Avatar: The Legend of Anzen Hyriu
Book 3:
Red of the Comet
Chapter 1:
Ceremony of the Fallen
In the haze of despair that followed the Fall of Hydronia, nothing made any sense to me. The days blended together. It was all a blur of sorrow, pain, and tragedy. The count of the dead kept rising as the city was searched for survivors. L. E. was healing around the clock. She focused on those that were attacked by snappers, including Tekton. He hadn't woken up since the attack four days ago. Shan was found under a pile of rubble; Da-Xia's body close by. Shan was barely alive; around him, the snow had been stained crimson with his blood. There was so much of it, I thought that he couldn't have had any blood left, but somehow he was still clinging to life.
I didn't speak to anyone. I just cried and stared off into oblivion, then cried some more. A week after the attack, I found myself wandering the streets of Hydronia, or what was left anyway. Here and there were search parties still digging through the rubble searching for the dead and missing. I heard shouting, and some people ran over the where the land-raft dock had been. I stumbled over when I saw Dhanu.
"Lamara, there you are," he said when he saw me. "There are three rafts coming. They think it is Chief Arnook bringing help."
I gave a slight nod and followed him up the hill to the burned dock. Sure enough, three rafts approached from the mountains. A crowd of people gathered around us. Fai, Lina, Koluk, Daminao, Ava, and Moji joined us. What was left of the Hydronia Court was also there, which consisted of Torriku, Otoko, Yukon, Shiro, Tarhik, and Saigo. The Monks of the Shui Temple also came. Sonam regarded me with a sad expression.
The three rafts came to a stop. Arnook stepped out of the lead raft wearing battle armor. A host of warriors and benders followed him. Arnook took a few steps while looking at the burned dock. He then stopped walking all together as he looked out over Hydronia. His expression was of disbelief and sorrow. I saw a single tear stream down his face. He then composed himself and walked over to the crowd.
"Chief Arnook," Torriku greeted and bowed his head slightly. "How did you know we needed aid?"
"Um," Arnook tried to speak but failed. He tried again. "The messengers were going about their normal schedule, sailing to Hydronia. However, they saw a cloud of black smoke and returned to the capital immediately. I came prepared for anything. I brought soldiers and healers, along with food and various other things. Though it looks like the attack is over. I take then that you fought off the Fire Nation?"
Torriku hesitated. "No, we didn't. They left. And it wasn't just the Fire Nation."
"What do you mean?" Arnook asked, and for the first time, he looked at us. He scanned the crowd several times. "Where is Wei? He is the Chief of Hydronia after all; I would think he'd be here. And Hyriu, where is he? Most of his friends are here, but-" he stopped at our pained expressions.
"Wei was - was killed in the attack," Torriku spoke with difficulty.
"What, no, that - no," Arnook exclaimed in shock. Silent tears streamed from his eyes as his face was transformed by sorrow.
Sonam spoke up since no one else could. "Avon lead the attack."
Arnook looked at Sonam in shock. "He commanded the Fire Nation Armada along with a legion of his shadow creatures. He killed Wei and took Hyriu. There was nothing we could do to stop him. He was too powerful for even Hyriu to defeat. So many were killed. So many…"
"Who - Who all was lost?" Arnook dared to ask.
Torriku spoke this time, "Instructor Chen along with his wife and son were killed. We also lost-" Torriku glanced at Yukon. "We also lost Meili."
"Spirits of old, Yukon, you have my deepest condolences. Is your daughter-" Arnook began to ask.
"Hana is - is doing alright. She usually tends to the wounded to distract herself," Yukon answered.
"And, Tarhik, how are your wife and son?" Arnook asked.
"Both fine. Though Taruk lost two of his close friends and was directly attacked by Avon. He has been with the injured, healing," Tarhik replied.
Arnook then turned his attention to me and my friends. "I seem to remember two other people in your group. That peculiar girl, L. E., and that waterbender boy, oh what was his name…?"
"Tekton," Koluk answered dryly.
"Yes, where are they?" Arnook asked cautiously.
"Tekton's in a coma and L. E. is with the wounded. She is the only one that can heal the poison from Avon's creatures we call snappers," Daminao answered.
Arnook nodded gravely. He then began distributing the supplies he brought, and they all began to carry it down into Hydronia. I walked away seeing no reason to stay. I heard Arnook question Sonam about me. I was out of earshot before he responded.
Arnook arranged for a Ceremony of the Fallen. It was going to be in the estate behind the Gambing Palace: the only part of the city undamaged. When the day came, I tried to put forth some effort of looking decent, but it was hard. Every strain of muscle was another shot of pain and sorrow. I broke down three times before we even got to the palace. Sonam, Dhanu, Daminao, and Ava walked with me from the temple along with some of my other airbender friends like Ostria. We met up with the others going into the palace. As we walked through the Fountain Yard, I saw where a tower had collapsed and crushed a large section of history on water spirits. The sight made me even sadder. We followed the crowd through the different corridors of the palace and to the estate in the back.
