Legend of Fenghuang

-Maya's Point of View-

As soon as I entered the secret chamber, the wall behind me closed shut and I was left inside the darkness. "Wait! Let me out! Katara! Sokka! Can you hear me?!" I shouted while banging on the wall, but it was of no use. The stone wall was too thick for anyone to hear me.

Is this a booby trap? Will I be trapped here forever? Help! Someone! Anyone!

As I was continuously banging on the wall, bright lights suddenly shined from on top of my head. It had lightened up the whole chamber. I looked at the ceiling and they were filled with glowing crystals.

"Helennites!" I exclaimed to myself at the sight of the familiar crystals that I once saw in Omashu. I was suddenly reminded of Balu. I badly want to meet him again.

I looked around at the chamber and the walls were filled with ancient scribbles, drawings, and writings. Strange... How come I can understand some of these? I walked towards the left side of the wall that has the drawing of a dragon and a phoenix.

"Falkor and Fenghuang?"

Those must be the names of the dragon and the phoenix. But which is which? I examined the drawings eagerly and it seems to continue off to the other end of the wall. I traced the dragon and the phoenix's pattern and it led me to the inner part of the chamber.

In front of me was a closed niche that had ancient writings on them. I wiped off the dust and tried to read the scriptures that were sculpted on the rocks. "The eternal flame of the white phoenix Fenghuang," I said to myself as I slowly read the scripture word by word.

What does this mean? And what does the phoenix mean? Isn't that just made-up stories of the burning bird? I looked at the closed niche and it had a phoenix drawn on it.

Could it be that phoenixes actually exist? But that's impossible, nobody had ever seen them for thousands of years! Whatever is behind that niche, I'm going to have to find that out. I just need to find a way to open it...

I looked at the right side wall of the chamber and there I saw many more ancient drawings. This time it looks like it's depicting a story. In the first drawing there was a woman and a man who was being given fire by the dragon and the phoenix— Could this be the origin of the fire nation?

In the second drawing, two men were with the phoenix. One man killed the phoenix, while the other one tried to save it. The third drawing depicts an angry dragon blasting multiple lightning strikes at the man who was trying to save the phoenix.

That must've been really painful... And why was the dragon angry at the one saving the phoenix? The fourth drawing shows the woman and the man, who was given the flames, parting ways. The dragon was on the woman's side.

At the end of the wall, there was a drawing of the man holding a fire. That fire symbol resembles the symbol of the white fire! Beside the drawing of the man was an ancient writing.

'Only those blessed by the ancient empress shall receive the blessing of the eternal white flame. Let the phoenix's pure judgment befall those who are willing to offer their hand."

Those who are willing to offer their hand? Should I touch the phoenix on the niche? I don't know if that's how it would open it but, it's worth the shot. I walked back to the niche where the phoenix's image was drawn and then I slowly placed my left hand on top of it.

Just like magic, the drawing of the phoenix glowed and the niche slowly opened. From inside the niche revealed a majestic blazing white fire.

"It's so pretty..." I wanted to touch it, but then I remembered that I was not a bender and that I will surely burn myself if I dare lay my hand on that fire.

What am I even thinking?! Why do I even desire to be a bender? And a fire bender at that? This is all just crazy. I never should've gone inside this chamber! I must find a way out and return to Sokka and Katara.

I turned my back on the niche and was about to walk away when suddenly the glowing crystals faded out. The chamber was once again dark and the only light was the white flame, but it was also starting to burn out.

"No wait!" I tried to save the flame but it was too late, the chamber was once again filled with darkness, but the darkness didn't last long.

As soon as the flame burnt out, a big and majestic phoenix appeared right before my eyes. I fell to the ground at the sight of the creature. It stared at me with its beautiful blue eyes and moved its head closer to where I was sitting.

"Please! Have mercy on me! I didn't mean to disturb your slumber! I'm sorry, please let me go!" I pleaded for my life in the presence of the phoenix. Just when I thought that it was going to harm me, the phoenix place its beak on my palm and it waited until I was no longer afraid.

"You're not mad at me?" The phoenix looked at me with grace and beauty. "You must be Fenghuang?" The phoenix didn't answer and instead, she kept her head a distance away from me, and then she created a white fire from her beak.

She moved a bit closer, gesturing that she wants me to take it. "I would love to! And I am honored to be granted such blessing but, you see, I'm not a bender..." I tried to reason out with the phoenix, but in the middle of continuing my explanation, she moved back a bit further and blasted continuous fires at me.

Out of reflexes, I used my hands to protect myself from the fire even though I knew that it wouldn't be enough and that I will surely get burned. But as I slowly opened my eyes, I marveled at the sight of the fire being held in front of my hands. "I'm... I'm firebending! I can't believe it! I'm a firebender! Wait, I'm a firebender?! This is bad, this is really really bad. I can't be a firebender!"

