[Important note: This chapter introduces a sequence where events are happening simultaneously. The descriptions written in italics are through Rey's perspective in a dream-like limbo. I recommend reading this chapter while listening to Moonlight Sonata, and hope you enjoy!]
Falling through the dark nighttime sky prompted memories that were long forgotten. They came to her like waves, crashing and disbursing just as quickly as they appeared. Images flowed through her mind like a flip-book. Constantly changing, without giving the full picture.
She saw herself as a child wearing a noble dress. The image dissolved into a blurred scene of a woman embracing her younger self, as Ben Solo stood in the background. Flashbacks appeared to flow more quickly and less vividly, until they reached her last memory.
As memories ceased, the freeze-framed picture of Ben reaching for her, along the cliffside, was frozen in her mind. His phantom presence was pulled away into the a bright light as her limp body crashed into the water.
The force of the impact knocked the breath out of her. Submerge beneath the sea, her body sank deeper and deeper into the vast nothingness. Under the sea, it was too dark to see, too quiet to hear, and too numb to feel.
Rey was completely alone with her conscious mind. For the first time ever, she was completely awake. Her last bit of breath expelled before her eyes fell shut.
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Rey was aware that her conscious had traveled far beyond, and left it's vessel elsewhere. Being in the endless green was easier than living. Here, she could enjoy the warmth of the sun's rays without feeling thirst. The paradise shielded her from any hardship. Within this utopia, she could guard her heart. Before long, she began to forget how she had gotten there.
His tense body plunged into the murky sea only moments after hers. Rather frantically, he searched through the waters. Underneath the rough waves was utter darkness. Those keen eyes could not find her within the shadows.
Bare feet traveled through the open plain, full of purple blossoms. Unexpectedly, Rey caught site of a small child. A soft smile pulled across her lips, as she stalked after them. Her mind could not fathom why they would be here. From behind, she could not make out the details of the child's face, but only that of the dark locks that rested upon their shoulders. From such a distance, the youth reminded her of a younger Ben Solo.
For a moment, he hovered under the water completely motionless. Mind was focused, as tempers cooled. Though she was near, he could no longer feel her presence. Her life force had faded. Rey was gone. A feeling of utter emptiness overtook his entire being. He could not go on without her. He would not. Just as hopelessness began to eat away at his broken heart, the moonlight peeked into the water.
Rey continued to follow the child until they came near a cliff's edge. Seeing such a young one near the edge, made her feel uneasy. The child began to turn to face her, but the brightness of the sun skewed her vision.
The moonlight was just bright enough to highlight Rey's sunken silhouette. With every passing moment, the light began to fade as if it were her very life. The clouds above meaning to mask the moon's true radiance. With all his strength and great speed, he glided through the heavy current.
As her vision was blinded by the soaring light, the child turned and edged closer to the cliff's end. Before they fell, Rey grasped them within her arms. She embraced them with a maternal like bond, while kind eyes glance over their face. At that moment, the light illuminating from the sun seemed to dim.
Just before the light dissipated, he rose above the water's surface holding his motionless maiden. His muscular arm grasped her ever so tight. Though the storm had began to dispatch, the waves in the water were still fierce. It took all his strength to get them both to the shore.
Upon seeing the child's face, Rey's mouth fell open. Every detail of his face resembled Ben, except for his eyes. The eyes that stared back at her were her own. The same child that was shown to her through prophesy only moments before her descent. Rey peered over the cliff, and a flash of Ben reaching out, reminded her of her fall. Looking back at the child, she knew she could not stay here.
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Legs weighed down by grief shuffled through the white sands. Falling to his knees, he lowered her absent body against the cold wet sand.
At this moment, time was everything. Though, such an abstract idea presented itself in different forms. For instance, in terms of a ticking clock, he had no time to waste. He had not a second to think about how he was invading her, with the very breath in which he gave. Yet, time was slipping away, as he beat upon her heart. No span of days past seemed as important as this one. When compared to the vast reaches of both time and space, and other galaxies far far away… this moment held no gravity. But to him, this moment was eternal. If she did not wake, time would have no meaning or rather stop all together. If she died, he would die too.
"Rey…" his mournful words uttered out her name. Like breathing, the words expelled so easily the name he wished to speak everyday, until the end of times.
The background scenery faded, and she was all that lay before him. No sound swayed in the shrub, nor crash of wave met the shore. One last time, he lowered his lips upon hers. It was not the kiss of passion that his fantasy had run wild with. Instead, it was that of life.
Whatever bond that bound them, borrowed life from within him. He would forever be a part of her. After his breath filled her lungs, determined lips pulled away.
The feeling of his warmth pulled through her veins, and graced her heart with a slow but steady beat. After taking in his breath, her weary eyes gently opened.
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She did not look upon her savior, but rather the man whom she had saved. Her shaky hand lifted to place itself onto his scarred cheek. While locked within his gaze, she knew the face that looked back at her was Ben. Though he might be scarred, he had returned. His will abandoned the order, betrayed the knights, and left behind the mask.
Never could he completely absorb the light. However, he could use his darkness to aid the moonlight's true brilliance. He would worship the moon, if she allowed him to grace her bright aura with his ebony shadow.
His face pushed against her hand, while his own hand reached up to grasp atop hers. Slowly his lips turned into her hand, and eased across her palm and the full length of her fingers.
An action that soothed her spirit. The soft gesture sent an intoxicating sensation through her nerves. When he noticed how her body trembled, strong arms pulled her weakened form into his bare chest.
"A child…" her lips muttered against his ear before nuzzling into the warmth of his neck.
Words were too obscure to unravel. Though he found her secret intriguing, he choose not to press the issue, not now. A whisper he planned to later reveal, when the time was right. For now, he just enjoy their conflict being set aside.
The storm was over.
Tasting her salty skin was evidence that she was real. This was not a dream, and her cold fragile body lay cradled in his arms. If she allowed him, he would give her every bit of warmth his body harvested. Tender lips travel to place themselves atop her forehead. A kiss intended to bring her some comfort. His strong arms pulled her even tighter against his form, as he took to his feet.
Just as he stood, Luke made his presence known. He approached Ben without a word spoken. The deafening silence invaded their intimate moment, as sharp eyes looked upon them.