Avatar: The Last Airbender
Book 4 Chapter 1
The Diplomats.
There was a time when the world was out of balance, the fire nation was poised to destroy anything in their path. The Avatar, the master of all four elements, was realized in a young boy named Aang. He brought about peace, but after 100 Years of war the world was refusing the heal. Years have passed since the wars end. With the Air nomads gone, and the world so utterly scarred, the last airbender seeks to bring the world into harmony once more.
"Aang, I know you have the duty to maintain balance, but this seems like more than we can do alone."
"I know Katara, but before the war was over... Just think of how stressful my job was then!"
Aang gave the biggest most reassuring grin he could, and Katara smiled back, although with clouds of doubt still lingering on her face. Appa gave another surge forward with a flip of his giant tail. They could see their destination clearly between the clouds: the fire nation royal palace. Aang brought Appa to land just outside the courtyard. The palace guard barely acknowledged the couple on the flying bison. Their visits lately have become nearly routine. As Katara tended to Appa, Aang moved with direct purpose toward the throne room. Staff in hand, he planted the rod firmly to the throne room's floor and addressed firelord Zuko.
"Firelord Zuko: I have come to discuss important matters of diplomacy. Please, I need a moment of your time."
"Very well, I am sure these are sensitive issues as always. Guards, leave us."
The royal guard marched out and closed the doors. Immediately the young firelord slumped and breathed a sigh of relief. Aang smiled and lightly stepped toward the throne as Zuko arose. They bowed respectfully at each other. They then smiled, and clasped hands tightly. Their smiles quickly faded though, as they both took a seat on the steps in front of the throne.
"Aang, I know why you are here."
"Then why-"
"Because! We are defenseless! I understand why the treaty cut our navy to one tenth its previous size, but agreeing to peace does not mean I will stand by and let our trade be ravaged by pirates."
"The earth kingdom has trouble seeing why expanding the fleet would be needed."
"Well, you see it don't you? Not a year after the peace, pirates have run rampant in the unpatrolled seas. The fire nation relys on trade! My people are all but starved, and that doesn't make me very popular."
The Avatar closed his eyes and gave a now familiar concentration...
"What if the earth kingdom fleet was to patrol?"
"You know that even with 10,000 of their ships, there wouldn't be a single pirate caught. The wounds from the war run too deep for me to rely on the earth kingdom, especially for my own protection. But. You can give them this assurance: of the navy I am reactivating, only half will be re-armed. I just need armored transport, and a few fully armed to escort"
"Thank you Zuko! I knew I could rely on you to make a diplomatic decision! I am sorry to run, but I must deliver this message, and take care of some business."
Aang waved and lightly jogged out; Zuko shouted "Maybe after I retire we will have time for some fun!" He reseated himself on the throne with a tired smile.
"Well that was fast." Said Katara with a bemused look on her face.
"Well, Zuko is more agreeable then most, even if he has to pretend he isn't."
"Yeah...Seems like the fire nation resents the rest of the world for the disarming. Like taking the claws off a cat-bear."
"Katara, let me help-"
"Oh no you don't. I am not such a fragile flower -yet." she said rubbing her belly. "Although in about 5 months feel free to pamper me all you want!"
Aang smiled and jumped up into Appa's saddle beside Katara. With two yips and a light snap of the reigns they were airborne once again. Aang felt an uncomfortable silence, and knew what was coming...
"I will have stop doing this in a few months...", Said Katara plainly. "No. WE will have to stop doing this in a few months or so." Said Aang cheerfully. As he said it though, he felt a blunt pain in his heart. He was worried, but he had been working on a plan.
"We have been playing Avatar: diplomatic errand boy for too long"
"Um. Agreed." Said Katara quizzically.
"I have a plan."
"Oh?"
"I have been thinking, this is way too slow. Even on Appa, it takes weeks to get a decision... I was thinking, instead of us coming to them, they could come to us!"
"How is that going to work?"
"The Central Air Temple."
"You never mentioned there was a central air temple!"
"There isn't one. At least, not yet..."
"So...uh where are we headed to...?"
"The new Bei Fong Estate"
The couple hadn't seen their earth bending friend in almost two years. She had established a new residence for herself inside the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. Toph would have easily gotten a house in the upper ring of the city had it not been for the disturbance her earth bending made. Appa descended from the clouds with a deep bellowing growl, tired from the days of flying. After cresting the great wall, the green expanse below stretched out before them. A few large arenas and a large structure interrupted the green patchwork. Appa circled the high stone building and it's elaborate architecture. They flew in close passing the main tower before landing near the front entrance. Aang and Katara were dismounting Appa's saddle when they were welcomed by..."The Bolder". Both Aang and Katara looked at each other and shrugged in confusion.
"The Bolder welcomes you to the Bei Fong School of Earth Bending. Please, let me carry your things."
"Where is...Toph"
"My apologies Avatar, the mistress is...um..eh.. indisposed."
"When can we see her?"
"Once she is ready to-"
They paused mid step. Toph came running and met them at the top of the stone stair case. She had a look of joyous excitement that immediately turned to disappointment. "Where is Sokka?" She asked in an soft tone. The trio at the bottom of the steps had not recovered form the shock of seeing Toph in such a formal state. She stood in front of them wearing a long green silk dress, with long slits running down from both hips, and a yellow silk dragon embroidered elaborately from the knee all the way to the neck. "A lot changes in a year." whispered Aang, getting his wits about him. "Not that much really..." Said Toph, slightly embarrassed. Aang and Katara finished ascending the steps, and Aang realized he was still looking -up- at Toph. "Yeah, a LOT does change." They hugged each other and the Bolder had wandered off with their bags. As they entered they saw the elaborate detail of the stone. Panoramas , stories, and an entire map of the world carved into the ceiling. They all sat down and poured tea.
