Author Note: Yo, got to make this one quick. Thank you everyone for reading. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation. I hope you all enjoy and have an awesome day!

Chapter 29

Ben stood straight and strong. His body looming like a present shadow as he stared at the gravesite. Bill, it was a better place for him to rest than under all that rubble. The wind rode through his beard and his hair, a vibrant chill that touched upon his skin, but Ben couldn't feel it at this moment, too deep in his own head.

The mound of upturned dirt was fresh, and a large rock was positioned as a gravestone. Underneath all that dirt and rock, was the man that was the closest thing to a father he had ever known. Ben stared at that plot of earth, he didn't know what to say or do.

He pursed his lips to speak, hoping that maybe in some strange spiritual way he would be able to hear him…yet he didn't. Ben didn't speak. His throat emptying as he watched the soil. Bill was a man of few words and rarely ever spoken, he led by action…and Ben would honor his memory with action.

He was told to use his powers for good, and he would use those powers to defeat the fire nation and pave a new era, an era free from this century long war that has plagued this world. Because he was a warrior, and because he had people that needed him.

He raised his mechanical arm, flexing the metal pieces of the false limb. This would forever be apart of him, a wound inflicted that he would never recover from. The pain and the loss, even with the cybernetic he figured would never go away. It was scary, but Ben didn't have the time to cry or to feel fear for what would be a problem down the line, when he was in the process of wondering if he would survive the next day.

There wasn't time to cry, there wasn't time to feel fear, things were beginning to get serious and him and team avatar had to get ready for the coming trials ahead. Yet, there was something that made him afraid. Something that he couldn't hide or cover up with bravado or with something stronger.

The words Exar told him of the process. As he gazed down at his mechanical arm, flexing the fingers as he was still coming to terms with the foreign limb. How much did he lose?

Did he trade up a piece of himself…a piece of his humanity for this piece? He didn't cry, he felt sad, but he didn't cry. Was that something that was lost to him now? With widened eyes that popped out of his sockets, with a hurried breath, it was the appearance of the man in his thoughts that made him seek composure, a way to seek a state of calmness against the storm.

Exar, while he was his master was a Sith Remnant. He couldn't show weakness, or his master would exploit it. "Have you finished your business here, apprentice?"

Ben didn't turn around. Only offering a subtle nod as he began to turn away from the gravestone. He couldn't look back, there was nothing here for him anymore. Exar sparked a smile, wrapping his arms around himself as he watched his apprentice. "Excellent, now comes the second part of your training, you have done well my apprentice. A practice hand in sorcery, we shall continue this lesson after…but I hope this has shown you the true superiority of the dark side."

"Trust me, Exar." Ben spoke, a bite added to the cold etched words. "I know how powerful the Dark Side is, and I know how easy of a trap it is. I follow my own way, light side and dark side are…"

"Merely just tools." Exar finished. "Yet, if you stuck to the light side. The light wouldn't have given you a proper and stronger replacement. So, answer me this. Will holding onto your code keep you tethered, or will it only stop you from reaching your true potential?"

Benjamin didn't respond. Exar thinking that he possibly got through to Ben, and the silence was one of him analyzing and thinking about his words. Rather Ben was merely just thinking about how he was right, arrogance from both men as they thought they could comprehend something far out of there control.

After a minute. The gatekeeper spoke again. Extending his hand towards the Holocron that was neatly pressed along the dirt. "For your first spell, a proper gift."

With those parting words. The Holocron began to twist and contort, unveiling itself as Ben could only watch with eyes that sparkled like pilot lights. He watched as the Holocron split from the inside, seeing the elaborate crystal matrix of the ancient artifact. As a separate crystal began to lightly hover from the middle, the Holocron sealing right back up as it hovered in the air, Benjamin using the force to pull the ejected object into his right hand.

