Fire and Aether

Chapter 12: The Seer

Picture for reference (Aurora)^^
    A fire blast shot towards Team Avatar. They used what evasive maneuvers they could, Crystal rolling in midair, Appa veering from one side to the other. Yet, another blast had the two groups split up.
    Rose steered Crystal towards the earth. At the last minute, Rose jumped off, using airbending to levitate herself slowly to the ground. As soon as her feet touched the earth, she pulled her cloak around herself and her veil over her head. Crystal shrunk in size and perched on her shoulder as she rushed into a busy marketplace.
    The firebenders chased her into the busy marketplace, only to lose her in the crowd. Rose rushed into the nearest shop, closing the door behind her. The firebenders rushed past.
    Rose sighed in relief. Cautiously, she lifted part of the curtain to look outside.
    "Can I help you with something?" A sudden voice caused Rose to nearly jump out of her skin.
    She quickly turned to see a tall woman with long white gold hair that flowed to her rear, dressed in a simple long purple dress, blue eyes--or were they purple?--that didn't reflect anything.
    "Oh I'm so sorry, ma'am! I didn't mean to intrude! I was just--"
    "I know what you were doing, Avatar Rosalia." The woman said, offering a low bow.
    "How did you--?"
    "I can see the future. My name is Aurora." Rose was quiet, not sure how to respond. "Do you wish to see your future?"
    "I'm sorry. I don't have money."
    "Did I ask for money?" Aurora asked kindly. "Come, Avatar. If nothing else, join me for tea...long enough for those firebenders to give up on finding you."
    With that, Aurora turned and headed further back in the store. Not having a better idea, Rose followed.
    The back of the shop was mainly a room with shelf upon shelf filled with interesting trinkets, plants, and gems. The only furniture in the room aside from the shelving was a large table with two chairs, one at each end.
    Aurora sat in one and pulled out a holly wand. Waving it, a tea set made its way onto the table and tea poured itself into a teacup.
    "Do you like sugar in your tea?"
    Rose's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't trust herself to speak, only to nod. A few cubes of sugar joined the tea in one cup before it landed in front of the empty chair.
    "You're a witch." Rose finally managed to say.
    Aurora giggled. "Yes. I suppose that's true."
    "What do you want with me exactly?" Rose asked as she slowly removed her veil.
    Aurora looked up sharply, her unusual gaze meeting Rose's unusual gaze. "I'm a friend. I promise."
    She gestured to the empty seat. Rose finally sat in it, taking her tea gingerly, and drinking after Aurora.
    "So how does a witch end up here? All the ones I know live in the Aether Realm. "
    "There were once a lot of us. But when the Fire Nation attacked...they started hunting us down, one by one. It seems the Fire Lord did not want any unwelcome surprises in his future." Aurora frowned then taking a sip of her tea before continuing, "I was the only survivor of my coven. I've been hiding here ever since, 100 years, waiting for the day you would return."
    "You're 100 years old too?" Rose asked, hope in her eyes.
    "I'm much older than that, milady, always waiting for the next Avatar. I've told them all their futures. To do so for you as well is an honor."
    She inclined her head respectively. "The only question is are you ready to know your future? Because knowing the future changes nothing. The future is fluid and can change but some things will always remain. Love. Loss. The end of it all."
    Rose nodded. "I am ready."
    Aurora smiled. Drawing forth her hands into the pocket of her dress, she pulled out a handful of something. "Dragon bones." She explained.
    Crystal shrunk back away from them, leaping off Rose's back and hiding under her chair. Aurora took no notice, shaking the bones in her hand and tossing them on the table. She glanced over them, her unusual eyes showing visions in their depths.
    "This is difficult." She spoke at last in an airy voice. "Avatar's lives are always so difficult but yours is the most difficult I've seen."
    "What is it?" Rose asked, now curious.
    Aurora slowly spoke. "First of all, you will live a long life, longer than most of your other lives. It is a happy life, yes, but at a cost. Many choices lie before you, many battles. One will affect the entire world."
    Rose nodded. "I have to fight the Fire Lord."
    "On your journey, you will find a lasting friendship like none you've ever known. Also, you will find love in the most unexpected of places."
     At those words, Rose blushed, thinking about Zuko. Could he be her love?
     "Who is it?"
     "He is a powerful bender, someone you've already met. Someone you're fighting to save."
    "Does he love me back?"
    "He denies what he feels. He thinks it makes him weak. You can convince him otherwise. Be soulbound. But it will come at a terrible price. Someone you love will betray you."
    "No."
    "That is what they say. Someone in your family is lying to you and hiding a secret that affects you. And your family is in danger. Before the war, the Aether Kingdom will fall."
    "No. That's not possible!" Rose said, shaking her head.
    "You will be a great leader. But you will never again return to the Aether Realm." Aurora took a deep breath. "It will be up to you to save your family and your home. A friend will show you the way."
    "Enough!" Rose said, standing up, tears streaming down her face at knowing everything that would happen.
    Aurora stood too, her voice becoming raspy as she grabbed Rose's hand.  "You must be vigilant, Avatar. The Fire Lord has someone helping him who wasn't there before. And, unfortunately, she is one of mine."
    Rose pushed her away. "I SAID ENOUGH!" She screamed, going into the Avatar State.
    Outside, the sky darkened and a storm approached. Everyone in the marketplace ran into their homes. Firebenders appeared, riding their giant rhinos, and started burning everything, warning the Avatar to come out and save her people.
    Back inside the shop, Rose and Aurora looked at each other. Rose rushed to the door in the front of the shop to see the firebenders.
    "They found me! I have to go!"
    Aurora caught her shoulder. "Wait. There is one more thing. A friend is coming to save you. He cannot help you much now but he will get you out of here. I will send you a letter when you need me."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Hurry!" Aurora shouted.
    Outside, a lone figure appeared and began fighting the firebenders with firebending as well. As Rose rushed out the shop, the man grabbed her and shoved her forward.
     "Run!" He commanded. She didn't need any reminders as she had already taken off. "Call your dragon. Quickly, Avatar!"
    Rose whistled and a now giant Crystal appeared, flew under them and caught them on her back and took off once more, Rose using her invisibility trick from earlier.
    Once they were far enough away that the firebenders couldn't see them anymore, Rose passed out, dreaming of all the things Aurora had told her.
                        * * * * *
    Rose woke up to find herself laying on a cot in an unfamiliar house. She yawned, stretched, and looked around in confusion.
   Just then, a familiar man walked in. "Oh good. You're awake." he said with disinterest. "I am Jeong Jeong."
    "I am--"
    "I know who you are, Avatar." He turned away. "Your friends are coming. You must go to them now."
    He stood and gestured Rose to follow him. She did so, following him out into the bright morning, to see Aang, Katara, and Sokka walking up the hill towards her. She rushed to hug her friends, all of them shouting above one another in excitement.
    Finally, Rose turned her attention back to Jeong Jeong. "I never thanked you for saving my life." 
    Jeong Jeong shrugged her off. "No thanks is necessary. Now, you and your friends had best be on your way."
    As he started to walk away, Rose called after him. "Wait! The seer...she told me--"
    He turned to her. "And the time may come when I teach you firebending but you have much more to learn first. When that day comes, we will see each other again." He gave her a rare smile. A sudden loud noise in the distance had everyone looking up sharply. "The Fire Nation tracked us here. Quickly, go!"
    Together again, Team Avatar took off into the sky once again, escaping the Fire Nation.
                       * * * * *
    As night fell on the group, they made camp. Laying down, everyone fell asleep rather quickly, drifting off into dreamland.
    Rose woke up, suddenly, a few hours later, after the inner turmoil in her mind lead to dreams that didn't make sense. And now that she was awake, she thought about all the things the seer had told her about her family, her friends, her home, the battles raging around her, and...her true love, the one she was meant to be soulbonded to.
   Getting up, she decided to take a walk, letting the night air wash over her. That's when a figure swept up behind her, grabbing her shoulder. Rose turned in surprise, only to be met with a familiar figure.
    "Catie?"
    "Hi, sis." Catie said.
    "What are you doing here?"
    A sad look crossed Catie's face and she took a deep breath before answering,
    "I need your help."