A long time ago, Avatar Kalkin disappeared without a trace, and with the absence of any successor, the world was gradually thrown into chaos. Governments became unbalanced, spiritual and natural disasters spread, and war sprang everywhere.
In the face of this unprecedented crisis, Fire Lord Kuni declared that he would assemble a party to search for this Avatar, but the Earth Kingdom feared this as a prelude to more aggressive actions, and moved to subdue this threat. Amidst the chaos, two young women managed to escape, and with their allies, embarked on a long journey that would hopefully lead them to the new Avatar, the only one who could restore order to the world…
AVATAR
The Celestial Sailors
BOOK ONE: CHAOS
14: A Captive Audience
It took nearly thirty people to escort Ami, Makoto, Mamoru, Minako, and Rei to General Kunzite's fortress—most of them focused on keeping Artemis restrained. The air-bison hadn't gone down easily, and he still refused to give up without a struggle, even bound by several ropes and chains. The water-benders got rough with him, which infuriated both mount and master, which made their task even more difficult. Some of the soldiers got the idea of throwing a sleeping powder on his face, but then he had to be dragged on a bier, which was another challenge altogether. Eventually, the earth-benders lifted him up on a large slab and hovered him over the ground—still a sight, but effective at least.
Because of his upstanding relationship with the Earth Kingdom, borne of many services rendered during the years of upheaval, Kunzite had a fortress right in the heart of Ba Sing Se. It was a grand structure, three stories tall with a deep ravine at its rear, which Kunzite's forces made frequent use of in their drills. It served as boarding for its master and his air-benders, along with Zoicite's forces and even some of Nephrite's. It was primarily used as a guard station and training ground, where at least three hundred well-armed and well-trained warriors were always on call to resolve whatever issue might arise. At times it could also be used as a prison (although it paled in comparison to Beryl's dungeons), and this was where the six intruders were being taken. Minako, immobilized but conscious, noticed a stable full of other air-bisons that Artemis was being led to, and memorized its location for future reference.
The man processing them was an alert-looking officer who decorated his small office with various standards and artwork of the Earth Kingdom. In lieu of General Kunzite, he was given full authority over where the prisoners were kept, and had some devious plans in store for the five benders. Nobody, he claimed, had ever escaped from Kunzite's fortress before, unless by leave of the General himself, and this included several powerful benders who had thought that no wall or bar could hold them. He would have gone on gloating, but a voice with much more authority called out to him.
"Just a minute, Yuniro. Might I examine the prisoners?"
"Uh...ah, yes General, sir! Of course, sir!" The officer stood to attention and saluted as none other than General Nephrite came in from an opposite door. Makoto and Mamoru had heard about him, but they had never seen the Earth General in person; his reputation as a loyal and level-headed officer and leader preceded him. He gave the girls a cursory glance before settling on Mamoru, whom he studied intently. Finally, he said, "I will take charge of this one. The others are yours to deal with."
"Yes sir, but...shouldn't you go over this with General Kunzite? It was on his orders that these people were apprehended—"
"Yes, and Kunzite is master of this fortress. I understand. However, I am Ba Sing Se's General, and I believe I have my fair say in the matter. Indulge me, Yuniro, won't you? I'll assume complete responsibility."
"Oh, really, sir? W-well, of course, you are the General here, and I suppose you have as much authority as General Kunzite—"
"I'll spare you the sputtering, Yuniro," Nephrite said, smiling as he waved casually. "Just hand me that writ of transferal and I'll sign it." The deed was done in less than a moment, and Mamoru was turned over to Nephrite. The girls didn't like being separated, but Mamoru assured them that everything would be fine—even if he himself doubted it. Yuniro still insisted on an armed escort, even with Mamoru restrained, so Nephrite acquiesced—at least until they arrived at his wing of the fortress. The escort got as far as his office before being told to stay posted outside: Nephirte and Mamoru would enter alone. The soldiers obeyed and the door was shut; Nephrite then calmly removed the metal cuffs on Mamoru's wrists.
"I trust you will not do anything foolish, Master Chiba? Yes, I know your name; I know the names of most of Motoki's inner circle. But that is not why I have brought you here. First, you must give me your word that you will not make any attempts on my life while you are in my company, nor will you escape. At least for the moment," he added with a smirk. Mamoru stared gravely.
"For the moment, yes."
"Excellent. Hopefully we can get along. I'm certain we will, but I've been told I have a bad effect on people. Well! Let me get a better look at you." Mamoru wasn't sure why Nephrite was so interested in his appearance, and this second scrutiny made him feel uncomfortable.
"If you plan on taking me out on a date, General, you'll have to wait in a very long line." The two men stared at each other before Nephrite laughed.
"I'll have to remember that one! I was afraid that you'd be nothing more than a steel ramrod, cold and inflexible. But by the Spirits, I never imagined this day would come! I am deeply honored to have finally met you..."
