I do not own Avatar.
Enjoy!
"You should see Slim when he's motivated. I actually saw him eat a whole hive of mosquito-hornets once. He got stung like no other, but he kept going till none of them were left. Why I reckon..."
Toph was considering the moral and philosophical ramifications of tossing a boulder full speed at Due's mouth. It wasn't because she hated the guy. Nothing like that. He just hadn't shut up ever since they set out to find Sparky and Uncle. And if she had to hear one more fact about his pet cat-gator, she would rather be deaf than blind.
Thankfully, she heard footsteps coming closer. So did Due, since he (thank the spirits) stopped talking.
"Who's there?" Due yelled.
"Come on out here so I can kick your butts!" Toph added, giving Due a thumbs up.
"I have a feeling you'll do that anyway."
Sparky, Uncle, and some other short fat guy came walking towards them. Toph almost wondered if Sparky got himself another Uncle.
"Finally found us huh? What took you so long Sparky?"
"Had to talk to a tree. Long story," was all Zuko said. His voice was lower, and his tone was tired. And Toph could feel how exhausted his body sounded.
"You ok Sparky? You don't sound so good."
"I'll admit that I am not always tolerable. But I did think my own vessel would be better at it."
Toph's eyes widened. She heard a voice. One that did come from either her fire friends or (from the sounds of it) the new guy with them. Who just talked?
"What was that?"
"Oh yeah. I figured you wouldn't be able to see him," Zuko said, sounding like he was rubbing his eyes. "That voice is Vaatu. The spirit that's supposed to live inside of me."
"Wait, you mean you can see him too?" Due suddenly asked. "I thought I was hallucinating. That's a real spirit?"
Everyone groaned. This might take a while to get used to.
"I have to say. It is quite refreshing to be able to talk to humans with complete faces."
Zuko frowned at Vaatu.
"Don't take it personally vessel. You are still my favorite."
Shaking his head, Zuko went back to eating his fried weeds. It wasn't as terrible as the name would lead one to believe, but Zuko personally preferred fried heat rolls. And fire flakes. He missed those.
"I still don't understand what's going on," Toph said as she swallowed her bug. "I keep hearing some weird voice, but there isn't a body for it to come from."
"Vaatu is a spirit. And he's floating. You can't see him because he isn't touching the ground," Zuko told her.
"Even if I did, I doubt it would make a difference," Vaatu said, dropping some of his tendrils to the earth. "A spirit's body is non-material. You would be able to sense nothing."
Toph turned to Zuko.
"Is he on the ground?"
"Yes."
"I can't see him. He wasn't lying."
"Nope."
Toph held her seaweed bowl in her hands.
"That's annoying. So when do we leave again?"
"We can't. Not yet," Zuko said. He took a bite before explaining. "The next element I need to learn is water. And Huu agreed to teach me."
Toph stopped eating for a moment. She stared directly ahead of her. Zuko looked at her with concern. Why wasn't she saying anything?
"Oh," was all she said. She then proceeded to down her bowl in one gulp before walking away. She walked to the edge of the campsite and built her own tent out of rocks. No one bothered stopping her.
"I like her," Vaatu suddenly responded.
Zuko frowned. "She called you annoying."
"Exactly."
No one really knew how to respond to that, so they all went back to eating. Iroh was having an easier time with his food. He was raised in a royal palace, but he learned to survive on simple rations during his siege on Ba Sing Se. Stale rations. Because of that, any food that was prepared warmly and with care was good enough for him.
Even if it did contain bugs.
"Well, today has been interesting," Huu suddenly said. "Why don't we all get some rest. If you're willing, we can start trying to train you in waterbending tomorrow. We can see where your skills lie at the moment and work our way from there."
Zuko nodded. "Yes. I would like that. Thank you, Shifu Huu."
Huu's eyes widened slightly. But then he smiled. "Alright then. We'll meet by the waters here once the sun rises."
He then walked over to his tent. He kept muttering 'Sifu Huu' to himself happily.
"Are you sure it is wise to begin waterbending so soon nephew?" Iroh asked. "You have only been learning earthbending for a year. While I will not say that you are not good at it, I do not know if you have achieved mastery yet."
"I can become a master earthbender later, uncle. I still have Toph, she's not going anywhere," Zuko said, pointing at her solid tent. "Besides, wouldn't it be a good idea for me to learn the elements as soon as possible? We all know that the comet will be coming soon. It would be better if my father isn't on the throne by that point."
Iroh had not given any thought to the comet in years. He had known since he was a boy that he would live to see. He had even fantasized about using its power to conquer the world back before he had attained some much-needed wisdom.
