Burning Ice: A Benders' Tale (avatar fanfic)

A/N: look im really sorry for skipping places Jinx could and see what they could be before the events in the main story but really it wouldn't effect Jinx all that much to the point i would dedicate a chapter and two days for it. also it's hard to decide what places would 1-benefit Jinx and two make a good story around.(spoiler warning) but once Jinx meets the team i will follow the series as intended unless its completely useless and won't matter much)

Ten days.

That was how long I had been buried in the endless archives of Wan Shi Tong's library, surrounded by the wisdom of ages past. Every day, I uncovered something new—secrets of bending arts long forgotten, philosophies of warriors and sages, and even the thoughts of those who had been lost to history.

But what stood out the most was a single scroll—one that sent chills down my spine, and not because of its contents, but because of what it revealed about my own bending.

It was about energy bending.

I had always assumed that my True Ice Bending was just an extension of water and air—an advanced fusion of their principles. But as I read through the scroll, I began to understand that what I was doing wasn't just bending water into ice.

I was altering the very essence of chi itself.

According to the scroll, energy bending was the oldest and purest form of bending, allowing a person to manipulate the very lifeforce of others. It was what granted the first humans the ability to bend the elements, and it was said to be the only bending art capable of removing another's bending entirely.

But my True Ice Bending was different.

Instead of controlling chi like an energy bender, I was transforming it.

I was stripping the heat from it—changing its very nature, reducing its motion, freezing its essence. It was more than just an element—it was a complete and utter shift in fundamental reality.

The implications of that made my head spin.

I closed the scroll and looked up at Wan Shi Tong, who had been silently watching me from the darkness of the library.

"You knew," I said, my voice steady.

The giant owl ruffled his feathers, his glowing eyes peering down at me.

"I suspected," he corrected, his voice deep and ancient. "I have existed for thousands of years, and in that time, I have witnessed countless forms of bending—each unique, each powerful. But what you wield is… different."

I frowned. "How so?"

Wan Shi Tong's gaze sharpened. "Most bending arts operate within the natural laws of the world. They manipulate what already exists—shaping, redirecting, flowing with the balance of the universe. But you? You are not simply bending."

I tensed.

"You are changing."

His words hit me harder than I expected.

"You do not simply command the cold," he continued. "You impose it. You take the very essence of chi—its heat, its energy—and you strip it away. You are not just moving the elements. You are altering the very state of existence itself."

I swallowed, my mind racing. "So... am I an energy bender?"

Wan Shi Tong gave a slow shake of his massive head. "No. Energy bending is the control of chi itself—molding it, bestowing it, or taking it away. You do not control chi. You reforge it. That is why your bending does not simply freeze water. You can create ice from nothing but air. You can make fire cold. You can disrupt even lightning."

I clenched my fists, memories flashing in my mind—how I had frozen an entire battlefield in seconds, how I had subdued fire without even touching it, how I had redirected lightning through ice instead of grounding it like a normal bender.

I had never thought about it before, but now?

It made perfect sense.

I exhaled, setting the scroll aside.

"Then tell me," I said, looking up at the owl. "If my bending is so different, how do I master it?"

Wan Shi Tong regarded me for a long moment before replying.

"You already understand the foundation," he said. "But knowledge alone is not enough. You must test it. You must push its limits. Only then will you see what you are truly capable of."

I nodded. I had already learned everything I could from these scrolls. Now, it was time to put that knowledge into practice.

I stood, stretching after days of sitting in the same position. My muscles ached, my mind was buzzing, but my spirit burned with a new sense of purpose.

I had come here for knowledge.

Now, I was leaving with understanding.

Wan Shi Tong watched me as I made my way toward the exit, his massive wings shifting slightly.

"Be warned, Jinx," he said, his voice echoing through the library. "Power such as yours will always draw attention—from both allies and enemies alike."

I smirked, stepping onto the staircase of ice I had made when I first entered.

"Let them come," I said. "I'll be ready."

Just as I was about to leave, something caught my eye—a worn, leather-bound journal tucked away on a high shelf. Unlike the ancient scrolls and tablets surrounding it, this looked personal, as if it had been written by someone lost to time.

Curious, I reached for it, dust falling from its surface as I flipped through the pages. My eyes widened as I recognized the name on the first page.

Yun.

The false Avatar.

I had read stories about him—the boy who was supposed to be the Avatar before Kyoshi took the title. He had been a prodigy of earthbending, trained to be the next great leader of the world, only to be cast aside when the truth was revealed.

And yet, as I skimmed his journal, I realized something.

His earthbending philosophy was unlike anything I had ever seen.

