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Chapter 8 - Edited
Zhao hesitantly approached the ruins of the destroyed warehouse. Each dreadful step weighed heavily as his gaze scanned the destruction. The sight of the dead guardsman made him wince, and his soldiers were grappling with the backlash from the enraged crowd.
Kiara, the girl... Zhao let out a sigh, feeling a sense of distaste welling in his throat. He didn't want to deal with her right now; her silver eyes seemed to radiate in his mind, causing his breath to still. That girl was a monster, an animal with no respect for those she considered lesser.
When he was tasked to capture the avatar, Zhao had been thrilled for the opportunity. He had started assembling a crew of trusted individuals to aid him in his goal. However, just before he left, the fire lord sent him someone he deemed "mandatory" for the mission's success.
A girl, perhaps around fourteen or fifteen years old. Short for her age, she wore a massive black cloak that looked rather comical to him. He could remember how she smiled, excited to join his mission. Zhao couldn't care less about having her on board. He suspected she came from a noble family and had pulled some strings to get herself involved in the avatar's capture.
His eyes tensed as he stared down at his boots. He had been such a fool... one of his guards must have taunted or teased the girl, he couldn't recall clearly. But it didn't matter now.
What mattered was how she had ignited a blade of fire and sliced him in half. The faint humming of that crimson blade still echoed in his memory, haunting him as he recalled her standing over the fallen crew member.
Zhao didn't know what to do. He didn't attack or arrest her. He knew the power the girl held, and he couldn't risk jeopardizing the lives of the men under his command. So, he let it happen, and the rest of the crew did as well. He hoped it would end if the girl wasn't provoked, so Zhao warned his crew to stay away from her.
Thankfully, there were no more "accidents" on the vessel after that. But that was before their first real mission. They were sent to investigate a water tribe town for any information about the fire nation. Despite finding nothing, Kiara refused to leave.
The girl ordered them to kill the warriors and a few civilians. Zhao knew what he was doing was wrong, that he would burn in hell for this. But out of self-preservation, he followed her orders.
The once-great Admiral Zhao and his crew now obeying the commands of a girl not even sixteen. He had never seen her powers or that strange weapon before, and he was too afraid to ask for help.
"Zhao!"
A horrific shudder shot through Zhao's body, freezing him in place as if he had just been thawed out of ice. He turned to his left, his eyes falling upon the girl in question. Kiara's mouth was twisted in a disgusting snarl, and the simmering anger radiated from her like a seething storm.
"Ah... Miss Kiara, it is a pleasure to..." Zhao began, but Kiara cut him off with a sharp interruption. He stiffened his posture, choosing silence, not wanting to further aggravate her. She looked pretty beaten up, covered in scrapes and bruises, and holding her right wrist as if in pain.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight of her injuries. Her wrist was broken, visibly swollen and bruised. The once artistic face now bore a swollen eye, causing Zhao to reel in shock. Someone had been strong enough to stop Kiara and inflict such damage. "Was this the avatar's doing?" he hesitantly asked, only to be met with a chuckle that made his heart sink.
"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.
Swallowing hard, Zhao felt the urge to argue. They were so close to finding the avatar, and he believed they could track his bison to his next location. A trip back to the fire nation would take days, maybe even a week.
Kiara seemed to read his thoughts and immediately shut down any complaints. Her silver gleaming weapon at her waist caught his attention, but she silenced him with a shake of her head.
"Miss Kiara, your weapon it's..." Zhao tried to voice his concern, but she cut him off again, leaving him no room to continue. Her gaze turned away from him, fixating on the destroyed warehouse. Despite what had happened, she still smirked, holding onto the hope of claiming the title of "Jedi Killer" and the honor it would bring.
Unbuckling her lightsaber from her waist, Kiara stared at the burnt remains. Her kyber crystal was missing from the blade, leaving her appalled. "Zhao, I want this town burnt to the ground," she declared with a cold tone, not even sparing him a glance. Zhao nodded, his heart heavy, and he moved towards his ship to relay the order to the rest of the guardsmen. The admiral couldn't bear to disappoint the young dark Jedi, even if he knew they were committing a horrific crime.
He hoped that Kiara had a good reason for this, that there was some justification for the violence they were about to unleash. Kiara's gaze stretched out over the city, the sparkling stars above reflecting in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, 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."
Benjamin's body shot straight up, the wind cutting into him like a knife. His shirt was off, revealing a tapestry of bandages wrapped around his chest and stomach, soothing balm hidden beneath the pale bindings. But the pain, oh, the pain was enough to make him buckle under its weight. He laid his head back down on the leathery saddle, straining his eyes to focus on Sokka, Aang, and Katara huddled together in the front of Appa.
Katara seemed distracted, and a steady smile tugged at Ben's lips as he peered down at his pocket. His left arm hurt too much to move, while the right one felt reasonably fine, just sore. He fished out a lone cigarette from his worker pants, breaking a match with his finger to ignite it. The smoke brought some relief, dulling the pain inside him, if only for a moment. It was like a purifying force, cleansing him from the agony.
"Ay, Ben's up!" Aang's voice rang out with excitement, and Ben turned his head quickly.
The happy avatar was thrilled to see his friend awake, but Ben's mind was focused on a single word, a whisper that escaped his lips. "Fuck..." he muttered under his breath.
