*Pairing has been decided. Ben T. x Talon x Ahsoka (Clone Wars) x Asaj Ventress x Shaak Ti. I'll work out how this will work later. But let's just say these aren't their mainstream versions of themselves. They're from alternate universes. And time travel will be involved here. Enjoy the presentation.*
***I still don't own Ben 10, or Star Wars!***
Anger Unleashed: Confrontation with the Parents!
Three months have passed since Ben has begun his Lightsaber training, but it was going slower than Talon had expected. Since he was a natural at using the Force to such a high degree, she had expected him to be a prodigy with a Lightsaber. But it would appear as though she was wrong about that particular aspect of her apprentice.
He was currently working on the Saber Form of Ataru, and was definitely struggling with it. He could do all of the flips and spins just fine, but he just couldn't get everything right. His strikes were sloppy, and his movements just don't seem as refined as they should be.
Talon has been having Ben spar against her Force avatar as a means of proper training, but he hasn't been able to defeat it yet. His blade always wobbled in his hands every time he went to strike, and this made it difficult for him to change tactics and recover fast enough. Sure, Talon knows and understands that Ben hasn't had as much training as most would have at his age, but learning to use a Lightsaber shouldn't be this hard for him.
So what could be the problem? She needed to get to the bottom of this.
"Okay, Benjamin, I think we're done for now." Talon said.
She dematerialized her Force avatar, and mentally motioned for Ben to kneel before her. He did as instructed, knowing the likelihood that he'd be on the receiving end of a long lecture.
"I must say, I'm quite disappointed. I expected you to make better progress in your Lightsaber training. But I know that there must be a reason for your slow progress. So tell me, what seems to be the problem?"
"Well, that's kind of hard to explain, master." Ben replied. "I have a basic grasp and understanding of the forms and movements for the Saber Styles, but I think that this Lightsaber might be the problem."
If she could, Talon would've raised an eyebrow at that statement if she could. She certainly hadn't been expecting an answer like that. But, then again, it might have some merit to it.
"Elaborate, please." Talon ordered.
"This Lightsaber was constructed by Darth Vader, for Darth Vader. And as such, it was made specifically so that he could use it to its full potential. However, it feels very awkward in my hands when I use it, and doesn't fit very well in my palms. This in turn makes it difficult for me to get a decent grip on the hilt." Ben explained.
"I see. That does make sense. Every Lightsaber is built to the specifications of its wielder, so of course it would feel awkward for you to use." Talon said. "But at the moment, we have no parts to build your own Lightsaber. So, for now, we'll help you get adjusted to using that Lightsaber so that it doesn't feel so awkward when you use it. Start by practicing the katas for Form VII."
"Yes, Master. At once."
Getting up from the kneeling position he was in, Ben ignited his Lightsaber and began going over the katas for Form VII. He was determined to prove himself in the eyes of his master, and knew that the only way to do so was to master everything she taught him.
He already selected a Saber Style that he would specialize in for combat purposes. The style known as Vaapad. A fighting style known for using one's aggression to make their strikes far more powerful.
And a good thing, too. Ben has much pent up aggression that needs to be released through combat.
Yet, there was still one thing about this training that Ben really didn't understand. His master was having him learn all of the different Saber Styles in existence, instead of just choosing one and sticking with it. Why is that?
He vaguely recalled a story that Talon had told him about another Sith before him known as Darth Tyrannus, or Count Dooku. He was a master of Form II - Makashi - but at the same time, he was also highly proficient in all of the other styles of Lightsaber combat. This made him more deadly in battle, because if one style failed, he had another to fall back on.
"That must be why master Talon is having me learn every Saber Form. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." Ben thought to himself.
He continued to go through the katas for Form VII, attempting to get used to using Vader's weapon of choice. One day, he'd build his own Lightsaber. But that day isn't today.
As Talon observed her apprentice through the Force, it was starting to become clear to her that Ben would be far stronger in his use of the Force rather than his skills with a Lightsaber. A clear sign that he was more of an Inquisitor instead of a warrior.
"That would explain the black Force Lightning." Talon thought to herself.
But she also knew that he'd strengthen his Saber skills to prevent himself from being killed when fighting up close. Still, she'd be lying to herself if she said that she didn't believe that Ben would one day become not just the greatest Inquisitor to exist, but also a greater Sith than even Darth Bane.
But what neither of them realized was that while Ben continued to grow stronger in the Darkness, his cousin Gwen was growing just as powerful by following the path of the Light.
***With Gwen***
Back at the old library, Gwen's own training under Qui Gon was going much smoother than she thought it would. She was strong in the Force, but not as much as a Jedi Concelor would be. Ever since Qui Gon had materialized his Lightsaber for her to train with, she excelled in Saber combat. This was a sign that she was destined to become a Jedi Guardian; a warrior amongst the Jedi.
Even though he knew this, Qui Gon took note that his Padawan seemed to be having trouble using his Lightsaber to practice the Saber Forms.
"Quite understandable, as her hands are not big enough to grasp it properly." Qui Gon thought to himself.
But it was apparent that both Tennyson's had inherited the same trait. Their stubborn determination. She wasn't going to give up on learning this the old fashioned way. And not once has Gwen even touched the Omnitrix since she began her Jedi training.
