Chapter Text
To Hua Li of Ba Sing Se,
I bring joyous news mother, that disaster has failed to reach us, despite your forebodings. You really should sleep more, Taeyan says you have not been sleeping quite right these past few months. Ah well, what do I know of good health and rest hm?
Aang’s journey in finding an earthbending teacher has been somewhat successful, she is a girl of twelve named Toph Bei Fong. Her parents have read and re-read your novels to no end, biggest fans I have ever met of yours, I swear to my name sake. As for Toph, she’s so young yet her earthbending is phenomenal!
We found her at a earthbending ring to which she had dubbed herself, The Blind Bandit. Her parents were not pleased with the request of Aang needing a teacher, but, Zuko debated with the father and all seems to be well.
It has been four years since our banishment. Remember, when I first questioned my purpose in all this? My sense of being here? Now, I am beginning to understand, mother.
Your embraces are missed.
Your tender forehead kisses
What I would give to see you all again…soon, mother, it is not far off. Ba Sing Se is close
Your ever affectionate son, Agni
Fingers flex again, a sigh is released. Amidst the chatter of his friends, Agni folds his letter up neat, handing it to the nearest delivery man. Agni swears to have seen him before, that same mail man who is in every part of their world it would seem. A gentle soul who’s soul dedication to delivering packages in perfect condition.
Agni tipped him generously with three gold pieces, waving as he quick climbs atop his ostrich horse racing across the plains.
Rolling his shoulders with a yawn, he turned to find Sokka pointing a finger of accusation in front of his face. His blue eyes narrowed, brows furrowed. “I knew it!” he cried. Alerting Katara, Toph, Zuko, Iroh, Jee and Yi-Nuo from their packing.
“Knew what?” Agni asked, elevating his brow.
“You’re sending letters to Fire Lord Ozai and not only that,I know, that you know, that you are cheating on Zuko!”
“You assume I am cheating with Zuko and Azula’s father?”
All had fallen into silence, Katara and Zuko look at one another with wary or expressions of aggravation. Sokka threw up his arms. “No! I mean, this Hua Li woman-! You’ve written to her for years!”
Agni closed his eyes while Katara threatened a water whip to her brother. “Sokka…she’s my mother. Taeyan is my cousin. And Mai is our friend…I would appreciate you not spying on me, we’ve been with you awhile now, do you not stop to think if we had wanted, we would betray you in seconds? Now…if you’ll excuse me.”
Flames curl around his knuckles, walking away angry. Sokka should trust them by now, not all firebender’s were villains. Han from the watertribe in the north should have proved that much, that even some in his tribe, were corrupt.
Fire. A deadly beauty, a burning curse if not managed Jeong-Jeong had reminded. Amidst his walk, Agni almost fell over a hole.
“Whoa, careful Agni.”
Blinking, he noticed Aang sitting cross-legged with his flute. “There you are, Avatar-I mean, Aang, should we not be getting ourselves ready?”
“In a minute, I wanna show you something.”
Aang’s smile was big and jovial, blowing once into his flute. To Agni’s surprise, a Singing Mole popped out of its hole home. It’s voice matched in perfect sync to Aang’s flute. Chuckles escape his lips.
“Singing Moles, why am I not surprised…”
Another popped up. Then another. Aang laughed, handing Agni the flute. “Come on, you try it now, we’ll make an orchestra!”
Wiping the flute’s top Agni blew into it, lips curling in a smile to find another set of moles singing along. After a couple moments of this, Aang set the flute in his satchel turning to face Agni. “So, what did Sokka say this time?”
“How did you-? Oh. Right. Spiritual and all that, yeah, it was. He still does not trust us, Zuko, Iroh, Jee, Yi Nuo and I. I do not understand him in the least! He claims that all in the Firenation are bad, evil, only those who serve Ozai perhaps, even then they’re terrified of him. It is not as if some have a choice who they choose as leader.
Forced to support something you do not really agree or believe in, for the sake of your life…it’s hard, Aang…and frightening. We fear for those who could not flee every day…”
Flames rose up. Agni could feel their warmth, hearing and not hearing Aang talking to him, trying to reach him. “Agni-!” Aang latched onto his wrist not caring if he got burned. Amber eyes soften, gazing at the young Avatar before him. His chest rose and fell as Aang spoke.
“It’s okay, I promise you, when we defeat Ozai, we’ll restore that balance again, your nation included. We see it, I see it, how much your nation means. Just think of me when you’re in trouble, or have any bad thoughts. I’m the bridge between worlds, I can guide you.”
A smile is slow to cross, letting Aang embrace him. “Thank you, Aang…” he muttered. “For everything.”
~*
*~
Agni and the others left at dawn, when the sky turned scarlet and gold. Yawns escape from Toph, her head resting against Sokka’s shoulder. Every month they would choose a vacation spot, to which Katara suggested a place called Mystic Springs. A rest area in the dessert, made of ice and water.
Toph and Zuko chatted amongst one another, to Agni’s delight and relief. She seemed to fair better with Zuko, while Katara tries to make attempts of her own in bonding with Toph. She punched him in his shoulder.
