Once RYŪJI finally opened his eyes, he was suddenly overwhelmed by the harsh, bright light that beamed down on him, creating a stark contrast to the dark and gloomy atmosphere he had been in previously.
If that wasn't enough for him to believe something was amiss, looking around certainly was. Clearly, he wasn't on the cruiser anymore, that much he understood. In fact, Ryūji began to suspect that he had transcended the physical realm altogether. It was far too white and immaculate for that. Even the tree under which he sat seemed to emanate an ethereal luminescence. While Ryūji's knowledge of the spirit world was limited, it was evident that what he saw did not align with any descriptions he had encountered. That left the final possibility; the celestial realm.
'How did I end up in this place?' He tried to ask out loud. His mouth didn't budge, though. There was no sound, either. Ryūji tried a couple more times, but still nothing. Panic surged across his chest as he attempted screaming, laughing, gurgling — anything that might elicit even the slightest sound — but still ended up with nothing. At that moment, he realized something even more alarming.
He couldn't move.
Just like he tried to speak, he tried to move any part of his limbs, but they were stuck in the same position. Ryūji felt odd, his body tingling with a numb sensation. Was he dreaming? Did the necklace extend the effects onto him and put him to sleep? If so, why did he feel so attentive?
Eight men clad in flowing white silks and gleaming golden armor stride purposefully toward Ryūji. Although their stoic faces portray no emotion, their movements hint at underlying panic and concern. One of them pulls out a scroll and unfurls it, unveiling a portrait of a petite girl adorned in opulent royal attire and decorated with a bird-shaped symbol on her forehead.
"Hey, kid. Have you seen this girl?" he asked, pointing at the painting. "She should be around your age but a bit shorter. Her hair is a chestnut color."
No way. Is she — ?
"I haven't. Sorry, sir." Ryūji finally heard himself speak. Though, he sounded a lot younger than recently. Whatever this dream was meant to be, it turned him into a child. "I'll keep a lookout, though."
The guy who spoke gave a thankful nod. "Let us know if you see anything."
They all abruptly turned away and started marching in a different direction. Their presence exuded authority, reminiscent of high-ranking soldiers in a military force.
"Psst!" He turned his head instinctively towards the top of the tree above. Perched on a lofty branch was a young girl, no more than eight years old, matching the exact description he was given. Her soft, golden-brown hair tumbled over her shoulders, complementing her peach-colored robes as she gazed down at him. "Have they left?"
Ryūji glanced around the immediate area. All of the soldiers had vanished from sight, nowhere to be seen.
"They're all gone," he responded, internally cringing at the sound of his childish voice. "Why are you hiding up there? They seem pretty concerned about you. I think you should return to them."
"No! They just want to lock me back up and force me to study," she cried with a pout. "If you're going to tell on me, you can just pretend I wasn't here."
The girl started disappearing behind the trunk again, obviously unhappy with his words. "I promise I won't say anything to them!" he called after her.
She peeked her head back around, her eyes eager and hopeful. "Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise!" Ryūji's hand slowly raised towards her, his pinky finger fully extended, reaching out with every ounce of determination he could muster. He could feel the energy coursing through it, pointing outwards in an effort to bridge the distance between them. The girl's laughter filled the air as she gleefully extended hers in return. "Though, I do think you should come down here anyway. It's tiring to yell all the way up to you."
"About that…" The girl trailed off, holding onto the trunk of the tree. She pressed her lips into a thin line. "I think I'm stuck up here."
"Huh? How are you stuck in the tree? You don't seem like an aquatic spirit."
She glanced away and shamed behind a bit of the tree trunk, barely peeking his way. Although she responded, Ryūji could scarcely make out the words as she mumbled. "I can't fly."
"You what?" he asked.
"I said I can't fly!" she cried, raising her voice this time. "Nobody's taught me how to."
