A/N - Welcome back to the story! I cannot believe I've written fifty chapters of this fic! I couldn't have done it without the awesome feedback and support I get from you guys, so thank you for everything :)

Side by side, lightsabers in hand, Luke and Leia led the charge against the stormtroopers at the gates.

"I think we're getting too old for this," Luke muttered as he cut through troopers one by one.

"Says the one who's been kicking back on a deserted island for over a decade," Leia shot back. "Some of us never stopped fighting. If I've got it in me after all this time, so do you."

Leia paused as she witnessed a peculiar sight. The stormtroopers firing down on them from the top of the gates were beginning to disappear, collapsing over the side. The rest of the guards stationed upon the battlements turned, their attention divided as they sought to face the new threat from within the palace.

Ben had arrived, Leia was certain of it. They'd made it into the palace and had succeeded in reaching the front gates.

A hush descended over the battlefield as for a poignant moment they waited to see what would happen. A loud shout erupted from within, a few of the guards on the walls broke ranks and ran away, while others renewed the fight with fresh vigor, firing blasters down both sides of the walls.

Another loud shout echoed from within, flames and sparks leapt higher as something far larger caught fire. A few more guards slipped away from the wall and vanished over the side as a loud groan filled the air.

Leia became completely still as the groaning became louder. She had no idea what to expect, was half certain that a mass of stormtroopers would burst forth to overpower them. The gates, bent and battered from the repeated blows they had sustained, moved agonizingly slow as they were pushed open.

Paige Tico emerged, grinning ear to ear as she stepped forward. Her arm was wrapped possessively around her little sister Rose, who was tucked against her side.

"Good to see you, General Organa!" Paige called out. Leia couldn't help but smile at the sight of a face she'd never thought she would see again.

"You as well, Paige," She replied fondly, before turning to Rose. "Where's my son?"

"He took Finn and Poe with him and went after Snoke, and Rey."

Leia swallowed the hard lump that formed in her throat as he turned to inspect the group surrounding him. She was acutely aware of the fighters that were missing from it. They were all damaged and tired, but there was still far more that they had to accomplish.

"We need to get to them." Leia ordered.

"Yes," Luke agreed. "Before they're all killed."

Luke didn't sound anymore convinced that it was possible than Leia felt.

Rey had no idea where she was within the convoluted mess of passageways that made up the inner workings of the vast palace. Her shoulders and legs brushed against the walls as she hesitatingly felt her way forward.

Her fingers brushed over the solid walls surrounding her as she fumbled to find an escape. Hux had recovered, and she could sense him gaining on her. She stopped as her fingers suddenly brushed over a wall in front of her. She was unable to understand why it was there, unable to grasp that she was now trapped between a wall and Hux, with the cuffs dampening her abilities still on.

She had to bite back a scream of frustration as her fingers frantically skimmed over the smooth walls surrounding her as she searched for a lever or switch. Her fingers caught on a small lever set at chest height; she pulled down on it and took a step back as the door swung inward. She was about to step forward when she saw what the open door had revealed.

With sinking dismay she realized she'd leapt out of the frying pan and right into the fire.

"There you are, scavenger scum."

A cry escaped her as she jumped. She'd been too startled by the realization of where she was to hear Hux's approach.

His words sent a fresh flood of adrenaline crashing through her and with her hands fisted she turned to face him. He was better prepared for her this time, but even so she was able to get in a glancing blow to his chin with her elbow. He danced back for a moment before coming at her again. With an infuriated cry, she kicked him in the knee with enough force to knock his leg back and pushed herself off of him as hard as she could.

Not wasting any time, she bolted into the room, nearly tripping over her own feet as Snoke's Praetorian Guard spun toward her. She froze, her eyes widened, her mouth dropped as Snoke turned to look at her. There was a malicious smile on his face as he leered at her with far too much amusement for her liking.

Then, over the sea of heads, across the massive hall, she saw him.

Her heart leapt into her throat, tears burned her eyes as her gaze clashed with Ben's. The guards lifted their spears and moved to block him as he took a step toward her. Though there were far more soldiers than him, judging by the look on his face he might actually be able to plow his way through them to get to her.

Arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her up before flinging her to the floor. A strangled cry escaped as her body bounced off the marble and her teeth clamped down on the inside of her bottom lip. She had completely forgotten about Hux in her astonishment and delight over seeing Ben, but he hadn't forgotten about her.

Rey scrambled back, trying to regain her balance as Hux came at her. Ben's ferocious bellow ripped across the room as Hux seized hold of her arms and yanked her to her feet.

A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)