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Chapter 8
Zhao
Zhao hesitantly approached the ruins of the destroyed warehouse. The old admiral placing weight in each dreadful step as his gazed along the destruction. He had winced at the status of the dead guardsman, and his soldiers were dealing with the backlash from the crowd of people.
Kiara, the girl…Zhao emptied out a sigh as he felt a sense of distaste welling in his throat. He didn't want to deal with her right now, her silver eyes radiated in his head as he felt his breathing still. That girl was a monster, an animal, she had no respect for those she viewed lesser than herself.
At first when he was sent to go and capture the avatar, Zhao was thrilled for the chance to seize this opportunity, He already began to form a crew of people that he could trust and use for his goal. Though, right before he left the fire lord sent him something that he mentioned was "Mandatory" for the sake of his mission.
A girl…she was maybe around the age of fourteen and fifteen. She was short for her age; she wore a massive black cloak that went past her knees. It kind of looked funny in a way, he could remember how she smiled at him and told Zhao how excited she was to get to work.
Zhao didn't honestly care about having the girl on board. He suspected that her family was nobility of some sorts and pulled a couple of strings with the fire lord to get her on the mission to reap the rewards of assisting the capture of the avatar.
His eyes tensed as he began to stare at his boots. How could he have been such a fool…one of his guards must have tripped her up or teased the girl, he can't remember…doesn't matter now.
The only thing that mattered was how she ignited a blade of fire and sliced him in half. He could still hear the faint humming of that crimson blade of fire as she stood over the remains of his fallen crew member.
Zhao didn't know what to do, he didn't attack her or arrest her. He knew the power the girl held, he would have been a fool and jeopardized all the lives of the men he had under his care. So, he let it happen and the rest of the crew let it happen. He thought that it would just end if the girl wasn't pissed off, so Zhao warned his crew to stay away from Kiara.
Luckily, there wasn't any more "accidents" on the vessel. Though, that was right before their first real mission. It was to investigate a water tribe town to find any information of the fire nation. Him and his crew found nothing there, so they were going to pull out and look somewhere else.
Kiara, didn't want to leave yet…
The girl ordered them to do it…to kill the warriors and a few civilians. Zhao knew that what he was doing was wrong, that he was going to go burn in hell for this. Though, out of self-preservation he followed the girl's orders.
The great admiral Zhao and his crew…now following the rules and command of a girl not even of sixteen. He had never seen her powers or that strange weapon before, and he was too afraid to ask for help.
"Zhao!"
His body froze up as a horrific shudder shot through his body. Like he was freshly thawed out of ice a second ago, the admiral turning to his left seeing the girl in question. Her mouth was in a disgusting snarl as Zhao could feel the anger simmering from her.
"Ah…Miss Kiara, it is a pleasure to…"
"Cut the crap, Zhao." Kiara cut him off. Zhao stiffening his posture as he stood silent, he didn't want to aggravate Kiara even more than she is. She seemed to be pretty beat up, scrapes and bruises. She also was holding her wrist with her right hand.
He eyed the injury. His eyes widening as he saw the state, she was in. Her wrist was broken and looked swollen around the edges of her arm, and she had a swollen eye that was covering her once artistic face.
That was what caused Zhao's eyes to widen in shock. Someone…was strong enough to stop Kiara, even landing a blow that damaged her wrist. "Was this the avatar's doing?" Zhao hesitantly asked, causing Kiara to simply chuckle at his false assessment.
She shook her head slowly, almost like the way a parent would do if their child gave them a completely wrong answer. "No, the avatar did not give me these wounds…it was someone else. Zhao, we must head back to the fire nation at once." She commanded.
Zhao, he swallowed his spit as he felt the urge to argue…they were so close to finding the avatar, they could most likely track his bison to his next location. A trip back to the fire nation would be a day's maybe even a weeklong trip.
"Zhao, I know that you aren't foolish enough to argue with me." She spat out, almost like she was able to read his mind. Zhao stifled any complaint as his eyes went towards the silver gleam that was along Kiara's waist.
"Miss Kiara, your weapon it's…"
Kiara simply shook her head; it was the cue to Zhao to shut up. Her gaze turning away from Zhao as she chosen to face the destroyed warehouse, she doubted that the lords would punish her for what occurred here. Though, she knew that she may have very well lost her chance to claim the title of "Jedi Killer" and the honor such a title would bring.
Even then she smirked…still thinking of the possibility that there was still a chance. She unbuckled her lightsaber from her waist, staring at the burnt remains, she was still appalled to find her kyber crystal missing from the blade.
"Zhao, I want this town burnt to the ground." She spoke with zero emotion. Not even giving Zhao the respect of staring him in the eye to issue such an order. Just staring at what remained of her lightsaber, he simply nodded his head as he began to move towards his ship to order the rest of the guardsman. The admiral did not wish to disappoint the young dark Jedi.
Even if what they were going to do was wrong…he assumed that Kiara had a good reason, he at least hoped that she had a good reason for them to commit this horrific crime. Kiara's gaze stretched out along the overall city, the sparkling lights of the stars refracting down onto her.
She took a deep breath as she bellowed from her core. "We shall head to the fire nation at first light. To alert the Lords of the Sith…that the Jedi have returned."
Wake Up, Benji
Benjamin's body shot straight up. The breeze of wind cutting into his form as his body nearly buckled from the quick reflex, his shirt was off, his overall chest and stomach wrapped in a thick array of bandages, and he thought he felt healing balm underneath the pale bindings.
Though, it was the pain that he felt soaring through his form. The pain bad enough as he buckled under the pressure. Laying his head back down on the leathery saddle as he strained his eyes forward, he was able to pinpoint Sokka, Aang and Katara hunched over and talking about something in the front of Appa.
Still, Katara was distracted. Ben felt his lips tug into a steady smile as his eyes fixated down at his pocket. His left arm hurt too much to move while the right arm felt reasonably fine, just sore of all things to be considered.
He dug into his pocket of his worker pants. The boy pulling out one of the few stragglers of cigarettes as he put one into his mouth, breaking the match with his finger as he got a steady flame. He pressed the match to the cigarette.
He took in the fresh smoke…the pain not vanishing completely but beginning to get dulled out at the very least, it felt good for a time as the killing smoke was purifying and removing the pain from his insides.
"Ay, Ben's up!" He heard Aang's shout. As the boy quickly whipped his head.
The happy avatar was excited for his friend to have finally waken up. However, Ben only had one thing going on in his head…a singular word that would empty from his mouth. "Fuck…" He whispered slowly to himself.
The trio began to move closer towards him. "Ben, what did I tell you about the smoking!" Katara yelped in his face, plucking the cigarette from his lips as she chucked it off the bison.
Ben didn't realize it, though the strength he had caused him to lurch from his position enough to try and use the force to catch the item, only for it to have vanished along the white clouds. Ben stared off it for a second, trying to make sense of something.
They were high up in the atmosphere…where are they even planning on going? "Guys, what happened when I was out." Ben spoke up, the pain that was once now dulled started to reignite like a stocked flame. Ben went back to lying on the leathery saddle as he began to close his eyes. Hoping that he would somehow slip into a painless slumber.
