Book I: Water

Chapter VII: Preparations for War

Part IV: A Journey of Healing

Southern Fleet, Southern Water Tribe

An hour later.

Kuzon and the others were drawing ever closer to the Northern Tribe.

The firebender and the waterbender had been taking whatever moments they could with one another in secret.

Sokka and Chief Hakoda were none the wiser about the situation.

Aang kept his promise to the two.

Kuzon was resting in the storeroom.

The room was lit with a single lantern the firebender had lit himself. He was currently sipping on some hot chocolate. The barley taste of the drink slowly made its way down his throat. He then put his hands on the wooden bars and looked outside the ship at the midnight moon. He was staring at the Moon.

Suddenly, two beautiful spirit women appeared in front of him. Both of them were clad in Water Tribe clothing and had long hair that flowed behind her back. The only difference between the two was that La was two feet shorter than Tui.

Kuzon stared at both of them in awe. "Suzin? Is that you?"

The two spirit women shook their heads. "We are sorry to say you have mistaken us for your predecessor. We are not her. We are the human manifestations of Tui and La."

Kuzon's eyes widened in understanding. He could feel himself shaking a little bit. "I..see. It's a true honor to be in your presence. Katara told me a lot about the two of you. You two were the spirits that granted the first generation of Water Tribesmen the ability to waterbend." He then gave the two spirits a bow.

La smiled down at the firebending Avatar. "We appreciate the kind gesture Avatar Kuzon. We watched as you defended one of our villages from Ozai's children. You have our extreme gratitude."

Kuzon's face reddened a bit. "No thanks needed. Duty is its own reward."

Tui added. "Even so..a thanks is still in order. You represent your people well."

Kuzon nodded and bowed respectfully. "Thank you both. I just want to set things right."

Both of the spirit women gave him a nod. The first one cleared her throat. "We have been watching you for some time Avatar Kuzon. We noticed that you have started your waterbending training under the Southern waterbender known as Katara. We know of your struggles."

La then added. "That is why we are asking you to come with us on a journey of healing. The only way you can learn to master waterbending is through learning and accepting your pain."

Kuzon felt himself shiver a bit and he grasped his arms as a sort of defense mechanism. "I..don't know. That whole moment was..frightening. I don't know if I can go through all that again..all alone."

Avatar Suzin then appeared in front of him. She floated down to her successor and took a hand in his. "Don't worry Kuzon. You won't have to fight the memories alone. I will be standing beside you all the way."

Kuzon let out a sigh and eyed the ground a bit. "Well I do need to learn waterbending. If doing this will help me get past my obstacles..then I'll do it."

Suzin and the other two water spirits smiled at him.

The former Avatar then took his hand. "Then meditate and meet me in the Spirit World. We will meet there." Kuzon nodded. "Understood." Kuzon then got into a meditation pose and cleared his mind. His eyes glowed white.

Spirit World

Kuzon was walking around the Spirit World looking for Avatar Suzin. "Suzin? Are you here?" The boy then felt a hand on his shoulder.

The female Avatar then appeared before him. She smiled at him warmly. "Ah Kuzon. I'm relieved that you found me so quickly. Please come with me. We don't have time to waste." She then took his hand and led him along.

Hall of Memories, Spirit World

Kuzon and Suzin came across a forestry path. It was covered in spirit vines and shrubs. There was a spirit bridge on their path.

Kuzon glanced at Suzin with a surprised look on his face. "What is this place?"

Tui and La appeared in front of him and smiled. "This is the Hall of Memories. The memories of all who have departed the physical world are here. We are here to look for your memories."

Kuzon looked around them.

The two of them were surrounded by a whole bunch of spirit flowers of all different colors.

Kuzon nodded. "The memories are in the spirit flowers then?"

Suzin then nodded. Kuzon sighed. "Okay then. That...makes sense but how are we supposed to find mine?"

Suzin then smiled at him. "We must look for the flowers with a distinct burnt orange color. " She then looked around and spotted one. "Here is one."

The spirit woman then gently pressed her finger against the rios of the burnt-orange flower. Suddenly, the forest around them disappeared. Everything suddenly went dark.

Kuzon's eyes widened in shock. "What happened?"

Suzin put a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. We're going into one of your memories."

The two then came to a vision. They watched as Mokabi and Lin Sho burned up in flames.

Kuzon immediately began shaking. Tears immediately came out of his eyes. He then fell to his knees. "No..please..I can't..I can't look at this." He then rested his face in his hands and started sobbing.

Suzin looked down at him with great sadness in her eyes but she knew he had to face his pain if he was going to ever become a master waterbender. She then hugged him as tightly as she could and spoke as gently as she could. "Kuzon..you have to face this. I understand this is painful for you but you will never master waterbending if you don't face your deepest regrets. Open your eyes."

