Author Note: Yo! Chapter 21. We are nearing the end of book 1 in about a couple of chapters. I hope you guys like this one. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation in making new chapters. Have a wonderful and awesome day!
Chapter 21
Team avatar soared throughout the clouds. Eyes drawn forward as newfound smiles formed along their faces…Benjamin, there friend and the last of the Jedi had finally awakened from his trip within the spirit world.
Benjamin had finished telling them of what happened. Explaining to them about his promotion to the rank of Watchman and meeting the famed Jedi master Ulic Qel Droma. He didn't tell them of the dark side apparition and Ulic's worry of him falling to the dark side.
They were already stressed out prior to their conversation with Aang…
"So, the vision was true…" Benjamin spoke. Combing through his locks of hair as he turned to team avatar. "I had this force vision…I thought that it may have been a dream but looking back."
He remembered that fiery commit…the waves of dark side warriors that were being trained as they spoke. Could one Jedi truly halt their numbers?
"It's okay, Benji." Aang responded. "For a second, when Roku told me about it as well. I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. Now, we understand how little time we have…"
Benjamin was still reeling from his time in the spirit world but even he knew he had to get his act together. In a year, a powerful commit would soar through the skies. This commit would be powerful, boosting all the fire benders bending ability…this would end the war. Coupled with the power of the dark side of the force and the growing number of dark siders, this would surely bring an end to the conflict.
All that stood against this roar of darkness…was an avatar with barely any training, and a failure of the Jedi Order. Ben sighed, leaning against the saddle as he felt tempted to steal another cigarette or a swig from his stashed gin. Yet, Katara was still up…
Days like today, where there was too much shit that had happened just made him want to forget. He hadn't properly slept in a while now, but his senses felt revigorated during his time in the spirit world. Benjamin gazed down at his lightsaber blade.
Turning towards Jet as the boy was just finished being healed by Katara. "Jet, I heard about your…"
"…lost to the dark jedi. Yeah, I know." Jet cut him off, sneering as he glossed down to the floor. Eyes heavy as he relaxed his muscles along the saddle. He was sick of it, he saw Katara's look of pity and how Sokka wouldn't look at him.
He was an expert duelist…he should've won. If he was only stronger than, he could've won against him. Yet, he was at that dark jedi's mercy the whole fight. Pushed to the defensive as that dark jedi lashed out with the force and pushed him through a pillar.
He was at their mercy…and if that damn fire nation general didn't stop him then that dark jedi would of extinguished his life.
"It's not something to feel ashamed of Jet." Sokka spoke up. He was lightly carving along a piece of wood as he lounged on the saddle. "Me, Aang, and Katara both got thrown around by another dark jedi. We can handle benders, but we mostly leave the dark jedi to Ben."
"Yep…Kiara." He spoke up. Eyes dragging towards the nubs of his fingers. A reminder of what he had lost to that girl. Another reminder that in hesitation lied pain and death…a mistake that he had been making far too much.
"…but how is that fair?" Jet spoke up. Eyes narrowed as he thrashed along the saddle. "How long can we keep this up. Just avoiding the fire nation and the Sith they are…"
Ben raised his hand. The look he held silencing Jet as Ben gazed off Appa's saddle, slightly alarmed. The act causing Sokka and Katara to stare at him in suspense. "Aang…" He slowly spoke. The young airbender turning his head to the watchman. "Where are we going. I'm pretty sure we are in the earth kingdom now…we need to head to the southern water tribe. That was what Ulic told us…I think we'll be able to find you a true water bending master."
Aang nodded his head but kept his eyes ahead. "I get that Benji. I really do, but there is something I need to check out first…"
Benjamin shook his head. "Aang, seriously…I don't like this." He pointed out and into the blue azure sky. "We have a year…a singular year to get ready. That means to explain to the nations what is going to come, to get more allies, and most importantly to teach you proper bending. We don't have all the time in the world. We've already wasted weeks just fooling around."
