Author Note: Woah, I did not expect to be updating in nearly 3 months from the last chapter. I'm really sorry about that. I got hit with a bad case of Writer's block which was very strange for me. Strangely, I was struggling with writing this chapter a lot. I think it came out relatively okay, but we're up to chapter 62 and are nearing the end of Book 2. Can't wait to start Book 3. Now, here is the funny thing. During my writer's block, I decided to start the sequel of this fic. "Legend of Korra - Legacies of The New Jedi Order." This is basically the sequel to this fic after we conclude Book 4.

If you guys don't mind spoilers. Then, I would say to check it out. I only finished the introduction chapters basically chapters 1 - 3. I am waiting to conclude this fic first before further working on the sequel. Still, I was actually really shocked and excited. We made it up to 91 followers. Like Woah, that is just insane to me. Seriously, you guys are all amazing and that gave me a lot of motivation in both writing and updating.

Please, have a wonderful day. Remember to follow, favorite, and review. And I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 62

Deep within Earth Kingdom territory, the sun slowly rose. The orange glare of the sun reached the peaks of the surrounding mountain tops, yet it casted all brilliant shades of scarlet along the treetops.

Appa slightly stirred, his head on the ground. The happiness of their reunion swiftly swatted with the death of a friend. They were within a deep forest along the rim of Ba Sing Sai, you could see the large stone walls overlap. They were in an area in which there was a large clearing, visible enough to see both the sunrise and the goliath of the walls.

The leaves of the forest trees were a wonderful shade of red, a reminder of the forest in which they had first met the young freedom fighter. Ben was right there; he had cleaved through the very trees with Jet's lightsaber. He had stacked those mighty wooden logs together to make the funeral pyre, a Jedi's cremation.

Ben stared at it. Almost what felt like a lifetime ago he had lived within a colony…cleaving through wood as he disregarded his purpose. His eyes went down to his belt. Now three lightsabers hung along it. His own, Celeste's Morne, and Jet…his brother.

He rose his gaze as he stared at what remained of Jet. Wrapped up in a pair of heavy blankets, Jet's body laid limp along the wood. Ben along his mind's eye could still see it. The sly smirk of his brother's face, the sound of his laughter…

Ben slowly shook his head, knocking the memories away as he tried to stifle down his feelings. Not now, not here. He could hear the sobs from team avatar behind him, and he wondered why he hadn't broken down yet, why hadn't he not cried as he wrapped up the body of his friend…and now he was at his funeral.

His eyes beckoned to cry, his heart beating along his chest as his breathing grew harder and harder. Why did it have to be so hard?

His teeth sunk into the base of his lip. Not now, he couldn't think of Jet's past here and now…his body laid limb and cold. He was a Jedi Knight, and he deserved a Knight's funeral.

Ben sucked in air from his nose, expelling it from his mouth as he approached torch in hand. 'I loved my brother. I should feel something…why don't I?'

Did the sting of lost finally leave him? Did all those tribulations finally turn his heart to stone and he truly abandoned what made him human. As Jet died within his arms, he knew a part of him died with him. Yet, he didn't feel anything.

Just the stinging feeling of loneliness, and this dreadful darkness that had slowly worked around his body. He slowly approached the pyre, each footstep adding with it a weight of anxiety as Ben tried to ease the shaking of his hand.

But it didn't…as he approached the corpse. The visions only grew harder, they only grew stronger as he struggled. That powerful heat of the fire, working along his arm, a fierce wound that Ruin impacted streamlining along his brain.

"Really…" Ben slowly spoke, a fevered grimace taking over. "Even after all this time. Even after killing you, the wound you imparted on me will forever stay."

Ben's knuckles turned a ghostly white. But…it happened. He felt it, there hands going along the torch as he slowly turned towards them. Their own faces slick with tears as they peered at the fallen boy. "You won't do this alone…he was our friend too." Katara spoke.

Ben nodded along, thankful that they would help ease the burden. Taking another deep breath, his friends slowly draped the embers along the fires. And within that action, the pyre was lit. They moved slowly away. Their eyes dazzling along the harsh orange flames as they watched.

