Disclaimer: I do not Own Avatar...as always.


Chapter 9:
Journeys and Secrets

Ryu, Sorin, Tau, and Nianzu were all gathered in the control room. Nianzu stood next to Ryu as he steered the airship into the mountains. Nianzu had his arms crossed and still had the same serious expression on his face. Tau leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his face was blank. Sorin was standing on the other side of Ryu, helping him navigate through the mountains. Ryu pulled the lever next to the steering wheel, making the Airship begin to float downwards.

"Steady...steady." Sorin repeated. Ryu shot an annoyed look at Sorin as he continued lowering the airship. The airship softly hit the ground, producing a small shake through the airship.

"Alright, now let's hurry up and get to the city. We don't have all day." Nianzu said bitterly as he began to leave the room. They followed closed behind him and they exited the airship. They were about two or three miles away from the great city. Everyone but Nianzu stared in awe of the great city of Omashu.

"It's amazing!" Tau exclaimed, his mouth hung open.

"It's huge!" Ryu exclaimed, his eyes were wide open.

"I still don't see how the Fire Nation managed to take it over." Sorin said.

Nianzu scoffed, "It's just a mountain ruled by some crazy king. It's nothing special."

"What is with you? You're looking at one of the greatest cities in the Earth Kingdom!" Ryu said, throwing his arms up in the air.

"Let's just go. Remember, we're only staying until tomorrow afternoon." Nianzu reminded them, and they started walking towards the city. Nianzu carried a sash over his left shoulder to hide the book. Nianzu didn't want anyone in the city to see it, nor did he want to raise any suspicions. They reached the city within a half hour when the guards stopped them from entering.

"State your business." the guard said.

"We are travelers, we will only be in the city for a day." Nianzu told the guard.

"Stay out of trouble, alright. Enjoy Omashu." The guard said, motioning for the Earthbenders to open the gates.

Everyone but Nianzu gazed in awe as they entered the city. It was magnificent, though Nianzu looked at it as just a mountain. Ryu marveled the design of the great city, he had never seen anything so amazing. Sorin, due to his hatred of the Fire Nation, knew immediately why the Fire Nation failed to keep order in this city. One, the Fire Nation is stupid for believing that a whole city became plagued by something that the Avatar found in the sewer. And though King Bumi may be old, he is wise. Tau was also amazed at the city, but mainly it's structure. The mail system was completely original and seemed to be one of the most amazing parts of the city. Though he was hiding it, Nianzu couldn't help but marvel the city's creativity. Next to Ba Sing Se, Omashu was the greatest city in the Earth Kingdom, and even Nianzu couldn't think different.

"It's even more amazing up close." Tau said, grazing at the large mountains filled with buildings.

"Let's just find somewhere to stay." Nianzu said, motioning for his friends to follow.


The sun was setting, and the sky was a bright orange. Appa had been flying for a whole day, nonstop and was beginning to become exhausted. Aang laid against the back of Appa's head, his hands still gripping on Appa's reigns. He stared at the sky, losing himself in his thoughts. Katara leaned against the front of the saddle, staring down at her husband. She was worried about him. He hadn't talked to her much since they left, nor did he really talk at all.

Sokka crawled over next to Katara, leaning over the saddle slightly, "Hey Aang, I think we should stop and make camp." Sokka suggested, bringing Aang out of his thoughts.

"Yea, I think we should. I think Appa is getting tired," Aang sat up and pet the bison's head, "aren't you boy?"

The bison agreed by letting out a soft growl. Aang guided the bison down slowly, gliding above acres of trees till he found a small clearing. He guided Appa down slowly until they landed. Suki and Sokka craw;ed over to the back of the saddle and began untying the tents from the back of Appa's saddle, tossing them towards the ground. Aang airbended himself off of the bison's head, and began walking into the woods. Katara leaned over the side as she watched him walk away.

What's wrong with him? He's been ignoring everyone since we left, Katara thought.

She sent a worried look at her brother, who just shrugged. She began climbing over the saddle when Zuko offered to help her off. She thanked him before taking his hand as he helped her down. She smiled at him before turning away and following Aang. She followed him for at least ten minutes before he stopped walking, diving into a small lake.

She raised an eyebrow, "What is he doing?"she asked herself. She took off her robe and laid it on a tree stump before diving into the water. She looked around, trying to figure out where Aang went. She could see a vague shadow of Aang swimming under a cliff, a large wall of ice coming up behind him. She was becoming more worried, she knew there was something wrong with him. He only avoided her when something was wrong, and now was no exception.

