Chapter 3 The Four Horsemen
Capital City Prison
Ozai has been rotting in the prison for nearly two years. His hair has become long and disheveled. He only ate so he wouldn't die. The guards who once served him, more than likely out of fear, now treat him with no respect, blindly following his son's pathetic rule as the Fire Lord. Ozai wasn't jealous of his son, in fact that he was just a bit proud that he was able to defeat his prodigal sister in Agni Kai. However, he despised the fact that Zuko was blindly following the Avatar's lead in a grand, "peaceful" unification of the nations.
To pass his time, Ozai had started to meditate. He tried to contemplate his place in the universe, but every time he did, he only saw the world ablaze, with himself upon a throne of solid gold. His weaker older brother often visited him and was the one who suggested meditation. Ozai at first didn't even respond to the idea, but he became increasingly bored. One day, while being disgraced and talked down to by his guard, Ozai tried the meditation again.
"What a waste of a man." said the guard. He was a potbellied man with gray hair. He bragged how he was the strongest Firebender in his day, and could have wiped the floor with Ozai if he was a few years younger. "Not even a Firebender anymore. The Fire Lord defeated by a thirteen year old boy."
Ozai never responded to the man he considered a peasant. He just concentrated on his meditation. But the guard's words did ring true. Despite his immense skill and his powers enhanced by Sozin's Comet, he was defeated, dishonored, and his bending taken away by a boy younger than his own son.
During Ozai's meditation period and the guard's rants, the entire prison became cold. It wasn't like a winter cold Ozai experienced when he traveled the world to look for the Avatar, but more like a Darkness that has surrounded the prison. After opening his eyes and seeing his breath, Ozai started hearing the screams. Screams of both the prisoners and the many guards that the prison housed. These screams were supernaturally frightening. And they were getting closer.
"What's going on out there?!" asked the guard. Ozai could see the light from Firebenders trying to protect themselves and heard the explosions from the battle. He ran outside and looked around. Then the shadows appeared. The guard started screaming and began to Firebend. However, the shadows wrapped around the guard and devoured him. Then the shadows flowed into Ozai's room and the Corpse entered.
"Well, well, well." said the Corpse with a large smile. Ozai slowly back up against the wall of his cell. "What have we here?"
"What are you?" asked Ozai. "Who are you?"
"In due time Ozai." said the Corpse. Flipping his hands, the Corpse forced the metal bars open. He walked inside the cell and pulled up the guard's chair. "Ozai, I'm just going to cut to the chase; join me and regain all of your power and more, or rot in this cell forever."
"If I accept this offer, what does it entail for me?" asked Ozai.
"Whatever you want." said the Corpse. "However, I am the only one that is to kill the Avatar. He is the key to this World's downfall. Understand?"
"Yes." Ozai said.
"So, do you agree with my deal?" asked the Corpse.
"I accept." said Ozai.
"Good." The Corpse said. He stood up and began to walk out. Ozai followed him, and then bumped into the Corpse. "Oh, I forgot one thing. I haven't told you what you have to sacrifice to get your powers back."
"I have nothing left since I lost the throne." Ozai said. "What can I give you?"
"Your Heart." said the Corpse without missing a beat. He plunged his hand into Ozai's chest and pulled out a smooth red crystal Heart. As the Heart faded into Darkness, Ozai's body began to fade into Darkness as well. However, the Corpse summoned a small fragment of rock that was on fire. The rock itself was as red as the flame. The Corpse then plunged the fragment into Ozai's chest. Ozai screamed, but not in pain. He felt an overwhelming power fill him. It was like his Firebending at its peak, but also much more. Ozai's eyes and mouth expelled flames. "Welcome to the Darkness, my Horseman of War."
"This power… it's amazing!" said Ozai.
"Glad you're enjoying it." said the Corpse. "I just replaced your Heart with a fragment of what you call Sozin's Comet. And doing so, I have restored your Bending."
"Thank you." said Ozai, bowing his head.
"Now, that you have your Bending back," started the Corpse, "you need to prove your loyalty to me."
"What else do you want?!" asked Ozai. "I already gave you my Heart!"
The Corpse just stood there with a smile on his face.
Fire Nation Mental Facility
Azula was sitting in a wheel chair and tied in a strait jacket. Her hair was down and was very messy. She was in a padded room all by herself.
"Father will come for me…" mumbled Azula. "He will get me out of here. He is the only one who loves me. Mother hated me… her own daughter… always preferred weak little ZuZu over me…"
"I'm sorry you feel that way, my dear daughter." said Ozai, who was standing in the door.
"Father!" screamed Azula with a smile of insanity. "You've come to free me!"
"Yes Azula." said Ozai. "I came to free you from your imprisonment."
"Thank you father." said Azula. Tears began to fall from her face. Ozai walked towards his daughter and pulled her into a hug. "I love you father."
