Here is the 26th full chapter in Book 5, released on time as promised. It is time to shift back to our heroes and the aftermath of the costly battle that was the pivotal point in the war. They have a lot to do to end the war but first they must honor the dead and above all else mourn the loss of Luna and this is the first of two chapters that do just that as we get ready to enter the final stretch of Book 5. However, that is all I have for here though so I will leave this pre chapter note off here and as there isn't anything to respond to that means that it time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 26th full installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 5: Duty.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 26
Harry walked into the main part of the Temple through the Great Hall entrance and made his way to the Hall of Remembrance where Luna's body was currently laying in state. This was due to the fact that the Great Hall of the Western Air Temple was open to the air on one side so keeping a body there for viewing was not a wise move. As such, the monks here used a special large hall inside the Temple to remember the honored dead.
That was where Luna had been taken after her broken body had been found on the canyon floor after the battle. That was a week ago and it had been one hell of a week for Harry. They had to deal with the aftermath of the largest battle of the war and that had been a nightmare where everyone pitched in in helping with the wounded and the dead.
The healers were working round the clock to heal the injured, but they thankfully had help in this department. With Ekrizdis attacking during Yangchen's Festival, something he was constantly denying but no one was buying it even if his arguments had caused a debate which was delaying things, the other nations could help and help they did. Both Altinak and Dominique had sent aid in the form of healers who had joined Ginny and her team in speeding up the process of addressing the wounded.
In addition, Ursa, with the approval of the Fire Parliament, had sent a contingency of commandos from the Royal Fire Military to protect them during this time so the Temple was secure. Likewise, Teddy had sent the United Forces to bolster the defenses in the Southern Air Temple and begin preparations for a counter attack from there while Dominique prepared her fleet and Altinak was getting ready for the go order to take the Northern Air Temple which seemed to be unguarded now.
The liberation of the Northern Air Temple at least would be given the moment a new Archabbot was elected as reports indicated that Ekrizdis knew the end was nigh and withdrawing all his forces to the Eastern Air Temple. It was clear that that was where he was planning on making his final stand and the forces against him weren't going to look a gift ostrich horse in the mouth and take the Northern Air Temple back from his rebellious rule.
However, before they could do anything they had to deal with the dead. That had been hard on everyone, but no one shirked this duty. All able-bodied survivors had pitched in to find the bodies and deal with them in accordance with the traditions that the deceased subscribed to.
The best way to do so was to burn them which is what they did atop the cliffs in a large pyre that all the survivors attended to pay their respects to those who had lost their lives in the attack. The Kyoshi Warriors burned their dead, so it was readily accepted by them while any dead mercenary or whatever the attack force that had struck on the cliff weren't in a position to argue and none of the defenders mourned the deaths of their attackers.
There were a few problems as the Xidi Militia required its members to be buried in Xidi soil and had asked for Dennis's body as well but as a Fire Nation citizen he was burned in accordance with their custom though his pyre was separate, and his ashes given to the new militia leader to be interred in Xidi as a compromise. The rest though were transferred in specialty ships provided by the other nations to Xidi for burial in their familial plots as was their tradition.
As for the airbenders who had died, the numbers were too high for standard burial practices. It was left to their families to decide between burning or tossing the bodies into the canyon to return to nature, the latter of which was determined to be the fate for the Black Airbenders who had died.
It had taken a full day to get everything sorted, the advantage of having earthbenders made finding and transporting the bodies easier, and the firebenders ensured that the pyres were lit quickly and burned hot enough to cremate the dead. However, there were a few bodies that had to receive special treatment though no one complained about that.
Harry hadn't known that Scorpius had died until the initial aftermath when Rose reported it and made it clear that he was to be frozen in a special cooler and transported to the North when it was all said and done. That had also been when she'd found out about her twin's injuries and mother's death, and it had almost broken her.
