I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender or Pokemon.
Categories: Avatar the Last Airbender and Pokemon.
Zuko of the Pokemon - Discarded Divergence Version 1 Part 1
Chapter 4
Summary: The Avatar is the Bridge between the Material World and the Spirit World. (So why is Zuko doing his job?)
(The Winter Solstice Part 1: The Spirit World)
Day 30
"Uncle. It's time to leave! Where are you? Uncle Iroh!" as I push my way through a thicket of bamboo following Growlithe into a clear area. Normally I indulged my Uncle's vacationing habits with only mild irritation because he didn't have leave with me when I was banished but not today.
"Over here." I find him relaxing in a softly steaming spring.
"Uncle? We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail." Which is the reason I should be impatient and excited. The Avatar is my way home.
"You look tired, Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles." I roll my eyes at my Uncle's advice. On rare occasions in the past I have given in to his efforts to get me to relax but not this time. And if I truly needed to relax, I'd find somewhere isolated and safe to Call my Pokémon for no other reason than their company.
More seriously I reveal the actual reason for my urgency, "I've heard there is be a Spirit attacking a village." The Avatar should be my priority but I've spent almost three years chasing every-spirit tale I come across. "Hot springs are nice Uncle but people are dying and it is only likely to get worse the closer to the Solstice we get. We need to go now." Anyway the Avatar is supposed to be the bridge between humans and Spirits; perhaps if we go to a place where the balance between the two has been disturbed he will turn up.
"Very well." Iroh acknowledges, standing up, naked in the hot spring.
I groan, shielding my eyes from the sight of more nude flesh then I want to see. Turning I stare away from my Uncle as he dresses and consider the information I have. One of my soldiers was approached as he was asking about unusual events. The civilian who had approached him said that they had heard Senlin Village was being attacked by a Spirit. Apparently a citizen of the Senlin Village had fled to stay with a cousin in the same village as the civilian is from. At the time that they had fled two attacks had happened at sunset, both resulting in destruction and a villager being taken. They arrived in their cousin's village yesterday around midday. This civilian doesn't live in this town, they are here trading, but apparently they've heard rumours about the ship. About a Fire Nation ship that doesn't fly the Fire Nation flag, that doesn't attack unless attacked first and that follows a flame-scarred boy who chases strange things and fixes them. So they decided to tell my soldier about what was happening when they noticed him asking around. If this information is all correct then Senlin Village should have been attacked 3 times by now and will be attacked again tonight.
I need to be there today. Now is late morning, I want to be in Senlin Village by noon. That would give me time to investigate and if necessary leave the village before sunset. I set off back to my ship with Uncle and Growlithe. Who should I bring with me? I am not bringing Uncle. Yes, he knows an unusual amount about the Spirit World but I am not risking him and in any case I have practice dealing with spirits. Not to mention the number of spirit-tales I listened to or read about while investigating the Avatar.
Refusing to bring him will mean that I have to bring some of my soldiers. He will just follow me otherwise. Tadaaki and Hyousuke. They trust me implicitly and have been with me for most of my Banishment. They know how weird things can get and they won't panic. I don't want to bring any animals with me so that means using Pokémon as mounts. Fast Pokémon. We won't get there as fast as I want on foot. Tadaaki has Rapidash but neither Hyousuke or I have land-travel Pokémon. Which means we will need to bring someone else who does.
"Uncle, you're staying with the ship while I am gone in case anything unexpected happens." Kouki. He has Zebstrika and another firebender when going to deal with a probably hostile spirit isn't a bad idea. I glare at Uncle as he opens his mouth to protest. "No, I know you will insist I don't go alone, so I will take Kouki, Tadaaki and Hyousuke but you will stay to look after my men and my ship."
And for my men to look after you. Growlithe following behind I stride off to collect my escort, ignoring my Uncle's protests. We too close to areas where Earth Kingdom soldiers patrol. Capturing or killing the Dragon of the West would be a prize for any soldier that could manage it.
#
Arms curled around Tadaaki I frown at the large burnt out stretch of forest we are riding over. That looks recent. If it was started by humans then my bet is on furious nature-Spirit.
I press myself closer to Tadaaki has we pass out of the burnt area and into a still flourishing forest. Rapidash slows to a stop as the village walls came into view. It's remarkable just how fast Rapidash and Zebstrika can travel even with riders when they simply run.
