Rock and Fire

I was expecting the blue sky to greet me when I woke up. I fell unconscious on the beach after all. It would be strange to wake up somewhere else. I could also wake up facing the sand, assuming I fell down face-first, but that would be rather uncool, so I'm hoping that's not the case.

So, you can imagine my confusion when I was greeted with a brown metal ceiling.

It was unexpected. Really quite unexpected.

I sat up, taking note of the soft bed I was laying on.

The room was small, but looks comfortable. A table stood a meter away from the bed with my pouch on top, together with a chair in front of it. A bookshelf leaned on the metal wall on the other side of the room, with books organized neatly on the shelves. Lamps hung on the wall, keeping the room well-lit.

Doesn't seem to be the work of mercenaries who took me for the bounty. It would be a blessing if I even get to open my eyes at all if it were them, much less than a cozy room like this.

I stood up, my joints groaning a little as I do so.

Nothing injured, seems like. Two arms, two legs, and a head. I was even wearing the clothes I had and there doesn't seem to be any act of, let's say, involuntary body search. 

Still, I'm in an unfamiliar place. That's not a good place to wake up to, no matter how good the treatment seems to be.

I quickly stepped towards the nearest wall, propping my right palm against it.

It was a specialized skill honed through years of being blind, but the Earthbender Toph had learned to "see" by detecting the vibrations on the ground. Safe to say, it was one of the skills I tried to learn when I first got into this world. It was quite convenient, and even more so to a mercenary who dances on the reaper's scythe every single day.

I mastered it, of course. Improved on it, even. And I'm trying to make it reach a level unimaginable by others. 

Unfortunately, I'm not at the level of detecting distortions on the fabric of space-time.

Yet.

But I did reach the level of doing it on metal.

Micro-vibrations echoed throughout the entire structure. Every little movement left miniscule vibrations on the metal frame of the thing, and all of it transmitted into the palm of my hand. A second of focus, and I've got a perfect map of the place. And where I actually am.

It's a ship. A pretty big one at that.

And it's also Fire Nation, judging by the big flag with fire emblem on it hung on the wall behind me.

And in about a second, someone is going to open that door.

"Hm? Seems like you're awake."

An aged man entered the door, donning a red Fire Nation robe. His face, framed with a long, flowing beard and mustache, exudes a kind countenance in contrast to the brutal image of the Fire Nation.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

He offered, a tray with a teapot and cups on hand. Of course, who am I to refuse such an offer?

"If you don't mind."

I sat down on the table, watching as the man lowered the tray on the table. With practiced moves that suggests he had done it thousands of times already; a cup of tea was placed in front of me.

I uttered a small thanks before raising the cup to my mouth. It was still hot, but not much to the point of undrinkable. I blew a little, cooling it before taking a sip.

"How was it? It's Huifeng tea, a rarity in the Earth Kingdom. I spent quite a penny getting that from a merchant."

It was earthy and smooth, with a hint of bitterness that mellowed into a subtle sweetness.

"It's excellent." I replied, letting the taste linger on my mouth.

This old man's face lit up with a smile, his warm demeanor being brighter than the lamp.

"I'm glad to hear that. A good cup of tea can make even the harshest circumstances more bearable, don't you think?"

I nodded slightly. 

"It does help set the mood." I nodded slightly, taking another sip. "Though I wouldn't call waking up on a Fire Nation ship the most relaxing of circumstances."

He chuckled softly, stroking his beard.

"True enough. But I assure you, you're quite safe here." He refilled his cup. "My nephew and I found you unconscious on the beach. You were... intriguing, to say the least."

I turned my gaze to his eyes. He still has a small smile, akin to that of a kind old man. Well, he is, but he's also someone formidable. I wouldn't like to fight this person. I quite like him. That said, his words suggested that he, no, they, knew exactly who I am.

It would be a shame if something goes wrong here.

"Intriguing how?" I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of my tea.

Before he could answer, the door creaked open once again, and another figure stepped inside. This one, much younger, carried an aura of tension that contrasted sharply with the older man's calm. His sharp eyes narrowed as they landed on me, suspicion evident in his every movement. 

His entire being exuded the aura of a brandished dagger, dangerous and fiery.

"Uncle," he said, curtly, ignoring me for the moment. "You shouldn't be wasting time with this... outsider. We need to find the Avatar."

The old man—his uncle, apparently—sighed, setting down his own teacup. "Patience, Zuko. This young man is our guest for now, and he may have information that could aid your search."

The young man, Zuko, snapped his eyes over to me. Fire seemed to burn within those eyes, as if his glares could spawn fire on anything he set his eyes on. 

I met his gaze, my face betraying nothing but a small innocent smile.

"And what do you know about the Avatar?" he demanded, stepping closer.

I waved a finger at him, watching as his fists clench together. "A shame, but I don't know anything. Besides, I don't make it a habit to stick my nose in other people's business"

Zuko's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might jump onto the table and cover the room on fire. But his uncle intervened, raising a hand gently.

"Let's not jump to conclusions, Zuko. He's just woken up, and it's only fair we give him a chance to explain himself."

Iroh's words seemed to quell Zuko's fire for now, even only slightly. The young man still regarded me with thinly veiled hostility.

"Well then," I began, refilling my cup and taking a sip. "Since you've gone through the trouble of pulling me out of the sand, I suppose it's only fair to ask—what do you want from me?"

