Ok... really long part but I really wanted to finish this chapter up. So I present to you the conclusion to Chapter 2: The Earthbender
The Earthbender: Chapter 2 Part 3
Hitsumo left his house the next morning still yawning. Dreams had bothered him all night and he hadn't gotten much sleep anyways, arriving home so late. In each dream, it was always the same: he walked in the dark, unable to use earthbending to sense his surroundings, and somewhere in the darkness lay Yuka, pulling numerous strings attached to him. She was leading him somewhere and he had had no control over his body.
"This is going to drive me crazy if I keep thinking about last night…" Hitsumo sighed and looked down at himself. He hadn't bothered to put on nice clothes. Any of his clothes wouldn't suit meeting the King anyways so he might as well have let Yuka dress him. He had tidied up though, washing his face and fixing his hair but that was his daily routine.
Hitsumo walked through the streets with a growing anxiety. He was about to meet the King, the ruler of the entire Earth Kingdom! Hitsumo wondered if there was anyone that wouldn't get nervous in his position. "Well, there's Yuka of course. Being the King's daughter and all."
Lost in his thoughts, Hitsumo found his way over to the palace via train. As he walked to the first step of the gigantic staircase, an explosion spewed dirt into the air in front of him. Hitsumo stood, waiting for the dust to clear.
"Scare you much?" That clear, musical voice rang inside Hitsumo's ears.
"So scared, since you know, I can't just sense you tunneling through the earth," Hitsumo said wryly. He had sensed Yuka coming from the time he had gotten off the train. The explosive entrance failed to surprise him at all. Her actions were predictable from her outgoing personality. A grin grew on his face, amused by his own sarcasm.
"Ahh, you're no fun." And with that, a white robed arm tinted with green grabbed him into the dust. "Come on, we need to get you some proper clothes." She led Hitsumo out of the dirt where she winked and smiled at him. "I'm betting you don't go shopping too often so you might want me to help you choose the best suit."
Hitsumo just stared. The girl obviously knew he wouldn't come in any good clothes, dragging him out of the dust before even glancing at what he wore. She'd probably planned it all last night, for all he knew. But she was right; Hitsumo really did not go shopping very often. For him, life was helping his family and earthbending. Any other luxuries just did not matter to him.
"Uh, I think we're going the wrong way," Hitsumo remarked.
"Really? Because I don't."
"The way you're heading… you're going to leave the Inner Ring?"
"Well, yeah. All the best shops are out there. I never go into the Inner Ring shops. Everything there is much too classy and expensive. Only rich nobles shop there and the clothes they wear look absolutely horrid. You have to shop in the Outer Ring. The reason is that you, Hitsumo, are representing your people when you meet the King and so wearing cultural dresses is fitting in this scenario. Plus, the clothing looks better, is cheaper, and doesn't itch or feel uncomfortable. I don't know why the Inner Ring wants to make everything so uncomfortable to wear. It's like they believe formality equals being uncomfortable," she explained, "Which they probably do."
Hitsumo nodded. He supposed it made sense somewhat, but one thing did bother him. "Yuka, you're the King's daughter. People will recognize you on the streets and as I know you know, it's not exactly safe for you to be out here in these times. People have already gotten violent such as the case with last night and there's a risk of the possibility of you being kidnapped. Is this really wise?"
Yuka sighed and shook her head. "Hitsumo, it's not like I can't defend myself. As of now, I'm a better earthbender than you and I can even metalbend. Those men from last night were just drunk really. Otherwise they would never have attacked you. Besides, I'm the King's daughter so I have to know my people. I've been going out into the crowds as often as I can, learning about how our people live and about the culture, and no one's recognized me yet." She looked back at Hitsumo who still had a skeptical expression on his face. Yuka made an exasperated noise.
"Alright, fine, I'll just wear this hat then." She pulled out a wide brim hat out of nowhere and proceeded to put it on, effectively hiding her face. "There, happy? No one will see my face and I'll blend right in."
"Yeah, that's great, but where'd you get the hat from?" Hitsumo was no longer paying attention to Yuka. Her rant had made him believe from the first sentence and he now proceeded to inspect her slim figure to locate where exactly she had stored that huge hat.
A sudden pain erupted on top of Hitsumo's head. Looking up and holding back a few tears, he saw Yuka with an aggravated expression holding up her fist. "Idiot boys… now come on, we've got shopping to do."
Aware of his surroundings for the first time, Hitsumo realized they were suddenly surrounded by mass amounts of people. It was as if they had traveled into another world. Vendors bustled about, crying out their wares, competing for customers by lowering their prices, and elaborating on just exactly how glossy their fresh catfish eyes caught in Lake Logai that very day were. People jostled Hitsumo constantly and it was all he could do just to follow Yuka through the crowd. While he kept bumping into people, Yuka was ever graceful, yet to misstep or hit someone's shoulder. She hadn't been lying when she said she had been navigating the Outer Ring often.
Hitsumo was amazed that no one recognized Yuka. He kept thinking that at any moment, someone would cry out her name and everyone would start bowing. But it never happened. Yuka was right. She blended all too well with the crowd that Hitsumo lost her dozens of times and had to wait for her to find him. Her hat and dress were so typical of the crowd that she simply vanished among the masses.
So, Hitsumo and Yuka wandered from shop to shop, looking for clothes. In one shop, while Hitsumo was trying on an exquisite white-gold vest (those were the only colors Yuka would let Hitsumo try out) in a changing stall, Hitsumo asked, "Yuka, how did you manage to avoid my detection last night? When I saw you, you were just a small blur…"
Yuka smiled, looking over some other shirts and pants. "That, is something of my own invention, which I am quite proud of." Yuka took off her shoe, and tossed it into the stall. Hitsumo caught it and looked at it. It was made of cured leather and was very soft and supple.
"This looks like a normal shoe… why'd you toss it over?"
"Look at the bottom… the soles."
Hitsumo turned the shoe over. On the half of the front, lay a clear covering of a gelatin-like substance a few millimeters thick. Pressing a finger on it, Hitsumo found that it jiggled but the inside seemed solid.
"What is this?" Hitsumo asked.
"It's a special type of gel I found on the hairs of badgermoles. You see how the outside is soft but the inside hard? Badgermoles have this gel secreted onto their fur for protection against falling, small stones when they move the earth. The outside softens the blow of the pebbles while the hard inside makes sure the pebbles don't bend or harm the hairs and keep the hair intact. I've found a method using this gel that can effectively dull the vibrations sent from my steps. Here, try this gold shirt and the black pants on. That vest will look good with them." Yuka tossed the shirt into the stall where Hitsumo caught it and examined it.
Yuka continued, "The method is quite simple actually. When I walk or jump, I will always land toe first. The hard part of the gel will maintain the shape of the soft part somewhat so that I don't slip.
However, the soft part will soften my fall enough that the vibrations I send out will be blurred to almost none at all. Any vibrations anyone uses to try and see me will also be blurred, due to the soft, absorbing nature of the outside of the gel.
