Chapter 20: Dark Past and Grey Future
(Special Guest: nurulfattahnoorbakri as Shin)
Location: Los Angeles, California
Nikki and Susan wait for their dad in the small car to leave the house. The dark revelation about their so-called mother talking about Ricky was, to them, heartbreaking. But despite all this, when the police told them about Ricky's death she just mocks it and just shown no sympathy, was the base of revealing her true colors. They knew she wasn't their biological mother and used to be their aunt. They've rarely seen her before their mother died and she then took her place. Their times with her were more tolerable, but never to the point where they despise her as they do now.
The door opens as Jonathan closes it behind him, with bags in toll, and made his way to the car. The two girls didn't say anything as they are no longer in their driveway and into the streets for only time passing them by without any signs of showing. Jonathan kept his eyes focus on the road as the sound of thunder start and rain begin to hit the windows. The rain continued as their supposedly short trip until the found a motel and was able to get a room for three. They weren't out of the city, of course, they couldn't go anywhere until the rain has lifted and when the sun rises. Nikki looks at her father at the other side of the room with his back turn on them. She was a concern for him and it didn't help to see him in a state like this, Susan was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. It didn't take long for her to make up her mind as she walks towards her father and sat down next to him.
"Dad..." she said in a whisper tone, "... Are you alright?"
Jonathan didn't say anything, only staring down at his feet. It was either he didn't hear her or he just wanted to be left alone. Believing she got the kind of response from her military father, she slowly got up to head towards her bed, only to have a quick response of her father grabbing her left arm tightly. She turns around to see her father, still not looking at her, but was starting to cry. Nikki wasn't the best person to comfort someone since it was her older sister's job, but all she can do was give the older man her version of comforting even though it wasn't much. But it didn't matter to him or her, all that matters is that he has his two beloved daughters and they have him. Ricky's friends could be part of the family, but for all they know, they might move on with their lives and not wanting to be a burden to Richards. But, even they didn't know that they too were suffering the same fate.
Susan got out of the bathroom to be greeted by her father and sister's embrace of each other. She watches her father crying, making her heart shatter into more pieces than it already needs to be. Clenching her hand into a fist, tears once more pour down her as the sounds of thunder and rain filled the room.
'Ricky, why did you have to leave us?'
Location: Earth Kingdom
"AAAACCCHOOOOO!" Ricky sneezes loudly but was fast enough to cover it.
"You okay Ricky?" Aang asks.
Ricky scratches his nose before he looks at the Avatar. "Yeah I'm fine, just a sneeze is all."
After the storm had lit up, with the Water Tribe siblings now fully recovered no thanks to the frozen toads Aang caught a few weeks ago, much to a somewhat hilarious reaction to the two after the frogs were thawed out, they continued on their merry way to the North Pole. Of course, the two boys never told them about Admiral Zhao kidnapping Aang and Ricky fighting against Prince Zuko. They just know Katara would flip about it. Though, that didn't mean she knew they were hiding something but decided not to push it.
Ricky was scared of the moment when he remembers the face his Avatar friend made, the utter fear in his grey eyes was something he wished he has never seen. Aang never wanted to see that kind of thing ever again and nor does Ricky. Whilst Sokka was trying to capture their meal with his bare hands since Aang has woven it into a necklace with a red flower. It was Ricky's idea but he wanted Aang to take the credit for the necklace idea and Katara was grateful for getting the gift.
"So how do I look?" Katara asks now wearing the necklace.
Aang looks at the girl as his face reddens at the sight of the Water Tribe girl's somewhat new appearance.
"Uh you mean all of you or just your neck?" he asks only to stutter, "N-Not that there's anything wrong with it! Both of it looks good!"
Ricky was able to hold on to his laughter at Aang's embarrassment. It was pretty much hilarious to see the ironically young kid getting all flustered over these things like that. Afterall, he could see the kid's crush over the waterbender and he wants to help him out. Even though Katara reminds him of his girlfriend back at home.
"Geez Aang, just compliment her!" he joking said.
"Smoochy, smoochy." Sokka mused whilst holding the fish only to be slapped in the face by its tail before diving back to the river.
"Stop teasing him you guys", Katara scolds, "He's just being a good friend."
Aang's felt a string in his heart being struck when he heard the word "good friend". Ricky knew the feeling or seen that kind of feeling back at home whenever Johnny being friendzoned by Anna and he didn't stop laughing because of that. Though it was short-lived when they heard a booming roar, causing them to look at the direction. Ricky and Aang were the first to respond as they race towards a large boulder to find a man being attacked by a strange bear with a platypus beak and tail.
"Someone's being attack by a Platypus Bear!" Aang yells.
Ricky was already bewildered at the sight of the hybrid standing before him, but what took the cake was the man. He was just standing there with a stupidly happy look on his face while dodging the hybrid bear.
"Morning everyone, lovely day isn't it?" the man said.
"What are you doing?! Run away!" Ricky yells.
Katara and Sokka join the two boys, hoping to help the man from meeting his untimely death.
"Pretend your dead!" Sokka suggests, "It'll lose interest!"
"No! Run downhill and climb up a tree!" Katara said.
"No need to be alarmed," he said calmly, "Everything's under control."
