I'll Follow You Home – A Zutara Story.
Meeoko
Summary : Sequel to 'Eventualities Are Inevitable'. After being captured by a group of Fire Nation radicals and uncovering a secret plot to destroy the Avatar Cycle, Zuko and Katara must work together to find a way to stop the Sila Vatra before Sozin's Comet arrives.
Spoilers : Puppet Master, Day Of Black Sun part 1 and 2, Western Air Temple, Fire Bending Masters and Boiling Rock part 1 and 2.
Author's Note : Wow, what awesome reviews I got for the last chapter! You guys are so brill! You've given me tons of encouragement and help! I really can't thank you all enough! It looks like you guys really enjoyed the action, so I tried to get this chapter out as soon as I could manage. There were some things that people picked up on and some things that they didn't.
For example, one reviewer remembered from the Agni Legend, the quote 'Two go in, one comes out'. So what happens when THREE go in?
Well, you'll have to wait and see!
As to why this chapter has taken a little longer than usual to upload...well, I thought that I would give you all a treat. (Yes, I actually have a real reason for the delay this time!)
Zuko and Katara's antics in the Spirit World are going to take just a little longer than I thought to write down. So, instead of making you all wait ages for loads of chapters, I've decided to do lots of chapters and roll them all into one big one!
There's different parts to it, so you'll just have to think of them as separate chapters, but on a much larger scale. This entire chapter is just under 15,000 words, I think. Just to make things a little clearer, Part One is told from Zuko's perspective (apart from the side paragraphs for other characters), and Katara's is told in Part Two.
Anyway, on with the story!
PART ONE
The world came to a close.
Zuko's eyes blurred as they fell.
He tightened his hold on Katara's hand as they fell through the darkness, engulfed by the doorway to the Spirit World. He didn't know if anyone followed, nor did he care. He only cared about finding his sister and stopping her!
"Zuko..."
He turned his head to look at Katara as the wind whipped past their faces, sending their hair and clothing flying behind them. There was something about Katara's voice that wasn't quite right.
They were falling at break-neck speed, through countless darkness, but Katara's voice sounded slow and distorted, as if she was far away. Her voice seemed to echo through the empty darkness, but with a crackled and eerie tone.
"Katara..." he called to her with all his might, but the same crackled, echoing voice came from his own lips. It sounded calm, but empty. Emotionless and void. It sounded like death.
Are we dead?
Katara's eyes widened as she looked at him, the wind whipping the hair around her face and neck. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but nothing came out.
"What is it?..." he called, though the deathly voice kept any of the real emotion away. "Katara..."
He felt cold. It seemed as though the warmth from his body was filtering out of him. A flicker of light caught his eye and he arched his neck to look behind him. Letting his mouth fall open, Zuko could see why Katara looked so shocked. The warmth in his body was filtering out of him!
White Flame drained out from his back and arms, floating upwards into the black void. It was as if the Spirit World was sucking away his inner fire!
Zuko barely had time to turn to Katara, or call her name before his eyes widened in horror and he took in a sharp breath, watching the floor come rapidly up to meet them.
This is going to hurt!
Azula was flicking through the pages of a book, sitting at a small and beautiful desk by the window. She bit her lower lip in concentration, having only just learnt to read scrolls without the pictures to help her. The grand library smelled musty and gingery and light filtered slowly down through the large panelled windows.
"Hey Azula, what are you reading?"
His sister looked up from her scroll, momentarily scowling at the interruption. But when she realised that it was her big brother, her face softened back into a smile. She could never stay angry at her big brother, he was her best friend in the entire world!
"I don't know." she sighed, puffing out her bottom lip. "Zuzu, can you read it for me? I can't do the big words yet."
Zuko tried to suppress a sigh. Sure, it was raining outside, but why did they have to stay in the dusty old library? Why couldn't they just go and play somewhere else? Maybe Zuko could teach her the rules of Hide and Explode! But when he thought about it, he realised it wasn't a very good idea. Azula hadn't learnt to control her inner fire yet and though she adored and idolised him for being able to, Zuko hated to admit that he still wasn't very good at it either.
"Do we have to?" he moaned, slumping his shoulders. "It's just a stupid old book. Dad has loads of them!"
"But Zuzu!" Azula looked as if she might cry, scrunching up her tiny little face. "I really wanna hear it! Can you please do it for me, just this one time? Pretty pretty please with a fireflake on top?"
Sighing, but with a smile, Zuko sat down beside his little sister. He couldn't deny her anything when she looked at him like that.
"Okay, Azula. Don't cry. Why do you want to read this nasty old scroll anyway? I bet it's really boring."
Azula puffed her chest out proudly and smiled.
"Cos when I go to the Fire Academy, I wanna be way smarter than the other kids! If I'm smarter, then I'll grow up and be so smart, I can be the next Fire Lord!"
Zuko smiled.
He was tempted to tell his sister that it would be him who would inherit the throne. But she looked so proud of her acceptance into the Fire Academy for Girls, that he didn't have the heart to spoil it for her. Even though his little sister was sometimes annoying, he loved her. Besides cousin Lu Ten, Azula was his best friend! No matter how smart she got, or how high she rose, Zuko would never stop loving his little sister. He was after all, her brave big brother!
"I bet you'll be the smartest girl there." Zuko beamed, giving his sister encouragement. "And that you'll be Fire Lord and get loads of stuff and people to love you. But after I've read you scroll, then can we go do something else? Uncle Iroh says Lu Ten's too big to play anymore, so it's just you and me."
Azula wrinkled her nose and looked at the scroll in front of her.
"We can still play Air Benders and Fire Nation, right?"
Zuko rolled open the scroll and placed a paperweight at each end to keep it in its place.
"Yeah, we don't need Lu Ten for that. But it's my turn to be Fire Nation. I wanna be the good guys for once and you always win!"
"I'm supposed to win, Zuzu!" Azula smiled "The bad guys never win! That's why Great-grandpa got rid of all the nasty, horrible Air Benders! They were bad and they didn't win!"
Shrugging his shoulders and clearing his throat, Zuko looked down on the parchment and frowned.
"No wonder you couldn't read it. It's in the old language! You haven't learnt that yet and it's really hard."
Azula's tiny shoulders sagged and she looked disappointed.
"Do you know it, Zuzu? Can you still read me the story?"
Frowning in concentration, Zuko looked down at the ancient text. It was difficult to decipher and Fire Sage Cho had only just begun teaching him to read it a few weeks ago. But he would try his best, if it was for Azula.
Her little hand crept up from under the desk and grabbed onto the sleeve of Zuko's robe, as she leant over in her chair and peered at the old scroll.
"I don't know it all yet, but I'll try."
Letting out a puff of steam through his nose, Zuko tried to form the letters, words and sentences together. The different symbols flashed in his memory as Fire Sage Cho repeated their meanings over and over again.
"...Agni stepped onto the cliff face, with his dagger in hand and his friend, Pai. His kno-knowledge of the Spirit World was luh...luhhh...small! But he continued on without worry. He wanted to explore the strange and...uh, foreign world that he had stu-stumbled in to."
"What's the Spirit World?" Azula asked.
"It's where the Spirits live." Zuko replied, eager to continue with deciphering the story.
"Who's Agni?"
"A man."
"What man?"
"Agni's kinda like a God but he's kinda not – he's a man, okay?"
Azula pouted and slumped back down into her chair, slightly irked that Zuko had snapped at her. Just because he could read the Old Language, that didn't mean that he could be grumpy with her. Zuko looked back down at the scroll and continued to read.
"Agni saw a glowing light on top of a peda...pedestal and walked towards it. As he got closer, he could see that there...there were many other glowing lights. They were all...all around him. When he touched one...it crum-crumpled in his hand and the light went out. This dis-distur...disturbed him greatly and he began to run back down the mountain."
Azula no longer scowled and she tugged again at her brothers sleeve, lost in the adventure of the story.
"Did he do something wrong with the light?" she asked in a whisper.
"I guess." Zuko shrugged. "He probably wasn't allowed to touch it."
"Like Great-grandpa's pretty pot!" Azula piped up. "The one that dad won't let us touch. When we touch it, we get in big trouble."
"Yeah, kinda like that."
