[Has nothing to do with the chapter, but I love this song, honestly. Low Roar is GREAT for anxiety and depression. Just lay on your back, and relax. All of their music is super smoothing. In the next chapter I'll show y'all another song of theirs that I love. :) Also remember when I was gonna put that link of that other music in every chapter? Yeah, I guess I lied about that. Oh well. xD]

[Word count: 3,290]

| chapter - five |

\ play with fire, part - one /

"This should give us a good idea of what's around here." Katara pipes up as we approach what seems like a sign. Or something. I wasn't exactly sure of what it was, to be frank.

Sokka realizes that his bag was empty as he tried pouring emptiness into his mouth, "See if you can find a menu, I'm starving."

I had to agree, "Yeah, me too, actually. I can't even remember the last time I ate, which is kind of weird now that I've said it out loud."

"Same." Sokka huffed, and I chuckled.

Aang quickly rushes forwards and points to the paper, "I bet we'll find something to eat here!" Once getting a better look, I realized it wasn't a map; but a flyer. "The Fire Day Festival." Momo brought his head upside down to look at us and the flyer.

Kaz began to copy the lemur with tilting his head as far as he could to the side without doing any damage to his neck. As Aang continued to read the flyer, "'Fire Nation cultural exhibits... jugglers, benders, magicians. That'd be a great place for me to study some real Firebenders!"

I gulped nervously, but I guess I made it a little too obvious. "What's the matter, Midori?" Katara asked. "It looks like you've seen a ghost."

I try to mask up my composure like before and shake my head, "Oh, nothing. It's just... not that great of a memory for me... Heh..." I gave a nervous grin.

"Yeah, me too." She nodded and understood.

"You might wanna rethink that." Sokka broke the tension. "Look at this."

Making our way around we saw more posters, "Hey, a poster of me!" Aang snatched it from the stone pillar.

"A wanted poster." Sokka added. "This is bad."

Katara then suggests, "I think we better keep moving."

Aang looks up at her, "I have to learn Firebending at some point, and this could be my only chance to watch a master up close."

Katara looked at the ground, unsure. "I guess we could check it out..."

Aang looked excited, meanwhile Sokka was dumbfounded, "What?! You want to walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired up with all their, you know-" He wiggles his fingers. "-fire?"

Katara smiles and heads to Appa, "We'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble, we'll leave."

Sokka sighs and speaks more to himself, "Yeh, because we always leave before we get in trouble..."

As Sokka made his way to Appa as well, I noticed more posters on the pillar. One of them was of a white haired man with two scratched scars on his face. And then, the poster below it was of an unfriendly looking blue mask with two large tusk-like fangs protruding from its open grinning mouth. The letter's on the poster read, "Wanted ; The Blue Spirit".

I furrowed my brows at the name. I didn't recognize it, but, I wondered why he was called by that name. Was he from the Spirit World? Or was he human like us?

Many questions, yet no time. I was going to read the rest that the wanted poster had to say, but my time seemed to run out.

"Midori, come on!" Sokka rushed.

I shook out of my thoughts, "Coming!"

***

We came out of the underbrush to see a overhead view of the Fire Nation town that the festival was held at, which was said on the flyer.

Aang looked back towards Appa and Momo, "You guys stay out of sight here while we go to the festival."

Momo dropped himself into a bush as Appa followed suit and attempted to hide behind it. I held my hip and went along, lining the plan with sarcasm, "Where'd they go?" I faked a gasp, and then giggled. "You stay there as well, Kaz. I'll be just fine." He cooed in relief as he relaxed in the saddle of Appa.

"Ready disguises!"

As Sokka and Katara put the hoods of their cloaks over their head, I was putting my own cloak over my body and the hood on as well. I understood why this needed to happen, as well... we weren't exactly fit for the festival, considering our clothing weren't from the Fire Nation.

Meanwhile, Aang swung around with a goofy grin. Having covered his head with his own clothing.

"It's like you're a whole different person." Sokka crossed his arms as Katara chuckled sweetly.

