Author Note: Yo! Chapter 31 and our first real chapter into Book 2. Thanks everyone for checking out the fic and stuff and I hope you guys enjoy. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation in making new chapters. Have an awesome day!

Chapter 31

Appa's roar stirred the girl awake. Ty Lee, her eyes starting to slowly narrow as her hand went to her head. The whipping wind cutting into her face as she strained her brown eyes forward. Then widening as she began to realize where she was, up in the sky.

"Your awake…" Katara lightly spoke. Going towards the girl as the other occupants aboard Appa turned towards the pair of girls. Ty Lee shaking herself awake as she began to scope out her horizons. She was captured by bandits, broke out and used her skills to discombobulate them. Then, she instinctively grabbed her head. Katara's hands drawing on her water bending as she tended to the girl.

Her eyes lifting to catch Ben's gaze. Instinctively going towards him. She remarked on before, she had him confused and was going to finish him off…yet he employed that power. Her eyes going towards his belt. Seeing the lightsaber attached to his thigh that carelessly blown through the wind.

"Oh, your awake!" Aang leaped up. Walking over towards her as Sokka quickly grabbed onto the reins of the bison. Ty lee stirred as the airbender rested his hand in front of her, eyes widened as she saw his tattoos.

"You're the…avatar." She mumbled, Aang taking her hand as they shook.

"Yeah, I guess. Though, it's nice to have another person around here."

Katara lightly shook her shoulder, pointing her finger to everyone around. "That's my brother Sokka who's steering Appa, Ben is a Jedi Watchman, and that is his apprentice…"

Jet simply sneered at the sight, turning his gaze away from the girl. "Jet come on…don't be like that." Aang spoke up.

Jet simply stared off the side. Ben getting up from his crouch as he walked over towards the girl. "I'm Ben, seriously don't listen to Katara. I'm honestly just some guy with a lightsaber at this point…"

Aang heard the tone that Ben had used. It was no secret, and they all could see the change that Ben had went through. Especially to Sokka, the boy had not only abandoned his robes but had salvaged together an arm.

Listen, Sokka was confused about the force and held no real idea half the crap Ben could do. He basically allowed Ben, Jet, and Haru to deal with those people while he stayed behind as the plan guy. But even to him, he didn't like the arm…it felt wrong somehow, malignant or something along those lines.

Ben took her hand as they introduced the other. "Listen, your father and me made a deal. He sent us to rescue you and to transport you to Ba Sing Sai. It will be a long journey and my friends still have things to do."

"Of course, I honestly don't wish to be a burden."

"You're already taking up much needed space." Jet snapped back. Katara and Aang shooting him a deadly look. "What, she's some fire nation noble's daughter! Appa already is nearly crammed to the extent, and we have like six people here!"

Ben hated it, but even he was silently wavering with what Jet was saying. This was kind of stupid. Taking a daughter of an enemy along their journey was risky, even though that girl was strangely beautiful…

Ben quickly facepalmed. His eyes half narrowing as he registered his thoughts. That girl was a fire nation nobles' daughter, he could have his fantasies but he couldn't dissuade himself from the fact that girl was an enemy. Even though she was a pretty enemy, still an enemy none the less.

Still, the price was worth it. The Holocron of Exar Kun and the second one he had attained from her father hummed in his bag. He would go through them eventually. They promised power, and he would use them for his own needs.

"Speaking of which, you're going to need this." Ben asserted. Walking around Ty Lee as he scrounged behind them lifting a piece of fabric as he extended his arm. A cloak, a light fabric blue cloak that they bought during their stay in the northern water tribe.

Ty Lee, smirked. Ben extending it with his left hand as her fingers carelessly went along his arm. His false arm, the strange feeling of fingers. Yet, it was false…the force. Ben's eyes widened at the touch; his throat rasped as he instinctively felt it.

The searing hot coldness of a lightsaber blade cleaving through his limb. His throat was clogged, his voice mute as he dropped the fabric. "You know, you'd be pretty cute if you just smiled a little more." Ty Lee hummed.

Yet, the words were caught in his head. Aimless from the feeling that was within him right now. Appa dipped as Ty Lee quickly put on the covering. Ben knew where they were, an Earth Kingdom Fortress. He could see the large walls that were scaling.

