Avatar Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Avatar Wiki

Overview[]

Rong Yan seeks answers and learns the sacrifices an Avatar must make to keep balance.


Chapter 18: The Smell of War[]

Book 1: Air

Chapter 18: The Smell of War

A tempestuous wind sweeps through the halls of the Jongmu Air Temple, the bleak skies holding the Sun's rays hostage and limiting the sun from lighting the ground below. The clouds in the sky were opaque and dark gray color as if the spirits that live with the All-High were weeping for the fallen. It was a sign that a storm was coming to the Patolla mountains.

The Council of Elders has a law that restricts airbenders from departing the temple during a storm for the safety of the rider and his sky bison. No airbenders were leaving the temple today when usually there is. There are some classes of novices that were canceled due to the weather. The roaring heard in the clouds sounded like the All-High was furious with anger. The sky bison shared a similar reaction with the children both the beasts were terrified as they scurried back into their caves. The children hid behind their guardians while others hid under their covers still in bed.

Rong Yan, Senge, Jampo, Aloi and Yong Ten were eating their meals in the mess hall it was their morning meal. Yong Ten peers at the gloomy sky with the thought of canceling training for today with Rong Yan giving him a rest day. He couldn't have been more proud of Rong Yan who's been training hard these past two weeks since the festival. They have not received word from the outside world, and the council has kept a watchful eye of the Avatar. Aloi had finally settled in spending most of her time in the library learning more about the culture of the monks of the Jongmu and Baiyan air temples. Helping out the scribes within the library wing of the northern tower with daily work and bonding with Subprior Shang Xi enjoying literature.

"I can sense a storm is coming today training is canceled Rong Yan," Yong Ten declared, Rong Yan had been deep in thought remembering about the criminal that was after him. He recalled when the military captain had announced to the crowd over in Taku city about General Senlin. A dangerous metalbender according to the investigators of Ba Sing Se, who escaped prison and assassinated Earth King Ta Po. This man was out for blood, if his targets were the Earth King and the Avatar then his goal had been completed after killing the monarch. Ku Tei passed away while Senlin was still in prison, why would he go after his reincarnation? What form of revenge would that be? He wasn't safe anywhere until that man is gone, sooner or later Senlin will learn of Rong Yan's location and present himself at the doorstep. He wondered what if Senlin confronted him and Rong Yan wasn't ready, he felt like he would most certainly die.

"Rong Yan," Yong Ten called out repeatedly noticing when Rong Yan didn't answer to his statement. Senge snapped his fingers in front of Rong Yan's face to snap him out of his deep thoughts. He shook his head and turned his attention to Yong Ten asking, "What?" "I said I can sense a storm coming today and wanted to tell you that training is canceled," repeated Yong Ten.

"Oh okay," Rong Yan responded as if he tried to ignore it and return to his thoughts. "What were you thinking about that was more important than Master Yong Ten canceling your training?" asked Aloi.

"Hegumen Geetsan mentioned that I can access the southern tower when I need to correct?" he inquired to Yong Ten.

"Yes, that's correct the southern tower holds our spiritual sanctuary which has been blessed to be the most spiritual area of the air temple. If you need to communicate with your past lives it is open to you, the sanctuary is sealed by a large door only openable with airbending," Yong Ten answered.

"I was thinking about General Senlin the one who assassinated Earth King Ta Po before fleeing Ba Sing Se. When I was announced as the Avatar to the world it tattooed a large target on my back. People who don't know my enemies by their faces or names will willingly give information that will threaten my safety. Who's to say he hasn't asked around for my location, sooner or later he'll find me here," continued Rong Yan.

"There's no way he can even attack us, the Jongmu air temple was built on the peak of the Patolla mountain range. The only way he can set foot on our temple grounds is if he comes by a flying bison," Yong Ten assured him.

"This guy is a master earthbender he has tricks up his sleeve he even can bend metal, I doubt any of my past lives have dealt with a metalbender. It's scarier than a tyrannical regent lord or fighting a civil war," Rong Yan countered.

"All of your past lives have dealt with a fear of their enemies, but through the confidence of their abilities and trust of their allies, they have stood tall in the face of terror and defeated their adversaries. You are under the protection of the Jongmu airbenders we will not permit an invader to harm you. Do not permit this man to terrorize your mind, take a deep breath and remember that you are safe here and will continue to master airbending undisturbed," reassured Yong Ten.

"I urge you to speak with your past lives only then will their advice calm you," he urged, Rong Yan nodded the advice given to him by his master. Yong Ten then mentioned to Aloi, "Subprior Shang Xi has spoken about you, he is quite impressed at your knowledge of literature."

"I've been assisting the scribes here with daily tasks, I know that he supervises the library wing. Subprior Shang Xi likes to dilly-dally in the library, he's recommended me some books that I should read. And I've mentioned, about wanting to express myself through my words and touching the hearts of millions. He's been giving me advice on writing novels," Aloi mentioned. Jampo and Senge had finished their meals and were about to head off back inside their chambers for the day when Jampo says, "I miss Mi Soo."

"Yeah I miss Yeoja too buddy," Senge agrees, they both flounder over to the temple's compost outside of the mess hall to drop any leftovers inside of the compost before returning their plates to the piles there were left behind by those who finished their meals. They had watched the two flounder and droop their heads in sadness wondering what that was all about. Returning to Aloi Yong Ten asks her, "Have you thought about what you're going to write about first?" "I have some ideas but I'm sure as I travel the world again I will be inspired by intricate beauties this world has to offer," she smiled.

"Well I'm going to stay put in the mess hall and help clean up," stated Yong Ten rising from his seat gathering his plate and the plates of Rong Yan and Aloi. He had gone around gesturing the remaining monks who were eating to hand over their plates if they had finished eating. Walking over behind the counter one of the oblates had noticed Yong Ten carrying the stack of plates thanking him, "Thanks for the help Master Yong Ten, I could use the help."

"I should get back to the library and help the scribes out," Aloi chattered getting out of her seat and walking away.

"Wait you don't want to come with me?" asked Rong Yan.

"I can't, you know this already if I break the rules I agreed to the council will banish me from the temple. Maybe Yong Ten will allow me to train you soon," replied Aloi.

"Besides you'll be busy talking to dead people, they're much more interesting than I," Aloi adds.

"I guess you're right I'll see you at lunch then," finished Rong Yan, padding to the southern tower while Aloi sauntered up the spiral stairs leading up to the library wing of the northern tower. Rong Yan eventually reached the lonely corridors of the southern tower with apertures on the walls decorated with small orange curtains that blew in the wind as the force of air entered the halls changing the temperature to a cold one. He reached the large wooden doors that lead to what he believed to be the doors leading into the sanctuary.

The doors had this large bronze contraption on it, long bronze tubes that encircled the doors as a design of an air whirl. Examining the contraption on the door he noticed there were bronze swirls three of them to be exact. He was contemplating a way to get the door open when a candle lit in his head. Shifting into a gen gua stance he spun counterclockwise and fired two blasts of air into the openings of the bronze pipes continuing to control the air and lead it into the pipes he watched as one of the bronze swirl pipes rattled before rotating to the other side which was painted blue. The compressed air passed through the other pipes shaking the other two swirls and rotating them to blue. Each making a loud echoing sound as the air escaped the pipes. The doors creaked open slowly he opened one of the doors wide open lumbering inside.

Southern Air Temple Avatar statues

The statues within the sanctuary. Carved to look exactly like the past Avatars.

The large sanctuary was dark in most areas with a few candles lighting corners he took a deep breath and scanned the room for torches on walls and open lanterns that he could light. Repositioning himself from an idle stance he switched to Chuanxin stance standing ready with fingers extended on each hand he shot embers at every visible candle, torch or lantern lighting up the sanctuary. The radiating fire reflected off statues of several people, he was astonished at the sight wondering who all the people carved into stone were. Then he remembered what Senge told him about the sanctuary carrying statues of all the past Avatars from the first Avatar to the most recent Avatar. After the floor was filled with statues there had been stairs that lead in a spiral to the very top of the tower along the way there stood statues of every Avatar in existence.

He stood in front of a shorter statue he had recognized the man as Avatar Ku Tei, the one next to Ku Tei was a woman from the Water Tribe, next to her was a tall Air Nomad, next was another one he recognized Avatar Ilah, crowned princess of the Fire Nation, next to her was Avatar Xi Tong which he spoke to almost two months ago. The statues continued in the cycle of the Avatar water was next and then air, and then fire. Several names filled his head as if he knew the names of all the Avatars. He sat in the center of the statues of the recent cycle which had the statues of Ku Tei, the Water Tribe woman, the Air Nomad monk, and Avatar Ilah. Closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath keeping breath control while he cleared his mind attempting to enter the Spirit World.

He opened his eyes a blue aura separated itself from him forming into the Air Nomad Avatar whose statue he faced. The man who sat across him in nomad style wore a long-sleeved yellow shirt, a red shawl, yellow trousers, and brown silk boots. He was bald and adorned with airbender tattoos, his facial hair and eyebrow color were black and he showed minimal wrinkles with high cheekbones and an oval-shaped head. He wore a fu manchu mustache with a thin goatee. Gazing upon his successor he introduces himself, "I am Avatar Kwan Chun, young firebender."

