Author Note: Yo! Here is chapter 59! I hope you guys like this chapter and enjoy. We are one chapter away from chapter 60...and I want to say between 5 - 10 chapters until we are done with book 2. I am really excited for next chapter because that was the chapter I have been REALLY EXCITED to write for a really long time. Thanks everyone for reading. Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. Greatly helps with my motivation in writing and updating. Have a great day!

Chapter 59

Ben awoke with a jump. His eyes widening, his body a simmering hot almost like a fever had set along him. Pushing the blankets aside as he stared ahead, his back quickly slumping he was slowly getting used to the strange new room.

It felt familiar. The same sort of feeling he had after waking up from that month long coma. Yet, this was different, his mind slowly registering the prior actions. His mind swirling with the possibilities. The fire nation drill, his duel with Rowan, and finally…the massive feat he had accomplished within the force.

He let out a breath of astonishment. His eyes widening as his palm went across his face. He knew he was powerful within the force and through numerous conflicts his strength had only grown. A faint smirk decorated along his face as he kicked his feet off the bed as he finally was able to observe his surroundings.

His room was large. Nice gold tipped furniture and a pure white window that loomed with the fresh yellow light of the morning sun. He could smell faint sounds of food being prepared. He rose from his bed, stretching his exhausted limbs as the fatigue began to slowly roll off him.

His eyes going towards the table. His black jedi combat robes were freshly clean and even appeared to be steamed. His lightsaber on top of them. "Well, okay." He murmured to himself. Putting on the robes and attaching the weapon back to his belt.

He slowly craned his eyes out of the open window. His heart skipping a beat as he took it all in. "Woah." He muttered.

Long rows of earth nation houses were displayed within view. A large city, before he had misjudged what the people of this world could do. He believed that because they were primitive within their technology, they hadn't accomplished much.

Such ignorance, he realized now. Whether it be from the fire nations technological superiority, or what he was witnessing now it was practically insane. A large walled city with two other walls that surrounded and defended it.

Ben let the fresh winds roll across his face for a second as he took a furthered gaze. Taking in the pleasant sense of nature, hearing the crowds move along there day as the wheels of carriages tatted along the rock paved roads. However, Ben felt it.

Like a cool sliver of a knife, barely dancing along the edge of his back. His eyes widening, then narrowing as he saw it…a figure. A dark figure that appeared to be wearing a blend of dark robes with green lines. Ben quickly searched along the rooftop, but he was just as quickly gone.

There was something here, something deep below the surface…the dark side. Ben pushed himself off from the window. Before he was happy about being here, but in a near instant there was something off about Ba Sing Sai.

Ben opened the door to be greeted by his teammates. All of them sitting along a table as they were eating breakfast. Their eyes going towards him as the door slowly closed shut. "What's up?"

"Ben!" Ty Lee was the first to rise. The girl nearly tackling him as her arms wrapped along his body. His own arms going around her as his teammates along him rose.

Before long, Ben took a seat. Grabbed some food and began eating near the window. Their eyes glued to him as Aang began to fill him in on what had happened while he was gone. The long wait for the Earth King, the strange Joo Dee, and the overall vibe of the city."

"So, no one knows about the war?" Ben questioned. Slowly pushing his plate away as he turned towards his friends. "That doesn't make sense. Haven't there been refugees and traders that know about all this?"

Katara nodded. "We always go with Joo Dee anywhere in the city. If we're lucky we can sneak out but that's not just it…" Katara hesitated. Slowly looking out of the window almost like she was looking for something, then instantly heading back towards Ben. "I think they know about the war; they just act like they don't."

"Yeah, I think so too." Toph said. "Every time one of them spoke, their hearts were rapidly beating. Almost like they were lying."

Jet took out a wad of paper from his pocket. "Look at this." He spoke. Handing the picture to Ben. Taking the wad of rolled up paper he stared at the ripped-up section. A newspaper headline, he could even see the splotches of black text, but his gaze was directed more towards the ripped-up photo along the middle.

It was the two-fire nation war balloons he destroyed. Yet, his eyes widened when he started to read the text. "Jedi Master, Benjamin Wilum. With a display of pure force might was able to stop a dreadful attack from…" His words lapsed, catching himself as his eyes darted along the text. "A battalion of bandits and marauders hired to rob or potentially destroy our great city. Thankfully, the Jedi Master stopped the attack in time."

Ben finished the sentence. Handing the paper back to Jet as he looked upon all those faces. "What is that?" He questioned. "The photo was tampered with and removed the fire nation insignia. What the hell is going on here?"

Sokka slowly shook his head. "We don't know…there is something wrong here. Someone is trying to keep us away from the Earth King, and most definitely does not want talk of the war to reach Ba Sing Sai."