"I love you too." Ozai said as he kissed her head. He then backed up.
The room was getting hotter. Azula was sweating fiercely. Ozai, however, looked as if he was enjoying a cool summer breeze. Then, Ozai burst into flames and his flames enveloped the room, reducing Azula to ash without her even screaming.
Clap. Clap. Clap. Ozai turned around and saw the Corpse leaning against what remains of the wall, clapping.
"Congratulations." said the Corpse. "Although, I didn't know you could be so kind to your daughter. You gave her too fast of a death in my opinion."
"Of course," said Ozai, "Master."
Fire Nation Prison
Hama was imprisoned on the same prison she was forced into many years ago. It was the very prison where she discovered Bloodbending. Ever since she succeeded in her goal to teach Katara Bloodbending, the Fire Nation prison took extra precautions against Hama. She was in a suspended cell with her hands bound behind her. The room had extremely dry air. Her cell was located far beneath the ground that she could never feel the full moon's power. Her old age was getting to her, and she knew she would die any day now.
After she was given her daily drink of water, Hama decided to give up on life. As she began to let go, she felt all of her anger rise to the surface. She was angry that she was taken by the villagers so easily, despite Katara's role in her defeat. As she let go, the shadows came.
"Oh Hama, dear," said the corpse as he formed from the Darkness, "don't die. You're too useful to die." As he spoke, Hama felt life fill her being, just a little bit, enough that she could talk to the Corpse.
"Who are you?" asked Hama after she fell to the ground of her cell due to her restraints being broken apart.
"Your salvation." said the Corpse. "I can give you power beyond your wildest dreams, and you can use your Bloodbending on the entirety of the Fire Nation for all I care."
"Why do you need an old woman's help?" asked Hama.
"You seem useful, and an actual threat towards the Avatar and Katara." The Corpse said. "Do you want salvation Hama?"
"Yes." Hama said. She stood up and the Corpse plunged his hand in her chest and removed her Heart. He then summoned a greyish/ white stone in his hand and replaced it with Hama's Heart.
Hama's body then became coated in sickly green water. Then she began to grow younger. Her white hair became brown and her face smoothed. She stood up straighter, with a youthful vigor. She appeared to be in her twenties. She felt an immense power coming from her.
She looked around her cell, ready to test her newfound powers. She looked back towards the Corpse, but saw that he was gone. Then the guards came back. They asked who she was and what happened to Hama. Hama looked at them and Bloodbended them. She made them kill each other with their bare fists. After leaving them a bloody mess, she walked out into the main prison.
Many guards tried to stop her, but she was far too powerful. When they tried to Firebend, Hama Bloodbended them so they blasted each other. Then a large group of guards came up to stop her, so she ripped their blood from their bodies and used it like water. She sliced anyone who got in her way. After an hour of climbing the floors of the prison and fighting off guards, she exited the prison. She basked in the twilight. She heard clapping and saw the Corpse. She walked over to him, then bowed before the Corpse and kissed his hand.
"Rise," said the Corpse, "my Horseman of Pestilence."
Earth Kingdom Prison, under Ba Sing Se
Long Feng was sitting in his metal cell very calmly. He was eating a decently elegant meal that consisted of white rice, cooked meats, and steamed vegetables. After Ba Sing Se had been liberated after Sozin's Comet, the Dai Li came crawling back and have been doing everything to get back on his good side. However, since he found out that he was being controlled by Long Feng, the Earth King forbade the Dai Li to guard Long Feng by themselves, so the Dai Li were always teamed up with one of the King's chosen guards.
"Hey!" said Long Feng's guard. "What are-"
The guard wasn't able to get his next word out. The only sound that Long Feng heard was something wet falling onto the metal floor. Then the metal door of his cell crumbled and was tossed aside. The Corpse then entered the room.
"Hello Long Feng." said the Corpse. Long Feng stood up and looked around the Corpse and saw that his guard had been gutted.
"Impressive." said Long Feng. "A bit messy for my tastes though."
"Yeah…" said Corpse, looking a bit embarrassed while scratching the back of his head. "But he gave me a look that really ticked me off."
"So who are you?" asked Long Feng.
"You know... I forgot my real name ages ago." said the Corpse. "But I can tell you what to call me once we have everyone in the same place."
"Everyone?" wondered Long Feng.
"I'm gathering a small…group." said the Corpse. "I want the Avatar to die, and even though I can easily do that without any help, I also want him to suffer. I want him to face his most powerful enemies and watch his world crumble. And what better person to crumble a world than an Earthbender? However, your powers need to be greatly increased. I mean, you can't even Metalbend."
"No one can Metalbend. It's impossible." Long Feng said.
"Not really." The Corpse said nonchalantly. "The Avatar's blind friend was able to learn it in the span of several hours. Imagine what you would be able to do if I gave you this power.
