Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get retarded, get retarded, get retarded.

--Let's get Retarded, Black Eyed Peas

Siam made her way across the western air temple to the library. Siam was pretty sore because she had been on her feet all day but for some reason she didn't mind. The place had a certain air about it that had the feeling of home. But whatever the cause, she was happy for the first time since her parents had died. With a slight skip in her step she made her way through an entrance way that lead to the library. She turned round the corner only to perform a perfect face plant into a stack of books someone was carrying knocking them to the floor.

"Siam! Are you okay? I didn't see you through all the books," said River.

Siam rubbed her bruised forehead, "I, I been better. Um, what are you doing here? I thought you hated books?"

"Actuaaaaly they are knock-knock jokes," mumbled River helping her up.

"Uh, come again," replied Siam.

"(sigh) They're knock, knock jokes," said River, "But they were created by Monk Gyatso of the southern airtemple and they're really funny."

"Yea right," said Siam shaking her head.

Siam and River continued to walk into the library. As they reached the main reception area Siam viewed the massive pipes and shoots that crisscrossed the ceiling. Each and every one of them led either going to or from the front counter behind which a smiling monk stood.

"Even though I'm all grown up they still don't seem to have shrunk at all," pondered Siam.

"So, um, what are you doing here," said River trying to change the subject, "Doing more research? Oh by the way, when the monk behind the counter ask what topic your researching don't tell him your feeling lucky."

Siam looked even more bewildered than before, "Ookay? Actually I am looking for writings on ancient artifacts. Do you think you could help me?"

"Okay," said River, "sounds like fun."

River then dropped her books on one of the table in the room and got to work with Siam. After much deliberation Siam and River decided to start their search with anything referring to crystal stones. With this in mind they approached the monk who was meditating on his walking staff.

"Um, excuse me sir, we would like to do a search on crystal stones," said River.

The monk lazily opened one eye, "can you be more specific?"

River glanced over a Siam who shook her head 'no' to which River turned to the monk and also shook her head.

The monk opened both eyes and stepped down from his staff. He then balanced the staff on top of his head while he scribbled something on a piece of parchment. He then placed the paper in a small hollow tube and airbended it. The piece of paper shot through the tube that ran up towards the ceiling and into the back room of the library. After a few minutes a gusty breeze started to pick up in the room. The breeze started to grow into a wind which increased by the second. When the monk started to airbended a shield around himself River turned to Siam franticly.

"Eeek! To many books," River yelled through the wind.

Suddenly books started to fly out of the massive tubes that hung over head. As Siam and River took cover underneath a table the books started flying in circles. Wave after wave flew around the room and landed on the tables in neat piles. Just when they thought it was over more books came flying out and engulfed the room. The small piles grew larger and larger until they piled up half way to the ceiling. Then everything grew quiet and Siam and River exited their hiding spot. As they turned to face towards the tables they saw heap of legible handwritings that could stand its ground against most mountains.

"Please remember you can only take out ten books at a time," said the monk as he got up on his staff to meditate again.

As they turned to gaped at him one of the tables gave way and sent its contents crashing to the floor with a loud boom that shook the floor.

River started to run toward the exit waving her hand, "Well, have fun!"

But before she could make it out, Siam spun her around. She dragged River over to the first fallen pile and handed her a couple of books.

"We will start with this table."

As River flipped through her first book she paused and look at Siam, "You know, it would be easier to find the information on the artifact if we knew what it looked like."

Pondering about it Siam also paused from her book. She was currently wearing the crystal but was hesitant to display it.

"Oh all right. This is the crystal I found at the southern airtemple," replied Siam retrieving it.

"Ooh, I have one just like it but yours is cuter… wanna trade?"

"Where did you get it," inquired Siam.

. I- I got it from my father before he died. He said it would bring me good luck. It is with my belongings. I actually don't wear the necklace very often because for some reason I feel fatigued when I do… anyway now that we both know what to look for it this will go a lot quicker."

They both stared at the piles upon piles of books.

"Yea like at least now we won't die first. We should probably get started," replied Siam.

Even though they had been making good progress, for Siam and River the process of elimination was taking them forever to complete. They had searched the entire mass of books on one of the tables and had proceeded to the next. But before they continued Siam gave in to River's plea for a break.

