Chapter Text
‘Why did he do it?’ Rey found herself help move Kylo Ren out of harm’s way. He was badly hurt, stabbed by his master, Snoke, after disobeying his order of killing Luke Skywalker. Luke lunged at Snoke and started to battle.
“Go! Take Ben with you. I will come and find you” Luke promised.
Rey and a barely conscious Kylo escaped and she headed to a location, where Luke instructed her to go if they got separated. She rode the Millennium Falcon and left Luke with a heavy heart.
Their objective was to retract Ben Solo, a promise they both made to Leia. To not let Han Solo’s death go in vain, no matter the cost.
When they reached their destination, Rey used her force to carry Kylo into the wooden hut. Her training with Luke paid off. She laid Kylo on the floor and started attending his wounds.
Underneath his garment, his body was covered with scars. Luke had told her that the dark side is fueled by anger and pain.
‘Was it self conflicted?’ She wondered as she placed herbal medicine on his gaping wound. Rey knew tying him up would be pointless. She sat across him with her lightsaber in her hand, ready to fight Kylo Ren or console Ben Solo.
It took an hour for him to wake up, he rose quickly when he couldn’t identify his surroundings, then his body relaxed when his eyes set on Rey.
“Stop that” Rey resisted his mental intrusion. “I will kill you if I must”
Kylo was not used to dealing with force sensitive beings. He was used to getting his way all the time without any resistance.
“What happened?” he asked, unable to look her in the eyes. He did not have his mask to hide his face. He knew his eyes would betray him, showing concern for Luke.
“He will come back for us” Rey sounded hopeful.
Ben expected to wake-up in the afterlife. He had made his peace with his end when he threw himself in front of Luke and Rey, sacrificing himself; hoping he paid for his past mistakes.
He tried to get up, ignoring Rey’s lightsaber, but his body was weak; forcing him to fall back. He wanted to leave. Go far away as he can. He did not want to face Luke, his past, nor her … but his body won’t let him.
Rey saw his struggle and failed to mention that she had sedated him. She kept silent and continued to keep and watchful eye on his every move.
Kylo looked away, hating his weakened state being witnessed. He started drowning in self-pity and anger, but the bandages on his torso pulled him out it. She had tried to kill him twice and now she of all people is showing mercy. The unrest settled for him to say “Thank you”
Both felt a chill they have not experience before. A disturbance in the force.
You are weak, pathetic, scum like your smuggler father.
The last Jedi is dead. You are next.
“No, no, no, no, noooo” Ben jumped, startling Rey. Ben started pounding his head with his fist. Wanting to get Snoke’s voice from his head.
“He’s dead” Ben said the words with great difficulty.
Before he spoke those words, she knew. Rey relaxed her hold on the lightsaber.
The man in front of her was no longer Kylo Ren, but a remorseful Ben Solo.
She kneeled down, placed her hand on his shoulder to console him. Being Luke’s padawan for a few months, she found a father she had never had. He taught her many lessons of the Jedi and life as well. He warned her of the dark side. She wanted to go after Snoke and avenge Luke, but she knew what she had to honor their promise.
To keep Ben in the light.