Another update, yay! I have to be honest with all my readers, but this story, even after I reread it and edit it, doesn't sound as good as it did in my head. I'm still going to write and post the rest of this story, but I consider this my weakest story of the Darkness Saga. If you like it please tell me, but I don't believe this will be my best work.
Please review everyone. And tell me how you think of the story so far.
P.S. I am going to try to update at least once a week, but with school and work… well, I'll just try my hardest.
Chapter 2 The Wiseman
The planning for Republic City was underway. The leaders from each nation were leading the project, and were planning in the Fire Nation capital of Royal Caldera City. Currently, most of the world leaders have left to their homes for a break. At the moment, Fire Lord Zuko and Team Avatar were the only representatives staying in the Royal Palace. They were continuing the discussion of security. However, they couldn't agree on anything.
"We need firepower." said Zuko, obviously annoyed. "Quite literally."
"But how do you think the other people will feel Zuko?" asked Katara. "After what happened during the Hundred Year War, I don't believe people will trust Firebenders with authority like that."
"So what do you suggest?" asked Zuko.
"Non-Benders are out of the question." said Sokka. "With more people learning metal bending and lightning techniques, they would be in terrible danger."
"Well we can't use the Dai Li." said Katara. "They are easily controlled."
"Hellooo!" said Toph, gaining some attention. "How about a metal bending security force? As Sokka said, more people are learning it, thanks to me by the way, so we make a police force with them."
This went on for several hours. The only one not really paying attention was Aang, the Avatar. He was playing with his pet lemur Momo. After being yelled at by everyone, he calmly suggested that they all take a break. After sighing, Zuko agreed and said that they will take the rest of the day off. When everybody left, Aang and Katara were walking through the palace.
"Where are we going Aang?" asked Katara.
"Well," started Aang. "There is this festival going on in the city, and it might be fun for us to spend some alone time together."
"Aww, you're so sweet." said Katara.
The couple spent several hours at the festival. They watched shows of animals doing tricks, hypnotists (which reminded Aang and Katara of Joo Di), and several different benders doing different acts. They then went around and ate at several different food stands. During the day, they bought several souvenirs. Near the end of the day, Aang and Katara were leaving the festival, holding hands, until an old voice called out to them.
"Lovers in twilight, I see." said the voice. Aang and Katara nearly jumped out of their skin. They looked around and saw an old man in a dirty, raggedy brown cloak that covered his face, sitting in the shadows. He was sitting on the ground, both hands in his sleeves. "But curiouser and curiouser, I wonder who they be?"
"Sorry sir…" said Aang. "We, uh… didn't see you there."
"It is foolish to rely on sight," said the man, "For one can always be blinded by Light."
"Right…" said Katara, obviously creeped out. "Well, have a nice evening!"
"Destiny will tear you two apart." said the man.
"What?!"asked Aang and Katara.
"Love is a lie." The man said. "Anything can prove that your love is the weakest of ties."
"Who are you?" demanded Aang. "And could you stop rhyming please."
"Aw, but that adds a bit of mysticism to my thing." The man said. "But you may call me Wiseman."
"Well what do you want?" asked Katara.
"To tell you your future." Wiseman said.
"Sorry, but we know our future." Aang said while holding Katara's hand.
"So you know when you are going to get married, you know how many kids you are going to have, you know when you are going to have a large argument that makes the two of you question your love for each other?" asked Wiseman. "Please, I have been around for a long time and know what love is. And I don't see it in the two of you."
"Oh yea?!" screamed Katara. "We saved each other's lives more than enough times to show our love for each other!"
"Really?" asked Wiseman. He then removed his hands from his sleeves and revealed his old and withered hands holding a crystal ball. "Would you like to prove it?"
Katara and Aang looked at each other, not really sure that they can walk away from this. Giving up, they agreed. Wiseman told Aang to touch the crystal, and as Aang did so, his hand was cut.
"What was that?!" demanded Aang. Katara instantly rushed over and started to heal Aang's hand.
"My methods require a bit of blood to be at their most accurate." said Wiseman. He started waving his hands over the crystal ball and it floated up in the air. Aang's blood was absorbed into the crystal ball, which caused it to glow the color of blood. Then Wiseman spoke as if in a trance. "Betrayal…treachery…agony… death…Silence."
After these few words, Wiseman returned to what Aang and Katara thought was normal. When they repeated what he said and asked what it meant, he only said time will tell. As Aang and Katara left, the looked back and saw that Wiseman disappeared.
"What a weird guy." said Aang.
"More like creepy." Katara said. "How's your hand?"
"It's better, thanks to you." said Aang. They held hands while they walked back to the palace.
From the shadows, the Wiseman was watching them intensively. He was chuckling to himself. Then shadows began to envelop Wiseman, and his appearance changed. He transformed into a young man with pitch black hair and eyes. He wore black royal robes and had pale white skin. It was the corpse that the three treasure hunters released weeks ago.
"Well, this is going to be fun." said the corpse. "Oh Aang, you have no idea what the oncoming storm will be bring. Ha ha ha ha!"
Holding up his hand, he looked into the blood red crystal ball. Different patterns of light glowed from it, until they formed four faces. One face was that of a middle aged man with black, disheveled hair and simple brown clothes. This man had a very angry look on his face, and was in a prison cell.
The next face was that of an elderly woman with a very light tan. She had many wrinkles and white hair. Her hands were bound and pulled back. She was having a very hard time breathing. She was also wearing a brown tunic.
The third face was that of a man, but he was kept in a more cleanly fashion. He was somewhat bald, but had a ponytail. His robes were green and yellow. He was sitting in a cell made of metal and was constantly thinking if a way to escape.
The final face was that of an old man. This man was bald with a blue arrow on his head. His mustache was white, and he wore orange robes. Around his neck was a string of beads and a medallion that had the symbol for air. Then his face shifted and decomposed, forming a skull.
"The four most powerful benders in the world." said the corpse. "I would expect nothing less from the enemies of the Avatar."