Chapter 9

They continued walking along the Jedi Temple. They soon ran into several Jedi Masters, one of them being Master Mace Windu. Anakin: "Master." Mace: "I see you are giving the Benders a tour of the Temple." Obi-wan: "But of course, we were educating our young friends about our world to give them a better sense of what's in store here. Right now, we're telling them about the Jedi Order." Mace: "Very good. They'll need to know about everything if they are to stay here. Let me tell you kids something about the Jedi Order. You were probably told about the Jedi Council and that we are the leaders of the order." Aang: "Yes, they did tell us that you guys are the Head Honchos of the Jedi Order." Mace: "Yes, even though we run the Order, we are still merely servants to the Force. The Council is run by a small group of Jedi Masters with a full understanding of the Force and learns to use it by the code." Aang: "The code? I…think you mentioned something about the code, but…you hardly said much about it." Obi-wan: "Oh, did I forget to inform you about what the Jedi Code is? Silly me, where are my manners?" Katara: "So, what is this Jedi Code?" Mace: "All Jedi, be it Padawan or Master, must follow a strict set of guidelines. Not even a member of the council is above it." Zuko: "They're merely those who follow the code by the exact letter?" Mace: "Exactly, Zuko." Sokka: "So, what is this "Jedi Code"? Come on, fill me in, Sokka wishes to know all the details." Obi-wan: "The Jedi Code is not that complex, it simply state as follows: "We are the guardians of peace in the galaxy. We use our powers to defend and protect, never to attack others. We respect all life, in any form. We serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy. We seek to improve ourselves through knowledge and training"." Zuko: "Wow, that's all…very intriguing." Mace: "The code doesn't end there. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force." Only by fully accepting these rules can a Jedi be officially called a Master." Aang: "Respect all life? Really? That's what the monks of my temple told me when I was still a just a little kid. It has always been a part of our culture as Air Nomads to respect all life. I'm even a vegetarian because of it!" Ahsoka: "Hey, yeah, you did mention something like that last night during dinner." Katara: "This could sound almost like the same guidelines as the Avatar. He promises to use his powers to protect our world from falling out of balance." Aang: "The training that the Avatar goes through teaches him this, by maintaining balance within oneself can he then maintain balance in the world." Ahsoka: "That was beautiful, Aang. You know, in some ways, the Jedi and the Avatar are very much alike." Anakin: "Maybe, the only difference I see being that there is only 1 Avatar and there are so many Jedi in the galaxy." Katara: "Oh, I think there is more than that, actually." Mace: "Yes, I agree with Katara on this one. Regardless, there is still much to learn. We hardly ever share our secrets with anyone outside the Jedi Order, but I would gladly consider these kids an exception since they are our last hope against this new menace known as the Heartless."

They kept walking on. Katara: "So, what sort of things can you do with the Force? I have already seen you be able to be able to levitate things at will." Anakin: "Well, there's that, but there are tons of other things we can do with the Force." Toph: "Like what?" Obi-wan: "Well, we have used to Force to calm and tame vicious animals." Aang: "Really?" Obi-wan: "Yes, the Force allows us to bond with the animals so that we can easily influence them." Katara: "Sounds neat." Aang: "I have that same influence on animals, only I don't use any powers, I use this."

Aang pulled out his bison whistle. Ahsoka: "Aang, what's that?" Sokka: "That's his bison whistle, he uses it to call Appa." Ahsoka: "Can I try it?" Aang: "Sure."

He handed the whistle to Ahsoka, she blew on it, but it hardly makes any sound, she looks at it confused. Ahsoka: "Hmm, must be broken." Obi-wan: "I don't think it's broken, Ahsoka."

He grabbed the whistle from her. Obi-wan: "The whistle itself creates a high-pitched sound that only animals can hear, right?" Aang: "Yes, that's exactly right, Obi-wan."

Obi-wan gave the whistle back to Aang, he put it away. Ahsoka: "I'd love to actually meet Appa sometime." Aang: "I'm sure you would love him."