Qui Gon gave a proud smile at this. His Padawan was willing to learn how to do things the old fashioned way, and did not wish to rely on shortcuts. Not like a certain Time Walker that Qui Gon knows about.
"Excellent work today, Gwendolyn. I believe we're done, for now." Qui Gon said.
"Yes, master." Gwen replied.
She extinguished her Lightsaber blade, and clipped it to her belt. She now wore the standard Jedi robes complete with a hooded cloak to hide the majority of her face. Her clothing included a khaki colored version of a samurai shirt, khaki pants, a brown utility belt where her Lightsaber was clipped, and a pair of brown shoes.
Gwen has actually embraced the Jedi ways and is more than content in following them. But the rule of attachments was the one part of the Code that Qui Gon had told her not to follow. But she didn't know why she was told not to follow that particular rule.
"Oh well, I'll ask about that later. Right now, I've gotta get home before those vultures ambush me again." Gwen thought to herself, referring to the reporters.
***Back with Ben***
Ben had just completed his training for the day, and was now on his way "home" to rest and meditate. He really wasn't looking forward to it. Sandra and Carl have been making it very hard for him to get any meditation done lately, as they were still acting like they really cared about him. But he saw through their act. He knows that they don't really love him.
It's always all about Gwen with all of them, and they knew it. And if they think that acting like they actually care about him will get them on his good side, they've got another thing coming!
Ben had also decided to change his wardrobe. On his way back, he stopped by a local clothing store, and bought a new outfit.
He now wears a skin tight black muscle shirt with no sleeves, a pair of baggy black cargo pants, steel grey combat boots, a steel grey utility belt with his Lightsaber clipped to it, and a pair of steel grey fingerless gloves. Ben thought that if he was going to be a Sith, he might as well look the part.
Finally, Ben got back to his supposed "home" after a long walk. He had been stopped by Cash and JP, who wanted to "take him down a peg, only to get brutally beaten for their attempts. But Ben didn't walk away from that experience unscathed. He now sported a black eye and a bruise on the left side of his face from a couple of lucky shots.
No sooner than when he opened the front door, did Sandra notice the state he was in.
"OH MY GOD, BEN! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" she screamed.
"Nothing of importance." Ben replied through gritted teeth.
"Not important? You, my son, come home bruised and battered, and you tell me it's not important?" Sandra asked incredulously as she pressed an ice pack to Ben's eye.
Our young Sith's temper flared drastically from that little comment.
"Since when was I EVER your son?!" Ben growled.
"Ben, don't talk to your mother like that!" Carl ordered as he walked into the living room.
He would've said more, but both Carl and his wife soon found themselves gasping for air as they floated up and were thrown back against the wall. They clawed at their throats, attempting to remove the source of the pressure, but saw that Ben had his arm outstretched with his hand in a gripping form. His face was a look of pure hatred.
"You dare try to order me around… as if you were my parents?" Ben asked in rage. "YOU WERE NEVER MY PARENTS!"
Using his free hand, Ben shot a torrent of Force Lightning at a shelf that contained all of the old photo albums that had pictures of his "family" in them. An action that shocked, as well as scared Carl and Sandra.
"Ben… *GASP* What… are you… doing?!" Carl asked, struggling to breathe.
"Showing you that it's too late for either of you to try and be my parents!" Ben replied.
He shot another stream of Force Lightning at a wall, destroying every photo of Gwen, his parents, and his grandparents there was.
"Please… stop…! We can…" Sandra was cut off by the invisible grip around her neck tighten.
"You can what, Sandra? Make it up to me? Be my parents again? MAKE ME YOUR SON AGAIN?! YOU FORFEITED YOUR RIGHTS TO CALL ME YOUR CHILD THE MOMENT YOU CHOSE GWEN OVER ME!" Ben yelled, throwing them across the room.
They crashed into a bookshelf, breaking it and no doubt bruising their backs. Carl and Sandra began to take big gulps of air as Ben released his hold on their throats. But he still had much, much more to say.
"You both gave up the right to be my family six years ago when my "cousin" found that stupid watch! Ever since then, it's been all about that spoiled brat! You chose her over me, and left me alone to fend for myself!"
By now, tears of anger and hurt were streaming down Ben's eyes. He didn't even bother to try and hold them in, as he continued to spill his heart out to them.
"But you know what hurts the most? I gave you plenty of chances… thought you could change… that things would go back to what they once were! But you blew every chance I gave you. I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU BOTH!"
Those words cut deeper into the hearts of the two elder Tennyson's worse than any knife ever could. Having said his piece, Ben stormed out of the damaged house, not even bothering to close the door on his way out. After he left, Sandra noticed something sticking out of the rubble.
She crawled over, and carefully removed it from the charred remains of the case, and saw what it was. It was the only picture that had Sandra, Carl, and Ben together as a family. It was taken only a few hours after Ben was born, and the swaddled youngling was held lovingly in his mother's arms. Both parents were beaming in pride at the birth of their child.
Sandra's eyes teared up even worse than before as she began to sob uncontrollably. A few of her tears fell onto the picture, as she clutched it in a vice.
"What have we done?!" Sandra thought to herself.
This was the day that a family was broken in half… possibly forever. And the darkness began to grow even stronger.
***To Be Continued…***