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Chapter 15 - Edit
The campfire crackled, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance to the rhythm of the flickering flames. The forest around them held its breath, listening to the heavy conversation unfolding by the firelight. Appa and Momo's soft snores, the only reassurance of life's presence, blended into the haunting chorus of the night.
Sokka, the vigilant guardian of the group, was the first to pierce the silence, his voice barely audible above the forest's whispers. "Where's Ben?"
Katara exhaled a weary sigh, her gaze shifting from the fire to her brother. "He went off to meditate," she replied, her words weighted with unspoken anxieties.
The night pressed on, growing darker with each passing moment, and the campfire's vitality waned, leaving behind a feeble glow. The trio, Katara, Aang, and Sokka, huddled close together, their faces shrouded in the enigmatic embrace of the shadows. It was as if the darkness outside mirrored the depths of their thoughts, and with each word, the intensity of their conversation escalated.
Aang, the young and burdened Avatar, broke the silence with words laced with profound emotion. "I can feel it," he confessed, his gaze unfocused as he seemed to peer into an abyss of memories. "The darkness that the monks tried to shield me from. I've witnessed it, and I couldn't shield them from it."
Katara, her eyes glistening with empathy, extended a reassuring hand to rest on Aang's shoulder. "Aang, you were just a child," she consoled, her voice trembling slightly. "You couldn't have foreseen what would occur. We all had to face our own share of horrors on this journey. Like what happened in that canyon... it was beyond our control."
The mention of the canyon brought a haunting silence, and memories of blood, screams, and grotesque creatures flooded their minds. They had had their fair share of close calls during their tumultuous journey, but that experience was hauntingly real.
Sokka stared at his sister, his mind mirroring her thoughts. His eyes drifted to his own hands, where remnants of both monster and human blood still seemed to linger. The recollection of the first time he had touched flesh was a wound that ran deep. "We didn't know," he affirmed, directing his words mainly toward Aang.
Aang's anguish was palpable, his guilt a heavy cloak draped over his shoulders. "But it doesn't change the fact that I failed them," he responded, his voice laden with sorrow. "The Air Nomads were wiped out, and we lost some of the tribals. I couldn't stop it."
Sokka's voice grew gruff, and his gaze remained locked on the waning embers. "We've all seen things that we wish we could forget," he admitted, his words tinged with a mix of nostalgia and dread. "Like that creature in the cave. I'll never forget what it felt like to cut into it, to know that I had taken a life."
Katara shivered involuntarily, her face growing paler as she revisited the horrifying memory. "And I've had to heal so many wounds," she added, her voice trembling. "More than I ever thought I would. It's a burden I never imagined having to bear."
Sokka's eyes shimmered with unyielding determination as he shook his head, his voice carrying the weight of unwavering resolve. "Aang, I get what you mean, but you can't feel bad. The blame isn't on you."
Aang was about to offer a response, but Katara gently placed her hand on his shoulder, her eyes signaling for Sokka to continue. "I know that cavern was rough, Aang, but we can't afford to lose hope. You can't," Sokka asserted firmly.
Aang's lips parted to speak, to somehow shoulder the burden of guilt that pressed upon him, but Sokka's relentless determination stilled his words. "We didn't know what was going to happen…"
But Aang tried to interject, to share the responsibility, yet Sokka once again shook his head, cutting off his words. "No," Sokka replied with steely resolve. "We knew nothing about this place. All we had was a messed up map and a comatose guide. It's a miracle we escaped from there with all our limbs intact."
Sokka's words bordered on dark humor, but Aang's shocked expression betrayed his disapproval, earning Sokka an annoyed look from Katara. Still, Sokka pressed on, his voice firm and unwavering. "Listen, it's alright for you to feel bad, Aang," he admitted, his eyes locking onto Aang's. "But we have to be like Ben and keep moving forward. We must strive and grow stronger for this journey."
"Sokka…" Katara interjected, a hint of understanding in her voice, sensing that Sokka's words weren't only meant for Aang but for himself as well.
Sokka's gaze remained locked on the flickering flames as he continued. "Ben needs help," he commanded, and Team Avatar nodded in agreement. "How many times are we going to be knocked out of combat and sidelined while Ben is out there fighting?"
He raised his hands in a rallying gesture, and they nodded in unity. "We've been through far worse," Sokka declared into the night sky. "Our duty is to bring an end to the Fire Lord's reign. All those tribes were displaced because of this war, and with Ben and Aang…" He paused and turned his gaze to the Avatar. "I feel like we can maybe restore balance."
Silence hung in the air before Katara's voice broke it. "So, you believe?" she quipped, her tone teasing.
"What?" Sokka raised both hands in mock defense.
"You fully believe that Aang can now save the world," Katara pressed.
Aang had remained unusually quiet throughout this exchange, his heart warming at the familiar banter. It reminded him of his days with the monks, and what they would say about him. Deep down, Aang knew he couldn't let his friends suffer the same fate.
"Aang and Benjamin," Sokka replied, and Katara sighed in amusement. "No, seriously," Sokka insisted.
"What?" Katara questioned, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Aang and Ben, what?"
Sokka huffed, sporting a self-assured smirk as he scrutinized the pair. "I've seen Ben and Aang together, the Avatar and the Jedi. Maybe, during the beginning, I was…"
"During the beginning, you most definitely did not like me," Aang interrupted with a chuckle. Laughter, light as air, filled the night sky, and the camaraderie they shared became their shield against the growing challenges that lay ahead.
Benjamin sat cross-legged on the forest floor, the wilderness around him shrouded in the veil of night. It had been a full day since the tribes had been safely escorted out of the treacherous valley. Ben and his companions, Team Avatar, had ventured into the Divide, a tortuous and bewildering canyon system, in pursuit of a shortcut marked on their tour guide's map.
They had embarked on what they believed would be a quick three-day journey, swiftly turning it into a perilous one-day odyssey. Ben couldn't help but click his lips in quiet contemplation. '…though, it went to hell just as quickly,' he mused, his gaze drifting down to his feet.
During his time in the cave, Benjamin had been contacted by an ancient spirit steeped in the dark side, a being that had proffered him a holocron. Had it not been for Katara's timely intervention, the young Jedi would have fully embraced the offered power. Even now, he had yet to divulge the existence of the holocron or the encounter to his master and friends.
Then, the Sand Crawlers, grotesque products of Sith Alchemy, had launched their merciless attack on the tribes and Team Avatar. They fought valiantly, but the waves of relentless creatures overwhelmed them. The tour guide and many tribal members paid the ultimate price.
It took Benjamin embracing the teachings of the Holocron, utilizing them to master the true potential of his Force lightning, to turn the tide. He had never felt such raw power coursing through him before. Unleashing bolts of lightning and feeling the potent energy flow from his very being had been exhilarating. But nothing could compare to what came next.
Even with this newfound power, Ben had not been strong enough to vanquish Alpha. The creature had been scorched to a crisp, yet it remained strangely alive, spared only by the telepathic bond it shared with the others. When Alpha suffered, so did the entire pack.
Ben stared at his hands, his thoughts turning inward. He knew he couldn't afford to wield Force lightning indiscriminately any longer, nor could he let his fingers tremble with energy in times of fear or guilt.
