Book I : Reincarnation

Episode 8: It Has Begun

-2 Hours ago-

Sokka had stormed off after his embarrassing defeat. Anisha and I started walking to the center of the room, eyeing each other the whole way. Only to be stopped by Suki.

"So Avatar Ji, Anisha tells me you're resourceful and cunning, but you lack discipline."

I turn my nose up at the girl but say,

"I'm not the Avatar...but yeah that's why I asked for training. My bending is what has been saving my ass thus far."

Suki smiles and says,

"Okay. Show me what you got then not Avatar Ji."

She steps aside and lets Anisha and i walk to the center of the room. I smile.

"I take it you'll use your fan?"

She nods. I smile and turn to the other kyoshi warriors.

"Anyone got a wooden sword or something?"

Suki smiles and motions to Anisha. The young woman nods and flicks her wrist. The wind swirls in the room and a wooden staff flies toward me. I catch it and stare at the woman. Anisha then takes the same stance Suki had with Sokka, fan open and hiding her face.

'She's gonna demolish you!'

I hear Spirit Aang say with glee and growl.

"Now see... i know you don't think im as pathetic as Sokka."

I take my own stance, gripping the wooden staff tightly, and inhale deeply.

'Up until entering this world I didn't have a need for hand to hand all that much. During my first life i was a soldier and my rifle was all I needed. In my second life i was devoted to my magic and sowrds skills. There are some moves Val and the army taught me...it will not be enough. But-'

I exhale.

"I won't fail!"

I lunge, thrusting the wooden staff toward her midsection. Her fan snapped shut in an instant, deflecting the blow with a metallic clang. She spins gracefully, the fan opening again mid-turn, sending a rush of air toward my face, momentarily blinding me.

"Too direct,"

Suki chided. Anisha's movements were as swift as air. I growl in frustration and say,

"She's cheating! I didn't know we could use bending!"

Suki smiles and puts her hands on her hips.

"She can use bending. You cannot. The majority of your opponents will be benders, so you must learn to fight them even if you can't use your bending."

I grit my teeth and shake my head before i press forward, feinting high then swinging low. This time, she didn't block. Instead, she sidestepped and swept her fan low across the ground. The motion sent a blast of wind that would've knocked my legs from under me, but i spring backwards and spin my staff around to counter the wind. I end my flourish by pointing the stick at the warrior.

"You're a cheeky one, aye. But i won't lose that easily!"

Anisha laughs at my comment and fans herself. I lunge, my staff swinging in a powerful arc toward her shoulder. She sidesteps smoothly, her fan snapping open with a sharp click. The strike missed by inches as she pivots, the edge of her fan brushing my wrist with a sting of steel.

'How did you get the better of her the first time?'

I ignore Ragga and quickly spin and swipe at her midsection. She tries to block the blow with her fan but i put as much weight and power that i can into it. I blow through her gaurd, swiftly spin, and kick her in the side. It sends her sliding back a foot or two. All the other warriors gasp and start to whisper to each other as she erects herself and smiles brightly.

'Like that. Damned dog!'

I think and Ragga just scoffs. Anisha stares at me intently and says,

"Not bad...but i hope strength isn't all you've got."

I adjust my grip before i move in for a follow-up attack. Anisha moves with blinding speed, the fan snapping shut, striking my staff with the metallic thunk of metal on wood, forcing it wide. She then steps in close, sweeping her fan toward my face.

'Lean back!'

Haru says. I barely dodge, but her other hand strikes my chest with surprising force, knocking me off balance. I stagger back, my breath catching.

"You rely heavily on brute force,"

Anisha says, her voice monotonous but soft. I tsk and charge again, swinging and spinning furiously in a series of rapid strikes. She dances between them, her fan flicking open and closed to deflect, redirect, and confuse. Then, with a graceful step, she hooks my arm with hers, twists it, and kicks my staff upwards. The weapon flies from my grip and into the air.

Thinking quickly, i pull her forward and catch her leg with mine. She flips forward, but rolls out of the throw and springs to her feet. I quickly jump up, spinning, and catch the staff as it falls. I land in front of her and we face each other once more.

"You're definitely not stupid,"

the young woman fans herself once again before continuing,

"But you're predictable."

I smirk.

"If you say so,"

I say and charge her once more. I feint left then swing right, putting all my power into it. I don't feel any resistance and end up over swinging. Anisha jumps clean over me, landing behind me, and stops my staff with one hand. I then feel the cold metal of her fan blade on my neck.

"Your strength is admirable, but strength alone is not enough. Learn to read your opponent, Avatar, or you will always lose."

Anisha says before taking the blade away from my neck and stepping back. I relax my stance and start to rub my neck.

"Yeah, i can already. I need to know if you can teach me an actual fighting style!"