The trio moved closer to him. "Ben, what did I tell you about smoking!" Katara scolded, snatching the cigarette from his lips and tossing it away.
Unbeknownst to Ben, his newfound strength caused him to lurch forward, attempting to use the force to catch the discarded item, only to watch it vanish into the distant clouds. His mind struggled to make sense of it all. They were high up in the atmosphere; where were they even headed?
"Guys, what happened while I was out?" Ben asked, feeling the dulled pain starting to reignite like a blazing fire. He settled back onto the leathery saddle, closing his eyes, hoping for a painless slumber to embrace him.
"After that fight with the girl, you were exhausted. Katara and Sokka took care of your wounds; luckily, the worst was your popped shoulder. But we should still see a doctor after this stop," Aang explained from the reins of Appa.
Ben nodded in acknowledgment, trying to process the information. He had truly been lucky. Kiara was a dark jedi, and he was just a fool with a limited affinity for his closed-off force powers. It was nothing short of a miracle that he survived.
'It wasn't a miracle that saved me that day; it was the force, or rather, the dark side that took hold of me.' Ben's thoughts sent a chill down his spine, widening his eyes in alarm. The electric power that surged through him during that encounter with Kiara still lingered, the manic laughter echoing in his mind.
His palm pressed against his face as beads of sweat formed on his brow. He had lost control, once again succumbing to the dark side. Without Aang and the others, he shuddered to think what atrocities he might have committed.
He recalled his words, how he spoke of starting a one-man war against the fire nation, seeking revenge for Bill and all the innocent lives taken. His hand fell away from his face, and he stared at it as if it held the key to his inner demons. The hatred and anger that once consumed him still lurked within, the monster eager to resurface. The vices of alcohol, drugs, and smoke could only keep it at bay for so long.
Days like the one with Kiara would come again, and the beast inside would rear its ugly head, breaking free from the pit that confined it. It would run wild with hatred and ecstasy, wreaking havoc on anything in its path, be it darkness or light. It would not rest until it crushed the true light that still flickered within him.
Violet sparks danced along his fingertips, and his eyes flared as he observed the lightning-like energy at his command. He took a deep breath, briefly closing his eyes, and when they opened again, the sparks were gone.
His fingers twitched, reminiscent of the nightmarish visions he had experienced before, but this time, there was nothing. "Was it a hallucination? Is my mind starting to betray me, or is my control of the force slipping?" he pondered, clenching his hand into a fist and resting it beside him.
"Benji," Katara murmured softly, using the old nickname that Sokka had given him. She tested the waters, waiting to see if Ben would object.
Surprisingly, Ben shook his head, a faint grin spreading across his face. "Yes, Katara," he replied, realizing how nice it felt to hear his old nickname again. There was something comforting in the familiarity of it.
She rummaged through one of the brown sacks used to store supplies, her mouth opening 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 turned their attention to join the conversation, and Ben sucked his lip in annoyance, knowing this would be a lengthy discussion. "Her name is Kiara. She's a dark Jedi, and the weapon she was using was a lightsaber."
Sokka's jaw hung open as if it were about to fall onto the saddle. "That flaming weapon was a lightsaber?" He practically shouted, turning away from Aang to hear more from Ben. "But you said she was a dark je...adi or something. What does that even mean?"
Katara, too, turned her attention to Ben, holding a vial of strange liquid and a water flask in her hands as she moved towards him. "A dark Jedi? Weren't you a Jedi?" she inquired.
Sweat began to form on his brow, his eyes fixed on the sky as his palms grew 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 erupted in his mind.
"There's a difference between a normal Jedi and a Dark Jedi," Katara helped lift Ben into a sitting position as he continued to speak. "I guess the simplified version would be that one uses the light side while the other uses the dark side, but it's not as simple as that. Dark Jedi tap into the darker aspects of the Force, they're evil... they seek to corrupt and destroy everything in their path. If a Dark Jedi becomes strong enough, they become a Sith."
"Sith... sounds like something Gran Gran would make for dinner, right Katara?" Sokka joked, only to be silenced by Ben's glare. His smug expression wiped away by the seriousness in Ben's eyes.
"Sith. If we ever come across them, we run... a true Sith is far worse than a Dark Jedi. I had to call upon the dark side to defeat Kiara, but even then, it caused me to fall," Ben explained.
"Run?" Sokka muttered under his breath. "Sure, feels like we do a whole lot of running lately," he sarcastically remarked, not comfortable with the dark turn the conversation had taken.
"Sokka, this isn't a game. The average Fire Nation soldier may hesitate to take lives, but I guarantee you, a Sith won't have any reservations. Sith Lords, Sith Assassins, and Sith Marauders... if we ever encounter one of them, we run. If we get captured, I guarantee you they'll make us beg for the deaths that have long hounded us from the start of this journey."
Ben's words cut through the air like an executioner's blade, leaving Sokka stunned into silence, fully grasping the grim reality of the Sith threat.
Aang and Katara both absorbed Ben's words, but he knew they wouldn't fully comprehend the danger until they faced a true Dark Jedi. Their waterbending, Sokka's warrior skills, and Aang's airbending wouldn't be enough to face a Sith Lord.
