Chapter 1.
It All Starts
"Grandfather, you called for me?" I sit obediently across from my grandfather. His back is turned from me and I watch in awe as the flame rise with every little movement my grandfather makes.
Some call him mad. I like many others in the camp call him a genius. And I am one of the lucky few who can learn from him. He is said to be among one of the greatest firebenders in the world. Grandfather had often told me I was born to surpass him.
Many didn't believe this when I was first born, I was born too early and this also caused my mother to pass shortly after I was born. I was told she wished to name me Ri after the sun but my grandfather wished to name Ren after that lotus plant. To which I was finally named Ri Ren, the Sun Lotus.
As I was stated before I was a weak child, from the start my true potential could rival even the greatest of great firebenders. But my true potential has always remained locked and hidden in me. Over during these past you it started to come out. When I first begun firebending my fire was a weak red, it continue like this till I was 10. The red fire would not go away, we thought it was my breath, but my breathing was perfect. We thought it was movements, my movements' bordered perfection. So, we believed it was my true potential was locked. Only when I was ten I was able to unlock it. My fire quickly turned from red to one of the most powerful and deadly flames, white. Fellow rebels were in awe when they saw a ten year old bending white flame.
"Yes, Ri Ren, Chey is up to something," My grandfather continued to breathe and exhale as I sat here patiently, "He wishes to find the Avatar and bring him to me."
I raise an eyebrow, "Isn't that good grandfather? The Avatar needs to learn firebending. Who better to teach him than you?"
My eyes are wide as the candles shoot up to the ceiling of the shack, "Child, the Avatar must learn water and earth before even attempting fire! Fire is uncontrollable, the Avatar needs discipline!"
"Of course, Grandfather. Please, tell me what you expect of me at the moment?" I ask.
"You shall go with Lin Yi and other rebels to find Chey and bring him back. We cannot afford for that idiot to go prancing around speaking of how great the Deserter is."
"Of course, Grandfather," I quickly leave the shack and make it up the hill to Lin Yi and other rebel members. They are either sharpening their spears or eating their dinners. Then all look up at me expectantly.
"Chey is making a mess of things again," I explain, I keep silent as groans go on throughout the group, "Lin Yi and I will lead a group to get the idiot and come back."
They all nod and the ones going groan. A long time ago we've organized group turns we are getting Chey.
I watch them pick up their spears and follow Lin Yi and me through the forest.
"There's a campfire ahead," Lin comments. I nod as I walk up ahead, but not before holding up my hand in a signal for the other to stand while I retrieve the idiot.
I can make out Chey standing in front of the camp fire and hear his voice as he continues to talk to someone, "He's not crazy! He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar! That's why I followed you into the festival."
I run up right behind the tree to gain my composure before making myself seen.
"Who is the perfect person to train the Avatar?" I ask mock curiosity in my voice.
I watch as three people get in fighting stance while Chey's eyes widen.
"Ri Ren, how good to see you!" I raise an eyebrow as him, "Everyone this Ri Ren, Jeong Jeong granddaughter and his student."
A boy with tattoos and orange clothing is completely in front of me in a flash.
He is beaming while he looks at me, "Hi, I'm Aang! I'm the Avatar."
My eyes widen quickly before I bend down in formal Fire Nation bow, "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Avatar Aang."
I stand up and expect everyone else in the group. Two teenagers who blue clothing, water tribe, no doubt. Southern Tribe? The Northern Tribe isolated itself, so it can't be them.
I turn my attention back to the Avatar as he begins to speak again, "You can get Jeong Jeong to teach me."
I smile at the young boy in front of me, who could only be four year younger than me, "I'm Sorry Avatar, but-."
"Call me Aang," The Avatar interrupts. I stare at him for a second before speaking again.
"I'm sorry Aang, but my grandfather cannot teach you."
His face falls in a split second, "Why not?"
"Because you aren't ready," I respond, I sigh, "I wish he would teach you, but he refuses, but if it helps, I can take you to our camp."
His face instantly brightens, "Yes, please!"
The water tribe boy stands up and speaks to Chey first then turns to me, "Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the North Pole in the morning."
The Avatar looks a bit hurt before trying to console his friend, "Sokka, this could be my only chance to meet a firebending master who would actually be willing to teach me."
"If Aang wishes to go to the camp, then he will. Even if we have to force his friends," I interrupt their little argument and then hold up my hand as a signal.
In a split second Lin Yi is standing before, who I believe to be Sokka with his spear drawn, "Don't move."
I put my arm around Aang as we walked through the forest.
"Now remember, when you meet my grandfather show him you most respect. And oh yeah puppy dog eye do not work on him," I at the moment was explaining what Aang should do and what not to do.
"Could you have your friends lower their spears?" The water tribe girl asked me. I turn my head to look at her.
I furrowed my brow and raised my hand signifying all over them to lower their spears.
"Wow, you really command everyone here, don't you?" Sokka asked me.
"Of course I do, my grandfather leads the rebels," I explain to him.
