Chapter Three

Finn studied Luke, his expression teetering between confusion and disbelief, 'It doesn't make sense.'
'It is not about sense, the force is about belief.' Luke promised, holding the young man's gaze. 'You need to believe, and the rest will follow.'
Finn furrowed his brow and began pacing with his hands at his hips, then over his head, then back at his hips. Luke found the young man pleasant, he possessed a sincerity that was rare these days. A sincerity they claimed his father Anakin possessed at one time too.
'Here, try this.' Luke offered, throwing his lightsabre to the boy, Finn caught it clumsily then wielded it with more conviction than required, Luke almost laughed.
'Don't make that face.'
'What face?' Finn asked, his brows knitted together as though he was tasting something unpleasant.
'That one.' Luke sighed, 'nevermind, okay. Now, try to strike me.'
'W-with the lightsabre?'
'Yes, Finn.' Luke replied, seemingly unbothered that the lightsabre could slice him clean in two.
'W-with your lightsabre?'
'Yes…we don't have all day.' Luke muttered as he turned his back toward Finn and began strolling across the training room. Leia brought all resistance soldiers here to work on their combat skills. The room was a crisp white with hues of dark greens and burgundy.
'What if I hurt you?'
'It's not me you should be worried about…' Luke replied with a smirk. 'C'mon on, Finn!' Luke shouted suddenly, making Finn jolt. It worked, Finn raced for Luke. Luke noticed the way Finn moved, he propelled himself from his legs first giving him solid balance and streamlined posture, almost like a spear flying through the air. This was a good approach to combat, though it had its flaws.
Timing it perfectly, Luke calmly side stepped and slid out a foot, Finn toppled over it, going down like a tonne of bricks. Luke smiled at the frustrated boy, 'momentum is good, but can also be used against you. Be aware of that.'
Finn swung at Luke from the floor, Luke swiftly leapt up, the lightsabre singed the luminous flooring, letting out its familiar dull, metallic vibration.
Luke then stomped on Finn's wrist, grunting in pain, Finn released the lightsabre.
'At this point in battle, you'd be de-'
Finn swung his free fist into the back of Luke's knees, knocking Luke down. Before Luke could react Finn had grasped the lightsabre and held it over Luke's chest. Luke noted the momentary darkening of Finn's expression. Finn held his gaze then flicked off the lightsabre and extended a hand to Luke. Luke took it and found himself effortlessly pulled up to his feet.
'You're strong. Passionate.' Luke observed, 'but the pain you carry within you, is not the Jedi way. You have a lot to learn.'
Finn fell silent, not daring to argue with that. There were some thoughts he simply refused to follow through, and this was one of them. Nightmares were better off existing only in the night. At least that was what he told himself to get through the day.
Luke rounded the corner and found himself facing Rey, he did a double-take, she looked so much like her mother, it was astounding. But she had his eyes. Those curious eyes must have gotten her in a lot of trouble.
'You came.' Rey said, not hiding the hope in her voice. Luke studied her cheek, 'I did. You completed your mission, well done.' Luke said, patting her on the arm as he walked past her. Rey frowned, this didn't sit well with her, it was almost as if he had a problem with her.
'Leia said you saved me, thank you.'
'I did anything a stranger would do.' Luke said dismissively, being careful not to lift the weight on his heart and reveal who she was to him. 'I need to speak with Leia, stormtroopers found the island too.' Luke paused, then watching her intently he asked, 'did you show anyone the map?'
'I didn't find my way there because of the map.' Rey confessed, but then quickly fell silent.
Luke didn't prompt her to continue, and it made him hate himself. It was difficult enough seeing her again and not being able to hold her, let alone seeing her so tormented within herself.
'We must leave the past in the past, in hopes of a better future. Whatever it is that plagues you, let it go.' Luke offered, Rey just smiled politely, he could tell she was steeling herself.
'Whatever you're seeking Rey, it's not in me.' Luke lied. And just like that he saw her change, he saw his little girl steel herself and begin building a wall to keep him on the outside.
'Thanks for your time.' Rey said nervously, doing her best to hide her dismay. She hurried past him and headed into the combat training room. Luke breathed a heavy sigh as he let her go. He had just crushed a flower-like hope somewhere deep inside her, and he feared it may never grow back, which in some ways, would be worse than it growing back.
Let her go, Luke.

