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The Order

Once again a black armored and cloaked man walked through the streets of Ba Sing Se; while it was late the night life was in full swing however things seemed to be silenced whenever the man walked by. He walked into the same tavern Kumori had left only an hour before, the moment he stepped into the tavern all the drinks instantly froze solid and the temperature in the room as frost formed on the walls of the room.

"Where is Lord Iwakado?" the man asked his voice inciting a bigger chill than the frost that had beset the room. The bartender looked up.

"Who wants to know." He asked carefully eyeing the man, the man wore the armor of the Order and knew the name of the Stone Shadow, but his ways were blunt lacking the subtle hand signs the Order used to communicate.

"That is none of your concern, now tell me." The bartender stared back defiantly. "Then have it your way. Will every non-bender in this room please raise your hands." The patrons of the tavern simply watched to stunned to move. "I said raise your hands!" the cloaked man yelled and immediately 10 of the people in the bar raised their hands including the bartender, all against their will. The man looked a woman with a raised hand. He raised his hand toward her and clenched his fist. The girl immediately clutched at her chest and collapsed shrieking in pain. "Tell me now or I'll blow up this girl's heart."

"It's in the basement far wall, you have to knock…"

"I know the knock." The man then opened his hand in a sudden violent motion, and to the horror of everyone in the tavern patrons, crimson icicles protruded from the girl's body and she fell to the ground dead; impaled from the inside out by her own blood.

"You monster I gave you the information you…." The bartender stopped and grabbed his chest in pain.

"Don't ever speak like you have authority scum you insult to the spirits of this world." He clenched both of his hands and all of those who had raised their hands collapsed; their hearts had exploded in their chests. "All those who have been blessed by the spirits may leave." He addressed the remaining patrons.



"You bastard!" a young Earthbender stood up after shaking off the initial shock. "You killed them." He sent a rock at the man who with practiced ease dodged and lunged at the Earthbender and grabbed him by the throat and the boy suddenly stood still.

"Those who protect trash shall die like trash." He threw the boy to the ground, he fell like a statue toppling over and he shattered like glass when he hit the ground. Taking the hint the rest of the patrons immediately began to flee from the tavern. The man walked down into the basement frost forming wherever he walked. Stepping to the far wall he knocked in the same fashion Kumori had. "May the Serpent always rule the sea."

"May the Tiger always prowl the earth." The door opened. "So what brings a brother from the North to Ba Sing Se?" the man walked through the door and placed a hand on the other's shoulder where he was immediately frozen in place. He walked down the stairs into the chamber of Lord Iwakado.

"I have been expecting you Shimo." Said Lord Iwakado. "I have always had suspicions of your notions of self grandeur."

"And what does that have to with why you were expecting me Lord Iwakado." Shimo said as pulled back the hood of his cloak revealing a man about 25 with cold ice blue eyes, his head shaved bald revealing a Yin and Yang tattoo in the middle of his forehead. This was Shimo Yami the Waterbender of the Triad and its oldest member.

"Earlier this evening a plan of ours was foiled as the target was told in advance by Kouseki, which means he still has contacts within the Order; Kouseki was once a member of the Triad as well as one of the most powerful Earthbenders ever to grace the Order. But his power went upraised only the Order would know his exploits it was not enough for someone who sought praise from the world. When he betrayed us we saw who he truly was, all other were beneath him; even his parents except you, he considered you an equal. And so you are the only one he would ever stay in contact with."

"Such a major accusation Lord Iwakado, but what proof do you have?"

"Sadly I have none, all that I know is you were the one who decided that Kumori should be the one to carry out the assassination of Princess Azula and had full knowledge of the date. The fact that you are here is proof enough The Triad are never without their Shadows, it is your sworn duty to protect your Shadow. Kumori was only here on special orders if not for that he would be with Lord Kagemaru."

"Then tell me where is Ishizue?"

"On a special mission."



