No! No, no, no absolutely not!" Finn argued harshly.

Rey sighed heavily; annoyed of the fact that, once again, Finn wasn't seeing the overall picture from her point-of-view. "There's no other way."

"I've let you be taken prisoner once before and we both know how that turned out but this – this is an entirely new level of crazy of its own."

Rey glowered back at him; taking offense to his accusation she crossed her arms over her chest. "And what is that supposed to mean – exactly?"

"Well, you did fall in love with the guy who held you captive." Finn added in stating the apparent outcome of Rey's prior capture. "So, you can't blame me for being a little cynical about this 'grand idea' of yours, Rey."

Rey eyed him incredulously. Raising her brow, she snorted at his nonsensical accusation. "First of all, that has to be the worst defensive accusation that I've ever heard; even from you. And secondly this is different..." her words trailed off in thought as her expression fell solemn. Holding his gaze with her own, Rey pressed on in hopes of getting Finn to see her reasoning. "Ben needs me, Finn. He's in pain. I felt it."

Finn snorted in disbelief, "No offense, but Ren seems like the type of guy that can handle himself pretty well. And what do you mean you felt it?"

Chewing her inner cheek in thought, Rey pondered over the simplest of terms that she could explain the connection between her and Kylo. But given the dire circumstances that they were currently under, she had to think of something quick. "I can't explain everything right now, Finn, and I will I promise. But this isn't some sort of juvenile infatuation; it's much deeper than that." She paused momentarily, pleading to him with her eyes with hope that he could understand her explanation. "We have a connection: a bond of sorts where I can feel how he feels. But to put it simply it's the same intuition that led me to you. I'm asking you to please trust me on this."

Finn regarded her words carefully. Rubbing his hand over his mouth he crossed his arms over his chest with a heavy sigh in defeat. "Alright; just tell me what you need me to do to help."

A grateful smile spread across her face before Rey threw her arms around his shoulders in thanks, taking the moment to briefly open herself up to The Force.

Closing her eyes, she stretched her senses out in search of Kylo's force signature: that powerful, blazing light emanating through shrouded darkness she had been irrevocably drawn towards since that evening of her initial arrival to the palace. Her heart ached for the sheer fact that she could feel his pain; whatever torment it was that he had been enduring this whole time since she had left.

Pressing her senses further towards him she found something buried deeply under his anguish that she had never discovered before within him: she felt hope. As if he had sensed her presence Kylo's voice resonated through her mind in that of a warning, but she couldn't overlook the unmistakable hint of his tendered affection for her.

"Rey."

An inaudible gasp escaped Rey's lips at hearing his voice; as if he had been standing behind her and whispered intently into her ear, but before she could press any further towards him the light was suddenly gone. Every mental barrier and guard had been placed around his mind as if he'd purposely cut himself off from her and from The Force. Panic coursed through her as her heartbeat rapidly sped into that of a full-blown staccato, driving her need all the more to urgently get to him and hoping that whatever had caused his reaction wasn't something far more abysmal.

Without any further delay Rey pulled herself away from the momentary embrace, holding Finn's gaze in order to further enhance the seriousness behind her request. "Just stay with Chewie and the Resistance; help clear out the stormtroopers as much as you can. I need to go, but please – be safe."

Finn swallowed nervously but knowing that her mind was already made up all he could do was simply nod in acknowledgment. Rey offered him a subtle reassuring smile before turning towards the direction of the escape pods, reaching to check if her lightsaber was still holstered at her side.

Taking pause at the holding bay's threshold Rey turned to offer him one last line of comfort, "May the Force be with you."

---------------------------------

"Supreme Leader, Resistance ships have been spotted approaching from the West!"

Snoke eyed Ren knowingly as Hux announced the Resistance's anticipated arrival. "Foolish girl," he spoke with a tone low enough for only Kylo's ears to hear. "She thinks she can win this fight? Well, soon they can all watch the galaxy fall beneath the might of the First Order." Snoke shifted his attention purposely towards Hux's vicinity before redirecting it back to Kylo, speaking with a serene yet callous timbre behind his words. "Your scavenger will be with them, General. Bring her to me. Alive."

A smug grin played across Hux's face as he stood taut next to Kylo, stealing a glance in Ren's direction. An egotistical look reflected through his icy glare as he considered the brilliance behind his carefully concocted plan. Hux nodded curtly before turning abruptly on his heal. "Yes, Supreme Leader. I can assure you we have her tied to the end of a string."

Snoke and Hux's words struck Kylo painfully raw to the core. Cursing under his breath, he should've known that Rey never had the intent on listening to his words when he told her to stay away. If there ever was a moment for her to be rebelliously stubborn, now was definitely not that time.

