Chapter 22: Coming home
Raw and Shaw weren't pleased with Zuko's ancestry, even less with his personal lack of respect towards them.
They had been used to pass judgment over every single one of the Sun Warriors.
They held complete authority over their culture.
Mostly because they provided great enlightenment over the fire bending arts, while allowing the strongest fire benders the honor of bonding with one of their children.
But also because their power was unparalleled.
As any culture that worshiped Agni, 'might' was the highest form of virtue one could possess.
And the young emperor had proven his valor.
Through an unprecedented display of power, he not only was capable of matching them, but also beat and slain them.
The last individual they had met from outside the Sun Warriors culture, had been an enlighten man named Iroh.
From what they were capable of recalling, he was the uncle of Zuko.
Though his current state was unknown to both dragons, they didn't think he had been the one that revealed their location nor existence.
Neither Raw nor Shaw knew how someone emanating so much spiritual energy managed to slip past their senses.
A few months back they had felt a disturbance coming from the islands of the Fire nation, and recently that vortex of spiritual energy seemed to have gone far away.
Out of nowhere, the source of such spiritual pressure appeared amidst their worshipers.
More specifically, the Sun Warrior with the biggest reserve of spiritual energy that had ever lived.
Now, while recovering from their wounds they remembered a prophecy they've made regarding the girl named Ri Huo.
Zuko was the one destined to fundamentally oppose the balance of the Avatar.
Regardless if it pleased the masters or not, Zuko had won the argument and the Sun Warriors were now part of his empire.
And the daughter of the Chieftain had left with him through whatever secret means he had used before.
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When Zuko had asked if she wanted to travel alongside him, Ri Huo didn't know what to think of.
She really wanted to see the outside world, and admittedly was really curious about his empire.
True he had given her back the opportunity to walk again, and also single handedly bested both Masters during their meeting.
His fire had proven to be the true inheritor of Agni's will.
But the handsome boy was full of mystery.
In the end, despite her faint insecurities, she accepted to follow him when he mentioned something about bending energy.
He brought her and Foc back to the spirit world, body and spirit, and led them to a majestic palace hidden inside the desert.
To their surprise, the building was bustling with spirits of all types and nature, all eager to learn from the vast collection of knowledge that the spirit Wan Shi Tong had gathered.
As Zuko made his way inside, multiple entities seemed to recognize him from some of the recent documents added to the library.
For now, he was regarded with curiosity and expectation, but the young emperor knew it was a matter of time for them to worship him.
Some of his donations were clearly biased towards him, but that didn't seem to bother the owl spirit.
As Ri Huo inspected the inside of the building, Zuko couldn't avoid himself from chuckling at her flabbergast expression.
Later he introduced her to the owner of the library and had her contribute to the spirit's collection.
Thankfully, he had warned her to bring something with her.
Since she could visit the spirit world even without Zuko's aid, it was only natural to give her access to the library.
Even if she decided to return to her home, they could always meet there.
After showing the place for her and Foc, Zuko brought her back to the physical world.
The transition was obvious since in this reality, the library seemed to be a ghost town if not for Wan Shi Tong's knowledge seekers.
But the surprises didn't end there.
Leaving the library, Zuko showed her what seemed to be a massive version of a balloon.
While Ri Huo and Foc admired their transportation, Zuko noticed Han'i and his guards' surprise at her red hair.
And of course at the flaming bird.
But any one that travels alongside Zuko, becomes quickly used with anything unnatural.
"Commander, is everything ready for our departure?" Asked Zuko to Han'i.
After receiving a respectful nod from her, he introduced Ri Huo and Foc to his soldiers.
"We have a long journey ahead of us, would you mind playing music for us to hear?" He asked her again, this time with a friendly smile. Zuko handed her a few scrolls. "Consider this a gift, if I'm not mistaken your birthday is tomorrow."
After thanking him from his gesture and noticing that he had gifted her with some music and archery scrolls, she happily agreed to entertain him.
As they took flight towards the capital city of the empire, Ri Huo couldn't avoid befriending his soldiers and praised Han'i's skill with the flute.
