Author Note/Very Important: Yo! This chapter is quite long. Over 8k words and stuff. Listen, I gotta go really quickly so I have a couple things to say. After you are done reading this chapter please read the bottom author's note. It is very important for the fic and I believe it is something that you the reader has to read. Likewise, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review because it greatly helps my motivation in writing and my frequency in updating. Have a good weekend!

Chapter 36

The long green tendrils of grass shot up from the earth. A looming presence as they carelessly swayed from the rough tumult of wind. A large clearing within the plains, and further ahead was a fire nation occupied town.

Jet could see it further ahead, his own eyes opening as he broke from his mediation. It had helped clear his mind at times, trying to divulge deeper into the force and try to become a Jedi.

"It was all a lie. Don't you get it…you abandoned us! Your no fucking hero…no fucking leader…no Jedi!"

Jet's heart thumped, his fingers going into his messy brown hair as he welled up, his eyes narrowing as the tumult of words began to soar in all directions. His heart hammering along his ribs. Katara, Aang, and Sokka had either good or neutral experiences in the jungle, yet he had seen something else.

His friends, his comrades, his soldiers. Good men and woman…some of them being too young to be called that, they looked up to him and they had died in that forest. Burnt to ash by the orders of that Sith Lord, the same Sith Lord that Jet had killed with Ben's own lightsaber.

Anger, frothing anger at that town displayed. Those red walls, those fire nation flags that were broadcasted in all directions almost like they owned this land, his land. His fist clenched up, his fingers twining as…

With widened eyes he saw it, the cracks of green volts. A brilliant display of power that frolicked from his fingertips. He took a heavy breath, nearly hyperventilating as his emotions were on display. His eyes fixated on them as he began to try and keep himself in ease.

Slipping back into his meditation the cracks began to die down, only for the faint flicker to die out like a candle that burnt far too bright. He clenched his hands into fist, leaning them on his knees as he welled out a mighty breath.

Ben, Sokka…this strange ability he held now, he was able to save those close to death. Yet, he had to go into the edges of the dark side of the force. It felt cold, constraining, like being trapped in a cold riverbed as the pale light of the moon was his salvation.

Jet had used that light in both instances to reel himself back forward, to push through the dark side. Yet, it had only been growing dimmer as times went on, and even Jet knew that if he kept playing around with these dark forces…he would fall.

He wrapped his hands around himself, his chin going into his jacket as he tried to keep himself sane. It was a movement he wouldn't let his friends, Katara, his master…or even Ty Lee to see. The thought of her caused him to scowl, she was a fire nation nobles' daughter, but even then, his uneasiness towards her had begun to diminish.

Sure, they weren't friendly, but he was slowly able to deal with her. He had seen the way she and Ben had begun to interact, felt that ripple within the force as he would look upon her face. He had rose from his seat as he dusted off his pants. Taking his lightsaber from his belt as he ignited the weapon, the cyan blade rippling and it's hum filling the plains.

He was a freedom fighter, a leader…and a Jedi. Yes, he had made mistakes, but he proclaimed to be a better man now…or at the very least, he would try. So, he ran his drills. A blend of martial might funneling in which his talent with his lightsaber, the weapon spinning in and twisting in a brilliant wave.

A testament of the New Jedi Order, one of the first knights of the new generation. Ben had high hopes for his two apprentices. Yet, plans and destiny were shifting things, and the will of the force would always change…

Split

Jet approached the campsite, his eyes drawing over towards his surroundings as he began to get a clear view of what people had been doing. The sleeping rolls were all already packed up on Appa, same for the silverware and dining plates. The rising smoke of their campsite loitered as Jet could faintly see the orange embers slowly dissipate.

Sokka leaned along Appa's saddle. The back of his head lightly resting along the cream of Appa's fur, the young warrior held his eyes closed as he lounged, soaking in the fresh orange rays of the new day.

Ben and Jet's eyes locked, giving each other a subtle nod of greeting. Ben was leaning along Appa's leg, his fingers slowly combing along the back of his hair as he began to slowly wrap the tendrils into a bun. Ty Lee, likewise, stood behind him, watching the process as she helped him out, their fingers would lightly touch and that would cause a faint blush to spread across his face.

Ty Lee liked doing that, that little teasing. Jet could only roll his eyes at the exchange as he turned towards the riverbed. Aang and Katara's pants pulled up to their calves as the water whisked and contorted due to their command.

Their eyes fixating along the bending scrolls ahead as they followed within the movements. Jet let out a heavy breath, not one of fear or anxiety, but of content. Content, in the fact that right now they were all just relaxing, and they weren't being hunted.

Yet, Jet's eyes widened. His head clocking to the right, his senses narrowing as those brilliant brown eyes hovered over the darkness of the forest. He had felt something, a presence, a life within the forest.

Ever since the three force sensitives have left the jungle, there skill within tracking had slowly begun to grow. Most likely due to how insane the number of lives that lived within the forest, they were able to slowly identify between friend and foe.