Dismounting I look at look at the village. It seems fairly standard for the Earth Kingdom with large earth walls forming straight lines that conceal the houses within. Kouki and Tadaaki Recall their Pokémon as the four of us walk towards the village. We're not exactly trying to conceal the fact that we are Fire Nation; it is too likely that we will have to use our bending or our Pokémon, but we are not advertising it either. We left our armour behind on the ship, wearing the grey-brown military issue underclothes instead. All of us are openly armed. It tempting to bring my duel swords but that is a I skill I keep very quiet so instead I have the dagger Uncle gave me years ago, a few throwing knives and a spear. Not my preferred weapon but one I have a basic competence in.
The gates are open and no-one appeared to be guarding them so we simply walk in. Immediately damage is visible in the form of broken houses but more than that the village, is quiet, still, seemingly deserted. Besides from the recent damage it looks like a reasonably large and prosperous village so the utter absent of people was disconcerting. We head straight towards the large green building at on the opposite side to the gate's wall. If anyone is still here, that's where they will be.
I knock on the door frame. "Hello? We heard this village is being attacked by a spirit."
The door opens and a square jawed man with light brown hair bound up in a top-knot looks at us warily. "You have heard correctly…?" he asks, eyeing our weapons.
I cut straight to the point, skipping the implied question of who we are, "We investigate strange events, spirits, rogue benders, unusual wild Pokémon and such. We heard about the attacks on your village and came to see if we could help." seeing that he is listening I continue, "I can't guarantee that we will be able to help but we have experience and are willing to try."
After a moment, "If the spirit is still hostile by the time of the Solstice we won't be sticking around. I've done many inadvisable things, staying in range of an unreasonable spirit while the barriers between our world and the Spirit World are down is not one of them and I don't intend for it to become one. If that happens I would strongly recommend evacuating anyone who hasn't already fled."
The man still looks uneasy but less so then before and he let us into the building.
#
I'd spent over an hour questioning the village leader and everyone in the village hall from, young women to children, to collect and compare the information each of them gives me but now I am fairly confident in my guess as to the nature of the spirit and what had set it off. The question is, how does one go about calming an enraged Forest Spirit who has had its home burnt down?
We need to see what can be done to heal the forest and to find the totem figure of the Hei Bai if possible. And we need to do both these things before sunset. Walking out of the village with my escort inspect to the forest I grimace at the last challenge. And then we need to convince the enraged forest spirit to listen to a firebending human for long to calm it down.
Well priorities. Some of our Pokémon can look for the totem while see how the forest will recover.
"Kirlia, Roselia, Fletchinder, I ask for your aid." I Call. White light flares in front of me, two spots on the ground and one in the air.
"Fletchinder, please take a look around. If you can find a statue, shrine or totem, that would be useful but otherwise give us an overhead few of anything unusual or potentially dangerous." My Pokémon acknowledges my request with a cry and sweep of wings that carried him higher.
" Roselia, if you could help as investigate the damaged area of the forest with particular attention to the cause of the damage, how recent it was and how well the forest will heal from it and regrow that could be appreciated." he bows his green spiked head, assenting to my request a soft "Rose."
"Kirlia," a rueful grin pulls at my mouth, "you probably know better than me what you should be looking for but please keep an eye out for gateways to the Spirit World and such Spirit related things."
#
If we were going to leave then we would need to leave now. The sun has started to set. My escort are quiet and serious. All of us are a little dusty with ash dirtying our boots but we've found what we were looking for. A totem of the Hei Bai spirit; everything but explicit confirmation that the Hei Bai is a Forest Spirit that has made its home in and protects this forest and confirmation that the forest will regrow in time.
A forest guardian is not a weak Spirit and this close to the Solstice it will be fully capable of interacting with the world. It will have Pokémon; many, many Pokémon, Grass and Bug Types are likely to be the majority but anything that can be found in a forest is possible and lots of different Pokémon of different Types like forests. We do not want this to be a fight. We cannot win a fight. Survive and escape one? Maybe but still not something I want to risky my soldiers' or my Pokémon's' lives on.
No, what we need to do is draw the Spirit's focus for long enough to reason with it and in a non-aggressive enough way that it is in a state where it is willing to listen. I turn to face my men before we re-enter the village, "What we are attempting is dangerous, may not work and is not of direct benefit to the Fire Nation. You are not obliged to stay. I will find no fault with you should you choose to leave."
