Author Note: Yo! This is the author. This is the second to last chapter before we conclude book 1. Thank you everyone that has stuck by me this whole journey. You are all wonderful and awesome people! After book 1 is completed I am gonna upload the rest of it on Wattpad. Then, I am gonna start with book 2. Can't wait for it! Please remember to follow, favorite, and review it greatly helps with my motivation. Have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 24

The humming of two lightsaber blades were the only sounds produced along the roof of an apartment complex. The rhythmic plasma etching through the wintery air as Benjamin and Jet sparred. Apprentice and master, both enamored and entwined within the force as they tried to get the upper hand on the other.

Rather, Jet was the one trying to get the upper hand. With a sweat filled brow, Jet, the once freedom fighter turned Jedi apprentice was now on the defensive. Sifting and dodging, as the apprentice tried to hold himself against his masters blows.

For the last couple of days. Both Benjamin and Jet had been entranced within their Jedi training, once again hoping to create a powerful warrior of the force. Jet was a quick study. His reflexes were above average, and he held a strong connection to the force.

"Hey, Benjamin…" Jet spoke. Raising his blade to jab at Ben, as the boy in question pivoted on his feet. Tossing his purple beam upwards as Jet's blade compacted and he nearly spun out of control. "…teach me how to use my shatter points."

Benjamin's eyes widened at those words. He had nearly forgotten about Jet's innate gift to see shatter points, those instances in which the unbreakable becomes breakable.

"I'm sorry, Jet. But isn't that something you know how to do…"

Jet stared at him perplexed. Eyes drawn towards his master as his hand went to his chest. "Ben, I don't know how to do that. Heck, that time I cut down that armored warrior was pure luck alone. I saw it, I definitely felt it but it's something that I had no real control over."

Benjamin grimaced in response. Shatter points were a unique force ability that popped up through the legends and history of the Jedi order at times. Hell, before he found Jet, he didn't believe that shatter points even existed, that the ability was just something convoluted and lost to legends.

Yet, he had living proof that someone could see those cracks within the force. Ben didn't know how to properly awaken that feeling, maybe it was only something that Jet could learn through experience. Some techniques within the force can't be learned through training, they must be awakened through other means.

But right before Benjamin could say anything…it hit them both, like a wave. The only sound being heard was the buzzing of their contrasting lightsaber blades. That feeling, both of their thoughts being awakened as they felt it over the horizon.

Like a sea of darkness…a powerful shadow looming over the horizon. Benjamin glanced around with flurried eyes. Drawing on his memory as they slammed open. 'That place…' He thought. That place in which he made that choice to walk the path of the Jedi once again, the one in which he was awarded with that vision. Jet was that man…and the Southern Water tribe, would hold pillars of blood.

Benjamin and Jet both unignited their weapons. Clamping them to their belts as the force started to well up inside of them. Jet had learned how to fixate on specific parts of the body to imbue with the force. He was a practice hand at the ability, both men following this as they leaped into the air. Landing onto a higher rooftop as they were able to oversee everything…

A deep black cloud. It enamored all of them as it drew closer, Jet glancing into the sky as he held out his gloved hands. Feeling the soot along his fingertips as he drew upon the force once again. "Benjamin, you can feel it too, right?"

Ben stared from that balcony. As the wind rippled through his hair and robes, the clatter and pressure of his lightsaber flaying in the wind following as he smelt the deep coal like smell of soot, he knew from his experience with Bill in both the mines and the labor camp what it was.

"Yeah, I know…"

Split

Jet and Ben raced to where team avatar was. Following through with their connection to the force as they both had to make it in time. Lightsabers in hand as they pushed through the retreating crowd. Men, woman, children of all ages trying to seek safety before the fire nation onslaught.

Benjamin wasn't deluded. His master's words rung within his head. He knew what he had to do and what had to happen, he knew of how much he teetered along that edge. Yet now currently…things were changing.

Ben saw what happened to the airbender's due to the fire nations hunt for the avatar. Would they do the same here? Slaughter all the population in hope of finding their goal. 'Despicable, there all the fucking same!' Benjamin thought, pushing past another water tribe citizen as he began to see the men take up arms to hold the onslaught.

This was war…just like the Mandalorian and the Civil war. The fate of this world was at stake right now and Ben had to conclude himself. Yet, there was another thought that caused him to think, another powerful thought that lingered in the back of his head for a long time, but he never gave it strength, until now…

He glossed over to Jet. His new apprentice, the one he fought alongside and had so much more to teach. In that vison they stood side by side against the waves of docksiders and firebenders. But the vision ended there…nothing more, only darkness.

