Very Important / Please Read: Damn this chapter took longer to write than I expected. Holy crap, but we got through it! The Sith Academy Arc is finally concluded and this may honestly be the best chapter I have written for the fic. Chapter 12 and this one are my favorites. Alright, after this chapter we are going to be back on the main avatar storyline. Honestly, I can't wait for us to be back. The Sith Academy Arc was meant to lead for Ben to have more character development and to finally become the man he needed to become.
I would say that we are halfway through book 2 right now. I honestly can't wait. Alright then, I won't hold up much of your time but I surely hope you enjoy this chapter. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation in both writing and my frequency in updating the Story. Please have a wonderful and awesome day!
Chapter 47
Ty Lee didn't really know what she was thinking when she had charged into the Sith Academy. Possibly using her superior athleticism to dodge the guards, outsmart a Sith Lord with her wits, maybe even possibly saving Ben on her own and convincing him to follow her. They would return hand in hand…
Yet, as she glossed around the room she was thrown in, she began to realize how much of a fool she was. She was in a small room, a cell. Her back was pressed along the crudely maintained stone walls that surrounded her. A thin door crafted from wood was the only thing separating her from freedom.
She didn't know how long she had been in that room for, but it felt like a long time to the fire nation noble. Her eyes slowly closing as she began to lean on the wall. Her knees going towards her chest as she wrapped the cloak tighter around herself.
What was she even doing here? She had done something extremely stupid for some guy…well to her Ben wasn't really some guy. He felt different compared to the other men she had seen or been with. He held this fire within him, his aura may have been fearful but there was something within it.
Like the vibrant flames of a bonfire, spreading and touching everything in all directions. She left that part out when she mentioned Ben's aura to Katara and Aang. She didn't want them to get the wrong idea of what she was feeling. Yet, right now those feelings grew more confused and conflicted.
The way his smile, rare at times made her heart skip a beat. How she would spring into action when he would be in danger and oftentimes go against her better sense, just like now.
Her eyes began to slowly seep shut, the exhaustion finally dawning on her. Azula, she would've used her brute strength and bending mastery to break through the wooden door. Her friend, Mei. She would've used her knife skills to find a way to defeat those that were in her way. But what about her?
Her Chi blocking was useful and before she would have these moments…these little tings in the back of her head when danger or an enemy was going to move in on her. She kept that secret from her friends, she was already a target at times for Azula and she didn't want to give her more fuel to mess with her.
Yet now she knew that it was the blessing of the force that aided her. A powerful connection that had saved her countless times and even was able to alert her that Ben was seized by the Sith. But right now, she didn't know what else to do.
So, the young fire nation noble slowly slunk off into sleep. Her mind clouded from the dark side aura of this place as untold hours began to travel by until…
"Up, Lord Ruin wishes to speak to you."
She slowly craned her eyes open, instantly widening as she began to zone in on the two figures in front of her. Both wearing similar Sith armor as they brandished differing lightsaber blades along their hilts. Ty Lee rose as the two Sith began to lead her out.
Her eyes quickly adjusted out of the darkness as the lantern lights that filled the academy began to shine the way. The two Sith led in front of her, a man, and a woman. They could've been a couple years older than her.
The boy was way taller than her, sporting a strange lightsaber design and dusty blonde hair. A unique hair color that she had rarely seen. Likewise, the girl was around her height. Long red hair that extended down to her back and pale skin.
It took a couple of minutes of silence for Ty Lee to finally part her lips. "Hello, where are you taking me?"
Arya spoke. Not even turning around as the words drew from her mouth. "Lord Ruin, one of the three Lord's of The Sith wish to speak with you."
Rowan shuffled uncomfortably at the words. Having a private meeting with a Lord of The Sith wasn't always a good thing. Sometimes, they simply liked to duel out there punishments up close and personal. This girl broke into the Sith Academy, she was caught early on but she still committed the action.
A distinct shiver began to course along his spine as he began to wonder what type of sick punishment, they were going to cook up. They had to send a message, noble or not. Yet, wasn't that the way of the Sith?
He turned around towards Arya, trying to steal a glance at the girl to get a read on her, but she still held that emotionless face that deluded any sort of reading. She had shown more emotion before they crashed on this world and joined the Sith. Hell, the last time she had shown any fragment of emotion was when she witnessed the village burning and after being reunited with Ben.
Sure, he did care about innocents getting caught up in the crossfire but what other choice do they have? The Fire Nation has been at war for nearly a century. They are far more advanced, and this world will need a strong leader like the Fire Lord to usher in a new world era.
Yet, his thoughts were broken as they stopped in front of Lord Ruin's massive double doors. Arya parting the doors open with the force as Ty Lee's brown greyish eyes zoned all along the room.
It looked like a battleground. The fireplace was in ruins, the embers of burnt logs still visible. Numerous furniture looked to be chewed up and seared with smoldering blades of plasma. There was even a massive opening in which Ty Lee figured had to once be a massive wall sized window that could overlook the Fire Nation. Yet, the glass was completely gone. The cold wind trailing along the room as she tucked her chin deeper into her coat for warmth.
