Chapter 7

Spirit!

Tense seconds passed by as the firebender gaped at the spirit in shock. He wanted to be wrong, to fall back on his common sense and dismiss the scene as sleep deprivation, but too many years of hanging around his Uncle had taught him to revere the supernatural, or at least to beware of their power. And this creature, this spirit, gave off an ethereal aura. Its energy, though, seemed gentle and harmless, quite different from the spirits often depicted in the myths and legends of his world. The spirit, for its part, continued to hammer away at the ship. All of a sudden, the hammering stopped and the spirit turned to meet Zuko's open eyes with an open smile. Shaking out of his stupor, Zuko mustered as much strength as he could and found his voice. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

Silence.

The spirit's gaze lingered on Zuko's form. Beads of sweat began to roll down the prince's forehead.

More silence.

"Why are you here?" Still, the spirit betrayed no hint as to why he was here. Zuko was starting to lose patience. Spirit or not, he could at least communicate in some way. One sided conversations were nothing but a drag.

Taking a deep breath, Zuko slowly counted to ten to cool his head and calm his mind. Steeling himself, he once again tried his hand at getting some answers. "I know what you are, Spirit. So tell me, why are you on this ship?"

For the first time since he had laid eyes on the spirit, its expression changed. The open smile it bore widened and a joyful sound – a laugh? – reverberated through the forest. "I see. You are a special one, Master Firebender-san." Zuko narrowed his eyes in a glare. Was this spirit mocking him?

Wait a second- it knows what I am!?

"Are you sure you don't know who Iam, though?" The spirit stared into Zuko's irises, its tone sounded almost hurt. "I guess it can't be helped. We only just met a few days ago, and we haven't had much time to get properly acquainted with one another. You are the newest addition, after all."

Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, Zuko pondered on the spirits words. We only just met? Newest addition? Just what was this spirit going on about? A soft breeze drifted through the air. The light from the moon cast an eerie glow upon the ship. A strange energy rippled through Zuko's very being. Concentrating on that energy, he noticed a very peculiar fact. It felt very familiar. Almost like – Zuko's eyes flew open in astonishment. This Spirit – this energy – it feels like Merry!

If it was even possible, the Spirit – Merry?– widened its grin. "So you've finally realized, haven't you?"

His legs felt weak, as if they were about to give way right then and there, but Zuko held his ground. His body shook as he tried to process the recent information. How is this even possible? A million similar thought were racing through his head. Have the others met this Spirit before as well? Did they even know? Calming himself was become more difficult every second he thought about the sheer absurdness of it all. "What…? W-when…? How? "

The spirit closed its mouth and raised its head in thought. "Hmm? How? Do you mean how does a ship have a spirit? A soul?"

Zuko said nothing. He simply continued to gaze at the spirit in amazement.

Chuckling, the Spirit motioned for Zuko to come closer.

Carefully making his way to the edge of the shore, Zuko bent down to his knees and lowered his hands to the ground, closed them into fists, and concentrated. An abrupt combustion of flames erupted from his fists and propelled Zuko into the air. The technique was a more advanced move and required a steady output of fire to keep him from falling back to the ground. While Zuko had yet to fully master the technique, he was able to employ it in small quantities and for short bursts of time. If he could just increase his endurance, or at least find a way to harness energy quickly, this technique had the potential to become a valuable asset. Its fast drain on the energy of its users was what made it impractical for most benders. To use it effectively, one had to balance the distribution of energy that was poured into maintaining the power output which determined whether one would hover, fly, or fall headfirst into the dirt. Not to mention, the firebender had to have a large reserve of chi just to perform it in the first place. Fortunately, Zuko managed to make it all the way to the steps of the altar where the ship was perched without any problems, safely crossing the sky-shark infested clouds.

Zuko wasn't sure what had compelled him to listen to the Spirit, but he felt no immediate malice emanating from the ethereal being. Reaching the Spirit, Zuko leaned against the railing of the ship and motioned for it to continue. He ignored just how much stronger the feel of the ship was now that he was up close and leaning against it. It definitely felt… alive.

Now that he was up close and personal, Zuko could better make out the Spirit's form, though that wasn't saying much. There were no defining features it possessed. Its outlines made it out to somewhat look like the form of a man, but it was much different from what he was expecting in a spirit. It wasn't even transparent. It was simply white like the clouds that were plentiful on the island. The only thing he could make out, even at this distance, was its mouth, which was currently open in a smile, revealing a defining set of pearly white teeth.

"Let's see… how should I go about this? For starters, a ship is more than just a means to an end. It is a collection of memories. All the people who come aboard its decks, all the joy, all the laughter, all the good times and the bad are ingrained deeply within every nook and cranny and floorboard. And sometimes, once in a million really, a ship is blessed with a crew that's boisterous and caring."

Piecing together what the Ship-Spirit was hinting at, Zuko sat down. "You mean like the Straw Hats, right?"

