A/N: This is a sequel to I'll be the One to Protect You and you probably want to read that first. I wanted to wrap up the trilogy, so I kept going with it (with a sort of redemption arc for Kylo Ren; not explicitly shippy). As usual, I will be posting a chapter a day, so please stick around and enjoy! Reviews are greatly appreciated! Chapter titles from Let it Burn by RED.

I watch the city burn, these dreams like ashes float away

After their successful attack on the First Order base, the Resistance salvaged whatever they could and then moved their base of operations to the Codian Moon. The First Order retreated to Borosk, rejoining their allies in the Imperial Remnant. In the absence of the Galactic Senate, planets were choosing sides. A few, particularly those in the Outer Rim, continued to ignore the greater happenings of the galaxy and saw to their own affairs, but most were at least tenuously connected with one side of the other. Finding allies was not a challenge, though the loyalty of those allies was not necessary something on which one could depend.

General Organa was facing something familiar – the threat of a totalitarian government – but under very different circumstances than those to which she was accustomed. She had known that the Imperials had fled, and were festering in the outer reaches. She had known and the Senate had done nothing, had denounced her for warmongering. No matter the evidence brought before them, they refused to accept it as a real threat. Well, now they were gone, and there was no satisfaction in being right.

This civil war might prove to be the worst the galaxy had ever seen, and she was embroiled in the middle of it. The Resistance was weak without the Republic to support her, and the First Order was weakened by the loss of their great weapon. But both were bolstered by supporters who thought they could determine who would win, and things were not as simple as they once were.

The council met daily, sometimes late into the night, to discuss what to do. As more heads of state threw in their support, more representatives appeared at the council and less could be done effectively. The General relied on her own people to carry out her commands, but she couldn't be everywhere. She needed help.

One way that help came was from a former Stormtrooper – losing Finn was a great detriment to the First Order, for more reasons than the intelligence he could provide to their enemy. He was clever and tactically-minded, easily seeing a way through issues that might otherwise set the council to bickering. His insight was greatly valued, and he soon had the status of General Organa's second in command. He inspired loyalty amongst the others, especially the pilots who followed Poe Dameron. The two were fast friends and they worked very well together.

Luke Skywalker's presence was always a benefit, and she felt that things couldn't really be as bad as she feared when he was nearby. His realm was not political, though he was willing to render assistance however he was needed, and he spent his time training Rey or furthering his own understanding of the Force. He'd changed since he'd left – he was quieter, but more clear-sighted. If she went to him for advice, he was able to see much more than she could. He would not, however, often volunteer information, and seemed almost pained when she asked.

And Rey… Well, she was close to Leia's heart.

The nightmare again. Unkar Plutt had followed her, had found her, had taken her back to Jakku. Her house was gone – unsurprising – and she had to scrape by again, forced to work for him as practically a slave. He promised to find her family, to give her a way out of here, if she would only do the work he was asking for. It wasn't much, he assured her, just enough to pay for his efforts.

Morning was still a few hours away when she sat bolt upright, then pulled her knees up against her chest. The other nightmares she sometimes had, the ones where she was being chased, were much more preferable. Because this one was the most real. The cold of her room was a relief after the heat of her former home, and helped convince her that she was far from that old life of living day to day, of starving and struggling, of fear combined with the unbearably mundane. She could easily convince her waking mind that her new friends, her new family, would never let her go back to that life against her will. But, somehow, while she slept, she worried that they might leave her like her old one did. That she could never live up to their expectations and they would abandon her.

None of them knew what that was like, not really. Leia had a loving family, and not knowing whom her father was until his death was likely a benefit. Similarly, Luke's family had provided a good home, even if he was technically an orphan. Certainly he'd dealt with abandonment when he'd grown up, but that was different. He had thought his real parents dead. And Rey didn't think that he could really blame them for dying. Not the way she could blame her family for leaving.