They stared at him, at Jet. They remembered the sly and cool leader of the freedom fighters, his skill with the blade was unmatched and he hoped to become of the many figures to usher in the end of fire nation tyranny. For him to change, to become the next of the new generation of Jedi Knights…

They had witnessed his power grow within the force; they had seen the great man he was going to become. But like the candle that burnt far too bright, he had faded away just as quickly. Dying within his best friend's arms…right after confessing to the woman he loved.

Katara's lips still stung from Jet's kiss. Her own eyes going towards the burning pyre that contained him. She had feelings for him all this time and maybe that was what hurt the most. Right then and there when there wasn't any time left…it had ended.

Aang thought back towards the Airbender's and that horrible loss. Now once again he was forced to relive another death. But he tried to calm himself. Trying to slink into one of the monk's mediations they had taught him.

They backed away as the embers began to spark, catching along the dry wood as the fires began to consume his body. His ashes would rise and carry along the wind. They would enmesh themselves within the force and be casted off somewhere far away.

Jet, a young freedom fighter that fought valiantly against the Sith and The Fire Nation. The second apprentice, and second Knight of The New Jedi Order. Ben felt the way Ty Lee's hands went along his own. The way they gave a reassuring squeeze as he could already tell. 'What are you thinking?' She practically asked him.

Nothing, he could feel nothing. Just that dreadful numbness that had ensnared him. "Goodbye, old friend." Sokka whispered. Toph's own hand along his own as he wiped off his own tears with the other. "Damn it…"

"Aang, do you still have the box?"

Aang nodded as he handed Ben the box. The robes that were once contained were left behind. The rare Jedi Adventurer robes were condemned to the ruins of the old Lake Laogai. Ben honestly didn't care, good riddance he had thought.

Before, he had wondered if leaving them was the right option. But staring at that white fabric was far too much. Seeing him, draped within the robes with lightsaber in hand. The same smirk and confident glare he would hold. He didn't need to see another specter of the past, regret.

Yes, regret. That was what he was feeling right now. "Here." Aang handed him the box as Ben popped it open. Taking Jet's and Celeste's lightsabers from his belt and putting them within the container.

He put it underneath his armpit. Feeling the cold metal even through his dark black robes. He turned towards the ashes of his friend…blazing like a blistering torch. Watching him fade away. He slowly closed his eyes as he tried to reach out within the force only to feel…nothing, just numbness.

They stayed there. They had cried, wept, and mourned…but Ben didn't. He stood there in front of the funeral of his friend as it concluded. Team Avatar had begun to come to terms, but Ben had nestled himself within this lack of emotion.

"What do we do now?" Toph asked.

"The Earth King, if it is true that he doesn't know, then…"

"We know what we have to do then." Katara spoke. Cutting off her brother.

Ben turned around a final time, seeing the glimpses of his friend's ashes taken away, his heart still sore from the recent loss. But still bounded together enough to know what had to be done. It was not time to mourn, not yet at least. His vision drew to Long Fang, the man Katara had told him about. He was the reason that Jet was murdered.

Yeah, it was all his fault…a sinister glare entranced his features, hidden away from the other members of team avatar as he felt his lightsaber along his belt, it felt heavier than ever before.

The Earth King sat along his golden throne. His gaze peering ahead as he looked upon his throne room. It was a relatively peaceful day. The sounds of birds chirped along the gold-plated windows, the humming of music played throughout the hallway with a dull euphony.

He eyed his bear to the side, Bosco. The bear slightly yawning as the Earth King let out a silent breath of hot air empty from his lips. Life was bliss within these walls, without the threat of war…an era of peace has been issued.

A spark of a smile lifted along his features as his eyes narrowed as he felt the edge of sleep slowly lure him in. But then, it happened.

A massive bang echoed along the metal doors. His eyes snapping wide open as he could hear the cluttered familiar steps of his advisor, Long Fang. The chief of affairs and his longtime friend. Sweat darted along his brow as his green eyes were filled with fear.

"Long Fang, what's wrong!"