The Force enveloped him like a second skin, and he welcomed it willingly, allowing its energy to flow through him. He watched the telltale cracks of purple tendrils ripple along his fingers, a testament to his newfound control over this ability.
'I can harness my telekinetic talents with the Force, enhance my strength and speed. Those are my core abilities, and now I possess mastery over Force choke and improved control over Force lightning,' he contemplated. His affinity for the dark side had never been something he embraced willingly, but now he understood that he had no choice.
It was just as everyone had been telling him, from Aunt Wu to Meetra, and even that ancient scroll he'd stumbled upon, dating back to the ancient hyperspace wars. Light and Dark… Merely Just Tools.
He clenched his hands into fists, feeling the tension in his right fingers and the absence of it in his left. Such hesitations could prove fatal in the world they were navigating.
Rising from his seated position, Ben shook off the dust that clung to his clothes. Sweat glistened on his brow as he began to practice with his lightsaber blade, the purple beam of light whirling like a vivid blur. His thoughts continued to revolve around the philosophy that had become his guiding principle.
Perhaps, Ben mused, the words held a truth deeper than he'd ever considered. As he swung his lightsaber, the blade's purple hue cut through the air, his thoughts echoing in his head. The training session grew more vigorous with each swing, sweat glistening on his brow. 'Maybe, this was the truth. Before there were Jedi and Sith, there was just the Force. Then, what was Dark and Light? We chose to categorize ourselves; we chose to restrict ourselves.'
Ben halted his blade mid-swing, chest heaving with exertion. Dark tendrils of hair clung to his damp forehead, and the faint hum of his lightsaber resonated in his ears. That notion clung to him; the light side of the Force had abandoned him, withholding its strength. But the dark side beckoned, embracing him with an eerie affinity. It granted him power, offering the arcane arts of the Sith as his natural birthright. His right hand tightened on the hilt. 'I'll destroy the Fire Nation and the Sith...I'll turn their own strength against them.'
The Jedi had always warned against anger, calling it the path to the Dark Side. They preached the virtues of suppressing emotions, but Ben saw only passivity and arrogance in their teachings. Giving in to his emotions had granted him power, not weakness.
He deactivated his lightsaber and took a swig from his water flask, reattaching the weapon to his belt. As he walked through the forest, thoughts swirled in his mind. They had docked near another town, another Fire Nation colony. Their destination was still distant and unclear. What should their next move be? The ultimate goal was clear: to defeat the Fire Lord. But Aang had to master all four elements for that to happen.
Memories of Aang's unwavering commitment to "not killing" weighed heavily on Ben's mind. Did he truly have the right to judge Aang's choices? Ben had acted cowardly, succumbing to his emotions instead of doing what he believed was right: striking down Kiara. She was still out there, possibly causing more chaos. He should have ended her.
Suddenly, Ben's eyes widened, his emotions surging. Instead of suppressing them, he let them wash over him, accepting their power. That's when he felt it—a disturbance in the Force. He called his lightsaber to his hand, the blade feeling unusually heavy. But there was no allure of the dark side this time; it was something different.
He didn't ignite the blade but advanced cautiously in the direction of the disturbance. Running through the dense woods, he finally came to a stop. Before him stood a boy, about his age or maybe a year younger, with long brown hair cascading past his neck. He was garbed in dark green Earth Kingdom robes, his dark brown eyes reflecting curiosity and minimal facial hair gracing his youthful face.
He stood there, rocks hovering in mid-air around him, an Earth Kingdom robe draping his lanky frame. To the untrained eye, it might seem like ordinary earthbending, a skill as old as the world. But Benjamin knew better; he felt the resonance of the Force in the boy's actions.
"Hello," Ben ventured, his voice cutting through the forest's hushed ambience. The boy's head snapped in his direction, terror flashing across his eyes like a bolt of lightning. The rocks dropped with a heavy thud, his concentration shattered. Fear radiated from him, palpable in the air, like a shadowy specter.
For a moment, silence hung between them, pregnant with unease. Ben reattached his lightsaber to his belt; he sensed no malevolence from this novice Force-sensitive. Instead, he detected the innocence of one who had just begun to touch the Force.
Tentatively, Ben extended his hand, palm outstretched, attempting to put the young man at ease. "It's okay," he assured him, watching as the boy's gaze flicked between his hand and his face. Slowly, he raised his right hand, levitating a rock with the Force to emphasize his point. "I'm like you," he added. "My name is Benjamin, a Guardian of the Jedi Order. Where is your master?"
The young man exhaled, relief washing over his features. He turned to face Ben more fully, his demeanor calming as he approached. He seemed relieved to have encountered someone who shared his newfound abilities. "I'm Haru, but I'm self-taught," he replied, extending his hand, a gesture of camaraderie. They shook hands firmly, two young Force-sensitive individuals meeting in this remote corner of the world.
'Self-taught,' Ben thought, genuine admiration in his voice. 'To harness the Force here, where it's so unknown, is impressive.' He chuckled as they released their handshake, his senses alerting him to the approach of his friends. "Listen, my friends are coming. I must say, for you to learn the Force on your own, it's a feat even the greatest Jedi Masters would hope to accomplish."
"The Force?" Haru echoed, confusion flickering in his eyes. He turned, raising another rock with the flick of his wrist. "You mean my Earthbending?"
"What?" Ben muttered, perplexed. Haru pointed to the rock suspended in mid-air. "Your Earthbending...I don't understand," he admitted.
Slowly, it dawned on him. Haru believed he was an Earthbender. He didn't realize that he was drawing on the Force, convinced he was bending the earth. "An Earthbender!" Katara exclaimed, her voice ringing out like a bell. Haru tensed, ready to bolt, but Ben raised his hands to calm him.
"They're with me," he assured the young man, gesturing toward the approaching trio. As they walked together toward Haru's home, Ben introduced his friends—Katara, Sokka, and Aang. Yet, he chose not to disclose Haru's connection to the Force, a secret they would uncover in time.
Ben's gaze wandered around the humble Hutt, a modest dwelling, neither extravagant nor too grandiose, well-suited for a small family. They sat encircled, Team Avatar and Haru's mother, the woman concluding the harrowing tale of the Fire Nation's aggression and her husband's capture. Her eyes, brimming with tears, held the rapt attention of her audience.
Ben sensed the smoldering anger within Haru, a seething rage directed squarely at the Fire Nation, its echoes reverberating faintly through the Force. He recognized that anger well, understood the potent fuel of revenge and hatred, emotions that could fortify but also corrupt.
"Haru, he's an Earthbender, one of the last. He could be a hero," Katara suggested, her voice laced with optimism. Haru's mother's face, however, contorted into a scowl, and she jabbed a finger at the girl. "No! They've already taken his father, and I've told him to stop 'levitating' those damn things!" She spat the strange word, 'levitation,' drawing Ben's curiosity.
"Mom, maybe they're right. They travel with the Avatar, and they have another Earthbender. He did the same thing I did before," Haru countered, placing a reassuring hand on his mother's shoulder. Her gaze remained fixed on Ben, mouth slightly agape.