"After that fight with the girl…you were exhausted. Katara and Sokka took the pleasure of dressing your wounds, luckily the worst thing that happened was your popped shoulder. Even then we should still drop by a doctor after this stop." Aang yelled from the reins of the bison.
Ben bobbed his head in acknowledgement as he began to process the information. He really did get lucky…Kiara was a dark jedi and he at that point was just a fool with a minor affinity with his closed off force powers. It was nothing more than a miracle that he survived.
'No, it wasn't a miracle…it was the force, or rather the dark side that saved me that day.' Ben's thoughts caused his eyes to widen in alarm. He could still feel the electric power that surged through him that day, the pumping of his heart as he manically laughed at Kiara.
His palm closed along his face as the sweat from his brow began to dawn on him. He lost control…and once again used the dark side of the force. Without Aang and the rest god knows what he would have done in the end.
He could still remember his words. Of how he spoke like he was going to go and start a one-man war against the fire nation. To get revenge for Bill and all the other innocent lives that the fire nation has taken.
His palm parted from his face; he was staring at it. He could still feel it…the hatred and anger that once bellowed inside of him, that monster was still trying to crawl back out. The pit of alcohol, drugs and smokes could only keep the beast inside dormant for so long.
There will be days like what happened with Kiara…where the beast inside will slowly crawl out, it shall breach the pit and its snout will smell the fresh clean air. It shall run rampant with hatred and wild joy, just like before.
When it escapes, it shall use its fangs to crush and rip through everything. Whether it be dark or light, the beast has an insatiable appetite, it won't stop…even after it crushes the true light that burns within him…
Violet…violet sparks radiated along the tips of his fingers; his eyes flared as he observed the barrage of lightning that tipped along the edge of his fingertips. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second and in the next they were gone.
His fingers still twitched just like that night where he had those nightmares, though even then he didn't see anything. 'Was it a hallucination? Is my mind starting to actually leave me…or are my fingertips and my control of the force slipping?'
Ben tucked his fingers into a fist as he rested the arm back down next to him. "Benji." Katara muttered underneath her breath, Ben staring at her as she used the nickname that Sokka adopted for Ben. She was testing the waters to see if Ben would object.
Though, Ben was just caught off guard. He softly shook his head at this. A faint grin across his face. 'It felt nice to hear my old nickname again, I don't know why…though it feels nice.'
"Yes, Katara." Ben answered. The act of not declining the nickname made a small grin appear along her face. Her dark blue eyes shimmering.
She began to go through one of the brown sacks that the gang would use to store supplies with, her mouth parting to speak. "Ben, who was that girl you were fighting with. She didn't look like a fire nation soldier, and that weapon you were using. What was that?"
Sokka and Aang both turned around to overhear the conversation. Ben sucked hip lip in annoyance as he began to understand that this was going to be the start of a long conversation. "Kiara, that's the girls name…she's a dark jedi, and the weapon she was using was a lightsaber."
Sokka's jaw nearly dropped to the saddle. "That flaming weapon was a lightsaber?" He nearly shouted as he turned away from Aang to hear more of what Ben was saying. "Though, you mentioned that she was a dark je…adi or something. What does that even mean?"
Katara turned towards Ben as well. She now exposed a vial of a strange liquid and a water flask in both of her hands as she began to move towards Ben. "A dark Jedi, weren't you a Jedi?" She asked.
Sweat began to form, his eyes fixated onto the sky as he felt his palms began to get clammy. 'I can't tell them what I once was…they'll leave me behind, they'll abandon me if they knew the truth of what I once was. I can't tell them!' Ben's thoughts exploded in his head.
"There is a difference between a normal jedi and a Dark Jedi. I guess the simplified version would be how one uses the light side while the other uses the dark side though it's not as simple as that." Katara helped lift Ben up into a sitting position as he continued to speak. "Dark Jedi use the darker aspects of the force, there evil…they seek to corrupt and to destroy everything in their path. If a dark jedi gets strong enough, then they become a Sith."
"Sith…that sounds like something gran gran would make for dinner, right Katara." Sokka joked, only to be stopped by Ben's look. His glare silencing the young warrior.
"Sith, if we are ever meant to encounter them. Then we run…a true Sith is far worse than a dark jedi, I had to call upon the dark side to defeat Kiara, though even then that caused me to fall."
"Run?" Sokka repeated under his breath. "Sure, feels like we do a whole lot of running lately." He sarcastically noted, he didn't like the way the conversation was going. It became far too…dark. Sokka, didn't want that to continue.
"Sokka, this isn't a game. The average fire nation soldier may hold reservations about taking lives though I guarantee you that a Sith won't hold such reservations. Sith Lords, Sith Assassins and Sith Marauders. If we ever encounter one of the three, we run, if we get captured, I guarantee you they'll make us beg for the death's that has long hounded us from the start of this journey."
Ben's words cut through the air like an executioner's blade. Even Sokka couldn't come back with a clever retort, just stunned into silence from the grim reality of what the Sith were capable of.
Aang and Katara both took in the words Ben said, though Ben wasn't an idiot. Until they encounter a true dark jedi they wouldn't understand the threat they faced. Katara's water bending, Sokka's adept skills of a warrior and Aang's air bending wouldn't be enough to deal with a Sith lord.
'How long can we go on like this? We are just freaking teenagers and I doubt that these three have ever taken a life before, I hesitated and failed to end Kiara. My mind is at war with my actions, I need to get control. They don't need a drunken fool or some con man, they need a Jedi Knight!' Ben's feelings shattered in his head.
Katara handed him the pouch which contained the medical fluid and the water to chase it down. It was a thick brown broth, tasting like liquefied moldy bread, he even gagged it up and spat it from his mouth like a bird. though due to the water he was able to chase it down.
Ben could feel his muscles start to become rejuvenated once again. He even began to feel the strength to stand up, though his muscles and his legs tried to prove him otherwise.
"Where are we even going?" Ben asked as he turned towards Katara, the girl leaning closer in as she turned towards Aang direction.
"Aang has made the decision to go to the northern air temple…" She whispered into his ear. Ben's fingers traced along his face as the words began to register. "Me and Sokka have been trying to do all we can to not get him to go…though, he wouldn't listen."
Ben's face was in his hands. "I don't understand, Katara. I've been out for like one day…how the fuck are we nearly there?"
Katara shook her head. "You've been asleep for nearly three days Benjamin. Honestly, with your injuries I was expecting you to be out for a week or maybe even longer."
'Three days!' Ben screamed in his head. He tried to lift himself up, only for his body to collapse back onto the leathery saddle. "Shit...fuck, this isn't good." Ben muttered to himself as Katara tried to calm him down.
Ben read through the histories of the fire nation. Those genocidal fucks paraded around their genocide like it was something to be proud of, he had seen some insane things in the galaxy. He had seen some truly horrific things and done great acts that would forever haunt him…he can still remember Malachor V and what he did that day.
