426 426. Rest In Peace

Aang then reached Saitama, "I think you overdid it a little,"

Saitama scratched his bald head, "Yeah, I think I did. Well, at least I didn't break the ground and the buildings."

"Oh my god! It's the Avatar! Thank goodness we found you. Please help us." A man came out of nowhere.

Aang was always serious about helping others so he immediately agreed.

"What happened?" He asked.

"My wife, my wife is pregnant. But her water broke and now the baby is stuck. They both will die if nothing gets done. Please help us. You are the Avatar, you can do anything." The man pleaded.

Aang was confused now. He had no idea what to do. He looked at Saitama.

"Don't look at me. I am clueless in this matter." Saitama said.

*Cough*

Dobby came to them, "Maybe I can help."

"Oh, uncle Dobby. We can surely save her if it is you. Please believe him, sir, there is no better man for this than him." Aang told the man.

The man believed Aang and took them to the small hospital. It was a poor area so the healthcare wasn't the best there.

"Come with me, Aang, it's time you realize the ways waterbending can be used," Dobby invited him.

He went to where the woman was lying unconscious, it was very dangerous for her health already.

"You don't always need to see water in order to bend it. You can also sense it. There is still water in her womb. But it's not enough to smoothly take the baby out in normal ways.

"So, you can use your water bending differently to smoothly and slowly spread that water to make it act like a lubricant and let the baby out."

As Dobby taught him, he also did his work. Although what he used was magic it was still not much different from Waterbending.

He eventually got the baby out, healthy and alive. He then checked the lady and she was fine too.

Aang happily soaked in all the knowledge like a sponge.

"Now, let's return home. I am sure Boss will be there to take us to meet the king." Dobby decided.

...

Part 5: An Old Man's Tears

Iroh still misses his son a lot. The death of Lu Ten was a big hit to his mind.

Today he went to the small hilltop in the inner walls of the city. The place had a tree on the top of it and it resembled his son's grave back in fire nation a lot.

He went down on his knees near the tree and set up two stones. Then put a photo of Lu ten. He suddenly felt emotions encompassing his mind as images of him playing with his son came.

He remembered that evening. That memory perfectly.

[Memory]

A young Iroh ran out of the palace followed by a small boy.

Mocking a firebending move by thrusting his hands outward, Lu Ten laughed, "I got you dad."

Iroh feigned a blow from the imaginary fire blast and fell onto the grass. Lu Ten smiled and jumped on his father's belly as the two laughed in happiness.

Lu Ten chuckled, "When I grow up I want to be just like you, Dad. I want to fight!"

Iroh chuckled, "Son, your future is many years away. I encourage you to live in the present and look toward the future."

Lu Ten sighed and grinned wildly like a mad scientist about to make a discovery. "Will you sing me the song, Dad?"

Iroh smiled. "Of course, son." The firebender opened his mouth to sing as a leaf released itself from the branch's grip.

[Memory Ends]

Setting down his son's favorite food and lighting the essence sticks, Iroh's eyes started to tear up at the amazing adventures Lu Ten wanted to have. Now, he was gone, and Iroh was left alone. Sure he had Zuko, but he knew that this would not last long.

"If only I could have helped you,"

Then just like he did at the shrine in fire nation, he started singing the song Lu Ten loved.

♫Leaves from the vine.♫

Around him, leaves started to unhinge themselves from their confinement, freeing themselves to join the wind.

♫Falling so slow. Like fragile tiny shells.♫

The leaves were slowly pushed into a nearby gentle stream a distance away and started to slowly drift along the foamy water, leaving its tree.

♫Drifting in the foam.♫

♫Little soldier boy.♫

Iroh started to cry as the stream turned into a waterfall along the way. The leaves flew off the edge and twirled, transforming into a little Lu Ten playfully shooting his imaginary attack, pretending to fight his father. Iroh realized he was seeing things.

♫Come marching home.♫

Lu Ten smiled as he walked along a path alone, holding nothing but a picture of Iroh. He held it to his chest as he started to grow.

♫Brave soldier boy. *Sniff*♫

Lu Ten grew into an adolescent and grew up until he became an adult, now wearing the Fire Nation military suit.

But just then before Iroh could continue, the imaginary figure of his son spoke, "Father, please don't cry."

Iroh's tear-filled eyes became fully open. The blurriness vanished and his vision became clear. Now, standing in front of him was a real-like figure of his son.

"SON?!" He blurted. His voice showing his longingness and fear of this not being real.

"Yes, it is me. Spirit God guided me to you," Lu Ten revealed.

Iroh looked past his son and saw Alexander walking towards them slowly with the support of his wooden staff.

"I am surprised Zuko didn't tell you until now, don't worry, he is the real Lu Ten's spirit," Alexander responded.