And to Mamoru's shock, Nephrite knelt down and said, "Your Majesty."
…...
The girls were separated almost immediately after Mamoru was taken away. Kunzite had several rooms built into his fortress specifically designed to contain various benders, and Yuniro sent each girl to the room that would best restrain her. Ami was put in a steel box with only a tiny slit on the bottom to allow for food and air to pass; she was told that she'd get only one water ration per day, and if she did anything suspicious with it, the rations would dwindle to every three days. Rei was put in a room directly next to the reservoir, so it was constantly cold and wet, dismal conditions for fire-bending. Minako was hung in a rope net over a floor of spikes, and was told she could do all the air-bending she pleased, if she didn't mind breaking the rope by accident and getting impaled. At first, Makoto was put in a steel box similar to Ami's, but one of Kunzite's men argued against it.
"This one can't earth-bend. I watched her during the fight, and she used a strange technique to manipulate anything made of wood. We can lock her up surrounded by all the stone and mud we want." This amused the other guards, so Makoto was led to a cage built of solid rock, complete with a stone slate for a bed and bare dirt below her. Before the guards could smear the irony in her face, Yuniro stopped them again. He had some female officers perform a search, and found toothpicks hidden inside Makoto's clothes, shoes, and hair. She glared in silence as they were all removed.
"Clever," Yuniro remarked, "but not clever enough. Like I said, nobody's ever escaped."
"Not yet," she retorted as she was thrown in.
"Not ever," Yuniro countered. Makoto slammed her palm against the unyielding stone wall, and tried though she might, she couldn't conjure up anything more egregious than a few bits of silt. Not yet resigned to her fate, she did the only thing she could do, and began to exercise.
Rei's cell wasn't so insufferably cold or damp that it was unbearable; it was more like a wine cellar set at a very low depth, or a cave. Her breath turned hazy as she exhaled, and though a few sparks came forth as she performed all the various fire-bending rituals she knew, they were extinguished prematurely. With nothing else to do, she sat cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate. Rei pondered on the nature of fire, and passion, and the warmth of the body, and all the teachings her grandfather had bestowed upon her.
It's not heat that creates fire, but energy. Whenever something loses its energy, its motion stops, and heat is lost. When it gains energy, motion increases, and this produces higher heat. Rub your hands together as fast as you can, and you'll see what I mean. Even in the coldest part of the world, if you move around enough, you'll find yourself warm. Of course, energy requires fuel. Humans need food, fire needs air. But gather enough fuel, and enough energy, and you can call forth the flames even in the depths of the ocean! Remember the underwater volcano I told you about? Such power, such pressure! All that energy building up fit to burst, then releasing in a blast of fury so spectacular that even the deepest, darkest depths couldn't contain it! Master energy, Rei, and you'll have mastered fire.
So Rei sat in contemplation, building up her strength, waiting for the moment when it would reach that furious breaking point...
As she tried peering out the slender rectangular hole that was her only link with the outside world, Ami began to worry about everybody. The stakes were so much higher now than they had ever been: not only was General Zoicite working against them, but Kunzite as well, and possibly even Nephrite. They were all cut off from each other, locked in a fortress that was teeming with some of the best soldiers in the Earth Kingdom—not to mention several expert air-benders and water-benders as well. Their allies on the outside had no idea where they were, or even if they were alive...and to top it all off, Usagi might very well be dead. Ami shook her head; she refused to believe that; she knew better than to give in like that. That house may have collapsed, but there was always a chance that Usagi had survived, and if she had, well...could she mount a rescue all on her own? Could she do anything while trapped behind enemy lines?
Ami sat on the floor against the wall and began to reason with herself. She started going over the many lessons her mother had imparted upon her, about deduction and logic and research and testing, and how it applied to not only medicine or even to bending, but the natural world as a whole. One lesson in particular stood out: she remembered how once, when she was much younger, she remarked how a jar of cold water could be perspiring. Nobody had gotten it wet, and the water hadn't spilled. Her mother had asked her to deduce it through reasoning: if the water hadn't come from the jar, where did it come from? Ami had been too young to come up with an answer, so her mother taught her about condensation.
"The water forms on the jar when vapor is cooled or compressed to its saturation limit," Saeko had said. "Basically, when the cold water chills the jar enough, that chilliness affects the water vapor in the air, and what was once a gas becomes a liquid. Do you understand?" Ami hadn't, so her mother had to explain it again. In time, she was experimenting with condensation all on her own, remarking how "invisible water" could appear whenever something very cold was put somewhere warmer.
Ami looked around at her spacious cell. It was completely bare, save for its lone occupant...and yet, she knew that there was water vapor in here, somewhere. Kunzite's people didn't have the power to remove it completely.