Rose was still around and doing her part, but Harry knew that Rose was out of the war. She was going to accompany her mother's body, along with Ron and Lorcan, down to the South to entomb it next to Hugo's in the Southern Hall of Fallen Warriors and then head back here to pick up Scorpius's body for burial in the North's Hall of Heroes. After that Harry expected she'd stay there for the rest of the war and probably for the rest of her life once it was over. After all she'd been through, he didn't fault her decision to retire from public life.
The main body to find and deal with had been Luna's though. It was as expected on the canyon floor, broken from the fall but still intact. It had been brought up to the Temple and the preservers in the Temple, along with Ginny, had done their best to return it to normal though it had to be reconstructed in places.
After that Luna had been laid in state in the Hall of Remembrance with full honors and various people came to visit her as they prepared for the funeral. Unlike with Remus's, it was not going to be a full state funeral as the other World Leaders couldn't attend. Only those at the Western Air Temple and the other senior airbenders would be at it. Both Cho and Wroxton had ended their neutrality with the violation of the ceasefire accords and sided with them, so all 5 electors were present for the Conclave as Davies had arrived to help out a few days ago.
That was all going to happen later. The day was going to be a long one, but Harry had a private viewing this morning of Luna, with Ron present, before he had to attend to another matter around lunchtime. Then the funeral would then take place in the afternoon and right afterwards Luna's body would be taken to the South. Harry was staying as Conclave would begin right after the funeral, accelerated due to the war with the approval of the National Council, and he needed to official declare the next Archabbot.
All that fell from Harry's mind as he reached the doorway to the Hall of Remembrance. Standing guard at it for this was Rose and Lorcan, the former in full Southern Warrior garb and the later in the uniform of the ANDF. Harry could see the red scars on Lorcan's face and neck and knew there were more on his body from what Pansy had done to him, but he held himself at attention ready. He was healed and would continue to fight. Rose was composed, her injuries had been minor, but her mental trauma was the worst of anyone present. Still, she dutifully guarded her mother one last time.
"Avatar." Lorcan said with a bow of his head, the sadness clear in his voice as he spoke. "We are honored by your presence. Mom would have liked it this way."
"She always did prefer things simple and easy as was the airbender way." Harry said. "It's for the best that we do this in private. She will always be missed, as will Scorpius and all those we have lost in this war."
"We know, thank you." Rose said and Harry could tell that she was barely keeping it together. "Please, go in, dad is waiting for you."
Harry nodded and walked into the room, a flight of steps taking him down and into the cool chamber that was lit with torches in the wall. In the center was a simple stone plinth. Lying on it, looking like she might be asleep, was Luna in full ceremonial dress minus the pendant that had been removed and cleaned for the next Archabbot with her medals from past conflicts on her chest. 4 large incense braziers, one at each cardinal direction, burned sweetly around her and Ron stood in his formal best at her head, the burial shroud in his hands.
"Even though we are old and were married for over 60 good years together, seeing her like this still hurts." Ron said as Harry joined him and looked down on Luna's serene face as she lay on the slab. "She lived a good, long, life, did many great things to make the world a better place, and made me the happiest man alive but despite that there is pain at her loss."
"There will always be pain but at least this time we get the closure of a proper burial unlike with Neville." Harry said sadly. "There are no platitudes or anything else that can be said. Luna was the sister I never had and one of my best friends since before it was realized that I was the Avatar. She never wanted this, but she was one of us, she knew what duty was and when it called her to do it, she was going to do it until the end. You know what she'd want Ron."
"She's want us to keep fighting, to make sure that her death meant something and that we once again won against the evil polluting the world, this time in her very nation which was the last place any of us expected evil to rear its ugly head in." Ron said conviction clear in his voice. "It is what Neville wanted when he died, and I can think of no better way to honor her than to keep fighting until the madman who did this to her, and her nation is either in chains or the ground."
"Same and we will win." Harry said his own tone matching Ron's. "I am glad that you will fight with me to the end."
"We are all that is left, I'll be by your side until either we win, or I draw my last breath fighting." Ron said looking up and Harry saw the determination in his eyes. "First Neville, now Luna, they gave their lives so that we may keep fighting against imbalance and restore peace in the world. It's just you, me, and Ginny now. We are in this until the end."
