Rise of Solo

Rise of Solo: A Rise of Skywalker Fanfiction

*Original story based on characters, planets, ideas, and concepts created/owned by George Lucas / Disney. I make no claim to these characters, planets, concepts, or props*

We are with you, they said, but they weren't with Ben. Not as he fell back in death and became one with the force.

You are nothing, he had said. But not to me.

And he proved it, not only when he fought by my side against Snoke, or when he turned against Palpatine, but in that moment. It was in his eyes, in every fibre of his being when he staggered from the depths and brought me back.

He loved me, and now, he's gone.

I didn't even have the chance to tell him, he was my something too.

I clung to Finn and Poe like a lifeline after those Destroyers came down. The galaxy was celebrating, Poe and Finn were Generals, and I had saved us all - the Chosen One. But Ben - Ben, Kylo, it really didn't matter - he had risen and saved us all too. Saved me. And the galaxy didn't even know. It didn't feel right.

His body was gone, so I buried the lightsabers - Luke's, Leia's - they were always more his than mine. I wish it hadn't taken that last battle to see him wield one.

I wish we had time.

-

It is warm here. I feel at peace, but -

-

"Establishing order to the galaxy after years of torment and pain seems like an impossible task, Rey."

"I know, Finn. I know." I said, fingering the gold saber I recently finished constructing. Ben. Ben hadn't been there to help, but I felt him. Felt his force near. Watching. Why hadn't I noticed how much he had been watching. Even when he was still very much dark, he watched. Stars, in one of our last connections he had only seen me. Asked if I could see his surroundings.

Finn audibly cleared his throat, and I snapped back to the present. Finn and I sat across from one another in Command, which had been established at Endor - fitting really. His warmth radiated from him, even talking business, and I couldn't help but be thankful for a kind and patient friend.

"It may seem impossible, but nothing worth doing is. We will figure it out. Leia did, after Vader."

Finn just looked at me and nodded. Not convinced in the slightest.

I stood, trying to shake my own wariness. "Send delegates to as many systems as we can. We can offer our assistance for a smooth transition back to planetary independence. Weed out any miscreants." I paused to look at him, not even aware I had been pacing until I stopped. "You are the General, you know," I said with a tentative smile.

"Yes," he smiled back, rising from his padded black chair, "and I was commanding you to tell me what to do."

I couldn't help but smile back as he winked, but then his entire body stilled and I knew something was coming.

"You haven't laughed. Not once. Not since Palpatine." His gaze turned soft, tentative. "What happened down there?"

The air around us hollowed out, and all I could see was Ben falling back. His eyes like glass.

"Rey please," it was Finn. Finn, not Ben, holding out a hand and asking me please. "Please, I want to help."

It was barely a whisper that came out of me, "You can't."