Chapter Four
Zhuge Liang finally reached his house. When he went in, Jade came running towards him at full speed. She almost knocked him down. She had a huge smile on her face.
Zhuge Liang: Whoa sis slow down. You're going to hurt yourself.
Jade: I know. But I wanted to be the first to ask you if you won the agni kai.
Zhuge Liang: That's like asking if the sky and ocean are blue. Of coarse I won.
Jade: That's awesome!
Zhuge Liang: I know. By the way, what are you doing out of bed?
Jade: After you left, the doctor came. He gave the ok and I'm all better now.
Zhuge Liang: That's good.
Jade: Yup. Now you can start training me in the martial arts.
Zhuge Liang: In due time sis. Not right away though.
Jade: Aw man. Come on Zhuge Liang. I really want to learn.
Zhuge Liang: I know I know. But you'll have to ask mother and father first. They're fire benders and they may want to teach you.
Jade: Okay.
Jade was pouting and was giving Zhuge Liang the sad puppy look. Zhuge Liang saw right through it and wasn't having none of it.
Zhuge Liang: Oh no Jade. The sad puppy look isn't going to work. Now where's mother and father?
Jade: They're in the garden. Mother is feeding the turtle ducks and father is having tea.
Zhuge Liang: I see. Lets go then.
Zhuge Liang and Jade went to the garden. There Zhuge Liang greeted his parents, who were eager to heard what happened at the palace.
Shui-Khan: Zhuge Liang, I see your back. From the look on your face, I take it that you won the agni kai.
Zhuge Liang: Oh yeah. Not only did I win, I embarrassed Azula in front of the spectators that were there.
Nu Kua: Did Lord Ozai admit that your skills wasn't dumb luck.
Zhuge Liang: Yeah. But I think I surprised him.
Nu Kua: How?
Zhuge Liang: I redirected Azula's lightening.
Shui-Khan: You can redirect lightening?
Zhuge Liang: Yes.
Shui-Khan: When did you learn that technique and who taught you?
Zhuge Liang: General Iroh taught me the technique two years ago. He secretly developed the technique while observing the water benders.
Shui-Khan: Why did he teach you the technique?
Zhuge Liang: He taught me the technique because he believed it would help me on my journey in becoming a master in the martial arts.
Nu Kua: Does that mean your chi is no longer dormant?
Zhuge Liang: Yup.
………: That is good to hear. I can tell Chibi to start your training immediately.
Zhuge Liang, Shui-Khan, Nu Kua, and Jade quickly turn in the direction where the voice coming. They saw an elderly man in a golden royal robe. His face was bearded and had a mustache. His eyes were gold colored. His hair, beard, and mustache were white as snow. He also wore a gold royal crown on his head.
Zhuge Liang and Shui-Khan went into their defensive positions while Nu Kua stood in front of Jade.
Shui-Khan: Who are you old man and where did you come from?
……..: It's okay. I'm not an enemy, but a friend.
Zhuge Liang: Why should we believe that?
……..: Because Zhuge Liang, I know your hatred for the royal family and I know you defeated Azula just recently at the fire lord's palace.
Shui-Khan: How do you know my son's name and his win over Azula.
……..: I know many things. Like how Ran and Shao deem you, your wife, and Zhuge Liang worthy in receiving the knowledge of the true way of fire bending.
Shui-Khan: What the hell?
Zhuge Liang: Who are you?
……..: I am the Jade Emperor.
Shui-Khan: You lie.
Zhuge Liang: I agree. The scriptures say the Jade Emperor resides in the spirit world. He is the spiritual ruler of the spirit world, the universe, and hell.
Jade Emperor: I see you know the scriptures very well.
Nu Kua: Okay. If you really are the Jade Emperor, why didn't you do something when Fire Lord Sozin killed off the Air Nomads and declared war on the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom?
Jade Emperor: The current state of the world is the reason why I created the avatar spirit in the first place.
Zhuge Liang: You created the avatar spirit?
Jade Emperor: Yes.
Zhuge Liang, Shui-Khan, and Nu Kua realized the Jade Emperor was telling the truth and immediately bowed. Jade was the only one stayed standing up. She was too curious about the Jade Emperor. She walked to over to him.
Jade: Um….Mister Jade Emperor sir.
Jade Emperor: Yes little one?
Jade: Are you really the spiritual ruler of........everything?
Jade Emperor: Yes I am.
Jade: Wow. That's amazing!
Nu Kua: Jade!