'Is this it…the place, where I die?' He questioned. All these years, all this guilt and sins he had piled up through this life of his. Whether by his own hand or through an outside force he had wished for it all to just end. Cursing the force for keeping him alive for all this time. But, as those people…those brilliant faces sparked to him like when two lightsabers connect.

'Damn it. Am I afraid of death? This life…defined by blood and plasma. Am I actually fearing for my life, right now?'

His lightsaber felt heavy. His weapon never had felt so heavy before, maybe it was due to fighting for causes he never believed in or maybe it was because…he finally found people worth dying for. Benjamin didn't know what was going to happen today or tomorrow. Maybe this was the end, he was afraid…everyone was. Yet, he would face it like any man would. "We take what is given…and we do what we must." He silently repeated.

Yet, he wouldn't face his death like a Jedi…he wouldn't fear it and avoid it like a Sith. He would die, like a man.

Ben and Jet both countered one of the houses. Seeing a kneeled over Aang with his staff in hand, Katara around him as her and the princess both stared at Aang.

"What the fuck is going on!" Benjamin exploded. With heaving breath as team avatar's eyes locked along them. In a span of a couple of minutes. Ben was briefed of what happened. Princess Yue explaining to the pair of Jedi's what had occurred when Sokka and her were out flying.

Ben was mildly annoyed that Sokka was still messing with a girl who was getting married, but there were far more pressing matters at hand. The fire nation was coming, a full armada was going to attack the southern water tribe. Benjamin would bet that a ton of dark jedi was aiding them on this advance.

"…how did they figure out we were out of the Earth Kingdom?" Jet questioned. The freedom fighter turning towards Katara who silently shook her head in response. "We weren't followed, and no one knew of our destination…"

"Jet, is kind of onto something." Benjamin spoke up. Gaining the attention of everyone around. "Maybe, there not after Aang…"

Benjamin fought in wars and saw what the greatest of generals could do, picking up on a couple of things along the way. Yet, it made the most sense to a person that would think about it for a couple of minutes…they couldn't have been tracked.

Something must be going wrong…

"It's because there not after the avatar…there after something else." A voice riddled from the top of Appa's saddle. To Yue and Jet, it was unfamiliar, the young apprentice instinctively going towards his lightsaber to deal with the intruder. Yet, Benjamin watched it with keen ears. He knew that voice…Katara as well.

He popped out from the saddle. Standing straight up. His tanned skin touched the crescent of the sun, his messy long hair now tied into a bun as small tendrils doused his forehead. Fragments of facial hair had begun to grow from days they assumed of continues fighting. He wore something different. A deep grey light robe that modeled more of a flight suit. Less bulky than the traditional jedi robes.

"It's been a while, Master."

Haru…the boy sparking a smile as he landed next to them. "Haru!" Katara nearly screamed, wrapping her arms around the boy as he returned the hug.

Jet staring at the pair perplexed. Ben turning towards Haru as he let Katara go, taking his own apprentice into a hug of his own. The sudden affection causing Haru to stutter.

"Haru…" He spoke, separating as he clamped a hand along both Jet and Haru's shoulders. "I want you to meet Jet. He's another freedom fighter, but like you held force sensitivity. He's chosen to walk the path of the Jedi."

Jet and Haru both nodded to the other. "How did you get here, Haru?"

"The fire nation, you were right…it's not related to Aang. This plan or something has been brewing for a very long time. Longer than you would think." His voice grew stern as those words emptied into his mouth. "I intercepted a fire nation hawk that labeled this operation. I hid inside of a warship and was planning on springing into this trap, but Aang came, and I aided him in destroying it. Yet…"

He turned away from them. To the dark soot that emptied over the horizon. "It's not enough, there are dozens of them…" Aang finally spoke. Head in his hands as Ben kneeled to be on the same level as him. "I don't know what to do."

He glossed over towards Ben, like the Jedi himself had all the answers. Yet, Ben was perplexed in thought. It was a whole armada of fire nation war ships. Chambered with hundreds of soldiers and potentially dozens of dark jedi.

"I think, I may have a solution…"

Yue spoke those words. Dragging the attention of team avatar. With those words hope began to become reignited. Yet, it was a fickle flame to begin with.

Split

The spirit oasis was a place located on the back edges of the WaterTribe city. Sokka, and the rest of the water tribe warriors had decided on taking to the front lines. Ben didn't have the time to go and speak to Sokka. If Yue was right, it could potentially end the battle before it truly began.

Even now, he could hear the winding of the fire nation warships as they prepared to attack. Hell, the front gate was already caved in with a massive fire ball. Ben grimaced at the thought. Ben picked up on before that this world was primitive…yet they were able to build lightsaber blades.

