Fire and Aether

Chapter 26: Return of the Seer

   Unbeknownst to Team Avatar, there were those already planning their doom. Not only had Team Anti Avatar infiltrated the Earth Kingdom right under the king's nose, but the Dai Li had also promised Long Feng, now in prison, that they served him and him alone. They had plans to release him from his prison in order to recapture Ba Sing Se.
   In the meantime, Fire Lord Ozai was slowly but surely becoming wrapped around the finger of his consort. The news of Zuko's betrayal on top of Iroh's wasn't all that surprising yet, he had hoped his son would have more sense than that. Oh, to have his head turned by a mere girl! What a disappointment! The consort, for her part, felt triumphant. Soon enough, the Fire Lord would detest the sight of his own children and then, he would be hers. Sure, she had strong feelings for him, yet even that paled in comparison to his power. Power she wanted by her side as they conquered the world together!
                          * * * * * 
    After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that Katara would stay to help the earth king while Sokka met with their father.  Aang dropped Sokka off at the meeting place. "You haven't seen your dad in over two years!" Aang said, excitedly. "You must be so excited!"
    Sokka held back the urge to vomit. "I know I should be, but I just feel sick to my stomach."
    "Don't be so nervous. He's gonna be so happy to see you!"
    "So what about you? Are you nervous about meeting this guru? And being away from Rose for so long? Y'know...I don't think I've ever not seen the two of you together." 
    "It's gonna be hard being away from Rose for an extended period of time. You're right. Since we met, we've barely ever been separated. We just go together, y'know? We're family, like you and Katara. Although, I do think of all of you as my family now." Aang said with a small smile. "But, even though it's hard, I know this is what Rose needs. She needs to learn how to master the Avatar State. And I know she'll do whatever it takes."
    They said their goodbyes, Sokka slipping off of Appa so he could meet with his dad. Aang offered him a parting, "See ya in a week," before flying off. Sokka walked through the camp, getting greetings from the men. Finally, he entered his father's tent. One of the men elbowed his dad and he got up, hugging his son.
                          * * * * * 
    Aang landed in a clearing in the middle of the wilderness. A man sat before him, dressed in nothing more than a cloth that covered his bottom half and half of his torso, meditating. 
    "Um...hello?" Aang called. "Are you Guru Patik? The person who sent me a letter to meet with you to help Rose?"
    "Indeed." the guru spoke. "I was a spiritual shield brother of your people. Not only did I offer them guidance in difficult times, I fought alongside them in many battles. And I was a personal friend of Monk Gyatso."
    "In your note, you said you could help me to gain better control and guard Rose. How?"
    "There are many things. For one, you need to embrace your full potential as the last Airbender. For another, you must learn how to properly fight instead of always evading fights."
    "I was always taught that evading fights was how you survive, that you shouldn't harm another if you don't have to."
    "Exactly. If you don't have to. Unfortunately for us, young man, a war is coming, and the Avatar needs you by her side if she is to defeat the Fire Lord. That means learning how to defend ourselves...and others. Let us begin."
    With that, Aang started the most difficult training he'd ever experienced!
                         * * * * *
    When Toph went to the meeting place, she was captured by Xing Fu and Master Yu who encased her in a metal prison and loaded her onto a cart. As dawn approached, Master Yu said, "I believe we need to go right!"
    "What are you talking about?" Xing Fu argued. "The Bei Fong's estate's this way!" He pointed in the opposite direction.
     "I am quite certain you are mistaken!"
     Toph banged on her metal prison. "Hey, can you two old ladies quit your bickering for a second? I gotta go to the bathroom!"
     Master Yu thought for a moment then stood, key to the metal prison in hand. "Alright but make it quick."
     Xing Fu grabbed his arm. "Have you lost your mind?"
    Master Yu thought for a second and laughed. "Oh, very sneaky, Toph!" he said, reseating himself. "Nice try but you can't trick me."
    "Let me outta here, so I can kick both your butts!"
    Xing Fu slammed his fist into the side of the metal prison. "Quit that banging!" he shouted. "You may think you're the greatest Earthbender in the world, but even you can't bend metal."
                       * * * * *
    Team Anti Avatar sat in their shared room, wiping off the tons of Kyoshi Warriors makeup.
    "We've been given an extraordinary opportunity, girls." Azula said as she paced, a thought occurring to her. 
    "Mai finally gets to wear makeup that's not totally depressing?" Ty Lee joked.
    Mai faked a laugh. 
    "I'm talking about conquering that whole Earth Kingdom." Azula explained. "For a hundred years, the Fire Nation has hammered away at Ba Sing Se from the outside. But now we are on the inside, and we can take it by ourselves."
    "Gosh, you're so confident!" Ty Lee said. "I really admire that about you."
    "From the inside," Azula continued, smiling evilly, "we're in perfect position to organize a coup to overthrow the Earth King. The key is the Dai Li. Whoever controls the Dai Li, controls Ba Sing Se."
                       * * * * *
    Rose flew Crystal over various mountains, valleys, and forests, before finally landing in a field of flowers in the middle of a dark forest, a pinpoint of light amongst the dark. From the woods, Aurora appeared, her golden hair waving in the breeze.
    "Welcome, Avatar!"
    Rose ran forward to hug her friend. "Hello again, Aurora." Rose said. "It's good to see you again."
     "You as well, my friend. Now, are you ready to learn to control your Avatar State?"
     Rose took a deep breath. "I'm ready."
                         * * * * *
    Sokka's father explained the work he and his troops had put forth to stop the Fire Nation, including a new invention of his father's that would tangle in Fire Nation ships propellers and force them to abandon ship due to a terrible smell caused by seaweed and skunk fish.
   "I call it the Stink n Sink." he proclaimed with pride.
    Sokka laughed. "That's a good one, dad."
    Bato rolled his eyes. "He is definitely his father's son."
    One of the men returned with news that four Fire Nation ships were headed their way and Hakoda began belting out orders, telling all the men to prepare for battle.
    "And what should I do, dad?"
    "Weren't you listening?" Hakoda asked. "I said all men prepare for battle."
    Sokka smiled, glad to be considered good enough to be one of the men. With that, the group did as their leader asked.
                      * * * * *
    Aside from Rose's departure, Zuko had been in high spirits since he awoke from his comatose state. 
    "Who would've thought that I would enter Ba Sing Se as a refugee and get my own tea shop!" Iroh said with pride. "Let this be a lesson to you, Prince Zuko: follow your passion and life will reward you."
    "Congratulations, uncle."
    "I'm very thankful."
    "You deserve it." Zuko said, enthusiastically. "The Jasmine Dragon will be the best tea shop in history!"
    "No, I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me. It means more than you know."
    They hugged.
    Almost as an afterthought, Zuko pondered, "Hopefully, I will get what I want."
    "What's that?" Iroh tested him. "The Avatar?"
    Zuko nodded. "The love of my life, my happy ending." He smiled, happily.
    Iroh placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "You will, nephew. That I can promise you."
                        * * * * *
    Mai and Ty Lee waited for Azula outside the palace. "I'm so tired of wearing this girly disguise." Mai complained. "I don't know how anyone can fight in this."
    Ty Lee stood from her handstand. "Maybe that's why it was so easy to beat the Kyoshi Warriors and take their clothes."
    "How much longer do we have to serve the Earth King?" Mai complained again. "If I have to clean up one more pile of bear poop, I'm gonna throw up."
    "Princess Azula promised we would go back to the Fire Nation as soon as we captured the Avatar." Ty Lee explained as she worked on her backbend. 
    "Shush up!" Mai warned. "Do you want the whole palace to know we're Fire Nation?"
    "Sorry."
    The Dai Li agents that were spying on the pair slowly climbed back up from their hiding places on the palace columns, going to spread the news to their leader. At that moment, Azula walked out from her hiding place. "Good work, girls." she praised. "I'm sure the Dai Li will deliver the message."
                    * * * * *
    Toph had a thought as she was stuck in her metal prison: metal is still earth, just a more refined version of the element. That meant she could bend it like she did with earth. It would just take more time because it would be more stubborn than the natural version of the element tended to be.
    She exhaled and set to work. It took some time, but she finally broke through.
