THIS TIME I AM FINALLY BACK. I AM READY TO CONTINUE ZUKO'S JOURNEY AS THE SPIRIT OF WAR AND ALL THAT JAZZ. :D THE STORY WILL GET DARKER AS I DECIDED TO MAKE IT DURING THE WRITING OF THIS CHAPTER. HOPE YOU STILL FIND IT INTERESTING.
I do not own ATLA or any of the characters.
Book 2: Dawn of War
Chapter 2: Call of Kioshi Island
THE SPIRIT WORLD
Agni was watching over many places where his people where. Over foreign lands, at sea, and back at their home land. But none of them were as closely looked over as his sight on Zuko. It was unforeseen that he would be found and joined by the Avatar. Agni saw little promise in the small runaway. Too young, too immature, too naive, and too inexperienced. Agni just hoped the child would stay out of Zuko's way.
Agni felt someone call him from the spirit realm to ask an audience with him. Agni cast out a fireball from his mouth. It traveled a short distance before stopping to float above the ground. Out from the ball of fire came the past Avatar Roku of the fire nation.
"What have you come to speak with me about avatar?" Agni asked in his deep loud voice.
Roku bowed to the great spirit in respect before speaking, "I have made certain arrangements for the Prince Zuko to meet with me on the summer solstice of my shrine at the fire temple" he informed Agni, "I have spoke with the past avatars concerning the events of Zuko and we wish to aid in his quest."
Agni had no doubts of the fire nation avatar's loyalty but the avatars of the other great spirits were a different matter to have faith to trust in, "You would do well to know the other great spirits have declared war on Zuko. Trust in those under there element is something of a great risk to give hope to trust."
"Though we are many from different lands, we are one as a belief. The new avatar is not ready to face such an evil without the proper time in training that we have all taken. He has never experienced evil's face on enough to know how to properly deal with it." Roku confessed.
Agni grew an interest in the words of Roku, but he needed to hear more, "What reason do you think Zuko has anything more to contribute than the young avatar?"
"Zuko has grown up in an era of war. his honor helps him see the true suffering the war has brought, his courage helps him to stand up to the sins of war, and his heart pushes him to fight for the oppressed once he sees it. Zuko has even seen the evil's of other nations as well as the light. Zuko knows what actions need to be done." Roku explained.
Agni nodded, "and the fact of who Zuko is to you doesn't affect your opinion and motive?"
Roku paused at the unexpected reply and question, "partly but for the most part it is clear Zuko will bring peace that the young avatar cannot."
Agni rose from his throne before Roku, "what is it you ask of me?"
SEA OF KIOSHI ISLAND
The entire flight over to Kioshi Island has been very silent and tense.
Katara has been having an irritating nagging feeling of who Lee was. Questions of all kinds held within from nervousness to even try to talk to Lee made it even worse. Sokka was still feeling awkward knowing how Lee felt towards everyone and felt it best to keep a reasonable distance from him. Aang was just plain super curious as to know everything about Lee. Random, personal, and informative questions filled his mind, but were too afraid knowing how he yelled at him for asking too many questions at once. He would hold onto those questions until things calmed down a bit... or until Aang couldn't help it anymore.
Lee on the other hand was in meditation in an effort to distance himself from the others. From here on Lee didn't trust himself with anyone in order to keep them safe from the dangers that would soon face him. A great spirit had tried to kill him and failed at it which cost its life. Zuko knew it was no mystery to how the great spirits would respond to his blasphemous act of defiance. Zuko just hoped they would wait for him after he leaves these kids before such things happened. Too many people had died or suffered on his account already and he was determined to keep that from happening again. Especially when someone he had saved was riding with him.
"So where are we heading to anyways?" Sokka asked impatiently, "Aren't we supposed to be heading to the northern tribe to find you a water bending master?"
Aang pulled out his map, "I wanted to stop by a place where I used to ride giant koi fish."
Sokka groaned, "Haven't we been on enough field trips already?"
"But this place is special. It is the home to one of my past lives" Aang said excitedly
Katara began to grow an interest of where he was talking about, "really? Which avatar was it?"
"The island is named after her. Kioshi Island." Aang informed them.
This disturbed Lee very much as a rush of memories flooded back to his mind remembering Suki, her master Jen, and the two great Unagis which one of them he had already killed. He just hoped that Suki would not remember him. But maybe if she doesn't, he could be able to have them lend him a suitable boat to get him to the mainland and not involve any of them in his journey.
