The History of Renko: Book 1 Emotions (Avatar, boyxboy)

Chapter 18: How the Secret Comes Out

The Air Nomads of the south built an impressive and profound temple high in the clouds. Built across the mountain peaks stood a towering structure, with gardens and fountains along its sides. Nestled within a locked chamber of the temple, was a room of stone statues. Arranged in a swirling pattern up fifteen levels, the statues were tall, strong depictions of all the past ten thousand Avatars.

A young airbender was walking through the spiral, dusting the statues and giving them a good polish. He wasn't a master and so he did not have his tattoos. Also, he refused to shave his head so, his uncombed brown hair hung in front of his eyes. He was in some trouble unfortunately and was sent to polish all of the old statues.

They stood like sentries, surrounding him. Dust danced in the air as light spilled in from the windows, the stone sentries casted long dark shadows. He had just finished polishing the bald head of Avatar Aang, the last airbending Avatar. He began stepping off the step ladder provided to him in order to reach the top of the tall statues. As he stepped he tripped and hit the ground. The ladder fell with a wooden clang across the stone floor.

He picked it up and looked up at the Avatar now in front of him. This one was a woman, Korra. She stood straight and strong, with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. He stood up to look at her and something flashed in her cold stone eyes. He stepped back. Then again, almost as if she were blinking the light flashed again. He ran out to grab one of the elders, an air acolyte without an arrow on his shaved head.

"I saw something in Avatar Korra's eyes," he protested.

The elder looked.

"There is no way of that," he began. "This a statue. The only time that these in this chamber have acted were when..."

He did not get to finish his statement. The eyes of the Avatar Korra statue began to emanate with a piercing white light. The two had to turn away to not be blinded.

"Were when The Avatar had returned."

Concurrently Renko stepped forward as if in a trance. He moved as if on instinct. His eyes were still white as he closed his fists together and produced a spherical air field surrounding him and his friends. The flowing air pushed back against the green fire and purified the breath of its inhabitants. He sculpted the air in circular motions and pushed the air field out. The turbulence sent the flames spiraling up into the sky, like a pillar of fire holding up the heavens. The airships were pushed off course and the now dead vines became flattened against the earth.

With a mighty lunge forward the turbulence stopped. With a heavy thrust into the air with his fist, the ground erupted shooting him high. He hanged suspended for a moment and once again produced the sphere of air, suspending him in space. This time smaller and more contained. He swept his head as if surveying the remaining green fire burning to be put out.

He put his back, took in a deep breath, and roared a bright golden flame. This flame was heavy and swept across its green doppelganger, chocking the life from it. This flame grew to cover the remaining patches of the forest before dying out leaving the brush cleared.

Slowly, Renko descended to the ground and his air sphere blew out. Just before he touched the earth, his eyes stopped glowing and returned to their normal gray. He stumbled from exhaustion when he landed but fortunately, Kuzo was there to catch him.

"What just happened?" Renko looked around stunned. The fire was gone and several patches of vines and forest were burned away. The portal was still at their backs.

"You were in the Avatar State," Kuzo began to say. "And I think everyone in the city saw."

With that last statement, police airships arrived just above them as metal benders descended. Tiulo still held onto Koa to keep her from falling but she trembled with apprehension. Six iron clad police officers formed a half circle around the group, three on the east and west facing sides. One short woman landed just in the middle. Her uniform was more form fitting with the crest of the police on the breast.

"My name is Chief Bon," she proclaimed in a deeper than expected voice. "I'm afraid you are all under arrest.

The officers wrapped the gang of four hands in metal wire, Renko didn't bother to tell them that he could bend out of it, and led them up onto the hovering air ships.

"My name is Prince Kuzo of the Fire Nation," Kuzo yelled defensively. Renko sat slumped on his shoulder. "And this Avatar Renko, you may not keep us here."

Chief Bon just looked at him.

"Someone started that horrible fire in the Spirit Wilds. Prince or not, someone is to blame," she stepped up in front of him. "We'll call your ambassador to get your stories straight. From what I can tell, your friend the," she paused. "The Avatar was the one who put it out. Rumor is he's the First Son of the Earth States. If so, we shall call his ambassador as well."

With those encouraging thoughts, the four of them sat across from each other in a holding cell. Tiulo looked out the window. The once green and mysterious wilds now had a dead and black hole in its center.

Upon arrival at the police station, Tiulo and Kuzo were separated into conjoining cells made of stone. Chief Bon, noticing the condition of Koa and Renko, ordered them to the hospital. Tiulo sat on the bed provided and drummed his fingers on the mattress. Kuzo, paced around in frustration as steam came from his nose.

Koa was physically fine. A nurse viewed her cuts and scratches and checked to make sure she hadn't broken anything. He wore a white lab coat in an eggshell colored room. She wore a hospital gown that matched her hair and silver cuffs around her wrists.

Renko however, was immediately placed in a bed with an IV. His body had suffered from mild exhaustion and dehydration. He lay half-awake as the nurse inserted the needle. He was starting to remember his conversation with Korra in the Spirit World.

"Let me," she said. Was she how he entered the Avatar State for the first time? Before he could wrap his mind around it, he fell into a fitful sleep.

Author's note: Hey everyone, sorry for the late update. I hope you enjoy this new edition :D