The grassy plains of the planet Sicemon stretch all the way to the horizon. A warm and welcome wind sweeps the flowing green blades, travelling up the hills and down into boundless valleys, lakes, and ravines. With only a single sun, Sicemon's sky remains cloudless and blue most of the day, and Rey enjoys it for a moment.
Some time has passed since the Battle of Othkore, and Rey herself has changed. She wears a long garb, handmade and reminiscent of both the Jedi of old and her own unique, practical flare. Her long sleeves protrude from a graceful cloak covering a crossed tunic and leather belts. Her hood is down, allowing her long hair to flow in the breeze, one part weaved into an intimate Chandrilan braid. Her lightsaber glints in the midday sun, but Rey is holding something else in her hands. Far from the caring and personal build of her clothes and lightsaber, the doll is frayed, worn, and impersonal. Its expressionless face stares up at Rey, who has carried it with her since she was a girl, since That Day. She caresses its thin frame, the circular white scar on her hand catching the light. Rey isn't one for long periods of reflection, and decides she's had her fill.
Kneeling down in the grass, Rey makes a small hole in the soil with one hand and places the doll inside. She takes one last look at it, then piles the dirt back atop it, burying it from view. Plumping the grass around the disturbed mud she finally stands, allowing herself to pause, to breath as the grassy plains breath, before turning her back on the doll forever. She no longer has any need for it.
As Rey's cloak and hair billow in the wind, she approaches the shadow of a vast structure; the stone octahedron temple hovers atop a grass topped hill, the bottom peak just brushing the grass, dwarfing all around it in sheer scale. The vegetation growing atop its walls have spread far, and bloom in the Sicemon sun in bright colours of spring. Rey approaches the southern point of the temple, and ascends a flight of criss-crossing stairs she had commanded to form earlier. As she walks through the familiar walkways and corridors on the way to her destination, she comes across small creatures that appear to be short nuns with fish-like faces and scaly legs. In truth, they were once the caretakers of the Jedi Temple on Ahch-To. Now, after reaching out to Rey who travelled there, they have convinced her to allow them to work on the upkeep of the temple Rey and her new Jedi call home. And there's plenty of work to go around.
Rey pauses and moves either side of the path as several caretakers bustle past her, gardening tools in hand, ready to prune the growing fruits and foodstuff located near the outer walls of the temple. Others carry buckets of water, or tend to the grassy flooring under Rey's boots. Rey stays out of their way, hoping not to annoy them more than she needs to. She does chuckle slightly as one of them chases an offending porg with a home-fashioned broom, a stolen fruit clutched in its tiny teeth.
Rey hurries on, hoping she won't be late and miss the take off. She reaches the temple's main hangar, and discovers she has ample time. Several familiar ships are fueling up and undergoing flight checks, preparing for long hyperspace journeys. Rey lifts a hand and calls to the closest friend she can see.
"Rose!"
Between the corridors of X-Wings, A-Wings, B-Wings, Y-Wings, TIE Daggers and larger troop transports, a smaller transport pod sits nestled with three people standing before it. Tunine and Jaytu are dressed in handsome uniforms and headgear, designating them formally as guards. Rose herself is dressed in a formal tunic, belt, and handsome long jacket. No longer a simple mechanic, technician, and sometimes medic; Rose is an ambassador for a new galactic power. The cogs of galactic progress and innovation have advanced considerably in the wake of the Final Order's fall, the abandonment of the Stormtrooper Corps, and the complete decommission of Othkore's armament and shipyards. Leading the charge into a bright future is the Resistance and some allies around the systems liberated during the Battle of Othkore, uniting to form the 'Allied Republic'. The crest of this organisation adorns Rose's lapel and the uniform of her friends and guards; a pointed starbird haloed by a golden light. Rose turns to see Rey and positively beams.
"I hoped you'd see us off!" She says hurriedly. Jaytu and Tunine catch her eye, and try not to smile. Rey smiles at them anyway.
