The black phoenix.
An :I don't own avatar the last airbander.
Chapter 10.
The sky was bright, the rays of the sun were running around the world and striking with their heat those stupid enough to walk outside.
In a small clearing, the entire group of team avatar were standing, looking at the two in the middle.
Aang tried to fire bend, flames came easy to him but they were fluctuating every time the young air nomad tried to attack with them, and Shun had no problem at all dispersing them with nothing but a hand motion.
"Aang.. Do you want to defeat the fire lord?" the black haired boy asked coldly .
" Of course! What does it has to do with our training?" the boy asked confused.
"Let me explain" the boy sighed as he set down on the ground motioning the other boy to do the same.
" The reason it's so important it's because you may say that you want to defeat the fire lord... But you are not ready to do what's necessary for that" Shun answered darkly.
" What? How can you say that? What do you think I am doing?" the avatar asked angrily.
" Don't get me wrong avatar.. It's not that I think you don't want to defeat the fire lord.. What I am saying is that you are not ready to take the necessary action to achieve it... You still wait for a miracle which will let you defeat him without actually killing anyone " the black haired boy explained.
" Killing?!...but that's wrong! " Aang said automatically.
Shun nodded" That's exactly what I am talking about.. You are not ready to kill him... But Aang first.. Flames are not only to kill... Let me guess you were trained by somone already.. Most likely Jhon- Jhon " he cast a questioning glance at the air bender.
The boy nodded bewildered.
" You're probably asking yourself how I know... But that's just makes sense.. You fear the flame which means you have used it and hurt someone.. The only person who comes to mind who could've trained you unless avatar Roku somehow trained you.. Is Jhon Jhon " he answered the unasked question.
" It's true though... Jhon Jhon said he is jealous of Katara for water which can heal while fire can only hurt " he said, only to be met with an angry look from the fire bender.
" The man is an idiot... He understands nothing of fire bending avatar... He looks at it so narrowly.. He has the same outlook the rest of those simpeltons see... " the prodigy muttered angrily.
" What do you mean? Fire can do nothing but hurt others!" it was Katara, who although excepted the two fire nation people still had a deep hatred to the rest of their people.
" Katara... Tell me, you've lived in the cold environment of the poles... Tell me how did you survive? " he asked her.
" Well we heated ourselves with warm clothes and bonfires.." she answered truthfully.
" Oh? I don't understand Katara... I thought fire can only hurt others right? " he asked her with a devious smile.
The girl stood there flabbergasted "I - I" she was unable to say a thing.
" You see Aang, fire just like any other element fire can be used to help and hurt.. Nothing in the world exists without reason.. Without heat and flames the world would've frozen and the people would've died in the cold.. Fire is life just like water" he finished with a smile.
All the others looked at him gaping Including Azula..well mostly everyone as Toph just played with her toes and without looking at the others she asked in bewilderment " Well obviously.. Did you dimwits really didn't think about it?".
Shun lughed slightly "I guess that's enough for today... We will continue our training tomorrow.. Think about it Avatar.." he said as he rose slowly.
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They stopped near a savanna landscape , it was a huge valley full of yellow bushes and trees, all spreading as far as the eye could see.
Shun couldn't fathom the reason they stopped here while Appa wasn't tired and the light was still shining brightly.
And apparently he wasn't the only one who was concerned, as the rouge princess approached the avatar, confusion written all over her face "Avatar Aang" she started her " why have we stopped here? We can still travel a long distance" she stated, her eyes looking deeply at the young boy in front of her.
" Yeah Aang what gives? This place is a total wasteland.. There is nothing here!" it was Soka who asked, but his voice was angry.
"Actually..." said the resident earth bender "this place is full of things" she stated.
" Shh Toph.. Don't ruin the surprise" the avatar said as he fished a pipe out of Appas backpack and started to play a tune, to which from several holes around them some earthhogs like creatures appeared and played the same note the boy just did.
" I am doing an eartghog orchestra!" the nomand said excitedly.
Shuns eyes narrowed but the princess beat him to the race " Are you an idiot!?" she screamed at the boy " We are in the mi of a war, you are our only chance, and yet you have time to play around?! " her eyes were burning with anger as she looked darkly at the boy in front of her, who took several steps back.
