Chapter Four:

I woke up to find the old man sitting at the table. He looked in my direction. "You up?"

I did not answer, instead standing up. He just looked at me. "Okay, I get it."

I sat down at the table. "Still haven't found us?" I asked him.

"Really kind of funny how you found the place." the old man replied.

I casually poked at the floor with my staff. "But they will find us sometime." I remarked.

"Hmm, and we've got to be ready for that."

"Wait a sec, I think I feel something." I knelt down. "I think I feel footsteps."

The old man stood up. "They know you, but they don't know me."

We stepped out the opposite doors. I stood with my back to the cabin. In front of the cabin a group of soldiers approached the old man. "We are looking for a strange man, an earthbender." one of them demanded.

I began to soften the ground under the soldier's feet, as the old man stalled them. "Uh what?" he asked.

The leader sighed in frustration. "He's blind, wears a blindfold," he said. "Carries a metal staff."

"Uh yeah."

"You saw him?!" the lead soldier remarked in shock.

"Yeah he went that way," said the old man. "Or that way. Uhh, I just don't know."

"Just tell me and quit wasting my time!" yelled the soldier. "Where the flame?..."

"Oh yeah, I remember." said the old man. He took a deep breath and let out a blast of flame. "Right here."

I charged at the scattered soldiers as they lifted up water to protect themselves. I swung my staff at the nearest soldier, striking him on the back of the head. I jabbed the staff side to side, striking soldiers beside me.

I hit the soldier on the left on the head, then jerked it back and hit the other soldier in the gut. A water whip whirled through the air and I ducked under it and jabbed at him again. The staff hit him under the jaw.

Another soldier readied a water whip, but a fireblast came at him. He blocked it and he flew back. I dashed off as the old man hurled fireballs towards the troops. They lifted up water to protect themselves and it boiled on impact.

The old man swept his arms and the grass burst into flame. The soldier retreated into the woods, and I sent flames chunks of earth after them. I looked over to the old man. "They'll be back."

"So we go after them instead."

The two of us charged into the woods keeping on guard. "See anyone?" I asked.

"Not yet."

I felt behind us, for the feeling of footsteps. As we drew deeper into the woods I felt soldiers behind us. I stabbed my staff into the ground and a large rock flew up. With a deft swing and sent in back behind us.

The old man turned around and punched two large blasts of flame. They flew towards the soldiers and exploded. I heard and felt the panicking soldiers as they avoided the fire. "They're more of them?" the old man asked.

"Of course they are."

"Figured."

I followed the old man into the woods, marveling at his youthlike agility. Up ahead a felt another group of soldiers. I lifted up a group of rocks and hurled them at the soldiers. A spray of icicles came at me in return.

I jumped behind the old man, as he ignited his hands. He waved them as the flames boiled away the ice shards. "I'm not going to prot..."

I stabbed the ground and a semi-circular wall shot up around us. We crouched down under it and the icicles pelted us. I placed my hand against the wall and felt the angle of the next icicle.

I felt the largest group of soldiers and stabbed the ground. A large pillar shot up under the soldiers and sent them flying up. The rest of them scattered away. We dashed through a group of soldiers lying on the ground.

I felt them trying to crawl, which meant they were not dead. I wasn't a killer, and even if I was I wouldn't waste my time. As I followed the old man through the trees, we no longer were confronted by soldiers. "Well that was easy," he remarked. "We've got to get to the village," he then added.

"If it's still there."

"Uh huh, hope nothing's happened to them." the old man said. "We've got to arrive soon."

Naoki sat at the breakfast table. "Your hospitality is very much appreciated." he told them. He looked at Noburo. "Aren't you grateful to these people?"

"Of course I am," he insisted. "Why would you imply otherwise?"

Several Air nomads munched at there breakfasts, while others chatted amongst each other. Across the table was the man who greeted Naoki and Noboru. "Of course, the Air Nomads are always open for guests."

"And maintaining good relationships with the Northern Air Temple is also important." Noburo added.

Naoki glanced over to him, but held his tongue. "So have you seen Arata's bending gym?" he said to change the topic. "My daughter teaches Airbending lessons."

"Though she doesn't teach them the proper way to live as Air Nomads." Noburo chimed in.

"I'm sure we can pop in sometime to give some pointers." replied an Air Nomad.

"I will discuss that with my daughter," said Naoki. "I'm sure she would welcome your presence."

