The Woes of War

Java/Re Yan's Story 95AG to 99AG

A year passes and Re Yan travels with her father while Java is in the colonies for the time being. Currently, they are in the sea between the borders of the fire nation and earth kingdom. On the boat, a young solider challenge Re Yan to a duel saying that fire is far superior to earth. Some coals are brought on deck for her to use.

“You see, you can’t make earth out of thin air, but I can make fire at will.”

“Is that all you do is yap, yap yap? I’m ready, are you?” The solider shoots fire at her but she dodges his blasts. She bombards him with tiny coal fragments that leave red marks on his face and hands. He fire bends at her feet to make her loose balance and she does. Her face is heading towards fire but she torques her body away. As she does her hand brushes through the fire and it stays in her hand. When she lands, the fire shoots out her hand at the solider and he scatters it.

“Did you just redirect my fire?”

“I think I did…I did! Shoot fire at me again, I want to see if I can do it.”

“Are you crazy, your father would kill me if anything happened to you?!”

“Fine, just give me some fire.”

“Fine…” He holds a small flame and carefully hands it off to Re Yan. She holds it in her hand and makes it grow. They pass the fire back and forth and eventually she makes her own. She holds it on her fingertips and blows it out.

“Wow, Re Yan! Hey Lieutenant, your daughter can fire bend and earth bend!”

“Look, dad!” She holds two big flames, one in each hand and she generated the fire herself. Zhao can’t believe his eyes but he is elated. The wheels turn in his head as his ambitions are in closer reach. “All the Fire Lords have failed to find the Avatar and here she is-my own daughter.”

                Zhao sets a course to the Fire Sage Temple on Crescent Island with the captain permission. The Fire Sages are the religious authorities of the Fire Nation. They used to be the leaders of the Fire Nation for being the most spiritual fire benders. Their leader was called Fire Lord. Eventually one Fire Lord decided that he will have full authority and he would rule the Fire Nation. Ties to the Fire Sages were severed and the Fire Sages became more loyal to the Avatar more than the Fire Lord. Two temples were constructed, one on Crescent Island and one in the capital city. The sages of the capital city keep records of the history of the Fire Nation and the Fire Lords in the Dragonbone Catacombs and help conduct weddings and funerals for the royal family. The sages of Crescent Island are responsible for identifying the Avatar when he or she is born during the fire cycle. This is the reason Zhao has gone to this temple.

“Great Sage, the Avatar has not been seen since the start of the war ninety-five years ago. Plenty time has passed and I believe that my daughter is the Avatar. Re Yan show them.” She lights more of the candles that brighten the room and sends rocks flying through the windows from outside. The fire sages are surprised but doubt that she is.

“Zhao, it is quite possible that she could be the Avatar, but we have not felt the Avatar spirit come to our temple to indicate his or her arrival.”
“The cycle was on air, if the Avatar is out there then he or she is very old or in hiding.”
“It is highly unlikely that the cycle would be on fire. It would be on water or earth. We have received no reports from the other nations of the Avatar’s reappearance. If we have, we would have notified the Fire Lord…which I probably why they wouldn’t tell us. Your child is special though, having the gift of controlling more than one element is a great honor.” The Great Sage touches her heart.

“Yes, she is very powerful and strong. She just started fire bending but I know she will surpass her classmates in no time, just like her father did.”

“And what will you do with your gift, Re Yan?”

“I want to go to the earth kingdom to sharpen my skills.”

“Yes and when you do, you can help your father conquer the Water Tribes.”

“Zhao, the world is changing rapidly and if the nations become one, then we will have to learn to respect each other and individual traditions.”

“Re Yan is of the Fire Nation and Yuyan left her nation to help our cause. Soon the world will realize that our nation holds all the power and prosperity. Those who will want to prosper will do what’s right and the Water Tribe will fall when the Earth Kingdom falls.”

“Re Yan, see the world yourself. You decide who is prosperous and who is not. As for you, Zhao I advise you to find an earth bending teacher. If she is the Avatar, she has a long journey ahead of her.” The Great Sage gives her an obsidian stone necklace. She bows to him and she and her father head back to their ship. As they walk Zhao talks,

“Re Yan, you will master both fire and earth and become the greatest war general the Fire Nation has ever seen. You and I will conquer the Water Tribes an end waterbending and the fire nation will have no weaknesses. I will teach you fire bending and I will find you a teacher in the colonies one day. Do you understand?”