She swam over to the cliff, melting the ice with her waterbending as she continued swimming. She stopped and floated in the water as she watched Aang walk out of the water, walking a few feet before sitting down in the lotus position.

Is he trying to cross over into the spirit world, she wondered. She continued swimming until her feet could touch the ground, then she walked through the water until she made it to shore. She waterbended the water off of her before walking over to Aang. She was about to put a hand on his shoulder when his tattoos suddenly glowed red, then turned to their normal while glow.

"Aang?" she asked, trying not to disturb him.

His head suddenly turned to look at her, his tattoos still glowing as he stood up. She began to walk slowly backwards, she was becoming scared of him. She was never afraid of him, never in her life. He walked towards her, the same angry expression he always had in the Avatar State. Katara began stumbling backwards, trying to keep her balance.

"Aang, you-you're scaring me." she told him, her eyes beginning to water as she continued walking backwards, away from him. He continued walking towards her before grabbing her wrist. His grip tightened as she struggled to make him let go. His grip loosened, and his tattoos stopped glowing as he fell towards her. She caught him instantly in her arms, making them both fall to the ground. His head lay on her shoulder, his eyes closed.

What happened, she wondered. He had never done this before, it was entirely new to her. For the first time in her life she was afraid of him. She was never afraid of him, others were immediately afraid when he entered the Avatar State, but she was always there to calm him down. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly against her. His eyes began to open slowly as he moaned in exhaustion, lifting his head up to meet her gaze with his.

"Wha-What happened?" he asked groggily.

Her eyebrows raised slightly, "Y-you don't remember?" she asked, confused.

He shook his head slightly, "Last thing I remember was landing Appa." he told her, now becoming aware of where they were, "How did I get out here?" he asked.

"Uhhh," Katara hesitated, she couldn't even imagine how he would react if she told him what he did to her. She had to think of some other excuse, "I brought you out here. I wanted to be alone with you for a while." she told him before giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. They were still lying on the ground, and though Aang wasn't completely sure of what happened, he went along with it. He kissed her sweetly on the lips, placing his left hand on the ground to keep him suspended from pushing all of his weight on her.

Though this was just a cover for what had just happened she decided to take advantage of their position, brushing her tongue along his lips. His lips parted slightly to allow her tongue entrance into his mouth. She darted her tongue along the insides of his cheeks, receiving gentle moans from the back of his throat. Their tongues brushed against eachother as they explored eachother's mouths.

Zuko climbed over the cliff, "Aang? Katara? Where are you?" he asked, cupping his mouth with his hands. Sokka had asked Zuko to go find Aang and Katara for dinner, and he had been looking for five minutes now. He looked over the cliff to see if they were swimming in the water, but only found a few broken logs.

Zuko sighed, "Where are those two?" he asked himself. He was about to head back to camp when he noticed two figures on the shore of the lake. He knelt down to get a better look, and it didn't take long for him to realize who it was.

He quirked one side of his lips up in a half smile as he noticed they were making out. Zuko was about to shout out his name, but he hesitated. Who was he to disturb them while they were expressing their love? He had promised Sokka he would bring them back to camp as soon as he found them, so he made his decision.

Katara's hand was gripping the back of Aang's head, pulling him closer to her. They broke away to regain their breath when they heard someone calling their names. Aang looked around to figure out where the voice was coming from. The voice shouted out their names again, and Aang closed his eyes. He used his earthbending to feel where the person that was calling their names was at. He felt a figure at the top of the cliff and he looked up to see Zuko.

Aang groaned, "I think Zuko was watching us." Aang said.

Katara scoffed, "I bet Sokka had him come look for us." she concurred.

Aang rolled off of her so that he lied next to her, "You think we should head back?" he asked.

She nodded, "I think so. We need to get up early tomorrow." she said. Aang nodded in agreement and airbended himself off the ground, holding out his hand to help her up. They held hands as they started walking back to the camp.


Nianzu laid on his bed in his room, holding The Book of Sunachi over his head as he continued reading it. They had checking into a small inn run by a nice woman named Judi. Judi had long, brown hair, much like Suki's. Judi owned a small inn that had six bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room. Most likely it had originally been a home that Judi bought to bring in some money and to help travelers when they needed a place to stay.

Nianzu had been reading the book for what felt like hours but were actually minutes. Nianzu wasn't looking for anything in particular, he just wanted to see how much information about the Spirit World this book actually held. Nianzu and his friends still didn't know how they were going to raise the Library. They thought they found the answer a few weeks ago, but unfortunately it was just more information about the Spirit World's History. Nianzu was beginning to feel that there was no clear explanation to how the ring is used to raise the library.

