I was commissioned by @gingersnappishand@wisekrakenwiseto draw something for their DIEYMLIHcomic! I choose to do a cover art (and an additional little panel) for Kylo’s journey ✨
It was a blast to work on it, thank you so much for commissioning me!
I’ve never watched the Star Wars sequel trilogy but I heard people hated it so here are a few things I would’ve changed to make the movies more sellable.
The Stormtrooper guy (Finn, I think???) is not a Jedi in canon. Here, he’s still not a Jedi technically. However, he keeps a lightsaber. Instead, he acts like some kind of non-Force Jedi for two movies (also the main protagonist) until bam! He has Force powers in the third. Weak Force powers, but Force powers still.
Rey is still Palpatine’s daughter (I only found out via memes) but it’s revealed in the first movie. The second movie would have people not trust her due to her lineage and she struggles with her identity. She eventually accepts that she’s got evil blood in her but that she can be good regardless.
Kylo Ren’s backstory: He was part of Luke’s students from a young age. However, he was tempted by the Dark side and slowly corrupted while under Luke’s tutelage. His betrayal ended with him murdering one of Luke’s students and running away.
Luke is still the hermit guy but his reason is now more enforced. He felt that he failed Kylo so he left, depressed and everything. Rey, while still struggling with the fact that she’s the grandbaby of the devil, empathizes with him. And helps him get his confidence back.
The rest of Luke’s students end up being Jedi! But they kinda had to finish their studies without Luke to teach them. One of the students-now-Jedi (idk how SW names work so I’m calling him Rook Ma-Tau) is searching for Kylo Ren to avenge the death of his fellow.
Rook dies when he fights Kylo. The reason being is that he didn’t have the heart in him to kill Kylo because he still cared for him like a brother. Rook helped train Finn a bit and in turn, Finn takes his lightsaber after giving Luke’s old one to Rey.
Idc about the handsome pilot guy so yeah.
Luke is also dead this entire time! The reason Luke couldn’t continue teaching was not only because of depression but because he was dead. He’s just a Force ghost now and refuses to move on until Kylo is redeemed.
The cute Asian girl (idk her name) is still Finn’s love interest. She’s a mechanic and came from a large aristocratic family with many siblings. She left because she didn’t want to stay in their shadow and also because her family has ties to the bad guys. Finn and Rey team up to save her when her family kidnaps her. They also topple the family while we’re at it, which helps the good guys.
Idk anything about the rest of the movies so yeeeeeah…
I’m always wondering why Rey tears after touching Kylo’s hand. Tears of joy? fear? shock? Daisy carries a range of emotions and she’s just beautiful and amazing. Here Rey looks far more sensual than any other scenes ever, while Kylo’s gaze is gentle but intense, pinned on Rey.
…and opening the library she took a book, and read these words, in letters of gold:
Welcome Beauty, banish fear, You are queen and mistress here. Speak your wishes, speak your will, Swift obedience meets them still.
Beauty and the Beast AU.
I’d recommend you to look over not only Disney animation but aiso the original novel(both of Beaumont’s and Villeneuve’s) and the film created by Jean Cocteau. You’d find each of them having interesting parallel with Reylo.
Neither of them sure where they stood with one another.
Neither of them sure of what unspoken boundaries were in place.
She felt unusual, as if she hadn’t fulfilled the marriage.
She thought it would be expected of her and Kylo to complete the marriage… The intamacey she thought he would have wanted from her, but weather he did or not he didn’t show it.
He didn’t reach for her, he didn’t tell her what to do, nor did he expect anything from her… But she didn’t know that.
She struggled to sleep beside him during the night, she was an odd sleeper, moved a lot in a sleepy state and she was afraid of getting too close, afraid if she accidentally annoyed him… Well she wasn’t sure what he’d do.
She heard the stories, she knew ruthless he could be… she hadn’t seen that yet and dreaded when she did.
She sat on the balcony of their shared quarters, overlooking the many trees that swallowed the planet.
Hiding the base neatly within the depths of greenery.
She wore her lace nightgown, her messy curls pushed out of her face as she leaned against the railing.
“The droids will bring you breakfast, you’re free to wonder the base but we careful and ask for a guide. I’ll be in the command room if you need me”
She glanced up to him with a nod “Thank you”
He simply nodded, turning on his heel, mask in hand as he left the room as the day began to attend his duties.
She wondered if it would be like this a lot.
Him busy, her alone, accompanied by droids?
She wasn’t sure, but she supposed it wasn’t as bad as she expected.