"Whew this is hard work," replied River, "I'm going illiterate from reading."

Siam starred at the remaining piles, "I think we should devise a new strategy as well as divide and conquer."

Staring at the piles again River suddenly got up and retrieved one of the books they had already gone though.

"I want to check something quickly," said River.

After having gone over half a dozen similar books Siam spoke up.

"What are you trying to do, we've already checked those books."

River looked up from the books that she was holding in her hands, "I got a hunch, give me a second."

River walked over to one of the other piles and started to read one, "Oh, I was right. They are, definitely."

Siam ran up and peeked over her shoulder, "What, what, did you find something?"

"They put all the books in order of what nation they were discovered in. The books we've been checking are of artifacts that were found in the airtemples. And these books right here were found in the earth kingdom."

"Well then why didn't we already find the artifact? We've already searched all the airtemple books," replied Siam.

"Well what if the artifact originated in the watertribe or the firenation. Look, we are nomadic, right? Well then couldn't the object or objects be found in other places then besides the airtemples?"

"Hmm, I never thought of that. Okay if you're right then you keep checking these books and I'll check the ones from the firenation."

Leaving River to deal with her own stack of books Siam made her way to her own monstrosity.

Siam needed a break. She had gone through so many books and yet it looked like she had barely made a scratch. On top of that she was getting a headache, her eyes were getting heavy, and she was sure she lost one of her nail in one of the books she had just read. She peeked over at River's pile and saw that her friend wasn't doing much better. She got up and started to make her was over only then to sit back down as the blood rushed to her head. She started to get aggravated and whipped her current book back onto the pile. But instead of it just landing, the book tipped the entire pile over spilling the remainder of her books with the ones she had already checked. Siam slapped herself on the forehead for being so stupid. She started to pick up the fallen books and return them to the table when she stopped.

"River come over here!"

River picked up her head slowly and walked toward the sound of Siam's beckoning. Rubbing her eye's she sat down in the chair next to Siam.

"Wha-what is it?"

"I found it, replied," Siam.

River jolted wide awake and tried to grab the book away, "Let me read! Let me read."

Pulling the book away Siam proceeded to read the description under the picture.

Properties-The Aura Crystal is a stone that contains chi energy that is most closely resembles the element of wind. Researchers believe that these stones are created when a certain element in its purest form is encased in a crystal-like structure. The potency of the strength given to the user is determined by how dense the element was encased inside. The only problem with the crystal is that it only works at its full potential when a person is asleep or unconscious. Because of these conditions the crystal is rendered useless.

History- after the Great War between the earth kingdom and the main land, the nations regained peace and balance. At each harvest time the lords and representatives from each tribe and nation joined together to celebrate this peace time and prosperity. During this celebration it was customary for each tribe and nation to present each other with gifts. The firenation's gift to the air nomads was four Aura Crystals. The crystals were received out of respect and were distributed to each of the four temples.

Siam looked up confused, "Only works when you asleep or unconscious or asleep?"

"Wow that's pretty cool I'm going to try that later," said River, "Well Siam it was fun…, well maybe that wasn't the right word, but anyway I have to go. I have errands to attend to and then I'm off to visit the northern temple. I'll see ya…"

Siam was about to ask why but River had already left the premises leaving the leaning tower of books for someone else to figure out.

The monk behind the desk opened one eye again, "Please return all the books to the counter when you are through with them."

After Siam had returned all the parchments of loose-leaf she stumbled out of the library. She made her way down a corridor only to realize she didn't know where she was. She looked down at her key to find the number but she couldn't focus at all.

As Siam tried to look again a passerby monk walked up to her, "Are you alright Madam?"

Siam looked at him with her blood shot eyes then stumbled as she handed the monk her key.

"Do you know where this room is?"

The monk stared at the key number then looked down the hall then pointed at Siam, "It's actually couple rooms down on the right. Are you okay miss?"

Siam grumbled a reply as she trudged the rest of the way. She felt so embarrassed that she didn't even reply but hastily unlocked the door and closed it. Not even caring about her clothes, Siam plopped down in bed and instantly went to sleep.

Author's Notes: this segment drew on and on and on and on (copy/paste x 100) and I had to cut it short. But in the end it served its purpose so I can't complain anymore than I already have. Itgavemeaheadache.