    "It's another one of her tricks!" Master Yu announced as they checked out the noise.
    "There's a giant hole in the box!" Xing Fu argued. "How is that a trick?"
    "It's not! I'm the real deal!" Toph said. With a bit of earthbending, she trapped her kidnappers in her former prison and shut it up. "I am the greatest Earthbender in the world! Don't you two dunderheads ever forget!"
     Then she escaped into the night.
                     * * * * *
    Katara's meeting with the war council had been fine, aside from the group of them having absolutely no sense of humor. They had explained their plan to her and sent her the scroll with the war plans to bring to the Earth King for approval.
     On the way there, she decided to take a quick break from all the war talk to get a cup of tea at the Jasmine Dragon, a popular new tea shop that had just opened up recently. She walked in the door and asked for a table for two in time to hear a familiar voice.
     "Uncle, I need two jasmine, one green, and one lychee."
     She looked closer and realized why that voice sounded familiar: Zuko was in Ba Sing Se! 
     Katara ran...ran until she arrived at the palace. "Thank goodness you're here, Suki! Something terrible is going on!" Katara exclaimed. "The Fire Nation has invaded the city! I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle! We have to tell the Earth King right away!"
     Azula smiled evilly. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be sure to let him know."
    Katara realized a second too late who she was talking to. A quick movement from Ty Lee and she was knocked unconscious.
     "So Zu Zu's in the city? I think it's time for a family reunion."
                      * * * * *
     Just as Azula had hoped, she gained an audience with Long Feng who offered her a deal: if she could help him regain the Earth King's trust, he would get her the Avatar.
     Meanwhile, Iroh got an invitation to serve tea to the Earth King.
     Azula's smile revealed she was the one to send out the fake invitation.
                    * * * * *
     Aurora had taught Rose how to open her chakras and let the power flow. As she explained, all magic, no matter where it came from, those that controlled the elements or witches like her, flowed through the seven chakras of the human body. To reach one's full potential, they must all be opened.
    So, over the next several days, she had opened them, one by one, one a day. Now, come the seventh and final day, she would open the final chakra, and be able to control the full extent of her power, including mastering the Avatar State.
    "This is the most difficult chakra of all." Aurora explained. "This chakra allows a person's full power to be unlocked. Unfortunately, it is blocked by the hardest thing to let go of: earthly attachments."
     "But I don't have any earthly attachments." Rose said. "I could get rid of any possessions I have in an instant."
     "Earthly possessions aren't always material things." Aurora explained. "Material possessions are a part of them, yes. But the most important attachments are people. Close your eyes and think of who is most important to you." Rose did so, thinking.
    "The family you left behind to pursue your destiny." Rose thought of her parents, her brothers, the sister by marriage she loved and the one she lost.
    "Now, think of your friends, all those wonderful companions who have supported you through everything you've been through." Rose thought of Aang, the brother she adopted, of Katara and Sokka, of Toph, and of a few others she'd met and become friends with along the way.
    "And, finally, the one you love. Your soulmate." Rose smiled as she thought of Zuko, her unlikely soulmate. 
    "Good." Aurora praised. "Now let all of those attachments go and forget them."
    Rose snapped back to reality. "Why would I forget about them? My family? My friends? Zuko? And what? Should I forget you too?"
    "You misunderstand, my friend." Aurora explained. "You can still hold those attachments in your heart, but you cannot let them hold you back from what you must do. Forget them just for the time being."
    "So I forget those I love to unlock the chakra but I can still remember them?" Rose asked.
    "Exactly."
    "I'll try."
    Rose meditated, slowly letting go of each person...until she had a sudden vision of Zuko. He and his uncle were headed into a trap! Then, as she let that vision take over, she had another. This time, it was of Katara...and she was in danger.
    She sent a quick telepathic message to Aang and stood. "I have to go."
    "No, Rose!" Aurora warned, grabbing Rose's arm. "If you leave now, you will never be able to go into the Avatar State at all!"
    "I don't care!" Rose said. "Lives are at stake."
    "In that case, if you survive, I will see you again soon."
    "If I survive?"
    Aurora nodded solemnly. "May the gods watch over you."