The Firebender

Chapter 8: A Flame

Water, Earth, Fire, Air

Long ago the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the avatar master of all four elements could stop them but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my cousin and I discovered the new avatar. An airbender named, Steven. And although his airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Steven can save the world.

August 12, 1245

It has been three days since Steven's last firebending session. I have begun to attend their sessions regularly and I haven't noticed any changes but Steven swears he's getting somewhere. Ruby (shockingly in agreement with me) believes that it isn't getting him closer to firebending so she's planning on taking him to Flame Island. The resting place of all past Avatar's whose main element was fire.

Ruby believes it will help reopen his seemingly closed firebending wound. I want to go with them, make sure that the fire nation scum doesn't try anything, but after what I said to Ruby three days ago…I just feel like I at least owe her this one chance. But that doesn't mean I forgive her and her people.

Not by a long shot.

Connie slapped her journal closed and, as usual, slid it under her pillow. She let out a soft sigh before stretching her back and getting out of bed. Her long brown locks fell around her shoulders and swayed with her steps as she walked out of the room and towards the courtyard.

Amethyst and Pearl were sitting on the stone steps, bickering.

Connie put on a soft smile, placing her hands on her hips as she stood before them. "Hey guy's, what's today's argument about?"

Amethyst chuckled. "Pearl is just upset because Ruby is a better cook—"

"She is not!" The airbender huffed, crossing her arms protectively. "Those stupid balls she made weren't that good,"

Connie hummed, she couldn't lie. "Ruby is a good chief," She confessed. "I especially liked her chicken noodle soup she made last night,"

Amethyst and Pearl gaped.

"What," Connie frowned. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

Amethyst shrugged. "We just—can't believe you're actually complementing Ruby on something, thought you hated her,"

"I do," Connie mumbled, but not with as much energy as she used to poses. "But, I'm giving her a break this time. I think she's actually trying to help Steven learn to firebend,"

Pearl frowned. "When did you become so okay with this…situation?"

"Three nights ago when I yelled at her," Connie began, sitting in front of the older girls with her legs crossed. "I overheard her and Steven talking about her past, when she was younger. Her mother was a real jerk to her and it made me realize that even though I had to deal with Yellow Diamond once, Ruby actually had to live with her for years,"

"So I guess, it's not really all her fault that she's like that," Connie bit her lip, looking down. "She was literally raised to be evil, it's a miracle now that she's even helping us; I guess we should…go easy on her?" She tried.

Amethyst shrugged, grinning. "I already like her and we know Sapphire likes hers, it's you two who are being the nerds in this situation." She jumped up, cracking her neck in a way that made Pearl cringe in disgust. "You two need to just forgive and forget, all that anger and vengeance is bad for you,"

She stepped over Connie and started walking away. "I'm going to find Sapphire and make her cook something for me, find me when you two stop being grumpy!" She called over her shoulder, running in the direction of the kitchen.

Pearl scoffed. "I am not grumpy,"

"She's right though," Connie sighed. "Steven talked to us about this, we need to let it go but I just want to make sure that she's not playing us. What if she really took Steven to Fire Island for an ambush or something?"

Pearl jumped up. "Then let's follow them,"

"They already left and they took Lion with them," Connie sulked. "We have no way of getting there,"

The airbender grinned. "But we do," She watched the younger girl perk up. "I can use Steven's glider, I'm pretty sure he left it behind, and you can ride on top of it. Come on,"

Connie bit her lip. "I don't know, doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of us actually trying to trust her?"

"It's the start of us trusting her," Pearl tried to reassure her. "We just hide back and see if she's the real deal and then we'll know. If she is good then we will trust her, forgetting about the stupid war and letting her in; deal?"

"…fine,"

Fire Island is a spiritual place. The volcanoes across the sea are so close that all of their ashes sprinkle over the land of Fire Island like snow. The ashes are filled with a bacterium that commonly gets caught in many travelers' lungs where it gets into their system and causes them to slowly fade away. People say that it is a defense mechanism, devised by the past firebending avatars, to keep out those who don't belong.

The truth is, only strong willed firebenders and Avatars are welcome on the land. Certain people, like travelers, wouldn't be able to take in the fumes; causing them to hallucinate, another sign that the disease is spreading.

Ruby jumped down from Lion's saddle where they had landed across from the island. "Come on Steven, we should get going before it gets too dark to see,"

The chubby child jumped down gracefully, thanks to airbending, and patted his Lion on the head softly. "Are you sure Lion is going to be safe over here, will the fumes get to him?"

Ruby nodded, smiling softly. "He'll be fine over here, he can leave and come get us later if that'll make you feel better," She crossed her arms.