"That we are." Harry said with a nod. "Though Ginny won't be on the front lines with us. She'll be in the rear guard that comes in last so that she can heal as she goes though she will be fighting like old times. It is where she is best, and she knows it."
"Agreed, her and Luna never did like the dirty stuff." Ron said. "Oh, Ginny can get her hands dirty when necessary, I'll always remember her actions in Jang Hui, and she is a true Warrior of the South, but she is also a healer who preserves life and made the right choice after we beat Hermione. Luna likewise always wanted peace and worked in that regard. That is why it is so wrong that her short reign as Archabbot was during a civil war, she deserved so much better."
"That she did, and we will give it to her." Harry said with certainty in his voice. "Her killer is dead but the man who ordered it is still free and causing an imbalance with his twisted philosophy. We will change it and bring him to the justice he deserves and make sure that we honor Luna by bringing an end this war and restoring peace to the Air Nation."
"Yes I have had my vengeance, so I know that my judgement is not clouded for the final battle." Ron said. "Now it is time for justice, and I'll be with you, by your side when we attack the Eastern Air Temple and catch that bastard."
"I'd have it no other way." Harry said. "We will win Ron, I know it."
"Even with the losses we've suffered both in the Principate War and this one, I know you will always do your best to win Harry." Ron said. "You're the Avatar and my best friend, you will do what is right. All I ask is that you do your best to catch Ekrizdis alive so that he can pay for his crimes the way Voldemort and Hermione did."
"I fully intend to." Harry said seriously. "This isn't like with James who I knew that I'd have to kill in the end. No this is like Hermione. I will catch him, I will strip him of his bending for the way he has polluted airbending, and we will put him on trial for his many crimes. He'll never see the light of day again. There's a prison in the desert with his name on it and after how many Kyoshi Warriors died today I know that they will be more than happy to man that prison again."
"I can think of no more fitting punishment for him." Ron said with a nod. "He tried to be sneaky, he tried to take us when we least expected it, and while it cost the life of my wife and my son-in-law, he failed. We will make him pay for his failure."
"That we will." Harry said. "The world is on our side after his stunt. Once the new Archabbot is officially in office tonight, I will go with him to the United Republic and meet with the other World Leaders who are converging on Republic City as we speak. There we will plan everything and be ready. Take Luna to where she needs to be and meet me on the command airship at the Southern Air Temple where we will begin staging things for the final push. We will likely attack within two months and end this war."
"I will, don't worry Harry I know my duty in all this." Ron said. "I take it you know who the next Archabbot will be, you speak as if it is already a foregone conclusion."
"That is because it is." Harry said simply. "There is only one candidate who it can be. Gabrielle is too new to her roll to be considered and Cho and Wroxton were neutral in this war so they lack the experience or knowledge to take over right now though Wroxton is likely going to be the 6th Archabbot due to his age and neutrality will be desired in the wake of the war. Only Bexley and Davies make sense at the moment."
"And the Air Nation would never let a soldier lead them even if we are at war." Ron deduced. "Davies is the only one that makes sense, and the others will know it."
"They do and so does Davies." Harry said. "It is why he has requested to see me before the funeral, he wants to talk about the upcoming Conclave."
"He wants your advice as the Avatar." Ron said. "He no doubt never expected to become Archabbot as Luna was the favorite last time, and she wasn't supposed to die before him. He shouldn't be it and certainly not like this, but such is how the chips have fallen and he will have to deal with it. If anyone of the 5 electors can do it, it is him and I expect him to rise to the occasion."
"He is the best for the job, and I will talk with him once we are done here." Harry said looking one last time at Luna. "I had to pay my personal respects to one of my closest friends and teammate first. We didn't get this with Neville's death, but we do with Luna's."
"As it should be." Ron said holding out the yellow shroud so that Harry could take an end. "But as you know better than anyone, war waits for no one. We've taken enough time and Luna would be pissed at us if we took any more. Help me with this and then go meet Davies. We will eulogize her properly later."
