The Firebender

Chapter 3: The Attack

Water, Earth, Fire, Air

Long ago the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the avatar master of all four elements could stop them but when the world needed her most, she vanished. A hundred years passed and my cousin and I discovered the new avatar. An airbender named, Steven. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Steven can save the world.


August 2, 1245

After Steven, Amethyst and I got something to eat in the village Amethyst said that she'd meet up with us in an hour. So that only left Steven and I while she swept the village for food. Somewhere along the way two older men mistook us for students who were skipping school. They pulled us into some Fire Nation school; there wasn't much we could say at the moment.

We were placed in different classes due to our age differences so I don't know what Steven learned. But while in class they taught me about the war and how they were doing this for their country's honor. It was ridiculous. Defending all these deaths for something so stupid; it's just another reason why I loathe the Fire Nation and its entire people.

I didn't speak to any of the treacherous children and I had no desire to. Once they grow older many of them will probably follow in their ancestor's footsteps. It is an endless cycle and we need to stop it. We need to stop this nation and its entire people.


Connie abruptly shut her journal when Pearl called them all for dinner. She slid the book into her sleeping bag and walked to the fire where her comrades were sitting on logs. Steven saved her a seat between him and Amethyst and she gladly took it.

"How was it?" Pearl asked as the group gathered around the camp fire.

Amethyst grinned. "They had the best food and I even bought a whole pack of fire flakes."

"Of course you did," Pearl sighed; handing Amethyst her bowl of noodle soup. "What about you two?" She looked at the children.

Connie shrugged, twirling her chop sticks around a noodle. Her feelings about this nation were clear; she despised them and she was sure that nothing could change that. But they still needed to find Steven a teacher. So when the time came to meet them she knew she will have to swallow her emotions; but that doesn't mean she has to like them.

"It was great; Connie and I got mistaken as children and had to attend school!" Steven cheered.

Pearl gasped. "You what! Steven, Connie do you know how dangerous that is; where were you when this happened?" She glared at the earthbender.

"Probably eating," She went back to her dinner.

Steven frowned. "What's the big deal? They've been teaching us a lot about their history and I've even made friends!" He grinned.

Connie could faintly remember seeing Steven talking to a boy his age during recess. She wasn't surprised that Steven had made friends so easy; he was a likeable kid. She also couldn't be upset with him for becoming friends of the enemy because he deserved it. He spent so much time with girls; it seems appropriate that he needs time with male companions.

"We could use more information about this nation before we plan an attack," Sapphire suggested; earning a grateful look from Steven when she naturally came to his rescue.

Pearl hummed considerably. "Regardless; you can't possibly trust any of these people,"

Steven, confused, spoke again. "But Sapphire met a friend," The waterbender blushed deeply; her stoic mask being dissolved to nothing.

"Oh yeah," Amethyst smirked. "Ruby right?"

Sapphire nodded quietly; avoiding Pearl's suspicious gaze. She knew how her friend could get about these things. After the Fire Nation wiped out her culture and friends it became hard for Pearl to trust them. So in a way; she had the right to be wary.

"Who is that?" Pearl mumbled; eyes wide in fear.

Sapphire swallowed her noodles and turned around. Her blue eyes also went wide when she saw the familiar curly haired girl walking up to their camp. Ruby was still wearing her red sleeveless shirt, black tight shorts and black shoes; her dark red headband whipped in the air as she was hit with soft winds.

The girl grinned, waving lazily, when she noticed the waterbender in the mist of people. "Sapphire,"

Steven, as well as the others, stood up to approach the visitor. His brown eyes glanced towards the cave where Lion should be safe from the shorter girls view.

"Ruby," Sapphire smiled shyly as the girl stood before her. "Wh-what are you doing here; how did you even find me?" She crossed her arms nervously.

She watched the girl dig into her pocket and pull out her mother's betrothal necklace. Sapphire gasped; feeling into her pockets to see that her necklace was not there.

"You dropped this so I followed you," She handed the girl her neckwear. "Sorry for stalking you but I didn't know when I'd see you next,"

"Thank you," Sapphire snapped it back around her neck where it belonged.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she worried if Ruby had put two and two together. About her name and the water tribe necklace but the other girl didn't say anything.

"So you're Ruby?" Pearl suddenly stood between them.

Ruby stepped back; sending a look to Sapphire. "Yeah, who are you?"

"That's Pearl," Steven waved from the fire. "Nice to see you again Ruby; do you want to stay and have dinner with us?" He ignored the glares Connie and Pearl sent his way.

The boy was far too nice.

Ruby took a hint. "…No thanks kiddo, I was just retrieving her necklace before I went on the road." She gave Sapphire another smile. "Thanks again," She turned around and started walking away.

"On the road," Pearl frowned; looking towards the waterbender. "What does she mean?"

"Ruby wait," Sapphire called out as the short girl turned back around. "It's pretty late; maybe you should stay here for the night," She didn't want the other girl getting into any more trouble.

Ruby shook her head. "…No I—" She grabbed Sapphire by the arm and pulled her down.

"Hey!" Pearl shouted.

The skinny girl was about to aid her friend when a powerful blast struck the same place where Sapphire was standing. Ruby looked up in the smoky mist, still shielding the waterbender with her body, and saw a figure standing on the cliff.