His movements weren't just about brute force—they were about precision, adaptability, and dominance. He described bending not just earth, but the very pressure of the ground beneath his feet. The way he bent the space around him to always have the advantage, the way he controlled the battlefield before his enemy even realized it.

This… This was perfect for Toph.

She was already a natural—her seismic sense alone made her one of the greatest earthbenders to ever live. But if she could integrate Yun's techniques?

She'd be unstoppable.

Without hesitation, I copied every page, rolling up a fresh scroll and sealing it for when I met her again.

With one last glance at Yun's words, I tucked the journal back into place. Some knowledge was best left buried—but this? This was meant to be shared.

I turned to see Wan Shi Tong watching me, his massive wings partially unfurled. His little fox assistant, the one who had greeted me when I first arrived, trotted up to my side, brushing against my leg.

I kneeled down, ruffling the small fox's ears. I had decided to name him Kitsu.

"Looks like you're my little guardian, huh?" I muttered, scratching under his chin. Kitsu let out a pleased chuff before rubbing his head against my arm.

Wan Shi Tong let out a soft huff. "It is rare for my fox spirits to grow attached to outsiders. You are an unusual one, Jinx."

I smirked. "You've said that before."

The giant owl lowered his head slightly, his glowing eyes locking onto mine. "You have proven yourself a seeker of knowledge, but knowledge alone is only the beginning. Return when you are ready. I wish to see what you create."

That got my attention. "You want me to come back?"

Wan Shi Tong gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Your bending is unlike any I have ever witnessed. You are not just a practitioner—you are an innovator. I would like to see how far you can take it."

I exhaled, feeling a strange sense of respect pass between us. This wasn't just an invitation. This was a challenge.

Before I could step onto my ice stairway leading outside, Wan Shi Tong spoke one last time.

"If you truly wish to master firebending," he said, "then do not rely solely on texts. Go to the last known location of the Sun Warriors. Only they hold the knowledge of fire in its purest form."

I froze mid-step. The Sun Warriors?

That was ancient history.

If they were real, then that meant… I could learn from the very people who trained the first firebenders.

I turned my head slightly, giving the owl a smirk. "Now that's something I might actually have to see for myself."

With that, I took my first step down the ice staircase, Kitsu watching as I disappeared into the desert night.

As I glided over the sand on my iceboard, using bursts of firebending to propel myself forward, my mind was already racing through the possibilities.

I had come to the library seeking knowledge, and now I had more than I could have imagined.

The secrets of energy bending and how it related to my ice bending.

Yun's philosophy of earthbending, which I knew Toph would love.

And now, a path toward unlocking firebending's true potential.

The Sun Warriors.

If I could find them, I might finally understand fire in a way that no modern bender did. Not just as destruction, but as creation.

I grinned to myself, the wind rushing past me as I surged across the desert.

The world wasn't ready for what I was becoming.

(Timeskip – Four Days After Leaving the Library)

The gentle lapping of the water against my back was soothing, the rhythmic sound blending perfectly with the distant rustle of wind through the sparse vegetation lining the riverbanks. The sky above was a deep, endless blue, the sun hanging lazily overhead, warming my face as I floated downstream.

Why was I doing this?

Because I was lazy.

After spending ten days buried in scrolls and ancient texts, my brain felt like it had been wrung out and hung to dry. I had absorbed an insane amount of knowledge in the library—ancient bending philosophies, forgotten techniques, energy bending, Yun's earthbending philosophy—but that kind of mental effort took a toll.

So, instead of pushing myself to travel with haste, I decided to take things slow.

And what better way than letting the river do the work for me?

The water beneath me was cool, but not uncomfortably so. It was like laying on a waterbed, soft and supportive, gently shifting under my weight. I had created a thin layer of ice just beneath my back, preventing me from sinking while still allowing me to enjoy the feeling of the river's current.

I stretched my arms out, letting my fingers skim the water's surface as I gazed up at the sky. I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. No sandstorms, no fighting, no endless traveling across the desert—just me, the water, and the distant chirping of unseen birds.

For a moment, it almost felt like I had no responsibilities.

But then I remembered—

I was still being hunted by the Fire Nation.

I still had to reach the Northern Water Tribe.

And I had just killed a group of sandbenders back at the library.

The momentary peace felt bittersweet when I thought about that last part.

I sighed, letting my body sink a little deeper into the water. No point in dwelling on it. They had attacked first, and they had paid the price. That was the reality of the world we lived in.

Still…

I glanced at the sky, watching as a few clouds drifted overhead.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I let myself enjoy the quiet while it lasted.

I had been floating for hours, allowing the river's current to take me wherever it pleased, when I heard a voice call out.

"Hey, stranger! Nice day we're having, ain't it?"

The unexpected greeting jolted me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes, turning my head toward the riverbank.

An old man stood there, waving at me with a friendly grin. He was dressed in simple clothes, the kind you'd expect from a villager, and his posture was relaxed, as if seeing a guy drifting down the river on a block of ice was the most normal thing in the world.

I lifted a hand and gave a lazy wave back.

With a small twist of my body, I stood up on the water, the ice beneath my feet shifting to support me. The river flowed around my legs as I casually walked across the surface, stepping onto dry land.

The old man raised an eyebrow but didn't seem particularly surprised.

Interesting.

"Hello, sir," I greeted, keeping my tone polite and respectful. No reason to be rude—especially to elders who actually deserved respect. "May I ask where the closest village is? I'm just a humble traveler wandering the world."

The old man stroked his beard, looking pleased. "Oh! The nearest village is Makapu Village, home to the great fortuneteller Aunt Wu."

Aunt Wu? That name sounded… familiar.

The old man suddenly clapped his hands together, his grin widening. "You know what? Why don't you come back with me? Aunt Wu told me I'd meet an interesting person down by the river today!"

That last part made my eyebrow twitch.

Something about being expected always made me feel uneasy.

Still, there was no harm in going with him—for now.

"…Alright," I said, slipping my hands into my pockets. "Lead the way."

And with that, I followed the old man toward Makapu Village, wondering just what kind of nonsense I was about to walk into.

(timeskip)

It took about an hour to reach the village. The walk wasn't too bad—peaceful, even. The old man kept chatting the whole way, telling me about how Makapu Village was famous for Aunt Wu's fortune-telling. Apparently, people from all over traveled here just to hear her predictions.

I wasn't sure how much I believed in fortune-telling, but I figured I'd keep an open mind.

When we finally reached Aunt Wu's place, it was a traditional-looking house, slightly larger than the others in the village. Red banners with golden symbols hung outside, fluttering gently in the breeze. There was an oddly calming aura to the place, like the air itself was different.

The old man led me inside, where a girl with short brown hair and round cheeks greeted us.

"Hello there!" she said brightly, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. "Oh wow, you're new here, aren't you?"

She leaned in a little too close, inspecting my face like she was trying to memorize every detail.

I took a half-step back. "…Yeah. Just passing through."

The girl didn't seem fazed by my lack of enthusiasm. "I'm Meng! Are you here to see Aunt Wu? She's the greatest fortuneteller in the world!"

Before I could respond, the old man beside me chuckled. "He's a traveler, Meng. Found him drifting down the river. Thought I'd bring him here, since Aunt Wu said I'd meet an interesting person today."

Meng's eyes widened, and she clapped her hands together. "Ooooh, that means you're important! Aunt Wu's predictions are never wrong!"

…Great. More fate nonsense.

I sighed inwardly. "So, where is she?"

Meng beamed. "Follow me! I'll take you to her!"

She practically skipped down the hallway, motioning for me to follow.

I exchanged a glance with the old man, who just gave me an amused smile before wandering off.

Well, might as well see what all the fuss is about.

With that, I followed Meng into the fortuneteller's chambers. 

As I followed Meng down the hallway, something clicked in my mind.

This village… Makapu Village…

I had heard of it before.

A vague memory surfaced—a boy in orange robes, a sarcastic warrior, and a girl who wielded water with grace.

Then it hit me.

This was where Aang received his fortune about marrying Katara.

This was where Sokka had one of his many reality checks about how powerful Aang actually was.

And—most importantly—this was the village that was nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption.

I frowned. That hadn't happened yet.

I didn't know exactly when, but I knew that sometime soon, a volcano would erupt, threatening the entire village. If Aang hadn't been here back then, the entire place would've been wiped off the map.

But he wasn't here right now.

I was.

The thought settled uncomfortably in my mind.

I had no obligation to warn them. This wasn't my fight. This wasn't my village.

But…

I looked around at the buildings, at the peaceful people going about their day, completely unaware of the danger lurking beneath their feet.

I sighed.

I'd deal with it later.

First, I needed to see what Aunt Wu had to say.

Meng led me into a dimly lit room, filled with the scent of burning incense.

At the far end of the room, sitting comfortably on a cushion, was Aunt Wu herself. She was an older woman with a calm, knowing smile, dressed in flowing robes that made her look like she floated rather than walked.

She studied me carefully, her sharp eyes seeming to pierce through me.

"Ah…" she murmured. "You are… quite the unusual one."

I raised an eyebrow. "That's a new one."

She chuckled. "Your energy… it shifts in ways I've never seen before. You do not belong to any one path, yet you walk them all."

I tensed slightly.