"You did all this huh?" said Aang. "Well, I -am- the greatest earth bender in the world. Hey, uh, think I need to change, be back in just a second." said Toph. Aang and Katara sat quietly for a moment as Toph left the room and closed the door firmly behind her.
Both Aang and Katara had their eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Wow. I mean really wow. Toph sure went all out. I knew she made this herself but I had no idea of the...scale. I mean, I'm the Avatar and I couldn't bend like this!"
"I think you are missing the bigger issue here." said Katara, leveling her gaze.
"What issue?"
"The dress issue!"
"Um. Good point. She sure has changed-."
"-And gotten taller. Than you."
"Hey! I-"
Aang held his toung as Toph waltzed back in wearing green canvas shorts tied just below the knee, a dull but sturdy leather trimmed vest, and a light shirt underneath it. Toph did an about face and casually fell into a small mountain of pillows.
"So what are you here for twinkle toes? I hope its a lesson, because I haven't gotten to spar with anyone exciting in a loooooong time."
"I figure you know from the letters we sent that Katara is expecting."
"Oh Yeah! I can't wait to see what kinda little airbender is gonna pop out of ya!"
"Well, we came here with a project in mind. A big one that only an avatar and the worlds greatest earth bender could pull off."
"Heh, you always knew how to sweet talk me."
"The Central Air temple is-"
"Wait, what Central... Oh! I get it! I figured you for the big family type but wow! Are you having quintadoubleuplets?"
"Um, no, I'm just having the one." Katara blushed.
"Well, it isn't for her, us, I mean... it -is- for us but its really for everyone-"
"What Aang is trying to say is that we want to make a place where representatives of all four nations can come and work out their problems instead of just sending the Avatar all over the world."
"Sounds like a plan, but do you have any specifics?"
"Aang and I went over the map and figured we could stick it right near Tyro's town in the western earth kingdom"
"There are lots of things that go into this, no offense but you weren't always the big planner of the group. This place collapsed five times before I got it right."
Toph leaned back, looking at the ceiling more blankly than usual. "We need Sokka." Katara cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably. "... Oh! but let me show off my school!" Toph jumped to her feet, " It will be a treat for my students to see some masters sparring!"
Toph grabbed Aang and Katara, ushering them to one of the adjacent arenas. As they entered, a young earth kingdom boy rang a gong. Almost immediately young men, and a few young women scurried into position from every nook and cranny. Toph got a sly grin and gently led Katara off the stage. Toph stood in the center and raised her voice:
"Students! A special treat today! We have the Avatar himself come to challenge me! The rules are the same as always, although, the avatar will be limited to earth bending!"
As Toph strolled to the opposite end of the arena. Aang wondered just when he had agreed to this. Toph continued to face forward and pointed toward the young boy who promptly rang the gong again to start the match. Toph immediately slid a foot forward sending the dirt under Aangs feet out from under him like a carpet. Aang smoothly rolled out of the slip and answered back with a tremor that split the earth between Toph's feet. As her feet parted she regained her balance to one side of the crevice, spiking her heel into the ground and causing a rocky projection to rise beneath Aang. Aang absorbed the pilar and used its momentum to launch himself, and a large portion of it, into the air. With a double footed kick Aang knocked the core of the boulder toward the arena floor. Toph disappeared in a cloud of dust and debris. Aang drove his hands forward firing stones down like a machine gun. He landed and closed his eyes feeling for her presence in the cloud. Suddenly he realized the dust in the air was clinging to him, and had begun to swirl around him. It closed in and buried him in a fine silt that immediately became suffocating. With a yell, he let out his last breath and blasted free from the sandy clinch in time to see a giant earth spear flying toward him. With all his might he drove his fist through it, but it was simply too much mass for his light frame to suddenly overcome. The fragments of the shattered stone became an avalanche that pushed Aang out of the ring. The students jumped to their feet with concern. Toph walked from the dust cloud, and Aang poked his head out from under the tons of rock laughing. "Hahaha! I didn't know you could do that!" The students cheered in admiration and Toph dismissed them. Aang pulled himself out of the rock pile and bowed. The trio went back to the main room.
"You are definitely still my earthbending teacher."
"Hah! hardly! That was crazy how you fired those rocks off so fast! You will have to teach me that one!"
"Well, how did you do that thing...-"
"Its probably better to call it dust bending."
"Earth bending the dust?"
"Sure why not. It goes like this..."
Toph made a graceful but powerful sweeping motion with her hand. The dust and fine particles covering the arena swept back and forth obeying the giant broom of her hand.
"I guess it is a lot like airbending in a way. You have the same sturdy movement of earth, but it is weaker in a way since you don't want to move mountains, just dust. Cool huh?"
That night they laughed and joked like they had years ago, all while discussing ideas on how to make an amazing central air temple. While Aang slept soundly Katara and Toph laid awake talking for just a while longer.
"So where is Sokka? He hasn't sent me a letter in a really long time."
"My brother is running supplies between the tribes."
"Wasn't he on...Kyoshi?"
"He was..."
Toph laid back and stared at nothing. Katara hugged her knees and stared at the ground.
"Well, we'll track him down one way or another. I think his supply fleet should be harboring on whale tale island in a week or so."
"Why do you think he doesn't write back to me?"
"He...hasn't talked to me in a long time either. Dad still sees him on the turn around, but he is gone for a long time at sea."
"Something happened on Kyoshi huh?"
Katara laid back. Toph could sense the pain in Katara's heart starting to swell. Katara sighed, "I don't know." Toph let the silence of the room stay, and rolled over to sleep.