The Rise of the Soulmates (Reylo fanfiction)

Born To Die

It was over... The Emperor, finally defeated, vanished into thin air and the shock wave caused by his duel with Rey destroyed the temple. All Palpatine's followers were crushed under the crumbling stones. Screams and rumble tore up the air, but Rey was deaf for them. She couldn't hear anything anymore, even the jedi voices were gone. She could barely find any strength to walk. Looking around she saw nothing but darkness and within a second she felt the Force leaving her. Luke and Leia's lightsabers hit the ground at the same time as Rey's body. She layed there, eyes wide open, but with no spark in them.
Ben felt it. He felt the light slowly leaving her body. But the pain in his leg. He could barely move. With last strength he pulled himself out of the steep pit and saw Rey. She seemed so petite laying there. Ben rose, but immediately collapsed because of this unbearable pain. He was losing time, he knew it. He counted to three, stood up and with great pain and effort he finally managed to reach Rey. He gently touched her hand. It was cold, but Ben swore he felt her pulse. Trying to take her in his arms without moving, he placed his chin on her arm and picked her up. She was so light, like a feather. Ben faced her at last only to find out that he was too late. Her expression was fixed, staring into the nothingness. He slightly touched her cheek and started looking around. Never in his life he felt so desperate. He pressed her close to him. Ben couldn't lose her, not now. He needed to tell her, she was the reason he turned. He was finally free, in peace with himself. Her appearance shaked him to his core and now he has finally forgiven himself, thanks to her. Rey - the only person who knew his struggles and was familiar with his loneliness. His soulmate... And then it struck him. The dyad, they were connected through the Force. He could simply give her part of his life force, like she did on the Death Star. Ben softly placed his hand on her body and focused. He remembered Luke's training, the Force doesn't belong to the Jedi... He felt the energy inside him and guide it towards Rey. For seconds nothing happened, they were both motionless. Ben had no intention of opening his eyes. He feared what he might see. Suddenly he sensed it and in an instant Rey's hand touched his. He opened his eyes and there she was, breathing again. And then her eyes fixed him. Rey stared at him, observing his face, and suddenly an unexpected smile broke across her face. 'Ben' she said, her eyes shining. Ben couldn't believe it. He met her at last, for real. She was in his arms, not trying to kill him or run away. She was exactly where she was supposed to be. He was on the verge of tears, still holding her head. It was the first time Ben properly saw her and he started examining her face as she did, trying to memorise every detail. Her eyes, previously filled with anger and rage, were now calm. Ben always thought that they were grey, but now he realised that Rey's eyes were hazel. She had a few freckles on her forehead, a little barely visible scar on her cheek and a dimpled smile. So beautiful... His thoughts were interrupted by Rey touching his face. He felt her fingers following his jawline. Ben was so relieved, content and in need to show Rey how much she ment to him, but he didn't want to scare her off. And then, all of a sudden, Rey leaned towards him and kissed him passionately. He grabbed her and pulled her closer. It wasn't exactly a romantic kiss, more of a relieving one as if they wanted to make sure that they were real and really there. They both smiled, still holding each other in their arms. They kept on looking at one another. No one was talking and there was no need - no word could describe what they were feeling at that moment. But something was wrong. Ben sensed a void inside him that was enlarging. Just for seconds his expression changed as he was losing his energy more and more. Rey saw in his face that something wasn't right, but before she could say anything Ben collapsed on the ground, still holding Rey's hand, and faded.
