Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I wish I did. I do, however, own my OC's and my mind…most of the time. ;P
WARNING: Depictions of verbal torture and cruelty, mentions of possible triggers (just one or two words, one time). If you are sensitive, please read with caution, or avoid.
A/N: OK so I did try to hold off updating until Wed. but I'm weak..haha! Here you go!
As they traveled to the fire nation, every day Zuko and Iroh would spar; the older training the younger as he always had. Only now, it was with pure joy that he trained his newly adopted son. The young man was advancing so rapidly sometimes Iroh worried that he would be unable to keep up at some point. It was as if he had gained a new drive, a new goal compelling him to push ahead and become stronger.
Iroh could never forget the incredible power Zuko had shown in his wild battle with his cruel sister Azula. He believed that the boy could harness that power once again to defend himself against the Firelord, he just couldn't be sure if, when faced with the memories of his childhood, the young prince would be able to withstand the formidable figure Iroh's brother presented. He could only hope, and train him as best he could.
While they traveled, the two heard bits and pieces of information regarding the status of the kingdoms. Deep in the forests and then out in the country as they had been, they had heard little news of what had transpired since their self-imposed isolation.
Ba Sin Se had at last been attacked by the fire nation, and thwarted by the Avatar and his friends. It seemed a young blind girl was now part of the Avatar's group, and the Northern Water Tribe had nearly fallen to the despicable general Zhao.
As they journeyed closer to the fire nation the news became all but nonexistent. General mistrust was rampant and they kept to themselves as much as they could. Once within the borders of the fire nation they donned fire nation clothing and attempted to blend in as much as possible. Weeks had passed since they left Umi and the kind couple's home, and both were weary of travel.
The two had discussed in length what Zuko's course of action should be, and while Iroh left it to Zuko to choose his path, he was unsurprised when the young man chose to confront Ozai on his own turf. His adopted son was courageous and always met challenges head-on. He was so proud of him. Zuko was everything he could have ever wanted in a son; everything he had wanted for his own beloved son, Lu Ten.
Despite this, Iroh couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for his adopted son. They would soon reach the fire nation capital and his brother was a cruel and truly fearsome man; Iroh would not rest easy until the meeting between the two was safely behind them.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
She stood and brushed her hands together, flicking off the bits of dirt still clinging to her hands after weeding. Quickly doing the same for the apron of her dress, she turned and walked the few yards to the water barrel and pulled out water with which to wash her hands. She then ladled more water to drink and sighed as the cool, clear liquid slid down her parched throat.
The sun sparkled off the water in the barrel and she stared at it longingly. How she desperately missed her bending. Not only that, but being able to change into water, to become fluid, to learn what the water knew and communicate on a different level…oh how she missed it.
Umi sighed. She didn't regret her decision though, not for a moment. She did miss the one for whom the decision was made, though. Zuko was never far from her mind. She wondered how he was faring, if he had confronted his father, if he was still ok… Was he eating right? Did he think of her? She heaved a bigger sigh and closed the water barrel. She made her way back to the house. Such thoughts were never productive and she had work to do.
The kind couple had allowed her to learn many things from them over the course of her time there. She had learned how to plant and care for vegetables, how to care for livestock, how to cook and clean and sew. Something she was apparently quite skilled at, somehow. Her benefactors had provided her with ample thread and fabric and she had produced many unique, beautiful and intricate articles of clothing and household items.
These were sold to eager townsfolk who loved her creations and wore or displayed them proudly to each other. Umi had become somewhat of an overnight celebrity, and the neighboring towns were already learning of her prowess with a needle and thread and demand for her was growing quickly. So quickly that she had been forced to raise her prices and limit the number of people she would sew for.
The work was enjoyable though, and she was happy to be able to repay her benefactors in a monetary fashion, which she did so for her room and board. She was no longer able to do the household and other tasks she had done on a more regular basis once her sewing became so popular. Now she could only do such things occasionally, or to take a break from the concentration of sewing.
She had tried to pay them back for their assistance, but they would take nothing other than compensation for her upkeep. These truly were good people, and she wished she could do more to repay them.
Shaking her head, Umi shook off her thoughts and focused on the most recent sewing project she was working on. It was a wall tapestry for the wife of the leader of a nearby town. The lady had chosen several different shades of beautiful blue fabric and had given her simple instructions "enjoy creating whatever your heart desires" she'd said, and Umi was overjoyed.
She could easily imagine that the lovely blue fabric was the ocean, an as she sewed she envisioned water flowing through her needle, the thread was fluid and she allowed it to do as it liked, creating a true masterpiece of embroidery beneath her fingers that was unparalleled.
Umi didn't notice the unique beauty of art she created, she was lost in her imagination, her memory of what it felt like to be fluid, free to flow wherever she pleased, free to fly in the heavens with the clouds, all those things that her soul longed for, but could never have. In her mind, when she sewed, she was Umi, major water spirit, an immortal being of pure water, not bound to a tree, not trapped (albeit voluntarily) in a mortal human body, but her true self.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0O
He had kept his promise. Azula's tormentor had returned the following day, and the day after that, and the one after that; just before her mind would become her own again, and every day he spoke vile things into her damaged ears.