That was when she saw them…rather felt them first. Almost like being perched over the top of a mountain, watching two powerful tornados form. Feeling the crack of purple lightning that broke through the sky in violent arrays. That was how she felt when she looked upon them…Lord Ruin and Benjamin, his newly instituted Dark Apprentice.
Lord Ruin's wounds were partially healed. It had been a full day after there duel and both him and Ben had been sent into the infirmary. He had a sling along his shoulder and Sith healing balm was administered along his wounds.
The fingers on his left hand were in a brace, not even realizing that he had broken them mid duel due to the intensity. Likewise, along his body was riddled with bandages due to the cuts generated by both debris and the fallen glass.
Ben was not as different. His face was relatively unscarred, but his armor and robes were torn and dented. His good arm was wrapped up in a neat white bandage, partially dirtied with the dark red of dried blood.
He had his rib partially healed with Sith healers, and they even administered a couple of pain killers. They helped with his other wounds. The broken rib, the cuts caused from the glass and the debris that rained down on him. Heck, he was pretty sure that his kidney was bruised.
Though as she looked upon Ben she instantly knew. Even with his corruption within the Dark Side when she first saw him again, she still knew that he was still Ben. But right now, she knew he was gone.
That once flicker of light, even the smallest rays that Ben held onto when he was using the dark side of the force was gone. The yellowish red of the Sith eyes peered onto her own gaze as Ben watched her. His robes clinging to him like a dark shadow as the harsh wind ruffled them.
They stared upon themselves for a second. Almost hoping that the other would hold the strength to speak. But none of them did.
"Ty Lee, that is your name, correct?" Lord Ruin questioned. The girl's eyes widening at the declaration. Yet, Lord Ruin caught himself. Flashing a quick smile, easily forced. "Please, take a seat." He spoke.
Arya and Rowan both left the room, but Ty Lee could see from the slow parting of the door that they were still waiting outside. Most likely ready to be called upon if their master needed any help.
As Ty Lee took a seat the Sith Lord held his gaze towards her. "Excellent, so what the guardsman has said about you are true. The force simply blazes within you like a storm." His smile enlarged. Wrapping his arms around himself. "This is truly an era to behold. Arya, Rowan, Benjamin, his apprentices…and now you."
Ty Lee once again rose her head to catch Ben's gaze. Yet, he was gone, dejected. Almost like his movements were mechanical in some way. "How do you know my name, did Ben tell you?" Ty Lee asked.
She didn't really know what else to say to Ruin. Was she meant to be thankful that she held great potential? Yet, the dark lord didn't seem to care.
"No, the boy didn't speak of anything. Honestly, we had him pegged here as a spy the moment he set foot on our camp a month ago." Ruin explained. Ty Lee's eyes widening in pure alarm. This whole time! She screamed within her head. Yet, all Ruin did was simply shake his head, still holding that sly smirk. "Why are you surprised? I'm a Dark Lord and I know men like Ben. They don't just forget how people wronged them…there like rabid animals. You turn your gaze away from them for a single second then they'll sink their teeth into you, but if you train them and make them into your slave…"
His eyes slowly went over to Ben's direction. Ty Lee knowing for certain that Ben had truly fallen during her last meeting. That was when everything began to cue in for the girl. The room, there injuries, his fall!
She began to realize that he must of fell during there duel, but that rose another question. She had tracked along the Dark Lord's form and saw his injuries. Sure, Ben had fallen and lost the duel but there was obviously a greater difference between them now. Possibly, maybe if Ben advanced more in his training, he could defeat Ruin!
"Ty Lee, I know that you're a fire nation noble. I also know that your family is really prestigious. A single father with seven other daughters."
Ty Lee didn't say anything. Yet, there was a chill along her throat. Her eyes wavering as she began to feel it. No, she already expected it.
"Working with the avatar is a crime. Not only that but he had aided a Jedi and even gave him ancient artifacts." He lectured.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ty Lee, your whole family is dead. Due to your fathers' crimes, we couldn't let any of his children get any crazy ideas of revenge. Your family, your nobility, your home. It's all gone."
Ty Lee didn't speak. Her eyes freezing up instantly, her throat clogging as she stared at the old Sith Lord. The words slowly repeating with her head. Her family is all dead? No, to Ty Lee it had to be impossible. She had known that her father grew desperate that she was captured and needed Ben to come save her.
But…no. It couldn't be true, her eyes grown teary. The tears raining down her cheek as anger began to course through her vines. Her fingers sinking into her fist as she looked upon the Sith Lord. Even he was astonished, a girl like Ty Lee getting angry.
"Sith trick!" She bellowed. Her scream filling the expanse as a mighty scream echoed from her. Yet, all Ruin did was chuckle. Good, anger is the way to true power, and it was a good thing to realize that she wasn't someone that could control it easily.
