Avatar: The Legacy of Rong Yan

by KingBumisHeir

The Legacy of Rong Yan, tells the tale about Avatar Yangchen's predecessor, Avatar Rong Yan and how he ended a violent insurrection against the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se and the Northern Water Tribe by veteran rebels who are thirsty for bloodshed, sparking the embers of war, sixty-three years after the initial war ended. (Halfway through Book 2 is completed and available for reading.)

28. 2-9: Into the Past

Book 2: Water

Chapter 9: Into the Past

The Next Evening, Yantai River, West Jurong

The evening was colder than the night before this everyone huddled around the campfire that Unaraq and Sakana made eating their cooked fish while Aloi ate fruits and vegetables in the sack. It had been two days now they spent on the Yantai River, Aloi had to bury the mushy old produce she received from Sichuan about a week and a half ago, to return the nutrients into the soil.

The black night sky contained billions of stars spread as far as the eye can see, the moon's phase was currently on the full moon tonight. Sakana was anticipating the full moon for other reasons than what he told the group. The fateful event he had to take part in annually that dug into his soul but an offering must be made to contain the creepy voice in his head. Most of the time he was able to control the voice, it told him to do things he didn't want to do and so when he was stressed out he went out and hunted alone.

Sakana stood up mincing over to his satchel where he searched through it for the map that contained an island northwest of where they camped now. A small patch of land in the middle of the river one can get to only through swimming across the strong currents of the Yantai. Where it became a tributary or a fork in the river splitting the river into two. The You Gong river and the Zhuhai River, in between the tributary were two islands. The island Sakana sought for was the bigger island while north of it was an even smaller island but it was empty.

Hearing heavy footsteps behind him, his irises rolling to the corners of his eyes he glimpsed a bit to see Gyomo nearing him. Closing his eyes he exhaled stuffing the map parchment back into the satchel. Gyomo placed his hand on Sakana's right shoulder, "Hey everyone's getting a round of seconds if you want to get more food," Gyomo offered. Sakana answered with a nod, Gyomo concerned wondered about his friend's emotions, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah I'm good thanks," Sakana smiled.

"Well when you're ready to come back and sit around the campfire with us, we'll be sharing stories tonight before bed," Gyomo continued.

"It'll only just take a second," Sakana finished, Gyomo turned around and headed back to the group sitting around the campfire. Gyomo sat down on a log that Kuma and Sakana cut down from a few trees to make seats for everyone. He sat next to Kuma, an empty spot was next to Kuma left for Sakana when he was ready to return.

"Well, boys and girls this feels like one of those nights you know? The ones where you share stories among your friends, sad, happy, funny, scary, personal it doesn't matter we're here to listen," Sake began.

His twin brother Tako jumping up and down while sitting throwing his hands in the sky raising them first, "Me first, me first!" he shouted. He wanted to be the first volunteer, he inhaled and wondered why everyone was staring at him, "Why are you all staring at me?" he wondered.

"You said you wanted to go first," Aloi answered, he cackled boisterously, "Oh you're right!"

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Tako ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Well it all started at home back in Iqaluit it was a normal day for my brother and me, we did everything together. Survival studies, educational studies, eating, going to the bathroom. Except that day, I went fishing alone," Tako began using his hands and arms to set up the background and explain things.

Medium winds blew through the Southern Water Tribe capital city of Iqaluit, everyone who worked outside their homes in the markets or the bending institutions wore their parkas. While it was windy they knew it wasn't going to pick up, in the capital, some watchtowers viewed the weather in the area. With enough knowledge to be able to predict the weather in the main region of the South Pole, the men and women stationed in these watchtowers would be able to determine if the city would get hit by a snowstorm always blowing a horn to signal the citizens to remain inside to weather out the snowstorms.

Usually, the bad forms of weather could kill a tribesperson and this was considered a safe way to alert everyone. The neighborhood where Tako and Sake lived housed small wooden huts they weren't that poor, the dirt poor lived in igloos and tents made of fur and lived in small sections not too far from the twins' hut. They planned the previous winter to move out of their parents' home and they did. The hut inside was small comprised of a living area, with two small rooms within, each with a bed for the two brothers. In the living area were wooden floorboards that were sort of cold to the touch and so they weren't often barefooted in their home.

In the middle of the living area was a medium-sized square-shaped pit created from cobblestone mined from a mine west of the city. The stone found in the mine was used to create firepits where people who could afford them used them to warm their homes or even cook meals. There was only one big fat log inside the pit it stood upright and in the center was a small pot that contained some five-flavored stew from the night before. The log itself could still be ignited although scorch marks stained the topside of it.

Tako was preparing some things in his hut before leaving for the day his brother Sake snoring in the next room. He went out the door closing it so the cold wouldn't get in, he spent several minutes to reach the docks which were about a two-mile walk from where he lived. He finally reached the canoe he and his brother used to go fishing together. He started to put his tools and other things within the canoe to fit in properly leaving him enough room to get comfortable and fish.

"As I started to prepare and place my tools inside of the opposite end of the canoe I heard squeals of distress near me. I was curious when I turned to look to my left beneath me there was a sea lizard hatchling, kind fellow except he was stuck unable to get out from underneath the net that laid there," retold Tako.

Suddenly he heard squeals of distress near him and he wasn't quite sure what it was until he fixated his eyes on a sea lizard hatchling. An amphibian creature native to the shores of the South Pole caught inside a net, it must have wanted to get around or through the obstacle and found itself trapped. He removed the net and picked up the small creature padding over to the end of the docks where he gently put the hatchling near the snow that led toward the harbor where the harbor markets were. Tako returned to the canoe and stepped inside, and he then rowed off into the ocean where hours later he observed the waters below him for the catch of the day.

"I got back into the canoe and I was off to sea, I noticed something huge underwater I grabbed my spear ready to take it down. All of a sudden, there was large squid it released its deafening screech but nothing that scared me," Tako claimed.

He patiently sat in the boat he wasn't sure how long he was out at sea but he thought maybe it was around three to four hours suddenly something moved in the water. Bubbles rose to the top of the ocean, he could peer in and see a large shadow. The shadows moved around in the water some more before a large sea monster burst out of the waters below the canoe. The force and waves pushed the canoe a bit further from where the beast emerged. The deafening screech filled Tako's ears for about two seconds before covering them to mute out the sound. The cries of the beast echoed causing an iceberg off in the distance to crack and collapse.

"I noticed something about the beast, in its giant tentacles it held a beautiful tribal princess. She cried out to me to help her, it tightened its death grip. But I wouldn't allow it, I jumped onto the beast tackling it back into the water. I wrestled it and fended it off with my bare hands," Tako alleged.

In the tightened death grip the giant squid held the woman it wriggled the tentacle around along with the others. The woman screamed and cried for someone to save her, Tako took off his parka and jumped out of the canoe without his spear, shirtless and tackled the beast head on back into the water. Tearing the beast's tentacle that held the beautiful tribal princess he tossed the tentacle with the girl on a thick ice sheet where she waited for her hero to kill the beast.

He grappled the giant squid and it fought back trying to tear him in half with its large beak, it was of a chestnut brown color and had a few barnacles dried up on it. The squid was of a lavender hue with a large brown spots on each tentacle. The beast grumbled underwater bubbles emerging while the woman stood worried that her hero could drown or get eaten. Tako shot out of the water quickly and into the air doing a front flip the beast appeared to the surface. Tako aimed his elbow straight down into the eye of the beast and plummeted back into the water taking the creature with him. He wrestled the creature even further choke holding one of its tentacles eventually it gave up and tapped out with another tentacle.

The victor emerged from the waters below, Tako sprayed water out of his mouth swimming to his canoe he rowed close to the ice sheet where he left the princess. He extended his arms so that she could hop into them safely onto the boat. She sat beside Tako and cuddled up next to him his muscles protruding exaggeratingly.

"After I emerged victoriously she kissed me and told me I won her heart. It was her lucky day because no one else would be brave enough to save her. We fell in love, the end," stated Tako.

The princess rested her head on his shoulder her skin was as soft as snow but as warm as the fires in his hut's firepit. She was beautiful and had light brown flawless skin and indigo eyes that reminded him of the night sky above. Her hair flowed down to her lower back and it was of the color of the dirt back in Iqaluit. She looked into his eyes and he into hers at that moment they knew they would be eternal lovers. She closed her eyes and he caressed her cheek slowly leaning in for a kiss.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Wait, wait, wait what was her name?" Unaraq asked.

"And what princess? I'm the only princess in the Southern Water Tribe?" Tanaraq wondered she began to overthink her emotions flustered. Her self-esteem dropped she thought for a second there was a more beautiful princess in the South Pole than she.

"You know I'm not sure, do you know her name?" Tako returned the echo question to Unaraq.

"The princess of the Southern Water Tribe," Tako replied innocently.

"I'm the princess of the Southern Water Tribe!" she exclaimed raising her voice at Tako.

"No the other one," he smirked.

