Save Time- Book One: Water

CH Fifteen: The 1st Hantai Sanctuary- PT Two

When the group above ground woke up in the morning, they weren't so used to the fun yet wise girl gone from the group. Even Amberly and Momo were sad to not wake to her presence. However, they also woke up with a new mission: Make Jasmine proud.

In the meantime, the said missing person from the group was stuck below the village for the first several hours skimming through scrolls, and if they are deemed important, she stores them in her satchel. She also had tried to see what special abilities she may hold. Any type of bending she could think of. Combust-bending, metal bending, firebending, waterbending, and even the most close to impossible: airbending. Nothing had worked, so she had merely meditated until her mind steadied thoughts evenly. That lead her to take a mini nap.

She woke up saying good morning to no one, making her a bit lonely. To take her mind away from such negative thoughts, she woke up stretching near the fountain she fell in. She was doing the Half Bound Moon when she felt her feet become hot to the touch through the boots. Pleasant, but still a hot. In reaction to such heat, she retracted from her pose quickly and made sure there were no burns. She wondered what could've made them burning even when she doesn't feel like her feet are on fire. Jasmine shook her head and did the Standing Split, and this time, Jasmine heard it... the sound of firebending. Her blood ran cold as her eyes searched frantically for whoever is there but found not a soul.

'Maybe it's the fire on the podiums. They have been acting weird ever since I got here after all.'

With this reason in mind, she tried to do a yoga pose that doesn't include her feet. Her mouth formed a grin as she performed the Cat only for the water in the pond to splash her in the face. That was the last straw.

"Alright, who the fuck is there?! Making my feet and hands hot, then shooting me with water is not funny!" Jasmine shouted with her temper up.

Her amber eyes widened as she saw how wild the flames are on the podiums. They were very tall and almost reached the ceiling. She panicked wondering what she suddenly did wrong to anger the fire. So she began to breathe to calm herself, and she saw it. The more she calmed down, the more the flames died down to their original state.

"Wait a minute. That only happens to Zuko when he's all pissy, so does that mean... N-no, c-can't be. Let me get this straight: I came from a world where uh, bending doesn't exist. My mom is a non-bender, and my dad is a non-bender. Therefore, I am a non-bender. Right? Right!"

She breathed and smiled as she did the Cat pose once again only to get pummeled in the face with water. This time, she glared at the fountain scouring for any fish or seal turtles but sees none. For a second there, she thought she is a Waterbender, but she merely laughed at such a silly theory.

'Yeah, ok. Next thing I know, I'm Chris Angel. Look at me go!' Jasmine rolled her eyes and randomly slapped the air as if to make the liquid in her sights disappear.

However, the water did a wave aligned with her hand. She blinked making sure her eyes aren't playing tricks on her. Then she waved her hand back, forth, and even up and down. The water followed her every movement until she dropped her hand, and the water flopped.

"I-I'm a waterbender? But...how...the fire. Does the fire move, too? Please tell me the fire doesn't move."

She walked towards one of the columns on the furthest right and waved her hand as well. It didn't do anything much to her delight. The black girl was so happy that she pumped her fists on the air... fire came from her appendages.

The joyful aura around her turned fearful and angry. Fearful at the abilities she now have, and angry at whoever gave them to her. She sunk down to the carpeted ground and attempted to keep those tears from coming out, but the more her mind plays back to what she can do and the signs she passed off as normal, the more she felt the urge to scream. Scream at the world, the spirits, the past Hantai, anyone. Just as long as nobody hears her. Her body feels too fearful and angry to be meditating, and if she were to swing her scythe or katana, she was afraid to accidentally firebend or waterbend with them. So, she merely kept it in with deep breaths. She was so full of emotions that she didn't notice the slight rapid change of temperature again. Even if she did, Jasmine knew the risk before she came here last night and only wishes it's something minor while she's stuck down here.