But Zuko had a point. If Ozai was still in power by the time the comet came, there was no telling what sort of depraved inhumane actions he could take with the unrestrained power of a hundred suns. Iroh would give himself nightmares if he put too much thought into it.
"Very well nephew. I will try to wake up early tomorrow and join you. Water is the opposing element to fire, so you may find it difficult to grasp at first. But I will be there to aid you."
Zuko smiled. A small smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Thank you, uncle."
Iroh returned the gesture. "You're welcome, nephew."
The two of them finished their food before walking to their tents. As Iroh walked into his own, he watched as Zuko entered his. Followed closely by Druk. And by Vaatu.
"Spirits are tricky creatures. You never know what to expect from them. They could offer you honey and gold in one moment, and in the next moment be trying to take your face."
Iroh remembered these words from his own father. Words that had been passed down to him by Sozin himself. Iroh himself had once repeated them to Lu Ten, hoping his son would be careful.
Iroh doubted that Ozai would ever give such a warning to his own son. It would partially explain how Zuko got into his current predicament.
Iroh was still a boy back when he had heard those words, ignorant of the greater workings of the world. And right now, he could not get those words out of his mind.
Everything he had seen from Vaatu made him nervous for his nephew. And sympathetic. He knew from experience how difficult it could be to deal with arrogant and self-absorbed characters. He had to deal with many himself back in the army.
But Zuko had to deal with this one for the rest of his life. The Spirit of Vaatu was bound to him. And Zuko would always speak to him when he dreamed. Now, he would speak to him in his every moment.
And Iroh was nervous about the sort of influence that Vaatu could have on his nephew.
"You called for me, Prince Iroh?"
Iroh's eyes shot open when he heard the voice. He turned around to see the chaos spirits form floating towards him.
"Vaatu. I did not call for you."
"Oh. See, the thing is, you did. Though it would it was unintentional."
Iroh frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I am a spirit of chaos and discord, you old dragon. As such, I am able to detect negative emotions in living things. Be it the fear of prey, the anger of a soldier, or the mistrust of an old man."
"You are aware of my grievances?"
"I have aware since your first conversation with my vessel. He may choose not to see it, but I can see that you do not approve of our union."
Iroh hid his hands inside of a robe. Even if the spirit could sense emotion, Iroh had always been taught to keep them hidden. And if Vaatu was aware of the frustration Iroh was feeling, he did not show it.
"You understand my concerns. Have you anything to say of them?"
"Only that they are pointless," Vaatu stated bluntly. "Complain and worry all you wish. Nothing will change the fact that I and my vessel are now bound to one another for all of his upcoming lifetimes."
Lifetimes. In truth, Iroh had paid no mind to that aspect of being an Avatar. Zuko would live on after his death, his spirit now clothed in a different form. A new life.
"Can you offer any insight into my nephew's future life?"
"I am a spirit of chaos, not time. I cannot gaze into the future," Vaatu casually informed. "My next vessel will likely be of Earth Kingdom descent. That is if I decide to adhere to this silly cycle you humans seem so fond of. I could choose any person from any nation if I choose to."
"You would not adhere to an elemental cycle?"
"Not if it turned out to be boring. I will try to find an Earth Kingdom vessel once my current one expires. But if I cannot locate a suitable one, I would have no issue locating one elsewhere. It is better to be practical after all."
The more Iroh talked to this spirit, the more worried he became. He did not think that Vaatu would hurt Zuko. The chaos spirit seemed too self-serving for that. But his lack of concern for any sort of order was worrying for how much influence he would hold.
Even without being an Avatar, Zuko was still a member of the Fire Nation royal bloodline. Even banished, he still had the advantage of rank. Any Fire Nation citizen would be honor-bound to obey him. And if Vaatu was to speak through Zuko, there was no end to the chaos that he could cause.
"You fear the chaos I would bring."
It was not a question. It was a statement. Vaatu knew exactly how Iroh felt. Which meant that he had no reason to hide his intentions any longer.
"I fear for my nephew. And I fear for the world. It has already suffered enough with this war. What guarantee do I have that you will not plunge it into deeper despair?"
Vaatu was silent for only a moment.
"There are two reasons your fears are unfounded. One is that I am a spirit of chaos, not suffering. While I may find pain comical, I would not be as pleased as you may think with wanton misery."
Iroh was not entirely convinced. But Vaatu did have another point.
"And what is the second reason?"
"I have a very compelling reason not to misuse your nephew."
"What reason?"
"Curiosity."
Iroh frowned.
"I'm afraid I do not understand."