Ben was now certain. Haru's mother possessed a connection to the Force, though perhaps not as potent as her son's. "Miss, if you don't mind me asking, when did Haru's Earthbending abilities first manifest?" Ben queried, his demeanor unusually measured, a stark contrast to his usual candidness.
Haru's mother redirected her gaze to her son, her voice heavy with emotion. "Haru, could you please take our guest to the barn? They can stay there for the night," she requested, and Haru nodded, ushering the rest of Team Avatar away.
"Ben, you coming?" Aang called back, but Ben shook his head. "I'll be there in a second. Just have a few questions about the town, need to ensure we're not in any real danger," he replied, and the others departed, leaving him alone with Haru's mother, a palpable tension between them.
"Miss," Ben began, adopting a placid tone, "I want to assure you that I pose no threat. Whether it be from your parents or grandparents, I am not the one you should be wary of." His hands returned to his chest, a calming gesture. "I am a Jedi Knight; I believe you understand what that entails. Haru is not with us."
Haru's mother let out a heavy sigh, her mouth pressed into a thin line. And thus began her narrative, a tale that intertwined with the Jedi of this world. Haru's great-grandmother, a Jedi Sentinel, had walked a different path than most Jedi, involving herself in the people's problems rather than the Order's grand battles.
She had survived the Great Purge, a survivor who chose to retire to the countryside in her twilight years. She had wedded, borne children, but refrained from teaching them about the Jedi or the Force. To instill such knowledge risked exposing her offspring to potential discovery, a death sentence that would lead to her children's indoctrination into the Sith ways, breaking them on the dark side's anvil.
Haru's mother possessed a unique bond with the Force, knowledge imparted on her by her grandmother on her deathbed. Fearful that this sacred wisdom might fade into oblivion, she left behind a hidden treasure beneath her very home. Haru's great-grandmother had harbored a steadfast belief that the Jedi Order would eventually resurge, that her descendants would become the new knights of this rekindled order.
But Haru's mother had little interest in such matters. She couldn't care less about the ceaseless cosmic tussle between the dark side and the light side of the Force. All she ever yearned for was a tranquil life with her family, far removed from the convoluted complexities of the Force. She never uttered a word about it, not even to her husband. Haru, however, harbored an innate and potent connection to the Force, a phenomenon Ben had only heard of in tales of Jedi lore.
"So, Haru's Earthbending, he believes that's what it is, but you and I know he's telekinetically lifting things with the Force?" Ben remarked, and Haru's mother nodded her affirmation.
"Haru always dreamed of being an Earthbender. His father was a formidable bender himself," she reminisced, a tender smile playing on her lips as she clenched her fist against her heart. "Yet, for the longest time, we believed he was a non-bender. That was until he..."
Ben didn't require further explanation. The intensity of Haru's desire to Earthbend inadvertently led to his Force-powered feats, an impressive display, especially considering he lacked formal training. She studied Ben, her eyes unyielding, not allowing him to evade her gaze.
"Are you a true Jedi?" she inquired, firing off her next question before Ben could respond. "My grandmother told me about them. Guardians of peace, the only ones who resisted the Sith and Dark Jedi. Can you train Haru?"
Ben's eyes widened, memories of a vision flashing before him – a blood-red sky and a frozen wasteland, standing back-to-back with a powerful Force-sensitive. He sensed the profound Force bond that linked the two.
However, Ben remained torn. "Listen, Miss. I am a Jedi, but I've only recently been promoted to a Jedi Knight. You're asking me to train Haru?"
She nodded vigorously, akin to a child's toy. "Haru, I'm no fool... he needs to learn, at least to control his abilities. I'm not asking my son to join the battlefield, just to have the knowledge to defend himself if needed."
Ben was still uncertain. "Are you absolutely sure about this? The Force isn't something you can stow away in a box and forget about. Once he's awakened to his true abilities, to the immense weight of the Force, there's no turning back. The war between the light and the dark... he'll be forever entangled in it."
Haru's mother's tone shifted at his words. "What do you mean?" she inquired.
"Miss, I get it. The Fire Nation is a bunch of assholes, and the Sith are pure evil. They must be stopped. But if I train Haru to harness the Force, they won't just come after me; they'll be after him as well," Ben replied, his tone devoid of any sugarcoating. He needed her to grasp the gravity of the responsibility she sought for her son. "Haru is young and oblivious to the Force. Treading this path could lead him to suffering and anguish. Plus, I'm not sure I can train him. I'm not a Jedi Master, and Haru isn't someone we can just take with us."
Ben rose from his chair, scraping it back with a scrape against the wooden floor. Haru, he thought, seemed like a decent guy. Sure, the young man had aspirations of being a hero and perhaps should've heeded his mother's warnings about his Force abilities. But there was an earnestness in him, a desire to make a difference.
"This war we're fighting, it's a never-ending battle. If I can save someone, just one person, maybe it's worth it," Ben mused as he swung the door open, his decision made. For now, Haru would remain blissfully unaware of the Force. His abilities would forever be attributed to earthbending.
Ben had a mission – to protect the Avatar, to lay down his life if needed to ensure Aang could restore balance to the world. He didn't have the luxury of time to teach Haru the intricacies of lightsaber forms or the complexities of the Force.
"Maybe, after this war ends, when the Sith are defeated, I'll start a Jedi Academy. Rebuild the Jedi Order," Ben contemplated as he walked, the weight of those words settling upon him like a heavy cloak.
But then, his steps halted, and he muttered, "Rebuild the Jedi Order?" The enormity of that notion suddenly struck him. It wasn't necessarily a bad idea, but the thought weighed on him.
"Jedi Grandmaster?" Benjamin questioned, the title echoing in his mind. It didn't sit well with him. He hadn't earned it, not in his eyes, at least. He might be a strong Jedi, but that was his ego talking.
Shaking off these contemplations, he dismissed them as distractions. He couldn't afford to dwell on the future of the Jedi or his own. He needed to focus on Aang's journey to defeat the Fire Lord.
Pushing open the door to the barnhouse, the pungent scent of hay filled Ben's nostrils, causing his eyes to redden. "Hey, Ben," Sokka greeted him. Ben waved as he wiped his eyes, the day's training having taken its toll. He yearned for rest.
"Sokka, where are we headed tomorrow?" Ben inquired, his voice laden with exhaustion as he lay back on his bedroll, staring up at the wooden rafters above.
Sokka regarded the tired Jedi and responded, "We're going to a place called Omashu, I think?" He spelled it out, earning a groan from Ben.
"What's your problem?" Sokka retorted.
Ben rubbed his temples, his tension palpable. "Sokka, seriously, we need to get serious. We don't know how long we have."
Sokka, with a more laid-back perspective, countered, "Ben, we don't need to rush. We can help people and help Aang learn bending."
Ben reluctantly agreed, still plagued by those nagging feelings. It had started in the cavern, and he initially attributed it to the Dark Side, but now, there was something else unsettling him.
"Okay... yeah, maybe I'm just being paranoid," he conceded, though the unease still lingered in his mind.
"Good, then..." Sokka's words hung in the air, curt and final, as he turned over within his mound of hay, preparing for sleep.