If you look in the center of the gel," Hitsumo stared where she said. Located was a suspended metal column, less than a centimeter long that didn't reach the bottom of the gel. "You'll see that metal pole thingy? When the target makes movement and sends out vibrations, the gel will dull them. However, the metal will pick up those vibrations, allowing me a clear image without giving off my vibrations either. Because it doesn't touch the gel and is directly connect to the shoe, it will not become dulled either. Of course, this will only work with moving targets but then, I don't need to hide from anything that can't move. And there is still the chance of being detected, as you demonstrated Hitsumo, so it works best when following but not necessarily when getting away. Now come out, I want to see how you look."
Hitsumo emerged from the bamboo stall in his new attire. The white vest shone off the golden shirt underneath, with golden button-crosses to match. A lining of yellow surrounded the vest and accompanied a contrast to Hitsumo's dark hair. The shirt's collar stuck out from underneath, giving an imperial look. Made out of a mixture of silk and cotton, the entire top seemed to gleam and give Hitsumo a small halo. Hitsumo tilted his head slightly to an angle to give a noble feeling. It was simple elegant.
"So, what do you think?" A small giggle accompanied Hitsumo's voice. Frowning, Hitsumo looked down at Yuka who had lowered her face. Hitsumo could see she was biting her lip hard, trying not to laugh, though she wasn't doing a very good job. "What?"
She held out a pair of black pants still looking down, giggling, and said, "I forgot to give you the pants."
Hitsumo took the pants, went into the stall, and slammed the door. As soon as he did, Yuka broke and laughed openly. Hitsumo felt that she had fallen to the floor. His face was red, from embarrassment or anger, he didn't know.
"Girls…," he muttered. He would never understand them.
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A half-hour later, Hitsumo sat in front of the staircase to the palace once more, wearing the clothes he had lost his dignity in. Yuka had insisted on buying them, probably for remembrance of what had happened. She was still giggling. Hitsumo had no choice but to allow her to buy them as she would buy no other once her mind was set.
And now, she had gone off without explaining anything. All she said in that musical voice was, "I have something I have to do, but I'll be back in time for when you go to meet the King, so just wait here until I come back." With those words, she was gone. She didn't even leave Hitsumo a chance to argue. Girls were so strange at times. And so, with nothing else to do, Hitsumo sat. And waited. And waited. And then waited some more.
After moving the same pebble back and forth for the thousandth time, Hitsumo decided to go in without Yuka. Hitsumo was sure that he wouldn't last a second on confrontation with the King without Yuka's guidance but making him wait so long made him very annoyed. Going in was better than attending for her in the hot dry sun, princess or not.
As Hitsumo got up to go up the stairs, he received a small tap on the back of his shoulder. He didn't bother looking back and continued up the stairs. Soon enough, Yuka caught up to his side. Still looking forward, Hitsumo walked straight ahead, showing the natural stubbornness common in all earthbenders.
"I'm sorry I took so long," Yuka started, "but I had to change as well you know." Hitsumo took a glance at Yuka and his eyes widened. She had thrown out her clothing from before and replaced it with an exquisite white, gold dress. Tinged with the lightest blue possible, it was as if the silk had been painted with colored water. Her hair had completely changed, folded into a sophisticated bun which Hitsumo knew he could never accomplish. With the sun glaring so brightly, it was as if she had a glow around her, symbolic of a goddess. It was simply stunning. For the first time, Hitsumo regarded Yuka as a beautiful girl.
"I'll take that agape mouth of yours as a compliment that you like it," she smirked. "Here," placing a small object in Hitsumo's hands, "this is for you; a present to go along with the suit."
Hitsumo took the object and looked at it. It was a white ribbon outlined in yellow, with a metal wire running across. "What is this for?" he asked.
"That is a hair ribbon. It's worn by all the upper class males during ceremonies. You're supposed to bring part of your hair into a top knot, signifying the strength of earthbenders. Try it on." Hitsumo then brought part of his hair up and tied it with the ribbon. After he let his hands go, Yuka put hers up and adjusted it. Stepping back, she nodded with satisfaction. "Are you ready?" she asked.
Hitsumo's nerves were coming back. Anxiety soaked his stomach and apprehension squeezed his throat tight. Regardless, he replied, "Ready." Yuka, expecting this response, gave him a small smile. Together, they walked the rest of the staircase and opened the palace gates.
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Palaces, as palaces go, are very elaborate and elegant, containing countless pieces of valuable treasures which will indicate the wealth of a nation. The Earth Kindom palace was no different. The entire building was decorated with the finest décor available, most from skilled inland artists, but also with exotic masterpieces as well. Here, on a wonderfully carved wooden table, inlaid with gold, lay some of the finest pottery ever made, shaped by master earthbenders, and kilned by only the greatest firebenders. There on the wall, hang an airbender horn, carved from air so that there was a continuous feel to its shape and structure.
In the entrance hall was vast, with a ceiling stories high and great columns of stone lined in accordance with the corridor. The columns were smooth, as if the entire building had been a mountain cliff and the columns had been carved out. The entire palace was devoid of any carpets, letting the smooth stone floor play a part in the culture of the earthbenders. In the center of the hall stood a statue of the first Earth kingdom king, his features smoothed by the erosion of waterbenders and airbenders, so that it was as if it were alive. Its stern gaze reached out to Hitsumo, already awed by the entire entrance hall.
Yuka smiled. She knew Hitsumo's social status had prevented him from ever seeing such grandeur as this. He had lived in the Rural for most of his life and had never really experienced much luxury at all. For him, it must have been quite a shock for his first impression of the Palace.
For her though, it was usual. She had grown here her entire life and was used to living with such standards. She smiled fondly at the statue of the first Earth King. She remembered how she always used to climb the statue and pretend to be greater than him. She had spent her early years running throughout the palace, exploring new places almost everyday. The palace was vast and even now, Yuka encountered areas where she had never gone before.
However, remembering back now, she remembered the loneliness of her childhood. With her father and mother the King and Queen, often, it was her nurse that looked over her, played with her, and tucked her into bed at night. She wasn't able to meet other children either, for fear she might be harmed out in public. Having private earthbending lessons also denied her access to making friends. Sometimes, she would pretend to amongst many friends and try to imagine having real relationships with them. Upon looking down the seemingly endless corridors however, her emptiness had become more apparent than ever, with her the only child in the entire Palace.
Thus, her release for the emptiness had been earthbending. She had practiced all day and night, trying to forget how alone she really was. Earthbending was her vent for all her loneliness and problems, and she pushed herself hard enough to realize it. Her intense training though, had allowed her to metalbend at ten years of age, and more amazingly, become a master earthbender at the mere age of thirteen. She never really regarded herself as a genius, as it was her solitude that had pushed her to what she had become.
