Chapter 2: A Path Obscured
Legend
Italics shows character thoughts
Word shows Date, time, and location
-Word- Shows Noises, or actions such as sighing
N/A: Starting a day system, day one being the day Aang was struck down by Azula.
Enjoy, and Please Review!
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Location: Earth Kingdom - Eastern Air Temple - Day 5
Guru Pathik had just finished his story and he had expected a hefty silence to consume the room but not even a second after he finished did Sokka raise his hand in question. The Guru nodded to him, to acknowledge his question.
"Yue said that the water benders learned their bending from the Moon and Ocean spirit."
"That's not true I'm afraid." Guru Pathik replied.
"Are you saying Yue lied?!" Sokka snapped back.
"Sokka, calm down." Katara soothed her brother over, who proceeded to grumble in some foreign language, "If the water benders didn't learn that way then why do they say that?"
"Who knows? It could turn out that after the Heroes vanish their legend turned into myth and after that it faded completely. It could be that the Moon and Ocean spirits, that were always around, simply made more sense after several thousand years." Guru Pathik sighed, "The truth is, we don't know how old our world is. The Heroes could have lived a million years ago, and anything could be forgotten in that time."
"I have a question!" Aang piped up, feeling his strength return to him, "You said the Runes could still travel, so does that mean they already have a host?"
Pathik nodded, "Yes, it is very likely. I believe that the Runes can only inhabit a descendant of a bender from that time. So we can assume that each Rune has found a bearer that belongs to their native nation."
"So that means a fire nation civilian has the Rune of Fire?" Sokka asked.
"Indeed, the Runes were charged with helping the people but after a time the Runes began to show grace for those who followed their first host." Guru Pathik answered and clarified.
Katara was the next to ask a question, "What about the Air Nomads? The Fire nation wiped them all out."
Guru Pathik laughed softly, "Katara, you can bend the waters, can you not?"
"Yeah, I can…but--"
"But what of your brother? He cannot. Yet, because you can bend means that you descendent from one of the original benders, blessed by the Rune of Water. The same principle applies to the Air Nomads."
"Oh, I get it!" Aang chimed in, "That means that the Wind Rune found a person who couldn't bend but still is a descendant of one."
"Correct, Aang. Right now someone is finding out they have a blood line that at some point reaches back to an Air Bender."
"That's great! That means that we could revive the Air Benders!" Aang jumped to his feet, a smiled pasted across his face.
Guru Pathik nodded multiple times, "Very likely, no, certainly possible if the Rune Bearer should choose to do so. Very likely."
Sokka waved his arms in front of his chest, "Woah, woah, woah. Hold on, I think we are forgetting the real problem here. Does anyone else remember that the Fire Nation has taken over the Earth Kingdom and that Sozn's comet is still on its way!?"
"He's got a point, these people really aren't a big concern compared to the real issue." Katara agreed.
"The real issue?! This is the real issue!" Guru Pathik protested, "Don't you understand? The Avatar was made from a portion form each of these runes, a portion."
The Guru waited to see how would catch on first and, surprisingly, it was Toph who spoke out, "It means that the Runes have more power than the Avatar. Right?"
"Yes, in fact if the Avatar were to challenge the Bearer of Fire to a purely fire bending dual the outcome would certainly be a win for the Bearer of Fire. The Avatar can bend all the elements to a devastating degree, but the Runes can bend their specific element on an even higher scale." Guru Pathik cleared his throat, "Sozin's comet, for example, just happens to be a product of the Fire Rune."
"What do you mean, product?" Aang and Katara asked at the same time. They looked at each other, blushed, and looked away.
"I don't know the whole story, but when I received my vision that I would help the Avatar I began to receive numerous other visions, of these Heroes. One story tells of a comet, ten times the size of Sozin's comet, that was heading straight for our planet. The story says that the Hero of Fire conjured up a volcano, gathered all of the magma inside of it into a massive ball and hurtled it towards the comet. The fiery mass of lava, with the power of the Fire Rune, destroyed the comet entirely, save for a small piece which was redirected back into space. I believe that fire benders gain strength from the comet because of the huge concentration of the Rune's power that was put into destroying it."
Katara shook her head, "If that's true, what do we even do? Evan Aang isn't that strong."
"Indeed, but the Runes are more like the Avatar than we know. For like the Avatar, to use the full power of the Rune, the Bearers must enter a trance similar to the Avatar State. In this trance the Bearers' minds become one with their Rune and bending that a human couldn't normally achieve is possible."