"Doubtful, you sent her away from me, because I will tell you Lord Iwakado. You're right." He glared at the Stone Shadow. "Kouseki showed me the true path and together with Fire Lord Ozai we will build a new and better world; without the Shadows the Order will fall and with your death it will leave only Kagemaru; but Kouseki wants him personally."

"Lady Mizu! What have you done with her Shimo?" demanded Iwakado outraged.

"She is safe even I could not bring myself to kill my own wife, but she has been incapacitated."

"And what of your child? Last I had heard Lady Mizu was great with child."

"My son has been born and it has all been taken care of." Shimo said his voice chilling the air even more. "But enough of this talk, your demise is imminent so wills the spirits of this world."

"Kill this oath breaker!" immediately two of the guards around Iwakado charged their blades drawn, while others used earthbending to assault from a distance. However the two who charged forward never made it as with a simple movement of his hand they exploded in a shower of blood; which froze making a wall blocking the rocks thrown at him.

"Non-benders among your rank Iwakado, you defile yourself by working with those who are lower than trash." The blood wall reshaped itself into crimson spikes and with deadly accuracy took out the guards one by one; with each guard killed it only added to the amount of blood he could use against the others; until only Iwakado remained. "You have been judged Iwakado; and the spirits demand your blood." He stepped closer to Iwakado, but suddenly a large stone hand came out of the ground and gripped him.

"I won't go down so easily Shimo. My special ability is force; that hand is exerting more than enough pressure to keep you from moving or bending, I am hair's breadth away from crushing you."

"You old fool; you know Kouseki is my friend; you know what he has achieved. What I have achieved; the pinnacle of bending. The closest a single element bender will come to rivaling the Avatar." Shimo's eyes began to glow a deep blue; as well as the tattoo on his head. Shimo then proceeded to dissolve into water and he flowed out of the stone fist. The puddle he dissolve into mixed with the blood in the room and the puddle began to grow and shift into crimson serpent that finished by turning to ice. The ice serpent struck out and wrapped around the stunned Iwakado. "Do you fear me Iwakado; my power the power of a bender at full potential." He hissed bearing his fangs. "The power of Bender's Nirvana."

"Impossible; it is a myth. Kumori was only exaggerating when he told me of the power Kouseki had gained."

"It was no exaggeration, Kouseki and I are now the most powerful benders of our element. It was a demanding task but with much training and meditation; I have immersed myself in the power 

of water until I became one with it. And with this power I shall fulfill the revelation the spirits gave me upon achieving it."

"What revelation?"

"To those who survive the process of achieving Bender's Nirvana they will receive a revelation about their destiny. Mine was that I was to wash away the evil of this world."

"I would like to know what you consider evil Shimo."

"You do not see it Iwakado, evil is all around us. The power of bending is gift from the spirits, therefore all benders are in the spirits' favor and have their blessing. But then there are those who lack the power to bend; they have not been blessed and therefore do not have the favor of the spirits. But yet they live in this world believing they are equals that they have a right to live." Shimo reared back and gave an angry hiss. "They defile this world with every last breath, and so I will rid the world of trash and all who would stop me!" he lunged forward and sunk his fangs into Iwakado neck while at the same time freezing the blood in his veins. Shimo uncoiled his serpent body from Iwakado who slumped to the floor. The serpent melted back into water and reformed into Shimo's true body. He drew up his hood and made his way out of the chamber and back into the city of Ba Sing Se. "Soon I will cleanse but not yet, I will follow you Kouseki and together we shall build a new and better world." He walked down the street once again Shimo the Crimson Frost slipped back into the darkness of night.


Well so ends another chapter, a powerful foe has made his appearance. So how will the secret lives of the Order affect the course of the war; will they succeed in ending it or will the traitorous Shimo and Kouseki both of whom have achieved Bender's Nirvana crush all hope.

Author's Note: Bender's Nirvana is not all powerful; its weaknesses shall be revealed in time. Any questions to those who can't wait can have them answered in private messages.