Aang and the gang glanced at Crimson and Luke with a look of incomprehension. The five adolescents forced Zuko and his family with spears to what appeared to be a small assembly of skiffs.
The skiffs were dark green with a red trim and a blue steams with gold avatars bodies that looked like Zara's doll.
"Crimson! Luke! What is the meaning of this! We are all friends! Zuko and Zara aren't evil! Why must they be treated like prisoners?" cried Aang as he ran to them but was stopped by Crimson's galvin.
She held the crescent shaped blade to his throat and the let the smaller jagged blade trickle a thin line of blood from his chin. The blood stained the gorgeous unblemished sand of the tranquil seashore.
Katara tried to get her satchel open to do the water whip and Sokka tried to get his boomerang when Luke blade was pointed at them in its blazing brilliance.
"Don't think about it." He said with his icy eyes narrowed to mere silts. He kept his flaming sword close to them before nodding to Crimson.
She withdrew her weapon and thrust it into the sand and kneeled to Aang and said in a very solemn tone of voice. "We mean you and your friends no harm Avatar Aang. We would not want anything to happen to humanity last hope for a free world where no one has to live in fear of the flame of annihilation. We know that you trust these Firebenders but we can't take a chance till we're are home and our leader has decided their fate. If you will follow us we can get going to our home. Follow o thy sacred Avatar." She said as she rose and grabbed her weapon and hugged Aang and kissed him on the point of his arrow tattoos
"Why should we trust you? How do we know this isn't a trap? Saving us back at the Azam village could just be the way to lure us into a false sense of security! Give us one good reason to trust you?" asked Sokka not moving from his spot.
"What do your instincts tell you boy? Your eyes can only see so much before they are deceived completely. Trust the eyes of your heart what do they see?" said Luke as he put his sword back in his sheath
"You seem like a real fighter for freedom rather than a madman we met a ways back. I trust you." Said Sokka confidently as put his own weapon back in its sheath and took one longing look at his recent recovered totem necklace that his mother had given him before they return to Earth then he ran to get up in Appa basket.
Katara laid a hand on her mother necklace and smiled for she found she had her strength to hope again. She ran to Appa and yelled at Aang.
"Aang are you coming aboard? We have to get going!" she said with much concern in her voice.
The boy shook his head and said in a serious voice. "You follow them with Appa I'm staying with Zuko and his family so they are taken care of correctly. I will be with them."
Aang got in the last one in a line of two skiffs were Luke joined him. Luke took a long wooden pole and began to row in front of the others, to his right was Crimson and the rest of brigade to his left was Appa. They rowed till they were about a mile and a half from the island that had melted away from their vision.
A gentle wind blew around them. He stood silent for a few minutes then turn to Crimson and said nervously "There are Fire Nation vessels due west. There are a least four but I can't tell how many men they have aboard or who commanding them."
"Uh! That not good we can't have any Fire Nation ships see us! I think we need a closer look." Said Crimson looking at the almost smooth water.
"I will try." He replied with a heavy sigh as he held his right hand over the water and they watch in amazement as the water swirled a little than in the reflection an image of the four ships appeared.
"Wow! That is so cool!" cried Aang with Momo looking just as blown away.
"I really want to learn how to do this!" cried Katara
"How much more of this magic do I have do endure? Why can't anyone here be rational! Why must you be so irrational!" complained Sokka as he ran his hands down his face with his eyes rolling.
"It looks like there about ten miles away. Why don't you rock their world?" said Crimson with a gleam in her eyes.
He nodded and clapped his hands three times and with each clap the ocean floor shook and trembled then trusted a flaming fist in the water and sent a chain of seismic activity to the west.
"That will keep them busy enough till we can get home. Ready to go home?" he asked everyone who cheered.
The gang watch as Crimson and Luke each took out two gold disks each one bearing the emblem of one of the nation. They threw them out to the vast ocean. Then they began to chant. It was an ancient forgotten language they spoke as the four gold disks formed a halo of radiance. A light shot up from the center to the Heavens it was followed by four colored lights they meet the center beam and become a brilliant ball of white light. It was so breath taking.
"Hurry! Before it closes or those ships see it! Come hurry." Yelled Crimson as she started rowing her skiff toward the ring of light.
"Come on Appa yip yip! You can do it! Here boy!" cried Katara as the reached the center of the light and felt a sudden rush of wind and saw a kaleidoscope of colors and light. Though it only lasted a moment it felt much longer than that.
"Wow that was amazing! What a truly wonderful experiences wouldn't you agree Sokka? Sokka!" she languorously whispered to her brother till she saw what he was doing. "Oh Sokka that just vulgar!" she wriggled
For Sokka the trip had made him very under the weather. He was regurgitating an assortment of undigested food over the side of Appa basket. He looked greener then Suki warrior outfit.
"Are we there yet? I don't think I can do that again…." He said as he started up again and began to fall out of the basket that Katara had to wrench him back and wipe his mouth.
