Author Note: Yo! This is the author here. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Lately, I have been pressed for time but I think this chapter turned out okay. We have less than five chapters to go before we close off book 2. Remember, I am planning on not writing this fic for possibly a month or two after we reach the end of book 2. Both to work on other projects and to take a break. I will resume and finish this fic later on, we're over 60 chapters in and are near that finish line.

If you missed the updated author's note of the last chapter. Here is something pretty interesting, I am doing a Q&A because we exceeded over 80 followers. If you guys have any questions about the fic or the story just leave a comment and I'll be sure to answer them. Thanks for reading, I hope you guys enjoy and have a good day!

Please remember to follow, favorite, and review. Greatly helps with my motivation and writing.

Chapter 61

Momo circled along the body of water. Lake Laogai, a massive river within the territory of Ba Sing Sai. Surrounded by a large forest that went along the lake.

Momo's wings flapped as he glided along the exterior. Only for him to glide face first into a rapid descent as he looped his body along Aang's shoulder. The young avatar stopping, bringing Katara's necklace to the lemur's nose. With a faint nod, Aang turned back towards his friends.

"It's here, this is where the scent ends." Aang announced.

Ben approached. Slowly closing his eyes as he tried to feel anything linger within the force to get another clue…but nothing. Ben gritted his teeth as his gaze went towards all sides. Stupid, so stupid, he practically screamed within his head.

What had he been thinking? Letting Katara and Jet go off like that alone and during the night. He had misjudged and underestimated the Dai Lee. They thought they were slick, that they outmaneuvered and just picked up on the Dai Lee's plans. Only to realize that they were five steps ahead of them.

They were confident, but Team Avatar was hot on their trails. Ben felt Ty Lee by his side. Her fingers intertwined with the ones on his false hand. "Don't worry Ben." She soothed. "We'll find Jet and Katara."

Ben returned her smile. Right now, wasn't the time to loop back into his head…he needed his mind clear and focused for the great battles that were coming. "But where is it?" asked Sokka. "If this is where the trail ends then…"

Toph shook her head as she silenced the young warrior. "No, I feel something underneath my feet. It's large, almost like a maze or something…"

With those words Toph bended. The palm of her feet slamming into the earth itself as a large bridge rose. Made of stone and cobble, cracked, and looked webbed in appearance as an opening was shown right in front of them.

Team Avatar made their way into the opening. Sokka breaking out a pair of torches as the light lit up the way down into the Earth. The air here felt worn and tight along their lungs. Yet, the lingering presence felt strange here…

"Ben, do you feel that?" Ty Lee asked.

Ben nodded along. "Yeah, a darkness resides down here. Something bad has been going on here for a long time."

It wasn't the true power of a Dark Side nexus. But the lingering feeling of sadness, desperation, and hate flown through this place with ease. The clatter of their footsteps felt eternal along their ears as they reached the bottom. Utilizing the force Ben moved the door out of the way.

They were bathed with rich green colored light. Rows of cells cloistered together with stone walls and brick etched out a grim surrounding. "What is this place?" Sokka asked.

"It looks like a jail or something…" Aang responded back.

They continued down their trek. Ben trying to utilize the force to lash onto his force bond with Jet. Hoping that it would lead them closer to where they had to go. Yet, it didn't…only causing Ben more anger and annoyance.

This place was almost like a maze with its winding corridors. After each turn, they would be rewarded with another near identical corridor. Maybe thirty minutes in, they heard it. A rattling explosion that echoed along their eardrums, a plethora of hot wind reaching them as it muffled through their hair.

"What was that!" Toph yelled.

They heard screams rise in the direction the wind had come from. They heard the pounding of rapid footsteps coming towards them. Instinctively gripping there weapons as…a group of Dai Lee agents appeared.

Terror highlighted along there features as they ran. There hats flying off their heads as they ran from the forces that beckoned towards them. Then it happened, a flurry of attacks darted through their ranks. A duo of scarlet made their way as they hacked, cleaves, and slashed along the group of Dai Lee agents.

There limbs and what remained of their corpses fell back to the ground…the Dark Jedi's eyes peering at Team Avatar. "Ah, looks like the Avatar and The Jedi have already read our intentions." One of the dark Jedi spoke.

'Intentions?' Ben thought. They were only here to find Appa and their captured friends. What were Dark Jedi doing hiding…No, they weren't hiding. The realization caused Ben's eyes to widen, his fingers already interlocked with the hilt of his blade. Snapping on the weapon as his eyes locked along the trio of fallen Jedi.

"Guys, I want you to go and find everyone." He spoke. Gripping the weapon with both hands as he fixated on the group ahead.

"What?" Sokka spoke. "You want us to leave you alone!"

"Yeah, trust me on this one Sokka. If I am right about what is possibly going on right now. Then we can't waste time dealing with these Dark Jedi. Find Jet, your sister, and get Appa." His golden eyes went towards Sokka, with such intensity that he knew the Jedi Master was being serious. "Go!"

With those words team avatar sprinted off in the next direction. Ben tossing his gaze back towards the trio of Dark Jedi as they prepared their assault. Now, it was merely time for action.