I turn to look at Suki. The young woman nods and says,

"Yes i think we can teach you that, for sure. But I believe it best if Anisha be the one overseeing your tutelage."

I nod.

"Thats fine...but if that's the case, we need to talk about my friend Sokka."

-Now-

Anisha was showing me a few moves when Sokka walked in. Anisha stops the lesson and Suki walks up to face him.

"Uh ... Hey, Suki."

The young man says timidly. Suki just scoffs and says,

"Hoping for another dance lesson?"

Sokka flinches at her hostility.

"No ... I ... well, let me explain."

Suki folds her arms over her chest, continuing the hostile attitude.

"Spit it out! What do you want?"

Sokka looks hurt at Suki's hostility and drops to his knees in front of her. He lowers his head and says,

"I would be honored if you would teach me."

Suki seems to not believe the young man and just raises an eyebrow. Sokka looks up at her hopefully.

"Even if I'm a girl?"

She asks suspiciously. Sokka averts his gaze, embarrassed, and nods.

"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier. I was ... wrong."

I nod at his words and smile.

'Im glad Sokka made the same decision this time. Sokka needs this character development to be the soldier we need.'

I think to myself as Suki stares down at Sokka.

"We normally don't teach outsiders, let alone boys."

The girl says in a serious tone. Sokka bows his head all the way to the floor and says,

"Please make an exception. I-"

Suki cuts him off by bending down and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"But Ji here, has already asked me to make an exception. I told him I'd teach you... but only if you came to me yourself."

She frowns and looks over at me. I shrug and bury my hands in my pockets.

"The Avatar-"

"Not the Avatar!"

I interject but she doesn't acknowledge my remark in the slightest,

"has a lot of faith in you. He knew you'd set your pride aside and ask."

She and Sokka look to me, two completely different emotions on their faces, before Suki smiles and looks back down at Sokka.

"But you'll have to follow all of our traditions... and i do mean all. "

Sokka chuckles nervously as the warrior eyes him.

-A few minutes later-

"Ok Sokka, come on out."

Suki says, trying to hold in her laughter.

"Do i have to wear this!?"

Sokka says as he walks out from behind a curtain in full kyoshi warrior garb, face paint and all. I instantly burst out laughing.

"This is so demeaning."

Sokka says and slumps his shoulders. Suki uses her hand to cover her wide smile and says,

"It's a warrior's uniform, you should be proud. The silk threads symbolize the brave blood that flows through our veins. The gold insignia represents the honor of the warrior's heart."

Sokka nods and looks to me.

"So why doesn't Ji have to wear one."

I go to open my mouth but Suki beats me to it,

"That's a good point."

She looks at me with a mischievous grin.

"Oh...oh nah,"

I say and start to inch away. Suki shakes her head and motions to Anisha, who quickly jumps in my way and grabs me. I halfheartedly struggle and try to squirm out of her grip while saying,

"No! Wait, this wasn't the deal! No!"

Anisha drags me, kicking and screaming, behind the same curtain Sokka had just come from. She pushes me up against a wall, one hand pining me to it, and with the other hand shoves some clothes into my chest.

"Put it on."

She says, her face inches from mine. I just smirk and tilt my head, saying,

"It's hard to when you've got me pinned."

She stares at me for a long moment before stepping back. I raise an eyebrow at her before beginning to undress. I can feel the warriors eyes on me as i do so, but just try to ignore her. As i finish and am completely naked, i turn my back to her and give her a side eye.

"So am I getting paid for the show I'm giving you, or is this a charity event?"

The woman tilts her head at my question and says,

"Show? I don't understand."

I laugh and say,

"Yeah, a show. Cause you keep eyeing all this,"

I say and motion to myself. The warrior giggles at me and says,

"If you say so."

I stop, pants half on my ass, and look at her with a bewildered look.

"You dare use my own spells against me?"

She just smiles and walks away. After I finish getting the ridiculously heavy outfit on, i head back to where the others waited.

"So, do i gotta wear the face paint too?"

I say as i walk out in front of Sokka and the warriors. Sokka falls over laughing and all the warriors, including Suki and Anisha, start catcalling.

"Yeah, yeah. Im scrumptious, i know."

I say as i strike a pose, one hand on my hip and the other behind my head. Suki rolls her eyes and says,

"Well, time to begin... After we get the face paint on you two."

I sigh and slump my shoulders.

-with Aang-

Aang sat cross legged in front of the river that ran beside the village. His eyes were closed and he sat not moving a muscle, meditating. He contemplated all the things he had recently learned. Most of all, the information that he wasn't the only airbender left.

The fact that one other airbender existed meant there could be others. He couldn't stop thinking about it. He was so focused that he hadn't noticed Katara walking up next to him or that she was calling his name.