“Yes, father.”

“And one more thing, for now on call me, Lieutenant and I only want to hear a ‘No sir’ or ‘Yes sir’, understood?”

“Yes, dad…I mean sir.”

“That’s my girl.” He kisses her on the forehead. “I know your mother wants you to live with her in the colonies, but you will benefit more being at sea with me and living in the capital city as before.”

                As they board the ship the captain rounds up his crew on the upper deck.

“The Fire Lord has sent us an update on the Siege of Ba Sing Se. It says ‘after six hundred days, Iroh’s troops are withdrawing from Ba Sing Se. The outer wall was successfully breached, but the inner wall proved to be more formidable. Many soldiers gave their lives to conquer the capital of the Earth Kingdom for the Fire Nation. 

One of these courageous men was my grandson, Lu Ten who lost his life trying to fulfill his father’s dream, my dream and our nation’s dream. We shall honor the fallen soldiers at my grandson’s funeral. I ask that all ships fly their flags at half-staff while Lu Ten and our sons and daughters make their journey home. Fire Lord Azulon.’ Be ready men, the Earth Kingdom will be more hostile than ever before. Keep your guard up. Dismissed.”

The crew disperses but the captain approaches Zhao. “Lieutenant Zhao, I suggest you take Re Yan home or leave her with her mother, the ship is no place for a nine year old.”

“The colonies are not a place she should be raised either.”

“I suggest you get a nanny then if you and your wife have other duties to attend. You will be busier than ever with this siege unfinished. We are heading to the capital, take her home.” The captain returns to the control room.

                The next months were a whirlwind. Lu Ten was cremated and shortly after his funeral, Java leaves her position in the colonies and wanders around the Earth Kingdom. She finds her uncle, Jeong Jeong and decides to stay with him. She tells him how Lu Ten is dead and how she wishes it were her instead. She thinks it is karma for letting him believe that she died giving birth to him. She is overwhelmed with grief and wishes she had more time with him and regrets that she abandoned him for her own selfish reasons. Jeong Jeong tells her to take some time to figure things out and that Re Yan and Zhao should be fine. Jeong Jeong informs Zhao that Java is with him but he never discloses a location or tells him why. Java learns about The Order of the White Lotus. Jeong Jeong, General Iroh, King Bumi of Omashu-Earth Kingdom, Sifu Piandao of Shu Jing and Master Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe are the leaders of an ancient secret society of Pai Sho players. Besides being skilled at the game, they transcend the boundaries of the nations to seek knowledge, truth, beauty and understanding of the world; they are the world’s scholars who hold vast knowledge and a deep appreciation for all the nations and all the elements. Java was confused to why Iroh attacked Ba Sing Se, but Jeong Jeong informs her that when he becomes fire lord he will end the war. Both pray that day comes soon.

                Not long after Lu Ten’s funeral, another death occurs in the royal family. Fire Lord Azulon was said to have died peacefully in his sleep, but he fell victim to his youngest son’s ambition of becoming fire lord. Ozai asked his father to strip Iroh of his birthright since there would be no heir after Iroh passes. Azulon ordered Ozai to kill his first born son to teach him the suffering Iroh is going through. He was going to do it, but Ursa devised a plan that would spare their son and let him obtain the crown. She makes an untraceable poison in a drink and gives it to Azulon. 

With him gone, Ozai banishes Ursa due to his fear that she would poison him too. He keeps the children and she returns to her hometown. She chooses to forget about her life in the palace as she is reunited with Ikem. Some years later, she has a daughter named Kiyi. At Azulon’s funeral, Ozai is declared Fire Lord as his father’s ‘dying wish’. Iroh missed both funerals for he was still wandering around the Earth Kingdom recovering from the death of his only son.