He was still speaking until Katara rested her hand on his shoulder. Lightly tightening her grasp as she shook her head. "Ben, I get that we are on a schedule. But let Aang do this."
Ben sighed, letting it go as he recoiled back onto his saddle. "Speaking of which, where are we even going?" Jet asked.
Aang turning towards the messy haired boy as he parted his lips to speak. Pointing forward as they began to see something in the distance. "My friend Bumi…Omashu."
It was a large city. With thick yellow walls that were erected from the ground underneath it. Eyes drawn forward as they peered at the large city. They could see it from the center. Yet, that wasn't just it…
As they docked along the floor, dismounting from Appa as they began to walk to the large city…Ben and Jet grabbed their heads. The avatar trio turning towards them midwalk as Ben pushed through with narrowed eyes.
"Creepy…" Sokka muttered.
He didn't realize it before…maybe it was because he was up in the air but there was this large fog that swarmed the whole city. It was nearly impossible to see anything that could pierce through the darkness.
Yet, they still approached, going through the gates. Eyes unfocused as they saw the gates wide open. Benjamin stopped moving…Jet following in his stead as their hands went to their heads. Eyes drawn towards the fog.
"Guys what's…" Aang spoke, not realizing the severity of what Ben and Jet were facing.
To many force users. The allure or the taint of the dark side was different for everyone. To Benjamin, the allure or the feeling of the dark side was like swimming into the middle of the lake. While you were in the middle of the lake, you would play by holding your breath and going deeper and deeper into the black waters. Until you could push through or get washed within it's current.
Jet grimaced, straining his teeth as he fell to his knees. Benjamin walked over, taking a knee. "Jet, I need you to concentrate right now. I know what you're feeling…but you need to fixate on something else."
Jet gritted through clamped teeth. Eyes drawn forward as he tried to hear Ben's words. "I need you to imagine yourself, steeping inside of a stream…to let the water currents carry you forward and back into the surface. Think back to your emotions, to your feelings towards Katara…to your family."
Jet let out a heavy breath, and after a minute or two he regained enough composure for them to continue walking again.
"The dark side is very strong here." Benjamin spoke. Turning to the pair. They were in the middle of the street and the fog had only gotten thicker, they couldn't explain or understand what had happened but it was obvious, that something had went terribly wrong…
Ben untethered his lightsaber as his fingers curled along the hilt. "Yeah, this place. There is something not right with it…"
A sound…almost like grating was heard from underneath them. The team turning to the sound as they saw a man in earth bending attire pop up from the constructed manhole. He waved his arms forward, ushering them in. "Get in…"
"Fuck no…" Benjamin replied. The curse sending the team back. "You think we're going to crawl into this little manhole you created…"
That was Benjamin felt it again. A wave of darkness, warping around them as it was continued on like a wavy of bison along the desert plains. Eyes fixated forward as he reconnected his blade to his belt.
"Get in…" He simply ordered as team avatar got into the manhole. Simply closing it behind them as they vanished into the earth.
The walls were lit up by brilliant green gems. Casting off an emerald gleam across their faces as the guard led them through the tunnel system. There shoes clamping along the stone of the room as they were forced through.
It took a couple minutes of walking, but with another blend of movements from the guardsman. They were erupted with pure white light that enveloped them.
They funneled through and into the room. Eyes drawn forward and to their surroundings as the guard followed them, sealing the door behind them.
It was a large throne room. An emerald, green room that rippled with banners of the earth kingdom, a deep green rug that contrasted the cobbled floors was neatly presented towards them. The five members making up team avatar were escorted into the palace room as they huddled together. In a neat but large golden throne resided an old man, his green tabard outstretched as his lazy eye peered at the pair.
"Aang…" He softly spoke, loud enough to be heard.
