Vengeance, thy name is Aang
Ch.14- The enemy of my enemy...
xXx
Aged amber eyes took in the printed word that sat before them. Admiral Zhao, recently promoted for his capture of Jeong Jeong the 'Flame Mage', drank in the reports of the 'Fire Nation Blitz'.
Any who saw the look on the middle-aged Admiral's face would see that he was not happy with what he was reading. 'That idiot, he's going to ruin everything with his foolishness. Zuko has no idea just how much this is going to force his father to move up his plans for the Earth Kingdom,' Zhao thought heatedly to himself. The banished prince's actions got his anger boiling, the teen's inexperience clear as day with such a stupid idea.
"And now I'm being forced to clean up his mess." As he muttered in anger Zhao's eyes traveled across his desk and over to a message he'd just received from the Fire Lord. It explained, in expressive detail, that it was now the Admiral's job to capture the Avatar before Zuko. Failure was not an option.
And while Zhao was miffed that his expedition to the North Pole was cut short he did not intend to argue with his Lord. After all, what mission could truly bring more glory to one's name than capturing their leader's most dangerous foe...even if said foe was just a mere boy.
So, it was with a heavy sigh that the aged military man set the newspaper down and made to exit his personal chambers aboard the ship. He had an Avatar to catch after all.
Lucky for him Zhao wasn't stuck in the same position as Zuko; no resources to speak of other than those found on his own vessel. No, the rising star of the Fire Nation navy had a spy network and numerous contacts scattered across the different continents.
That's why Zhao knew that the place he'd find the Avatar was a small village near the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom.
And, as luck would have it, the boy was grounded by a vicious storm.
As he opened the doors to the deck and let the light of the day wash over him Zhao couldn't help feeling that it was a sign: by the end of today, he would shine brighter than even the sun itself.
Xxx
Where Zhao was basking in the warmth of the sun, Aang and his small group were shut up inside an inn; the Water Tribe siblings grateful now more than ever that Aang had been so non-dependent on his money, as otherwise they wouldn't have had the funds to afford such a place.
The team had moved quickly to get away from Zuko's flaming assault, being sure to make their exit obvious in order to draw his attention, and made a mad dash away from the coast. While the siblings were confused about why Aang wanted to move in the direction of a village he quickly explained that moving farther into the Earth Kingdom would force Zuko to abandon his seaside siege and chase them on foot.
And so they traveled for two days on foot after escaping the firebender's missile range and dismounting Appa before reaching a village, about the size of Kyoshi's, just as it began to pour down rain.
"At least the rain will help hide our scents from Zuko's tracking unit," Sokka voiced as he looked out the window and towards the village entrance.
Despite the knowledgeable truth in his words, the Water Tribe male forgot one important thing.
"Um, Sokka, this isn't the Poles; Zuko doesn't have the kind of tracker team you're thinking of. The Fire Nation doesn't use polar bear-dogs, they use bounty hunters and scout hawks."
The elder siblings surprise was clear when he whipped around and gave Katara a confused look. "Then how do they ever find anyone?"
"Relentless pursuit." Aang answered from his seated position in the corner. He'd been listening quietly to the rain storm outside up until that point. "The Fire Nation doesn't use the hunting strategies you're used to Sokka because they find them unnecessary; why act like an animal when you can simply throw so much money at the problem it'd be enough to turn an entire continent against their target?"
The young Avatar's explanation sent an unpleasant shiver down Sokka's spine as he thought about that. But then he thought of one exception to the Fire Nation's ruthless record. "But wait, then why haven't they caught us yet? It's not like we're master escape artists or anything; how come we haven't been swarmed by bounty hunters yet?"
"Control," was Aang's simple response. And when he saw that neither of the Water Tribe siblings understood what he meant, the young bender explained further. "The Fire Lord doesn't want my awakening to become a reality to the rest of the world. Right now, everyone who hasn't seen me isn't sure if I'm really back or not; they're holding onto a thin string of hope. If Ozai were to use his usual method of hunting then it would confirm my existence, which would bolster the remaining resistance to his rule's efforts. And he doesn't want that, he wants to crush me quietly so as to destroy those peoples hope."
