Author Note: Woah! I didn't expect to log on today and realize that we were nearing 50 followers! Holy crap guys we are really reaching new milestones. First off, thanks everyone that has read the story and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This one came out pretty good, but the next couple I am really excited to write. Thank you for reading! Please remember to follow, favorite, and review because it greatly helps with my motivation and frequency with updating. Have a good day!

Chapter 39

The Earth Kingdom market bustled with an inordinate and confusing mess of voices. The roars of earth kingdom citizens breached through the sky as they ordered food or other goods that the market provided.

It was a moderately cold day, and the air ran thick through the town that they had docked in. Ben's towering frame stumped Sokka as he watched the young warrior haggle down the prices for there much needed food supplies.

His lightsaber slightly swayed through the tense movements as he tightened his grip along his belt. His golden eyes scanning through the crowd as team avatar simply looked around the shop, on the outside he looked to be controlled and able to handle himself. Yet, in the inside…

His thought drew to Teo, and his people. His eyes narrowing as he combed through his loose locks of hair as his eyes instantly closed. It had been a couple of days ever since their defense of the air temple village but his mind still clung to those people.

Teo, the young boy who Ben assumed held a connection to the force…chose against it and wanted to live his life without the blessing, maybe it was for the best but still…Ben couldn't fully explain it. Likewise, the people had to abandon their home in the end so the fire nation couldn't counterattack them.

Sure, he knew that such an outcome was bound to happen, but he didn't like that fact, he didn't like that even though they won the battle they were still forced to leave. He wanted the power to protect more people, to help them so they wouldn't become like him, outcasted away like how the Mandalorians did to other civilizations during the wars.

He clicked his lips, his eyes drawing towards that one time…that the last of the Mandalorians was still out there and was probably hunting them as they made their way through this very marketplace. His lips tightened as he gnarled his teeth, his head slowly twirling to sinister thoughts as he…

Yet, he felt a pair of warm fingers interlock with the base of his right palm. His eyes widening as he turned to his right, seeing a pair of brown greyish eyes lock along his own. A small smirk decorating her face as he felt those dark thoughts slowly vanish.

She had that habit to do that to him, Ty Lee. Yet, something different happened this time, her eyes dawning on him as she began to part her lips. "Come on, let's do something…" She slowly spoke. Her eyes dawning into his own.

Yet right before he could answer or say anything. With a quick yelp, she had him by the arm slowly dragging him away as all he could do was yelp in alarm from the petite girls shocking strength. Dragging him through the market square as he let out a small sigh of alarm as she stopped.

He gave a quick look around as he began to take in the fresh surroundings. They were on a bridge now, separating between the market square and the sparce village. Yet, he gazed along the view. "Woah…" He slowly murmured as his eyes sunk along the horizon.

Brilliant rows of fresh green grass touched upon the sky, as the brilliant yellow glare of the sun came onto them in a brilliant glow. His hands coiled along the iron bars as he and Ty Lee took in the serine scenery.

He looked at her, from the corner of his eye. Brandishing a robe that covered her fire nation attire that flowed helplessly along the breeze. Her brown eyes soaking in the serenity as she slowly moved the tendrils free from her face.

Beautiful, such grace and beauty in one that held the force. He could hardly help but stare at her, his eyes drawing towards her…yet even he wasn't foolish enough to ignore what was going on. He thought about her often, held her in his arms while they slept…thought of her in his dreams.

His face started to grow a decent scarlet. This wasn't lust or simple infatuation…he had seen her fight and grow along their short period of time together, and he hoped for something more. "Benjamin, can I ask you a question?" She slowly spoke.

Ben nodding his head as she continued. "I don't really know much about you…" She slowly raised her gaze to meet his own. "Tell me, I want to know about who you really are?"

"Of course, ask me anything…I am an open book." Ben carelessly played off. Yet, as he registered the words that came out of her mouth. His eyes widened at it.

