The Origin of Roh-Shan

Fire Lord's Palace

The guard took slow, measured steps down the dark corridor, three stories below the Fire Lord's Palace. Small torches lit the rock-carved hallway that led to the holding cells of prisoners awaiting a meeting with Fire Lord Amiron.

Most criminals in the Fire Nation were brought before an appointed judge to face a fair trial. Occasionally, the courts were unable to settle an issue, and it was brought to the Fire Lord. But high crimes such as assassination and treason were usually brought directly to the Fire Lord himself. This guard had never encountered a prisoner in for assassination before in his career. So, making his rounds, he was a tad bit eager to see what this guy looked like.

He rounded the corner and came to a door. He gave a friendly nod to the man guarding the door. They played poker on Tuesdays. The man at the door raised his helmet a bit to say, "Whatever you're expecting in there, this ain't it."

That of course only intrigued the guard further. He stepped through and made his way down the stairwell and another few hallways to reach the holding cell.

Inside the large cell were three kids. A one-armed boy sat off to the side, biting his fingernails. On the other side of the cell, two teenage girls sat fairly close, whispering about something.

They all looked up at him as he stopped before them. He briefly glanced around the room. There had to be someone else, right?

The boy bared his teeth at him. "Whatta you looking at?"

The guard just shook his head, and carried on back down the hall toward the stairs.

~

"The blood must've been from my nose earlier. I promise, I'm not injured." Roh reassured Kota, holding her hand firmly.

"Okay." Kota didn't break eye contact. She lowered her voice, "Did you hear what Suley's doing?"

"Which time?" Roh rolled her eyes.

"He's paying everyone to move to Sarsero. He promised them bigger houses and a huge payout. I already saw him razing the empty neighborhoods. He's planning something big with that land. I saw your family moving out."

"What? My family's leaving Ren Haru?"

"I mean, Maita said there's not much left. Your house and belongings were mostly destroyed in the fire, and all that's left is rubble and bad memories."

Roh looked down at her lap, the memory still freshly painful. "I wouldn't think they'd go as far as Sarsero, though."

"Roh, whatever he's up to, it's not good. We gotta tell Amiron, before he destroys the city."

"Alright. We'll tell Amiron as soon as he sees us. I'm the Avatar, he has to listen."

~

"The Avatar?" Fire Lord Amiron laughed. "Like I haven't heard that one before."

"No really, she is! She can prove it!" Kota insisted.

Amiron looked at Roh. She, Kota, and Haider were in the empty grand room, standing before the Fire Lord's throne. "Well, prove it then."

"Um... I can't."

"Shocker."

Even Kota looked disappointed in her. "You're not even gonna try?"

"Ok fine!" Roh stepped forward. Her hands were still tied in rope but they were in front of her. She stretched her arms out to the left, producing an impressive fireblast that dissipated into the air, then did the same thing reaching toward her right, but nothing came out. "Um, I really... it's only been in emergencies before."