"Bumi!" Aang cried out running towards the man. Team avatar following as both embraced. Ben watched from afar. Both were relics of another time. Ben didn't know how Aang could be happy…he was frozen in an iceberg for nearly a full century and lost nearly everything. Yet, as he glossed around, he began to understand why.
It was because he had them. A new family that loved and accepted him, it had only grown a couple of days ago as well. Ben let out a sigh as he turned towards the king.
"Aang, I am so happy to see you…" He spoke. The faint accent of old age and rasped breathing still vibrant. Yet, it was his next words that shook them all. "But…are you a fool? What are you doing here!"
The old man erupted, the king. He turned towards the group. "All of you have to leave…didn't you not feel the darkness that emanated in this place. You fool!"
Ben and Jet both nodded. Remarking on their feelings before and after they entered the city that unnatural cloud of smoke that was there. The dark feeling in the air that warped around them. It was strange, it was different from any sort of fog that Benjamin had ever experienced. As Aang and Bumi both parted with the other. Benjamin realized.
"Holy fuck…Sith alchemy." Benjamin quickly spouted out.
"Sith…Alchemy?" Sokka repeated the strange words.
Ben got his composure back up. Eyes drawn to team avatar. "We got to leave right now. That fog isn't natural. A Sith alchemist, a lord of the Sith to be exact is here and is messing with the environment with the dark side of the force."
Ben shook his head. Eyes drawn forward as he combed through his strands of hair. He shook his head, trying to call his heart down as the sweat began to bear down on him. "Fuck, we shouldn't have come here. It was stupid, I was stupid…"
His eyes latched to his team. "I could handle a dark jedi or two with my full strength…but not a lord of the Sith."
Even during his time with lord Revan and his Sith empire. Even with his full strength with the dark side of the force. He could hardly survive encounters with true masters of the dark side. Even with the strange differences with the Sith in this world…he wouldn't be able to survive, they wouldn't be able to survive.
"King Bumi, are there any tunnels that lead outside of the city?"
Bumi nodded. Rising from his seat as he earth bended one of the walls out of place, leading down into a familiar passage way like the one they went down before. He raised up a wrinkled finger, pointing downwards into the descent.
"Bumi, I still don't understand what happened here?"
Bumi nodded his head towards the avatar parting his dry lips, his rasped voice echoing along the corridor. "Aang, you've been gone for years. I suppose the fire nation found records of our prior relationship. They know that you would've came here eventually, so they've been waiting." He cocked his head out of one of the tinted windows. "The fire nation, they left a while ago, but they left behind dozens of those dark jedi and a pair of Sith lords. You must leave…quickly!"
Aang nodded, embracing his old friend once again before they left through the opening. Sokka following forward as Ben took a step forward and into the entranceway. Only for Katara hesitating as she looked out of the window.
"Katara, we have to go…" Sokka spoke. Raising his hand as he gestured her inside.
She shook her head. "No, there has to be another way. Just like with those earthbenders that we rescued." She turned back towards Ben, reading his face. "What happens if we take Appa and we try and lead them out of the city. That can give them enough time to create defenses and repel them?"
Ben shook his head, shutting her down. "It's too risky…Katara this is completely different from what happened all that time ago. The time we rescued the earthbenders, I believed would only would involve firebenders, but with Kiara and the other dark Jedi led to an ambush. We got lucky."
Katara still hesitated. Still struggling with the right thing to do…it was easy to do nothing, but was it worth it to risk it all?
Ben's face formed into a sneer. Slamming into the steps as he pointed out of the opening and towards the window. "Katara, we aren't dealing with a dark Jedi like Kiara anymore. They've sent over a dozen of dark jedi and two lords of the Sith…a lord of the Sith is a force sensitive with enough renown and power that has exceeded the rank of a dark jedi. There powers result in the heart of darkness, there will of the force easily outclasses anything I can do right now. Especially one of them is a practice hand of the alchemical arts!"
