Chapter 4: Off We Go!
Here's chapter four of the story... So I tell you, read on! XD
As Aang felt the light on his eyelids the next morning, he refused to open them. He wanted to stay asleep and go back to his dream. His sister was there, and he didn't want to leave her again. He hadn't dreamt of her since at the South Pole, and had nearly forgotten what she looked like. So he tried to dig into Appa's fur to avoid the sunlight. With hopeless efforts, he reluctantly opened his eyes.
He saw it was later than he thought, seeing that even Sokka was up and sitting at the fire, stirring some type of soup in a pot. Toph was sitting against a rock, laid back with her arms crossed with a piece of grass sticking out of her mouth. The King and Basco were still asleep, with the King using Basco as a pillow. Katara froze a bowel of water to use as a mirror as she braided her hair.
Taking a scan over the cave, his sister was nowhere in sight. So it was a dream, Aang thought. But then a ball of white and grey fur rolled across the cave. Momo was playing with another animal... Kiku!
"Should I start to call you snoozles, or is this just a one time thing?" Toph said with a smirk to Aang.
"Hey, not a bad idea!" Sokka said. No more nickname, Sokka thought happily.
"Well then, your twinkle toes!" Toph said to Sokka. Sokka shouted in rejection as Aang sat at the fire with a yawn. Getting his old nickname back, Sokka went back to stirring the contents in the pot.
"Want some soup Aang?" Sokka said as he lifted the spoon to let the soup fall back into the pot.
"Uh... sure I guess. Hey where's Akira?" Aang asked. Hopefully it wasn't a dream; otherwise everyone would think he was insane.
"Sokka's soup is made from the seal jerky he got from our dad." Katara said as she walked over, sitting beside Aang. "Akira doesn't eat meat, so she went to go get fruit from the moonpeach tree down the trail. I don't know if you'd want any of the soup Aang."
"Right. So after breakfast are we going to head back to Ba Sing Sa? The King will really need to get back." Aang said. Everyone looked to each other nervously. He really didn't know.
"Hey everyone! Aang, you finally woke up!" Akira said coming into the cave with an armful of fruit. As Aang turned to see, everyone else wiped their foreheads in relief, whew.
As everyone sat at the fire, including the King, they ate their breakfast trying to decide what to do. But Aang asked why not head back to Ba Sing Sa. "Well Aang," Katara began, "When you were hit by Azula, you were out cold. We didn't have enough reinforcements, so we had to run away. I'm guessing that now, the fire nation had a hold of the city." Katara said the last few words slowly as she looked at her hands so she wouldn't see his reaction.
The two twins sat there for a moment, mouths open in shock. How could this be? Ba Sing Sa was the un-impenetrable city! "What can we do? We've got to do something!" Aang shouted.
"Ba Sing Sa was the last chance for the earth kingdom! Really, we should go back!" Akira suggested.
"Stop!" Toph yelled. Then in a calm tone she said, "We need to figure out a plan. A well thought out plan put together but all of us, TOGETHER."
"What can we do?" The King said solemnly.
"First we should probably find a place to stay while we plan. Someplace not taken by the Fire Nation." Sokka said. Everyone thought of where to go. Not Omashu, the firenation still had a hold on that city. Then something clicked.
"We can go to Whale-Tail Island!" Akira announced, "That's where I was staying a while back. I'm almost positive it's safe there. I know a family there that'd let us stay there. They own the local inn."
"That's not such a bad idea." Katara said, "But what about Appa and the others. Appa isn't exactly pocket-sized."
"They allow animals. There's one room that's right by the stables. Hardly anyone uses it so it's in top shape. I helped there for a while before I went to Ba Sing Sa."
Part two…
"You guys," Sokka said solemnly, "remember, it's almost back home! Also how can there still be people, it's in the air nation!"