Ben rose from his seat. Lightly combing through his tendrils of dark hair as his mind began to work. What now? The plan originally was to find the Earth King and tell him all about Sozins commit and the fire nations plan.

Originally, to unite all nations against the Fire Nation and the Sith. Hopefully, with Aang's realized power and his own might with the force it would be enough. Yet now they were stuck. "If there is someone trying to stop us from reaching the Earth King, I say we find them and beat them." Toph spoke with a smile. Her face darting towards everyone as it was Jet that shook his head.

"No, there is something going on here. Ever since I came to this city…there has been something bugging me." Jet said. All eyes were on him, his heart beating rapidly as he stared at their faces. "The Dark Side, it is strangely strong here. Can't you feel it?"

Ben and Ty Lee both glanced at one another. Only for Ben to shake his head. "No, I felt a dark side aura a little bit when I was asleep, but I don't really understand what you're talking about Jet?"

Jet shook his head. His eyes darting towards his master. "Come on, Ben. I'm not crazy, can't you feel it?"

Ben and Ty Lee exchanged another glance. Yet, it was Ty Lee that spoke. "No, Jet. We both don't feel it. Sure, when I woke up there was a lingering presence within the aura of these people. But nothing like how you're describing."

Katara walked over towards Jet. Taking his hand into her own. "Jet your just worried. You got to learn to relax okay. This whole city and the stress of the journey is just wearing on you."

Jet slowly shook his head. Letting go of Katara's hand, her face already displaying the hurt that took over. "Jet, I get that your worried…and trust me I am too. But all we must do is just stay vigilant. Don't look for shadows where there aren't." Aang spoke.

Jet glanced around his team. Obviously seeing the worry that decorated along their faces. Letting out a groan, he relented. "Fine, I will…"

Ben saw the hesitation, the growl that ended with his words. Jet was a powerful force sensitive and held a powerful ability. It was very possible that the force was merely giving him a different feeling than the rest.

However, Ben also knew that the dark side within this place ran strong. Most likely due to the grand battle that had happened a couple of days ago and of the sinister nature of what was happening behind the closed doors of Ba Sing Sai. Such things could make quite a formidable dark side aura.

Ben rose from his seat. His eyes darting towards his group once again. "Hey guys…where is Haru?" He asked.

Katara slowly craned her vison to meet his own. "Haru is planning on leaving today. He's going to go back to the warfront."

She saw the fear that went along Ben's gaze, it was the same fear that she held when Haru had told her that he was planning on leaving once again. Yet, Ben took a deep breath, the calm slowly easing off of him as he shook his head. "If he's leaving today, I want to speak with him. I want to make sure he's okay." He spoke.

He began to open the door, not right before Katara sped to his side. "Haru already said his goodbyes to everyone, but I want to make sure he's okay. Mind if I tag along?"

Ben gave her a smile of his own. "No, come on…lets go."

With those parting words the water bending, and Jedi master made their way through the streets of Ba Sing Sai. Both knowing that there was a threat to be wary of, but both not knowing the true danger that was seeking to ensnare them.

"Come on!" Haru's voice rose. "I want all of these supplies packed in a couple of hours!"

His men, a battalion that was over a hundred was now preparing to depart from Bai Sing Sai. He had stayed with Aang and his team for a couple of days, but the city was honestly giving him the creeps. He wanted to be out there, making a difference than waiting for some Earth King to come and hear them out.

Haru let out a sigh. Before his master was exhausted and wouldn't wake up. The doctors said that he was going to be fine, but Haru knew that he needed to leave as soon as possible. The war wasn't going to wait and there still needed innocents to be saved.

They had bought pristine weapons, armors, and supplies to keep them going. They were even planning on stopping at a couple of villages to see if they could scout a couple more recruits. Yet, Haru's gaze snapped behind him.

Ben…and Katara. "Hey, were you actually going to leave without say bye?" His master spoke with a sly smirk that darted along his face.

Haru slowly shook his head in response. "Come on, Ben. If I knew that you were going to be awake, I would've hung around longer." He spoke. He turned his attention back towards his men that were rushing to put the items in order. "I got to go, Ben. I know that with my history…it seems like a bad idea, but I have to do this."

Haru didn't look at him as he spoke those words. His eyes simply darting ahead, past the caravan and into the expanse of the Earth Kingdom region. Ben could see it within his gaze, he was going to go…whether he liked it or not his heart was set.

Before, the old Ben was kicking himself nearly every time he thought of Haru. The things he missed, the problems that arise, and his failures. Yet, he believed that one of his greatest failures was the fact that Haru went out on his own to wage his own private war against the fire nation.

