Lightning streaked across the sky as Luke and Rey sat in the Millennium Falcon. Their eyes stared over the darkened world towards the cave. Rey felt a shiver run up and down her spine. Thunder cracked somewhere above them, but the sound wasn't as loud as the beating of her heart. Ben was there somewhere.

"The cave will know why you've come," Luke said, low. "It'll take you wherever you command it. It's… it's a gateway."

"How do you know?" She questioned.

"The Jedi texts are large books, boring for the most part, but every once in a while they will reveal their secrets. The cave is spoken of in the texts."

"Oh," Rey breathed, her fears rising.

"Rey, look at me," Luke said, softly.

Rey turned her fearful eyes to look, and for a moment they were silent. "You won't be alone. I'll be with you… for a little while at least. I'll go as far as the gateway will let me, but the rest will be up to you. Remember, it doesn't want to let Ben go. It will fight you at every turn, but you're stronger. No matter what you see in there remember that it isn't real. Your purpose is to get Ben out."

"Are you sure this will work?" she whispered, one last time.

"That will be for you to decide. If you want Ben back, you'll face down what's in there."

Rey climbed from the ship and walked towards the cave. She went with no weapons, nothing to protect herself, except for the Dyad. Except for her love for Ben. Wind blew towards her, hitting her hard. She lowered her head and pushed through it as large raindrops fell from the heavens. This place knew she was here, knew what she wanted.

She reached the entrance to the cave. A scream came from inside the darkness, and Rey steadied her fear. The cave was trying to frighten her away. Luke came to stand beside her, and she looked over at him. Her eyes grew wide, her face confused. The man looked like Luke, but he didn't. He was younger, his face fuller. His hair was dark brown where Luke's hair used to be gray.

"Luke?" Rey whispered.

He turned to her, giving her a sad smile. "My physical body cannot enter the cave. I have nothing tying me to this place like you. I would only see a cave, where you would see what's hidden beneath. But, my spirit is with you. I'll guide you for as long as I can."

Rey looked back at the Millennium Falcon, seeing Luke sitting upon the ground, his body soaked in the rain. His eyes were closed as if in prayer. She turned back to the entrance, taking a long breath before entering.

She walked in the darkness for what seemed like forever. When she reached her arms out to feel her way through she came up empty. How would she ever find her way in and out if she couldn't see.

"Remember what I said, Rey. Nothing you see here is real," Luke whispered.

He must have felt something she didn't, because the moment he spoke the words she was thrown forward. Rey fell to the ground, rolling on her back with a low moan. Pain shot through her body. Something grabbed her by the hair, pulling her roughly to her feet. She couldn't see a thing. She screamed, but the darkness silenced the sound.

She was thrown against something solid, cold metal sliding over her wrists and feet. She tried to break free, but whatever held her down wouldn't let her go. She whimpered, her eyes darting in every direction for some spark of light. As if a light switch was turned on, the light she wanted blinded her. Rey closed her eyes against the assault.

Slowly, she opened them again to find herself in a small room, a room that looked like one on her grandfather's ship. Her wrists and ankles were locked in place against a cold chair. Her eyes flickered towards movement in front of her. Someone was there, watching her.

He was kneeling, his face covered by a black mask. Rey stared at him, feeling something tickle the back of her mind, some strange deja-vu, yet she'd never been in this room before. Her eyes grew dark, anger growing. She didn't have time for this. She tried pulling at her restraints, but they were secure.

"Where am I?" she asked, scared.

"You're my guest," he answered, softly.

She looked all around her for a way out, but it was useless. Even if she could get out of her restraints he was kneeling in her way. She had no way to defend herself or fight him off if he attacked her.

"You want to kill me, don't you.. to escape?" he asked. His voice sounded robotic. She felt the hairs on her arms stand on in. Something was so familiar about that voice.

"That's what happens when you're being held hostage by a creature in a mask," she said, the words falling out on their own.

He slowly stood to his feet, his hands raising to his helmet. She heard the hiss of release, watched as he slowly removed the thing hiding his face. The moment she saw his true self her eyes went wide. Her lungs restricted, her heart beating wildly against her chest. Ben stood before her dressed head to toe in black… the monstrous helmet at his side.

"Ben?" She whispered.

His eyes flinched for just a second, but he gave her no other response. It was his face, his eyes and lips. It was his long, lean body that walked slowly towards her, but something was wrong. It was Ben, but it wasn't. He sat the helmet down and came to her side.

"Tell me why you're here," he commanded.

