Author Note: Yo! Welp, this is a little unexpected due to my last little note on the prior chapter. Sorry, but I had a brief rush of wanting to work on the story again. Thanks for reading. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review because it greatly helps with my motivation. Have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 38

100 AG – Year of The Monkey

The fire nation capitol city was alive! To the occupants outside of the city, it sprinkled with a wonderful display of lights. Auburn lights filled upon the sky as the wonderful choir of music sharpened. A wonderful parade filled the streets as they celebrated one of there most monumental of days.

The marketplace was packed as men and woman brandished costumes, the children wore strange mask as they munched upon there snacks, pressing against their parents as they pointed at the display. Stands of alcohol, food from the other nations, as the music splintered the sky.

Even fireworks lit up, brandishing as they filtered into the heavens, breaking off into a wonderful seam of magnificent colors that refracted off of the occupants.

It was one of the greatest of days…celebrating the day of the fire nations advance. When the first of many fire lords paved a way for his nation. Fire Lord Sozin, the first of many to wage war against the world. So the fire nation could unite under one sole banner the other nations and pave a way of true peace and unity.

The same day the Sith revealed themselves to him and struck a deal, to help them in their noble crusade. The fire lord was huddled within his carriage, the people cheering as they watched him through the red veil. His hand raised as he would slowly wave to them, holding back a sinister smile. Yet not all of them were of true fire nation origin…

Mingled within the crowd. Earth Kingdom revolutionaries, years of planning going into this attempt as they were sprinkled through the crowd. Draped within fire nation clothing, their eyes radiating with an intense heat of there own that contrasted the brilliant heat of the crowd.

There fingers digging towards the swords and knives that they had brandished, there fingers intertwined along there handles so hard that they began to turn white. They all held nothing left to lose, but they all set out to do the greatest of things, to kill the fire lord on his special day.

A spark, along the mixture of a flame. There forms shooting out over the boundary itself as the fire lord saw them out of the corner of his eye. Yet, that smile didn't diminish, it only grew wider. "Die, fire lord!" One of the four revolutionaries screamed, his voice hoarse as he lifted his sword overhead, the brilliant orange gleam enveloping him as.

"Not today, you fool." A voice erupted from overhead.

The revolutionary's eyes widened as he lifted his gaze up, he saw it. Another figure this one leaping from the buildings overhead as even he knew what he was. His eyes locking as sweat instantly began to grow from his brow, but he didn't stop his advance, swinging the sword down as…

The rhythmic spring of a lightsaber blade ejected from a hilt surrounded the crowd. A boy, sixteen or seventeen years of age swung his own blade down. The deep crimson blade caving into the mans on sword, bisecting him through the left chest and down the middle.

Not a peep…not a sound, even the revolutionaries themselves were frozen as they huddled within themselves, yet this one wasn't afraid.

His eyes were a light blue, a warrior of the dark side but not yet experiencing the deterioration of the sinister side of the force. He had short dirty blonde hair and well-placed features; a notable small scar went vertical through his left eyebrow but nothing to interfere with his face.

He wore a slim dark combat suit, fitted with a piece of heavy boots and deep black gloves. In complete contrast he wore a leathery red scale chest plate with a matching pair of duelist arm bracers. A simplistic outfit that one would expect to find for a warrior, but he was different, and the crowd let out a gasp when they realized what they were seeing.

A warrior of the force…brandishing a crimson lightsaber blade in his hands. The lightsaber is comprised of steel hilt with copper accent coloring in the neck and black accent coloring in the deep-grooved grip section.

The blades hum filled the ambushers as they zoned in on him. The young warrior cracking his neck as the smirks of the crowd began to fill the festival once again. "Get him!" A festival goer said, raising his arm into the air as the crowd followed suit.

Tossing insults at the revolutionaries as they tried to look for any hope for escape, but the crowd was livid, alive. They were angry that such men would try to attack their great leader, but they still smirked at this young boy of seventeen years.

Brandishing armor of the fire nation…and the red, a symbol of the Sith and what they've been told of their nation. When it was revealed what the Sith were to the world, they were all confused and conflicted, but when it was revealed to them what they truly were…the fire lord's words of course calling them great warriors, all they could do was listen.

"Oh, I think these fools want more!" The lone dark jedi spoke, a smile plastered across his face as he raised his blade into the air. The crowd invigorated as they cheered.

The Sith…the loyal warriors and protectors of the fire nation. For a hundred years they have secretly trained for the upcoming battle, but now they have been revealed and the people of the fire nation were as happy as ever.

