Chapter 25: Mortal
Kal El woke up a few days later inside a crumbling house. His chest was bandaged and his shirt was missing. He tried to get up, but felt pain in his chest. "What happened?" he wondered out loud.
"Azula hit you with lightning" Zuko said. "It would have killed anyone else."
Kal El tried to get up again, but his hand pressed against a sharp piece of wood. "OW" he cried out. He looked at his hand. I'm bleeding? He thought. His fingers had been cut by the wood and blood was slowly flowing.
"Drink this son" Iroh said as he handed Kal El some tea. "It will help you heal."
"Thank you" Kal El said, taking the tea. Drinking it Kal El felt the pain in his chest weaken. "Do you have any idea why I'm taking so long to heal?"
"Lightning can do some very nasty things to a person" Iroh said. "It may have been more than even you can handle."
"Maybe I'll feel better with some rest" Kal El said.
"That would be wise" Iroh said.
Kal El slept for several hours. During that time Iroh attempted to teach Zuko how to generate lightning, for when he would eventually face Azula again. However every attempt to create lightning would blow up in Zuko's face. One of the explosions woke up Kal El.
After getting up Kal El slowly walked outside the house. He watched as Zuko tried again to create lightning, only to fail again. Walking forward Kal El's foot hit a hard rock, and tripped. Something is very wrong with me he throught.
"You're awake" Iroh said. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Something's wrong father" Kal El said. He then punched the ground, only to cause pain in his hand. "My abilities are gone."
"For now perhaps" Iroh said. "But maybe they will return when you heal."
"But what if they don't" Kal El said. "What if Azula finds me in this condition. She'll kill me."
"Then you will have to find new ways to deal with her" Iroh suggested. "Perhaps a unique technique I know that Azula doesn't, because I made it up myself. Zuko! You should learn this too."
Outside Iroh explained the nature of the four elements to Kal El and Zuko, showing how it is wise to draw knowledge from all of them instead of just one. Iroh explained how he studied waterbenders and created the technique that can redirect lightning.
"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it" Iroh explained. "You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. From the stomach, you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly.
"And this will work even if I'm not a firebender?" Kal El asked.
"Yes, everyone regardless of bending ability possesses chi to use in this technique" Iroh explained. "Now we will practice the motion, and feel the flow of energy in your body."
Until sunset they practiced the technique. Zuko felt his chi flowing first. Kal El's injury slowed him down, but he felt his chi flow eventually. After Iroh declared that they mastered it Zuko wanted to try it with real lightning. Iroh refused to let him, saying that it was too dangerous. Zuko left to find natural lightning to practice with while Iroh and Kal El went to sleep.
Zuko came back during the night and woke up Kal El. With Iroh still asleep Zuko wanted a private conversation.
"Why did you do it?" Zuko asked. "Why did you free The Avatar? We could have been home by now."
"It was the right thing to do" Kal El said.
"You know I need The Avatar to restore my honor" Zuko said.
"At what price?" Kal El asked. "You've lost everything trying to capture him. Your ship, your crew, everything but the clothes on your back, just because your father said you don't have honor. He wants you dead Zuko. Your sister wants me dead. Even if you capture Aang you would only be thrown in prison and Azula would take the credit for capturing him."
"I still have to try" Zuko said.
"It isn't worth it" Kal El said. "Let Aang defeat your father and Azula. The people will turn a blind eye to your banishment and let you go home."
The two days later Iroh judged Kal El as fit to travel, so they and Zuko all got on the ostrich-horse and headed west. The plan was to head deep into the Earth Kingdom where Azula wouldn't be able to follow them. Iroh had given Kal El earth kingdom clothing to wear for the trip, since his old shirt was too damaged from the fight with Azula.
While traveling they were intercepted by the Rough Rhinos. Iroh recognized them, even calling Colonel Mongke by name. Iroh even mentioned they are a good singing group. When the Rough Rhinos attacked Iroh and Zuko easily dispatched them.
"Do you know anyone that won't try to kill us?" Zuko asked as they left.
Iroh lead Zuko and Kal El to a small town next to a desert. The trip took a few days, but in that time Kal El's injury had nearly healed. Once in the town they entered the local bar. Inside Iroh spotted a Pai Sho table.
"May I have this game?" Iroh asked the old man at the table.
"The guest has the first move" the old man replied. Iroh placed a White Lotus Tile in the center of the board. "I see you favor the White Lotus Gambit, not many still cling to the ancient ways."
Those who do can always find a friend" Iroh responded.
"Then let us play" The old man said. Then both players placed their tiles and formed a lotus shape on the board. "Welcome, Brother. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."
"What are you two talking about?" Kal El asked.
"Pai Sho is more than just a game" Iroh said.
The old man led everyone to a warehouse near the bar. Once inside he locked the door to prevent eavesdropping. "It is an honor to welcome such a high ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus. Being a grandmaster you must know so many secrets."
The old man led Iroh into a back room, leaving Zuko and Kal El outside. Iroh explained that entry to that room was members only and that they would have to wait outside.
"I wish I would still see through walls" Kal El complained.
"Since when could you do that?" Zuko asked.
"Not long after the North Pole I got stuck inside an unstable cave" Kal El said. "I couldn't see in the dark and somehow I began to see through the walls and didn't need any light."
"And that ability is gone too?" Zuko asked.
"All of them are gone" Kal El said. "As far as I can tell I am just as weak as any non-bender now."
"Here" Zuko said. He handed a small dagger to Kal El. "Something until you get your abilities back."
There was writing on the dagger, Never Give Up Without a Fight. Kal El smiled and said "Thanks Zuko. You're like the brother I never had."
Several hours passed and Zuko and Kal El quickly got bored waiting for Iroh. To pass the time Zuko helped Kal El practice with the dagger. Inside the locked room Iroh came up with the plan to head for Ba Sing Se. No one would notice three additional refugees and his contacts would provide forged passports. Once inside Ba Sing Se they would hide in plain sight.
"You're going to need a different name to use there, son" Iroh said.
"What are you using?" Kal El asked.
"Mushi, and Zuko is using Lee" Iroh said. "Perhaps we could call you Clark?"
"Where did you get that from?" Kal El asked.
"My wife wanted to give our first son that name" Iroh admitted, tears coming to his eyes. "I still miss them both."