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Chapter 6 - Edited

The quartet, now aboard the strange bison, rested as they soared through the skies, taking turns to keep watch. During their waking moments, questions filled the air like a swarm of buzzing insects.

Sokka stood up, mirroring Ben's previous actions, and closed his eyes as he revisited the memory. The towering figure of Ben, the searing heat of the fireball hurtling towards Appa, and then the sudden telekinetic push that destroyed the boulder in mid-flight. He had witnessed Aang's amazing airbending, but there was something distinct and mysterious about the way Ben wielded his strange and ancient powers.

"Talk," Katara gently urged Ben, her voice soft and comforting, not wanting to upset the boy who had come to their aid and potentially saved their lives the day before. He could have left the island on a boat, but he stayed and fought alongside them.

Amid the turmoil within Benjamin's mind, the truth came forth in an unexpected revelation. "I didn't know you were a Jedi," Aang nonchalantly exclaimed, unaware of the gravity of his words.

Ben's eyes widened in alarm, and in a swift motion, he pounced from his position, nearly startling Sokka off the bison, only for Katara to catch him before he fell.

"Yeah," Aang confirmed, oblivious to the impact of his words. Ben's eyes remained fixed on the young boy, who, sensing his anxiety, continued, "That was a force... push?"

The revelation struck Ben like a bolt of lightning, causing his face to twist with disbelief. Thoughts raced through his mind, confusion intertwining with the rage and hatred that bubbled within him.

"The Jedi... are still alive?" Ben wondered, his voice carrying the weight of shock and wonder. "How could they be here when I thought I was lost in a black hole? Where are the Jedi?"

As seconds passed, Ben's face transformed from disbelief to one of pure fury and bitterness, his eyes locked with intensity on the leather saddle, emotions raging like a storm within him. The truth he had long buried was now laid bare before him, stirring memories and feelings he had tried to forget.

"If the Jedi still live, then they most likely are the same cowards they were during the Mandalorian wars... letting innocents be killed or enslaved due to arrogance and moderation. Those fools most likely sit and believe on their council chairs that they hold no responsibility... damn fools," Ben hissed out, his eyes avoiding Aang's gaze.

Aang's eyes widened as he observed the transformation in Ben's demeanor. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about the ex-Jedi felt off. It was as if a torrent of emotions—anger, resentment, guilt, and hatred—radiated from him, visible to Aang due to his connection to the spirit world.

"I don't know," Aang hurriedly replied, feeling the weight of Ben's intensity. "The war with Szon was starting, and the Jedi wanted to train me in the other elements. They believed that getting involved in a war between the four nations, especially one involving the Avatar, would be..."

Before Aang could finish, Ben fell back along the leathery floor, his maniacal laughter piercing the air, even amidst the serene surroundings. The sound caught the attention of Sokka, who had just narrowly escaped death, and Katara, who tried to soothe her brother.

"They always repeat the same mistakes," Ben snickered, wiping a tear strand from his eye as his laughter gradually subsided. "They didn't learn from the ancient Sith... of Exar Kun... or of the Mandalorian wars. Jedi hypocrisy at its finest."

Aang tried to comprehend the contradictions. "But you're a Jedi. How can you laugh at..."

"I'm not a Jedi!" Ben's voice sliced through the air, silencing Aang. He quickly backed away, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, but I'm not... not anymore. I can hardly even feel the Force anymore."

"But you saved us. I saw you destroy that boulder. How can you..."

Ben shook his head, regaining his composure as his eyes darted along the large white clouds, avoiding direct eye contact. "When one is connected with the Force, they feel it in everything... it's like a sixth sense in its own way. But if you do what I did and sever your connection to it, you can feel it at times, but it feels more like a whisper than anything."

Aang struggled to understand. The monks had spoken of the gift of the Force and the strength of the Jedi. How could someone willingly turn away from such power?

"The monks... they told me about the gift of the Force, how strong it was. I heard tales of the Jedi. I just don't understand how one could give it up," Aang questioned, finally turning away from Ben as he focused on piloting the bison.

Ben's chin tucked into his chest, his throat constricting as bitter memories sliced into him like freshly pounded nails into a plank of wood. "Such power, Aang. It comes with a far greater responsibility."