Even then…the fire nation didn't do this to defend themselves btu rather committed genocide in hopes of furthering their conquest, the whole lot of them were nothing more than butchers and murderers. Now, Aang was possibly going to walk into a mass burial site.
Ben had a strong hatred and distrust towards the jedi and even more towards the council. Even still when he found out he was the last of the jedi, even still when he realized that the fire nation wiped out the jedi…there was still a part of him that felt sad…a part of him that still felt more alone than ever before.
Aang from the looks of it loved his fellow airbendors, he seemed to even have family that he was looking forward to seeing. He heard tales of what the prior avatars could do when they were emotionally compromised…what about Aang?
Ben was also worried about his connection to the force and what happened nearly a hundred years ago. He was visiting a place like Malachor V again, a place surrounded by death…a place where such a great atrocity was committed.
He tried to forget it…he even partially did. Using the force to block out the memories of Malachor V. Even then what he did still haunts him. He could feel it in his stomach, like a horse about to be let out onto the track to race….
He knew that whatever awaited Aang and him there…that was the place where one would find or decide their destiny.
Ben craned his neck to the side as his eyes widened. It was jutting out from the cliff…a massive building, or rather a temple would be more appropriate to call it. "We're here!" Aang screamed over the wind. Sokka, Katara and Ben…all three stared off the side of Appa's saddle, taking in the sights of the strange temple. Unaware to the four…all of them didn't realize that they have been the only people to come here in nearly a hundred years.
"Finally…I'm home!" Aang screamed again. Only this time, Ben's teeth sunk into his bottom lip. He ignored the pain as he threw himself nearly over the edge to get a better look. He didn't want to be right; he didn't want to be the one to break the bad news to Aang.
'Maybe, I am wrong…maybe I am. God, please tell me that I am wrong.' Ben's thoughts erupted in his mind as his golden eyes tried to find any evidence that people have been here.
The temple was large and peaceful, the large ornate towers were a blend of whites and browns as they nearly touched the ends of the sky. He could see the plots of gardens that jutted out, though even from up here they looked unkept and more like a jungle of weeds and brush.
The long paths twisted and turned like meditation mazes. Even then snow decorated the floor of the temple heavily. Yet…Ben couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, there weren't animal or people footprints in the snow.
The slopes of the mountain which he guessed was used to climb to the tops were all snowed in, they haven't been cleared and it looked like it has been piled on for many years. Ben slouched onto the back of the saddle, his face in his palm once again as Appa began to take them into a landing.
The area Aang landed on was a stone platform which luckily held no snow to trudge through. Even then Aang was so happy to be back home that he possibly would of outran everyone. "Come on guys let's go!" Aang shouted, the boy's ignorance of the situation clear for everyone to see.
Ben disembarked after Aang, grabbing the young airbendors arm before he could speed away from the main group. The air ran through them like a steady chill. All Benjamin was wearing was a water tribe cloak that Katara wrapped around him while he was asleep. Even then he wasn't fully warm.
"What's wrong, Benji?"
Ben took a deep breath, mustering up his most presentable smile as he went to Aang. "So, Aang…remember that time we stopped at that weird island?"
"Um, yeah…of course. That was kind of the start of your journey with us." Aang nodded his head in affirmation. Sokka and Katara were now watching as they tried to understand what Ben was doing.
Ben nodded his head with Aang. "Yeah, I can swear that you brought up how you regretted how we couldn't have done some more fun stuff before I left. Let's do it…"
Aang's eyes widened. "What…right now?" He pointed towards the entrance of the temple; the large weeds were jutting out of the stone floor. Fragments of iron and broken weapons littered the courtyard. "But we just got here."
"Yeah, come on Aang…we can just visit here later." Sokka spoke up. Ben didn't lessen his grip along the avatar's hand. Ben may have been fifteen, but he was physically the strongest out of the group. Even though his strength was limited due to his wounds he wouldn't let Aang go, the boy was far too young to see what happened…they were all far too young.
"Benji's right, he's just got out of bed. There should be a village around here, let's go get something warm to eat and spend all of that money that Ben earned." Katara added on.
"How did Benji get all that money?" Sokka suspiciously murmured, craning his head towards the ex-jedi as Ben simply chuckled under his breath. "Trade secret." Ben sarcastically muttered, though he was distracted and Aang was smart. Slipping out of Ben's grasp as the boy made his way across the courtyard.
"Come on, guys!" Aang cheered. The boy raising his arms in victory. "let's go!"
"God damnit, Aang." Benjamin snarled under his breath. This was going to be harder than he thought it would be. Katara and Sokka both got the memo as they began to chase after Aang who busy speeding towards the temple.
Ben saw the gleam of disposed armor, staffs that were like Aang's were broken or scattered clumsily along the platform. He could have sworn that he saw a skeletal hand poking out from the snow.
'This is getting insane! Me and the rest are seeing all this stuff…Aang isn't blind or maybe he is choosing not to look at what is in front of him.' Ben thought. Even so Ben knew that his madness had to end soon, if Aang didn't realize what the fire nation did he would only get hurt worse in the end.
Ben realized that he was wrong…he should have told Aang the moment he woke up, he had to take the blunt of the responsibility for this one. He should have comforted Aang, he should of told him that he was sorry and worked through his grief. They were friends, it was his responsibility, and he ran away from it.
Now what…Aang is running around the temple trying to find ghost, Ben and the rest would have to pray that whatever Aang finds doesn't break him to the point of insanity. 'I need to find the right time and place to tell Aang, even if he hates me for this. I can't let him break…'
Aang and the rest stopped in front of some strange area…long wooden pillars jutted from the earth. Snow decorated the tops of these pillars, another strange thing about this area were on the ends of the pillars.
Two large magnifying glass looking things. There was an opening that Ben could see in the middle, almost like a revolving door of some sorts. "Airball!" Aang pointed towards the pillars. He turned towards the rest of the group as he pointed towards the pillars. "It's a game which you try to score with the ball. You get a point each time you get it through the hoop."
Ben saw the outskirts of the sports field. His gaze scanning along the snow, the sunken in weapons and bits of armor visible through the heavy snow…he panicked. The thoughts of telling Aang vanished from his head, now he just wanted to protect him. 'Not right now…this isn't the right place.' He thought, a part of him wanting to push the responsibility towards later.
"Come on let's play!" Ben shouted, Sokka following as Katara began to watch from the side as the game began.
Sokka anxiously balanced on the pillars. The game was nearing its end, it was a game towards seven and Aang had six while Ben and Sokka who were on the same team had zero points.
"Listen, Sokka!" Ben screamed over the wind, the boy nearly forgetting why he was here and getting immersed into the game. "You got to guard better. I'm going to try and steal the ball from Aang and score. You just protect the…"
"HOW!" Screamed Sokka, the boy slowly rubbing his arm from the bruises he accumulated. Ben shook his head as he tried to think of an answer.
"Just use that massive head of yours!" Ben shouted back.
"How are you even able to balance so well!" Sokka hollered. Waving his hands in pure frustration.
