Hey guys, sorry for the wait. Sadly, Wrestlemania and registration have to come before fanfiction. But that's all done, so here's the new chap, and I'll have another one up on Sunday.
Chap. 12
Journey Into Flame
The open sea stretched before them in an endless hue of blue-green. It seemed to go on forever, without any end or beginning. But the end of these waters did exist, and the small fleet on ships moved quickly to reach it. The prow of the mighty Earth-Kingdom ships cut through the waters as they continued on towards the Fire Nation, flanked by a small number of Water-Tribe boats. Though they had long been a laughingstock in comparison to the advanced ships of the Fire Nation, the ships of the Earth Kingdom Navy were solid and durable, more then capable of making the long trip to the Fire Nation. Built almost in the shape of long, wooden blocks, the ships' strength was their durability. However, the inability to have a fuel-based propulsion system, as well as their flammable hulls made them almost useless against the industrial Fire Navy ships.
It was this thought that hung on the mind of General How, as he looked out from the bough of the lead ship. How had been a land general for his entire career, and was apprehensive of the Earth Kingdom's weaker ships. He'd long heard about how the Fire Nation's ships had been able to sink many of the over the years, and only the sheer numbers of the Earth Kingdom Navy had been able to keep them at bay.
"I hope that what the gods have planned will work." He said aloud, as he glanced at Oscuridad, who stood next to him.
"Trust me, my Masters have something good planned." The bat answered. "And don't call them gods, it's inaccurate."
"Not to me." How replied.
"They think of themselves as humble sculptors and guardians. They find 'gods' an overbearing term." Oscuridad explained. "But again How, I'm telling you that you don't have anything to worry about."
"I hope you're right." How said. "We don't have the firepower to fight back a number of Fire Nation ships."
"How, you must have faith. The Architects will get us into the Fire Nation safely. Besides, you had enough faith to allow the Avatar to continue his training here."
"Perhaps." How said, as he looked down on the deck, where Aang and Iroh were working on a new Firebending technique, Appa watching from his shed near the bough. The two of them had been extremely dedicated to their training since leaving port, since Aang would have to start working on the Avatar State with Guru Pathnik soon. He and Iroh had begun working on five to six hour days, giving all the time they could to learning the techniques of Firebending.
"Still, having a Waterbender and an endless supply of water does alleviate my fears somewhat." How said, gesturing to the side of the deck, where Katara stood, watching intently. Since Agua had left to recruit at the poles, Katara had taken his place as Aang's safety net should something go wrong. It was an extremely important position on the wooden ship, and Katara took it quite seriously. Though it had meant not being able to travel with her father and brother on the Water-Tribe boats, she had accepted it without complaint.
"Now then Aang, to perform this move, you must move the energy from your chest into your hands and let it flow outward. Do you understand?" Iroh asked.
"Yes, Sifu." Aang answered, as he began to reach inside himself to draw forth the energy. This new move was the most difficult one he had learned thus far, and would be perhaps the most difficult to control. It involved the creation of a long whip of fire, that Aang would have to put all his concentration into commanding.
"Do you feel the energy moving through you?" Iroh asked.
"Yes Iroh. It is going into my hands. But I can feel it getting stronger."
"Good Aang. When it is strong enough, you must release it. Then you can make your whip."
As Aang concentrated on focusing the energy, Katara and Luz watched from the side.
"It's funny, but this isn't that different then Water bending training." Katara said.
"They both are centered in emotions, it makes sense." Luz said in agreement. "Both deal with focusing energy. The only difference is that Waterbenders use an outside source."
"And he is doing well with it, isn't he?" Katara asked.
"Much better." Luz said. "He never had this much patience before. At least you taught him that much with the accident."
"Yeah, I guess so." Katara said. But just then, Aang's suddenly shot up his arm, as the fire whip emerged from his palm.
"Good Aang, very good!" Iroh said, pleased at his pupil's efforts. "Now, attempt to control it."
