It has been quite sometime since I last updated this story. Well, without further ado, the next part of the massive crossover, Blood Oath. I would like to take some time and thank anyone who reads this. Please review constructively.
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the groups of Nick, Avatar: The Last Airbender, or Square-Enix. This is a work of fiction and not meant to be taken as work that is by respective companies.
UNIT IV, ACT I | Blood Oath
SETTING: It has been about three months after the fighting at Irashu. The war continues to be fought. For the most part the fighting is in the favor of the Organization. It is early dawn and the fog hangs around the area. The sun is barely up and the area is quiet. It had been raining the entire night and the sky was now clear of clouds. On the cliff edge Zakku is sitting. The area is near an Organization controlled area that is surving as a major front in the Inner Core War. The Firebender's eyes seem dull and broken. He is slightly stronger looking and has no expression on his face as he watches the landscape. He glances to his side seeing Shara sitting next to him.
ZAKKU - Kind of early, isn't it?
SHARA - Yah…I wanted to see how you were doing.
ZAKKU (In a sneering manner)- I see… Organization wants you to see how I am... Well, thank you… but I am fine...
SHARA (Looks down)- Something's wrong… You don't seem happy… or anything. You were sent on over a dozen missions…
ZAKKU - I have been sent on many missions… so many… That I don't even think really anymore. They tell me where to go, what to get… and I do as I am told. (Zakku gets up.)
SHARA - How are you feeling… (Zakku looks at her) about Kanani… Kinseu…
ZAKKU (Pacing around)- I…I…(Zakku doesn't know what he feels. He has felt nothing, only numbness to everything. He wasn't happy or even sad about Kanani or Kinseu. He could only feel anger, frustration, and hate. Zakku looked away angrily)… To be truthful… I know I shouldn't be angry with them… but I feel that way…yet, I don't… My head hurts. (Zakku rubbed his head for a moment as it felt like a beating pain)
SHARA - Maybe… you're not angry with them, but yourself.
ZAKKU - Why should I be angry with myself? Everything is simple… I'm a soldier… So all this fighting is fine with me. I don't need to focus on those complicated things. Who's the enemy? That matters not to me. I do as I am told… That's it…(Zakku walks a few feet away, his eyes shifting from side to side as he ponders his emotions, truly not certain that his answer was correct.)
SHARA (Closing her eyes)- You sure? (Zakku looks down but say nothing.) You haven't been the same ever since you came out of your coma…(Zakku says nothing as he begins to walk some more.) Xizzen has approved of your promotion. (Zakku pauses and turns) You have been approved to join the Elite Class. (There is a long silence) Aren't you happy?
ZAKKU (Quiet for a moment)- Hum… It's strange… I don't feel as happy... I always thought I would…
SHARA - I guess that is understandable… A lot has happened. (Clicks fingers) I am going to permit you leave time… I suggest you take it. (Zakku looks at Shara and smiles at her. Something in his eyes betrays him showing that he wasn't truly smiling.) Well… I can't make you tell me what is wrong… But you need to remember to hold onto your dreams… As Kanani would have said. (Zakku stares at Shara for a long moment before turning and walking off.) Don't forget… You're an Elite now… Get your new uniform and take advantage of the last bit of leave time you will ever have…
(About twenty minutes later, Zakku is inside the base and stands in the Mess Hall. He is still in his dark maroon colored uniform. Elites had black uniforms and were permitted black capes. Zakku's gaze lowered for a minute as he thought quietly to himself. In his hands was the Elite uniform, minus a few things such as a mask or cape. They felt heavy and weighted down by some unknown force. Zakku glanced up to see Azil walking toward him.)
ZAKKU - Hey, Azil, how you been?
AZIL - I'm all right, sir… How 'bout you?
ZAKKU (Shrugs)- No complaints… Have you been sent on a lot of missions?
AZIL - Not really… I have getting the fun duty of standing guard as Warriors go off with Elite masters…
ZAKKU - I thought you would be busy with so many Regs seemingly away…
AZIL (Pauses)- Away? Wait… You don't know? (Zakku turns his head slightly) When Kanani left, a lot of Regs deserted… He was a respected leader, and him leaving disheartened a lot of people.
ZAKKU - I guess no one decided to tell me… (Azil notices something in Zakku's arms.)