"I need your guidance I am troubled, I'm being chased by a maniacal man who seeks revenge on my past life. I fear him and believe he will attack me while I'm here mastering airbending," avowed Rong Yan, humbling himself before one of his past lives.

Kwan Chun slightly nodded replying, "Fearing your foe is normal Avatar Rong Yan, we humans only know two emotions love and fear. Your confession of being terrified is what makes you human, I too feared my foe. If you allow me to take you with me on a journey through my life I will show you my greatest fear."

Rong Yan nodded to the offer given to him by Kwan Chun, his spirit had risen from his body and his physical form entered the Avatar State, the blinding white light from his eyes brightened the entire area of the sanctuary he sat in. The statues that surrounded Rong Yan their eyes glowed altogether. They were upright on their feet standing next to each other in the Spirit World version of the Southern Air Temple.

They had appeared at night the surroundings that Rong Yan had called to mind was the northern courtyard where there had been a crowd of Air Nomads both men and women. The Council of Elders at the time all five monks were really old they stood up and faced a tall young airbender who had been dressed in ceremonial clothing he wore a white sash across his thin torso and a white kilt with white trousers underneath it. He held the carved mask of an old man on it. The ceremonial dance had ended when the elders walked up to approach the young man the woman had taken off her mask as well wondering what was going on. Rong Yan recollected this mask as Tiandi like when the monk and nun who danced during the opening of the festival performing the wedlock dance of Tiandi and Rati.

Kwan Chun wondered what was going on the Council of Elders were approaching him, he was a little uncomfortable when priors and subpriors behind the hegumen had knelt before Kwan Chun the hegumen announced to the nomads who the knew Avatar was.

"It is an honor to be in your presence Avatar Kwan Chun," the hegumen announced as he knelt before the newly announced Avatar. Everyone in the crowd including his friends that he grew up with had gotten on their knees to bow before the reincarnation of Avatar Ilah. The shock on his face had been too much to process and take in.

"The Council of Elders had pulled me after the announcement to tell me that tomorrow I must leave my home and travel the world to master the remaining three elements. They told me to leave everything I knew behind it did not matter anymore," Kwan Chun recalled, Kwan Chun had grabbed a few things when the hegumen shook his head at him and pointed at the sleeping bag and straw pillow and nodded. Kwan Chun had followed the hegumen at the door and down the corridors of the Southern Air Temple.

"I was given a scroll to deliver to the Southern Water Tribe chieftess, I had gotten on my sky bison Mushi and departed my home," Kwan Chun added, he snapped the reins on Mushi steering the flying bison into the sky Rong Yan sitting next to him in hues of blue and dark blue colors. Like when he reviewed Xi Tong's life he felt the wind here too. It was weird but he felt like he was there.

The temperature had made a sudden drop they had arrived on an isolated continent south of the Earth Kingdom, it was dry and extremely cold. The land was covered in snow and the large city in the middle of it was made of ice and snow as well. The city had canals throughout, Kwan Chun steered Mushi down below to the large city stables. Hopping off his sky bison he gave the stablehand some money before gliding off toward the palace.

Northern Water Tribe Royal Palace

Northern Water Tribe palace

"Upon my arrival in Iqaluit the capital city of the Southern Water Tribe, then I went straight to the chieftess who spoke to me about a master in the city named Injuquaq, he recently had been appointed master and needed students," Kwan Chun began.

The icy palace was gargantuan men in light blue fur coats dotted the halls leading to the throne room of the palace. Each of them stoic and holding spears standing in place for long periods of time, a steward to the chieftess guided Kwan Chun into the throne room where the chieftess who wore the skin of an arctic wolverine leopard the fur was a brown color with black spots sporadically on the pelt, she wore war paint on her fact two red triangles on each side of her jaw and two red horizontal lines across the bridge of her nose. Her hair was midnight black and was being invaded by gray hairs, she was a dark brown skin color and had light blue eyes. She wore animal furs as well and was known to be a good hunter.

Kwan Chun had been disgusted at all the furs she wore on her body but did not make mention of anything lest he offend the chieftess. He knelt before the chieftess in respect of her title, raising to his feet he offered the steward the scroll. The steward handed the chieftess the letter, she had examined the scroll noticing the wax stamp was of the Jongmu Air Temple, removing the stamp she opened the scroll and began to read it. Nodding to the contents in the scroll she pondered on all the masters within the Southern Water Tribe and directed him to a new master in the city.

"We have a new master within the walls of the city, you are welcome to train with him he requires new students. His name is Injuquaq he will teach you well Avatar," the chieftess suggested, Kwan Chun nodded to the chieftess' suggestion on who to go to for training thanking her, "Thank you, chieftess."

He had arrived at the training establishment a building to which he entered and was escorted to the back where a large training ground had been established. There a young short chubby waterbender had been instructing younger children to waterbend. The kids were maybe around six to seven years old and were practicing bending drills. The kids had water in the air and were making small circular movements swirling the water in the air and getting a hang of bending water and controlling it.

Kwan Chun waited for the lesson to be over he stood quietly with his hands behind his back observing the waterbending master in his natural habitat. When the kids had finished one of them, a little girl called upon him, "Master there is a visitor here."

Injuquaq turned around to gaze at the man before him a young airbender he brought up, "What do we say when a visitor arrives?"

All three kids welcome Kwan Chun, "Welcome to our school we hope you enjoy your stay!" they bowed to Kwan Chun before staying put waiting for their next orders. He asked Kwan Chun, "Yes is there something I can help you with?"

"The chieftess recommended I come to you to learn waterbending," answered Kwan Chun.

"Oh my blessed be La, it is truly an honor that you choose me to be your waterbending master Avatar," gasped Injuquaq dropping to his knees bowing to Kwan Chun.

"We became good friends, I lived in the Water Tribe for three years spending my time mastering waterbending at my own pace. The children he taught reminded me of the novices in the Jongmu Air Temple, rambunctious and adorable. It was home away from home I guess you can say," Kwan Chun said.

Kwan Chun stood across from Injuquaq about half a mile apart on ice sheets they had been in the middle of nowhere in the ocean a few miles from the bay area of the capital city. Injuquaq had taken a deep breath and focused as Kwan Chun windmilled his arms clockwise in front of him as slices of water rose from the ocean slicing the ice sheet Injuquaq was standing on. He jumped to another ice sheet near the one that was cut down and directed a wave toward Kwan Chun who controlled the wave as it drew closer to him around the ice sheet he stood on and back to his master.

Injuquaq had used his right to bend a large round-shape shield of water using his left to shoot shards of ice at Kwan Chun. Kwan Chun quickly began to dodge the shards like an airbender would before deciding to form water around him like an octopus squid and begin catching the shards with each tentacle. Freezing the tentacles he chucked small portions of the frozen tentacles at his master who dodged a few until more came at him he had crossed his arms to protect his face from the incoming ice shards. Kwan Chun had formed the octopus squid form into his image propelling the form at his master at a high speed catching him by surprise and knocking Injuquaq into the water.

Injuquaq swam to the surface resting his arms and panting for air on the ice sheet, controlling the temperature of his body so that he doesn't freeze to death. Kwan Chun had jumped over to the ice sheet Injuquaq was on assisting him by grabbing him by the hand and pulling up onto the surface of the sheet of ice. He thanked his friend, "Thanks, I think you're ready. You're an even better waterbender than I."

Kwan Chun smiled, "A student is only as good as his master."

Kwan Chun and Injuquaq bowed to each other then embraced into a hug laughing. They split portions of the ice sheets to surf back to the coast and call it a day. Kwan Chun had appeared before Injuquaq standing to his left while Injuquaq locked eyes with his dearly beloved to her right was another tribeswoman clapping and smiling at her friend. Injuquaq had kissed his new wife on the lips, several people were sitting down cheering and clapping. His students were around the ages of twelve and thirteen now since Kwan Chun remained in the Southern Water Tribe for another two years.

"We were lifelong friends, I remained in the Southern Water Tribe another two years I was even the best man at his wedding. After my time in the Southern Water Tribe I moved on to the Oma Kingdom to master earthbending," Kwan Chun mentioned.

Kuruk kissing Ummi

Injuquaq and Eska.

It was night time the chief's shaman was joined by the newlywed couple to pray for the tribe and its people and to bless the newlywed couple. The shaman had burnt some sage and spread the ashes with the feather of an arctic hare owl upon Injuquaq and his wife. Kwan Chun gestured for the attendees to rise to their feet for the toast.

"There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day, knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps. The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. For as long as love reigns, the impossible is possible to attain, Eska you have been blessed by Tiandi he has given you a strong, intelligent, kind and loving man. I hope Akna the Mother Bear blesses you both with beautiful children, and that Tiandi watches over your lifelong commitment to each other. Welcome to the family," Kwan Chun spoke to the bride raising his wooden cup in honor of Eska. The attendees who were families of both Injuquaq and Eska, and friends of Injuquaq and Kwan Chun raised their drinks and had a toast for Eska cheering and applauding Kwan Chun's toast.

