Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own any part of the Harry Potter or Avatar: The Last Airbender franchises or any of the Literary Universes or the characters that belong to those entities. One can dream I suppose. Although I did see a bison a couple years ago … he, unfortunately, did not fly … Yip Yip.
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Chapter 9: Omashu and the Fire Sages
The sun was just beginning to set as Harry and the GAang approached Omashu, the great city built into the mountainside. The towering walls of stone seemed to glow in the orange light, casting long shadows over the path leading to it. Aang's spirits were noticeably high; he couldn't stop talking about his memories of visiting Omashu as a child.
"You guys are going to love it!" Aang exclaimed, his eyes bright with excitement. "My friend and I had the most amazing times here! He was hilarious, super powerful, and had an incredible way to look at situations differently than anyone else!"
Harry couldn't help but smile at Aang's energy, though he felt a growing unease in his stomach. Ever since they had left Kyoshi Island, something had been off. At first, he had blamed it on the motion sickness, but even after they'd made it to land, and rested the discomfort hadn't gone away. In fact things seemed to have been getting progressively worse. His head felt heavy, and waves of nausea came and went, making him feel weak and unsteady.
Katara noticed Harry looking slightly pale on the back of Appa's saddle. "Harry, are you feeling okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Harry forced a smile. "Yeah, just a bit off. Maybe something we ate from Kyoshi Island didn't agree with me."
"You should rest when we get to Omashu if you really need it," Sokka said, glancing back at him. "But if there's one thing I've learned about being off the best thing you can do is …"
"Ignore my brother, if you listen to his advise you'll end up in your underwear jumping into the freezing ocean waters or putting snow into your sleeping bag. Once we get into the city, we can get some medicine once we're inside," Katara added, still looking at Harry with worry.
Aang, however, was still lost in his own thoughts about the city ahead. "Oh, and the mail system—wait until you see it! It's basically the most fun thing ever," he said with a grin, not quite picking up on the change in mood.
Harry chuckled weakly. "Sounds like fun, looking forward to seeing it," he replied, though his voice lacked the energy to match Aang's enthusiasm.
They landed Appa well out of site of both the cities gates and the main road that lead towards the gates, before climbing the hill to look at Omashu. As the city came into clearer view, the group paused staring at the walls of the city. The towering stone entrance looked imposing, even though Aang made it sound like the most welcoming place in the world. Harry took a step back and leaned against a tree for a moment, trying to steady himself.
"You know," Harry said, his voice low, "I think I'm going to sit this one out. I don't feel great, and I'd probably just slow you guys down."
Katara stepped closer. "I can stay with you. We don't have to—"
"No, no," Harry interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "You should go. Look after Aang … and make sure Sokka stays out of trouble. I'll just sleep it off. Besides, I doubt anything could happen that Appa couldn't handle."
Katara hesitated but nodded. "Okay, but promise me you'll rest."
"I promise," Harry said, grateful for the out. "Just don't forget about me and grab some medicine if you can."
With that settled, after helping Harry set up the camp Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Momo—who had been hanging off Aang's shoulder—headed toward the city gates. Aang had donned a makeshift disguise, one that covered his telltale airbender tattoos. Sokka, already planning their approach, muttered something about avoiding attention, while Momo seemed content to scurry around Aang, excited for whatever adventure lay ahead.
Harry watched them until they disappeared from sight, the path to Omashu's gates winding out of view. He leaned back against Appa and closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would come quickly. For a while, the sounds of the world around him faded, and he thought he heard someone yelling something about cabbages in the distance. A faint smile crossed his face before sleep finally overtook him.
As soon as Harry's breathing slowed, the vivid dreams began. At first, he found himself wandering through a long, stone corridor, dimly lit by flashes of light that flickered from the walls. Beams of green and red light shot past him, and with each flash, he saw people falling to the ground, struck down by the magic. His heart raced as he ran to each fallen figure, only to find their faces were missing—blank and featureless, though they all felt strangely familiar.
