IV. The Secret
火 - 火
The depthless pool held many secrets. And many bones. And many, many spirits. Tala had made it her home like legacies of priestesses before her - and hopefully in the future. It was sacred to her people because it was one tangible link they had back to the ancestors. It was the burial ground.
The ruins held the key to life. The Masters, of whom had taught Tala everything she knew, the key to Fire. So this was the key to death. Shimmering through the inky black water, Tala was smiled at by a skeletal head. It was lain on a shelf in the hole where it had drifted. Others were further down and scattered about. Some had ceremonial gifts that had been placed by strong divers - some were utterly alone.
Tala often called on the aid of the ancestor spirits to assist her healing fire, which was a draining and often tedious power to behold. That had been gifted to her at the Worthiness Test by the Masters. Nervebending - that was different. It was passed from Priest to Priestess and back to Priest in the never-ending chain of human life. It was a human taught practice, a subdivision of Lightningbending.
It required sound body and mind - a clear concious and pure heart. Only one every generation of Firebenders and Sun Warriors could practice it. Tala tapped her fingers on her ankle. It was always someone who held a strong connection with the dragons. Which meant the art would die off soon... the Fire Nation had slain the dragons. All except two.
Them and the eggs.
Inside a sheltered cavern in the pool complex was held a vault of dragon eggs, waiting until they could be born into a new, better world. Them and the Sun Stone, which was the Masters child. The Masters child would be born... naturally also when the time called. Tala chuckled hoarsely and circulated her hands through the air, green fire trailing after.
She could feel them coming a mile off - even if she couldn't hear, she knew they came. The Spirits told her. A desperate party jogged to her side carrying a man in their arms. Tala sensed his spirit was willing to be free - yet also remain in the mortal world. She instructed he be set down infront of the pool. Doing so, the men and Toni stepped back.
Tala set to work.
火
~ Tonalli ~
Tala had been my mentor since birth... or at least when I first showed promise at Firebending. You see, us Sun Warriors aren't naturally born with great ability over fire, or any ability at all - unlike our counterparts in the Fire Nation. They are trained rigorously, the fire drilled out of them through some outlet of emotion. We prefer the go-with-the-flow vibes.
If you show promise, great, you are assigned to a Spirit Channel (such as my mother was, a mortal portal through which ancestor and dragon Spirits speak through) or a Peistess. High Priestess Tala is a... how does one put this... an eccentric teacher? Yes. Eccentric. She will make me get up at dawn and run four laps around the entirety of Old Tonatiu kalli. Then, just for good measure, I will be made to meditate in the Old temple.
At least it gets me away from Yota...
"Tonalli," My father, Chief Inti-Himawara, lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. He restrained Prince Zuko under another hand, with a tad more violence. My father is were I inherit my... tenacity from. Behind him was the elderly gentleman from earlier - Biro or something.
"We need to discuss," He glanced back at the man, "Some things. Master Iroh would prefer if his Nephew came with us."
Zuko was cringing and twisting under my father's hand. His shoulder muscles were being pinched, so his was practically incapacitated for the time being. I chuckled under my breath at him, before bowing deeply to my father, as a sign of respect. That is another thing Tala taught me - respect elders and those above you. It pays off most of the time.
Some more than others: I'll tell you something... It didn't work for Ham Ghao, who is my Spirit-awful Uncle, when he was trying to get Tala to train his son, Ham Ghao Jr. Tala knew Jr instantly was an awful guy, even just by standing infront of him. He does look like a- Sorry. Got side-tracked.
"Come on, Zuko, " I latched onto the Prince's arm. He scowled but was thankful my father had let go. Seriously, what is it with this boy, though? Scowling and all? Iroh and father leisurely traipsed towards the meeting hall and our home - the tower. Zuko resisted, still clinging onto his possessions, "What are you-? Let me- Argh!"
I literally sweapt him off of his feet and carried the reluctant Prince over one shoulder. He grunted furiously as I bounded over the uneven turf - but it made no difference. It, if anything, made me cackle more than I would've done if I'd just frog-marched him.
火
The tower was possibly the most imposing building Zuko had seen up close, and he'd seen alot of imposing buildings back in the Fire Nation. Up close it bore marks of having once been painted with both violent and peaceful imagery. Gods, Ancestors and Dragons. Toni dropped Zuko onto the hard earth as the Cheif and Iroh went around to some hidden staircase.