Ben's voice was rasped and unrelenting. "If we stay here…me, you, Jet, Appa, Momo, Aang, Sokka, and possibly Bumi will die or be captured and tortured in the fire nation. All that we have done and our quest to train Aang and to save the world will all be for nothing."
Katara…she knew that Ben was right, she knew that he was speaking with truths and facts but she couldn't do it. Yet, she felt a pair of warm fingers curl along her shoulder. Jet's face, his eyes directed towards her as she let tears slip from her face. "It's okay." He spoke, leading her down and into his arms as they began to descend the staircase. Bumi earthbending the floor back into place as those green gemstones were the only thing that they could use as any sort of light to know where they were even going.
They descended down that passageway for what felt like hours…emerging into a large cavern that was partially filled with water that went up to their knees. There were little mounds of dirt and stone that jutted out from the water like little islands that seeked solace from the sluggish waters.
They instantly began pushing through the water. They could even see the next part of the entrance way. As Ben craned his neck around he could hear the roaring rapids of water as he tilted his head even further, on the farther edge he could see that the water dropped downwards, that it was the area before a waterfall.
"We're almost there…" Sokka heaved as the sluggish waters was starting to take a toll off everyone. Lifting their feet into the second to last landmass before they were home free.
"No…"
That was the single word that Benjamin spoke as both him and Jet's arms went to their heads. 'Not here…not right now. We were so close!'
Ben glossed over. Right near the prior entranceway they were there, positioned as Ben could count a dozen. Ranging from all ages, the only difference was there armor and lightsabers. Some wore long handled, standard, or curved hilts. While their armor selection was different. Some opting out for more of the fire nation attire, blending in their robes for the fire nation armor. While some kept onto heavy or slim robes.
Yet, as they pulled out their blades…the shimmering crimson was the same. The malice was directed at Benjamin and team avatar. The pair turning to face them as Benjamin remarked on that prior situation on which a singular dark jedi got the upper hand on all of them.
He glossed over behind them, towards Aang, the boy who was destined to save the world and to restore balance after a hundred years. The boy couldn't fall here, he couldn't die here…it wasn't his place. Not in a crappy hole.
Benjamin gripped his lightsaber blade. Curling it along his fingers as he felt the alloy metal grace his senses. Eyes drawn forward and aimed at the Sith as he ignited the blade. The brilliant amethyst blade ignited from the hilt. The Sith feeling the strange presence of a Jedi mingled with the deep taint of the dark side of the force.
"Benji, let's go. We can run for it!" Aang spoke. The rest of team avatar following as Benjamin held his ground. His golden-brown eyes peering into the hordes of the dark side. 'You know, after all these years…my head has been filled with guilt and regret. Yet, right now in this moment…in which I teeter between life and death…between the light side and the dark side. My mind has never felt so concluded.'
He smirked. Eyes drawn to his friends…to his family as he approached wrapping them all into a massive hug. "Then go, I'll hold them off. We can't all escape here and they will surely catch up to us." He throw his thumb to his chest, a sly smile across his face as he tried to get them not to worry. "It's my duty as the Jedi assigned to this mission to protect the avatar."
Tears quickly locked around Aang's eyes lashing to Ben as he tried to wrench himself towards the entrance way. But Benjamin was larger and stronger than Aang. He lightly patted the airebendor on the back. "Please, I didn't know this would happen. I just wanted to see an old friend…please don't go, Benjamin!" He cried.
"Sokka…Katara." He spoke to the pair. Tears in there eyes as they locked onto him. "You two are awesome…to take on such a mission at such an age is very impressive. Yet, when I fall here, you will have to work twice as harder to accomplish it. Keep to the mission and keep on finding allies, try and reunite with Haru and tell him what happened here. He will become the new jedi assigned to this mission."
Jet took Aang off him. Ben could feel his emotions. How he was hesitating, how he wanted to stay, and he could assume that after escorting Ben he would try and help out. "Jet, you mustn't." The words ringing towards Jet as he glossed over to Ben. Wrenching the airbender away. "Though, you have hardly awakened yourself to the force you must feel this as well. A jedi's life is to preserve the life of others and the greater good. Protect team avatar and escort them to safety!"