"You are a firebender." I suddenly heard a voice of a female. "Who said that?" I looked around trying to search for the one who spoke.

"You are my little firebender, my dear Fintan soldier." The phoenix said as she slowly moved her head closer to mine.

"You can talk?!"

"I have granted you the blessing of the white flame. Use it to help restore peace and balance to the world, and bring justice to the legacy of your people..." Then suddenly the phoenix slowly faded and it disappeared.

"WAIT!" I tried to reach out for it but as soon as it faded, multiple lightning strikes shocked me until I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I was already back at the ruins where Katara and Sokka were. I was gasping for air.

What just happened? Was it all just a dream? I tried standing up but I felt weak. I could still feel the lightning energy flowing inside my body.

That was no dream... I felt something on my palm and when I looked at my hands, I was already holding the emblem of the white fire. That's when I noticed that the symbols on the wall as well as the door to the chamber were nowhere to be seen. It's as if it disappeared like magic.

"What a crazy experience that was..." I said to myself as I walked closer to Katara and Sokka. I checked on the two siblings and they still are burning with fevers. I placed my hand on their foreheads and I felt the temperature of their bodies getting higher.

I was suddenly reminded of the warm feeling that I felt in my hand when I was firebending inside that chamber... I looked at my hand and wondered if I would be able to do that again.

No! I shouldn't be thinking about it! Forget it! I'm not a firebender! I shook my head and shifted my focus back to the siblings. I tried my best to keep their temperatures down by replacing the dried towels with fresh wet ones.

I noticed that Aang still hasn't come back from his trip to the medicinal institution. It's already getting dark as well. He should've been back by now with the medicine, what's taking him so long?

I looked at the forest and the darkening sky, this is bad... I don't feel great about this. I think something is keeping him from coming back... I should probably go look for him.

Momo suddenly flew onto my shoulder as if he was saying that he wanted to come. "I'm sorry Momo, but you can't come. I don't want to also put you at risk. Stay here and guard over Katara and Sokka. If anything goes wrong, you and Appa will need to get the two of them to safety..." I explained to the confused lemur as I placed him down on the ground.

"I'll make sure to bring Aang back with me. I promise." After fixing myself up for a moment, I went out of the abandoned city and into the forest.

Aang, I hope you're okay...

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-Aang's Point of View-

Thanks to this blue-masked man I was able to escape the prison room that Zhao placed me in. However, on our way out of the three-walled fortress, a distress signal ringed out, and the fire nation soldiers were alarmed by my escape.

We were caught by the spotlight that was roaming the fortress grounds and soon after that multiple fire nation soldiers attacked the two of us all at once.

We fought our way out of the first two walls of the fortress but, just when we thought we were going to make it out of the third wall, we fell to the ground after not being able to make the jump for it.

We were cornered at the front gate of the fortress and the soldiers firebent at us. Luckily, I was there to deflect the fire with my airbending.

"Hold your fire!" I heard Zhao shout from a distance as he approached us. "The avatar must be captured alive!" he continued. Then suddenly the blue-masked man crossed his double swords at my neck; threatening to kill me if they don't open the gates.

It was a silent negotiation between Zhao and the masked man but the former understood what the latter wants.

"Open the gate..." Zhao muttered under his breath. "Admiral! What are you doing?"

"Let them out. Now!" Zhao commanded and then slowly the gate opened. The masked man walked backwards not leading me with him. He wasn't taking Zhao away from his sight.

We continued walking backward even though we reached a fair distance from the fortress. It seems like we are going to walk backward until we've disappeared into the forest...

I still don't know if this man is a foe or a friend. He saved, sure, but I don't know if he's going to let me go or bring me to someplace else. I was about to ask him what his intentions were when suddenly, out of nowhere, an arrow shot the masked man in the forehead knocking him out.

His mask slipped a little when he fell to the ground and I noticed something familiar. I hurriedly airbent a fog to cover us and then I went to the fallen guy to figure out who he was.

"Zuko?!" I whispered to myself as I removed the mask and revealed the face of the scarred prince that was tracking us down.

I dropped the mask out of fear and attempted to run away from him. But then I realized that, if it wasn't for him, I never would've escaped the fortress. I stopped running and looked back to where he was lying. I also saw that fire nation soldiers were approaching.

I owe him my freedom; I can't just leave him there. If he's caught, the fire nation will not go easy on him. Without a second thought, I carried Zuko on my back and hurriedly ran away into the forest. I was able to lose track of the fire nation soldiers that were running after us but it was quite a bit of a struggle to run with someone on your back. I stopped in front of one of the trees in the forest and laid Zuko there so that I can rest my back.

"Aang!" Someone suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder— startling me. Out of reflex, I airbent him away from me. "Ow!" the hooded man said as he was thrown into a tree trunk.

