Drawn to Darkness Through The Light

by cdknelson

This story takes place after The Last Jedi and the Alliance comic book series but before The Rise of Skywalker. It explores a relationship between Rey and Ben Solo through the dyad (the link through the Force) before the events of TROS. I mostly tried to stay in cannon. Rey has begun her training on the jungle moon of Ajan Kloss when she begins receiving visits from Kylo Ren.

18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The days passed quickly as Ben and Rey found moments to be with each other. Each time their link seemed to grow stronger. On the times they weren't together, she would catch glimpses of things he was doing – studying the Imperial archives, speaking with General Hux, training. She knew he was seeing parts of her life – training, reading the Jedi texts, working on the Falcon with Chewie.

She knew her heart was with him. But how could this last? He insisted that he had no choice but stay as Supreme Leader. She knew she could not join him in the First Order. They were deadlocked. She could feel his fear and frustration growing. He had started to become distracted during their times together, sometimes leaving abruptly. She knew she shouldn't worry about it, but she could feel a danger rising. Not from him. Her dreams had returned. Flashes of light, laughter, and the feeling of beckoning. She needed to be ready for what was coming. Ben had become a distraction for her - a pleasurable distraction but a distraction none the less.

Leia was beginning to sense her distracted mind and began to send her to meditate more, trying to feel the Force of the Jedi that came before her. "Be with me," she chanted over and over to no avail. No Master Luke. No other Jedi made themselves known to her. This left her angry and frustrated. She began to feel unworthy of the name Jedi. Leia always encouraged her. "Rey, it takes time… everything you need is inside of you."

Ben could feel her distracted mind. "Training is not going well?" he quietly asked one evening as he held her in his arms.

She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

Ben nodded his head. "I saw my mother the other day through you." He sounded sad. "She looks so tired."

Rey spoke sadly. "It has been hard for her - losing a son, a husband, a brother, old friends. The attack on the Raddus when the command bridge was destroyed did not help her."

"I couldn't stop it," he said quietly. Rey gave a questioning look. "I felt her on the bridge and I couldn't fire on it. One of the tie fighters with me fired. I couldn't stop it." He shifted uneasily.

There it is. The light in him.

He looked at her and sat up. "I've got things to do." With one last look, he was gone.