Author Note: Yo! Here is chapter 58 and we are nearly up to chapter 60. We got less than 10 chapters I want to say until we are done with book 2. This chapter was kind of intense to write and was also kind of hard as well but I think it came out okay. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. Greatly helps with my motivation in writing and updating. Have a good day!
Chapter 58
The clamping of hooves carried with it a mighty dusk cloud. Team Avatar was riding horses along Haru's own battalion. After hearing how the Fire Nation was going to attack Ba Sing Sai, the home and capitol of the Earth Kingdom. The Jedi and team avatar rushed to oppose the attack.
"Woah…"
Sokka's voice slowly rose. His eyes gluing to the long fat frame that made up the drill. They could see the dust clouds of the treads, they could hear the near ear blistering sounds of the drill starting up, and they could feel within the force…the great darkness that was beginning to come.
"Sir!"
Haru's head snapped to his lieutenant. The man and his battalion riding steadily behind the team. "How are we meant to take that out?"
Haru's eyes went along the drill as the rest of team avatar's eyes followed. How were they able to take such a thing out?
Maybe, if they had time to prepare or hopefully to infiltrate it. Then maybe the option would present itself. A tick, a weakness…something they could exploit. Yet, it right there and now. Had team avatar met its match?
Yet, it was the young airbender. His finger outstretched as he traced along the drill's exterior. "We don't need to hack it apart with your lightsabers, and I don't need to go into the avatar state to deal with it." He spoke. "It's a basic earth bending lesson. We destroy it from its weak points…from within."
Light flashed between Katara's eyes, her head quickly bobbing into a nod. "Just like when Ben sabotaged Zhao's warship all that time ago."
Ben nodded along. Hearing Haru's voice rise as he quickly instructed his troops to fan out. Pick off any fire nation soldiers and to offer up a distraction.
Yet, Ben felt something alongside him. Ty Lee…the girl riding alongside him as her fingers draped over his own hand.
"No more running away…" She slowly said.
Ben nodding along with her words. 'No more running away.' He slowly repeated within his thoughts. She was right. Even though he didn't want to admit it, there have been so many times in which they either had to defend or run away.
During the Siege of The North and defending the air temples Teo and his tribe had set up in, Team Avatar rushed to defend. The Northern WaterTribe were now rebuilding after the war and Teo and his family had to leave.
Throughout their journey they were merely the defenders or had to run away due to being caught off guard or without any proper way of attack. However, this was different. Ben felt his lips tug into a smile. Not out of bloodlust, but out of exhilaration. Now they were doing it…taking the battle to the fire nation.
Now they were the ones that were going to be caught with their pants down. There was no time to despair or to fear. This ended today, and this battle would end with a win for Team Avatar. Ben returned a tight squeeze as he lurched his head forward. "Let's get close and cut our way inside. We'll deal with whatever." He spoke. "We just need to damage the vital parts of the machine. There is no way a Dark Jedi or a Fire Nation soldier can scale those walls."
With those parting words Team Avatar dispersed from the main fighting force. Losing themselves within the maddening thump of conflict. Until they were there. Underneath the right side of the drill.
"Toph, earth bend us up near it." Jet said.
Toph nodding as the ground underneath them began to shake. A small pillar that supported all their weight rose them to the side of the drill. The machine still quickly pushing past as Haru ignited his new azure blade.
The weapon streaking along the dark metal of the drill. With a couple of fierce and powerful strikes. With a well-placed air slash, the metal frame was bent in two, launched forward as team avatar rose.
The stench of coal and gas filled the air. Large frames of pillars, labyrinth like halls, and who knows what else. This was a massive piece of machinery that was most likely housing a whole battalion of soldiers ready to fight.
Ben took a deep breath. Closing his eyes as he began to try and formulate a plan, the cogs of his mind winding along. Taking a minute or two. "I got an idea. Me, Jet, and Haru will make our way to the command post. While you guys find a way to sabotage it from within."
They glossed over towards him. "What?" Katara spoke. "Why are you leaving?"
"Yeah." Sokka said. "We can use your lightsabers to hack apart metals."
Ben shook his head. "No, if there is no way to jeopardize from the interior. I'm going to sabotage it from the command post."
"Well, where is the command post?" Haru asked.
With a shrugged shoulder Ben raised his finger towards the ceiling. "Up, I guess?"
Haru let out a sigh. Some plan they were making right now. With a parted wave. The team of Jedi made their way down the hall. Latching onto the force as they hoped it would offer up some indication on where to go.
