Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, but if anyone wishes to plot how to steal the ownership with me, you're more than welcome.
Ok, here's the third chapter and you finally get some names. I hope this doesn't seem too random or slow to any of you, but I'm trying to keep the characters in character, which is difficult with the limited amount of episodes I've seen.
Chapter Three: Explanations
"I'll ask you once more; why are you here?"
The hand at her neck tightened in accompaniment to the threat and she began to feel her windpipe constrict. She struggled slightly for a moment, but realized that she could not win a battle of brute strength.
"Wh-" She rasped, attempting to speak with her limited supply of air. "Why does it matter?"
"Argh!" He yelled as she began to feel his hands heat up. "Get off of my ship you pathetic thief!"
With that, he blasted her over the edge of the ship and turned to stalk back to the table, shaking with suppressed rage. He'd gone easy on her, since she was a woman, but if one more…
His thoughts were interrupted as he felt a rush of wind behind him and his eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he tried to process what was before him.
The "thief" was balancing on a spinning zephyr and it seemed that her pupils had bled into the rest of her eyes that were now shining obsidian.
"It's not possible." He whispers, recalling her earlier demonstration of firebending earlier.
Before either of them could make a move, a figure appeared in their path, arms held out to both sides. The flickering firelight that had been cast reveled a figure that both opponents recognized.
"Zuko," Iroh addressed his nephew in a calm voice, lowering his hands. "Stand down."
The aforementioned prince dropped his offensive stance and the fire in his palms dissipated as he continued to glare at the stranger.
"But how can she bend both air and fire without being an Avatar?" He questioned his Uncle eyes never leaving the figure before him.
"She is the Praetor, if I am not mistaken," Iroh said, as the wind about the floating girl seemed to dissipate. "And we should all show her some respect. Now, if it is not disagreeable to you, we can all go inside and discuss this over a nice hot cup of tea."
"Wait," The Praetor said as she landed on the ground, as her eyes returned to their normal pale gray hue and projected her confusion. "You look so familiar… like an old firebender I once knew, only his name was Ifrit… exactly like him…"
"What the hell is a Praetor? What does this have to do with Ifrit? He's-" Zuko's frustrated questions were cut off by Iroh.
"It seems we have much to discuss." He said, walking briskly to the cabin door and leaving the two slightly confused figures to glare at each other for a moment longer before they followed him stiffly into the bowels of the ship.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm
The three figures were seated on the floor, each with a steaming cup of tea in front of them before the silence was broken as the two teenagers on the ends bombarded Iroh with questions.
"Uncle what is a Praetor?" "How do you know Ifrit?" "Why is she here?" "What happened to the country?" "What does she have to do with the Avatar?"
"Patience." The softly spoken word from the old man caused both teens to glare at the other with mistrust and look expectantly to Iroh.
"The Praetor is a being much like the Avatar." He began. "Nature, you see, needed to balance the Avatar out. Fire is the opposite of Water and Air is the opposite of Earth; it's the way things are. The Praetor is the opposite of the Avatar, then. Both can bend all four elements, but the Avatar is tasked with keeping peace between the four nations. The Praetor, on the other hand, creates the balance between the nations. The Praetor is the one that decides who shall gain the ability to bend and keeps the ratio between nations even. The Praetor also decides who will become the next Avatar and Praetor. The Praetor is the Avatar's ally and opposite; creating balance. Is that about right?" He turned to the girl on his left.
"About." She answered cryptically before taking a sip of her tea, appreciating its calming power.
Zuko sat silently; obviously processing the information he'd been given. One could see his calculating mind working as he realized the potential of his situation as well as the questions still unanswered and the vagueness of his Uncle's description.
"Now," Iroh said, clearing his throat and addressing the Praetor. "Before I answer any more questions, I have one for you. " Are you called Kei?"
"Yes," She replied, her eyes changing quickly from shock to suspicion. "How do you know that? I know I've never met you."
"Aah," Iroh said with a smile. "But you knew someone who looked eerily similar to me, no? Went by the name of Ifrit?"
"What does he have to do with her?" Zuko asked flatly. "He's been dead for years."
"What?" Kei asked incredulously.
"You see," Iroh began gently. "Ifrit is indeed dead. He was my grandfather and Prince Zuko here's great-grandfather. I believe that I am correct in assuming that you have been in a stasis for the past one hundred years."
"A hundred years?" Kei echoed in a far away voice. "No… no. No…"
Iroh sighed as the distressed Praetor bolted out of the room. After taking another long sip of his tea, he turned to his nephew's brooding stare.
"Uncle, tell me what is going on here." Zuko ordered, his voice steel.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Kei burst onto the deck, panting and ran to the bow as fast as her feet could carry her. Looking around her, she found herself unable to cope with the facts that Iroh had revealed.
As soon as he had spoken those words, one hundred years, she could feel her heart rejecting the thought while she simultaneously sensed the weight of years past upon her soul. The iron belly she was trapped within had become suffocating and she felt the walls closing in.
As Kei concentrated on her breathing and collecting herself, she recalled all the lessons that she'd learned from her mentor and the previous Praetor. Calming oneself was key because possessing the power to bend all four elements was complicated and her confusion and anger could spin out of control. Taking deep, calming breaths, Kei tried to ignore the bitter taste of soot in the air as she balanced on the railing, staring serenely towards the horizon, letting her day slowly sink in.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
A/N: Ok, that's where I'm going to leave it for now, but I do intend to update within the next two days because I have spring break. I'm hoping that the next chapter will be over 2,000 words.
Kei is pronounced as "key"
I know that not much was explained in this chapter, but you will learn more as the characters do and the plot progresses.
I'd like to quote sayajin peach 18:
"Reviews to fanfiction authors are like crack to a junkie."
Please tell me what you think and review! They DO persuade me to update faster with longer chappies!