Author Note Yo! Sorry for the long wait. Stuff has been really hectic and writers block has been pretty active. This was meant to come later but I felt that instead of the chapter I was working on before that this one would be better coming out now. Number 1 because I felt it would be important to deal with the Rowan and Arya and the aftereffects of Ben's betrayal. Number 2 to also get this chapter out would be easier than the other one. On the Brightside chapter 50# is already halfway done and should be able to be updated soon. Alright, thank you for reading and I hope you guys have an awesome day. Summer is quickly approaching and hopefully I will still be able to write frequently. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation in writing chapters and my frequency in updating. Have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 49

Darkness…

It filled Rowan's eyes. His body, sinking. Further into that deep abyss as he felt the whirling of consciousness drift in all directions. Just like before, when they had escaped from Dantooine during Malak's bombardment.

Him and Arya were able to slice into one of the many small Jedi Starfighters and escape. Yet, they were chased…hunted.

There small shuttle getting blasted as they hit hyperspace and were flung into a portion of space. A sink hole, some electromagnetic portal in deep space. They were flung into it like a rock along a tornado.

The darkness, slinking in all directions as they held each other in fear of what was going to come. The machines, later they would learn that the black hole fried anything that went through it. Marooning anything that either went in or out.

Rowan's eyes widened. Thrashing around in the brackish waters as coarse memories began to sear through him. Vibrant flashes of light traveling through his mind's eye as he began to remember what happened. Ben turning on them a second time, using the force to hurl Arya away…the searing pain of his right arm being cleaved.

Simmering hot rage blazed deep within him. His heart hammering along his chest like the pounding of war drums as he threw himself forward. His eyes breaching the surface as his mouth unlatched. Air quickly filled his lungs as he rose. Throwing his left arm over the side as he used all his strength to throw himself the rest of the way.

His breathing echoed within his ears. His heart beating a million miles per hour as he used his good arm to push away the brown goldish locks of hair from his face. Yet, his eyes began to zone in on his surroundings.

He had hardly been in this area before. However, he had seen it a couple of times due to bruises or cuts caused from missions. He was in the healing faculty within the Sith Academy. He could see the dark stone walls, the eroded and filled cracks that reeled with dark side power.

He was in a healing tank. Filled with malignant water blessed with dark side alchemy and the dark side of the force. He coughed out the tasteless gunk. His breath rising as he sat along the floor in a more comfortable position as he knew…

Letting out a deep breath he began to move his hand. Yet, it responded. His eyes widening at the discovery as…

His heart dropped. Chambering along his head like a fierce windchime as he looked upon his arm. No, rather the abomination of a human limb.

His arm didn't match his skin, a pale grey. Completely and utterly revolting. The missing limb was now replaced with a bio-organic arm. His fingers had been replaced with artificial claws with blades sharp enough to cut bone. His wrist and forearm were an amalgamation of flesh and machine. Disgusting was the only word he could speak of…

He rose his fingers. Lightly tightening it within a fist as they beckoned to his command. "Relax, Dark Jedi. The healing process isn't complete and if you put too much strain far too early, then you may very well cause the limb to reject you."

Rowan launched himself upright. His eyes scanning the darkness as he looked upon it, trying to find the specter that was speaking. She emerged from the darkness. Almost like the shadows heeded her command.

The long-robed figure, the cowl covering her head but her orange eyes visual to see. She gazed upon him as Rowan knew who it was instantly. "Master…"

He lurched to the floor. Kneeling to one of the members of the Sith Triumvirate, Sith Lady Jax. The old woman's eyes slunk along his frame. "Enough, Dark Knight."

Rowan rose as his lips parted. "What happened, while I was gone…is Arya okay?"

The Sith Lord nodded her head. "The woman is fine, honestly your injuries were far more severe than hers." She lightly cocked her head towards his arm. Rowan's gaze slowly traveling as his fingers on his left arm interlocked along the smooth metal and the coarse graft of false skin. "Yet, your arm…it was crushed under the debris and was unsalvageable. Though, this one shall be far greater and stronger."

Rowan's mouth unlatched like a feral dog. Spit frothing as vibrant flashes of hate traveled within his movements. Ben's crimson bladed lightsaber, aimed at him…the searing pain that carried with it.

His breath grew louder. His heart hammering along his chest. Ben, he was always the last of them…always the weakest. The council decided that he was weak, and he was a pariah within the academy.

