Chapter Text
Aang was pacing in his room on one of the ships Chief Arnook lended, attempting to calm himself from a rather disturbing nightmare.
He saw terrifying images of him in the Avatar State. How he flung the Water Tribe siblings back at the Southern Air Temple. He saw how he brought down the Fire Temple on Crescent Island. He saw how he decimated the Fire Fleet ruthlessly.
“Aang? What are you doing up so early?” It was Katara.
“No-nothing.”
Katara didn’t believe it was ‘nothing’ but let it slide. “The helmsman said that we’re docking by midmorning.”
“Okay.”
Princess Yue was in the navigation room with Vorak and, to her immense displeasure, a banged up Hahn. Who decided that now was a great time to attempt to get her hand in marriage.
“My Princess, it would be an honor-”
“Save it Hahn. You have fallen out of my favor a long time ago. You will not get my inheritance, so don’t even try.”
Vorak was doing his best to remain composed, leaning over the maps to hide his smirking expression.
Hahn was speechless. Never before had anyone dared to speak to him like that. He raised his hand as if to slap her. Vorak saw this and made to defend his Princess but was beaten to it.
Ice pierced Hahn’s sleeve and stuck to the wood. Yue turned to Vorak with a blank face and cold eyes.
“Get him out of my sight.”
“Yes, Princess”
Sokka was on the wooden deck observing the Prince and Lady spar with their weapons because of the no firebending rule (self-explanatory, wooden boat). The Lady wielded the scythe with an eerie calmness. The Prince wielded his dao blades with intimidating prowess.
Someone tapped his shoulder. The Chief Interim looked over to see who it was.
“Master Pakku.”
“Sokka, I want you to have this.” It was an intricate vial filled with what looked like spirit water.
“Sir, I can’t take this. Before you insist, I already have one from home.” He pulled out a similar looking vial colored a royal blue rather than black like Pakku’s. “You’d be better off giving that to my sister.”
Stunned, the old master bowed in respect and turned to find Katara. Sokka returned to watch the couple spar more.
Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai, Wielder of blue flames, stood on the deck, a look of displeasure on her face. They were supposed to have docked by now. A faceless guard came up to her.
“Princess, I'm afraid the tides will not allow us to bring the ship into port before nightfall.”
“I'm sorry, but I do not know much about the tides. Could you explain something to me?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Do the tides command this ship?”
“I'm afraid I don't understand.”
“You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?”
“N-no, princess.”
“And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?”
The guard, worried for his life, responded, “No, princess.”
The fourteen year old prodigy ran her fingers through her bangs. “Well then, maybe you should worry less about the tides who have already made up their mind about killing you, and worry more about me, who's still mulling it over.”
Under his mask, the guard was as white as a ghost with fear. “I'll tell the captain to pull us in.”
Lady Mai was casually sharpening one of her favorite blades when her love spoke. “There it is. General Fong’s Base of Operations.”
She looked over the edge of Appa’s saddle to look.
“Not as impressive as I thought.”
The sky bison landed in front of the General’s Entourage. After brief introductions, minus Mai and Zuko, who just stood silently. Yue introduced herself and the couple. No one connected the fact that Zuko was the Banished Prince, somehow.
Blue lightning shot out of Azula’s fingers. The old twin women behind her criticized her. Azula huffed and did the movements again, this time flawlessly.
Prince Zuko’s head snapped towards the sky, temporarily distracted from the meeting, and narrowed his eyes.
Later, after that atrocious meeting where Fong tried to convince Aang that he’s ready to fight the Fire Lord, Katara and Yue contradicting that, Sokka studying the maps and formulating his own plan, Aang eventually relenting to the General, and Mai holding back Zuko from outright attacking Fong the whole time, they were finally able to let off some steam in the ring.
That is, until Fong and his oversized ego made an appearance in the form of tea. Mai took Zuko and left the ring, lest her love do something regrettable.
“This is a rare blend known to strengthen one’s chi tenfold. With this, it may induce the Avatar State.”
Yue took the cup and sniffed it.
“Are you sure this is safe?”
“I assure you ma’am, it is completely safe.”
Yue, still sceptical, placed the teacup in Aang’s hands. When he finished it, he was as hyper as can be, words spilling out his mouth at an abnormal rate.
Yue, right about the tea, sat down and said tiredly, “Well, I guess he can talk the Fire Lord to death.”
The General tried various things, ranging from having Sokka scare him, to doing ceremonial rites. Nothing worked.
Azula led her steed to the edge of a cliff overlooking a cluster of brightly colored tents. A feral smile graced her features.
Mai walked up to the balcony where Zuko stood. The setting sun made his scar contrast harshly against his face.
“Feeling better?”
“If by feeling better, I no longer want to murder the General in his sleep, then yes.”
The Lady hummed, looking out to the horizon. “Ugh, orange, my least favorite color.” This brought a smile on his lips.
“SOKKA!”
Sokka, miffed about waking up from a pleasant dream about him and Yue, turned bleary eyes to the twelve-year-old monk, rubbing his ear.
“What Aang.”
“I don’t think we should try bringing on the Avatar State.”
“... Okay. Can I go back to sleep now?”
“No. Do you think the General will get mad?”
“What does he know? He just met you. You're the Avatar, Aang. He doesn’t know you better than yourself.”
With that, Sokka returned to his sleep, leaving Aang more worried than before.
Yue watched as Aang told Fong he was backing out.
“Are you sure I can’t change your mind?”
“Yes. The Avatar State only comes if I’m in genuine danger.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
Then Fong earthbent his desk towards Aang, her fraternal twin yelling in protest, running to shield him, only for guards to hold him back.
The fight quickly ended up in the arena with Fong’s soldiers flinging large disks at him.
Yue freed Zuko and led him and the others to the nearest exit to the arena, running into Katara on the way. Aang was desperately avoiding the disks and trying to make Fong stop his onslaught. Yue shot dozens of ice shards, coupled with Sokka’s water whips. Katara, not noticing Sokka bending, shot her own water whips in an attempt to slow Fong down. Mai stuck the soldiers to the wall and ground via her knives, while Zuko used his dao blades.
Yue and Katara suddenly sank into the ground. Aang saw this and desperately tried to make Fong stop, grabbing hold of his arm. Fong, unamused by Aang’s childish pleading, sent the two Water Tribe women completely under.
“Yue!”
“Katara!”
Aang, filling up with rage, began to slip under the Avatar State’s hold, tattoos glowing.
“It worked? I mean, it worked!”
The Avatar turned his attention to the General, who’s eyes began to reflect his fear. The Avatar created an onslaught like no other, causing soldiers and Champions alike to run for cover.
In a desperate attempt to save his life, the General brought Yue and Katara up from the ground.
“Avatar, please listen! They are safe! See?”
The Avatar did not listen. Yue looked at the scene in disbelief, Katara with misery.
Moments later, the Avatar State faded away, his body drifted down to the ground. Katara ran over to Aang while Yue ran into Sokka’s protective embrace.
When Fong started congratulating Aang on nearly killing him, Zuko swiftly banged him on the back of the head with the hilt of one of his blades.
“Finally he stopped spouting nonsense.”
After declining the offer of an escort to Omashu, Team Avatar was well on their way.
General Iroh walked along the paths through the forest, following his nephew’s instructions to look for a carving of a white lotus.
Chapter Text
After hours of Lady Mai being bored, Prince Zuko being slightly airsick, Princess Yue cuddling Sokka, and Aang and Katara making small talk, Appa finally landed next to a stream with a sort of small basin and cataracts.
“Hey Aang, lets practice.”
“Okay Sifu!”
Sokka took Yue into the water and taught her a bit about fishing. Mai shot her precious knives to a tree with her love watching.
It was peaceful, devoid of war.
“Hey look, river people!”
That is, until the singing nomads came.
“Sokka, you should hear some of their stories! They’re awesome!”
The Avatar had flowers on his bald head, making a cute look on him. Katara was getting her hair braided, Lily weaving flowers into it. The Fire Nation couple stood aways from the group, unsettled by the peppiness. Sokka and Yue were trying to set the group back on track.
Only for Chong to start yet another story, this one about earthbending apparently. Lady Mai looked at her love dead in the eye, whispering.
“Agni and Nakano, they remind me of Ty Lee.”
The male nomad suddenly burst into song, causing them to jump.
“At least she’s manageable. Hang on.”
The irritated Prince strode up to the nomads.
