Spirit of Fire

Chapter 2: Firebending 101, for Angsty Teens

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender

BETA read by: Waterbender-Katara and LinaStar

Far north, on what many would consider to be the top of the world, stood the vast Northern Water Tribe. This tribe was led by Chief Arnook, who had been chief for over 25 years. At the moment, the chief was in the council room of the Chief's Temple having an important meeting with the Northern Water Tribe council on the help that they had been sending their sister tribe, the Southern Water Tribe. Along with Chief Arnook, there was the Northern Water Tribe's Head Waterbending Master Pakku, Head Healer Yugoda, and Head of the Merchant Guild Shoda. Guarding the doorway were Hahn and a new Water Tribe soldier by the name of Yoki.

As the three council members were finishing their meeting with Chief Arnook, a bright flash filled the room; causing them to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed and everyone regained their vision, they gasped at the sight before them.

Floating just a couple of feet above the floor was a humanoid, red skinned, female spirit; who was wearing a simple blue robe and had short blue hair and piercing blue eyes; the kind of eyes that could freeze a person's soul.

Snapping out of his transfixed state, Pakku lowered himself into a fighting stance. "Who are you, spirit?" The old waterbending master asked.

The spirit shifted her eyes to Pakku and after a moment of staring down the elderly man answered in a watery, deadpanned voice. "I am the elder spirit, Akaimizu, the spirit of water."

Upon hearing the spirit's title and the element over which she presided, Pakku immediately dropped his arms. It would be impossible to fight an elder spirit. Especially when it was the spirit of his element.

Akaimizu turned her gaze back to Chief Arnook and spoke saying, "Arnook, Chief of the Northern Water Tribe, you have seen the devastation of this war correct?" At the man's nod she continued saying, "The elder elemental spirits have come together and have decided to pick our own champions to fight in this war. We do not feel that the Avatar will be able to go through with finishing the war. The child is too young to understand what needs to be done."

"I presume then that you would be choosing Hahn as your champion?" asked Arnook inquisitively.

"No. I have chosen someone far better to be my champion," replied Akaimizu.

"Who could possibly be better than me?" Hahn asked in a haughty tone.

"Any sort of waterbender would be a step up from you, non-bender," Akaimizu replied in an acidic voice. She then turned her gaze back to Arnook and continued, "I am here to inform you, Chief Arnook, that your waterbender teachers, Pakku and Yugoda, are to refine my champion's waterbending; both in fighting and in healing." She then gestured to the door where a hooded feminine figure was standing.

"No. It is obvious that your champion is female and we do not teach waterbending to women," stated Pakku. He had been willing to teach Katara on account that she was Kanna's granddaughter and even after sixty years he still cared for her. However, the Northern Water Tribe's tradition continued; the men learned to fight and the women learned to heal.

The old waterbending master's words were cut short as he felt his body start to freeze. He found Akaimizu's eyes were glowing a dark, foreboding blue. "I wasn't asking." Akaimizu spoke in an icy tone, the room getting colder by the second.

"They will do it," spoke Arnook. "Please spirit, release him."

Feeling merciful, Akaimizu released Pakku and raised the temperature of the room back up.

Yugoda looked at the hooded figure then to Akaimizu and asked, "Who have you chosen to be your champion?"

Without looking at her champion, Akaimizu said, "You may now reveal yourself to them."

The figure reached up and slowly removed the concealing hood that had been hiding her identity to everyone.

Arnook, along with every person in the room, gasped at the sight of the woman's face. Her tanned skin, that was light among the water tribes, her eyes, one eye being a soft blue the other a dark blue, and her long, snow white hair. "Yue," gasped Arnook at the sight of his dead daughter.

"Hello father," replied Yue with a soft smile.

"How… how can this be?" questioned the chief. "You're dead. I held your body in my hands."

"It was the decision of the elder spirits that Yue's life was unfairly ended, due to the stupid mistakes of two foolish fish," explained Akaimizu. "We separated her bond with Tui and have given Yue her life back; provided that she would become my champion, which she has agreed to."

Hearing that his daughter was to be the spirit's champion Arnook snapped out of his shocked state and faced Akaimizu. "She cannot be your champion," stated Arnook. "Princess Yue has duties to the tribe."

