Author Note: Yo! Thanks for reading the chapter and I hope you like the chapter! We have one or two more chapters to go until we end the Sith Academy Arc and are back on the main avatar storyline. This Arc is likewise meant for Ben to come to terms with the man he has become and learn to push through the past and become a better person (Basically Character Development Arc). Likewise, thanks for reading. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation and have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 45

One Month After Ben's Initiation

The nobles sat with hushed breaths. There eyes vibrant and fearful as they were huddled along the cage. Men, woman, and even children were locked along the metal cage as the bandits made there way through the frontier.

They were making there way along the outskirts of the fire nation capitol city. The blooming of the orange lights a bright contrast to the darkness of nighttime. The sprinkle of brilliant blue stars along the expanse of the galaxy, paired with the full moon casted a deeper light.

They stopped their carriage. Making camp for the night as the bandits left their carriages. Numbering over twenty men and few females as the camp started to bristle to life. Tents were set up, the fires were lit, and drinks began to get passed around.

The fire nation citizens could only watch in horror as their captives took a break. Some of them brandished swords and spears, while those that didn't were easily known to be natural bendors. But they each wore similar attire.

Thick leather armor and whatever clothes to wear underneath it to protect against any enemy attacks. Yet, one of them spoke. Holding a glass of beer as the crack of fire illuminated his scarred face and heavy beard. "Lin…" He turned to the sound of the voice, a younger man of possibly twenty-one year's speaking to him.

Aiming his finger at the carriage as he sparked a smile along his face. "How much money do you think we can get for the nobles?"

The rest of the crowd began to ease down. There chatter slowly ceasing as they turned towards there boss. Lin taking a heavy sigh as he emptied his lips, hiding his own massive smirk. "All of them are nobles. Best case scenario we can all get each a good chunk of coin for them. So, expect to get one of the biggest rewards possible!"

The bandits roared with laughter and happiness. There hard work paying off capturing nobles. Basically, the plan was to capture and then extort the noble's families to get there missing kin back. They had done this dozens of times and having more numbers meant less money but a more guaranteed success in their operations.

But it happened. Lin's mug slipping from his hands, decorating the parched dirt as the wooden mug slid near the campfire. His eyes widening as sweat began to decorate his brow. He snapped his head in all directions, his bandit gang feeling it too.

That aura…that killing intent, that fear generating in all directions sending their senses all in haywire. His sword in his right hand as he swiftly tossed into his stance. Yet, as he glossed down at his legs and arms, he began to feel…dizzy.

For a second, he thought that he was too drunk but realized that he didn't even take a sip from his mug of beer. Yet, the sword stance that he honed from years of fighting was off. His legs feeling like jelly, his fingers riddled with callouses ingrained into his sword felt sloppy and haphazard.

His mind quickly began to fumble as he slowly began to feel his weight loosen…what was he even doing again? They didn't hear any sound for alarm but that feeling, he quickly tied back his grip along his blade. His eyes widening as he began to realize that he lost task of what he was doing…

Yet, the strange feeling continued to emanate through them. The darkness grew deeper, almost surrounding them in all avenues as it was almost like the stars and the moon were swallowed up completely.

But the snapping of a lightsaber quickly broke through their ranks. The Bandits, still afflicted by this strange feeling could hardly react. Rowan broke into there ranks. Gripping his weapon with both hands as he felt his weight travel within the force. A dangerous gleam spreading along his lips.

The bandits were so slow. Rowan let out a flurry of martial might. Carrying his crimson bladed lightsaber in a wave of vibrant lights. The discombobulated bandits hardly knew what hit them as the Darkest Knight cleaved through them. Limbs and charred corpse decorating the camp.

Rowan was pushing forth; it was practically a slaughter. Yet, the darkest knight underestimated those that could not feel the force…

Lin's blade traced through the air. Darting towards Rowan as the old and experienced bandit pushed through the fog of dark side magic. Yet, he was still dulled.