Both girls even shared a bit of information regarding each other's paintings and tattoos.
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During their journey through the skies and sea, Zuko kept an open eye looking for any "unnatural island".
His time in the library had been even more profitable with his lightning-overcharged state.
So the young emperor was well aware that the possible last remaining Lion turtle would soon approach the islands of the fire section.
Beyond that, he tested the wingsuit that his Engineer minister created for him.
His understanding of air bending was still lacking despite all the documents he went through.
Though Zuko knew a considerable amount about the theory of movements and had made great progress with bending energy.
Branching it towards other bending methods was still tricky to him.
Subcategories of bending, or specialized bending techniques, were thankfully much easier for him.
Branching towards earth with his black flames had unlocked lava and metal bending, while with his white flames alongside his immunity to fire, either styles had become natural for him to perform.
Branching towards water with his black flames gave him a little control over boiling water and steam, while his white flames allowed him to instantly freeze bodies of water.
As for branching towards air…
His black flames seemed to have mashed together with his combustion and now his beams were easily on par with nukes.
Not to mention, the overheating air around him proved favorable for making him lighter while the frosty cloak made him heavier.
That specific notion left the young emperor wondering if he could fly around like the air acolytes did in the fourth season of Korra's show.
Not one of his soldiers nor Ri Huo attempted to stop him from jumping off the flying war balloon. Either by obedience or by knowing that if anything failed, he could simply jet propulse himself back or created a flying mount with his lightning.
That reminded him, he hadn't attempted branching the elements with his golden lightning.
Since it had proven itself capable of making somewhat conscious beings, the results might have proven even more exciting.
For now, he was about to test if he could fly.
Or something similar.
Free falling from hundreds of meters above the surface of the ocean was an enthralling experience.
The strong gale pressing itself against you in response to the air resistance, the exhilarating sensation as your heart begins to pump blood faster and faster through your system, and the ominous image of the ocean approaching rapidly with clear intention of flattening you.
Really one of a kind sensation.
But the young emperor had vowed to live his second life without fear and without regrets of not doing something.
With a swift motion of his arms and legs while bending energy with the intention of reaching the air bending art was everything it took to make his rapid descent towards the sea, turn into a glorious ascension as if he was swimming in the atmosphere.
Didn't take long for him to begin circling around the War Balloon and hear his travel companions praising his victory.
No one considered he might secretly be the avatar due to his public sentiment of displeasure and animosity towards the immortal being. Nor would they care if all of the sudden he proved himself to be him or her, because they believed in him.
And in his dream.
As for Ri Huo…
She only became even more fascinated with the individual that was Zuko.
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Life had taken a surprising turn.
Initially she thought it would come down to her obeying her father orders until her time to take his place arrived.
Her mother had disappeared and Zuko would settle for a pathetic position in their military.
But now, Ozai was dead.
Her mother had returned and insisted on spending time with her.
And Zuko became emperor.
Azula was really conflicted between keeping her vow to make him pay for killing their father, for lying all these years pretending to be weak, and taking his place.
However, she couldn't bring herself to act against him any longer. Either by fear or respect, she wouldn't dare to displease him.
The girls he had ordered her to train as pristine servants were now as domesticated as if they had been born to serve.
Strangely, both Mai and Ty Lee seemed to have taken a liking for Zuko's toys.
Although, differently from Ty Lee's friendship with Suki, Azula noticed some level of sadism from the way that Mai treated June.
Azula was almost proud of her childhood friend.
Though she quickly reconsidered such thought after finding out that Zuko had presented her with a weapon that had a glowing edge.
Even Ty Lee earned some lame nomadic relic Azula had no interest in.
But still…
Mai and Ty Lee earned something.
What about her?
She was his sister, surely she deserved appropriate attention from him.
…
Anyway...
She had represented Zuko's will during military meetings and made preparations she reasoned he would agree.
The raiders from the water tribe were quickly becoming pesky inconveniences that her brother ought to deal with.
And rumors had been spreading throughout the entire world about a talented earthbender girl in the capital city loyal to the Blaze empire.
