Author's Note: I want to credit the amazing artist who did the art above but I don't remember where I got it from! If anyone knows please tell me so I can credit it. Also, I started this story before the official announcement of Hux's name as Armitage. If anywhere prior to this chapter I've been using Brendol (his father's name) then I apologize and will hopefully find those mistakes in the future. Thanks for reading

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Phasma hurries ahead of me onto the cargo spacecraft that has its bay doors open. The workers unloading supplies ignore us as we walk past. The large cargo area is dirty and smells of fuel fumes. Phasma points up to a balcony that runs along the walls, where the offices are on the upper level.

"She's up there," she says.

I nod. I haven't even apologized to her yet, and she's still helping me.

We hurry to the metal stairs. They rattle as we run up. A guard stands at the office door where Phasma said Rey is. "No admittance," he says.

"Snoke sent us." Phasma steps up to the guard.

He looks us over, crossing his large arms over his chest. "No one's allowed in."

"You have permission to let us in," I say, trying my Force powers on him. The guard looks at me but doesn't say anything. I swallow hard. I should have practiced Force mind manipulation like Master Snoke told me to. I try again. "Master Snoke just gave you permission to let us in."

The guard nods and steps aside.

Phasma smiles at me and I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding in. She opens the door and we both walk in.

At first the room seems empty and my heart drops. Did they take Rey away?

"Ren!" A high voice squeals. Rey scrambles out from under a large desk. I drop to my knees and she comes running into my arms. "I don't want to go back to Jakku! I want to stay here with you! Don't let them take me," she cries.

I want to tell her that I won't let them take her, that she can stay with me and be my sister forever, but the words won't come out. Phasma is right. Rey doesn't belong in our world. For all I know I could be killed in a few days. I'm not old enough to take care of Rey. She needs her parents.

"I'll convince them to let you stay here with your grandfather, okay?" I finally say.

"He's gone, he had to go," Rey says then begins to sob. I hold her tight, my heart aching.

Phasma clears her through and I look up.

"Snoke is coming," she says, poking her head out the door. "With Commander Garione and Commander Klein."

I pull Rey out of our hug and grasp her tiny shoulders. "I love you," I say to her. "I love you so much." I can't breathe. I have to let her go, like Phasma said. I look into her big hazel eyes. "When you see the stars at night, remember that I'm on one of those planets."

She shakes her head no, her bottom lip quivering.

"And when I'm ruler over the Galaxies," I continue. "I'll come find you and we'll rule together. I promise. And you'll be my little sister forever. Or we can get married when you're older, whatever you want. Okay? Just don't forget about me."

Rey shuts her eyes tight and sobs, tears pouring down her face. "You'll... you'll forget... about me."

"No," I grasp her shoulders tight. "I won't. Ever. And if you're lonely at night, or scared, just think of the ocean. Because that's how much love your parents have for you, as much as there is water in the ocean, and that's why they'll never forget you and will always come back for you, okay?" I swallow hard, gritting my teeth against the tears pinching my eyes. "That's how much I love you."

Rey nods her head, taking quick short breaths.

"The time for goodbyes are over," Master Snoke's says behind me.

"No!" Rey screams, throwing her arms around me again. I lift her up and turn to face Snoke.

"She doesn't want to go," I say, even though I know I'm not going to win this fight.

"There is no one here to watch after her," Snoke says calmly. "Her parents have asked for her to be returned to Jakku with her uncle Oktar. We can't hold her here against her parents' will."

"He's not her uncle. She can't stay with him," I say. Rey's little heart hammers against my chest and she grasps my shirt tight in her fists.

"Her parents are the ones to make that decision. This ship is scheduled to leave now and they are waiting."

"I can go with her."

"Her grandfather has given specific instructions to have you kept away from her." Master Snoke turns to the commanders at his side and nods to them. They walk forward and reach for Rey.

"Stop." I put out my hand and the guards are thrown back a step by my Force push.

"Ren," Phasma says. "Just let her go. The longer you drag this out the harder it will be on her."

I shake my head no, but lower my hand. Commander Klein steps forward and pulls Rey from my arms.

I let her go.

"No!" she screams, clutching my shirt tight. Her screams pierce my chest like a knife as I let Commander Garione unclasp her fists from my shirt. Rey's sobbing turns to whimpering and she gives up the fight, seeing that I'm not helping her anymore. I can't breathe, or move or do anything. Phasma grabs my arm and pulls me along.

"Come on Ren, we need to get out of here."

A moment later we're outside the room. I hear the office door shut and Rey's cries fade off behind the closed door.

* * *

I hug my knees, unable to stand straight anymore. The chapel is cold and drafty. The scent of rain blows in through the open windows. Raindrops beat against the stone walls and shower the trees outside, while inside my mind all I can hear are Rey's screams. I thought coming to the chapel would help somehow but it hasn't. The pain is unbearable. It won't lessen. It won't let me breathe. It throbs on and on, unceasing, like the rain outside. It's too much. I should have never loved Rey. Master Snoke was right, attachments break you down. I can't take this anymore.

* * *

"Please, Your Supreme Leadership," I cry, on my knees before Grand Master, my hands covering my face. "Please erase all my memories of Rey. I can't be with her, and I can't be without her. I should have told you about the whole thing. I should have listened." Tears roll down my chin and I hold back a sob. "I don't want to feel this pain anymore."

"You're very passionate, Ren," Master Snoke says. "It gives you access to immense power. But it must be directed in the right way."

I don't respond and just listen, trying not to fall apart.

"Now you know how much attachments hurt. It was your grandfather's weakness as well, but I believe it does not have to be yours. You are not the only one disappointing me with your attachments. Armitage has to let go of his attachment to you, if he wishes to rule with the First Order. You will both come to me to have your memories of these attachments erased and I will keep a closer eye on you both."

I nod, trying to catch my breath.

"Eventually one must become broken and fall apart, my young apprentice, so that one can be put back together as a stronger, more powerful force, unbreakable."

I nod again, my chest and throat burning.

"Go, tell Armitage what I've told you. Then come back to me when you're both ready to leave all of this childishness behind you and then you will face your final challenge in the Elimination Games."

I nod again, unable to speak. I stand slowly, every muscle in my body aching, and bow to Grand Master before walking out of his office, broken.