Of Fire
Chapter 26
Zuko watched as his little sister lay a gentle hand on golden yellow hair, a smile on her lips that he knew she would quickly hide behind a mask of neutrality if she knew she was doing it. He still didn't know what Une was doing there or how she even got there, but at the moment he didn't care enough to ask. His focus was on his sister and her family. Azula was right, he knew, they had built a cordial if not completely friendly relationship and he had been the one to destroy that fragile bond. He had been the one to betray her. If only he hadn't been so quick to judge that bond would still be in place. But now…Mai came to his side, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. The Fire Lord smiled at his consort, whose dull golden eyes turned to the little family and their new niece.
"You're so sensitive with children, Azula." The goddess of Fire's voice ruined the moment. "It's like you turn into an emotional…woman."
Azula's smile vanished in an instant as sharp golden eyes swerved towards the goddess. Agni didn't seem to be bothered by the glare she received, almost completely oblivious to it. The bolt of electricity that scorched the wood paneling beside her head was another matter all together, though. Her slotted red eyes immediately went to the young lightning bender and a glare donned Agni's tanned face as Detia started to chuckle. "Azula!" Zuko exclaimed, drawing Agni's attention to Azula just in time to see the ex-princess' smug expression fall.
"What?" Azula snapped.
The Fire Lord paused, noticing for the first time the small white sparks emitting from Azula's clenched fist. "You…you said…." He stuttered.
Azula growled lightly, truly tired of her brother and finding that her tolerance of him had greatly lessened. "Spit it out Zuko!"
He swallowed and stood straight, breathing in deeply to gain some kind of control. In order to further center himself he closed his eyes briefly before leveling his golden gaze at his sister. "You said you couldn't bend fire anymore."
A perfect black eyebrow lifted "And I can't." she answered curtly.
"But we just saw you produce lightning." Mai informed with a slightly raised eyebrow.
Azula rolled her eyes but before she could answer Angi interrupted in a growl. "You shot lightning at me?" Azula smirked at the goddess. "Why you insolent pup."
The fire goddess stepped once towards the older lightning bender but stopped when Detia stepped in front of her mother, her hands coming up in ready battle stance. A feral animal-like growl emitted from Agni's lips as her red eyes looked up into Azula's smug expression. "Why are you so surprised?" Une's voice washed over the room like a wave of calm, though Detia never dropped her stance. "Clearly you deserved it."
Agni's expression softened into a pout. "You're married to me, you're suppose to take my side."
It was Une's turn to roll her eyes. "That's not how this works." She stated evenly, gesturing mildly between herself and Agni.
"Wait," Zuko interrupted as everyone looked at him. He pointed a finger at Une and continued. "You're married to Agni? But I thought…."
'Doesn't miss anything, does he?' Detia intoned to her mother, the sarcasm in her tone making Azula smile genuinely.
Une sighed, gripping the bridge of her nose, before her gaze fell to the young Fire Lord. "My name is Undine. I am the goddess of water. My form, like all the other gods, is subjective. And I am married to Agni, the god of fire. I arrived at this city with my friend, Detia. Any questions?" The water goddess intoned deadpan.
"I have one." Ursa remarked with a slight raise of her hand as all attention turned to her. "Well, not so much a question as a request." Her eyes turned toward Agni. "I would ask that you not fight in my inn."
Agni jerked back in surprise. "Me? She started it." She gestured mildly to Azula. Ursa tilted her head just slightly as she regarded the god, not saying a word. Agni growled and crossed her arms. "Fine."
"Thank you." Ursa replied, as Detia bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
The Goddess of Fire plopped down on the couch, her arms still crossed and a scowl on her tanned face. Une sighed dramatically, but smiled warmly at her mate as she moved across the room to sit next to Agni. Detia watched Agni's expression soften instantly when Undine's hand landed on her knee. The lightning bender turned attention to her uncle when Une started to kiss her lover's cheek, moving the chaste kisses towards her lips all the while whispering sweet words of comfort. Zuko coughed, turning his back to the couple on the couch who seemed completely content to ignore everyone in the room. "So, Azula, you were going to tell us how you can bend lightning but not fire."