And then recently, she had been allowed to wander the Outer City, as long as she was properly disguised to fit into the crowd. This had been revolutionary to her, finally being able to interact with people of her own age group. She could drop the formality she had held for fifteen years and be able to communicate with her people. It was exuberating.
Thus, through her wandering, she had seen Hitsumo. She had just wanted to watch the primary level classes, to see the people that were around her age. She wanted to see analyze how they acted and the slang they used, so that she could become friends with them and fit in. The thought of friends made her joyous. Class was boring to watch, as the students hadn't even begun to move pebbles yet, let alone accomplish the wonders Yuka could make. She really was above her age group. Then after class, while all the primaries left, she saw one boy stay behind. She decided to watch his actions, interested in why this boy had stayed behind while the others had all gone.
The boy began to earthbend, much to Yuka's immediate surprise. Although he was part of the same class, he had somehow been able to exceed and surpass his classmates considerably. Yuka had become intrigued by this boy. Everyday, Yuka would watch the boy practicing earthbending after class. He trained hard and vigorous, and was accelerating at a rate perhaps even faster than herself. It was nothing short of amazing really. Yuka felt a connection with him, seeing as how similar they were, training so hard in earthbending to solve their problems. It was then that she decided she would become friends with him.
She had hoped for any chance for her to approach him but none came until that night. She had been somewhat careless, forgetting that third level earthbenders would be able to sense the earth and thus, she had allowed Hitsumo to sense her and take her down. She knew it would be hard to explain her stalking in that state so it was a pure luck the drunken men had attacked them.
And now, even though Yuka knew she had only really known Hitsumo for a few hours and vice versa, she felt a strong bond between them. They were more similar than Hitsumo thought, despite their different social classes. She gave a small smile at the thought of finally having a close friend and looked to Hitsumo. He was still gawking, his mouth open, eyes wide, and drool starting to drip out of his mouth. It was as if he was trying to intake every detail and etch it into his mind, all the while shutting off every other bodily function.
Waving her hand in front of his face, she said, "Hello? Are you there? Earth to Hitsumo… no pun intended." Hitsumo's eyes gradually focused – Yuka slapped her face; gradually focused… he really did shut off some functions – and intelligence appeared on an otherwise embarrassed face. "Sorry," he said while rubbing the back of his head, grinning like a fool.
"Whatever… come on and follow me." Yuka set off to the end of the hall and turned sharply right, without looking back. Hitsumo had better regain his senses quickly and follow her or he was bound to get lost. The Palace was a maze. One wrong turn and you could end up going in the opposite direction that you were headed. Of course, Yuka wasn't too worried as Hitsumo was a third level earthbender. He could sense her even if he got lost and should be able to find her without too much difficulty. It was exasperating to tend after him but then again, he wasn't used to this world. It was her task to introduce and guide him into it.
"So," called out Hitsumo from behind her, "where exactly are we headed?"
"Well, at this time of day, my father should be in the throne room," she answered. "Usually, he's meeting with petitioners and other people who need a hearing with their King. I'm actually surprised we haven't seen anyone yet. These corridors usually have at least a few people coming in and out. Recently, after the people that need hearings are done with, my father meets with his generals, probably about the rising tension in the city. So right now, the throne room is the best bet as to where my father is."
Yuka pushed open another gigantic door to enter a room with two other doors like it and an even grander door – if that was possible – directly in front of them. "Is that the entrance to -" "Yup." The door was slightly open and voices drifted from the crack.
Yuka frowned slightly. There were always guards in front of the door leading to the throne room but they seemed to be absent. She dismissed the thought, thinking that they were probably sent by her father to retrieve scrolls or something.
Using earthbending, she saw the throne room clearly. Hitsumo was probably doing the same. Inside, she felt two people, one standing and one that sat on the throne. Hitsumo whispered, "The one on the throne is your father, definitely… So who's the one speaking to him?"
Whispering back, Yuka stated, "I'm pretty sure that's one of my father's top generals, due to the dress. I can't exactly be sure which one though… they're all the same to me. Let's go closer and listen to what they're saying." Hitsumo looked at Yuka with a little worry but she had already gone next to the door, putting her ear out. Sighing somewhat, he followed suit. If he was caught, it would not be a good first impression.
Two separate voices drifted from the room, both male. A sharp voice on the verge of anger spoke first. "- are calling, wanting for a war! The majority of the population side with the Badgers and you know it! Yesterday, a riot has even started. The people want revenge on the Fire Nation and they will overpower us if we do not go to war. They will overpower us if we don't decide! The entire Earth Kingdom will erupt into civil war and that would be more devastating to us than when we were conquered so many years ago. With the Earth Kingdom split, like a fissure to the ground itself, the other nations will surely not hesitate to take what land they can in the confusion, especially those colonizing firebenders!"
The other voice spoke then, somewhat strained and also louder than normal. "No! I will hold this nation together if I have to mend the fissure myself. There will be no war. Prosperity has touched our land in this time of peace and I have no wish to end it. Going to war would disrupt the balance. The Elemental Pact must hold in the name of the Avatar and the Spirits. We are not hasty firebenders, acting on impulse. Do we really want to receive a reputation like the Fire Nation after they were defeated those centuries ago? I am still your king and you will do as I say."
"But we will not lose! Prosperity has touched us and we are more prepared than we will ever be. We can overwhelm anyone just by our numbers. Glory will surely follow us on the battlefield and we can finally settle the revenge on the Fire Nation! I am still loyal to you, my King, but if events continue out as they are…," the man ended with a menacing note.
The King shouted then, making Hitsumo jump, "That's it! If I cannot even trust my own generals to keep the peace, then I will not tolerate them any longer. Go inform Kiri, Hashi, Logain, Uram and all your other disciples to leave this Palace. I will not have deception and conspiracy within this Court. End of discussion!"
Yuka bit her lips. This was surely not a good sign. If corruption was implanted from inside the Palace, then it was right for her father to get rid of it. However, he might have done so too harshly. It might further their betrayal. And with the majority of the generals corrupted… there were eight: Kiri, Hashi, Logain, Uram, Diman, Raden, Terra, and Naomi. The man inside was probably Terra, from what Yuka remembered from the generals. Terra was the leadership type and rebellious to some extent. Luckily, he wasn't the Commander General or he would have more sway amongst the Court. That position belonged to Naomi, who was still faithful to the King. Even so, by banishing the possible traitors, the likelihood of rebellion had just been increased.
Suddenly, footsteps approaching the door registered in Yuka's ears. Eyes widening, she quickly grabbed Hitsumo's sleeve and earthbended themselves into the floor. In the dark underneath, she felt Terra storming right over them in a fury. When he passed, Yuka brought them back up. They got lucky. All generals were master earthbenders. It was only due to his fury that he hadn't noticed who had been eavesdropping right underneath them. Letting out a breath, Yuka turned towards Hitsumo.
His eyes were widened and his heart was pounding fast as Yuka could tell from her earthbending. His expression revealed confusion. He had never experienced political subtleties and struggles so his reaction was expected.