Appa rode over them with ease as they began to set down on a nice pad of land. Earth Kingdom soldiers stopping in front of them. Ty Lee quickly wrapping her body with the cloak as the group began to leave the bison. Sokka walked over to the girl in question. "Don't tell any of them that you are fire nation or something."

"Yeah, isn't that obvious." She hurriedly murmured back to the young warrior.

Those were the closing conversations as they entered the fortress. Yet, all of them felt a strange and ominous feeling. Almost like they would have to claw and scratch to get a way out.

It was a large room, the ceiling almost like it was touching the sky as the large green walls filtered with glass planes that let out rays of natural sunlight. Earth Kingdom soldiers stood in their armor and at the ready as team avatar funneled through.

Ben lagging as he wedged Aang between him and Jet if things got a little bit too crazy. There exploits have been known throughout the world, and their lightsabers would definitely deter anybody getting any crazy ideas.

The general stood with heavy armor. The pads of steel nearly ingrained within the muscle as his dark beard rippled from his face. His sunken in eyes evident of a man that had fought and survived many battles.

Yet, Ben and Jet could feel something. An uneasiness within them that reeked of something else. It was a strange and dark feeling that both boys couldn't get a read on. That feeling, that was the feeling that caused their fingers to radiate with force energy, willing to draw on their blades if the need arrived.

"Avatar…Master Jedi." General Fong stated as he sat on his throne. Overlooking all of them as his desk separated them by a wide margin.

"Hello, I was told to come here so I can head to Omashu. I have already mastered Air and Water, and I need to find a proper Earth Bending teacher."

Omashu, the place in which he had confronted all of those Sith. He had heard that the Sith lost interest in the city and left a long time ago. Yet, the fire nation has been trying to attack it.

This confused Ben, it was a major city for the fire nation and the Sith just gave it back up? It could mean two things. One, the war between the four nations never truly mattered to the Sith and it was a means to an end. Or, for all Ben knew they simply didn't care about the strategical values of such a place.

Sith Hypocrisy and foolishness throughout the ages has led to their downfall for centuries. He may very well just be seeing that. Yet, he was just about to see another example of ignorance.

"…why train, young Avatar." He rose from his seat, a booming voice as he turned towards them all. "Your already ready to defeat the fire lord."

Team avatar both stared at him. Only one word followed in sync that funneled from their lips. "WHAT!" They screamed.

"…I'm not ready, I only learned two of the elements!"

"Why wait! I've read the reports of what you've done during the invasion of the water tribe!" He threw out his hand, extending towards both Jet and Ben. "Even your Jedi. I read the reports of how you cleaved through battalions of soldiers with your blades, even dueling with a lord of the Sith. With the might of all three of you, we can cut into the heart of the fire nation and put an end to this war."

Ben went in front of Aang. Resting his left hand in front of him as he drew upon his blade. Unignited, but he could feel the tension rise from such an act. "Absolutely not. Aang said it himself, he isn't ready, the avatar state isn't just something you can shut off or control."

He had seen Aang during the air temple, he had heard the reports of what he had done during the invasion. It was insane, and even he could understand Fong's plan. Yet, it would fail instantly, turning towards Aang as Ben's golden eyes stared at the young boy, he protected…

Aang couldn't hack it…he couldn't kill or destroy. Sure, maybe if they activated the avatar state in the fire nation than maybe it would work. But how would Aang handle destroying cities, laying waste to armies, having to kill and get civilians caught up in the crossfire?

"Fine then, but can I show you something young Avatar. Of what this war of the fire nation is causing us."

Aang pushed free from Ben, the action startling him but he let it slide. Yet, he followed Aang as team avatar did as well. Their eyes following what was outside. The lines of wounded men, their bodies on the floor from the capacity. Burn marks, lacerations…some even having amputations.

That feeling…

Ben's mechanical arm, the false arm…shook. His golden eyes training down his body as he saw the false arm shake as his fingertips spazzed out. His right arm tightening along the thing, the effect not able to be hidden from his comrades.

"The fire nation…did all this?"

Ty Lee's soft voice emptied from her lips. Her light brown eyes staring at the weight of what had happened, it was no secret where she came from. She was a noble's daughter, and was sheltered from the war, but to believe that they were doing all this.

Even shocked to feel faint tears rolling down her cheeks. Jet staring at her, almost like he was going to say something or to give her words of comfort. Only for his body to shake, wrenching his gaze away. "Damn, fire nation scum…"

"Don't you see, Avatar. These lives can be saved…and many more. If you use your avatar state, you can put an end to this war."