Another lightsaber sparked to life. A darker red as Lin raised his blade to block the blow. Already feeling the whirl of air coming from the force leap that was generated. Yet, this one…

Ben…

The once Jedi Outcast, now an acolyte of the Sith. Swinging his dark crimson blade in a downwards arc as Lin could only block. Colliding along the dirt as he rolled away, feeling the hum of his senses slowly lessening as he gazed at Ben. Tossing himself back into his stance as he watched the young Jedi.

Lin could still feel the tamper on his surroundings, but it was different…sure it felt hard to focus or to concentrate but it seemed lessoned somehow. He drove his gaze towards Ben, observing the young man.

The heavy black robes sagged along his form. The crimson blade in his sole right hand as the false arm was proudly displayed along his rolled-up sleeve. His long hair down to his neck as the tendrils clouded the deep euphoric orange of the true Sith, the fiery red rims along the iris caused Lin to slowly back up. The bandit reaching behind him as he drew along his short sword, mildly changing his stance as he was getting ready to go all out.

This one was strange to Lin, he had seen many dark Jedi in the streets, but never once has he encountered one that looked like that, felt like this. Almost like a knife pressed along his abdomen or playing on a frozen lake along shallow ice. If he messed up even once he would be dead.

Ben gripped the weapon with both hands as he tossed himself forward. The crimson blade dancing as Ben released a flurry of attacks. Lin, the bandit leader hardly able to hold his own against the Dark Jedi apprentice.

Lin swung his knife, only to be parried backwards as Ben simply raised his false metallic limb. Dodging another blow as Ben gripped the blade with both hands, swinging in a mighty cleave as Lin could simply raise both blades to defend.

The force of the action sent him flying, yet this time he couldn't shoot himself back up. The knife colliding from his hands as Ben moved forward. Lin in a last-ditch effort swung the knife towards Ben only for Ben to lift his crimson blade up to deflect it.

Baring down at the other as Ben in a powerful surge of might swung. His force augmented strength and speed pushing him farther as he cleaved the bandit from the waist. His body crumpling in two as he turned around. Arya had entered the fray.

The young Sith Master frying her enemies with force lightning. Brandishing the arcane arts of the dark side of the force as she began to deal with the remaining bandits that Rowan had not dealt with.

Ben had been with them for a whole month. Learning, studying, and training within the Sith Academy in the Fire Nation. He had utilized his new abilities. The old arcane ability he had just employed here. Aura of Uneasiness, a beginner like spell but likewise a powerful spell of the Dark Side. Able to cloud the minds or override those with fear, even making them lose track of there reasonings or losing their sense.

Just one of the abilities he had learned along his time within the fire nation academy. One of the abilities he would use when it would be his time to cut down the lords of the Sith and Fire Lord Ozai and put an end to this century long war.

Yet, his grip tightened as he watched Arya and Rowan both let out breaths of relieved air. Another mission well done. Glossing over towards the nobles kidnapped as it was time to finish the mission.

They were in the main room. The area that Ben was first introduced into the academy and then tossed into the frying pan as he was forced to duel a dark jedi for his place. In contrast, it was merely him alone with the masters of the Sith. It felt…empty. He had grown use to this dark massive room that would hold dozens of other ambitious Sith apprentices. Yet now it was merely held by one, especially a false one.

The three lords of the Sith peered down at Ben. The Sith Acolyte had just finished his report of there mission. Tracking down a ring of kidnappers that were making a habit of taking the kin of fire nation noble families for ransom. But, from the words described, it seemed that Arya, Rowan, and the Jedi before them had left a slaughter.

Such words caused the Sith Lord's smiles to only enlarged. "We freed the nobles and returned here to report about the mission."

The Sith Lords both nodded to one another. Ben eyeing them as they almost felt like they were reading the others minds and coming into agreement. Yet, it was Darth Ruin that broke the silence.

