#old relics

[fatherlybeast]

Sword, Korea, 17th-19th century

from The National Museum of Korea

[dancinginmyblood]

There’s something about giant overgrown bioluminescent fantasy forests with waterfalls and little floating lights that may or may not be sentient and huge-ass trees with teeny little villages perched along the branches that really appeals to me

[jjongslight]

The things I watched to support my biases... 

@5hineepop don’t know if you’ve seen this, but I feel like you might know who Ravi is after this XD (sorry Ravi~ hahaha) 

[frompawntoqueen]

Old Relics - Part 9

Andy wrapped a blanket around Tiffany's shoulders as she looked out to the ocean. "Wouldn't want the Avatar to catch a cold."

Tiffany pulled the blanket tight, smile fading at the jab. "Not you too," she sighed, "It's not my fault the crew keeps saying avatar this and avatar that. I only said I was the avatar to get us out of the stupid earth kingdom. To get you back."

"Why do they even believe you are?" Andy asked.

"I dunno, Jake told them I can earth bend." "Can you?" Tiffany turned sharply to her friend looking in disbelief.

"Of course not," she sighed again, the avatar lie was getting more annoying then it was worth.

"Try it."

The two girls exchanges unyielding stares. Tiffany knew Andy was just as stubborn if not more then her. "Fine," she grumbled shoving the blanket back into Andy's arms. She turned around inwardly to the boat. Looking for some earth on board she would use. Finding stone game tiles that the crew didn't put away. Tiffany moved closer unable to resist rolling her eyes before taking an earth-bending stance she had seen. Might as well do it right the first time, Andy would just make he go back and do it right if not. She shifted her feet moving her hands around mirrored motion. But nothing happened, the tiny pebble of a piece didn't even shiver.

"Off day for you Avatar?" Andy joked.

"Show's over," Tiffany started as she walked away, "now that I made a fool of myself."

"Oh come on!" Andy called as Tiffany slipped into the cabin. She turned back to the horizon spotting the first sliver of land. Not long before they made it to the water tribe now.

Andy figured she gave Tiffany enough alone time and headed to the room as well. Her friend didn't even look up from her book when she walked in. Andy placed the blanket on the end of the bed before siting down with Tiffany. "Did I ever say thank you for rescuing me?" Andy asked.

"You knew I would,"Tiffany smiled.

"Yeah, but still," Andy replied pausing for a moment, "Look I'm sorry about the avatar thing. I've known you forever. It's just weird when other people act like they know you better."

"You know it's us against the world."

"Yeah, you and me" Andy smiled, "We'll I'm going to get some tea. Do you want anything?"

"Nah, I'm alright," Tiffany she answered showing her contentment by lifting her book. An hour later Tiffany ventured back onto the deck wondering how tea was taking so long. She found Andy with a cup if tea in her hand as she watched an earth nation crew member. He had managed to get his shirt off as he worked.

"I don't think he's your type," Tiffany teased.

"I'd be willing to find out," she replied. Tiffany shook her head, looking back to the horizon. The land could be clearly seen now. They were close enough to notice that someone was standing on the dock waiting for them.

"Who knows we are coming?" Tiffany asked one of the men.

"No one Madam."

The last leg was filled everyone with tension. Who was waiting for them? Was it friend or foe?

[frompawntoqueen]

Old Relics - Part 8

Other Parts

The three of them stood close as Jake pulled the stab from the floor, raising them through the sky light he made.

“So cool,” Andy said as the stone looked in place on the surface.

“Want to change bending?” Jake asked.

“Not a chance rock boy.”

Tiffany smiled the two as she jumping off the platform. “Come on lets go,” she prompted breaking into a run.

“Wait, where are we going now?” Andy asked as she ran with her.

“I’m going to give the Earth King a piece of my mind.”

“Ooo, I could go for that.”

“You girls think you can do anything. Don’t you?” Jake laughed as he followed after them.

---

The three of them stood outside the palace again taking a moment figuring out a plan this time. With Jake with them they could just earth bend up to the towers and run across the walk way before popping inside. Being up on the castle walls would keep them from being fish in a barrel down before.

