A Six Year Gap
It had been six years since anyone had seen Kylo Ren and Rey Skywalker.
They had last been seen walking side-by-side into the unforgiving ice caves of Ilum, the scavenger asking endless questions to the Sith as they disappeared together-
But now they were back. Or. At least one of them. Kylo had returned, alongside a girl who in no way looked similar to the girl who was asking so many questions just six years earlier.
She was still short compared to Kylo, a tiny 5’7 in comparison to her 6’3 companion. She carried herself with a newfound confidence, a stride that usually accompanied immense power. Her desert clothing had disappeared, replaced with simple black robes, a thick belt, and a tan and red jacket- a reminder of what she was fighting for.
A lightsaber hung at her waist, an abnormally long hilt that hinted at an extremely dangerous weapon, one that she very clearly knew how to use from her posture alone.
The most startling difference, however, was her eyes. Previously wide and cautious hazel pupils were now ringed with a dark yellow, gaze solidified into an intense and dangerous look. It was the look of someone who had accepted the Dark Side, and would clearly have difficulties turning back.
Kylo Ren stood by his apprentice, a self-satisfied look upon his features as the pair of them walked across the surface of Ilum, looking for a location which would allow for the two of them to contact the First Order, and return to once again fight in the war.
“This should do.” His tenor voice rang out in the frigid air as the pair of them came to a halt as Kylo produced a tiny communicator from somewhere on his person, fiddling with it for a moment before handing it off to Rey, who activated the machine easily, much to her cousin’s chagrin. However, his clear distaste at Rey’s superior technological know-how evaporated as soon as a small hologram of General Hux appeared. “Hux.” Kylo started, his arms slack at his sides as his robes whipped around him in the snow. “Rey has progressed in her training to the point in which I am comfortable with swearing her into the Knights of Ren. We request transport to get off planet and to report to Snoke.” Hux simply nodded, an air of professionalism around the both of them as the conversation continued. Dull chatter involving reports on the war, the current state of the Resistance, meaningless talk that Rey found no interest in. So she let her mind wander, her own thoughts drowning out the droning between the two men.
~~
“Remember, Rey.” Kylo had said, walking through the ancient crystal caves with his hands held tightly behind his back. “You are looking, and not looking at the same time. Do not seek out a crystal with your eyes, feel the Force thrum through the universe, and allow it to guide you to your crystal. The Force knows all things, and if you do not surrender yourself to it completely, you will never truly become powerful.” Rey had nodded in response, and she closed her eyes to imagine the strange power that held the universe together- she imagined it rolling in waves off of any and everything, a tide to gently tug and pull in a vast ocean.
Then she felt that tug, taking a cautious step forward in the direction the Force pulled her, halting when the feel ebbed. Then it picked up once more, and she took more careful steps, eyes closed and hands out in front of her as, in that moment, she felt the universe move with her, move inside her, and move around her, all in unison as it carefully guided her to her goal. And so she walked, and continued walking, gentle footstep after gentle footstep ringing out in the silent cavern as she truly experienced the Force for what it was, all encompassing, vaster than anything she ever thought possible, and truly terrifying.
Yet, she didn’t shy away- she continued onwards, guided by the terrifying vastness of the Force.
How long she walked was hard to tell. She lost track of it all, until she suddenly bumped into one of the smooth walls- cold to the touch, and slightly rough around the edges. Opening her eyes carefully, she looked around, before she was faced with what was sure to be her kyber crystal. Smallish, clear, and awkwardly cracked at strange places, tiny fissures that ran deep within the crystalline structure. It looked as though it would break if she handled it too roughly- so she gently, carefully, scooped it up to bring it back to Kylo, not noticing the light green hue it took on.
~~~
Why Rey was thinking about that, exactly, was beyond her. But that’s what she found herself thinking about. Reflecting on what had happened in those caves, the utterly bizarre periods of lengthy silence, the conversations… it brought a strange sense of peace to the young Sith- until she was suddenly snapped back into attention by her cousin. “Rey. They’ll be here shortly. Did you pick up on that?” She looked over at Kylo, and nodded. “Good. Try not to space when they arrive.” She nodded again, and looked up at the sky.
It was good to see it again.