…Sparks…
Arrogance was the only reason that the Northern Water Tribe marched the shores of the Fire Nation without shackles. They couldn't bend the water like their ancestors nor was the pull of the moon strong enough to beckon them. Smoke rose from this hot land and heat radiated off the guards. An occasional spark would flicker from the hands of their captors to remind their captives of there place. It was an almost perfect beginning for the Fire Nation.
The sky suddenly turned a shade of gray as the moon passed through the sky and finally rested upon the sun. Darkness left various shades of golden eyes staring at their hands and then the sky in disbelief. Gold and Blue eyes clashed as realization had sunk in. The Northern Water Tribe had feigned defeat, the Fire Nation allowed pride to march hundreds of these people into their city.
A shadow passed upon the ground and all eyes turned up to follow the form. All watched as the figure dropped into a solid stance with knees bent, the ground shuddered from impact. Arms rising up, rock jutted from the ground covering the water tribe. A quick flowing motion and the ocean stirred to life. Battle ships rocked as the docks fell apart and the ocean gave a roll before bursting forward. The warm water rolled over the jutted rocks and washed a path through the city.
"This defiance ends today, there will be balance!"
The small figure had spoken with thousands of lifetimes; the illuminated eyes and large arrow upon his head were beacons of hope. The Northern Tribe gave a battle cry and followed their element. A few moments were all that was need.
Images passed through her mind. A battle, a strange boy encouraging what looked like the water nation, and then…darkness. A silky feather lifted from her forehead. The large wing shifted back to what appeared to be a giant owl's side. Black eyes watched regarded her and she deeply inhaled.
"You may release the Cursed," the owl spoke.
Toph stomped her foot and Zuko roughly shot from the ground and slammed into a pillar. Katara gasped in worry and went to move to check him the moment he dropped back to the ground. The owl shifted and was back in her sights. It shocked her that something so large could easily move within the confined spaces. Its form had shadowed what light was offered and the quick being had ensnared her to transfer the fragmented memory.
"I am Wan Shi Tong the spirit of this library."
This was the second time it had spoke and its beak didn't move. It had glanced at Zuko when it first landed and then it reached out and touched Katara. Zuko had merely shifted and blinked out of existence and behind Katara. His hand wrapped around her arm and yanked her behind his form. Zuko was standing in front of her defiantly glaring at the owl. A protest from Katara was quickly silenced when Zuko spoke.
"What happened to the Fire Nation? Which Fire Lord started the war and where are they?"
Wan Shi Tong shifted his large heard and his feathers ruffled in annoyance. Toph stiffened and Katara saw the glare in the spirit's eyes. The spirit briefly shifted his gaze when Katara reached up and grasped Zuko's arm. His skin shuddered under her touch before he went tense. Moving past him caused her to softly rub against his side. Wan Shi Tong watched the interaction before he quickly spoke.
"I do not know how the outcome came to be, but the outcome is," Wan Shi Tong calmly explained.
"All this information and you know nothing?" Zuko gritted out, his temper showing with each word.
Katara stepped away from him, the warmth that he carried was steadily rising causing her to feel the beginnings of a mist forming on her skin. The fear of being caught in his warmth and consumed flashed through her mind before she blinked. There were more things for her to worry about, like conversing with this giant owl. The water tribes were good with following a calendar, but they couldn't predict a day of black sun.
"How did the Water Tribe know about the day of black sun?" Katara suddenly questioned.
If the owl could show expression she swore he would be grinning like a cat. The blackness of his orbs showed an appreciation that his face couldn't.
"The Northern Water Tribe traveled to my library seeking information," he simply answered as his head twisted to glance in the direction of another section of the library.
"Water tribe came, they saw, and they went to conquer," Toph summarized.
It made sense, but she couldn't believe that her people would simply wipe out another nation, but water was an element that could represent death as much as life. Her people couldn't do such a terrible deed and yet, the avatar also vanished that same day.
Sapphire eyes strayed to Zuko. She knew that bending existed and heard tales of it. The goal of her life was almost complete. All she had was a cursed prince and more questions without the proper amount of time to answer them.
"Bending existed," Katara muttered as her eyes fluttered so they were half lidded.
Zuko scowled at the lost gaze upon her face. It reminded him of defeat and he felt a new anger emerge. His nation no longer existing didn't bother him, but he was bothered knowing that he didn't know anything. All he knew was that he was cursed, his new mistress was dying, and that spark of determination suddenly seemed defeated within her.