Aang felt the weight of those words in his heart. They felt eerily familiar. He never wanted to be the Avatar, never wanted the burden of such responsibility, but it was his birthright, and he had no other choice. As he gazed at Ben, he couldn't help but sense a strange connection, a shared burden they both carried.

"This Jedi stuff is confusing," Sokka grumbled, rubbing the back of his head in frustration as Ben glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "What even is it?"

"The Jedi are guardians of peace, using powers known as the Force," Aang explained before Ben could utter a word. Ben didn't mind; he had no desire to launch into another rant about the hypocrisy and failings of the Jedi Council.

"Jedi?" Katara repeated the unfamiliar term. "But we've never heard of them. I haven't even seen anything about them in books or scrolls."

"That's strange. They were quite active a hundred years ago during talks of war between the Fire Nation and the other nations. I don't believe they would just disappear," Aang mused.

Ben's eyes widened as his breathing grew tense. Aang's last words triggered a revelation. The Jedi were gone—annihilated, most likely. The Fire Lord and his successors must have been clever enough to wipe them out entirely!

The thought sent a shudder through Ben. Destroying the enemy was one thing, but eradicating their knowledge and legends of the Force was a different kind of victory. In doing so, the Fire Nation ensured that future generations remained ignorant of their innate force powers. The very idea terrified Ben.

The Fire Nation had achieved what the Sith of ancient and present times failed to do—they didn't cripple the order, they obliterated it. Countless secrets may have fallen into the hands of the ignorant or the foolish. The weight of that knowledge weighed heavily on him.

As they began to descend through the air, Aang piloting them down, a dark feeling welled up inside Ben. He turned to Aang and had to know, "Aang, what of the Sith?"

"Sith?" Aang shrugged, the words unfamiliar to him. "I haven't heard of them."

"Dark Jedi... Marauders... Sith Assassins... Sith Lords. Aang, think hard and tell me if any of those names sound or feel familiar," Ben urged. Aang sensed the gravity and concern in Ben's tone, a strange aura surrounding those words that struck him with anxiety.

The young boy shook his head at the unfamiliar words, prompting Ben to reach into his pocket. He was relieved that Aang didn't know about the Sith or any related legends. Perhaps it was because Aang's mentors hadn't taught him yet, or maybe there had been no epic battles between the Jedi and the Sith in this world, unlike the galaxy and other planets.

As Ben struck a match and brought it to his mouth, he exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes closing as his shaggy hair fell over his face. Thoughts churned within him. "I feel... strange. I don't know how to feel about this. If what Aang says is true, then the Jedi and the Sith are all gone. Maybe it's for the best. I've read the tales of the Jedi, I know what the Force can do to those without self-control. I saw it within myself. Perhaps it's for the best. I suppose I truly am the last of both the Jedi and the Sith."

A sense of loneliness accompanied such thoughts, but as they reached their destination and docked on land, Ben tried to push those feelings aside. He discarded the tobacco roll and adjusted his boot, lighting a small flame. "Benjamin," Katara's voice came from behind him. She and her brother were starting to dismount from the bison. "You shouldn't smoke those things; they'll rot your lungs!"

Ben raised an eyebrow at the sudden admonishment, his mind briefly recalling his former master Meetra's similar concerns. "Fuck, please don't tell me she's going to be like Meetra," he thought, picturing his master's face. Before the war, they were inseparable, and she always warned him about indulging in such vices as alcohol and smoking.

But after the war, even during his time in this world, he found it hard to shut out the Force. No matter how much he drank or smoked, it always came back. Jedi who indulge in such base desires start to tune out the Force. Even now, after everything he had done on both islands they escaped from, there was still no reason to reconnect. Part of him still wanted to shun the Force.

Was it loneliness, despair, or just fatigue from the constant fighting? Ben shrugged off the thoughts and followed the rest of the trio along the wooden bridge of the dock.

However, before he could light another smoke, the trio's attention was drawn elsewhere, so abruptly that even without the Force, Ben felt himself taken off guard. A man had captured their attention, leading them to a small boat. Ben silently cursed himself for not paying closer attention. "Damn it, even without the Force, I should have been more alert. These damn things really do distract me," he thought with frustration.

"Why do you smoke those things, Benji? They limit your connection to the force."

His master's words echoed in his mind as Ben followed the trio into the peculiar boat. It didn't matter anymore, especially with the revelation Aang had just shared. The Jedi and the Sith were gone, and he had no desire to be a force wielder.

As he stepped into the strange ship and observed the enigmatic tapestries and weapons adorning the walls, a new thought surfaced. "Why am I still here with them? Why am I even in this ship?"

His fingers found their way to his chin as he watched Sokka play around with the weapons and Aang and Katara studying a mysterious scroll. It had been a long time since he had traveled with others. Perhaps, deep down, a part of him yearned for that kind of companionship once more. The last time he had felt such a connection was during his time at the academy on Dantooine, with Trissal and Shan.

Ben's eyes widened in alarm, his brow becoming slick with sweat as he felt his breath quicken and his heart pounding in his ears.

"No... don't think about them, forget them. Forget that they ever existed... erase it from your mind, forget..."

"Ben!"

Sokka's voice jolted him back to reality as he took a step backward, his eyes scanning the store as he struggled to regain his composure.

"Yeah, what is it?"

Sokka raised an eyebrow and set down the weapon he held. "Nothing, you just seemed... worried." He leaned in closer. "Is there something wrong?"

"No... no, there isn't," Ben dismissed with a wave of his hand, but Sokka wasn't easily fooled. He could see the trembling in Ben's left hand and the perspiration on his brow.

"Well, that's good to hear," Sokka said, rubbing the back of his head. He had known Ben for only a few days, but he didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Still, a glint in Sokka's eye indicated he wouldn't let the issue slide. "If you ever need anything, just ask me or Katara. Even Aang will lend a hand."

"Really, well, I don't want to be a bother," Ben replied.

"No, you're not a bother. Heck, you saved us last time. Honestly, thank you... my sister and I didn't get to tell you that yet." Before Ben could respond, Sokka's attention shifted to his sister and the avatar. With a firm clap of his hands and a beckoning gesture, Sokka continued, "Alright, looks like Aang and Katara are done. Come on, Benji."

Ben was about to say something, about how only his friends called him Benji, but they had saved the others' lives just a day ago. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to be called that by them.

They huddled towards the cash register, the strange man's green earth-bending robes sticking out like a sore thumb. Katara and Aang placed a peculiar roll of paper and a few groceries on the counter. "How much for this, please?"

"Sorry, kid, that isn't for sale. Though..."

Ben paid little attention to the trio's bartering skills, his focus drawn to something behind the strange man. His eyes slowly widened as they locked onto a glimmering sight. At the corner of his vision, something glittered behind the merchandise. Crystals and jewels scattered on the shelf, catching the early morning sunlight. But there was one particular crystal that piqued his interest—a small one with a strange orange core.

"How much for the crystal?" Ben's voice cut through the bartering, and the shopkeeper turned to face him. Even at a young age, Ben's towering and imposing figure made the sleezy shopkeeper gulp from the pressure he emitted.

"Ah... the orange one, right?" The shopkeeper feigned confidence as he picked up the jagged crystal. Its uneven and sharp appearance didn't boast beauty, but something about it intrigued Ben. A peculiar sensation washed over him as he held it, coursing through his heart and soul.

"How much for the crystal?" Ben asked, and the shopkeeper tilted his head in confusion. He couldn't understand why someone so large would want such an ugly thing. Nevertheless, a crystal was a crystal, and perhaps he could turn this scam into some profit if he played his cards right.

"One bronze coin," the shopkeeper replied.

'One bronze coin... wow, that's cheap.' Ben thought as he fished out a spare piece of change from his pocket and dropped it on the counter. He took the crystal and stashed it away in his pocket, still perplexed as to why he even purchased it.

As he turned away, his eyes fixed on the door, the old shopkeeper spoke up. "Not yet... that's not for sale."

"Why?" Katara's voice cut through the air as she pointed at the shopkeeper.

"Yeah, come on, we'll pay," Aang chimed in, recoiling back in confusion.

"It's an exotic item. Such a thing isn't going to be for sale," the shopkeeper retorted.

"Really, I doubt you even bought it. More like stole it, you mean," Sokka spoke up, eyeing the man's strange attire and the abundance of contraband aboard the ship. "Pirates..." he murmured under his breath.