'Ben' he heard. At first Ben thought it was Rey calling to him, but he soon realised it was another familiar voice. A voice he hadn't heard in a long time and which he thought he would never hear again. 'Ben' he heard again. It was Leia - it was his mother. And there she was, standing in front of him. But she looked younger since he last saw her and she was surrounded by a forest... No, it wasn't his mother, not really. It was an image, from his memories. His father had gone to another mission and little Ben was crying in the garden, he wasn't able to say goodbye. 'Ben, sweetheart, come here. Don't cry, he will be back in a milliseconds like usual. Remember what uncle Luke told you. We will always be with you, even when we are not apparently around and you can always talk to us. No matter what you'll always be our little boy, my little boy... ' She smiled gently, her dark brown eyes filled with warmth. Ben tried to reach her, but he felt she was pulling away and her image was getting blurrier. ' Mum' he said, but she disappeared. However, he didn't sense an absence. On the other hand, he felt that his body was filling with power again. Next thing Ben knew he was laying in the ruined temple and Rey's head was on his chest. 'Ben' she screamed in despair and hugged him tightly. 'I thought I lost you, you faded like Luke, like everyone else...'. 'Shhh, I'm here now, it's okay' Ben answered while caressing the back of her head. She pulled away and asked 'What happened?'. Ben was confused as much as her 'I don't know exactly'. However, their conversation was interrupted by another stone wall falling close to them. Soon, there would be nothing left of the temple, but ruins. 'We need to hurry up' said Rey while picking Ben up. With lots of effort they managed to leave the place before crushing into the ground. It was day now and the sky was clear. There were almost no Resistance ships left flying, they probably had returned to the base already. 'Let's get out of here' said Rey and she headed to Luke's ship. 'Why not use mine?' asked Ben. 'It will be destroyed before even approaching the base' said Rey calmly and even laughed. She sounded so light-hearted despite the situation. Ben's question amused her. 'Are we going back to the Resistance's base?' asked Ben as he realised that in fact he had nowhere to go. The First Order was destroyed and he had no home, but he knew one thing, he couldn't go to the Resistance. They would kill him in an instant. 'Of course, we need to...'. 'Rey... ' Ben interrupted her. Actually, it was the first time he said her name out loud (Rey noticed that as well and very much liked how it sounded, coming from his mouth.) '... I can't go to the base, they will kill me.' 'No, they won't. I will explain...'. 'They won't listen to anything you say. All they're going to see is Kylo Ren.' 'But I won't be the only one to defend you. Leia is there...' Ben's heart ached when he heard his mother's name. He didn't know what exactly happened in the temple, but he wasn't sure if she was dead or alive. He was scared, but he had nowhere else to go and he would be with Rey. He couldn't run from the consequences of Ren's actions forever, so he might as well face them at once. 'You'll be flying it.' he said facetiously and his soul enlightened when he saw Rey smiling.
The x-wing was small and had only one place, so Ben sat first and Rey sat on his lap, trying to avoid hurting his leg. They were so close Ben could smell the scent of her hair. It took them less then half an hour to get to the base. When they landed Ben was already filled with fear. He was tall, people would recognise him immediately. He then saw that Rey was crying. Of course she was, those people were a family to her. Some of them might have died in the battle today. Everybody was congratulating and hugging each other for the recent victory and the fall of the First Order once and for all. Rey was scared as well. Ben felt it. She didn't want to get out of the x-wing, afraid that she might not find those friends of hers - Poe Dameron that Ren once interrogated and FN-2187 (he didn't know his name). 'Finn' Rey said, still siting in the x-wing. 'His name is Finn' 'Go find them' Ben said. 'You know they're alive.' 'Yes, but what if they are...' 'You won't find out until you get there.' Ben hesitated, but eventually touched her arm. She touched his hand and finally got out of the ship. After a minute, Rey saw Poe and Finn smiling and talking to each other. She teared up and run to them. They hugged for a long time. Rey was more than relieved. She was actually proud. Proud of her. She saved her family, she actually did. 'What is he doing here?' asked Poe and pointed his blaster. Rey turned around only to see that Ben was there, surrounded by people who were either trying to hide from him or blast him. 'No, wait. That's not what it looks like. That's not Kylo Ren.' said Rey and approached Ben. 'Not anymore.' She looked up (he was a very tall man indeed) and smiled. 'He's Han Solo and General Organa's son'. She took his hand in hers and stood beside him 'He's Ben Solo.'