What the fuck was he going to tell her! He had avoided team avatar's questions and gave them only bare minimum answers. He could see how it hurt them, but what other choice did he hold? Tell them the truth and have them learn of what he did, what he once was?

Those smiling faces, turning instantly to disgusted scowls. His hands raised as they would leave him, abandoning him once again into the dirt, just like the jedi did to him before. How could he tell them? Aang was naïve, very rarely seeing things in lines of grey…what would he think if he told him the truth?

What would they say if he told them of what he did during the Mandalorians wars, how he had defied the jedi council and followed Revan to war? How he had fought against the Mandalorians and relished in cutting them down, even transforming his single bladed weapon into a double bladed one for a more efficient weapon to cut down his enemies!

How would they feel after they learned what he did on Malachor V? The dead ships and the bodies of both enemy and comrade both circulate along that dead world…what of him and his fall to the Sith? Would they still trust him, would they still put faith in one of Revan's most personal assassins of his order?

The betrayal, the nightmares…the guilt? He had done everything he could to protect them of what he once was, and as he glossed over to Ty Lee's smiling face he began to try and formulate a plan.

"Alright, question one." She slowly spoke. Raising her finger as she sparked a smile. "Where are you from?"

"That's easy…" Ben chuckled, scratching his head as he sparked a smile of his own. Yet, he could see that Ty Lee wasn't buying it. "Um…linen district?" He slowly rasped his voice, trailing the uncertain words from his tongue.

"Linen district… "Ty Lee slowly repeated back. Almost like she was testing the words along her tongue to make sure that she heard right. Yet, with widened eyes after seeing Ben slowly nod his head in response.

Ty Lee let out a small sigh. "Linen district, where is that specifically?"

"Ah, water tribe?"

"Really, water tribe?" Ty Lee slowly repeated, her smile slowly fading as she began to smell the bullshit emanated off Ben's words. "Didn't know they produced linen over there."

"Yeah, momma and pop. They basically did all the exports and stuff out there and stuff."

There was a relative awkward silence, Ben slowly straining his eyes across the bright green fields of grass as Ty Lee simply stared ahead with him, a natural look over her face as she simply yawned. "Ben, I was taught in the fire nation royal academy. The water tribe doesn't export linen, they export fish and other sorts of seafaring goods."

Ben stayed silent. He was going to try and crack a joke, try, and do something to slowly break the awkward chill from the air but he saw the look she was giving him. She held a very stoic gesture that refused to be backed down.

"Ben, I know that you're lying. Come on…" She sighed as she puffed out her cheeks. Her arms trailing over the banister as the hood of her cowl flown helplessly along the harsh breeze. "I'll ask something else. Tell me about your…childhood." She quickly snapped her fingers.

Her eyes drawing towards his own once again with a distinct sparkle. "My childhood?" He slowly spoke up. Seeing the girl nod her head.

"Okay…" He slowly spoke. Combing through his locks of hair as the beads of sweat slowly went down his face. He scratched his head, a little too aggressively as his eyes averted her own gaze. The golden glare piercing through the blue sky.

"Um, my childhood…" His false arm clamped along the metallic railing, producing a dull note that filled the stale air. "It was surely, a time of friends and family. I had a lot of good food to eat, my mother took good care of me."

His hands coiled along the base of his head. Fighting the urge of tears as he tried to slowly shake his head, he didn't want to think about this, to be reminded of this. The stench of alcohol in his house, broken death stick vials that occupied the rug.

The bruises that traced along his mother's arms or stomach. His father's heavy drunk snoring that rattled the house or the curses he would utter. The pain of early Mandalorian training, but that all didn't matter…

For he felt alone, but he had his mother. He could still remember the day that one force adept came to his tribe. His mother always said he was special, that she could tell there was something so good about him.

…and it was true, the blessing of the force ran true within him. It flourished within him like a powerful hurricane but his father forbid it. Whether or not he liked it, Ben was still of Mandalorian blood and still had his duty to his clan.