Her eyes flickered to his face and then away from him. It hurt too bad to look at a face that belonged to Ben. There was no love in his eyes, no softness. There was only indifference.

"Rey, that isn't him," Luke whispered in her mind.

She could feel darkness in this person that wore the face of her love, but she felt no connection with him. She tried to reach out to his mind, but he pushed her back easily. He knelt down, his face inches from her own. His hand raised towards her head, and suddenly she knew nothing but pain. His presence burst through her mind like a searing light, burning her entire being.

"I—I'm not giving you a—anything," she said, her teeth clenched.

"We'll see," he whispered with Ben's voice.

For a moment, she believed it was him and opened herself to his power. She was desperate to feel him.

"Rey, fight it!" Luke whispered.

"You're so lonely, so afraid to leave. At night, desperate to sleep. You imagine an ocean… I see it. I see the island," he said, softly. You're looking for something…"

"Rey, it's not Ben," Luke yelled. She was slipping into the darkness, into his voice, the voice she longed so much to hear. It may not be her Ben, but it was a form of him, nonetheless. But, the longer she felt him in her mind, she realized the darkness was all he knew. He had never known the sun, had never had a chance in his life.

Rey opened her eyes slowly, staring into his dark orbs. No, this was not her Ben. This was something else, a time that didn't exist. This was a trick to keep her trapped in this chair for eternity.

"Get out of my head," she seethed.

The dark being walked in front of her, his hand stretched towards her. A soft smile lit his features for a moment and disappeared. "Don't be afraid, I feel it too," it whispered.

This time when he penetrated her mind Rey was ready. She blocked the presence at once, pushing it back, but it was strong. She saw death and decay. She saw anger and hatred at every corner. A blackened soul desperate to be saved, desperate for the light. She could feel his every thought, see things that had never happened. Death at his feet. A boy so lost the darkness sucked him into a vast hole of misery.

"You… you're afraid," she said, her voice steady. "You're afraid that you will never be as strong as Darth Vader!"

He released her mind at once, stepping back as if she had hit him. The anger in his eyes melted away. He looked at her, his breath coming out in small pants, as if she had grown three heads. Fear and sadness looked back at her. Rey wanted to hold him, wanted to make the look go away, but as she watched he began to disappear. This dark Ben began to crumble before her and slowly drift off into the darkness.

Her wrists and ankles were free. The room faded into the darkness again, as did the chair she was leaning against. Rey didn't know which way to go, which way was up or down. A part of her wanted him to come back, wanted to look upon his face for just one more second. Loss engulfed her body, causing her to grab her chest. Her eyes slammed shut, a soft cry slipping from her parted lips.

"That was a form of Ben who fell into the Dark Side of the Force, Rey. It wasn't your Ben. He's still ahead of you, still waiting. Let this moment go," Luke whispered.

Rey slowly straightened up, wiping the tears from her face. That wasn't her Ben. The sadness and desperation she felt inside him wasn't real. This place wanted to distract her, wanted to keep her from going forwards. But, she had to go forward for Ben.

"Be with me," she whispered.

"I'm here," Luke said back.

His voice gave her the courage to take the first step forward. It gave her the courage to release her pain from what she'd just experienced. That person wasn't her Ben. Rey walked ahead in the darkness, the air around her growing humid. She could hear a low rumble somewhere in the distance, and could feel a shift around her.

Suddenly, she found herself in the control room of her grandfather's ship. Everything was on fire, the heat licking at her skin. Rey gasped, searching for a way out of this place. She didn't want to be here. Not on this ship. Fear choked her, threatening to smother her where she stood.

The ship whined and groaned as things rattled and came loose from their hold. The ship was going down, and she was stuck on it. Rey looked around desperately for Luke, but he was gone. The floor beneath her shifted, throwing her to the ground. She screamed.

The ship tilted at a rapid speed, turning on its side. Rey began to slide, reaching for anything to stop her movements, but there was nothing to hold on to. The ship continued to tilt, turning upside down. Rey was lifted from the floor. Gravity grabbed her, making her fall towards the large window of the control room. The glass became her floor.

She slammed into it hard, hearing the glass underneath her pop and break. Her hand slid over it, the glass cutting her skin and drawing blood. She watched large spider cracks form underneath her. The glass wouldn't hold for long.

Rey slowly looked behind her, her body shaking in fear. Space awaited to swallow her whole once the glass completely broke. She heard a loud ripping sound, her eyes jerking above her. The skip was coming apart, sending large pieces of equipment down upon her.

