Author Note: Yo! Thanks for reading. This chapter is pretty...ok in my opinion. Still, feeling pretty sick and overall tired but still wanted to update the story. Likewise, I have another author note for you to read after this chapter is done. Also, the next chapters are going to be really good. I've been waiting MONTHS to write these ones. I cannot wait to start. More Ben character growth, awesome character moments, etc. I cannot wait! Please read the Author Note on the bottom of this chapter after you are finished reading, it's sorta an explanation for my writing style for this fic. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. It greatly helps with my motivation. Have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 53

The air was thick with blood. The lingering scent a mixture of bronze and coin that dangled loosely along the nostrils of those present. Tents lined up like dominos that were ripped to shreds or simply flattened by paws.

Earth Kingdom refugees would come together in bands. Hoping that within their companionship and numbers they would be able to avoid the fire nation war machine and discern any bandits along the way.

They planned to go to Ba Sing Sai to start over, to begin again. Yet, it had all went to hell right towards the end…those monsters, those spider rats that Team Avatar encountered were a multi habitat species, and unfortunately for them, they were hungry.

The large spider rat's jaws unlatched, seeping with blood. Corpses decorated along the horizon as they clamped and sunk their teeth along the tether of human muscle and skin. Yet, there was one that opposed the pack.

Suki, the girls face displaying none of the makeup. Brandishing her green outfit as she clutched onto her gushing would that pour down her left shoulder. On the other held a simmering sword of fire.

She didn't like using swords but rather the fans she has grown used to ever since her training…but the beast feared fire and she needed to fight back. She threw a sideways glance behind her. Seeing the family.

As a warrior she failed to protect the small group she was helping usher to the walled city. Yet, she would be damned if she would let these beasts lay even a singular finger on the pregnant woman. A family of three, the father Than, the mother Ying and his sister.

Even if she was meant to fall here, she wouldn't give these beasts a single morsel. Her teeth gnashed together, her eyes darting with a dangerous gleam that shot along her eyes as she whirled the blade of fire as the beast darted backwards from the harsh flames.

"Back!" She screamed. Her fingers tightening along the sword as she swung forward, feeling the pressure of muscle as the tip of her weapon struck along one of the trios of beast. "I won't let you touch them!" She growled.

Still, she began to realize how little of a promise that truly was going to be. More beast appeared, rising from the tents as they had finished what they were eating. Some merely smelling the heavy stench of blood and heard her war screams.

Yet, as hope began to dwindle and slowly steep into her heart…she saw it. Like a blur comping across her mind's eye as she witnessed it. She heard the snapping hiss of an item; she saw the blur of a brilliant beam of blueish green fire.

Ben…

The young Jedi now brandishing his newly colored blade. A brilliant aqua marine in which once belonged to the prior grand master of the Jedi Order within this world. Yet now it was freshly attuned to himself making it an even deadlier weapon than before.

Ben gripped the weapon with both hands, a blur of martial might that even Suki was shocked to witness. Like a wave, a flurry of attacks as Ben twisted his fingers along the weapon. The lightsaber carrying like a brilliant wave as it met its mark along the beast as they fell along the Jedi Outcast feet.

Ben letting out a tired breath as Suki and the family watched him jaw struck at the pure brilliance of his attack. Letting out a tired breath of fresh air as he whirled around towards them. "Everyone okay?"

The question simply rousing them as they slowly nodded. Ben sparking a smile as he whirled around hearing his friends slowly join the scene. He could hear the crack of Aang's staff as it created a whirl of air bending, Katara's water whip, Toph's earth bending. Likewise, the ignition of many lightsaber blades.

It didn't take long for the spider rats to fall under team avatar's might. Still, things were still for naught. Many people had died before they were able to come to the rescue. Ben watched as he twirled around towards the girl. "Your wounds, I can tend to them." He spoke.

The girl letting out a slightly relieved breath of air. Suki, she had thought moments ago that she was about to die. Slowly dropping the blade of fire to the ground as she took a seat. Ben slowly going behind her as he ripped a piece of fabric from a tent as he slowly began to administer basic first aid.

"What happened here?" He asked.

