Chapter 1 freedom

High atop a cliff side, where the river ends and a waterfall flowed. Where the burst of blue from the clear water, and a hint of pink from the leaves of a cherry blossom tree, blended to create a hypnotic sight.

A strange phenomenon was occurring. A line of bright blue, drew a circle in the air, as waves of steam that seemed so cold came from what could only be called a portal. Yet the strangeness of the situation, didn't stop there, because if you looked carefully, you could see a silhouette, and a faint shadow moving inside.

*thud.

Like it was meant to break this beautiful, yet strange seen, a loud thud could be heard. The disturbance causing birds in the high trees, to chirp and scatter. The ground seemed to steam woth cold vapor as a knee was pressed into it, the figure that was once inside the portal, leaned forward on its hands as it looked back. The persons overly long black hair, blew In the wind gracefully as there clothes shifted from the wind.

"Am I.. am I back? Truly.." soon a some what deep, yet calm and smooth voice came from the figure. His body moving as he pushed off one of his knee's and stood. Only to stumble back, his vision shifting slightly as he put his hand on the tree behind himself.

The twisted branches of the cherry blossom tree, casted shadows down over his face, while he closed his eyes. He stood unmoving for a while, his body sinking deeper into the tree as he felt the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze that blew ever so slightly, the moistness in the air from the waterfall not far away.

'There is no doubt, there was nothing like this in that place..' the mans thoughts went like this, his hand coming up to his face slowly. The sun coming through the branches touched his skin as he looked out to the sun. The rays of goldish orange and red. Started to fade as night tried to take over the day, still the massive outlines of a city could not be hidden, as be on that was the endless sea.

'Some how.. I forgot, forgot how the sun felt..' loving the sun, yet nope wanting to sweat. 'it's finally hot, a lot more comfortable then that place, damn it.. *sigh' the sun seemed to break through his open hand, between the fingers as it fell on his face. The only relief being the shade of a tall tree, it's leaves resting far above.

'Finally, I'm free.. but..' falling back once more, to lean on the trunk of the tree, the man thought to himself. 'How much time has passed, how much did I miss?.. and, and are the two of you.. still waiting for me?'.

A slight red tint came to his eyes as he looked out, his eyes firm as he looked out at the city. His eyes full of a sadness as he thought back on so much, on everything he left behind and how he wasted so much time.

'Enough, no need to worry about the past, first I need to figure out when I am.. then we can worry about how to fix this..' finishing with his thoughts, he walked into the sun, going towards the edge of the cliff and looking down at the mountain slope. His legs flexing a little as the ground cracked, jumping down as he landed and started to slide down the side.

[An Hour Later].

"I could have moved faster but taking it all in is really a lot, it's so different from what I remember.." the man thought, his 6'3 height moving through the trees, his long black messy hair moving across his back, while he put his hand up to grab a plum from a low branch.

"Guess I should use that.." his voice and body came to a stop, his legs spreading apart, along with his arms as a force came from his body, his chi moving along something in the wind. The world around him changed as the chi pulse from his body spread out, far from his actual body. only for his eyes to shoot open and him to look far off In the distance. First to the south and then to the east where the city was.

'Looks like that reversed rodan wanna be told the truth, seems like my connection to those people are still there, even if there is more with one them the others.' Looking to the south, the man turned and started to walk, looking back at the city for a second as his face became somber.

[Meanwhile - unknown location in the spirit world]

'That brat made it out.. even if I knew how much time has passed, he would only add more guilt on the both of us..' In this place of rock and cold, a creature thought to itself. It's massive bird like shadow, moved with in its sleeping place as it's eyes glowed a mesmerizing blue as it looked at the ground. The ground dug in from a young boy, who trained here for so long that the ground was flattened.

'I have taught you all that I know, the rest of it is up to you.. find what it is your looking for.. and hope it is not to late.' Steam came out of its nose, its head laying down once more on the ice covered ground below, as it felt sleep calling once again.

'I hope you find that, and what it means, because I do not know.. I am truly sorry, my child..' we're it's last thoughts before it drifted to sleep once more.

[Back with Mc]

'Hmm, 4 hours of walking.. still I can't say it was wasted..' walking up a rock path, to a massive tree, it's roots twisted as it lifted the actual massive tree, high above. His steps soft but firm as he walked up a rocky steps below his feet into a cave of some kind.

"So you finally made it back, soft feet? It's been 9 years." Under the tree like cave, a deep yet feminine voice spoke.

The words of nine years, it rang in the mans years as he stood in the shadows. 'Nine years, really?' This thoughts moved all around as his eyes moved to the person inside the deep cave.

"Yes it has.. it has been a long time, how are you toph or should i say.. mother?"