Ruin didn't make any movements. Merely continuing. "Ty Lee, everything you have is gone. If you were simply a normal woman, I would've had my Sith Warriors hack you to bits as an example. But there is something within you so great, something that out leagues the bendors of this era and if you use it for us…I will reward you with such greatness."
Ty Lee's eyes widened. Her throat parched and rasped as her cheeks went red with fury. "You, bastard!" She screamed. Kicking herself off the chair. Vibrant memories of her father and sisters, traveling through the scope of her mind.
The arguments of wanting to be different from her sisters seemed different now…it felt, silly. Something that ignorant children would've argued about! Now they were…
There bodies, limp along there family estate. The searing red crimson blades of the Sith Knights as they traversed and cut through them. There blood along the deep red of there fire nation home. Forever etched within it.
It was all her fault…if she didn't run away to join the circus, if she was strong enough to not get captured then her father wouldn't have employed Ben and Aang. It was all her fault.
Yet, as she turned over towards Ben. Her eyes widened, the young Jedi not even saying a thing. That was when it happened. Ty Lee walked over towards him, gripping the dark fabric of his heavy robe as his eyes drew towards her.
"Ben, did you hear what he did to me!" She screamed. The young dark Jedi not even showing any sense of being grabbed. A permanent spaced-out look decorating his face as she simply gripped him tighter. "He killed them all, him and the Sith killed my father and my sisters. There all dead!"
Ben didn't move. His orange eyes still stuck to her face. Peering at the tears that whirled down her appearance. He felt something, deep within the darkness of his mind as he stared upon this girl. The darkness was slowly being backed away. Like a man pushing through with a torch, breaking free from the darkness.
Those fires, those passions that were deep within him…as he looked upon this girl, as he saw her distressed, he knew something wasn't right. Yet, he was back there, during the wars. In which he carved a way through the light with the humming of lightsaber blades.
How could he part through such a deep abyss? But this girl roused a fire within him. A powerful torrent of flames that surrounded him in all directions that refused to let him go. Her arms clung deeper along his torso as those passions began to burn brighter.
"I'm all alone now, Ben. I don't know what to do…" She cocked her head back, her eyes raising towards him as that brilliant face stared up at him. "Please come back to us, Ben!"
They had killed her whole family…what was he doing here! Ben's eyes widened, slowly showing recognition as he peered along Ty Lee's face. Slowly breaking through the veil of the dark side as he searched upon her.
"Ty Lee…" He slowly spoke her name. Testing it along his tongue as the girl began to part her lips. Absentmindedly as she finally broke through to Ben. Her eyes widening as she realized that she got through to him. Her hands going towards his cheek, slightly cupping it as she stared upon him. "I've went too deep into the dark side. Please, help me." He slowly begged.
Lord Ruin felt it as well. The boy was breaking, he couldn't let this happen. "No, Ben. Don't forget why you are here…you decided to become my apprentice to learn the secrets of the Sith. Stay here, convince her to join us and learn together so you can…"
"Ben, please don't. We got to leave her and run as fast as we can. Coming here was a big mistake and we need to leave…far from this place."
Ben seized his head. His eyes widening as he began to remember, the breaking from darkness slowly confounding through him. 'I've been here for months trying to infiltrate the academy to assassinate Ruin. But it all went haywire, I fell to the dark side and became a true Sith Apprentice!'
Yet, Lord Ruin knew Ben and he knew how to exploit him. "Benjamin, do you honestly believe that there is truth within your comrades? They are merely steppingstones on the road. Vanquish the feelings you hold towards them, and you shall become stronger. Do you honestly believe that they will forgive you for leaving them…Rowan and Arya still hate you for leaving during the wars? Do you honestly believe that this is going to be any different?"
The darkness seized Ben, the ping of guilt wrapping along his throat like a force choke. Ty Lee's grip only tightened. "Ben don't do it. This is just a Sith trick to get you to fall back into his dark clutches. Remember, not even one of us wanted you to leave, we all wanted you to come back to us. Don't listen to him, listen to your heart and you'll know it's true."
Ben gnashed his teeth. His eyes sinking into the beautiful brown greyish eyes of her. "But how do I know?" He slowly spoke. "I've fallen to the dark side again. What happens if this is merely my destiny?"
Ty Lee slowly shook her head. A small smile darting along her face, a smile that broke through the darkness and made Ben fully see for a second, he was able to fully hear and in those precious words…he found it, clarity.
"In that jungle, all that time ago. That person I met, that Jedi was someone I know I am going to meet in the future. He was a Jedi Knight, Benjamin. A force sensitive, I felt him, he was stronger in the force than both me and you." Her grip only tightened. Her smile only enlarging as she saw upon that similar face. "He is a Jedi Knight that will train at your New Jedi Order. Clear your mind Ben, trust within the force and in your friends. He will be a very great Jedi because you will train him…you will train all of them within the ways of the force."
