"Strike me down, take your place on the throne. It is your destiny, Empress Palpatine."

His words were sinking in her mind, corrupting every part of her every thought. He was baiting her, trying to break down everything Luke and Leia had taught her. It was like an itch in the back of her mind. It was telling her what needed to be done. But she didn't know. She didn't know if she dared to do what had to be done to protect her friends.

Sidious stood before Rey, examining his granddaughter from head to toe. He smiled sinisterly, deciding to prompt her anger towards him, "Your friends will die, my young granddaughter. And you're powerless to do anything about it."

"Stop it," She hissed, feeling her hands clutch onto her lightsaber just a little tighter. "Stop trying to get in my head."

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, "I can feel your anger, young one. I can feel your hatred. It burns strong inside you. Use it." His eyes opened and smiled a sinister and teasing smile at her. "It's the only way to stop me."

Her expression was nothing a silent rage as she glared intensely at her grandfather. Something inside of her broke, letting the floodgates of her emotions out. Rey snarled at Sidious, gripping now both of the lightsabers tightly as she then charged at the older man, swinging her weapons around wildly. Surprisingly, he effortlessly dodged her. Rey kept turning until it clashed with his lightning, sparks flew as both held their ground. Sidious narrowed his eyes, looking down at her.

"Hmph. You have no technique." He mocked Rey, who looked shocked for a moment before gritting her teeth while Sidious grinned and pushed her back, watching as she fell to the ground.

"Weak…" He further taunted the woman as she quickly got to her feet and rushed at him again, swinging her lightsaber as he once again avoided contact.

"Use your darkness, do not hold back." He told Rey who responded with growls and roars as it seemed no matter how much force she put into her swings, Palpatine was able to repel or avoid them.

"Stop it!" Rey yelled as she then used her free hand to fire a blast of lightning at Sidious. He screamed in agony as he dropped to his knees, feeling the electricity surge through him. She then reached out to her sabers to where they fell, and before he could even regain his composure, Rey stood above him, holding both lightsabers in a criss-cross manner against Sidious' throat.

Rey's eyes flared at him, filled with anger and hatred. Sidious smiled proudly, knowing that his plan was slowly about to come in motion.

"You have beaten me, young one," He said as Rey locked eyes with him. "Now, finish it."

He could feel her hesitance, the Jedi that was still in her. He was close, so close to snuffing it out, to create the most powerful empire the galaxy has ever seen. Only one step away.

"You have a natural ability, but you must hone it, perfect it." He said, the old Sith still kneeling before her. "Strike me now. Kill me and take your rightful place on the throne."

Rey looked up at the sky, looked at the ruin and explosions that were occurring before her. And at that moment, she felt her heart fall into despair. There was no hope left, only darkness. Maybe, just maybe, the darkness could be the only way to save her friends. To give them the chance to live their lives, even if it costs hers. Her eyes landed back on his, and she knew what had to come next.

"Are you up for the challenge of using your hate for good," Sidious asked her, and her gaze landed back on him, filled with certainty.

"Yes," She stated before decapitating his head off, leaving nothing but an eerie silence behind. After a moment, Rey closed her eyes and felt a power surge through her body, a feeling that she couldn't explain. She could hear voices. Voices filled with agony, rage, and pain. But the ones she listened to closely were the ones of disappointment. She had failed Luke and Leia, she broke their trust and their hearts, and there was no coming back from that now. It was time to move forward now to a new era.

"Forgive me," Rey whispered, and then she opened her eyes, now yellow. "I have accepted it."

"You must strengthen your connection to the dark side, draw your strength from it, and let it empower you," The voices whispered in Rey's head as she sat on the throne, the fighting continuing outside.

"I understand…" She whispered, nodding in agreement.

Dark aura covered her palms as the massive pillars began to move and tremble as Rey raised them off of the ground as they rose higher into the air. After a moment, she then lowered her arms swiftly as the pillar fell back down, causing a small tremor when she landed it back down. The newfound power was...intoxicating. It was almost an addiction to exploit every ability that the dark side had to offer. A holograph appeared before her, and her eyes immediately opened at the disturbance.

The general nodded curtly and bent down on one knee, "I can see that the deed is done, my Empress."

"Call the off the attack," She said calmly. "Retreat our forces back to safety so that we can proceed with our next move."