"What's your problem?" Zuko gruffly asked.
That sad and longing gaze fully stared at him before she blinked. The gaze and expression vanished. Toph's toes pressed closer to the ground. It was like a drop of water hitting a surface of a lake. Zuko's breath caught in his throat, his eyes fully shut, and then silence. The steady vibrations from the life that flowed within them gave her sight. Katara was clearly upset, with what, Toph didn't know.
"Nothing," Katara softly replied. "We should get moving."
Zuko scowled at her indifference. Her nature had been nothing but full of emotion. This imprudent display of sorrow was something that he hadn't fully expected. He went to reach out, but let his hand fall uselessly to his side. Comfort was not something he was used to and he had no clue on what to comfort her for.
"What will you do now?" Toph questioned, focusing on the girl.
"The Northern Water Tribe was…is involved in the Avatar's disappearance. It's about the same time bending went out of existence," Katara mused. "I say we visit the Fire Nation."
"To travel, it would be nice to roam the skies," Wan Shi Tong wistfully sighed.
Toph crossed her arms, but didn't agree aloud. There were many things that would be nice, but she wouldn't voice it. Her freedom was escaping her parents, even if it meant living life out in a library. A stray vibration told her that Zuko's pulse suddenly skipped and his temperature dropped; a strange combination.
"Is there anything else that would be useful to know?" Katara questioned.
"I have a question for you," Wan Shi Tong suddenly said. "What do you hope to achieve?"
Katara shifted her weight in uncertainty.
"What benefit will this journey bring?"
She wanted to prove bending existed, that it was more than little tricks, but it seemed so much more now.
"What are your hopes?" Wan Shi Tong finally asked.
The throne room had long been abandoned. Days had turned to weeks and eventually years went by. Flames that had been long since extinguished suddenly ignited and roared to life filling the room with an eerie life. The slit within the floor which separated a single throne from the rest of the room roared to life last. Fire exploded from the slit burning the dank ceiling.
"I see that Zuko has been released once more," a silky voice mused from behind the flame. "This is what…a third time?"
A tall figure walked into the room, eyeing the flames, a sight he had long forgotten untrustingly. He knelt down the metal plates at the sides of his hips slightly creaking. A deep bow and he was upon one knee with an answer spilling from his mouth.
"He was released by my Fire Lady, then General Ezra before his morbid demise, a few times in the Earth kingdom…"
"And then you before the Avatar led the Water Tribe against the remaining Fire Nation in the other realm," she went on to say. Her tone turned sharp. "You failed to destroy them all Admiral Zhao."
"I am sorry my Fire Lady," Admiral Zhao easily replied.
The gray sideburns that covered the wrinkles left by time upon his face traveled up into his hair and shifted with his scowl. His golden eyes focused at the base of the flames, letting his reflect the same burning desire. One hand resting on one bent knee and another fisted upon the floor. His fingers twitched against the silk of his burgundy pants.
"Apologies do not help rectify actions," she hissed, "keep that in mind if you wish to remain an admiral."
"Yes, my Fire Lady," Admiral Zhao bit out.
"Do feel you can accomplish what you failed before at the North?"
Admiral Zhao got to his feet and placed a fisted hand into an open palm as he bowed. His voice echoed over the flames that hid and protected the Fire Lady.
"I will defeat the Northern Water Tribe, destroy the Avatar, and rid the world of your cursed brother," he vowed.
"Do not fail me or the Fire Nation again," she warned.
"Never again, Fire Lady Azula."
Author's Note: Questions, Answers, and other things...
1) How can Zuko grant immortality but not cure a disease?
...The theory is just because your immortal, doesn't mean your invincible, it's a twist and play on words.
2) Who are his other masters and how come they don't have his tomb?
...Azula's story will be explained in time, Zhao in the next chapter.
3) How did his tomb come back into the library?
...Toph wanted out of the Bender's realm, the Avatar's spirit guided her and in exchange she keeps watch over the tomb and library
Sorry about the mucho late review, I'm getting ready to make a move to Colorado from Illinois, so things are hectic with packing, work, and signing up for a new college. I'm still updating this story.
Next Chapter: Sokka meets Toph, Katara and Zuko make their journey to the Fire Nation on foot only to get robbed by Jet.
Please leave a review...they're low in fat and high in vitamin C
Many thanks to those that waited patiently for an update and repeat reviewers!
-Lingonberry jam and scones to all!-