//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: Legends // Story: The Four Elements // by Shining Star //------------------------------// "So where's this secret headquarters?" Sokka asked Jet. The large group of teens had arrived at the lake only moments ago and had found no trace of the Dai Li around the Lake. The girls had been fully updated to what was happening at the moment. They had been properly introduced to Jet and his friends and Katara and Sokka explained what had happened over the last few months to their group from finding Aang at the South Pole, to the siege at the North Pole, to finding Toph and up to the present. Laughs had been shared at Sokka's and Katara's different views of the cactus juice incident in the desert but the girls had all agreed to help in any way they could to help Aang find Appa and had been walking with them since. Though a few arguments had started between Sokka and Aang over whether Twilight was a bender or not and if she was should they get her to try firebending and what the consequences of letting her fire bend would be. In the end Twilight had settled the argument saying that if she could bend she would only do so if needed and if she couldn't then the problem would be resolved. Though everyone agreed that until they could find some normal clothing for Twilight it would be best if she wore a long green cloak to hide her red clothing. But they had arrived shortly after and all emotions had subsided at the amazing sight of the lake. Now they would just have to find the Dai Li. "Under the water I think." Jet said scratching his head. "There's a tunnel right there by the shore." Toph said pointing to her right. She walked towards the water whistling absently. She reached the side of the lake and stood dead straight before jumping in the air and landing in a crouching position with a thud. Rocks raised from the water as Toph stretched her arms out pointing into the lake making a straight path with a circular landing pad at the end with a rock cork. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Twilight all stood gobsmacked at the awe striking power and had to hurry to catch up with everyone else as they made their way down the smooth path. Toph moved the large rock cork revealing a long and dark passage way deep into the ground and far under the lake that everyone stared at with fear making its way onto a few faces. Momo flew away as he soared into the sky flying away from the tunnel. Fluttershy began to tremble in fright as the darkness seemed to go on forever. "It's... it's so dark... do we really have to go down there?" Aang stared down with determination gleaming in his eyes. "Yes we do if we have any chance of saving Appa. Now let's go." "Sugarcube, how 'bout you and me stay up here and be a sorta look out for the others? That way they have extra protection, less people to worry about and you don' have to go down there. That alright with you guys?" Applejack asked. Nods came from everyone as Aang started to make his way down the tunnel. "Alright then, anyone else wanna stay up here with us?" Rarity stood back up and backed away from the tunnel. "I may as well join this little group here darlings. It's far too dark down there for my liking, and I still fear tunnels after that incident with the Diamond Dogs." Twilight nodded as she stepped onto the rickety ladder that lead to the Dai Li. "Okay but keep safe you guys and if need be, run back to the city. You'll find help there." Rainbow, Pinkie Pie and Twilight made their way down the ladder following the others as the stalked down the staircase. The darkness engulfed them as they continued there descent under the lake. After what felt like an eternity to all the stairs ended and a large hall started. Jet stopped everyone as he checked for any Dai Li agents. He waved everyone forward as they walked into the hall. Large archways lined the walls leading to other rooms with dim green lights brightening their path. "It's... all starting to come back to me..." Jet whispered. A door was open as they walked past revealing a large room filled with women in rich clothing and makeup. A man in long dark robes stood in front of them with a wide brimmed hat. "I'm Ju Dee, welcome to Ba Sing Se." he said to the women. "I'm Ju Dee, welcome to Ba Sing Se." they all repeated in monotone voices. "We are so lucky to have our walls to create order." Again all the women repeated the man in their one tone voices. They continued on their way down the hall before Jet turned to the left. "I think there may be a cell big enough to hold Appa up ahead." Jet said pointing to large door. He stood outside as the rest caught up with him. "I think it's through here." Jet slid the door open to reveal an almost pitch black room. Pinkie Pie slowed her walk down till she was almost not moving at all. "Guys... guys... my knee is getting all pinchy and... and hair is sorta twitching." Pinkie gasped as she started to back away. "It's a human version of my Pinkie Sense! Something scary's about to fall!" "Would you keep it down back there?!" Sokka hissed over his shoulder. Pinkie turned away and was running to the door when it slammed close in front of her face. A bright light filled the room as everyone looked up. Dozens of Dai Li agents hung upside down from long chains in the ceiling. "Now that's something different." Sokka remarked as the stared at the Dai Li. A figure stepped out of the shadows revealing a man with a long thin beard and plait in formal robes, flanked on both sides by Dai Li. "You have made yourselves enemies of the state. Take them into custody." Longshot readied his arrow and Katara reached for her water skin. The Dai Li hanging from the ceiling jumped down and landed in a wide circle around them. The Dai Li shot their fists out sending their rock gloves towards everyone at high speeds. Toph shot