Archive of Our Own ^beta

NOTE: The map here depicts the fictional world “replacing” the Elemental Nations of Avatar. Since these are snippets, in some cases, Kaijō and Rakuzan, for example, may NOT “stand for” the Water Tribes — they may represent other elements/Nation. However, the current markings do show, that Yōsen for example, is like the Earth Kingdom and Kaijō is like the Water Tribe.

This setup MAY/WILL change in some snippets, but that will be clearly indicated by what element certain “team members” and/or Miracles Bend. (AKA, in one snippet Kise may be a Waterbender, while in another, he may be a Firebender.)

Also, you may encounter the school names with odd endings, such as “Kaijōnese”, “Rakuzani” or “Seirini”. In cases like this they mark nationality, so to say. So for one, Aomine could be referred to as “the Tōōnese” or Akashi as “the Rakuzani”.

This scene was inspired by THIS beautiful art on DeviantArt

Scene title: “The Boy In the Iceberg”

Kise Ryōta cursed under his breath, as he steered his canoe towards his home, with elegant, well-practiced moves. Waterbending, he liked to think, was the most elegant of all three Bending styles. Eartbenders relied on firmness and stability, while Firebenders preferred pure power and forwardness. Waterbenders on the other hand, were elegant and flowing in ways the other two elements were not.

But then again, he knew nothing of Airbending. Airbenders had been gone for generations, ever since the War had started. He wondered what it would have been like to see a true Airbending Master, while they displayed their full abilities. He knew that Airbenders were pacifists — his elders told him that much — but each element was useful and needed for balance, but at the same time, each was beautiful and dangerous in unique ways.

He looked at the sky to see the deep blue turn black at the edges as Tui climbed higher and higher in the sky, accompanied by the millions of pinpricks of light for stars.

Oh, Kasamatsu will give him an earful for being late, Kise knew. With most men gone for war, only the women, children and elderly remained. When all this had started, Kasamatsu had been appointed as the new chief, in place of his father. Kise was to stay behind as well, because he had been too young and because they tried not to advertise that the enemy raids to Kaijō’s shores, meant to rid the Western Water Tribe of their Waterbenders, was not successful. (Although, what the enemy had been successful at, was dividing the Western Water Tribe. Most of them still lived in the snowy hills, though about a quarter of their kin had followed Haizaki Arata and his family to the marshes of Fukuda, where they used guerrilla tactics to this day, to protect themselves.)

The blonde Waterbending Master —well, he was a Master by the standards of the West . He had no idea how the Eastern Water Tribe in Rakuzan judged their Benders. (He guessed the East had higher standards as the bigger and stronger of the two tribes.) The war, the great distance — and cultural differences his mother loathed to speak about — divided the two Tribes greatly, even if their Element and their Patron Spirits linked them together.

He was snapped from his thoughts, when he felt the water slip his grip. Kise looked up to see himself caught in a powerful current, racing towards a big ice floe. His eyes widened and he jerked his hands to the side, causing his canoe to jolt and he stumbled. He waved his hands about, trying to avoid crashing and sinking… and the plan worked.

Mostly. Of course, things went downhill just when he thought he had it under control. But it was hard, with him having limited formal training in Waterbending. So, considering said ‘limited’ formal knowledge, he was happy he’d survived the worst of the currents.

When he looked around, he found his canoe gone, with only a lone piece of wood floating nearby. Kise grimaced and looked at the sky. “Why?!” he wailed dramatically, waving his hands (and since he wasn’t paying attention, said action stroked the wild waters even further). “What have I done to you, Great Tui, for you to punish me like this ?”

The waves splashed wilder and not too far away, ice cracked.

Kise froze in fear at the sound, like a cat deer caught in a torchlight. He gulped fearfully at the sound and slowly turned around to see the iceberg closest to him crack with a sound resembling thunder, as chunks fell from it. The blonde Waterbender paled. “La’s fins…” he muttered, as more ice fell, — slowly revealing a circular iceberg that seemed to glow from within —causing great waves in the water. He could only watch in mortification, not having the presence of mind to divert the water and ice from himself. He shrieked a bit, when the cold touched his skin, but it was forgotten, when the circular iceberg rose to the surface completely. He stood there frozen still, eyes wide and he needed a moment to realise that he could see the silhouette of a person inside the huge, ball-shaped ice.

Kise scrambled over and froze, when the stranger inside opened their… glowing eyes. ‘They’re alive! How are they not frozen to death?’ he thought in wonder. Waterbenders had a greater resistance to cold, than most, but by no means could they avoid a frostbite if they were careless or were out on the water for too long.

He remembered how his sisters taught him to be ready to help people, because one could only survive the cold if they stuck together. Kise took a calming breath and took the basic stance he’d been taught as a young child, and moved his hands again. For first, nothing happened and he frowned, glancing at the sky.

“Come on, a hand here, huh? I’m trying to help someone, as you taught us, Tui,” Kise murmured petulantly, staring at the full circle of the Moon. He took a deep breath feeling Tui’s power coursing through his veins. Then, he thrust his hand forwards and the ball of ice cracked.

He pulled it back, melting some of the ice and then the cracks spread, releasing a great blast of wind. Unprepared, the blonde was blown back from the iceberg, nearly landing in the cold depths of the ocean. He tilted his head upwards against the gale to see a pale of bluish-white light shoot towards the sky, further melting the ice globe.

When the light and the wind finally faded, Kise stood up to see a boy around his age, dressed in strange orange-yellow clothes standing at the edge of the iceberg with his eyes — and what seemed to be like tattoos, — glowing with the same eerie light the globe had released.

Then, the light faded and Kise glimpsed vibrant blue, the shade he imagined the spring sky to be in the southern regions to be, in the stranger’s eyes. Kise shot to his feet, snow propelling him forwards to catch the fragile-looking stranger from hitting his head in the hard ice.

He breathed a sigh of relief, when he caught the other boy. He had fine features and pale skin, his hair short and somewhat windswept and it was pale blue like ice reflecting moonlight. Kise blinked and then frowned in slight concern. “Hello? Are you alright?”

The other groaned a little and opened his eyes and the Waterbender nearly reeled back at the striking shade of his eyes. “Yes, I am quite fine, thank you. Who are you?”

The boy shifted to get away from him and Kise let him and watched in fascination, as the shorter floated onto his feet. How did he do that? That was Airbending! But… it couldn’t be, the Airbenders had been gone for ages and any that may have survived were hiding quite well.

He waved to the fascinating stranger with a wide smile. “Hi! My name is Kise Ryōta. I’m of the Western Water Tribe.”

The shorter boy touched his fists together, so that the two arrows on his hands pointed at one another and bowed. “I’m Kuroko Tetsuya of the Southern Air Temple, a pleasure to meet you, Kise-kun.”

Kise’s grin widened a little. “So… you are an Airbender, huh?”

The shorter boy gave a slight nod. “I am.”

The Waterbender’s entire being lit up with wonder. “Sugoi~! Never met an Airbender before!”

Surprise seemed to flicker through the otherwise passive expression of the Airbender, however, before he could say anything a groan interrupted them. Kuroko’s eyes widened slightly and he darted over the remnants of the ball’s wall with surprising grace and nary a sound.

Kise blinked, following the Airbender, curious. Another groan came and as he slid down the ice, he found a huge, white furred creature with dark brown, almost black line running down the middle of its head, ending in an arrow, like Kuroko’s tattoo. And it had the same blue eyes as the Airbender.

“Nigō… I’m so happy to see you,” Kuroko whispered.

Kise darted closer, watching the massive animal. It was one he’d never seen before. “What… is that?” he asked, pointing a mitten-covered finger at the creature.

Kuroko smiled, landing on the snow softly. “Kise-kun, meet my oldest friend. This is Nigō, my flying bison.”

Flying bison were the original Airbenders, that much Kise could remember from the stories. Here was an Airbender he had freed from the ice and he had a living, breathing flying bison!

Kise’s jaw hit the ice in sheer disbelief.  What was next, the Avatar would appear after having been missing for decades?

Scene title: “The Blue Spirit”

Kise frowned, tugging at the chains that were holding him. No use, unless he learned some escape trick in a few seconds — or learned to Bend metal, which was even more unlikely — he was not getting out of here. (He should have been more careful when trying to get the cure for his friends. Now he was late and the spirits only knew what the fever was doing to them.)

The door opened and the blonde looked up to see General Jerkface walk in. “So, you’re the Avatar, master of all four Elements? You’ve hidden from the Fire Nation for long, but now your little game is over.”

Kise glared at his captor, honey-brown eyes glinting with contempt. “I’ve never hidden from you! Untie me and I’ll fight you right now!”

“Uhh, no. Tell me, how does it feel to be the only Airbender left? Do you miss your people?”

“Shut up,” Kise hissed through clenched teeth.

The grey-haired General’s face filled with glee. “Don’t worry, little Airbender. You won’t be killed like they were. You would just be reborn and the Fire Nation could start looking for the Avatar all over again.” Kise scoffed but looked away. The man standing opposite him smirked and that was when Kise locked eyes with him once more. He took a deep breath and released a gale, making the other topple over. Haizaki glared at him with hate, as he stood again. “Blow all the wind you want, but your situation is futile. There is no escaping this fortress, and no one is coming to rescue you.”

Even after he was left alone, Kise continued to struggle against his bindings to no avail. He sensed movement from his garments and watched as half-frozen frogs fell to the ground, crawling their way to freedom.

Sadness and panic took over at that (how long had he been here already, if the frogs started to melt?). “What? No! Don't leave, frogs! My friends are sick and they need you! Please go back to being frozen!” he struggled once more, but predictably, he was still stuck suspended in the air.

He looked at the ground dejectedly, swallowing hard. He took a few deep breaths to stop himself from crying or letting utter panic overwhelm him. He was snapped out of his dark, depressing thoughts when he heard noises from behind the door. He looked up, body tensing in anticipation, even though he could not fight. Minutes later the door opened to reveal a figure in blue oni mask and black clothing, holding a pair of dual dao.

Kise‘s eyes went slightly wide at the sight of the swords, especially since the moonlight glinting on the blades revealed just how sharp they were. The figure came closer — and to his astonishment — cut through his chains with the blades.

Kise blinked as he landed soundlessly on the ground. “Who are you? What's going on? Are you here to rescue me?” The stranger opened the door again and gestured outside. “I’ll take that as ‘yes’.”

As they headed out Kise noticed the frozen frogs and immediately reached for them. However, before he could collect them, the masked stranger came back and grabbed him by his collar, causing the blonde to flail. “Hey, wait. My friends are sick and they need the frogs to get better!”

However, his words fell on deaf ears, as the masked stranger clamped a hand on his mouth and continued to drag him away. They managed to make it out and it seemed freedom was not far away when the alarm was sounded.

“The Avatar escaped! Close the gates!” Kise grunted as he heard Haizaki’s voice cut through the courtyard. They bolted for the gate, which was being closed and Kise almost made it out, but the swordsman who’d rescued him was being overwhelmed.