Temple ruin

Town hall in the city of Taku.

Kwan Chun appeared in the city that Rong Yan was also familiar with, the capital city of the province of Taku. People roamed around aimlessly tending to their business and their daily lives. He met with the governor of Taku sitting in the governor's office he waited to speak with the man who runs the state. The governor was arguing with his assistant they had been fighting about the deployment of troops near the border of Chu and Taku.

"Governor Nuofu, you have to listen to the reports we're being invaded by Earth King Yao's army. The Ba Sing Se navy of Ru and Pingyao are controlling the coastline of our province and what isn't being controlled by our enemies is being taken by pirates. We're losing territory and any minute now Yao's army will marching into the city to take it from you," warned his assistant.

"I already sent word to King Ji Zu to send us reinforcements, it'll take them a week to reach us but that's fine we'll have enough men to repel the invaders," declared Governor Nuofu.

Nuofu sighed as he sat down in his seat in front of him was a younger Air Nomad who sported a small mustache and goatee. He questioned the young man, "Yes is there anything I can do for you, Avatar?"

"I'm looking for an earthbending master, I was told to come here by the chieftess of the Southern Water Tribe, she told me to mention that you owe her a favor," Kwan Chun replied.

The governor had begun to think about the favor that he obviously forgot he owed to the chieftess then came to mind the masters that lived within the city, he then explained to Kwan Chun, "We have two masters who live here in Taku, I highly recommend Master Shu not only is he a master earthbender but he can sense the vibrations in the earth. He developed an advanced skill where he can sense the breathing patterns and heartbeats of a person to determine whether they are telling the truth or lying. We often pay him for his truth seer services when we have a prisoner of war or a criminal in our custody."

"You mentioned there were two masters, you only told me about one of them," Kwan Chan mentioned.

"Did I? Well, there's also Jaya but no one goes to her bad reviews from the citizens and all, there are rumors amongst the soldiers that she once fought a volcano all by herself but that's just talk from the men. Master Shu lives on the northern side of Taku while Jaya lives three blocks from my estate," claimed Nuofu.

"I've made my decision on a master, thank you Governor Nuofu," thanked Kwan Chun bowing to the governor. He left the governor's estate and walked three blocks south from the estate asking some of the locals to point out Jaya's house to him. He was pointed in the right direction by an old woman, he knocked on Jaya's door. Jaya was not expecting any visitors she opened the door asking, "Can I help you?"

"Are you Master Jaya?" he returned an echo question, she nodded "Yes I am and who are you?" she questioned the stranger.

"I am Avatar Kwan Chun you were amongst the list of recommendations given to me by Governor Nuofu," he stated, the woman was short with a fit build, she had fair skin, light green eyes, long brown hair, and light brown bangs. She wore a xiomong a one-piece breast-binding undergarment which was dyed of a light green pigment, she wore light green pantaloons and dark green boots. Around her neck was a pendant the medallion was made of jade and carved in the center of the medallion was the insignia of the Gaxun tribe from the Si Wong desert.

"Nuofu sent you here? That old codger gets on my nerves, he usually sends earthbending hopefuls to Master Shu, leaving none for me. I have nothing against Master Shu believe me, he's a great earthbending master and a well-respected individual but a girl's gotta make an honest living somehow," she informed him of the governor's bias toward Shu instead of her.

"He said you're a bad teacher that's why no one comes to you, I want to prove him wrong. He also mentioned you fought a volcano once," said Kwan Chun.

"That's not true no one gives me a chance because Shu is well known around this state. I did fight a volcano once, I'm a master of compressing and expanding the earth. In other words, I can bend lava and sand," she noted.

She gestured Kwan Chun to join her inside he walked into her home scanning her living room where she had sculptures she created herself and various unknown items hanging on her walls. He then asked her, "Where exactly from the Earth Kingdom are you from?"

"Ahh you noticed the things hanging on my walls first, I belong to the Gaxun tribe of the Si Wong desert. I was born and raised in Tien Shan the capital city of the Gaxun territory of the desert," she answered, "The Gaxun tribe is one of the four sandbender tribes that lived in the Si Wong desert. The Si Wong desert was one of the large states in the Oma Kingdom, although the sandbenders hold no allegiance to King Ji Zu and most of the territories remain neutral in the civil war. Except the Hami Tribe they're allied with the Oma Kingdom."

"Where is that?" he inquired seeking further information from her wanting to learn more about her heritage.

"The Gaxun tribe lands are between the states of East Jurong and Qilian, it's technically on the southern part of the Si Wong desert," she responded.

Earth fissure

The earth tremor Kwan Chun had sent to Jaya.

Four years later, Kwan Chun closes his eyes concentrating the ground in front of him compresses slowly controlling the temperature of the area he's focusing on begins to heat up and rocks splitting in two sinking as they reach a melting point lava lashes out sprinkling a few centimeters from the pool of lava that was formed. Kwan Chun opened his eyes and continued to expand the pool of lava separating himself from his earthbending teacher. Jaya had kicked a boulder at Kwan Chun, he quickly used a large wave of lava to stop the boulder in its tracks and submerge it into the pool of burning liquified earth.

Raising the molten boulder out of the pool of lava he shoved it at Jaya who ducked under the boulder and retaliated with another chunk of earth. Sidestepping to his right to avoid the chunk of earth he front flips into the air bending a large wave of lava and using his breath control to dry up the wave into solid igneous rock sprinting up the still boiling rock he used air jets to propel himself further into the sky he planned to crash down below knees first creating an uphill earth tremor.

He went down knees first, Jaya quickly slid her foot and used her left arm to expand the dirt into sand. Kwan Chun sunk into the sand waist-deep now slowly sinking Jaya chuckled at the mistake her student made. Kwan Chun grinned at her using the sand to his advantage he sunk quicker completely burrowing into the ground compressing the sand back into solid rock he dug around to sneak up behind her. Jaya punted the ground with the heel of her foot trying her best to guess where Kwan Chun would be at to raise an earth column with the Avatar on it. She continued to do so given she tried a few times. Kwan Chun emerged from behind her wrapping his right arm around her neck to hold her in a headlock. She raised her arms gesturing that she's throwing in the towel.

Sandbender

Nidhi, Jaya's big brother.

"You are truly resourceful, Kwan Chun. I think you're ready now if you seek to further your sandbending training I can send word to my brother Nidhi in Tien Shan," she offered to him acknowledging that Kwan Chun is now a master earthbender.

He bowed and slightly nodded to her, "I'd be delighted to master sandbending."

She smiled, "Wonderful I'll send a letter to my brother by messenger hawk I'm sure he'd be happy to teach you."

Kwan Chun reappeared in the ancient city of Tien Shan the capital of the Gaxun tribe within the Si Wong desert, Rong Yan had felt the scorching hot sun hitting his ethereal skin. Kwan Chun slid off of Mushi's head to the soft sandy ground below. A group of sandbenders approached him, they wore wraps of tan cloth around their heads and necks protecting their heads and faces from the sandstorms that brew outside the settlements. These wore dark brown tunics and trousers and brown leather boots.

"After four years I mastered earthbending, it only took me about two years but it took an additional two years to master lavabending. Jaya told me it would prove useful as an essential tool in combat," Kwan Chun told Rong Yan.

"She offered to send word to her brother Nidhi who lives in Tien Shan within the Gaxun tribe sector of the Si Wong province. I stayed with him and his family for another year mastering the art of sandbending," he added.

"Jaya and Nidhi were of the Gaxun tribe, his sister left to make a life of her outside of the desert. While Nidhi stayed with his parents, making a life of his own here. He was a treasure hunter by trade and often scavenged unique treasures selling them to museums in other states. He used sandbending to sense relics buried beneath the earth just waiting to be dug up and discovered," finished Kwan Chun.

"Wow I did not know there'd be so many different sub-skills of earthbending," commented Rong Yan.

"There are many sub-skills to all the four elements, young firebender. You just have to commit yourself to figuring them out. It was hypothesized by the benders in Ba Sing Se that iron was bendable as well many have tried to bend iron but failed," claimed Kwan Chun.

Si Wong tribe

Kwan Chun, Nidhi, a treasure hunter, a cartographer and two archaeologists on a sandsail.

"While under the tutelage of Nidhi I traveled the desert many times on long expeditions to find treasure and fortunate, one of our greatest discoveries that was lost to time was Wan Shi Tong's library. It was considered to a be a fictitious place only found in fiction before Nidhi's expedition found the legendary library. Ran by a large knowledge spirit known as Wan Shi Tong. According to legend, the vast library of Wan Shi Tong was once in the Spirit World but the great knowledge spirit felt he had to share the knowledge with humanity in hopes of bettering them. We found books that contained stories of old relics from ancient civilizations, and I found a set of scrolls that carried the art of soundbending. An ancient subset of airbending developed by a secret society of airbenders known as the Vibrant Ones. While I was learning sandbending I had spent my time alone teaching myself how to bend sound," explained Kwan Chun.