Aang nodded, and began to swing the whip in the air, being careful to keep it high above the wooden planks below. Iroh and the others with admiration as Aang kept the fire completely under his control. Then, he began to shorten the flames, bringing it in closer and closer to him. As they watched, the whip began to become a flaming circle, connected to Aang by the strand of flame attached to his hand. He began to spin the flame faster and faster, turning it into a bright red halo above his head.
But as he spun, small sparks began to flake off from the flame. A few found their way onto Katara's sleeve and she cried out, more in surprise then anything else. But it was enough. When Aang heard her scream, all his control all his control went out the window. The fire halo began to lose it's balance, becoming dangerously lopsided in it's spin. Aang struggled to regain control, but it was already gone. But Iroh, acting quickly, grabbed a bucket of water from the deck and threw it over Aang's head, dousing the flames and soaking the young Avatar.
But he paid it no mind. "Katara are you all right?" he called out, running over to his friend.
"It's ok Aang. I just got a few cinders." Katara said, brushing her sleeve off in an attempt to look unconcerned.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Aang said. "I promise I won't practice anymore until we get to the shore and Agua's back with us."
"Aang no." Katara admonished. "You can't neglect your training for me. It's the most important thing for you right now."
"But you being safe is important too." Aang argued.
"Aang, this isn't about me." Katara said. "You need to learn to be the Avatar. If I have to get a few cinders on me, I don't mind."
"I know, I know. But I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Aang I'll be fine. You get back to work with Iroh, and I'll try to be more careful, ok?"
Aang nodded nervously, but before he could get back to training, a voice rang out from the upper deck.
"We are coming up on the border, sir." The navigator called out suddenly, bringing everyone on deck to attention.
"Ready the weapons, and prepare for hostilities!" How yelled out, as everyone on board began to do just that. Cannons were loaded, spears readied, and even Appa moved onto the deck, ready to aid Aang if needed.
Seeing everything ready below, How took out his telescope and looked outwards towards the horizon. Already, he could see four Fire Nation ships patrolling the border, just a few miles ahead. They were invisible to them at the moments, but they would be visible quite soon, and the ships looked heavily armed.
"This will not be easy." he muttered to himself, as he closed the scope. But just as he began to think of the best way to avoid the ships, one of the crewmen yelled out, "General, look! Over at starboard!"
Everyone whirled around to look at the sight the crewmen had noticed. When they saw what it was, they gasped in shock. A dark, thick looking fog was rolling towards them at an ever-quickening rate. It appeared almost completely solid- a huge black blanket rolling towards them. How re-opened his telescope and looked ahead. Another wave of the fog had already enveloped the Fire Nation ships, rendering them invisible inside it.
"All ships, stop! The fog is too thick!" How yelled, snapping the scope shut. Behind him, the helmsman nodded and began to turn the ship to port, as the other crewmen began to lower the sails and signal the other ships to do the same. But then another voice yelled out.
"Belay that order! All ships, stay on course!" Oscuridad yelled, as Katara, Luz and the others joined him and How up on deck.
"What are you doing, man?" How yelled. "We can't sail through that! We'll either get lost or run into a Fire Nation ship."
"He's right Osc. Even I can't cut through all that fog." Aang said.
"You don't need to." Luz said. All eyes turned to the fox as she said, "What my husband is trying to say, with his typical tact, is that this is not regular fog."
"What do you mean?" Iroh asked.
In response, Luz held up her Light-blade gauntlet. The gold stone in its center was glowing brightly. Pointing over to Oscuridad, Luz directed everyone's attention to the similarly glowing stone in his Shadow-blade.
"This isn't normal fog.. This is the help the Architects sent us." She explained.
"Specifically, Rastla and Zueia, Architects of Shadow and Thunderstorms." Oscuridad added. "This is a shadow induced fog, one that will hid if we let it. After that, I'm guessing the Fire Nation won't even notice us."
"But how can we sail through?" Katara asked.
"That's my job." Luz said. "My power illuminates, and my guess is that Ralin will light us a path."
"It seems crazy…" How muttered.
"How, I know that." Luz said gently. "But if you don't have faith in the gods, what can you believe in? I know that I'm asking you a lot, but try to believe me?"