Along the labyrinth like metal halls, along the strange hum of machinery as the cogs that powered the machine filled their ears. They stopped in front of a door. Ben's hand went to the door handle as they…
They could hear the way the plates and cups fell to the floor. Ben's golden eyes going towards the long rows of cafeteria tables as the fire nation soldiers and dark jedi mingled with one another. Their eyes clinging to his own as the lantern light gave off a reflected glow along their armor.
Haru and Jet strained their eyes to see over Ben's neck. Their breath taken aback, they had just walked right into a lunch break between the Dark Jedi and Fire Nation soldiers. Ben was already on, using the force to pull his new weapon into his hand.
He sparked the weapon to life, the brilliant molten bronze glow consuming the surroundings as he tossed himself into the Niman form. Haru's own blue blade pierced by his side, as the yellow of Celeste's own was now brandished by Jet.
"Now, attack!" Ben yelled. Moving forward along another wave of darkness. Yet, not rushing to defend or to evade. Now they were the pillars of light willingly treading along this endless stream of darkness.
Just like the Siege of the North, they were together. Back then, Ben's heart was clouded, Haru's mind was obscured with a veil of grief and guilt, while Jet had only started on the path of the Jedi Knight. But now things were different.
Ben's heart was finally concluded, Haru's mind had pushed through that veil of grief and guilt, and Jet was not a fully realized Jedi apprentice. Now they were the true pillars, the last of the old…but the start of the new.
Rowan, Arya, and Cindra made their way through the halls of the drill. There boots clamping hard along the metal as the dull echo traveled. Arya and Rowan's bloodshot blades were already ignited. They had felt Ben approach along the force, even now the lingering remains of the force bond still carried an echo.
It was only Arya that could feel it with strength. To Rowan, it was another reminder of the man he needed to kill…and how close he truly was.
Cindra was moving forward. Her grandfather's blaster pistols holstered to her side. Her jetpack already refueled with the crude slick oil that came from the drill. Yet, it was the sword made from cortosis that would be her best friend.
It had been a long time, too long. But the new abilities that came from the armor and her new understanding of the equipment her grandfather entrusted her with would serve her greatly. Even though her ammo caches, explosives, and even reliable fuel were slowly running low.
'I just need to conserve it…I just need more time.' She thought. Her mind's eye took her back to that house. Seeing Ben with that blistering blade of plasma as he carved up her grandfather. She snarled as she clicked on her helmet, her grandfather's helmet.
She didn't know what it meant…to be a Mandalorian. Only getting the gist from what her grandfather told her in his final minutes and from his journals. A warrior creed, and she was the last of them.
Arya, Rowan, and Cindra approached a large clearing. The long rows of pillars and structures used to hold up the drill were displayed in front of them. They could hear it before they saw it. The long rows of water bending as it slit and cleaved through the rows of pillars.
Team Avatar rose as they heard them. "Oh no." Aang slowly spoke. His eyes going towards the Dark jedi and the Mandalorian.
Rowan's eyes zoned throughout Team Avatar. No Ben. His eyes widening as he turned towards Cindra and Arya. Unlike him, Arya already had her target sighted. Her narrowed eyes contorted into a glare as her emerald gaze locked onto Ty Lee.
"Did we, do it?" Sokka slowly murmured.
Katara nodded along. "Yeah, all Aang needs to do now is release the pressure. If that doesn't work, then we must rely on Ben's back up plan."
They began to get ready for battle…but they couldn't hear the conversation that was taking place above them.
"Cindra you help Arya clean up with team Avatar." He spoke. "I am going to try and hunt down Ben. He's somewhere around here."
Arya slowly nodded along. Only hearing Rowan halfway as her eyes were stuck to Ben. However, right before Cindra could protest. Rowan was already down the hall. His body moving through the long maze-like tunnel of the drill.
Cindra bit her lip. Her eyes going towards the Avatar and his team. Even she was taken aback, she was fire nation still…but she held no love for the Sith, and she knew the truth behind her father's death. So what?
If the Fire Nation allied themselves with the Sith for personal gains…then why should she not care for her own personal gains?
With those parting words she took off. Clicking on her jetpack as she sped through the winding tunnels of the drill's maze-like halls. Arya was the last one still standing.
"Did those two, just leave?" Ty Lee shockingly asked.
Aang nodding along as he couldn't even believe it. It was Katara that recognized the last one that was there. Arya, the girl that had manipulated her team with horrible force hallucinations and was one of the people that captured her.
