Chapter 55.

The city was once again, busy. The streets were filled with vendors, visitors and residents coming and going as they bartered and bought, as if the war outside of Naboo just simply did not exist.

It was an odd idea to Rey, to think that she too was once a mindless busy-body back on Jakku, doing what she must to survive to the next day.

She supposed, she couldn't truly blame them.

As she glanced around, she briefly took note that not a single one of them met her eyes now, each person always keeping their eyes down to the ground or trapped in a gaze with someone else, blabbering on.

Rey's eyes drifted down to the emblems they all sported, the symbol that represented their loyalty and dedication to Naboo, or so she believed.

Glancing up at Kylo, she wondered if he noticed the same.

Things seemed to have quieted between them since they left the suite to find a nearby training area, and Rey thought it could be because of the note he found.

'In Leia we trust.' it had said.

Biting her lip as she glanced away from his stern features, she could only assume that it was. Maybe it was simply seeing his mother's name that set him off?

Sighing, she just wasn't sure.

"Why are you upset?" she blurted out, her voice struggling to find its place in the chaos of the city while trying to remain quiet.

From the corner of her eye, she saw his jaw tense for the quickest moment.

"I'm not upset." Kylo's deep voice answered, his eyes on the ground as they walked through a crowd of people.

"Is it your dream? Or the note?" Rey urged.

Kylo scoffed, his eyes rolling as he straightened his back. They turned the corner, following down a quiet pathway that led to a stone staircase, the loud city slowly falling away behind them.

"No, Rey." he muttered.

Rey reared around to stand in front of him, her small frame halting him from taking another step.

He contemplated tossing her over his shoulder just to be done with the conversation and move along to training.

"You're lying." she sneered with narrowed eyes, a sharp finger pointing to his chest.

Kylo's eyes squinted at her in response, glancing to her hand before capturing her wrist, walking her backwards.

"Drop it." he ordered, before turning her around to face the training grounds below them, her growl fading.

It was a decent sized area, and empty, thankfully. There were dummies made of straw and leather, tattered from previous hits, a few wooden staffs lay scattered around the dirt and just beyond them stood ten training droids, random wires sticking out of them.

Her lips curled into a small smile as her gaze drifted back to the staffs.

"We won't be using those." Kylo said, already reading her excitement. His long legs began to walk down the stairs, Rey closely following and watching as he removed his cape, draping it over the stone railing as his hand gripped the hilt of his lightsaber

Rey instinctively stilled, her hand already on hers in return.

It only took her a second to recognize his attack in the way he abruptly turned, the way his arms seemed to control the rest of his movement, his eyes darting and focusing around Rey as she aimed to block him.

She knew he was trying to throw her off, and the way he put his block up was loud and sudden, trying to fend her off from his thoughts. Her eyes narrowed as her saber ignited and came in contact with his, locked together as they equally gave and defended.

He allowed her a step back to toss her cape to the side as their breathing hardened, circling one another, daring the other to make the first move.

Kylo's boots were harsh against the dirt, though he never hesitated in his movement, never faltering beneath her glare.

It was another side of him, she discovered. A side that neither fought nor flew, it just simply was. He defended himself, he fought for his stance, and he stayed, never swaying and never giving up.

He stood on the ground he wanted, and what Kylo wanted, he made sure to receive.

His next attack was quick and heavy, whipping his saber to her, which she easily dodged, however this time he swirled around to her again, striking his saber down to her three times, making Rey stumble back.

'Why was he going so hard?' she wondered breathlessly.

Within the next second, as if hearing her thoughts, he ruthlessly attacked again, his long strides catching up to her, slicing the air between before turning the lightsaber over the back of his hand and aiming to her again, nearly hitting her shoulder.

The move made Rey stumble, tripping over her own feet after she successfully blocked it. As her back made contact with the ground, he quickly grabbed at the front of her tunic and hauled her to her feet again.

She cursed him in her thoughts, making sure he was able to hear it as she glared at Kylo when he stepped away.

He smirked, his mind opening just a small fraction.

'You can do better than this.' he taunted.

'Why are pushing so aggressively?' she asked as they began to circle one another again, their weapons raised.

'Rey, your enemy would be pushing harder.' Kylo stated.

Rey smirked at him, stopping herself from taking another step. 'Well, I've already beaten you several times, haven't I?'

Kylo's brow twitched as he scoffed, rolling his eyes before glancing back to her. 'Well, now you're becoming my equal, and there's no need to hold back. Stop holding onto your fear.'

'My fear?' she scoffed.

'Your fear of going too far, your fear of Snoke, your fear of not being able to save your friends. It's clouding your mind, your judgment. Let it go.' he said, almost tauntingly.

Her eyes widened. 'I'm not...-'

Kylo cut her off. 'You are. I saw your nightmare. I felt his presence, and I felt the fear fill your being. You're letting his presence slip through the cracks, and it's damaging the rest of your will.'

Rey's jaw tightened in response as she clutched at her weapon. 'So, you're saying I am letting his presence live on by conjuring him up in my mind?'

Kylo nodded, watching her intently. 'If you allow that presence to live, he can and will anchor to you. It'll harden you, and the dark will win. You're fighting this war for a reason. Remember it.'

At this, Rey's chin rose in the air before she narrowed her eyes at him, a thrill of excitement shooting through her at the sound of the challenge. She attacked him then, which he blocked, though she noticed that he did stumble briefly before composing himself.