Ben gazed down below him. The height didn't matter so much, and his pain was gone. It was a strange thing though…Ben couldn't explain it, but his pain was gone. He felt way stronger, and his body felt freshly rejuvenated, it almost felt way easier for him to call upon the force.
He supposed that his balance came from his use of the double-bladed lightsaber. The weapon was dangerous to use and a jedi or dark jedi could have had easily cut themselves in half trying to maneuver the twin blades. Even though he was young…Kreia and Meetra both inspired and helped him with mastering the twin blades.
"I guess, there are some things that are ingrained within me. Something that I can't just ever forget or move on from."
Due to his broken connection, he didn't feel comfortable using it in the game, he would simply exhaust himself and would rather be alert for when he would have to break the news to Aang. Even so, this whole place felt strange.
A part of Ben felt something strange in this place…something familiar, it felt strange. It was like the call of home. He felt like he had spent his whole life here even though he had been here for maybe less than an hour.
'Maybe, I was wrong about this place. There is a chance that I am wrong, I will feel it through the force. If I just draw on it for a little bit, I'll be fine.'
Sokka's grunt escaped his lips as the ball speared him in the stomach. Benjamin was too distracted to intercept as Aang cheered from his victory.
"Ah, Benji!" Aang hollered in victory towards Ben. Though, Ben didn't move…he didn't even blink. "Benjamin…" Aang spoke the boys full name, the seeds of worry spread out through his voice.
Ben fell…
His body crumpling off the pillar like a domino as Aang rushed towards the pillars. Aang's arms collided with ben's form as he was able to stop the boy from face planting into the stone slabs.
"Ben!" Sokka cried out as he beat off the snow that covered his face. Rushing towards his friend and Aang.
"Aang, what happened!" Katara cried out. She moved Ben over towards his back. His eyes dilated as he was staring at the cloud filled sky, it completely blocked out the sun. His right hand clenched the fabric of the cloak, that was over his heart. His breathing was erratic, spit flying freely from his mouth as he tried to muster the words to speak.
The blood rushed to Ben's head…the boy couldn't even hear what the other three were basically screaming at him as his heart thumped so hard against his chest like it was about to explode. His hands shook, as the fingers on his right hand exploded into an array of violet sparks of electrcity.
"Oh, god!" Sokka shouted, his eyes scanning Ben's form. "He's having a panic attack. What the hell even happened…we were just playing and he!"
As Sokka began to finish his sentence, Ben's form began to cease. His steady rhythmic breathing stabilizing as the trio let out sighs of relief. Ben took a long and slow breath, the boy forcing his body against one of the pillars as he parted his eyes open.
"Ben, your awake!" Aang screamed out. The boy began to turn around. "I'll go to the lunchroom and grab you some water, I'll be bac…"
"YOU STAY YOUR ASS RIGHT HERE!" Ben's voice boomed so loud that Sokka and Katara nearly had to clamp their palms against their ears.
The sudden command causing Aang to stifle. The boy wasn't used to others yelling at him, as he turned around, he got a better look at Benjamin. The boy was rugged, dirt and snow drenched him. His cloak the only protection he had against the cold was now wet and moist, his bandages maybe even needed to change
His face was red, and it seemed that he was lethargic. For all they knew he could have had been fighting a fever this whole time. "Ben, that's not nice…" Katara was about to scold.
"No, I should have been more honest about what happened." Ben groaned from the pain he was feeling as he used the beam to help him up, nearly tripping over himself in the process. "Aang, the airbendors are gone…there all dead."
A silence cut through the group of people…the distinct wind pushing and ruffling through their hair as Aang didn't turn to meet Ben's eyes. "We don't know…" Aang murmured under his breath. The young avatar saying those words with a whisper.
Ben forced his body up. Pushing himself from the pillar and nearly falling over. The panic attack still hadn't left him, but he needed to tell Aang this.
"Aang, I know it's hard…but there gone. We have been here for nearly an hour, and we haven't seen any airbendor or any sign of civilization coming here. The only thing we've seen here are discarded weapons, there was a battle here and the air nomads lost."
Aang turned towards Ben. Anger visible over his face…that was maybe the first time Ben saw the happy avatar actually angry. "You don't know, I am not the last of the air nomads. I refuse to believe that there has to be survivors around here somewhere!"
Ben moved away from Aang as he didn't turn to look at him. Ben walked a couple of feet away, his eyes directed towards the clouds and the long rowing mountain range that graced what was beneath them. "Aang, I felt it through the force…there is no one here. There is no living person around here. The only thing I detected was…" Ben gritted his teeth as his eyes went deeper into the horizon. "Aang, the only thing I detected here was the dark side of the force. That was why my pain was dulled, and my use of the force is stronger here, this place is a dark side nexus."
Sokka tilted his head at the strange new word. "A dark side nexus?" He repeated as he stared at the back of Ben's head. The boy's long flowing black hair the only thing he could see.
"A dark side nexus is a place strong in the force. Though, it is fueled by the dark side…honestly, we are lucky that this place is empty. Places like these don't just affect the emotions of others but the environment. We're luckily we didn't run into any creatures infused with dark side energy."
Ben glanced down as he took a knee. His gaze glossing over a pocket of weeds, a small yellow flower was hunched over. It's color losing any of the light it once held. This place was truly sucking the life out of everything.
Ben shook his head at the thought, he had encountered such creatures when Revan led his new Sith empire to the academy on Korriban. The whole planet was full of the worst types of creatures, some were still hidden in the shadows from the time of Exar Kun.
If they encountered a creature of the darkness here, they wouldn't have been able to fight a singular one off. "How do you know, this stuff about Nexus's…you can be wrong!" Aang rebutted with a snarl.
"There is a place, Aang. There is a place where the dark side of the force runs strong. It is something of the Sith, but it is fueled by war." He turned around towards the avatar, the intensity of Ben's eyes causing the all-powerful avatar to take a step backwards. "I've been to that place, Aang. To walk on its surface is to feel it crushing every cell of your being. It is like being buried alive until it seems that you will never breathe again. It corrupts everything that walks on its surface, and it drowns them in the power of the dark side. It corrupts all life and feeds on suffering and death."
He turned around to face Aang. The boy staring at his shoes as Ben's towering form stood over him. Ben could tell that Aang was still not listening, that he was holding out for a fragment of hope that didn't exist.
"There is a use for such places like this…for the Sith. It breaks Jedi and it promises them power…Revan knew of this. Malachor V, was what this place was called…and the echo I feel here, is just a smaller version of what happened all that time ago."
Ben began to understand how lucky they truly were. The Sith and the fire nation must have killed all the air nomads here, letting the dark side lay dormant and gain strength as the years grew past. If a Sith Lord was smart, building an academy on a dark side nexus would lead to powerful and promising students. Maybe it was due to Sith ignorance or general foolishness, though there was no academy located here.
If they were smart…Ben and the rest would have walked into a Sith Lord training ground. They wouldn't have been able to escape and the fire nation or the Sith would of taken Aang away from them. Right before they slaughtered him and the water tribe siblings. It made him sick thinking about it.