He sighed and turned to blow the soldiers away, just as his rescuer bolted for the wall, ready to climb it using the ladder.

Close calls or not, they made it until the last gate (Kise had to admit, that despite his rescuer being a non-Bender, the guy knew how to fight). But… it seemed nothing could go their way. The Yuyan soldiers outnumbered them and the gate, which would lead to their freedom, was still closed. A few Firebenders threw flames at them, but Kise swung his closed glider, dissipating them.

“Hold your fire!” the row of men slowly parted for the approaching Haizaki and Kise glared at him again. “The Avatar must be captured alive.”

Kise took a step away from the Fire Nation officer, but as if Haizaki had spoken some magic word, his rescuer suddenly turned against him, as cold blades pressed against his neck. Kise tilted his head up a bit to avoid the cold bite of the metal, but there was barely any room for him to move.

Haizaki snarled at the masked stranger behind him before he waved his hand. “Open the gate!”

Only when the gates opened did Kise realise the plan. However, he could hardly appreciate it, with swords at his neck. His rescuer-turned-captor — who, Kise only realised now, was a head or so shorter — started to back out the gate. His hands were still, the blades softly tickling sun-kissed skin, but still not cutting.

“I hope your hand’s steady or I’ll die before we get out of here,” he whispered. “And if I die, they’ll hunt you too,” he pointed out. The blue-masked swordsman didn’t answer. He barely made a sound since Kise had first seen him.

He almost sighed in relief at being free, when he heard the whistle of an approaching arrow. His eyes went wide. “Watch —!” he tried to warn, but it was too late. The arrow hit the mask and stiff arms loosened, as the stranger fell backwards, now unconscious. For a moment, Kise stood frozen.

Then he realised that Haizaki and the Archers were still out to get them, so he drew the mist around them, to cover their retreat, as he grabbed the shorter male. ‘Short… but far from light or fragile,’ the blonde noted inwardly, dragging the swordsman into the forest, doing his best to cover their tracks.

When he deemed them far away from the fortress, Kise put his companion down on a softer looking spot of fallen leaves and sat next to him, slightly higher on a massive root. As he made sure the swordsman was comfortable, the blue mask slipped off revealing a familiar aristocratic face, framed by blood-red hair.

Kise swallowed a bit in fright. “Prince Seijūrō…” he bit his lip, eyes darting around. Should he leave and get the medicine to his friends or wait for his rescuer — even if he was, technically, another enemy — to wake up?

He decided to wait (it would be irresponsible to leave the injured Prince alone when he could get captured by Haizaki and the Archers). He would not repay being rescued by letting the Prince be captured — what he’d just done… was probably treason in the eyes of the Fire Nation and the Fire Lord.

Not long after the hit, Akashi woke up, slightly disoriented, the clothes on his back feeling damp and cold. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and the world slowly came into focus.

“…He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends, too?”

For a long moment, Akashi was extremely confused. Then, finally, the voice registered in his mind, as well as the fact that despite not being older than him (or at least probably not), it talked in the past tense. No, not it — he. The Airbender. The Avatar.

Akashi shot up and without properly thinking through his next course of action — he’d later blame the head injury for that — he shot a wide arc of fire at the blonde.

“Keep quiet!” he hissed, angry and tired. The Airbender leapt upwards elegantly avoiding the attack, all the while not making a single sound. The blonde stopped, perched on a high branch and looked at him with hurt, sad and angry eyes, but before Akashi could think too much on those emotions, the Avatar was gone.

(What had gotten into him? Freeing the Avatar and then letting him run, when he was the Fire Nation’s greatest enemy?)

He didn’t know for how long, but he sat on the forest floor for a bit, until he heard the sound of approaching Yuyan Archers again. Then, he staggered to his feet and hurried out of the vicinity, back towards his ship. He honestly hoped he would not run into anyone, while on the way to his cabin. He was in no mood to be civil to anyone.

The walk to his ship took longer than he anticipated, but he was back at last. He took a deep breath and headed up the gangplank and towards his room. Unfortunately, the Spirits didn’t deign to spare him. Of course, his senpai — and guardian, not that he needed to be looked after, like a baby — was on the deck, holding a steaming cup of tea, with another empty cup next to the pot.

“Ah, we have a wonderful night, don’t we, Prince Seijūrō?”

“Nijimura-san,” he returned stiffly, only because his mother had taught him to always be polite.

“Where you’d been in the middle of the night?”

“Couldn’t fall asleep,” he answered, tone clipped. His head was pounding. Stupid archers —he was going to incinerate them, whichever he saw next.

“Would you perhaps like some tea to help your restlessness?” Nijimura asked calmly, taking a sip of his cup.

“No. I’m going to sleep. No disturbances.”

As the door fell shut behind him, Nijimura took a sip of his tea just to hide the knowing smile. His cute charge was as grumpy and predictable, as ever.

The next day, when the news of the Avatar’s escape reached their ship, in an award-winning performance, Nijimura pretended not to know a thing.

This scene was based on a Pinterest post, as well as MY OWN one shot, ԼƠƔƐ & ӇΛƬƐ

Scene title: “The Deserter and the Avatar”

Momoi glared heatedly at the two boys as they ran through the narrow streets of the town trying to escape their pursuers. And this had happened because her childhood friend and brother, in all but blood, wanted to go to a spirits damned festival! A festival in a spirits forsaken Fire Nation colony! And Tetsu, of course, being the one destined to master all four elements had grown eager as well, wanting to see Firebenders up close.

But of course, nothing could go their way. Dai had restrained himself from Waterbending in any form — thank the Spirits for that. Dai was their Tribe’s Waterbending prodigy and he’d even started to teach Tetsu some of it, even if he kept muttering that he was not suited to teach and mentor another Bender, hence why they were headed for the Northern Tribe in Rakuzan. The point was that Dai’s eagerness revealed him as a Waterbender and accidentally exposed Tetsu as well and now the three of them were running from a group of Firebenders bent on imprisoning them.

Not a sort of festival Momoi had envisioned for them. Though, she had warned the boys that coming into a colony town full of enemy people may not be the idea of the century. Alright, she had been curious too, but her friends should have been more careful!

“There!” Dai called, pointing to a right turn, but a couple of soldiers appeared there as well, forcing them to change directions. Just as they ducked into the alley, a few barrels went tumbling down behind them and exploded. A shadowy man appeared, deflecting a few fire blasts from the angry Firebenders.

“Follow me!” the stranger waved at them. “I can lead you to a safe place.”

Aomine eyed the newcomer warily for a moment, trying to judge him, even if that was hard to do with the commotion around them. Plus, they were in a colony town, full of soldiers from Kaijō and Fukuda. Firebending soldiers. Full of the enemy .

They really had few choices at the moment, unless of course, they wanted to walk right into enemy hands and allow the Fire Lord to kill the Avatar, who’d been found not too long ago, after having been gone for decades. Near a century, if not more... no one had proper records of when and why this war had been started by the Firebenders.

The brown-haired teen — because, the three realised, their guide was around their age, possibly younger by a few months, even — led them out of the town and into the woods, giving them a way of escaping their pursuers without Kuroko having to call for Nigō, though Aomine could see that his Airbending friend was clutching the bison whistle in one hand, ready to be used any moment. That was good, he guessed.

This guy had helped them out, but he wasn’t sure how much they should trust him. Suddenly, Momoi’s wariness of the people they met and her disagreement to visit town made a lot more sense and Aomine felt slightly bad for putting them all in danger like this. He knew the Firebenders wanted Tetsu’s head. Spirits, all of them were wanted, alive or dead and they’d just walked into enemy territory.

“Nice touch with the fireworks,” Aomine said cautiously, glancing at the stranger, as he sat down.

“I’m familiar with explosives,” the other agreed with a brief nod. They all stiffened and Momoi’s dark pink eyes narrowed accusingly.

“You’re a Firebender. A soldier,” she said, tensing reaching for her fans. Aomine also tensed, ready to call forth the water from the containers attached on his person and even Kuroko took a subtle defensive stance. (However, the two Tōō citizens had already seen the Airbender in action a time or two and they knew, that while their quiet friend was a pacifist and preferred to avoid combat, that did not mean he was an incompetent combatant. On the contrary, actually.)

“ Was ,” the brown-haired stranger said. “Name’s Ogiwara Shigehiro. And I serve someone else.”

Three pairs of eyes narrowed, and Aomine’s hands twitched, freezing the water into ice spikes that kept moving around him in a lazy circle with every wave of his fingers, as a silent threat. The stranger was alone and there were three of them, two of them Benders. This Ogiwara guy was outclassed and outnumbered and Aomine wanted him to know that.

“There’s this guy. Haizaki Shōgo. More than a man really, he’s a myth, but he’s real, a living legend, the Deserter. Haizaki is a Master Firebender, despite his young age and was the youngest Kaijō general, or wait, was he an admiral?”

Aomine scoffed a bit, rolling his eyes. “High-ranking officer, we get it.”

“Yeah! Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness any more. He’s the first person ever to leave the army - and live. I’m the second, but you don’t get to be a legend for that. That’s okay though. Haizaki’s a firebending genius. Some say he’s mad — but he’s not!” he waved his hands hurriedly, and continued, “He’s enlightened.”

Kuroko’s eyes lit up with excitement, a subtle smile appearing on his pale features, showing just how much the idea of a non-violent Firebender was to his liking. “You mean… he’d be willing to teach me?”

Momoi crossed her arms, shaking her head, throwing a slightly disapproving look at the Airbender. “We shouldn’t be going to a Firebender like that, Tesu.”

Ogiwara bristled slightly. “Shōgo’s not crazy. He just sees the world as it is — which few do these days, actually.”

“I still think we shouldn’t go,” Momoi pointed out, calmer this time.

Kuroko hummed, though he looked thoughtful. “I understand your concerns, Satsuki… but this may be my only chance to find a Master willing to teach me, instead of wanting to capture me.”

Aomine nodded as well. “Yeah, Satsuki. He’s right. Besides, it can’t hurt just to talk to him, right? Talk to him and then head north, to Rakuzan.”

Momoi nodded slowly with an annoyed huff. “Fine.”

Ogiwara seemed pleased and smiled. “Then… I’ll take you to him tomorrow morning.”

The next morning, the four walked through the forest quickly, until they reached a small clearing by the river with a cottage standing on the shore. Ogiwara bid them to wait and walked in Haizaki’s cottage. A few minutes later he came back with a slightly irritated expression, though before any of them could comment on that, his face calmed down and he spoke. “He won’t teach you.”

The three shared an incredulous look. Kuroko turned back to look at Ogiwara. “Why not?”

“He says you must master Water and Earthbending first.”

Kuroko stiffened a bit and Aomine grimaced, as if hit in the face with a frozen fish. “How in La’s name does the guy know Tetsu doesn’t have those two down yet?”

Ogiwara gave a small shrug. “He saw the way you walked into camp. He could tell.”

Kuroko seemed to deflate a bit, but then a cold, steely glint appeared in his eyes, as he slowly headed towards the cottage. “I’ll talk to him anyway.”