Rey – his Rey – the girl from Jakku with a fiery, blazing attitude whom had managed to bewitch and captivate his very mind, body and soul was here as she stayed true to her promise. Bile crept into his throat at the initial thought of what Snoke was planning on doing with her – or that of which had been expected of him to do to her.

His head was throbbing from Snoke forcefully ravaging through his mind. But he couldn't allow that to hinder his need for Rey and ensuring her safety. Reaching out with his senses, Ren sought out to seek Rey's signature in The Force. It didn't take long for him to be drawn towards warmth of her glow; like that of a moth being enticed to a light amidst the darkness of night.

"Rey."

Oh, Gods – she was close; so close to the point where it felt as if the sun's heat was blazing directly through the fabric of his robes. For a momentarily lapse of weakness Kylo wanted nothing more than to risk everything just to have her at his side, to feel her soothing warmth next to him that he so deliciously craved whenever she was near his presence.  A sliver of hope lingered at the possibility of Snoke allowing her to become an ally if he could coax her. It was foolhardy to challenge Snoke. He knew this on a deeper level but something in him knew that this was so wrong. Everything was wrong.

Logic finally snapped his senses back into a more rational frame of mind, realizing that it was only him allowing the darkness to take over his thoughts in a momentary desperate attempt to have her by him. He couldn't allow that. He had to protect her.

Whatever initial ruse lingered in store for her – for him – Kylo couldn't risk the chance of Rey finding him knowing that by leaving himself open to The Force could potentially lure her directly into Snoke's trap. As much as it thought pained him to remotely consider he had to allow her to think that Snoke had won; that Kylo had completely surrendered himself in allegiance to the Order and hoped that the notion would be enough to hinder her from any thoughts of finding him.

Begrudgingly, Ren threw up every mental barrier whilst severing his connection to The Force – to her - hoping that if there were even the slightest of chances of them reuniting that it would be him finding her and not the First Order. Now he could only hope that, for once, she wouldn't be the tempestuous scavenger girl he'd fallen in love with.

But as usual no plan of his ever seemed to follow through accordingly.

An uneasy feeling coursed through his veins as the evening hours approached. A storm was brewing off in the distance, but not the sort that was currently accumulating within the heavy rain clouds. The calm before the storm of war was a feeling that Kylo had known all too well having been born into a family that committed their lives to that of sorts; most particularly his father alongside his mother and uncle when they served the Rebel Alliance decades ago during the days of the Galactic Empire and nowadays as the rebellion reformed into the Resistance.

Darkness descended over Chandrila's horizon as the immense chambers of the temple plunged further into shadows. The steady sound of raindrops pattering against the window panes echoed throughout the measureless halls as Kylo stood gazing into the evening, waiting for the inevitable that had yet to come. Footsteps echoing across the marble flooring triggered his gaze to shift directly towards the oncoming figures materializing among the shadows.

General Hux appeared amongst an escort of stormtroopers, but it was the prisoner walking among them that rendered Kylo's stomach into a series of knots. Nausea crept into the pit of his gut as one of the stormtroopers had her grasped firmly by the crook of her arm, her wrists adorned in handcuffs Hux proudly marched forward to present the Supreme Leader his prize.

Rey...

Rey's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw Kylo come into view.

Not long after her departure from the Falcon in the escape pod she managed to land within the palace's heavily guarded acreage. As initially expected a small group of lingering nearby stormtroopers must have caught sight of her pod landing safely within the citadel's grounds. As the steam cleared from around the pod's tiny viewport a lump formed at the back of her throat when her eyes met the haughty gaze of General Hux. Without haste a stormtrooper placed a heavy pair of cuffs around her wrists; her lightsaber as well had been confiscated as a trooper quickly seized the legendary weapon from its holster, surrendering it over into the General's clutches.

A smug grin played across Hux's taut features, hands clasped firmly behind his back with her lightsaber tightly gripped in hand. "Well, well. I must say this was far easier than I initially expected. I know someone has been waiting ever so anxiously for your arrival."

Rey narrowed her eyes at the general before her, scrutinizing his every move as he attempted to close the short distance between them. Cupping his gloved hand just underneath her jaw line Hux stroked her face with his thumb. "You know, my dear, the offer still stands if you would be so willing to join me within the First Order. I'm sure I could convince Supreme Leader Snoke to grant you amnesty."

Rey felt her skin crawl underneath his touch. Holding his icy gaze her eyes bore deeply into his to further ensure he understood the meaning behind her words, "I would rather risk my chances in the darkest depths of The Force before I would ever consider joining you."

Hux tightened his grip ever so slightly upon hearing her retort. "Are you telling me you would willingly sacrifice your life for someone like Ren – a monster that will always be trapped in a mask before you would consider yourself with someone like me?"