“Let’s see if we really can do anything,” Tiffany said looking up at the tall walls.

Jake pulled up the rock under their feet, lifting it up the side of the building like an elevator. The girls broke out in a run, blasting the Dai Li outposts with fire making them scatter from their hiding spots. Andy and Tiffany spun around each other linking their arms as they kicked their outside leg out making a wheel of fire swirl around them.

“Wow,” Jake uttered, clearing his throat as he realized he has been staring. Any road block the guards put up was bended away clearing a path for the two girls that controlled fire as if they were a single bender.

Tiffany took point running into a Dai LI that stood defiant refusing to back down. She formed a fire whip from her fingertips, swinging it around leaving him no choice but to jump off the side to avoid getting burned. The man fell down the tall wall before a merchants cart broke his fall, sending cabbages in all directions. 

They reached the inner keep storming in like an unstoppable force. “You have some demands for you, your highness,” Tiffany said.

“And maybe a bit of pay back,” Andy added.

The walls off the hall were lined with trinkets, a necklace with bear teeth on it and a wooden monkey a few spaces down. Relics lined the walls that lead to the King who sat on his throne. “Guards!” he yelled. Two Dai Li filed into the room, heads down as their large hats covered their faces.  “Arrest them!” the King yelled.

The guard pulled off her hat tossing it away, revealing Lyzz’s face underneath. Michael tilted his head up showing a broad smile on his face.

“You guys again,” Andy sighed.

“Arrest them!” the King repeated.

“No,” Lyzz said staying put.

“I think you should hear them out,” Michael added.

Tiffany took a step forward, feeling confident with so many because at her back. “You are going to provide us with a ship so we may go to the Northern Water Tribe to check out the rumors of Equalists gangs plaguing your people.”

“And why would I do that,” the man said leaning back in his throne.

“Because if you don’t. We will tell everyone what is hiding in Lake Laogai.”

The king brought his hand up to his mouth, considering the value of his secret and if anyone would believe their tales.

“You’ll do it because she is the Avatar,” Jake chimed in.

There was nearly a collective gasp in the room, as if there was suddenly less air for everyone. All turned to look at Tiffany, while she glared at Jake. Lies weren't going to get them anywhere.

“I didn't know the Avatar dealt with secrets,” the King said leaning forward now.

Tiffany turned back to the King deciding to just go with it for now. If it got the job done she would go along with it. “I’ll deal in whatever protects the people.”

“I think we have an understanding,” the King said getting up from his throne and walking closer, “Is there anything else you require, Avatar?”

She looked to Andy for help, hoping she’d know what else she should say. Andy shrugged slightly, five minutes ago the King wasn't asking for their Christmas list, and six minutes ago her friend wasn't the Avatar.

“Uh,” Tiffany mumbled looking around the room, “And I want that.”

The King followed to where she was pointing, the wood monkey crossing the line of thing he was willing to part with. “That is an ageless treasure!”

“I’m sure my witness over here would gladly burn away all the secrets and lies you've build Ba Sing Say upon,” she dared.

“Love to,” Andy smirked.

“Fine,” he nearly hissed.

The next day, the group stood next to the bay the ship they requested at the ready. “You sure I don’t need to stay. Help you with this underground power thing?” Tiffany asked feeling a bit unsure if they should leave.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Jake she said looking back to Michael and Lyzz, “A few people can do a lot of good. You caught me that, Avatar.”

“I’m not- I’m not the Avatar.”

He smiled like he heard a little joke but let it go. “Good luck in the water tribe, I know I rather fight this battle then face them again.” 

[frompawntoqueen]

Old Relics - Part 7

Jake followed her into the tunnels, prepared to ask again how she managed to bend. But as they walked something equally as interesting showed itself.

Tiffany stopped to stare at the walls of the tunnel, taking a moment before she moved closer reaching her hand out to touch a series of inset lights. They ran down the whole legend of the tunnel lighting the path in the place of torches.  In the past this would have been no big thing, but now? They were wasteful, burning the channel at both ends.

“Are these lights always on?” she asked.

“I don’t even know this place had power.”

Her hand trailed across the lights as she walked further down, blotting bits of light out with her fingertips.  “There is something about this place that I don’t like,” she breathed.