Arya…she always dragged him along with them, and there were times where he and Ben would get along. Yet, he never wanted to be around him. He always did it for her, for Arya. 'Why couldn't you just have stayed dead. You survived both the Mandalorian and the Civil War. You crash landed on this world and evaded death like the rat you were.'

Jax looked upon him, feeling the waves of passions that were deep within him. Anger, hate, jealousy…powerful emotions that would give him strength if used correctly. She looked upon him and saw it…the eyes of the Sith.

His once blueish eyes starting to warp. Searing with the dark side of the force as he peered at the floor. The orange eyes, Jax and many masters within this world wondered why so many of the force sensitives here had very rarely ever attained such levels of deterioration.

They read the legends and the histories. There were theories that possibly due to the lack of knowledge of the Jedi and the lack of challenges have led the Sith to grow arrogant and lazy. Too confined within their power but as she looked upon this one…she began to understand why Ruin has favored him and the woman.

She wasn't a fool, and she could feel the jealousy emanate within him. She saw the way Arya looked upon Ben…the way she longed for him, how she craved his attention…his touch. The way she worried when he fought the champion during the initiation.

Men and woman…difficult things. Yet, she saw upon the way Rowan looked upon Arya. Such things like love would not be allowed within the Sith. Such emotions could limit the user's powers, but Rowan didn't just feel love, but jealousy was carried within his movements.

She was his…and maybe he looked at their situation as being his "chance" of being with her. Outside of the Jedi Order, and now powerful members of the Sith maybe this was his chance. Yet, the Sith Woman didn't care.

"Return to your healing tub and immerse yourself within a hibernation trace. That is the only way you can heal." She lectured.

The Sith Lady spoke those final words. She didn't speak of the boy's jealousy or harsher emotions. It didn't matter towards her. She felt his rage and hate, that would be enough to carry him. Bearing the true eyes of the Sith would also show promise.

'Good, if Benjamin does truly test them. Then they shall become far greater than they ever were…' She hummed within her thoughts.

Exiting out of the hallway. Yet, seeing a blur of reddish hair in a blur as they traveled past her side. Arya had appeared. Instantly taking a knee in front of Rowan as she looked upon him. "Rowan, are you okay!"

She screamed, her voice filled with worry and hesitation. A vibrant blush forming along Rowan's face as he quickly threw up a smile. Yet, it quickly lost its gleam as Arya's fingers brushed along his hand. The metallic feeling sending off powerful nerves that streamed towards his brain.

A wound that would never heal…another thing that Benjamin took from him. His lips tightened, slowly taking a deep breath as he knew what he had to do.

Strong…he always had to be strong. Arya, she didn't have the strength, the will to go on like this. She never was Sith. Maybe that was why she never shown true emotion here. Fearful of what Lords and other peers at the academy would think.

So, he had to be stronger. Sure, there cause was truth. He believed that the Fire Nation's strength spoke for themselves. The world had been fighting for nearly a full century and they needed order. The Sith, with all their cruelty brought that order. If Ben and the avatar were dead and buried in the ground…the world would be there's.

So, what if they were of the Dark Side and a couple of innocents got caught in the crossfire. There cause was noble, and they killed for it was just. Arya and he would be the next true generation of Sith and they would rule together.

"It was my fault. If I was paying more attention to the girl, then I would've been able to stop her." She spoke. Rising as her fingers went to massage her temple.

He didn't blame her…he loved her, and he knew that she would've never allowed him to get hurt. Yet, the next words shocked him.

"If I knew, I would've been able to stop her and capture Ben…"

"Capture Ben…" Rowan repeated. A bite of bile etched along his words. Rising from the floor as he peered along her own eyes. "Ben, the same one who maimed me and threw you across the room. Knocked you unconscious."

Arya slowly wrapped her arms around herself. Averting his gaze. Yet, Rowan didn't turn away. Walking towards her side. "Ben betrayed us. Just like before during the Mandalorian Wars. Don't let your feelings distract you."

"My feelings!" Arya yelled. Her voice echoing. Rowan taken aback from the power of her voice. "How about your feelings about the Sith…this new breed that has warped us, warped you!"

Rowan grinded his teeth. Slowly shaking his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. The Sith, they promised us power and greatness and they have gave it to us in full."

"Yes, your right they gave us power. Yet, we have not done anything with this power. We hurt people…we killed innocents."

Rowan snapped his head back towards the girl. "Casualties of war…we didn't have any other option."

"Casualties?" Arya scolded. "We laid siege to villages. We burnt a whole innocent village down to lure the Avatar and Ben…the only people who are stopping the spread of the Fire Nation and the Sith. They are the true villains of this world. Don't you see?"