Zuko also didn't have the heart to tell his sister that it wasn't their Great-grandpa's pot, but that it was his Great-grandpainside the pot. Lu Ten had told him once and they had poked at the pot and looked inside the lid. But when they just saw a pile of ashes, they lost interest and went away. It was only recently that Zuko had discovered that every Fire Lord was cremated after death.
Taking another deep breath, Zuko continued to read the scroll. He was beginning to struggle with it, as the writing was getting fainter, and the symbols more complicated.
"As Agni ran, he coll..eye..ded..with many more lights, each of them crumbling and snu-snuff...snuffing out. He panicked and forced himself to stay still, worried he might des..troy more of the pre...pre - more of the lights. When he turned...turned back, he could see his friend Pai, face down in the dirt of the m-mountain. He was as cold as stone and did-didn't move an inch."
Azula stiffened and her little hand clutched at Zuko's sleeve a little tighter.
"What happened to him, Zuzu? What happen to poor Pai?"
Zuko stared at the page for a moment. The text was almost impossible to read now and he squinted, determined to learn a little more of the story. But try as he might, the words couldn't be made clearer to him. He could only make out the words 'chi' and 'price'.
He looked down at his little sister, so eager to see the story's end and poor Pai safe. Zuko guessed that the story didn't end well, but came to the conclusion that a six year old wasn't quite ready to understand the concept of death.
"It says that he fell into a deep sleep and Agni only managed to wake him up by lighting all the glowing lights back up again. Then they went home and, uh...had cake."
Azula's smile brightened and she bounced in her chair, clearly happy for Pai's safety.
"What kind of cake?"
"Uh...Brazenberry."
"Yuck!"
Zuko smiled and looked down at his sister, who giggled, as she stuck her tongue out at him, disgusted at the thought of the Brazenberry cake that their father seemed to love so much.
"Thank you, Zuzu. Now I'll be the most smartest kid at the academy!"
"Yeah, I'm sure you will." Zuko rolled the scroll back up and shoved it into its place on the bookshelf. "Now lets go play Air Bender and Fire Nation!"
Zuko opened his eyes.
The memory of he and his sister slowly began to fade away and was replaced with reality. Though technically, was the Spirit World really 'reality'? Or was he dead?
There was no pain, as he had first expected. He was no longer cold, either.
His face was pressed into a bed of soft, springy grass and it tickled at his nose. It shone brilliantly in a million different shades of green. Zuko wasn't entirely sure why, but he had always pictured the Spirit World in black and white. He blinked fiercely as the different colours all hit him at once. Was it him, or was his vision a lot better in the Spirit World? Especially considering it was his bad eye that he was seeing out of.
His limbs no longer ached, nor was he exhausted. If anything, he felt as if he had been renewed. Maybe he was dead.
Feelings quickly began to spread back into his body as it recovered from the shock of entering the doorway. He could feel a pressure around his hand. Katara's own hand held in his.
Thank Agni she's still here!
"Katara?" Zuko didn't move his head to look over at her as he said her name. For the moment, he was simply too stunned.
"Mhm?" She sounded as if she was just waking from a deep sleep. Perhaps she had been reliving her own memories too, though Zuko wasn't entirely sure what triggered the memory in the first place. "Zuko?"
"Yeah." he spat some grass away from his mouth. "I'm here."
He felt a tug on his hand, as Katara's fingers slipped through his. For a moment, he panicked, until he realised that she was simply letting go of his hand so that she could stand up. He followed suit, not wanting to seem as if the journey had weakened him, which surprisingly – it hadn't.
The scenery around him was not as he had expected. It looked surprisingly like their own world.
Both he and Katara seemed to be stood on a large patch of grass in the the centre of what appeared to be a marsh. There was a bright blue light behind them and Zuko turned to see a rectangular, blue door, also sitting on top of the grassy verge. The doorway that they had just come through. They were no longer in their own world.
"Are you okay?" he asked Katara as he turned around to face her.
"Yeah actually. I've never felt better. Are you-"
Zuko blinked momentarily when he realised that she had stopped.
Katara was looking at him, open-mouthed, which she quickly covered with her hand. Zuko's heart stopped and he span around, looking behind him in every direction for the source of her shock.
Is it Azula? Is she here? What if she's planning a sneak attack? Oh Agni, what if it's Koh?
"What, Katara? Where is she? Where's Azula hiding?"
When Katara didn't reply, Zuko turned back around to look at her, with a cautious look on his face. What if there was something wrong with her? Was she okay? Why wasn't she responding?
"Katara?"
She just continued to stare at him, hand pressed firmly over her mouth in shock. Slowly, she raised a shaking finger to point at him. He frowned, unsure as to exactly what was the matter. He looked down at himself, but nothing seemed to be out of place.
"What?" he snapped, tired of waiting.
"Your-your scar." Katara mumbled, taking her hand away from her mouth. "It-it's...gone!"
What!
Immediately shooting a hand up to his face, Zuko felt along the side of his face. But instead of the rough, awful feeling that usually brushed against his fingers, there was nothing! Just smooth, unburnt skin! He felt his mouth falling open and stared at a tree trunk in the distance, not really seeing it or anything else. His fingers stayed where they were, seemingly stuck to his face.
This can't be right!
Rushing towards the edge of the grassy verge, Zuko bent down beside the edge of the murky swamp water. He looked down at his reflection, expecting to see the same haunting sight that had greeted him every day for almost three years. But it wasn't there.
Katara was right – the scar was gone!
Zuko hadn't been imagining any of it. His vision was better in the Spirit World, because the hideous scar crossing half of his face had disappeared! His eye was no longer damaged and he could see out of it perfectly. He couldn't remember a time when he had looked at something without the left side being blurred or dark!
It's gone! I'm...I'm normal.
"How is this possible?" he whispered to himself as he continued to stare down at himself, reflected in the water.
"I-I don't know." Katara whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.
Zuko could feel his eyes pricking and he closed them tightly, determined to hold back the tears. There was no way he was going to cry in front of Katara!
"It's just an illusion." he said numbly, speaking mostly to himself. "It's not real."
Sighing sadly, Zuko hit at the water with his hand and the ripples soon broke away the perfect, unmarred reflection.
This isn't real. I'm still the scarred, dishonoured prince I was in our world! This doesn't change anything.
"Zuko."
Turning away from the broken reflection, Zuko looked up at Katara, who was standing behind him. She looked as if she might cry.
Though Zuko tried to look at her, he found he couldn't. There was something in the way that her eyes shone, as if she were silently pleading with him. Unable to hold her gaze, Zuko got to his feet and turned to her, though he looked in almost every direction, apart from hers.
"Zuko, look at me."
He swallowed, feeling the conflicting feelings flash through his head. Though he tried, he just couldn't do it. He couldn't look at her.
Does she think less of me? Does she think less of the Zuko in our world? The burnt and shamed Zuko...
Now that she's seen me as a...normal person, will she ever want to be with the original?
He sighed as the reality of their situation hit him.
Not that it matters anyway. She'll make it back home. I won't. Two go in, only one comes out. That's the rule.
Katara let out a breath. Zuko wasn't certain if it was a sad breath, or an angry one.
He felt her gentle fingers lightly grasp his chin and she raised his eyes to look at her.
"It doesn't matter." there was a tiny smile on her face and her cerulean eyes glistened like opals. "It never mattered, Zuko. I fell in love with angry, crazy, reckless, pig-headed Prince Zuko, remember? You just wouldn't be you, without everything that you've had to go through."
With her other hand, she reached up to touch the side of his face that his scar usually would have been. Even though there was no longer anything there, Zuko felt himself flinch a little at her touch, something he hadn't done in a long time.
"You wouldn't be Zuko without it." Katara whispered, smiling.
Zuko could have punched himself when he felt his cheeks growing hot.
You're blushing? Oh, Agni! What is the matter with you?
"But what if-"
Katara placed a finger over his lips, cutting him short. He fought the urge to argue with her, as he had done almost every single moment he had been with her. Her constant nagging, scolding and overly optomistic attitude infuriated him, and at the same time, he wouldn't be without it.
"Zuko." Katara held his gaze steadily, and for once, Zuko didn't feel the uncomfortable urge to look away. "It doesn't matter how or why this has happened. I'm not going to get back home and suddenly abandon you. I love you, Zuko. Scar or no scar."
