The Firebender

Chapter 19: The Stowaway

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.

September 12, 1245

It has been two days into our training sessions and so far, it has been going good. Steven is getting better at firebending and can hold a match with Ruby for two minutes now. He is resourceful but his flames are nothing compared to Ruby's; to be fair, she has been doing it for years and she is the heir to the firenation throne.

Speaking of Ruby, she felt really bad about not being able to get me the sword so she decided to check in at the firenation slums. Peridot agreed that it was a better idea than going to the central area in the nation because she had allies there and most of them probably wouldn't notice her. She asked Peridot to join her but the mechanic declined, she would rather stay and work on some more inventions.

I didn't want her to go alone so just when she was headed out I ran over to keep her company. Surprisingly, or not really (they're always together), Sapphire was already walking on her right side. I'm not sure, but I could have sworn I saw my cousin's lips turn down into a frown. She even had the nerve to let out a heavy sigh when I nudged my way between them. I don't see why she's so upset, she and Ruby hang out all the time!

She couldn't have hoped for more alone time with Ruby, could she? Even if she did, why?

Connie closed her journal when Ruby tapped her on the shoulder, her bright red eyes looked down at her softly. "Stop writing in that thing, we're almost there and it's your sword so you should be the one to pick it out." She grinned before ruffling the child's hair and walking over to Sapphire who was leaning against a tree a few feet away.

The fourteen-year-old smiled softly as she placed her book into her side strapped brown bag. She rose up off the rock she was sitting on and ran over to the older teens with a bright expression.

"I can't wait to get a new sword," Connie all but squealed, walking ahead of them even though she didn't know where she was going; but after taking Pearl here last time it seemed familiar. "This could change my fighting style forever; it might even make me better!"

Sapphire's snicker from behind caused her to look back, she rose an eyebrow. "...what's so funny,"

"The weapon doesn't make you strong," Ruby replied, a bit more mature of response than the giggle she received from her cousin. "Your practice and determination guides you to that. Getting a new weapon won't change you that much, it might make things more clear but where you go from there depends on you." She tried to explain without offending.

Connie hummed in thought, a hand holding her chin as she stopped walking. "...huh-" She was startled by the firebender nudging her right shoulder with her left. "Why did you-"

"We're here, come on," Ruby gestured to the large area of trees in front of them that hid the slums efficiently. "Alright, here is what we're going to do." The firebender began before the younger girl could continue walking towards the small town. "You have more than enough money to buy your weapon so I'm going to let you find it on your own-"

Connie was baffled. "W-what, you're leaving me alone? What if someone kidnaps me or some guard recognizes me as a member of team Avatar?"

"They won't," Ruby reassured.

Sapphire nodded in agreement from beside her. "They only have wanted posters of Ruby, but they're from when she was much younger; they have no idea what you look like,"

Connie deflated, her pride was damaged. "What? But they have all these posters of Pearl, Steven and even Amethyst! Why don't I get a wanted poster?" She questioned quietly to herself, rethinking her life.

"I don't even think they know who you are," Ruby mentioned unhelpfully as she scratched her chin. "Nope, they only know about the main benders; the Avatar of course, his airbending trainer, earthbender who ran away from home and the lovely waterbending master," She smiled softly at the long haired girl beside her.

Sapphire flushed darkly and nudged the firebender teasingly. "...it's not that serious,"

"But it is," Connie heard the curly haired girl say as she watched the flirtatious interaction. "When I was a runaway, well I still am, I saw plays about team Avatar. Their depiction of you was strong, wise, powerful and beautiful." Connie frowned, watching her cousin swoon as Ruby continued to flatter her. "If you weren't a foe I'm sure you'd be famous in the firenation."

Connie had enough when she saw the dopey smile on Ruby's face. "...how oblivious can she be!" The fourteen-year-old whispered to herself, speaking up in order to save her cousin from even more heart break. "I'd hate to break this moment up but how about you show me where the shop is so we can make it home before sundown?"

Her cousin was the first person to snap out of the trance. "Y-yes," The stutter caused Connie to gape while Ruby's smile grew wider. "Uhm, Ruby could you…?"

The firebender nodded, turning her attention to the younger girl. "It's a straight walk until you reach the blue tent, once you're there just turn right and multiple stores should have what you're looking for." Ruby explained and used her hand to make gestures. "Sapph and I will wait here, just in case the central has sent guards over here to search for us; I wouldn't want to put these people in even more danger than I already have." The guilt was evident on her face.

"Okay," Connie clutched onto her bag and took one step, a heavy sigh let loose and she turned around to face them one more time. "I shouldn't take too long, "

Sapphire waved her off, leaning on Ruby for un-needed support. "Just be sure to be back before sun set, and if you're not here before then we'll assume that something went wrong and we'll try to find you."

