O~o~O

So I bear my skin
And I count my sins
And I close my eyes
And I take it in
And I'm bleeding out
I'm bleeding out for you

O~o~O

A few nights later, Kylo jerked to his feet abruptly.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Those villagers have come back and brought many more. They're lighting the forest on fire."

He began to walk toward the outside tunnel as Rey cried out.

"Wait! You're not leaving me behind!"

Kylo faced her and gave her an incredulous look. "And what are you going to do against an angry mob, girl?"

She crossed her arms and stood her ground. "I will be safer at your side."

Admitting that she was more than likely correct, Kylo motioned for her follow. They took off into the night and set down in a clearing a hundred yards away from the crowd of villagers toting pitchforks and torches. It was dark, but the bright light from a grove of burning trees lit the night enough to see their faces.

Some villagers began shouting. Some others threw stones and their pitchforks in Kylo's direction, which the massive dragon easily batted away.

A tall, dark skinned man stepped forward from the crowd. "Step away from the girl, monster! Release her and we will go!"

Rey scoffed loudly. "Monster?" she shouted. "The only monsters here are you who are destroying the forest and those men who attacked me days ago!"

The man looked startled. "What did you say? Men attacked you?"

Rey nodded. "Yes, a large man with black hair and a man with red hair called Hux. They chased me through the forest until Kylo saved me."

The man's eyes widened. "I didn't know. They rushed into the town center and claimed there was a beast who had kidnapped a girl and was keeping her against her will."

As Kylo focused on Rey, his heart swelling as this small girl defended him so fiercely, no one saw Hux pounce from the tree line and sink a sword deep into a vulnerable spot on Kylo's side.

His pained roar echoed through the forest and valley as he stumbled, falling to his opposite side.

"Kylo!" Rey screamed, rushing over to check on her friend. She lay his head on her lap as his breathing became ragged.

"Rey-" he gasped out quietly. "Rey-"

"Ssh," she whispered, gently caressing his cheek. "Rest yourself. Everything will be fine."

She felt something clench in her chest when she saw the scared look in his teary golden eyes.

"Rey. I lo-"

Rey felt her entire world crumble at her feet as she watched the light leave her dragon's eyes. She began to shake as tears silently ran down her face to fall onto Kylo's skin. She looked up and her gaze connected with the redhead's triumphant smirk and something snapped.

"You- you monster!" she screeched. "You worthless piece of—"

Her body still shaking with uncontrollable anger, Rey let Kylo's head gently fall from her lap as she stood. She took one step toward Hux and then another. She blindly reached out and pulled the sword from Kylo's side, swinging the bloody blade to point its tip at the target of her rage.

"You murdered him!"

Hux sneered. "It was just a dumb creature."

Rey bared her teeth in a growl. "That creature had more heart, integrity, and humanity in him than any human in your village, least of all you!"

She swung the sword at Hux, and he easily sidestepped her attempt. Two men rushed over and took Hux into their grasp as the dark-skinned man placed his hand on Rey's shoulder. She looked into his kind brown eyes.

"Don't dirty your hands with his blood. My name is Sir Finn, and I promise you that Hux will pay for what he's done."

Rey glanced over to where the body of her fallen friend lay, and all of her rage was quickly replaced with despair. No longer was there a crimson and mahogany beast. In its place was a large man. She rushed over and knelt by his side, cradling him in her arms and brushing long, dark hair out of his face. She ran her hand gently down the side of his angular face, taking in his aquiline nose and full lips. She noticed he still had a slight scar that bisected his face roguishly.

She heard the crowd of people come closer and tried to block out their voices. Her thoughts were only of her beloved friend.

"Finn! Finn!" Someone shouted. "Do you know who that is? It's Queen Leia's son, the lost prince!"

"Kylo," she whispered, still stroking his cheek and trying to ignore the background noise. "What am I going to do now without you, my love?"

Rey leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, wanting to feel them just once before she found him again in the afterlife.

As she leaned away, an unnatural rush of wind engulfed the pair and lifted them off the ground. Rey watched in amazement as a silver thread of light radiated from each of their bodies and swirled around them, twisting and twirling until it was a cocoon surrounding them.

She gasped as Kylo's eyes suddenly opened, shining with the same silver light.

"How is this possible?" she whispered.

His mouth opened, but it was the mountain's voice that spoke.

"I told you that your paths would diverge, did I not?"

"What? How?"

It was surreal to hear the magical, tinkling laughter escape from Kylo's mouth.

"To answer your question, little one, you drank from my fountain and took some of its power into you. Your tears contained my magic which helped break the curse along with your 'True Love's Kiss.'"

"'True Love's Kiss'? Does that mean he lives? That I'll get to keep him?"

He smiled softly and nodded. "Rey of Jakku, my little one. Take care of Benjamin. He means so much to me."

The light and wind slowly died away, lowering the pair gently onto the forest floor.

As the villagers surrounded them in wonder, Rey caressed the side of Kylo's face. She moved his long, dark locks out of his eyes, his warm brown and golden eyes gazing up at her.

"Rey?" a deep voice asked hesitantly from below her. "Am I dead?"

She pulled him up and into her arms before cupping his face with her hands.

"Kylo," she whispered.

He pulled her gently into his arms and laid his lips softly against hers, seeking her warmth before hugging her tightly against him. After their kiss, the pair pulled apart and rested their foreheads together.

"Is this real?" she whispered.

He smiled and laughed. "I hope so, although I would be just as happy if this were my afterlife."

Rey pulled back slightly and glared at him.

"Speak not of such things. I just found you. You're not allowed to leave me again."

"As you wish, milady."

AN:

I hope you guys, especially TuxedoKat, enjoyed my little Reylo AU! It was inspired a bit by the classic tale of Beauty & the Beast.