Time had no meaning on Ahch-to. The uninhabited planet was always calm and serene. The heat of the sun was accompanied by a cool breeze, which made for a good balance. A place where one could truly clear their mind, and rid themselves of the burdens in life. However, deep down Rey knew a storm was brewing.
She was practicing her meditation on a large rock that extended to form a cliff overlooking the ocean. The sun was at her back. Her hands were placed on the ground, and her legs in the air. Those arms were strong and steady in perfect stance.
"Flowing through all, there is balance." she remembered her teachings. She raised her left arm, and held all her weight on the other. Her mind then wandered to her first meeting with the Jedi Master.
"You have taken your first step into a larger world." Those were the first words he had spoken to her. They were words that felt so familiar, for she heard them in a vision spoken by another. The man behind the gray robes was wise and cynical. Yet, he had a kindness about him. Rey feared that the hint of kindness was all that remained of her hero, Luke Skywalker.
"Fear will misguide you." A voice echoed in her mind. Luke's wisdom came from his experiences, and his distrust from a heartbreaking betrayal. She had witnessed a chapter of this betrayal first hand. A moment in time that still plagued her nightmares. Even so, Rey could not hate Kylo Ren, nor could she kill him. The bond they shared triumphed Ben Solo's alter ego, Kylo Ren.
While still holding a perfect stance, her mind dwelled on him. Being apart left a greater feeling of desolation than she had felt on Jakku. Her heart, body, and soul ached to feel whole. The consequences of their bond was a secret she hoped to keep to herself. Reluctantly, in time Rey would confide in her master. She needed guidance, and Luke was her only hope. In truth, Rey felt that Luke already knew.
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Kylo Ren stomped down the hallway of The First Order's Star Destroyer, Finalizer. He heard talk that The First Order had located the Resistance's new base. Masked and menacing as ever, he approach General Hux.
"Is it true? You have located the Resistance base?" his voice was firm and his body sturdy.
A slight grin crossed Hux's face as he stared back at Kylo Ren. Hux knew he posed no direct threat to him. Though, he did remain silently cautious from having witnessed many of Ren's outbursts.
"Indeed. Preparations for our attack are being made as we speak. I do hope you accompany the raid. After all, it has been a long time since you were reunited with your mother." Hux's tone was smug, and he hoped to get under his skin.
Kylo Ren remained calm on the outside. Within, was a different story. The realization of a confrontation with General Organa, his mother, set in. He turned away and stood silently for a moment before Hux spoke again.
"And the girl… There is no doubt that we will be able to obtain the map to Luke Skywalker's whereabouts. Supreme leader Snoke feels that your training is near complete. The Knights of Ren will escort you on a mission to destroy the scavenger scum, and your old master."
Hux had once again got the best of Kylo Ren. The mere mention of Rey's name made his blood boil. Rage filled his face behind the mask. He turned back towards Hux. His glare was so sharp that it felt like he was piercing through Hux's flesh. His dominate hand clenched into a fist.
Hux suspected that Ren had developed some kind of attachment to the girl he called Rey. More so, his reaction confirmed it.
The urge to strike Hux down filled his entire being, but he restrained himself. The blood coursed through his veins, and his muscles twitched."There will come a day where you find that you are directly in the way of my path." He turned and began to walk away. "Keep me well informed on those preparations."
Upon entering his quarters, Ren plopped onto his mattress. After unclasping his helmet, he slammed it down beside him. Mind racing, he could not shake his hesitancy to confront Rey. During their outer body encounter, he had seen her memory of the map while his head rested on her shoulder. He had not been searching for it. Instead, it came to him. A part of him wondered if she had given it to him, for reasons that remained unknown. Regardless, he needed to regain his direction, but had no one to turn to.
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Rey lowered her left arm, and raised her right. A balancing act that was slightly more difficult. Her stance still as strong and steady as a stone.
Luke stood nearby and observed his student before murmuring a part of the Gray Jedi Code. "There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide."
The word passion struck her. She pondered her own motivations. Was it the desire to know about her past and where she came from? Those were questions that still remained unknown and unspoken. Throughout her time with Luke, her mind had been full of wonder. However, she held back her questions.
"Be patient," she reminded herself, and she tried to look towards the future. Somewhere within, Rey knew the truth. Her motives were pure. The light had guided her to her destiny. One that led her away from her life on Jakku, and put her directly in the path of Kylo Ren.
