Disclaimer – all original Avatar: The Last Airbender characters in this fanfic (excluding my OC's) are the property of Bryana Konietzko and Michaela Dante DiMartino.
Chapter 7. The Exchange.
The Next Day – Spirit World, Sin'Bey Forest.
Yan Zu woke up early in the morning and decided to meditate into the Spirit World. Six years had passed since Shen'Rai was reborn, and just like the spirit told him, he was now allowed to leave his realm and enter the mortal world.
The human sat in front of the entrance to the Realm of Keepers while the invisible Sin'Bey observed him from the wall. After a few moments, Yan Zu spotted the phoenix spirit leaving the cave. Once again, fully adult, Shen'Rai walked elegantly towards the human in all his glory.
"Greetings, my friend," Shen'Rai said, nodding his beak. The spirit approached Yan Zu, who stood up and hugged him with one wing. "It's been a while... well, for you at least, but you haven't changed."
"If you don't count more gray hairs and wrinkles on my face, then yes," Yan Zu laughed and pulled away. "But like all humans, I'm becoming older and older."
"Heh, how have you been?" asked Shen'Rai while Yan Zu took a deep breath and gave a long sigh. "A lot has happened since we last saw each other and those weren't exactly good things. Although, I must admit I wasn't bored at the slightest."
"What do you mean?" Shen'Rai asked, intrigued.
"How about we talk about it in our cave in the mortal world," Yan Zu suggested. "My son, Huo, wanted to meet you since he learned about you. We visited the Spirit World multiple times, and he learned much about the spirits. He wants to thank you for saving his life, so I thought your first interaction could take place in our cave."
"I would love to," Shen'Rai replied. "Do you still want to make him a firebender?"
"Emmm... sure," Yan Zu replied, bowing his head towards the spirit, and Shen'Rai didn't notice an unsure expression on the human face.
Sometime later – Fire Nation Central Island, Hama's Village, Yan Zu's Cottage.
Huo had trouble sleeping that night because of the nightmares. Eilu and Shaku were constantly on his mind, and he couldn't do anything about it. He felt depressed and sad; he loved waterbending and wanted to learn more, but now, he was supposed to use it to capture and hurt people. Huo didn't want to do it.
He felt guilt on his conscience. He could just tell his father everything. Then Eilu and Shaku would be safe, but he didn't know what would happen afterward. Was if his mother was right, and they would be in trouble?
His thoughts were interrupted by Yan Zu, who entered his room and sat down right next to him. "Trouble sleeping?" Yan Zu asked, and Huo only nodded silently. The man placed a hand on his shoulder. Yan Zu saw Huo being like that for the first time and realized that something was bothering him, but he knew how to make him feel better. "Tell you what, there's some time before breakfast so we can visit the underground cave."
Huo looked at his father. "So early? Why?" he asked, arching his black eyebrow.
Yan Zu smiled and answered. "Because my friend is finally able to leave his realm to visit our world and he agreed to meet you."
Huo's orange-colored eyes widened. "The fire spirit?!" the boy asked with excitement in his voice, and Yan Zu nodded confirmingly. "That's right, now get dressed and meet me downstairs."
Huo dressed up quickly and joined his father, who waited for him at the couch. The boy was afraid to reveal his bending to his father but hoped that the fire spirit could give him some advice. When Hama left the bedroom and went downstairs, she noticed the two fully dressed and ready to leave. "Where are you two going so early?" she asked, covering her yawn.
"The spirit that saved me can visit our world!" Huo said excitedly. "We're going to meet him!"
Hama arched her eyebrows and looked at Yan Zu, who smiled. Considering that Huo wasn't in the best mood yesterday, she decided to let him have some time with spirits. "Keep him safe and don't take too long," she said simply, and Yan Zu nodded. Huo opened the door first and literally ran outside.