“Do you take suggestions?”
“Sure do.”
“Stop. Guys, we need to get going. Fire Nation Patrols could be around here. It’s not safe. And Appa doesn’t like tunnels, so we’re flying and that. Is. Final!”
As if on cue, flaming chunks of rocks burst through the foliage.
“Secret love cave it is.”
“Fun fact, the two lovers didn’t want anyone finding out about their love, so they made a whole labrinth.”
Sokka stopped abruptly, turn around slowly, and manly asked a very eloquent question,
“What?”
Sokka was attempting to lead the group through the tunnels, only to reach dead end after dead end. After dead end. Katara had had enough.
“Sokka, this is the tenth dead end you’ve led us to.”
The Chief Interim murmured to himself.
Something isn’t right. We were already here. Unless…
While he was doing that, Yue noticed something wrong.
“Guys, where are Zuko and Mai?”
Unknown to the rest of the group, while in the tunnels, the two oldest people were in the back, wordlessly basking in the other’s presence. A perfect sized hole opened up beneath them and before they could utter a scream, the hole closed up, leaving behind no trace of what happened.
After the frenzy that involved a wolfbat, hot cinders, and a scared Appa that resulted in a cave-in, the group was separated even more, Appa, Yue, Aang and, Katara on one side, Sokka and the nomads on the other.
Yue took the time to observe her surroundings. A glow came from one of the tunnels. After pointing that out, the trio ran towards it, hoping it was an exit. Only be met with disappointment.
“This isn’t an exit.”
“No, it’s a tomb.”
Yue went to the stone slab in front of the mural.
“This must be the lovers from the legend. The mural tells their story.”
“What does it say?”
Yue studied the ancient script.
“My Ancient Dialect is rusty at best but i think I can read it. It says,
“ ‘They first met on a mountaintop. Their respective villages were enemies. As a result, they couldn’t see each other. So they went to the original source of earthbending, the badgermoles. They deemed the two lovers worthy and they became the last known Favored Ones of Guiying. Using their newfound abilities, the two lovers created an elaborate series of tunnels and met secretly.
“ ‘One day, the man didn’t come, having died in the war. In grief, the woman unleashed a hellish show of earthbending power, nearly destroying them all. Instead, she declared the war over and rallied the villages together and made a city where peace could prosper.
“ ‘After her passing, the citizens named the city after the two lovers, Oma and Shu.’
“ ‘The last line is a little tricky. Their final words together were… ‘Love shines brightest… in the dark’”
Once she was done, Yue turned to Katara and Aang. A sly smile wormed her way onto her face.
“I have an idea.”
After an awkward few minutes of convincing, Yue’s plan worked and the trio left the Cave of Two Lovers. Later, once more in Oma and Shu’s Labyrinth, the torch they had went out, revealing thousands of glowing green crystals and following the phenomenon, eventually reached the exit. Realizing that Sokka wasn’t there, Yue made to go back for him just in time to see her beloved on a badgermole, the nomads on another.
“Do I want to know how that,” Yue gestured to the irritated red forehead on her beloved, “came about?”
He said nothing, only showing her the reason for his red face in response to something Chong said.
Aang and Katara stood on a cliff overlooking Omashu.
“We have to go back for Zuko and Mai.”
“Not without help. Maybe the Earth King can spare us a search party?”
Katara was not optimistic, but responded for Aang’s sake.
Far away from the team, the two Fire Nation nobles, blindfolded and gagged, were led down a series of hallways. When they reached what sounded like a cavernous room to Zuko, the guards pulled off the blindfold.
When Lady Mai’s eyes adjusted to the light, she immediately wished she hadn’t. They were in the throne room of the Mad King.
Aforementioned King merely looked at them with his signature crazed look, and smiled.
At least it isn’t Azula.
Chapter Text
When the nomads finally left the GAang, Sokka and Yue joined the younger members of the group. Yue, having never left the North, gaped at the sight that greeted her.
“I can’t believe the buildings here don’t melt.”
Her beloved agreed with her, in awe with the sight.
Aang was thinking of other things, like how they were supposed to find the Fire Nation Nobles.
I hope they’re alright.
Lady Mai sat on her knees in their… cell. Which was more like a spare room with all the furniture removed. Also, it was windowless and bore no shadows whatsoever, glowing geodes brightening the room.
Behind her was her beloved, who was trying his best to stay awake. Sun deprivation was not a pretty thing. Especially when said firebender is a Champion.
Not like anyone knows, aside from a select trusted few.
She just hopes the others can arrive in time.
Before coming up to the bridge, Sokka stopped and told everyone the probability of the danger Aang would have if people found out he was the Avatar, as well as his solution.
“Great, now you look like my dead gramp-gramp.”
“Technically, Yue, he is 112 years old.”
When they came to the gates and the guards queried their purpose in Omashu, Aang just had to come up with the most out-of-the-blue surname ever.
While the Southerners were having silent conversations with their eyes, Yue jumped in to back him up.
“Sesha Pippinpaddleopsicopolis. And these are my cousins, June and Hanuh.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Sokka remained silent, slight apprehension rolling off when he was forced to carry all the stuff they brought to keep up appearances.
After showing his friends the famous delivery system, and later getting them in trouble, Aang’s worry was quickly returning to him.
He grew increasingly annoyed with the Earth King with each passing test. Soon enough, he had enough.
“That’s IT! I can’t WAIT any longer! Will you help me save my friends or not!”
The trio encased in the growing rock shot bewildered looks at each other and Aang. To his credit, the Mad King seemed unfazed.
“That is your next test.”
“Huh?”
The guards caught the cue phrase and made the floor below them turn transparent. Inside, Aang saw Mai pacing around the shadowless room, only stopping to check on Zuko, who was unconscious.
The fight that happened after that was… strange, to say the least. What with the Earth King being abnormally fit for his age and Aang ending the fight by finding out his name. And also discovering that the growing rock was edible.
When they finally got the couple out of the room and Aang caught up with Bumi, the others ran to Zuko’s side.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Worry and slight fear softened her usually sharp and stoic face.
“Prolonged Sun Deprivation, usually happens when a… person like him doesn’t get enough sunlight for a period of time. It’s not usually this rapid though.”
Katara, ever the healer, asked how to fix him.
“Last time he had this, his uncle laid him out on the deck of our ship for as long as he dared until he woke up. The fever is his body attempting to make up for the absence of the sun.”
“Then we must do the same, while we look for Aang’s next teacher.”
A week after the group left, Omashu fell at the hands of the Princess.
Chapter Text
Hundreds of feet in the air, was a flying sky bison. Within the saddle were five very special people, plus one. The icy-haired Princess was snuggled against the Southern Chief Interim, dozing off. The twelve year old child was sitting on the bison’s head, teaching his ‘lady-friend’ how to steer. An onyx haired young woman sat in sieza, meditating while monitoring her unconscious love.
“Hey, Aang. Is there a reason you’re bringing us down?”
“Huh?”
He suddenly went into a trance, claiming, to Sokka’s irritation, that the swamp below them was calling to him. Katara was on the fence about going to the ominous looking biome. Yue as well.
“And we have to keep Zuko in the sun.” As this was said, the flying lemur ducked into an open bag.
“Even Momo agrees.”
“Okay, since everyone feels so strongly about this, bye swamp. Appa, Yip, Yip!”
Suddenly, a freak tornado appeared, causing the passengers to land in the swamp, separated, again.
Sokka stood slowly, tearing off any vines and leeches on him before bending the murky water off him. After that, he took note of himself, noticing he now sported a black eye. Looking at his unfamiliar surroundings, a sense of dread filled his consciousness.
A woman’s lilting voice seeped through the fauna, causing Sokka to jump. Hoping it wasn’t something bad, the Chief Interim decided to follow.
Katara slowly blinked, clearing her eyes. Falling from a saddle hundreds of feet in the air did NOT feel great. Even if you can heal any bruises.
“Ow.”
Wary of her surroundings, she started calling out to the others. What she got was a vaguely familiar voice calling her back. Katara, being the slightly naive girl she currently was, followed.
Yue’s mood was as rancid as the water she was standing in. She had tripped into the water thrice. The aching shoulder that looked too swollen to be good, did nothing to help. She was perfectly content with dozing on Sokka.
Why did that tornado have to bring us to this place?!
While she was silently fuming, wind coursed through the trees, a woman’s voice weaved into it. Yue, having no experience in this type of biome, followed.