Ben let out a weary sigh, his eyes closing slowly as twilight's somber embrace enveloped them. Unbeknownst to the duo now nestled in their makeshift beds, the events of the previous day had unfolded in a rather dramatic fashion. They were blissfully ignorant of Aang's earlier antics, unaware that something far more ominous loomed on the horizon.
Little did they know that Haru had harnessed the Force to lift heavy rocks off an elderly man. They couldn't fathom the fear that had gripped the old man, leading him to betray Haru's secret abilities. They were oblivious to the grim reality that awaited Haru, his destiny altered as he was bound for a labor camp, far removed from the comfort of home.
They occupied their seats, Haru's mother's face awash with tears, her gaze transfixed on the wooden table. Her clenched fist bore down on it so hard that the surface began to crack. "What... have... you... done?" Her words emerged broken and laden with anger as all eyes remained fixed on her.
"I'm sorry, Miss," Ben confessed, shaking his head with a heavy heart. He harbored self-blame, a sense of responsibility that weighed on him like a leaden cloak. He should have exercised more caution, even though Katara meant well, she rarely contemplated the consequences of her actions. "...I need to know, did they take Haru away for earthbending?"
Katara interjected, her face etched with fury, her eyes blazing like hot embers. She was incensed by the old man's betrayal, for both she and Haru had saved his life, only to be repaid with such treachery. "What else would they throw him in there for?" Katara nearly screamed, her voice echoing with rage as she pushed away from her chair and locked eyes with Ben. "We have to save him. We can take Appa and—"
Ben, too, rose from his seat, brandishing his lightsaber. He presented it to Haru's mother, his eyes locking onto hers. "Did the people who took Haru possess a weapon resembling this, or were they standard Fire Nation soldiers?"
Haru's mother struggled to find her voice amidst the turmoil of her emotions. "Fire Nation soldiers," she eventually whispered, her voice heavy with sorrow. "They came at midnight, with that old man. They took him, just like they took his father." Her tears flowed freely.
Ben nodded in understanding. He exhaled a slow, measured breath, releasing the tension that had been building within him. "Okay, that's good..."
"Good?" Her anguish erupted like a volcanic eruption, and she hurled her chair aside, advancing toward Ben. Her finger jabbed into his chest, a conduit for her grief and anger. "MY SON WAS STOLEN FROM ME!"
"Relax, I didn't mean it like that," Ben implored, gently pushing her finger away. Team Avatar watched the exchange with a mixture of hesitation and concern. "We can rescue him from that labor camp. But I wouldn't be able to save him from the clutches of the Sith or Dark Jedi," he stated plainly.
Aang's curiosity got the better of him, and he inquired, "Why are you worried about that? What would the Sith want with Haru?"
Ben sighed and looked around the room. Then, he told them of Haru's secret.
Sokka's outburst reverberated through the room, as he exclaimed, "What! When Haru does earthbending, he's actually using the Force!"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Aang's voice rose, echoing Sokka's indignation.
Ben motioned for them to lower their voices, his ears protesting the increasing volume. "Relax. Haru's mother and I agreed that revealing the truth wouldn't be in his best interest. He's only a year younger than me, and I didn't want him to bear such a heavy burden," Ben explained. "Besides, I knew Katara would react like this. She would've pushed Haru to become a hero, to take on the mantle of a Jedi."
The air in the room grew dense with tension as their voices clashed like waves against the shore, a storm brewing beneath the surface. Katara's reply came sharp, her eyes meeting Ben's determined gaze. "Yet, that wasn't your decision to make. That's Haru's ability. He's not you, and if he wants to use those abilities for good, what gives you the right to stop him?"
Ben turned to face the waterbender, his frustration palpable. "I'll tell you, because he doesn't have a master!" His voice rose, frustration leaking into his tone. "Listen, Katara. I understand what happened to you was wrong, I get your anger towards the Fire Nation, but Haru doesn't understand the magnitude of the threats we face daily. My head still hurts from getting thrown into a wall by a Dark Side creature!"
"We'll figure it out, we can take him under our wing. You've said that there aren't any Jedi left; this can be what you need," Katara argued. "We need more allies; you've said that this journey will only get harder."
Ben's fist slammed into the table, a resounding thud that silenced everyone. His eyes bore into Katara's, and he spoke through gritted teeth, his anger seeping through. "It already has. Kiara, she's a menace that keeps on coming back. Hell, I've bested her, but she keeps on getting stronger. Who knows when we'll actually confront real warriors of the Dark Side? Not a Dark Jedi like Kiara."
"We've made it this far already," Katara retorted, her voice unwavering.
Ben clicked his teeth in frustration and, with a swift motion, raised his left hand, revealing the two missing fingers. He moved them partially, a grim display that left Katara wide-eyed. "Yeah, we've been doing just fine," he muttered under his breath, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
"ENOUGH!" Haru's mother's voice cut through the tension, commanding silence from everyone at the table. "That's enough arguing. You've all played a role in this. You're the Avatar, and you're a Jedi. Do your jobs and save my son!"
Ben rose from his seat, his friends nodding in agreement. The unresolved issues about the Jedi and Ben's lack of faith in them would have to be addressed later. "Jedi, I feel that you may need this," Haru's mother said. The Avatar team turned their attention as she reached under the table, her fingers finding a lone wooden board. She pushed it, and it creaked under the pressure. Carefully, she retrieved something and laid it on the table.
Ben was the first to notice it. Unlike Aunt Wu's container containing her grandfather's robes and a map leading to the Enclave, this one was less inconspicuous. The box was medium-sized, crafted from wood, and held two golden latches on its sides, suggesting it opened inward. Aang inspected it, asking, "Where's the opening or key lock on this thing?"
"There's no key," Ben stopped him, pointing at the box. "The Force is the key, but even then, I doubt I could open it."
"What?" Sokka exclaimed. "I thought you could do anything with the Force."
"Yeah, I can use the Force on it and pry it open. But the Force within this chest doesn't want me to get in. It's not some sort of Dark Side artifact or tainted object," Ben explained.
Even to Ben, the mysteries of it all eluded complete comprehension. The way the Force flowed around the box was an enigma he had never before encountered. It held a peculiar quality, akin to the choosiness of a lightsaber crystal, as if it sought not just an owner but a kindred spirit among the masses.
It whispered secrets known only to itself, secrets that seemed to resonate with a singular soul.
It jutted out of the ocean like some grotesque monument, an industrial leviathan rising from the depths. The rig's colossal pillars plunged deep into the ocean's very crust, as if it aimed to pierce the heart of the Earth itself. It was a scar on the pristine horizon, a blemish defiling the purity of the sea.
This was the desolate outpost where the Fire Nation consigned prisoners of war and all those they deemed expendable. Here, men like Haru, barely men at all, were condemned to a life of grueling, back-breaking toil under the relentless blaze of the sun. It was a symbol of suffering and oppression, a microcosm of the Fire Nation's tyranny.
The sight of it twisted something inside Haru. He turned away, biting down hard on his lip to quell the fury that bubbled within. It was a feeling he struggled to name, an anger that fueled his very being. It coursed through him, enhancing his Earthbending prowess in a way he couldn't fully comprehend. It was intoxicating in its own disturbing manner.