Ahsoka smiled. Toph: "OK, so what else can you guys do with the Force?" Obi-wan: "We can use it to enhance our agility. You may have noticed a few times that Jedi are excellent jumpers. That would be the Force increasing our jumping abilities. We can even run faster, but that could take a lot out of us." Katara: "Um, OK." Aang: "An Airbender can have the same abilities, we can utilize our Airbending to jump great heights and even run faster than the wind." Ahsoka: "Wow, all of that sounds interesting. You know, after hearing stuff like this, it kind of reminds me that the Jedi and the Benders have so much in common from one another." Obi-wan: "Indeed, we are similar in so many way." Sokka: "OK, don't hold back on the juicy stuff, what other things can you do with the Force?" Obi-wan: "We can use the Force to persuade people into doing whatever we want without using any kind of aggressive means of influence." Anakin: "We call it the Jedi Mind Trick." Sokka: "Pffffft! Jedi Mind Trick, no one believes that actually works."

Anakin walked up to Sokka and used the Jedi Mind Trick on him. Anakin: "You WILL walk in a circle 3 times." Sokka: "I will walk in a circle 3 times."

Sokka did exactly was he was told. Everyone looked at Anakin in a displeasing manner. Anakin: "Thought I might give him a demonstration." Obi-wan: "Yes, as much as I regret to inform you, the Jedi Mind Trick only works on the weak-minded." Katara: "Is that so? If that's the case, then…hey!"

Toph was heard cracking up. Toph: "That is so true!"

Suki looked even more displeased. Suki: "Actually, as much as I hate to admit it, it does make sense." Anakin: "Oh, you actually agree with me on something?" Suki: "Well, yes, I've always known Sokka as…easily influenced. I even got him to do whatever I wanted." Anakin: "Really? Fill me in later." Suki: "Sure thing. Please continue." Anakin: "We can even use the Force to protect ourselves." Toph: "Really?" Anakin: "Sure, we can create protective bubbles around us to protect us from anything lethal, such as poisonous gases." Katara: "That sounds fascinating." Anakin: "The Force also plays a major key role in wielding our Lightsabers." Toph: "Really? How?" Ahsoka: "It can heighten our awareness to keep us from injuring ourselves." Anakin: "The Lightsaber can be and is a very dangerous weapon, so it's always best to keep a sharp mind when using it, which is a lot more than I could say about Sokka." Sokka: "Hey!" Ahsoka: "We can even use the Lightsaber to deflect lasers. That comes in handy a lot." Katara: "So, whenever you wield your Lightsabers, you're always using the Force to increase your control over it?" Ahsoka: "Yes." Zuko: "This all sounds interesting. This Force you guys speak of, it exists around us, too?" Ahsoka: "It exists around everyone, Zuko, much like Chi that flows through the bodies of all living things. It connects us, it connects all life in the galaxy and now, you're part of it." Katara: "How strong of an influence does it have on living things?" Obi-wan: "The Force and its influence are so strong we know what is happening to anyone in any part of the galaxy, such as when a life is taken, we can feel it; this is one of many things that is known as a Disturbance in the Force." Mace: "Or when newcomers from another dimension arrive within our galaxy." Katara: "So, that's what you meant by "an unusual shift in the Force"." Mace: "That's right; we felt your arrival." Katara: "But, what about the Heartless? Can you feel them, too?" Ahsoka: "Oh, we can feel them, alright." Zuko: "How is it like?" Ahsoka: "It's a distasteful disturbance; like an incredibly large, empty feeling emerged into our galaxy." Zuko: "Yeah, that sounds like the Heartless, alright." Obi-wan: "The feeling itself can be nauseating at times, so whenever we feel inexplicably ill, it is most likely because we're sensing out those creatures." Anakin: "Oh, yeah, I'm sure I'm able to tell whenever I can feel them out; all too well." Ahsoka: "But, we can't feel them all the time; they somehow found a way to mask themselves from our senses." Katara: "Hmm…you didn't mention anything about feeling any Heartless in that garden yesterday. It probably has something to do with that Keyhole we found there." Ahsoka: "You may be right; they're somehow using them to mask themselves from the Force, itself." Obi-wan: "We'll most certainly look into this when we have the time, but we still have a lot more we need to do." Katara: "Yes, let's keep going, you guys."

They spent several hours touring the Jedi Temple. They visited many chambers in the Temple; they talked, had some laughs, all the Benders were informed on everything they needed to know about the Jedi Order. In return, the Benders exchanged more stories from their world, all of which intrigued their Jedi friends and Padme.

Later on that day, everyone stood at the very top of the Jedi Temple, staring out at the city. Obi-wan: "So, tell us more about the cultures of your world." Anakin: "Yeah, besides your unique influences over the different elements, what else make your nations so special?"