"Excellent, Benjamin. You have only been in our academy for a single month, but you have soaked in all our teachings and not a single mission issued has been a failure." Ruin spoke. Ben staring aimlessly at the old mans face as his eyes fixated on him. "Now, it is time for you to elevate from our ranks of Sith Apprentice and into Sith Knight…"

Lord Fowl snapped his head towards Ruin. His eyes widening as the stale air of the dark side sprung alive. Rising to his feet as Fowl gazed at him. "Sith Knight. The boy has been here for a singular month, and we are elevating him two upper ranks?"

The Sith lady chuckled, drawing the attention of the three men. "This boy is just like Ruin's other two prodigies. Why should this one be treated differently…" She clicked her lip, her bony fingers resting along the ornate golden seat as those orange eyes peered into Ben. "He has executed great feats of the force, Ruin's combat skills have elevated his combat skills, and even you Fowl has stated that this boy's forms with the lightsaber is something else entirely."

Fowl's eyes softened at the words. Lightly taking a breath of fresh air as he once again slinked back into the seat. His gaze like a hawk sizing up its prey back onto Ben. They all knew it, even the students have felt it. This one was different; it had only been a month but his hunger for knowledge and techniques had stirred Ben.

It wasn't uncommon for the apprentices to be like Ben. Hoping for more and wishing to gain strength within the true power of the force. But even they knew the truth behind it, even with Ruin's honey filled words Fowl didn't like the fact that this boy was still holding to the light…especially after all this time.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Ruin. Clicking his lips in annoyance at the Sith blade master. He had promised them that Ben would last a week before he truly did fall. The young warrior called onto the darkness, but likewise fought against it…he wished to control it!

That rebellious nature and to gift him the rank of Sith Knight. Ben bowed in front of Ruin, the blade master igniting his blade. The curved hilt tightly along his hand as he christened the young apprentice.

"Rise…"

With those parting words Ben rose. A couple more base formalities were formed as Ben left the hall. He had things he wanted to do, mostly he wanted to get out. He had spent the majority of last night dealing with the bandits and dealt with getting the nobles to safety.

So, as he left the Sith temple, he made his way through the fire nation streets he began to go to the nice restaurant that him and his old friends now went too. Being a Dark Jedi within the fire nation wasn't as bad as Ben had thought.

People shockingly, weren't afraid of him. Dark Jedi back in his old galaxy were feared on worldwide levels and one's appearance spelled trouble. Yet, he would be waved too or offered free dining for his "service" to the Fire Lord. He figured that it had something to do with the way the Lords have taught them.

They kept them restrained, almost like caged lions or wolves…they could rip you to shreds with ease. Yet, if you break there will, make slaves out of them. Then they'll make far greater assets. Ben pushed through the restaurant door, swiftly being blanketed by the gleam of a roaring fireplace.

He raised his head seeing Rowan's arm shoot into the air waving him over to his usual seat. Arya scooting over as he made his way into the booth. "We already ordered drinks." Arya spoke.

Ben glossing down as he took his brown mug of beer. Bringing the cup to his lips as he felt the warmth of alcohol slowly purify his insides. His heart slowly being tempered as he took the glow of the fireplace, the pleasant heat it generated.

"Oi, Ben." Rowan's voice emerged. The blond-haired boy peering at Ben as his gaze fixated on him. "Why did you and the masters talk in private?"

Yet right before he could answer, Arya's boot struck Rowan's leg. The boy wincing in pain as his head snapped towards his friend. "The hell, Arya!" he snapped.

The girl throwing up a smug look. Her green, emerald eyes zoning in on him like a viper as he was instantly silenced. "Are you a fool? The masters spoke to Ben in private for a reason it obviously…"

"It's fine, Arya." Ben interrupted. Taking a slow breath as he began to explain the events that followed. The meeting, the knighting, and the interruption with Darth Fowl.

