Four Elements

April 16, 2007

I got a good review from someone I respect as an author, so continuing isn't a necessity; however it is my pleasure.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or any of the characters, if I did I wouldn't be broke.

Chapter 1: Making Oneself Known To Some

It was around midnight and a 16-year old male with a burn scar around his left eye and an old man with him were at a fountain in the city of Ba Sing Se.

"What are we doing here uncle?" the 16-year old asked impatiently.

"Patience Lee, we will get our answers soon," the old man said.

Another group approached the area where the one known as Lee and his uncle were.

His uncle turned to the group and said cheerily, "Aren't you the band of freedom fighters going against the Fire Nation."

"Yes," Lee said. "Your name is Jet if I remember correctly," he finished indicating the leader of the group.

"Yes, you two are Lee and Mushi," Jet said, though he seemed angry at them. "And what are you doing here?" he asked rudely.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but we received a notice telling us to come to this location," Lee responded. "Now what reason do you have for being here?" he asked.

"Strangely enough, we received a note ouselves," Jet answered. "Now for what reason would someone want us to be here?"

"That question will be answered soon," a male, insane-sounding, voice said from the shadows. He twitched his hand slightly and a gap suddenly openned under the freedom fighters, Lee, and Mushi, causing them to fall in. Shortly after they fell through Bumi closed the gap, leaving no trace of there being one. He then reached into an inner pocket and moved himself to find his air-bending friend while pulling out a piece of paper.

With Lee and the others...

Right after they fell through, they landed on a slide-like slant, after a few seconds the group landed rather softly considering the speeds they were going. Lee checked and noticed that they landed on some sand, which softenned their landing.

A man in a tan cloak walked toward them and smiled, "I'd hoped Bumi was gentle with the initial landing on the slide down."

Mushi stood up and asked, "Bumi, the king of Omashu? I thought he was captured."

"He was Iroh," the man said. "But given that his element of surprise was unintentionally taken away when the family currently ruling Omashu found out that he could still bend while imprisoned, he decided to assist me and my plans for a bit," he finished his explanation.

"And what plans might you have?" Lee asked. His eyes then widened in realization, "And how did you know my uncle's name?"

"Oh, forgive me for my rudeness young prince," the man responded. He then raised his right hand and a small earth platform rose up beside him, he held both hands in front of him and all the weapons and such the group had moved to his hand and he placed them each on the platform when they reached either of his hands. "Just a safety precautions incase one of you decides to attack me or one another, this is the most advance method of earthbending, metal is a mineral from the earth so bending it takes more concentration for those who lack the necessary experience," he explained.

"So I take it you're the one who slipped the note inside my pocket when we bumped into each other?" Iroh said, figuring it was useless to hide the truth in this situation.

"Yes, my name is Usui," he responded. "And other than the fact that Zuko and yourself as well as the freedom fighters will be able to assist in the war, Zuko especially will play a key-role in fighting, unlike myself. You can also assist with a current situation concerning the young Avatar, Aang, who is currently in Ba Sing Se. Bumi is watching over him as we speak," Usui finished.

"So you know who Zuko is?" Iroh asked. Usui nodded. Iroh then asked with peeked curiousitys, "Why won't you be assisting with the fighting in the war?"

Usui sighed, "My time will be up before then, my power has been weakening for the past twelve years, I have another month, if that long."

"What is taking so long?" an old man walked in to see what was wrong.

"Oh, hello Jeong Jeong," Iroh said approaching the fellow fire bender. "It's been a long time."

"Yes it has, and given the circumstances, I don't think offering tea would be appropriate," Jeong Jeong answered with a cheerful expression for a change. "Especially considering we have someone here who hates all firebenders with a passion," he finished.

Everyone looked at Jet.

Usui then said, "I see no logical explanation for hating all firebenders, especially when there are a few in your company at the moment."

"If you knew what the Fire Nation did to me, you wouldn't blame me for my hatred," Jet said coldly whilst crossing his arms.

"There once was a boy whose parents opposed the Fire Nation and its ideals," Usui started, "He and his parents were attacked and his parents were tortured in front of him while he was in hiding. They were killed without remorse by the Prince and Admiral Ozai before he became the Fire Lord. If that wasn't enough, they discovered and tortured him to the brink of death and insanity, and were about to execute you when a mysterious fighter wielding a pair of tonfas stepped up and rendered every one of Ozai's soldiers unconcious. After being severly injured by the fighter, Ozai ran, leaving his men behind while swearing his revenge for the humiliation. Ozai never got his revenge, because the fighter vanished shortly without a trace. The boy was inspired and decided to train himself, he gathered himself a band of fighters to assist in bringing down the Fire Nation," Usui finished.