"You can leave me here. I can ask the settlers if they can give me a ship to the main lands so you can be on your way." Lee requested.
Aang was a little disappointed not getting a chance to ask Lee some questions. He was very naïve and too friendly to let someone go without trying to make a friend out of them. Someday that might be his downfall, "Why? We could still fly you over to where you need to go."
"You are the avatar. Your duty is to reach the northern water tribe as soon as you can. I will only delay your journey." Lee said committing to leave them.
"Awe come on. Think of all the sights we can all see together" Aang tried to persuade Lee, "I mean how many people can say they get to ride an air bison?"
"I said I can get there on my own! I don't need to burden others with my own business alright!?" Lee scolded harshly. Aang stiffened up at the sudden burst of anger and nodded.
"Lee Don't be so harsh on him, he was only trying to help." Katara said hinting Lee to apologize.
Lee took a long inhale of breath, "Sorry. I can get by on my own."
Sokka sighed, "I'm glad I am staying out of this one."
Aang then spotted the island, "There it is! We made it!" he said excitedly.
They soon landed towards the beach and unloaded off of Appa. Sokka began to stretch his limbs from the long ride as Aang surveyed the beach. Lee helped Katara unload Appa since the other two were distracted with their own stuff.
Katara frowned at the others seeing that Lee was the only one who helped without hesitation, "thank you boys for helping out" she said bitterly sarcastic.
Aang sort of felt guilty not helping out in the first place, "Sorry Katara I just wanted to find the giant koi fish so I can show you how to ride it."
Sokka still continued with his stretches, "Besides you got your boyfriend there to help you."
Both Katara and Lee glared at him. Lee wished he could have the chance to shoot a flaming shot right at Sokka's hair knowing his vanity would be deeply scarred. Luckily Katara threw a pot striking Sokka with a loud clang. That satisfied Lee enough for the moment.
After unloading Aang took off into the water to find the giant fish. That is after he found out how freezing the water was. While Aang rushed out to play, Zuko then saw a trail leading off inland. Immediately he ventured off to try and find the village he hoped was still there.
Katara seeing him walk off decided to follow leaving Sokka to watch over Aang. She was still having those nagging feelings of where she may have seen Lee before even though she never seen anyone else of a different skin tone. Except for her encounter with a group that they ran into back at her home tribe. But he couldn't have been part of them since they found him at that air temple. Despite knowing they couldn't have known him recently or anytime their father was around, she still had a gut feeling she had seen him before.
Lee continued down the path he could very well remember as it was the path he took that one night as he tried to escape the island when his sister was hunting him. But those painful images of Suki's master Jen lying dead on the beach after giving her life to save him. He could feel the raging flames of Agni in his hands as he fought both the Unagis. He could still feel all the rage, all that anger, and hatred leading him to take down the opposing beasts. Lee tried his best to shake those memories away to focus.
"Lee!" Katara's voice called out from behind.
Lee cursed himself for his constant lack of luck. "What did she want with me?" Lee thought. He hoped she hadn't figured out who he was.
Katara caught up to him, "are you leaving already?" she asked.
"I told you I can handle myself from here on." Lee reminded her
"I'm sorry but I wanted to ask you something" she continued. This was now worse than her might knowing who he was. Now she was going to ask him who he was and forcing him to lie to her. Something that was against his sense of honor. "Have we ever met before?"
Lee had to think of something fast. Even though he hated to lie like this he had no choice. Maybe he could tell her a partial truth. It was better than nothing, "No. You haven't met me before." he answered in a stone tone voice.
Katara still had a doubt that she never had, "Because I know no one has ever been to my tribe since I was little, but for some reason I have a strong feeling we have met." she tried asking a risky question that may hint her to fond out more about Lee, "were you someone who may have visited our tribe but just had your face covered at the moment?"
Lee knew she was hinting towards the time where he was sent to that water tribe to be tortured. He decided to go with that since it wasn't too far from the truth, "Possibly maybe. I might have had my face covered up a bit"
Katara was a bit let down since the answer didn't give so much of a hint as she was hoping for. It could have been possible she just saw his skin and eyes, but something else was hiding in the back of her mind telling her there was more. She didn't want to push too far with her curiosity and get him too frustrated with her questions. She learned her lesson by watching what happened to Aang. She only wished she could have a bit more time to learn more about him, but that hope was thin, knowing he would get a boat from here to go on his own journey to where ever he was heading to.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider coming with us to where ever you need to go? It won't be any trouble to us." Katara tried to change Lee's mind.