Steven gulped, eyes widening in panic. "W-we can't just let him leave us stranded here! What if something happens—"

Ruby patted the child on his curly fro, smiling. "Steven, I've been left her by myself so many times when I was young and I made it out okay. I'll protect you," She sent him a cheeky grin.

Steven felt his stomach calm down. "…okay, I trust you," He turned to Lion, taking a deep breath. "Lion; come back and get us before it gets dark; we'll be fine,"

The large beast roared softly before stepping away. He roared out a pink portal before jumping through it, leaving them alone within seconds.

Ruby gaped. "He can make portals too!"

"Yeah," Steven smiled, pulling on his backpack as he began walking to the edge of the water. "You didn't know that?" He frowned.

"No, why couldn't we just do that instead of flying for an hour?" Ruby frowned, walking beside the child.

Steven shrugged. "He doesn't do it often, it makes him tired easily," He then looked straight ahead at the fog covered Island, it was barely visible. "What's the plan, how will this help me unlock my chi?"

Ruby crossed her arms, closing her eyes as a heavy breeze hit her back; dark curls waving in the wind. "There is a tree somewhere in the middle of the Island that gives life to this place; you can meditate there and get in contact with your previous lives and ask them for advice,"

Steven's eyes widened, he looked up at Ruby. "…Rose Quartz?"

"Rose Quartz the original firebending avatar, Greg Universe the earthbending avatar, the possibilities are endless," Ruby looked over at the child, she frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? What's wrong with you?" She waved a hand across his dazed eyes.

Steven squealed, not too manly on his part. "Rose Quartz is legendary! I've never been able to reach her before—" Hebreathed heavily. "What will I say, I've only heard stories about her—do you think she'll sign my face!" He shouted excitedly.

Ruby took a step back, hands up. "Ask her when you see her but we really need to get going," She took a deep breath before soft flames erupted from her feet, lifting her off the ground. "You can waterbend over there, come on,"

Steven calmed himself. "Right, serious Steven—go!"

They landed on the Island minutes later.

"Are you sure this fog won't affect me?" Steven asked, following close behind Ruby as not to get lost. "I can't even firebend,"

Ruby kept looking ahead, despite the fog making it hard to see, it seemed like she knew exactly where she was going. "You'll be fine—I was fine," She mumbled.

Steven hesitated, jogging to walk at her side. "Is that the beginning of another story? I heard you mention it earlier, what did you mean? Did your mom actually leave you here, alone?" He frowned, feeling his anger rise.

Ruby shook her head. "…I wasn't exactly alone, no,"

"Why did she leave us here?" Six year old Ruby whispered into the dark forest of Fire Island. "…do you think mom hates us?" Her soft red eyes turned to the person lying down beside her.

"Nah, she just wants us to be tough firebenders when we're older and it's better to start while we're young,"

Ruby pouted, clenching her tiny fists. "…I'm scared Jasper, I don't want to be here,"

"Don't start that," Seven year old Jasper mumbled, tugging on her long hair that was pulled into a bun. "Mom always punishes you when you start whining; I'm here to protect you, sisters have to stick together," She grinned.

The younger child nodded, wiping away her tears and sniffing her snot away. "Right," She looked up at the bright stars, she grinned widely. "When I grow up…I'm going to be the Fire Lord!"

Jasper snorted.

"What?" Ruby frowned, offended that her sister found her dreams laughable.

Her older sister shrugged. "You don't have what it takes, you're too nice," She scoffed.

"You're supposed to be," Ruby frowned, looking up once more with a smile. "…dad told me that rulers have to be strong, fair and nice to their people and those in need of help. He said I'd be a perfect ruler, if it was up to him," She whispered the last part softly.

Jasper frowned. "Father doesn't know anything, he's a stupid old man with no sense of discipline," She glared at her younger sister. "And you're a fool for believing in him,"

Ruby sat up abruptly, fist clenching in the dirt. "There you go again—why are you always talking about him like that? There was a time when you actually respected him,"

Jasper scoffed. "That man is nothing and will always be nothing; and if you keep following his morals then you'll just like him…nothing,"

Ruby felt her fists clench so hard that her knuckles began turning white. "Don't. Talk about him like that!" She roared, voice sounding like thunder, as she ran full force into Jasper; intending to knock her to the ground.

But her older sister knew better and quickly avoided the attack, only to have Ruby stumble onto the floor. Tumbles of ashes fell onto her as she struggled to get up, there was a nasty looking scar forming on her left knee.

Ruby wanted to wince when she kneeled on it but she wouldn't give her sister the satisfaction.

"Stop this," Jasper said, surprisingly calm. "You never win and you never show signs of improvement,"

Ruby got up, her legs shaking and her arms limp at her side as she frowned. "What are you—"

"You haven't shown signs of being a firebender like I have, that's why you're here," Jasper said, smirking. "Do you know how embarrassing it would be for mom to have a non firebending child when she is the Fire Lord; it's a disgrace,"

Ruby got angrier as reality set in.

