//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4, The Avatar Returns 
// Story: The Elements of Nature, Book 1: 火 & 水 (Fire & Water) 
// by Superior-Doc-Fossil 
//------------------------------//


The Elements of Nature
Book 1: 火 & 水 (Fire & Water)
Chapter 4, The Avatar Returns


Back at Ponyville, Fire,’ Twilight, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow, Scootaloo, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Cadence and Shining are in the library discussing what happened. “That Iroh called you the Avatar of Fire?” Twilight ask.
“He did. He also said that there are 4 others who can pass the test he gave me.” Fire' answered.
“So what does that mean?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I don’t know, all I know is that the Fire Nation will be looking for me. I need to leave Ponyville, and soon.” Fire' said, causing Twilight to feel betrayed.
Suddenly, Spike is running and then falling down the stairs. “Ow.” Spike said as he checks himself over to see if he has any bruises.
“What is it Spike?” Twilight asked her number one assistant.
“I just got a letter from Celestia. She wants us to join her and go to Pegasus City at the North Pole.” Spike answers as he gives Twilight the letter.
“Celestia wants us to go to the North Pole? Why?” Rainbow asked.
“To discuss with the city's ruler about the Fire Nation and the Avatar.” Twilight said when she finishes reading the letter.
“Well, if your going big sis, so am I.” Sweetie Belle said to Rarity.
“Me two.”
“Me three.” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said respectfully.
“Say, Fire,' do you mind coming with us?” Twilight asked.
“No, I wouldn't mind at all.” Fire’ answered, causing Twilight to smile.


==================================================================


At Canterlot, the main 6, accompanied by the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Firebrand, who is carrying his new sword and wearing his fathers neckless, wait for Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Shining so they can head north. Beginning to get inpatient, Rainbow gets annoyed. “Where are they?”
“Were right here, Rainbow.” They turn around and see that they're standing right behind them with some unicorn guards who are going to come with them.
“Uh, sorry.”
“No harm done.”
They get on a small plane and take off for the North pole. “How long until we reach the North pole, Celestia?”
“A few days, if were lucky Twilight. Equestria is in the southern hemisphere so it will take some time to reach the North pole.”


==================================================================


On the open ocean, a Fire Nation Commander with a sand brown coat and a black mane and tail along with black body armor with a sword for a cutie mark named Zhao sees a Fire Nation ship is five miles away. He holds up a telescope and, at the bow, he sees Prince Zuko. Zhao recognizes Zuko. “The banished prince.” He then turns to his solders. “Lets offer him lunch.”
A bit later, Zuko and his uncle are onboard the much larger ship of Zhao, at least twice the size of a Ursa Major. They are in the dinning hall when Zhao decides to make an announcement. “I wanted to thank the great General Iroh and young Prince Zuko for dinning with us.” All the soldiers in the dinning hall (which are only earth ponies) raise there glasses up to toast. Zhao continues, “As you know, the Fire Lord has banished his son, the Prince, and renounced his love for him, and will not let him return to the throne unless he finds at least one of the Avatars, which most say do not exist. The Fire Lord believes his son is too soft, and by doing this, he will become strong and become a worthy heir to the throne.”
Zuko then nearly charges at Zhao before his uncle stops him. “Zuko, don’t.” Iroh quietly said, loud enough for only Zuko to hear.
“I commend the Fire Lord’s discipline. For example, it seems I need to remind Prince Zuko that, during his banishment, he is an enemy of the Fire Nation and is not allowed to were the Fire Nation uniform. But we will let him were it today, like a foal wearing a costume on the Americans Halloween or the Equestrians Nightmare Night.”
After a short pause, Zuko burst up and walks to Zhao. “One day, my father will take me back and you will bow before me.” Zuko said to his ear before storming off for his ship, Iroh close behind.
Back on Zuko’s ship, he holds a small picture with his family on it. He then puts it away and begins to train with some guards, Iroh is watching while he is drinking some tea.