But Jet could sense it. This wasn't one that would do them any harm…but he was still hiding. That was the reason why the man couldn't expect it. A small man, wearing a deep brown cloak and a piece of fabric that covered his mouth and his nostril fell through the forest.

Rather, Jet lashed out with his right hand, lurching his movements backwards as he pulled back. The man flying as he collapsed forward, slowly groaning as he reeled from the quick tumult. "Mind telling me what you are doing stalking me and my friends?" Jet questioned. Team avatar slowly funneling forward.

The man quickly threw off his hood, spiky brown hair funneling from his cowl as his unshaven face was clear in view. "Who the hell are you?" Ben quickly demanded, his lightsaber already in hand as he glared at the introducer.

He didn't like this; he was far too distracted and too in the scenery. 'Damn, am I really getting that soft that I couldn't detect this guy. Well, he is good at masking his presence.'

Katara wrapped her hands around her body. "Well…what are you here for?" She asked.

The man's mouth quickly unlatched; his hands still raised in the air. "Wait, you are the avatar right." He quickly shot off to the young, tattooed teen, the blue arrow across his forehead as he slowly nodded in agreement. The man let out a sigh of relief. "Good, my name is Chey and I am a part of the resistance."

Ben and Jet both glanced at the other, feeling the ting within the force that the man wasn't lying. Yet, there was something else mingled within, some strange sense that the man was holding something back.

"Me and the other revolutionaries serve a great fire nation general, a desert or just like myself. Jeong Jeong."

Their eyes widened in alarm, a fire nation general that deserted.

"What, that's impossible!" Jet erupted. His hands coiling along Chey's cloak, ripping him from his spot as his eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam overtaking them as his body thumped into the wooden log. "Don't lie to me. Like hell a fire nation soldier…a general of all things would ever desert from the fire nation!"

Green tendrils of force lightning brightened along Jet's right hand, the same hand holding Chey. Yet, it was his masters touch to his shoulder that began to ease those cracks. "Jet, he's not lying…see through your anger and you'll know the truth."

Jet sneered at his master's words, the cracks slowly dissipating as he began to brighten his surroundings. He didn't detect a lie, rather he felt…fear.

The man slid down the piece of bark. Jet slowly dropping his hands back to his side as he turned back to his master. "Jet, the fire nation would never tell anyone that a general of all people deserted. Think about it for a second, if a general deserted with all his men…it would spread the seeds of fear."

"Not only that, but the fire nation would lose morale and I bet that the people back home don't know what the fire nation has been doing here, especially their connections to the Sith." Sokka added back. The young warrior kneeling as him, his sister, and Aang began to further interrogate Chey.

Ben turned to the girl that was born and raised in the fire nation. "Ty Lee…" he slowly spoke her name, letting it roll off his tongue as the girl slowly brightened up a smile for him. "Do you know the general?"

Ty Lee slowly nodded her head. "I've heard that name before, he was an esteemed general, but he died earlier this year."

"Fire nation lies…" Chey slowly grumbled. Rising to his feet as he dusted himself off quickly. Team avatar slowly gazing at the fire nation deserter. "I can lead you there, to our camp!"

Team avatar glanced at each other. Walking over so Chey couldn't hear them. "How are we feeling about this one, guys?" Katara aimlessly spoke, raising the question to everyone.

To Katara, Sokka, Jet, Ty Lee, and Aang it was obvious that he would eventually need a fire bender to train him in the ways of fire bending. For him to become a full-fledged avatar he would need to broaden down his skills. In this period, they had learned both Air and Water meaning that fire and Earth were the last couple of bending styles for him to master.

Yet, to find a fire bender was nearly impossible and they were still as confused as ever to find that girl, the one they believed to be Aang's teacher. It would be nearly impossible, but this Jeong Jeong could be the best they got.

"I think, we should give it a shot…" Sokka said.

Team avatar turning towards the young warrior. Jet quickly snapping his head. "What happens if this is just a trap? He's a fire nation general and even if…"

"I thought that you and Ben both detected that he was telling the truth." Katara's thumb landed behind her, ignoring Jet's stifled groan and his narrowed glare. "Like it or not Aang is going to need a fire nation master. He'll need all the mastery of the elements to take on the fire lord…"

"I agree." Ben spoke up. "Aang is going to need all the skills he can utilize for this duel. I suppose that the force may very well take us different places and we may all have separate battles to face. Still, Chey isn't lying, and it wouldn't hurt to hear him out."

Ty Lee slowly nodded in agreement, following Aang and Sokka. "I can't wait to learn fire bending. The fire nation won't even know what hit them!" Aang whooped, throwing a mock practice jab at Sokka as the young warrior deflected it back.

With a light shoulder tap along Jet, Katara left to help pack up as Ty Lee followed. Jet taking a glance towards his master, knowing a lecture was imminent.

"Jet, you got to relax. I can feel your anger from a mile away and trust me it's a very dangerous thing to get wrapped up in." He rested his hand along his apprentice's shoulder, like all the times before. Yet, his apprentice moved away from him, shifting his shoulders away as Ben's hand fell to his side.

"Don't give me that, master…" He strained the final word, inching farther away from Ben. "I know what I am doing."

