Burning Chapter 15: Rekindling the Flame

Time seemed to stretch on for a moment. The Fire crackled softly, flickering as it fought to hold back the crawling darkness which seemed to grow agitated at the living... Well, dead legend that sat just opposite me.

Roku, for the most part, seemed completely unbothered by his newfound surroundings. Instead, he was content to just... Wait. Whether he was confident in his power, or simply didn’t have to worry because he was already dead, I wasn’t sure.

Then there was also the chance that none of this was real and I was just losing my mind. That was a genuine concern, but seeing as Bumi got by, I’d be fine. A little madness never hurt anyone… It certainly beat the alternative.

I could probably find out by asking, but we’d both been silent for so long that I wasn’t sure of what to say.

Well, this was one of Aang’s past lives...

“So,” I hummed. “Come here often?”

Cracking a smile, Roku ran a hand through his beard. “I don’t believe I do, no. It’s rare that someone other than the Avatar can meet with the previous incarnations in such a manner. Given your close proximity to Aang and his worry for you, such a bridge has managed to form.”

“He sent you to help me?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. Although, he doesn’t realize it yet.” Roku inclined his head. “Unfortunately, I am only a visitor here. I cannot directly help you purge Koh’s venom. All I can do is offer my advice. Before that, however, I would like to converse with my current incarnation’s Firebending master.”

The skittering sound in the darkness seemed to stop, as if whatever remnant that remained of Koh was also curious.

I could already guess what that was about. “This is about Aang learning the elements out of order, isn’t it?”

“Among a number of things, yes,” Roku replied. “It’s not unheard of for an Avatar to learn the elements in a different order. There is, however, a reason for why the cycle is so closely followed. Following the order of the elements breeds familiarity and sets a rhythm for the current Avatar.”

So it was a kind of conditioning spread out across entire lifetimes, like learning how to do something with one hand... And I’d effectively had Aang trade hands.

“It’s clear that you’re starting to understand the gravity of what’s been done,” Roku remarked. “By learning Fire first, Aang may gain an immediate advantage, but that very same advantage could weigh him down in the future. I trust you understand what you must do.”

Stop teaching Aang Firebending... At least until after he mastered Earthbending. It was the safest route, the right one. It was... Stifling.

Just because a thing had been done one way for as long as could be remembered, it didn’t mean that it was the right way... Or even that there even was a right way of doing things.

Clenching my hand shut, the flames in front of me briefly flickered blue. “I get what you’re saying, but my answer is no. I won’t stop teaching Aang Firebending... Not when there’s so much at stake.”

Roku stopped stroking his beard. “Doing so will only bring about hardships.”

“From one point of view, yes,” I replied. “But that doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. The world is constantly changing... Evolving. I don’t see why the Avatar can’t change too. If something bad does eventually come from it, then as Aang’s Firebending master, I’ll be there to help.”

“You would disregard everything that I’ve said?” He didn’t sound angry, only thoughtful.

And just like that, I caught on to what this was really about.

“You said it yourself, didn’t you?” I shrugged. “I’m Aang’s Firebending master... And as his master, it’s my job to both nurture his skills and protect him from negative influences, even if that means going against you.”

Feeling the darkness move a little closer using my shadow to mask itself, I shifted a little to the side, drawing a disgruntled shriek from the thing inside as it skittered away, retreating back to where the light couldn’t touch it.

“To defy an Avatar so brazenly. Such stubbornness is normally seen in someone from the Earth Kingdom, not the Fire Nation,” Roku noted calmly. “Tell me, what makes you so confident?”

“It helps that I can tell that this is a test,” I hummed. “You’re a lot like your great granddaughter in that way, she also liked to lay out little tests for me back when I first started learning Firebending.”

Of course, there was more to it than that. They both had the same amused glint in their eye when they thought they were tricking someone. I thought she’d got it from Sozin, but no... Apparently that came from Roku.

“I see.”

That was it? I was expecting a little more than that.

“You’re not curious about her... About your other descendents?”

