Star Wars: The Rise of Solo

The End was Just the Beginning

Rey

I had just defeated my grandfather Emperor Palpatine and now I lay on the cold hard concrete of Exegol, lifeless. I try and move but my body won't let me. I used all the strength I had and now I'm left, empty. The world started to fade to black until one single thought brought me back to reality. Ben. He's gone, forever. The love of my life had just slipped through my fingers and there was nothing I could do about it. In that moment I realized there's nothing left for me here except a life without love and a life without love, is a life not worth living. I defeated Palpatine and saved the resistance but it all means nothing unless I have him. Darkness crept over my vision but this time I didn't fight it. The world slowly started to fade to black and my last thought was of me and Ben, together.

Ben

It feels like I've been climbing for hours, days even, but I need to get to Rey. I need to know she's ok. I need to tell her I love her, tell her every little thing I've wanted to say since the moment I laid my eyes on her. Sharp pains jolt through my entire body with every move I make but when I see her, all the pain will be worth it. As I reach the top of the pit in Exegol, a wave of dread washes over me. I limped closer to Palpatine's throne to find Rey, laying motionless, a glossy film over her dead eyes and both of the lightsabers laying beside her. I start to run to her but with my injured leg I fall short. I crawl to her with all I have and soon, find myself picking her up and laying her across my lap. As I'm cradling her in my arms she begins to grow colder and colder by the second. I'm frozen in my tracks and all I can do is look at her. Really look at her. She's beautiful yet kind, intelligent yet funny, strong yet soft and i fell in love with her for each of those reasons. I just hug her, thinking of what to do next. When Palpatine was draining Rey and I of our life force he said "the life force in your bond, a dyad in the force". Rey and I's connection is the power of life itself and maybe that's all I need to save Rey. I know what I have to do and this time, I know I have the strength to do it. I place my hand softly on her stomach, the same why Rey placed her hand on mine when she healed me on the oceans of the moon Kef Bir in the Endor system. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I channel all the energy I have left in me and using the force, transfer every bit of life essence I have into Rey. I collapse with Rey still in my arms and start feel the warmth return to her body. I feel her hand grasp mine then everything slowly fades to black.

Rey

To my surprise I wake up in Ben's arms. I'm relieved as I feel his hand is on my midriff with a touch that is gentle but assertive at the same time. I sit up and trail my eyes from his hand to his face. His face is still, motionless, and it feels like all the hope and happiness I had in me disappeared with his last breath. Sadness is the only emotion I was capable of feeling. I lost Ben just as fast as I had found him and I knew I loved him from the moment I saw him. A single tear rolled down my cheek and landed onto Ben's chest. In that moment I felt life not only returning to my body but to Bens too. I could feel the force. Leia was giving her remaining life energy to Ben so he could live and as Ben was coming back to life, I could feel her body fading away. Within an instant, her body was gone and she became one with the force. In shock, I pull Ben up and with a gasp and he jerks awake. We're face to face and all I can do is stare into his eyes and remember all the reasons why I fell in love with him in the first place. It seems like an eternity until I finally place my hand upon his cheek and pull him in until our lips meet. He puts its arms around me, as if pulling me into a hug at the same time. I kiss him until I loose my breath but I'm still left wanting more. He takes in my mouth deeper, like I'm the sweetest thing he's ever tasted. Our lips part and the both of us sit there in each others arms, silent.

"Ben" I say in a whisper.

He smiles. That's the first time I've ever seen him smile and he finally looks like he's completely at peace.

"I love you." I speak the words as if it's the last time i'll ever say them.

"I know."