Ben's sigh erupted from his nose as he combed through his hair in annoyance. "Aang, do you understand what I'm saying…we need to leave this place at once, there is nothing here."
"What!" Aang shouted, his eyes sunken and red like he was about to cry. "No…just give me more time!" He begged.
"Aang, that's enough!" Ben yelled again, the boy's hand cutting through the air like a blade. Rendering Aang's words as Ben didn't turn away, pointing towards the ruins of the temple. "Look around you, take a good luck…the jedi and the Air nomads are gone, the fire nation and the Sith won the war, they defeated us and genocided our kind. You're not alone but I can't let you live in delusion that there are more of us out there."
"Benjamin, that's enough. Aang just needs some time." Katara went to intervene, though Ben continued.
"No…Katara, this place is dangerous. I can feel the dark side here, if I draw onto the force here God knows what will happen. My connection is damaged, and I was able to feel such power with my partial connection to the force and muscle memory, there may very well be creatures of the dark side here that I just am not powerful enough to detect."
Aang, began to run. The young avatar using the wind to accelerate his movements as the faint tears slipped from his face, Ben and the rest just stood and watch as the chill of the wind began to awaken their senses. Ben's breathing evened as he turned to Sokka and Katara.
"Go after him…" They nodded with his order as he saw Katara and Sokka were about to argue about splitting up. "It's fine…Aang, I think he knows I am right, though I doubt he wants to see me right now. He'll be in your care. I'll prep Appa so we can leave…though if you see anything around, please get out of there."
They nodded their heads in agreement as the siblings chased after the avatar. Ben let out a groan as he began to walk through the ruins of the temple. His boots crushed along the snow as the ex-jedi pushed through the harsh mountain wind, it was a strange feeling.
Ben had seeked solitude for a long time. However, he was fully alone right now...he didn't feel happy, but rather an eerie sadness. He craned his head once again as he walked up the summit. He could see the long-dulled walls of the temple, the maze filled pathways that reeked with historical importance. Even then, he didn't feel anything here. Only the taint of the darkness that he could feel fester in certain areas of the ruins.
The fire nation…they couldn't be forgiven for the crime they committed here. Ben felt the wisp of air cut into his skin as his golden eyes glistened under the foggy wind. Anger, it stemmed from within. Anger and hatred aimed directly like a spear towards the fire nation. 'They have to be stopped, not just for what they did here…but for what they are going to do. I have seen it firsthand what the fire nation is capable of, I can't let this stand. Jedi or not this can't ever happen again.'
Ben's thoughts radiated in his mind, though there was another thought…or rather a question. Where was the Jedi this whole time?
He knew that they were all gone…destroyed like the airbendors, and even eliminated from history. Even then Aang had knowledge of them, he had seen no trace of the jedi in the ruins of the temple. Where were the Jedi when the air nomads were facing genocide against the fire nation?
Ben pushed through the snow as he heard the bison roar loudly in the air. He was close enough to see that Appa was anxious, he could feel it too.
"You can feel this place to, buddy?" Ben softly spoke towards the animal. He knew that the animal couldn't properly understand him, even then it seemed that the animal started to slowly calm down. "I know, this place gives me the creeps. I've been to such places…trust me I want to leave as soon as possible."
He climbed on top of Appa as the Bison who he assumed roared in approval. He began to pack up and tidy the stuff in the back of the saddle, until he sat down in the front and took in the sight before him. "It really is just…silent." He muttered to himself, his gaze traveling through the ruins of the temple as he tucked his chin into the cuff of his cloak for warmth.
"Appa, I am kind of worried. When I felt this place through the force, I knew that there was just something off, I felt who I once was for a second and I don't know why…but I shut down. It felt so real for a second, like I was back there in that place."
Ben tucked his knees into his chest again. His body looming forward as the pit of despair started to drown deeper within, his eyes locking to the white fur of Appa's coat. He wanted to leave here as quickly as possible.
Staying here…was just too hard of a thing to ask.
The wind got tighter…the cold being sucked in as Ben hugged the reins of Appa tighter. He didn't need to use the force to feel it, he could tell that something went wrong. Ben threw himself from Appa, the boy's feet throwing himself towards the source of the wind being gathered.
"Katara…Sokka!" Ben screamed over the rough winds. He could see the two figures in front of him and a figure in the middle farther off, the glowing eyes pierced through the rough tornado that had begun to follow.
Aang stood in the center of the vortex…his glowing blue eyes piercing through the blades of wind. The wind was so rough that it cut through Ben's skin, the boy's eyes narrowing as the dirt and other debris seemed to cloud it.
One large piece of debris began to lift up into the air. The large boulder of stone slabs in uncontrolled furry was hurled towards them. "Guys!" Ben cried out, his boots clamped along the uncertain and shaken slabs of stone.
He thrusted out both hands, the dark side energy of the temple flowing through his body as he released his tension of the force. The powerful force push decimated the boulder, ripping the slabs in two as the readjusted slabs crumpled and collapsed further down the mountain.
"Ben…are you okay!" Katara screamed over the harsh barrage of wind that was assaulting Ben's ears.
The boy turned towards her. "Yeah, I am feeling really peachy Katara!" He sarcastically jabbed as his eyes refixed back onto the avatar. Now the wind grew tighter around the boy, so tight and convoluted that the only thing Aang could see were the two blue piercing eyes that radiated from within.
Ben turned towards Aang once again. "What the hell is wrong with him!"
"He saw the skeleton of his mentor. He accidently slipped into the avatar state!" Sokka shouted back. His nails digging into the foundation as he struggled to not blow away. "We got to get him out of this before he blows the temple and us off the mountain!"
Ben felt the tension of the air thicken, the young avatar starting to rise into the air. Soon they would be blown off the mountain. He turned around towards Appa, the bison still sitting on the platform.
"Aang!" Katara's yell shook through the foundation. Sokka and Ben staring at the girl as she gazed along the frenzied avatar. "Aang, I know what happened here is horrible…I get it. Even though, you are not alone. I get how angry and sad you are feeling, that was the way me and Sokka felt when our mother died. However, you are not alone anymore…me, Sokka and Ben are your family now."
Ben watched as the words were dispelled into the rough winds. Ben wasn't sure if it even reached Aang. He knew what it was like to lose control…to give yourself to anger more than anyone else here. Even then, Aang began to simmer back down.
The young avatar's feet once again gracing the earth as the light blue lights began to vanish. The trio now began to take uncertain steps towards him. Though, none could have predicted what was going to come next…
The stone slabs buckled underneath Aang's weight. They were foolish, the avatar state even with a singular element was able to call onto such power that the ruins of the temple couldn't hold up to it.
The stone slabs broke as Aang's tried to air bend his staff, however the staff was too far away. Lodged within the other recently thrown debris. The last thing they saw before Aang was swallowed into the ground was the boy's right hand before he was consumed.
"Aang!" Sokka cried out. The young warrior pushing his body forward threw himself towards the edge. Only to catch the bare air, though they wouldn't leg Aang die…
"Ben!" Katara shouted as she turned around to see what Ben was about to do, causing Sokka to turn around. What he saw was the boy's lumbering figure speeding up to Aang, the force flowing in his movements as his unrefined force speed amazed Sokka, he couldn't believe that Ben was able to move so fast.
