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Description
This is a commission done for SlingBlade87 of a scene in one of his short stories, which is an alternate take on Rey's quest to find Luke. It adds in a few Legends elements such as Mara Jade, who appears as a Force ghost to Rey at night to help her.

SW: A Lonely VisitorWalking down the sloping stone path, Rey found Chewbacca sitting beneath the Millennium Falcon at a campfire. He'd apparently spitted one of the local mammavians over the fire and was chuffing happily as he turned it over to cook evenly. Rey sat down with a huff as she let out a long sigh and stared into the fire. Chewbacca looked up at her and grunted inquisitively in his distinctive language. “No. He still won't talk to me.” Rey replied in exasperation. Chewbacca hooted at her, the sound shortening and lengthening as he spoke. “I don't know!” Rey said. “You've known him longer than I have. Don't you have any suggestions?” Chewbacca merely shrugged and growled hungrily as he leaned down and pulled the roasted porg off the fire. He held the meat out to Rey, but she declined with a shake of her head. “I'll get something from the Falcon's galley.” she said. Again Chewie shrugged, standing and walking around the fire to lay a great hand on her shoulder as he trilled reassuringly. “Thanks.” Rey said as she gave his hand a squeeze. “I'll try again in the morning. Maybe after we've all gotten a chance to sleep he'll be in a better mood.” Chewbacca let out a series of grunts as he bit into his meat and walked up the Falcon's ramp, leaving Rey alone with her thoughts. She gazed into the fire, her only company the gently blowing wind of the isle and the chirping calls of the porgs. When she'd been sent out to find Luke Skywalker she hadn't expected to find an irate hermit instead of a Jedi master. She couldn't just leave though, Leia and the others were counting on her to learn from Luke and bring him back with her. There was no way that she could go back empty handed. “Do you mind if I join you?” “Go right ahead.” Rey answered, her mind elsewhere. When she realized that it was not only a new voice asking but a woman's voice as well she jumped and turned in alarm, her staff gripped firmly in her hands. The woman standing at the edge of the firelight was older than Rey, with striking features and long wild hair that flowed over her shoulders. However what struck Rey most about her was her ghostly appearance. Her features were pale, almost glowing, as she stood there for a moment, an amused smirk on her face as she gestured towards the rock opposite Rey. “May I sit?” she asked. “Who are you?” Rey countered, holding her staff out between them. “Mara.” the woman said as she stepped into the light, the ghostly blue glow suffusing her form as she walked around the fire and took a seat. “And you're Rey.” Rey blinked in surprise. “You know who I am?” The woman nodded, looking into the fire thoughtfully as Rey retook her seat hesitantly. “Do you...do you know where I come from?” The woman, Mara, smiled wanely. “No clue kid. I just know who you are because I've been watching you since you got here.” she turned her head to look up at the Falcon. “I never thought I'd see this hunk of junk again. Too bad about Han, I imagine Leia is devastated.” “You know Han and Leia?” Rey asked, her previous wariness falling away as the woman continued speaking. “I'd better.” Mara said with a laugh. “I'm their sister-in-law.” Rey gawked at the woman for a confused moment. “Sister-in-law?” she blinked as her mind made the connections. “That means—!” “Yes,” Mara said with a sad smile. “I'm Luke's wife.” she nodded up behind Rey. “That's my grave up there.” Rey turned to look up the path towards the spot where Master Skywalker had been standing when she'd arrived. There had been a small tombstone there. She hadn't bothered looking at it. “Go check if you don't believe me.” Mara said, her smile turning waning somewhat. “I'll be here when you're done.” Standing again, Rey turned and walked out of the firelight, making her way back up the path. Glancing back over her shoulder, she spied the...what, ghost? Whatever Mara was, sitting by the fire still, unmoving and watchful. She came upon the place where Master Skywalker had been standing and knelt down, taking out the lightsaber once again and igniting it. The blue blade crackled to life and in the light Rey examined the tombstone.Mara Jade Skywalker Running her hand over the carved letters, Rey frowned as she read the rest of it.Beloved wife. My world is darker without you in it. Rey swallowed as the words sank in. Was this why Master Skywalker was so...for lack of a better word, miserable? He'd lost more than his order and his nephew...he'd lost his wife. Standing and extinguishing the