Suki letting out a forced chuckle. "What didn't happen." She slowly turned around. Not seeing action register on Ben's face. Letting out another tired sign as she began to slowly reel from the shock. "We were trying to make it to the serpent's pass. Many refugees don't have passports or the money to go through ferry. So, they make the dangerous trek in groups to deal with the dangers ahead."

Ben's eyes slowly narrowed…he had seen such things before. He slowly whirled his eyes towards the family that this woman protected. "Ba Sing Sai, you're going there, right?"

Suki slowly nodded her head as Ben finished wrapping the bandage around her arm. "Well guess your in luck. I am Benjamin, I am a Jedi Watchman assigned to protect the avatar."

Her eyes widening, remaking on the cylindrical hilt of fire. She remembered all that time ago…Sokka. Her heart slowly beating faster as she remembered the warrior boy. That was when it happened, she saw him.

She was already on her feet. Her arms slowly wrapping around his body as he shuddered in response. Yet, he figured out who it was. "Suki…" He slowly spoke her name. His own arms wrapping around her body.

"The Serpent's Pass…"

The words flew from Ben's mouth as they laid out one of the refugee's maps. There eyes going along the map as his finger traced down the intricate paths. It was within the mountain regions of the earth kingdom and from what he could understand was surrounded by two big bodies of water.

It swarmed from all sides and there seemed to be only one way through…a small clump of what could possibly be swam through or with a powerful water bending teacher can possibly be bended through. Ben snickered at the thought, it seemed dangerous…but what part of their journey wasn't.

"How you guys feeling about this one?" He questioned.

His team's eyes sparking to life. Jet's own slinking as his own finger traversed along the map. His dark brown eyes going across it. "I think we can do it." He spoke. He shrugged his shoulders as he finished his observations. "If we don't linger too far and are not noticed by any fire nation patrols, we can get through."

Ty Lee nodded along with her peer. "Yeah, I think so too."

Aang, Katara, Toph all nodding there head along. They understood the stakes. Yet, Sokka slowly rose from his seat. "Are we seriously sure about this one, guys?

Ben slowly watched Sokka's movements, feeling his ebbing within the force. He slowly scratched the back of his head as he averted their gaze, there was something up. Sure, sometimes Sokka would be the most well headed person in the whole group and would usually stop them from doing anything relatively stupid,

But this didn't come from a place of caution, but rather fear. Ben could feel it, driving like a fingernail along the edge of a white board. Like the hum of a freshly started star fighter. Sokka was afraid of something, but the real question was…what?

"Sokka, we got to get to Ba Sing Sai. To alert the Earth King about what is going to come so we can assemble an army to attack the fire nation, also to find Appa." Aang spoke.

It was no secret that Aang wanted to go and find Appa…maybe that was why when Suki rose. "Appa." She slowly repeated the word. "We found him a long while ago."

Aang's eyes lit up, grabbing the girl with both hands as his own eyes locked along her own. "Where!" He practically screamed at her face. Yet, after a second, he realized the way he was acting. Slowly letting go of her as he made some distance away.

She slowly rubbed her messed up arm. Her eyes going towards the ground. "We did find him. He was bruised and battered. We nursed him back to health but…" Her lips tightened, her eyes sparking with regret. "Then, they came. Azula and a couple of Dark Jedi. Sure, we battled against Dark Jedi before but these two were something completely different."

She slowly closed her eyes. Still hearing the simmering crimson, the hum of the blades as they cleaved through her warriors like butter. "A boy with dark blondish hair, he used his own weapon to slice through my comrades. It was a lightsaber, a true crimson one. Yet, that wasn't the only thing about him…he had this grossly pale skin, and his arm was all messed up. Had bits of machine and metal within it and…"

Ben's eyes instantly perked up. His heart tightening as he already knew…Rowan. His lips tightened as he gnashed his teeth. Rowan and Arya, he had let them live after he had cleaved off his arm and knocked out Arya. Yet was this a mistake?

They were friends and he did wish to believe that they would seek redemption if he spared them. Yet, the complete opposite had happened. Instead of leaving the Sith Rowan had a new limb reforged and was now in the Earth Kingdom killing people again. Likewise, Arya was aiding him by his side.