I raised a brow, "I think it's pretty invasive. Simple. But invasive." Which caused Aang's grin to grow a little tighter.

"Let's go!" Aang seemed excited as he turned, and led us on, into the Fire Nation festival.

The day seemed to grow old as my emerald irises began to dim their glow when the moon replaced the sun and the sky shadowed over with darkness, the only lights being from the festival. The kids laughing and running around with sparklers, as we all paused for a Japanese Dragon to run on by.

I tried to keep myself calm and breathed steadily. Though I had no memories here; I had memories from places similar.

But that's when Katara piped up, interrupting my thoughts, "I think we need some new disguises."

And I realize that she was right, I took a better look around the place. We were the only ones there without masks, as everyone around seemed to be wearing one.

"Where are we gonna get masks like that?" Sokka sighed.

But then his eyes widened as merchant chanted out, "Get your genu-ine Fire Festival masks here!"

"Well," I looked at the merchant with a hum. "that was convenient." Sokka then added, "That was surprisingly easy..." And I couldn't agree more.

Katara had switched Sokka's mask with Aang's, as she thought it would fit the best. Sokka wore a mask that was frowning with small tears, the colors of red, yellow and black. As Aang wore a bright blue and white mask that had a big smile and what seemed like a mane surrounding it. Whilst Katara a mask of a lady with orange painted cheeks and make-up.

I hummed as I looked for a mask of my own and that's when one in particular caught my eye. It seemed interesting and for some weird reason, it almost felt like it was calling out to me. The mask was white with red painted swirls in intricate designs. The mask was a the shape of a wild fox, with large and long pointed ears that reached for the sky. As the snout protruded outward and grew the tiniest grin. The grin seemed harmless, but also as though it held the darkest secrets.

Grabbing it, I placed it over my face and tied the soft silky ribbon on the back of my head as I freely took the hood of my cloak off, now able to feel the heated breeze prickle among my ears.

"Interesting choice." Sokka rubbed the chin of his mask with a hum.

I grew a sly grin that almost matched my mask, "Okay, frowny-face."

Sokka couldn't exactly argue with that, "Alright, alright. You got me, I'll give you that."

Going deeper into the festival, we look around.

Aang pointed ahead, "Hey, there's some food."

"Finally!" Sokka sighed and ran ahead, I could feel my stomach growl. "What do you have?" He asked the food merchant as we caught up.

"Flaming fire flakes!" The food merchant handed out a little steaming pouch. "Best in town."

Sokka grabs them, "I'll take'em!"

But the moment he gobbles them down he spits them right back out with a yelp, "Hot! Hot!" He howls as he slides his mask up and rubs his tongue from the flakes, eyes glistening in heat and pain.

On second thought... maybe I'm not so hungry. My mind spoke out.

Katara crossed her arms, "'Flaming fire flakes'-" She quoted. "Hot? What do ya'know." Her head tilts.

He puts his mask back over his face as Aang speaks out, "Hey, look at this." And we follow him.

We walk up to what seemed like a puppet show of sorts, the audience being children as we stood behind to watch what it was about. A puppet pops up as the children begin to cheer.

"Don't worry loyal citizens! No-one can surprise the Fire Lord!" The puppet made it absolutely clear.

And the children seemed distraught as another puppet came up from behind him with a boulder, and we all jolted slightly as the Fire Lord puppet blazed him up in flames as the children cheered once again.

We quickly evacuated from the scene as something else seemed to catch Aang's eye, and we tried to keep up with him.

"Aang, hold on!" Katara spoke. "Where are we going?"

Aang wasn't sure himself, "I don't know, but, there's a big crowd so it must be good."

"Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution." Sokka added, and I had to agree with that one, once again. Him and I seemed to agree on a lot of things so far as we squeezed our way through the crowd, to the very front to watch the man preform on stage.

The stage was lined with four thin pillars with fire basins at their tops. The Firebender on stage who seemed to be the performer, controlled four or five - they were going too fast, so I couldn't exactly count them fully - balls of fire all around the stage. Until eventually ending it with large spark, as small flock of white birds began to fly over the crowd.