Her words cut through like a lightsaber along wood. Tearing through the veil of darkness that had trapped Ben. She had reminded him of what he was. He was Benjamin, the protector of the avatar…and the Jedi that shall rebuild the Jedi Order.
…and like a flash of light, it traveled within him. The orange eyes of the Sith began to vanquish, his golden eyes slowly returning as he peered upon her face. The revelation quickly dawning on him as he pushed through the final veil of the dark side.
Ben was finally back…
Ruin, his teeth gnashed as he cocked his head towards the pair. Ben instantly throwing himself in front of Ty Lee as he threw an arm to protect the girl. "No, Benjamin!" The Sith Lord's voice rose through the room. Pushing his good arm out as spit frothed from the pure anger that etched in his voice. "Do not be a fool. You know that the dark side is stronger…that it will give you the strength you need to kill me. Fall back, use your hatred and anger to deal with those weaker than yourself. You know that there is great knowledge and power that can only be willed by the dark side of the force!"
Ben peered at him. Right now, Ben was shocked. At first, he was afraid of Ruin, having to charge in blindly knowing so that he might've have died in combat. Again, when he was angry at losing his arm and only desired vengeance.
Yet, he looked upon him…with pity. He wasn't angry at Ruin this whole time…in reality, before he was afraid. He was afraid that such men existed that held such great power and experience that outrivaled him. But right now, Ben knew what Ruin truly was…
"Your right, Ruin. There is great knowledge and power within the dark side. I turned back and revisited all the things that I promised never to go back too…things Revan knew all too well." He rose his mechanical limb, flexing his fingers as the mechanical limb began to beckon. "I can destroy, I can create, I can warp with such abilities. If I so choose to do so…"
Ben let out a snicker, drawing the attention of the two other occupants of the room. "I was a fool to believe I could defeat the dark side from within. Meetra, the woman that trained me and was practically an older sister to me, warned me. What was I even thinking? That she wanted to stop me from realizing my true potential? No, I was far too immature and whiny, to distracted about myself and my own issues that I failed to realize why she cared so much. Hell, even Ulic that did the same thing warned me of the path that I was walking. But just like Meetra, I acted on impulse and gave into such impulses because I believed they gave me strength. But that was further from the truth. I was a fool making the same damn mistake twice…I will never be an apprentice to another dark lord!"
Ty Lee's grip tightened along him. His back, so strong and his form so powerful. He carried with him a fire of his own, and she watched that bonfire strike back along that darkness with untold superiority.
Ruin lashed out his right hand. Blasting a piece of debris into the adjacent wall in a pure fit of rage. "Do not be a fool, Benjamin!" He tossed out his hand again, almost like he was begging for Ben to grab onto it. To join him once again. "Listen to the power of the dark side Ben. That is the only way you can make a change in this world. Within the dark side that was the only way you were able to best the other Sith apprentices and even reach a stalemate with me. Within the dark side, your power is immense!"
Yet, Ben was unfazed. He stood proud and strong. He had enough, he was sick of it. Once again, he gave into the dark side because he believed that he was strong enough to deal with the issues of this world alone. How much of an arrogant fool he had become?
When it was within his comrades and himself…together they were stronger, and within them they held the heart of the jedi and the power to save this world!
"Yes, you are right that the powers of the dark side are immense but that's not the only thing there." He rose his voice, the next words chambering like a cannon. "There is not only power but great isolation and fear. Emotions that have defined my existence for so long, but I don't want that anymore. I have comrades, I have my friends…I have my family that need me now. Even you, you're just a tired old man that knows he going to die soon. That's why your so obsessed with finding a successor strong enough to take your teachings…because even you realize that a legacy of death and destruction isn't great."
He saw that flicker; it lasted a second, but he saw it. That flicker that traveled through his eyes. That dent along his psyche. A wound that Ben knew would forever be ingrained into the old man that had maimed him. Both carried the others mark. While his was physical, the others were mental.
Yet, he snapped out of it. "Foolish, curse you false Jedi!" He snapped but Ben felt it coming already a mile away. The dark veil that has been clouding his mind for so long was gone and now he was ready.
The blast of force energy whirled towards him. Wrapping his arms around Ty Lee as he was carried within the tumult of force energy. He and the girl were thrown to the floor but luckily, they remained relatively unharmed due to the force barrier Ben put up.
Ruin's sole hand drew to his lightsaber. The next second the hum of a crimson blade enveloped the room as Ben clutched Ty Lee to his chest. Forever protecting the girl as he gazed along the enraged Sith Lord.
"You are far stronger than Arya and Rowan…Dark Jedi, are you going to fail and betray your master." He began to walk closer to them. His old voice filling the room. "I can give you the strength to break through these chains that hold you down. All you must do is give into the darkness."