How does she always know the right things to say?
Despite his confusion, worry, regret and anxiousness, Zuko found a small smile creeping across his face, underneath Katara's finger. Taking her slender fingers in his hand, Zuko kissed them gently. She stared up at him, like a lost animal, her mouth slightly open. She looked as if the entire world had fallen away. Which technically – it had.
"So, you really think I'm pig-headed, angry and crazy?"
Katara snapped out of her trace and frowned, though it was with a smile. She hit him lightly on the shoulder, and laughed.
"Most of the time." she smirked. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
Zuko smirked, still not used to the sensation of smiling without the strange feeling of his scar stretching across his cheek. He squeezed her fingers lightly, before letting go.
"Neither would I."
You just HAD to go and ruin the nice moment, didn't you?
The disgusting combination of slush, mud and water leaked through Zuko's boots and made him cringe. He was certain that something lively had moved underneath the murky swamp water. He hated dirt, water and now – mud.
They had began walking through the swamp surrounding them, unable to go anywhere else. At first, they had tentatively poked at the door behind them, leading back to their own world. But nothing had happened. Their fingers hit a hard surface, instead of sinking into the empty void that had engulfed them before. They couldn't get back through.
So, for an almost impossible amount of time, they had trudged through the murky waters of the swamp, looking for answers. Who knew if time in the Spirit World was the same as time in their own world?
"So, what do you think we're looking for?" Katara grunted, as she unwrapped a tentacle-like vine from around her foot.
Knowing our luck, it'll be trouble.
"I remembered something, just before we got here." Zuko replied, holding out a hand to pull Katara out of the particularly murky patch of mud. "I was reading to Azula, when we were kids. It was about Agni and the Spirit World."
Katara raised an eyebrow, once again beginning to trudge through the slushy, brown water.
"Wait. You read to Azula? You mean like normal kids do?"
Zuko rolled his eyes and huffed. He knew of all the unspeakable things that Azula had done and just how twisted she was, but he couldn't help but feel as if the affront was personal. She was his sister, after all.
"She wasn't always so crazy and power-hungry, you know." he sighed, feeling a little aggravated. "When she was a kid, she was just like any other normal little girl. It was only when she got older and my father began to pressure her into her training that she started to get a little...aggressive."
He thought that he was helping her, but he's only succeeded in destroying his own children.
Katara still looked sceptical, as she pushed aside several vines dangling in her face. She winced when one of the vines seemed to hiss at her.
"You're probably right, although a little aggressive is usually used to describe a Platypus-Bear. Azula is just in a whole league of her own!"
Zuko frowned at her, and she quickly held her hands up to amend.
"Sorry, sorry. I guess you're right. After all, your sister was a kid at some point, like the rest of us. She couldn't have been born the way she is. But I just can't help but see her as my enemy. She's just done too many awful things."
Zuko stifled a laugh. Obviously, the irony had gone over Katara's head completely.
"Didn't you say that about me, not long ago?" he smirked. "That I was unspeakably evil and that I'd probably kill you all in your sleep?"
Katara blushed and bowed her head a little, embarrassed at the memory.
"Well, that was different." she muttered, avoiding looking at him.
"Was it?" Zuko asked, sarcastically, only smiling when Katara glared at him.
Because you just told me that you loved me. So, I'm guessing that you don't think I'm unspeakably evil anymore.
"Anyway," Katara hastily tried to change the subject. "you were going to tell me about that legend? The one you were telling Azula?"
Zuko grunted as he pulled his foot out from the mud for the fourth time in ten minutes.
It wasn't that he was tired. There was something strange about the Spirit World that affected their bodies. Although they had been trudging through the swamp for almost forty minutes as quickly as they could, neither he nor Katara seemed to tire. The only thing that slowed them down was the arduous terrain of the marsh.
"I can't remember it all," he mumbled, thinking back on the vague memory. "and it was written in the Old Language, so I had some trouble deciphering it. But I definitely remember something about orbs of light. The scroll said that Agni walked up a mountain, littered with hundreds of glowing lights that crumbled and went out when he touched them. It mentioned a...larger light, in the centre of a pedestal too."
The murky water underfoot seemed to get a little harder beneath them. Hopefully, they would soon be moving onto more stable terrain.
"What do you think it all means?" Katara asked him, the bridge of her nose crinkling in thought.
Nothing good, that's for sure.
"I think...I think that the glowing lights in the legend were...chi flows."
"Chi flows?" Katara repeated, cocking her head to the side slightly.
"Yeah. Chi flows are like a persons...life energy. Like their soul. There are lots of myths about their true form and origin. Some people say that a Fire Bender's inner fire is their Chi flow, whilst others say that Chi flows are inside the blood. At least, that's always how Ty Lee saw it."
I can remember the time I got into an argument with her about it...she won...
He continued on, trying not to cringe in horror as they passed a brilliant red plant, covered with eyeballs. What other weird, strange things would they find here?
"My uncle told me about them before, though I didn't take him seriously at the time. I wish I had now. A lot of people say that my uncle somehow entered the Spirit World, a few years ago. After Lu Ten died, he just wasn't himself anymore. He couldn't cope. So he did a lot of soul searching, to try and get over it. He ended up in the Spirit World. Or at least, that's what I've heard."
Katara looked at him as if he'd just told her that his uncle had four heads and grew wings out of his feet.
"Iroh went to the Spirit World?" she gaped, her eyebrows flying up into her hairline. "But how is that possible?"
"You mean just like we are in the Spirit World?" Zuko rolled his eyes, sounding sarcastic. "I don't even know if it's true! Uncle won't tell me anything about it, but he doesn't deny it either."
Katara let out an aggravated breath and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You know what I mean, Zuko." she sighed. "If we don't even know how we got here, then how could your Uncle? And to actually go looking for the Spirit World. It just seems crazy!"
Zuko shrugged. The swamp trees were beginning to thin out and the ground beneath them was slowly starting to get sturdier. Soon they would be leaving the swamp.
"I guess he just knew where to look. And how to get here. He won't tell me anything about it though, I've only heard all of this through gossip. But I can already tell what he wanted to do there...uh, here."
"He wanted to find Koh, didn't he?" Katara's voice sounded sad, hollow. "He wanted to get revenge for his sons death."
Zuko sighed and nodded his head.
"I know he doesn't seem like the revenge type. But after...Lu Ten died, it just destroyed him."
He was like a brother to me. And I never even got to say goodbye.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, Zuko lost in thought, and Katara remaining silent for the memory of Lu Ten. It was almost like a funeral procession. Katara finally broke the silence, placing a hand on his arm and asking gently.
"What do chi flows have to do with it all?"
Zuko tried not to sigh. If he knew all of the answers, they wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place!
Too many questions, so little answers.
"Well, if we're right and the glowing lights in the legend were Chi flows, then that's what Azula's going to look for. The scroll said that when Agni touched them, they went out, right? And then, when he turned around, he saw that his friend Pai had collapsed. I don't remember much of it, but I'm pretty sure that he...he died. I think Agni snuffed out Pai's Chi flow by accident. I think that's why Agni came out alone, when he stepped back into our world."
Just like you'll have to, Katara. No matter what happens, the Spirit World will always take one.
Katara's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. They stopped where they were, standing thigh deep in the swamp water.
"That's what Azula's going to do!" Katara cried, sounding mournful. "She's going to find Aang's Chi flow and...and snuff it out! If he's managed to get into the Avatar State and Azula puts out his Chi flow, then the Avatar Cycle is going to be broken!"
Damnit! Aang, wherever you are, I really hope that you haven't gone back into the Avatar State.
Katara had tears in her eyes as she looked at him. Zuko could almost see the terror behind them for her most valued friend. He could see that if Aang died, she would never forgive herself for it. He had to physically fight the urge to pull her close and kiss her and tell her that everything would be alright. But of course he couldn't, because he didn't know if everything would be alright. He didn't know what was going to happen!
"We can't let him get hurt, Zuko." she sniffed. "We just can't."
"We won't." he replied, trying to look as certain and sure as he could when he answered. He hoped that it worked, for her sake. "Not as long as we can still do something about it."
