Chapter 4
Face of the Journey
Okay, guys. Time to keep this Avatar train moving. I'm just gonna get right to it this time so... Let's kick it up!
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The sun rose up over Royal Woods as Lucy was waxing her Surf Board in the garage of the Loud House.
"So how do you plan to get to this surfing contest on Ember Island? Tickets take a lot of scratch this time of year." Luna pointed out while tuning her guitar.
"Not if you know someone who just got a Sky Bison." Lincoln said as he walked in. "Ronnie Anne's gonna give us a lift since she's in the contest too and I'm researching a little project of mine." He explained.
"Do really think that the rents will trust you to be in one of the top romance spots in the world with Ronnie Anne alone even if Lucy's there?" Luna asked with the same knowing grin all the Loud sisters gave Lincoln when it came to Ronnie Anne.
"No I don't. That's one of the reasons Sid and Ronnie Anne's grandmother are coming with us." Lincoln said, Luna certain that would ease any worries that Rita and Lynn Sr had in that regard.
As Lincoln walked out, Luna adopted a serious look before looking over to Lucy. "Okay, Spookster. What's goin' on?" She asked, Lucy clearly trying to avoid looking at the rocker. "Lincoln's been acting weird the last few days and I think you know what's up." She said, gaining a sigh from Lucy.
"Okay. I do know what's going on. But I can't tell you. I will say, it's a good thing though." Lucy assured, getting a reluctant nod from Luna.
"Alright. I guess he'll tell us when he tells us. I'm trusting you on this." Luna said, the two sisters nodding at each other before the older one left the garage.
The next morning, Lincoln and Lucy were at the porch waiting for Ronnie Anne.
"Now, Lana. I want to make this clear. You're only supposed watch over Taba while I'm gone. If you need to ride anywhere, you ask Lynn. Got it?" Lincoln asked in his protective big brother tone.
"I got it, Lincoln." Lana said with a small roll of her eyes. Just then, the Louds looked up to see Shiga flying down. "Oh I have to get a ride on that when you get back." Lana said with her eyes sparkling.
"We'll see." Lincoln said before Earthbending a ramp for he and Lucy to climb on to the Bison.
"Do you need any help securing the board?" Rosa asked.
"No, thanks. I got it." Lincoln said as he finished tying down the board before going to sit just behind Ronnie Anne. "So, how you doing in the clouds.
"It's amazing. I mean, my glider board is one thing. But this. This is whole other level." Ronnie Anne said with a sparkle in her eyes that Lincoln knew to well. The same sparkle he saw when he and Lana first helped her make her glider board. The Avatar found himself unable to resist the urge to smile as he took softly touched the Airbender's hand. "So. Ready to fly?" She asked.
"Always." Lincoln replied as he and Ronnie smiled to each other.
"Yeah. It was the right call to bring you with us." Sid said to Rosa, the older woman nodding in agreement as Ronnie Anne commanded Shiga to take off with the call of "Yip Yip."
"Oh this is awesome." Lincoln said as the Bison rose up past the clouds.
"It's also a great training opportunity." Sid pointed out.
"You're right. Being up this high and with the air this thin, I'll have to be careful with my balance and put out a lot of power to Firebend up here." Lincoln reasoned out, gaining a snap and point from Sid before he stood up and began shooting out fire blasts.
Some time later, Shiga landed near a large house just off the beach before climbing off, Rosa handing Lincoln the key to get them in.
"Wow! This place it beautiful!" Sid exclaimed as she looked at the interior of the house.
"Keep in mind, Korra was married to the second richest woman on the planet." Lincoln reminded them as they looked around. "Well, everyone pick a room. That was pretty long flight and we should get some rest." He said, the others, feeling equally tired, agreeing before picking their own rooms.
The next morning, Lincoln was standing in the middle of the outdoor arena of the property. Being this far from Royal Woods allowing him to be much less careful while training with his Firebending.
Lincoln, in a control exercise he had read about in his Firebending manuals, launched up three fire balls which he the made spin together before closing his hand to unite them in to one ball. He then made the ball rapidly rise before causing a small explosion with it.
"You're getting better." Lincoln heard before he turned see Ronnie Anne leaning against a column. "Won't be long before you're ready to move to Airbending. "She noted."
