Days later, Tai Lung's ship reached the southern frozen edge of the world. The land stretched out before them, a vast and endless sheet of white. Snow and ice shimmered beneath the pale sun, and in the far distance, small hills of untouched frost rose above the flat expanse. Tai Lung exhaled, his breath curling into the frigid air like smoke.
Beside him, Ty Lee hugged herself, shivering violently. "Why in the name of Agni are we here?" she asked through chattering teeth.
"I haven't been to the South Pole before," Tai Lung replied calmly.
Mai, who had joined them on the deck, pulled her cloak tighter. "There is nothing here but freezing cold. We should turn around and leave."
Tai Lung gave a faint smile. "I plan to go deeper into this place. In the north, the Moon and Ocean spirits were hidden deep within the land. I wonder if there's something similar here. And…" His eyes narrowed slightly, as though feeling something in the air. "I can sense chi flowing from deep within this land. It is weaker than the Ocean and Moon, but it is there."
Mai raised a brow. "So you're here to find more overpowered fish?"
Tai Lung chuckled, clearly amused by Mai.
"Just curiosity. And this," he gestured toward the vast icy landscape, "is also the perfect place for Azula to train."
At that, Azula, who had been silent at the side with her arms folded, turned toward him with interest. "What training?" she asked.
"You've spent the past few weeks strengthening your body and your martial arts," Tai Lung answered. "Now it's time to focus on your firebending. And what better place to push your flames than the one of the two coldest places on earth? Here and unlike the north, you won't have water tribe warriors interfering."
A slow smile curved Azula's lips. "Now that's nice to hear."
Mai and Ty Lee exchanged a glance, then looked back at the smiling princess and Tai Lung. Mai muttered, "I'll stay on the ship. This cold isn't for me."
Ty Lee gave an apologetic look. "Sorry, Tai, I don't like the cold either. I'll stay here with Mai."
"That's fine," Tai Lung replied. His tone was calm, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Azula and I will go deeper into the south. Depending on what we find, we may return quickly or we may stay for days."
With that, Tai Lung and Azula stepped off the ship, their figures moving steadily across the icy ground. Behind them, Ty Lee, Mai, and the rest of the crew retreated into the warmth of the ship, preparing to wait out whatever madness Tai Lung and Azula had decided to do.
——————
For decades, Pakku had carried the pride of being the Northern Water Tribe's greatest master. His bending was unmatched, his discipline and teaching raised the best water benders in the tribe. He had been the strict guardian of tradition, teaching only the young men of the tribe, dismissing women from the art of water bending entirely. But Katara had broken that wall. Through her, he had seen what his stubborn pride had cost him: the love of his life, Kanna.
After the siege of the north, as the city rebuilt from devastation, he found his thoughts drifting more and more southward. Kanna. She had left him long ago because of his rigid ways, and he had let her slip away. Now he knew she still lived, in the southern tribe, far from the grandeur of their tribe. He had fought battles, trained warriors, stood against the most powerful benders and yet, the only victory that mattered now was to win her heart once more.
The journey to the South Pole was long and grueling, but when at last he stood before Kanna, all the years fell away. His voice trembled as he apologized, for his blindness, for the traditions he had clung to, for the pain he had caused her. He told her he had never stopped loving her, not once, and that now he was ready to abandon every last tradition if it meant having her by his side again.
When Kanna forgave him, when she agreed to marry him, Pakku felt younger than he had in decades. There would be no children, no family to raise, but none of that mattered. What mattered was that they had time left, and they would spend it together. For once, the stern master allowed himself joy, and it was the happiest season of his life.
But as with all things in this world, it did not last.
The three young warriors he had brought from the north came running into the village one morning, their faces pale. A Fire Nation ship had been sighted, anchored near the ice. Two young soldiers had already disembarked and were marching straight toward the village.
Pakku's heart sank. He knew the Fire Nation well, knew what they did to small, defenseless villages. He would not let that happen here, not while he still drew breath. He had promised Kanna to return swiftly after dealing with the Fire nation. He was old, yes, but still one of the strongest waterbenders alive. Two random soldiers would pose no threat to him. A single ship was nothing. With the absolute confidence of one of the best masters of his time, he stepped out of the village to intercept them before they could lay eyes on his people.
The two figures grew closer. He wasted no time. With a sharp motion of his hand, the snow and ice obeyed, spiraling into a spear of glistening frost. He launched it toward them, not to kill, but as a warning, an announcement of his arrival. He would face them honorably, as a master should, not with a coward's ambush.
And then, horror.
The young man lifted his hand, and blue monstrous fire burst forth. The spear vanished into steam before it even touched him. Pakku's stomach turned cold. Blue fire. The fire monster of the north siege. The one who had stood and even won against the Ocean Spirit and the Avatar union.
His composure held, but inwardly he cursed his fate. Why here? Why now? If he had known this monster was the one coming, he would have ordered an evacuation, not marched to his own doom.
His mind, unbidden, drifted to Kanna. Her smile, her forgiveness, the warmth of her hand in his. He had only just regained her, only just tasted happiness again, and now, now it was to be taken from him.
Pakku glanced at the young three warriors by his side, all pale with fear as they also realized what this young man was. Pakku couldn't help but whisper an apology in his heart.
[Forgive me, Kanna. I will not return to you.]
Pakku straightened his back, then took his battle stance, water swirling at his command. If he was to fall, he would fall as a master of waterbending, with the honor of a warrior, defending the woman he loved.
The fire monster's face betrayed no emotion as he said, "You are afraid. You know me, don't you?"
Pakku replied, "I witnessed your battle in the North Pole."
The monster's face shifted with realization. "You are from the Northern Tribe. I didn't know there was still communication between north and south."
Pakku tensed at that. He couldn't allow the monster to reach the village, no matter the cost.
The monster raised a hand while smiling. "I am not here to attack you or the Southern Water Tribe. Let's keep our encounter peaceful."
He paused for a moment, then added with a confident smile, "We both know how it will end if we fight."
Pakku couldn't believe his ears. The monster didn't want to fight. Was this a trick? But why would the monster need to deceive him? He was far too powerful to resort to tricks and lies.
"We don't have the whole day. Turn around and leave while you still can." the monster said.
Pakku observed his two opponents carefully, then relaxed his stance. If the monster didn't want to spill blood, then it would be foolish to provoke him into doing so.
He nodded lightly and said, "Stay away from the Southern Tribe, and we won't interfere with your business."
Turning around, Pakku addressed the three young warriors. "Let's leave."
He wanted to return to the village as fast as possible. He couldn't fully rely on the monster's sense of honor. He would order the village to evacuate deeper into the south, away from the threat.
As the group of four began retreating, they all froze in their tracks as the land around them darkened slightly. Pakku looked up at the sky only to see the sun turning black. His eyes widened.
It was the Black Sun.
He knew exactly what it meant for the firebenders.