"Aang! Earth to Aang. Are you still alive?"

Katara says while waving her hand in the Avatar's face. Aang opens his eyes and looks up at her. He relaxes his body, and smiles before saying,

"Hey Katara!"

The water tribe girl smiles and sits next to the Avatar.

"Hey Aang."

She picks up a small stone and tosses it at the water. The rock skips over the surface a few times before sinking. Katara nervously picks up and fidgets with another stone before saying,

"So...Ji and Sokka are off doing whatever...I was hoping we could have a conversation."

Aang tilts his head in confusion.

"Aren't we already?"

Katara gives Aang an annoyed look and says,

"No doofus, i mean a real serious conversation."

Aang chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, and thinks for a moment before speaking.

"What...do you wanna talk about."

Katara sighs and says,

"Well...it's just-"

She pauses and looks at the water with a mix of emotion.

"-Do you...know anything more about Ji?"

Aang looks at Katara with a curious, but apprehensive, look.

"Only about as much as you...Why?"

Katara shakes her head and says,

"I don't know...Do you think he'd die to protect us?"

Aang chuckles nervously before speaking.

"I...don't know . I feel..."

He trails off and leans back, propping himself up with his hands. He looks to the sky and sighs.

"I feel... I feel like he is ready to do whatever it takes to help me... So, yes i do."

Katara nods but the expression on her face makes it clear she isn't happy. Aang shifts his weight and asks,

"Why do you think he's gonna die or something?"

Katara tosses the rock in her hand and watches it skip.

"I don't know. I just have this feeling that he is gonna get himself killed to see to it that we're safe."

Aang raises an eyebrow at her statement.

"That's...an oddly specific feeling. I mean, what brought on this feeling? You said-"

Katara cuts Aang off with,

"I know what i said...but...look, you can't tell Sokka or Ji what im about to tell you."

Katara looked deep into Aangs eyes as she spoke. Aang sits up and places one hand over his heart, the other out facing, and says,

"I promise."

Katara nods and leans in, cupping his ear with her hand. The young monk can't help but blush at the close contact as the watertribe girl whispers in his ear.

"I...I think i can see the future."

Aang pulls back and looks at the girl with a shocked, confused expression.

"You what?"

Katara sighs at the Avatar's look.

"Look, about a month ago I started having dreams. At first it seemed like it was just that, weird dreams, but now i know it's more than that."

She closes her eyes as she envisions those very dreams. Aang places his hand on her arm, bringing her back to reality, and says,

"What is in these dreams?"

Katara removes Aang's hand and says,

"The first one, i had a month ago, was of a silver haired man fighting a fire nation soldier in the snow. The second, i had two weeks ago, and was of a silver haired man fighting an airbending woman. The details are always fuzzy... but when ji fought that guy with the scar...i knew they were visions of the future."

Aang just continues to stare at the girl with an unbelieving look.

"Look, I know it sounds crazy...But its true! The fight happened exactly how it did in my dream. All these dreams have made me unsettled after seeing them...but the last one is the one that really worries me."

Katara says and looks off into the distance. Aang sighs before asking,

"What is in that one?"

Katara bites her lip before she speaks.

"Remember the details are always fuzzy... But there is no mistaking this one... what I assume is Ji is fighting off a group of firenation soldiers with some earthbenders and us. But one of the firebenders, a woman, grabs me and puts fire to my neck...Ji says something to her, I don't know what exactly, and then-"

She trails off as she closes her eyes and puts her hand over her mouth. Aang awkwardly tries to comfort her while also trying to get her to continue. When she gets herself together, she finishes.

"He...he gives himself to her in exchange for me and before anyone can react... Ji gets hit with a blast of fire even the previous avatar wouldn't survive...All thats left is a scorch mark."

Aangs eyes go wide.

"Is...is it gonna happen soon?"

Katara shakes her head snd says,

"I don't know...like i said, the details are always fuzzy. I dont even know if the girl that gets taken is me...but if it is..i-"

The girl can't finish her sentence as she lets a tear stream down her face. Aang shakes his head and says,

"The future isn't set in stone, anything can change...A good friend told me that we forge our own destiny. And besides, why do you care so much? What, you gotta crush on him or something?"

Katara blushes deeply and punches Aang on his arm before saying,

"No! I mean according to him he's like 50 or something. That age gap is way too much for me. But he saved us from the Fire Nation without a second thought... So he is part of this team and our friend."

Aang nods, inwardly sighing in relief, and rubs the back of his neck.

"Yeah i agr-"

Boom!!!!

Aang is cut off by a loud explosion. The Avatar jumps to his feet immediately and says,

"What was that!?"