"Woah…" Rowan bellowed, leaning against his chair as he combed through his locks of dirty blond hair. His eyes heading back to Ben. "You're a Sith Knight now…I know that you are talented, but the masters really elevated you up two ranks."

"Does it really matter? I was trained as a Jedi and fought during both wars. I think an exception could be made."

Arya shook her head. "No, Ben. The Lords of The Sith do not make such exceptions. They must really think much of you to grant you such a rank." Arya's fingers went to her chin, her mind going into haywire. "Yet, it is strange for Lord Fowl to not appoint you up your rank. I suppose that this is the first time I've ever heard them disagree with something."

"Why doesn't Fowl not like Ben."

Ben clicked his lips. Finishing off his mug of beer as he turned towards the menu. His eyes zoning in on this world's language. He was an adept but his studies in both the academy and Bill's help all that time ago had slowly made him gain progress.

"I don't really know…you think it's about, Kiara?" Arya announced.

Ben dropping the menu as he slowly turned towards his friends. "Kiara?" He repeated the name. A whirl of memories coming towards him as he remembered that girl. It felt like years. Yet, the marks that girl made onto him still clung along his soul.

Those grey soulless eyes, the hunger for Jedi blood. The pain that was caused when she cleaved off two of his fingers on his left arm…at least when he still had a real arm. She was even his first kill in this world. Stating that what she did make him awaken, that he would fall to the dark side, and she had placed that path onto him.

Was She Right...?

"She was Lord Fowl's greatest pupil. I suppose he holds ill will against Ben for what happened." Arya assumed.

Rowan played it off, ordering another beer as the waitress began to take rounds. Yet, Ben was in his head. He had been here a month waiting for the proper time to strike. He had taken in the dark side knowledge he could. Lightsaber forms, force techniques, alchemical arts. He had scrounged the higher mysteries of the force to learn to defeat these legions of dark side users.

Yet even he knew how close he was to that edge. The Dark Side within him kept him strong, kept him powerful as he searched for more. He had nearly given himself to it, but he kept himself tethered to those trifling chains. They were the vibrant embers of a spent flame, but they shone for him like the pale moon. Always reeling him back before he could fall completely.

Kiara had awakened something dormant within him on that oilrig. Yet wasn't it all his choice at this point? The Mandalorian, Sith, and other enemies that he had cut down with his blade…there were moments in which he thought he took it took far but, in the end, it was always his choice.

"Sir…" The words of the waitress stirred him. The young woman pointing outside as Ben could feel a clouded presence. "There is a person saying that they know you outside and need to deliver a message."

Ben rose from his seat as he stifled a growl. Arya and Rowan waving to him as he began to make his way out of the restaurant. He didn't know who it was, but he could tell that it was a force sensitive clouding their presence it meant two possible outcomes. One, the most likely reason was that they wanted to challenge Ben to a duel or possibly someone from the academy had a message for him.

He leaned more towards the first possibility due to the person hiding their presence. Yet, it felt strange to him. As he dug deeper into the stream of force energy, he could feel that this wasn't something they were doing on purpose but rather felt like necessity or their own will doing it for them.

Ben pushed through the door as he felt the platter of rain decorate his face. His eyes like vibrant orange headlights sinking in the direction as he watched the…

"Ben…"

The soft voice echoed along his ears. His heart skipping a beat as he knew who it was in a singular instant. A voice he had not heard in a whole month, ever since that day he confessed his past and left on this fool's errand to put an end to this war. Yet, she was there.

She tossed off her hood. Her greyish brown eyes searing into his own as the petite girl stared up at him. Ben raising his hand as he quickly blinked. It wasn't an illusion or a trick, it was her. "Ty Lee…"

He murmured the girls name almost like one would do an ancient script. Yet, the next actions shook him. Her fingers intertwining around his back as she pulled him into a hug. Her head resting along his chest like all those nights ago.

His breath quickly going hollow as for a second, he forgot what to do…until his hand on it's own traced along her back. Resting neatly on the base as he pulled her deeper in. "Ty Lee, what are you doing here?"

