Chapter 436: 436. Conflicted Young Minds
For the whole of last night, Alexander helped all the airbenders settle down. He helped restore the whole temple and also prepare for the upcoming war. he could deal with it alone, but he wanted the world to feel that they were all united against Fire Nation. This would create a bit of a sense of unity among the nations.
"Okay, listen everyone. The only job of Airbenders will be to drop bombs from high in the sky. Even higher than the airships. You all will have telescopes so make sure not to make friendly fire. Airbenders will be the air support, Earth Benders will be the ground support and the Water benders will be the Naval support." He instructed all the adults.
"Spirit God, how long do you think this will last?" A man asked.
"Don't worry. Probably an hour or two. If anything too out of the ordinary happens I will intervene. Don't forget, this is your war for the future. A better future." He said, reminding them why they fought.
All the airbenders then ran away to ready their sky bison and loaded all the explosives. He had called a Seraph to come out to organize them so they don't make any mistakes.
Just when Alexander was about to leave to meet Dobby, Zuko came up to him. "Spirit God, can you tell me about my father? I want to know why he became like this. Why would he allow me, his own son, to be killed."
Alexander looked at Iroh who looked a bit saddened for some reason.
"Tell him, my friend. He won't take my word for it. He still thinks he needs to talk to his father." Iroh said.
[A/N: Remember, this is Zuko different from canon. Here, he never saw the dark side of his father personally or fought his sister seriously because of Alexander. He still doesn't know everything.]
Alexander told him to sit with him. Not just him, Iroh, Toph, Sokka, and Tsuki also came. Katara and Aang were nowhere to be seen.
Alexander started speaking, "When Fire Lord Sozin started all this, it wasn't just a war on the world but his own culture. Fire nation that used to embrace the teachings of the dragons, the teachings of nature and balance changed and became firebenders fuelled by anger.
"Why do you think dancing is banned in the fire nation? Remember the dragon dance of the sun warriors? Sozai was twisted enough, but he didn't spare his own son Azulon either.
"From an early age, he tried to mold him into a person like himself. But, Azulon may have not stopped the war, he was still better than Sozai or Ozai. This can be seen by how he defended Iroh when Ozai asked Azulon to make him the next Fire Lord because Iroh lost his only son.
"Azulon wanted his Iroh, who was known to be more of a philosopher and calm person than crazy like Sozai or Ozai to be the next fire lord. But conveniently, Azulon died. Zuko's mother went missing and a few years later Zuko was sent away.
"Now, it is even confirmed that he was going to kill you, Zuko. Azula said it herself and you know she was not lying back then. Do you still want to talk to your father?
"Zuko, I am speaking from experience, when a person becomes too greedy and narrowminded, they stop caring about family or bonds. To them, everyone is a tool they can use or dispose of when not needed. Look at Azula, if your father was really worried about her he would have left no stones unturned to get her back. But, nothing like that happened. The rest is up to you, on what you decide, I suggest you trust Iroh. He is more like a father to you than Ozai."
Zuko looked at his uncle. He really saw him as his father. The man had only thought about what was good for him and he knew that if it weren't for Iroh, maybe he would have been like Azula before her medical treatment by Alexander.
"Thank you, spirit god, my mind is clearer now. It was stupid of me to question myself like this." Zuko apologetically said.
Alexander ruffled his hair, "Haha, kid, questioning yourself is a good thing. That is what makes us humans. But, to not lose the way, you should also keep looking for answers."
Zuko nodded and went to Iroh, "I am sorry that I doubted you, uncle."
Iroh suddenly hugged him, "Come here you. I knew you were just confused. You had stumbled in your path but I knew you didn't lose it."
Alexander then looked at Toph and Sokka. "You two will train with me now. Toph, I will teach you metal bending and sand bending. Sokka, I will teach you how to be the best martial artist, we can't have you constantly beaten by your girl."
"That's what he will get for his debauchery," Suki shouted from a distance.
"Hahaha... well, I guess he does need a lesson. Anyway, what have you decided, Sokka? Yue wi..." Sokka didn't let him finish and jumped to cover his mouth.