Regardless of what he said, the hybrid creature let out a bellowing roar before Aang jump onto its back. Ricky was the second one to join in as he tries to get the creature's attention. Aang was hanging desperately as the bear roars at the firebender.
"Aang, throw me the whistle!" Ricky hollers.
Aang frantically pulls out the bison whistle and chucks it as hard as he can at Ricky. He was able to catch it and begins blowing the whistle hard and just seconds later, Appa appears behind him and roars at the bear. The Platypus Bear felt something popped from its lower part of the body as it makes its way to the forest scared. Aang jumps off of the hybrid to see that it left a large egg behind.
"Alright, lunch!" Sokka cheers as he came in and pick up the egg, "You should be lucky we'd arrive in time."
"Thank you, but your help wasn't necessary", says the old man, "Aunt Wu said I would have a safe trip."
Aang tilts his head in confusion.
"Aunt who?"
"No, Aunt Wu" the man corrected, "She predicted that I'll have a safe journey."
Katara seemed to be amazed to hear that there was a fortune teller, but Sokka and Ricky were quite the opposite. Ricky had his jaw drop of hearing that the word "safe" when it came out the traveler's mouth.
"Are you high?!" he screams, "How is getting attack by a half platypus and half bear a safe journey?! If anything, that's completely the opposite!"
"Yeah, you almost died!" Sokka added.
"But did I die?" the old man questions with the same idiotic smile.
"No, but-" Sokka responded but couldn't find a word to counter the argument.
"Then there's nothing to be afraid of," he said happily, "Oh, I almost forgot."
The old man pulled something out of his sleeve and gave it to Aang. It was long and was wrapped in red cloth.
"Aunt Wu said to give it to someone on my journey. Goodbye," he said before walking away from the four.
"Wow, a fortuneteller that can tell you about your future," Katara said dreaming about her future.
"I already hate that man", Ricky said nonchalantly.
Katara turns her head quickly and gave the boy her usual scowl.
"What?! How can you hate a man that we just met? You can't judge a book by its cover you know."
Ricky just rubs his temples, "Kat, that guy was rubbing me the most annoyingly way possible. How would you like it if someone had a stupid happy-go-lucky smile and is oblivious and thinks everything is okay, traveling with you? It's like having the main character in a story with that same description I just said but only worse!"
Sokka didn't know what he was talking about, but he let it slide.
"Besides what Ricky said, there is no way that this Aunt Wu could predict the future. It's nonsense!"
Aang didn't listen to the conversation since he was more focused on the gift the happy old man gave them. He decides to open, only to reveal that it was holding an umbrella.
"An umbrella?"
Suddenly, it began to rain. Katara hid underneath the umbrella next to Aang, while Ricky and Sokka were getting wet. Sokka held the giant egg up to his head as a shield against the rain, but the firebender just looks up at the sky with a sheer sense of annoyance.
"Seriously, again?!" he screams at the sky.
"See, that proves it!" Katara exclaims to her brother.
"No, it doesn't prove anything!" Sokka argues, "You can't predict the future!"
The two continue to argue over the matter, Ricky snuck into the umbrella ignoring the two siblings' little rant. If anything from his world had taught him anything is how to tone out arguments from both friends and siblings over stupid things. Of course, it doesn't mean he hears certain parts of the pointless argument.
"Look, I'm going to prove you wrong", Sokka said irritably and begins talking in a mocking tone, "It's still going to rain. See?"
As if fate heard Sokka's mocking tone, the rain instantly stops as the sunshine returns from the once grey sky. Aang closed the umbrella, with Katara holding a proud smile, and Ricky sighs in relief.
"Thank God and the Spirits", Ricky mumbles.
The four continued their journey until they spotted a small town, sitting next to a mountain. The Gaang continue to walk down until they were stopped by a strange man wearing a black robe.
"Aunt Wu is expecting you", he said.
"She is?" Aang asks curiously, not sure why he and his friends were being expected by a fortuneteller.
The four follow the strange robe man to a large house, letting them in the lobby of the fortuneteller's building. Ricky recognizes the layouts, similar to the ones in Asian culture back at his world. If he could pull similarities between this world and his, is that the Earth Kingdom is the equivalent of Asia in culture and history. The four sat down on the pillows as the strange black cloak man left. It didn't take long till they heard someone walking from a hallway, a girl had her ebony hair into two giant horn-like pigtails and wore a pink robe. She had tan skin, similar to Katara and Sokka's, and brown eyes.
"Hello there, my name is Meng. I'm Aunt Wu's assistant", the girl greeted them revealing she had a tooth missing.
Meng looks at the four until she spotted Aang. Her eyes widen in awe as her mind began to place images of her now newfound crush, standing right in front of her. Within reality, Aang was hunching over in a bored manner. Of course, it didn't seem to faze the girl one bit.
"Hello there", she said in a flirty tone.
"Hey", Aang responds flatly.
Ricky took notice of the girl's sudden attraction to Aang. He held in his snicker at the thought, he found it hilarious that this is what Katara was doing the same thing. Not acknowledging his feelings for her and it seems that fate is doing the same thing with the Avatar. He watches the girl still talking to Aang, even ignoring Sokka, who was asking for some curd puffs.
"So, what's your name?" Meng asks.
"Aang", he responds.