When she knew herself and was cognizant, he was there, always there. Taunting, tormenting…laughing.
She thought she'd known pain before he had appeared, she was wrong. Her physical pain was nothing compared to the terrible things he spewed from his vicious lips.
She had long since forgotten her bravado; the cruel fire princess had been broken down until she was no more than a little girl, blind, hurting, alone, and trapped, unable to move or speak properly; a hideous monster that no one wanted to see or be close to.
She didn't care where she was, she had ceased to consider her captivity. Her entire world now was the poison that dripped from the venomous lips of her tormentor.
How she longed to be able to cry, but her eye sockets could not produce tears. She was denied even that small release.
There was never a moments' peace for her tortured mind, even her dreams, when she slept, were fractured, disturbed and their own unique type of misery.
After more than a month of mental agony her loneliness and depression began to cause her damaged mind to twist and spin the situation she was in. At first, she hated the vindictive and spiteful man who visited her daily, filling her mind with his terrible words that, like darts, always found their target in her heart.
But after awhile, to her sheer disgust, she began to look forward to his visits. The moment her mind was her own her heart began to pound, her breathing would speed up, and she would become hyper aware of her surroundings; knowing that he was there.
Yes, he tortured her on a daily basis, yes, she hated him with every fiber of her being, and yes, she had begun to rely on his presence. He tormented her with his cruel words, but he was the only person who didn't leave her completely alone; her only human contact in her sensory deprived world.
For a moment, just a fraction of a second, after she became lucid, Azula, who merely thought of herself as 'princess' now, felt a wave of disgust for herself when she realized how much she had lost. She needed that vile man, she loved him, she hated him, she desperately couldn't live without him.
He had become her world.
Princess Azula had been well and truly broken. She would never be the same.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0O
The abrupt arrival of a reincarnation of the Avatar was the cause of some mild chaos for the four spirits which had gathered for Daichi's hearing. Hayashi retracted her branches from all but the earth spirit, continuing to hold him captive, but releasing the other two to face the intruder.
"What is the meaning of this?" Hayashi demanded. There was no reason at all that a previous incarnation of the Avatar should be here.
"I am here to right a wrong." He replied simply.
"What would that be?" Hisashi spoke up.
"I have a debt that I need to repay." The Avatar spirit answered.
"I know who you are Salai" the tree spirit interrupted. "What debt could the second reincarnation of the Avatar possible have to repay here?"
The spirit took a deep breath. "I am the spirit of the Avatar that bound Umi to the ancient tree." There was a collective gasp as the elemental spirits processed the words he had just spoken.
"You!" Tenkuu screeched, enraged. One moment she looked like a small human girl, and the very next moment she was a thundering tornado, rushing towards him unerringly.
Suddenly, time stood still. The tornado that was the air spirit frozen mid-spin, the fire and tree spirits similarly unmoving; even the reincarnation of the Avatar spirit Salai wasn't moving.
There, in a large ring around the elemental spirits, stood the full reincarnation of every Avatar since the first. Collectively they stood, shoulder to shoulder, including Salai, in the order of their reincarnation, in a closed circle around the spirits in front of them.
Just as quickly as it had stopped, time resumed. So shocked was she by the appearance of the rest of the Avatars' reincarnations Tenkuu forgot her rage and reformed into a human girl.
For a moment no one spoke. Avatar spirit Wan broke the silence. "Salai is correct, there is a wrong that must be righted, and it is far overdue. Today we will see it rectified and punishment will be meted out accordingly."
Even Hayashi was momentarily speechless.
"Please release the earth spirit."
Silently the tree spirit removed the branches paralyzing Daichi. Strangely he said nothing, for once keeping his quips to himself.
"We know why you are here, but you do not know why we are here." He began. There were silent nods all around. He motioned to Salai, and the spirit stepped forward slightly. "As I already revealed, I was…am the Avatar that sealed Umi in the ancient tree." Wan, seeing the others' faces, held up a hand.
"Please allow him to finish." He nodded to Salai.
"I have no excuse for my actions. I can't even begin to consider that you would ever forgive such a terrible act. The only way I can even come close to righting the wrong I made so long ago is to confess it to you, and ask that you consider a sacrifice of a small consequence compared to the wrong that was done, yet it is all I have to offer."
Hayashi was the only one who found her voice. "What could you possibly have to offer that could even begin to bring recompense to the one to whom the wrong was committed?"
"I am offering all the power of my status as a reincarnated Avatar spirit, and my freedom." Gasps could be heard from the spirits listening; all but Daichi, who glared balefully at the proceedings.
"There is more" he continued. "This that I offer, what I ask in return is twofold: first, that in exchange for my sacrifice, the water spirit Umi be fully reinstated as a water spirit, her immortality, water spirit abilities and bending completely returned to her as if she had never lost them."
Tenkuu gave a small gasp.