"Don't talk about her, old man. She will kill me, I am serious." Sokka scaredly said.
Alexander shrugged, "Well, I don't know the experience. I have been with a single woman all my life and I still love her."
"Aww... that's so sweet, grandpa," Toph voiced.
"Kid, you're pathetic." Ragnarok appeared out of nowhere.
Sokka slumped on the ground, "Great, now you have destroyed my confidence and self-respect."
...
Outside the Temple,
Aang and Katara were together, looking at the night sky,
"What happened, Aang? I know something is troubling you." Katara worriedly asked.
"I don't know. I just... I don't know what to think. What should I do when I fight Ozai? I can't kill him. I haven't killed anyone in my life. I'm even a vegetarian and spirit god now says that killing someone doesn't make you bad," Aang started.
"I don't think he meant killing in as like killing whatever you want. Maybe he only meant that in rare cases like the fire lord, it is the best option to deal with them." Katara deduced.
"Who knows, he told me to find my way myself and I am confused," Aang muttered.
Katara put her hands on his shoulder and looked him in his eyes, "Aang, no matter what you decide, just remember, I will always support you. Always,"
Aang contently looked her in the eyes. He could see himself in them. Suddenly, his body moved and he kissed her. It startled Katara and she took a step back. He knew he liked her in a romantic way but what happened was sudden for him too. He just moved on impulse.
"I... I didn't mean to..." Aang stuttered. Katara blushed and went inside quickly.
Momo flew to Aang and sat down on his shoulder. His mind was in upheaval at the moment.
"Ki Kii"
"Yes, momo. This was embarrassing." He muttered.
...
"Good, Toph. Feel the composition of the metal. It too came out of the earth." Alexander taught her.
Alexander had put Toph in a metal box and he had told her to come out on her own. She had accepted the challenge at first but now he was sensing her breath getting uneven as if she was hyperventilating. When he felt that she could not take it anymore he released her.
"What's the matter, child. Why do I sense fear in you?" He asked and gave her a glass of water.
"I-I am afraid of darkness. Since the day you gave me my eyes back, I feel terrified of again someday waking up and not getting to see all the shapes and colors. When I'm in the dark, I feel I won't be able to sense the light even when I am standing in it." She explained.
Alexander caressed her hair, "It is okay, Toph. It is okay to be scared. But what you have is not fear but Nyctophobia and it can be cured. From now on, whenever you sleep, you light ten candles in your room for light. Then every week you extinguish one. After ten weeks, you will probably be able to sleep in darkness. Here, take these pills, they can calm you down too."
Alexander had nearly forgotten that he was dealing with children. Aang, Toph, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko were all kids. They were not supposed to be perfect and he was really asking too much from them, particularly Aang, but he also knew that they needed this experience if they want to change the world someday.
"Now, let's do the same exercise but this time without the roof of the box. Okay?" He asked.
She meekly nodded and got back to work.
"Old man, look at my moves," Sokka shouted at him.
*BAM*
"Focus, why did you look away from me while sparing?" Ragnarok asked. But Sokka was already on the ground.
"Haha, jokes aside, teach him some good stuff, Raggy. He needs it." Alexander commanded.
Just then he noticed a flustered Katara came in running from outside and went to her tent.
~What the hell are these kids up to? Did they hit puberty or something?~ Alexander asked himself.
[A/N: I have changed so many things in the journey of team Avatar that they didn't get the chance to grow out of their problems. Which is why all these things are happening. Zuko being doubtful but understanding because he spent time with Alexander, Aang feeling conflicted about killing and also his love. Toph's situation I introduced because I had changed her so much. I think her fear of darkness is justifiable, she's just a child after all.
This arc will be ending soon. Bleach will most likely be the next world as it has the highest vote count, though it won't be a large arc. Then there is MHA, Overlord, and Full Metal Alchemist. I will not drag this novel for too long. After FMA, I will do DBZ and DC to finally end it. I already have an ending planned. There will still be small arcs in between, spanning 4-5 chapters.]
[You can see Zuko and Iroh, Kiss and Toph's training on my Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]
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