AZULA AND HER FORCES RETREATED AFTER THE APPEARANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF WAR AND THE WATER CREATURES OF LA AND IRESH, THE WATER AND EARTH SPIRIT. SUKI AND THE REMAINING WARRIORS HAD BEEN SAVED BY LEE ONLY FOR SUKI TO FIND OUT HE WAS BEING HUNTED DOWN BY ORDER OF THE GREAT SPIRITS. AANG UNKNOWINGLY DECEIVED BY KOH TO HUNT DOWN THE SPIRIT OF WAR. THE PIECES ARE NOW BEGINNING TO MOVE AND CHOICES WILL HAVE TO BE MADE ALONG THIS NEW DAWN OF WAR.
a:tla belongs to nickelodeon.
Book 2: Dawn of War
Chapter 4 - The Path Ahead
Kioshi Island
The spirits were relentless in their chase of the Spirit of War. Throwing hardened water spears and releasing arrow spike in the direction of Zuko to make a lucky strike to make him falter or trip. The Tigerdillos, led by the Badgermole, rolled like wheels, and would only open themselves up after gaining the right momentum to launch boulders aimed to block and slow Zuko down. Zuko managed to keep up being a hard target with his speed and his serpentine maneuvers to avoid running into the path of aimed projectiles. He took a path through the woods have the cover of trees to stop the deadly water projectiles. The water spirits themselves were swift to keep up with Zuko as they could slide across the ground like running water. They took advantage of downward paths and leaped up to reach the top of inclines to keep from faltering in their pursuit. The earth spirits were move quicker on land compared to the water spirits because of their affinity element to land. They knew Zuko had less room to run on a small island. It was only a matter of time before they caught up with him and Zuko knew it.
Zuko had reached close enough where he needed to be. The villagers were nearby for Suki to catch up to. "Listen Suki, I'm going to drop you off soon. When I do, your people will be nearby for you to join while I draw these things away." He instructed her with the plan he had to save her.
Suki was still confused as ever. Why were the Great Spirits hunting him down? What did he do to be condemned by them? But there had to be a mistake or a reason to explain all this. He couldn't have done anything in her mind. She knew he was caring and an honorable boy who was trying to do the right thing. It was because of that, she felt fear for having him run off on his own against whatever these spirits were. "But what about you? You can't defeat these things on your own!" She pleaded for him not to risk his life.
"Suki, you made an oath as a warrior of this island! Your job is to protect the people of this island! Be a warrior and never go back on a warrior's promise!" Zuko commanded in a raised tone of voice.
As much as her heart wanted to save anyone she could, she knew in her soul that her oath to her people came first. Perhaps it was the honor and strength in his words that reminded her of who she was. With much sorrow for the choice she would have to make, she nodded her head. "Okay, I'll do it." She agreed to his plan. "Just promise me as a warrior that I will see you again. You have a lot of answers that you own me." She said poking her finger into his chest.
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Girls are crazy." He thought to himself. They soon reached a corner around a hill. Zuko quickly dropped Suki off in some bushes before dashing off once more. Suki curled up against the wall of the hill side where the bush was. She heard the rumbling and splashing sounds of the earth and water spirits racing past her. She covered her mouth to keep quiet as they passed her by from all directions. Once she saw that they had all passed her by, she got up and made her way to the rest of her people.
Katara was tending to Aang on Appa's saddle. She didn't know what else to do for him since he seemed to be doing nothing but sleeping peacefully. He usually would be snoring loudly and flailed his limbs out, but he was sleeping still and his breathing was calm and steady. She wondered if he was meditating in some way until his eyes shot open and he sat up quickly breathing as if he had been holding his breath for a long time. This gave Katara a surprised jump scare and made her both glad and mad that he was finally awake. First thing was first. "Aang, you're awake! What happened?" Katara asked concerned for him.
Aang scratched the back of his head as he was still a bit in a daze. "I… I don't know. At least I don't know how, but I think I somehow entered the Spirit Realm. I even met some kind of spirit." Aang explained as best he could.
Katara was now intrigued of this new information. He had actually met with a spirit. "A spirit? Like a real spirit?" She asked a bit excited. "Which one?"
"I don't know. It was somewhere dark and he was hiding. He gave me the chills though. He told me that we had to look out for someone." Aang said feeling slightly frightened about who they were going to have to hunt down.
Katara noticed his expression and knew it was serious. "W-who are we looking for?"
Aang took a breath. "He called him the…" Aang was about to say until he was interrupted.