" I am working my self throughly, I try to master three different elements at once I think I am entitled to have some fun as well! " the biyboy retorted fiercely.
" He is right we can plan some mini vacations before we continue on our journey, there is both wrong with relaxing from time to time " Katara chimed in looking darkly at the princess.
" No Katara, I never thought I will say something like that but Azula is right we can't just take our time off! We no nothing about the fire nation.. Even if Aang will be able to master the four elements we still do not know where the fire lord is and how to get there... We need intelligence!" he said darkly.
" If that is your concern Soka I don't think you should concern yourself.. Me and Azula know more about the fire nation layout and capital then mostly anyone.. That's not the problem though.. My fear is different entirely " the black haired boy said quietly, but he was heard by all the others.
" What is your fear Shun? "Soka asked his fire nation allye.. Calling him a friend was too much.
" What I am about to say has a connection to our previous discussion.. I never answer your question about killing.. But I wasn't dodging the question.. I was just waiting for more appropriate time" he said as he relaxed on the ground " Aang, let's start with the topic of the fire lord.. Let's say I'll give you as much intelligence as possible.. You will go and confront the fire lord after mastering the four elements" he paused scanning his audience, noticing that the avatar was attentive " You have the advantage of using all the four elements.. But you truly mastered only air bending.. After all to truly master an element one needs years, and I won't even talk about the training necessary to use all four in conjunction.." he breathed deeply before continuing" The fire lord on the other hand has a huge disadvantage, he can only use fire bending.. But on the other hand his mastery and experience of the one element is much greater than you have on each one of the elements.. And belive me the fire lord is really powerful.. I would say that Roku would probably be able to defeat him.. But it would be a real challenge ".
" Amm.. Well then what's the point of learning all the four... If I can't defeat him as I am right now? "Aang asked, a lost look in his eyes.
" First it's an advantage.. And ideally you will be able to master all four of them in several years... But unfortunately we don't have several years " Shuns eyes changed from their regular look to dark" Because the war will end by the time if summer.. Either with our victory or defeat ".
" The comet " the avatar said slowly.
" You know about it? " Shun was surprised, how could the avatar know about that?
"Yes, Roku told me in the fire temple"
" I see.. Than you understand the meaning of it.. You should train and gain as much of an advantage over him as possible.. But it will still not be enough I am afraid... Your only choice is to master the ' avatar state' " the fire bender stated.
"But I can't control it! Its dangerous!" he called.
" It is.. I have no doubt.. But you have no other choice Aang.. You have to master it.. The problem is we don't know how.. What do we do know is that it's possible to control it as we have accounts of it from those who came before you " he sighed deeply.
Aang nodded" But what does that have to do with killing? " he asked again.
" Everything, tell me Aang.. What do you think will happen should the fire nation be victorious?... What will they do to you? To Katra? Soka? Toph? " he asked, his face was serious as his dark eyes bore into the avatar.
" I... " Aang didn't say anything, but his eyes were closed.
" Let me answer that... They will capture and torture them in the most horrible way.. They will hold you while they show it to you.. They will kill and hurt everyone who is precious to you... They would..." he wanted to continue when he was interrupted by the avatar.
" Stop.. I get it! " the avatar stood there, his eyes full of anger.
" Oh you do?.. Then you should stop tiptoeing around and be ready to fight to the death... Don't get me wrong.. Killing is not a good thing.. Nor is everyone in the fire nation is evil... But those who stand against you will perish!" the boy was standing now, his eyes full of anger.
Aang nodded" I understand.. " he said quietly.
" No Aang that's wrong! " Katara tried to say but was interrupted by heher wolf tailed brother.
" No Katara... I agree with Shun... Think about what those people did to mother! How long did we suffer! " he called angrily.
The girl stood there, her eyes wide, it was a low blow but it was necessary, finally she slamped down in defeat.
"But that's said... I think it's still a good idea to take a small vacation.. It will help to ease all of our minds" Shun said with a smile.
Azula looked at him as if he had gone crazy, but the boy didn't flinch " It will efficient our performance, so Aang any ideas?" he asked with a smile.
" Yeah! How about the misty palms oasis?" asked the exited water tribe girl "After that we can go and look for Sokas and Shuns intelligence!" she said excitedly
" sounds like a plan" Toph responded to the obvious anger of the young princess.
