Bato of the Watertribe
Coastal Woods
While we were walking Aang found some Water Tribe weapons and scorch marks as we followed it to the beach he sees a boat. Supposedly belonging to their Father's fleet, which makes them set up a camp to wait and see who they may run into though if I had to guess a few stragglers. Sokka sits poking at the fire with some wood in a reminiscing mood while I look at him. Attempting to read him which he knows I am sitting there. " What is it Ezra that you want to discuss?"
" Well you're so focused on the fire but something else has your mind something that happened a long time ago," I wonder aloud but my inquiry comes out more like a statement.
"I guess I am focused on when my father left to go to war and I wanted to go with him viewing myself as a warrior," Sokka explained.
" Sokka war is never a pretty thing and take it from me killing someone is something you have to stomach at times. You must dehumanize your enemy because if they are human or some other species. How can we be better than our enemy, if you want an abject explanation never fall into the state of Jet seeking revenge out of bloodlust. Even the Rebellion had its unsavory elements with criminals even joining us and Saw Gerrera a man who shows the worst of the Alliance. Imperial Propaganda wants to paint the Rebellion as a bunch of idealistic Murderers and Terrorists," I say this to Sokka thinking of both men as having fallen to their own variation of zealotry. " That is what your father was trying to save you from the horrors of war."
While Sokka pondered it we were quickly interrupted. I went for my Lightsaber as he went for his whalebone machete. Sokka growled," Who's there, show yourself!" I turned the blade on to illuminate the area better than the fire. The purple blade shone off the area and showing a threat that was backed up. However as a man approached with his arm covered in bandages and wearing Water Tribe Blue I lowered my weapon as Sokka sputtered," Bato!" As Katara yelled the name. I deactivated my Saber and hooked it on my belt. He gestures to us and we follow him to an abbey full of Nuns.
Bato introduced us," Mother Superior, these are Hakoda's children. They have been traveling with the Avatar and another straggler." He looks at me with a glare towards me. While Mother Superior greets Aang but looks to decipher who I am with a realization.
" It is great to see a Jedi though the legends often aren't clear on them," She says with a sense of confusion about my clothes.
" I am not like most Jedi but I was never taught in the Greater Temples. I have lacked their robes due to the lack of Jedi remaining." I say this with a jab to her.
I entered the room covered wall to wall in furs, making me think of Wookies for some reason. I don't know but also my Uncle and Cousin. This quickly makes me think of Revan's warning that Galen could still live despite how unlikely it is. I struggle with it but seeing food I sit down with a look of uncertainty from Bato. I turn to Katara," Katara, could you please pass me a bowl for me?" She passes a bowl not knowing what it contains. I eat the contents with gusto seeing as it has a very salty taste but seems quite filling. I have let the kids eat most of the food and taking only scraps which is what I am used to though it is far better than a Ration Bar. Aang, disgusted by the food leaves feeling excluded by Sokka and Katara who speak with Bato.
" I have many questions Master Jedi," Bato looks at me and says the last part with a slight jab. " How did you meet the three of them and your name?"
" I am Ezra Bridger, I met them on Kyoshi Island after the Warriors had interrogated them. I could feel Sokka across the island grumbling to himself over getting his butt kicked by the Kyoshi Warriors who humbled him." I explain to Bato with grace and calmness while Sokka is fuming slightly while Katara snickers silently to herself.
" Sneak Attacks don't count Ezra and you don't get to hold that over me after Jet and your long snooze over the Great Divide," Sokka says pointedly.
"Sure it doesn't like Fortunetelling and mystical Jedi powers, ' You will slap yourself across your face," Which I say and he does angrily getting a guffaw from Katara and a chuckle from Bato.
Sokka looks to me with a gaze of annoyance," I hate you Ezra so much."
"I know but Aunt Wu was right most of your problems are Self-inflicted," I say with a smile covering my face. Sokka glares at me," So are you planning on going to see your Father with Bato despite our current mission?"
Sokka thinks about it though resolves himself to answer," I would love to see him but our responsibility is to get Aang to the Northern Water Tribe." I stand up as Bato and Sokka speak, listening slightly but my mind drifts to Aang and wondering where he went as I step outside to get a breath of fresh air. While standing out of the area I stroll the courtyard of the abbey. When I see Aang and Appa return I walk over to them though Aang has forgotten my lesson on shielding his thoughts. Which I felt and strolled over there as he walked over to the building I sneak upon him.
" Oh, Aang your back what is that," as I pull from him a scroll with coordinates and a map to the Water Tribe forces as I study it Aang looks at me with fear in his eyes." What did you plan on doing with this map?"
"I'm worried the two of them would leave me behind for their father, and then you would leave me to go home to the galaxy at large," Aang sputters on with his fear of abandonment. I remember my fears and finally sit down and wave to him to sit next to me.
"Aang you have a similar fear I had when I was fifteen and started my training to become a Jedi. I entered a temple on Lothal that showed me my worst fears of being alone again. It was terrifying. Finally, I was done with running and mustered my courage and will with it I stared down the form my fear took on. However, that was four years ago. It was down to being in the same place I was before Kanan, Hera, and Sabine, when I stole from them. Though it happened so long ago I was in that same place a few months ago shortly before I met you on Kyoshi Island." I look at Aang with a reassuring smile.
" Well what about now with your fears, and how do you know they won't leave me," Aang begs to know?
"Simple both of them know it is of vital importance that we get to the North Pole. They even told Bato it is of importance," I sigh with this and continue," My fear now is focused on the alliance and my family, but I don't let it distract me from my destiny and job here which is to help you."