Not only that, but it was now common knowledge that fire benders from the homeland were more acceptable of other types of bending and that the emperor himself was generous enough to concede citizenship to those that would swear fealty to him and his empire.
The war seemed to have taken an unexpected turn.
War minister Qin brought from the northern air temple the recently appointed engineer minister and his community. His property in the capital had already been arranged and had been waiting for his arrival.
Not to mention through which vehicle they arrived.
The whole capital gasped in surprise and chanted praises at the newest creation of their empire.
A veteran commander had been reassigned to command a stronghold in the middle of the great desert in the earth kingdom. And from what she heard, the fort was already functional and self sufficient.
Even an ancient civilization long believed to have been extinct just recently sent a message requesting to join the empire.
Regardless of all that, Azula's time had been spent more in regards to improving her combat prowess.
She actually seemed to appreciate her sparring opponents' resolve in facing her, though interpreting her expression was actually pretty difficult in situations like this.
Since her distancing from Zuko, her bending performance had decreased noticeably.
The vast quantities of energy seemed to have left her and conjuring multiple lightning attacks had returned to be as taxing as they used to be.
Her opponents had been veteran fighters that had no problem in giving their all against her.
Even if they ended up beating her badly.
But if there was one thing drilled into every fire bender's head during training, it was to stand your ground against a foe no matter how outclassed you were, provided a fight was inevitable.
It was a lesson Zuko had displayed against Ozai to great effect when people still thought he was a meek and weak boy.
Either way, Azula didn't wait even a moment for her sparring opponents to be ready, launching thin, spear-like bolts of azure flame at both of them simultaneously.
The first, quickly shifting into his combative stance, attempted to block it but was sent hurtling backwards, while the second decided to dodge the blue flame rather than block it, considering her lack of experience with it.
She had no idea how strong this variety of Firebending was compared to the regular kind, but she was willing to bet that the difference was significant.
However, she barely had a second after dodging the first attack before another bolt raced at her, and then a third when she dodged that one.
Not only were Azula's attacks getting more powerful, but they were becoming faster: much faster than any Firebender she had ever dueled against.
It was all she could do to less than gracefully evade getting shot in the chest by rolling, ducking, and practically dropping to the ground to avoid getting hit.
By now the first royal guard had returned to his feet, and actually attacked the Azula's flank.
His involvement on that front caused him to gain almost the entire focus of Azula, who changed to harry him with shots that he assumed were as strong and as fast as they could have possibly been.
He got the distinct feeling that she was getting stronger during their match, which wasn't really insulting but still surprising.
The Royal Guard knew he was not the best Firebender of the empire, but in the past sparring matches, he could swear his performance was much greater against Azula.
But he at least still believed himself to be a good fighter.
So no matter who he was facing, he liked to think he at least provided some challenge.
Besides, he noticed that Azula seemed to be getting rather disappointed in the whole ordeal, or overly confident at the very least.
He and his partner could at very least rectify that.
Understanding his head gesture, the duo of royal guards settled on returning fire after their next dodge.
Leaping over the next shot, they kicked out two wheels of flame, the duo attacks soared towards their target for a moment before they were nonchalantly sidestepped.
Even so, Azula was impressed.
And eager to challenge them again.
While they definitely weren't going to bet on their interpretation of anything that Azula said, both royal guards felt that she too understood the inherent code of honorable combat for a Firebender: fight for fighting's sake.
It didn't matter if you won, as long as you fought your absolute hardest.
With that notion in mind, both royal guards went on the attack, hurling every conceivable move they could at Azula from a distance.
The first swept waves of fire at her feet and launched wheels of flame at her torso, while the second curved fireballs from different angles.
They even used the somewhat rare sunder technique, launching a wall of flame at the girl that split in two as it traveled.
They were all equally useless against her.
Every single one was dodged or simply brought under the Azula's control before she forcefully dispersed them.
The powerful Sunder technique was simply kicked into nothingness by one swipe of blue flame.
Searching for some kind of headway, both Royal Guards tried their somewhat signature technique of blinding the enemy with an inferno before closing the distance.
However, they had no time to employ the second half of the technique, as a condensed tendril of blue flame pierced the veil of orange and blasted the first guard right in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards and swiping towards the second soldier's side torso.