'Wait, pirates... Oh crap.' Ben facepalmed as he finally read the room. This wasn't just about using the force; it was about the ignorance of the world. He had his fair share of run-ins with bandits and pirates, but he had never encountered pirates with boats before. It should have been safe to assume what they were, considering the blatant contraband and rare goods hanging around.

As the quartet made their way towards the exit, Ben hesitated for a moment. His gaze lingered on the scroll, and his eyes surveyed the area. They were pirates, right? Bad guys? He leveled his right hand in front of him, cuffing it so his palm reached straight out. He felt the tension of the scroll along the force as he strained his hand backward.

The scroll zipped through the air, collapsing and intertwining within his fingers. He quickly descended the steps and stashed the old scroll into his jacket.

Once aboard Appa and airborne, Ben handed the scroll to Katara. She caught it with excitement in her eyes. "Thanks for that, Ben."

"Ay, it's no big deal. You let me waste all that cheap alcohol, so it's best that I pay you back," Ben replied.

"Pay you back? Ben, you stole this," Sokka interjected loudly, causing Ben to cover his ears.

Ben shook his head. "Dude, they're pirates. They stole it first, and knowledge is knowledge. Knowledge of any kind shouldn't be hidden. Hell, they were weak and foolish, in a way they deserved it."

Sokka's face dropped, understanding that the pirates had it coming, but stealing was still stealing. He sighed, resting along the edge of the saddle. "At least Sis and Aang will have something to help them train, at least."

Ben took out the crystal from his pocket, holding it up to the sun. His eyes widened as he felt the force welling up in the crystal. "Holy crap, it's a lightsaber crystal!"

Sokka's expression turned puzzled. "A lightsaber... what's that?"

"The weapon a Jedi uses," Aang answered before Ben could respond. "That's a crystal you need to power a lightsaber, right, Ben?"

Benjamin shook his head. "No, this isn't a color crystal. A color crystal creates the main beam of light in the construction. A synthetic or natural one would do, but this isn't that. This is a power crystal... a phond crystal, it seems."

In lightsaber construction, power crystals weren't necessary, but having more crystals in your blade provided more options in battle. However, no crystal was inherently stronger than the other. A Jedi with a lightsaber filled with the strongest crystals could still lose to one with a stronger connection to the force or a more experienced duelist.

A lightsaber, like any weapon, could only truly be wielded by the one who held it, and through their struggles, the blade would be defined.

"Benjamin, are you going to build another lightsaber? You're traveling with us now... a Jedi needs their tool," Katara asked, her eyes reflecting curiosity.

Benjamin stared at the power crystal again, feeling the force that was ingrained within it, helping him center himself. Before the war, he would often take apart his saber and focus on the crystal during meditation.

Even if he wanted to build another lightsaber, where would he start? The Jedi had been gone and erased from history for nearly a hundred years. The enclaves and academies must have been destroyed and ransacked by the fire nation. Finding a power crystal was just one part of the process, but he didn't even truly need it.

He would need to scavenge parts to customize the grip, pommel, and other components of the blade to fit his own preferred style. The hardest part would be the main focusing crystal, referred to as the "color crystal" by others like Aang. It would decide the Jedi's color and produce the overall blade of the weapon.

Where would he even begin? He considered that Aang might try to remember as much information about the Jedi as possible, or perhaps break into a couple of fire nation libraries to piece together their garbled histories and...

'Why would you want such a thing? A Jedi's tool... a Sith's weapon.'

The thought recoiled within Ben, and he refocused his gaze ahead, locking his eyes on the sky. The crystal slipped into his jacket pocket. What was he even thinking? He lost the right to be a Jedi knight years ago. What was he doing, using the force for such trivial things? He was not a Jedi anymore, just a damn fool.

"No... Aang, I'm fine. I don't want a lightsaber. I'm not a Jedi, remember," Ben's voice carried a sense of sorrow.

Aang's eyes dropped to the reins of the bison. He didn't know what to say. All three of them could sense the inner turmoil in Ben's voice, but they were unsure of how to support him.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Aang finally spoke up, the conversation ending as the bison soared higher into the air.

Ben observed Sokka fishing in the nearby pond, his frustration evident as he threw his spear with pure fury due to the lack of fish he was able to catch. They had just set up camp in a forest clearing after arriving on Appa. Ben shook his head, trying to shake off the memories of his time with the Jedi and the force.

His attention shifted to Aang and Katara, who were practicing waterbending using the scroll they had acquired. The water danced and swirled at Aang's command, while Katara struggled to replicate his moves. Ben could feel jealousy emanating from her, a strong emotion swirling like tendrils through the force.

"Ay, look Katara!" Aang cheered, his eyes filled with awe and pride.

'Bad move, Aang,' Ben thought, knowing that Katara wouldn't take his display of skill well. As expected, she exploded into a flurry of insults aimed at Aang before running away into the forest clearing.

"Damn it... Ben, go after Katara. I'll deal with Aang," Sokka ordered, breaking free from the water.

Reluctantly, Ben nodded and sighed. He didn't want to get involved in their squabbles; he just wanted to enjoy the forest air and his cigarette. However, his feet started moving, chasing after the girl who had disappeared into the forest.

Pushing through the brush and shrubbery, his legs got scratched by the long-standing grass and low sticks. He searched for any signs of Katara, but after several minutes of running around, she remained elusive. Ben knew what he had to do; he lowered himself to the ground, kneeling as he swiped the hair away from his face.

He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing and the pumping of his heart. Reaching out with the force, he felt a faint trickle, like an echo at the edge of a deep underground tunnel. Cutting himself off from the force had taken its toll, leaving only a distant echo, a mere shadow of what it once was.

But he had to find Katara, and that meant reconnecting with the force, even if it was just a flicker of its former power. He pushed his senses out, trying to feel for her presence, to pick up on any clues that could lead him to her.

An echo in the force... a reminder of what he had lost, and what he needed to regain.

Ben's golden eyes began to sparkle through the clumps of hair as he sensed her presence through the force. Like a vision, she appeared before him, crying on the edge of the downstream.

Without hesitation, Ben was in pursuit once more, cutting through the dense forest with determination, until he reached her, hunched over the roaring streams, her palms covering her tear-streaked face. "Hey, Katara," he said gently, causing her to look up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"What do you want, Ben?" she replied, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ben faced her squarely, gesturing nonchalantly behind him. "Nothing much... your brother sent me out here to make sure you're okay," he admitted, not wanting her to think he was acting out of his own concern.

Katara scoffed, but her anger softened. "Well, I'm fine... so you can go now if you want."

"No, you weren't fine. I could sense your jealousy towards Aang, especially with how quickly he picked up those waterbending scrolls," Ben confessed, taking a seat next to her. He kept his eyes on the raging river, but he could feel Katara's gaze on him.

"How did you figure it out?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Well, I've been paying attention the whole time, and it's also a Jedi trick. We can feel strong emotions circulating around others," he explained.

Katara's mouth dropped open in astonishment. She had heard Aang and him talk about the Jedi, but she hadn't fully grasped the extent of their abilities.

"Aang isn't the only person I'm jealous of," she admitted, and Ben's eyes widened, intrigued to hear more.

"Why... Katara?" he inquired, turning to meet her eyes.

She looked away, her words laced with vulnerability. "You and Aang have all this power. I see the way he looks at you and how he speaks of your potential. How long until both of you leave me and Sokka behind?"

"Leave you guys behind? What are you even saying?" Ben interjected, unable to comprehend her words.

Katara sighed, her gaze fixed on the tumultuous rapids. "We're just teenagers, Benjamin. We're not the best candidates for taking Aang to the Northern Air Temple."

"Katara, you don't need to be jealous of me. In fact, I'm kind of jealous of you," Ben confessed, a memory of two people pushed away resurfacing in his mind. "During my time with the Jedi, I had friends too. But I was recruited into the academy at an older age, so I felt isolated from the others."

"Isolated?" Katara gasped, her voice filled with disbelief.

"When you are recruited into the order, you are taken from your family and your home... you aren't ever allowed to return to see your family again. It is to indoctrinate the children into Jedi beliefs," Ben explained, his words carrying the weight of a painful past.

"That's horrible," Katara murmured, her heart aching for the young boy who had been through such a traumatic experience.

"I know, trust me," Ben replied, his voice tinged with sorrow.