Hyousuke laughs and Tadaaki shakes his head with a small smile. Kouki side eyes them but says, "Sir, you ask this every time I think we've got the message by now. You won't order us unwillingly into danger but you don't have to. We follow you into it willing and knowingly."
"I have to give you that choice. I am doing this because I think I should not because it is the Fire Lord's will. It would be dishonourable to force people into following me on a self-assigned mission." And I could force them. I am not only their superior officer but a member of the Royal Family. A banished, disgraced member yes, but still a member and they are only common soldiers. Refusing an order from me is simply not an option.
I Recall Kirlia, Roselia and Fletchinder as we cross the village gates. We're not registered to Senlin Village's Wards. Flickering out of phase with this world as we cross the Ward edge isn't going to bother our Pokémon but there is no need to alarm the villages by setting off the Wards when we can just be polite and not dismiss our Pokémon before crossing the Ward edge.
Idly I Call Kirlia as we approach the village hall. Then I pause. I give the open window another look. Standing with their backs to the window are two people wearing Water Tribe blue. Sokka and Katara. Looks like the world does have a sense of humour.
"…eaten by a spirit monster."
I enter the hall. "You're back." Senlin's leader sounds slightly surprise.
"I said I would be."
"Zuko!" Sokka cries drawing his boomerang.
I stare calmly back as my men tense. "Sokka. Katara." my gaze drifts from face to face, "Aang."
Katara looks fierce and furious while Aang seems alarmed. I look at the flying lemur sitting on Aang's shoulder, "Take it you did find one in the Southern Air Temple then."
Aang blinks. "Yeah, this is Momo." He pets the flying lemar.
"What are you doing here." Katara demands hostility radiating from her.
"Yeah, how'd you find us?" Sokka, narrow eyed.
"I didn't." a languid shrug, projecting calmness as best I can "I heard that there was a village suffering from a Spirit attack and decided to investigate."
Katara snorts, disbelieving while Sokka looks sceptical.
The village headman carefully speaks up, "You know each other?"
"Yeah," Aang is cheerful again, "this is Zuko. He's been trying to capture me since he found out I'm the Avatar."
"Yes, but not today." I give them a dry look, "Trying to capture the Avatar while in a village about to be attacked by a hostile Spirit is stupid."
"Really?" Katara snipes, "You were perfectly fine with attacking Kyoshi Island to try and capture Aang."
"I would have preferred not to but by hiding there you gave me no choice." I dismiss the topic with a sharp wave, "The important thing right now is Hei Bai. Sunset is soon and the Spirit will attack then. I have a plan-"
"Kir!" my Kirlia cries out in sharp objection. He moves from my side to stand between me and the Avatar.
"You don't want me use my plan to deal with the Hei Bai spirit?"
"Kir." He agrees.
"Why?" I arch my eyebrow. "You approved of my plan before we returned to the village. Wh-no, the Avatar. You don't want me to use my plan because the Avatar is here."
"Kirlia" he croon nodding.
I stare. Why does the Avatar's presence mean I shouldn't use my plan? If anything his cooperate would make it my plan work more easily. It has to be something. "Dealing with the Spirits is the Avatar's job?" Kirlia nods, projecting a feeling of approval/close.
"I shouldn't be doing the Avatar's job?" I ask very sceptically. He shrugs projecting kind-of-but-not-quite-what-I-meant. Closer then.
I adjust the question, "I shouldn't be doing the Avatar's job for him?" "Kirlia!" he exclaims projecting strong agreement
"He's twelve." Flatly "Does he even know how to deal with a Spirit?" Kirlia stares projecting exactly-my-point. "Ah." That's a good point. The Hei Bai spirit might be dangerous but he is not one of the Great Spirits, or a malicious spirit nor should this problem be overly difficult to figure out and solve.
"The Avatar is the bridge between Spirits and humans; it is his job to seek solutions when they come into conflict. This is a duty his must be capable of fulfilling and to do so he needs experience."
"Lia, Lia!" Kirlia twirls back to my side and leans against me. I sigh. "Avatar. You try and deal with the Hei Bai spirit tonight. Should you fail I will attempt to do so tomorrow."
"Great." Sarcasm is thick in Sokka's voice, "are you really not going to help out?"
"Sokka!" Katara glares. "Aang doesn't need their help."
"No. I am not going to help." I look directly at Aang. "Kirlia makes a good point, you are the Avatar and you must be able to successfully deal with Spirits alone because there are times you will have no other choice."
