Chapter 39: The Waning Moon Part 3
Shen Shi wasn't a young man easily rattled. Beneath his boyish handsome carefree exterior lay the shrewd calculating and cool mind of man far older and wiser than he appeared. He supposed he had his mother's death to thank for such a mindset.
Ever since she had departed this world, Shen had to step up to take his place as a man, especially during those hard times his father wasn't able to cope with his responsibilities or grief. He had only been fourteen when he had, had to grow up.
Now four years later he was eighteen going on nineteen, and already he felt like he'd already aged over seventy years. No make that a hundred.
Now Father's gone…I can't believe he's gone…
He felt numb even as he followed the small group of soldiers led by Lord Iroh through the icy dark streets. All around he could hear civilians screaming and fleeing in terror and the grunts of warriors as they fought against one another ferociously.
All this carnage…and for what?
For what?
He felt his stomach jolt terribly as he and his crew rounded a corner and ran straight into another small group.
It was a family. Shen could only guess they were family because they all bore the same resemblances to one another. There was only four of them, a woman holding an infant to her chest with one arm while the other held onto the hand of a little six year old girl. Before all three stood a young strapping teenage boy who had started to bend water before him in a defensive stance.
"Stay back! I'm warning you" the youth yelled, and though his voice was loud, Shen could plainly hear the tremble of fear in it as clear as a bell.
"Stand down young man. We mean you no harm." Lord Iroh put both hands up in token of parley. But the young teen only yelled louder.
"A likely story! You're Fire Nation. All you do is destroy things"
"Saru" the boy's mother gasped worriedly but was cut off by her son pushing her and his siblings behind him further still.
"No mom! Run I'll hold them off"
"That won't be necessary I can assure you" Iroh tried to say calmly but someone else steamrolled over him quickly.
"Kid how old are you?"
The young teenage waterbender turned to look at Shen, surprise stopping him in his tracks.
"Wha-fifteen but what-"
"And this is your mom and sisters, right?"
"What's it to you?" the boy growled.
"I have a sister too. And a mother and a father" Shen said quietly. "I know what you're going through. I'd do anything to protect my family from the enemy no matter what. My mom and dad are both...they're both gone now,"- it took all Shen had to gulp down on the greif that threatened to engulf him whole -"and now there's a Fire Bender who wants to hurt my baby sister, the only family I have left. So I'm asking you as one brother to another brother…please let us pass…let me find my sister. And I promise on my honour and my late parents honour we will not lay a single finger on you or your family. Please"
The young waterbender looked at Shen with narrowed suspicious eyes, as if trying to catch a lie in his desperate pleading face. He opened his mouth to snarl…but was stopped when his mother put a hand on his arm.
"Saru…let them pass"
"But mom-they might be-"
But his mother shook her head. "He's telling the truth love, I can see it, we all can." She looked up at Shen, her eyes full of pity.
"Do you know where your sister is?"
"We're not sure of the exact location." Iroh admitted softly. "But we are certain that my young friend's sister here is trying to stop a very terrible man from destroying a very sacred and spiritual place to your people"
"The Spirit Oasis then." The water tribe woman muttered. "I had heard in the palace that there was a girl from the Fire Nation who'd defected to help us, but I never thought it was true."
She sucked in a deep breath and turned to face Iroh her face set with determination. "I shall take you to Master Paku. He and his men are currently fortifying the castle. If you can prove yourselves to him, you might be able to find your sister."
"But mom-" Saru hissed but his mother was already depositing her youngest child into his arms.
"No Saru, you take your sisters to the ice caves with the other children"
"Lieutenant Ji, why don't you and your men go with them, and try and help as many civilians to safety as you can. The more lives that can be spared from this bloodshed the better." Lord Iroh nodded and at once Lieutenant Ji and the other five of his men detached themselves to go stand with the young waterbender who was frowning in bewilderment.
"But why? Why would you help us? You're Fire Nation-we're enemies."
"Maybe. But personally, my boy I've found that it doesn't matter what side of the war you are on, you always end up losing something dear. No war is worth such a price." Lord Iroh said gravely.
"Saru go" Saru's mother hissed as she ushered her five year old daughter towards her son, her eyes full of tears as she tried to smile. "I will join you all soon in the caves. I promise."
"You better" Saru mumbled, glaring a little at Iroh and Shen. "Keep her safe or else"
"We will protect her with our lives if need be" Iroh nodded before turning to the woman.
"Now my good lady where would we find this Master Paku?"
Paku of the Water Tribe panted as he and his men all rushed back into the safety of the wall of ice that separated the great ice fortress from the rest of the city.
This was worse than what he had ever seen in his life. Who'd have thought the Fire Nation would ever reach so far into their city. Their city which had up till that point been so heavily fortified.
However, he had to admit, if it hadn't been for that young Avatar's Fire Nation friend he and his men would truly be sitting ducks. At least now they knew where the enemy would strike and could counter.
Speaking of enemies.
"Sir! Two Fire Nation men approach. They've got Sora."
"Do not attack. We don't want to hurt one of our own is that clear?" Paku called, eyes narrowing as three figures ran up the great icy steps towards the wall.
"Master Paku!" a middle aged woman, Sora yelled loudly. "Master Paku! I need to talk to you"
"Hold your fire." Paku held up a hand to one of his protégé's beside him fingering a hand through his beard as he eyed Sora's companions.
A young Fire Nation soldier, who could only be in his late teens at the very least, and an old middle aged man in a red cloak. For some reason the man's face looked familiar…
"Open the wall and let them in. But keep your waterbending trained on the two Firebenders" He hissed to another few of his pupils who all nodded as they all stood back. Quickly they retracted a small section of the wall, and at once Sora and her two companions ran through.
Sora was quickly ushered away behind two protective warriors in thick coats carrying spears, while the young Fire Nation man and his elderly compatriot pulled to a stop their hands up in token of peace.