But that wasn't the full reason…was it? Ben let out a deep breath. As a grandmaster it was his duty to watch out and take care of his students, and within this unorthodox new Jedi Order it was his duty to identify his mistakes and failures.

Haru didn't fall to the dark side because he let him go off on his own. He fell to the dark side due to the grief of his father's death, and the guilt of what happened to Ben. The guilt and grief were the answers. He had begun to realize that if he did take Haru with him. Possibly, he may have been able to identify the causes but there were too many factors at play.

Would he have been able to stop Haru's fall to the dark side during his own internal struggle? He doubted it. Most likely they would've been back where they started again. Letting out another deep breath Ben slowly shook his head. "No, it's not my place to tell you where to go. Even as your master I doubt you'd listen to me." Ben spoke.

Haru was taken aback. He was expecting an argument or something along those lines. Yet, Ben didn't. "But Haru. I must ask…has your mind been concluded, have you come to terms with your own guilt and grief?"

Haru stared at him, eyes widened as the question registered within his mind. He thought back to that oil rig in which his life changed. The day in which he learned that he was a part of a great line of Jedi. The same day his father died…

Before, he had utilized his father's death as a source for revenge against the Dark Jedi and fire nations soldiers, he had come across. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he embraced his connection with the force to satisfy his need for revenge. Again, he had utilized his guilt…believing that if he was faster and stronger, he could've saved Ben from Lord Ruin.

In the end he had fallen, but he was luckily saved by his master. Through the course of the duel, he had heard his master's words…calling him a fool for believing in such things. That his guilt and grief were merely concepts that he put onto himself.

"I don't think I will ever fully be able to come to terms with my father's death." Haru spoke. "But I know that I feel…calmer now. I feel more in control, almost like the darkness that was back then. I can slowly push it away."

Ben nodded along with his words. It had grown quiet for a second, the young Jedi Masters fingers went to his chin as he stared at Haru. The apprentice could see the way his master's mind worked, the cogs moving and twisting.

It took a minute for Ben to part his lips again. "Okay, I think you learned a major lesson about both the Dark Side and the Light Side. Before you were uneducated on what the signs of falling really were…but hopefully this was a learning experience."

Haru nodded his head. "But Haru. Never forget this lesson." His master spoke. A firm eagerness attached to his words now. "There have been very few Jedi who were able to come back from the edge just as quickly as you did. There have been many Jedi like you who have once again walked the path of the light…but they had done some heinous things that would forever haunt them. You are blessed that we were right on time."

Haru could see the melancholy that poured from his master's lips, almost like he was speaking from firsthand experience. Haru nodded along, he would take the lessons he had learned from this experience and recognize the call of the Dark Side. "Thank you, Ben. For being there for me."

The melancholy once again swapped into a well-placed smile. Ben taking a deep breath as his arms went back to his side. "Well, that was the first order of business."

"First order?" Haru repeated. Even Katara herself was taken aback as she had just thought this was going to be a quick goodbye.

Ben coughed into his fist as he cleared his throat. His golden eyes locking onto Haru's own light hazel as the young apprentice straightened himself up. "Haru, you have handled yourself exceptionally well. Whether it be during your missions with your battalion, the Siege of The North, and even the duel with Lord Ruin. To confront these challenges took bravery and skill…"

A wide uncontrolled smile sparked along Ben's lips. The soldiers of Haru's battalion, some even the same earthbendors from the oil rig stopped. Almost a mirror of all those months ago. "For your efforts I feel you are ready to join the ranks of Jedi Knights…to be the first of The New Jedi Order."

Haru's breath stilled, his heart skipping a beat as the words reached his brain. "Jedi…knight." He repeated the words, almost like he was taken aback that Ben spoke them. Yet, hesitation took over Haru's movements.

Ben's hand along his lightsaber blade as he held it unignited. "Ben, I've only been an apprentice for a couple of months. I know that the order is destroyed, but do you think I am honestly ready?" Haru's teeth gnashed, his eyes narrowing as they went to the floor. "Even with my failure…"

"No." Ben cut him off suddenly. "Yes, you fell to the dark side, but it was a mistake." His hand went towards his shoulder. Haru's head lifting to meet Ben's gaze once again. "Realize your mistakes and come to terms with them. A mistake only becomes a failure…when you refuse to accept it."

With those words, a light returned to Haru's gaze. His heart beating at a steadier pace as he slowly kneeled. Ben taking a couple steps back. His mind whirling towards the time in the Mandalorian Wars in which Revan himself knighted those that exceeded within the wars. Those that carried the force and wished to battle the greater darkness at work.