Hama turned around and entered the kitchen, planning to make breakfast. She guessed that the parents of Eilu and Shaku had just noticed that their children went missing and the village would be buzzing about it. Since there was a full moon last night, the villagers would quickly assume that the moon spirit returned and kidnapped the children. And since Yan Zu was an expert on spirits, they would surely have visitors soon.
Just before they left the village and entered the forest, Yan Zu and Huo were caught by Ding, who ran up to them breathless. "What's wrong?" Yan Zu asked and chuckled. "Don't pass out on me Ding. Take a deep breath."
"There's trouble," Ding answered between gasps. "Eilu and Shaku have dissapeared. They're nowhere to be found and you know what that means."
Yan Zu's smile faded from his face, realizing what was last night. "Full moon," he said, and Ding nodded. "The word is already spreading and the villagers are panicking."
"Are you sure Eilu didn't simply sneak out of the house and asked Shaku to come with her?" Yan Zu asked. "You know she's is a curious girl, always looking for adventures."
"Her mother said she never left in the middle of the night before," Ding replied. "She was in her bedroom the last time she saw her. The same goes for Shaku."
Huo lowered his gaze and looked at the ground, knowing exactly what had happened to them. "I'm telling you, that spirit is back and is now kidnapping children," Ding said to Yan Zu, who looked at Huo. "Go meet my friend and have a talk," he instructed. "I need to deal with this."
Huo nodded and ran along. This worked in his favor since he now could speak freely to the fire spirit without the presence of his father.
"We need to search the whole island," Yan Zu suggested, looking at Ding. "It's possible that they were exploring a cave and simply got lost."
"I don't know if that's any better," replied Ding. "We better find them quickly."
Yan Zu nodded. "Agreed, but first, I need to tell Hama that I'm going to be busy," he said and turned around, heading back to his cottage with a stern look on his face.
A few minutes later – Fire Nation Central Island, Underground Cave.
Huo carefully entered the cave and immediately felt that the air was warm. This could only mean that the fire spirit waited for him. The boy finally spotted a large bird sitting on the ground. "Hello," Huo greeted, and the fire spirit looked at him with the same orange-colored eyes as he had.
"Greetings," the phoenix replied and stood up. "Don't be afraid, young child. Come closer."
Huo approached the phoenix and looked at him closely. It was the first time he saw such a majestic and colorful spirit, which looked like he had escaped from a piece of art. His red, orange and yellow feathers were beautiful, just like the purple-colored crest on his head. The purple-colored feathers on his five serrated peacock-like tails, which ends burned in purple-colored flames, were also mesmerizing.
"My name is Shen'Rai," the phoenix introduced himself. "You must be Huo."
"Oh, y-yes," Huo blinked, realizing that he stared too much and clasped his hands together. "Thank you for saving my life, fire spirit," he said gratefully while bowing his head respectfully.
"There's no need to thank me, Huo," Shen'Rai replied. "And please, call me Shen'Rai."
"Okay, Shen'Rai," Huo replied and smiled.
"Is your father with you?" Shen'Rai asked, and Huo shook his head. "Something came up and he told me to meet you alone. The moon spirit once again kidnapped someone."
"Again?" Shen'Rai sat down. "Your father doesn't believe it's a spirit."
Huo sat down on the ground with his legs crossed. "Yeah," he knew that his father was right all too well. The boy would assume that himself from what he'd learned about the spirits.
Fire Nation Central Island, Hama's Village, Yan Zu's Cottage.
Yan Zu entered the cottage, and Hama noticed him. "That was fast," she arched her eyebrows and looked at the door. "Where's Huo?"
"I told him to meet the spirit alone," the man replied, approaching the dinner table. He placed his palms on it and leaned forward. He looked at Hama silently, and the woman turned fully to face him. "What?" she asked.
"I have to confess something," Yan Zu began. "Two years ago when Admiral Wei Cho arrived here, attacked me, tried to hurt Huo, and everything else, I told you that I served as a soldier under General Zen Yuo. I lied."
Hama narrowed her grey-colored eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Yan Zu pushed himself off the table and stood straight. "I am Zen Yuo, the former General of the Fire Nation army."
