I do not own Star Wars of Avatar: The Last Airbender. They belong to their respective owners.
Enjoy!
Years ago...
"Father. We cannot continue like this."
Iroh knew that Lu Ten was right.
"We cannot simply give up, my son. My nephew is not dead. I know it."
"Father..."
"Do you wish to tell Lady Ursa that we gave up on her son?"
Lu Ten bristled at the question. And Iroh quickly realized his mistake.
"Forgive me Lu Ten. I... I have become frustrated by this. So many years of searching, and not a single clue has shown itself."
"I understand father. Believe me, my disappointment can be compared to yours," Lu Ten said before releasing a sigh. "But this search has already gone years past its intended length. The Firelord is anxious for us to return, even if empty-handed."
Iroh knew that it had to be serious if his own father was truly allowing them to return home as failures. So many years had passed, and the son of Lady Ursa had yet to be found. So much time had passed that Ozai had convinced his wife to bear him another child. A daughter.
How Ozai managed to do that, Iroh did not know. He did not think he even wanted to know.
"How can we go home now Lu Ten? Your cousin is out there. Far and away from his family."
"If he is alive, then he can still be found father," Lu Ten argued. "Grandfather is unwilling to wait any longer for us to return to the front. Especially with the walls of Ba Sing Se about to give way."
That was an opportunity that no general would be able to simply ignore. The Fire Nation had been working for decades to even cause a crack in the massive walls of the city. Taking Ba Sing Se would mean taking the Earth Kingdom proper.
"We do not have a choice in this? Do we, my son?"
"I'm afraid not father," Lu Ten admitted. He might have tried to break the news more gently, but he honestly had no idea how he would even do that. Firelord Azulon's order was direct and clear. There was no other way to report it. "Grandfather wants the side and taking of Ba Sing Se to be performed by a member of the Royal Family. As a way to solidify our reign and our right to rule."
Iroh understood his father's goal. Having his son, the Dragon of the West, be the one to finally defeat the walled city after a century of stalemate would be the greatest boon in Fire Nation history.
"Very well. We will make haste to Caldera. Once there, we can make our way to Ba Sing Se."
Nodding Lu Ten went to relay Iroh's order to the ship's captain. Once his son was gone, Iroh looked back to the water.
"I am sorry Zuko. Please wait just a while longer. I promise I will return you to your family."
Present...
Iroh thought back to that day as she once again stood on the deck of a ship. And he wondered if the spirits had cursed him to fail.
He had tried for almost a decade to try and find his nephew. Nearly ten years of his life had been spent on the bow of a ship, searching every possible piece of land in both the Fire Nation and parts of the Earth Kingdom. He had never tried to visit the Water Tribes. Not only would they attack sight, but if they had found a Fire Nation infant, they would have no obligation to save it.
Iroh preferred not to dwell on such thoughts.
Even so, his journey never ended, no matter how much his family had asked him to stop. Even Ursa had given up after the birth of her daughter, though Iroh doubted it was her true opinion. If there was one thing Ozai was good at, it was sowing doubt.
But now Iroh had no reason to do anything other than search. Every stone he had not yet turned. Ever crevasse he had not yet checked. With Lu Ten, his own son, gone from this world, Iroh had no reason to fight for the throne. No reason to continue the war. No reason to truly fight.
His journey into the spirit world had worked to only further destroy his desire to keep fighting for the Fire Nation. The spirits had refused to let him see his son again, but they were able to open his eyes to the greater truth of the world. The damage that he and his family had done. And with Ozai in charge of the Nation, there was little hope of this damage being fixed anytime soon. No matter how much Iroh wished he could undo the tragedies his nation caused, he could no longer do it. His hands had too much blood.
That was why Iroh's mind was preoccupied with another goal. If he could find his nephew and bring him home, he would be able to find true peace.
Kamino, Tipoca City
"Master?"
Kina Ha looked away from the Clone Army bustling beneath her to face her apprentice.
"Yes, Zuko?"
"What are we going to do now? If this isn't the army you saw in your vision, then is there any reason to linger?"
Kina Ha considered her student's words. It was true that neither of them could feel the sting of the dark side on any of the clones beneath them. And in fact, they could not feel the dark side no matter how far they stretched their senses. Even so...
"I'm afraid we cannot leave so soon Zuko. The Force has guided me here. And the Force always has a reason."
Zuko frowned. Partially in disappointment, as he had hoped to be able to see his own planet. But he was also curious.
"What are we going to do then? If it's not here, then where else can we look?"
Kina Ha took a moment to consider her answer. If this clone army was not the enemy she had perceived, that did not mean that such an enemy did not exist. The Force had guided her to her homeworld, so there had to be something here that presented a danger to the Jedi. And that would require investigation.
