Chapter 18: Misha

Aaron was unconscious for two whole days after drawing on that much Chi and was wheeled around for several more as the chill gradually left his muscles, and they gained back their Chi.

Chi, he discovered, on closer meditation, was essentially the lifeblood of all creatures, and by suffusing his muscles and rapidly burning through his reserves, he'd almost shaved time off his lifespan. If he hadn't been in such a Chi-rich environment and meditated day and night, he might've suffered permanent damage.

And it would've all been because he was so heartbroken by Igi's death that he put his life on the line for Mark, of all people. 

Aaron shivered at the thought. It was obvious he was having a hard time letting things be, but he couldn't afford to stop or delay his plans, not with everything set up.

Mark had started his lessons with King Bumi, and Aang joined in the spars but only used air bending. He was finding it nearly impossible to move even an inch of rock, while Mark had taken to the instruction like fish to water, drinking up the techniques, feats and tactics.

He still lacked overall strength, but several times, Bumi and his guards were stunned by how much sheer talent he had. Whenever Mark visited, he confirmed what Aaron had suspected… that he was rapidly burning through his learning speed cards to keep up his pace of learning.

Katara found herself perusing King Bumi's private library for scrolls on bending and had somehow stumbled upon a water-bending scroll while Sokka drilled with the only sergeant that would take him.

All of them visited Aaron in bed while he recovered, and like that, a week passed while he rested and recovered.

His worries about the King and the meeting with his Grandfather made his healing time almost unbearable. The King never mentioned the favour or his sudden outburst in power, but each time they met, he commented on how talented Mark was.

So, Mark shacked up with the King.

He spent every free second either researching techniques, sparring, or learning about the current state of the world from the local scholars–something that Aaron didn't think he needed, given how seemingly omnipotent his system made him.

It was all clear signs he was preparing to leave, and Aaron was too weak to stop him.

Only his greed for his Chi-bending techniques assured Aaron that he wouldn't cut ties immediately.

A day to solstice, Aaron finally felt strong enough to walk and gather resources for his meditation to the spirit world. He started with the healers, asking for incense and calming tea, but also supplying them Mark's rejuvenation potion that he'd taken to calling a Chi-Potion.

Then he found an open meditation space in one of the gardens of the King. All that remained was to prepare the Avatar and Mark.

Aaron was in deep meditation to expand his Chi-pool, preparing his mind for the journey ahead, when Aang and the rest of the team found him wearing determined looks and their travelling outfits.

Aaron could feel a headache coming on before they spoke.

"You're all geared up for travel, Taking a trip to the lower city perhaps?"

Aang shook his head. "We did that yesterday. We're here for something else entirely. Avatar Roku came to me in a dream. He wants to see me at the Fire temple, and it's in the Fire Nation."

"Oh," Aaron said. Grandfather had mentioned the Avatar spirit would reach out eventually, but they'd hoped it'd be sometime after the Solstice. It was very like Roku to wait until the worst possible moment. Aaron nearly scowled.

"Did you hear what I said?" Aang asked.

"Yeah," Aaron hummed, rubbing his forehead, "I did hear you. I'd assume you'd like me to come with you?"

"If it's not too much trouble," Sokka laughed. "We are going to need you and your crazy bending moves when we run into serious problems."

"Of course, you can stay if you're still healing. I know the fight took a lot out of you," Katara fussed.

Aaron remained quiet for a bit before he finally gave them his answer. "I'm afraid I can't come. I've put off talking to my grandfather for way too long now, and Katara is right, I'm not quite strong enough to take a trip to the fire Nation and face down benders."

The kids' faces darkened one by one.

"We've been training for a while," Sokka said, turning to them. "I think we can handle it."

"You can't," Aaron said and proceeded to tell them everything they'd run into The Fire Nation border patrol would be their biggest hurdle, and if they somehow managed to escape hundreds of ships throwing flaming hot fireballs at them, they'd still have to somehow avoid leading their pursuers to the temple. And then, they'd have to face the fire priests.