Aang…didn't know what to do. His eyes hovering over the people, he had already failed Ben and if it wasn't for Jet's timely intervention then…

He felt Ben's false arm on his shoulder. Wrenching him away from the general. "We're going to think it over, general Fong." Ben spoke for Aang. Team avatar following behind as the general's mouth unlatched.

"Well, your rooms are already prepared…please take the night to think of a proper answer, I insist."

Ben grimaced at the old general, he was insane. So, they made way out of his office with due haste. Unknown to them, the old general was slowly growing rash, and he was willing to do whatever it took to bring an end to this war. Even if it meant endangering the lives of the innocent.

Ty Lee flopped onto the bed, the ornate bedroom springing as her body carelessly flopped onto it. Team avatar had taken the liberty of unpacking their stuff for the night as Ben cracked his neck. His eyes going towards the two beds.

At first, he had thought that the general would give them individual rooms. One of the things he had been craving was a good dinner and a nice bed afterwards. But all they got was a decently luxurious room with two beds.

"Alright. Girls get one…and me and Aang get the other." Sokka announced.

"You and Aang, the fuck!" ben jokingly erupted. Prodding his friend as he pointed at him. "If anyone gets the decent bed it should be me!"

"Come on, Ben. You've gotten quality rest for a long time…I've had to deal with back aches and a bad mattress."

Ty Lee twisted along the bed as Katara merely ran a finger through her hair. These kids, she thought. Yet, she still smiled at them talking and such. It felt decent now, at first, they were just a trio. Now they were nearly at full capacity. Anymore then they probably would need another vision!

"Where did Sokka go?"

Ben spoke the question, the words ringing into the air. Straining his eyes around the room. Katara taking a seat on the bed. "He's outside…to see, Yue."

The words rung hollow for Ty Lee and Jet. Yet, team avatar knew the weight those words carried. Especially towards Sokka. Ben opened the door, feeling the trace amounts of force energy as he began to zone into Sokka's location.

"Stanger, for such a cute boy…" She strained her eyes into the ceiling, narrowing as she watched the neat green tiles of the fortress overhead. "His aura, something I wouldn't expect."

"You can read, auras?" Katara questioned. Jet merely sighing as he pushed himself out of the room, slamming the door shut. "Ignore him…"

"Yeah, I have this thing with people. At times I can read people really good and even feel what they are feeling." She explained.

Aang raised his hand. "Oh, what is my aura!"

"Well, you have a really bubbly one. A complete contrast towards your friend."

"What is Ben's aura like?"

Ty Lee was silent for a minute. Wracking her head to try and to decide the right words to this question. "I guess, it would be easy to say that he feels. Scared…"

"Scared…that doesn't sound like Benji?" Aang spoke up. Playing with Momo as they carelessly listened on.

"Hey, I'm just saying that's what I feel. Fear, hesitation…those sorts of things, I was just shocked to hear that this boy, a jedi master of all things could feel such things."

With those words, the sounds of the room dulled out completely. Unbeknownst to them all. There was a meeting between two boys.

"Oi, what are you doing all the way out here?"

Ben playfully chatted as he made his way next to Sokka. They stood over a balcony. Clear views of the valley overhead as they watched the bright full moon peer over them with its natural glow. "I'm sorry, Sokka. For Yue…"

He didn't learn of what happened to Yue for a while. Taking Katara to tell him, she was a good girl. Willing to sacrifice herself to restore balance and with that balance allowed Aang to put an end to that invasion.

Ben didn't like their relationship…especially due to the fact that girl was going to be getting married, but after what she had done, he figured that they would've been a good fit for the other.

"It hurts, I already lost my mother due to this war. I don't want to lose anyone or anything else." He murmured, digging his face into himself as he held his breath. His throat tighter as she had to hold back the urge to cry.

"We all lost something, that day." Ben spoke. Raising his gloved hand up. His golden eyes locking along the hem of the cloth. The false arm laid beneath it, hidden away like another one of his secrets.

Through gritted teeth, it shook. The fingers unclenching as Sokka took his gaze off the sky to pay attention to the friend by his side. "What is this, a prosthetic shouldn't be able to do this?"

"Yeah, I know. It just takes some time to get used to, ironically it will work better than the real thing." Ben let out a forced chuckle, but neither of them truly laughed. Sokka once again leaning on the balcony as the tumor began to silence down. "Sometimes, I can feel my real arm…"

"How, I didn't know that was possible."