"I'm saying I'm not afraid to die if it means I tried saving those I love." Rey sneered in retort, marveling in the look of realization as disgust crawled across the General's taut features. "And he's not the monster here, General Hux – you are."

Hux remained dangerously silent as he allowed himself a moment to process her words. "So be it, desert rat."

Wordlessly, she reluctantly fell in suit as Hux led her and the stormtroopers into the familiar walls of the palace's corridors. Rey held her breath in hopes of seeing Kylo lingering within the palace's now shadowy interior, but it was only when she saw him standing in the dim lighting of the temple's chambers that she could sigh in relief.

Kylo stood momentarily hesitant before leisurely making his way from the prior stance at the window across the chamber. Coming to a halt just inches before her, Rey stared longingly into his mask wholly expecting him to affectionately pull her into his arms like he had done only days prior to now. But his defiantly motionless stance only caused her to crease her brows with concern; the only sign hinting at his mortality was the steady rise and fall of his chest as Kylo stood tensely square-shouldered before her.

Holding his silent gaze Rey tentatively attempted to brush her senses against his mind. Hoping she would receive some sort of indication that he was happy to see her, but she was only met with that of a mental barrier that he erected earlier in which further caused her subtle smile to flatten into the thin line of a frown. For the first time since she had begun to harbor feelings for him, Rey couldn't help but wonder if Snoke had finally managed to sink his barbs into him. The stagnant air of silence was finally broken as Hux's rigid voice pierced the unwarranted tension between them, prompting their gazes to immediately shift towards the vicinity of General Hux and Supreme Leader Snoke.

"We found this as her only possession, Supreme Leader." Hux stated as a matter of fact while presenting the lightsaber in his hand. A smug grin played across his features as he swiftly surrendered the weapon over to Snoke.

"Well done, General Hux." He admitted serenely with praise. His tone was all wrong to Rey, cold, detached even. Placing the lightsaber with purpose along the arm of his seat Snoke briefly gestured his hand in acknowledgment that the lingering stormtroopers were dismissed.

The moment Snoke's unwarranted gaze landed upon hers a cold shiver promptly ran of Rey's spine. The notion itself sent her back days prior to when the tranquility of Snoke's voice invaded her sleep. The only difference being there was now a ghastly, disfigured face to put with the voice that haunted her dream. Only now this nightmare was one that even Kylo couldn't force her to wake from. Her heart sunk in remembrance to when he contentedly carried her to his chambers, wishing wholeheartedly if only now he could provide her with the same gesture.

"Young Rey," Snoke stated as he rose from his once seated position, slowly treading across the flooring from his prior stance to close the distance between the pair now standing before him. With a simple wave of his hand, Snoke released the restraints that firmly bound Rey's wrists together. "Welcome! And here formally in person – I must further admit it was a lot quicker than I had initially expected," he added with a crude chuckle.

Rey stood defiantly before him, momentarily rubbing the ache out of her wrists from the cuff's tight-fitting grip. Her upper lip quivered in disgust as the horrid creature draped in a golden robe came into better view, but the bile within her stomach churned the moment Snoke place his icy hand upon her face. He caressed her cheek softly as he considered the fine specimen that had held Kylo's undivided attention over the months prior.

All the while watching his former master touching her unwarrantedly Kylo clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides. The mere notion of making Rey believe he no longer cared about her was eating away at him from the inside out. Had it not been for the gloves, his nails would have most assuredly drawn blood from his palms.

Turning his attention forward to the red-armored guards standing nearby, Kylo began considering his options. What he only needed now was time – time that he wholeheartedly wished would eventually present itself for the opportune moment to enact upon his carefully calculated intentions.

"Hmm..." Snoke finally added as he continued regarding Rey. "So much strength. There's a fire about you that's just waiting to be sparked with the proper nourishment, but also such a shame that you weren't strong enough to resist the bait."

Rey furrowed her brows, heavily regarding the meaning behind his words as her muscles trembled with fear. All the while Kylo quickly diverted his gaze to Snoke as the Supreme Leader finally settled with focusing his horrifying gaze upon him.

A knowing, grizzly smile played across Snoke's disfigured features as a cruel chuckle escaped his lips. "The mighty Kylo Ren; son of darkness, apparent heir of Lord Vader," he proudly stated with purpose, cocking his head in questioning. "Tell me – what was the reason for the Empire's downfall?"

Kylo hesitated momentarily before he finally spoke for the first time since Rey's arrival. Only this time the timbre behind his voice resonated distantly cold as he nearly spat out the term, "Sentiment."