"Hey Aang! You've finally woke up!" Sokka said scaring the two of them as he came in the group and patted Aang's back. "Good thing you woke up now. We were able to escape the psycho pyro princess. I was also able to keep all of you safe thanks to my leadership. Feel free to thank… OW, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" Sokka yelped as Katara was twisting his ear.
"Sokka, you idiot! Aang was about to tell me something important!" Katara shouted scolding her older brother. "Now will you please shut up so Aang can tell us about…" Now she was interrupted by Aang as he stood up.
Aang waved his arms in the air. "SUKI!" he shouted. Katara and Sokka got up excited and hopeful that it was Suki that Aang saw. Sure enough, it was. They saw her running as fast as she could.
"Suki!" Sokka shouted for joy as he leaped off Appa's saddle and made a mad dash for the Kioshi warrior. Katara rushed over as well to help her friend. Sokka wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, Suki I thought I lost you to those jerks. Are you alright? Are you hurt? Tell me where it hurts." Sokka said in a panic for her well-being.
Suki grabbed his hands and held them down to keep him still and calm for herself to speak. "Sokka, I'm fine. The Fire Nation fled from the island." She said before looking around. Have the rest of the Kioshi Warriors come back?"
"I think I heard they came back but were remaining in the rear to protect the ones behind." Sokka informed her. Suki gave a slight sigh of relief but was still sorrowful of the ones that didn't make it. "What's wrong?" He asked her seeing her saddened expression.
"We lost some of our warriors against the Fire Nation. We were able to repel their forces, but it was only by a miracle." Suki explained their narrow victory. "They were just too strong and too well equipped."
"Lee, what about Lee?" Katara asked worried as she noticed Lee wasn't with Suki.
Suki did not know how to explain all this to them. It was best not to tell them with how much she knew of their hatred of the Fire Nation. It would be even more confusing to tell them of all this spiritual conflict that was happening with Zuko being the Spirit of War and the Great Spirits hunting him down. "He's… he is alright. He just needed to make sure to… lead anyone that might want to do us harm in a different direction." Suki said trying to cover for Zuko.
Katara took a breath of relief as well as Aang. He knew Momo would feel sad since the flying lemur had grown on Lee. "Should we pick him up?" Katara asked.
Suki shook her head. "He said… he was going to take his boat after he was done and not to wait for him. After the Fire Nation left, we should be able to build a new village much safer from any enemies that might attack the island." Suki said. She knew they needed to be off themselves. She only wanted to assure them that they would be fine from here on out.
"Are you sure we can't help you out?" Aang asked still wanting to aid them in anyway.
Suki smiled and shook her head. "We can handle ourselves now. You just go and save the world, Avatar Aang."
Aang just gave a wide grin and gave a thumbs up. "You can count on me!" He said with great enthusiasm.
Katara and Aang started to head for Appa. Sokka stayed behind a bit more. "Are you sure I can't stay to help?" he asked still worried for Suki.
Suki gave an assuring smile. "Like I was told once, you made an oath as a warrior. Your job is to protect your people. Be a warrior and never go back on a warrior's promise. Right now, you must protect your sister and the Avatar and save your people along with everyone else." She said placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
Sokka was surprised by those words. "Must have been an awesome person to have told you something like that. I guess I must be pretty awesome myself if you are to pass on those words to me." Sokka said welling with pride. Suki giggled at Sokka's attitude. "Alright then, I will keep my warrior's oath. You just keep safe until we meet again." He said placing a hand on the one she placed on his shoulder. With that, he headed back to Appa and leaped onto the saddle.
They were just about to leave when Aang remembered after floating up into the air. "Oh, I just remembered!" He called out to Suki.
"What is it?" Suki called up to them wondering what it was.
"Watch out for someone called the Spirit of War!" He said making Suki freeze in shock. "One of the Great Spirits told me to seek him out and stop him! So, he must be bad, if you meet someone like that then stay away from him!" Take care Suki!" Aang shouted before having Appa fly off to continue their journey.
Suki's heart sank. Other than being completely confused about what the Great Spirit's reason for hunting down Zuko was for, why did they call for the Avatar to hunt him down as well? Was he terribly bad? How could he when he genuinely saved her and the rest of her squad from the Fire Nation Princess? The worst of it was that if the Great Spirits did send Aang to seek him out to fight, what would that mean for Sokka and his sister? What would become of the Avatar or Zuko if they are forced to engage each other? She did not want neither to win or lose as it would result in one losing their life. It was far too late to tell them anything now to have them avoid it. The Avatar was long gone from the island as they were now becoming but a speck on the blue horizon. Suki would pray to Kioshi that something would keep the two apart.