"Go."
Arya's voice echoed along the large clearing. Team avatar staring at her for a whole minute. Frozen in place as they wondered if it was just a trick.
"Go?" Katara repeated. Her hand slowly going along her back to her water pouch, slowly bending the water just in case.
Arya nodded.
"So, you're just going to let us…leave?" Sokka said.
Aang himself was taken aback. Slowly lowering his staff down as Team Avatar slowly made their way towards Arya.
Aang going past her side, then Katara, then Sokka. With Ty Lee slowly lagging. Yet, Arya's eyes snapped towards her. A welling blast of force energy knocking her backwards. Ty Lee, with the art of force precognition blessing her as she had suspected something was amiss a second earlier.
She was able to tuck and roll away. Luckily able to find a place to stand still.
"Ty Lee!" Katara screamed. Team avatar rushing to oppose her as Arya didn't offer any mind or even turned her head. Even though the avatar himself was willing to fight.
"No!" Ty Lee spoke. "You guys finish the mission. I'll be fine."
Even though their hearts bickered and fought against it. The words trembled through them, finish the mission. She was right, they had bigger things to deal with right now. If the drill reached Ba Sing Sai it can spell disaster for the whole world…it can symbolize the end of the three nations, and a true fire nation victory.
"Come on, we got to go!" Sokka said. Grabbing his sister and Aang as he wrenched them away. Even though he hated this, he had to put trust in Ty Lee. Like Ben, she was also walking the path of the jedi.
Ty Lee rose. Pushing past her cloak as she gripped the weapon attached to her belt. Clicking it off as she held it with both hands, igniting the violet blade.
"Ben's weapon." Arya slowly mused.
"Yeah, he gave it to me…a gift." Ty Lee said. A small sly grin spreading across her lips. "He also gave me a nice kiss a couple of hours ago." She gibed.
Arya's eyes widened. Her heart bashing along her chest as she gripped her weapon with both hands. With a quick flourish of searing hot plasma and pure martial might. They were dueling.
The humming and clash of lightsaber blades entranced through the command post. The fire nation soldiers and engineers, shivering and trembling within their seats as they looked on ahead. Fearful of what was going to come.
The dark red metal door the only sense of safety they had, only for it to be destroyed a second later. "Attack!" The fire nation commander screamed. The old long bearded man now poised to attack…but the jedi were already on him.
Ben's new weapon. Powered by the famous jedi crystal, the Heart of the guardian. The molten bronze blade cleaved through the ranks. There bodies thudding along the metallic floor as Haru, and Jet's own weapons made short work of the stragglers.
The commander was frozen…his body trembling as he was shaking. The Jedi, here! He practically screamed within his mind. Ben lashing forward with a force augmented dash, swirling his weapon in a cleave that separated the commander's head from his body.
His body fell with a resounding thunk as the remaining fire nation solders and engineers ran quickly through the other exits. Still, they weren't after them. Ben's golden eyes went towards the control panels displayed in front of him.
A mass steel panel of dials, flickering lights, and who knows what. "How do we…" Jet was about to say right before Ben raised his left hand. The violent strands of force lightning beckoning from his palm as he blasted a powerful flurry.
The snake like tendrils wrapping along the machinery as the glasses within the dials cracked, smoke embittering from the horrible tendrils that were contorting along them. Yet, it didn't stop. The hum of the drill only growing in frequency as the team of Jedi were forced to gaze out of the window.
But there was something else. Ben's eyes widening as he saw it. A simmering crimson blade, the humming of blaster fire, and the spark of lightning. Azula, the Mandalorian girl from before…and Rowan were here!
'If Rowan is here, so is…'
His mind's eye quickly drew back to his team. Stupid, he should've left either Jet or Haru with them to keep support. Yet, he slowly shook his head. 'No, they are stronger than I think. I can rely on them to defend against Arya'
He shook the thoughts out of his head, now it was time to focus. He couldn't ruminate on the past or the information he just learned. "Jet, Haru!" The boys snapped to attention. "I want you both to go and support Katara and the rest of the team. I'll help out Aang!"
With those parting words. Ben released a powerful force push. The glass breaking into strands of fabric as he held his blade with his offhand. Kicking himself forward as he launched himself through the opening.
Haru and Jet both watched their master for a second. However, they merely shook their heads. This wasn't the first time they had seen Ben do something stupid, but in the very next moment pull out an amazing feat.
"Come on." Haru said. "We got more work to do!"