-With James-

A few minutes later Anisha, Suki, Sokka, and I stand in the dojo's center. The face paint makes my skin crawl for some reason, but i try to ignore the uncomfortable feeling. Sokka is performing some exercises with a fan under the watchful eyes of Suki. I, on the other hand, was just being beat on by Anisha.

"You're not going to master it in one day. Even I'm not that good."

Suki says to Sokka.

"I think I'm starting to get it."

Sokka says as he performs a series of well executed moves with his fan. I am then hit in the face with the flat of a fan.

"Fuck!"

I chirp out. Anisha smiles and says,

"Pay attention to your opponent."

I rub my nose and respond with,

"yeah i got it, won't happen again."

We both take a fighting stance. The wooden floor creaks under our slow, deliberate steps as we circle each other. The golden light of the sun filters in through the windows, casting long shadows across the walls. I exhale sharply and we charge each other. I go through the sequence(step, strike, pivot, block) but my movements are rushed, my mind too eager.

Anisha steps forward, effortlessly redirecting my overextended strike with a flick of her wrist. I stumble but manage to correct myself before i fall.

"Once again, you rely too much on strength,"

She says and spin kicks me in the back. I fall face first onto the floor with a loud thud.

"Owww."

I whine but quickly jump back to my feet.

"Power without control is like fire without a lantern... it burns everything, including yourself."

Anisha says her smile replaced by a serious scowl. I clench my fist and nod.

"I understand. Now, Again."

I say as i slide back into my fighting stance. Anisha studies me for a long moment. Then, without warning, sweeps my leg. I fall but catch myself, eyes wide with shock. Anisha sighs.

"Ji...Strength is not the only thing you use in a fight. You use your balance, your patience, your breath, and your cunning as well. Only when you master these things, can you truly defeat your enemy."

She extends a hand, helping me up.

"Again. But this time, feel each movement before you make it. Do not fight against the air...Move with it."

I nod and we take our stances again. I inhale deeply before lunging forward. This time, however, my movements were smoother, more controlled. Anisha smiles approvingly, fluidly dodging my strikes as i try to hit her.

I swing my leg in a wide arch, trying to hook kick her, only for her to airbend and spin just out of my reach. She giggles and pulls out her fan, waving it at herself.

"Hey! Get back here!"

I yell as i go after her. Just as i do a loud boom shakes the building. Im thrown off balance and begin to wobble.

"What the fuck was that?"

I ask after regaining my balance, when suddenly The village elder appears in the door.

"Firebenders have landed on our shores and are hitting the village!"

Suki immediately runs to him while he turns to head back to the town and says,

"Girls, come quickly!"

They all head out the door as Sokka yells,

"Hey, I'm not a..."

I look at him disappointedly.

"Dude...you really think she was talking to us too?"

His eye twitches in annoyance as he says,

"Oh whatever!"

We then both run after the kyoshi warriors.

-with Zuko-

Zuko and three other soldiers mounted on komodo rhinos stand at the base of the Kyoshi statue, scanning the area. The banished prince looks over the deserted main street of the village with disdain. They had fired a warning shot from the ship and Zuko had expected the Avatar to come to him just like last time, but had no such luck.

"Come out, Avatar!"

Zuko yells to the empty village.

"You can't hide from me forever!"

No sound is made. No movement seen. The prince growls in frustration before shouting,

"Find him! Burn this village to the ground if you have to!"

As Zuko gives the command, the soldiers with him fan out, and start setting ablaze to everything they pass. One soldier conjures a ball of flame and cocks his hand back, ready to throw it. He stops as he hears the sound of running feet above him and looks up. A woman clad in green jumping from the roof towards him is the sight that greets him.

She lands on him as more of the warriors come jumping toward the rest from atop nearby roofs. A warrior lands in front of the lead rhino and opens her fans. The rider stabs at her with his spear. She moves to the right, disarms the rider, and jumps up, with almost inhuman hieght, to knock him off his steed with a spinning kick. She lands behind the lizard mount and dashes towards the prince.

Zuko cocks back his fist and puches the air, sending a ball of fire at the girl. She moves to the left to avoid the blast and jumps over another blast. She tries to come down on top of the prince but he turns his rhino. The beast slams the girl away with a sweep of his tail, knocking her down.

Zuko shoots a fire blast at the downed warrior, but right before it would have burned her, a male warrior with a ponytail jumps before her and decimates the flames with a sweep of his fan. The warrior stares the prince down. Zuko smirks and prepares to launch another fireball, but before he can do anything, another male warrior, with silver hair, jumps off a nearby roof and knocks him off his rhino. The beast dashes away.

"I guess training's over."

The silver haired male warrior says smugly.

"Hey! I was gonna say that!"