Maybe, that was the reason why it had to end that day…he could still remember the droplets of blood that slithered off his mother's vibroblade. It was the only way for him to escape. The crude Mandalorian tradition, the rigid life of warring and conquering, his mother…

Killed His Father for Him

She had stolen a Mandalorian ship. Fleeing to Coruscant and heading to the temple, he was tested with a powerful aptitude to the force once again and his raw power caused many on the council to push for him to be trained on Dantooine's jedi enclave, a firm belief that he could learn to become a true knight.

That was the last time he had seen his mother before she went back home…he knew that she died, put on trial for the disgraceful murder of her husband. Such crimes resulted in execution.

She had given up everything for her little boy…believing in some dream of him becoming a great hero of the jedi order. Liberating, freeing…saving lives. She believed that he could become something far greater than just simply a warrior.

Yet, the war came…and he proved her wrong, and he walked his father's path, the way of the warrior. He killed the Mandalorians, he took pleasure in taking their lives. Falling to the dark side he wished for greater challenges, finding them in great warriors of the force both Sith and Jedi. Even taking their lightsabers and arranging them along his belt, a sick trophy collection of his greatest kills.

He was far less than a Sith at that point…a being of the dark side so warped and steeped with malice and raw force potential. No wonder Revan made a slave out of him.

"Ben!"

He snapped his neck to the side. Ty Lee slowly taking a heavy breath as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I've called you for a while and you just spaced out…is everything okay?"

He took a deep breath, slowly funneling an answer. "Yeah, I just got lost in thought. Honestly, nothing of worth truly happened. My parents bickered, I got into a couple of fights, and that was it. Just basic."

Yet, Ty Lee felt it within the force and in his body language, another lie that came out of his lips. She let out a piece of hot air. Pushing herself off the arm railing as she turned away from him. "Listen, Ben. I think your great. Your cute, your control of the force is awesome, I know that you have great things ahead of you. You speak with this passion, and I see your resolve…"

"Thanks, Ty Lee."

"…but I don't like being played a fool. Listen, I know I am not the smartest girl around but now it just feels really silly, and I am not sure if you are choosing to mess with me or you don't trust me enough with knowledge of some basic questions."

Ben was about to respond back, to dissuade her yet she simply shook her head. "I'm going to head back to the marketplace and see how well they are doing."

Ben's hand was raised within the air, watching her frame sink back into the messy crowd of the marketplace as a sigh rolled off his lips. Leaning his back along the metallic banister as both of his hands went to his face.

He wanted to tell her…he wanted to tell them. Yet, the darkness that clung to him, the fear that emanated from him was too deep of a shadow to break away from.

Ben and Ty Lee after that awkward moment basically parted. Ben heading back to Appa to train some more and to get the awkwardness out of his head, while Ty Lee grouped up with the team avatar again. In a blur of miss adventures, that was the reason why the moon peered over the mansion.

Somehow, team avatar was able to be invited into the mansion and a celebratory feast was set up in their honor. It was a neat room, a proud display of their wealth as ornate paintings filled along the walls and the overhead golden chandelier loomed over them.

The simmering meal was present along their table as the Beifongs created neat small talk with the avatar. The allure of the smell enamored him, but he was still…distracted.

His eyes drawn forward as he peered at Ty Lee. The girl slowly and silently eating her food as he tried to get a good read on her. He wanted to tell her, he honestly did, but he didn't know how they would react…and having them abandon him.

He slowly turned his gaze to the side as he began to watch the girl and Aang converse. This new one, he could feel it, the power she generated within her actions. She was a bendor, it wasn't the call of the force that ushered in her movements, but she was still a being that deserved respect. Even with her physical impediment.

A breeze traveled as Ben felt it first, his eyes widening as Aang's bowl flew into his face. Spilling all the contents as the girl giggled. With a quick peek underneath the table, he could see the mound of earth that was quickly uprooted. 'An Earth bender?'

Still, his eyes widened as he remarked back to the jungle. After they emerged from the jungle Aang had a vison of some girl that would be important to him later in the future. Remarking instantly back to a prior thought, Ty Lee saw a Jedi there as well…two people at the time that they didn't meet would have a powerful impact on them.