He walked off; Ben's hand still raised as he held it open as he watched the back of his apprentice slowly funnel forward. Unknown to the darkness that slowly had begun to snare him. Yet, as he watched his apprentice slowly fade away.

His heart struck, his feelings didn't waiver. He wouldn't fail him, and he would do what the jedi failed to do for him…be there.

Split

Jeong Jeong or whatever his name is, was meeting with Aang inside of his tent. Benjamin's back slouched along the edge of the rugged tent. Benjamin stared off as he silently fixated ahead. After meeting with the spy, they were taken back to his camp.

Fire nation deserters, the whole lot of them chose to follow Jeong and to disobey the fire nation commands, they viewed him as their true leader and their loyalties were only to him. Ben found it extremely lucky that they found him.

For such a great general to survive this long, even with the pursuit of the fire nation on his heels he had repeatedly avoided capture. Though, Ben knew that it couldn't last for long. One of these days a single Sith assassin would show up and cut him down.

A shiver went through Ben's skin. The young Jedi staring at the river in front of him, the fishing nets and cages arranged carelessly along the river edge. Ben pondered over them, they had all deserted and decided to follow the man they were loyal to.

"Just like how you did…after Malachor V…when you followed, Revan."

Ben's eyes widened in alarm. That voice, his head turning left and right as his fingers fell to the left part of his face, sweat had begun to form, and his heart hammered along his chest.

It felt, familiar. He had heard that soft but ice-cold voice before. What was it…where did it come from and why was it tormenting him?

It had to be a trick of the force, of his imagination. Or maybe even worse…he was finally going insane. Even then, he didn't know what to say or feel. He didn't have the time to give into madness. They needed a Jedi, a jedi that was perfect and free of mistakes.

He took a deep breath, trying to still the darkness that was within. The darkness that was spawned by his own fear of losing himself, he tried to quelch it, but he couldn't. The voice inside of his head was too strong, what was it…

He slammed his eyes shut, his form stiffening as his breathing began to echo. He began to try and focus, fixate on something anything. He tried to fixate on those warm lights, through it was the terror of what he was going through that made it harder.

The dark side…feeds into negative emotions. It sinks its teeth and wishes to consume them all, it doesn't stop, it keeps on going onto there is nothing left. Though, Ben fixated on his friends, and there was a strange strength within that.

Though, before Benjamin could do anything. His ears perked up as he listened into the tent, something felt strange.

Aang was speaking, his words were coming out softer than before. He had entered the tent only a couple of minutes prior, though Benjamin could feel something from the young avatar.

Hesitation…desperation…fear or maybe…

"I'm the avatar, it's my destiny to."

Only for a booming voice to interrupt Aang. Benjamin pressed his ears closer towards the flap but even then. Benjamin, couldn't help but contain himself.

"Destiny? What would a boy know of destiny? If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean."

Benjamin sneered under his breath. 'One of those guys, like the members of the council that used confusing words or phrases for their explanations. Never could have given us the straight answer, always hiding their secrets.'

That fury he tried to suppress began to reignite, the beast within the pit's teeth began to spread, it's mouth contorting into a yellow grimace. Feeding off Benjamin's rage, edging him forward as the young exile pressed his head deeper.

"Okay, but it is the avatar's duty to learn all four elements." Aang sheepishly explained.

"To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you! Now, get out."

Aang was his friend, and this person…a fire nation general of all things, was insulting him…lecturing him on disciple. Ben's fingers sunk deep into his fist; his eyes fixated as he began to push himself off the tent walls.

'Why are we here? We just walked into a fire nation camp…desertion or not they were fire nation still. Those bastards, genocide the airbender's and destroyed the Jedi. How many people did this Jeong Jeong have to kill to realize that he was a monster? These fire nation dogs, there all murderers and butchers. There are better off dead, they should be destroyed!'

"Please, I have to learn this is my only chance…"

"Are you deaf? How can I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning firebending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire, fire is alive! It breathes, it grows. Without the bender, a rock will not throw itself! But fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it! That is its destiny! You are not ready! You are too weak!"

Jeong and Aang felt the pressure first. Maybe, that was the reason Aang leapt away from the middle of the room. Dodging the shattered remains of the wooden door, even the slouching of the broken tent frames. His wide eyes looked up to Benjamin.

His golden eyes gleaming from the broken parts of the tent as he stared at Jeong. The old man could feel it, a dark malice presence that he hadn't felt in many years. His eyes narrowing as Ben opened his mouth to speak.

"Call him weak again old man, I dare you." He took a step forward his messy hair falling in front of his eyes as he fixated ahead, each step unsteady. His anger rising like a freshly stocked flame. "What old man, got nothing to say…fire nation dog." He dared as he approached. His hands in two unsteady fist.

"Benjamin!" Aang screamed, rising up and grabbing him. Trying to push him out of the tent before he did something he would regret. "That's too far, Jeong Jeong deserted the fire nation."

"Yeah, a deserter. Must have been good. What, speak old man…you think you can just desert and have your sins cleaned, it ain't that easy." He smirked, his words like bile as they etched closer to the old general, as the old man simply stared.

