Chapter 26 The Pieces are Falling into Place Part 2
The sun was rising over the fire nation as Zuko walked down the hallways of the beach house he was going to have some light fire bending training with Aang before handing him off to Toph and Katara before they would move to the capital of the fire nation. They would set up camp outside the capital city and then tomorrow when the comet came they would launch the final assault that would end the war hopefully with their victory. Zuko stopped for a moment and looked out one of the windows toward the sun rising over the sea.
"I thought I was the one who rises with the sun." stated Zuko as he turned to see Katara standing beside another window. For a moment he was taken aback as he saw how the sun light seamed to cause Katara to radiate a warm glow. The light bounced off her tan skin as she looked out to sea, she had a tone buy feminine stomach. Her beep brown hair flowed down her back like waterfall; her deep blue eyes looked like deep ocean pools. Zuko did a quick glance up and down her body his mind going to places it shouldn't have.
"Just because as a water bender I am linked to the moon doesn't mean I can't enjoy the sunrise." stated Katara as she out at the golden sun. "So what is going to happen when this is over?"
"What do you mean?" asked Zuko
"I mean we can pretend that once we beat your father and Azula that it will be the end all be all but we both know that isn't going to happen." stated Katara "You will have generals and government leaders who support your father's line of thinking."
"And that isn't counting the feelings of the people themselves." added Zuko
"I mean you have the fact that you're the prince and that makes you next in line for the throne but…." Started Katara
"That may not as matter as much as you think." Interrupted Zuko "See there has been many different royal families, when one dies out a distant relative or the top general takes over the role as the royal family."
"So your family isn't the original royal family?" asked the stunned Katara as Zuko shock his head.
"No, I believe my family rose to power four hundred and fifty years ago when my ancestor who was a general was named the heir by the then fire lord." explained Zuko
"That is just great so you will have to find a way to legitimize your rule." said Katara
"Yes, and that isn't even looking out how I will deal with the effects of the war." added Zuko "My people have done so much damage to the world it will take decades to fix. Well at least I think I can count on you and the others to help."
"You can." said Katara as she looked around as the others started to come out. Sokka stopped by the door to where they had been sleeping.
"Where is Aang?" asked Sokka as Zuko blinked.
"He isn't in there?" asked Katara as she moved to look into the empty room.
"I thought he was still asleep." said Zuko
"What is happening?" asked Sakura as she walked up to the group.
"Aang is gone." explained Katara as Sakura blinked. "Didn't your seals alert you when someone comes in."
"They do he must have walked out on his own." explained Sakura "They are designed to alert things coming in not going out."
"We have to find him." ordered Suki as they started to fan out in a vain attempt to find their friend because not even the avatar knew where he was as he opened his eyes to find himself sitting on a strange surface surrounded by a forest.
"Where am I?" asked Aang as he looked around at the strange jungle. The only creature that was familiar was the flying Lemur Momo who was sitting in front of him. Momo simply tilted his head before jumping onto Aang's shoulder wrapping his tail around Aang's neck. Aang started walking around the island trying to find out where he was, however he always came back to the same strange spot.
"Where are we?" asked Aang to Momo who simply looked at the Avatar. As he sat down in the octagon shaped area. As he closed his eyes he decided that he had to seek advice from his past lives. He opened his eyes again to see the last avatar before him, Avatar Roku.
"Hello Aang." stated Roku as he sat down across from Aang.
"Roku I need your advice."
"That is what I am here for young avatar." responded Roku
"I am tasked with defending the balance but in order to do that I have to kill the fire lord." explained Aang "But as an Air bender I have to respect and protect all life, so how can I stop the Fire Lord."
"Avatar Aang you must be decisive and you must protect the world by ending the Fire Lord." answered Avatar Ruko before he disappeared leaving Aang to his thoughts.
In another location Naruto sat waiting for the return of the Painted Lady, as he sat on the edge of the giant pool of water which fed an even larger river his thoughts turned not to what he coming battle against Sasuke but what could be his life after the battle. A life free of the Kyuubi, a life free of the Akatsuki since he wouldn't have the Kyuubi anymore and most importantly a life with Sakura. He couldn't help but smile as suddenly eleven figures appeared out of the pool. One he recognized right away as the painted lady, the rest where all new to him.
"So you are the container of the nine tailed demon fox Kyuubi." asked the Lead Figure as Naruto got to his feat and looked at figure. He was maybe seven foot tall man with deep blue eyes and short blonde hair. He dressed in bright white armor which was covered with blue jewels, with a long sword hanging from his hip. The strangest thing was the pair of white bird like wings which came out of his back.
"I am." answered Naruto "Naruto Uzimakie of the Village hidden in the Leaves."
"I am Abidan, Angel of Life and head of the grand council of the spirit world." explained Abidan "Before you are gathered the nine great spirits along with the great healer the Painted Lady and the Queen of the demon foxes Aella the eight tailed."
That is when Naruto turned and looked at the eight tailed demon fox, she had almost pure silver fur with strings of black fur around her feet.
"So you have been the one containing may mate and King." growled Aella as she showed her row of sharpened pure white teeth.
"Calm down Aella you are here as a guest only." ordered Abidan as the Queen of the demon fox backed down. "Allow us to introduce ourselves."
Naruto turned his head to the figure standing beside Abidan, he was dressed in a pure black robe which covered him from head to toe. The opening which should have shown his face was somehow even darker. He held a long ancient scythe in his bony hands as two bat like wings came out of his back.
