I fled from the shallow cave, grabbing my staff, and following the path to the bridge just outside the river village. I gripped onto the railings of the bridge, panting. I took one breath in, and one breath out. Breathe in…Breathe out…I stared at my reflection in the racing water. No one was there. But I could feel a sense of longing in my chest. The bridge itself was a beautiful spot, one where I could see a romantic gesture take place. To think I was rolling my eyes at Katara making goo goo eyes at Jet, yet here I was on a bridge, imagining Zuko holding my hand and standing on this bridge under the moon exchanging secrets.
When I looked up, I gasped. Someone stood in front of me with a grim expression on his face. I didn't recognize this huge bulking figure in front of me. "Well, well, if it isn't the Red Gale."
"How do you know who I am?" I pulled out my staff, the pointed end glinting in the moonlight directly at him.
"Your staff is a dead giveaway with all those scarves," the giant taunted. He pulled out a large club. It could have easily been an uprooted tree from the forest. "I'm here to turn you in. The Fire Nation's heard wind of your little game."
"And what game is that?" I asked, "simply giving those who aren't gifted a fair fighting chance?"
My attacker grinned. I saw a flash of gold glisten in his teeth. "This world doesn't give anyone a chance for things to be 'fair'. Now, are you going to come quietly?"
"Do you always carry a big stick? Try talking softly next time," I taunted.
The giant's face puckered. He lifted it up over his head. I stood in a stance, ready to fight or flight…
Just then, I heard the sound of swords slicing in the air. The club was cut clean in half, the heavier end rolling like a ball towards my feet. My attacker blinked and turned around. Behind him, broadswords drawn, stood a figure in black. Its face was obscured by a decorative mask. The main design was a dark blue with decorative features adorned in a pearlescent shade. It had a toothy grin.
The new fighter approached the weapon less man, dragging their swords and striking sparks. The man backed away, only to meet the pointy end of my staff. He was stuck between the two of us. I looked over at the masked assailant with a questioning look. Were they here to hurt me or help me? Their stance, though, was slightly loose as they turned their featureless eyes to me. There was a slight tilt of the head; an invitation to trust. I nodded quietly, returning my stance. In a blur of swinging blades, twirling staffs, and now fists, we took turns exchanging blows with the fighter. As we fought, I couldn't help but notice something vaguely familiar about some of the sword fighter's moves. They also had a habit of deliberately standing in front of me to take hits meant to me.
I managed to jab my staff into the joint near the giant's elbow. He staggered. I followed through with a Red Gale kick. The blue masked swordsman followed behind with a swing of his blades. The combined swings sent the giant stumbling before falling off the bridge into the river below.
He simply looked up at us, soaked thoroughly. "This isn't over! There will be more people looking to fight you!"
I turned away, my chest heaving with exertion. My eyes fell on the figure in the mask. "Thank you," I said through breaths. "But who are you?"
The masked figure said nothing. They sheathed their swords and looked back the way they came. They tilted their head towards the gates and walked into an alley just inside the village. I followed them, finding them waiting behind a series of crates.
I looked again at the mask. Then to the broadswords. The last time I saw a pair of broadswords was that one thug in the square. These looked similar to his, but most weapons did. Only elite members of society could afford custom weapons. I remembered the antique swords in Zuko's quarters. But then that made me remember the last conversation aboard Zuko's ship. Zhao had mentioned an enemy to the Fire Nation that used broadswords. The mask of my ally was blue…
"You're the Blue Spirit!"
The figure nodded. He approached me slowly. I stayed still. He pointed to my arm, and tilted his head. "No…no I'm not hurt," I answered his silent question. His body relaxed, as if in relief. Despite the lack of features, I could sense his concern for me. There was also something else. The way he carried himself and the way he stood over me was…there was something there.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were terrorizing Fire Nation bases."
The Blue Spirit shrugged. He pointed to the swords, then further to the village. This game of charades was probably his way of communicating without giving away his voice. Or perhaps he was mute and had found ways to communicate with nonverbal expressions.
"Are…are you here to protect the people?"
The Blue Spirit shook his head. He pointed to my empty pockets. I tried following the trail he was leaving for me. "Pockets…you're…you're pickpocketing…" This warranted a so-so gesture with his hand.