"Shuu, lie still Sokka. I'll get something to ease your stomach. Crimson do you have anything for an troubled stomach?" asked Katara as she wiped her brother brow with a moist washcloth.
Crimson tossed her a glass vile filled with a light pink juice inside. "This is from a rare high tempter coral it cures many illness. Sorry portal travels are usually smooth sailing for everyone. Um get Appa just above the water. The water around here is very hot due to the underwater volcanic vents." She replied to Katara kindheartedly
"Where are we, Luke? What is this place and why is it in darkness?" asked Aang as he held Zara hand reassuring her and her family that they were safe.
"We are entering the archipelagoes of the Chike Isles to the largest one which used to be where the magnificent utopia city Nuriel used to stand but now it is home to the Fire Nation Rebellion." He replied simple without looking at Aang he just kept gazed at what had become his home.
"The Chike Isles? But isn't that land haunted? Asked Katara as she finished giving some of the elixir to her brother who perked up a bit.
"Our leader the Red Spirit knows the very delicate nature of the Spirit World. The Red Spirit is a very spiritual person. They know how to keep the bad ones away. We will be docking in five minuets. You will follow us to the Red Spirit's Chamber were it will decided what is to be done with all of you." Said Crimson as she began sharping her weapons.
"It will be good to get home I must meditate. Doing that earthquake really drained my energies. I must have a break." Said Luke as he trembled a little bit.
"I got to ask! Are you an Airbender?" asked Aang hopeful with big eyes
"No."
"Fire?"
"No."
"Earth?"
"No"
"Water?"
"NO!"
"Then what are you? If you are not a bender and you are obviously not the Avatar cause that is me, then what the Hell are you?" asked Aang as he got very flustered.
Laughing merrily he said, "I'm from a band of forest gypsies. We have a spiritual body to all of nature. We merely used it to perform tasks. I'm what have been nicknamed "Forest Bender"" he explained to the child who pet eyes were even bigger than what he had on his face.
They reached the island and docked. Then they marched to the temple in the heart of the city. Everywhere Aang and his friends looked they saw people of all ages from all across the world from all walks of life.
"You really seemed to have a very tight nit family here. This is more promising than that madman Jet had back in the forest. Everyone at least knows right from wrong. How do you keep this many people safe and happy?" asked Katara as she spun around to take in all that was around her. She was so mystified a trio of little girls almost ran her down.
"We teach the values of love, family, friendship, and teamwork. We take care of each other and we protect all the people who are innocent in life. We hope with each sunrise that it's not one step closer to death but one more step closer to freedom. Hurry the Red Spirit is not a patience person." Said Crimson as she tugged hard and yanked the chains pulling Zuko, Zara and Iroh as they tripped and stumbled blindly through the ancient crumbling city.
"Who is this Red Spirit? You have not said who he is or anything about him? You have been very cryptic about this whole place." Asked Sokka as he walked slowly still holding his stomach when an unusually smell flared up his nose.
"What is that putrid smell! Its making me want to gag some more and I don't think I have anything left in my stomach to chuck back up!" he moaned as he started to teeter and fell with his back to a twisted aged lifeless tree.
Sighing Crimson handed the chain to Luke and took the elixir from Katara and put a teaspoon in Sokka mouth and gave him some fruit juice to drink.
"That smell is called sulfur. You do best to get used too it. The Red Spirit is a very good leader but the best thing for the rebellion is if their identity remained anonymous do you comprehend?" asked Crimson as she help Sokka up too his feet.
"Here take this till your feeling better walk with this." Luke said kindly as he gave Sokka a walking stick.
"Thanks. I should be better in a couple of minutes anyway. How long till we met up with the Red Spirit?" he said as they all march down the ancient stone highway.
They finally arrived at the Red Spirit chambers. Aang and the gang took in how well this room was preserves from the rest of the decaying and desalinated on this dead island. They fix their gaze to the top of the throne and could just make out a figurer in armor and a mask. Aang couldn't help but notice that the Red Spirit looked remarkable like how Zuko did when he become the Blue Spirit and rescued him from Zhao. He shudder at the memory of what hadn't happen more than two weeks ago. He watched the Red Spirit with intense curiosity.
"My Spirit we brought you the Avatar and his friends. We also brought Prince Zuko and his family as you requested." Said Crimson as she yanked the iron chains hard making them fall to the ground in dirt and soot.
"Excellent work, Crimson. I'm very glad you were able too bring them unharmed to me. Thank you Crimson. Luke excellent job getting those Fire Nation ships out of commission. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for bringing them all here. Now please remove their hoods so I may look onto the face of the Blue Spirit if you please." Said the Red Spirit with their right hand relaxing on their sword as they ran their fingers down the blade.
Though everyone was staring at what was going on it was the eyeless stare of the mystiques Red Spirit whose gaze could burn a hole into your soul.