"There is no other!" she cried out, everyone laughed. Sake patted Tako's back rubbing it before saying it was his turn, "Unlike my brother's this tale is real," he said brushing Tako's story off.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Sake ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"We were on our way over here actually, another day out at sea except we were in the last few miles of arctic waters of the Tagiuk Ocean. We had already been about a day and a half out at sea. Just like any other day, we sat down on our idle boat waiting for a catch," Sake began.

The cold winds of the arctic ocean were stronger than that of Iqaluit on this day, today everyone wore extra fur protection underneath their parkas. Gyomo and the twins sat on the starboard side as they normally do while Sakana and Kuma waited on the port side of the boat surrounding them was water no icebergs floated nearby because as they reached closer to warmer waters the cold climate wasn't as bad. Sake's spear laid to his side he sat there nomad style staring at the water waiting for something exciting to happen. Kuma and Sakana were waterbending fish into the cooler under the deck, Gyomo padded to the bow side where he saw a school of fish, he pivoted and threw the net as hard as he could. The net landing on top of the school Kuma assisted him by bending tendrils around the net to curve it around the fish so none could escape.

Gyomo pulled harder grabbing the net of fish and pulling it on board there was a plentiful amount squirming about as they tried breathing for water where there was none. With the help of Gyomo he dragged the net over to the cooler, opening the net they dumped all the trapped fish inside. Tako licked his lips as he sat next to his brother, Sake saw a tusk emerge to the surface of the ocean out jumped a whale-like creature he was aware of the creature's existence in only fiction but he had no clue they existed. The creature looked like a whale shark but smaller, it had no teeth instead it contained rows of baleen plates, the creature itself was a light blue color, the one unique feature of the creature was the long tusk on its nose.

Tako leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Its a uni-whale!"

Sake sighed, "No even better its a narwhal, I have to catch it." Sake stood up to his feet grabbing his spear, the narwhal jumped into the air again it's body glistening off the sun. He readied his spear Kuma caught on to what Sake was doing that he nudged Sakana, "We have to go help him." Sakana nodded they minced over standing in a gong bu stance and freezing the water around the narwhal creating a ring to trap it in Sake didn't even react to the ice wall trapping the beast he just through the spear.

The narwhal released a cry of pain when the spear punctured its blubber its blood spilling into the ocean water, the ice now stained a translucent red. Sakana and Kuma bent a large bubble of water around the creature focusing on levitating it over the boat, it wasn't bigger than the boat itself but it was bigger than any of the fish they caught today. The gently lowered it because they were afraid of letting it drop onto the deck because it could damage the deck. The boat moved from side to side before rebalancing. Sakana pulled water out of the big drink the creature still struggling as it bled further, freezing it into an icicle he lodges it into the narwhal's head killing it instantly.

Sake pulled out his machete and started to chop at the large horn on the beast's nose, he wanted to keep it as a trophy for three reasons. First reason to hang it in his home as a trophy decoration, second reason to brag about it to others about the time he killed a narwhal, and the third reason to compare it to the barb that Rong Yan took as a trophy from the mantashark pup.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"We survived on that narwhal's meat up until we got here of course," he paused, from behind him he pulled out the narwhal's tusk that rest on the sand it was three times the size of the barb Rong Yan carried on him. He grabbed it showing everyone the tusk, "Which reminds me this is the tusk!" he exclaimed excitedly. Rong Yan chuckled, "Mine's on Shen's saddle over there."

"Go get it!" Sake snickered, Rong Yan padded off a few yards from the campfire to search for the mantashark pup's barb. Climbing Shen's saddle he listens in on the whispers of a woman he examines the area near him but sees nothing in the dead of night.

"Hello?" he called out, no response until again he hears the feminine voice calling to him he drops everything and wanders off.

Sake turned to look to his left at Aloi gazing at her he adds, "I guess it's your turn, airbender." Aloi putting the right side of her hair behind her ear she smiles at him thanking Sake, "Thank you."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Aloi ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"I'm willing to talk about the last time I was in the Fire Nation visiting one of my good friends, her name is Yua and she's the princess of the Fire Nation," Aloi opened, Tanaraq rolled her eyes muttering, "Hmph." Aloi ignored her and continued with the story.

"I haven't visited Yua in over two years but hopefully I can soon, it was her birthday over the weekend quite memorable indeed. I arrived in the Fire Nation and was greeted by Yua in Palace City, which if you don't know its a city inside an extinct volcano, while the sun doesn't often give light in the city, the volcano gives energy that increases the power of the firebenders in it," she continued talking often chattering sometimes explaining the extra details even though she didn't need to.

The gargantuan Fire Nation Royal Palace built of wood and stone was of great height and width. The royal stables housed all the mounts that Fire Lord Yeh Lu, his wife and his children owned. Aloi steered her sky bison Phala downward slowly coming to a safe landing on the palace stable grounds where she would allow the royal stable hands to take care of Phala. The stable master bowed before Aloi and Phala, Aloi slid down the flat tail of her sky bison. The stable master approached the girl greeting her, "It is a pleasure to see you again, Aloi. The royal guards are aware of your arrival and will be escorting you to Princess Yua immediately."

Two guards exited the palace where Aloi patiently waited for an escort from Yua's guards, the men in iron-clad red armor, from head to toe the guards were covered in red-painted iron armor, the helmets were iron armor with iron plates connecting to the back of the helmet protecting the neck from harm, above the chest plate was another set of plates similar to the helmet to prevent harm to the front of the neck. The lower portion of the face was protected by an iron mask, they also wore chainmail armor from the neck down underneath the iron armor for extra protection. Both of the guards were non-benders they carried katanas on their waist sides. Both guards bowed to Aloi one of the men with open palm pointing inside gesturing for her to enter now while they followed close behind.

Aloi walked into the grandiose corridors of the Fire Nation Royal Palace, the palace itself is a single structure; an elaborate tower with triple eaves is at the center, with three distinct wings joining it. The two smaller wings stand on either side of the main entrance to the palace building. There are towers at the ends of these wings as well. Directly opposite of the main entrance is the third, larger wing, consisting of the royal gallery, a hall with paintings of all the Fire Lords that led toward the throne room where the Fire Lord sits on the throne.

Inside, the palace is comprised of enormous halls and retains an intricate array of wings and chambers. Large tapestries line the walls and elaborate fire-themed images and moldings are laid out throughout the numerous sections of the structure. The courtyard in the front was barren with no cover available for any assassins to hide behind, the left and right walls of the front courtyard sat three towers overlooking the front courtyard, the courtyard also held two pools of water. This is where the nobles of Palace City gathered when the Fire Lord would make announcements every so often.

Back over yonder was the rear courtyard a larger area than the front, closer to the back of the palace was the royal garden in the middle, it held a small pond where turtle ducks would often find their way there. Past the courtyard sat another building known as the Agni Kai chamber where Agni Kais are held. To the left of the Agni Kai chamber was another building which held the war room, to the right of the Agni Kai chamber was the barracks of the royal guards that guarded the palace day and night.

Near the Agni Kai chamber was a large statue of the very first Fire Lord an Avatar named Inzei. Famous for uniting the warlords of the Fire Islands, and becoming the first Fire Lord, establishing the Fire Nation, the Fire Sages, and the Royal Family bloodline. Behind the statue was rumored to be a secret door that opened up to a secret tunnel leading into the Garden of Tranquil Souls. The Garden of Tranquil Souls was constructed during the early days of the Fire Nation and served as the burial grounds for the Fire Lord Inzei's royal adviser. Over the next several centuries, the graveyard became the primary burial grounds for members of the Fire Nation Royal Family as well as high-ranking officials of the Fire Lord's court. It was also a safe location for the Royal Family if enemies were to be assaulting Palace City.

While the Royal Family was buried here, the sitting Fire Lord and their predecessors were buried in the Dragonbone Catacombs, a series of chambers underneath the Fire Sages temple in Palace City which was directly north of the palace. The right-wing housed, the banquet hall, kitchen, servants quarters, the royal spa where the Fire Nation Royal Family and the Fire Lord's court could have a day of pampering, and relaxation. In the left-wing of the palace were the royal chambers that belong to the Fire Lord and his wife, and the Fire Lord's heir. While the other children slept directly near the heir's chambers, the guest chambers were down the back of the hall. By tradition when the other children of the sitting Fire Lord marry, they are moved into one of the villas near the palace while the heir to the throne continues to live in the palace.

While she knew the way to Yua's chambers for some odd reason the guards still did not trust her even when they know the Air Nomadic lifestyle. The first two chambers were larger compared to the third chamber on the left and the guest chambers on the right. The first belonging to Fire Lord Yeh Lu and Lady Kiku, the second belonged to Prince Shukun heir to the Fire Nation, then after his room was Princess Yua's room. Aloi attempted to knock on the door but one of the guards delicately grabbing her hand before she could knock. The other guard gave a unique knock to the door of Yua, opening the door to her chambers stood a beautiful pale-skinned young woman about the age of 16-years-old, she had long jet black hair the top portion of her hair was held in a top knot tightened by a band, the crown of the Fire Nation princess was clipped onto the band the crown was a golden two-pronged crown and the lower portion of her hair was loose, she wore elegant crimson red robes with golden accents, and black leather clogs with golden accents. An annoyed Aloi with two guards behind who knelt before the princess, one of the guards tried to get Aloi on her knees but she smacked his hand away.