Meanwhile, everything was successful above ground. Katara finally got approved to be taught by a master waterbender along with Aang, Amberly is being well taken care of along with Momo and Appa, and Sokka... well he did something rather weird. And like it or not, Sokka only pray to the spirits that Jasmine doesn't catch whiff of it when she comes back. He's a virgin boy, and last thing he wants as his first time is his own wood knife.

Speaking of Jasmine, he missed the girl that would share his sleeping bag and hug him while asleep. He would find himself talking to her coat she left behind for him to protect with his life. The warrior training became less joyful to him, and don't even get him started on the gift that was sent to their room this morning. Someone by the name of "Hans" dropped off a gift specifically for Jasmine. A chiseled ice sculpture of her meditating. He was not going to deny that seeing the object fueled the warrior training in anger. And that is probably why he did what he did during the meeting with Princess Yue. Sokka doesn't know anymore.

Anyways, Jasmine had calmed down. It took some hours, but she did it. Her mind is still clouded with disbelief yet relief. She finally pulled herself together and went back to collecting scrolls, but this time, she knew what she is looking for. Firebending, waterbending, how to hide both of them, etc. She can't tell anyone, especially Sokka. Just imagining his blue eyes looking down at her like a scum of the earth honestly hurts her heart. They've came so far, and she knows that they are past that whole stage, but what if it comes back because of this?

"No. I won't let that happen. They will never know. I will just be the Jasmine they always knew. Nothing will change."

She kept chanting the same things until she realized how full her bags are. Instead, she took the rest of the time to learn techniques in some of the scrolls. She did the real basic stuff for toddlers, and put those scrolls away. The higher leveled ones stayed with her. The hunger and thirsty finally caught up to her, but she worked it over with some more bending and meditating until there is any sign she can leave.

During her last minutes, she thought of a way to hide her firebending, but she would have to go to the store when she gets out. And the stores are closed when the moon is high enough. Jasmine released a big breath questioning how in the world can she bend not one but TWO ELEMENTS. According to one of the scrolls she had read for fun, Hantais are chosen, not gifted with new abilities. Which can only mean one thing, yet she doesn't want to reach that truth. Jasmine refuses to.

'I wish my mom and dad were here. Without them, questions are left unanswered. Speaking of which, I need to ask Sokka or Katara to check on my back, because it has been slightly burning for the last few hours.'

She heard a sound by the fountain and got up to check it. A stairway made of ice and water has opened. Her grin is watery, and tears leaked out as she rushed to pack everything up and leave the place that answered questions but brought up many more. Carefully placing a foot on each step, Jasmine finally made it out above the pond and laid on the grass for a moment to catch her breath. The smell of crisp air cold air filled her lungs and caressed her face as if welcoming her back to above ground.

It is time for her trek back to her friends.

Sokka and Aang walked in a circle around the room while Katara groaned in annoyance. She has been trying to calm them and make them be patient, but her tactics didn't work.

"Aren't you worried she didn't survive down there?! What if she dies of hunger or dehydration?"
"Or worse, what if she accidentally injured herself where she couldn't exit the hall?"
"Can both of you have faith in her like she has faith in us?" Katara sighed with a tic mark on her head.

"I do have faith in her! It's the place and rules I don't trust!"
"Yeah!"

The poor Water Tribe girl felt like pulling hair out of her skull when she heard someone walking outside. Everyone went quiet as they grew closer to the house until the curtains opened revealing Jasmine with her hair down and more into an afro form. If she even skips a day of putting on straightening oil on her hair, that is exactly what would happen. No one recognized her and went into fighting stances.

"Wow, does my wet hair make that much of an impression on ya'll? I should really continue straightening my hair now."
"Wait, Jasmine? That's you?
"In the flesh, now where is-oof!"

In pure joy and happiness, Aang and Sokka dog piled her to the ground along with the dragon and the lemur. Even if the weight is close to unbearable, she is still able to smile also and hug them back while giggling.

"Nice to see you all, too."