"It's called phantom pain. It's when an individual loses a limb, and the sensation is still there." Ben explained.

Sokka glossed over. "How does it feel, is there any pain?" He questioned.

"Yeah, most of the time. It's the feeling of that Lord of The Sith's using my very own lightsaber against me. Damn, Sokka. I can still feel my fingertips at times." He grunted. Staring into the canyon below as he began to sink in. "I'm going to find that bastard, and I'm going to cut him down with my own hand…"

The words rung within Sokka's head, and he knew that Ben was serious. He was different now, completely different from the boy they had encountered on that island from what felt like centuries ago. He had become a warrior, not a Jedi.

"Are we making the right choice, Ben?" The boy turning to catch his friend's gaze. "This war, do you think that there is a chance for Aang to learn how to control the avatar state and putting an end to this. For all we know it can end this war early, no one will have to suffer anymore."

"Yeah, I did. Honestly, Sokka. I really did think about it…and I know for a fact that this isn't going to work." Ben strained his neck forward, lining his finger down the canyon as Sokka observed. "Imagine this, Aang in the avatar state using his abilities to cleave a hole through the fire nation. Killing soldiers, civilians, destroying everything in his path as he rampaged through everything in a destructive fury. Do you remember that time he saw his old master? How he got so angry that he couldn't differentiate us from friend and foe?"

Ben spat out a wad of spit. Leaning away from the banister as the wind rippled across his face and hair. "The answer is obvious, Sokka. Do you honestly believe Aang has the will to destroy cities and kill dozens or possibly even hundreds of civilians?"

Sokka thought back, he thought back to all those times Aang had shown mercy. His regret over the avatar state, his fear of hurting others and this looming pressure over him. "No, I don't…"

"That's my point, Sokka. Even if we trigger the avatar state, nothing will be able to control Aang…likewise how are we going to deal with the aftereffects. He feels bad about fire nation soldiers, how the hell are we going to explain to him a civilian casualty?"

Ben pushed himself off the banister. This place, this whole plan was foolish, and his team needed to leave. He didn't feel comfortable with the general or his men escorting them down this path. They would do it on their own.

Likewise, he didn't want to involve civilians into their war. He knew war and battle, but he doubted that the general would care about fire nation citizens. He held a hatred towards the soldiers and the Sith, not the people trying to get by. Another thing he would have to explain to Jet when he had the chance.

He hated the fire nation and the Sith, but as he looked upon Ty Lee's face. Saw her mannerisms, it was just hard to just see them all like it. Though, he knew for a fact he couldn't hesitate…not anymore, it was carved twice in his body. Once in his fingers, and another in his arm. The pain was still there and would forever be there for the rest of his days.

Ben lightly patted his friend on the back. "Come on, let's go get some rest."

With those words the boys headed back to their room. Eyes drawn forward as they were already forming plans in their head on where to go to next.

Aang had finished speaking to the general. Fong watched the avatar as his team loitered behind. "So, you wish to wait and to train. To complete your avatar journey."

"Yes…"

"Are you sure, isn't there a chance to awaken it…to control it?"

He growled, dangerously. "Aang can't use the avatar state without being put in danger, or under emotional stress." Ben spoke up. Ushering Aang to follow them. "It would do no good trying to awaken something that puts his life in danger anyway."

Ben patted Aang on the back, proud of his friend for sticking up for himself. He wasn't ready, and that was okay. Yet, that was when they felt it. Jet, Ben, and Ty Lee's eyes snapping to the front.

There thoughts thrown into confusion as fear rode through them like a powerful black tide. It felt like slow motion, Ben's eyes locking towards the mighty earth bending push that Fong gave to his desk. Bee lining it towards Aang and his team.

He was even shocked to see Ty Lee react to it so quickly. Yet. 'No, she's just got a quick reaction time. It would be foolish to believe it means something more.'

Ben's new lightsaber flew into his hands by the call of the force. The dark blue blade igniting as it hummed along team avatar's ears. Gripping the weapon with one lone hand he slashed forward, separating the desk in two as he gritted his teeth, throwing himself forward and into his stance as he readied himself in front of Fong.

Jet's lightsaber sparked to life, the cyan blade contrasting the hum of Ben's own blade as team avatar began to get ready. "The fuck is wrong with you, crazy motherfucker!" Ben snarled. Twirling the blade in his hands.

"I'm just planning on ending this war, I shall awaken the avatar state and put an end to this war!"

With those words, they were launched. The earthbenders to the side in a pure fury of martial bending might bending the earth underneath them. Launching them all out of the window. Aang quickly grabbed Katara as he air bended a proper landing, Jet manifesting a force barrier to protect him and Sokka, as Ben grabbed onto Ty Lee using the aid of the force to land softly.

"You good?"

With a quick nod, he dropped her to the ground. The girl turning to her side as Ben and the rest began to pick up on the surrounding groups of soldiers that were quickly beginning to surround them.

They're ignited blades were cue for the battle at hand. Fong was willing to put Aang in a life and death situation to try and awaken something that he thought he could control, the arrogance.

Ben gritted his teeth as the man jumped from the balcony. The earth bending soldiers starting to move forward as he launched himself into combat. Positioning himself into his lightsaber form as Jet followed suit. "Jet, don't hold back."

The brown-haired boy nodding. This would surely be different; they had gotten used to fighting and dealing with force sensitives and fire nation soldiers. Now they were dealing with earth benders. Still, such trivial powers would hold no weight against the true magnitude of the force.

Ben clicked his lips. Tossing himself into the fray as the earthbending soldiers moved forward for there assault. Ben gripping the blade with both hands, as he released a flurry of attacks from his sapphire blade.

The blade cleaving and making their mark as team avatar themselves held off the waves of the attackers. Ben back flipping, releasing a mighty push of force energy as it launched a squadron of earth kingdom soldiers backwards.

"Stop…we do not want to fight you!" Aang screamed, using his earth bending to toss the soldiers away as Katara herself began to use her water whip. Tossing them astray as the team began to look forward, mighty earth walls protruded around them. Separating members of the team.

"Fucker!"

Ben screamed, gripping the blade with both hands as he released a flurry of quick attacks. Even in the dark, he saw the light. Whipping forward as he threw himself into the fray, his blue beam of plasma cleaving through the squadrons of soldiers.

Rolling away, as he saw the general. "Fong!" He screamed forward, augmenting his speed with the force as he let out like a blur. Blade in his right hand as in the next second a mighty wall was erupted. Not letting it dissuade him, he barreled all his energy into his left arm, leaping into the air as he released the bright orange beam. The beam of Force Destruction released as it caved in a massive hole, the sound of the beam of explosive energy funneling through the cavern as Ben leaped through the hole, continuing his advance.

That was when he saw it…General Fong's eyes looping at Katara as Ben could feel it, malicious intent. "No, don't you fucking dare!" He screamed, pushing himself forward as his soldiers tried to stop him. Limbs and blood decorating the air as his blade flayed through them like a glaive through a crowd.

Fong raised his arm, knowing full well what he was going to do Aang grabbed onto him, wrenching him away but when it began to look grim. The hum of a boomerang zoomed all around, striking Fong in the head as the mans body twitched blood seeping from the cut as it barreled along the floor.

"What…" He murmured, dazed from the head injury. Ty Lee appeared, leaping over the crowd as with her extended finger she struck his arm. Letting his earth bending sink as he was partially paralyzed.

Ben ran forward. Fong's other arm trying to raise as he was going to give into a last-ditch effort. Ben grabbing his lightsaber with both hands so hard that his knuckles turned a ghostly white. Slamming the blade down with his force augmented strength, the beam of plasma separated the general's arm from his body.

The fallen limb colliding to the ground as the general produced a heinous scream. Falling to his knees as he grabbed onto the nub. The wound starting to cauterize instantly. "Fine, it's over…please, have mercy!" He screamed.

Yet, Ben didn't. In the next second, he saw red. Knowing full well what the General planned to do he decided to put an end to his plans both present and future here and now, cleaving from his stomach to his chest the man fell, his lifeless body trickling back to the earth as he collapsed.

Team Avatar watching him. Ben's heavy breath echoing all around as they simply stared at what the young Jedi Watchman had just done. Fong was defeated, he had begged for mercy…and with Ben he found none.

They had just witnessed Benjamin…murder another man. Yet, there was a question presented. As they all reeled from exhaustion, as the Earth Kingdom soldiers stared in pure shock at the brutality that the Jedi and his team had displayed after one of their own was attacked. Did Benjamin kill the General because he needed to…or because he felt it was the easiest of choices to make?