"I'm a lightning bender." She answered deadpan, amusing her wife and daughter.
"Since when?" he challenged.
Azula sighed, this was getting tiresome. "Since I was born, apparently." Before he could say anything she continued. "I guess I'm just that amazing."
He barely stopped his growl just as Lu Ten entered the room. "Queen Toph." The boy addressed.
Toph, who had been standing silently against the wall beside the door, tilted her head towards the Prince of the Fire Nation. "Yeah?" she questioned .
"Your carriages are here." He answered meekly.
The Earth Queen pushed herself off the wall and smiled broadly. "Excellent." She turned to her new head advisor and her family. "You guys ready to go?"
There was a moment's hesitation before Azula nodded, "Yes I believe we are."
~x~
Detia set in her own carriage, her sister/grand-daughter's golden hair splayed over her lap. It had taken a good half hour to get all of their things on the carriages and to say their goodbyes. What took the longest was Ursa's and Aziza's unwillingness to let Azula go. The two took up most of Azula's time with goodbyes – not that Azula wanted to say goodbye to anyone else. But finally they were on their way to Ba Sing Se. Detia was lucky to have her own carriage, or so Toph had informed. Of course the point was moot when Azula and Ty Lee agreed that should Lin wake it would be best that she see someone who looked somewhat familiar to her.
So far, Lin had remained sleeping even with the constant jostling from the carriage. Truth be told, Detia didn't notice the jostling either. One hand ran through Lin's hair as the other held a book. Linka's journal was pressed close to her face as she was thrust back to that time, right after the end of the War of the Gods. When a warrior like Linka was no longer needed
~x~
Linka walked aimlessly down the earthen path. There was nowhere for her to be, no one who really needed her. A person such as herself, with immense battle experience wasn't much needed in a time of peace. Sure, there were a few rebellions and there was always mercenary work. But she didn't enjoy it like she did battle. She freely admitted, though she probably shouldn't, that bloodlust was one of her most favored experiences. When she was younger and still living with her mother in the Kingdom of Lightning she never imaged that she would love battle as much as she did.
The mere thought of all that went into forming a battle plan and leading troops to victory made her blood boil. But like any good lightning bender she hid her less desirable emotions to all but her journal. And with no way to feel the emotion she contented herself with the odd mercenary jobs and guard details as she continued to search for more of her people. So far she had found three of them, just three who survived outside the walls of the Fire Kingdom. The small village she ventured into earlier that day told stories of a yellowed haired ghost (or monster depending on who she asked) who lived in the caves of the mountains.
Linka assumed – hoped – that it was one of her people who were smart enough to spread the rumors themselves. But even if it wasn't, the promise of the kill was just as enticing. She wondered when she became such a monster, though usually she didn't let it bother her. She was the way she was and nothing short of a miracle could change that.
A dark ominous cave loomed before her. The mumbled sounds of words seemingly floating from the mouth of the cave would send shivers down even the most seasoned warriors. Well, except for her. Linka entered the cave with preamble, engulfed in darkness almost instantly. A small ball of lightning solved that problem just as fast, leading the way deeper into the cave where the mumbling got louder. She entered a large cavern suddenly, the small light from the ball of lightning doing nothing to help her see into the blackness.
Unperturbed, Linka followed the voice. The ball of lightning was doing its best to light her path. The princess entered a small downward slopping tunnel, leading her further down in to the cave. The instant she saw the warm glow of a fire she extinguished her light and walked soundlessly forward. There was no use scaring whoever – or whatever – was in the room beyond. The mumbling, still incoherent sounds, stopped as Linka reached the opening of another cavern.