Zuko had ran to the other side of the island of Kioshi. He was sure this would keep the villagers safe from any crossfire from him or the spirits. The avatar and the others must have left by now without him. Zuko felt it was for the best. Despite them being good company, it was best not to get them mixed up into his life. His thoughts strayed to his mother and those that were also placed in harm's way because of him. Katara, Yue, Suki's mentor, and everyone else that had been living in a state of fear ever since his father revealed that he had every nation do his will to torture his own son. Every nation was now put on edge of who they let in and were skeptical of who they would allow in anywhere fearing there could be a spy or an imposter. This was the fear Zuko's father wanted. He wanted to be in the back of everyone's minds that his forces were everywhere. This destabilized alliances and unity among themselves from the grandest kingdoms to the smallest towns. Ozai had figured out to manipulate others through their hate, and now he knew how to weaken his enemies through fear. Ozai knew that firsthand when he used Zuko's hatred towards his own father to lead to his mother's death by his own hand. Zuko was promised vengeance and he would get it by breaking down everything his father built to win this war. But having the spirits after him would only slow him down in the future. Zuko would at least try to reason with them to allow his vengeance on his father. This was not for glory or attention from the world. This was only personal between him and his family.
Zuko turned back to see the army of spirits massing as they closed in on him. "Why do you want me dead? The Great Spirit of air attacked me. I only acted in self-defense and he paid the price. I do not wish to kill any more spirits. I only wish the downfall of the Fire Lord." Zuko said to the Badgermole that seemed to oversee leading the tigerdillo earth spirits.
The Lead Badgermole paused for a moment. "You are being led astray by Agni. The fate of man was not to be mettled by a mere mortal. The Great Spirits are the ones to determine the fate of all with the Avatar as their tool." The spirit said speaking as if giving praise and glory to the Great Spirits as it raised its paw to the heavens.
This annoyed Zuko greatly. It also angered him that all this suffering and pain over the years was because of them standing by and allowing all the death and loss to continue as they waited for a boy to return to be used as a tool to them. Zuko was now curious to how Angi was involved in this or if he had tried to do something before. That would have to wait for another time. Zuko saw there was no getting through to these pawns of the Great Spirits. They were slaves in soul and mind to their masters. He gripped his fists tightly restraining himself from engaging them just from listening to their ignorance. "You've just convinced me more that your masters only wish to raise themselves by using the Avatar as a lapdog to draw us in a like a herd of koala sheep. I only tell you one last time. Leave me be to take down the Fire Lord!" He then raised one of his dual blades at the army. "Or I will go to war against you and your masters when you get in my way." Zuko declared.
The spirits became agitated and restless in reaction to his threat. The lead spirit of the water spirits gripped his water trident in its cold wet grip. "You are out of your league mortal! The fate of the world belongs to the Great Spirits!" screeched the water spirit before thrusting its trident ahead of it to signal the water spirits to charge at Zuko. The Badgermole did the same to its own army as they charged forward.
Zuko's left eye ignited in flames and skin change white with the ashes of his mother stuck to his flesh. His blades roared with flames blazing. Zuko found this as a good opportunity to test his new air abilities that are combined with his element. As he let the new power flow through him, he could feel the air around him heating up like a hot summer's day. Trusting his instincts rather than his mind, he let his body move on its own. Whipping his arm back with his Blade of Agni, he let the sword fly back while attached to the solid chains of fire that came from the holes from his hands. He motioned the chain to spin in a swirling movement. Twirling it faster and fast as the chains burned with intense heat burning the air around it. The chains were now a glowing blur with waves of heat emanating from the glowing twister.
The spirits felt something was amiss as Zuko prepared his attack. They knew this spirit of war was a wielder of flames, so what was the boy doing that felt so out of place for a fire bender? Never-the-less, they continued their charge to overwhelm the Spirit of War through superior numbers. There was no possible way that the mortal had any chance even with the power of Agni in his hands. How wrong they would soon find out they were.
Zuko then closed the distance to be in striking range with his awaiting attack. Continuing to spin the chain, he whipped it out in front of him. After being flung at the army of spirits, a powerful torrent of wind of pure heat erupted at the spirits. It affected the water spirits more as they began to evaporate from the overwhelming heat. More than half of the water spirit army was wiped out in a single blow, including the lead water spirit. The earth spirits were more resistant to the attack, but some damage was dealt as the heat would seep into the center of the earth spirits.