The force of the blow was enough to knock the wind out of them and probably bruise their torsos, but not pierce their armor.
Without them to power it, the royal guards' own attack faltered and dissipated, revealing Azula looking no worse for wear than she had before.
Still, both Royal guards were standing, and not without energy.
They weren't going to stop now.
But they had figured by now that they had been surpassed in Firebending by her.
Considering her unusual bending style, she was still unskilled in hand to hand combat.
Ready to capitalize on that weakness, both guards used their Firebending to boost them forward, closing the distance between them and Azula in but a few seconds.
Of course, she tried to stop them from getting so close, but they tanked through her barrage of attacks.
Unfortunately, neither parties were well familiarized with chi blocking since Ty Lee had just begun testing their flexibility.
And since weapons weren't part of their training, neither did Mai's throwing instructions play a relevant role in the altercation.
In the end, Azula wasn't all that surprised to see regular axe kicks coming at her, but surprised or not she nevertheless attempted to dodged them.
This time, with no window to retaliate at all, she focused on avoiding everything.
Every punch, every kick, every feint, and certainly any other kind of threat her opponents posed.
At some point the second guard tried to crush the shorter girl under a downward elbow strike, but she found Azula's fingers half an inch from her gut before she could connect, and a controlled yet nevertheless powerful spurt of blue flame smashed into her stomach with enough force to kneel her over in pain.
In a second she was on her knees, struggling to breathe.
Azula took care of the first guard in a similar fashion.
She seemed convinced that the match was over, but she found herself rather pleasantly surprised when both guards struggled to their feet and took some semblance of a combat stance, though it was suffering from fatigue and pain.
Azula cocked a curious eyebrow at them. "Are you really sane, soldiers?"
While they found it hard to speak, they didn't leave Azula unanswered. "We... haven't been incapacitated yet... we can still fight...Your Highness..."
There was a brief moment of silence from the younger girl as she contemplated the duo before her that looked no different than any of her other guards. 'Where does my brother find such competent servants?'
"Stand down soldiers!" The Royal guards' captain ordered.
More than a little relieved to hear that, both guards dropped their stance, though they refrained from any display that was too unsightly.
"Congratulations lady Azula, your brother will certainly be pleased to hear about your evolution." The captain stated in a formal tone to Azula. "However, since it seems fighting two opponents isn't that hard for you anymore, next time you will be facing more adversaries."
This actually elicited a slight smirk from Azula.
She wasn't sure how rare praise from the Royal Guards' Captain was, but based on what she had seen of her so far, Azula was convinced that it was a once in a blue moon occurrence.
Since a lot of the compliments she gave seemed kind of backhanded.
But they were still compliments, so Azula decided to take them for what they were.
She knew before she had the chance to reach Zuko's combat prowess, she would have to defeat that captain in a duel to the point of submission.
Azula turned on her heel, stalking back to leave the training chamber. While making her way through the Royal palace's corridors, she took a brief moment to futilely rub the soreness out of her body.
But her unnatural source of energy had returned.
And although Azula won't admit it, she was eager to meet him again.
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Toph was very glad that she had fought that fire nation platoon that had approached Gaoling.
If not for her lack of caution, perhaps Zuko wouldn't have learned of her existence nor her talents.
Neither would he have gone personally to fight her in the earth rumble.
Thanks to that lack of caution, she was no longer stuck as a weak and frail blind girl hidden from the world.
She was now respected as someone more than capable of taking care of herself.
She had learned that bending metal was possible.
Had gained the chance of becoming an actual teacher to other earth benders.
And find someone that actually cared for her.
Perhaps more than one person.
But the first had a special place in her mind.
Though that last part was still something she wasn't open to talk about yet.
"Master Toph, we want to thank you for another diligent effort to teach us the proper way of bending." Her students told her every time they ended their lessons.
"Hey little boss, you may be tiny, but ain't bad. The Boulder would allow another rematch between the two of us." Her musclehead companion kept repeatedly praising her and challenged her to a friendly duel.
Again and again.
He did come close to surprising her, since he began understanding her method of seeing, but still it hadn't been enough.
