Focused Fire (ATLA)

Aang was aware that he was having trouble being anything but glum. It was supposed to be a joyful, relieving experience, not being the last airbender. But instead, the happy reunion the Avatar imagined upon visiting the Village of Hidden Clouds failed to materialize.

The older folks in particular, children of the first Air Temples refugees, had offered nothing but scorn and disgust. 

“Why’d it take you until now to show up?”

“Why weren’t you there to push back the Fire Nation before they drove us to extinction?”

“It’s already a hundred years, why are you still running about mastering the elements?”

What could Aang say? What answer could he possibly give beside the shameful fact that he’d been missing because he ran away?

“Hey, lay off him,” Toph had stepped in with a scowl, jabbing a finger at the accusers. “You don’t know what he’s been through.”

Katara joined in with protective anger. “Aang’s been through a lot already. And he’s trying to make up for it.”

“Yeah? Then why’s he here if he’s got a lot to make up for? The century-long vacation not enough?”

The older villagers retorted with more hateful words, and it’d taken Iroh’s and Bumi’s intervention, along with the intervention of the younger villagers, to stop the airbenders from clashing with the infuriated Katara, Toph, and Sokka. Only when Xing’s soldiers stepped in to escort them away from the village did tension cool off.

Of course, being friends, the gang insisted that Aang should not take any of the villagers’ words to heart. The old hermits were being unfair. Iroh and Bumi also advised him to not let the harsh reception dissuade him. 

“Sometimes, some wounds will never fade, and will instead fester,” Iroh said. “And the elderly have far more time to ferment their bitter resentment. Do not let such guilt stop you from continuing with your life. They may not wish your forgiveness now, but strive to better yourself, to undo the wrongs you’ve made, and perhaps it might soften their hearts.”

“Otherwise, don’t do it for them,” Bumi added, “do it to prove to yourself that you’re not what they accuse you of.” 

Aang stayed away from the Village of Hidden Clouds after that, and struggled to keep the sour encounter out of his mind. He plunged into further refining his bending, as well as learning the basics of domestic and international intrigue. The history lessons provided by Iroh and Bumi, reinforced by tomes taken from Ba Sing Se’s libraries, at least served as adequate distraction. Katara and Sokka joined in with those studies, but Toph seemed focused on locking herself in a metal box for some reason.

Some attention was also spent with other familiar faces. It eased Aang’s mind to see Teo walking like he’s never been in a wheelchair before. That Xing had been responsible was not an issue. Hearing the other boy’s reluctance about working with the Scorpion was refreshing, as was having Teo’s father introduce Aang to new inventions like the flush toilet, the new monorail cars that ran on modified Fire Nation boiler engines, and the ambitious plans to rework Ba Sing Se’s sewer and tunnel systems.

Those meetings, along with the lessons, helped occupy Aang’s thoughts, but only after Xing returned from his battle in triumph did something show up to eclipse the sour memories of the Hidden Village.

“Show me your progress.”

And just like that, Aang had something far more important to worry about, namely his wellbeing. Xing promised not to use his heatbending like he did the last time, but from what Aang learned of the 11th, the friendly duel was not going to be pleasant.

They stood at opposite ends of the sparring ring on the day after Xing returned, and Aang fought off the trembling of nerves and the suggest flare of phantom pain from the last time he lost to the Scorpion. There was a deep, primal fear that gnawed at the airbender, but Aang forced it back with sheer will, just as Bumi had told him to.

It worked…somewhat.

“Aaand…begin!” Sokka quickly scrambled back as both Avatar and Scorpion burst into action.

Aang stomped his foot to send out a wave of rocky spikes, while his arms weaved to deliver a flurry of wind blades. A blast of white fire tore through both attacks, and the airbender was already moving and delivering a storm of jagged hailstones to distract Xing while he got into a better position.

The Scorpion Dragon charged into the hailstorm with a wave of fire leading the way, closing the distance to Aang. More blinding bolts of flame was hurled that threatened to hem Aang into one spot. A quick pulse of chi into the ground sent the Avatar flying up well above the projectiles. Aang almost had enough time to form a pleased grin, but then he was forced to desperately twist aside as Xing flew straight at him.

Aang just barely got out of the way, but the Scorpion’s leg lashed out at the last minute to clip him across the shoulder and send him spinning down to the ground.

Remembering his lessons, Aang fought through the spike of pain with a growl as he pushed himself away right as he landed, avoiding the axe kick that would’ve shattered his spine. The earth tremor his hand created as he rolled away managed to catch Xing off guard, causing the prince to stumble and almost fall over.

It still bought enough time for Aang to get back onto his feet, so he wasn’t going to complain.

The two teens faced off again, but at a much closer distance this time. Xing’s features were stony and serious, which in turn made Aang frown just as seriously.

Xing sent out a lance of fire, which Aang blocked by raising up the whole sparring ground between them. He also used the momentary break in vision to dive into the improvised tunnel the raised earth created. Then it became a guessing game.

Aang’s tremorsense was nowhere near as good as Toph’s but he did learn how to at least pick up vibrations, if not tell where exactly they came from. The Avatar forced himself to calm his nerves and focus, counting the little tremors that thrummed against his body. He waited a particular strong pulse before sending the earth above him blasting up, and to Aang’s fierce satisfaction, he saw Xing being thrown up into the air amidst the cloud of dirt and dust.

That did not mean he dawdled though. Aang knew better than to think Xing would need so much time to retaliate, so he sent out more wind blades to keep his opponent occupied as he charged in. Xing was already snuffing out the attacks with bursts of flame as he landed, and he braced himself just in time to spew out a burst of fire that negated a powerful blast of wind, ice and rocks.

Aang wanted to complain about how unfair Xing’s firebending was. He really, really wanted to scream his annoyance at that. But Xing was already charging at him, so the Avatar frantically skipped back to create more distance, using air and earth to propel him.

Xing caught up with an explosion from his feet, and this time Aang was prepared to deliver a gust of wind to knock him down from the air. The prince tumbled through the ground, but he rolled to his feet in short order, and still managed to dodge the flurry of projectiles Aang sent as a follow up.

The Scorpion made another charge, this time with a wide fire wall leading the way. It carried enough heat and energy to shatter the earthen barrier Aang hastily erected, and by the time the airbender banished the fiery wave with his airbending, another had appeared right behind it.

Thinking fast, Aang leapt up and above the fire wall, just as he did the last time against Xing’s previous attack. He knew it was a mistake the moment pain exploded all across his body. Xing had shot up right as he sent the second fire wave, intercepting Aang just as he rose above it. The Scorpion’s shoulder slammed into the unprepared Avatar’s chest, blasting the air from Aang’s lungs. His lungs almost exploded when he crashed back to the ground, back first, with all the weight of Xing on him.

Aang didn’t have the air or strength left to yield, but thankfully Xing helped him up to show that the fight was over.

“Not bad moves. But try to keep to the ground instead of jumping into the air, you’re less vulnerable strafing sideways than in mid-air.”

Aang barely caught any of the advice as he was carried over to Katara who was already scolding Xing.

He did latch onto the Scorpion’s next words though, and they filled Aang with satisfaction as he gave into his exhaustion.

“If not for our plans involving the eclipse, I’d say we can send him over to Ozai right now to beat the Fire Lord into pulp.”

Unfortunately, those encouraging approval didn’t stop Xing from getting Bumi and Iroh into training Aang harder. The days that followed saw the Avatar hone his bending by sparring against the venerable earth- and firebenders, as well as other volunteers. Valuable lessons were imparted by words as much as painful strikes.

Aang understood and appreciated the growth he was being put through, but it didn’t stop him from begrudging Xing for the ruthless regime.

It only occurred to him much later that the grueling sparring day after day made Aang forget about the Village of Hidden Clouds.

*****

“I’m a bounty hunter, not a mercenary. There’s a difference.” June reined in her exasperation as she explained her profession to a leering Fire Nation captain. Just her luck to be stuck deep in the colonies just as they decided to fight among themselves. She’d tried to quietly sneak out, but inevitably she ran into a small cavalry force from the Fire Nation islands. The ‘invading’ force, as the fleeing locals have put it.

Invaders or not, June found them to be a chore to deal with. If not for Nyla being the opposite of remarkable, she’d have snuck her way to the fragmented Earth Kingdom by now. The jobs might be shit there, but better shit jobs than no jobs.

“Treat this like a bounty then. We’ll pay you for every enemy commander you lead us to.”

Or shittier jobs, like being ‘hired’ to be a scout for the invading force.

Could she say no? Sure, but it might mean having to avoid more Fire Nation groups in the future and risk a bounty being placed on her head for a change. The irony was not lost to her, as were the rumors of the invading Fire Nation’s tendency for having a poor temper. It’s what you get for not getting the welcome you expect, but June couldn’t really comment on internal Fire Nation affairs.

Also, the captain had a very different idea on how Nyla operated. “There’s bound to be a few scraps in the ruins you can use. Just use your…beast to sniff out a captain or general, and we’ll do the fighting once you lead us to them. I’m sure you can sniff out for future trouble as well, which will be most helpful.”

“It’s not…” Arguing would be pointless. June had dealt with such imbeciles before, thinking that Nyla could just smell whatever they wanted her to smell, but she usually had the option of just leaving the idiots instead of straining her sanity unnecessarily. Here, with a hundred or so soldiers on ostrich horses armed with spears and bows around her, telling the captain to fuck himself might not be the best of options.

So June sighed and opted for Plan B. “Fine. Which ruins?”

The captain gave a pleased nod and shot a thumb over his shoulder. “There’s an abandoned village just a bit back. My men will guide you to it.”

“A village?”

