"If you're going to see the Masters, you must bring them a piece of the Eternal Flame. This fire is the very first one. It was given to man by the Dragons. We have kept it going for thousands of years." The chief spoke facing the massive flame fed by the ten firebenders giving it their energy, meditating on it so much so that they likely weren't aware of anything else.
"I don't believe it." Zuko murmured. Azula was surprised too. The Fire Sages had records of the First Fire, this Eternal Flame, and claimed it long lost. It was said to give all who fed it greater mastery over fire, and tales were sung of the strength it granted all who defended it.
I wonder what would happen if I put it out...
Zuko nudged her with his foot as if guessing her mind. No, bad Azula.
She shrugged. And paled slightly upon remembering one of the tales. Fire's heartbeat. Perhaps not so metaphorical, after Zhao's invasion of the north. True, the Sun was their main source of power, that and their individual chi, but this flame was a gift from the Sun's first children, the dragons. Better not to take risks when it came to such things.
The chief continued still facing away. "You will each take a piece of it to the Masters to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending."
Somehow, Azula doubted they'd be please if she flew it to them.
The chief pulled a small amount of fire and twirled it into two and held them out. "This ritual illustrates the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy. You must maintain a constant heat. The flame will go out if you make it too small," he looked at Azula, "make it too big, and you might lose control." With a look at Zuko.
Ha. Control? She'd show him control.
They each reached out and accepted their flames, and both flares shifted into blue at the same time as they took control. Cries of astonishment came from all present, and some bowed their heads. The chief was startled for a moment, but then his expression hardened once more and he pressed on, ignoring this latest development.
"You will take your flames up there." He pointed towards a broken mountain. "The cave of the Masters is beneath that rock."
So they turned and made their way down the steps, straining to understand the hushed gossiping. Perhaps they too had legends of the blue firebenders? They could not make anything out, and so continued on. It would keep.
Then they moved off to the right, following the path around the middle of the temple and then left down another gateway.
The mountain path was fairly steep, and soon it faded into no path at all. They climbed over rocks quickly, but in no real rush. It would not do to move too quickly, this was a ritual after all.
oOo
Eventually they reached an open area covered in red mosaics. It was the heart of a small, dead volcano with a staircase carved out where it must once have been solid rock. The sun was sitting in between the two broken peaks in a magnificent display of the sheer time consuming, mind numbing effort it must have taken to clear the bulk of the peak while leaving the narrow stairway all but unsupported.
The chief stopped forward with his right hand man, apparently having come up a quicker way. "Facing the judgement of the firebending Masters will be very dangerous for you. Your ancestors are directly responsible for the dragons' disappearance. The Masters might not be so happy to see you."
"I know I wouldn't be." The right hand man couldn't keep the smirk off his face.
The chief took some of their fire, with some hesitation, and passed it, now red once more, to those beside him, where it was distributed throughout the circling warriors. They formed circles with the fire and held them up, apparently to greet the Masters. He then walked to the stairs, followed by Azula and Zuko.
"Lets see what's so great about these Masters, Zuzu." A warning to stay on guard if ever he heard one. He nodded.
"Chanters!" The chief cried and those not holding fire began beating their drums, or kneeling and chanting as if to the Sun. Apparently only men could drum, while the women sought to appease whatever it was. How quaintly sexist. The siblings began to climb the staircase.
When they reached the top, the chants all but stopped, and the drums quieted except for every so often, a single beat. Horns sounded. A voice boomed through a horn. "Those who wish to meet the Masters Ran and Shaw will now present their fire."
Azula looked at the narrow paths leading to each cave, shrugged, and picked left. Mostly so she could pivot right into her favourite stance to hurl fire down, but partly so Zuko would have his best eye towards the Warriors. Not that she'd say that. They bowed slightly, holding up their fires, and waited.
"Sound the call!" The chief boomed. A different trumpet like horn called out, and the caves shook as if from a massive blow. They looked up a little but kept their posture. Seconds passed like hours. And then the caves shook so much more.
A hint of gold, and then red. So much red.
A dragon!
It was glorious, it was great and swift and coming right at them. But it turned and twisted around them, snarling as it went. Drums and chants resumed, louder than before. Massive wings swept their hair loose in great gusts that put the Avatar to shame. And then another dragon came from the other cave. A blue one this time, it joined the other to swirl around them.
Dragons.
"These are the Masters..." She heard Zuko whisper, in awe.
All she was thinking was one resounding I want one. Sleek and strong, they twisted through the air sensually. Claws and fangs, wings and scales, and undoubtably fire. They were the most powerful, most beautiful creatures in existence. Of course one would be hers.
The dragons kept spiralling around them, this way then that way, as if dancing around their prey... And then the drums and chanting quieted.
"The Dancing Dragons." She whispered, and looked to Zuko. He nodded and moved into the first stance. As she mirrored him, she felt more than saw the dragons shift their dance. They must be doing something right.
They moved through the steps of the dance and tried to avoid staring at the dragons flying through arial versions of their steps. Eventually they finished, and turned to realise the dragons had stilled as well, hovering in the air with insanely powerful flaps of their wings, and were staring right through them.
The chief's voice echoed through her memory.
"When you present yourselves to them, they will examine you. They'll read your hearts, your souls, and your ancestry. If they deem you worthy, they'll teach you. If they don't, you'll be destroyed on the spot."
Facing the burning gold eyes of the red dragon, Zuko's back against hers almost the only thing keeping her up, she could well believe it.
Then the dragons dropped, grabbed hold of the sole pillar holding up the staircase, and breathed fire, so much fire.
Right at them.