From what Zuko saw, doors with painted flaps were dotted up the tower along stakes that were probably the staircase. Each flap seemed to be independently painted with some Spirit or Godly being. They were fading - but at one point would have been amazingly bright and intricate. The sophistication of this tribe was breath-taking, even if it wasn't as technologically advanced as the Fire Nation.
Great, Zuko rubbed his chest, Uncle had found a tea-drinking buddy. This is just what they needed. Toni smirked down at Zuko, her eyes sparkled with humor. Zuko screwed up his nose up and sat upright. He set about strapping his sword to his back and the dagger into his belt. The armbands and neacklace fell out - catching Toni's eye. Before Zuko could lunge for them, Toni had started examining them.
Blue pendant on a dark blue ribbon and two blackish-red armbands. Mabye he was proposing to three people at one - not that out there if he was the Chief- Fire Lord's son. Sun Warrior Chiefs often had many brides... Zuko could too.
"You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend! " She held all three items up. Zuko went to snatch them from her - but she was too quick. She was dancing around while Zuko repeatedly attempted to snatch them from her. Giggling, Toni swung the neacklace about at her throat, "What's she like? Pretty? Or is it a he?"
"Give them-" Zuko swung for the armbands, Toni ducked and came up the otherside of him. She made a kissy face, "Awww. When ya gonna get married? You better invite me to the wedding!"
Zuko managed to catch Toni's wrist before she could move. Twisting her arm around behind her back, Zuko wrenched the armbands from her grip. She remained clutching the neacklace, "Hey! I was just joki-"
"These were my mothers..." He started slipping them onto his biceps. Toni relaxed into his arms with a sight hissing sigh, "I didn't know... Sorry."
After a sympathetic nod, Toni played with the neacklace, twisting it around her fingers, "But what about this, Lover boy?"
Zuko took no notice of it - he turned his back on her and dropped her wrist with a resigning sniffle. He brushed his fingertips over the armbands before clenching his eyes shut and pretending he was perfectly alright. Toni, her smile faded, lay a gentle hand onto Zuko's hand. He snapped his head away furiously and snarled, "You keep the neacklace, it means nothing to me."
Unsatisfied, Toni took Zuko's hand in her own and pressed the charm into his hand. He flinched as it touched his hand. It obviously meant something... but mabye not something he was happy about. Mabye he had been rejected by a Water Tribe girl he was seducing? Pffft! No way! That would be just plain ridiculous!
"Zuko, you keep it. Hope you get lucky next time," With a sly wink, Toni squeezed his hand before leading him towards the stairs. He just let himself be pulled along with almost no resistance.
The stairs were a rickety assortment of old wooden stakes driven into the wall of the tower, they wound about it like a boa-constrictor snake around its prey. Zuko clutched onto Toni's hand as they balanced up the separate stakes. He kept looking down - fatal mistake. Eventually, after passing a few slim doorways, they arrived at the chosen room. Toni pushed the flap aside, letting Zuko stumble in after her.
She chortled as he remained clutching her hand, which the Cheif squinted furiously at him for. Zuko instantly dropped Toni's hand, taking his place around a fireplace. The round room was draped with tapestries of the Sun Warriors myths. A sunken fireplace sat in the middle - the roof was black with smoke. A few slits were at the highest points of the room to let the smoke escape. Zuko took a cushion beside Toni and his Uncle.
The Chief stood opposite Zuko, his hands raised with a pot in one hand. He uttered something uncomprehensable before bowing to the flame and pouring the pots contents into four small cups. As he was handing them out, a woman with a baby balanced on her hip pushed into the room.
Her face was pinched, but fairly pretty. Less so than some, Zuko admired Toni, before shuddering and staring intently into the flames. Yeah, so what he thought Toni pretty. What of it? He hadn't seen a girl (let alone interacted with) in roughly three years, he was now prone to thinking any female he happened apon was somewhat attractive. He felt somewhat dirty for that. The new woman crossed to the Cheif as the baby garbled in attempted Sun Warrior language.
"My wife," The Chief introduced the woman with a kiss to her temple, "Aylen. And son, Yaxkin."
Toni squinted at Zuko and mouthed, 'Step-Mam. Half-Brother.'
