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"'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. 'Explain yourself!'

'I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.'

'I don't see,' said the Caterpillar."

Book 2 - Dark Forces

Chapter 26

"You…bastard!" Haru yelled. The Sith Lord turning towards the enraged Jedi. The young warrior stood there, at the entrance between life and death. Hell, he was able to push through the pain through rage alone.

Haru used the force to pull back his lightsaber. The emerald blade sparking free as he threw himself into his lightsaber form, his eyes fixated ahead. The cold prickling along his skin, but the flames of rage kept him hot. Eyes wavering as the tears pounded along his cheek.

His master…the one that had taught him of the force, that awakened him of his true potential for greatness. Now he was…

Haru could hear it, the sound of the Sith Lord using Ben's own lightsaber against him, cleaving off his arm. The plop it made along the ground as his body collapsed, right before he was impaled through the chest. Force pushed into the water as his body sunk into the deep black abyss.

His master, his friend…his brother. Through gritted teeth he gripped his blade tighter, hearing another spring of a blade ignite behind him. Jet stood, rugged and bruised for whereas he clutched along the blade of his own lightsaber. The cyan and emerald contrasting as the Sith Lord could only chuckle.

"So, this is all that remains of the jedi. The watchman has died but I see that his students have a little of fire left in them…" He chuckled, a rasped and forced chuckle as he ignited his own crimson blade. Drawing with the force with his left hand as he ignited Ben's own purple blade.

Red…

Anger, it swarmed Haru. "Don't you dare…touch it!" He screamed, his voice following in a roar as both him and Jet advanced forward. They could feel the difference in power, they would know that Ben would call them fools for even thinking of trying to avenge him against this monster, but what other choice could they make?

The Sith Lord, he wouldn't let them go, and they were far too angry to think straight. Haru and Jet threw themselves into the force, into the seam of combat as they followed through with a brilliant flurry of vibrant attacks.

The dark side, the hate and anger that they felt. The Sith Lord savored as he clicked his lips, sensing the power the two held in their hearts as they advanced. Just like Benjamin, he had found two powerful warriors of the force, still untrained and with unharnessed potential.

Haru and Jet were furious, trying to keep up and aim for any openings. Yet, the Sith Lord was impenetrable to any attack. Fending them off as Jet and Haru's own blades compacted with the other in a brief exchange, throwing themselves backwards to catch a breather.

The only sound was there rasped breathing and the humming of four lightsaber blades. Haru's eyes traveling along the hilt of the weapon.

His mind flashed to those moments, that time in which he helped him train, to team him of his true place in this world. To teach him of the force, and to become a Jedi…to become one of the men and woman who would pave a new era for the world!

Haru leaped forward, using the force to strengthen his legs as he swung downwards with a mighty cleave. The blades clashing as the Sith Lord raised his weapons in an X to block Haru's blow. Haru recoiled back into a backflip, landing on his two feet as he threw back another flurry of attacks, trying to reach a mark within the Sith Lords defense. Yet not even one could break through…

"Enough…" With those final words, a mighty blast of force energy surrounded the two boys. Throwing each of them away as there lightsabers turned off, clattering from there hands as the Sith Lord stared at the pair.

"What a waste…to believe that there would be one…but three powerful force sensitives. You made me do it, had to cut one down because he chosen to delude himself." The Sith Lord spoke, uninviting both lightsabers as he chambered his crimson one to his belt, while he held onto Ben's own for a little while longer. Glossing over the handle as he caused it to levitate with the force, the weapon lightly pricking the tips of his fingertips as he glossed over the hilt.

"…interesting, nearly perfect lightsaber construction. I've never seen such a blade, or a weapon like this before." He chuckled to himself, grabbing the blade from the air, and attaching it to his own belt. Giving it a light pat as Jet and Haru both heard the clink of the weapon along the man's belt.

It was disgusting, a revolting feeling that soared through the two boys. Rage and vile feelings filling their core, both wanting to thrash around in rage and throw up just from how repulsive it was. There is master, the last thing they had of him…was now taken, the weapon he had used to save them and to teach. Was now stolen by a filthy Sith.

"Bring it on…Sith Spawn!" Haru pulling his weapon back with the force as he ignited his green blade. Only to be thrown backwards, harder this time as the air was knocked from his lungs. Rasping for air as he grabbed onto his chest. Jet ran towards him, grabbing his shoulders as he quickly began to check him over.