Before, he wanted to pick Ty Lee's head on who this person may very well be or the feeling she felt towards him. Still, he didn't feel that right now with the way the two have been acting with the other would be wise.

Nevertheless, he was still silently happy that Aang had found what he had been looking for. After eating dinner, they were all taken into their guest rooms. Nothing of much note but it beat sleeping on bare forest floors or the occasional stone floor of a cave.

That was where Katara and Ben both began to speak. Later, maybe around midnight as she began to explain to him about the way there day went. From the earth bending classes, to the underground fighter's ring…and now Aang and the girl.

"Toph, so this girl is a master earthbender and her family doesn't know?" Ben questioned as Katara slowly nodded.

Katara rested on the end of her bed. A candlelight illuminating her face as Ben stood up on his feet, the black robes light tickling the base of his neck as he let out a sigh. "…Aang believes that Toph may be the oen he saw in that jungle. She can be his earth bending master."

Ben sighed, already noting that this sounded easier than he thought it was going to be. "But I suppose there is a catch?"

"Toph, her parents are extremely overprotective and have zero clue that she's a prodigy. If we reveal it to them…"

He already knew the answer. "So, basically we have to try and convince her parents to let her train Aang or come along our journey." He answered back. Katara slowly nodding her head as she rose from the foot of Ben's bed, parting the door open as she…

"Katara…" He slowly spoke.

Her dark blue eyes training along him. "Ben, Ty Lee felt extremely hurt that you didn't trust her."

Ben slouched along the end of his bed, just like Katara did before him. Combing through his locks of hair as he let out a slow sigh empty from his lips. "It's not a big deal, to us." Katara answered. "But she really seems to care for you and maybe just telling her a thing or two won't be so bad…maybe it will help her understand more about you."

Katara slowly shut the door as he heard it clamp shut. Lying on the base of his bed as his fingers went to cover his eyes. The candlelight was slowly dying out, he wanted to tell them…he really did.

Yet, they wouldn't understand him, they wouldn't get the sacrifices he had to make. The arm, his skills, his past…it would be the best for them to not know, it was his burden to bear and if he needed to silently suffer then so be it.

If those warm lights…those trifling chains that kept him tethered to the light stayed firm and happy. He would bear any sin, for he was a Jedi Watchman, and it was his duty to do the best job he could.

With those parting thoughts, he tried to sleep and for a short while he was able to. But his eyes snapped open as those golden orbs pierced through the room like freshly ignited torches. His form shooting up as his hand went to his chest.

Sweat barreling down on him as he snapped his head towards the door. It didn't make any sense to him, this feeling. He kicked his feet from the bed, the tapping of fresh rain generated outside of his window as he parted the door open, the creaking a mask against the encroaching thunder.

He didn't know what this feeling was…his boots clamping along the wooden floors of the mansion as his eyes fixated solely ahead. The large windows simmering with the cracks of blue lightning that generated through the whole house, each crack a vital power of energy.

Yet, Ben felt it. His heart thumping along his ribcage like a drum set. Some primal feeling awakening in him as his golden eyes vibrated as he stopped in front of a room. His gloved hand coiling along the base of the doorknob as he stared at the blank wooden door in front of him.

It was a feeling, a primal ancient feeling that stirred within him…something locked away but wished to be called upon. It wasn't light or dark but felt like a mix. A strange contradiction that eased along his heart, ushering him forward as his body was transfixed.

The force at work, but it felt different. Neither signaling of danger or salvation, neither of diligence nor power but it pushed him forward. Calling to him like sirens call as his grip tightened along the door, taking a heavy breath as he pushed it open.

He was enveloped by a rudimentary small room. At first, he thought it was merely some equipment room or something along the like. He could see discarded paintings pressed along corners, stacks of old ornate weapons, and even some drops of jewelry.

