(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zuko stands beside his war rhinoceros on a dirt road that seems to go on and on and on. He lets out a breath as he looks down. Sees a sandal laying on the road. Just sitting there in the middle of the road. Zuko tilts his head before he picks up the sandal and sniffs it, a look of disgust spreading over his face.

"Yup, that's Uncle Iroh" He comments and then looks out over the distance of the road before he turns and swings himself up onto the rhinoceros' back.

......

Appa and Katara flying reconnaissance over the forest looking for Aang and Sokka. But they find nothing and no one. There isn't even a trail for them to follow. She sighs.

"It's no use, Appa. I don't see them anywhere. Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait" She turns Appa to fly back to the village.

.........

Zuko sits atop his war rhinoceros, who looks over his shoulder to see Appa flying in the distance. His heart beating in his chest begins to pick up at the thought of how close Rana and the Avatar are to him. Just over the ridge. Just little ways that way. He yanks the reigns to turn the beast back, but then he looks down the trail that leads to his captured uncle. He looks back again in the direction he saw Appa, indecision marking his face.

...........

Katara sits on the porch of the hut where Rana is still sleeping, the sun is setting above the village and there has been no sign of Sokka and Aang yet. Katara rests her chin on her knees and closes her eyes. There is a shuffling noise behind Katara who turns to look up. Her eyes finding Rana as she rubs at her eyes, still coming around from sleep. Katara launches herself to her feet and at her friend, hugging her tightly.

"What's this for?" Rana asks.

"You've been asleep all day" Katara answers when she pulls back. "And Sokka and Aang are gone"

"Gone where?"

"I don't know" Katara admits and runs her fingers through her hair. Rana touches her arms and then stops her from pulling out her hair.

"Okay, from the beginning..." She starts. "I remember passing out...what happened after that?" The sun sets and both look over their shoulders to the forest.

"Rana" Katara offers worried.

"Tell me what happened, Katara, quickly before it comes back" Katara nods and turns to her friend.

..........

Iroh and his captors are in an earthen pit, where he is stretched over a large rock in the centre of a pit, his hands spread before him as the earth-benders watch him, guard him. Their captain stood with his arms ready at his side to bend.

"These dangerous hands must be crushed" He states and then cries aloud as he raises a huge boulder from the ground and moves it to hover over Iroh's hands. He drops it. A moment before it crushed Iroh's hands and arms, Zuko kicks it out of the way. He lands and breaks the chains holding Iroh's hands bound with a kick. Iroh rises with a smile.

"Excellent form, Prince Zuko" Iroh praises.

"You taught me well" Zuko counters with a sliver of fondness.

"Surrender yourselves, it's five against two. You're clearly outnumbered" Iroh and Zuko stand back to back, surrounded by their would-be captors.

"Uh, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched!" Iroh argues. All five earth-benders launch stones at the pair. Iroh swings his chains and breaks them into pieces mid-flight, while Zuko blasts the two nearest him with fire. Two soldiers behind Zuko have just shot two large rocks at him. Zuko is about to be hit when the stones are wrapped in Iroh's chains. He swings them around his body and releases them back at their captors. They are hit in the stomach and are both knocked out. The Captain launches several rocks at Zuko, who dodges them and returns fire. The fire blast is blocked when the Captain lowers his head and the fire breaks harmlessly over his helmet. The Captain raises two huge sheets of rock and Zuko looks afraid, but then chains wrap around the Captain's feet and he is pulled to the ground by Iroh. The rocks land on top of him. All the Earth Kingdom soldiers are groaning and buried in dirt, Iroh and Zuko standing over them. They look at each other and smile, Zuko putting his hand on his uncle's shoulder.

"Now would you please put on some clothes!" Zuko begs of him.

......

Rana and Katara sit together now, Momo on Katara's shoulders and Vulpix in Rana's lap, Wartortle, Pichu, and Rockruff sat at their feet as Noivern flies overhead, keeping watch. Katara told Rana everything that happened after she went down. Rana lets out a breath and nods to herself.

"I think I know what to do" Rana admits and looks at Katara.

"You're going to face that thing....alone?" She asks, Rana shrugs and then nods.

"Yep," She lifts Vulpix from her lap, setting her on the floor before she stands. "No matter what" She looks at Katara. "Don't get involved...." Katara nods a little.

.......

Rana stands at the village gate, staring out into the forest. She can feel it in there. Watching her. Waiting. She looks to her hand and produces a purple orb, bounces it from hand to hand to her tail. Trying to coax the spirit out of the woods. And there it is. Slowly leaving the forest, eyes locked on her before it stops. Standing there. Watching her. Rana cocks her head. It roars, releasing purple energy from its mouth. Katara stands on the porch watching in horror as it flies towards Rana.

"Rana, what are you doing? Run!" Katara yells at her as her pokemon all shout at her. But Rana doesn't run away. The creature roars and runs towards her, but Rana runs underneath its legs and then jumps up onto its forehead. Her hand glows light purple and she sets it against the creature's head before resting her own forehead against it.

"Shhh," She whispers, soothing it. As it calms, its image flickers between its monstrous form and that of a panda bear. "You're the spirit of this forest" She offers softly. "You're upset and angry because your home was burned down...." He lets out a sad noise. "I know" She whispers and nods. "But come with me," She tells him as she drops back down to the ground and begins to walk away. Katara stares after her.

"Rana!" She shouts but Rana and Hei-Bai disappear into the trees.