The Badgermole leader was at a loss of what to do. This was more power than any mortal he Knew could handle. Then he realized it. When the boy said he defeated the Great Air Spirit, Vayu, the boy must have absorbed the control of the great air bison. Seeing the attack being sloppy, he assumed the boy does not fully know how to properly control his new ability. He must end the boy now before he had any chance to develop more control of this heated air bending. "Take the mortal boy! Fight through his attacks! He must not live to unlock anymore abilities to desecrate the memory of the Great Spirit, Vayu!" the Badgermole leader commanded. As ordered, the rest of the earth army prepared to push forward in the attack preparing to give their lives in order to end Zuko's life. The rest of the water spirits retreated to the sea. They knew they had no chance on land against this new hot air technique.
Zuko saw the earth spirits starting to advance towards him. He realized they were not planning on stopping or evading any attacks. He needed to rely more on his instincts to avoid being overwhelmed by their brute force. He needed to find a way to beat them. Zuko made a series of strikes with fire all around him on the ground. This caused smoke and dust to rise in the air to create a smoke screen for him to find a place to hide and gain some time.
The earth spirits' affinity to the earth element gave them the ability to sense anything walking on the ground. Wherever Zuko would go, they would detect his very location with every step he took and every heartbeat they felt pulse out from his feet. But as of now, they didn't sense a thing. Zuko's presence was nowhere to be found. Each earth spirit started searching everywhere in the vicinity. They even tried to find any trace of surge of power that was radiating off the fallen prince when he used the fire of Agni. When that was nowhere to be found as well, they assumed that he must have quelled his power. But what they couldn't find out was where he fled off to. His mortal bending of fire was not strong enough to propel him to fly in the air. he must still be hiding around the area.
The earth spirits ran around unyielding in their efforts to locate the boy. Zuko saw this through the gaps of a pile of fallen trees and branches. He was elevated above the ground as he was holding onto a couple of logs on either side of him. He made a wise choice as to keep himself up by holding onto the pair of logs. If they had been still rooted to the ground, the earth spirits would have detected him. Since the fallen trees were cut from the ground, the spirits were unable to locate any trace of him. This would give him the time needed to come up with a plan. Like this he could focus through meditation. Taking his breaths and closing his mind to what was happening to outside the wood pile, he relaxed while still holding onto the logs to keep him elevated over the ground.
Zuko searched within himself to find an answer through his meditation. For anything he could recall from his time spent at that air nomad temple. Inscriptions on a wall or on designs of any kind that would be of any help to him that would assure him victory against the earth spirits. Thus far, in his meditation, Zuko was finding it difficult to remember anything of use to him. It was as if something was interfering with his meditation. The harder he tried to concentrate, the more it felt like something was pull him a different way. This was angering him greatly. He could feel the embers of his element starting to grow. Patience and peace of mind was not a strong point he ever had as a virtue. Through his hot temper and reckless impatience, Zuko gave into his rage and decided to force his way to victory.
The earth spirits started to feel the blazing surge of power growing and emitting from the pile of wood. They had no doubt now that it was Zuko preparing to attack. Without hesitation, they launched a barrage of jagged earth slabs directed at the pile of wood where Zuko concealed himself in. Just before the moment the stone projectiles struck the surface of the wood, Zuko had burst from his hidden spot to charge into direct battle with the earth spirits.
Zuko used every means of his ferocity with flames against the spirits. He swung and whipped his flaming blades into the stone defense the spirits placed up. But this kind of earth bending by spirits was nowhere near the level of the average earth bender. They were far above even the greatest master of earth bending. It was not surprising since they were immortal and spent years unlocking every bit of earth bending and creating new techniques of earth bending throughout the centuries. Zuko found himself completely outmatched among a legion of earth spirits above the level of master. Despite his odds, Zuko was just as stubborn as always to never give up. The one remaining memory that had of his mother.
Sending out his blades and whipping the chains following them, Zuko was unrelenting in his attacks. But the earth spirits were still too numerous and too overpowering to the beginning Spirit of War. Zuko found himself taking hits from different sides around his body. It was more thanks to the flames of Agni that he was able to endure the powerful strikes sent by the earth spirits. Even so, Zuko was clearly losing energy from physical harm and his output in power. Zuko cursed his rash behavior and temper, but there was no going back now. With nowhere to run or hide, he would have no other chance to rest up to think of a new strategy.
The lead earth spirit in the form of a Badgermole launched a well-aimed shot as he took advantage of seeing Zuko in a moment of distraction against the other earth spirits. Zuko had launched himself in the air to evade an attack from a group of earth spirits. But he was too late to dodge and was only able to catch sight of the stone flying directly to his head. There was a loud crack and everything went dark. It was only for a moment until Zuko opened his eyes to see the blurry sky and muffled sounds of the wind passing from under him as he vaguely felt himself descending to the ground. His senses were in shock of the concussive blow to his head which would have killed any mortal. He was lucky to have survived the deathblow to the skull. All thought and focus left him as well as hope of surviving this losing battle. His only salvation was a quick death rather than barely hanging onto life and being taken to the other Great Spirits to be judged. Zuko regretted not being as strong as his sister or as calculated. Maybe if he had been, he would have stood a better chance against these spirits. In this moment, he surrendered himself for death to claim him. But it was not so.
