Do or do not. There is no try...

A slither of hope bloomed in Kylo's chest as he finally neared the top of the cliff. He had no idea what awaited him up there, but it was the only plan he had so he plowed on.

His body ached and his eyes stung as sweat dripped from his hair onto his forehead and blurred his vision. He gripped the rocks with his near skinless hands, and pulled himself up to the top. He threw his heavy body over the edge and lay on the flat surface catching his breath.

He looked out at the horizon. There was nothing. Nothing but lava and black mountains. Now what?

'Took you long enough.'

Kylo turned around to see who had spoken. He saw himself sitting on a rock behind him. No, not him. This was Ben. The younger version of his former self wore his old Padawan robes and carried the saber he had created whilst he was still under his Uncle's Jedi tutelage.

Kylo stood up and rolled his shoulders. So the Son wanted him to fight this weak waste of a man? So be it.

Ben sighed and stood up.

'You still think this world is his creation don't you?' Look around you Kylo, this is the prison you created for us both. We've been trapped in this cell for years, you've just never been able to see it before now.'

Kylo took a step forward as he ignited his saber. He looked at Ben with a critical eye.

'I don't care who made this place or why, I'll just be happy to be rid of you once and for all.'

'You'll never be rid of me, Kylo, because you've always had it wrong. Do you want to know the real reason why the force connected you with Rey? Do you want to know why you and her are a dyad in the force?'

'Why should I believe anything you say?' Kylo yelled pointing his saber at Ben.

'Because I have nothing to gain from lying to you, Kylo. You keep me trapped here eternally as punishment for the crime of merely existing. Why would I wish to anger you further? Just listen to me.'

Kylo roared and lunged towards him, Ben rolled his eyes but raised his saber to meet Kylo's.

Their sabers clashed together, though neither could gain any ground. The men were equally matched in every way. Perfect replicas of one another on separate sides of the force. But nevertheless they attacked each other again and again unrelentlessly.

'Kylo, this is pointless! This is a fight you cannot win with violence, the only way for you to be whole again is for us to…'

'Silence!' Kylo yelled using the force to push Ben backwards and sending him hurtling towards the ground beneath their feet.

Both men looked at each other. They panted in unison, both exhausted from the meaningless exertion of trying to better one another.

Ben sat up on the ground and sighed.

'You are half a man Kylo, as am I. That is the real reason the force connected you to Rey. It could feel your fractured pain in every corner of the galaxy. It tried to fill the void you created within yourself by giving you a force mate and though she is indeed our equal in every way, the balance is still not complete. The balance will remain broken for all time unless you accept your true destiny. Join with me Kylo, and let us become what we were always meant to be. Let us become the man she deserves.'

'You mean to kill me!' Kylo shouted.

'No, I want you to live, Kylo. I want us both to live. For her.'

'Your light will extinguish me forever!'

'No! You have it all wrong. My light will embrace you Kylo. Please, listen to me—'

'No more talking,' Kylo raised his saber to end Ben Solo once and for all.

Ben lit his saber once more and held it above his head ready to block Kylo's attack. He looked at Kylo with fear in his eyes.

'Don't do this, Kylo,' he pleaded.

'You're already dead to me, Ben Solo,' he spat.

Kylo's saber crashed down and met with Ben's. The two men grunted and grappled as their sabers whirred and sparked against each other.

Ben called out as he started to lose the fight. Kylo bore down on him, as the ground around them quaked and began to break apart.

Ben…

They both stilled as they heard her whispered prayer as it travelled across the Galaxy and broke through the planets barriers to find him.

They knew in an instant that Leia was gone and she had used her final breath to call out for him. Him. Her only son, and the last fragment of her energy that existed physically within the Galaxy.

The broken heart that the two men shared fractured further at the sound of her faint, yearning call.

Kylo was the most affected. Having tried to ignore his mother for so long the sudden influx of emotions he felt at the sound of her voice and knowing she was gone from his world, overwhelmed him and he let down his guard. His face crumpled and his eyes turned down. Before he realised what was happening, Ben sprang off the floor and stood in front of him. The two men mirrored each other, an inch of space between them. One light, one dark, one day, one night. Each unable to exist without the other.