"Good," Snoke serenely stated within his own form of contented praise," my faith in you has been restored, Lord Ren. So much weakness in such a simple gesture. It was only a foolish lack of judgment on Darth Vader's behalf. And yet -," Snoke paused momentarily as his glowering gaze directed purposely back to Rey. His eyes shifted superfluously over her figure, "– that weakness can also be a very sharp tool."

For the first time that evening Rey finally had been unable to hold her tongue. "You underestimate me and Ben Solo!" She spat out of pent up fury. Seizing the moment to strike Snoke at a short-distance range Rey motioned her hand out to the side, calling upon the force to command Kylo's lightsaber to her hand.

Kylo stood motionlessly as the unforeseen event played out, all the while allowing Rey to use his saber with no further dispute.

Quickly igniting the crackling red blade to life Rey attempted to lunge at Snoke before he effortlessly forced her into a vice-like grip with a subtle extension of his shriveled hand. Rey promptly dropped the saber, sliding intentionally back to its master's feet as Snoke forced her abruptly to her knees.

"So much fire - my child. I can see why you were so drawn to her, Lord Ren." Snoke further added with a brief acknowledgment in Kylo's direction. "Tell me, Rey, do you sense something in Ren that I haven't?"

Rey's chest heaved in short, shuddered breaths. Gritting her teeth, she could only glare defiantly at the creature before her, furthermore only exuding that of another crude chuckle from Snoke.

"Just as I suspected," he confirmed with a knowing look towards Kylo before slowly treading back to his self-proclaimed throne, still maintaining his invisible grip on Rey. "My young and worthy apprentice," he stated assertively to Kylo, "where I once sensed conflict, I now sense resolve. Where I sensed weakness, there's now strength," he added, heavily emphasizing the last word of his declaration. Taking a seat, Snoke continued his address towards him. "Now, complete what your grandfather started and fulfill your destiny."

Apprehensively, Kylo knelt down for his lightsaber. While Snoke's complete and undivided attention had been directed towards him and Rey, the Supreme Leader remained wholly ignorant of the legacy lightsaber shifting ever-so-slightly towards him as Kylo secretively commanded it with his hand that was purposely hidden from view to his side.

Fear coursed through her body as Rey arched her neck to make up for Ren's towering height. Her eyes desperately pleaded silently to his mask, hoping that the man she loved wasn't intently about to murder her. She made brief last attempt to try to reach him mentally but was only met with that of the sturdy walls he had forcefully built up. Her heartbeat reverberated within her ears as Kylo stood impassively before her.

Tightly gripping the hilt of the crossguard in his hand, Ren slowly brought it up in place before her mediastinum, where if he were to ignite it, surely it would pierce her heart.

"Ben?" her shivering voice was barely that of a whisper, but it came out essentially as a plea more than a question.

Kylo remained indifferent to that of her imploring words, but she couldn't help noticing the evident bob of his Adam's apple. Although he wouldn't dare to let his emotions be known, he was noticeably struggling with the intention of following through with Snoke's directive whether she ultimately knew his true objective or not.

"I know what I have to do," Kylo added assuredly, but this time Rey was able to hear the subtle hint of promise behind his words.

Furrowing her brows, Rey considered him skeptically before Snoke's cruel chuckle broke the brief moment of silence.

"Foolish child, you think you can save him? I warned you it would be your undoing," Snoke sneered arrogantly. "I cannot be beaten. I cannot be betrayed. I see his mind. His every intent. I see him preparing to strike true, and kill his true enemy!"

Rey flinched at the sound of a lightsaber igniting. Her eyes clenched tightly shut out of instinct before realizing the ignition she had heard wasn't from Kylo's. Snoke's phantom hold over her dropped, allowing her muscles to freely move at her accord Rey turned her head in time to see the blue blade of her lightsaber piercing through the doomed Supreme Leader's torso.

With a simple flick of his finger Kylo commanded the saber to fully dissect Snoke's body, guiding it precisely to Rey's outstretched grasp. Rising from her position on the floor, Rey gazed knowingly into Kylo's mask as a subtle smile to play across her lips. Kylo nodded in acknowledgment, allowing himself to be fully opened to The Force once again he ignited his blade, "Let's finish this."

Both of them now ready to take on the advancing praetorian guards – each armed with a specialty weapon of choice. Kylo and Rey stood guard with their backs toward each other, fighting in perfect unison as The Force hummed through their veins in that of a harmonious tune. The battle had become to mirror in resemblance to their dance; only now the temple had become their ballroom. Through a series of flourishing red and blue blades the red guards began to fall one-by-one, their weapons clattering across the floor from their fallen bodies.