She entered the room again as a silver and black droid entered the room with a smile. “Breakfast, Empress Ren”
The term she hadn’t heard herself being referred to before but accepted it with a nod.
Sitting at the large empty dining table.
She was presented with a large variety of options and was glad, at least she was being treated well.
Sipping the warm fruit tea as she sat, relaxing as she ate.
She pressed the button for the droid to return, finding herself with questions.
“So where are we?”
She questioned, glancing out of the large window.
“A secluded Base, Ma'am”
Nodding gently she contuined with her questions.
“What am I allowed to do?"
The droid almost laughed, finding the girls uncertainty quite amusing.
She wasn’t aware of her high status yet.
"Anything you like Ma,am. You are the empress after all”
She nodded, unsure how she felt about the term.
“What’s there to do around here?”
She noticed the lack of leisure type facilities as she entered.
“We have a large library on offer but this is a majority military base, there’s a gym I suppose or swimming if you’d like, there’s not much to do outside as winter is coming to and end the weather still isn’t that good…”
“Empress”
The term was unusual, but she nodded gently regardless.
She found herself in the gym, Captain Phasma being the one to show her around.
“I’m not sure how Master Ren will feel about you here”
She muttered, glancing around the room of watching men.
They immediately averted their gaze as they noticed Phasmas warning glare.
“Why’s that?”
“You’re his wife… And prying eyes annoy Master Ren quite a bit”
She hadn’t seen him annoyed, but shook it off anyway.
“I’d just like to do something with my day is all… Yoga? Dance? Something that won’t hurt but is fun”
Phasma nodded.
“As you wish, M'lady”
Yoga was calming, Phasma had found an open spacious room to begin in.
A few other women joined, nurses, kitchen assistants of such, all quite nervous around the girl. Confused by her kindness.
The gym was huge, the downstairs filled with a large dance floor, behind which treadmills and rowing machines.
Small rooms off to the sides for private training sectors and classes.
The upstairs was open planned, filled with heavy duty equipment and had a balcony overlooking the bottom floor.
The girl wore a pair of lycra style black shorts, a grey sports bra and a black open sleeve tank top over it.
Hair pulled back into a messy bun as she contuined to stretch and pose with everyone else.
Yoga lasted an hour, standard.
Though as they exited the class her eyes drew to the Stormtroopers training.
“What are they doing?”
She questioned, Phamsa glanced to her before sighing.
“Combat drills…”
The girl watched their bodies move fluently with a smile.
“It vaguely reminds me of Ballet back at home”
She mused, though caught sight of her reflection in the large mirror.
She looked unusual not in a dress but she didn’t care.
“Ballet?”
The girls eyes turned from the training troopers and to Phamsa with a tilt of her head. “You’ve never heard of it?”
“Well… No. We’re a military orientation.”
The girl sighed slightly.
“I’ve heard of ballet… Back on my home planet but I never managed to learn”
“Why don’t you show us?”
The empress turned to the lady behind her with a smile. Hoping to involve everyone she could.
If this was her home now, she wanted to feel at home.
Phamsa questioned and the girl nodded.
The troopers training were done anyway.
“Do we have any classical type music?”
When Kylo Ren entered the gym, it wasn’t what he expected to see.
His wife stood in the centre, twirling, other women following her actions.
She was leading a class of women in some style of dance.
Phamsa stood at the door with a smile before approaching Kylo Ren.
“She’s a natural leader. She makes a good Empress, my lord”
Oh, how the words themselves didn’t even feel real, nothing did.
In a way it wasn’t.
This want a real wedding, a ceremony or something magical every girl is promised, every dream of marrying someone she loved, had vanquished under the orders of her father.
Oh, the hatred.
The abandonment that coursed through her heart leaving it empty and broken.
She stared across at the man in front of her, he repeated the words as she had, in a daze she watched, almost not hearing anything at all.
The ring was significant as he slid it onto her finger, his touch gentle.
The rings matched beautifully, she was impressed by his choice, the black band jewelled with red rubies, one large one centered.
The dress she wore, the rings he chose, the ceremony itself, was all beautiful.
It just wasn’t right.
His ring was a black band with a red pattern of sorts etched around it, beautifully put together.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, but she refused to be won over so easily.
Her red lips didn’t quirk into a smile, neither did his as the ceremony finished.
The two now bound together until death do them part.
She glanced over the sea of people, all commanders, generals, men of The First Order, few women.
The Knights of Ren kept watch at all times.
She was silent, stealing glances his way.
This wasn’t his fault, not entirely.
