The White Lotus War

Chapter 8: Fire Casts a Shadow

Yuko was exiting the stage from the back with the New Dragon as the show came to an end and they were happily chatting with each other. Yuko complimented him on his trick while the New Dragon complimented her on her bravery even while falling from an uncertain height.

"Say," the New Dragon said with enthusiasm, "How would you like to be my leading assistant? You'd make quite the star attraction in the Fire Nation and I'll even pay you top dollar!" The two Fire Nation girls who were just exiting overheard his offer and they both slapped him in the face and walked away with anger burning in their eyes.

"Sorry," Yuko said as she laughed at his pain, "But I'm not a showgirl. I just always enjoy taking every chance to prove that I'm braver and stronger than any girl or guy in the world."

The New Dragon sucked in his pain and said, "I sure wouldn't want to pick a fight with you! Well, I have to go and get some ice for my face. Goodbye Yuko." He then walked away, rubbing the injured areas of his face.

Yuko started walking towards the fading audience, hoping to find Hitomi somewhere in the big crowd of people, and she was intercepted by a handsome young man with blond hair and cool sunglasses.

"I have to admit," he said, "That was a pretty impressive performance."

"Thanks, but I bet you can't guess how it was done." Yuko teased.

The young man said, "Not the actual disappearance, but I do know how the levitation was done. Those girls somehow connected wires to you while they were tying ropes to you; that's how you were levitated."

Yuko made a buzzing noise and said, "Wrong! You lose!"

"Don't try and cover it up for him, a girl I was with saw those wires being hidden by the stage lights."

"Well then, your girlfriend is as dumb as a box of rocks!"

"Watch you mouth, and she's not my girlfriend, she was just some girl I met in passing. By the way, have you seen her? She's a girl with a brown jacket and jeans with short black hair and beautiful hazel eyes."

Yuko was stunned, she knew that description. She asked, "Wait, was the girl you were with Hitomi?"

"No, her name was Midori."

"Midori?" suddenly, the wheels began to spin in Yuko's head. Hitomi must've bumped into this guy, gotten flustered by his good looks and gave him a fake name to cover up her Avatar status. Yuko chuckled thinking about how she must've stuttered and tripped over her sentences in order to impress this guy. The only thing Yuko didn't figure out was why she chose Midori's name.

Yuko said, "Hey, I think I know the girl you're looking for."

"You do? Do you know where she is? She kind of vanished after the performance."

Yuko chuckled again; she must've gotten too shy to stick around.

[Hitomi]

A bucket of water was thrown in Hitomi's face and she was snapped out of unconsciousness. She was in an empty alleyway with no sign of life except for the sound of the Fire Days Festival from a short distance away. The mask had been taken off her face and was lying next to her. Above her stood the dark figure she saw before, holding the bucket of water that woke her up.

Hitomi kicked the ground and a rock came up straight from under the figure. But the figure was unbelieveably quick and jumped out of the way just a moment before it hit him.

"Wait!" the man said in a silent tone, "I'm not your enemy!"

"Then why did you knock me unconscious?" Hitomi asked impatiently, "Who are you and what do you want?"

"My codename is Shadow," he said as he took a pai sho piece from his pocket and showed it to her, revealing it to be a White Lotus tile. He continued, "I'm a member of the White Lotus. I'm terribly sorry for abducting you Avatar, but I need your help desperately."

"Wait, how did you know I was the Avatar when you were scanning the audience? I was wearing this mask." Hitomi picked up the mask and put it back on her face to show him how much it hid her identity.

Shadow answered, "I've been trained by a secret force of stealth professionals. I could tell you were the Avatar by identifying key positions and features of your body from the newspaper picture like your eyes and hair. Others may not be able to tell one individual apart from another in that manner, but I assure that I can tell the difference."

Hitomi was a little freaked out by the fact that a ninja kidnapped her, but she just continued, "Uh, okay, question number two; why didn't you just walk up and ask me if I could help you instead of, you know, kidnapping me?"

"I didn't want to resort to it, but I have to keep myself under as much cover as possible. I didn't want to risk blowing my cover by stepping out into the light. The White Lotus is doing too much of it already."