The Sith Lord stared at the exchange, he saw the way the two boys cared for the other…maybe it was a lesson that they learned from there master, the comradery. He shook his head as he turned back towards the river in which he casted Ben in.

"Pathetic, what a waste…" He repeated to himself.

A boy with such power, a boy with such strength and martial might. It was disgusting to him to believe that someone like him would cast away all the promises and power the dark side could truly begin…a power that could rival any bender!

He glossed over towards the lightsaber along his belt, the one he had stole from the boy he wanted to take under as an apprentice, as a student. Grumbling to himself as he turned away from the pair of Jedi.

"Where are you going!" Haru screamed, tears clouding his eyes as he reached forward, trying to wrap the Sith Lord within a vice like grip. He had given up, he didn't care anymore…his father, now his master! Would he keep on failing everyone that needed him on their side!

The Sith Lord merely reinforced his barrier, tuning out Haru's anguish and screams for him to come back and to fight them. He merely smirked, he didn't care. He would take the Sith approach to turning these two powerful Warriors of the Force.

He could feel it…there anger and their emotions. The boy with deep brown hair and the cyan bladed lightsaber, Jet. He could sense the pride, the ego, the paranoia, and the fear that swarmed within his heart. He would surely fall to the dark side without a master trying to reign him in and teaching him the code of the light.

This one…the one with an emerald bladed lightsaber, the one that was angry. The Sith Lord savored his emotions, mumbling to himself as he chuckled. He didn't understand how the Watchman would allow such a thing to slide. That boy's anger and hatred, even aimed at the Sith…would cause him to fall. Sure, fire nations soldiers and maybe a couple of dark Jedi would fall to his crusade, but in the end, it would all be worth it.

He smirked at his plan. Tuning them out as he vanished once again, into a veil of shadows. The only thing that could be heard, was the hoarse screaming of the two warped Jedi.

Haru wailed, slamming his palm into the snow as he ripped up his gaze. Fury overtaking as he for the third time used the force to pull his lightsaber, attaching it back to his belt. Jet following him as both boys stood, peering overhead as they watched the massive spirit behemoth of Aang.

"The battle…it's over." Jet slowly spoke. Yet, it didn't feel like that. As he glossed his eyes all around his surroundings, his words felt far hollower. His heart thumped along his chest as he watched the carnage that surrounded them. The men and woman turned into mincemeat, even the water tribe civilians and soldiers got caught up in the mix.

They didn't pay attention to Aang destroyed the navy, both boys were far too shellshocked and exhausted…left merely with there own empty thoughts as their eyes were dimmed. Losing any light there ever was.

That was when it happened, a pressure. A flopping along the waves as the current was disrupted, Haru and Jet turning to the commotion as they watched with wide eyes a sight that they couldn't expect. "Pakku?" Jet spoke up.

It was Aang's and Katara's waterbending master. The pair learning under him but Jet had only seen him a handful of times. He didn't even realize that he was involved in this sector of the battle. Yet, it was the thing within the old man's arms, or rather the body.

Ben…

"I saw the fire nation advancement and saw the massive volley they were going to send. I hid within the water and only resurfaced once I was sure it was finished. I was far too weak to deal with the Sith Lord, but I was able to retrieve the Jedi."

The old waterbender lifted him onto the ground. His eyes half narrowed as his skin was a grossly pale white, hair tendrils attached to his face. Haru and Jet didn't want to believe what they had saw before, maybe even hoping for the best.

Yet, it was all proven for nothing. It was true, Benjamin had lost his arm, everything from below his elbow was just gone. Even the most skilled waterbending healers would not be able to heal this or to reattach this. For the rest of his life, Benjamin would be forced to live like this…

A crippeled warrior, he wouldn't be able to hold a lightsaber blade with only two hands. Only for Ben's mouth to unlatch, water leaking out as he coughed, straining through rasped teeth as his injury was prevalent to see as they were locked back into their senses.

Ben somehow, was alive. Still fighting, whatever was in his body was keeping him alive…maybe it was will. Haru grabbed onto Ben, the golden eyes slowly parting as he locked along his two apprentices. Far too weak to say anything from the burning wound within his chest and losing his left arm.

Yet, the shock was far too much. "Come on!" Haru screamed, grabbing Ben with both arms. Using the force to enhance his legs and his arm strength. "We got to find a healer!"

With those words, the three men sprinted. Throwing themselves forward and deeper into the city. As they passed, they witnessed the destruction. Caved in homes, destroyed architecture, civilians in distress…children that were gone.