Meng gasps in excitement, "Oh my gosh, that rhymes with Meng! Also, you have pretty big ears!"
Aang rubs the back of his head, being embarrassed for a bit.
"Um, I guess", he mumbles.
"Oh don't be so modest. They're huge!" Sokka teased him, exaggerating about the airbender's ears.
"Look who's talking, Pony-Man", Ricky said bluntly.
Sokka gave a sharp glare at the firebender, getting laughter from the three. Meng left the four kids alone, only to mumble something underneath her breath, but no one heard her. Another woman showed up, looking ecstatic as she blabbered about how her true love would give her a flower and even went on teasing Meng about her true love. Ricky could tell that people in this village took this Aunt Wu very seriously with the whole fortunetelling. He wasn't the one in believing predicting the future. Though, he would probably humor the lady to see what kind of future she'll predict.
"Welcome travelers my name is Aunt Wu. Now, who's next?" a voice asks.
Ricky looks up to see a woman in her sixties, wearing a bright orange-yellow and brown robe and cloak and a golden headpiece. She had black eyes and grey short hair. She looks around to see who wants to go next. Katara was the first to stand up.
"I guess I'll go first", she said.
Aunt Wu and Katara then left the three boys alone, with Meng returning with a tray with food on it. Sokka was the first to devour a couple of curd puffs. Aang, however, look at the sliding door waiting for Katara to come out.
"What do you think they're talking about?" he asks.
Sokka just shrugs, "Probably girl stuff; like who she's going to marry and how many kids."
Aang chuckles at the thought, before trying to make an excuse.
"Well, I need to go to the bathroom", he said before getting up and walking towards the hallway.
Ricky didn't say anything as he begins eating some of the curd puffs, he just wanted time to move faster. Only minutes later, Aang came back with a smile on his face.
"You seem to have a good time in there", Sokka said.
"Yeah um, you see..." Aang stammered before Sokka waved his hands in disgust.
"I don't want to know about it."
Aang sat down as Katara and Aunt Wu return to the lobby.
"Alright who's next?" she asks.
The three boys stayed quiet until Sokka got up, sighing in disgust.
"Alright, let's get this through", he said.
"Your life will be full of anxiety and struggle. Most of it will be self-infliction", Aunt Wu told him dryly.
"How do you know? You haven't read my hands or something", Sokka asks skeptically.
"I don't have to, it's written all over your face", she responded in the same tone.
Ricky almost choked on his curd puff, only because he tried to in his laughter from the sudden comeback from the fortuneteller. He wasn't expecting like that from anyone today.
"You're not far off there, lady", he snickered.
Sokka shot a sharp glare at the firebender, but he wasn't affected by it. Aang jumps up to his feet with his usual smile on his face.
"I'll go!" he said happily.
Aunt Wu nods and led Aang to the other side of the building. Katara sat next to Ricky as they wait for Aang's fortune to be told as the dark-haired boy looks at him with a small smirk creeping in.
"So, what's your fortune?" he asks.
Katara looks at Ricky before smiling proudly at him before even speaking, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, Aunt Wu told me that I'll marry a powerful bender."
Sokka gags at his sister's fortune, but she ignored him while Ricky decided to play along.
"Oh, I think someone might be happy to hear that", he spoke with a hint of humor.
Katara looks at and gave him a sly smile, deciding to join in his little joke.
"Who said it was you?" she asks jokingly.
Ricky laughs, "I have a girlfriend remember? Also, I never said it was me."
The two laughs, making Sokka annoyed by it until Aang and Aunt Wu came back to the lobby. The fortune-teller looks at the last person of the four very carefully, from the top of his dark brown hair to the bottom of his Fire Nation boots. She points at Ricky, gesturing him to follow her.
"You there, come with me."
Ricky looks at his friends before back at the elder lady, sighing softly as he got up from his seat and followed her to a chamber. It was fairly spacious with four wooden pillars supporting the ceiling, only being dimly lit by small candles. And in the center of the chamber are four small pillows, a tiny fireplace, and a large jug filled with small bones.
"The bones are the best way to see the future, they never lie", Aunt Wu explains, "Go ahead, pick one and toss it into the fire."
Ricky picks up one of the small bones and tosses it into the fire. Nothing happened for a few seconds until the bone creates a large sounding crack by the heat of the fire. The bone then exploded, causing the flames to burst up to the ceiling, scaring the teen American boy hoping not to catch any flying cinder.
"This is amazing!" Aunt Wu exclaims, "This is the second time I've seen this today! You are destined to fight a great battle, balancing the good and evil! The world is at hand and you are the only one who can stop it!"
"Really?" Ricky said in fake awe, he knew what his future was because of the Lion Spirit told him and his friends about the prophecy.
"Wait, I'm seeing something else!" she exclaimed.
Ricky waits for the woman to rant on about his future even more, but she didn't say anything. Instead, her face went pale and her excitement faded into horror.
"Oh dear..." she mumbled.
Ricky tilts his head and asks, "what is it?"
Aunt Wu didn't respond for a minute before looking into the boy's brown eyes. Ricky saw the sadness emitting from her own black eyes before she spoke.
"I'm afraid that in the future, you'll have your battle. A battle for the sake of saving one's life... But, in the end..."