The last words formed into a loud scream. Katara and Sokka hesitating as Jet wrenched Aang away. As they emptied into the opening Ben threw his lightsaber, using the force to destroy the opening as mounds of rock and rubble clouded the only way to escape.
He turned back towards the dark jedi, the lightsaber flying back and into his right hand as he leveled the blade in front of himself. Throwing himself into Form V as the dark jedi began to advance. One of them, a bald man with thick red tattoos that covered his face and deep black robes approached. His ignited double-bladed lightsaber humming along the rapids as he approached.
He parted his lips. "This is the last of the Jedi…slayer of Kiara and another armored warrior of the Sith. If we finish him, the Jedi shall once again be finished, and our masters will shall finally be concluded."
Ben chuckled. Lifting his blade as a sly grin spread across his face. "What? No demand for me to surrender…Sith." Benjamin sarcastically jabbed as the bald headed dark jedi clicked his lips.
"No, we shall not make the mistakes of the old Sith. All Jedi must die."
Benjamin's teeth gritted. Wrapping both hands tighter along his blade as he immersed himself deeper into the force. "I am Benjamin, a Watchman of the Jedi Order. None of you shall pass!"
Rage, wafted from Benjamin in powerful waves of heat. The only sound for a second was the humming of numerous crimson blades and one singular amethyst blade. It was the smallest light, surrounded by waves of darkness.
"Come you fools of the dark side!" He leaped forward, the force augmenting his legs as they were shocked. His purple beam cascading along the numerous crimson blades as he launched himself forward. "Hurl your power at me…give me everything you have!" He screamed, slashing forward as he saber locked with another blade. "I am a warrior of the force…a knight of the eternal Jedi order. I deny you; I defy you!"
Benjamin parried, blocked, and forwarded. Yet, he was only drawing on his full force potential. The block that master Ulic told him about in the spirit world was still there and he could only use his core abilities.
He force pushed two dark siders away. Right before lifting his blade as the bald headed dark jedi swung one of his blades towards him. Ben blocking as he kicked a dark jedi in the abdomen. Pulling another forward as the back of his head clattering along the stone island.
"Do you honestly believe you can stop us!" The bald dark jedi spoke. His red tattooed face in a sneer as Ben struggled against the man's force augmented strength. "We will kill you here…then push through that rubble and kill all of them. We shall take the earth kingdom and take what is rightfully ours!"
Ben broke through the saber lock. Pivoting the blade between his fingers as he stretched his arm backwards, forming a powerful slash as the dark jedi lifted his double-bladed lightsaber to block. Yet, it was too late. Ben skewering the blade in half as it clattered to the floor. Partially slashing him underneath the armpit. "Be wary, fool. The dark side and this one…even for being the last of the Jedi. The force is very strong with this one." One of the female dark jedi spoke.
Ben gritted his teeth. Blocking and pivoting his feet away. Throwing both of his hands forward as he was riding off adrenaline. Launching a pair of dark jedi into the water. "…I may be the last of the jedi, but I have been trained by one. Meetra Surrik, Vrook, and Kreia were my masters. I may be the last, but I promise you, I shall kill you and the fire nation for all the crimes you have committed!"
Ben lashed forward with his lightsaber. To saber lock once again by the chest. "Revenge, it's not a jedi's trait."
"Well…I'm not like any jedi." Benjamin replied. Flipping overhead to produce a kill blow…yet that hesitation. It would only result in his death in the very end.
Ben was forced pushed. Body clattering along the stone floor as he saw everything go black.
He was silent…
Body was…small. Palms along his face as he felt a strange warmth surround him. A deep but pleasant warmth surrounding him as fingers intertwined the twine of his hair as he cried his eyes out. This feeling…this familiar feeling. Yet, he could hardly remember it.