Even tired…even exhausted and going into shock, knowing full well that he was going to die. Ben strained his eyes around. Taking in the misery of the place, another battleground he had entered upon. The Mandalorian blood in him ran true, whether he wanted to or not…he had honored the culture by fighting furiously and by dying here in battle.

Through squinted eyes he could see them all…men and woman of all ages, he could feel their hate aimed at the fire nation. Stronger and coupled together like a band of arrows, ready to be hoisted into a mighty and powerful weapon.

This massacre would be felt for years to come. Haru pushed through the blue veil that separated the healing hut. "We need a doctor!" He screamed, pushing past the patients and other doctors. Jet and the old waterbender peeked at their surroundings.

Blown off limbs, screaming, and some…already had blankets thrown along their body. Haru fixated ahead, along a bunk. Draping Ben's body as he continued screaming for help. His voice already rining like church bells as Ben stared at the bright white moon ahead.

'You did it, Aang.' He thought, causing a rasped and bloody chuckle to funnel from his lips. He did it, the young airbender was able to repel the attack and restore balance to this world. It was amazing, and he did what he had to.

He watched as Haru screamed for help, as Jet went to his side. "I'm cold, Jet." Ben spoke, in a shiver as Jet grabbed along his hand. Ben didn't gaze at his side, he couldn't see it. He knew that whatever was on that side would cause him to die…that he would rather die complete, that he would rather die a warrior than anything less.

Jet was the leader of the freedom fighters, and Ben wondered if Jet had to do this before…of the horrors he had to live through. He glossed over towards to the pair, they were all just kids. Taking the responsibility of the past generation and fighting their wars.

Sokka, Aang, and Katara funneled through…lashing along his body. Tears falling from the warrior's face as he screamed at him. He didn't know what it was, Katara administering her healing but…

"It's alright, Katara. Save your strength…the battle is far from over." Katara's hands shook, tears flying from her eyes as she stuttered, she couldn't…she wouldn't.

Her fingernails priced into the base of his naked skin. His eyes starting to part. "Come on, Ben. You've got my sister crying…please, you'll be alright." Sokka spoke up. Wiping away the beads of tears as he collapsed to his knees. "You're the Jedi here. You still have the mission to complete…aren't you going to rebuild the Jedi order, I know Haru is talented but there training isn't done right?"

'Haru and Jet…'

Those names, those names…the names of the next Jedi Knights. They would come and be strong. Reinforced through the horrors of war, but they must hold to the light because in the end it was all we had.

"Jet, Haru…" Ben cried out. Raising his good arm. Haru stealing a glance, hurriedly running to his master. His fingers interlocking with his own as Ben gave it a tight squeeze. "Haru, I am going to die here. Your training is far from complete…and I don't want you to have this responsibility, but you must travel with Aang."

"No, you'll be fine!" Haru screamed out, maniacal delusion taking over. "I need a fucking healer!" He screamed louder, his voice in a roar as the healers already operating stuttered from the power in his voice.

"Haru, you must train Jet, and restore balance to this world. You're the last of the true Jedi…the most formidable that I've ever trained, and with my death…you shall become the next, Jedi Grand Master."

Grand Master, the highest rank of the Jedi Order. The one that must take the responsibility and repair the order, it was a heavy responsibility to bear. Yet, Ben knew that Haru could do it.

Aang glossed over him, eyes red as he shook. Ben's golden eyes went towards him, he knew he would have to play strong…just for a little while longer, and it would be over. He was the Avatar's jedi, and in death…he would still serve him, he wondered if he somehow reached enlightenment through the force, that even someone like him could find peace.

Still, he doubted that fact. Too many lives taken, too many regrets…at least the outside matched the inside now. "Please…Ben, don't leave me!"

Aang cried out, lashing to the table. "It's alright…Aang." Ben spoke, Aang raising his head, the tone and softness of his voice was something that he had never seen from Ben before. Something that he never expected. He smirked, straining his eyes open. "No, do not be afraid. You still have a mission to complete, the world still needs to be in order, and balance must be set. There is no death…only the…"

Ben's eyes began to hollow, his lips pursed to finish his sentence as his fingers along Haru's and Jet's own began to lose strength. Haru felt it, turning back solemnly to his master as he stared perplexed at the whole event…

They could hear the muttered sobs; the hope was gone. Once again, the Jedi were gone…extinct, left behind were remnants that couldn't do anything against the waves of darkness, and they would be swooped in like a massive tidal current.

