Chapter 4 A Fox and an Owl.
"Stand up Avatar." said a guard as Aang awoken from his sleep
"What is it?" asked Aang as he sat up.
"Your food." said the guard as he tossed in a tray.
Aang stood up and walked over to his food instantly his eyes widened. "Is this meat?" asked Aang as the guard nodded "I am a vegetarian."
"I am sorry if you don't like it but I don't really care, so eat it now or the Earth Bender dies." snapped the guard as he turned his flaming fist toward Toph.
"No don't I'll eat it." said Aang as he eat the meat almost gagging with each bite.
For the next two days Zuko and Katara rode across the Earth Kingdom's massive central desert, because of the smoke from the fires blocking out the sun the entire desert was cold. "Zuko I think I am finally getting used to this thing." said Katara
"Good to here." Said Zuko as the mongoose dragon jumped the distance between two large dunes, the jump caused Katara to latch onto Zuko yet again. "What was that about getting used to this?"
"Shut up you." said Katara with a small laugh the first she had done since Sozin's Comet had appeared in the sky.
"Sorry I just needed a break from the whole war." said Zuko
"We all need that sometimes but we need to keep an eye out for a fox." said Katara as Zuko's eyes widened "What?"
"There is one right there." said Zuko as he pointed to a nearby sand dune where a large red fox stood with a scroll in its mouth. The fox ducked behind a sand dune.
"After it." ordered Katara as they gave chase.
Meanwhile across the world Sokka walked around the yard at the boiling rock, he had been here for almost a week and he hated it already. The guards where horrible to everyone, even worst then before. He as a member of the Avatar's gang was now one of their favorite targets.
"Sokka." said a voice as he turned around only to be tacked to the ground by Suki.
"It's me Suki." Said Sokka as they stood back up but still they held onto each other.
"I was afraid that I would never see you again." Cried Suki as she held onto Sokka
"Don't worry Suki, I will think of a way out." said Sokka as he ran his fingers though her hair.
"Why are you being so kind to them warden?" asked a fire nation guard "They did ruin your record."
"True but I like to give my prisoners a brief moment of happiness every once in a while." said the warden "Also it will hurt more when I take them away from each other."
"I see, sir so how long should we let them stay together?" asked the guard
"A few more minutes." said the warden
"Sokka how are you holding up?" asked Suki as the two teens placed there foreheads together and just looked into each other eyes
"I was going to ask you that?" said Sokka
"I've been here before so it's back to my normal routine." said Suki with a grin
"I wish there was something I could of done differently." said Sokka
"Sokka our airship was going down, we saw Aang get beat by the fire Lord. You saved us." said Suki
Flashback
"What is going on?" asked Toph as Sokka gripped at the controls of their new airship, they had taken out a lot with Sokka's air ship strike, the crew of this airship had abounded ship fearing their ship was next leaving none of the smaller war balloons behind to make their escape. Now the other airships had them surrounded and shooting fireball into them.
"We are going down." said Suki
"No I can still make this thing fly." Said Sokka
"Sokka the ship is gone." said Suki "Just take us in for a landing."
"Fine I'll do it." said Sokka as he tried bringing the ship in for a landing.
End Flashback
"The next thing I know we are in chains." said Suki
"I can't remember it either." Said Sokka
"Time to break it up you two." ordered a guard as he tried to pull Sokka and Suki apart. However Sokka and Suki held onto each other as more guards came to pull them apart. Just as their grips on each other was about to break their lips meet for a brief moment.
Katara gripped onto Zuko as they rushed across the desert after the fox. "Were gaining on him." said Katara as they gained on the fox.
Suddenly the fox disappeared down a large hole into the sand. "Could this be the place?" asked Zuko
"It could be." said Katara as suddenly the ground shook and out of the ground shot a giant Black owl with a white face appeared.
"You dared return here?" asked the owl as he spread his wings.
"Wait we want your help." Said Katara
"My knowledge will not be used for human warfare." Snapped the owl
"You must know by know what has happened to the world." said Zuko
"Yes, I am aware of it." Said Wan Shi Tong
"What you don't know is my father's grand plan." said Zuko "He plans to destroy all mention of the Earth, Air or Water nations from history. All their knowledge is to be destroyed unless we stop him. He will find your liberty and destroy it."
"I will not help you." said Wan Shi Tong "Now leave or I will make you."
"Wait one more thing." said Zuko as he pulled a scroll from his pack. "My uncle gave me this. It is the Fire Lord Sozin's personal journal, in his own hand writing. It is yours if you just help us find someone who can help us."
"MMM…having the written personal thoughts of a famous man in history would be useful considering that most of my fire nation collection was destroyed." said Wan Shi Tong "Very well."
Zuko handed over the scroll "Can you tell us where to find the original masters of the elements?" asked Zuko
"You want to find the sprit beings who brought bending into the world?" asked Wan Shi Tong
"Yes." Said Katara
"Very well." said Wan Shi Tong "Wait here I will be back." Zuko watched as the owl flew up into the air before diving back under the sand.
"So he buried his entire building?" asked Zuko
"That's what I believe." said Katara a few minutes later Wan Shi Tong came back up with a scroll in hand.
"This should help you." said Wan Shi Tong as he handed the scroll to Zuko
"Your letting us have this?" asked Katara "I thought you didn't let people take out your books?"
"That is why I copied it." said Wan Shi Tong "You need to head to the island of the four elements."
"Thank you." Said Zuko as he bowed to the owl
"Your welcome now please leave and do not return." said Wan Shi Tong as he went back into the ground.