               

                Two years later, Zuko, age fourteen and his uncle Iroh are leaving the Fire Nation. A week before his father held a war meeting with some of his generals. Zuko wanted to sit in on it and Iroh allowed him to but told him not to speak. One of the generals came up with a plan to sacrifice a whole division of new recruits in order to advance other troops. Zuko spoke out and said that the general is betraying their loyalty and that he shouldn’t sacrifice them. Angered and feeling disrespected, Fire Lord Ozai told Zuko that he has to participate in an Agni Kai- a fire bending duel. Whoever is burned first-loses. Iroh, Zhao and his sister, Azula were present for the duel. Zuko was prepared to face to war general but when he faced his opponent in the chamber he was terrified. Even though he insulted the general, he had spoken out during the Fire Lord’s meeting. His opponent was his father. 

He knelt, refusing to fight and begged for his father’s forgiveness. Ozai felt even more disrespected and told Zuko, “You will learn respect and suffering shall be your teacher.” before burning his face, leaving a scar around his left eye. Azula smiled at his pain as Zhao’s facial expression showed that he agreed with Ozai’s decision. Iroh looked away saddened by his brother’s action.

Ozai banished Zuko and told him that he couldn’t return until he captured the Avatar, a seemingly impossible task at the time. He is given a ship and Iroh decides to go with his nephew to guide him through this rough time in his life. They load up the ship with supplies and when the crew is rounded up, the head out. They travel northeast along the nation’s coastlines.

                A day out at sea, Iroh goes to the storage room to find his stash of tea leaves to begin his morning with tea. He shuffles through the crates trying to figure out what tea he wants this morning. As he is contemplating, one of the crates moves. He pays no mind since the waves are unsettling today, but the crate begins to tilt back and forth in a methodical fashion. Iroh approaches the crate slowly. He approaches it from the side as the crate lunges forward and the top breaks open. Out rolls a girl with a small bag on her back.

“Re Yan! What are you doing here?” He helps her stand up.

“I wanted to travel with you and Zuko. But now I’m just nauseous…I hate traveling by ship.” She holds her stomach. He sets the crate with the opening to the floor and guides her to sit on it.

“Re Yan, what’s the real reason? Does your father know you’re here?”

“I want to find my mother and go live with her. And no, he doesn’t know I’m here.” Zuko was passing by the storage room and hears them talking. A bandage is wrapped around his face, covering his left eye.

“I wish I knew where my mother was too.” He leans against the metal entryway frame.

“So, you ran away? What’s going on with you and your father?”

“Does he hate you for not being a fire bender?” Zuko wonders.

“I wish but the problem is that I can fire bend and earth bend.”

“You can bend two elements! Where did you learn that?” Iroh is amazed but confused too.

“They just came to me. And now my father wants to make me into the greatest solider, greatest general the Fire Nation has ever seen. He wants me to help him end water bending and take down the Earth Kingdom. He has this crazy idea that I’m the Avatar.”

“Are you? If you are, I can return home!” Zuko gets excited about the idea that after almost a century of his ancestors looking for the Avatar it only took him a day to find her.

“No, Zuko. The Fire Sages said I wasn’t. If I was I would let you take me back if Iroh could help me escape again. Besides, I hate water and I couldn’t learn airbending from anyone so all I’d be is a half-avatar, an unbalanced bender, an incomplete spirit.”

“Nothing is ever that easy.”

“Re Yan, your mother is with her uncle, Jeong Jeong, but I do not know where he is. I will leave you with Master Piandao in Shu Jing. He, Jeong Jeong and I are old friends. He might know where your mother is or be able to get into contact with Jeong Jeong better than I. While we are there, you and Zuko should learn how to wield a sword. Diversifying your combat skills will make you even stronger and more disciplined.”

“I want to wield two swords at once!” Zuko moves his arms as if he was.

“Thank you, Iroh.” She hugs his and rubs her head on his big belly.

                Iroh finally picks what tea leaves he wants and heads to the main deck to get some fresh air. Re Yan walks to Zuko and touches his left cheek.

“Does it hurt?”

“It’s still healing, so yes.

“What your father did, I couldn’t imagine…I’m sorry. It makes me so mad that he would do that to you!”

“That’s what happens when you’re weak. I’m always disappointing him and I need to regain my pride and honor. I will become Fire Lord one day, I need to be ready, and I need to be stronger.”

