Chapter 69
"Benjamin, be ready..." Haru's voice echoed in Benjamin's mind, mingling with the distant symphony of ocean waves crashing against metal. As he opened his mind's eye, Haru's presence materialized before him, amidst the swaying confines of what seemed like a ship's quarters. The realization dawned on Ben—he was calling out to him from afar.
"Don't worry, Haru," Ben reassured him, his voice tinged with determination. "Our force bond will guide us. We'll wait until the time is right, and then we'll charge forward together. When you're ready, we'll know."
A smile played on Haru's lips, and Benjamin was jolted back to reality. His eyes snapped open, taking in the familiar surroundings of the couch where he lay once again. A full day had passed since they rescued Toph, yet their situation remained precarious.
With a gentle movement, Ben shifted, realizing Ty Lee was curled up beside him, her arms wrapped snugly around his left arm. "Hey, Ty Lee," he greeted her softly, a fond smile gracing his lips.
Ty Lee stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open with a yawn. "Hey, Benji," she murmured sleepily. "How are you holding up?"
"Doing good, baby," Ben replied, gently untangling himself from her embrace. Rising to his feet, he took her hands in his, their gazes locking in silent understanding. "Things are about to get a bit chaotic around here."
A perplexed expression crossed Ty Lee's features as Ben recounted the details of his dream. "So, you and Haru's force bond..." she trailed off, processing the implications.
Ben let out a weary sigh. "He's getting closer, Ty Lee. It's taking a toll on him to reach out to me like this. I believe he's acquired a boat and is sailing to reach us."
Ty Lee's eyes widened in realization. "But Earthbenders and their navy..." she began, her voice trailing off.
A wry smile graced Ben's lips. "It may not be much, but with Haru's determination, anything is possible. Ty Lee, we have a chance to liberate Aang from Ba Sing Se. We can finally break free and take the next step forward."
Ty Lee returned his smile, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. "Then we'd better start packing," she declared resolutely, already springing into action.
And so, Ben, Katara, Toph, Ty Lee, and Zuko busied themselves with preparations, gathering supplies and necessities within the house. As they worked, Katara's voice cut through the air. "Where's Toph?"
With the box containing Jet's and Celeste's lightsabers in hand, Ben turned to Ty Lee, passing it to her with a silent understanding. As Ty Lee made her way to Appa, Ben's gaze swept the room, searching for their missing companion.
"I don't know," Ben stated, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
Katara shot him a pointed look, her irritation evident. "How do you not know where Toph is? This house isn't that big. We can't afford to lose her for an hour."
Ben let out a frustrated groan. "Maybe she needed some time alone. To breathe. This is our last day in the Earth Kingdom for a while."
Katara sighed heavily. "It's moving day. Everything's..."
"Katara," Ben interjected sharply. "Toph is dealing with Aang's injury and Sokka's death."
A heavy silence hung between them.
With a defeated expression, Ben continued, "She doesn't need 'mom' Katara right now. That poor girl..."
Katara sighed, her demeanor softening. "Can you go find her and talk to her? See how she's holding up?"
Ben hesitated. "Maybe you should talk to her," he suggested. "It might help. I'm not sure if..."
"Benjamin Wilum, you're the grandmaster of the Jedi Order. If anyone should be comforting someone about grief and death, it's you," Katara interrupted firmly.
Ben tried to muster a smile, but fatigue weighed heavily upon him. When was the last time he had a good rest?
"I appreciate the sentiment, Katara. But you know I don't have the experience... title, yes, experience, no. Especially when it comes to..."
"Ben," Katara's tone grew more insistent.
Her narrowed gaze bore into Ben. "Benjamin, I don't think I'm ready to talk about Sokka yet."
Ben met her gaze for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I understand." Surprisingly, she smiled gratefully and walked away to tend to the medical supplies.