"I know what you mean. When I first was there, just earth nation people were there. I thought it was because of the Mai-Ju celebration they held way back." Akira said, "But then they told me about the war and all, and how earth nation and rebel fire nation people came together and rebuilt the islands city."
"I don't know, would we have enough time? Like Sokka said, its way down south. In a different nation and across The Great Desert." The King stated. Then Toph walked over to Sokka's bag and began to rummage through it. Everyone wondered what she was doing, especially Sokka.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Shouted Sokka.
"Hold your hog-horses snoozles!" Toph said as she walked over and sat, spreading out the map she held in her hands of the four nations. "This is what we can do to get there. Let me finish then you can say what you wish. Ok so we're here." Toph said pointing just south of Ba Sing Sa. "We can cross the Tai river and follow the Pahoe Mountain Spine to avoid the Desert." She continued tracing her finger across the eastern side of the Desert, following the mountains down the coast to just south of the desert. "Then we would cross the water pass between Whale-Tail Island and the mainland. It could work. If we traveled all day and as far through the night as possible, we could even make it tomorrow afternoon."
Everyone sat, examining the possibility of traveling that route. "Sure it might take a while longer, but hey, I'd rather be blind on Appa, than having my vision blurred in that desert."
"Wow, that's not a bad idea at all! I was thinking to go on the west side, but hey! It's not as hot on the East side!" Akira said.
"I say it's a good idea," Aang said, "We might even be able to talk to a few fire nation people to see if they can bend!" Everyone thought it was a good plan. But the weight on Appa would be a little over normal. So for the trip, Aang, Akira, Momo, and Kiku would fly throughout the trip with Sokka guiding Appa. They would head out as soon as possible, to not waste time.
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Authors Note You can look up the Avatar world map online to find the specific route!
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After a few hours, they had already crossed the river, and were a good hour into the Tai Spine. The sky was clear as the sun beat down. To the west, you could see the great desert on the horizon.
"Hey, how do you think Jet is doing?" Katara said looking up from a scroll she was reading.
"I've been wondering the same thing." Aang said as he flew beside Appa, "What was wrong with him anyway?"
"Well, that's the bad thing, I couldn't figure it out. It was something beyond my healing powers." Katara said sadly.
"This Jet guy, is he a friend?" Akira asked. A lot of things today she didn't know about, she let slip by. For instance, the whole desert scenario about some guy and a giant owl. They said he was in that desert right beside them. Then they were talking about Sokka and cactus juice. During these conversations, Akira and the King just shrugged and had their own conversations. He explained how the city had been ambushed with the fraud Kyoshi Island warriors.
Part Three... ha ha just for you watson122 the next part
As the day went by, it got hotter and hotter as they traveled farther away from the cool north. As the sun began to set, and the sky began to darken, they continued, determined to make it to the other side of the desert. Compared to the desert this was a piece of cake, all they had to do was keep each other awake, including Appa.
Millions of stars shone in the sky when they finally reached the southern part of the Tai spine, where they camped for the remainder of the night. Tired, they quickly set up their sleeping bags as the three earth benders quickly set up a sturdy dome over everyone to block the morning light so they could sleep. Not speaking a word besides 'goodnight' or 'see you in the morning' everyone was out before the lay their heads down.
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Akira woke the next morning sore. Even though flying is a great advantage, holding yourself up for so long can take it's tole on your arms. Sitting up and stretching her arm a little, she saw everyone was still sleeping. So, stepping out the cave, she put her hand to the ground and closed her eyes. Standing, she walked to the stream she felt nearby and washed up.
Looking at herself in the water, she sighed, "You can do this,"
She took her stance, concentrating on the water. Raising her arms, a small blob of water began to rise, and then with a plop, it fell back into the water. Frustrated she muttered, "Why can't I do this?"
"You're too tense," She turned to see Katara leaning against a tree behind her.
"Oh, hey Katara."
"Here, let me help." Katara said walking to the waters edge. "Like I said, you're too tense. You can't be tough like a rock, but flexible like the water. Copy what I do."
Katara pushed and pulled the water gently back and forth. Taking a deep breath, Akira allowed herself to relax. Mimicking Katara's movements, Akira began to see the water begin to move back and forth.
"Wow, I guess quick learning is an Avatar trait!" Katara said smiling.
So Katara continued to try to teach Akira the basics. Learning them all, she had been taught the same moves Aang had learned before they received the scroll. Talking, they found they had a lot in common. Katara decided she could trust Akira. Seeing it was brighter, they decided to head back.
When they got there, they found Sokka still sleeping. He did hold his title after all! Aang was tending the fire with the King sitting by. But Toph was nowhere to be seen.
"So you think you've got earthbending mastered?" Akira heard from not above, but under her. Then she heard something behind her. She turned to find Toph burst from the earth as she threw a huge boulder towards Akira.
Katara took refuge beside Aang at the fire as they watched. Sokka, still sleeping. Taken by surprise, Akira would have probably been hit. But she planted her feet and split the rock on either side of her, spun and threw a half back.
Toph side-stepped the boulder, but more were coming. Easily hitting them out of the way, Toph bended the metal pot on the fire behind Akira and bended it towards Akira's back. Akira turned, confused seeing that it wasn't rock, "Metal?" She said stumped, but quickly ducked as it flew over her head. Then Toph, taking the chance, hit her with a rock, hitting Akira to her back.
Toph walked over and held out a hand, "You're pretty good." Toph said.
Akira opened her eyes with a smirk. She quickly sunk into the ground. Using great force, she shot the earth under Toph sending her flying. Then she sprung from underneath and leapt into the air catching Toph and setting her on her feet. "You're pretty good yourself!" Akira said. "But how in the world did you bend the metal pot?"
"Now that secret is what makes me a master." Toph said with a smirk. Turning, Toph shifted the earth under Sokka back and forth, "C'mon Snoozle's... it's time for you to wake up! We've got to get going!"
Part four
They all packed up and set out once again. They made it before the sun set that day. On the map the island looked small, but it was huge! Coming toward it from the water, it looked like coming to a continent. They crossed about 5 kilometers of lush green land before the came to the vast village on the island.
Landing in front of the city gaits, they headed into the village. Unlike anywhere else, there were people from fire, earth, and water nations. The weirdest thing, they were all getting along together! Walking down the market streets, people were laughing and joking. Looking about Aang thought, 'Now this is what the world should be like, everyone together in harmony'.
Once they reached the inn, Akira walked to the door and lightly tapped 3 times. After a moment's pause, the door opened to reveal a boy a little taller than Akira, looking about her age; he had normal earth clothing on with light brown shaggy hair. He was barefoot which indicated he was probably an Earth bender.
"Akira! You're back!" He exclaimed as the two embraced in a hug. He pulled her back hands on shoulders and examined her face, "Well you're not dead, and you seem to be in one piece, that's always good." He said seriously. Then he broke out into a huge grin.
"Ha ha very funny! Hey Matsu, do you think your mom could lend me the summer house by the stables?" Akira replied.
"Sure, but why would you need such a big room?" Matsu replied then looked over Akira shoulder.
"Well, there are some people I would like you to meet." Akira said as she grabbed his wrist leading him towards the group. "Hey guys, this is Matsu. Matsu this is Toph..." Akira introduced everyone as they all waved in return. Then she came to Aang. ".. and this is my brother Aang, the other Avatar."
"Hey, so your the brother she won't stop talking about, nice to finally meet you!" Matsu said in reply holding his hand up for a high-five.
"Nice to meet you too," Aang said slapping Matsu's hand.
"Hey, you guys just made it for supper, let me go tell my mom while you guys get settled. Akira knows where it is I hope." Matsu said as he ran back into the door of the main building of the Inn.
Here's chapter four! Who is this Matsu kid? How does Akira know him so well? Well in the next chapter you'll find out!