ZAHIRA'S POV
"You have questions. Ask." Roku said plainly. I looked at Aang as he did the same, our wide eyes meeting each others. I motioned for him to ask the first question as he did the same.
"First born first." I said, mock bowing. He glared at me, faking a bow as well although his was much nicer.
""Ladies first." he countered. I pondered this, putting a finger tip to my lip. A thought popped into my head as I sent him an evil smile.
"Avatar who hasn't learned water bending first." Aang shot me a hateful look as I did a little dance of victory.
"If someone doesn't ask a question, I will tell my part and leave." Roku piped up, reminding me he was still here. I stopped dancing, flushed cheeks as I mumbled a quick apology.
"Sorry. Aang, go." I said sheepishly, sending a hurried look to my dimwitted brother. He jumped, looking at Roku. He bowed respectfully before him, one hand in a fist against the open palm of the other hand. I quickly mimicked him, bowing a bit further just to make it look better and not rushed, although it was.
"Why have you brought us here?" he asked, making me stifle a sigh. Out of all the questions, you ask the one that he is going to explain eventually. Roku cleared his throat as he waved his hand, an earth throne-like seat erupting from the ground as he sat down. That was cool. I looked around, eager to do the same thing. I found a spot of water, bending a bunch over to me and creating an icy throne like Roku's. I sat down eagerly and bit back a cry. Ice thrones are not comfortable. Aang sent me a murderous look as I shifted in the seat, trying to arm my legs. I need to sit for as long as possible just to make Aang squirm. I enjoyed teasing my big brother.
"Children. I brought you here for a simple reason. To warn you about the dangers of the Spirit World." Roku said, giving me a scolding look as he bent my chair away, making me fall back. My rear end hit the ground before my head did, both cause a spike of pain to surge through me. I groaned as I stood up, giving both Roku and Aang a finger. Roku for causing that to happen, and Aang for giggling like a madman.
"What dangers could their possibly be in this world? Isn't this where all the good little spirits are?" I asked, rubbing my backside to dull the pain. Aang looked at me rudely, probably thinking I shouldn't talk to him like that. Well if he was me in another life, then I could talk to myself in anyway I wanted.
"Valid question Zahira. It is not what is in here that you should be worried. It is what happens while your body is in the actual world in Avatar state, that you should be worried." I paled. What did he mean? Could something happen to us while we were in our state? Shouldn't that mean we were invincible? We should be untouchable at that point.
"I don't understand. What could possibly happen in the real world that would interfere with us here? What could be so bad that you would have to warn us?" Aang asked, clearly puzzled. I nodded in agreement, sharing my own concerns. At this, Roku stood up from his seat, standing at his incredible height, towering over the both of us. He looked down, meeting both our eyes with a sudden seriousness in his stare.
"While in the Avatar state, you are at your most powerful because you have all your past lives to guide you. But it also your most vulnerable point. Because if you are killed while in that condition, our lineage will cease to exist." I blanched even further. The Avatars would cease to if killed at our most powerful. It didn't make sense. Why would that even be a possibility in this world.
"That doesn't make sense. We are the peace bringers. Why should we be subjected to being killed so easily and bringing about the destruction of many?" I questioned. Roku's gaze softened on me, his hand reaching out to stroke my cheek as he pushed a lock of hair away. I stood, shocked at the gesture.
"All things come to an end. Even the Avatars may fall. Zahira, I have seen what is to come for you. Know you must stay strong and allow the moon to guide you." he said lowly. I blinked in confusion. Stay strong? I was always strong, even in my moments when I didn't want to go on. I made it my job to keep going through the storm. Roku leaned down toward my ear, his mouth very close. "And take care of my great grandson."
I yanked back, putting space between me and Roku, who straightened out casually as if nothing happened. Aang was frozen in spot, his eyes staring at something far away. My hair was raised on the back of my neck as I glared at Roku. Kyoshi had told me that Roku was an ancestor of Zuko. Could he know of my harbored feelings for the enemy? No, it was impossible. I barely knew if I had feelings for the man. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I look at Roku through hooded lids.
"Can I leave now?" I asked plainly, refusing to allow him to see me flustered. I glanced at Aang and was surprised to see he had vanished. I suppose he already came back to his body. A thought popped into my head as my eyes shot open. "Wait! Zuko is still alive?" I shouted as my spirit was whisked back to my body. My eyes shot open as I sat up quickly, bolting up from the curled position I had been in.
"Zuko. You are alive." I whispered to myself. Hope had filled me, much to my dislike. He was an enemy and a threat to me and my brother. Whatever Kyoshi said may be true, but that doesn't I have to like it or accept it. If I had to fight it, I would.
I pushed myself off the ground, racing towards the storage room where I knew the bunches of staffs would be. I skidded to a halt as I heard yelling coming from across the courtyard. I narrowed my eyes as I glanced around, my hands open in case I needed to bend the air. A flying lemur raced through the air in front of me, causing me to stumble back in surprise. Which was a good thing because not a second later, both Aang and Sokka were behind it, screeching something about meat and a pet. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips as I kept running forward. It took awhile as I kept freezing, thinking I was hearing things around corners and pillars. I was very anxious to be here after what happened to my home.
By the time I reached the storage area, I was a bundle of nerves. I stopped in front of the door, raising my hand and sliding it across the wooden frame. This had been somewhere I had often hid from Aang in. Taking a deep breath again, I dropped my hand to the handle and opened it, a blast of air and dust puffing out as the ancient door was opened.
"Ugh. Seriously need some spring cleaning." I groaned, coughing out the dust in my lungs. There was so much in here I was sure I had just created dust bending. I chuckled aloud at that thought. "Ha. Dust bending."
I sifted through the mess, searching for the staff that was supposed to be in here. My patience was wearing thin as the search continued in vain. I growled in frustration, grabbing a useless log and throwing it across the room. It clattered against the wall and I heard something hit the floor. I glanced over and what do you know. A staff. Rolling my eyes, I stalk over and see it is not just a regular staff but a staff made from the feathers of Lazuro. My mind flash back to that day where Posata had asked if he could experiment with Lazuro's feathers for a staff. I had been seven at the time and very protective of my dragon, as I had been with all my things. I had agreed so long as it hadn't hurt him and that if he succeeded, that I be the first to get the staff. Posata had agreed and sheared off the feathers of his tail.
"I guess he did it." I said lowly, feeling a build up of tears in my eyes. I raised a hand and scrubbed fiercely, refusing to allow them to slip out. Lowering my hand, my gaze fell on a piece of parchment that was lying where the staff was. I bent to pick it up, opening it as I sank to the floor and rested it on the wall. It read:
Dear Zahira,
Sorry we didn't get the staff to you quick enough. We were trying to specialize it to match your personality and your bending style. We hope you like it. We planned to give it you for your sixteenth birthday, when you were properly deemed as an Avatar. Don't let anyone know I snuck it to you. Enjoy.
Signed,
Posata.
This time, when the tears came, I didn't hold them back. I looked at the staff, seeing what he meant about adding my likeness into it. Instead of the usual wood used to create the staffs of the Air Nation, this one ws made of more durable and solid wood, not easily bendable nor breakable. (I had broken plenty of staffs as an air nomad when I got into fights.) I slowly pried it open to see my name engraved into the wood in the center in fine letters. The feathers for the wings were sewn together to show the perfect shades of Lazuro's feathers, darkest to lightest going up. It reminded me how I had used the shadows to my advantage, sneaking up on my enemies much like a predator would on his prey. I turned it over and saw something that made my heart stop. Engraved on the other side was the nickname everyone used to call me.
The Shadow Queen.