His words weren't laced with anger or regret like all that time ago. Yet, it was slowly shifting with fear as he began to realize where they were. He quickly drew his hood over his head, grabbing along Ty Lee's frame as he pulled the girl close, tossing her own hood over her head.

They were blanketed in darkness, and he used his own abilities within the force to cloud both their presences. "We can't speak here. It's not safe." Ben said.

"Then where?" She questioned.

Ben led her through the streets. The once lively marketplace now slowly starting to lose traction from the start of the night and the harsh rainstorm clipping into their cloaks. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the Sith Academy.

Ty Lee instinctively winced from the dark side presence. Yet, Ben's grip on her slowly stirred those feelings away. Walking over to the gatekeeper Ben drew her closer. "Benjamin, you are bringing in a guest?" The gatekeeper questioned.

"Yeah, I have attained the rank of Saber meaning that I can take guest into the academy if I see fit or is that a problem." He spoke. Etching out the last words with a dangerous glint as the gatekeeper silently huffed.

With the touch of an automated button the ancient doors creaked open as Ty Lee and Ben quickly huddled deep inside. Free from the rain and the harsh winds outside as the pair began to make there way towards Ben's room.

"Why are we here?" Ty Lee questioned. Lagging behind Ben as she watched the ancient, cracked walls that riddled with power or the ancient tapestries organized in an inordinate fashion. "We could've found an alleyway or…"

"No, that's not the reason we are here…"

Ben stopped in front of a door. Parting the door open as both were bathed in a rich allure of warm light. Ty Lee tossed off her hood as she was the first to enter, Ben sealing the door behind him to make sure that no other Sith were paying attention. They couldn't have anyone know of there conversation or it would simply spell disaster.

She took a seat along his chair. His eyes directing towards her as he parted his lips. "Why are you here?"

Her eyes widening at the question, cocking her head ot the side as the words began to fully register. "Why are we here?" She repeated after him as he nodded his head. Her eyes quickly furrowing as she watched him. "Are you serious right now?"

Ben lightly combed through the wet tendrils of hair as he slowly shook his head. "I didn't tell you where I was going for a reason. How long have you all been searching for me?"

"This whole time ever since you left." She snapped.

Ben reeled back with widened eyes. "A whole month!" He shouted. Combing through his hair as his eyes relocked back on the fire nation noble. "I don't understand. You've been looking for me for a whole month."

"Yeah, we had to contact a couple of revolutionary bands. They gave us fake passports to get us inside the Fire Nation and even some guard schedules so we can avoid the fire nation navy to bring Appa."

"How about Aang? Is he doing well with his earth bending training…" Ben questioned?

Ty Lee lightly rubbing her neck, avoiding Ben's eyes as her gaze drifted towards his feet. "Listen, we've all been worried. We've been doing everything we could to try and find you, but Aang's earth bending training has not made that much progress."

Ben let out a groan as his back sunk along the wall. Why were they here? His thoughts whirling a million miles per hour. They had risked life and limb, the safety of the world to come and find him here?

Ben bit into his lip unconsciously tasting the coppery taste of his own blood. Yet, Ty Lee's eyes drawn towards his left arm. Rising from her seat to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her. "Ben, your…"

"Oh, you never seen it before." Ben aimlessly replied. He drew his arm forward. Ty Lee's brown eyes zoning in on the false arm. The mechanical skeleton forged from Sith Alchemy.

"Did this happen when we were gone?"

Ben shook his head. "No, I've had this ever since that fire nation siege. Darth Ruin cut it off, but I used force alchemy to forge a new one."

He drew the explanation out, there was no need to lie to his comrades anymore. He had told them everything a whole month ago, so what if he revealed the truth of another lie. The grueling process of forging a new limb the same as his last was still present in his mind. That whirl of flesh and machine slowly becoming one still a vibrant memory.