'This is for your own good.' Ben said as he ran at Kylo. Ben's energy was easily absorbed into Kylo's form, but the shock of the transfer knocked Kylo off balance and he took an ill advised step backwards. His eyes widened in fear as he hurtled from the edge of the cliff and hit the ground below with a sickening thud.

'Leia, Leia!' Rey cried as she grasped Leia's shoulders within her fingers, but it was no use. She knew her mentor was gone. She already felt Leia's energy begin to leave her body and connect with the force around them.

Rey sat beside Leia's body in shock. She had lost Han, then Luke and now Leia. Hopelessness sapped her of her energy like a debilitating disease. She watched with immeasurable sorrow as Leia's body faded into a cloud of blue energy and her clothes sank down to the sand below.

'You should be proud of her, it was a heroic death.'

Rey looked venomously at the murderer before her. She picked up Leia's saber and lit it once more.

'Stay away from me,' she threatened.

'I'm afraid I cannot do that, Rey. I need you, but I sense that you need time, and you will find that I can be patient. I will take you back to Mortis and you can grieve for your fallen.'

'No!' Rey cried.

Son waved a hand and Rey's saber flew out of her grasp and into his. He used the force once more to immobilise her. She stood reluctantly frozen in place as he strode towards her.

'So beautiful,' he murmured, before tapping her forehead and rendering her unconscious. As she fell, he caught her in his arms and gathered her close to his chest. He breathed in deeply as her energy mingled with his own. It was a little too light for his taste but that would change in time.

'Come, my love,' he said as he opened a portal to the realm of Mortis.

'You will be safe here, until you are ready to accept your fate begins and ends with me.'

He stepped through the swirling vortex and the portal collapsed in on itself, leaving no trace of its existence.

When Rey opened her eyes, she was back on the rebel base with all her friends. They were hugging her close and laughing with relief. She realised with joy that it was over, her ordeal was finally over. The war was over and the Son was defeated. All around her rebels cheered and celebrated. They embraced and kissed and laughed together. Their happiness fed her soul. There was only one thing missing that would make the moment complete for her.

Suddenly the crowds parted, and she saw Kylo striding towards her purposely. A smile spread across her face and she ran towards him. There were inches between them now and she could almost feel his warm breath against her cheek, but before she could reach him, Rey hit an invisible wall and it threw her backwards towards the ground. She stood up and placed her hands against the clear solid barrier. The rest of the crowd had disappeared and they were completely alone. The wall seemed to run around the width of the planet, trapping Rey on one side and Kylo on the other. She looked at Kylo longingly. He placed his hands on the other side of the obstruction, up against her palms. She could see his mouth forming words but she couldn't hear what it was he was trying to say.

'What?' She yelled. They had been apart for so long, she was desperate to hear him.

Kylo continued mouthing soundlessly. He became very agitated and slammed his fists against the wall between them.

'Kylo!' Rey called out. Could he hear her? Or was he also suffering from the loss of her voice.

All at once Rey heard a thousand different voices, the sound was deafening and she covered her ears as she crouched down on the ground trying to shield herself from the noise.

She screamed as her ears began to bleed under the relentless pressure of the constant onslaught.

Suddenly Kylo was with her, she felt him wrap his large frame around her own and the voices abruptly stopped.

They unravelled from each other and Kylo took her hands in his. Rey was surprised how cold he felt, Kylo was usually so warm and she still couldn't feel his energy. Was he closing himself off from her? Why?

She pushed the thoughts aside and allowed herself to revel in the joy that they were reunited once more.

'Is it over, can we rest now?' Rey asked. Kylo looked at her with sad, red rimmed eyes. He looked so tired. They both needed to sleep. She had an image of the two of them curled up together on her tiny cot. The image was so tempting she almost took his hand and led him to her tent.

'No Rey. You need to wake up,' Kylo said.

'What?' Rey was confused. She was awake. Wasn't she? Kylo grabbed at her wrists roughly and looked at her intensely.

Rey, wake up. Now.'

Rey opened her eyes and realised with dread that her ordeal was far from over.