Zuko unrolled the scroll. "It's a map." as they looked down at the map. "This is were we are." said Zuko as he pointed to the dot marked the Liberty.
"And here is the island of the four elements." said Katara as she traced a line to an small island sitting between the Earth Kingdom and the Eastern Air temple.
"If we go at the same speed we did before we should get to the coast within a week once we get to the coast I don't know." Said Zuko
"My uncle does have a trading ship that runs to a coastal village over here." said Katara as she pointed onto the map "We might get a ride there."
"It's our best bet." said Zuko as he got back onto the ride. He extended his hand to help Katara up "Come on."
Katara reached up and took his hand as he pulled her up. Before taking off down the road.
"It is done they are on their way." Said Wan Shin Tong as he stood inside his libery
"Good." said a voice
"I don't like the fact that you wanted me to send them to you." said Wan Shin Tong
"You know as I do, we can't interfere directly with human problems." said the voice "By sending them too us you allowed us to bend those rules."
"I don't like bending rules, Rhyu. Even if it is for the master of fire." said Wan Shin Tong
"I am sorry but this has to be done." said Rhyu "If we don't our goals for this world will never come to pass. We need those two to make it to our island."
"They are coming, I have done my part." said Wan Shin Tong
"And I thank you once again for that. No I must prepare for their arrival." said Rhyu as he disappeared.
The next day Katara and Zuko had moved from the desert to farmland on their way toward the coast. Suddenly a fireball went flying right in front of their Mongoose Dragon's face. "What was that?" asked Katara as she looked to her side to see five fire nation soldiers riding Komodo rhinos.
"Them again?" asked Katara as she remembered them from the town that wanted to boil Aang in oil.
"They are the Rough Rhinos, an elite force." said Zuko as he forced the Mongoose dragon faster.
"How fast are those Rhino things?" asked Katara "You said that we are faster then any thing on the ground."
"In a distance run yes, but they are faster in short distance." said Zuko "So do you think you can slow them down."
"Sure I can." said Katara as she looked around "Head over there."
"Alright." said Zuko as he turned the Mongoose Dragon
"Soon I will have you Prince Zuko." said the leader of the Rough Rhinos Mongke as he sent another fireball down range. Meanwhile the Rough Rhino's bowman Vachir launched two arrows down range. The arrows flew between on either side of Zuko and Katara.
"They are getting closer Zuko." said Katara
"Alright we are here, hold on." said Zuko as the Mongoose Dragon stood up on it's hind legs and ran across the wide but shallow stream. Just as Katara and Zuko reached the other bank the Rough Rhinos reached the bank.
"After them." ordered Mongke as the rides sent their rhino's into the knee high water.
"Stop." ordered Katara as Zuko brought their ride to a stop. When they stopped Katara jumped off its back before running into the water toward the charging Rhinos.
"Take out that water bender!" ordered Mongke but it was to late Katara raised the water up past the Rhino's knees making sure that the legs of the riders where also in the water.
"Lets see you move now." said Katara as she turned the water into Ice stopping the Rhino's in their tracks and freezing the riders into their saddles.
"Nice one Katara." said Zuko with a grin as Mongke sent a wave of fire toward them.
"Thanks but let's get out of here before they free themselves." said Katara as she got back onto their ride.
"Hurry up, we don't want to disappoint our new fire lord." said Mongke as he started to melt the ice.
Across the world Azula sat on her throne in her new armor, it didn't have the heavy metal plates that her old on had instead it was made out of a rare type of silk called Iron Silk which was stronger then any known metal. Gone also where the battle dress replaced with blood red pants with a half cape on the back and high black boots that reached up to her knees. Part of her long black hair was pulled back into a small bun where her crown now sat the rest hung around her face and upper back.
"They are here Fire Lord Azula." said an Officer
"Perfect." said Azula as she brought her hands together "Bring them in."
Azula sat there as three people walked into the room, two dressed in Water Tribe blue and one in the green of the Earth Kingdom. "So you three are here from the Earth Kingdom and Water tribes."
"Yes, I am Pakku of the northern water tribe." said the old bending master
"I am general Fong of the Earth Kingdom army." said General Fong
"I am Hakoda of the Southern water tribe." said a younger man.
"You look familiar." said Azula as she looked the water tribe chief. "I know you; you are one of the leaders of the forces who dared to attack our homeland. Also your children are water peasants who traveled with the avatar."
"Yes, I am." said Hakoda "It is my hope that once we surrender I can take my children home."
"That will not be happening." said Azula "Your son is being used to keep the avatar in line, as long as the avatar follows our wishes he lives. As for your daughter we will have her soon and she will have the same fate as your son."
"You don't have Katara?" asked Hakoda
"No but soon we will, because you are going to help us get her." said Azula
"No I will not." snapped Hakoda
"Did I forget to tell you that if you don't help us, then we will kill every single water tribe member we have and wage war against you." said Azula with a grin. "Now as for the terms of your surrender there are none. You give up all your rights and in return we will not kill all of you."
"As much as I hate to say it, I have no choice the Earth Kingdom surrenders." Said General Fong
"I must also surrender." said Pakku
"So do I." said Hakoda "Can I at least see my son?"
"I will grant you that small mercy. He is at the boiling rock, I believe you have been there before." said Azula with a grin.
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I am saddened by the lack of reviews over the last two chapters. I don't know if I am going something wrong or what. Well I hope you liked this chapter and please read and review. Thanks Wilkins75.