The waves crashed against the shore, sending whitewater splashing onto the rocks above. Swinging her lightsaber at Kylo Ren, Rey moved across the slippery surface, her steps careful but sure. She drew on the Force to sense the world around her: which rocks were stable, which ones were about to be doused in water, which ones were too high or too low to step across easily.

When she had realised this was the site the Resistance had chosen for what they hoped was their final confrontation with the First Order, she'd been horrified. After the incident with the mountain lake, her friends had been teaching her to swim, but she was still weak in the water. The idea of being so close to the edge, especially with the tide so rough, had made her nervous.

Now that she was here, however, it seemed oddly fitting. Water had been present last time, when she — no matter what Poe said — had let the Resistance down by failing to defeat Kylo Ren. Perhaps it was only right that their rematch was also taking place by water.

Kylo deflected her blow and parried quickly, forcing her back. She moved away from the shoreline; while she could cope on the slick rocks, it was taking up too much of her focus for her to ever find and press an advantage.

The sooner this was over, the better. Rey was more prepared this time; Poe, Rose and Chewbacca, along with the other pilots, were leading the rest of the First Order on a merry chase while Finn and Leia lay in wait nearby. But their distraction could only last for so long. Unless Rey overcame Kylo, they would eventually be caught and overpowered.

Inspiration struck her like lightning. Knowing he would never forgive her, she said, 'Maybe Luke was right about you.'

Kylo's eyes flashed, and he charged forward, swinging his lightsaber like a rabid animal. He was at his most dangerous and most vulnerable when he was mad, throwing all of his power into every move.

Turning off her lightsaber as a further taunt, Rey shuffled backwards to avoid his strikes. Every time she dodged him, the anger in his gaze sharpened further until it could cut through bone.

As he started one particularly harsh swing, she darted to the side instead of backwards. His swing had too much force for him to pull it up. Her arm was already moving before she clicked the button to ignite her lightsaber once more. Before he could react, she'd hit the back of his blade, adding her power to his.

His weapon was torn from his grasp.

Rey dropped to the ground, and it flipped past where her head had been before falling uselessly into the surf.

Rolling onto her back, Rey smoothly stood, holding her lightsaber aloft between them. 'Surrender.'

Hands half-raised, Kylo took a step forward as if even now, he was going to try to continue to fight.

Her blade followed the movement, and he halted.

'Ben,' a voice said from behind Rey, and his gaze flickered over her shoulder. The rage melted away, leaving only longing and sorrow behind. 'Ben, please.'

'Mother.'

'Order your troops to stand down. Let's talk this out like we should have a long time ago. Just you and me.'

Trusting that Leia — and, from his place a few metres back, Finn — could take care of themselves, Rey turned and ran in the direction of her ship. Even if Kylo Ren agreed to call off the First Order's attack, there was no guarantee the command would reach everyone in time. The pilots might need backup.

Besides, she was no longer of any use here.

For the longest time, she'd been convinced that she had to save Ben in order to save herself. They both had darkness and light in them, and neither of them knew how much they had of each. Back then, she'd thought that if she couldn't bring him back from his darkness, then she might not be able to defeat her own.

Rey knew better than that now. She'd already defeated her darkness, and with the help of Poe and their friends, she would continue to defeat it every time it reared its head. And while she had been the one who could stop him, she didn't have the power to turn him.

The only person who could save Ben was himself, and the only person who could help him do that was Leia.

Climbing into the cockpit and closing the glass, Rey lifted off into the air, leaving the lonely beach behind.

A/N: Prompt: beach