AZIL - What is that you got in your hands? (Closer look) Are…IS…Is that an Elite Uniform?
ZAKKU - That is what I was told… Shara and Xizzen finally agreed to give me the rank of Elite… Xizzen is suppose to give me some sort of speech…
AZIL - How does it feel to be and Elite?
ZAKKU - If feels no different then what I was before… Not different at all. (Zakku looks at Azil) We're friends, right?
AZIL - Zak, you all right?
ZAKKU - I'm going to be going home… or at least a place I call that. Ganzaga…
AZIL - What is it like to have a home?
ZAKKU - I am not sure…
(Zakku and Azil turn seeing Xizzen staring at both of them. He doesn't look concerned and seems to be in a generally good mood despite everything that had happened. Xizzen always had a cold and seemingly heartless aura around him or matter where he was.)
ZAKKU & AZIL (Salute)- Sir!
XIZZEN - Zakku, Azil…(Xizzen merely stares at Azil for a long moment. The soldier lowers his gaze for a moment before looking away and proceeding to leave. Xizzen looks at Zakku) I see you have your assigned uniform with you…
ZAKKU - Yes…
XIZZEN - Come with me…
(Xizzen walks down the hall. Zakku follows Xizzen as the soldier stands before the Elite Chambers of the Organization city. Xizzen quietly opens the door and walks in revealing a relatively dark room except for the entrance that has a torch that is lit. Xizzen grabs the touch and motions for Zakku to follow.)
XIZZEN - As you know, the Organization is meant to retain order and control over the population. Without this control, the Fire Nation and humanity would tare itself apart in the flames of cruelty that lies in the souls of man kind. As Elites, our duty is much more then just dealing with problems of the rebellion. Do you know the difference between the Warrior and Elite? (Zakku shakes his head.) Elites are meant to follow a separate doctrine that Warriors do not. (Xizzn stands before a door. He opens it and lights the touches next to him. The light reveals a large library that is filled with books. In some parts, other Elites look up, their eyes a bright gold and seemingly shimmer in the shadows they remain in. Xizzen walks in and merely glances at the other soldiers. They seem to understand a silent message and turn, walking out of the room. Xizzen grabs a book and holds it out to Zakku.)
XIZZEN - This book is the strict doctrine of all the purposes of the Elite and all of the things you will need to know in order to see what normal humans can not… (Zakku takes the book)
ZAKKU - Normal humans?
XIZZEN - Normal humans are people who retain ideas of humanity, purpose, and are ignorant to the things around them. They either can't or choose not to see the horrors of the other side.
ZAKKU - Other side?
XIZZEN - What is the opposite of purpose? You can't say, because you were never taught that side of things… Like death and life, purpose has its own opposite. The human soul still retains purpose, a reason to exist, while a soul of a Monster… or Echo, has none. (Xizzen walks a little ways away before opening a box, and handing to Zakku a sword and mask. On the sword, there is a wolf shaped insignia on the hilt and the mask is in the shape of a wolf.)
ZAKKU - Can you explain to me what the organization's obsession is with wolves?
XIZZEN - The name Lupuz is a changing on the spelling of Lupus, which means wolf. The mask and insignia are not wolves, but of Wolf-lions. (Zakku gives as look that shows that the explanation still wasn't helpful)
ZAKKU - Ok…So… what is the deal with the obsession with Wolf-lions.
XIZZEN - Wolf-lions are one of the Guardians of the Elements…(Zakku stares at Xizzen, who then sighs out of annoyance) The Guardians of the Elements, also known as the Original Source of said Elements. For example, the Dragon, the original source of Firebending and all the things that represent our nation represent Fire: Strong, powerful, and fierce. The Badger-Mole is the source of Earthbending, the Sky-Bison Airbending, and the moon Waterbending. The Wolf-lion is in this group of the Original Source…
ZAKKU - And what does the Wolf-Lion represent?
XIZZEN - Gaia… The Wolf-lion is the guardian and original source of the use of Gaia's power. As legend says, Wolf-lions were in directed contact with the Nexus of Souls… They are supposed to be the embodiment of Echoes that have been born, for the soul is not destroyed, rather, the Echo takes over their mind and purpose.