Luke and Crimson wrenched the hoods off Zuko and Zara and Iroh who were all gasping for a lungful of air. After a moment Zuko glared his fiery demon glare at the Red Spirit and yelled at the Spirit.
"That is no way to treat anyone! We could barely breath in those potatoes sacks you put our heads in. Who are you to decide how others are treated!" he screamed furiously at the Spirit who was looking at him in a state of shock.
"How is it possible! It can just can be!" they stuttered. Quickly putting their sword away the Spirit jumped from the throne and did some pretty incredible aerial stunts before landing in front of Zuko as he stood to face the Spirit he was about two and half inches taller but the Spirit was far more intimating
The Spirit ran their right hand down Zuko newly restored face gentle. Then pick up looked at the zircon Scarlet Dragon pendent in the dim candlelight. Then gazed at Zara new hand. Turning yelled furiously at Luke and Crimson for an explanation.
"You two explanation! How is this possible to remove a scar as ugly as the one he had or get a real hand when it was burned off when she was a child. Or how all who are in attendance have some sort of gift with them that didn't have when they arrived on Fire Lily Island? Clarify now!" bellowed the Spirit
"They went someplace. We arrived on the Island at the same time as the eclipse took place. We heard the door slam shut and then 7 hours later they emerge with these gifts. Zuko was carrying this before we took it." Said Crimson as she bowed holding out Zuko's candle.
"My mother's candle! Give it back! Give it back I lost that for 8 years and I just got it back! Please give it back!" he said begging weakly as he hung his head with pleading tears pouring out of his beautiful amber eyes.
"Mmm. I will make you a bargain, Prince Zuko. I will release you and your family if you do two things for me. So do you agree?" asked the Spirit as they held the candle in front of Zuko eyes.
"I will do anything you ask Red Spirit. Just agree too two of my conditions." He said in compassionate tone of voice of concerned.
"What is your circumstances, Prince Zuko?" asked the Red Spirit sympathetically
"First no harm shall come to me or my family or my friends. Second you will return my Mother candle to me. I just got it back and I rather not lose it again." He proclaimed.
"Prince Zuko had I wished-for to harm you or anyone present I'd not asked my most trusted friends to bring you and everyone else here. Rests assure everyone is in safe hands. You shall have your candle back. I can see it means a great deal to you. But I require two things from you first. One you must tell me what happen to everyone when the eclipse was taking place." Said the Red Spirit.
"I can tell you Red Spirit. We were Uhh!" Aang start to say before the long crescent silver blade was pointing at his chest.
"I don't wish to harm you, Avatar Aang but I want Zuko to tell me. So do not speak in less spoken to. You all will have an opportunity to speak. But first answer the question Zuko what happen during those 7 hours?" asked the Spirit unemotionally
"You wouldn't not believe me if I told you." He replied.
"Try me."
Sighing heavily "We went to Heaven and were reunited with our loved ones. We were each given gifts of things we had lost and I was reward for passing the Test of Soul. Zara was rewarded for never giving up on me. I saw my mother Zalika. Please may I have the candle back?" he said simply
"In a moment. Luke is he telling the truth?" inquired Red Spirit
"When I read his spiritual aura and everyone else they do have a residual flickers of white light with specks of rainbow. That is only found in the place of spirits. He is telling the truth."
"Ok I will give you back the candle if you and your family duel. But its skill on skill alone. No firebending!" throwing them each a different weapon.
"Red Spirit is this necessary?" asked Crimson as she and Luke looked at their leader with strange looks on their faces.
"Just keep the Avatar and the siblings out of the way."
"Three against one. The odds seemed to be in are favor." Smiled Zara holding her tanto (type of sword) poised to fight.
"Princess Zara just because we outnumber the Spirit does not mean they have us outmatch. Be on your guard." Warned Iroh holding a grappling hook.
"I can take this guy." Said Zuko proudly holding his own two lightweights swords similar to the ones he used to free Aang with.
"Ready set duel!" cried Luke and the duel began.
Zara rush at the Spirit till she was a foot from the person when they vanished! "Huh where did he go? Ahh!" she cried out as the tanto was snatched from her hand and thrown to the ceiling before she could counter attack she was wrapped up in a bolo wipe.
Iroh was taken down in a matter of minutes where he soon was hanging from the ceiling. The Red Spirit was now in front of Zuko motion for the fight to come.
The Blue and Red Spirit were match move for move. The Red mange to do kick one sword out of the Prince hand he reached for when it was kicked into a fire. "Don't think about." Running at the wall doing a back flip he was bodyslamed taken the sword the Spirit throw back to the wall and pinned Zuko. "I win." Said the Spirit. Motioning to Luke and Crimson to free the others. The Spirit helped Zuko up and turned and started to clean their blade.
"You are truly a most magnificent and honorable warrior. I feel most humble to lose to such a valiant warrior. Now may I have my candle back?" asked Zuko as he bowed in respect to the Red Spirit.