Roku shook his head. “It may seem somewhat callous to someone that is still so connected to the world, but my time on the physical plane has long since passed. As an Avatar, it was once my duty to let go of what I felt was most important in order to fully realize my abilities. I have not forgotten that lesson.”

He didn’t seem angry or even apathetic about it. Instead, Roku just accepted it as an everyday part of life... Or, well, death.

“I fear that we have gotten off topic,” Roku said. “This connection between us won’t last forever and there’s still much to discuss. Your arrival in this world and Koh’s actions being one such point.”

Oh... He knew about that.

“What about it?”

Closing his eyes, he bowed his head slightly. “Be at ease, I am not your enemy. It is the Avatar’s duty to bring about peace and order in both this world and the next, not to judge those that are different. Although I cannot say for certain where you have come from, I can see that you mean to help.”

Exhaling slowly, I nodded. “Thanks. What did you want to talk about?”

“I merely wish to offer you a warning,” Roku replied. “Your arrival drew many eyes, most of which were content to forget you exist... As you know, Koh was not one of them. His actions and demise have been felt throughout the Spirit world, bringing those eyes to you once more.”

“Great, so I’m going to have to be on the lookout for spirits wanting revenge?”

Honestly, the way spirits behaved was more than a little ridiculous. They were allowed to kill hundreds if not thousands of humans, stealing their faces and hurting them in all kinds of ways without being called out on it, but if a human dares to kill a single spirit, suddenly they were all savages.

“I have no doubt that there will be some wishing you harm.” Roku nodded. “But that is only a part of the problem. Koh was one of the oldest spirits in existence and his death has left a vacuum in the Spirit world… One that others may seek to fill in time.”

That didn’t sound good.

“And you’re worried that they’ll start fighting over it?”

“That is one of my concerns, among others.” Looking down at his hand, Roku sighed and stood up. “But that will have to wait for a later date. It seems our time together is at an end.”

What? He was leaving, just like that?

“But what about the spirits... And this?” I asked, gesturing towards the darkness that somehow seemed more predatory.

“Aang already has everything he needs within him,” Roku replied, before gesturing towards the fire between us. “As do you. As we speak, Koh’s very essence is coursing through your veins, seeking to destroy you from within, but it is at an impasse. It is here where you are able to make your stand.”

The fire?

“I’ve already tried... I can’t bend it.”

It even burned when I tried to touch it.

“There is much that this darkness conceals from you.” Roku shook his head. “Given time, that fire will dwindle, leaving you vulnerable. In order to rekindle it, it needs something to burn. It is only in the light that you will see the truth.”

“Do you think you could be a little more–” And he’s gone.

Sighing, I was once more greeted to the sound of something skittering in the dark, slowly circling around the fire... Roku’s last words echoing through my head.

I couldn’t just sit here and wait for someone to save me, I needed to do it myself... But how? According to Roku, I had everything I needed... I just wasn’t seeing the full picture.

“Only in the light will I see the truth... The fire needs something to burn.”

Pulling my sleeve up, I looked between the unmarked skin and the flames flickering just in front of me. I really hoped I was right about this.

Gritting my teeth, I stuck my arm into the flames, doing my best to ignore the sudden burning sensation that was pulsing through my body. Feeling the pain intensify, I desperately wanted to pull my arm back, even if only for a second.

Wincing as I glanced at my arm, I blinked, almost forgetting about the pain when I saw that my veins had turned an inky black which in turn were slowly fading.

Slowly, but surely the pain began to fade, before disappearing entirely once the last of the markings had been burned off.

Doubling over, my arm hung limply in front of me, fire still burning at my fingertips.

Hearing something skittering behind me, I swiped my arm up, sending a stream of fire into the void, lighting it up. I turned to see my flames eating away at the shadows as it tried to pull away.

Standing up, I pressed my hands together, before violently bringing them apart, setting my surroundings on fire.

With nowhere left to hide, a small shadow suddenly shot forward in an attempt to rush past me.