'How long can we keep going like this? We're just teenagers, and I doubt any of 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 gain control. They don't need a drunken fool or some con man; they need a Jedi Knight!' Ben's emotions clashed inside his head.
Katara handed him the pouch containing the medical fluid, and he reluctantly took it, followed by a swig of water to wash down the thick, vile broth. It tasted like liquefied moldy bread, and he nearly gagged, but he managed to get it down.
Gradually, his muscles began to rejuvenate, and he felt the strength to stand, though his legs protested.
"Where are we even going?" Ben inquired, turning towards Katara, who leaned closer, facing Aang's 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 persuade him not to go... but he wouldn't listen."
Ben's face sank into 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, attempting to lift himself up, but his body collapsed back onto the leathery saddle. "Shit... fuck, this isn't good," Ben muttered to himself as Katara tried to calm him down.
Ben had studied the histories of the Fire Nation. Those genocidal maniacs paraded around their atrocities like it was something to be proud of. He had seen some insane things in the galaxy, done great acts that would forever haunt him... he could still remember Malachor V and what he did that day.
Even then... the Fire Nation committed genocide not in defense, but as a means to further 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 harbored a strong hatred and distrust towards the Jedi, and even more towards the Council. Even when he found out he was the last of the Jedi, even 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 seemed to love his fellow airbenders, perhaps even had family he was looking forward to seeing. Ben had heard tales of what prior avatars could do when emotionally compromised... what about Aang?
Moreover, Ben worried about his own connection to the Force and what happened nearly a hundred years ago. 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, to block out the memories of Malachor V using the Force. But what he did still haunted 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.
Craneing his neck to the side, his eyes widened as he saw it 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... they didn't realize they had been the only people to come here in nearly a hundred years.
"Finally... I'm home!" Aang screamed again, and this time, Ben's teeth sunk into his bottom lip. He ignored the pain, throwing himself nearly over the edge to get a better look. He didn't want to be right, 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 scanned for any evidence that people had been here.
The temple was large and peaceful, its ornate towers blending whites and browns, almost reaching the sky. The garden plots jutted out, but from up here, they looked overgrown, more like a jungle of weeds and brush.
The long paths twisted and turned like meditation mazes, and the snow heavily decorated the temple floor. Yet, Ben couldn't see anything out of the ordinary; no animal or people footprints in the snow.
The mountain slopes, presumably used to climb to the tops, were all snowed in, untouched and piled up for years. Slouching onto the saddle, Ben covered his face with his palm as Appa began to land.
Aang touched down on a stone platform, free of snow to trudge through. He was so happy to be back home that he was almost ready to outrun everyone. "Come on, guys, let's go!" Aang shouted, his ignorance evident to all.
Following Aang, Ben grabbed the young airbender's arm before he could speed away from the group. The air carried a steady chill, and all Benjamin wore was a water tribe cloak that Katara had wrapped around him while he slept. He still wasn't fully warm.
"What's wrong, Benji?"
Ben took a deep breath, mustering up his most presentable smile as he approached 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 affirmed, with Sokka and Katara watching, trying to understand what Ben was doing.
Nodding along with Aang, Ben replied, "Yeah, I seem to recall you mentioning how you regretted not having done some more fun stuff before I left. Well, let's do it..."
Aang's eyes widened. "What... right now?" He pointed towards the entrance of the temple, where large weeds jutted 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 chimed in. However, Ben didn't loosen his grip on the avatar's hand. Despite being fifteen, he was physically the strongest of the group. Even with his strength 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 that money Ben earned," Katara added.
"How did Benji get all that money?" Sokka suspiciously murmured, craning his head towards the ex-Jedi as Ben chuckled under his breath. "Trade secret," Ben sarcastically muttered, distracted as Aang slipped out of his grasp and sped towards the courtyard.
"Come on, guys!" Aang cheered, raising his arms in victory. "Let's go!"
"God damn it, Aang," Benjamin snarled under his breath. This was going to be harder than he thought. Katara and Sokka got the memo and chased after Aang, who was busy speeding towards the temple.
Ben saw the gleam of disposed armor and broken staffs similar to Aang's scattered clumsily along the platform. He could have sworn he saw a skeletal hand poking out from the snow.
'This is getting insane! We're all seeing this stuff... Aang isn't blind, or maybe he's choosing not to look,' Ben thought. Even so, he knew 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.
He realized he was wrong. He should have told Aang the moment he woke up. He should have comforted him, apologized, and worked through their grief together. They were friends, and it was his responsibility, but he ran away from it.
'Now what... Aang is running around the temple trying to find ghosts. I need to find the right time and place to tell him, even if he hates me for this. I can't let him break,' Ben thought, determined to protect Aang from the harsh truth.
Aang and the rest stopped in front of a strange area with long wooden pillars jutting from the earth. Snow decorated their tops, and on the ends of the pillars were large magnifying glass-like things. There was an opening in the middle, almost like a revolving door.
"Airball!" Aang pointed towards the pillars, turning towards the group. "It's a game where 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. Sunken weapons and bits of armor were visible through the heavy snow, and he panicked. Telling Aang about the Fire Nation vanished from his mind; now he just wanted to protect him. 'Not right now... this isn't the right place,' he thought, pushing the responsibility to later.
"Come on, let's play!" Ben shouted, and Sokka followed suit, while Katara watched from the side as the game began.