The sensation of unease grew, but before Harry could fully comprehend what was happening, the scene shifted. He was no longer in a castle but standing at the peak of a towering mountain, looking out over an endless horizon. The sun was rising, casting a fiery glow over the landscape, but Harry had no idea where he was.
As he turned to look around, trying to make sense of the situation, he heard a distant rumbling from below. His gaze dropped to the sides of the mountain, where two caves stood on either side. Suddenly, two massive dragons—one red and one blue—emerged from the caves, their wings beating in perfect harmony as they spiraled into the sky. Harry's breath caught in his throat as he watched them fly, their movements synchronized in a display of raw power and grace … a dance.
After a long moment, the dragons flew directly toward him, their eyes locked on his. Harry felt a strange connection to them, as if they knew something about him that he didn't. They hovered just in front of him, their massive forms blocking out the sky.
"Welcome, Harry," the red dragon spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. The blue one nodded in agreement.
Harry blinked, stunned. "You know me? What is this? Where am I?"
The blue dragon chuckled. "That is not the question you should be asking. Not where, but what. We felt it, Harry. What you did on Kyoshi Island."
The red dragon's voice rumbled again. "Welcome to being a firebender."
Before Harry could react, the scene dissolved, and he woke up with a start. His heart pounded as he gasped for breath, disoriented and confused. But before he could fully process what had just happened, a loud whoosh caught his attention.
He turned and stared, wide-eyed, as the fire Sokka had built at the edge of the camp roared to life, its flames shooting ten feet into the air. Harry instinctively took a step back, although the fire was not nearly as hot as he would have expected something so large to be, he stood frozen watching as the fire blazed with unnatural strength for several seconds before abruptly dying down.
"What the hell?" Harry muttered, his hands trembling. He stared at the charred remains of the fire, his heart racing. Was this … was this him?
He glanced down at his hands, feeling the remnants of warmth radiating from them. The dragons' words echoed in his mind. Welcome to being a firebender.
Harry swallowed hard, his thoughts spinning. How had this happened? He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions building inside him. One thing was clear: his life in this world had just gotten a lot more complicated.
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Harry wasn't sure how long he had been sitting there, staring blankly at the now-extinguished fire, the earlier heat still swirling in his chest. His mind felt like it was moving in slow motion as he tried to process what had just happened. Firebending? Could it really be? The idea of wielding such a power was foreign to him, and yet, the dream—no, the vision—of the two dragons had felt too vivid, too real to dismiss.
Just as he started to collect his thoughts, the sound of distant voices caught his attention, growing louder as they neared the hill where he sat. Harry tensed for a moment, until he recognized the familiar tones of Sokka, Aang, and Katara. Relaxing, he watched as the three of them crested the hill, heading toward him. They looked worn out, though Aang's energy still radiated through his every step.
Harry raised an eyebrow as they approached. "That was fast. I thought it would take you longer to get supplies," he said, trying to shake off the lingering confusion from his dream.
Sokka stopped in his tracks and shot Harry a bewildered look, his brows knitting together. "What do you mean, fast? We've been gone for over a day! How long did you expect it to take us?"
Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise. "A day?!" he exclaimed. "I must have slept almost the entire time."
"Unbelievable," Sokka muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I almost get crushed by a giant growing piece of rock candy, and here you are snoozing the day away." He crossed his arms, clearly waiting for a more satisfying explanation.
Harry blinked, confusion written all over his face. "Rock candy? What ...?" Before he could ask for clarification, Katara stepped forward, her expression softening as she held out a small bundle of herbs.
"We picked up some tea supplies that are supposed to help with your sickness," she said, eyeing him carefully. But then she paused, her gaze scanning his face. "Although ... it seems like you're already feeling better?"