With a heavy sigh, Ben began his search for the young blind Earthbender. He traversed every room, calling out her name. But with the aid of the Force, he sensed her presence, and she was not inside. It took fifteen minutes, but he found her tucked away in a secluded corner of the house, hidden among the descending trees' natural cover. She was practically invisible, pressed against the wall to avoid being seen.
Benjamin approached Toph, his cloak billowing around him like a specter as a chill wind swept through the air.
"This weather really is something, isn't it, Toph?" he remarked with a snicker.
Toph turned her head to face Ben, revealing her cataphracts through a veil of black hair. Her usual smug smirk was absent, replaced by a haunting sadness.
"What do you want, Benjamin?" she asked.
"Seems like everyone's using my first name today," Ben remarked, sighing. "I just wanted to check up on you. I know what happened with Sokka and Aang was a shock, and you were just kidnapped, and I wanted..."
"Ben, I'm fine..." Toph replied, but Ben interrupted her.
"I'm sorry, but I don't believe you," he stated plainly.
Toph narrowed her eyes at him. "You don't believe me?" she repeated.
Ben nodded. "Listen here, lightsaber head," Toph retorted. "You think being a Jedi gives you the right to tell people how they should feel."
Ben shot her a look. "This has nothing to do with me being a Jedi, Toph. I just want to know how you're feeling."
Toph looked away, a profound melancholy clouding her gaze. She crossed her arms and stared at the floor. "Fine," she said curtly.
"Fine?" Ben repeated, prodding further. "Is there..."
"Fine," Toph repeated, cutting him off.
Ben hesitated, his outstretched arm falling to his side as he gazed up at the cloudy sky. "I know you're not fine, Toph," he said, addressing the heavens. Toph brought her gaze back to meet his. "You're just deflecting. You're not actually okay, right?"
Toph remained silent, staring at the ground. Ben pressed on. "There's strength in sharing your struggles with your friends and allies. Bottling up your emotions will only make them fester..."
Toph's sneer cut through the air like a blade. "These feelings I have, Ben, you don't know the half of it," she declared, her voice edged with determination. "All Fire Nation members and Sith are going to get their heads banged around. I promise that."
"Toph, not all Fire Nation members are bad, and sometimes people can gain redemption," Ben reasoned, his voice calm.
"Tell that to Sokka," Toph snapped back.
Ben's eyes narrowed, his features hardening. "Watch your mouth," he said bluntly.
Toph felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her, threatening to spill over. Ben's expression softened again. "Hey, Toph, it's..." he began, but then he sighed, his resolve firm. "You really cared about Sokka, didn't you?" he asked gently.
She nodded slowly, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Ben sighed and knelt before her, locking eyes with her. "I know how horrible it is to lose friends. You've lost Jet, now Sokka, and Aang is in this state... I've lost dozens due to the Mandalorian and Jedi Civil War, but it doesn't get any easier."
"What am I meant to do?" Toph choked out, her voice trembling with emotion. "What am I meant to..."
"I don't know what you're meant to do, Toph, honestly," Ben admitted, speaking from his heart. "Before, I didn't know what my role was here. Aang was the fancy Avatar and already had his crew. But I saw their determination to make the world a better place, and I aligned with them. I bore the darker burdens for them, not realizing back then that I was weakening them. The losses of Jet, Sokka, and the others... Rowan and Arya."
Toph's eyes widened at the mention of their names. "You feel..." she began.
"Of course I do," Ben replied somberly. "Toph, before all of you, it was Rowan and Arya... Tressal and Shan. They were practically brother and sister to me... But Arya, she was..."
"I love you..." Arya's final words echoed in his mind, just before he ended her life with his lightsaber.
Ben shook his head, his determination burning bright. "I have no doubt that Ozai and the Dark Lords had a hand in this. Not just them, but the whole lineage... since the Fire Lord that marked the dawn of this war and the Dark Lords. I will have justice for this world. For orphans like Jet, for young men like Sokka, and for Arya and Rowan."
Silence hung heavy in the air as Benjamin's voice echoed with a profound sadness, each word carving its way into Toph's consciousness, intensified by her lack of sight.