"It is I who should be flattered Prince Zuko. I've waited a long time to exchange blows with you once more. You're still making the same blunder of leaving your left side open for attack. But it is quiet evident that you can handle fighting on your own devoid of fire that I find most attractive." Said the Red Spirit holding the blade to eye level so half the mask showed and half of Zuko newly restored face showed.
"Again? Are implying we know each other? I have never met anyone here on this island before. I don't know you." He said bewildered. He stood dumbfound for a moment before the Red Spirit spoke and what they said changed everything.
"It has been a long time no see hasn't it Zuky boy?"
"ZUKY BOY! WHAT IN HELL NAME?" cried everyone at once.
Zuko mouth dropped to the floor. His eyes bugged out so bad you thought they fall out and roll around.
"Zuky boy! No one calls me that except one person but it's not possible. Can it be?" he stammered in disbelief.
The Red Spirit threw a smoke bomb down when the blackish red smoke cleared everyone was astounded to see a 16 year old girl standing before them.
"Hi Zuky. I missed you." She said in the most beautiful voice ever.
"Akiko!"
"Akiko? Who Akiko?" asked Aang and the gang as they gazed at the girl.
Going from the feet up she wore gold ankle strapped heeled sandals with little flame insignias, a long red skirt with slits on the side a gold twin headed dragon with a flame in the center belt. Bare mid-drift, red halter, gold dragon arm bracelet on the right arm, and a red collar with a flame in the center. Extremely long jet-black hair in a high ponytail and a fire lily comb tucked above in her hair above her right ear. She had jade green eyes.
Akiko glided over to Zuko as he went to embrace her when she slapped him across the face!
"Ow! What was that for!" he said as he rubbed his face
"That Prince Zuko is for abandoning me. Breaking your word. And this is for…" she said as she leaped into his arms and gave him a kiss that put Zara and Aang first kiss to disgrace! "Is for returning to me. Oh Zuko hold me so I know this isn't a dream." She said as she ran her hand down his face and chest and rubbed her head against his chest.
"Oh Akiko this better than a dream. For its is a dream come true." He whispered into her ear as he ran his fingers through her long black silky hair.
"OK! Back up! I maybe a little slow on the uptake so would someone clue us in? First you bag them and gag them then duel them. Then you turn out to be some hot girl! Could somebody fill us in!" cried Sokka.
"Yes who are you and how do you know Zuko?" asked Katara
"I sense something familiar about you but I can't place it." Said Aang who was still gawking at Akiko that Zara slapped him upside the head.
"Aang don't make eyes for someone else girl! Its rude!" scolded Zara
"Ow! What is with girls and slapping! Sorry Zara he he! " he said sheepishly
"My name is Akiko, it means "Bright Light." I know Zuko because he my boyfriend." She smiled beautifully
"Zuko has a girlfriend? Doesn't seemed possible! Ow! Will you vixens stop hitting us guys?" said Sokka as he massaged his head.
"Well its true. Zuko and Akiko were the hottest item in the Fire Nation. Till Zuko's banishment, Zuko lost more than you thought when Ozai burned him."
"I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to say good bye, Akiko. I wish I could have taken you with me. But you know the Fire Lord when he wants you too feel suffering he makes sure it is felt. I'm so sorry I swore I never leave you alone. I don't like breaking my word.
"It is all right Zuky. The important thing is you're here now and you can help us overthrow and rid the world of the Evil Fire Nation and restore the True Fire Nation to the world." Akiko said sympathetically
"Akiko I it's a great honor to meet the Red Spirit in person but I can't quiet place what is that I find familiar can you please tell us a little about your self?" asked Aang gentle
"Yes Avatar I will tell you a small summery of myself. My mother died in childbirth and my father has for all my life neglected me. For my first few years I thought I was only born to be alone, not to loved or cared for. To feel only loneliness and emptiness. I hate my father so bad that I want to slit his throat! Sorry.
"When I was five I was playing on a beach not far from the Fire palace. I was collecting seashell and I saw the prettiest flower sitting on a rock about 12 feet above the water. I climbed the slippery rocks and got the flower but on the way back down I slipped and fell into the water I hit my head and lost conscious. When I woke I was in a well-furbished bedroom and sitting at the foot of the bed was a boy with the most beautiful eyes dripping wet. He reached for my hand and from the moment we first felt each other touch at our fingertips we were in love. Soon we have the other breath on our lips. Our hearts beating as one and love so timeless it was perfect. Zuky started to leave me a rose every full moon.
"We trained together. I mastered firebending quicker than Zuko did. By the time I was seven I was a master that a year later I mastered fighting and by the time I was eight I mastered weapons. I had many who challenge me to Ag nee kais and I won them all.
"Still I felt lonely and not wanted. I was having a terrible time controlling my other abilities. People thought I was crazy mad insane, however you like to say it." She stopped to rub her temples and wipe up her forehead.
"Why would people think your crazy, Akiko? You seem pretty sane to me." Said Katara benevolently to the girl as she gave her some water.