Jeong didn't speak. The old fire nation soldier staring into Benjamin as he stood. He looked powerful, with his mighty frame and the weapon on his belt, though the old fire nation general saw past that.

"What, fire nation dog! You destroyed the jedi…murdered the air nomads. You think that by abandoning your post deserves to make you into a martyr!" He ridiculed. Spit flying from his lips as he furthered his approached. Sneering as he continued his onslaught. "You disgust me. Old man, you don't get anything to say. Feel that the avatar is too weak, I'll show you who the weak one here is!"

These bendors, believing that they are strong. Yet, those that don't hold the blessing of the force are truly weak, they hold no right to boast. "Benjamin rela…"

"SHUT UP AANG!"

The boy recoiled backwards, faint tears in his eyes', though Benjamin was far too angry to see them. His gaze fixated; his eyes bloodshot from pure rage. "Come on, old man. You think that deserting will save you from your sins, the innocent lives you've taken, pathetic."

For a minute, the only sound that could be heard was the echo of Ben's breathing, the hump of his heart along his chest

The old man finally lifting his gaze, staring at the young jedi. "You're not speaking to me, maybe yourself…aren't you, child."

"Psh, what the fuck do you think you know of me, old man. I'm a jedi knight, a guardian of the order." Ben spoke, his thumb aimed at his chest. "Your just a washed up old general that decided that because he was an old man to give up and not change anything."

"Those nicks in your heart, there like scars aren't they. They fade away, but they will forever be there. Your old enough to be my grandson or great grandson. Though, to have all this rage and pent-up hate…"

His dark eyes locked along Ben's own, his lips moving as Ben felt the words come to him like acid. "I pity you…"

Ben's lips slowly parted, hot breath funneling from them as his chest thumped. His eyes widening as the words began to enter into his ears and into his brains as he felt them contort and change. His emotions, like a furnace being freshly stocked as even Aang could feel the dark black malice overtake him.

"YOU PITY ME!" He erupted, his voice traveling.

Ben's hand went to his belt. Katara, Sokka, Jet had just busted though the remnants of the destroyed tent, grabbing ahold of Benjamin as Aang rushed in front of him, trying to prevent the dark jedi from grabbing his lightsaber blade.

The trio were able to get Ben outside. Nearly pushing him to the floor in process. "What is wrong with you!" Sokka screamed into Ben's face. Katara watched him, her hands on her hips. "Benjamin, I get that you were angry. Though, Jeong doesn't have to teach Aang anything."

"Psh, fuck him." Ben flicked his head carelessly. "Calling Aang weak."

Katara remembered Ben's words to her. The day he opened about his past, of the way the teachers abandoned him because he was too weak with the force, was he possibly projecting?

Aang walked back inside. Then popped out a minute later a massive smile decorating his face.

"Jeong, he said he's going to teach me!" he sparked a massive smile, nearly flying into the air as he pumped his arms up.

"What…" Jet stared, turning towards his friends to make sure that he heard right.

Sokka stared at the exchange, slowly shaking his head in dismay. "I don't get it. Wasn't he against Aang learning before. Benjamin, he's basically strong arming him into doing what he wants."

"Relax, Sokka." Ben rose from his seat, walking over towards Aang as he clamped both arms on the boy's shoulders. "He agreed to train Aang, he's ready. I know it…also he must learn. Getting him to learn or just get the basics of the element would aid us far more than we would realize."

"No…Aang is not ready." Katara said. "Benjamin, I get why you are doing this…but don't do this to prove a point."

Ben grimaced, Katara seeing the act as she herself sneered. This was not only irresponsible, but dangerous. Ben was bringing far too much personal issues into the table, it was clouding his judgement.

"Katara, you don't believe in me." Aang meekly spoke.

"That's not it Aang and you know it." Katara quickly snapped, her eyes heading back to the Jedi. "Benjamin has a bias towards this situation. Ben, that's not fair."

"What are you talking about." Ben carelessly played off.

"The Jedi, holding you back…the weakness. Jeong, I get it that he's a fire nation general but he's a master of his element. If Aang isn't ready to learn, he isn't ready."

Benjamin ignored her. "Well, I think Aang is ready." He dismissed.

"Yeah, I won't let you down Benji." Aang quickly reaffirmed.

"I'm already against Aang learning fire bending. This early on, he still hasn't mastered earth." Sokka sprouted up, turning towards his sister. He didn't like this, Ben before was meant to be the voice of reasons. Telling them to fight or flee, yet now from his sister's words was being heavily biased. "We should wait, Aang."

Katara turned towards Jet as Ty Lee's hazel eyes began to zone in on the situation. Katara inaudibly pleading with Jet to reel Ben in. Yet even he was still thinking. Was this worth it?

He merely sighed, keeping his mouth shut as Sokka only rested his hand on her shoulder as a stance of support.

"Come on, Aang." Ben lightly punched his arm, a faint smile across his face. The airbender lightly rubbing the wound as he let out his own playful smile. "Show that old fart how talented you are, make him eat those words."

