Author Note: Alright, chapter 46 is here. We got one last chapter to go until the Sith Academy Arc is done. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. Greatly helps with my motivation. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and have a good day!

Chapter 46

Ben's eyes slowly opened as he broke off from the force mediation. He was kneeling on the ground. His fingers along his kneecaps as he let out a breath of hot air funnel from his core. His orange eyes radiating with the dark side, yet instead of hatred and power that he usually called on…were mellowed.

Regret, guilt, and…possibly acceptance. Ben rose from his crouch as he opened the door to his room. Walking through the labyrinth like confines of the Sith Academy as he would finally complete his mission. Assassinate the Lords of The Sith in their own academy, he had soaked up the Sith teachings and he was ready…

No, his head instinctively shaking. His fingers tightening into two steady fists as sweat began to decorate his brow. He was no fool, and even he knew that he held a slim chance to defeat the Lord of The Sith's. Yet, what else could he do?

Return with his tail between his legs? He had wasted team avatar's time coming here as he walked a fool's errand to end the Sith. They could've had Aang master Earth bending during this time but due to him they had been preoccupied. What else could be done? His footsteps creaked along the old stone floor, his shadow coursing along the dark side energy of this place.

This was his home in a strange way…the darkness. The Dark Side always welcomed him home and rewarded him with power, almost like he was the prodigal son returning. Yet, it felt wrong and cold.

It offered great power, but Ben knew the truth…isolation and fear. Feelings that had defined his whole life. Even if he did return, what would he say to them? That he was sorry for taking up a whole month of their time, making them worry countless nights if he was alive or dead.

No, that wasn't just it. When his mirage had returned and he saw upon their faces they were so happy to be reunited, they begged for him to return to them so they could all return safe and sound. But Ben began to realize something. He began to realize something that began to change his mind and made him understand…

All his decisions have been his own. He had decided that team avatar would not forgive him or wouldn't accept him for what he had done. Yet, they had welcomed him back within their group. They begged for him to return.

How many times has he made this mistake? All these times of acting on emotion and impulse. Sure, he had his issues with the Jedi Order, but they did not deserve all the criticism that Ben gave them. It was all his choice to make, everything from the moment he was taken into the order has been his choice.

Following Revan, disobeying the council whether right or wrong the answer…and again choosing to follow Revan. Yet, things were easier said than done. Could he have tried to forget his trauma and his hate so easily. No, he doubted that he could've.

Maybe, this was simply a decision that was predetermined within the force. A connection of events that couldn't be stopped on the spiral of destiny. But now, as he walked towards the duel that would either lead in the world's salvation or the destruction of the Last of The Jedi he was at ease for the first time in his life.

Everything began to make sense. Those faces, those trifling chains that kept him tethered to the light gave him a valuable strength that was able to hold off the corruption of both the Sith and the Dark Side. His hesitation just now, within the Jedi and his past choices…

His eyes widening as he realized it once again. "Hesitation…lies in death." He repeated the solemn message. His eyes narrowing as his teeth gnarled out.

Hesitating, like all those times have spelled destruction in either his case or in his comrades. Right now, he was doing what he always did…dwelling on the past. He couldn't go back in time and change things anymore. He couldn't keep looking back.

His doubting right now was hesitation. Yes, he was wrong for what he did during the Sith but ruminating on it right now didn't do anything but cloud his mind for the journey and greater battles ahead. The past was dead, it was gone and there was nothing else he could do.

He couldn't tell the old Ben anything or try to save the lives he cut down. This was simply the man he was, the road he was forced down to walk. It was all his choice, and there was a solemn truth in that. Because he began to realize that all those mistakes and correct decision had led him down onto this path…it had led him to what he was meant to become.

Their faces, flashed like spent pilot lights. Yet, Ty Lee's own stayed there for a tad bit longer than the rest. Those greyish brown eyes that peered at him, that he could feel longed for him in the way he longed for her. 'She'll be alright, they'll all be alright.'

He muttered the words within his head, and they gave him a moment of relaxation. He had stopped upon Lord Ruin's office. Today would be the day that he would get his payback for what happened during the Siege of the North.

His eyes glossing down to the false metallic limb. Flexing the prosthetic metal fingers as he let himself drift away. He furthered himself deeper within the dark side of the force, chambering along the ancient walls in which great power strived.

He would take their strength and use it against their own. Ben pushed open the double wooden doors. His eyes soaking into the darkness as his vision began to get used to it as the echo of the double wooden doors reverberated through the whole room.

It was a large sized office. The stone walls and floors more polished and refined, an instant contrast towards the ancient and cracked walls that littered the academy. The roaring of a fireplace, the cracks of chewed up wood brightened the room in a vibrant orange glow. Yet, a singular desk and chair stood in front of the three massive windows that scoped out the expanse of the fire nation was where Ruin was.

