52Daughter of Flames
Hey guys, Demonpie17 here with a new story. Since I am obsessed with the supernatural genre I am doing yet another story on that genre! I am also putting up Calling of the Moon for adoption :'( I'm just not feeling it. So, if you are interested in taking the story, PM me as soon as possible and I'll give details and see what I can do. This will also be another ZukoxOC stories so if you don't like, don't read. I am also on my Easter break so I should update as much as I can! :D
Demonpie17: Aang, the disclaimer.
Aang: Sure! Demonpie17 does not, by any way own Avatar: The Last Airbender. She receives no credit at all.
Demonpie17: *Upset* Yeah yeah… *sniffle* on with the story…
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The Fire Bending Masters
Aang's P.O.V
One moment we're at the Western Air Temple, the next we're at the Sun Warriors home land.
"Whoa!" Zuko and I gaped in amazement.
"Even though these buildings are ancient, there's something eerily familiar about them." Zuko spoke out.
He continued "I can tell the Fire Sage's Temples are somehow descended from these.
I turned to him "Ok, we learned something about architecture; maybe we can learn something about firebending. The past can be a great teach- WOAH!" I felt myself falling forward, spikes protruding from the ground. I sent a gust of air out of my mouth, flipping in mid-air, just barley getting to the other side.
"Woahahhhh!" I flapped my arm around my trying to get myself to fall forward to the flat, non-spiked ground.
I looked behind me in fear. "Zuko… I think the past is trying to kill me."
He crouched low, lifting the trip wire into his hands.
"I can't believe it" He said. "This booby trap must be centuries of years old, and it still works!" He concluded.
"There's probably more…maybe this means we shouldn't be here."
He ignored me. Taking a few steps back he then sprinted at a fast speed and jumped onto the wall and ran along it, keeping speed so he wouldn't fall, ending beside me. Dusting himself off, he looked down to me.
"Where's that upbeat attitude you were talking about." A small smile past over his lips. "Besides, people don't make traps unless there's something worth protecting." We both automatically looked up to the temples.
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After a while of walking, we had finally reached the top of the temple, the entrance to be exact.
"Look, this seems promising, although, I'm not sure what this tells us about the original source of firebending." I looked up at the picture engraved on the wall.
Zuko let his eyes scan the picture. "They look pretty angry to me" My eye brows furrowed.
"I thought the dragons were friends with the sun warriors."
"Well they had a funny way of showing it…"
With a lowered head, Zuko turned and took a few steps.
"Zuko, something happened to the dragons in the last hundred years, something you're not telling me."
Zuko shut his eyes, and then reopened them. "My great grandfather Sozin happened…"
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As we were walking along one of the stone bridged, he started explaining fully.
"He started the tradition of hunting dragons for glory, they were the ultimate firebenders. And if you could conquer one, your firebending talents would become legendary."
"You would earn the honorary title dragon. The last great dragon was conquered long before I was born…by my uncle…"
"But I thought your uncle was…I don't know, good?"
"He had a complicated past…a family tradition I guess. Let's just move on…" He walked ahead as I ran to catch up to his sides.
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We ended up in front of two golden doors. I ran up to them, settled my hands in between them and pulled each hand opposite ways, trying to pry them apart.
"Ugh, eh, uhn! It's locked up!" I shouted over to Zuko, who was a few steps away from me.
He gave his head a scratch; he turned seeing a glowing red stone in a pillar. He turned looking to the ground, eyes widening in realisation.
"Wait… It's a celestial calendar. Just like the fire sages have in their temples. I wonder if that sun stone opens the door, but only if the sun hits it at the right angle…on the solstice."
"Monkey-feathers! The solstice again! We can't wait that long." I slapped a hand to my forehead in anger.
"No, we can't." Zuko pulled one of the Dual-Dao swords from its sheath. He set it down where the sun was hitting the ground.
"Let's see if we can outsmart the sun stone." He moved the sword, trying to get it to hit the sun stone. It finally hit it, and started glowing a bright red. "Nothing's happening…" I softly said.
"Come on…" Zuko murmured. There was a slight rumble and the gold doors in front of me slid apart, revealing a dark entrance to the temple.
"I lifted my staff. "You know Zuko, I don't care what everyone says about you, you're pretty smart." I admitted, giving him a slight nudge.
He grinned, but then turned back with a blank look, realising what I had said.
I walked inside the temple, looking around I saw a statue with a big, toothy mouth and jumped back with a gasp, curing my arms around myself.
"Relax! They're just statues." Zuko said with a movement of his hand.
We walked forward into the area surrounded by statues. I bend down reading the writing behind the first statue. "It says… this is something called the dancing dragon."