Sokka anxiously balanced on the pillars. The game was nearing its end, with Aang having six points while Ben and Sokka, on the same team, had zero.
"Listen, Sokka!" Ben screamed over the wind, getting immersed in the game. "You've got to guard better. I'm going to try and steal the ball from Aang and score. You just protect the—"
"How?" Screamed Sokka, rubbing his arm from the bruises he accumulated. Ben shook his head, trying 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. His pain was gone, and he felt way stronger, almost rejuvenated, like calling upon the Force was easier now. His balance probably came from his use of the double-bladed lightsaber. It was dangerous to handle, but Kreia and Meetra helped him master it.
"There are some things that are ingrained within me. Something that I can't ever forget or move on from."
Due to his broken connection, he didn't feel comfortable using the Force in the game. He would rather be alert for when he would have to break the news to Aang. This place felt strange, and it triggered something familiar, like the call of home.
"Maybe I was wrong about this place. I'll feel it through the Force, if I just draw on it for a little bit, I'll be fine."
Sokka grunted as the ball speared him in the stomach. Benjamin was too distracted to intercept as Aang cheered in victory.
"Ah, Benji!" Aang hollered towards Ben, but he didn't move or blink. "Benjamin..." Aang's voice held seeds of worry.
Ben fell.
His body crumpled off the pillar like a domino, and Aang rushed towards him. He managed to stop Ben from face-planting into the stone slabs.
"Ben!" Sokka cried out, rushing towards his friend and Aang.
"Aang, what happened!" Katara cried out, moving Ben onto his back. His eyes dilated as he stared at the cloud-filled sky, blocking out the sun. His right hand clenched the fabric of the cloak over his heart, and his breathing was erratic, spitting freely from his mouth as he tried to muster the words to speak.
The blood rushed to Ben's head; he couldn't hear what the others were screaming at him. His heart thumped so hard against his chest like it was about to explode. His hands shook, fingers on his right hand exploding into an array of violet sparks of electricity.
"Oh, god!" Sokka shouted, scanning Ben's form. "He's having a panic attack. What the hell even happened...we were just playing and he—"
As Sokka tried to finish his sentence, Ben's form began to ease. His steady rhythmic breathing stabilized, and the trio let out sighs of relief. Ben took a long and slow breath, forcing his body against one of the pillars as he opened his eyes.
"Ben, you're awake!" Aang screamed out, turning around. "I'll go to the lunchroom and grab you some water, I'll be bac—"
"YOU STAY HERE!" Ben's voice boomed so loud that Sokka and Katara nearly had to clamp their palms against their ears.
The sudden command made Aang stifle. He wasn't used to others yelling at him, and 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 against the cold, was wet and moist, and his bandages probably needed to be changed.
His face was red, and he seemed lethargic. For all they knew, he could have 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, using the beam to help him up, nearly tripping over himself. "Aang, the airbenders are gone...they're all dead."
A silence cut through the group as the wind pushed and ruffled through their hair. Aang didn't turn to meet Ben's eyes. "We don't know..." Aang murmured under his breath, 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 they're gone. We've been here for nearly an hour, and we haven't seen any airbenders or any sign of civilization. The only thing we've seen are discarded weapons, there was a battle here, and the air nomads lost."
Aang turned towards Ben, anger visible over his face. Maybe that was 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 have to be survivors around here somewhere!"
Ben moved away from Aang, who didn't bother to turn and look at him. Walking a few feet away, his gaze directed towards the clouds and the long rowing mountain range that graced the horizon. "Aang, I felt it through the force...there is no one here. No living person. 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's 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 visible.
"A dark side nexus is a place strong in the force, fueled by the dark side. We're lucky this place is empty. Such places don't just affect emotions but the environment. We're lucky we didn't run into any creatures infused with dark side energy."
Ben glanced down and took a knee. His gaze glossing over a pocket of weeds, a small yellow flower hunched over, its color losing any of the light it once held. This place was truly sucking the life out of everything.
Shaking his head, Ben recalled encountering 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 still hidden in the shadows from the time of Exar Kun. If they encountered a creature of the darkness here, they wouldn't be able to fight it off.
"How do you know this stuff about Nexus's...you can be wrong!" Aang rebutted with a snarl.
"There is a place, Aang. A place where the dark side of the force runs strong. It is something of the Sith, fueled by war." He turned to face the avatar, the intensity of Ben's eyes causing the all-powerful Aang to take a step backward. "I've been to that place, Aang. To walk on its surface is to feel it crushing every cell of your being. It's like being buried alive until it seems that you will never breathe again. It corrupts everything that walks on its surface and drowns them in the power of the dark side. It feeds on suffering and death."
He turned around to face Aang, who stared at his shoes as Ben's towering form stood over him. Aang was still not listening, holding out for a fragment of hope that didn't exist.
"There is a use for places like this...for the Sith. It breaks Jedi and 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 over the years. 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, but there was no academy located here.
If they were smart, Ben and the rest would have realized they walked into a Sith Lord training ground. Escaping would have been impossible, and the fire nation or the Sith would have taken Aang away from them, right before slaughtering him and the water tribe siblings. The mere thought of it made him sick.
A sigh erupted from Ben's 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, as if on the verge of tears. "No...just give me more time!" He begged.