Mai tread carefully over the branches, favoring her ankle. Dare she ever say it, she was more worried for her love than herself. She saw his beautiful molten-gold eyes open and flash with fear before the treetops obscured her vision.
I hope he’s alright.
A clear, matured, voice suddenly rang through the air, jolting her out of her thoughts. It nagged at her mind, as if trying to remember a specific memory. Hoping it would lead to her love, she followed.
Zuko groaned as he slowly sat up against a tree. The last thing he remembered was looking into his love’s frantic amber-gold eyes only to find himself... falling through the sky?
What?
He began reaching to stand, when a flash of hot pain tore through him. Zuko loosened his robe to inspect his ribs. They were mottled and bruised, making it harder for him to breath. Another thing to add to his list for his body to repair. A masculine voice beckoned him. Zuko, feverish and desperate, followed.
Aang, spared from any injuries by cushioning himself with airbending, traversed low to the ground, but not in the water. His flighty mind was running wild due to not knowing where his friends were. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something slither past him.
I hope that wasn’t a viper-rat.
A winged boar suddenly flying around him broke him out of thought. Aang, realizing the signs of a spirit vision, followed.
In a different location, two furry friends, one huge, one tiny, had an adventure of their own.
When Sokka reached a less dense area, he dropped his machete in surprise.
The woman was dressed in heavy Southern Water Tribe attire, brown braids with varying shades of blue beads woven in, cascaded over one shoulder, and a soft, adoring expresion graced her face, enunciated by tanned skin and pale crystal eyes.
Before him was Aunt Kesa, Bato’s deceased wife. She was like a second mother to him and Katara, always spending time with them when Mom was busy with Chieftess stuff.
The whole tribe was devastated when the raids claimed her life. Bato was destroyed, like how a snow leopard-wolf acts when their mate dies. It took almost a year for him to move on, with immense help from Sokka’s parents. Only for Bato to do the same for his dad weeks later.
Tears pricked at his eyes at the memories. He ran as if to give her a hug but quickly stopped when the illusion faded away. Sokka bowed his head as tears of grief slid down his face.
Katara burst through the foliage, desperate to find the source of the voice. When she saw movement in her peripheral vision, she dashed towards it. When she came to a particularly large root, she skidded to a halt.
Sitting on the root was a woman who shared a large portion of phenotypes with the young girl. Identical icy blue eyes look at her with love, so much love.
“Mom?”
The fourteen year old sprinted to the woman, only to slow down when the mist took her away. Rage filled her heart as she screamed her fury, causing the water around her to flee.
Yue walked slowly, flinching violently every time a branch hit her shoulder. She was following the voice she had heard earlier.
When a particularly thick vine hit her shoulder, Yue winced and took in her surroundings, her gaze landing on the woman that looked like her despite not having her own white hair and silver eyes.
Yue suspected that it was Venna, her mother. But having no personal connection with her, turned and walked away. The woman reached out to her but pulled away at the last second, fading back into the mist.
Mai used one of her precious knives to cut away at the fauna, miffed at not having her scythe. Her ankle was swollen and throbbing, practically pleading Mai to sit down, but she didn’t rest for fear of not getting back up again.
When her knife hacked at a thicker rope of wild twine, Mai paused. A woman dressed in the exuberant attire of Fire Nation Court, sat primly in sieza. None of her clothes were soiled, the same could not be said for Mai.
“Ursa?”
A need to rush over to her came over the young lady. Mai took a step before wincing in pain. When she looked up once more, the woman was gone.
The Prince of the Fire Nation tripped and landed on his knees. Fiery shots of pain flooded his muscles, causing to gasp sharply. The tie used to keep his hair in its Phoenix Plume had long since snapped, allowing his jet black hair to stick to his skin. When he looked up again, he saw a man in Fire Nation armor gazing at him.
“Lu Ten?”
Before he could attempt to progress further, a sharp pain ignited behind his eyes, before the familiar darkness of a vision took over.
Aang leapt from tree root to tree root via airbending, following the flying boar as closely as he could. When the boar ducked in a particularly prickly bush, he stopped to catch his breath. His head popped up when he heard childish giggles from beyond the foliage.
Filled with even more determination, he dived into the thorny plant.
The flying boar circled a small Earth Kingdom child, around his age. The girl wore a pale jade dress with gold accents, like a noble’s. Her dark hair was in a bun with a small bedazzled headband holding it in place.
The boar nuzzled the girl, causing her to giggle. Aang watched on, unsure of what to make of his vision. When the girl turned, Aang gasped.
Framed by stylized bangs were faded jade eyes. She was blind.
Suddenly, a small, winged, rascal slammed into the monk’s face, effectively ending the vision, revealing a wayward lemur-bat.
“Hey Momo. What’s the rush?”
Before Momo could reply, a mass of plants came, scaring the duo. Before they could run, a voice came from within.
“Howdy, there. You seem lost.”
“Huh?”
Over the span of the afternoon, each member of the GAang was found and brought to the home of the Foggy Swamp Tribe.
After healing the shallow cuts on Aang’s skin, Sokka had to fend off a mother-henning Katara over his black eye. That is, until the others came in. His sister went into instant healer mode, remedying Yue’s dislocated shoulder and easing the leftover soreness.
Using the, thankfully dry, med supplies, she wrapped up Mai’s sprained ankle, due to having no training in healing bones, but soothing the pain as well as she could.
Katara healed Zuko’s bruised ribs with help from Huu (the guy who gave her a crash course in plantbending), taking note of the different scars and tattoos on his skin, but he stayed unconscious.
When the GAang was situated to be able to leave at sunrise on Appa, the Prince started muttering in High Court. Lady Mai, who was lying next to him, heard and leaned in to hear better. The others noticed.
“What is he saying?”
The Lady turned to the child Avatar, a staid look taking over her features. She replied in a grave voice,
“ ‘The Sun goes dark, the Heat goes cold. The Blood of Fire and Fury is spilled. The Day of Black Sun draws near.’ ”
Chapter Text
The GAang is scattered around the streets of Gaoling. The Chief Interim and Northern Princess strolling past the various vendors. The Lady and the Prince (undergoing physical therapy) just outside town with Appa. And the Avatar and his “lady-friend” browse through an elderly’s bookshop, discreetly gathering info about the town.
Sokka, Yue on his arm, glanced at a bag in one of the stands. Intrigued he shuffled closer.
“Sokka?”
After looking over the quality of the accessory, Sokka made up his mind.
“It’s pricey, I’ll have to say. Too pricey. Even though the craftsmanship is exceptional and the design is cool, we don’t have coin to spare.”
“I agree. Let’s go see what Aang and Katara found out.”
“Agreed.”
Leaving behind the bag and an irate vendor, The Champions of Moon and Sea went in search of their younger charges.
Back in the outskirts, The Lady carefully helped her love regain his strength and stamina. During one of their breaks, the Prince spoke.
“The vision with the cloudy eyed girl is no longer showing up.”
Mai hummed in response.
“Perhaps we’re about to meet her.”
“I hope so.”
“Enough slacking. Get up. I won’t have you being lazy on my watch.”
The Champion of the Sun playfully groaned and obeyed his beloved, the Champion of Shadows, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips.
After scouring the local academy for the blind girl from his vision, and a slightly problematic encounter with some of the students, the Avatar and his “lady-friend” regrouped with Sokka and Yue.
“We heard someone talking about an underground earthbending tournament happening tonight.”
“You really think we can find Aang a teacher at a sketchy fighting ring?”
“Bumi did say to look for the master of neutral jing.”
“But in a fighting ring?”
“What’s the worst that can happen?”
“They’re doing what?”
Yue left the group to inform the Nobles of the plan. She is now regretting agreeing to the plan. Zuko’s expression was anger glossed over with confusion, while Mai just stared at her, amber-gold eyes boring into her soul.
“Yeah. I’m regretting letting them go.”
The Lady merely stood in response with an “I’ll do it” and shadowbended to the others. Yue glanced back towards the Prince and, seeing his face, nervously smiled.
After paying for entrance and scaring the living daylights out of the trio, Mai led the children to the stands. All around them were rowdy betters looking to some reprieve from the war.
“All we’re going to see is people chucking rocks at each other.”
“Lighten up Mai, we're here to look for Aang’s next master.”
As Mai glared into Sokka’s soul, Katara and Aang were busy examining the contenders.
