Forgotten, But Not Lost

Chapter 49

Ezra and Sabine had done it, they had finally put the last of the Empire to rest. They had landed on the planet of Ajan Kloss, where the Resistance had been residing and had their base hidden from the First Order. Everyone around them were joyful and cheering as the weight lifted off everyone's shoulders of diminishing the evil in the galaxy.

Ezra felt the pride of being able to lend his older hand in the fight, but deep down he could feel an unrest, his daughter Amar was nowhere to be found and there was zero sign of Kylo Ren. To Ezra that meant that either Amar had found him and they were off somewhere else or something had gone terrible wrong. Ezra did not want the latter to be the case, but something inside him gave him an inkling that it was. He had felt a dark feeling when they had been fighting in the sky of Exegol, but didn't know what to make of it, since he was preoccupied with the fight.

Ezra gradually walked through the crowd to make sure his daughter was not there on the planet, but as he did there were a few auras that stood out to him. Off to where some of the big ships resided, three beings embraced each other passionately, Ezra could feel a deep sadness coming off of the young girl who was being hugged by the two other gentleman. Ezra knew he did not know them, but he could feel through the force that at least two of them were force sensitive. Could she be the Jedi everyone was talking about?

Ezra made his way over to the bunch and cleared his throat to congratulate them on their fight against the Final Order and the last of the Empire. Rey immediately looked at him and became invested like she knew who he was, but that was impossible. The two others thanked him and backed off, while Rey stayed.

"Are you the young Jedi Rey I keep hearing about?" Ezra simply asked her.

Rey smiled her typical grin and lowered her head out of embarrassment for the recognition.

"I guess I am. Have we met before? You seem familiar." Rey genuinely asked Ezra.

Ezra knew that deep down his family no longer had to hide, the Empire was gone and everyone that would come after him was now gone.

"Ezra Bridger, my lady." Ezra bowed to Rey out of a kind gesture.

Rey was stunned, she had an old Rebellion hero standing in front of her, not only that, but one to have thought lost before the battle of Yavin. Rey opened her mouth to speak, but Ezra could see the confusion on her face clear as day.

"I know, my family has been in hiding. We were in danger as long as the Emperor was still around. Now that he is gone, my family is safe thanks to you." Ezra held his hand out to gesture to Rey.

"I was not the only one who took down Palpatine, I am no lone hero. We lost a good one today." Rey started to feel her eyes well again for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Rey tried to turn her body to leave, but Ezra grabbed her arm lightly.

"My dear, please tell me. Who did you lose? I understand that everyone around you is in celebration while you try and mourn and be triumphant." Ezra kept his hand on her arm as Rey turned back and held her head down.

"I...lost Ben Solo. Someone who was dear to me. He is gone because he saved me and I can't help but feel such guilt. When he was gone, I could feel he was leaving a lot behind, almost like he had others pinning for him, ones I was unaware of. There is a connection out there of him that I cannot place." Rey stopped, realizing how much she was spilling out to this man who was a stranger to her, but something about him made it easy for her.

Ezra grabbed her with both of his hands and comforted her. He knew now his fears were being realized. His daughter had lost Ben and Amar was nowhere to found which meant either she had been lost as well or she had fled and was gone.