"Ben…your father was hard on you today, right?"
'Momma…'
The word instantly making him remember everything. Parting his teary eyes as he felt the strain of bruises and welts over him. A mixture of Mandalorian training and his father's abuse. Eyes drawn forward as he couldn't see his mother, only feeing her warmth and the pressure of her fingers along his hair.
She turned him over. Yet, her face was in a haze…it was a memory. A couple days before she would kill his father to protect him and flee from the planet. Taking him with her and giving him off to the order. Yet, he could see it. The small inclines of her face, her deep black hair, and golden eyes. His tanned skin coming from his father as she held a milky white.
Lifting him up so he could face her. 'Clarity…finally. I am able to remember her face, I can remember her.'
He stared at her. His mother's lips parting as she whispered to him. "You are so beautiful to me. I would do anything in the world for you, Benjamin. You are far more precious than you know. I love you more than anything in this world…please do not blame yourself for what is going to come, please to live a life that you are proud of."
With those words he squinted away tears. Eyes drawn forward as his mother took him into another powerful hug. As the bitter memory started to warp and change everything around him, once again turning everything into a powerful sphere of darkness.
Ben silently stirred. Blood pooling from the side of his head as it littered and intermixed with the stone island. The dark jedi starting to slowly surround him. They were like a sickness of shadows, wrapping around him so tight it felt like he was going to choke.
'How did it end up like this. When did everything in my life begin to diverge? I just wanted to become the man my mother envisioned…I wanted the strength to protect her and the innocent. Yet, she was already dead. That was the day…on the plains of dantooine, I looked out. On those plains I decided that I would become the strongest there ever was. The strongest Jedi to ever live.'
His eyes softly parted. The dark jedi slightly alarmed as they watched. The tattooed warrior staring at him. "Watchman…" He spoke, the words laced with respect that even caused the dark jedi to lightly stare in shock. "You have fought well. Maimed, burned, and scarred for life. I see your wounds…you've fought well, and I shall give you a warrior's death. It is the least that I can do."
Yet, his mother's words rang in his head. It didn't let him go…warping around him like deep chains along his head and back. Forcing himself to gain strength, to remember her face…to remember all of their faces. Those people both in his old galaxy…and in this new world. Those bright embers that have defined him. Both the living and the dead.
Do I really deserve to live…someone like me? Who has spilled so much blood?
Ben remembered them once again…the living and the dead. It can't end like this, not yet. He had a mission to complete. A mission to save this world, a mission to become the man that his mother envisioned when she gave him over to the Jedi when he was a child.
Not a Sith…not a marauder, but a Jedi. Ben's fingers unclasped. The sparks radiating along his palm as his eye snapped open. Blooding pitching itself in as he began to tune everything around him out. Erratic violet lights of force lightning, curling along his palm as he snapped forward. The erratic volts impacting the dark side warrior as he was launched backwards.
His body was cooked as he slammed into the water, his screams echoing as smoke wafted from the freshly cooked corpse. They backed away from the Jedi Watchman. His mind was concluded, and his desire was evident. He wasn't going to die here…not in this place. Not yet. Eyes drawn forward as he lifted himself up, force pulling his lightsaber into his hand as the hilt ignited his violet blade.
He leveled himself forward as the beams of force lightning did something that they had never seen before…something that they had never witnessed. The purple beams curled from the base of his palms, curling along his body and even around his lightsaber blade as they frolicked off him like a freshly powered generator.
"What is the meaning of…"
Right before the dark jedi could finish speaking Ben leaped into the air. Curling his hands around the hilt as he swung downward. The dark jedi curling as he tried to parry but the false Jedi's will was far too strong. Pivoting as Ben swung overhead, his lightsaber blade curling into his upper chest and into a downward streak as he collapsed along the stone island.