She stayed silent causing Ricky to be a bit paranoid, wanting to hear it.
"What happens?" he asks, a bit impatiently.
"...In the end, someone you consider your best friend will betray and kill you", Aunt Wu finally finished.
Silence once again filled the room, Ricky nervously laughed at the woman only to see she wasn't joking. This couldn't be happening, he can't accept it.
"W-What?" is all he said.
The fortune-teller shook her head sympathetically, "I'm sorry, this is one of the few times I ever predicted someone dying like this."
Ricky was now in a state of shock and panic, how can this happen? He remembered that Aang and the Lion Spirit told him that he's officially dead in his world and he's now stuck here until he finishes the prophecy. He then thought about his new friends: Aang, Katara, and Sokka. They couldn't possibly do something like that and he doesn't want to. But then the negative thoughts begin to flood him with his rough past; the bullies, Dexter Paxton, and his mother's lack of affection have now revered their ugly heads. His doubts weren't being merciful to the boy and it was showing.
"They were right..." he whispers to himself.
"I'm sorry", Aunt Wu spoke in sympathy.
Ricky looks at his spiral surfers necklace, a gift from his father from his fifth birthday, he treasured it since then but now it just shows him nothing but the struggles and pained memories. Pulling the necklace from his neck as the now withered leather necklace snapped and he tossed it into the small fireplace. The fortune-teller didn't object to his actions, seeing that he was pained by the terminal future. She wished that there was something else to make him happy, but the bones never lied to her and it seems fate has set his course.
"Come on, your friends are waiting", she said.
Ricky obliges and follows her to the lobby and then they were outside. He didn't hear his friends talking, or Sokka's rant on about how Aunt Wu was a hoax. His mind was focused on the future demise he'll have to face. He never believed in superstitions like predicting the future, but having first encounters with spirits made him doublethink. Though, he should stay open-minded that maybe his future is wrong. But then why did it bother him so much?
But his train of negative thought came to a halt when he felt a stone hit him in the forehead, causing the pain to set in.
"Aaaaaahhhhh shi—" he screams before stopping him from cursing.
He quickly turns around with a sharp glare at whoever was behind him. Seeing Sokka was the one jolting, only realizing that he unintentionally kick the small rock that ricochets right to his firebending friend's forehead. Raising his hands in defense, hoping not to repeat the same mistake as he did back at the fishing town.
"Sorry", he apologizes.
Ricky took a deep breath and sighs slowly, waving dismissively. "It's fine, nothing too damaging."
The trio could see that something was wrong with the boy. They don't know what caused his solemn mood, but they wanted to know. Especially for Aang and Katara. They never got the answer of what caused Ricky to scream like that in the hurricane and they want to know, but then they noticed that he was missing something. Ricky wasn't wearing his necklace.
"Hey Ricky, where's your necklace?" Katara asks while pointing at the boy's neck.
Ricky didn't respond right away as he turns around before speaking.
"I'm going for a walk."
He took his steps as he departed his ways from his friends, sure that he'll get the horrid memories away. The trio looks at Ricky as he walks further away from the market area, with more confusion filled their heads. They were beginning to worry about the American boy, but they don't know how to handle it.
"Hey, is your friend alright?" a voice asks.
The Gaang turns around to see a very tall guy with a brown long sleeves shirt and light brown pants. He had black hair and green eyes, looking down at the trio with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, he's fine", Aang said dismissively, "He just needs time to himself."
The tall guy nods his head, "Oh good. Well, my name is Shin."
"Hello there Shin, my name is Aang" Aang introduces himself, "And these are my friends: Katara and Sokka."
"Nice to meet you all. So, you guys got your future predicted by Aunt Wu?" Shin asks.
Sokka, being the one groan, responded.
"Yeah, but all of this fortunetelling is nothing but nonsense if you ask me!"
"Sokka!" Katara scolds her brother.
"Oh! So, you too don't believe in her fortune-telling?"
Sokka paused and looks at Shin, hoping he didn't mishear it.
"Wait, you don't believe in Aunt Wu?"
The black hair villager rolled his eyes, "Of course I don't believe her. Not everything can be predicted, but I kinda give up on getting people in this village to listen to reason a while ago."
Without warning, Sokka quickly grabs Shin's hands and held them up together with happiness in his blue eyes.
"You have no idea I've waited to hear those words ever since I got into this village!"
Shin was already getting uncomfortable with Sokka's admiration for him. Katara rolled her eyes while Aang was holding in his laughter, though it was then he forgot to ask.
"Hey, are you an earthbender?"
Shin looks at Aang, pulling his hands away from Sokka and gave the Avatar a proud smile.
"That's right pal! I'm a very talented earthbender here!"
Aang smiles, though the thought of Ricky's saddening mood still plagued him. He'll have to ask him what's wrong.
"Mother was right, I am a failure", Ricky whispers to himself.
The future Aunt Wu predicted was getting to him down. His negative thoughts were clouding his mind, not even acknowledging some of the people he'd bump into. He kept trying to rationalize that Aunt Wu was wrong and he won't die, but the doubts keep overshadowing them every time and it made him even more depressed. He couldn't even bother with telling his friends his burdens, besides, he has to live up the prophecy that was given to him. Afterall, he lived in a world where people put high expectations on others and protect their reputations. That's how much he despised his old home: the fact people care more about their reps than anything in the world.