But right before the traitorous advisor could even utter a single word, the door was blown away. A massive piece of the ground was bended. Breaking through like a wedge and driving the pieces of metal frames out.

"Guards!" Long Fang's voice rose in a mighty roar. Lashing out his right hand like a spear. "Defend your king, kill them!"

The figures emerged through the opening. Snapping within their bending might, and within the force. "Don't kill anyone. We must show the Earth King that we mean no harm." Sokka had lectured them. "It is vital that he sees through Long Fang's treachery with his own eyes."

No killing. Even…Long Fang himself. That was what caused Ben's lips to twirl into a disgusting sneer as he heard the words, but deep down he knew what must be done. His and Ty Lee's blades snapped to life. There weapons in a brilliant flurry slashed through the wooden spears or elegantly traced along sword handles.

Ben eyes snapped open as precognition set in, force pushing Katara away as an earthbender had gotten too close. Katara, returning the favor with a blast of waterbending that froze the man in place. Both nodding to the other with a smile.

Sokka's boomerang added along the fray of chaos. Winding a hit along Long Fang's head as the man collapsed by the Earth King's side. The Earth King, for a king, let out a girlish shriek.

Toph was busy, sending a blast of earth bending might. A massive wave traveling and throwing all the guards to the floor. Interrupting there bending, attacks, or simply staring in awe at the fight that was unfolding.

Then it happened, Aang releasing his own bending. Whirling throughout the room a small tornado that swooped and consumed everything in its path. The young avatar whipped a water whip, tossing up numerous earth bending walls to halt the attackers.

That was when the Earth King began to understand the gravity of what was going on. This wasn't a group of people trying to kidnap or murder him. No, this was the Avatar and his team.

"You're the Avatar!" He screamed. Holding up his hand as the waves of soldiers stopped attacking. "What are you doing to my men!"

Ben, and the rest of team avatar struggled to catch their breath. Only able to start to slowly mutter them out. "We mean you no harm, Earth King." Katara spoke. Tossing a side look at the man she had just frozen, with the flick of her wrist the water evaporated, and the man spilled to the floor.

"Trust me," Sokka said. "There is a very good reason for this."

"A good reason?" The Earth King spoke. Anger etched within his voice. "Your broke into my palace. Destroyed countless rooms, injured my personal guard, and even knocked out a longtime friend of mine. Why should I trust you?"

"Yes, why should he?"

Long Fang's voice rose. Nursing the wound along his head as those emerald eyes fixated on him. Ben felt his blood run cold, anger striving within his movements as he…

Ty Lee's hands wrapped around his waist. His legs bent as he was about to move, but just like before she was going to stop him from doing something he would regret. Long Fang would get his punishment, but…

His teeth gnashed together as he picked up on the conversation as it continued. His heart thumped along his chest; violent images streamed across his mind's eye. Bringing his blade down and cleaving a slash along Long Fang's chest.

He was the bastard that kidnapped his friends…the reason why Jet died!

Yet, he took a deep breath. Ty Lee finally letting him go as he tried to find any sense of calmness within his movements. "Because we can show you his treachery," Aang spoke up. "There is a massive drill, and two fire nation war blimps. We can easily take you on our sky bison to show you."

With those parting words. Team Avatar and The Earth King departed to see if the claims proven against the minister was proven true.

The Earth King watched with widened eyes and a gaped mouth. His knees buckling as they slammed into the stone of the wall. His soldiers, watching him. The great Earth King so close to tears.

The Fire Nation drill stood like an ancient piece of machinery. Holes in which the gases ruptured, the burning oil that ripped off the black and red paint job of the machinery. On the side stood the twin impaled fire nation warships.

"Do you see it now," Aang said. Walking over towards the Earth King. "Long Fang has been manipulating you this whole time, but it's better that you know now."

The Earth King wiped off his strands of tears. His eyes locking towards Long Fang, his one trusted friend and minister, only to realize that his friend for years had simply lied to his face. "Guards, arrest him…"

He spoke the words with a silent anger within them, but the guards didn't move an inch. Their eyes locking towards Long Fang and locking back to the Earth King. Ty Lee and Ben, instantly feeling the torn loyalties of the other.