Ben pivoted, narrowly dodging another crimson blade. With one hand impaling the dark jedi through the chest as he turned towards the rest. He could feel it, there fear surrounding him. It gave him strength, he glossed down to his blade. Smirking as the power of the dark side…of the Sith, of his anger gave him far more strength than before. Lashing onto the dark side like it was his birthright as those orange eyes began to overtake him.
His left hand trailed behind him. The force wrapping around one of the fallen dark jedi's lightsabers as Ben's left hand closed along the handle. Igniting the blade as the shimmering crimson ignited from the hilt.
He felt the power of both…two opposing sides. Purple and red, symbol of the Jedi and the symbol of the Sith. Ironic and a paradox. To be one with the dark side and to try and act like a jedi in the same breath. Ben launched forward, giving himself more into his hate and anger as he welcomed the darkness.
Orange eyes fixated forward, as he launched himself into the fray. His purple and red lightsaber clashing along the similar crimson as he kept himself forward. Immersing himself into the dark side further and further like a heroin addict giving himself into his addiction. His maniacal cackling laughter echoing through the cavern as he felt alive. He would save the world…he would protect the avatar, because he was Benjamin a warrior of the force.
He had lost himself entirely when he joined the Jedi…he was a fool. Believing once that there was no strength in one's passion, there was no truth in the hollow words of the Jedi. Rather there was truth in the teachings of Exar Kun and in the ways of the Sith.
When he was cutting down people…maybe it was the Mandalorian blood that pumped in his veins, maybe it was the dark side, but it made him feel whole, powerful. Now he felt closer to whole, closer to who he truly was, a warrior.
Time flew as Benjamin had lost himself within the current of the dark side of the force. Giving himself into his passions as he dived deeper into the dark side than he had ever gone before. The screams of the Sith were silenced with his blades, now the only sounds were his rasped breathing and the hum of his lightsaber.
He dropped the fallen Sith's blade as it clattered into the water. Grabbing his original blade with both hands as he stared into it. Benjamin's lightsaber sizzled and hummed; it warmed the close confines of his heart. He stared at its light, hypnotic within the swirl of amethyst. He wished it was red…he wished to hold the true symbol of the Sith.
"Impressive…Jedi."
He turned around. Grasping his blade with both hands as he heard the faint sound of clapping around him. A figure, an old man with balding head. Eyes drawn forward that perfectly matched his own eyes. Another man that reached the height of the dark side to bear the true markings of the Sith. "I must say, for a Jedi. Those eyes of yours are something else. After killing Kiara and now all these dark jedi with your hate and skill alone…I must say that you have a talent for death."
Ben turned forward, sneering his head like a rabid dog as he thrown himself back into the stance of form V. He let his anger and hate guide his movements. Benjamin knew who this was, not by name but from power alone, The Sith Lord.
"Those eyes of yours look good on you…False Jedi." The Sith lord dug into his heavy black robes. His fingers curling along a curved lightsaber hilt as he ignited the red blade. "You are better suited to the dark side and the Sith, that to the Jedi. Yet, I can train you to harness this power. Become my apprentice and I shall…"
"Try it, Sith Spawn!" Benjamin screamed as the volts of lightning once again curled along him. "I'm going to enjoy cutting you down!"
He snickered. Raising his curved hilt as both men leaped into the fray. Benjamin doing wide and powerful slashes as the Sith Lord parried his blows. Pushing himself from Ben as he tried to parry against him. Only for Ben to block and pivot away from the man.
He leaped overhead, bringing his blade downward only for a powerful cleave causing him to block as he and the lord of the Sith were rained down with brilliant sparks produced by their lightsaber blades.
"Excellent, false Jedi!" The Sith lord beamed as he carelessly knocked Benjamin away with the force. Throwing him into the water as Ben shook his head like a wet dog. Gripping the blade with both hands as he joined back into the fray. "Your hate makes you stronger…keep trying to cut me down!"
Benjamin raised his left hand. The beams of violet force lightning shooting from his palm as the Sith lord reinforced his force barrier as he lifted his crimson blade. The lightning stopping and catching along his blade as he smirked an even bigger smile. His orange eyes staring into the pure fury of the dark side of the force.
"Good! Let the anger flow through you. Strike in anger, take your revenge against the Sith…and then join me as my apprentice. Join me, Benjamin. Give into the dark side!"
Benjamin's jaw unlatched spit flying as he pounded his blade repeatedly as those brilliant sparks pounded along the crimson blade. As they were mere inches away, the Sith lord parted his lips once again. "…it is the only path left for you."
Benjamin broke free from the saber lock. Swiping in a cleave as the Sith lord threw himself backwards in a force augmented backflip. Saber in his off hand as Benjamin finally had enough clarity to speak. "Never…I will never join you! I will die fighting you!"
Benjamin threw himself into the force, into the dark side. Fixating on his hate and anger as he barreled all his strength into his left palm. This time, not force lightning. Locking along the ability that Exar taught him he created a powerful beam.
Force destruction…the powerful beam grew stronger in his hand as he shot the orb at the Sith lord. The lord impressed merely used the force to redirect it upwards. Slamming into the cavern roof as it rumbled and shook the entirety of the cavern.
Yet, Benjamin was too slow…
Beams of force lightning shot from the Sith Lords hand. Blue beams wrapping along Ben as he was thrown backwards. Clutching along his lightsaber as he felt the pain of lightning warp around him. Yete, it wasn't his own this time.
He fell off the waterfall as his body disappeared down that chasm. The Sith lord sighing as he watched the boy disappear like a black blip. "Aw…what a waste, of a potential Sith."
The Sith lord pushing through the brackish waters as he would report to the other lords how the last of the jedi had fallen. Unknown to him, in that deep abyss. Quite the opposite was happening.
Jet's hand rested on Aang's shoulder. The young warrior staring into the open plains of the earth kingdom, at that place in which the Sith and the fog reside. They had left the cavern and emerged in this place. Walking over towards Appa…but none had the strength to willingly leave Benjamin behind.
Yet now it was becoming far too much and if they stayed for any longer. Then the safety Ben ensured and was willing to die for would be lost. "It's all my fault…" Aang lamented. Putting his knees to his chest as tears went down his face. "If I didn't take us here. If I only listened…"
Sokka walked up behind him. Hugging the young airbender. "Aang, it's not your fault. No one knew what we were going to find down here."
Yet, as they finished speaking. Katara put her head up, bright blue eyes widened as she leaped from Appa's saddle. The act causing the men to stir in alarm as they saw it…a figure appears from the distance. Limping towards Appa as…
Katara was the first to reach. Eyes with tears as she gently put her hands around his frame. Eyes drawn to a shut as her face went ot his chest. "Katara…" Benjamin slowly spoke. His knees buckling as they fell to the ground. His whole body was wet, her fingers combed through his strands of straightened out hair as he fell into her embrace, his head following between her head and shoulder as he closed his eyes.
Yet, she saw it all. His robes were wet and tattered beyond belief. Even one of his shoulder guards was ripped off completely. Red splotches, cuts, and deep gashes from the rocks tore into him. His left arm was broken, the bone jutting out nearly from the skin. The young waterbender tried to lift him. Only to be accompanied by Jet and the rest of team avatar.
"We have to go now!" She spoke up. Her command shocking the team, but it gave them the will to push on. "He's messed up and I'll do what I can but right now we have to go."
"Where to…our destination?" Her brother spoke.
She clicked her lips. Her and Jet lifting Ben up and laying him on Appa's leathery saddle. Her bright blue eyes fixated on her brother. "To the Northern Water Tribe…to heal Benjamin, and to get Aang a waterbending master."
…and with those words Appa rose with a mighty roar. Taking them all together to new heights. Yet, they all didn't realize that grand things were going to happen, and a great battle was going to come.