The Elements of Nature, Book 1

by The Avenger

Chapter 7, The Blue Spirit

The next day, at the shore of a lake in the southern territories of Geo Firma, near the equator, Firebrand is drawing a picture in the soil with a stick using his magic. It’s a picture of his cutie mark and Twilights, with a ‘+’ sing in between. “Everythin’ all right Firebrand?” Apple Bloom said, startling Fire’ as he quickly gets ride of the picture as he turns to Apple Bloom and her two friends. “You seem a bit distant lately.”
“Yes, but I saw the map the old stallion gave us. We’re near the Eastern Air Temple. I just think I should go to the temple alone.”

“Why?” Twilight asked a bit later.
“He doesn't want us to get hurt.” Scootaloo told her.
“You saw what happen the last time he had a vision. He just doesn't want us to get hurt is all, especially after we nearly got away from the burning temple in the Fire Nation..” Sweetie said.
“I don’t think that's a good idea.” Rainbow said. “We started a rebellion.”
“I’ll try to talk him out of going alone.” Twilight said. She then walks over to Fire’ to talk to him.

Later that night, Twilight wakes up and sees that Firebrand is gone, a note is in his bag. It says, “I’ll be back when I can. I’ll meet you at the next town.”
Celestia then wakes up and also sees that he's gone. “I guess your little talk didn't work.”
“He’ll be back in a day.” Twilight said to her former mentor.
“The Fire Nation is following us. If we make a wrong move, they’ll catch him.”

At the Southern Air Temple, Firebrand is busy exploring. He then sees an old unicorn mare with a light brown mane and tail while her coat is an earth brown. “And who are you?” She asked, but she then notices his mane and tail. “Why, it cannot be! I’ve heard stories. Are you...?”
Firebrand nodes his head saying yes. “My name is Firebrand.”
“I cannot believe I’ve lived to see your return. I’m an Geo Firma villager, but I visit these temple remains often.”
Firebrand then takes a look around. “The Fire Nation has destroyed this temple. They have ruined everything.”
“No, no, no, not everything. You know, there’s a hidden chamber of statues. I think you, of all ponies, should see.” She then takes him the chamber. It is similar to a giant spiral stair case with statues of ponies going up to at least 5 stories. “These are all the Avatars. These are the reincarnations of you, before the spirit was divided, over the years. When did you first learn about your Firebending, youngling?”
“When I was young. The village elder of my home wanted to take me away to see what I am. I ran, but when I finally returned, every one I knew and loved was gone.”
“You seem like a nice colt. You really do. You will forgive me, won’t you?”
“For what?”
“For luring you down here.” She then pulls out a knife and then some Fire Nation soldiers come out of their hiding places from behind the statues. “I have lived in poverty, but they promised me that I will receive all the money I need. So you would understand my actions today.” More soldiers soon come running in and one puts a saddle bag full of money on her as she leaves.

Later that night, Firebrand is being held up with chains to the ceiling. There is no fire for him to use, so he's trap. He then closes his eyes and he enters the Spirit World.

He then goes to the Dragon Spirit as fast as he can. "I have seen a vision of the moon turning red and Princess Luna dying soon after. The Fire Nation has stolen knowledge of us from the Grate Library in the Himalayas. They are planning to misuse this knowledge."
"I will stop them, but I need to find the other Avatars. Where are they?"
"The Avatar of Water is in Pegasus City at the South Pole. You must go there. If they take that city, more will suffer and die, as your home land of Abysus did. You must go now!"
"Will I stop them?" But before the dragon spirit could answer, Firebrand hears another voice as he leaves the Spirit World.
“Wake up, young stallion!”

Fire’ then opens his eyes and sees a Fire Nation solider in front of him. “My name is Commander Zhao. I set this trap for you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you.” He the begins to walk around Firebrand. “Besides, you just be reborn again, and the search will continue.”
Zhao then stops in front of Fire.’ “I understand that when you freed those hoof full of towns, you were very impressive. But you only used firebending. Why is that?”

Outside the temple, a tank is going across the bridge to the temple. Underneath it is a pony in a blue robe and a demonic midnight blue mask. “The Fire Lord and I have a plan to ensure our reign and the downfall of our enemies.” Zhao announced as the spirit jumps over the wall and heads to where Fire’ is being held. “I am sending a personnel message to the Fire Lord, informing him that the once feared Avatar of Fire is no longer a threat to our might.”
In the dungeons, outside of the chamber Fire’ is in, there are four guards, all of them as solid as a statue. Suddenly they look up as a Fire Nation soldier's helmet comes bouncing down the corridor toward them. One of the guards walks up the corridor and turns right at the first junction, disappearing from view. A gout of flame erupts from the cross hallway as well as the sound of a brief scuffle. Two more guards go up to the junction and turn right, fighting stances at the ready.
The two see the first guard who went is hanging from the ceiling, tied up. Behind the two guards, the pony with the blue spirit mask is on the ceiling above the them. He drops down and melee begins, but it is over quickly. The last guard now sees the Blue Spirit at the junction. The lone guard makes a grab for the alarm next to him, but a knife puts it out of commission. The guard then fires his flamethrower at the Blue Spirit as he runs down the hall toward the door, but the intruder extinguishes the blast with a bucket of water.
The masked figure then sweeps the guard's hoofs out from under him with the empty bucket. In the cell, Fire’ is still struggling inside the chamber. He stops and looks at the noises of violence coming through door. These stop abruptly and are replaced by the sound of the lock turning in the door. The door opens and the Blue Spirit enters, who brandishes two curved swords and runs forward to Fire,’ who screams in fear.
The Blue Spirit approaches and two sword cuts are heard. Fire’ pulls his arms back in surprise – the Blue Spirit has freed him. He looks at his liberator in wonder as the Blue Spirit comes closer and cuts his remaining bonds, turns and walks back toward the door, but not before he gives Fire’ his sword back.
A few minutes later, Zhao is walking in one of the dimly lit corridors of the temple, followed by a scribe. “I want a full transcription of my speech sent to the Fire Lord, along with glowing testimonials from all the ranking officers present, and –” He cuts himself off as he hears moans. Zhao looks to his right, and sees the soldiers that the Blue Spirit tied still lie. Zhao, upset, slams open the door to Firebrands's prison cell. It is empty. Zhao turns in anger and leaves, as his scribe runs ahead of him. “Foals.” Zhou said.
The scribe that was with him goes to a tower and yells, “Close the inner gates! The Fire Avatar has escaped!” They do so. A couple of soldiers are about to enter a tunnel when fire comes out and they are thrown back. Firebrand and the mask vigilant exit the tunnel soon after. The soldiers get ready for a fight.
“Lock down the gate! Lock down all the gates!” A solider yelled out. A solider appears from behind in the tunnel with a flamethrower and shots at the two. They dodge and Firebrand bends the fire to get rid of some of the soldiers. Fire’ moves toward a stone circle with pliers holding another circle, hanging from it some boards.
“This looks like it was their main practice area.” Fire’ then uses his firebending to make the fir move the boards out evenly. Then he uses the fire to close the area off, trapping a solider in. Fire’ then trips him on his back and throws him out. The spirit has taken out 20 soldiers and is ready to take care of a few more. Fire’ uses his firebending to throw some more Fire Nation troops away. The spirit and Fire’ eventually do a back to back.
Zhao then yells out at the soldiers “Do not kill the Fire Avatar! He’ll just be reborn again!” The spirit then goes around Fire’ and places one of his swords at Fire’s neck. “Why are you doing this? Who are you?” The spirit says nothing in response. After a moment, Zhao realize that the spirit will kill Fire’ if they don’t go.
“Open the gates. Let them out!” The spirit with Fire’ in tow begins to take his leave. Zhao then heads to a tower.
“Is it a Spirit Commander?”
“Not at all.” He then turns to a solider holding a bow and arrow. “Do it.”
He fires the arrow and it hits the pony’s mask on the other side of the bridge, breaking the mask and knocking him out. The soldiers at the temple see this and charge. Firebrand then removes the mask and sees Prince Zuko. Fire’ then uses both his firebending and his sword to make a distraction so they can get away. Using fire from nearby torches, he makes a small inferno that engulfs part of the bridge, stopping the troopers. Zhao sees it and wonders for a moment. “What is this?” When the smoke finally clears, both Firebrand and Zuko are gone.

The next morning in a forest, Fire’ is sitting near Zuko, waiting to see if he’s okay. He then leaves before Zuko wakes up.

In the Fire Nation, Zhao is heading for the Fire Lord’s chamber to discuss what happened. “And how did he escape?”
“I fear your son is not only incompetent, but also a traitor. Of course, I cannot prove this, sire.”
“You think...” the Fire Lord angrily said, “my son is this pony the soldiers are calling the Blue Spirit.”
“Yes.” Zhao firmly said.
“Do not harm my son. Leave him to his isolation.” The Fire Lord firmly said.
“You have my word, sire. I will not harm him.”

Later at Fire Nation Colony 15, Zuko walks up to his Uncle who is getting a hoof message. “Zhao’s troops were searching the coast, looking for you. They also searched the ship. I told them you were on vacation with a girl. Where were you for the past 4 days?”
“Nowhere.” Zuko said after a moment. “We have to keep moving. The Fire Avatar is traveling again.”
“Take rest first. It looks like you went through a great deal. When you wake, we’ll have tea together before we start the engines.”
“All right uncle.” Zuko then heads to his ship.
In Zuko’s bead chamber, he is getting ready to go to sleep. He gets in bed, but he smells something. It’s gas. He looks for the source and sees a gas pipe leaking on an open flame. He then runs as fast as he can. Outside, Iroh sees Zuko's bed chamber explode, and pushes the hoof massager out-of-the-way. “ZUKO!”

At the South Pole, the group arrive. They are ridding in a boat to avoid any Fire Nation troops looking up to the sky. “I hate the cold.” Fire’ said.
“Cheer up Fire.’” Twilight said to him. “We’ll be at Pegasus City soon.”

"And what of the Fire Avatar?" The Fire Lord asked Zhao
"We assume he has rejoined his supporters." Zhao said. "It has been conformed he is traveling south. I believe that the colt is telling the truth about him only being able to bend only one element, and like the prophecy said, that there are four more Avatars. It is also my strong believe he is traveling to Pegasus City at the North Pole, possibly to find another Avatar. I also believe that Celestia and Luna are seeking aid, if we are to attack Equestria, where the Pegasi of the South have lived out of our reach and openly practice weather manipulation."

The group then see some pegasi flying and are taken to the city. They see a giant wall of ice move so they can enter. Once they do, they are greeted by the inhabitants, who are all pegasi. The city itself is made up of a giant block of ice. "This place is amazing." Rainbow said as they are led to the royal court.