The Benders looked up at their new friends; they then pulled out their pendants containing the symbols of each of their nations. Katara: "Our influences over the elements have always been the largest part of our culture, but there are other things that make us unique. There are the different animals of our world that come from different nations as well, but there are also unique fauna, music, art, cities, people, style, forms, all of our Non-Benders and cuisines." Sokka: "We have a lot of good food back at home, especially the meat."

Anakin groaned a little. Anakin: "Katara, does your brother think of anything besides food?"

Katara looked at him in an annoyed manner. Anakin: "Sorry. Continue." Katara: "Alright. There are also spiritual beliefs involved." Ahsoka: "I kind of figured. You did mention that the Avatar IS a spirit of your world manifested in a human being." Katara: "Right, but there are lots more spirits than just the Avatar; many of which take on the forms of animals. The spirit of one of the first ever Benders takes on the form of an animal." Ahsoka: "First ever Benders? What do you mean by that?" Katara: "Many centuries ago, before the Avatar even showed up, our people use to have been taught the bending styles to many different teachers, none of which were human; they were merely different creatures." Toph: "The first Earthbenders were taught Earthbending by Badgermoles." Katara: "The first ever Earth Kingdom city was built to honor those two, Omashu. It's kind of a long story and it's kind of sad. We'll tell you later." Ahsoka: "OK." Aang: "The first ever Airbenders were taught Airbending from the Sky Bison." Ahsoka: "The Sky Bison? You mean like Appa?" Aang: "Yes, we're deeply devoted to our masters, so much so that we would have arrow tattoos all over our bodies upon mastering the technique to honor them." Ahsoka: "Hmm, you don't say. I did notice that large arrow on Appa's head was that same as the one on your head; I don't think that's a coincidence." Aang: "No, Ahsoka, you're right. We did that on purpose. The arrows represent the flow of chi in our bodies." Ahsoka: "OK. So, what's it like getting those tattoos?"

Aang hesitated. Obi-wan: "I take it that was an unpleasant experience." Aang: "Uh…"

At that moment, Aang had a flashback of himself screaming and squirming as the Air monks held him down and forcibly tattooed the arrows on his body. Aang blushed and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Aang: "I'd…rather not talk about it…."

Ahsoka, Anakin, Obi-wan and Padme laughed. Padme: "So, what about you, Zuko? Who taught your nation how to Firebend?" Zuko: "Our first masters were the dragons. They taught the first ever Firebenders, an ancient civilization known as the Sun Warriors, how to draw power from the sun and use its heat as life energy." Ahsoka: "So your bending has a specific power source." Zuko: "Yes, for over a century, my nation has misused its power to strike fear in the hearts of many people, including our own. We always saw it as destruction and power instead of what it really is: life and discipline."

Obi-wan shook his head. Obi-wan: "I'm sorry to hear that, Zuko. Your people have indeed shown a great deal of dishonor." Zuko: "Yes…but we also had a much more horrific tradition: we hunted dragons for glory." Ahsoka: "Hunting dragons, as in killing them?" Zuko: "Yes, they say that if a Firebender were to conquer the ultimate Firebender, they would be considered a legend and earn the title "dragon". However, this senseless tradition led the dragons to their near extinction." Obi-wan: "Hunting dragons for the sake of glory? I would never consider any glory to such a senseless act!" Zuko: "I'd say you would have the correct state of mind, Obi-wan."

Obi-wan smiled. Ahsoka: "So, how about you, Katara, who taught the first Waterbenders how to Waterbend?"

Katara turned around and looked up at the sky. Katara: "The legend of our tribe says the moon was the first Waterbender. It was said that our ancestors watched as it pushed and pulled the tides, and then they learned to do it themselves." Anakin: "Is that so?"