If people from his world came here from different time-periods, they must've lived up to the expectations. But sadly, he felt more of a bigger failure than anything in his life.
"Oh, are you alright?" a voice said.
Ricky snaps out of his negative thoughts to see he had bumped into a hooded figure. From the voice, he could tell that the person's a woman. His face flushed a bright pink before stuttering.
"Y-Yeah, I'm a-alright."
He took a good look at the person, though the only thing he could was an old brown cloak people would see in medieval times, and the lower part of her face. The hooded woman continues staring at Ricky, making the awkward silence continue to grow.
"Um..."
The woman gasps before apologizing, "I'm sorry. It's just that you remind me a lot of my son."
Ricky didn't know how to respond to that. He was left wide open in another awkward pause, wanting to end it as soon as possible.
"Um, thank you?" he said awkwardly.
The woman giggles at the boy's nervousness.
"It's fine, I haven't seen my son in a long time. He died at your age, hands by a murderer."
The woman's sudden tone change into grief and anger. Ricky didn't know what to say, but he felt sorry for the woman.
"I'm... sorry for your loss", he apologizes.
The hooded woman shook her head, "That's okay. But, I want to give you this."
She pulls something out of her cloak and gave it to Ricky. He looks at it to see that it was a silver necklace. The necklace had a small blue teardrop-shaped sapphire, surrounded by two silver under arches. The first one almost shaped like the letter "U", almost natural like, and the second one was the same only it looks more like antlers from an antelope. Ricky had never seen such a strange necklace before, nor why is this woman giving it to him.
"Um thanks, I—" he thanks but when he looked up, the woman was gone.
He looks around to see where the woman had gone. She was nowhere to be seen as if she never existed. He looks back at the necklace, still in his hands, sighing he put his brand new necklace on. He looks back at the strange necklace and the more he looks at it, the more it looks like a strange fire symbol.
"This better not be some powerful artifact, or I swear to both God and the Spirits that I'm going to chuck this to the nearest volcano", he muttered.
He turns around and went back to find Aang and the others. Finding himself back in the main square of the village, he did find Aang and Sokka, but not Katara. He guessed that she went to see Aunt Wu again. And as for Sokka, he could see him yelling at a dirty man who was just smiling.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT AUNT WU SAID, YOU NEED TO TAKE A BATH!" he screams.
The dirty man just shrugs at the Water Tribe boy and went on his merry way. Sokka slump over in defeat, with Shin patting his back in pity.
"See, I told you it was hard," Shin said apologetically.
"Sokka, what're you doing?" asks Ricky bluntly.
Sokka and Aang turn around to see their firebending friend, not knowing if they should bring up about his sudden depressed mood but decide not to bring it up.
"I'm trying to get these people to that Aunt Wu is wrong! But they just won't listen!" Sokka complains kicking a small rock.
Ricky was quick enough to dodge the flying pebble, only to hear a thunk behind him with a turkey duck swooping in and attack Sokka. Sokka duck and covered his head from being pecked. Shin and Aang sigh, despite Sokka's attempt they know he's failing. The earthbender looks at Ricky, deciding to introduce himself.
"Hello, my name's Shin", he says bowing down.
Ricky bowed back, "Ricky, I'm traveling with those two."
Shin nods his head and smiled. Sokka came back as he plucks the feathers off of his head from his winged attacker and swipes the dirt off of his blue shirt. He was already peeved at the people's close-minded faith in believing a woman who can predict their futures. The Water Tribe boy sighs in annoyance, now wanting to protect his pride and hoping he finds a shred of fraud from Aunt Wu.
"Anyways, I'm not giving up to prove them wrong!" he said more irritatedly.
Ricky gave Sokka a poker face, already knows where this is going.
"Sokka, please tell me you're not doing this to protect your pride? You're just digging yourself deeper in the hole."
"THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PRIDE!" Sokka whines loudly.
"Your reaction says otherwise", the firebender points out with the same expression.
Sokka pulls his face, growling in frustration before grabbing Shin and begins marching away from Ricky and Aang. Shin looks at the two boys, mouthing "help me" at them. The two sweatdrops, feeling like getting Sokka to stop with his failing attempts convincing is never going to stop. Aang looks at Ricky, hoping he could get a conversation started and wanting to avoid the recent mood he had.
"Hey Aang, can I ask you a question?" Aang asks.
"Sure, what is it?" Ricky responds.
"You know some things about girls right?"
Ricky tilts his head, it was then he was asking for some advice. And he knows who he's talking about. Taking a deep breath before placing his hands on his hips and looks at his arrow tattooed friend.
"This is about Kat, is it?" he asks blatantly.
Aang's mind didn't click for a second until he figured out he was referring to Katara's nickname. Rubbing the back of his neck, a slight blush revealed on his cheeks.
"Y-Yeah."
"It's okay, to be honest, I'm not good at giving advice", he chuckles.
"But you have a girlfriend!" Aang points out.
"That's true, but the closest advice I got was probably something Sokka would give. And there will be girls saying just being yourself... Which, makes me wonder if Elsa became my girlfriend out of pity though."