"You will let me know when you reach-"
"Of course, of course," interrupts Rose with a wave of her hand. "But you must tell me of your progress, and the next place you decide to take root in!"
Rey laughs.
"I think we've got a lot of exploring to do first."
"Right." Rose nods. "Ok then, we're off."
Rey beams at her, appreciating how professional she looks with sleek clothes and a new haircut and role, but Rose can't deal with such pleasantries. She wraps her short arms round the Jedi's waist and squeezes tight.
"We'll visit you and Ben soon, ok?"
Rey squeezes Rose with one arm. "Of course, Ambassador!"
Rose tries to hide her blush as she scurries up her ship's short landing pad. Jaytu and Tunine tip their hats at Rey, who winks back at them. Before she disappears, Rose peeks out from her ships' entrance.
"Oh, Rey! She's waiting for you!"
Rey straightens her cloak and nods, allowing her garb to flow carelessly around her as she turns and begins to run, searching through the corridors of ships. She approaches the mouth of the hangar, where Resistance ships are loading up conscripts and younger cadets rescued from the Reconditioning Division, ready to embark on the long journey to find their home. Rey turns a corner and finds herself in the handsome shadow of a yacht dubbed The Lady Luck. Chewie and Lando are already loading up crates and miscellaneous luggage, with Chewie doing more of the carrying and Lando more of the overseeing. R2 and 3PO seem to be arguing over the destination of their holiday, but Rey can't find the one who she searched for.
"There she is," says a kind voice behind her.
Rey sets eyes on Leia, dressed in a large colourful coat. Her cane clicks eloquently as she and Rey approach and embrace. Rey feels a sudden calmness fall over her.
"I couldn't let you go cruising 'round the galaxy without a goodbye!" Rey begins cheekily.
Leia shakes her head and tuts, pointing a ringed finger at Rey.
"It's only for a few weeks and then-"
"-then Rose and Poe will take care of everything because it's their job," finishes Rey, sternly. "You promised."
Leia scowls. "Alright," she concedes. "But what about your promise?"
Rey's mock sternness dissipates, replaced by a genuine grin. "Yes, I'll look after him."
"...And?" Leia pushes.
Rey laughs. "And I'll make sure he's not too hard on himself. I know."
Leia nods, both smirking at their little joke. She holds Rey's hand for a moment, returning to genuine affection. Leia begins to speak, but Rey's too fast.
"May the Force be with you, Leia."
Leia is caught by surprise, but surveys Rey with a genuine, loving smile. A moment passes before she straightens up.
"Right! 3PO, let's get this superfluous boat in the sky."
Leia strides off to board the yacht, closely followed by her golden protocol droid who waves his arms.
"Errr, yes! Ah, Gener- I mean Princes- I mean-"
"And enough with the titles!"
3PO waves his hands in distress, whilst R2 laughs at him with a series of beeps. Rey watches them go and moves to the edges of the hangar. The mismatched fleet of the Allied Republic rises into the air a few at a time, hovering through the large hangar into the blazing Sicemon sun. Slowly they rise into the atmosphere and, one by one, they enter hyperspace. Rey watches them go, until she is left alone in the stone hangar. She retreats and spots a familiar ship still grounded. A modified U-Wing transport, decked in colours of blue and orange and the personal ship of Poe Dameron, leader of the Allied Republic navy. Rey circles around the ship looking for it's pilot and finds him, clasped to another person Rey had questioned the whereabouts of. Rey shakes her head, and clears her throat.
"All ready to go, General Dameron?"
Poe breaks away from Finn to stare at Rey. They'd been kissing quite passionately in the shadow of his ship, but the shame of being seen now paints Poe's face. Finn has no such shame, and almost laughs at Poe's comically vexed expression.
"Yes, Rey! I was, just, ah-" Poe stammers. Finn comes to the rescue, clasping his partner by the shoulder and beaming at Rey.