“When we meet your old man face to face, I’ll make sure he gets a good taste of dirt for burning you. Don’t think I won’t.” she said, when they landed, winking.
Zuko managed a very small smile, earning chuckles from Iroh. “Ah, to see the youth so involved is refreshing, I wonder if this rest stop will have any tea…” he stroked his beard, earning laughter from Aang.
“Well, the last time I was here with Monk Gyatso and Kuzon, they had some tea. Gyatso said it was way better than any other. I think you and he would have gotten along real well, Iroh.”
“I’m sure we would have, Avatar Aang. You must tell me more tales of your people, afraid all books of airbenders have been removed from Fire Nation library’s, along with Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom…”
“You only ever read books on your nation’s history? That’s sad..” Toph frowned. “I mean, not that I would know what’s in a book…” Katara gave her a sympathetic shoulder pat.
At length they reached Mystic Springs. It was nothing at all like Aang had said, a dessert oasis, with a single tavern. Agni had near missed it’s crooked sign from collapsing onto him, dragged away by Zuko in time. “That could have killed me…” he breathed in relief.
“Can’t catch a break huh?” Zuko nudged his arm.
His hair was growing back, they all took notice. Still in its pony-tail, Agni loved nothing than to caress it at night as what once when they were children. It would be then that Jee saw someone familiar, calling to him.
“Zei? Zei! Is that you?!” he called.
His attention had been caught, at once laughing at the sight of Jee. “Jee, old friend, good to see you again! Letting your hair go gray, eh?” he asked, a fox grin forming along his face.
Jee snorted, smirking. “At least I have hair, getting a few bald spots yourself.”
He introduced Wei to the young ones and Yi Nuo, whom was overjoyed herself embracing him receiving a brotherly kiss to her forehead. Her belly was gradually showing, she did not bother trying to hide it away even when she had been with Zhao. He desired for her to still be ‘thin’ an impossible thing during pregnancy.
Agni admired him, his adventures of searching lost relics, digging for ancient treasures and tombs. “That sounds fascinating,” he states upon Appa, listening with intent. “Going around looking for tombs, did you ever find any mummies?”
Zuko ran a hand along his face. “I’m sorry, professor, my fiancé is on the morbid side. Gets it from our friend.”
Zei let out a laugh, leaning with interest. “Quite alright, Lord Zuko, quite alright. I’ve never seen a homosexual couple before, let alone Fire Nation…”
Zuko elevated his brow, scooting away closer to his uncle.
“Yeah, we were engaged at sixteen and fourteen.”
“Now, when you are intimate-.”
“Look, there it is-!”
Thank the spirits for Toph! Agni breathed out along with Zuko, casting Jee mirrored scowls. “…He’s very curious, part of his nature.” Yi Nuo said. Trying to soothe.
Toph of course used it as a distraction, in all honest it baffled Agni that Katara and Sokka fell for it.
No sooner after had Sokka noticed a tower sprouted from sand dunes, where they leave Toph and Appa above ground. Something formed in the back of Agni’s throat, as she assures she’ll be fine. “I don’t need you to hold my hand, Sparky, now get going. Find some useful information.” She punched his shoulder, a sign she you were on good terms.
The books are an endless sea, volumes upon volumes of anything one wanted to read about. All within Wan Shi Tong’s library. He had no time to gawk, for the spirit himself made his entrance known.
An impossibly tall owl being. Wings neat folded at his sides. His face was white and beak dark. The avian spirit cocked his head, eyes unblinking. “Hmm…travellers again? I am Wan Shi Tong, welcome to my library…”
Zuko nudged Aang forward, the Avatar dips his head into a bow. “An honor, spirit, to meet you. We come seeking knowledge and advice.”
“Knowledge and advice? I know of one who happened to do so, a firebender. Tell me, who do you seek to destroy?”
His face moves close to Agni’s face. Memories of Koh are still present, lips frozen as if unable to speak. Swallowing, Agni manages a small smile. “Destroy? No, no, no…not us, uh, we’re not here to destroy anyone…Sokka, tell him-.”
After making a slashing motion with his neck, Sokka approached Wan Shi Tong. “We come here only to pursue knowledge…for…knowledge sake.”
Wan Shi Tong studied them further. “You’re not very bright. Are you?”
Before Sokka could reply, Iroh spoke next. “Perhaps we could soothe you, oh wise spirit, with gifts on our person. I have here an ancient tea kettle, passed from my great-grandfather.”
It was an old, cracked thing, that Wan Shi Tong seemed to approve of. When it came to Agni and Zuko’s turn, Zuko gifted his dagger Iroh had given so many years ago, while Agni offered his Firebending scroll.
“Impressive gifts, you may explore my library to your heart’s desire.”
~*
~*
No dust is on the covers. All is kept clean and well tended, despite many have come to this place between worlds. Zuko’s eyes are aglow, unsure which he should choose. I could read up on Aang’s past lives, that would be useful. Or…my father? Maybe. Hmm…
Running his fingers along one spine, he found it. The cover depicts a bird. A raven like creature. Its feathers worn and heart visible, glowing pale blue.
At last!
The bird from his time at the swamp. Golden eyes burn bright with eagerness, turning at once to its first page.
