The glowing light dimmed and Haru felt his power level increase. He was now twice as powerful. Only thing is that it's not the same type of power that he had before. It was different.
"I have given you the element of fire. Be warned that this power is very dangerous and could cause great harm to the world. I trust that with your pure heart, you'll help bring peace to the world." The Lion-Turtle told him as it placed Haru on his cloud.
"That's what I'll try to do. Thank you for bestowing me with such a gift," Haru thanked.
"Now go travel the world."
Haru nodded before he bowed in respect to the ancient being. "Again, thank you for this kindness. I'll do good with this power," he said as Nimbus started moving forward.
He really wished that he could fly on his own will but for some reason, some of his abilities felt shackled. Like a mystic magic was restraining him. But why would 'he' need to be restrained?
He could feel it; whenever he tried to create a weak Ki blast or hover a few feet off the ground, he felt like something was holding him down.
A heavily drawn out sigh escaped his lips as Nimbus flew high into the sky. It was pretty early in the morning and he'd have to get himself something to eat really soon.
He began to think about the new power that was inside of him; he had the element of fire and he knew that now made him a Firebender. And if he was a Firebender then people would assume that he was Fire Nation which meant that he was associated with the people that started the war that Sokka mentioned to him.
He'd have to look into that and get the details behind the point of the war. He briefly wondered how Sokka and Katara would react to that before returning his thoughts to the power within him.
He was about to try and bring out the fire when he saw something with his peripheral vision. He turned his head to the attraction.
It was some sort of social gathering. He looked closely at the town below and saw that it was actually a circus.
I've never been to a circus before, he thought as he ordered Nimbus to fly down for a landing.
He jumped off the cloud and signaled for it to fly off and do whatever it is the cloud did in its free time.
He began to walk into the town and saw that everyone there was wearing some shade of red. He looked down at his clothes; they were Water Tribe. He put two and two together and figured that Fire Nation people wore red.
If the Fire Nation is warring with the other nations, then I would probably be attacked, he summed up.
"Hey you!" Someone shouted at him. He turned to see three men with angered expressions walking towards him.
He first felt alarmed but then he relaxed; though he was still ready to defend himself.
"Why are you wearing Water Tribe clothes?" one of the men who was short and stocky with a long beard questioned.
"I, uh…" Haru hesitated. He wasn't sure what to tell them.
"Out with it!" The middle man who was tall and lanky with a monopoly mustache barked.
"Wait, I think I know the reason why," the third man that was average height with a full beard goatee combo.
"You do?" Haru and the other two questioned in unison. The former getting ready to fight.
"I can feel it in my gut," he said while stepping closer to Haru. They were a good two feet apart now.
Haru gulped inaudibly as sweat began to form at the base of his neck.
"This boy—no! This man here was in the army. I've heard of his story; his platoon was near the Northern Water Tribe on a scouting mission when they were ambushed by Water Tribe warriors. They put up a good fight but were ultimately defeated and slaughtered by them dirty cheaters. This man here," he pointed to Haru."He singlehandedly avenged his comrades. It was cold up north so he had to sustain his warmth with the clothes of the dead Water Tribe warriors. He then carried out the mission alone with only the captain of the ship as witness to his awesome power and determination. This man is a true hero," the man bowed at the waist to Haru.
"Are you sure?" his buddies questioned.
"I'm telling you guys, I know it's him. I can feel it in my gut; and my gut has never led me wrong," he said.
Haru was left speechless. He couldn't believe this guy. Was he serious? Or is this some sort of elaborate scheme of some sort?
"Here, man, take my money," the first man gave Haru three golden coins and two silver coins.
"Yeah, and go buy yourself some real clothes at Junkos," the second man said while giving Haru his money too. Which consisted of three copper coins.
"You deserve it," the third man said while giving Haru four copper coins, five gold coins, and two silver coins.
Haru nodded numbly; unable to believe his random luck. The second man pointed him in the direction of Junkos.
He walked into the market and picked out one outfit; burgundy pants that fit much like his old Gi's did, a sleeveless burgundy Gi shirt over a thin long sleeved black shirt, black shoes, and a black sash to keep his pants up.
He walked over to pay for the clothes. He didn't know what the currency was worth. Gold. Silver. Copper.
"That'll be two silver pieces and a copper piece," the man said.
"Ok, I have that," Haru said as he handed over the exact amount.
"Thank you, I won't ask why you have Water Tribe clothes on but… I'll give you this headband. It's free," the man said.
"Thanks," Haru grinned as he took the offered clothing attire. It was black with the Fire Nation insignia in the middle.
"The changing room is over there." The man pointed to a door off to the side.
Later, Haru found himself walking in a throng of people towards the circus that was in town. He just followed people towards the entrance and paid his fee to enter. Which was one silver piece.
He found his way to the main attraction; a Firebending demonstration by three men.
Haru watched, fascinated by the display of Firebending.
Several minutes passed and the men finished their performance. Then another man went to the stage to start his performance.
He did a bunch of fancy tricks and maneuvers. He soon added two more flames and did a circling motion with each. He finished by making them collide with each other, causing them to detonate in a magnificent firework display.
Haru didn't expect birds to have flown out of the fire. Magicians, jugglers, benders. This is pretty fun, he thought as the performer brought a volunteer up to the stage.
His stomach rumbled. Man, I'm hungry, he thought as he looked around for something to eat.
"Fire flakes, get 'em hot!" a person standing at a concession stand shouted.
Haru walked over." I'll have some, sir," he said.