"But if that's the case, shouldn't we try to get you to as many people as possible? If we encourage enough people we can build an army big enough to challenge the Fire Lord," Sokka reasoned.
Katara seemed to like the idea, and went to agree with her brother, but was stopped short when she saw Aang shake his head. "What's wrong with that?" She questioned.
"It would force the Fire Lord to play his hand then, and I don't feel like dodging a small army of bounty hunters and Zuko; he's bad enough by himself. As much as I'd like to reveal myself to those people who are scared, my best option is just to keep going like I have and defeat the Fire Lord in silence. That's how I'll best help them."
Before anything else could be said a knock at the door let them know it was lunch time.
Table-ing anymore war discussions for later, Katara got up and walked over to the door. When she slid it open the young girl was armed with a polite smile and a greeting on her lips...both of which wilted like a dying flower when she came face-to-face with a man in Fire Nation colors.
Behind him was the woman that was supposed to bring them their food; the tray now in the man's hands. She was being held hostage by a man covered head to toe in armor, who was flanked by two more soldiers. But Katara's attention was quickly brought back to the man with sideburns when he spoke: "I'll never understand how that fool Zuko could have so much trouble finding you all. It's pathetic how easy it was to track you all."
The man's words seemed to snap everyone's attention back to the fact their was danger and Aang shouted for Katara to get away from the door.
'Too late,' Zhao thought.
Using the tray in his hands the Fire Navy admiral smashed the piece of metal into the waterbender's face, blinding her with the hot soup mounted on it, before shoving her into the room with a spartan-kick.
Only to be blasted back out by a powerful gust of wind sent by Aang's staff.
"Let's go," he shouted, "Sokka grab Katara and come on!" Aang rushed over to the window while Sokka did as he was told and hauled his injured sister to her feet before following him. The trio leaped out into the rain from the second story room, Aang cushioning their fall with his bending, before they attempted to put distance between themselves and their new enemy.
They ran through the rain, their vision blurred by the deluge of water coming from the sky, and managed to make it to the village entrance before being forced to stop; a horde of Fire Nation soldiers stood in front of them.
And Aang quickly noticed that these men weren't from the firebending unit, but instead held various weapons, and stood in a number of stances. But what was worse, was that unlike Zuko's men these solders looked professional...like veterans. The young Avatar could tell right away that this wasn't going to be easy.
"Nowhere to run Avatar," the new enemy called from behind him, "you can either surrender quietly now, or be beaten into submission and dragged away. Either way is fine with me of course, but if you choose to fight then I can't guarantee the well-being of your friends."
Aang looked between the surrounding forces around him and then at his two travel companions; Katara had recovered a little from the earlier assault and was at least able to squint her eyes now.
Smirking at the pompous Fire Nation native, Aang answered, "They're not my friends."
And then he spun low and unleashed a powerful airbending move that aimed for the legs of those that surrounded him.
Some were unlucky and got knocked to the ground, but more than half actually managed to avoid the strike. Something that instantly worried Aang. But he didn't have a lot of time to think about it because he was soon forced to dodge the heavy ball-and-chain end of an Ogama, and then duck under a head-shot made by another soldier wielding a pair of scimitar. While the young monk's naturally quick reflexes allowed him to keep his head, they didn't kick in fast enough to avoid being slammed by a roundhouse that the second soldier threw out after missing his target.
Aang went flying back but managed to land on his feet. And it was a good thing too, because he saw that he was about to be swarmed by a team of four. Using the same technique from his battle with Jet Aang propelled himself into the air so he could get some breathing room.
Unfortunately, the bald youth quickly became aware that these men weren't armatures, or kids playing soldier.
The realization came when the man wielding the Ogama used its chain to wrap around Aang's ankle and tear him out of the sky. Caught unaware, the young Avatar was left to be slammed face first into the muddy ground...and directly in the center of a dog pile.
As the men surrounding him kicked at his ribs and head Aang did his best to shield himself, through cracked eyes he looked over to see how Sokka and Katara were doing; it was clear, from the way both siblings were already bound and unconscious, that the fight was over.
As if to punctuate this, the leader of this group, the man with the sideburns, waltzed up and landed one last kick to Aang's temple.