==================================================================


A couple of days later, the plane they were on needed to have an emergency landing in Geo Firma. It landed in a filed surrounded by trees but they need to find a way to the North Pole soon. “Me and Luna will go with the pilot to find us some supplies.”
“OK.” Twilight said.
After a few minutes after Celestia, Luna, the guards (except Shining) and the pilot leave, Firebrand asks Shining Armor something. “Uh Shining, how much does the Fire Nation control?”
“A lot of villages in Geo Firma like around here. They haven’t been able to conquer big cities, like the Ba Sing Se, but Celestia is sure they’re making plans. That's why she wants to visit the Pegasi of the North.” Shining answered.
“So...” Cadence asked, “Are you the Avatar of Fire, Firebrand?” Suddenly, a young Pegasus colt with an earth green coat and brown mane and tail runs for them and hides behind Cadence.
“What is this?” Rainbow asks. They then see some Fire Nation soldiers come running after him.
“Stay hidden.” Twilight told Fire’ as he put his hood on as the soldiers arrive.
“That colt is being arrested.” The leader said.
“For what?” Rainbow asked.
“He was flicking tiny stones at us from behind a tree. It really hurt." The brown Fire Nation earth pony said, clearly annoyed. "Unicorns and Pegasi are forbidden to even say anything to a Fire Nation pony in this village.”
“Leave him alone,” Fluttershy began.
“Your not taking him anywhere.” Rainbow finished.
Shining soon steeps forward, “No one is taking anypony away!” Twilight then begins to use her magic on the solders.
“She's using magic!” A solider said.
Twilight then uses the spell, which is supposed to freeze enemies in a small ice jacket, but instead of hitting the Fire Nation soldiers, it hit Shining, trapping him in ice. “Twilight!”


==================================================================


Later at the village, which is populated by the three most common types of ponies, Twilight, Fire,' Cadence, Shining, Rainbow, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and the Pegasus colt are taken to a holding area.  “Move.” A guard said.
Applejack, Apple Bloom and Pinkie ask to visit their friends and are allowed in. The colt then runs for his unicorn father, who has a pale green coat and a black mane and tail. “Dad.” He said as the two huge. “This is my father.”
“Hello.” He said.
“The Fire Nation’s plan, suppress all other magic except their own, including Pegasus magic.” Shining said.
Firebrand then walks up to the two. “How did this happen to your village?”
“The Fire Nation sent soldiers. We fought them and defeated them. Then they sent there machines, huge machines made of a metal that magic can’t effect. There was nothing we could do. Those who are earth ponies, did not practice magic, or are part of the weather team were allowed to live in peace, if we were imprisoned.” The father said.
Celestia and Luna then show up. “Were here for your bails.” Luna said.
“Come, we need to leave.” Celestia said to them.
"Why?" Cadence asked her aunt. "We need to-"
"The Fire Nation will just simply use their flamethrowers on us." Celestia interrupted. "And besides, we have more important business. I don't want to seem cruel, but we should leave before something worse happens. We need to leave, now." But after a moment, Firebrand begins to walk out to the center of the prison yard. “What's he doing?” Celestia quietly said.
“Pegasi! Unicorns!" Fire' called out, getting everyponies attention. "Why are you acting this way? You are both powerful and amazing ponies! You don’t need to live like this! Both magic and the sky are all around you. The ground and the sky are merely extensions of who you are!” After a moment, Fire’ continued. “If a powerful pony, like the Avatar, were to return, would that mean anything to you?”
Some ponies, a Unicorn and two Pegasi steeped forward, “The Avatar is a myth. Even if he was real and here, he would protect us.” The Unicorn said.
“My name is Firebrand...” He then removes his hood, showing his mane. “And I’m the Avatar of Fire." Some of the soldiers then walk to him a little as Fire' takes on a fighting stance. "It's time for you to stop doing this, Fire Nation!”
“The Fire Avatar would have to be a Firebender." One of the soldiers said. "Are you a Firebender colt?” He along with some other guards then laugh at him.
Twilight then runs up and pushes him back. “Leave him alone!” The solider then runs for her, but Firebrand bends some fire from a pot to send him flying. He then moves that fire around him, showing he's a Firebender.
“How is he doing that?” A solider asked out of shock.
“I don’t want to hurt anypony, but I will if I have too.” Fire' said.
“All benders should be dead.” A solider said out of pure shock. “Kill him! Flamethrowers, positions!” A soldier bellowed as they take their positions.
The others then run to aid Twilight and Fire’ except for Celestia and Luna, who are shocked at what they're seeing. Rarity then realizes that they are outnumbered and begins to panic. “OK! Everypony can help us now!” The colt from earlier then throws a pebble that hits a solider in the back of the head. The solider then takes his flamethrower and fires at the colt. But the father makes a light green shield appear and protects him. The colt soon hugs his father as other Pegasi and Unicorns make a stand.
“Don’t be afraid!” Cadance yells. Another soldier then use his flamethrowers and the two shot at the father & son, but a larger shield appears, made up of 6 colors, that 3 mares and 3 stallion unicorns conjure up. A Pegasus then throws a head size rock and it hits one of the flamethrower soldiers. The other fires, but a unicorn makes a shield just in time. Firebrand then takes out the other flamethrower and takes his sword back. He then uses his firebending to throw back some soldiers. Realizing that they are out match, the Fire Nation soldiers run.
“Just leave them!” One of them yelled.
“Fall back!”
“Go! He’s a bender!”
Firebrand begins to use fire to literally throw the Fire Nation out-of-town. Later, the village residents take them to a statue of a pegasus mare in the center of town. She has robs on and is holding two fans. "Who is this lovely mare?" Rarity asked. "She's positively gorgeous!"
“This was you, Fire,’ before the Avatar spirit divided, when you were born a Pegasus, two lifetimes ago.” The village elder told Fire,’ shocking Rarity that the mare she found lovely was Fire' two lifetimes ago. “You came to our village when only unicorns lived here. Avatar Kyoshi loved games, and hated snakes.”
“I do, too. I mean, I still do.” Fire' said while smiling.
Later, the group are talking about what they should next. “A lot of villages in this part of Geo Firma are occupied by the Fire Nation, like this one was.” Shining told them, “They pray on the weakest towns and villages. We should go visit some of these towns, Firebrand.”
“Good idea, but like the prophecy and the old stallion said, I’m only part of the Avatar. We need to find the other 4.”
“OK. But where could they be, they could be somewhere anywhere in the world.” Rainbow said to him. Fire' then notices the old stallion and walks up to him.
“Say, village elder!”
“Yes?” The elder said.
“Is there some place I can go to, some place that has a spiritual connection?” Fire’ asked.
“There is.” He then points toward some mountains further north. “On those mountains lies the Northern Air Temple, a place where ancient unicorns practice the art of Airbending.”
“We can stop at some of the villages along the way. We can change the balance of The War.” Shining told them.
“Lets do it.” Fire’ said as they village celebrates.


==================================================================


A day later at a village surrounded by grass, Fire Nation soldiers are running from Firebrand. Twilight begins to hang posters around with Fire’s face on them saying, “The Avatar has returned.”


==================================================================


In the first village they were at, Prince Zuko and his uncle are walking around. They are wearing robs so no one can recognize them. They go to the prison yard and see what has happened.


==================================================================


Later, in the Fire Nation, the Fire Lord is walking to the balcony where Zhao is waiting. The Fire Lord is around Luna’s hight and is an earth pony with a very dark red coat and charcoal black mane and tail and a long beard. He is wearing dark red armor.
“Sire, I have good news. As you know, I have conducted a raid on the Grate Library in the Himalayas, which most said didn't exist.”
“Get on with it.”
“I have found scrolls in the library. We are deciphering them. But I believe they contain information on where the Ocean and Moon Sprites live in this world. With this information, we could bring down Pegasus City at the North Pole, we could show the world the true strength of the Fire Nation.”
“I am pleased.” After a moment, Ozia asks him something else. “Well, Commander Zhao, are the rumors and what the Fire Sages say true or not?”
“Our spies have discovered somepony calming to be the Avatar of Fire. They describe him as just a young unicorn stallion. We should set a trap for this pony. We have many Geo Firma ponies under our control. I can leave soldiers in certain locations.”
“And my son?” Ozia asked.
“He had his chance. He missed it.”
“Lets hope, for your sake, my son doesn't find this pony first and he turns out to be the Avatar of Fire. He would return as a hero and, for all purposes, your superior.”
“Well, I suppose it’s a race, then.” Zhao responded.


==================================================================


At the northern end of Geo Firma, at Fire Nation Colony 15, Fire Nation ponies are enjoying the shops and restaurants, with Iroh and Zuko in one restaurant. “Were close, Uncle. They’ve been moving farther and farther north. We're catching them.” Zuko said as Iroh is looking around.
“There are a lot of pretty mares in this town, Zuko. You could fall in love here. We could settle down here, and you could have a blessed life.” Zuko than stars at his uncle, “We don’t have to continue this, Zuko.”
“I’ll show you why we must, Uncle.” He then spots a colt with an orange coat, a brown mane and tail, and blue eyes.
“Hey, Hey. Little one, come here.” The colt does so. “You look like a very smart boy. Tell me about the Prince, the Fire Lord’s son.”
“He did something wrong.”
“He spoke out of turn to a general, in defense of some of his friends who were going to be sacrifice in a battle.”
“Then Prince Zuko was sentenced to an Agni Kai duel, but when he showed up, it was his father he was to fight.”
“That’s right.”
Zuko begins to have a flashback to when this happened, 14 and a half years earlier. “He would not fight his father.”
“Then his father mocked him and said, ‘I should bring your sister up here to beat you.’”
“Then the father burnt his son with a small flamethrower, to teach him a lesson.”
After a moment, Zuko nodes and the colt leaves. “We’ll catch him soon, Uncle. Then we can think about the pretty mares.”