…but he felt it. In the center of the room once again, calling to him. Like a moth to a flame, he dug his feet towards it. His right hand instinctively drawing forth as he stared at the center of the room. On a mound of discarded jewelry and ornate pages of silk, it was there.

In a small, opened jewelry box, the size of his palm. It was protected by a reddish-brown wooden outlier while in the inside was a small crimson covering that held it…

"A…crystal." Ben absentmindedly spoke. The object and the pull of the force drawing him forward as he began to pick up on what was happening. The crystal, it was seeking him to claim it. The will of the force was dragging them together like a tornado into the whirling waves of the ocean. Two devastating forces, almost like they were being reunited after years apart. Yet, he had never seen or felt this crystal before.

The crystal was half the size of his ring finger. It was an odd shape, almost like two rectangular shapes were fused together by the sides, the one on the far right seemed to be imprinted further up. It held a rich bronze color on all sides.

Ben took off the gloves on his good hand. His hand taking the crystal as he raised is over his head. His fingers lightly feeling upon the crystal as he stretched out his mind's eye to get a good read on the item. It felt strange to say the least. Ben had soaked up much knowledge on the force, both Sith and the Jedi.

Yet, he had never felt anything like this before. The crystal called to him, and it felt…off somehow. It didn't reek of the dark side or anything like that, but it didn't fill with pure power like the light side did. It felt ancient, unknown…old.

Almost like he was staring at some sort of ancient object…something that wasn't meant to be found, but it called to him. It filled him with this strange sense of confusion in his movements. Yet, it radiated with power.

The crystal appeared to be a magnificently shaped lightsaber focusing crystal of unknown composition. Ben even with touching upon the force found inconclusive results, not being able to identify what mineral it's made of. He even begun to wonder if it is a normal crystal at all, for at times it almost seems as if it were alive.

But as he was observing the crystal, he felt it. Something was wrong, a deep darkness echoing along the confounds of the mansion as he dropped the crystal back into the box. His golden eyes scanning the area as he thought for a second…

His eyes trained along the area. For a second, for just a smidge of a second, he believed that he felt something within the force. A complete contrast to the crystal, the allure of the dark side. Almost like a figure had just…

Ben drew upon the force. His blade in hand as the dark blue beam emerged from the hilt. He could see the blow come from his mind's eye, the blessing of the force saving him. Lifting the dark blue blade as the metallic staff clung along the base of it.

Ben leaped into the air, bringing his blade down once again as the figure zoned in on him. Landing neatly as he balanced himself forward. Eyeing up this assassin that was able to sneak in. No, Ben slowly shook the head as he dismissed the thought.

He didn't sneak in while he was transfixed by the crystal…rather he was able to hide his presence within the force. He wore a slim black combat suit, a belt arranged with pouches. Yet, it was his face, or lack thereof a face.

He wore a heavy grey mask with abyss like orbs that peered into Ben. Almost like a gas mask, Ben took a deep breath. Tossing himself into the Niman form, only for the assassin to twirl the staff, fluttering the air with a mighty whoosh as the battle once again commenced.

The air felt alive as the steel staff compacted along Ben's blade of plasma. The jedi outcast on the defensive as he had to swat away the blows. The stream of brilliant sparks funneling along the room as the cracks of purple lightning flurried from outside.

Ben reeled backwards, flipping away as he lashed out with the force. Leveling his left hand forward as the rows of priceless items flourished and aimed like spears towards the assassin. The warrior was trained to remain detect less against force users, but he wasn't versed enough within the force to counterattack with his own push.

Though, he tried to evade and parry against the blow it was all too much. Getting hit along the front of his head as he dropped his staff, the weapon clattering along the wooden floor as he…

But Ben was quicker, the outcast rushing. Gripping the weapon with both hands as he slashed, a mighty slash that cut across the assassin as it darted across his chest. The man collapsing along the floor, dead on impact.

For a second with rushed breathing and his heart hammering along his chest, he stared at the fallen assassin. His mind transfixed at what he had just fought. 'A Sith Assassin, they have them here as well?'

