"We're too late," Luke whispered as he sank to his knees on the warm desert sand.
No-one heard him over the loud hissing of the wind, but everyone felt the loss crash over them like a ten-storey high wave. It was slowly filling up the entire atmosphere around them.
The Force knew it had lost one of its own. It willed its sadness into everyone's lungs, forcing itself to be felt and to be acknowledged.
Leia's knees buckled beneath her. Had it not been for Rey she would have fallen face first into the dusty sand.
She did not think she would ever be able to stand again. Her entire family gone in a matter of months. All because of the same entity. Her heart felt like it was no longer there; like a swirling black-hole of melancholy and grief had taken its place.
Chewbacca let out a bellowing cry. It sounded like a dying animal; but that is exactly how the Wookie felt. He felt like a part of him had died. Again.
Han and Ben had been his family too. He had been a part of Ben's childhood just as much as his father was. He had played with the little boy countless times, taken him on adventures, remained calm when the toddler used to absentmindedly pull his fur. He had allowed Ben to use the Force on him; had been patient and encouraging.
Finn and Poe exchanged a glance with Rey. She clenched her jaw and nodded. Go.
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*
The stormtrooper-gone-rogue and the star-fighter pilot weren't sure what to expect. They knew about another strong Force-user; were they to find two bodies instead of one?
At first it seemed like there where two bodies; the tall one in black which was unmistakably Kylo Ren's, and the one which they could make out was a girl's hunched over it, both motionless.
"This is just wrong," Finn muttered as he took a cautious step towards the bodies.
"Absolutely vile," agreed Poe. "We had so much hope."
A split-second before Finn placed an arm on the girl's shoulder, she extended her arm and willed the Force around him to create a surge of air so powerful, it sent him flying back into the wall.
The action scared Poe half to death. He was shocked, and his first reaction was to reach for the rifle in his weapons' belt.
The rifle, however, rose out of hand and steadily pointed itself against his temple.
"W- woah woah," Poe stuttered, "we come in peace."
"Yeah lady," groaned Finn as he rubbed the back of his head and stood up slowly. "We didn't know you survived."
The gun dropped to Poe's feet and the girl started to cry and shake uncontrollably, burying her face in Kylo's chest.
Poe looked at Finn, the sound of wailing filling up their blood, breaking their heart.
"We're here to help," Finn started. "There's Luke Skywalker outside, and General Organa."
"I- I never meant to hurt him-" the girl stammered. "I loved him."
She kept repeating the words over and over, until finally, Finn couldn't take it anymore and went to her, try to get her to stand up. She collapsed in his arms, and had it not been for the slow rise and fall of her chest he would've thought she had died.
(a/n: final part will be up either today or tomorrow! i can't believe this fanfic has come to an end after more than a year of writing it. it's so saaaaddddd </3)