Sokka's face grew darker and darker as sweat started to pool. Katara looked similarly terrified but determined nonetheless, and Aang remained adamant. Mark stood to the side, observing, which prompted Aaron to speak to him.

"Do you have another mission?" he asked.

"Surprisingly, no," Mark said, and Aaron gave him a confused look. "I know. It's crazy," he chuckled, "but I want to help my friends."

Aaron found that hard to believe as he chewed on his thoughts.

"You should ask King Bumi for soldiers. Even with the war going on, I'm sure he can spare a half-dozen competent to help you with the fight."

"I'm not sure Appa can carry that many people," Aang said.

"Test out the weight limit then before you go and…," Aaron found himself hesitating, "let me talk to my cousin, Misha. She's in the city and can fight as well as I can. You won't find a better protector on short notice."

"You're finally introducing us to her?" Mark said. "For a minute, I thought you were avoiding each other."

"The whole town knows about us now, and it's a bit strange that your own cousin didn't show up when they learned you were bedridden." Katara chimed in, and Aaron nearly shot both of them a glare.

"We have… a complicated relationship," Aaron said. She abandoned her duty as a soldier to become a diplomat— which the Nation had in spades—and he got worked to the bone, handling all jobs reserved for two benders. The waters ran very deep and sour between them.

"When do you leave," Aaron asked, forcing away the emotion that threatened to creep on his face.

"Tonight if we can help it. If it's dark enough, we might be able to slip in relatively undetected," Sokka said with a confident grin, and Aaron rubbed his chin in surprise.

"That's actually not bad."

"We did expect to run into some resistance going in," Katara said. "This way, we can make it to the temple before worrying about people shooting fire at us."

Aaron stood up with slight difficulty. "I better get moving then."

The kids nodded. "We need to go get supplies and talk to the Earth King. Let's meet up at, say, midnight?" Sokka suggested.

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Aaron nodded, and as the kids dispersed, he waved Mark over.

"I know you're set on seeing the Fire Nation and maybe even asking about your rival from the Fire priest," Aaron said, "but I need you here if the partnership between us is going to be a permanent thing."

"You figured out the bit about the Fire priests, huh?" Mark scratched his chin. "Nothing really escapes your notice, does it?" The Fire priest angle was fairly obvious, and they, more than any other caste, were the most likely to be informed about the descent of another powerful spirit.

"I am not infallible," Aaron said. "I make mistakes just like anyone."

"And do you think recruiting me is one of your many, many mistakes?"

It was Aaron's turn to avoid the question. "My grandfather, the Falcon, is the single greatest bender in the last 100 years and the source of every knowledge we know about ancient times. He's been waiting for the Avatar to return for a very long time, and you're a…change he did not foresee. If we're to work together going forward, you must meditate to the spirit world and meet him during the solstice."

"He's been ruling your nation for 100 years. How have you all not gotten sick of that?" Mark frowned.

"The Oldest and wisest lead in the Air Nation. It's the way we've always done things."

"But shouldn't it be a council of elders instead of just one man? I know for a fact there were at least five elders in each temple."

Aaron's mouth thinned to a line.

"We haven't had five leaders since before the massacre. It was their division and obsession with the old ways that allowed Sozin to wipe us out while we had the high ground. We've done away with that way. Only one mind leads us now."

"How is that not a recipe for Authoritarianism or tyranny like the Fire Nation? The Air Nation I knew about…"

"You know nothing about us!" Aaron growled, "and stop stalling. Don't tell me you're trying to back out after all this time?"

Mark face turned ugly.

"I never promised…"

Aaron threw up his hand. "Of course," he snorted. "It's never your fault. It's always an accident, or mission, or some danger. Do you take me for a fool?" Aaron's voice had turned cold as ice.

"And don't treat me like one either!" Mark snapped back. "You Airbenders are shady as shit. You've got village elders swearing they'd never cross you and people hunting you. You guys could be as bad as the Fire Nation or worse."

