A/N: Sakeydo: Just so you know this chapter is probable chalk full of mistakes but I don't give a fuck, its 5 in the morning so shute up and enjoy.
Brandon: Yeah, well I just wanted to tell readers in advance it's always hard for me to start a fan fic with characters from the show, I have a bad habit of setting up my characters first so bare with me the Aang gang will be entering shortly…p.s. I really have to apologies I feel like I went overboard with the flash backs sort of, the only way I could get away with 'certain things' though so enjoy.
Last but not least I do not own Avatar or any of it characters, Zang is my only creation
Zang the Lost Avatar
Not long after the Avatar had been released word had spread far and wide to both enemies and friends alike. However what lied deep in the shadows was the awakening of a different avatar at least, that's what he was rumored to be…
"I don't think we should be here, the place is riddled with fire nation garbage." Said the younger boy,
"So you're going to let a few fire nation skeletons scare you? If you ask me that's a good sign." The taller somewhat goofy looking kid answered.
'The moron who tried to destroy all the earth benders by himself said.' Lee huffed while, rolling his eyes;
Accompanied by the scattered skeletons was a grassy plane that had a number of gracious mountains with snowy peaks almost elegant and tall enough to peek into the heavens. The clouds were calm and fluffy as some might describe shifting in the peaceful wind; this was not the case however where the boys ventured into trouble, for like the symbolism of yin and yang at the bottom of one of the peaks had become a scar compared to the rest of the land. Not being one to ignore his common sense even the brave proud fire bender or proud jerk depending on your nation had his fears about this place. The shadows looming over the land Lou-Ming took cautious steps on was a land that made about as much sense as a cartoon black cloud hanging over some ones head especially given the sunny day.
"Why is everything so dark, it feels so lonely?" Lee whispered for reasons he didn't really know himself,
"Stop being a wimp, were here… the resting place of the fire nations greatest general!" Lou-Ming oozed with excitement.
"How in the world did you know about this place, I mean are we really looking at the Ebony Dragon of the East?" although there were no bodies to speak of, like a twisting hurricane frozen in time was a gigantic spiral pillar made of wood and tree vines, hardened earth cooled lava and other varies elements thought to never possible be bendable. A/N: man that was wordy lol
"Well…I'm almost sure this is the place. When I was younger I heard a story of the never ending siege on Ba Sing Se lead by general Iroh dragon of the west, general Zang ebony dragon of the east and Lu-Ten Iroh's son. They were some of the greatest warriors known world round but each had their flaws, Iroh was ageing, questioning each day his purpose in the world while Zang had more secrets than anyone would care to count, some as rumored to have weighed him down like a thousand earth benders others lead people to believe he was a dark creature not from this plane like an escaped demon from the spirit world most victims whisper in there dying words. Last but not least Lu-Ten showing nothing but promise as both a son and fire bender everyone questioned his passive feelings over his father getting cheated of the thrown by his brother Ozai, my father was a close friend of Iroh and he told me general Zang ounce said,
"Hell if I got to fight side by side with my father roaming the world feely why bitche about it…" In a way it made sense that an attitude like that gave strength to the bound Zang and Lu-Ten had formed as brothers in arms." Lee listened all the way through despite the growing feeling that the unbreakable darkness behind the pillar almost had an over powering life of its own,
"In my opinion this is when everything went to hell …."
Flash to bright and faintly colored scenes
"These punks don't stand a chance." General Zang huffed as he deeply exhaled red flames only to take more breaths each deeper than the last, like any fire bender Zang rose with the sun and with a battle on the way he was pumped! Slowly practicing some bending movement his flames began to change and as the intensity of the sun raised his flames grew blue and violent. Lu-Ten simply watched as his superior warmed up for battle, the blue flames rocketed out of the general's feet and the movements like a climbing rage became fierce and commanding. Finally taking an fire stance with key precision and perfect form the general held his last punching blow and like a shot the flame ignited and suddenly burst into a black flame roaring like a dragons fury scorching a fair distance before evaporating into the air and as his focus became calm and unbreakable Zang exhaled and with a swift movement of his arm the black burning embers tracing a stretching line died out instantly.
Lu-Ten started to clap as he sat on a tree limb with his feet hanging off the edge one leg crossed over the other,
"Very good, it never fails to amaze me why they call you the ebony dragon." He sarcastically bantered,
"Why are you only so 'colorful' while Iroh's not around, I am a general you know…" they both paused before laughing at the very idea of being formal with each other, true Zang's care free side was rubbing off on Lu-Ten but it did little to damage his formal and Iroh like outlook of being a respectful and honorable solider.