Aang slid his mask up to watch them with a big grin, "I gotta learn that trick!"

"Thank you!" The performer bowed. "For my next trick I need a volunteer from the audience!"

Aang immediately raised his arm and waved, "Oh! Oh! Me! Me!" I thought he was kinda crazy, considering he hasn't exactly mastered Firebending yet, so I didn't know how he would've pulled it off either way.

Until Sokka grabbed the boy to stop him with a whisper, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I want to get a closer look." Aang answered.

"Yeah," I nodded. "But maybe this isn't the right place or time to do that right now..."

Katara closed in, "It's better that we don't attract any attention to ourselves."

But as if he she willed it into existence, the performer pointed down at her, "How about you, little lady?"

"Uh," Katara backed away and shook her head.

"Awww, she's shy." The performer hummed with a smile. "Leeet's give her some encouragement, folks!" He raised his arms and the crowd went wild, as a girl from behind pushed Katara forward.

The performer took Katara's hand and pulled her onto the stage.

"Awww!" Aang crossed his arms and slumped slightly. "That coulda been me."

The performer brought a chair over to Katara in the middle of the stage, "This next trick is called "Taming the Dragon."" He gently pushes her to sit in the chair. "You will be my captured Princess." He pulls out some silk and wraps it around her, so she can't get out of the chair.

He made a long Japanese Dragon out of fire and controlled it to fly over the crowd and the stage, "Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!" He went all out, being as dramatic as possible. As he created a leash of fire to connect it to the flamed dragon.

I knew Katara was probably nervous, considering the circumstances and her being uncomfortable in the first place around Firebenders. But, in a strange way, I felt almost mesmerized as I watched the performer do his tricks and acting with the fake dragon.

"It's too strong, I can't hold it!" He chimed.

Aang stepped forward, "We gotta help her!"

But Sokka kept him back, "No, we don't want to make a scene!"

"The rope," The performer gasps dramatically. "It's breaking!"

And right as the fire dragon heads towards Katara and gets a little too close, Aang springs into action as he creates a whirlpool of air to protect her which causes the fire dragon to dissipate into a shower of confetti of all types of raving colors.

I shake out of my tranced state of the show and follow Sokka on the stage, as he unties his sister from the chair. Meanwhile the crowd booed as Aang tried to distract them with a goofy dance.

But now he was fully exposed and someone in the crowd seems to notice, "Hey! That kid's the Avatar!" And Aang instantly pauses with widened eyes, not knowing what to do.

Fire Nation soldiers advance towards us through the crowd. "I think it's time to go." Sokka suggests and him and Katara take their masks off.

I take mine off as well, but, I didn't toss it to the side or hold it. In fact I stuffed it in my cloak for safe keeping, I had not a clue on why but there was something about this wild fox of a mask that made me want to keep it. So, that's exactly what I did.

I kept the mask.

"Follow me!" We turned to a man in a similar cloak with cloth hiding half of his face, "I can get ya' outta here!"

It wasn't like we had a choice so we trusted the man for the time being, and ran out through the broken wall. As the man threw down a bomb of smoke to distract the Fire Nation soldiers. And as we ran through the festival I began to think how this felt familiar as I remember a scenario similar to this. But, through the eyes of another person as they tell their story. But I try not to think of that now, now wasn't the time.

"Over there!" One of the soldiers exclaimed, pointing at us as we run through an alleyway.

"I'm calling Appa!" Aang huffed, practically out of breath as he pulled of a whistle that looked very much like the flying bison himself. And he blows.

"I hope he can really hear that bison whistle!" Sokka felt desperate.

The mysterious man turned into another alleyway, "This way!" And we followed. But then we stopped to more soldiers, "Okay - not this way!"

I wanted to use my bending to help in some way, but this mysterious man seemed to have it under control as he threw down another smoke bomb causing the soldiers to take part in a coughing fit. And we turned down another alleyway.

Only to stop amidst a tall carriage filled with fireworks, we were cornered and surrounded by Fire Nation soldiers.