When the ‘Fire Nation Man’ started spouting a song claiming to be the national anthem, Mai cringed hard.
“That’s not even close to what the true anthem is.”
When the announcer called forth the current champion, the ‘Blind Bandit’, Katara voiced her skepticism while Aang took notice of the way she fought.
High above the scene, unnoticed by most, Oma floated above the crowd. Her ghostly eyes narrowed in suspicion when her pseudo daughter was blown out of the ring.
How peculiar.
When the group returned to the campsite, they immediately took notice of Yue’s face, the face of guilt, and Zuko’s steely one. As Sokka leaned down to peck her on the cheek, she whispered something along the lines of ‘he’s mad’.
As the GAang settled around the campfire, made by yours truly, the atmosphere was tense. Aang was slightly oblivious to that fact. When Sokka opened his mouth to apologize he was instantly cut off by the Prince’ rough voice laced with frustration.
“I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed, among other things. I’m not finished.”
Katara snapped her mouth closed.
“Not only did you go to a sketchy, underground fighting ring, you also publicly humiliated the Champion of Guiyang in front of all her future subjects. You are very lucky that she was not in a vengeful mood after the stunt you pulled Aang.”
As the Champion of the Sun scolded the younger members, the fire brightened and flared with his breathing, almost turning white. The members didn’t feel the heat since the Prince sub-consciously controlled how much heat the flames gave off. Smoke filtered out his nostrils as the melted gold of his irises flared in the beat of the campfire.
Just as he was at the height of his rage, the Lady placed her cool hand on his right shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
Once his composure was regained and the campfire returned to its yellowish orange hue, Mai told them the revised plan.
When dawn came, Aang woke to a set of armored-toed shoes. Knowing his fate, and that it’s useless fighting Zuko in the morning, he sighed.
Chapter Text
Poppy and Lao Beifong has to be one of the most stuck up nobles he ever had the displeasure of meeting. And that is saying a lot.
In short, the Prince of Fire was not impressed.
The lengths they go to hide their only daughter from the world is just baffling.
Molten-gold eyes swept their surroundings, from the overly-ornate doors and ceilings, to the tacky priceless artifacts. At last, they settled on the two adults sitting in seiza on the dais, their young daughter in between.
After getting over the detached shock he always gets when making first eye contact with a fellow Champion (he’s gotten good at hiding it, among other things), he tunned back into the conversation.
“Ah, it is such an honor to be in your presence, Avatar Aang.”
Yep. With that honeyed, sleazy tone, they’d fit perfectly with the Fire Nation Nobles.
After the failure of a civilized dinner (sorta), the Lady ‘supervised’ Toph in the gardens for their hosts. And to give time for her beloved and Aang to convince Lao and Poppy to let Toph go with them.
The story she makes when describing how she sees is absolutely amazing. Definitely a defining trait of Guiyang’s Chosen.
When the younger girl made an off-hand comment about her parents, she just had to respond.
“Then why not prove them wrong.”
“I’ve tried but they just brushed it off saying it was a fluke.”
“Then they’re idiots for not listening to you. Reminds me of my parents.”
They continued sharing stories and growing closer when suddenly Toph called out an ambush warning.
The intruders that flung themselves from the wall were none other than Xi Fu and The Boulder.
Guards swarmed the gardens and Toph dropped into her stance. Mai merely raised an eyebrow before unleashing a feral smile and everything went dark.
Toph felt when everyone around her started to get scared. All of their pulses spiked and their footfalls became scattered. All except Mai.
She was steady, if not elated. Her footfalls were methodical and precise, almost undetectable to her.
Suddenly she disappeared. Yelps and screams of fear sounded out. All the guards bundled together by some unseen force and passed out. Xin Fu and The Boulder disappeared from the ground but Toph could still hear them above Mai’s humming tune, leading her to believe they were suspended in the air.
That was when her parents and Mai’s friends arrived.
Aang stared at the yelling and flailing Xin Fu and The Boulder as they hung from their own chains in the air. Mai was lounging on the same branch, humming to some song that was able to be heard from below. His eyes were filled with scared wariness while Zuko next to him had adoration and love in them.
Toph’s parents immediately swarmed the girl like a flock of mother-hens.
When she hopped down from the tree, Zuko held her by the waist and whispered their query.
What she said after that, and how she said it, officially gave him a legitimate, but healthy, fear of her.
“Oh you know, just blocked all the light around us, probed the guards minds and forced them to look at their worst fears until they dropped. Then I took the chain, wrapped it around those two’s ankles and hoisted them into the tree. Then you came.”
The couple’s eyes swiveled to the still yelling fighters.
“How annoying. Care to do the honors, my love?”
“Of course, my Lady.”
Taking the proffered blade, Zuko threw it dead center at the branch above them, neatly splitting it in half, successfully shutting them up. Without looking.
On second thought, make it both of them.
Aang was sure Lao and Poppy agreed with him, oblivious to their daughter’s thinly veiled smirk.
When the trio returned to camp, Aang’s earthbending master in tow, and told the Water Tribes Members what happened, their reactions were not what Aang had expected.
In lieu of the wariness that Aang and Katara had, Sokka burst into laughter while Yue teased the situation with them good heartedly.
He’d never understand the mind of young adults until years later.
Chapter 7
Summary:
This is a kind of replacement for "Zuko Alone" where the GAang indulges themselves in the lore behind their respective patron spirit. This is kind of long so buckle up!
Notes:
WARNING WARNING WARNING
READ ME FIRST!!
There are some themes that are a little gruesome. It doesn't go into detail but if you don't like reading that kind of stuff... skip Zuko's story.
You'll know what I mean.
-Kalifa100
Chapter Text
As Tui’s Masterpiece twinkled above the earth, the Gaang sat around the campfire, sharing stories and legends to the others.
“Mai, can you tell us the story of your Patron Spirit?”
The Lady in question turned and whispered in her beloved’s ear in High Court. Eventually, she nodded in agreement.
Long ago, there was a young Spirit. This young Spirit has always been a rather expressive one. Whenever she and the other Spirits played, her voice was always the loudest.
She loved the tales the Lion-Turtles told her. Tales of honor and valor. She loved them so much, she began to wish to be a part of those stories.
So, when the time came, she bid goodbye to her friends and her brother, and set off to combat the unruly demons and wraiths that prowled the part of the Spirit Realm known then as the Shadourerumu .
For centuries she was there. No one knows what exactly happened, but when she finally emerged from the Shadourerumu , she was not quite the same.
Her appearance changed from the bright colors she was once associated with to more dark colors and her once gold hair bled into black. Her personality also changed. Gone was the bubbly cheeriness she once projected. Instead, cynicism and coldness reigned supreme.
Centuries had passed and she went back into the Shadourerumu . This time, she brought her fiance, Agni, as a form of backup. Together, they were unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with. The demons and wraiths fell at their hands and they gained both respect and fear amongst the survivors. Some even shedded their evil ways and joined their side.
One Dark Spirit saw what was happening and disguised itself as a wraith. Catching the young Spirit off-guard, he struck her down, and got away. Agni, finding her lifeforce fading fast, took her to his Stronghold and infused his lifeforce to her own. Though Agni saved her, she was never the same again.
In being revived after near Spiritual Death, the young Spirit had almost no way to feel any emotion whatsoever. In a fit of rage, Agni swore to destroy the Spirit who harmed his betrothed.
When she woke up, her blood-red eyes shone with immense power. And anger, surpassing even that of Agni’s.
She hunted down every last survivor until she found the Dark Spirit. From there on, she enacted her revenge.
When she was done, the tell tale shadows lifted, forming around and within her, leaving what is now known as the Fog of Lost Souls.
“And thus, Nakano, the Great Spirit of Passion and Emotion, some even say War, was born.”
The Chief Interim was the first to speak when the contemplating silence fell upon them.
“Very interesting. I understand the War aspect, but why is she the Spirit of Passion and Emotion if she herself cannot feel it?”
“Because she was passionate in her rampage against the Dark Spirit and stories say that when the Council of Six made humanity, she was the one who gave them the ability to feel.”
He hummed in understanding. Yue piqued up.
“I’ve got a story.”
“Go ahead.”
At the start of the Age of Man, and before the Age of the Avatar, Tui walked amongst the very first humans. The humans would bow at her feet. At first, Tui tried to make them not do that, but eventually relented.