His heart throbbed. Still, even he knew the stark and bitter truth of these sudden revelations. He could still remember those days, those brilliant days along the edge of the Jedi Enclave. The way the sun poured down onto them, there laughter, the way the force flowed through them during evening meditation.

A faint smile began to unconsciously dart along his lips. When did things began to diverge? Wasn't it Arya and Rowan who were meant to be the next great champions of the Jedi Order…why did they still clutch to these New Sith?

Yet, he felt a pair of fingers wrap along his shoulder. Slowly rising as he saw Katara's dark blue eyes peering down at him. She knew, the turmoil he was facing deep within. Yet, he let it out. Slowly taking a deep breath that helped cleanse the ruminating thoughts as his eyes slowly locked along Celeste.

"Morne, how about you…"

Ben's voice sparked. Yet, Celeste didn't speak, her eyes widening as she turned towards him. Still, he felt it. Like the sliver of a cold knife riding along the base of his skin. His eyes widening as that brink of force energy, almost like standing within the whirling of a cold cyclone was willing to consume him.

Celeste's eyes burned a deeper red, for a second, she radiated with pure dark side energy. Such a whirling storm along side her, but only for a second. Ben's fingers slowly draped over the alloy metal of his blade. Yet…

They just as quickly turned back to normal. Those brilliant cyan eyes staring down at him as sweat went down both of there faces. If the lingering feeling of the dark side of the force wasn't still fresh within his system, then he would've chalked it up as a trick of the light.

Celeste slowly nodded. "Yes, going through the pass seems to be our only option."

With those final words, even with Sokka's continued disapproval. Team Avatar now aided by Suki and the family began to walk away. Grabbing whatever leftover supplies was not trampled over or destroyed as they began to make there way towards the serpents pass in which untold dangers possibly awaited them.

It had taken hours for them to arrive here. Passing through the desolate mountain tops as they pushed through the harsh winds and hard stone. Maneuvering around any fire nation navy patrols, they were able, halfway through making it to the middle of the Serpents Pass to make camp.

The full moon gave off a pitching brilliant white glow. Yet, many lounged around the camp yet there was few that were dealing with there own tribulations. Celeste Morne, a Jedi Master of the republic that was branded with a powerful Sith Artifact.

Locked in stasis until the Jedi would find a cure or a safe way to remove the amulet. Yet, Mandalorian crusaders bombed the planet. A piece of asteroid containing her within was lost deep within space and she was eventually thrown into a black hole.

Crashing upon this world with no way or no hope of ever going back towards her galaxy she kept herself underground and in a Jedi trance so Muur wouldn't get control. Turning any bandits or evil doers into Rak Ghouls so she would never be discovered…yet that all changed when she met him.

Muur lingered at the edge of the camp. Large clumps of sweat bearing down her face as her breath grew hollow and tighter, the amulet had grown tighter around her. Emotionally, mentally, and even physically if felt harder each day to resist the temptation.

Yet, if she lost control…if she allowed herself to be killed the Sith Lord would simply seek a better host. No, he would conquer this world and pave in a greater age of darkness that wouldn't compare to what these Dark Jedi or Fire Nation was willing to make.

"Your losing control and soon this new world, with no Jedi Order shall be mine." Muur whispered into her ear. Celeste's grip on her throat tightened as her shoulder connected to an adjacent rock. Slightly leaning along it as her breath grew heavier.

"Master Morne?"

The voice shocked her. Slowly snapping herself towards attention as she whirled around to be greeted by a pair of dark brown eyes. Jet, the young Jedi apprentice staring at her. "Are you alright?"

Morne gazed upon him for a second. Yet, she let out a stifled groan as she pushed herself off the rock. Wiping the plastered dark hair that went along her face. "No, I am not."

She wasn't going to lie to him, he wasn't a child…he was a future Jedi in a great war. Lying to him would do no good.

"Muur and the talisman. The dark side presence of this world is slowly empowering him, and I do not know how long I can control it for." She answered truthfully.

"What?" Jet snapped. "That doesn't make any sense."