"I am Tod, the master of death." answered the spirit in a voice that would send even the strongest ninja running.
Right beside death was a bird unlike anything he had ever seen, instead of feathers it was made of nothing but flames. Flames of multiple different colors which changed at a high rate of speed.
"I am Frea." stated the bird in a strong but female voice "I am the Phoenix of the sun and keeper of the daytime sky."
The next spirit looked like a human male with deep blue eyes and simple cloths. He had deep black hair with a small strip of white located in the center.
"I am La, the spirit of the ocean and protector of all who travel across the water." explained La as Naruto looked toward the next one, she was a young woman with long pure white hair.
"I am Yue." answered Yue "The moon spirit keeper of the night sky."
"Yue?" asked Naruto "I think Sokka talked about someone named Yue who became the moon spirit."
"Yes, I gave my life to save the moon spirit and I joined with her." explained Yue
"I didn't come to listen to talk about you old human life." growled the next spirit he was a giant standing over 12 ft tall and covered from head to toe with black scales. He looked like a humanoid dragon with three toed feet and a reptile like face partly hidden by his helmet. Over his body where a dark gray chest piece and a helmet with a pair of horns coming out the back and a single one on the nose. Over his arms were huge arm guards with razor sharp claws coming out of them.
"I am Wari, the master of warfare and conflict." answered Wari as Naruto turned to the next one. This one was a strange mix of creatures; it had the body of a large lion but the head and wings of an eagle.
"Hello I am Aira." said the griffin in a female voice "I am the griffin of the wind creator of the winds and storms."
"I am Terah." said an old looking humanoid tree which towered over twenty five tall. "I am the master of earth and all who walk across the surface."
Finally that left the last one of the grand council, a beautiful woman with long deep brown hair and warm brown eyes. She dressed in a pure white robe, a set of armor was clear to see. She had two sets of angle wings.
"Hello Naruto I am Celia the guardian of peace and love." answer Celia in a loving voice.
"Now why are we here?" asked Wari
"The Kyuubi and I have come to a deal for his freedom from me but in order for it to be done, I need him to swear to you all that he and the rest of the demon foxes will honor the deal." explained Naruto as he looked toward the painted lady "Also I need to painted Lady to extract him from me so that I don't die in the process."
"I will gladly help you." offered the Painted Lady
"Please explain to us this deal." ordered Abidan "Once we hear the terms of this deal we may agree to it."
Lines of airships were preparing to launch from the fire nation capital, the plan was for them to join up with other airships launching from hundreds of different locations across the fire nation. They would join up off the coast of the earth kingdom before moving inland at sunrise. By positioning themselves off the coast at sunrise they would give them the most time possible over the Earth Kingdom. Heading toward the airships were Azula and her father. They were being carried by one of their human powered carriers. Surrounded them were royal guards along with Ty Lee and Mai, however the most dangerous guard wasn't walking beside them instead he was moving across the nearby rooftop. This was allowing him to get used to the layout of the city which would give him the advantage in a fight. Finally the caravan came to a stop as everyone got out and headed toward the royal airship. Once the Fire Lord reached the top of the platform he was surrounded by his guard as the citizens looked up at him from the street below. Almost at once everyone bowed to him, the only people who remained standing where the guards behind him and the lone figure who stood on the far off rooftop. For a moment Ozai glared at the figure who wouldn't bow to him, on some level he respected the powerful young man who refused to bow but he didn't want his subjects to get used to the idea that someone didn't have to bow.
"My people we have struggled through a hundred years of war and that is about to end." Began Ozai as the people listened to their ruler. "Within days it will all be over. I will personally lead the assault that will end the war in our victory."
Hearing this the people stood up and started to clap in joy.
"Father, I thought the plan was or to wait here and take out the Avatar when he and his friends arrive." said Azula as she stood up.
"Change of plans you and Sasuke will take care of the Avatar and his gang. It will gain you honor and glory being the one who defeats the avatar." said Ozai "I will have the honor and glory of ending the earth kingdom and turning the entire world into Fire Nation."
"I thank you for that honor father." Replied Azula
"I am not done." stated Ozai "You will serve as my right hand and heir as Fire lord."
"Fire Lord." Said Azula with a grin "I like that but there can't be two Fire Lords."
"I am no longer Fire Lord." explained Ozai as the guards behind him raised new flags and a new crown was placed on his head "As the world is reborn I will be reborn, I will rule the new world as the Phoenix King."
Back at the beach house the search had ended for Aang, he was no were to be found.
"Ok what do we do?" asked Suki "Without Aang how can we defeat the fire lord."
"I can handle the fire lord." offered Sakura "He isn't a ninja so I shouldn't have much trouble."
"No we need you to take care of any surprises and to help Naruto with Sasuke if need be." corrected Katara "No we need Aang or at least someone else who can take down the fire lord if Aang doesn't show or he can't.
"There is only one person who may be able to take on my father, my uncle." offered Zuko
"Didn't he break out from prison?" asked Toph
"Yes, and I don't know where he is." said Zuko as his eyes widened before he grinned "But I know the one person who could find him or Aang. We need to get to the Earth Kingdom."
"Let's get going." said Katara as they moved toward the flying bison.
Well I hope you liked this chapter. I plan to update one more time before the year is out but only one more time. I hope you liked this chapter; I have also posted clips of the two stories on my profile I am considering writing after I finish my current stories. If you want you can check them out. I thank you and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Wilkins75