She tried to remember what had happened when she had faced off against the Son. Her memory was fuzzy. Had he used the Force against her? It seemed the most plausible explanation. Her head throbbed. She tried to rub her temples but found that her wrists were cuffed and chained to the wall of some sort of black cave. It was dark and cold and large crystallised rocks grew like elongated spearheads out of the hard stone ground.

She pulled on her restraints but they held strong. She tried to connect to the Force and panicked when she reached out and felt nothing.

'I'm sorry Rey, but I cannot allow you to escape. To that end I am temporarily blocking your connection with the Force,' The Son explained as I suddenly appeared in the entrance to the cave.

'I hate you,' Rey spat.

'Such fire,' The Son said his eyes flashed with a hungry look and he took a step towards her.

'Don't touch me or I'll break your arm,' Rey threatened.

'You could not, but I appreciate your ability to stay strong in the face of what you interpret as adversity.'

'What have you done with Kylo?'

The son ignored her question.

'I was right about you, you will make me a worthy mate.'

'I will never be your mate!' Rey roared.

'We'll see,' The Son said with a slow smile. Then his smile faded and he looked away from her. He sighed and looked annoyed.

'I must go now, my Father has summoned me. I hate to leave you like this, but I will return as swiftly as I am able.'

He crouched down in front of her and reached for her face. Rey used her teeth as weapons and tried to catch his long fingers between them as they neared her jaw.

The Son pulled his fingers away from her mouth and laughed wickedly.

'You are delightfully sinful when you let that righteous guard down, Rey. I'm going to enjoy breaking you.'

'If you touch me, you'll regret it.'

'I believe you will not always feel as you do right now. We have much to discuss, you and I. In time, you will see that I am your fate.'

The Son stood up and left the cave.

Rey pulled at her chains again but they would not budge. How long would the Son be gone? Was there anyone else in this place who could help her? The Father and Daughter both resided there, but how could she reach them without the Force?

'Kylo, I wish you were here,' she whispered into the darkness. For all of their differences, she knew instinctively that Kylo would defend her with his life, just as she knew she would defend him with hers.

Their bond was not selfish or superficial as the Sons desire for her was. Their bond was pure and real. Something like that could not be created artificially. It was the true will of the Force.

As much as she wished that she was bonded to Ben, if Kylo was all that remained, she would take him. She realised at last that she rather be bonded to the dark side of her soulmate, then live without him entirely.

But where was Kylo now? Was he trapped? Injured? Dead?

Rey suddenly felt very tired. She laid down on the hard stone floor and fell into a deep sleep. In her dreams Kylo entered the cave and lay down beside her wrapping his large form around her small frame.

'You're not alone,' he whispered into her ear as he held her close to his chest.

'Wake up, Rey,' said a soft, female voice.

Rey groaned.

Why was everyone so keen that she wake up? Didn't anyone want her to get some rest? Rey scrunched her eyes closed tighter. She didn't want to wake up. Reality was harsh and disappointing. In her dreams, she still had hope, and she still had Kylo.

'Please Rey, wake up.'

Rey sighed and finally opened her eyes.

A beautiful brunette stood before her. She wore a dark blue gown and her flowing, dark hair was adorned with small white flowers. Rey wondered if she was hallucinating. The angel before her laughed gently.

'No you're not hallucinating. I've been sent to help you, Rey.'

'Who are you?' Rey asked.

'My name is Padme. I am Leia's mother.'

Rey's eyes widened and she sat up.

Now that Rey knew who Padme was, the family similarities seemed obvious to her. The same intelligent eyes, the same engaging smile. Yes this was definitely, Leia's mother. Which also made her Ben's grandmother, she realised with a pang of sorrow.

'Rey, I cannot help you escape. Please believe me when I tell you that we are trying, but there are rules that even those who have crossed over must abide by. In the meantime, I've been sent to try and ease your suffering. I can't do much, but perhaps it will bring you both some comfort.'

Padme came towards her and placed her hand on Rey's forehead.

'I know how it feels to be disconnected from the one you care about most,' She whispered as she closed her eyes.

Rey felt her energy mingle with Padme's. Within her mind, they travelled across the Galaxy to a place that felt empty and lifeless at first but then she felt him and she almost wept with joy.

Her eyes drank in Kylo, he lay on the ground looking beaten and bruised but alive. He was alive. Her heart soared.