It was a problem, Luke had told her – a problem to dwell on these things. It was important to let go of the past, not be tethered to someone you used to be. And she tried, she really did, but sometimes… Sometimes it was hard to understand why she was left behind, and harder to understand why anyone now would want to keep her.

Finn didn't know anything about his family. They might be alive somewhere, wondering what happened to their son. But, more likely, the First Order had conscripted any able bodies and killed the rest. It was efficient, and they were nothing if not efficient. So, if any of his relatives were still living, they were likely part of the First Order. It seemed unlikely that anyone else had escaped like he had.

Sometimes she wondered if it were better that way – not knowing. She'd give anything not to know that she'd been left on Jakku intentionally. How much better it would be to have gotten separated in another way. She suspected that her family had not returned for her because they were dead. It had been fifteen long years – there was no other real excuse. Except for the haunting thought that they'd never wanted to return. Her memories of being abandoned were vague and distant, and she couldn't help but wonder how much of it, and the time before that, she'd invented as a lonely child. How much of it was real? Would she even recognize her family if she saw them again?

She had a new family. Luke and Leia had accepted her readily into their confidence, perhaps in part because of their recent losses. And Finn had been accepted, too, particularly by Leia. Rey was happy to see her friend excelling here. He didn't like to talk about his history, unless it was in facts that could help their mission, and she often wondered what his life was like before. It couldn't have been too pleasant – not if he was willing to risk everything to leave. And he'd just wanted to run then, fleeing a power he'd seen as unbeatable.

It was obvious that he didn't feel that way now. Rey didn't usually sit in on council meetings, but she heard from the others – mainly Leia – how they went. And how skilled he was at seeing the best course of action. Finn's stories were generally more modest of his accomplishments, though he enjoyed telling her the particulars of running a political power during a civil war. It was delightful to hear him explain it, though often out of her depth. Her education had been somewhat lacking in her youth.

She spent her days learning, sometimes to make up for what everyone else had been taught while she was carving a living out of the desert. Even Finn was much better versed in the relevant powers, though he'd had to unlearn much of what had been drilled into his head. Poe and Luke and Leia had been in the thick of things for thirty years. So she would never be as comfortable with all of this as they were. Fortunately, Luke preferred to avoid the political sphere, and he'd certainly done great things for the galaxy. So perhaps there was hope for her, too, in spite of her lack of knowledge.

When the sun rose on her musings, she got out of bed and dressed. The great hall where food was served always made her uncomfortable – a lifetime of protecting any sustenance she found was hard to unlearn. She preferred to eat when there weren't many other people there, and early mornings were as good a time as any. Only a handful were present, which was a relief. She selected her breakfast carefully – overeating was a danger and she was still working on portion control – and found a seat by herself. Taking her time over her breakfast, she contemplated what to do with her day.

Most days involved meditation alone, training with Luke for a few hours, and then helping out around the base. Sometimes that meant lessons, but more often it meant working on repairs. She'd always had a knack for fixing things, and the pilots and mechanics were very appreciative when she came down to help. It was great that Poe was usually there, since she was still shy around people she didn't know. The overwhelming positivity that came her way when she found a solution to a difficult problem made it worth the awkwardness, though.

When she was done eating, she headed toward the room where she usually trained, and was surprised to find Luke waiting for her.

"Good morning," he said with a smile from where he was sitting on the floor, a bag placed in front of him.

She sank onto the mat across from him, looking at the bag curiously. Metal of some kind glinted. "What is it?"

"See for yourself."

Happy to comply, she pulled the bag toward her and opened it. The mechanical pieces were unrecognizable, though the tools that accompanied them were familiar. She frowned at the arrangement thoughtfully.

"I think you're ready," Luke said. Her confusion must have shown because he smiled. "It's just missing one thing. A crystal. We will have to go get one for you."

"To make my own lightsaber?" she asked, awed.

He leaned down to spread the metal pieces apart a little more. "I thought… a staff might be more comfortable," he offered.

A happy grin lit up her face and she nodded. "It's perfect," she assured him. "When do we leave?"

"Now."