They are magnificent creatures unlike any the world has seen before…blessed by the mystical entity called the "force" to pave the way for the fire nation to take what is rightfully theirs, to put an end to this century long war.

They are what was lost…and have been found again, and they watched on with vibrant eyes as this lone warrior had the strength to take down these lowly assassins. They are the Fire Nations great Dynasty of The Sith, and they are all that is great in the world! They know…

…because the fire lord told them so!

The lone warrior barreled down, force augmenting his legs as he sprinted towards the assassins. One of the murderers threw himself forward, his eyes fixating on the lone warrior as his fingers darted along his assortments of blades. Flinging them forward as the moon light radiated along the silvery gleam of the thrown projectiles.

Yet, he smirked. His lightsaber blade in a brilliant flurry of martial might slashed at the thrown weaponry. Clinging back to the earth with a rhythmic cling, almost like a wind chime.

He was close…to close. The knife throwing revolutionary taking a gamble, swinging in a sideways arch to try and strike the approaching dark jedi. Yet, he was far too late. Before, in his minds eye he could already see the way the blow was coming. "Too slow…" He chattered as he dove underneath the assassins, bringing his weapon in a small arch of his own as he slashed along the mans ribcage, still in a sprint as he heard the slump of the mans body collapse. Dead on impact.

The man swung his spear, darting between the dark jedi but once again…too slow. With a quick wisp of his wrist and the power of the force the weapon was flung away. The crowd oohing at the strange power being displayed as the dark jedi leaped over the man dragging his blade overhead and with another quick elegant slash he was done.

Yet, he felt it. Widened eyes as he saw the last man in question, the earth breaking underneath him as…

A brilliant array of blue lightning sprinkled around him, his body colliding to the floor as the lightshow commenced. The crowd shimmering away as they held their eyes shut from the display, even the lone dark jedi couldn't hold back the glance. Yet, it ended only a couple seconds later.

The dark jedi locking along the revolutionary, the sparks dying off him but still seeing his hollowed breathing and the rise of his chest. "You didn't kill him?" The dark jedi questioned, turning towards the other warrior of the force.

He smirked at the sight. Wearing nearly identical attire, minus the differing lightsaber design at her belt. She was a girl of sixteen years. A brilliant display of curly crimson hair that extended down to neck, a passionate pair of bright blue eyes that simmered with energy.

She smirked back at him, her hand going towards her chest. "Sith Saber, Rowan 'Tressal' Burtell. The fire lord and the lords of the Sith would surely wish for us to take a captive." She moved towards his side, dropping her hand as those fiery blue eyes began to zone in on there situation. "How did they get in here…our border patrols must have green lit them through?"

Rowan saw the distinctive glare of his friend, that small look as she began to trace through the questions and numbers soaring through her head. At times like this, it would be hard for him to hide a blush that would creep along his face. Arya Shan, another Sith Saber. Best friends since birth at the time of the jedi temple, they were once meant to be jedi but they…

'Don't think about it. We can't ever return…there isn't no point!'

He screamed within the confines of his mind as he slowly shook his head. His eyes darting along the crowd as they began to disperse, soon the fire nation guards would clean up his mess. Though, he could feel it in the air. The Sith had run strong in this world, before he was afraid…but now they were different from the Sith they were used to, before the Sith were butchers but in this strange world…they could be protectors and…

His eyes widened as they both felt it. Going to there hearts as like a cool sliver etched within there bowels, like someone held a knife along their throats. The feeling there as those all touched upon the dark side could feel it.

Arya's eyes widening as she nearly caved, her connection to the force stronger than his as she felt it far greater. Her teeth sinking into her lip, and she would've fallen to her knees unless Rowan didn't catch her.

Yet, she only spoke a couple of words. Still, they each knew the truth. "Eso…he's dead."

Split

In the royal city of the fire nation there was a large black building erected, a monument. It was a large temple that seeped with the dark side of the force, a malignant energy oozed from the temple that enamored and empowered the fire nation city.

To passersby, the large walls seeped with an intense vibrant feeling. Cracks within the foundation of unknown and uncertain battles. Yet, it still stood strong and proud. No bendor or soldier, except those of the fire nation royal family were allowed within these walls.

The Sith Sabers, marauders, and other ranks of the Dynasty of The Sith had flooded inside of the large halls, there movements fixated on a sole path as they were led like moths to a flame. Many of them, would have to wait outside except for those that the Lords of The Sith had favored.