The other male shouts. Zuko gets to his feet and growls at the warrior who kicked him off his mount. The warrior smirks and wipes his nose at him. Four warriors then rush Zuko at once. Zuko smiles and rolls backwards and onto his hands.

He rapidly spins around on his hands while shooting fire out of his feet, knocking the silver haired male warrior into a house and slamming a female one against a wooden pole, where she collapses in pain. Zuko proceeds with a low fire kick in the other male warrior's direction. The warrior jumps over the fire, but as soon as he lands again, Zuko sweeps his feet from underneath him. He falls on his back, and Zuko jumps over him to the middle of the street. He looks around before angrily saying,

"Nice try, Avatar! But these little girls and the two crossdressers can't save you!"

He waits for a response for a moment. He's about to speak again when from behind him he hears,

"Bro...Zuko, You talk to fuckin' much."

Zuko turns around. Standing a few feet away, in a hole in a house he had flown through, one of the male warriors was wiping the paint off his face. When he finished the prince smiles brightly.

"Oh so you were disguised as one of these warriors. I didn't know the Avatar was a cross dressing freak!"

The Avatar shakes his head and smiles.

"Dude... im gonna kick your ass."

Zuko commences by sending two fire balls at the man. The flames roared, but the man dodged, rolling to the side. He came up fast, closing the distance before Zuko could unleash another blast. A punch slammed into the prince's ribs, knocking the breath from his lungs.

Gritting his teeth, Zuko retaliated with a sweeping kick, fire trailing behind his leg. The man barely had time to twist away as the heat singed his vest. He didn't hesitate, grabbing a fistful of dirt, he flung it at Zuko's face.

"Damnit!"

The fire bender cursed, momentarily blinded. The man didn't waste the opening. He drove forward, shoulder-checking the prince hard. They crashed to the ground, Zuko's flames flickering wildly.

But then, with a growl, Zuko gripped the warrior's arm. Heat surged through his skin, scorching fabric and flesh. Zuko yelled and tore free, but the man was already on his feet. Zuko readied himself, flames swirling dangerously around his fists. The man shifted his stance, watching, waiting.

"You think fire makes you untouchable?"

The Avatar asks Zuko. The prince smiles and says,

"No, it just makes things interesting."

With a flick of Zuko's wrist, a wave of fire roared toward the man, the heat distorting the air. He sidesteps, his boots skidding across the dirt road, and lunges. But Zuko was ready. Before the man could react, a fist slammed into his gut, knocking the wind from his lungs.

With a burst of flame the man is sent flying. He skids to a stop a few feet away and Zuko presses the attack. With a grunt, Zuko thrust both hands forward, sending a massive ball of fire shooting toward his opponent. This time, the Man wasn't quick enough.

The flames caught the edge of his robe, burning fabric away in an instant. He snarled, ripping it off, revealing his strange tattoos. Zuko studies them for a moment and says,

"You know I've been wondering... i know air nomads had markings but none like yours... So tell me... Your not an air nomad,are you?"

The man thinks for a moment before smiling. He stands up straight and rubs the back of his head, his silver hair falling to cover his eyes as he looks to the ground.

"Yeah you got me... im from the watertribes."

-with james-

Zuko stares at me like i grew a second head.

'I hope you know what your doing.'

I hear Spirit Aang's voice in my head. Zuko cocks his head and says,

"So this whole time the airbender was hiding from us and then he just...died! How?"

I smile and shrug.

"Dude i just found out I was the Avatar a few days ago."

Zuko growls and takes his fighting stance.

"Doesn't matter. Im taking you down."

The prince narrows his eyes and i take my own stance. He charges at me but I twist, narrowly dodging a haymaker, and counter with an uppercut. My fist connects with Zuko's jaw, sending him sprawling. But as i move to hit him again, he rolls to his feet, wiping blood from his lip.

"Not bad-"

He gets back into his stance,

"-But enough of the games. Im ending this now."

He screams and rushes me with blinding speed.

-With Aang-

Katara is leading two village girls into a house as Aang looks around at the destruction around him. They had brought ruin to this village is all he could think about as they aided civilians.

"Look what we brought to this place."

The Avatar says, depression evident in his voice. Katara looks at Aang sadly, puts a hand on his arm, and says,

"It's not your fault."

Aang pulls away from her angrily and says,

"Yes, it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me...or ji.. the Avatar! And the fire nation is only here because because they're after the Avatar!"

Katara looks back at the five little girls behind her in the house. One stands in the doorway holding Momo, while a girl next to her peeks around the door frame with a worried look upon her face.

"Then let's get out of here. Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us. I know it feels wrong to run, but I think it's the only way."

Aang nods sadly and says,

"I'll call Appa."

Katara nods.