Harry hesitated, only now realizing that the strange sickness he'd been feeling since they had left Kyoshi Island was completely gone. The dizziness, nausea, and heaviness in his chest had disappeared. In fact, he felt better than he had since arriving in this world—clear-headed, stronger. There was no residual tiredness from his long sleep, and his energy was returning in full force.
"I—yeah, actually, I do feel better," Harry admitted, slowly standing up. He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders as he tested his body. "Much better than I've felt in a while."
Sokka looked at him skeptically. "So you slept for over a day and woke up magically cured? Must be nice," he grumbled, but the usual sarcasm in his tone was light, indicating he wasn't truly annoyed.
Harry smiled sheepishly, but his thoughts quickly returned to the dream—the dragons, the fire, and the towering flames that had erupted before he woke. He was about to tell them about it when something caught his eye: Zuko's Fire Nation coat, draped over a nearby rock. The sight of it made his stomach twist, bringing back memories of their encounter with the Fire Nation prince and the heated tension that always accompanied any mention of the Fire Nation around his new friends.
He hesitated, the words caught in his throat. Aang, Katara, and Sokka each had their own complicated and painful history with the Fire Nation. Sokka's burning hatred for them was no secret, and Aang was still grappling with the horror of finding out what the Fire Nation had done to the Southern Air Temple. How could Harry tell them he might be connected to the very thing that caused them so much pain?
He shook his head, opting to stay silent about the dream—for now, at least. "I guess I just needed some rest," he said instead, forcing a smile as he looked back at the group.
Katara frowned slightly, sensing there was more he wasn't saying, but she let it go for the moment. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better," she said, offering him a reassuring smile. "We've got enough supplies for a while, so we should be good to head out once you're ready."
He glanced at Aang, who sat quietly, poking at the fire with a stick. The usually bubbly Airbender looked ... off.
"Head out?" Harry asked. "I thought we were going to stay in Omashu for a bit."
Sokka grimaced. "Yeah, that was the plan, but ...".
Aang sighed, letting the stick drop into the fire. He looked up, his gray eyes reflecting the flames. "Yeah... I just... I saw Bumi," he admitted, his voice tinged with emotion.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Bumi? As in your friend from before? He's alive?"
Aang nodded, a faint smile crossing his face. "Yeah, he's alive. He's still himself too—crazy and all. It was so good to see him again." His smile faltered slightly as he added, "But ... he said he wouldn't train me."
"Wait, why not?" Harry asked, sitting up straighter. "Isn't that one of the whole reason we came here? To get an earthbending teacher?"
Aang nodded, his expression turning serious. "Bumi said I'm not ready yet. He told me I need to start mastering waterbending first before I can learn earthbending. He said it's all about timing ... and that the best earthbenders wait and listen before they act."
"I mean, it does make sense," Katara said, tilting her head. "At least based on the Avatar cycle. You should be stronger in waterbending before moving on. So we're off to the Northern Water Tribe?"
"Looks like it," Aang said with a small shrug. "Bumi said that's where I'll find the best waterbending master. He seemed really sure about it. And he's one of the smartest person I've ever met. If he says I need to wait on earthbending, then I'll wait."
"Right," Sokka said, stretching his arms and trying to bring some humor back to the moment. "Let's pack up and get out of here before anyone else tries to teach us lessons that involve some of us being incased in growing living rocks. I've had enough close calls for one day, thanks."
They began to gather their things, but Harry's mind remained elsewhere. As he rolled up his blanket and tied it to Appa's saddle, the memory of the dream continued to gnaw at him. He couldn't just ignore it—not if it meant something bigger. But for now, he wasn't sure how to bring it up without adding more stress to the group.
By the time they were ready to leave, the sun had sunk below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mountains. The air was cool, and a faint breeze rustled the grass around them as Appa let out a deep, low rumble.
"Yip yip!" Aang called, hopping onto Appa's saddle. The sky bison let out a soft grunt before lifting off the ground. Harry turned around in the saddle with all of them as the looked back towards the city.
