Chapter 7- Histories and Prophecies

Sokka and Azula rode out at a gallop through the narrow streets of North Chung-Ling, Azula with a look of fresh determination in her eye. Sokka rode up beside her and asked, "What makes you think the Fire Sages will know anything?"

"The Sages are keepers of the secret and sacred histories," Azula answered. "I believe those histories are the key to where this cult is holding Mai. I'd explain further," she said as she reined in her mount, "but it appears we have more pressing issues to deal with at the moment."

An overturned cart along with a group of about 12 torch-wielding citizens blocked the narrow road. Sokka looked over his shoulder, and noticed about 10 more had gathered behind them. His combat senses told him that another dozen or so were on the rooftops above watching from the shadows.

"What is the meaning of this?" Azula called out in her most commanding voice. "Remove this roadblock at once and allow us to pass."

A large, bald headed man with a patch over his left eye hobbled forward on a crutch and announced, "We have no quarrel with you, Your Highness. If that Preacher is right, you'll soon face the Spirits for judgment, and its not our place to intervene. Your companion, the ice barbarian, is another matter. He will answer for his crimes tonight."

"Hmm," Azula mused in feigned nonchalance, "I was not aware that Ambassador Sokka had been charged or convicted of any crimes, other than his atrocious table manners. In any case he is under the Firelord's, and therefore my protection. So, if you have a quarrel with him, then you do indeed have one with me. Now, I highly recommend you let us pass, before I lose my temper, Mister, what is your name?"

"Han. Fire. Sergeant. Han." The man answered. "I lost my eye, and was crippled on the Day of Black Sun because of that savage. My wife lost her nephew at Wulong Forest. All of us here have lost someone because of that murderer. So, Your Highness, we won't let you pass."

Ashen faced, Sokka gave Azula a sidelong glance. "It doesn't look like they're going to be reasonable."

"No," she agreed. "And it does appear that we are surrounded. They have us right where they want us."

Sokka shook his head and commented, "Poor bastards," as he drew Moon Blade and spurred his kommodo-rhino toward the barricade. Azula spurred her mount as well, launching blue fireballs at the retreating mob. Once a pathway was cleared, she separated her chi, and launched a lightning strike at the make shift barricade. The lightning found its mark, and the pair charged through the wreckage less than a second after it exploded.

They continued to ride at a full gallop to the far side of the island to the hidden cove where Moon Spirit was anchored, arriving just after midnight. With the adrenaline of the previous fight and flight still coursing though their veins, Sokka cast off and guided the skiff to open sea. His course set, he locked the wheel and asked, "So why do you think the Sages have our answer?"

In a husky voice, the Princess answered, "I'll answer your questions soon enough. Right now I need you to help me take these clothes off," as she grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him into a deep kiss.

…...

Sokka awoke and padded up to the deck to check his bearings. The pre-dawn sky was turning pink behind him giving enough light for him to use his spyglass to see the capitol island ahead on the horizon. They'd be in port before mid-morning. Azula came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you," she said.

Sokka turned around, "What are you thanking me for?"

"For believing in me. For trusting me. I think you're the only one who truly does," she answered.

"So what do you think the Sages know?" Sokka asked.

"The Preacher mentioned a name: R'Kyu the Wise," she explained. "When I was young, my father insisted that I learn the political and military accomplishments of all the previous Firelords. Part of my training, the legacy he expected me to one day inherit. The greatest accomplishment of Firelord Kozai, Sozin's father, was the banishment of Great Sage R'Kyu, and adding 'Keeper of the Sacred Flame' to his own title."

Sokka was incredulous. "Banishing a Fire Sage was this guy's greatest accomplishment? I thought the old Firelords banished people like I change socks."

"For an Ambassador, you are hopelessly ignorant of my country's history and culture. The Firelords of old weren't always the autocrats that my father was, or even that Zuko is. There was a time when the people of the Fire Nation were much more religious, some would say, superstitious, than they are now. They looked to the Sages, particularly the Great Sage, for their spiritual guidance. There were very few decisions any Firelord would take on without first consulting the Sages. R'Kyu's crime must have been particularly heinous for Kozai to have banished him without causing uproar among the population."

"So that part wasn't in the history you read," Sokka surmized.

"No," Azula confirmed. "Nor was the place of his banishment. We find out where that is, and I believe that is where we'll find Mai."

…...

As Sokka and Azula entered the Fire Sage's temple, they were greeted by a young acolyte. "Your Highness, Ambassador, we are honored by your presence. How may we assist you?"

"We need to see the High Sage," Azula answered.

"I'm afraid High Sage Shyu is in the middle of morning devotions and cannot be..." the acolyte started.

"Now!" commanded the Princess.

"Y-Yess... of course, Your Highness. Follow me." The young man led Azula and Sokka down a long hallway to the inner sanctum of the temple. The old sage was sitting in a lotus position, bending flames on the fingertips of each hand. Without opening his eyes he said, "What must be so important as to disrupt my devotions?"

"I need you to tell me about R'Kyu," Azula answered.

The old man opened his eyes and looked at the acolyte. "Shin, leave us."

As the young acolyte bowed out, the sage asked, "What would you like to know?"

Azula spoke, "Why was R'Kyu banished, and what was his fate?

Shyu took a deep breath, "Firelord Kozai and Great Sage R'Kyu were always at odds. R'Kyu believed that Kozai's policies encouraging industrialization and science were polluting the morals of the people, and Kozai coveted the spiritual devotion the Great Sage held over the people. This was during the last days of Avatar Kyoshi, and R'Kyu had previously forseen that the next Avatar would be born to a noble household. So when Kozai's consort was found to be with child, the Firelord expected that the Great Sage's blessing at the announcement ceremony would confirm that that child, Sozin, would be the next Avatar."

"It didn't quite go down that way," Sokka observed.

"No," Shyu confirmed. "R'Kyu didn't pronounce a blessing at all, but a curse. Kozai's heir would bring ruin to a nation, and unbalance the world."

"The prophecy was true," Azula stated. "Sozin did bring ruin to the Air Nomads. So he was banished because of this curse. What happened after?"

Shyu sighed, "He was imprisoned in the monastery on Iwo Plata. He continued to write, and some of his writings were smuggled out by sympathetic initiates. When the Firelord found out, he ordered R'Kyu killed. That very day, the volcano on the island erupted, and the monastery was abandoned. It's rumored that R'Kyu's spirit is still trapped there."

"So if that is where his cult is headquartered," Sokka asked, "What's the point of holding Mai there? What could they want from her?"

"One of R'Kyu's later prophecies was that he would return and reunite the offices of Great Sage and Firelord. If his spirit truly is still trapped on that island, he would need a compatible host, a child of his own lineage. The child would also have to be of the lineage of a powerful, Avatar-level bender, for the body to survive the possession process. Firelady Mai is descended from R'Kyu through her mother."

Azula blanched in realization, "So he intends to possess Zuko and Mai's baby..."

…...

The Shaman was meditating in her private chambers when a knock came at her door. "What is the meaning of this disturbance?" She called out, aggravated. The door opened and one of the attendants stepped in. "Apologies, Holiness. It's the Firelady. She's having labor pains."

The old crone smiled. "Then our restoration has begun."