"Hey, don't worry about what they said," Yuka said soothingly, in an effort to calm him. "Events won't happen that way. You heard my dad. He said he would keep everything together even if he had to do it himself. You okay?"
It was working. Hitsumo's pulse was lowering if not returning to normal, and he nodded his head. "Alright then," Yuka said, "Let's meet our King shall we?" She gave a small smile and brushed his coat.
"Fine, let's just hurry up before I pass out." Yuka laughed and brought him into the throne room. If Hitsumo had thought the entrance hall had been exquisite, then he was in for quite a ride in the throne room. The entrance hall seemed plain compared to this room. Every inch of its surface area was embroidered in Earth Kingdom designs, with the usual colors of green, gold, browns, and whites. The room was immense, the biggest in the entire palace and rightfully so. The smooth feeling retained here as well, with all objects seeming to blend into each other, like the erosion of stone from the natural forces. The sides of the room held numerous doors, all leading to various places in the palace. Two rows of symmetrical columns led to the throne, which in itself was a wonder to behold. Situated on top of a small platform, it reeked of power and prestige, made purely from gold.
And sitting in the throne, laid a man, perhaps more commanding and reeking of power than any other in the entire world. Here sat the Defender of the Earth Kingdom, the Overseer of the Great Wall, the Protector of the city of Ba Sing Sei, the present day Earth King, Shinji Mitori. Dressed in imperial robes, he was the epitome of leadership and royalty. Yet, it seemed all formality was dropped as soon as his emerald eyes lay upon his daughter.
"Yuka!" he said with a smile on his face. His smile seemed so genuine and his voice so warm and becoming, Hitsumo wondered whether the argument from before had actually happened. His arms wide open, Yuka bounded up to the throne and hugged her father.
Hitsumo smiled, knowing that family life would always be the same regardless of social class differences. Family was truly one of the most precious things for a person to hold on to. Even someone as confident as Yuka needed a father to look up to and be assured by.
"And who do we have here?" Hitsumo became aware of his position and hastily knelt down, color sprouting onto his cheeks. He ignored the groan emitting from the female. Yuka may have been able to make him stand up for her but he would keep bowing until told so for the King. He had to show respect somewhere.
"This is Hitsumo, dad. You know… that boy everyone's been talking about; the one from Rural that skipped to Third Level Earthbending?" Silence followed only broken by footsteps heading toward him. Hitsumo kept his position and felt a shadow encompassing over him.
"Did you know Hitsumo," began the King, in his charismatic voice, "that the hair ribbon you are wearing belongs to me?" Hitsumo started to sweat, and his hands instinctively reached up to undo the ribbon. Did Yuka want to make him look bad in front of the King? Curse her and bury her with every other female under the mountain of Da Jhong!
As his hands reached up though, they were intercepted by two others. Looking up for the first time, he saw that the blocking force belonged to the King. He was smiling with his long, pitch black beard almost touching Hitsumo's nose. A definite father figure.
"Now, I didn't say take it off did I?" he chuckled, "No, you can keep it. I didn't like that one anyway and it looks good on you. Yuka probably set you up for it too. Females always like to cause trouble, no?" At this, Hitsumo gave a laugh. That they had thought the same, him a mere Rural and he the King, Hitsumo certainly found amusing. Yuka turned her head from the platform, unaware of her father's comment. The King brought Hitsumo up and dusted him off.
"Tell you what, if you still feel indebted to me," he said whispering in his ear, "then, I'll make you a deal. If you keep my hair ribbon, then will you become close friends with my daughter?" Hitsumo nodded, somewhat confused. "Yuka has always been a lonely child, with me and her mother always so busy. She's had no one to really enjoy life with being stuck in this Palace all day, and so, it would really mean a lot to her if you two became friends," he explained.
Looking back to Yuka for a second, Hitsumo stated, "Agreed. Though, if I may sir, I think we already are friends." The King smiled again, responding, "That's what I like to hear."
"Now," he said, his voice resonating across the columns, "why don't you show me the reason as to how you got into Third Level Earthbending?"
Hitsumo grinned and prepared a stance. As his fist swept through the air, the door behind him exploded. The attention of the three all converged onto the end of the throne room, where dust began to billow from the opening. The King's head turned to him and Hitsumo shook his head. Whoever had done it, it wasn't him. The King's smile had been replaced instantly with a frown.
Yuka started towards the door, arms forward and wary. However, an arm blocked passage to her movement. Yuka looked up to her father, whose eyes were thinning and eyebrows furrowed. "Guards!" he bellowed, his imperial voice echoing in the hall. No one came.
As Shinji opened his mouth to call out again, a familiar voice entered the air. "There's no use in calling. The Royal Guard is… occupied. You'll find no one to help you." A man emerged from the dust, as if materializing on the spot. A tall man, he wore a vicious smirk on his chiseled face with the suited dress of a general.
"Terra," the King growled, "I ordered you to leave this palace immediately!"
"I warned you didn't I? The people want war, and if you won't give it to them, then something must change. Shinji, you forget who really has the power. If the King does not satisfy the people, then they rebel. The King is loyal to the masses' wishes, regardless of self opinion. The King serves the people, not vice versa," Terra said, somewhat arrogantly, "I am merely the catalyst, the spark, if you will, to bring forth this change. If usurping is what I must do to fulfill the wishes of our citizens, so it will be. And you, Shinji, can't do anything to stop it. Can you hear it, Shinji? Outside this room, a civil war is breaking out." As he said this, he pointed out the door. Hitsumo listened and felt. As soon as he saw it, he stepped back in shock. It was as if there were earthquakes occurring in every part of the palace. There was fighting going on outside the room, earth being thrown in every direction. Sounds of shouting and collisions echoed in the now silent chamber. Hitsumo thought the palace should have been utterly obviated by now at the amount of earthbending occurring. Looking to the King and his daughter, he could see they had realized as well.
The King spoke, his voice trembling. "Terra, what you are doing is completely wrong. Going to war will only make things worse. Has history taught you nothing? Was the Fire Nation war so long ago a mistake made in vain? We as humans, have the ability to learn from past misjudgments. We have the power, to correct wrongs and avoid future disasters. You know as well as I how devastating the Fire Nation war was. The amount of people injured and killed in that last war were great enough. We are still recovering from the loss! Going to war again will collapse our entire nation. The world will be plunged into a dark age. Please, see the true path of light." The King outstretched a hand, hoping that Terra would accept it and a civil war evaded.
Hitsumo was only just able to raise a block of earth fast enough to block another, directly aimed for the king's head. Yuka yelled in anger, kicking the ground and sending a wave of earth directly at Terra. A great hill of earth rose and sped along the length of the stone, directly on target. Then, the wave suddenly stopped, without Terra moving in inch. Materializing next to him stood four others, all dressed in general outfit. Standing two on each side of Terra, they assumed earthbending positions, ready to fight. Kiri and Hashi on his left with Logain and Uram on his right.