At the time, her gift to humanity was the only thing illuminating the night sky. The humans praised the celestial body with much vigor.
One such follower was Toano. There was nothing truly spectacular about him. Except the absolute devotion he showed to the Lunar Spirit. He was so devoted, he would forgo essential meals and social opportunities to praise her.
Tui was impressed with this particular human. In her eyes, humans were weak, fragile things and needed near constant care (not that she minded). But this one was determined.
After the War Against Vaatu and his Dark Spirits, the Council of Six noticed the humans they created started to die, if they hadn’t already. They noticed the peculiar sphere of light that would appear in their various Strongholds when they took their last breath.
So Nakano took up the mantle of becoming the Judge, Jury, and Executioner of these newfound souls.
At first, she convicted all the guilty ones and sentenced them accordingly.
But then came the innocent ones. Nakano had nowhere to place them, thus calling upon her sister-in-law, Tui.
When Tui was asked for advice, she spied a familiar soul. Tapping the soul, it revealed the outline of Toano, her most faithful follower. She glanced back to her empty night sky.
Suddenly, she had an idea.
She turned to the Forgotten One, telling her to give all the innocent souls to her.
“And so, Tui, the Spirit of the Moon, placed Toano against the black sky as the first star of many to come in her Nightly Tapestry.”
Aang was awed at the story.
“Woah.”
Yue laughed softly at the awed expression.
“Sokka dear, do you have a story or legend?”
“Why yes. Yes I do.”
“Get a room, you two!”
Sokka rolled his eyes at Toph’s exclamation.
During the formation of what we know as the Mortal Realm, La was having the time of his life.
The waters he created and commanded crashed against the shores of Guiyang’s Earthen creation, not a care in the world.
La knew the intricate currents of his waters, and how one little change could cause drastic consequences
What he didn’t know was how someone of a different element could tamper with his.
When he heard that his sister, Nakano, had a fiance, he met Agni.
Thus also meeting Tui.
Tui was an enigma to La. Whereas he was ruthless, she was merciful. Whereas La was quick to anger, Tui was not. Tui was his exact opposite.
At first, they did not get along. But as time passed, that changed.
When the war against Vaatu ignited, La was at Tui’s side, protecting her 24/7. Tui did what she had to do, but every time there was a reprieve, La was the one there to dry her tears.
When one of his Spirits made an off-hand comment on how they seem to have the same fluidity as their siblings, that’s when La was able to name that warm feeling in his chest, love.
“La, the Spirit of the Oceans, had finally found the yin to his yang.”
Katara had a confused face.
“Sokka, I don’t remember Gran-Gran telling us that story.”
“That’s because she didn’t. Mom did. You were too young at the time she told me to understand the story. You were like three.”
At her beloved’s downcast face as well as his sister’s, Yue grasped his hand and wrapped her arm around Katara’s shoulders.
Aang, waiting to diffuse the atmosphere, perked up with his own tale.
“This one the monks told me, and I just found it fascinating.”
Panna was not always his name. He was young for a human when the Great Spirits found him.
The Painted Lady was on one of her nightly walks in the ancient city of Kūki, disguised as a human, when she heard rukus on one of the smaller streets.
When she turned around the corner, she saw two corrupted humans attempting to mug a child. As she was about to intervene, she noticed how the child evaded the muggers.
She noticed how he’d bend his body to avoid getting hit and essentially use his enemies’ attacks against themselves. It reminded her so much of the previous Spirit of the Wind.
When the muggers knocked themselves out, she approached the young human.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“I don’t have one,” he replied.
The Painted Lady’s disguise nearly fell apart at that sentence. She continued to ask him about his life and where he learned to defend himself.
He taught himself, watching the judo masters in the square. The Painted Lady knew in that instance that this child was far more special than any other.
“I have one last question… How would you like to meet my family?”
The little boy looked at the disguised Spirit with hope in his grey eyes, and accepted.
“Panna, the Spirit of the Wind, found a new family, and a new life.”
“That is so wholesome.”
“I agree with Yue.”
“It explains how he was able to subdue my crew without landing a hit.”
The group laughed merrily at that thought. Toph, remembering a story her surrogate father told her, spoke up.
“I’ve got one!”
“Really Toph?”
“Yes, really, Sugar Queen.”
“Sugar Queen?”
Toph merely smirked in response before starting her tale.
Guiyang walked among the earth, cooling herself down. At the time, Raava was attempting to convince the Council of Six to allow her plan for the Avatar to commence.
She was with her Children, the badgermoles, when she heard footsteps coming closer. When she realized they were human, she hid from view.
The two young humans looked desperate and so terribly in love, it was almost ridiculous to her. She never really understood the love the others had, aside from her brother.
When they told the original earthbenders their story, Guiyang was about to refuse. But something stopped her.
No one really knows why she changed her mind.
Some think it was the tragic story they presented.
Others think it was the fact that her people were dying.
But really, it was because she was lonely.
She already had the familial relationship she had with the others. The way she was lonely was in the sense of companionship.
On a whim, she spoke up from her hiding place. Her voice reverberated from off the walls. Naturally, they quivered at the might of her sound.
She gave them her blessing, and when they were accustomed, she appeared to them in her true form.
“So, Guiyang, the Spirit of the Earth, found her best friends, Oma and Shu.”
“Aren’t they the last known Favored Ones of Guiyang?”
“Yes, Snoozles.”
The Prince, who, up until this point, quietly basked in the other’s presence (and valiantly trying not to fall asleep), spoke out loud.
“It’s getting late. We should get some rest while we can.”
“But you haven’t told us a story yet!”
Aang came up to the prince and gave him his best puppy-eyes he could muster. After a few seconds, Zuko began to fidget. The Prince looked to his Beloved, who only gave him a pointed look.
Huffing, the Champion of the Sun relented.
“Yay!”
“But once I’m done, it’s bedtime for all of us.”
“I’ll take it.”
Zuko thought for a second, before coming up with a legend he found deep in the Dragonbone Catacombs years ago.
“Are you sure you want to hear this Aang? It’s not pretty.”
The young child thought for a moment before nodding vigorously.
The Prince sighed in defeat. The Lady, figuring out which one he chose, took hold of the groups emotions, forcing them to remain calm and content.
Most Spirit tales tell stories of found family, or stories of comfort, or even stories of grand adventures with harrowing plots. They all have one thing in common, the hero leaves unscathed.
This is not one of those. The hero receives no comfort right away, they do not receive a new family, they don’t even get to leave with minimal scars. This is the story of how Agni lost his eye.
It was during the most devastating battles in the War Against Vaatu. Humans and Spirits alike dropped like flies on either side. One of them being Kaminari, the previous Great Spirit of the Air.
Agni was at the front lines, leading the attack with Raava while his wife, Nakano, took her forces behind enemy lines to cut a path straight to Vaatu.
At first, everything was going according to plan. Agni saw his sister helping the wounded as her fiance fought off any turncoats or Dark Spirits. He saw Nakano melt into her shadowy form along with her followers as she struck down enemy after enemy.
But fate would not have it.
When they finally exposed Vaatu, Raava dashed forward to deal the final blow. As she ran, she became unaware of her dangerous surroundings.
Agni saw one of Vaatu’s devoted as they lunged towards Raava’s head. He saw what would happen if he didn’t do something. So he did the only logical thing he could.
He intercepted Raava milliseconds before the Dark Spirit, pushing her away from certain death.
But in doing so, he made himself the target. Pain blossomed across his face. Vaatu cackled before shadowy vines laced with pale blue light brought him to his knees.
When Vaatu was sealed away, both the Spirit and Mortal Realm entered into a post-war mindset, many sources told of the thin ropes of magma crisscrossing Agni’s face that replaced what was once his right eye.
“Agni, the Great Spirit of the Sun, showed both humans and Spirits alike that yes, they were powerful, but not invulnerable.”
The prince opened his eye to see his friends family, sleeping away.
“I may have overdone it, just a little.”
“It’s quite alright. Not every story needs to be told quite yet. No need to give them nightmares.”
“I propose we follow their lead and get some shuteye.”
The prince smiled in agreement.
Agni looked on with a soft smile on his face. He looked to his right, where his sister slept shamelessly on his shoulder, his wife doing the same on the left. La snored lightly from his place leaning on his back. Guiyang and Panna clung to his waist as they dozed away.
"Yes," he thought, "Some shuteye could do us wonders."
