Betraying Firebenders
Book: 1 Chapter: 4 Far away
(! NEW!) Summary: This does not include Aang, Katara, or Sokka. It is mainly about the two other POV's who will later be involved in the story in some way. Starts in the girl with the brother named Corzova.
Shuddering outside she somehow knew that no-one would let her in. She could get in, but last time she did that her father had started a system. If she broke in three times he would kill her. She had already broken in once when one of the creatures had spoken to her. She was probably cursed for it. They could wipe your memory if they touched you sometimes; either that or they would shock you. The pain was immense if they shocked you, but she couldn't imagine having her memory wiped.
She slowly wrote her name in the dirt that was untouched by the pelting rain that was falling. V-I-A. That was incase her mind got wiped she thought shuddering. That was all you can do out here; shudder and fear. So she lay down, knowing that she should go ahead and try to sleep. She highly doubted it; she had tried before and never succeeded.
Slowly she fell into sleep's curtain of black. But of course it wasn't very happy. She had nightmares again. Nightmare's of the time she was left out here for a week. She was fighting something familiar. Yeah it was one of the unspeakable creature's that roamed out here. One she particularly hated. It was extremely hideous. It was father's favorite. He had brought the creatures up here, bemused watching her frantically defend herself with the power of lightning. He had used to find sport out of that and make bet's with Corzova (That was his middle name; as was her and her father's, she was not permitted to call him by his first name and not to think it. He wanted it gone. Their mother had given it to him, and he considered her weak, so had father… They had thrown her out here to see how long she would last.)
Well even if Corzova lost the bets father would give him the money. If Corzova lost it would usually meant that she had more than two broken bones.
She had just used her cursed powers to shock the creature backwards. It was balancing on one leg frantically lashing out its tentacles at her. One hit and she immediately remembered the indescribable pain. Then it balanced and looked her in the eyes, its eyes were quite human and glowing white. The arrows on its head were glowing white as were the arrows on its two limp human arms and on its horrible colorless legs. Then something happened that she didn't remember.
The shape suddenly shifted into that of a young boy, around her age and two people were sitting next to him. The boy was the avatar she recognized from the wanted posters in town. Father once a week made her go restock on food. For that she had to go into town. That was how he had remembered to bring her in last time. Then the creature turned back to her with rage filled eyes and strangled her to death…
She woke up choking and looked down too see that her arm was scarred from a new mark, she looked up and saw nothing. She gasped in pain. The nightmare had hurt her. There were strangle marks on the side of her shoulders too. She knew wouldn't sleep for a while after that experience. She looked down and say that where she had written her name there were new words. She read them wide eyed with horror. The curse of the old ones has been put upon you, for this curse to leave you, Via, you must kill Aang the avatar, and all those that travel with him. Then in more distorted letters was written: Have fun...
She then grimaced as she saw Corzova's laughing face in the window. He was shooting out an element of fire mixed with the third of the forbidden elements: Shadow, not darkness, shadow. It was an attack energy like no other. It could even kill on contact.
It shot throw the window and hit her in the leg. She cried out as it did and looked at the searing wound. Shadow's were swirling around in it. She snapped back a fire ball and then broke into the window to face her brother. "I will kill you!" She shouted determined. Shadows, lightning, fire, darkness, and light shot from her hands at him. Suddenly out from the shadow's came her father who blocked it with his blood red gloves that possessed a great deal of power in them. More then she had.
"You will regret trying to hurt my son." He said proudly. "When you get back from the market expect severe pain and a few broken bones." He added cruelly. She stepped back, her blonde hair getting in her eyes. "Here's the money. Just buy the usual, except for one extra thing-a knife will do." He said while staring down at her arm, his eyes twinkling with evil.
She gulped then replied, "Yes father. I'll go get my coat." Her coat was her only great possession. So when she arrived in the closet where she slept and noticed it was ripped by shadows she nearly charged at her brother again. She grabbed it anyway and also making sure her father couldn't see, slipped her extra money maybe one hundred bronze coins into her pocket. She had to get out of here. She headed toward the stream, where she had last met the creature known as htaed.
She sat in waiting for a minute when the hideous creature appeared. Ahh, Via you have come. It's mouth not moving but the arrows started to glow on its hands, legs, and head. It's eye's mounted only hatred and Via couldn't bare to look at it so she looked away.
Via here is the deal, I will not send you any painful dreams if you kill this boy with the arrows on his body. First you must obtain your father's gloves, then take captive one of the avatar's friends and put them in some sort of life threatening circumstance to cause the avatar to go into "Avatar Mode". This makes him more powerful, but if you kill him he like that he will not be reincarnated. You will know he is in Avatar mode because the arrows on his body will be glowing. Once you get your father's gloves come back here and receive my power for you. On the way I will not send you life threatening dreams so do not fear. Shake on it.