"Don't worry about them you don't have to kneel," she tittered nervously she grabbed Aloi by the wrist pulling her inside and slamming the door on her guards. When Yua pulled Aloi inside she threw arms around her good friend, Yua's room always amazed Aloi, it was large and intricately decorated by the princess herself the walls were painted a light red color, a Fire Nation flag was hung on a wall between two windows, on the wall to her right she had a tapestry of Ember Island, an island resort in the Fire Nation, a city was built there and estates surrounded it, within the city was one of her favorite attractions the Ember Island Players. Shores surrounding the island were all beach except for the western side which is where the docks were located.

On her left wall, she had a painted portrait for her family from many years ago a younger Fire Lord Yeh Lu and Lady Kiku, her brother Shukun was a mere eight-years-old while she was nearing four-years-old. She had a shelf above her bed that she could reach if she were standing on the mattress which was decorated with old toys from when she was a little girl.

On the shelf were paper-mâché figures one of them was a fire-ferret and another was a cat deer a creature of old now extinct but a lot of the younger girls in the Fire Nation during this period were obsessed with cat deer. She had a wooden egg-shaped toy that she was given as a young child while her family visited the Bhanti tribe city, Bhisajya. The toy was painted to look like an Air Nomad meditating, the funny thing about these toys is that they look unfinished because no eyes are painted but it was customary to paint the left eye when you make a wish and the right eye when your dream comes true. The last was a doll she adored from her childhood that was gifted by her father on Doll's Day an unofficial holiday in Palace City held by one of the noblemen's wives for all the little girls growing up in the city, it was of her ancestor Avatar Ilah, a Fire Nation princess centuries before Yua was born who mastered the four elements and rooted out corruption within her family lineage. Yua came from the lineage of Ilah's youngest son Kaolan.

On the ceiling she had three lanterns hanging these along with candles on her nightstand lit her room. One of them was an elephant koi fish, another was a flying dolphin fish, and the third was a jelly squid. The ocean was one of her interests she enjoyed spending her time near the beaches of Ember Island and Yin La.

"Every time I come here I enjoy scanning your entire room, it's cute. Mine is boring and we don't have very many decorations. Or at least I don't," commented Aloi, she turned to look at Yua and smiled.

"Can't be as boring as my brother's room, all he has in there, are tapestries and a shrine to Hinokami and Chie. He has to be spiritual if he wants to be a good Fire Lord," she chuckled.

"A good Fire Lord not only rules his people fairly but also leads them in spirituality," Yua added.

"I'm just rambling, I'm sorry," she apologized she paused for a bit, "Well you're probably wondering why I asked you to come here," said Yua.

"Today is my birthday and we'll be celebrating it today and the rest of the weekend!" beamed Yua.

"I know this," smiled Aloi.

"As the first activity of the birthday weekend, we are starting this vacation..." Yua held back her words before shouting, "...AT THE ROYAL SPA!" They both giggled a guard bursting through the door bowing he questioned Yua, "Princess is everything alright? I heard you shout," Yua sighed turning her attention to Aloi, "You see I can't do anything here freely."

"Yes, Hanabi I'm fine," Yua said.

"I'm not Hanabi, princess. My name is-" he shook his head then he was cut off before he could say his name.

"You will answer when you are spoken to, Hanabi," she corrected the guard. He rose his finger as a gesture of holding her tongue so he can say his name. She shooed him off the guard sighed and shuffled away in sadness. Yua peeked out her door looking to the right and left making sure no guards were around she minced out with Aloi right behind her their goal was to get to the spa without any guards bothering her. She liked to enjoy her time while she lived in the palace without guards tagging along and following her everywhere. It's not like anything will happen there are guards everywhere, she's in the safety of her home.

Aloi and Yua only minced a few steps when suddenly a guard popped out of nowhere he bowed to her, "I will escort you to where you need to go, my princess," she gasped terrified at the sudden appearance of the guard. "I order you to let me walk with my friend alone," she ordered him.

"But-" he uttered.

"No buts!" she replied.

"Your father-" he spoke then interrupted again, "I'm a grown woman now I can defend myself from assassins and the like," she argued with him.

"I apologize, princess. But your father tasked me to follow you around," the guard apologized.

"I command you to guard my father," she ordered him, "With all due respect, princess. I was hired to serve you," he continued. She grinned menacingly, "In that case, I forgot my royal earrings in my room do fetch them for me."

The guard slightly bowed his head wandering off, she lightly jerked her head in the direction of the right-wing gesturing to her friend to speed up before he returns. They bolted down the right-wing where the royal spa was held. The other servants were working on someone laying down on one of the tricliniums within the spa, she laid down on the one next to it.

A man with sunkissed-toned skin and amber eyes turned while Aloi sat and got herself comfortable on the one next to Yua. Yua fixated her gaze on her brother Shukun, his hair held in a topknot by the sangtuwan crown that a prince wore held in place by a metal pin, he finally started to grow a beard, it was small and he seemed to scratch at it sometimes, last time Aloi visited his face was bald. He greeted her while his nails were being clipped by the servants, "Good morning, Yua I see you brought your airbender friend into the palace again. Surely you're not going to cause trouble in my city now that you two are together?" he inquired with a sarcastic tone.

"Your city?" she questioned him with a scoff.

"Last time I checked this was our father's city, nice try but you're not the Fire Lord yet," she snickered, he brushed it off, "I believe you to be mistaken father says my coronation is only a few months away," lied Shukun. He turned to face the other wall he grinned knowing it would scare his sister, she felt that as of now with the current attitude and personality he has he'd make a terrible Fire Lord regardless of his level of spirituality.

"We had a good time in the spa Yua was worried that her brother would take the mantle of Fire Lord soon. But as it turns out Fire Lord Yeh Lu wasn't planning on stepping down from the throne any time soon, Shunkun mistreats his sister sometimes and he lied just to frighten her," Aloi explained.

"After we exited the palace we flew to Ember Island on Phala, where we met up with her friend Hana the daughter of a governor within the province north of the capital province. She waited for us on the steps of the Royal Family estate," Aloi continued.

They finally landed on the sandy beaches of Ember Island a resort island for nobles, the Fire Lord's summer estate was the biggest property on the island. In the distance when Aloi peered, she could see people laying down relaxing in the sun soaking in the energy, others running around, firebenders playing fireball. Yua's friend Hana sat on the steps with her left elbow resting on her left leg, her head resting on her knuckles she was bored while she waited for their arrival to pass the time she watched the others have fun.

As soon as she saw Yua they both squeal and ran up to hug each other it had also been awhile she Yua saw her friend Hana. They kissed each other on the opposite cheek a formal greeting between noblewomen who meet up with friends. She glanced back eyeing Aloi gesturing her to come closer Aloi nipped over to Yua where she was introduced to Hana, "Aloi this is my friend Hana, she's the daughter of Governor Kofu from the province of Kansai," Yua introduced Hana to Aloi who extended her arm out to shake it, "Nice to meet you, Aloi I've heard some things about you!" she exclaimed, Aloi shook her hand, "And Hana, this is Aloi she comes from the Eastern Air Temple near the Qiangda Kingdom," Yua returned the introduction by introducing Aloi to Hana.

"Well, should we go inside and unpack?" Hana suggested Yua nodded being the first to open the door to Yeh Lu's estate. The estate home was huge as well while smaller than the royal palace it was still a palace in Aloi's eyes so much room for activities.

"For the first time in my life, I visited the Ember Island city I was definitely in for a treat because Hana took Yua to the Ember Island Players theatre in the city as a surprise. Something a lot of noble children grew up with, the famous theatre held many famous plays one of which was Yua's favorite was scheduled on the weekend of her birthday," Aloi described.

The city that was nestled on the island was spread across in circumference almost completely covering the entirety of the island except near the beaches which were left strictly for the beach itself and the beach homes which were built on the rocky cliffs just above the sandy beaches. The inner city's pavement was made of concrete created from volcanic ash and limestone, the buildings were made of white schist stone bricks, the buildings and homes here like many nobility estates have glass windows unlike the middle class and common folk who cannot afford glass, their windows are commonly covered with rice paper.

There were many hanging signs around in Fire Nation language, some saying food, others saying clothing, weapons, armor, hats, etc. To prevent people from overcrowding Yua she wore a disguise similar to other noblewomen. A salmon pink kimono with embroidered white lotus flowers on both sleeves, her hair was tied up into a topknot held by a golden sangtuwan and pin, the end of the top knot was made into a bun, her royal crown was left hidden somewhere in her family's summer estate. The kimono was held in place by a light red-orange sash, she wore jika-tabi as footwear.