"Princess Yue died. Only Yue came back to life, and she has duties to me before all else," countered Akaimizu.

"It won't matter anyway," began Hahn, stepping forward. "She is still to marry me and as her husband, I won't let her go."

Before anything else was said or anyone could react, Akaimizu spun around towards Hahn. The young solider felt himself fly back, his head smashing hard into the wall behind him. Looking through blurry eyes, he was confused as he saw the water spirit's hand stretched out in front of her. 'Why… is… everything… getting… dark?' Hahn thought slowly to himself. His head began to fall and the last thing he saw before his eyes went completely black was his warm, crimson blood running down a spear of ice that went through his heart and pierced the wall behind him. At that moment, Hahn of the Northern Water Tribe died.

Yoki, who had been standing guard at the door next Hahn, had been in shock to see everything that had been happening in front of him. He was appalled at Hahn's stupidity to snub the spirit. But nothing had prepared him for the aftermath of Akaimizu's six inch thick spear of ice impaling Hahn. Yoki felt the sudden splash of warm droplets on his face. As he turned slowly, he saw Hahn's crimson blood pour fourth from his limp form; staining the ice wall and floor red in a pool that only seemed to grow bigger. It was then that Yoki realized that the warm droplets on his face were Hahn's blood. Unable to support himself, Yoki collapsed onto his hands and knees and emptied the contents of his stomach into the fresh pool of blood.

Shoda was a simple man; he was a man of peace, business, and Pai Sho. So, upon seeing the brutality of the elder spirit, the man did the only reasonable thing he could think of. He fainted.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Yue shouted at Akaimizu.

"Do not shout at me, girl. He was interfering, so I removed him," answered Akaimizu coolly. The red skinned spirit then turned her attention back to Arnook and said, "I suggest you rethink your statement about stopping your daughter from being my champion, Arnook. Remember, it is by my blessing that she is back among the living. Also, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your beloved wife in the spirit world, would you?"

Realizing he had no control over the situation, Arnook relented and nodded his head.

Seeing Arnook giving his consent, Akaimizu turned to Pakku and Yugoda and said, "Yue will spend four days here learning from both of you, before she is to move on."

Looking at his daughter, Arnook asked, "Where will you be going?"

"I'll be going to Ba Sing Se, without accompaniment, and meeting up with allies, the other champions that the spirits have chosen, there," Yue replied.

"I recommend getting to work quickly, Yue. You have a lot of ground to cover," Akaimizu said as she faded back to the Spirit World.

With Akaimizu gone, Arnook looked at his once dead daughter and said, "I'm glad to see that you have returned. I know you have a lot to do, so I will talk to you later this evening."

Yue bowed her head to her father and then left with Pakku and Yugoda to the training grounds.

Arnook turned to look at Hahn's dead body. In truth he had never really liked the boy, but it was his wife who arranged the marriage so he had honored her wishes. But still, even he hadn't deserved what he got. Arnook walked around the table to help the woozy Yoki and call for help in removing Hahn's body and checking on Shoda.

This was not how the chief imaged his day would turn out.

Ba Sing Se, the largest city in the world and the last Earth Kingdom province free from Fire Nation control. Many thought the city was a wondrous testament to the strength of the Earth Kingdom. Others thought the city was too corrupt, over populated, and ignorant of the world outside of the walls. One such person was a young peasant girl named, Jin. It wasn't that she didn't like the city; Jin just wasn't the type to deny the truth when it was set before her. At five years old, her family had been forced to leave their small fishing village, due to pirates, and settle in the city. Now, at sixteen years old, she felt that she was old enough to have her own opinions about the city where she had spent the past eleven years of her life with her parents and siblings. She felt that even though the city was still standing, it was tearing itself up inside. Everyone was struggling to survive, the king didn't seem to care, and then there were those Dai Li and their ways of making people disappear. Especially if you showed signs of being a fairly competent earthbender, then they would surely come for you.