Ryūji felt his eyes widen, and he exclaimed out of astonishment. So, she had the ability to fly but still needed to be taught how to? Why did she bother climbing the tree if she couldn't fly down? He scurried around the tree with a sense of urgency, desperately searching for a safe and easy way for her to return to the ground. If there was an easy way for her to climb up, surely there was a similarly straightforward way for her to climb down. His eyes carefully scanned the branches, evaluating each one for its suitability. Most were conveniently within stepping reach of each other, except for the first branch, which had a noticeable but manageable gap.
"If you can reach that first branch, you should be able to come down with no problem," He pointed his finger, and her eyes followed before she carefully rose to her feet, her eyes fixed on the target as she extended her right foot. However, a moment of hesitation gripped her as her leg barely reached the branch, her toes scraping against the rough bark. She had to catch herself by clinging to the trunk, her head shaking in fear.
"I can't do it, I'm going to fall!"
"It's okay! You can do it; just reach a little further next time," Ryūji said, stepping closer to the tree trunk. "I'll catch you if you do fall."
Although she protested, a slight whine echoing down the tree, she gathered herself and made another attempt. Following his instructions, the girl leaned forward as she extended her leg in front of her. This time, her foot found a secure position on the base of the branch, but she struggled to maintain her balance. Instead of effectively adjusting her weight, she twisted, causing her to slip and plunge to the ground.
She screamed, and he sighed, but instead of letting her continue to descend, Ryūji launched himself off the ground and caught her halfway. He cradled her in his arms while they landed back on the ground.
The girl was slow to recover, her trembling face buried into his shoulder, but she did pull away and glance up at her savior with a mixture of relief and gratitude shining in her tear-filled eyes. There were stars in them, yet Ryūji couldn't shake off the burdening weight of guilt that crept along his shoulders, knowing he had barely managed to rescue her in time.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I should have gone up and brought you down in the first place."
"You saved me," she stated, ignoring his apology.
"Of course I did." the boy put her down, allowing the girl to stand alone. "I promised you I would."
A wide grin graced her delicate features, a sign of gratefulness. It was almost like she'd never had a promise fulfilled before. Her reddish eyes glanced up and down his height, brows hiking with curiosity as she spoke again.
"Do you have a name?" she asked.
If Ryūji had proper control over his own body, he might've dropped his chin in shock and maybe even spit out his tea if he was having any. At this point, he understood he might've been experiencing Hotaru's dream through another's perspective, so hearing a random spirit's name fly out of his childish mouth wouldn't have been too surprising, but hearing a name he recognized — no, scratch that — admired… Just what exactly was going on?
"Fulong."
"A dragon?" Her interaction with him was very expressive. She was both curious and excited, even taking a step towards him as she continued, "What kind?"
He took a step back, eyes widening. "I-I don't know. I never found out."
"Really? Then how'd you get into the capital city? You're not allowed in unless you know your spirit form." she asked. Her eyes bore into him with continued curiosity, but her head was cocked to the side now.
"Well…" he started, "I'd rather not talk about it." He noticed her try to protest, but she didn't have a chance to speak as he quickly changed the subject. "What about you? You never told me your name."
"You don't know who I am?" A bit taken aback, she fell silent. When he did as well, she hummed and nodded, "You're odd for a dragon."
"I'm sorry," Ryūji — or Fulong — said. His fingertips drummed against his upper thigh as his gaze moved towards the ground in shame.
"No, perhaps it's better this way." When he lifted his head back up, he noticed her expression softened, but she still smiled at him. "Now I can figure out if you're a loyal friend."
His eyebrows creased, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "How can I be your friend without first knowing your name?"
"It's simple. Without knowing who I am, you saved me from falling. Therefore, I consider you a friend." That's not…
"You shouldn't trust people so easily. You could put yourself in danger!" Fulong reprimanded her sternly. She responded by pouting and fixing him with a disbelieving stare. She clearly had no intention of heeding his words and seemed entirely unconcerned. "What if I was trying to hurt you?"