Her face was painted in a traditional Fire Nation design, white paint covered her entire face it was a sign of beauty and aristocratic birth, covering from her forehead down to her chin, makeup during this time didn't typically use a woman's natural eyebrows instead it covered them too and painted thick blocky black eyebrows about three fingers height from a woman's natural eyebrows, her lips were painted red. To the noble citizens of Ember Island city, she was just another noblewoman striding down the street with her friend and a foreign companion. The theatre was wide and tall in structure, it was of white schist stone like all the other buildings with a tiled roof, on the wall were several posters of plays going on throughout the whole week.

A poster of the play Hana was surprising Yua had a painting of two lovers on it a man and a woman staring at each other's eyes. It was called, 'Passion of Self-Slaughter', they arrived in time for the play Hana paid for Yua and Aloi.

"We saw Yua's favorite play it was called, Passion of Self-Slaughter. The reasons for the lovers' demise are intertwined with deceit, corruption, and hypocrisy in the Oya dynasty Fire Nation," she said, Tako was leaning on Sake's right shoulder snoring everyone else listened closely except Rong Yan and Tanaraq who were nowhere to be seen. Rong Yan has been gone for some time but she didn't let it interrupt her story. Tanaraq was off doing something else while she waited for the airbender to finish her story.

"It's about a courtesan who falls in love with an orphan who lives with his uncle. A noble offers to take her hand in marriage but she refuses, he eventually learns that she's in love with a merchant who works in a spice shop. His uncle is urging him to marry a girl who is related through marriage, but he refuses because he too is in love with the courtesan. A turn of events occurs that prevents him from being with his lover, and his uncle tells him he has to leave the city. They eventually plan to commit a double-suicide, so that they could be together forever in the Spirit World," Aloi summarized the play.

When Yua saw the poster she embraced her friend Hana, "Hana! No way! I haven't seen Passion of Self-Slaughter in four years! This is amazing, thank you so much!" Yua beamed excitedly she ran inside finding a seat in the midsection of the theatre, Hana and Aloi sat along her sides. The play began the man named Daizu ran into the courtesan named Aijo, he runs into her while on the job and she berates him for not writing to her or even visiting her at work. He tells her the truth about why he's been so distant, he mentioned to her that his uncle wants him to marry his wife's niece.

But because Daizu loves Aijo he politely refused, his uncle persisted and even though it didn't convince Daizu, his uncle went ahead with the plan and paid five-hundred ban upfront for the dowry and forced his nephew to try and marry the girl. Eventually in another act Daizu travels to where his stepmother lives and takes money from her, returning to the town he runs into an old friend of his named Abura who asks him if he has a loan of five-hundred ban and that he would be willing to pay him back.

There comes a time during the play where Abura runs into Daizu on the street, this was the perfect time for Daizu to ask his friend for the repayment for the loan to which his friend declines never having asked him for a loan. An argument occurs between the two and friends of Abura get involved beating up Daizu. In dejection he visits Aijo at the entertainment house where she works to tell her about what occurred, that's when Abura and his friends enter boasting about how Daizu will most likely be exiled or executed by the governor of the province, mentioning that he will then have Aijo all for himself.

At the end of the second act of the play, they plan to free themselves and travel to the Spirit World where they could live in eternity together. Daizu sighs, "My beloved Aijo they will not let me love you. I cannot bear growing old without you, if we do this we can never return here. We will finally be together in the Spirit World for all eternity," he shed a tear grabbing a dagger from underneath his sash.

Aijo looks into his eyes responding, "My dearest Daizu there is no one else I would rather spend eternity with. I gladly accept this fate with you," she paused before continuing to ask, "Will you still love me when we wake up on the other side?"

"When you wake up..." he paused the actors remained silent for a few seconds to allow the flood of emotions to set in, Aloi could not relate to the emotions of love the same way that Yua and Hana did. They were practically tearing up at the beautiful play they watched together. Daizu finished, "...I'll love you forever and ever, my dear."

The ending shows Daizu and Aijo sitting on the floor with their legs in front of them they slowly leaned in for one final kiss after their final kiss Daizu jammed the dagger into his Aijo's throat. She shed a tear slowly dying she gripped his hand, he pointed the dagger at himself kissing his significant other's hand and then puncturing himself in the neck he laid down staring into her eyes as their life poured out of their physical bodies.

The curtain descended then a few minutes later it rose again a different background set was behind the actors', a field of beautiful flowers. Daizu and Aijo laid on the floor before Aijo opened her eyes again as well as Daizu, they rose to their feet hugging and kissing each other. They turned around and held hands walking backstage, the curtain lowered. Hana and Yua in tears held each other over the wonderous ending while the ending of the play was sad and morbid it ended beautifully with two lovers walking off to explore the world of the afterlife together.

"I don't get the ending," commented Aloi confused.

Yua drying her tears explains the ending, "When Aijo asks, 'Will you still love me when we wake up on the other side?' was hinting when they die and go into the Spirit World will she still love him even after they destroy their physical forms. When the actors were still laying down after the curtain rises again, they stand up holding hands they walk off stage meant they woke up on the other side and he still loved her even after what had to be done for them to be together forever, they venture off together as if it was them against the Spirit World." Hana still tearing up fanned her hand in front of her eyes to dry up her tears without having to destroy her make up.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"I don't want to go into much detail after that seeing as how Tako's asleep now, the least I can do is mention that the weekend was a great experience," Aloi concluded allowing time for the others to share their own stories.

Tanaraq was still gone she wasn't aware that Aloi had finally finished the story she was eager to ignore. Tanaraq was skipped until her return Aloi smiled at Unaraq, "It's your turn." Unaraq remained silent then looked at everyone sighing he questioned them, "Did I ever tell you what happened on the night that I lost my mother?" Everyone shook their heads this would be the first time they would hear what happened to Unaraq and Tanaraq's mother.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Unaraq ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"This was when the Fifth Nation was getting bold, King Gao Zu forced the Fifth Nation fleet out of southern Oma waters. They eventually fled to the South Pole, I remember those days like it was last week. I was seven-winters-old and my sister was about four-winters-old, my father had received reports from scouts and a distress message from the village elder on the island of Kauk. The Fifth Nation created a blockade while the others were invading the Kauk island, over the course of a few days they conquered it killing the village elder and her warriors enslaving all the citizens," recalled Unaraq.

674 BG - Southern Water Tribe

A large fleet of wooden ships and a few metal ships sailed southeast, the largest metal ship was behind the leading ship, which was a smaller metal boat. Sitting outside of his ship on the deck in a chair sat a venerable old pirate captain, at this age he now used a cane to help him walk. The chair he sat in while overlooking the waters of the South Pole was of intricate detail made from the wood of trees that grew in a sacred southern Oma Kingdom forest, the same forest where the pirates built their ships from. The wood was blessed by an enslaved sage, they believed it would make the ships unsinkable.

An iguana-macaw landed on his right shoulder strapped on its torso was a harness with a messenger tube on its back. The old man wore expensive spider-silk clothing dyed of blue pigments, the accents were light blue and designed like waves, the tricorn hat he wore had an embroidered patch of the Fifth Nation insignia, he was light brown-skinned, with indigo eyes, wrinkles filled his face, his hair was white like the icebergs that floated in the Tagiuk Ocean, he carried a stubble and a few scraggly hairs on his chin. The scars on his right cheek detail the battles this old pirate has participated in. His pantaloons were royal blue and he wore black leather boots.

He removed the scroll of the tube harnessed on the creature opening it, "We are ready when you are ready, Pirate Lord. Blow your horn as we planned the week before while we have several ship crews take the island of Kauk. Others will stay nearby and form a blockade to prevent Southern Water Tribesmen troops from entering to defend the island region."

The venerable man struggled to rise to his feet using all his strength he finally stood up, he carried a small horn made of a long-dead animal's tusk on his waist. Grabbing it he blew into the horn the sound of it echoed enough for the row of ships behind his to repeat the horn's sound as well. The ships several rows behind anchored horizontally preventing anyone from entering or leaving Ilari Bay. The pirate lord's ship and a few others landed, the group of villagers stood terrified while warriors hid behind cover waiting to ambush the intruders as soon as they anchored.

Another pirate arrives bowing to his superior he speaks, "Iminaurak we are ready to take the island on your go I will release the signal." The old pirate lord slightly nods his high ranking officer cups both hands and shoots a big ball of fire into the air roaring is heard and the ships' ramps stab into the snow of the island. Iminaurak sat silently as he watched his army of pirates slaughter warriors and waterbenders. Women and children screaming while the pirates pillaged their settlements the men who surrendered were immediately forced as slave fighters while the women and children were made into slaves.