her own hands out destroying ten pairs of gloves while Pinkie Pie flung another pair back to their owner unintentionally, flying into his face and breaking his nose with a loud crunch "Oppsie! Sorry mister!" she called out to the Dai Li lying on the floor. Toph bended two large rocks into diagonal columns sending different agents flying through the air. She turned and blocked more oncoming rock gloves from hitting Jet who in turn, swivelled around to face the agents and scooped their legs out from under their feet with his hooked blades. He helped cover Aang as he set a blast of air into two more agents. Rainbow Dash was fighting alongside Katara and Sokka as they fought the Dai Li with Katara using her skilful water bending to slice through rocks and earth while Rainbow used her fists or in Sokkas case, a boomerang. Three fists caught them off surprise grabbing their shirts and pulling them through the air towards Long Feng. Toph reacted quickly bringing a wall of rock in front of them stopping the rock gloves. Toph quickly turned on the offensive with Rainbow, Katara and Sokka still on the ground dazed. Two Dai Li sent a row of rocks to her which she quickly evaded with a large slab of rock lifting her into the air. Four Dai Li chased her, two coming from below and two coming from the side walls with rocks. Toph diverted all the rocks back sending the Dai Li flying. A silent rock glove flew through the air and grabbed Toph from behind and pulling her to the ground. Before she could react, Jet soared threw the air on a chain saving her from breaking on the ground. Twilight and Pinkie Pie fought more agents near the door holding them off from harming the others in anyway. Twilight's cloak kept getting caught on her feet making it extremely hard to fight the Dai Li off. Pinkie had somehow figured out how to use her new found earthbending powers to stop the flying rock gloves the Dai Li shot at them and turned them to dust at her feet. Twilight stood back to back with Pinkie kicking the gloves away while trying to dodge the more aggressive attacks. Out of the corner of her eye Twilight saw Long Feng making a dash to the door. "Hey! Get back here you coward!" she yelled running after him. She dodged and weaved her way around the fight running into the hallway Long Feng ran into. "Long Feng is escaping!" She heard Aang yell from the large room. Two pairs of footsteps were behind her as she chased the heel of Long Feng. He dashed into another room as Twilight was right on his heel. She followed him into the enormous room with drainage pipes lining the walls spilling water into a deep moat along the sides of the room. She stopped in the middle searching for Long Feng to see he had disappeared. Aang and Jet ran into the room and looked around before finding her. "Twilight? What are you doing here?!"The yelled at the same time. Before Twilight could answer a wall blocked the door and their only exit and Long Feng jumped down revealing himself at last. "Alright Avatar, you've caused me enough problems. This is your last chance... if you want your bison back." Long Feng threatened. Aang face scrunched up in a mix of pain and anger. "You do have Appa! TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" "Agree to exit the city now and I'll wave all charges against you and allow you to leave with your lost pet..." Jet raised his swords in defence. "You're in no position to bargain." he said to Long Feng. "Am I not?" "You're definitely not!" Twilight yelled reading herself to fight. She may not agree with all this violence, but she was only doing it in self-defence. If she and her friends were captured by the Dai Li and brainwashed, they may never return home. And she needed to find the portal that would lead to home or who knows how long they could be stuck here for. Long Feng just smirked at the teen girl. "Jet, the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai." Jet's arms went limp as his eyes seemed to glaze over. "I am an honoured to accept his invitation..." Jet's swords swung around towards Twilight and Aang, both just escaping being beheaded. Aang used airbending to sweep himself away while Twilight rolled towards where Long Feng stood. With some quick thinking Twilight swept Long Feng's feet out from underneath him sending him crashing to the ground. Twilight pushed herself to her feet and ran over to help Aang who only had his airbending staff to protect him. Aang started dodging Jet’s sword slices moving from side to side. Twilight came over and kicked Jet out of the way before standing next to Aang. She was one of the few ponies who weren’t a guard who knew how to fight. Looks like Shining Armour was right about how fighting skills might come in handy one day. Jet stumbled back to his feet stumbling around trying to attack the pair. Aang and Twilight both continued to dodge his attacks. “Jet! It’s us, Aang and Twilight!” Aang pleaded to Jet. But his pleas fell on deaf ears as Jet continued his attack. “You don’t have to do this!” “I’m afraid he no longer has a choice.” Long Feng told the pair. Jet faced Aang and Twilight panting from exhaustion. He stared them down before swinging his two swords in between them, separating the two. Twilight could see how his body was failing him now; he was stopping for breaths more regularly. Jet tried to hook his sword’s end around Aang’s neck but missed when Twilight kicked it out of the way. Jet lost his balance at her surprise attack allowing Aang to gain the upper hand by using air to blast Jet away. “Jet, I’m your friend. Look inside your heart.” Aang pleaded to Jet. Twilight stepped up to Aang and joined into his pleas. “Jet come on! You don’t have to do this! You’re a good person don’t let them ruin who you are!” “Do your duty Jet.” Long Feng ordered the teen. Jet slouched towards his friends slowly raising his swords to attack again. His pale face was covered in sweat and his hair stuck to his face. His shoulders rose and fell in rapid breaths. Aang begged Jet placing his only weapon down. “He can’t make you do this! You’re a freedom fighter.” Jet’s head snapped up at Aang’s words and his eyes became their normal brown again. He stopped panting as he stared at Aang and Twilight. “Do it! DO IT NOW!” Long Feng yelled at Jet. Jet screamed in frustration and turned to face the villain. He threw one of his swords at Long Feng who stepped to the side barely missing being skewered against the wall. Long Feng stomped on the ground sending a dust cloud floating into the air. Aang bended the air around them to clear the dust and revealed the ghastly sight in front of them. A large rock protruded from the ground at an angle with an unconscious Jet lying on the ground. Aang gasped as he ran forward to help. Twilight stared at the limp body of her newly found friend. Anger seeped into her at the sight and she could feel a burning deep in her stomach. She screamed in frustration sending two flying fists out at Long Feng. Four different balls of fire shot straight at the head of the Dai Li leader who quickly used the earth to rise to a large sewer pipe and escape down. “You foolish children! You have chosen your own demise. And you girl, revealing yourself to be a firebender, you will suffer to no end when you return to Ba Sing Se!” With those final words he blended into the darkness. Twilight ran to Aang who was kneeling next to Jet. Jet was now awake but his breathing was shallow. “I’m sorry… Aang… Twilight…” “Don’t be…” Aang replied sorrowfully. Twilight sat next to Jet as well moving some hair out of his face tenderly. “It wasn’t your fault Jet, You couldn’t control yourself, no one blames you for anything.” Rocks sliding and shifting came from the wall behind them and Aang and Twilight looked up to see their friends standing their shocked. Upon seeing Jet they all rushed over to him. Katara instantly removed the water from her water skin and knelt down to try to heal him. She rubbed her blue glowing water over his chest repeatedly trying to find the injury he received and heal it. Her hands stopped glowing and she looked to her friends. “This isn’t good.” she said seriously. “You guys go and find Appa; we’ll take care of Jet.” Smellerbee said to them. “We’re not going to leave you.” Katara said to Smellerbee. “There’s no time.” Longshot said. Everyone looked to him with wide eyes, finally hearing his voice for the first time. “Just go. We’ll take care of him, he’s our leader.” Instead of making a move the group stood there staring at Longshot and his sudden voicing of opinion. “Don’t worry Katara.” Jet said weakly from the ground. “I’ll be fine.” He smiled at her as she slowly stood up. She turned away walking towards the door. Aang, Toph, Sokka, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Twilight all followed her slowly not looking back at his weak figure. Toph had her head hung low as she spoke to Sokka. “He’s lying…” she whispered. Smellerbee’s weak sobs and sniffles could be heard as they walked through the empty halls. Sokka was cradling a crying Katara as they walked through the halls and even Pinkie Pie’s hair seemed to become straighter as they continued walking. Aang caught up to Twilight and started matching her pace. They both walked in silence for a moment before Aang cleared his throat awkwardly. “So, Twilight… I uh saw you… firebending in there. Can I ask how you did it?” he asked Twilight quietly. He looked up at her with hopeful eyes. Twilight shook her head in confusion. “Sorry, I didn’t even realize what I was doing until the fireballs were slamming into the earth wall. I just felt a deep rage in my core that Long Feng had hurt Jet and it needed to be released… and it was. I can’t explain it any other way, sorry Aang.” “It’s okay… I just wanted to know. I've never been able to firebend properly and when I did, I hurt the people around me that I love the most. I swore on that day never to Firebend again..." Aang shook his head. "Well, it doesn't matter. You can't really fight fire with fire. But it’s sorta strange isn’t it? You all show up in the middle of Ba Sing Se, not knowing how you got there and you can each bend a different element, it’s incredible that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy can bend air. I don’t have to be the last airbender in our world.” “What do you mean “our world”? Do you know of other worlds or planets that have airbenders?” Twilight asked. Aang shook his head with a small laugh. “Oh no. I’m just thinking of a story the monks used to tell us about another world where there was an entire species that could bend air with their wings and use them to fly. I never really believed them though, seemed kinda silly. But they also told how the Sun and the Moon Goddess had moved to this other world long ago to protect it from it's evils and safe guard the land and help keep balance. It was a legend in our world over three hundred years ago that they were sisters who kept harmony in the world. The moon spirit came back to our world over one thousand years ago after being plagued with darkness and found refuge and healing in the North Pole where she regained her right mind and again helped keep balance. Chief Arnook said that after an attempt was made on the spirits life during the siege at the North Pole last year, both the moon and the ocean spirit went back to the spirit world. Just the way you all sorta popped up and they could airbend had me thinking about the old legends again. Silly, huh? How could there be an entire different world that we didn’t know about, am I right?” Aang smiled at Twilight. Twilight laughed nervously. “Yeah… it is sort of silly…” Twilght cringed under his trusting gaze. A guilty voice whispered in her head, If only he knew..