Luckily, Arya and Rowan fit into that bunch. Prideful smirks etched along there faces as they pushed through the crowd. The adults and some of the longest running members that had been within these halls ever since birth could only turn there heads away, letting their vibrant hatred run through them as they watched the two prodigal Sith Knights push through the crowd.

Yet, none of them made any visible sign of hostility or anger…they still were Sith, and such acts of disrespect would either get the sabers to cut them down or get annihilated by the lords of the Sith. Arya and Rowan made there way into the room; the conference room was large.

A brilliant fire came from the walls that bathed the room in an orange gleam. The final members called to receive the news first had finally began to shuttle through the opening. There were no seats, except in the front that overlooked the crowd. The place where the three Sith Lords would take their seats and overlook down on their apprentices.

They funned through the sides of the room, the drapes parting as all the Dark Jedi felt it come to them. The pressure in the room only heightening, almost like a plane about to break into the sky. There fingers funneling into fist as the true dark jedi began to smile, that power, euphoric.

They all felt the hum of the dark side of the force, they all embraced it, and these were the masters…the great ones. Darth Fowl entered first, a middle-aged man that appeared to be of thirty years of age. Olive sunbaked skin and a full head of freshly gelled silver hair.

He wore a heavy piece of dark black robes that contrasted the light robes or the scale armor that so many other Sith Knights wore. Yet, there was a significant difference to everyone else in the room. Unlike his Sith brethren the Sith Lord brandished a sword, draped over his back with a scabbard.

An ornate blade that could deflect any lightsaber, this Sith opting out to back to the older times…in which Sith dueled with force augmented blades created from Sith Alchemy. Weapons that could still hold against a Jedi's lightsaber.

All the dark jedi knew that he was the true Dark Lord…and he was the strongest of all.

Taking a seat in the very middle. Yet, another came. A woman, Sith Lady Jax. Maybe in her late fifties approached as her large robes dragged behind her, wearing a thin helmet that shadowed her face except for the gleam of the orange eyes of the dark side.

She was a very thin figure, her arms loose and you could almost see the skeleton poking out. Yet, they felt the old feeling of power within her, mingled and contorting as the ancient arcane arts of the dark side whirled at her very command.

A long and slender double-bladed lightsaber hung along her belt, taking a seat on the dark lords right as she kept her hood forward, concealing her face as the Dark Jedi felt the hum of power slowly enter the room. It was him…

Arya and Rowan both felt the familiar presence as they felt the hum of there force bond towards there master through the force, he was here. Darth Ruin, the Sith Blade master. Darth Ruin just like his Sith brethren brandished a pair of heavy jet-black robes, except with a rich underlying of metallic armor crafted from some of the best metals of the earth kingdom but constructed by the finest members within the fire nation.

He was a massive man, his orange eyes zoning in on the crowd as the dark jedi silenced themselves. This was the man that had taught them the way of the lightsaber, one of the great ones. If breathing was too loud and interfered with his entrance…the lowly Sith would surely stop it.

His muscles tensed along his armor, his unnatural pale skin glistening under the orange lights as he landed on his chair. His large form nearly buckling as the large man rested his hand on his knees, zoning in through the crowd as he fixated on the pair…

He let a smile slowly creep along his face as his two apprentices let out a slow nod. "Good thing he got rid of that hair, I told him before that it was silly keeping such little hair on his head…" Rowan mumbled, only to be silenced by a quick elbow.

"What?" He panted out as he nursed his sore arm. Arya merely shaking her head as she once again directed her attention back to the lords of the Sith.

She wasn't foolish and she knew that everyone else in the room wasn't…especially the lords. They all had felt it. Everyone touched by the dark side of the force had to feel it within the air. Eso, one of there most promising dark jedi recruits was slain, by a Jedi.

"…before we start, I wish to make something very clear to you all." There master spoke up, his orange eyes tracing along the crowd of silenced Sith, then drawing to the side towards the other lords. "The Jedi, during the siege of The North fell in battle. I cut his arm and impaled him with his blade, I do not know how he survived."

The lady laughed, Jax smirking as the unnatural incursion barreled her backwards as she tossed her head back. "Seriously, is that the first thing you have to say? An excuse for how you failed in murdering a Jedi…likewise a child of seventeen years?"

"Enough, Sith Lady Jax." Darth Fowl mumbled. Interlocking his fingers as he zoned in on his other companions and the other Sith in the room. "There are many stories and legends of both the Jedi and the Sith…of both young men and woman who are extremely gifted in both the force and battle. Hell, we have a couple of them here today."