Zuko had curiously opened his eyes to find himself in the center of the sky with clouds all around, but confusingly, there was no ground or much more, there was no earth at all. Not even the sun was visible anywhere and yet he could see himself and the clouds as if the light of the sun came from every direction and casted no shadow anywhere. Not even the folds of his clothing gave a hint of shadow. Then he heard a faint unintelligible voice in the air. Zuko didn't feel as if it should be a threat. He didn't even feel a need to feel hostile to the unknown voice. "Zuko." It spoke again. This time it was more of an echoing whisper in the winds. It sounded elderly and yet friendly in a mysterious tone.
"Who is there? What do you want?" Zuko asked more curious than threatening as he searched for anything out of the ordinary. Well, at least more out of the ordinary from the extraordinary place he was floating in.
The winds came swirling the clouds to gather across from Zuko. As more clouds gathered, they began to form something that was taking shape. Before long, the shape was taking form of a giant air bison like Vayu. Zuko now felt threatened as he felt he would have to battle this Great Spirit again. But something was off about the Great Air Spirit. Its clothing looked slightly different from before. It looked simpler as a traditional air nomad appearance, except it looked more feminine. Also, the air bison wore no braids as the last Great Air Spirit wore. Zuko was now more confused and curious to who this spirit was and why he was here. "Greetings young Spirit of War, Zuko." The great new Great Air Spirit spoke in a different voice than before. It was with much more of a warm friendly personality. Also, it was completely different as it was a female's voice. "You need do not need to raise your guard to me. I am not the old Great Spirit you met before. In fact, I was once a mortal human that was found worthy to become the next Great Air Spirit. My name is Avatar Yangchen. Once an air bender of the Western Air Temple." The new Great Air Spirit, Yangchen, introduced herself to a very puzzled Zuko.
"W-what?" Was all Zuko could ask. His mind was blown as he found it hard to believe that he was now talking to an Avatar in a Great Spirit's body. This was making no sense to the young prince.
"Now is not the time for those questions. You need my assistance to overcome this losing battle you are in. I will lend you my strength and when you win and have the time, find me at the Northern Air Temple. All your questions about me shall be answered. Understand?" The Great Air Bison Spirit asked. All Zuko could do was silently nod. "Good. Now calm yourself and open your mind. I shall grant you the knowledge needed to expand your power to aid in your victory against these spirits." Yangchen said as she clapped her multiple arms.
Air exploded from his paws sending gusts of energy flowing like wind into Zuko's mouth and nose as if he were taking in the air into his lungs. Zuko was having a flash of life before his eyes. Not of his own, but the life and knowledge of master air benders from long before. All techniques and stances played through Zuko's mind rapidly. Zuko was able to somehow memorize each flash of technique that flashed through his mind.
The earth spirits waited for Zuko to hit the ground to catch him in a stone prison. Until they noticed what seemed to be air drawing into Zuko's lungs. Air that appeared to be unnatural and glowing even as it entered his mouth and nostrils. Perplexed as they were of the unexpected event, they closed in readying to capture their target.
Zuko's sight was returning rapidly as his mind began to clear. He felt a new power surging through him and coursing through his veins. The wind that he felt against his skin began to come out from it as it turned from a cooling breeze into a heated blow. The air around Zuko began to wave and distort with the air turning hot and discharged out around him. As Zuko returned fully to his senses, his eye glowed blazing hot again and started to pour out heat from his hands and feet to give him flight and hovered himself over the ground where they had awaited his stone prison. Zuko was a bit shaky to keep himself steady as this was his first time flying like this. Once Zuko gained more control to stabilize himself, he glared down at the earth spirits finding the hatred and anger to fuel his rage as the Spirit of War once more.
"Destroy the Spirit of War!" The Badgermole earth Spirit commanded to its fellow spirits. The rest of them rushed in to charge throwing everything they had to shoot Zuko out of the sky. From plain boulders of stone to pillars shooting up from the ground to reach Zuko.
Zuko simply blasted his way upwards evading every strike aimed at him. He started flying around with no destination planned. In fact, he was just getting used to the control of flying as he propelled himself like a firework in the sky. This also made it hard for the earth spirits to aim a well-placed hit as Zuko was not making any predictable aerial maneuver. It wasn't long before Zuko developed a knack to control his flight. When his control was achieved, he flew back into the heat of battle.