That made her notice that he was actually quite bright and had a soft spot for befriending people.
Not to mention his beloved crococat, which he had named "The Pebble".
The man hid those characteristics from the public to not undermine his bombastic stage persona.
The Boulder had proven to be a determined earth bender that just loved to bask in the praises of his fans.
Most of the time, Toph had to deal with his thick-headedness and difficulties with understanding allegories.
He was the best fighter of earth rumble, second only to herself.
And perhaps also to Xin Fu, but she had never witnessed him fighting, so she didn't know for sure.
Since he hadn't shown signs of being capable of bending metal, Toph opted for giving him some directions with the way he fought.
In return, he would help her exercise appropriately to not hinder her growth.
Zuko had commented about her body having the potential of becoming stronger since she was from the earth nation.
And she wanted to gain more praises from her, especially in regards to her body.
Training with that airhead Ty Lee had been harder than she expected.
Her stretching almost made her have a mental breakdown.
Of course, she still continued to train her metal bending rigorously.
Her skill had become sharper with the constant practice, and recently she managed to shake some coins without making direct contact.
She wondered when Zuko would send some sand benders to her.
Perhaps by analyzing their bending techniques, she might have a breakthrough due to sand's more loose nature.
Toph lost her train of thought after noticing her coins were floating around her.
She had reached such a feat without noticing.
But that noticeable improvement of her bending could only mean one thing.
He was finally back.
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In Zuko's chamber, Ty Lee has been teaching Suki the basics of chi blocking.
She had continuously praised Suki's flexibility, balance and quick memorization of all the meridians in the human body.
Though it didn't take long for her to point out that chi blocking wasn't effective against Zuko.
His chi flowed so strongly that her technique didn't seem to affect him at all.
Suki was surprised by her friend's advice, she wanted to learn chi blocking only as a last resort method if the need arose and she had no weapon to use.
But never really considered using it against Zuko.
She didn't know if she was more concerned about Ty Lee doubts in regards to her loyalty, or her own submissive nature of not attempting to fight for her freedom.
However Suki remembered of her promise to serve him if she lost the Agni Kai against him.
Which she did.
And even if she somehow managed to pierced his chi paths with something during his sleep, somehow avoiding his control over the metal around her wrists and neck, Suki had witnessed him bending without even moving.
And killing him would not be a valid opinion even for the desperate.
Not to mention her Warriors would suffer the same fate as her.
But Suki remembered that Zuko's last concubine had stronger sentiment against him.
She had worried that June would not tolerate his treatment towards her any longer.
But Mai somehow managed to turn her into her bitch.
Suki prefered not to know.
As long as it wasn't used against her, she decided to not care.
From what Zuko told her about June's reputation as an unscrupulous bounty hunter, spirits forbid, but she might deserve some of that.
Regardless…
While distracted by Ty Lee's necklace marked with spirals, the one her friend said emanated such a positive aura, Suki suddenly found her entire body not responding to her command.
"Oops!" Ty Lee remarked with genuine surprise. "I think I overdid a little with my demonstration. Heh heh."
"Seriously? How much time for me to recover?" Suki asked, a little worried about her vulnerable condition.
"A few hours I would say." She answered with an apologetic expression. "Maybe more since you are not a bender."
"What?!" Suki almost shouted before calming herself again. "At least things couldn't get much worse."
The universe seemed to find it fitting to have, at that exact moment, a servant enter the chamber to inform that Zuko had just arrived at the capital.
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(03/01/2021)
*Hope this chapter is of your liking. Anything you wish to ask, feel free to do so.
Thanks as always for your attention and please be safe.
Any problems with my writing, just point them out and I will correct them as soon as possible.
** Please don't hesitate to tell me if the quality is dropping. I really wish to continue trying to update fast, but I don't want to make it reflect badly on my writing.
*** Did you like the OC characters that I've been introducing? I wanted to flesh out the world of Avatar, and I noticed that some groups haven't been explored beyond a superficial appearance. But they won't in any way undermine the original character's importance... at least I don't plan to make it so.
**** First chapter of the year! 😎👍
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