Yet, it hit him like a brink of an iceberg. Widened eyes as the feeling sunk into him, the pores of residual dark side energy shaking him as his knees chattered like icicles along a windstorm. It was like he was a child again, hiding within the darkness as he hoped to not be found. However, he could feel something. It wasn't weakness, but rather the crystal taking those feelings, and giving it strength in return…

His throat parched as he had to find a center. "What is this?" He spoke through gritted teeth as the Dark Lord of The Sith, with all his arrogance mustered peered at him.

"Qixoni Crystals, matchless in power and infused with the dark side of the force. Only can be found on dead planets or super nova's. The heat and the energy of the dead stars caused metals and raw materials to become fused with minerals…producing powerful crystals of the dark side of the force."

Ben stared at it, transfixed to the brilliant crimson shine of the crystal. Even without a lightsaber…he could feel his strength begin to grow.

"Not only does the crystal enhance one's force abilities, in addition, it increases the blades power by a significant degree…"

Ben stared at the crystal, pulsating with dark side energy, with power, with power he craved. His eyes fixating along the crystal as he sparked a smile. Exar watched this, knowing full well that the power ensnared the boy.

'What can one crystal do to me? I already messed around with Force Lighting and now the arcane arts…how bad can just using a dark side crystal really be?'

Without speaking, he pocketed the crystal. Turning towards Exar. "Apprentice, it is time for you to fashion a new lightsaber."

Ben knew that the Sith Lord was right, but as he glossed over towards his belt. A part of him hated that idea. Lightsabers were personal and his wasn't broken, it was stolen. It felt wrong, and he didn't like the idea that his blade was viewed as some trophy.

On the flipside, what else could he do? Take up another sword and hope so they run into the same Sith Lord. No, with a deep breath, he nodded his head. Taking the Holocron as the projection began to vanish. It was time, he had a reliable replacement but now he needed a new weapon. Benjamin, a Jedi Watchman. He would need to fashion a new Lightsaber.

After arriving back in the city. Ben was on a mission, after donning a new shirt he took his fund of money and made his way into the marketplace. Meanwhile, he wrote a note and placed it on the bison. Appa roaring to alert team avatar as Ben began to leave. The note was basically stating to get their stuff in order and that Ben would return when he had all the stuff he needed.

Jet after their duel had explained to Ben that him and Haru had found something near the spirit oasis, a trapdoor in which there was a lab or a workstation, pieces to build a lightsaber. A little workshop reminiscent to the one they found back farther in the water tribe.

Ben assumed that another Jedi had escaped from the purge, most likely a distant ancestor from the chieftain was a Jedi, making a little hole he stored parts and hidden away knowledge of the Jedi. Benjamin would use that knowledge today.

Ben hustled through the marketplace as he held three very important things. Wedged between his left armpit was a small furnace and an assortment of gems. To build a new lightsaber was going to take a long time and he didn't want any distractions. Including the ones team avatar would bring.

This was an advanced prosthetic, something made from Sith Sorcery, and he still needed time to think of a well-crafted lie to give to them. Ironic, lying to his friends. He gritted his teeth at the thought as he continued through the crowd.

He figured that the little workshop would hold all the components so he brought the ones he knew it would not have. The power crystals to help reinforce his blade, and the crystals to use inside of the furnace.

Ben had no clue how to find a place in which natural Kyber crystals grew, and he doubted that he would get lucky finding another crystal-like Kiara's whose attunement was improper. No, Benjamin would need something else. That was why he held these assortments of crystals and this furnace…Benjamin, was going to create a synthetic lightsaber crystal.

Synthetic lightsaber crystals were constructed in a furnace, a crystal that was grappled closer to the user and held a greater scope of control over its distinct abilities. It was also more reliable than cleansing or finding another crystal.

Synthetics were known for there strength, but on the other hand they were known to be more "Less agile" due to that added strength. Benjamin didn't really know what to do with that information. All he knew was that he needed to compose a new weapon. So, he made his way to the spirit oasis. Heading to the place Jet had described exactly.