Nianzu was brought out of his reading by a knock at his door.

"Yes?" he said, his voice was quiet.

"Dinnertime." A female voice said behind the door. Nianzu got up and hid the book under his pillow before leaving the room. He walked downstairs and took a seat across from Judi. Thought Nianzu was only fifteen, he couldn't help but notice how pretty the young woman was. Her skin was flawless, and she was a very kind woman. She had offered to take in Nianzu and his friends for no charge at all, seeing that they were all young boys.

"So Nianzu, how are you enjoying Omashu so far." she asked. Her voice was kind and gentle.

"It's a pretty amazing city. We are still very grateful you offered to let us stay here for no charge at all." Nianzu said before taking a bite of his food.

"It's my pleasure. It's not everyday that you see four teenage boys wandering the city alone. By the way, where are your parents?" she asked kindly.

"Well, me and my friends had complicated families. My friend Sorin's parents died a few months ago." Nianzu told her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Is he okay?" she asked.

"Yes, he's fine now. It was real tough on him." Nianzu explained.

"What about you?" she asked.

Nianzu put down his chopsticks, folding his hands together, "My parents...they-they didn't exactly 'understand' me. They were non-benders, and they weren't exactly on board with the whole bending thing. They always told me that bending is to destructive...how it can give power to those who don't deserve it. I must say that I agreed with them in some cases. Some don't deserve to bend, murderers, serial killers, even some great leaders."

"I can't disagree with you there. But bending is a part of who you are, it makes you special." she told him. She looked away, "My fiance was an Earthbender. When the Fire Nation took over Omashu, he became part of the resistance. He was part of a special mission to get rid of a battalion of Fire Benders. Before they even had a chance, one of the soldiers noticed them. My fiance tried his hardest to keep his friends safe. He was able to save their lives, for the loss of his." she explained, a tear running down her cheek.

"Your fiance was a brave person. He risked his life for his friends, and I'm certain he risked his life for you as well." Nianzu told her, trying to comfort her.

She smiled at him, wiping the water from her eyes, "Where are your friends right now?" she asked.

"I'm sure they're just exploring the city." he told her.

He picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat. Once he finished eating he took his plate over to the sink and began washing it. He offered to wash her place once she finished, but she assured him that she was happy to do it herself. Once he had finished he headed back to his room. He smiled as he closed the door, she felt the pain all others did during the Century Long War. All the more reason for his plan to succeed. It was because of Avatar Aang that families all over the world felt the same pain she did. Families who lost their husbands, their sons, their daughters, their wives, all because of Aang's late return.

He walked over to his bed, taking the book from under the pillow. He skimmed through pages before a section appeared before his eyes. His eyes widened slightly as he read the book. Once he finished reading the section he closed the book and put it in his sash. He searched his pocket's for the ring, making sure he hadn't lost it. He grasped it in his hand as he put it back in his pocket. He looked out the window of his room. The sun had set and the moon was high in the sky. The moon was nearly full, Nianzu figured the moon would be full the day of the Solstice. He put the sash over his left shoulder as he left the room.

"I'm going to go take a walk." Nianzu said as he headed for the door of the Inn.

Judi nodded, "Alright, be safe. The city isn't so pleasant after dark." she warned.

Nianzu quirked his lips up in a half smile, "I'll be fine." he assured her, before opening the door and stepping outside.

Nianzu had one reason for going for a walk. He now knew how to raise the Library, and Omashu seemed to have another story behind it's creation. Omashu was built by Oma when her true love was killed in the war between two villages. Wan Shi Tong's Library had just been brought to the Physical World during that time, and Omashu's Archives were part of Wan Shi Tong's plan to find the chosen one. Nianzu was walking through the streets when he was suddenly grabbed by his shirt collar and pulled into an alley. He was pushed against a wall by a man holding a sharp knife.

"Well, well, well. Today's your lucky day." the man said, a sinister smile running along his face. Nianzu's vision was blurred for a few moments before he could see the man clearly. He was about twenty years old. He had a few hairs hanging off his upper lip, and his hair black hair stuck up in the air.

"Oh is it?" Nianzu questioned, showing he wasn't afraid of the man.

"Yea, you're gonna give me all your money, and I'm going to let you live." The man explained.

"Sorry, you picked the wrong guy to rob. I don't got any money." Nianzu told the man.

