The aircraft carrying the group stopped in a small town still under Fire Nation control, which was a sign of just how far the armies had penetrated the Earth Kingdom continent.
These kinds of stops were necessary to restock various supplies, and spending so much time in the air wasn't as comfortable as it seemed, since traveling by air was more difficult than traveling by land or sea.
At that moment, a picnic was taking place on the outskirts of the town. Appa was lying on the grass, eating a large pile of specially prepared straw. Judging by the look of pure enjoyment on his face, it must have been delicious.
"Look, I get that these cabbages are fresh and tasty, but why is that guy everywhere we go? I think I even saw him in the village near the volcano!" exclaimed Ty Lee, holding a cabbage and staring at it intently as if trying to uncover its secrets.
"Life is full of mysteries. I know you guys like science and exploration, but some questions will never be answered. That's what makes the world interesting, don't you think?" asked Sokka as he tried to spread strawberry jam on a slice of bread. His movements were clumsy, though, since he wasn't used to it.
On top of that, Momo was running around, ignoring the food on the tablecloth and eyeing what the others were holding. It snatched a slice of bread from Sokka before running off.
"But it's such an interesting topic, don't you think? I saw it at the South Pole! On Kyoshi Island! I saw it at the North Pole! Where have you guys seen it?" Aang asked, stopping Momo from stealing the pastry he was holding. Once it was safely in his mouth, he looked at the others, curious to know where they'd seen it.
"Well, aside from Kyoshi Island, I've seen it on nearby islands and in Earth Kingdom villages. He also showed up when I was guiding and caring for refugees. He sold his cabbages at low prices and always gave us the best ones from his collection," said Suki. She had only just realized how strange the man was, though she had to admit he was very kind.
Not just anyone would lower their prices for refugees during wartime. Many merchants took advantage of the opportunity to squeeze as much as possible out of people in desperate times by selling poor-quality goods at inflated prices and in short supply.
In that regard, the cabbage vendor was a model of excellence. She had never seen any rotten cabbages at his stand. They all seemed to be of the same high quality, superior to those of other vendors. Not to mention, they tasted absolutely delicious!
"Damn it! Now that I think about it, he was always there, in every place I've been. He's always been there!" Petra shouted, causing Ty Lee to nod rapidly. It seemed as if someone understood exactly how she felt.
"Let's see. I've seen him walking around the capital, at school, at the army training camp, and on the front lines." Shisui began counting on his fingers. Soon, his hands weren't enough, so he moved on to his toes. But they weren't enough either.
"Um, I think you're scaring me..." Katara murmured. She wasn't as excited as the others. Instead, she found it a little unsettling. How fast must a person travel to be in so many places in such a short time?
"I'm sorry. I can't say I've seen him many times. I couldn't before either, you know." Toph ran her hand across her face. Although she had a technique that allowed her to see and had encountered that supposed vendor in some locations, she could still tell her own version of the story.
As you know, I perceive the world through the vibrations of the ground. Remembering each person's unique 'vibration' is something I learned over time. That way, along with other details, I could tell who was who.
My parents wouldn't let me leave the house, but I'd sneak out anyway. I can say that I've encountered that man's 'vibration' in the city where I lived, in the arena where I fought, and even in the village near the Badgermoles' nest where I was raised as a child.
The little ones liked to steal his cabbages. They really are delicious," Toph added, further deepening the mystery of that figure and sparking more interest in his affairs.
"Animals really love those cabbages. I have a bounty hunter friend, and her pet enjoys the produce he sells. Also, when I trained with the Yuyan Archers, I ran into him there, too," Mai added, joining the conversation and drawing particular attention from Zuko with her words.
"But that camp is hidden by those guys! Did he really manage to reach them? I can't say much, but I also found him in the village of the group that practices combustion. I wonder how he convinced those silent guys and the archers." Zuko's words were confusing to those unfamiliar with the Fire Nation groups, but Suki, a volunteer rescuer in the war, was amazed.
The Yuyan Archers, also known as the "Silent Ones," were famous on the battlefield! The first group behaved more like trained assassins who chose bows over knives. The second group was the monastic version of Firebenders with strange abilities that gave them unmatched destructive power.
"Wait, there's one place they haven't mentioned, but you've definitely been there," Ty Lee said, turning her attention directly to Shisui. He didn't understand what place she was referring to, causing her to roll her eyes.
"The Spirit World, you fool! Have you seen him there?" Ty Lee asked. Suddenly, an unusual silence fell over the picnic as everyone waited for an answer from those who had been to that mysterious place.
Raava, who was standing there watching the young people talk, couldn't help but blink a few times. Carried along by the flow of the conversation, she found herself wondering if she had seen that man in the Spirit World. Then she shook her head. How could a normal human being, with no trace of meditation, reach the Spirit World?
Unless, of course, he found an open rift between worlds or was guided by a powerful spirit. Or maybe he took advantage of the rare Harmonic Convergence, when portals open.
"No, I haven't seen him in the Spirit World, but I'd like to know how he manages to travel so fast to so many places," Shisui replied. Ty Lee's spirits sank. Even without her gift activated, he could see the disappointment in her aura.