The situation had become dramatically dangerous. With five master earthbenders against three, two of which were still in training, the chances of success looked bleak. "There is no chance," Hitsumo thought,"They've completely outmaneuvered us. We're done for."
As if reading his thoughts, the King whispered to both of them, "Don't worry. We'll get through this. Just stick together and watch each other's backs. And remember, I'm the King." Shinji stood straight teeth gritted and positioned himself. His command was now more tangible than ever and confidence seeped back into Hitsumo. They then formed a triangle, covering all blind spots.
Terra scoffed and shook his head. "You're still going to fight? I can't believe this." And with that, he thrusted his hand out, and the generals began to move. Gliding on the walls and ceiling, they had formed a ring around Hitsumo, Yuka, and the King. Terra was the first to strike. Situated on the ceiling directly above them, he brought down a pillar that descended dead center of the triangle they had formed. Landing on it, he laughed and thrust out three pillars from the central one, each hitting and pushing them away from each other.
"He's trying to separate us!" Hitsumo thought, "He's going to try and break our solid defense and take us on one on one with the other generals. Divide and conquer." Sure enough, there was a general facing Hitsumo. Sensing around him, he felt another general fighting Yuka already and Terra and the other two facing of against the King.
"I can tell you're looking for your King and his daughter. I assure you though, you will need all your attention to battle me, Logain, Fifth General." Hitsumo tuned back to his present state and barely blocked an incoming barrage of stone. Before he knew it, a pillar extended out from the nearest wall and knocked Hitsumo to the other side of the room. Tightening his jaw and trying not to yell out in pain, Hitsumo stood back up quickly. He saw that Logain had not moved, and was instead, looking at him with contempt.
"Aren't you supposed to be that kid that skipped second level? Obviously they made a mistake. You couldn't even block a simple two sequenced attack. You're not worthy enough to fight -" Logain fell as a pillar of stone erupted from behind him and hit him on the back.
Grinning, Hitsumo said, "Maybe you're the one who needs to pay attention to our battle." Logain looked up at him, anger twisting his face. His arms shot forward and parallel beams of stone extended from the ground. Hitsumo launched himself into the air, spun, and landed gracefully onto the pillars. The moment the tips of his shoes touched the beams, Hitsumo felt Logain initiating a sequence. Using the momentum Hitsumo gained during his spin, he brought up a sheet of earth from in between the rods. A thump of earth on earth let him know he had blocked Logain's attack successfully. Hitsumo rose up two more shields on either side, each accompanied by a thump. Calm, he was able to anticipate and intercept each one of Logain's attacks.
However, up till now, Hitsumo had only been defending. It was time for him to attack. Quickly adjusting his position and stance, he busted through the shield he had created and slid along the two pillars of stone he stood on. He maintained control on the shards of the shield, incase he needed the earth somehow. Logain stood in the middle of the pillars not too far away, with surprise on his face. He obviously had not expected Hitsumo to be able to block his sequence.
As Hitsumo rushed up to his opponent, Logain rose up a spike of earth in front of him. Hitsumo jumped once more and spun around behind Logain while bringing up the fragments of the shield he had just destroyed. With earth on every side of Logain, Hitsumo quickly clamped his fists and brought his arms to his side. The earth surrounded Logain, encompassing his figure and rendering him immobile. He had won.
Hitsumo let out a held breath. Against all odds, he had beaten a general. Generals were regarded as some of the best earthbenders, even among the masters as well. There was no possible way a student still in training could have beaten an individual of such rank. And yet he had done it.
Then, the earth broke. Logain appeared once more, brushing off dust and pebbles on his jacket. He looked completely calm and unconcerned. And before Hitsumo knew it, he was slammed against the wall by a mound of earth hurtling out at him from the ground.
Crouched and struggling to regain his breath after the strong hit, he croaked, "How?"
Logain shifted his eyes toward the winded Hitsumo and regarded him with contempt. "You forgot one important aspect. It's five against three. As soon as one of us saw me in that position, they would free me. It would only take a fraction of second and help our plan succeed if I was moving instead of inanimate. Caging me in this situation is pointless because we have numbers while you do not," he explained casually, as if speaking about the weather. "I had underestimated you before. Let me show you the true strength of a master earthbender."
Thousands of shards of earth rose up into the air as Logain pumped his arms upwards. Hitsumo fortified four walls around him, squaring himself off with a foot stomp. However, as the shards rained down upon his shield, the earthen barrier began to crack. Hitsumo quickly propelled himself out using earthbending at the moment the shards broke his shields.
A pillar erupted from the nearest wall and hit Hitsumo hard in the side in mid-air. At the same time, shards of earth connected with his back and pummeled him back down to the ground. Hitsumo could do nothing to defend himself. In mid-air, he had no stability; none of the strength and balance needed to earthbend even the smallest pebble. Logain had outmaneuvered him. He had corned him into shielding on all sides with the only escape being up, knowing full well earthbending was inaccessible in a free fall situation.
And now, Hitsumo lay on the floor, every breath bringing pain to his chest. It was all he could do just to stand up, let alone face Logain again. Yet, there was still strength inside of him; a small spark of will that would not be smothered. Earthbenders had always been stubborn, refusing to accept defeat. It was their nature, even when situations seemed dire and loss inevitable.
Logain sneered at Hitsumo's attempts. He knew victory was his. One last hit would finish Hitsumo. Logain's arm shot forward and a mound of earth burst from the ground headed straight for the Rural boy. Hitsumo made no attempt to stop it. His arms refused to move even if he had tried.
The mound neared quickly and then shattered right before his nose. The sting of small pebbles hitting his face was unfelt compared to the surprise Hitsumo experienced. Looking at Logain, he saw his face expressed in confusion as well.
The side doors of the throne room burst open, revealing three more people dressed in general outfits. Diman, Raden, and Naomi; the last of the generals that were loyal to the King. Behind them stood Dai Li agents, dressed in their uniform of black and earthen hands, ready to attack. Help had arrived at last.
The lead woman, Naomi, yelled, "Your treachery ends here Terra! The Royal Guard has driven back the traitors you call your Disciplined. It ends here."
All fighting had stopped in the throne room and the attention shifted to the new arrivals. Terra turned from his battle with the King, eyes flashing anger to everyone in the area. "We're not done yet," he muttered. At that, the front entrance exploded again, scattering rubble and dust through the air. Benders clad in green with a black sashes tied around their bodies quickly went in and motioned to the rebel generals to get out. "The Disciplined," Hitsumo thought.
Then a sharp, strong blow to Hitsumo's head made his entire body spin and fall to the ground. As he was spinning, he noticed three things: Logain with his arm extended and a wry smile on his lips, Yuka being carried away, and the anguished cry of a father losing his daughter. Darkness took him.
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"What do we do with these two?"