At some point amidst the chaos of the battle General Hux seized the opportunity to make his exit unnoticed during Kylo and Rey's moment of distraction. Seizing a vibroblade from a fallen guard he quickly took the moment to escape. His blackened heart begged to seek vengeance for the unforeseeable death to the First Order's Supreme Leader, knowing the only way to strike the culprit at its heart would be to seek out the source of Ren's curse.

Rey had made her choice blatantly clear that she had no intentions on ever joining him with the First Order. Now, with no Supreme Leader to properly lead them into triumph the probability of the Order suffering the same fate as the Empire was now at its all-time high. Everything Hux had worked for through his whole life was now being held on the line and all within the hands of a self-indulged noble who had always been held upon the highest pedestal to the Supreme Leader.  Now that promising future of his was gone and Hux was set on making sure that Ren would pay dearly for what he had done.

After the last guard faltered Kylo and Rey stood breathlessly amidst the bodies scattered across the floor; both allowing themselves to come down from their own rush in adrenaline as they sheathed their weapons. Kylo quickly closed the short distance between them. Abruptly cupping her face into his hands he momentarily lost himself within her eyes. Both of them marveled in the sensation of being within each other's grasp; the feeling of her face between his palms made the present come crashing down on him that she was finally here with him in the flesh and not that of a long-distant tangible mirage.

"You came back," as if saying the words out loud made the moment seem all the more real to him.

"Of course, I came back," Rey reaffirmed with a smile, her hands tightly gripping the fabric on his chest. "But why did you cut yourself off from me – from The Force? I couldn't find you or feel you."

"Snoke was going to kill you, I couldn't allow you to walk into his trap but obviously it didn't work out that way – always my stubborn little scavenger."

Rey snorted at his admission, sensing the comic tease behind his jab. "You should know me better than that by now, your worship."

Although his face was fully concealed it still didn't stop the smile from playing across Kylo's face as he gently skimmed his thumbs over her cheeks. She had willingly come back to him just like she said she would. But a disturbance in The Force immediately brought his thoughts back to the present, demanding for his attention towards the vicinity of the West wing.

"Rey, I need you to help Luke and the others," he stated with urgency behind his words. "I'll deal with Hux."

"Okay, be careful." She urged with a nod in acknowledgment. "I'll find you afterwards."

Gripping the hilt of his saber tightly in hand, Kylo nodded in acknowledgment to her words before they both parted their separate ways. Igniting his saber for the ready, Kylo stalked through the halls making his way toward the grand stairwell.

Rey tended to Luke at the far end of the temple where he had been bound at the wrists and ankles as well as trapped within ray shields. A quick slice at each shield's generator enabled Luke free from their grasp. Together they headed towards the dungeon where Luke informed that the rest of Ren's staff was being detained.

Stormtroopers and Resistance members alike were sporadically found fighting throughout the darkened corridors, further rendering the walls of Kylo's home into chaos and shambles. Kylo felt the darkness coursing through him; happily offering Resistance troops his aid in decapitations and severing limbs of passing by stormtroopers before he began ascending the western stairwell.

Killing the last lone stormtrooper at the top of the stairs Kylo finally arrived to his chambers in time to see Hux standing before the crystal's vase. Brandishing the blade in hand Hux was preparing for the final strike against the crystal's already fragile state. A mound of dust lay underneath the hovering minuscule-in-size kyber crystal; one strike with the blade was all it would take in order to seal Kylo forever into his unwarranted fate.

Ren seethed with rage as he called upon The Force to unleash a precise blast of energy at Hux, sending him helplessly hurdling onto the terrace with the vibroblade landing beside him. The rain plummeted onto the stone balcony in heavy sheets of droplets as Kylo felt his inner storm brew into that of unremitted fury. Gripping the hilt of his saber tightly in his grasp the crimson color of the rattling blade reflected off the accumulating puddles.

"I had planned on making your death more merciful like those of your comrades, General. But for this – I shall enjoy taking my time killing you." Ren snarled menacingly. "Which limb would you prefer to lose first? Or perhaps I could save you the trouble and choose for you."

"It's because of you, Kylo Ren, that our Supreme Leader is dead!" Hux sneered in retort, reaching for the vibroblade that had fallen to his side. The General rose to stand remaining indifferent of the rain plummeting around him as he proceeded further with his goading. "As much as I would enjoy killing you I actually find the idea of watching you suffer in your curse far more appealing. Then, perhaps I'll kill your scavenger whore afterwards!"

That was all the coaxing Kylo needed to make his advancement on the grating General Hux. Flourishing his saber at his side Kylo lunged with a powerful strike as Hux promptly raised his blade to block in defense. Sparks of light from Ren's blade meeting the metallic staff flew around them as Kylo attempted to push the General further out into the terrace, mercilessly striking again and again.