What she saw confused her. Papers were strewn everywhere, over the only table and bed, spilling onto the floor and near a tubular like object. The language was of her people, she knew that with just a glance. But the mathematical problems and scribbled lines made no sense to her, science was never her strongest subject. Gingerly, Linka leaned over and picked up the parchment, examining it. She had no idea what it said or what the crude drawing what suppose to be of. But the other presence in the room was what she was really focusing on. For reasons that she couldn't understand she couldn't pinpoint where this person was.
Whoever it was, was moving around frantically. Only to late did she realize the person was behind and above her. Linka turned just in time to throw her arms up to block a heavy blow from a pipe. Strands of electricity ran from Linka's fingers but the pipe was not metal and whatever it was made of didn't conduct electricity. A strand of silk shot forward but the person saw the attack and jumped back, just out of reach. With the new distance Linka could examine her enemy. Her heart was already pumping with anticipation for battle.
Her heart froze when her brain registered what her sharp golden eyes were seeing. The woman in front of her was ragged. Her dark golden curls shot up in greasy stingy strands, tangled from what could have been years of abuse. Had her hair been taken care of Linka imagined that she would have been a rather attractive woman, she had the features of an aristocrat: sharp high cheeks and narrow nose. But her lack of care for herself had her golden eyes sunken in and hallow, dark rings hanging like black curtains from them. Though she was clothed in filthy tattered layers of white the clothing did nothing to hide the fact that she looked like she hadn't eaten in days.
Linka's heart sank, not only was this poor woman a sad excuse for a member of her people but she wouldn't be any form of a challenge. The lightning bender was sure she could break the woman in half just by looking at her. The woman tilted her head, her narrowed golden eyes reflecting the lack of complete sanity. "Who are you?" the woman asked, almost sounding human except for the slow droll in which she spoke. Had she been sane Linka was positive her soft mezzo-soprano voice would send many a hearts a flutter. Before Linka could respond the woman answered her own question with a deranged chuckle. "You've come to take my technology. I should have known. Here to take the only thing I have left."
"That isn't true." Linka remarked defiantly, the least she could do as the crown princess of her nation was try to mend the woman's broken mind. "I'm here to help."
The woman seemed to think this over before her eyes turned to Linka once more. "Lies!" the woman yelled, flying toward the warrior with speed someone in her state should not possess.
Linka had to force herself not to attack, which of course distracted her enough for her not to pay attention to her surroundings. She had taken a single step back to defend herself and slipped on one of the many pieces of paper. Her vision went black as her head smacked into the solid hard ground.
The next time she woke she was lying on a pallet-like object being dragged by the woman deeper into the cave. The woman was muttering to herself, her head jerking to look around a few times before light filled the cave. Linka did not move, her own sticky blood caking her hair to her scalp. A flitter of the thought that the woman was truly insane crossed her mind as she realized that neither her hands nor her feet were bound. The warrior made sure to close her eyes again as the pallet stopped moving and was set gently down on the ground. From the sound of her bare feet hitting the solid ground the woman walked off, towards the sound of water. Carefully, Linka cracked a golden eye open to watch her.
The running water was coming from a natural underground stream and the woman was knelt over it. Before she could examine where she was the woman turned and Linka closed her eyes again. The woman's presence moved closer and knelt down beside the prone princess. A damp cloth and cool water touched Linka's head gingerly. "I know you're awake, Princess." The voice was logical and calm, whatever insanity she may have had taking a moment's leave. Linka opened her eyes to stare into clear gold. "You must forgive me." The woman continued, "Ever since the fall I seem to be prone to bouts of insanity." Linka tried to sit up but the woman pushed her shoulders back down. "Do not move. You hit your head pretty hard."
Linka brushed the woman's hands away and set up anyways, ignoring the sudden dizziness as best she could for a moment. Once the dizziness was gone Linka focused her gaze on the woman, who still looked the exact same except with a slight clarity to her pale golden eyes. "What happened to you?" Linka asked. "Why did you attack me if you knew who I am?"