Yet, Ty Lee looked upon him. Before he was fearful for others to see him with the false arm…believing that they would be horrified. Fearful of being labeled a mechanical abomination, especially towards Ty Lee during the early stages of there time together. But now she didn't look upon him with fear or anger rather…worry.

Her fingers combing along the false limb. "Does it hurt?"

She quickly shook her head realizing how dumb of a question it was instantly. Yet, she was shocked when Ben slowly nodded. "At times. When I have nightmares or think back about the event for too long then it comes at me."

They stayed silent for a minute. Until Ty Lee remembered the reason why she was here. "Ben lets go. It's time for you to come back to us…"

His eyes widened at the words. Yet, they merely went back to normal a second later. His eyes wavering as he looked upon her face. She really was beautiful to him. Not in the classical way but in a strange way he could not understand. Her movements, her connection to the force, the way she could turn all the smiles in a room towards her.

Yet, he didn't love her enough to abandon it all. He had been here a whole month, taking in the dark side of the force and learning the teachings of the Sith. The whole reason he was here was to assassinate them and deal with the Fire Lord himself.

If he just left, if he simply ran away what would it all be worth? He remembered back then that day in which that village burnt down to lure him and team avatar towards Ruin. If he just went back, there would things have been different?

"Ty Lee, I came here because I am learning their secrets, I can kill them all…"

Ben's words flew from his mouth as Ty Lee heard them. "Ben, I don't know about this. This place, and even you aren't doing good. Come on, let's just get out of here." She spoke, her fingers tightening along his false arm.

Yet, Ben was still conflicted. Darting between Ty Lee and his mission. Aang couldn't do it, he was far too weak to deal with the enemies being displayed, only he could deal with them.

Ben tried to throw up a smile to assure Ty Lee. "Listen, I know it sounds strange. But I don't need any help here. I've infiltrated there ranks and before Sozin's commit I can best them and put an end to this war. Think about it, we can put an end without Aang, or before the rest of the armies can move onto the fire nation."

Ben's words tried to assure her but Ty Lee wasn't convinced. This place, even she could feel Ben's own aura. It was warped and contorted, barely held together. Almost like a house chambered together with string than sturdy screws.

Ben's plan to Ty Lee made sense…on paper. Someone powerful like Ben could potentially deal with the Fire Nation and the Sith with a powerful stroke of a blow. Yet, she doubted it. The dark side was strong here and she already knew it had consumed Ben.

"How do you know that?"

Ty Lee's question roused Ben. The young jedi slowly gaining an indifferent expression. "This place is wrong Ben. I can feel it within the walls…how do you know the Lord's haven't felt that you weren't fully committed?" She held back onto Ben, almost trying to wrench him out of place and out of the room's door. "It's time to end this Ben…come back to us. Let's go back to the way the journey was meant to go and train Aang to put balance to this world."

Her words rang true, but how long would that last for? How many more people would have to die to end this incessant century long war. He was so close to them, the lords of the Sith. Fowl, The Sith Woman…Ruin. His teeth were bared like a dog as he began to slowly shake.

He would gut them like the dogs they were…he would have his revenge and put balance to this world. Team Avatar, they wouldn't understand. So, he did what he always did…strived to do everything on his own, even though such actions usually backfired on him.

"Your right, Ty Lee. I shouldn't do this alone." He feigned. Yet, the girl trusted him. Her eyes widening as a smile decorated her face. Fully trusting him as she let Ben go.

He moved around his room. The actions confusing Ty Lee as she watched him grab his desk and push it out of the way. The grating echoing along their ears as Ben drew behind it. Hearing the faint piece of stone collapse to the ground as a Ben lifted the object in his hand.

"Take this…"

It was a bag, nothing to truly note except it was a standard sack. Ty Lee threw it along her body. "Listen, I got to change clothes. This robe is just heavy." He spoke. Ty Lee merely shrugging her shoulders as Ben shut the door behind them.