Ricky remembers that he and the blonde were just good friends and how she used to be girlfriend with Dexter, not knowing that he was bullying him, Johnny, and Anna. He then remembers how she then became his girlfriend just to get away from the jerk. He couldn't blame her, but he then wonders if she ever loved him. He shook the thought away, knowing that this wasn't about him, this about Aang's love life.
"Anyways, there's one way to get a girl to love is give her a bouquet", he suggests.
Aang nods his head before he heard a woman squealing happily, making the two boys turn around to see a guy offering a small white flower with black trims on the edges. The woman hugs the man holding the flower, thanking him as the man as he hugs her back. The young Avatar went to the newfound couple and unintentionally interrupt their moment.
"Excuse me, where did you get that flower?"
"Are you sure this where that flower is at?" Ricky asks Aang while climbing the dormant volcano.
Aang nods his head without looking behind him, "Of course, Aunt Wu said that Mount Makapu won't erupt and they said that Panda Lilies grow here."
Ricky was told that Aunt Wu predicted that the volcano, they were climbing, would not destroy the village this year. He knew full well that nature doesn't always follow fate and decides its path. Taking his personal experience with being in Colorado and its unpredictable weather patterns, where some places like Florida are mostly sunny or raining. Right now, this was the first time he'd ever climbed on a dormant volcano and he was already sweating.
"Please hurry up, I'm already sweating from the climb", said Ricky exhausted.
Aang only nods before spotting several lilies growing at the rim of the volcano. He shouts happily as he races towards them and picks up one of the flowers. Ricky finally caught up to Aang, panting heavily from his long hike up the mountain only to stop when looks at the crater. His eyes widen at what he seeing, Ricky taps Aang's shoulder to get his attention.
"Aang, look at the crater."
Aang opens his eyes only to gasp in horror, forcing him to drop the Panda Lily. The crater was almost filled with the lava, slowly rising as the heat and smoke rose. The two boys were shocked, not wanting to believe their eyes but loathe and behold it stayed.
"Aunt Wu was wrong", Aang muttered.
"The whole town is going to be destroyed", Ricky said with fear in his voice, "We have to warn everyone."
Aang quickly grabs his staff, transforming it into a glider before looking at Ricky.
"Hop on!"
"You don't have to tell me twice!" he said as he holds onto Aang's waist as Aang jump off the now active volcano and flies down to the small village.
Ricky screams as they were going incredibly fast in a matter of two minutes and they've finally arrived. They begin to scour the village to find Sokka or Katara, and luckily they did find Sokka still mad and Shin with an annoyed look on his face.
The two ran towards them in hoping to warn them in time.
"Guys!" Ricky shouts at them.
Sokka and Shin turn around to see Ricky and Aang running towards them, however, they notice the look of fear plaster on their faces upon seeing them.
"Aang, Ricky, what's wrong?" Sokka asks no longer mad, but now filled with concern.
"Th-the volcano... It's..." Ricky spoke between breaths but couldn't finish the sentence.
"What about the volcano?" Shin asks.
"Aunt Wu was wrong about the volcano", Aang spoke for Ricky, "The volcano is about to blow."
The two boys were shocked to hear the news, with Shin looking a bit skeptical.
"Are you sure?" he asks.
Ricky nods his head, "We were... At the volcano... the lava is almost at the t-top."
Sokka slams his fist into his hands and shouts, "I knew Aunt Wu is wrong! We have to tell Katara and everyone!"
The four boys ran towards to Aunt Wu's house to find Katara standing there, feeling disappointed. But she heard running footsteps behind her and turn around to see Aang, Ricky, Sokka, and Shin running towards her. The four slowed down and Ricky walks up to the waterbender.
"Katara, we have a problem", he said.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
"Aunt Wu is wrong about the predictions, the volcano is going to destroy the whole village!" Sokka screams.
Katara was now already annoyed by Sokka's accusation, glaring at him with the same annoyed expression.
"I'm sick and tired of you trying to convince me Aunt Wu is wrong. You better do a whole lot too—", before she could finish the volcano explodes with a large pillar of smoke coming from the top.
"Oh no", Katara mutters.
"We need to warn everyone!" Shin said.
The Gaang ran towards the courtyard, with Aang jumping onto the awning while the others stayed on the ground.
"Everyone, you have to leave the village!" Sokka said urgently, "The volcano is going to explode."
"We know you don't believe in Aunt Wu Mr. Science-And-Reason-Guy", a woman scoffs.
"Are you all closed-minded?!" Ricky roars, "Look at the volcano, me and Aang were at the volcano and saw the lava rising with our own eyes!"
"Well, I heard Aunt Wu's predictions with my ears", a man spoke unmoved.
Ricky looks at the man who said it and instantly recognizes the man.
"YOU!" he shouts angrily, "YOU'RE THAT HAPPY-GO-LUCKY-IDIOT WHO ALMOST DIED BY THAT PLATYPUS BEAR!"
"But I didn't die, Aunt Wu predicted I would be fine", the calm man objected.
"OH I'LL SHOW YOU—" Ricky roars, only to have Shin earthbend the ground and trap Ricky's feet from even moving to attack the man.
"Listen, you are all in danger! You can't rely on Aunt Wu's predictions forever!" Aang told them followed by another volcano exploding and shaking the ground.
