#i will break/bend rules to make rangshi still happen ok?

[swiftsaltsweet]

The Fire Sage Fiasco Chapter 1: The Party

Characters: Rangi and Yun (Kyoshi variant later)

Pairing: Rangshi (variation, reincarnation by a diff name :'D)

Summary:

It was just supposed to be a normal birthday for Rangi, but everything changed when the Fire Sages attacked!

(AU: What if Rangi was the Avatar?)

Other Sites: AO3 

A/N: “Another Kyoshi/Rangi centered fic, Salty?” What if I said I have a problem? ;w; Or should I say I was possessed? TT0TT

(also I realized I never posted this on here...oops)

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The sun was high in the sky with nary a cloud in sight. Rangi nibbled on what was probably her hundredth mushroom in the past hour. Her mother really went all out for her birthday. Despite the price and season, her mother had found a way to fully stock a special reserve of stalknose mushrooms just for her.

There were plenty of other delicious foods for her guests to enjoy. Her guests, which was just a small gathering of Avatar Kuruk’s, and now Avatar Yun’s, entourage, and some of her own well extended family members. 

Avatar Yun had convinced Jianzhu to celebrate Rangi’s sixteenth birthday in the Fire Nation on her home island. She told him he didn’t need to, and that she was fine celebrating it in Yokoya, but secretly she was relieved he’d done it. Turning sixteen was an important year in the Fire Nation, so the fact she was able to do it here was a blessing like no other.

The only downside is that her days before and after her birthday had been and would be filled with more and more dry Avatar meetings. Not that she completely minded, as long as she was helping the Avatar and fulfilling her duty, she was content. There was nothing she’d trade in the world for her position.

“I never thought I’d see the day! You? Enjoying something? Who would've guessed!” She heard a chuckle beside her. 

Rangi turned around and saw Avatar Yun, and pouted as she stopped consuming one of her glorious mushrooms. “What? They’re…..a delicacy. I’m just enjoying them while I can.”

“You know you’re allowed to say ‘I like this,’ right?” He grinned at her. 

She blushed in annoyance. “I-I know that! I’m just saying, it’s great to enjoy such a rare opportunity. Is that so wrong?”

He raised an eyebrow, his stupid grin turning into a stupid smirk. “So, translation, ‘I really, really like these stalknose mushrooms, Yun! I hope I get them every birthday!’ Is that right?”

Rangi kicked a sturdy rock towards him, which he knocked away with a wave of his finger. 

“Attacking the Avatar, now?” He squinted at her, challenging her. Well two could play at that game.

“It’s my birthday wish,” her voice dripping with sarcasm as she gave him her own smirk, now tapping another rock at him. He kicked it up and started to juggle it. 

She kicked up another rock, then another, and another. And he caught each one, and juggled it expertly. He switched from two hands, two just juggling them with one hand, and mocked yawned with his free hand. “Is that all you got?”

“Oh? Is the circus in town?” A disapproving voice approached. It was Rangi’s mother, Hei-Ran. 

Rangi stopped what she was doing, and stood at attention. Yun dropped the rocks he was bending and gave her a sheepish smile. “Oh, c’mon Sifu! It’s a birthday party! We’re just having fun!”

Hei-Ran massaged the bridge of her nose. “That type of fun is only allowed for children or Air Nomads. Both of which, you two are neither.”

The two teens pouted, even at a birthday party, they had to be mindful of who was around them. Even among her own family, they had to maintain their image. Maybe I should’ve had it back in Yakoya. Rangi thought sullenly. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about some of the more troublesome Fire Nation customs. It was her birthday, surely some tomfoolery wouldn’t be a sin?

A rock whizzed past Rangi right over to Yun, Yun snapped his arms to catch it. “Air Nomads can have fun you say? Then what if this Air Nomad dragged them into it?”

Kelsang approached, giving Hei-Ran a cheerful grin. Hei-Ran responded back to her old friend with a small frown, and then a nod, before walking away. Yun looked at Hei-Ran confused, but Rangi completely understood the interaction. ‘Took you long enough, now they can let loose. But don’t drag me into it.’

Kelsang took the opportunity to air puff up the rocks Yun had previously dropped, which caused Yun to start juggling again. 

Rangi resumed her original goal of finding the nearest rock, and then kicking it over to Yun like a ball. Kelsang mirrored her, but would find much heavier rocks to airbend over to the boy. Yun expertly caught each one.

Rangi found one about the size of a Kuai ball. She put her toe on top of it, before flicking it and maneuvering her same toe under it, as if she was going to juggle it with her foot. Outright kicking this rock at Yun would’ve hurt her too much, she needed to find a way to throw it. But bending down to pick it up made her feel uncool, so she opted for a foot throw.

She anchored her other foot down, and thrusted her foot forward. It sailed to Yun easily, which surprised her a little. It felt lighter than it had looked, but she chalked it up to her leg muscles getting stronger from the new horse stance routine she'd recently started. She couldn’t help but feel a bit proud knowing her muscles were getting stronger, just because she upped her training regiment a bit. 

They kept up the pace, and eventually Yun started to draw a crowd. Impressed by how much earth he was bending at once. 

The only thing that could make them stop was a gasp at the front gate. Everyone turned their heads and saw what the commotion was. 