"We've just decided on a name for her!"
Finn nods at the ship before them, placing his hands into the pockets of his handsome coat. Finn leans against his wooden staff, his handsome navy tunic billowing in the draft of the hangar. Rey unfolds her arms and gets giddy herself.
"Oh! Wow! What have you named her?"
The three friends stand in the shadow of the starship, Finn's smiles broadly and outstretches a hand dramatically.
"The Orange Exogrub!"
Rey waits a moment before she laughs. Finn chuckles as Poe punches him on the shoulder, amused.
"Stop, I love the name you came up with."
Poe grins as he looks upon their ship. "The 'Phoenix Wing' gives it that right level of...you know..."
Poe sniffs, his love for Finn and starships in general overcoming him momentarily. Finn squeezes him closer and Rey tries not to laugh. Poe wipes a tear away discreetly, and pulls Finn into a close hug.
"Gonna miss you so much, buddy."
"You too," Finn closes his eyes and enjoys the embrace. "I'll see you soon."
Poe breaks away and slaps Finn's chest with the back of his hand.
"Yeah you will," he begins. "And you!"
He pulls Rey into a comically strong bear hug that makes Rey choke.
"Don't let him out of your sight!"
"I won't!" Retorts Rey, casting a devious eye on Finn.
"Or him," Poe adds.
They break apart. A familiar whistle beep signals the arrival of a small droid from the depths of the Phoenix Wing - BB-8. His colours of white, orange and blue match that of Poe's starship, and he waddles up to Rey, excitedly.
"I'm happy to see you too!" Rey coos back to him, affectionately stroking his antennaed head.
"I thought you, Ben, and Finn might need some extra company on your journeys, so-"
Rey bows her head, respectfully. "Thanks Poe."
Poe nods, then holds Finn's forehead to his for a moment of calm. He breaks away and climbs aboard without turning back. The large starfighter rises into the hangar, parts its wings, and shoots rapidly out of the hangar, disappearing into the blue. Rey and Finn wave it off, Finn going for a little longer as he lets his love for Poe take a backseat for a while.
"Finally, I don't have to wonder where you've disappeared to in the evenings!" Teases Rey to lighten the mood.
They both make their way to the back of the hangar, ascending stairs into the temple's depths. Finn turns to her, completely abashed.
"Well now I have to deal with you two all the time, pretending not to gaze at each other..."
The two friends laugh at Rey's expense for a moment, entering the temple control room. It's been reformed to only be operated by the three of them. BB-8 rolls over to a smaller terminal and begins to work its mechanics. Before Finn gets to work, Rey stops him.
"Are you sure you're ready?"
Finn turns, standing tall.
"Yeah. There's lots of things I want to do, places I want to go… but this awakening inside me. I want to learn the ways of the Force, with you."
Rey's heart swells, and she places a hand on her old friend's shoulder.
"Well, the Skywalker Temple is as much your home as it is mine, now."
She approaches the stone astrolabe and flexes her influence in the Force. The stone rings move of their own accord, aligning to pinpoint their next destination, marked by a glowing crystal star and glyph. Rey pauses before it, thinking.
"We're different to the generations of Jedi that came before us." She tells Finn. "We'll travel to the edges of the galaxy, trading knowledge, helping where we can, taking students, and watching over those who need us."
She takes a deep breath, but Finn joins her at the astrolabe. His answer is written all of his face - he's in. More than that;
"Hey, you're a pilot, this is a ship, and you can go anywhere." His hand squeezes her shoulder. "I'm ready when you are."
She nods, and they take their stations. Rey inputs coordinates whilst Finn turns the large stone sphere that anchors the Sky Temple's axis and path. The stone monolith lifts away from Sicemon plains, and begins to hover into the air.
"Oh, also," pipes up Finn, curious. "I heard some spacers on Coruscant discussing the legendary Heir to Victory!"