Ogiwara opened his mouth to discourage it, but Aomine grabbed his arm with one hand, while the other twitched, raising water out of the river, halting the brown-haired man. Kuroko faltered a little in front of the cottage entrance, but then steeled himself and stepped in.

The place was small and dark, only a few candles lit, revealing the form of a person, his back to the entrance. “Get out.”

Kuroko flinched inwardly at the harsh tone, but he reminded himself that this may be his only chance to learn Firebending. After all, the rest of the world’s Firebenders wanted him in chains, or perhaps wanted him dead. “Please. I need to learn Firebending and this may be my only chance.”

For a moment, Haizaki didn’t answer. “Only a fool seeks his own destruction,” he said in a low, sharp tone.

Irritation sparked in Kuroko. His face remained passive, but his eyes darkened with his mood, not that the Firebender could see it, with his back to Kuroko. “Only a fool seeks his own destruction.”

Kuroko pressed his lips into a thin line. He knew little of the other elements, and he certainly had no idea how to bend the three that were not his native element, but he remembered the teachings of the monks. All four elements were integral parts of the universe and of balance, therefore fire couldn’t be only destruction.

He hated to pull this card. He never wanted to be the Avatar, but after seeing what he had, waking from his slumber from the ice… he understood now, that this war had to be stopped. That meant he needed to be the Avatar for that. “I’m the Avatar,” he said calmly, with certainty he didn’t actually feel, “it’s my destiny to—”

Haizaki snorted derisively. “Destiny? What would a boy know of destiny? If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean.”

Kuroko’s hands clenched into fists. He understood what the Firebender was saying. He had been taught by monks and he was a Master — the only remaining Master — of Air. He understood the need for patience, yet he had been robbed of such luxury. If Haizaki refused to teach him now, or even give him pointers on how to start later, once he reached that point, he may never become a fully realised Avatar in time to stop this war. “I understand that, but it’s the Avatar’s duty to master the Bending arts.”

Haizaki’s face darkened and the flames around him grew an inch. “To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you! Now, get out.”

Kuroko almost snorted. Did Haizaki know anything of Airbending? It was based on calmness of mind and discipline. It was the element of Freedom, but freedom did not mean heedlessness . He curbed his wish to lash out and instead took a subtle calming breath. “Please, I have to learn. This could be my only chance.”

Haizaki’s dark eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, like smouldering coals. “Are you deaf? How can I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning firebending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire, fire is alive! It breathes, it grows. Without the bender, a rock will not throw itself! But fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it! That is its destiny! You are not ready! You are too weak!”

Kuroko’s fingers twitched in irritation, but before he could say anything, he could feel something ancient and powerful stir within him. It rushed through him, faster than the fastest air current and suddenly, he found himself in an unfamiliar desolate environment, Haizaki standing a few feet away… and it felt like he’d become a spectator in his own life.

“You think I am weak?”

The Firebender’s eyes went wide with shock and he gave a reverent, if reluctant bow. “No! Of course not! I did not mean it as such, Avatar…”

“You will teach young Avatar Tetsuya Firebending ,” an old male voice, not his own Kuroko noted, yet still startlingly familiar, commanded, cutting off the grey-haired male’s protests. “I have mastered the elements a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes. Now, I must do it once again. You will teach the Avatar” Kuroko felt himself raise his hand… yet it was not his own action, he could tell that much, “Firebending.”

Haizaki nodded slowly. “Yes, yes. I will teach you.”

As the unfamiliar scene faded and Kuroko was snapped back into his own body — he desperately tried not to show how disorienting his experience of switching with his previous life unexpectedly had been, — and back into the hut. The candles had been snuffed out, yet by some residue spiritual energy, he could still see the older Bender in front of him clearly. He couldn’t help but allow himself a subtle, triumphant smile in the shadows.

Time to start learning Firebending.

Scene title: “The Northern Air Temple”

Midorima sighed contentedly as they finally landed on the cliff. The others slid down from the bison’s saddle as well and looked around. The green-haired Airbender relaxed the moment he felt the slight, chilly breeze ruffle his clothes and hair.

Kise peered at him with wide, brown eyes and Midorima’s green eyes narrowed on their newest member. The blonde had been the last to join them, though that didn’t mean he was less of a team member for it. However, this also meant that the blonde had been sheltered by his kin up till now... and Midorima honestly doubted he’d met other Benders.

“What is it?” he asked gruffly.

The blonde flashed him a quick grin and shrugged. “Sorry... just... your bangs usually cover your tattoo. And the wind just... moved it. Never met an Airbender before you guys stumbled across the border into Kaijō.”

Midorima raised an eyebrow. “You can see it on my hands just fine,” he said, raising his hand to eye-level for demonstration.

Kise opened his mouth again, when Kuroko stepped between them, a hand resting against Kise’s arm, while he was turned towards Midorima. “Midorima-kun, give him a break. It’s obvious that as the only son of his family and also the youngest, he’d been sheltered. And Kise-kun, please try not to stare so obviously. It’s alright to be curious. We all are — we mostly know only our homelands, with Akashi-kun being the obvious exception. But being curious doesn’t mean we stare so… noticeably .”

The blonde bit his lower lip and nodded, eyeing the shorter, blue-haired boy with a mix of awe and fear. That was the usual occurrence, since Kise had seen Kuroko Bend for the first time since he joined them, a few days ago.

“Shintarō,” Akashi called, ever-regal, gaining the attention of everyone. “Could you please guide us?”

The green-haired teen nodded. “Of course. It’s not my home Temple, but I’ve been here before. This way,” he called, making a gesture.

The others shared a look, but since Akashi didn’t hesitate in following the taller teen, the others soon joined. They trusted each other, even if they hadn’t been together for too long. The time spent together, rife with adventures and danger, had forged them into a well-working team.

“What’s the Temple like?” Momoi asked curiously.

Midorima glanced at the only girl of their group and after another heartbeat, spoke. “Beautiful. Full of murals. The history of the Air Nomads is literally painted onto the walls. And as a temple on the highest peak complete with special locks only to be opened by Airbending… Air Temples are among the safest places in the world.”

They all looked up when they heard happy laughing, seeing someone loop around in the air on a glider. Kise and Momoi’s eyes widened. “Wow, another Airbender!” the blonde said, pointing excitedly. “Midorimacchi, didn’t you say there were only a handful of your people left, well-hidden?”

Midiorima grimaced slightly, eyes narrowing coldly on the stranger. “Because it’s true. There’s only a dozen or so fully trained Airbenders left and I’m one of them. Hence why our Temples are ruins…” he muttered. “And… whoever he is, he’s not an Airbender.”

The others squinted at the approaching figure. “How in the Spirits’ name can you tell?” Aomine asked, making a gesture. “He’s flying .”

Kuroko and Akashi both glared at the dark-skinned teen. “ Language .” 

Aomine grimaced, but before he could say anything, Midorima answered. “Gliding maybe, but not flying. You can tell by the way they move, they’re not Airbending. Those people have no spirit.”

“Eeh, what does spirit have to do with Bending?” Kise asked, slightly confused.

“Airbenders were…” Kuroko paused, glancing at Midorima, “my apologies, Airbenders are the most spiritual of all four people.”

Midorima waved the shorter off for the mistake. “True. Though, I have to admit, you’re much more… spiritual than I would have given you credit for, considering your… abilities , Kuroko.”

The icy blue eyes landed on Midorima and then Kuroko shrugged. “My abilities do not define who I am, if you don’t know how I came to possess them. Which element we Bend and how we Bend it is just a piece of the big picture of life.”

The Airbender blinked and then nodded, a mix of surprise and pleased approval flashing through his features. “Indeed. My apologies for what I implied…”

“None taken.”

They quieted down and faltered somewhat as the person landed next to them.

He had an orange glider, one Midorima recognised. After all, his was the same. “Oh, travellers. Nice to see you,” the boy greeted them enthusiastically. “Name’s Kazunari Takao and I’m an Airbender.” (Unnecessary to say that, Midorima thought. Just by his glider and the pale blue arrow peeking from under his hair and clothing everyone could tell.)

Before anyone could say anything, the black-haired Airbender turned and waved again — or maybe, this time it was a bit more like flailing , rather than waving. “Hey, Miyaji, Ōtsubo, we’ve got visitors!” he called loudly.

The group drew back a bit, taken aback by the other Airbender’s unexpected use of his abilities. Sure, Midorima had told them that by using their skills, Airbenders could amplify their voice, but the green-haired monk had never demonstrated this.

Moments later, two boys landed on the temple grounds, a bit farther from them, one had short, dark brown hair while the other had medium-length blonde hair. “Who are you here, Kazunari?” the blonde asked.

“We’re passing through,” Midorima answered, “and heard some people talking about Airbenders, so we came to see.”

They quickly exchanged names and Miyaji studied the group curiously. “So… Airbenders, huh?”

“Only Shintarō,” Akashi corrected. “Though the rest of us are also Benders.”

“I thought… the hunt for the Airbenders had been… worse,” Momoi said carefully. “Well, at home, they certainly made it sound much worse. But if there’s so many of you…”

“As I said, they are not Benders,” Midorima corrected her, voice tight.

“No, we are not,” Ōtsubo agreed. “Only Kazunari. We just… got some assistance in getting a taste of flying.”

“Eh, maybe you want a tour of the Temple?” Kazunari offered and then looked at the two others next to him. “Maybe they could stay for dinner?”

The two older boys shared a look and then Ōtsubo nodded, just as another few people were approaching to land. “Why not?”

The black-haired Airbender grinned and grabbed Midorima, immediately dragging him away excitedly, both to show him and his friends around the Temple and to give more space to those landing.

“Come on, I’ll lead you around and then you can meet everyone later.”

The group shared a few unsure glances, but followed anyway.

As they were led around the now-ruined building, Midoima felt his despair and anger mount more and more. Everything was ruined, the walls full of cracks, the murals almost faded. The walls were grimy from sooth and chemicals, the water in the nearby fountain an unnatural shade of green. He remembered how this place had been, when he had been young… and to see it in this state of disarray filled him with despair.

“And here, we were planning the bathhouse…” Kazunari started again. They had arrived in a half-closed room with several statues of monks as their tour was coming to an end. However, they were interrupted as a huge ball of metal rammed through the wall, shattering one of the statues.

They all jumped a bit in surprise, and Midorima’s green eyes narrowed as a man with black hair appeared. He seemed to be the oldest in the group present. Kazunari waved at the man lazily.

“Oh, that’s Nakatani-san, our caretaker and the mastermind behind all this. You want to hear the plan for the lower level of…?”

“This is enough!” Midorima shouted, his voice bouncing around, startling those present. He shifted his grip on his closed glider and with a single swipe, the air he released cut through the metal that held the massive ball, before the whole contraption tumbled into the depths below.

All present stiffened as they felt the air shift with the green-haired Bender’s growing ire. “This is a sacred temple. Last of my fading culture, and you…” he pointed his glider at Nakatani, who paused warily, “…are destroying it. I know what this place is supposed to look like, I’ve been here before.”

