Chapter 1: Scent of Shadows
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Sweat dripped from his half clad body as flames exploded from his fists. Ever since the night of his failed assassination, sleep didn't seem that beneficial at all. The feeling of being helpless… having no choice but to follow, being controlled against your will. Not only his reputation as the fire lord but also his pride as a warrior was tarnished. Somehow the only thing he can do to relieve his stress was to train his anger out.
The next day after the attack his trusted generals requested his audience for a distressing matter. Alarmed, Fire Lord Zuko immediately agreed.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" he rose from his seat at the head of the table as his blood boiled instantly.
"… The warden from the boiling rock informed us that the former fire lord, Ozai and Azula escaped from prison," one general had the courage to speak despite his pale face. The inescapable prison mostly held fire benders but because of what the former fire lord has done, even without his fire bending, he too shared was treated just as dangerous.
"HOW?!" he leaned his weight into his hands on the table. His amber eyes looking at the world map carved on the table surface. Somehow, he knew what he would hear next.
"The warden's report says that there wasn't an actual battle that happened. Although, the guards did see several intruders. None of them had contact. There were no signs of struggle in the prison because the guards said that their body moved like it had a mind of its own," the other general read from scroll in his hand.
Blood bending. Zuko's eyes narrowed in agitation while trying to keep his composure. Not everyone was familiar with that kind of bending. Only a handful of people know about it. Informing his generals about it didn't seem like a good idea. After all, even if he did inform them, there was nothing they can do.
"Did they have a good look at the intruders in boiling rock?" he did the only reasonable thing to do at the moment- look for clues.
"No… the guards said they were wearing cloaks. Although, the guards were pretty sure they only saw three," somehow the generals were relieved to find the young Fire Lord keeping his cool despite the problem they presented.
"Were there other prisoners who escaped?" Zuko resumed his seat and leaned back to continue his own investigation.
"No one else was reported missing,"
For a moment, there was a pregnant pause. All eyes were on the young fire lord. The avatar took my Father's bending away so he wouldn't pose much of a threat offensively speaking but Azula is another matter. It seems these blood benders are planning something big.
Realizing that everyone was waiting for his next word, he formally dismissed the meeting and called for the Avatar, who also doing his own investigation.
His amber eyes watched the flames surrounding his throne while his mind wandered.
"It is not good to stare openly at a flame so long… especially if you're a fire bender," a familiar voice woke him up from his trance. It was a common joke among fire benders because somehow when a fire bender's mind becomes unstable while staring at a flame, it explodes. Lowering the flames that surrounded him, he saw an old man who was the closest thing he had to a father.
"Uncle!" the flames receded as the Fire Lord welcomed his uncle. Ever since the Great War, General Iroh had been staying in the Earth Kingdom governing his teashop. Needless to say, it had been a while since they last saw each other.
"I've been hearing great things from you. As you're Uncle I couldn't be more proud," Iroh tapped his nephew's shoulders like he wasn't the leader of the fire nation. "Also, I've come with friends," he led the way outside the palace to show him what he was talking about.
"You still look moody oh-great-fire-lord," that mocking tone can only belong to one person who can annoy him without even trying. With his trusty boomerang and space sword plus the signature warrior ponytail not to mention the wicked sense of humor. He grinned widely at Zuko.
In the years they haven't seen each other, Sokka had grown into more mature, physically speaking of course. Without even checking, the young fire lord knew that his friend's combat skills also improved.
The woman beside him wearing the traditional Kiyoshi warrior attire with face paint greeted the fire lord politely. So unlike her husband.
"Great, you're all here," a large flying bison landed effortlessly on the open space nearby. The Avatar together with the blind earth bender joined them.
If the situation was different, they should be celebrating right about now. But they knew the reason why they all came together this day. And that was no reason to celebrate at all.
Right after settling in, the entire gang together with old Iroh sat together and shared the information they have gathered. Zuko started with his failed assassination and added the problem his generals presented.
"These blood benders… no one has ever heard about them. It was as if they were in hiding until that night," the air bender slash avatar shared.
"Is it me or do I feel something big is going to happen?" Sokka honestly blurted out.
"Really? You think?" Toph immediately countered Sokka with her in born sarcasm, just like the old times.
"Sokka's right. That's why I need to get out of the palace," the young Fire Lord put his hands together in resolution.
"What? Why?" Aang and Sokka asked together.
"I just can't sit here and do nothing. It is also my duty as a fire lord," Zuko looked at his friends for understanding.
"Zuko is right," General Iroh who was silent the entire time finally spoke. "This blood bending… it is the first time I've heard of it but clearly it's very dangerous and also very powerful." He sipped his tea. The others didn't dare speak as they knew he wasn't done with his wisdom talk.
"They will be your greatest threat. I am addressing everyone to be careful. Especially you two… Zuko…Aang,"
"Why me?" indeed, he was the avatar after all and so far nobody was sent to attack him… yet.
"Don't you get it Aang? Even if you can control all four elements, you still can't counter blood bending. If there was anyone fit to assassinate you, it would be blood benders because to them… you're nothing more than a puppet with bag of air," the young fire lord's words were sharp and true.
"Indeed, they are the perfect assassins for the job… and clearly, they are aware of it," Iroh looked at the tea leaf floating in his cup.
"Then we need to leave at once. We don't have much time left," Aang looked at Zuko who only nodded silently. They only have weeks to investigate because when the next full moon appears who knows what will happen…
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