Did you know, Ami, that the human body consists of nearly two-thirds water? It's in your blood, in every cell of your body. It's even in your breath when you exhale. Look, hold this mirror up to your nose. See how it fogs up like that?
She exhaled against the wall several times, until a small, damp spot formed. It wasn't much, but it was water. Ami couldn't help but smile to herself. Let them limit her drinks to one per day. She didn't need it: she had all the water she needed, right here.
…...
"What are you talking about?" said Mamoru. "I'm not the King."
"Forgive me if I've surprised you, sire," Nephrite said as he rose to his feet. "Aside from my debatable social skills, I have a flair for the dramatic. But I am certain you're the True King. I would stake my reputation...my loyalty on it." Mamoru's eyes narrowed.
"How can you be sure?"
"Your name is Mamoru Chiba, correct? You're a natural earth-bender, and you were orphaned at a very early age, am I right? Your astrological sign is the Armed Servant, too, I'll guess."
"That's all correct, but it doesn't prove anything. I could name at least fifteen other men who match all those descriptions."
"But none who were born twenty years ago, during the final years of the reign of King Endymion II. None whose face resembles that of the late King, or the son he and his wife bore..."
"All of which I'm sure the general public would accept," Mamoru retorted ironically. "No, General. Unless you can give me incontestable proof to your claim, here and now, then you may as well imprison me with the others. Even if you could, I wouldn't want to drag this country into another civil war. If you have issues with Beryl, I'm your ally, but if you wish to usurp her and put me on the throne as a puppet..."
"I only wish to see the True King returned to his rightful place," Nephrite said quietly, "and I am not alone. Up until a few weeks ago, my loyalty was with Beryl solely because she was the only heir we had. She may have been an unscrupulous tyrant at times, but she has done good work to stabilize and rebuild this country. But my heart is first and foremost a servant of the Earth Kingdom, and if I believe someone is leading my country down the wrong path..."
"So, country over king?" Mamoru probed. Nephrite nodded.
"Kings come and go, but 'the Earth is forever'. The royal family motto."
"I see." There was a pause. "You said that Beryl was an heir. If you believe that I am the True King, then what does that make her?"
"A usurper," Nephrite muttered grimly, "who nevertheless has a legitimate claim. I am almost certain that she used the years of turmoil to her advantage, and ascended to the throne through means of...well," he sighed, "I cannot prove anything, but I believe she murdered your parents—or at least had a hand in their deaths." Mamoru was understandably silent, and a little shaken, by this news. All his life, he had been told that his mother and father were simply two more casualties of the years of strife and discord; that they had been caught up in one battle or another and had left him to be raised by the Tellurian Juvenile Academy. He wondered how much of this Motoki knew...and then wondered what other secrets the king had kept from him.
Steady now, he told himself. If you keep thinking like that, then soon you'll be up in arms against your best friend. I'll give Motoki the benefit of the doubt until I hear what he has to say.
"Tell me, General," Mamoru said, taking a deep breath to cleanse his mind, "what are your thoughts on how Beryl handled Fire Lord Kuni's tournament?"
"That they were completely unjustified. I was there, my lord, and from what I saw, Lord Kuni's intentions were exactly as stated. Perhaps he went about it in an unusual way, but they did not warrant an attack of any sort. It's my belief that Beryl used this false aggression to conquer the Fire Nation and overthrow its royal family. This was all but confirmed when I learned that she ordered Kuni's execution."
"His execution?!" Mamoru couldn't hide his astonishment; Nephrite empathized completely.
"I reacted the same way. If I still had any shred of loyalty to Beryl, it was lost when she made that decision. Kuni was given no trial, no representation, no chance at all to speak. It was as if we were still at war. No ruler should ever hold that kind of power—and it did not stop at the Fire Nation. I'm sure you're aware that King Motoki might have met a similar fate. Beryl's main goal has always been to unite Ba Sing Se and Omashu, and if Motoki were removed, it would have been an easy prize. Of course, in Motoki's case, his death would have been seen as accidental, but...from what I've heard, she disposed of your parents in a similar manner. Oh, forgive me; do take this chair." Mamoru didn't need an invitation; his legs gave out all on their own, and he found himself collapsing. While there was still a chance that Nephrite was simply manipulating him, he had to admit that what he was saying made sense. Still, he would err on the side of caution until all the facts were in.
"This is all very remarkable, but you can still prove none of it."
"Regrettably, no. But I can prove your lineage, at least."
"How?"
"Documentation. There are papers, certificates, and records of the birth, marriage, and death of every royal family member dating back to Lu Junyi himself. There's even a committee of administrators whose solve purpose is to research and validate these claims. This was how Beryl was recognized as a member of the royal family and coronated, even though she wasn't a direct descendant."
"I don't suppose you have these records or committee members with you?" Nephrite sighed and closed his eyes in humiliation.
"No, sire, they are at the royal palace. The only way to get them is to go there yourself and legitimize them with the committee."