Now, it seemed that he underestimated the people of this world. While the water tribe were in fishing boats, the fire nation had powerful warships and these strange dread wheeling cars.

As Aang began to meditate. Jet clung to Sokka and Yue watching Aang trying to immerse himself within the spirit world. Ben, already had a good reminder of what it was like and disliked the idea of going back in there.

The memories…the pain of what happened there, his fingers coiled along the hem of his robe. The place in which the lightsaber struck him. 'In hesitation, lies death…' he repeated the doppelgangers message within his head.

"Haru…" Benjamin called the young apprentice. His dark brown eyes meeting Ben's as Ben wrapped his arms around himself. "How are you doing?" He questioned.

Haru rolled his neck, cracking it right before he clapped his hands, presenting a brilliant smile. "Just ready to fight the fire nation."

"I know…I've heard all that you've done out there. Fighting the fire nation, helping local resistances, and even destabilizing fire nation outpost. You truly are being a proper Jedi."

All those things were true. Even if Haru wanted to be humble Benjamin knew that it wouldn't have mattered. Haru, he was making the Jedi alive again through these actions. Yet, Benjamin could feel it. The strange wallowing in his heart, where the faint taint of the darkness once resided…it had only gotten bigger.

"No, I wanted to ask you about your father. I know what happened was a blur, but I wanted to check up on you." Benjamin spoke. Haru's eyes widened at the sound of his father. Though, the boy shook his head. Throwing up a false smile as he tried to wave it away. "Seriously, Haru. I've lost a parent before. I know what that is like…and I know what it can do to someone that is strong within the force."

"I'm fine, Master." Haru spoke, but with a bit more bite in it. Yet, Benjamin wouldn't let this slide.

Haru, he's finally here and in front of him. These last couple of days he had regretted not taking Haru with him. He regretted not taking him and properly teaching him the force, not that half assed boot camp. Haru's father died, and he left him behind, he didn't teach him jedi techniques to deal with the grief…now the dark side had only grown within him!

Benjamin sighed again. "Haru, I feel the dark side within you. You're not okay, don't be a bitch…tell me what's wrong."

"I said, I'm fine!" Haru hammered against his chest, anger rising within him. "I've been fine for so long. I don't think about him, I don't dream about him…" He let out a sigh, combing through his hair. "I just…if I keep myself busy, I don't dread on the fact that I failed my father…that if I was just stronger, that if I didn't delude myself in my presence in the force, that…"

"He would've been alive?" Benjamin questioned. Nearing Haru as he spoke once again. "What are you, an idiot!"

Ben went in front of Haru, his fore finger slamming on his chest as they were merely inches apart. "Listen, Haru. I want to make this very clear…your father's death was not your fault, it was mine. You didn't know of the force…when we begun your training you were a quick study, but Kiara would've killed you…"

Haru gritted his teeth. Slapping Ben's hand away. "Don't give me that, I fight in the memory of my father. I will pave the world the way he wanted it to be…I have the strength now."

"Then why are you guilty about it. Haru, if you stayed behind and tried to aid me with Kiara you would've died back then. You didn't know any techniques to block force lightning, you never fought against a true dark side. What could you have done!"

Haru's breathing grew. Moving away as he tried to turn away, only for Ben's hand to latch along his shoulder. "Haru, you didn't do anything wrong. If you want to blame someone…blame me for being to weak and hesitationg to kill Kiara. But…know this. If you keep on latching onto this guilt and anger you hold for yourself, you will fall to the dark side of the force."

"How do…how do, forgive myself?"

Benjamin let go. Wrapping his arms around himself again as he turned towards his apprentice. "I don't know…"

It was true, Benjamin didn't know. Maybe it was due to his own guilt that clouded his judgement, but Ben had no idea of what to do. All he could do was rest his hand on Haru's shoulder.

"…maybe, do enough good things to amount to all the bad things you think you've done. You're a good person, and an excellent Jedi, Haru. Stay true to yourself, and to the light."

Haru's fist uncurled as traces of tears began to droop out of his eyes. "Come on, man. It wasn't that emotional…" Ben kidded. Yet, they felt it.

Haru quickly wiping his face as Ben and Jet's eyes fixated up ahead. Along the walls that surrounded the oasis.

"Aw…how touching, small Jedi. Good, to come to terms with your feelings, before we cut you down."

The unfamiliar voice cackled as Jet went up to them. "Katara, stick with Aang…" Ben turned towards the princess. "Yue, get Sokka and tell him how the Sith have attacked!"

It was the Sith all right, three dark jedi stood along the wall. Lightsabers already in hand and ignited as they peered at the trio. Different faces, yet similar robes and lightsabers.

The Jedi ignited their weapons. The purple, green, and cyan beam contrasted with the crimson as they thrown themselves into their forms.