-with james-

Zuko rushes me with a flurry of kicks. I flip away, landing in a small puddle with a splash, and look at the prince calmly. Zuko growls in irritation.

"Take this seriously! Use your bending! Otherwise this is going to be a quick fight."

I sigh and nod my head.

"Yeah... I probably should."

I say then think,

'Alright Ragga, I just need a sword."

My tattoos start to glow a light blue. I stretch my hand out and the puddle raises to form the hilt of a sword. I grab it and pull, creating the rest of the blade. Zuko grins and a roaring blaze erupts in his palm.

"A sword made of ice? You do know fire melts ice, right?"

I smirk at the prince and say,

"Not my ice, pal."

Zuko lunges forward, hurling a blazing arc of fire. I sidestep, slicing through the inferno with my blade. The fire hisses as it splits apart, embers scattering harmlessly. Zuko follows close behind the blast, twisting his body to deliver a spinning kick wreathed in flames.

I raise my sword, blocking the strike. Ice and fire clash, sending a burst of steam into the air. Zuko recoiled, shaking off the chill that crept up his leg. But almost immediately rushes right back at me. I counter his attack, sweeping my sword low.

I barely miss his feet as he reels backward. My slash scrapes the ground, freezing it, and creating small spikes protruding outward. Zuko spits at the ground as he eyes me and slams his fists together. A shockwave of fire explodes outward, blowing away the ice and sending me skidding back.

Once i come to a stop, I tilt my head to the side in confusion.

'What the fuck was that!?'

Zuko presses the attack, flames coiling around his fists as he swings at me. Sparks fly as i deflect blow after blow with my sword. With each strike I notice the area heating up. His body starting to steam and his flames growing hotter. The heat distorted the very air around us. I jump back, but he launches a massive ball of fire at me.

'What the fuck! Since when is Zuko this strong.'

I think as i stab my sword into the ground and use its ice to form a shield. The flames slam against the icy shield in a violent collision. Steam exploded into the air, obscuring us both in a thick fog. I growl in frustration.

'He wasn't this strong the last time I fought him!'

I scream in my head.

'I don't know what's going on, but i think a retreat is in order,'

I hear Spirit Aang respond and I nod. Then, through the mist, Zuko charges. His fist burning with white-hot intensity as he drives it forward. I have no time to dodge, his fist collides with my chest with all his strength. With a loud crackle, foosh, Im sent flying backwards, landing on my back.

"F-fuck!"

I squeak out through fits of coughing as I roll over. I can taste blood as i try to breathe.

'W-where did this strength come from?'

I think and slowly get to my feet as Zuko just stands there, waiting, and smiling. He walks rght up to me, slowly, and looks me in the eyes. I swing a left at him and he dodges it with little effort.

"Pathetic."

I hear him mumble.

"Oof!"

I let out as a boot connects with my gut. I fall to one knee and look up at Zuko. He smirks.

"Whats wrong?"

He roundhouse kicks me right in my mouth. My head snaps to the left violently, i fall on my hands and knees, and a spray of blood is sent flying.

"Is this all the great Avatar has to offer?"

Zuko looks down on me and frowns. I look up at him and spit blood into his face. The bloody loogie hits his left cheek with a sloppy splat. He growls in anger.

"You're gonna pay for that,"

He growls and is about to finish me off, when a gust of wind knocks him onto his back. I look to my left and see Anisha standing with her hands outstretched in front of her.

"Man, am i glad to see you!"

I say weakly as i try to stand up. Anisha ruses over and helps steady me. Zuko springs back up looking to come after us but is stopped by four other Kyoshi Warriors. They surround the prince as Anisha leads me away. I can hear him screaming as we flee.

"Your friends are waiting on you. The monk believes it is best if you leave."

Anisha says and I nod before responding.

"Yeah... he's right."

Anisha helps me walk through the heavily damaged village. My heart starts pounding as we round a corner and i take it all in. My eyes start to water as the smell of burning flesh and debris fills my nostrils.

"W-who-"

The kyoshi warrior shakes her head sadly, telling me all i needed to know.

"This...this wasn't supposed to happen...i let this happen. I should've just stuck to the story. Im too weak. Some hero i am."

'It is too late for selfpity, you want power? Then stop fighting who you are. We are a weapon, a killingmachine, we always have been. Its time you accept it.'

I hear semaj's demonic sounding voice. I sit for a long moment without saying anything.

"Maybe you're right. We don't need a hero... We need a weapo-"

My head suddenly starts spinning. My ears begin to ring, all but drowning out all other sounds. I try to breathe slowly but I can't seem to get enough air.

'Fuck! Whats going on.'

I fall to my knees. Anisha lets out a grunt as my weight drops.

"Avatar Ji, are you okay?"