"We were told we were to speak with a Master Paku?" the older of the two said, his voice calm and patient.
"I am he" Paku stepped forward, eyes narrowed shrewdly as he examined the man more closely. "Now to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, oh Dragon of the West? Surely you haven't come to surrender yourself?"
"You know who he is?" the young fire nation man blinked in surprise and Paku rolled his eyes.
"Of course. You'll be hard put to find any master around the world who doesn't know the name and face of one of the Fire Nations' greatest War Generals"
"Retired General." Iroh corrected quietly. "And whilst it is flattering to know my reputation precedes me, there is a matter of great importance for which we desperately need your help"
"And pray tell, why would I help you?" Paku snorted, ignoring his warriors stiffening in readiness beside him as Iroh held out a hand towards him.
In it wasn't fire, nor any weapon of any kind. Instead all that was there was but a small plain-
"Lotus tile?" one of the Water Bender's guffawed scathingly.
Paku however silenced him with a small glare, which he quickly turned on Iroh, scanning his face intently.
Then he sighed heavily.
"Kuma. Take Sora to the caves at once. The rest of you continue to fortify the wall as per our plans. Lord Iroh if you and your young friend would follow me."
"But sir-" Kuma spluttered in alarm.
"That was an order Kuma!" Paku snapped, but quickly calmed himself with a deep breath before adding "Don't worry, it will take more than two Fire Benders to take me down. Though I doubt I will need to resort to such measures."
He turned his back on Iroh and the young man with tired exasperated eyes.
"You both better follow quick, we shall have to talk as we walk."
"Thank you" Iroh sighed as he and his young friend both rushed to catch up to the old Water Bending Master as he led them into a large but very much deserted icy courtyard
"You're looking for the young Fire Nation girl am I correct?" Paku asked quietly as he quickly cleared a path through the decorative snowy sculptures before them. "the one who claims to be the daughter of the Lucky Jade?"
"She doesn't claim to be. She is her daughter." The young fire nation man scowled "And she is my sister, Jade"
"Sister? Then you are-"
"Shen Shi. Eldest son of Ruishi Shi, the Mountain Dragon, and of Lien Yutu, the Lucky Jade" Lord Iroh explained. "We came here to find Jade. She is in grave danger. Do you know where she might be."
"Last I saw the girl was with the Avatar and his friends and our princess. Where she is now I do not know, but the Avatar was last seen in the Spirit Oasis. So that would have to be the best place to start searching."
"Thank you." Shen sighed.
"Save the niceties for later boy. There is still a war going on out there. The sooner I finish help the two of you the sooner I can get back to leading my men." Paku grunted irritably.
"Speaking of niceties, what was with the lotus tile? And what did that have to do with you helping us?"
There was a small pause in which Paku quirked a white brow at a stern Iroh.
"He doesn't know?"
"I haven't had time to tell him" Iroh admitted.
"Tell me what?" Shen frowned.
Both old men exchanged odd looks again.
"What?" Shen blinked as Iroh patted a gentle hand on his shoulder
"I'll explain it all to you later Shen. It is a long story, one for which we do not have enough time to explain."
"Explain what? Lord Iroh what is going on? Just who are you?"
Lord Iroh opened his mouth…only to shut it as all his vision suddenly turned a dark red.
I shall never forget that night. The sky was red – no scratch that – It was crimson. Like blood had stained the moon and the stars.
The only sight I could think of that came so close to even such an experience was when I used to serve snacks and tea down to the engineers of Zuko's small ships. That was only because the engineering decks were always warmly lit by fires.
But the light that came off the red moon was cold, bone chilling. Like I had been dunked under a pool of ice.
It was colder than anything I'd ever experienced so far…and this was counting flying on a sky bison in a blizzard in the middle of the night.
And it was only about to get worse.
"Zhao what have you done?" Jade breathed as she stared out over the vast red night in horror.
Far down below she could see the great ice city engulfed in a sea of red and darkness. Amidst the shadows she could see small bursts of hot light blasting in different directions as the sounds of horrified screams pierced straight into the air.
Her father used to tell her about the horrors of war, but Jade had never truly understood what he meant till now as she watched the carnage taking place far below.
It's all my fault…
She sagged in her spot, her whole body deflating in defeat.
If I had just gotten to Aang sooner…if I had remembered about Zhao's plan, then we could've stopped all this sooner.
There was a small grunt of pain, and Jade quickly turned to face the opposite side of the saddle.
Princess Yue clutched her head as she swayed slightly from where she sat.
"You okay?" Sokka asked worriedly.
"I-I feel faint" Yue mumbled.
"I feel it too" Aang grunted from his spot at Appa's reins. "the Moon spirit is in trouble"
"I owe the moon spirit my life" Yue sighed as Sokka helped settle her back down in her spot.
"What do you mean?" he frowned curiously.
"When I was born, I was very sick and very weak. Most babies cry when they're born. But I was born as if I were asleep. My eyes closed. The healers did everything they could. They told my mother and father I was going to die. My father pleaded with the spirits to save me. That night beneath the full moon, he brought me to the oasis and placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white, I opened my eyes and began to cry, and they knew I would live. That's why my mother named me Yue. For the moon."
"I heard stories about spirits blessing humans before" Katara tilted her head quietly. "But I've never heard of anything quite like this. Did you ever figure out why-"
"No" Yue shook her head sadly. "I often asked father about it when I was younger. But even he doesn't know"
"My mother always used to say that one should be wary of deals made with the spirits, good or evil." Jade murmured grimly her lips pursing "No matter how good the intention, a great price is often required in payment for their gifts."
"The Monks used to always say that too" Aang mumbled "Though they never used to say what the payment would be."
"Most likely because it would be different for each situation. But whatever it is…it would be costly…in more ways than one" Jade looked back over to the large bundle of fur and blue that lay beside her.
In it she could see a man struggling a little in of the sleeping bag, a scarred eye peering blearily up at her from amidst its depths.
