CHAPTER 3-SUN WARRIORS
The view was overwhelming. He has never seen anything like it. Iroh growing up inside the Fire Nation Palace, with industrial capital of the world, seeing something so ancient had a sense of beauty to him. From the look of the place, it looked like no one had lived there in at least a century! The buildings were starting to crumble, and the vegetation had begun to take over majority of the surfaces. There was something eerie about this place; Iroh couldn't quiet put his finger on it, but there was something odd.
Iroh began to walk towards the temple in the middle of the ruins, and with every few steps, he would turn around as if he was being followed. There were times he was pretty sure he saw someone following him. While admiring the stone detail and craftsmanship, Iroh was not paying attention, and set off a trap. This trap caused the floor on which Iroh was standing on, to drop from beneath him. Iroh used his firebending as jets to jump over to the other side of the path. He barely made it. He swung himself over onto the road again with his heart pounding.
The young prince continued to walk towards the large temple, but this civilization was like a maze. Iroh found himself walking back the way he came more often than not. It was becoming darker and darker, and he was determined not to give up just yet. Next thing Iroh felt was a slight pinch on the back of his neck, then he felt sleepy and collapsed on the ground.
Slowly Iroh opened his eyes. It was difficult to see anything, his eyelids were heavy and his eyesight was foggy. However, once he was able to make out what he was seeing, all he could see was a dark sky filled with stars.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" said a deep voice coming from somewhere around Iroh.
Trying to lift himself up, but unable to do so, Iroh was left to respond lying on the ground, "my name is Iroh, I am the crowned prince of the Fire Nation, and I am here to kill a dragon."
Murmurs spread around Iroh, although he was unable to make out any of what was being said. "What did you say?" the stern voiced replied.
"I am here to become a master firebender, find my honor, and embrace my future as Firelord."
A squeaky voice from the other direction added, "well how does killing a dragon solve any of those problems?!"
"I am not really sure." Iroh paused for a moment and thought, "it made sense at the time. To become a master firebender, it has been said you have to kill a dragon, and becoming a master firebender will solve all my problems."
"So you want to become a master firebender" continued the stern voice. "Get up! If you want to be a master firebender, GET UP!"
This time Iroh was able to successfully stand, and when he looked around, he was amazed. He was surrounded by a civilization of people: a civilization of firebenders. Their hair was in a similar fashion to that of the Fire Nation-in ponytails, and they were dressed in red and gold clothing. All of Sun Warriors, were watching Iroh's every move.
"I thought…I thought the Sun Warriors died out long ago" Iroh said.
"We wanted the world to think that, so we could be left alone" the stern voice added. This voice belonged to a man who was wearing a large headdress, the chief of the Sun Warriors. The chief pointed to a flame which was housed in a hole in the wall. "This is the Eternal Flame; this is the very first flame. It was given to man by the dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years. You must take some of the Eternal Flame to the masters. They will judge you, your heart, and your ancestors."
Iroh reluctantly walked up to the Flame, and held some in his hands. He turned around and saw a huge mountain which he struggled to climb with this flame in his hand. He walked what seemed like for forever, and during the time which he thought about what the chief said. How will the masters judge me? I am not the best person, but I am worthy to learn. I know I am worthy to become a master firebender. I will become a master firebender; I will kill a dragon.
He made it to the top of the mountain, to find a large staircase leading to a platform waiting for him. Iroh walked up those stairs, and with each step becoming more and more nervous of being judged. When he made it to the top, music and chanting below him had begun. The Sun Warriors were calling out to the masters. With the flame in hand, Iroh bowed and waited. "I am ready to be judged," he said shakily.
Before Iroh knew it, there were strong gusts of wind. He looked up to see two dragons, one red, and one blue flying around him. "Wow," was all Iroh could say. The dragons stopped right in front of Iroh and judged him. Iroh could feel their eyes piercing through his soul. Just as the dragons had opened their mouths, a weird sensation overcame Iroh. The air got cold and foggy. He thought for a moment that a tall skinny man, who looked oddly familiar, appeared in the fog, and that man was talking to the dragons. Just as quickly as the fog arrived, it left, leaving the dragons alone with Iroh. The dragons, turned their faces upwards and let out a breath of fire. The fire surrounded Iroh in a whirlwind fashion, and it was unlike any fire he had seen before.
"There are so many colors. Such warmth and energy. This is firebending," Iroh said in amazement. The dragons retreated back to the way they came, and Iroh descended down the stairs, to the Sun Warriors.
"Those were Ran & Shaw, the last two dragons in existence," the chief said. "They judged you, and determined you were worthy of visions of the meaning of firebending. Firebending is life."
Iroh, with this newly found understanding, practiced a firebending set with newly found power and strength behind his bending. He was amazed at what difference truly understanding firebending made in his bending. However, as Iroh practiced his firebending, something at his core changed. He was no longer sure of who he was, or what his destiny had in store for him. Iroh did know something: he was not ready to head back to the Fire Nation.
He said goodbye to the Sun Warriors, and promised to keep his secret, stranded on the beach of the Sun Warrior Civilization, Iroh had no idea of how to get anywhere.