Ben shook his head. "No, I won't. I made a huge mistake coming here." He parted from Ty Lee, the girl moving behind him once again as Ben drew upon his lightsaber blade. Gripping the hilt with his good hand as he peered at the moving dark lord. "Before, I thought that I had to be strong enough for all of team avatar. I thought I had to defeat all our enemies by myself, but I failed to realize that we were all a team. We all held a role to play, and it was simply insane of me to try and take the burden off of all their backs when they can easily carry it themselves."
The snapping of Ben's lightsaber filled the room. Gripping the deep crimson of his lightsaber blade with both hands as he peered at the dark lord. "The way of the Jedi was never a solitary path, and I am done walking this lonesome road. I failed to realize that we were all together in our dream of saving the world. I failed to realize that we are together in this great war…that we are together in the force!"
His lips inched into a sly smile, the Dark Lord's eyes simply darkening as anger frothed from his movements. "I am Benjamin Wilum. I am a Watchman of the Eternal Jedi Order. I am a warrior of the force, and your dark shroud is finished!"
But right before they could duel, it happened. The door parted, and the two remnants of his past entered. The snapping of a pair of lightsabers filling the room as all Ben could do was silently watch.
"Ah, Rowan and Arya. Excellent timing…" Ruin mused as he watched his two apprentices enter the room. "Please, educate this fool of the true power of the dark side of the force!"
Yet, Arya didn't move. Her eyes, her movements frozen as she looked upon Ben and Rowan. "Arya, what are you doing, attack!"
Rowan's voice filled her ears as she lurched forward. Lightsaber in hand as Ben moved forward. Blocking both blades with a powerful cleave. The flurry of attacks filling the room as apprentices moved onto the other.
Arya lashed out with a force push. Ben lashed out his left hand, ripping the floor, breaking the stone as he made a makeshift shield that was quickly blown away. Only to defend against a powerful overhead attack from Rowan.
"I knew that this whole time you were lying to us, Benji!" Rowan screamed. Both blades sizzling as they each created a mess of sparks along the other. Ben gripping his own weapon. "You were never one of us…always lagging behind when we were Jedi, and even within the Sith you were still an apprentice!"
Rowan broke from the saber lock. Trying to cleave Ben in half as with a force augmented jump landed behind his old friend. "Things change, Rowan." He snapped back. His superior strength leaning deeper along the lightsaber blade as Rowan lurched backwards.
Ben already felt the sizzling of power within the air. Snapping his body towards Arya as he gripped the blade with an iron tight grip. The blue sparks of force lightning compacting along the crimson blade as Ben held his ground.
He cocked his eye to the side. Seeing Rowan quickly move forward towards him to try and get him while he was distracted. Yet, that move wouldn't work. Ty Lee was in play, and the two dark jedi failed to realize that there was another in the room that slinked into the shadows.
It even came to a surprise to Ben when he saw her fist lurch from the shadow. Dulling Arya's hand as the force lightning quickly dissipated. "What…" She aimlessly replied but Ben was already on it. Lashing out a powerful force push as Ty Lee leaped headfirst away. Arya was powerless against it. Her body flying, slamming with a massive dull along the stone wall as she crumpled like a paper to the floor.
Her lightsaber blade quickly getting engulfed back into the hilt. "Arya!" Rowan screamed. Turning back towards Ben as he let out a flurry of attacks. Ben following in his movements. Powerful force augmented attacks funneled through there duel. "You bastard, I'll kill you!" He seethed.
The clashing of pure crimson plasma breaking through the darkness as Ruin looked upon them. "Think back, Benjamin. Think back to your time at the Jedi Academy, thing back to the anger and isolation you felt when the council choose to ignore and isolate you due to favoring your friends!"
Ben gripped the weapon tight, swinging in a mighty cleave as all Rowan could do was block, swinging his own blade down as the casting lights brightened each boys' features. "Destroy him, Benjamin. Use your anger, use your hate, and slay him. Take his role as Darkest Knight and become my apprentice…you were always stronger than them!"
Ben dodged another blow coming towards him. Yet, the other one caught its mark. Dancing dangerously close to his chest as it prickled through his metal armor. The plasma slightly searing his skin as he whirled around. Slamming his lightsaber blade so hard that he could see Rowan's teeth rattle within the vibration.
The duel was finally ending. Sweat reeling from both boy's brows as they dueled. Clashing along the others saber as the conclusion began to heighten. Ben whirled his blade downwards, causing Rowan to slash to meet his weapon. Yet, he failed to anticipate the strength within the blow. Knocked to his knees but right before he could…
Ben seized his arm. Gripping it by the wrist as Rowan was about too…Ben let out a powerful scream. Trailing the crimson blade along Rowan's right hand as both blade and arm went flying. The simmering stump already cauterizing as the Darkest Knight looked down on his maimed limb.
Ben rested his lightsaber in front of his opponent's face. He was still Rowan. Sure, he was a Sith, but he was still Rowan. The one that he messed around with at the academy, who stayed his friend when people avoided him, who worried for him after he left for the wars…"
He didn't have the heart to kill them. A choice he would regret later…
Rowan's body slumped. His head banging along the floor as Ben reeled for air. Sweat decorating his robe as he felt the tension only heighten in the air as Ruin whirled towards him. Brandishing his curved hilt lightsaber as Ben rose his own weapon to meet his own.
