"Is this really a good idea, Shisui?" Aang asked quietly. His tone was torn between doubt, amazement, and unease because what his friend had just told him was shocking.
"Of course it is! It will help you control your Avatar state better and perhaps improve your Waterbending skills. Come on, join us," Shisui replied, his golden eyes shining with excitement.
The rush he got from achieving something as incredible as "Avatarization" was not something that could easily be dispelled. It made the fatigue he felt at that moment seem like a slight annoyance.
"I'd really like to know what's going on in your head, little nephew," Yue said with apparent exasperation. She also had that look in her eyes. She was genuinely interested in the plan Shisui was describing, especially because it involved her to a certain extent.
"That's just how he is. You get used to it over time. You even start to miss it if too much time goes by without some strange idea," Azula commented, causing Shisui to roll his eyes.
"When the old man sent for me that time, it was because of you! You caused an explosion that blew up a wall. The old man thought I was testing new explosives, so I stopped experimenting for a month," Shisui lashed out. Azula stuck her tongue out childishly.
"We're not talking about me right now! Will your idea really work? It sounds pretty peculiar, to be honest, even stranger than your usual ideas," the princess said, steering the conversation back to what mattered most at that moment.
"Of course it will! Especially since it's Aang who will do it. The Avatar is a special being who can do many interesting things if he sets his mind to it," said Shisui, rubbing his chin and deep in thought.
"Besides, this is one way to shock the world. One hundred years is long enough for humanity to forget many things. We must remind people of fear and of the respect that a transcendental figure like the Avatar deserves.
It will also open the minds of others. On top of that, we will defend the North Pole. It's a win-win situation. What do you say, my friend?" Shisui asked Aang, who nodded with great determination.
"You're the sage here, aren't you? I'll follow your plan, Shisui." Shisui smiled broadly at the Avatar's response before raising his hands dramatically, adding drama to his next words.
"Then let the Avatar tune in to the spirits of the ocean and the moon!" Shisui declared grandiosely, attracting the attention of the others. Upon processing his words, they were stunned for a few seconds.
"I don't know what crazy plan Shisui has come up with this time, but the outcome is sure to be spectacular!" Ty Lee was the first to react; as a loyal fan of Shisui, she was eager to see the results.
"Now he's even dragging the Avatar into his crazy schemes. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Mai muttered, although she, too, was interested in what would happen next. After all, Shisui could do incredible things when he set his mind to it.
"They say that water sweeps everything away with force and integrates it. Shisui is a perfect example of that," commented Petra, who was already accustomed to these kinds of scenes, although she had a hard time getting used to them at first.
"I still remember when the generals were reluctant to follow Shisui's plans. They said he was too young and inexperienced in the art of war and that he should follow their lead because they were more experienced.
But in less than a week, they were already calling him 'Brother' and inviting him out for drinks after he told them how to act the next day." Zuko pursed his lips, remembering the nights he had spent with those old generals, who had conspired with Shisui to annoy the Ba Sing Se army in every battle.
"But Aang is involved. Will he get hurt?" Katara asked, clearly worried. But Sokka put his hand on her head and ruffled her hair, much to her displeasure. She slapped his hand away.
"Relax! They're just two monsters working together. I'd be more worried about the fools they're targeting." After learning about Zhao's plans, Sokka was slightly afraid of Shisui. From now on, if he saw a cat, he would think it might be a spy.
"For a leader, seeing Shisui's plans come to fruition is an invaluable experience. The quotes he's said and the books with his strategies have sold very well! Although most of the quotes are made up..." Suki commented, wanting to learn more about one of her idols.
Shisui had many fans around the world. His reputation as an unconventional strategist was widespread, especially among retired Ba Sing Se soldiers, who hated him for his repugnant war plans.
Many quotes he never said had become famous, as had sayings alluding to him. He never expected to experience this in his lifetime, so he came up with his own versions of these things because he didn't want his persona to be used for negative purposes.
Thus, under an atmosphere full of expectation and a hint of strangeness, Shisui and Aang walked toward their destination: the Spirit Pond. It was time to set things in motion and test the crazy ideas of a Sage.
...
"General Ming, we have bypassed the Northern Water Tribe's defenses and come close to their territory. Although we have not received any communications from our spies, we are almost certain that our landing will be successful," said a man dressed in the characteristic clothes of the Earth Kingdom, albeit dyed black, to an elderly man who was watching the open sea from the deck of an imposing ship.
Despite being made of wood, the ship was larger than any other vessel of its kind. However, this ship and the others in the modest fleet showed no sign of their nation of origin and flew black flags, as if they were pirates.
"I don't like the 'almost' you used. We have bet a lot on this deployment. There can be no mistakes! Our actions are a declaration of war! Just as the Fire Nation did with the Air Temples, we are attacking the North Pole while they are weak.
There can be no 'almost' in our vocabulary! Find out what's going on in Agna Qel'a! Even if those lying rats who whisper lies to the king have failed, we must be completely certain.
If we fail, we will go down in history as sinners. You understand, right? But if we succeed, we will not only eliminate an annoying Sage, but also force the birth of the Avatar.
By conquering the North Pole, we will be able to capture the new Avatar. How could such a powerful being be dismissed so easily? Only by conquering the Avatar can we impose ourselves on the Fire Nation, explore the new continent, and spread the lost glory of the Earth Kingdom to the ends of the world.
Although, unfortunately, we have to act like pirates to avoid implicating our nation, it's obvious where we stand. But as long as it remains unclear, no one can say anything," muttered the old man named Ming. A crazed light shone in his eyes, causing the man who had spoken with him to break out in a cold sweat.