"But if it is like the Avatar State then they would just enter in when they were pushed into a dangerous position, "Sokka interrupted, "like how Aang protected himself in that iceberg for a hundred years."
"True, but there is one limitation to even this power; the human body." Guru Pathik raised his hand, to stop anyone from speaking out, "It doesn't matter how strong you are, if your body cannot handle the strain, if your mind cannot sustain the power, then such an opponent can be overcome. But only the Avatar, born from a piece of them all, can defeat them. Only he can push a Rune Bearer to their breaking point, and defeat them."
Another bout of silence fell over the group and, like last time, it was Toph who saved the group from utter oblivion in the guise of uncertain, unwanted, silence. She raised her hand and asked in a painfully blunt fashion.
"So, what are we supposed to do about them?"
The remaining members of the Avatar's group turned to Toph for several moments before simultaneously turned to Guru Pathik for his answer, which could change the entire direction of Aang's quest. He had unleashed a fearsome thing on this world and now it was his job to fix it, and not it was time to find what was needed to fix this problem.
Guru Pathik closed his eyes and bowed his head, "I don't know. The only solution I see would be to bring all four bearers together, with the Avatar, and recreate the Pact. This is a dangerous game, as of right now there are four benders, with Avatar level powers. There is no telling what could happen. Anything is possible now."
This time….the silence stayed.
------------
Location: Northern Water Tribe - Day 5
He couldn't remember anything from the past few days. They had told him that he was simply found floating outside the ice wall protecting the Northern Water tribe. Toran, for the life of him, couldn't remember anything after his promise. He felt like he had entered some sort of state, a trance perhaps.
It was bizarre.
Today Toran was returning to his lessons with Master Pakku. It was early and just recently had everyone arrived. The Water Bending Master had returned from the South Pole recently, having started the rebuilding of the North's sister tribe. Even though he wanted to stay and help he knew he needed to return to train the up and coming water benders of tomorrow.
"Good morning students, today as you know is sparring." Pakku stood next to his current prize pupil, the best he had found since Katara. "Who is willing to challenge, Mathui?"
No one answered and finally Pakku as forced to make a choice, "Toran, you are a senior warrior, come and step forward." Master Pakku patted him on the shoulder.
Toran cringed, he knew that master Pakku wasn't pleased with him. He had gotten all the forms, the styles, but he was slow and reserved and lack any real power. He had been a student when Katara had been around, that was a water bender. Cute too. Too bad she crushed him like every other student in the class.
Toran took his stance and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, he knew they were going to send him out on patrols again. Time like this, though often ending in him being wet and cold, was time to be savored.
The match itself was odd. Mathiu was tall and strong looking, with fine hair and face. Toran was just as tall but thinner and, thus, more fragile looking. His eyes were a clear blue, common among the water benders, and his skin was dark from being out in the sun almost everyday. His hair was a very dark brown which was just above shoulder length and parted down the middle. His attire consisted of what every other water bender wore, clothing meant to keep out the cold, a long sleeved shirt that wrapped around the torso and thick pants, with furry boots on his feet. Toran lacked the traditional heavy coat that he would wear when going out into the waters, not needing it for this situation.
Master Pakku gave the beginning signal.
Mathiu pulled a stream of water from a nearby jar and sent it pumping towards Toran who, spun with his hands outstretched, and lead the water back at Mathiu. Mathiu broke the water flow and turned the stream into a ball, froze it, and pushed it back towards Toran. He braced himself for his defense.
Feel the water, flowing, feel the current. Toran, it calls you, answer it. Let the current take you, let yourself by taken by the flow of the water.
Toran's hands quickly and smoothly outstretched, and he violently, yet gracefully, thrust his palms right. The ball of ice stopped and hurtled to the right. The battle that continued from that point became increasingly one-sided as Toran turned aside. Toran followed the voice's instructions, its words, its voice. He still wasn't sure what the voice as but he remebered his promise...and it seemed to be coming through on its part.
The cycle of attack and defense continued until master Pakku stopped the fight.
"Enough," The students turned and bowed, "Tell me, Toran, why did you not strike back? You're defense was impeccable and you left Mathiu open several times, explain why you did not counterattack, well?"
"It didn't seem necessary, sir." Was Toran's reply.
"So you show mercy to an enemy? Would you do so for a fire nation soldier?"