"Lastly, I ask that the earth spirit Daichi instead, be stripped of his earth spirit abilities, his bending, and his freedom, being given over to me for punishment."
"You can't do that!" Daichi shouted, infuriated.
"Master yourself, or I will do it for you!" Hayashi barked; her thorns ready to pierce him. "It is certainly no less than what you rightfully deserve!" He glared angrily at her but remained silent.
Tenkuu spoke up first. "I think it sounds fair; however, there is one thing I would add. The exchange is not even. If everything that was stripped from Umi is stripped from Daichi, except his immortality, this is basically a straight trade, and in no way reflects the sacrifice that Avatar reincarnation Salai is offering." She looked around to see most nodding their heads in agreement.
"A fair point, air spirit, it is not an even trade. What would you propose?" Questioned Avatar Wan.
"First, although Umi is a very powerful bender on her own, being the only major water spirit, even she has limits. My suggestion is that the water abilities of the Avatar in full Avatar state be given to her in addition to returning her own abilities and powers, and that she be granted the ability to always free herself no matter how someone may attempt to bind her." The air spirit glared at Salai.
"Basically, to ensure that no one can ever do to her again the things that were done to her in the past. These are the only things that can come close to being an even trade for the full power of an Avatar spirit."
It was Hayashi who answered. "Your point is valid, and the trade you suggest is far more even; however I have one point of caution. With that kind of power she would be an unstoppable force. No one could overpower or constrain her; she would be the most powerful being on the planet."
"You are partially correct tree spirit; however, you recall that the Avatar retains the ability to remove a person's bending. Therefore, in theory, the Avatar could merely remove her bending making her far less dangerous." Avatar Wan replied.
"I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, but does anyone remember that it was an Avatar who caused all this in the first place?" Hisaki stated. "Who's to say that wouldn't happen again if an Avatar is the only being who could overcome her?"
"If she cannot be restrained, the chances of the Avatar removing her bending are slim at best." Was Salai's reply. "A concern to be sure, but considering that her water spirit powers and the power we are planning on bestowing upon her are separate from her bending and cannot be removed by a single mortal Avatar, I do not see the importance of it."
The rest of the Avatar spirits began to bicker amongst themselves and it seemed obvious that no decision would be made any time soon. They all knew that if they made the wrong choice, they could end up regretting it in a terrible way.
Tenkuu had enough. She caused a great wind to blow through the area, causing speech to be ineffective and nearly blowing everyone over in the process.
"Are you people even listening to yourselves right now?" berated the angry air spirit. "Have you EVER seen Umi act in a way that would give us cause to need to strip her of her powers because of behavior? Ever?!"
Her voice raised a few notches. "Even when she was being manhandled, touched inappropriately, tortured, taunted, abused, trapped, insulted and violated in just about every way, did she ever even say a word against her tormentors?" She pinned both Salai and Daichi with a death glare.
"How about when she was about to sell her soul and her body to Daichi just to protect the man she loves? No?" There was silence; not one of the reincarnated Avatars could bring themselves to her small form in the eye.
"You seem to have forgotten. This. Is. Umi." Her words were punctuated by small blasts of wind; making clothing whip and hair fly about in the angry bursts.
"She may very well be the purest and kindest being on the planet and I don't think it has ever even entered her mind to harm any living thing. So if you're worried about giving her too much power and not being able to stop her, don't. There is no one else you trust more and you all know it or you wouldn't even be considering this proposal."
She paused for a breath. "Besides, if you're really that worried you can just make a tribunal with everyone here except Daichi and Salai as judges. If she gets out of line, we, as a group, make a choice as to what her punishment should be and take steps accordingly. There, problem solved." She nodded emphatically "Can we give Umi her powers back now?"
Avatar spirit Wan cleared his throat after a long moment of silence. "Ah…well spoken air spirit Tenkuu. Your points are all valid and the tribunal is acceptable to me." He looked around the circle. "All in favor of everything proposed, raise your hand."
Every single Avatar spirit raised their hand, even Salai. Hayashi raised a limb, Hisaki and Tenkuu raised their hands as well; only Daichi stood, stone-faced and silent; unmoving as a mountain.
"The majority rules, all trades are balanced and fair…"
Avatar spirit Wan was rudely interrupted.
"WHOA!" Daichi yelled "you can't do this to me! You don't just get to deci…" he abruptly froze as Hayashi's thorns pierced his head and heart, immobilizing him instantly.
"Yes, actually, you creepy lech" smirked Tenkuu "we do!"
Avatar spirit Wan cleared his throat. "Now then, all trades are balanced and fair and…"
Once again he was interrupted. A thunderous look appeared on his face.
"Fire spirit, this had better be good!" he growled.
Hisaki practically cringed. "I'm so very sorry Avatar spirit Wan, I simply can't agree to this."
Projecting irritation bordering on anger, Hayashi prompted him to continue.
"You just agreed with us Hisaki, moments ago, you'd better explain yourself, and make it good."
A/N: She was SO close! What could he possibly have to say?! Until next time…! :)