"That we will." Harry said taking the end of the shroud and backing up to unfurl it.
They didn't speak because words were no longer needed as Harry went down to Luna's feet and Ron went to her head and they carefully laid the shroud over her body. Then they tucked it in under her as it should be so that Luna was ready for her funeral.
With that done, Ron and Harry embraced before Harry turned and left. Lysander was here and would be coming to the room soon and Ron would want a final moment with his 3 surviving children and their mother alone. Harry was going to do that for him. He had the next Archabbot to speak to.
Davies had requested to see Harry on one of the small meditation areas to the north of the Temple. It was basically a raised platform near the ceiling held to it by four pillars so that it was fully open the wind with space for 5 monks to sit on and meditate. As such, it could only be reached with air or earthbending. As such it hadn't been damaged and was thus the perfect place to meet.
It took Harry a moment to find it, he'd never used it, but he knew where it was, and once he did he used airbending to reach it. On it, near the edge that looked out over the canyon and sitting in the lotus position was Davies. He was clearly still meditating so Harry sat down behind him and waited patiently for the man to finish. It was a good 10 minutes before Davies was done but rather than turn around he just shifted to the side to create a space for Harry.
"Come and join me Avatar." Davies said. "The canyon is beautiful to look at so do so with me. I rarely see it as I am rarely here, I don't want to waste it or this brief moment of peace that I have before the chaos resumes."
Harry just nodded though Davies couldn't see him and shifted forward to join him looking out over the canyon. It was beautiful and as always shrouded in mist while the wind blew around them in a way that Harry knew couldn't be replicated anywhere else in the world.
"I have always found the Western Air Temple interesting and different." Harry said. "It's impossible to imagine it being built here, especially millennia ago when there was no real tech to help them, and it's unlike anything else on the plant, including the other Temples."
"It is a unique structure, the pride and joy of the Air Nation in my opinion." Davies said with a small smile. "I remember my first time here; I was only a boy of 8 or 9 and my parents wanted to come her for something that I can't remember after all these years but likely some festival. All I can remember was being awed by its majesty and the wind rushing through it felt so natural. I was closer to my element that I had ever felt in the South because of how the wind moves down here. I've only been back a handful of times and not for decades because of the Principate War and my position at the Southern Air Temple. It is a shame that this is how I have returned."
"It is but such is the nature of war." Harry said. "I've been living here for most of the war, the longest stretch of time I've ever spent here, and it still amazes me just like it did the first time I came here."
"When was that for you Avatar?" Davies asked. "Your first time at this Temple I mean."
"Call me Harry." Harry said. "I know that this is the first time we are talking alone but we will soon have many more meetings like this once you take your new role so get used to it Davies."
"Alright I will Harry." Davies said sounding a little uncomfortable at it but clearly trying to push through it. "And we can talk about that in a moment. First I want to know a bit about you because as you said we haven't talked before. It is part of why I wanted to talk before the election so that I could get a read on the man who my mentor and friend Remus spoke so highly of. The other part is to get your advice."
"I know and sure I can tell you of my first time coming to the Western Air Temple." Harry said as he looked out over the canyon and thought back to the day so many decades ago that he first arrived at this Temple. "It was when I was 20 and it was actually the first of the cardinal Temples I visited. I had only ever been to Air Temple Island before, in fact I was living on the Island at the time as I had moved there after I graduated from the Academy, but I'd never been to any of the other Temples until that moment."
"I knew about that." Davies said with a nod of his head. "It is well known that Jinora invited you to live there after you graduated, and it was where you coordinated the last of the Purist cleanup from. Wait, did you say you were 20 when you came here?"
"I was." Harry said with a small smile. "I see you know when that was. It is a good sign that a leader knows his history."
"I know a lot about you Harry, I had to study up this week as I know what is coming later." Davies said and Harry could hear a note of resignation in the man's voice but there was resolve there as well. "You were 20 when you defeated Hermione which means that you came to the Western Air Temple right before you snuck into the Fire Nation. That is public knowledge I just didn't realize that it was your first time here."