Rin Xiu. A lower level bird spirit, that visits in one’s hour of need and advice. He is genuine and thoughtful, not dangerous in the least. His presence will give one peace despite his unnerving apperance.
“Rin Xiu. Huh…it does have a name, after all. Unnerving is a severe understatement….” He could not help to cringe.
Zuko set it under his arm while searching for another, his curiosity grows. Another was written by Agni’s great-grandfather, another by great-great grandmother. “Well, writing runs in the family…and I really should stop talking to myself.” He looked through another book, this one about his mother’s favorite play Love Amongst Dragons.
Turning a page, his heart aches for his mother to see her image again in black and white. She was an actress before meeting Ozai, it read. A woman who knew the play heart and soul. He could see it without having to close his eyes, Ursa on stage performing before her audience. Raw and beautiful.
Iroh always said he looked more like his mother, he was beginning to understand why.
“You truly do resemble Lady Ursa, young Zuko. It’s almost uncanny.”
He drops the book from his hands, turning quick on his heel regretfully so. It twisted at an angle uncomfortable, when he sees Wan Shi Tong before him. “Oh…you, uh, Wan Shi Tong? I…I thank you. Uncle always said I looked like her, even acted like her….”
Azula would always cackle if he said as such to her. Please, ZuZu, stop fooling yourself: Take a good look in the mirror. You look just like dad. It’s only a matter of time, before you turn into him
His hands shake again. They always did when he thought of his sister and father. Wan Shi Tong cocked his head, eyes blinking.
“You’re trembles remind me of many before you…they feel as if their life is ending, chest feels perhaps a bit too tight, that it’s suffocating. They feel as if no one understands them in this hour, that they are alone in the world. I confess, comfort is not my strong suit, but, I do know, Prince Zuko, that you are certainly not nor will you ever be alone.
Agni. Your uncle. Your friends. Think of them…”
His eyes blink rapid, taking slow, easy breaths as Agni and his mother instruct. Tears form in his eyes, wiping away from his cheeks.
“Why do I do this, spirit? Cry like a child when I’m…when I’m….”
“Afraid.”
Afraid. Was that it? He, prince Zuko, afraid. Yes, that was the word. Wan Shi Tong settles beside him, gesturing around his library. “Fear has existed long before you were born, everyone has it, only fools have no such emotion. Claiming they are superior than another. What you need to understand, is that fear can be overcome by admitting the fact and allowing yourself to be weak.
You do not always have to be strong in front of your friends, Zuko, remember that always.”
Zuko dries his eyes complete before responding. “You know, for someone not good at comfort, that’s pretty good advice. I’ll keep that in mind.” He replied.
“I should hope so, I don’t give advice to just anyone.”
And as soon as he came to Zuko, the spirit was gone. Off to another section of his library, his haven.
~*
~*
Every so often, from the corner of his eye Agni would catch a fox putting a scroll or book back in its place. And every so often one in particular will stare at him. Not an unkind stare as it would in the real world, he did not forget that one fox lion whom had bitten his hand at the age of seven, an age no child forgets such pain.
This is just a normal spirit fox. Guides for Wan Shi Tong. He wished Toph could experience such place herself, shutting his book about his namesake. All his life he had heard horrible tales of Agni, the God of Fire. That he was wrathful, cruel. But this shed a new light about him, the God he once feared, perhaps still should in some ways, but was good and kind.
He stifled a young, stretching his arms and legs from his too long sitting. When he was done, a fox spirit took it and placed it on its proper shelf. His small, black eyes were so pitiful, begging for a treat, that Agni chuckled, tossing him a thing of seal jerky. Sokka almost kissed him for having it on hand.
“Here ya go, you’ve earned it.”
No sooner than an hour late, a rumbling started. The fox lowered its ears to his head, pointing towards that ruined, burned part of the library. Books were falling from every shelf. His legs almost gave in, had Zuko not grabbed hold of his wrist running.
“Sokka found out our nation’s darkest day, Wan Shi Tong’s not happy, we gotta go, now!” Zuko spoke in rapid of speech.
Agni’s heart quickened, eyes widening to find Wan Shi Tong chasing them down at break neck speed. His owl head had stretched further, almost snagging Yi Nuo by her hood. She cried out, throwing one of her daggers at his beak. Wan Shi Tong pecked again, cut off by Iroh’s blast of fire.
Aang tossed the rope they used to get down back up. All scramble upwards. Jee ran passed to find Zei still with his piles of books, calling out to him. “Zei, come on, get it in gear!”
“I can’t, Jee, all this information is too much to leave behind. I could stay an eternity here….”
Jee cursed aloud, urged by Zuko to move. He does all he can to not look back, as sand clouds around them.
Grains of sand pour over Agni as he crawled through a window first after burning it. Coughs wrack his body. His eyes blink away the grains, helping Aang up, then the others. Toph had been trying to keep The Library from sinking, only to no avail. She sits on the ground, shaking visibly. More so when Aang asks of Appa’s absence.
“Toph, where’s Appa?”
She shakes her head. None would forget that day, when the Avatar collapsed to his knees.