"You are most kind Katara of the water tribe. But many people tend to think you are crazy when you see and hear things that aren't there." She replied calmly as she sipped the cold water.
"You see and hear things not there?" asked Sokka looking at her the same way he first looked at King Boomie
"I was born on the Summer Solustest. You know from what happen on the Winter Solutes that its is when the Spirit world and our world become one. Aang is one of a selective few that can commune with this World as I have. I see and hear and can interact with those who dwell in the Spirit World I can even leave my body for a short period of time. Zuko helped me deal with these powers as he did Zara's
"It was because of these powers I was able to weld this remarkable weapon which has become so important to me." Akiko said proudly as she held out her sword for all to see. Only those of Fire knew what an extraordinary and essential object that blade was.
"The Dragon Scale Sword? How in the world did you get the sword of legends?" asked Zuko as he little by little ran his fingers down the blade.
The blade hilt was gold and in the shape of the Emperor Dragon. The blade was long crescent and silver. They appeared to made out something stronger than metal.
"Upon the day of my 14th birthday I woke to the strangest out of this world feeling I had ever felt. I felt as light as a feather on the wind. I saw more colors than I had ever witness before. I felt a tingling through out my entire body. Then I looked around me and gasped I saw myself asleep! I had left my body! My window burst open and a strong colored wind blew into my bedroom. I saw three figures approaching me at an intense velocity. I quivered at what I thought was thunder when I realized that the silhouetted figures were none other than the great dragons themselves! Emperor Solar and Emperies Lunar and the Prince of Dragons & Avatar Roku's Animal guide Ravi. The three most magnificent dragons ever to be in this world. I fell to the ground and wept and recited the ancient and all most forgotten greeting to honor such ostentatious and noble creatures."
"They reached me and I slowly lifted up my head and they were giving me the impression of being enthralled of me. At that time to my astonishment they bowed to me! I rose gradually and looked at them. In their own unique way they seemed to be smiling at me. Like they had been searching for a long time for something and after countless fruitless years of searching in vain they had at last found what they been in quest of."
"I didn't know what to say so I start to say anything came to mind. I mean this was my original expedition out of my body and plunging into the Spirit World."
"Oh Great Dragons. My Lord and Emperor and his beautiful wife and most honored son. I'm most humbly honored to be graced with your acquaintances. Tell me what brings you three from the Spirit World to see me?" I inquired looking into the great big soothing and caring eyes. I bow in respect to their power.
"They bowed to me again as if my personas was more important than theirs! The Emperor Solar motion me to follow them to the greeting dawn. I laughed nervously and self-effacing said. "Great Emperor Solar, Greatest and most powerful of all dragons. I can't take to the air. I swear I follow you to the ends of this and my world but I can't take wing. I'm sorry."
"The trio of Imperial Dragons chuckled lightly at me. They let their wings stroke my back. Their wings felt soft as silk and smooth as satin and gentle as velvet. Then an inching started coursing throughout my skin. It was unbearable I want to scratch but they told me with their eyes not to do anything. Then with a rupture of color a pair of the most eye-catching colored wings appeared protruding from my back. I looked in the mirror and they were the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Their colors were indescribable. They were the most vibrant and vivid colors you could image."
"I tested them and fell down only once for it was a new sense of balance mind you." "I will follow you take me where you wish to go o Lord of Dragons!"
"We original flew to a gold light pool and when we arrived on the other side I gasped for this was the world of the what went before, a hundred years in the past before the war!"
"The world was more gorgeous and more contented. We visited the Water Tribes first. I saw the wonderers city of ice and snow. Waterbenders were most abundant and many of the finest warriors present. It was a most spectacular sight. Though it was only a glimmer I could see that these had once been great and proud people who have lost much because our flame had melt their cities and burn their hearts. After that we take to the air over the Earth Kingdom's country. I saw even more grander cities and marvels of the most intuitivist intelligence. I never had seen such diversity or such hardworking and determined inhabitants. They too were most amazing. I was very reluctant to leave this land behind but we had more to see. We ventured the to the west to my homeland. I already could see that we already beginning to become poisoned by the seeds of self-indulgence, desire, and supremacy. But a small of minority of those of good quality souls still dwelled in the midst of the immeasurable majority. The Dragons for the first time since this encounter began growled and roared. I could tell they were beyond gnashing your teeth at what would come to pass in just a few short months of this past future which would become my present. All because the children of fire got power hungry. I knew we had one last place to go, but as much as I was longing to see it and still felt, foreboding sense of guilt and shame know my people were responsible for the mass massacres that would leave one boy more alone than I ever felt. We went to the Southern Air Temple and I saw the happiest sight I had ever seen. Children being children. I fell in love with the sight. I noticed that one monk was baking cakes but he seemed most unhappy very troubled like he was grieving. I flutter closer and he was crying as he kept looking out onto the horizon. I now recognize he was grieving for you Aang. I took in this sight for one more longing moment then everything came crashing down! Fire rained everywhere. I was witnessing Fire Lord Sozen's first of many devastating strikes of war that would last for a century. I cried and cried for I saw revulsion worse than Hell itself."