"This world has been plagued by warfare for nearly a full century. Likewise, this world is full of powerful Dark Jedi that swarmed this world. Muur is merely taking strength from the world's misery, I am powerless against it."

Jet had used the dark side many times to heal his friends. Still, he had never felt anything within the whole cusp of the world or heard anything from it from his master. Could such a thing truly be possible?

"Muur cannot be allowed a willing or weak host. If he is allowed too then this world would be doomed. Even with the combined powers of the avatar at full power and a strong Jedi like Ben, there won't be anything that can stop him."

Muur tried to think of all the options. Muur's talisman was sentient and held zero perfections. She couldn't just toss herself into a lava or acid pit in hopes of destroying it rather…zero perfections?

The words repeated in the base of her head. "Jet, you are gifted within the shatter point ability, are you?" Jet slowly nodded his head with the question. For a second her eyes glistened, yet a darkness slowly undertook them. "Then this talisman, what do you see?"

Jet slowly reached out his perceptions. Feeling the whirl of force energy, the darkness that etched and embed around Celeste. He fixated on the Muur Talisman, his eyes slowly closing but he could feel it…he could see it!

Red lines that sprouted, they were intricate and convoluted but he wasn't focused on healing rather the destruction of the talisman. If he was able to get the talisman off Celeste and was able to resist Muur's influence, then he could destroy it by pouring force energy within those cracks.

"A few red lines, I can shatter them and destroy it." Jet spoke. Confidence and assurance radiating in his voice.

Then it happened, for the first time he had ever seen…Celeste smiled. Her fingers going towards her throat as she slowly touched upon the cool gold that made up the amulet. "Then, Muur shall die with me."

Jet's eyes just snapped open. "What, no!" His voice rose slowly shaking Celeste. "Shall die with you…if I destroy the talisman then…"

"A sacrifice, I will die but Muur's evil shall die with me." Her steel blue eyes snapped towards Jet. Instantly silencing him. "Jedi, if I was to fall would you refuse to kill me and allow Muur to take over this world?"

Jet hesitated, his arms slowly dropping as he didn't know. Sure, they had known Celeste for a short period of time, but did he truly hold the strength to kill her?

She wasn't a dark jedi, but rather the last of the Great Jedi that took upon the talisman to protect the world. She was noble, brave, and selfless. Did he really hold the heart to kill her?

Yet, she saw his discomfort, she felt his confusion. Taking a heavy breath as she began to walk away. "Remember, Jet. That there is no death, only the force. Such sacrifices are needed to protect the world from these dark forces."

With those final parting words Celeste was gone. Jet taking a heavy breath of his own as he leaned his back on the adjacent rock. His own thoughts whirling out of control. He thought back upon Celeste words of there not being any death and only the force.

The parts of sacrifice and how even within her…she was willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. No, not only her. The Jedi of this world had sacrificed themselves to preserve it against the Sith. Yet could he do something so noble, could he willingly commit such an act?

With those parting thoughts he slowly closed his eyes. Taking in the harsh night air as the whirling spree of time slowly traveled.

Aang's eyes gazed across the riverbed. Slowly simmering as the young Avatar was wretched, feeling like a knife was twisting deep within the base of his gut as he was forced to come to terms with the words Suki had spoken.

Appa, his best friend…he was gone, hopefully flying right now to Ba Sing Sai. Sure, he was relieved to know that he was safe but there was still a lingering feeling within his chest that was willing to consume all of his other feelings.

Guilt, his hand went around the fabric of his shirt. Gripping along his chest as he let out a deep breath. His mind twirled back to when they came upon the valley of the jedi. He had lingered along the entrance waiting for his friends to venture deeper within.

Even though there was a whirling sandstorm outside that would've sucked him deep into the vortex, his mind was somewhere completely else. So distracted by Appa that he practically lost all of his sense. Looking back, he doubted he would've found Appa and he would've returned. Yet, the chances of him surviving the hell of the desert all alone…

Once again, he would've abandoned the world when they needed him the most. Just like with the other airbender when he ran away…lost and encased within ice. But this time he doubted he would've lived. Once again, he would've abandoned the world.

Grimacing he slowly clenched up his fist. His eyes directing harsher as…

"What's got you all mad?"