Now, unknown to nearly everyone except her parents, Jin was an earthbender and not just any earthbender, but a master level earthbender. As a young child, she was unable to go to school. Luckily she was at least taught how to read and write. Her mother wouldn't let her stay in the house all day, as the woman had housework to do, so it was playtime in the yard for little Jin. It was in that yard, at three years old, that young Jin discovered that she could earthbend. So, over the next two years, she spent every waking minute she could outside practicing her earthbending. A few days after arriving in Ba Sing Se, after having to flee their home, Jin spied two Dai Li agents overpower a man and take him. She didn't remember all of what was said, but did remember that it had to do with him being an earthbender. So, she continued to practice but did so in secret. Over the years, she learned how to sense things with her feet, condense and expand the earth she bent, and bend the earth back to its exact position so that no one would even know it had been bent.

It was thanks to these techniques that she was able to elude the Dai Li. However, even with the strength of her earthbending, Jin knew it would be foolish to oppose the Dai Li openly; for she was only one person, while the Dai Li were hundreds. Every day she practiced when she was able to. The rest of her time was spent exploring the Lower and Middle Rings of the city, spending time with family and, at age twelve, Jin also began working as the family needed money.

Through it all, she kept hope that one day something would happen to help change things. And a couple of days ago, things did change.

Flashback

Ba Sing Se, Lower Ring

Jin stood in a small dark room. This room was known as a pit. They were underground rooms that Lower Ring earthbenders built to evade the Dai Li and to train. This pit was special to Jin, as it was her own. Currently, Jin was in the midst of training to increase the strength of her earthbending. She sat on the ground and had a simple dagger in her hands. With great concentration, Jin could bend the metal dagger. After all, metal came from earth, so logically an earthbender could bend it. However, it took a great amount of concentration to do so. Jin's goal was to train enough to lessen this. So, deeply in her thoughts, was Jin, that she failed to notice a second presence in the room with her.

With a grunt, Jin was able to bend the dagger cleanly in half. As she breathed a sigh of relief, Jin was shocked by the presence of another voice.

"Very impressive young earthbender," a voice rumbled softly in the darkness.

Jin eyes widened in surprise and she gasped as a yellow glow filled the room. The figure in front of her stood fairly tall, even though he was floating a couple of feet above the floor. He had yellow skin with orange tribal markings on his body. He was also bald and had brilliant green eyes.

"I am Kiirojimen the spirit of Earth," Kiirojimen informed her. "I am an elder spirit of the Spirit World. I have appeared before you, Jin, because of a great need in the world."

"Why me?"

"Because you wish to wield the power to change the world and so you shall. I am choosing you as my champion, the champion of earth. You will join the other champions and together you will help to change the world," Kiirojimen explained to her.

As Jin became more and more excited at the thought of getting to bring change, Kiirojimen's face grew grim. "However, there will be difficult times ahead. To bring about this change, you will have to face impossible odds and there is no guarantee of victory. Should you prove victorious, you will be greatly rewarded in life," Kiirojimen said as he raised his hand, summoning a small, glowing white pebble in his hand. "This is a piece of spirit earth. It is filled with long forgotten techniques of earthbending. Accept being my champion and the knowledge will be yours." The spirit then extended his hand towards Jin.

Jin thought for a moment and then firmly shook the spirit's hand. She would be willing to do whatever it took to help change the world; especially, if that change would help improve the life of Ba Sing Se. While shaking Kiirojimen's hand, Jin's vision on the left side went black.

"Do not fear you're just being realized as my champion." Kiirojimen spoke before she could inquire about her vision. Soon her sight returned and Kiirojimen held up a mirror so that Jin could see what had happened. Her dark green iris was gone and was replaced with a brighter green.

After taking in her new appearance, Jin looked towards the spirit as he lowered the mirror. Jin then yelped in surprise as the pebble in Kiirojimen's hands shot forward with incredible speed. Jin clenched her eyes, expecting the pebble to hit her, but was surprised at having felt nothing. "The knowledge is now in you. All you need to do is to meditate to learn from it," Kiirojimen explained to her.

"Good luck in your journey, young earthbender. The other champions will soon be coming. They are making their way to Ba Sing Se," said Kiirojimen as he faded back to the spirit world.

End Flashback

Jin opened her eyes and threw the dagger at the wall. As the dagger was in midair, she pressed her four fingers of her right hand together and clenched them. She then spread her clenched fingers apart from each other and as she did so, the dagger split into four separate pieces. Each piece hit their target on the wall, forming a nice line. Looking at her handiwork, Jin only had one thought running through her mind, 'Sweet!'