Benjamin going into his Shien form, while Haru threw himself into Makashi, Jet having to go into the only form he knew…Form 1, Shi Qui.

"Jet, don't overexert yourself." Ben spoke, with a subtle nod Jet threw he knew he understood. Haru curled along his own blade tighter as the dark jedi leaped to the floor.

"So, the Jedi…a trio against us."

"Bring it, Sithspawn!" Benjamin spoke, not letting them get in first. Throwing himself into the fray as his blade compacted with two of the dark jedi's own crimson. Jet and Haru followed forward as it began to break out into an all-out match.

Ben leaped into the air, somersaulting as his blade clung along the dark jedi. Lashing out with the force as another was thrown into the snow.

A well-placed crimson jab proved far less affective as Ben pivoted his feet. Pulling forward with the force as the fallen dark jedi was thrown into his friend. Out of the corner of his eye…rather he felt it. Turning over towards Jet.

The boy kicked in his stomach as he collapsed to the ground. His lightsaber still activated as throw up piled onto the snow filled floor. The dark jedi ready with an overlapping strike to cut him down. "No!" Benjamin screamed, his fury overtaking him as he whirled his lightsaber back. With the aid of the force, he hurled the blade of plasma forward.

Compacting with the other dark jedi's own, the female dark jedi who was going to snuff out Jet's life recoiled backwards. Jet lifting his own blade and in a downwards arc slashed the dark jedi from the base of her abdomen to the brink of her left chest.

The woman clattered along the snow, dead on impact. Benjamin recalled his blade into his right hand. Compacting with another dark jedi's as there sabers locked along the other. Benjamin broke through the lock, grabbing his blade with both hands and with a powerful overhead strike cleaved the dark jedi in two, bisecting the man as his parts crumpled back to the earth.

Haru finished off his opponent. Slashing at the man's hand as his fingers and blade separated as the charred searing nubs were all that remained. Right before he could beg for mercy, Haru slashed along the man's neck.

"It's over…"

Jet heaved from breath. Unigniting his blade as he crumpled along the snow. Haru reconnected his weapon as Ben began to walk over to the pair. "Guys, are you all, right?"

They nodded. Exhausted from the tumult but still feeling revigorated through the adrenaline that was starting to freshly pump through them. "That's good…Katara how are you and…"

Ben's eyes widened, the act in a blur as he was there instantly. Katara was hunched over slammed into a beam as Ben finally got a good look at his surroundings. Scorch marks and…Aang was missing. 'What the fuck is wrong with me!'

In battle, one of the first things that a Jedi learned was to know your surroundings and to know how to use it against your enemies, like wise how to use it to aid you. In the thump of battle, you can lose your senses and be cornered due to not paying attention and having to fight like some sort of animal.

That was his failing, his failure. His eyes darted along the place as he saw footprints leading to one of the only clearings, separating the oasis to the Icelandic wasteland. He was a fool, to honestly believe that their main issue would just be the dark jedi.

"Haru!" The boy snapped his neck towards his master. "Watch after Katara!"

With those words, Benjamin darted. His lightsaber flying into his right hand as the blade ignited. The purple trail following him like a blur as he funneled through the parting, the snow and the cold was already stinging his eyes.

After a span of a couple of minutes. He saw it, a figure…and on his back, Aang. He wasn't touched upon the force, but he could see his white snow clothes and his…scar.

Katara had told Ben of him, of the man that relentlessly tried to find and capture Aang. The one that has been trying to hunt them down and get a decent lead on them for there whole journey. "Zuko!" Ben screamed, his fury giving him strength as he raised his blade to…

Yet, he stopped. He couldn't do anything; they were on a steep cliff. If he cut Zuko down with his lightsaber he could accidently kill Aang, if he wrenched him away or pushed him, he could get thrown over the mountain.

Still, right before he could decide. Zuko turned around, in his hands a powerful wave of fire funneling with all his strength as it compacted the sides of the icebergs. Wrenching them away as an avalanche began to come at Ben in all sides.

'No, I can't. I won't fail him…' Even as Ben tried to create a force barrier, he failed. It would be too weak, and he would end up losing his life. Benjamin leaped away, his eyes scanning along the snow that seemed to make a strong foundation for him to leap to and from from. Yet, it wouldn't work.

Ben leaped away, landing on his two feet as his eyes widened and shook. His mouth unlatching as he watched Zuko and Aang vanish as the only clear way to get to them was instantly diminished. His mouth unclamped.

An animalistic, maniacal scream filling the air as his throat grew hoarse. Breaking the ice around him as the force funneled through his surroundings. Benjamin, a Watchman of the Jedi Order had failed once again…