'Kylo!' She called out to him.

He lifted his head and stared at her.

'Rey,' he managed to force out. His voice sounded strained.

She felt his energy reach out for her and it was such a relief to feel him again after so long being parted, that she couldn't stop herself from running towards him and embracing him tightly to her.

She was here and she had her arms around him. He doubted his senses and slowly placed his hands on her back, then gripped her clothing within his fists trying to convince himself that she was real. He buried his face in her shoulder breathing in her familiar scent.

Rey. His Rey. She was here. She had come to him.

Her energy flowed through him like a warm breeze. She pulled away and looked into his eyes, he took a chance and placed a hand on her face leaning in to press his lips against hers. She didn't object, in fact she opened her mouth, accepting his kiss. The affection she held for him poured through their bond. It nourished his weak heart. She wanted Ben but she cared for them both and for a man whose heart had never known warmth, it was enough to know that she cared. They pulled apart reluctantly, both flushed and wanting.

'Your mother—' she began to say.

'I know,' he said biting back a sob.

'I'm so sorry, it should have been me.'

'Don't say that, never say that,' he admonished.

'She died with purpose, protecting what she loved,' he said looking at her meaningfully.

Rey's face crumbled at his words and she leaned against his chest.

'When I couldn't feel you, I felt so…'

'Lost, I know.'

'I thought you were…' She couldn't bring herself to say the words, but it didn't matter, he knew her thoughts.

'I know, I thought you were too.'

'We don't have much time,' Padme interjected sadly.

Kylo looked up at last to see his grandmother standing before them.

'You did this?' He said in disbelief.

Padme nodded and gave him a tearful smile.

'We never left you. We are always here,' she said, her words tinged with emotion.

Kylo's lip trembled. His family had not deserted him and they understood Rey's importance to him. The light inside of him glowed a little brighter. Ben glowed a little brighter. He was changing but it was too late. He lifted Rey's chin up so he could see her eyes.

'Don't worry, I'm going to come for you,' he lied.

Tears marred Rey's beautiful cheeks.

'You can hide from everyone else Kylo, but you can't hide from me. Your life Force is fading. You don't have much time.'

'It's nothing, I'm fine.'

'Liar,' she said sadly.

'I'm glad you're here,' he admitted.

'I'm glad too.'

'We have to go,' Padme stated gently.

Rey looked at him with fear in her eyes.

That same fear gripped Kylo to his core. He suddenly became terrified that he would never see Rey again. This could be his last chance to tell her. His last chance to admit how he truly felt. His jaw worked and his lips trembled with unspoken emotion.

'Rey, I...I…'

Then she and Padme were gone from his sight and he felt utter despair but also a numbing sense of acceptance. She would never know, she would never know how he felt, but maybe that was for the best. Maybe it was right that she be free of him at last. Maybe the past that needed to die for Rey, was him.

He lay down again, and a feeling of peace washed over him. It was over now. He could give in to the Force's will, now that he had seen her one last time. His breathing became laboured as the last of his lingering energy began to leave his body. It wouldn't be long now.

'I'm ready now,' he whispered as his heart slowed and his limbs stilled.

'It's time to let old things die.'

Rey called out in anguish as Padme returned her to Mortis. She looked down at her now empty hands, once again she was in chains as she was returned to her prison. Kylo was nearing his end and she wasn't there. This was wrong, this was all wrong. She cried out again. Padme shushed her fearful the Son would hear her wails.

'Take me back,' Rey ordered.

'I cannot. My energy is depleted.'

'Find a way,' Rey threatened.

Instead of looking afraid, Padme smiled.

'He was right about you, you are feisty. Keep that passion Rey. It will serve you well.'

Padme started to fade and Rey reached out towards her, her fingers barely managed to scrap the edges of her blue aura.

'I will return if I can. Goodbye Rey.'

Rey's hands dropped to her sides as Padme disappeared. She thought of Kylo. Dying alone. The thought crushed her heart.

He hadn't even been able to tell her that he loved her. Though she didn't need him to say it. She had heard his heart beating the message like a secret code through their bond. He would never know that she heard him. He would never know that she knew. She tried with all her might to connect to him once more.

I know. I know you love me. Please, don't give up, because I love you too.