"Are you certain?"

"I will not ask you again," Rey said, her voice commanding respect and fear in the same tone. Knowing that he had no choice in the matter, the general nodded once more.

"I will send a ship for your departure, my Empress."

The sound of footsteps shuffling caused Rey to lift her head, only to be greeted by the sight of Ben Solo. Her ally, her friend. She honestly wasn't sure if he was any of those things to her anymore. It was a lot of things that were running through her mind: some unwanting, some not so much. But those immediately perished by the darkness that was in her heart.

"Rey..."

"Ben Solo." She nodded respectfully. "I welcome you."

Ben was looking at Rey as if he were seeing her for the very first time. His heart was pulling him in a million directions, continually trying to figure out what was right or wrong. He couldn't form a coherent thought; he didn't know what to do. And yet, his feet walked him over to her unconsciously. His eyes reached hers, and his heart broke, immediate disappoint reaching his features.

"No..." He whispered, his footsteps becoming more haste. "You didn't."

Rey swallowed hard, but remained stoic, "I did."

"Why, Rey?" He pleaded, soft enough for her to hear him. "Why did you do it?"

A sigh brushed past her lips as she contemplated how to answer the burning question. She knew why. It was a necessary sacrifice. Her freedom for the safety of others, it seemed like a fair trade after all.

"It had to be done," It nearly broke her heart to pieces to see how defeated he looked. And his heart almost broke all the same as he realized the woman he cared for was different. She was cold, calculating, and just...heartless. A sith. She became everything that she feared, and maybe that's what probably pained Ben the most. That she saved him from the dark side, and he couldn't do the same. Or perhaps he could. There was still time to make this right; there was still time to fix everything.

"I should've been here," He said, moving closer. "I should've protected you."

"No, this was the only way."

"You can't possibly think that's true, Rey?" Ben said, astonished by the coldness in her tone. "You let him reduce you this!?"

"No different from when it took over you."

"This is different!" He bit back, anger starting rise within him. "You were supposed to be better than me! You are better than me, so why? Why would you risk everything you've worked so hard for, only to give in?"

The voices in her head were whispering to her, telling her what to do. It was like an itch at the back of her mind, continually tossing thoughts now and then.

Kill the girl, and let the Empress be born.

"I don't have to explain myself to you, Ben Solo." Rey arose from the throne and walked down the small set of stone steps. She took the light sabers off of her hip and looked at them intently. She wondered if by looking at them, it would give her a sign. Something, anything. But she felt nothing, and it was all she would ever feel. Nothing. There was no going back now.

She tossed them at Ben's feet and kept walking, making her way to the opening.

"Don't do this, Rey," Ben pleaded, trying to get through to her one last time. "Don't you walk away from me, Rey!"

Rey stopped walking right by the entrance, feeling her fists clench and unclench. She turned her head slightly over her shoulder and looked at her friend one last time in the eye before whispering, "Rey is dead."

With those three words, Ben's face paled, and he fails to catch his breath. He falls to his knees, helpless as he watches her walk out of the cave. His eyes landed on the lightsabers on the ground and let his gaze linger on them for a moment.

"Ben..." A voice whispered. A voice he knew all too well.

"Mother." His hands clutched onto the grip of his mother's lightsaber, eyes closed tightly. "I failed her. I failed you."

"No, you haven't failed us yet, my son," Leia told him, a hint of certainty in her tone. "We can feel her light. It sleeps, deep inside."

"I don't know if I can do it. I'm not strong enough."

Surprisingly, he heard a small chuckle come from her, "Maybe because it's not your destiny to stop her."

His head raised slightly and sighed deeply when he saw his mother's essence, staring at him with a small sympathetic smile on her lips.

"I need you, mother. I need your guidance." He bowed his head respectfully, finally ready to listen to his mother's wisdom. Despite ever saying it, he loved his mother. And he loved his father as well. Looking back, he couldn't help but hate how weak he had been. To be seduced by the power of the dark side that he lost sight of who he indeed was. And now, here was another pure soul, falling to the same fate.

"Seek out the one," She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her son's forehead. "Only he can bring back the light that was snuffed out of her."

With that, he gripped both of the lightsabers and pulled them off the ground, watching as Rey continued to walk out of the cave.