"Where's that traitor Jeong -Jeong anyway?" Zang questioned darting his head around,
"Last I heard he left his flank to meet with Iroh and left Zhao in charge." Lu-Ten sighed,
"Well you can kiss that flank goodbye; Zhao's a total hot head." Zang could feel the snickering eyes bore into his back, Zang looked over his shoulder only to glare at a straight faced Lu-Ten un moved,
'Ever get the feeling your just not in the loop?' Zang thought to his self.
'If Zang looked in the mirror ounce in a while he'd see how much the troops think his whole heads practically on fire.' Lu-Ten finished thinking with a smirk,
"What's with the look?" the solders said in unison along with
"Never mind." The only difference being Lu-Ten's tone was amused, Zang….. not so much.
Lu-Ten saw a rare opening to pry into his fellow soldiers interesting life and as his father always says when a door opens to ones destiny it is only a true blank blank blank…honestly Lu-Ten was being swamped by dads sayings lately he just knew in the end the closer he got to Zangs past the larger his interests grew,
"Sooo… did you hear about that phantom spirit guy?" before Lu-Ten could react to the sudden flinch in his generals eyes there was a earth bending attack, Lu-Ten jumped off the tree and all silliness was put aside.
(Cue Agni Kai soundtrack)
Lu-Ten without a seconds hesitation went into formation alongside Zang in a swift series of motions they shot two snaking trails a fire one from Zang's fist the other Lu-Ten this proved to be effective cover as the earth benders on the receiving end stomped the ground creating an earth dome only to the general surprise to be broken into an earth shield with some powered movements and sent hurling like a bullet train towards there flames unforgiving and bold it was sending his black fire dividing in half,
"They're getting stronger Lu-Ten, the fear of the fire nation has yet to break there sprits…for NOW!" it was a wall of earth vs. fire blast Lu-Ten continued his onslaught of flames like punches one after the other short and shot like, meanwhile the wall of earth meant for Zang exploded on impact only to be the result of the heated hand of Zang's right arm smashing the rock into mere dust. The defeat was short lived as a spike of earth nearly hit the general full force, like a skilled acrobat Zang evaded the spike by jumping into a sideways twirl. As he landed on the tip of the rock upside down on one hand he smirked as the light footed fire bender pushed off into the air using the falling momentum to perform a fire bending pinwheel,
"Show off!" Lu-Ten yelled over the roaring flames and smashing rock, with a show of divide and conquer Lu-Ten faced three earth benders while Zang focused on the strongest two, Lu-Ten like the potential heir to the crown he was showed a level of Fire bending that was somehow more refined and pure compared to Zang, as he found himself surrounded he focused his energy and with an added dangerous glare backed off the earth benders with a ring of fire spiraling out from his body followed by a deadly blow to one of the benders as he seemingly melted the earth into magma and created a stretching crack in the earth reducing the unluckiest bender to ash. Not willing to give up the remaining earth benders shot out rock hands like the Dai-Lee to throw Lu-Ten off balance and stagger him into a sand pit formed by the furthest back bender, he was only able to capture Lu-Tens leg up to his knee unable to break it Lu-Ten decided to unleash a number of fire shots from his free leg and hands in well placed kicks and jabs.
'This is bad.' Lu-Ten thought unable to get time to think as any missed shots at his greatest attacker was another inch into the ground. He was unable to ask his general for help seeing him resort to weapons combat using broad swords to amplify his bending Lu-Tens mind began to drift,
'Father….are we really doing the right thing? Continuing the war, how often I remember you telling me how easy it is to forget your troubles in the mist of battle. Now that I reflect I wonder if you mask the pain you share for Ozai by conquering Ba Sing Si…' Brought out of his depressing thought by his arm getting engulfed by earth Lu-Ten felt a spike of rage to stay alive and see Iroh again, to share tea again…to be with his father again! With a battle cry all four of Lu-Tens limbs had turned into fire bending rockets and crumbled the soft encasing earth beneath him….
(Iroh's voice) I must warn you son, as you go off to battle I want you to be brave and strong but never arrogant. This move I'm about to show you is very powerful, you must never use this technique carelessly counting me and Ozai we are the only ones to use this technique successfully.