The humming of blades of plasma compacting and intertwining with one another echoed along the clearing. Ty Lee and Arya, two very powerful Jedi. Now were dueling inside of one the fire nation's most technical wonder.
Ty Lee dodged a blow, pivoting her feet as she leaped over Arya. The girl returning a fierce blow as Arya snapped her wrist back as she blocked the attack.
"You can't just dodge my blows." Arya said.
Ty Lee gripping the weapon once again with both hands. Now it was time…Arya moved forward. Ty Lee slowly narrowing her eyes as she sunk into the brief memories of what Celeste had taught her about lightsaber training.
'View your lightsaber as an extension of oneself, utilize the inherent crystal deep inside and let it flow through you.'
She could see it. Arya's weapon sending off brilliant cleaves, slashes, and cuts. The weapon traveling like a crimson wave of flashing martial might. Yet, Ty Lee slowly took a deep breath.
Ty Lee blocked the attacks. Her fingers quickly growing clammy, her breath getting more rasped and harder as she tried to focus on her connection to the force. Hoping that her inherent precognition and reflex will send off any attacks.
She had to block, and sometimes predict when a blow would be too heavy for her to wade off. Yet, the battle was going to end soon. Ty Lee knew for a fact that she couldn't win.
She was strong within the force and had made quick leaps with the art of Lightsaber dueling. But Arya had been trained by great Jedi masters ever since she was a child, her experience within the Jedi outclassed Ben who was taken in at an earlier age.
So, that was why Ty Lee focused on her defensive actions. Yet, it all had to end somewhere. Arya lashing out a powerful force push. Ty Lee feeling her legs wobble as she tucked herself once again into a ball. Rolling along the pillar of metal as she quickly took a knee to stabilize herself.
Her breath rasped and echoing as Arya held the same sentiment. "What do you think this is?" Arya spoke. Ty Lee glancing at her. "Whatever you think you have with Ben, it's not true."
Ty Lee slowly watched. Her gaze going towards Arya as she…smiled. Her facial features losing the tension of the duel and of the battle. She smiled, but not a normal one.
Ty Lee had been around people for years. Azula, before when they were kids, she would frequently get bullied by her. So, she had gotten used to identifying emotions and such…but even she was perplexed by this girl.
Her smile was twisted, almost contorted as she revealed a toothless grin. The rich crimson of her lightsaber blade blanketing her features as she stood out her left hand. Ty Lee's throat slowly growing even more rasped as her lightsaber blade slipped from her fingers.
"This is fate…the force, don't you see?" Arya questioned, even though Ty Lee was struggling to breathe under the might of her force choke. Even lifting the girl as she levitated within the air. "Before, Ben slipped from my fingers and left for the wars. I was so sad, so unbearably sad that he was gone. I was heartbroken when we thought he died…but look, he is back here."
Arya began to squeeze her fingers. Slowly feeling the life drain from Ty Lee's face as the girl began to struggle. Trying to spot anything that could hint a way out.
"Through this vast universe, me and him crashed on this world together. We can never return home…even though the Jedi Order and Sith were destroyed back in our old galaxy. Me and him can rule together here." She spoke with a fevered and manacled smirk. "I won't let him leave me again. But I can feel it within him and you, the way you look at him…"
Ty Lee grabbed onto her throat. Her legs kicking as Arya's smile twisted back into a glare. "He is mine. Look, you and he were nice for the short time you were together, but I am stronger than you…I will make this quick and soon he'll make his way back to me."
Yet, right before Arya could finish this and snap Ty Lee's neck. Putting an end to her short career as a Jedi apprentice. Ty Lee returned a smile of her own.
"Yeah, your right. You are stronger than me." She spoke with a spreading smirk. "That just meant I needed to wait for the right people to come..."
Arya felt it first. The wisping waves of powerful force sensitives coming towards her location. Instantly dropping Ty Lee back to the floor as the girl began to cough. Not even a second later the girl rose her blade to defend.
A lone yellow lightsaber blade whirred and hummed as it clashed along Arya's own. The girl wrenching the blade away as it went straight into the air. Not before Jet force leaped overhead. Gripping the weapon once again as the freedom fighter moved to protect his jedi peer.
Ty Lee coughed as she turned towards Jet. "That…was…a close…one." Her rasped voice bellowed. Force pulling her lightsaber into her hand. Reigniting the weapon as she rose to her feet.