Zuko had awoken early with the sun and set about getting something to eat for himself and his uncle. After a quick breakfast of tea and grilled fish, from a nearby stream, Zuko went outside to mediate, while Iroh lay back down to rest and regain his strength.

Once he found a nice warm spot in the sun, Zuko sat down in the lotus position and began to meditate. He slowed his breathing and cleared his mind; letting everything fall away. After a while, Zuko opened his eyes and was surprised to see that the landscape had drastically changed. The abandoned house, desert-like land, and rocky mountains were all gone and replaced by a lush green field filled with a couple of trees. There was even a small lake off to Zuko's left. The greatest change was the sky; gone was the sun and blue sky, both having been replaced by stars filling an inky black sky.

"What is this place?" Zuko asked aloud. The smart thing would have been to be on guard, but for some reason he felt safe and at peace in this strange place.

"Welcome to your mindscape," spoke an intangible voice from all around Zuko. "You have accessed the knowledge, in your mind, which Aoihi has given you as her champion. As you are in your mind, time will pass differently here. For every hour you spend here, only a minute will pass outside."

This sounded good to Zuko. At least he could get more training done.

"First, we shall cover the history of firebending. This way, you will be able to properly firebend better. Ten thousand years ago, human's learned firebending from the first firebenders, dragons. Unlike sky bison and badger moles, which are wise animals, dragons are wise predators. Because of this, dragons were cautious of who they taught firebending to. The first person to truly learn firebending was a man by the name of Agni. Angi spent years getting the respect of many different dragons. After eight years, Agni was able to get the respect of ten different dragons. After learning firebending from the dragons, Agni went and spoke with each dragon about teaching his family firebending. The dragons debated for nearly a year, but in the end they gave their consent. Agni then began teaching his family the art of firebending and from them was born the Sun Warrior nation. The Sun Warriors believed firebending to be a way of life. It was the unseen spark of life that flowed in every living thing; whether it was dragon, human, or animal. They did not firebend with rage and anger as firebenders today do; instead, the Sun Warriors firebended with passion, a love for life. Over the next, four thousand years the dragons and the Sun Warriors lived in peace. They developed their bending to such extremes that even the Avatar would be hard pressed to compete with them. They developed all sorts of techniques on attacking, defending, healing, relaxing, and a variety of techniques to help with everyday chores."

So far, Zuko had been deeply intrigued by this history of firebending. None of this was in any of the history books he had read as a child. In fact, those books seemed to be lacking. He was concerned as to why the Sun Warriors only had four thousand years of peace. What had happened to them?

"At the end of the four thousandth year, the spirits began making more direct contact with humans. However, it was hard for any spirit other than an elder spirit to make contact. So, it was decided that the elder spirits would make a new spirit to be reborn between the elements; being born into a different element each time. When the eight elder spirits came together, they couldn't decide which element the new spirit should be born into first. After nearly a year of bickering, Shu the spirit of death, lashed out at his fellow spirits. Even though, the spirits could not die, not without giving their will to live up, they could still feel the strength of Shu's power. After each spirit swore to listen to Shu, he released them. Shu then told them, that the elements must decide who the spirit should be born into first and proposed a contest. The humans, who wielded the four elements, would pick a sole champion to represent them. The four champions would then battle in many different ways to determine who would be first in the chain of the new spirit. And so, the elder spirits spread the word amongst the people. The Sun Warriors sent their strongest firebender to represent them. What happened in the series of fights was never revealed, but inevitably the order of the spirit's birth was revealed. First it would be air, then water, next would be earth, and finally fire, as it had done the worst out of all the champions. In honor of the airbender that won, the spirit would hold his name, Avatar. The spirits told the humans how to know who the Avatar would be and that he would be born in a thousand years; the people began to prepare for the arrival of the Avatar. In the land of the Sun Warriors, things were not peaceful. At first it was small disputes, but slowly over the next century hatred began to boil up amongst the different citizens of the Sun Warrior nation. One day, everything came out in the open and the beginning of a bloody war started. It was a war so brutal and bloody, that Shu wept over the people's deaths and disappeared. For it had been his idea to have the contest; which led to the Sun Warriors losing. It was that loss, that started the slow avalanche of events that began the war. He is still around, somewhere, but no one, animal, human, or spirit, has seen him since the Sun Warrior's war. For four centuries the Sun Warriors fought each other and in that time a billion citizen strong nation was reduced to twenty thousand. A peace was eventually reached between the two warring factions; the side that still believed in ancient teachings would stay in the Sun Warrior city. Those who felt different, that it was time to change the teachings, left the city to find a new place to settle. In a single day, fifteen thousand people left the ancient Sun Warrior city. Those fifteen thousand started what would later become known as the Fire Nation."