Naoki looked across the table and got various nodes of approval. He looked back to his breakfast, which had a few more scraps left. He ate them up and looked at the Air Nomads that looked like they were about finished.

One Air Nomad stood up. "So we can go talk about your daughter and her business." he walked over to Naoki. "Let's find somewhere else to discuss such a matter."

Naoki leaned back. "Oh we can do that here."

The Nomad chuckled. "Some of these people have business to attend to," he said. "And mine is with you."

As Naoki walked out of the room, a Nomad locked eyes with Noboru and made a gesture. Noboru stood up and let the man lead him. They stepped out of the dinning room and sat on opposite ends of a couch.

"Okay you got Naoki away, I guess I'm grateful. " Noboru said. "But I still don't understand all of this."

The Air Nomad sighed. "It's a lot to take in," he said. "Once the White Lotus was dissolved a lot of members and associates were arrested."

"I think I know that." Noboru stated with impatience.

"Of course you do." remarked the Air Nomad. "But when we researched his files we discovered a strange spirit, who seemed quite interested in the Avatar."

"Well that's who Arashi was interested in."

"Right you are, but the spirit and Arashi had quite different goals." he leaned in. "That's why he cut ties with it."

"So how is this relevant?"

"Because bringing in the Avatar might be our only shot at freedom." the Air Nomad said. "Many of us have nowhere to go, former gang members, White Lotus members, even Southern Water Tribe soldiers. This spirit promises us all new lives, if we bring it to the Avatar."

"Tell me more..." Noboru started to trail off.

"Pasang, that's my name," he clarified. "This spirit is an ancient one, with a longstanding interest in the Avatar. It has only recently been able to exert influence on the surface world."

"Since Arashi discovered it?"

Pasang stood up. "We can not speak in private very often."

Noboru watched him walk off. "Yes, that would look suspicious."

He sat down on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. He waited for a while until Naoki walked in. "So these people are going to work with your daughter?" he said, while not maintaining eye contact.

"Yes, that is exactly what we are planning." Naoki replied. He stepped closer. "You have a problem?"

"Why would I care?"

"Well it sounded like you didn't like the idea."

"It's no big deal to me." Noboru stated. "After all she's your daughter, and I don't even live here."

"Anyway, we must also discuss the more urgent matter of discussing any potential connections to the White Lotus." Naoki stated.

"What are we cops now?" Noboru demanded.

"They trust us more." Naoki replied.

"Why is this our business?" said Noburo. "We are not even from Republic City."

"What happened here affected everyone." Naoki insisted.

Noboru looked down with a sigh. "Okay I will ask around, keep my ear down." he said. "Just don't expect too much."

Nao stared at his troops. "You still can't take care of him!"

"He is currently accompanied by a strange old man." One of them.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nao demanded.

"It means that things have changed." Another soldier replied.

"Okay I get it, but you need to find them, and get rid of them."

A few seconds went by. "I have no idea what you all are staring at."

The soldiers looked at each other awkwardly. As his soldiers walked away, Nao knelt down. He guided water out of his flask and whirled it around.

He applied spiritual energy to it, and it began to glow purple. A high pitch whine emerged and it began to deepen into a humming noise.

As the glow increased a web like string shot out and grabbed Nao by the wrists. It pulled him down so hard he struggled to stand up. "I am tired of your nonsense." a voice snarled. "I need the Avatar."

"Whoa whoa whoa." Nao declared. "I am trying to get my soldiers back on there feet. I have managed to obtain many resources, but I am having problems with a strange man."

"If one man can cause you that much problems, then you clearly can't be relied on." the voice replied.

"Listen, I've turned a group of fleeing cowering men into a fighting force," said. "I will help you if you help me..."

Before he could continue, the string pulled into the ground, slamming Nao into the dirt. He got up and wiped himself off. His face had a few scratches that could easily be healed. But taking out that pest and then moving on to the Avatar was more urgent than ever.

I stood at the edge of the hill with the old man. "What do you see?" I asked him.

"Why don... oh yeah. They're soldiers everywhere." he said.

"Those men are not soldiers." I replied. "But I guess that's the most convenient way to say it."

"The town appears to be held hostage." the old man said. "They are people tied up and being threatened.

One of the soldiers poked his comrade and pointed in our direction. They walked off and soon came back, flanking a man. He raised a bullhorn. "I know you guys are out there." he declared. "Come out or I will hurt someone."

