Book 2: ICE

CHAPTER 2:

A BRIGHTER FUTURE

"So, that's your master plan?" Mizu asked as she ducked under a branch in the undergrowth.

"Think of it!" Kan pleaded with her. "An entire city of people just like you. Everyone in the same boat. People who finally understand you." Kan had a smile on his face when he said the last part. Aer noticed it.

"That's great and all, but where are we going to find benders?" Aer asked. "We may be the only ones."

"Actually, we aren't." Kizu said shyly as he walked past the three people.

"What do you mean?" Mizu asked.

"Well, I stayed in a small village once, Gang Hi. While I was there, I found some others benders."

"Really?" Kan asked excitedly. "Well, who were they?"

"Well…I don't know their names." Kizu blushed. "I only saw them bending from a distance."

"So, you don't even know if they were benders at all?" Bakiko butted in.

"No, I do know." Kizu explained. "They were bending things, I just didn't let them know I was watching."

"So you were snooping?" Aer asked.

"Can we drop the twenty questions all ready?" Kizu pleaded. "I saw benders in Gang Hi, and if they are there they must be in other places."

"Sounds like good logic." Jip stated as she jumped onto a rock and looked around.

"Yes, it sounds that way but we don't know if it's true." Bakiko contradicted her. Jip stared at him.

"Well, at least we know there are some in Gang Hi." Jip said.

"Yeah, but even with benders, where will we build this city?" Aer asked Kan.

"I hadn't thought of that." Kan scratched his chin and pondered the situation for a moment.

"Oh, looks like that idea was shot down." Bakiko commented. "With nowhere to put these benders, it doesn't even matter that they're out there."

"Well, there is one place." Mizu said softly. The group turned to her and looked her over.

"Well, where is it?" Aer asked. Kan was the most hopeful of the entire group.

"There's a place near the north of this continent. It's in a secluded place with a spring and a nice natural feature to defend us." Mizu said.

"Yeah, but where exactly?" Bakiko asked.

"We need to know a specific location." Kizu stated.

"It's somewhere in the north, just past where the mountain range dies. It is an entire crater filled with glowing green crystals." Mizu said. "Of course, there was a fight there between me and Zhong. I don't know how much is still intact or if the army knows of the place."

"Well, were there men with him?" Kan asked slyly.

"No. It was just him and that…never mind." Mizu quickly got Koh off her mind and settled back into her paces.

"Then I doubt that any of his men would be able to pin point where you were." Kan said satisfied. "We'll build our city there. Now all we need are benders to fill it with."

"As if that will be easy." Bakiko sighed.

"It will. We already know Gang Hi has some." Kan said. "There must be other cities on the way that have some too."

"Again, good logic." Kizu said with a heave.

"So, are we agreed?" Kan looked around the site, looking for any faces to agree with his master plan.

"I'll agree to it." Jip shouted out. Ran-fo also raised his hand.

"If Ran-fo thinks it is best, then I'll also agree." Bakiko said as he also raised his hand.

"And since he's the stand in leader, I'll go with him." Kizu said as he sheepishly raised his hand.

"Everyone knows I'm the leader, but all right." Kan muttered under his breath. He looked at Mizu.

She looked him over and proudly raised her hand. Aer was the only one left.

"Come on." Kan pleaded. "Jip was the first to consent. You've got to do what she wants."

Aer looked away from him and heavily sighed.

"This city will be the death of us, mark my words." She raised her hand.

"And that's why you agreed." Kan almost laughed. They were heading for a brighter future.

"And what would we call this new, bright city?" Aer asked as she got to her feet, eager to get on their way."

"It would be a powerful city, one that was impenetrable.

Ba Sing Se!"

The Captain had a whole new set of problems to deal with. He was kneeling before the Master's throne as sweat began to pour down his face.

"You were under the command of General Zhong, were you not?"

"Yes, Master."

"Did you see this supposed battle he had with the northern girl?"

"No, no one was with him, Master."

"Then you cannot confirm that the war hero had made contact with one of those benders?"

"This is true."

"Very well. And you have told me all you know of his confrontation with the kids in the eastern mountains?"

"All that I know. He fought with the air girl and then the boy. From what we saw, it looked as if he was bending as well."

"Nonsense! It was a trick of those vile benders! Degrading the General to the last moment."

"But sir, we don't know where his body went." The Master's face contorted in his seat and his eyes shifted on the Captain.

"Then why did I receive the message that Zhong was dead?"

"There was…an explosion of some sort. Zhong never came down and we found parts of his armor in the water."

"Then he may live yet."

"But from what our naval fleet tells us, the kids were seen leaving the mountain. If Zhong had not come down by then, then surely he is gone."

The Master rose violently. "Are you daring to question why I brought you here?"

"No! You summoned me to devise a plan for attack based upon previous encounters. But, sir, we have seen none."

"You just told me that you saw part of his fight on the mountain."

"But you said yourself that it was an illusion!"

The Master threw his arms up and the Captain laid himself flat on the floor. "Please have mercy!"

"Fine, I will." The Master let his anger fall as he moved to a curtain in his wall. "Keep a look out for those kids. And if Zhong is alive I want him brought back here to receive his full honor."

"Yes, Master" The Captain got up and turned towards the door.

"Captain." The Captain stopped in his boots.

"Yes, Master."

"Thank you, for my new pet." The Master chuckled as the Captain almost collapsed in the door way. The Master pulled aside the curtain and laughed as Alpha tried to struggle against the iron bars keeping him from his bright future.