Iroh's eyes widened. He looked back at his son. Tears again fell, "I am sorry, son. Only if I was with you, I could have saved you."

Lu Ten shook his head and walked to his father, "No father, that was my destiny. No one could have changed it."

Iroh suddenly tried to hug his son but found himself passing through the body, nearly colliding with Alexander.

Alexander helped him and put one hand on his shoulder, "Let's go to Spirit realm, you can hug your son there."

He took out his anywhere door and the three walked into it. They quickly found themselves in a beautiful forest with a river flowing nearby. There were also many beautiful spirits around them, playing and singing melodies.

Just then, Lu Ten hugged his father. Iroh's face also became happy as he felt the physical contact. Alexander offered them to sit with him and gave them tea.

"I should have guessed that you were the Spirit God. Why else would an old man travel with the Avatar." Iroh said the realization hit.

"Haha, I even gave you so many clues along the way but you were too busy with your philosophical mind," Alexander joked.

"Yes, Father, I heard that you have become a thinker. I never thought I'd see a day when the mighty general becomes a poet," Lu Ten jabbered.

"Different experiences change people, son. But I am happy that you are fine in the spirit realm. I tried to find you once but couldn't," Iroh replied.

"The spirit realm is infinite, Iroh. It was an impossible task to find your son here on your own." Alexander revealed.

"Father, you should stop feeling bad. I will always be here and when you pass away in the physical world, we will be together again. But this is not your time. Don't linger on the past when you still have an unexplored future." Lu Ten said seriously.

Iroh suddenly started laughing, "Hahaha, my son also became a philosopher. Well, I understand, son. Thank you Spirit God, for giving me this chance."

"Spirit God is the name spirits gave me. I am still your friend. Now, let's go out. This is no place for a living person to stay. Don't worry, your son will be fine here." Alexander assured him.

Iroh made peace with his emotions and followed Alexander out after a hug with his son.

They came back to the shrine Iroh made. He was going to collect the things back. Alexander was standing behind him, but then suddenly something happened and he walked to the tree and sat beside Iroh.

Alexander took out a childhood photo of his twin sons and put it along with the stone. [See image in para comment]

Iroh was shocked, "Who are they? They resemble your face."

*SIGH*

"A long long time ago, I had two sons. But then they committed a very horrible crime and were sentenced to death. I was never able to forgive them for it and give them a goodbye. But, as Lu Ten said, one shouldn't linger on the past." Alexander muttered.

Alexander then burned some incense, "What was that song you were singing?"

Iroh decided to completely sing it now. But he was calm and at peace now, not emotionally unstable like before.

♫Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile, tiny shells

Drifting in the foam.

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Come marching home♫

Alexander remembered the memories of his sons when they were children. When Olivia had passed away and it was just him who took care of them. He had refused to leave things to a nanny and tried to spend as much time with them as possible. Making school lunches for them, waking them up every day, getting them ready, and going on vacations. So many good memories resurfaced.

He then continued the song by adding a few lines to it. Although it didn't fit with the lives of his sons as they were never soldiers, he still wanted to sing it. If not for just his sons then for all the sons who fought and died in wars they didn't make. He sang in his cracking voice.

♫Ash in the snow

Falling so slow

Like fragile, broken hearts

With no place to go.

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Come marching home♫

♫He thought he knew

What he was fighting for,

But the sight of blood

Made him question war.

Poor soldier boy

Cold and alone,

Bombs fall like rain,

He's all alone.

They're all alone.♫

♫Those leaves did grow.

From branches overgrown

Drifting slowly down

Resting in the snow.

Little soldier boy

Taken from home

Forced to fight a war

That is not his own.♫

♫Leaves from the vine

Changing so slow

Like empty, fallen souls

Looking for a home.

Little soldier boy

Thought that he could soar

Brave soldier boy

Died in their war.♫

Iroh, sitting beside him, just felt the heartfelt words coming from Alexander's mouth and silently listened. He was able to see beyond just his son's death now. So many sons had died in this war. So many Brave soldier boys couldn't come marching home.

After Alexander was done, he looked at the photo and whispered, "I forgive you, my sons. May your souls rest in peace."

*Sniff*

He heard the noise and tried to look back. But suddenly two arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders. His head pressed with someone's chest. He lifted his head and saw Olivia's teary face. She had somehow felt Alexander's emotional distress and had come to him.

"You did good, Alex, you did good..." she whispered and left a kiss on his forehead while hugging his neck tightly.

[A/N: Okay, this was the end of Alexander's 'facing the past' part. Now, we will be heading to the end of the Avatar arc. This extended version of the song was taken from the internet. I couldn't find who originally made it though.]

Rest In Peace - Mako Iwamatsu.

[You can see Iroh, Lu Ten's photo and Alexander's sons on my Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]

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