Both men saber locking by the chest as they poured all their strength against the other. The crimson blades impacting and sparking as there two great masters bore along the other. Trying to break the others will and finally silence their life.
"You have filled this world with the dark side. But now I realize what I failed to see all that time ago. That the dark side shall ultimately fail in the end, how such great power simply destroys the user and all those that they care for!" Ben spoke, gritting his teeth as Ruin even with his sole hand was able to hold off the Jedi Outcast saber lock.
Ruin clicked his lip. A sneer etched across his face. "Alright, Jedi fool. If you wish to be difficult that I shall correct my prior mistakes of letting you draw breath. Through the power of the dark side, you shall die!"
With his scream the duel continued. The flurry of attacks darting with powerful sparks until…a roar filled the room. Monetarily distracting the Dark Lord Ben reeled back, using the force to whirl the hiding Ty Lee towards him as he already knew.
Appa emerged with team avatar along there saddle. Ruin not even realizing it. Ben cocked his head back. "Toph!" He screamed. The blind girl instantly turning towards the sound of his voice. "The building is made of stone. Bury this motherfucker!"
Toph obliged, with a quick swift of earth bending the walls of the room began to creak. Ruin snapping his neck towards the bison and its occupants, but the avatar wouldn't allow any harm to come. "No, you won't!"
Aang's voice filling the expanse. His staff in hand as he whirled with a powerful air slash. The dark lord both tired and filled with pain hardly held the strength to hold his lightsaber. Raising it and trying to reinforce his barrier as he whirled into the air. Slamming his back and sliding down the wall, the same wall that Arya had collapsed from.
Ben's old lightsaber blade snapped from the old Sith Lord's belt. Flying through the air as it rolled along the other side of the room. Ben's lightsaber was still in hand, he could finish it but…
He could feel the presence of Sith apprentices, he could feel the fire nation soldiers that were moving quickly to attack the avatar and to not let them escape!
No, he looked upon Ty Lee and his friends. As the stone walls began to envelop them. He wouldn't do it again…he wouldn't give into his impulse or anger ever again; he was sick of it. Ruin lashed out with the force, whirling Rowan to his side as he grabbed both of his apprentices. Reinforcing his barrier against the falling debris that threatened to squish them like fruit.
Yet, Ben didn't spare another glance. Not anymore, his path didn't lie within the dark side or with the Sith anymore. He lashed out his false hand. Feeling the force tighten along his old lightsaber blade as the blade flew towards him. Catching it in his metal fingers as he quickly connected it to his belt. This floor was slowly cracking, stone raining like fresh raindrops as Ben quickly gazed out of the window.
His hands coiling along Ty Lee's frame, wrapping her up in a princess carry causing a quick blush to form along her face. Yet, that quick blush was just as quickly filled with fear as she began to realize what he was about to do.
"Wait, Ben. Give me a second to…!" She pleaded but there was not any time. Ben running towards the opened window as he leaped, the force working in tandem with him as his bare feet kicked along nothingness. His eyes soaking in the miles of height they towered over, right before his feet impacted the brown leather of Appa's saddle.
Quickly laying her down as Aang's fingers tightened along reins of Appa. Already being a blip within the sky as they were once again reunited.
Ty lee sat perched; the overhead sun was swiftly being diminished as the orange gleam brightened up the expanse. The wind tore into her being, but she didn't care. Not shielding herself either for the cold or the harsh wind as she peered down at the Fire Nation capitol city…her home.
Maybe due to the shock of what had happened today in such a relative short time spurred her mind out of control. But as they dodged the fire nation patrols, she was able to finally come to terms with the situation and what had happened.
Her family was dead…her noble status was gone…and most likely she would never be allowed within her home city. For the remainder of her life, she may never be able to set glance to this place ever again.
She wouldn't even be able to pay her final respects towards her family. Her fingers tightened into fist once again, those dark feelings surrounding her once again as she wanted to lash out. Break, destroy, to hurt.
She was angry, if she didn't leave the confines of her home, then everything would have been fine. Yet even she knew the disillusion of such thoughts. Calming herself as she once again slumped back. If she didn't leave, then what would be of her?
Would she still be Azula's punching bag…would she still be naïve of the true horrors of the Sith and the fire nation? Yet, such thoughts began to silence as she heard footsteps slowly approach her. Ben…
The young Jedi was moving towards her. A faint smile growing along his face as he looked upon her. Ben looked worse for wear honestly and even Ty Lee questioned how he could smile after such things. His robe was ripped to tatters. Caught between the debris and the shimmering lightsaber blades made her not pick up on how nearly close to death he came too during his duel against Ruin and his old comrades.
