And So They Lived: an Alternate Ending to The Rise of Skywalker

A n d S o T h e y L i v e d

She was slipping away. As he fell down, down, down into the abyss, he felt her life force retreating into nothingness. With every passing second, the sinking feeling in Ben's chest grew wider and wider, waiting to consume him entirely. It was as if half of his blood had drained from his body, his heart working in double time just to keep him alive. All the goodness and beauty and light and peace and hope that he just rediscovered was starting to slip again, faster than ever. He knew something was wrong. Once upon a time, he could sense her across space and time. And now, though they were apart, they were still close and he felt next to nothing.

Rey lied motionless on the cold, stone ground. She couldn't move even if she wanted to. Rey knew she didn't have much time left, even without the feeling of her body shutting down - her limbs grew numb, an everlasting ring was in her ear, her heart pumbed madly, her breaths came out ragged, and she became more and more exhausted by the minute. She didn't know she had used so much of her powers. For a while, Rey felt like she was invinsible - nothing could stop her. And for a while, that had proven to be true. At last, however, it finally got the best of her. But if there was ever a time she experienced personal defeat, now was the perefect time, for she had also achieved ultimate victory. She had destroyed her grandfather, Emperor Palpatine, who had been a plague to many for generations. That evil has finally been rid of from this world. She, therefore, saved her friends and the rest of the galaxy. And she couldn't help but be completely enchanted at the idea of Ben Solo finally returning to the light side of the force where he belongs. If she could rejoice at the moment, she would have.

Alas, it seemed her body had given up. Her vision began to fade, likewise, her mind to nothingness.

Ben's back collided with a jutted out piece of stone, breaking his fall. A rib or two shattered on impact. Additionally, his ankle snapped in two as it had been over the edge of the cliff upon his crash landing and the momentum of his fall kept his limb going and thus breaking the bone in half. For a moment, Ben thought he had died, for he had gone completely numb. He had gotten the wind knocked out of him, so when he tried to scream, nothing came out. Finally some air hitched in his throat; when he could finally breathe again, a mangled cry escpaed between his lips. A tsunami sized wave of pain immediately followed, and it was then he realized just how very alive he was and how unalive Rey was. All signs of her existence had vanished.

He had to get to her.

He tried sitting up and instead a violent throb of pain engulfed him once more. He then became oh so aware of how easy it would have been to just lie there. Maybe we could die together, he pondered for a split second. It's not like I deserve to live anyways. But there was a woman lying motionless above the cavern that fell through. She was a gift to the world even though the world wasn't entitled to her just as much as Ben wasn't worthy of her grace and forgiveness. Nevertheless, she was beloved and she deservd to live. He wasn't sure if he was at his finishing point; if he wasn't, he would never be able to live with himself if he didn't try to save Rey. If by chance his heart gave out trying, it did not matter to him. As long as she lived, everything else rendered itself insignificant. Regardless, Ben Solo could not live in a world where Rey did not exist.  He had to hurry. He could a feel a void opening in the pit of his stomach, yawning and consuming him. He had to reach her before death claimed him, too.

With a few short yet deep breaths and with every ounce of strength he had, he sat up while  he let another yell cut through the air. He didn't dare look up to see the distance that lied between him and the woman he loves. Ben knew the cavern in which he was thrown down was long, for he seemed to fall for an eternity. But if it meant he could get to Rey, he would travel any distance to get there. He inhaled sharply before grabbing hold of the ragged rock before him. Every muscle and bone in his body wailed in agony as he hoisted himself up and began ascending the walls of the hole he was thrown down. Higher and higher he climbed; weaker and weaker the light inside of him grew. Ben began to pick up the pace, every inch of him screaming in retaliation. The fear of being too late, however, seemed to dull the other mind monsters and made the pain bearable.