He smirks, watching Rey for her reaction. "Your and Ben's story is becoming quite the legend!"
Rey shakes her head slightly, flattered.
"And what about the historic Stormtrooper Rebellion that nobody will stop talking about?"
Finn grins smugly.
"Fair enough."
The temple lifts further into Sicemon's atmosphere, as they watch the bright blue sky through the viewport opposite. BB-8, having aided the temple in it's hyperspace calculations, asks a question of Rey that Finn joins in on.
"Yeah! Where is the other 'Heir to Victory'? Is Ben ok on his own?"
Rey had been staring longingly at the sky, thinking on the journey ahead when the mention of Ben brought a smile to her face.
"He's off on a personal mission," she replies quietly. "And he's never alone."
Half a galaxy away in the western reaches, it's night on the junkyard planet of Jakku. Tuanul Village is a small encampment of survivors living near Kelvin Ravine. Several makeshift houses are dotted in a circle around a moisture tower and power generator. The huts and tents around are built and maintained by several volunteer builders, engineers and sentries. The villagers meander around, most turning in for the night.
A man dressed in a long dark tunic and shroud works away, rebuilding a homestead. His hands are dusty and worn from the days work, and most of his colleagues have retreated. He sets another brick down in the creation of an outer wall, and decides to continue on tomorrow.
He takes a sip of his water tankard and approaches the edge of the encampment. At each of the entrances, a sentry sits watch, looking for predators of the Jakku desert. The shrouded man approaches, waving the nearest guards away to pursue a well earned rest. The guard bows his head in appreciation and hobbles off, taking his blaster rifle with him.
The shrouded man approaches the watchpost and sits, his bare forearms bristling in the cold night breeze. Under the light of the watchposts lantern, his clothing is put into sharp relief. Though his shroud is dusty from his work, his garb is impressively made and hangs loosely off his tall frame. The uniform marks him as what will be known as a Jedi Watchman, as the dual belts and silver lightsaber glint in the candid light. Ben Solo removes the wrap from his head, and pushes his hair out of his eyes. It's just him and the long watch now, but the redeemed Jedi is committed. Where there was once aggressive turmoil, now peace and determined purpose. Before him, Jakku's dual moons halo his silhouette, and Ben Solo braves the cold. But not for long.
Familiar footsteps sound behind him and something warm falls onto his shoulders and back. Ben doesn't need to look up to know that Rey is there, through the power of their bond. Her cloak is still warm from her body heat and he pulls it around him, noticing her approach.
"When are you coming home?" She asks, softly.
Ben looks past Rey's legs to the village behind him. Over two years ago, he hunted the map to his uncle here and left destruction and death in his wake. Now, the Millennium Falcon is parked just below, in an outcropping, waiting to take him back to her. But he still has a lot to do.
"Not long," he promises.
Rey is wiser to his feelings by now, even with being his equal in the Force. As he sits with his hands on his knees, she steps over him and perches herself upon the sand before him, her back to his chest.
"Then I'll stay, for a while."
She can't see but Ben smiles wide. He encloses her shoulders in his arms, and gives her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Thank-you," he whispers to her.
It's one of those phrases that can mean something so simple or encompass rich appreciation, a boundless gratitude. For Ben, it's the latter. And Rey knows, even from across the stars. She tears her eyes away from the night sky and takes in his moonlight face before kissing him back. For many years, Rey had stared at this very same sky, but with Ben, it feels like something completely different. And she doesn't hesitate to let him know.
The couple return to watching the stars and dual moons before them, occasionally catching the odd ship streak to lightspeed. The night is quiet as they hold each other, fighting off the cold with shared warmth. As they watch the moons move through the sky, two spectres appear behind them to overlook the quietly jubilant scene. The faint vision of Anakin and Luke Skywalker, father and son, gaze graciously upon the couple together, and at the promising future that lies ahead.
The circle is truly complete.
THE END