"I don't know, Toph, what went wrong, what changed?" Benjamin's voice carried the weight of unspoken grief. "All I know is that Arya and Rowan lost themselves... they turned and hurt my friends, they murdered my brothers. While there were great times, they cannot be forgiven for that. Do you know what happened when I killed them? Arya told me that she loved me."
Toph's eyes widened in disbelief. "She did?" she echoed. "I heard from Ty Lee that she was obsessed with capturing you, but she seemed to harbor hatred as well."
Benjamin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground beneath him, the soil... like the earth of Dantooine, where he and his friends once played and sparred with their blades. And he ended them.
"She seemed like bad news, like a restrained, silent Azula," Toph continued, recalling the devastation Arya had brought upon her village. "I can't forget when she aided Lord Ruin in burning my village and..."
Benjamin interrupted her, his voice heavy with contemplation. "She could have begged for her life, she could have done anything, but she told me... that she loved me?"
He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "And I could feel the force within that word. She did love me truly. I was just too blind to notice it back then. Too fixated on my dead mother or my lightsaber. Ever since I realized they, like me, were marooned, I tried to get them to turn. They mocked me, defied me, hunted me. They murdered my brothers. And Arya told me seconds before I plunged my lightsaber into her... that she loved me."
The words left his lips, devoid of power, but laden with exhaustion.
"Was that her purpose?" Benjamin mused aloud. "Was she hoping to unsettle me or to lower my guard? But I know how feelings resonate through the force. I know that empathic sensation when I feel it... and I don't think she was lying."
Benjamin's gaze returned to Toph, his eyes holding a mixture of resolve and sorrow. "You are asking me how to continue. I don't know how, but I've decided not to dwell in the past anymore and to work towards making the world a better tomorrow."
He sighed heavily. "They brought their doom upon themselves, Toph. I will mourn the Arya and Rowan that I once loved, but I won't mourn the people they became. But I did love them, Toph. I loved them like I loved all of you, but there is a difference..."
Toph raised her gaze to meet Benjamin's, but the smile she sought was hidden from her. "A difference?" she echoed, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Benjamin continued, his words carrying a weight of regret and determination. "I made a mistake by not going back, by not facing judgment but instead prioritizing the safety of my friends and myself. If I had, maybe I could have intervened, and things might have turned out differently. I don't know. But what I do know is that I will never leave you guys. Ever." He extended his hand towards her. "Come on, Toph. Let's get out of here. There will be a proper time and place to grieve, but I'm going to need you to..."
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the air, sending a massive plume of smoke billowing into the sky miles down the road. Toph's eyes widened in alarm. "What was that?" she exclaimed.
Benjamin stared in the direction of the explosion, his expression shifting from confusion to realization. "I don't know," he replied, his eyes widening. The sight before them was ominous—an immense, smoking anomaly that demanded attention.
Toph pressed, her voice urgent. "Ben, what is it?"
A broad smirk spread across Benjamin's face. "Haru."
Meanwhile, at the docks, where ships typically departed for Ba Sing Se, the scene was one of routine activity. Fishing boats bobbed lazily in the water, their crews going about their business. Yet, the tranquility was shattered by a streak of fire that tore through the sky.
Even the Fire Nation soldiers stationed there were taken aback, their mundane activities interrupted by the sight of a flaming ship hurtling toward them. Flames licked at the ocean's surface, casting an eerie glow as molten metal surged in its wake.
Azula, observing from her command ship, felt a surge of unease. "What is that?" she demanded, her voice tinged with apprehension.
Zhao, ever the opportunist, drew closer to Azula, his features reflecting a mix of concern and excitement. Meanwhile, Thomas, the enigmatic darksider assigned by Sith Lady Jax, watched with a sense of anticipation, his blue eyes gleaming beneath his Fire Nation visor.