"I won't fail you again, mother."

The Resistance fleet remained still, confused by the sudden disappearance of the First Order ships.

"Where did they go?" General Poe asked through his coms, "Does anyone have a read on the others?"

"We're still here," Finn responded, his feet still planted on the Star Destroyer. It had only been mere moments before the First Order fleet disappeared, and it just left everyone conflicted, wondering if the battle was indeed won or not. But there was one thing that was on Finn's mind and one thing only. "Has anyone seen Rey?"

"No sign of her yet, but she'll show up soon."

"What is going on here?" Finn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It's not over yet," Jannah patted his shoulder, giving him an encouraging smile. "There's still hope."

"Maybe."

Jannah was about to say something else but was stopped by a stern voice.

"Leave my ship now, or die."

Finn lifted his head and turned around to see Rey's face, but no longer the Rey he knew. Besides being draped in a black robe and having golden eyes, he knew there was something off with her. It was like an evil presence, surrounding the entire area with an eerie silence. His eyes landed on hers, and his heart was immediately tarnished, shocked by what he was seeing.

"Rey, what-"

Rey cut him off, "Leave soldier, or I will be forced to make you do so."

"She doesn't look well," Jannah said under her breath. Her voice grew louder so that Rey could hear her. "The ships leaving. Was that your doing?"

"It was, and now it is time for my departure as well." Rey sauntered up to them, watching as the soldiers behind them become more guarded. She could sense the fear in them, the uneasiness that came with it, and it only strengthened her resolve. Rey was suddenly intrigued by the anxiety; terror was a way of the Sith. Seeing that she had every sith that ever was inside of her, it was only fitting.

"What's going on down there," Poe cackled through the coms.

Finn was clutching his hands into fists, still not believing in what he was seeing. Completely ignoring Poe, he said, "What happened to you, Rey?"

"It's none of your concern, Finn." She spoke slowly and threateningly. "You should leave while I'm in a merciful mood."

"Let's just go," Jannah started to pull Finn away. "Something's not right with her."

"I'm not leaving here without you, Rey."

"You will leave, or you will die."

"Rey, I don't know you very well, but I can see that something is wrong," Janah stood in between the two of them. By this time, the soldiers were all lined up by Finn, prepared to take any action their General commanded.

"You're right," Rey said to her. "You don't know me."

"We're not leaving until this ship is destroyed," Jannah said solemnly. "Even if we have to go through you as well."

Rey smiled sinisterly, nodding respectfully, "Have it your way then."

Her hand raised, and Jannah's hand went towards her neck, silencing her words. Rey's hand's tightened, and Jannah clutched at her throat as Rey was squeezing the life out of her body. Her eyes bulged immediately, and she thrashed her arms around. Rey just squeezed harder.

"Rey! Stop it, Rey!" Finn gaped at the sight.

"I tried to be merciful," Rey's eyes landed back on Finn, her golden eyes flared with anger. "But now you've forced my hand."

Jannah's throat felt like a twig that Rey could snap at any moment. She would have loved to see her lifeless body on the floor, under her command. Rey forced pressure into the pulse point of her skin and tried to pop it with strength.

"Look what you've done, Jannah," Rey whispered. "This could have been prevented."

She tried to speak but couldn't.

"Please, Rey," Finn fell to his knees, begging for her mercy. "We'll go, we'll do anything you ask! Just let her go!"

Jannah had surpassed blue. She was now purple.

"Rey is dead." She replied, her grip getting tighter.

"Please..." Her eyes met Finn's again and could see the plea in them. Something washed over her; she wasn't sure what it was. But for a moment, there was a flicker, a feeling that took over her, and she dropped Jannah to the ground, and she crumbled quickly, a heaping mess of sobs, gasping breaths, and flailing limbs. Finn rushed over to Jannah and rubbed a soothing hand on her back, watching as Rey walked away from the scene. He felt it; he could still feel her light burning deep inside of her. There was still a piece of the Rey that he knew. And he was going to save her, whatever it takes.

"I will save you, Rey!" He yelled after her, making her stop in her tracks. "And if I can't, then I'll find someone else who can. But I won't give up on you."

She turned her head over her shoulder and whispered, "Then, you're a fool."

And walked away from the light and into the abyss.