And in the distance, walking down the path from the main gate, Harry was sure he was just able to make out the form of a man carrying an armful of broken wood and cabbages.
As they soared through the sky, Harry leaned back against the saddle, trying to relax. But his thoughts wouldn't settle. The dragons' words echoed in his mind again: We felt what you did on Kyoshi Island. Welcome to being a firebender.
He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth in his chest again. It wasn't like the usual heat of the sun or a campfire—it was different, more intense and yet soothing, as though it was a part of him. He focused on the sensation, trying to understand it. Could he learn to control it like Zuko and the other firebenders were able to? Did he even want to have that ability?
And while part of him felt afraid of the power, another, even larger, part of him was curious. This world seemed to be full of strange and wonderful things—bending was just one of them. If he could learn to master it, maybe he could use it to help Aang and the others. Maybe it would be the key to finding his place here.
Harry opened his eyes and looked out at the night sky, the stars twinkling above them as Appa flew on. Whatever was happening to him, whatever this new ability was, he had to figure it out. He couldn't keep it a secret forever.
But for now, he would wait. He would listen. And when the time was right, he would tell his friends the truth. They deserved to know, even if it complicated things. For better or worse, he was no longer just Harry. He was something else now—a firebender. And he had a feeling that was going to change everything.
Shaking his head he looked towards Sokka. "Ok what is this you were mentioning about rock candy?"
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The air in the grand chamber of the Fire Sages' High Temple was thick with tension, the warm glow of the sconces on the stone walls casting flickering shadows. Five robed figures stood in a loose circle, their expressions ranging from confusion to disbelief. The silence was broken only by the crackling of the braziers, but it was clear that each of the sages was waiting for someone to speak.
"Did everyone else feel that?" one of them finally asked, his voice hushed but urgent.
"Yes," another answered, her hands clasped tightly together. "It was unmistakable. A surge of firebending energy ... but not just any energy." She hesitated, her eyes darting around the circle. "It was … unlike anything I've felt before."
The others nodded in agreement, murmurs of "I felt it too" rippling through the group. All eyes eventually turned to the head sage, a tall man with graying hair tied neatly into a topknot. His face was stoic, but there was a flicker of unease in his sharp, amber eyes.
"What should we do?" a younger sage asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Should we inform Fire Lord Ozai?"
The head sage was silent for several long moments, his gaze fixed on the central brazier, where the flames danced as if responding to the unspoken energy in the room. Finally, he shook his head, his decision clear.
"No," he said firmly. "This is separate from the Avatar, I am certain of it. The Fire Lord tasked us with monitoring anything related to the Avatar's presence or activity, and this ... this is something else."
"But if it's something significant, surely the Fire Lord should know," another sage argued, her tone cautious but insistent.
The head sage turned to face her, his expression hardening. "Do you truly believe Fire Lord Ozai would see this for what it is? He would not understand." He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "If this is what I think it is ... it has the potential to change everything."
The room fell into an uneasy silence, each sage grappling with the gravity of the head sage's words.
"What is it, then?" one of them pressed, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What could cause such a surge that even we, so far removed from the source, felt it so strongly?"
The head sage turned back to the flames, his face illuminated by their flickering light. His voice was barely audible over the crackle of the fire as he leaned in towards the others and began whispering to them as if concerned someone might overhear.
The room was silent for several seconds after he finished speaking as the rest of the fire sages looked between each other before looking back to the head sage.
"Are you saying …" the female sage began, her eyes widening in realization.
"Yes," the head sage confirmed, nodding slowly.
The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief and speculation.
"But that's a myth!" one sage exclaimed. "An old story passed down to inspire loyalty to firebending. It's never been proven."
"Perhaps," the head sage admitted, his tone calm but unwavering. "But can any of you deny what we felt? The power of it? The purity? This was no ordinary sensation. It was something far greater."