Iroh's kind smile didn't waver. "Only a conversation, for now. And perhaps, your help."

The room fell quiet for a moment, save for the faint creak of the ship's hull. I glanced between the two of them—Zuko's murder glare and Iroh's inviting calm.

"Help, huh?" I broke the silence, my voice even. "That depends entirely on what you're asking for."

Zuko's eyes sharpened. "We're looking for the Avatar. You're after him too, aren't you? There's no other reason the Earth Kingdom's deadliest mercenary would be in Kyoshi's Island."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. Maybe Zuko isn't that stupid? That would be refreshing. But then, it was quite obvious as to why I'm in the island.

I gave a noncommittal hum, letting his question hang in the air.

"So what? Are you going to help?" Zuko asked with a finality, determination burning behind those sharp eyes.

Well...

*

"Refreshing." I muttered.

I stood at the bow of the ship, the salty breeze tugging at my hair. The ocean stretched endlessly before me, the expanse of blue surpassing the horizon. It was restless, yet tranquil.

I leaned on the railing in silence, the creak of the ship's hull interrupting every now and then.

"You enjoy the view?"

I turned my head slightly, glancing at Iroh standing a few feet away. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, his posture relaxed as if he'd spent a lifetime finding peace in moments like this.

"It's something." I replied, giving a small smile.

Iroh joined me at the railing, his gaze soft as he watched the waves. "Calm but never still. Always in motion, always changing."

"The ocean is a mirror of the world—and ourselves." He continued. "Vast, unpredictable, and full of hidden depths."

I smirked faintly, my fingers tapping the railing. "That also means it can drown you if you're not careful."

"True," Iroh chuckled, his voice soothing. "But it can also carry you to places you never imagined. It all depends on how you navigate it."

 I stared at the horizon. "And what if the destination doesn't exist? What if you're just drifting?"

Iroh hummed thoughtfully. "Even when drifting, the ocean teaches us. It humbles us, reminds us of our limitations and possibilities. Perhaps the journey is the destination."

A chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. Silenced followed, which I soon broke.

"Sounds like something people say to justify being lost."

"Perhaps." Iroh's smile is still as calm as ever. "But even in being lost, there is discovery/ Often, the lessons we need most come when we least expect them."

Silence soon followed, and both of us wallowed in it. I closed my eyes, feeling the breeze tugging at my hair. As always, he's as wise as ever. Should I say just as expected? Still, it was refreshing.

I took note of footsteps coming towards us fiercely. I didn't need to turn back to know who it was.

"So, this is where you two are." Zuko barked, his tone sharp as a blade.

I turned towards him. He stood a few steps away, rigid. His eyes burned with impatience, the fire in them hotter than ever.

"Do you know where the Avatar is heading or not?" he demanded, cutting through the calm like a storm.

I raised an eyebrow, the faintest smirk tugging at my lips. "Straight to the point, huh?"

But Zuko wasn't in the mood for games. His glare could have set the ship aflame. I shrugged, turning back towards the endless blue of the ocean.

"What direction has the Avatar been last seen heading?" I asked, my back turned on him.

"The Avatar was last seen heading North." Zuko answered, his voice sharp.

I tilted my head slightly, my eyes never leaving the horizon. "Heading North, huh? That makes sense if you think about it."

"What do you mean?" I could feel Zuko's glare on my back.

"The Avatar has to master the four elements in a specific order," I began, my tone, measured. "Air, Water, Earth, Fire."

"Quite right. The cycle of the Avatar follows that pattern, a reflection of the balance of the elements. It's been that way for thousands of years." Iroh nodded. "And since the Avatar is an Airbender, the next step would be mastering water."

"I'd assume you've met him first in the South Pole." I said, taking note of Zuko's thoughtful expression. "There's no waterbenders left in the South Pole—at least none that can teach. Now, where is the other location of waterbenders?"

"The North Pole." Zuko uttered, his jaw tightening. "But it's too far. It'll take forever to get there."

Iroh chuckled softly. "The Avatar won't travel there in a single day, Prince Zuko. He's still young and likely inexperienced. Not to mention, he has his friends with him. He'll need time, resources, and perhaps a bit of guidance to reach his destination."

I tapped my fingers lightly against the railing. "Take note of the places between Kyoshi Island, where he was last seen, and the North Pole. The Avatar's a person, not a spirit—he'll need to stop along the way."

Zuko frowned, but after a moment, he nodded curtly. "Fine. Get me a map!"

A crew member quickly brough a scroll, and Zuko unfurled it across a crate. I joined him, glancing over the various locations marked on the parchment.

"Kyoshi Island is here," I pointed, my finger tracing a line northward. "And the North Pole is way up here."

Iroh leaned in, stroking his beard. "The most significant stop in between... would be Omashu."

"Omashu," Zuko repeated, his eyes narrowing as if the word held some personal weight. "Then that's where we're going. Captain!"

The Fire Nation soldier nearby snapped to attention.

"Set a course for Omashu," Zuko commanded, his voice firm. "And make it fast."

"Yes, Prince Zuko!"

I stepped back, turning to Iroh with a faint smirk. "Seems like your nephew's got his fire back."

Iroh chuckled, his warm smile returning. "He has spirit, that much is certain. But now, let us not waste this peaceful moment."

He gestured toward a small table near the cabin door, where a pot of tea and a board game awaited.

"Tea and Go?" he offered.

"Tea and Go." I smiled.