For every strike Kylo delivered he was surprised to see the strong-willed determination behind Hux's parries to fend him off. Taking a moment to consider his opposition, Ren resumed his assault with a vengeance as he aimed to drive the General back against the terrace's railing.

Hux continued blocking his blows time after time again, letting Kylo's blade slide against that of his vibroblade and sliding it off to the side. Hux managed to press forward with surprisingly powerful counterattacks. After spending many years within the order – and harboring a fair share of enemies throughout his service – the General had managed to obtain his own set of fighting skills. Kylo realized he had severely underestimated Hux's capabilities.

At one point, Hux's blade unexpectedly grazed Kylo's shoulder as he thrust the blade forward. The act itself hindered Kylo momentarily off-guard. Shrugging off the nagging sting on his skin, a low growl in irritancy resonated through his mask. Both taking the chance to consider the other's opponent they began to move in that of a circle, nearly resembling two feral lothal cats just waiting for the opportune moment to strike its enemy and go in for the death blow.

Now that the General had managed to land a mark on him, it was time to end Hux's act of child's play once and for all. Kylo held back to consider the weaknesses in Hux's defense. Deciding to switch up his tactics Kylo went in ruthlessly as his crackling blade met Hux's once again.

"It's over, Ren." Hux sneered as their blades crossed. "Face it – you lose with me no matter what!"

Kylo growled in refusal of defeat. With a flawless, fluid motion he managed to catch Hux's vibroblade within his crossguard. Pressing all of his strength down into the act Ren brought his blade up into a powerful twist, rendering Hux's grasp to loosen on the blade's handle it was sent flying over the terrace's balcony.

Now disarmed of his blade, Hux managed to swiftly dodge to the side, avoiding Ren's incoming attack. Reaching for the small blaster hidden within his undercoat Hux attempted to fire off shots in Kylo's direction; only to realize that he was miserably losing as Kylo easily deflected the shots back within the darkened corners of his chambers.

---------------------------------

The Resistance had victoriously managed to push back the First Order from the palace walls. Putting in place an effective blockade once they'd been able to make their tactical strike against their defenses. Once inside, Rey led the charge and battled into the dungeon to release Kylo's staff from their prison. After managing to successfully release Kylo's staff and further assist them more in the fight Rey set off on her own, purposely searching for Kylo amongst the darkened corridors. Carefully stepping over the bodies of fallen troopers, a commotion of blaster fire promptly directed her attention towards the vicinity of the West wing.

Panic surged through her as she dreaded on walking in to witness the inevitable. Her heart beat within that of a full-blown staccato as she cursed her legs for not being able to carry her weight fast enough up the stairs, skipping over every other step to further the swiftness of her ascension. Realizing that the doors to Kylo's chambers were wide open, she entered them in time to see Hux fire off a few more rounds of blaster shots towards Kylo.

"Ben!" She cried out as her eyes widened in horror at the scene playing out before her. "Hux – please, don't!"

At the sound of her cry, Kylo's attention promptly shifted to Rey. "Rey, get out of here!"

Kylo's warning hadn't been fast enough as Hux quickly saw the opportunity to distract Ren's attention by redirecting his aim towards Rey. Without hesitation, he fired the blaster.

Rey stood frozen in fear, holding her breath as she waited for the inevitable hit to happen. Her brain told her to quickly dodge out of harm's way but trepidation cemented her muscles in place, but she was only left stunned. She sighed heavily in relief as the bolt was frozen in place; a blue flickering laser hovering just mere meters before her. Her eyes quickly darted back to Kylo as he stood with his right hand outstretched towards the shot, holding it steadfast in place but it was then when he opened himself vulnerable to attack. His torso was shifted at his waist towards Rey leaving his backside exposed to Hux.

Seeing the moment of opportunity, Hux withdrew the unforeseen dagger from his jacket's sleeve. Gripping it tightly in his grasp the General moved forward to make his final advancement.

"BEN!" Rey shrieked in warning, but she was too late.

Kylo felt the excruciating pain rush through his body. Blinking in disbelief it took a moment for him to realize the dagger that had been jabbed into his side. Clenching his jaw tightly an anguished groan resounded from his mask as he slowly relieved himself of the blade, but the immediate damage had already been done. Releasing the grip on his lightsaber, Kylo attempted to apply pressure to his wound, but weakly staggered back and collapsed near the terrace's threshold.

Rey cupped her hand to her mouth in dismay. Panic swept through her mind as the moment essentially took a turn for the worst. "BEN – NO!"

"It's just us now, scavenger rat!" Hux spat in retort to her cries, "Kylo Ren can't save you anymore."

