Chapter 52

After their trip up the earth kingdom coast, they had returned to the fire nation. Kyoshi needed to speak with Jinpa on other affairs. So they set off across the world once more.

Spending some time in the southern water tribe over the winter solstice, then back to the northern air temples around new years. Time just seemed to begin to slip by.

Kyoshi had tried to focus on her weaker elements as they traveled. Working on having control on even the smallest droplets of water, and the angles that she could expel air at.

With the absence of uprising tyrants years had passed since their anniversary when Kyoshi finally got another distress note from that same earth kingdom village.

Kyoshi had always wondered what would happen with that town that had claimed distress from the balanced nation but had nothing to show for it.

“It’s a bit of a nostalgic trip don’t you think?” Rangi asked as the town once again came into view.

“You think there is actually something wrong this time?” Kyoshi replied with another question.

Rangi shrugged as they walked through the gates.

“Who sent the note Jinpa?” Kyoshi asked as they wandered into the town.

“The governor I believe,” He replied from behind.

“We’ll look for him first then,” Kyoshi decided.

But as they explored more there was writing on all the walls and people in odder looking uniforms stationed near the writing reading “chin the conqueror”.

Kyoshi rolled her eyes at the writing. Here we go again

Without another word she marched up to the men painting the wall and intervened. “So, who’s the new tyrant in town? Are you guys doing some work off of the balanced nation or something?” Kyoshi called.

“The balanced nation” he scoffed. “We are with the greater power, Chin the Conqueror”

“Chin the Conqueror?” She questioned. “Never heard of him.”

The men looked offended at her words. “Chin, the earth kingdom’s real ruler.” He retorted.

She gave him an unimpressed look, but these goons were likely the reason for the distress note if they were claiming there was another ruler.

“Where is he?”

But her question went unanswered. “Your new tyrant, where is he?”

One of the men started to grin. “Like we’d tell you”

She stepped up to the man grabbing the front of his shirt so that he was barely able to stand on his toes. “tell me where is-“

She couldn’t finish her threat properly, as the man pulled a small bit of earth up and flung it at Kyoshi’s face. As she felt the earth crumble and blood began to drip from her nose she repeated her question, keeping the man in her grasp.

“Where is he? Or are you too much of a grunt not to even know” She rephrased.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched as the other man tried to slip away, turning only to run into Rangi who sent him falling backwards into the dirt.

“Just answer her questions”

They got the most information out of the two men that they could. One thing Kyoshi had decided on at that moment was however that she wanted to speak to Chin himself. She would not bother herself with his little hench men.

“So you really don’t know where he is?” Kyoshi asked once more.

But he shook his head vigorously. “I swear, maybe somewhere more up north. But he heard that you were coming and-”

Kyoshi didn’t want to hear the rest of what he had to stay. “Just run back to him, let him know we’ll met soon enough.” She declares.

“Can’t believe this guy has the nerve to try and take over the nation but not to speak with me face to face” She scoffed, wiping the blood from her nose as they headed to the center of the town.

“So now we’re going to hunt down the next uprising tyrant?” Rangi asked, to which Kyoshi gave a nod. “Sounds fun”

She gave her a stiff smile. “Right, where is the governor?”

They finish walking across the town until they come to the town hall. It didn’t look much unlike any of the other houses around the village but once they stepped inside it was clearly set up for meetings.

“Hello” Kyoshi called out as she steps inside.

A man appears “Excuse me, do you know where we could find the governor?” Kyoshi asks the man.

“That would actually be me.”

Even though Kyoshi had her makeup on Rangi could tell all the blood had drained from her face.

“Please come in. I believe we have matters to discuss.” He said as he turned to lead them further into the room.

While Rangi took up the opportunity to whack Kyoshi in the back of the head.

That wasn’t my fault. She mouthed.

You’re hopeless, Rangi mouthed back.

“So this isn’t the first time you’ve seen them around here?” Kyoshi asked as they all sat around a table

“No I’m afraid not, a couple years ago a few came by, I thought they were with the balanced nation I had been hearing about from the fire nation. But I guess I was wrong,” He explained.

Kyoshi and Rangi shared a look, that’s what the letter was about, that was the false report they had pushed off. “I came to pay your town a visit after you sent that distress and found nothing, why do you think they’re back now?”

“I reckon you scared them off.” The governor laughed.

Kyoshi cracked a smile as she leaned back in her chair, “I’m glad I could delay them, but I think we both know what’s happening now.”

He nodded, “they have more confidence, and that could only come from an increase in power”

The next morning they headed to the town up north. When they had reached the gate they caught sight of some men in similar uniforms that they had seen at the last village.

“I don’t think they’re going to let us in.” Rangi whispered.

“Probably not, but we can just sneak in. I don’t want to cause a big scene if we can help it.”

They both turned to Jinpa. “You know most people would be against sending a peaceful monk to be a decoy” he huffed.

“Love you Jinpa, go make us proud” Kyoshi encouraged him as she pushed him in the direction of the gate as she headed off in the other direction.

Kyoshi and Rangi watched as Jinpa approached the gate, beginning to talk to the guards. One thing Kyoshi had learned over the years was that Jinpa really was a monk of many talents. One of those being getting into places and causing distractions.

They checked in on Jinpa one last time before hurrying more towards the wall. “Hang on” Kyoshi whispered with a smile, as she pulled the firebender closer while she tried to quietly bend a piece up high enough so they could easily hop over the wall.

“I could have gotten over myself you know” Rangi huffed as she jumped down.

Kyoshi just laughed as she shook her head. “Come on, let’s find Chin and get out of here.”

They had spent the whole afternoon looking through the town, running into a couple more of Chin’s men. But Kysohi just ignored their shouts and yelling. Until she came to a conclusion, Chin wasn’t here.

“Let’s go” She said dully as they headed for the gate. As she pushed it open they saw Jinpa still conversing with the guards from before.

They looked confused, at the sight of the Avatar coming from inside of their village. But with one glare from her and they stayed quiet.

Jinap followed behind Kyoshi and Rangi as they started on the road away from the village. They walked in a loud silence until Jinap decided to speak up.

“So did you, you know”

Kyoshi let out a sigh, “No I didn’t kill him if that’s what you’re implying, or even talk to him. He wasn’t even there.”

Jinpa shot Rangi with a confused look. “We looked all over, talked to a couple of people, but Chin was long gone by the time we got there.” She explained.

“If he wants to be hunted, that’s his choice.” Kyoshi said firmly.

“So what now?”

The question held heavy in the air. “I’ll find him, eventually. He has enough influence to have troops stationed in villages he deserted so he’s already made himself a problem, let alone the fact that he’ll probably try and overthrow the Earth King soon enough.” Kyoshi replied.

“Then let the man hunt begin.”

So this time skip is a couple of years, I just needed to put some separation of events in the story.

Anyways I’m sorry fore the delay in publishing the chapter, but I’ve been having a harder time since the election and have been trying to find ways to write and be productive. If I have any American friends reading this, just know you’re not alone and hope you all are doing okay, thank you everyone for reading<3