Though, something unexpectedly happened…
He jumped into the pit that recently formed. Sokka stared wide eyed as he watched his two friends get consumed by the darkness as all him and his sister could do was watch motionless and powerless.
Ben's form was outstretched as the wind cut into his face. This wasn't the first time he experienced the thrill of free falling…the first time he did was with rocket boosters when he was above the moon of Duxn during the first battle of the Mandalorian wars.
Even then he had a jump pack that he was able to rudimentary control. This still felt different…maybe it was the fear of what was lying below that changed things. Aang was still yelling in pure fear as Ben began to soar deeper into the pit.
"Aang!" Ben screamed. His voice hoarse as he saw the air bender trying to find his equilibrium in the dark cave. Ben stuck out his right hand as the pair got closer.
The roofs of the caves glistened with moisture and faint crystals that glistened through the narrowly opened cave in. Ben gripped the sleeve of Aang robe as he tucked the boy tighter to him. "What's up!" Ben screamed out over the rushing wind that cut into their ears.
That was when it happened…the two boy's eyes at the same time locking towards the bottom of the chasm. They could see the brackish water that awaited them, with the speed they were going down the abyss they would surely snap their necks underneath the water pressure.
Yet…Ben felt it. The force radiating around Ben and Aang. He gripped Aang's robe tighter as Ben threw up a force barrier, it was unrefined and lacked the elegance of Kiara's barrier. Maybe the force…or rather the dark side didn't want the ex-jedi to die, not yet at least.
The barrier buckled underneath the water pressure as Ben's eyes widened as the rough splash of cold water flew through his system…and then everything went black.
Red…an inkless red that broke through the fiber of his very being. His stomach crawled up his throat, suffocating any scream he could muster. Even then, he felt a sense of reassurance…the force, he could still feel it.
The sky was red…a deep crimson that sent shivers through Benjamin's body. Rugged ice buildings, composed of snow and frost littered the landscape. The desolate ice wasteland was stained with the color of blood.
He could hardly see anything around him. Snow crunched under his palms and boots as the gust of freezing wind soared through his very core. Ice borne from the wind peppered and cut into his face so hard that he had to shield his eyes.
The air reeked of carnage and the dark side. The imbalance of the force was strong here, he could even feel how dense the air thickened under the weight of the dark side. He felt stronger here…he felt more alive than he had ever felt.
This place…rejuvenated his strength, his body feeling warm and powerful as he could hardly contain his legs from running in pure euphoria. His affinity towards the dark side of the force blessing him with the might of a true dark side warrior of the force. The power he felt was…euphoric.
Him…
The crimson blades of the dark hooded figures were aimed at him, surrounding him as he simply stared at them. The red moon blending with the blades of the dark jedi as they began to inch towards him, ready to snuff out his life.
Though, there was another…a figure behind him. Shorter than him but he could see the outline of his armor. The contrasting colors of his shoulder guards, his light brownish gauntlets and his tuff of brown hair.
Back-to-back…like brothers, as they waited for the Sith to approach. They numbered in doubles, but Ben knew…that there were hundreds waiting for them, a true legion would one day appear. The true test would come soon…
He felt the darkness envelop him once again in it's cold embrace. The darkness suffocating the crimson as he felt the weight of the ocean splice the air from him as he felt the smooth frozen current start to splice through his throat as he felt at ease.
'What is this…a place where the Sith number in the hundreds possibly. If this is truly a vision, then they are a legion. They shall surely hunt down the avatar and take Aang's head as their prize.'
Ben lifted his right arm, his right hand feeling the weight of the current as the shiver ran through his spine. 'They are in the hundreds…and I am only just one man, I am nothing. I am a failure…a drunk…a fool…a murderer…a false Jedi.'
Ben's body went deeper into the abyss, the freezing water wrapping around him in it's cold embrace. His eyes starting to slowly go heavier as he felt the weight of the world dawning on him.
'It would be so easy…wouldn't it? To just fall asleep for eternity, let the death that has long hounded me finally take me, it's been long life…hasn't it?'
Ben's eyes closed completely, his figure vanishing underneath the darkness as he felt the weight of this world beginning to slip from his shoulders. The boy beginning to accept his death, forgetting his responsibility to this world.
'This was all just a bad dream anyway…I wonder when it all began, I think…I think I would like to see my mom again when I wake up.'
Though, he couldn't…his eyes widening as he tried to remember her again. He could remember, the time she dropped him off at the academy, her dress that she wore as she walked away from him. The emotions of sadness that welled inside of him due to the force. Even then…
He forgot his mother's face…
It didn't matter now. Mandolorians, especially ones that didn't wish to have themselves or their offspring follow in the way of the Mandalore, were killed. She died…for him to live. She died so that he could of became something better, something greater.
Ben's eyes began to part, the fragments of tears starting to fall from his eyes. The droplets falling and beginning to rise to the height of the surface.
'My mother…my friends…Meetra…the Jedi…are all gone because of me. I am all that remains, I am the biggest failure there ever was. All my life I have wanted to be a Jedi, a true Jedi. I know what the council did was wrong, even then…'
The light grew harder to see. The darkness vanquishing and consuming any of the light the surface was beginning to produce as his narrowed eyes tried to grasp the strength to take another look. To hold onto the light…
'I hurt my friends…I abandoned my order…I fell to the dark side and became a monster. Though, who was I really. What am I really…'?
His life began to flash through his closed eyes. They radiated like sparks of force lightning right before the discharge they would create. Sparks from the people that defined him the most. Kreia…Meetra…the council…and finally, Revan.
'A bully…a drunk…a fool…a coward…a killer.'
Even then…three new sparks cracked and formed. Aang…Katara…Sokka. Those people that in such a short time became precious to him, those people that made him want to grow and help. He wanted to help the avatar restore balance…not because it was the Jedi way, it was because it was his duty!
'I am no hero…I am a failure. But maybe, just maybe for once in my life…I can stop thinking about the people that have wrong me, and finally take the steps I need to move on with my life. I can stop fearing my connection to the force, I can stop being afraid of if I'm not good enough…because I'm not!'
Ben began to kick towards the surface. The darkness clinging to his arms and legs but he choose to fight against them. Even as they prickled like thorns and ingrained him with new scars and marks. He didn't stop pushing!
'I am no Sith…I am no hero! The fire nation conducted a genocide that left one member of a whole race alive. They seek to complete their mission to end the last airbendor and put an end to the avatar. The Sith wish to torture and control, to eradicate them and any remainder of the jedi. Like hell I'll let that happen…'
Ben stopped in front of the ice ceiling. His rage towards the fire nation and the Sith…fueled him. It gave him strength, and just this once he chose to embrace it. He pressed both of his palms along the ceiling of the ice wall. The water constantly fighting against him, though he felt the cracks of the ice sheet as he further pushed his advance.