lightsaber once more, she turned and descended the path back to the Falcon where Mara sat waiting patiently. “You were his wife.” Rey said awkwardly. “And you died.” “I was killed.” Mara replied, her expression sad. “The night of the attack, Luke was, well, he wasn't able to get to us. I fought with the others, trying to protect our apprentices.” she shrugged. “I could only do so much. One by one, we fell, until it was just me and a handful of others.” she took a long breath, though Rey wondered if that was simple habit since she wasn't sure if ghosts needed to breathe. “The last thing I remember was pain as something hot slashed open my back, and then I was gone.” she shook her head, looking down at the ground bitterly. “The next thing I knew, I was standing there watching Luke climb out of the rubble, and,” Mara's face tightened visibly. “I watched him cry over my body, and I felt him cut himself off from the Force in that moment.” Rey's eyes stung slightly with tears as she listened to the apparition's story. She wiped at them briefly, swallowing as she spoke. “I'm sorry.” Mara smiled quietly, shaking her head. “Nothing for you to be sorry for kid. You weren't there. You weren't involved.” she nodded at Rey's pack. “May I see that lightsaber?” Nodding, Rey retrieved the saber from her satchel and held it out across the fire. Mara reached for it and it flew from Rey's hand and into her's. Turning it over, a fond smile spread across Mara's features. “You know he proposed to me with this?” she said as she held the saber gingerly. “His father's saber, and he offered it to an enemy he'd fallen in love with.” “An enemy?” Rey asked in surprise. Mara nodded, handing the lightsaber back to her. “I was the Emperor's Hand, his personal agent and assassin.” she smiled. “And I was tasked with killing Luke.” Rey's eyes widened. “But you...married him?” “It's a long story.” Mara said with a fond smile that quickly faded. “And not important.” Silence settled between them for a moment before Rey spoke up again. “You said Master Skywalker cut himself off from the Force?” Mara nodded. “He did, it's why I can't speak to him like I am with you.” Opening her mouth to ask another question, Rey stopped as Chewbacca bellowed down from the Falcon. “I'm just,” Rey called back, looking at Mara's apparition uncertainly. “Talking to someone who might be able to help.” The Wookie came down the ramp, grumbling in confusion as he looked around the campfire. Rey looked at Mara who turned and waved at Chewbacca. “Hey hairball.” When Chewie didn't say anything in response and simply shrugged and walked back up the ramp, Rey looked back at Mara with a frown. “Not Force sensitive.” she said simply. “And with Luke cutting himself off, it has been ages since I was able to speak to anyone.” “How do we get him to open up again?” Rey asked urgently. “I need him to train me, Leia needs him back in the fight.” “Well you've already taken the first step.” Mara said with a wry smile. “You're here. So now we've just got to get him to open up. If he opens up, I can reach him.” her smile flickered. “If I can reach him...well,” she looked away, her expression distant. “We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.” “You still love him.” Rey asserted. “Of course I love him.” Mara said as she looked back at Rey in irritation. “Do you think I'd be haunting a hermit farmboy on a deserted island if I didn't?” Rey frowned, feeling slightly embarrassed at having stated the obvious. “I mean, you never got to have closure with him. In all these years.” Mara again took a long deep breath that Rey wasn't entirely sure was necessary as she nodded. “Yes, he sealed himself away before we could talk.” her expression flickered in a smile. “But that's something to fix later, right now we need to get you trained.” Rey blinked. “Isn't that why we're doing this? To get Master Skywalker to train me?” Mara snorted as she slapped her knees—the movement making no noise—as she stood and smiled. “I can at least prep you on the basics, until he's ready to listen to you.” her smile turned into a wry smirk. “And you can even tell him his wife is doing his job for him. Maybe that'll shake him out of his stupor long enough to notice me.” “Alright,” Rey said as she stood as well. “When do we begin?” “Tomorrow.” Mara replied curtly. “You need your beauty rest after coming all the way out here.” “How do I find you?” Rey asked as the other woman began to walk away from the fire. “I'm a ghost kid,” Mara said with a laugh. “I'll find you.” With that, the apparition faded away into the night, leaving Rey alone once more by the fire. She frowned, wondering if the others were having as much difficulty as she was right now. At least now though she had more answers, and help. She could always use that....

