Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: The Avatar should be able to bend all four elements, the only person in the world capable of it, and have access to the Avatar State, which allows them to draw upon the knowledge and power of all their predecessors. That's their standard powerset. On top of that, there could be an interesting story to be told with a bloodbending Avatar. Some moral ambiguity to be explored.
Zigzagdoublezee: The Air Nomads do find themselves in a tricky situation morally. Getting involved will save lives, but may require them to fight, potentially worse in an extreme situation.
As Always, Please Review!
The door burst open as the Prince of the South burst in, jabbing an accusing finger at the fortune teller. The room was brightly illuminated by the light of the corridor for a moment, but as the doors swung closed again the familiar darkness descended.
The Prince regarded Wu with some contempt.
"I don't know what games you've been playing, but they stop now."
Wu did not even look up from the flames as Sokka advanced towards her.
"I am not playing, Prince Sokka," she said. "I am deadly serious."
"So am I," Sokka replied. "Yue's been staring out of the window and giving me one word answers since she came in here, and now Rinzen keeps giving me guilty looks. He hasn't done anything! You must have told him something. You're torturing them."
The fire sputtered for a moment. Wu looked up at him.
"Do you think I'm doing this for fun?" She asked.
"I'm not sure you're doing anything at all," Sokka retorted. "You can't tell the future, you're just incredibly good at reading people."
Wu didn't say anything for a second, regarding him silently.
"You're a rational man," she said. "And there's always a good explanation for things for you. But the spirits exist, do they not?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then there is actual proof of the supernatural," Wu told him.
Sokka thought of Yue, and the spiritual power inside her. Then he shook his head.
"The spirits may exist, but that doesn't mean you can see the future," he said.
"So you're not curious at all?" Wu pressed.
Sokka shook his head.
"Nah."
"You will have a difficult future with an attitude like that," Wu decreed.
"Hold on, I thought you needed me to throw a bone in the fire to do your prophecies," Sokka challenged her.
"Oh, that wasn't a prophecy," Wu told him.
Sokka folded his arms. Then he picked up a bone and threw it in.
"Fine, that's what you want isn't it?" He said.
"Why would you do that if you don't believe?" Wu asked. "Seems a little pointless."
"I'm interested to see what you say," Sokka replied.
the fire crackled, reflected in Wu's eyes as she looked at him for a moment. Then she looked down.
"Yours is a future filled with love and with hate," she said. "And there will be more of both than you know what to do with."
Sokka resisted the urge to go yeah, yeah.
"Both your brain and your heart will prove invaluable," Wu continued. "And you shall need to rely upon both extensively. Like I said to the others, I cannot tell you whether your quest will be successful-"
"Oh come on," Sokka burst out, unable to restrain himself any longer, "Really? You don't know?"
Wu blinked.
"It is the Avatar," she said, "Her future is distorted."
"Awfully convenient," Sokka pointed out. "You can just say something vague. And then, when it's already happened, you will say to anyone who'll listen that you predicted it no matter what happens."
"Come now," Wu sounded irritated. "If I wanted to do that, I would not have told you that I don't know. I would have made something up."
"And that's not what you just did?"
"No!" She took a breath. "Look. The Avatar's future is distorted. But there is one blurry figure that I can just make out within it. One person she will rely on, and be glad of, more than any other."
"Who?"
"You," Wu told him. "More than any of your friends, you are in a privileged position- but one of immense importance. The Avatar needs to be there for the world, but you need to be there for the Avatar."
Sokka frowned. He was pleased to be told this, but-
"Did Yue tell you this?" He demanded. "She was just in here. You could just be using what she told you."
"So you already knew that?"
"Not all of it, but I did know I was in it to help her," Sokka replied.
"Then if you will not take it as prophecy, take it as advice," Wu said. "Yue mentioned you by name when she was in here, something she didn't do for any of the others. It is obvious she cares for you, and from the way you came storming in here just now when you thought I had upset her, you care for her too. You must continue to do so."
Sokka nodded. Then he stopped. The full weight of Wu's words swept through his mind, over and over again, filling him with warmth and hope- and anger, if she was lying about this.
"Are you telling me that Yue... likes me?" He asked. Yes, they had kissed at that fort, but she had brushed him off at the South Pole. Since then he hadn't been sure where he stood, though he lived in hope of course.
"I'm afraid it's really not my place to tell you that," Wu replied, winking. "I'm sure, when the time is right, she will do it herself."
Despite himself, Sokka found himself smiling.
"Well, I'll do my best to follow your advice," he said, placing deliberate emphasis on the word advice. "Although we do barely know you."
"I want you to win. I'm trying to put you in the best position to do so," Wu said.
Sokka turned and sat down, looking at her.
"I don't know if you can tell the future," he said, "but you give good advice."
"Thank you," Wu nodded. "Don't you want to know how I do it?"
"No," Sokka stood up. "I already know what you're going to say."
"It's experience," Wu told him. Sokka nodded, smiled slightly, and then turned to leave.
"Send Katara in next," Wu said. "I can feel her curiosity from here."
Sokka didn't even bother protesting as he left the room.