At first, Hama didn't know how to respond. She was taken aback and had many questions. She had a hunch back then, but something didn't make sense, though. "Then why didn't...?"
"Why wasn't I recognized by the Admiral? Because this face you see right now," Yan Zu pointed at his face. "Isn't the face of General Zen Yuo. It's a new face given to me by a powerful spirit called Mother of Faces, so I could start a new life as a man named Yan Zu."
Hama opened her mouth but was speechless. After a moment of gathering thoughts, she finally spoke. "Okay, I don't know if something like that would be possible, but let's say it is and you're telling the truth. Why tell me this now and not before?"
"I was anxious of your reaction," Yan Zu replied truthfully. "I told you that I was just a soldier serving under General Zen Yuo and you weren't happy. If I'd told you that I was that cruel, heartless General, I was afraid you'd begin to hate me. That thought became certainty after I learned who you are."
Hama did her best to remain calm and keep the same face while Yan Zu continued. "A few days after the Admiral's cruiser left the shores of the island, I gathered the courage to tell you truth. I was ready to talk with you in the morning. However, with so many things on my mind, I forgot to drink the tea so I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that both you and Huo were gone. I thought that somehow the Admiral kidnapped you both so I left the cottage as quickly as my burned feet allowed me to. Luckily, I found you both in the forest and saw you train waterbending from a distance. Before you managed to realize I was there and found a spot to hide."
Yan Zu tried to approach her, but Hama circled around the table. She knew well that Yan Zu could block her bending with his chi blocking skills and render her defenseless.
"Hama it's okay," Yan Zu reassured and stooped. "I don't care what element can you bent. Even if you weren't a bender at all it wouldn't matter to me. What matters to me is you and Huo."
"You expect me to believe that?" Hama narrowed her eyes and moved her fingers. She was ready to use the water in the nearby bucket to fight since there was no sense to deny anything at this point. "You spied on us all this time like a creep."
"Because I didn't want to scare you," Yan Zu explained. "I saw Huo having fun with you so I knew he was in good hands. After a few nights, I stopped watching you, but the fear of talking with you about my true identity remained."
"So what... you got suddenly brave?" Hama asked mockingly.
"When you became pregnant, the moon spirit suddenly stopped kidnapping people," Yan Zu pointed out. "It wasn't a solid proof and it could as well be a simple coincidence. However, during all this time, I never saw you tossing out our leftovers and you always made large meals, after which there was always something left. It would be rude to give leftovers to other people, unless those people are prisoners."
This time, Hama smirked. "Well aren't you clever," she said. "If you knew why didn't you rat me out and save them?"
"And see you being taken away in shackles and put in prison?" Yan Zu shook his head. "I wouldn't be able to do that. I love you too much. I know you're not evil. I understand your pain Hama, but Eilu and Shaku didn't do anything bad to deserve such a fate."
"Don't you dare lecture me!" Hama growled and hit the table with her fist. "You killed more people than I can probably count! You're rotten to the core like all of them! They put me in prison, and they all deserve the same!"
"I know I have no right to tell you what's right or wrong," Yan Zu admitted. "And I know you're filled with anger and grievance, but you'll never be satisfied no matter how many people you imprison. Just like I was never satisfied with the amount of power I had, and I always wanted more. The cup you're trying to fill has no bottom. The people living in this village have done nothing to you. Do you really want to do this till you die?"
"Oh, trust me, Yan Zu," Hama smiled sinisterly. "Even after I'm gone, the kidnappings will continue since Huo will take over my work. He already knows what I'm doing."
Fire Nation Central Island, Underground Cave.
Huo asked Shen'Rai if he could create a fire since he had a physical body despite being a spirit. In response, the phoenix created a violet flame in a shape of a snake, which began to move on the ground like a real living thing. The boy was mesmerized by its details. He could even clearly see the scales and the tongue. "Awesome," he spoke in awe. He could create shapes with water and ice, but this was something else.
