Chapter Six

A vast blue expanse, punctuated with islands that stuck out of the sea like emeralds. The waves crashed upon their shoals as they had for thousands of years, and still the islands endured. Where else in the universe could the First Jedi Temple have been created? Where else could the First Jedi Temple have endured the countless back and forth between the Dark and the Light side of the Force? And where else could Luke Skywalker have hidden for twelve years?

He had felt her the moment she had gone into hyperspace. In fact, he had felt her though the Force the moment she had come into her power. He wasn't quite sure who she was, but he could feel her. He had felt the reverberations of the Force even this far away from the Core Worlds. But he knew the moment she was coming for him. With growing sadness, he dreaded her approach. He could not have even fled Ahch-To if he wanted. His X-wing had fallen out of disrepair in the twelve years he had hidden on the forgotten planet of Ahch-To. He had long since stripped the craft of necessary parts. No, he would simply have to wait for the girl to find him.

And wait he did. Atop one of the highest climbs of the temple, he waited on hollowed ground. Many of the first Jedi Masters were buried amongst the rocks and moss. Jedi Masters and one other.

She said nothing as she approached him. He knew she was there. She had appeared out of the fog, and stood before him, her eyes weighted with sorrow. When he turned, she withdrew something from her bag he never thought he would see ever again: his first lightsaber. The lightsaber that had belonged to his father before him.

With his hood drawn back, they stood like that for what seemed like hours, but was only a few moments.

"You have much to tell me," Luke said, at last. The girl nodded once. Luke approached her. Considering the lightsaber for a moment longer, Luke seemed to sigh as he took the weapon with his biomechanical hand, and cast his eyes to the rocky ground. With the lightsaber secured within the folds of his robe, he started his descent on the treacherous stone steps. She did not need to be told to follow him.

After almost a half an hour of climbing, Rey and Luke had reached a distant part of the island, and walked into what looked at first like a cave. Rey, even in her fit state, was slightly winded after climbing as far as they did. She was still catching her breath when Luke had lit various torches in the room from the small fire that was alive in the corner.

Rey looked up and found that the cave was in fact not a cave at all, but a small room with a high, vaulted ceiling that narrowed at its highest point. It had a small opening at the top that let in the morning light. The walls were polished smooth, and held many inscriptions in a language that she did not recognize.

"Sit," Luke instructed, not bothering to turn towards Rey. He set about placing a kettle in the coals of the fire. Rey did as she was bid, and sat on a wicker chair close to the fire, still coming down from her exertion. By the time Luke had finished poking the hot coals and sat down, Rey felt electrified with nervousness. Luke had barely said ten words to her. Her mind raced as she thought of what she could possibly say to the Luke Skywalker.

"You have no reason to be nervous, girl," the gruff Jedi said as he sat on a small, nearby stone pedestal that at one point may have served as some kind of altar.

"I've been going over things in my head for days now, trying to think of what I would say to you."

His clear blue eyes scanned her. Skinny, but bright, full of potential, and beneath her exterior, he suspected she was very strong. Both physically and with the Force. Very much like someone he had once known, which he pushed from his mind as soon is as it came. "And what have you come up with?"

Rey took a moment. "You're the Resistance's only hope. We need your help."

Luke's eyes lit up, and Rey could have sworn she saw the hint of a smile behind them. "Never did I think I would be anyone's last hope."

"I was thrust into all of this only a matter of days ago," Rey added. "So much has happened, I hardly believe it myself. I don't understand a lot of it. I can only tell you what I have seen."

Luke wrapped his arms into the folds of his robe, and crossed his legs in front of him. "Start with Han." He wanted her to start there.

"Han?" Rey's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "But you can't possibly—"

"Have felt the disturbance in the Force from this far? Felt the surge in the Dark side when my nephew killed my best friend and brother-in-law?" Luke brought his left hand to his beard, and smoothed it slightly to center himself. "I think you had better start from the beginning."

So, Rey recounted the events preceding her arrival at Ahch-To. Meeting BB-8, Finn, Han, and her eventual capture by Kylo Ren. It was then that Rey described in vivid detail her use of the Force. She hadn't told anyone as much as she told Luke. Luke was silent, only taking a moment here or there to tend to their tea while she spoke, or run his hand over his beard in silent contemplation.

It was her account of her use of the Force that really got Luke's attention. He would have to come back to it soon.

"I see. And now you're here." A moment of silence passed. "I left for a reason. I failed. If I couldn't help before, I certainly won't be of any help now."

"Leia doesn't think so," Rey blurted out. She put her hand to her mouth for a moment, and then willed herself to continue. "General Organa, who lost so much. She still believes in you. Everyone does."

"And… how do they propose I help?"

"Leia, she…" Rey set her cup of tea down. "She wants you to try again. With the Jedi."

The pain in Luke's face was clear. "My padawans took years to find. To train. If you're looking for a swift end to the First Order, this isn't it."

In a moment of either sheer stupidity or brazen bravery, Rey volunteered herself. "I'll help. I'll do what ever you tell me to. Train me." Her stomach seized as she shocked herself with how readily she came to admit her desire to learn the ways of the Force.

Luke smiled. "You sound like a strong girl, very talented. But you're one person. And you have no idea how powerful Snoke really is."

"Not powerful enough to find you," Rey ventured.

"No… But the Light and Dark. They work differently. We can sense disturbances, but the Force isn't exactly like a homing beacon."

"I was told… a little of what happened. Han told me that it was Ben. It wasn't you. Snoke twisted his thoughts, planted seeds of doubt. You can't blame yourself for it forever."

"What happened," Luke nearly whispered, "I couldn't possibly describe to you how awful it was. And for me to have not seen it coming. I did fail. If I'm to never fail again, I must never try again." Suddenly, as if he were looking at the Force ghost of Master Yoda himself, he heard his words echo in his ears. Do, or do not, there is no try…

Rey had come all this way. If she couldn't convince Luke, what good was she to the Resistance? What good was anything she'd done so far? She cast her eyes down to the stone floor in defeat.

"I will train you." Luke spoke reluctantly. Rey lifted her head and searched Luke's expression. "For a period of time, and if I am pleased with your progress, I will consider further action. It can't be like the last time. I must be absolutely sure…"

Rey's eyes lit up, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"You shall address me as Master Luke during our training. What shall I call you, padawan?"

"Rey," she said.

Luke blinked several times. It was her. He was sure of it now. He would have to tell her eventually. He would have to be careful with her. Betraying nothing of his shock, Luke cleared his throat.

"Rey. Now," Luke said, walking towards the entrance to the room. "Take me to your ship—You have old friends of mine with you whom I would very much like to see."

AN: made a few changes and it's been updated. Apologies for any confusion there. As always, reviews are encouraged and appreciated. Reading your great comments gives me inspiration to continue. Also, if you are on Tumblr, I do have a blog associated with my writing, beneath-a-western-sky (both Off Autopilot and my other fic, the Chaos in Solitude, an Obi-Wan fic). I will occasionally post pictures and gifs that inspire me, will show up in the chapters, or may help you with picturing something I've written. Also there are some personal musings, if you're ever curious as to what I'm up to that's keeping me from writing. Cheers!