"So, it begins," Thomas murmured to himself, sensing the impending chaos. As unrest brewed among the Fire Nation soldiers and fellow dark Jedi, Azula sought answers, her voice tinged with urgency. But as Zhao moved closer, a subtle movement beneath his breastplate hinted at secrets yet to be revealed.
Thomas recoiled, his instincts on high alert. "What the hell," he muttered under his breath, eyeing Zhao warily.
Zhao tightened his grip on Azula, his demeanor shifting into one of calculated menace. "Princess, it's not safe," he hissed, shooting a venomous glance at Thomas. His tongue darted along his pointed teeth, a sinister undertone coloring his words. "Do your job, darksider. I'll ensure the princess's safety. Then, we can both indulge in the slaughter."
Thomas's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you talking about? That's a Fire Nation warship, one of ours!"
A sneer curled on Zhao's lips as he gestured outside. "Something allowed them entry. You and I both know the Fire Nation high command controls everything coming in and out."
"If the Avatar is dead, then there's nothing to fear," Thomas retorted, defiance lacing his tone.
Zhao's glare bore into him, but then he smirked, his demeanor shifting once more. "What's your name?" he inquired, his gaze unsettling.
Reluctantly, Thomas responded, feeling uneasy under Zhao's scrutiny. "Thomas."
"Thomas, hm? Quite an interesting name," Zhao remarked with a chuckle.
"It's a family name," Thomas offered.
Zhao said nothing in response, instead guiding Azula to safety despite her protests.
As Thomas observed Zhao's actions, he couldn't help but wonder if the great Admiral Zhao had always been this way. Stories of Zhao's exploits were a mixed bag, but witnessing his ruthlessness firsthand left Thomas unsettled.
Turning his gaze to the window, Thomas surveyed the Fire Nation soldiers below. His thoughts drifted to Ben's words— "Freedom, soon..." With a heavy sigh, he began to walk away, knowing Jax would be furious if she discovered he had left Zhao alone with Azula. Despite her betrayal of her brother, Azula was still the princess and a valuable asset.
Heading toward his room, Thomas's mind buzzed with plans finally coming together. Upon entering, he hurled his Fire Nation helmet against the metal wall with a resounding thud before collapsing into his chair. Cracking his neck, he peered down at the object before him.
A smirk tugged at his lips. "I'll complete you," he murmured to the object. "And I'll figure out what's going on with that crystal. Maybe..."
Thomas paused, reaching into his pockets and retrieving a jagged, yellow crystal, half the size of his thumb. With a sense of urgency gripping him, he poked his head out, sweat forming on his brow as he delved back into his work. Outside, he could already hear the chaotic scrambling of people.
"I've got to complete you," he muttered, his gaze flicking back to the fiery vessel looming before him. "I was able to get the door open for you. Now it's your turn...get Benjamin and the rest, and hopefully, the rumors are not true."
Thomas's eyes and fingers moved with purpose as he clicked together the final components, the force sealing in the gaps. His tools bore the traces of his sweat, and he had shed his armor, opting for a simple sweater, worker pants, and brown boots, accentuated by darker shades. He smirked as he adjusted his receding hairline. "The ladies love it," he murmured to himself. "They dig confidence too...and I'm going to need a whole hell of a lot of confidence."
Rising to his feet, Thomas grabbed his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. Beneath his bed, he retrieved a raft he had purchased with funds from the town's remnants—a small kayak and paddle to transport him where he needed to go. Initially intended to leave Ba Sing Sai, now it was time to help Ben.
His eyes narrowed with determination as he whirled around, outstretching his right hand. The force responded, the lightsaber flying from the table into his waiting grip. With a smirk, he examined the blade, igniting its crisp yellow hue. "Time to make things right."
Meanwhile, Haru was tirelessly working to prevent further chaos. In the command vessel, fire catapults rained down from above. "Return fire!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chaos. "Fire the cannons!"
In response, the cannons boomed and fired, unleashing grapeshot that tore through Fire Nation soldiers and dark Jedi alike. Even the powers of the force couldn't withstand the onslaught, as grapeshot ripped through flesh and bone, leaving a trail of death in its wake.