A group of Fire Sages were marching towards through the gate, they looked haggard like they had sprinted to get there. It must’ve been an emergency.

Rangi stood at attention and flanked Yun, the party was over, she was in Avatar bodyguard mode again. Yun masterfully stopped the juggling, and lowered the pieces of earth safely to the ground.

“What seems to be the problem?” Yun asked the approaching men. Jianzhu and Hei-Ran approached just as fast as the sages, flanking Yun and Rangi’s side.

The leader of the Fire Sages stepped forward. “A-Avatar….” he gasped. 

He looked at the ground, unable to look in Yun’s direction, or any direction for that matter. None of the sages behind him could do so either. 

They looked pale, like they’d seen a ghost. 

“Yes? Again, is there an issue?” Yun’s eyes softened upon seeing the older man’s distress growing more and more.

“I-I’m sorry, Avatar!” The leader’s hand flew to his forehead, wanting to run it through his hair, but instead he almost knocked his hat off. “We-we didn’t know! It….It wasn’t time! We thought we had more time, but-but the sacred fire it just…… We had no idea! Something went wrong! Terribly wrong!”

He was choking out sobs now. Almost as if he was awaiting a divine punishment.

Benevolence rested on Yun's face as he took a step forward, reaching his arm out to comfort the sage. “Please sir, it’s ok! I’m sure whatever it is we can fix it-”

The sage head shot up, and took a step back away from Yun. As if afraid he’ll be struck by lightning. “No! No, it cannot be fixed!” He was almost angry, but where it was aimed at was anyone’s guess. 

“You cannot talk to the Avatar that way!” Rangi yelled at the man, who curled in on himself in response. 

Yun put his hand up, signaling to her that it was alright and he didn’t mind the man’s outburst. Rangi fell back.

“I-I can’t believe….” As the leader was mumbling trying to figure out what to say, a younger sage started to speak up through a thick sob. “I…I can’t believe it. That Avatar Kuruk’s record was broken, and s-so soon…and…” The young sage then began to wail.

Yun looked back at Rangi and his sifus, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. Rangi, Kelsang, Jianzhu, and Hei-Ran could only return the exact same look right back at him. What record was there of Kuruk’s to break? From one of his silly competitions? It was the only thing that made sense. But why would something like “heaviest boulder lifter” bring the Fire Sages to tears?!

The younger sage collapsed to his knees, his brethren trying to get him to stand back up. Tears were silently streaming down their faces as well.

The leader spoke again, his voice shaky. “I apologize, this should be a happy occasion. I-we….. It’s just……  thinking about how this has come about, it’s just horrible.”

The younger sage was wailing louder, through his sobs Rangi could only hear one phrase ‘too young, too young.’ He kept repeating it, like a chant. It set her entire being on edge. Her bones, her blood, her skin, it all prickled. It wasn't something bad that happened, it was something ghastly. 

Finally the leader picked his head up, and looked directly at Jianzhu of all people. His face looked like it had aged a hundred years. “I am so sorry. You all were robbed.”

Jianzhu stepped forward, his voice booming. “Robbed?! Do you mean Yokoya? Or one of my other-”

The leader held up his hand to stop Jianzhu from speaking, and just shook his head.

“Then what?! What was I robbed of?!” Jianzhu bellowed. 

The leader didn’t answer, whatever it was, it was too painful for him to say. Instead, he just turned his attention to Hei-Ran, his eyes pleading at her.

“Jianzhu, hold on.” She put a hand on her friend’s shoulder and pulled him back. “Fire Sage, please state your business here. I don’t think we can handle any more of the suspense.” 

She gave a small smile to the older man, surely hoping that friendliness would coax the answers out of him. It worked. He seemed to regain some composure, and gathered the strength to push forward. 

The leader closed his eyes, and his voice shook. “We’re here for the Avatar.”

Yun took another step forward, exasperated. “Well I’m here, so what-” 

“Not, you.” The sage cut off Yun, his face was now hardened refined like pure steel.

In what felt like an eternity, they all witnessed the Fire Sages’ eyes slowly drift towards Rangi. It took another eternity as they each, one by one, sunk to the floor into a full dogeza bow. 

“It is our honor to serve you. Avatar Rangi.”

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A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuuuh. 8U Was just going to make this a “haha” silly tumblr post on my main account. But then I was like “Oh but what if I really just dove deep into this lil nugget?” And now we’re here.

Anyway, AHHHHH lol, I dunno where I’m going to go with this (don’t expect fast updates TT0TT). I’ll break canon if I can get Rangshi to work (actually I don’t think I have to break anything, iirc I think I can make it work with what LoK gave me)! But atm I just wanna spiral with this and Rangi~! 

I did make an alternative version of this, it’s a one-shot called “Tea Readings”. ;U It was supposed to be funnier, but it ended up being dramatic too TT0TT 

Btw, I’m writing this before Reckoning of Roku comes out, so…..if they explain how they identify the Fire Avatar……..and it happens to not be how I do it….well…..darn. 8U How they identify the FIre Avatar was hinted at here, but should be fully explained for the next chapter (only two chapters have been fully planned, I have an idea of what to do next but nothing typed out yet).