Chapter Seven: City Streets

It was the day before the waterbending master, Master Jung, would train them to effectively use waterbending. Both have already considerably increased their own talents. In was late in the evening while they were practicing the motions. The sound of footsteps could be heard echoing towards the arena. Both of them stopped to look to the corridor, and saw Jade standing in the archway.

Aki called out her name, and ran to her to hug her. Ronan simply walked over.

"Jade, you have to see what I can do now!" Aki said with energy. She ran back to the center as Ronan walked beside Jade. She began displaying her ability to bend a large stream of water around herself. Jade began applauding as she launched it back into the body of water below. She controlled another mass of water, practicing her control on rapidly maneuvering it.

"It's apparent that she has gotten better."

"Yeah, she's really gone a long way since I first met her."

Jade looked towards him. "I've been meaning to ask.. Why did you take her under your care?"

Ronan gave her an exasperated look. "You wouldn't if you were in my situation?"

"Well, you couldn't have immediately thought that you were going to essentially adopt her."

"I didn't. As soon as I got her out of there, I was going to take her to any of her extended family, but after another run in with the guys who razed her village, she pretty much spilled her guts to me that she's lost everyone from this conflict. I guess I was the only one who fought and came back. It was then at that point I knew I couldn't abandon her. It would kill her."

Jade frowned slightly thinking about it. "It's trivial y'know. People fighting for power and control. Fighting over anger from something that happened twenty years ago... It's trivial."

"Yeah," Ronan sighed, "It's sucks." After he finished his statement, he felt a presence he hasn't felt for nearly half a year. He smiled, and Jade took notice of this.

"What? What is it?"

"An old friend."

From an opening in the ceiling of the arena, a form flew down. It was a spirit. It was a small humanoid lemur. (Similar to Aye-Aye, but about a third of his size, and with faerie wings.)

"Ronan!"

"Xue!" Ronan yelled out with a big smile on his face. As he ran towards the center of the arena, Xue flew down, and they collided, but on purpose. They spun each other around, holding each other at arm's length. "How've you been? I haven't seen you for months."

"I've been alright. I got that whole situation cleared up at the oasis. And it obviously took longer than I originally anticipated."

"It surely was."

"And to my surprise, when I got back to Iroh's tea shop, you weren't there, downing all the tea."

"Oh man, I wish I was back there right now. The tea here is terrible!"

"Who's this?" Aki asked, walking up to them.

"This is Xue. He's my best friend who helped me out in the Spirit World. Xue, this is Aki, and this is Jade." Xue bowed to the two, while floating in the air at face level.

"What did he help you with?" Jade asked.

"Mainly hand-to-hand combat, and sword fighting."

"I hope you have been brushing up your skills," Xue said, "Because I feel that I can take you on now."

"You wish."

Without warning, Xue slashed his arm at Ronan, who quickly evaded the attack. Xue took another attempt for a low blow, but Ronan jumped high into the air. Xue flew up at him at a fast speed, and then they began exchanging lightning fast blows to each other as they worked back down to the ground. The second Ronan touched down, his quick jab hit Xue in the shoulder, signifying first blood.

"Ha! I still got it."

"Which will make my victory in the future much more satisfying."

The girls were stunned. Ronan and Xue began to laugh when they saw the expression on their faces.

"You know Aki, maybe Xue can help teach you a thing or two about close quarter combat."

"Er... I don't think I can do that."

"Ha ha.. I due time I guess." He turned back to Xue. "So what are you doing here?"

"Well, what do you think? I came to see you. You didn't even wait for me to get back."

"Believe me, I waited. But we felt I couldn't wait any longer to me to come back to this world."

"What have you done since you have been here?"

"Kind of a long story. But this actually presents an opportunity right now. Jade, are you free for the next few hours?"

"..Yeah? Why?"

"I've been needing to go out and talk to some people. Investigating, if you will."

"About what?"

"Well... Couple things actually. Although right now this is considered a rumor, it is possible that there is someone fighting on the other side who can bend more than just one element."

Xue and Jade were shocked and confused to hear this.

"But, that's impossible, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but who knows. Something could have changed. But on top of that, there have been recent reports of disappearances of benders within the city."

Aki began to worry slightly upon hearing this.

"So, if you don't mind, could you stay here, and watch over Aki's training exercises?"

"Yeah, I can spare a few hours. I need to get things together though later. I have another run I need to do again early tomorrow morning."

"I shouldn't be too long I hope. Also gives me some time to catch up with Xue."

"Be careful." Aki said.

"Always." Ronan said back, patting her head.