A few days later, Unirak sat in his throne room his firstborn son a small child running around playing with his imaginary friends. He bothered his father who had important matters to deal with daily he said, "I need you to go play in your room, cub." The boy ignored him and continued with his laughter, he called to his wife, "Amka! Come get Unaraq you know how busy I am!" a minute later Unaraq's mother enters the throne room grabbing her son by the hand, Unaraq smiled and hugs his mother. She was short and petite with olive-colored skin, light blue eyes, she wore a light blue parka instead of a dress, her hair was black like whale shark's blubber oil. She looked like Unaraq, she smiled at the boy, "Come on, cub Daddy's busy right now he'll play later. Why don't you help me feed your sister?" she asked the boy, he clapped and replied, "Sure."

A courier arrives from the left entrance of the throne room he seems distressed it must have been an urgent matter. He knelt before Chief Unirak presenting him the scroll, Unirak quickly opened the scroll reading the courier's body language that it had to be an urgent matter. He dropped his jaw saddened at the lost of lives, he read: "Chief Unirak if you are reading this letter than my arctic dove arrived to bring you the grim news. As you are reading this you will learn that I and most of my warriors here have been put into slavery or dead. Anguta protects us on the path to the Spirit World.

The Fifth Nation pirates we've heard so much about arrived in Kauk and conquered the island for themselves just as I feared. I'm guessing after Earth King Gao Zu of Omashu forced them from southern Oma Kingdom waters they fled here. We cannot call upon Avatar Ku Tei for he has been gone from our world for over three years now. While the new Avatar has been born somewhere in the Fire Nation we must do everything we can to help ourselves. It might be too late for us but I urge you to stop them and take our island back.

With honor and bravery,

Elder Kirima"

Unirak sighed, signaling his adviser, the short stocky man approached the chief. Unirak whispered in his ear, "We lost Kauk to Fifth Nation pirates," his adviser gasped, "I will send a detachment to Kauk at once, Chief Unirak."

Unirak shook his head declining, "No, no, no it's not a few ships we're talking about, the entire fleet of the Fifth Nation has taken Kauk. We'd have to strategize this and do it correctly with minimal casualties on our side."

"Why don't we just have the Avatar take care of them?" he asked his superior.

"Ku Tei is gone, the Avatar has reincarnated into the Fire Nation. The Avatar is only a toddler," he responded.

He slightly bowed his head and apologized, "My apologies, chief," he formally dismissed himself from the palace to gather the general and admiral.

"They took the island because it was the easiest to conquer, resistance would take a matter of days and Anmaak only had a troop of warriors. My father along with his general and admiral strategized ways to take back Kauk from the Fifth Nation. Invading our lands was a declaration of war, we fought them for a year. Eventually, Iminaurak and his Fifth Nation fleet were emboldened to lay siege to Iqaluit," remembered Unaraq.

One Year Later

Unirak had a meeting with his officials, about new strategies within the war room every man surrounded the war table which displayed a large map of the South Pole. When suddenly a soldier ran in saluting to his superiors and bowing to the chief. Unirak was concerned about the sudden arrival of a warrior he ordered the man, "State your report."

"Our scout canoe has returned from the Tagiuk Ocean, chief. It doesn't look good, the scouts report the Fifth Nation fleet is encroaching on our shores," reported the warrior.

"What?!" exclaimed Unirak gasping, then an orchestra of warhorns were blown outside of the palace. A crashing sound is heard Unirak bolted from his throne the palace guards surrounded him. Venturing outside of the palace a fireball flew through the skies of Iqaluit crashing down onto a building. Collapsing the building, the watchtowers that surrounded the great capital of the Southern Water Tribe warned its citizens to get off the streets. Screaming was heard while another fireball was flung in the direction of the city. A platoon of waterbenders bent water out of the air creating an iceberg to stop the fireball from causing any damage.

Men ran out of their shacks in armor and weapons a few painted their faces with warrior facepaint while the benders skating across the streets racing down to the docks. Unirak stood in shock as he watched the Fifth Nation attempt to make a landing in Iqaluit. From where he stood he was only able to see a few ships from a distance a dense fog covered the rest. The trebuchets were sitting on ships covered by the dense fog.

Unirak froze nervously unaware of what to do next he was terrified and never thought the Fifth Nation would attack them. He was being shook by his officials he snapped out of it when his best friend Suluk slapped him across the face.

"Snap out of it! The Fifth Nation is attacking us, what are your orders?" shouted Suluk.

Rubbing his face from the slap it clicked into his head he barked orders at his general, "General station your men in waves across the city streets. We'll form lines of defense." He jerked his head to Suluk, "Take my children to the Spirit Oasis and take several men with you," he ordered, Suluk nodded in agreement and ran back into the palace to grab Unaraq and baby Tanaraq escorting them to the secret escape tunnel that leads to the oasis. Turning around to face Anuun he commanded, "Tell the captain of the royal guard to launch a distress signal, it should notify the hunters outside the city that we're under attack!"

Unirak grabbing his whale jaw bone machete pointing to the steps of the palace he ordered his men, "Set up a defense line with me we'll protect this palace until our dying breath!"

"Chief, what about your safety?" questioned a warrior.

"There's no time for stupid questions we're in a war here!" yelled Unirak. Another soldier arrived this one seem to be of a higher rank he saluted Unirak, "Your orders, sir."

"Report to the admiral, tell him I want squads of waterbenders on rafts trapping the ships with ice," commanded Unirak. Without a second thought, the man sprinted south toward the admiral who waited near the harbor.

At the same time, Iminaurak sat in his chair watching the entire siege happen. His right palm rested on the head of his wooden cane. A pirate arrives bowing to the pirate lord, "We're ready to attack Iqaluit and take it in your name, my lord. We're ready when you are," said the pirate. The centenarian's liver-spotted hands reached over for his war horn, visibly shaking due to old age.

"Saisho I want you to conquer this city and capture the chief, I will kill him myself and if he's united in wedlock bring me his spouse, she will make a great slave consort. His father is long gone, but he will suffer the consequences," Iminaurak instructed.

"Your wish is my command, Lord Iminaurak," Saisho, First Mate to Iminaurak bowed to his elder. The old man had trouble rising to his feet but with the help of Saisho for support, he was up in a few seconds. His thin wrinkled strips of lips were placed around the carved out tusk. He blew with all his strength, Saisho shot the signal straight out of his hands.

A trebuchet launched the first fireball toward the city's walls shaking the walls but not enough to break through them. Another set of fireballs were tossed toward the city, a faint sound of a group of horns were sounded off. The Southern Water Tribe was alert and ready to defend their city against the Fifth Nation pirates.

As a first line of defense were waterbenders on rafts, while warriors and waterbenders alike stood vigilantly on the western wall of the city. The rafts sped through the water below the ships a total of five waterbenders on each raft as a first wave they circled the large iron ships trapping them with large icebergs hoping to stop the ships fully. Another ship's hull was pierced by a rapidly emerging iceberg that punctured a large hole into the hull of the ship. The ship began to slowly sink to the bottom of Tagiuk Ocean, smaller fireballs were flung from the ships surrounding the waterbender rafts striking one of the men on one of the rafts.

The water filled the ship's bottom, the water rushing in was frozen and the hole was sealed with ice preventing the ship from sinking. The rafts disappeared while a few ships were halted, suddenly Iminaurak squinted his eyes peering in the distance a barrage of arrows from the wall arched their way toward the ships while a few arrows fell into the ocean, some pirates atop his ship and others were struck by the arrows only a few dying.

One of the trebuchet engineers was struck in the shoulder, he staggered a bit the arrow deep in his shoulder it bled. He snapped the arrow in half but allowed the head of it to continue to remain lodged inside while he continued working an icicle flew at his neck killing him instantly. The helmsman ran out of the superstructure to assist Iminaurak inside while the men on deck defended the flagship from the Southern defenders.

Simultaneously, off in the chilling and unpredictable wilderness of the South Pole away from Iqaluit was a large group of hunters possibly near twelve to fifteen men, just about ten miles from the city's entrance in Tikigak. They couldn't see the fireballs hitting the capital, the expanse of trees in the forest blocked their view but they did hear the faint sound of the warhorn. Their leader was the first to catch the sound of the Horn of Winter, they mounted their snow leopard caribou ending the hunting party a few days early.

"The Horn of Winter has been blown, cmon boys! Iqaluit's under attack!" the head hunter yelled to his hunters. The men gathered their weapons mounting their beasts and returning to their city. In the city, soldiers scattered around the city as they were ordered, several on the main wall others defending the other entrances to the capital.

The Fifth Nation ships anchored at a distance, a second wave of waterbenders on rafts were deployed they put in work running the ships aground stopping each one of continuing further. Small boats from the harbor carried waterbenders and warriors that would jump onto the ships to dispatch pirate invaders. Emptying the ships of its occupants was their priority before sinking the ships.

Each Fifth Nation ship had one trebuchet with an earthbender and a firebender stationed at each machine with a non-bender signaling them when to strike. Lifting his hand in the air signaling to an earthbender to place a boulder on a trebuchet. The boulders are slathered with oil, the firebender ignites the boulder and the non-bender brings his hand down gesturing the earthbender to hammer the lever, allowing the trebuchets to launch the fiery boulders toward the wall or city.