Zuko was shocked to hear this; due to losing the contest, the Sun Warriors had sunk into hatred and had four centuries worth of war. The current war was only a century old and already was at the brink of tearing the world apart. How badly could the fighting have been for the Sun Warriors?

"Over the next five hundred years, the deserters of the Sun Warriors built what would become known as the Fire Nation; while the Sun Warriors just seemed to vanish from the pages of history. The building of the nation stabilized as the Avatar was being born, marking the start of the six thousandth year in which the Fire Nation would be ruled by the great sages. The great sages ruled for the next thousand years, during their rule they made trade routes with the other lands. Firebending was also increased with more deadly techniques; sadly, its techniques in the other areas began to wane greatly. At the beginning of the seven thousandth year, the Fire Lords started ruling and still rule to this day. Over the next four thousand years, the Fire Nation lived in relative peace. Every once in a while there would be a flare up; after all they do hold the element of fire. Firebending, for the most part, slowly began to simmer down. Until, it was nothing more than a small candle compared to the once roaring flame that it used to be. Slowly firebenders began to rely on their hatred and anger to fuel their fire; which has now brought them to where they are today. This concludes the history of firebending."

When the voice finished speaking, three different options appeared in front of Zuko; floating in midair. The options read as such, Repeat History, Types of Flame Colors and What They Mean, Proper Ways to Strengthen Fire, and Start Level One Firebending. Not wanting to hear the history again, Zuko pressed the types of flame colors option. With that option selected, the options disappeared and the intangible voice returned.

"Currently, among firebenders today, there are only two types of colors when firebending; basic fire and blue fire. However, there are actually seven different colors. Basic fire is the type that every firebender starts out with; it is the easiest to control. Blue fire, is a hotter version of basic fire, firebenders who use blue fire are greatly in tune with their inner rage. Black fire is used by firebenders who have gained such control over their emotions that they are able to stop themselves from feeling anything. White fire is the hottest version of basic fire; all techniques done with white fire are killing blows. Green fire is the fire used by healers. It is easy to summon green fire, but getting it to heal is a difficult task. Red fire is the only fire that doesn't burn; it was the fire used in teaching, sparring, and plays so that, no one would be hurt. Red fire may not be able to burn things, but it was great for intimidating. Finally, there is purple fire. Purple fire is used by a firebender on someone who they are intimate with. The fire does not burn the recipient, but rather gives them pleasure."

As the voice spoke, the different colored flames appeared before Zuko. Showing him the color that matched the one the voice was talking about. The different flames then disappeared and the options returned. This time, Zuko pressed the Proper Ways to Strengthen Fire option. He hoped to learn why his own firebending was lacking through this option.

"The proper way to strength your firebending, happens to be just a few simple steps; sadly, they are often forgotten. The first step is proper breathing; inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. The next step is being in control of your emotions. If you are in control of your emotions, your fire will not waver, but should you be out of control of your emotions, your fire could die out or even consume you. The third step will depend entirely on you being able to remember the first two steps. If you stay in control of your breathing and your emotions, then your firebending will only be limited by your imagination and creativity."

Zuko had to admit, that was some simple advice that he had never thought of before. When the options returned, Zuko pressed the Start Level One Firebendng option. The options were then replaced with four new options reading, Creating Green Fire, Creating Red Fire, Beginner Techniques, and Speed Techniques. Wanting to know more about the different colored flames, Zuko pressed his hand against the green fire option. The voice came once again and began instructing him on how to summon green fire.

The sun was raising high into the sky as it beat steadily down on the earth. In the middle of a barren canyon the members of Team Avatar were just finishing with breakfast, before Aang would begin more earthbending training with Toph.