" We went to through a pool of silver light and saw the present. We went to the South Pole only to see that the City of Ice had been melted away and death of many had brought these warriors of water to their knees for only a dim future could they see. It got worse as I traveled through out the Earth, Fire and Air. No words could accurately describe the horrors and pain I saw. I screamed at Lunar"
"I knew that we had done terrible things but I never imaged it would be a bad a plaque chocking and sucking all that is good and beautiful from this world why show me what is going on now if I can't change the past or future?"
"She didn't answer me only flew to the icy waters of the southern seas. I followed her and we came to a glowing iceberg. I looked at it and her in confusion. She placed a claw on chest and looked at the chuck of ice again. I looked within it and gasped! Trapped inside was a boy no more than 12 and I realized I was looking at the long lost Avatar."
"We then soared all the way through a halo of flames and I looked all around but it was shadowy. Then a blood red moon lifted into the sky and I saw death. All around everything and everyone was dead, rotting and decay. The air was impossible to breath because it was chocked with the stench of rotting flesh. The sky and water were bathed blood red and the ground was stained with blood and bones. This world we would live in if Ozai wins the war. I cried and cried for I gave up on hope. Then the moon set and the sun rose and the world around me change to that of beauty and life and love for this was the world the Avatar had created."
"I comprehend. That which went before cannot be changed but the fate of the world future rest in the present. Can a 12-year-old child really save the world from being destroyed? Furthermore how can I be of assistance?"
"We then magical appeared at the Citadel of the Dragon. I was pulled by some unseen force and went the tower of flames. I could feel the intense of heat. I for a reason I didn't understand reached in and pulled out the blade. I realized then I was chosen to be the Dragon Champion. They chose me out of all the people in the world to bestow their powers to they chose me!"
"The Dragon Scale blade was forged from the chest scales covering Solar and Lunar heart. The blade is indestructible and deflects all attacks and only hurts evil. It can tell if someone is lying. Many more powers we will talk about later."
" The Dragons then touched me each with a whisker and I saw my destiny. Emperor Solar acquaint with me the knowledge to come here. Empress Lunar advised me to become the Red Spirit. Prince Ravi enlightened me countless imperative secrets."
"I returned to my body and laying on the foot of my bed was the sword and my "Red Spirit clothes." I quickly dressed and ran down outside. I paused a moment to look at the place that had been my home for 14 years. The more I look intently at it the more my extreme loathe for this house and everything my father cared about bubbled beneath my skin. He loved everything, everything but me! Well he was about to lose it all! I went to a corner and set it ablaze. I left it to burn to ashes. By the time the sun made its self know the house was gone, lost to the winds. Over the next two years my family and me have fought countless battles against the Fire Nation and we have put one hell of a dent in their plans. But even we knew no matter what we did it would not be enough if Sozen 's comet arrived before the Avatar could save us. We have waited a hundred years for this war too ends. Please Aang you and your family must help save the us save the world." Finished Akiko as she took a long sip of water from Katara's satchel.
"I will help. It is my destiny, my fate. I know we can do it I will fight along side you forever." Said Aang in a mature wise tone of voice as he honorable bowed to her.
"I should be honor to have you serve me. You and Zuky did me a huge favor." Said Akiko with a gleam in her eyes.
"I'm afraid I don't comprehend. What act of kindness did I bestow you?" he asked bemused.
"I have humiliated my father every chance I got. But you humiliated him beyond belief. He has done you and your friends many wrongs and well thanks for making it impossible for him to go anywhere without being ridicule!" she said cunningly
"Who is your father and we met him previously?" inquired Aang
"He was vanquished in two Ag nee kais by Zuko and Zara. You got through his water barraged on your way to Avatar Roku's Temple. You and the "Blue Spirit" busted out of his impenetrable fortress and made him give the impression of being like an imprudent tiny monkey! You escaped and rescue Zara from the Citadel. Ha Ha Ha! I should thank you! YOU in addition to Zuky! I have never witnessed him so pissed off!" she couldn't stop laughing her head off.
Aang eyes grew wide! "Your father is Admiral Zhao?" he cried out.
"Yes I'm afraid that baster is my "Father". Zuko and me could write a collection of scrolls on bad fathers. But we maybe related to those men by blood but they are not fathers in any of the ways that count!" she yelled angrily as she let a stream of fire erupted from her mouth.
Shaking her head to clear the air she spoke sweetly to everyone. "Dinner is not for two hours. We will talk more after we eat. Crimson and Luke you go make dinner, Katara I would like you to go to the west side of the island near the old plantations you can practice water bending and fix the irrigations systems. Sokka I want you go to the east side the island and go to the lagoon you can get a great work out there before dinner Aang you and Zara go exploring. Zuko and I have a lot of catching up too do Iroh you are welcome to enjoy a mud bath."