From the shadows a masked swordsman watched the Avatar's defeat and looked on as the young boy and his companions were dragged out of the village and tossed into iron cages that were pulled by ostrich-horses.
Moving quickly on silent feet, thankful that the pouring rain helped drown out any noise he made, the assailant made his way to the cage that held the Water Tribe siblings and hid himself underneath the carriage.
xXx
Darkness. It was all Aang could see. He wasn't blindfolded or anything foolish like that, no, it's just that everywhere around him was a black abyss. Everywhere the Avatar's large, steel-gray eyes looked there was darkness.
And it wasn't any ordinary darkness, of that Aang had no doubt. It was obvious that whatever was going on had to do with the Spirit World.
The question was: what did it want with him now?
"Well now, aren't you a rude one? What kind of Avatar questions the spirits in such a way?"
The voice that spoke reminded Aang of Cuiman-She, the snake woman he'd met during his first cross-over into the spirit world, it was slick like oil and had an undertone of darkness to it. Aang turned his body, searching for the owner, and was quick to find the speaker...although what he found surprised him.
It was a giant centipede.
The spirit was at least fifty feet long and thicker than some tree trunks. Its legs were like strong branches and ended in sharp, deadly barbs. But what got the bald monk's attention was the things face.
It was a Noh mask. The creatures eyes were a sickly yellow, and seemed to stare through Aang's very being and into his soul. The smile that was painted on was thick and ruby-red, but was just wide enough that the Avatar could see a few of the razor-sharp fangs that were hidden underneath.
Seeing those teeth gave Aang a chill, and it was as goosebumps rose from his skin that the Avatar had a memory flash in his mind.
One where those teeth were used to rip the face from a woman named Ummi.
"Koh."
Hearing the young boy in front of him say his name made the devious spirit's smile widen, putting all of grimy, bloodstained teeth on display. "Ah, so the little gaki remembers me; I'm flattered. After all it has been a long time since we've last crossed paths young Avatar...tell me, how is your beloved Oma's reincarnation doing? Better than Ummi I hope?"
Somewhere deep inside himself Aang felt an anger, a rage, flare. One that was centuries old, and yet new at the same time. Was this because the Face Stealer threatened Oma's reincarnation?
For whatever reason he felt this way, Aang remembered to school his features so as not to betray his emotions. After all, he couldn't continue with his vengeance if his face was stolen.
Thankfully a new voice interrupted the two's talk before Aang could lose control.
"That's quiet enough Koh, leave the boy alone, unless you want another scar to match the one on your belly."
This new voice held a was soft and flowed like silk in the dark realm, echoing off unseen walls and filling Aang's ears. It wasn't a voice the young boy was familiar with, but from the way Koh flinched, Aang was sure it belonged to someone important.
"And what would you know of that, oh great Seer? I wasn't ware your abilities included hindsight."
"You would do well to remember that my powers include far more than sight young one, and that while you may be as old as this world...I am as old as the stars."
Aang noticed the way Koh tensed at that and immediately became curious to know the identity of this newcomer. However, it seemed she too could read his thoughts because his answer came just moments after his mental question.
"I am she who sees all and knows all young Avatar; Yongheng. And while I can't speak for my crittery colleague beside you, I mean you no harm, I am simply an observer of events.
"Hardly,"was Koh's snide response. His tone spoke volumes of how untrue the other spirits words were, but from where Aang was standing he didn't know enough of the story to make a real judgment call. So instead he asked what the two wanted from him.
"While I'd like nothing more than to add your face to my collection, young Aang, I must admit that isn't my purpose for presenting myself to you today. No, I am merely here to deliver a warning...stay away from the North Pole. Take this warning as you wish, but know this, should you ignore what I've told you today the chain of events to follow will birth a malevolent power the likes of which this world has never seen before."
"Shouldn't you leave the fortunetelling to a Seer, Koh?" Was Aang's unconvinced, but unemotional, response. While he was no expert on spirits, the young monk was weary to trust one with a name like Face Steeler. After all, what if his words were just a ploy to steer Aang into a situation where he could indeed steal his face?
"As I've said," the ethereal centipede replied after hearing the boy's thoughts, "I am simply the messenger. Whatever path you now choose to take is up to you."