Aang looks at me with a full smile full of hope and optimism. We both walk back into the Water Tribe den with Sokka and Katara listening to Bato tell a story. When I walked over to him, I handed him the map that Aang was carrying. Which the two of them are slightly annoyed at me for stopping storytime. While he is reviewing the map to Hakoda and his unit. He finally looks up from it and asks me," Where did you get this?"
" I didn't get it, Aang did, he was at your ship thinking when a courier arrived and gave it to him. Which he gave it to me as I am giving it to you," I answer when he is questioning me about it. Aang looks on with fear and is scared about the outcome of it. While we watch the warrior review it he realizes that there is little time to travel that far with the four of us on Appa. That this would allow Prince Angry to follow us but would sidetrack us from the North Pole where Aang can learn Waterbending.
" However, there is something we must do tomorrow before I depart for the Eastern Earth Kingdom," Bato looks on with a smirk," A rite of passage for all Southern Water Tribe Men." Sokka's face lights up with joy and seems as though he could explode from the excitement of what is to happen as I step back outside while the three of them get ready for tomorrow. I look towards the Stars with amazement as always viewing them and attempting to see if I can recognize a system I know. Though as I look upon them I feel lost and confused," That right there is the Malak/Lehon Star," as Bato points to the crimson star and brightest ", The Oma and Shu constellation, and there is the Chiss Star." He draws an outline with his finger of the images then points to a Blue Star.
" Could you elaborate on each of them because I don't understand what they mean," I tell him he smiles and explains the last one first.
" The Chiss Star is a home to a race of people who have blue skin and red eyes," Bato explains making me think of Thrawn," To see one for a Water Tribe is considered good luck and an omen for others both for good and ill."
I think of it and wonder on about Thrawn who makes me question the Rebel theory that he was a Pantoran with an eye condition. " How often was it that people saw a Chiss?"
Bato thinks on it for a minute," It was quite rare because they often only crash-landed on Ratava. Though they often just hid until their people came and picked them up and took them back to their star. Why?"
"I feel as though I have encountered one of them seeing as your description matches that of Grand Admiral Thrawn," I state with a feeling of reassurance from the force.
" That is possibly the simplified name of a Chiss which is how we mostly knew their name seeing as it left most struggling to state their full name," Bato says with clarity as he continues his explanation on who Thrawn's people. "Do you want me to continue?" Which he asks me for which I nod for him to do so.
"The Oma and Shu constellation was made out of respect for the two great lovers and patrons of the City of Omashu. Which is often referred to as the lover's Constellation for many." Bato then goes onto the Lehon/Malak Star. " The Malak star is known as the Lehon Star for it was a place of horror and darkness. It remained Malak's place until he was defeated by the Jedi of old and he was killed. Though it is synonymous with the Myth of Revan who was spoken of by the Water Tribe but has not been taught to many recently seeing as the Southern Water Tribe has lost many legends since the beginning of the Raids."
"These stories are quite impressive for their scale and how you have granted names to all of the Local Star Systems. Though most of these systems and constellations I have never heard of nor seen them up close. I knew many of the ones from Lothal." I say with a feeling of respect for the people of Ratava. Whether they be Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, or Fire Nation. Though the latter I must retain my respect for their power is great and destructive. " Thank You for telling me all of this and I will see you in the morning." As I walk off to make an area for my sleep.
Following Bato, we arrive at the coast and he instructs the three of them on how to prepare the boat for travel. Bato told me I would not be needed on this travel seeing it would require only three individuals. As I sit on the beach I focus on the rocks practicing my use of an ability that I only heard of Shatterpoint. An ability that would come in need as I focus on the rocks searching for the shatterpoint in it. As I focus I feel an overwhelming feeling of many Aang being the most followed by Katara and Sokka. Who are both equal in it is a team of shatterpoints who will reshape this world into a new age. They sail on to a new part of the beach. I run over to them witnessing the symbols that Bato draws upon their foreheads showing traits of trust and cunning. I rejoin the group as we walk back towards the abbey to prep for the next leg of our journey. Bato bids farewell to us as we prep for our trek Northwards. Bato pulls me aside and demands," Take care of them for me and see to it that they reach the North safely, Jedi."
" I will do what I can but they are trouble magnets," I say with stoicism and reassurance as he walks out of the gates.
Bato mutters," Thank You."
I simply turn my gaze back to the three of them while they load up Appa. I feel something approaching while attempting to discern it. I feel three entities, two of importance as I search them out. I am quickly pulled from my musings by a crash upon the gate. Which swings open revealing Zuko and his Uncle with a bounty hunter of sorts. The creature they are riding upon is drawn to Katara for some reason instead of Aang. This leaves me confused for several minutes as they dismount Iroh turns to grab a few perfumes. While I attempt to lower my barrier to connect with the creature as it makes Katara go limp. I use the force and pull to my hand the bounty hunter's whip. Which I proceed to cut into many pieces with my Lightsaber as the leather hits the ground she grabs a new one from her bag on the beast as Zuko engages Aang in battle while I focus on the Hunter. She aggressively whips the beast on after Aang now while he attempts to avoid the beast and Zuko's strikes. Which as I get closer they are caught off guard by Katara having regained control and the Nuns push forward the vases of perfume as they are knocked over Katara uses her bending to raise the liquid and dose the beast. Which quickly is overwhelmed by the smell which sends it berserk and knocks out the bounty hunter. Following this, the creature flees the abbey and leaves the Hunter, Zuko, and Iroh seemingly unconscious. While we gather our equipment and flee on Appa. Granting us a respite, Which allows us to focus on the mission.
I don't own either Star Wars or Avatar the Last Airbender both belong to their respective owners. It has been one year since I posted the first chapter of The Lost Jedi. I need more reviews to know how this story is going or your opinion on it so I know what to fix. If you want private message me if you wish. Critique but leave it polite