It had been a dry simmering afternoon with a heatwave riding across the air in the distance on the sandsail that Nidhi and Kwan Chun and a few others rode in had noticed what they thought was a giant building.

"What is that?" called out one of the archaeologists.

"According to the map there's nothing there just another mirage let's keep going," Nidhi affirmed, Kwan Chun was controlling the sandsail with airbending steering closer to it from a distance he noticed it was no mirage.

"That's a building Nidhi I'm steering us toward it," Kwan Chun proposed they were soon engulfed by the gargantuan shadow that the library had when the sun was facing directly behind.

The massive structure had smaller wings on its sides with about four spires, it was constructed out of sandstone. They had noticed a fennec jackal stride into the temple it had an eerie glow to it and its fur coat was a combination of aegean blue and slate blue colors. The creature noticed them but ignored them and continued on its way inside.

"I've been around these parts of the desert but never seen this place before," Nidhi mentioned, the cartographer that was on the expedition peeked at the building and copied it onto parchment. Nidhi then questioned the cartographer, "What section are we in?"

"We're near the border with the Junggar tribe territory sir, northwest of Tien Shan, southeast of Altai," described the cartographer as he read the map. They leaped off the sandsail there had been six of them, Kwan Chun, Nidhi, the cartographer, a treasure hunter, and two archaeologists.

"Should we take any treasures we find inside back to Tien Shan, boss?" asked the treasure hunter.

"Not yet, we don't know what inhabits the building," Nidhi answered, the treasure hunter slightly nodded to his boss's orders.

"Keep a close eye we just saw a fennec jackal enter that building there could be more of them. I don't want anyone losing an arm," warned Nidhi everyone nodded to his orders and they padded inside the large structure.

The doors were oversized and giant, Nidhi, Kwan Chun, and the treasure hunter used bending to open the doors open. What laid in wait inside were dimly lit corridors that seem to go on forever. What met them behind the door first was a lobby which housed a counter and a few cabinets they looked around before moving on to the corridor. When they exited the large room they gasped at the marvel that was thought to be a simple corridor, inside was gargantuan hall. Looking to their lefts and their rights were bookshelves with several books inside. There were left wings and right wings that lead to the other areas of the structure. In the middle were four pathways leading to the north, south, west, and east corridors of the library.

The two archaeologists stooped over the railings to peek at what was underneath the main floor only to gasp more and realize there were several floors under the main floor that looked similar in design with even more bookshelves with thousands of books held within them. There were masks on the support pillars of animals, monsters and the deities of the humans.

"This is an outstanding discovery do you know how many scholars from Omashu would be making expeditions here to learn that the library fabled in fiction is indeed a reality," marveled older scholar.

They were both dressed the same, they wore light clothing as to allow their skin to breath under the arid desert sun, and wore straw hats to protect the head from the sun. They both carried satchels containing books and tools. The treasure hunter and Kwan Chun wore similar threads as Nidhi headwraps and light clothing to protect them from the sandstorm but not thick enough so they're not suffering from a heatstroke.

Suddenly, they heard a fluttering of wings a large dark brown feathery creature landed in front of them. It looked like a giant owl, the feathers surrounding its face were white, it fixated its eyes on them and in a loud booming voice it introduced itself, "I am Wan Shi Tong he who knows ten thousand things, welcome to my library."

The cartographer and the two archaeologists were startled at the sight of the large creature, Nidhi and the treasure hunter looked at each other and nodded in agreement if the giant owl attacks to defend themselves. Kwan Chun minced delicately toward the giant owl spirit bowing to the grand spirit he introduced himself and the others, "Greetings grand spirit I am Avatar Kwan Chun, this is my friend Nidhi and these are his hirelings we're on an expedition and are cartographing the desert in Gaxun territory. We happened to stumble upon your great library and were curious to take a peek inside."

Wan Shi Tong close-up

"Ahh humans I've been studying your kind for a very long time since the days that your kind hid on the backs of lion turtles," mentioned Wan Shi Tong, the archaeologists looked at each other stunned to hear a fact of their ancestors living on the mythical lion turtle creatures. "We only seek to browse your library," Kwan Chun said.

"Very well you may browse my library on three conditions, first, you must not steal from my library may seek information needed and write it in your logs, second, you must not use the knowledge you learn here to destroy other humans, and three, you must willingly donate an offering of knowledge to my library so that I may continue to expand the knowledge within these walls," explained the owl spirit.

The archaeologists stepped forward one of them handed a book of recent excavations around the Gaxun and Alxa regions of the desert, the other gave a rolled-up painting of the current King of Omashu Ji Zu, Nidhi, and the treasure hunter gave relics recently excavated, the cartographer gave a map of the current locations around the Si Wong desert and the sectors added. Kwan Chun had given the necklace that Jaya had made him as an offering to Wan Shi Tong he knew it was a personal gift made for him by a friend but he had nothing else to offer.

Wan Shi Tong had taken their donations thanking them, "Thank you, I hope you enjoy my library." Kwan Chun bowed to the owl spirit it spread its wings and prepared for take-off flying back down to one of the floors below. They huddled around in a circle to plan out something, "We all meet back here in two hours got it?" Nidhi planned, everyone nodded and wandered off aimlessly in a direction. Nidhi and Kwan Chun went one direction, the treasure hunter and cartographer in another and two archaeologists had gone in another direction.

Kwan Chun had been scanning the area that he and Nidhi had arrived in, Nidhi was pulling out books that he found interesting. There was a nearby desk that he sat in to further enjoy a read of the contents within. The three books he carried spoke about the other tribes in the Si Wong desert since Gaxun only has a brief knowledge of the other three tribes. He had learned the origins of the sandbender tribes. The tribes were a much larger tribe a few thousand years ago led by a queen after she died her four sons fought for the throne to lead the tribe into the future. Civil war erupted and the followers of the four brothers split and went around the desert to live separately into four tribes named after their patriarchs.

Kwan Chun examined further he had found books that spoke about his past lives, like the first Avatar a man named Wan. The first cycle of the Avatar consisted of Wan, Nyi an Air tribeswoman, Pinasut a Water Tribesman, and Atl an earthbender from the Kingdom of Qin long before the Earth Kingdom was established by the Zhou dynasty under Avatar Duryaja. When the nations had first lead expeditions across the world to inhabit areas that they felt were home to them and would later be the nations developed in history. The first cycle was lost in time but this library carried their names and their lives recorded in a book.

The 167th avatar atl by avield-d57eeoh

Avatar Atl, was the fourth Avatar born into the Kingdom of Qin long before the Xia, Shang and Zhou that united to become the Earth Kingdom.

He continued to look for more books finding a book of the history of the establishment of the Fire Nation under the First Fire Lord a man named Inzei. It was later revealed as Kwan Chun skimmed through the book that he was an Avatar. There was another cabinet that contained small wooden boxes carved into the wood of the boxes were words in languages he could not read. One of the boxes he understood beside the wooden box was a scroll that contained an explanation of what is inside the box.

All the boxes in this cabinet contained a scroll that laid next to each one. He had picked up the scroll and unrolled it to read its contents: "The scrolls that rest inside this wooden container belong to Master Bajo, master of the musical branch of soundbending. Inside you will find various scrolls that contain basic and advanced sets of soundbending. Read the scrolls carefully to learn more about each school of soundbending each has its use. The three branches are musical, calamity, and subtlety. The names of the branches describe what each branch is about."

He had rerolled the scroll back up and tied the string of yarn back around the scroll, he slid the lid off the wooden container to find several scrolls within the box. Gently opening each scroll with the care he found forms of soundbending from the basics to the advanced forms of soundbending. The musical branch of soundbending was potentially the most benign of the schools of soundbending. This school was often used by bards and minstrels who would use the art for passive uses or some forms were used offensively but were less straightforward.

The soundbender can alter the frequency of sounds, their bass, and treble, they could capture passing sounds in bubbles, altering the sounds within the bubbles and releasing the sound in a musical sequence. They could also redirect passing soundwaves toward particular objects that may produce a different sound than they would be going on their normal course. A singer could use their bending skills to change the tone of their voice to virtually any tone, perhaps even imitate the voices of other people almost perfectly depending on their skill level even to the point where it becomes virtually impossible to distinguish their original singing/speaking voices. This would be a school that generally focuses on using soundbending for passive artistic expression.

The scrolls of the calamity school of soundbending contained moves that would focus on the brute destructive power of soundwaves. Soundbending is almost purely for offense with defense and evasion handled by normal airbending tactics. The bender uses the largest soundwaves possible to create a massive destructive force. Techniques would include shooting air darts at a supersonic speed to generate a sonic boom and then controlling the force of that sonic boom. The images drawn on the parchment demonstrate containing a blast of soundwaves in a large bubble and entrapping a foe within that bubble of force and shattering the person's eardrums. There was another one similar to the one above it but containing a sonic blast within a small bubble and tossing them like sound explosives that could be disorienting the foe. Another technique shown in another scroll was a supersonic scream, amplifying one's voice through soundbending would produce ear-shattering wails that could crumble buildings. The scrolls of calamity contained warnings indicating that one must maintain moderation and only use them during dire situations. It was also mentioned that one should not perform sets of calamity moves without first mastering the protective barrier that shields the bender from exploding their eardrums.

