Scrawled in the cave walls was an incantation. It read: Place the embodied soul here the soulless corpse will not resist.

"I need a body" the darkness echoed Zuko felt a presence on his shoulders pulling tightly.

"If you would be so kind…there seems to be a certain soulless body nearby…"

Zukos conscience was begging him not to do this, but what good had that gotten him in the past he sneered inwardly. His brow furrowed.

"Very well, I'll do it."

"That's a good boy" it chattered happily.

It was raining again.

"Oh, give me a break." He mumbled trudging back through the already softening ground.


"Hey, Katara I REALLY need your help so if you would wake up that would be GREAT." Sokkas voice barely reached Katara's conscious.

She rolled over looking above the mountains, which were cloudy with storm.

She mumbled something under her breath about the humidity doing nothing for comfortable sleep then she stood up using her water bending to splash water on her face.

No matter though, the next thing would wake her up.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the little water wench that escaped with the help of the traitorous bastard of a brother."

"Azula" she spared no hatred when uttering the princesses name. She was ready in fighting stance.

"Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn't do that" tsked holding up a scorning finger ticking it back and forth.

Katara's attention was drawn to her brother held captive by a fire nation soldier a blade dug into his neck a small spot of blood rose from the tip.

The water tribe girl gasped.


Zuko plopped the dead bandit in front of the symbols on the stone altar.

"Yes, yes very good." This startled Zuko a little he had forgotten about the disembodied voice.

"Finish it, please" it begged.

Zuko hesitated a moment longer but only leading to thoughts of revenge and the spirits promise, his only chance it seemed.

"Sometimes I wonder why you make the foolish choices you make honestly Zuko, one day you're going to make a decision that I fear will do more than scar you, my nephew."

Zuko scoffed the same way he had when his uncle had said it. "But I'm still alive…" tears threatened but he forced them down determined to be angry.

"Wellll?" the voice said impatiently.

Resolve flashed in his eyes.

"What do I do" Zuko said a little testily.

"Oh, I see a lack of the d--of the arts being practiced these days, very well" it sighed "Now, place your hands on the body" He hesitated a moment again not wanting to touch the body anymore than he wanted to pull his own eye out but the desire for power won over and he obliged obediently "good boy" the shadow seemed to squirm with anticipation.

Zuko awaited further instruction.

"Make sure you get the spell right." Was all the spirit said.

The boy shifted a little nervously at this realizing he wasn't exactly versed in the books of alchemy finally he sighed "how hard could it be to chant a few words?" he huffed.

Another impatient shimmer seemed to develop in the dark.

"You have to believe in the words, boy, don't falter, command them use my essence as well" he whispered somewhat urgently. "Doing it wrong could have dire consequences" the spirit sounded hungry at this the teen shivered a little angrily "What kind of 'consequences??" he yelled suddenly throwing his arms up in the air a little grateful to be free from touching the corpse, which, how he managed to dredge it up here would always be a mystery to him. He tried to force down the repugnant feeling as he thought about the corpse again. "Just do the incantation right and we shan't worry" it said annoyed pressing the blackness around Zukos form.

He sighed placing his hands back on the body a deep breath. Finally he began chanting the spell without falter.

"Good…"

A large red light filled the cave he instinctively raised his arm to block the blinding light.

He was thrown back he looked up to see a bandit standing over him offering him a hand it took a moment for him to realize it wasn't the bandit back for revenge and it was... well he realized he didn't know exactly.

"Need a hand, boy?"

Zuko stared a little shocked mouth agape but took the offered hand, though, with noted pause; he winced at the hands slimy cold.

"Now, this is much more easier isn't it, boy?"

"If you say so." The ex-prince said sounding very skeptical.

The bandit harrumphed

"Believe me it's only temporary" he grinned making the ex-princes stomach turn a little.

"Now all we need to do is bring back my full power in which to do so we must recover the sword of Otonashi Nori" the dead man grinned greatly as if he expected the exile to know exactly what he was talking about and run ahead enthusiastically, no such luck.

His face turned up into a sneer instead.

"Impossible!" Zuko hissed "The sword of 'Otonashi Nori' is merely a worn out legend told by commoners in the dark corners of the four kingdoms, nothing more"

"But it's not…" the bandit fumed angrily already losing patience the dead eyes glowed red for a moment the teen took a couple steps back.

"I'll show you the way"

"How?" he seemed to piece something together "Why would I help you anyway?"

"Well, because I'm going to give you the power to get that revenge you desire"

"What?? How do you…you expect me to believe you're just going to give me power—how do I know you won't just get this sword of Otonashi Nori and leave me?"

"Oh, leaving you is the last thing on my mind…besides the swords for you." He said looking intently into his face.

This gave Zuko pause.

"How can—"

"You trust me?" the bandit finished "First off call me Daisuke, please, and with given time I'm sure you will grow to trust me as a matter of fact you are my master."

"Me?"

"Yes observe your palm." He did an insignia glowed there.

"What..

"Does it mean" the man finished "My undying servitude is all, no pun intended, my boy" he gave Zuko a salute.

Zuko guffawed but the man wasn't finished.

"I'm not merely a spirit inhabiting a dead body, really I have power, that is at your disposal..go on give me an order Master…?" he prompted.

"Uh...Zuko" he finished.

"Ah yes, a fine name" He smiled bowing a little stiffly due to his current bodies condition.

Only the pattering of rain remained the dead bandit crossed his arms and began tapping a foot impatiently

"Well, Master Zuko...now don't be shy" He prompted.

He thought a moment surveying the cave.

"Uh, yes, destroy that uh rock there" he pointed to a rock just outside the cave walls.

Daisuke shrugged "Small fry" His eyes glowed and his shot a red bolt the rock was blown into tiny pieces.

Zuko was impressed. Daisuke grinned devilishly eyes still glowing red.