The Spirit nodded. "Yes. Exactly like the Straw Hats. You've only just begun to travel with them, but I have been with them every step of the way. And I could not have asked for a better crew." Genuine gratitude seeped from the Spirit. "But sadly, I'm afraid that I won't be able to carry them on their journey."

Zuko frowned. "What do you mean?"

The Spirit seemed to deflate. "A ship can only last for so long. My body is wearing away as it is. It's only a matter of time before I break apart. I only hope that the others will have found a different boat by then."

Zuko stood up. It wasn't like him to get so riled up over something as trivial as having to change boats, but his time with the group of pirates was starting to change the way he thought and acted. "Hold up. I may not have been with them for long, but I know enough to know that they won't give you up so easily, especially Ussop." The mention of the long-nosed pirate caused something resembling a tear to fall from where Zuko guessed the Spirit's eyes would have been, could he see them. "He loves this ship more than anyone. He tries so hard to fix you up. There's no way he'll let you go!"

The Spirit sighed. "For the sake of the crew, he has to. My only wish is to carry them just a little further. No amount of fixing will be enough to save me, Zuko."

"There has to be another way!"

The Spirit of the Going-Merry shook its head sadly. "I wish there was, but there isn't. Please, Zuko, you must convince them."

Zuko covered his face with his hands and sighed. "How am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to tell them that they have to trash the ship they love so much?"

"You will find a way. I am sorry to ask such a task of you, after all that you have been through."

Alarm bells went off in Zuko's mind. "You… how do you know about me? I haven't told anyone about my past besides Robin, and even then I didn't tell her much."

The Spirit's eye twinkled with mischief. "You stepped foot on this ship, Young Prince. This ship is my domain. From the second you stepped on, your soul formed a bond with it, no matter how small or brief it may have been." Zuko's eyes were wide in disbelief. "I told you earlier, didn't I? A ship is a home, a haven for those who seek it. As they sleep their dreams, their memories, they all seep into the very floorboards. The longer they stay the stronger the bond until they become one with the ship and the ship becomes one with the crew." The Spirit giggled. "Don't worry though; your secrets are safe with me."

Zuko frowned as he processed the information. While he wasn't exactly comfortable with the fact that this Spirit apparently knew his deepest and darkest secrets, there wasn't much he could do about it. Besides, there was something more important that he wanted to find out. He looked up at the Spirit. "Can I ask you something?" A nod from the Spirit led Zuko to continue. "Do you know how I can get back to my own world? Back to my home?"

A sigh from the Spirit dashed Zuko's hopes. "I'm sorry, but I do not. The door that connects your world and this one was open only for a split second. It must have taken a very powerful spirit just to open it in the first place." Zuko was reminded of the Avatar and how he was glowing brightly the last time he saw him. "The spirits of this world have grown weary over the years. Their power is but a fraction of what it once was. In contrast, the people here are tremendously strong. Also, this world contains a dark secret, one that has been kept hidden for over 800 years. Would you like to know what it is?" The Spirit smirked, waiting to see Zuko's answer.

Zuko waved his hand in dismissal. "No. Besides, I have a feeling if I stick around with these guys long enough, I'm bound to figure out some pretty deep shit, whether I want to or not."

The Spirit laughed a joyous laugh. "A good answer! I look forward to having you aboard my decks, Prince Zuko!"

"I do have one more question though," continued Zuko. The Spirit smiled and motioned him to continue. "How is it that I can see you? I've never been able to see spirits before. In fact, as far as I know, the only mortal man that could was my Uncle, and that was only after his journey into the Spirit World."

The Spirit's smile widened. "Oh? But didn't I just tell you how you got here in the first place." Zuko's eye's widened in understanding. "Yes, that's right. When you entered this world you did so by passing through the doors that connect your world with this one. There are many doors, Prince Zuko, all leading to different paths, to different doors, to different worlds. I may not know much about the other worlds, but I hear some of them are pretty wild!"

The Spirit chuckled. "Anyways, these 'doors' are accessible only through specific points. Spiritual points."

Realization dawned fully on the prince. "The Spirit World. I must have passed through it. That's how I can see you. When the Avatar went into the Avatar State, he must have opened a doorway to this world through the Spirit World and sucked me into it."

Smiling, the Spirit nodded. "Yes, that appears to be the case. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to open up another doorway. You'll have a hard time finding many spirits that can, especially in this world. I'm afraid you'll just have to stick around for a while."

Zuko sighed and nodded. While he was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to go back for some time still, he found that things were not as bad as they could be. At least he had run into some good people. Although, it was pretty creepy that he had the ability to see spirits now.

With all the excitement that had taken place, exhaustion began to overcome the firebender. The Spirit gave one last smile to the prince, before turning back to the broken mast. "Now, I think that's enough for one night. Rest easy, Master Firebender." A deep yawn escaped the scarred man's lips. He hadn't realized just how late it had gotten. In a few short hours, the sun would rise to give way to a new day, and Zuko's adventures would continue. The Spirit began to hammer away once more.