"Maya?!"

"Yeah, it's just me," Maya said as she slowly stood up. "I'm sorry! I thought it was one of the fire nation soldiers!" I hurriedly ran towards her to help her stand up. As soon as she got up on her feet she suddenly hugged me.

"I'm so glad you're safe! I was worried sick!" she yelled while hugging me. "I'm sorry, I got caught up with the fire nation," I explained to her. "But, how did you find me? How did you get here?"

"I was worried that something had happened to you because it was getting late and you're still not coming back. When I was searching for you in the forest I stumbled upon a fire nation camp and they were talking about how you got captured. I was about to threaten them to tell me where you are but then they were called back to the fortress because you escaped— and I followed behind them." Maya explained. I marveled at the thought of how she was willing to risk her safety just to make sure I was okay.

"How were you able to escape?" she suddenly asked. "Well, help arrived..." I said pointing to the unconscious Zuko. "In the form of an enemy." I continued.

"He rescued you?"

"I'm just confused as you are honestly..." I answered.

"I bet he saved you to hog you up for himself..."

"I don't really know..."

"Well let's not stick around to find out. Come on let's get you out of here!" Maya pleaded and then she tugged on my arm. "No, I'm not leaving Zuko here; not until I'm sure that he's okay," I firmly argued.

"Aang, it's not safe to be around that guy!" she argued back. "I will be fine. If he ever tries to do anything funny, then I'll leave." I assured her.

"What about Sokka and Katara? Did you find any medicine for them?" she asked. "The herbalist that I met in the institute told me that a way to cure Katara and Sokka's sickness was to have them suck on frozen frogs that can be found in the swamp at the foot of the mountain. She said the frozen frog's skin has healing abilities."

"Okay then, I'll go fetch those frozen frogs. You stay here with Zuko until he wakes up," Maya suggested. "No, it's already dark outside. I don't think it's safe to lurk in the swamp at this time, plus— that's where the fire nation caught me." I said to her while holding onto her arm. "Just head back to where Katara and Sokka are staying right now and make sure they don't get discovered by any fire nation men. I'll join you guys in the morning." I continued.

"Okay..." she agreed and then she hugged me once more. I returned the hug to her and said, "Keep safe on the way back."

"I will," she replied as she broke off from the hug. After that, she went on her way.

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-Zhao's Point of View-

"Do not rest until the Avatar is found!" I yelled at the fire nation soldiers who were searching the forest.

"Admiral Zhao, we found an abandoned city nearby. That could be where the Avatar and his friends are taking shelter," the general reported to me.

The ancient ruins of Taku... I remember that city. It was the first-ever Earth kingdom city that the fire nation conquered at the beginning of this war 100 years ago.

"All soldiers head for the abandoned city!" I commanded. As soon as we reached the entrance of the ruins, I felt an energy that was out of the ordinary...

So this is where the Avatar has decided to hide. He better come out or else I'll burn this whole place to the ground as well as the whole forest. I've done it before and I'll do it again.

"Search the ruins, and leave no stone unturned!" I commanded, "Yes, admiral!" All of the soldiers were about to enter the city when they were blocked out by a fire blast.

White fire? Where did it come from? Out of the fire emerged a hooded man whose face couldn't be seen.

This can't be for real. I've read about this legend of the white flame benders. They were an ancient tribe that has long been extinct! How is this possible?!

"Who are you?! Reveal yourself!" the general commanded. The hooded man didn't reply and he just stood there in front of all of us. I signaled the Yuyan archers who were hiding in the trees to take the man down.

But even before the arrows hit him, he had already burned them using his white flame. "Stay away from the ruins. You have been warned." the man said.

After that, he created a fireball that covered himself and along with it, he disappeared. "Admiral, these ruins were rumored to be hunted by angered spirits. I think we should leave." the general cowered in fear.

"That wasn't a spirit. Spirits can't bend elements." Whoever that man is, I'm sure there is something within these ruins he is trying to protect. I will surely get to the bottom of this.

"Retreat!" I commanded all the soldiers.

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-Maya's Point of View-

What a tiring day...

I slowly walked inside the ruined temple where Sokka and Katara were. They were still both soundly asleep. I removed the black hood that I borrowed from Sokka's stuff and then I lay on top of Appa just beside Katara. Momo sat on top of my chest and stared at me.

"Hey, buddy... what's up?" I asked the lemur. He leaned his head to the left as if asking where have I been and where is Aang. "I'm sorry Momo, Aang is still out there. He refused to come back yet, but he'll be back in the morning..." I explained to the confused lemur.

"We'll just... have to wait for him..." I yawned for a little before continuing my sentence, "Until he gets back..." I closed my eyes thinking that I'll just nap a little. I have to stay up and keep on guard, also I have to wait for Aang's return.