Chapter Text
Zuko looked over the bridge and at the water where Admiral Zhao was dragged to. It was quiet now, no more battle cries or screaming. The sky that was once grey, now was beautiful light as the moon return. He can’t stay here. He needs to find Uncle and escape. Suddenly, the Prince of the Fire Nation started to feel cold hands on his shoulders. His clench to form the fire daggers and took a fighting stance as he turns around to face his supposed enemy.
What he faces instead was the familiar spirit who had helped to Fire Nation Royal family for years. The spirit known as Josei Masuku. “Hello my little Fuko.” Her voice was gentle and cold. Cold. Which was odd for a fire spirit. “How have you been.” Josei Masuku asked, tilting her head to the side and hands intertwined together. Even though she wears a mask, Josei still have a way of expressing her emotions. “Well, I’m waiting for an answer.”
Zuko immediately snapped back to reality, “I’ve been fine.”
“Do not try and act as if your fine, you have more scars and bruises on your face. They look recent.” The spirit leaned in closer. “Lastly, you look so tired. Went through so much haven’t you?”
Then Zuko started to hear footsteps from the distance. “I’m sorry, but I need to go.” Before he could even turn around and leave, the spirit grabbed his hand.
“Do not worry my little Fuko, I won’t let them see us.” She confirms this as a water tribe warrior run past them. Not even bothering to look back. “You see? What did I tell you?”
“I should still go. I need to find Uncle and escape.”
“Do not worry he is safe. To this I swear.”
Zuko couldn’t but give her a skeptical look. “How would you know?”
“Oh my little Fuko, Baka have kept many secrets from his family. He has friends on the other side.”
On the other side? “Are you suggesting he’s a traitor?”
“Yes I am.” Before Zuko can refute, Josei continues talking. “My little Fuko, when have I ever wronged you or your family? I was the one to tell you to head towards the South Pole after all.”
She was right of course, but still Uncle a traitor? He can’t bring himself to believe that. “I should still look for him.”
Josei grabbed his other hand firmly. “No, you will only put him into even more danger. He had already gone through enough pain. His friends will take good care of him. To this I swear.”
Zuko stares at the spirit. Her line ‘to this I swear’ was form of promise she makes. Promises she never brakes. “Fine then. I’ll believe you.”
“Good. Now it is time for me to explain why I am here. Your father has given you a new mission. You will now serve under and protect a future ally. Though you will do so in a different form.”
A new mission? But his one and only mission - for the past three years - was to find and capture the Avatar. Zuko can only give Josei a confuse look. “Can I ask you some questions about this mission?”
”First, it is ‘May I ask.’ Second, yes you may but I can only answer as best as I can.”
One of the things the Royal Family has to deal with Josei Masuku, is her explanations. Josei can explain things you want to know with ease, but when she feels a certain topic is just too difficult for her to explain, she’ll have you “experience” it instead. Although, if you need a helping hand or come to the wrong conclusion, Josei will guide you to the right answer as best she could. Even if Zuko still doesn’t agree with the spirit’s methods - in fact he sometimes gets annoyed with it – he’ll deal with it for now. He’s grown used to Josei’s methods and they have never caused him pain.
“Who is this future ally?”
“The boy’s name is Ken Ichijouji, although it is best to call him the Digimon Emperor. He is the soon to be ruler of all digital monsters. You are to serve and protect him.”
“What do you mean by different form?”
“You will be change into a digital monster.”
“You mentioned digital monsters before, but what are they?”
“It is hard for me to describe them; you’ll have to experience it on your own.”
Zuko stares at the masked spirit for a moment. Of course, that is the question he’s going have to “experience” to find the answer. Zuko sighed, “why the change?”
Josei Masuku leaned in and pressed a hand against her Zuko’s forehead, he started to see images in his head. One showed many ships in perfect working conditions and the other were a few ships that look like they were leaving from a battle. “There were many ships that came to the North Pole. Now only few remain. So many lives have been lost in this night.”
The next vision shows the Avatar who was in case in water, he was attacking the ships. “All because of the Avatar. So many lives would not have been lost if the Avatar hadn’t escape from Pohuai Stronghold. You know who was the one helped the Avatar escape?”