Rey's eyes lingered on Kylo's still form as the fear within her quickly escalated into that of implacable rage.  Her knuckles turned white, tightly clenching the lightsaber in her grasp Rey welcomed the darkness that now surged through her veins. Brandishing the blue blade with a flourish at her side, she cried out in what could have only been considered a roar in dissent before pent up fury took her over.

Hux had been caught off-guard with her unforeseen advancement. The General managed to fire off a few rounds in Rey's direction only to concede into helplessly watch her deflect each shot. Unable to properly react accordingly, the blue blade flashed before his eyes only to realize Rey had plunged it into his chest.

"That is for Ben." She snarled in further disdain, boring her eyes into the horrified irises of Hux's eyes. Quickly withdrawing the blade from his diaphragm, she added furthermore with assurance, "And this is for me." With that of a single fluid motion Rey quickly extended the palm of her hand to exert a powerful blast of energy toward Hux, sending him helplessly flying over the balcony's edge.

Without even considering a moment to come down from her adrenaline rush Rey sheathed the blade of her saber before quickly rushing to Kylo's side. An apparent lump formed in the back of her throat when she noticed the blood protruding from his wound. Acting on initial instinct earned throughout her years of scavenging Rey tore a considerable size of cloth from her sash before pressing it firmly to his lesion in hopes of slowing the blood flow. The torrential downpour of rain earlier had slowly hindered into a soft drizzle.

Slowly, Kylo turned his head in acknowledgment to her presence. Using the little strength, he had left he placed a gloved hand over hers with a gentle squeeze. "Rey..."

Upon hearing his voice Rey directed her attention from the wound towards his mask. "You're going to be fine, Ben. I promise." She stated reassuringly, issuing him a comforting smile in a measly attempt to hide the glossiness in her eyes. "Your hyperbaric chamber is right over there. I just need you to help me and we can get a medical droid to you then."

Kylo swallowed heavily, trying to focus his attention on her comforting words rather than the pain surging through him. His breathing was becoming shallower. But only his thoughts dwelled heavily on the fact that every remaining second with her had to count. "It's too late for that," he countered softly. "Rey, I want you to take my mask off. Let me see you with my own eyes."

Rey felt her heart sink as realization struck her with what he was implying; she shook her head defiantly. "Don't you dare talk like that," she demanded knowingly; desperately trying to choke back the tears that were currently burning the backs of her eyes. "You need to stay with me, do you hear me? If I take it off you'll die without it."

"Nothing can stop that from happening now." Raising a feeble hand to her cheek, Kylo gently stroked his thumb across her skin before attempting to press his case a final time. "Please, let me see you."

Rey swallowed heavily, further leaning into his touch whilst bringing her hand up to thread her fingers through his. Tears that she had been desperately trying to hold back now began to trickle down her cheeks at the thought of what he was asking her to do. Clenching her eyes tightly shut she gently stretched her senses out to seek his signature in The Force but was only met with the harsh reality she had been desperately trying to deny happening. Where his signature had once been an intense, blazing light was now a slowly diminishing flame.

Unable to find the strength to further deny his request, she simply nodded in acceptance. Apprehensively she moved from his side to comfortably cradle his head in her lap. Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, her fingers tentatively searched for the release latches at the underside of his helmet. The moment Rey heard the locks hiss for release, she gingerly lifted the helmet back from Ren's head.

Rey felt her breath catch in her throat the moment she saw the familiar soulful eyes gazing back at her; the same brown eyes with softly, speckled dabs of honey she always managed to lose herself in when she spent those earlier days in Kylo's chambers studying the boy in the royal painting. Where the eyes in the painting had been full of sadness and pain she could only now see peace and love.

Her bottom lip quivered as she gradually ran her fingers through Ben's wavy, obsidian locks of hair that clung to his face; gently massaging his scalp with the tips of her fingers as she acknowledged his smile knowingly with sadness. For a moment, Rey couldn't help but feel angry: silently cursing the gods that the man she loved was being taken away from her now that she finally had a face to put with his name. He was more perfect than she could have ever imagined. With the little time they had left she couldn't have been happier than to call him hers.

"Rey -," he breathed shortly, bringing his hand to weakly clench hers that was lying upon his chest.

Through a short raspy breath, she was able to hear his voice – his real voice – say her name. The same voice that had haunted her dreams for years unknowingly had been there in front of her the whole time.

"It is you." She whispered near inaudibly, furrowing her brows somehow the pain of realizing her dream lover and the man she loved in the flesh were one in the same. "All this time – it was you all along." Unable to contain the sob that had been brewing at the back of her throat she pleaded through a shuddered breath, knowing that his time was quickly fading. "Ben, please – you can't leave me. Please don't go."

"I'm just glad -," Ben admitted between short gasps, remaining indifferent to the meaning behind her initial words. "- that I got to see you one last time."