"Hey, something bugging you, Twinkle Toes?" asked the said earthbending teacher.

Toph's question garnered the attention of the Southern Water Tribe siblings, Sokka and Katara, who both looked over at Aang to see that the young airbender did seem depressed about something.

"Is something wrong Aang?" Katara asked in a concerned tone.

"Last night, I was visited by Roku." Aang replied.

"Oh? What did he want?" inquired Sokka.

"He told me that the elder elemental spirits of the Spirit World have chosen three champions to do their bidding," replied Aang.

"Elder elemental spirits? What's that?" asked Toph.

"Roku told me that that makes up part of the ruling body of the Spirit World. They are also the ones who decide who the next Avatar will be," explained Aang.

"So, why does that have you so down?" Katara asked.

"If these elder spirits have chosen three champions, isn't that a good thing?" Sokka added.

"Roku told me that the last time the elders had a champion, they had only one champion and the champion was to kill the then current Avatar," Aang told the siblings.

This statement caused the other three to widen their eyes in surprise. Even Toph had an expression of shock in her glazed green eyes.

"Roku also said that the champion was successful in his mission," finished Aang.

"So, are these champions after you?" Katara asked, fearing for the worst. They already had enough problems with Zuko and Azula's gang.

"Roku wasn't able to find that out. He said he would contact me when he found out more," Aang replied.

"Well, until we know more, I wouldn't worry about it," said Katara.

"Yeah, besides you have plenty to keep you busy with your training today." Toph put in.

"Also, I doubt any spirit champions could take on all of us," added Sokka.

"Thanks guys," Aang said with a grateful smile. He then quickly finished his breakfast and went to join Toph for more earthbending training.

Zuko slowly opened his eyes, groaning slightly as he stretched his legs. He had been meditating for three hours. The three hours of meditating, resulted in a hundred and eighty hours of training in his mind. Of course, no amount of training in the mind would mean anything if he never practiced what he learned physically.

So Zuko stood up and eased back into a traditional firebending stance. With his breathing under control, Zuko shoved all other thoughts from his mind and concentrated only on healing. Healing the people hurt because of the war, repairing the honor of the Fire Nation, and restoring firebending to what it should truly be.

Zuko then shot his hand forward and watched in amazement as a stream of green flame erupted from his hand. He stood up fully and brought his had closer and summoned the green fire once more. Zuko watched and looked at how the fire was so different from basic fire. Its edges were green and the closer it got to its center, the darker the tone of the flame got.

Zuko balled his fingers together, extinguishing the flame. He then looked careful to his right and left; seeing no one watching him Zuko cheered in joy. "I DID IT!" he cried. He then, quickly composed himself; coughing lightly into his hand. Looking around once again and seeing no one, Zuko began heading back to the house that had his uncle resting in it; whistling softly to himself.

He couldn't explain it, but he liked this green fire.

There are many different parts in Spirit World. There are the higher plains with the elder spirits, the base level were most spirits reside. Then there are dark, mysterious places like Koh the Face Stealer's realm. Out of all the realms, plains, and levels, none were as terrifying as the Varsealm. Such evil and darkness was filled there; that the very place would stain one's own soul. The elder spirits dared not touch it, even Koh avoided the Varsealm. However, just because they didn't go into that realm, didn't mean that others didn't.

"So, the elders are choosing champions?" a ragged voice asked in the darkness. "Trying to fix the imbalance and end the chaos? This will not do, no…"

"Stops them we must. Continue the destruction, we shall." A second voice cried out with an insane giggle.

"Yes…" Agreed the first voice.

"Whats says you, Shu?" the second voice asked. The two voices, that had been speaking, looked over at the bound form of the elder spirit of death; he was held tightly to a tree by the tree's branches as its branches with half inch long thorns dug into his flesh.

"I say, I'm going to enjoy finding out ways to kill the two of you. You pieces of perpetual shit," replied the red-eyed spirit.

This statement sent the two voices into crying fits of laughter.

"Ohs, Shuy. Yous always says the funniest thingys," came the comment of the insane voice.

"Yes… No one can stop us. Not even you," added the ragged voice.

The voices laughed once more, gleefully planning the destruction of the physical and spiritual worlds.

Next Chapter: On the Road Again

That's the end of the second chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.