A blast of earth in the shape of a hand went straight towards the Earth King. But Ty Lee was quicker, her purple blade sparked to life as with an elegant clean slice, the hand of stone was rendered into useless chunks.

Then, the battle began once again. Team Avatar whirling into the fray. Aang whirled towards a squadron of guardsman. Sending them flying with an overhead staff strike. Katara freezing a group of men, while Toph was able to safely confine the men in a stone cage.

Long Fang watched with widened eyes, but it took him a second to realize the man coming towards him. Snapping his head straight as the bronze blade blossomed within his vison first. His eyes narrowed, his glare and anger pouring out from him. "You're my kill…" He muttered.

"Well then, come at me, Jedi!"

Long Fang screamed, hoping for an ounce of courage, but couldn't find none. One of his agents leaped in front of Ben. Still within the air as Ben lashed out his left hand. Wrenching the guard by the throat, bisecting him with his lightsaber as his body crumpled to the floor with a flop.

Lashing out a push with the beck of his hand, he threw a squadron away. Sending them tumbling down from the wall as Long Fang took a step away in fear. Lashing out numerous earth bending skills, strikes, and attacks…he could only watch as the Jedi pressed his advance.

Ben dodged a blow, slashing with his lightsaber to cleave off the bits of boulder that were too big. His eyes narrowing as he pushed forward in a run. He could feel it…the fear that generated, he wanted to make Long Fang savior it, to taste what it felt like to be afraid.

He thought of Joo Dee…a poor brainwashed woman, he thought of Jet. Those two, to Long Fang, they were merely corks within his plans. And Ben hated that fact so much. But he'll make him feel it…what they must've felt within their darkest hours.

"You're going to die, Long Fang," Ben said. Walking over towards the old man as he realized that there was nowhere left to run or hide. "You know it, I know it. I want you to feel the despair that Joo Dee felt, and I want you to feel the pain Jet was in."

Long Fang threw out a final desperate attack to try and rend Ben immobile. But it was already too late, Ben dodging Long Fang's final blow. Then, in a downwards arc, separating the old man's right hand from the rest of his body. A sickening thump echoed along the wall. Team Avatar finally snapping to attention.

Ben held the blade with his right hand outstretched. The simmering plasma aimed underneath Long Fang's chin as he had to claw his way to not fall into unconsciousness.

"You're my kill!" Ben repeated.

Yet right before he could lash out, to give into his rage. "Ben, don't!"

He heard footsteps and voices come at him first. His blade still held within both hands as he stared at him. His breath coming out of his nose like a raging bull as he felt the whirling rage splinter along his heart.

"Don't…" Aang repeated. But Ben didn't to turn to meet his friend's gaze. Still holding the simmering blade of plasma.

Long Fang stared at it. Hearing the whirring of the weapon as he fought against the pain of his lost limb, but he was quickly seeing stars. "Why should I," Ben snapped. "He murdered Jet, he killed our friend!"

He snapped his head back to Long Fang. Gripping the weapon with both hands as he started to lift it over his head. "This isn't murder, it's a just execution."

"That's what you think Ben but look at him…" Aang snapped. His hand pointing at the defeated Long Fang.

He was on his knees, his eyes partially closed as the reeling of exhaustion and the pain of his lost limb was slowly starting to make him lose consciousness. "It's finished, it's over…" Aang sighed. Shaking his head as he stared at the crippeled leader of the Dai Lee. "It's over…" He repeated.

Aang walked over towards Ben. His fingers coiling along his shoulder as Ben refused to turn towards him. "It's over, Benjamin."

Ben sneered. "Aang, I let our enemies live in the beginning…Kiara only came back for us with a vengeance. If we let him live, he'll…"

"He isn't Kiara," Aang reiterated. "Ben, the air nomads taught me the importance of life. I know, that through our journey together, how within your actions has caused me to see things in new light. Maybe, there is a truth in taking a life to preserve life. But he is defeated, it's over."