The woman's eyes cast to the ground. "I thought you were a hallucination." She answered honestly. "If you can't tell from the bags under my eyes I don't sleep well and that along with other things tend to catch up to me."
"Other things?" Linka inquired, willing to play her old role of psychiatrist.
The woman sighed and turned away slight, "My name is Sara."
It clicked instantly for the lightning bender princess, "Dr. Sara?" the princess intoned in slight shock. So far all of her people that she had found or who were living in the Fire Kingdom were nothing more than lower or middle class – excluding her sisters of course. "As in the only daughter of Baron Markus, the first advisor for my mother?"
Sara's smile was forced and sad, "One in the same, princess. I'm surprised you know of me. I didn't interact with people much."
A perfect white eyebrow lifted, "Why wouldn't I know you? You were…are a genius."
The chuckle that came from the woman was harsh and cold, "Some genius." She mocked. Linka hissed lightly as she moved too suddenly towards the woman and Sara was right at her side instantly, dabbing lightly at her head wound. "You shouldn't move too quickly." Sara chastised softly. "I think you've had a slight concussion."
Again, the warrior shoved the helpful hand away. "Sara what happened to you?" a long hand cupped the scientist's cheek, a long finger running over the black circles under Sara's eyes.
Sara sighed and turned away from the comforting hand, "I was talking to my family when the kingdom was attacked. I watched from here." Her pale eyes glazed over with unshed tears. "I watched them die."
To her credit, Sara didn't cry and she didn't even seem to need to force herself stop. Sara rubbed her eyes though there was no need for it. Linka frowned, she could only image the nightmare that must be Sara's life. The princess had been on the floating Island when it fell and even though she wasn't a warrior at the time she still managed to hold her own against the enemy and save some of her people. All Sara could have done was watch in her cave, all alone, unable to do anything. It did explain why Sara was the way she was though. "Sara, I'm…"
"Don't apologize." Sara interrupted, the anger in tone baffling. "It's too late for that." She sighed as if calming herself. "I'm just glad I'm not the last. Are there many more of us?"
The hopeful expression on Sara's worn face broke Linka's heart, which the warrior didn't think was even possible anymore. She didn't look at the doctor when she answered, "No. There are about twenty-four of us that I've found so far. Twenty-five including you."
"Oh." Was Sara's remark.
Linka didn't need to look up in order to see the pain in Sara's eyes, it was evident in her voice. The doctor sighed heavily as she stood, scolding herself for getting her hopes up. At the movement Linka jerked in her direction, causing another wave of dizziness. Through sheer force of will the dizziness subsided just in time for her to watch the doctor walk to a small pallet in the corner of the surprisingly well lit cave and lay down. Linka didn't say a thing and neither did Sara but it did give the princess a chance to look around the room. From what Linka could remember before the fall Sara and her family had been very very well off, obviously, considering her father's status. Sara herself was not known to flaunt her wealth, in fact she was somewhat infamous for it. But none of the old rumors could prepare Linka for the room she was in. Aside from the pallet (that was probably once a bed), only a small bedside table was occupying the room.
Clothes were scattered about the room, some even soaked in the stream as if they were going to be washed but had been long forgotten. Like the first room Linka entered this room was also covered in papers, not nearly as many as the one above but still a lot. Linka stood gingerly, fully realizing how far her fellow countryman had fallen as her sharp eyes caught the familiar sight of blood in the shape of balled fists and streaking hands on the walls.
"Mama."
~x~
Detia jumped abruptly at the word that interrupted her reading, instantly looking to the small child. Lin hadn't moved, aside from the rise and fall of her chest and her breathing hadn't changed so she was still very much asleep. The lightning bender shrugged, maybe she had imagined it. She looked down at her daughter's journal, intent on continue reading it but a knock on the door interrupted her. Detia didn't even bother to answer it, she already knew who it was. There was really only one person who would knock on the door of a carriage while it was still moving.
There was knock again but the person at the door didn't bother waiting and just entered. 'Toph.' Detia addressed as she placed her book down gently and turned her full attention to the Earth Queen.
"Detia." Toph remarked as she set. "We'll arrive in about an half-hour. Just thought I'd warn you."
Detia nodded and waited as Toph remained seated. 'Is there something else?' she asked after a full minute of silence.
"Hmm?" The Earth Queen started, as if she was staring off into space and paying no attention to anything around her. "Oh, naw, I just thought it'd play a joke on my guards by not being in my carriage when we arrive. They're so stuffy and need to relax a little."
Detia smirked, one hand going to Lin's hair. 'I see.'
"She still hasn't woken up." Toph stated more than asked. "Is that normal?"
The lightning bender looked down at the child sleeping in her lap then back up at the Earth Bender. 'I honestly don't know. Everything seems to be in working condition.'
As if she knew she was being talked about the little girl stirred, rolling onto her other side so that her face was pressed into Detia's abdomen before settling down again. "Mama." The little girl replied with a soft hum of contentment.
All was silent for the three minutes this was taking place. "Guess she's doin fine."
'She'll probably wake up soon.'
They set in a comfortable silence for a moment. Both content to think their own thoughts. Toph chuckled lightly, 'What's so funny?' Detia inquired.
"Nothing." Toph answered though the smile still donned claimed her features. Detia only looked at her. "It's just that this reminds me of Terren and Arjuna. They use to sit in silence for the longest times."
'Hm.' Detia said thoughtfully. 'I don't remember that.'
Toph waved her hand in an un-alarming manner, "It'll come with time."
The lightning bender merely nodded, 'I suppose.' She paused, trying to find a tactful way to word her next question.
The Earth Queen rolled her eyes. "You wanna know how and when I happened, don't you." Detia only smiled and nodded. Toph sighed dramatically as if she was giving a huge gift to the lightning bender by telling her this story and for all Detia knew the Earth Queen more than likely was. "Has your mother or anyone told you about my life before I entered the 100-year long war?"
Detia thought, going through her memories before answering, 'A little. I know you were considered a runaway and a delinquent.'
Toph snorted and mumbled, "Leave it to them to remember the bad things."
'So it wasn't true.'
"Oh no it was true." Toph admitted with a chuckle as she crossed one leg over the other and leaned her head back against her hands. "I was rebelling against my parents, and society and everyone really."
'Didn't it get tiresome?'
Again the Earth Bender chuckled. "Na, I don't think I'd mind running off and doing something irresponsible now."
'Well, technically you are; sitting my carriage as opposed to your own to scare your guards.' Detia pointed out. Toph scowled at Detia's comment, knowing she said it just to be brat. 'So, how did it start?'
Toph sighed still not looking at the lightning bender. She really wasn't sure she wanted to talk about this subject. Her closest friends didn't even know the things she was about to reveal to this child. Never once had she talked about it, with anyone. She was reluctant to begin but her memories flashed back a long time ago to when she was still Terren and the child in front of her was Arjuna. Terren trusted Arjuna with his life, more than his life. Arjuna was his world, though he never said as much to the goddess, and he could tell her anything.
Blind eyes looked to the young goddess. Detia wasn't a far cry from Arjuna, mentally, and even though there was no romantic relationship between them whatsoever Toph still found herself trusting the child more than anyone else. The lightning bender was waiting patiently for Toph to begin, feeling and seeing the conflicting emotions rampage through the older woman. She was about the tell Toph that it was okay if she didn't want to talk about it. But the Earth Bender started before the words even fully processed in Detia's mind. "I started having dreams about my past when I was ten." Toph started, "I didn't understand what they were, I figured they were just dreams. Unusually vivid dreams in full color which was odd considering I can't see." She paused. "I'm told you were younger."