Toran considered, "…If nothing was to be gained. Needless killing leads only to more killing. We are taught to bend to protect, not to kill, right Master Pakku?"
Master Pakku didn't answer and several grumbles began to fill the air from the other students. A deep hatred had filled their hearts with anger, an anger unfitting of Water's blessed.
Oh, how far we have fallen. We left to the poles so that we could separate ourselves from the outside world. Toran, you must lead by example, show that killing is not the answer. Water does not crash on a bend in the river, it flows with it, alongside it. That is our way, show them the path.
"Isn't that right? Everyone?" Toran stepped forward, "You can't honestly think it okay to kill others because of their crimes against us! How will that solve anything?!"
"Fire lover!" One student called out.
"Traiter, I bet you left your comrades out there to freeze!"
"Toran, "Master Pakku walked up to the boy, "Perhaps you should leave and think about what you just said. We are fighting a war, perhaps you need to remind yourself where your allegiance is."
Toran slowly bowed his head after a moments hesitation, "Y-yes, Master Pakku."
Toran never went home.
------
Location: Earth Kingdom - Day 4
Tai yawned as she sat on a nice big, and flat, rock. She had been traveling for quite sometime now and she was afraid that she was quite lost. Her abilities and new found opportunities were open to her but she had no idea how to go about controlling them. In short; she needed a teacher and there was only one air bender left in the world, Avatar Aang.
The nearest temple is the Eastern Air Temple, young Hye. If fortunes smile on you the avatar, as much as I dislike him, will be there and will accept you as a student.
It will be quite interesting, won't it Wind? I'll really learn to fly, won't I?
You, my dear, dear child, will fly as high as the currents can take you.
This made her happy, she wanted only to be free to go where she pleased at her whim. This, in essence, as why Wind chose her above many other possible children. Because she, was as free as the wind itself, just as the previous bearer was. Her spirit would lead the people of Wind into a new era, on the winds of this girls heart. Though she tended to be rather formal and shy in public.
Still, she had a ways to go. Wind could give her strength, speed, and power but to harness it was beyond her. She was an element, a Pure Power, she didn't understand control, she was the child of the Great Wind spirit. Hye would need a human teacher, one who could teach her control of the elements. The only problem was the Avatar himself, he would know that Hye possessed Wind, simply because all the air benders were supposed to have been wiped out. It would be a tough game.
"Well, time to start again. We have a while to go to the Air Temple. We can get there by tomorrow if I hurry."
-------
Location: Earth Kingdom, Eastern Air Temple - Day 5
Guru Pathik told Aang and the group to head back to Appa and rest, and to also collect their thoughts. The group set up camp around the air bison before the group separated into differing tasks: Sokka preparing a late lunch, Aang meditating, Katara practicing a little water bending, and Toph stretched out on the stone floor looking up blankly at the sky.
After a moment of isolation Katara broke from her practicing and walked over to Aang, "Hey, Aang. Can I talk to you for a bit?"
"Huh?" Aang's right eye flew opened, "About what?"
"I just want to talk, maybe we can take a walk?"
"Sure, Katara!" Aang air bended himself up to his feet and the two began a walk through the air temple.
The pair made a leisurely stroll through the temple in an awkward silence, though Aang was just flustered by the thought of being alone with the girl whom he thought of more then anyone else, the girl whom he had almost given up his love for to save her. He thought that she was going to say how scared she was for him, or maybe that she didn't ever want him to put himself into a position like that again.
"Aang," Katara stopped, "What are we going to do now? The Fire Nation has to be stopped but Guru Pathik seems to think that these people could be more dangerous then anything Fire Lord Ozai can throw at us."
Aang's smile dropped to a frown. Oh, it's about that. Slightly deflated Aang answered as best he could, "Well, we can't really find those people so for now I think we should just focus on stopping the Fire Nation."
Katara didn't seem convinced in the least, "But, Aang, Zuko and Azula had us beaten. And if these people are half as strong as Guru Pathik said they were…." Katara suddenly spun on her heels to face Aang, "How are we supposed to stop them?!"
"Hey, I'm the Avatar remember?" Aang smiled, " I'll figure something out."
"Aang, it's not the same! The Runes make them stronger, Aang, what if these people are masters already? You've only just learned earth bending and your water bending is only as good as mine!"
Aang reached out with his right hand but drew back, she was right after all. No matter how you looked at it Aang was still only a child. Aang suddenly became aware of the deepening pool of water he was wading into. He could be up against masters, a master Fire, Water, and Earth bender. The only thing he could count on was being better than the air bender, because he was the only trained bender left.