"Luke," she screamed.

A large piece of the wall broke loose, falling to her left. The glass broke easily under its weight on impact, the wall floating out into space. Wind whipped around her, grabbing at her like it had arms and hands. She felt herself sliding towards the open hole. Her palms scraped against glass, her screams growing.

"Let me go!" she screamed.

She was almost to the hole, close to her own death, when a hand shot out of nowhere. It was nothing more than a hand, with no head or body to go with it. It was inches from her, her wide eyes staring at it.

"Rey… grab my hand," Luke yelled over the wind.

Just as the glass broke underneath her weight, Rey grabbed Luke's hand. She shot through the ship as things rushed passed her at rapid speeds. She held onto his hand as the darkness surrounded her again.

"Power… unlimited power," a voice whispered.

Rey laid sprawled on her stomach, her head slowly raising to the voice. A man walked from the darkness, a small light illuminating his back. His hand reached towards her, and she shot up, floating in the air, as if on strings. She watched the man walk slowly towards her, a wide smile upon his face. She did not know his face, for she had never seen him as a man, but she knew his eyes. They were eyes she'd spent years fearing.

Sheev Palpatine stopped inches from her and laughed. Rey didn't know what was worse, this human form he used to possess, or the form she knew him by. He looked normal… except for the eyes. Rey struggled against the invisible force holding her, but she couldn't break free.

"Join me, and I will give you unlimited power!" he said.

His face began to change. Gone was the man as he slowly changed into Emperor Palpatine. His face melted into the white abomination he became because of his darkness. His eyes glowed yellow, their hatred staring right at Rey.

"Blood of my blood! Join me and we shall rule the galaxy together" he whispered. "I can give you all that you desire and make you immortal!"

Ben appeared beside him. He reached out to Rey, a soft smile upon his face. "Be with me, Rey," he whispered.

"Ben?" Rey said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No, Rey. It's a trick."

Luke's voice was in her head, his words soft and sad. He could feel the pull she had towards this version of Ben like he felt the last pull. This place wasn't playing fair.

"Join me, child, and you will be with the boy for eternity," Palpatine said, softly.

"Ben… help me," Rey whispered, begging.

The smile slowly slid from his face. "You only have to choose to remain here with me and I'll help you." Ben's eyes began to change, burning yellow like Palpatine's. "Join me," he whispered, holding his hand out for her to take.

"No, Rey! Stop!" Luke screamed.

The invisible force released her arms. She moved them forward, wanting to take his hand. She would be with him for eternity, and nothing would ever take him away again. She could have the power to stop even death itself.

A memory hit her at that moment. It was a memory of what seemed like long ago. Ben had held his hand towards her, begging her to come with him. He'd begged her to trust him. He'd promised that he would save her from Palpatine, from a life of darkness and pain. She'd taken his hand, and had found something stronger than the darkness. She'd found love. Ben wouldn't join Palpatine. He wouldn't ask her to do the same. This was wrong… everything was wrong.

Rey slowly lowered her hand away from his, pain looking back at her from his eyes. She'd come here to save him from this place… not join him. Again, she had to come to the painful conclusion that this was not her Ben.

"No," she whispered.

The images of Palpatine and Ben slowly faded from before her. Whatever strings were holding her up dropped her to the ground. She fell face-first onto the cold floor, the breath knocked from her body.

"This place is becoming desperate. It knows it isn't winning. It's trying to dis…"Luke said, but his words abruptly stopped. His eyes watched something behind her. They grew wide, his mouth slightly opening. "Oh no," he exhaled. Rey whipped her head around, wanting to see what made him look so frightened. She wish she hadn't.

All around them, in every corner of the large room they now found themselves in, were Hux's knights. Their numbers grew to infinity, stretching as far as the eye could see. In their arms, held across their bodies, were long swords. Their heads slowly turned towards her at the same time, as if this place revealed her presence to them.

Rey scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide in fear. If she had to fight them all she would lose. There were just too many. Around them screams of fear ate away at the silence. A group of around fifty Knights marched towards her, their loud footsteps sounding like thunder. Rey took several steps back, but they stopped before reaching her. Half turned to the left, while the other half turned the opposite way. They began to march again, backwards this time to form two straight lines that led to her.

A large group of stairs appeared. They led to two large throne chairs at the top of a precipice. Rey slowly followed the stairs' ascent to the top, a loud gasp falling from her lips. She looked straight into the face of her own self. Blood-red eyes looked down upon her, her lips curling back in a snarl. She wasn't alone. Sitting by her side was none other than the masked man she'd seen at the beginning of this horrible nightmare. The being with Ben's face.