"Don't listen Cap'n. This is madness." The helmsman spat. But before he could continue, Oscuridad grabbed his collar and held him up.
"My wife is talking. You will do her the honor of being silent." The bat growled.
"Oscuridad, enough! Put him down!" Luz snapped. "He has every right to doubt this, and we have no right to force him to believe us!"
The bat looked at the helmsman a moment longer, then sighed, muttered something that sounded like "Yes dear." And put him down.
"Boys." Luz muttered. Turning to the helmsman, she said, "Now sir, if you'd like, I can explain why we'll be safe in this fog."
"Actually, I don't think that will matter now." Iroh said, as he pointed up. How glanced skyward, only to see the fog roll over them. For a second, they were surrounded by darkness, then a golden light shied the shadow away from them.
"I think I should take the helm." Luz said, as the light faded from her stone.
"Uh, be my guest, milady." The helmsman said, quickly stepping away from the wheel. Luz took it, and then gripped the handle tightly. Once again, the light spilled forth from her, flowing through the wood of the ship itself. The entire vessel glowed for a moment, then it returned to normal.
"What was that?" the helmsman asked.
"It dispelled the rest of the shadow around the ships, so we could follow each other through the fog." Luz answered, as she began to steal the ship. "Now be quiet and let me follow the path."
"What path?"
"The one I can see. Ralin is making one in the waters with Ruta, Architect of the Oceans. I think I'm the only one who can see it." Luz answered. It was only then that the others saw that the fox's eyes were glowing with golden light. This was the help that Ralin was given his daughter. Before her, Luz could see a line of gold in the waters that cut through the fog. It stretched out for a while, then curved and twisted, leading the group away from the Fire Nation ships that were already lost within the fog.
As she began to follow the path, How said, "Very well. Steer us well, milady. Helmsman, send messages to the other ships to follow. And do it quietly."
The helmsman nodded his response, as Luz continued to steer, guiding the ship through the twists and turns of the invisible path.
"So now we know what to do you when you get all dark and mysterious about things." Katara teased, as the group moved down to the deck. "Just call your wife to make you explain yourself."
"I do not get dark and mysterious all the time." Oscuridad protested.
"Right. That's why you dress in black and keep your face masked when you meet new people. And why you don't explain any cosmic shadow stuff while you do it, or when it's happening around us. " Aang added.
The bat attempted to respond, but realized that he had no comeback and just shook his head in defeat.
The next few hours were silent ones full of dread. Though Luz followed the path laid out for her perfectly, the other ships had some difficulty following her constant changes. Worse, the crew could give no vocal signals, since loud noises would tip off the Fire Nation ships to their arrival. So the time in the fog was filled with constant checks on the other ships and hoping they would all make it through.
But Luz's skills were impeccable, and with the guidance of Ralin and the gentle winds of Aeris, Architect of Wind, aiding them, they all managed to make it past the Fire Nation ships without a single skirmish. From then on, the fog continued to hide them from unfriendly eyes, until Luz finally yelled out, "We've hit the end of the path. Get ready to leave the fog!"
The crewmen leapt into action, readying the ship for port. As they prepared themselves, the layers of shadow around them suddenly pulled back. As the bright sunlight broke through, everyone covered their eyes in pain, but eventually the brightness faded, and they were able to look at the sight before them. A huge white beach, washed clean by the tides stood before. It was unlike anything the Waterbenders or Earthbenders or even Aang had ever seen before in their own homelands. Strange trees, tall and with leaves sprouting from their top, littered the beach. Behind the beach, the ground became firm again, brimming with grasses and vegetation that dazed everyone with it's beauty and novelty.
Well, almost everyone. One man looked at the sight before him not with amazement filling his heart, but with a happy nostalgia. He'd played on these beaches as a child, and eaten those fruits happily. Though he enjoyed the parts of the world he had seen, he had always longed for the sights of his homeland. Iroh's eyes began to water in happiness as he looked out at the Fire Nation once again. The only thing that saddened him was knowing that Zuko was not here to see it with him.