The Smell of Hotness
Ten: Peace
Previously on Avatar: -Kiame's old, raggedy dress turned to a long, clean, white robe. Then, her beautiful, frictionless, brown hair began to fade to gray. Kiame lifted up her head from staring at the ground and looked at Aang and the others.
"Oh my…" Katara gasped.
"Oh my god! That old hag ate Kiame!" Sokka jumped behind Toph.
-"I'm not too sure… I just know that it's been said that, when used properly, the rock can have many powers. It's main attribute, is illusion. It deceives many… the only way to avoid it's power to have it close to your body, or to get away from it— approximately one hundred or more yards…" she explained, "Be warned… Lee is probably already in contact with Princess Azula. You must get as far away as possible!"
-"Why? Don't you want to come? It's a pretty important mission… but I guess if you don't want—"
"I'll go." Zuko interrupted Azula's statement as he calmly agreed to go with her…
-"Actually— there is one," she began, "the only way to defeat the power of the rock, is to use it against itself…"
"Like, get another part of the rock?" Katara asked. Kiame nodded at her correct question.
"Well, let's go get that rock!" Aang smiled.
Aang ran back towards the city along with the others…
-"Where are we going exactly?" Zuko asked while climbing down the ladder and into the steel, moving, vehicle where Azula was.
"You'll see when we arrive brother." She smirked mischievously.
A few men closed the hatches and jumped in the seats of a rounded number of ten vehicles— each containing about ten men. Azula seemed confident with her number of soldiers as they headed off towards their destination in the far west…
¤ ¤ ¤
"Where's the building?" Katara asked as they soon arrived back in town.
"Just head around the corner and it's right there. You cannot miss it." Kiame pointed with her skinny, young finger. Her young appearance was brought back because they were in distance of the stone's power.
"Come on!" Aang yelled as he ran with the others close behind.
I hope Lee isn't around… Kiame thought while following close behind Aang and the others.
"There it is!" Toph pointed as the large, ancient building stood its grounds in front of them. They then stopped their running as they began to walk up to the building.
"I hope you don't think you're going to get passed me, do you?" a familiar voice seemed to shock their eardrums. Aang turned to his right only to Lee standing before them.
"Lee." Aang narrowed his eyebrows.
"Well, ready to go— young Avatar?" Lee smirked with slight insanity as he broke his feet a distance apart and placed his palms together— preparing an attack.
"Aang," Katara stepped in front of Aang, "I'll take care of him. You get the stone and prepare for when Azula arrives."
"Katara—"
"Go Aang!" Katara firmly stated as she prepared a bending stance. Aang said nothing as he continued towards the building.
"I'll help you Katara." Kiame stated as she stood beside her.
"Kiame, dear… don't tell me you're joining them." Lee stated in a calm voice; "However, it doesn't come as a shock to me… you were always old and weak-minded. You just can't stand anything can you?" he smirked. Kiame held back her tongue.
"I'll help too, Kiame." Sokka placed his hand on Kiame's shoulder. Kiame looked back and smiled at him with her bright green eyes glistening from the almost set sun. "Toph! You go with Aang and I'll stay here and fight!" Sokka said as he pulled out his sword and stood next to Kiame. Toph nodded and followed behind Aang.
¤ ¤ ¤
"Well, well, look what we have here." Azula smirked while looking through the view of the steel vehicle she was in. She stood there confident beside Zuko with machiavellian instilled in her eyes.
"This is where we're going?" Zuko asked, "A stupid little town?"
"Calm down brother. It's not stupid… I assure you. My brilliant sergeant has found some very important people here." Azula turned and face Zuko with a smirk.
"Like who?" he asked with no patience remaining in him.
"You'll see, Zuko." She smiled as her small army came within seeing distance of the town…
¤ ¤ ¤
"Uh!" Aang pushed opened the doors to the building containing the stone. He coughed as dust flew towards him.
"So where is this stone exactly?" Toph asked while walking in after him.
"It's at the end of the room— there!" he pointed at the glass box located at the far end of the room. "Wait…" Aang slowly put his finger back down by his side; "It's gone!" he yelled.