It picked up it's limp arm with a tentacle and held it out. She looked at it disgusted and shook it. As she did she felt extreme pain and the creature smiled.
Now I can track your movements and hear what you hear, Via. Don't try to run or else I will send you a dream that will kill you over the course of a year. It smiled then disappeared.
She was suddenly back at her house, inside, safe. Well not really safe but it didn't matter. She saw her fathers gloves on the table with a key chain that was half alive. It hissed at her but she put on the gloves and smacked it away. Then she felt more searing pain as the gloves devoured at her hands. She cried out, but then regretted it immediately as Corzova appeared in the door. She felt power resonating from her. "Hello Tom." She said narrowing her eyes.
Meanwhile at an abandoned farm house a mile away from an orphanage housing the fire nation a beautiful young brunette was trudging through mud towards the barn.
"Maybe if I'm lucky there will still be some hay left to sleep on." She thought out loud.
"Apparently you're not very lucky then." Said a woman's voice. "Leave this is my family's shelter."
"I mean no harm, my name is Krystal." No answer. "I guess I'll leave then. I didn't mean any offense." Krystal said searching for the voice.
Out of the tree popped a handsome teenager with jet black hair. He had two swords with little fish-hooks on the end. "You're nice… for a firebender." He said while chewing on a piece of hay. "I don't know, should I let you live, you're kind of pretty too." He said while pacing around her. Besides the threat she couldn't help but blush. "Maybe you could help a guy out." He said seductively.
She actually considered it. She could always back out if it was too preposterous. "Why not." She said looking at her feet. "Where's your mother?"
He laughed, "It's one of these things that changes my voice. Airbender's made them." He said holding up a little thing that looked like a piece broken off from some flower pot. "The names Jet." He said all of a sudden friendlily. "I won't tell you too much, but I guess you can come back with me." He said holding out a hand for her to take. She blushed again then grabbed his hand. He pulled her along down the path. Heading toward the city Jet steered her to the right of the city and up a ladder to the top of the dam.
"We're getting ready to cross into the earth kingdom, you ready?" He asked gently.
"I guess so." Then she thought about it and answered firmly, "Yes I'm ready." And in a lower voice she added, "Thanks Jet. You're a really great person." She didn't stare him in the eyes as she said this but managed to find interest in looking down at the water as she climbed the ladder.
All of a sudden the ladder began to shake. First once, than twice. "She's a guest." Jet said loudly. This was answered with the ladder to stand still. She continued climbing and Jet held out his hand for her when she reached the top. "Welcome to the forest." He said grinning. "Right this way miss." He led her through a maze of trees and then grabbed a vine. He offered her his hand and she gratefully took it. The vine was brought up and jet held her close sensing that she didn't feel entirely comfortable up high.
"Jet why do you bring so many guests here." Said a strong, determined and powerful voice.
"Master Esav." He acknowledged casually.
"Jet you are so easily attracted to these young women." Said Esav as he stepped out from behind a wall which made half of a strong woven hut. He was obviously over sixty years old and he too carried swords with little fish hooks on the end.
Jet sighed and then turned to her, his eyes twinkling with jest. "Meet my master, Esav, he taught me everything I know. Maybe his time will come sooner rather then later." He said humorously.
Krystal acknowledged him, and then went about looking around. Kids around her age were frolicking about this strange perch atop the trees. They were carrying things back and forth, and many were staring at her. She blushed furiously at the thought of a thousand eyes staring at her intently. Jet then pulled at her hand and took her towards a particularly large hut with exotic rugs on the floor outside. "Would you like something to eat?" He said holding out an apple for her to take. She held out her hand and he carefully dropped the apple into it.
"Thanks." She took a bite of it. "Is food scarce here?"
He shrugged, "Somewhat; most of what we get we steal from fire nation caravans." He picked up another apple out of the beautiful basket and took a bite out of it. "That's what we do here." He said leaning against the table proudly. "We defend the village from fire benders. Well that is till they finally took it over. Since then we just haven't been letting supplies cross the border and have been attack fire benders that come through the forest." He spied her uneasiness and added softly. "But I could tell you were different. You don't have the evil intent in your eyes." He said gazing deeply into her eyes.
His stare was so handsome she had to look away. He laughed at her and she blushed even more.
Meanwhile back at a house atop a hill in the middle of the fire nation…
Via stared hard at her brother, as if staring would solve a conflict built up over 15 years. "What's the matter, Daddy's not there to hold your hand?" She said horribly realizing she was enjoying this. "Anyway Tom's the name mother gave you and that's what your name is no matter how much you want to change it." She threw a fireball at him and laughed as he fumbled to block it with a ray of light.
"What are you?" He asked terrified.
"I'm your sister; Via Corzova Ch…" She was cut off as her father thundered into the room.