Jet looked at Usui in shock, "How are you aware of my past? I never told anyone."

Usui reached into his cloak and pulled out a pair of steel tonfas, shocking Jet even more, "This world is a great deal smaller than you think. Especially for someone who has lived as long as I have."

Just then Bumi jumped out from the floor, surprising everyone but Usui and Jeong Jeong, "The message has been delivered. There was a young female earthbender with them, perhaps she is Aang's teacher. There was, however, something familiar about her."

"There should be," Usui informed, "she's Lao Bei Fong's daughter, Toph."

"Hmmm, that explains it," Bumi responded. "She was the one I gave the message to."

"I have my doubts that she remembers who you are considering how long it's been since she's been to Omashu," Usui stated with a thought. He noticed the curious looks everyone gave him and spoke out, "The message Bumi delivered is a simple hint to point Aang in the right direction about a friend he's looking for."

Although curious the two groups left it at that.

Usui led his guests into the main chamber of the catacombs they were in. Usui waved his arm as a signal stating that there was no problems and the Air Nomads all revealed themselves much to Zuko's, Iroh's, and the Freedom Fighters' surprise.

"I thought the Air Nomads were all but wiped out," Zuko said with unhidden shock in his voice. After seeing only one Airbender throughout the world seeing this many would surprise anyone.

"I came to the same conclusion as well," Iroh stated. He noticed that some of the monks were having some form of tea(I don't know many types of tea so bare with me on this) and walked over to see if he could have some.

Zuko snorted at this.

"It appears some people here know how to enjoy themselves," an old waterbender brought some attention to himself.

Iroh looked at him and asked, "Aren't you the Waterbending Master from the North Pole?"

He bowed to Iroh and introduced himself, "I am, and my name is Pakku. You are Iroh, the Dragon of the West, yes?"

"Indeed I am," Iroh said before sipping the tea. Iroh gave an appreciative smile and said, "Truly a well made pot, it just needs some heating," and with that he put his hand over the cup he had and when he took it off steam was being emitted from the top of the cup.

"I thought you were firebenders," Jet stated accusingly.

"Being angry at me or my nephew for the injustices my brother has caused you will not do anything for you except put you in a bad situation," Iroh said matter-of-factly. He then took another sip of his tea.

"Although uncle doesn't take most things very seriously he does have a point," Zuko responded.

Jet just snorted while folding his arms, turned around and sat down folding his legs.

Usui chuckled at his actions, "You'd think two people with rivaling tempers would hit it off better."

"Either that or find out who can get angrier," Iroh added with his own chuckles.

"Enough of this," Usui stated. "I invited you here so that you would know of our existence. Now that this has all been said and done I will return you back to the surface. Follow me," he stated as he started walking.

Zuko, Iroh and the Freedom Fighters followed.

"A little light please," Usui said and Iroh responded by openning his hand and holding a flame up.

Jet glared at him.

"To hold a grudge against all when you were only wronged by one of their kind is pointless," Iroh stated.

After a few minutes Usui held his hand up and eveyone stopped.

"Flame out please," Usui stated while tapping his footing, the platform they were standing on rose.

Iroh closed his hand.

A few seconds later Usui moved his hand to the side and the earth moved aside.

Everyone could now clearly see the night sky.

"You three can go back to what you were doing," Usui said to Jet, Longshot and Smellerbee.

The three left.

Usui pulled out a message from his cloak, "Zuko, you have to make a final decision as to whether or not you want to read this message, because the moment you read it is the moment you have made your final decision to remove Ozai from his position as Fire Lord." He then placed the message in Zuko's hand.

"I will honor that request," Zuko stated while closing his fist.

-

Back in the catacombs a person had been watching the retreating form of Zuko, there was a tear their eyes from pride and sorrow. Pride in that he is finally close to living peacefully and sorrow for the confusion he is going through and for the burn scar on his face.

"I hope you make the best decision for yourself Zuko," they said.

"My Lady," tall said from behind her. "You'd best be getting some sleep."

"Right," she said and followed tall back to her resting area.

End Of Chapter.

I know, kind of short for taking a while to update, but I'm bad with bringing plots out so it may take a while for my ideas to be brought out. If you can figure out who tall is then you could most likely figure out who was watching Zuko. As if it isn't obvious.

Anyway R&R