Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I've updated. I let myself stagnate for too long. I really don't have a great excuse either. I got married and went on a honeymoon, but that was almost 6 months ago. I started streaming on twitch a month ago, but only two days a week, nothing that could have stopped me finishing this story. I will try to be diligent, especially since the release date for Waybound has been announced. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Note: I did re-format the earlier chapters, but nothing really changed beyond format and maybe a couple words.
Aang was almost bouncing off the walls; he was so anxious. So many emotions were coursing through him. There was still the uncertainty and sadness about Appa being lost, frustration that Long Feng was withholding information, happiness that the freedom fighters were able to find each other, accomplishment that they had found their "target", and nervousness about meeting the man.
Everything seemed to quiet when they heard the door handle turn. All eyes moved towards the door, which swung in to reveal their mystery bender. He was tall, so tall, that he had to duck down just to get through the doorway. He wore strange robes, a gleaming silver badge, and…Aang couldn't focus on anything else as his eyes darted to the spirit on the man's shoulder. The spirit looked like a small person made of water. He was able to peel his eyes away from the spirit, only to find himself meeting the gaze of the stranger.
"Avatar Aang?" He asked. Aang could only respond with a slack-jawed nod. The stranger pressed his fist's together and bowed.
"I am Wei Shi Lindon Arelius, I need…" The small woman patted his ear and the noise of chimes came out of her mouth
"...yes this is Little Blue, we are in need…"
[Hem hem] The sound of someone clearing their throat cut the man off. A ball of purple floated out the side of the man's head and settled on his other shoulder, the ball opened its eye and mouth before continuing.
[I am Dross, please prostrate yourself in front…] the purple ball was cut off when a pale white hand all but crushed it in an iron grasp.
"Please ignore him" the man said, before pushing the ball back into his head. "As I was saying, I am Wei Shi Lindon Arelius. Please call me Lindon; these are my companions, Little Blue and Dross. We are lost and Avatar Roku said that you are our best chance at getting back home." Lindon ended his introduction with another bow. The room remained silent for a few more beats, until Sokka turned to the Freedom Fighters.
"This was the guy you wanted to fight!? He's a giant!" The trio at least had enough sense to look guilty. Sokka was about to push the issue, but Katara spoke up first, she had taken a few steps toward Lindon.
"Is that a water spirit?" She asked, eyes round and curious.
Lindon shook his head "She's a neutral spirit, but does share similar characteristics to water. Dross is a mind spirit, I've bonded to both of them". Katara nodded along, but still looked somewhere between confused and amazed.
Aang was finally able to overcome the daze he was in, he bounded up to Lindon and unloaded everything he had bouncing around his head "I'm Avatar Aang…wait, you knew that already. You met Roku!? Where? Are you an airbender, or an earthbender? Where's your home? How can I help?"
He looked to the blue spirit on Lindon's shoulder "Hello Little Blue, I'm Aang. Have you met Momo?" Aang gestured to his own shoulder, where Momo's eyes could barely be seen. The lemur was hiding behind Aang's back, weary of the man and his spirits.
Little Blue cooed like a small bell and slid down Lindon's arm. Lindon held up his hand so she had a platform to stand on. She reached out and let Momo smell her before patting his head. The lemur warmed up to her immediately, poking his head out and allowing himself to be pet and scratched around his ears. Before anyone knew what was happening, Little Blue had pounced on Momo's back and he took off in surprise. Momo circled the tiny apartment while Little Blue tinkled in laughter on his back.
"Apologies…she likes to fly" Lindon said to the shocked Avatar. Who was trying to calm Momo back down.
"CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HECK'S GOING ON!?" yelled Toph, the whole situation must have "looked" like madness to her. Katara was quick to pull her aside and explain what was happening. Toph's face morphed between anger, confusion and horror before settling on confusion.
She pulled away from Katara and declared "You sound interesting and strong! I've been itching for a fight for days now, what do you say to a friendly duel?" She punctuated her question by punching a fist into her open palm.
Before anyone could react to that, Dross shouted in Lindon's head [Woah, Woah, Woah. I almost didn't notice because their cores are so small, but we have multiple enemies surrounding us.] Lindon became aware of the threats as Dross 'lit' them up in his perception. It was more of the earthbending guards that he had fought before, much more of them.
Lindon turned to Aang "Avatar Aang, the city guards are surrounding us, I don't suppose they're your allies"
The young avatar's eyes widened in shock, but quickly shook his head "No! If anything, they've been hindering us, hiding information and keeping us from meeting the Earth King!"
Katara quickly added "They're holding information about our air bison, Appa, hostage, it's the reason we were looking for you in the first place."
Sokka looked like he was about to add more, but someone yelling in from outside cut him off.
"This is Long Feng! Avatar, you were an adequate lizard-hound. But, if you want the chance to find your pet, bring the target out restrained and pass him into our custody!"
Little Blue finally let Momo loose, landing back on Lindon's shoulder.
Aang looked pained, he would never turn his back on someone who needed help. But Appa was his best friend, they were grasping at straws.
Lindon looked to everyone in the room "If I turn myself over to them, what are the chances they let everyone go and give you the information you need?" they mulled over that for a moment.
Katara was first to speak. "I highly doubt they would let the freedom fighters or Iroh and Zuko go after this. They already brainwashed Jet once, who knows what else they can do."
It took Lindon a moment to realize the names Iroh and Zuko were referring to Mushi and Lee. It was also interesting the guards used some form of mental conditioning.