Katara opened her mouth to reply when they heard a shrill cry piercing through the canopy of swamp trees that seemed to surround them. It sent chills through their spines and they froze on the spot.
What in Agni's name was that?
"Zuko?" Katara asked warily, nudging his hand with hers. Zuko swallowed, looking out into the trees, scrutinising every inch of movement, waiting for Azula to emerge from the shadows. Or something a lot worse. "Zuko, what was that?"
"Maybe it was just...a bird?"
She frowned, still looking warily out into the trees. She, much like him, was sceptical. He really didn't blame her.
"Are there supposed to be animals here?" she asked, moving a little closer to him, as if he was some sort of charm that would ward away any evil spirits. "After all, isn't the Spirit World supposed to be for spirits and...dead things?"
I really wish she hadn't just said 'dead things'.
"So, does that mean that we're...dead?" Katara whispered, edging slowly into a bending position as her eyes looked out into the trees.
Zuko was about to answer when the shrill, piercing shriek shot through the air again. They both tensed as the deafening crack of tree branches echoed around them and a flurry of movement shot out from the shadows. Zuko's muscles shot into action as the looming shadow sped towards them.
He couldn't take any chances.
Directing his senses towards the movement, Zuko shot out a fist.
But nothing happened.
What the-?
He tried again, punching at the air, willing the fire to shoot out from his fists. But still, nothing happened. Beside him, Katara was waving her own hands around in the air, looking down at the unmoving swamp water in disbelief.
"I can't bend!" she cried, her eyes wide with unfamiliar fear.
"No. I'm afraid that that is quite impossible here."
They immediately looked up, their mouths falling open in shock as they searched for the face of the unknown speaker. In front of them, sitting on an upturned log and scratching itself behind the ear, was a monkey. A bright, white monkey with feathers on the crown of its head - the size of an ordinary man!
What the heck is that thing?
"Zuko..." Katara whispered to him, though she never took her eyes away from the animal. "Did that thing just...talk to us?"
"Indeed I did, young one. Don't look so surprised. Though I don't condone being called a 'thing'."
Zuko felt his face fixing into place, as if he had turned to stone, his eyebrows up high and his mouth open. What was going on? This half-breed, man-sized monkey was talking to them, as if it was the most normal thing to do in the entire world!
"And I am afraid that you won't quite be able to use your gifts here." the creature continued "Bending, I think you call it."
The monkey sounded cheery, though detached at the same time, as if it was happy for the company, but not for the conversation. Katara's eyes were wide with disbelief, and maybe even laughter at the comical situation. But she hid it well. She took in a deep breath and took a tentative step forward.
"Excuse me...uh, spirit? Why...why can't we bend here? What's going on?"
"Many things change, once you cross from the realms." the creature shrugged. "The Spirit World is a place of purity, and it takes away any outside influence from your bodies once you enter. That is why you cannot use your gifts. Not all people of your world are benders, after all. Simply think of it as the Spirit World bringing you all back to the same place, as you were when you were brought to life in your own world - before you came to receive your gifts."
He pointed a hairy finger at Zuko.
"I believe that is why your friend here has lost some of his identity from your own world. I saw you arrive through the gates, not so long ago. This world gives back only the purity of a person, so that they may pass through the gates...untainted."
Untainted! Ouch.
Zuko wasn't quite sure what to do, and the affront to his scar stung slightly, but he decided that he would try his best to figure out exactly what was going on. He only hoped that the creature wouldn't either eat them or steal their souls first. It seemed polite enough, but they couldn't afford to take chances.
"Uh...hi there. My name is Zuko, and this is Katara. We're looking for another...uh, human. She might have already passed by here."
I feel like an idiot! I'm talking to a giant spirit monkey in the middle of a swamp, where the plants keep looking at me and there are supposed to be dead people, but aren't! I'm running after my sister to try and kill her, my father is trying to destroy a twelve year old and I'm not going to be able to leave this place now that I'm here!
And on top of all that – the monkey just insulted me!
While Zuko fought to control his anger towards the strange spirit, the monkey scratched its feathered head, flicking away a tick that was lodged in its fur. Its long, slender tail swished back and forth behind it.
"It's nice to meet you, Zuko and Katara of the living realm. My name is Kimochi, and I am the Swamp Guardian here. I know of the other human of which you speak. She ran past here not long ago. She looked a little angry, I had half a mind to alert Koh."
Zuko felt a chill of fear run through his spine at the mention of the Face Stealer. How could a monkey have connections with the devil of the Spirit World?
"Would you...uhm...mind not mentioning to Koh that we were here, Kimochi?" Katara mumbled, trying to sound as pleasant as she could. "We won't be here long and we would really like to keep our faces."
The monkey bowed its head, smiling. Zuko didn't even know that animals could smile! The Monkey-rats of his world certainly couldn't. He still wasn't entirely sure why this creature was only a half-animal!
"I will not mention it." Kimochi smiled, seeming pleased with Katara's courtesy. "You both seem nice enough. It would be a shame if you were to lose your faces."
Zuko tried not to shiver. Hearing the words had much more effect when they were actually standing in Koh's domain.
"Can you tell us where she went?" Zuko probed, eager to be away from the strange creature. "We need to find her. Quickly."
The monkey sighed, and pointed behind him.
"She went that way towards the mountain. Though I really don't see why you are so eager to find her. She seemed most unpleasant to me. She did not have respect for the swamp, as you two do."
Katara looked back towards Zuko, her face alert and worried.
"She's already been through here? We need to find her, Zuko! What if we run out of time before Aang can defeat your father?"
The Swamp Monkey scoffed, waving a hand in the air.
"If you're worried about time differences, young human, I wouldn't worry. Every minute here is worth about a second in your world, so by the time an hour has passed here, barely a moment has gone in your own. Or at least, I think that's about right."
The monkey looked down at its nails, as if something unpleasant was lodged underneath them.
"But I do wish you would stay and chat. The last time I had a human to talk to, it was very enjoyable. There really isn't much to do here."
Zuko frowned, despite his cautious approach to the monkey.
"Another human? We're not the first?"
"Oh heavens, no, young human. Many have passed through the doors, whilst they were still alive. Though the most recent one was my favourite - yes, he was very kind." Kimochi smiled at the memory, scratching his chin. "I remember he made the most wonderful tea! How long it has been since I've had tea. Not since I was alive! It's rather hard to judge time here, but I'd say it was quite a few years ago that I met him."
Zuko felt his stomach tightening. Surely the giant Swamp Guardian couldn't be talking about who he thought he was talking about! Before he could ask the question himself, Katara beat him to it.
"What was the mans name, Kimochi?" Katara asked, as politely as she could manage. "Do you remember?"
The monkey scratched its chin for a moment, obviously deep in thought.
"It was a rather long time ago, young one. Now what was it? I..Ira..Iroh?"
Zuko slapped his forehead.
Typical.
They continued to walk in silence. Both of them were deep in thought.
Kimochi swung through the trees above, calling out every so often with the same piercing shriek. It was starting to really get on Zuko's nerves. There was something about the spirit that he didn't like, and he kept his distance.
At least he hasn't eaten me yet.
Zuko had stared like a disbelieving idiot when the talking monkey had told them that he had not only met his uncle, but talked to him, shared a pot of tea with him and then had convinced him to return to his own world and abandon his quest for revenge against Koh!
It was all just a little too much to take.
A monkey. A half-breed, giant, talking SPIRIT MONKEY? My Uncle listened to and took advice from a monkey, but when I suggest something, he calls me reckless!
Zuko and Katara had both bombarded Kimochi with questions, hoping for answers and barely aware now that they were asking questions to an animal. The spirit had decided to accompany them in their search for Azula as they wandered through the sparse trees of the Spirit World. Zuko had a feeling deep in his gut that the Swamp Guardian was only following them out of sheer boredom, not because he was concerned for their safety or their mission.
He really did not like the talking monkey.
Kimochi had explained to them quite calmly, answering their questions as best he could. Apparently, they weren't the only humans to have fallen into the Spirit World before.
"How did we get here?" Zuko had asked him. "And why couldn't we get back the way we came, through the door?"
The monkey rolled its eyes, oblivious to their confusion.