He needed a reason to trust her father, her home planet… Her father’s suggestion made her blood run cold.
She recalled the moment she realised he wasn’t joking, his face void of any humour.
They weren’t close, never had been.
Especially once her mother passed… Their relationship as father and daughter crumbled.
He was a power hungry king who cared for nothing and no one… She was the princess of a queen; who once upon a time, did all she could for her kingdom before being taken by death itself.
-
“She’s the only heir to the throne. Take her as your wife, I have already offered my resources and men to The First Order… Take her. She’ll be better use to you than she is here.”
She sat wide eyed with a glance in The Supreme Leaders direction.
His mask hid his face, it often did on business trips of sorts.
That’s all this was.
He nodded gently turning back to the king to begin an agreement on the treaty.
All while she sat wide eyed with horror.
She’d just been given away…
Given to the First Order, to the Supreme Leader himself.
-
She tore herself from the memory, still stood by Kylo’s side while people spoke aimlessly.
This was almost like a celebration, almost like a funeral.
People stood in all black attire, her dress included.
It was a black lace dress with a plunging neckline that clung to her figure before flaring at the bottom.
It accentuated her bust as well as the contrast in her skin colour.
She looked stunning, Kylo wouldn’t even deny that.
She glanced around the room once more, the glass of red wine in her hand as she sighed.
She knew no one, and no one really knew her.
She was the Princess of Kyron, an advanced planet in an outer region. Nothing particularly special about the planet itself.
Nor it’s people.
“Kylo”
Her voice was small, gentle and almost nervous to even speak to him at all.
Immediately he tore himself from the conversation he was in, his eyes cast to hers.
He could feel her pulse as she held onto his arm carefully.
“May I be dismissed?”
She questioned, her voice unsteady.
She was overwhelmed, it was clear to see.
The uncertainty and anxiety within her storming blue eyes made him feel guilty, her skin on her cheeks and chest blotchy from nerves.
He nodded softly to the girl, guiding her over to one of the Knights.
“Take her to our quarters, see to it that she has everything she needs”
She glanced up to Kylo as the two parted, swallowing thickly as she followed the Knight.
She was flustered, uneasy and panicked in such a busy atmosphere.
She’d never dealt with anything like that, her palace never held events or balls or anything of the sort.
After what felt like forever The Knight stopped abruptly.
“Your Quarters, My lady. Master Ren will join you soon”
She entered the doors with a slight relief… To be alone finally, after hours of meetings, a ceremony and just constantly being surrounded by the Men of the Order, she just wanted to breathe.
She glanced around the large room, it was all quite plain. Not too extravagant.
Slate grey walls, a large window that over looked the snowy base.
The bed was large, king-size fitted with black and ruby silk sheets.
Red leather fancy sofas sat around a black polished table, in front of the huge fireplace with a large mirror hung above it, candles on either side.
It was open planned, the fire already lit and crackling away to itself.
She stepped out of the black heels she wore, the cold mahogany polished wood beneathe her feet sent a shiver up her spine as she crossed the room towards the large wardrobe.
She knew her things had been put away already, spotting the mirrored dresser she smiled, something she asked about before even arriving.
She wanted a dresser like she had at home and Kylo delivered.
Turning back to the wardrobe she knew it was late, the ceremony had started around 5:00 and felt as though it dragged on all evening.
She wasn’t able to be small talk with people she didn’t know.
She pulled out a black nightgown, the material soft and comfortable but short and sort of revealing…
Though it’s expected of a wife, she guessed.
She quickly changed, brushing through her long dark curls before entering the large bathroom.
Cleaning her face of makeup and brushing her teeth before making her way back to the room.
Perched on the edge of the bed as the large doors opened.
His eyes immediately drawn to the delicate girl that sat so shyly.
“Apologies I took so long, I had to brief the commander of the next few days”
He spoke, pulling off his boots as he approached the dresser.
“I hope you found everything that you need here, if not the droids will see to it that anything you want be retrieved”
He spoke, undoing the cufflinks as he began to neatly put things away.
Her eyes cast back to the ring on her finger.
“Do you not like it?”
His question came as a suprise.
“What? No, I think it’s beautiful…” She muttered, lightly watching it gleam in the light of the overhead chandelier.
“I just wasn’t expecting any of this, I suppose I’m still trying to get used to it, I apologize if I seem-”
He silenced her with a shake of his head “Don’t apologize, I understand”
I don’t post anything because I don’t assume anyone’s interested but I have a lot written and will just kinda lazily add to it, any of you who do stumble across it, I hope you enjoy :)
ALT