While the soldiers on the rafts stopped a few ships by trapping them in ice the pirates finally broke through the main wall of the city. Smaller boats with a waterbender jetted to the shores. In a matter of minutes, at least fifteen boats with as many as six pirates landed and almost a hundred pirates flooded the city from the main wall. From Aaglu Bay came another force of pirates sneaking past to enter through the northeastern entrance of the city, another horn going off. Unirak waited for the pirates to pour in an iceberg emerged to stop another fireball from killing the man near the palace entrance.

"Torngark curse the Fifth Nation! There's another force attacking from the northeastern entrance!" shouted Unirak.

It was a small force, a troop of forty-five pirates with the guards defending the northeastern entrance they were outnumbered for every nine pirates there were five guards. But that didn't last too long the hunters returned from Tikigak forest the twenty men charged at the invaders defending their home only two of the hunters died but they succeeded in defending the northeastern gate.

From warriors to pirates had fallen one by one, the Fifth Nation was losing slowly more pirates came in from Ikagnak, the village seized by the Fifth Nation entering through the northwestern gates of Iqaluit after having to transverse the sacred Iqaluit forest. Another warhorn from the west boomed the western side was under attack. The battering rams created by earthbenders burst through the gates of the northwest.

Pirates poured in the pirates poured in from the south side as well more dropping in like a group arctic rats scavenging for food. Amka, Chief Unirak's wife ran into a room while she ruffled through things in her chambers a dagger she carried that she strapped to her waistband hidden from sight to protect herself while headed toward the secret tunnel. The palace was empty, the servants ran toward the war room it was only Amka and one another guard who lingered within. The pirates broke through a defense line while Iminaurak's lieutenant an assassin snuck behind enemy lines. His orders were to find the chief and assassinate him. He snuck into the dead palace a guard running through rushing Amka so he can escort her to the oasis.

"The pirates broke through a few defense lines, finally being able to reach my father and his royal guards who held the last line before they reached the palace. But unbeknownst, to my father's knowledge an assassin snuck into the palace," Unaraq continued, his eyes watered a bit trying to contain himself. Wiping the tear from his eye it was evidence that Unaraq wasn't able to accept what happened to his mother before she was killed. He took in a deep breath and continued the story.

"The assassin entered the palace dispatched my mother's escort guard and.." he paused taking a deep exhale he sighed, "forced himself upon her, while he was committing this immoral act she stabbed the dagger into his side," he teared up.

She trashed the chambers looking for what she needed but it was nowhere to be found in the doorway stood a large pirate assassin. She shrieked at the sight of the man crying out for her escort who laid in a pool of his blood. She attempted to trick the man so he could predict her movements wrong but ultimately it failed. He grabbed her by the neck slamming Amka against the wall she struggled to break free from his grip he forced her to the ground where she screamed again but Unirak was too busy fighting off pirates with the royal guard to hear his wife's shrieks.

Meanwhile, a caretaker in the Spirit Oasis rocked a toddler to sleep before laying her down in the soft, lush green grasses of the Spirit Oasis. Several koi fish of different colors swam in the waters of the pond in the center. Small creatures like gecko frogs and penguin fish swam in the larger pool surrounding the pond. It was silent and peaceful the tunnel that leads to the palace was being watched by royal guards. Young Unaraq was asking questions to one of the caretakers about the situation and why he and his sister had to hide here.

Other hunter parties were arriving charging in from the northwestern gate slaughtering a sea of pirates falling after taking down at least four of the marauders attacking their city. They weren't going to give up without a fight, back at the oasis the little boy sat in nomad position next to his slumbering little sister the caretaker a woman sat across from him she tried to answer his questions without explaining too much.

"But why do we have hide here? Where's my mommy and daddy?" he wondered the curiosity and innocence overflowed within the boy.

"Because your daddy ordered all your friends here to protect you and sister, don't worry your mom will be here soon she just needed to gather some things," the caretaker smiled.

Amka was bruised from her face she cried out for her husband in a quick ditch effort she knew this was her fate. She reached for the dagger while the pirate choked the life out of her, stabbing it into his right kidney. He screamed in pain giving her enough chance to punch him in the face. He fell on his butt gripping at his right side, he was now even more infuriated swaying to the left dodging a prick of the dagger she swung at him tackling Amka to the ground wrestling the dagger from her hand, he tossed it. And continued to defile her further, she shrieked once more so deafening this time that Unirak heard it. The pirate punched her hard in the face knocking her out unconscious.

When Unirak heard the screech his head jerked to look at the palace, "AMKA!" he screamed he was filled with fear his wife was in danger. He thought she was safe in the Spirit Oasis with his children. Unirak sprinted up the steps from the front courtyard into the palace. He ran to his quarters a trail of blood leading to another area of the palace the assassin was gone no one knew for sure if he died somewhere in the palace, the city or the wilderness but he was gone. The royal guards followed Unirak making sure he was safe, the door to his and his wife's chambers was wide open.

When he entered the room there laid the body of his wife violated and lifeless, she had bruising on her face, her nose was pouring blood and bruises around her neck. He fell to his knees the wind was knocked out of him, he drooped his head and began crying. One of the royal guards saw the sight of the body turning his head in disgust of what he saw he grabbed a fur pelt off of the chief's bed and covered the bottom half of the body.

His other half, his soul mate experienced a terrible thing before being killed he wept for the loss of his wife and he wept even harder when he realized he had to confront his children and tell them why they won't be able to see their mother. The sudden sounds of battle and death fell silent the pirates retreated and cheering was heard outside. The royal guards stood there with Unirak trying to comfort him.

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Oasis, everyone who waited there was unaware of what happened there was special code knock that only Unirak, Suluk, Naartok, Adok, and a few others knew of, it was two knocks, a pause and then another two knocks. A much younger Naartok came through the secret tunnel wiping tears from his face he embraced Unaraq whose eyes glistened when he saw another one of his father's friends. The embrace was tight, a caretaker picked up toddler Tanaraq up rocking her to sleep again. Suluk was concerned about what was going on. Naartok sighed and knelt to meet Unaraq's eye level, "I'm sorry little prince but Anguta came for your mother," he wiped a tear from his eye and sniffled.

"Anwho?" he inquired.

"Anguta my boy, your mother is on her way to the Spirit World," Naartok sniffled.

"Naartok what's going on? Where's Unirak and Amka?" he questioned the man.

"Unirak is fine but..." he paused wiping tears from his face Suluk approached him concerned about what his friend couldn't hold his tears back for.

"...Amka didn't make it, her body was found by Unirak in their chambers, bruised, defiled and departed," Naartok revealed to Suluk. Suluk froze shedding a tear tons of memories flooded his head. He manned up and gathered the caretakers, and royal guards for the announcement.

"The Fifth Nation fleet has retreated, we successfully defended our capital city, the bodies of many pirates pollute our streets. While we have won we lost someone very close, Amka didn't make it," he stated wiping more tears from his face. The elderly women who assisted Amka in taking care of Tanaraq and Unaraq wept for the loss of a friend, the chief's wife.

"The Fifth Nation retreated, they failed to take our city. They lost too many pirates and fled like cowards. For the longest time, I wasn't aware of what happened to my mother that fateful afternoon nor who my killer was. To this day I shudder at the sight of Fifth Nation pirate ships," Unirak remembered.

"My father stopped being a father, he stopped being the loving man he was when my mother was alive. I raised my little sister with the help of the caretakers and Suluk who was always there for us, he was our substitute father figure when my Dad broke down," Unaraq teared up.

"One night, I had recently turned sixteen-winters-old my father woke me up and he opened up to me and told me what happened to my mother that night. I spent a few days in my room, I couldn't eat and I couldn't speak to anyone, all that plagued my head was what led up to the death of my mother," he recommenced.

"I sat in there those few days wondering what kind of sick man could do that to another human being. I miss mother greatly, I don't think she deserved that kind of fate. We keep this from my sister, she wouldn't be able to handle it the way I did. Eventually, he returned to being the man he once was except now he had an empty hole in his heart. I was never cared for the same but my sister was still young and received a father's love," he finished, wiping tears from his face. Aloi huddled closer to Unaraq she held him tightly she was crying too while she didn't have parents of her own she was afraid of that ever happening to her too. Maybe that's why Tanaraq acted the way she did and now she felt sorry for her.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

If Tanaraq didn't return soon only three stories were left to be shared Gyomo, Kuma and Sakana were left in that order. Gyomo began his tale, "When I was a young man I was invited to a party, it was a big party. My uncle was a big game hunter for Unirak and my cousin told me to accompany him so I did."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Gyomo ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was a late night in the spring the cold winds retreated to the mountains of the South Pole while the capital was getting warmer by the day. There was a bigger home in the center of the city where people were lining up to enter while others talked to each other leaning on the wall. Gyomo loomed closer to the house his cousin who hosted the party walked out to look for something when he spotted his cousin Gyomo. "Gyomo you made it! So what do you think?" he asked Gyomo.