"The door will not open without the key." he replied, as if reciting some obvious mantra. "Without the key, you cannot enter."
Katara and Zuko had looked at each other for a long minute, thinking back to everything that had happened before the door to the Spirit World had opened. Zuko couldn't think of anything. His back had been turned when the rift had been torn open.
"I'm not really sure." Katara said, her brow furrowed as she thought back. "It was all a blur. The Warden threw the Black Ice Blade at you, and I hit it out of the way with my bending. As soon as it hit the floor, everything all seemed to happen at once."
"Ah, there was a blade involved." Kimochi smiled. "Therein lies your answer."
They had looked at him, willing the talking monkey to continue. He rolled his eyes at them for perhaps the third time in five minutes. Zuko was beginning to see that this was a particularly impatient, sarcastic creature.
"Blades are often the key." he explained. "It has always seemed like a popular choice for the humans. The Black Ice Blade, you said?"
Katara nodded, stepping over a particularly large rock. The terrain was beginning to get a little rougher, as a large mountain loomed in the distance. They had left the swamp behind them, much to Zuko's pleasure. He only wished that Kimochi had stayed behind along with it.
"Yes. It belonged to my great-grandfather."
"It's been quite a while since I've seen Black Ice." Kimochi mused. "The last person to bring Black Ice here was Avatar Korruk, I think. Went after Koh to avenge his lover, if I remember. But obviously, it didn't quite fall in his favour. Koh is rather proud of his Avatar collection."
Zuko saw Katara cringe at how carelessly the talking monkey could speak about the Face Stealer.
He has an Avatar collection? I didn't even know that Koh could steal an Avatar's face! The Avatar is supposed to be the bridge between their world and ours! Dear Agni, this isn't good.
"But from what you've told me, I can see that the Black Ice is the key you seek." Kimochi continued. "It is only when you find it that you can return home, once more."
"But what does it have to do with the Spirit World?" Katara gaped, turning her head to look at Zuko. "How could it be the key? How could the Sila Vatra get it all so wrong?"
"Silly human." Kimochi interjected. "Black Ice is one of the many different materials that can allow people into the Spirit World."
"There's more than one?" Zuko asked, frowning.
If there are so many more, then how many people are going to be able to get into the Spirit World so easily? What if somebody makes a mistake? We aren't the only ones, after all. What if someone else like Azula or Chun Sau finds a way to get here?
"Oh, there are several." the monkey replied cheerily. "When two elements meet to create a third, then that third element has the power to bridge the rift between your world and ours. Though, only where the rift is at its weakest. It can't be done just anywhere. If I remember correctly, there should be a rift in each of the four quarters of the world. But I think that the border for Air was destroyed quite a while ago."
"An edge to shatter the very air." Zuko recited, remembering the words from the old legends. "I understand it now! It's just like the legend of Agni! They said that he had a dagger made of unbreakable glass! It must have been created using the elements! When lightning hits into sand, it creates glass, right? Those two elements were combined, and when he dropped the dagger inside the volcano, it cut through the rift."
Kimochi tapped his chin, smiling.
"Ah, Agni. Now that was some time ago. I think that was before I was turned. I never met him, but the other spirits tell me that he was perfectly pleasant. At least before that messy incident with his friend."
Zuko turned to look at Katara, ignoring the monkey completely. "That's why Nori's necklace didn't work. It's not the blood that opens the doorway, like the Sila Vatra thinks. It was in the elements. Your ancestor's necklace didn't have a point, like the blade did. The point acts as the key!"
Katara's mouth opened slightly, as realisation hit her.
"So when I hit the Black Ice Blade out of the air, the point must have cut through the rift as it fell. That's why the doorway opened! It's just like cutting through paper!"
"Exactly." Kimochi beamed, happy that his insane, unbelievable explanation had been understood.
"How did I not see it before?" Zuko grunted, angry at himself for not making the connections sooner. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Katara quickened her pace, so that she drew level with him. Her face was soft, though it showed concern and worry. Kimochi skipped and swung beside them, clinging on to branches and rocks.
"Zuko," Katara whispered, sounding impatient. "if we don't find that blade, then we can't cut back through the doorway. We can't get home."
Looking up at the mountain looming before them, Zuko could almost swear he saw a small red figure darting between the rocks high above. His heart seemed to stop in its chest.
"We need to move faster."
Toph's blind eyes widened in terror as she scrabbled at the dirt, searching for the doorway that just wasn't there. Another loud crashing noise sounded behind her as the Dai Lee continued to attack, determined to avenge their now lost leader.
"Toph, come on!" Suki called, as she deflected another rock away from herself. "We need you!"
The dirt slipped through Toph's fingers as she remembered the exact moments before her friends disappearance. They had been running, their footsteps evidently loud on the volcano floor. They had gotten closer and closer to the large, unending cold tear in the sky. She had heard them call something to each other and then they were gone.
"Katara...Sparky..."
Toph tried not to let the all-consuming fear grip at her. She didn't know what lay ahead for her friends, and they had ventured somewhere where she couldn't help them. The rift had disappeared entirely!
"Hey kid, get your butt back in action!"
Chit Sang seemed positively giddy with energy as he called to her, easily throwing one of the Dai Lee over his head. The effects of Sozin's Comet were still evident as it continued to soar through the sky, and Chit Sang's raw power and victory over The Warden was spurring him on. He wanted to win – and badly!
Toph got to her feet, narrowly avoiding a cluster of spiky rocks that sped past her left ear.
But for the moment, she did nothing. She just blindly stared at the patch of earth beneath her, where her best friends had disappeared into the world of the dead. And Toph knew that the dead didn't walk twice, legend or no legend.
A single tear slid down her face, for her lost companions, before she turned back to the Dai Lee, clenching her tiny fists and snarling.
These were the people that took them away! These were the traitors that had spilt so much blood! And they were going to pay!
"Hurry up and beat the Fire Lord already, Aang." she mumbled to herself. "I don't wanna lose you too."
Letting out an angry, deeply saddened cry, Toph ran towards the fray of fire and rock.
"Can we catch her in time?" Katara panted as they ran over the rocky terrain.
Luckily for them, as the Spirit World gave them bountiful energy and they never tired, they were able to run continually towards the great mountain, where the small red dot that resembled the Fire Princess clambered among the rocks.
Zuko's feet pounded into the earth, skipping and jumping over rocks as quickly and carefully as he could. He didn't want to end up losing to his sister because of something stupid like a broken ankle!
Katara was a little slower than he was, and clumsier, so he had to slow his pace in order for her to keep up. It was aggravating, knowing that every second they wasted, his sister was getting closer to her prize – the Avatar's Chi flow!
"Maybe if you went a little faster we could!" Zuko grunted, trying not to sound too aggressive.
I can't let her get that far. If she reaches that mountain, there's nothing we can do to stop her!
Though he tried not to think about it, Zuko worried about what Katara would do once they actually caught up to Azula. How was she going to defend herself without the use of her bending?
At least he knew how to fight hand to hand combat, and had his dual swords. Azula would have her deadly precision, speed, and above all – the Black Ice Blade.
Katara would have nothing.
Just keep on going. All you can do now is try to stop her!
Kimochi scrabbled along beside them as they ran, his unnaturally long legs carrying him just a little faster than either of the humans. Zuko tried to avoid looking at him. It was unnerving the way the giant monkey ran. On two legs – just like a human!
"How will she know which Chi flow is Aang's?" Katara's small voice reached him from behind. Dear Agni, she was slow! "There must be millions of Chi flows there if every single person has one!"
Kimochi snickered, as if he found something very amusing. Zuko was really beginning to wish that they had never run into the Swamp Spirit in the first place!
"I am sorry, Katara." he chirped. "But I am afraid that your friend the Avatar's Chi flow will be the easiest to find of all of them. It is the largest and grandest of all the others, with the most energy. Avatar Chi is the most delectable of them all."
Why does he talk about it like it's a snack?!
"It must be the glowing light on the pedestal." Zuko panted, though he didn't feel tired. "Just like in the legend."
"Aang will be a sitting target!" katara's face was a mixture of shock and sadness.
"Then we better hurry!" Zuko replied, trying to hint at Katara to move faster.