Finding the trap door, kicking it underneath as he wedged it with his foot. He huddled into the manhole as his eyes began to adjust to the dark surroundings. It was long, reminding him of the slim transport vestals he had been around.

Ben could pinpoint a cot and a small workbench; boxes were arranged along steel shelves as he peeked into one. Satisfied in seeing the lightsaber parts as he closed it back. Laying the gemstones and the furnace on the small workbench as he took a heavy breath. "Time for work…" He slowly spoke to himself. Knowing full well that this was going to be a long time.

Ben cracked his neck, turning on the furnace as he began to pile wood into the opening as the flames eat it greedily. Taking the gemstones in hand as he began to fixate on the force energy, finding the trace currents located within the gemstones as he began to attune them. Taking a deep breath as he opened the furnace and placed them inside.

Ben sat hunched over, immersing himself within the force for many hours. Trying to regulate the complicated crystal composition. This was his first real time doing this, knowing this he had bought a handful of crystals to use. Knowing full well that one out of the dozen could properly function as a focusing crystal.

Ben as the hours went by slowly parting the opening as the chemical gas began to waft through the opening, reddening his eyes as he closed it once again after he checked on their process. He had begun to take the liberty of finding the proper components to construct his blade.

Dozens of tools and pieces of equipment lay on the tabletop, arranged in a careful order so that he knew where everything was. After many hours, Ben felt that the crystals were finally ready. Dark blue smoke rose from the furnace as he blinked in the toxic fumes. Adding the next batch of elements as he drew on his force powers, silently impressed as he watched the process unfold.

He amplified his vison, watching the chemicals interact with each other, watching them bond and separate as the flames and the will of the force was at work. The crystals were beginning to grow, slowly being attuned to Ben and structured with force energy.

He adjusted the temperature to a lower heat, sweat along his brow as he began to realize that the crystals were beginning to near completion. He focused his mind on fixating on the chemical and physical make up of the crystal, trying to attune the weapon to himself far more closely.

The crystals began to glow, gobbling up with pure force energy as Ben grinned. Taking a break as he rested on the cot for a couple of hours, nearing completion he rose. His eyes red from the exhaustion and the lack of sleep and present calling upon the force. He huffed from the final chemical process as he stared into the opening…taking a final peak at the composition.

Satisfied, he shut down the furnace. Waiting outside of it like a child waiting for his cookies to be ready. Only after half an hour were they finally cooled off enough, Ben cracking the panel open as the smell of crystals and cinder began to fill the entire room.

Ben's false arm dragged the crystal tray out. Letting it rest on his workbench as he began to pick through it. There were numerous crystals in there, but as he began to pick through it…none were good. Initially, fear began to sink into his heart, fearful that he would need to replicate the whole process a second time due to messing up. Yet, his heart began to slowly soften, taking a heavy relieved breath as his right hand went into the middle of the tray. Parting through the ash and broken chips of gems.

He had lifted a rectangular jagged crystal, half the size of his pinky finger. The crystal was a dark sapphire, the small golden flames of the dying furnace trickled along the blue crystal as Ben smirked from the attuned crystal, coughing up the fumes as he rested the crystal on the workbench.

Pushing away the furnace and the faulty crystals he began to set out his pieces. Taking out the qixoni and the emerald he bought from the shop, he rested it along his synthetic focusing crystal. Also, bringing the lightsaber parts he had collected as he began to put together the hilt and electronics of his weapon.

Ben had already built two lightsabers, once when he was a child and another a couple of months ago. This was his third, he didn't like the fact that his blades were stolen or destroyed but what more could he have done. On the Brightside, he didn't feel any worry.

He began to get to work. Giving himself into the force and into concentration as he began to start the process of building his weapon. So, he gave into it. Streaming into the waves of force energy as his hands began to pick through the tools at the mechanical object in hand.