Haru moved. His own weapon clashing along with Arya's. "We take what is given, Ty Lee." Jet spoke. The smug look darting across his face as he rejoined the fray. Jet, Haru, and now Ty Lee moving forward. There blades of sizzling plasma roused to meet Arya.
The girl, now she was the one on the defensive. All Jedi, all apprentices by Ben. Haru moved first. His blue blade clashing along Arya's own once again. The girl with sweat darting from her brow moving backwards. Darting Haru's powerful blows away.
Yet, Haru was a Jedi guardian while Arya was consular. Haru was a crusader with lightsaber in hand while Arya fixated on the spiritual side of the force.
Within this narrow corridor. It shown who held the upper hand. Haru blocking a blow as the sparks radiated dangerously close to his face. Breaking from the saber lock, a flurry of one-handed attacks flourished as Arya rushed to defend. Only hardly able to hold off.
Force leaping backwards she began to barrel forth a fierce array of blue force lightning. Jet already feeling it. "Oh no you don't!" Jet roared.
Force leaping over Haru's head as he rushed towards Arya, Ty Lee following the maneuver. Jet rose to the occasion. Force pulling his original lightsaber into his left hand as Arya released the torrent. The cyan blade sparking to life as he made an X.
The blue beam being caught within the smoldering weapons of plasma. A powerful defense against the effects of lightning. "Now…Ty Lee!" He yelled.
The girl leaping from the side. Her legs hitting into another pillar as she launched herself towards Arya with a force augmented leap, her speed hardly able to be picked up by Arya as she stopped the array. Lashing her arm backwards as she rushed to defend, yet it was too late…
Ty Lee's violet blade casted off a strike that darted along Arya's shoulder. She screamed as she leaped away to create distance.
Arya slowly glossed down to their shoulder. The simmering burn was still there but luckily the rest of her arm was there as well. She stared down the Jedi trio but right before anyone of them could make a move.
A powerful slurry of oil, rock, and flames bellowed from the cracks of the machine. There eyes widening as they stared at the destruction. Arya could already tell what had happened…the fire nation had failed. Ba Sing Sai shall not fall today.
Arya ran, utilizing force speed as she appeared in a blur. "Damn it!" Jet spoke. "I wanted payback for that time she captured me." He spoke.
"It's alright Jet. You did good today." Haru stated. Turning his head to Ty Lee. "You too. Let's get out of here."
With those parting words. The team of Jedi made there way through the halls of the fire nation machine. They had completed their mission, now it was time to escape.
Aang was running out of steam…quick.
Utilizing a blending of all three elements as he tried to best and defeat the three enemies. Aang dodged a blast of Azula's bright blue fire. Riding along the wall as he earth bended a platform for him to stay on.
Rowan made his move. Speeding along the metallic hull as Aang water bent the water from Katara's pouch. Ice slowly working its way along Rowan's shoes.
The girl…the Mandalorian. Beaming along her jetpack as she fired from her wrist rockets. The high-pitched scream caused Aang's head to whirl towards her direction. In a last-ditch effort against the strange and unknown weapon he airbended a dome around himself, only a second to save himself.
His back thudded along the wall as he collapsed face first. His vision wonky and distorted as he could hear them start to approach. His eyes going towards the large spike, just one last hit and all that pressure that was building up…one last hit and the mission would be complete.
Yet, right before hopelessness could consume Aang. His eyes widened as he saw a blip dart towards them. Ben, his body free falling as the fabric of the black robes snapped and wisped. His eyes in a glare as he leveled his left hand, a powerful wave of force energy exiting from his palm.
The Mandalorian whisked away as she was carried within the blast of force energy, Azula with all her might tried to wrench herself onto whatever she could as she felt the free expanse of the wind take her body. While Rowan's force barrier held up.
Rowan and Ben…staring at each other after all this time. "Rowan, what are you doing here?"
"Really?" Rowan tilted his head. Shocked by the question. "I am a member of the Sith and the fire nation. Do you honestly believe that your wound and warnings would stop me?"
Ben's minds eye traveled back to what felt like months ago. The sizzling beam of his second lightsaber traveling through Rowan's own arm. Yet, he was shocked to see what it was. Now a horrific and biogenic mass of Sith Alchemy.
While Ben's own was simply a high functioning prosthetic that was very common within the Jedi of the galaxy, even keeping it hidden under a heavy glove. Rowan shown it off proudly. That wasn't the only thing that was different.
The dark side deterioration even though it has merely been a couple of months has traversed greatly. "Rowan don't make me do this. I took off your arm so you wouldn't come after me again…I was hoping that you would leave the Sith!"