Lu-Ten began to move mimicking a water bender somewhat as the lead attacker closed in for the kill with a point blank rock spike only to falter at the sight of static then lighting form at the tips of the enemies finger and in slow motion striking like cold blooded fire, Zang caught glimpse of this attack marveling at a move he hadn't been aware of himself in mid marvel his aw struck side view was shattered by the sharp shards of rock whizzing by his head nicking his cheek; as the blood slipped down his tongue evilly licked up the wound,
"Bad move rocky." Zang sneered teeth almost appearing to look like fangs. As the earth bender dropped dead smoke coming from his chest Lu-Ten focused on his last opponent aka the one who tried to bury him, no longer underestimating his opponent Lu-Ten mimicked a horse stance and raised his stiff out stretched arm turning his flames into snaking walls of fire attacking the fire the earth bender made an earth wall quickly formed then shattering as quickly as it formed leaving the earth bender lying motionless engulfed by a circular wall of fire burning closer and closer Lu-Ten focused on Zang for a split second. Zang was finishing off his last opponent with a cross shaped slash to the earth benders opening in defense causing his blood to splattered the upturned earth only to get caught on fire minutes later causing Zang to hold his nose.
"Nothing like burnt flesh huh." He smiled strangely Aang like, suddenly a burning corpse came angrily stomping out of Lu-Tens flames, shocked by such action Zang on impulse threw his sword to be embedded in the enemies head as the burning victim gave a desperate but un dying sumo styled stomp to the ground shooting four earth spikes into Lu-Ten fighter ready stance pined in a deadly earth tent the tips focused into his mid section.
Back to present day
"….Some says Iroh never forgave Zang others say Zang was harder on himself more than anyone but the last anyone's herd of him was he had become a deserter and fled off near one of the many air nomad temples reasons unknown." Lou-Ming finished as they had been traveling deeper into a forest of supernatural proportion circling the spiral. The surroundings were only matched by its cousin in the great swamp, how such murky and deadly terrain could be in the middle of a cave in the middle of the endless mountains with grassy plane bottoms and flat slanted surfaces nomads built on was staggering to believe. Suddenly Lee started to act strangely,
"Lee what's wrong?" Lou-Ming watched as Lee started to chock and lash out for air and life, within minutes his color drained and body became still and cold. The solider was in fear and shock as his fellow comrades shadow seemingly came to life and crept towards the spiral igniting transformations as the darkness they had been surrounded by was now reaching a focal point.
(Add a hint of the avatar state music) In a great explosion of black flames and red light matching the release of the avatar state Lou-Ming was killed in the back lash. With the spiral gone all that remained was a un aged Zang after 90 years barely into his teenage years, the red glowing figure glared as the black flames burned and reached for the skies like the fire lords throne room. The red glow died out as a red tinted ball of wind formed around Zang's body only to violently sprawl out putting out the flames nearly toppling the cave with its forces as Zang calm crest fallen face emerged into the bright calm day ….
('Leaves from the vein' gently plays)
(Lu-Ten's dying whispers) Zang…please tell Iroh I'll always love him, and I will never regret what I've done in the name of the dragon of the west*cough* and the ebony dragon of the east…..just remember when you find your brother you don't have to kill him, at the very least become the one thing he must overcome.
"What did you mean Lu-Ten.?" Zang whispered to himself, seeing that look of Lu-Tens life slowly fading away hanging on every blood filled word that spilled out and too shocked to beg for his beloved friend to hang on. As Zang Air bended himself to the abandoned air temple atop the mountain, he looked at the mess he had made, in a rage Zang arrived at the temple alone grief stricken and to cowardly to face Iroh with news of his dead son he couldn't protect. Memories of leveling the place with the elements flooded back before his rage bended a pillar of the elements and sunk like quicksand to the bottom of the mountain,
"After so many years…it's time to face the music.", an unusually red messenger hawk appeared from the skies swooping down and landing on Zang's arm,
"Hawky, find Iroh." He solemnly ordered as unknowingly to him his old friend had been aboard a fire nation ship with prince Zuko in search for the Avatar.
A/N: Hey guys do me a favor and tell me how I did for my first bending battle, too short, needs work, awesome, advice wanted. While your around feel free to check out my other fic's which for any lingering fans yes will be finished…. how soon, ask me when I finish college which I start August 23 2010 all I can say about my teen titans fic is writers blocks a bitch!