The Elements of Nature, Book 1

by The Avenger

Chapter 8, Pegasus City

“Celestia, Luna, we’ve been expecting you. I am Chief Arnook, and this is my son and daughter, Sokka and Agua.” Arnook, said, a stallion Pegasus with a blue coat, an ice blue mane and tail, and brown eyes. His cutie mark is a trident. He is accompanied by his son and younger daughter, who's the same age as Firebrand. The older son’s name is Sokka, he has an ocean blue coat, a pure white mane and tail, and yellow eyes. His cutie mark is 3 ice crystals. The daughter, whose name is Agua, has an aqua blue coat, an ice white mane and tail, and sky blue eyes. Her cutie mark is a wave on the ocean.
"Man, that colt next to the chief sure is hot!" Spitfire thought to herself.
"That flamed maned Pegasus sure is cute." Sokka thought to himself.
“So, is your hooded friend, the Avatar of Fire?” Chief Arnook asked.
“I won’t tell you, I’ll show you.” Firebrand then removes his cape and gives both the cape and sword to Twilight. He then does some techniques that came naturally to him, he takes the fire from some torches and creates a fire tornado 3 stories high.
“Impressive. But I have a feeling that there's another reason your here, besides to gain a friend against the Fire Nation.”
“True...” Fire’ began to say, “When I was in the Spirit World last, I spoke to a dragon spirit. He told me that the Water Avatar is somewhere in the city.” Sokka and Agua then look at each other in worry. “He also told me that the Fire Nation is going to attack soon, and that during the attack, the moon will become blood-red and Luna will die not long after the moon turns red.” Celestia then turns to Luna, who is horrified by what she just heard.
“We need to prepare." Chief Arnook began to say. "The Fire Nation will be here in weeks.”

Later at a briefing room, the Chief is showing them a map of the city and discussing battle plans with them. The city itself is circular and hidden by the giant wall of ice outside. “The city was design to withstand any assault. If we keep them to the courtyard and the marketplace till night falls, where we have the advantaged, we will succeed. If we let too many into the city, their sheer numbers could overwhelm us.” Arnook said. He then turns to his daughter and son. “I must assign a guard to be with you two at all times. Your presence is our inspiration. Firebrand, I want you to guard my daughter.”
“I’ll do it. Nothing will happen to her.”
“I’ll help guard your son.” Spitfire said soon after, slightly surprising Rainbow and the other Wonderbolts.
“I had a feeling you might volunteer, Spitfire.” Arnook said.

In the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Ozia is talking to Zhao about his son. “I’ve heard no word of my son for quit some time. Do you know where he is?”
“I’ve not heard of anything, sire. I’m sure word of him will come to us soon.”
“The North Pole pegasi are given their strength by the Moon and Ocean Spirits, just like all other pegasi. They will be difficult to defeat. Now, if for some reason the Sprites were not involved, that would be different. What have you learned from the stolen scrolls?” Ozia asked Zhao.
“We have deciphered the location of the Moon and Ocean Spirits.” Zhao said to his ruler.
Ozia then walks to a balcony and turns to Zhao. “It is our destiny to have found this information, Zhao. Eliminate the Spirits, take the city and we will have thwarted all 5 of the Avatars in the process.” Later, the Fire Nation begins to send its navy to the South pole.

Back at Pegasus City, Chief Arnook is walking with Celestia and Luna when the Cutie Mark Crusaders stop them. “Uh, sorry for stopping you, but we want to know something.” Scootaloo said.
“What is it?” Luna asked.
“Why does the Fire Nation fear the Avatar?” Sweetie Belle asked.
After a moment, Arnook spoke, “Thats a good question. Come.” He takes them to his study, he then takes a scroll and places it on a table. “Once, a long time ago, when Celestia and Luna were younger than you Apple Bloom, the Spirit World kept balance over us.” He then opens the scroll, reveling a map of the Spirit World.
“What is the Spirit World, Arnook?” Apple Bloom said to him.
“It’s not a place made up of things you can touch. But it exists, nonetheless. It is filled with the amazing forms of dazzling creatures that exist in the most exotic valleys, mountains and forests. Each of these creatures is a Spirit. They’ve have watched over us since the beginning. The have guided us. And only the Avatar can go speak to them.”
“Arn’t there Spirits here?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yes, there are some Spirits that live hidden among us, sure some of them are watching us with great sadness. The Fire Nation doesn't want to live by the Spirits. That's why they’re so frightened by the existence of the Avatar. It is also why they put a curse on the Avatar spirit so that it can’t reincarnate, which is why the Avatar has became a myth to many. But they hadn't considered that the Avatar spirit can be divided. That is why there are 5 Avatars now, each representing a different element.”
“What can the Avatars do?”
“With there mastery over the 5 known elements, they will begin to change hearts. And it is within the heart that all wars are won.”
“Who was the last Avatar?” Scootaloo asked them.
“The last Avatar, as you know, was as Alicorn named Roku. He was also Celestia and Luna’s father.”
“Wait, our father was Avatar Roku!” Luna said out of shock.
“Yes, I’m not surprised you didn't know. You were probably too young to remember him when he died.” Luna then stares at her sister, who is equally shock.

In the royal library of Pegasus City, Firebrand, Agua, and Twilight are trying to find some information about the bending arts. “I think I found something.” Twilight said as she found a scroll with water patterns on it.
“That looks like a waterbending scroll. I’ve only heard about these.” Agua said.
Twilight opens it and sees that it shows ponies practicing T’ai Chi Ch’uan, specifically the Yang style. “It says here that water it the flowing element. The element of change. It also says that to master water, you must realize your emotions, wherever they may lead you. Water teaches acceptance, apparently. To let your emotions flow like water.”
“Weird. It's not the same with firebending.” Firebrand said.

Later that night, Firebrand and Twilight are looking for Agua. “Her dad is gonna kill me if we don't find her soon.” Fire' said.
“We’ll find her.” Twilight reassured.
They soon arrive at the side of a river and see Agua on the shore. She is doing T’ai Chi Ch’uan by the river. Each time she moves, some water and ice move also. Fire’ and Twilight are stunned by what they see. “Let you emotions flow like water." Agua thought to herself. When she lifts her hoofs, the water in not just the lake, but also in fountains and jugs begin to float. She then stops and the water goes back down.
“Agua?” She jumped when she heard he name and sees Twilight and Fire’ staring dumbfounded at her. “Your the Avatar of Water?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Who else knows?” Fire' asked.
“My brother knows, but not my father.”
“How long did you know you could bend water?” Twilight asked.
“Since I was around Sweetie Belle’s age. When I was doing it today, I thought about my mother. I think that helped. You heard what the scroll said.”
“Yes, but why were you thinking about your mother?” Fire' asked.
“She died when I was around 4.” Agua said as she begins to cry.
“You know what the scroll said, water teaches us acceptance.” Twilight sheepishly said.

Meanwhile out at the edge of the Arctic Circle, the Fire Nation fleet, consisting of 15 or more ships, is moving around some icebergs. Zhao is waiting on the bow for Iroh. He arrives a few minutes later. “General Iroh, I’m glade you could accept my invitation to join us on this historic event.”
“Your invitation was most gracious.”
“You are a gifted strategist. No one can ague that. Your failure in the Hundred Day Siege of Ba Sing Se won’t be held against you. Your son died in that siege, didn't he?”
Iroh pause for a moment. “Yes, he did.” Iroh sadly said.
“Again, I offer my condolences on your nephew burning to death in that terrible accident.”
“Thank you.” Iroh then leaves.

Sokka and Spitfire are taking a walk around the city. Some residents bow to the Prince. “I’ve loved spending these weeks with you, Sokka.” Spitfire said, only to blush soon after. “Did I say that out loud?”
“Yes, you did. Me, to. Should we see what the ocean is doing today?” Sokka asked Spitfire. They then head for the outer wall. They reach the wall, some lookouts are watching the horizon for any sing of the Fire Nation. “When there is some safety for all of us, I will come visit the city of Cloudsdale in Equestria and spend some time in your home.”
“That would be great. But I warn you, my family will ask you many questions.” Spitfire said to the Southern Prince.
“Like what?”
“Well, my grandmother will say, ‘Why is your mane and tail pure white, colt? You look very odd.’”
“I would say to your grandmother, my mane and tail are white because when I was born I was not awake. My mother and father could not get me to make a sound or move. So they prayed for days to the Moon Spirit and dipped me into the sacred waters. My mother said, before she died, that my mane and tail turned white and life poured into me.”
“Wow. You didn't tell me that.”
“You didn't ask me. Only your grandmother did.”

Back on Zhao’s ship. Iroh is making sure that no one is around. “I’m sure Zhao is the who ordered the attack on you.” He said to Zuko, who survived the explosion. They then sit down.
“Any problems?” Zuko asked.
“We have arrived at the Pegasus City stronghold. They believe the Fire Avatar, as well as another Avatar is there.”
“Why do you seem so upset, Uncle?”
“Zhao has no sacredness. Are you sure you want to be here?”
After a moment, Zuko gives his answer. “I will not be allowed to live in peace until I bring at least one of the Avatars to my father! Is that not clear to you?”

Twilight and Firebrand are helping Agua practice her waterbending thanks to the scroll they found. “Agua, try to keep your wrist bent, like it’s showing.” Twilight told her.
It is almost afternoon when suddenly, when there was light snow, was now replaced by a black substance. The residents of the city also notice. “Oh, black snow! I bet it taste a lot better than yellow snow!” Pinkie said to her friends. She is about to eat some when Applejack stops her.
“Whoa nelly. Easy Pinks.” AJ said to her.
“Uh, Pinkie, I don’t think this is snow.” Rarity told her out of worry.
Back at the tower Spitfire and Sokka are at, he holds his hoof out and pulls it back in with whats falling. “What is this?”
“Trouble, that's ash, and that means only one thing." Spitfire said, causing Sokka to look at her puzzling. "Sokka ... the Fire Nation is here.”

The warships soon arrive at the outer wall, ready to attack. At the back of Zhou’s ship, Zuko is heading outside and getting into a canoe, wearing a white body suit. His uncle is with him, but he is staying on the ship to avoid suspicion.  “If you're fishing for an octopus my nephew, you need a tightly woven net, or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape.”
“I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle.”
“I'm sorry. I just nag you, because, well, ever since I lost my son...”
“Uncle, you don't have to say it.”
“... I think of you as my own.”
“I know, Uncle. We'll meet again.” At this, Iroh hugs him. “After I have the Avatars here.”
“Now be sure to keep your uniform closed up to your neck. And remember, your Chi can warm you, and if that’s not enough, your breath of fire can help. It could save your life out there.”
Zuko nods in understanding, “I know, Uncle.” He then leaves, making his way to the wall.
“Be safe.” Iroh said to Zuko before he leaves. Outside of both sides field of vision, he puts on a hood hiding all of his head except his eyes. He swims underwater into some ice caves that go under the city. He goes near the surface, under the city. He sees some light and attempts to resurface, however, the surface of the water had frozen into a thick ice patch. Zuko tries to break through the ice, but he suddenly exhales, signaling his need for air. He heats his hoofs using firebending and melts a hole in the ice. With the ice steaming and finally melting away, Zuko emerges in an empty room, catches his breath and relaxes against the wall.