"Toss them in the wooden cells. The girl can metalbend and the boy may be able to as well. I'll strip them of all metal."
A thump on the ground and Hitsumo felt tiny vibrations throughout his body. His eyes wavered open and closed, blinded by light. He couldn't move at all. Whether he was binded or just too weak he did not know.
"The girl has metal in her shoes for some reason. Take them and store them somewhere. Then put them in the cells but do not harm them. We may be able to use her as leverage."
"Yes sir."
Hitsumo's brain refused to work. He couldn't distinguish the voices at all, although one sounded somewhat familiar. All he could make out were two shadows against the intense light. Something picked him up and began to move. The jouncing of his body was too much for his weak state and Hitsumo fell unconscious once more.
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"Yuka," Hitsumo croaked. Every part of his body felt aflame. His muscles ached and it was too painful to do much more than speak. Even then, every sound he made felt like he would pass out from the sheer effort. His strength had disappeared and had been replaced with pain like he had never imagined. "Are you there?"
He waited. No reply came from the other side of his wooden cell. He called out again, his body straining with the effort. "Yuk-"
"I'm here," came the feeble response, cracked with pain and torment. Hitsumo cringed inside at how weak the voice was. "Are you okay, Yuka?"
"Does it sound like I am? Are you okay?" Her voice had lost its musical tone, instead replaced with sobs. She was crying. Hitsumo felt more helpless than ever. He could do nothing to assuage her and nothing to help.
Looking around, Hitsumo saw that they were indeed put in a wooden cell. The front wall had wooden bars and was locked by a lock made of wood as well. The room outside of it was wooden – "Big surprise there," Hitsumo thought wryly - and there were lamps, to give at the very least some sort of lighting. Tapping his foot ever so slightly – Hitsumo cried out in pain at that – he sent vibrations to see where they were. Although his sense was blurred somewhat by the wood, he was able to realize that the room was underground. It was only a few feet under but still under nevertheless. Hitsumo reasoned it was probably outside the city, but it depended upon on how bad events had gotten. If civil war had also broken out on the streets, then it would be safe for the rebel headquarters to be in the city. However, if it had been just inside the palace, the headquarters had to be situated outside Ba Sing Se. Judging upon the agitation of the masses, the civil war could have very well broken out into the public. However, it didn't matter to him if he couldn't find a way to get both Yuka and himself out first. With the thought of escape in his mind, sleep dawned on him.
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It was the fourth day of their imprisonment. Hitsumo's bruises were healing although they still hurt. However, he could now move around in what little space he had without passing out.
Imprisonment was boring. It was the only feeling to describe it. Yuka didn't feel like talking most of the time and so after trying numerous times, he decided to let it rest. She could talk when she wanted to. There were no guards outside, for which Hitsumo was glad of. They had assumed there was no possible way for them to escape and therefore, did not waste any labor on looking after two weaponless teenagers. A rebellious force would need all the work force possible on the front.
Meals come three times a day, at regular intervals. It was the same everytime. Bread and water. Nothing nutritious enough to give Hitsumo any sort of strength. Nevertheless, there was one beneficial aspect of imprisonment. It gave him a lot of time to think.
He did spend time worrying about his family and for the King. He was sure though that both were safe. The rebels would need a greater portion of the masses on their side so because the majority of the population resided in the Rural and Outer Rings, no harm would come to them. As for the King, he had heard they could use Yuka for leverage against the King. Therefore, Hitsumo concluded Shinji had not been captured during the rebellion and was safe.
What he thought about now was how to escape. All he focused on was getting out of the cell. Anything after he would have to make up along the way. The cage and room was wooden so there was no earth for them to bend. There were no guards to manipulate and nothing in the room that could be of any assistance. Hitsumo racked his brains over and over but he came up with nothing.
Hitsumo looked over to his left at the wall blocking his cell to Yuka's cell. If only she retained the will to try. It was as if she had lost all hope, against even the stubbornness of the Earth Kingdom people. He thought back to what the King had asked him to do. To become friends with Yuka, to heal her loneliness. He was failing that promise.
He touched the hair ribbon the King had allowed him to keep. It was a symbol of that pact. Hitsumo took it off and put it in his hands. He didn't deserve to wear it as long as Yuka remained in such a miserable state.
A glint off the ribbon caught Hitsumo's eyes. Looking back down at the outstretched fabric lay a metal wire running along its length. Eyes widening, he quickly thought back to when the Rebel had detected them for metal. He had used vibrations so any metal should have been picked up and discarded. "But they missed this piece of metal," Hitsumo thought, "My hair could have served as a muffler. It would have softened the vibrations, perhaps even stopped them and the metal would remain undetected!"
"Yuka!" he exclaimed to the other side, joy in his voice for the first time in days. "I have metal!"
"What?" came the response, with hope seeping into an otherwise depressed voice. It was heartening to Hitsumo that hope was returning to her spirit. It made him more determined than ever.
"I have metal! It was in that hair ribbon you gave me. A metal wire with more than enough to create a pick or even a key! I have a theory as to why they didn't catch that but it doesn't matter so long as we have a way to get out of this cage!"
"Yeah," she said, "but you can't metalbend." Her voice was returning to her depressed state.
"Not yet, but I can try can't I? Before I met your father, in my earthbending classes, I was almost able to metalbend. I think I did bend it somewhat actually. All I need to do is just push myself one more time." Hitsumo closed his eyes and concentrated on the metal. He could feel the every small texture on it, every bump and every scratch. But he needed more. He thought of everything that depended on this; his promise to the King, Yuka's hope, his family. Then something clicked. Hitsumo was suddenly in tune with every particle of the metal. He could differentiate the refined earth from the pure metal as if it were light and day. It was as if he was seeing for the first time. He began to bend.
Opening his eyes and hands, he saw the metal wired had changed shape into a key. "I did it," he whispered, "I metalbended." Astonishment and joy flowed throughout his entire body. "I'm a metalbender."
Tapping the wodden lock once, Hitsumo gained a view of its inner workings and visualized the necessary key shape. After a few tries of molding the key to the right shape, he finally got at is it fit in perfectly. Almost unbelieving, he twisted the key and hoped for the best. A click resounded in the lock was all the confirmation he needed. He pushed open the door and stood upright for the first time in four days.
Hitsumo then proceeded to Yuka's cell, already configuring the key. She was inside near the corner, facing away from the door. He felt a stab of guilt looking at her. She was a mess, clothes dirty, hair all over the place, and dirt and grime over every part of her skin. Of course, he probably looked the same. She hadn't noticed Hitsumo outside the door yet.
A satisfying click reverberated from the lock and he pulled open the door. Smiling and putting out a victory sign, he called, "Hey, Yuka."
Shocked, wide, green eyes lay upon his. "No - way."