Everyone looks up to be mildly shocked at the explosion.
"You see, can fortune-telling explain that?!" Shin points out.
Then another man looks at the Gaang with an amused smile on his face.
"Oh yeah, can your science explain why it rains?"
Ricky and Sokka look at the man with bewildered dumbfoundedness splattered on their face before screaming in unison.
"YES!"
Sadly, the villagers ignore the Gaang and went on their merry way. Shin earthbend the ground and release Ricky from his stone feet imprisonment. It was official to Ricky; he HATES this village and its people. They were all happy-go-lucky morons and he can't stand them, if he had the power he would just let the volcano destroy their homes and he'd be laughing and yelling "told you so!". But, he knew he couldn't due to he felt that he needs to meet the prophecy's expectation of being the "hero" that helps the Avatar.
"Great, no one will listen to reason", Ricky sighs defeatedly.
"No, but they will listen to Aunt Wu", Aang points out.
Sokka sighs annoyingly, "Yeah, that's a problem."
"Maybe not", Shin said, "If we get Aunt Wu's cloud reading book, maybe that can get people to listen."
Katara looks at the earthbender in awe at the solution, "Wow Shin, that's a great idea."
Shin smiles humbly as he rubs his neck, "I try to look at the positive."
Ricky chuckles at Shin's humbleness, "You and Aang would be great friends."
With the plan already agreed on, Aang ran towards Aunt Wu's house while everyone else begins to keep an eye hoping no one comes near the building. Ricky was getting paranoid with the volcano coming closer and closer to complete explosion with lava and smoke in all, killing all life as he knows it. He continues to dart his eyes but then he notices the same hooded female that gave him the necklace hours ago, was standing just across the courtyard. The hooded woman walks towards him, gulping nervously at the woman's appearance.
With only a few feet away from the boy before she began speaking.
"Hello child", she said calmly.
Ricky once again gulps nervously before speaking, "Hey there madam."
"It seems you try to warn everyone about the volcano", she stated the obvious.
"Y-Yeah..." Ricky said.
The woman looks behind Ricky to see Katara and Sokka standing across the courtyard, while Shin was looking in the opposite direction. She then looks back at the firebender with skepticism in her hidden eyes.
"You're trying to steal something aren't you?"
Ricky felt goosebumps running down his back, not knowing how this strange woman knew what their first phase was and praying that she's not just some stalker or worse.
"We..." he tried to find an excuse but couldn't find anything and sighs, "We just need Aunt Wu's weather book to convince people that they're going to die."
The woman didn't respond but nods her head in understanding.
"I see, but you have something on your mind besides that."
Ricky took a long, deep breath before exhaling.
"It's just that I feel like I'm a failure", he explains, "Now, Aunt Wu says that one of my closest friends will kill me. I guess that mom was right about me."
The woman didn't say anything, letting the teenage boy explain.
"My mom never gave me any attention, nor did she even bother to help me whenever my dad's gone. I felt like I'm just a burden to everyone."
Tears roll down his face, sniffing loudly as he continues, "My mom said that no matter what I do, I won't be able to live up to everyone's appeal. As if... She's isn't my real mother."
The hoodie woman felt legitimate sorrow to see the boy crying, crying like he was a little boy for doing something wrong, and discovers how cruel the world is. She stretches her arm out and places her hand on his shoulders and looks at him dead in the eye. Ricky looks at the woman's eyes for the first and saw that she had pale blue eyes, eyes that he felt he had seen them before.
"You are not alone my child", she spoke, "Your so-called mother may tell you're a disappointment and put those empty lies since you were a child, but she's not here and you're free from the past. You have a spark that will later inspire many to look at you and see more than that."
Ricky felt a strange warmth from the woman's touching words, but before she could speak he felt a tap on his shoulders. Turning around to see Katara, Aang, and Sokka standing behind him with concern looks on their faces.
"Ricky, is it true?" Katara asks.
"True about what?" he tilted his head.
"About your mother? Did she never shown any love to you?"
Ricky looks at the hooded woman but then discovers that she was gone. He looks around at the courtyard to find the lady but couldn't find her anywhere.
'Must've left when they arrived', he thought before turning his head and sighs.
"Yes, my mother never loved me."
The three didn't respond, they have never known about it. Mostly because Ricky tried to hide it from them and for good reason. This struck a chord in Katara's heart, never imagine her mom being so abusive to her and her brother nor imagine a world where she doesn't even care about them. Sokka, too, also felt the same way even though he wasn't as close to his mother as his sister. But he couldn't imagine a mother being so cold-hearted to their child. As for Aang, he could only think of how terrible Ricky's life was despite having his old friends at home, where he doesn't even get any love or affection from the person who gave him life. The three pulled Ricky in and hug him tightly, refusing to let go.
"We're so sorry", Katara whispers.
Ricky felt the familiar warmth returning, something he hadn't felt for so long. He embraced the three together before parting away from the hug and wipe away the tears.
"Thanks, guys, let's go save this village", he said.
The three nod their heads as Aang and Katara went out of the village to fetch Appa for the plans to work. Ricky and Sokka told Shin to get Aunt Wu to have everyone listen, with only a few minutes later Ricky spots the signal.
