1 Chapter 1: A Goal unlike any other
(Authors Note: Welcome to the first Story that will be one of two side projects to keep me ftom going mental with BBOAW. Basically With the exception of the opening chapters, each instance of this or the other one getting updated before BBOAW will mean that the pressure of work, writing, and life in general is making me crazy. Which means my writing would suffer. So think of this as therapeutic for this Authors mental health.)
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[Wan Shi Tong's Library, Si Wong Desert, Earth Kingdom, Earth, Avatar-Verse]
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[Wan Shi Tong's POV]
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For two years a strange human had become a resident in his Library. This human was intensely strong in Spiritual essence. And spoke with truth how though his body was of this verse, his soul was not. As a Spirit of Knowledge he was capable of discerning truth from lie. And in exchange for allowing Wan Shi Tong to start chronicling his knowledge of this world and the other's that he knew of, Wan was providing him materials to learn more about Earthbending, Lavabending, Energybending, and the Lion Turtles.
From the get-go this human asked him questions that actually needed significant thought. He credited his past world as a source of misery but one that when looked at historically and done so objectively, begged Certain questions.
Wan Shi Tong was not afraid to admit that this one was truly enlightened.
His first question was what caused Wan Shi Tong to reevaluate his distaste towards humans when asked whether or not a Long War meant that a civilization would technologically advance to gain upper hand would also mean the rate of how much one would know would also increase. The Human stated things like too much War meant as much of an imbalance as too little of it.
He used Vaatu and Raava as examples. Raava had been a stopgap measure for maintaining Balance and the human posited that if an Avatar of Raava was the World's Spiritual embodiment of Light then there must be no Avatar of Vaatu who embodies the world's darker impulses and the cruelty of it.
That said he also inspired Wan Shi Tong to question how much light or darkness was too much. The human replied that to shoulder the Worlds balance on one person was too much, because if untested they may crack and become dark.
Wan Shi Tong had made the decision that he would entrust the world he had long shunned to this human. But as the Avatar of Darkness, and as the Human stated, if there is he or she who I'd Light made flesh, then there must also be he or she who is darkness made flesh. Together Together they had found Vaatu's Prison, but were seeking out the Fifth Lion Turtle to ensure the Human was adequately prepared for Containing Vaatu.
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[New POV: Ryu Beifong]
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The time had come, in the next few months The War will have Reached its hundredth year. Meaning it was time to find Vaatu and Rally The Earth Kingdom to arms.
He had three goals.
Number 1:
Become the Dark Avatar!
Number 2:
Unify the Earth Kingdom under his rule.
His number 3 three goal was his most important, because it was something that was realistically possible. Not that he'd be telling anyone just yet. He'd informed Wan Shi Tong of course, the Owl Spirit had been his closest confidant, and the only person to whom he had trusted with his Meta-Knowledge and true nature.
It was time to act, find Vaatu, become the Dark Avatar. Then form his own Black Lotus. Wan Shi Tong was his first member. Hama was to be his second, Jet his Third, and June his fourth.
He had long ago determined who he wanted as his Avatar Mentors. Obviously any fan worth their salt will never accept anything less than Iroh being the Firebending instructor. His Airbending Instructor would unfortunately be Aang, but he was uncertain on whether or not to take Hama or Pakku as his Waterbending Master. Either one had their pros and their cons, but frankly of the two Hamma had the greater variety of knowledge.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
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''We're out of time my friend we must find the Lion Turtle now. After which we must bind Vaatu to me and Unify the Earth Kingdom.'' Ryu told Wan Shi Tong.
''I've established a link with Shu-Rao. He has agreed to impart to you the power of Energybending provided you never contact him again.'' Says Wan Shi Tong.
''Disappointing but not unreasonable. I'm ready my friend.'' Says Ryu after taking a long slow breath.
''You may experience a temporary Spiritual imbalance when we arrive but it shall pass moments later.'' Wan Shi Tong warns.
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[New POV: Shu-Rao]
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''You will never contact me again after this unless the Spiritual Balance is at an existential risk. Now take the Energybending and bugger off.''
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[New POV: Ryu Beifong]
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Why the hell was he getting John Constantine vibes from the one sentence he got from Shu-Rao? he, it's immaterial to the grand scheme of things.
He simply needed to find his way to Vaatu's Prison and become the Dark Avatar, but first things first....laying the groundwork for a Unified Earth Kingdom. Which amounted to doing one thing and then becoming Dark Avatar.
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[New POV: Toph Beifong]
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[Time-Skip: Spring]
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Toph was conflicted.
No, of two minds was more accurate.
Part of the agreement with Team Avatar was they'd help her find her brother, but that seemed null and void, she knew where he was...what he was doing. He was unifying the Earth Kingdom. Toph only had vague memories of her big brother. He always looked at her with sadness in his eyes, pitying her situation. He encouraged her to be the true Earthbending Prodigy he believed her to be and take her life from their parents hands and sculpt her own destiny.
Right now they were attempting to gain an audience with the Rebel Leader. He'd blazed a path across the Earth Kingdom. The Rebel Leader, her brother. Would he even recognize her?
''The Commander is willing to meet with you...provided your Blind Friend answers one simple.'' The one called Hama.
''If there is light, there must also be darkness....what is missing from the phrase?''
''If there are winners, then there must also be losers.'' Toph replies.
''Welcome home Princess, the Prince has missed you.'' Hama says warmly.
They were Ushered in and Though she couldn't see, she could feel.
''Sister.'' That was all in took the only thing she needed to hear, to know she had finally found him....she had found her big brother again....