Rowan didn't care…not anymore. They didn't have any other option, the Sith were stronger than ever. They had exterminated all the Jedi and for nearly a hundred years they ruled in secrecy until Ben appeared.

There was no other option…or maybe that was what Rowan told himself. Yet, there was always something within him. Something that the Jedi Council failed to see, the lust for greatness.

"What of Ruin, I haven't seen him since we awakened."

Arya's scowl deepened. The young Sith Master slowly shaking her head in response. "Why do you care?"

Rowan raised his shoulders, his eyes slowly narrowing as he was beginning to get annoyed. She was acting like a fool…speaking of Ben and the Avatar like they were heroes, and their journey was one of truth. Rather, it was merely a tale of a twelve-year-old boy who abandoned the world in the time of greatest need…and a failure of a jedi, an outcast to the eternal Jedi Order. If the fate of the world resided on their shoulders, then it was already lost from the beginning.

Yet, her eyes widened as she began to realize that Rowan was being serious. "Rowan, during the duel you heard what Ruin was saying. Take your place by my side." She repeated.

Rowan slowly shook his head. "Ruin is Sith. Me and you both know that the strongest always rules over the weak…"

Arya's breath was caught within her lungs. Rowan raising his gaze back to her as she took a step backwards. "Are you kidding me?" She raised a pointed finger, aimed at his bare chest. "The Sith here are no different than the ones from our galaxy. They are murderers and assassins that are merely slinking within shadows."

She slammed her fist into the side of her head. The pain streamlining along her face as Rowan raised a hand to reach her but…it didn't respond, he couldn't reach her.

"What a fool I was…believing that they were different. Too long my eyes have been shrouded by darkness."

Rowan's eyes widened. Hearing the words come from her lips as her emerald eyes locked along his own. "What are you saying. Arya, think carefully…"

Arya grabbed onto him. Gripping his good arm with both of her fingers as she gazed upon him. Such an act would've made him blush, would've made him fall in love with the words that would've came upon her mouth. Yet, he was far too fearful…

"Let's run, let's escape and go somewhere else." She spoke. Her grip only tightening along his arm. "We can go join Ben and this avatar…we can help them on their quest."

He stared upon her fingers. Those beautiful pale fingers that intertwined within his own. His heart hammering along their silky touch as he peered at those emerald eyes of hers. It would've been so easy to just run away.

To forget about everything, to renounce the Dark Side for the woman he loved ever since childhood. They could've left for a better life. To escape the clutches of the dark side and the tyranny of the Fire Nation.

But he didn't…how long would it take for the Sith to find them. For they to come for them? For Ruin or the other dark lords to destroy them. No, the plan was already a failure before it began. Also, to join Ben?

The one that maimed him…the one that Arya fought for his attention like a starved pup trying to get on its master's good side. His teeth sunk into the base of his lip, drawing blood just as easily. His hand moving away from Arya's clutches.

The girl holding a sorrowful look along her face, the most desperate he had ever seen her. Her lips slightly quivered almost like she was going to cry. Yet, he had to do what he had to do, for her and him.

"Do you honestly believe that Ben would trust us. That him and team avatar would accept us…even if we did, they would just kill us or rather lock us away."

She shook her head. "Ben, he saved us…he let us live when he could've just killed us." She tried to explain. But Rowan wouldn't have it.

"He cut off my arm, he maimed me." He rose his hand into the air. The coarse metal and spiked claws casting off brilliant lights. Showcasing the malignant and abominable features he now was forced to bear. "He isn't the same friend who we grew up with years ago. He knows how dangerous dark siders are. Both past and present."

Arya shook her head. Turning away from him. Yet, Rowan simply advanced. "Don't let your feelings for Ben get in the way of your judgement. The Sith has offered us a home and prestige. Don't be a fool and discard such things."

"Enough…" Arya growled. He could feel the tension within the air. The way the air began to froth and tighten with energy.

Yet, Rowan knew he needed to steep deeper. He needed to expose the parts she hid deep within, the parts she hid from the Jedi Council…. those feelings that numbed at her, that sunk into her like flesh eating rats.

"If you walked the path of the Jedi…, do you honestly believe that you would be able to be with Ben?" He snapped. Arya's eyes widened, her secret. The one she brandished for years. The secret she hid away within the enclave.

She told people that she was being a good Jedi…that she was merely keeping him company, but Rowan knew better. Those times in which she and Ben joked and hung out, trifling times in which she wasted away her time with such a weak fool. She was better than that and at first, he assumed that maybe he was wrong.