This was a challenge because there are 3 lighting effects all competing! Night shadows, campfire and ghost glow are tricky to balance out but fancy lighting is at least 50% of my thing on here so I had a good go at it. The Millennium Falcon was drawn with help from a 3D model imported into Clip Studio. I'm glad I did that because I would never have got it to look right otherwise, because its underside is very complicated and full of odd features.

Thank you again SlingBlade87 for your support!

Description
This is a commission done for SlingBlade87 of a scene in one of his short stories, which is an alternate take on Rey's quest to find Luke. It adds in a few Legends elements such as Mara Jade, who appears as a Force ghost to Rey at night to help her.

SW: A Lonely VisitorWalking down the sloping stone path, Rey found Chewbacca sitting beneath the Millennium Falcon at a campfire. He'd apparently spitted one of the local mammavians over the fire and was chuffing happily as he turned it over to cook evenly. Rey sat down with a huff as she let out a long sigh and stared into the fire. Chewbacca looked up at her and grunted inquisitively in his distinctive language. “No. He still won't talk to me.” Rey replied in exasperation. Chewbacca hooted at her, the sound shortening and lengthening as he spoke. “I don't know!” Rey said. “You've known him longer than I have. Don't you have any suggestions?” Chewbacca merely shrugged and growled hungrily as he leaned down and pulled the roasted porg off the fire. He held the meat out to Rey, but she declined with a shake of her head. “I'll get something from the Falcon's galley.” she said. Again Chewie shrugged, standing and walking around the fire to lay a great hand on her shoulder as he trilled reassuringly. “Thanks.” Rey said as she gave his hand a squeeze. “I'll try again in the morning. Maybe after we've all gotten a chance to sleep he'll be in a better mood.” Chewbacca let out a series of grunts as he bit into his meat and walked up the Falcon's ramp, leaving Rey alone with her thoughts. She gazed into the fire, her only company the gently blowing wind of the isle and the chirping calls of the porgs. When she'd been sent out to find Luke Skywalker she hadn't expected to find an irate hermit instead of a Jedi master. She couldn't just leave though, Leia and the others were counting on her to learn from Luke and bring him back with her. There was no way that she could go back empty handed. “Do you mind if I join you?” “Go right ahead.” Rey answered, her mind elsewhere. When she realized that it was not only a new voice asking but a woman's voice as well she jumped and turned in alarm, her staff gripped firmly in her hands. The woman standing at the edge of the firelight was older than Rey, with striking features and long wild hair that flowed over her shoulders. However what struck Rey most about her was her ghostly appearance. Her features were pale, almost glowing, as she stood there for a moment, an amused smirk on her face as she gestured towards the rock opposite Rey. “May I sit?” she asked. “Who are you?” Rey countered, holding her staff out between them. “Mara.” the woman said as she stepped into the light, the ghostly blue glow suffusing her form as she walked around the fire and took a seat. “And you're Rey.” Rey blinked in surprise. “You know who I am?” The woman nodded, looking into the fire thoughtfully as Rey retook her seat hesitantly. “Do you...do you know where I come from?” The woman, Mara, smiled wanely. “No clue kid. I just know who you are because I've been watching you since you got here.” she turned her head to look up at the Falcon. “I never thought I'd see this hunk of junk again. Too bad about Han, I imagine Leia is devastated.” “You know Han and Leia?” Rey asked, her previous wariness falling away as the woman continued speaking. “I'd better.” Mara said with a laugh. “I'm their sister-in-law.” Rey gawked at the woman for a confused moment. “Sister-in-law?” she blinked as her mind made the connections. “That means—!” “Yes,” Mara said with a sad smile. “I'm Luke's wife.” she nodded up behind Rey. “That's my grave up there.” Rey turned to look up the path towards the spot where Master Skywalker had been standing when she'd arrived. There had been a small tombstone there. She hadn't bothered looking at it. “Go check if you don't believe me.” Mara said, her smile turning waning somewhat. “I'll be here when you're done.” Standing again, Rey turned and walked out of the firelight, making her way back up the path. Glancing back over her shoulder, she spied the...what, ghost? Whatever Mara was, sitting by the fire still, unmoving and watchful. She came upon the place where Master Skywalker had been standing and knelt down, taking out the lightsaber once again and igniting it. The blue blade crackled to life and in the light Rey examined the tombstone.Mara Jade Skywalker Running her hand over the carved letters, Rey frowned as she read the rest of it.Beloved wife. My world is darker without you in it. Rey swallowed as the words sank in. Was this why Master Skywalker was so...for lack of a better word, miserable? He'd lost more than his order and his nephew...he'd lost his wife. Standing and extinguishing the lightsaber once more, she