The old Sith blade master didn't look at Ben. Merely observing the numerous artifacts and weapons that were arranged along the wall opposite of the fireplace. "So, you've finally came…"

The old blade masters voice echoed along the room. Yet, Ben didn't speak. His mechanical fingers brushing along his robe as both of his hands connected along the cylindrical hilt of his lightsaber. The snapping and hiss of the deep crimson lightsaber was the only response Ben needed to give.

"Alright then…" The blade master spoke. Whirling around towards Ben's direction. He locked his hand forward, barreling with force energy as the cracks of the stone floor began to break even further. Loosening there hold as debris whirled towards Ben.

The boy tossed himself within his connection to the force. Dodging the force piece of debris dangerously close as he ducked another blast. Empowering his connection to the force as he leaped into the air, his frame flying as he swung in a downwards arc.

Yet, his ears were graced with the snap of Ruin's red curved hilt lightsaber blade. Both crimson weapons impacting the other as Ben launched himself away. Both apprentice and master dueling against the other.

Ben tossed himself into the Shien form while Ruin went into Makashi. Sizing up the other as both men both realized that there was a difference now…Ben had only grown stronger ever since that duel. Ben tossed himself forward. Letting loose a vibrant flurry of attacks as all Ruin could do was defend.

The sparks generated by both crimson blades decorating the room. Both men saber locking along their chest, yet things were different now. Ruin broke from the lock and placed a stab towards Ben's face, the young outcast dodging the blow as he dragged his weapon in a sideways arc. Searing along the man's left shoulder.

He clenched his teeth to halt his shout of pain. Ben smirking in response as he leaped over the Sith Lord. Landing neatly on his feet as he twisted his blade around, the reverse shien grip. Letting a flurry of attacks follow through as the wide slashes caused Ruin to lean backwards on the defensive again.

The sparks decorating the old mans face. For a second Ben thought he had a chance, that maybe he was right and that his convictions for once finally ran true. Yet, he had failed to realize this. He felt a ting in the back of his mind. Dodging the fallen chandelier that Ruin wrenched with the force as he rolled into a backflip. Gripping the weapon again into the orthodox two handed shien as he watched once again.

Ruin and he were both reeling. Sweat decorating their clocks from the tumult and heat of battle. Training as a Jedi, training as a Sith…now relearning both during his brushes with death and at the academy had only made him grow stronger.

But he forgot for a second who he was truly dealing with…

Ruin lashed out with both hands. The wave of force energy flooding the whole room. Tossing over the desk, the chairs, and even ripping up the stone. Ben's force barrier was hardly able to bear along the energy Ruin had created. But it was the debris.

Ben's eyes widening as he felt the boulder impact the base of his stomach. A medium sized rock that ejected all the air in his lungs. Feeling a rib snap as he had lost concentration. He could feel his back along the window, breaking it in two as the glass dropped down to the ground like splintered raindrops.

Yet, he didn't have time for this. His eye bruised and quickly sealing from the tumult of the duel, his stomach aching from the broken bone and numerous cuts from the glass shards had pricked into his body. But he gave himself into the force, lashing out on pure reflex he felt something grace his false fingers. Wrenching his eyes open as he saw his lightsaber flying through the expanse of air, whirling his good arm forward as he caught the blade.

The cool wish of wind splintered along his cuts and sore eye. The orange dazzling lights of the fire nation filling the expanse as Ben finally began to understand where he was. He was on a catwalk, extending along the exterior of the Sith Academy. Workers must have been working along the place to either upgrade or upkeep the old Sith Academy.

But there was no time to think right now. He could hear the whirl of Ruin's lightsaber blade speed as he turned his attention in front of him. The old Sith blade master leaping from his balcony as he whirled his lightsaber in an overhead cleave.

Ben was tired, reeling with pain along his whole body. His cloak was partially turned, and his armor was dented but even then, he held the will to fight back. He gripped the banister tighter as he wrenched himself upward. Right as Ruin impacted the catwalk he was flipping through the air as he landed neatly. The old blade master releasing a flurry of attacks as scarred marks decorated the metallic catwalk.

Ben was now on the defensive. Griping his weapon as Ruin employed a more vibrant press of attacks. Slashing, cleaving, utilizing the force to try and distract him. Yet, Ben wouldn't have it. Blocking and parrying to try and employ a counterattack both Men were hurt, and the battle could go any other way.

Ben leaped into the air, striking Ruin's face with a well-placed kick as he could feel the old mans bones break along his boot. Yet, he felt his leg seized by two strong fingers, a force augmented slam sending Ben forward as his body creaked along the metallic catwalk.