The man winced. “I…”

Midorima turned away from him before the man could form an answer and looked at Kazunari. The wind seemed to turn stronger, and the black-haired Bender seemed even more wary. “And you… you of all people, as another Airbender, should know how sacred this place is! You should know how much this sanctuary meant to our ancestors and how much it means to the handful of survivors! And you allowed them to desecrate it!”

The shorter Airbender winced, but before anyone could say anything, Midorima whirled on his heels.

“We’re all just trying to survive,” Nakatani pointed out, his tone mostly calm, though the teens could sense the slight tremor in it. “After what happened to the Airbenders… My home was destroyed by the war too. I gathered young survivors and war children, so they wouldn’t have to be alone and go hungry like I did when I was your age. We found refuge here and tried to make the best of it. Progress cannot be stopped. We just did our best to improve what was here. Is it not what nature does?”

Midorima’s back was ramrod stiff, and then he glanced back at the man over his shoulder, green eyes smouldering with anger. Unconsciously stirring a breeze, he lowered the surroundings’ temperature, as if to give more weight to his words. “Nature knows when to stop . Humans, very apparently, do not ,” and then he stormed away.

The group shared a look, and Murasakibara grimaced. “Remind me not to piss off Mido-chin. He’s scary.”

“Agreed,” Kise and Aomine muttered as well, watching their upset friend melt into the shadowy ruins of the Temple.

Scene title: “Koizilla”

Akashi Seijūrō had a duty to his people, as the Prince of the Eastern Water Tribe. As the future Chief of Rakuzan.

Future .

That word seemed more sinister now, than ever before. Because the future of his home, of his people, was in danger.

“We’ll have to stop them somehow...” Midorima muttered, looking more troubled than Akashi had ever seen him. The green-haired Master Bender was a Tsundere just fine.

But Akashi knew that even if Shintarō did not openly admit he liked spending time in the North with the Water Tribe... well, that was fine. Because Akashi knew the taller teen liked being away from his demanding father from time to time. Just as much as Akashi cherished the few occasions when diplomacy or the pretence of  ‘training’ took him to Shūtoku.

Akashi agreed with Midorima. They had to stop the invading forces. But... How were they supposed to do it? It was his responsibility, to keep Rakuzan safe, as the Heir to the Throne. But for the first time in his life Akashi felt like control was slipping from his grip.

It was a feeling he never wanted to experience again.

He swallowed hard and looked at the closed wooden door of the oasis. He took a shaky breath he will never admit to this weakness and looked at the green-haired prodigy beside him.

“Shintarō?”

Green eyes, glinting like steel in the silvery light of the rising moon, locked on his face. “Yes?”

He gestured at the door. “Please make sure no one interrupts me.” He walked around the pond, to arrive under the orate torii gate.

The Shūtokuan raised an eyebrow. “What... are you planning, exactly?”

Akashi stole a brief glance at the pair of koi fish circling in the pond by his feet. “Not all spirits have forsaken the mortals, Shintarō. I’ve been touched by my peoples’ patron spirit once. Perhaps... today, the spirits will answer my request. But while in contact with the spirits, I’ll be vulnerable, and I fear the invading forces may target me to cripple my Tribe.” He sat down.

The green-haired teen looked at the Rakuzani Prince with some scepticism. What... What was Akashi hiding? What wasn’t he sharing, in the middle of this mess? With the Firebenders attacking them, it wasn’t the best time to be keeping secrets... Midorima was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of a not-so-distant collision.

He frowned. The Firebenders hadn’t stopped their attack, despite the fact that Tui was looking down on them now. Nighttime was the time for Waterbenders... So why hadn’t they stopped? Something wasn’t right here. “Very well. I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”

Akashi gave a brief nod and closed his eyes, as he gently reached towards the presence of the two fish-shaped spirits. The fact that two Great Spirits had given up their immortality and resided in the Mortal World was one of the greatest, if not the greatest secret, of the Eastern Water Tribe of Rakuzan.

When Akashi opened his eyes again, he wasn’t in the oasis anymore, but in a slightly murky yet still beautiful swamp. Glancing around he noticed murky waters surrounding him and the torii above his head. Not too far away, he spotted a white, meditating monkey spirit.

“Young Akashi...”

The call of his name jolted the Prince of the Water Tribe from his musings and he looked around. No one was nearby, save for the monkey, whose eyes were still closed and the creature seemed bent on ignoring him.

“Look down, child,” the calm, elderly voice instructed him.

Akashi’s bi-coloured gaze snapped down towards the water and he noticed the man in the water, almost as if the stranger were his reflection. Perhaps, he was his reflection, a part of his mind reasoned.

Akashi opened his mouth to greet the man, but the elderly raised his hand to silence him. “A Spirit-touched child wandering the Spirit World... interesting.”

“ Not just a child,” he said firmly.

The man nodded. “No, indeed not. I hear you’re looking for the Spirits of the Moon and Ocean.”

“The Firebenders are threatening my Tribe. The world, even...”

The man sighed. “So this vicious cycle starts yet again...”

Akashi’s breath hitched, something coiling his gut uncomfortably. His eyes narrowed. “What... Do you mean ‘yet again‘?”

“This had already happened once. History repeats itself, child.”

Akashi pressed his lips into a thin line. “How can I stop them?”

“Do not allow them to harm the Spirits. Such a thing has disastrous consequences and the world may be at stake.”

Akashi made a displeased face. “ How am I supposed to protect them, if I cannot find them? If I don’t know who to look for?”

“You’re looking for the Moon and the Ocean, young Prince. Tui and La. Push and pull, as it had been the nature of their relationship since the dawn of time.”

For a moment, the redhead stared at the water, a foreign, yet familiar face staring back at him. His eyes went wide. “Tui and La...” he breathed softly. “The koi fish in the pond.”

“Indeed. Go. Go, Spirit-touched. They need your help as much as you need theirs,” and with those words, the reflection dissolved.

Akashi took a deep breath and whirled on his heels intent on doing as he was told and protecting the Spirits. He felt his awareness being snapped back to his body and he woke with a jolt. Immediately, the sounds of a fight reached his ears, fire sizzling in the air and weapons clanging against one another.

Panic seized a corner of his heart . He pushed it down ruthlessly. How had anyone even made their way into the sanctuary?

His eyes snapped open. “Akashi!”

The sharp call had him moving in a second, moving his arm swiftly to raise a wave out of the Spirit Pond to beat back the Firebenders. “You will not win this!”

“We already won , Princeling,” a sickeningly sweet voice called, just as the world around them was tinted with the shade of blood. Akashi fell with a cry as numbing pain shot through his body and spirit at once.

Akashi snarled, staggering to his feet. He tried to Bend the water again, but with Tui trapped in the cloth bag and the sky red overhead... his power seemed to have dried up. He felt hollow. It was a painful and nauseating feeling. A part of him raged at even feeling it, while another just pleaded for the torture to be over.

“Let that spirit go, Hanamiya . Every person, no matter which Nation, needs the Moon. We all depend on balance,” he snarled through clenched teeth.

“No... with this... I’ll be part of history. Hanamiya the Moon-slayer,” he smirked darkly, raising the wet cloth bag in the air even more, the helpless fish thrashing in it.

“Let that spirit go Hanamiya, or whatever you do to it, I’ll unleash it upon you tenfold!” an iron-hard voice called and in the next moment, the two soldiers flanking Hanamiya were on the ground, downed by powerful streaks of fire.

Akashi turned and from the corner of his eye, the Prince noted that Midorima took a fighting stance once more. Akashi reached into his robes for the throwing knives he carried. His father preferred him not to use weapons, but long ago, his mother had warned him that there might be situations, when Bending was not an option if he wanted to defend himself. So she’d arranged for him to learn knife throwing, and Akashi had never been more grateful for those lessons than he was now. He clutched three short, sharp blades amongst his fingers, ready to send them flying with a flick of his wrist at whichever Firebender proved the bigger threat.

“ General Teppei ,” the man named Hanamiya snarled — Akashi knew he was part of the Fire Nation Navy, but in the bloody glow, it was hard to identify his rank. Though, if the one who demanded the release of Tui was a General, then the weasel-faced idiot, who had a death wish by angering the Spirits, had to be a lower ranking officer.

“Let that spirit go,” the General insisted again, fire dancing on his fingers. Even in the humidity of the oasis, Akashi sensed the heat of the flames. The brown-haired man surely knew how to handle his native element.

Hanamiya scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Fine. I know when to retreat,” he spat, crouching down to release Tui. The moment Tui was back in the pond, Akashi let out a breath he held back without realising. The pain from his mind and soul was subsiding and he could think clearly now.

Hanamiya backed off, just as the General approached, his face hard, like iron.

Akashi crouched down to the pond to check...

... and so he was in no position to defend against the wreath of flame that struck Tui. (Midorima and the other General had been too slow.)

“No!” he called in a shrill voice.

Pain shot through his entire being. “Yue! How dare you, mortal?!” a voice boomed inside Akashi’s head, nearly deafening in its loudness.

The Fire General and Midorima fought the invaders. Akashi tried his best to block out the voice and make the nausea subside. By the time he managed to get a grip on himself, the Firebenders were gone, save for the General.

“All is lost...” he rasped, barely able to breathe through the painful echoes of the sharp voices in his head.

“Not yet,” the Fire General said, coming closer, but not into the immediate reach of the Spirit Pond for which Akashi was grateful. He wasn’t in a shape to defend it from another vicious Firebender.

Akashi looked at him. “How can you say that? The moon is the colour of blood and water won’t answer me or my Tribesmen anymore.”

The General studied him. “You can do it. You, the Avatar. And spirit-touched at once. The Spirits will answer your call. And...” the brown-haired Firebender glanced at the lone black fish in the water. “I think the Ocean calls for retribution, does it not?”

Akashi looked into the pond and watched the lone koi fish — La, the Ocean Spirit — swim aimlessly in the cristaline water without Tui there to guide him. He could feel La’s boundless anger. His call for retribution.

“How would it call for retribution,”Midorima asked in slight despair, “when balance is lost? This… this is the end…”

Power flared in his veins and Akashi moved.

Meanwhile, Midorima watched in a mix of fear and awe as a cold, white, otherworldly glow filled his friend’s eyes, as he descended into the pond, standing in the middle of it. La started circling him, the smae glow filling the fish.

“No, it’s not over,” Akashi said, though the voice coming from his lips was not his own. It was deeper, older and filled with power that mortals couldn’t hope to comprehend.

Then, Akashi was swallowed by the water, startling those present. “Akashi!” Midorima gasped in shock and apprehension.

Before he could say anything more, blue-white energy filled the pond and spread through the water through the entire city, as a huge, human-like, yet still fish-looking behemoth made of water rose above them.

Midorima was not of the Water Tribes, but even he recognised the Spirit, which now roamed the mortal plane with the help of the Avatar. Because, apparently , Akashi was the freaking Avatar, his friend only didn’t deign to tell him that before.

The Ocean Spirit, La, was here for retribution against the Firebenders, who had harmed his other half. Midorima fell to his knees and watched and listened to the sounds of destruction as La swept across the icy city.