Raising my leg, I smashed it down, pinning a small shadowy version of Koh to the ground. “And where do you think you’re going?”

...Burning...

Lying on his side with his back towards the fire, Zuko was perfectly happy pretending that he was back on his ship and that the last few days hadn’t actually happened... Like he would be doing once he left this nightmare of a forest.

Now if he could actually get some sleep, that would be great. Unfortunately, with how loudly his uncle was snoring, that was asking the impossible.

You know what, he just needed to spend one more night out here and he’d be on his way back to his ship. What did it matter if he didn’t get any sleep? It certainly didn’t bother him...

It bothered him.

It bothered him a lot.

Grunting as he turned over, Zuko’s hand suddenly blurred, snatching a small pebble out of the air. Looking around his camp with narrowed eyes, he got up and started walking in the direction that it’d come from.

“Took you long enough.” Dropping down from the treetops, Jet landed a short distance away with a confident smirk on his face. “For a second there, I thought you might have actually been asleep.”

“What do you want?”

“A man of few words, huh?” Jet hummed. “That’s okay, I know a guy of even less. As for what I want... I thought I’d just come around and let you know that we found you guys a boat.”

Already?!

And just when he thought he’d be stuck spending another night in this forest.

“I’ll go fetch my uncle and the others.”

“Easy now, I said we found you a boat, not that we had it yet,” Jet said, instantly ruining Zuko’s good mood. “That’s going to take a little bit of work. Since you’re up, I thought you might want to help out.”

Without his Firebending or a weapon of some sort, he’d be limited in a fight, but, to be honest, he couldn’t care less.

“It would be my pleasure.”

“Great, I’ll introduce you to the others.” Smirking, Jet led him deeper into the forest. “What’s your name, by the way?”

Following someone he’d just met into the woods seemed like a bad idea at the best of times, but Zuko was pretty confident that he’d be able to take Jet in a fight.

“Lee.”

“Well, Lee, let me present you to my Freedom Fighters. Smellerbee and Longshot.”

Upon first glance, Zuko wasn’t exactly impressed with what he saw with Jet’s so-called ‘Freedom Fighters.’ Instead of being a large group of archers like he’d expected, they were simply one guy around his age with a bow and some kid that was glaring at him.

“I don’t know about this guy, Jet,” Smellerbee hummed. “You sure he can be trusted? He seems kind of flaky if you ask me.”

Flaky?

“He’s cool, just ask Longshot, the guy’s just travelling with his uncle... Besides, no one with a scar like that is a friend to the Fire Nation.” Jet shrugged.

“Fine. If it’s you that’s vouching for him, I’ll give the guy a shot,” Smellerbee sighed, before shooting a quick glare Zuko’s way. “Just know that I’ll be watching you.”

“I don’t care,” Zuko grunted. “I’m just here for the boat.”

Turning his gaze from the annoying brat to the archer, Zuko waited for him to say his piece, only for the silent teen to offer a quick nod.

“Great, now that we’re on the same page, let’s get going,” Jet said. “We only have a small window of opportunity to get what we’re after. Any later and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow night to get this done.”

And waste another day out here?

Absolutely not.

Following Jet as he led them through the woods, Zuko made sure to keep an eye on his ‘Freedom Fighters,’ just in case this was all some kind of trick designed to capture him. Luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case.

It didn’t take too long before they arrived at a small settlement sitting on the side of a river... A Fire Nation settlement at that.

“Look at them... Those leeches. Makes you sick, doesn’t it?” Jet spat, glaring down at the town. “If I could have my way, I’d get rid of every last one of them.”

“It’s only a colony, those people are still technically from the Earth Kingdom.” Zuko could honestly say that he never imagined he’d be the voice of reason for some Earth Kingdom rebels, but here he was.

“Doesn’t change the fact that they’re leeches. Look at them, parading around in Fire Nation clothing like they belong,” Jet muttered. “They could have fled like you and your uncle. Instead they chose to stay... Living under the Fire Nation’s rule. They’re nothing but cowards.”