Lee was more patient with Katara knowing she wasn't a pestering rambunctious child. Also he would be the one to bring them trouble if he stayed with them, "I must find my own way Katara. It's my own path that I must take."
Katara only nodded accepting his choice disappointedly. She could tell he was set on what must be done that was right to him. Just like that boy Zuko she knew for a short time before he was taken away. Then she wondered if he was the same boy for a moment. But then she took a small glance at Lee seeing his face was perfectly normal compared to how Zuko's was. Maybe it was just coincidence that he happened to remind her of Zuko. After all, it was confirmed that Zuko was executed by his own father. It almost brought Katara to tears knowing she could have had a chance to help him escape. But such things cannot be changed after they had already come to pass.
"I just hoped you could have been someone I once knew." Katara said sadly.
Lee knew what she was talking about, but to him that same person died by his father's hand. Something else was born in that body, "boy from the fire nation?" he asked pretending not to know. Katara nodded, "all you can do is take comfort in knowing he doesn't have to suffer anymore."
Katara agreed knowing that he must have gone through horrific treatment by other nations. She was satisfied he no longer had to endure the cruelty of this war like the living does.
Lee knew they were both putting more distance from the others and she needed to stick with them, "you should head back to the others. They may..." Lee stopped talking and had them both stop from walking when he placed an arm in front of Katara.
Katara became alert and worried, "what is it Lee?" she asked not knowing why he had stopped them both.
Lee moved her behind him somehow sensing some presence out beyond the trail by the heat they gave off. By the tell of the heat signatures that arose from them Lee counted about four of them. He was ready for them but he couldn't reveal to Katara who he was by using his form of bending. This time he had to rely on his non-elemental combat skills.
"Just stay by me Katara." he instructed her, there are several of them out there.
Katara took heed to his words. She hardly knew how to water bend much less fight. But she took her own measures and picked up a nearby branch.
Lee had one trick he could use. He closed his eyes and blocked out everything to stretch out his inner fire sense to see that they were surrounded on all four sides. The ambush was sprung into action by the attackers.
He grabbed Katara by the hand and swung her to slide underneath one of the attackers to surprise and throw off their attack. Using this advantage, he moved against the attacker first while they were distracted by Katara and redirected her aerial launch to throw them into one of the other hard. That took care of two and now there were the other two left. Lee rushed at them and slid towards them just before they were about to counter his approach. But Lee grabbed into the earth to try and stop his approach and made a handstand back flip kicking the dust gathered from his feet in the slide to spray right into their faces. Mildly stunned by the flying dust they covered their faces as Lee landed back on his feet and leapt into one of them on their armored chest and made back flip kick while with the same leg directed it around to come down onto the other attacker's head. He sensed the one of the first attackers recover from that first collision run up to him from behind. Lee quickly turned to defend against his attacker.
The other attacker shakily rose and pulled out a few kunis to throw at Lee while he was defending himself. That was until a tree branch struck them in the back of the head knocking them out cold. Katara held her damaged branch up incase the attacker was still awake.
The attacker against Lee made moved to a close short range combat tactic. Lee kept a short distance away from the attacker frustrating them to come out of their short range attack and made a spinning back round kick. Lee blocked and caught the kick against the side of his right shoulder and wrapped his arm around it before kicking out their supporting leg making them airborne and turned them upside down using his right arm holding onto their out kicked leg and slamming them into the ground knocking the attacker out. Lee resumed is fighting stance while sensing the next opponent. He saw they were all on the ground.
Lee opened his eyes to regret learn who his attackers were. Then He looked to Katara standing still clutching onto her damaged branch dumbfound at Lee's recent performance. Lee ignored Katara's state of expression, "you hurt Katara?" Lee asked. Katara was still a bit in a state of shock, "Katara!" Lee raised his voice shaking her out of her state of mind.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine" she reassured Lee still a bit shaken up.
Lee checked their attackers to see how injured they were.
"Who are they?" Katara asked confused by the manner of their attack.
"Kioshi warriors" Lee said regrettably.
"You know them?" Katara asked curious as to Lee's tone of regret, "Are they an enemy?"
Lee shook his head, "they only protect the island from invaders. They are not part of the war."
Katara grew ever more confused, "then why did you fight them if you know who they are?"
"I uh, I had my eyes closed." he explained guiltily.
Katara was once again dumbfounded by his answer, "wait what?!"