The power in the air made the blood in his veins freeze, and he swore never to cross a spirit in any shape or form...

Scene title: “The Sandbender”

“Nigō!”

The sorrowful cry carried through the scorching heat of the desert without any form of answer. Midorima, Aomine, and Momoi stood a few paces behind the usually-stoic Airbender as he called for his Air bison without any answer.

Aomine and Momoi were similarly upset — they loved the massive furball almost as much as Kuroko himself. Much to Kuroko’s annoyance, because Aomine kept feeding him treats…

Midorima actually felt bad. If he had only been more prepared, perhaps those Sandbenders would not have taken the animal. (Not to mention how much of a setback Nigō’s absence meant. He was not fond of the creature, but the bison was useful. With him travelling was much faster, besides, he remembered that it — he —had helped them several times to avoid bandits and other pursuers.)

Midorima grimaced, readjusting his glasses. “I’m sorry, Kuroko. The library was sinking and the attack had caught me off guard...”

The blue-haired Airbender sighed, staying silent for a moment. When he turned around to face them once more, some of his usual calmness was back though they could still tell that he was greatly upset. “Not your fault, Midorima-kun. You had to choose. Save us, or save him. Besides, you did warn us that your mastery of Earth did not extend to sand. That’s a sub-skill that those of Yōsen specialise in, and we are in the middle of Yōsen’s desert.”

“We’ll find him, Tetsu,” Aomine said placatingly. “We will and when we find those who’d taken him...”

Kuroko took another calming breath and nodded at his dark-skinned friend. “Hai. We’ll find him.”

“Only if we start walking ,” Momoi noted with slight amusement in her tone. “We won’t catch those Sandbenders by staying in one spot.”

The four of them shared a look and started walking. Kuroko snapped his glider open. “I’ll look for traces from above.”

“Smart choice,” Midorima agreed. “I’ll try to see if... I can sense anyone, though my Seismic sense is misleading in this environment.”

Kuroko nodded and then took off. The three who remained on the ground shared another look before starting to walk.

After what seemed to be like forever, they finally came across a small settlement. All of them perked up. Momoi’s eyes widened with hope.

“Oh, look! People! How long has it been since we were wandering around here?”

Aomine shrugged. “Probably several hours... and most of our water’s gone, so I hope they have water. And that they either have Nigō or know where he might be. Any more hours without Nigō and Tetsu won’t be the only one on a warpath...” he muttered.

Kuroko landed in front of his friends as they approached the settlement — which belonged to Sandbenders, as seen by the faintly familiar insignia painted onto the tent fabrics. Kuroko immediately marched over, his previous self-control immediately slipping his grip as his icy eyes narrowed on a purple-haired stranger. An immensely tall stranger, even taller than Midorima. Which made the Airbender stomping towards him look tiny .

Momoi, Aomnine and Midorima all hurried behind him in case Kuroko needed help. They hoped there was enough calmness left in their friend to handle the situation quietly.

Purple eyes fell on them, and the tall male looked at them with slight interest. “Huh, travellers. Not many come to this corner of the desert. What brings you here?” he asked as he shifted his feet and raised a hand to Bend sand and rock.

Kuroko didn’t even bat an eye at the display, though the others tensed slightly. This was not friendly territory, and they could never tell who might attack them yet again. “Where is Nigō?”

The purple-haired Bender raised an eyebrow. “What now, little man? Huh... why don’t I feel you through the sand like your companions?” he asked, glancing at the other three.

Midorima’s lips curled upwards, just slightly. Seismic sense was a basic skill of Earthbending, yet few bothered to learn it. Those who did could be dangerous. And if this Sandbender had a variant of it here, where Midorima’s ‘extra sense’ was almost blind... Well, better for them to be careful.

“Where is my Air Bison?” he asked, shifting his stance into what Aomine immediately recognised as offensive. His friend rarely got angry, but when he did... It was nasty . The wind picked up, just a tiny bit.

“I... don’t even know what an Air Bison is,” the purple-haired stranger drawled.

“You don’t know...” Kuroko’s voice dropped a bit, coloured by anger. “Sandbenders took Nigō and you say you don’t know... ” his eyes turned cold and sharp, the wind picking up even more, whirling around him sharply.

The purple-haired Sandbender staggered back, eyes wide with shock. “Are... are you an Airbender ?”

“Yes he is,” Aomine called, stepping closer as the wind picked up even more sand. “And a pissed off one. Where’s the bison?” He was talking to the Sandbender, but his eyes were glued to his friend. No need to make a bigger scene than this already was (if the gathering, whispering tribe members were any indication).

“I don’t know. But... our tribe isn’t the only one in the desert. If he’d been caught, he might already be in Yōsen’s Capital. Go to the city.”

Kuroko’s eyes narrowed and with a practised flick of his closed glider, he pinned the other to the ground. Aomine was behind him in a moment, grabbing Kuroko’s hands and Midorima’s green eyes narrowed on the wary Sandbender.

The Earthbender hummed. “Calm down. He’s telling the truth. He hasn’t seen Nigō. But... he knows the desert. Maybe he could help us.”

The Sandbender sat up the moment the wind’s pressure lessened around him, studying the Airbender. “Hm... what do I get if I help you?”

“Let’s start with Tetsu not laying waste to this place,” Aomine grunted. “Or you want a pissed off Avatar unleashed on your kin?” he asked, gesturing at the gathering of people around them.

Murasakibara’s eyes widened slightly. “The... Avatar?”

“Yes,” Aomine said firmly. Kuroko grimaced, elbowing the darker-skinned teen in the ribs and making him hiss. “Tetsu!”

“Please do not announce who I am to the world at random, Daiki,” he said, tone deadpan. “We may never know who is a friend or an enemy.”

Murasakibara stood up and, with a wave of his hand, cleaned his clothes of sand as Aomine rolled his eyes and looked at the Sandbender again. “Plus, if you help us, that means travelling with the Avatar... and when we end the war, we’re gonna be famous. So... your home remains intact and, possibly, fame, if we find the bison. Which means wealth and new clothes and fancy food, being treated like a noble...”

Aomine didn’t notice, but he’d truly grabbed the Sandbender’s attention with the word ‘food.’

“Hm, if I say I may have an idea who took the bison and I’ll lead you around in Yōsen... will you leave my Tribe be? And do I get food?”

The four travellers blinked at the tall stranger like cat-owls. Aomine and Kuroko shared a brief glance, before the Airbender nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m coming then, I guess... I’m Murasakibara Atsushi, by the way.”

The four people shared a look. Seriously? They just had to mention food and the guy was cooperating? Kuroko raised an eyebrow at his companions, but Midorima just shook his head. ‘Don’t look an ostrich-horse in the mouth,’ he mouthed.

They clamped their mouths shut and waited for Murasakibara to gather his things and lead them out of the desert.

Scene title: “Taken”

 Midorima tried to wrench his arm from the vice-like grip of the two men, who’d ambushed him. He was supposed to meet up with the team back in the clearing where Nigō had landed, but instead, the two — one of them his former Earthbending instructor, Sanada Naoto — men had ambushed him.

“Let go of me,” he hissed irately, stomping his foot to make the ground shake. The two men stumbled and Midorima managed to wretch one of his arms free. But the other immediately reached for it and Sanada instantly countered, by throwing a large rock at him. The man’s companion shrieked in outrage, but it didn’t matter.

His back hit something cold and the Earthbender realised that the rock was still heading his way. He punched it into small pieces and flung the sharp debris back at his attackers, using the time to stand up.

“Stay put, brat,” the second man snarled, jabbing his shoulder. He hissed in pain, staggering back. 

Sanada slammed the door of the metal box shut. “Stay where you are, kid. We’ll bring you back to the city and tell your father the Avatar abducted you and the metal was for your safety. He’ll be happy, we get our money and your pampered little ass will be sleeping on silk instead of rock tonight.”

“I have no reason to go home. Let me free and you can walk away!” he snapped back.

“Why should we?” Sanada asked. “You’ve caused me problems, by having my underground fighting arena shut down, brat. The money your father offered if we took you home will cover at least half of my loss.”

“I have no intention of going home when the fate of the world is at stake!” he countered heatedly.

“The fate of the world. Sure, little Lordling,” Sanada snorted derisively. Then, Midorima heard their steps fading and soon, they were moving. 

So, the accursed metal box was on some carriage, which was taking him farther and farther away from where he was supposed to meet Kuroko and Akashi. Not good.

Midorima glared into the darkness of his cell, scoffing. The cowards knew he was a better Earthbender than they were, so they’d ambushed him when he had been alone and completely unprepared. (Akashi would have probably praised the plan and the men’s execution of it if he weren’t captured in the process.)

He sighed, fingers running across the cold metal. Here, surrounded by metal, he had nothing to Bend — thus he could not get out. Even the rock that had been thrown at him had been taken to pieces and redirected in a futile attempt to save himself.

He closed his eyes and sighed, trying to think of something. They probably would not just stop, whether he asked it nicely or not. After all, both of them were hell-bent on taking him back to the man he hated, to get their money.

He stiffened a little when his Seismic Sense caught the presence of earth. But… how was that possible, when he was inside a metal cage? He closed his eyes again, trying to find earth.

All around him. As if he were cocooned by it, even though the cage was metal…

‘But metal is just refined earth…’ he realised. He took another calming breath and with every heartbeat, he sensed around —right now, his extra sense was more help than his sight. 

There. He could feel the tiny particles of earth… and where Earth was, an Earthbender could get by. He smiled and punched the lock. It didn’t budge and the impact hurt like hell. He hissed frowning and glaring at the metal hatefully.

“Okay… Let me try again. This time with more force. And move it like earth…” he mumbled under his breath.

He concentrated a bit more, feeling out the cage once again, before punching it. This time, the metal bent to his will. He smirked. “And so Fate declares me the winner…”

He tore the door down and jumped out, surprising his captors. “What… in the name of the spirits?”

“How the fuck did you get out little punk! You’re not getting away!” Sanada‘s companion shouted.

Midorima smiled, turning to face them. With a few subtle moves, he had them immobilised and before they could react, he slammed them into the metal contraption. He grabbed the cage and repeated the process of Sense and manipulation. It was earth, just in a different form, after all. A bit like how Firebenders dealt with both fire and lightning.

The metal crinkled and crumpled under his fingers, like paper, trapping the two men inside.

“Get us out of here right now, you little—!” Sanada growled.

Midorima flashed the man a condescending smile. “Only true masters know the ways of the earth. That’s what you taught me. Let me tell you… between you and me, I’m the Master. I’ve always been better. Why my parents even wasted money on you, I’ll never understand. Nonetheless, when you make it back, tell my father that Fate has assigned me a role and I am to walk beside the Avatar. I will not go home.”

His lips curled into one last condescending smile and then he turned around to leave. And just because he was feeling vindictive — because the bastards made him and his friends lose precious time — he flicked a rather large pebble at the ostrich horse, which had been pulling the carriage. The pebble scared the animal and it took off with a shriek, pulling its metal-wrapped cargo with it.