Zuko gave another yawn as the edges of his vision began to grow black.

"Sleep, Young Prince. And remember, keep this little meeting of ours a secret, ne?"

-X-

"…uko… Zuko.. Zuko!"

Zuko's eyelids shot open. Dazed, the prince regained his bearings. Free from his slumber, Zuko noticed two things. First, he had instinctively grabbed Ussop's hands and had a flaming fist mere inches away from the boy's freakishly long nose. Second, the rest of the crew were scattered around the deck of the ship, gawking at the numerous patch jobs that decorated the exterior. Releasing Ussop from his grip and extinguishing his flames, Zuko groggily shook away the last traces of sleep form his mind.

Nami walked up next to him. "Zuko, did you do all of this by yourself last night?"

Zuko sighed. So last night wasn't a dream. Remembering the promise he had made with the spirit of the ship, Zuko nodded in affirmation. He didn't trust himself to speak. He never was the greatest liar, after all.

Chopper circled him in awe. "So cool! I didn't know you could fix ships!"

It wasn't a total lie. Being banished and traveling the ocean on a ship for the better part of three years had forced Zuko to gain some rudimentary knowledge in patch jobs and simple fixes. However, that knowledge had been intended for the Fire Nation's sleek metal warships. A wooden ship was a different story altogether.

Ussop grinned up at him. Forgetting how he had been inches away from a burned off nose, the sniper slapped Zuko on the back in joyous fervor. "Well it's not much, but it's a lot better than I could have even hoped for. Thanks a lot, Zuko!"

The rest of the crew cheered for Zuko as well. A few moments later, Nami strode to the middle of the group and reminded the others of the plan to take down Enel and find the hidden gold. After freeing the ship from its perch on the altar, the group went their separate ways, knowing that it wouldn't be forever. Sanji, Nami, Ussop and Zuko stood at the edge of the ship, watching as their friends headed off and disappeared into the dense forest.

Zuko knew that the battles ahead would be tough. He had barely made it out alive against one priest. If Sanji and Luffy hadn't been there to finish him off, he probably wouldn't even be here right now. However, as difficult as it may be, Zuko found himself itching for a fight and let off some steam. It was almost as if the Straw Hats were rubbing off on him. He may have failed before, but Zuko never was one to give up. Not without a fight.

Not without redeeming himself.

The Straw Hats may have separated for now, but they would be back together again soon enough. Soon they would be reunited. Soon they would continue their adventures on the Grand Line. And soon they would shake the very foundations of this world.


Author's Notes:

Well, there you go, Zuko meets the Spirit of the Going Merry himself.

Ever since I had the idea of actually writing a crossover between these two shows, I've been wanted to write this scene. I don't know why exactly, I guess it had to do with the fact that spirits are a pretty big deal in Avatar and Zuko's uncle actually entered the Spirit World and gained the ability to see Spirits himself.

That said, I'm a little disappointed in how this turned out. Despite my discomfort, I'm posting it anyway if only to keep to my promise. I don't think it was that bad, I guess I was just hoping it would turn out better. I don't know. Hopefully you guys enjoy it though.

Anyway, for those of you who read my other story, The Flame to Kill a Titan, I apologize for the delay. I'll try to post it within the next few days. I had to choose between several different paths to take that would change the story dramatically. Hopefully, I made the right choice.

And for those of you who haven't read my other story yet, I highly recommend that you do. At least check out the first two chapters and let me know what you think. Some of you may not have heard of Attack on Titan, in which case you should definitely check out the anime. It's action packed right from the start and epic to the max. Of course, if you're squeamish, then steer clear. It's not for the faint of heart.

Once again, thanks for the reviews!

gamelover41592: Yep, he'll definitely learn Haki, but in due time.

untied fate and TexasBean: Thanks for the review and glad you like it so far! As for your questions:

1) Zuko can see Merry's spirit because of the fact that when Aang went into the Avatar State, he let out a little too much power and accidently triggered a doorway to the Spirit World. Poor Zuko got sucked in when the energy from the lightning still circulating in his body from Azula's attack mixed with the spiritual energy created by Aang. Zuko's uncle was said to have gone on a journey into the Spirit World after his son's death, which allowed him to see spirits in the real world, which was confirmed when he saw Roku's dragon in like, the first episode of Season 2 I think. Since Zuko passed through the Spirit World as well, he can now do the same. Plus, Ussop was also able to see the spirit of Merry as well, but I think that had more to do with the fact that he was so attached to the ship.

2) Yep. Haki is a must, though it won't be for a while.

3) You're just gonna have to wait and see! The arc I'm focusing on after this is Enies Lobby, so I'll let you take from that what you will ;)

The Samurai Prince: Haha, yeah. Zuko's got a long ways to go before he can cut it with the top dogs. Good thing he's got badasses like Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji to take notes from.