"Come with me Zuko. We need to examine these clones."
"Why?"
"The dark side may not be within them. But perhaps there is something we are missing," Kina Ha explained. "Just stay close to me. All we are going to do is walk."
"Ok Master."
Zuko followed closely behind his master as they began to walk through more and more halls of the cloning center. It took a few hallways for them to start passing groups of clones walking by. The thing that surprised Zuko the most was the fact that a lot of them looked like they were his age. Children.
"Clones can be kids?"
Kina Ha looked down at her student.
"Healthy clones start as children. Creating an exact clone of an adult can at times be... tricky," Kina Ha said, trying not to get into the more dangerous aspects of cloning. Doing it incorrectly could lead to mental instability, physical deformations, and so many other terrible side effects. It was fortunate that this army was being created on Kamino, likely the best cloners in the galaxy.
"Are you two Jedi?"
Both Zuko and Kina Ha turned around to see a group of clone children standing near them. They were staring at them with wide eyes.
"Yes. My name is Kina Ha. This is Zuko, my padawan."
"Padawan?" Some of the children looked confused.
"It means I'm her apprentice. My name is Zuko. Like- as she said."
Zuko was immediately wondering if he had said that right. the truth was that he had almost no experience talking to other people his age. Aside from a few missions to some planets, Zuko only really interacted with his master and SP. He had very little experience socializing.
Fortunately, the kids didn't seem to notice.
"Woah. That means you're learning to be a Jedi?"
"Um, yes. I am."
"That's co cool. What's it like?"
"Do you have a laser sword?"
"Can you actually move stuff with your mind?"
"Are you good at fighting?"
"I... well..."
"That is enough, children."
One of the Kaminoans was now walking towards the group. It was Tuan We, the same Kaminoan that had greeted them at the door. There was a calm but also stern look on her face.
"As cadets of the army, you are expected to act without distraction. Do not wander off like that again. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am," each clone responded.
"Good. Now get back into formation. You have lessons to attend."
Tuan We watched as the children left before she turned her attention back to Kina Ha and Zuko. She still ignored the human padawan.
"Try not to be a distraction. Those of us on Kamino have work to do."
With that said, Tuan We swiftly turned around and walked away. She gave neither of them any chance to respond.
"You really aren't popular here, are you master?"
Kina Ha sighed. "No. I am afraid that my leaving this planet years ago caused a rift. The way I live my life is frowned upon among Kaminoans."
Zuko frowned. "But you're a Jedi? Wouldn't they at least respect you for that?"
"They are civil with me for that reason. But respect on this planet is earned through striving towards and achieving perfection. Something I stopped doing when I chose to follow the will of the Force."
"What do you mean?"
"Following the will of the Force often requires one to act in imperfect ways. Making difficult decisions, sacrificing that which personally matters to us, not feeding death, all of these things constitute a Jedi. And it is those qualities that the Kaminoans look down upon."
"Oh." Zuko was now understanding what his master meant. He didn't think he liked Kamino. "So what now? Do we keep searching?"
Kina Ha shook her head. "I don't think we will find anything here. The clones are innocent, and there is nothing I can sense with malicious intent."
"But I thought you sensed something wrong on Kamino."
"I did. We are not leaving the planet yet, but we cannot remain here. It is clear we are only being allowed out of courtesy."
Zuko had noticed that as well. He wasn't sure if he wanted to stay in a place where he was clearly not welcome. "So where do we go?"
Kina Ha had an idea. A backup she had made years ago.
Zuko tried his best not to panic as the ship they had come in was now descending further and further into the water. It wasn't so much that he was scared of the water, he knew how to swim. But being this deep meant that any mistake could lead to his potential drowning.
Sensing her student's anxiety, Kina Ha placed her hand gently upon his head.
"It is alright, my little padawan. The facility we are going to was designed to withstand ocean pressures far greater than this. We will be fine."
"Are you sure master? I don't really like the idea of dying in the water."
"I am certain. I would not even consider bringing us here if it would present a danger to you. I promise," she assured her student. "But we are on the topic, how would you prefer to die?"
"Huh?"
"You said you didn't wish to die underwater. Is there any particular way you would prefer to die?"
Zuko's lips pursed as he rubbed the back of his head. "Um, not really? I don't know, I've never thought about anything like this."
"And I am not saying that you have to Zuko. All I am saying is that you shouldn't be worried about death. I certainly don't lose sleep over it," Kina Ha said. "Try to remember the code Zuko. Death is..."
Kina Ha waved her hand, waiting for Zuko to elaborate.
"Um, it is an illusion? And death is nothing more than becoming one with the Force."
"Exactly. Good job, my little padawan," Kina Ha congratulated. Zuko smiled and held himself a little higher in response. "And remember, SP is still with us. He is an expert in medical practice. He would have many more reservations about our journey if he was worried."