During the Jedi Civil War back in his old universe before he fell into that black hole. Revan had secretly trained and broken numerous force sensitives or prodigal warriors. In the darkness of many dark side planets, they would be reforged into monasteries entities known as Sith assassins.

Yet, to believe that even in this world another Lord of The Sith would do such a thing. Ben clicked his lips as he felt it, like an ice pillar striking through the base of his chest. "Aang…" He spoke, his throat lurching as he slammed the door open as he began to embark. He could feel it, Aang was in trouble!

Aang and Toph had both been walking through the courtyard. Transfixed within their conversation as Toph basically explained how she was able to do earth bending while blind. She was also the first one to feel it…

A trio of assassins had already begun to surround them. Aang's staff whirled around in a circular motion, the air funneling from his movements as the Sith Assassins approached. Yet, two out of the three simply flowed like the wind…

Aang with widened eyes seeing how they tossed themselves into the current. There muscles relaxing as they were thrown back towards them. The third was sunken into the vacuum. Catapulted into the nearby river.

Yet, right before the other assassins could maneuver. Toph, already felt it. The earth bending contorting around their legs as they lurched forward. Tossed into the hard dirt floor as she quickly began to advance. Pivoting her foot away as in a blur of footwork a mighty wall pressed in all corners against the assassin.

Still, she was too slow for the final one. The assassin gripping his weapon with both hands, the blunt edge striking the rocks that simply crumpled along his feet from the harsh blow. Wallowing with power as he thrown himself forward.

Aang threw his gaze to his side. Seeing the stream as he flicked his hand forward, a mighty whip funneling from the water as the assassin ducked along his blows. Aang watched the movements, his eyes soaking in as he…

Those movements, almost like he was a leaf, almost like he was an airbender. No, his head slowly shook as the possibilities for why an assassin of the Sith would know how to do such things. Almost like, they stole their techniques.

His throat hitched, a mighty blast funneling from his wrist but just like the other blows the assassin was too quick. Yet, he failed to see what was behind them. Ben, radiating with the blessing of the force leaped over the two benders. Landing Flatley as he gripped the simmering blade of plasma with both hands. The freshly dropped rain producing platters and a crisp along the dark blue blade.

The Sith Assassin tried to reel back, trying to regain traction but it was already too late. Ben swung, a mighty slash as he used all his strength to cleave the warrior from the torso. The man, bisected in two as his remains collapsed to the ground.

Toph, slowly shuddering as she heard the two clumps. A slight shiver slowly trickling along her frame as she took a step backwards. "Ben!" Aang screamed, running over towards the Jedi Watchman as the boy unignited his weapon, reattaching it to his belt as he turned towards Aang.

"Sith Assassins, but this deep in Earth Kingdom territory?"

Ben raised his voice, not feeling that distinct shiver of darkness anymore that the assassins used to mask themselves. They all looked identical, and it seemed that Aang and the girl had it in the bag.

The door slammed open, all the occupants outside staring at the parted door as team avatar and Toph's parents funneled outside. The two parents nearly colliding with there daughter as they wrapped her up in a tight hug.

Jet's blade was already ignited, but after seeing his master he quickly shut it off and returned it back to his belt. "Ben, I felt something within the force and…"

He let out a small gasp as he looked at the courtyard. Once it was a unique and brilliant place of pure nature. Art assortments of rocks, a flowing creek, and pretty wildflowers. Yet, it looked like a battle ground now.

Katara instantly ran towards Aang to check him over as Ty Lee watched hesitantly ahead. The next second, the young woman's hands colliding with the base of her head. "Ty Lee!" Ben spoke, rushing over towards her as he grabbed her by the shoulder.

He could feel it, her fear. His eyes snapping open as she raised her singular arm forward, there faces and eyes glistening with an orange gleam as they all saw it…

The village was in flames. A powerful flame that not even the rain outside could quelch as the smoke beckoned along the sky. The orange glow producing a tense heat as Ben recoiled backwards. His eyes darting in all directions.