And with that in mind, he closed his eye in content
Chapter Text
The Night is young as our group of heroes set up camp. Yue gazed out into the forest with Zuko as Katara and Toph had a heated discussion, Sokka and Aang messed around with the shedded fur from Appa, and Mai sharpened the variety of weapons they had.
When Toph stormed off, Katara glanced at Mai, who simply raised her eyebrow as she menacingly dragged the whetstone across her blade. She quickly looked away and went to apologize to Toph.
Yue was just about to doze off when something caught her eye in the distance. A pillar of smoke and its source steadily coming closer. At the same time, Toph’s rock tent collapsed.
“There’s something coming!”
“We need to leave. Now!”
This cycle of the team steadily losing sleep and sense continued over the next few days, with the steamer steadily coming closer.
“The stars sure are beautiful. Too bad Toph can’t see them.”
The resulting impromptu flight ended as Katara landed on Sokka, waking him up, which also woke Yue and Aang up. Just as she was about to voice her opinions loudly, a sense of contentment washed over them. When the feeling went away, all eyes turned to Lady Mai, amber-gold eyes looking closer to red with silent fury.
“Do you want to wake Zuko up?”
The five, knowing what would happen, quickly shook their heads.
“Good. Katara, take a walk.”
“But-”
“No buts. Go. The rest of you, get some sleep. Spirits know we all need it.”
The rest returned to their sleeping bags. Just as Mai was about to return to her tent, Katara ran up to her.
“It’s back!”
“How close is it?”
“Too close.”
“Wake the others and help break down camp. We’re leaving.”
Sh*t .
“Who are they?”
“Bad news. My sister and her friend.”
“You have a sister?”
“Now is really not the time, Sokka.”
Everyone dropped into their respective stances as the two Mongoose Lizards riders charged them.
“Okay, we know who’s been following us. I say we leave.”
Toph earthbends a wall in a bid for time, only for it to disintegrate from the lightning.
“I second that!”
Then Toph storms off and leaves the group. Katara, noticing the stares from the others, spoke.
“What? She started it.”
The looks from the others said otherwise
“Katara, that was uncalled for.”
“Yue’s right. I know we’re all exhausted and still trying to get used to each other but that is no reason to lash out against each other.”
“I was pretty mean to her.”
“Yeah, you two were pretty much jerks.”
“Thanks Sokka.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll go talk to her.”
As the Prince went after the young girl, the rest devised a plan.
As Ty Lee debated to herself on what to call the patches of fur in the river, Azula studied the abandoned campsite.
“The Avatar is trying to give us the slip. Ty Lee, follow the trail.”
“What are you gonna do?”
The Fire Princess merely smirked in response.
“Hunt.”
While the girls were getting what little sleep they could, the Chief Interim was standing guard, sharpening his boomerang more out of habit than necessity. The Prince and Lady doing the same across the way.
Suddenly, the hairs on Sokka’s neck rose. He ducked out of the way before the fist connected with a pressure point. In retaliation, Sokka fashioned a water whip from the moisture in the air and wrapped it around her ankle, tripping her.
“Ow.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m not saying anything.”
The Chief Interim growled.
Hearing the noise, the Prince came up from behind him. Seeing him, the intruder’s eyes widened.
“Prince Zuko?”
Molten-gold eyes made contact with slate gray ones, sending shivers down her spine. A shadow fell over the young girl, prompting her to look up.
“Long time no see, Ty Lee.”
“Mai? How?”
“Where did Azula go?”
Ty Lee, reading the situation at hand, answered as three other sleepy girls came up to the scene.
“There were two trails. Azula told me to follow this one while she went to the other.”
“Then we need to go. Aang can’t face my sister alone.”
Aang stared at the woman before him, not much older than himself. Now that she said it, he can’t unsee the resemblance to Zuko.
“So what now?”
“Now? Now, it's over. You're tired and you have no place to go. You can run, but I'll catch you.”
“I'm not running.”
“Shame, really. Do you really want to fight me?”
“Yes I do.”
Heads swivel to the alleyway, molten-gold eyes glowing in the shadows.
“So nice for you to join us, Zuzu. Too bad you’re all alone.”
The Champion of the Sun wisely ignored the snigering from Aang.
“He’s not alone.”
Silvery eyes bore into Azula’s gold ones, ice at the ready. To her credit, Azula remained confident, the only sign she gave was the slight tilt of her lips.
Suddenly, Azula shot a wave of blue fire towards an unprepared Aang. Before it could reach him, however, two jets of water vaporized it while a rock wall blocked the blistering heat wave. Oceanic eyes coupled with icy ones penetrated through the shade of the porch, pale jade ones in between them.
In a desperate attempt to gain an advantage, Azula leapt onto the roofs of the houses, Zuko close behind. Just as she was about to strike, obsidian blades pierced the fabric of her armor, sticking to the wall of the house beside her.
“Mai? What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?”
The next half hour was spent by Azula dodging various attacks, occasionally parring some with her own.
Eventually, Team Avatar was able to corner the Lightning Princess.
“Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done. I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor.”
Molten-gold and Amber-red eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Suddenly, honey-colored eyes shifted to focus on her prey.
A shrill scream sounded and hell broke loose.
The Chief Interim was guarding the campsite when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.
“How is she?”
“Recovering. The body ultimately has to heal on its own. I can only speed things along. Yue helped.”
The Children of the Southern Water Tribe sat in comfortable silence, staring at Night’s first stars.
“Sokka?”
“Yes, Katara?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a waterbender?”
The Champion of the Seas contemplated for a moment.
“Because, you’re my sister. I knew that with my limited experience, you wouldn’t be able to become the magnificent young woman you are right now. I didn’t want you to become dependent on me.
I am on a path you cannot follow.
Over the course of your life, I have seen you forge your own path. And for that… I am so proud to call you my little sister.”
Strong but gentle arms embraced the young girl, and held tight.
“Never forget who you are.”
“... I promise.”
The Prince gazed at his beloved as she slept, Toph at his side.
She looks so serene.
“She will be alright.”
“I know… I-”
“Just want to be here when she wakes up. I get it.”
A sigh escapes his lips. He should have been able to block his sister’s attack. He should have-.
“I don’t need sight, or earthbending, to tell that you are about to drop.”
“...”
“Don’t worry. You sleep, I’ll make sure she’s alive.”
“... Thank you Toph.”
“No. Thank you.”
Notes:
This chapter was fun to write. At first I didn't know how to end it, but after a week or so, it came to me.
I wanna hear in the comments your thoughts on my choice.
I may go back and redo the prequels, make them more unique to each person.
Also, my birthday is Sunday. (YAY!)
Stay safe, stay cool, stay awesome, stay you!
-Kalifa100
(And stay hydrated! IDK about you guys but the summer days here in TX are BRUTAL)
Chapter 9: AUTHOR NOTE
Chapter Text
Guys...
As of right now ALL comments are to be moderated.
I'm Ok with y'all commenting and handing out constructive criticism...
BUT... if you comment an insulting comment without any explanation like User "..." again I will be forced to turn off all comments.
And possibly remove this story from Archive of Our Own.
This is your FINAL WARNING!
Chapter 10
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The light of Agni’s Gift to Humanity spills over the orange and terracotta canyon, making the terrain look more like a painting than not.
The Avatar breathes in the crisp air as he airbends himself off the ground.
“Today is the day.”
He leans towards the Chief Interim, who is still sleeping.
“Can you believe it? After all that time searching for a teacher, I'm finally starting earthbending! And this place, it's perfect, don't you think? Sokka?
Oceanic eyes filled with fatigue pointedly stared into stormy grey ones. Aang, realizing what he was doing, quickly apologized.
After a quick scope of the site, he concluded that almost everyone was asleep, and went to join the Fire Prince in his sunrise meditation.
“May I join you?”
The Prince made no move in acknowledgement other than telling him to be quiet.
“Do you know what today is?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to tell you?”
“No.”
“Today is the day I start to become-”
The Prince sighed in despair to himself, knowing his meditation session has just come to a pause. Or an end. Who knows.
The Daughter of the Southern Seas was in a healing trance, soothing the burns on the Lady’s arms and torso. The part of her mind that wasn’t focused on the slightly glowing water in her hold mulled over various thoughts.
It’s times like these that she is grateful that she received lessons from Master Yugoda. Whatever lessons she missed due to time and circumstance, the Northern Princess made up for it easily.