A moment later, a peculiar sensation seized him, and he sprang from his bedroll. These moments had been a part of him since childhood, inexplicable premonitions or instincts guiding his actions. He couldn't explain them to his parents; they sounded crazy, like the ramblings of a madman. But when that tug urged him to retreat or dash away, he followed it without hesitation.
A searing, purple blade pierced the metallic floor where Haru had stood just moments ago. It whirled in a mesmerizing circle, capturing the attention of laborers, young and old alike, who gathered around the strange beam. As suddenly as it had appeared, the blade ceased its dance, leaving behind a gaping hole in the floor.
It grated as it descended, revealing a gust of briny sea air that breathed life into the stifling confines of the rig. A figure emerged, brandishing the peculiar weapon that had produced the radiant beam. "Haru..." The newcomer spoke, striding towards the young man.
Haru greeted him with a nod. "Good to see you, Benjamin," he replied. Ben approached the opening, extending his hands to assist Katara, who struggled to clamber through. Aang and Sokka, meanwhile, sought a resting spot for Appa nearby, leaving Haru and Ben to converse in this newfound haven of freedom.
After a brief introduction with Haru's father, the group, now followed by most of the refugees, made their way to a makeshift meeting area. Rows of simple seats encircled a crackling fire, casting flickering shadows that danced like restless spirits. It was in this eerie glow that Ben and Katara began to address the young man.
"Haru, we're here to get you out of this place," Ben stated, extending his hand toward the boy. Earthbenders around them watched with mouths agape, their eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and hope.
Haru, the boy with a chance to escape the clutches of this hellhole, shocked them all with his response.
"NO!" Haru's father exclaimed, gripping his son's shoulders and turning him to face him. His expression was not one of anger but of deep concern. "You have to go, my son. This place is a living nightmare, and I don't want you to endure it any longer."
Haru struggled against his father's grip, shaking his head vigorously. "I've come this far, Dad. I can't leave you here. There might be a chance in the future for all of us to escape. This war will end, and we just have to hold on until then. I won't leave you behind."
The unwavering determination in his voice, defying his father's pleas, even earned a reluctant nod of approval from Ben. Taking a deep breath, his voice heavy with the weight of what he was about to say, he spoke. "Haru, you're not an Earthbender. You can't survive out here like this. Please, go back to your mother."
"I can bend rocks just fine," Haru retorted, unfazed by Ben's argument. This left Ben at a loss for words. How could he explain what was happening? How could he make Haru understand?
"No, you're not," Katara chimed in, ignoring the disapproving look Ben shot her way. She pointed towards him, her determination unwavering. "He's not an Earthbender. He's a Jedi Knight, a warrior from a forgotten tribe or religion. It doesn't matter what you call it. The point is, what you think is Earthbending is actually a manifestation of your own power."
Ben found himself torn. He was caught between two paths, two perspectives, and two worlds. Katara, although well-meaning, didn't truly comprehend the weight of living with the Force, of having that ability, which could bring salvation or ruin. He remembered the agony, the eternal struggle, and the dark temptations that lurked within the Force.
Haru, a Force-sensitive without any knowledge of the Jedi, the Force, or the battle between the light and dark sides, was standing at a precipice. Ben didn't know what the right answer was. Haru could become a great hero or a terrible villain. If the Sith ever got their claws into him, they would twist and break him into something monstrous.
The memory of captured Jedi, their screams echoing in the dungeons of the Sith, haunted Ben. They had been subjected to horrific torment, their deepest fears wielded as weapons against them. They were broken, transformed into something worse than Sith, turned into agents of evil.
Ben couldn't bear the thought of Haru going through that. But then he realized the folly of his thinking, the arrogance of presuming the worst outcome. Nomi Sunrider, one of the greatest Jedi, had been trained at a later age. Who was he to deny Haru the chance to learn simply because of speculation?
Ben sucked in a breath and cast aside his apprehensions. He looked directly at Haru, his eyes filled with resolve. "Haru, if you want to learn, I'll teach you," he declared, his voice firm. "But understand this is a path fraught with danger, and the choices you make will shape your destiny. You'll need to learn control and discipline, for the Force can be as destructive as it is empowering. Are you sure this is what you want?"
He wasn't a Jedi. He had no lightsaber, no formal training, just an uncanny connection with the Force. This was what Katara was trying to convey. She wasn't undermining his values, only stating the stark reality. Ben sighed, the weight of the situation pressing on him.
"Do any of you have some cloth or something?" Ben requested. He needed to blindfold Haru. After a few minutes, Haru stood, his eyes concealed by the makeshift blindfold. The other laborers stared curiously, puzzled by this peculiar spectacle. "If I explained, you wouldn't understand. You're overthinking it, not trusting in the Force. But you'll get there soon," Ben reassured Haru.
Haru nodded, uncertain but willing. "What do I need to do?" he asked. Ben retrieved his lightsaber, placing it in front of Haru, while the onlookers whispered and grimaced. Katara quickly hushed them.
"Alright, Haru, I've placed an object in front of you. I want you to use your Earthbending to draw it toward you," Ben instructed. The crowd reacted with disbelief, some whispering about it not being a rock at all. Katara silenced them, keeping the situation from spiraling out of control.
Ben patted Haru's back and stepped back. Haru focused on the object before him, feeling its energy, the tether he always sensed while Earthbending. Lifting this object with his mind wasn't much different from his previous experiences with rocks.
The crowd had to be held back by Katara as they reacted to the astonishing sight. Haru was telekinetically moving the object, but it wasn't a rock – it was something entirely different. When Ben's lightsaber flew into Haru's hand after he removed the blindfold, Haru was left in awe.
"This isn't... a rock. I don't even know what it's made of," Haru stammered, his astonishment palpable.
Ben approached, resting a reassuring hand on Haru's shoulder. "Haru, this is the Force. What you've been calling Earthbending is your connection to this power. I spoke with your mother; your great-grandmother was a Jedi Knight."
Haru's eyes widened, and he took a hesitant step back, nearly tripping over himself in the process. "This doesn't make sense... Jedi Knight, Force... I'm just a kid from a backwater town," he muttered in disbelief.
Ben shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "No, Haru, you're a Force user. Your grandmother was part of the Jedi Order, and the Force flows strongly in certain bloodlines," Ben explained. It was a well-known fact that Jedi were not allowed to have children, one of the greatest taboos of the Order. But there were exceptions, like the Qel Droma family and the renowned Nomi Sunrider, who had a Jedi husband and a child named Vima Sunrider.
Ben had witnessed the power of bloodlines with Aunt Wu and her family. Now, he saw it once again with Haru. The Jedi Order was gone, destroyed, but the Force still lingered strongly in this world. "Katara, bring him the box," he instructed, their journey into the mysteries of the Force only just beginning.
Haru's curiosity sparked as Katara handed him the medium-sized box. He held it delicately, his fingers tracing its contours, as if he were handling a sacred relic of old.
"Come on, Haru," Ben urged, his patience wearing thin. With a sigh, Haru finally opened the box. To Ben's surprise, he succeeded where the Force had initially barred him.