Midorima readjusted his glasses and headed back the way they’d come —hopefully he’ll catch Akashi just in time.

Scene title: “The Puppetmaster”

Kuroko tugged at the chains holding him to no avail. He could barely move. And every breath he took seared his lungs. The Firebenders who’d come to raid his home were surely meticulous. They knew exactly what were the strengths, weaknesses and limits of Waterbenders. And the more time he spent here in this prison, dangling in the air in a cage, so they wouldn’t even have the slightest chance of reaching for water...

... the more time he spent here, the more he hated the Fire Nation.

Even when the soldiers came to bring them water twice a day, when their meals came... even then, they were tied up. In fact, they were even more tied up, then otherwise. The minimum of cleanliness and medication they were provided was more a mockery, than anything else. It was just to drag out their suffering.

“Kuroko?” the soft call in the silence was sharper, than anything else.

The blue-haired Waterbender shifted in his sitting position, hoping to catch a glimpse of his friend. “Yes, Ogiwara-kun?”

“Promise me you’ll get out of here and that you’ll make these fucking Ashmakers pay for what they’ve done.”

Kuroko fidgeted uncomfortably. “Ogiwara-kun... don’t speak like that, please. We’ll both get out of here,” he insisted, though his voice was faint. He wasn’t sure how they would be able to get out of here.

“Just... promise me ,” Ogiwara insisted, his voice as cutting as shards of ice. Ice, which Kuroko hadn’t seen in years... something he wasn’t even sure he remembered how it felt or looked like.

“I promise. I’ll get out of here and I’ll make them suffer for what they’ve done to us and to our home,” he said quietly, his voice carrying the promise of painful retribution.

Ogiwara didn’t survive much longer after that and Kuroko was left alone. Sure there were other Waterbenders, but he had never been close to those in his tribe and there were a few, who were not even from Seirin, actually, but nomads, scattered across Teikō.

So he sat in silence, only his promise to Ogiwara keeping him from falling to despair. He’d get out of here. Somehow. Sometime.

Interestingly enough, the key to his escape came in the form of rodents. Rats were everywhere in their prison. And after months and months spent under the silver light of Tui... filled with power, yet no way to release it, with his bitterness and desperation growing more and more each passing day...

He figured it out. There was water for him to Bend, despite the Firebenders’ best efforts.

After all, every living thing held water. Water was in the air. Water was in plants. Even in living beings — after all, blood was water.

So, he sat in his cell and endured, honing his Bending skills on nights, when Tui’s light was the strongest, creating a way for himself to get out. Even with this limited amount of water source, he could feel himself growing stronger.

And... three years after his childhood friend’s death, the opportunity presented itself. The new guard assigned to him was careless, standing too close to his cell. On the night of the full moon, no less. Tui was smiling down on him... and the Ashmakers said Great Spirits could only be benevolent. Sure they were... until someone pissed them off.

Kuroko shifted slightly to look at the young, blonde guard standing by his cell. With his blonde hair and pale skin he had no doubt he was a Firebender. Though his green eyes... Perhaps he was somewhere from the colonies? One of his parents was originally a Shūtoku citizen? Not that it mattered.

Kuroko raised his hand and took a deep breath, allowing the Moon to fill his veins with power. Then, he slowly curled his fingers and he felt his Bending take hold of the man. He raised a second hand and  with a flick of his wrist forced the guard to turn around.

The blonde squawked in surprise, eyes going wide. “What in the name of Agni...?” The Waterbender fisted his hand, forcing the other to shut his mouth, preventing him from calling for help. Kuroko’s fingers curled inwards, and he pulled the water closer to himself.

The guard moved against his will and Kuroko saw the utter and complete panic in his eyes. He guided the man’s hand to lower and open his cell. He could feel the soldier fighting for control, but Kuroko refused to let go of him. Time for the bastard to feel what it was like to be trapped .

He slipped out of the now open cell and smiled slightly at the soldier, still firmly in his grip. “Give the Firelord my greetings. And tell him to watch for shadows... because every living being has water... or blood in their veins.”

The blonde’s bright green eyes went ridiciously wide as understanding and terror crashed into his mind with full force. The Waterbender flicked his wrist and then let go and the guard fell to the ground in a motionless heap.

He slipped into the shadows, creeping towards his freedom after years of suffering. By the time the alarm was raised, he was outside the stronghold. (Inside the blonde guard was still unconscious and yet another on the yard was dead.)

Later, the blonde would speak of a blank-faced creature — “He... it surely wasn’t human!” he flailed, as he was forced to kneel in front of the blazing wall of flames of the Firelord’s throne — a creature with eyes like ice, powerful enough to control men...

Scene Title: “The Commander and The Boy”

Ashmaker.

That single word was enough to put cracks into Kise’s perfect world. He was finally away from home — away from his toxic family. Mostly his hated half-brother. Shōgo was a nightmare to be around… he was glad that they’d managed to evade him at the Temple. Although for the life of him, the blonde Firebender could not understand why Akashi hated him so much.

He sighed, flicking his fingers to create a flame. The tiny orange fire danced above his palm serenely, harmless to those cautious and radiating slight heat. 

Yes, he knew his people had done a lot of damage to the world. The war had been raging on for generations. He finally realised that now and that was why he’d joined the Avatar’s team. Yes, he had been a little late, compared to the others… but most of them had been open to change.

All, but Akashi. The red-haired Waterbender was as cold to him as the coldest corner of his homeland and the blonde could not for dear life understand why the shorter was so hostile. Yes, their past was far from spotless, they’d fought many times. But he was here now. Willing to change, to be taught.

But… Akashi was not making it easy at all and he could not understand why .

Kise sighed, letting the flame die from his hand. “What’s got you to be so quiet, nanodayo? Whenever you’re quiet, something disastrous happens.”

Kise turned to look at his new company. The green-haired teen, just like literally everyone in this group, was a Master Bender. Sometimes, despite having joined rather recently… Kise felt out of place. His fire was no match for Aomine’s searing, bright blue flames. (Even less of a match, when the wild Firebender decided to work with their local Airbender. Kuroko Tetsuya may be quiet and unnoticeable, but Kise had never seen an Airbender more talented than the tealette. Sure, Air Nomads were… like a dying breed these days, but still. The way the quiet boy commanded the winds with just a flick of his hand, it was like how easily Aomine created tiny, yet insanely powerful sparks. Masterful and no wasted movement or energy.)

He frowned slightly at the thought. Akashi tolerated Aomine. He was even… cordial to him. Or was that just because Kuroko and Aomine were close? After all, the redhead was closest to Midorima and Kuroko, out of the group and Kise supposed, the Fire-Air duo were a sort-of package deal.

Kise, feeling lost, turned to the only ‘team’ member, who was there at the moment. “Why... Why does Akashicchi hate me?”

Midorima seemed thoughtful for a moment and then wrinkled his nose in annoyance. “It’s not you personally. Rather... Firebenders in general.”

Kise glanced at the ground, thoughtful for a moment. “I understand that most of the world does not trust my people and you all have a good reason,” he spoke in a quiet, sad tone. “But this... Akashi’s reaction seems more... personal somehow.”

Midorima glanced towards the redhead’s tent. “Firebenders killed his mother, when he was young. Rakuzan as a whole, stood relatively quickly from that attack, under Chief Masaomi’s strict leadership... but losing his mother changed Akashi. I hadn’t known him too well before that happened, but even I could tell when the change happened. And the pressure his father had placed on him, as the future leader and for not being the Avatar... well, it did not necessarily do him good.”

Kise frowned slightly at that and a moment later, a smile lit up his face, before it was gone, replaced by seriousess. “Do you know who attacked Rakuzan at the time?”

Midorima gave him an odd look. “What makes you think I know who attacked them?”

Kise huffed, rolling his eyes. “I didn't mean it that way, Midorimacchi. Do you... say know what banner the invaders flew?”

“What does that have to do with Akashi barely tolerating you?” he asked.

Kise pouted. “Just... answer please. Do you know?”

Midorima paused, thinking for a moment. “Well...”

An hour later, a cheerful Firebender and a glaring Waterbender were in the sky, the redhead steering the Air Bison following his companion’s instructions. “So... you know who these Eastern Raiders were?”

Kise shrugged. “Most of them retired, disappearing from the public eye, some of them died. But... I’ve overheard my eldest sister talking to a governor. So I know that the officer, who led the raids, is still alive, living in retirement. We’re looking for a man called Sanada Naoto.”

Akashi nodded, but raised an eyebrow. “And… how will we find him?”

Kise grinned slightly and unfurled the map he’d brought along. He pointed to where they were, tracing an invisible line with his finger on the weathered paper. “We’re flying in this direction,” his finger tapped a small island. “There’s an outpost here. They’ll be able to tell us where we will find the one we’re looking for. And, I have a good idea who to look for, to get the information we need.”

Akashi studied the map for a moment longer. “I see.”

About forty minutes of flying later, they arrived at the outpost and Akashi expertly manoeuvred Nigō to land. Kise jumped down from the saddle and led his companion inside.

“Halt!” the guard called. 

Kise flashed them a fake smile. “Don’t you know who I am?” he asked, sparks dancing along his fingers, as he eyed the two soldiers.

“Oh, but we do. You’re the traitor Prince. We’ve got orders from Crown Prince Shōgo...”

Kise’s golden-brown eyes narrowed. “He is no Prince, much less the Heir of the Dragon Throne!” he growled, moving forwards. With sharp moves and flowing streams of gold-red fire, the Firebender attacked the  two soldiers. 

Kise dodged their attack and diverted their flame to avoid having his companion injured. Akashi was a skilled Bender, but he didn’t know if the Rakuzani Prince had brought a waterskin... He sent another whirling ribbon of flame, this time at the man on his right, while kicking the one behind him. Both stumbled back and then Kise  kicked the one closer to him, knocking him out.

Slightly worried for the redhead, he turned to warn him, only to notice the shorter man in a headlock and ... created an ice dagger (how did he do that?) and before Kise could ask him not to kill, he slit the soldier’s throat.

The blonde grimaced slightly, as the Waterbender glanced at him and then at the unconscious man. “You Kaijōnese are still as theatrical and soft-hearted as ever.”

Kise huffed, as he nodded  towards the now clear corridor. “And I’m starting to think that the rumours of Rakuzani hearts having been frozen by the unforgiving weather is not a spirit tale...” he countered half-heartedly. (He knew that the Waterbender didn’t trust him. So even if he was poking fun at his Bending... it was an improvement.)

When they arrived, Kise kicked the door open and the commander of the station turned to face them, startled.  The man immediately kicked a ball of flame at them, but Kise dissipated it with a small move.

“Who are you?” the Commander demanded.

Kise glared at the man. “You don’t remember him?” he gestured at Akashi. “You will soon, trust me.”

Akashi’s eyes narrowed as he raised his hand and the man’s hand bent uncontrollably. His grey eyes went wide. “What’s... happening to me?”

Akashi’s eyes narrowed further and he did a few simple moves. Kise watched the man turn increasingly more alarmed. He glanced at Akashi. Waterbender. Akashi was a Master Waterbender... and every living thing had water. 

