Across The Stars // Star Wars (Sequels)

✰Chapter 33✰

"No," Rey states firmly and I admire her strength. I would've crippled at Snoke's words, especially in the state that I am in.

"Yes," Snoke replies greedily before sending her flying backwards. Rey hovers in the air above me and Ben. 

"Give... me... everything," Snoke growls. 

"No... No!" Rey whimpers before letting out a high-pitched scream that sends goosebumps all over my body. It kills me to hear one of my friends in pain, especially knowing I partially caused it.

Rey suddenly drops to the floor, landing on her back with a grunt. She instantly turns over, looking at me with desperation in her eyes. Snoke laughs in the background. "Well, well, I did not expect Skywalker to be so wise. We will give him and the Jedi Order the death he desires," he says. "After the Rebels are gone, we will go to his planet and obliterate the entire island." 

Rey jumps to her feet and holds out her hand for Anakin's Lightsaber and for a second, I believe it actually obeys her, but it just swings around her and even hits her in the back of the head before landing next to Snoke again. "Such spunk," he comments. "Look here now." 

Snoke waves a hand and Rey is sent to the window of the throne room. The view that is revealed makes bile rise in my throat. The transport ships of the Resistance, one by one being blown to bits. My mother and Poe are on one of those ships, along with the rest of the Resistance. I can feel tears prick my eyes, but I rapidly blink to hold them back.

Rey whips around and holds out her hand again, but this time, Ben's Lightsaber lands right in her hand. She ignites it and the Praetorian guards surrounding her take out their staffs. 

"Ooh, and still that fiery spit of hope," Snoke cackles. "You have the spirit of a true Jedi!" 

With a shout, Rey charges forward, but with a simple flick of his wrist, Snoke sends her plunging through the air and landing at mine and Ben's feet. The Lightsaber spins on the black tile.

"And because of that, you must die," Snoke states. She is brought to her knees and faces me and Ben. "My worthy apprentices. Son and daughter of darkness. Heirs apparent to Lord Vader. Where there was conflict, I now sense resolve. Where there was weakness, strength. Complete your training and fulfil your destiny!" 

Ben glances at me and I nod once. He reaches down and picks up his Lightsaber. He looks down at Rey and I try to void my eyes of any emotion. "I know what I have to do," he says. 

"Ben..." Rey whispers. "Raven..."

Snoke laughs. "You think you can turn them? Pathetic child," he says. "I cannot be betrayed. I cannot be beaten. I see their minds and I see their every intent. Yes." 

Ben hesitates to lift his Lightsaber so I snatch it from his grasp. "I'll do it," I say coldly, hoping he understands my intention. 

"Good," Snoke praises. He closes his eyes. "I see her turning the Lightsaber to strike true. And now... Foolish child! She ignites it and kills this true enemy!" 

Ben flicks his fingers and Snoke lets out a choking gurgle. My head shoots up and I am just in time to see half of Snoke fall to the ground while the other half stays in the throne. Anakin's ignited Lightsaber flies toward us and Rey catches it. She looks up at us with widened eyes and I smile softly, nodding. I hand Ben his Lightsaber again before taking the red one Snoke had me assemble last night. I ignite it and hold it up, along with Rey and Ben.

The Praetorian guards circle around us but I am not afraid. Not anymore. With my brother and one of my best friends by my side, I can draw enough energy from the Light Side to fight off the guards. 

By the time the last guard is killed, I am out of breath and several injuries cover my body, but I know this fight is far from over. 

I walk over to Rey. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" I ask. 

She shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. Are you?" 

"I'm all right," I say. 

Rey smiles before her eyes travel over to the window. "The fleet! Order them to stop firing, there's still time to save the fleet," she tells my brother, who observes us from a distance. 

He slowly walks up to Snoke's halved corpse. His breathing sounds hitched and I can feel his Force-presence spiralling.

"Ben?" I ask softly, taking a step forward. 

"It's time to let old things die," he pants. "Snoke, Skywalker. The Sith, the Jedi, the Rebels. Let it all die." He holds out a gloved hand. "Raven, Rey... I want you to join me." 

I should feel disappointed, but I don't. I accepted the fact that my brother died all those years ago and the hollow, darkened version of him that stands before me hasn't changed. Not one bit. I lower my head, turning away.

"We can rule together and bring a new order to the galaxy," he continues. 

"Don't do this, Ben..." Rey pleads. "Please don't go this way." 

"No, no, you're still holding on! Let go!" he snaps. "Do you wanna know the truth about your parents? Or have you always known? And you've just hidden it away." 

"Ren, stop this," I say coldly, my voice altered by the lump in my throat. 

"No, you know the truth, Raven. I know you do," he says. "Say it, Rey." 

"They were nobody," she sobs softly. 

"They were filthy junk traders who sold you off for drinking money. They're dead in a paupers' grave in the Jakku desert," he continues. "You have no place in this story. You come from nothing. You're nothing." 

Tears stream down Rey's cheeks as an occasional sob passes her lips. 

"But not to me." He raises his hand again. His eyes flick to me for a second but he is fully focused on Rey. "Join me. Please." 

Rey slowly raises her hand. 

"Rey...?" Her name escapes my mouth before I can stop it. She curtly shakes her head before lowering her hand and stepping back. Then she raises her hand again and Anakin's Lightsaber flies off Ren's belt, hovering in the air as Ren tries to get it back, but when I raise my hand, it lands right in my palm.

Just as the Lightsaber touches my hand, the ground trembles under our feet and the power around us shuts off. Crashes are heard all around us and I shoot Rey a glance before I chuck my red Lightsaber to the side and raise Anakin's. "We don't want to go without you but we are leaving," I call over the sound of the havoc. 

"Look out!" Rey suddenly exclaims, pulling me aside as a burning beam falls from the ceiling. The thud it causes throws me off my feet and the side of my head hits the floor. Darkness consumes my vision and I fall unconscious.