"But you're not," she argued.
"You don't know that."
The girl picked a stray piece of timber from the ground and pointed the smoother edge to his chest, giving him a few gentle pokes, "I don't think you have it in you, Fufu. There's something about you that just seems too good."
"Wait," he said, pushing the twig away. He raised an eyebrow and huffed, "'Fufu'?"
"What? You don't like your nickname?" she said, letting her stick drop to the ground and placing her hands on her hips. "I thought it sounded cute."
"For a three-year-old, maybe. We're older than that."
She playfully rolled her eyes and let out a giggle. Then, she reached toward Fulong with a mischievous smile and gently pinched his left cheek.
"Like I said, too good. Loosen up!" the girl urged, releasing when he shoved her hand away. "We're still little kids. Act like one while you still can." He remained silent, shaking his head in response. "Fine, if it makes you feel any better, you can call me Nana until I tell you my real name."
Fulong shook his head again. "I won't call you that."
"Have fun finding a different name for me, then."
'Nana' hummed and rocked back on her heels. Her eyes took in the bustling crowd around them, relaxed and inattentive, until they abruptly fixed on something that immediately seized her attention. Her eyes widened, and a nervous laugh escaped her as she took a few steps back toward the nearby tree. Fulong followed her line of sight, and Ryūji soon realized the source of her unease. A smaller group of guards in white uniforms had appeared in front of a store, indicating that they had dispersed and were now scattered across the area.
"It looks like it's time for me to go," 'Nana' said, sinking out of their sight behind the tree trunk. She looked at him with a hopeful look, "Will you be here tomorrow? I'd like to see you again."
"I don't know. I don't get the option to leave home very often," Fulong responded, "But I'll try."
She stood up, grabbed his right wrist, and opened his palm to the sky. Then, she pulled one of her hair accessories out from a braided bun and placed it on his fingers before closing them, all while ignoring his confused reaction.
"There! Now you have a reason to." she smiles and quickly darts away.
"Wait!" he tries to stop her and hand back the accessory, but 'Nana' doesn't spare another glance in his direction. Fulong just watches as she weaves through the shopping crowds and buildings, dodging the searching men before disappearing entirely.
He reopens his hand and stares at the clip, studying it. The intricate design is adorned with feathery details and features a small, phoenix-like figure etched in the middle. Ryūji senses a lingering sense of bewilderment, followed by a sudden wave of recognition. While he already knew the person he was conversing with, it seems that it took Fulong a moment to fully comprehend the significance of the other individual. There was no other spirit quite like that one in the entire expanse of the three realms.
"Nana is Princess Nahuang?" Duh, Ryūji wanted to scream out. "No wonder those royal guards were looking for her."
There were footsteps to his right, causing him to whip his head in that direction. Fulong noticed that the same soldier approaching him before was again drawing near.
"Seen anything since we last spoke?" the man asked.
There was a brief silence, Fulong's mouth remaining shut as the grip around the princess' hairclip stiffened and dug into the padding of his palm. He kept it hidden from the guard's line of sight and, using his free hand, pointed in the opposite direction from where he saw her flee.
"I saw her go that way, sir," he responded.
The guard quickly expressed his thanks with a nod before swiftly hurrying away. The fading image of the guard's retreating figure was the last thing Ryūji's eyes registered before a brilliant flash of blue light engulfed his surroundings, and he began to feel his senses gradually returning to him.
An intense amount of pressure was building in HOTARU's head. It weighed down her eyes and forced them shut despite her efforts to peel them apart. After a couple of tries, she could open them, though her vision remained blurry and unfocused.
Somebody's figure lay beside her on the soft bed, their upper half slouched over the edge while their rear must be perched on the floor. Disoriented, she tried squinting, Ryūji's outline coming into view. Why is he here? she wondered. Skimming past him, Hotaru realized that her hand was clasped around his, her fingers giving a few gentle squeezes as she tried to process this unexpected connection. He stirred slightly, awaking from his own slumber.