The heavy robe was practically nonexistent at this point, basically only held firmly along Ben's shoulder like a cape. Even his armor was horrible dented and was practically scrap metal at this point. Yet, he still smiled upon looking at her, almost like it was all worth it to protect her.
"Ty Lee…" He spoke. Walking over and standing next to the girl. Her eyes drawing back towards the capitol city. "How are you doing?"
"How am I doing?" She slowly repeated. Glancing towards him.
Yet, Ben simply sighed. Combing through his locks of hair as she could feel the hesitation within his movements. "I'm sorry, Ty Lee. What happened to your parents. Honestly, I didn't…"
"No, Ben. It's fine, I know that if you knew what Ruin was planning with my family you would've stepped in and stopped them." She quickly spoke. Ben letting out a gust of air from his voice. Yet, his eyes were still drawn towards her.
"Still, I'm sorry that you had to go through this. No one deserves to lose their whole family like this."
There was a silence that cut through the pair. Ty Lee's eyes drowning back into the capitol city. Once it looked so confining and closed in. She hated the lessons in the royal academy, she hated how Azula treated her with zero respect…she hated how identical she was to her family almost like she wasn't her own person.
But right now, she didn't care. Back then everything was so simple and all those things she once took for granted…except Azula of course simply mattered. Now it was all over, she would never be able to see her sisters or her father ever again. She would never get to smooth things over with her sisters or reunite with her father. He must've been so worried she realized, so worried to hire Ben and the rest and such things caused more tears to flow down her cheeks.
"You know, I've always wanted to leave this place. I was sick of being here in this confining city and wanted to stake out my own mark on the world. That is why I joined the circus…" She spoke. A faint laughter after uttering the circus part. "But even now, I am so confused. I don't know what to do anymore and I just feel so angry and sad."
"Ty Lee, it is okay for you to feel angry and to grieve. But you must be careful about the dark side of the force. Your anger can lead you to dark places." Ben said.
Ty Lee slowly shaking her head. "Now I got Jedi problems too!" She snapped. Her hands going to her head. Ben walking over towards her. Leaning a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she slowly began to calm down. "I just don't know…"
"Yeah, I think so too. Ty Lee." Ben spoke.
Ty Lee watching his face dip. "What's wrong?"
Ben began to scratch his head. He didn't want to tell her…he didn't want to worry her but…
He remembered, a month ago he had done the same thing. Hiding information from his companions and in the end, it nearly spelled destruction for himself. He couldn't keep on doing this. She was Ty Lee, someone who he valued and was strong in her own way. Maybe, she would understand.
"A while ago, maybe it was during the first part of our journey. Something like this happened, I fell to the dark side for a short period of time, and I spoke all this crazy talk. Basically, talking about doing this exact same thing. Killing the lords of the Sith and infiltrating the Fire nation." He spoke.
Ty Lee lightly nodding for him to continue.
"Aang and the rest stopped me, but I've just been thinking…if I didn't have them or you then I would've stayed within the dark side. I would've been Ruin's slave and who knows what sort of damage I would've caused, it's just…"
Ty Lee's grip on him tightened. Her fingers going along his cheek as she turned him down to face her. "Did that happen?"
"What, no. It didn't, I was just…"
Ty Lee slowly shook her head, rendering Ben mute. "That was in the past and it didn't happen. You fell for a short period of time and your friends got you out of that dark place. What is the point of ruminating on something that happened so long ago…something that never even came to fruition?"
Ben didn't have anything to say about that. He was all worried about something that just never happened. He talked to Ty Lee and now he just realized that it never even happened. Why was he so worried?
"Ben, you've got to stop this." Ty Lee murmured. "You've been stuck in the past for far too long and you must let it go. That is how the Sith Lord got you, that is the trap you keep on falling in. You must let go and learn from your mistakes."
Ben wanted to say that it wasn't that easy. That the demons of his past forever haunted him. That if they didn't come for him in his nightmares or psychosis, they would come for him in reality…Arya and Rowan. Yet, she brought his face back towards her. His eyes along her own as she steeled with him a resolve, he didn't expect Ty Lee to hold.
"You must be better. You can't just be Benjamin Wilum, Benjamin the Guardian, or even Benjamin the Jedi Watchman. You've been through such horrible things Ben, but you must be more than what you are…you have to become a better man and learn to let go of the past. To make peace with it."
Ty Lee, Meetra, Ulic and the rest of those that have came and went along this journey have said the same thing. He had been whiny, arrogant, prideful and in the end, it had done nothing for him. He chooses to blame others for his problems and failed to see how in the end he needed to make peace with his past and move on with his life.
That was the only true way he could make amends and gain his redemption. Ty Lee was right, he had to become more than what he was and be better. Not as a Jedi, but solely for himself. And it couldn't be like before, he couldn't half ass his situation. He had to get a grip on himself. He had to learn from his past, to take in the lessons…and then let the dark parts go. Keeping the positive lessons and pushing forward for the upcoming battles and tribulations ahead.