Lee placed one of them over his shoulder while carrying the other two by the back of their belts, "carry the last one Katara. We need to get them back to the village for help."
Katara picked up the last one and put the warrior's arm over her neck and dragged her to follow after Lee.
KIOSHI VILLAGE
Aang and Sokka were tied to a post blindfolded. Sokka was demanding answers to his unknown attackers about where his sister was.
"Where is my sister you cowards!? If you harmed her you will have the wrath of a water tribe warrior to deal with!" he threatened them.
Suki walked up to the captives, "really now? Where was that wrath when we easily took you down?" she taunted.
"You just caught me off guard. If I was real serious the people who attacked me would be in an infirmary right now." he boasted to little effect in convincing anyone.
"Sokka just calm down. We can reason with them if we be nice." Aang attempted to find a peaceful outcome to their situation, "I'm sure Katara is fine. She's strong enough to take care of herself." he then called out to whoever was in charge, "Please we are just here to ride the giant koi fish. Let us get our friend Katara and we will leave peacefully."
just as Suki was about to respond she noticed that it had been too long for the rest of the warriors to come back after going after the other two trespassers that strayed off, "has anyone else seen the others return yet?" she asked her remaining warriors.
Immediately one of them made their way to the highest building to act as a watch out for the other group.
Sokka was a bit relieved and disappointed that his sister was not yet caught but he was, but never the less he took his moment to gloat about it, "seems like your warriors are having trouble with my little sister. Water tribes represent!"
Suki furiously ripped the blindfold from his eyes and pointed a finger straight in his face, "watch yourself boy or else we will see how the water tribe does against the Unagi!" she threatened.
Aang tired to ease the tension, "Sokka this isn't the best time to instigate."
The watch out then spotted someone coming and leapt back down to Suki, "they are coming back, but two people are carrying them. I think our own warriors were overpowered."
Sokka's pride was shattered when he just learned the warriors they were talking about were part of the girls he saw before him, "What?!" he exclaimed, "How could a bunch of girls take a strong amazing warrior like myself?"
Suki ignored Sokka's whining and gathered her remaining force to confront the others.
Lee and Katara saw the village in sight and were relieved to know they were almost there. That was before Suki and her Kioshi Warriors leapt from hiding and blocked the path. Katara instantly hid behind Lee as he remained calm trying not to look anymore of a threat than they already did.
Suki held her fans still closed in her fists assuming they were an enemy, "what have you done to our warriors and how many of you are there?" she demanded.
"It's just us." Katara tried to convince Suki, "I know it may sound crazy, but we didn't mean to hurt them."
Suki became angrier not believing two young people could take down four highly trained Kioshi warriors, "do you expect me to believe that? You and your boyfriend could take down our warriors?"
Katara and Lee slightly jumped at the assumption and yelled back "he/she is not my boy/girlfriend!"
"It doesn't matter how we did it. What matters is we get them to the infirmary to treat their injuries." Lee said wanting to argue later after helping the injured warriors.
Suki grumbled before signaling her warriors to take the injured to the infirmary.
Aang then rushed to Katara out of nowhere, "Katara! I knew you could take care of yourself!"
Before Katara could explain, Sokka rushed in and hugged her which left her surprised and confused, "Sis! You made it! I knew you could take those girls down. You know despite how lousy you could water bend you were able to still do it."
Katara grinded both her teeth and fist in anger at her brothers arrogance and was about to pound him one until Lee placed a hand on her shoulder calming her down a small bit. She was still angry at him but she would wait another time to get him back.
Suki on the other hand was frustrated and confused on how Aang and Sokka got out, "how did you two morons get out?"
The village elder walked in, "Suki, this is Avatar Aang. They are welcomed in our village as long as they want."
Suki was shocked and embarrassed at how she treated Aang but not so much Sokka. She quickly bowed to Aang, "Please forgive me Avatar Aang. I did not know you were the avatar."
Aang just chuckled, "it's alright. I understand not many people would assume that I was the avatar since after a hundred years. Also you don't need to bow we are friends now."
Suki got up but felt awkward treating Aang with much less honor than before, "Uh, as you wish avatar, err I mean Aang." she said shaking his hand. But she returned her attention back at Lee, "but what about him? I can excuse your friend Katara, but this guy fought and injured my warriors."
"It's alright he is with us. I'm sure there is a reason what happened." Aang said trying to defend Lee.
Katara then stepped up rubbing the back of her neck at the story she was about to tell, "Well it may sound far fetched but this is what happened."