"You are a nobody." He growled and flung white fire at her. She gasped as it burnt strait through her shoes and burnt into her with the worst pain she had ever felt. She screamed as it ripped into her skin, worse then red fire, worse then blue fire, worse then any fire. "You're just a weak woman, just like Anna was."
Via slowly looked up with eyes filled with hate that had a deathly glow to them. She flung fire at him while saying, "Women….. Are….. Just….. As…… Strong …..As….. Men!" Her normally red fire slowly formed into a viscous blue flame that torched at her father. He blocked them with ease. Even without his gauntlets, he was still the strongest person in the world. She gasped and fell to the ground, out of strength, her father unscathed.
That was when the walls tore outward and hundreds of merciless creatures recessed into the room, filling it with a dark presence. They all charged at her father and the voice in her head (htaed) alerted her to leave immediately. My minions will hold off you brother and father. For now on you can meet me at Avatar Rokko's temple. Once you leave this place you will be teleported down to the earth/ fire nation border. Now go!
As she evacuated the house she held up a rude hand gesture to her brother as she vanished. She whispered to herself, "Via Corzova Charity" as she re-appeared by a large dam. She climbed up the ladder that was conveniently there and torched it afterwards. When she looked up she was confronted by an army of little kids and a senior. She laughed.
"I just want to pass through," she said genuinely surprised.
"No-one from the fire nation passes." A handsome boy about her age said. He was holding onto a girl who looked maybe a year or two younger then him. She held out her hand in the gesture of a fire nation battle stance.
"Pathetic…" She said and kept walking. The girl who was by the boy stepped in her way.
"You heard him, no one passes." She said obviously on her guard. Via lifted her hands up then down and then darkness fell over the crowd. They all looked around but couldn't see anything. Suddenly fire appeared in the girls hand and drowned the darkness. "No one." She said firmly and the boy next to her slackened his hand from around her and picked up his blades, each with a hook on the end.
"I don't want to kill you." Via said warningly.
"There is no need to fight Jet," an old man said. He looked wise beyond possibility and also carried the deadly hooked swords. He lowered Jet's (or at least she assumed that was the kid was black hair) swords with a mere finger that was obviously very strong. "You may pass, Corzova." He said.
"How did you know my middle name?" Via asked amazed and shocked at what ever else he might know.
"Your father is the only one who would toy with forbidden bending. And I recognize his famous blood ravager gauntlets." He shuddered. "I'm glad you chose to run from him, he is a fool." Her eyes widened.
"You're none the wiser old man." She commented as she shoved the kids out of her way roughly. The man laughed.
"I am master Esav, the greatest sword master, and the most powerful earthbender alive." He said powerfully.
"You won't be alive much longer if you continue to stall me!" Via replied wickedly.
"I advise you take off the gauntlets unless you wish to turn into your father. You'd be even more cruel, stupid, stubborn, and powerful. That's the one perk, powerful." Esav said calmly and with authority.
"No." She said dully.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to deny your passage and…" He turned to face the kids, "Order you to stay here. Follow me to our battle ground. I beat your father before, I can beat you."
She stared hurriedly up at him to make sure he wasn't going to try anything cheap then continued asking him if she could just pass through, "Please can I just pass through? Fine I'll take the gauntlets off till I need them." She said pulling off the blood red gloves. Underneath, where her hands were, there were lines of scars running down to where the gloves didn't touch. She clenched her hands painfully, and then shuddered. The old man was right… I really shouldn't wear these, at least till I face the avatar.
"Throw the gloves into the water then you will have no quarrel with me," He said sternly.
"No… I can't." It was obvious the old mans words could poison her mind, for she was struggling against herself. She knew her only option was too, but instead she threw them the other way over the dam and into the village.
"You're a fool just like your father. Jet, Krystal, help me with this person from the fire nation. Watch out, she does forbidden bending too." They looked at him curiously and then Jet charged at her, swords flailing. Esav signaled for the other kids to leave, but they refused and all drew their weapons.
When she looked back at Esav there was no one there, and jet managed to hit her in the hand with the hooked blades. She looked down at her hands, the scars were moving around. Suddenly her hands lashed out without her will for them to do so. They grabbed Jet by the throat and pushed hard.
Jet gasped and clutched at her hands. The girl named Krystal launched forward and barreled Via to the edge of the dam. She then grabbed Jet and pulled him forward. He collapsed, obviously from lack of breathing. Krystal looked down and began to check Jet's pulse. She sighed relief, then turned back to face Via.
Fire erupted from her hands, fast. Via was first hit off balance, then hit so that she was right on top of the edge of the dam, then the final wave of fire knocked her off. She gasped expecting to plummet to her death, but again her hands shot out without her will and managed to grab a handhold a yard from the top.