"That is correct." Harry said with a nod. "Pyrites's prison was located in the eastern ISEK, when you take the position of Archabbot you will be told its precise location, and the Western Air Temple was the nearest principle landmass to the Fire Nation, so we came here after picking him up to refresh and restock before going to Pyrites's private island where his sub was stashed. Add in that this is Luna's home Temple, and it was easily the best place to go. I was blown away by it, but we were only here briefly. The Fire Nation had suffered terribly because of my inaction, I needed to get there and free it from Hermione's tyranny as soon as possible."
"I can't imagine what going there during that time period was like." Davies said. "Like you, I am a veteran of the Battle of the Elemental Academy and the Second Siege of the North, it is part of why I am the favorite, but those were normal battles that were almost conventional if still cluterfuck shitshows. What Hermione did to the Fire Nation, it was horrific and beyond evil if even half of what I've read is accurate. I remember going there when probending returned and even by the end of my career it was still rebuilding."
"It was worse when I was there before taking her down, the reports don't do what she did to the Fire Nation justice." Harry said. "And in the aftermath I saw the camps, mines, prisons, and factories that she used slave labor in, slaves that were sent there for simply disagreeing with her. The nightmares I have from then still persist and I hate that I didn't act sooner but I couldn't, and I still live with that regret. The wounds Hermione inflicted upon her own nation were deep and the scars are still there though the nation is on its feet again thanks to Druzok. He was a great Firelord."
"I always admired him and how he led his nation when they needed it the most, both in the aftermath of Hermione's illegal rule and the Principate War." Davies said. "And I guess that brings us to the reason why I asked to meet you."
"The upcoming Conclave." Harry said as they moved onto why Harry was talking to Davies. "Not a normal one but as with Remus's it can't be. You want to discuss it because you know that you will win on the first ballot. It isn't official yet, but you will be the 5th Archabbot of the Air Nation and the one who will lead it through the end of the Airbending Civil War and into the rebuilding and reunifying of your nation."
"Yup, as astute as I was expecting Harry." Davies said. "I never wanted to even be on a Council of Elders, never even expected I would be. I just wanted to teach and coach airbenders who had unusual life paths like mine with probending after I retired from the sport. I couldn't refuse Remus though when he put me on the Southern Council of Elders to fill the seat he'd vacated when Filius elevated him to Head Abbot. Then the Principate War changed everything."
"That it did in more ways that we could have ever predicted." Harry said. "You were one of the few surviving Elders and as such had to step up to help save not just your nation but the world."
"I did both." Davies said. "We all did back then because it was our duty, and we didn't shy away from it. It was why I couldn't turn down my appointment to be Head Abbot of the Southern Air Temple in the wake of the war, I was the best person to take the role and it would be a disservice to my nation if I refused it. Thankfully, Luna was senior to me and more well-known because of her years of service as part of Team Avatar which meant that she was always the favorite to be Archabbot after Remus. She should have had a long, peaceful reign that made us better as a nation."
"But alas fate didn't work out like that because of a fanatic destroying peace and balance all because he wasn't willing to compromise and adapt to the new society." Harry said. "And Luna fell in battle, but her death wasn't in vain. Thanks to Ekrizdis's act in violating the ceasefire accords and our stand here we have the war now and we will win. It's just that you will be the one to lead the nation in the aftermath, not Luna."
"And I have no idea how to." Davies said. "I never expected this even after taking over as a Head Abbot. I should have died before Luna but now I must ensure that her legacy is remembered and then restore, rebuild, and reunify my nation in the wake of this unprecedented civil war."
"We all will." Harry said. "And I never chose to be the Avatar, no one does, but I have done my best in the role. I have found that those who don't want or weren't meant to rule tend to be the best."
"I know that the Avatar isn't chosen, and you have been a great one Harry." Davies said. "You have saved the world numerous times and will again, but I don't get what you mean by those who don't want to rule being the best."