Katara awoke with a start. Her back rising as she felt the coldness of stone along her legs. Her dark blue eyes snapping in all directions. "Good your awake…"

Jet's monotone voice filled through the room. Her gaze going towards his own. Jet looked worn out. He sat along the cold stone floor as his eyes lagged, half closed, and half opened.

His head was down as his mound of dark brown hair fell in clumps along his features. "Jet, where are we?"

"I don't know." He responded. "I woke up here a couple of hours ago. But Long Fang came, and I was able to ask questions."

"Long Fang?" Katara repeated the strange name.

That was when Jet began to explain what he had learned. The great schism within the Earth Kingdom Monarchy, the Dai Lee agents, Long Fang's great plan on taking over Ba Sing Sai.

"So, it's actually true…the Earth King this whole time had no idea what was happening beyond these walls."

Katara could hardly believe it. At first, she had thought that the King was involved in some great grand plan. But just like them, he was a pawn that had been moved along. She gritted her teeth. "Damn it, what do we do now?" She rose from her seat. Her fingers going along the wooden bars of the cell as she tried to find any source of escape.

"Come on, Jet." She spoke. Turning around. "Come help me…"

Her voice stopped. Jet's head stood on the opposing wall. His eyes fixated ahead as his hazel like eyes pierced through the veil of darkness. He shook within his crouch. His arms wrapping around himself as his knees went towards his chest. His eyes half opened; half closed.

"Jet…" She repeated once again. Softer this time. "What's wrong." She went on her knees as she positioned herself by Jet's side. At first, she feared that the stress of the vision, the harsh truth of Ba Sing Sai, and their capture had caused him to break…to shut down.

But that would've been the simple explanation, a complete contrast was what Jet was experiencing. Jet stared into the darkness, at the strange green colored lightning that filtered within their cell.

Jet re-experienced the distress of that moment. A sharp and twisting pain within his gut as his dry lips slowly parted. His tongue outstretched as it was almost like he was about to speak…only for nothing.

A flash clashed along his mind's eye. Harsh fires, just like the ones in Republic city streamed along his mind's eye. His breath hitching as he felt those encompassing flames surround him. He could feel the heat trickle along his cheek, the way the fires frolicked and sizzled along the fresh rain.

The hallucination. No, the vision Jet clarified. Shaking his head, rather snapping it. His mind was adding sense impressions and computing as he tried to analyze what he was seeing.

Whatever these visions were… confused him. Maybe, Ben could be wrong. He had no clue what he was experiencing this past day. He sensed that these visions were the beginning, that it had merely grown stronger within Ba Sing Sai. But a lumbering dread began to swift through his soul. He knew something was coming, he knew a feeling was winding deep within.

His thoughts broke to Celeste's smile…to the graveyard of the old Jedi. A biting cold sensation that etched along his body like a brand. Almost like his time was running out very soon. He rose his right hand, feeling the itching of plasma burns as it tingled and throbbed.

"Jet, what's going on. I can help you, but please you must tell me what's wrong."

He felt Katara's fingers curl along him. Her heat, a refreshing heat that filled him with joy and pure emission. "A vison, another one this time." Jet said.

She heard the way his voice filled with iron, the way it commanded with pure force energy. However, the Jedi didn't turn to meet her. Jet had changed, within these visions she had witnessed it.

He was no longer a freedom fighter or some reckless warrior using two hooked blades…he had become more than that. The sense of command across this place. His will was concluded, and his power was absolute.

"We have to find a way out of here." Jet rose with a suddenness that shook Katara. His arms coiling along the wooden bars as his eyes went all around the cage. "There has to be something in here…something that we can use."

Jet tested the strength of the bars. Hearing them groan but not even with the slightest budge. "Jet, relax. We have to keep our heads straight. They will come for us."

"…and if they don't?"

Katara turned away. Shocked by the bitterness within Jet's words as he let go of the bars. Retreating within the cage as his hazel eyes looked deeper within his surroundings. She knew that he had changed. She felt that his mind has leaped ahead of her, that it now saw more in some respects that she did.

"Katara, did you see…"

Jet groaned. Seizing his head, his breath growing heavier as his hand went towards the wall as streaks of sweat swiftly generated. His eyes snapping open as he heard voices.

"Me and Ty Lee placed quite a burden on Meetra, didn't we, by giving her such a name."

His mouth parted. His breath caught within his lungs as he felt it, the intensity of the vision so clearly as he nearly fell upon his knees, only to be saved by Katara. "Jet!"

"I'm afraid that we placed a massive weight on her shoulders. We named her Meetra, as a salute to my old master…a powerful great Jedi, a Master of the Jedi Order that is immortalized within our legends. Did she think that means that I want her to grow up to be a Jedi? Would she think she had to live up to Meetra's reputation?"

Ben's voice filled his eardrums. Yet, it wasn't like Ben's own one…it was graveled and worn. Obviously showing age that had filled his voice, more steeled and content. He nodded as Katara hesitantly let him go.