Luckily, she listened to him and began to pick up her speed. The fact that the Spirit World granted them boundless energy certainly helped.
The looming mountain in the distance began to slowly get closer.
"Surrender, Avatar! And I shall make your passing a little less painful!"
Fire Lord Ozai's voice boomed above all. The clashing and thunderous howls of the battlefield didn't seem to affect him. He looked down on the mixture of nations, all fighting for their lives and countries needlessly. He no longer cared for his enemies, or his countrymen. This was his battle now! This was nothing more than a minor setback, a game!
He smirked, thinking them fools. No one could resist the commanding power of the Fire Lord!
Sozin's Comet still had not left the atmosphere. Soon the Avatar would fall and the world would be his for the taking!
The Avatar panted, jumping and swerving out of the way of his attacks. It both irritated Ozai, and pleased him. Let the boy run! Let his pain be drawn out and long! If he wanted to run, then he would happily play along with their game of Cat and Mouse!
The boy was panting, sweat dripping down his entire body. He was growing tired and weak. There was no way that he could defeat him – he, the almighty, powerful Fire Lord!
The boy hadn't even thrown a single blow! He was too afraid. Afraid of death and of the guilt that followed it.
"Weak, pathetic fool!" Ozai taunted, sending another arc of flame towards the boy. "Even with the power of all the elements, you are afraid to use them!"
Aang shot out of the way just in time, the very last tendrils of licking fire barely missing his face. How was he going to win when he hadn't even mastered Fire Bending yet? The almighty blows, powered by the almighty force of the comet were just too much to take!
"You don't have to do this!" he called back, his breathing hard. "You can stop this all now!"
Ozai smirked, soaring towards the naïve, young boy with heated aggression.
"No, Avatar! It is I who shall end you!"
Volleys of liquid fire shot from his fists, as he charged after the Avatar. He deflected them again and again, bringing up walls of earth and water to defend himself. But it would not last. The boy would tire soon enough. And then victory would belong to him!
Taking pleasure in seeing the fear in the Avatar's large blue eyes, Fire lord Ozai sped towards him, the electricity already gathering in his hands. He would see this boy dead by the time Sozin's Comet left the atmosphere!
"We're not going to catch up to her in time!" Katara panted, still running over the rocky terrain.
Zuko hated to admit it, but Katara was right.
Although they were a lot closer to the mountain now, he could still see the small red dot jumping between the crags in the rock face. She was slowly getting closer to her goal and he was certain that she had seen them by now! He could almost picture her, looking down at them with her predatory eyes and laughing.
No, no, no!
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Katara called again, still slightly behind Zuko.
Beside them, the Spirit Monkey chuckled, as he loped easily over the rocky terrain. The base of the mountain loomed ahead.
"Ah, silly, naïve human. Of course there is a faster way. You should have asked earlier!"
Zuko stopped in his tracks, turning around to glare hatefully at Kimochi. Katara also stopped beside him, panting, though not from exhaustion.
"There's a faster way? And you're only just telling us now?"
The creature shrugged, its feathered head blowing in a wind that held no temperature. Zuko was really beginning to hate the spirit.
"You did not ask me, human."
Zuko fought the urge to lunge at the monkey. He didn't want to anger any spirits and end up getting eaten, no matter how infuriating and annoying they may be.
"How, Kimochi?" Katara asked, trying to sound polite, though a trace of irritation escaped from her calm demeanour. "How can we get there before she does?"
The Swamp Guardian's eyes flickered with something that could have been troublesome. Zuko tried to ignore the knot that was tightening in his stomach. Despite everything that the spirit had done to help them, he still couldn't help but dislike the creature. There was something about him that Zuko just didn't trust. He seemed to be growing a little more manic with each minute.
"I shall show you, though I doubt you will like it." the giant monkey snickered.
I don't like the sound of that.
Opening its mouth wide and exposing a row of primal, pointed teeth, the spirit monkey let out a piercing shriek. Both Zuko and Katara clutched at their ears, unable to withstand the ferocity of the shrieking call. It sounded less like a call and more like the screams of a thousand children!
The shrieking stopped abruptly and Zuko took his hands away from his ears. He still wasn't quite used to feeling the smooth, unmarked skin where his scar should have been and it unnerved him slightly.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Katara looked over at him, with both fear and worry showing on her face. Zuko hated to see her face like that. She should never have to look so distraught.
Kimochi simply stood before them, his tail swishing back and forth, as if he was immensely happy about something. There was a calculating, malicious smile on his lips that Zuko didn't like. It seemed that the more time the spirit spent with them, the more primitive and excitable he seemed to get.
Uncle always warned you against angering the spirits. Just listen to him for once, will you?
A low roaring sound made both he and Katara look skywards. Zuko could have been wrong, but it sounded just like...
"Oh, Agni!"
Zuko didn't even have time to slap himself on the forehead before a great gust of wind forced him backwards a step. He held a hand up to shield his face, the other reaching out to grab Katara's arm, who let out an almost silent shriek of surprise. Or it might have been horror.
Kimochi jumped about excitedly, clapping his hands together and letting out small squeaks of excitement.
"Z-Zuko!" Katara stammered, her eyes widening in horror as the almighty gust of wind subsided. "W-what is that thing?"
Zuko tried to relax his muscles as he looked up, horrified at his own vision.
Arching its lengthy, slender back and letting out a low grumble as it's large, clawed feet touched the ground, a white dragon stood beside them, looking down on each of them with piercing golden eyes.
No. How is this possible? It can't be!
"The White Dragon..." Zuko breathed, unable to take his eyes away from the dragons own.
He could barely take it all in. How could he when the brilliant, translucent dragon from his dreams stood before him? Its scales so clear and shimmering that they almost looked white! He could see its heart, almost as large as he himself, sitting inside its rib cage. Except it did not beat, as it had in his dream. They were after all, in the land of the dead.
"You have met!" Kimochi screeched, bounding about frantically. "How joyous! It seems we have a prophet in our midst!"
"What?" Katara looked at him with wide eyes, though she stood at his his, still wary of the enormous creature. "Zuko, what's he talking about?"
"I don't know." Zuko mumbled, continuing to stare into the hypnotic eyes of the White Dragon.
"A prophet, a prophet!" Kimochi chirped, almost giddy with excitement. "One born of the power to see and to feel! A curse and a blessing!"
Nobody answered. The wind blew past, though still there was no cold to it. Zuko continued to look up at the beautiful dragon, both inspired and saddened to see it. He barely heard Kimochi's words.
How is this possible?
Ignoring the shrieking spirit hopping at his side, Zuko walked towards the dragon, unafraid. He knew that it would not hurt him. Reaching up a hand, he placed his fingertips against the cool surface of the dragon's scales. At his touch, the dragon's heart began to beat, as if new life had come to it. The White Dragon continued to look down at him, with eyes full of wisdom and care.
Swinging himself up on to the dragons back, Zuko held out a hand to Katara, who looked up at him nervously. Kimochi danced around her, his screeching slowly getting higher and higher.
"Zuko, what's going on?"
Zuko tried to smile. He wanted her to know that she would be safe. He could see it in the dragon's eyes – it wouldn't hurt them.
"It's okay, Katara." he smiled, trying to sound as sure as he could. "I'll explain everything later. Just trust me, okay? It won't hurt us, I promise."
Zuko was acutely aware of just how much time they were losing by waiting around and hoped to Agni that Katara would trust him. He could understand Katara's fear. At least he had seen a dragon before, but she was being thrown out of her depth completely, if they weren't so far gone already!
She swallowed and bit her lip.
If he had asked her to take a ride on a dragon with him only a few months ago, she would have probably laughed in his face and Water Whipped him into the next century. But Zuko knew that she would follow him, just as he would follow her. He would follow her anywhere.
"Come on, Katara. I promise."
Taking a deep breath, Katara made her decision. She reached up and took his hand, swinging herself into place behind him on the dragon's back. They positioned themselves readily and with a mighty roar, the dragon took off into the air.
Wind swept past their faces as they gathered speed and Katara clung onto Zuko's back for dear life, squeezing as hard as she could. A small sound escaped her lips and Zuko gripped her fingers around his waist, lacing them in between his own. He wasn't going to lose her.