'I'll pick up the fight that Bill was too old to finish…I'll pick up the slack and pave a way towards the fire lord so we can restore balance to this world. I'll restore balance to the force; I'll do what needs to be done to save this world.'
The cracks spread out like veins. Tendrils collapsing as the fierce glare of the pale light began to pour into the pool, showering Benjamin as he didn't back away from the searing glare.
'Not because I am a man…it's because it is my responsibility, to my friends and the force. I am Benjamin, I bear the face of my mother and walk the path of the Jedi Guardian!
The ice sheet shattered, plopping and freeing Benjamin as the glare of the pale light welcomed him. For a second, he hesitated and just stared ahead.
'…and maybe, just maybe…if I try hard enough to make amends for the sins I have committed. Then maybe someday, I shall become a true warrior of the force.'
Ben's form lurched to his side. His lips parting as he felt his body shake as he spat out the water that was being pumped out of his lungs.
His back itched as he uncomfortably laid down on the floor. His eyes were glossy as he felt the weight of everything begin to slowly dawn on him. "Thank goodness, your okay." Aang spoke. Though, Benjamin could hardly see the young avatar in the cave.
He was beginning to refocus his equilibrium, though his mind was having a hard time trying to figure out what that vision was. He knew that the first part of the dream was an actual vision, and the second part was something else entirely…was it possibly a test that the force was giving him?
The force testing him to see if he was going to walk down this path…he didn't know if he did what the force deemed was acceptable, though did anyone ever truly understand the will of the force. He pushed himself off from the floor, still gasping for air as the water droplets trickled down his brow and dropped from the tip of his nose.
He turned around as he began to pay more attention to the area where they were around. They had fallen into a large cavern, the sparkle of crystals the only thing illumination as the looming grey light from the cave in were the only sources of illumination.
His fingers combed through his long hair as he shook the exhaust water caught in the strands. Even then…the vision was still plaguing him.
Who was that boy? He couldn't see his face, but he already knew it wasn't Sokka or Aang, visions were always complicated.
A blood red moon and a crimson sky…a new person added to there group…and now a legion of Sith they would have to eventually encounter. Ben and the rest of team avatar would have to train and become ready for this impending battle.
Even then…the vision ended. There was nothing that gave him any insight to the future, only that change of scenery where the force tested him. 'Damn the force…' Ben thought as he went back to where Aang was sitting. The young avatar putting his legs to his chest as he wrapped his arms around himself.
'I always hated vision, had them very rarely in my life, but they were never specific. They make more questions and trying to avoid them only causes difficulties and even worse outcomes…was that the place I died, is that what the force was showing me?'
Even as Ben laid his back onto the uncomfortable rocks. Even as he let the water clogged in his ears pop out and his golden eyes shone as they traced along the brackish waters, he began to formulate a sense of understanding towards what he saw. 'I think I understand. Everything that has happened from this point was the will of the force…my involvement in the Mandalorian Wars, to my complicated nature to the force and even my fall to the dark side. Meetra, I hate to admit it, but she was right. Ever since I entered that black hole and crashed onto this world, I have been trying to avoid the force and my destiny, yet the force doesn't care. Whether I like it or not I have a destiny and it surrounds this avatar and these people that I have grown to care about…I can understand now, Meetra.'
He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. She was right this whole time, his master. He knew he would have to apologize to her, and even then, he knew the road ahead would be a long one.
'It's been a long life…never expected to grow old in bed. If this is it, then this is it. I'll fight and protect the avatar; I'll do it to stop the fire lord and to amend these heavy sins that burden me...even if it kills me.'
Ben let out a gust of cold breath that he could visibly see. He turned towards the avatar in question as he noticed the boy beginning to softly shiver. "I'm sorry, Benjamin." Aang coughed out as he tightened his grip along his robe.
"Ah, don't sweat it." Ben responded back, waving his hand carelessly as he tried to find a comfortable place to rest until Sokka and Katara would come get them. "It was an accident. What you saw here today was messed up…I can understand why you would go into the avatar state."
"No, it wasn't. You were right, Ben. We should have just left…it's all my fault."
Ben shook his head, more aggressively this time. "No, it's not…Aang it was an accident. Everyone is fine and I understand. You needed to know if you were the last of the airbendors." Ben angrily spat out. He wasn't angry, though he knew that he had to sound forceful to get Aang to get the memo.
Aang, is just a boy. The poor guy doesn't need to believe that he is the reason that everyone is dead. It wasn't his fault, even Ben understood that he would of lashed out and destroyed everything as well if he encountered something like that with his mentor.
"Not just for that…it's my fault that the fire benders attacked, it's my fault…if I could have just protected them instead of running away. I could have done something!" Aang snarled back.
Ben jumped up from where he was sitting moving closer towards Aang as the boy was now getting angry. "Aang, you are only twelve and only mastered one element. We aren't even sure if the fire nation had dark jedi or Sith lords within their ranks during the invasion, if you stayed behind then you would of died." Ben said, letting out a tired sky from the useless arguing. "Aang, you are blaming yourself for not being there when you had no knowledge of anything going on in the world. Don't you think we don't understand that you were only just a kid. Just like the Jedi from my council…they shouldered all this responsibility to children. It's not your fault that the fire nation attacked. Your guilt is in your head!"
"I know…I know I could have done something. Anything, now I have the blood of my whole race…the blood of all air nomads is on my hands!" Aang sobbed as he pressed his palms to his eyes, his shrieks echoed along the cavern walls.
"No, it isn't…" Ben kneeled to Aang's level. Both boys staring each other in the eye as Ben's words funneled through him. "Even still, Aang. Don't you understand that this happened…there is nothing we can do about it. I can't tell you to close yourself off to emotion or to forget about the airbendors."
Aang didn't understand it. Though, Benjamin changed. Aang, couldn't tell what it was but it felt like something about him was different…he seemed more confident and upfront than he was before.
"You may say it is your fault…though I see it in your eyes. You're not a killer, your only just a kid. I am so sorry Aang that you have to go through this. Still, you must move on for the journey ahead…we don't have time to grieve. The Sith and the fire nation have reigned uncheck for nearly a hundred years."
Ben saw the dip of Aang's move decrease. Even so, Aang needed to hear this. It was a truly dreadful thing…Ben wanted Aang to grieve for his mentor and the rest of the air nomads, but he wasn't an idiot. The fire nation, especially the Sith would exploit any weakness that Aang would give. Ben wouldn't let him get hurt…he would lay down this pitiful excuse of a life he had for this boy he had grown to care for.
"If they kill you Aang…then the fire nation will do what they did to the airbendors to the watertribe, and the cycle will continue until the avatar reincarnation cycle is given primarily to those born of the fire nation. We can't let these atrocities continue…"
Ben could tell that he was getting through to Aang. The boy now stopped crying, now focused solely on the floor of the cavern as he refused to look into his eye.
Ben rested his hand on his shoulder, Aang now looking up into his golden eyes as he continued speaking. "Aang, I know that you feel guilty. Though, know this…that my guilt outmatches your own by a large degree. You aren't a sinner in the way I have sinned, I have no hope for redemption. This blood on your hands, redeem it with your acts in this world."