He nodded carefully as she too stared intently into the fire. Aylen scanned the visitors with an intense glare - her son with a similar look. The woman was littered with gold and across her throat was scrolled an intricate tattoo. The Cheif slipped his hands around his wife's hips and leant his forehead gently against hers. The baby, Yaxkin, drooled mindlessly between them.
Toni hugged her knees infront of her chest - her face a mask of hollow sadness. It was like she wasn't even part of her own family; Zuko knew the feeling. It was like this when Azula came along. But at least he gad his Mum and Uncle... for the most part. Toni hadn't even got her mother around. Zuko desperately wanted to know why, but the time didn't seem right - he'd literally just met her that morning!
Iroh had gotten impatient with waiting for his tea, so helped himself. He sipped carefully and almost longingly. Like it was a good memory he wished - longed - to savour. Toni picked at her material greave on her calf dejectedly.
"- later. Now, take Kin to Tala-"
Toni cringed. Her half-brother was even getting taught by Tala, the High Priestess and her mentor. The boy, now being cradled by his father, was not what Zuko expected a Sun Warrior Firebender to look like. He was pudgy, stubby fingers, darkest brown, almost black, eyes and a foul expression. He appeared more of a... just not a bender.
"See you in a minute, my 'ittle bittle Tapir Vulture," The Cheif cooed. Toni's expression darkened even further as her father did so - Zuko rolled his eyes at the baby talk. Iroh was unaffected by this display, he was casually sipping his tea and watching the baby admiringly.
Toni had quite clearly had enough as she scowled at the ferocious looking child - who just scowled back. Zuko was becoming increasingly amused yet incredibly awkward about this. Just as the Cheif handed Kin back to his wife, the baby let out the most enormous burp - Toni grit her teeth at it. The others took it in passing as Aylen and her child excited back through the painted leather flap.
"My good man," Iroh beamed, "You have an adorable baby. "
The Chief smiled appreciatively with a hand on heart. Zuko rolled his eyes and pretended to gag - Toni likewise. She buried her face into her knees as her father took his cushion and passed the scented tea to her and Zuko. The Prince took it rather tentatively, his view on tea not as favourable as his Uncle.
"What do you want?" Zuko took the cup rather furiously, "Please don't tell me it's just about tea."
Laughing off Zuko's attitude, the Cheif spread his hands over the flames. He leant towards them with a grin. Iroh apologised humbly for Zuko's grumpiness but the Cheif dismissed it with a wave. Toni eyed up the Prince with her tea at her feet.
"No, no, Spirits no. It's rather more serious-"
Zuko sighed in relief, "Oh, good Agni!"
Toni chuckled slightly - but only slightly. She clicked her jaw shut and took a deep sip of her fruit tea. The Chief cast a worried glance at his daughter before returning to conversation.
"- Young man, you do know of your Uncle's history? "
With a clench of his fists, Zuko nodded. According to what rumours and history he had been told either directly or indirectly it wasn't a brilliant history... Apparently Uncle Iroh had slain the last dragon, and driven the remaining Water Tribe resistance around Hotika Island to extinction... and pillaged the ruins of the Island for gold. Not the best history to be know to this man - the Chief of the Sun Warriors.
"Yes?" Zuko squeaked after a while. Toni choked on her tea as she laughed, causing Zuko and her father to scowl. That was not lady-like at all... Toni composed herself and wiped away the splattered tea from her cheeks, lips and throat. Her father continued on with his lecture.
"Then forget it all. It is rubbish."
Iroh nodded in agreement, "I had to make them up to cover... to cover for certain things I did. If you don't mind me saying, Chief, about the - you know - the things."
Iroh winked at the Cheif, who rolled his head before allowing Iroh to continue. Zuko and Toni exchanged a look before staring over at the elderly Fire Prince.
"When I was young, about twenty or something, I was sent to track the last of the dragons down to an island. They were the symbols of the Freedom Fighters back then... my father wanted them destroyed..."
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"Iroh," Azulon leant across the flames with a snarl, "You have heard of Azulon's Fighters, have you not?"
Young Iroh, his back bent and nose brushing the floor, shot upright. Azulon's Fighters were infamous for their relentless assult of Fire Nation ports and army stations - they were founded by Azulon, the Avatar's friend, hence the name.