As they gathered speed, the ground below began to shrink and Kimochi's cries of "Prophet! A Prophet!" began to fade and blow away with the wind.
A Prophet?
Zuko looked straight ahead to the mountain as the wind whipped past his face. He was glad to be leaving the crazed, suspisciously eccentric monkey behind them!
He would figure this all out when he had what he wanted.
When he stopped his sister.
When his father was defeated.
When he and Katara both saved the world.
PART TWO
Iroh wiped the sweat away from his brow. This was proving a little more difficult than he had first anticipated.
"Fire in the hole, boys!"
King Bumi's cackling voice rose above the loud scraping of metal as yet another Fire Nation tank came hurtling through the air and landed with an almighty rumble in the already neat pile he had collected.
The soldiers came fast, and in great numbers.
Swiftly moving through the air on jets of flame, Iroh dodged yet another arsenal of attacks. Fire came hurtling at him from all directions and he took in a sharp breath, before lashing out with his hands to send his own wall of fire out to disband the rest.
"Twenty five! Hoo hoo!" Bumi called with a manic grin and giving a big thumbs up.
"Still not enough, Bumi!" Pakku called back, smiling. "Thirty three!"
"Fifty." Jeong Jeong replied, almost emotionless as he sent another sweeping kick of fire straight towards his opponents and knocking them backwards.
"What? Fifty? I'll be damned if I see a Fire Bender beat me in a cracking-heads contest!"
Bumi huffed as he sent another wave of towering earth pillars to topple over the gun tower that continued to reign fire down at them.
"Twenty Six" he called triumphantly.
Iroh shook his head, unable to smile.
Somehow, the masters had managed to form the whole thing into a game. Usually, their jubilant behaviour would have had him smiling, and probably joining in. But there was something in the air that he didn't like. The smell tainted the air and wafted up from the city, as pungent as the day he had first smelt it. It clouded his senses like a drug and made him worry.
"The rift has been opened." he mumbled to himself, narrowly dodging a flaming ball thrown from the trebuchet below. "Zuko, be careful."
"Thirty two!" Bumi called, stacking up a fresh new column of Fire Nation tanks. "How's that for a combo, boys?"
His mad cackle echoed through the air, amidst the smoke and fire.
Iroh was not smiling.
Their victory was closing in, but slowly. And nor would he smile again until he knew that his nephew...his son, was safe.
"Fourty!" Piando grunted below him, swiftly ducking and weaving between the ground force, slicing and slashing at every opponent foolish enough to get in his way.
Iroh shot forward, sending an X of fire towards the trebuchet, easily slicing the chain that held it in two. The large, flaming ball fell back in on itself, crushing the metal frame beneath it. At least Iroh could take some comfort knowing that the city had been evacuated beforehand. There would be no more unnecessary death or bloodshed. Not while he could help it.
"Fifty five." Jeong Jeong grunted, barely audible above all the crackling and shouting.
"Now, you're just making that up!" Bumi huffed, not even looking backwards as he raised a fist to take out the Fire Nation soldier behind him. "Thirty three."
Iroh's brow was creased with worry as he felt the electricity dance between his fingertips. Gritting his teeth, he shot out a blast of fiery white lightning at the guard tower positioned above the upper ring. Chunks of rubble exploded into the air as the guard tower crumbled and fell into the streets below, sending the soldiers inside scurrying back to the walls, to escape the fall.
I should have told him, he scolded himself. I should have prepared him for this. He isn't ready to face the Spirit World. He isn't ready to face Azula. He isn't ready to face himself!
Iroh knew what awaited Zuko beyond the gates of the Spirit World. He knew exactly what the boy he loved so much would have to endure, and what it would cost him. He remembered it all too vividly.
"Fifty two! A little slow today, aren't we Bumi?"
After all, it had been he, Iroh, who had also faced the same challenges. He had been taken into the darkness willingly by the trickster and almost lost himself. He had nearly failed and succumbed to the darkness. But it had been hope that brought him back. Hope for a better life, to live every day as his precious son should have had the chance to do!
"Fourty five! Looks like Jeong Jeong's still in the lead, Bumi!."
The people had talked. They had gossiped and whispered upon his return. The only man to escape from the Spirit World still with his face, they had whispered. The only man to have seen the other side and lived to tell the tale. At least, besides Agni. But who knew if that was really truth, or legend?
"No need to boast Pakku! I am one-hundred and twelve years old, ya know? Fourty!"
Iroh had tried to guard his nephew against the rumours. He realised now, that he should not have. He should have been preparing him, for what was to come. But how was he to know that Zuko would go rushing to the world of the dead, to save the life of his friend, his love and of the world? How could he ever have prepared for an eventuality like that?
"Sixty."
"Oh, now I know that you're just cheating, Jeong Jeong!"
Iroh could only hope and pray that his nephew would do what he could. That he would somehow find a way back to him one day. Just like Agni found a way back. Even if it did take a hundred years.
Katara felt her eyes beginning to sting. She shut them tightly against the wind, gripping onto Zuko so hard that she worried about whether or not he could breathe. Though technically, if they were in the Spirit World, did they even need to breathe?
A dragon? A DRAGON, for La's sake! How does Zuko have connection with a see-through spirit dragon?!
Katara tried incredibly hard not to look down at the dragon's body. The flowing, gurgling organs inside made her want to be sick. Of course, she'd seen her fair share of wounds and blood as a healer, but that still didn't prepare her for something like this!
The way that the dragon's heart had started beating when Zuko had touched it. The way the awful, monkey spirit had jumped around screeching "Prophet! Prophet!", it was all too much for Katara to take!
Zuko – a prophet? Does Kimochi mean a prophet like Aunt Wu? Or something else? How could Zuko be a Prophet? It just doesn't make sense!
Katara felt Zuko's fingers tighten around her own and her heart momentarily skipped a beat. At least she was glad to see that her heart still worked in the ghostly place. But what startled her the most was Zuko's skin. It was ice cold! Almost as if he himself were...dead.
She wondered if she too was as cold to the touch. But Katara didn't like it. It wasn't natural. Zuko, who had always held her close and kept her safe, he was changing. She knew it wasn't his fault, but Katara couldn't help but feel a little wary of everything that had happened since they had passed through the gate. She had watched his bending get sucked right out of him!
It was his scar that had caught her off guard the most.
Katara's heart had almost leapt up into her mouth when she turned to see Zuko. Just Zuko. The horrible, deforming scar that she had come to both fear and love over the past year had completely vanished!
Not that it had mattered to Katara in any way whether he was scarred or not, but she had still been caught off guard. Though she loved Zuko the way he was, it was just so strange, seeing what he looked like without the mark of his father. Of course, he was incredibly handsome – with or without his scar, but he had looked so young, so innocent.
Katara's heart was in her mouth. Flying on Appa was one thing, but flying on a translucent, spirit dragon was quite another! For what seemed the fourth time in five minutes, Katara leant forward so that she could call in Zuko's ear.
"Zuko! What is this thing?"
"A dragon."
He answered quite calmly, as if it was completely obvious. Katara sighed and rolled her eyes. She wished that she hadn't when she lost her balance slightly, and she gripped even tighter onto Zuko, digging in her nails and twisting her fingers into his clothing.
"I can see that, Zuko!" she called back, slightly irritated. "But do you think you can be just a little it more specific before we go off to face your sister and probably end up getting attacked by...by dead people?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Katara wished that she hadn't said them. She scolded herself for once again uttering the word 'dead'. There was no use in scaring herself, even if they were about to face an army of corpses!
Come to think of it, I haven't seen a single spirit that isn't in an animal form yet. Aren't there supposed to be people here too?
"I'm not really sure." Zuko called, turning a little to face her. "I had a dream about this dragon when Ozai captured us. I thought I understood what it meant then, but now..."
He trailed off, unable to find meaning to finish the sentence.
Katara felt her mouth falling open, though she quickly closed it again when more harsh winds hit her in the face.
"You had a dream about a see-through dragon? I knew you had nightmares, but to have your dream come true - that's a little unusual, don't you think?"
"My thoughts exactly!" he called back, not turning to look at her this time.
The mountain was hurtling at them faster and faster as the White Dragon soared through the air. Katara could clearly see Azula now, nearing the top of the mountain. She was looking up at them and though Katara couldn't make out her facial expression, she guessed that it wasn't good.