Katara explained what happened after she ran off after Lee. Aang looked sort of disappointed when she said why she left before she could see him ride the Giant Koi fish. At the end of the story, Suki was astonished about how Lee was able to take down most of the warriors with his eyes closed. She thought he trained himself to fight relying on his other senses. She thought maybe he could give her some lessons to teach her warriors. Sokka was a bit jealous that Lee was able to quickly take down three warriors with his eyes closed, but he was grateful that he kept Katara out of danger.
Lee then got to his point of coming to the village, "but the reason I am here is to borrow a sea worthy boat to send me to the mainland."
Suki wondered why he wouldn't ride with the avatar, "wouldn't it be easier to ride with the avatar on his bison?"
Lee shook his head, "the avatar has a long journey to the northern water tribe and I don't want to get in his way." but he also thought "I don't want him to get in my way either"
"We tried persuading him but he is hell-bent on leaving us." Sokka said bluntly.
"You don't have to make it sound so cruel Sokka." Katara defended.
"My direction of travel is different from where they are going. It is best I leave to not waste their time." Lee pointed out.
Katara and Aang were let down knowing Lee was not about to change his mind. Suki nodded, "alright then, we can prepare a ship to take you across the sea under one condition." Lee sighed irritably, "Give us some lessons on fighting without sight."
Lee was startled at this request. He didn't really master that kind of technique; he only used his fire bending in order to fight. Perhaps he could try to adapt that to the actual technique. It may have been a long shot but it was the only alternative. Maybe he could help himself to learn it if the time ever came for him in a desperate fight, "fine. I can try to teach the basics but that's it."
"Yes!" Suki cheered with a fist in the air, "With this kind of technique we, the Kioshi Warriors, will become invincible." she then imitated a maniacal laugh with her fist on her hips.
The others just stared at her thinking she had gone crazy.
Lee decided to voice his opinion, "Girls are crazy."
Suki's face turned to an expression of surprised shock when she heard him say that. Before she had a chance to question that remark Sokka spoke up, "well let's take a break before we head off."
Katara asked Aang to help out with her while he was pleading to spend some time with the villagers. This began a lecture from Katara that led to an irritating change of events. Sokka on the other hand went to check out the Kioshi Warriors training. He tried to boast on his amateur skills which slapped him back in the face.
Lee was at the docks with the village elder trying to find a suitable boat for his travel and the supplies he would need to reach it. While they walked further towards the shore where the boats were, Lee spotted a giant monstrous skull washed up on shore. It had a large hole on both sides of its skull. Lee had flashing images of the Unagi he fought as the spirit of war. Again the images of Jen were once again flashing in his mind. Suki's heart broken cries filled his ears. The rage boiling inside him as he continued to stare at the dead monster's remains until his thoughts was interrupted by the elder's voice.
Lee shook his head to clear his mind, "I'm sorry what did you say?"
The elder repeated, "I said there was a great battle here among spirits. We could not see clearly from the village, but what we could see was two of the Unagis that night fighting against something under the moon. We could only see flames being thrown at the Unagi. But why they were fighting, we will never know." Lee looked back at the skull and remembered the look on its face before driving the spike clear through its head, "but in the end the spirit of fire defeated one and let the other flee. Sadly one of our own was killed while they were near the battle."
Lee blamed himself for trying to escape his fate that night. He should have let them give him back to Azula so he wouldn't have led Suki and Jen to that beast, "maybe it was caused through the fault of something else" Lee said secretly referring to himself.
The elder was confused at Lee's meaning, "what ever do you mean by that? You make it sound like it's your fault."
Lee shook his head, "its nothing." he said passing up the subject, "so is this the boat that will get me across the sea?"
The elder nodded, "this boat will be sea worthy enough to get you across with the right amount of supplies." Lee nodded in satisfaction, "but I still don't understand why you don't ride with the avatar on his bison."
Lee folded his arms across his chest, "it's my own business I don't want anyone getting caught up in. it's something I have to do alone."
"It's best when you have friends to stand by your side." the elder tried giving advice to Lee.
"I've tried that already and it has only led to pain." Lee said harshly remembering those that has tried helping him but only managed to bring them suffering. Even the closest one to him was taken away by his own hand by trying to end something evil. He could still feel her ashes on his skin even if it wasn't visible at the moment.
The elder only nodded in understanding so not to push the matter forward. It sounded more personal than it needed to be so he let it go.