"The fire nation, there here." Sokka said. Narrowing his eyes into a furious galore. "The size of that fire…there has to be a whole battalion."

Jet sinking his teeth into his lip, another village, destroyed. Brief flashes occupied his vision, horrible visions filtering into the confounds of his mind. His home village…and the base of his freedom fighters, can the fire nation stop burning things, can they stop hurting people!

Cracks of emerald lightning circulated along his fingertips, volatile and malignant thoughts warped around him like a shadow. Yet, he felt a powerful warmth surround him, Katara her eyes drowning into his own as she tightened her grip along his own. Those sparks…were gone.

"They must have been tracking us this whole time…" Jet spoke up. His eyes funneling towards the fallen assassins.

Ty Lee's eyes widened. "The whole time?" She repeated. Pointing over towards the town. "…this is Earth Kingdom territory, it would of…"

"These are Sith Assassins, Ty Lee."

Ben interrupted her suddenly, walking over towards the warrior he bisected in half. His golden eyes tracing along his orb like mask. "These are warriors trained in darkness. Warriors that are trained specifically for assassinations of public leaders or powerful force sensitives…honestly, if I didn't feel a slight shiver within the force, who knows if we would all be having this conversation right now."

Ben's words flew carelessly through his mouth. The Beifong's grip only tightening along their daughter as the rest of team avatar took a heavy breath, examining the words that came from his mouth. Before, when it was just them and Ben, he had warned them the dangers of what the Sith…True Sith truly are.

They had seen them or had heard them from Ben's lips. Darth Ruin's might as a Sith Lord, the powerful Marauders that Ben had to contend with, now the Sith Assassins…powerful users of the force that had learned to conceal their presence. It was a scary thought, to realize that just a couple of minutes ago their life was held by the thinnest of threads.

"That can't just be the assassins though. A whole force to destroy the village had to be…" Sokka's eyes widened in terror, the young warrior seizing his face as he slowly raised his head back. "They were merely the tracking party, the distraction." He clarified.

Ben slowly shook his head. They had gotten distracted and content, they…him should've paid more attention to the growing threats and attention they had…

A shiver ran through the three force sensitives. A cold feeling, like being stuck within a snow filled forest deep within the night. Seeking solace within the trees, but the darkness and the cold looming over like a knifes edge.

The dull blade, scratching along their skin as their eyes widened as they felt the true might of the force. There hearts thumping as they all nearly collapsed. Jet, Ben, and Ty Lee felt it. The cold power of a true master of the dark side of the force.

Ty Lee buckled to her knees, only for Aang to collide with her to grab her. Her breathing erratic as her eyes, manacled and crazed drifted in all directions. Jet, his body producing a mighty shiver as he drew upon his blade instinctively.

Ben shook…his body creaking under the pressure of the force, bright flashing lights echoing along his minds eye as he saw it, he felt it! The violet blade slashing off his right arm…impaling him through the chest, being tossed like a spent torch into the cold ocean of the Northern Water tribe.

He glossed down, his fingers and arm spazzing out as they shook. Yet, his right hand didn't seize to control the erratic movement. Only raising his gaze to empty a couple of words to team avatar. "Darth Ruin, the Sith Lord who maimed me…he's here, with powerful dark jedi."

The words flown from Ben's mouth like a windchime being stroked by a harsh wind. Yet even Aang could feel the danger evident within Ben's voice. Grabbing Appa's whistle as he funneled a mighty blast of air bending. The bison being called as it's roar breached the tree line.

"Come on, we got to go!" Katara spoke. Ushering in team avatar into the bison as the beast landed along the courtyard. Still, one of them refused to move. Katara narrowed her gaze as Ben simply stood there.

The rain flattening out his hair as it whirled down droplets that casted along his face. A glare etched along his features as he was fixated along the burning city. "Ben…" Katara called out to him, but he merely didn't hear her.

