xXTheDarkOneXx
patreon
75 - Crescent island, meeting Avatar Roku
🕑 Added 2024-11-24 11:49:17 +0000 UTCIt was almost sunset when they finally reached Crescent Island. Big red pagodas stood tall on the island giving them a feeling as if they were barging on royal grounds instead of an almost abandoned island.
They had to land some distance away from the buildings to avoid being spotted, Appa was so big that he was bound to draw attention.
“We don’t have much time left, we need to hurry,” said Aang anxiously, he had been anxious the whole day and becoming more so the closer they got to Crescent Island.
“Then we better get going.” said Levi as he started walking towards the pagodas.
There were no guards around, nobody ever came to this island so there was never a need for them, but even then the sages were not to be underestimated, each one of them was a veteran Fire Bender.
But none of them were in sight as they walked straight through the front door, of course Levi detected them hiding close by, probably luring them into an ambush. And he was proven right as they immediately showed themselves when they were inside blocking the door.
Turning around they saw a group of five old men in red robes blocking the entrance.
“We are the fire sages, guardians of the temple of the avatar.” said the man in the middle.
Hearing this Aang seemed to relax as he approached them, “That’s great, I am the Avatar, I am here to…”
“We know who you are.” said the man in the middle with an angry tone of voice, cutting Aang mid-sentence before he launched a fire attack at him.
Before Aang could react Levi was already in the path of the fire, with three fast movements all three fireballs were swiftly caught, spinning above his hand in a circle.
Seeing this, the Fire sage's jaws almost hit the floor, it was obvious that encountering a fire bender on the avatar side was the last thing they had expected today, seeing his water tribe clothes the last thing one would think about was that he was a fire bender.
“You….What do you think you’re doing? Betraying your own kind, the Fire lord will never forgive you for this.” said a fire sage, his tone seething with rage and reproach.
“What makes you think I give a fuck about what that waste of a human being thinks of me?” said Levi with a taunting smile.
If the fire sages were shocked previously then now they were in utter disbelief, some were even shaking in fright, fearing what might befall them if the fire lord was to hear of this, no fire bender had ever dared to defy or speak of the fire lord like that, they knew better.
Unfortunately for them they didn’t have the time to think it over as five fireballs flew towards each one of them knocking three out while two managed to defend against it, but it was useless as they were soon knocked out by another volley of fireballs.
“Let’s go.” said Levi as he turned around and ran inside in a hurry, the others weren’t the least bit shocked as they followed after him.
Levi wasn’t faking his urgency, sure nobody on this island could do anything to him but he was worried about something else.
He wanted Aang to meet with Avatar Roku and for them to safely leave this island before he headed to the spirit world, that was the only way he could rest easy.
They didn’t go far long before they ran into another fire sage, but unlike the others this one wanted to help them, Aang and his siblings were skeptical but with Levi’s support they decided to trust him.
He led them through a hidden path underground, the door to which can only be opened using fire bending, up a flight of stairs and finally to the sanctuary where Aang was to meet Avatar Roku, or so was the plan.
“NO! The sanctuary doors are closed.” came Shyu’s restless voice.
“Can’t you just open it with Fire bending like you did the other door?” asked Katara.
“No, the sanctuary doors are different, only a fully realized Avatar can open them by himself, we failed.” Said Shyu with a defeated tone, almost losing his balance and falling to the ground.
“Not necessarily.” came Levi’s confident voice as he stepped forward.
His fire bending was nowhere near his water bending, let alone close to that of a fully realized Avatar. In his normal state at least, there was no way for him to even budge the doors of the sanctuary, but with Limit breaker active it was another story altogether.
Five torrents of flames gushed out of Levi’s palms, almost blinding them due to how bright they were, they were so hot that the others had to take a step back.
Amongst them all Shyu was the only one who knew how terrifying the scene he was witnessing was, “Impossible.” came his shaken voice from behind Levi but he paid him no attention.
Soon the serpent heads started moving and twisting and before long the doors opened.
“That was amazing Levi.” shouted Aang in excitement as he jumped around, Sokka and Katara also holding hands and jumping in happiness. As for the fire sage he was still looking at Levi in shock.
“As much as I love the glazing you should hurry inside.” said Levi snapping Aang of his happiness as he seriously nodded and headed inside, the doors closed soon after.
“Glazing?” the Fire sage couldn’t help but ask.
“He comes up with words like these all the time, just ignore it.” Said Sokka leaving the fire sage even more confused.
***
In a foggy landscape Aang woke up and looked around. There was nothing but fog all around, it was a while before an elderly voice suddenly came from behind him, turning around Aang saw the tall figure of Avatar Roku.
“I have something very important to tell you Aang.” said Roku with a warm tone of voice, “That is why when you were in the spirit world I sent my dragon to find you.”
“Is it about the commit? What does it mean?” asked Aang with a tone of urgency.
“The Sozin comet as it is called now gives immense power to Fire benders, One hundred years ago fire lord Sozin took advantage of it to deal a fatal blow to the three nations, cementing his victory.” said Roku, Aang could detect the hint of sorrow and regret in his voice.
“But that was one hundred years ago, what does it have with the war now” asked Aang perplexed.
“Sozin comet returns every one hundred years, it will return by the end of this summer and Fire lord Ozai will use its power to finish this war once and for all, you have to stop him Aang” said Roku, shocking Aang speechless.
“This summer? I haven't even mastered a second element yet. How am I supposed to stop the fire nation?” Asked Aang, his face pale.
“You have mastered all the elements before and you will again, have faith in yourself Aang.” said Roku with a soothing tone, and for some reason Aang felt himself calm down.
“One more thing Aang, beware of the one you call Levi.” said Roku, his gaze turning even more serious than when he was talking about the Fire nation and the comet.
Aang's face showed genuine surprise for the first time ever since he came here. He was surprised when he met Ruko but it wasn’t like this, “Levi? Why? I know he kills people and our ideas are worlds apart but he isn’t a bad person I know that.” said Aang, he found himself jumping to defend Levi before he even knew it, even if Roku was his past reincarnation he still felt a closer connection to Levi.
“Ha-ah.” Roku couldn’t help but sigh, “You have no idea who you’re dealing with Aang, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he is more dangerous than the fire nation, thankfully he hasn't shown any ill intentions so far.”
“I know he’s strong, but isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?” asked Aang hoping that Roku would just say yes and agree with him and end this subject, but sadly for him that wasn’t the case.
“Did you know that he just recently started using air bending?” asked Roku, shocking Aang, this was beyond anything he had heard this far, he didn’t even know how to reply and started stuttering.
“Just like some humans can peer into the spirit realm and explore it in their spirit bodies, some spirits can also peer into the physical world Aang, this is how I know this, I am sure without the shadow of a doubt, right now he can freely bend three of the four elements and I am not sure about earth bending but it is safe to assume he can use it as well.” said Roku in one breath, he hoped he had more time to explain it to Aang but sadly their time was running short.
“How…how is that even possible, I thought only the Avatar could wield the four elements.” Asked aang incredulous.
“That’s supposed to be the case but it isn’t anymore, and nobody knows why.” said Roku, giving Aang time to digest the information before continuing, “In fact here in the spirit world he is well known, many of the spirits had heard of him and even more fear him, but in the physical world besides a few individuals nobody seemed to have heard of him, and I doubt that’s an accident.” said Roku.
He couldn’t help but sigh as he saw Aang’s bewildered and confused expression, he knew this was too much to dumb on a 12-year-old kid but he had no choice, he needed him to know.
“I am not telling you he is an enemy Aang.” said Roku and instantly Aang's shoulders relaxed as if a huge weight was lifted off him, “I am just warning you to be careful, I am not saying he is a bad guy either but he hides a lot of secrets.” said Roku sharply.
“I see.” said Aang more relaxed than he had been before, “But I don’t think I should be worried about it for now, he is coming to the spirit world, I think it is you who should be more concerned.” said Aang in an innocent tone leaving Roku shocked and frozen in place.
“That's…good to know.” started Roku lost for words before saying the first thing that came to mind, he didn’t know how to react to that, if it was a good or bad thing.
Spirits can indeed peer into the physical world but no spirit would do it all day long and even if they did they wouldn’t be observing the Avatar, so he didn’t know about this until Aang just told him.
“Can you do me a little favor Aang? I wish to erase a regret I still have.” said Roku.
Aang didn’t have a reason to refuse so he simply nodded his head.
***
Physical world - Beside the sanctuary doors.
Five Fire sages lay on the ground, some groaning in pain while others were unconscious with Levi standing over them, only one fire sage remained standing, the one who had helped them, with a shocked look on his face as he saw this scene still not believing his eyes.
Zuko and Commander Zhao were bound by ice to a huge pillar unable to move, they both had terrified expressions on their faces, they hadn’t lasted for even a second, before they knew it they were bound.
Of course Levi didn’t use his water bending openly, he had instructed Katara to pretend to be bending water while he secretly froze them.
Not long later the fire sages woke up, but they didn’t dare make a move as they just sat there with defeated expressions.
Suddenly the gates of the sanctuary started to open as everyone looked at them, but whatever they were expecting wasn't what they saw in front of them. Avatar Roku, in the flash looking at them with bright glowing eyes.
Seeing Avatar Roku the fire sages had horrified expressions on their faces, he was the last person they ever wanted to meet, they knew they had strayed from their duty as guardian of the sanctuary and crescent island but now their worst fears had come true, they weren’t the only ones shocked, everybody was, except for Levi.
He stared at Roku as Roku stared back at him without moving or making a sound, all the people around couldn’t help but look between the two of them, it was a while before Roku nodded at Levi before he started making fire-bending motions, the ground beneath their feet started shaking as if there was an earthquake.
“Oh no Avatar Roku is going to sink the island.” said one of the sages with a hint of panic before he darted to his feet and ran away followed by the other sages, no matter how much they feared Levi they feared Roku even more.
Zoku and Zhao struggled in their bindings with no success, just as they desperately watched Lava pillars shooting from the ground Levi waved his hand discreetly and and melted the ice holding them in place, they didn’t even spare Roku a second glance as they ran away, the ground shaking beneath their feet and pillars of lava continuing to shoot from below like it was the end of the world, even Levi couldn’t help but marvel at this.
Soon when the place was flooded with lava Roku’s figure disappeared and Aang appeared in his place, Levi caught him before he fell to the ground, carrying Aang in his arms and grabbing his siblings and Momo with water tentacles each he darted from there at his top speed, the winter solstice was over and he didn’t have much time left before the way to the spirit world was closed.
Comments
Wilkins Feliciano
First comment 👁️👁️