His left hand still held onto his head while the other kept him balanced along the wall. What was this? Before the visions were nearly mute. But he had just heard Ben, or at least someone that sounded like him?

No, he shook his head. That would be foolish. He couldn't rely on such vague things, his master's words echoed within his head, mixing with the same ones he had spoken.

"Jet, you're scaring me."

Jet sneered. "Quiet, I need to process this." He snapped.

He turned away from her, staring once again into the deep jade colored lamp. She cared for him, she wanted to reach out to him. But she knew she couldn't do anything. This was a problem that Jet had to solve for himself, a great premonition the force has blessed him with. But it was like a puzzle. A mismatched puzzle that tossed him into the frying pan after each attack.

But Jet knew right now it didn't matter. He needed this; he couldn't run from it…not anymore. He closed his eyes. Remembering the time in which the Fire Nation destroyed his village and killed his family. The way his tears stung his eyes as the blistering heat consumed everything as he ran.

Yet, he parted them open. The hazel eyes filling with determination. "No more running away, I'll face this." He softly spoke.

Abruptly, he welcomed the visions. Jet's mind climbing deeper within the force as he enmeshed himself within his deep connection to it. He clung to those strands, to those waves to keep himself steady as he peered deeper and deeper.

It was although he existed within the earth…he could see the roads paving away in numerous directions. Paths, the connections all held that were mangled and contorted along the intricate lines of the Force. He remembered that first feeling when he was properly awakened to the force. How he felt like it was seeing for the first time, like the glare of the sun without the unpleasant warmth.

He sensed the future as it twisted across the waves of time. However, he didn't turn away from it. His heart stilling as Katara looked on in fear. Her own tears going down her face.

Jet saw it all. He saw Peace and War, he saw kindness and violence, he saw salvation and destruction. He witnessed the Jedi Order, the great darkness that was coming for Ben. He felt the heat and cold of the roaming waves of uncertainty and change.

He saw faces…like a plethora of flashing lights sprinkled along his mind's eye. Names without emotions, sounds of voices and events filling his glare. He saw them in swarms that they could not be listed. He saw the coming days, the coming Jedi, the coming Avatar…the great battles that would be fought and won.

He witnessed cities be built and casted aside like toys. He witnessed beings that were marooned and were dead to the force, how they slaughtered and enslaved. He witnessed a great battle that would spread along the flames of this world…striking and churning into one massive conflict, even he could not witness what laid upon that path.

He was a seed…a seed that was meant to grow into a massive tree, he saw what he could've become. But in the end, he felt it, an itching feeling that rode along his chest as he knew what was coming. Then, nothing. It threatened to choke him with grief over what had to be done.

He felt himself shatter. Like clockwork, the emptiness being the worst part as his hands went to the floor. He had witnessed what could become the future. But it was a vison and for all he knew none of it could be trusted or truly come to fruition.

"No…" He spoke. "No!" He screamed even louder. With such intensity that his voice broke.

His hands bloodied as he slammed them into the stone floor. Katara seized him. Grabbing his bleeding palms as she stared at him. "Jet, what's wrong!"

"No, it can't be true…" He spoke. Ignoring the question as his eyes fixated ahead.

"You must calm down. Remember what Ben said, that visions aren't what you think they are!"

His teeth gnashed together. His voice lowered and cold. "Calm down!" He screamed. His voice, maniacal and borderline delirious. "After what I had to witness, you tell me to calm down!"

"Then tell me. Lean your shoulder on…"

Jet's laugh broke through her words. "Tell you!" He repeated with an obnoxious mimic of her voice. "Before I tried to tell Ben, but he hardly understood me."

He rose from his seat. The scarlet of blood still traveling down his palms as he brushed through his sweat plastered hair. He watched the dark shadow of her, seeing the fear that had generated across her features. "The things that I saw. I can't tell you." He spoke. "I don't even know what to tell myself, I've seen it. Ben's Jedi Order, The Yuuzhan Vong, the Airbender's. But I don't know the in between, I can feel the danger and the great darkness but that's it. There shadows within my psyche, there all throughout my mind's eye, but that's it. When it's there, it's nearly impossible to put it into words."

He fell silent. The memory filling him as he seized both hands with his head. This wasn't a dream, nothing had taught him to be prepared for such a sight. It was a terrible thing, a terrible purpose that he could not comprehend or share with anybody.

"The Airbendors, what do you…"

"Silence!" Jet yelled out. "The Airbender's, I saw a few people in air bending robes, for all I know they were merely a sect of Jedi!"

"But you said…"

"I know what I said!" Jet screamed out again. Slamming his eyes shut. 'How can she not understand by now?' he thought. "I don't know what I have seen. I am trying to go off what I understand. The visons, the voices, the sights are all so real and they are all messing with my head!"

She looked at Jet's face. The once calm and relaxed freedom fighter, the one who always remained a stance of calm in the most dangerous situations, was gone. His eyes were like pits…the hazel lacking any light, like one of terrible awareness.