"Although, can you imagine if we found him there? That would be..." Just as Zuko was about to finish his sentence, he suddenly fell silent and turned his head toward a grove of trees several hundred meters away from the group.
Everyone else did the same, albeit with slight delays in their movements. They had undoubtedly realized that an uninvited visitor had arrived because the person's aura was quite peculiar.
As soon as Momo stopped jumping around, its ears drooped, and it hid behind Aang. It stared with its big eyes at the human walking slowly toward the group. He was completely unafraid of the crowd watching him warily.
"What a murderous intent, but it's scattered, it's not aimed at us. Either he's an expert, or he wants something from us," said Mai, the group's assassination expert. Among them, those with the greatest track record in war weren't the flashy fighters, but rather the stealthy opportunists.
If it weren't for the occasional purification provided by Shisui, Mai, and everyone who participated in the war against Ba Sin Se would be tainted by dark forces, possessing an aura similar to the man who stopped 20 meters away.
It was Jet, with a wheat stalk in his mouth and his arms crossed over his chest. Both sides sized each other up. Or rather, Jet was sized up by everyone while the man's attention was completely focused on Shisui, the Sage, whom he had longed to meet.
"The Dai Li sent me here without any real purpose, entirely of their own accord, wanting me to be a nuisance to you and your journey. But I don't want to be the annoying fly sent by those moles," Jet said, breaking the silence. His words caused some displeasure among those who knew the Dai Li.
"I was already surprised not to see those living puppets lurking around. It seems they've learned a thing or two," Shisui replied sarcastically. His golden eyes were unusually cold because he didn't know what the man in front of him wanted. If he dared to make a move, though, Shisui would bury him right there.
Unlike Aang, he wasn't a pacifist, nor was he a sanctimonious hypocrite. He would never let a potential enemy slip away if that enemy tried to harm him or his loved ones. That was unacceptable to him.
Now that Azula was pregnant, if that man dared to look at his fiancée, Shisui would decapitate him on the spot using waterbending. A hint of his cold, murderous intent seeped out, pressing against the unwelcome guest.
"Man, I just came here wanting to talk, you know? You have no idea how much mental strength it took for me not to curse out those Fire Nation guys. I've promised to take a different path and leave certain things behind, but hatred doesn't fade that easily," Jet said, unafraid of Shisui. He even gave Shisui a provocative look, causing the Sage to take a step forward. At that moment, intense pressure surged from Shisui.
'Oh, he's angry,' everyone thought in unison when they felt Shisui's presence, vast as the sea and as dark and deep as the ocean's depths. Sparks of chi flared up around Shisui, and the moisture in the air quickly condensed into a stream that encircled the waterbender, all without his moving a muscle beyond that single step.
"You give me a reason why I should put up with someone with such murderous intent and a tainted aura standing before me. Or better yet, give me an excuse to separate your head from your body without remorse," declared Shisui. He made no effort to hide the strangeness of his expression as he activated his gift. His face looked normal, but his gaze was slightly off. Jet knew he was completely blocked by the Sage.
Jet swallowed hard, feeling the unexpressed power of one of the most prominent figures of this generation firsthand. It was a level he couldn't reach, and it had nothing to do with whether he was a bender or not, but rather his own mindset.
'Before, I had no hope of reaching that level. Did I really waste so much time, blinded by my hatred and thirst for revenge, making those ridiculous attempts to cause harm, when I could have tried to change things for the better?' Jet thought, feeling a sense of loss and guilt. But then he thought of a certain woman, who restored his determination and helped him shake off those negative emotions.
'I've taken the first step toward becoming a better person. If those bastards… if the Fire Nation can try to improve and move forward, why can't I?' After coming to this realization, Jet did something he never would have done before: he bowed at a 90-degree angle.
"I apologize, Sage, Shisui, and the Prince and Princess of the Fire Nation." Jet was astonished by his own actions, as were the others, who didn't understand what had caused him to act that way. He immediately withdrew the murderous intent he had been radiating, demonstrating his commitment to his gesture.
The Fire Nation members in the group understood the hatred and resentment that many people felt toward their country. It was inevitable, and they didn't want to avoid it because their actions during the war were unforgivable and irreparable.
Usually, they were the ones apologizing to others, not the other way around. This man clearly harbored a deep hatred for the Fire Nation, yet he suddenly bowed before them, apologizing not only to Shisui but also to Zuko and Azula.
Shisui wasn't the irrational type who would exterminate an entire clan over a minor offense. Moreover, he could see much more clearly than the others that the man's aura contained not only hatred but also other emotions that consumed the hateful fire burning in his heart.
The Sage had a strange realization at that moment. If this man continued down the path he had begun to walk and managed to overcome all the hardships that lay ahead, he would undergo a fundamental transformation. This transformation would culminate in the consumption of that hatred, from which something else would be born. This piqued Shisui's interest.