Gyomo scanned the outside around his cousin and himself, "It's lively," he answered. He grabbed Gyomo by his hand leading him inside, "Come on I want you to meet my friend's sister," said his cousin. He was led through the crowd of other young adults his or around his age, the thing is Gyomo didn't have anything going on with his life no kids, no wife, nothing other than his job as a fisherman. He eyed a glamorous woman off in the distance he released his hold on his cousin's hand and went in a separate direction. The woman was a wallflower, she leaned on the wall alone talking to no one it was obvious she was shy.

When his cousin no longer felt like he was pulling Gyomo he turned around and saw him wandering off he shouted, "GYOMO!" but the young man ignored him and he continued toward the woman. When he waved a slight hello to her she turned away shyly smiling a bit. Problem was he was shy too, he extended his hand out and introduced himself, "Hi...I'm Gyomo, what's your name?"

"I-I'm Sakari, it's nice to meet you Gyomo," she answered shyly lightly shaking his thick fingers. He tittered nervously making mention, "I noticed you're shy I can read your body language, it's okay I'm shy too," giving her a genuine smile.

"We should go dance," Gyomo suggested.

Sakari blushed shaking her head, "I don't know how to dance."

"I'll teach you along the way," Gyomo smiled.

"Really?" she inquired.

"Yeah it can't be that hard," he said, the two of them danced the night away, they sat on the floor next to each other in nomad position talking for hours and hours. His cousin watched from a distance he was happy his cousin Gyomo found someone maybe this was the one.

Years had gone by, Gyomo and Sakari had gotten to know each other, they dated and fell in love. Eventually came the time where Gyomo carved a betrothal necklace for his sweetheart he proposed to Sakari at one of her family gatherings, a reunion where he expressed his love for her and then was blessed by the family elder her great-great-grandmother. The wedding ceremony was held two weeks after that it was a small wedding the official who married them was the city's elder shaman Anatkuk.

Gyomo's cousin was his best man, and Sakari's sister was the maid of honor, they danced that night like they danced the night they met. Like eternal lovers like Tui and La danced in Aupaluk's spirit oasis. Two years later, they had their first daughter and then another two years went by, Sakari bore Gyomo a second daughter. The second daughter was named after Sakari's great-great-grandmother who blessed Gyomo's and Sakari's relationship.

Everything had fallen into place, he was grateful and glad for what he had, a stunning wife, two beautiful children and he scored a better job, working for the prince's fishing crew.

Gyomo stopped, he then sighed, "Unaraq isn't the only person who lost someone important in his life. My beautiful Sakari was ripped from me by a mugger." He tried to regain his composure to continue his story.

"One evening I was working late and my mother was watching my daughters while Sakari went out for some errands that day. She returned home alone, I wish I didn't have to go to work that day but I had a family to feed," regretted Gyomo, Kuma patted him on his back.

Sakari locked the door to her home she had to go pick up her daughters, Gyomo was out on another late-night fishing trip for work. While she hated that sometimes her husband had to work super long hours she understood. He needed to work to feed himself, her and their children. It was cold this evening a light breeze pushed by, she padded by a dark alley a man appeared from behind and followed her a few steps.

He realized the streets were dead not a single sound but Sakari and himself. She glanced back to see the man, his parka's hood hid his face in the dark no lanterns shined brightly enough for Sakari to see his face. She continued padding thinking nothing of it, she turned the corner and nipped fast being a bit further up the street now.

Just two more blocks and she can reach the safety of her mother's home where her two daughters waited for her arrival. She took a gander behind her seeing the man was indeed following her, she turned the corner legging it across a bridge and then nipping at a faster pace she was close. She ignored the man it was likely he might have been going in a different direction and she felt unbothered now.

Her mother lived just three houses down she almost made it she continued nipping toward her mother's place. She glimpsed behind her the man was nowhere to be seen. Between two houses he waited prowling toward her, she sighed and shook her head her paranoia was getting the best of her, she thought she was being followed. The man then grabbed her covering her mouth so she wouldn't scream. The mugger pushed Sakari against the wall of a house, he reached for a dagger in his pocket holding it against her throat. The man demanded, "Give me any money or jewelry you have on you and I'll let you go." She nodded uncontrollably she lied though as soon as he let his hand off her mouth she tried to run and shrieked as loud as possible to alert the residents of the two houses they stood in-between.

In a quick effort he jammed the blade into her upper right back, pulling her head back grasping a hold of her thick long hair, he slid his blade across her neck. He got away he sprinted from the alley, the men who lived in the house on the right were too late by the time they rushed out of their home Sakari was gone. Her body laid there, the snow drenched in a warm crimson red fluid. One of the men was a neighborhood kid who recognized the woman as his old friend, "Sakari..." he paused, "May Anguta protect you on your way to the Spirit World," he sighed.

"Ikkutak do me a favor and knock on Hama's door and tell her what we saw, I'm going to go find a guard," he told the other man, the man nodded jogging three houses down to bring the grim news to Sakari's mother. Hours later, guards waited for Gyomo's return to the city one of them stepped forward soon after they all bowed to Unaraq, "Is your name Gyomo?" they questioned.

Gyomo nodded, "Yes, what's this about?"

"We regret to inform you, your wife Sakari was killed tonight. She was mugged on the way to her mother's house," one of the guards disclosed the information to him. He was in complete shock he didn't believe them he ran away toward his mother-in-law's house. Several guards were there cleaning up the mess Anutkak visited Sakari's mother during this tragic time she wept hysterically over the death of her daughter. Sakari and Gyomo's daughters were too young to understand death.

He broke through the group of guards, her body was gone but the imprint that was left behind by the weight of her body and the stains of blood in the snow was all that was left. He screamed so loud it hurt the hearts of others in the neighborhood, Sakari's childhood friend accompanied Gyomo to the hall of the dead just below the city's kashim to the gods.

He slept in the hall of the dead on the floor near the body of his wife he sobbed in the morning. Anutkuk waking him up handing him some mountain berry tea to drink and leading him upstairs so he could pray to the pantheon. Chief Unirak caught wind of the tragedy and offered to take the girls in while Gyomo recovered and mourned the loss of his wife. The girls would be safe there in the palace.

Months passed by, he was depressed and hadn't seen his daughters. He often got visitations from Unaraq and his friends after he stopped showing up to work. He stopped eating altogether that he looked very malnourished. At one point in time, suicide crossed his mind but it always made him feel worse because now he thought about his daughters. They would be left abandoned, they would be orphans. No, they needed him.

Two years later went by, Gyomo mostly moved on but has refused to meet someone new. He was empty inside without Sakari, he was able to bear living without her that his life resumed after about a few months of living in the palace the girls returned with their paternal grandmother. Eventually, his mother brought his daughters back to him when she finally had enough proof that he was himself again.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"It's been three years since my Sakari passed, and while things eventually do get better it's hard sometimes," finished Gyomo. Tanaraq returned, she had seen her brother cuddling up against Aloi she was a bit disturbed that he would do something like that and she knew they were together. She sat back down Kuma mentions, "Welcome back," she smiled, pointing at herself gesturing if it was her turn and they nodded.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Tanaraq ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Many years ago I was born a very sick baby, our elder shaman told my parents that I wouldn't live long enough. He felt something inside of me like an infection and he wasn't able to heal it," Tanaraq started.

Within the Iqaluit Kashim where the community will go to worship the gods as a group. Anutkuk is the one who runs the entire kashim he carried baby Tanaraq to a pool of spiritually blessed water. The baby was crying in pain he used his waterbending to examine the body of the infant. He moved his arms around the child in fluid-like movements he inhaled deeply while his eyes were closed as he did this. He lowered his head like he failed to heal her. A worried Unirak and Amka were huddled close together holding each other while Anutkuk did his work. Unirak noticed when Anutkuk lowered his head he questioned the head shaman, "Anutkuk what's wrong?"

"I apologize with great respect, chief. But an enemy lives within your baby, I fear she will not make it to the next winter," sighed Anutkuk.

"What do you mean? As if Torngark cursed my child from birth? Or a dark spirit lives within her?" he guessed. Anutkuk shook his head sighing again this was a bad dream he couldn't believe that he couldn't heal the baby girl. She was going to be a great chieftess someday and somehow Akna was giving Anguta permission to take her from her parents.

"No, Chief Unirak. Your daughter was born with an infection within herself, an infection of the blood. It will slowly give her an excruciating end, I am deeply saddened that Akna will give your baby this fate," Anutkuk described what Tanaraq's illness was. He was deeply saddened that the royal family would lose their newborn. The baby was about seven-months-old as of right now.

"There is only one way but it was banned by your great-great-grandfather and the Avatar long ago. Please pardon my words, chief as you know they are illegal to speak," offered Anutkuk.

"Spit it out, Anutkuk what is it?" insisted Unirak he was desperate for curing his newborn daughter, he would even give up his life for her. Anutkuk fixated his eyes and interlocked them with Unirak's he uttered a single word, "Bloodbending." Unirak and Amka gasped at the words the elder shaman spoke.