----------------------------
A few moments later, Hitsumo found themselves running through an underground passage way. They had met one Disciplined along the way but quick earthbending plus the element of surprise had made little disturbance. Still, meeting only one Disciplined was strange. Perhaps the facility was normally empty, the people acting as sleeper cells within Ba Sing Se. Perhaps they were just lucky. Whatever it was, Hitsumo was grateful they had not met many people, as it made their escape much easier.
Now, all that could be heard was the soft pattering of their feet against soft earth. Hitsumo sent out vibrations in front of him, knowing Yuka was doing the same as well. They could not afford to be caught off guard in enemy territory and so, they constantly kept up their earthbending senses.
Then, both sensed three figures running in their direction from a crisscrossing corridor. Yuka quickly pulled Hitsumo into the nearest room, after sensing it was empty. They definitely could have taken care if them if it was necessary, but trouble had to be avoided when it could. Waiting for the figures to pass was painstaking. It felt as if every second they could be recaptured.
Looking around in the room they had gone in, Hitsumo saw that it was a storage room. Weapons lined the room along with other supplies such as water and food. Both Yuka and Hitsumo ignored the weaponry. No doubt they were for any non-bending Disciplined, as benders really did not have much need for any other tool. Weaponry could assist bending and enhance it to a degree but both of them had no training in the sort.
"Oh look! My shoes are here," Yuka said brightly, obviously happy to reclaim her footwear. She picked them up where they lay near the corner of the room and put them on. Yuka's spirits had definitely returned to her after escaping the cell. Her self-confidence and control had returned to her and the guilt Hitsumo had felt vanished.
"Lucky," he commented, "and it looks like they passed already. They were sure in a hurry to be somewhere. Do you think something's happening? It would explain the empty hallways." As if the universe had responded to his statement. The entire room began to shake. Could it be an earthquake? Looking at Yuka once, they both quickly got out of the room and ran through the corridors. Along the way, Disciplined ran in all direction, randomly, all screaming, "Intruder!" At the first few Disciplined to run their way, the two raised their fist, ready to fight. However, the Disciplined completely ignored them, instead just running in the opposite direction. "What's going on?" Hitsumo thought. "What kind of intruder would create this kind of uproar?"
Again, as if the universe was answering Hitsumo's confusion, the walls and ceiling ripped apart and were blown away to reveal the answer. It was a whirlwind, a hurricane, a landslide. Only a deity could have done such a task. And the only living, real deity Hitsumo was aware of was the Avatar.
Eyes widened in shock, he watched as the Avatar took notice of the two teenagers. Glowing eyes, whirling hair whipped by the tornado he had created –centered in the whirlwind he had created, he looked nothing less than a god. He seemed to blend into the tornado with his thick, blue fur coat, signifying the origin of the Water Tribes. This was Avatar Sibus, of the Northern Water Tribe. "The Avatar! In the Avatar state, nonetheless! Why is he here?"
The Avatar wreaked destruction on the headquarters, its earthen walls shattering upon impact of his mini-tornado. It was all Hitsumo and Yuka could do to keep from collapsing in front of such an awe inspiring - perhaps even on the fringe of frightening - sight. Then, those glowing eyes fell upon the two teenagers. Expelling the tornado, he dropped down in front of the two. His gaze sent shivers down Hitsumo's back.
"Hitsumo," the Avatar boomed with the voice of thousands. Startled, Hitsumo took a step back. "How does he know my name?"
"Hitsumo," he repeated. The immense command of the voice and the being overpowered made even the King seem a mere peasant. He wasn't a symbol for power; he was power.
"A time will come when the Avatar is assassinated in the Avatar state and the Avatar line will end. Times have changed. The Avatar alone can no longer hold the peace of this world. When the Avatar line has been extinguished, you must travel to the Northern Water Tribe. In your journey, you will find a water, a fire, and an airbender. Befriend them and travel together. At the Northern Water Tribe, go to the pond in which the yin and yang circle endlessly. Seek a path into the Spirit World. Speak to your elemental Spirit and question the origin of the Avatar line. Find the answers you will seek and use them to restore balance to this war-blighted land. This is the quest I lay upon you. You MUST not fail."
With the impending prophecy concluded, the Avatar closed his glowing eyes. Upon reopening them, they had returned to normal gray eyes. His hand shot up to his head, massaging his forehead as he stifled a moan. Then, he looked at the two teenagers and gave a start, as if realizing they were there for the first time. Both were too shocked from what they just heard to see it.
The Avatar, misinterpreting their wide stares and slightly open mouths, stared back and commentated, "Yeah, I think I overdid it a little." Hitsumo focused his eyes and realized he was talking about the destruction he had made. The entire surrounding area looked as if it had been through a century of warfare. Perhaps it had.
Returning to them, the Avatar said in a fatherly yet stressed tone, "You must be Hitsumo and Yuka no? Come on, we've got to get out of here. I've managed to scatter the rebels out of fear but even I can't hold off hundreds of troops. I'll explain on the way. Do you still have the strength to earthbend?" They nodded without exactly realizing what they had agreed to.
"Great." With a hard stomp, the Avatar popped up a platform of earth. Getting on, he motioned Hitsumo and Yuka to do the same. "Okay, I'll airbend this platform up while you two just focus and earthbend it forward. It'll be quicker that way and we have to get to the Palace. Right now, we're a little ways out from Ba Sing Se, but with our combined effort, we should be able to get there fast."
A horn resounded somewhere in the parts that hadn't collapsed, which only quickened the Avatar's motions. And up they went. Flying was definitely uncomfortable. With no solid earth under them, Hitsumo felt vulnerable and off balance. It defied the earthbending nature of strength and power. Furthermore, by only pushing forward, he was afraid the platform might drop at any second. But if there was anyone he could trust to keep the platform up, it would be the Avatar.
Once they were a ways up and away from the rebel headquarters, the Avatar began to speak. "I'll bet you two are confused as to why I'm here. It's a long story but I'll start from the beginning of why I'm here. I had received news that Ba Sing Se was in a state of civil war so I came here immediately. When I arrived, I found the city in turmoil and chaos so I made my presence known. My first priority was to keep the peace. That's the job of an Avatar; to keep the peace." He sighed, as though the weight of such a task bore down on him with the weight of a mountain.
He continued his explanation, "Thus, I went into Avatar state which stopped all the riots. If a disturbance is big enough, any mob will cease and there is none much bigger than an Avatar entering the Avatar state, as you just saw. After the rioting had quelled, I went to your father, Yuka, who was leading the barricade to the Palace. Most of the rebels had tried to overtake the Palace, you see. The King then told me about your situation and I searched for the headquarters of the rebellion, not only too rescue you too, but to end the civil war for good."
"When I found it, I tried negotiating with the leader, Terra. However, negotiations did not end up well. His stubbornness and maniacal ideas for war drove me into the Avatar state and well, you saw the rest. And now, here we are."
Hitsumo didn't know quite what to think of it. Everything had happened so quickly, from the coup d'etat, to the arrival of the Avatar. He would need some time later to sort things out.