Finn punched the boxing bag over and over, channelling his pain and anger. Luke Skywalker thought he wasn't ready. He thought he wasn't following the Jedi way. Luke didn't know the first thing about Finn. Finn paused, Finn didn't know the first thing about Finn…Finn shook it off, who gave him the right to erase my memories?
All Finn's brain could drum up was a dark abyss of pain. No memories, no faces, nothing. He struck the boxing bag with more power than before.
'…Finn!' Her voice was quickly becoming his favourite sound in the dark void of space. He turned on his heel and forced a smile, it wasn't hard t smile when she was around, but the arrival of Luke had changed things.
'Rey,' he said with relief, she leapt into his arms and hugged him tightly. He was momentarily taken aback, nobody had ever welcomed him before. Except for the embrace when he and Han went to rescue her, nobody had ever been so soft with him. It was such a beautiful thing. She somehow took his breath away, just by being herself.
He placed his large hands on the small of her back, holding her close for perhaps a moment too long. She pulled away and smiled at him, touching his head.
'It's healed already…'
'What happened to you?' Finn asked, touching her cheek. He felt her cheeks warm and blush, she quickly batted his hand away.
'I…I was expelled from a Jedi temple.'
Finn fought back a smug grin, 'That sucks…but uh, you may not know this about me,' he cleared his throat and clenched his biceps, while broadening his shoulder for effect, 'but it turns out…I am a Jedi, Rey.'
Rey looked at him blankly for a moment, then laughed, hard, much to Finn's dismay.
'Alright, okay. It's surprising but it's not that surprising.' He grumbled.
'You just suddenly found out?' Rey asked, a tinge of jealousy stung her ego. She already knew what he was about to say.
'Luke felt the force in me.' He flexed his muscles, 'but that doesn't surprise me.'
'Unbelievable.' She muttered.
'Now you're just being rude.' Finn mumbled.
'I beat Kylo, I find Luke, I bring him back…and you're the one he senses the force in? Why does he dislike me so much?' She frowned, injustice never sat well with her.
'Maybe you remind him of someone.' Finn offered, not enjoying that he was once again lying to her.
'Someone he hates.' Rey hung her head for a moment, then headed for the door.
'Wait, where you goin?' Finn called after her.
'For a walk.' Rey said, unable to hide her sadness. Finn's feet refused to move from nerves, he didn't understand how he felt, he just knew he didn't want her to feel as alone as she did. She deserved more than that, way more.
'Wait, I could use a walk too.' He managed to say, ignoring the hammering of his heart.

Kylo Ren stood in the training field as snow fell around him and threatened to cloak the trees for good. He wielded his lightsabre effortlessly as he thought through all that had transpired. The sabre burnt brilliantly, a luminous red, he found it almost magnetic. His scarred face still ached, the wound sore moreso a strike upon his pride than his face. And that too, done by a girl. A girl who was somehow immune to him, a girl he could not get out of his head...His blood began to boil as he replayed the events in his mind. The problem he had with all of this was...he failed to sense the force within her. He was somehow blinded when it came to her. What was she? And that Jedi, who went by the name of Finn...the one who lurked within his own ranks as a stormtrooper, indicated the force was becoming stronger once again. He would have to inform Supreme Leader Snoke of what his awakening meant for their plans.

He would find the girl, who went by Rey, and he would harness her abilities. The fury and frustration reached a boiling point and Kylo fell to one knee, thrusting his sabre into the snow covered ground, and a loud pulsation sent the trees around him flying. He stood in the snow, staring at the death of nature around him. She was much like death to him, intoxicating, dominating and uncontrollable... unstoppable. He needed to obtain the scavenger. He needed to control her.