Everyone went his or her different ways. Zuko and Akiko arrived at the hot springs and dove into the water. It need no add tempter it was just right. Akiko laid her sword on the edge of the rocky rim. Then she sank deep under the water. But Zuko could tell she was still troubled. He laid his arm around her and stroke her face gentle and said in a soothing voice.
"Something wrong, Akiko? I know you better than anyone else. Talk to me. Tell me what troubling you. I promise to help you in anyway I can." He said as he pulled a loose strand of an ebony lock out of her beautiful face.
Sighing she looked at his two handsome eyes. Smiling. "Why are you so good to me? Where did the scorned prince go when friendship offered him sanctuary? You look so attractive. Will you keep your word and never leave me alone in the dark void of emptiness again? Can you lend a hand to Aang and me and purge the world of the Black Flame, which sire you from an innocent woman? Can we all truly ask forgiveness for all the transgression which we have commit?" she said with her eyes gazing out into the never-ending night.
Kissing her hand he held to his right side of his face and answered in compassionately voice. "I'm sorry I was not there for you like I promised you. I will never leave you again. We must not only extinguish the Black Flame we must snuff out the Red Blaze as well. We may have to kill our creators. But we must save the others. I love my home. But I can't live in a place where life of one is not valued. The old saying is "Love thy father, fear thy king." But I think it should be "Love thy king, Fear thy father." I realized that Aang is more than just the "Avatar" he is a friend. And friendship will lasted you forever. You can count on him. He could have left me to die. But he saved me. For just a moment we had a silent friendship. He is an excellent match for Zara. I know he can beat Ozai and we can all live in the world of peace again."
"Is the world in the sky everything they say it is?" she asked as she placed her hand on his.
"My mother has never been better-off. I still can't believe that she was murdered. I want him dead for killing her. I truly feel like I'm the Scarlet Dragon again. She knew I would pass the trial that would bring back my features. I love to see the day when we can be together for all time." He smiled as they kissed in the fading reddish golden rays.
Aang and Zara had climb to the top of the temple and were looking all around them. It was a grand sight to see. A mild breezes blow and whipped Zara red locks wildly.
"I feel this is a turning point in the war. Tomorrow is the countdown till for the Fire Lord's downfall. He will perish and he will be punishment justly for all the harm he has done. I can feel it. I can see it." Smiled warmly Zara as she closed her eyes and spread her arms wide.
"I wish I could feel as sure as you do. But I do have a gut instinct that we will win the war before the comet comes. I can tell you have more on your mind then you are letting on. Tell me what bothering you?" asked Aang as he scratches behind Momo ears.
"Why did you save my brother? Why do you love me? Are you scared? What do you believe Akiko knows that could save the world? Is this place with these people enough to free the world from fear?" she said as she gazed out to the sea and saw a small pod of whales surface.
"I could not leave behind a friend in need, not after everything we been through. I love you not for beauty or power but for what inside you beautiful soul. I think Akiko is a great leader and she will help win the war. If we all work together we can make miracles happen. Come on time for you to fly." He said as he opened his glider and spun her into his arms. He tied a rope around her waist and he then leaped into the air.
They flew all over the island and then let her do some water-skiing. They just passed over the lagoon when Sokka got there.
It was a crescent shape lagoon with turquoise water with a rainbow colored reef beneath them.
"This is really pretty I wish Suki was here. Then this would be really just like my fantasy. Huh? Sounds like someone already here and working out. Wait that voice. It can't be? Can it?" he said as he quicken his pace as he race to beach as burst through the lavender willows he came to a familiar sense. On the beach was a collection of young girls. From all the nations. They were in the middle of a training exercise. But the one leading them was a tall young woman with short chocolate locks in emerald and gold.
"Nice work today ladies. You are all improving. I like you to put into practice for two hours tonight on lessons 7-19 and be here tomorrow one hour before dawn. See you." Said the Leader in a familiar voice.
"You do wonderful for a girl. But then you can do better than any girl or boy I every knew." Said Sokka considerately as he applauded them.
The girl turned and her jade eyes meet with his sapphire. She dropped her fans and let a tiny bead of moisture fall from her right eye.
"Sokka?" asked Suki
"Suki?" he asked the girl who name meant, "Loved one"
They ran to each other and just about a foot from each other Sokka tripped on an aged tree root concealed in the sand. He fell on top of her and the fell into the water.
The youthful women were laughing hysterically as Sokka tried helping Suki up. Her white face make up was dripping of her face. They were both soaked to the bone.
"Sorry Suki I didn't see the tree roo…." He stopped in mid sentence as she kissed him.
"It alright. I missed your clumsiness. You could always make me laugh. Come on lets go to the fire to warm up. You can fill me in on all your adventures since you left Kyoishe." She said as she rung out her hair.
He went into deeply details stories of his exploits and what had happen since Zara had come into the play.