Both avatar and Jedi chuckled, separating a couple of minutes later as the rest of team avatar could only sigh. Some partially agreeing with the Jedi Master and some agreeing with the disgruntled waterbender.

Still, all of their hopes and dreams will so dangerously be casted aside. Also fixated on the future and power, but for some…too great power with little control, is far dangerous to the user, rather than his enemies.

Split

Ben had found a clearing with the forest. The rich and brilliant leaves provided a decent shade against the yellow gleam of the sun. Ben let out a heavy gush of hot breath as he cracked his neck, flexing his muscles as he began to get a decent feeling of his surroundings.

Yet, he gave a quick side glance in all directions to make sure that the coast was clear. Now it was time to train, likewise, to go through the new items he had found.

He dug into his satchel, dropping the bag as he felt the tetrahedron along his fingertips. Smirking as the power funneled with power, true power. Not the power of the light, the type of power that the fools of the council would harbor for themselves or were too weak to attain.

No, Ben was far greater…his eyes sinking into the red sides of the Holocron as he rested it on the dirt floor. Slowly closing his eyes as he lashed out his right hand. His control of the force tightened along the Holocron, hearing the wisp of the tetrahedron slowly contort and open as he began to hear the gears whir.

The red gatekeeper began to sputter to life. His eyes slowly staring to open as he began to stiffen up, this power and dark energy within the Holocron was strange. Yet, now it felt different…stronger and more vibrant, rather ancient.

He stared at the gatekeeper, the figure finally stuttering to a complete display. A woman, shorter than he would've expected for a Sith Lord. She wore a heavy black cloak that covered her body, a hood draped over her face. Yet, Ben could see a couple of notable features.

She was human, and there were white tufts of short hair that escaped from her hood. The orange pure eyes of The Sith repelled from the hood like car lights. Her oval face complimenting the features.

"I am Sorzus Syn, one of the First of The Ancient Sith Lords." She spoke.

Ben's eyes widened at the lord of the Sith. He had heard of her during his time on Korriban and from the archives in Coruscant. She was one of the first, one of the few that abandoned the Jedi long ago…she was Sith, not like Revan and what he once was, less than what these Dark Jedi and Lords called themselves.

She was something else this woman…one of those that truly created the Sith, one of the great ones. The ones that realized that the words of the Jedi were laced with arrogance, that there was no truth in power within the light side of the force.

Ben's hair fell in front of his face, kneeling on his leg as his eyes fixated on the grass underneath him. "I am Benjamin, a Watchman of the Jedi Order. I need knowledge, true knowledge on how to defeat my enemies." He took a heavy breath, the words mingled within him, the words based within his deepest of thoughts as his lust for power override his sense. "…because I know that there is no truth within the Light and within the Jedi."

He told himself that he was lying, that these words only came out of his mouth so he could hopefully convince the Sith Lord to train him in her secrets. Yet, they rippled in both his heart and his thoughts. They felt so…truthful.

The long dead Sith Lord stared at this boy that wished to be her apprentice. She felt his connection to the force and his allure within the dark side, even how steeped he was within the dark side. It was almost like this fool was begging to just fall into that darkness.

Yet, there was chains…such chains that kept him tethered to the light. Syn could feel it, how much he tried to fight against it. Yet, these chains were still chains, and they can be broken because…

Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.

"Alright, young apprentice. I shall train you in the arcane arts of Alchemy. Prepare yourself, apprentice." The Sith Lord spoke, sparking a smile along Ben's face as he rose. His eyes lighting up like pilot lights as he once again mingled with dark forces.

He chooses to delude himself, to believe that he was stronger than the will of the force and could control it in some baseless claims, such arrogance.

Yet, they could all see it. The pride, the anger, the hate, the fear…only Ben couldn't see it, or rather refused to see it.

Split

Katara's scream rippled throughout the forest in a mighty roar that could be heard from all corners. The deserters stirred as they slowly looked in all directions. Yet, team avatar was already rushing forward to see the disturbance.

Ben and Jet could feel it ripple throughout the force, the pain. Yet, they could already tell who's voice it was, who was in pain.

Jeong Jeong emerged from the trees, parting through the brush as he reached for Katara. Jet staring with wide eyes as he didn't know what else to do, freaking out at the display of power.

Aang, tears in his eyes as his high-pitched voice funneled apology after apology, staring at his hands and what he had done. The power he felt, the intoxication. It had filled him with such energy, and he so carelessly hurt his friend.

Ty Lee and Sokka were taking longer, not having bending or being imbued with the force. Even with being a powerful force sensitive, she still didn't have the training or knowledge to call upon the will of the force.

Yet, they came right in time. Sokka's eyes widening, furry boiling as he grabbed onto the avatar, gripping his collar. Still, that was when they felt it. A distinct shiver running through even the non-force sensitives as they felt it, that wraith.

A cool sliver, like a knife's edge tracing along the hem of someone's skin. A powerful shudder sending there hair's up and funneling down like a porcupine.