He then grabbed the Water Tribe pendant from Katara and observed it. Anakin: "Is that why this crescent moon is part of your tribe's symbol?" Katara: "That's exactly right. All Waterbenders draw power from the moon itself. Our bending is at its strongest during the full moon." Obi-wan: "It makes sense actually. The moon is known for its strong influence over the tides. The tides themselves increase during a full moon." Ahsoka: "So, I take it the moon has a strong influence over their bending for the same reason that it has a strong influence over the tides." Obi-wan: "Apparently so." Ahsoka: "So, all of your first bending teachers were all animals with the exception of the Waterbenders, being the moon." Katara: "Yes…sort of." Anakin: "What do you mean?" Katara: "In our world, the spirit of the moon, like many spirits that crossed over from the spirit world, took on a mortal form of an animal. The moon spirit, Tui, along with its sibling, La, the ocean spirit, took on their mortal forms as Koi fish." Aang: "We saw the spirits. In the North pole, there is this place known as the Spirit oasis, the most spiritual place in the North Pole, they swim around in an endless dance together, constantly spiraling with one another." Katara: "Along with the legend of our Waterbending, Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe, mentioned that the moon gives us our strength and the ocean gives us our life. They work together to maintain balance in our world." Ahsoka: "Um…Katara, I don't know how to say this, but not many of our planets have moons." Obi-wan: "She's right, if the legends of your tribe are true, then you won't be able to have anything to draw your bending from. Your Waterbending wouldn't be effective on any of those worlds." Katara: "Oh, that's no problem, I'll just summon out moon here." Anakin: "Summon the moon? Is that even possible?" Katara: "Yes, I'll show you."

She pulled out her Keyblade, then initiated her summoning power from it. The Jedi and Padme watched in amazement as the moon showed up in the sky. Padme: "Is that the moon from your world?" Katara: "Yes."

Just then, they saw something else. Ahsoka: "Look!"

They watched as Yue appeared in front of the moon. She then slowly descended towards them. Anakin: "Who…who is that?" Sokka: "Yue…"

Sokka walked up to Yue as she floated in front of everyone. Anakin: "That's Yue!?" Yue: "Hello, everyone."

She then looked over to Sokka as he stood right in front of her. Yue placed her hand on his face. Yue: "It's so good to see you again, Sokka."

Sokka then touched her hand. Sokka: "I've missed you a lot." Obi-wan: "Pardon me for my intrusion, but what does she have anything to do with the moon?" Katara: "She's the moon spirit." Anakin: "What? But didn't you just mention that she was the princess of the Northern Water Tribe?" Yue: "I was…but…I was called to sacrifice for my people, my tribe. I willingly accepted the task to save my tribe."

She then looked over toward Suki. Yue: "You're very lucky; I could never have him, even when I was alive. Take good care of him." Suki: "Oh, don't worry about it, I will."

She smiled, then took her hand off of Sokka, she back into the sky near the moon, then she disappeared along with the moon.

Sokka was left sulking. Anakin: "How…how did this happen?" Sokka: "It all started when the Fire Nation invaded the North Pole. A horrible man named Admiral Zhao led a fleet of more than 100 Fire navy ships on an all out assault against the Northern Water Tribe." Anakin: "So, what was he planning to do? Was he going to steal all of the Waterbenders from the North Pole as they did in the South Pole?" Sokka: "They didn't need to, Zhao had only one target: the moon spirit. He wanted to kill the moon spirit." Ahsoka: "Kill the moon spirit!? Why would he want to do that!?" Katara: "Because he knew that if he took away the Waterbenders' source of power, they would permanently lose their bending." Aang: "However, by removing the moon, it would also have a negative effect. It would completely disrupt the balance of the entire world that would hurt not only the Water Tribe, but everything else, as well, including the Fire Nation. When we confronted him in the Spirit Oasis, we pleaded to him not to kill the moon spirit. But in spite of that, he still did." Ahsoka: "That's terrible!" Anakin: "OK, so what is Yue's involvement in all of this? What did she mean by sacrificing herself for her people?" Sokka: "Many years ago when Yue was born, she was deathly sick and there was no one who could save her. Her father, Chief Arnook, pleaded to the moon spirit to save her. When she was placed in the spirit water, the moon spirit gave a portion of its life force to her. She lived because of the moon spirit." Ahsoka: "So when the moon spirit was killed, Yue gave back its essence inside her to revive it but it also caused her to end her own life in the process." Sokka: "That's right, Ahsoka, And now…Princess Yue IS the moon spirit."