They slowly stood from their throne seats so in sync she thought she was seeing one person. Together, they took the stars downward in a slow descent. Their outfits matched, a black ensemble of strength and power.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs they pulled out weapons. Dark Rey held a long staff, which held a lightsaber at both ends. Dark Ben pulled out a crossguard lightsaber, the blade burning a deep red. Rey took more steps backwards, her hand instinctively going to her side, but she had no weapon.

"This place's version of the Dyad," Luke whispered beside her, his voice shaking.

Together, they walked towards her, their lightsabers rising slowly in the air. As they passed, the Knights bowed before them, their heads hanging low. Rey's body felt like it weighed a ton as she stepped back again, her wide eyes looking around for anything to help her.

"Luke," she croaked. He didn't answer. "Luke!" She said louder. The dark versions of her and Ben were almost to her, and she had nowhere to go. "Luke," she screamed. It was too late.

Dark Rey swung at her first. Rey ducked, missing the end of the staff-saber by mere inches. She rolled to her side, but dark Ben was waiting. He swung towards her, and she had only a split second to move, but she was too late. She felt the saber make contact with her face, felt the blade slice through her skin. He'd slashed her face from her left eye all the way to her collar bone. She screamed at the pain, felt blood run down her face soaking into her shirt. She fell to her knees, crawling away, but she could hear them close behind. They would strike her down if she didn't get to her feet and run.

Rey felt faint, felt her sliced skin poring her blood onto the ground. There was nowhere to go, for at every turn the Knights waited. They boxed her in, forcing her to come face to face with darkness. They walked towards her slowly, as if playing with her.

"Fight them, Rey," Luke whispered.

Fight them? "With what!" she screamed, angrily. There were two of them… one of her, and she had no weapon. Dark Ben walked briskly towards her, his crossguard lightsaber raising to strike her and finish the job. She closed her eyes, knowing she had failed. She had failed Ben. She waited for the strike that would end her life, but it never came.

Rey opened her eyes, gasping, when she saw Luke's lightsaber holding back dark Ben's lightsaber. Luke was in front of her, grunting with the effort to hold the much younger man at bay.

"I… I can't hold him for l—long," Luke grunted.

Dark Rey hurried towards them to get in on the action. Her lips were peeled back in an animalistic growl.

"Ben, help us," Rey whispered, closing her eyes and reaching for him.

"Reach behind you," a whispered voice said in her mind.

Rey didn't hesitate, but reached behind her back. Something solid slid into her hands, the power of it buzzing up and down her arms. She slowly pulled it out… Ben's lightsaber. How this was possible, she didn't know, but she was beyond thankful.

With a cry of anger, Rey pushed around Luke, the end of the saber finding its bullseye in the form of Dark Rey's stomach. Her red eyes went wide, her hands held above her head in a strike that wouldn't come down upon her or Luke.

Dark Rey stumbled backwards, her staff falling from her hands as she grabbed her stomach. She fell to her knees, a cry of pain causing goosebumps to form in Rey's arms. Dark Ben immediately ran towards her, catching her before she hit the ground. He held her close to his chest. Her red eyes moved to his masked face, her fingertips slowly running over its hard surface.

Dark Ben ripped his helmet off, throwing it away from him. He bent down, his face inches from hers. Luke stepped back, drawing himself into the darkness. Rey felt a grief inside her, a feeling of loss, as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. The Knights began to cry out at the sight of their empress and her mortal wound.

Rey turned off the lightsaber and dropped it from her hands. It clanked upon the cold ground, but all she could hear was the wails coming from Dark Ben. He slowly rocked her in his arms, back and forth… back and forth. She was still in his arms, a look of death upon her face.

"We could have had it all," he whispered towards her. "We could have created our new world." She never answered him. Slowly, her body began to disappear, until there was nothing left but his sobbing cries.

Dark Ben slowly turned toward her, pain and sorrow etched deep into his angered eyes. He crawled towards her, bowing his head. His body shook with his grief.

"K—kill me," he whispered. "Her fate… her fate must be mine."

He touched her foot, a searing heat erupting on her face. Rey reached up, feeling the wound this man created stitch itself back together. Her blood slowed, until it completely stopped. All that remained was a thin, pinkish line that was barely visible. His touch had healed her. Years later, she would be brushing her hair in the mirror as the light hit the scar just right. A whisper of a memory would hit her as to where she had received the scar… but her mind would have longed since forgotten by that point.