The old fire bender staring to his side, seeing him emerge from the forest. Ben's eyes were narrowed, his breath heavy as he lashed out with his right hand. It was almost like the shadows beckoned towards him, curling along his limbs as they welcomed him into some sick embrace.

The old fire nation general's hands collided with his throat, wrenching forward as Ben used the force to pull the kicking old man towards him.

"Sith spawn, to believe I would trust a fire nation dog like yourself!" He screamed; his right hand beckoned with the might of force lightning. The purple streams colliding with the old man as his voice boomed another powerful scream.

"You damn…fool…I didn't…"

"Not my problem, old fool!" Ben snarled, curling his fingers tighter. The force pressing along the man's windpipe so hard that team avatar could only watched, stunned beyond belief from what just happened and what was happening at this moment.

"I should've finished you in the tent. You gave your word to train Aang but now you're harming my team! Fire nation dogs like you only deserve dea…"

"That's enough, Ben!" Sokka screamed in his face. Colliding with the large boy in a tackle that temporary nulled the force along the general. The old deserter colliding to the floor as Jet and Aang quickly reeled towards him, Katara running away.

Tears seeping down her cheek, both from the pain and what she had just witnessed. Everything, this whole journey has only been getting worse and as she saw the burnt pieces of skin that would forever be within her hands.

"You idiot, you damn fool!" Sokka pounded along his chest.

"What!"

"Jeong Jegon didn't do it…" He snarled as his hand extended, wiping the tears out of his eye as he pointed to the airbender. "It was him, he lost control of his fire bending and…"

"Why was he here alone, Jeong Jeong was the teacher, and it was his responsibility to teach him control!"

"That's the thing, Ben!" Jet answered back. His eyes sinking to the footprints that Katara left behind. "I've been with them the whole time and Aang has kept on trying to rush things. He's kept on getting more dangerous and he was ignoring us, Jeong Jeong shouldn't have left but it was Aang's doing!"

"I don't know what your issue is, both of you! But my sister didn't deserve that…Jeong Jeong didn't deserve this!" Sokka grimaced, throwing his hand towards the coughing old man. "I don't know what's wrong with you Ben, but you need to reel yourself in. I don't know what you've seen in the holocrons, but you've changed…get some damn self-control!"

Ben turned away, averting his gaze as the anger frothed off him. His fingers tightening as they trembled. 'Why do I deal with this, these damn fools? Those that hold no blessing with the force that believe they can order me around. Do they not realize the power I hold, the dark forces I mingle with daily to keep us alive?'

A dangerous glare etched along his face, his thoughts whirling. Igniting that brilliant blade of plasma. Gripping it with both hands and cutting down Sokka, hearing the false warrior scream as he would hold that smile along his face.

Someone like him should never defile the word warrior…a failure to the water tribe that couldn't even protect the princess, disgusting. Ben's eyes widened at the thought, his hands going to his head as they combed through his hair.

He was alone now…in that clearing as he slumped forward. 'What the hell…what was I just…'

Disgusting, evil, hate filled thoughts that warped his head. How could he, think of such things? 'No, they were just random thoughts, I was just angry. I wouldn't have or…'

Yet, that truth still reeled within his head, that vibrant thought of malicious intent. Things were getting worse now, and how much longer could the false Jedi hold onto that façade.

His arms colliding with himself as he began to walk through the forest. His head hurt, the hum of the Holocron generated a powerful echo as he shunned it. A mighty headache hammering as he tried to silence out the thoughts, the worries, the fears…

He was angry, it had gotten out of control. The will of the dark side was getting too hard to control and now he kept on lashing out. His fear, his hate, his anger…maybe Meetra was right. Maybe, he couldn't…

Yet, he heard something. A mighty explosion that rippled through the forest as the leaves and branches swayed. His ears ringing as he felt that funnel of powerful energy, no bender…should be able to produce such an explosion.

It was almost like the missiles that, his eyes widened. A mighty glare forming as he bit into his lip. "No bendor could make an ion explosion…"

His legs funneled with force energy, zooming through the forest as he began to make his way through, the revolutionary camp. The trees were burnt, same thing as the tents that were harbored aside. It reminded him vaguely of those destroyed trees that surrounded the island that he crashed in all that time ago.

Yet, he felt it. His eyes widening as he felt it within the force…Ty Lee, she was hurt. His eyes widening as he felt that pain transmit through her and into him, a manifestation of there bond through the force. Still, a dangerous volatile growl bellowed from him.

"Ben, thank God, we found you!"

Aang said, team avatar stirring as Appa landed behind them. Ben's eyes hovering all throughout the carnage, this place was brimming with life a second ago but now it had been reduced to ash. His eyes hovered over to a carcass, blazing with molted silvery skin as he was frozen.

An ion blast could do that, Mandalorian weaponry. Yet, how could…

"Where is Ty Lee?" His eyes scanned the saddle. Looking at all possible directions as team avatar's eyes widened at the sight. The girl wasn't there but everyone else was.

"What is this…I've never seen anything like this?" Sokka stammered. "I heard that explosion and Aang called Appa, but I don't know about these guys…"

"Hello, Jedi…"

The unfamiliar voice caused Ben to snap his head to it. His eyes radiating with malicious intent as he saw the gleam of the sun catch the red of armor, the black visor that hid the monsters face. Her arm was coiled along Ty Lee's throat.