“You mean besides being the only place in town with power?”

“Yeah.”

As the continued down the hall they heard a hum, almost like the buzz of scorpion bees.  The noise grew louder as they followed it, making them take the go left where they found a set of double doors. It didn’t seem like the type of place they’d bring prisoners.

The inside of the room was huge, of course it would have to be considering that they were storing.  You could hear large machines working and turning under their metal covers.  Jake fell in line with Tiffany as they stared at the generators. “Wow,” he uttered.

This explained the lights but not why the whole city was still powerless. Surely it was enough juice to power the town if not the nation. Why were they keeping this a secret?

“Nope,” Tiffany said turning on her heel and walking out of the room.

“Wait, what?” Jake said looking between her machines, “No?”

“Yep, that’s what I said,” Tiffany said marching back where they came from, pausing picked a new way.

“We have to do something about that. They can’t just hoard all the power while we live in rumble,” he said chasing after her.

Tiffany pushed him against the wall, holding one arm against his chest while the other was up near his face.  The fire in her hand casting shadows across his face.  “We don’t have to do anything. I am getting Andy back. Plus you’re freaking earth bender, you don’t live in rumble. ” She backed down walking away as mumbled how he should see the other nations if he wanted to see rumble.

Jake pushed himself off the wall, reaching up to adjust his collar of his green shirt. “You’re a bit temperamental, don’t you think?”

“Fire nation!” she called back as that explained everything.

“Closed minded,” Jake replied.

Tiffany stopped turning back to stare at him, “You know I will burn you.”

He smiled, amused or satisfied with the reaction he got. Possibly both. “I’m sure that’s not all you can do,” he replied covering up the faint sound of something else.

“Shh,” she said refusing to take a moment and figure out what he meant by that. Was that the over the generator or the assumed Earth Bending? Either way she didn’t time for it. After a few seconds of silence she heard something again, the rustle of the wind that nearly whispered which way to go.

“You know you can turn back,” Tiffany offered as they made it to another door, which was more like a rock slab instead of any sort with a hinge.  

“I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t help you,” he replied, “Ready?”

Tiffany nodded holding her hands up, ready to torch anyone who stood in her way. Jake bended the door open with a firm, rooted motion. Inside sat Andy with the guards from before gathered around her. Lyzz and Michael were standing around a small machine. Its cords ran up stuck to Andy’s forehead hanging on despite the thin layer of sweat. The third earth bender stood in the middle with a stone moving spinning around him.

The sight left Tiffany with the urge to burn everyone and everything in the room to charcoal. It was too risky though, it didn’t look like Andy would be able to bend the blast away from her. “Honey I’m home,” she said lacking any sweetness.

She punched at the air sending a fire ball to the spinning stone. The blast pushed it off track nearly landing on the Earth Benders foot.  The man pulled a boulder up from the ground and shot it at Tiffany, knocking her back against the hallway wall.

Jake bended the Andy’s resistants away, commanding the pebbles to lock over Lyzz’s and Michaels arms. They struggled against them but were unable to bend them away. Instead of helping them their follow guards the earth bender pulled up another chuck of rock and shot it at Jake, who was just able to pull up a rock shield in time.

Tiffany pushed the stone off his chest taking in a deep breath before she rushed back onto her feet. She eyes flickered over to the earth benders who were slugging it out stone by stone, then rushed over to Andy who still sat in the chair looking dazed.

“Are you ok?” she asked ripping all the tech off before a hand fell to her cheek.

Andy slowly looked up at her, not looking like she saw anything until their eyes meet, “Tiff?”

“Yeah it’s me. I’m getting you out of here,” she replied, her voice rushed with worry. One of the boys grunted causing her to take a moment to watch their slug match. The Dai Li had the advantage; even the non-benders were doing their best to get back in the fight, banging their binds against other rocks to break free.  

Tiffany turned away from Andy strolling up to man who wasn’t letting up on his assault on Jake. She put her hand on the man’s back burning him with her touch. He yelled like a hot iron was pressed against his skin soon falling to his knees.

“Thanks,’ Jake said dropping his shield that broke into small pieces once it hit the fall.

Lyzz sat against the wall watching all of them, her eyes wide but not quite from fear, something else for sure. Michael had broken his hands free and on his knees reaching for his bow.

“Don’t even,” Tiffany said shortly, with a flick of her wrist she shot a small flame at the bow. She turned back to Andy, relived to find her already standing. “You ok?” she asked again this time getting a nod out of her.

“You two don’t seem like bad people. Maybe you should consider a new profession,” Tiffany suggested to them, watching them for an extra moment until she was certain they weren’t going to avenge the bow. She stepped over the burnt Dai Li to Jake.  “Can you get us out of here? Fast?”

“Yeah, pardon my dust,” he smiled before making a large hole in the ceiling. The light caught the dust making them almost sparkle as they floated in the air.

“I’m starting to like your new friend a little more,” Andy said with one arm wrapped around Tiffany’s neck.

[frompawntoqueen]

Old Relics – Part 6

It is common knowledge that fire needs three things to burn, but it might be suggested that a fire bender needs one more thing. 

Where had Lyzz, Michael and the other earth bender go?  More importantly where did they take Andy? She breathed in the slight breeze, eyes scanning the area with precise and controlled movements.

If Tiffany couldn’t find Andy she would burn the King out of his castle. She walked past the invisible line they were told not to pass before finding no other archers ready to shot. Holding her hands out at her sides as the air under her fingertips heated up.  

“Psst,” someone called from the left, “Over here.”

She spun to face the voice finding Jake tucked against the wall, looking around for any others. Tiffany moved over to him taking an unsure first step as she detoured.

“They took your friend to the corrections at Lake Laogai.”

“How do you know?”

“That’s where they take everyone. Either a spy or just people who talk down about the city.”

Tiffany looked down thinking for a second, “You said corrections. What do they do there?”

“You don’t want to know.”

 ---

“You almost burned my hands off,” Michael grumbled, upset that his bow had burn marks now.

Andy struggled against the stone restraints that were wrapped around her wrist and just in front of her elbow. “Yeah well,” she said giving them one last tug before looking up at him, “That’s what happens when you play with fire.”

“Both of us can respect a-- woman,” Lyzz started thinking of the right word, smiling at her choice, “But you need to start cooperating with us or we will have to force our hand.”  The still nameless earth bender walked into a circle on the flow standing perfectly in the middle of it.

---

Jake and Tiffany stood outside an elaborate stone door that was large enough to make up most of the wall. There was a maze craved in the door, each side had a rock sphere that looked like could be guided along the inset paths.

“So how do we do it?” Tiffany asked studying the puzzle. If they could guide the balls to the hole in the center it just might open.

“It needs two earth benders to open it. The spheres won’t move right if you do one at time or try to push it around with other means.”

“Do you have a friend around?”

“Not one that would want to help with this.”

“Why are you helping me anyways?” Tiffany said looking over to him.

“Something is wrong; you seem to care enough to do something about it.”

Tiffany let out a little “hmm” sound as she turned back to door.  Since Earth bending was out of the question she’d just smash the puzzle open.  Tiffany held her hand up, fingers flaring out. “You might want to back up.”

Jake wasted no time backing up but still could feel the heat of the firebombs that Tiffany tossed at the door. “I don’t think-“ he started tensing up the bombs flared back towards him, “that is going to work.”

“Urg! Fine!” she declared with pure annoyance. Tiffany took a breath looking at him for a moment before smiling. “You look like a strong guy. Try to earth bend both sides it while I do this.”

Jake planted his feet as he earth bended, pushing one of the spheres closer to the center but only was able to wiggle the other.  

Tiffany jabbed at the air, pounding fire against the door trying to force it into submission. Staring at what needed to be done, willing and wishing it to work.  The barrage of fire was tiresome but she refused to give up while she still had fuel to fight. She moved her feet, shifting her weight getting a better base as they keep their bending up.

Both the spheres moved tracing down the paths, sometimes running faster down them as if fire encouraged them to do so. One fell in center soon followed by the second. With a rumble the door started to open.

“Yes!” Tiffany exclaiming, bring her eyes in front of her in victory.

“How did-” Jake said dumbstruck.