I set down my staff, and tilted my head in curiosity. I lifted my hands around me and lifted one leg. My knee parallel from my chest. I felt my foot lower and looked down to see the tile had lowered into the ground. I stepped off it and watched as I rose back up, my weight no longer keeping it down. I looked around me at all the statues, realisation coming upon me. I rushed to Zuko with only the speed an airbender could possess. I latched onto his arm.
"Zuko, I want you to dance with me!" I started dragging him over. He recoiled back.
"What!?"
"Just do it!"
"UGH!" He lowered his head
"Let' follow the steps of the statues."
We both got into the first position, moving to the next I saw his eyes widen, as they lingered upon the sunken tile beneath his foot.
"Don't you see? These aren't dance moves; these statues are giving us a lesson."
"I think this is some sort of ancient firebending form."
"Well, this better teach us some good firebending."
We continued, until we finished, bodies bend and fists touching.
We stopped and turned hearing a grumbling sound and found a pedestal rising from the centre of the floor, a golden egg on it.
"Hurray! Wait… what is that?"
"It's some sort of mystical gem stone"
Zuko ran towards it, hands out.
"BUT DON'T TOUCH IT!" I shouted in horror.
"Why not!?"
"Remember what happened out there with those spikes! I'm just very suspicious of giant glowing gem stones on pedestals.
But you know what!? He lifted it anyway and I couldn't prevent my eye brown twitching as I face palmed.
"It feels almost, alive." Zuko said softly, mesmerized by it.
He looked guiltily to the side, reaching forward to set it back but was interrupted by a spout of green gloop sticking him to the barred roof.
"WOAHHHHHHH!"
I looked over to the golden doors as they closed. "Oh no! It's another trap!"
I stepped away from the sticky gloop, as Zuko groaned in failure. "Ugh! I can't break free. It's like some kind of glue!"
I propelled myself over the glue and lifted my staff. With a shout I hit my staff outwards and a gust of air shot at Zuko, hoping to free him, but only succeeding in turning over so he was facing the sky.
He made a sound as he was turned over like "Eh…"
The rising gloop latched onto my staff, successfully sticking it in it. I tried prying it out, but failed miserably.
I jumped up using airbending to propel me, only sticking myself to the gloop covered bars.
"I can't move! Zuko, do something!"
"Me!? I can't move either!"
The green glue rose up and pushed against our backs, the pressure making us groan in pain.
It suddenly stopped. "It stopped…" I spoke the obvious.
"At least we have air, if we stay calm; we can figure a way out of this."
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We had waited until night time, and by then, we were fed up.
"You had to pick up the glowing egg…didn't you?"
"At least I made something happen! If it were up to you, we wouldn't have made it past the court yard!"
"HELP!" Zuko sat there as I yelled, his hair blowing to the side. "Who are yelling to!? Nobody has been living here for centuries."
I looked over to him expectantly "Well what do you think we should do"
His eyes lingered to the side "Think about our place in the universe…"
I let out a breath in annoyance. My thoughts interrupted by a stomp.
"Who is down there!?" I heard a stern voice yell.
A man, with a round belly, clad in face paint looked down at us. We gaped like fishes.
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Eventually we were freed; strange animals were licking the gloop off us.
Surrounded by sun warriors, the leader stepped forward.
"For trying to take our sun stone, you must be severely punished."
"We didn't come for your sun stone; we came to find the ancient origin of firebending."
"They are obviously thieves, trying to steal sun warrior treasure."
"Quiet, Hum Gow." An unusually softer voice compared to the sun warriors sounded out. All of the sun warriors turned and gasped, lowering to their knees, fore heads pressed to the floor.
I looked up as a small gasp emitted from Zuko.
A girl stood before all of us, dressed very different to the sun warriors. She was clad in an off the shoulder purple floor length dress, small black sleeves hung around her arms. A black material was tied around her waist, the ends of the black ribbon floating down to the floor as well; a black choker was around her neck, a purple flame pendent hanging off it. Dark brown hair that reached the waist and fairly pale skin. In her hand was a black lantern with a white flame in it. But the most abnormal thing about her was the eyes. They were a glowing violet colour.
"Let them speak." Every sun warrior rose from their bowing position
I gave a polite nod to her as she gave back a smile.
"I don't normally play this card but… I'm the avatar."
Zuko stood as I turned to him. "My name is Zuko, crown prince of the Fire Nation, or at least I used to be."
"I know my people have destroyed the ways of firebending, by fuelling it with anger and rage. But now I want to learn the true way, the original way. I never imagined that the Sun warrior civilisation would still be alive. I am truly humble to be in your presence, please teach us." Zuko finished as we bowed our heads.
"If you want to learn the ways of the sun, you must learn them from the masters Ran and Shao." The Sun warrior leader said.
"Ran and Shao? There are two of them?" I politely asked.
"When you present yourselves to them, they will read your hearts, your souls." He then turned to Zuko. "Your ancestry" He hissed with venom as Zuko grimaced. "If they deem you worthy, they'll teach you, if they don't…You'll be destroyed on the spot."
He leaned away and walked off. Zuko and I turned to each other, mouths agape in horror.
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"If you want to see the masters, you must bring them, a piece of the eternal flame."
He explained to us how this was the first fire given by the dragons.
"Young Aura over here was born from the flame, or more specifically, the dragons."
Zuko's eyes widened. "I don't believe it" he murmured
"You will each take a piece to the masters, the show your loyalty to the sacred art of firebending."
I looked down shamefully. "Um…Mr. Sun chief sir, yeah… I'm not a firebender yet…"
He ignored me pulling a string of fire and twirling it around him.
He split it into two flames. "You must maintain a constant heat, the flame will go out if you make it too small, make it too big, and you might lost control."
I nervously put out my two cupped hands, the flame floated into them. "It's like a little heart beat…"
Aura smiled, her soft voice was so calming, and we had only heard it once. "Fire is life, not just destruction."
"You will take your flames, up there. The cave of the masters is beneath that rock. Aura will guide you." He turned to Aura, who gave a sharp nod.
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We continued walking up the mountain, with the guidance of Aura. They were both 16, so their strides were longer. I was a little behind them. Zuko turned to me.
"Hurry up"
"I can't, if I walk too fast my flame will go out."
"It's too small because you're not giving it enough juice."
"What if I lose control?"
"You can do it, I know you can, you're a talented kid" I smiled at the compliment.
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We looked up in amazement at the caves.
The chief walked up to us, two sun warriors at his sides.
"Facing the judgment of the masters will be very hard for you. " He turned to Zuko. "Your ancestors are directly responsible for the dragon's disappearance. The masters may not be so happy to see you."
Hum Gow leaned forward and with a snappy tone said.
"I know I wouldn't." Aura sent a glare, a burning inferno in her eyes. Hum Gow cowered back. She was lucky she was the daughter of the eternal flames and they worshiped her.
"But once they find out I'm the avatar." I was cut off by the sun chief
"Have you forgotten that you disappeared for a hundred years, allowing the Fire Nation to wreak havoc on the world. The decline of the dragons is your burden too."
Aura turned to him; her wings of fire blazed up, and straightened out. "Enough!" She snarled. They took a step back, afraid of her power. She took a breath and turned to Zuko and me. "I'll come with you."
We nodded.
The sun chief stomped his staff on the rocky ground. He took a piece of Zuko and my flame, giving one to a sun warrior and another to the other. The gave the flame out, some sun warriors had drums in front of them, some were in positions to start bowing others were standing with a ring of fire in their hands.
I looked down. "What if they judge us, and attack us."
"Well we're the fire prince, the avatar and the Daughter of the Eternal Flame. I'm sure we can take these masters in a fight whoever they are."
Aura and I smiled. Zuko looked up and confidently shouted.
"Bring em' out!"
The sun chief spread his arms wide and shouted loudly
"Chanters!"
Sun warriors started hitting drums and chanting things, others were bowing.
We started to walk forward and met the bottom of the steps. We looked up nervously and took a deep breath each. Aura put a hand on one of our shoulders.
"Don't worry; I'm here for you guys." I smiled gratefully at her.
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What felt like hours, were probably only minutes.
We reached the top and turned to each cave.
"Those who wish to meet the masters will now present their fire!"
As each of us bowed low holding the fire. Aura stood beside Zuko, in a bow as well.
"SOUND THE CALL!" the chief's voice boomed out.
A horn was sounded. The caves shook as birds cawed and flew off.
I shook in fear and turned to Zuko and Aura.
"What's happening?"
When I turned my fire had dispersed.
"Huh!? Zuko, my fire went out!"
Aura gaped. "Aang! You idiot!"
"What do you want me to do!?"
"Gimmee some of yours!"
"No! Just make your own!"
"I can't!"
"Get some from some of those warriors! Hurry! Stop cheating off me!"
"Quit being stingy!"
"Guys, stop!"
But we didn't listen to Aura, we both kept struggling, me to get some of the fire, Zuko to keep it away. Zuko waved his arms a little and the fire went out. We stared at each other in fear.
Aura slapped us both upside the head. "You dumb asses! Now my parents will kill you both!"
Our jaws fell open. "PARENTS!" we both screeched.
There as a louder rumble from the caves. All of us looked at the caves and saw glowing gold eyes.
Aura grinded her teeth and hissed under her breath. "Agni! Fucking forgive these pair!"
Two dragons shot out of the caves with a hiss. One red and the other blue.
"These are the masters…" Zuko murmured in amazement.
"Still think we can take em'?"
"Shhh! I never said that…"
Aura sat in a lotus position despite the two dragons circling us. Realisation dawned upon me.
"These are her parents!?" Zuko and I stared in amazement.
Aura's P.O.V
I closed my eyes, feeling an unwanted presence in my head.
"Hello, father." I greeted formally
"Hello my daughter, what brings you here, especially with the Prince of fire!" He started off calm, but let his anger take over.
"Calm yourself father, and give me time to explain."
It went quiet; I gave a nod of approval.
"They have come to learn the true ways of firebending."
"True ways eh? Why not just kill them and be over with."
"Father!" I screeched. "Judge them properly!"
Another presence entered my mind, I smiled.
"Ran! Don't scare your daughter!"
"Mother"
"Aura honey! What brings you here?" My mother's soft voice of silk greeted me.
"My friends want to learn the true ways of firebending."
"Well then, we shall judge and then teach them."
"Thank you mother." I bowed my head politely.
"Ugh, this one chance I get to give a killing and it's lost because of your mother."
I cracked open an eye to see my mother's tail whip my father.
I giggled into my hand.
My father groaned. "Fine, let's get the judging over with."
The two presences left my mind.
"Love you honey!" My mother's silky voice called before it faded.
Zuko's P.O.V
As Aura closed her eyes, Aang turned to me.
"Zuko, I think they want us to do the dragon dance."
"What about this situation makes you think they want us to dance."
"Well, I think they want us to do something…let's just try it."
"Ugh!" I groaned. "Fine!"
We started off in the starting position. Ran followed me as Shao followed Aang. We continued through the dance the dragons following us in their own version.
We finished, fists touching and turned to each dragon.
"JUDGMENT TIME!" The chief's voice boomed.
I faced the blue one, Shao, my eyes wide with fear. Aang face the red one, Ran, literally shaking with fear.
The clung onto the pillars and let out mighty breaths of fire, Aang and I shouted out in fear. I then looked into the rainbow fire, and felt like my soul was being pulled out of my body. I saw visions and heard a woman's voice, Shao's voice.
You think fire is destruction. It doesn't only cause destruction, but also life. It isn't fuelled my anger or hate, but love and kindness. Take my daughter with you, she will guide you and help you through winning the war. You do not realise, but you have already found love and it will help you through learning the true way of firebending. The true way is to fuel it with love and peace. Find the love in hate…find the light in the darkness…
The woman's voice faded out.
"I understand"
The dragons flew up, twirled around each other, and shot into the caves silently.
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As we walked down the steps I turned to Aang and Aura.
"I saw so many colours! Colours I've never imagined..."
Aang turned to me.
"Like firebending harmony."
Aura smiled at this. "Exactly"
"Yes…They judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending."
"All this time, I thought firebending was destruction." Aang said. "Ever since I hurt Katara, I've been too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is, Its energy, and life."
"That's why I lost my firebending, for so many years, hunting you was my drive, but when I joined you, I lost sight of my inner fire. But now, I have a new drive. I have to help you defeat my father and restore balance to the world.
Aang and I shot out our fists, fire flying out of them. Aang stared in amazement.
The chief stepped towards us.
"Now that you know of our tribe's existence, we have no choice but to imprison you forever!"
We gaped in fear.
"Just kidding, but seriously don't tell anyone."
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"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I will be unstoppable."
Everyone clapped for us.
Sokka spoke up. "Yeah, that's a great dance you got there."
"It's not a dance, it's a firebending form!"
"We'll just tap dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord." Sokka used his two fingers in a taping motion.
I stomped over to him
"It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!"
Katara turned to me.
"Oh yeah! What's your little form called?" She whipped.
I looked down in shame. "The dancing…dragon." They laughed at this.
My mouth twitched as I tried not to smile.
Aang jumped up using airbending to whisper in my ear.
"Zuko, what about Aura? She's still hiding behind Appa…"
My eyes widened. "Um…guys, we have a new addition to the team." They all looked up, surprise in their eyes.
"I swear Zuko, if it's another Fire Nation guy!" Katara snapped
"N-Not a guy…"
Aang and I turned to Appa.
Aang spoke up. "Aura…you can come out now…"
You could see the tip of Aura's black flats peeking out.
She poked her head out from behind Appa. Everyone was silent, watching her.
"It's ok Aura, we won't hurt you." Katara said gently.
She stepped out more and everyone gasped at her wings made from fire.
"What!? What is so special about her!?" Toph asked.
Katara turned to Toph. "She has wings made of fire! White fire!"
Aura took a step back, clearly afraid."
Aang leapt beside her. "It ok, introduce yourself."
Aura cleared her throat. "H-Hi, I'm Aura and I'm the daughter of the dragons Ran and Shao…"
Demonpie17: Holy mother of waffles this is twelve pages long!
Aura: No way!
Demonpie17: You can bet your flaming wings it is! R&R my waffle loving friends!