"Aang, that's enough!" Ben yelled again, his hand cutting through the air like a blade, silencing Aang's pleas. He pointed towards the ruins of the temple. "Look around you, take a good look...the Jedi and the Air Nomads are gone. The fire nation and the Sith won the war, they defeated us and committed genocide against our kind. You're not alone, but I can't let you live in the delusion that there are more of us out there."
"Benjamin, that's enough. Aang just needs some time," Katara intervened, but Ben pressed on.
"No...Katara, this place is dangerous. I can feel the dark side here. If I draw on the force here, God knows what will happen. My connection is damaged, and I was able to feel such power with my partial connection and muscle memory. There may very well be creatures of the dark side here that I'm just not powerful enough to detect."
Aang began to run, using the wind to accelerate his movements, tears streaming down his face. Ben and the rest just stood and watched, the chill of the wind awakening their senses. Ben's breathing evened as he turned to Sokka and Katara.
"Go after him..." They nodded in agreement, and as they were about to argue about splitting up, Ben stopped them. "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...but if you see anything around, please get out of there."
They nodded in agreement as the siblings chased after the avatar. Ben let out a groan as he walked through the ruins of the temple. His boots crushing along the snow as the ex-jedi pushed through the harsh mountain wind. It was a strange feeling.
Ben had sought solitude for a long time, but now, he was fully alone. And 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-like pathways that reeked with historical importance. Even then, he didn't feel anything here. Only the taint of 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 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, but there was another thought, or rather a question. Where were the Jedi this whole time?
He knew they were all gone, erased from history, just like the airbenders. Aang had found no trace of the Jedi in the temple ruins. Where were the Jedi when the air nomads faced genocide by the fire nation?
Ben pushed through the snow, hearing Appa roar loudly in the air. He was close enough to see the bison's anxiety, and he felt it too. "You can feel this place too, buddy?" Ben spoke softly to the animal, knowing it couldn't fully understand him. But it seemed to calm down slowly. "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, the bison seemingly roaring in approval. Ben began packing up and tidying the stuff in the back of the saddle until he sat in the front, taking in the eerie sight before him. "It's just...silent," he muttered to himself, gazing at the ruins of the temple, tucking his chin into the cuff of his cloak for warmth.
"Appa, I'm kind of worried. When I felt this place through the force, I knew there was 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, like I was back there in that place."
Ben tucked his knees into his chest, his body huddled forward, drowning in the pit of despair. His eyes locked onto the white fur of Appa's coat. He wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Staying here was just too much to ask.
The wind tightened, the cold growing fiercer as Ben hugged Appa's reins tighter. He didn't need the force to feel it, he could tell something was wrong. Ben threw himself from Appa, his feet propelling him toward the source of the gathering wind.
"Katara...Sokka!" Ben screamed over the rough winds. He could see the two figures in front of him and a figure farther off in the middle, glowing eyes piercing through the rough tornado that had formed.
Aang stood in the center of the vortex, his glowing blue eyes penetrating the blades of wind. The gusts were so fierce that they cut through Ben's skin, his eyes narrowing against the debris that clouded the air.
A large piece of debris lifted into the air, a boulder of stone slabs in uncontrolled fury, hurtling toward them. "Guys!" Ben cried out, his boots gripping the uncertain and shaken slabs of stone.
With both hands thrust out, the dark side energy of the temple flowing through his body, Ben released his tension of the force. The powerful force push decimated the boulder, ripping the slabs in two as the reconfigured pieces crumbled down the mountain.
"Ben...are you okay!" Katara screamed over the harsh barrage of wind assaulting Ben's ears.
The boy turned toward her, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, I'm feeling really peachy, Katara!" He jabbed, his eyes fixed back onto the avatar. Now, the wind grew tighter around the boy, so convoluted that all Aang could see were the two piercing blue eyes radiating from within.
Ben turned toward Aang again. "What the hell is wrong with him!"
"He saw the skeleton of his mentor. He accidentally slipped into the avatar state!" Sokka shouted back, his nails digging into the foundation as he struggled not to be blown away. "We gotta get him out of this before he blows the temple and us off the mountain!"
Ben felt the air's tension thicken, the young avatar starting to rise into the air. Soon, they would all be blown off the mountain. He turned around toward Appa, the bison still sitting on the platform.
"Aang!" Katara's yell shook through the foundation. Sokka and Ben stared at the girl as she gazed at the frenzied avatar. "Aang, I know what happened here is horrible...I get it. Even though, you are not alone. I understand how angry and sad you are feeling. That's how 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 her words were dispelled into the rough winds. He wasn't sure if they even reached Aang. He knew what it was like to lose control...to give in to anger more than anyone else there. Even then, Aang began to simmer back down.
The young avatar's feet graced the earth again as the light blue lights began to vanish. The trio cautiously approached him. But none could predict what would come next...
The stone slabs buckled under Aang's weight. They were foolish; the avatar state, even with a single element, could summon power that the temple ruins couldn't hold up to.
The stone slabs broke as Aang tried to air bend his staff, but it was too far away, lodged within the other 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, pushing his body forward and throwing himself toward the edge. But he caught nothing but air. They wouldn't let Aang die...
"Ben!" Katara shouted, turning around to see what Ben was about to do, causing Sokka to turn around too. 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 how fast Ben was moving.
But then, something unexpected happened...
Ben jumped into the pit that had formed. Sokka stared wide-eyed as he watched his two friends get consumed by darkness, and all he 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 was with rocket boosters above the moon of Duxn during the first battle of the Mandalorian wars.
Even then, he had a jump pack that he could rudimentarily control. But this felt different...maybe it was the fear of what lay below that changed things. Aang's screams echoed in pure terror as Ben soared deeper into the pit.
"Aang!" Ben's voice was hoarse as he saw the airbender trying to find his balance in the dark cave. Ben stuck out his right hand as they got closer.
The cave roofs glistened with moisture and faint crystals that shimmered through the narrow opening. Ben gripped the sleeve of Aang's robe, tucking the boy tighter to him. "What's up!" Ben shouted over the rushing wind that cut into their ears.
That was when it happened...both boys' eyes locked onto the bottom of the chasm simultaneously. They could see the brackish water that awaited them. At the speed they were going down, they would surely snap their necks under the water pressure.
Yet...Ben felt it. The force radiating around him and Aang. He tightened his grip on Aang's robe as he 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 under the water pressure as Ben's eyes widened. The rough splash of cold water enveloped him, and then everything went black.
Red...an inkless red that seeped into the very fabric of his being. His stomach crawled up his throat, choking back any scream he might muster. Yet, amidst the terror, 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 desolate landscape. The ice wasteland, stained with the color of blood, was a sight of desolation and horror.
He could hardly see anything around him. Snow crunched under his palms and boots as the gusts of freezing wind cut through his very core. Ice, borne from the relentless wind, peppered and sliced into his face, forcing him to shield his eyes.
The air reeked of carnage and the dark side. The force was imbalanced, thickened with the weight of darkness. Yet, paradoxically, Benjamin felt stronger here, more alive than ever before.
This place seemed to rejuvenate his strength, his body pulsing with warmth and power. It was almost as if he was a true dark side warrior, blessed with the might of the force. The euphoria of his newfound power threatened to overwhelm him, urging him to run with reckless abandon.
Him...
The crimson blades of hooded figures were aimed at him, surrounding him as he stood there, staring at them. The red moon merged with the blades of the dark jedi as they closed in, ready to snuff out his life.
In the darkness, there was another presence. A figure standing behind him, shorter than him, yet recognizable by the outline of his armor. The contrasting colors of his shoulder guards, light brownish gauntlets, and tuff of brown hair were familiar to Ben.
Back-to-back they stood, like brothers in arms, waiting for the approaching Sith. Though they numbered in doubles, Ben knew that a legion lay in wait, possibly hundreds ready to descend upon them. The true test was on the horizon, and it was approaching fast.
The darkness wrapped around him once more, its cold embrace suffocating the crimson glow. The ocean's weight seemed to sever the air from his lungs, but strangely, he felt at ease. This place, whether vision or reality, held a haunting truth – a legion of Sith hunters bent on claiming the avatar's head.
Ben's right arm lifted, feeling the weight of the water's current, a shiver running down his spine. "In the hundreds...and I am but one man. A failure, a drunk, a fool, a murderer, a false Jedi." The weight of his past transgressions bore heavily on him.
As he sank deeper into the abyss, the freezing water enveloped him, its icy grip tightening. His eyes grew heavier, the weight of the world pressing down upon him. The temptation to surrender to eternal sleep grew stronger.
"Would it be so easy to let go?" he wondered, contemplating surrendering to death's long embrace. "This was all just a bad dream anyway... Perhaps I'd like to see my mom again when I wake up."
Yet, even in this near surrender, his memories began to falter. His mother's face slipped away like grains of sand, and a profound sadness washed over him. She had given her life for his, and now he felt the burden of surviving where others had fallen.
As the fragments of tears fell from his eyes, he acknowledged the heavy toll his choices had taken. "My mother, my friends, Meetra, the Jedi...all gone because of me. I am the biggest failure there ever was. I wanted to be a true Jedi, but I've been weighed down by my mistakes and the council's wrongdoings."
In the depths of despair, the truth beckoned him, and he faced the haunting reality of his existence.
The light grew dimmer, swallowed by the encompassing darkness that seemed to devour any glimmer of hope. Struggling to keep his eyes open, Benjamin fought to hold on to the fading light, searching for answers in the void.
'Who am I? What have I become?' he questioned, memories flickering like sparks of force lightning in the recesses of his mind. Images of Kreia, Meetra, the Jedi Council, and Revan emerged, each leaving their mark on his soul.
'Bully, drunk, fool, coward, killer,' he acknowledged, facing the harsh truths of his past. Yet, amidst the darkness, three new sparks ignited – Aang, Katara, and Sokka. They had become a ray of light in his life, offering a chance for redemption and growth.
'I'm not a hero, I'm a failure,' he admitted, but his determination surged. No longer burdened by the fear of his connection to the force or his worthiness, he chose to fight back. Kicking and pushing against the oppressive darkness, he vowed to protect those he cared for and stop the fire nation and the Sith.
'I'll continue the fight Bill left unfinished. I'll restore balance to this world, to the force,' he declared, embracing his rage and using it as fuel for his mission. His palms pressed against the ice ceiling, cracks spreading like veins as the pale light started to pierce through.