"I doubted that you would. Think of it like this. What had happened ever since I bonded with your nephew?"
Iroh wasn't sure how to respond to that question. "Do you wish to hear of specific events? A great many things have occurred?"
"Exactly! A great many wonderful chaotic things!"
Iroh's eyes widened. This was the most animated he had ever seen the spirit. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
"Only two days after merging with me, and my vessel already discovers living dragons. And gains one of his own," Vaatu said, his tendrils shaking with excitement. "And that was only the first few days! A few months later, and he discovers a prepubescent and irreverent BadgerMole as a teacher. He then steals from her wealthy parents and frees a village from tyrannical soldiers. And now he has discovered a tribe of swamp-dwelling waterbenders that control plants."
These events were difficult and often exasperating moments in Iroh's life. But Vaatu was speaking of them as terrific moments of discovery and fun.
"In the short time I have been with my vessel, so much wonderful chaos has already been born and met. That is why I have no intention of enforcing any control over my vessel."
Iroh frowned in confusion. Thankfully, Vaatu kept speaking.
"Why would I ruin such surprises? I know what I want to do, roam freely across the world and spread discord. But I want to see what your nephew will do with the power I have given him. He has surprised and entertained me thus far. I want to see how much more he can do."
Iroh wished he could feel relief from that. Vaatu was saying that Zuko would not lose his free will. That his internal freedom would remain untampered. But Vaatu made it seem that Zuko was nothing more than a tool to him. He was using the boy as a means to his own ends. A source of enjoyment, and nothing more.
"Is that all?"
"You are not convinced. Let me assure you, Dragon of the West, that I have no intention to harm my vessel. His destruction would mean pain for me. And while I am many things, I am neither suicidal nor a masochist. I will not bring any harm to your nephew."
"Intentionally?"
"I exist to create chaos. It is possible that the very force of nature would lead your nephew to danger. If he doesn't find it himself first."
Iroh had to concede that point to Vaatu. Zuko was prone to bad luck and hardship all of his life. Even before he stumbled into the spirit world. He would get himself into trouble even without Vaatu's guidance.
"If it will quench your fears and make our future conversations easier, I will make a vow to you. I will do everything in my considerable power to ensure your nephew's survival and success in life. I will not be responsible for all the events in his life, as I leave his free will intact. His life is his own to live. I am merely an aid."
As Vaatu left to rejoin Zuko, Iroh wondered just how much a spirits word was worth.
"Rested up?" Huu asked Zuko.
"Firebenders rise with the sun. I was ready the moment it came up," Zuko explained. Druk was walking right beside him. "Also, Vaatu decided not to follow me. So we have a good chance of learning before he comes over here and distracts us."
Huu cupped his chin as he considered the point that Zuko bought up. But whatever he was thinking, he kept it to himself.
"Well, let's get started then. Come stand here."
Huu directed Zuko to the edge of a stream of swamp water. He then told Zuko to stay in his spot.
"Alright. I want you to try and move the water. I want to see how much you can do before we move to anything else."
Nodding, Zuko decided to try. He didn't really know anything about waterbending, but this seemed like a good place to start.
Taking in a deep breath, Zuko tried to empty his mind of all outside thoughts. He then baled his hands into fists and arched them back. He quickly shot his hands up, hoping to make the water rise.
It didn't even ripple.
"That would probably work for an earthbender," Huu said from the sides. "But for waterbending, you can't be so forceful. You have to guide the water, not push it to move."
Zuko could tell instantly that this would be more difficult than the other two elements he had learned to bend. Fire was the element of power, it required quick and aggressive movements to create the most effectiveness. Earth was a stable element, needing a strong stance and stubborn core to make the rocks move.
But Huu was saying that water needed soft guidance. But how did that make sense? How could Zuko make the water dow what he wanted it to do without forcing it to?
Iroh was right. Water really was fire's opposite.
But Zuko wasn't about to quit. He had lost his chance at the throne, learned how much of a monster his father truly is, and spent over a year getting beat up by a girl younger than him to learn earthbending. He was already temporarily living in a swamp and stuck a Vaatu that would no longer leave him alone during the day.
He was going to learn waterbending. He had to.
"Ok. Let's make this work.
The next chapter will begin with Zuko beginning his water bending training. I intend to have some fun with that.
I'll probably also switch over to Aang for a little bit in the next chapter. See how he and his gang are doing. It's been a while.
As for Iroh and Vaatu's conversation, that will lead to important places. The two of them are not going to have a very strong relationship, and there is plenty of good reason for that. I'm looking forward to how that progresses.
Please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.
Bye!