Yet, he heard her stifled sobs when Ben abandoned her for the war…he felt the way she yearned for him within her memories when Sith training would be far too difficult. The way her emotions flared like a star going supernova when they came back to one another.

It disgusted him, before he didn't care. Yet, right now watching as the girl he loved was willing to throw everything away for some bastard child of filthy Mandalorian blood. It filled him with hatred so simmering he could cleave through Mandalorian Iron itself.

"Remember, the girl. She came here for Ben…before he truly fell to the dark side, but she brought him back to the light." He wrapped his arms around himself, a snicker rising from him as Arya began to understand the ramifications of what Rowan was getting at. "For a girl to break into one of the most armored and protected places in the Fire Nation. For Ben to renounce the dark side for her and to walk … the path of the light once again"

He chuckled at the words. Arya's own eyes filling with pure hatred, anger frothing from her cold glare almost like a dare for him to speak upon more words. Yet, he caught her where he wanted her.

"Ben has been an outcast for years, even before he left for the wars. Even so, now a strong man of sixteen years, especially one with a very powerful connection to the force." His head snapped as he slowly dropped his arms. Arya instinctively gazing at him, trying to get what he was coming at.

His mechanical arm slightly massaged his chin. His eyes radiating with power and danger as he began to etch in the next parts of the plan. "Ben was never a Jedi and never truly followed our code. I doubt that he would resist the temptations such relationships bring. Who knows maybe him and the girl …"

He felt it first, Arya was always stronger within the force. Until it was revealed that the Jedi were holding Ben back, she was the one believed to be the strongest. She was rumored to become the next great Jedi Master or mistress of the archives. Before he was rumored to become the next Weapon master…or who knows maybe even be elevated to grandmaster. Ben in the end would've been a failure, who knows what ditch he would've fell into. Rowan didn't care, yet they were merely dreams and wishes of another live that could never come true.

Maybe that was why he wasn't prepared for the full power behind the force push that Arya projected. Throwing him off his feet as he quickly thrown a barrier to protect his back and body from crumpling in half.

Her breath was hoarse, tears slowly streaming from her eyes as she quickly rushed to wipe them away. Arya, one who's talents resided within a powerful connection of the force. One who the Jedi Council was slowly grooming to become one of the great Jedi Masters. One that agonized and tried so desperately to hide her feelings towards the one she loved.

Rowan slid down. His hands coming to stop the fall as Arya swiftly turned away. Her footsteps aiming towards the exit as she wouldn't be here anymore. Jealousy, a proud and very poisonous emotion exploded within her head.

Horrid fantasies dreamt up within her minds eye…of Ben and that girl. Her teeth were bared as she pushed herself into the veil of darkness. Jealousy quickly turned into anger, and anger swiftly turned to hate.

The girl

She'll kill her and take Ben back with her. Whether he liked it or not he would come back to them.

She stopped at the entrance. Not turning back to Rowan as she spoke. "Lord Ruin has decided to go off on his own to deal with Ben and the rest of team avatar. Lord Fowl sent him to correct his mistakes…and the Fire Lord does not care about his reincarnation cycle anymore."

Those words came out of her mouth but before Rowan could say anything or do anything at all she was already gone. Slinking into the shadows of the Sith Academy as he let out a tired breath. He rose from the floor as he began to walk over towards the tub.

He had been out for a long time, and he needed to heed the words of the healer. Yet, he began to analyze through his situation as he began to move across the room. Lord Ruin, he had staked out alone to deal with Ben.

He saw the old Sith master's wounds and what Ben had accomplished. Maybe he was fearful…there was a powerful and distinctive difference in the Ben that was and the one that is now. Maybe the Dark Lord wanted to make sure that he wouldn't get stronger.

…or rather Lord Fowl saw this as punishment. All the initiates of the Sith could feel the air and disapproval around Fowl when he spoke of Ben but the Sith Lady and Ruin would constantly vouch for him. Willingly letting him train at the academy and even increasing his strength by giving him a proper teacher.

Yet, in the end the student turned on his teachers and now carried twice the power. Lord Fowl would have been infuriated. But right now, as Rowan slunk into the brackish depths of the water. His eyes closing as he welcomed oblivion as the force circulated along his movements he began to prepare.

He would take the role of Dark Lord…and he would kill the last of the Jedi. Yet, he didn't care if it was just or such. Such things were beneath the Sith. Now…he just wanted him to die.