"We've heard and studied stories about our ancestors dealing with volcanoes for a long time, but I never thought I'd have to face one myself," said Zuko, looking down into the crater of Mount Makapu and watching the lava bubble inside.
Azula had diverted the smoke that had served as a warning of the impending eruption, giving them good visibility in this area and preventing the harmful gases within it from harming them.
One thing worth noting, however, was the incredible heat at the site. No wonder, they were at the mouth of an active volcano that was clearly on the verge of a major eruption, and the high temperatures were already being felt.
This volcano had been used to dominate the village that shared its name and to intimidate Shisui's will, so it was no coincidence that it was being used again. Instead of achieving that, however, it sparked one of humanity's most primal desires in the Sage: to dominate nature.
"Fortunately, the study of heat-deflection techniques has been made a national priority. It seems Great-Grandfather Sozin was truly afraid of encountering another volcano in his lifetime," said Azula. She arrogantly spat at the volcano and heard her saliva sizzle briefly as it fell into the lava.
"This place is awful," complained Shisui. Although he was used to the temperature in the Fire Nation capital, which was built in the caldera of a dormant volcano, he felt like he was being cooked alive here.
No matter how much he'd gotten used to the heat, he couldn't change the fact that he was much less resistant to it than normal people or Firebenders were. Luckily, he had his own methods for staying cool, but he couldn't use them now. After all, he needed all his attention for the task at hand with his two companions.
"Let's get this over with quickly so you won't feel uncomfortable anymore." Azula touched her fiancé's arm, making him smile. They had already spent a long time admiring nature, and it was time to move on.
"Divert the hot air toward the sky. It would be good if we could trigger a storm. The air is dry, but I sense underground water sources that will help us," Shisui said, prompting the siblings to help.
The technique for diverting heat was no longer tedious or inefficient; although it hadn't been tested against a volcano, its performance was nothing like it had been 100 years ago.
Furthermore, Zuko and Azula were among the world's greatest firebenders. They no longer relied on specific stances to execute their techniques. Soon, the air around the volcano began to warp and shimmer due to the intense heat.
The hot air gradually pushed upward; rather, the heat within it was redirected toward the clouds in the sky. Noticing this, Shisui reflected that this Firebending technique drew heavily on Airbending.
'Once again, proof that the separation of the elements is merely an illusion,' he reflected, extracting as much water as possible from the surrounding air and underground reserves.
Though it may seem implausible, water channels can indeed be found in volcanoes. Generally, volcanic areas have hot springs, a resource the Sage also took advantage of without hesitation.
Furthermore, Shisui himself carried water droplets containing a large reserve of water. This time, he wasn't going to hold back, since he could replenish them by going to the nearby beach.
Gradually, a vast amount of water gathered behind Shisui as if a floating lake were rising in the air. For another waterbender, dealing with such a massive volume of water would be daunting, but Shisui's energy was abundant and effective, and he was exceptionally talented.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Azula's diversion of the heat was going well; the volcano had not yet erupted, which made the task easier. Furthermore, because of their actions, the clouds in the sky were growing larger and darker.
A bolt of lightning split the sky and reverberated throughout the area, but it hadn't started raining yet. Shisui looked up and saw that things were falling into place. He decided to take the next step.
"Zuko, Azula, that's enough. It won't solve the eruption of this volcano. We have to deal with the root of the problem. It's a shame Toph and Petra didn't come with us. It would be simpler," Shisui remarked. There was barely contained excitement in his tone, but no remorse.
"So you plan to destroy the structure of this volcano?" Zuko asked, interested in Shisui's plan. He knew the Sage's next words would astonish him. And he wasn't disappointed.
"The eruption is inevitable, but your actions have lessened its intensity. Earthbenders can manipulate lava. Why can't you?" After all, you have a lot in common.
Just as earthbenders and waterbenders can manipulate mud, there must be a commonality in lava that allows you, as firebenders, to manipulate it," Shisui remarked. This caused both Zuko, who had been expecting something like this, and Azula, who knew him very well, to look at him strangely.
"You really want to 'tame' the wild, don't you? Isn't it enough that you've 'tamed' me?" Azula asked provocatively and deliberately seductively. The Waterbender rolled his eyes.
"Anyone who thinks they can 'tame' you is in for a not-so-pleasant surprise. The fact that I had you under me last night doesn't mean anything. You're still just as wild," Shisui replied brazenly and without a hint of shame. This caused Zuko, already embarrassed by his sister's opening words, to gaze at the volcano's crater.
'Indeed, lava is made of lava. Why do these topics always end up being about sex? But I don't feel so tense anymore,' thought Zuko as he gently shrugged his shoulders, feeling much lighter than he had a moment ago.
"Getting back to the matter at hand, we can't just leave a bomb buried here like this. We need to ensure this volcano has a controlled eruption and loses the ability to erupt again. Or, at least, thousands of years must pass before it erupts again," Shisui began, explaining his plan in greater detail.