Aang's mouth parted to utter something else. To ask Ben about this guilt he feels…of this blood on his hands. Even then, Aang knew that Ben wouldn't have answered any of his questions. Ben telling Aang of what he had done already shown the trust he placed within the avatar.
"I have decided myself, Aang. I can't feel bad for myself anymore. This journey whether I like it or not will force me to stay on this path with you, Sokka and Katara. I can't stay like this, I will only hamper you and your efforts…I can't be a man anymore, I must become more." He spoke. The wind current of the stale cave flowing through Ben's long black hair.
"What do you mean?" Aang asked. He didn't understand what was going on. Hell, this day had been a roller coaster of emotions for the whole group.
"I…I am not a good person." Ben's breathing shallowed, he wanted to tell Aang. Though, he couldn't. Not yet, even then he knew the longer he delayed the more it would hurt them. "I have committed horrific things, Aang. Things I know I will never be forgiven for; I have fallen to the dark side…I still struggle with it every day. Even so…the fire nation will always hunt you down and Kiara and the other lords of the Sith shall forever pursue you now that they know of my existence."
Aang's mouth hung open. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Ben fell…to the dark side? Aang knew that Ben wasn't all right, that he was struggling with his own fair share of demons. Even then he never knew the full extent of what he had to go through.
"The force has dictated my path, Aang. Know of this…Avatar." He spoke, righteous anger filled his core as Aang got up. Ben even opting to call him the avatar as Aang knew that this was serious. joke
"That you may be the last airbendor…though I am the last of the Jedi, I am all that remain of the order and it's teachings. We are both the last of our kind…every time you feel that you are alone. Know this, Aang…that I shall always be with you…there is a comradery in those things."
Ben raised his hand to Aang, the avatar wiping his eyes as he tearfully took Ben's hand. Both boys were alone, even then they weren't. Yes, they were each the last of their kind…even then they ahd each other as company. "Okay, let's go."
A rhythmic clunk broke through the moment as the two boys stared to their side. One of the grappling hooks that they had stored on Appa was laying limp along the stone floor.
Aang took a glance up towards the opening as the Avatar tugged along the cable to make sure it was sturdy. "Looks like we got a way up!" Aang said as he began to climb up the ladder, Ben nodded as he began to climb up too.
It was a long fall, and even as their muscles tensed, and the strain felt like it was far too much at certain times they were luckily able to get out in five minutes. Both boys were quickly embraced by Katara.
"Oh wow…missed me that much." Ben giggled underneath his breath, Katara's face burning bright red as she quickly let go.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to." She stammered, her face still glowing a cherry red.
Sokka walked towards the two boys. "What happened down there…heck I'm just glad that you're all alive. We should leave."
Aang nodded his head with Sokka's statement. "Yeah, me too…Ben helped me out."
Aang went into his pocket, as he exposed what he contained this whole time, Ben's eyes focused on the object as he watched Aang untwine his fingers as he began to reveal the object. It was wooden…a long row of beads and strands of strings made Ben recognize it as a necklace or a pendant. In the middle of the necklace held a large wooden circle, carved from wood. It even had faded jet-black paint that resembled the symbol of the airbendors.
"Aang, can I hold it for a second?" Ben asked. Aang's eyes widened at the request, even so he allowed Ben to hold it.
Ben rested the item in his right palm. Though, he could feel something from within. He couldn't explain it…even then there was something so strange about this object. A second later, it started to crumble.
"What the hell!" Ben yelped. His eyes still lodged along the strange item. The winds cut through him, as the tendrils and splinters of the wood began to crumble and get carried away by the wind. A second later the strange object was gone…
Now what was replaced was a crystal in the middle of his palm. Ben's golden eyes traced along the crystal; it was definitely different from the one that they bought from those pirates a couple of days ago.
The crystal was shaped like a tetrahedron. The outer parts of the crystal were the color of soot and ash, though there were bits of the crystal interior where the light shined brighter in the darkness. Ben could detect the force energy that was stored in the gem; he could feel the fire that burned inside of the crystal.
"Holy crap…it's a barab ore ingot crystal." Ben stared at his palm in amazement as he could only stare at the find in pure disbelief. His eyes glued to his palm like a child after seeing their Christmas tree filled with gifts.
Sokka's eyebrows went up. "What the heck?" He took a step forward as his finger went to point at the crystal. "A barab ore…what?"
"It's a powerful crystal, it is a gem that could only form due to intense levels of heat or radiation. For years the crystal has been absorbing the power of the force here, due to the fire bendors burning the pendant it must have made the crystal within go through a metamorphosis. A truly powerful and rare crystal, in the legend and tales of the Jedi I heard songs about how the blade ignited could create a shimmering fiery blade." Ben ranted on, getting a stifled groan from Sokka due to how long he had been talking.
Ben put his arm out to Aang so he could take back the crystal. He knew that this wasn't his to keep…it was the last that Aang had of the airbendors. Even then, Aang didn't take his eyes off Benjamin. He simply pushed Ben's closed fist back to him.
"It's okay, Ben." He could see the small redness of his eyes as he began to speak. "A Jedi needs their weapon. Are these all the parts you need to build your lightsaber?"
Ben shook his head in response. "Not yet, Aang. I have the power crystals and the main kyber crystal, even then I still need to cleanse Kiara's lightsaber crystal of the dark side. Also, I need to find a Jedi Enclave or any of the academies." Ben exclaimed
"I'm sorry, Ben. I won't be able to help with that. The air nomads and the monks never told me where the jedi enclaves were, I know that there must definitely be some hidden ones but even then, I don't know what else I can tell you."
Aang was expecting Benjamin to get angry. To lash out due to how useless he was being, even then Ben only smirked in response. "That's actually good. If there are hidden ones that means that the Sith and the fire nation have not found them yet. That means holocrons, robes and lightsaber parts should still be hidden." He said.
"I wish I could be of more help…"
Ben rested his palm on Aang's shoulder. Shaking his head at the young avatar. "Don't be, Aang. You've done enough." He cheered up the avatar.
The group turned around to head back to Appa. There journey and gazes focused ahead, because for the first time it seemed that they all could push forward. Aang, now certain that he is the last airbendor and is forced to move on and continue his journey.
Ben has decided to walk the path of the Jedi…discarding his life as a drunken fool. To once again fight against the fire nation and help the avatar and his friends return balance not only to this world but also to the force.
Even then…
He could feel it in the pit of his soul. The darkness within, emanating and getting stronger. Almost like it was laughing at him…
"Don't think…you can bind me in this pit."
Ben whipped his body around. Shaking his head left and right as the voice graced his ears. 'What was that…for a second…it felt so real.' Ben's thoughts echoed within his mind. He quickly turned back towards his comrades, those warm lights that were the only thing that kept him tethered to the light side.
Even as he ran up to catch up to those people. They didn't realize that as Ben was running back towards them, he was continually clenching and unclenching the fingers of his left hand, the violent and erratic violet lights of force lightning generating in an uncontrollable volley of energy…
They radiated as sparks along the tips of his fingers…