His hands reached down, grabbing the lightsaber. He staggered to his feet, his pained face staring at her. Rey felt her own tears, felt her own heart breaking. He reached for her hand, the coldness of his fingers causing her to shiver. He pushed the lightsaber into her hands, the end pointing to his chest.

"Free me from this pain," he begged.

Rey's face crumbled, shaking her head no. She couldn't do it, even if this wasn't her Ben. His face was too real. His cries cut into her very soul. She tried to pull away, but he kept her still. He leaned towards her, placing his forehead upon hers. "Please," he whispered.

"You must do it, Rey," Luke whispered.

"No!" She cried. "I can't!"

"If you don't, you can't go forward. You won't be able to reach the real Ben, Rey."

Rey looked up into the eyes of this broken Ben. What a cruel thing this place asked of her. "I won't feel any pain," he whispered.

Rey closed her eyes and pushed the lightsaber on. The blade sliced through fabric and skin. She heard him suck in a breath, felt it feather-like upon her skin. She felt his weight disappear, and when she opened her eyes he was gone.

Rey cried out, her voice echoing around her. The lightsaber in her hand disappeared as the darkness was cast around her again.

"Enough!" she screamed. No more games. No more demons.

"No, there is one more demon you must face. This will be the hardest test yet."

"Harder than pushing a lightsaber into Ben's chest?" she screamed, her tears falling.

"Yes," Luke whispered. "This, you must do alone. My job… my job is done here. You're almost to him, Rey."

Rey turned to Luke, staring into his sad eyes. It wasn't what he had just said, but the way he said it that made her realize the truth. "Oh, Luke," she whispered, talking several steps towards him.

"It was always my choice, Rey."

"Y—you can't go back, can you? You…" she couldn't finish.

"Made the choice to help save my nephew. I made the choice to give my life for the both of you," he said, finishing her unsaid words.

"I would have never asked this of you," she said, her words a jumbled mess.

"I could never think of a better way to go, though. No one is ever really gone, Rey. It is my time to rest. I've had fifty years of life, and I can go into the afterlife proud of what I've done."

"Luke.." she said, her body shaking.

"This was my destiny, Rey. Your destiny is still before you. Bring my nephew home. Bring him back to my sister. There is something you must face first. I need you to continue the journey. I need you to walk forward."

"I—I can't," she whispered.

"You can, because he needs you, Rey. I'll always be with you," he whispered.

Rey watched as Luke closed his eyes, his body slowly fading away, until he disappeared from her sight. She was now alone. She felt it the moment he became one with the Force. She felt a peace fall upon her like a blanket. Luke had found his way home, had united with the many Jedi who'd gone on before him. He had reunited with his father. Rey grabbed her chest, her soft cries filling the darkness. He'd given his very life to help her get to Ben.

She wasn't ready when she saw the light grow behind her. This place wouldn't give her time to grieve for the loss of Luke. It required her to keep going, but she had no more strength to go on. Her body shook with her emotions.

Arms slipped around her, blanketing her in love and affection. Another pair of arms slipped around her as well. Two people were there with her, holding her as she cried.

"We've missed you so much, Rey," a woman whispered in her ear. Her eyes slid open, a distant memory crashing down upon her. She knew the woman's voice. She knew the arms holding her… both sets. Rey slowly turned in their arms, coming face to face with two people she never thought she'd see again.

"Mom? Dad?" she breathed.

Her parents held her. They were alive. They were breathing and smiling at her through their own tears. Rey let out a loud cry, crumbling into their waiting arms, as if she were still that small child. She held them close, her body rocked with emotions so strong they threatened to drown her. Her parents were here. They were alive.

Her mother showered her with kisses, her father's watery laugh engulfing her.

"My baby," he whispered.

They fell to the ground, crying and laughing with joy, their family restored. She kissed her father's cheek, kissed her mother's as well, reaching out a shaking hand to feel solid objects. This wasn't a dream. This was real. They were really holding her.

"Come home, Rey… come home," her mother said, tears rolling down her eyes.

Home.

"We can be together now, as a family. Nothing can ever tear us apart again," her father said.

Home.

They pulled her to her feet, both of them taking each of her hands and leading her through the darkness. Suddenly, she stood before her childhood home. Her parents were laughing… were happy. She felt it soak within her bones, felt it deep in her soul.

"Welcome home, Rey," her mom said, kissing her again. It was a kiss only a mother could give. It chased away the sadness, chased away the darkness.