All of the people whose homes were destroyed were living here. It looked like a refugee camp. There were makeshift tents everywhere. We walked up to the platform where Hyriu had his test with Pakku. We sat in the stands around it. Arnook and the Hydronia Court along with a few others stood on the platform.
Once everyone was there, Arnook began. He addressed Wei first. It was obvious that he felt great loss for his friend. He had to stop speaking a few times. I glanced at Hiko. He sat by Hana with a barren expression on his face. Next, Arnook addressed Chen and his wife along with their two year old son. Then Arnook spoke of Meili. Hana and Yukon cried silently, and then they made an announcement. Since Hiko had lost both Wei and Hyriu and had no one else to raise him, they had adopted him. They swore to raise him as best they could. I saw Hiko almost manage a smile.
Arnook addressed Tekton's parents, Da-Xia and his father, and many others. The cries of widowed wives and orphaned children echoed in the air. Their sobs were almost unbearable. He also said a few words for Monk Yami. At the end, he addressed Hyriu. He explained to everyone why he was kept secret and the truth behind it all. There were a few angry expressions in the crowd but mostly people just looked even more depressed. We had lost the Avatar and the Anzen. The backup plan was gone. Arnook talked about how we wouldn't abandon Hyriu, and that he'd put all his efforts on finding him. He also talked about keeping hope. He said that since the Earth Kingdom had fallen, the Northern Water Tribe was the strongest nation left opposing the Fire Nation. He said we had to hold onto hope as the day of the comet neared. I just waited for him to stop talking, so I could go home and cry myself to sleep.
When the ceremony was over, I did just that. I bawled my eyes out until it hurt, and my pillow was soaked with my tears. I screamed and cried late into the night. I finally fell into an unsteady sleep.
The next day, we celebrated Monk Yami's life in Heiwa Valley. Even though the ceremonies were usually happy, we couldn't celebrate how Yami left us. A natural death would mean it was his time, but murder- that cut his life short.
We lit candles of varying smells, and each airbender lifted up a white lily into the wind. The smell of candles and floating lilies did help my mood. I felt slightly more relaxed.
I wrote an outline of the attack before I went to bed. Chief Arnook was going to question us about what happened the next day. I still wasn't ready to speak, so I wrote it all down.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I laid in my bed with my eyes open. All I could think about was Hyriu. Where was he? Was he alright? Was he alive? The thoughts tortured me late into the night. But they fueled another thought. I wouldn't abandon Hyriu. I would go and get him back, even if I had to rip him from Avon's hands. I wasn't going to cry anymore. I wouldn't give up on him. I made a promise, and I didn't break my promises.
Well here we are. Book 3 has started. That was a bit of a slow opener but I did have to tie up some loose ends left over from The Fall of Hydronia. After this though, things get interesting. Book 3 doesn't waste time on setting up, the plot kicks off right away. The Fall of Hydronia was the set up for book 3. And let me tell you, this will be one wild ride.
I have grown very fond of typing 'trailers' for my story. So I have yet another one, much like the trailer in the sneak peak. Shall we see what we are in for eh?
Opens with a helicopter shot over Heiwa Valley as the sun sets. Fades to a fleet of Fire Nation ships in the open ocean. Cuts to a lone Fire Nation tower on a small tropical island surrounded by water. Cuts to a volcanic island, there is a lake and small island in the center. A column of steam rises from the boiling lake. Cuts to a shot over the beach before the Fire Nation capital. Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom soldiers fight against the Fire Nation. Cuts to a group of jet skis soaring across the ocean as the water reflects the crimson sky. Close up of Lamara on a jet ski. She looks back, shadow eaters are pursuing them. Lamara does a sideways cork screw flip and the jet ski explodes. Helicopter shot through the night sky. Dark clouds swirl around the camera. The sky begins to turn red as the clouds melt away. A great ball of fire flies by the camera. Fade to black.
Fade into shot of a destroyed house in Hydronia. Pan sideways to reveal Lina sitting in the ruined living room. The sun sets behind her. Fade to shot of Lamara sitting in a window in the Shui Temple. Her face is streaked with tears. Fade to Hyriu in metal cell, his arms are suspended, one to each wall. His head is bowed as he cries. Dhanu voice over, "We can't betray Hyriu and forsake him to Avon's tortures." Cuts to shot of H-gang in a dark room, Shan is laying under a lot of blankets while L. E. And Lamara tend to him. Shan voice over, "We have to get him back." "We will," Lamara says. "How," Koluk asks. A smirk forms on Moji's face.