She ignored his partial question, taking a step closer so she could squeeze his bicep. “See I knew you were strong!”

Jake looked down at his arm for a section when he looked back up Tiffany was already headed inside. “You were bending. How?” he asked still confused.

“What? How is it surprising that I can fire bend?” she asked not paying all the much attention as she walked down the inner tunnels of Lake Laogai, “Did the heat fry your brain or something?”

“But- only one person can bend more than one element,” Jake said softly, his voice not loud enough to carry.

[frompawntoqueen]

Old Relics – Part 5

Avatar / Tumblr AU 

Tiffany whistled as she looked up Earth Kingdom’s Royal Palace. It was for sure the biggest still standing building in the world. It had to be with its nearly countless buildings, gardens and plazas.  Perfection craved into stone in a world filled with ruin, proof that Ba Sing Se still had a working heart.

“Here goes nothing,” Tiffany mumbled over to Andy.

“Well it isn’t nothing. It is the King after all.”

“Thanks.  Really. That helps.”

“Pleasure,” Andy grinned.

Tiffany walked to the inner rings of the Palace. A bit unsure how she was going to see the King but surely he’d care that his people were being attacked. If they couldn’t talk to him, someone should be able to tell him. 

“Halt!” a woman’s voice called.

The two stopped, searching the tall towels for the sign of the voice.  The walls were just too tall and the openings just small. Andy took another step but the second was cut short as an arrow imbedded in the ground where her foot should be. “What the hell!” Andy yelled backing up from an invisible line.

“The lady said halt,” a man’s voice yelled this time, “Not another inch.”

Tiffany traced the shot back finding two little figures up in the tower with pointed hats. “Who are you?” she yelled up.

“We are the Dai Li,” the man called.

“Earth benders?” Tiffany asked.

“Well- no,” the man replied, almost embarrassed. He pulled out another arrow and prepared the next shot. “But I’ll shoot that pretty little head if you take another step.”

“Whoa, whoa. Ladies settle,” Andy said holding her hands out for a moment, “Let’s start over. Name’s Andy, my pretty little friend over there is Tiffany. Who are you?”

“Dai Li,” the man repeated again.

“Don’t be rude,” the women said softer, only to her fellow guard before she shouted down, “My name is Lyzz, my arrow happy friend is called Michael. What brings you here?”

“We have news for the King. Can we talk to him?” Tiffany asked. That plan seemed pretty doubtful now.

“You can talk to us,” Lyzz replied.

“And what scream up to you? Pass.” Andy nearly scoffed.

“We’ll come down.” You could almost hear the sigh from all the way down here.

It wasn’t too long before the guards stood in front of them with a green and yellow circle on their chest. Andy eyed Michael but mostly the bow he carried with him. “Is that logo on your chest for target practice?” Andy smirked.  He didn’t seem to enjoy the joke.

Tiffany looked over to her friend, not saying anything just checking if she was done. “We got news of an Equalist group that has been hunting your people. The King has to do something to protect his people.”

“Equalists?” Lyzz asked doubting, “Times are hard sure but there are no cults around.”

“How do we know you're not the Equalist group? Hmm?!” Andy said mouthing off at them and making a ridiculous face.

  Tiffany held back a laugh but her smile faded as Lyzz called over another guard with rock gloves on. Being outnumbered wasn’t really her thing. Lyzz gestured pushing Tiffany back getting in her personal space to do so.  Michael took a stepped back aiming an arrow at Andy.

  “Excuse you,” she huffed doing a round kick into the air, fire extending from her heel bleeding flames over the arrow.

“A fire bender!” he shouted in shock, dropping his bow before the whole thing caught fire.

  “Arrest the spy!” Lyzz ordered.

  “Hey wait, everyone calm down,” Tiffany said, remaining the level headed one.

  The earth bender shot his gloves out at Andy, wrapping around her wrists like a pair of cuffs. Tiffany tried to counter but before she could giant stone walls rose up around her, giving her no more than a foot on each side. She yelled, blasting bits of fire against the wall to no avail. The heat built up and she broke out in a sweat falling into a little pile on the floor breathing in short little breathes as if there wasn’t enough air.