"Ben…Benjamin!" Jet screamed, lashing his arms along Ben's body as he shook the warm corpse. Anger, guilt…but mostly, fear. It swarmed within Jet, an echo within the force creating within him as he stared at the body. Yet, he wasn't a Jedi, and he couldn't let it go…

Jet saw it, those lines that interconnected all such things. Like neat red lines of fire that spanned all around Ben's body that were slowly beginning to diminish, but he refused to allow it to happen. He rejected the desire of the force.

"I won't let you go, Ben!" Jet screamed, his voice like the boom of drums. His fingernails sinking into Ben's flesh, the shatter points…the lines in which the unbreakable becomes breakable, his uncontrolled force powers fueled on fear and the dark side as he whirled around. He fixated on those broken red lines and gave them…life.

Jet's frame trembled, sparks of green force lightning curling along his body as it rippled around everyone. The civilians, the healers, Haru, and even team avatar backing away as those bright green lights erupted all throughout the medical tent.

Swarming Ben's form as they rippled and sunk into the base of his skin, both boy's eyes filling with pure green energy as Haru watched in pure fear. He had never truly felt the dark side, feeling a sliver of it at times. Yet, he understood now, what Ben was always afraid of.

He knew it was the dark side at work, almost like the sliver of a knife was etching along his skin. Such power, causing him to scream out as Jet continued, forcing himself along that dark path as the tendrils fixated along those broken red lines. Giving them strength, healing them.

After a second it was over, Jet ripping himself off Ben as he collapsed face first into the ground. Writhing on the floor as the sparks of lightning burnt and decorated his body. Team avatar saw force lightning before. Ben's was a rich purple, Haru saw a Dark Jedi once shoot torrents of blue, and now Jet shot…green?

Sokka instantly fell forward to aid his companion, grabbing Jet's coat. "Jet, what the hell was that…are you alright!"

Yet, he was pushed away. Jet lashing to his feet as they all saw it, the taint of the dark side…Jet's once brown eyes were corrupted, seething within the orange glow of the Sith, reminiscent to Ben's own eyes when he gave in or steeped too deeply into the dark side of the force.

His blade ignited, the frolicking green sparks riding along his body. Likewise, along the hilt and blade of his lightsaber, mildly shooting off of his clenched-up fingertips. "Get away from me!" He screamed, the occupants and even Haru himself, another Jedi backed away instinctively. Haru's hand lightly trembling over his own blade. "Im going after that Sith Lord…the one that murdered Ben!"

They heard him grudgingly push the blanket off him. Throwing himself upwards, as he turned towards the pair. "Impossible…a lightsaber blade, it cleaved off his arm and rammed through his chest. He was underwater in the ice abyss for nearly thirty minutes. If the temperature didn't kill him, then the shock should've, yet."

Ben was alive. Turning towards his good arm as he gazed downwards, staring at the fresh wound on his chest, faded away like a scar as he lightly touched the burnt skin. "Ben, your alive!" Katara cried out, wrapping her arms around him as he silently stared at the staring crowd.

His eyes going towards Jet. The warrior smiling as he unignited his weapon. Yet, it completely contrasted with the way his master looked at him. Amazement, shock…fear. That was the words that would describe Ben right now as he stared at his apprentice.

"Jet, what have you done…" With those words. Jet's hopes were shattered like glass. His eyes uneven as e felt the whirling of emotions overtake him. Unignitnng his weapon as his eyes began to turn back to normal, his weapon unignited and reattached to his belt.

"…but I saved you. I did what I had to."

"What! Are you fucking insane! I could feel the fear that was within you, Jet! It's different from anger, it's easier to creep up on and consume you, to turn you over to the dark side of the force." The next words shocking everyone in the room. The words hurting those that he was closest to, because they failed to understand. "It was wrong for you to bring me back to life! To do it brought you to the edge of the dark side of the force…if you were in there for another second, you would've been corrupted!"

Jet shook his head, his wet hair like a dog as he parted his lips. "It wasn't wrong, I…"

Yet, it was already over. Ben slamming back into his cot with a desolate hum. With those final words, there were only silence as Ben collapsed. Face first as the sounds of his breathing was the only thing that could be heard. Jet had done the impossible. Yet, as he stared down at his fingers, and remarked at his masters words.

For great power, to save the ones he had grown to care for, what did he sacrifice in turn…and what would the true nature of this ability, cost him?