"Leave the Sith." He repeated. Slowly shaking his head as he clicked his lip. "No, I don't want that. Before I always feared the dark side because there was something deep within. Something deep within that the Jedi council did not know about, maybe I didn't too…"
He chuckled. "This is who I am…and this is who Arya is too." He glossed down to Ben's lightsaber blade. To Ben's arm and his fresh wounds.
"I can see it. Back then during the Mandalorian and Jedi Civil War, even here." Rowan said. Gripping his weapon tighter. Tossing himself into his own lightsaber form. "Violence gave you that strength, it awakened you. I can see it upon your body…your arm, where Revan and Lord Ruin left their marks."
Rowan began to approach. His voice still ringing. "You can't deny what you are, Ben. You will fall again, but it will be me that will kill you."
Ben gripped his weapon again with both hands, tossing himself into the Shien form. "Rowan, this isn't you. When we were children becoming true Jedi Knights were all that we wanted to become. Think back, Rowan!"
Yet, Rowan still approached. Ben didn't want this…his mind turning back towards those days at the Jedi Academy. With him and Arya by his side. "Rowan, these Sith are using you. They don't care about…"
"Really, I had no idea!" Rowan sarcastically chuckled to himself. "If there giving me the power, I need to deal with you. I don't see the problem. I really don't lose anything."
His lips formed into a sneer. His eyes darting towards Ben as he raised his false limb. "I already lost what mattered to me. I wanted to protect her, to help her, and then you had to appear within this world and muck everything up. Playing hero…fine."
Ben stared at him. Slowly understanding. "Rowan, you, and Arya…"
"No, it doesn't matter…not anymore." He cut him off. The bloodshot blade enveloping his features as he resumed his advance. "Ready to die…Ben."
Ben shook his head. His eyes darting towards Rowan. No, he wouldn't fight him. He would evade, defend, and disrupt his attacks but he didn't have the heart or will to kill him or Arya. How could he…kill his friends?
Rowan sneered. "I don't care. I just want you to die."
The words didn't come out in a scream. He spoke those words with calm, with a chill that rode along the sentence. Spurring Rowan and Ben into action as their weapons slammed into the other. "I won't fight you…Rowan!"
Ben snapped his weapon away. Breaking from the saber lock as he blocked another blow from Rowan. The hum of there weapons, slamming and spurring along the other.
The clashing of blades of plasma enveloped them during there short duel. Ben and Rowan…shockingly it was different than before.
As Ben would block each blow, he would parry or defend. Rowan would come forward with a new ferocity that wasn't there within there last duel. Yet, it happened. A blur of blaster fire came towards Ben.
Kicking Rowan away. He turned to the Mandalorian. Snapping his wrist in pure estimates as the weapon deflected the red lasers. Ben out of the corner of his eye seeing a squadron of dark jedi moving towards them.
Then it happened…Aang. The boy slamming into the spike he had created. Ripping straight into the drill. Ben's smile enlarging for a second, finally they had won!
Only for the next second to be knocked off his feet. The metallic coverings of the drill were slowly being bent, ripped through, thrown off through the pressure that was being pushed through.
Oil, flames, and even rock sludge began to ooze from the openings. Explosions radiating along Ben's ear as he snapped his gaze towards Aang. Seeing the young airbender to his side as he tossed himself up. Gripping him by the shoulder as he wrenched him up.
"Thanks Ben."
Ben returned with a nod as his eyes snapped to all directions. Azula, Rowan, and the Mandalorian. They were all gone. Probably seeking to escape before the whole drill would erupt into one massive fiery explosion.
Yet, Ben could hear it…someone. He turned around seeing where the dark jedi squadron used to be. Now they were all gone except for one. "Aang, go off without me." He spoke. Already sensing the airbenders reluctance. "Seriously, I must do this. You did good today…don't forget that."
With those parting words the Airbendor retreated. Hopefully going to find the remainder of there comrades as Ben continued. The air getting thick with the smell of oil as he stopped. Trapped within the sticky sludge, a dark jedi.
A boy around his age. Yet, he could feel it…the darkness. Not like Rowan and Arya but this one felt tempered. The old Ben would've killed him, would've probably leave him out here to die from either the oil or the explosion.
Yet, he was defenseless, and he was no longer a threat…rather there was also something else. A hesitation, and a strange connection to the light no matter how small it truly was. Ben's lightsaber snapped on. Slowly cleaving the solidified sludge as the Dark Jedi stared at him for a second.