Yet, he didn't have time to reel. Yes, the pain was immense, and he was busy seeing stars and black lines that had begun to dot his vision but right now it wasn't the time to deal with that. He flipped back onto his feet, Ruin eyeing him as the old blade master was reeling from his own injuries.

Now they were equal. For he was the Last of The Jedi, and his mission was to eradicate the Sith. He would put an end…

"Master Ruin!"

The words of three students of the Sith Academy caused Ben's eyes to widen. Being graced by the swift sounds of the hissing of three vibrant blades of red. 'No!' He screamed within his head. Ruin's smiles enlarging as he saw more of his students emerge from right behind him. A snarky smile running along his face.

Ben's grip only tightening but his resolve began to weaken. 'What the fuck was I thinking! There is a whole academy here with dozens of students and even the Lords of the Sith are still here. Did I really believe that people wouldn't notice?'

The failings of his plan causing him to let a growl empty from his chest. His knuckles turning white from the heavy hold of his fingers along the hilt. Yet, he began to realize something. Maybe he was strong enough to best Ruin, maybe he was on equal status, but with these apprentices aiding him within the duel he had no chance!

Yet, there was always a chance. The Dark Side offered more, but if he steeped deeper into it, just this once. He was already deep within that abyss one more step and then he would…

But what other choice did he have? Let the world get surrounded by darkness, let the Sith rule unopposed. There was no other choice…no other option. All his decisions had led him down this path, so he did what he had to…and choose to break those trifling chains that kept him tethered.

The Sith Students couldn't feel the difference. There eyes radiating with pure malevolence and fear due to the intense bloodlust that Ben held for them. Yet, Ruin's smirk only enlarged. Seeing that gloss of the Orange Sith Eyes finally extinguish that finally strand of light. He had finally done it, after so many agonizing weeks he had finally broke him. In the end when Ben was faced with failing his mission he chooses to finally give into the dark side because he believed it held truth, that he could conquer it to save the world. Yet, Meetra and Ulic were right.

Benjamin had fallen…

Yet, the Sith Students had failed to realize the new status of Jedi Outcast turned Dark Apprentice. All three charging at him as the Dark Apprentice did a move that none of them had ever seen, except for one.

Ben leaped into the air, tucking his knees and arms into his chest. His eyes closing for a second as a vibrant bubble of force energy formed. Like a ticking time bomb, Ruin already had his barrier strengthened and reinforced.

Then it happened, a blast of force energy as Ben untucked his limbs. A mighty massive scream that filled the air as the kinetic energy of force power rippled in all directions like a powerful unending wave. The three Sith apprentices realizing it too late as they tried to reinforce their barriers, but it was already too late.

The barrier reaching upon them, there bones breaking as the searing heat of the force began to sink into the pores of there skin. Almost like a skin eating parasite it sunk along their bones, clothes, and bodies as they began to be nothing more than ash along the wind.

Ruin was hardly dazed, his eyes dragging back towards Ben as he watched the Outcast feet once again land on the catwalk. Luckily, the catwalk had survived the blast, even shocking Ruin for a split second due to it's strength. Yet, there was no time for that.

Ruin's smirk enlarged. "So, Lord Fowl was against me Knighting you but taught you the ability to create a Force Repulse?" He chuckled.

Force Repulse, a powerful force ability. a Force Power that allowed the user to create visible ripples made of kinetic energy that pulsed outward, blasting back and severely damaging anything within range. Yet, if done incorrectly it could destroy the user, rupturing them from deep within and destroying them instead of there enemies. A risky but powerful ability.

He had only seen Lord Fowl use it against great benders or large-scale militias that would've been far peskier to deal with individually. Yet, Ben utilized a smaller version of it. Ruin guessed that it was due to the boy's fear of the destructive power of the ability causing him to minimize it, likewise, how must of recently learned it.

Ben didn't respond. Lashing out his false limb's fingers as the whirling of force energy chambered along one of the fallen Dark Jedi's lightsaber blades. Catching it with his own personal lightsaber, igniting both hilts as the zapping of powerful force lightning whirled along the boy. Transfixing along his body and the blades of both weapons.

Now this was the Ben that Ruin wanted…the one who was blessed by the true power of the force. The boy that he truly wanted as an apprentice, even with his heart that was once holding desperately to the light he was still able to at least be on even footing…now he had a true successor when it was his time to die.

Ben released a flurry of attacks. Darting towards him as all Ruin could do was fend off the two-handed attacks. The crimson blades darting within a furry as they flowed like a wave. Yet, Ben's attacks only grew faster and stronger.

