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Shadows

Chapter 1 The Demon of the Twilight

Omashu one of the greatest cities in the Earth Kingdom, second only to Ba Sing Se had been taken. The Fire Nation had come and instead of standing his ground King Bumi had simply surrendered and was captured. That was only two weeks ago but already the citizens had been taxed into poverty. It was under this condition Aang and company snuck into the city.

"I can't believe it. I never thought Omashu would fall." Said Aang

"It does seem weird, that King Bumi would just give up." Katara whispered back.

"Uh guys maybe we should focus on how to rescue Bumi." Said Sokka a little too loudly.

"Who goes there." Shouted a Fire soldier. They all quickly ducked into an alley to hide as the soldier walked past. He shined a lantern down the alley. They hid in the crevices between the buildings.

"What is it?" asked another soldier walking up to the first.

"I thought I heard something." Replied the first.

"You think it was him? Imagine the reward if we would catch him."

"Are you insane? We could never catch him, he took out ten Firebenders at once, and their fire couldn't touch him. He would not burn. Besides if it was him I wouldn't have heard anything."

"You're right it was probably a cat." The soldiers walked away. Aang and the others let out the breath they were holding.

"That was close." Said Aang

"Yeah it really was, but I wonder who they were talking about. I mean to take out ten Firebenders at once." Said Sokka

"Hey let me go!" they heard someone shout. They ran down the alley and looked to see a group of Fire Nation soldiers. The leader was holding a struggling child.

"Let you go, the Fire Nation does not let criminals go." Said the leader.

"All I did was steal a loaf of bread." Said the kid. "I was hungry."

"Hungry or not, stealing from a Fire Nation soldier is a capital offense." He shoved the kid to the ground. "Kill him." Several soldiers stepped forward fire surrounding their fists. Aang gasped in horror as they prepared to fire. Aang was about to jump out and save him but Sokka grabbed him.

"Aang I know you want to help him but even you can't take on that many Firebenders at once." Said Sokka. Aang looked on worried, he knew Sokka was right, but that wasn't going to stop him. But suddenly something happened, the Firebenders surrounding the boy collapsed.

"What happened?" asked the leader. The cry of a bird was heard and black creature with the body, legs, tail, head and beak of a crow, but wings and ears of a bat flew past the leader and up to the roof were it landed on the shoulder of a figure in a hooded black cloak. This was enough of a distraction to allow the boy to run away. The figure raised his head and showed he was wearing a black Oni mask with ivory fangs.

"What have we here? When Kuro alerted me to trouble I thought it would just be some thugs. But to find General Ling Shao. I might finally find a challenge." Said the figure in a calm cool male voice.

"So the legendary vigilante The Demon of the Twilight has made an appearance. You have been a thorn in my side ever since we took this city."

"You would not have that thorn if you had not entered rose bush." Replied the Demon.

"Men seize him." The remaining Firebenders blasted at the cloaked man. The fire enshrouded him. When it cleared the Demon was nowhere in sight.

"Where did he go?" asked a soldier. Said soldier got his answer when the Demon snuck up behind him and snapped his neck. So quiet had he done this the three remaining soldiers and Ling Shao had failed to notice, the Demon pulled three needles from his cloak and threw them with deadly precision into the necks of the other benders leaving only him and the general.

"You really have to train your men better Shao. These were my easiest defeats yet. But perhaps you shall prove to be a worthy adversary." Said the Demon as he drew a kukri from a sheath on his belt.

"I shall be greatly rewarded for defeating you." said Shao. Shao sent fire blasts at the demon which he nimbly dodged, he zoomed in closer and Shao sent a blast of fire from his mouth and the Demon was struck with a direct hit. "So ends the Demon's reign." The fire dissipated to reveal the Demon his cloak wrapped around him. He opened it.

"Shadow Silk: fire proof, water proof and nearly indestructible. You really should know what you are up against." He pulled back his sleeve to showing a contraption around his wrist. It shot a barrage of needles out which Shao blocked with fire; it was during this time the Demon charged and hit him in the arms and they went limp. He the pushed Shao against the wall and held the kukri to his throat. "Now will you give up?"

"Never!"

"You really should, after attacking your pressure points you will be unable to bend for awhile. Besides you are the first person I have stopped that will live to tell about it. So I want you to relay a message to Ozai; tell him that Kurai will pay for his crimes, and that the Order is still there and the Kage family is still alive. Do you think you can relay that message?" Shao nodded. "Then goodnight." And he hit Shao on the neck knocking him out. The Demon let him go. Kuro flew back down onto his shoulder and chirped. The Demon nodded and jumped up onto the rooftops and vanished into the night. Aang and the gang were staring in shock.

"That was amazing." Said Aang

"I mean he took down 15 Firebenders by himself, and he did it without bending." Said Katara.

"Guys as amazing as that was I really think we should get out of here, you know before reinforcements come."

"Yeah and those guys might wake up soon." Said Aang, Sokka and Katara just looked sadly at Aang

"Aang they won't wake up ever."

"What are you talking about he just knocked them out right?"

"No Aang he didn't he killed them."

"Why he didn't need too."

"Because Avatar Aang this is war." Said a voice behind them. The turned to be face to face with the Demon. They gasped. "Relax I will no hurt you." he lowered his hood and took off his mask. He was young only about sixteen with pale skin light gray eyes and silver hair. "I am Kumori Kage; if you wish to help King Bumi follow me." He turned and started walking away.

"Should we follow him?" asked Katara

"He said that he wants to help Bumi so let's do it." Called Aang. They followed Kumori throughout the city. Every time they asked him a question he would silence them. They went into an old house and into the basement. Kumori pushed a brick and the wall opened and they followed him down a stair case. He came to a small window in the wall, he tapped on it. A man appeared in the window.

"When the light of hope shines…" the man said

"…A shadow will be cast." Said Kumori

"And when the light goes out…"

"…The shadows will fade."

"And when the shadows fade…"

"…Darkness has consumed." There was a rumble as the man bended the door opened.

"You may enter." Kumori led Aang and the other inside a large ornate room. Inscribed on the wall was the verse Kumori and the man had recited.

"Kumori what is this place?" asked Aang

"Avatar Aang, Sir Sokka, Lady Katara. Welcome to The Order of Shadows." Said Kumori.

Well I'm back, hopefully this time I won't be flamed to death. Well the story is certainly different this time around. To those who want to complain how Kumori's fighting style and use of weapons is similar to Ty Lee and Mai that will be explained later on. Just so you know I am only using the four elements. Read and review.