Salvation To My Stars • Kylo Ren [2]

LIV

Jude's Pov

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The music spun around us, lifting away gravity. I couldn't count how many times I had squished her foot under my own. Still she smiled brightly as our heels clicked over the ballroom floor. I watched as her hair fell out and bounced more with each move and beat. This was perfect. This was dancing and art coming to life, strong pointed moves didn't matter here. My new prosthetic hand carefully touches the delicate skin on her dance, scared I might not be able to control it. All that mattered now was the person in front of me. Her smile was radiating the room as she spun around, twirling at every chance she got. Nalani Trelawney was absolutely captivating as the band played on.

Pilots dressed in their best tapped their feet to the beat, ground troops celebrated with drinks, Naboo's monarchy even put down their duties to smile. Queen Elämä sat at her throne, giggling willingly as she watched her subjects and friends have fun. Nalani's father, Kabel danced with Anfra's wife and Bli spun his wife around the room.

"Look," Nalani pointed as Cedar and Bellamy made their way to the centre of the glimmering ballroom. "She's smiling!"

A warmness took over me as I watched my sister take the dance floor. I have never seen her this happy, ever. It was refreshing and oddly beautiful to watch her and Cedar sway back and forth, laughing like teenagers.

We are teenagers. We aren't your usual teenagers, I suppose. One of us was brainwashed, the other was killed, one of us had nothing and the other fought for everything. One of us came from darkness and the other was murdered for being a murderer. We are teenagers, but we've seen too much to be referred to as kids.

Uncle Luke cuts in as the band starts a new song. "May I?"

Nalani grins, looking at me for permission. "Go easy on him Lani, he doesn't know how to dance." I quickly kiss her cheek before walking towards a group of people. I look back quickly, seeing Nalani's face light up as Uncle Luke attempted to dance with her.

"She's a good pick Jude," Rey comments, wrapping an arm around me. A bruise covers her lower lip and I frown. "Don't worry about it kiddo, I'll be alright."

"Rough fight?"

"It was worth it," Rey points out towards the radiating people, smiling and cheering. "Everything you earned from this fight was worth it."

"Yolansa and Pike?" I question, looking down at my feet. "Are they here too?"

"Last I heard, Leia sent them to the outer rims to search for last First Order sympathizers," She hugs me. "Don't blame yourself Jude, please. You are finally receiving something good, don't rip yourself apart again."

I nod my head. "I'll try."

"That's all we can really try to do," Rey tells me. "Try and forget but at the same time, remember with caution."

"Grandmother is okay," I change the subject. "She came to surprise me before the party started."

"She's always been full of surprises," Rey grinned. "Now get out of here, have some fun Solo."

"Actually," I stop her. "I'm gonna take Skywalker, now that Bellamy is back."

"Then it would be my honour to watch you go have fun, Skywalker."

"Will do," I turn on my heel, intending to find Finn and Poe. I do eventually, they are seated at a table. Kingsley is babbling happily, chewing on his toddler fingers. Their new daughter, Aurora, is a little ginger spinning around while Finn watched intently. "Hey guys."

"Jude!" Finn jumped, leaving his spot with Kingsley to hug me. "I heard you'd be here! Look at us kid, we did it! We started with a war and ended one!"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah buddy, we did it."

Poe's face fell. "Why so glum then?"

"I'm not glum," I promise. "Just trying to cope with everything."

Poe sighed, his mind drifting to Corinthia. "It'll take time Jude, but we won."

"We won," I repeat, kneeling down to Aurora's height. "Hello darling, I'm your Uncle Jude. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you and I'll sneak you out of pilot lessons so you can have some fun alright?"

Not having a clue about anything I was saying, she just poked my cheek.

Queen Elämä walked towards the podium and silenced everyone, raising her hands until the band stopped playing. Her face was powdered the traditional white and she was wearing a bright pink gown. "At this time, we will start handing out medals. Please be seated until you are called."

One by one, each Resistance Fighter went up to the podium and received a sparking gold medal. Queen Elämä herself presented it before them, thanking them for ending this galactic war once and for all.

"Luke Skywalker."

Uncle Luke hobbled up the stairs, limping from his fight with Snoke. He knelt before Queen Elämä and smiled graciously at her.

"For your remarkable bravery and efforts, Naboo knights you as Luke Skywalker, the wise." Queen Elämä announced. "In honour of her skill and allegiance to the Resistance and Naboo, Corinthia. W Arlo, Naboo's very own Black Leader."

My gaze dropped and I clenched my chests, pleading that I didn't start a scene now. I had my time to mourn, but now wasn't it.

"Queen Nalani Trelawney the 101th, we give you this medal for your outstanding leadership role and governance over the Resistance," Nalani went to go stand beside Luke. "Cedar J. Elwood, for sparing Nalani's life and reaching out from the darkness, we honour you with this medal." I watch as Cedar awkwardly walks up and accepts the medal, standing beside Nalani.

"Bellamy Solo. We recognize you as a victim, not a villain. You have provided us with information and helped bring an end to the First Order. We are forever grateful and that is why, we have knighted you as Bellamy Solo, guardian of the fallen." Bellamy takes a seat beside Elwood, leaning her head on his shoulder. Elämä announced Poe, Finn and Rey, and while they all went up, I stayed down. "Jude Solo-Skywalker. As a token of our appreciation and gratitude, we knight you Jude Skywalker, master of power."

I go up to stand beside them, my family. I let my medal dangle from my neck as the room erupts with applause. I smile gingerly as fireworks explode outside and the band starts playing. I look down, watching Poe, Nalani, Finn, Rey, Bellamy, Luke and Elwood grin as the Galaxy cheers for them.

For us.

Little did I know, my mother and father were watching from outside. Both of them smiled at us, mentally saying 'yes those are our children, yes they are Skywalker's'. I wrap my hand around Nalani's and carefully place my hand on Bellamy's shoulder.

The happiness is infectious. It starts as a tingle in my fingers and toes, much like the feeling I have when I'm anxious, but instead of worrisome it's warm. I feel it pass through me like a warm ocean wave, washing away the stress of my life to leave me refreshed inside. The wave would usually fade and I'd savour the memory of its gentle touch. But this time, I know it is here to stay.

Yes, I was a Skywalker. Yes, I was a little broken and bruised but no, this wasn't our ending.

Not yet anyways.