"Read them, have you? Page-turners they were not."

-Yoda, The Last Jedi

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"The Jedi are a chosen race, a royal people who possess the Light," Poe reads. Something inside of me stirs at hearing the ancient texts being read out loud. "He who follows the way of the Jedi will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light. The light shines in the darkness and the Dark Side does not overcome it."

Poe pauses, then flips a few pages and reads a different passage. "The Jedi Masters have been given into the hands of the Sith Lords. The Jedi teachers have led the Jedi in the way of disorder. But the Light will live with them, walk among them, call them out from the Dark Side.

"Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of the Dark Side, but rather, expose them. If we say we have fellowship in the Light, yet walk in the ways of the Dark Side, we lie and do not practice the true Jedi way. The gift you have received abides in you and you do not need anyone to teach you. Just as this Force teaches you about everything, and is pure and true, remain in its light and do not walk in the way of the Dark Side."

I close my eyes, feeling the strength inside of me returning with each word Poe reads from the ancient texts. I have no need of a teacher, it says. Everything I need is in me. Kylo was wrong. Letting go of the past, of the ancient texts and sacred teachings will not bring balance, hope and freedom to the Galaxy. Holding on to the ancient words in the texts and to what little light is left, is what will bring freedom and peace.

"For a brief moment," Poe continues, "the Light is hidden and those who live as slaves of the Dark Side do not see it, or know it. But the Light will shine forth again and the ruins of the Jedi temple will be restored. The people who walk the way of the dark side will see a great Light and be revived once more, freed from the bondages of the Dark Side."

Poe stops and I open my eyes.

"Do you want me to keep going?" he asks.

I pick up another book and hand it to him. "What does this one say?"

Poe sets aside the first book and takes the one I'm holding. He looks down at the cover. "The Jedi way, I think, or Jedi instruction." He opens it gently. The markings look different than the ones in the other book.

"This text is written in a newer language," Poe says. He clears his throat and starts reading again. "The stronger a Jedi's Force sensitivity, the greater the emotions felt. Anger, pleasure, fear, hate, love. How a Jedi uses these emotions is what makes him a great Jedi Master, or an evil Sith Lord."

Poe pauses, staring at the words for a moment.

"The Jedi Mastery of Temptations," he says softly. I tense, wanting him to read it but not daring to ask. He doesn't look at me but continues to read. "Pleasure can be found in many forms, both helpful and harmful to the mind, emotions and body. Many non-harmful pleasures are available to a Jedi; enjoying a nice meal, resting on a rest day, soaking in heated water, listening to tales told by a skillful storyteller, the fellowship of other Jedi.

"But a Jedi must not engage in the harmful pleasures which would compromise the integrity and destiny of their Jedi calling to the Light. For the path of the Dark Side is paved with lack of self-discipline and a weak mind.

Poe stops and we sit in silence for a moment, listening to the sounds of the ship's engine.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"No problem." Poe says, closing the book.

"What happened to your hand?" I ask.

Poe closes his fist, the dried blood and scabs on his knuckles puffed up and swollen. He shrugs but doesn't offer an explanation.

"Did you punch something?" I reach out to take his hand and have a look but he pulls it away.

"I did, actually."

"Why?"

"A wall got in the way of my hand."

I look around the small space and sigh. "This must be driving you crazy, sitting still for so long, with nothing to do."

"I think it's driving everyone crazy."

I wait for him to say something else, to explain why he felt the need to punch a wall, but he doesn't.

"Thanks again for reading to me," I say, really meaning it. "I needed that."

"You're strong, Rey. Don't give in. You'll defeat Kylo Ren."

"One thing I learned growing up on Jakku, is to face my problems head on and not hide from them."

"Or blast them out of the sky," Poe says.

I laugh.

"So, you're going to face Kylo Ren?"

"Yes," I say. "He's not going to turn. He's trying to turn me. I need to defeat him." My hand balls into a fist.

"I'll help you," Poe says. His expression is so serious that a pang of worry settles into my stomach.

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Author's Note: I'm taking the weekend off and will return on Monday night (Tuesday for the UK and Europe, etc). I seriously have to take my Christmas tree down already, and lots else to do. Thanks for reading everyone and I will see you all next week! (I'll channel my inner Reylo for some more interaction between Kylo and Rey soon, for you Reylo fans. It will be easier once they're in the same expanse of space!)

Jan. 19, 2018: P.S.S. Rian Johnson [screenwriter of TLJ] are you reading this??? haha. I noticed today that you tweeted images from the official text "The Jedi Path" and just yesterday I had started mentioning the Jedi Texts in this fanfic. Coincidence? Then I was working on creating passages for the ancient Jedi Texts for this chapter, about 5 hours ago, when you tweeted photos of actual pages from "The Jedi Path" book, at that exact same time!! (I didn't even know there are actual pages and an actual book, cool). Either you're reading my fanfic (that would be epic), or we are truly connected in the Force and thinking the same thing at the same time ^_^