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Shun was looking with a twitching eyebrow at the so called " One of the world's wonders" which apperantly in the last hundred years changed from a refreshing pond to a small pub like structure, which was filled with the most different kind of people.
Reluctantly the group entered the establishment, their eyes keeping careful watch on their purses.
It was then that somone had accidentally bumped into Aang, dosing him with a huge amount of mango drink on the young avatar, who automatically dried himself up with air bending.
The man who wanted to apologize, stood mesmerized at the desplay of air bending and immediately began to assult the avatar with questions as though the boy was a science specimen.
Sokka , who grew annoyed with the man who introduced himself as profesor Zey of the Ba Sing Se University, and asked him whether or not he had a recent map, hoping to find the layout of the fire nation.
When the man unrolled the map which shown the layout of the dessert and told them about the library of Wa Shi Tong, Sokka grew excited for the possibility of knowledge on the avatar state which maybe hidden there.
And with excitement announced it to be the place of vacation that he chose, which Shun agreed wholeheartedly.
And so now they were standing in front of the library, which was buried in the sand, and thinking of a way to get in.
Shun was exited, not only will this give them the chance to find what they looked for but also possibly held some knowledge about the map they got from the weird man in what looked like another life time.
It was Sokka who noticed a fox entering through the window, and after Toph confirmed that the library itself was there, they all went in.
Shun looked around nervously, as he tried to find any sign of life, when a heavy - and by heavy he meant giant - steps resounded in the hallway.
And a second later a huge owl was standing there, it's sharp eyes scanning them, Sokka wasn't sure now that he did the right thing... Maybe he should have stayed with Toph outside.
" Humans are not permitted here! All you do is to use the knowledge to get an advantage over others!" he bellowed.
Aang just approached him slowly, a smile on his face " Are you the great WA Shin Tong?" he asked respectfully.
" I am human... What is it that you want? " the owl asked him.
" I am the avatar.. I promise we won't use it to gain any advantage..." he promised.
" Hmm" the creature said as it lifted its huge wing " The avatar... I guess I can allow it.. But only if you will share some knowledge with the library" the owl said in a deep voice.
Nodding the professor offered a first edition book, while Katara offered a waterbending scroll, the avatar gave his wanted poster which made Shuns eyes to grow big as the spirit accepted it, Sokka gave some weird knot, which the spirit excepted though reluctantly.
It's gaze looked at the two fire benders " What can you two offer?" he asked, to which Azula gave some trashy book which they picked up in Gaoling, and Shun took a fire bending scroll which he wrote himself.
" That's acceptable... You may use the library.. But I will not allow you to use it for evil " he said as he walked away.
" Now then.. Listen closely.. It's pointless to look for any info on the fire nation.. I can help you with it myself.. Try to find something about the avatar state.. Clear? " Shun asked darkly.
" Alright... But who put you in charge!" Sokka shouted.
Shun didn't answer as he looked for something about himself.
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It took them several hours, but finally they all returned to where they started, each held some scrolls, their eyes shining brightly.
" With this knowledge we can easily defeat the fire nation!" Sokka concluded excitedly.
" Idiot! He heard you!" Azula bellowed " run to the exit now!" she called them, just as the giant owl appeared and with an enraged shout attacked them.
They all ran out, trying to outpace the spirit but to no avail, Shun suddenly skidded into a halt " ran! I'll be along shortly!" he called the others who continued to ran.
The owl spirit halted in front of him " What will you do fire bender? I am a water bending master.. Your flames are no danger to me!" he yelled.
Shun smiled deviously " We'll see about that! " he called letting the black flames sprout from his hands, which made the spirit to take two steps back
" No! " it called" You are... " he muttered in fear.
" Hai.. And thanks to your library I now know all about it... You should let is leave WA Shi Tong... " he said.
The creature roared in anger but took several steps back" Leave then! But don't return here ever again! " he called angrily, as the library continued to sink.
" With pleasure " he said as he sprinted toward the exit.
And as he jumped out of the library, he noticed two things... One the library sunk completely with the professor in it.. And the second one was that's were Appa should have been standing, there was nothing but empty space and the others were looking gloomily, Toph crying while the avatar cried silently.
End of chapter 10.