Ben leaped upwards. Riding along the walls as he discharged a mighty volt of force lightning. The purple strands coursing towards Ruin as even the old man felt the sparks decorate his body. Nearly crippling him along the barrage as he had to grip the weapon tighter.

Ben had got him early on along his left shoulder. Slightly messing up his balance and now fully allowing him to even lift his arm. If he wasn't careful then Ben would kill him. Breaking from the lighting lock as both men locked along their chest.

Ben slashing with the fallen Dark jedi's blade but in a pure attack of martial might. Ruin broke from the lock trying to slash along Ben's false arm. Yet, Ben was already far too common with that move. Whirling his hand backwards, but too late to spare as Lord Ruin's blade cleaved the emitter of the Dark Jedi's bladed. Ben reeling backwards as he once again gripped his personal lightsaber tight.

Yet, it happened. The sparks of purple force lightning darted along his frame but not his own. His lightsaber crumpling from his fingertips as the crimson blade shot back into it's hilt. Ben reeling along the floor as the purple sparks began to intermix with his frame.

The Sith Lady moved forward. "What did I tell you during our lessons Benjamin." She clicked her teeth, still hiding behind that dark cowl as she slowly moved over towards him. "You fail to utilize Sith Alchemy during your duels. Even with your natural connection to the dark side and the force, you fail to realize how much of an edge you can have with utilizing the arcane arts."

She chastised him within her lecture as Ruin let out a breath of relieved air. Unigniting his weapon as he attached it back to his belt. "What is the meaning of this!"

Fowl uttered, his form landing along the catwalk from above. His eyes reeling towards Ben as he saw the boy's form. Cracks of lightning still generated as the smoldering cloud of steam still rose from him. "The boy…"

They heard the slither of a steel blade slowly drawn from its scabbard. The Sith Lord's eyes moving along Ben's form as Ruin immediately walked in front of him. Stopping his peer from advancing. "Are you insane, Ruin?" Fowl uttered, his free hand pointing towards the fallen Jedi Outcast. "The boy is insane. He's only grown stronger and if we continue to train him, he shall assuredly kill us all."

"Isn't that the way of the Sith. To train the strongest and the weak if they cannot catch up, they shall be left behind." The Sith lady spoke. Watching as her peer still seemed displease. "Look upon him, Fowl. The boy has finally fallen…"

With those words Ruin inched closer. Taking a knee as Ben tried to rise. His hands extended in front of him as his hoarse breathing filled the expanse. "Listen, Benjamin. You have accepted the dark side of the force. Do you honestly believe that those friends you hold to would accept you again knowing how easy it was for you too?"

Ben gritted his teeth, his mind and emotions fighting along the other as he tried to wrench himself up. The Dark Side had finally thwarted his mind, filtering through his movements. Why should he deny it anymore…his chains were finally broken and now he was free?

"You are strong…you have been here in our academy for a whole month soaking up our teachings. Now imagine Benjamin what you would become in a week, a month, a year. Do you truly desire to defeat the Sith, to exterminate us…then join me and become my apprentice, and you'll have your revenge!"

With those words Ben's dark side infused head reeled. He had learned control and power due to his time here. The Old Ruin had been on equal footing with him and now he held a chance to defeat him once again. Then, he would turn his attention to the other lords of the Sith…he would kill them and take there place as Dark Lord of The Sith!

The smile only enlarged along Ben's face. Ruin's words blaze like lightning. The Dark Side has spoken, and Ben knew that there is truth within it. He had seen it with his own very eyes. His heart and mind were finally concluded as the dark side proved once again to welcome him back. His smile enlarging as the plans of Sith domination began to warp his mind.

Kneeling as the smoke and cracks of force lightning began to slowly die off his frame. His eyes clouded with the true allure of the Sith as he kneeled in front of his true master. The Last of The Jedi, the only hope for the world had lost in his battle to conquer the dark side from within…and like what Meetra and Ulic had stated before would happen had finally came to fruition. To kill the Lords of The Sith…to put an end to this war. No, as Ben rose to catch his master's eyes the ending of the war did not matter to him.

Merely, Sith domination. As he rose, the dark side finally claiming dominion. "What is thy bidding my master."

With those words the Lords of The Sith felt it. For once, the great changing of this world would finally come into fruition and now a powerful force user was christened into the Dark Side. Now, they had another tool and potential successor to lay claim over this world.

Yet, plans were simply crude things. A girl of fire nation noble status was racing towards the Academy right now to try and save the Last of The Jedi. Would she succeed and bring Benjamin back to the light and finally leave this dark place?

Or shall she fail in bringing him back, and will Exar Kun's words come to fruition?