"No, there are no waterbenders in my tribe that practice the Forbidden Art," Unirak disagreed he would rather let his newborn die than allow those witches to do their bending on his child.

"There must be another way!" cried out Amka.

"As far as I'm concerned I know of no other way to cure her, you must find a bloodbender," repeated Anutkuk, he knew that while the bending art was made illegal by Avatar Anana and Chief Shesh, it was the only way to cure rare illnesses that may cause death.

Amka neared toward the pool to pick up her newborn daughter, Anutkuk bowed to both Unirak and Amka, as a form of farewell. Their royal guards awaited outside the kashim to escort them back to the palace, Unirak lightly kissed his daughter's forehead whispering, "No there must be another way, there always is another way."

That night when Amka, Unaraq, and Tanaraq were asleep Unirak spent his evening in his kashim where the shrines of the Tribesmen pantheon were erected for daily worship. He knelt before the shrines of the gods humbly weeping and praying holding prayer beads in his right hand, he lifted his arms a bit above his head leveled at his upper forehead. He hoped the gods would hear his cries to spare his newborn daughter's life he continued to weep, "Mother Akna you mustn't allow Anguta to take my daughter so early, I beg you."

His guards were concerned but didn't bother Unirak, the incense sticks that smoked the entire kashim released a tiny spark of flame. While Unirak cried and continued to pray to the gods, a spark of flame was blown around by a gentle breeze in the still of the night. The spark navigated to the newborn's chambers, the wooden walls were covered in paintings of animals done in an adorable art style, there were tapestries of Southern Water Tribe designs and a Southern Water Tribe flag. Another painting was hanging on the wall a family portrait recently commissioned by a painter in the craftsmen district.

Closest wall to the door sat the crib that held the sleeping newborn her breathing was faint, the spark flew in through a crack in the door. The spark grew bigger and shaped itself into the form of a woman. The crying pleas of the chief have summoned the aspect of Akna. A short, chubby woman her skin was brown, she had a few wrinkles on her face and her skin sagged in certain spots. Her hair was pulled back and tied together by a large braid resting alongside her back, the color of her hair was grayish with a few lasting hair follicles that remained were black. She looked like a sweet grandmother she picked up the child the baby's eyes opened. The child remained calm and did not cry when the stranger picked her up. She even cooed for the woman, the woman caressed the child and said, "You will make a great queen one day, little one," the woman continued to caress the child.

Suddenly, Chief Unirak's spirit was lifted he felt love and warmth he stopped crying and he wasn't sure what it was. He turned off the incense or what was left of it he felt this immense amount of happiness he minced out of the kashim and back to his chambers his wife Amka was also wide awake and dressing up he questioned her, "What are you doing up so late?"

"I feel this happy feeling overwhelm me its warm and loving I don't know what it is but I'm going to check on Tanaraq," responded Amka. Unirak nodded and tagged along to their newborn's quarters. The old woman kissed baby Tanaraq's forehead her hair went from a dark brown hue to a snow-white color. She began to wail loudly this alerted Amka and Unirak causing them to run toward her quarters, Tanaraq was back in her crib while the old woman stooped in front of her crib. As soon as Unirak barged in through the door he and Amka could see a large arctic polar bear, instead of alerting the guards the bear's presence didn't scare them.

The mother bear's irises shined in an amber color, Unirak wondered who the bear was, "Who are you?" the bear said nothing and dematerialized through the far wall of the princess's room. The sudden feeling of warmth and love left him and his wife, Amka picked up the child from the crib shushing her slowly and gently the baby composed herself. Her eyes gleamed a light blue color, and her hair was snow white.

"Unirak I believe...the bear was an aspect of Mother Akna, she had blessed our baby girl with life," reckoned Amka she held her child close giving the baby motherly love. Her husband stared at the ceiling he whispered to himself, "You have blessed us, mother." He grabbed one of his wife's hands kissing it gently. They sat in her room grabbing the wooden chairs that were decorated inside the chambers and rocked the child to sleep the sun was slowly rising the next day had arrived.

"My mother's patron deity became Akna the Mother Bear she had so much to thank our Mother Bear for granting me the life my parents knew I deserved. My father believes the reason they were blessed was due to them being very spiritual. I was taught to live for the Mother Bear and dedicate my entire spiritual journey to Akna for she gave me my future," Tanaraq finished.

Kuma smiled, "That's a very beautiful story, Tanaraq. I do believe it is my turn now right?"

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Aloi nodded resting her head on a sleeping Unaraq who rested her head on her shoulder. Kuma began his story he exchanged looks with Sakana who smiled at his best friend, "One of the greatest days of my entire life so far, is the day I met my best friend. An older brother that I needed."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o Story of Kuma ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"He was like an older brother to me, he would defend me from the bullies and teach me tricks and shortcuts when I had trouble in waterbending. I was about eight-winters-old, I had a mother-son playdate with my mother," he said.

A child no more than eight-years-old sat across a young woman she looked like him but an older feminine version they shared similar traits and features. They were both eating five-flavored soup at a restaurant. The boy was named, Kuma, and he received an award for passing his novice class of waterbending. The boy slurped up some noddles from the bowl of green stew, the soup would punch your taste buds each time a battle between five different flavors occurred in one's mouth.

His mother giggled, "I knew you would enjoy five-flavored soup, honey," she gave a warm smile to her child. They ate for another thirty minutes at this restaurant the walls were painted white, and the floors had a few people darting around with the food other customers ordered.

"You deserved this treat, Kuma. You have made me proud if only your father was here to see you grow into a powerful waterbender," she fretted, the boy's father was no longer in the picture he wasn't old enough to understand what happened to his father. Kuma's father died in a hunting accident, he was torn apart by polar bear dogs while his companion crawled away and died of hypothermia instead. A searching party was sent out into the arctic mountains of Iqaluit to find both men only having found pieces of Kuma's father and the frozen corpse of his hunting partner.

They stood up from their table his mother leaving a few silver coins on the table as a tip for their server. She held her son's hand and they nipped out of the eatery, she took her son to the central park near the commoner's district while they were poor and lived in an igloo sometimes she tried her best to make his life better. The central park was vast it was the near start of the summer. While there were patches of snow about the vast recreational space, some plants were now blooming. This is around the time groups of gatherers would harvest the plants around Iqaluit and it's outer areas for vegetation.

The big park had a pond in the middle of it, the water was warm as the sun continued to heat it. There were a few benches mostly occupied by others but there was one lone bench where Kuma's mother rested on while she watched her son play with the other children. Arctic critters living their minuscule lives in the pond, around the pond and in the trees of the park. Snowballs were flying a few kids having unlocked waterbending were flying larger portions of snow at their friends.

A snowball flew at Kuma suddenly a wall of snow levitated in front of the boy, a much older boy maybe twelve-winters-old protected the child. Kuma flinched thinking the snowball would strike him in the face. He shouted at the other children, "Don't throw snowballs at him he's not even playing!"

The other boy extended his hand shaking Kuma's he introduced himself, "Hi I'm Sakana, what's your name?" The small boy was shy he never had friends before he stammered his words, "I-I'm K-kuma." Sakana raised his arms as a sign of pausing the snow battle, he turned his attention to the younger boy, "Can you waterbend?" he inquired. Kuma as shy as he was slightly nodded his head he replied, "I j-just completed my n-novice class," the other boy smiled, "Sweet congratulations!" he beamed.

"We're in the intermediate class of waterbending at Master Kanna's school," said the boy.

"Come on you can be on my team I'll even show you some tricks," Sakana said offering the small boy how to use his waterbending for fun. The battle lasted a good hour every kid was exhausted, with what basics of snowbending Sakana knew he taught Kuma to snowbend too. They built a protective barrier to guard them from incoming snowballs they leaned against the wall talking about waterbending school and survival class. It was Kuma's time to leave he waved to his new friend goodbye he would see him again soon in class, "Kuma it's time to get home!" his mother said, he held his mother's hand glancing back at his new friend who waved farewell to Kuma.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Twenty years later, and he became like a brother to me but I'll make an honest opinion Sakana's a terrible wingman," finished Kuma raising his index to make a point, he patted his friend Sakana on the back. Kuma sniggered while Sakana had a simper.

"It's your turn, pal. Just don't repeat my story its one of a kind," he snickered. Sakana remained silent and shook his head, "I'll pass." Kuma was concerned for Sakana's wellbeing as of late as if as soon they reached the Yantai River, Sakana has been acting differently.

"Is everything alright?" Kuma questioned Sakana concerned, he nodded, "A man's past his business, I'll see you guys in the morning." Sakana rose to his feet and wandered off he looked at the moon it was full tonight it was time. The large full moon glowed white, Sakana grabbed his satchel of belongings that carried a few items in there that he needed for his ritual that he hid everything so well. He slung the pack on his back unfolding a map and roamed off to find the island at the tributary of the Yantai River.