"Yeah." Katara with narrow eyes, "And how do we know you're not just waiting until Aang is tired to capture him."
I glare back torn between offense and grudging approval. "I swear on my honour that I will not attempt to capture the Avatar or his companions while they attempt to calm the Spirit Hei Bai that is threatening the Village of Senlin nor if they are successful in doing so will I attempt to do so for one hour after they have solved the problem." I cross my arms. "Good enough?"
Katara looks like she's tempted to argue further but Aang beams and after a moment Sokka nods and puts away his boomerang. "You should ready your plan to deal with Hei Bai Avatar. The sun sets soon."
Everyone looks outside except for my fellow firebenders. I walk towards a shuttered window. I might be going to let the Avatar deal with Hei Bai but that doesn't mean I'm not going to watch.
#
Leaning against the opened window I give Kirlia, perched on the sill a deeply sceptical look. He just swings his legs and pretends to ignore me. I go back to watching Aang.
He is walking towards us. Apparently he thinks he's dealt with Hei Bai already. I snort. As if dealing with a Spirit would be as easy as saying say a few words and spinning a staff.
There. I still but for steady, deep breathes as the black and white Spirit materializes by the village gate. It's massive, six limbed with a disproportionally sized head but utterly silent as it moves.
The airbender doesn't notice it straight away. When he does he turns and says something to the Spirit. Obviously not something the Spirit is interested in hearing as it interrupts him with a blast of blue sound waves from its mouth. Doesn't look like the attack harmed Aang.
No Pokémon Called yet even if buildings are being smashed. That Spirit is fast. I grimace as a building disintegrated in a scream of light. And very angry. Good thing all the villagers are gathered here.
I glance at Kirlia but he is just watching. Oh, there goes another building. It's going to be expensive for the Senlin village to do repairs. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Tell me he didn't just try and command Hei Bai. Being the Avatar doesn't mean that Spirits will obey you, it is truly unsurprising that the Spirit struck you for trying.
That's not a good idea Sokka. I tense looking to Kirlia but he shakes his head firmly projecting denial. Honestly not sure if Hei Bai even noticed that you tried to attack him. You should have tried using a Pokémon instead of your boomerang. Pokémon have a higher chance in combat against Spirits then direct attacks by humans. Not a good chance against a Spirit this enraged but a Pokémon's attack may have at least been noticed. I wince as the Spirit grabs Sokka. It might not have noticed the boomerang but it definitely noticed you talking to Aang.
"Hei Bai is taking people to the Spirit World not killing them, yes?" I murmur. I have to be sure. Letting someone be kidnapped is one thing, letting them be killed is another. Kirlia dips his head projecting agreement-assurance.
So what are the changes that any of those three will return tonight? Aang has flown out the gate after the Spirit and Sokka. 5% chance of Sokka or the Hei Bai returning, 50% chance of Aang returning. Huff. Aang better learn what ever Avatar spiritual thing he needs to learn. I am not watching such a terrible attempt again tomorrow night without interfering.
I look at Katara standing fearfully by the gate then turns and start considering who will get assigned to which watch as we sleep.
#
Day 31
As the sun rises I wake. No one woke me in the night so the situation hasn't changed then.
Pulling a ration out of my small pack I consider what to do today. Hei Bai won't return until sunset. Assuming that Sokka and the Avatar are in the Spirit World there isn't much I can do until then. Probably best to avoid Katara today.
I Call Fletchinder. "Could you fly along the path to the statue we found yesterday and see if you can find exactly what happened to the three of them?"
"Fletchinder." he trills her agreement and takes off, flying out one of a window towards the west.
Eating my food I sit and consider. We need to conserve our energy for tonight. But some light training together to make sure that we are prepared in case we have to fight the Hei Bai Spirit and their Chi-Bonded Pokémon would be a good idea. Helps keep the anxiety of waiting down too. I should have Fletchinder return to the ship too, so that they know we are alright.
I had taken first watch with Hyousuke taking fourth watch so we are all wake now. Firebenders rise with the sun and all. The three have finished eating and are now waiting to hear my plans for the day.
"Seeing as we have the time I think it is best if we let our Pokémon familiarize themselves with the battlefield and their team mates." Noting the slightly curious look on Kouki's face I elaborate a little, "If we had ended up fighting yesterday I am sure we would have done well. Our Pokémon are used to each other and we had time to explain what we were planning to them but it is always helpful if they can examine where they will be fighting before they fight. And while our Pokémon are used to training together, there is a difference between general training and a fight where particular roles are assigned to certain Pokémon."