Blood seeped from her nose as her left eye began to swell. "Mandalorian…" He growled as his blade was drawn with the force, igniting the weapon as power welled up in the weapon. The dark blue blade breaking through the ash filled canyon.

"Do you remember who I am, you murdered my grandfather!" She screamed, her arm digging deeper into Ty Lee's throat.

Yet, he didn't care. "You bitch, you fucking Mandalorian hit her…you fucker!" He screamed, the golden eyes beginning to change. Slowly contorting into the yellow reddish glare of the true Sith.

"Ben, relax." Sokka slowly spoke, raising his hand to stare. "We don't want to make this situation any worse…people already have died."

Sokka was thinking smart, not knowing how dangerous this new enemy was. The way her Mandalorian armor clung to her, that deep red helmet arranged with horns as she wore something hoisted along her back. Ignoring the swords and the two blasters on her side.

"Good, I want death…I want to kill."

He gripped the weapon with both hands as he thrown himself into the Niman form. He was already seeing red, hardly even taking in the fact what this girl had said. To him right now, all that mattered was that she was Mandalorian and hurt his friend. He'd make her death painful…

She let Ty Lee go, kicking her away as Ty Lee quickly ran towards them and Appa. The girl dropping the helmet as short blond hair funneled from the base of her head. Her eyes radiating her own dangerous glare…as things began to come together.

He remembered, the old man that he murdered. His eyes widening as he began to visualize once again, all those photos of people. Did he, murder a girl in front of her grandfather?

He felt sick, the type of sick that you felt after drinking five milk shakes and a shot of gin. He wanted to throw up, to keel over as he felt the mingled guilt within him like a worm squirm in all directions. Yet, he merely shook his head.

He was a Mandalorian, an animal. Now, his granddaughter wished to honor the legacy of a murderer…he'd kill her too.

"Go…now!" Ben snarled, his eyes unwavering as he locked onto the force, mingling his thoughts into Appa as team avatar so desperately tried to wrench him back until he departed away, a blip in the air as they departed, screaming his name as he turned back to the Mandalorian.

"What's your name, dog." He snarked as he leveled the weapon in front of himself. Cindra's lips tightening into a scowl of her own, her fingers interlocking with the handle of her dual blasters.

"Cindra, I am the last of the Mandalorians."

"Last of the Mandalorians…" He snickered, a dangerous gleam overtaking him as he felt the anger contort his being. "Don't call yourself things that you have no knowledge of girl!"

They screamed, a mighty war scream that barreled from both warriors as they propelled to another. One aided with the weapons of Mandalore, an inheritance from her grandfather, a past he hoped to hide away. Yet, this one was aided by the blessing of the force and of blood.

Her blasters shot independently, the barrels humming with red outlines as the blue bolts rippled through the air. Ben's fingers interconnected with the handle of the hilt. He imbued himself with the force, his eyes in a haze as they transfixed along the blaster bolts.

This world was primitive and was in a completely different universe. Yet, the words of the Jedi and Sith ran true, likewise pieces in the construction of lightsaber parts could be found here. That was another thing, this girl was a fool…those energy packs would eventually run out and she would have no other way to restore them.

He snickered at the thought, she was a fool. Even if she survived this battle, he would easily find her once again, and put an end to another Mandalorian dog. Ben's dark blue blade carried itself like a wave, the lightsaber refracting the blaster bolts in separate directions.

He could hear the ting of the bolts impact the dead trees or the ashen fields as he broke through, nicking a blue bolt towards the girl as she tried to dodge only getting nicked to the side. A howl erupted from her as the beskar absorbed the blast.

She grimaced her teeth, Ben's fingers locking along her frame as he whirled his left hand back. The wisp of the force dragging her forward. Ben producing a mighty downward cleave but the girl was smart, her jet pack ignited fighting against his hold as she nearly barreled into the tree.

Ben's sneered, his fingertips in an instant generating a mighty volt of electricity as the purple volts shot in all directions. His legs imbued with force energy as the girl darted through the treetops, his friends watching from afar at the light show that had taken place.

"Come, fight me!" He barreled forth, a mighty orb of force destruction coming from his open palm. Exploding and leveling two trees as they disintegrated under his control. Yet, that was when it happened. She whirled backwards.

A blur of blond hair following as she radiated dangerously close. Ben reeled with his own lightsaber in a sideways arc, the blur of blue plasma transfixing his vision as he was ready to cleave through her, cutting down the last of the Mandalorians. Yet…

His eyes widened as his blade clung to her own, his eyes widening as he stared at the weapon. A two-handed short sword clung along his own weapon. Yet, that wasn't what caught his eye, that wasn't what transfixed him.

He lurched backwards with a force augmented leap. Making enough distance as he stared at the weapon in his hands. His lightsaber blade, sputtered. He stared at that blue beam of plasma as it unstably frolicked off like pieces of burned paper to the wind.