Ben was dealing with his own war at that very moment…

Stay…or flee? Darth Ruin was right there, burning and killing civilians to lure them all towards them. Yet, he wasn't alone. Ben could feel it, powerful dark Jedi was within his ranks…the strongest he had ever felt out of the Sith's fire nation and many more basic soldiers within their caste.

It felt strangely familiar for a second

A part of him knew, the rational part knew that this was foolish. That he was far too weak to battle against Darth Ruin and he needed more time to go up against such a threat. Yet, he was right there!

He had saved Ben all the time to try and hunt him down and now he was here…Ben could run lightsaber in hand and cut them all down. The dark side was his ally and with the blessing of the force he could do anything, he was truly a grand champion!

His lips formed a sly sneer as he began to wallow into the darkness. Calling onto it as he was getting ready to…

"Ben, we have to go…I know that you want to deal with Darth Ruin, but right now isn't the time." Aang slowly spoke. His words dripping with calmness, but also necessity.

Aang could see the gaze Ben held, how much he wanted to fight him…how much he wanted revenge against the Sith Lord that took something so important to him. But Aang was not foolish, this wasn't the time.

Not here in where he and his allies had them outnumbered ten to one. Not here as an Earth Kingdom village was being burned to lure them into another trap…

"He took my arm…I want to kill him." Ben gnashed, his teeth producing the quench of words as he slowly raised his voice. The force tightening along his lightsaber as he was about to.

"Did you forget why you are here…what your true objective was?"

Ben's eyes widened at the words, slowly breaking free from the darkness that surrounded him. Sokka speaking the words as he stared at his friend. "To defend the avatar, to restore balance to the world…even if it meant your death." Sokka finished the sentence. Ben already knew, he had repeated the same words he had told them all, what he was willing to do to defend Aang. "Right now, it is still your duty. I know that you're hurting right now Ben. I know that you want to kill this bastard and I truly understand that…but right now, we need to protect and save the people we can save."

Ben broke from the trance, slowly shaking his head as he turned back towards team avatar. The orange gleam of the burning village slowly leaving his face. Ben taking a deep breath as he nodded along his comrades words.

"Avatar…Jedi, please take my daughter with you!" The Beifong head spoke. Both boys turning their gaze to meet the man as he parted from his daughter. "The Sith and the Fire Nation are relentless…if they find us here, we do not know what they will do with our daughter!"

He clicked his lips, tears spilling from his face as Toph's eyes widened. The first and only child, forever sheltered but even she could hear the firm fear in her father's voice. "Father…Mother." She spoke up, only for her mother to grab her hand, tears spilling down her cheek as she helped her daughter along the bison.

"Avatar…Master Jedi, I beg you to watch after her."

Mr. Beifong emerged from his mansion brandishing two items. Ben and Aang staring at the two objects as they coiled along their fingertips. Aang could feel the bronze coins press against the dark beige bag. Yet, Ben's item…

His throat hitched as with widened eyes he took upon the box with that strange crystal. Rubbing the dark wooden box with his thumb as he felt that strange feeling overwhelms him once again. "Coins for the journey ahead, a price to pay for my daughters' safety. Jedi, that is an ancient crystal that my great grandfather bought years ago…it has been in my family for years. Protect my only daughter, I don't know why but it feels like it wants you!"

Ben and Aang slowly nodded. Toph's cries going silent as she boarded along the bison as the Beifong family said their last goodbyes. Ben and Aang leaping into the air as they boarded along there bison as they were flung powerfully through the air.

There hair whipping behind them as the Beifong family slowly became faint black dots along the roaring fields. They became far less as the orange fire began to swarm in all directions as they breached the clouds.

Faint cries, shattered morale…fear and revenge evident in their hearts as they barreled forth through the night. The Siege of the North, the defense of the air temple…they were once liberators and defenders, refusing to run away from a fight.

Yet now they just had. A harsh way of taking in another member of there team as the brilliant gleam of the silvery moon enveloped them in its wake. Another journey, more dust…more ashes…more disappointment as they walked the path to try to save the world.