On Exegol: ten minutes before the death of the redeemed Ben Solo
Rey turned slowly, her posture and expression distraught with exhaustion. Her sparkling hazel eyes had dimmed as she stared around the Sith bastion. Her hands involuntarily parted, allowing the lightsabers she wielded to slip between her fingers, falling and hitting the ground with two soft clunks. Finn, Poe, and Ben are safe now. Everyone is. She thought to herself with a weary smile. She had protected the people she loved, but it came at a cost. She knew this, and weariness was tearing at the little life she had remaining. She could lie down now, knowing they'd be safe for a little while at least now that the sith were gone.
Aboard the Millennium Falcon, Finn froze, leaning against the curved wall of the ship. His very soul felt caved in, and his words were barely more than a breath. "No, Rey...", was all he said. He knew what had happened. The faint pull of the Force he contained had darkened, and his chest sank to his stomach with grief. He felt like bursting into tears and rushing to her side, but knew it was too late.
Rey's legs had buckled, and the girl fell to the ground with a dull thud, her body already having begun to grow cold. Her expression was blank, and her mind and thoughts slowed until they too, were blank. Her eyes remained open, staring at nothing, unblinking. The land around her small, still body was destroyed, with the statues having burst and scattering over the temple. The Sith Throne before her was as dark and evil as ever, yet undamaged by the collapsing stone building. Darkness gripped the withering remnants of her life force, until the light dissipated completely.
The moment was appalling, and almost unbelievable as Kylo Ren's torn and bleeding hands emerged over the edge of the ravine he had been flung into, grasping onto the stone desperately as he hauled his figure upwards. He felt like sleeping for a year, but this tiredness vanished instantaneously when he noticed the limp body a few yards away, eyes widening. A cold fear gripped him when he realized who it was. His garments showcased newly acquired holes, tears and rips from his painful battle with Palpatine, as well as his clinging climb up the cliff edge. But not of that mattered to him now. The physical pain was only a faint throb in the back of his mind, and he quickened his climbing pace. Kylo's breath was heavy as he dragged himself onto solid ground- thanking the Force, and whatever else there was to thank that he was on land again- pushing himself onto his feet and limping forwards.
He clutched his side with an arm, pain stabbing through the entirety of his body as he moved, and he stumbled forward with a grunt. He paused there for a moment, trying to regain control over his pain. "Please... please don't let her be gone.." he whispered, before trudging onwards. He couldn't quit now, not when her presence in the Force was still just barely there. Testing his weight on the ground, he stood, hurrying to the unmoving figure in front of the Sith Throne. He grimaced, falling yet again onto his hands and knees beside Rey, crawling next to her. Ben was obviously on the brink of unconsciousness himself, and did his best to hide this- to no avail.
The warmth, the light, was gone. Just like that their connection seemingly cut off. He stared at her, knowing now he was too late. That this was his fault. He pushed aside his own injuries and discombobulated thoughts, and lifted Rey's body gently, resting her lower-back on his legs and supporting the upper half of her body with his quickly tiring arms. His breath was heavy and trembling, and his usually indifferent manner was horrified as he looked her over, gazing at her unblinking, dull eyes. Lifting her body further, resting his chin on her shoulder and holding her body against his in a tight embrace that was so desperate, it was almost pitiful. Pressing his face against her chilled cheek, he waited, waited for any sign of life. A heartbeat? A breath?
Nothing.
He closed his eyes tightly, lowering her lithe body and supporting it partly with an arm, resting his other hand on her lower stomach and waist. Ben took a deep breath, closing his eyes, knowing fully well what he was about to do. He had to, he loved her. He had committed too many sins to count, and knew this would never account for them all. But maybe, just maybe, he could receive forgiveness from the one person that it mattered: Rey. Taking deep, steadying breaths, the weakened antagonist began to transfer his energy and life through himself to Rey. The Force was the perfect passageway at the moment, allowing him to send her his life in exchange for his own. He opened his mind, pouring whatever little life remained in him into the Force. He felt himself weakening as his life wrapped its arms around Rey's body, slowly joining with her and securing his success. Ben relaxed fully now, letting his posture droop with exhaustion.
Suddenly, a soft, smaller hand jolted upwards, resting on his and gripping onto it for support. Ben opened his eyes- feeling her light aura returning through their bond in the Force- to see Rey lifting her head to look at him, a small smile forming on her face as she pushed her frail body upwards. Rey was even more beautiful than the last time he'd seen her- alive at least. Her eyes had regained their shine, and through the dirt and blood caked on her skin was the person he cared for so deeply. The person who had saved him. Rey was understandably confused by what had happened, but warmth and compassion for Ben overtook her confusion. They stared into each other's eyes, which said more than any words could.
"Ben," Rey whispered softly, her voice a slight laugh as she continued to gaze into his glimmering brown eyes, lifting her hand and holding it gently against his cheek.
Ben Solo stared into the dazzling girl's eyes, his heart fluttering as Rey touched her fingertips to his cheek lightly. Rey hesitated, but not before reaching her face forward until their lips crashed awkwardly. She shifted, holding his face as their lips touched, locking in a kiss so magical its power could be felt within a several mile radius through the Force. Their growing love and compassion had finally emerged and shone itself. The kiss was something almost desperate, for they both knew- without wanting to accept the fact- it could very well be their last. They were more than two conjoined minds, they were now truly one in the Force. Their dyad in the Force had reached that of immense power, possibly more than the Force had ever experienced before. Ben wrapped his arms around her in a caress that he wished would never end, but he knew it would have to. Rey drew back, gazing at him as Ben let out a small chuckle, resulting in a grin from Rey. Her heart was beating loudly just as his was slowing, as the final wisps of his energy were stolen from him.
Rey was surprised at the sudden cold feeling of his face, and saw the scar she had given him across the face had faded and disappeared. She could feel the waning presence of his mind in hers, and this sensation only quickened by the moment. Her smile was gone in an instant, replaced by an expression of realization and an overwhelming grief as he started to fall backwards. Time seemed to slow as he partially slipped through her hands, which she now used to guide his falling body to the ground. Her heart shattered, and she let out a small gasping breath, tears suddenly streaming down her bleeding and grime-covered face in the surreal moment. Rey slowly leaned forward, laying beside Ben's cold and unmoving body. She slipped her arms under his torso, enclosing him in a hug. This lasted for a moment that seemed like eternity, until his body faded away- leaving only his tattered apparel behind. Rey fell the short distance to the ground- when a strange empty feeling flooded her, as if a part of her was missing. Their bond felt faded, dark, and lonely now that he was gone; and all the feelings a Jedi wasn't supposed to feel began to overwhelm her. She forced herself to sit up, pulling his now unoccupied clothes to her chest, shutting her watering eyes even as a soft, tender whisper filled her mind.
"I'll always be with you…" Ben had spoken so softly she wondered if she had imagined it. But nothing could have meant more to her in that moment. His voice faded slowly, and she reached out desperately as if attempting to hold on to his words, his voice, his endearment.
Her voice was barely more than a whisper when she mumbled the words, "No one's ever really gone..."