The process would be tedious and lengthy, but if they succeeded, they would help this village and test the same approach on other volcanoes in high-risk areas. Of course, they weren't going to apply this process to every existing volcano because they were necessary for the ecosystem.
Furthermore, volcanoes are a major source of various resources, from agriculture to mining. They are a great source of knowledge and energy. Perhaps in the future, a geothermal power plant will be built here, and their actions will have helped make that possible.
However, what Shisui thought about most was that this was an excellent way to demonstrate humans' ability to transform the environment. Today, that would mean conquering a volcano. What if, in the future, they could conquer other cataclysms, such as storms or earthquakes?
This would undoubtedly require the help of many people, both benders and non-benders. Shisui never intended to take on all the responsibility for human civilization and progress himself. It was no coincidence that he shared so much knowledge freely and openly.
Shortly thereafter, a hawk made of blue fire soared into the sky. Its color varied in two shades, which helped define its features, demonstrating Azula's progress in combining the two types of flames.
At the same time, a massive sun made of golden flames rose, illuminating the stormy sky caused by Zuko and Azula's actions.
In fact, the clouds were grabbed by an invisible force and pulled downward: Shisui. He seized the opportunity without hesitation, taking advantage of the fact that the sky was literally giving him a gift.
He dispelled all the clouds with the water behind him, shaping it into a massive, intricate dragon reminiscent of Agni. However, its scales were engraved with the yin-yang symbol, perhaps to prevent future complaints from Tui and La.
The three elemental creations floated in the sky, leaving an indelible impression on the minds of those who witnessed the event. While people marveled at the sight, the events unfolding behind the scenes proceeded quite smoothly.
...
"So, basically, you squeezed the volcano like a pimple?" Ty Lee asked. She was wearing a two-piece bikini and partially submerged in the hot springs.
The pool was the result of a joint effort by Petra and Shisui, who decided the best way to pass the time while resting in Makapu Village was to soak in the hot springs.
"Did you think I was going to describe something super complicated? No! Besides, our work just kept the volcano from erupting for thousands of years. By then, civilization should have advanced enough to find a much better solution," said Shisui. He was wearing only swim trunks, like the other three men present.
Bathing in separate areas by gender? It wasn't necessary! Most of those present knew each other quite well, and those who didn't got along just fine. Except for Toph, everyone else was paired with someone in the group, which made the young Earthbender feel envious.
"But what a spectacle they put on there! Was such a display of power really necessary? I don't see the point, though I'm glad I got to see it. If I'd only heard descriptions, it would have been terrible," said Toph. She was dressed in a modest one-piece swimsuit and clung to the edge of the hot spring pool. She wasn't always using her special technique and was more accustomed to being completely blind.
She didn't want to see how the others were showing off their partners in front of her. The idea of having a partner didn't cross her mind. She didn't seem to care much about it. If she were to ever have a relationship, it would probably be fleeting.
"It was a demonstration, wasn't it?" asked Sokka as he held Suki in his arms. She, too, wore a one-piece swimsuit, though it was much more revealing than Toph's. After all, she was an adult, not a teenager like the other woman. Mai, Petra, and Katara were wearing similar outfits.
"It's obvious. I have no doubt there are spies from Ba Sing Se in that village. Even without them, the nearby city and other villages surely saw what you did from a distance. It's a warning; you've arrived," the Kyoshi warrior commented, causing Ty Lee to lift her head. She had been playing with an egg, trying to cook it.
"I'd love to see the look on those moles' faces! No offense, Toph, but I hated those Earthbenders' underhanded tactics during the war." Ty Lee patted her chest in a mocking gesture. However, her natural physique made it clear that there were no 'waves' to be seen when she did so.
"Don't worry. I'm sure some creature will come out to test us on our journey. Aren't we going to the Si Wong Desert, where they say there's a library? We'll probably see an attempt at Misty Palms Oasis. No doubt they'll urge the desert tribes to test us." Azula, wearing a simple two-piece bikini, rested her head on Shisui's chest. Her fiancé caressed her slightly swollen belly as if soothing the little life growing inside her.
"Let's not think about that. Let's talk about something else, like...where is Raava?" Shisui asked, looking at Aang and Katara. Upon hearing the question, Katara blushed deeply and hid her face in her partner's chest.
"Um... according to her, there wasn't a bikini that fit her..." Aang mumbled in response, causing the conversation by the pool to suddenly fall silent. Then, a gleam appeared in all their eyes.
They had to see Raava in a bikini!
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AN: Obviously, the classic scene is the ending where everyone is relaxing in the hot springs. What did you expect?
Yeah, I was really bored by the end of the episode because the power kept cutting out. Plus, I have an early class. But whatever. I got what I wanted: a "cool" scene that serves as a warning, a volcano scene, and a classic hot spring scene. That's it. Did you think I was going to explain how to calm down a volcano? HAHA!