Ben's voice slowly roused Aang as Ben's footsteps slowly made there way towards Aang. Walking over towards the Avatar's side as he took in the view. Reveling in the cool crisp air of the beach. Taking a moment to turn towards his friend.

"Aang, I am not a fool. I can feel your turmoil within the force. What's wrong?" Ben asked.

Aang knew he couldn't hide from Ben; the force was strong within him, and he would soon find out or worse…get Katara to pester him until he revealed what was bugging him.

"I was thinking back to that time in the desert. Right before you stopped me, I was letting my emotions get in the way." He slowly spoke. Grabbing his head with his sole right arm, his face twisting into a grimace. "I was such an idiot. I could've died and the world would've been doomed, I gave into my feelings and I…"

"Yeah, it was pretty stupid." Ben spoke, interrupting the avatar with the slight jab. Aang slowly watching him as he stopped speaking. "Listen, Aang. You didn't go out there and get yourself hurt. You were reeling from something bad happening and I knew that you wouldn't be okay, I saw you out of the corner of my eye and I wasn't going to allow you to do something stupid."

"That's not the point, I was planning on doing it. Don't you realize that if you weren't there then I would've…"

Ben shrugged his shoulders once again. "But I was there, Aang. There is no world or universe in which I wasn't there to stop you from doing something stupid. You're worrying about something that never came to fruition, you can't keep on holding guilt over yourself that doesn't belong to you."

Ben knew, he knew what was eating up Aang from inside. Because he felt it before. He wanted to black out his emotions…or worse give into the rawer ones. That was how he fell to the dark side again and ran away. He wouldn't allow such a thing to happen to Aang.

"Then what else can I do…"

Ben slowly shook his head, wrapping his arms around himself as he stared upon the avatar. "Move on with your life. Keep on putting one foot in front of the other until we find Appa, but don't lose sight of your responsibilities and goals."

Those words strike like a match along his heart. Slowly reigniting it…yes, he was selfish, but it wasn't the end. Now, he had a choice. He could keep on sulking and wasting his time and feeling bad for himself or he could grow up. Recognize his mistakes and push on ahead.

With those parting words he was alone now…registering his thoughts as the dawn of the new day was ahead.

Sokka's own eyes lingered along the edge of the beach. His heart hammering along his chest as Suki's own began to fade away. He had such a beautiful girl in front of him but…

His memories drew back to Yue. There last goodbye as there city slowly were destroyed by fire nation volleys as the girl sacrificed herself for him. His mind reeling, his ears echoing with the sound of her voice. He thought that the wound was gone, that he was slowly recovering from it. Yet, his encounter with her in the jungle reawakened them.

Letting out a tired and stifled groan, he was even more shocked to hear a pair of footsteps slowly approaching him. "Hey, Sokka." Ty Lee spoke. Slightly rubbing the back of her neck. "I wasn't trying to practice with my lightsaber and…"

"Oh god." Sokka huffed, his fingers going towards his eyes.

Ty Lee had been there the whole time. The girl in the beginning was originally just trying to find herself a nice place to train and meditate but had uncomfortably caught herself within the lovers quarrel.

"I'm sorry." She apologized. Still, Sokka slowly waved it away.

"It's fine, honestly." He let out. "Still, it feels weird you know. It's been so long after Yue but…"

"The wound is still there." Ty Lee finished.

She slowly walked over towards Sokka's side. The warrior and her both peering along the edge of the ocean. "So, how are you and Ben doing?"

"What!" She erupted, quickly getting red faced.

Sokka lightly chuckling to himself. "Seriously, I see how you two are together. It's good to see Ben smile when your together."

Ty Lee slowly fixed herself, her cheeks still a brilliant cherry red…though, there was something else. A relative sadness within Sokka's gaze. "Listen, Ty Lee. Me and Yue, we had something really special. I know that I am young, and I have to move on, but take it from me…that you can't wait for a perfect moment. Because before you know it all the times you have shared will be gone."

Ty Lee's mouth slowly gaped, the warrior letting out a tired breath as his own heart throbbed of thinking about the girl that gave up her life for them all. It was best not to think about it for too long, a man's thoughts can lead him to the darkest of places.