-
"Ha!" Lee swung his body in a no handed cartwheel motion as he flipped his hands in a line and shot off fire towards Katara, Kiame, and Sokka. Sokka jumped out of the way while Kiame and Katara ducked. Katara swiftly moved her hands in a flamingo dance as she pulled water from her canteen; she jumped a step forward, almost like she were skipping, and forced it towards Lee. Lee just smirked as he cartwheeled to his left, clearly avoiding her attack.
"Ha!" Kiame forced her hands in front of her like she were pushing a large boulder, and fire burst out forward. Lee landed on his feet from his last cartwheel and didn't expect Kiame's swift and direct attack. His eyes widened as he bent his upper body back 'matrix style' as the fire grazed his left cheek. Lee stood up straight and felt his grazed cheek. He stared at his first finger and thumb, which were covered in his own blood and sweat.
"Wow Kiame… you're actually stronger than I thought… to bad I'm going to have to kill you." He smirked.
"Katara!" Aang yelled from behind her.
"Aang?" Katara seemed surprised that he was just coming back.
"It's gone!" he yelled.
"What's gone?" Katara asked as Aang stood just behind her with Toph.
"The rock. Someone already took it." He explained. Katara turned and eyed Lee who had a big smile upon his face.
"Oh, the rock? Is that what you wanted?" Lee smiled, "This?" he pulled the granite colored rock from within his shirt; it shined numerous rainbow colors as it shined in the setting sun— the moon was almost seen overhead.
"Look guys!" Sokka yelled as large machinery and rumbling was heard. Everyone looked over to find ten, large, what looked like, steel tanks.
"Oh no." Katara worried.
"They're here." Aang clenched his fists, "— Whatever Azula used that rock for can't be that bad. I'll stop her without the rock." Determination strung over Aang's face.
"Good luck, boy." A goofy smile grew over Lee's wrinkly face as he placed the rock back in his shirt.
¤ ¤ ¤
"Why are we here again?" Zuko asked while stepping out of the steel vehicle. Azula stood beside him staring out at the town as fire nation soldiers stormed into the town.
"Because, brother." Azula turned to Zuko with a large smirk on her face, "I've found— the Avatar…"
Zuko's eyes widened at the words that had come forth from Azula's mouth…
¤ ¤ ¤
"Take this!" Katara shouted as she stepped her right foot forward and pushed out her left hand as her right stayed behind her; water sprung forth towards Lee. Lee spun around to his right pushed forth fire from the palms of his sweaty hands. Katara swung her water back around towards her and forced it against the flames; the flames disappeared in the air as she circled the water continuously around her waist.
"Arrrghhh!!!" Sokka charged forth with his sword towards Lee. Lee smiled as he simply stepped to his right causing Sokka to stumble and nearly fall flat on his face.
"Ha!" Toph yelled as she came out of nowhere, forcing up the ground under Lee.
"Uh!" Lee let out as he flew up into the air doing a straightforward somersault. He smiled out of confidence as he flipped, knowing he basically won this…
-
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Azula stepped forth into the town and watched as Lee and the others went at it in battle. She smirked.
"You." Aang's voice caught her attention; he stood there with a firm stance, both feet planted against the ground, and his staff out in front of him.
"Hmmhmm… oh look, it's the Avatar." Azula smiled as she narrowed her eyebrows; she had already brought forth victory in her mind.
"And Zuko???" Aang's caution slowly dripped away as Zuko appeared beside Azula; firey seemed deliberate in his eyes.
"Yes, brother is here. He was only supposedly good in father's eyes because… well, he thought he killed the Avatar. But, as we plainly see, the Avatar is standing right in front of us. Then, once I destroy the Avatar, honor will be restored in my place. In it's rightful place…." She smirked.
"Not if I defeat him first!" Zuko pushed Azula slightly out of his way as he recklessly ran towards Aang.
"Zuko!!!" Katara suddenly dropped her bending water and ran over to Zuko.
"Zuko! It's you!" Toph felt the urge to run over to Zuko as well.
"What?" Zuko stood there and watched as they ran towards him; "Wait! Stop! No, get away from me!" He yelled as he turned around and began to run.
"Wait Zuko! I just want to kiss you!" Katara smiled with hearts in her eyes.
"Zuko, if you do not stop I'll be forced to firmly place you in a pillar!!!" Toph shouted with force but with a bit of love… just a bit.
"Stop chasing me!" Zuko yelled…
Aang stood there blank minded as he watched Katara and Toph chase Zuko around. Lee seemed a bit startled by the sight as well.