Rey shook her head in defiance as his eyes slowly began to close; unable to control her pleading sobs as she felt his grip on her hand fall lax. "Ben, please..." she begged, pleading for him to stay as he began to fade but the sound of the once hovering blaster bolt colliding with the wall of his chambers made her jump and shriek at the abrupt collision.

Where his presence had once made her feel whole the hollow ache in her chest returned with a vengeance; as if a piece of her heart that had been unknown was deliberately torn from her. So many things had been left unsaid that should've been said out loud to him and made his passing all the more unbearable.

"Ben -." Rey started as she pressed her forehead to his. Her words rose in volume as she pressed with more determination, "Ben!" Her tears ran heavily down her cheeks and onto his as she softly stroked his cheek with her hand, whispering the words she had been meaning to tell him since she returned. "Please come back to me. Please, Ben. I love you."

With her attention wholly focused on him, Rey was unaware of the mystical phenomenon occurring within the bell jar just beyond the threshold of his chambers. The jar's brittle glass shattered into shimmering fragments, allowing the cool breeze of the early morning hours to gather the mound of dust with the remaining piece of kyber crystal into that of a glistening, golden light.

Oblivious to the magic coursing through her fingertips it wasn't until Rey felt the magic's warmth radiating from her skin. A short gasp in awe escaped her lips as she watched the light intently merge from her hands across Ben's chest. Following the light's trail, she watched the tiny particles intermingle with the abrasion's severed skin at his side. Closing her eyes, she could feel the light coursing through her body into his. What was once lost was now rejuvenating into new live.

She could hear the sound of his heartbeat slowly return to its steady rhythm. His lungs that were once impaired had been restored, prompting her hand to rise with Ben's chest as he took in a heavy breath – his first real breath without the assistance of a mask or the hyperbaric chamber. And his signature in The Force renewed into that of its original fiery blaze. A smile crossed her lips as she felt the hollow mass within her seal into closure, willing herself to open her eyes as Ben's fluttered open to meet her own.

Rey laughed through her tears as she cupped her hands to his face. "You came back!"

For a brief moment Ben remained unaware of what had just happened until a look of realization crossed over his face that Rey's hands weren't on his helmet, but on the skin of his own face and that, for the first time in a decade, he was breathing without the aid of the helmet.

"Rey, the curse..." He started; his words trailing off as realization of its meaning finally dawned on him as he sat up, his face mere inches from hers.

"The curse is broken." She confirmed with a smile, wiping the tears from her eyes with the palm of her hand. "It's over now."

Ben's eyes searched her face as a knowing smirk played across his lips. Remembering that there was only one way the curse could have been broken as he brought a hand up to her collarbone and neck, slowly ascending up to her jaw he gently stroked the crease of her lower lip with his thumb. For the first time between them no words needed to be used to express how they felt.

Rey intently held his gaze, watching his eyes deviate between her eyes and her lips. Her heart raced in anticipation as his face drew closer, allowing him to come to her and make the first move. Bringing a hand up to cup his cheek Rey coaxed him the rest of the way, parting her lips ever so slightly as his softly grazed over her own. The sensation of which she felt he imbued with such tenderness and hesitation that she could scarcely feel the fleeting press of their lips together before Ben pulled away just slightly enough to consider her reaction. A smile playing across their lips as he tentatively met hers again. This time only more confident. More insistent as each kiss lasted moments longer than the last.

Rey drifted her hand down his cheek to his neck, grazing them to the back of his head as she threaded her fingers through his hair. Allowing her lips to brush against his as she softly spoke the words she was waiting so anxiously to say, "I love you, Ben Solo." She admitted, pulling away just enough to look into his soulful gaze. "Mask or not – I would have always chosen you."

Ben held her gaze; his eyes glassy with unshed tears as he allowed her words to sink in. "I love you, Rey of Jakku," his voice ragged with pent up emotion. He smiled as his hand left her face to her waist, urging her closer to him he pressed his forehead to hers. "It's always been just you."

Unable to hold herself back any longer Rey placed her other hand to his shoulder, moving to straddle her knees to either side of his waist. A low chuckle resonated from the back of Ben's throat at her determination. But he agreed with that determination and met it with his own as he wrapped one arm around her waist. One hand flat at her lower back to press her closer against him with his other cupping her jaw, his lips met hers once again. Rey parted her lips just enough for her tongue to graze against his lips, tasting the sweet nectar of his lips as he in turn parted his lips to taste hers.

An electrifying wave of energy passed between them and radiated outward as their bond hummed to life; both too fully engrossed in the other to notice the trumpeting sounds resonating off in the distance. The First Order, defeated. The Resistance, victorious. And the war was finally over.