Finally at the bottom where the scrolls of subtlety, the techniques described within were used for spying, assassination, or gathering information. Soundbenders could bend the sound of footsteps to be completely and utterly silent, they could use ventriloquist skills to perfectly imitate and throw sounds with unique and high precision and accuracy, they could use the previously mentioned skills to imitate people's voices.

There's also the potential of generating high-frequency sounds to induce unconsciousness or paralysis. In this school, the soundbending isn't used for offense or defense per se, but rather more in conjunction with normal airbending skills. The use of soundbending is to deceive and outmaneuver opponents or evade them. The monks at the temple had no use for such stealthy methods and frowned upon the use of soundbending unless it was the music school but the ancient organization known as the Vibrant Ones certainly practiced both the subtlety and calamity schools of soundbending.

He studied the scrolls thoroughly writing down the movesets on another piece of parchment describing each step so that he could attempt to practice them later. Nidhi had turned his attention to Kwan Chun peeping at his task from behind him. He had seen the wooden container next to Kwan Chun with scrolls and scanned the room for the cabinet where Kwan Chun had grabbed the container to find more containers similar to the one on the table beside the Avatar.

Examining the boxes on the shelf he found two containers in ancient Earth Kingdom language, the sandbenders spoke in a dialect of the Earth people language that used words from the dead ancient earth language as slang along with more modern language. He read the first box that said, "Metalbending" and the second one in his opinion was more interesting it read, "Sandbending". He grabbed the second container and slid the lid off the box revealing scrolls that the ancient sandbenders once used. So many movesets that were lost to time right in his hands. Kwan Chun was still distracted by his task at hand where he had written down the movesets for soundbending.

Nidhi looked to his left and right to see that no one was watching and slipped the wooden container of sandbending scrolls inside his satchel. Going about his business he continued to look at other books.

The cartographer looked at many maps of the Earth Kingdom older ones still reading the map he had found he mentioned to the other treasure hunter, "Wow I didn't think there was a time where the Earth Kingdom wasn't just two split kingdoms. It says right here that during the time of Avatar Giralal the Earth Kingdom founded by the first Earth King, Avatar Duryaja was split into two kingdoms."

Library room

The cartographer looking at the detailed map of the Earth Kingdom before the country split into two back approx. 3000 BG.

"I wonder what happened between the two to have the kingdom of Omashu secede from the Earth Kingdom," wondered the cartographer, he glanced back to catch a glimpse of the treasure hunter slipping an Earth Kingdom relic into his sack. Appalled by the treasure hunter's actions the cartographer felt like they were being watched by the knowledge spirit.

"What are you doing put that back," protested the cartographer whispering as to keep his voice down from the strange fox creatures and the owl.

"I came for treasure and that's what I'll be leavin' with," the treasure hunter replied.

"Avatar Kwan Chun will be angry what is wrong with you?" he questioned the sandbender.

"He ain't my boss Nidhi's the boss," the sandbender contended with the cartographer, he grabbed the map he stole from his sack tossing it the cartographer. The cartographer caught the scrolled map opening it to reveal a detailed map of the Si Wong desert from about five or six centuries ago.

"Come on this is the historical breakthrough that will put you on the map," the sandbender coaxed the cartographer.

Wide-eyed and shocked to see the different locations of ancient settlements throughout the desert, he cleared his throat and then shook his head his moral compass getting the better of his historical breakthrough. Placing the scroll on a shelf he disagreed with the treasure hunter, "No this is wrong we shouldn't be taking anything, the owl spirit specifically said not to steal anything."

"I'm going to go find Nidhi and Kwan Chun," he mentioned leaving the treasure hunter and going down the hall to find the Avatar and the expedition leader. The sandbender shrugged and stuffed the map back into his sack making sure the sack was light enough to not have to struggle if they're caught.

The archaeologists were having the time of their lives continuing to find archaic findings in the section of the library they found themselves in. They both were studying and examining jewelry, everyday items that these days are extremely rare to find. Relics from ancient times so to speak, they continued to make note of the items on parchment and even draw out the item's appearance. They rolled up their notes then jogged back to the center of the hall where they all agreed to meet up at. Being the first ones there they waited for the others.

Meanwhile, the cartographer had arrived to find that Kwan Chun and Nidhi were no longer where he suspected to find them. He instead decided to run back to where they agreed to meet up at running into Kwan Chun, Nidhi and two archaeologists chattering about their findings. He ran up to Nidhi informing him what the sandbender had done when suddenly screaming was heard from the southern corridor the sandbender had been screaming running for his life a relic falling out of his sack.

Wan Shi Tong attacks

The treasure hunter had been caught stealing by Wan Shi Tong.

"RUN!" yelled the treasure hunter sprinting as quickly as he could, a crash is heard behind him legging behind the treasure hunter the angry knowledge spirit letting out a deafening screech with his beak open.

"What did you do?!" shouted Kwan Chun he joined them and they ran together Kwan Chun had swiftly shifted into the gen gua stance and created a large air swipe with his staff firing a crescent-shaped projectile of air at the owl spirit to help stop it in its tracks.

When everyone had fled the library Kwan Chun shut the large doors to the library behind him with another air swipe slamming them. The screech of Wan Shi Tong could be heard from the inside of the building but after that, it had gone silent. They jumped on the sandsail Kwan Chun had twirled his hands and began to control a small twister at one end of the sandsail steering the sandsail toward the southeast back to Tien Shan.

Nidhi looked at the treasure hunter, "I thought we agreed to the terms of the owl, no stealing from the library!" he scolded his hireling. The sandbender had argued and disagreed with his boss, "Sorry boss, couldn't pass up on the opportunity to sell a unique item of high value to some fences outside of the desert."

The treasure hunter looked at the cartographer and pulled out the map that the cartographer had been looking at. The cartographer ignored him turning his head to the left to look at Kwan Chun instead. The archaeologists were frightened and angry as well but satisfied with the fact that they at least survived the whole ordeal. The treasure hunter had a few relics stowed away in the sack, a few books that might prove useful, and the map. Kwan Chun had noticed that Nidhi was a little bit suspicious too. He questioned his friend, "Nidhi what's in your sack?" Nidhi shook his head gesturing nothing.

Kwan Chun repeated, "What's in the sack, Nidhi?"

Kwan Chun stopped controlling the twister that blew the sails of the vehicle, the sandsail had slithered a few yards before coming to a halt. He poked at Nidhi again who was ignoring him, "Empty the sack Nidhi please," Kwan Chun said. Nidhi ignored him, Kwan Chun lumbered over and removed the sack from Nidhi's grasp gently emptying it's contents out revealing two wooden containers he recognized one of them with the lettering 'soundbending' and another he couldn't understand too well but he was sure if Nidhi took an interest in it and it was similar to the soundbending scroll container it must be one for sandbending he had hoped.

"You both stole from the library was this your plan? To put everyone on the expedition in danger?" Kwan Chun interrogated the two sandbenders angrily, the hireling remained quiet. "I expected better from you, Nidhi," he added.

"I stole those scrolls for you, the soundbending is for you to learn and master the advanced form of airbending and the sandbending scrolls are for both of us. How do you expect to master sandbending if your master can only teach you a limited amount of moves?" he argued, Kwan Chun sighed.

"There had to be another way to do this, stealing is wrong and you know it," Kwan Chun disagreed.

"Treasure hunters are thieves we steal relics from ancient civilizations that are long gone and haven't been around for centuries. No one claims these things anymore, they're fair game," countered Nidhi.

"But these belonged to owl spirit his knowledge seekers retrieved these artifacts," reasoned Kwan Chun.

"They were collecting dust in that library, at least if we sell these we can get a good price for them and the buyer will put them to good use," maintained Nidhi.

Kwan Chun facepalmed and then sassed Nidhi, "The buyer will end up putting it back into a museum where it collects dust." Nidhi had thought about what Kwan Chun had said and then chuckled, "You made a funny."

"After that event, I had to keep a close eye on Jaya's brother Nidhi, during the year I spent in the Gaxun state of the Si Wong desert I mastered sandbending and soundbending with the scrolls that Nidhi stole from Wan Shi Tong's library. I felt using these stolen scrolls to learn advanced forms of bending would come back to bite me in the butt, it would be only a matter of time." Kwan Chun stated.

"From the Si Wong desert, Mushi and I traveled to the city of Yin La in the Fire Nation to master the final element that I had to learn. I met a woman named Aki who became my firebending master and through distraction in between my lessons she also was a temporary girlfriend. You can't see past those golden pools of honey, they sparkled in the moonlight," Kwan Chun divulged to Rong Yan.

Ming

Aki, Kwan Chun's firebending teacher.

"I thought Air Nomads were celibate year-round except for the Festival of Four Winds?" Rong Yan questioned Kwan Chun, he chuckled and then responded, "Yes the Air Nomads who occupy the temples must follow the code but those of us who travel the world do not stick to the code, many nomads have fallen in love with other nomads or even foreigners and have made families."