"Wow, you're like second in command here, aren't you?" He asks.
"No. Lin Yi is," I nod my head over to Lin Yi who chiding Chey as a mother scolds a child about finding the Avatar.
"Oh."
"Chey, my grandfather will see you first," I command as Lin Yi pushes Chey roughly.
"Oh, that's okay, we can chat later," Chey starts to back away again before Lin Yi pushes Chey with his spear now.
"Go now." He commands.
Chey gulps and tries to shoot Aang a reassuring smile as he walks down the hill, "Don't worry! Everything'll be fine. He's a great man, great man!"
I keep my eyes trained on him till he enter the shack.
"Well, I'm going to bed," I wave everyone off as I make my way back to the forest.
"Where is she going?" I hear the water tribe girl ask.
"She has her own secret campsite near here," Lin Yi explains.
I make my way further into the forest.
My secret campsite doesn't exist. I sleep in different place in the forest every night.
It gives me a sense of freedom and something my grandfather does not control. Tonight I sleep on a tall branch overlooking the river, I open my palm and let the white flame burst through.
When I was younger Grandfather told me how fire was fueled by emotions and drives.
He told me to meditate on what my drive was. I tried to make my drive as impossible as it could be so I could never lose it. So, I could always try to gain power to try and achieve this impossible goal.
My goal? To hear my mother say she's proud of me. My mother is dead. She'll never say it.
I close my palm and stare up at the moon.
You know how people say firebenders rise with the sun, yeah, that doesn't reply to me at all. I woke up around noon and made my way back to camp.
Seeing, only Sokka and water tribe girl, around the river.
"So, where is Aang and my grandfather?" I ask them. If there was anyone's company I enjoyed the most, it was Aang. He seemed so carefree and happy, you don't see that a lot in the middle of the war.
"I think they went to the mountain or something," The water tribe girl answered not looking up from the river. I walked closer to her and saw she was bending water.
"Wow, you're a waterbender!" I exclaim, I've only seen firebenders and earthbenders in my life. I guess you can count airbenders too now because of Aang.
"Yeah, but not a very good one, I've haven't found a master," She explains. I nod my head in understanding, if it weren't for my grandfather being such a good firebender, I'd still be producing red flames.
"Can't you make up your own moves?" I ask her.
"Well, yeah, I've tried, too, but.." She doesn't give a reply because we know how hard it is to make up your own techniques.
"What if I show you some of my firebending? You could incorporate some of the moves to waterbending?" I ask her. It sounds like a pretty good idea on my part and her face instantly brightens.
"Oh, great. You two could go hopping along with your magic fire and magic water," Sokka who has been listening into our conversation exclaims sarcastically, "Maybe we should find Aang and have him show you magic air."
"Sokka, knock it off!" The water tribe girl exclaims.
I raise an eyebrow and look at the similarities between both their facial appearances, "Siblings?"
"Yup," Sokka answers while making a popping sound at the end.
"Well, Ri Ren, could you please show me a move," Water tribe girl asks with her eyes wide.
"Call me Ri and Sokka, you can watch too, you might be able to put some of the martial arts moves into your own fighting," I look over my shoulder to see Sokka quickly making his way over.
"You can call me Katara, Ri." Katara finally gives herself a proper introduction.
"Okay guys the basic to firebending, is kick, punch, and jab. But you should also be able to shift yourself. Bending is all in the legs, specially firebending. Your moves have to be direct and straight." I explain to them, before punch a arm forward that quickly releases a blast of fire.
"So, we just, kick and hit people?" Sokka asks.
"No, you should be able to move and dodge in a moment hestination too. Remember, it's all in the legs," I explain to them again.
"I think I unsteadstand, Katara gets into a stance and raises a blob of water in front of use before trying to move it with a kick. She obviously isn't use to this to stance and quickly fall down.
"Keep trying to work on it you guys, I have to go meditate," I inform them as I walk away.
"Bye, Ri!" I hear both of them call after to me.
I spend a couple of hours meditating, before I see Aang enter the shack, with a sad expression.
"What's wrong, Aang?" I ask him obvious concern in my voice.
"I burned Katara," He replies and turns away from me obviously ashamed.
I walked near him and wrap my arms around him, "It's okay Aang, she knows you didn't mean too. Fire is dangerous element."
All in my head I'm thinking, 'What is he doing making fire this early?'
"I'm never going to firebend ever again," He says solemly. I want to interrupt and say that it is every Avatar's duty to learn and master all four elements, but I don't. This isn't the right moment too.
"You don't have to Aang, you might need firebending to defeat some enemies, but that could be what I am here for. I'll firebend for you," I assure him this. I wonder I this is how it is having siblings, you trying to protect them and comfort them. I like the feeling of comforting and protecting people.
Suddenly Katara burst in exclaiming, "We have to get out here. Zhao and his soldiers are attacking!"
I quickly get up, "We're being attacked?"
Katara quickly nods. I am about to run away and defend this camp except Aang grabs my arms.