Jet the freedom fighter died that day…but Jet the Jedi Knight had just emerged, steeled from the visions and harshness he was bounded too. But Jet's head was a million miles an hour. "You won't believe it anyway Katara." Jet murmured. "You won't believe it." More like he was speaking to himself.

He had saw branches, different roads or avenues that breached into narrower paths of supposed futures. Yet, he didn't know which one. The voices were mixed match and sounded like a broken radio. For all he knew that voice couldn't have belonged to Ben, but rather someone else…or possibly was merely a force hallucination caused from the vision. The Dark side aura flew strongly here, and for all he knew like Ben said before, it could negatively impact his visons.

There were many branches along the way ahead, but he was only able to see two clearly. In one, he had witnessed his friends deep within a Fire Nation bunker. The Fire Nation's flag had fallen and was in flames, Ben's blade had pierced fire Lord Ozai's chest as his friends backed away from him. His boot along the chest of the recently deceased Fire Lord as he stared at them.

'Yes, Ben…just like before, there is a chance that he will find his rightful place among the Sith. He'll once again acquire the radiant orange of true Sith eyes, but they will forever stay as you take your place along the throne. You'll bear those malignant armored robes that resemble your old master, Revan. And you'll turn on those you once cherished.'

He saw his friends cower and shirk away. He saw Arya, Rowan, and Azula by Ben's side as a legion of darksiders began to swarm. He thought of that path and what laid along it…disgusted him. But it was also a part of the web of visons he had witnessed, a path that his master could go.

The other path held long roads of dark oblivion, except for the fires of violence. He had seen the Jedi order there. A fire that would spread along the world to battle against the Yuuzhan Vong…the lightsaber along the crescent, the banner waving as bloodthirsty members of the next generation battled against an even greater darkness that this world had ever witnessed.

He had not seen anyone there of familiarity…except that boy, the one with the deep black hair that was around Ben. The strongest force sensitive he had ever felt, lightsaber in hand as he led Jedi to battle. But he felt the darkness within him as well, a dangerous combination.

"What am I meant to do, why am I being shown this?"

He remained silent, thinking, trying to think as he slouched along the wall. But after a minute nothing came up. Maybe, this was it. Maybe this was some sinister nature of the force that was forcing him to witness that even after this is all over…there will be more battles to fight, more wars to struggle through.

Jet shook his head, a cruel joke, maybe that was what this was…

A creaking sound echoed along their ears. Hearing two items roll towards them as Jet reached down. The door was held ajar as both Katara and Jet both stared in shock. "What was that?"

Jet didn't speak. His fingers outstretching as his two lightsabers reclaimed in both of his hands. "A good Samaritan?" He guessed.

Igniting his weapon. With ease Jet cleaved an opening for the pair. Parting the door open as they craned their eyes along the unfamiliar surroundings. "Alright, we're out of here. Let's find a way out." Katara said.

Jet still holding his weapon with his lone right hand as they moved. Both unknown to the old fire nation general who bested the Dai Lee agents and went to return the lightsabers to their rightful owner. Offering them an aid to their escape as he went off on his own journey to rescue his own nephew from making another mistake.

The fallen Dark Jedi thudded to the ground as Ben turned to the other. His bronze blade cascading along a flurry of attacks as the opposing dark jedi rushed to defend. Powerful attacks flourished and broken through the Dark Jedi's guard.

The warrior was trying to fight his hardest. Trying to hold his own against Ben's own might but held not a single grain of skill to pierce his defenses. With a wide swing. Ben's blade slashed along his enemy's chest, his lightsaber colliding to the floor as Ben turned to meet the other.

"You…" Ben spoke. "You're the one from before, the one that I saved."

The boy. He was above average height, a roundish face with sapphire blue eyes and a full head of brown hair. "My name is Thomas, Jedi." He rose with snarl. Snapping on his lightsaber as his glare tried to pierce into Ben. "You're my kill."

The weapon hissed, but Ben eyed it with a strange glance that overtook his features. It was a purple blade, obviously synthetic. He had rarely seen Dark Jedi except for the one he did battle with before utilize anything except a red blade.

But his lacked the utilitarian of Kiara's or the strength of the armored warrior. It was rich purple, but he had failed within building his synthetic. The blade was unstable, the whirr filling their eardrums. The blade crackled and hissed with energy along erratic intervals. Sparks flew as streaks of energy ran along the weapon.

Ben chuckled. The action causing Thomas to stare at him. "With all that talk, you failed to build your Sith crystals, I can feel the light within you, boy. It's never too late."

Thomas sneered, with a war cry that emptied from his lips he lunged towards Ben. Thomas lunged forward as Ben met his charge. Saber locking along the others chest, there intersected blades glared off the other.

Thomas welled up with a blast of force energy. Unleashing it as the blast drove Ben up against the far wall of the hallway. Recovering quick enough to dodge the overhead strike as he rolled away. But Thomas followed nearly immediately, trying to bring a crosscut along his chest.

Ben dodged the second blow with a dash. Cutting a deep slit into the wall as Ben met his blows again. Both boys now battling the other as the flurry of harsh attacks broke through the silence of the halls of Lake Laogai.