Kwan Chun and Aki appeared to be walking down a path leading to a forest in the Fire Nation holding hands and in love. Aki had hatched a plan in her head, she grinned releasing her interlocked fingers from Kwan Chun's hand and ran up ahead shouting to him, "I think I just saw something."

Aang deflects a fire blast with airbending

Kwan Chun blasting fire at Aki in a surprise test.

Running over the hill she waited for him to hike over the hill to face a fireball head-on. Aki stood her ground in a shifa stance swinging her left leg and firing a stream of fire at Kwan Chun. He ducked under the leg sweep of fire jumping forward and upward releasing fireblast from both palms. Knocking her off balance she took the hit but wasn't too injured, she had walked it off. He stooped over to offer her his hand, she took it and he lifted her to her feet. They continued to wander off down the path further like nothing happened.

"I mastered firebending in two years I would have returned to the Jongmu Air Temple to master the Avatar State, but it had been delayed due to an attempt on Fire Lord Osamu's life. A coup was formed to overthrow the ruling of the current Fire Lord, it was an elaborate plan to that I investigated and decided to stay put another year. That year took a toll on me emotionally, I lost the love of my life during that event. Something that remained with me until the end of my days. It had been the first time I had taken a life, the assassin behind it all was the crowned prince of the Fire Nation, Kudeta. I had no regrets he was the cause to which my dearest Aki was ripped from my life," recalling Kwan Chun as he choked on the last few words remembering the event like it had occurred the day before.

Prince Sozin

Prince Kudeta of the Fire Nation in 937 BG.

Aki took a strike of lightning from the Prince Kudeta, the palace remained empty save Kudeta, Aki, Kwan Chun and the rebel guards who supported the prince. She had fallen over resting on a pillar where she took her final breaths. The prince had missed his target and Aki took the hit instead. Kwan Chun was to receive the lightning blast but in the end, his love sacrificed herself so that he may live to save Fire Lord Osamu.

Kudeta had ran off with two guards, three guards remained. The lightning that struck Aki had angered Kwan Chun the wrath of the Avatar was now inevitable. He was currently defenseless tending to Aki or so the three rebels who attacked him had thought they attacked Kwan Chun all at the same time conjoining the blasts to an even stronger fire blast. The fire had been out of their control they gasped and were mortified to see that Kwan Chun's anger had triggered the Avatar State. The fire slowly crept up their arms engulfed their bodies toasting the men and giving them a smoldering end.

He scrambled to his knees and to the side of Aki she remained mortally wounded, a large burn on her chest. Tears streaming down Kwan Chun's eyes, he allowed her face to rest on his hand those final moments defined him as what kind of Avatar he was meant to be. Her breathing had been hollow and she had begun to choke up and cry too. Wincing in pain she remained as still as she could as to not feel the pain further.

"Kwan Chun, my love, I fulfilled my destiny.." she whispered to him.

"I told myself that I would do anything to protect you even if it meant that I have to give up my own life to keep you safe," she added.

"No, no, it doesn't have to be this way I can take you to a healer in the Fire Sage temple..you can make it Aki," he disagreed shaking his head to her.

"Go my love...d-don't let him get away protect the Fire Lord..." she murmured. Her breathing had slowed down more, Kwan Chun had gently kissed Aki, resting his forehead onto hers. She continued to let tears slide down her soft face the heart-breaking moment was so hard on him, nothing mattered to him right now but his girlfriend.

Suki imprisoned

Aki having her last few breaths before telling Kwan Chun she loves him.

On her final breath, she uttered, "I love..y-you.."

Kwan Chun began to sob he wiped the last tears from her face, kissing her on the forehead screaming "Nooo!" repeating it a few times.

The crying had stopped, rage and fury had filled his heart the Avatar State was once again triggered he spun upward in large spout of air. A blast had been heard from a distance and Prince Kudeta was escaping Palace City, on the road he had glanced back to see that a portion of the roof of the palace had exploded only to see an air spout in the distance. He had been riding a dragon moose and the two guards who were escorting him had also been riding dragon moose. The winds that surrounded them had begun to pick up tempestuously, Kudeta screamed in terror the Avatar was now behind him. In a quick ditch effort he shot a ray of lightning to end his threat, the lightning instead spread and killed the two guards that were escorting Prince Kudeta.

Before him was now the wrath of the Avatar, the dragon moose had been easily startled it had knocked the prince off of its back and had scurried off in another direction. On the ground now every attempt to blast fire at the Avatar was nullified. The spherical barrier of air protected Kwan Chun from any tricks, rocks had spun around his body and there were rings of fire and water surrounding him. A true terror for one who provoked the wrath of the Avatar State, Kwan Chun bent the earth of around Kudeta and the shape of a large earth fist, raising him off the ground and trapped unable to move his limbs or his head.

Ozai cries out in pain

Kudeta paralyzed waiting his inevitable execution by Avatar Kwan Chun.

Bending the soundwaves around them Kwan Chun induced the prince into a state of paralysis. He had no other option but to witness firsthand his inevitable death. The winds had picked up and rain had begun to fall from the skies as if the spirits who lived with Tiandi were crying for the death of Aki. The skies themselves roared in fury, a large strike of lightning plummeted down upon the trapped prince his silence was music to the Avatar's ears. The lightning cooked his body and he remained trapped in the giant fist made of earth.

The rain continued to pour but the rage and raw emotion of the Avatar State had faded, after killing Prince Kudeta and his rebels Kwan Chun fell to his knees in emotional pain after losing Aki. He sobbed and sobbed and the spirits of Tiandi cried with him, he had screamed with a mixture of soundbending and firebending. The soundbending had amplified his screaming that had echoed and startled the citizens of Palace City and Yin La. The fireball that escaped his mouth as a result of the screaming as well.

"I was in dark place after the death of my dearest Aki I had abandoned my duties as the Avatar, I felt like I failed by not protecting her. The regret-filled my heart and I suffered from depression I eventually looked past it but never moved on. I returned to the Jongmu Air Temple after twenty-four years, I arrived to hear grave news when I had asked about my guardian monk the new members of the Council of Elders had told me that he was captured by the kingdom of Ba Sing Se," confessed Kwan Chun.

Northern Air Temple fanart

The Jongmu Air Temple just like Kwan Chun remembered.

"I believed that my absence from my duties allowed the immoral to lash out and commit atrocities. Earth King Yao of the Qiangda Kingdom had been an issue since I left to master the four elements according to my elders. It had only gotten worse after four years but news of the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se was quite unheard of in the province of Taku other than armies from the provinces of Ru and Pingyao attacking Taku state," recalled Kwan Chun.

Kwan Chun appeared before the Council of Elders to speak with them about what's next in his journey as the Avatar. He knelt and bowed before the council, the five abbots had bowed their heads in respect of the Avatar. The hegumen was first to speak, "You have finally returned home after your journey in mastering the four elements, Avatar. We are proud of you but you have disappeared for twenty-four years, what has become of you and all that time? We know that you must have faced challenges during the last thirty-five years of your journey. We had received word from Fire Lord Osamu that you had left the Fire Nation in 937 and you have not returned home what was the reason behind this?"

"I apologize Hegumen I have been in a dark place, my mind, my soul and my heart were torn asunder. I know that there are no words that I can say to excuse myself from being absent from my duties as the Avatar," apologized Kwan Chun.

"What is the meaning of this, Avatar Kwan Chun?" questioned one of the subpriors.

"When I battled Prince Kudeta of the Fire Nation he struck my dearly beloved with lightning killing her. I had felt raw feelings of despondency and dejection and wasn't myself for an entire year, I spent twenty-three years of my life soon after that event living in Fire Nation as a hermit I had given up hope and felt that I was not a great Avatar, I had reached a low point and overcame it with the help of healers. But I have finally returned seeking the next step in becoming a fully-realized Avatar," confessed Kwan Chun.

One of the priors blurted out, "You allowed the distraction of love and the abandonment of your duties to interfere with your destiny, Avatar. You were raised and you are aware of the celibacy one must commit to if you are to be spiritually enlightened. You broke the code and allowed the sins of the physical form to further corrupt your soul."

The hegumen gestured with his hand at the prior to remain silent he had thought of his next few words he then said, "Your apology is accepted by me," he paused the other three elders bowed their heads and in unison said, "We accept your apology, you are only human after all."

The prior interjected, "You apologize to the Avatar but ignore the fact that he turned his back on the world when are you going to-" he had been cut off by the hegumen who interrupted his rant, "I said silence, prior."

"When are you going to tell me what?" inquired Kwan Chun concerned about what had occurred during his absence.

The other prior sighed, "After your absence from the world, we have been dealing with the new unethical policies and wicked behavior of Earth King Yao. According to our meetings with the other elders of the other temples during one of the annual Rati holidays we had learned that nuns from the Shang Qiao Air Temple had been threatened and even attacked by Ba Sing Se guards when they visited the city-state of Ba Sing Se," he explained.

"They were attacked? Why were they attacked?" questioned Kwan Chun.