I hear her distorted voice as I grip my chest and close my eyes. I try to focus my breathing and get my heart under control. I haven't felt like this since the days i used to have panic attacks.

"Ji!"

Anisha's distorted voice comes again.

"Installation in progress."

I hear the same robotic voice as when my tattoos first appeared. Several seconds pass as the pain slowly intensifies racking through my whole body.

"System update complete. Recall Protocol Activated. Two previously corrupted files have been restored."

The ringing starts to subside after a few moments, followed by my heart slowing down to a normal pace.

'it's okay...you're fine... but what the fuck was it talking about?'

I finally get my shit together and look to the warrior beside me. She is staring at me with a strange look and says,

"Your markings... they were.. pulsing."

I don't have time to ponder or respond as Aang,Katara,Suki, and Sokka rush over to me.

"Hey guys,"

I greet them and rise to my feet. I try to take a step and almost collapse, but Anisha catches me.

"What happened!?"

Both Katara and Aang say at the same time. I smile and say,

"Just a friendly debate with Zuko."

All the people in attendance, save Anisha who just looks away, give me worried looks. I just sigh and say,

"Im fine...Lets go."

A short moment passes before anyone moves or makes a sound.

"Time to get outta here,"

Sokka says, breaking the silence, and comes over to help Anisha steady me. They take me to where Appa is waiting and help me into the saddle. My entire body is aching and im barely clinging to consciousness. I put my hand over my face to block the light as i lean back.

After Sokka shares a little moment with Suki, everyone gets onto the flying bison, Aang sitting at the reins. We are about to take off when Suki yells,

"Wait!"

Aang pauses and Sokka looks down at the girl.

"Yeah?"

He asks hopefully.

"Avatar Ji-"

I uncover my eyes and interrupt her with,

"Not the Avatar!"

But she just continues.

"-I have a favor to ask."

I sigh.

"Yeah, what's that?"

She hesitates for a moment before speaking.

"I want you to take Anisha with you."

I sit up, an incredulous look on my face, and look over the side of the saddle at the girl. I see that Anisha, who stands beside her, is blushing and looking at everything other than us.

"Come again."

I say and she smiles at me and says,

"You have a master airbender with you...up until now, she was under the impression none existed anymore. He could teach her about her bending and her people... and besides, you and Sokka only got a few hours of training. She can help you guys finish."

I just continue to stare at her for a moment before sighing. I turn to Aang.

"You mind?"

He shakes his head.

"Not at all! In fact, i think its a great idea! I'd love the chance to teach another airbender!"

Suki smiles and claps her hands together.

"It's settled then."

I hang my head before lying back down.

"Whatever."

I faintly hear the two exchange words before the warrior climbs aboard.

"Welcome to the gang."

I say is i prepare to drift to sleep.

"Appa, yip yip!"

Aang yells. Appa groans and takes off, flying over the burning buildings.

-with Zuko-

The prince stands in the middle of the street of the burning village, holding a kyoshi warrior by the neck, the unconscious bodies of the other three kyoshi warriors lay around him

"You girls aren't half bad. I had to put my all into that."

He says to the girl, squeezing harder. The girl lets out a gargled scream as the prince chokes the life out of her and she claws at his hand.

"I don't wanna hurt you...But i will."

Zuko loosens his grip and brings her nose to nose with him.

"Where did the Avatar go?"

The girl coughs and stops her squirming, looking at the prince with pure fear.

"I-i don't know."

She chirps out through her ragged breathing. The prince growls and starts to squeeze the girls neck. He is about to speak when a large shadow passes over them, blocking out the sun. The prince's head snaps towards the sky and sees a flying bison. His eyes grow wide.

"Back to the ship! Don't lose sight of them!"

Zuko says. He and his men, who had finally picked themselves up, turn and run toward the coast where their ship is docked.

-with james-

Anisha, Katara, Sokka, and I sit on Appa's saddle, Aang on his head, and the burning village of Kyoshi trailing behind us. I still lay with my hand over my eyes, not having any luck with sleep.

"I know it's hard, but we did the right thing."

I hear Katara say and lift my head to see her peeking over the rim of the saddle to address a saddened Aang.

"Zuko would have destroyed the whole place if we had stayed."

She says gesturing toward the town.

"They're going to be okay, Aang."

I quickly stand and walk to the edge of the saddle and look at the fire nation ships in behind us.

"Aang... i know what You're thinking, and you need to stay under the radar... So don't. Just keep flying,"

I crack my neck and take a deep breath.

'Ragga...this is gonna be a big one.'

The wolf grunts in response.

"Fuck all that fighting shit...Let the sea have them."

My tattoos start to glow a bright sea blue. I lift both my hands up to form a maw shape. I exhale, my breath misting in the air. I smile.