Ben leaned in, his eyes widening in astonishment as the contents were revealed. There were two items nestled inside. The first was a substantial green robe, a stark contrast to Ben's own attire with its heavy fabric and proper tabard.
The second item seized Ben's attention, and the others couldn't help but feel the weight of its presence. Haru's fingers delicately explored the cold hilt of the lightsaber, feeling the stir of the weapon within his grasp.
The cylindrical hilt of the lightsaber gleamed primarily in metallic silver. Its tapered neck and parabolic-shaped emitter were distinctive features of the design. As Ben examined it more closely, he couldn't help but let out a low whistle.
"That's quite a lightsaber," he remarked, leaning in closer to get a better look.
"I don't get it," Haru replied, genuinely puzzled. Ben pointed to the grip of the weapon.
"The lightsaber is equipped with a 'Pistol Grip' of sorts. It's designed to mold itself to the user's hand, providing a comfortable and customized grip," Ben explained, his words going over the heads of everyone except himself. This was a weapon fit for a true Jedi, a real Force warrior.
"Alright, Haru," Ben instructed, pointing to the red button on the hilt. "Ignite your weapon."
Haru stood up from his crouch, his father giving him a nod of approval. He took a deep breath, and with the press of a button, the weapon came to life. An emerald blade extended, bathing everyone in its fiery glow.
Haru attempted a few practice swings, but they were erratic and uncontrolled. It was clear he lacked the training to wield a lightsaber properly.
"Alright, Haru," Ben said, watching the young man carefully. "If you intend to follow the path of the Jedi, you must learn the proper forms of our Order."
Haru nodded, still entranced by the green lightsaber blade. In the Jedi Order, green was the color of the Consulars, those focused on the spiritual aspects of the Force. Unlike the Guardians, who took a more direct approach as the Jedi's crusaders, the Consulars used their deep connection to the Force to combat the dark side, often relying less on their lightsabers.
Ben noted the color of the blade, reflecting on what Haru's mother had mentioned about her grandmother being a Sentinel of the Order. The color of a Jedi's lightsaber didn't always define their role in the Jedi Order. Lightsabers were highly customizable, with crystals—whether natural, synthetic, or gemstones—determining the color. Ben speculated that Haru's great-grandmother might have altered her lightsaber's crystal, perhaps changing its yellow hue to another shade.
Ben and Haru squared off, their eyes locked in a focused exchange. Ben took on the role of instructor, guiding Haru in the ways of the Jedi's weapon. He carefully positioned the young man, ensuring he held the lightsaber correctly.
"It feels... strange," Haru remarked as Ben moved in front of him.
"Yeah, a lightsaber is unlike any other weapon. All the weight is in the hilt. You'll get used to it," Ben assured him. He used the Force to summon his own hilt into his hand, creating a circle of refugees around them. "The lightsaber is the weapon of our order. You'll make your own eventually, but we don't have time for that now." Ben ignited his weapon, casting a vivid purple light that contrasted with Haru's emerald blade. "Let's start with the basics, Form 1, also known as the Shii-Cho lightsaber form, or the determination form. Its greatest strength lies in its simplicity."
Haru, showing a sudden formality with the title "Master," raised a question. Ben was taken aback, but he decided to let it pass. After all, he was indeed teaching Haru the ways of the Jedi, and he didn't want to muddy the waters with technicalities. So, he pushed forward.
"It's the easiest form to learn," Ben explained. "Its simplicity makes it effective when all else fails. It has no particular strengths or weaknesses." Haru absorbed this knowledge with a nod.
Ben demonstrated the basics of Form 1, allowing Haru to mirror his movements. His young apprentice had limited knowledge of just four forms: Shii-Cho, Ataru, Jar'Kai, and Shien. Soresu, the defensive form, wasn't his strong suit. Nevertheless, he hoped to impart a solid foundation in lightsaber combat to Haru.
With their blades humming in unison, Ben directed the training. "Haru, now it's your turn to block my attacks. I'll swing my lightsaber down slowly, and you parry to knock it aside."
Haru nodded eagerly, ready to put theory into practice. Ben executed a slow downward strike, and Haru followed suit, their blades clashing and sparks dancing between them. Ben broke the saber lock and launched into a left slash toward Haru's midsection.
Haru reacted swiftly, parrying the strike. The force flowed through both of them, an energy connecting them in their training. Watching this, the refugees and Katara witnessed a moment that would be etched into their memories, a moment marking the beginning of a new era.
Unbeknownst to them, the birth of the New Jedi Order had just commenced, a force that would shape the destiny of their world, and perhaps, the universe itself.
A heap of rocks erupted before the imprisoned, and the Fire Nation guards, along with their imposing warden, gawked in sheer disbelief. The courtyard, where prisoners of war had labored relentlessly for the Fire Nation's war machine, was now a battleground crackling with tension.
Haru and Ben stood shoulder to shoulder, a striking contrast in their attire. Haru donned green emerald robes, while Ben's robe, reminiscent of the legendary Qel Droma, blazed in fiery red. With a synchronized leap, they descended upon the chaos, their weapons, the lightsabers, ignited and ready. The war had just ignited anew.
Katara, wielding her water whip, joined the fray, and the Earthbenders hurled rocks at the Fire Nation forces. These stones became deadly projectiles, tearing through Fire Nation armor with a relentless fury. Appa, their colossal ally, began to ascend, while the rest of Team Avatar threw themselves into the frenzied battle.
Haru harnessed the Force, a surge of power flowing through him, propelling a horde of Fire Nation soldiers backward. Their clinking armor and bewildered expressions told of their fall, their bodies slamming against a wall with such force that it cracked under the impact.
"Haru, don't overexert yourself!" Ben's voice rang out, his amethyst blade cutting through swords and spears as he fought relentlessly. Some of the Fire Nation's weapons were formidable, crafted from a material that could resist lightsabers, much like his previous sword, resembling vibro-swords. "This is your first time really using the Force; don't push it too hard!"
"Yes, Master!" Haru's exhilarated response filled the air. His newfound power infused him with a surge of strength, allowing him to hold his ground against the Fire Nation's onslaught. His lightsaber sliced through enemy weapons with precision, until...
"Retreat!" the warden cried out, his voice echoing deeper into the facility. Haru and Ben were about to give chase; they had the Fire Nation on the run, a chance to buy more time. Yet, they halted in their tracks.
Katara, Aang, and Sokka gazed at them, expressions blank. Both boys clenched their lightsabers so tightly that their knuckles turned white. "Do you... do you feel it, Master?" Haru gasped, his left hand pressed to his chest, the hum of their lightsabers resonating in their ears.
"Yes, I do," Ben replied, his voice resolute. He pushed through the strange sensation, summoning the strength to turn and confront the source. His narrowed eyes met the gaze of silver orbs that peered into his very soul. "Kiara," he muttered.
Once again, she was above them, hand resting on the banister as she stared down at the pair. Her black robes billowed in the breeze, and Ben's gaze fell to her waist, where her familiar lightsabers gleamed ominously. Yet, she wasn't the sole harbinger of danger. Two other figures flanked her on either side.