'I bear the face of my mother and walk the path of the Jedi Guardian,' Benjamin proclaimed, breaking free from the icy shackles that had once held him captive. Hesitating only for a moment, he embraced the pale light, ready to face the challenges that awaited him.
As the shards of ice fell away, revealing the path ahead, Benjamin stepped into the pale light, determined to fulfill his responsibility to his friends and the force. The journey was daunting, but he knew that he could no longer cower in the darkness. With newfound strength and purpose, he ventured forth, embracing his true identity as Benjamin, the Jedi Guardian.
Ben's body convulsed as he coughed up the water that had nearly drowned him, his lungs desperately gasping for air. His senses were blurry, but he could hear Aang's voice expressing relief at his survival, though he could hardly see the young avatar through the haze.
Slowly, Ben's equilibrium returned, but his mind was still grappling with the vision he had just experienced. The first part, undeniably a true glimpse of the future, but the second part, a mysterious test from the force itself. Was it trying to assess his commitment, his readiness to face the challenges ahead?
The will of the force remained an enigma. Ben pulled himself up from the floor, wiping away water droplets from his brow. The vision still haunted him – the unidentified boy, the blood-red moon, the looming threat of the Sith legion. Changes were coming, and Team Avatar needed to prepare for the impending battle.
As he sat beside Aang, his thoughts swirled with doubts and questions about the vision. He'd never been fond of such prophetic glimpses, but they couldn't be ignored. Avoiding them only led to greater troubles.
"Damn the force," he muttered, frustrated with the mysteries it laid before him. Visions had always been rare in his life, and they rarely provided clear answers. Yet, this one felt different, as if it was pulling him towards an unavoidable destiny.
"Was that the place I died? Is that what the force was showing me?" he wondered aloud, gazing at the murky waters before him.
As he lay back on the hard rocks, his mind began to find clarity. The vision had led him to a revelation – his life, his actions, his connection to the force – all part of a greater design. The force had woven a web of events, leading him to this moment with Team Avatar.
"I think I understand," he murmured, a newfound understanding dawning upon him. Meetra had been right – he couldn't escape his destiny. Ever since arriving on this world, he had tried to resist the force, but it was relentless, guiding him towards his purpose.
"I have a destiny that intertwines with this avatar and these people I care about," he confessed, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. The force had chosen him for this path, and he would no longer fight it. Instead, he would embrace it and stand beside Team Avatar to face whatever challenges lay ahead. His connection with them, and with the force, was not a burden to bear, but a calling to fulfill.
Ben couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. She had been right all along, his master. He knew he owed her an apology, but he also knew that the road ahead would be a long and challenging 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 contemplated with a wistful sigh, his breath visible in the cold air.
Turning his attention to the shivering avatar beside him, he noticed Aang's trembling form. "I'm sorry, Benjamin," Aang coughed, clutching his robe tighter for warmth.
"Don't sweat it," Ben replied, waving his hand dismissively as he sought a more comfortable position to rest until Sokka and Katara came to their rescue. "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," Aang lamented.
Ben shook his head, more forcefully 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 airbenders," Ben asserted, aware that he needed to be firm to get through to the young boy.
Aang was just a child, and Ben knew he didn't need to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders. It wasn't Aang's fault that the fire benders attacked, and he needed to be reassured of that. He had no way of knowing what was happening in the world at the time, and expecting him to protect everyone was unreasonable.
"You are only twelve and have 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 had stayed behind, you would have died," Ben explained, tired of the pointless arguing. "Aang, you are blaming yourself for not being there when you had no knowledge of anything going on in the world. 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, pressing his palms to his eyes as he cried out.
"No, it isn't..." Ben kneeled to Aang's level, looking the young boy in the eye. "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 airbenders."
Aang struggled to grasp the situation, but he could sense a change in Benjamin. He seemed more confident and resolute than before, and Aang couldn't quite put his finger on it. But whatever it was, it was clear that Benjamin had a newfound determination, and Aang couldn't help but find comfort in that.
"You may say it's your fault...but I can see it in your eyes. You're not a killer, you're just a kid," Ben spoke with a solemn tone, his voice low and intense. "I'm so sorry, Aang, that you have to go through this. But we can't afford to grieve right now. The Sith and the fire nation have been unchecked for nearly a hundred years."
Aang's sobs began to subside, and Ben knew he had to be strong for the young avatar. It was a cruel reality, but weakness could be fatal in their fight against the ruthless enemies they faced. He had to protect Aang, even if it meant suppressing his own emotions.
"If they kill you, Aang...the fire nation will do to the water tribe what they did to the airbenders, and the cycle will continue until the avatar reincarnation is controlled by the fire nation. We can't let these atrocities continue," Ben emphasized, his grip on Aang's shoulder firm.
Aang's gaze dropped to the floor of the cavern, his mind processing the weight of Ben's words. Ben could see he was making an impact, and he pressed on, trying to instill some sense of purpose in the young boy.
"Aang, I know you feel guilty. But believe me, my guilt outweighs yours by a large degree. You're not a sinner in the way I have sinned. I have no hope for redemption," Ben confessed, his voice tinged with regret. "This blood on your hands, you can redeem it with your actions in this world."