'I used to watch this show with this fish guy who used to use this move...know what he called it?'

I ask the spirits in my head.

'What?'

Spirit Aang and Haru say at the same time.

"Super Water Shark Bomb!"

I will the water to move with all my being, and a massive wall of water swells up towering over the ship. It then morphs into the form of a giant shark head. Its mouth looms over the ship for a second, ready to swallow its prey like the beast it mimicked. The firenation soldiers cry out, some scrambling for weapons that would do them no good against an enemy without flesh or bone.

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Zuko stands his ground, watching the water construct barrel toward him as I clap my hands together. He and other firebenders begin to shoot flames at the water. Its futile, the wave crashes. The impact shatters the smoke stack like a twig, the deck splintering beneath the force of the ocean's wrath. Soldiers are thrown into the raging abyss, their screams swallowed by the sea.

The ship groans as it's tilted, its hull cracking apart as the shark's "teeth" clamp down. Water rushes in like hungry fingers, dragging the ship downward. I stand unmoving, watching, as the ship vanishes beneath the waves. Only the foam and men swimming for their lives remained. I spot, bobbing in the water, mean mugging me.

I smile down at him as he fades into the distance. I then turn toward the others to see them all staring at me wide eyed.

"What?"

I ask, rubbing the back of my head.

"What the hell was that!?"

Sokka yells. I start to answer but the world begins to spin before going dark as I collapse.

-The sanctuary: Edge of space and time-

a group of people sit in a brightly illuminated room, staring at a crystal ball that sits on the only furniture in said room. One person, a tall and lanky man, sat in his chair with his legs crossed. His dark green suit, neatly pressed, and almost as over the top as the golden dipped horns that adorn his his head.

"I told you, dear family, that my approach was the best. It has already started unlocking it's full potential."

The man says in a posh voice. He smiles and claps his hands.

"After the last 2 attempts, we may finally succeed. I told you all, we were being to soft on it."

Another of the six people, a young woman in a dark red hooded robe, growls at the man.

"I'd watch your tongue cousin! If you call my boy an it again, I will turn you into a worm and strip you of your magic for a few hundred years."

The man's face pales and he nods his head.

"Forgive me cousin."

The woman nods and continues,

"However, he is right. We have been trying to let the weapon activate on its own...but my son had seemed unable to unlock his full potential. But we apply just a little pressure and he's already started to activate the recall protocol."

Another man, a big burly creature with long hair clad in samurai armor, decided to speak up.

"Hmm... Hai. The weapon is beginning to fully activate. It is a good thing too... Because they are getting closer to finding us."

The hooded woman nods.

"Yes. Well then, how are the sanctuary's defenses looking?"

The robed woman asks and turns toward another woman. Said woman had the head of a lioness and was covered head to toe in gold adornments.

"All is well."

The lion headed woman says in a heavy african accent with glee. The hooded woman nods once again.

"Good. We will continue to monitor the weapon and help him progress where we can. With that the meeting is over, unless anyone has any que-"

She is interrupted by a mans hand shooting up and him screaming,

"I have a question!"

The woman sighs and turns to the man. The man gripped his staff, which leaned on his shoulder, and smiled brightly. His face resembled a monkey, fur and all. His monkey like tail swished behind him as he waited for her okay to speak.

"Yes, Wu."

The monkey man pointed at the crystal ball and says,

"What is the Weapon exactly? Im new and have yet to have it fully explained. I mean i know why we are here and what our goal is but..."

The woman hangs her head and sighs again. Wu tilts his head in confusion.

"Allow me to explain."

Another towering man with blood red hair says,

"The weapon stores near perfect copies of Abilities and power sources that it has come into contact with. It's... similar to the device that scientist, Azmuth, from the B-one-zero multiverse cluster made. However, the weapon had previously deemed it's organic half unworthy. So it locked itself up, allowing only its most basic power to be used...The elements. But it's beginning to become whole again and in doing so... it will finally become the thing it was meant to be!"

Wu raises an eyebrow.

"And what exactly is that?"

The monkey man asks. The big man smiles and says,

"A weapon that can permanently kill gods."

The money mans eyes bulge in surprise before he busts into a fit of laughter.

"Oh...hehehe...this is going to be good."

The hooded woman nods.

"Yes...it will. This has been nice but we should all return before we are missed. I trust you will keep watch over him?"

The hooded woman turns to the final person in the room.

"Yes...i will."

Athena says with determination.

AN: Again!!! Hey there! Sorry bout the time it took for this one...Marvel Rivals has me in a chokehold...that and Baldurs gate 3 again... but anyway the story is ramping up and the bigger picture is coming into focus. Some questions still linger, but all will be revealed with time. For now I hope you enjoyed and as always, Peace.

-Sage