"We received reports from oblates who traveled to the Qiangda Kingdom, Earth King Yao has rallied the nationalists through propaganda. There have been recent attacks of Air Nomads in the Qiangda Kingdom and we've decided to ban all nomads from entering the kingdom for their safety," explained one of the subpriors.

"The oblates have reported about an ancient treaty put in place by the Xia and Shang dynasties thousands of years ago. According to the treaty the kings of the Xia and Shang kingdoms before the establishment of the unified kingdoms of Earth, they had given a mountain range and an island to the Air Nomads. Yao had noticed that the treaties no longer apply after the fall of the Xia and Shang kingdoms when Avatar Duryaja conquered them both and unified the lands as the Kingdom of Earth, Yao wants those lands back. He's gone as far as threatening the Baiyan and Shang Qiao air temples, trying to tax them on their lands, imprisoning airbenders that set foot outside of the air temples," the hegumen addressed to Kwan Chun directly.

"It is only a matter of time before Earth King Yao attacks both air temples, putting those airbenders at risk," speculated the prior who ranted earlier.

"And what of Khazhal? I long to see my guardian's face," asked Kwan Chun, they all looked at each other and nodded the hegumen answered the question, "Khazhal left with some oblates that brought us this news. They were released unharmed but Khalzhal was arrested and thrown in prison."

More grim news that Kwan Chun had to go through first was the loss of his beloved Aki then it was the imprisonment of the guardian monk who raised him here at the Jongmu Air Temple that added to the stress.

"I'm going to Ba Sing Se tonight to rescue Khalzhal," declared Kwan Chun.

"No, you must remain here," the prior stated.

"I'm master of all four elements I can save him and the others who have been imprisoned," Kwan Chun argued.

"Yes you are, but you have yet to master the Avatar State, and in your aggravated state of vengeance you will surely make mistakes that will cost their lives or even yours. You are forbidden from entering the Qiangda Kingdom until you're a master of the Avatar State, are we clear?" reasoned the hegumen, he made a final decision and the other four agreed with him. Kwan Chun sighed and nodded his head agreeing, "Yes...I agree."

"It was clear that Yao wanted to waste away lives and he targeted the Air Nomads, for they will put up no fight. My people have been captured, deported, threatened, extorted and worse of all killed while visiting the kingdom outside of the air temples. I obeyed the decision made by the Council of Elders and in six months I mastered the Avatar State becoming a fully-realized Avatar," Kwan Chun continued.

"The war was barely starting it was made known that the Earth King's forces would be attacking the Shang Qiao Air Temple soon, it was then that I and Mushi left to Ba Sing Se to reason with Earth King Yao," Kwan Chun remembered.

"While flying over the city to the Upper Ring I was met with resistance Yao knew it was only a matter of time before I would pay him a visit," Kwan Chun added.

Mushi soared through the skies above the gargantuan city-state known as Ba Sing Se, Mushi had roared to warn Kwan Chun of the incoming projectile and a large earth coin flew in their direction. Kwan Chun stopped the motion of the large coin from colliding with them crumbled the coin into smaller projectiles and from atop of his bison he shot even smaller rocks at the soldiers below. He stood on Mushi's head trying to balance with his staff in hand he shouted to his flying bison, "Mushi get out of here I'll do this alone I'll call you when I need you."

Kwan Chun leapt off his flying bison extending the glider out of his staff and gliding down to the palace steps where more projectiles were being flung in his direction. He sprinted to the nearby bridge that was built over the moat surrounding the palace. Flashing the Avatar State to enhance his bending he stood his ground in the xie bu stance with his legs folded.

His right foot points straight ahead and bears most of his weight. While the knee of his left leg is turned in and rests on the back of his right leg. The heel of the left foot is off the ground, his left arm was extended behind him while his right was extended in front of him the fingers closed to resemble the beak of a bird. He began to push and pull the waters in the moat as they swish around with force earthbenders would run toward him the waters flowed out the river as he continued to control them while making flowing movements with his arms. The large waves crashed amongst the men the coins that were flung at him were caught by the powerful water tentacles. As soon as the tentacles grabbed a hold of the earth coins that would freeze.

Katara attacks Jet

Pulling water out of the moat surrounding the palace and it's outer courtyard.

Nonbenders to his left and right were charging in with their spears and swords to take him down. Instantly breaking his focus he switched into a Fu Bo stance, he faced to the right his left leg was behind and his right was in front. His left foot stood on the heel while his right foot stood on the midfoot, his arms were bent at the elbow hands resting on his sides balled in fists. Ready to pivot at moment's notice. He slid his right foot forward expanding the ground into quicksand every nonbending soldier sunk waist-deep.

He extended his right and clenched his fist tighter compressing the sand into solidified earth trapping the men before pivoting and facing the men to his left and doing the same thing. He had defeated the threats all the soldiers that were stationed in front of the palace were incapacitated by either being frozen or sunk waist-high into sand before having it solidify into earth.

He jolted in the palace royal guards stood their ground in their best defense of the throne room doors. Kwan Chun bent an airball around the soundwaves when a guard pulled out his sword the shing sound was captured in the ball he amplified the sound. He blasted air out of his left palm staggering the guards defending the doors. He then conjured a protective sound barrier around himself to muffle the sounds so he wouldn't go deaf himself. He tossed the ball of air to the ground waiting for the men to rise to their feet before dispersing the ball to release the sound. As soon as they rose to their feet ball disappeared releasing an ear-deafening shing that caused damage to the eardrums of the guards causing them to fall over unconscious.

A huge gust of air blasted the doors to the throne room opened, Earth King Yao yelled out, "What's the meaning of this?"

"Guards!" he shouted again, twelve guards came in from both sides of the throne room benders and non-benders alike. One of the doors collapsing off of its hinges crashed to the ground, pressurized air surrounded the men sound of their voices from within amplified inside causing them to fall paralyzed and helpless as they watched the conversation between the Earth King and the Avatar.

Earth King Kuei

Earth King Yao.

Terrified within himself on the outside, Yao remained brave and nonchalant sitting in his throne he felt anxiety but held his stoic expression. The tall bald figure that approached him had grown to a middle-aged man he had wrinkles now, high cheekbones were exposed, his fu manchu facial hairstyle had grown longer. There were strands of grey in his facial hair and eyebrows, his staff was held on his back with the harness he wore hidden by his robes. "Earth King Yao, I order you to stop your unethical actions. Release Khazhal and the other airbenders and order your troops to march home!" yelled Kwan Chun.

"Who are you to order me around? You're in my kingdom bow before me, coward!" argued Yao.

"A coward is the man who kills innocent Air Nomads because he knows they won't fight him back. The blood of many of my people is in your hands and if you don't end this now your blood will be on my hands," countered Kwan Chun.

"Surrender yourself, Yao. You are defenseless, your guards are paralyzed and you stand before the wrath of Tiandi himself!" threatened Kwan Chun.

"It's too late Avatar, by now my troops have arrived on Shang Qiao island and have begun to massacre your precious Air Nomads," cackled Earth King Yao.

"You cowards have far too long taken advantage of my ancestors and lived on my land for centuries without paying a single copper or contributing to the kingdom," added Yao.

"I knew I was wasting my time arguing with him he was certainly a distraction I had to travel to the Shang Qiao air temple to save all those nuns and children from perishing. It just didn't make sense to me how they could reach the temple, there is no other way without a flying bison or so I thought," Kwan Chun recalled.

"You were wrong for disappearing for twenty-four years, do you believe it was your fault?" inquired Rong Yan looking up to Kwan Chun who despite Rong Yan being tall his past life was even taller than he.

"I regretted my decision to abandon my duties as the Avatar if I could be given a second chance to live through that again I could have done things differently, more importantly, Aki will still be here with me. I was selfish and took my emotions seriously I was only human after all. I lived with my mistake and my actions caused this atrocity to take hold on the air temples," Kwan Chun responded.

"I knew that before I could face the army that marched on to the Shang Qiao Air Temple that I must first seek aid from the Fire Nation. I saved Fire Lord Osamu it was only now that I needed a favor from him as well, he gave troops and sent them to Shang Qiao but it was what I learned after this that shocked me, Earth King Yao lied about attacking Shang Qiao," Kwan Chun stated.

Kwan Chun appeared to be landing in the royal stables, hopping off Mushi and tossing a coin to the stable hand he sashayed into the palace. The throne of the Fire Lord sat behind a burning hot wall of flame, the purpose of this wall of flame was to give the Fire Lord a protective shield from attacks and intimidation. Kwan Chun knelt before Osamu his friend who had grown old it was his time to step down soon. When Kudeta was killed his younger brother was given the birthright to be his father's successor. The walls of flames had lowered and disappeared, Osamu had bounced off the edge of the large platform his throne had sat on top of. He extended his arm to Kwan Chun lifting him to his feet and embracing him.

"It is good to see that you have returned to the world, Kwan Chun. What is the purpose of your audience with me?" he asked his old friend.

Fat

Fire Lord Osamu.