Bile rose into Kise’s throat, the corners of his mind darkening with panic as he understood the scene before him. (He’d heard of Bloodbenders... but honestly, he’d thought that was just propaganda and fairy tales, because according to what he’d heard, this particular... branch of Bending needed an immense amount of mastery and power.) 

Well, now he knew it was not just some tale to make unruly kids obedient. Because he stood in the same room as a Waterbender —a Bloodbender. And not just any Bender for sure. After all, the Prince of the Eastern Water Tribe of Rakuzan was a Bloodbender.

  ‘Shit. I’ll never piss him off... ’

A moment later, the blonde snapped out of his shock, looking at the soldier. “Think back. Think back to the last Raid on the Eastern Water Tribe.”

The commander looked even more fearful now, completely at the mercy of Akashi’s Bending. “I don't know what you’re talking about. Please, I don’t know!”

“That’s not him...” Akashi said with a slight frown.

Kise scoffed down at the man. “Your name?” he growled.

“M- Matsuoka Daigo.”

Kise nodded. “So Sanada did retire.” 

Matsuoka nodded hurriedly. “Yes. You’re looking for him, Prince Ryōta? You’ll find him west of here on a small island between Kaijō and Shūtoku.”

Kise’s eyes narrowed on the man. He had a feeling the man was mocking him. Ever since Shōgo had set foot inside the Palace — his home — few people used his title genuinely. The blonde looked at the redhead, whose hand was still raised. 

Akashi nodded. “Well, you did say the man was called Sanada Naoto. And.. he certainly doesn’t look like I remember.”

Kise hummed. “I know the island he mentioned. Let's go!”

Akashi gave him a searching look, probably trying to judge his reaction to the previous scene. Kise just shrugged, flashed him a quick smile and nodded to the still open door. “Back to the bison, huh? We still have to find him.”

They left the Commander trembling on the floor, heading for the island. Sanada Naoto did not know yet, but retribution was heading his way.

Scene Title: “The Firebending Masters”

“If you’re going to see the masters, you must bring them a piece of the Eternal Flame. This fire is the very first one, given to men by dragons.”

Aomine and Kuroko were side by side, looking at the Chief of the Sun Warriors as the elderly man Bent the fire. He separated two smaller flames from it, holding them in each hand.

“You will each take a piece of it to the masters to show your commitment to the sacred art of firebending.” he told them, pointing at the mountain in the distance, beyond the ruins.

Aomine took the small flame into his cupped hands, but Kuroko hesitated, eyeing both the flame and the Sun Warrior Chief with caution. “I’m not a Firebender yet,” he muttered, stealing a glance at the actual Firebender by his side. “Can’t Aomine-kun help?”

“No. This is a sacred ritual of our kin. If you wish to see the masters, you must participate. Even being the Avatar does not make you an exception.” The man offered the flame again, and Kuroko took it. “You must maintain a constant heat. The flame will go out if you make it too small. Make it too big, and you might lose control.”

“Relax Tetsu,” Aomine muttered. “Firebending’s base is breathing. You’re an Airbender, you’ve got breath control down. You did good when I went through the exercises with you.”

Kuroko took the flame, still slightly unsure, but his eyes widened a bit once it settled into his hand. He blinked down at it. “It’s like a small heartbeat.”

The white-haired Chief smiled slightly at the words, the first time that his overly serious mask seemed to soften. “Fire is life.” He pointed to the mountain again. “As I said, take the flame to the mountain through the path. On the top, you’ll find the masters’ cave.” Sharing another glance, the two started walking.

The climb was not an easy one, given how steep the path was. And Kuroko’s slight hesitance wasn’t helping much either. Aomine paused to look at his friend and now-student. (Huh, despite having travelled with the Airbender for a while now, he’d never imagined himself as the teacher of the Avatar). He’d honestly thought they’d find someone more fitting — he may have been called a Firebending prodigy… but doing it and teaching someone to do it were very, very different things. Even now, especially now, he wasn’t sure he was doing it right.

“Relax, Tetsu. Breathe. The flame will breathe with you,” Aomine explained, watching the small orange fire flicker in his friend’s hand. The Airbender looked at him.

“But what if... what if I lose control?”

Aomine glanced upwards, where their path led and back at his friend. He knew Tetsu feared fire — he had good reasons to do so. Firebenders had destroyed his home. Firebenders had probably killed people, who’d been important to Tetsu. And, apparently, the last person who taught Tetsu Firebending, had told the Airbender fire was but destruction and it was to be feared. Asshole. (If Aomine ever crossed paths with this so-called Firebending Master, he was going to give a rather sizable piece of his mind to Haizaki.)

“Do you trust me, Tetsu?” he asked, still cradling his own flame gently, as if it were a tiny child.

The Avatar’s eyes looked into his — cornflower blue, Aomine noted. It had always seemed like the spring sky, but now it was the shade of cornflowers. Blue, darkened by fear and worry. Not a shade Aomine thought suited his friend. “I trust you. I don’t trust myself.”

Aomine shook his head. “ Ostrich-horseshit . Akashi all but called you a Waterbending prodigy. And we both know how tyrannical he can be, sometimes. Yes, you had some problems with Earthbending —but that was most likely because it’s your natural opposite. You will do this too. You can . Fire is life. If you respect it, it’ll help you. If you fear it, it will get out of control and eat you from the inside. You’re the calmest person I’ve ever met. Also one of the most mature around our age. Use that calmness. Feed the fire that calmness and it will fall into a steady rhythm. Feel the fire and breathe.”

Kuroko blinked, but then tried to do, as Aomine instructed. Focused on the flame and calmed his breathing. Fire was warmth. Life. It had to be respected, just like any other element. For a few minutes they just stood there, Kuroko focusing on calming down, while keeping his flame, Aomine’s words constantly echoing in his ears.

At the sound of a low whistle, his eyes flew open and he found his fire steadier than before. He glanced at Aomine. His flame was still smaller than the Firebender’s, but it was just as steady. Aomine gave him a small grin.

“See? Just don’t give up.”

Kuroko nodded, slowly climbing to stand next to Aomine. “Never knew you were such a good teacher, Daiki.”

The Firebender gave him a sheepish grin. “I just... You know, how Firebending’s taught changed, since the War started. But, I still remember my father. When I was a kid, he told me that once anger will fail me and my fire will fade. I didn’t understand then. Now, I do.”

Kuroko nodded, understanding at least a bit better than when he had first tried to learn the art. They continued to climb in silence. They soon reached the top, where they found the Sun Warriors already waiting. In the distance, they could see a massive staircase leading up to a stone bridge. 

They paused in front of the Chief. Of course the Warriors chose the short way up here, while they had to climb the whole damn thing. Aomine scoffed, bastards.

“Facing the masters might be dangerous for you...” 

The two cut the Chief off. On the way up the mountain, a silent understanding, deeper than anything ever before, passed between them. They were in this together. And whatever had happened in the past, they would face this together. Like friends. Like partners.

“We’ll do it, no matter what,” Aomine cut him off.

Slight irritation appeared on the Chief’s weathered features, but before he could reprimand the Firebender, Kuroko spoke up too. “We’re willing to take the risk. If we fail here, we know that at least we tried. If we don’t try, we’re already failed the world.”

The Chief eyed them with a hard expression and then he stepped aside, motioning them towards the stairs. The two friends walked up the long flight of stairs in silence, gazes stubbornly fixed forwards, shoulders brushing together in a silent show of support.

Soon, they reached the top and  glanced at the two massive caves, where the stone bridge ended on both sides, swallowed by the darkness. “Those who wish to meet the masters, Ran and Shaw, will now present their fire!” the chief’s booming voice instructed them.

They shared a brief glance and then bowed towards the caves, presenting their flames. Then, they switched places, presenting the flame a second time.

Horns sounded from below and the birds took off in fright. Kuroko drew up straighter and Aomine stiffened somewhat and their backs brushed against each other. They glanced at one another, but any words they may have wanted to say, died in their throats, as two massive dragons surged forwards from the caves, startling both of them.

Aomine yelped and let his flame go out, but stumbling back also caused him to bump into his friend. The unexpected disturbance made Kuroko also lose control, thus, his fire also went out.

“Fucking dragons...” Aomine whispered.

“Daiki!” the Airbender hissed. “Now neither of us has a flame!”

Two dragons — one red and one blue — came out from the caves roaring, and started to circle around the bridge. Both boys froze in fear and awe, as they watched the long thought extinct creatures weave around in the air elegantly. Kuroko’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them move around.

“Dai, I think we’re supposed to do the Dragon Dance with them.”

The Firebender looked a little sceptical and freaked out. (Alright, Kuroko was also slightly freaked out, but he could hide his emotions, unlike the Firebender.) “Tetsu… for the Spirits’ sake! What about this situation makes you think they want us to dance?”

Kuroko huffed. “Don’t curse, please. And… They obviously want something. We might as well try.”

Without another word, they took the starting stance of the Dancing Dragon. Kuroko spread his arm, as the red dragon flew behind him. On another corner of the stone platform, Aomine was doing the same movements as his friend, only the blue dragon was following his rhythm.

Their fists collided in the final stance, as the two dragons stopped on the two ends of the bridge staring at the two humans. Both shivered slightly at the sheer power radiating off of the ancient creatures, but they were back to back. Just knowing that the other was there, calmed them. They either succeeded or failed together.

The dragons opened their maws to breathe flame and the fire whirled around them in a tornado-like pattern. But it was no simple fire — it had shades of blue, green, purple, yellow, pink and red in it. Shades that they had never seen. Both of them started with wide, enraptured eyes.

Soon, the fire faded and the dragons circled one last time in the air before diving back into their caves. Aomine and Kuroko started descending the stairs, awe still hanging in the air.

“I’ve never seen fire like that before,” Aomine admitted softly.

“It was beautiful. It reminds me of what the monks taught me about harmony.”

Moments later, they reached the bottom, where the Warriors were still waiting, though now, they were all silent. “Congratulations. The masters judged you and found you worthy of learning the true ways of Firebending.”

“Harmony, and life… just as you said a while ago, Dai.”

The dark-skinned teen chuckled, slightly sheepish. “Yeah. I just didn’t realise how true it was, until this very moment,” he muttered, throwing a blast of fire. To his astonishment, his fire was no longer merely made of shades of blue. He found all the other colours in it, too that he’d seen from the dragons, though it was still mainly blue.

Kuroko smiled and mimicked his friend’s move. Fire leapt from his outstretched fist, orange-red in colour, but he spied the other colours in it too, though slightly less noticeable, than in Aomine’s case.

Aomine grinned. “And now, I can start teaching you the kata.”

Kuroko rolled his eyes. “You couldn’t wait to say these words, right?”

The Firebender’s grin widened even more. “What can I say? I am a Firebending Master… and teaching the Avatar Firebending is the easiest way to be known world-wide, as the very best.”

Scene Title: “The Final Agni Kai”

“Where is he?”