The man handed Haru a pouch filled with fire flakes. The Half-Saiyan grabbed some and ate them. They were hot but he wasn't affected by the heat. He savored the taste in his mouth as he turned back to the performance in time to see the performer create a dragon out of the fire.
Whoa, so cool, he thought in awe.
It was an awesome festival to say the least. Afterwards, people started going home and he was left wandering the near empty streets. It was about mid day and it was odd to not see many people out and about.
He walked out of the small town and far into the forest. He didn't want anyone to see him traveling away on Nimbus.
He was completely unaware of the eyes that were locked on him as he thought about Firebending.
I'm sure I can do the same thing that those guys just did, he thought. Remembering the performers as he came across a wide open area.
"Just take practice," he mumbled as he assumed a stance he saw from earlier.
He pivoted his weight around and swung his fist towards the sky in one swift motion, hoping to create some fire. However, all that came out was a small puff of smoke.
He dropped the stance and stared blankly at his fist. He tried again with the other hand. Earning the same result.
Maybe that move is too advanced, he surmised as he tried to do one that seemed more simple.
He swung his foot at a clockwise angle and stopped at a full one-hundred and eight degrees as he thrusted his hand forward in front of him.
A small burst of blue fire erupted from his outstretched hand and he grinned as he pumped his fist. "Yes, I did it!" He cheered." But why was it blue?" he questioned.
Blue fire? An elderly man in the shadows questioned. He had only witnessed one person create blue fire and that was the Fire Nation Princess herself. That was a while ago, but he was sure no other person could create blue fire except her. This fool will burn down the entire forest, he thought as he stepped out from behind a bush.
"What's burning?" Haru questioned aloud as he sniffed the air.
He looked back towards the area where he shot his first, mediocre, fire blast and saw a tree on fire. His eyes widened in horror as he ran over to it.
He didn't know what to do; he began to panic but that only somehow only succeeded in making the fire larger.
"Not good," he said as he started kicking dirt at the fire.
To his relief, it started decreasing in size."Fire is a dangerous element," someone startled him from behind." A Firebender shouldn't practice it alone unless he wishes to burn down an entire forest." He turned around to face an old man with white hair and a thin white mustache.
"W-who are you?" He stuttered slightly. "Where'd you come from?" he questioned. He didn't even sense the man approach him. Probably because he was so focused on trying to Firebend.
"I am but just an old Firebending master," the man told Haru, not sure if Haru was a Fire Nation patriot. "Who are you?"
"I'm Son Haru. Not that much of a Firebender," he sighed. "But I'll get the hang of it eventually," he said.
The old master looked Haru over. "You're not from around here, are you?" He asked.
"How'd you know?" Haru asked, genuinely curious.
"By the way you carried yourself into this forest. Where are you from; where is your family?" the man questioned.
"I…" Haru stopped, unsure whether or not he could trust the man. He scrutinized his appearance; the man wore several, dirty, tattered robes. He had two diagonal scars over his right cheek. He looked like a wise old man. I guess I can trust him.
"… It's a pretty long story," Haru said.
"Let's hear it," the man replied, showing that he had all the time in the world.
"Well… it sounds a bit far-fetched but I swear that it's completely true. It all started…" Haru started his story.
When he finished his story, he looked back to the man.
The man had a neutral face as he stared Haru down. "I believe you," he said. But not because Haru was convincing. But because all high ranking members of the Fire Nation army were told of a prophecy; a prophecy of a boy that will be brought to their world at his fourteenth birthday. That he'd be granted the art of Firebending and would either cause world peace or untold damage.
Jeong Jeong did not want the latter to happen so he made a decision.
Haru smiled as the man turned from him. "Come with me. I shall teach you to become a master Firebender," he told him.
"You mean, you're gonna train me?" the half-Saiyan questioned.
"That's what I said. Now come before I change my mind." the man snapped.
"Ok," Haru obliged and started following the man. They walked through the forest until they came across a dirt path.
Walking down it, the man said, "Jeong Jeong." At Haru's confused expression, he continued. "My name is Jeong Jeong." He said.
"So do I call you Master Jeong Jeong then?" Haru questioned.
"Yes," Jeong Jeong answered.
Haru kept quiet as they continued down the path. He wasn't sure what the training would be like but he was eager to start it.
They reached the area Haru assumed was the camp and Jeong Jeong walked to his. Before entering, he turned back to Haru and said," Find somewhere to rest, we'll start tomorrow."
Haru nodded before going off to do just that.
And like it was said, Jeong Jeong and Haru started the training; which was really just breathing and concentrating exercises. But he didn't complain.
However, he did want to go back to the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka and Katara were. But other than that, the training was going great.
A few days passed and he decided that after the day's training, he'd meditate instead of going straight to sleep.
He sat in the hut that was prepared for him and started to meditate. He cleared his mind of all thoughts.
He found himself sitting in a dark void with no light in it. He turned his head to his left and saw a very faint golden glow off in the far distance.
He started jogging towards it; he arrived quickly and nearly gasped at the sight. It was him in his Super Saiyan Two form trapped inside some sort of crystal ball.
He looked around for the cause of this bizarre container. He placed his hand on the ball and was immediately zapped by lightning.
"Ow!" He exclaimed as he was forced out of his meditation. "Man, what was that?" he whispered.
What was it? Was that ball his full restrained power? That's what it seemed to be; that was the most logical answer.
He'd have to figure out how to release it if he'd want to use it again. And he really wanted to use it again.