Chapter One
"I thought this was suppose to be an Oasis," said Katara, looking at a dried up town that had nothing but a block of ice in the center.
"Heh," said Aang, unsure, "must be under new management…"
"Gee, I guess management would change after a hundred years," said Sokka in his usual sarcastic mood.
"Noooo, you think?" Toph said as she rolled her eyes.
"Look, maybe we can get some food over there," Katara said, leading the way past the block of melting ice and into a small hut surrounded by Sandbenders.
None of them were really sure about the Sandbenders, but they hadn't done anything to them, at least not yet, so they just uneasily walked by as one of them spat into the ground while watching them walked inside.
The inside was more promising than the outside. People were sitting at a bar and at tables with drinks made of cut fruit in coconut shells.
"Katara, I have to say, you reallllyyy know how to pick a vacation spot," said Toph more sarcastically than usual.
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad," said Aang as he got himself a fruit drink, but just before he could take a sip he bumped into someone, making him spill it all over his shirt and onto the ground.
"Hey, watch where you're going," he said, looking up at Aang from the ground of the hut.
"Whoops, sorry," said Aang, apologetically as he reached a hand out to help him up.
"Ahh, I guess it was partly my fault too," the boy said back to him, taking his hand to let Aang help him up.
"Hey, no worries. Look, I can clean it right off," he said as he worked his airbending to blow the drink off of him...and onto the stranger he had just helped up.
"Uh, HEY!" he said, starting to get really frustrated. "Ahh, dammit, now I'm covered in juice!"
"Way to go, Twinkle Toes. You managed to get him on the ground and then covered in the juice you were wearing," said Toph as she grinned and laughed in her head.
But before Aang could spit out another apology, there was a man studying him to his other side. He was too close for comfort for sure, but Aang didn't move. He just looked over at the man.
"Oh, wow! An Airbender! You truly are a living relic!" He said, taking notes as he studied.
"Uh, I guess," Aang managed to fumble out as he looked over at the guy he had just blown juice on.
"Tell me, what was your culture's primary agricultural product?"
Aang had no idea what to say. "Does pie count as an agricultural product?"
"Interesting," said the weird guy as he wrote down everything Aang said. "That's one for the journal!"
"Um, excuse me, but who are you?" asked Sokka.
"Oh, excuse me, where are my manners? I'm Professor Zei, head of Anthropology at the University in Ba Sing Se."
"You're from Ba Sing Se?" said Katara.
"Yes! I've been a Professor there for many years now, and I've devoted myself to learning everything there is to know."
"You wouldn't happen to have a map, would you? Ours is a little dated," said Sokka, showing them his old map they had found.
"Of course, here you go," he said, pulling it out of his bag and hanging it to Sokka, who promptly opened it up on a nearby table to look at.
They all took a moment to look at the Professor's map.
"Wow," said Katara, "you sure have made a lot of trips out into the desert."
"Indeed," replied the Professor. "I've gone out there many a time in search of Wong Shi Tong's Library."
The stranger lifted his head up at the mention of the Library.
"What do you know about the Library?" he asked, coming up to the Professor.
"Only that it has a vast amount of knowledge, more than any other collection or Library in the world.
"Including information related to the Spirit World," said the stranger under his breath, but it was just loud enough that Aang could hear him. He was surprised to hear this guy mention the spirit world.
Aang didn't have time to ask him about it though, because Sokka was already talking about going to the Library.
"Aang, this could be our big break," Sokka said, excited. "We really need some intel on the Fire Nation, and what a better place than the Library that has information on everything in the world? I've chosen my mini vacation, and I say we go to Wong Shi Tong's Library."
"There's a problem with that," said the Professor, getting everyone's attention. "I've journeyed into the desert many a time, taking many different routes and paths and ways, but I have never been able to actually find the Library. We have to be careful going out into the desert too. You never know what could happen out there."
"I think I have a solution," said Sokka. "You've never searched for it from the skies, have you?"
"Is that even possible?" asked the Professor.
"It is when you have a flying Sky Bison," Aang replied.
The Professor's face lit up with excitement. "You mean...you actually have one?"
"If you guys are going to the Library, count me in," said the stranger. "I've been looking for that Library for weeks now, and I've almost run out of options. I bet navigating a desert from the sky is a lot easier than on foot."
Everyone looked at each other, unsure about this stranger.
"Who are you, exactly?" asked Aang as he looked at this strange guy with golden hair and eyes.
He had a serious face full of determination as he looked into Aang's eyes. "Just call me Ed."
Aang looked at his friends for approval.
"It's whatever you think, Aang. I trust your judgement," said Katara, though she seemed a little unsure. Toph and Sokka nodded their heads in agreement.
Aang thought about it for a moment. He didn't know what this guy wanted with information on the Spirit world, but he seemed pretty determined and though he came off as a little rough around the edges, Aang's instincts and judgement of character told him that he was a good guy.
I'll just have to keep an eye on him… Aang thought to himself. I don't think he has bad intentions, but even if his intentions aren't bad, it doesn't mean it could turn out good for the Spirit World.
"I don't have a problem with it," said Aang, reaching out his hand to greet him. "I'm Aang."
The stranger accepted his handshake, where Aang immediately noticed something was off with his hand. It was so hot through the gloves, at least hotter than human flesh should be.
"I'm Ed, Edward Elric."
*Well, that's the end of the first Chapter. Reviews and favs are appreciated; I'm a lover of feedback :) Thanks!