Changing the angles and directions of his hands and feet, Zuko twirled and spun around and over stone projectiles homing in on him from the front. This was the time to see the effectiveness of the power aided to him by the new Great Spirit. Setting his sight on an individual earth spirit, Zuko flew in after setting his trajectory on a clear path into the earth spirit. He built up the air in his hands rotating his hands in a spherical motion to gather the heated air in each hand. When closing the gap between them at the speed Zuko traveled at, he brought both hands up in front to strike point-blank in the torso of the spirit. First the impact of the air cracked the stone body of the spirit followed by the heat traveling through the cracks and as the heat weakened the solid structure of the spirit's body, the explosion from the rest of the air blasting out on the spirit shattered it to pebbles.
The Badgermole became wide-eyed in disbelief. The boy could not have learned this much power and skill on his own and in so short of time. The morale of the spirits dropped rapidly after witnessing the complete destruction of a comrade. This also gave them the anger to avenge their fallen spirit comrade as they made for another engagement against the Spirit of War.
Zuko grasped his Blades of Agni and used them for altered techniques of air bending with heat. Manipulating the heated air to shoot air spikes to break through stone attacks and create heated air spheres to cast and ride on evading to enhance his evading speed. Zuko had now become too unpredictable in his movements as he rode on the ball of hot air. The one he rode on was large and from it, he launched pebble sized air ball projectiles into the spirits that he closed the distance to. They became riddled with holes in their earth bodies. Zuko used the hot air bending to increase the velocity speed of his swords and having the air twirl the blades as they flew through the air. It created a more effective and deadlier impact against the earth spirits to bore through them with much more ease.
Trying a new tactic, the earth spirits leaped into the air with boulders in their hands. They prepared an attack to downpour of stone on Zuko. The hot air started to swirl around Zuko rapidly to start forming a twister. His blades became white as the fire blazed as white hot as they could be in the fire that spewed from them. Zuko then leaped into the eye of the twister and let his blades catch into the whirling winds of the heated twister. Faster and faster they spun in the twister becoming a speeding blur and making lines of light of fire inside the twister as the blades swung up and down in the twister. The earth spirits caught in the twister were helpless as the blades sliced through them like a heated blade through soft butter. Slashed repeatedly as the blades cut through each one of the earth spirits inside the twister until the hot winds came to a sudden halt. Then pieces of earth spirits came falling to the ground as the slash makes of them still were burning as molten rock from the Blades of Agni.
The tide of the battle had changed drastically against the earth spirits as their numbers started to dwindle to the point where their forces were in danger to hold their ground from being eliminated. The Badgermole had a great suspicion that something else was at play. Something else was aiding the Spirit of War. That would explain the sudden change in his bending of this type of hot air. "Retreat for now!" The Badgermole called to what remained of their forces. Much to their annoyance of fleeing from a mortal boy, they did not know what they were exactly dealing with. Until they did, they could find a way to deal with the source of Zuko's power. Each of the spirits started to crumble and fall becoming piles of loose dirt and rocks.
Zuko's control of the hot air began to fade and he felt drained from the use of it. His body was not yet ready to handle that much raw new power of bending. The bending source came mostly from the new Great Air Spirit. Yangchen was it? She said to meet her at the Northern Air Temple. Zuko had no idea what was going on with how the air spirit came back or replaced. None of this was making sense. If what he said was true, why was this happening now? Why would an air nomad Avatar even consider helping him? He was the blood line of those that caused their extinction. His family had been hunting down the last avatar. Well there was no sense in wondering what the answer could be. Zuko needed to reach that air temple if he had the time. But that was another question. Why would that monk ask her to travel to the Northern Air Temple instead of the southern one as it was a lot closer? Zuko was only planning on traveling to the Fire Temple of Avatar Roku and most likely to the Earth Kingdom to attack the camps and strongholds his father set up that controlled parts of that land. Going in that direction would be a major detour from his main goal. Could he really trust this new Great Spirit? Even if this was a ruse to let him fall into the hands of the Great Spirits, he would have let him fall in battle instead of allowing him to kill off many of the spirits. Perhaps it would be better to head for the temple after meeting with the Avatar Roku. Even if he wished to end the oppression of his father in the Earth Kingdom, He would need all the skills of air bending of a Great Spirit. There would be no telling if he would run into the elemental spirits again or something even worse.
