The next morning as they prepared breakfast, one of the ship's computers lit up with an incoming call. It was Leia. Rey immediately answered, seeing Leia's hologram appear.
"Leia, how are you?" Rey asked taking a seat.
"I'm well, thank you. Just trying to help establish a new government back here." She smiled, "anyways, how are you three?" She asked
Rey smiled at Leia's question. "I'm alright. and she's doing wonderful. As for Ben... I believe he's trying to learn how to use a nanowave stove at the moment." she said sharing a laugh with Leia
"He isn't exactly known for his cuisine but I'm delighted that he's making an effort." Leia replied
"I'll have you know," Ben began as he entered the room, "I don't think this is half bad."
"Hello Ben." Leia nearly laughed
"Hi mom, how are you?" He asked
Leia sighed, "I'm doing well, but to tell you the truth I'm not really up for all this political stuff anymore. It was everything for almost my entire life, but I just don't feel that it suits me anymore. With the baby on the way, I'd like to spend some time with you both and get to know her when she arrives."
"We would be more than happy for you to live with us Leia," Rey began, "but doesn't the resistance need your guidance to rebuild another Republic?"
"Honestly, I almost feel like what they need is a new generation of ideas. These younger individuals have just gone through a war. They are more likely to agree on much more now that they've seen and expirienced to effects of tyranny. What I've been helping with the past week is discussing aspects of the New Republic and why it fell. But something they all keep asking me about as a matter of fact, is if you will return in a few years after you complete your training to reestablish a Jedi order."
Rey stopped for a moment. 'Me? Build a Jedi order?' She thought
"I will help you reach the title of Master, Rey. But my role was never to do something of this magnitude."
Rey swallowed. Feeling nervous about the request of any Jedi order. Hadn't creating one began the downfall of Luke and the rise of Snoke and Kylo Ren? But if Leia had brought this up, she must have had pressure on her by the politicians to do so.
"Would they like a meeting?" Rey asked hesitantly
"I'm sure they would. Would you like me to arrange one?" Leia asked
"Yes... that would be fine." Rey answered
"General," a voice came from Leia's end, "Captain Dameron has requested to speak with you."
"Tell him just a moment, Lieutenant Connix, thank you." She told her as the girl nodded and turned away.
"I have to go, but I will speak to you two soon, please, take care." She said
The three exchanged farewells as the image dissolved.
Rey truly did not want this monumental of a task on her hands. But who else was their left besides her? Everyone hated Ben. It's not like he'd be able to be the Jedi Master for her.
—-
Several hours later, deep into their sleep, Rey's mind drifted again. She was surrounded by a frigid darkness, feeling a deep anxiety creep up on her.
"I hate you!" A male voice shouted, echoing in the distance as she spun around to see a woman, not much younger than her, with dark flowing hair and yellow eyes rush toward her with Kylo Ren's abandoned red lightsaber. Instinctively she pulled Leia's saber from her belt, blocking the strike as her eyes searched for clues on where she was.
Lava surrounded them. And Ben lied on the floor motionless, a wound visible through his Jedi robes and Anakin's lightsaber beside him heavily damaged.
"Who are you?!" Rey shouted, paralyzed with fear by the sight of Ben's corpse.
The girl suddenly pushed her back using the force, clearly overpowering her as Rey fell to the ground losing grasp of Leia's saber.
The girl stared at Rey with her pulsing yellow eyes and devilish smile, pointing Kylo Ren's red lightsaber towards her threateningly.
"You don't need me to tell you that." The girl hissed, catching Rey look towards Ben in horror. "He was weak. Turning for you. But you are valuable. You will answer to my new master now."
"My masters are Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa-Solo. Why should I answer to yours?" Rey said bravely.
The girl simply laughed, "you claim my family like it is yours. Remember that you came from nothing. And are still nothing. Kylo Ren was right to tell you that."
"Kylo Ren is dead." Rey fired back
"Because he was foolish. I shall finish what he started."
"Who is he to you?!" Rey hissed
"Take a guess, 'mother'." The girl spoke hauntingly before striking Rey with the blood-red saber, waking her up in a cold sweat.
Instantly, she sat up in bed, her eyes beginning to water and mind in pieces. It wasn't more than a few moments until Ben shot up and turned on the light, sensing Rey's distress.