Ronan was walking down a busy street while Xue flew beside him. By now, Ronan has already told Xue everything that has happened since he returned back to his home realm.

"So, what kept you at the oasis?"

"Ugh! Don't even get me started. No one there wanted to compromise, so for a mediator like myself, all I could really do was wait and wait. If things got too heated, fights broke out that I had to put a stop to without harming anyone. It was a giant pain."

"But it worked out in the end, so it's a win."

"Yeah, for now. I give it another several decades before things blow up again."

The two reached the hospital. The pair were redirected to the army infirmary. There was nearly one hundred wounded soldiers lined up on cots, being monitored by the nurses. Although some might think it would be hellacious, the room was decorated to give a home feeling to it. Many of the men there were in high spirits, regardless of being seriously injured. Many spoke about getting back to work, or seeing their family back home. Some were even ready to go back to fight.

One of the nurses walked up to Ronan, who showed her his card that shows he's the Avatar.

"We're honored to be in your presence." She said, bowing.

"Please, there is no need. I am hear to talk to some of the soldiers here."

"Yes. The President sent me a list who he wanted you to talk to. Beds three, nine, and forty-seven."

"Thank you." He first walked to bed three. The man was out cold on pain meds. He then walked to bed nine. He appeared to be mentally incompetent due to a head injury. Ronan crossed his fingers as he walked to the last man. Thankfully, he was awake, and fully competent. He walked over and sat at the stool at the man's bedside.

"Hi there," Ronan said, "I have a few questions to ask you."

He turned his head to him. "I already told them everything I know."

"I assume the Presidential staff?"

He nodded.

"So you really saw someone fighting on the enemy side bending more than one element?"

"Yes." He replied, slightly annoyed having being questioned again.

"What elements did he bend?"

"From what I can remember, I saw fire and water spiraling into our ranks from a man covered in blood red robes. But right after I saw that, a mortar blew up next to my squad. I was the only survivor."

Ronan could tell that the man was telling the truth. Xue could tell too from the man's aura. (Which only he can really see.)

"Anything else, at all."

"No, now please let me rest."

"Of course." Ronan stood up, and walked away. As they exited the building, Ronan leaned up against the building.

"Is it really possible that someone else can bend more than one element?"

"There shouldn't be. Only the Avatar has that ability."

"Is it possible that maybe there were two of them? A fire and water bender? Or maybe some new weapon, and he is just having some post traumatic memory that isn't real?"

"I really don't know."

"Really wish the other two guys are awake and could talk." He began walking down the street. "Maybe it's nothing. Might as well see if we can find anything about the disappearances."

"Do you think it's connected to what is going on?"

"I think so. There are zero reports of nonbenders disappearing."

"How many benders are missing."

Ronan grimaced. "So far... Thirty-five."

"Thirty-five?! When did they even take notice of this?"

"Supposedly after ten, then the reports really began blowing up, especially in the past few days."

Ronan walked into a diner, and sat down in a booth while Xue sat on the opposite seat.

"So what is your plan?" Xue asked.

Ronan rubbed his eyes. "I honestly don't know. I'm just hoping to strike it lucky to find any info or an abduction in the act."

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the conversations within the diner, and only one caught his attention.

"So, how's your daughter Jade?" one man asked.

The other man grumbled back. "What 'bout her?"

"Well, it's been awhile. Is she still doing those deliveries down the coastline?"

"Yup..." He proceeded to take a giant shot of alcohol.

Ronan smiled slightly. "I guess it's something." He said to Xue.

He looked over at the man who is presumably Jade's father. His smile faded. He was a sorry sight to see. His are clothes tattered. His beard is scruffy and mangy. But the one detail that struck Ronan was that he had peg leg.

"When do you think you are going to take it over again?"

"Don't. Fucking. Know." He took another shot of alcohol.

The other man frowned. "Haven't you heard though? Things have been getting dangerous out there on the road. Don't you think you should be out there instead of her drinking your life away?"

Jade's father grabbed a glass bottle, and smashed it into the other man's face. He fell down, unconscious.

"Cal!" the waitress yelled out.

He got up, and picked the man up by the collar. As he readied his fist, Ronan was already behind him, and grabbed his fist. He let go of the man to free up his other hand, and swung it around wildly. Ronan pushed him back, and he tripped over the man. He hit the back of his head on a table, but the amount of alcohol in his system made him impervious to the pain. He shot a ball of fire towards Ronan. Ronan quickly contained the fire in an orb of air and snuffed it out. Before Cal could take another shot, Ronan swiftly hit his pressure points which made him limp. He fell back into a booth seat.

"You fucking bastard!" he screamed out.

Ronan bended water out of a near by pitcher, and splashed it over Cal's face. He quieted down.

"You cooled down now?" Ronan asked.

"Oh, just leave me the fuck alone!"

"No. Not yet."

"And why the hell is that?"

"Because I happen to know your daughter. She gave me a lift to reach the city."

"I told her not to give hitchhikers rides!"

"Oh, but I was an exception." Ronan jumped up onto the table. "I'm the Avatar."

There was a stir in the diner. Ronan's identity wasn't released out to the public yet. Though some knew once he bended air and water.

"I have a question for you. How did you lose your leg."

Cal was obviously angered by this. "I lost it in the fucking war," he grumbled, "I fought for my people, and how do I get repaid? Here, have a damned wooden leg, and get on with your life."

"Listen, I'm sorry that happened, but how would you feel if the same thing happened to Jade?"

That caught Cal's attention. "What the hell you mean?"

"On our way back, we were ambushed by bandits in some pretty impressive vehicles. The only thing she could do was attempt to lose them, but out there, that was impossible. Did she tell you about that?"

"...No, she didn't."

"Then allow me to continue. Her caravan was totaled in the aftermath. We had to walk the rest of the way. And believe it or not, we had another run in with bandits. Now, had I not been there, where do you think Jade would be right now?"

Cal remained silent.

"She could either have a wooden limb, or she could be dead, if not raped first."

"Shut the fuck up!" Cal tried moving, but he still couldn't regain control of his body.

"So excuse me if I seemed pissed off at your situation. Believe me, I'm sorry for what has happened to you. But this war took my parents before I could even have any memory of them. I had to take care of a small child because she lost every family member to the war. There are soldiers still currently in the hospital who are injured, but alive. And do you want to know what the one thing we all have in common is? We are still in high hopes for living. You, you are still alive, and you have Jade... For fuck sake man, you still have family. Don't waste it."

Ronan jumped down from the table. He flicked a gold coin to the waitress behind the counter. "Sorry about the mess."

As he walked out, he looked back towards Cal. He simply look the other way; defeated. Ronan just shook his head as he exited the diner.

"Jeez Ronan," Xue said, breaking the silence, "What was all that."

"Nothing. Just irked, that's all."

"Seemed a little more personal than that."

"Could've been, I don't know." Ronan looked back over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I think someone is following us. Fly a little higher, alright?"

The two of them made their way to empty streets.

"Why are we over here?"

"Because if someone if trying to confront me, they won't do it in public. Stay higher up, would ya?"

Xue flew higher up, looking around. "I don't see anything."

Suddenly, a man cloaked in a black jumpsuit jumped down and attacked. Ronan blocked his attempts, but from behind before he could react, another man appeared. He slapped Ronan with an electric pole. Ronan screamed out in anguish as he fell to the ground motionless. Xue launched the first man in through a wall then turned to face the other hostile. He was also struck by the pole, leaving part of his body numb and useless. He flew back to avoid being stuck again.

"Run!" Ronan yelled out with what energy he still had.

"But-"

"Go! Get help!"

Xue reluctantly flew fast down the street to inform the others.

"Hey Aki?" Jade said.

"Yeah?" Aki replied, continuing to work through her motions.

"Ronan is taking longer than expected, and I really do need to get going. Will you be okay if I leave you here by yourself for now?"

Aki stopped. "Yup. I'll be alright. I know my way back too."

"Good. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow morning before I leave, okay?"

"I hope so. If not, be careful, alright?"

"I will be. That new caravan is better then the old one."

As Jade left, Aki continued her motions. Several moments later, Xue came flying in, and crashed into the ground. The blow he took sapped all of his energy.

"Xue!" Aki cried out. She ran to him, and picked him up into her arms. "What happened? Where's Ronan?"

"We were ambushed. They have Ronan. We need to get help!"

"Where?"

"Gah!" he cried out from his wound, "Over my some abandoned theater. Hardly anyone goes by there."

Aki began running out of the arena. "Show me where!"

"No, you have to get help first."

"There's no time, show me where."

Xue really had to say in the matter since he was near paralyzed. "Fine, take a left."

After nearly fifteen minutes of running, the two made it back to the ambush spot. The hole in the theater wall was evident of the scuffle.

"This is where it happened."

"I don't see any sign of him."

They looked around in the darkness of the silent section of the city.

"It's too late. They have him," Xue said, "We have to go tell someone."

"Alright," Aki said, worried beyond belief. Before she could walk away, the two men were back, and struck Aki with the pole. The immense pain knocked her out cold.

"No!" Xue cried out. He was then knocked out from another blow from the pole.