Their builds and stature marked them as male, clad in sleek combat robes, not unlike Ben's. Beneath, the glint of metallic armor hinted at their menacing presence, matched by their jet-black combat boots. An aura of darkness, the unmistakable taint of the dark side of the Force, emanated from them.
Their faces remained shrouded, their attention locked on the two below. Kiara drew her weapons, the scarlet blades casting an eerie crimson glow. Ben and Haru adopted their respective stances, and for the first time, shock flickered across Kiara's face.
In that pivotal moment, Kiara's thoughts raced faster than the turbulent waves crashing against the rig. Another Jedi had surfaced, and yet the true awakening of the Force within him remained elusive. Questions plagued her, their answers dangling tantalizingly out of reach.
"Rein," she commanded, her voice a whisper, "go to the boat. If we don't make it through this, report to the Fire Lord and the Sith Lords. The pretender Jedi has taken a Jedi Apprentice." Rein, positioned to her left, nodded in silence, promptly fading from sight as he made his way towards the waiting boat. His mission was clear; if Kiara and her fellow Jedi were to falter, he had a crucial task to fulfill.
The other dark Jedi, a sinister figure, moved in sync with Kiara. The blaze of his crimson lightsaber pierced the surrounding darkness. A tense standoff between the opposing forces unfolded. "Stand down, Kiara," he taunted, the malevolence in his tone unyielding. "You couldn't best me in that warehouse, and you failed to defeat me on Zhao's warship. Now, I am a Jedi Knight."
Kiara's gaze locked onto the unusual garments Ben wore. She sensed the haunting familiarity between the amethyst blade he wielded and the crystal within. Even after purification, the bond remained. Dark side energy emanated from him and his possessions, a formidable presence that had only grown stronger.
Without hesitation, she and her dark Jedi companion leaped from their vantage point, descending to confront the pair below. Haru, fiery determination in his eyes, poised to charge at them head-on. But he was not prepared. He lacked the strength to battle these dark Jedi, nor the will to take a life.
Ben intervened with wisdom born of a true Jedi. "Listen to the Force, Haru," he implored, his gaze steady on his young apprentice. A quick gesture directed Haru's attention to the refugees scattered behind them. These innocent lives, in dire need of protection, demanded his immediate focus. "A Jedi's first duty is to safeguard others," Ben reminded him.
Reluctantly, Haru yielded. He couldn't bear to leave his mentor, the one who had guided him in harnessing the Force and wielding the lightsaber. But he understood his duty. Resolutely, he followed the evacuees as they descended the steps, each step a testament to the gravity of the choice he had made.
The clash of lightsabers ignited as Kiara and Ben collided in a blaze of furious brilliance. Kiara, he had to admit, had grown stronger with every encounter, her combat prowess evolving alongside her cunning strategy. She had brought two allies to face him, a tactical move that tested his mettle.
The dark Jedi at her side swung his weapon recklessly, but Ben deftly countered with a surge of Force energy, propelling him backward. His focus shifted back to Kiara, their blades locked in a humming embrace. Sparks ignited, dancing like distant stars in a cosmic ballet.
"You're faltering, false Jedi!" Kiara's voice thundered, her arrogance evident in her taunts. She could sense Ben's hesitation, his unwillingness to take her life. Exploiting this vulnerability, she wielded the Force as a weapon, unleashing its power in a torrential blast. Ben staggered back, a victim of the psychic onslaught.
In that vulnerable moment, the dark Jedi seized the opportunity. His lightsaber slashed downward with unrelenting fury as Ben rolled desperately, narrowly escaping the deadly crimson arc.
The looming disaster was averted in the nick of time as Ben summoned his lightsaber back with a mere thought, the crimson blade barely inches from cleaving open his skull. It was a deadly dance between Jedi and dark Jedi, their weapons clashing and humming like dueling serpents in the shadowy oil rig.
Ben's breath came in ragged gasps, his strength flagging as the duel took its toll. This was no fresh start for him; he was running on fumes. In the days leading up to this fateful confrontation, sleep had eluded him, sacrificed for the sake of training Haru. His exhaustion was evident, a visible weakness for his enemies to exploit.
He tightened his grip on his lightsaber, mustering the last reserves of his energy. With a surge of the Force, he propelled himself into a final desperate attack, smashing into Kiara. Their lightsabers clashed with a shower of sparks, her knees buckling beneath the weight and momentum of his assault. She staggered, her weapon tumbling away, only to be summoned back into her hand.
Locked in a heavy saber duel, their struggle hung on a knife's edge. The other dark Jedi advanced, his malevolent intent clear. Sparks of violet energy crackled along Ben's left palm as he unleashed a torrent of Force lightning at his foe. The dark Jedi raised his blade, attempting to defend, but the raw power of the lightning was overwhelming.
Ben's knees buckled, but he pressed on, the crimson blade inching dangerously close to Kiara. Yet, to her, this was no threat. She knew his weakness well — he refused to kill his enemies, a flaw she would exploit. His lapse was all she needed, a slip toward the dark side, and then she and her companions would have their chance to capture and convert Ben's fledgling Jedi apprentice.
Amid the chaos, a blast of rock hurtled towards the dark Jedi, but it proved insufficient. Haru's father, clad in his humble attire, joined the fray, earthbending with fervor as he fought beside Ben.
"Back!" Ben screamed, his foot landing in Kiara's stomach, the girl colliding to the floor. "Only death awaits if you further push on!"
The false Jedi, his voice laced with desperation, urged them to retreat. Death loomed large for those who pressed on.
Yet, the dark Jedi smirked beneath his mask, unfazed by the warning. "Yes... death," he murmured with a sinister undertone. A surge of violet energy exploded from his palm, too swift for Ben to react. The blast hit Haru's father head-on, throwing the old earthbender across the labor camp, his body convulsing from the electrical onslaught.
"NO!" Ben's voice cracked, his hoarse cry piercing the tense air. A transformation overcame him; the golden hues of his eyes gave way to an ominous shade of orange. Turning toward the dark Jedi, his own fingers crackled with violet sparks, vengeance now coursing through his veins.
The crimson blade of the Sith's lightsaber quivered as he struggled against the relentless torrent of dark side energy. It was a brutal tug-of-war, the violet arcs of malevolent power clashing with his own, leaving a scorching battle in their wake. But the tide was against him.
He felt the overpowering surge of electricity course through him, much like what had befallen Haru's father. In that moment, as the fury swelled within him, Ben found an unexpected wellspring of strength.
The dark Jedi remained motionless, a grotesque figure under the mask and robe, now seared alive with the only openings for his tortured existence being the slits of his eyeholes. He lay there, a smoldering, lifeless husk. Yet, Ben's attention was fixed elsewhere, his heart boiling with anger.
It was a rage that Kiara couldn't grasp, a fury burning with the weight of his perceived weakness, an anger directed at the Fire Nation, at the Sith. He swore to obliterate them all.
One last time, Ben and Kiara locked their sabers, the crimson and purple blades sizzling as they met. In that moment, they shared an unspoken understanding. Kiara smirked for the final time, aware that the False Jedi's hesitations had been extinguished. Anger now consumed him, and he had taken his first steps into the dark abyss of the Force.