Whatever, it really wasn’t any of Zuko’s business anyway. It’s not like it actually mattered. Even if it did remind him of...

Forcefully turning his attention towards the few guards that patrolled the village, Zuko found himself running into a new problem... Namely, his face. Being recognized as the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation would be bad news... Especially if it was of him stealing a boat.

He could always come back tomorrow and introduce himself to the guards, demanding a boat in the process, but that would set him back... No, it was better to do it now. He just needed a disguise.

“You’re looking a little concerned there,” Jet hummed, not taking his eyes off the town. “Don’t worry, you won’t be doing anything too risky, just securing our getaway boat with Smellerbee here, she’ll keep you safe. Longshot will be running interference and I’ll be setting up a little something to keep everyone distracted while we make our escape.”

“Yeah, don’t worry, big guy.” Smellerbee smirked. “I’ll keep you safe.”

That wasn’t exactly what he was thinking about, but it did help. At least Jet wasn’t deluded enough to think he could take on an entire colony with only three people... Even if there weren’t that many guards.

Still, stealing from a Fire Nation colony left him with an uncomfortable feeling in his gut.

...Burning...

Letting out a deep yawn as I slowly came to, I stretched my arms outwards, feeling warm for the first time in what felt like a full day. My limbs still felt stiff, but this time it was from not moving, rather than from a fever. There was no longer a feeling of being weighed down or fatigue.

It was almost enough to put me to sleep... If it hadn’t been for the sound of trickling water in my ears, that is.

Slowly opening my eyes, I tried to stand up, only to find myself pulled back down with a splash of hot water and steam.

Huh... I was in an outdoor hot spring on a mountain, how about that.

Looking around, I blinked when I found some rope tied around my wrists and waist, keeping me from drowning in my sleep.

Correction, I was tied to a hot spring.

That was a first.

I wasn’t alone either. Lying on his back with his pants pulled up and his feet dipped into the water, Sokka snored loudly, having apparently fallen asleep while watching me. Sitting a little to his side was an empty cup with powerful smelling herbs.

“Sokka...” Coughing at the dry feeling in my throat, I tried again. “Hey, Sokka. Mind untying me?”

Waiting for a few moments, I brought my leg up in a kick, splashing some water on him, only to get a snort as he turned over.

Right. I guess I was just going to have to do this myself. The ropes were pretty wet, but it wasn’t anything that a little heat couldn’t solve.

Grabbing a hold of one end, I took a deep breath, causing steam and smoke to bubble between my fingers, before it finally gave.

Untying myself with my now free hand, I climbed out of the hot spring. Finding my clothes neatly folded on the ground nearby, I quickly shrugged them on, before taking stock of my surroundings.

The sun was just beginning to rise... Or set, I wasn’t entirely sure which one yet. Spotting Appa, sleeping on his back, I turned to see a small makeshift camp a short distance from him, complete with several tents and a burnt out fire in the center.

Glancing down at Sokka who was cuddling a rock, I shrugged and began making my way towards the camp. He’d already spent the night sleeping here, it should be fairly safe... So long as he doesn’t roll into the water.

From the looks of it, they’d been taking shifts to keep an eye on me.

“Hey, Sokka... Sorry I took so long,” Aang yawned, rubbing his eyes. “I had this really weird dream about Honō where I was talking to him in front of this fire and there was this thing crawling around in the dark… I’m not really sure what we were talking about, but I think it was important.”

He could remember that much, even though I was the one talking to Roku… I guess he was more connected with his past lives than I thought.

“It was,” I hummed. “Why don’t you get some more sleep and I’ll tell you about it when you wake up. You can leave everything to me in the meantime.” It was the least I could do after they’d gone to such lengths in looking after me.

Patting him on his shoulder, I nudged him back towards the tents

“If you’re sure,” Aang replied, returning to his sleeping spot on the ground. “Just let me know if anything changes, alright? The Herbalist said that last night should have been the worst of it, so he might start improving soon.”

