welcome, though I do wonder what you expect of me."

Leia nodded her head. "Yes, I know that our being here is a risk for you and your people –"

Rey felt the brush of fingertips on her cheek and inhaled sharply. Finn glanced at her quickly, frowning in confusion. Shaking her head slightly to indicate everything was fine she turned back to face front. Moving her eyes to the side she saw Kylo was now standing between her and Poe. His gaze snagged hers and for a moment she forgot where she was. She drank in the sight of him, as he seemed to be doing with her. Despite everything that happened, the disappointment she felt at his refusal to stop pursuing the rebellion, she missed what had almost been, the beginning of friendship, a person she could confide in, had begun feeling…something for. The sight of him now caused a sharp pain to course through her and she mouthed the words "please stop." Kylo again reached out to brush her cheek with his fingers.

"I know where you are," he repeated, tilting his head as he continued gazing at her. Through their connection she could feel the hope he was trying to keep under control. "I can come get you. It's not too late to join me."

Rey closed her eyes, swallowing. A range of emotions warred within her. Fear, regret, disappointment, loneliness, and longing all fought for her attention, but it was disappointment that won out. Opening her eyes she whispered, "Yes it is." Kylo withdrew his hand and it was hurt she glimpsed in his eyes before the connection was lost and he winked out of sight.


Kylo stood stunned for a moment staring at the place Rey had been standing, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He looked around, emotion brewing as he replayed the encounter in his mind. He left his throne room for his private quarters and began pacing, his breath coming faster as his emotions festered. Pain, sorrow, and rejection all rose but he quashed them, preferring to let anger grow instead. Anger was easiest.

What had Rey been doing? Why had she ignored him? Why did she continue to reject him? His breath came faster and his eyes began darting around the room, focusing on nothing as he continued to seethe. He began to feel the stirrings of an energy, as he always did when he let his anger take control, like an itching beneath his skin demanding to be scratched. He had not felt it since his confrontation with Skywalker, but welcomed it now. He paced faster, huffing louder, until he could take it no longer. He stopped pacing, ignited his light saber, and released the rage. His vision clouded as he slashed back and forth, unaware of which targets he destroyed, not caring.

After several moments his vision cleared, his rage now spent, and he surveyed the damage, breathing heavily. Paper and other debris floated down gently onto the destroyed remnants his furniture. The items themselves meant nothing to him, but now that the rage was cooling in its place were the familiar feelings of panic and shame. He swallowed, thinking of Hux's reaction when he found out. Though he made a shallow attempt to keep his feelings veiled, Kylo sensed Hux's inner war between glee and frustration at every failure of Kylo's, no matter how small. Kylo had considered on more than one occasion of simply ridding himself of the Commander. He had never liked the man and had wondered on more than one occasion why Snoke had allowed such a man to stay in his favor. But Kylo had no desire to lead the masses directly nor the patience to find an adequate replacement, so Hux stayed for now.

The report from Zira and the reconnection with Rey had changed things however. He marched out of his room toward the hangar deck, an idea forming. Thinking quickly he used his comlink, first to hail Zira and then Hux. When he arrived at the deck he was greeted with multiple salutes.

"Ready my ship," he barked.

"Yes, Supreme Leader." Several people rushed off to do his bidding.

While he waited he resisted the urge to pace. Now that he had a half formed plan, he was eager to see to it. Hux arrived first, walking up and saluting him. His outward appearance was of a model subordinate, but Kylo both sensed his contempt and glimpsed it in Hux's eyes.

Kylo narrowed his own eyes, but did not have the patience to deal with Hux at the moment. "General," he said, "I am going on a journey. I do not know how long I will be gone."

"Yes, Supreme Leader." Hux narrowed his own eyes infinitesimally. "Might I inquire as to what nature this journey will be?"