"I'm sure he'd be more inclined to heed such a warning if he did not need o venture north to learn waterbending." Yonheng soothed.
Her words brought Aang's attention to her now, and he asked the disembodied voice what they thought he should do. "You're the one whose name means 'eternity', what path do you see is best for me?"
The Seer giggled, a sound akin to wind chimes, before answering in a playful manner. "Unfortunately young one, my power comes at the price of silence; I am forbidden from telling mortals their future." Then, seeing the question coming, she answered that there was a way around that little rule. "A fortuneteller; humans I have hand chosen to endow with my powers. They are few, but their ability is strong, and I know they can lend you the council you seek."
"And where would the closest of these uranaishi be?" Aang wondered, ever sure to keep is face schooled in front of Koh.
"Makapu Village; she is known as Aunt Wu. Once you are freed, head northeast towards Mt. Makapu and you'll find it at the base." Theaforementionedspiritinstructed reluctantly. One could see he gave no pleasure in being ignored, but the spirit could see that Aang had made up his mind, and so chose to aid him in his search.
What no one knew was that is was for the purely selfish reason of wanting to see how the boy handled what would come next.
Aang went to thank the centipede, but something in the spirits response puzzled him. With a cool facade, the young Avatar questioned Koh about what he meant when he'd said 'freed'.
"Oh how easily you forget boy; you were captured by the Fire Nation. A navy Admiral named Zhao ambushed you and those two bafoons and managed to subdue you. Now he has you chained up in a cell...but don't worry, the fates have seen fit to send you a savior; Lan ling."
Aang was still confused; what was a Blue Spirit? But before he could ask them he noticed that a bright light was beginning to break through the intense darkness that surrounded him.
"Ah," Yonheng sighed wistfully, "It seems our time is at an end young Avatar. May the Shanguan watch over, and protect you, Aang...you're going to need it."
"Wait," Aang hollered, feeling safe showing emotion now that it was clear nothing more would be said, "I still have more questions! As the Avatar shouldn't I be allowed to have a say when these meetings end?!"
Koh's pompous voice was the last thing he heard before awakening. "Silly boy, you may be the Avatar, but the universe bends only to the one with the Samsara Eye; a being with power far beyond your silly bending. Know your place."
xXx
When next he opened his eyes Aang was a bit startled to find pair of amber eyes only inches from his own. Giving a small start at his captors close-ness, the young Avatar quickly schooled himself and asked what the man wanted.
"Isn't it obvious?" Zhao questioned back. "I want to bring you before the Fire Lord so that he can dispose of you; after all, you're the only thing standing in his way of ruling the world. Once Ozai kills you, it'll be like knocking down a stack of domino's."
Remembering what the spirits had told him, Aang smirked. "That's assuming you manage to get me back to your capital, Admiral."
Zhao didn't like the look on the young Avatar's face, it angered him. Who did this little punk think he was dealing with, smirking like that? "Maybe I should give you a lesson in manners first before we get there though," the aged firebender hummed. "After all, we wouldn't want you mouthing off like this to Fire Lord Ozai, now would we?"
Aang was about to tell the man where he could put his lesson, when suddenly he was spitting blood out of his mouth.
Zhao had backhanded him across the face.
With a bloody mouth Aang turned to once again be eye-to eye with Zhao, only this time, the young boy could see the danger he was in. This man was nothing like Zuko. He was far darker, and far more unstable.
Something that was made more apparent when the man suddenly held up a serrated dagger.
Pressing the cold metal against Aang's bare chest, Zhao's eyes were alight with malicious glee as he slowly dragged the blade in a deep, diagonal line. From the upper right of the muscle, to the very bottom left, Zhao made sure to keep a nice steady slice.
Aang's breath hitched the minute he felt the dagger puncture his skin, and from there it was a struggle to keep from screaming; Zhao had used his firebending it seems to coat the blade in a fine heat. Made evident by the way smoke sizzled from the wound. However, just one cut wasn't enough it seems, because once he'd finished there the Admiral went on to etch another one into the Avatar's right side; making sure to curve inwards at the halfway mark and bring the blade towards the upper part of Aang's stomach.