"If this is true," the female sage said, her voice steady despite the tension in the room, "then whoever this person, if it truly is a person, is … they could be a threat—or a savior."
The head sage nodded gravely. "Precisely. And that is why we must tread carefully. The Fire Lord must not know of this until we understand it ourselves."
"Then what do we do?" the younger sage asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement.
The head sage turned to the group, his gaze steady. "We observe. We search for signs, for evidence of this individual's identity. We remain vigilant, but we do not act rashly. If we are to guide this person—if they are truly what I suspect—they must find their path on their own. Interference from us could disrupt what they are destined for."
"And if the Fire Lord finds out we've withheld this from him?" another sage questioned, his voice laced with apprehension.
The head sage's eyes hardened. "Then we will face the consequences. And I imagine we will not survive. But I would rather face the wrath of the Fire Lord than risk losing this opportunity."
The other sages exchanged uneasy glances, but one by one, they nodded their agreement. Whatever was happening, it was beyond any of them as individuals. It was something ancient, something that could not be controlled or contained by the Fire Nation—or anyone else.
The head sage turned back to the central brazier, his expression resolute. He raised his hand, and the flames seemed to respond, growing taller and brighter.
"For now, we remain silent," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "We watch. We wait. And when the time is right, we will act. Until then, may the fire guide us."
The other sages echoed the sentiment, bowing their heads as the flames danced in the brazier, their light casting long, flickering shadows on the temple walls.
Unbeknownst to them, far away on the back of a flying bison, Harry Potter stared at his hands, feeling the warmth within him. The same warmth the Fire Sages had felt in their chamber.
The world was shifting, and none of them knew what was coming.
Kind Regards,
FavoriteAuthor
Up Next: An Unexpected Meeting
If you like this content do not hesitate to smash that like button and subscribe. Haha but seriously if you do enjoy the story - do favorite it, other than messaging me or leaving a comment it's the only way I know if you are enjoying the stories and chapters.
Story Note 1 – Congrats to everyone who managed to catch the small little teaser in the previous chapter about Harry affecting the fire in the burning house and guess that it was leading to this. Obviously based on the title and previous comments it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Harry was going to become a fire bender, but starting down that path. Which will certainly help diverge the story from canon. This dream was just the start and will certainly be the catalyst for more events going forward. Any guesses on who is told/figures out first?
Story Note 2 – Obviously the ending with the fire sages will become incredibly relevant as the story progresses, possibly even changing how they treat the Avatar. However, this story will slowly become more and more focused on Harry as the Avatar vs Ozai drama continues in the background.
Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly. All feedback is welcome (hopefully constructive!) Looking forward to hearing what you think!
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Hudy Leak613 - Glad you enjoyed the previous chapter and I really hope you enjoyed this one as well. I had written three separate drafts for how I wanted his experience in Omashu to look but in the end they all seemed to similar to what was in canon without adding something new/special to the story. Although I promise there will be an upcoming Harry/Bumi interaction that I have a feeling will be enjoyed. That was honestly the only thing from the chapters where I had Harry going into Omashu that I liked. Maybe at some point I'll post those drafts.
Zandaino-Nova-Ari - That is a fair point against not wanting air well we are fast approaching the reveal!
bob19h - Those seem like realistic guesses based on what you read. Although as for his understanding of thermodynamics ... not sure how good Hogwarts was with teaching science ...
Monkey D Conan - Well I'm glad you enjoyed it! Magic might be a while away but the bending ... I wouldn't be so sure ... That's right Sokka is an integral part of their fighting team ... 3 versus 3 plus Sokka.
Jostanos - That moment made me smile while writing it. Haha besides the fact that I have a friend who is very much like Ty Lee, if I had to chose anyone to hang out with it would be Sokka. Hmmm it sure seems something might have happened ... wonder what! Thanks I'm glad I have come up with a goo way to portray him while still staying close to canon.