"Why did you…"
"Because you needed help." Ben cut him off. Already moving forward as he slid across the metallic hull of the drill, to only be caught by Aang at the end. Both boys slowly making their way towards the top of the Ba Sing Sai wall as they overlooked what was about to happen.
The earth bending soldiers and commander appointed to the wall joining them along the spectacle as almost as clockwork, it exploded. Raining debris, harsh torrents of oil, along the edges of the wall.
Still, the wall of Ba Sing Sai hung strong along the thick clouds. Ben straining his vision as he was able to see his friends…safety they had escaped from the drill in time and were now making their way towards them.
He could hear the shouts and cheers that came from the soldiers and commander. A victory, Ba Sing Sai shall not fall today. A smile stretched along Ben's lips as he stared ahead. A Jedi, a true Jedi he acted like today. One that defended the innocent against an unrelenting wave of evil. Yet, that wasn't the end…not by a longshot.
A duo of fire nation warships emerged from the thick cloud. Smoking and contorted as the fire nation emblem emerged. Ben's, Aang's, and the rest of the soldier's eyes clung to it.
The backup plans. The warships could easily hold fifty to one hundred men within. That was also not accounting if there were special units, dark jedi, or whatever else the fire nation had cooked up for this invasion.
They had destroyed the drill. Yet did they fail in the end? Ben's eyes went behind him, still holding onto that simmering molten blade of bronze as the people of the Earth Kingdom stretched out their glances. Leaving their homes, shops, and whatever they were doing as they witnessed the Jedi and the avatar hold there last stand.
No, failure was not an option. The people of Ba Sing Sai…the world could not afford this place to fall under fire nation control. "Look, Ben!" Aang strained his finger outward. "The ship on the left is damaged. If I can get up there and do a quick air slash, I can probably ram it into the other."
Ben shook his head. "No, you can't. They'll already be on you the moment you get within a mile of them."
Ben unignited his weapon. Reattaching it to his belt as he strained around his surroundings. What could he do? Yet, he saw it. On the far left within the edge of the mountain. Meetra, his master within that cyan like mist.
"Have you truly forgotten, Ben?" She questioned. "You were always powerful within the force. You were on the same level as me…possibly even Revan, who knows how far you can reach."
Ben grimaced. "But…it's a warship. Even though it's already damaged and is already going down. How am I able to…"?
"Size matters not!" She interrupted with a yell of her own. "You're a Jedi Master now…a grandmaster. Act like one!"
With those words she disappeared. A couple of hard-hitting words, but Ben needed them right now. Slowly shaking his head as he cracked his neck. Raising his glance towards the falling airship. He needed to act right here and now.
The airships, even the one that was damaged heavily was able to fly on the same level for now. But he couldn't wait for Ty Lee, jet, or Haru to come an aid him. Now it was the time.
Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself. "Commander, soldiers, Aang." Ben slowly spoke. Narrowing his eyes as he slowly became one within the enmeshment within the force. "You guys are about to see the true strength of a Jedi. Don't turn away from it."
With those parting words he began. Size matters not. Three simple words, the simplicity in them offered him strength. Just like the words from that old scroll he had found. The force didn't recognize big or strong, heavy, or light, hard, or easy. It was a powerful living flow that encompassed the galaxy.
The Fire Nation war ship was a part of it, even though it was of metal, oil, and machinery. He was a part of it too. The force bounded them together like gravity. He could find the tensions and rhythms within his connection to the force and could make the piece of machinery beckon and change within his call.
With his right arm and finger outstretched, his other arm following the same movement as he emptied his breath. Sinking deeper within the dreadful calmness of a force meditation. His legs braced firmly within the stone floor as he peered ahead, the soldiers and commander staring at him with a strange glance.
His mind had opened…and the warship had just entered. He felt the blunt within his mind, but he slowly tried to turn it out. The idea of the warship scared him; it was freaky. But he had survived worst…he had done greater things than this.
He had survived the Mandalorian and jedi civil wars. His mind had been broken and his heart had grown deluded. He had fought against great warriors and had recently fought against a powerful Lord of The Sith…he had done greater things than this, and he would continue doing so. Because he was a grandmaster.
His heart stirred along the word. The tip of his right index finger caused the damaged warship to slowly tilt. Yet, even with the slightest tilt it caused fire to spread along his body. The sensation of containing such a hulk of metal, a vast, God knows how many tons machine was deeply disorienting.