"Got it," Connie waved once more before she ran off into the town in search for a new weapon.

Her first expectation was to immediately spot the weapon of her choice and to have an amazing spark between her and the weapon. A spark that would fill her imagination with creative ways to use the new sword and how she could work on a new fighting style. But when she walked into the first dimly lit store and eyed the rusting weapons, her smile vanished.

"Uhm, excuse me do you have anything that…" She hesitated, sparring a poke at one of the old swords. "Won't snap in half when I fight or crumble to pieces with a glance?" She asked as nicely as possible, a sheepish smile on her chapped lips.

The elderly man eyed her with a frown, he plucked at his beard. "This isn't the firenation central, kid, we don't have any fancy weapons. If you're looking for something flashy I suggest you take the ferry over to the capital, but theirs is much more expensive than ours."

"But I can't, people would— "Connie's eyebrows rose, a thought creeping its' way into her subconscious; a dangerous and sneaky one. "…no one knows who I am, so what's stopping me from going?" The grin was back on her face, she startled the man when she all but slammed her palms on the edge. "What time does this ferry leave and what time should I be back by?"

He blinked two times, startled by her sudden change in mood. "It leaves in six minutes; the boat only fits seven people but not a lot of us travel to the central so you should be fine if you take your time. During your arrival you are given forty-five minutes before the ferry takes off again, so if you don't have another ride back you better not miss it."

"There is no cost to get aboard, Yellow Tail just loves the ride so don't worry about money," He concluded, pulling his blinds back to point at the small ship sitting at the bay. "There she is,"

Connie took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, I'm doing this. Which part of the firenation will it take me to?"

"A few hours walk from the royal palace, so the land will be guarded with soldiers to keep you safe." He tried to reassure her. "You should get going, Yellow Tail may love his job but he likes to keep on schedule even more."

The fourteen-year-old gave a nod of understanding and ran out of the store. "Thanks for the help," Was shouted over her shoulder.

Connie made it to the small boat just as the man in the yellow coat was reaching for the anchor. "…hmr?" The man asked in a native tongue, one of which Connie had never heard before.

"Uhm, yes? I would like a ride to the central," She said less confident than she would have liked.

The man uttered more incoherent rants but when he gestured for her to climb aboard with a small smile, she understood.

"…I hope I'm back before sunset," Connie chanced a glance to the hill that overlooked the slums and where Ruby and Sapphire were hiding. "It's fine, you're fine, nobody is going to know who you are and you'll find a cool sword and beat up bad guys; then they'll give you a wanted poster," She mumbled as she climbed into the boat.

"Yeah, my poster is going to be awesome,"

The boat reached the shore in thirty minutes, she assumed, as Yellow Tail helped her out of the boat. Today she was his only passenger.

He mumbled in his foreign tongue but she didn't understand until he pointed at the slowly residing sun, it would be setting in about forty minutes it looked like. She guessed that he was saying that in forty minutes he would be gone, with or without her.

"I'll be back in time," She assured him before she jogged towards the street where merchants were practically lined up with various souvenirs.

A tall man with a mustache pulled at her arm as she was walking past his stand. "Hey young lady, how would you like a bottle of something new I whipped up? It's called cactus juice and it's the best drink to take when you need to loosen up!" He held up the green bottle filled with white fluid, bubbles were popping up at the top.

Connie took a step back, shaking her head in an apology. "S-sorry, after what happened to Amethyst, I think I'll pass. Plus, Pearl said I'm not allowed to drink it until I'm twenty-one," She mumbled, telling the man her life story before running past him in an attempt to escape.

In her haste she managed to bump into someone who appeared to be in just as much of a hurry as she was.

"Oww," Connie whimpered, the rock hard body had forced her to the ground.

An amazed gasp made her look up, she couldn't pick out their face due to the sun in her eyes but she did recognize the voice. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," The older teen held out a hand and literally pulled Connie up without any help. "Are you okay?"

"…y-yes, I'm fine," Connie swallowed, looking into the deep blue eyes of Lapis Lazuli herself. "Please don't turn me in!" She begged, clasping her hands together in mercy.

The short haired teen raised a confused eyebrow, she tugged awkwardly at her brown shall that covered her body. "Why would I do that, are you important or something? Did you run away from home, I won't tell your parents but I recommend you going back home; it's dangerous out here." She berated her like a child.

"Wait," Connie's mouth hung, she whimpered lightly to herself. "She doesn't even know who I am! How many times have we fought?" While she was having a mental break down Lapis had taken the chance to walk past her.