"Hey," Hitomi asked while taking off her mask, remembering a question she had earlier today, "Why are the White Lotus stepping into the light? Is something going on?"

"No," Shadow answered abruptly, "Nothing is going on."

"Tanks being made in the middle of the EarthKingdom isn't nothing!"

Shadow remained silent, and then said, "I can't tell you specifics, but something is happening in the Earth Kingdom and we're afraid it's going to escalate. We know that the problem at hand is our responsibility, which is why I can't tell you what it is. I'm sorry Avatar, but this is something the White Lotus has to handle alone; for now at least."

"But," Hitomi wanted to know more, but Shadow held up his hand and told her to not ask any more questions. Shadow said that if she wanted to help out the White Lotus, she would have to come with him. Hitomi agreed since it was her duty as the Avatar to assist the world however she could and followed Shadow down the alleyway.

After coming to a dead end, Shadow asked Hitomi to shoot them up to the tall building over the wall. Hitomi punched her fists into the air and the ground underneath them shot up, sending them both flying through the sky until they landed on the tall building right next to an even taller building labeled, "Lang Industries".

Shadow filled her in, "I've been investigating a man named Fu Lang, who began his industry not more than four years ago. I've been gathering information on him because I suspect he works for the man the White Lotus has been searching for."

"Who?" Hitomi never got an answer.

Shadow continued, "Despite my research, I was lacking evidence that Lang had the proper connections to infiltrate his property. But thanks to you, I learned that the materials being used to build those tanks you found in the Chief's possession were manufactured by Lang Industries. Now I have permission from the Grand Lotus to arrest Lang and search his property."

"So why do you need my help?"

"For one, I wanted to invite you on this mission as thanks for revealing Lang's true nature to the White Lotus," Hitomi glared at Shadow, and he understood she figured out that wasn't the main reason he brought her. He sighed and finished, "And I learned that there's an underground room where they make the illegal materials for weapons. The room can only be accessed by an earth bender who knows where the entrance is. I know where it is…"

Hitomi smirked, "But you're not an earth bender."

Shadow nodded and asked, "So, will you help me?"

"Of course!" Hitomi said with shock, "Did you think I wouldn't?"

Shadow chuckled under his bandana, learning that despite her first reaction to him, she was completely willing to help people out if it meant making the world a better place. That was a good quality for an Avatar.

Shadow pointed to a window that was slightly open and said, "That's where we'll enter from." He quickly tossed a small metal rod at the window and it perfectly landed in between the window and the wall, fitting the open gap perfectly! The center of the metal rod started flashing a red light and started beeping. The rod then began to extend, causing the window to slowly open up more until it was completely open!

Hitomi was astounded and asked, "You're a metal bender?"

Shadow replied, "No, I'm not a bender at all. I've been trained by stealth professionals and assassins to hit every single one of my marks perfectly. The metal grew because I placed a small technological device in it to grow when it hits its mark. My technological expertise enhanced stealth efficiency, which is how I became a master in my own field of stealth and earned a place among the White Lotus so that I can be certain my inventions are tools that bring peace, not destruction."

Hitomi tried to focus on Shadow's speech, but he started to get boring, so she didn't hear the whole thing. She just nodded as soon as he was done talking.

Shadow then magically popped out two throwing knives attached to string from under his sleeve and threw them both a few floors above the target window. He held both strings tightly in his hands, ready to swing over to the window. He told Hitomi to grab onto his back and they swung toward the open window. Shadow kicked his metal device holding the window open into the building and they both landed inside without making a sound.

While Shadow went to pick up his device, Hitomi took a quick glance at the building. It looked like any normal office building, or at least the ones she's seen in business pictures, with desks, chairs, giant stacks of paperwork, nothing different.

Shadow motioned for Hitomi to follow him as they raced down the stairs. He explained, "Now it's only been a day since you defeated the Chief so I'm afraid that Lang will suspect that you and the White Lotus will suddenly be coming after him, which we are. If I were Lang, I'd want to get out as quickly as possible to avoid capture; and during the Fire Days Festival, he should be able to disappear quickly and easily so we need to hurry up and catch him before he flees!"