A voice demanded, breaking Kagami out of his meditation. (He was not the type to meditate, but Alex had told him how important it was for a Firebender to keep their Inner Flame under control. That was especially important now , that the Great Comet could streak through the sky any moment. In fact, in the very back of his mind, Kagami could already feel the echoes of power.)

Kagami opened his eyes and stood up, glaring at the dark-skinned male. He was dressed in rich red-and-black clothing, accented with fine golden embroidery. The clothing of the highest of nobles... and seeing it made Kagami’s blood boil.

He was a noble, as much as the blue-haired annoyance on the other side of the courtyard. Yet, he’d been on the road for longer than he could recall. He could not recall when he had last worn the clothing of nobles. “Why should I tell you?”

“Because we’re here for him! Tetsu should not be wasting his time here ! He’s needed elsewhere!” the pink-haired girl insisted. Kagami noticed she was dressed in blue and rich purple. Huh... a Waterbender. A Waterbender in Tōō of all places and in the Capital , too? Rare sight. But then again, he’d heard rumours, that the Aomine family’s greatest supporters were a family of Waterbenders, whom the Aomine’s had rescued from the clutches of Fukuda.

“Like I’d let you take him!” Kagami fired back.

(The person they were seeking was an Airbender. Very possibly the Avatar , though he had no proof —it’s not like the Seirini Airbender had openly used any of the other elements. Like he would hand over one of the last Airbenders, from one of the most ancient bloodlines at that, to a damn Tōōnese, who might as well have been their Prince! Tōō didn’t have a monarchy, but if they had, Kagami was sure the prick standing across from him would be the damn Crown Prince.)

“That’s kidnapping!” the other spat back, his blue eyes nearly shooting lightning.

Kagami scoffed, eyes narrowing. “Says the one who kidnapped him first!”

“Oh, you — you ’re only good for Kindling ,” the blue-haired one spat back. (The redhead paused to think for a bit. What did Kuroko call him again, before he passed out?)

Kagami’s blood boiled at the insult. “So... you’re as mouthy as Tatsuya said. Agni have mercy, you’re worse than I ever was.”

Aomine swept his hands forwards, releasing a wall of flames. Kagami’s eyes went wide for a moment, as he saw that the blue flame seemed to be even brighter and more searing than the last time he’d crossed paths with the Tōōnese noble. Their fire collided, the flames climbing higher and neither faltering.

As the wall started to die, Aomine leapt into the air with a jet of flame, sending fire at his opponent with each spinning kick. Kagami sent out concentrated blasts of orange-red fire to defend himself.

Fire blasts headed for one another, red cancelling out blue after some struggle — it lit up the plaza with flashes of orange, red and various shades of blue. Kagami growled in annoyance. Even with the Comet’s power coursing through his veins, Aomine was better than him. (Just how much power did the guy have? And what did wind do to his flames? Because he remembered clearly, that Kuroko had said he had used his Airbending to amplify the flames of the dark-skinned Firebender. The thought alone was insane.)

He sent a powerful blast of fire the other’s way, all his being reaching out for the power the Comet had to offer.

 Aomine raised his right hand to divert Kagami‘s flames and sent another blast at the redhead. With each breath he took, he could feel the Comet’s energy pulsing in his veins… yet, knowing the redhead creep had his best friend… the feeling did not allow him to bask in the Comet’s blessing.

Aomine took a deep breath, reminding himself of Tetsu’s advice. He may have taught the Avatar Firebending, but it was not as if Aomine was hopelessly arrogant (whatever Imayoshi said, he was not ). He understood that the fragile-looking Airbender, as the Avatar, had countless years of experience and boundless wisdom buried within him. Which meant that even the greatest of Masters could learn from him, just as much as the Avatar learned from great Masters in every lifetime.

“Breath, Daiki. And think with a clear head. Wind is the element of Freedom. If you learn to let go of your most overpowering feelings in the heat of battle, you will be able to think clearly, see the opponent move and react accordingly.”

“Fire is Life.”

“What is this? You attacked me first and now you give up?” Kagami asked, tilting his chin up, sweat dripping from it, a slow grin spreading on his face. “Finally admitting I’m better, then you?”

“You’ve surely got a big mouth, upstart ,” Aomnie growled. ‘I’m coming for you Tetsu. Hold on!’

He jumped into the air again, kicking flames at Kagami again. But this time, those were not his normal flames.

Kagami shifted his centre of weight and thrust his hands forward, summoning fire of his own to deflect Aomine’s attack. His eyes widened though, when the blue fire broke through his defences, forcing him to dodge. Barely giving him time to recover, Aomine kicked fire at him again.

He dodged once more, the searing flames barely missing him by inches. His eyes went wide, as he noticed the change. ‘Wha— What is that? His fire had just been blue moments ago! Now it has a fucking rainbow to the basic blue! Just… who in Agni’s name is this guy?!’

Kagami whirled around, glaring heatedly at his opponent. “So, you want to knock it up a notch? Fine by me!”

The redhead swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to further stroke his Inner Fire and to attempt clearing his mind, just as he’d been taught.

“Remember Taiga. For this to work you must be calm. Find your inner balance, lest it will not remain in your control.”

He released a breath and moved his arm in a circular motion, blue-white lightning cracking at his fingertips.

Aomine’s eyes widened in shock —and there was a touch of panic too, though he’d never admit that to anyone—, when he saw the lightning. ‘What the fuck!? Did the guy lose it or what?! A Comet-enhanced lightning is near-suicide to control! Not even I would try that and my instructor had gone as far to call me a prodigy when I was Agni-damned twelve!’

“Watch out Dai!” Satsuki called from the side-lines where she’d retreated to watch the fight with worried eyes.

Kagami threw his hand forward, but Aomine felt the shift in the air. He sensed the moment, when the redhead made the mistake — he tried to control lightning. He tried to control it —something that was impossible for a normal Firebender (perhaps a fully realised Avatar would manage the feat).

The lightning went wild and shocked Kagami, making him stagger back in surprise. But, the worst of it all was, that the lightning was now dancing around the plaza uncontrolled. Aomine stood frozen for a moment, before he realised where the wild energy was heading.

“Satsuki!” he called in panic, jumping in front of his childhood friend, keeping the lightning from reaching her.

“Daiki!” the Waterbender called in fright, as Aomine fell to the floor with a groan.

Momoi skidded to a halt next to him, to look at the stretch of skin turning red from the burn. “Dai… Daiki… Can you hear me?” she pleaded with worry in her tone. She Bent water from her container attached to her waist and coated her hands in it, to start healing him.

Dark blue eyes, hazy with pain, blinked up at her, as the glowing water started to take effect. “ Beat him. We’ve to get to Tetsu.”

“Dai…”

“Go, Satsuki,” he said, eyes narrowing. “I’ll survive. Freeze his ass.”

Momoi smiled grimly at her friend and stood up glaring at the one, who injured her friend like this. She was not considered a ‘Miracle’ like her friends, but the team counted her as much a Master Bender, as they were. (Though, admittedly, her speciality was healing. In Rakuzan, most Waterbender women, just like her mother, were to be taught Healing. Her mother escaped that judgement by moving to Tōō. And since meeting the other Miracles, the others taught her combat Bending too. Plus, she’d also grown on her own, while they travelled. She was not defenceless or helpless.)

“You’ll lose,” she said, tone like ice.

The redhead seemed wary for a moment and then shook his head. “You’ve no chance.”

Momoi growled, creating two water whips. Kagami dodged, slightly alarmed. “I hate when arrogant men underestimate me! ”

Kagami fired blasts of flame at her, forcing her to dodge. One almost singed her clothes, freaking her friend out. “Satsuki! C-careful, the Comet’s like a thousand full moon’s power for you!”

Her eyes cut to her friend in understanding as she flicked her wrist, sending a hail of ice spears at the redhead. Kagami used fire to shield himself, looking for the pink-haired girl. Momoi was pressed against a column, trying to think. She knew she was no match for a Firebender feeding off the power of the Comet. (Plus, while she was good, she was by no means as powerful as the boys.)

‘I’ll have to outsmart him,’ she decided, just as a blast of fire sped past her. She waited for a beat and then ran from her hiding spot. Predictably, Kagami followed her.

“Get back here woman!”

 She scoffed, sending ice shards in the general direction of the voice without looking back. Fire roared behind her and she threw herself down to let it pass over head. As she stood, she noticed the metal grating she was standing on… and below, a great supply of water.

‘This is it!’ she smiled internally.

She used her own container to summon water, not wanting to give away that she had an advantage and sent it at Kagami. The Firebender dodged, kicking wide arcs of fire at her. She took a deep breath remembering the lesson a few months ago from Akashi.

“Water’s everywhere around us, Satsuki. Seen or not, it is present, for Water is change and life.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, summoning water from the air around her and using it as a shield against the fire. When the flames faded, she let her grip on the water slip, as the redhead approached, a dark look on his face.

She was already panting, tired. She hadn’t exactly mastered the technique of extracting water from air… and it took more energy out of her, then she’d first thought it would.

“Okay, you’re pretty I give you that, but you’re damn annoying for a girl. Time to finish.”

Kagami stepped further onto the metal grate and Momoi smiled sweetly, eyes narrowing. “Time to finish, indeed.”

She jerked her hand upwards in a fluid, elegant move, making the water from below blast through the holes of the grate. Kagami lost his footing from the sudden wave of water, but even before he could think about swimming or Bending, Momoi froze the water into ice. She released the breath she’d been holding, slowly liquifying the ice around herself again, and reaching for the chain by her feet. She swam around the redhead, wrapping the chains around his arms and wrists before fastening it to the metal grate.

Once she was sure the binds held tightly, she dropped the water back below, causing Kagami to cough. Just to be sure he will remain where she left him, she Bent some water from below once more and created a ring of ice around the chains, like the coldest of shackles. She stood up and with a flick of her wrist dried herself, giving one last glance at the redhead.

 Kagami tried to get free, but he could not move his hands. At best, he could melt the ice, but he could feel how the metal was cutting into his skin. He glared at the pink-haired Waterbender, who was helping her companion to his feet. “What he spirits’ damned fuck are you doing woman?! Let me go!” he called, glaring at her.

Momoi flashed him a condescending smile. “Only if Tui rises red onto the sky.” Never.

“Good work, Tsuki,” Aomine said, a strained smile stretching across his face. “Let’s find where he’d locked up Tetsu.”

“And then you’ll get a proper healing session,” she muttered, taking some of his weight onto herself as they scanned the area, wondering where their Airbending friend could be held.

“Hey you bastards! Get back here and release me!” Kagami called after them, as the duo made their way further into the building complex. “Hey! You’re not taking Kuroko, you hear me! You fuckers traumatised him enough!”

“Shut the fuck up, Ashmaker! ” Aomine spat back over his shoulder and then they continued to walk away. (And wasn’t that an ironic insult now? After all, Aomine himself was a Firebender.)

“Aomine! Hey you blasted bastard! Get back here and fight on your own! And don’t you fucking dare to hurt Kuroko again!”

No answer.

“Aomine!” But there was no answer. Kagami remained in the yard alone, and chained to the grate.