Aang reached out again. "Katara…I--"
"Are you the Avatar?" A voice interrupted.
Katara and Aang looked at the ceiling and found a girl the same age as Aang floating above them, upside down that is. Her hair was a bright brown, her eyes were a pale green, her skin a shade above pale, and she was a bit taller then Aang was. Her clothing consisted of a tan Taoist robe, sleeves longer then her arms, and a pair of pants , made similar to her robe, which ended at her ankles. Her outfit carried no symbols, save one on the her back, which held the same symbol that had appeared before master Pakku, one the girl had put on herself.
She dropped to the ground, making no noise as her feet touched the earth, and she stood between Katara and Aang, facing the Avatar and ignoring the other female. Due to the proximity of the Avatar and the female water bender, the intruders actions had forced Katara to take two steps back, to Katara's irritation.
"Are you the Avatar?" The girl asked again.
"Uh, yeah." Aang answered, "Who are you?"
"I'm Hye, and I would like you to teach me air bending." She bluntly put out.
Katara, though caught off guard, quickly stomped up to the girl, failing to notice the obvious. "Hey, what is the big idea? We were talking before you suddenly dropped….in." The light bulb flashed in her head. She was one of them, a Bearer.
Aang was quick to catch the slack, "You are an air bender…then you have the rune don't you?"
Tai, who's gaze had been completely focused on Aang throughout Katara's protest, nodded. She stepped away from the other two and jumped with a spin, landed, and jumped again with her hands stretched out. A wind violently shot up from underneath the small girl and shot her into the air, she appeared to look like a flying, spinning, toy top.
She came down to the ground as gracefully, and as soundlessly, as she had last time and looked at Aang again, "Will you teach me?"
Aang hadn't even thought of saying no to her. She was another air bender, she was like him. He had been so lonely, so isolated by his powers as the Avatar and as the sole air bender. Now he could share what he knew, what he knew best, with someone else. He nodded with a smile.
"Aang!" Katara grabbed the Avatar's arm and pulled him close, "Are you sure you should teach her? She has the rune, it might be dangerous."
"But what if she becomes our friend? She could really help us, Katara!" Aang protested.
Katara looked at Aang, slung his arm away, and turned her back to him. Aang didn't understand why she was so upset, she was never one to make enemies outright and it was very out of character for her to act in such a way. Aang thought about saying something but he knew better when she was in this mood.
"Come on, Hye. I'll introduce you to everyone else!"
"Oh, okay!" Hye smiled, apparently feeling much better now that she had been accepted. She ran after Aang as he began to run back to camp to introduce everyone.
As they left Katara turned to watch them leave and her eyes sparkled slightly, You've never been interested in someone like that before. It hurt her, to say the least. Sure she knew Aang was a just naturally a nice person and that it did, technically, make more sense to try and make an ally out of one of the Rune Bearers, so why did it bother her so much that he seemed to interested?
She placed a hand over her heart, whatever it was, it hurt.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
A/N: Okay, so first off I have to respond to Time Mage and his review, since it deserves an answer. To give an excuse to the reason my first two chapters seemed rushed is because they were the first two chapters. That first chapter, or two couple, is the deciding factor for many readers to continue reading or not and so I cut out a few things and sped up a little to get the main points of my story, hoping not to lose readers in extras until they know what this story is about. Now that I'm actually into the story, I will be slowing down gradually into my normal story telling details, which is very Hemingway style of prose (very simple, easy to read, writing.). Thank you for reading and noticing those things and hopefully I'll make it up in chapters to come.
Specifically to this chapter, it may seem a bit jumpy. Until things start to flow and plots start to move it might seem a bit choppy, I apologize in advance for that. I'm trying to incorporate a system so we know what day it is, whereas the show was horrible about when something happened (That always bugged me, XP).
As for the fights, as it may seem that Toran and Sheng's situations were very similiar. I had them both fight to show off their current bending abilities and I that you readers will, as the story goes on, see a progressive increase in their mastery of their styles and of the Runes (Hye too will have her moment to display her current strength, and I think we know where Toph stands.). So that is the reason I forced Toran and Kane into fighting situations, well that, and it is a stepping block for them as characters.
So, other than that, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I know that not every question has been answered, but to get all the facts at once would be boring eh? No one ever asks all the questions needed in one go, you always miss one or two.
So, read, enjoy, and review please!
-Arc.