ZAKKU (Sighs)- So it all comes back to Gaia, doesn't it…
XIZZEN (Shrugs)- Gaia keeps the channel flowing between this mortal realm and the Spirit Realm, without Gaia, you wouldn't have bending abilities, Chakra, visions or a channel between life and death… If a person died, and Gaia didn't exist, then it would fester in this world unable to go to the other realm…
ZAKKU And… what's the problem with that?
XIZZEN - The living can not be in the same realm as the dead, because if you die then your soul can no longer be living… how can someone who died still remain in this living world?
ZAKKU (Pauses)- Ghost?
(Xizzen sighed as he turned to look at Zakku. There was a momentary look of annoyance that he had in his eyes, but it seemed to disappear within moments as he walked closer to Zakku.)
XIZZEN - Let's move on… The Organization has never had a soldier your age reach Elite before. Many of us believe you are too young and will only serve as a problem. However, Uingu thought, differently and we do not question our commander. You have a great success rate; most of the missions you have been on were successful except for the assassination of Puzul… The Organization is going to send you to Ganzaga for… 'Leave' time… However, leave has also duties. We need you to gather information of the current situation.
ZAKKU - What 'current situation'?
XIZZEN - Recently, there has been an outcry against the Fire Lord himself… After the recent failures in the Fire Nation, your foster father, governor of Ganzaga openly defied Fire Nation policy… you know, of course that this is similar to almost full out treason. He said that the Fire Nation should no longer fight and work on governing the coastal territories. He was removed from the position of General soon after, and now the public is angered in Ganzaga… He is an influential figure there…
ZAKKU - I doubt that he would do anything as radical as join the Coalition… Zenti is smarter then that, and wouldn't…
XIZZEN - I could say the same about Ka…
ZAKKU (Flash of anger)- He wouldn't join them! (Xizzen pauses for a moment staring at Zakku.)
XIZZEN (Pause)- Perhaps… Even if you are right, which I hope you are, Kanani is a deserter... Anyways, Zenti knows it is a manner of time before the Fire Lord deems that he can no longer lead the city Ganzaga… If we are going to retain the power and the status quo, we must make sure that the Coalition is no longer is there…
ZAKKU - What are you talking about?
XIZZEN - It is believed that Zer, Zenti's friend, is a member of the Coalition… Rumor says that Zer has been informing Zenti about the Coaliton and the Organization. As you know, no one can know we exist. We are phantoms…You are going to Ganzaga, and you will report on all the dealings there… The Coalition cannot have Ganzaga added to the regions under their control. If they do, then that gives them the ability to have access to the sea, and ultimately be able to launch in internal invasion with the aid of the armies of the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom… if either nation gets into the Fire Nation, this war will last another hundred years, till the next time the comet arrives. (Zakku nods slowly after a moment as Xizzen looks at him.) Remember, Fenrir, last thing we need is some sort of incident to occur… Ganzaga is a much larger city then Irasha. If such a rebellion took place, then the Coaltion will be able to change the course of this war. This job is of highest priority. You lose your focus for one moment and you will fail.
ZAKKU (Nods)- I understand…
XIZZEN - You're taking on the duties and burdens of the Elite class… You are not at our level just yet…you have the name and rank, but you still need to see her before you will be ready.
ZAKKU - Her?
XIZZEN - The Great Mother… Gaia. (Zakku is silent for a long moment as Xizzen looks at him.) Your uncertainty reeks off of you… Be careful, Chizen will undoubtedly be waiting for you to make one mistake. (Zakku looks like he wants to say something but doesn't. Xizzen stares at Zakku, trying to read the expression on his face.) Go on…Get your uniform on, and depart. Farewell, and keep one eye open. (Xizzen leaves tapping Zakku on the shoulder pauldron and continues out the door. Zakku looks at the uniform in his arms and takes a deep breath as he looks to the statue of what probably was Gaia.)
ZAKKU - Kanani… The war… It's almost over… Shara misses you… And … I guess I might…should…
(Zakku remembers a scene where Kanani was talking to him.)
KANANI -'You want to be a hero, right? Hold onto that dream and you will get far… A hero just needs to lift him or herself up after they fall once… Will you allow one failure to stop you?
(Zakku snaps back as looks to the exit.)
ZAKKU - I feel like I might just lose it… I can't remember the dream… at least… Why I even care about being a hero… Kanani… where did you go…