"Let go of your fear, Rey." Luke spoke within Rey's mind.
Her lids grew heavy and her mind drifted while those hazel eyes lay shut.
"There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide." Rey continued to dissect the meaning of these words. Her left arm was still supporting her handstand. The stance was as steady as her beating heart.
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The even thuds echoed loudly inside her head. Sounds of a rapid heartbeat obstructed the fluid rhythm. Rey found herself within a realm, one not of this world. This vision was quite different from her others. This time she was only but an onlooker, and was unable to interact.
Far in the distance, her eyes caught a glimpse of two cloaked forms. By their stature, one could tell they were a male and female. The male was much taller and wore black. The black cloak was a heavy contrast to the woman's pure white robe. Her sharp eyes focused on their faces, but they were hidden behind the flowing cloth.
Without hesitation, the figures embraced before connecting at the lips. Unsure of what this meant, Rey began to run towards the figures. She hoped to catch a glimpse of them. As she ran, the ground began to fall from under her feet. Her pace was quick, and she denied returning to reality.
After a while, the forms dissolved. Suddenly, before her laid a stream. Silence filled the air, while she got lost looking at her own reflection. For a moment, Rey was bewildered by the white fabric that pulled around her neck and flowed down to her feet. The rapid heartbeat penetrated the deafening silence. It's rapidness strongly inverse of the stream's steady motion.
Strong arms pulled around her waist from behind. A new warmth brushed against her cheek. She gasped at the sudden connection, and her head jolted to the side only to meet the gaze of Kylo Ren. Black material draped down his body. Silent moments passed, and neither blinked. His eyes locked on to her like a predator hunting it's prey.
Before long, his rapid heartbeat was interrupted by her own. The sound of her own steady beat enticed him. So much, that his own calmed and matched her rhythm. Thuds perfectly in sync. He leaned in towards her lips, inches away. Frightened by his closeness, Rey pulled away from him. Her reaction caused the vision to crumble.
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While within her vision, Rey had been channeling the force without knowing. Many boulders gravitated around her as she meditated. The sudden break of the trance had forced the boulders down. Shortly after, Rey's arms gave out, and her body tumbled over. A rough landing that sent her head crashing against the solid formation in which she had been meditating on.
The sun had long set, and a vast amount of stars filled the sky. Rey's body was wrecked. She was barely able to get back onto her feet. Before looking, she felt Luke's presence. He had observed it all. Shame overwhelmed her, and words could not be formed. Tears developed as she finally made contact with his light eyes.
"I should have told you." Rey expressed regrettably. "I still feel like he is in my head." The word began to flow more easily.
Luke took a moment to consider her words. Indeed, he had known about their bond since their first encounter. He felt Kylo Ren's presence marked within her. A presence that he had not felt in some time. "The bond you share with him is inherently unconditional love."
Rey was taken back for a moment. Fear tugged within her stomach. "I feel nothing for him." Her words were quick and firm.
A soft sigh escaped his lips and he gently responded, "but you will. I have seen it."
Tears made their way down her cheeks. The warmth she had felt had faded into a cold sweat. "I could never. He killed Han Solo," she muttered lightly. It was not clear if she trying to convince herself, or Luke.
Luke walked over to her stunned frozen form. He touch her shoulder in hope to ease her pain and offer her a bit of comfort. "Kylo Ren killed Han Solo. However, Ben Solo spared your life. He is lost in darkness. Ben needs your help. He could still come back." His words mirrored Maz Kanata.
Suddenly, Rey realized that the person Maz spoke of was not Luke, but Ben.
"Rest young one, for tomorrow we have a lot to discuss." With that said, Luke disappeared into the night.
Weak legs carried her down the narrow jagged pathway that led to the Millennium Falcon. Once aboard, Rey quietly descended to her room. Similar to her dwelling on Jakku, her room only had the basic essentials. Across the small enclosure was a bunk. Though it was hard and worn out, Rey was currently thankful for it. Her battered body got much needed comfort from laying back against it. No longer could she stop herself from sobbing. It had been weeks since she had a good cry. Soon her body would submit to rest.
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Like a million knives striking at once, Kylo Ren felt a deep pain. The feeling caused him to take a step back. His lips let out a long breath, while his mind tried to grasp what was happening. He sensed the pain was undoubtedly hers. He had the sudden desire to call to her. Instead, he walked over to the window within his quarters and stared at the emptiness of space.