So, Ty Lee stood there for what felt like forever, her thoughts whirling of the future and the present. What was going to come. She thought of Ben…her friend, her instructor…something more was there. The real question was, if her and Ben had the courage to act on their desires.

"Grass, finally!" Toph screamed, happy to finally be out of the desert and likewise out of the serpents pass. The Earth bender happy to finally not be surrounded by either desert or water anymore.

There boots clamped against it, as they all saw it. There eyes widening with a brilliant allure as they witnessed it. A massive camp site, arrays of tent arranged like dominos each as numerous fires from campfires darted along the scene.

Green Earth Kingdom flags flown along the whiz of air as Team Avatar could only slowly watch. Numerous people, refugees and soldiers filled the camp as Team Avatar swiftly advanced. There eyes glistening as for the first time they could see the true and full might of the Earth Kingdom fighting force.

The refugees and Suki said their goodbyes as Team Avatar slowly began to make their own way towards the entrance of the camp. There eyes glistening as they approached the toll. The soldier stopping them. "Please state your name and purpose, for the camp books."

Ben approached. "My name is Benjamin; I am a Jedi Watchman, and this is the Avatar."

The Earth Bender's eyes widened, his gaze directing towards Ben's belt and towards Aang's arrow as he slowly turned over to his companion. A couple of hushed whispers and a couple of nods from both guardsman as he swiftly turned back towards the team.

"Good, the avatar and the Master Jedi are here." He slowly took off his helmet as a mound of dark hair came out of his helmet. "We can use the help of both."

"What's the problem?" Katara questioned.

The guardsman's eyes locked towards Ben. "We have been here for nearly a full week. Haru, he is our commander and we've been with him ever since the Siege of The North. He led us here through the pass and assigned me to look over the refugees and other conveys that pass."

Haru, his first apprentice. It had been months ever since the Siege of The North and the last time they had ever seen the other. Ben's lips tightened as he felt the turmoil that was deep within him. "Haru, what happened?"

The Officer slowly tightened his grip, his eyes darting towards the floor. "We have been here for a whole week, we found something deeper within the countryside and Haru stayed to investigate, but he found something there."

The guardsman's eyes locked upon Ben, whispering words that could hardly be heard. Yet, Team Avatar saw him, the young Jedi nearly falling to his knees as he needed Aang to hold him up. Terror and sweat building up as it was clearly displayed over his face.

"Ben, what's wrong…what happened to Haru!" Sokka yelled.

Yet, Ben gave them all a steel and horrified glare. His eyes widening as they all lurched back. Ben parting with words that they never wanted to hear.

"Haru, has fallen to the Dark Side."

Author Note

Note: Alright, basically I don't have much time to write this but here I go. I like writing fanfics and OC stories. I also like writing canonical divergences. For people that do not know a canonical divergence is when something happens differently within the overall story. There have been many times I have used divergences to keep things fresh within the story and so things won't get stale and predictable. The inclusion of more members to team avatar, numerous chapters differing in there outcomes or events, etc. Basically that is why some episodes or events have been skipped.

For example, the Blue Spirt. It's a very good episode but there is barely anything I can do to work with it. It's mostly an Aang and Zuko fixated chapter and that's all I can do, if I did write it then I would practically just be rewriting the episode with very little twist or changes. It would basically be seeing the episode in written form. Another thing to compare is my work on the Fortune Teller. Adding in a new outcome, new character motivations, etc. I can work with that because I feel that this could be something that can be changed and add onto the new stuff.

That's why for this chapter I exempted the pregnancy subplot and the serpent fight. There wouldn't be...anything really different. It would just be team avatar with more people fighting. No Dark Jedi, no new enemies. Hell, this chapter was way more dialogue focused and I feel that it served itself way better in that way for what I am doing within this fic. Showcasing the demons and regrets of team avatar instead of them actually fighting a water demon. Maybe I will come back to this chapter later on and rewrite it. But honestly I am really sick and I am still doing school work so this is the best I can do. The next couple of chapters are the ones I've been HOPEING to write for SOOOOO long. So, thanks again for reading and have a wonderful and awesome day!