The last vision showed a familiar sight of the Avatar and the Blue Spirit fighting their way out from the fortress. “My little Fuko, I have been watching you and Baka ever since your banishment. I have taken notice of your actions. I know you are the Blue Spirit who freed the Avatar from Zhao. Your actions have the deaths of the soldiers.” Zukoe listens to the spirit attentively. Guilt started to form when she reaches to her conclusion. Zuko should’ve let Zhao take the Avatar back to the Fire Nation but he didn’t. All those lives lost because he wanted to keep the Avatar for himself. His father was right about him, Zuko was a disgrace.
“The Fire Lord was rather upset when he heard what you have done. Do not worry though, he has decided to give you this mission to redeem yourself.” Josei moved her hand away from her Fuko’s forehead, the images ceases to exist. “Something has change in this world that humanity will come to face. It’s going to be very challenging for the Fire Nation now. The Avatar will not be the only enemy the Nation has to face, but a new set of creatures as well. Creatures known as digital monsters.”
The spirit’s words sink into Zuko’s mind. There was a moment of silence, before Zuko asked his last questions. “I can’t really believe that Uncle is a traitor, ca - may he come with me on this mission? To prove his loyalty?”
“Your uncle…” The spirit paused for a moment, before continuing. “Remember, I have been watching you and Baka ever since your banishment. I have taken notice his actions as well. Tell me have you notice how your uncle make detours while chasing the Avatar?”
“…Yes?”
“Does one shopping trip for a white lotus tile come to mind? Is it not too convenient that the tile was in his sleeve the whole time?” Silence was the response. Josei lifted her head to stare straight into Zuko’s soul. “He was distracting you my little Fuko, he was preventing you from capturing the Avatar.”
“You’re lying!”
“Baka had never once believed were you were capable in succeeding your mission of, nor does he want you to.” Josei put a curved finger in front of her masked chin, tilting her head just a little bit to express that she was thinking. “And quite honestly who can blame him? You and your family didn’t treat him well over the past years even after his son’s death. His friends and allies have treated him better than you yourself ever had. You are a poor replacement for his son. He had done nothing wrong to deserve a nephew like you.” She paused for one moment to let her words to sink into her Fuko’s head. “I’m sorry my little Fuko, but it is the truth. Baka has made his choice to become a traitor, and he has his reasons for it.”
Zuko looked at her as if she had punch in the gut. Everything Josei had said was the truth. He can’t deny it. His uncle does deserve better than him.
“Leave him, my little Fuko.” The spirit walked closer to Zuko and put her cold hands onto his shoulders gently. “Leave Baka. You are a burden to him. You will cause him more pain if you stay with him. Let Baka live a happy without you. His true family will give him a better life. To this I swear.”
Every second his stands on this bridge, the more Zuko gets tired. “All right then. What you say is true. He does deserve better than me.” With tire eyes, Zuko look at the spirit. “Is there anything else I need to know about this mission.”
“Well you will need to make a deal with me first in order for you to do this mission. Here are the terms.” Taking her hands off her Fuko, Josei lifting one finger in front of him. “You will have three chances to change back into human, but there is a time limit. So, I suggest you use those three chances wisely. Know that only I will decide when it is time to make to turn you back to normal and make it permanent. That is the sign of deal being off.” The second finger comes into view. “To make sure nothing goes wrong, I will prevent you from saying certain things in certain situations.” Finally, the third. “You will also do this mission with another. That is all you need to know for now.”
There were things in those terms that make Zuko want to ask for more questions. To at least get a clearer picture, yet that was another thing about Josei. When it comes to making deals, she tends to be vague. She won’t tell you more about those terms even if you ask. Although that not really a bad thing, members of the Royal Family have made deal with Josei before and have turn out for the better. And this will Zuko’s first deal. “Alright, I understand.”
“Then is it a deal, my little Fuko? To have me turn you into a digital monster for you to do this mission?” Josei Masuku asked as she lifted her hand towards the tired Prince.
“Yes, it’s a deal.” Zuko took her hand and shake it, then everything went black.