*The Fire Lord's Palace. The Second Prince Ozai's Chambers.*
The second prince's quarters were lavish, a clear indication of his high status. Most of the interior was adorned in deep burgundy hues, featuring various symbols of the Fire Nation. At that moment, the room's owner was intently writing on a finely crafted sheet of paper. His calligraphy skills were impressive—the brush in his hand seemed like an extension of his body, dancing across the page. Just then, a gust of wind blew open one of the windows, nearly extinguishing the only source of light in the room—a candle on the table.
"Was anyone watching?" Ozai asked, seemingly into the void.
A floorboard creaked faintly as a dark figure knelt, their black robes blending seamlessly with the shadows.
"No surveillance detected," the man replied in a slightly raspy voice.
"I wasn't worried," the prince nodded. "What have you learned about the matter?" A hint of urgency crept into his usually indifferent tone, and his fingers tightened slightly around the elegant brush.
"The unknown spirit influences our minds directly—I'd say it targets the chi," the figure began. "Visible changes occur in the second week after contact with the Fire Sages' firebending. By the third week, the person becomes more cynical and aggressive without realizing it. Their reasoning blurs, not to the point of social incapacity, but their thoughts center solely on achieving their desires."
"We already knew that," the prince said irritably, shrugging. "Tell me something new," he added sternly, causing the candle flame to flicker upward momentarily.
"As you command," the figure remained unmoved by the prince's display of emotion. "As you suspected, it can be resisted. It requires unshakable willpower and a strong mind to question every thought. The tea from the herbalist in Taku also helps—its periodic use clears the mind. There's a theory that the Fire Sages are beyond saving. They willingly surrendered to the spirit, which allows them to wield that terrifying firebending."
"Is that all?" Ozai raised an eyebrow. Seeing the figure's slight nod, he sighed wearily, massaging his temples. "Ten years of secret research and dozens of loyal officers' lives wasted, with almost nothing to show for it."
"I trust you've taken care of the 'fallen' officers' families? They knew what they were risking by volunteering as test subjects. They earned my respect, Ozai," he said, his piercing golden gaze fixed on his servant.
"Everything's been handled. The officers are listed as killed in skirmishes with Earth Kingdom forces. Their families have been paid enough to last generations."
"Excellent," the prince stood and began pacing. "My foolish father only saw enemies beyond our islands. He never noticed the threat lurking in the shadows, ready to unleash that insolent spirit into *my* world! My dim-witted brother, good only for war. Those aristocratic sheep, always ready to bite off more than their share of the royal table. Father's been on the throne too long—he doesn't see the problems piling up. It's time I took control," he clenched his fists.
"Once my 'dear and beloved' father dies, my coronation will follow. They'll never understand if I don't follow tradition, and my faction isn't strong enough to challenge centuries of custom." The prince spoke aloud, seemingly unaware of the motionless figure.
"Here's what we'll do," he stopped by the window. "Send men to Taku. Let them do whatever it takes to help the herbalist improve the tea. Prepare a squad of expendables to fight alongside my heir, Prince Azula's 'heroically fallen' son—that'll break her spirit. Plant the poison book with Ursa. She has too much influence over Zuko, and her presence is no longer needed. After the coronation, awaken our dormant agents among the nobility. It's time to clean house. Report back in two days."
"As you command," the figure replied, vanishing as silently as it had appeared.
"Thanks to Grandfather Sozin for this tradition—a loyal servant for each heir, as if he knew what was coming," the future Fire Lord thought. "We'll see who outmaneuvers whom. Bending power must always serve the ruler—no exceptions!"
*Shu Jing City. Master Piandao's Estate.*
Shu Jing had always been an unremarkable Fire Nation town, one of dozens scattered across the archipelago. Even the arrival of the famous swordsman and blacksmith Piandao hadn't changed that. His estate, rumor had it, wasn't known for hospitality. Yet, the lucky few who'd visited raved about his servant's exquisite cooking, the intricate paintings adorning the estate, and the garden that soothed troubled hearts.
The estate's owner never paid attention to the rumors swirling around him. He simply focused on his beloved pursuits, which warmed his aging heart.
"What's wrong, my old friend? I thought you'd be tending the garden," Piandao looked surprised. Even he hesitated to disturb his friend during work, and seeing him abandon his tasks early was rare—he'd witnessed it only twice in their long friendship.
"Good news!" the man waved a letter.
"Did the vegetable seller finally return your feelings?" Piandao teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Very funny," the man, Fat, snorted, his ears betraying a blush. "I found this among the bamboo. It bears the White Lotus seal!" He handed the letter to the master, who had risen from his seat.
As Fat brewed fresh tea, one of the White Lotus's members delved into the letter.
"The news *is* good," Piandao said, accepting a new cup of fragrant tea. "Our northern friend writes that the unimaginable has happened—Fire Nation people are already in the capital," he concluded dramatically, awaiting a reaction…
*Tea splattered.* Fat's composure shattered as the contents of his cup momentarily escaped his lips.
"Jing-Jonga brought his son Arnuk's tribe to the capital as new Water Tribe residents," Piandao continued, unfazed, still savoring the memory of his friend's tea-splattering moment.
"Enough jokes today!" Fat pleaded, shooting him a disapproving look. "Let an old man enjoy his tea."
"Alright, alright, I'm done joking," Piandao turned serious. "I hope this new place soothes the wounded heart of a warrior who's given his life to our people," he saluted with his teacup, recalling the times they'd fought back-to-back.
"Look at the Water Tribe's leader—so resourceful, bringing everything into the house," Piandao chuckled warmly. "Hand me compound number thirteen. There's a hidden message here," he requested.
The Order had a complex encryption system known only to a few members. Even if others knew it, they'd struggle, as it relied on knowledge of special ink recipes. When applied to paper, these inks revealed previously invisible words.
"You've lost, my old friend," the estate's owner declared after deciphering the message. "Yue and Roku are the same person!"
"By the spirits, we've lost!" Fat waved dismissively. "If this is true—and our specialists are ninety-nine percent reliable—a new Avatar has emerged!"
"It's possible," Piandao remained calm. "But there are too many anomalies surrounding them. We shouldn't jump to conclusions. When a new Avatar is born, an energy surge appears in all four bending temples—something that hasn't happened in years. We'll keep watching and helping as we can. Whether they're the Avatar or not, we can't afford to lose them, not with the events unfolding," his expression darkened.
"Is the estate still being watched?" Fat asked nervously. As a seasoned warrior who'd trained under a renowned swordsmaster, he'd notice obvious surveillance, but their observers displayed phenomenal stealth. In this, he relied solely on Piandao.
"Persistent bunch—they've been watching us for years," Piandao shook his head. No one liked being under 24/7 surveillance, especially for years.
"We're unlucky to have a ruler who doesn't see the threat right under his nose. He'll die thinking everything's fine," Piandao muttered. "The Fire Sages are growing stronger. I hope Ozai can at least delay them. We still lack masters who could oppose them."
"Hmm, next in line is the Dragon of the West, Iroh," Fat hesitated. "He has more achievements, and I've heard Azulon favors him…"
"I've crossed paths with the second prince a few times, and it's enough to know he'll climb over strangers and family alike to reach the top. That's neither good nor bad—such leaders are needed, especially in the harsh future ahead when he faces opposition."
"Double the number of people investigating this spirit. We need every scrap of information. Get your writing tools, friend. We've been idle too long."
*The Spirit World. The Tree of Time.*
The oldest spirits remember the Tree standing here since the first spirits emerged. Millennia ago, peaceful spirits meditated beneath it to attain enlightenment and master their inner chi. But after Vaatu was sealed within the Tree, the area became perilous for miles due to the dark energy it emitted.
In this once-bustling place, only the thunderous crashes of one of the two strongest spirits against a barrier—created by a human-spirit alliance—could be heard.
"My time will come soon," Vaatu muttered, though no spirit dared come close. "I can feel you weakening," he hissed in satisfaction, sensing the growing number of dark spirits and the barrier's increasing permeability to his residual energy.
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