"Disappear easily?" Hitomi asked, "How can he disappear easily with so many people around?"

"People during the Fire Days Festival can easily mistake a getaway or a big street brawl as a simple show for the festival. Even Avatar Aang managed to get away on his flying bison and burn down a festival structure without anyone being the wiser."

"Aang? He's been part of a Fire Days Festival getaway too?"

"Yeah, except the Avatar was the one trying to getaway; this time, the Avatar is trying to prevent the criminal from getting away!"

They finally made it down to the bottom floor, which was just an empty room that looked like it had been cleaned in certain parts, but not the others. There was no floor, just the earth beneath the building.

"Oh no," Shadow said in horror, "They've already cleaned out this room. This was their last room. Quickly Avatar, earth bend right here; they could be getting away right now!" Shadow stomped his foot down on a specific spot before backing up.

Hitomi quickly rotated her hands, causing a circle to be drawn around her and Shadow into the earth. She then stomped down and the circle started rapidly charging down through the earth. The earth suddenly collapsed from underneath them and they landed in a cave lit by overhead lights.

Hitomi and Shadow saw three sato-mobiles being packed by several people in suits and ties. They stopped what they were doing and stared at Hitomi and the Shadow, who were starting to get up from the fall. They quickly threw everything into the cars and got in. Shadow quickly threw some throwing stars at the sato-mobile in the middle and punctured its left tire. The other two cars managed to drive through a tunnel, which the earth benders closed.

Hitomi and Shadow raced up to the sato-mobile and the three thugs quickly got out, ready to bend whatever element they had at the two. Hitomi and Shadow stood ready to face them as well.

Hitomi said, looking at the three men, "So, I'll take the two on the right, and you take the-" When Hitomi looked to her left, Shadow had disappeared! She then heard one of the thugs whimper in pain and she looked back at the thugs to find that they were all unconscious! The wheel was also repaired and Shadow was in the driver seat calling to Hitomi, "Get in!"

Hitomi shook her amazement away for the moment and quickly jumped into the sato-mobile. She pushed out her two fists and lifted them up, causing the tunnel to reopen. Shadow stepped on the gas and they drove out of the underground room and into the streets of the town. They quickly saw one of the cars turn before they lost sight of them, and Shadow quickly pursued. No more than a few seconds passed until they were in sight of the sato-mobile. The thug in the driver's seat was preparing to throw a fireball at them.

Shadow said to Hitomi, while getting out a metal container from his belt, "Quickly, make a ramp!" He threw the metal cylinder at the bender just before he shot the fireball at him. The fire hit the cylinder and a large amount of glue exploded onto the entire car, causing them to swerve and quickly slow down to a stop! Hitomi quickly made a ramp by bending the earth in front of the car and they jumped over the glue trapped criminals and raced forward.

"Wow!" Hitomi exclaimed, "How'd you do that?"

"I invented a container that when hit with water, fire or lightning causes the glue inside it to explode it the bender's face, making their bending almost useless."

"How many other cool toys you got on your belt?"

"None, because I don't carry toys; I carry weapons."

As they started heading back toward the entrance, hoping to catch the other criminals before they escaped, the car suddenly appeared next to them and a water bender quickly shot water from his water bottle and used it to freeze the front and back left tires! The sato-mobile swerved out of control and they crashed into a parking lot while the criminals happily rode away.

Hitomi and Shadow quickly got out, Shadow saying, "Look for a car fast enough to catch up with those crooks. I can probably hot-wire any of these things."

Hitomi didn't need to try and find one. She saw a stable right across the parking lot where Ma Gui was being held. She told Shadow to hurry behind him and they made their way toward the stables. Hitomi petted Ma Gui and hopped on her back.

Shadow asked, "Are you sure this horse-turtle is fast enough?"

Hitomi assured him, "Ma Gui can outrun my thrill crazed best friend's motorcycle, so I'm sure she can catch up with three morons in a loaded down sato-mobile."