"So what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Crimson came for me one week after you left. She said her leader had reason to believe I would be very valuable to end the war. Just this morning before I went to instruct the girls the Red Spirit told me at sunset a surprise would be waiting for me. And here you are. What a bolt from the blue! I'd never believe that the Prince and Princess of the Fire Nation would ever turn against their father. It just so good to see you."
"Same here. I wonder how Katara doing." at the same time as they walked hand in hand together to heart of the ancient city.
Katara followed the old irrigation systems and came to the old plantation fields. Some work had been done because she could see that they people here had been trying to grow fresh vegetables in the fertile volcanic soil. She could feel the water trapped underneath the ground.
Taking a deep breath she slowly breathed in and out and let the water free its self from the ground. She the let it gentle shower the thirsty fields and smiled at her self. She started to proceed filling the irrigation systems when the earth began to tremble. A huge crack splint beneath her feet and she just barely mange to get clear.
"Ahh! Phew. That was close. Huh?" she gazed, as the dusty fog started to clear and standing in the middle of the fields was a boy with long hair and dreamy forest green eyes.
"Can it be? Please tell me my eyes do not deceive me or let my heart greatest desire of passion be wasted on halucationation! Haru! Is that you?" called Katara in a timid quavering tone of voice.
"Katara! Please tell me this is not a dream. Let me feel the gentle touch of your hand. Smell the sweet scent of your long brown hair." He said as fireflies danced around them
With her heart pounding she ran to him faster than the wind. As she ran her braid unraveled and her lengthy brunette tresses thrash uncontrollably in a non-extended breeze as a multihued assortment of leaves danced around them as the fell into each other arms and kissed.
"How did you get here?" the both said at the same time.
"A week after you left we were aided by Luke and his troops who helped us regain our village. He told me to come with him. That I would be a great help to end the war. He told me to wait patiently that I would be well reward for my help. You are the greatest reward I could hope for. How is the Avatar?" he said kindly as he held her face in his warm hands as beads of moisture fell along his face.
"Aang is fine. He made many new friends. He even turned the Prince of the Fire Nation to the side of good. The Princess of the Fire Nation is in love with him. I know he will save us. I'm getting to be a powerful Waterbender. I saw my mother in the skies of Heaven. She gave me back my choker. I will love her for that forever. Oh Haru I've missed you." She said as her own beads of moisture fell onto reddish earth.
They began to walk to the center of the city for supper. He offered her an apple, which tasted so good.
The dinner that night was a choice between vegetable soup and rolls or shark fin soup and steaks. Fruit drink was given to anyone who didn't wish to drink tea.
It soon became a party with Luke, Crimson, and Iroh music and storytelling and dancing. But after an hour of merriment Akiko in her Red Spirit outfit spoke.
"My family. We must not make lightly of this celebration. We still have a long road to cross before we can beat the Fire Lord and win back the world of no fear. But we must celebrate tonight because we have strong allies joining us tonight. They include Prince Zuko and Princess Zara, General Iroh, Waterbender Katara, Water Warrior Sokka and the Avatar Aang. With their help and my trump card we can turn the tide of this senseless war and win. This land is a place of power and it holds the key to winning back our future. Our future is not written in stone but the key is incased in stone. Come Avatar, you and your friends as well as Suki, Haru. Follow me and I will show something that has more power than Sozen's comet could ever hope to posses!" She said mystery as she led them into the dark night.
They came to the stone statues of the Animal Spirit Guardians. They all knew the tales of these creatures for they were all part of their culture.
"What do a bunch of statues have to do with saving the world?" asked Sokka as he ran his hand down the fin of the Wind Whale.
"These "Statues" are actually the petrified Spirits of the Guardian Animals. They are real, not myth. Like the Dragons that form the Citadel the frozen them self in stone and have been waiting for the chosen ones to be their human vessel and use their power to do good. Everyone present can control one of these Spirits. Aang being the Avatar can control both. Aang you must breath life into them so they may share the body of the chosen keeper. You will all know what to do in your hearts. So stand in front of your animal. Aang please proceed." Said Akiko kindly explaining to them.
Aang went to the center and wait for everyone to get into position. He remember what he was feeling when Zara was dying. He let his Avatar spirit be the guide. He breathed in and out. A light shot out of his mouth and entered the statues. It was silent for a moment than the stone exploded and these creatures of light appeared they circled around the kids for a few moments till the enter their bodies which glowed and then symbols became visible on their right hand.
"Cool" said Aang. He looked at his palms where the symbols of the Rainbow winged snake and Thunder Eagle was present. Zuko and Zara got their nicknames. Suki had the Gentle Panda; Haru had the Wise Wolf, Katara the Sliver Sea Serpent and Sokka the Wind Whale.
"You may think it cool now, young Avatar but you have a diffidence journey ahead. Tomorrow your true training begins. All of you have difficult times ahead of you. Come lets go to sleep. We have such few hours before morning light grace us. Come" said Akiko as the followed to the temple to sleep.