When did this start? During these years of peace, a strange thought began to spread throughout the Earth Kingdom. They wanted to be great again! They wanted to imitate the Fire Nation.
With the added influence of some interested parties acting behind the scenes, the warmongering tendencies of many powerful figures had grown. They didn't care about the suffering that war would bring. They only saw a strange ideal that seemed achievable.
These people were willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant bringing back the suffering their people had endured for decades. Opposing them was not a good idea because anyone could denounce you as an 'ideological criminal' and have you locked up or, worse, executed.
Fortunately, this was not a widespread phenomenon, only affecting certain sectors, such as the army. However, if this were allowed to continue, it would soon spread to the entire civilian population, plunging the Earth Kingdom into despair.
Zhang bowed and said goodbye. But what boiled in his eyes was not obedience and determination to make his homeland 'great again,' but rather a budding plan that would probably bring him death. Still, he knew it was his only chance to do something meaningful for his people.
So, when he was about to send a letter to Agna Qel'a's spies, he also attached a secret letter. But before he could send it, a fat, orange cat appeared out of nowhere and stared at him.
Startled, Zhang instinctively performed earthbending, mobilizing the rocks he always carried toward the cat. To his surprise, however, the animal waved its paws, and the rocks he had manipulated were no longer under his control.
'If you send that, you will die.' Zhang read as the stones formed these words. His heart began beating wildly, and he felt like he was going to faint. Quickly, though, he recovered.
'The Sage Shisui can help you.' Musu, whom Azula had sent to scout the enemy fleet, came across something interesting and decided to take action.
He communicated with a man who seemed interesting to him, a feline spirit. Not because he was particularly extraordinary, but because he sensed a firm resolve unlike that of the other humans in the fleet.
Based on the actions he witnessed, Musu determined that something else was brewing, so he revealed himself to prevent Zhang from sacrificing his life.
"If it's the Sage Shisui, maybe he can help save the kingdom," Zhang muttered, clenching his fists tightly. Flashes of pain appeared on his face as he remembered that beautiful face that had disappeared for a moment and returned weeks later with a different name and attitude.
'I am Joo Dee~' The memory gave Zhang a chill because he knew things had gone too far.
The Dai Li and the Red Lotus were destroying his beloved kingdom! They had twisted the upper echelons and seemed to want to take over the entire Earth Kingdom.
Although the Dai Li were known for being controlling, and the strange 'Joo Dee' who sometimes appeared was considered creepy, everyone thought they were protecting Ba Sing Se and the King.
But now... Zhang let out the breath he had been holding as he looked at the strange cat he had identified as a spirit. He knew this was the moment he had to act ruthlessly, even if it meant being labeled a traitor by his own people.
Zhang began writing on a scroll and used earthbending to print his words directly, taking his elemental control to a higher level. However, he wasn't focused on that right now.
"Cat, here's all the information about the fleet. With this, you can aim correctly. I hope you can forgive those who are only following orders when we disembark," said Zhang, handing over the scroll he had written. But then he noticed the mocking expression on Musu's face.
'There will be no landing, human.' Musu took the scroll and left, leaving Zhang stunned and puzzled. He didn't quite understand what the strange feline spirit meant.
Half an hour later, however, when the North Pole was already visible in the distance, two huge figures appeared, covering the sky, and Zhang finally understood the meaning of Musu's words.
How could this fleet land when those two imposing beings, which looked like spirits, blocked their way? One of them looked like the embodiment of the ocean: a mass of water with white lines shining on its 'skin,' webbed feet, a crest on its head, and a fish-like face.
The Yin Yang symbol was imprinted on its chest and seemed alive, slowly rotating. Behind his back, a silver ring rose, emanating a cold light similar to that of a full moon night, even in the sunlight.
The other figure was familiar to the citizens of Agna Qel'a. It was an enormous being with a vaguely human appearance made of blue light, holding a long spear. Its imposing figure, expressionless face, and bright white eyes shocked many of the soldiers in the enemy fleet.
Ming, the general in charge, seemed to ignore this. Something inside him stirred when he saw the giant of light. He had to eliminate it. One night, his hatred for a certain person had grown out of nowhere, without reason, and it was this strange feeling that consumed him. It also made him realize who that energy construct resembled.
"Shisui..." the old man whispered. For a moment, a glimmer of sobriety blossomed in his crazed gaze. But it was soon crushed by his twisted will, which he believed sought the best for his country.
What he didn't know was that a fat cat had communicated his situation, that of the fleet, and that of the Earth Kingdom to the being he hated. This let the Sage know a detail he had never forgotten, which finally surfaced.
The remnants of the Dreamer's power were at play here! Now, it was up to him to put an end to it all.
-----------
AN: Remember that when Shisui attained enlightenment, he freed the world from the clutches of "Dreamer," as this sleeping spirit was called. He puppeteered the characters for his entertainment, following the "origin story" we all know. Then, before Dreamer's will fell silent, he gave an order to certain people who were prone to accept it due to its nature: Kill Shisui! (End of chapter 29) I have not forgotten that.
Let's just say that Shisui has a lot of "haters," and the most diehard ones, those affected by that will, gathered in the Red Lotus and with the Dai Li. The story is approaching its "final arc," so to speak. That's why I'm writing this author's note: some people are a bit clueless.
If you read 1984, you will understand more what happened on Earth Kingdom. And please, not political discussion here c: