After Rise

Black

Rey wakes up immediately with sweat falling from her forehead. She's breathing heavily and looks around to ground herself and calm down. She quickly realizes she's on her ship and no one's here to hurt her.

The anxiety is too much for her to remain seated. She stands and looks for any form of threat. She soon enough finds nothing. The weird feeling in her stomach doesn't go away.

A lot of worrying thoughts come to her mind but she still refuses to connect to the force.

She was scared to connect and meditate again. But annoyingly, the anxiety would not go away. It felt like she was going to pass out from the growing worry.

Rey finally agrees to sit down and meditate for the first time in months.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in. Calm finally reaches her.

Light. The energy surrounds and penetrates every living thing. It binds the galaxy. Dark. Balance.

Rey finds it hard to concentrate but tries either way. It's never been so hard to focus and meditate. But it had been months since she last did this. Very slowly and almost timidly she reaches a point of concentration where it's just her and the force.

It calls to her. It is loud. It is inevitable. She reaches for it. It is close. She can feel it.

"Be with me. Be with me. Be with me. Be. With. Me."  Whispers Rey.

Suddenly she sees this image of the island once again. Waves crashing. Vast white sand. A cool breeze. Greenery. With her eyes still shut, a small smile forms on her lips. Peace. This island means peace. It is big. It is vast. All for her.

She takes in the beauty. Suddenly she feels embraced. She looks around but there's no one here with her. Is it the wind? The force? It has to be. But as time goes on it feels like a hug. Someone's hugging her. She tries to turn around but the force doesn't allow it. Rey grows frustrated trying to figure out what this all means. Why does she feel complete and then it is just taken away from her? Here and outside the force too. It is not fair.

"Please. Show me what this means. What does it mean?"

Her request seems to not be answered. She sighs. While dwelling on the ways of the force a rush of warmth and care reaches Rey. It feels like life was given back to her. She feels whole. Like she could do anything she wanted to. She breathes in this new air of purpose and hope.

"What is going on?"

"Please show me what to do now. I've lost my masters. I've lost friends. I've lost my equal in the force. I'm alone. I have no one to talk to. Please. Be with me."

The warmth and embrace cover Rey once again. It soothes her and calms her questioning. She accepts it and feels the peace go inside her heart and very soul. The island breeze caresses her face again and her frowns leave.

"Rey. You will never be alone." Leia's voice sounds.

"Leia."

"I can't see you," Rey says, trying hard to look for the general.

"Rey. Your destiny is greater than you know it to be. You are all the Jedi. One of a dyad. A thousand generations live in you now. You are Rey Skywalker. You are not alone."

Luke sounds now.

"Master. I can't see you?"

"Why can't I see you two?" Reys says almost in a whisper.

"Rey. The force knows and lives in all things. It made you, you. A leader of democracy in the galaxy. A part of a dyad before your birth. It is a gift that cannot be taken away. Ever. Two that are one. Soulmates." Leia says, sounding happy. Rey can envision her smile.