One Fire Nation soldier froze in horror, watching as a Sith man in his twenties was torn apart by the grapeshot, collapsing to his knees in a pool of blood.
They entered the city, chaos and destruction trailing in their wake. Shops crumbled, their structures collapsing in fiery ruins, and citizens, innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire, lay scattered on the streets. Haru and his companions watched in horror at the devastation they had wrought, the weight of their actions heavy upon them.
"There will be repercussions for this," Bato stated bluntly, his voice laden with concern.
Haru's gaze remained fixed ahead. "I will accept whatever punishment," he replied resolutely. "But Ben needs help, and Aang needs a proper doctor. The moment he clears on the ship, we're pushing and leaving."
Bato's eyes widened in disbelief. "You have so much faith in them?" he questioned skeptically. "You said yourself that many of them are injured, and that one of them—" He hesitated, the unspoken thought hanging heavily in the air.
Haru met his gaze unwaveringly. "I believe in my master. Benjamin may be young, but he knows how to make the impossible possible at times. Put some faith in him. Soon, Aang, Ben, Katara, Sokka, and all the rest will be here."
And then they were.
Amidst the crescent of burning buildings, the smoke billowing into the sky, Ben led Appa forward with determined purpose. The members of Team Avatar glanced around in shocked horror at the devastation, the flames licking at the edges of their reality.
"Is that..." Katara began, her voice trailing off in disbelief.
Ben urged Appa onward. "Yip yip!" he yelled, charging towards the fire nation warship like a force of nature unleashed.
"What are you doing!" Toph shouted, her hands gripping the handles tightly.
"That's Haru...that's the sign!" Ben exclaimed triumphantly. Finally, Haru had arrived, and with him, they could escape this cursed city. They could get Aang the help he desperately needed, and they could lay Sokka to rest.
Appa descended like a white bullet, his roar echoing through the air as he landed on the scorching black steel deck of the warship.
Ben's breath came in ragged gasps as he surveyed his team, concern etched into his features.
"Is everyone okay?" he asked breathlessly, turning to check on his companions.
Katara managed a shaky thumbs-up and a forced smile, but Zuko, gripping the reins of Appa, doubled over, retching violently.
"Well, that could've gone..." Ben began, his words trailing off as his eyes widened in sudden realization.
"Ben, what's—" Ty Lee's eyes snapped open as she—
Ben was already in motion, instinct guiding his every move. He dodged a well-placed fireball aimed at him, a dance of survival amidst chaos. With a graceful leap, he soared into the air, landing squarely on the bent and worn metal frame of the vessel.
His lightsaber whirred to life, its vibrant glow casting shadows against the grim backdrop. From his vantage point, Ben surveyed the scene unfolding below. Fire Nation soldiers swarmed, their imposing figures silhouetted against the fiery horizon. Small ships emerged from the colossal metal vessels, hurtling towards them with alarming speed.
"I've never seen a ship move that fast before," remarked a new voice, tinged with awe and apprehension.
Turning, they beheld Haru once more, his figure clad in European-inspired knight plate armor. A blue lightsaber blazed in his grasp, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. Rebels, armed and determined, stood alongside him, their resolve unyielding.
"Haru!" Ben cried out, relief flooding his voice as he rushed to embrace his apprentice.
"It's good to see you all," Haru acknowledged, returning the embrace with heartfelt warmth.
Katara, overcome with emotion, nearly tackled Haru in her fervent greeting. "It's great seeing you again," she exclaimed, her words laden with unspoken gratitude and relief.
Haru sighed, his gaze sweeping over the group, until it settled on a familiar face.
"That's Zuko, Prince Zuko," Haru observed, his tone laced with surprise. "What is he doing on the back of—"
"Long story," Ben interjected, his voice terse with urgency. "We've got to get the hell out of here as quickly as we can."
Bato, ever pragmatic, voiced his agreement. "I agree with the Master Jedi. The longer we wait here with our hands tied behind our backs, the quicker it'll take for them to recalibrate and launch an actual attack."