Why am I holding his hand? Her dazed state left her confused, and any reaction was delayed by the lingering sleepiness.
Hotaru jerked her hand back as fast as she could, freeing Ryūji from the custody she held him in. Unfortunately, feeling so lethargic meant she was thoroughly unprepared for the following events and completely caught off-guard when it happened.
Having roused from his sleep, Ryūji lifted his head from the mattress at the same time her hand flew, the back of it impacting the right side of his face. He gasped, and his eyes widened with shock. Hotaru did the same. She sat up and covered her mouth with both hands, aghast by what she'd done.
"That's… One way to wake someone up," he mumbled, rubbing the side of his face, which slowly turned a shade of raspberry.
"Spirits, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that," Hotaru said, lowering her hands slightly. She kept them in gentle fists at her chin. "Are you alright?"
Ryūji nodded. "It's fine; I've been dealt worse," he peered over at her, the inner blotches of his eyebrows knitted into worry. "Are you okay?"
Her head tilted to the side. The impact had come from her, not the other way around. Other than a slight stinging sensation, she seemed to be unharmed.
"What do you mean?" asked Hotaru.
"You're crying."
She felt her head jolt back in disbelief, but to her surprise, Ryūji was right. Hotaru unfolded her fingers on her right hand and gently pressed them to her cheek. When she pulled them away, the tips were damp, and she recognized the tears that dripped down. Some had dried and left behind an uncomfortable sensation. When did she start crying, and why?
"Were you upset by the dream?" he asked her.
Hotaru shook her head. She didn't have a dream. Not one she could remember, at least. "What dream?"
Ryūji raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember?" When she shook her head again, he frowned.
"Your inability to articulate things to me is becoming concerning," she stated, mirroring his frown. "What are you talking about? You seem to know more about this dream than I do."
He pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded. "A lot happened after you knocked yourself out," Ryūji started. "Two women followed us back to the ship to take you, and I brought you inside for safety. Right after I did, something strange happened, and I'm guessing I got pulled into your dream."
Pulled into her dream…How strange. It didn't seem possible, especially if she didn't have one, but it did leave Hotaru thinking. Although a bit secretive, Ryūji had always been forthright with her, so it was likely that he was telling the truth, and she really did have a dream that she couldn't remember. Lost in thought, Hotaru attempted to recall any small detail that might jog her memory, searching for any clue illustrating the elusive dream. Initially met with a barren mental landscape, she persisted, straining to unearth the faintest trace of the dream she was unsure she had experienced.
It was a struggle at first, but then a tree emerged in Hotaru's mind, accompanied by a faint feeling of unease. Somebody had been talking to her. Was it a child? Try as she might, she couldn't quite conjure their image. In the periphery of her sight, Ryūji oversaw her.
"Did…Did it have anything to do with a tree?" she asked finally, a bit hesitant. "A big one at that."
"Otherworldly? Shimmery almost," Ryūji continued for her. She nodded. "There was definitely a tree. Can you remember anything else?"
"Kind of. I was talking to someone, I think they were a kid, but I can't picture a face," Hotaru responded. She chewed on the left side of her bottom lip and pinched at the other side with her fingers.
"How about a name? You called them something in the dream. Does — " Ryūji suddenly let out a short sigh, his face contorting into a pained expression before he continued, "Does 'Fufu' ring a bell?"
Hotaru felt a peculiar twinge of recognition that washed over her. The name felt oddly familiar, evoking a deep sense of comfort, longing, and joy that seemed to permeate every part of her being. Yes, she must remember this name and put a face to it. She couldn't shake the feeling that this person, whoever they were, held the key to unlocking her lost memories.
She lapsed into silence once more, first envisioning the magnificent tree and conjuring the image of the child she had been addressing. It remained a mere silhouette, impervious to her attempts at altering it, even after assigning it a name, but if she thought hard enough… Just as she concentrated intently, a transformation seeming imminent, there was a shrilling ring in her ear, accompanied by a sharp, searing pain that coursed through her head.
"Gah!" Grabbing both sides of her temple, Hotaru shut her eyes, and the world around her dulled as she curled up into a ball. She couldn't even register Ryūji's panicked state as he tried to help her. Other than a call for help, there was nothing.
The picture she had created in her mind remained, though temporarily. The tall, glorious shrub slowly dissipated until nothing remained in its place, leaving the kid's figure behind until it too faded into oblivion.
Only then did the pain finally stop.
When Hotaru regained consciousness, Hui-Lan stood before her with a welcoming and joyful countenance. She was holding a small towel folded neatly in half, which seemed slightly damp.
"You're awake again! Are you feeling better?" she asked. Hotaru glanced around, noticing that she was alone with her in the room. She brushed away any bubbling disappointment that might have risen.
"I… Guess?" she responded, relaxing. "My head hurts a bit. What happened?"
Hui-Lan frowned, and her eyebrows furrowed. She opened her mouth but closed it before opening it again to speak, almost as if she changed her mind about what to say.
"Here," she says, "This should help your head." Hui-Lan put the cold towel on top of Hotaru's head, "Ryūji told me you were trying to remember something and then were in a lot of pain doing so, nearly unresponsive. When I came in, you were whimpering and crying, gripping the sides of your head."
"I was?" Hotaru asked.
"Mhm. Here, drink this!" Hui-Lan handed her a small cup containing a strange, yellowish liquid. She took it hesitantly, sniffing the steam that rose and getting a gentle whiff of its bitter aroma. "It's a special feverfew medicine; it should help with your headache."
Hotaru's eyes widened, and she smelled it again, a slight floral scent teasing her nose. "I see. Thank you," she smiles before putting the cup to her mouth and sipping. It was just as bitter as it smelled, but she sipped it all and left no trace behind.
"Oh, and just in case you're wondering — which I know you are because I could see the disappointment flicker in your eyes when you looked around the room — I had Ryūji leave," Hui-Lan explained, taking the dish from her when she was finished. She put it back on a tray with other utensils.
"What?" asked Hotaru, "Why did you do that?"
"Two reasons. One, I think he was pushing you a little too hard, which is why you suddenly got that headache. It's only been a few days since you woke up! I know he really wants to help you remember your true identity, but he's too excited about it," she said, "You're not going to get all of your memories back just like that."
"I'm not sure it was like that, though," Hotaru countered, furrowing her brow as she attempted to recollect the source of her discomfort. She strained to remember, but her mind yielded no answers. "I… Can't remember what it was, but it was something small."
There was a slight hum as Hui-Lan stared at her, her head cocked to the side. "Then it wasn't as small as you believe." she sighed. Out of concern or frustration, Hotaru wasn't sure, but the other girl shook her head, and her bright smile returned. "Let's forget about that for now; I don't want to hurt your head anymore. There's another reason I had him leave — I'm curious about something."
She spun around and floated over to the bed, kneeling before Hotaru. Propping her elbows on the edge of the bed, she rested her chin where her fingers intertwined with themselves and stared up at her curiously.
"Why'd you slap Prince Ryūji in the face?"
Hotaru rolled her eyes and snorted. Was she serious? The way Hui-Lan smiled at her with a wicked grin made her positive that the girl was delighted by this piece of information.
"It was an accident!" Hotaru exclaimed.
"An accident? No red mark on a man's cheek is ever an accident!" she responded, crossing her arms, "Tell me, what'd he do?"
"He didn't do anything, Hui-Lan. It was an accident! I — " Hotaru stopped for a second, debating whether or not she should mention her hand holding Ryūji's. She wasn't sure how Hui-Lan would react, whether it be a flurry of teasing or betrayal or if she even knew about it, so Hotaru decided to leave that bit out. "Moved my hand too fast when I woke up, and it accidentally came in contact with his face."
Her response was met with a pout as Hui-Lan stood up. "That's so boring," she said, going over to her tray again and starting to clean up. "Still, a smack in the face is still a smack in the face. He deserves it."
Hotaru watched as the other girl cleaned up, holding her knees close to her chest. The words 'deserves it' parroted in her mind, leading her to question why he did. The exchange with the pirates and the Avatar did leave a sour taste in her mouth, sure, but was it connected? She'd fallen under the sleeping spell before she could ask anybody about it.
"Why do you think Ryūji deserves it?" she asked, "Do you hate him that much?"
"I don't hate him, necessarily. The rest of his family, on the other hand? Absolutely," Hui-Lan said, looking back at her, "The whole world does. Well, except for the Fire Nation, but that goes without saying."
"I don't understand. Why would the whole world hate the Fire Nation? I thought things were peaceful."
After Hotaru asked her question, Hui-Lan turned around to face her entirely. "You mean, you don't know?" When she shook her head, Hui-Lan raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Interesting. I thought you would have been aware of that."
She hurried back to the bed, sitting beside Hotaru instead of kneeling on the floor. She glanced over at the bedroom door before turning back and leaning in, "Just about one hundred years ago, the Fire Nation waged a war against the other three nations in an attempt to take over the world, and it's been carrying on ever since. They've done despicable things to get where they are now, such as eliminating an entire nation to get to the Avatar, who you sort of met back by that river."
Hotaru felt her blood run cold, and her eyes widened in shock. "But we're —"
"I know," she says with a sad smile. "If I didn't think Prince Ryūji was connected to you somehow, we would have left already, and I would have brought you to see my grandmother."
"I doubt we're connected, and I wouldn't want to be connected to someone evil." Even if they seem friendly. Hotaru wanted to throw up.
"Think about it; Prince Ryūji was led to you by some fireflies. He describes them as blue. Ordinary fireflies aren't blue, and they certainly don't lead people. You know which ones do?" Hotaru raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue, "Ones from the spirit world. Besides that, he disturbed you from a meditative state, which is not an easy thing to do, and was pulled into your dream."
"What are you saying? Am I supposed to be on the bad side?" Hotaru asked.
"I mean the opposite," Hui-Lan responded, crossing her fingers. "In my opinion, Prince Ryūji is a special case in his family. He's not unquestionably evil, and I've noticed he seems more distant from his father than Prince Zuko. Hence, I feel a little less bitter towards him. I think it'd be easy to get him on our side."
Smirking, Hotaru raised her eyebrows out of amusement and crossed her arms. "And how would you plan on doing that?"
"By using you, of course." Her face fell, and she stared at Hui-Lan. "Using your charm is what I mean. He already has a little budding crush on you. Maybe if you flirt with him a little — Ow!"
Hotaru reached over and gently flicked the other girl's forehead to get her to stop talking. "I'm not going to flirt with somebody I don't like in that way just to get them to switch sides. It wouldn't feel right," she said, going back to crossing her arms. I don't think he would leave his brother behind, anyway. Neither would I expect him to."
"Fine, but I think we should try something." Hui-Lan bounced off the bed and pulled the towel off Hotaru's head, which had grown warm since it had been first placed. "I'll grab you some food. Get some rest, and try not to overthink about any memories!"
As Hui-Lan meticulously cleaned all of her utensils, Hotaru observed her every move until she departed. When Hui-Lan finally did, Hotaru collapsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh, letting her eyes bore into the dark ceiling above her. Things appeared to have become increasingly complex since she awoke, leaving her feeling as though she lacked comprehension of her own thoughts and everything around her. She longed for things to be as simple as her initial awakening, but she couldn't deny the inescapable truth that things would never be that simple again.
Unfortunately, that also meant she would have plenty of challenging decisions to make in the near future if she wanted to do the right thing.