"Don't worry. You may have done horrible things in the war, but you're not the only one. That's just how war is, unfortunately. I can't forgive you on behalf of the others, but I see that you've already started to improve on your own. You'll find the solution to your problems yourself," said Shisui. He had reined in his impulse and his chi. He sat back down next to Azula, who kissed him on the cheek.
"Haha... I have a lot to pay for, a whole lot..." Jet muttered, straightening his back. Although he didn't approach them, there was at least more cordiality in the air between the two sides.
"However, my main purpose is something else, Wise Shisui. Could you explain why I feel freer and how it relates to you? I feel it in my heart. This has to do with you. All the bad luck, irrational hatred, and foolish things I've done in my life seem tied to something.
Some time ago, I felt an unusual surge of murderous intent toward you and the Fire Nation. Although there was some basis for it back then because I considered you my enemies, someone told me it was the final attempt by that something to rid me of those things that didn't belong to me. Over time, it will help me begin the healing process." Jet was unusually forthcoming, but he needed answers.
He could tell from the Nascent Lady's words that she feared a certain existence and avoided mentioning or making direct reference to it as much as possible. Even when she helped him dispel the influence, she did so in fear. She stopped seeing him for a long time. At the time, he was relieved because she frightened him. Now, however, he didn't want to be separated from her.
It was because of that caution that he had never wanted to find out the reasons behind many things in his life. Yet now, he had the chance to learn more because he sensed that Shisui had a lot to do with those matters. Even though this was the first time he had seen Shisui, he could feel that he was on the verge of the truth.
Especially because no one likes to feel like a puppet! Jet felt this way when he thought deeply about the matter, which made him angry. Not even the Dai Li's manipulation bothered him that much.
When it came to the Dai Li, Jet had a simple plan: once he learned the truth, he would start his journey toward redemption with that group of pesky moles, but not out of hatred or revenge this time. Though he couldn't claim to be acting in the name of justice, he would do his best to do good. Not for the potential rewards he might earn, but because his intention had always been to do the right thing, even though he had done so many things wrong.
He had already found his compass, though, which showed him the path to follow. The Nascent Lady did the world a favor by staying by his side. Otherwise, he would have fallen deeper and deeper into darkness, thinking he was doing things for the greater good when he was actually ruining it further.
"Oh, I think I know what you're talking about, but I don't think it's appropriate to treat that subject so lightly. I don't know who you are, friend. I don't even know your name," said Shisui, with a hint of recognition in his eyes because he realized who the person in front of him was at that moment.
"My name is Jet, and..." When he said his name, he felt a sensation like a razor-sharp, searing blade fall upon his body. All he could see were Zuko's golden eyes filled with rage staring at him.
"The terrorist Jet!" the prince exclaimed, causing Jet to grimace in shame over his past. He did nothing to avoid Zuko's surge, letting it fall upon him with all its force, making him sweat.
"War creates monsters on both sides, Zuko. I'm not making excuses for anything. Any act that crosses the line is reprehensible. I'm not stopping you from seeking justice. But if you're going to kill him, leave him alive long enough to tell you what you need to know," said Shisui. Zuko looked at him in silence for a moment before whispering a few words.
"Did you recognize him when you asked his name?" the prince asked. Shisui nodded. The Firebender took this as normal, given that the Sage was in an extremely sensitive state due to his sister's pregnancy.
"For Shisui to be interested in telling you those things means he saw something in you that makes you different from the monster you became because of the war. He thinks I'll see that while I try to execute you." Jet, show me what has happened to you and what you will become." Zuko declared, walking toward Jet and drawing his two swords. The room's temperature rose several degrees because of the intense fire coating his weapons.
His weapons were coated in intense fire. Jet nodded and stepped back, bringing his hands to the swords on his back and releasing his aura. His aura expressed his emotions and the essence of his being. It was filled with blood, pain, despair, and hatred, but also with a sense of justice, courage, guilt, and remorse, as well as a deep love.
Interestingly, the newer emotions were slowly but steadily overshadowing the older ones. Jet was a person full of contradictions. Although he could have hidden this change, he decided to reveal his emotions for his own sake and so that others might understand him.
"What self-awareness," Zuko remarked, sensing those emotions. Although the anger in his eyes did not fade, he became interested in the upcoming fight because he could see that Jet was a swordsman.
This would be a duel between two masters of dual swords.
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OMAKE:
In a dimly lit room, the old man, the owner of the cabbage stand, sat gazing greedily at the golden cabbage encrusted with gems that he held in his hands.
"My precious, my precious, my soft and rich precious," he murmured before biting into the golden cabbage, which behaved just like a normal one. As he did so, something inside him changed.
"Now I can go wherever I want, harvest the best cabbages, and build my commercial empire, step by step! EVERYONE WILL LOVE MY CABBAGES!" the man shouted, his eyes glowing golden.
He was now the Ancestral Spirit of Cabbages.
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AN: TheAnPlayer2 gave me a tip: Promote my original stories every 5 chapters. So, read my original novels: Steam and Heart, Lunar Mechanism, and Witch's Adventure. You may or may not like them, but give them a chance. c: