Right after I found the letter, I found a book resting on top of my pillow. It's title was, Wonders of the World by Hugh Jain Gau. It was about beautiful, historical cities and buildings throughout the world. I knew because I read this a few years ago, repeatedly, while learning how to air bend back at the Northern Air Temple. On the first page, was a cut-out picture of the Earth kingdom. On the back of the picture was the following written words: What you're looking for is deep within the center of the Earth Kingdom. I shoved the picture back into the book and exited my house.
"I'm going to the Earth Kingdom," I told Cabel. "The first clue to where my parents are is somewhere in there and I have to find them."
"You're what? You're crazy, right? What if it's just a set up?"
"I don't care. They have my family and I'm bringing them back home."
"You can't go by yourself."
An eyebrow of mine had raised without me wanting it to. "You'll be surprised on what I can and cannot do. And this is one of the things I can do with my hands behind my back. Sorry, but, I'm going. Whether you like it or not." I walked passed him, only for him to grab onto my forearm.
"Wait," Cabel said. "I'm going with you."
"You are?"
"Of course. You need a right-hand man when things get too tough, don't you?" he asked, chuckling. "I have your back if you have mine."
With a nod, I agreed to let him tag along, and we went to the closest air port. For some reason, the landing port for the Earth Kingdom had been shut down. The clerk behind the counter said something about there being a new landing strip being made, and no plane can land there for a few days. To me, it sounded sketchy. But, for the clerk, all it meant was that we had to find a new way to the Earth Kingdom. It was at least three days on foot for us if we decided to walk. Cabel led me to his uncle's animal farm, where he tried to convince his uncle to let us borrow two of his finest horse dogs. Unfortunately, it didn't work. I gritted my teeth, because I knew what I would have to do in order to find gas-less transportation. I knew where to get it, but I didn't want to go there and ask. To my luck, it ended up coming to that conclusion.
I knocked on the royal family's door. The guards stood by. Yuki opened the door. She was a beautiful young woman, tall and curvy, with wavy, black hair and almond-shaped golden eyes.
"Yes?" she asked, eyeballing me up and down.
"We're here to speak to Bruce," I said to her.
"I'm afraid he's n-" before she could finish, Bruce said, "Yuki? Who is it?" Then, Bruce stepped from behind Yuki and held the door open. "Good afternoon, Cabel and Meria." He looked at Cabel in a sour way when he said his name, and half-smiled when he saw me. "The both of you look strapped up and ready for an adventure!" He chuckled.
"We need to speak to you," I told him.
Bruce looked at Yuki and asked if she could check on the food that he was cooking. Then, she left. "Come in," he said to the both of us. "So, what brings you to my humble abode?"
"My family was kidnapped last night," I said bluntly.
"And we need a way to get to the Earth Kingdom," Cabel added.
"Whoa," Bruce said, stopping us form saying anything else. "So, you mean to tell me, your family was kidnapped and you know where they are?"
"No," I answered. "I mean, whoever took my family left a book of pictures and hints or riddles or something and to find my family, we have to figure out the riddles or hints. I need a way to get to the Earth Kingdom, Bruce. And right now, you're my only hope of getting there."
He didn't say anything for a while, he just stared at me. I felt my palms sweat by just staring at him. I had forgiven him after the ball, when he explained what had happened throughout the years he hadn't kept contact with me. "Alright," he said. "I'll get us transportation."
"YES!" I cheered. "Wait . . us?"
"Us," Bruce repeated. "I'm coming with you."
"Don't you have a nation to run?" Cabel asked.
"My sister is coming here tomorrow to surprise my father. She'll be in charge of my nation until further notice. And my wife will stay here with Karina. They get along pretty well, so it shouldn't be a problem."
I gritted my teeth. I suspected that he'd do something like this. "Sure," I said. "Pack what ever you can as fast as possible and let's get going. I can't waste any time."
Bruce had taken the last two solar-powered motorcycles - or as he likes to call them, firecycles - and since there were three people, and Bruce and Cabel refused to share one motorcycle, I had to sit behind one of them. Bruce had the most things packed behind him, so I sat behind Cabel. It was a long, hot drive through the desert. Every bump that passed, I clung onto Cabel like a cat clinging onto a ceiling. Every time it got hot, I air bended the air around us, and it started to pick back up, and the wind felt great when it was slightly passing hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Every once in a while, I felt Bruce looking at me, and I refused to make awkward eye contact with him. It wasn't until he swerved to the side of us that I looked at him. He held my gaze for what seemed like forever, and I remembered that look. It was the same look he gave me when I was boarding that jet ten years ago. It was as if he was letting me go. He smiled at me, and I half-smiled back.
Then, the ride put me right to sleep. The only reason I woke up - three hours later - was because I felt it get cold real fast. And because Cabel stopped the bike. All of us got off our motorcycle and parked it under a dried, withered tree.
"We'll camp here for the night," Bruce said. I started up the fire, which wasn't difficult at all, and watched as Bruce and Cabel struggled to take their things off of the bikes. Soon enough, we all had blankets to protect ourselves from the harsh cold that the desert brought to us, and we decided to tell stories. First it was Cabel, then Bruce, then it was my turn. I told a couple - I actually had a lot of stories to tell, but ten years worth of stories was too much to tell in just a few hours. I told about how I got to speak with some of the Avatars when I entered the Avatar state. And how I learned how to ride a flying bison. And so forth.
"Must've been nice," Bruce spoke. "To travel the world and learn all kinds of different things."
Bruce's POV
It was late at night, and Meria had fallen asleep already. Her friend Cabel was a few feet away from her, also asleep. I couldn't sleep, though. I was too busy thinking about all that happened in the last forty-eight hours. I expected Meria to be beautiful, as she always has been, but now, after ten years of not seeing her, she's changed. Her body has matured and she looks stunning. Her personality hasn't changed since she left. And all I could think was: I missed out on ten years of her life. And what did she come home to find? Me as a married man. I knew she was angry with me. Sure, it didn't seem like she was angry anymore, but I could feel it. I felt her slight anger and betrayal. I knew she was still hurt, and I'm eternally sorry for hurting her.
I missed her.
Ten years went by fast, and I'm regretting everything I did. She didn't deserve this.
I watched her as she slept. Gosh, she was such a restless sleeper. She rolled around, accidentally undoing her braid as she unconsciously tried to find a comfortable position to sleep in. After fifteen minutes of her just laying there, her knee twitched and she sat up, eyes wide and afraid. She looked around, confused and terrified at her surroundings.
"Meria?" I said, crawling to her. "You okay?"
She was bewildered, at what, I don't know. But she was breathing heavy. Her hair was messy and wavy, and one of her sleeves had fallen down her shoulder. It was that type of messy that you find attractive in all girls. To me, there was no other woman that could compare to Meria. I tried to touch her, but she grabbed my hand, stopping me from doing so. She held it there, and I could feel her pulse as she shook.
"Meria?" I said again.
She shook her head, staring at the ground. "N-nightmare," she murmured. Slowly, she let go of my hand. I saw her lip quivering and she lost it. Meria covered her face with her hands and cried. "They're gone!"
"Who?" I asked.
"My family. I don't know if they're alive or dead. I don't know if they're being fed or starved or tortured! I came back to stay with them, and they were taken away from me. Right from under my nose." She cried harder. I was surprised Cabel hadn't woken up already.
"It'll be okay," I assured, getting close to her and hugging her. I felt her try to pull away, but I put my hand on her head, stroking her. "Your family is going to be fine. If they how hard you were working at trying to find them, they'd be so proud." She didn't say anything else. She just clung onto me as hard as she could. I felt my shirt become moist from her tears. It was hard to pretend I didn't care for her more than a friend, because I'm married, but this hug said more to me than I expected. This was the first time we've hugged each other in ten years. It felt great.
Meria pulled away from the hug, and looked at me. The whites of her eyes were red from crying, and her iris was a beautiful gold color with rust-brown flecks around her pupil. I had forgotten how beautiful she was.
"I'm sorry," I said. "It's too early for this." She laughed a little, trying to joke. "I'm gonna try and sleep again."
"Meria."
"Yes?"
"If you need anything, or if you need to talk, you know I'm here for you, right?"
She looked at me, questioning if what I said was true, and nodded. "Thank you." Meria slid under her covers once more and shut her eyes. I turned around fed the fire some twigs and branches. I smiled a little bit when I thought about our hug again. For some reason, I felt silly for feeling this way for a girl who I haven't seen in ten years. But, I loved her for more than ten years. I've been in love with Meria since we were kids. This was wrong, I knew it was. I'm a married man and I'm infatuated with a young woman who's life is so much better than mine. What do I have to offer her after the hurt I put her through? Nothing. And I'm hoping she'll truly forgive me.
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