"What the hell is…"

With widened eyes he stared at the weapon, that was when he began to understand. "My grandfather, after you tortured him told me in his very few minutes to run away. Yet, he gifted me his armor that he hid under our house, and told me the importance of his weapons and our culture…"

She smirked as she approached, Ben staring at his weapon as the lightsaber blade shut off completely, smoke generating from the base of his weapon. 'Holy crap, did it overheat? Such a big hit to a lightsaber resistant sword, especially something possibly out of beskar could overheat any blade, hell it could break it down completely!'

She snickered as Ben returned the sizzling blade back to his belt. "Cortosis, Jedi. My grandfather had a blade fashioned of one before he crashed onto this world, deadly against lightsabers. There known to even break blades, especially synthetics."

Ben's grip of the force tightened; his blade may have been destroyed but the dark side was still a powerful ally. The destroyed trees whirled as the ash around him began to circulate. The false Mandalorian was a fool, playing with guns like they were toys, calling herself things as she continued to delude herself like she was playing pretend.

Yet, that was when it happened, right before the two warriors could destroy the other. A mighty blast of powerful fire bending might erupted near her, a wall transfixed that dazzled along Ben's skin as he turned around seeing the old general.

The Mandalorian, screaming as her arm was partially consumed by the flames. Sneering at the pair as she kicked the ash away, launching herself away. Her jetpack booming forward as she cut through the fields in the sky.

He sneered as he used the force to push through the fire. She would run out of energy packs, she would run out of fuel, and she would eventually only hold that weapon…she would be weak.

Then he would end it, there and then. The last of the Mandalorians would die by his hand and he would finally have peace. Yet, he had something else to do. "Why did you interfere, I nearly killed you." Ben questioned as he turned towards the disgruntled deserter.

Jeong Jeong stared at him for a second, his eyes narrowing as he wondered if he was being serious. "You're still a child, you'd think I'd let you two both destroy one another."

"I didn't need your help…" Ben snapped back, staring at his lightsaber blade.

It was busted, he hoped that with the proper tools on Appa he would be able to salvage it. Yet, he wasn't in the mood to head back to the water tribe to build a whole new one.

"So, you have replaced the sun at the center of the universe. Everything evolves around you. Your insecurity, your selfishness, your intense anger at everything." He sneered, infuriated at the boy as he raised his pointed hand.

Ben began to walk away. "Jedi Master, do you know how long I've been working for the revolution. How much I've done for this cause, you are right maybe someone like myself does not deserve redemption or forgiveness, but we all have sinned."

Ben continued walking, signaling to Appa within the force to steer his team back towards him. "I get reports from everything. Yet, there was this one gruesome report, a report of an old man getting butchered within the forest, a lightsaber was used to kill him."

Ben's form stopped, his eyes widening as sweat began to generate. Slowly turning his head as the guilt was nearly written over his face.

"Me and the other revolutionaries figured it was a Sith or a Dark jedi that lost control and turned all their anger at an old man. It had to be, for someone to do such a thing…had to be a monster, less than a human. Yet, that girl, and the things you've said during the battle."

Silence etched like a knife for a second, until Ben reeled backwards. His golden eyes locking along the old man as he felt his fingers barrel with force energy. "Are you going to tell them…"

The old man slowly shook his head, the general moving away as he stared at the young jedi. "It is not for me to tell. Your secret, your burden. If I tell your companions of what you have done, I shall merely relieve you of it. I shall not do that. Like you said before, I carry my own sins and regrets. What you did to that old man…cannot be undone. You acted on anger. These are not the ways of the Jedi I have read of. You gave into the rawest of emotions. Hate, anger, fear…you are walking a very dark path."

Ben took a heavy breath, turning away from it all. Another old fool lecturing him, another old fool who didn't know him. Yet, there was this gnawing at the base of his heart, and he didn't fully turn away.

"Your secret will eat at you like a dragon. Carving through forest and livestock at it gnaws at your beings. It will consume you unless you summon the courage to face the truth and consequences of what you have done. Not only that, but to tell them truthfully everything. You must first accept what you did was wrong. You haven't done that, yet. These Mandalorians are animals to you, aren't they? In your heart, you believe they deserved to die. Perhaps that old man did…But did you have the right to take his life, especially in such a brutal way.? Would you do it again?"

The old deserter began to walk away, pushing through the clumps of ash and corpses as he walked a path that Ben refused to follow. He could see Appa approach, coming closer and closer as he was able to see the blips of his friends along his saddle.

Yet, the old deserter's words rung like a bell within his head. His heart hammering along his chest as he narrowed his eyes. Only one word could be heard right before his companions touched down and they would eventually be ushered to their next adventure.

Yes

Author Note: Alright, here you are. Listen, I know that Benjamin as a character has been slowly changing, this is intentional. He has slowly changed from this Jedi wanting to do good, but his personality has slowly began to warp. He is more prone to violence, fear, hate, anger, pride. His emotions are out of control. This story will follow Ben as he both improves and degrades as a person, remember this story has a Light Side and a Dark Side ending that I have planned. Thank you for reading this and have a good day!