Haru snorted in reluctant agreement. "That's simpler said than done."
"What do you mean?" Toph interjected, her impatience palpable. "We're already on the boat…let's scram!"
But Haru turned to Ben, a grim expression clouding his features. "We...we need to refuel at the very least. The damage is surface level, and while these vessels are strong—"
"We can't push it," Ben interjected firmly, his gaze flickering towards the opposite end of the boat.
"Damn, they got motor boats," he muttered, his tone tinged with grim realization.
All eyes turned towards him, anticipation hanging heavy in the air as Bato sought clarification. "You know what those things are, Master Jedi?" he inquired, his voice edged with urgency.
Ben's eyes widened, a flicker of realization passing between the members of Team Avatar. He possessed knowledge that shouldn't be his, gleaned from the vast archives of holorecords and textbooks. Motor boats, fueled by diesel, were commonplace on worlds teetering on the brink of industrial revolution. The significance of this fact was lost on his companions.
"There is no matter or point to how I know," Benjamin stated, his tone resolute as he strode towards the end of the metal railing. His gaze widened as black dots appeared on the horizon, converging towards them with ominous intent.
A heavy snickering emanated from a small Fire Nation blimp hovering overhead. It bore a striking resemblance to the craft they had used to turn the tide of battle at the ruins of the Air Temple.
"Wasn't that the thing we used to turn the tide of the battle at the ruins of the Air Temple?" Katara prodded, her expression shifting to one of horror as she connected the dots. "Teo and the rest, they are…"
Ben's features contorted into a sneer as he shook his head, memories of Teo and his village flooding his mind. But now wasn't the time for dwelling on the past.
"We've got everyone," Haru announced, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Kennobec, tell the captain to haul us as far away from Ba Sing Sai as possible."
Haru turned to Ben. "What's the plan, master?"
Ben chuckled, his bronze lightsaber gripped tightly in both hands as he observed the approaching blimp. "Really, fancy general," he remarked. "You sure you want me to…"
"So, Zu Zu…you're alive!" The voice echoed with manic glee, reverberating through the air.
"Azula," Zuko muttered, his voice tinged with fear.
Katara's voice was devoid of terror as she echoed the same name. "Azula."
"I am going to celebrate becoming an only child!" Azula's voice boomed, filled with unhinged excitement as she propelled herself forward, a blast of fire hurtling towards them.
Zuko surged forward to meet his sister, unleashing a torrent of fire that clashed with Azula's own. The siblings engaged in a fierce battle, their flames intertwining amidst the chaos. "Katara, we've got to join the fight!" Ben's urgent cry pierced through the tumult.
Katara's lips curled into a determined smirk. "You don't need to tell me twice." With a swift motion, Ty Lee's lightsaber ignited, casting a crimson glow in the shadow of the conflict.
"A traitor still remains!" Azula's voice echoed with madness. "I'll deal with her and the lover boy after I'm done with you, Zu Zu!" Another fireball erupted from her fingertips, narrowly missing Zuko as he evaded with lightning reflexes.
"Zuko!" Ben's voice rang out with concern.
"Wait, Prince Zuko?" Haru's response was hesitant. "He's on our side now?" he queried, confusion etched on his features.
Ben nodded in affirmation, while Katara shot Haru a withering glare. Haru hesitated momentarily before acquiescing to Ben's command. "Well, I guess we've got to help," he conceded.
Katara's sneer spoke volumes. "Guess we've got to," she replied tersely.
Amidst the chaos of battle, all eyes were fixed on Zuko and Azula as they danced through the fray, dodging and weaving between fireballs.
"I have come, princess," announced Zhao, leaping from atop Azula's blimp. The arrival of the unexpected figure drew the attention of all present, including Ben, Ty Lee, and...
"Stay away from that...abomination!" Thomas's voice cut through the din, his arrival bringing a momentary stillness to the chaos.