"Oh my God, what's that?!" he yells pretending to sound scared.
A few villagers look up at what Ricky was seeing and one by one, everyone was scared stiff. Sokka turns around to see Shin leading Aunt Wu and points up to the sky.
"Aunt Wu, something's wrong with the sky!" Shin warns the fortune teller.
"How can that be?" she asks but she received her answer to her horror.
Up in the sky, everyone can see a large cloud taking the form of a human skull. Everyone, except for Ricky, Sokka, and Shin, panic without acknowledging Aang, and Katara came around from the village. Ricky slowly walks backward and nod at the two benders, ready for phase two.
With Aang calming the crowd down, he allowed Sokka to explain the plan to everyone.
"Now listen, everybody! The lava is going to flow down here if we don't act fast. If we dig a big enough trench that can channel the lava, we'll save this village. Everyone who's an earthbender, follow Aang."
Everyone agreed as several earthbenders and Shin followed Aang as the rest follow Sokka as the smell of ash grew from the large pillar of smoke continue to climb to the sky. Shin help several earthbenders moving several boulders with the others used shovels to dig the earth as Appa was used to carry the boulders out of the way. Ricky continues digging with the shovel, struggling to continue moving but refuses to fail. Another explosion can be heard, making Ricky turn to see the lava has already begun sliding down.
"Everyone get out of the way!" Ricky yells.
Everyone looks behind them to see the lava coming down. Dropping both shovels and earth to the ground, everyone began running back to their village and out of the trench. They all made it as they watch the lava destroy the village gate and fell into the trench, luminescing the whole village in a bright eerie red. However, the lava begins to overflow the trench, causing the Gaang to move back.
"It's not enough, it's coming this way!" Katara warns.
She, her brother, and Ricky start moving away, leaving Aang behind only for the American teen skid to a halt and ran back to Aang.
"Aang, we need to go!" he begs.
He didn't budge, only to have another explosion as a pillar of lava and ash flew above and then down as a giant boulder hit the trench-filled lava as a huge wave of molten magma came to the two boys. Ricky was the first to respond as he threw both his hands up into the air together as a large pillar of blue flames coming from his hands as it collides with the black and red molten rock. Aang then swings his staff with a large gust of wind smacking the lava back before taking a large inhale of air and blew it with the mixture of Ricky's flamethrower as it pushes the lava back. Ricky pushes his flamethrower even further as it almost reveals different colors inside the blue fire as Aang's wind cools the lava into the stone. The now cold-stone lava protects the village from the remaining village as the two benders cease their bending. Aang fell into a meditation stance, while Ricky fell to his knees and pants heavily from sheer exhaustion.
Sokka and Katara were in awe of the two boys' incredible actions.
"Man, I sometimes forget how powerful Ricky and Aang are", Sokka said in awe.
Katara snaps out of her stupor and looks at her brother. "Wait, was did you say?"
Sokka just shrugs, "Nothing, just that Ricky and Aang are powerful benders."
Katara's mind then came to a realization, something that she remembers a while back. Aunt Wu predicted that she'll marry a powerful bender and look at the two boys, she concluded that they were powerful benders. Aang was a no-brainer because he's the Avatar, but Ricky was just a firebender who seemingly gave his all to his firebending to stop the lava. Both were kind, funny, and almost seem like they were brothers. With Aang being more passionate in his expression, while Ricky was becoming stoic but still held his sense of humility as much as he can. She doesn't even know if she'll be with either Aang or Ricky.
"They sure are..." she muttered.
Everyone congratulates the Gaang for saving their village, though Aang did return the cloud book to Aunt Wu. Ricky thought they were going to get scolded for stealing her book, but she then laughs.
"You are very clever", she compliments the kids.
"Now, I hope you can all agree that you can't be too dependent on Aunt Wu's fortune-telling", Sokka taught.
"Ah, but Aunt Wu predicted that the village won't be destroyed. And therefore—" the calm man spoke but was interrupted by Ricky.
"If you dare to finish that sentence, I'll fry you to ash", he threatens only to have Katara pulling him away.
"It's nice to meet you guys", Shin said happily.
"Same here Shin", Aang said.
The Gaang all got up on Appa and waved goodbye at the village as Appa flew away. Ricky looks down but before he could sit back down, he spots the same hooded lady waving goodbye to him. Ricky wave shyly back, he had no idea who this woman was. Whether she was a spirit or a figment of his imagination, he can't help but felt like he had seen her before. He looks down at his new silver necklace, with the sapphire shining from the sunlight and flame symbol he got from the mysterious figure, he could nothing but admire it.
It was then he noticed that the large under arch had something embedded in it. He looks closely at it only to realize it had a name on it, written in English as he mouthed the name.
'Sachi.'
The name seems to faintly click in his head, but not enough for him to remember. He turns around and sits back down, thinking of who this Sachi lady was.
Down below, Sachi watches the flying bison flying away from the saved village. Watching the young firebender go with his friends, a tear trek down on her soft cheeks, smiling at the boy's newfound faith and confidence.
"You truly have grown up", she said removing the hood to reveal to have short black hair with a bang.
Her pale blue eyes glisten by the sunlight, smiling as her body begins to fade.
"Till we meet again, I'll always be there for you... My son."