"Your father also likes it," Shen'Rai said as the flame snake slithered towards him and up to his leg. After a few moments, the snake faded away.
"I wish I could od that," Huo said.
"Unfortunately, you're not a firebender," Shen'Rai pointed out, making Huo think he knew about his waterbending. However, the phoenix quickly added. "I would be able to sense firebending in you, but I don't. You're a not a bender."
"Oh," Huo relaxed and exhaled. "Okay."
"But since we already at the topic, your father talked with me about it when you were born," Shen'Rai stated. "We can actually give you to the power of fire."
Huo's orange-colored eyes widened. "You can?! How?!" he asked loudly.
"There's an ancient animal, which can grant a specific element and for your luck, it's fire," Shen'Rai explained. "He's the last of his kind,. The others were hunted down by humans."
Huo got a crazy idea, which could solve their problems. If he and his mother would become firebenders, his father would surely accept them. Still, he needed to convince the phoenix to take him to that ancient animal. "Can we go see him now, please?!" Huo stood up and asked with energy. "I want to be a firebender!"
"I like your enthusiasm," Shen'Rai replied. "Although Yan Zu would want to see it, I'm not able to carry you both at the same time. At least he'll be positively surprised when you show him your bending. Now let's leave the cave, you need to get on my back, and we're going to fly."
Huo's heart was about to pop out of his chest. He was about to leave the island on a phoenix spirit and meet an ancient animal to become a firebender. He felt like he was about to wake up any minute now, but no, it was all real. Huo left the cave first, making sure that no one was nearby. Shen'Rai allowed him to get on his back, and the phoenix took off.
Fire Nation Central Island, Hama's Village, Yan Zu's Cottage.
"Hama please stop this," Yan Zu asked, desperate to convince his wife. "I've saved a lot of money, we can start a new life wherever you want. We can travel to the Earth Kingdom or even return to your village. Just tell me where are the prisoners. I'll free them and we'll escape with Huo before anyone even notice."
"No," Hama replied stubbornly. "I won't change my mind."
"But Huo doesn't want to do this," Yan Zu stated. "He was depressed when I entered his room today. Eilu and Shaku are his friends. He's innocent and kind and you're changing him. You're turning him into something he shouldn't be, a tool of vengeance."
"He'll learn," Hama assured and waved her hand dismissively. "He's young, and he doesn't realize how cruel the Fire Nation is."
"Not everyone in the Fire Nation is evil," Yan Zu stated. "Every human is different."
Hama sighed. "I'm tired of this," she said. "We can pretend this conversation has never happened and you won't interfere ever again."
"No," Yan Zu refused. "I've allowed you to do as you please so far since I hoped it would provide great relief from your pain. That it would give you satisfaction and you'd stop."
"Or maybe because you really don't care about the villagers in the first place," Hama replied. "Did you think that maybe you haven't changed at all and your still that cruel, heartless General? That you're just pretending to be a hero?"
"I did," Yan Zu answered. "Many times I've asked myself if I'm doing the right thing. That maybe I love you too much to stop you from doing bad things. That my love has blinded me from seeing what your actions were turning you into. Or maybe it was the fear of losing you both that made me do stupid decisions. We all make mistakes, but trying to fix them and restore one's honor is what matters. So I won't allow you to kidnap more people. This end now."
"So this is how it's going to be," Hama stated. "I'm almost sad it turned out this way, my love."
Since the bucket with water was behind Yan Zu, the man didn't react when Hama levitated and turned the water into a block of ice. He was hit in the end and knocked to the floor. His blurry vision slowly turned black as he lost consciousness.
Two hours later – The Middle of The Eastern Sea.
The Eastern Sea was an extensive body of water that extended from the eastern coast of the Earth Kingdom to the northeastern shores of the South Pole. A small waterway connected the sea to East Lake. Many islands were located in the Eastern Sea, including the Eastern Air Temple's archipelago.
If Hama knew where her son just was, she'd be furious. Still, Huo was amazed. The clear blue sky above and the crystal sea below were breathtaking. Even if he'd get grounded, it would be worth it. Shen'Rai flew at fast speed, avoiding any boats and ships in order to not be spotted. True, normal phoenixes lived in the mortal world, but a larger phoenix with a boy on his back would be a scarce sight, which would draw unwanted attention.
In the distance, Huo was able to spot an island filled with tall, green trees. "I see an island!" Huo noticed. "Is he there?!"
"That island is him!" Shen'Rai replied and flew closer. He began to circle around the island, and Huo realized that it was moving. When it stopped, the boy noticed as the front of the island started to lift itself up. A large head emerged from the water, followed by a left paw.
"It's a... turtle?" Huo asked.
"A lion turtle," Shen'Rai replied. The phoenix lowered himself and landed on the paw. Huo got off Shen'Rai and looked at the sizeable stone-like face in front of him.
"Greetings, Ancient One," Shen'Rai bowed his head, and Huo quickly did the same. "Greetings, Keeper of Fire," the lion turtle replied with a deep voice and without moving his mouth. "What made you seek me out?"
"I know your kind has decided to never grant bending ever again, but I'll humbly ask to do exception for this human," Shen'Rai used his wing and gently pushed Huo forward. "He's the son of the firebender who asked you to take away his own bending."
"My dad was a firebender?!" Huo's eyes widened, but he didn't ask for an explanation right now. He gulped as the lion turtle looked at him with large red-colored eyes.
"Only the Avatar can hold more than one element at once," stated the large animal. "This human already possess the element of water and thus cannot be granted the element of fire."
Shen'Rai looked at Huo, who lowered his gaze. The boy had a hunch that the ancient creature would sense his bending, but he hoped he'd be wrong. "You're a waterbender?" Shen'Rai asked.
Huo nodded with his face down. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I liked being a waterbender, but my mom wants me to use it to hurt people since the Fire Nation imprisoned her. I thought that If I become a firebender, everything would be fine."
Shen'Rai was genuinely surprised, but he began to understand the situation. Yan Zu didn't reveal his past to them yet. The phoenix was aware that two waterbenders weren't safe in a Fire Nation village with the war raging on.
"Does your father knows you and your mother are waterbenders?" he asked, and Huo shook his head. "No. She told me that he'd be furious if he'd learn. The villagers would be angry as well and would attack us."
Shen'Rai didn't believe that Yan Zu would do something bad to them, but he couldn't speak for the rest of the villagers since he didn't know them. That being said, the phoenix spirit had to admit that the boy had a clever idea of how to deal with that problem.
"Can't you take my waterbending away like you took my dad's firebending and give me firebending instead?" Huo asked, looking at the lion turtle pleadingly.
"I can do that," the lion turtle confirmed. "But I can only give the element of fire. You'll never be able to use the element of water ever again."
Huo took a deep breath and exhaled. This was an important decision, and there was no turning back, but the boy's mind was made up. "Okay," he nodded.
"So be it," the lion turtle replied, and his right paw emerged from the water. Two large claws moved closer to Huo, who closed his eyes. One claw delicately touched the boy's forehead, the other his chest, causing a green light to illuminate as he used energybending to strip Huo of his waterbending. "You relinquished the element of water," said the lion turtle. "Let the element of fire serve you justly." Once again, a green light illuminated as the lion turtle gave Huo the element of fire.
When Huo opened his eyes, the lion turtle moved his paw away. The boy looked at his hands and turned to the side. He threw a fist and shot an orange flame. It really happened; he was now a firebender.
"Neither element is good or bad," said the lion turtle, gaining Huo's attention. "One needs to see past the element to see the human's true heart."
Huo didn't really understand, but he bowed his head. "Thank you," he said and approached Shen'Rai. Both of them bid the lion turtle farewell, and they flew off, heading back to the Fire Nation island.
Please R&R ;)