Thomas tried to sweep Ben's legs. Only for the young Jedi master to leap overhead, bringing his knee into the side of Thomas's face as he struck him. However, he did something strange. Thomas's nose was filled with blood, his ears were ringing…but Ben felt the way his fingers rolled along his calf.

With a powerful force augmented pull he slammed Ben to the floor. Cracks generating as blood flew from Ben's lips. The adrenaline cleared the thoughts from Ben's mind. The moment he was back on his feet he released his own force powers.

He lashed out his lightsaber hand, Thomas wrenched into the air as he grabbed onto his throat. But right before he could give off another force push. Ben was ready, utilizing his left hand he wrenched broken pieces of stone towards Thomas. The young man getting knocked away, the air knocked clean from his lungs as he scrambled for his blade.

Thomas yelled, clearing his mind as he enmeshed himself within the force. Once again they locked blades. Jaws fixed, eyes locked, none getting the advantage as he stared into the blue of his eyes. But that wasn't just it, for someone that completely screwed up the synthetic process. He was a powerful Jedi.

But that wasn't just it. There was something within the force ushering Ben on. Pushing him forward as he stared at him. "Die, Jedi!" Thomas yelled.

"You won't beat me, Thomas!" Ben said. Dashing away to create distance as Thomas's lightsaber blade went into the floor.

Thomas snarled again. Releasing another telekinetic blast as Ben utilized the force underneath him. Breaking stone and rubble as the blast impacted the impromptu shield. "I am one of many, servants to the Fire Lord and warriors of the Sith. If I fail, more will follow!"

Thomas dashed. Dragging his weapon into a wide cleave as Ben's own darted the blow away. "You can't kill me, Thomas. I can sense it." Saber locking once again, his lips parting as he practically screamed the words. "The Lords at the academy think they turned you, but I can feel it. Maybe, you have deluded yourself, but you can't hide from this. You haven't fully fallen to the dark side, there is conflict within you…there is light!"

With those words, Ben saw it. Like a flicker was turned on, a simmering heat that went across his eyes. Only for him to gnash his teeth together, to narrow his gaze into a glare. "Jedi delusions!" He screamed. This time breaking from the saber lock as he pushed on. Bringing his weapon into massive frontal assault.

Ben lashed out with force lightning. The purple streaks coursing towards Thomas. He gripped his unstable weapon with both hands, intercepting the blast of lightning as it rode along the eye of his weapon. Taking a step back as he felt like his knees were going to buckle under the strength this Jedi was showing.

"The Dark Side in the end, Thomas. It will fail you."

"Shut up!"

Thomas wrenched a large stone towards Ben. The young master merely flicking his hand away, streaming the rocks to the opposite side. "I am a Dark Jedi, a warrior of Lord Ruin and the masters…"

Ben shook his head. "Lord Ruin is dead, and soon the Sith will be destroyed. I feel the good within you Thomas. You can be so much more!"

Thomas shuddered, the lightning working along his body as it sung and burnt into his flesh. Yet, he charged. Leaping with both hands along his weapon as he brought his weapon into a powerful cleave to cut his head, but it was forfeit.

Ben with a one-armed slash cleaved the emitter of the weapon. Thomas falling back to the Earth, on his knees as his seared weapon vanished. "My lightsaber, it's destroyed." Ben turned towards him. Seeing the boy as Ben held the weapon outstretched. "I forfeit, do what you must. I heard tales of what you have done to the other dark jedi…this won't be any different, kill me."

Ben took a deep breath, his eyes going towards Thomas. Why had he spared him before? Sure, he felt a connection to the light side but what had Thomas done with his mercy…he had once again worked with the Sith and attacked him.

Ben held his molten bronze weapon outstretched. Before, he would've took Thomas's life with relative ease. But right now, he didn't feel anything. Back then he knew he had to kill Kiara and any of the Dark Jedi that came along his path as they were willing to slaughter him and his friends.

They didn't give him a choice…they didn't give him any other options or possibilities on how to handle the situation. But Thomas was, he could feel the light within him, there was always a chance. He was defeated, his lightsaber split in half, and he had forfeited.

Ben sighed. Unigniting his weapon as he reattached it to his belt. Thomas raising his gaze, blood still leaking from his nose as he watched upon him in pure shock. "You're not going to kill me?"

"No." Ben shook his head. "I won't. I don't take life unless there is no other option…you gave me a choice."

Thomas stared down at Ben's feet. His fingers rolling into two fists as he eyed his fallen comrade's lightsabers. He could easily utilize the force to bring them towards him, but what would that accomplish?

Thomas's hand went to his face. What had anything he had ever accomplished done…he had done some horrible things, and in the end where had that got him. On his knees as he had forfeited his life to what he thought was his executor. "I am giving you back your life."

"Why?" Thomas spoke. Staring at Ben as he began to rise. "Before, I would've just killed you. I would've relished in the fact that I would hold the glory of the kill…that I murdered the last of the Jedi."

