The SiXing Pendant

Chapter Two: The Fortuneteller
Although it had stopped raining awhile ago, Jessie was still dripping when she arrived at the village gateway. During the long walk she realized that she must be in the Earth Kingdom, but that really didn't narrow anything down. She wondered if she'd run into anyone she knew, then mentally kicked herself for such a stupid thought. Sure, she may know about the people here, but she didn't really know them, and they certainly didn't know her. No, the best thing to do was just get this over with as soon as possible.

It was a nice village, though, it didn't look like it had been a casualty of the war. White buildings with green roofs and gold trim. It looked like it should have a lot of people living there, but she couldn't see anyone. She hoped she hadn't stumbled into a situation where people were hiding from something.

The fewer people I have to deal with, the better. Jessie looked down at her pendant. If she understood correctly, one of the artifacts should be in this town. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to search through every building for it.

A cheer arose from somewhere off to her right. As she turned that way, the pendant glowed bright. "Of course."

The reason that she hadn't run into anyone was because they were all here in the town square. People of all ages, dressed in a rainbow of clothing were all standing around a covered stage in the very center of the square. On that stage was a gray-haired woman in gold robes. She looked very familiar...

"The village will not be destroyed by the volcano this year!"

"No..." Jessie looked up at the large volcano that towered over the village. "Bad, very bad..." She grabbed the charm around her neck. "Where is it? I have to get out of here!" The sphere brightened and Jessie hurried off in that direction, weaving amongst the dispersing crowd.

She should have been surprised to see that circular door, but she wasn't. As she walked in she certainly hoped that Aunt Wu wasn't as skilled as she implied. Certainly a girl from another world would set off a few psychic warning bells.

No man in black, no Meng, and Aunt Wu didn't come out either. Jessie removed her boots and took a seat. At the very least she could get a little rest where she wasn't likely to run into anyone.

She looked at the tapestries hanging on the wall. They were very lovely, and she wished she could read the calligraphy. It suddenly struck her that she, indeed, could not read the writing on the paintings. "Aw man..." That was probably going to cause problems. Hopefully it wouldn't become an issue, seeing as how she had her own guide. She lifted up the necklace to examine it further.

It was like a key, the flat handle carved with the symbols of the four elements. On the other side there was writing, which of course, she couldn't read. The sphere was really interesting, though. About the size of a basic marble, solid white, and glowing very brightly. The thing she was supposed to find must be very close.

She sighed and hoped that this wasn't going to be the pattern for every one of these things. Being a part of the adventures seemed like a fun fantasy but she really didn't have the abilities necessary for this. Why couldn't that spirit choose someone else? Someone who could maybe defend themselves if trouble cropped up. Even just someone who looked like they could pass for a native in this world.

Jessie snapped her head up when she heard voices coming from the back room, and they sounded like they were getting closer. She stuffed her pendant down the neck of her shirt and pulled her hood a little lower. She stood up just as Katara and Aunt Wu came into the waiting room.

"And you'll be fine as long as you've got a scarf. Bye bye now."

"Okay, okay, but, one more thing," Katara asked as she was being pushed out the door.

"All right, what is it?" Aunt Wu replied in an irritated voice.

"Should I eat a mango or a papaya for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Papaya!" Aunt Wu snapped, slamming the door in Katara's face. The old Fortuneteller sighed and turned, and was slightly startled to find someone standing there. "Hello there, would you like a reading?"

Jessie could tell from the tired expression on the woman's face that she was all fortuned-out. "No, actually, I'm looking for something, and I think it may be in your possession."

Aunt Wu studied the girl carefully. She was dressed like a common traveler, and aside from the way her hood obscured her face, there was nothing suspicious about her. "What is it you're looking for, dear?"

"You're the fortuneteller, you tell me." Jessie replied before she could stop herself. "Actually, I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for." She pulled her necklace from her shirt. "But it has something to do with this."

Aunt Wu reached out for the pendant, pulling Jessie a little closer. "Ah, a quest. I might be able to help, could I see your palm?"

Jessie reclaimed her pendant. "I'd rather you didn't. I just have to go where this thing points. I just want to have a look around."

Aunt Wu raised an eyebrow. She got such a strange feeling from this girl, she had really hoped to do a reading on her. Based on the few lines she'd managed to get a look at, it would certainly be interesting. "Perhaps if I knew a little more..."

"That would get you involved in this, you know."

The fortuneteller blinked. How odd. Usually people weren't this evasive towards having their fortunes read. Some didn't want it read, others were nonbelievers, but this girl... did she have something to hide? But the fortuneteller sensed no ill will, certainly if she meant harm the girl would've snuck in or lied. "If you do anything, I will know," Aunt Wu warned in an ominous voice.

"I'm sure you will." Jessie stepped out of the waiting room and after briefly checking her pendant, took the hall to the left.

She didn't think this place was this big. And confusing. At one point she almost threw the stupid necklace out the window until she realized that the weird readings meant that whatever it was she was looking for was upstairs.

"Shh… we don't want anyone to hear us."

Jessie stopped in the hallway. The voices continued, and although she could barely make them out, she knew what they were saying.

This is so weird. She tiptoed past the doorway. Now she really had to hurry, there was very little time.

Fortunately, she found what she was looking for in a storage room at the end of the hall. It was a semi-circle plate of silver, carved with element symbols and more writing. Set in the center was a green gem, about the same size as the white one on her necklace, and it glowed in response.

Jessie picked up the artifact and placed it in the small bag hanging near her belt. Now that she had it, all she had to do was get out of this town as soon as possible.

She jogged down the hallway and nearly ran over Meng in the process. "Sorry!"

The fortuneteller's assistant glared up at her. "What are you doing up here?"

Jessie glared back. "None of your business." She moved past the girl on her way out.

The pigtailed girl yelled after her. "I'm going to tell Aunt Wu!"

Jessie hurried down the stairs. She wasn't worried about Aunt Wu, she had permission. Sort of. But time was running out. She had to pause briefly to reclaim her boots, which gave Aunt Wu enough time to find her. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yes, I did. Thank you."

"What's your hurry? Are you so eager to get back to your journey? Perhaps a reading..."

Jessie fastened the ties on her boots. "I'm just not looking forward to being here when that volcano erupts."

Aunt Wu huffed. "I predicted just today that we wouldn't be destroyed by the volcano."

Jessie opened the door. "Yeah, well, those are two different things, aren't they?"

Then she departed, leaving Aunt Wu to think over the words, but she didn't have time because right at that moment Sokka came running up to her...

Jessie ran as fast as she could, putting as much distance between the volcano and herself as possible. Sure, she knew that Aang would save the town, but when she heard the explosion her heart sped up all the same. She watched as the river of red-hot molten rock moved towards the village.

She clenched her fists, holding her breath, waiting for that moment...

Aang's display of airbending, the sight of a wall of lava being shoved aside was breathtaking, even from this distance. It stood out brightly against the darkened sky. She stood and watched the flames for quite awhile, until they died down. But her time of quiet reflection was interrupted by the humming of her pendant, letting her know that it was time to get moving again.