Sunstone (crystal)

:This article is about the crystal. For the Sun Warriors treasure, see Sunstone.
The sunstone is a small, red, and transparent gemstone found in the Fire Nation, serving various purposes. When the Sun Warriors built the locked room in their temple, they incorporated a celestial calendar on the floor outside. Above the door of the locked room, they placed a sunstone, while a pillar with another stone at its top was positioned opposite. The stones were carefully aligned so that, on the afternoon of the winter solstice, sunlight would pass through the sunstone on the pillar and strike the sunstone on the door, triggering the door to open.
In the Crescent Island Fire Temple, a sunstone was also placed at its summit, allowing sunlight to illuminate the sanctuary, the highest chamber in the temple.
== History ==
In 55 BG, Avatar Roku practiced entering the Avatar State within the fire temple located in Crescent Island under the guidance of Fire Sage Kaja. After several unsuccessful months, the frustrated Avatar decided to harness the energy of the sunstone during the solstice day. On the afternoon of the solstice, he positioned himself under a sunlit stone, and as the sunlight touched his face, he entered the Avatar State. Although Roku successfully entered the Avatar State, he could not yet control it. His body was within a ball of air, causing him to inadvertently destroy the temple. Fortunately, the resourcefulness of Fire Sage Kaja saved the day. By positioning the fallen sunstone to redirect sunlight onto Roku's face, he managed to bring Roku out of the Avatar State.Escape from the Spirit World: Avatar Roku Online Comic Book.
In 99 AG, the spirit of Roku's dragon, Fang, contacted Avatar Aang, instructing him to go to the fire temple and get into Roku's room precisely when the sunlight passing through the sunstone would touch Roku's statue's eyes. This would enable Aang to communicate with his predecessor. Despite facing time constraints and various obstacles, Aang managed to reach the room with the statue in time and engage in conversation with Roku. They conversed for a few minutes while the sunlight continued to shine upon the statue's eyes. In the final moments, Roku's spirit merged with Aang's body, assisting him in escaping the room, additionally to destroying the temple. As soon as the sunbeam shifted from the statue's eyes, Aang returned to his normal state.
Later that year, Aang and Prince Zuko arrived at the ruins of the Sun Warriors' ancient city. They sought access to the locked room, where they later discovered the Dancing Dragon statues and the sunstone, a holy artifact of the Sun Warriors. Outside the room, a celestial calendar was incorporated on the floor, marked by a sunlight that captured sunstone on a pillar. Normally, only on the afternoon of the solstice day would the sunlight pass through the sunstone on the pillar and strike the sunstone above the doorway, triggering the door to open. Recognizing the urgency of their mission, Aang realized they could not wait for the solstice day. Zuko, using his sword, managed to redirect the sunlight from the pillar's sunstone directly into the sunstone above the entrance. The plan succeeded, effectively opening the door.
== Behavior ==
The sunstone possesses spiritual properties and, when combined with the power of the solstice day's sun, it can facilitate a rapid entry into the Avatar State, as demonstrated by Avatar Roku in 55 BG and by Avatar Aang in 99 AG. Additionally, the sunstone can function as a technical key, using directed sunlight to activate door-opening mechanisms, as seen in the ancient city of the Sun Warriors.
== Trivia ==
* In the real world, a sunstone refers to a specific mineral, a reddish and somewhat transparent gemstone. In alternative medicine, it is believed to possess healing properties that can positively impact physical, spiritual, and emotional levels. The general concept behind its use is to provide energy, spiritual and emotional warmth, and aid in opening chakras.
== References ==
he:אבן השמש
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Category:Spirituality