Several weeks after putting Finn into place within the First Order ranks, Rey arrives at the agreed upon coordinates. She lands her borrowed A-Wing with a little less finesse than intended, on a rustic-looking, suspended landing pad, high above the forest canopy of Endor.
Climbing from the cockpit, Rey takes a moment to look around at the enormous trees and masses of vegetation hanging all around her. She grabs her pack of belongings from her ship and jumps down to stand on the landing pad before turning to her companion.
"Come on, BB-8. Let's go have a look around."
With an excited grin, she spins around in the humid air and waits for the droid to extricate itself from the ship. With the small droid, rolling along behind her, Rey walks towards a rope bridge, leading to another platform. From there, a series of rope ladders lead downwards and she looks back at BB-8 dubiously as it spins its head to look at her and makes a few distressing beeps.
"Alright, into my pack little droid."
Rey says and slumps her pack to the platform to open the top. BB-8 makes a slightly insulted noise but rolls into Rey's pack and she hauls it back up onto her shoulders before picking a rope ladder at random and heading down.
As she lands on a lower platform, Rey is suddenly surrounded by short, furry creatures who start excitedly grunting at her in an unfamiliar language as they wave sharp spears at her face.
"General Leia Organa sent me." Rey says, holding her hands up in surrender but reaching one hand to her pack to retrieve a hologram device. She slowly lowers it to the platform and turns it on.
A blue hologram of Leia Organa appears, and the furry creatures jump around and start jabbering excitedly, pointing at the hologram.
My dear friends. This is Rey, whom I hope you will treat as you did me once…
The hologram starts to translate in Ewok and the cute little people huddle around the hologram to listen.
BB-8 makes a few bleep-bloops from Rey's pack but she shushes it as she listens to Leia's message.
She will be joined by my son. They seek refuge from the war for a few days. I hope you will find it in your hearts to let them stay. Thank you.
The device stops translating and Rey waits as the Ewoks all turn towards her.
Suddenly they begin calling to each other and horns sound as Rey is escorted along rope bridges towards their tiny dwellings and then lead inside one. The small house was clearly made for something bigger than an Ewok and Rey looks around at the hand-made furnishings and big, soft looking bed in the corner, covered in furs.
A fire is lit in the hearth and an Ewok leads Rey by the hand to settle by the fire. A smaller Ewok begins combing out her hair and yet another brings in a small wooden basin and cloth to place in front of her, motioning for her to wash herself.
"Oh. Thank you."
BB-8 takes that moment to beep and roll out of Rey's pack, startling the little furry creatures. Curious, one of the Ewoks creeps closer to BB-8 and tentatively pokes it with a claw.
BB-8 bleeps and rolls backwards, making the Ewok jump and retreat again.
"BB-8. Don't be rude to our hosts."
Rey chastises as the Ewok combing her hair finishes and starts weaving some brightly coloured fabric into it.
BB-8 hangs his head and slowly rolls over to the inquisitive Ewok to bloop an apology. The Ewok pats BB-8 on the head and sits down beside it to watch Rey getting her hair done.
Kylo is unsure about the location that Rey asked him to meet her. He remembers his mother telling him stories about Endor as a child and the furry Ewoks that helped overthrow the Empire.
Kylo lands his command shuttle on the wobbly landing platform next to Rey's A-wing fighter and descends the ramp as a handful of the furry creatures come waddling over to greet him.
"I am here to see Rey."
He says and then realises that they clearly have no idea what he is saying but take his hand anyway and lead him towards a rope ladder. Not used to such informality, Kylo looks down and remembers that he is not dressed in his usual commanding black garb and cowl, but instead has donned a rough-hewn white shirt, dark pants and dark jacket. A blaster strapped to his side instead of his unique lightsaber, Kylo stops and suddenly realises why he is so uncomfortable.
He's dressed like his father.
The thought stings but at the insistence of the tiny creatures tugging on his hand, Kylo pushes the thought away and follows them. He follows the Ewoks down ladders and across bridges to a small hut attached to the side of an enormous tree.
He ducks his head to enter the dwelling and finds Rey, kneeling in front of a hearth, looking even more beautiful in his dreams. She hasn't noticed him yet as she laughingly tries to communicate with another Ewok.
Kylo takes the time to run his gaze over her; from her long white dress to her intricately braided hair.
His blood heats and his chest swells with love for this woman.
Rey must have sensed his emotions, because she suddenly turns and grins as she launches herself at him.
"Ben!"
Kylo, already bent over, falls on his butt laughing as Rey jumps at him. The Ewoks scatter and even BB-8 turns its head away as Rey climbs into his lap and kisses him passionately. Kylo laughs at Rey's enthusiasm but kisses her back with every bit as much passion.
It's been almost a whole day since Ben arrived on Endor and they have yet to leave their little love nest. The Ewoks have been leaving food outside the doorway of the hut and scurrying away but Rey and Ben are so wrapped up in their own bubble of happiness and love that they barely notice.
The lovers are dozing naked in the soft stuffed bed, limbs tangled together, when Rey's eyes pop open at an unfamiliar sound. The sound doesn't belong in the jungle and the moment she thinks it, she feels Ben tense beside her before sprinting out of the bed to grab his pants. Rey follows suit and swipes her dress from the floor, throwing it over her head as she rushes out the doorway, after Ben.
Rey makes it to the canopy landing platform seconds after Ben, coming to a sudden halt when she sees a second First Order shuttle landed on it. Her head whips around to find General Hux wearing an ugly smile as he holds a blaster pointed at Ben's bare chest.
His eyes glow as they dart to where Rey has come up behind Ben and his sneer deepens.
"I knew you were a coward and a traitor, Ren!"
Ben glares at the evil man and Rey can feel the anger simmering within him, start to overflow.
"It's why I put a tracker on your ship months ago to trace your movements. Won't the First Order be surprised to know that their illustrious Supreme Leader has betrayed them to the Rebellion."
Hux taunts triumphantly, taking a step forward.
"You know that you're not leaving this planet alive, Hux."
Ben threatens in a low, dangerous voice, but Hux smiles wider.
"Maybe. But can you crush my neck faster than I can shoot her?"
Hux moves the blaster in his hand to point at Rey. Ben's eyes give him away as they widen and suddenly Rey watches Ben falling to his knees on the platform, arms raised in surrender.
"You have me, Hux. The First Order is yours. Kill me and let her go."
He says resolutely and Hux moves the blaster back to point at Ben, the smile on his face showing his enjoyment of their torture.
"Or I kill you and then her."
Hux's eyes are wild as he releases the safety on the blaster and starts squeezing the trigger.
"NO!"
Rey screams but she hears the blaster shot and falls to her knees beside Ben. She grabs for him but, finding no wound, Rey looks back at General Hux in confusion.
Hux blinks rapidly and adopts a very perplexed expression as he stumbles forward, falling to the platform and going still. Rey looks from Hux to Ben and then follows Ben's stunned gaze to the figure partially concealed in the shadow of Hux's shuttle.
General Leia Organa steps from the shadows and calmly walks over to stand before Ben, blaster still in her hand. Rey cannot form words, frozen in shock as her brain tries to catch up to what has happened in the last few seconds.
Leia raises her blaster again to point it at Ben's forehead as he kneels in front of her.
"Hello, Son."