"Don't you dare say that!"

"How can't I? I don't know the first thing about you. I want to work with you here, so meet me in the middle. Answer some questions to put my mind at ease, and I'll meet with your leader."

Aaron took deep breaths to calm himself and agreed that his request was somewhat reasonable. Everyone had the right to know who or what they were getting into bed with.

"What do you want to know?"

Mark had questions upon questions. He asked about the Earth temple, the masters, and what combat art they taught.

They had weapons mastery, obviously, and his uncle Wang was their resident weapons master. Bending was thought by Aaron's father Ren, and spirituality and Chi was mastery of Master Yasha's domain.

Aaron talked in vague details about his training, and when Mark approached the topic of Chi-bending, he said, "only the most skilled and accomplished benders of every generation inherit the knowledge young. The skill was reserved for adults in all other instances."

Mark, surprisingly, didn't press for more information. However, what gave the young Earthbender pause, was their population.

"How are there only 12 of you?" he said, blinking. "Didn't you say your grandfather travelled the Earth and Water Nations trying to sew new seeds or something?"

"And he was mostly unsuccessful, My father's generation was even less so," Aaron frowned. "The gift is, unfortunately, fading from our world. Grandfather and some elders think it might be because of the Fire Nation attack or the avatar's disappearance, but we don't know for sure."

"Yet another thing our arrowhead friend is responsible for," Mark laughed, causing Aaron's frown to deepen. No one in the Nation blamed Aang. It was Roku and former generations most pointed fingers at.

"Tell me more about this Grandfather you seem to talk about in every second sentence?" Mark asked.

Aaron folded his hands. "I don't do that."

"You kinda do," Mark grinned. "Grandfather said this. Grandfather is the strongest bender ever. Grandfather want this," he mimed in Aaron's deep voice with startling accuracy, not that Aaron would ever admit it. "It almost makes me think he's brainwashed you, or he's literarily God on earth." The smile on his face turned slowly. "I don't know which is worse, to be honest."

Aaron huffed. "You wouldn't understand. The man was the ONLY survivor of a genocide the Fire Nation enacted because they were cowards, and he waged war against them for decades of his life alongside the Earth and Water Nation armies. He's a fucking living legend, and he laid the foundation for most of the techniques you see today. And that's not even scratching the surface. So, for all intent and purpose, he might as well be God."

"Wow," Mark muttered. "Igi didn't know any of that." When Mark saw Aaron's face change at the casual mention of his disciple's name, he mouthed an apology.

"So, in summary. I will be meditating to meet a martial god who doubles as a spiritual savant and collaborate with him to squash our enemies."

"More or less."

"That sounds swell to me," Mark said, leaning forward, "but from everything I've gathered, you guys have no incentive to play nice. You could just tie me up somewhere and milk me for my rewards."

"You want assurances?" Aaron asked, and the boy nodded. "Well, for one, you know more than anyone about his other half of yourself and what troubles he could cause. And you're our best bet at understanding his abilities and killing him. Stifling your growth or stuffing you somewhere is an unnecessary risk. Secondly, if what you say is true, you'll be gone in a year, regardless of what happens. Thirdly, and most importantly, we stand the most by cooperating with you. Knowing you, you'll likely fuck us over, one way or the other, if we try to force your gifts out of you."

Mark gave an unabashed smile. "All those are wonderful starts, but I want something else, and I know I won't get a straight answer from you, but I'd like for you to put in a good word with the old man. When I provide something of value, I want the opportunity to exchange that for knowledge and advantages I can take with me to the next world."

Aaron cocked his head to the side, pretending not to know what he was angling at.

"I have to think long-term if I plan to make it till the end of the game, don't I?" he chuckled. "In case I end up in some fantasy world with flying cars and idiots throwing Kamehamehas."

Noticing Aaron's puzzled look, he waved, "I don't expect you to get it. So, do we have a deal?"

Aaron hesitated for a moment, reminding himself that his Grandfather was watching before he nodded.

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