She continued, her voice soft but certain. "And yet… you do not know where your path leads."

I sighed. "That's why I'm here, isn't it?"

Aunt Wu smiled. "Very well. Let us see what the spirits say."

She reached for a small bowl of bones, shaking them in her hands before casting them onto a silk mat. Her gaze flickered over the results, her expression unreadable.

Meng leaned in eagerly. "What does it say, Aunt Wu?"

Aunt Wu was silent for a long moment.

Then, she spoke.

"Hmmm… your destiny is unique. It is empty, yet not at the same time, like an author writing a story but not knowing what comes next."

I blinked at that. That was oddly fitting.

"You could cause chaos, or you could inflict order… or perhaps, you will do both."

I raised an eyebrow. That was vague. Even for a fortune-teller.

But at the same time… it was enlightening in its own way. It meant that my future wasn't set in stone—that the choices I made were truly my own.

I leaned back slightly. "Hmmm… interesting. May I ask about my love life?"

Aunt Wu chuckled softly, as if she had been expecting that question.

"Hmmm… now this is something quite peculiar," she said, studying the cast bones before her. "Your love life will be very busy—not a simple love triangle, but a love star."

I stared. "A what now?"

Meng giggled beside me, clearly entertained by my confusion.

"A love star," Aunt Wu repeated, unfazed by my reaction. "Though I cannot see them all, I can see one of them clearly—a woman you will help break free from her chains."

I frowned slightly. Break free? Was she talking about someone trapped… or was it more metaphorical?

"The next," she continued, "you will help during her darkest time."

That made me pause. Darkest time…?

"The third… you will find each other soon on your journey. Your first meeting will leave an impression, but your interactions before that will place you on opposite sides."

That… did not sound ideal.

"In the end, however, you will be the one to give her purpose."

Aunt Wu's eyes flickered with something—perhaps amusement at my increasingly tense expression.

"The last one is… unknown, but you will meet her next year."

I nodded slowly, already feeling the headache forming from trying to process all of that.

Then, just as I thought she was finished, Aunt Wu spoke again.

"But that is not all."

I resisted the urge to groan. Of course, there's more.

"One day, you will be left with only one wife."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

"She will embark on her own journey, one of isolation, but the love between you will remain strong," Aunt Wu said gently. "She will give you permission to love another… and in time, two of your lost loves will be replaced."

I remained silent, letting those words sink in.

Replaced.

That meant that—at some point—I would lose two of them.

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. Alright. New plan. Once I stepped out of this room, I was not going to worry about any of this. I was going to let nature take its course.

One more question nagged at the back of my mind, though.

"…One last thing," I said, glancing at Aunt Wu. "Will I have kids?"

She gave me an amused look before gazing back at the bones.

"Yes," she said with certainty. "Quite a few, actually."

I stared. Oh boy.

"With your first wife, you will have two children—one will mirror their mother, while the youngest will take after your carefree nature."

I nodded. That seemed fair.

"The second will give you twins—a boy and a girl."

Twins? Interesting.

"The third… will also give you twins—two girls."

At this point, I was starting to see a pattern.

"And the last?" I asked, already bracing myself.

Aunt Wu's smile turned mysterious.

"The last is still unknown to me."

I frowned. "Meaning?"

"Meaning," she said smoothly, "that their fate has yet to be written."

I sighed, shaking my head. Of course. More mystery.

Still, I couldn't deny that a part of me was curious about the future she described.

Would it all truly come to pass?

Only time would tell.

I sighed as I stepped outside, rubbing the back of my neck. Was this visit beneficial or just another headache to add to the pile?

Aunt Wu's words still swirled in my mind like a storm. A love star? Wives? Kids?!

I exhaled sharply. Nope. Not thinking about it.

Meng followed me out, watching my expression with amusement. "So, what did she tell you?"

I gave her a sidelong glance. "That my future is going to be an absolute mess."

She giggled. "Sounds about right. Fortune-telling does that to people."

I snorted but didn't reply. My head was full enough without adding more to it.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught the distant shadow of the volcano.

Right. That thing.

I remembered how Aang had stopped the eruption in the original timeline. Should I be worried?

Tapping into my firebending, I focused on the heat signatures running beneath the earth's surface. My eyes flickered with dark purple energy as I traced the flow of the molten rock deep within.

After a few seconds, I let out a breath. Yeah, no. This thing won't blow for at least five days.

Not my problem.

I had enough on my plate as it was.

So instead of rushing up the mountain like some overeager hero, I turned back to Meng.

"Hey, is there a tea shop around here?"

She rolled her eyes but motioned for me to follow. "C'mon, I know a place."

And just like that, I moved on, leaving prophecies and volcanic disasters for another day.