"Yes, and I have proclaimed to change and be better. You can too." Ben said. Yet, he inched closer. "I felt something within you before, something that had been vacant within the other members of the Sith Academy. The Light, but something else…hope."

Thomas heartbeat along his chest. His breath emptying as he felt it. Deep within, a memory locked away. His eyes widening as sweat reeled down his brow as he fell to his knees. Ben by his side. "Do you remember now… that darkness etched within your mind that has clouded it?"

Thomas slowly nodded his head. "Before, my great grandfather was a Jedi Master. He went into hiding during the purge and had children. My family has been secretly training their descendants and I was able to learn from my father…" His breath halted, his fingers going along his face. "Then, the Sith came. They found us…they butchered my father, and they were going to kill me too, but I was young enough to be taken for training."

He rose to meet Ben's gaze. "I became a monster; I became what killed my family…"

"No!" Ben yelled, shocking Thomas. "You were once a Dark Jedi. But now you have a choice to become something else, something good."

"A Jedi?"

"No?" Ben slowly shook his head. A smile along his face. "You can become a Jedi, but you can also become something better…it's your choice"

Thomas nodded, but he knew what had to happen. "I can't come with you; trust me I want to become a Jedi Knight like my father before me. But there are many misguided people within the Sith Academies, and maybe, just maybe I can turn them over to the light."

With those parting words Thomas and Ben made their goodbyes. Thomas raced ahead, he would falsify his reports and state that he had been injured badly and knocked uncurses. Before, he was the grandson of a great Jedi Master. He had made mistakes…but he would vow to hold onto the light.

For he was Thomas, the prodigal son of the Jedi. He would go into the Academies, and he would teach them of the light…of the Jedi, to turn them from the inside. Unknown to the pair, another Jedi Knight was about to face his greatest trial.

Jet and Katara raced through the labyrinth like halls under the massive body of water of Lake Laogai. Each knowing that something was dreadfully going wrong. Screams, flames, and the lingering taint of the Dark Side had only grown stronger.

"Come on, Katara!" Jet screamed after her. Dispatching a pair of Dai Lee agents, they had crossed paths with.

They had emerged into a massive clearing. A large stone room that surrounded them by all sides with one way leading to the other end. Jet stopped moving, whipping his head around as he planted both of his feet.

"Jet, what are you…"

"Arya and Rowan, there here."

His voice cut her off as Katara looked over his shoulders. Ben's old friends, there bloodshot weapons already ignited as Jet raised his own weapon to challenge them.

Katara's eyes widened at Rowan, now seeing the crude false limb he brandished. There was something else, a wild bloodthirsty look that etched into his glare.

"Come on, Jet." She spoke. "We're leaving. We can try and outrun them."

"No, don't be a fool." He snapped back. Leveling the weapon in front of himself. "They'll easily slaughter us. Right now, one of us must stay behind. Go off and find Ben and Aang."

Jet spoke the words, but there was something within them. An uneasy tone as sweat trickled along his hands. Slicking the cold metal of Celeste's weapon. Celeste…he thought back, he had thought about her so much.

'Was this what you meant? When you realized what was coming…how did you face it?' He questioned. But he slowly shook his head in response. Right now, wasn't the time for that.

He could feel their intentions within the force. Before they were merely cosigned to use them as bait to lure Ben to them for there reunion. But it was different now. A coldness relaced it, a powerful cold that streamed towards them. The bloodthirst.

Jet looked over towards Katara, fully understanding what was coming. "Katara, I know this is a little bit too late, but…" He brought her closer, her features quickly flushing. Before he knew it, his lips were on hers as he let her go. "I've always loved you. A little good luck before I have this fight."

She stared up at him, her cheeks still flushed as she began to run. But even she could tell there was something off within Jet…something that he had came to terms with at that moment.

"You finished yet." Arya's voice rose. Her footsteps echoing as she approached. "After we're done with you, we'll move onto her."

"Quiet, Sith spawn." Jet spoke. Snapping his attention to the fallen Jedi. "I won't let you pass; I won't let you hurt my friends anymore!"

With that scream, they approached. Rowans plastered a smile along his face. "Finally, a good fight!" He bellowed. Jet met Rowan and Arya's blows. His yellow blade casting along brilliant arc, snapping to attention as he met the darkness head on.

The two dark jedi lunged towards Jet, there jointed powers pressed against him. He fell to one knee, grunting against there onslaught. Barely holding on. Celeste's lightsaber, the yellow beam of plasma meeting each of there blows with a rhythmic hiss. Why had he used her lightsaber?

Ever since she died, he had been utilizing it in his battles…why now, what changed?

Did he hope for Celeste's strength, did he wish for her determination and courage?

Jet kicked Arya away as a grunt flew through her lips. Rowan snapped to attention. His scarlet weapon a flurry of red blows flourished. His angry eyes fixated on Jet. Locking sabers as both boys stared at the other.

Yet, he felt it, an itching sensation along the back of his head. Arya's blue tendrils of force lightning coursing towards him as Jet raised his weapon. The yellow blade sizzled along his hazel eyes. His teeth gnashed as he felt the harsh heat course along his arm.