Home.

Rey slowed her walk, pulling her hands from her parents grasps. They stopped, looking back at her in confusion. What a miracle this would have been. This very moment had become her only wish for years.

"I'm sorry for what he did to the both of you," she whispered, not able to speak louder.

"It doesn't matter anymore. My father is gone, and we are whole again. You've come home.

Home.

"I have a home, but this place isn't it, father. This place… it's a distant memory to me now," she said.

"You've come back to us, Rey. Please, let us be a family again. I—I need my baby girl," her mother said, her hand outstretched.

Rey walked towards her mother, gently wiping the tears from the woman's face. "I have to keep going."

"No, you can choose to stay here with us," her father said, his voice shaking.

Rey turned towards him, touching his face softly. "I could. I could stay here and forget the reason I came to this place. It would be so easy if not for the fact that my home belongs with someone else. And he needs me."

Her words cut the very breath from her. The pain she was causing them was almost more than she could take, and it almost made her stay, but Ben was so close. She could feel him somewhere in the distance. He was calling her. He was calling her to her new home.

"I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm going to keep walking, but I'll always be with the both of you. I will always love you. You—you can let go, now. You can rest."

Her parents both took a long inhaled breath and released it, their eyes sliding closed. Rey watched them slowly disappear into the depths of forever sleep. She watched their souls leave, floating above her and disappearing into the darkness. Rey closed her eyes, her body shaking in despair. She screamed, releasing her pain towards the darkness, towards this cruel world that was taking everything away from her.

Her head dropped, her cries turning to hoarse whispers. When she opened her eyes again Ben stood a great distance from her. This time… it was the real Ben.

"Rey?" She heard his whispered voice float towards her.

She walked slowly towards him, her face a mask of such overwhelming relief. She'd gone through hell to get to him, facing fears she never wanted to face again. She'd lost Luke. She'd lost her parents again. But her reward stared her in the face… Ben.

His walk sped up, until he was running for her as fast as he could go. "Rey!" He screamed, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Rey started to run as well. The need to reach him, to touch him, overtook her. It lit a fire within her very soul. The world around her began to shake. The ground below her feet began to break apart. She had to dodge large craters that formed as the walls of this world crumbled. Everything was breaking apart, thrusting them into smoke and dust. Rocks fell and cracked causing Rey to stumble.

The space between her and Ben cracked open with a loud shriek, forcing them further apart. This world still fought to the end. Ben fell, causing Rey to scream his name. He scrambled to his feet just as a large boulder fell behind him.

The crack was getting larger, pushing him further and further away from her. They wouldn't make it. The space between them was too large. The hole became a pit large enough to push an X-wing inside of it.

They both slid to a stop in front of the large pit, their eyes staring at one another. Had she come all this way for nothing? Had Luke been wrong and she couldn't save him? They would be trapped here forever, the large pit keeping them apart.

"Jump!" he screamed.

Jump? She wouldn't make it. She would fall into the abyss of darkness for all eternity. She shook her head, her body shivering.

"Trust me," he said, calmly. His eyes looked into her mind, touching her with a calm serenity she'd not felt since he'd left her. How many times had he asked her to trust him? How many times has she failed him in that regard? He'd not let her down yet. She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving his. She put all of her trust in Ben and jumped.

Rey was aware of the way her body felt feather-like, as if floating on air. Next, came the silence. The thunderous noise had abruptly stopped, sounding as though someone had hidden it behind a closed door. The world around her had grown very still. The ground where she sat was solid once more. She was afraid to open her eyes, afraid to see what nightmares would be awaiting her.

A hand softly skimmed across her cheek. She felt someone's breath upon her face, and when she opened her eyes she saw the most overwhelming look of love staring back at her. For a moment she sat stunned, too afraid to even breath.

Her hand touched his face, his eyes slowly closing for a moment. Solid. Solid and warm, Ben sat inches from her. They were back in the cave as she had left it the day Ben had died. They were in the exact position on the ground.

"I had the worst nightmare," he said, his voice strong and flowing with life. "I dreamed I had lost you, had lost my way. I was trapped in darkness. Was—was it a dream?" he asked, tears in his eyes.

Rey couldn't speak to answer him, but threw her arms around him. She crushed herself to him, weeping loudly. It's all she could do at that moment. Yes, it had been a nightmare, but that had not made any it less real. She had lost him, but now he was back. Life, as with death, had finally been paid in full. The Dyad was balanced once more.