"T-Thomas..." Ben's voice faltered in disbelief.
Azula's gaze narrowed on Thomas, recognizing him instantly. "Sith Warrior Thomas!" she spat the title with venom. Despite her disdain, Thomas remained unfazed, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Busy ruining you and the Fire Nation's plans," he retorted, his tone dripping with confidence.
Azula regarded him with a mixture of contempt and curiosity. "Are you a fool...do you not understand what you are about to do?" she challenged, her voice laced with a warning.
"Yes, I do," declared Thomas, his hand drifting down to his waist, where something stirred along his belt. "I understand better than anyone, I believe. Before, I was lost in darkness... but then I found the light."
Drawing his hands together, he tightened his grip on his lightsaber, a smirk playing on his lips as he ignited the yellow blade. Azula's eyes widened, locking onto him. "So, you're an enemy of the Fire Nation... is this your great declaration?" she taunted, chuckling loudly.
Thomas shook his head. "The children of the Jedi are together... and they are all strong within the Force!" With augmented speed, he propelled himself forward, beaming towards Zhao.
With his ignited blade, Thomas closed in on Zhao, who rushed to deflect the attack. But instead, Thomas surged forward and severed Zhao's hand from his body. Shock and surprise rippled through the onlookers, including Azula, who was stunned by the turn of events.
Yet, it was not Thomas who drew Azula's attention, but the fact that Zhao remained eerily silent, staring at his burnt stump. "Is that all a Jedi's got?" he sneered.
"Huh?" Thomas questioned, taken aback as Zhao seized his face and lifted him into the air with his remaining hand.
"So, this is the strength of a proud son of the Jedi. Tell me, son of Jedi... do you feel strong?" Zhao's voice echoed with dark amusement.
A torrent of water surged forth, sweeping up Zhao, who released his grip on Thomas. As Thomas rose, wet and determined, he retrieved his lightsaber with the Force. "I figured that thing wasn't going to die easily," Katara muttered with heavy disgust.
"Thing?" Zuko questioned, his eyes blazing with anger as he faced Zhao. "I saw him die in the North Pole!"
Haru clicked his lips in disbelief. "Well, the Great General Zhao stands before us, in the flesh."
"Zhao?" echoed Zhao, a sinister gleam in his eye. "I am a product."
With a sudden burst of energy, he lunged towards them, unleashing a wave of fire. Ben's scream pierced through the chaos. "Kark it!" he yelled, unleashing a force push that sent the flames crashing back into Zhao's chest. With a flick of his wrist, Ben's bronze blade sliced along Zhao's back.
In the midst of the chaos, Thomas surged forward once more, delivering a forceful push that sent Zhao sprawling away on his stomach.
"Nice one!" cheered Ty Lee, but the joyous moment shattered as Zhao convulsed, his body contorting in unnatural ways. A grotesque stinger emerged from his lips, his eyes ablaze with an eerie power. Even Azula was momentarily taken aback by this strange display, while Zuko seized the opportunity to launch a ferocious fireball. Azula managed to deflect it, but the force of the impact sent her hurtling off the ship.
Ben surged forward with the blessing of the Force propelling him, meeting Zhao head-on. The former general's body had undergone a horrifying transformation, new muscles bulging and crimson veins snaking beneath his skin. With each strike, his stinger lashed out at impossible angles, but Ben danced around them, dodging with uncanny agility.
A blow aimed at Ben's midsection was swiftly avoided as he closed in on Zhao. With lightning reflexes, he lunged forward, his bronze blade piercing Zhao's chest. With augmented strength fueled by the Force, he slammed him hard, denting the metal of the ship.
Ty Lee, Haru, Katara, and even Prince Zuko stood in shock at the brutal display of power. Ben rose, breathing heavily, before leaping off Zhao's prone form.
"Is it over?" questioned Haru, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
Ben's eyes scanned the motionless figure, widening in realization. "Guys... it's regenerating," he stated grimly, pacing around the corpse with his blade at the ready.