He wanted to rush the project, jam the crystal into his weapon and see that blur of plasma poke free from his weapon. He wanted to fight back, and he knew of the time constraint. Yet, he forced himself back into that center.

He knew more than anyone how easy it was to fall into that rush to build your weapon. It would be a weapon that he would possibly use for the rest of his life, and he didn't want the weapon to short circuit or combust during a particular important battle.

Inserting the power cell into the electronics, he turned the weapon over. Using the tools on hand to make accurate projections to his weapon. He was thinking of making something different from his last two hilts, something particularly unique to the change in the man he had become. Something not Jedi…and Something not Sith.

He had begun to use the tools to cut the pieces into the proper configurations and file the rough edges. After a little while he began to make the proper measurements and began to finally finish the electronics of his weapon.

Installing the power source, connecting all the leads, and then adding the control buttons. Ben steeled himself, he was nearing completion but the arrogant part of him wanted to finish it now, further rushing him on forward. Yet, Ben didn't give that part of him strength.

Finally finishing up the electronics, he began to work on his hilt. The handle mostly assembled as he began to once again to bask into the force, his scope traveling through the lines of force energy. His hand working in a blur as he began to attach the electronics into the handle, the control parts into their respective order.

Taking a deep breath, Ben began to take the crystals into the palm of his left hand. Lightly lifting the weapon into the air as he used the force to stream the crystals into there proper place. The crystals vibrant in force energy as he placed the two power crystals into there respective areas, the synthetic focusing crystal coming in last.

With a couple more adjustments the hilt was completed, the electronics sealed inside within the crystals as Ben felt the hum of mighty force energy generated from both the Qixoni and the Synthetic crystal. Smiling at the constructed weapon, he used the force to tighten up the blade to make sure that all the screws and banding were promptly tied or nailed in.

As it was finished, Ben took it in his right hand as he glanced at the overall design of his new single bladed lightsaber. The lightsaber, which is made of rich alloy metal, is mostly metallic silver in color with black accents in the grooves. The hilt flares out to its widest diameter at the emitter, which has an inverted truncated-cone shape. The hilt narrows below the emitter and widens out at an extruded ring section. An activation box is attached above the activation switch. Several thin, horizontal grooves are situated in the lower grip section of the hilt. A cover wheel attaches near the base and a notched vented pommel caps off the end of the hilt.

The hum of force power welled inside of the weapon; a brilliant dark azure blade of plasma brightened up the hole. Ben smirking at the sight, the process was flawless and now he held a new weapon. Blue, the true color of The Jedi Guardian. For centuries, men and woman like Ben held the rank of Guardian. The crusader's of the force that had chosen to serve the light by vanishing the darkness with lightsaber in hand.

Mesmerized with the hum of the blade, Ben gave it a couple of swings as he was transfixed to the sight. Hearing the musical hum of the weapon as he was content with both the crystals and the design. Turning the blade off as the plasma went back into the base of his hilt.

With a sly smile and a sigh, Ben attached the weapon to his belt. The familiar feeling of a lightsaber along his thigh giving him a newfound strength and proper determination. He turned away from the room, he was finally ready. With newfound determination and a new weapon…he was ready to continue this journey.

Team avatar rested on top of Appa. Bags already packed and thrown onto the sky bison as they begrudgingly braved the cold air. "God, what is taking him so long!" Sokka spoke. His voice trailing into the air as he stretched.

They had been here for quite a long time and even he wanted to see more of the world. Katara stayed silent, but she held similar feelings. Ben had just upped and left with Appa, and no one knew where he was.

Hell, even Jet was silently worried. Throwing his blade up into the air and catching it as he wondered more and more about his master and what was going on in his head. He couldn't imagine what it was like losing his arm, and he held no real clue of what his master was thinking.

"Jet, have you spoken to Ben about what happened…on that day?" Katara questioned, getting the older boy's attention as he silently shook his head.