"I'm looking forward to it." Lincoln said in a confident tone as he put a shirt on. "You heading down to the Surfing competition?" He asked, Ronnie Anne nodding in confirmation. "Well, I'll try to get back before the end. Let's be real. It's mainly down to you and Lucy." He said.
"Oh you know it, Lame-O." Ronnie Anne said before popping Lincoln one in the shoulder before getting a serious look on her face. "Be careful." She said.
"I'll be fine." Lincoln assured the Airbender before heading out.
Some time later, Lincoln had entered a dark area of Ember Island's forest. The area had long been steered away from by the locals for housing a very old spirit. One that sired the killer of one of Lincoln's past selves and had aided another of them. All of the research that he had put in to the subject, made it clear that Lincoln had to flip that coin. This Spirit was the only one that could aid Lincoln.
As Lincoln continued to walk he began to notice something. Faces on the trees and some of the large stones. Ordinarily, Lincoln would chalk this up as quirks of growth. But for what he was approaching, Lincoln knew for a fact that these faces were real... and they were watching him.
Soon enough, the young Avatar arrived in a circular clearing in the forest. As he did, he felt spiritual energy flowing all around him before he looked to the center of the clearing began to glow before a large amount of vines formed in to the shape of a woman and five white faces formed just under what could be called her crown.
"Greetings, Avatar. It has been some time since last we met." The spirit said before Lincoln respectfully bowed to her.
"It is an honor, Mother of Faces." Lincoln greeted, waiting for the spirit to signal him to stop bowing before continuing to the reason he stood before her. "I assume you know why I've come to see you." He said, the spirit nodding.
"Word reached me of your broken connection to your past selves. I assume you are here under the hope that I may have the power or the knowledge to restore that connection." The Mother of Faces said, gaining a nod of confirmation from the Avatar. "Sadly, it is not within my power to restore the connection to your past lives. However I do know of an act that might be able to do so." She said, Lincoln's face brightening with hope. "The task i quite simple. Your previous self was quite close to it, but to use a Human phase, the lock and the key were separated. You must obtain items that were of great personal value to Avatars of the past and take them to Tree of Time." She explained
"Of coarse! Those items will jump start the connection." Lincoln summed up, the solution obvious with hindsight. However, that also left one other problem. "Would it have to items from all the Avatars that I'm not connected with?" He asked.
"No. An item from one of each member of the cycle should be enough." The Mother of Faces clarified, Lincoln bowing to her in thanks for all her help. "I wish you good fortune in your quest, Avatar. Farewell." The Spirit said before the vines retreated back to the center of the clearing.
A short time later, Lincoln had arrived at the beach of Ember Island an looked out at the water to see the expected sight of Ronnie Anne and Lucy in the final match of the surfing tournament.
Ronnie Anne while glad in a purple bikini used her Airbending to jump up before creating a small twister which then formed in a water cyclone which she then rode down in a circle.
Lucy, clad in a black and cyan striped one piece, used her Waterbending cause the wave she was riding to curve in to a circle which she then rode to the top while freezing it and jumping to another wave while she turned the on its side, jumping off the wave and through it.
After the two had finished, the announcer of the tournament stepped forward while holding a trophy.
"Well, everybody. After a close match and some tense deliberation from the judges, we have our winner!" The announcer called out before walking to the girls. "People of Ember Island, your champion. Lucy Loud!" He called as the crowd cheered.
"Man, Lucy. That was awesome." Sid complimented.
"I gotta admit. You beat me good there." Ronnie Anne said as she put her hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"Don't sell yourself short, Ronnie Anne. I saw that last round and the cyclone was epic." Lincoln commented as he walked up to the girls. 'Not to mention looking absolutely incredible in that bikini.' He thought.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed the show." Ronnie Anne said with a smirk, noticing that Lincoln couldn't keep his eyes off of her. "So, any luck?" She asked.
"Yup. I know what I have to do and I know where to start this little quest." Lincoln said before smirking and saying. "Hope you're ready, girls. 'Cause we're about to go meet the Fire Lord."
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Well there you go, guys. I hope you liked this chapter. I think the last line explains what's happening next time. So until then and as always... Keep on keeping on.