Darth Fowl's eyes drawn towards Arya and Rowan. There are smirks slowly dropping as they went back to a neutral stance. The since didn't mind pride but smirking in arrogance would annoy the dark lords. Yet, they still savored it.

They were the greatest of the Sith…sure they were unlike the others and came from a different universe and were once Jedi. Yet, Darth Ruin changed that for them and saw their skills, now they served the true Sith and the fire nation in bringing back peace to this world.

"Still, how is this boy still alive?" Jax muttered.

Ruin shook his head, his eyes drawing forward as he slowly leaned into his chair. "I do not know…the boy is relentless, very strong and gifted in the ways of the lightsaber and the force. I believe that maybe he is the ancestor of one of the Jedi purged, possible a master and was taught by him."

"Seems to be the only explanation…" Darth Fowl agreed.

Yet, he bit his lip. They all had heard of the Jedi's resurgence, especially the 'New' ones that had arisen. Through spies located throughout the world and through there own men, they had seen two other Jedi that had rose to prominence.

The young jedi watchman had helped destabilize the fire nation war machine and had taken under another apprentice, likewise his second apprentice had done hit and run attacks on both he Sith and Fire nation compounds. They were slowly losing their grip on certain legions, even with there superior numbers it seemed that the light for however dimmed…remained strong within the hearts of the revolutionaries, and this new breed of Jedi.

"Kiara…and many other dark jedi, marauders, and assassins have been sent to deal with these threats. Yet, none have ever returned. The Jedi are brutal, nothing like what the old records state they once were." Ruin proclaimed, yet he could see the flash of light that went across his comrade's face. That name, Kiara.

One of the most promising students…murdered on an oil rig. "Still, I believe that this Jedi is not as strong as he thinks he is."

"Honestly…Lord Ruin, I do not understand. If this is…"

Ruin rose without answering, silencing the Sith Lady as the crowd watched him reach to his belt, brushing past his curved lightsaber hilt. Instead, drawing on something else. There eyes widening as they began to realize what he had.

Lifting a standard single bladed lightsaber. "This was the Jedi's weapon, the same weapon I used to show proof that I slayed him and tossed his body into the river. Yet, investigate the force and feel the echo the weapon creates…"

Lord Ruin's thumb rested along the activation button. Putting pressure as the violet blade sparked to life in his hands. The crips and powerful lightsaber blade humming and bathing him in a rich amethyst light as the crowd zoned in with the force and felt it within the force.

"The blade…it feels enamored with the dark side." Lord Fowl spoke, his voice echoing through the room as the other dark jedi felt it too. Within the lightsaber focus crystal, a gleam of dark side energy reverberated within the blade. A Jedi's tool, but a Sith's weapon.

"I once believed that this Benjamin, a knight of the old order could join us. This is because I felt his raw power within the force and dueled him myself. Yet, it seems that death has eluded him…" He shut off the blade, reattaching it back to his hilt. "That is why I keep this weapon along my belt, a reminder that there is always powerful warriors of the force in this world. Yet, it is a reminder of the hypocrisy of the jedi. This false jedi, he is merely playing pretend…I felt the call of the dark side within him, and he will fall again."

The crowd slowly roused, there eyes enamored by the zealous craze their master infected them with, there morale heighted that not even the last of the jedi felt that the light was 'stronger' and he used their power to defeat them. It was proof that the dark side was stronger and that their cause was noble.

"Yet, we do not have the time to wait for the false jedi to realize his place. That is why I am making a team…one with the royal guard and the princess to deal with the fire nation, I shall go and accompany them on their journey…"

His eyes drawn through the crowd, locking once again on Rowan and Arya. Ushering them forward within the force as the crowd began to part. They made their way through the crowd and kneeled in the opening, a parting within the middle as they kneeled.

"Rowan…Arya. You are the greatest that I've ever trained." He raised his blade, igniting the crimson as he christened them, the crimson enveloping there features as they felt the scream of the synthetic focusing crystal.

"Rowan, you shall become my Darkest Knight. Your skill with the lightsaber is unparalleled and your control of the dark side is magnificent. Arya, you shall walk the path of The Sith Master. Your talents of both the alchemical arts and of the force are likewise amazing…you two are the greatest and shall be given the honor to claim the head of the last Jedi."

The crowd roared as they rose, newly christened with a new purpose and rank. There eyes set forward as their might shall rung true. Yet, there was an uneasiness within there connection to the force, an echo that chambered along them like drums.

…and as they walked out. Trailed out by their master they began to run the name in their head. Benjamin, an old name for an old friend. Such a name was unique in this world, but it was impossible for he had died in another universe, or so they had thought.