Detia nodded and answered verbally, "My first dream happened the night I was born."
Toph chuckled, "Bet that sucked for your parents." This time Detia only nodded, "Mine weren't nightmares though, as I imagine yours were. I didn't have dreams of random acts of violence. Most of them were rather peaceful or I was doing something amazing. I started doing the things in my dreams, the movements and katas. It was easy but I hid my ability from everyone. Unlike your parents, who expect great things from you, mine expected the opposite. So I kept it a secret from them and joined the Earth Rumble Tournament as the Blind Bandit. And I was good, better than anyone else as I'm sure you expect. I was the champion, undefeated. But it wasn't enough, I knew that.
"Then Aang showed up, wanting me to teach him Earth bending. I thought, 'this is my chance to make something of myself for real. To show my parents and the world that I'm some weak helpless blind girl.' By then the dreams were getting more involved and detailed."
"Did you tell anyone about them?"
"No, they wouldn't understand. How could they, I didn't even understand them. They accepted me into their group, but I was still the odd man out. I didn't mind, I could be myself around them. After the war I started to drift away."
"Why?" the lightning bender inquired.
Toph shrugged, "There were a few reasons. The dreams started get more vivid and violent I was finding it hard to sleep and I'd wake up so depressed. And it didn't help that I had a crush on Katara." Toph didn't need eyes to see the surprise on Detia's face and she chuckled. "From the very beginning I liked Katara but she never even noticed me, at least not like I wanted her too."
"Did you ever tell her?"
Toph sighed, "Not in so many words." She answered. "She was clearly conflicted about her feelings for Aang, I didn't want to make things more complicated for her. However, about a two years after the end of the war we all got together. It was the anniversary of the end of the war or something. We were all drunk and I kissed her. Not a friendly little kiss but…"
"I…I don't want to know." Detia interrupted, reading from Toph's emotions that the Earth Queen was only saying what she was because she knew Detia still thought kissing was disgusting.
Toph chuckled, "So anyways after that I ran and I didn't contact them for six years."
Detia made a confirmative sound. "What happened after six years?"
"I died." The Earth Bender waited for a shocked intake of breath but the Lightning Bender made no sound of surprise, forgetting momentarily who was talking to. After a moment of silence Toph continued. "I was on my way to another tournament. It was located that top of a mountain and the path I was taking was deemed 'traitorous'. Being me I ignored it, because it was the fastest way. I'm not sure how it happened really, maybe I was too tired to react fast enough or something but I stepped on a not so solid rock. It crumbled, and I fell over the side into rapids. We both know what happens when we die." Toph felt Detia nod. "I woke a few weeks later, obviously it took me longer than you, laying partially hidden in underbrush."
"No one was looking for you?"
Toph shook her head in the negative. "Not a soul and that hurt. So, I decided it was time to settle down. Bumi made me an offer after the war to train the troops and I went back to see if the offer still stood. It didn't but I got to be his second in command instead."
"How did Katara react to you after you returned?"
"She acted like it didn't happen and I was okay with that."
Detia tilted her head slightly, examining the woman in front of her. "It didn't hurt to see Katara so happy with the Avatar?"
Toph pondered the question before deciding that honesty was best when concerning the Lightning Bender. "A little, but I dealt with it. Besides I had someone else that I loved more than that. Her picture was an up in Terren's room, ya know." She watched Detia's body language as the girl tensed, aware of who Toph was referring to. "She was beautiful and he loved her."
"He never said so." Detia all but mumbled.
"I know, it was the only thing he ever regretted, not telling her. Over time, as his feelings became my own, it became something I regretted too." She stood and smiled at the little girl sitting in front of her, leaning over and kissing her gently on the forehead – feeling the heat from Detia's blush against her lips. "You'll understand when you're older." Detia touched her head where Toph had kissed her and turned just in time watch the Earth Bender exit the carriage. "Come on, we're here."
TBC.