“The villagers left a while ago. I’m sure if you pick up a scent and follow it, it’ll lead you to whatever traitors that are escorting them. With the level of coordination these rebels are showing, they’re bound to be organized by a general or something.”

Wrong. The villagers likely just upped and left for Ba Sing Se because their princess told them to. June met similar refugee groups and hadn’t found a single soldier among them. Maybe the local garrison or patrol as escorts, but nothing so organized like the captain was thinking.

Still, best to humor the dumb fuck. June followed her escorts to the village, effortlessly ignoring their pathetic stares. She had Nyla roam around the village, and snuck out Plan B from her belt pouch. June then made a show of ‘finding’ a tattered rag and offering it to her shirshu to lock in the scent. Then, with Nyla rearing and eager for the hunt, the bounty hunter returned to the captain and led them through the colonies’ well-maintained roads with all due haste.

The captain sent messengers back to the main force, of course, but June didn’t care for that. She had a glimpse of the message, typical greed meant that the captain left her involvement out of the coming chase to ensure that he got all the credit. Good for him, better for her.

They traveled for days, and June was patient enough to let the soldiers stop for long breaks. An army marches on its stomach and all that, after all, and it’s not like she was that tight on a schedule.

It took them five days before the captain figured that something was amiss. “Are we heading north?”

“Hey, the scent leads to Ba Sing Se, obviously.”

“But I thought we’d have caught up to them by now.”

June managed to shrug her shoulders nonchalantly. “Hey, you asked me to follow the scent, I’m following it.”

Suspicions raised, but not fully alerted, the captain grumbled a bit but they continued on. The cavalry group grew more nervous as each day took them closer to Ba Sing Se. Finally, finally, after two weeks of putting up with shit company and stupid invitations into tents, June heard the sweet, sweet sound of crickets. A few more days and they’d be seeing the great walls of Ba Sing Se.

She brought the whole force to a stop at the edge of a forest, and the confused captain rode up beside her. “So?”

“So what?”

“We still haven’t caught up to them? Serpent’s Pass is just past this forest!” 

“Not my problem,” she reminded him. “I’m hired to trail a scent, so here we are.”

“Here we are?” the captain echoed, and then looked around. “The trail ends here?”

June couldn’t help grinning viciously at the pompous fool. “For you it does.”

Fire shot out from the shadows of the treetops, knocking the captain off his ostrich horse even as his face was burnt away. Arrows and more bolts of fire rained onto the surprise Fire Nation cavalry, killing dozens of riders and steeds.

Even June was surprised when the earth rumbled to erupt around the survivors, walling them off from escaping. And then Plan B made themselves known, a small group of different Fire Nation soldiers (with earthbenders now apparently) stalking out of the forest, taking their time in shooting down every single last rider. Then, when the last invader was thrown to the ground by arrow or flame, the score or so hunters drew their daggers and made sure of their kills.

All except for one particular man in leathers and small metal plates. He walked over to June with a swagger of familiarity.

For her part, the bounty hunter put on an air of faux annoyance. “Took you long enough. I thought you’d be further west, near the Great Divide.”

“You’re lucky I’m here in the first place,” the man greeted. “We’re stretched thin, so it’s common sense that we pull our borders back.”

June got off Nyla as the man walked up beside the shirshu, and after exchanging hard stares for several seconds, both bounty hunter and hunter broke into warm smiles and embraced. “I’m glad you’re doing well, June.”

“Thanks for showing up, Uncle Sungho.”

They broke from the hug after a moment, with the 11th’s Scout Captain grinning eagerly. “So, you ready to work in a real job? I’ve still got that opening for you… Comes with a neat house with a view too.”

June sighed and rolled her eyes. “Uncle…” Coming to him for help was Plan B for a reason; her uncle was too traditionally-minded, who believed that military service, commerce or owning farmland was what constituted honest work. Really, June was making a good living doing what she enjoyed. She didn’t need her uncle ‘saving’ her from a rough life, just as her father didn’t need his brother constantly nagging him to apply for military duty.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s not a phase, it’s a lifestyle,” Uncle Sungho said and let the matter drop. At least he wasn’t being too overbearing, which was why he’s Plan B, and not C or (spirits forbid) D. And he was just trying to look out for her, which was a sentiment June appreciated.

Still, for the little boost in business her uncle recommended her way, June still did owe it to her uncle. “Well, with business all but ruined thanks to the new batch of warring… Do you think there’s any bounties to be taken in Ba Sing Se?”

Uncle Sungho lit up at the question. “I’m sure there’s some hidden fugitives to be found in that city. Might even pay almost as much as the standard-”

Ah crap, she got him going again. June cut him off before he tried to convince her of the wonders of a ‘full time job’ again. “We’ll wait until your men are ready to go?”

The remains of the cavalry force were buried by the earthbenders, and Scout Captain Sungho left a few sentry squads behind before he returned to Ba Sing Se to deliver his report and help set up his niece in the city. He’d fail to convince her out of the unstable life of bounty hunting, but at least he got her working in a safer environment for the time being.