"Okay, you're…stealing. Stealing what exactly? Money?" He nodded. "Are…are you stealing it for…less fortunate people?" Another shake of his head.
I tried to piece together the puzzle. "So you're not acting like a vigilante. Then what exactly are you stealing for?" He pointed to his stomach. "Food..so you're stealing because you're hungry." He nodded. "Okay, so you're stealing money to buy food. Are you going to take my money? Because unfortunately I don't have anything."
The Blue Spirit shook his head. He touched one eye and then pressed his fist into his palm. "You saw I was fighting…and wanted to help me fight." He nodded. I tapped my lip, trying to think of more questions. Fighting…he had fought the Fire Nation. "What did you do to get the Fire Nation so mad at you?" I asked finally.
He drew the shape of an arrow in the air. "Arrow…you stopped archers?" He shook his head and made a pushing motion with his hand. I could hear muffled exhales from behind the mask. "Breathing…air…Oh, you helped the Avatar!" He nodded. I wasn't sure which way of showing thanks was necessary, so I sufficed with a low bow, my hands clasped to my heart. "Then I really should thank you. The Avatar is someone very important to me." When I lifted my head, I saw the Blue Spirit's posture grow tense. His fist clenched tightly and relaxed ever so slightly. I heard what was definitely a sigh release from his covered mouth.
"I don't know how else I can thank you. You not only helped save my hide, but you saved the Avatar's." I refrained from telling him that I was Aang's older sister. "You should…you should come with me. We have food to give you."
The Blue Spirit shook his head slowly. He pointed to the bridge and made a walking motion with his fingers; he was telling me silently that I should go back. I looked over at his masked eyes, trying to look for more clues about who he could be. If he had helped my brother, then I knew it couldn't be Aang behind the mask.
As he turned, I held up a hand. "Wait! I'm also looking for a…friend. He's about my age with a scar. Have you seen him?" For a while, the Blue Spirit hesitated. Instead of answering verbally, his hands trembled and touched the edge of his mask, as if trying to decide if he should take it off or not. Finally, he lowered his hands and dashed off, leaving me alone on the bridge.
I returned to the cave to find Iroh asleep. Zuko hadn't returned. I sighed softly and lay back on the mat, watching the moon filter through the leaves overhead. They waved slowly. I plucked one and twirled in my hand.
So I had encountered this infamous enemy of the Fire Nation. He wasn't my foe, but he also wasn't my friend. He was clearly fighting for himself if he was willing to steal food, and fight people for it. Yet it didn't make sense. If he was seen at Fire Nation camps, why would ve starving? Or need to steal food from villages? The camps had plenty of that. Had he stolen from Earth Kingdom camps the same way? Zhao hadn't mentioned that intel about the Blue Spirit. He had helped Aang, too, so clearly he was taking big risks to ensure my brother was not in enemy hands. For the most part, any one who helped the Avatar was my ally.
With this, I began going through possible candidates. Was it Sokka? No. He was with Aang. Also as great as Sokka was with weapons, he didn't strike me as the dual sword type. The only other sword fighter I could think of was Jet. The broadswords were similar to his hook swords, and he knew where the Fire Nation villages were. Also, with how strong his revenge was, I wouldn't put it past him to risk everything to sabotage the army. This theory seemed the strongest. I hadn't seen Jet since he flooded Gaipan. There was only one hole in the theory; he probably knew that I helped evacuate the town, which would mean that if he ever saw me again, he'd try to kill me, and the Blue Spirit hadn't.
Wait…when I had mentioned a friend with the scar, that had gotten the Blue Spirit to hesitate. Then there was the constant ensuring I was safe. I had dismissed the thought too quickly, but everything else was falling into place…the broadswords on the wall…the way Zuko looked angry at the man who forced me and Iroh to perform using his broadswords…that night when he came to the ship tired and simply said "Your brother is safe." And then when I had been in his quarters and the swords on the wall mounted by…by a mask.
Then there was the refusal to speak, the overprotectiveness, the way he carried himself, the way he didn't take my offer to come back to the camp. My realization hit me hard, and I felt self anger burning inside me for not thinking of it sooner. Yet everything fit, and I had my answer;
Zuko was the Blue Spirit.