“Everything’s going to be fine, Aang,” I murmured. “Get some rest.”

“Okay… Thanks, Honō,” Aang murmured, closing his eyes, only to immediately open them. “Wait.” Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and pointed to me dramatically. “YOU’RE AWAKE!”

Well, there goes letting him and everyone else sleep in while I tend to the camp.

Spotting Katara and Ty Lee’s heads poking out of a pair of tents, I barely had a moment to brace myself before I was hit with an orange blur that pulled me into a tight hug... One that nearly knocked me to the ground.

Stumbling back as a second, pink blur collided with me, I found Katara swiftly making her way over, joining the group hug, moments before Appa shoved his head against us, knocking us all to the ground.

“You guys,” Sokka called out, rushing towards the camp. “Honō’s missing. I don’t know what happened, I just closed my eyes for a few seconds and he–GAH!”

Tripping, Sokka landed on the pile, adding his weight to the group of three people, one Sky bison and a lemur, making it that much harder to breathe.

“Morning, Sokka,” I wheezed.

“You’re awake?” Sokka squawked.

“Nope... Still asleep. I just figured out how to talk and move around while unconscious... By the way, mind getting off? My ribcage is beginning to creak.”

“You know,” Sokka muttered, getting up. “If anyone else said that, I’d think they were being sarcastic, but I never know with you.”

Standing up with a short groan, I immediately found myself pulled to the side as Ty Lee pulled my sleeve up and began looking for any signs of infection, before placing her hand against my head.

“Everything seems normal,” Ty Lee murmured. “How are you feeling?”

“A lot better than before I passed out,” I replied.  I felt like I could run a marathon, now that I’d gotten rid of Koh’s little parting gift. “Sorry if I worried you guys. I got a little stuck and had to have someone point me in the right direction.”

“But, weren’t you asleep?” Aang asked curiously. “Unless... You weren’t stuck in the Spirit World, were you?”

“Not exactly,” I hummed. Feeling my stomach growl, I was suddenly reminded that I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday. “I’ll tell you about it later. For now, why don’t we get some breakfast.”

“About that,” Aang chuckled awkwardly. “We kind of didn’t have the chance to get more supplies when you collapsed, but there’s a village nearby, so it’s not like we’re completely out of options.”

...Burning...

Standing at his castle's entrance as numerous flaming rocks crashed into his city, Bumi barely paid it any mind. Since the city had already been evacuated, all they were doing was damaging a few of the buildings... Hardly anything worth crying over in the Earth Kingdom.

That, however, didn’t change the fact that they were under attack by a fairly significant force... One that he wasn’t entirely sure he would be able to defend against... Any victory he could claim would be at a significant cost to his guards, leaving his city vulnerable.

A second attack would see his city overrun, making everything that would happen today ultimately pointless.

There were better methods to handle this... More neutral ways.

He did have to wonder what led to such a sudden attack... It’s not like it was completely unexpected, but it was happening earlier than he thought it would.

Maybe the Fire Nation had finally learnt how to be spontaneous.

Hah, it only took them one hundred years.

Grabbing a nearby telescope, Bumi idly stroked his beard. That was quite a lot of them. The Fire Nation must really want his city.

Spotting a large pergola that’d been set up at just the right spot to view the battle, Bumi blinked, catching sight of the Fire Nation’s Princess. That explained the sheer number of soldiers here today, but... There was something else here.

The way she carried herself. Her stance, how she breathed.

Bumi felt a grin come to his face. It seemed his young Fire Nation friend had neglected to mention a few things, like who it was that taught him Firebending.

He doubted that the Fire Lord would approve of having his daughter teach someone their techniques, meaning this was a secret.

How fun.

“You certainly never fail to entertain, do you, my young friend?” Bumi snorted.

“Sir?” One of his soldiers asked. “The Fire Nation’s preparing to scale our walls... What do you order?”

“I’m going to do... Nothing.”