He felt as though every muscle, tendon, nerve, and bone grind along with the metal and bolts within the damaged ship. His mouth gnashed with such intensity as his teeth were displayed with such tension, he could break through them. He could see it within his minds eye. The way the fire nation engineers rushed to try and repair the busted pipes, the blown apart metal plating, or how the control panels twisted and contorted.
"Look!" An earth bending soldier screamed. "It's tilting!"
The commander, avatar, and earth bending soldiers gasped in alarm. There eyes widening as they witnessed in nearly a whole century the true might of a Jedi Knight. Wrenching a damaged warship within the sky to whirl it in an arch to attack the other.
Yet, with the sudden lapse of concentration Ben made a fatal mistake. Slowly lessening his grip, but he snapped his eyes open as he peered again. The airship had made hardly any movement except for it's slight turn into the other but it needed more!
'Guide it down in one final arch…pierce it through like a spear!' He screamed within his thoughts.
The airship growled and squealed with a horrific scream of metal torment. The citizens of the earth kingdom shielding their ears as they witnessed the Jedi in a front row view as he wrenched the warship through the air. He was slowly getting used to it, slowly getting the hang of controlling it. He could see the way the course was slowly shifting.
Sparks danced in front of his eyes. The edges of his vison began to dart with small dots of darkness. Light and dark swirls spun around him, wraith like. Fear, slowly consuming him as he feared that he was utilizing the force too much. That he was slowly losing himself and that he was going to unknowingly die from exerting himself too much.
He was a speck caught in the updraft of a fire. Yet, he held the ability to fade and bicker to the fire with his very own will. More fear began to generate along his mind. Before, the old Ben wouldn't have cared. He would've given it his all within the blur of either martial might or would've simply not cared about dying in the end. If it meant for him to attain redemption, he would've done anything.
Yet, the idea of death to Ben now…it scared him. He had his friends, Ty Lee, and his new responsibility to rebuild the Jedi Order. He couldn't afford to die yet. Not now.
He could hear the ring of explosions envelop the destroyed warship underneath his grasp. The hull and reddish fabric were now peeling away in a fiery display of scarlet, even the skeleton was beginning to show in a charred out black display. Now a burning and shrieking meteor that had filled everyone's vison. He could even hear the screams of fire nation soldiers being cooked alive within that dying machine.
This could very well be the end of everything. If he failed here, the fire nation would have a foothold within the region, and everything would be for naught. That pillar of despair began to envelop him, but he slowly shook his head as he fixated ahead. No, he rejected that desire.
For he was Benjamin, a powerful Jedi that had fought and survived greater challenges and tribulations. An apprentice of the famed Jedi General Meetra Surik and the son of Madelil Wilum. His fate lied within the force, and his destiny was to return balance to this world alongside the Avatar.
He needed to find his focus again. He needed to block out the darker thoughts and fixate on the task at hand. Ben clutched at it with a final determination that came within him, a powerful force scream that rode along his body. Emptying from his mouth as all those around him, even within the bottom of the wall and along the town they shielded their ears.
The windowpanes cracked, the animals running along as they went berserk, as the howl of the last of the jedi moved forward within his final act of defiance. With one final act of defiance the ship was now within his grasp, he wrenched forward with a final force grip.
The destroyed airship speared straight into the other fire nation warship. Ripping straight through the middle of the ship as it was separated. A being of fire, metal, and oil warping together into a sick embrace. The world shook as they intertwined, and they began to slump and before they knew it…boom.
A massive explosion rode along the edges of there vision. The remains of the warship slamming into the clear rocky terrain. The Ground buckled underneath his feet. He staggered backwards, dazed. The force flowed out of him as his eyes slowly narrowed nearly like he was about to slip into a deep sleep, making him feel like he was wrung out and dazed.
He couldn't find his balance as his body nearly careened off the edge of the wall…only for Aang to wrap his arms around his waist to wrench him back onto the wall. The citizens, the soldiers, and even the commander stared at this young boy.
"His name is Benjamin, the new Grandmaster of The Jedi Order." Aang would tell them. He would tell the citizens, the soldiers, and the commander would tell the rest along the military branches.
They would tell the tale of a young boy of sixteen years with such strength that he was able to grip a falling fire nation warship with his connection within the force. And wrench it into it's twin. This day would be a day that no one would ever forget. A legend, a great tale that would still be told during the time of Avatar Korra.
A legend of such great power that would spread throughout the Four Nations, a reminder of why people once feared the sight of men and woman with blazing weapons of light.