Kuzon wiped some tears from his eyes and sniffed. He bit his lip nervously and sighed. "You..are right. I..have to be brave." He then got up off his knees and opened his eyes.

A spirit then appeared in front of him. It was his father. Kuzon's eyes widened in shock. "Father." Mokabi then appeared in front of the firebender.

Lin smiled at Kuzon. "My son..it is so good to see you."

Kuzon gulped nervously. "You are here..how?"

Lin smiled at him."When I died..my spirit came up here to the Spirit World."

Mokabi then rested his hands behind his back and playfully smirked at his grandson. "Heya kid. It's good to see you alive and well."

Kuzon glanced at him. "Grandfather."

Lin then cleared his throat and smiled at Kuzon. "You blame yourself for our deaths. There is no need for this."

Kuzon stammered out. "B..but if it weren't for me…you would both still be alive."

Lin Sho shook his head and put his hand on Kuzon's shoulder. "No. You didn't choose to be the Avatar. Fate gave you that gift. It was right to. It is the duty of the Sho family to redeem the honor of the Fire Nation and save the world from the tyranny of the royal family. You have a duty to our family. A duty to the world to save it. Are you going to renege on that duty?"

Kuzon wiped the tears from his eyes and eyed his father with a determined look in his eyes. "No."

Lin then looked at his son with a determined look in his eyes. He then smiled. "There's a good man. You have to stay strong." He then continued. "As a father, my job was to protect you at all costs even if it cost me my life. I have no regrets about my choice. You shouldn't either."

Mokabi then spoke up. "Your father is right, my boy. I wasn't going to let those traitors take you away. We did what we had to. It is now up to you to uphold our family name and finish our mission."

Kuzon nodded in understanding. "I understand. I love you both. Thank you for this lesson." He then bowed traditionally.

Lin and Mokabi bowed in return.

Lin then turned to his father-in-law and nodded. "Okay I think our time is up. I believe your mother wants a word with you."

Kuzon gulped nervously. A bit of guilt overcame him. He took a breath in order to calm himself down. "Right."

Lin and Mokab's spirit forms then dissipated.

Ling then appeared in front of the firebender.

Kuzon felt like the worlds were being strangled in his throat. "M..Mother."

Ling smiled warmly at her only son. "Kuzon. My sweet boy. It is so good to see you."

For Kuzon, it was easy to keep everything inside. He was used to keeping all his emotions in for the sake of the task at hand. Now..though..the buildup of the regret he felt after her death finally became too much. He fell to his knees and started loudly wailing like a child. Ling smiled at him warmly and hugged him as tightly as she could. "There there. I'm here now."

Kuzon spoke with a clear stutter. "I..I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

Ling wiped the tears from her son's eyes and smiled at him. She caressed his cheek. "No..none of this is your fault my sweet boy. Like your father and grandfather told you..you were chosen by fate. It did not choose you." She then hugged the boy with all her might. The sweet lavender scent of the woman's hair helped calm the boy down. "My job was to keep you safe and I don't regret that one bit. I love you my little one. I always will. Let the pain go."

With his mother comforting him, the firebender finally found the strength within himself to forgive himself for the deaths of his family. He felt like a part of him had finally opened up again.

After she felt he had calmed down, Ling let out a sigh of relief. She caressed her son's face in her hands. "I believe in you Kuzon. You are the only one who can redeem this family and save the world from the Fire Lord's tyranny. Promise me..Promise me you will stop him."

Kuzon gave her a determined nod. "I will Mother. I promise."

Ling then kissed her son on the forehead and smiled. "Good." She then sighed. "Your father..grandfather and I will always be by your side my sweet boy. Just commune with the Spirit World and we will come to you again."

Kuzon nodded in understanding.

Ling smiled. "I'm so proud of you. Always remember that." Her spirit then dissipated.

The boy then felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Suzin. "Do you feel any better now?"

Kuzon sniffled a bit. "I..yes. Thank you Suzin. I needed this."

Suzin nodded. "Good. Your friends are calling for you in the physical world. I need to bring you back. The invasion fleet is coming."

Kuzon then got to his feet. "Then let us not waste time!" Suzin nodded. "Follow me to the portal."

The Spirit Portal, Spirit World

Kuzon and Suzin approached the Spirit Portal.

Tui and La then appeared in front of him. "Avatar Kuzon. Did you find the peace you sought?"

Kuzon gave both of them a bow. "I did. Thank you both for all your help."

Tui and La smiled at him. "It was our honor."

Suzin then spoke. "Okay. Just walk into it and you will be transported back to your friends."

Kuzon turned back and gave her a traditional bow. "Thank you again Suzin. I couldn't have done any of it without you."

Suzin bowed back. "It was an honor to aid you Kuzon. I will see you again at the Northern Water Tribe,"

Kuzon nodded and then stepped in the portal. It immediately whisked him into his physical form.

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