Shadow took her word for it and jumped on Ma Gui's back. Ma Gui raced out onto the street at a speed that Shadow was surprised a horse-turtle could have. Almost in no time, they managed to catch up with the sato-mobile that had driven out into the public eye instead of the abandoned streets like they had been. Just like Shadow said, the crowd cheered them on, thinking it was an act. Hitomi bended small rocks from the ground they were driving on at the car while Shadow quickly shot needles and throwing knives from out of his sleeves. The thug in the back seat knocked out Hitomi's rocks by bending his own and the thug in the passenger seat bended quick shots of water to knock out Shadow's throwing knives and needles.

Then, as the exit just came into sight, Hitomi saw Yuko and Gao standing in the middle of the road, ready to meet the sato-mobile that was charging at them. Gao quickly bended water from his water bottle to freeze both of the front tires, causing it to swerve. Yuko, with her knuckle bracers equipped, got into a firm, earth bender like position, and punched the front of the sato-mobile, denting the entire front of the car, shattering the glass, and shooting it up into the air and crashing back down on its wheels!

Everyone around them cheered for the "stuntmen" as they moaned their way out of the car and passed out on the ground. Hitomi and Shadow jumped off Ma Gui and Shadow quickly raced to the thugs in order to place platinum handcuffs that completely covered their hands so they couldn't bend, even if they were metal benders.

Hitomi went to meet with Yuko and Gao, Yuko asking, "What in the world happened back there Hitomi? And who's that weird ninja?"

"Hitomi?" asked Gao, "I thought you said your name was Midori. Wait," Gao got a better look at her face that wasn't covered by a mask, "aren't you-"

Yuko slapped Hitomi on the back and said, "Yep! She's Hitomi Mizutamari; the new and improved Avatar!"

Hitomi blushed, smiled and apologized to Gao for lying about her name to him. But then, Gao got this weird look on his face. It wasn't happy, or sad, or angry. It was pretty blank, but Hitomi could get a sense of disappointment from Gao. Was he disappointed that she was the Avatar?

Gao smiled and said, "It was very nice meeting you Avatar Hitomi, but I think it's about time I go. I'll be seeing you around." Then he left without another word.

Hitomi was a little upset about the goodbye, seeing how it didn't end like she had hoped. Yuko yelled after Gao, saying stuff like, "What? You think you're too cool for the Avatar?"

Shadow approached Hitomi and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your help Avatar; if it wasn't for you, those thugs could've made it out of here with the most important parts for their weapons. You've done the White Lotus and the world a great favor."

Hitomi, despite her depression, managed a smile and bowed back to Shadow.

Shadow looked toward Gao, who Yuko was still yelling at, and said, "I think the boy likes you, and I heard the sincerity in his words when he said that he would see you again."

Hitomi's eyes brightened, "Really?"

Shadow nodded and said, "People aren't always who they first appear to be, but I did sense a lot of grief when I quickly glanced at him as he walked away. Maybe when the two of you meet again, you'll both have a different perspective of the other. Anyway, it appears that Fu Lang managed to escape right from under me. I'll have to report these criminals to the authorities and see if I can extract any information out of them. Goodbye Avatar."

"Goodbye Shadow. I hope we'll meet again," Hitomi pointed a finger at him and warned, "But next time, don't knock me unconscious! Got it?"

Shadow chuckled under his bandana and nodded. He walked toward a dark alleyway where he eventually blended into the shadows and disappeared. Yuko returned to Hitomi after she was finished yelling at Gao and asked, "So who exactly was that guy?" Hitomi shrugged and said that as far as she knew, he was a Shadow.

The Fire Days Festival ended with thousands of rockets being launched into the air, completely filling the sky with beautiful red, orange and yellow colors; a sight that she's been waiting to see for years with Yuko and Ma Gui standing by her side. The two girls stared in awe as the Fire Days Festival came to an amazing and beautiful end.

I can't believe I finished this chapter in just an hour! Well anway, that's Chapter Seven and I hope you loved it! Please leave a review and stayed tuned until next time!