“I wouldn’t want it. You shouldn’t have to change who you are for anyone. Make them accept you for who you are. Those that know the real you are the ones who truly love you.” She removes her hand from his cheek. She goes back to the crate and puts her other bag on her shoulder. “Help me find an empty room I can stay in.” She begins to walk down the hall.

“What does an eleven year old know about love?”

“More than you think. I know it real when it’s still there, despite how things change. I know my mother loves me, my father too even despite my mother abandoning us and my father being power hungry. They have their reasons I have yet to understand.”

                Three weeks later, they make it to Shu Jing where Iroh refines Re Yan’s and Zuko’s fire bending and Piandao teaches them how to wield the sword. They practice day and night for two months until Zuko continues his journey. Piandao enlists Re Yan’s help with landscaping since she can earth bend and continues to teach her swordsmanship. Every day, they hope that Jeong Jeong or Java will contact them so Re Yan can reunite with her mother.

 

                It takes two years for Jeong Jeong to contact Piandao. The year is 99AG and it is winter. The Avatar has returned and the Fire Nation is looking for him. Aang travels with his water bending teacher, Katara and her brother Sokka. They are the ones that found Aang in the iceberg and awakened him. Just recently, they crossed paths with Jeong Jeong “The Deserter” as Aang wants to learn fire bending. Typically, the Avatar masters the four elements in the order of the cycle: Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Being an Air Nomad, Aang needs to master Fire last. Barely knowing how to control water and not familiarizing himself with earth bending, Aang was not ready to fire bend. Zhao caught up with them but Jeong Jeong blocked his path.

“Look at you, you were once so great. I can’t believe my former master has become nothing more than a simple savage.”

“It is you who has embraced savagery, Zhao.”

“It’s Admiral Zhao now.”

“That title will not help you against the Avatar. Do not try to fight him, you are no match.”

“I think I can handle a child.”

“I have never seen such raw power.”

“Jeong Jeong” Aang calls out as he runs to help him fight Zhao.

“We’ll see. Men take the deserter.” His men surround Jeong Jeong. He lets out a burst of fire and disappears. As the men follow Jeong Jeong into the woods, Zhao and Aang fight. Aang notices that Zhao has no restraint. Being tactical, Aang gets Zhao to destroy his own fleet of river boats by dodging his attacks and egging him on. The Avatar and his friends escape; Zhao is filled with anger.  Zhao follows him men into the forest where he catches up with Jeong Jeong.

“You failed to capture the Avatar, as expected. You underestimate many of the people around you.”

“You, you know where Java and Re Yan are, don’t you!”

“Java is someplace safe. Re Yan is not with you?”

“She has been gone for two years now. She disappeared around the time Zuko was banished.”

“She’s looking for her mother I presume. Or did she run away from you and your madness like Java did.”

“Where is she? I know you know!” He grabs him by the shirt with both hands.

“She will come back to you when she is ready. There are many things you don’t know about your wife and her past. She needs to finish dealing with it. She’s lost a mother, a father and a son to this war; she doesn’t want to lose a husband and daughter too.”

“A…son?” he loosens his grip as he is taken back by his statement. “There was someone before me that she loved? Someone she still loves.”

“That is something you have to discuss with her.”

“Believe me, I will. If she is with him and has Re Yan…I swear I will drag them both back to the Fire Nation! Whoever this man is will regret the day he stole Java from me.” He lets go of Jeong Jeong, “But I have more important things to tend to. The water tribe capital is calling me. I will become a legend like you, but for the right reasons. Admiral Zhao the moon slayer, remember it Jeong Jeong the deserter.”

                He heads back to the fire nation colony town to find transportation back to his main ship. Jeong Jeong hangs his head in disappointment knowing that Zhao overlooked the real reason she left. Jeong Jeong travels to a small town where Java resides. He informs her that Re Yan is looking for her and Zhao doesn’t know where either of them is. He tells her that Zhao is heading to the capital of the water tribe and she should confront him about her feelings. He promises her that he will find Re Yan and she will reunite with her soon. Jeong Jeong sends his messenger hawk to Iroh, Piandao, Bumi and Pakku. He also warns Pakku that Zhao is on his way.