The Corpse lifted his hand and out of the shadows that expelled from his hands, a small pointed rock with green glyphs appeared. It glowed with power.
"What is that?" Long Feng asked.
"This is the Atlas Pin." The Corpse said. "It's is the only piece that remains of the god that created the land masses of this World. It is a piece of his bone. It will enhance your Earthbending to unimaginable levels, by mortal standards."
"And what do I have to do to get this power?" Long Feng inquired.
"I don't know… how about you kill the Earth King?" said the Corpse.
"Hm, I need to think about this…" said Long Feng.
"This is a onetime offer, either you accept or you don't." explained the Corpse.
"Power beyond that any Earthbender has ever known and revenge against the Avatar…" started Long Feng.
"Going once…" the Corpse said.
"Is there a downside to this?" Long Feng thought aloud.
"Going twice…" said the Corpse.
"Okay. Alright. I accept." said Long Feng.
"Good!" exclaimed the Corpse. "Now this just this matter at hand of your Heart…"
"Say again?" asked Long Feng as the Corpse plunged his hand into his chest and removed his Heart. The Corpse then replaced it with the Atlas Pin.
Long Feng's body started to crack like stone. It turned dirt brown and the metal from the cell appeared to flow up his legs absorb into his body. Sand poured out of his mouth. Then his body appeared to be normal.
"How do you feel?" wondered the Corpse.
"Like I can tear apart the planet." admitted Long Feng.
"Good, good." said the Corpse. "Now kill the Earth King."
"Gladly." Long Feng said with a smile
After the Corpse disappeared into Darkness, Long Feng Earthbended his way to the Royal Palace by making a tunnel system that led straight to the throne room. The Earth King, his pet bear, and the King's most trusted guards surprised to see Long Feng out of his cell. Long Feng calmly bowed and said nothing. As the guards came closer, they tried to capture Long Feng by shifting the earth around him, but Long Feng simply willed the Earth to open up beneath the guards and swallow them.
During the fighting, the Earth King tried sneaking away with his pet bear. Long Feng could sense their movements through the earth. He looked towards them and shifted the room so the Earth King was right in front of him. The Earth King was frightened and was hanging onto his pet. Long Feng smiled and lifted to large slabs of stones on the King's left and right. As the King screamed, Long Feng smashed the two slabs together, killing the Earth King. As he made the slabs sink into the ground, he heard clapping. He looked over and saw that the corpse was sitting in the throne.
"Congratulations," said the Corpse, "My Horseman of Famine."
Southern Air Temple
The Corpse appeared out of the Darkness. He looked around and saw the temple a run down and covered with vines. Several species of animals crawled about, but the avoided the Corpse. He started walking around till he arrived at a mound of dirt. It was a relatively recent grave.
"Come, my Horsemen!" cried out the Corpse.
Heeding the call, the Corpse's three Horsemen appeared. An intense heat was felt and flames in a human shape formed. The flames receded and Ozai stood. Water then gathered into a women's form, which somewhat solidified and formed Hama. Out of the mountain, Long Feng began to take shape out of the dirt and rocks. As he walked towards the other two, he appeared to return to his natural human form.
"Where are we?" asked Hama.
"It appears we're in an Airbender temple." said Ozai.
"Right you are Ozai." said the Corpse. He was staring at the mound of dirt.
"Why are we here?" asked Long Feng.
"To induct the final member of your group." said the Corpse. Waving his hands over the mound of dirt, he spread Darkness into it. The mound cracked apart and a skeleton wearing orange robes rose out of the ground. As the flesh returned to the dead body, the Corpse took out the crystal Heart. He then took out a fan from his sleeve and replaced it for the Heart. As soon as he put the fan in, tornadoes erupted out of the skeleton's limbs. When the tornadoes faded, a man with dull white eyes and a white mustache.
"Oh, hello Death." said the Corpse. "Everyone, may I introduce you to your fourth member: Monk Gyatso, the former Airbending Master that taught Avatar Aang."
"What did you put into him?" asked Long Feng.
"That was the Fan of Fei Lan." said the Corpse. "Consider it the air equivalent of the Atlas Pin. Now, it's time for you to start your missions."
"Missions, my lord?" asked Hama.
"Yes." said the Corpse. "Hama, as Pestilence, you are to spread many diseases across the world. Long Feng, you are Famine, so spread intense hunger across the land. You are War Ozai, so cause terrible conflicts between the nations. And you, Gyato, my mindless servant, disrupt the balance of this world and the Spirit Realm. Revive people and spirits like Koh the Face Stealer."
"Yes master." said the Four Horsemen. They turned to leave, but Ozai asked on last question.
"Master, who are you exactly?" Ozai questioned. "What is your name?"
"Huh…" started the Corpse. "My name… my real name escapes me. However you all can call me Master. Bit I will be known by all as the chaos that rips this little World apart. That's it! You all may call me… Chaos."