Zuko's gaze lingered on the grotesque sight. "The Sith have many dark arts at their disposal," Ben explained, his tone grave. "But I've never witnessed Sith alchemy of this magnitude... to resurrect the dead, or..." he trailed off, his mind grappling with the implications.
Katara stepped forward, her voice filled with a mix of dread and understanding. "The Fire Nation and the Sith... Ben once told me they unlocked the secrets of Sith Alchemy. The Force... what Ben and his allies wield, it can be harnessed for truly magical purposes. A powerful Sith Lord must have resurrected Zhao," she concluded.
Zuko shook his head, his expression troubled. "It's not Zhao," he declared, his eyes fixed on the creature before them. "It may look and act like him, but there's something fundamentally wrong... it's almost like..." his voice trailed off, leaving a chilling uncertainty hanging in the air.
"His spirit is corrupted," Toph's voice cut through the tension like a knife, sending a shiver down their spines.
"What are we going to do, Ben?" Haru's voice trembled, his blade still ablaze with the remnants of battle. The tide had turned in their favor, the ship now surging away from the chaos of Ba Sing Se, towards freedom.
"I'm still figuring that out," Ben replied, his mind racing.
With a sudden determination, Ben ignited his blade and began hacking at the hull, sending chunks of metal flying. Confusion clouded the others' faces until Ben's plan became clear.
"All Force users, if he can't die, we'll push him into the ocean!" Ben's voice rang out with authority.
Ty Lee, Haru, and Thomas nodded, their blades still alight. The bronze of the Heart of the Guardian hummed alongside amethyst, guardian blue, and sentinel yellow.
Haru gestured towards the corpse, watching with a grimace as wounds healed before their eyes. "Hurry!" he urged.
"He can heal quickly," Katara observed, her gaze filled with hatred as it flickered towards Zuko, frozen in shock. "Another evil demon born from the Fire Nation."
Ty Lee and Thomas leaped into action, their blades descending towards the handlebars as they plunged into the ocean currents. "Now, Katara, wield the water and push him into the ocean!" Ben commanded.
Katara's resolve hardened as she leveled her hands, summoning the water with a deep breath. The waves rose, swelling higher and higher.
A great wave crashed over Zhao as he emerged, his eyes burning with intensity. "I will come for you...!" His defiant shout was cut short as the green ocean closed in around him, swallowing him and the chunk of the ship whole.
Breathing heavily, the group stood amidst the aftermath, their lightsabers still humming in the heavy silence. Katara rushed to Ben, offering him her flask of bending water. Unlike before, he eagerly gulped it down, a hint of greed in his eyes.
He tossed the flask to Thomas, who caught it with a grimace. "What's this?" he grumbled, eyeing the flask suspiciously.
"Her bending water," Zuko's interruption sliced through the air, drawing a sharp glance from Katara. Ben simply sighed, too exhausted to engage in this argument today.
Ty Lee approached him, her hand finding his as she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, her grey-brown eyes alight with triumph. "We did it," she exclaimed, her smile infectious.
"Yeah, we did," Ben agreed, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face as he pulled her close. They separated as the warm glow of the sun bathed the vessel in golden light.
"Now, we must discuss the future," Ben addressed his small group, his voice carrying the weight of determination. "Aang will awaken, whether it be tomorrow, next month, or even next year. We are a talented group, capable of facing any challenge."
They shifted uncomfortably, but Ben raised his fist, his words pulsating with the power of the Force, quelling their doubts. "Ozai, Azula, and the Sith Dynasty will not defeat us. We have justice and the Force on our side," he declared, his gaze lingering on Katara.
He raised his bronze lightsaber, the blade humming with power as his hand reached out. "For Sokka," he uttered, the words heavy with emotion. Ty Lee followed suit, her own lightsaber joining his. "For Sokka," she echoed.
Sokka's name echoed through the air as they lifted their lightsabers in unison. For the fallen, they would be remembered and honored with a century of peace, a fitting tribute to their long century of war.