Once that one was finished Zhao pulled away. Aang tried, but couldn't keep his head up. Letting its weight hang the young bender still managed to keep eye contact with his tormentor, deciding to keep up his defiance by any means.
Something Zhao was going to take sick pleasure in cutting away, piece by piece.
The firebender's next target was Aang's back, and here the man knew he'd have a lot more freedom to move around, not really needing to worry about organs and other such annoying things.
"Maybe I'll suggest that the Fire Lord peel off these arrows your kind were so proud of; he could hang them up in the trophy room as a monument to not only your defeat, but the extinction of the airbenders." Zhao chuckled darkly as he carved the character for 'coward' alongside the tattoo that ran over the Avatar's spine.
However, the man's joy was short lived because Aang laughed mockingly as he told Zhao that the airbender's couldn't actually be 'extinct.' "The Avatar cycle can't be broken just because you destroy a population, fool. If I died the spirit would be reborn into a guifan, someone with no bending ability, and simply make him the first in a new line of airbenders." Aang's taunt came out in short huffs, the young bender forced to split his concentration between biting back the pain and schooling his tormentor.
But he managed, and the result was a blow to the back of the head from Zhao's dagger handle.
Aang's head lurched forward from the impact, but he managed to keep from biting his tongue. The master airbender could tell he'd made his captor angry, but knowing the man couldn't kill him made the ideas of what would come next more bearable.
Or at least, they would have been, had a sudden ruckus outside Aang's cell not drawn both occupants attention.
"What in the world are those fools doing out there." Zhao growled as he made his way over to the door.
Now that he had a moment to himself again, Aang let out a breath of relief. He wasn't actually sure how much longer he would have lasted before giving in and screaming in agony. Normally, something like this wouldn't have been as trying, but he still hadn't been getting much sleep since his depart from Omashu and it was wearing at him both mentally as well as physically.
He needed to figure out a way to get rid of this restless feeling, or else risk more serious consequences later on. 'There's no way I'd be a match for Zuko with how I've been feeling lately, especially not if he's well rested,' Aang thought to himself, 'I've got to find a way past this.'
Aang's attention was drawn to the doorway when he heard Zhao cry out in pain. Swinging his large, gray eyes upward the Avatar saw that the Admiral was down on the ground clutching his bleeding side. Movement drew the bald youth's attention this time, and he was greeted not only by the sight of a newly freed Katara and Sokka, but also a mask wearing swordsman. Seeing the blue oni design reminded Aang of what Koh had mentioned during their talk.
The Blue Spirit.
So this was him? He didn't look much older than Sokka, if the warriors height and build were any indication. But then again, he himself didn't look like much but Ozai feared and wanted him dead, so Aang decided to give his stealthy savior the benefit of the doubt.
After all, he'd taken out Zhao and just undid the shackles that kept him bound, surely that meant this Blue Spirit could be trusted.
Right?
Xxx
It was after their escape, made easier by Zhao being incapacitated, that Aang and his Water Tribe companions found themselves aboard Appa again and heading for Mt. Makapu.
And yet, like seemed to be the norm now, the groups travel was filled with tension. It permeated the air, making it hard to breath for one such as Katara, until finally the waterbender couldn't take it anymore and had to ask: "If we're not friends, then what are Sokka and I to you Aang?"
"I thought that would be obvious," Aang replied from his place at the reigns, "Sokka is a fellow warrior and someone I've come to trust to have my back in battle. You on the other hand, I can't be sure of yet, as you haven't taught me enough to be considered my Sifu and aren't someone I feel I can fully trust-"
"But you don't seem to 'fully trust' anyone Aang," Katara cut him off. :"I saw the way you wouldn't even talk to Bumi about whatever was bothering you while we stayed in his castle, and he's supposed to be your oldest friend."
Aang turned his head so that only one of his eyes could stare into both of Katara's. The older girl saw that she'd gotten to him with that last comment, but wasn't about to apologize for it, the Avatar needed to start being more clear as far as she was concerned if they wanted any real chance of working as a team.
"Don't assume you know what happened between Bumi and I while we were in Omashi Katara, because what you think you know and what actually happened are so different it'd be impossible for you to comprehend the truth."