He could still vividly remember his time at the enclave, those first few months marked by rough loneliness and feelings of inferiority. Memories of how the masters would turn their backs on him, favoring more promising students, and how the others rarely spoke to him, leaving him feeling like an outcast.

"I was always behind others... always alone and struggling," Ben continued, his gaze directed towards his boots. "But then I found them."

Katara watched as a flicker of light danced around him, his eyes now sporting a small grin as he reminisced about his friends, Trissal and Shan.

"Trissal and Shan... they were my friends, my family," Ben recalled fondly. "Shan was a counselor of the order, focusing more on the force than her dueling abilities. Trissal and I were guardians, favoring lightsaber combat. We were inseparable."

Katara listened intently, her heart softening as she realized how much these friendships meant to him. It was a glimpse into the vulnerability and humanity hidden beneath the Jedi exterior.

"Shan was the rising star of the order, and Trissal had the other masters calling him the next 'weapon master,'" Ben continued, the memories flooding back. "But I was left behind. My master believed that I wasn't ready... that my abilities were far too weak, and I was nearly kicked out of the order."

As Katara placed her hand on Ben's shoulder, she noticed the bits of stone and wood chips from the rapids beginning to slightly hover in place. The power within him was undeniable.

"What happened?" she asked, curiosity mixed with concern.

"I found her... Master Surik honed my talents. But it was my second master, the Jedi historian Kreia, who found me and taught me," Ben's voice grew stronger, his eyes burning with determination. "She took a risk with me. She was about to finish training Revan, but she saw something within me. Training me off the Jedi enclave, she taught me the secrets of building a lightsaber and the higher mysteries of the force. With her help, I was able to reach their level."

The connection between master and student, forged in the fire of adversity, had shaped Ben into who he was now. The scars of his past became a source of strength, and the force within him responded, swirling around him like a cloak of power.

Ben remembered the feeling... the rush of pride and ambition coursing through his veins. The stunned stares of his peers and the Jedi masters as he stood over Shan, her lightsaber broken in two, her body limp on the floor. His boot pressed against Trissal's chest, his newly converted lightsaber blade producing two shining cyan blades as he held Trissal's own lightsaber blade with the force.

Trissal and Shan, like the rest of the fools on the council, had been weak and arrogant. They believed that just because they couldn't see the true potential within him and the blessing of the force that coursed through his veins, they could easily defeat him. But they were wrong, and he was far more than just an apprentice.

"That was when I realized the truth... that this whole time... Vrook and all the members of the council, all the masters who have overseen me... they had been purposely holding me back," Ben explained.

"But... why?" Katara asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ben looked back at her, shaking his head as he prepared to answer. "I can't use the light side of the force. I am something of a dark side adept, is what they call people like me, those whose force affinity lies with the dark side. But such an affinity means that I can only use my core abilities and no light side abilities..."

"They tried to make me believe that I was a failure... a fraud... that the blessing of the force didn't touch me like how it touched others," he spat out bitterly.

A scowl formed on Katara's face as she heard the snapping of bark, but that wasn't what caught her attention. It was the massive boulder that was jutting freely from the earth and held into the air.

"The Jedi are weak... small people who do not realize the true potential of the force, who turn away from its power for greatness... who restrict and try to control their students because they feel threatened by their own power," Ben continued, his voice seething with anger.

His fingers tightened into fists, nails digging into his skin, drawing blood. His eyes dazzled with a darker orange hue as the darkness welled up inside him once again.

"That was when I learned... that the legends of the Jedi were wrong! The Jedi are not the ones to be celebrated!"

The boulder began to crack, splitting apart as Ben's rage reverberated through the air. Katara could see purplish sparks emanate from his closed palm like a dark storm. She began to realize the danger they were both in. Benjamin was so powerful that he could unintentionally overwhelm and destroy everything in his path with his emotions.

Two shaking fists were visible, and Katara's fingers tightened around Ben's shoulder, her worry evident. His eyes widened in realization as he tore his gaze away from the pond and looked back at the girl.

"I'm sorry, Katara. I went too far; I shouldn't have said all that," he stuttered out, remorse filling his voice.

"No... it's okay," she reassured him.

She got up, extending her hand to Ben. Their fingers intertwined as she helped him up. "Benjamin, don't worry anymore... okay?" She gazed into his orange eyes, a small grin appearing on her face. "You're not alone anymore."