They all knew what Katara was speaking about, the day of the siege and the day that Jet had done the impossible…after what he had done, he was racked with exhaustion and could hardly understood what he did. Jet had awakened something primal, almost instinctual within him.

Yet, it was his master's words that repeated in his head. The ones that told him that what he did was wrong, how dangerous it was…but wasn't it worth it in the end to save his friend, his teacher!

"I don't know. He hasn't asked or said anything about it, but I am still coming to grips with it, Katara." Jet responded back. Reattaching his blade as he stopped with his exercise.

Aang parted his lips. Turning towards his friend. "Listen, I know how Ben gets. But you didn't do anything wrong Jet…he would've died if you didn't do anything. Light side or dark side, it didn't matter and look…it's been a month and your just fine."

The words caused Jet to chuckle a little, but he waved it off. "Thanks, Aang." He responded as he lifted his gaze, seeing a figure approach him. "Ben, he's here!" He called out to the rest of team avatar as he saw his master approach, but he looked a little different from his standard getup.

Ben's face was clean, all the facial hair was removed as it was freshly shaven. His hair was still long but wrapped up in a man bun as the messy tendrils pocked from the back and decorated the base of his forehead.

A zipped up brown bomber jacket covered his torso and protected him from the cold air. Wearing dark blue worker pants and a pair of boots. Yet, it was the attention to Ben's arm that shocked the four members along the bison.

His left arm moved…Ben struggling to adjust a glove over the covering as they were able to see his new lightsaber blade sway along the wind. Ben approached the bison, leaping through the air as he steadily landed on the saddle. They watched him; jaw dropped as Sokka was the only one to speak. "Your arm…" He mumbled out.

Ben nodding as he lightly rolled up the sleeve of his jacket. The crew staring at the screws, wires, and metal plating as he brought it back down. "How did you do that?" Questioned Aang.

Ben already had a lie ready. There was no way in hell that he was going to speak the truth of what he did, and his own thoughts of what he possibly lost during the process. "With the power of the force, anything is possible. Even with a missing limb, you can regain something…"

With that answer, his friends sighed in relief. Sighing with them that they bought this lie, he knew that it was wrong to lie to these people that cared deeply for him. But on the other hand, he didn't really lie. Omitting parts of the truth but he did use the force. Also, banking off of there ignorance of what he actually was.

Jet was the one that was staring at Ben…he could feel the dark side in the arm. Yet, he scowled. Knowing that this wasn't the right time or place to have such a conversation. Appa began to rise, team avatar finally after so long had left the city and now were going to head off to the next parts of their journey.

Ben sighed, unclamping his mouth as he felt…content. Finally, they were back on there proper journey. Now it was merely time to find Aang a proper earth bending master and to strike harder than before at the fire nation.

"Ben, have you read the note yet?" Aang questioned.

Ben shaking his head. "No, Haru's note is still in the pack…I really got to give it some time."

"No, this one." Aang handed him a piece of paper, tied up in a piece of red fabric as the exile took it in both hands. "We got it a couple of weeks ago and because we're heading into the frontier of the Earth Kingdom, should we check it out?"

Ben didn't respond, merely parting the note open as he began to read the contents. "Dear Avatar, me and my associates need you for a special mission. Meet us at these coordinates in the coming days, we have information and something you will want."

Ben closed the note, rewrapping it as he handed it back to Aang. "Where did you get this?"

Sokka spoke up. "There water bending master gave it to them. Said that the source was trustworthy, but we aren't sure about it. He mentioned that they have information and something we want. Would it hurt to check it out?"

Ben thought about it, weighting the pros and cons of the detour. If it wasn't for their masters involvement, he would've steered clear from this place. Believing that it was merely a trap set up by the fire nation and the Sith. But their master said it was trustworthy.

Yet, something felt off about this note. He didn't know why, btu he felt that he needed to know what this guy had to say. So, he nodded his head. Aang smirking as he began to redirect Appa to the new course along their journey.