Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. Just writing fan fiction for fun.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Torn

This was it, Elle thought through the haze and fog of her mind. This was the end. She was going to die here on Exegol under the hands of the same goddamn person who tried to kill her father during the Rebellion.

She was numb within every cell and fiber of her being. She was used to the emperor's lightning that curled around her like a tight rope. Tears automatically fell from the corners of her eyes. Pain didn't have to strike her anymore for them to fall freely down her cool cheeks now covered in dirt and grime from lying in a fetal position on the ground, suddenly outstretched by another lightning strike to her stomach. She didn't cry out anymore. She just felt so lost. So empty. She didn't feel a damn thing. Not one goddamn thing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. She was just going to die. She knew it. Her demise would come. She was living on borrowed time anyway. At least now she'd get to be with her folks.

She was far too gone, and just wishing the emperor would end her life right then and there. She was never going to get out of it. She couldn't pull herself out of this spinning dark black freaking matter of a hole that she found herself stuck in. She had no more energy. No more love to give to herself or to anyone. He'd taken all of that from her.

She even welcomed the whispers of the Sith around her. Yup. She was done. Gone. The Emperor could kill her and she'd be fine with it. She welcomed death. Perhaps this was his plan after all, to just let her mind drift off to death and for her to succumb to it. Finally. Then she'd be at peace. She'd be at peace because she knew at least her kids her family and friends are okay. Sure, they'd be sad for a while, but eventually they would move on, and Elle wanted them to move on. She wanted them to have a happier life without her in it because Elle was literally just a waste of space. Nobody wanted her.

That's not true, Elle a curious voice spoke to her. It didn't belong to Ben. But definitely someone she hadn't heard of before. Still, it didn't want to make her stay. She rolled her eyes, only wishing for more lightning to penetrate that voice out of her mind, to get rid of it, and just let the darkness consume and swallow her whole. It was the only thing that wanted her. She didn't have any energy left to hold on anymore. Her arms felt like lead. Her legs felt like jelly. She could just die on Exegol for all she cared.

She had no more motivation to fight. What kept her here? What kept her going through the lightning that was killing her to death?

It couldn't have been Poe.

That ship sailed a long time ago. Didn't it? She wasn't really sure. She wasn't really sure much of anything anymore.

"So, you're going to train and become a Jedi with Rey?" Poe asked her after she'd put the twins to sleep in their crib. She tucked in the blanket around them safely, and looked up at him with a small frown on her face.

"What's so wrong about that?" She asked.

"Nothing," he shook his head. "Just…I don't know, Elle, I just… "

"What?" She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a look.

"Isn't it true that when you're a Jedi, it's frowned upon to love someone? I mean isn't that why this whole mess started in the first place? It started with your grandparents, Elle!" Poe exclaimed, almost yelling at her.

She winced. "You know, you've done worst things than what my grandparents have done all those years ago, Dameron," she snapped back, and then grimaced, realizing the twins had just been put to sleep. She pointed a finger at him. "Don't wake up the twins. I finally just got them down for a nap."

She warned him and stormed off, leaving Poe to sigh and shake his head, watching her leave the room.

After that, things have been kind of rocky between them. Poe started going on his own shifty missions, and Elle was left with the twins to care for and put her training lessons on hold.

"Maybe we need a break," Elle said softly.

"Yeah. Maybe. God, this was supposed to be easy," he exclaimed.

Elle gave him a small smile. "Sorry to disappoint."

Poe frowned and turned to her. "You are not a disappointment."

"I'm not?" Elle asked. "Kind of seems like I am. I'm just…I'm sorry. I'm going through a lot right now, and I just can't help but think this is what I'm supposed to do, you know for my dad?"

"Yeah, I know."

"And besides, being a Jedi isn't always full of doom and gloom. It's supposed to be peaceful and encouraging and protectful. Sometimes it's said they can encourage love. Love in a sense that doesn't create a vicious cycle of vengeance and dying of broken hearts."

"Well, I do like the sound of that," he said, giving her a small smile. "So, a small break?" He asked, holding her hands in his, making her smile slightly.

"A small break," Elle grinned. "I'll really appreciate the support."

"You have my full support," he promised, planting a kiss on top of her forehead. "I promise."

Elle's smile faded at the memory tearing away from her heart, mind, and soul. That small break turned into a year, the year she got stuck on Exegol, where she is now under the power of Emperor Palpatine, of what it felt like she was being dragged across broken glass.