Well the battle was over and Zuko needed another boat. He was already far from the spot where he left his last boat. Too much time will be wasted if he tried to build one. He also didn't want to go back to the others after how complicated things became after becoming involved in a confrontation with the other Great Spirits. There was only one thing he could do and that was ride a tree trunk across the sea. Zuko could try to use his fire bending to speed his way across the water. He had heard tales about the air nomads flying on glider craft inventions of their own that only they could use. If Zuko could obtain that type of knowledge of air bending with his hot air, he could cross over seas and landscapes more easily. It was settled. Zuko would make his way up to the Northern Air Temple to meet with the Great Spirit, Avatar Yangchen.
It was not that far between this island and the mainland. Zuko searched for the closest tree trunk in the best condition. At least one that wasn't charred from the battle. Zuko then carried it over to the shore to place in the water. He would have to find the best way to ride the log across the sea. First, he sunk his dual blades into the wood and placed in front from where he would be sitting. They would act like handles to keep himself on the log and from slipping off. Next, he had to find out how to use his bending to move the tree across the water. He remembered he could spurt flames from his feet. He needed to find a way to position himself on the log and at the same time, he would need to constantly shoot fire from his feet to propel himself forward on the trunk.
Now, Zuko had settled himself on the tree after going through different positions and finding the right one to come through his plan. Holding onto the handles of the blades, he began to concentrate on his feet to shoot flames from them. They made a few bursts of flames in the water, but not enough to move him across the waters enough. Zuko continued to try his luck to get it right. It was hard as he was trying to use his own fire bending as it was still not as strong as his Spirit of War state. He had to keep a low profile if he wanted to cross the sea without attracting the water spirits to attack him in their element. Having no ground to fight on or lack of total control of hot air bending, Zuko would only meet his doom in a one-sided battle.
Zuko closed his eyes to concentrate more. Meditating to clear his mind, he took his form once more to channel his fire bending towards his feet. Just a little more focus and… "Hey Lee!" A voice shouted breaking him out of his concentration and rolling over into the sea. Zuko broke back out of the water to latch onto the floating log and coughing out the salt water. Zuko looked up to see the Avatar and the water siblings on the air bison. "You're funny. You think you can float your way back to land?" The air bending child chortled.
Zuko was slightly relieved that none of them came when he was trying to fire bend. But what were they doing back? "Why are you here? You could have risked running into the Fire Princess." Zuko said still trying to hide the fact they were related.
"Yeah, well I told them that you could have handled yourself. But they were about to weep and cry if we didn't turn around." Sokka said in an annoyed tone.
"Really? I thought it was because Katara was about to throw you off Appa if you didn't agree to turn back." Aang said innocently not catching on that Sokka was trying not to bring that part up.
Katara only smirked at her brother in a victorious grin. "Hey, I just didn't want to have to get rough with a little girl." Sokka said trying to defend his manly image.
"Oh, so you want to do a reenactment of what happened earlier?" Katara threatened as she punched her fist into her palm. It made a loud smacking sound to make Sokka flinch from where he was sitting.
"Uh, well anyways. Are you coming or not, logger boy?" Sokka said quickly changing the subject.
Zuko sighed. He could have declined, but after the little time he spent with them, he knew the child and girl would not give up as easily as her brother. "Fine." He agreed reluctantly. They tossed him down a rope to climb up. The worst thing was that he was still wet from the cold sea water and being high in the air and about to be riding the wind, it would get even colder for him. He could even risk using his fire bending to warm himself up.
As predicted, they started to head to the mainland and Zuko was freezing in the wind as he was still soaked in sea water. "Sorry about scaring you into the water, Lee." Aang said apologetically as he noticed Zuko shivering.
"I wasn't scared." Lee snapped feeling his pride was under attack. "You just startled me from meditating." He said as an excuse as he reverted to being addressed as Lee again.
"Same difference, logger boy." Sokka said teasingly finding this a good moment to prove how much more masculine he was to Lee.
Katara kicked her arrogant bother in the side as he yelped and rubbed his side. "Why do you always have to be such a jerk to everyone Sokka?" She then took out her own Water Tribe parka and draped it over Lee. She proceeded to rub his arms up and down with her hands to cause friction and warm him up. "This should warm you up." Katara said.
"Hey! Stop putting your hands all over him! Don't give him any ideas!" Sokka said overreacting to Katara's method of keeping Lee warm.
Katara grew hostile over her brother's sudden overprotection of his younger sister. "Excuse me, while you were sitting around like a fat oaf doing nothing to help, I actually had a heart to show compassion to help out a friend from freezing!" Katara shouted in annoyance of her brother's arrogant behavior.