Cuts to a sobbing Hyriu, "Why is he doing this to me." An older man is in the room with him, along with a Fire Nation guard. The old man, "He is trying to break you down into nothing." The guard, "You can get through this. Fight him." Flashes of Hyriu trying to escape. He is on a burning Water Tribe ship. He is running atop a metal ship. Then riding a wave. Then Avon is floating over the water, he lifts a hand and Hyriu rises out of the water. Hyriu wakes up screaming. Avon, "He is beginning the descent into insanity." Shot of Hyriu screaming and pulling at his chains. Close up of his face. His eyes are rimmed red, blood shot, and sunken into his head. He has two scars on his cheek and his chin, along with several new slashes, the largest across his mouth. His face is gaunt, there are bags under his eyes. His black hair is long and shaggy shadowing his face. Cuts to a gondola going to an island in a boiling lake. Cuts inside to Hyriu's hands which are scarred and shackled. Pans up to the lower half of his face, also scarred. Cuts down to a metal platform where the gondola arrives. Guards mutter to one another. "They say he needs our highest security." "Yeah, apparently he is the most dangerous prisoner we've ever received. " "I doubt that, with her here." "Who? Oh, you mean, yeah I don't think anyone beats her." Hyriu walks out of the gondola along with 20 guards. 30 guards line the platform on each side. A tall man walks forward and says with a deep voice, "Anzen Hyriu, we've been expecting you." Hyriu looks back and forth at the guards then finally at the man. In a raspy damaged voice he says, "Have you?" He jumps and does the splits mid air taking out the guards with two wind blasts. He spins whipping a wave of fire at the men behind him. He rips the shackles off to face the tall man with the deep voice. Hyriu charges at him. Cuts to a girl with short red hair facing Hyriu. "Hi," She says. Several quick shots of her kicking and punching guards and prisoners. "I'm Suki." Shot of Hyriu and Suki sitting on a rock in a prison yard. "You need friends in a place like this. Trust me." Hyriu nods. "Who are they?" Hyriu points to a group of rough looking women. Suki has a nervous expression, "Oh, um that's the prison gang Re Mugou. They run the prison. Stay away from them, even the warden doesn't mess with them. Their leader is the one with the long brown hair in the ponytail." "What's her name?" Hyriu asks. Just then, the girl turns. As she turns, several scenes are intercut. The first is of Akiko standing in the doorway to Hyriu's destroyed house, she holds a bloody katana aloft. Next is Wei fighting a Fire Nation women in the Siege of the North, the woman holds a katana that glows cherry red. Finally is Roja talking about his latest bounty. "She was crazy. You know she lit her sword on fire then threw it at me?" The girl turned all the way around. Her face in full view of the camera and Hyriu. "Akiko, her name is Akiko." Suki answers. Cut to black.
Cut to a man with a skinny pale face. He has a long thin scar from his left eyebrow to the right corner of his mouth. The man says, "Now things are about to get interesting."
Who
Hyriu is launched into the air out of a cloud of fog.
Will
Lamara, Lina, Daminao, Ava, and a girl with long curly brown hair run along a mountainside in Heiwa Valley.
Fall
Dhanu back flips out of a palm tree and fires and arrow.
When
Lina is on a small water tribe ship, she looks behind her.
The
A girl with fiery hair flashes a devilish smile.
Comet
Moji bursts out of the water, a burning ship behind her.
Arrives
Cuts to the Plaza Tower in Harbor City before the Fire Nation capital. The sky is red. Shadow Eaters fly around it, it blows up in the middle section. The top of the tower falls to the ground.
Cuts to Sokka during the Day of Black Sun. Bato runs by and says, "Sokka, we're on our way to victory!" A raspy voice calls out, "You really think so?" A figure in intricate black and red armor walks out of a building. A fancy haunting mask covers his face. He draws a black sword. Sokka draws his and the two meet in a clash of sparks. Sokka is knocked the the ground then asks, "Who are you?" The swordsman laughs and says, "I am Dhatu Yaban." Then swings the sword at Sokka's neck. Lina is in a metal room. A man grabs her from behind. She screams and grabs him and flips him forward and on to a desk. Moji runs forward in a tropical jungle. She goes down on her knees and slides forward, dodging a horizontal axe swipe. She stops in front of the camera and draws her dagger with a fierce expression. Hyriu is riding an earth wave in a foggy prison yard. He does a back flip launching a large rock forward. Akiko is running forward in the prison yard. She jumps and does three flips in the air before landing with a wild expression. Princess Azula is in a metal room, she shoots a bolt of lightning at the camera. Akiko and the girl with fiery hair high-five. Hyriu is in a metal room, in a chair, he is being electrocuted. Dhanu runs out of a metal tower in a tropical jungle. He takes aim and fires an arrow high in the sky. Moji and Shan hide behind a rock that is being blasted with flames. The pale man with the scar is fighting Lina as the sky is red. He swings a sword. Lina jumps over it while doing a flip and throws one of her black fans at him.
Azula leans forward to Hyriu in a chair. She says, "You will join me." Hyriu glares back, "I will never join you." Azula smiles and straightens. She does her signature technique for shooting lightning. She directs it at Hyriu. Just as lighting begins to form, cut to black. We hear an old male voice say, "They all say that. And they all burn."
Avatar
The Legend of Anzen Hyriu
Book Three
Red of the Comet
Is Here
Well wasn't that something? You better be excited now. Chapter 2: Sorrowful Silence will go up Sunday.