Taking a deep breath, Ben ignited his weapon. The bronze weapon bathed both Haru and Ben as Katara and the rest of the soldiers watched on. Their eyes glistening as they watched an event that hadn't happened in nearly a century…Haru, the grandson of a great Jedi. The first of the new, the first knight of the New Jedi Order.

"We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed."

Ben rose the blade above Haru's head. Haru able to see the blazing yellow core of the weapon. That was when he realized that this was truth, that this was going to happen. He was going to embark on the next step, he was a Jedi Knight due to circumstance…and he had a lot left to learn. But he would honor the title with the true pride of a true Knight of the order.

"Haru…" Ben's voice rose along his ears. Draping the lightsaber to his right side, then dragging it towards his left. "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee Jedi, Knight of the order."

Claps and roars of praise rose along the Haru's ears. A smile darting along his face as trickles of tears began to go across his cheeks. Ben's lightsaber snapped back into his hilt. Yet, for a split second Haru thought he saw something…or rather someone within the crowd.

Her long beige robes were an instant contrast to the deep greens that made up his Earth Kingdom battalion. Her shortly cut brownish hair, her aged and leathery features, but it was her light hazel eyes. The same eyes of his mother, and his own.

"Ah, looks like we didn't fail after all…Lin." She spoke. The words an echo that reached along Haru's own gaze as she vanished within the crowd. Not before he was able to see the familiar hilt of a lightsaber blade, his grandmother's lightsaber blade.

Haru slowly shook his head. His eyes darting to where the figure once was before but now, she was gone. Ben, Katara, and even his soldiers didn't even realize the presence of the woman, but she felt familiar too him.

Haru once again shook his head as the crowd began to disperse. Yet, after Katara and Ben were saying their goodbyes. Haru came to them with a box from his personal carriage. "What is this?" Ben asked.

It was a mid-sized metallic box. Heavy within his hands and clamped down. Ben lightly moving it inside as he didn't hear anything that clung towards the metal walls. "How about you stop moving it and actually open to see what's inside?" Katara sarcastically jabbed. Right before she pulled Haru into an embrace for a final goodbye.

Ben placed the box on the carriage. Popping open the locks along the sides as he opened the roof. His eyes widening as he took in what he was witnessing. "Sorry, Ben." Haru lightly chuckled. "When I found those crystals, I also found those within the same room."

Ben sparked a grin. Using both hands to take hold of the fabric. "What are those?" Katara questioned as Ben's eyes still stuck to the fabric. "Robes?"

Ben nodded along. "Not just any robes, Jedi Adventurer Robes." He turned back towards Haru. "This was a good find. Why did you wait so long to tell me?"

"Honestly, Ben. I forgot that I had it in there. I was planning on giving them to either you or Jet but when we had to leave in a rush to protect Ba Sing Sai."

Ben shook his head as he still held that grin. "No, it's alright." He turned towards Katara as with widened eyes she was practically asking for an explanation. "These are Jedi Adventurer robes. They are very good quality robes. Only worn by Jedi that explore the galaxy as they search to do battle with evil and injustice."

The Adventure Robe consisted of a light gray long sleeved hooded shirt with a sleeveless dark brown leather wrapping, trousers, leather calf braces, leather wrap arm bracers, a white sleeveless surcoat, and leather footwear.

Ben already knew what he was going to do. Jet, this would be a nice gift. Like Haru, Ben had planned for him to be appointed to Jedi Knight. With his feats and experiences, even though it was rushed…he believed that Jet was ready to walk down that path.

"Goodbye, Haru." Ben spoke as he put the box underneath his arm. Bringing his apprentice turned knight into a fierce hug.

"We'll meet again, master." Haru said. Waving to the pair. "The force will bring us together again!"

With those parting words Haru and his battalion sped off into the distance. Kicking up rocks, clouds of dirt, as they pushed ahead. Just like the Jedi Adventurers of legends, they were forever moving ahead to fight even greater threats.

Ben combed through his hair as Katara and him began to walk back home. It was already sundown and they had to make the coming plans. "Don't worry Ben, Haru will be fine."

Ben nodded along with his friend's statement. "I know, but I do worry." He turned back around seeing the blip of their carriages slowly disappear into the horizon. "Come on, we got to go."

"You've changed, Ben." She slowly spoke.

A chuckle raised from Ben's lips. "Really?" He asked. "I don't really feel any different."

"No, but there is definitely a calm that wasn't there before." She spoke. Ben turning to see her face to get a better register of the words. But only to be shown a wide smile. "It's a good thing to see, that you've found a measure of peace within your life."

With a small smile of his own the two continued down the path home. Unknown to them, many members of team avatar had left to go off on their own adventures. But unlike Katara and Ben…there was the looming threats of dread and conflict that were willing to consume them.