Jet hopped up from the table, club in the air "I'm not going through that again! If I go out, it'll be fighting tooth and nail!" The other freedom fighters jumped up in agreement.
Aang let out a sigh "Even though they have our only lead to Appa; I would never sell someone out for it. We'll find him another way"
Sokka stomped over to Jet, swiping the club out of his hand, muttering about personal property before turning to Lindon "You never did say, are you an earthbender? Airbender?"
Lindon was about to answer when Dross shouted out a warning. Lindon burned soulfire to manipulate wind aura to bring Mushi and Lee (or Iroh and Zuko?) away from the kitchen area, just as the wall caved outwards. It seemed like Long Feng had grown impatient. Lindon let the two down and looked to Aang
"When I said we needed your help to get home, I meant back to our iteration. That's a big request. I will help you however I can in return. For now…I swear on my soul we will help find Appa" He said while walking to the opening where the wall used to be.
He plucked Little Blue off his shoulder and put her on the ground. "Could you please watch them, the guards might come after them"
He expected her to argue, but she peeped in agreement before stepping in the middle of the opening with her arms crossed in challenge. Now that Lindon knew they would be safe, he could be a little more reckless. Before leaving, he turned back to Sokka
"And to answer your question, I'm not an airbender or an earthbender. Allow me to show you the Path of the Twin Stars" He said before stepping onto open air.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Long Feng did not leave his life up to chance. The moment the Avatars group left the middle ring, two Dai Li agents followed their every movement. By letting Joo Dee stay behind, it led the children to believe they were alone. Even when they split up, the Dai Li split with them. Eventually, they met with another group, of which held a recently programmed asset. Then, the groups parted ways. The so called "Freedom Fighters" headed to a slum; and the Avatar's group headed to a tea shop.
The Dai Li agents made the right call to send a report to Long Feng requesting additional direction. This whole thing was turning into a mess, it was time to put an end to it. So, Long Feng and twenty of the best men the Dai Li had to offer pushed into the lower ring and met up with the field agents.
Luck was on their side, it appeared that the Avatar's group, Freedom Fighters, two random refugees, and their target were all together in an apartment building. They surrounded it, and Long Feng yelled his demands up to the Avatar. It would be over soon, one way or another.
But a minute quickly passed, then two. Long Feng felt his irritation swell and ordered the outer wall to be removed. When the dust cleared, a man stood in the empty space. He matched the description from the report perfectly, down to the silver badge hanging around his neck.
Long Feng should have felt accomplishment, but deep in his gut, he felt fear. That fear grew as the man stepped out and glided down to the ground, as if being lowered on a rope. It appeared this man was, in fact, an airbender. But if he was an airbender, where was this heat coming from? The man had been looking around, no doubt searching for the Dai Li, but his head swiveled around and Long Feng met his eyes. His red rimmed, black eyes.
'This is not a man at all' His panicked thoughts called out 'This is a monster'.
The man suddenly burst into red and black flames, and then…the horror began.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Toph had never 'seen' such strange and frightful bending in her life. When Lindon had first entered the room, he had felt like any other person…more or less. Then, something started making ringing noises, then something else started talking. But Toph couldn't 'see' them; apparently they were spirits. Katara had pulled her aside after an outburst and explained what they looked like, and how one had come out of the man's head. Once Toph really focused, she realized just how big the man must be. He felt 'heavy' in her sight, as if he were carrying the weight of one and a half people around. Katara confirmed that he was "big and strong". With the lack of action, he sounded perfect to Toph.
Unfortunately, she was ignored, Lindon said they were surrounded. Toph quickly focused around them, she didn't see…wait, there were Dai Li around them! How had she not felt them before? How had Lindon found them? Before she could ask, Jerk Feng made his demands known. And then…Iroh and Zuko floated out of her 'sight'. They touched down across the room just as the wall exploded outwards. What was going on?
Toph focused on the ground and found two Dai Li were backing up from the building, it was finally time for a fight. She focused back in around the apartment and heard Lindon say "Allow me to show you the Path of the Twin Stars" before he disappeared from her senses.
When he did reappear, on the ground outside, it had taken a very long time. As if he were using Aang's glider. But she hadn't heard him unfurl one, and Aang was still holding his.
'Then he is an airbender?' Toph thought to herself. That was disappointing, she was hoping he was an earthbender and she could…Her thoughts crashed to a standstill as an oppressive heat poured in from outside. And when she found her bearings and focused back on Lindon…it was amazing.
He was exploding with speed each time he moved. She could feel the furrows being forced into the earth as he pushed off. And his attacks, what power! The Dai Li guards were being blasted off into walls and into the air like they were made of nothing. This wasn't like any bending Toph had ever experienced before.
She was only pulled away when she heard Jet yell something and try to jump out to join the fight. He didn't make it three steps before flying against the far wall. A small chorus of bells and chimes flowed from around the opening in the wall.
Katara knelt down and said "Little Blue, we only want to help Lindon". There were a few grunts in agreement. Little Blue let out a deeper gong, which sounded to Toph like a warning. Before anyone else tried anything the heat stopped wafting in from outside. Toph focused back to the surrounding area to find Lindon in the middle of a circle of not less than six guards.
What was more surprising, was how differently he was moving. Before, his movements were explosive and straightforward. Now he moved similarly to Aang, like a leaf on the wind…if the leaf moved faster than you could track. In a few heartbeats, all six Dai Li were on the ground in various states of injury. Long Feng was barking orders, but there was no one left to order. Lindon had his hand around the man's throat before he could even consider running.