Ahsoka was distraught to here this. Ahsoka: "This is all so terrible…" Anakin: "Alright, so, when Katara summons the moon, Yue is called in, too?" Sokka: "Katara didn't summon the moon, she summoned Yue. She is connected to the moon, itself, so when Katara summons Yue, it automatically brings the moon from our world here." Ahsoka: "You know, that does make sense; it is easier than actually bringing the moon here." Anakin: "True, but maybe Princess Yue would still be alive if Admiral Zhao never killed the moon spirit's mortal form!" Obi-wan: "Indeed, whoever this Admiral Zhao is, he sounds like a very despicable man." Zuko: "That would be putting it lightly." Katara: "You know, now that you mention it, we never saw Zhao since the Siege in the North Pole." Anakin: "Hmm, any ideas on what happened to him?" Katara: "We don't know; we never found out what happened to him." Zuko: "I did. When Zhao and I were dueling, a strange, watery hand reached out, grabbed him and pulled him into the water." Aang: "That must have been the ocean spirit, taking its revenge on Zhao for killing its sibling." Anakin: "Heh! Serves him right." Zuko: "I tried to reach out and save him, but he chose his fate into a watery grave." Padme: "But why would Zhao want to do that?" Anakin: "Isn't it obvious? If Zhao is as despicable as they say he is, then he must have hated Zuko for his supposed treachery. Isn't that right?"

Zuko held his head down as he sulked. Zuko: "Unfortunately, you're too accurate, Anakin. He always thought of me as a disgrace to the Fire Nation and the name Fire Nation Prince, he even tried to kill me one time, when I tried to save him, he decided to be killed because he would have been just as dishonorable as me; he could never bare that thought, so he let the ocean spirit drown him." Obi-wan: "It was very noble of you to save the life of someone who despised you, Zuko. I think Admiral Zhao made the wrong decision." Anakin: "I'm not so sure about that, master. If word got out that Admiral Zhao's life was saved by the "treacherous prince of the Fire Nation", he would have been executed for letting a traitor save him." Obi-wan: "Hmm, you may be right. It would have been the same in our world, as well." Anakin: "I don't know, I thought what happened to him was too good for the likes of him, but I'm glad that he got was coming to him; serves him right for defying the spirits of the Benders' world." Obi-wan: "Here, here." Ahsoka: "So, he next to Yue was one of many causalities of the Siege in the North Pole."

Sokka sulked as he dropped his head. Anakin looked over towards Sokka, concerned for him this time. Anakin: "There's…something else I'm concerned about. She also mentioned that she could never have you, even when she was alive. What did she mean by that?"

Sokka lifted his head with a look of agitation on his face. Sokka: "She was already going to marry someone else." Ahsoka: "Someone else? Who?" Sokka: "Just some jerk warrior from the North Pole. It's was an arranged marriage but she felt like she had to marry the guy for her people."

Sokka dropped his head and sulked. Sokka: "Yue was always self-sacrificing. She never cared about what she wanted and thought only about what's best for her tribe. I was so in love with her and she loved me, too."

He lifted his head back up. Sokka: "I actually got to know her as an actual person. She was sweet, kind, caring, sensitive, thoughtful, but that jerk she was going to marry was stuck up, self-important and arrogant. He treated her like some…some material possession! Someone as special as her was wasted on a self-absorbed weasel like him! He didn't love Yue, he only cared about his ranks and impressing her dad! He was nothing but a jerk without a soul!"

Tears started to pour out of his eyes. Concerned, each of the Jedi and Padme looked at each other. Padme then walked up to Sokka and touched him on the shoulder. Padme: "I can't even begin to tell you how awful most of what you just said is. That guy sounds like a horrible person. I don't care who he was going to marry, he had no right to speak of her that way." Sokka: "Yue didn't care. She didn't love him but that didn't matter to her. The only thing I've ever wanted for her was to make her happy. That's how much I loved her."

Padme placed his arms around him. Padme: "I know, Sokka. I know."

She then let go and looked directly at him. Padme: "To tell you the truth, I know exactly what she's going through. I live to serve my people, as well. I care about the citizens back on Naboo the same way that Yue cared about her people of the Northern Water Tribe. I love my people, too, so I am also self-sacrificing. Sometimes we need to just accept our role and we don't always enjoy the decisions we have to make for the sake of our people, if at all. But to give her life in order to resurrect the moon spirit, not only did she save her people but the world, your world; that says a lot about her." Sokka: "Would you have given your life to revive a spirit that was senselessly killed in order to save your people?"

Padme looked back at Anakin, Obi-wan and Ahsoka. Padme: "It wouldn't exactly be an easy decision for me, but…I would have to say yes…I would. You really have been missing her a lot, haven't you?"

Sokka sulked. Everyone stood by, silent for a good amount of time.