"Okay fine, just let him warm himself up in your parka and stop pawing him all over!" Sokka said still acting overprotective of Katara. Lee felt extremely awkward being in the middle of their sibling squabbling.
"How come you don't act like this when I'm with Katara?" Aang asked. He didn't want to feel the same scolding but feeling that Sokka didn't show that kind of kind of protection over his sister with him was upsetting him just a bit.
"Why should I? You're just a kid. I don't have to worry about Katara around a small boy like you." Sokka explained as delicately as he could.
Katara was having enough of Sokka's attitude as if he was her father and he had total control of her life. "Oh, so you mean none of this?" She said defiantly as she sat behind Lee and clung from behind him with her arms wrapped around his chest.
"Katara!" Sokka said shocked at what she did. Lee felt a headache coming from their argument.
"Stop acting like your dad and stop nagging me over every little thing I do!" She shouted back at her brother. "I am only trying to help a friend. Don't try and make it more than it seems. You are so embarrassing sometimes." Katara said irritably.
Sokka scoffed and sat back in a pout. "Just don't do anything weird."
Katara then got off from Lee's back. "Don't mind Sokka. He may be annoying most times than some, but he can be a good guy when he's not being an idiot." Sokka rolled his eyes while mumbling under his breath. "Well just keep my parka on until you feel better. Also, sorry about what I did. I just really wanted to get back at my brother."
Zuko just sighed before settling back against the saddle. "Forget about it." Was all he said. "I long figured out that girls are crazy." He thought to himself. Zuko just sat back and tried to warm himself up in the parka as they traveled over the sea to the mainland of the Earth Kingdom.
THE SPIRIT REALM
It was a violent quake inside the Earth Spirit Realm of Iresh as he was in an outrage from hearing what his minions reported after failing to return Zuko to the spirit realm. It wasn't that he was mad of having failed in bringing Zuko's spirit to him, but mostly that Zuko had committed a greater heresy of using the air bending power of Vayu. The earth spirits were bowing and fearful of looking up directly at the enraged Great Spirit. They remained silent until their master spoke.
Iresh soon became relatively calm enough to speak. "How is it possible that this mortal boy could call upon the bending power of the Great Spirit of air!? That can only happen if the Great Spirit allows it, but Vayu is no more to allow that to happen!" Iresh held his massive hammer in his mighty earth digging paws. "I will not take no knowledge as an answer!" he roared threatening to exact his rage on any spirit in front of him.
The earth spirits kept looking to each other hoping someone could give a reasonable guess. The Badgermole took his chances with a theory. "If I may speak lord Iresh, we may need to consider that somehow, someone or something has taken the place of the Great Spirit Vayu. There is no other way we can possibly believe in any other reason." He explained hoping that this answer was enough for the Great Earth Spirit to consider as a possibility.
Iresh was silent for a moment. He contemplated this for a moment to weigh the possibilities. But this did not calm his anger about this loss against the Spirit of War. It was a relief to the earth spirits that this was not a total loss for himself. La also shared in this defeat with his spirits having to retreat far before his own forces did. Iresh could only imagine how the water spirit was taking this defeat more than he was. Either way, this was an embarrassment to them all that they were to lose to a mortal child. Vayu's death was already weighing on their shoulders if word were to get out. Now they had even more to stress now that the same boy that eliminated the Great Air Spirit had defeated and forced an army of spirits to retreat. The great badgermole turned to think of what to do. The lesser badgermole spirit was nervous about what his master was thinking about.
"He is heading north from the Island with that Avatar." A distorted voice spoke as if it were under water. Iresh turned to see La had entered the Earth Realm. "My scouts have located them flying northward from the island and heading straight over the Earth Kingdom and will soon pass over the village of Chin." He spoke sharing his information with the Great Earth Spirit.
Iresh did not like his realm being invaded with the presence of the koi fish, but things were becoming desperate for them and he realized they would need to pull their resources together to track and stop the prince. Iresh nodded to La. "I can send out scouts around that area of land to find out where exactly he is going. But his next location must be someplace we are willing to lose if we are to destroy the boy."
"I agree. We can't allow him to shame us any longer. The people will start to lose faith in our power if this boy continues his path. We must also aid the Avatar to guide the mortals back to us." La said feeling his anger boil as he thought more about what Zuko could do to their reputation.
Iresh then thought of a plan. "I will continue to give you reports from my scouts about where he is going. I have a plan to lure the boy to a place where a spirit will be waiting for him."
La realized what spirit that was known lurking near that portion of the earth kingdom and the small village it was harassing. "What about the mortals living there?" He asked the Badgermole.
Iresh took a deep long sigh. "Sacrifices must be made for the sake of our rule."