But the lightning suddenly stopped and Elle could finally breathe once more. What was it that made him stop so suddenly?

Elle thought for a moment, searching desperately for any of her feelings left, but she found none. She just felt raw. Broken. Darkness. Lot's and lot's of darkness that overwhelmed her senses until she saw… she blinked. Bless her stars. The crossguard. Ignited. Red and fiery.

Ben. She thought, as a tear pricked the sides of her eyelids rather harshly and fell down without her consent.

He paused in step. She could see the shadows of his cloak wrapped around him as he stepped further into the citadel. The emperor's laugh chilled her to the bone as it still haunted her.

The lightning struck her once more as feeling started to swell within her heart, making her whimper. She curled up in a ball and cradled her own arms against her chest, trying to fight it again.

"At last. Snoke trained you well."

"I killed Snoke. I'll kill you."

"My boy. I made Snoke."

" I have been every voice you ever heard inside your head. The First Order was just the beginning. I will give you so much more."

"You'll die first."

"I've died before. The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider unnatural."

"What could you give me?"

"Everything. A new empire. The might of the Final Order will soon be ready. It will be yours if you do as I ask. Kill the girl, end the Jedi, and become what your grandfather Vader, could not."

Kylo Ren finally came face to face with the Emperor himself. He saw who he had under control of his power at the corner of his eyes and he widened them as soon as he realized who he had under his torturous power for what it seemed like she'd been under for quite some time. A little too long for his tastes that it pricked under his own skin. He quickly blocked the lightning from the Emperor's hailing lightning on his cousin. The lightning struck his saber instead.

"That's enough!" He yelled at him through clenched angry teeth.

The Emperor chuckled, releasing his lightning power from Kylo's force of his own power.

"Oh, I'm afraid she came at me, dear boy. All by her lonesome. She is a Jedi after all. And our mission is to kill them all," he said. "It's what your grandfather started."

She shook her head at him as they shared a look. Elle pleaded silently with him.

Come on Elle… it was that voice again, pressuring her to face him, to save her own life, and to get back home. It wasn't Ben's.

Kylo Ren was about to strike her, until she glanced sideways at her mother's light saber that rested on the throne's chair hidden behind the Emperor's machine, and used the Force of what little strength she had left within her to bring it to her and ignite it once flew right into her hands just in time to deflect his blow on her.

Red against Green flashed in the darkness that surrounded them with flashes of lightning due to the atmosphere around them.

They fought and dueled for whatever Elle had left within her until she fell onto her side, and stumbled backwards, trying to fight him off. She scrambled back as he advanced forward, lowering his saber against her throat as she tried to deflect his saber with her own. She was out of breath, panting, and exhausted. She barely put up this fight. She'd fail the next one and would probably die trying. She was running on empty. She didn't care anymore. Nothing mattered to her. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Her heart was swollen and dying. Her world of two became broken smashed to oblivion and now she wondered what to do. Did she continue or just wither away in dust?

"It seems we're at an impasse," he whispered, staring into her eyes as she looked up at him, glowering.

"Just let me die, please," she pleaded, tears falling down.

Kylo Ren eyed her from head to toe, a shaken girl who tried to out best them. She did have spunk. And she still had power within her to keep her alive this long, something he could use. Plus, like she said, they were still family.

"You can die here, or," he backed away, and drew his saber in, sheathing it back onto his utility belt. Then he offered her his gloved covered hand. She flicked her eyes toward the gesture.

"You can join me and be with your true family. You don't have to be alone."

She pressed her lips together at the offer, and withdrew her own saber as well, light disappearing from her eyes, putting it back into her pocket. Her eyes flicked over towards the Emperor who was grinning like a mad man. She could hear her heart beat rapidly against her chest, fighting to stay alive.

She let out a sigh, closing her eyes, and before licking her lips. She had no choice.

She placed her hand in his and he pulled her up onto her feet, but when she tried to stand she nearly fell forward into his arms that cradled her against his chest. He picked her up in his arms and carried her away from Exegol.

~*TROS*~

A/N: ((*GRIN*)) So, I really couldn't wait to write this chapter. I showed the bit with Poe and the Resistance first because I knew this scene was going to be dark. I may fix it in a bit once we get the DVD version. I've had this scene in my head for so long! Anyway, hope ya'll liked! Thank you all for following, favoriting, reviewing, and reading, as well as the recents! More updates soon!