"I'm going with you," I nod once with a grim expression on my face.
We quickly make it to the river where some boats are lined up and a middle aged man in Fire Nation uniform with huge side burns in standing.
He turns toward us a gives a smile to Aang, "Let's find out what my old master has taught you."
Mine and Aang's grey eyes go wide, as she exclaims in disbelief, "YOU were Jeong Jeong's student?"
The man shrugs nonchalantly, "Until I got bored."
He launches a fireball and Aang which I quickly jump forward dissipate it.
Aang who had already dodged it is a bit away from me.
"Looks, like you've found a new friend, Avatar," The man spits as he shoot another fireball at me and quickly shoots another one at Aang.
I keep my arms stretched out to dissipate the fireball again. Aang quickly dodges fire ball after fireball while I try to come to his aid.
"I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward. But I doubt he showed you what a firebender is truly capable of!" The man shouts as he shoots more at us.
I can feel my grandfather speaking inside my head, 'Do not hit Ri Ren, you can see he has no self-control.'
He shoots another one at Aang who dodges it by forms a whirlwind at the ground and having a finger left him up.
"Whoa! Wild shot!" Aang exclaims in awe. Don't congratulate him Aang! He's the enemy.
"I'll show you wild!" He screeches as he shoots a whirlwind of fire, which some put some of our surrounding on fire. I try to dissipate as much firebending as I can. I want to switch to offense, but I know my grandfather would have disapproved of it.
Aang seems to be muttering something to him before calling to me, "Ri, go find Katara and Sokka! I'll be alright."
Something in his greay eyes seems to make me believe him as I run of into the woods. The man pays no attention to me.
My first stop is my Grandfather's shack, where nearby Katara and Sokka are getting ready for takeoff on Appa.
"Ri, come with us!" Sokka calls to me as I run by them.
"One second! I need something!" I call back to him. As I enter the shack I see the candles are all extinguish.
Even though I slept in different parts of the woods every night I kept all my things here. I picked up my bag and through it over my shoulder, till something caught my eye.
It was a note and over it was tile. The white lotus.
~Flashback~
"What is that game piece, Grandfather?" I asked my grandfather as he though me the game of Pai Sho.
"That, Child, is the piece called the white lotus," He picks it up and hands it to me.
"Wow, it's pretty. Is it powerful?" I ask looking at him with wide eyes.
He regarded my question for a second, "Some people overlook its significance, but it holds many tricks and secrets. Now Ri Ren, what is this piece called," Grandfather picks the white lotus from my fingers and replace it with another piece.
~Flashback end~
I quickly stuffed the tile into my into my pocket and stuffed the note in my bag, time for reading is for later.
I rushed back outside and looked up at Appa.
"Well jump on!" Sokka states irritably. I bite my lower lip.
"How?" I ask looking up. Do they expect me to yank on Appa's fur to climb up?
Sokka let on a exasperated sigh and got down. He throw me over his shoulder and climbed back up over Appa.
"Thank-you," I say numbly, "Now, to Aang!"
"Yip yip," Sokka commands as Appa lefts up over the ground. I am practically jumping in my seat.
"First time flying?" Katara asks me.
"Well, I had done jet propulsion, but this is flying with their work!" I smile at her before glancing down, "There's Aang!"
"Appa, down there," Sokka commands the flying bison. We land on the beach as Sokka calls to Aang, "Aang, come on!"
As we take of Aang asks us, "Wait! Where's Jeong Jeong?"
Sokka looks down at our abandoned rebel camp, "He disappeared. They all did."
"Except me!" I interrupt with a smile on my face.
Aang gives me a small smile as Katara gasps, "Aang, you're burned."
Aang seemingly having notice this for the first time look surprised.
Katara goes forward, "Let me help you."
She wraps some water around her hand and takes a deep breath. She holds it against Aang burn and when she lets go, the burn is gone.
I can feel all our eyes widen except hers.
"Wow! That's good water." Aang exclaims
"When did you learn how to do that?" Sokka asks.
Katara shrugs, "I guess I always knew."
Sokka, Aang, and Katara go into a further conversation about Sokka's previous injuries.
I take out the note in my pack and read it:
"Dear Child,
The time has come where I can no longer protect you. You must find your own destiny. I have trained you for you to hopefully play a part in the ending of the war. That time for your training is over. I've trained you to the best of my capabilities. Use and understand your gifts, little Sun Lotus. You shall be great."
I stare at the note for a second. Was I being abandoned? Did he only take care of me all those years because he wanted to use me as a tool? Anger quickly envelopes my sadness.
I watch as white flames eat at the letter. I am alone. I am unwanted.
We rebels have always been unwanted. Fire Nation called us traitors, Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe called us monsters.
Why should I help this world? I look again at Aang. Sweet, innocent Aang.
I'll do it. Just for him.
I watch as Momo, the flying lemur, curls in my lap. I gently let me hand run over his soft fur.
I look again at Aang, Sokka, and Katara as they further go into talking about Sokka's past injuries.
I might be wanted here.