"How's my father?" Yuka inquired, worry apparent in her voice.
The Avatar chuckled. "He's doing fine. He's a little hurt from his battle but more so, it pained him to see you captured. I heard that it took fifteen men to stop him from pursuing Terra and his Disciplined when you two were taken away and even then, he was already in the Outer Ring."
"That idiot," Yuka muttered, though smiling nonetheless. She was obviously pleased for her father's concern.
"Of course, this is coming from a servant, so I don't exactly know how accurate that little anecdote was," he whispered to Hitsumo, winking at the same time. The humor brought forth a little laughter from Hitsumo, the first in days. The Avatar was a fun loving guy, it seemed to him. Loving peace was part of the job and it could not be performed better than if it were inherently born.
"Avatar Si -, " Hitsumo began.
"Just Sibus, please"
"Sibus, what was that prophecy about earlier? What does it mean? Why me?" Yuka leaned forward, also curious to Sibus's response. However, all Sibus did was scratch his head, looking confused.
"Prophecy? I didn't recite any sort of prophecy to you," he answered skeptically.
"Yes, you did while you were in the Avatar state." Yuka nodded, confirming Hitsumo's statement.
The Avatar looked away for a moment, gazing out towards the horizon. He seemed suddenly serious, and then tired. "Sometimes," he began in a solemn voice, "I have no control over what I do in the Avatar state. When I initiate the state, I give myself up to all my past reincarnations so that I have the strength, the wisdom, the experience of thousands. This is all controlled by the spirits that overlook the connection between the Avatar and spirit world. Sometimes though, those spirits take over my actions and use me for their purposes. Whatever it is you heard you should try to follow as best you can."
"But the prophecy said tha -, " Yuka tried to interject.
"No. I don't want to hear it. If the spirits prevented me from knowing it, then it wasn't meant for my ears," he said somewhat forcefully. "Besides," he said, putting on a small smile, "We're here."
Hitsumo looked up and around to see he was right. They were back in the Inner Ring. But it wasn't the same. The Inner Ring had been the epitome of grandeur and elegance. Everything had been smooth and perfect, with nothing broken and the entire place sparkling clean. Now, the aftermath of a civil war showed, no matter how short it was. Deep holes lay here and there and more than one statue had been completely demolished. An entire section of the huge staircase leading up to the palace was gone. Rubble was scattered everywhere and rocks stuck out of buildings. It was a complete mess.
Looking around though, Hitsumo saw that the Outer Ring had not been harmed too much. It seemed most of the rebellion had taken place in the Inner Ring. It was better that way. The nobles would have the money necessary to rebuild it while life in the Outer Ring would be able to exist normally.
"Yuka!" Everyone turned around to see the King earthbending down to his daughter. As soon as they met, they enveloped in a hug. "I was so worried about you."
Hitsumo turned around. Not that it was embarrassing to watch – well, actually, that wasn't exactly true – but that he didn't think Yuka would appreciate him seeing such affection for her father in public. Next to him, he saw that Sibus had turned around as well and had proceeded to scratch his cheek while wearing an amused expression. An amusing personality indeed.
Deciding to fill up the awkward silence between them, Hitsumo asked, "So… I'll bet being the Avatar helps with the girls huh?" A grin stretched across his face.
"I can't say it doesn't hinder it," the Avatar retorted, a grin also crawling upon his face. Laughing, he punched Hitsumo on the arm who smiled back. "You know, if you play your cards right, you might be able to get into royalty, Hitsumo." Realizing the Avatar meant Yuka, he immediately blushed and was about to retort to this absurd statement before being interrupted.
Holding a fist up with a slightly annoyed – and perhaps a hint of amusement? – expression behind them was Yuka. "You can look now you brats. You both probably thought I would be embarrassed by public affection, snickering behind my back. Why, I'll give you something to be embarrassed about!" Hitsumo staggered. She sounded extremely serious. "Uh, wait a second," he said, hands up in front of him, "can't we talk about this?" A hand appeared on Yuka's shoulder and an arm that was about to meet contact with a certain face stopped mid-way. Saved by the King. Girls were definitely scary.
"I presume your encounter with the Disciplined went badly, from the fact you had to arrive here so quickly?" the King said inquisitively, an eyebrow arched. The Avatar looked away and replied solemnly, "Yes. I couldn't negotiate with Terra at all. He was a war-crazed lunatic and it drove me over the edge. However, I did destroy their hideout while in Avatar state so the rebellion should be quelled for now. They have been scattered and will need time to fortify, allowing you to fortify your troops and take them down." Looking back directly at the King, he said, "I'll depend on you to keep the peace, my friend?" Nodding, the King answered, "Absolutely."
"Then I need to get going. I'm headed towards the Fire Nation next. I must see and stop whatever it is they are doing with the military. The spirits bless us this does not erupt in war. Do you have my staff?"
"That I do." And the King pulled a staff longer than himself by a full two inches out of his back, seemingly from nowhere. This puzzled Hitsumo to no end. Where could he have… it must have been a talent shared by father and daughter, he concluded.
The Avatar took the staff and tapped it on the ground once. Purple wings unfolded out of the staff and the Avatar took hold of the handles. "A gift from the airbenders," he said, "In fact, they said this particular one had belonged to the Avatar Aang himself." Amazing. A five hundred year old relic from Aang nonetheless. "And look," he said brightly, "a peanut cache." Twisting one of the handles, a hatch opened dropping a peanut which landed lightly on Sibus's hand. Everyone sweat dropped, not seeing the exact necessity for a peanut cache.
"Well, I'll be off now," Sibus said, chuckling at their expressions. "Farewell to Ba Sing Se." And he was off, airbending into the sky to the west. Hitsumo watched him until he was a black speck in the sky and then no more.
"So, Hitsumo." He turned around to face the King. "I suppose you'll want to head back to your family as well. They're probably worried sick about you. As compensation, why don't you give them this?" The King took out a key. "Yuka told me how you got yourselves out of the cell. Congratulations. You are now an official metalbender and as you know, all metalbenders with their families are relocated into the Inner Ring. Usually there would be more ceremony than this but… oomph." The "oomph" had come from Hitsumo who had tackled the King into a bear hug. His efforts had finally paid off. He had gotten his family out of the Rural Ring.
Many thank you's and a good bye later, Hitsumo ran through the Outer Ring as fast as he could to tell the good news. As he ran, the full blunt of the prophecy came to him. The Avatar was going to die. That humorous, good natured man earlier was going to die. Along with him would follow the entire line of the Avatar. And he would have to leave Ba Sing Se. Even with events looking brighter, with the relocation of his family into the Inner Ring, the Ring of the upper class and of nobles, the future looked bleak. Hard and dangerous times were sure to follow.
I'm sure there are inconsistencies somewhere in here. It was so long that I didn't proofread. T.T
Anyways, I'm just glad to have finished this chapter up. Next chapter will be The Firebender if you haven't noticed the pattern. Reviews please.