"I do have reservations," the droid called out from the back of the ship.
"But not many," Kina Ha added. "Don't worry Zuko. Once we arrive. You will see that we will both be safe."
Zuko trusted his master, so he decided to try and calm down and accept the location that they were heading towards.
It took only a few more minutes for them to reach the underwater facility that Kina ha had spoken of. It was one that resembled a metallic orb held up by a metal pole in the very center of the ocean. And it was that same orb that Kina Ha guided the ship towards. Once the ship was close enough, an opening appeared on the orb. The ship entered the entrance. And once the craft was situated, the room was able to safely expel the water that was inside, leaving the room dry.
"Come along Zuko."
"Yes, master."
The two of them once again left SP behind as they descended the boardwalk and exited the ship. Now it was time to see the rest of the facility.
"There is one area that we will be using more than others. Come with me."
Zuko followed his master through the empty halls of the underwater facility. They stopped when they reached what seemed to be a training room. Most of the floor was padded, and there were practice droids scattered across the walls.
"I had this facility built on Kamino years ago. Should the need to return here arise, I wanted to be prepared for the possibility of an extended mission. That is why this room was designed specifically for Jedi training."
"Is there something we are going to learn now?"
"Yes, I do believe training you would be a good use of our time. And there is something I have been wanting to discuss with you since yesterday."
"What is it?"
"Your lightsaber style. I think you might benefit from learning another one."
Zuko's eyes widened when he heard his master's plan. He knew Form I since it was the basic form, and Form II because it was his master's preferred style. But he didn't expect her to teach him any other styles, at least not right now.
"Why is that?"
"The day before we came to Kamino, I examined your usage of Form II. You are talented Zuko, but I am wondering if Mikashi is the correct style for you. I think it time we experimented with the rest in order to see which one suits you best. But before we do, how much do you remember about the other styles?"
Zuko furrowed his brows as he tried to remember. "The first style is Shii-Cho. We use Mikashi, the second. The third is... Soresu? The defense form."
"Good Zuko. Keep going."
"Ok. The fourth style is Ataru, the acrobat form. The fifth one is Djem-So..."
"Djem-So is a discipline of form V. The form itself is called Shien. But you're doing well, keep going."
"Alright, I'll remember that. The sixth form is Niman, the... moderator? I don't know the seventh form."
"Form VI is the moderation form. And it is fine that you don't know the seventh form. It is forbidden to Jedi." Kina Ha tilted her head upwards. "Well, unless you are Master Windu, but that is a different discussion."
"How come?"
"Another time Zuko. For now, I want us to focus on the other four forms. You know the first and second. I intend to drill you in forms III through VI to see which one suits you best," Kina Ha said as she called her lightsaber to herself. And she ignited her cold blue blade.
"We will start with form III. You're objective here is simple."
Zuko took out his own lightsaber and activated the purple blade. "What do I need to do?"
"I am going to perform a set of simple strikes. Your job is to block them."
And without warning, Kina Ha shot towards her padawan. He barely had time to react to any of the strikes, let alone block. That was why he failed on his first attempt at Soresu.
And his second.
And third.
All the way to his tenth attempt, when he managed to block half of the strikes. That wasn't good enough for his master, so he had to keep practicing the set until she decided it was time to rest. And that they would continue to practice tomorrow.
By the end of the day, he hadn't even started to practice the fourth form. He was too tired to care, however. His arms were sore with how tightly and frequently he had to hold his weapon. And there was something else that surprised Zuko.
He missed the sun.
This is where I will be stopping for now. Just to clear up the timeline here, there are only a few months left before the battle of Geonosis.
Once the Battle of Geonosis is concluded, both Kina Ha and Zuko will be notified. And once that happens, the Clone Wars will be underway.
One thing that someone asked in the last chapter. Yes, Zuko will dual wield. But it's going to be a while before Zuko gets his second blade. Once he does ear it though, it will be fun to see him using Jar'Kai.
Based on popular demand, it seems that Zuko will be working with Delta Squad. Since they never had a permanent Jedi and padawan to command them, I am interested to see how they work with Zuko. Mostly, I am just excited at the idea of a firebending Jedi fighting alongside Clone Commandos.
Also based on popular demand, it seems that Merrin is the most likely candidate for Zuko's love interest. Since I already had a storyline thought out involving her, I think that she would work best. And given that she was one of my favorite aspects of the Fallen Order game, I am looking forward to her interactions with Zuko.
Focusing on the world of Avatar, Iroh is focused on trying to find his nephew. With Lu Ten gone, it is all he is focused on. Unfortunately, there are still a few years left before Zuko meets his nephew. He has his own war to fight first.
Anyway, please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.
Bye!