With a blood-curdling cry, Ben drew on the memories of Kiara's atrocities against the innocent, fueling his righteous hatred. He broke from the saber lock, sparks showering their faces. Kiara tried to parry, but she was too slow.
Ben's saber sliced down, severing her right hand from her wrist. The crimson blade tumbled away as her severed hand fell beside it. She had no time to react as Ben, wielding the lightsaber with both hands, thrust it through her chest. Their eyes locked once more, Ben's orange irises reflecting the darkness within his soul, while Kiara stared into those eyes, witnessing his plunge into the abyss.
A smile curled on her lips, sending a shiver down Ben's spine. "I always knew, false Jedi, that you had a talent for death," she whispered, her words a painful utterance. "You'll make a mighty Sith. Those eyes suit you, Benjamin. I sensed the darkness within you from the very beginning. You are more suited to the dark than to the light, even for a Jedi."
Ben withdrew the blade from Kiara, and she crumpled to her knees. The hum of the lightsaber in his hand echoed through the air, shattering the silence. "I will never succumb to the dark side; I know its allure. I am immune!" he declared, pride and ego intertwining in his words. But Kiara could only smile, fully aware of his delusion.
She collapsed onto her back, her eyes closing. Ben loomed over her, guilt and blame weighing heavily upon him. The gravity of his actions settled in, and amidst the quiet aftermath, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his failure to save another soul.
Always, it was his fault. The relentless self-blame hammered against Ben's psyche like a never-ending storm. If only he had been stronger, if only he had embraced the dark side to bolster his abilities, then...
With a heavy sigh, he unignited his lightsaber, the blade's crimson glow vanishing as he secured it back to his belt. His gaze lingered on the two lifeless bodies before him, a stark reminder of his newfound power, one that had turned deadly. The Sith Holocron hummed ominously, sending shivers through the Force.
Yet, as the weight of his actions pressed upon him, Ben knew he couldn't dwell on it. It was the same old refrain, one he had sung to himself countless times before. He turned away from the grim scene, each step forward a conscious effort to move beyond the darkness that clung to him.
His first kill in this new world... a haunting milestone on his path, one that left a chilling resonance in the depths of his soul.
They had commandeered one of the numerous Fire Nation war boats docked at the oil rig. The place, at Sokka's tactical behest, lay scorched and smoldering, the acrid scent of cinder and coal hanging heavy in the air. It was a brilliant move by Sokka, a symbolic gesture to rally the resistance and the Earth Kingdom. It declared, in no uncertain terms, that the Fire Nation could indeed be defeated. The bodies of the dark Jedi strewn about only served to reinforce the Jedi's unwavering resolve, even in the face of the Sith's relentless purge.
There was another layer to the brilliance of this move, one that ran deep. The oil rig had doubled as a labor camp for Earthbenders, a place where their unending toil was the price they paid for survival. Now, the Fire Nation had lost a vital part of their massive operation.
Together, they sat upon the hulking boat, wrapped in blankets, the sea's chill creeping into their bones. Haru's blanket, however, covered something far heavier—a shroud for his father's lifeless body. The boy's eyes brimmed with tears, his grief transmuting into a seething rage that Ben could practically taste in the air.
"Damn it!" Haru's voice erupted, raw and unfiltered, a visceral expression of his torment. "It's all my fault..."
"No, it isn't," Ben retorted firmly, placing his large hand on his young, informal apprentice's shoulder. Haru's eyes widened, the invisible currents of the Force weaving around him, the darkness looming closer.
"If I was only stronger... if I could've done something. If I just..."
"Stayed with him?" Ben interjected, shaking his head, his own words driving a wedge into Haru's mounting anger. "Haru, you've just taken your first steps as a Jedi. You'd have been cut down back there with me."
The air thickened, the Force pressing upon them, as Haru voiced his turmoil once more. "I should've done something... I'll destroy them. I'll join the resistance or the Earth Kingdom and tear them apart. I'll bring down the Fire Nation and cut down any Sith who dare stand in my way!"
His shout reverberated through the boat, a palpable manifestation of their collective grief and anger, the loss of their former leader radiating waves of dark energy. Ben leaned in closer, his voice steady but laced with understanding.
"You have every right to be angry, Haru," he began, removing his hand from the boy's shoulder. The other laborers watched the exchange, their eyes locked on the unfolding drama. "I can understand that hunger for vengeance... my own mother was taken from me by the very same people I fought in the war. I know the fury that burns within you."
Haru seemed on the verge of speaking, his lips poised to echo his agreement with Ben's sentiments, a nod in the direction of using one's anguish to stoke the flames of inner strength. But before he could articulate his thoughts, Ben intervened, his outstretched hand a barricade against the apprentice's words.
"...but trust me," Ben continued, his tone imbued with a sage's gravitas, "you must not yield to those noxious emotions. It's permissible to mourn your father, but harnessing that sorrow as a source of power, employing your hatred or fury towards the Fire Nation for strength, that's the road to the abyss. It inexorably leads to the dark side."
In a curious twist of irony, Ben dispensed these words without a hint of recognition for the inherent hypocrisy in his own teachings. Haru, though he nodded in apparent agreement, held onto the embers of doubt. There was a brewing unease within the young Jedi, a disquiet that had the potential to steer him toward more sinister waters. His hatred and anger, raw and untamed, needed to be addressed and channeled lest they swallow him whole, devoured by the shadows of the Force.
"Haru," Ben's voice softened, "I'd like to remain with you for a time. I sense the makings of a Jedi Guardian in you, and before my comrades and I depart, I'd like to impart a few lessons."
For the first time, a flicker of a smile graced Haru's face, albeit one still clouded by the ever-present disquiet and anger. With a nudge, these barely restrained emotions could flood forth, drenching his soul in darkness.
Haru's thoughts drifted back to a time before, when he'd been enamored with Earthbending, an art that had eluded his grasp until his pre-teen years. It was the loss of his father to the Fire Nation that ignited the furnace of his fury and unlocked his latent power. The anger had driven him to lift those stubborn rocks, a year or two before Ben had discovered him during a clandestine practice session.
Meeting Ben had been a revelation, and it had come at a cost. The price of truth had been extracted from him during his captivity, the revelation of the world's harsh realities and the Fire Nation's colossal transgressions. Haru was no fool; he understood the righteous path. His gaze drifted to the blanket-shrouded form of his father. His father would have been proud that the world was welcoming more Jedi, and that he had found a master.
Yet, the maelstrom of anger and confusion raged within him, an insatiable hunger that threatened to consume all in its path. Grief was a potent wellspring, an intoxicating source of strength. It was an addiction, and he wondered if he could ever break free.
"Maybe," Haru murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper, "I can learn more... I can aid you and the others. I won't remain weak or powerless. I can save those who matter to me."
His eyes clenched shut, memories of his father's charred body searing his consciousness. The violet electrical currents, like malevolent spirits, continued to flicker around the haunting image. He had no time for such indulgence. He had to grow stronger.
As the two young Jedi clasped hands, their connection resonated through the Force. In the annals of destiny, in the hidden threads of fate, a shift was occurring, a moment poised to reshape the world from its previous course. In the heart of the Fire Nation, a parallel moment was unfolding, rippling through the tapestry of time.