"The kid's got style." Lee smirked.
"Aang!" Kiame called.
"Huh?" Aang turned to Kiame.
"Azula used the stone as a lure! She manipulated the stone's power of illusion. Zuko, to them, looks like their 'dream guy', supposedly, and it overwhelms their mind so much, they can't help but chase him to show their love." Kiame explained. She was very wise, having been eighty years of age; she's seen and been through a lot…
"How come you aren't chasing him?" Aang asked.
"Because dear." Kiame stood straight and out of her bending stance, "I'm way too old."
An anime sweat drop ran down the back of Aang's head.
"Hmm, too bad you can't fix it." Azula smirked.
"Actually, I do." Aang smiled.
"Really?" she still smiled, trying not to show her shock at his sudden knowledge; she honestly didn't seem too worried…
"All I have to do is get that rock." Aang said.
"Really?" Azula stood there with shear confidence, "And how do you plan on doing that?"
"Well— like this!!!" Aang shouted as he quickly opened his staff and swung a large gust of air towards Lee. Lee had no time to dodge it, or enough room; Lee fell back doing two completely backwards somersaults.
"Oof!" Lee gasped as he landed flat on his back.
"Got it." Kiame smiled as she stood there with the rock clear at hand; she had picked it up from the ground as it came out of Lee's shirt.
"You fool!" Azula shouted at Lee who was, not really conscious at the moment. "Well." Azula turned back to Aang with her fists clenched tight together, "Too bad you don't have the complete rock." Azula smirked as she pulled the other piece of the rock from her pocket.
"Kiame! Give me the rock!" Aang shouted. Kiame threw the rock directly overhead and it cleanly landed against Aang's palm.
"It's time that I put you in your place Azula." Aang stated firmly.
"Really?" she smiled, "Let me— see you try!" she dashed towards Aang with the rock at hand; Aang did exactly the same. Aang forced the rock upward as he came into collision with Azula… all that was seen was a bright, blinding, rainbow-colored light. The light completely overtook the town with its purity. Everything grew silent as the light surrounded the area…
Ping…Ping…
Ping…
"No!!!" the last of Azula's screams were heard as the light subsided. The light jumped back into the rock that Aang held at hand. The rock was complete again and Azula had disappeared into the depths of the rock's concealment. It's rainbow color subsided as the sun finally set over the hills and the moon appeared; the rainbow completely went amiss and the rock grew heavy and turned a pure granite color…
"Huh… what— happened?" Katara and Toph felt their heads as they stood up to the ground.
"What… happened?" Zuko questioned as he sat up to see Katara and Toph. Azula? Where is she? Did she… disappear? That light… and now everything's so… pure. My hands— my body feels so clean. Zuko felt his arms and hands and their softness rubbed against each other.
"Kiame?" Sokka shook her and she opened her eyes.
"What huh? I feel… so vibrant… and so— revived." Kiame sat up from the ground upon which she laid. She stared down at her hands. Why do I feel so young? Kiame stood up to her feet with Sokka's help. She walked over to Aang who stood staring arduously at the granite rock.
"Aang…" Kiame placed her hand over his, "I think the rock's power has subsided… the illusion only lasts as long as it shines. As you see now, it's only a granite rock…" she smiled up at him as he stared back at her.
"Does that mean…"
"Yes." Kiame nodded, "— I'm truly… young again." Her smile shined with such happiness as she stood there. Kiame turned towards Sokka.
"So, you're— really young?" Sokka asked with hope filled eyes.
"Yes, Sokka." She smiled as she massaged his smooth hands. Sokka said nothing as he sealed his lips with hers...
"Can someone help me up… oof!" Lee could not get off of his back; his attempts would just end up with him falling again. He was truly… an old man… "Help!" he continued to yell; everyone just ignored his cries…
"Hi Aang… Kiame." Katara smiled as her and Toph approached the rest of the group. Kiame broke Sokka's kiss as she turned and faced everyone.
"I truly must thank you… you've restored peace within our town Aang…" Kiame smiled brightly.
"Now— I must bring down the fire lord." Aang stated with determination.
"I'll help you…" Aang felt a hand on his shoulder. Aang and the others turned to see Zuko, standing before them…
...The End...
There you have it! Please review!!!