So its been a while...A very very extremely LONG time since I last updated (a month maybe? Somethin' like that) so anyway, I've been working on and off on this single chapter continuing to redo it over and over again! It was crazy :P I probably went through three different possible story lines, but I think this is a winner ;)
Moving on now with the story!!
Btw, if you all didn't know I in fact do NOT own avatar or any of the characters affiliated with avatar
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Previously .....
Tiana was shown weakly trying to shade her eyes from the bright sun, a tear seemed to slide off the tip of her nose. Sai then entered the garden in time to watch Tiana clench a fist around the fabric of her shirt and fall forward. Sai stood in place in obvious shock. "Stop it" Sai yelled out Tiana's name, rushing over to her, picking her up and stroking her hair showing her a small vial "No..." Tiana reached her hand up and stroked Sai's face using her thumb to wipe away a stray tear, she whispered something to Sai before her hand went limp to her side.
Sai paced back and forth outside Tiana's room raising his hand ever few minutes to tell Tiana of his decision "What if she doesn't understand? What if I hurt her like Zuko did?" Sai finally mustered up the courage, grabbing the doorknob and flinging the door open. Katara flew back against the wall in surprise by the spontaneous entrance "What the? Sai?!" Katara shrieked "I- Sorry.. um.. Katara, can I talk to Tiana for a bit..." Katara nodded, sitting in place "Umm.. alone.. if you don't mind" he said still holding the door open "Oh... right" she said slightly embarrassed, getting up and walking out into the hall.
"What's up Sai?" Tiana asked cheerfully "I...I'm being sent on an errand" Tiana tilted her head in confusion "Okay?" he wandered over to her side , kneeling to the ground "I may not be be back for-" Tiana smiled "I know...Kanna told me" she said simply "But.." Sai wasn't exactly sure what to say, while glad she wasn't upset in any way shape or form, he was a little as strange as it sounds, let down that she wasn't.. Not that he wanted her to be, but he was just expecting more of a reaction out of her. "Well....I'll be gone for a few weeks at the least" she put her hand on Sai's "I know, and I'll be excited to see you when you get back" her voice had no signs of cracking or anything "I'm leaving today" Sai continued still with the small want for her to elicit some sort of emotion showing that she didn't want him to leave her. Tiana smirked "You're disappointed by my reaction, or lack thereof" she said bluntly "What?" Sai asked stunned by her statement "You expected me to be sadder, Sai I don't want you to go but after.... Zuko left, I don't think its possible for me to be sad like that again" Sai was almost jealous at the fact that there still was a pained look in her eye even at the mention of Zuko "I- I understand" he told her "No I don't understand..." he thought to himself honestly "Well.. my boat is leaving for Wugou Mu in about an hour so I guess I had better be going so I'm ready to go.." as Sai was getting up he felt the grip on his hand tighten and saw a tear roll down Tiana's pale cheeks "Be back soon" she said smiling "I will be" and with that he left.
Katara re-entered the room "What's mopey's problem?" she asked sarcastically, piling pillows on the ground before taking a seat "Oh, he's leaving for a while" she answered simply, turning on her side to face Katara "Right, the whole 'gathering herbs' thing that Kanna was telling us about earlier" Tiana nodded "Yep, that would be it" Katara smirked "And I gather he didn't like your reaction?" the older girl nodded again "Right again" Katara looked down for a moment "You know, he really is a good guy.. And he's doing this for you" Tiana stared out the window "I know, but I can't help it if I can't love him like I love Zuko" Katara sighed "Well anyway.... How about we go and have some fun in the kitchen, I know some good recipes from the southern water tribe!" she said eagerly standing up to her feet "Lets do it" TIana answered in agreement as Katara helped her into the wheel chair.
"Zuko, this is dangerous... I don't think we should..." Aang continued to warn "I know the consequences but if this should work! Its worth it" Aang saw the desperation in Zuko's golden eyes, he wasn't sure what to say to the future Firelord "So there's nothing I can say to discourage your decision huh..." Zuko shook his head "Sorry Aang...but no" he said while dressing in the robes he'd been given for the ritual "Zuko.. We're not dealing with anything normal! You're actually going to the spirit world!" Zuko placed a comforting hand on the young Avatars shoulder "Aang, I'm sure we've been through far less normal things than this" Zuko said looking directly into Aangs stormy gray eyes "Alright Zuko... If you really are that dedicated to doing this then.... Just tell me what to do" Aang said, determination in his eyes "Thanks Aang"
"We're ready" one of the more civilized guards said from the doorframe, Zuko inhaled and exhaled loudly before putting on his bravest face and walking out the door, following the bulky man to where the ceremony would take place "Ahh... Zuko, you're still going through with this? Hm... I'm impressed by your bravery... although foolish as it may be... I will however give you one last chance to back away from this and find other means of saving her, if it had been any other situation Zuko would've accepted his last request and continued his journey elsewhere "I'm sure" he said in a strong voice "Well then, let the ceremony begin!" the healer called out, his voice echoing through the room. Zuko looked down, noticing the small pendant that was still wrapped around his wrist, remembering when she'd given it to him. "Aang, if something should happen.. I want you to take this back to the Firenation... and I want you to give it to Tiana and if thats not possible...give it to someone who'd cherish it" Zuko said, Aang agreed, although not wanting to think about that as a possibility.
Zuko walked up to the healer, kneeling on the pillow opposite of him. Zuko took a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever may happen, the guards drew the curtains making the whole room pitch-black causing an uneasy feeling to form in Aangs stomach, his stomach continued to churn when the guards began chanting some ancient incantation "First, we require a drop of blood from an innocent!" the healer said, staring down at Aang, Aang stepped up to the platform, holding out his hand. The old healer brought out something that looked like a wooden knife but thinner and sharper, he did a quick prick on Aangs finger who instinctively pulled away. The healer motioned for Aang to resume where he previously sat.
The old man tapped the wooden object causing a drop of blood to fall into a wooden bowl, he mumbled something before blowing dust into the bowl. He mashed up some sort of green herb, tapping a small spoon that held some sort of liquid, causing the liquid to drip into the bowl, to Aang and Zuko's surprise, purple smoke rose out of the bowl "Okay Zuko, now empty your mind and.." he held the bowl under Zuko's nose "inhale" Zuko did as he was told and inhaled deeply. "Now Zuko... How do you feel?" he asked, Zuko squinted at the older man "I-I feel... dizzy..." he said, swaying slightly "Perfect" was all the healer said, watching calmly as Zuko fell onto his side. "ZUKO!" Aang yelled running to the platform with worry, only to be stopped by a long staff held in front of his chest "Don't move Avatar... his walk into the spirit world has begun"
While this was happening
"All this so delicious!" Katara gushed at all of the ingredients that were laying on the kitchen counter "They're not even cooked yet and I want to eat it all already!" Tiana smiled from where she sat at the island "Try to restrain yourself from doing that, we need to bake these goodies first" Tiana said smirking "I know, but I still think it'll be hard not to at least sample some of this! I mean, did you even know that the Earth Kingdom something as yummy and sweet as this natural delight?" she asked while popping one of the small clusters of 'goodness' in her mouth, Tiana eyed up the product "Umm...what's that called?" she asked, Katara didn't really look before now "Hmm... it says Tian Shi-tou" as the words left the young waterbenders mouth the older girl couldn't help but laugh "Thats natural alright! Tian Shi-tou means 'Sweet rock'!" Katara's eyes widened at the newfound information, immediately rushing over to the sink rinsing her mouth of the food she'd been previously scarfing down.
"You could've told me before you know!" Katara said with a glare "I could've, but I didn't know the name either" she answered innocently, Katara thought for a moment and came to the conclusion that it'd be best not to argue with Tiana for the fact that TIana could make almost anything sound logical "I guess you're right...." Tiana smiled, reaching for one of the cooking books "Want to start with the water tribe recipes?" she asked while holding a light blue book that looked like it'd fall apart any second "Sure!" Katara answered excitedly "And I know the perfect recipe to try!" she said eagerly reaching for the book and quickly scanning each page till she found it "Here it is! Snow puffs" Tiana peered over Katara's shoulder to see what it looked like "Oh, those look great! Lets start on them right away!" she said as Katara looked through the ingredients then going through the ingredients they had laid on the table.
"Oh darn" Katara said while looking down at the book sadly "What's wrong?" Katara looked up at Tiana "Its just that these needed to be flamed last night, frozen and then we could use it" Tiana looked at Katara with a cocked eyebrow "Is that all? Hand me that book" Tiana looked from the book to the ingredients, quickly whipping up the outer shell "Now watch" Tiana lit the metal bowl on fire before blowing on it immediately causing a bit of frost to collect on the top,dousing the fire completely "You should really consider a career in cooking" Katara noted "Now lets get started!!" Katara said looking to Tiana "I feel....funny" the older girl said, giving an odd look to the young waterbender before falling to her side off the chair.
"Tiana!" Katara shrieked as she watched her friend fall to the ground, luckily Sai had been passing in time to catch her from what would've been a nasty fall "What happened?!" he asked worriedly, his bags that lay in the hall were long forgotten "I-I don't know.."
And thats it.... haha I was working on this for a while and I lost interest then gained interest, then I didn't want to do this chapter and just skip to the next one, because I have wonderful plans for the future of this story! Sorry it was so short though :P . Anyways, rate and review my lovelies, I appreciate your love and support ^.^
(Just letting you people know that there WILL be an eventual background to 'the healer' but I refuse to reveal it right now xP)