Until I felt sudden relief as I heard a growl in the sky and Aang had yelled, "Appa! Down here!"

And the flying bison landed on the ground and flushed the soldiers down the alleyway with air, using his large tail. It was my first time ever seeing such  an act, let alone Appa using airbending instead of just Aang, this time. And I was astounded, my mind oozing with amazement.

We hopped into his saddle and took to the sky as the mystery man threw down another smoke bomb to the soldiers that continued to try and stop us, and when doing so it landed inside the carriage and firing off all of the fireworks at once causing a colorful frenzy in the clear sky. As Appa flew over the festival a torch lit up and the festival-goers cheered in excitement below.

Leaving the Fire Nation festival behind, I leaned against the side of the saddle and blew out in relief. I was happy to leave, these type of memories from my past weren't welcome in the slightest.

"Nice touch setting off the fireworks." Aang looked back at the mystery man with a smile.

Sokka then added, "You seem to really know your explosives." Seeming impressed immensely.

I got a good look at the man, he seemed a little roughed up, with poorly shaven facial hair. He spoke up, "I'm familiar." He looks back.

Surprised, Sokka perked up, "You're a Fire Nation soldier!" My brows knitted at the news, and I scooted over a little closer to Katara.

"Was." The man looked at the fireworks in the distance once again. "My name's Chey."

It wasn't long until we relaxed around a campfire in the woods, whilst Appa dozed off into dreamland. I wasn't exactly cold, considering we were at a Fire Nation festival not too long ago, but, I was still appreciative of the fire either way. So I cherished the warmth while I had it.

"I serve a man." Chey begins to explain. "More than a man, really. He's a myth, but he's real, a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general..." He scratches the back of his head and squints. "... or wait, was he an admiral?"

Sokka raised a brow, "He was very highly ranked, we get it."

Chey pointed at the boy teasing the fire with a stick, "Yeah! Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness anymore. He's the first person to ever leave the army - and live."

I began to notice a pattern of Chey being very expressive, but there was nothing wrong with that. I used my elbows on my crossed legs as balance, as I listened intently, the heat of the fire warming my face.

Chey continued, "I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a Firebending genius. Some say he's mad - but he's not!" He reassured. "He's enlightened."

Aang began to grow excited, "You mean there's a Firebender out there whose not with the Fire Lord?" He stood to his feet. "We've gotta go see him! He can train me!"

Sokka shook his head, "We're not gonna go find some crazy Firebender!"

Chey stood up, "He's not crazy! He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar! That's why I followed you into the festival."

Now Sokka stood and crossed his arms, "Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the North Pole in the morning."

Aang looked at the Water Tribe boy with a hurt expression, "Sokka, this could be my only chance to meet a Firebending Master who would actually be willing to teach me..."

Katara stood up next, "It can't hurt just to talk to him."

I was the last one to stand up, "She's not wrong."

Sokka sighed in annoyance and furrowed his brows tightly, "That's what you said about going to the festival! Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?!"

He turned to march towards Appa only to yelp as a spear is shoved close to his face and he backs away. Men in straw hats and armored spears drop down as we all jump and back away, in fear.

I tighten my fist up and bring them high above my chest, ready to pummel any one of them with rocks if they dare to rile up a fight. I could feel the pebbles around my shoed feet sway like the ocean.

One of the men saw me and pointed his spear right between my eyes, I knew he was warning me. I squinted my eyes, not wanting to give up but having a feeling that I almost had no choice. There were too many of them to take on by ourselves.

So, evidently, I huffed out a defeated sigh. And loosened my fists, as the pebbles below fall out of my magnetic grip with ease.

"Don't move."

------
Here's chapter five! :)

What was your favorite part of this chapter?

Sorry for not updating in forever, ya' girl was going THROUGH in in July. But I'm slowly getting by.

I'm gonna try to update a little more often, because I want to and I have plans for Midori's character and plot and I'm excited about it. Wait until y'all see the end of the next chapter. Oop- >w>

Hope yall enjoy the chapter. :]

Xoxo <3