"Jade…" Zuko whispered, his voice but a breath as his amber gaze met hers. But Jade quickly turned away as her stomach swirled uncomfortably.
She still wasn't sure quite what to do now. Zuko was very much weak and in desperate need of help…but she was still so angry at him.
After all how dare he act all high and might and betrayed? How dare he even question her…affection after he had faked his death and gotten mad at her for trying to do the right thing for once.
But then when she looked back down at him, and saw him sigh tiredly she could feel her resolve to hate him crumble ever so slightly.
"Lie back. You need to rest." She put a hand to push the prince to lie back down. But Zuko would have none of that.
"Whoa hey!" Sokka and Katara quickly straightened up, their hands flying to their defence, with Katara readying her water pouch and Sokka holding up his boomerang and pushing a surprised Yue behind him.
Zuko however ignored them as he sat up glaring at Jade who rolled her eyes at his indignant scowl.
"What? Going to try to capture the Avatar while we're flying in the middle of the air above an extremely high drop? That's stupid even for you Princess"
"Shut up. And stop calling me that!" Zuko snapped, as he looked around. "What in the world is going on? Hey! What happened to the sky?"
"We don't know. We were hoping you might be able to help us with that Prince Zuko." Sokka snarled, venomously, pushing Yue further behind him to obscure her from view.
"I wasn't talking to you peasant" Zuko spat before turning back to Jade "What's going on?"
"Admiral Zhao's trying to kill the Moon spirit which is mortal and back in the Water Tribe" Aang piped in worriedly from the reins.
"Nobody asked you Avatar. Now tell me the truth-"
"Oh for heavens sake" Jade growled over the top of the prince "Look. Long story short. Zhao's trying to kill the moon spirit. I found out, tried to stop him. Failed. Came to the Avatar for help. Avatar went to the spirit world, found out that the moon spirit is living here in the human world in the Northern Water Tribe Spirit Oasis. But then you decided to act like a selfish idiot like usual, kidnapped Aang before we could stop Zhao and now we're all in a rush to get back and rescue the moon spirit before Zhao can finish the job, and it'd be great if FOR ONCE we could all just get along and put our heads together to stop that insane bastard from destroying one of the world's greatest forces of nature before he dooms us all! How's that for telling the truth huh?"
She turned back to glower so viciously at the Prince that he quickly shut his open mouth that had been ready to retort. When it opened again, it was to gape a little like a fish.
"Zhao…wants to kill the moon spirit?...he really wants to kill the…"
Jade nodded, scrubbing hard at her slightly watery eyes. Damn the prince. Damn her emotions running so high. Damn Zhao and his dastardly plan.
"You didn't know" Katara narrowed her eyes shrewdly at Zuko's horror stricken face as he shook his head.
"He's insane" he breathed quietly running a hand over his ponytail "I mean I knew he was…but this is a whole different level. Messing with the spirits? Just what does he hope to achieve? If he destroys the moon he destroys the ocean too. The moon and the ocean are a pair. They both need one another-He's mad-"
"And this is coming from the Crazy stalker prince? Wow, that Admiral Zhao really must be bonkers" Sokka muttered under his breath only to flinch as Zuko glowered scathingly at him from the corner of his eye.
"Care to repeat that again peasant?"
"Stop it! Both of you!" Jade barked "I mean it." She added to Zuko who looked back at her and straight into her eyes.
She wished she hadn't. It was like looking into a fierce furnace. But even as she turned away she could see comprehension dawn on his face.
"You knew Zhao was going to do this." He murmured softly so that only she could hear. "You-you wanted to stop him. You really weren't-"
"Betraying you?" Jade spat folding her arms and turning away from him "Finally got through that thick skull huh?"
"Jade-"
There was a great groan as Appa quickly tilted his body downwards in the sky. Aang's young face turned very grim as he caught sight of his steed's line of sight.
His heart sank like a stone.
"Sorry Zuko, but you're apology's gonna have to wait. We're here…and so is Zhao"
Zuko would've snarled at the young Avatar's interruption had it not been for the mention of the Admiral's name…and the horrible sight that greeted them.
"I am a legend now"
Admiral Zhao's voice shook, his face splitting into a wide manic smile as he stared up at the red moon above in the dark skies.
Finally he was here. He was going to kill the moon spirit, an no one, not even his brother's little bastard or the Avatar was going to stop him now.
He held up his prey, which was struggling in a leather satchel and looked on it with triumph as he proudly declared before his stunned men.
"The Fire Nation will for generations, tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the Moon. They will call me Zhao the conqueror. Zhao the Moon Slayer. Zhao the invincible!"
"Wanna bet?!" A girl's voice yelled, just as something white and hairy suddenly pounced.
"Argh!" Zhao hissed swatting as the furry form of a small white flying lemur clawed and tugged at his face "Get it off! Get it off!"
But even as his men crowded around to try and grab the pesky creature, it took off into the air, soaring over the pond till it perched itself on the arm of a young bald boy in monks clothes.
Behind the boy were three young teens, two water tribe kids, a boy carrying a boomerang and a girl bending water and a girl in blue robes, but with paler skin and bright green eyes bending the earth of the oasis in a pose ready to strike.
As soon as his eyes found her, Zhao felt the angry fire in his gut blaze like a second sun had ignited in his gut.
There she was, the little monster that had ruined his family bloodline. Once he was done with this moon spirit, she was next on his hit list. And he'd not waste his time or money on assassins. No. This time he'd finish the job himself…and watch her burn.
"Well, well, well. What have we here. My dear niece, now a traitor working with the enemy. Your mud wench mother would be so proud"
"Give it up Zhao, and let that spirit go. You're outmatched" Jade spat as she dug in her stance, readying herself.
Zhao however just smirked, the mad gleam in his eyes somehow brighter in the red light.
"Such spirit. What your father would give to see you now. It's just too bad he's no longer with us"
"What are you talking about?" Jade growled ignoring Katara, Aang and Sokka exchanging worried looks as Zhao chuckled mercilessly.
"Oh…aren't you wondering why your dear father isn't here right now trying to stop me? Why he isn't rushing to your side? Hmm…I wonder what could be keeping him from such a thing? Surely nothing could keep him from protecting his little girl…nothing except perhaps…death."
"What have you done to him?" Jade breathed, horror and anger both flooding through her as her uncle's smirk widened horribly. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"
She balked forwards, Katara's hands quickly grabbing her back just as Zhao raised a fist to the struggling bag in his grip.
"Don't bother"
"Zhao don't!" Aang called out, quickly lowering his staff.
"It's my destiny" Zhao hissed "To destroy the moon...and the Water Tribe"
"Destroying the moon hurt just the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone. Including you." Aang's voice was calm and placating, but Jade could feel the fear radiating off the boy in waves as he continued to speak "Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world"
"He is right Zhao"
All heads turned in time to see two figures quickly stride across one of the small bridges of the Oasis.
"General Iroh…ah and Shen, you're here too. Why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"
"We're no traitors Zhao-" Lord Iroh glared as he and Shen both removed the covers of their cloaks from their heads. "-The Fire Nation, needs the moon too. We all depend on the balance. Whatever you do to that spirit. I will unleash on you tenfold. LET IT GO NOW!"
Despite her own anger, Jade almost jumped out of her skin. She'd never heard Lord Iroh sound so furious ever in her life. The Lord Iroh she knew, the old lord she had served tea to for years was never angry. He could get irritated but even that was a rare occurrence and he often kept his irritation quiet and to himself. To hear him yelling at someone with such fire and anger…
She turned to look at Zhao to see his reaction, and was surprised to see his eyes were shut as he sighed heavily.
But no…he couldn't be…
She watched, her heart hammering as she warily watched her uncle bend down and open the satchel towards the pond before him.
At once, a white koi fish slid out to join its darker partner in the waters, its scales glistening as the moon's pure white light returned to the world, replacing the horrible red haze that had surrounded them.
But where everyone else was sighing in relief, Jade only had eyes for her uncle's face.
His eyes were transfixed upon the white fish, gleaming with a bright fire she knew only too well.
His hands clenched into fists.
"ZHAO STOP!" Jade yelled, launching a ball of earth straight at him at the same time her brother aimed a ball of fire from his own fist…just as Zhao sliced a fiery hand across the still water…and the two koi fish.
It was as if someone had snuffed out all the light from the sky. There was still the light of the stars above, but the moon's surface had all but turned black, bathing them all now in a dark grey light drained completely of all colour.
But all of this went unnoticed as all stared aghast at the pale scaly body of the white fish as it rose to the surface of the water, floating belly up…a large bloody gash oozing from its centre.
"You …you killed it…" Shen breathed his eyes staring at Zhao, anger flooding through him and filling him to his very core. "You…killed it?! You monster how could YOU?!"
"SHEN!" Jade cried out running forwards but it was too late, her brother had lunged forwards towards Zhao, his fists ablaze.
But what he didn't see till the very last second, was the great ball of flame that suddenly hurtled from his uncle's side straight into his face.
"SHEN NO! SHEN!" Jade shrieks mingled horribly with a blood curdling howl of pain and the terrible smell of burning flesh. "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!"
She ran towards her brother, the red and yellow flames that engulfed half his body quickly catching onto the grass as he fell backwards into it.
With a yell of panic, Katara quickly raised her arms and bent a huge ball of icy water at the eldest Shi sibling. It splashed down over him, quickly extinguishing the fire that was licking at him and the grass. He screamed in agony as the bite of ice replaced that of the fire, barely hearing his sister as she reached for him desperately through tears.
"Shen! Shen! Oh spirits Shen! It's okay I'm here! I'll help you just hold on! Shen!"
She heard someone yelling and looked around desperately just in time to see Lord Iroh swiftly taking down all of Zhao's soldiers.
Zhao in the meanwhile was trying to slink away back into the shadows. But even as he tried to fade away into the background, his frightened gaze accidentally caught Jade's.
It took only a second. One moment she saw a scared frightened man…the next she saw only blood, fire…and a monster amidst it all. A monster that had taken everything she loved and ruined right in front of her.
"Hold on Shen. I'll be right back I promise"
She was vaguely aware of people calling out her name as she started running. But she didn't care. She didn't even notice that someone was following her steps and yelling for her to stop. A familiar voice belonging to a half-scarred face. No. Jade only had eyes for one person. And one person only.
A man who was running away from her. A man she was going to hunt….a man who was going to die. And she would be the one to kill him. She would make sure of that.
I wasn't sure what came over me.
It was way worse than anything I'd ever felt before in my life. It was worse than even when I had discovered that Kira had killed my mother. Kira may have been a murderer…but he was also an assassin…he had been paid to kill my mother and had no prior connection to her (as far as I knew) before she had been assigned as his target.
Zhao on the other hand…he was actually related to me. For all said and done he was still biologically my uncle. He was my father's brother…to think that someone of my own flesh and blood, even one as crazy as Zhao, would stoop so low to…to…oh spirits…I'm sorry Diary. I'm sorry I'm crying. But it's just…I don't understand. How?! HOW could someone even think of doing such horrible things to ones' family?! It just doesn't make any sense.
A family is supposed to take care of one another. Look out for one another. Not murder or mutilate one another!
How could someone even reach such a state of being …I guess I will never know…
All I did know back when it happened…was that I wanted Zhao dead for everything he had done…and I wanted it done by my hands no matter what…
And yet…Fate always seems to have other plans...
"Ther's no hope now…it's over."
"No…it is not over"
"ZHAO!" Jade yelled as she ran through the streets after her uncle's shadow, not heeding the strange blue light that eerily filled the sky around them. Through the corner of her eye she could see a great big watery monster thing stalking through the city, and she could feel the thrum of mystical energy all but buzzing in the air, but oddly enough she didn't really care.