She would be lying if she said she didn’t feel betrayed by her brother when she found out he was a waterbender. Years of upholding the expectation of being the Last Southern Waterbender alone would do that.
Whenever that particular train of thought came about, she metaphorically stamped hard on it, remembering all the times her brother was there, protecting her, comforting her, being her older brother.
No matter what, she’ll always love her brother. And her brother will always love her.
The Northern Princess watched their newest member’s first lesson for the Avatar from the top of the cliff.
She was curious.
She watched the men back at home as they performed the forms she was forbidden to learn.
She watched the cold katas her fraternal twin does every morning, easily imagining the fire around him.
She watched the way Aang avoids getting hit and how he utilizes Panna’s gift.
But she had never seen earthbending safely before. The only time she has seen earthbending up close was during the heat of a battle (if that fiasco can even be called that).
So yes, she was curious.
When Aang accidentally airbended backwards to Appa, she couldn’t help but snigger and call out to below,
“Rock beats Airbender!”
He feels cold. Not like when he was in the North. This was worse. It was as if his inner fire was blown out suddenly.
His connection to Agni was blocked.
He looked desperately around him, taking in the battle scene before him.
The People of Push and Pull as well as Stability pushed against the defenceless People of Fire and Fury, eyes bound.
Suddenly the scene changed.
He saw his family fight his sister, her fire also puffed out. He, Mai, and Yue strangely were not there. Panic quickly appeared on all their faces as they dashed down the tunnel.
The scene changed once again.
It was him and the Grand Lotus fighting the Fire Lord. Warmth flowed through him. But instead of bringing confidence, it brought fear.
White lightning ebbed towards them.
Darkness enveloped them.
----------------
Molten gold eyes flashed open with a gasp.
What was that?
“Zuko.”
He glanced over his shoulder to see Katara standing behind him.
“I finished healing Mai.”
“Thank you.”
He filed the vision away and walked with her to the tent his beloved rested. After looking around the camp, he noticed something off.
“Katara. Where’s Sokka?”
“He said he was gonna try and hunt for something. What? You think he got himself stuck in a hole and can’t get out?”
The Chief Interim was stuck in a hole and can’t get out.
This is embarrassing.
“Sokka?”
Two sets of footfalls came closer, belonging to a downtrodden Aang and a slightly worried Yue.
“Not a single peep out of you.”
He looked into the beautiful silvery eyes belonging to Yue as she struggled to keep a straight face.
Seeing the state Aang was in, Sokka disregarded the state he was currently in. Getting the child’s attention, he spoke.
“I can tell you have a lot on your mind. So vent.”
“Are you sure?”
“I mean, I can’t exactly go anywhere right now,” he said, gesturing to his predicament with his hands.
“I can go get-”
“No.”
“Yue?”
“I think I see where she’s going with this. This can be of use to us. Get me out. With earthbending. After you vent.”
“Now she has my staff and she took my nuts! … That did not come out right.”
“Nope”
Once he got all his frustrations out, Yue knelt in front of him.
“Aang, do you know the story of Tui and La?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I think so.”
“Well, long story short, Tui is Push and La is pull. Tui is the exact opposite of La. Yet they both work in tandem of each other. The same concept can be loosely applied to the four general elements. Fire is the exact opposite of Water. What is Air’s exact opposite?”
“Earth.”
“Correct! That's why it's so difficult for you to get this. You're working with your natural opposite. But you'll figure it out. I know you will. Just like Tui and La.”
Small arms grasped her shoulders in a hug.
“Thank you, Yue.”
Suddenly, the saber-tooth moose-lion cub mewled towards the bushes. Confused, the trio turned to see what it was mewling at.
Only for a mama saber-tooth moose-lion to stride into the clearing.
The Lady was sore. A day and a half of not moving a muscle sure was taking its toll.
She and Zuko were currently going through various stretches, Katara on standby.
“How are you?”
Amber-red eyes focused on her beloved as she raised an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean.”
“I don’t know. That Azula we fought off was not my friend three years ago. I fear for her. Ty Lee can only do so much to keep Ozai at bay without him knowing.”
“I know the feeling. I still remember the little girl who would shyly ask me to do something with her. I don’t know where she is now.”
She grasped her beloved’s right shoulder and looked him in the eye.
“We’ll help her. We all will.”
He placed his own hand above her’s in silent agreement.
Suddenly, a scream reverberated off the canyon walls.
“Guys, the others are in trouble!”
Toph was there the whole time.
She felt her student, as well as Sparky and Knives, herd the saber-tooth moose-lion around, being mindful of Snoozles stuck in the ground (a thought that made her cackle).
Moony and Sweetness did what they could to protect Snoozles’ noggin, the former forming an icy wall around them and the latter occasionally whipping towards the mama whenever she got too close with her water.
When the beastie finally ran off with her cub, she decided that it was her time to intervene.
Clapping could be heard all around them.
“What are you doing?”
“Enjoying the show, Sparky.”
The Fire Prince rolled his eyes.
“You were here the whole time?”
“Pretty much.”
“Why didn't you do something? Sokka was in trouble! I was in trouble! You could have gotten him out and helped us get away!”
She simply shrugged, cracking a nut with his staff.
“Can I have my staff back now?”
“Do it.”
“Huh?”
The Lady stopped Katara from intervening on Aang’s behalf and started to lead them away, leaving Aang, Toph, and Sokka behind.
“Earthbend, Twinkle Toes. You just stood your ground against a crazy beast. And even more impressive, you stood your ground against me. You've got stuff.”
At Toph’s… ‘nudging’, Aang earthbended a boulder into the ravine.
“I did it!”
“Good job, my student.”
“Thank you, Sifu.”
“This is great and all but could you kindly get me out of here?”
“Sorry Sokka. Here, I’ll-”
“Actually, you should probably let me do that. You're still a little new to this. You might accidentally crush him.”
“No crushing, please. I quite like my life, thank you very much.”
When they got back to the camp, Aang went around and showed the others his newfound skill. Yue was braiding some twine she found earlier into a net of sorts. Toph sat next to Mai and a lethargic Zuko. Katara was healing her brother’s bruised ribs before returning to preparing dinner.
Katara leaned over to whisper in Toph’s ear.
“You tried positive reinforcement, didn't you?”
“Worked wonders.”
She smiled knowingly before serving the bowls of stew.
Notes:
I somehow was able to write this chapter in one day while riding in a car. Up a mountain.
Somehow.
This will not get updated in a while due to me being on vacation for three weeks more or less. I want to be able to spend time with my family and pursue other types of art while I'm here so. yeah.
Please kudos. comment if you'll like.
As always stay safe, stay cool, stay awesome, stay you!
-Kalifa100
Chapter 11
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
To say the Lady was unhappy, you’d be absolutely correct. Not only is it hot, it’s also; bright, dry, extremely underwhelming, and very seedy.
“Remind me why we’re here again?”
“Sokka wants to hunt down a hypothetical library in the middle of the desert in hopes to receive vital information to use against the Fire Nation.”
“And how is this a good idea?”
“It’s not.”
The Misty Palms Oasis is shady as is. The local sandbenders spat at Sokka’s feet (Yue discreetly holding him back). The place itself looks rundown. And freelancers were everywhere.
“You're a living relic!”
And don’t even get her started on Professor Zei.
While the others were talking with the anthropologist, Mai pulled Sokka aside.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“We need to find some upper hand over the Fire Nation Loyalists, Mai, without risking our necks.”
“I know, I just have a real bad feeling about this, Sokka.”
“It’ll be fine. Not like anyone’ll… I don’t know, steal Appa?”
He would later regret ever saying that.
“Do you at least still have the tile from the Southern Air Temple?”
“Yeah, why?”
She whispered in his ear, his face morphing from confused to attentive.
“Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t.”
If he had to list one thing he absolutely loves about firebending, the Prince would have to go with his resistance to hot temperatures.
He did feel sorry for the others. While he and his beloved were mildly affected by the heat, the others were downright miserable.
Except for Zei, probably due to the fact that he spent possibly years in the Si Wong Desert.
“There it is!”
Everybody, aside from the Fire Nobles, look to where Toph is pointing, only to be met with endless sand dunes.
“That's what it will sound like when one of you spots it.”
Yue leans over to Katara.
“I keep forgetting she’s blind.”
“You’re not the only one.”
After hours of endless searching under the unforgiving glare of the sun, the Chief Interim finally spots something.