"I believe I have, father. What of it?"
Azulon smirked playfully, "They ride dragons, don't they? Well I-" Azulon tented his fingures "-want you to kill the remaining ones... and any Fighters that get in the way. "
Startled by his fathers casual attitude towards this, Iroh stared open mawed at his father. Azulon quirked his brows together at his son's shock, "Come now, Iroh. The dragons are of no use to us. Simply dispose of them and be done with it - I will be waiting for results. This meeting is dismissed! "
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"That's-" Toni screwed her nose up. Zuko finished her sentence for her, "Horrible!"
Iroh bowed his head to stare blankly into his tea cup. The Cheif smiled slightly and nodded his head for Iroh to continue, "So I set out... sailing towards the rebels hideout on Hotika Island, here..."
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The captain of the ship bowed deep as Crown Prince Iroh sweapt onto deck, a frown curved his lips. They had arrived in the shallow waters of Hotika where the sun was high and clouds almost non-existent. There purpose here was not, in anyway, matched by the beautiful surroundings.
"Please, let me go alone... that is an order. Tell the other-" Iroh started, only to be interrupted by the Captain, "Sir - that is incredibly-"
Iroh held up his hand for silence, "That is an order..."
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"But when I found the dragons, I was in utter awe of the creatures. So beautiful. So powerful. Yet so- so fragile. I didn't have the heart to slay them. Then when the Sun Warriors found me with their Masters-"
Iroh chuckled lightly, allowing the Cheif to take over story telling as they refilled the cups.
"I was a young boy then. It was my first hunt and I was the one to alert the hunting party to Iroh's presence..."
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"Bad man!" The young boy, Inti-Himawara, screamed, pointing his spear at the intruder, "Dad! Ham Ghao! Genji!"
The entirety of the Sun Warrior hunting party raced to the Chief's son's cries. He held his hand, within he held a ball of fire, and a spear. The man stared at them with a confused and more than panicked face. He resolved to run, but was caught by a swift spear to his sleeve.
"You!" The Chief, an imposing man called Narihito, yelled as he gripped Iroh by the scruff, "Will be put to death! Men, take him away..."
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The room fell peculiarly silent as the second round of tea was passed about. Zuko had never even considered his Uncle's words to be lies - he trusted him way too much. Iroh was staring at the embers if the fire as Inti-Himawara pushed himself to his feet and took the pot with him. He leant out of the door-flap and called for a man called Genji.
Another man's voice answered, taking the pot from the Cheif. Inti-Himawara ducked back into the room and rubbed his hands. Zuko took a double take between his Uncle and Toni. The latter ground her jaw and shrugged as she drained her cup in a desperate single gulp.
"Well," She clasped her eyes shut, "This is an interesting revelation..."
火
"This... is very good news indeed."
Zhao had been having a rubbish time of it - for one, the Avatar had gone to ground and two, his hairdresser had completely mucked up his side-burns, so now he looked like a lop-sided walrus. But if a homocidal maniac walrus ever needed good news in the evening, this was it: the Avatar-Hunting-Rival and Arch-nemisis The Prince was dead... or at least just lost at sea.
Inside his tent, Zhao leant back in his chair with his hands behind his head. Before him stood the panicked messenger - who had naturally assumed Zhao would be at least a teeny weeny but more empathetic. But no. Zhao eyed the cloaked man with an ill-hidden smirk across his face, the messenger slapped a hand up onto his own mouth to stop himself giggling at Zhao's new hair cut.
"Have you delivered this message to anyone else?" Zhao squinted furiously at the messenger's giggles, "Or am I the first mourner to hear?"
The messanger held up his hands, eyes rolled back into his skull and fingers flicked as he counted. He remained like that for a good minute or two until he nodded, canted his head and shrugged, "Pretty sure the only one-"
"Good," Zhao shot dangerously to his feet, "Don't tell anyone else until my plan is complete. Trust me, you will know. I will be hailed a hero: Zhao the Fish Conqueror!"
This demonstration of insanity was too much for the Messenger. He edged backwards out of the tent, leaving Zhao chortling manically alone, with a slight pulled back grimmace. Craaaaaaazy man. Outside the harbour was brimming with Naval life as they prepared for whatever mad plan Zhao possessed. The Messenger massaged the small of his neck.
This was an awful lot for just one fish...