Although Katara was scared witless, she had to admit, riding a dragon was much faster than running. And a lot faster than a flying bison!
Katara was just about to ask if Kimochi had been right. If Zuko really was a prophet. But just then, the dragon hurtled forward into a spiralling dive, causing Katara to cling to Zuko even tighter than before and scream in fright as they hurtled towards the rock of the mountain.
I'm going to die!
Katara screamed her lungs out, digging her fingers into Zuko's skin in pure terror. His knuckles were white as he clasped onto the scales of the White Dragon, holding on for dear life!
But suddenly, barely feet away from impacting against the mountain, the White Dragon pulled up out of the dive and stopped. When neither pain nor death seemed to reach Katara, she opened her eyes. The White Dragon was hovering a few feet above the ground, turning its grand head around to look at them.
"Uh, Katara. We can get down now."
For a moment, Katara barely heard Zuko's voice. She was too entranced, staring up at the White Dragon's beautiful, dancing gold eyes. No wonder Zuko had found it hard to look away! It was like the creature was looking into her very soul!
"Katara?"
Hearing Zuko call her, Katara blinked, snapping herself out of the dreamy trance.
"Uhm, yeah, Zuko?"
"We can get down now. But you really need to...uh, you know...pull your nails out of me."
Realising that her nails were still dug deep into Zuko's waist, Katara blushed and let go.
"Oh! Sorry Zuko, are you okay?"
They dismounted, sliding of the dragon's back easily. As soon as their touch broke contact with it, the mighty beast's heart lay still. It didn't beat again, as it had before. Holding up his shirt to survey the damage, Zuko grinned.
"You know, I'm starting to like this place."
Looking down at Zuko's un-marked, perfect skin, Katara shivered. There should at least be a red mark or something. She had been using him like a pin-cushion!
"I don't."
Zuko turned to the dragon, and surprised Katara completely when he clasped his hands together and bowed to the creature, not once taking his eyes away from the beast. Not wanting to offend the spirits, or get eaten by an enormous, translucent dragon, she quickly followed suit and also bowed to the creature.
Suddenly, the story that he and Aang had shared with her about the Sun Warriors and the two incredible dragons that had shown them the meaning of fire didn't seem quite so silly anymore.
It's amazing they weren't both killed!
A low rumble left the dragons throat and the two long tendrils that hung from its snout reached it towards them. Katara's eyes widened as she fought the overwhelming urge to turn around and run right back down the mountain!
The tendril stretched toward her, and then lightly touched her forehead. Her eyes shot open.
It was if a brilliant blue flash lit up the dreary grey of the Spirit World and Katara could feel the dragon's eyes piercing her heart, analysing and scrutinising it with every second that passed, just as the two masters had done to Zuko and Aang before at the Sun Warrior's Temple.
Will it judge me worthy? What happens if it doesn't like what it sees?
She almost jumped out of her skin when a silvery, flowing voice sounded around her.
"There was no need to judge you, child. I can see from your eyes that you are pure of heart and of spirit."
Katara darted her head around, looking for Zuko. But he was nowhere to be seen! She didn't even seem to be on the mountain anymore!
"I have come to warn you." the voice spoke again.
A veil of blue light seemed to surround her and the dragon completely, as if she were floating on air! The White Dragon looked down at Katara, towering over her like a god.
She didn't tremble before it as she had before. She could see now, what Zuko had apparently seen. This dragon meant her no harm.
"Warn me of what?" she asked stupidly, feeling almost paralysed by the White Dragon's hypnotic eyes.
"You must tread with care, my child." it spoke again, though its mouth never moved. "There are many trials ahead. They will test you to your limit, to deem you worthy. They are trials of the mind and of the spirit, and you shall both see and hear things that you wish you could not. But do not fear, for I see that you shall overcome, in the name of love."
Katara felt pleasantly cool and she looked up at the great beast, no longer afraid. It's heart still did not beat as it had done when she and Zuko had touched it.
"But-but what can we do?" she asked, feeling only gratitude towards the great spirit. "Can you help us?"
The White Dragon shook its brilliant head, which hung a little low, as if the creature was sorrowful.
"I fear I cannot, dear human. The Spirits cannot tamper with the decisions of humans, we can only warn them and guide them down the right path. This is a battle only you may fight. The balance hangs with you both, and the Avatar now."
For some reason, Katara was unable to feel the small lump of sorrow in her stomach that she thought would appear. The dragon's beautiful, musical words seemed to soothe her somehow.
She frowned, realising something that she hadn't thought of before.
"Zuko told me he had a dream about you. You...you came to warn him, didn't you? Is that what the Spirit Monkey meant when he called him a prophet?"
Although it defied all logic, the dragons lips curled up into a smile. Katara continued to wonder if animals could smile at all, or if it was only something possible in the Spirit World.
"You are wise, child. The one you call Zuko has acted as my own bridge for many years now. I have sent him messages, knowing that both he and you had parts to play in restoring the balance of the world. I hoped to point him down the right path. I was mostly unsuccessful, until you, my dear child, you found him and restored what little faith there was left inside of him. You gave him a renewed hope, and tore down the walls that protected his mind from my influence. It is with you that worlds end lies, human, and the soul of a loved one."
Katara swallowed a lump in her throat. That was a lot of pressure to put on any one person!
Was it something to do with Ba Sing Se? In the Crystal Catacombs? He told me that after that night, guilt slowly ate him away and that he felt raw and-and exposed. Was it...was it something I did? I don't understand!
"You...you were the one who gave him all those nightmares?" Katara gasped, unable to believe that such a proud and wondrous animal could put Zuko through so much torment.
The great beast nodded its head slowly. For a moment, Katara thought that she could see regret in its beautiful green eyes.
"Protect him, Katara." the White Dragon used her name for the first time, though she didn't know how the creature knew it. Katara could begin to feel tears pricking behind her eyes. "For though he is strong, he will falter. Darkness has consumed him for so long, it will take a light to allow him to climb back into the sun."
The image of the dragon began to fade at the edges.
Katara's eyes widened in horror. She could see the brilliant scales shining white in the invisible sun. They were almost blinding!
"No!" she called, holding her hand out the touch the dragon. "I don't understand! Please don't go! I need your help!"
The glistening smile of the dragon appeared again, before the almost invisible skin began to disappear into the air.
"Beware the trickster, child. Beware the darkness."
"No, please!" Katara grabbed at the air, though she only felt warmth pass through her fingers. "Please, stay! I don't understand! Who is the trickster? What's going to happen?"
Before the last shimmer of smiling tooth disappeared with the wind and she returned to the grey, unmoving mountain, Katara heard the White Dragon whisper its last words, carried away with the wind.
"Beware the darkness. You must be his light, child. As he must be your own..."
Katara opened her eyes. She was stood still on the mountain, with an outstretched arm, gripping at the mighty dragon that was no longer there. She turned her head to see Zuko, whose body language similarly matched her own.
They each quickly drew their arms back, feeling foolish in front of the other. Katara wiped at her eyes, realising that they were cold with unshed tears.
Zuko cleared his throat and rubbed at the back of his neck.
"I guess he's not coming back."
Sighing, Katara looked out over the open plains below them, searching for the guiding creature she knew would not return.
No, I guess not.
"Zuko?"
"Yeah, Katara?" he also looked out over the plains with her, reaching for her hand and lightly holding it in his own.
"I think that dragon...was fate."
Author's Notes : Wow. That's a pretty long chapter. Took me just over a day to write this damn thing. Writers block didn't help, either!
Well, hopefully, this chapter should answer some questions. The next chapter will probably be as long as this one and we can finally finish the story. It has been a really amazing journey, planning and writing this with all of your encouragement. I only hope I can make it up to you all by writing the best damn thing that I can think of.
Hopefully this chapter wasn't a little too farfetched. After all, Bryke didn't really cover much about the Spirit World, so there's still a lot more to be said. I suppose that's where my Poetic License comes in (flashes license).
Soon, the journey is going to come to an end. :(
Hehehe...writing the Old Masters paragraph was fun. Ah, Bumi...you crazy old sod. No way can you beat Jeong Jeong. XD