"It also gives us time to overlook the area for unexpected pitfalls." I grimace, "If it comes down to a fight the last thing we want is for someone to trip over some shattered timbers."
#
The Avatar returned a little before sunset without Sokka and had a touching reunion Katara. Yesterday I had said I would let the Avatar attempt to deal with the Spirit first and if he failed I would try. I intend to follow through.
I stand five paces from the village gate with Kirlia and Roselia besides me. They are not the Pokémon I would choose to fight a forest Spirit but that's because they're not here to fight.
Tadaaki and Bulbasaur are ten paces behind me to my left. Kouki and Sunflora are ten paces behind me to my right.
Hyousuke and Durant are standing guard 5 paces in front of the village hall. They will keep anyone from interfering.
As a firebender I can feel the sun setting but it is Kirlia who notices the Spirit first. A projected feeling of alertness sweeps across us, the brush of a foreign mind against our own. The feeling of a Psychic Type Pokémon's mental projects is similar in in some aspects to the sensations that one gets from a Chi-Bond but very different at the same time. A Chi-Bond is natural, intuitive, a comfortably familiar presence while the mental-projection of a Pokémon's powers feels undeniably alien. None of us would mistake Kirlia's warning for something else.
"Hear me," I can see Hei Bai now emerging from the night, "spirit of this forest. It is true that your forest has burned but it is also true that the forest will grow back."
I lift one hand towards the spirit, acorns that our Pokémon had checked were living and healthy, resting on my palm. The Spirit lowers its head to look. Breathe. Now is not the time to flinch. Regardless of if I would survive the blue light of the spirit's screaming attack…those teeth are sharp and its head large enough to bite me in half or perhaps even swallow me whole.
"From the ashes the seeds of new life will grow." Somehow my voice is steady and calm. "What you are doing now, attacking these villagers, does not help the forest."
Carefully, respectfully, I place the acorns on the ground in front of me. A shimmer of white light and a humanoid, wooden Pokémon of about a meter's height with a green leaf growing from its head appears. Nuzleaf, a Grass/Dark Type, evolution of Seedet, capable of evolving into Shiftry. The Pokémon picks up the acorns while the Spirit's form wavers and shifts.
I relax. In the place of the massive six limbed black and white Spirit is a panda shaped Spirit. They are both Hei Bai, but the monstrous form was that of the forest Spirit's rage, this panda form is the normal, peaceful form of the forest Spirit.
The panda Spirit ambles towards the gate. "Rose." Roselia steps in front of me, inquiring. The Hei Bai's Pokémon pauses and nods, "Nuz."
As Hei Bai vanishes back into the Spirit World a bamboo thicket grows. From within the bamboo four people emerge.
"Sokka!" Katara cries, the sound of running footsteps behind me.
I move aside. My soldiers make their way over to me as separated loved ones reunite.
"What happened?"
"You were trapped in the Spirit World for 24 hours! How are you feeling?"
"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom." A cough of laughter escapes me at the unexpected answer.
Aang moves next to the reunited siblings, fiddling with his staff, "I'm really sorry Sokka."
I move away, towards Senlin Village's leader as he approaches me. "Thank you, young man. If only there were a way to repay you for what you've done. We are in your debt."
I nod, acknowledging the seriousness of his words, "I am glad that I was able to help. I did not aid you for repayment but if you feel like this is a debt you must settle then I will remember Senlin village should I am ever be in need of aid."
I hesitate for a moment, glancing at my Pokémon who both give almost unnoticeable nods, "My name is Zuko, Son of Ursa and Ozai, banished prince of the Fire Nation."
I see the widen eyes, the sudden pallor before he musters himself and bows. "An honour to meet you, Prince Zuko."
I let a wry smile soften my features, "You don't need to bow. I merely thought you should be aware of whom you are offering a debt to."
There is hesitation on his face when he straightens, a hint of fear. He looks at the three villagers returned from the Spirit World then at me, nods slightly lips pressed together and resolved, "We owe you a debt regardless of who you are. You are welcome in Senlin Village, Prince Zuko."
I give a small bow of gratitude and acknowledgment feeling a smile curving my lips. That's the village safe. Now I have to deal with the Avatar.
This is not canon to Zuko of the Pokémon anymore. It's a way the story could have gone but I've decided doesn't work for my chosen plot and character relationships.