Esav appeared beside her, held up by a wall of earth that was slowly moving closer to the edge of the dam. He was sitting down on the wall and slowly brought it to a jerking stop, centimeters from crushing Via. The gauntlets were sitting next to him. Via narrowed her eyes, that was all she needed then she could leave.
With a burst of light she jumped at the platform. It suddenly jerked to the side and left her falling into nothingness. A moment later she landed on a small platform about fifty feet below him. The impact would have been killer, had the earth not been soft like a blanket of water. She looked up and saw master Esav jump down and land smoothly on his legs beside her.
"You will not use the blood ravager gauntlets. It's for your own good." He said still in his melodramatic seeming calm voice. She lunged at him but her arm was caught in a rock of his bending the second she did. The ground below her disappeared and she was hanging by her arm. "Jet could you come down here?"
The firebender girl jumped down holding onto Jet. "Look what she did too him!" Krystal said furiously. Esav's glance shot back at her and the ground re-appeared above her. She threw her other hand out to grab him but once again earth surrounded her hand, and this time her head. She cried out as the rocks cut into her neck. The ground once again disappeared below her legs.
"The gauntlets have already taken you." He said noticing the movement of scars on her hands. "To save you I suggest you don't struggle and let us take off your hands. They are contaminated with the gauntlets' evil." Via's eyes widened as she saw Krystal's eyes glitter with anticipation. Master Esav looked at Krystal and sighed. "I will do it, it might be deadly." Krystal's eyes slowly turned to her feet and she blushed.
What a snob, she thinks she's so great! Via's thought's slowly turned to looking at herself without arms. No, I need arms to defeat the avatar she thought stupidly. She kicked at the rock flinging all her powers of light, darkness, fire, lightning, and shadows into the kick. It shattered and the powerful combination sped at Esav. He earthbended a wall in the way, but the power continued going strait at him. His expression never changed as it hit him strait on sending him flying into the dam. Via looked at Krystal and slowly down at Jet, Her eyes twinkling with hatred. Krystal looked at her then got into a fighting stance.
"You might as well not resist again." She said, the words resonating power. She flung a kick of shadows at Krystal who tugged Jet away from it. Krystal didn't look up to attack back, but for a place to hide. "You're not very fun." Via said putridly. "And just so you know who's going to kill you in the future, the name is Via."
Via climbed the rock and picked up the gauntlets at the top. Not daring to put them on she stuffed them in her back pack. Via gave a last hating look down and sent a wave a blue fire down at Krystal. I utterly hate you! She thought as she took a huge leap back too the dam. She barged her way through the crowd of kids and ran into the woods.
Krystal's point of view:
How could she? Jet, I hope he wakes up soon. Jet's eyes fluttered and Krystal looked down hopefully. "Wow, thanks for saving me back there." He said quickly. Krystal then turned her eyes to look at Esav.
"I hope Master Esav will be okay." She said slowly. Jet slowly pulled himself up to look at what had happened.
He grimaced at seeing his master halfway in the dam. "I think we better help him out." He said difficultly.
"I'll go ahead then. You had better rest." She looked at Jet and blushed to see him staring at her. He nodded and she got up awkwardly. She turned her attention to Master Esav and took a few paces back. She then took a running start which ended in a flying leap just big enough for her to make it onto the blown through part of the higher dam. Esav got up and stared at her stupidly.
"A firebender! Jet come here we need to kill her!" He said dumbly. Krystal stared at him with shock then fear as two earthbending walls closed in on either side of her. She started to throw fire at the walls of earth but they barely scathed them.
"Jet, help!" She screamed fearfully.
"Master, remember she's on our side!"
"You're a firebender too! Jet, how could you, you… you tricked me." Stupid sobs came from Esav.
"Jet I think the stuff that girl… Via threw at him, I think that they are affecting him. Maybe she can even control him…" She shuddered at the thought. "Anyway it must be because she vowed to kill me, this must be her cruel twisted way!" She heard swords clash and stopped talking. Jet was fighting master Esav! The wall on that side had developed holes in it, so she looked out to watch. She grimaced as she saw jet fly into the wall hard. "Be careful, Jet!" He looked at her then whirled around to hit master Esav lightly with the edge of his sword. The blow couldn't have killed a sixty year old rodent, but Esav toppled over and his swords fell from his hands as he died.
Jet looked shocked at his weapon then back at Esav. The walls around Krystal fell over and she ran over to Jet and hugged him. He continued looking at Esav with a sad expression. "Come on lets get out of here." He said and softly tore away from her embrace. She nodded and followed him to other side of the dam. Suddenly the light went away as a block of cement was pushed through to replace the gaping hole.
"Now you will die!" Came Via's voice from outside…
A/N The chapters finally over I would like to post a word count real quick. 4300 words without that typing there.