Connie would have let her go if it wasn't for the sword strapped to her back, the bright pink weapon shinned from where it peeked out from under its' holder. "Ruby was right; she does have it!" She cheered, mission accomplished as she impulsively placed a hand on the older teens shoulder. "Wait, I need that sword!"

"You're way too young for a weapon like this," Lapis frowned, plucking the hand off her shoulder. "…and this belongs to my friend— "

"Ruby, yeah I know, and it might sound weird but she totally gave me permission to take it," Connie said as if it would sum everything up. "So…" Her hand was swatted once again.

Lapis glared suspiciously. "How do you know Ruby and what do you mean she gave you permission to have it?"

"It's me, your foe, we've been fighting for months now," Connie looked around to make sure that no one was listening before adding with a sigh. "…I'm the one who can't bend on team Avatar,"

Lapis' face lighted up. "Oh, you're the one who lost her boomerang to Jasper's flames!" She hummed. "I thought you left the group after that, I haven't seen you for a while— "

"Because we're hiding an," Connie held her hands up. "Forget it okay, just know it's me and Ruby wants me to have that," She pointed to the weapon behind Lapis.

The waterbender narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'll give this to you if you prove that you know Ruby. Tell me something that only she knows,"

"You're a waterbe—" Connie began, only to get a hand slapped over her mouth.

Lapis paled. "Alright, alright, I believe you!" She sighed when no one cast attention to them. "Where is she now, is she alright?" The worry was evident on her face.

"She is at the slums right now, she brought me there to get a weapon and I kind of snuck out her without their permission." Connie caught Lapis' confusion. "Sapphire is there too."

Lapis hummed and smiled giddily. "I've heard a lot about her." Before Connie could question her, she continued. "Take me to her, please. I left the palace to find her when I found out that Jasper would be gone for three days, I don't have much time. I just want to talk to her, I know you can't trust me— "

"You seem nicer than Peridot was in the beginning and Ruby has nothing but nice things to say about you," Connie grinned. "So come on, the ship should be leaving soon,"

Lapis trailed behind her with a light blush. "…she talks about me, huh?"

"Yeah," Connie shrugged. "She's told us about everyone except her father, do you know who he is?" She looked up at the older girl.

Lapis stiffened. "It's a family secret, Jasper doesn't even bring him up and I haven't seen any paintings that he's in,"

"Strange," Connie mumbled, making a mental note to question the firebender later.

Ruby groaned when Sapphire pulled away from their kiss. "I'm sure she's fine Sapph, you know how she gets when she's looking for a new weapon! She probably can't make a decision, not until she tests it out in every way possible,"

"But the sun is setting in a few minutes and we promised that we'd check up on her is she wasn't back by then," Sapphire crossed her arms, unconvinced as she glared at the slowly setting sun. "Don't try to distract me with anymore kisses either,"

The firebender held her hands up but offered a sly grin. "No more kisses," She took a hold of her girlfriends' hands and pulled her away from the edge of the mountain that overlooked the town. "How about I tell you another story?" She suggested.

Sapphire couldn't help but smile. "Who are you going to tell me about this time? Another Peridot story, maybe Jasper— "

"Lapis," Ruby whispered, eyes wide and mouth a gape.

The long haired girl frowned, thinking to herself for a moment. "I think I've heard all I need to about Lapis, unless there is something else you haven't— "

"Hey," The weak, almost shy, voice of Lapis Lazuli caused Sapphire to turn around and release the firebenders hands.

Lapis Lazuli stood in the flesh, a cape covering her body but her black shoes and red pants could be seen underneath. Her hair was still as short as Ruby remembered and her eyes just as bright. Ruby took note of how much her face had slimmed into a nice chisel, it no longer held the adorable baby fat she had locked into her memory of the girl.

She had grown a considerable height, but she had always been taller than her. Connie walked from behind the waterbender and chuckled sheepishly.

"Surprise?" Connie tried, eyeing Ruby's dazzled expression and Sapphire's impassive one. "…this isn't awkward at all, right?" She tried to lighten the mood.

The short haired girl flashed her white teeth at the shorter girl in front of her. "Your hair is just as puffy as I remember, and you've gotten taller despite what Peridot may say," She spoke like an old friend, using an inside joke that drew a rich laugh from Ruby that Sapphire had never heard before.

She looked away, she didn't know what to think of Ruby's past returning. Sapphire reminded herself that Ruby had long since gotten over her crush on Lapis, they were together now. Nothing would keep them apart.

Sapphire's doubt seeped in when Ruby's eyes flashed with something unknown, a playful grin rising to her lips. "And you're still a waterbender playing firenation royalty. Why are you even here in the slums your majesty?" Their teasing remarks made Sapphire sick to her stomach.

Lapis offered a shaky smile, her eyes filling with tears. "You forgot to say goodbye,"