The man's smiled grew larger, "Well then, I guess I'm just gonna have to take this." The man said, placing his free hand on the sash over Nianzu's shoulder. The man gripped the sash and was about the rip it off Nianzu's shoulder when he shot a strong blast of air at the man, throwing him into the wall behind him. Nianzu cast a sinister smile as he walked over to the man. Nianzu smacked the knife out of the man's hand.

The man moaned in pain, "Who are y-"

He was cut off when Nianzu gripped the man's throat, picking him up from the ground and lifting him slightly in the air so that his feet dangled. He gripped his throat tightly, his hand clenching around his throat so that he couldn't breathe. He legs dangled as he brought his hands up, attempting to pry Nianzu's hand off, but it was no use. Nianzu clenched his hand around his throat as tight as he could until the man stopped moving. Nianzu smiled as the threw the man towards the ground. He began breathing heavily, coughing furiously as he attempted to get up. Nianzu began walking out of the alley when he noticed the knife on the ground.

"Your luck just ran out." Nianzu said as he quick turned around, flinging the knife at the man like it was a dagger. The knife stabbed into the man's back as his struggling ceased.

No one messes with me and lives to tell the story, Nianzu told himself.

Nianzu continued walking, trying to find the Archives. He turned around the corner to see Tau, Sorin and Ryu walking towards him.

"Nianzu, what are you doing? We told you we'd be back soon." Sorin said, crossing his arms.

"Guys, I know how to raise the Library." he told them, his eyes flashed with self-appreciation.

Tau raised his eyebrows, "How?" he asked eagerly.

"Do you guys know where the Archives are at?" he asked them, hoping they had discovered it's location during their tour of the city.

Ryu nodded, "Yea, it's a few blocks down. But its guarded, they don't just let anyone in." Ryu said.

"How guarded?" Nianzu asked.

"We only saw two guards." Sorin explained.

Nianzu smiled, "Good, let's go." With that, they started walking down the streets.

"So, how do we raise the Library?" Ryu asked.

"There should be a small indent in the wall next to a bookshelf. All we have to do is find the indent, place the gemstone inside the indent, and it should raise the Library." Nianzu explained.

"Do you really think that will work?" Tau questioned.

Nianzu shrugged, "I'm pretty sure it will. The book hasn't lied to us so far."

"As far as we know." Sorin added.

They reached the archives a few minutes later. Sorin was right, there were only two guards. Nianzu walked over to the guards, acting like he was a student from a school. He carried the book under his armpit.

The guards noticed Nianzu and his friends and they blocked the entrance with their spears, "Halt!"

"Hi, We're doing a research project and I was wondering If I could have a peak in the archived to find some information. I've looked all over the other libraries but I can't find what I'm looking for." Nianzu explained.

He sounded innocent to the guards, "We don't usually allow children to browse through the Archives. What is it that you're looking for anyway?" guard on the left said.

"We're trying to find out more about Omashu's birth, but we could only find the story about the two lovers. Please, this project counts for half our grade." Nianzu explained.

The guards exchanged glances before nodding to eachother, "Alright, but you have ten minutes. And we're gonna search you before we let you leave, to make sure you haven't stolen anything." the guard on the right said. They removed their spears from blocking the entrance as they allow the boys to past.

Nianzu pushed the doors open as Tau, Sorin, and Ryu followed closely behind. They stared in awe, the archives were huge. It probably held thousands of books. Of course it couldn't have held nearly as much as the great Library.

"Alright, just search the walls for an indent." Nianzu ordered, paying close attention as he searched the walls.

Atleast seven minutes had gone by and they still hadn't found it. Ryu stopped searching as he placed his hand against the wall.

"This is pointless, it's obviously not here." Ryu snorted. Suddenly his hand pushed into the wall, as a small circular indent appeared in the wall.

"Nianzu, I think I found it." he said, his voice shook slightly. Nianzu placed an arm on Ryu's shoulder as Ryu moved back. Nianzu took out the ring, yanking the gemstone right off the metal part of the ring. He placed it inside the indent, and the stone glowed momentarily before returning to it's original color.


Wan Shi Tong was roaming the halls of his great library when it suddenly began to shake. The sand that almost completely filled the library began to flow out as the Library began shaking for furiously. The sand seemed to vanish as the tip of the Library began raising from the desert. The crater disappeared as the Library raised completely, the way it had originally been when it was first brought to the Physical World.

Wan Shi Tong looked up, "The Chosen One...Has Returned."


Okay, I know this chapter was REALLY long, but I had intended it to be. I hope this chapter helps make the story more interesting. Please continue to read and review.