Maia awoke in the transport. She blinked the spots out of her eyes and as her vision cleared, Leia came into focus above her.

"What happened?" Leia asked, concern written all over her face.

"I think I made a mistake."

Someone helped her up and into a seat. She quietly told Leia what she had seen, what she had done. "I wanted the fighting to stop, but I think I made it worse."

Leia held her hand, "We all make choices, stand by yours and everything will work out."

"General, we've got to get ready for-" Poe stepped inside the transport, he stopped when he saw them sitting together. "You're awake, are you okay?" He took a few quick steps as she stood up but stopped short, unsure how close to get.

"I'm fine, starshine." She smiled at him.

"Things are going to start getting rough here, you should find somewhere safe to-" He reached for her, intending to lead her deeper in the caves, but she hit his hand away from her.

"Stop being nice to me."

"What?"

"I mean, stop treating me like I'm going to break if I get hurt. I can help."

He didn't even know she knew how to use a blaster, but she didn't ask any questions as Leia handed her a small one. "Are you sure you're okay?" Poe asked quietly.

She gave him that small, wry smile she reserved just for him, "Keep flying, don't worry about me."

She seemed more focused. Her eyes weren't darting off to the side like she was seeing something that wasn't there anymore.

"What happened in the transport?"

"If we make it out of here alive, maybe I'll tell you."

Poe grinned, "Well now I've got something to live for."

She laughed, loud and clear and went into the communication center of the base. She stayed there, kept an eye out while the real heroes tried to stop the First Order from entering the base. She kept tabs on the battle outside, the King and Queen were both out there, she could sense them. But something else was coming, something old.

"I can stop him." Maia said, standing up from behind the old speeder, looking at the gash in the door.

Poe grabbed her arm, "Maia, no, he's not going to take prisoners, he will just kill you."

"Well I can stall him at least, so the majority can get away."

He stared at her in confusion, "What makes you think you can do this all of a sudden?" Running off to Starkiller Base had surprised him, but suggesting she could take on the First Order by herself was a new level of bravery from her.

"Do you trust me?" She grabbed his hand and looked him in the eye. There was nothing but steely resolve in her eyes.

In his heart, he knew that if she was going out that door, he was going to follow her like a lovesick idiot in a holo movie. "Let me come with you."

"It's my turn to be a hero."

"Maia." A new voice interrupted them. The two turned and saw Luke Skywalker, standing behind them.

"Ghost Luke?"

"It used to be Master Luke." The older man quirked a smile at her.

"You've been a ghost to me since you left me here." Maia dropped his hand and clenched her fists.

"I'm sorry Maia, I could have brought you with me. Maybe life on the island would have been easier for you, separate from all of this." He waved a hand around the room, Poe swore he got a pointed look as well.

She seemed to relax at his words, "It wasn't your decision to make anyway, I am where I am supposed to be."

"Rey needs a teacher."

"I won't use lightsaber, I can't." She remembered the feel of Luke's saber in her hands on Starkiller base and how she hadn't been able to push the button and fight the old king.

"Your skills were always elsewhere. You are going to have to trust yourself again."

"The last time I did that, I let Ben Solo kill children."

"Failure is the best teacher. Something I just learned myself."

There was a long pause between them, their eyes locked. Maia nodded, "Goodbye, Luke Skywalker. The Force is with you, until the end."

He touched her shoulder and walked out.

Poe felt like a bucket of cold water had just been dumped on his head. Everything that had happened in the last few days and the last few years suddenly made more sense to him. He turned to Maia in awe, "You're a Jedi?"

"No, I was never going to be a Jedi."

"But you trained with them, you were trained how to use the Force!"

"A long time ago."

"Amazing. You can help us fight the First Order, this is great!" He wanted to pick her up and hug her, finally a ray of hope.

He was beaming at her, she didn't want to disappoint him so she just nodded and turned back to watch Luke disappear into the light. She still wasn't sure what she was going to do with her newfound courage and clarity. The old King's oppressive anger was weighing on her. The Force had been whispering to her since she woke up.

Go to him, it said, bring him balance.

Usually when it whispered to her like this, so clear and conscise, she listened. But there was a seed out doubt in her heart, maybe Luke was right.

Poe grabbed her arm, breaking her out of her reprieve, "Maia, come on, we found a way out."

She looked towards the hole, "Maybe I should stay."

"Ren will kill you."

"No, he will just use me for his own gains. But he can't truly control me, I am far beyond that."

Poe took a deep breath, "Is this what you want to do?"

The Force was always clear in what needed to be done, but it was pushing her away from what she wanted. The King and Queen were both out of balance. That was an arguement she could make for staying. After all, there was only so much she could do.

"No, it's not."

Kylo Ren wasn't her path forward, Rey was, and Poe and Finn and Leia. She took his hand, "This is my decision to make."

"I'm Rey."

"I know." Poe grinned. He was glad he finally got to meet the girl Finn wouldn't shut up about. Just behind her shoulder, he saw Maia roll her eyes at him. She then made the 'I'm watching you' gesture at BB-8 and then him before walking away

"Excuse me for a moment." He followed Maia, "What was that for?"

She rolled her eyes at him again, "It all starts with 'I know' doesn't it."

"What did you think I was flirting with her? I just met her! Why am I defending myself to you?" He realized she was teasing him now. "Oh I get it."

"Flybird, you will never actually get it." Her eyes slid past him and saw Rey sitting with the general, "I have to talk to her."

She approached Rey who was clutching the shattered lightsaber with caution. Rey looked up at her, confused and lost, "You were there, you broke the lightsaber."

Maia knelt down in front of her and put her hands over Rey's, "I did."

"Why?"

"It's difficult to explain."

"Who are you?" Rey asked her again.

Maia looked up and felt the younger girl's confusion and pain and loss. "I'm your new teacher. The old king needs to be defeated." She took half the saber and worked out part of the broken kyber crystal, "You are the queen of the light and you need help. Let me help you."

"You've called me your Highness before, why do you talk like this?"

"It's better than screaming all the time." Maia said with her most winning smile.

Rey wasn't sure what her reaction to that should be, "Who are you really?" She asked for the third time.

"Maia, no last name to be given. I trained under Luke Skywalker, I survived the Jedi massacre and I've waited for you a long time your Highness."

"It's just Rey."

"In that case, it's nice to meet you, just Rey." She pushed both halves of the crystal into Rey's hands and tossed the broken saber away. "This is a new beginning, our new beginning."