The effort squeezed sweat, taxed his body as he tried to enmesh himself deeper into his connection with the force. Taking a step back as his back hit the wall. With his blade still brandishing the erratic bolts of lightning, Rowan moved.

Jet in an odd angle wrenched his weapon to block the blade in a second's notice. Both boys lurched backwards through the odd defensive maneuver. "You can't stop us, Apprentice." Arya spoke. Wrenching her hands upward as the cracks of lightning died with her.

Sweat trailing along Jet's brow and staining his leather armor, raising his hazel eyes as he lurched towards the pair. They lashed out with raw force power. Jet, his eyes widening as he lurched out both hands. Chambering between the two powerful dark Jedi.

Falling to both knees. His elbows bent; he was failing…he was going to die. No, he slowly shook his head. In response, rising once again. Yes, he was going to die, but not before Katara was out here to safety. This was his last stand, he was Jet…a Jedi of the New Jedi Order. This was his last stand!

"No. I am Meetra, daughter of Benjamin and Ty Lee Wilum. This stand is mine. I claim it for my own. Bring on your thousands, one at a time or all in a rush. None shall pass."

His eyes snapped open, just like within this place…another Great Jedi would be forced to make a stand. He could see her now; he could see the way the spit frothed from her lips. The way her lightsaber pierced through the darkness as the Yuuzhan Vong moved towards her like an endless wave, but she felt no fear, for she was a Jedi Knight. It was a vision of the far future, a possible future that could occur. It came to him as he was on his knees…trying to hold back the great Darkness of two fallen Jedi, but right then and there he had begun to understand what was going to occur. There would be another, a great and powerful Jedi…one that would be immortalized within the Yuuzhan Vong, one that would wield a blazing blade of fire to hold off the great darkness.

Yes, just like her this was his threshold…a smaller scale, but great all the same. Right here and now, he wouldn't give up. He would hold the line as long as possible. So, he gave into it, he knew how strong he was…how great he possibly could've become if there was more time, but this path ended here.

He thought back to Celeste, he thought back to the Graveyard of the Old Jedi. Sacrifices, for a greater tomorrow. Katara and him couldn't both die here; it would've been too much for him…and in the end he may have walked that dark path once again due to grief. But if he fell here, then there was still a chance.

There is no death, only the force.

So, he gave into it, he needed more strength right here and now. Anger poured off from him, anger born of years of anger and torment. He wrenched his hands around the walls, ripping the brick and stone as almost as a wave streamed towards the two dark jedi.

Arya and Rowan rushed to either defend or redirect but it was hardly enough. But the reminiscent glow of the Sith eyes…had taken hold of Jet's own hazel. "I won't let you pass!" Jet spoke with a maniacal determination. Sending off a brilliant reserve of strength as he rushed with his weapon in hand. Yes, that blistering beam of yellow. A Jedi's weapon, he would use it here and now to do battle.

He lashed out with his left hand as a torrent of green force lightning streamed towards Rowan. But the young dark jedi was too late as he was launched through the room. Jet dashed, sprinting as his yellow blade saber locked with Arya's own crimson. He gave it strength with a shout, the dark side swirling around him as Arya tried to hold her own.

Arya and Rowan knew how strong he was. The only true strength they held was there experienced training as both Jedi and Sith…but all three of them knew, that presented with more time. He would've been far greater. Like a seed, he would've blossomed and grew. He would've become a sturdy oak that would've survived far greater disasters and trials, but Jet didn't have time…

The Dark Side had clouded Jet, his body was exhausted, and his strength was lessening. But it had to end. Rowan dashed forward towards him with a force leap. "Crap!" Jet roared. Moving away, not before he felt the searing pain of Arya's lightsaber along his left hand. Grimacing, he whirled backwards but Rowan was in front of him.

In that moment, he saw everything. His life flashed before his eyes in raze of the yellow of a sunrise. He could remember his family after all this time and his old home, the way his mother looked upon him with love and care…his father with pride.

He could remember his freedom fighters, where are they now? He slowly wondered, but right now it didn't matter. He remembered the good times, the fire nation raids they conducted…helping people, trying to take the fight to the Fire Nation.

His mind drew towards Katara, the girl he loved. To Ben, his brother and Jedi Master…to Ty Lee and the rest of his comrades as he felt Rowan's blade pierce through his chest. The sizzling filling him with a cold emptiness, his legs standing still for a moment as Rowan ripped it from him in the next second.

His body crumbling to the ground as he felt the air knocked from him. Rowan and Arya ran, but his eyes couldn't see too were. His lips were dry, and his breath was heavy. 'Is this how you felt, Master Morne?' He wondered for himself, did Celeste know that she was going to die that day…how could anyone learn to deal with such a premonition?

His lapse of time was confusing, he had heard his teammates footsteps first as they had surrounded him. He could see their faces, the way their tears cascaded down there faces like a river. But he couldn't hear them, that dreadful hum echoed along his eardrums.

"Jet!" It was Ben's voice. The way his master grabbed onto him. Bringing him up as he stared at him. "NO, no, no…please, Jet!"