She didn't really think much of it…especially that after a minute or two the boy had emerged. Strangely wearing the same familiar heavy black Jedi robe from before as the pair began to move through the temple. Before they knew it, they were already outside and making there way towards where Team Avatar was meant to meet.

It had taken them possibly two whole hours to trek through the city and into the countryside. From Ty Lee's explanation they had found a decent cave opening in which they had been camping out from ever since they arrived a week ago.

It was secluded with sparse villages around and even Ty Lee joked about how much of a killer it had been for her legs, but she didn't mind because she knew it was worth getting them all together again.

Ben was afraid at first. He still reeled from that memory of them, he still didn't believe that they would willingly have him back in their group after learning about his past but…

As he and Ty Lee entered the cave. He was shocked…

Aang and Toph were running through Earth bending drills, Sokka and Katara were along Appa as Jet was off on the side meditating as…

They all fixated on him. Almost like he was a dream or some old ghost. Rising from there stances as they began to surround him.

"Ben…" Jet spoke up, breaking from his mediation as a smile darted along his lips. "We finally found you!"

Aang cheered, raising his hands into the air as the two WaterTribe siblings could only relive a breath of fresh air. It had been stressful and time consuming, but they had finally found and reunited with Ben. Now they could leave and return to their journey.

"You had us worried, Ben." Katara spoke up.

Sokka smirking as he turned towards Ben. His hand going towards his shoulder. "Well, it's nice to have you pal. Let's mark where we are going ne…"

Sokka fell, no he caught himself. His hand fazing through Ben's frame like a blur as he reeled onto the floor. His knees scratching along the stone floor as he rose his eyes to Ben. The faint smile that had sparked along Ben's face slowly diminishing instantly.

"There isn't anyone here, I would've felt it but there is still only six people here."

Ty Lee snapped away. Her eyes zoning in on Ben as she began to remember that one time…right before they encountered Rowan and Arya. They had employed a Sith trick on them.

"Your right, there is only six people here because I have not left my room in the fire nation." He announced. A stifled gasp coursing through the crowd. His towering frame zoning in on all his teammates. "Listen, I know this sounds bad and Ty Lee has told me everything that has happened in your pursuit to find me. But you must know that what I am doing is important. I can put an end to the Dynasty of The Sith now and The Fire Nation can be finished."

Aang stared at Ben. "Are you kidding me!" He walked up to him; his fingers aimed at him. It was too much, the journey, the warnings. "Ben, I've spoken to your master, and she told me how foolish this all was. I can feel it and everyone else can. Leave while you can before you make a mistake that can impact the whole world!"

Katara walked over to Aang. Her fingers along his shoulder. "Ben, this is insane. There is no way you can best these force users. Come on, let's do this the way it's meant to be done. No shortcuts, remember what you said about the general before?"

"The general was weak and a fool…he believed that Aang could handle killing thousands. But my actions will only result in the death of less than a dozen and put an end to this century long war. The blessing of the force is strong, I am strong enough and my power can put an end to this!"

His words were laced, maniacal like a madman as team avatar was stunned beyond belief. Ben was too far gone, the young man seriously thinking it was a rational idea to challenge the Sith. "Ben please, you can't do this alone. Come back to us and let's train. We can do this together…you've told me before that one Jedi is strong, but the weight when we are all together carries a different type of strength, that is why the Sith try to imitate it!" Jet proclaimed to his master, pleading for him to see reason and to understand that what he was doing was insane.

Sokka and Ty Lee was stunned, Toph merely hearing from afar as Ben simply zoned in on all those faces. "Thank you, for caring for me." The words stunned them as Ben's lips went back into that smile, but not a sneer or a smirk but a full smile. "When I told you my past, I thought you would all abandon me. Like Meetra, like the Jedi. But in the end, I failed to realize that you didn't abandon me…I abandoned you."

It was true…Ben didn't wait for their response, instead staking out on his own quest and was now wrapped up in something that could end him permanently. This was proof that he left first, and he began to think about the other times.