"I have been having my Knights search the galaxy for several Sith artifacts. They have found a possible location for one and I will be going to retrieve it." The lie rolled off Kylo's tongue. He had come up with the cover story months ago in the event Hux snooped too deeply into what, or who, he was having his Knights of Ren look for, but surprisingly this was the first opportunity he had needed to use it. He felt Hux's contempt grow, knowing how the man felt about the old ways, but he wisely kept it from leeching into his demeanor.

"Would it not be more prudent," Hux asked, suspicion dawning, "if you sent one of your Knights of Ren on the journey instead?"

"No, it would not."

"And what, if I may ask, are we to do while you are way?"

Zira walked in and Kylo waved a hand at Hux. "Continue searching for a suitable planet on which to establish my empire. You have my specifications." Not caring to properly dismiss the commander, he turned to Zira, who bowed.

"Per your recent discovery," he said to her, "I will be leaving in search of its specific location." Kylo despised intrigue, but when the price to be paid for artlessness was Rey in Hux's grasp he was willing to make an exception.

Zira nodded, comprehension in her eyes. "Yes, Supreme Leader. And per your request the coordinates have been uploaded onto the ship."

Kylo nodded. "I leave you in charge in my absence."

"Supreme Leader." A soldier saluted him. "Your ship is ready."

Without glancing back, Kylo walked briskly towards the ship.


Rey stood off to herself, staring at a mosaic. There were many in the sprawling castle corridors, but this one had caught her eye. Like many of them it depicted a young woman, obviously one of Naboo's sovereigns. Her face was painted white with red dots on her cheeks and a red stripe on her bottom lip. Her regalia was styled in black, gold, and red with a heavy-looking head piece on top. But that wasn't what had captured Rey's attention. The moment she had looked upon it there had seemed to be something familiar about the woman's eyes.

"I see you found Leia's mother."

Rey started at the voice and looked over to find Poe now looking at the mosaic as well. "This is her mother?"

Poe nodded. "Padme Amidala. One of Naboo's greatest legends. The people elect their sovereigns here and if the stories are to be believed, they tried to get the constitution amended so she could stay in office."

"What happened to her?" Rey knew Darth Vader was the father of Luke and Leia and had a hard time believing the woman Poe described would have married such a man.

Poe shrugged. "No one really knows and those who did are dead. No one outside of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Vader himself knew who the father of her children were at the time and officially she was still pregnant when she died. Now, of course, we know that wasn't true."

Rey turned back to the mosaic. This was Ben's heritage. Sadness hit her as she contemplated what it would be like to come from such a family. His was full of greatness, both good and bad, while her heritage was wasting away on Jakku like all the other junk there.

"Rey. Poe. " Finn beckoned them over. It appeared they were leaving. As she turned to leave she glanced at the mosaic again and realized why it had seemed so familiar. Ben had his grandmother's eyes.


"There." Leia pointed to a forest along the edge of a field. Chewbacca and Rey flew the Falcon into it and landed. As they exited Rey looked around, thinking of the other times she had been in a forest, both with Ben present. Pushing those thoughts away, she chose to marvel once more at the greenery surrounding her. Just beyond the edge of the forest was a sprawling expanse of grass that ended in a shimmering lake in the distance.

Leia walked and stood next to Rey. "They call this the lake country."

"It's beautiful," Rey said, glancing at Leia.

Leia nodded. "Yes it is." Turning around she nodded. "This way. It's a bit of a walk."

They headed further into the forest. Rey glanced around, trying not to think about how few their numbers were. It had been months since the attack on Crait and they had been met with nothing but closed doors. Despite the First Order's loss of the Starkiller base, many in the galaxy were unwilling to go against them. Leia had said it was the same when the empire was in power, had told Rey not to worry, had reminded her of the Empire's end. As she walked she felt the slap of books against her thigh. The Jedi texts were with her always in her bag when they left the Falcon. They were in an ancient language and it was slow going getting it translated. Not for the first time did she wish she had help. The burden of being the sole owner of the Jedi texts was weighing on her. She knew she needed training, but had nothing aside from untranslated books to help her.

Suddenly they stopped walking. Leia gestured towards the ground in front of them and both Poe and Finn rushed to brush aside greenery hiding what looked like a heavy iron trap door. Leia pulled a key from a chain hidden beneath her shirt and bent down, unlocking it and stepping aside to let Poe open it.

"Alright," she said, gesturing to the dark hole. "Who's going first?"

No one volunteered immediately, although Finn and Rose were whispering furiously. Rey was about to volunteer when Rose pushed Finn forward and said "We'll go first."

Finn sighed. "I guess we're going first." As he climbed down, he looked at Rey and rolled his eyes.

Rey smiled at them as Rose climbed down after Finn and walked over to climb down behind them. The hole wasn't very large in circumference and as she descended she was reminded of some of her tighter squeezes while collecting junk on Jakku. Below her she heard Finn mumble "A light would be really useful right about now." Rey didn't disagree. As she climbed lower she wondered where exactly they were going and how far down the climb would be. She began counting steps to distract herself.

Ten.

Fifty.

Three hundred.

It was silent, just the steps of a couple dozen people descending into the depths of the earth. Just shy of eight hundred steps later she heard Finn say, "Finally." When she reached the bottom she felt a hand grab her shoulder to pull her away from the ladder. She stepped aside, wishing she could use her light saber for light. The remnants of the light saber remained in her bag alongside the books. As she flipped through one of them she had seen what looked like instructions for building your own. She had started there when translating, but hadn't finished yet.

A light flared as Leia exited the steps, Poe shortly behind her. Rey held up a hand against the brightness. When her eyes adjusted she looked around. They appeared to be at the end of a long tunnel. It was wide enough that they could walk in pairs and tall enough that no one bumped their heads, but it still felt a little claustrophobic. Poe led the way as they started down the tunnel.

"This way everyone."

People began trickling after him. Rey hung back. Even without a light saber she wanted to bring up the rear in case they were ambushed. Leia waited until the others had passed as well and fell in step beside Rey. They walked for some time in silence before Rey turned to Leia.

"Poe told me your mother is from here."

Leia nodded. "Yes, although I never knew her."

Rey frowned. "I'm sorry."

Leia smiled at her. "Don't be. I had wonderful adoptive parents." Her smile turned sad and she appeared to be lost in memories. Rey, loath to interrupt, trained her eyes forward and continued walking. Sometime later Leia spoke again. "I do wish I had known her. Those who knew her say she was an amazing woman."

"Do you have family here?" Rey asked.

Leia nodded. "I have some distant relatives. My mother had a sister. My cousins are gone, but their family still survives. They're the ones who've provided us with this accommodation."

Rey glanced around. "Where are we going?"

"My birth mother's family has a house on the lake. Sometime after the fall of the Galactic Senate they built a sort of bunker beneath it. We came in through the emergency exit." Leia sighed. "Naboo isn't the safest place for us to continue our mission, but it's all we have."

They walked on in silence after that, each lost in their own thoughts. Rey could guess who Leia was thinking about because her own mind had gone to the same place. Rey wondered if she should let Leia know that Ben had told her he knew where they were. But how could he know? Even if he knew the planet they were on, how would he know their exact location?

She would like to think he wouldn't do anything drastic to find them, but she knew better. He had continued his pursuit of the rebels after she left his ship, and had done so without mercy. Her heart ached to think of the look on his face when she had shut the door on their connection, and the look on his face today when they had reconnected. She wondered what had brought the connection back. After so many months without a glimmer of connection she had thought the connection was well and truly severed and had spent many nights reminding herself why that was a good thing. She reminded herself now that the connection today would only spell disaster, but it didn't stop her heart from fluttering at the thought of seeing him again. Up ahead she heart Rose laugh and felt her loneliness return. It wasn't quite jealousy that she felt towards Finn and Rose. She was happy for them. But in her heart she wished she could also have an easy relationship with a suitable companion.

After what had to be a couple miles of walking Rey noticed the ground begin to slop upwards. It was a hard trek after that, but eventually they came up to another iron door. Leia again took the key out of her shirt and unlocked it. As Rey walked through the door she thought the word "bunker" was an adequate description for the metal and rock box they entered. They seemed to be in a sort of main living space with half a dozen doors along either side that led to individual suites.

"We'll have to share, but there should be enough beds and couches for everyone." Leia walked to one of the doors. "Everyone pick a room and get settled…We don't know how long we'll be here." She pointed towards a door opposite the one they had just entered through. "That leads to the main house and the outside. We'll have to use precautions, but should be able to go outside if we're careful."

As people paired off into each of the rooms Rey looked around. She supposed she could stay with Finn and Rose, but felt oddly strange about intruding.

"Rey."

She glanced over to see Leia gesturing her over. When she walked over Leia said "You can stay with me."

Rey, shocked, replied "Are you sure?" She looked around. "I would have thought you'd have Poe stay with you."

Leia chuckled and shook her head. "It's best if Poe and I keep separate quarters. Come on." She gestured towards the door and Rey, still shocked and unsure by the request, walked through it. Whoever had built this bunker had spared no expense. Though the walls and ceiling were made of stone, there was a large canopied bed on one end, a plush sofa and chairs set around a coffee table on one side, and a bathing room off to the other. Rey set her staff and bag next to the couch.

"I can sleep here."

Leia nodded, looking around and setting her things beside the bed. Rey, feeling awkward and unsure what to do next, sat down on the sofa and looked around. This was easily the nicest place she had ever stayed in and she wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. Leia nodded towards the bathing room.

"I'm going to go ahead and freshen up. Please make yourself at home."

After Leia exited, Rey stared at the closed door, not really seeing it. Now that she had a few moments alone, she was reliving her most recent connection with Kylo. The fluttering in her chest came back as she thought of the way he had brushed her cheek with his fingers. She closed her eyes, willing herself to again remember that he had not stopped the First Order's attack, that he had continued it after she left. She had made the right decision by rejecting his offer, but that same decision had left her with what felt like a hole in her chest. A familiar sense of loneliness hit her now and with it came an almost tug-like sensation in the force within her. Why was this happening again?

Kylo appeared in front of her, sitting in one of the chairs. He looked equally surprised to see her. She inhaled and exhaled sharply.

"Why does this keep happening?" she whispered, worried Leia might overhear. "I thought I severed the connection."

Kylo ignored her question. "I've been looking for you." He tilted his head to the side, again seeming to drink her in.

Rey took a shaky breath in. "I thought you said you know where I am."

Kylo looked to the side and Rey wondered if he could see her surroundings. "I know which sector you're in and which planet is in that sector." He looked at her again. "I would say you're visiting my relatives."

Rey swallowed and Kylo's eyes followed the movement before returning to her eyes. She shook her head. "Why are you doing this? Why are you searching for me?"

"I want you beside me," was his simple answer.

"But-" Rey shook her head again, not understanding. "You haven't changed, Ben. I can't be beside you while you lead the First Order."

"I have," he insisted. "It's you who haven't changed. You're still holding on to the past, refusing to let it go."

"No." Rey frowned. "No. I can't let go of the resistance when the First Order, the order which you are now the supreme leader of, continues to oppress the galaxy. That's not what I stand for."

Kylo looked away for a moment and then back again. "You don't know what you stand for. All you have are a bunch of myths and lies from Skywalker."

Rey stood up. "You're wrong. I have – " She stopped just before she admitted the truth. She did not want him knowing she had the Jedi texts.

"What?" Kylo leaned forward, looking up at her. "What do you have?"

Before Rey could answer there was a gasp at the door. They both turned to see Leia, a halo of light in the doorway behind her, eyes wide as she stared at the chair in which Kylo appeared to be sitting.