The Ocean Spirit may have been awoken into action, but all Jade Shi cared about was drawing the blood of her cowardly bastard uncle as he rounded a corner and hit a dead end.
He spun around as he heard her footfalls and raised his arms in readiness as she raised her fists to strike. Damn Earth bending, damn any form of bending.
She struck out hard and fast, hitting her uncle fiercely through his defences. He tried his best to dodge and weave his way to a safe enough distance to land a decent counter hit, but he was too slow for Jade in her anger.
With a roar she pounced upon him, pinning him down to the ground as she aimed punch after punch at his face, her fist colliding with his nose and smashing it into a bloody mass.
The smell of warm red iron hit her nose and spurred the blazing fire in her gut till she couldn't see anything save a haze of blood and flesh.
Sensing her slight slip, Zhao lashed out, kicking his niece squarely in the gut and shoving her off.
"You little brat!" he growled wiping at his red streaming nose. "How dare you lay a hand on me! You and your pathetic brother. I should've disposed of you both before Ruishi-"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER?!" Jade yelled, rage clouding everything but Zhao's bloodied face to her minds eye.
She saw his face contort into a snarl.
"What do you think happened you stupid little witch?" He hissed "He's dead. Dead because you and your half-breed bastard of a brother couldn't help but being such failures…Because of what you are. Because of what your mud-wench mother made you to be, two little murderers."
"YOU LIE!" Jade shrieked lunging forwards blindly only to be tossed aside by Zhao's arm.
"No. I don't lie. Your father's dead and it's all your fault. The sooner you can accept that the sooner you can do us all a favour and just go ahead and die, before you do any more damage. It's because of you I've lost my only brother for good by my hand. If YOU hadn't been born none of this wouldn't have happened!"
"YOU KILLED HIM?"
"YOU LEFT ME NO CHOICE!" Zhao bellowed over the top of her, his hands now balling into fiery fists "And now I will finally rid our line of you once and for all."
He punched forwards. Jade jumped to the side, but had no time to prep herself for a counter strike as another blast of fire shot in her direction.
Scrambling to her feet she began to run, the flames of her uncle's attacks licking hot at her heels as she quickly jumped down from a ledge and down onto a tall wall of ice.
Zhao followed her, leaping down from a higher vantage point and landing right behind her just as she reached the edge of the wall.
She quickly skid to a stop, just in time to stop herself keeling over the edge of the very high drop that lay below her.
"Stuck my dear niece. So much for being called Lucky." Zhao sneered as he advanced upon the terrified girl, fire dancing in his palms. He aimed two streams of fire at her, his leer widening as with every stumble backwards she ended up closer and closer to the edge until finally her foot stepped back to hit air.
With a squeak she scrambled forwards only to gasp as one of Zhao's hands grabbed her by the scruff of her blue coat and thrust her to lean backwards over the drop, his other hand once again ignited in flames.
"How fitting that I should be the one to end you after all this time. Oh don't look so scared Jade." Zhao cooed mockingly at her wide frightened eyes "After all isn't this what you wanted? To be reunited with your dear parents. And just think, once I'm done with you then I'll finish your brother off and you and your precious traitor family will all be together in the spirit world at last. And to think all it would take would be just one tall drop"
He carefully leaned her back so that her heels strained at keeping her upright and grounded to a standing position.
"Come on Jade…just one little push and it would all be over. Or I burn you alive slowly…your choice."
Jade opened her mouth-
"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!"
There was a blast of fire and Zhao leapt back as a shadow suddenly leaped down from somewhere above to stand behind him and strike fire at his back. Zhao was quick to dodge as the ball of fire curved, and leapt down to another lower broken section of the ice wall, staring up at his attacker in awe.
"You…" he breathed as Prince Zuko rushed forwards only just in time to grab Jade's hand before she could fall backwards off the ledge.
"Got you!" he grunted tugging her back to safer ground and into his arms.
"You okay? Are you hurt" he whispered softly into her ear as he held her close for a moment.
"No, I-I'm fine" Jade shook her head breathlessly as the prince pulled away to look back down over the ledge and towards Zhao's shocked face.
"You're alive?" the Admiral gasped and Zuko's eyes flashed with fire.
"Stay here, you'll be safe." the prince muttered to Jade and before she could even open her mouth to object he had leapt over the edge, yelling loudly and angrily:
"You tried to have us killed!"
"Yes…I did" Zhao snarled as he discarded his cloak, which was now all but a large red rag filled with had rips, tears and scorch marks from all his previous fights.
"You are the Blue Spirit. An enemy of the Fire Nation. You freed the Avatar-"
"I had no choice" Zuko aimed several well timed fiery kicks, all of which were blocked by Zhao who's shock was giving way back to his anger.
"You should've chosen to accept your failure. You're a disgrace. Then at least, you could've lived" He snarled viciously, delighting in the prince's mounting fury as they continued to blast fire at one another.
Neither landed a hit, for both were evenly matched. But Zhao still knew the prince's one weakness, and boy was he quick to exploit it.
After sending a blast of fire at the prince's scarred face, he swiftly lunged to the side and upwards, aiming a great big ball of fire straight at the girl that stood watching them from above.
"JADE!" Zuko cried as the icy wall beneath Jade's feet melted and crumbled beneath her. But Jade thankfully was quick to jump down, landing in a hard roll right beside the two fighters. She was quick to get to her feet, her green eyes now blazing with a renewed flame as with a yell she charged Zhao down, her fist colliding hard with his jaw.
"AGH!" Zhao reeled back, falling backwards off the edge of his vantage point and landing somewhere in the dark below.
"Quick after him!" Jade called and she and Zuko quickly leapt down into the shadows below.
"It's too late…it's dead"
Katara's voice pierced through the air like a knife as she, Lord Iroh, Princess Yue and Sokka all stared down at the dead white Koi in the pond.
Somewhere beside them on the grass, Shen Shi whimpered and moaned as he rolled himself over onto his side, tears of agony and grief leaking from his eyes as he watched them.
He was too late. He had been too late. And where was Jade? Was she alright? What would happen now?
He watched as Iroh suddenly turned to face the Water Tribe princess, taking in her strange glistening white hair and bright blue eyes. Both orbs seemed to shine even in the dark…
"You have been touched by the moon spirit…some of its life is in you." Lord Iroh said and Princess Yue looked up with those blue luminous eyes.
"Yes. You're right" the Princess nodded, and though her eyes were sad, there was a steely determination in them that had certainly not been there before "It gave me life…maybe I can give it back"
"What? No! You don't have to do that!" Sokka cried out grabbing Yue's arm as she made her way to sit by the Koi fish's body.
"It's my duty Sokka" Yue shook her head but Sokka was having none of it.
"I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you"
"I have to do this" she wrenched her hand out of Sokka's tight grip, bringing her hands to rest over the dead spirit's mortal form as it lay in Iroh's gentle hands.
Shen watched, half torn between awe and sadness as the young girl shut her eyes, and let herself be engulfed in a blaze of white shining light, before suddenly falling back.
"NO!" Sokka cried out as he reached forwards to catch her. But it was too late. The girl's body had gone slack, her eyes shut, her face serene.
"She's gone…she's gone…" Sokka wept as he held her lifeless form close to him.
Shen shut his eyes, letting his own tears fall as the terrible image of his own mother's face on a funeral slab passed over his minds eye, only to be replaced by the face of his father's he'd seen only a few hours before.
All this death…all this sorrow…and for what?
For what?
A sudden gasp brought him out of his reverie and opening his eyes he watched in astonishment as the body of princess Yue suddenly vanished from the Water Tribe boys arms just as the moon spirit in Lord Iroh's hands started to glow.
Quickly the old lord placed the fish back into the pond water, it's form glowing brighter as it swirled around, filling the pond with a bright pure white light.
"It…it cannot be" Shen rasped, ignoring all pain as he watched a indistinct, ghostly figure suddenly rise from the glowing pond.
It was Yue. Only it could not be Yue. Her white hair was long and glistening, her skin paler luminous and she was floating in mid-air with a hauntingly beautiful ethereal weightlessness.
She looked down upon them all with a gentle sad smile, which softened as her eyes found Sokka's.
"Goodbye Sokka…I will always be with you" she said, her voice soft, gentle as she leaned down and gently pressed her lips against the younger man's.
He tried to reach up to hold her, but as soon as his hands touched her face, she faded away, her light fading from the pool.
But even as the last of it disappeared, something wonderful happened. The darkness over the world lifted as the moon above suddenly glowed a bright white.
The moon had returned.
When Jade saw the moon's, light returning to the sky she could've almost laughed with joy. But she couldn't. Not when she was still pursuing Zhao hotly on his heels through the streets of the Water Tribe city. She couldn't see Zuko, amidst all the confusion of the moon returning to the sky and the water benders suddenly being able to fight back with their renewed waterbending skills, she had lost sight of the prince in her pursuit.
With a cry she leapt down on Zhao from on high, tackling him down on a bridge. They rolled over, Zhao using his weight to quickly get the upper hand and pin her down beneath him.
"Nice try girl. But it will take you a thousand years before you're ready to take me down" he sneered, wrapping his hands around her throat tight.
With a gasp Jade clutched at his wrists, trying and failing to tug his grip off as he squeezed her throat tighter in both hands, constricting her windpipe.
"what was that Jade I didn't quite catch that?" his manic grin widened horribly as he squeezed even tighter, relishing in the sight of her face starting to turn blue.
Jade struggled as black dots started to cloud her vision.
"That's it just a bit more" she vaguely heard Zhao hiss through her gasps and retches.
Then there was a loud thud as a fist slammed straight into Zhao from the side and Jade gasped as her windpipe suddenly released letting in a solid stream of cold icy air into her burning lungs.
She gasped and gulped it down distantly aware of the bangs and crashes of fire being blasted behind her head as Prince Zuko charged Zhao down, forcing the latter to scramble backwards on his behind as he aimed punch, after punch after fiery punch at him.
It was following a full round of these attacks that Zhao finally looked up into the sky, his heart sinking at the sight that greeted him above his head.
"No! It can't be-AH!" he yelled in panic as two strange glowing watery claws suddenly zoomed up from either side of the bridge.
Quickly Zuko rolled out of the way as they made to grab down, barely avoiding getting snagged as he rushed back close to Jade's barely stirring form. But Zhao wasn't as quick.
The two claws grabbed him and soon were dragging him over the edge of the bridge. No matter how hard he scrambled and clawed he just could not escape. He couldn't even draw fire as the being itself was made from water which coated over both his hands as it bound him in its grasp.
"Take my hand!"
Zhao looked down from his struggles and stared in shock. Prince Zuko was standing on the edge of the bridge, holding out his hand for Zhao to take.
One of the Admiral's free hands twitched as he almost reached back to grab the youth's hand…but then he caught sight of the Prince's face.
No. No he wouldn't take the hand. He couldn't. That brat was the disgrace of the Fire Nation. If he took his help he'd be in debt to that disgrace…and though he didn't want to die Zhao personally thought that if he were to die, he'd rather have all his pride in tact, rather than live with the shame of being helped by Prince Zuko of all people.
And so it was with a glare of defiance that he retracted his hand, shut his eyes and let himself be dragged down, leaving Zuko behind to watch stunned as he was dragged down into the dark depths of the icy waters below.
He's gone…
Zuko panted for breath as he saw the last of the air bubbles disappear without barely a ripple into the water below.
He's really gone.
There was a soft groan behind him and Zuko wheeled around.
Jade was trying to sit up where she lay.
He rushed over, panic once again flooding through him as he looked her over. She looked a wreck. Battered, bruised, pale from the cold and she was barely able to keep her eyes open even as she fought to stay awake.
"Jade, can you hear me? Jade!"
"Zhao…" Jade breathed "where…"
"he's gone. Dead. The Ocean spirit took him into the water" Zuko murmured stroking her hair out of her face. "You're safe now but you need medical attention"
"No…Shen…I need to see Shen." She tried sitting up again but Zuko forced her down.
"Jade stop you're injured you need to rest."
"I need…to see my…bro-brother" Jade coughed roughly, half choking as she tried to get air back into her lungs. "Please Zuko…I…I lost my father…I nearly lost you…I-I can't…I can't loose Shen too…Please…please…I need to see…to see…"
Her eyes began to droop shut.
"Jade! Jade hold on!"
"Zuko…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry"
"Jade! JADE!"
But she had already slipped into darkness once more.
I don't know how long I was out of it. All I knew was that one minute I was in Zuko's arms on that bridge…the next I was lying down in a healers room with Katara bending over me as she helped heal the bruises over my throat.
She said I had been asleep for nearly a full day. And that thanks to Aang and the Ocean Spirit, the siege was over.
But neither of those things mattered to me. My father was dead…I was branded a traitor by my own nation (and my boyfriend) and my brother was almost burned alive.
Needless to say, winning a battle doesn't really feel like much of a victory at the moment.
And speaking of losses, I have no idea what's happened to Zuko. I'm not sure what happened. Katara said that once the Moon spirit had been returned Lord Iroh was quick to make an exit. From what she told me, it was Zuko who brought me back to the Palace grounds to Lord Iroh, who then handed me over to Master Paku. I'm not sure why or how that was even possible. How Lord Iroh has any connection at all to a Water Bending Master like Paku is beyond anyone's guess.
I can only hope that Lord Iroh and Zuko managed to find a way out of the Water Tribe safely because helpful or not, both of them are still technically enemies to the Water Tribe and seeing as Zuko is crown prince to the Fire Nation I daresay his capture would be a very lucrative bargaining chip for all the other nations.
Don't get me wrong Diary. I'm still mad at him for all the crap he's pulled…but at the same time…I'm kinda hoping that I'll get to see him again…if only so that we can sort things out and put an end to our relationship in a cleaner healthier way, because let's face it there's no way we're ever going to get back together after all the crap that's just gone down between us.
But if there's one thing I wish for more than anything else in the world…it's to be able to see my father again.
I still can't believe he's gone diary. I really can't. I mean, a part of me always knew something like this was bound to happen. Ever since mom died I had always been super scared that the same thing would happen to father, and so I tried to prepare myself for what I would do if that happened. But now that such a time has come…I honestly don't know what to do.
I know in my heart of hearts he's gone, that he's never coming back…but there's still a part of me that's just expecting to put my head on the pillow, go to sleep, wake up in the morning, do breakfast duty with Dango and sit with my father and brother for breakfast with the rest of the crew just like we've always done for the past two years!
But happy mornings like that…they're not possible anymore. My crew's gone. Our ship left behind. Zuko and his uncle have disappeared and my father's dead and my brother…my brother…
He's still alive…thank heavens but still…oh diary its so horrible what Zhao's done. If Katara hadn't dumped all that water on him when she did, he might not have made it. But still…all those horrible scars over his face and chest and his eye…oh diary he's lost his right eye. He can't see through it anymore and the eyelid has been half burnt off. The healer says once all his facial scars have sealed over he'll have to wear a patch over it to cover it up so that its protected from further damage.
He keeps trying to say he'll live through it but I know better. My stupid brother always trying to to push aside his own struggles and look after everyone else. Argh! Just for once I wish he'd just let me-
"Jade"
Jade jumped but thankfully didn't spill any ink as she turned from her low table to face the door. She was in a large room, covered in tapestries and animal skins. In one corner a large bed roll was set, with the tall reposed form of her brother laying amidst the furs and covers. He was fast asleep, peacefully for once, but Jade still couldn't help but cringe as she caught sight of the massive scars that spread out all over his right side.
They spread all the way from the top of his skull (the right half of which had been completely shaved and while the brown hair on the left was left loose and long), right down over the right half of his face, neck and the front of his chest and shoulder in a grotesque tapestry of red flesh and skin. Over the damaged right side of his face, a bandage had been wrapped around his eye, covering securely while he slept, his undamaged other half of his face peaceful, if slightly sad and sombre.
"Uh Jade?" the voice from before asked and Jade she tore her gaze away from her brother's sleeping form.
"Oh hey Aang…what's up?" She scrubbed her eyes as she turned to the young Avatar.
He was wearing his monks clothes still and looking very worn.
"Nothing…I just wanted to see how you were doing" he mumbled nervously as he looked about the room. When his eyes found Shen sleeping he suddenly looked sheepish.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay. He's been given a sleeping draught" Jade sighed as she shut her diary. "Do you wanna come in and sit?"
"Are you sure? I don't want to interrupt you" Aang blushed anxiously, looking down to his toes.
Despite herself Jade couldn't help but smile a little at the young Avatar. Sometimes she forgot that though he may have been more than a hundred years old, and one of the most powerful people in the world, he still was just a young boy.
Patiently she patted down a spot close by her at her table and Aang gratefully took a spot.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Now what's up? You look down. Did something happen?"
"No. I just finished talking with Chief Arnook" Aang sighed shutting his eyes as he rested his chin on the table "the memorial service is tomorrow and apparently people are expecting me to give a speech."
"Give a speech?" Jade frowned and Aang nodded.
"Yeah…apparently because I'm the Avatar I'm also expected to also give big speeches at big events"
"And you don't want to speak tomorrow?"
"No-no that's not it!" Aang spluttered but Jade put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay Aang. I get it. I'd be nervous too. It's not easy delivering a speech on a good occasion let alone one on a day of mourning."
"But I have no idea what to say. What if I stuff it up? So many people are counting on me to give them hope but…but I-"
"-Feel as if there's not much hope you can give them…" Jade finished quietly.
Aang nodded into the table. "Don't get me wrong. I want to help everyone and I want to stop the Fire nation but-but I'm still just one kid. What if I can't do it? What if I let everyone down?"
Jade stared down at the young boy before her, not quite sure what to say…at least not till she heard a familiar warm voice speak in her head. It brought her much grief to hear it, for she knew she'd never hear its owner in real life again, but even so it still brought her some comfort even as she made to say:
"You know…when I was a little girl, I wanted nothing more than to be a Fire Bender like my father."
"Wait what?" Aang looked up at her in astonishment.
"Yeah. I know crazy right." Jade shook her head, a small sad smile gracing her features. "But that's what I wanted. To be just like him. He was always so brave. So noble, so cool. He was everything I wanted to be…but then…but then mom died and everything changed. My father…he became cut off…distant…he barely could talk or look at me anymore without drinking. For so long I thought it was my fault, but as time passed I realized that it was actually my father's choice to take to the bottle and not my fault at all. It was his mistake…not mine. At first I was horrified by this revelation…but then as time went on, I slowly began to realise that he may have been my amazing father…but he was also still human like I was, and that like all humans he could make his own mistakes and fall to vices just as easily as I could. The same goes for everyone else. We're all human. The Water Tribe, Katara, Sokka, you and I. We're all humans, we all make mistakes. There are going to be days where we can't do certain things and days where we disappoint ourselves and everyone else…but there will also be days that we can do great amazing things that we never could've dreamed of. I guess what I'm trying to say Aang is that…it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or expects of you, you're still you, and Avatar or not, you have friends who'll always believe in you even if you stumble or fall. And it will be those people that will be standing with you till the end. So don't worry about all the other people who expect things from you…as long as you've got the friends that really matter, you'll be able to weather any storm that comes your way…I can promise you that."
Aang stared at Jade his eyes wide as she quickly turned her face down to the cover of her diary, tracing its spine in a loving caress as tears fell from her face.
"Sorry" she blubbered as she quickly dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, but was stopped as a smaller pair of arms quickly pulled her into a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry about your family Jade. I wish I could've helped more-" Aang mumbled against her shoulder as he felt her return the embrace, her tears falling freely over the top of his bald head.
"you helped more than you know" she mumbled "If it wasn't for you and your friends my brother might not be alive-"
"I know but still…" Aang pulled away, wiping at his own eyes "Zhao…why would he do such a thing to your dad? I thought they were brothers-"
"I thought so too" Jade muttered bitterly "But sometimes Aang, life isn't always good and fair."
"Yeah but that doesn't mean that we can't be good and fair" Aang snorted and Jade smirked.
"I don't know about you but I think that sounds like a good start to that speech" She wiped at her eyes and then wiped gently at the top of his tattooed head. "Sorry let me just- there we go, all clean"
"he-he. Thanks" Aang hiccupped slightly just as someone coughed loudly behind them.
Both young Avatar and girl wheeled around in surprise
"Master Paku" Aang gulped as the old Water Bending master stepped into the room, stern old face grave as he looked over the two youths.
"If you two are quite finished, there is a matter of grave importance I must discuss with you Miss Shi. Avatar Aang, your friend Sokka is out looking for you in the courtyard, he says he's got some ideas for tomorrow's speech"
"Okay I'll be out in just a second. Hey Jade" he turned back to Jade and gave her another brief tight hug. "thanks for the talk. It really helped" he whispered.
"Any time Aang." Jade smiled, watching fondly as the boy swiftly summoned up a ball of air, sat on it and quickly zoomed away out the open doorway.
"Ahem. Miss Shi" Paku coughed irritably.
"Oh right." Jade shook herself out, quickly schooling her expression into something more serious "Master Paku would you like to take a seat"
"Yes I would thank you very much" Paku nodded stiffly as he took a spot opposite Jade at the table unfolded his arms and slid something small across the table.
Jade blinked as his aged hand retracted from the object which was round and flat.
"Uh…master Paku what-"
"Tell me girl, what do you see before you?" Paku steamrolled over her, his face stern as ever.
"It's a pai-sho tile." Jade mumbled.
"And?" Paku raised an eyebrow.
"And…" Jade gulped "It's a lotus tile"
"Not just any lotus tile" Paku grunted "It's a white lotus. Now what does the white lotus mean to you?"
"Um…I don't know. I-I mean my mom's name Lien means lotus and she only said she was named because her mother liked the flower so much. And according to some sources, white lotuses usually are usually symbolic of purity and enlightenment…but I don't think talking about flower's is really what you meant is it?" she trailed off as Paku's eyes narrowed upon her face shrewdly.
Then the corners of his lips suddenly quirked upwards ever so slightly in a smirk.
"Not bad miss Shi. A few more guesses and you'd probably get to the answer by the time you're my age. Now why don't you take a closer look and tell me what you see now" He pushed the tile closer to Jade who took it gingerly and held it close up to her eyes.
"there's something written here." She muttered "it…it says 'the quest for truth above all else'… what the…that's what my mom always used to say."
She looked up at Paku, whose face had set back into its stern frown.
"What the heck is this? And why in the spirit world is it quoting my mom?"
"It's not quoting your mother." Paku snorted "If anything your mother was most likely quoting it. It's an ancient creed, from an old society dedicated to the sharing of beauty, philosophy and knowledge across national and political divides. A society to which both your mother and your father belonged, and to which you and your brother now belong to as well. A Society called the Order of the White Lotus."
And whew! that's one whopper of a chapter done. seriously i'm so glad the siege of the North pole is over. Now i can get down to writing the end of this book One. but don't worry, there will be a sequel.
So yeah, i'm really gonna hit the hay (because i'm actually writing and posting this really REALLY late at night).
You guys know the drill. Please review if you liked and would like to read more.
Cheers and goodnight
FuzzyBeta