Java heads to the main port between the Earth Kingdom and the water tribe capital. Piandao informs Jeong Jeong that Re Yan has been in his care for some years, but she is ready to reunite with her mother. On route to the port, Java runs into Zhao who is preparing his fleet for the siege.

“Zhao, it’s been so long”

“Where is Re Yan? She and I still have work to do. We need to kill the moon spirit to end water bending and lay waste to Ba Sing Se. Is she with you or is she with the father of your son?” “Zhao, there is no other man! I love you…I loved you but you, but you are fighting for the very thing I want to end. My family never wanted to be part of this war but we kept being dragged into it. My grandmother and grandfather were forced to train archers for the army, my father was forced to watch over the colonies and my mother was forced to continue training Yuyan Archers. My son willingly joined the war to fight alongside his father while I accepted my father’s duties knowing that you and I would drift apart. I wanted no part of the war or the royal family. I refused to accept the role of the future fire lord’s wife and mother of the next, so I ran away.”

“Ozai…no, Iroh…Lu Ten was your son!That is why you left all those years ago…wouldn’t that make you more determined to avenge his death and not run away like a coward!”

“No. The cycle will only continue. Jeong Jeong did the right thing by leaving, but I know I didn’t. Re Yan needs both of her parents and we’ve failed to provide her the love and attention she deserves. I should have come back for you and her and we could have been a family…but now all you want is glory and power. You are not the man I fell in love with and I’m not the woman you thought you knew. I will not let you end water or earth bending. Please, stop this madness, Zhao.” She draws her bow and arrow and aims it at his shoulder.

“It is Admiral Zhao and soon I will be known as ‘Admiral Zhao, The Moon Slayer’.  Stand down, Java.” He looks her straight in the eyes intensely with his arms folded.

“I can’t do that.”

“Then you leave me no choice.” He charges at Java with fire in his hands. She fires an arrow at him but he burns it.

“Your archery only works for assassinations. Not for the skilled and highly aware fire bender.”

She releases arrow after arrow and each one he dodges or burns. He gets closer and Java holds her bow in her hands. She swings it at Zhao hoping to knock him out by hitting him on the head. He dodgedher swing but not the burst of air that comes with it. Zhao regains focus to see air surrounding her bow.

“You’re an air bender? But how?”

“I guess there are some things even I don’t know about myself.  Now stand down.” He gets back on his feet and sends fire her way as he slowly walks towards her. She uses her bow as a shield by creating a vortex that deflects the fire. He manages to get his hands on her bow and breaks her bow in half, grabs her wrists and holds them behind her back.

“I’m taking you back to the Fire Nation. I will bring back Re Yan and the Avatar as well so you all can face the Fire Lord. Men, take her to the ship!” His men tie her up and leave her in one of the storage closets on the ship. Zhao heads to the capital where he meets his fate. He lost his life to a spirit; with unfulfilled ambitions his soul was lost in the Spirit World’s Valley of Lost Souls. Java is filled with more regret for losing another loved one to war.     Back in the Fire Nation- capital city, Java is brought to the throne room. Two soldiers escorted her to the Fire Lord in restraints. They force her to kneel before Ozai, but she keeps her head down. Looking at the ground she can see his shadow slowly growing smaller as he inches near. “Welcome home, Java. With Zhao gone and Iroh a fugitive, I am the only one who can keep you and Re Yan safe.” He raises her head by the chin; her eyes stare intensely into his. “I suggest you don’t run away this time or Re Yan will be hunted down like my brother and Zuko.” Tears roll down her face as he kisses her on the forehead and signals his guards to remove her restraints.  “I am protecting you from those who have deemed you as a traitor. Your security is restricted to the palace. Should you step foot outside the grounds, I will confine you to the guest quarters. Should you try to escape again, you will be restrained in the prison. Is that clear?” Java stands up and tries to slap him across the face. He catches her hand. “I hate you.” He twists her arm around so that her back is against his chest and her arm rests on the small of her back. He brings his lips close to her ear. “Don’t blame me for your actions, you wanted this to happen. Your hate is misplaced.” He wraps his arms around her mid-section before she falls to her knees. Sobbing, she covers her eyes as he returns to his throne. He calls to his guards, “Send in Azula, I have special mission for her.”