Nu Kua got up and went to get Jade but the Jade Emperor stopped her. He didn't see any harm in Jade asking questions. After all, she was a five year old girl and was curious about new things, places, and people. Zhuge Liang and Shui-Khan also stood up.
Shui-Khan: Lets all go inside.
Jade Emperor: Good, sounds like a good idea.
Shui-Khan: Okay then. This way please.
They all went into the house and entered the living room where they all sat.
Nu Kua: Would you like some tea?
Jade Emperor: No. But thank you anyway. I'm only here to speak to Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang: You came to here from the spirit world just to speak to me?
Jade Emperor: Yes.
Zhuge Liang: About what?
Jade Emperor: I have chosen you to help the avatar in ending the war.
Shui-Khan: Why him? Surely you could have chosen someone from the Earth Kingdom or the Water Tribes.
Jade Emperor: Yes I could have. But I didn't. The reasons being that Zhuge Liang hates Ozai, he wants the war to end so Jade can live in a peaceful world, and he has a deep compassion for others which tells me he is selfless.
Nu Kua: A lot of people affected by the war wants to live in a peaceful world.
Jade Emperor: That's true but……
Zhuge Liang: But that's not the only reasons isn't it.
Jade Emperor: No.
Shui-Khan: Then what is the main reason why you need my son's help?
Jade Emperor: Zhuge Liang. Have you ever wondered why your chi was dormant?
Zhuge Liang: Yes, but I couldn't think of any reason why.
Jade Emperor: The reason is because you have an unlimited amount of chi.
Zhuge Liang: What do you mean?
Jade Emperor: When you were born, your chi began to awaken. But because your tiny body couldn't handle to large amounts of chi at the time, it immediately shut itself down and became dormant.
Nu Kua: Then how do you explain his chi reawaking.
Jade Emperor: Remember, chi is the life energy that dwells inside every living being connecting them to each other, their surrounding, and the universe as a whole. The different parts of the body contain concentrated clusters of chi called chakras.
Shui-Khan: That's common sense. Every bender and non-bender knows this.
Jade Emperor: Yes, but Zhuge Liang is different.
Zhuge Liang: How so?
Jade Emperor: Your chakras were open which meant your chi would have been able to flow freely through out your body. But your chi was still dormant.
Zhuge Liang: I'm still don't get it.
Shui-Khan: I agree.
Jade Emperor: Zhuge Liang.........You would have died if your chi remained dormant.
Zhuge Liang and his parent was shocked by the Jade Emperor's revelation. But Zhuge Liang quickly made the connection. When his chi was first awaken, his new born body couldn't handle the strain his chi was causing. So the chi became dormant until his body could handle it. But because of it's dormancy, Zhuge Liang would have eventually died and spirit would have cease to exist.
Zhuge Liang: Okay. I get why my chi was dormant and reawaken itself, but those that have to with me helping the avatar.
Jade Emperor: If you accept. I'll take you to someone in the spirit world who will teach you how to bend the elements. Besides, I know that you aways wanted to help the avatar.
Shui-khan: Only the avatar can bend the four elements.
Jade Emperor: That is true. But that is only because of the avatar spirit. Your unlimited amount of chi will give you access to the elements. Normal benders doesn't have this luxury because they don't have the kind of chi you have. Just like the avatar, you will be a unique bender.
Zhuge Liang: Lets said I do accept this and I leave with you, Lord Ozai will notice my absence and will harass my family to find out here I went. I don't want them to suffer.
Jade Emperor: I've already thought about that. I went to Kyoshi Island and spoke to the Governor there. He and the villagers there will accept and provide you shelter from the fire nation. Ozai will never think to look for your parents and sister there.
Shui-Khan: I see. Kyoshi Island was the home to Avatar Kyoshi after she separated it from the rest of the Earth kingdom. I heard the people of Kyoshi have remained neutral in the war.
Jade Emperor: Yes. That is why it'll be the perfect place for you to be safe.
Zhuge Liang: I need some time to think about this.
Jade Emperor: Very well. I will return in twelve hours.
Zhuge Liang: Thank you. That will more than enough time for me to make my decision.
The Jade Emperor got up to create a portal back to the spirit world. Zhuge Liang, his parents, and Jade also got up to bow to the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor entered the portal and returned the spirit world.
When the portal closed, Zhuge Liang went to his room to began his long contemplation on what the Jade Emperor told him. It was a lot to think about. He knew whatever he decided, his parent was going to support him. He also knew Ozai was probably plotting against him. After all, he did embarrass Azula and Ozai in front of the nobles. That was something to think about also.
End of chapter four