A/N: And so we've reached the final chapter! I've been wanting to write a Reylo/Phantom story since I first saw TLJ in theatres, and I finally did it. Thank you for coming along for the ride with me. :)


Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone.


Without Rey, Kylo Ren is adrift, a vicious monster that destroys everything in sight. His waking hours are comprised of rage and violence, his nights lonely and dreamless. Little Kira has vanished, leaving nothing but the aching wound of her absence behind.

He had vowed to FN-2187 and the pilot that he would hunt them down, destroy the Resistance and reclaim Rey. But how can he when he has no idea where they are? And how can he enact the vengeance he craves when doing so might harm Rey?

The worst part is that he knows they lied to her. They lied to her, and still, they won.

Though he long accepted his darkness, Kylo still had hope in his heart — hope for the galaxy, hope that his vision would come to pass, and hope for himself beneath it all. Hope that he wasn't as unlovable as everyone claimed.

Then Rey left, and all hope fled with her.


At first, he thinks her a dream. But even their shared dreams have never felt so real, so full of light.

"You're really here," he murmurs.

Rey nods. "I am."

"How?"

"I was on an island, and I — I heard you. Your voice led me to a cave at the bottom of the island. There was a wall there that looked like a mirror, and when I touched it, it showed me you." She gives him a small smile. "I asked it to bring me here, and it did."

Ah. A Force nexus. Uncommon, but not unheard of. Under normal circumstances, Kylo would question her further, perhaps even investigate the phenomenon himself. But he cannot pretend that all is well between them. Scowling, he says, "You left."

Rey winces. "I know. I'm sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing."

"By abandoning me," he says flatly.

"By protecting people you were ready to destroy.I won't apologize for that, even though you were right about them."

"Then why are you here, Rey?"

"To fulfill your vision," she replies excitedly. "The Resistance is ready for peace. They've agreed to meet with you. Whenever you're ready, we'll call a meeting of amnesty."

Her words give Kylo pause. Is it really that simple? Has one girl changed the course of the galaxy forever?

"It's time for the war to end, Ben," she says.

At the sound of his forbidden name, something within Kylo Ren shatters. The armor he has worn for ten years crumbles away.

"Say it again," he pleads, all his reservations fading.

Rey reaches for him, placing a hand on his cheek. "Ben. My Ben."

Then she kisses him. Kylo — Ben — makes a small sound of surprise, but after only a moment of hesitation, he wraps his arms around her and returns the kiss.

"You'll stay?" he asks when they part. His voice sounds small and vulnerable even to his own ears, but when it comes to Rey, Ben does not mind.

"Forever," Rey replies, and it is the sweetest vow Ben has ever heard. "You're not alone, Ben. Not anymore. I promise."

"Neither are you, Rey."

She gives him a blinding smile, one that reignites the dying embers of hope in his heart. "I know."