Katara, Toph, Sokka, and Ty Lee were momentarily dazed by the words that uttered from Aang's own lips. The realization of how dawning their journey was on not only Ben…but on them as well.

Even Aang, naïve and childish as he was knew the importance of what Ben had to do. The great burden of taking lives that had changed Ben had impacted him greatly, his need to grow stronger and hold the burden warped him. And once again, he walked that dark path.

But…Aang's eyes narrowed. "Never again." He proclaimed. He was Ben's friend; he would be damned if Ben would ever hold a burden he did not need to anymore.

Aang knew deep down, that the fire nation and fire lord had to be stopped…but the Sith as well were a great threat. He thought back to the sinister and sadistic nature of Kiara, he remembered the horrific darkness and tales of Lord Ruin from Haru, and he had witnessed that legion of Sith within the Fire Nation.

They needed to be stopped…and Aang knew deep down, that people had to die. But, he knew, that if Long Fang were to die…Ben would be sent back to the very beginning.

"Ben, think about it," Sokka's voice rose as he walked to his friend's side. "Long Fang has many secrets. I doubt that he could've done this all alone."

Katara nodded along with her brother. "Sokka's right. Traitor noble houses, the rest of the Dai Lee Agents, and other secrets of the state. Ben, killing him right now is too risky."

Ben's lightsaber blade hummed within his ears. The bronze malevolent light bathing him in it's reddish-gold glare.

"We'll take him prisoner," Toph announced. Her eyes snapping towards Long Fang. "We'll hide him away underneath a mountain of rubble. Lake Laogai seems like a fitting home for him…"

"We'll extract his secrets. We'll learn all we can from him…" Sokka said. Throwing a glance towards the Earth King. "Then, we'll execute him. We'll show the world that traitors have no place within these walls."

Ben's hands grew tighter along his blade. But his features failed him, his mouth quivering into one of a muffled sob.

"I can't," He spoke. "I can't, if I let him live…he'll haunt me forever."

He raised his blade with his lone hand. Ready to strike, but Ty Lee appeared.

"Ben, remember the Sith. Rowan and Arya, we both felt their presence. They killed Jet but they needed to know about Lake Laogai. Think about it for just a second…we need to know everything about Long Fang. For all we know…he can be working alongside the Sith this whole time."

Ty Lee's words rang true. Ben gritting his teeth together as he stared down at that defeated old man. Right then, just like all those months ago when he held the Last of the Mandalorians by his feet, defeated.

Back then when he had murdered the Jedi that had saved him, defeated.

All those moments, all those times in which the sparks of his blade compacted and bested his enemies. He was back in that moment. A choice, always a choice…light side or dark side. Ben had a choice to make.

Give into his malice and rage. Give into his lust for anger and revenge as he used this blade of his and cut down the man that was responsible for the death of his brother. It would be so easy…to just give in, and nothing could stop him.

Everything, anything, and all those things. All those promises, commitments, and lessons would all go down the drain. Everything he was taught, everything he had learned, and all those moments between the light and the dark would be useless. All because he gave into his emotions.

The friends lost, the people killed, the sacrifices of the fallen…would he throw that away to appease a need for revenge against his better judgement?

Would Jet have wanted that. For his sacrifice to lead Ben once again down an even darker path?

Ben's features, softened. Taking a deep breath as his chest rose. "No," He muttered to himself. "No." He repeated. The action causing him to finally push through the emotions that clouded him.

They heard the snapping of the bronze lightsaber, the hissing reaching the hilt as Ben reconnected the weapon back to his belt. The battle was over, and Long Fang was defeated. He would be jailed for the rest of his life, and that is if the Earth King didn't have the traitor executed.

Ben shook his head. Long Fang slouching as he had finally lost consciousness as he whirled away from him. 'Never again, I shall never make the same mistakes.'

Ben saw the way his friends looked at him. The warm gaze as they realized that their friend had grown, that he had changed for the better. And Ben had smiled for them as they connected with him in a hug. But there was still a hole within not only Ben…but within their whole group.

A wound, not of the darkness. But a deep wound that echoed within the force…an echo of a great loss.