turned and descended the path back to the Falcon where Mara sat waiting patiently. “You were his wife.” Rey said awkwardly. “And you died.” “I was killed.” Mara replied, her expression sad. “The night of the attack, Luke was, well, he wasn't able to get to us. I fought with the others, trying to protect our apprentices.” she shrugged. “I could only do so much. One by one, we fell, until it was just me and a handful of others.” she took a long breath, though Rey wondered if that was simple habit since she wasn't sure if ghosts needed to breathe. “The last thing I remember was pain as something hot slashed open my back, and then I was gone.” she shook her head, looking down at the ground bitterly. “The next thing I knew, I was standing there watching Luke climb out of the rubble, and,” Mara's face tightened visibly. “I watched him cry over my body, and I felt him cut himself off from the Force in that moment.” Rey's eyes stung slightly with tears as she listened to the apparition's story. She wiped at them briefly, swallowing as she spoke. “I'm sorry.” Mara smiled quietly, shaking her head. “Nothing for you to be sorry for kid. You weren't there. You weren't involved.” she nodded at Rey's pack. “May I see that lightsaber?” Nodding, Rey retrieved the saber from her satchel and held it out across the fire. Mara reached for it and it flew from Rey's hand and into her's. Turning it over, a fond smile spread across Mara's features. “You know he proposed to me with this?” she said as she held the saber gingerly. “His father's saber, and he offered it to an enemy he'd fallen in love with.” “An enemy?” Rey asked in surprise. Mara nodded, handing the lightsaber back to her. “I was the Emperor's Hand, his personal agent and assassin.” she smiled. “And I was tasked with killing Luke.” Rey's eyes widened. “But you...married him?” “It's a long story.” Mara said with a fond smile that quickly faded. “And not important.” Silence settled between them for a moment before Rey spoke up again. “You said Master Skywalker cut himself off from the Force?” Mara nodded. “He did, it's why I can't speak to him like I am with you.” Opening her mouth to ask another question, Rey stopped as Chewbacca bellowed down from the Falcon. “I'm just,” Rey called back, looking at Mara's apparition uncertainly. “Talking to someone who might be able to help.” The Wookie came down the ramp, grumbling in confusion as he looked around the campfire. Rey looked at Mara who turned and waved at Chewbacca. “Hey hairball.” When Chewie didn't say anything in response and simply shrugged and walked back up the ramp, Rey looked back at Mara with a frown. “Not Force sensitive.” she said simply. “And with Luke cutting himself off, it has been ages since I was able to speak to anyone.” “How do we get him to open up again?” Rey asked urgently. “I need him to train me, Leia needs him back in the fight.” “Well you've already taken the first step.” Mara said with a wry smile. “You're here. So now we've just got to get him to open up. If he opens up, I can reach him.” her smile flickered. “If I can reach him...well,” she looked away, her expression distant. “We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.” “You still love him.” Rey asserted. “Of course I love him.” Mara said as she looked back at Rey in irritation. “Do you think I'd be haunting a hermit farmboy on a deserted island if I didn't?” Rey frowned, feeling slightly embarrassed at having stated the obvious. “I mean, you never got to have closure with him. In all these years.” Mara again took a long deep breath that Rey wasn't entirely sure was necessary as she nodded. “Yes, he sealed himself away before we could talk.” her expression flickered in a smile. “But that's something to fix later, right now we need to get you trained.” Rey blinked. “Isn't that why we're doing this? To get Master Skywalker to train me?” Mara snorted as she slapped her knees—the movement making no noise—as she stood and smiled. “I can at least prep you on the basics, until he's ready to listen to you.” her smile turned into a wry smirk. “And you can even tell him his wife is doing his job for him. Maybe that'll shake him out of his stupor long enough to notice me.” “Alright,” Rey said as she stood as well. “When do we begin?” “Tomorrow.” Mara replied curtly. “You need your beauty rest after coming all the way out here.” “How do I find you?” Rey asked as the other woman began to walk away from the fire. “I'm a ghost kid,” Mara said with a laugh. “I'll find you.” With that, the apparition faded away into the night, leaving Rey alone once more by the fire. She frowned, wondering if the others were having as much difficulty as she was right now. At least now though she had more answers, and help. She could always use that....

This was a challenge because there are 3 lighting effects all competing! Night shadows, campfire and ghost glow are tricky to balance out but fancy lighting is at least 50% of my thing on here so I had a good go at it. The Millennium Falcon was drawn with help from a 3D model imported into Clip Studio. I'm glad I did that because I would never have got it to look right otherwise, because its underside is very complicated and full of odd features.

Thank you again SlingBlade87 for your support!