Ben's words were mixed with sobs and coughs. His heavy breathing within Jet's ears as he wrenched himself towards him. "Heal yourself, Jet!"

But Jet slowly shook his head. "Lashed onto the dark side far too much…wounds too bad, I can't do it." He spoke. His words lapsed with delirium as Ben stared upon his apprentice's face. Jet had utilized the dark side far too much, he had given himself far too deeply…and if he healed himself here and now, he would've fell off the edge.

Ty Lee, the fabric wrapped along that box she held around herself. Running with such intensity to meet her Jedi peer.

Within the sinister stroke of fate, the knot came undone, and the box fell. It slammed front first as the metal latches popped open. Revealing the Jedi Adventure robes in all it's pristine quality. Jet's hand rested along the white fabric as his eyes fixated on it. "Ah, I see now…" He muttered to himself.

Like static, like a spent computer program that spurred and wheezed within his vision he could see him. Like a light blue afterimage, he could see him…he could hear him. "Korra, it's over here!"

He heard the voice from the future as he witnessed the specter approach the robes. The boy from before. "Isaac…" He spoke in low whisper that none could hear as he stared ahead. The young Jedi Knight loomed over the robes as his fingers went towards them.

It was all for Jet too see as his friends grieved and worried along his broken form…but he was a million miles away, his eyes going deeper into the future in his final act. As the young Jedi took the robes and brought them closer, within Jet's vision they had grown dirtier and worn from the many years it had stayed here.

He witnessed it. Within a large opening in which the sun would shine over the destroyed buildings of a great city. The same hooded figure that brandished the Jedi Adventurer robes stood proud and firm, Lightsaber ignited as the masked Dark Lord laid slain by his feet.

With the flick of his hood, Jet saw him. The deep black hair and olive skin of Ben's own…but the warmth of Ty Lee's greyish eyes. There is a son, Isaac…the Sword of The Jedi. The vision faded, as he saw more of them. Men and woman, there robes and lightsabers along there waist as they surrounded Isaac as the vision began to fade.

They will number in the hundreds and be the finest of warriors, those that shall learn the force. They will meet the darkness in grand battles along the plains of this world. They will have strength, strategies, and an uncompromising will. They are the warriors against the darkness. They are the defenders of peace. They are the New Jedi Order, and they shall be the light.

He witnessed Meetra and her battles…her stand against the great forces of darkness. Whipping and fixating on pure force energy as the vision began to fade, her form becoming enmeshed within the force as the vision began to fade, as Jet along his death bed began to grow a deeper understanding of the coming tribulations.

"It's all right. These visions finally make sense. There is no chaos. The Jedi Adventure robes. Your son will use them against Amon…"

Ben stared at him. His eyes widening as he blinked away the tears as he held onto his apprentice…his brother. "What are you talking about…" He questioned. His sob echoing along a hiccup. "You're not making any sense!"

Jet chuckled, a faint grin across his face, that calming sly smirk. "I understand now… Everything we had to do, the sacrifices that had to come, it all held a purpose." He spoke. "If not us than who."

He repeated his master's words. Yet, he understood them now. Celeste, the Jedi, and everyone else was involved in this great war. Everything, their lives, and sacrifice all held meaning no matter what. Hope…will forever be by there side.

Yes, there is a chance that a great darkness will emerge once again. But that doesn't change what they had done. The eternal war between the light and the dark will never end, but war doesn't change…people do. As the beings of darkness wage war against the innocent and the helpless, the Jedi shall seek that challenge and do battle. For they fought because it was just!

No matter the sacrifice…no matter the odds…there shall always be light, and Jet had slowly understood that fact. He saw Celeste. The blue after image of her as she stared upon him. "I understand now, Master Morne." He spoke. "Hope will never be destroyed. There is no death, only the force."

If they cannot change what others will do in the future…they can change what they do. They can choose a different role. They cannot avert the prophesied doom…but they can survive it. And they will survive. They are few, but the Jedi ways will go on after the tribulations come.

For there were those like Ben, Meetra, and Isaac. Those that held the Heart of The Jedi and would do what they must to protect the world. Darkness lied within the future, but those that brandished hope and the light shall rush to meet them. Everything they did mattered…no matter how small or large, there was always the way. And Jet had concluded himself. The eternal war between the light and the dark shall never end, but everything they do to protect people…mattered in the end, even after they were gone.

"You won't be alone Aang, not anymore." Muttered Jet. The young avatar wiping his tears as he stared at his friend with confusion. Jet's eyes locking back to Ben. "Forgive me, Master. I failed you as a student…"

Ben shook his head with such force he felt his neck crack, as his fingers latched onto Jet's maimed hand. His other brining him closer along his embrace. "No, you were a Jedi Knight." He proclaimed.

Jet smiled, and with those parting words, his hazel eyes lost the light within them…staring up at him. Ben felt him die, his hands held the broken body of his apprentice as he screamed. The scream of a grandmaster echoing along a secret prison beneath a great lake, as his brother died within his arms.