"Beryl doesn't strike me as the kind of person who'd leave loose ends lying around. She would have destroyed those documents long ago."
"Not if she wanted to keep her position, sire. The committee demands that all pertinent records be present and accounted for during every birth, marriage, and death of every royal family member. In fact, they scrutinize them at least once a year to make sure that everything is accurate. If they went missing, even by accident, then Beryl would be suspected of obstruction and obfuscation, and would likely be removed. No, sire, I can assure you that she keeps them safe and secure."
"I see." Mamoru took a long time to process everything he had heard. There was still an enormous feeling of doubt in his mind, and a considerable amount of hesitation. Removing one head of state for another was a very serious matter, even under the best circumstances. There would be unrest at least, if not conflict, even if they were successful—and Beryl would certainly not leave her position peacefully. Even if she had declared war on the Fire Nation, attempted to kill Motoki, and had murdered the previous king and queen, one did not simply overthrow a monarchy.
"My original goal was to confront the queen about these charges," Mamoru said. "The fact that Motoki's life was endangered, and my companions and I have been placed under arrest, throws far more suspicion into the matter. I would still like to accomplish my original goal, so for the time being, we will do that. If any...additional matters are brought to light, we can deal with them in due process."
"A wise move, sire," said Nephrite as he bowed. "You have the deliberate caution of a king if nothing else. As a loyal citizen of the Earth Kingdom, it will be my obligation to accompany you and verify these charges." Mamoru nodded. This was an accord he could agree on, at least.
"I would also enjoy the company of the four girls who were imprisoned with me. I could not have made it this far, or accomplished this much, on my own. I would also like to examine the ruins of a house in the city to determine if another member of my company was trapped underneath it, and if she is alive or not."
"Both regrettably impossible," Nephrite sighed. "If you and I will be going to the palace, then I must fill in a prisoner transfer order. It would raise far too much suspicion if you simply walked out of here scarcely a day after being placed under arrest, especially after you were put in my care."
"I hate to say it, but you've got a point," Mamoru grumbled. He didn't like the thought of trusting himself and his mission to Nephrite, or to the confines of Beryl's dungeons, but any other option would certainly result in failure. There was still the matter of the girls, though. "But can you do nothing for my friends?"
"I'm afraid not. This is Kunzite's fortress, after all, and I have already overstepped my bounds by bringing you here. A transfer of one would be possible, but no more." Nephrite sensed Mamoru's unease and approached him, putting a warm hand on his shoulder. "My lord, I give you my word as a citizen and subject that they will be much safer here than at Beryl's palace. Once we clear everything up, you can assert your title and have them freed."
"Could I at least give them word of what happened? I could never live with myself if I didn't give them that courtesy, at least." Nephrite smiled.
"I will arrange something with the people who bring them their meals. Compose a small letter of explanation while I write up the transferal orders. If all goes well, we'll be on our way by this time tomorrow. In the meantime, your majesty, I must regretfully incarcerate you. I hope you understand."
And I hope I know what I'm doing, Mamoru thought to himself, as he reached for a paper and brush.
…...
As soon as the four girls, the man, and their air-bison had been escorted away, the citizens of Ba Sing Se gathered around the collapsed house, most of them staring in awe or disbelief. There were a few who were picking through the rubble in an attempt to locate the girl who had been trapped there, mostly earth-benders and emergency workers. A volunteer from the local mission was there as well, using her air-bending to sweep some of the lighter debris away, or to help her carry heavy stones or beams. As she delved deeper into the ruin, she heard a distinctive sneeze, followed by a groan.
"Ow. Everything hurts." Astonished, she dug faster, finding an arm wedged underneath a plank. The body attached to it belonged to a young blonde woman, but she was so caked with dust that it was almost impossible to distinguish her from her surroundings. There were huge slabs of stone piled around her, but they had fallen in such a manner as to form a protective barrier. The monk felt her heart skip a beat, and carefully extricated the girl from the debris. She was completely unscathed! Aside from the dust, and some minor bruises and scratches, the girl had miraculously survived being trapped underneath a collapsed house, and with nothing more to show for it than an itchy nose! She sneezed again, groaning, causing the first layer of dust to shake off. As the monk dragged her further into the light, she gave a start as she recognized the girl.
"Wait! I know you! You're Minako's prisoner! Usagi, was it?" It was indeed Usagi; she coughed and shook herself. The monk was familiar to her as well.
"Hey, I know you. You're Bless You!"
"That's right," she nodded, "Blie Zhu of the Western Air Temple. I'm glad you remembered me. Tell me, how in the world did you manage to get trapped in there?" Usagi managed to stand with Blie's help, and looked from the wreckage, to the city, to herself, and finally her companion.
"It's a long story."
The end of "A Captive Audience"
Next time: "The Apple of Eris's Eye"