"Who is that?" The runaway whispered.

"That's Buck; he's the leader of the Cool Kids," Steven told her as he stood up tall; dropping his bowl of noodles. "He and his gang have been after us for a while; we got rid of the others but I guess he managed to escape,"

Pearl growled. "And you led him right to us!" Her anger was directed to the new comer.

"What?" Ruby gasped; not noticing Sapphire pull away. "I had no idea he was here and I'd never put you all in danger!"

Connie rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, like we're going to trust you," She grabbed Steven's hand. "We don't want to draw any attention to ourselves and should probably get Lion and leave,"

Steven bit his lip. "…I guess we're going to have to find a teacher some other time," Connie nodded and followed him into the cave.

Amethyst started to gather their things and also ran inside the cave with the children.

"Sapphire," Ruby pleaded. "I promise you that I didn't do this!"

Sapphire opened her mouth to say something when Pearl called out to her. "Let's go Sapphire,"

Ruby watched as the waterbender left with her friends; not even sparing her another glance. Her eyes grew wide, shortly, as a large lion emerged from inside. The shock escalated when the creature actually began to hover above ground and head to the skies; flying over her head.

"A flying lion—Betrothal necklace—Being hunted by Buck," Ruby gasped. "That's the avatar; his earthbending teacher, his airbending teacher and his…" Her eyes narrowed when she put it all together. "Sapphire was his waterbending teacher; they've been under Jasper's nose this whole time. Lurking in our home town and now she's sent this guy to do the work for her,"

She scoffed. "Disgusting,"

The assigned assassin adjusted his shades and aimed at the beast in the sky. His calculations were complete but before he could fire someone knocked him to the ground.

Buck grunted, looking up to see someone towering over him. "Ruby," He smirked. "Always good to see a childhood friend; wish we could catch up but I have work to do,"

"I don't think so, Buckie,"

His bottom lip twitched. "I told you not to call me that,"

Ruby shrugged, letting him rise fully before she ran towards him again.

"No," Sapphire clutched the saddle tightly. "We can't just leave her to face him while we run away!"

Pearl shrugged. "There is nothing we can do," She said apathetically. "We can't risk him revealing where Steven is; we just have to find another empty spot and go on from there,"

Amethyst looks over the edge where Ruby is fighting Buck with her fists. She had to admit; the girl had guts. And she wasn't a bad fighter; she managed to block and dodge most of his attacks before landing one on him.

"She's amazing," Steven also peered over the edge. "He can't even—"

Buck found an opening and grabbed her by the neck. Ruby coughed, chocking up bits of blood and saliva onto his gloved hand. He used his free hand to adjust his shades; his calculations became measured as he took aim.

"Jasper told me to destroy anyone who got in the way," Buck said. "I guess that includes you; any last words you want me to bring back to your sister?"

Ruby smirked. "No thanks—I'll tell her myself if you don't mind,"

She used her right foot to kick him in the gut. Buck gasped; releasing her as he clutched his stomach in pain.

"You brat!" He groaned; still holding his stomach tight. "Why does this hurt so bad?"

Ruby jogged backwards. "Oh, just a little chi-blocking move that Peridot taught me when we were still friends," She chuckled. "I have no beef with you so I'll leave you here, and tell don't tell my sister about this; I want to be the one to. It is a family matter after all,"

Ruby then turned around and started walking back to the town. Buck, still in pain, fought through it and grabbed his shades. He sent a weak blast to the retreating figure; powerful flames heading straight towards her.

"Oh no," Sapphire gasped; watching the attack.

Ruby turned around and controlled the fire around her. It swirled around her like a tornado as she directed it back to Buck. He screamed as the scorching flames met with his leg. Melting the skin as the overheated flames made contact; it was sure to leave a scar.

Buck cried out in pain. "Damn you!"

Ruby, face stoic, turned around and ran back to the town.


"She's a firebender!" Steven said what they were all thinking.

Sapphire silently watched Ruby run back into the town. She couldn't believe her eyes; Ruby had single handedly taken down the monster that had been chasing them for months. And on top of that she was a firebender; a pretty damn good one at that.

"Pearl," Steven looked at her pointedly.

She shook her head. "Oh no; she is not the one Steven,"

"But she is!" He clutched his chest with a smile. "I can't tell you how but I just know she's the one who is supposed to be my teacher,"

"We don't know that!" Pearl countered.

"Then let's find out!" The avatar shouted back furiously. "You are all too scared of trusting this nation that you don't even think twice about those who may happen to be innocent in this all. When I defeat the Fire Lord do you just think we will ignore this country? No," He clenched his fists. "We will accept them with open arms and start the world anew. With all nations together like it was before,"

"This is why we are fighting," He said. "We are fighting so these people can be free. You all need to learn how to forgive or else hatred to overcome you and we can't let that happen," Steven smiled, looking around at the ashamed faces. "So I'm making this decision all on my own; if Ruby happens to betray us then it's my fault but…if not,"

"You all owe her an apology," He looked away. "Including me,"

They all remained quiet for the remainder of their flight. Steven had taken it upon himself to make the decision to search for Ruby in the morning and even at night. But first they would have to find another place to sleep.

Then they would begin their search.


Thanks for the reviews.