They continued to talk more about the provisions he needed and where to find them.
SEAS OFF KIOSHI ISLAND
A large heavily armed fire nation had a set course towards the unsuspecting island. Engines hummed deep and powerfully as it parted the sea in front of it like a spear. It tactically traveled against the wind in order not to give away there presence with heir clouds of ash.
The fire nation look out reported to the captain, "The Island should be reached in several hours"
The captain nodded, "go tell the commander" the look out was hesitant; "the commander demands all notices of our progress. It would be wise not to keep him waiting." the captain warned for the sake of the look out.
The look out quickly saluted and rushed off with haste to the commander.
Later he arrived to the door of the commander. He heard the furious blast of training inside the room with the commander and his sparring partner. He entered to see the commander blasting out flames at his opponent not trying to accurately hit her but keep her on her toes as he aggressively shot out raging flames until he stopped at the sound of the look out entering inside the room.
The look out saluted hastily, "Commander Zhao, we will make port on Kioshi Island within several hours. We still believe the avatar, is still on the island."
Zhao gave a dark smirk, "it matters little if he is or not. We will wipe out any village that gave any support to that boy"
"As you command sir." the look out have one last salute and retreated back to his station.
Zhao opened a port window to allow in the light of day, "We won't make the mistake of giving hope to those that aided the avatar after his last escape, I assure you'
"good." a sinister female voice spoke from across the room, "my father gave great effort in taking that hope away after having the other nations do his bidding. We will burn down one village after another that aids the avatar to bring fear those that want to aid him." the figure across the room walks out revealing to be Azula, "the southern water tribe was an example to show our persistence in his capture and don't take well to resistance."
Zhao bowed, "yes your highness" he said in a tone of cruelty, "I would be honored in leading your orders."
Azula smiled menacingly as she stared out the window, "I know you will."
KIOSHI ISLAND
Lee was heading to the training room where he was supposed to meet Suki and her warriors for his so-called skill of fighting sightless. Now he would make himself look like an idiot to teach something he was not fully trained in. he guessed he would have to wing it. Pretty much all he had to do was tell them to focus on their other senses to feel their surroundings. Lee guessed that was the basics of sensing your surroundings.
He was walking up to the training room door, but then stopped to hear some male grunting due to some sort of physical activity. Lee came inside and froze in shock to see Sokka in a Kioshi dress uniform with face painting.
Sokka was also frozen in place, but in surprised shock of embarrassment to have Lee see him in this fashion, "Lee! This is not what it looks like!" Sokka panicked trying to make an excuse for his appearance.
Lee's eye twitched at the awkwardness of the situation. He closed his eye while rubbing them to ease the stress of the embarrassment of even seeing Sokka in such attire. Despite this most uncomfortable event he spoke to Suki, "Are we going to finish our agreement or are you too busy right now?"
Suki chuckled at how awkward both boys were feeling but mostly at the way Sokka looked all red with embarrassment, "Alright Lee. Sokka you can change back into your other clothes and join us."
Sokka did not hesitate to accept, "thought you'd never ask." he said as quickly as he ran off to change.
Suki looked back at Lee who was frowning die to having to see what had happened. Suki gave a sheepish smirk and shrugged. Lee just shook his head, "don't tell me. I don't want to begin to understand."
"Fair enough." Suki complied with Lee's request. As they were all waiting for Sokka and stretching, Suki wanted to ask a question she had earlier, but she was unsure how to ask it. It's not like she could just ask, "hey. Are you really Zuko who died a long time ago?" yeah that didn't sound too awkward at all. Especially if Lee didn't turn out to be who she thought he was, "do you really think girls are crazy?" she asked as a starter question.
Lee only thought she had taken offense to what he said a while back, "sorry. I just tend to mostly see girls do stuff that is a little weird for my taste. I didn't mean anything by it." he apologized missing her true meaning of the question.
she wasn't quite sure how to decipher that. she needed to think of more tricky series of statements and questions in order to be sure if to know who he truly was, "well I do tend to get a bit crazy about something I am serious about." she paused in her conversation starter to see his reaction.
Lee just nodded, "I guess different people show their passions in different ways." he continued stretching.
Suki went on a different approach, "Although things haven't been the same since that one night the village saw with the Unagis."
"so I heard from your village elder. Someone lost their life during the confrontation." Lee said not making any kind of reaction out of the ordinary.