"Power is addictive and sought after often by the wrong people for the wrong reasons." Harry said. "Just look at Voldemort, Hermione, James, and Ekrizdis, the four great villains I have faced in my life. All wanted power and to rule the world the way they believed it should be and all were fanatics who committed evil in their attempts to gain more power. Luna didn't want to rule, Ron never wanted to be President but ran because it was his duty, neither Teddy nor Shacklebolt initially wanted the Presidency as well but all three were some of the best in history. They never wanted power for power's sake. They did their duties and weren't corrupted by what was entrusted to them. You are that as well."
"I see." Davies said after a pause that Harry knew was to think on his words. "But what about the hereditary ones? They knew that power was coming to them so they're different."
"For the most part they know it is coming and can be properly prepared for it but as with anything like that some are good, and some are bad." Harry said. "Sirius never wanted to be Chief, but he had to be named acting Chief as he was the only one who could take the role at the time and his people voted to keep him and he healed the North. Dominique wasn't born first, she was Bill's second child but because of how the world works, she became the heir and has done a great job as Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. Even those like Ursa, Xiang, and Altinak who always knew they'd rule have done well. Hell, you mentioned you admired Druzok, and he was like that."
"True, I guess that is good to know." Davies said sounding somewhat reassured by what Harry was saying to him. "And I will accept the election and take the position that my fellow elders are entrusting me with. It is my duty to my nation to do so. It is the cleanup that will be tough."
"That it will be which is why you must chose the right people to lead the other Temples when they are returned to the Air Nation, and I will be there to help." Harry said. "As will the other leaders. After the election we are heading to Republic City to discuss the final battle plans and you must be there for that, you know that right."
"I do." Davies said. "And this will include the liberation of the Northern Air Temple, something I must be hands on for as well. I know what my role will entail, I will not shy away from it Avatar."
"Good." Harry said. "The final battle is a global effort, but you need to get the Northern Temple in line before that happens though. The Head Abbot should be someone you trust and know can get it in line."
"I know who and already discussed it with her." Davies said surprising Harry with the fact that he already had a candidate for Head of the Northern Air Temple. "If elected I'm naming her Head Abbess and she will take over getting it in line. I also had access to Luna's records and know what her plan was for the end of the war, and this is in line with what she wanted. I will start there and adjust going forward as the rest develops before me."
"That is a good start." Harry said with a smile. "See, I knew that it would be fine. You may not want this Davies, but you are the only one right now who can lead the Air Nation through the end of the war."
"True and I will do what I can to unify the nation when the war is over and bring the criminals to justice while showing mercy as well as is in keeping with our philosophies." Davies said. "I won't be a long reigning Archabbot, with my age and what I have to do I will run myself into the grave within a decade I expect, but I will set it up so that my successor, based on age and what the nation will want it will likely Wroxton, can be like Remus. I will leave the Air Nation better than I left it."
"That's the spirit." Harry said as his stomach rumbled. "But I need to get lunch, so I am going to get some and see my how my wife is doing. Remember the funeral is this afternoon."
"I do and I will be there for it and what will come afterwards." Davies said. "I am going to meditate a bit longer though; I need to compile my thoughts after our conversation. Thank you Avatar, this talk was needed."
"For both of us." Harry said before he got up and leapt off the platform.
Harry meant what he said, he'd needed the talk as much as Davies as it put his mind at ease that Davies would be a good Archabbot and lead them into the future that would be created when this war ended. The Air Nation was still in good hands after Luna. Now it was time to lay her to rest. It was time to remember one of his oldest friends and all the amazing things she did in her life.
Well, there it is, a little bit of mourning for Luna and a chat with the next Archabbot of the Air Nation as things begin to heat up on the path to the final arc of the final book in this series. There is of course still a few more chapters to get through before then to help set it up but we are in the home stretch now and just over 2 months from finishing this series once and for all. That is all I have for this chapter though so I will leave it off here. That is all I have for y'all in this chapter so I will leave it here. As always any questions in PMs or reviews will be answered before the start of the next chapter (as well as replied to if possible). Please follow, favorite and review, all are greatly appreciated. Until next week.
Stringdog