When the world takes something from Ben. He would need to learn to let it go and learn healthy techniques to heal the loss and make peace with it. That was who Benjamin needed to become.
Ty Lee and Ben parted after those words. Red faced from the intimate encounter. "So, what are you planning on doing?" He muttered, breaking from the awkward atmosphere.
"What…want me out so quickly." She joked.
Ben shook his head. "No, I just want to know what your plans are right now. Do you wish to stay with us? I know how rough this journey was and…"
She cackled. Shocking Ben as she slowly wiped the tears clean from her face. "No, Ben. Obviously not, the Fire Nation and the Sith must be stopped. If not us, then who?" Those words brought a smile to Ben's own face. His eyes drawing towards he. "But, I think, I am ready." That fiery determination sparked at those words. The noble girl's eyes drifting with pure power. "I need to get stronger Ben. Not only for myself, but to protect those that I care for. I need to learn how to use my abilities."
Ben slowly nodded. Wrapping his arms around himself. "Is this something you truly wish for, Ty Lee?"
Ty Lee slowly nodded. "I have nothing left, I got nothing to lose from learning."
Ben rose his hand, silencing her completely. "That's not true. Everyone here in team avatar cares for you…even Jet I bet."
She slowly smiled. "Yet, that doesn't change anything. For the longest time I've felt ashamed of my abilities and felt like a freak. But now I know that maybe there is a reason to use them, that maybe the force is directing my hand to aid others. I wish to learn the force and walk the path of the Jedi."
Such determination shone within her eyes like vibrant pilot lights full of energy. He looked upon her and saw nothing but pure unbridled certainty. She may have lost her family today, but she would never be alone. For she was blessed with comrades and the force.
"Alright, then. Guess it's settled." Ben spoke.
Ty Lee staring at him. "Wait, that's it?"
"No, we still got the whole process of waking you up to the force and formerly teaching you. But we really should head out soon before a fire nation patrol zones in on us. Also, I want a nice dinner and a new set of fresh clothes due to my armor and stuff being ruined."
Ben was about to walk away, his feet leading towards the clearing where Appa and the rest of team avatar had gathered but he stopped mid step. His leg rising, then falling in the next movement as he turned back to Ty Lee.
"Something wrong?" She questioned.
Ben slowly shook his head, walking back over towards her. "No, I just forgot. If you're walking the path of the Jedi you're going to need something more. Your chi blocking isn't going to cut it…"
"Really…" She stated. Dropping into a false fighting stance. "I got that one Sith good though. You saw that look upon her face…"
Ben let out a good laugh from the joke, but as Ty Lee was getting back into her normal stance, she looked upon him. His hand going towards her belt. Strangely, now there were two differing lightsaber hilts along his belt and even stranger he unclipped one from his belt. He extended it towards Ty Lee. "What is this?" She asked.
"My old lightsaber. During the siege of the north, Ruin stole it. I'd like you to have it." Ben explained. Ty Lee staring at the cylindrical hilt, her eyes darting to the allure of the bronze and alloy metal under the trickling orange sun.
Yet, hesitation followed in her movements. Her eyes gazing off from the hilt as they drifted back to Ben. "Why me?"
"Why you?" He repeated, a chuckle emptying from the absurd question. "Why not? You've proven yourself countless times in battle, you've helped redeem me, and you've been a wonderful addition to our team. You earned it, you're on your way to becoming a Jedi Knight and you'll need it. Mostly, though, I want you to have it…"
Ty Lee stared at the weapon for a while longer as Ben's own thoughts began to whirl. Let go of the past. He repeated, that shimmering violet blade was the last thing he saw before oblivion. Forever ingraining itself into its psyche and seeing it before used by Darth Ruin or using it once again during his initiation filled him with anger at the sight.
Yet right now he didn't feel anything. It wasn't Ruin's or a Sith tool. It was his first lightsaber, the lightsaber that belonged to the old Ben that had crashed upon this world and needed a weapon to aid him in protecting the avatar.
But he chooses to let go…to differ the item from his memories and by giving this weapon to Ty Lee. It symbolized both the dawn of the new Ben and the rise of another Jedi. Ty Lee took the weapon from Ben. Holding the blade in her sole right hand as Ben began to walk away. "I'm going to head back. Come back when you want to join us okay." He spoke.
Ty Lee didn't nod or say anything, but she heard his words. Gripping Ben's old lightsaber. No, her lightsaber with both hands as her thumb went to the activation button. A brilliant amethyst blade enveloping her surroundings as she stared at the violet beam of pure plasma.
Her eyes sinking into the bright violet allure as she slowly smiled at the sight. Giving a couple of careful practice swings as she clicked the same button as the blade vanished into the hilt. Clicking the lightsaber to her belt as she gave one last final look. 'Let go of the past…' She thought. Taking her own words to heart as she began to race to catch up to Ben. Lightly calling out to him to wait up as the dawn of there journey was going to continue.