Suki began to think he wasn't who she thought he was and made one last gamble with little hope it would prove her suspicion, "Well it was real hard for me that the Unagi killed my mother that night." she said purposely calling her master her mother. she knew it was a long shot, but at least she wouldn't believe in a false hope that Zuko was still alive.
Lee paused as she heard her call Jen her mother, "I thought you said Jen was just your master." Lee corrected her.
Suki's eyes opened wide in shock as she gaped at the now discovered Zuko. She could not think of what to say or what to do to see her old friend alive without a scar on his face. Zuko stared right back knowing he had made a mistake in revealing who he was.
Sokka came in at that time with his regular clothes looking much more comfortable, "So Sifu Lee." he joked.
Zuko made a shush sign to Suki before Sokka could see. She did not understand why he was keeping it a secret but the look of earnest in his eye told her it was serious why he didn't want anyone to know that the prince of the fire nation was alive. she quickly made a nod to Zuko.
"Well are we going to train or what?" Sokka asked wondering why they were still standing around.
"Oh yes. I just thought I was forgetting something." she lied searching herself making it look like she was double checking.
"well come on then. I want to learn to fight with my eyes closed." Sokka said impatiently.
Zuko rolled his eyes in irritation at Sokka's behavior, "Fine just try not to let your mouth interrupt us."
"Okay fine can we start .…? Hey wait a minute!" Sokka yelled finally realizing the insult.
Suki giggled at Sokka's flustered expression. To her Sokka was just too comically cute to take seriously when he was angry. Zuko thought he was just plain embarrassing. Zuko began telling them the simple basics of what he did know about trying to improve the senses beyond sight. His uncle had taught him a thing or two before his father scorched the side of his face. Zuko laughed inside at how he could still degrade himself to call that monster a father in any form of reference. The truly essence of cruelty and evil. Of hadn't been for Zuko being born other than a boy his father would have disowned him after finding out how weak he was in fire bending. Ozai was most likely satisfied that Zuko was gone. Now he could happily claim his sister as the new true heir to the thrown of the fire nation. His uncle didn't do anything to make things better. Zuko blamed him for even thinking he could outsmart Ozai, but not as much as he blamed himself for killing his own mother. When ever he would look at his own reflection he would see the white ashes on his skin reminding him of his ignorance thinking he could have killed the fire lord on his own. Zuko would always despise himself when he would see himself looking back at him. Zuko didn't fear death anymore, if anything he wanted death. He wanted his punishment in the afterlife that he knew he deserved. Zuko knew he had no future after this was all over. He prayed to Agni that he would face justice for the death of his mother and becoming such a burden to her. He was convinced he never deserved her love. All he knew he deserved was eternal judgment.
Zuko shook his head and took a few long breaths to clear his mind and heart from the pain he felt of the past. He needed to focus on keeping a low profile with everyone, except Suki. He had a lot to explain when this was over.
He then began to tell them what he knew to begin the lessons.
Meanwhile Katara and Aang were just recovering from the second attack from the Unagi. The first time Aang never got to see the face of it, but when they both did, they were shocked to see the deep heavy scars that were left upon it. Some where slash marks as to other were more like marks only made by fire. But Aang and Katara knew no fire bender could summon any amount of fire that could harm a beast of the sea like the Unagi. When Aang looked into its eye and scarred eye. He could see pure rage and savagery emitting from its gaze staring right back at him. Aang then made a true promise to Katara to never swim near these water's again.
They were both about to head back to the village until Katara made one last look back towards the sea of the Unagi. That was when she saw something else, "hay Aang. Do you see that?" She asked him hoping he saw it too.
Aang looked back thinking she was talking about the Unagi again but in time he saw the object our at sea. It was too small to make out what it was but Aang had an idea to see it better, "I'll go check it out." he said instantly flying off with his glider.
Katara tried to call after him, "Aang no! What if it's them again?!" but her voice could not be heard through the winds that traveled with him making it hard to hear, "this is not good. I got to find Sokka!" she took off with all haste back to the village.
The training was still continuing with the warriors and Sokka as Zuko led them through the steps. So far it had all went smoothly with not so much trouble. But this was only the basics. The rest of the training had to be done by individual effort and work.
Zuko continued to train himself along with the others in blocking all senses of sight physically and mentally. They all had to live the act of a person blind from birth. Zuko began to as well feel at ease from all emotions and troubles of the world on his shoulders.
"Zuko." a voice sounding like an echo called through Zuko's mind.