Meetra was traumatized couldn't handle the burden of watching over a young child who likewise was suffering from a whole maelstrom of issues. What of the Jedi? He discarded the Councils words, right or wrong he didn't give the time to think about the proper answer. Always rushing headfirst with his emotions and passions along his arm, until it was too late. He didn't even hold the strength to be judged by the order for following Revan…instead giving into his darker qualities, once again it was all his choice.

Everything, from the moment he joined the Jedi Order had been his choice. The wars, the training, everything else…he had lived in the past for years and had a whole list of grievances and guilt to bear. Now he was beginning to understand as he looked upon those faces. That sure the Jedi were not perfect, and he disagreed with them on many things. But they were not the ones to blame for the type of man he became.

The Jedi, Meetra, his friends both old and new…they didn't fail Benjamin. Rather, he failed them. The true Jedi teachings, listening to his master's advice, and abandoning his comrades that were almost like family to him. Yet, he had abandoned them and staked out on his own.

…and that caused a great wound that could hardly be healed. Coming to terms with his own failures as Ben did what he always did. He chooses to follow his own path, whether it was right or wrong it didn't matter anymore.

How could he come back to them…how could he call himself a Jedi after what he had done? He failed the order. He wasn't a product of the Jedi teachings…but a failure of them. He truly was The Jedi Outcast. A being who failed the principles of the order and choose to blame the circumstances instead of looking for the faults in himself.

Yet, his eyes rose with fiery conviction. He may have failed the order and his masters, but he would refuse to sit down and let the transgressions of the Fire Nation slide. "I understand that you have all been thinking about me. I am sorry for never telling you why I was so afraid or angry. I was more ashamed of myself but now I think I understand what I need to do to make things right…"

He began to fade away. Bright blue lights enveloping him as Team avatar began to shine away. There hands going across their eyes to protect against the bright shine. "I love you guys. I know that sounds corny but it's all true. You all must leave this place and continue this journey without me, I have work that must be done. If I fail, the three nations and the remnants of my New Jed Order must have the strength to fight their greatest battle!"

With those booming words he began to fade away. Yet, his eyes drifted towards Ty Lee. "That bag you hold has an ancient Jedi Artifact." With those words she pulled it out. Staring at the strange cube with multiple engravings along the side. "A Jedi Holocron, a tool to be used to learn the higher mysteries of the force. Do not be alarmed by the name, it is something completely different than the Sith Holocrons that I have dabbled with before."

His eyes were still stuck along Ty Lee. His heart hammering along his chest as he watched that girl. His orange eyes zoning in on her almost like he had more to say. Yet, Ben didn't have the strength to…

With those final words he disappeared. Team Avatar taken aback and in shock as the bag and Holocron quickly fumbled from Ty Lee's hands. The girl instantly breaking back into a sprint, team avatar taken aback as the voice of Ben's master richoted within his head.

"There have been no jedi that were able to do what Ben has done. He is doing a fool's errand in believing that he will learn to conquer the dark side and best the enemies from within."

Aang watched as Ty Lee so desperately tried to run. Yet, it was already too late, even the young avatar already knew that they had already failed. Grimacing as those bright memories of Ben, his proclamation to protect him and those times of true heroism he displayed. In the end, Ben had failed in his promise to hold to the light.

"He's ignored the warnings of the teachings and legends of his order. He knows what he is going to do…will finally toss him off the deep end."

Aang's words flew from his lips. A vibrant couple of words to encompass their final goodbye to an old friend. Yet, the force was a shifting and changing thing. Would Ben hold to the light and best the lords of the Sith. Or shall he fail and let himself either become one with the force…or a slave to the darkness?

Yet, a variable was out there, a fire nation noble girl with a powerful connection to the force. Would she be the one to reach Ben before he would take that dark dive into the abyss or simply be caught within the flames of his destruction?