A cylindrical shape jutting out of the sand, sticking out like a sore thumb in the vast desert.
“Forget it. It's obviously not what we're looking for. The building in this drawing is enormous.”
As they were about to get back on Appa, Sokka spotted movement in his peripheral vision.
“What’s that?”
Zei turned to see where he was pointing.
“I think that was one of the Knowledge Seekers. That means, *gasp* we must be close to the library!”
Zuko, who inspected the illustrations after Katara handed them over, spoke up, raspy voice neutral.
“We are already here. This is just the tip.”
Yue nodded along.
“Makes sense since legend has it that Wan Shi Tong’s Library is one of the few remaining places where the Spirit Realm overlaps the World of Man to survive Raava’s Decree thousands of years ago.”
“So all my life’s work is desecrated by the sands of time?”
Right before Zei had his drama moment, Toph spoke up, hand pressed against the spire.
“Calm down there, Mr. Anthropologist. The inside seems to be completely intact. And it's huge.”
The Northern Princess stood in awe of the place, chi abuzz with spiritual energy, making her hyperfocused.
Instinctually she knew her fellow Champions were the same way.
A part of her worried for Toph, who elected to stay with Appa, but quickly filed it away, knowing just who she is.
She heard sniggering behind her. Just as she was about to ask what was funny, she felt rather than heard powerful wingbeats from below, causing all of them to freeze.
“You should leave the way you came. Humans are no longer permitted in my study.”
Slowly, they all turned their faces to that of the owl-esqe form of Wan Shi Tong.
“Hello, I'm Professor Zei, head of anthropology at Ba Sing Se University.”
“Perhaps you would like to become a stuffed head of anthropology.”
“I take it you are the Guardian Spirit of this library?”
The melodic voice sounded familiar to the Knowledge Spirit, along with her general complexion. And the aura she radiated.
“Indeed. I am Wan Shi Tong, Et quis novit Decem Mille Rerum. ”
“ ‘He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things’. ”
He turned to the scarred one, surprised. He was also familiar.
“Very good. Not many humans remember the Ancient Dialect… Why have you come here?”
“We seek knowledge for… knowledge’s sake?”
Was the blue one for real? And why does he seem so familiar?
“Was that a question or an answer?”
“Uhh…”
“Hmm, very well. I'll let you peruse my vast collection on one condition. To prove your worth as scholars, you have to contribute some worthwhile knowledge.”
Up on the blistering hot surface, the (soon-to-be) Metalbender was bonding with the Sky Bison.
“So... you like... flying?”
With mixed results.
The Last Airbender absentmindedly strolled through the aisles. He was looking for information on the Avatar cycle, but quickly got himself lost.
“Looking for something?”
He spun around at the sound of the Knowledge Keeper’s voice.
“Uh… yeah. I was wondering if you had, like, a section about the Avatar?”
“Your friend has already found that section, but I can take you there so you don’t get lost. Again.”
He sheepishly smiled in response.
Meanwhile, in the lower levels of the vast bibliotheca, the Champion of the Shadows browsed the shelves, looking for anything with potential. When she turned the corner with her beloved, she froze in a rare state of shock.
“Oh no.”
The sight that greeted her was gruesome. What was obviously once a beautiful array of tomes, artifacts, and cultural heritage, was reduced to little more than ash.
“This is why I do not allow humans here anymore. All they do is destroy. Take and destroy.”
If the Knowledge Spirit was disappointed at her lack of reaction, he did not show it.
“Let me guess, Zhao.”
“I take it you’ve met this ‘Zhao’?”
“He tried to kill the Moon Spirit.”
“He WHAT!? What kind of fool would go and try that!?”
“One condemned to a fate worse than death.”
“Good.”
The Champion of the Sun stood dumbfounded among the ashes, the conversation behind him faint.
Millenia of Fire Nation history and culture, possibly dating back to the Dawn of Man, all gone. All because of an egoistic, cruel man out for power and greed.
“I do have one question, if you will.”
He turned his head to hear the query better.
“You and your friends, they seem familiar, though the answer as to why vexes me. Just what exactly are you?”
He turns to completely face one of Panna’s Lesser Spirits, a smirk as sharp as his dao on his lips and eyes reminiscent of the sun glowed in the shadows.
“Are you sure you want the answer to that?”
The Champion of the Moon trailed behind her beloved as they followed the fox spirit deeper in the bowels of the atheneum. Shelves upon shelves filled with thousands of years worth of knowledge were promptly ignored.
When the fox finally stopped, Yue took the chance to catch her breath before following Sokka into the Solarium.
She saw the gears working in his mind as he quickly figured out the mechanism of the room.
“Yue, can you help me with this?”
“Yeah.”
Together, they moved the large dials to the date labeled ‘The Fire Nation’s Darkest Day’, the mechanism working about them.
When they reach the date, they look up to see the results.
The Champion of the Ocean glanced at his girlfriend to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
“A total solar eclipse. It was literally the Fire Nation’s darkest day.”
Yue quickly caught on.
“So, we need to find the next solar eclipse and pray it’s before Sozin’s Comet.”
The Daughter of the Southern Seas followed the fox spirit, Aang and Professor Zei in tow, deeper into the building.
The fox led them through the labyrinth of bookcases, only slowing in respect of the destroyed knowledge, where Zuko and Mai were.
“Wha… what happened… here?”
Mai responded to the breathy question without hesitation, and a hint of antipathy.
“Zhao.”
They took a moment to regain their breath and pay respect to the knowledge lost.
Fairly quickly, the fox spirit started tugging on Katara’s trousers, whining a bit.
She quickly filled the duo in before dashing after the spirit.
When they reached the Solarium, they found Sokka and Yue staring at the ceiling where the representation of the sun was completely covered by that of the moon.
Oceanic eyes locked with molten-gold.
“Zuko, you told me that firebenders get their strength from the sun, correct?”
“Yes.”
“What do total solar eclipses do to firebenders?”
“Every firebender has an inner flame, fueled by the sun. During total eclipses, that flame is extinguished completely. Only one type of firebender is exempt from the effects.”
“Who?”
To this, Mai answered.
“Shadowbenders. Total eclipses make them even stronger.”
“Sokka, when is the eclipse?”
He was about to answer his sister when Wan Shi Tong’s voice reverberated off the walls.
“Mortals are so predictable, and such terrible liars. You betrayed my trust. From the beginning, you intended to misuse this knowledge for evil purposes.”
Aang started to plead to the furious Spirit.
“We had no choice. Please, we're just desperate to protect the people we love.”
“And now I’m protecting what I love from the likes of you.”
Then sand started to fill the Si Wong Library.
“I already told you, I don't wanna snuggle.”
Suddenly, Toph sensed Appa flee the spire as tremors shook the blurry ground, quickly gaining in strength.
“Library sinking. Library sinking!”
She desperately shifted the sand for a base as she held the sinking building aloft.
Her arms shook under the stress she was subjecting them. She heard Appa roar at something that was coming closer to them.
What now?
“Who’s there!”
She couldn’t tell who it was, but she could hear Appa’s roar as ropes wrapped around the 6-ton bison.
“Do not make me put this down!”
She released her hold on the library as she earthbends sand at the attackers. She quickly regained her hold just as they were taking Appa away and sand cut into her skin.
When the others finally tumbled out the spire minus one person, they were met with a violent sandstorm.
Zuko, sensing Toph’s body heat, found her violently shaking unprotected from the sand.
He immediately shielded her from the storm, silently noting how she readily pressed against him to hide her tears, and motioned the others to do the same, creating a huddle against the storm.
When the storm lifted, there was no library, and no Appa, only miles of sand in every direction.
Notes:
I'M BACK!
Vacation was nice, weather was amazing (better than TX heat lemme tell you)
I painted a lot of different paintings and I wrote a chapter.
Now I'm getting ready for school and playing minecraft!
Please comment and kudos, I love reading y'all's comments.
As always stay safe, stay cool, stay awesome, stay you!
-Kalifa100
Chapter 12: AUTHOR NOTE
Chapter Text
This work is officially up for adoption.
The reason being is that I have lost inspiration and I have moved on to different Fandoms. I also have harder classes than last year that I really need to focus on.
Thank you for reading this story. For the longest time, it has been my pride and joy, and it will always hold a place in my heart.
For the last time on this work, stay safe, stay cool, stay awesome, stay you!
-Kalifa100