I glanced at the old man. "Think he's bluffing."

"Probably not."

"Stay on guard."

We stepped down towards the village, and into the town center. We approached a man who appeared to be the leader. "Who exactly are you?"

"Me? You don't know?" he growled. "I am Nao, I was Visola's right hand man."

I just shrugged. "Well what are you doing now?"

"None of your business" Nao snarled.

The old man stepped forward. "He's not from around these parts." he said, gesturing to me. "But I have been around here for a while. I've known these people, even if they don't know much about me. I don't like what you're doing to them."

Two soldiers hauled over a hostage and Nao lifted a water whip. "Well do you not.."

"Easy now, don't overplay your hand." the old man warned.

I clutched my staff tighter. "Put that down." he snarled at me.

"We both have leverage of our own." I replied.

He lowered the whip. "You've been sticking your nose into my business, and I don't like that." he snarled. "I have bigger plans and you are not part of them. It's about the Avatar..."

He went silent. "Opps, that just slipped out." he let out a chuckle. "Real big oof chief, on me now."

"The Avatar?" the old man growled.

"You know the Avatar?" I asked the old man.

"Not Arata."

"Well I met his friends once." I turned back to Nao. "Whatever you're planning, we aren't going to let you."

"You seriously think I need your permission." Nao snarled. He tightened the end of his whip around a hostage's neck. "What was that you said about..."

I slammed my staff on the ground, and a crack leading over to Nao's feet. He stumbled and the old man threw a fireblast at Nao. Nao pulled the water of his whip in front of him to block the blast.

As Nao stumbled back I lunged towards him and swung my staff. A soldier lifted up his hands, covered with thick chunks of ice. When my staff slammed into them, they shattered into pieces.

I swung my staff again, slamming into his gut. As the soldier collapsed, I saw something and quickly dodged a water whip coming at my head. Nao swung the whip at me, and then turned and batted down a fireblast.

The old man stepped closer to Nao, with each step sending a blast of flame. As he blocked them, I lifted up a large chunk of rock. I threw it towards Nao, but a couple of soldiers poured water on it.

The spouts of water began to freeze, and as much as I pushed the rock did not budge. I let up for a bit and then gave another push. The rock did not budge, but it did crumble a bit. After waiting for another quick sec, I pushed again, causing gravel to fly at the soldiers.

They lifted up water, and the pieces of gravel splashed against it. Some of the pieces hit the soldiers and drove them away. Nao then exchanged blasts with the old man and I. He lifted up water, absorbing fire blasts.

I stabbed the ground sending earth quickly crawling towards Nao, and then hurled a rock. Nao quickly stepped out of the way and ducked down under the rock. He hurled a sharp blade towards me, and the old man reached towards it.

With a burst of flame, the water evaporated. Nao prepared another, but the old man sent a blast of flame at him. As Nao staggered back, I swung my staff sending a rock straight at him. Nao batted down the rock with a whip, and I stepped closer, swinging at his head.

He ducked and I swung in the other direction, hitting him below the ribs. Before he could react I swung and punched his forehead. As Nao was staggered I shoved him down. When Nao hit the ground I sunk him down.

I looked around and saw a few Water Tribe Soldiers with tied up hostages. I looked back down to Nao, his fear became a smirk, "You don't want to try anything, do you?"

The Old Man and I looked around, "You know what happens to your boss if any of them gets harmed." he said.

I felt the hostage furthest from us and waited, making sure they were focused on us. I lifted up pillars under two of the hostage takers, knocking them away. The old man punched blasts of flame towards two more of the hostage takers. As they dashed away, he quickly ran over to the hostages.

He grabbed the hostages and burned away the ropes around them. A couple of soldiers charged towards the now unattended hostages and I raised my staff towards them. The ground crumbled and the soldiers tripped to the ground.

Getting to the hostages first, I sharpened my staff and cut them free. The now freed hostages dashed away, running into the woods. I turned and saw another group of hostages, fleeing there captors.

I hurled rocks towards the soldiers, keeping them away from the hostages. I stabbed the ground, putting up a wall between the soldiers and hostages. As the wall shook, I approached the hostages and began to cut them free.

The wall broke open and a strange man stepped through. He reached for the nearest hostage and swung his hand towards him. The man collapsed and hit the ground, soaking the sand in blood.

I looked at the man and saw nails from his fingers, and out of his eyes. It was an Iron Assassin.