Aang wanted to ask more, to understand the depths of Ben's guilt and the sins he spoke of. But he could see in Ben's eyes that there were things he wasn't ready to share. Instead, Aang trusted the unspoken bond between them, knowing that Ben had already revealed so much of himself.
"I have made my decision, Aang," Ben declared, his voice steady and resolute. "I can't wallow in self-pity 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 remain as I am; I must become more." The stale cave air rustled through Ben's long black hair, adding an air of mystery to his words.
"What do you mean?" Aang questioned, his confusion evident. This day had been a roller coaster of emotions for the whole group, and Ben's sudden resolve only added to the whirlwind.
"I...I'm not a good person," Ben admitted, his breath catching. He wanted to confess everything to Aang, but he couldn't do it just yet. There were truths he needed to reveal, but the timing had to be right. "I've done terrible things, Aang. Things I'll never be forgiven for. I've fallen to the dark side, and it's a struggle I face every day. But now, the fire nation will always hunt you down, and the Sith Lords, including Kiara, will forever pursue you now that they know of my existence."
Aang was taken aback. He had always known that Ben carried burdens and inner demons, but he had no idea the extent of the darkness that haunted him.
"The force has set me on a path, Aang. Listen to me, Avatar," Ben said, his voice filled with a righteous anger as he addressed Aang by his title. "You may be the last airbender, but I am the last of the Jedi. I am all that remains of the order and its teachings. We are both the last of our kind, and every time you feel alone, know this, Aang...I shall always be with you. There is a camaraderie in that, a connection that binds us together."
Ben extended his hand towards Aang, who wiped away his tears and took hold of Ben's hand. Despite the overwhelming loneliness each of them carried, in this moment, they found solace in each other's presence. "Okay, let's go," Aang said, his voice quivering with emotion.
Suddenly, a rhythmic clunk echoed through the cavern, drawing their attention to one of the grappling hooks lying nearby. It seemed they had a way out, a path to freedom. Aang tested the cable, ensuring it was secure, and started to climb the ladder, with Ben following closely behind.
Five minutes of tense climbing later, they emerged from the depths, where Katara embraced them tightly. Ben couldn't resist a teasing remark, "Oh wow, missed me that much?" He chuckled under his breath, watching Katara blush intensely before she let go, stammering an apology.
Sokka approached them, relieved that they were all alive. "What happened down there? Heck, I'm just glad you're all okay. We should get out of here," he suggested, to which Aang and Ben both agreed.
Curiosity got the best of Ben as he noticed something in Aang's hand. It was a wooden necklace with strands of beads and a pendant in the shape of the airbenders' symbol. Aang hesitantly handed it over to Ben, who couldn't shake off the strange feeling it gave him. As he held it, the wooden item began to crumble and disintegrate into the air, leaving behind a crystal tetrahedron in his palm.
"What the hell!" Ben exclaimed in shock, his golden eyes locked on the mysterious crystal. It seemed to emit a fiery energy, a power he could sense with the force. "It's...a barab ore ingot," he muttered in disbelief, unable to tear his gaze away from the gem.
The group exchanged puzzled glances, none of them fully comprehending the significance of this strange discovery.
Sokka's eyebrows shot up in bewilderment. "What the heck?" he blurted out, stepping forward and pointing at the crystal. "A barab ore... what?"
"It's a powerful crystal," Ben explained, his words flowing like a rushing river. "It forms under intense heat or radiation, and it's been absorbing the force energy here for years. When the fire benders burned the pendant, it triggered a metamorphosis within the crystal. It's truly rare and powerful, and legends speak of how a blade ignited with this crystal can create a shimmering fiery glow." Sokka stifled a groan, finding it hard to keep up with Ben's verbose explanation.
Ben extended his arm to offer the crystal back to Aang, knowing it belonged to him as the last remnant of the airbenders. But Aang didn't take it, keeping his gaze fixed on Benjamin. Instead, he gently pushed Ben's closed fist back towards him. "It's okay, Ben," Aang said, his eyes reddened from tears. "A Jedi needs their weapon. Are these all the parts you need for your lightsaber?"
Ben shook his head, "Not yet, Aang. I have the power crystals and the main kyber crystal, but I still need to cleanse Kiara's lightsaber crystal of the dark side. And I need to find a Jedi Enclave or an academy to complete it."
"Sorry, Ben. I can't be of more help. The air nomads and monks never told me about the enclaves. I know there must be hidden ones, but I don't know where."
Surprisingly, Ben didn't get angry or frustrated. Instead, a smirk crept across his face. "That's actually good," he said. "If they're hidden, it means the Sith and the fire nation haven't found them yet. We might still find holocrons, robes, and other lightsaber parts hidden away."
"I wish I could be more helpful..." Aang's voice trailed off.
Ben placed a comforting hand on Aang's shoulder, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Aang. You've done enough," he reassured the young avatar.
With their minds set on their respective journeys, the group turned back to head to Appa. The path ahead felt clearer than ever before. Aang now embraced his role as the last airbender, determined to move forward on his journey. Ben, on the other hand, had chosen to walk the path of a Jedi, leaving behind his life as a drunken fool. Both resolved to fight against the fire nation and restore balance to the world and the force.
Yet, deep within Ben, there was a gnawing darkness, growing stronger and almost mocking him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister was lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. The journey ahead held not only physical challenges but also a battle against the darkness that seemed to seep into his very soul.