"Another one?" He asked with concern
She nodded
"Tell me." He implored
"A girl... she was attacking me. She had just killed you. But she was so strong. Probably stronger than us together…"
"Rey," Ben began as he held her tightly. Throughout all their time knowing each other before these dreams, he'd never even suspected there were times when she would even have the capability to fall and cry in someone's arms. He was happy to be trusted enough to see her like this, but it wasn't the invincibly strong and courageous woman he knew Rey to be. The one that intimidated him during their battle on Starkiller base and the one that in almost her own way seduced him the first time they touched hands through the force bond. Something was deeply scarring her mind and he wished more than anything he could just take it away.
"Those dreams... they're not real. They're your fears testing you. Don't give in to them. That's what they want."
"What who wants?" Rey asked as the two fell silent.
"Rey, they're only dreams. Snoke was the last of the remnants of the Sith."
"There's never a last forever..." she spoke searching Ben's eyes. He felt the overwhelming truth in her proclamation but did not want to believe that killing Snoke would still not guarantee her protection.
"I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. Or her." He said laying a hand on her abdomen, "and you know that."
"And I guarantee that's exactly what your mother and uncle felt about you. But we can't always protect everything."
Her words pierced his heart like a rusted dagger. Had he not just taken down the first order to protect Rey, their daughter, and his mother?
"That's not what I mean." she clarified, "We cannot be Jedi, Ben. There is no way I can start a Jedi order."
"What do you mean?!" He asked in shock, "you have to continue what Luke started. What my mother is asking you to do. For the galaxy. I can't-"
"No! If we remain on the path to becoming Jedi we will imbalance the force. Just look at what I did on Ajan Kloss. How I attacked those First Order sympathizers..."
"Darkness..." he told her.
"Yes. But if we can learn to use it and not let it consume us, it will be our ally."
"Like a grey Jedi?" He questioned
"No. No Jedi. No Sith. We use light and darkness together. We use the force in its pure form."
"What are they going to say about this?" He asked concerned about the upcoming Newer Republic.
"They want to stick to their old ways. But that will only bring their downfall once again. The Republic relied on a Jedi order to protect it. Only for Palpatine and Darth Vader to rise. Years later after Luke rebuilt the new Jedi Order during the New Republic, Snoke would rise to counteract it. We have our examples Ben, the mistakes must end with us. Worst of all..." she said nearly succumbing to more tears, "the girl in the dream that killed us… she was ours. We can't let this happen to her." She said covering her eyes with her hand in guilt and frustration as she laid her head on the pillow.
Ben laid beside her and pulled her close to him, feeling her tears drench his shirt he kissed her gently on the head.
"I know you're strong, Rey. But whatever it is. I support you. We get through it together. Remember that you're not alone." He spoke echoing his words from the force bond that night.
"I know..." she whispered feeling comforted by his closeness.
"We'll be on the Endor moon tomorrow." He spoke softly gently pushing some of her hair away from her face, "I know you will love it there." He said trying to change the subject, "and after that... we go anywhere we want. We're free now." He said stroking her face soothingly, "and when we go to the meeting my mother is scheduling, we will tell them about training force users in balanced studies."
Rey took a deep breath into the warmth of his chest. "You have to teach me about the darkness. You're the only one of us who has trained heavily on both sides."
"If that's what you wish, I will." He finally agreed, "but promise me you'll never let it destroy who you are."
"I promise." She said, leaning her head on his shoulder and then smiled, "I love you, Ben."
"I love you." He spoke softly and kissed her. Before they found sleep take over them once again.
There was truly nothing like the support he gave her. Yes, they had a very intense past, but he'd been through it all and back and provided her with a strange sense of ease that when they stood together, everything would be alright.
Hey everyone! I'm so sorry I couldn't upload for a few days. I've been thinking about this storyline a lot and am still working on how to include the ideas I talked about before. Originally, since I started this story before the Rise of Skywalker came out, Rey really was going to be related to no one significant in this fanfiction, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it that way. Anyways, they're still going to have these looming threats from Rey's dreams and the demands from the Newer Republic for a new Jedi Order pulling at them from both sides, but there will be plenty of sad and sweet moments along the way too! Hope you enjoy and I'll try my best to make sure a new chapter can still be released at least every other day. Unfortunately, I go back to school Monday for my last semester of High school so it may have to change to once or twice a week :( Anyways, please review and let me know how you feel the story's going so far! Don't worry, it's not over yet, but some time restraints may affect how quickly new chapters come out. -Michelle