"She sent you here hoping that you weren't a complete failure but I guess she was wrong," Jasper snarled. "She didn't even trust you to come alone, she had to send me. You're useless,"

Ruby's eyes widened. "Jasper…" She said weakly.

Her sister wasn't listening. "You think you can be Fire Lord, please. You don't have what it takes,"

"Jasper." Ruby said louder, feeling her heart beat pick up.

"I'm going to be the ruler," Jasper grinned. "And there is nothing you can do to—"

Ruby felt her numb legs move on her own accord as she sprinted towards her older sister. Jasper smirked, looking to dodge her, but was perplexed when Ruby ran right past her. Dazed for a brief second, her attention was caught once again when something bright shined from behind her; a hot heat surrounding them.

Jasper turned around just in time to see her little sister kick a powerful burst of flame from her right foot and into the face of a large black bear who must have been trailing them. The large bear shrunk back at the sign of flames and turned around, running back to its den.

Thunder roared around them, the grey skies producing a light coat of rain to pour down on them; as if praising the new birth of a firebender into the world.

Ruby stumbled on her feet, her now damp curls falling into her child like face as the adrenaline fled from her body. Her eyes slid close and her body leaned forward, preparing to fall but Jasper was right there to catch her.

Jasper set her little sister down on the ground, resting her head on her lap. "…Ruby, are you alright?" She panicked.

Ruby's soft red eyes peered open in a daze, she grinned. "I told you, I'm going to become the Fire Lord and do what's right for my people. I may have to catch up to you but I'll do it—oh yeah," Her eyes slid closed, but not before she mumbled.

"And stop talking down about dad—I hate when you act like mom,"

Jasper gaped, before shaking her head softly. A soft smile rose to her face; her sister, useless little Ruby, was actually a firebender.

Her eyes trailed back to the intense burn marks on the grass floor across from them, she winced.

And a pretty damn good one.

"Idiot," Jasper whispered, thinking back to how Ruby spoke about her dreams of wanting to be the Fire Lord; she sighed.

"Now we're going to have to be enemies,"

Ruby leaned her right arm against the tree beside her, she frowned. "Jasper started acting different after that," She kept walking, making Steven have to catch up to hear the rest of the story. "When mom came back to get us Jasper didn't even have to tell mom what happened, she could just tell,"

"She said there was a certain fire in my eyes that all new benders get when they discover their potential," She clenched her fist. "Mom treated me like royalty for a whole two weeks; letting me sit beside her during dinners, at meetings and she even taught me some new moves,"

Steven smiled softly. "That's great—"

"No," Ruby stopped him. "She made us fight against each other after that. Jasper was furious, she thought I took her spot under mom's wing and while I was off enjoying the attention she was training. The next week she impressed mom with a new move and I was back at the bottom,"

Ruby sighed. "Jasper wasn't being mean when she said I'd never be a bender; she was wishing for it,"

"Because she knew that if you became a bender that you two would have to fight for the thrown," Steven realized. "…she wanted you to be a failure so you two could still be sisters and not enemies,"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah sh—wait, there's the tree!" She grinned. "Looks just like how I left it!"

"Whoa," Steven smiled, running behind Ruby to the large tree. "Man, I can't believe that I'm about to meet Rose Quartz," He squealed.

"Yeah, yeah, just get into position and unlock that chi," Ruby said, smiling softly. "I'll be right here to protect you in case anything happens,"

Steven gave a firm nod. "I'm trusting you with my life, Ruby,"

"…I know," She mumbled, watching him sit Indian style with his hands together. "I won't abuse it," She said to herself, sitting down in front of him protectively; ears and eyes open for anything strange.

Ruby silently watched as, after a few minutes, Steven's arrow tattoos glow a bright pink. She gaped.

Steven opened his eyes softly, there was a soft voice calling out to him. His eyebrows came together in confusion, there was a large figure sitting in front of him.

"Hello Steven," The voice said, a smile apparent on their face. "I've been waiting for you,"

His brown eyes widened. "You!"

In another writing mood but my wifi isn't working so I can't upload these, it sucks! But I wrote this chapter and I like it. I really like doing the flashbacks with Ruby's life and I hope that gives you more insight on her past and what she's about.

Also, if you think this story is going by slower than my other ones and are wondering why Steven hasn't firebended yet or why Ruby and Sapphire aren't together; it's because this is a slow burn story. So nothing like that will happen until I get further into the story. So if you're a patient person while reading then this is the story for you. But thanks for reading and please leave your comments or suggestions.

But while I'm gone let's have a vote; should Steven meet Rose Quartz (the firebender) or Greg Universe (the earthbender) first. Let me know!