Zuko opened his eyes to look for who ever called him. He looked at the others still with their eyes closed. They didn't hear the voice which confused Zuko. He wondered if it was the great spirits, but that wasn't the case since they told him he was on his own for the time being. But Zuko couldn't figure out who the voice was. It kind of sounded feminine.
"Zuko." the voice called out again in an echo once more. This time he could hear that it was female. Someone or something was trying to contact him. He tried calling back through thought, "who are you? What do you want with me?"
The voice responded more clearly as if she was standing near him, "I am Avatar Kioshi"
Zuko was confused to how and why an avatar was able and chose to speak to him, especially an earth bending born avatar. Zuko also knew he was no avatar by a long shot with how he was born as a weak fire bender, "what do you want with me? How can you speak to me? I thought only the avatar was able to speak with the past avatars."
Kioshi understood Zuko's confusion, but now was not then time to explain all the details, "time is short and there is a choice you must make to determine the fate of your journey and your destiny." Zuko didn't like where this was going but he had no choice but to listen, "Azula is coming to my island for the avatar. You have a choice to make on your own; stay and protect my island and risk your cover of being alive being discovered. Azula will burn this island to limit where the avatar can seek support unless you can stop her or leave keeping yourself a secret in order to gain an advantage of surprise from Ozai's knowledge."
Zuko heard his choice and became restless about the consequences of his choices. This aggravated him greatly.
"The choice is yours alone to make Spirit of War. Leave to condemn or stay to save, "Kioshi repeated. After that her presence was gone.
Zuko was torn in two. He wanted to get revenge from Ozai and Azula, but he wished to do that through humiliating them from the shadows. That way they would begin to think ordinary people were becoming more stronger and clever than Ozai and his armies by foiling many of his plans for world domination. The failures of the fallen plans would also fall on Azula making her look incompetent to be fooled by common people. But if he were to do this he would condemn the people on this island and abandon Suki. The avatar would most likely run away with his friends, Zuko knowing he was no match for her. Azula was both cunning and ruthless. Prisoners held no value to her much less those who willfully surrender. He was certain his ship was ready to set sail with all the supplies he needed. He could just leave now and continue with his plan to stay a secret. But the shame he would feel on abandoning those in need for his own selfish reasons would lay heavy on his soul. Fight or run, reveal or hide, sell his soul, or redeem it.
SPIRIT REALM OF AGNI
Agni watch over Zuko and the events that began to unfold as well as the fateful choice Zuko was about to make. The choice Zuko makes now will set the course of this war. One will lead to a darker path while the other could lead to salvation. Agni would have to await Zuko's decision.
Once again Roku entered the realm of Agni now have been given the privilege to meet with him when he wanted.
"This may gain an advantage for Zuko in his journey without my involvement." Agni congratulated Roku for his plan with the avatars' involvement.
Roku bowed, "Avatar Aang may be a bringer of peace and a soul of compassion, that what I had been before my fate was sealed by the one I was suppose to keep from starting a world wide war. We believe Zuko has the potential to end this war the way it needs to be ended. With justice."
Agni gazed at the former avatar, "you know how this will end for the boy. His destiny will pave the path for the avatar to bring the peace that needs to be set after the war ends. But no great destiny like this ends without a great cost."
Roku took a heavy sigh of understanding, "regretfully I do." speaking with a heavy heart.
"I will not make his fate final. In the end it will be his decision to make." Agni said. Roku bowed once again accepting Agni's planned fate of the young prince before leaving the realm.
Zuko was going to be given how his destiny should begin and end, but that didn't mean even more decisions would come along the way to the end of his journey. Many of which will have effects on the outcomes of the war. Zuko will be the one to shape the future of this world both mortal and immortal. Agni also knew it would one day change the fates of the rest of the great spirits. Vayu was the first to suffer it.
A MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER. I WILL BE HAVING A HARD TIME TO DECIDE ZUKO'S CHOICE ALONG WITH THE COURSE OF THIS STORY. FUNNY THING IS I DIDN'T PLAN ON ENDING THIS CHAPTER WITH A VITAL CHOICE, IT JUST SORT OF CAME UP AS I WAS COMING TO THE END OF THIS CHAPTER. AS FOR THE SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE I STILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THE WHOLE TRIBE WAS DESTROYED OR IF SOME FEW SURVIVORS ESCAPED AND WHO THEY WERE. SUGGESTIONS FOR THESE DECISIONS ARE WELCOMED TO HELP ME DECIDE. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER.
P.S. I AM BACK BABY! :D