"I could try if you'd just let me in Aanmg," Katara pleaded, "what's it going to take, to make you realize that whatever you're going through isn't something you have to handle alone? Sokka and I want to be your friends, we want to be there for you, but that can't happen if you keep treating us like we're just-"
"Just pieces on a game board Katara, is that what you were going to say? That I consider you and your brother a means to an end? Well what else should I see you as; because a friend would have headed not only my, but Sokka's warnings about Jet instead of trying to live with her head in the clouds. You say I should trust you, but how can I when you Katara have given me no reason to?"
It was an intense silence that fell after that, Aang returning to nursing his wounds with Momo's help, and Katara crawling back towards her brother for comfort.
From her place in his arms she asked how Sokka felt about what he'd heard. His answer surprised her.
"I'd already figured him out Katara, back when we made that trip to Kyoshi and he was so distant during you guys waterbending lesson. I knew right away that the Aang we'd met from the iceberg was gone, and that I'd have to learn how to coexist with the new version. Something I see you haven't managed yet."
"B-But that's because I still think of him as the old Aang," Katara confessed, "the kid that wanted me to go penguin-sledding with him. Why can't we bring that one back...why can't he see he doesn't have to be alone?"
Sokka had wondered this once before himself, and had come up with really only one answer. It wasn't a happy one, nor was it one any twelve-year old should feel like, but it was the only thing the Water Tribe warrior could come up with.
"Maybe...because he wants to be."
xXx
A/N: There's the next chapter for Vengeance. It came a little later than I wanted but I'm always so tired lately from work I don't have a lot of energy to do anything.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this version of Blue Spirit. It's a shorter chapter, and I feel like the end was a little rocky, but I think I did alright over all. No Aang doesn't learn Zuko's the one that saved him yet, that comes later, and I did it this way because right now it would have no real meaning in the story. My Aang isn't where he needs to be for the reveal to have an effect on him.
Speaking of effect, as you can see I will be readdressing issues from previous chapters, and not just letting them fall to the back like the show tended to do; examples being my Aang's sleeping problems and Katara's latest blunder. These things will all help with character development.
Which brings me to my next topic: guest reviews. I generally don't care if you choose to review this way, but don't hit me with what is basically an attack on my story through a guest review, It's cowardly and annoying. This person doesn't like how I've portrayed Katra so far, and normally I wouldn't be bothered by this, but when they send me something like this:
Chapter would be a damn sight better without the one-liner from "Batman Begins." Or... you know, being nothing more than an excuse to bash on Katara some more. No, don't even think I can't see what you're trying to pull here. You want an iron-clad excuse to put her in her place the next time she starts to get too "preachy" about compassion and mercy. What better way to do just that that casually drenching her hands in the blood of thousands of innocent lives at the first chance? And as a bonus, why not make her look like an idiot for the first cute guy to try for some f*** civility? I can honestly see you pulling this s*** all over again when it comes to "The Fortuneteller." All so that your Taang pairing looks much more plausible and desirable, and Katara looks like an stupid b*** for trusting someone more sociable than Blood Knight Aang.
The whole "Death Eater Ron" gimmick ran it's course in the Potter fanfics. Try to focus on developing your characters instead of forcing them through an obsolete formula.
I can't help be bothered. And guys, the Harry Potter reference is completely lost on me here so could someone explain?
Anyway, no, this had absolutely nothing to do with the pairings, and realistically Katara would be that naive. The Katara we're given isn't e realistic representation of a girl who's grown up with only her brother around at the South Pole. So lay off.
As for the Fortuneteller chapter, it actually didn't really have anything to do with Toph. Yes, there will be a small hint of her appearance, but nothing like Aunt Wu telling Aang a love story for his future...why would you even think that was where I was headed with that episode?
I'm honestly a bit insulted this guy thought so low of me as a story teller.
But you know what, it's whatever, I'm going to continue the story despite this and make it to the end, Because I enjoy writing it, and there are those of you who enjoy reading it. So that's good enough for me.
Well, that's really all I've got for this, I hope you guys are excited for Fortuneteller because it spells the beginning of where my story will truly deviate from the series and make it something new. Don't let the little flare stop you from reviewing please, even as a guest. I DO want to hear from you guys.
So review or PM me with comments, questions, concerns, and things of that nature.