"Osamu my dear friend, I am need of your aid. Earth King Yao has sent troops to attack the Shang Qiao air temple. I need Fire Nation soldiers to protect my people," Kwan Chun requested. "I questioned the very thought as to why Earth King Yao had stopped attending meetings here in the Fire Nation with me and the world leaders. It was that so no one would suspect his war crimes to the Kingdom of Omashu and the Air Nomads," explained Osamu.

"You have saved my life from my late son Kudeta, your request has been granted. I will send word to deploy troops soon, I ask that you return to the Jongmu Air Temple and retrieve flying bison to fly my soldiers to Shang Qiao," agreed to the request Kwan Chun nodded to the request given to him. He soon left the palace and flew straight to the Patolla mountain range where the Jongmu Air Temple sat.

Days later, in the Shang Qiao air temple, the nuns stood at the edges of the railings to see that a herd of flying bison are heading to the temple one of the girls called another to get the Mother Superior. The bison leading the herd was Mushi and on top of his head was Kwan Chun. There had been a total of twenty flying bison each one being steered by a monk from the Jongmu Air Temple. On the backs of each bison were a total of six to ten Fire Nation soldiers, the Mother Superior along with the other four elders stood concerned as to why a herd flew toward them in formation.

When Kwan Chun hopped off of the head of Mushi the Mother Superior walked forward bowing to the Avatar then wondering why he had arrived, "Avatar Kwan Chun what is the meaning of this?"

"Earth King Yao has sent troops to invade Shang Qiao I brought forth soldiers from the Fire Nation to defend your temple," responded Kwan Chun.

"You bring us hope Avatar Kwan Chun, thank you for bringing defenders to our temple," the Mother Superior finished, she bowed to Kwan Chun and he gestured a thank you with a slight nod of his head.

"I later realized the Earth King Yao had lied to me instead of rallying troops and sending them to the Shang Qiao Air Temple he sent two divisions of men to attack the Baiyan Air Temple instead. I had flown to the temple to warn them but kept myself hidden, there had to be at least 20,000 men marching to the Baiyan air temple. I decided to land in Hunan an abandoned town not too far from the Gangdise Shan mountain range where the Baiyan sat on. I attacked the men from behind killing more and more," Kwan Chun informed Rong Yan.

Battle for the Northern Air Temple

The Kingdom of Ba Sing Se attacking the Baiyan (northern) Air Temple with ballistae.

Kwan Chun took in a deep breath, he activated the Avatar State controlling the winds and the weather he caused the clouds to rain down water and lightning that began to strike near the divisions of men. One of the men to another mentions, "I thought you said your mom told you there would be no rain today." The other soldier shrugs, the northern monks stood waiting in terror as a sea of men began to climb the slopes to reach their temple.

Then suddenly in the distance, a monk squinted his eyes to peer over yonder to see and hear a booming roar that terrifying the second division of troops. The angry Avatar had let out the roar of a tigerdillo, the was hell to pay now. A monk shouted, "Look! What is that?"

"That's the Avatar! He's come to save us!" yelled another.

A horn had gone off those at the temple could barely hear the signal. The second division had retreated while the first division had continued to attempts to climb to the top of the peak. Kwan Chun furious and full of vengeance in the Avatar State.

He flew inside of a large impenetrable sphere of pressurized air that surrounded him, he bent large rocks near the town of Hunan with the flick of his wrist the rocks flew upward with great speed forming a ring around him, the fire he produced from the roar was used to form a ring around him, water was bent out from the raindrops that came from the stormy clouds. He soared through the air crashing into a smaller mountain, the mountain crumbled forming a rock slide that separated the two divisions of soldiers from each other. Several men trying to climb the northern air temple who remained on the ground had turned back to see their path had been blocked only to looked up witnessing the terrifying sight of the Avatar fighting the other army of men. Kwan Chun prevented the first division from opening a path, expanding the earth underneath the rocks piled on each other to heat up and melt into lava. The men on the ground near the newly formed lava pools took a step back others fell as they had seen the power of the Avatar.

Coins flew in the direction of Kwan Chun only to smash into bits of rock targeting men below killing a few that were hit in the head by those projectiles. Some men had formed platforms around platoons of earthbenders and traveled up to the temple. Kwan Chun jerked his head gathering sound of their footsteps and clapping his hands together to create a clapping sound he released a cataclysmic thundering boom. The sound waves hit spreading for miles around in a radius, flocks of birds had fallen from the sky. The earthbenders had lost concentration the platforms of earth crumbled underneath their feet men hundreds of men had fallen to their death.

Kwan Chun crashed down below to the earth causing an earthquake to erupt floating into the air his hands began to tremble as the earth below a part of the second division's feet had begun to crumble lava emerged and surfaced below soldiers had fallen into the pits of lava while others sunk into quicksand. With the flick of his wrist, he formed a barrier of molten lava in front of him and with his free hand he had solidified the lava below into igneous rock For a few seconds fire rained from the skies above another half of the first division burning and killing men.

"I lost control of the Avatar State one of my past lives kept command over my body while my spirit within my inner self had been taken out by another past life. Avatar Mun Jin was his name he one an Avatar of legendary proportions," observed Kwan Chun.

Cosmic Avatar Spirit

The legendary one known to the Air Nomads from the northern Air Temple. Avatar Mun Kin himself spoke to Avatar Kwan Chun within his consciousness, while another past life controlled his physical body.

Kwan Chun floating in nothingness a dark void appearing before him in this void of nothingness was a muscular Air Nomad, this airbender was ripped, he only wore a sash and orange trousers with black boots. He spoke to Kwan Chun while his body continued tirelessly now that another Avatar had taken control.

"I don't know what to do they just keep coming and coming I'm growing tired they've caused no damage to me but I fear I will lose energy and plummet to the ground exhausted," Kwan Chun disclosed.

"We have witnessed you killed thousands of men already I can see the Avatar who's controlling your physical body has dismantled the first division of her own. Consider this option I believe that if you do this will send a message," Mun Jin's voice boomed, it had been deep, loud and powerful his voice reflected the kind of Avatar he was.

"Some of us don't get to die of old age Kwan Chun, we understand that self-sacrifice is a difficult job. Your patriotism to your people and your dedication to the four nations rings true, I know that you've strived and struggled to live day to day it only makes you human. You may have disappeared for a time but you can still show the world how much you love them. I can sense the presence of Tiandi himself, Kwan Chun. It is time, your destiny is now, remember the lessons from the past. Do what many of your past lives have done, I would do the same if it meant that it would save my people," Mun Jin stated.

Half the second division was being toyed with like puppets forcing themselves to fight with each other like the Avatar himself was controlling them. Thousands of men were collapsing dead, a squadron remained fleeing from the grip of control from the Avatar. With an instant Kwan Chun had control of the Avatar State exhausted he plummeted to the ground the sphere of air-cushioned his fall.

Panting while on his hands and feet one of the stragglers who fled from the invasion after the armies had been devastated charged toward him battleax raised high then everything went black. The remaining squadron of men still terrified cheered in victory the raining continued to fall, the clouds roared with thunderous booms Tiandi had ended Kwan Chun's time on earth even if it ended horrifically. Kwan Chun in ethereal form had been standing over his body emotionless. A light had radiated from the clouds hovering down from the ray of light he recognized the woman to be his beloved Aki. He muttered to himself, "Aki."

LadyEboshi

Aki coming from the Spirit World to lead Kwan Chun into the afterlife where they could be together for eternity.

She placed her hands into Kwan Chun's hands he pulled her in close embracing her and sobbing, she shushed him trying to calm him down. She spoke softly in his ear, "It's time, my love. The All-High has given you freedom and in return, he will change the hearts of men. They kissed and floated into the sky she had helped him transition from the physical world into the spirit world.

After the events that had transpired the war between Ba Sing Se and the Shang Qiao and Baiyan Air Temples had ended, as a result of the news of the death of Kwan Chun, the Kingdom of Omashu invaded the states of Chu, Ru, and Pingyao occupying the provinces for four years. Earth King Yao had stayed on the throne but some of the people had dropped their support for the Earth King and his power began to decline through his reign. His tyrannical rule continued, although the death of Kwan Chun ended the invasion of the air temples, the unethical laws put in place by the Earth King proceeded with prohibiting the Air Nomads from being admitted into the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se.

Earth Kingdom 944 - 912 BG

Detailed map of the split EK. Light green is Ba Sing Se, dark green is Omashu, the mint green is the province of Chengdu which seceded from BSS. (The unnamed states won't be introduced until later.)

In 908 BG, four years after the death of Avatar Kwan Chun some of the provinces began to revolt against the Earth King. The first province being Chengdu who seceded from the Kingdom and transitioned to an independent state.

Rong Yan had opened his eyes the glowing from the statues had faded he rose to his feet then using a breeze of airbending to blow out the fires of the candles, torches, and lanterns. He stared into the eyes of the statue of Kwan Chun whispering, "Thank you, Kwan Chun." He had traveled back to the western tower into his chambers where Senge and Jampo were fast asleep, he crawled into his bed and had fallen asleep.


See more

For the collective works of the author, go here.

Advertisement