Welcome back, again we gather so as to explore the new adventures of Aang and the Gang. When last we met there was two and half weeks which we had lost, and now it is time to explore one side of that. Normally, we look at Aang's movements first, but this time we are going to explore the man called Kei, and his journey into the unknown.

Now, to the story…

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Avatar: the Last Airbender

Chapter 14: The Needle in the Hay Stack

Knoxium, Private Quarters

Kei sat across from Ozai in a stiff and refined position, sipping the tea he had been offered in a regal way, however being careful to watch for treachery. He set the cup down and sighed, thinking back to two weeks earlier. A scene played clearly through his mind as he was approached by Ozai with his offer. He had of course, accepted this arrangement a few hours later, after some heavy meditation. He slowly looked Ozai in the eyes and the two began, it seemed, to share the imagery in their heads. "After I accepted your proposal I immediately made preparations for the journey General-"he cut off as Ozai raised his eye brows. "-Sir-"he quickly corrected, and Ozai seemed to accept this means of dodging the order to call him father. "I took a Bat on the grounds of curiosity which He supported and left at midnight that day. All to find the equivalent of a needle in a hay stack"

"I see." Ozai sighed as he envisioned the boy climbing onto the Bat, which is about the size of two people, they are made of a place to lie and two large pontoons, which are where the mechanics are housed to move the large bat like wings hence their name. They have a wingspan of about 15 feet and are black as night, save for the vine emblem on either wing. He then began to imagine the entire quest as the boy explained.

(Flashback: 2 weeks, 3 days)

A large bat like figure glides over the blacked out sky over Ba Sing Se, gliding into the palace area, with its emblems glowing, allowing the pilot entrance to the grounds. The young man marches into the throne room, Guards bowing, and others shuffling away quickly, terrified of him by the look upon their faces. He crosses the throne room and bows low as he reaches Long Feng upon the golden chair.

"What is this about? More orders from Him?" Long Feng asked, a bit of annoyance and fear in his voice as he swallowed the name and used an indirect name for the Arbiter.

"Actually, this is a personal matter your Majesty… I request the use of your library and scholars on a quest to procure something…" Kei looked up, his face wrapped in a scarf still from the flight.

Long Feng looked him over appraisingly. "Is this item, for Him?" he asked with the same tone as before.

"It is… for the cause I believe…" Kei slyly added, knowing that Long Feng would bow if he thought the Arbiter had ordered this. Long Feng did bow indeed; he quickly sat back and attempted words, but could only manage a nod. With this Kei set off, and for a whole day, he searched for the location he was looking for. And after 26 hours, he found it, the basic location of what he sought. Without another word, he strode out of the palace and took flight again, heading south for the Desert.

A full 2 days of nonstop flying and he at last spied a small settlement near the area he had discovered might hide what he was looking for, it was here he landed and entered the shops to resupply before heading to the local leader to seek his assistance.

The building the locals lead him to was a rundown sandstone tavern, with three sand sliders parked outside. He didn't stop as the guards got up, but merely grabbed their heads and smashed them together, he had no time to charm this man, and he must rely on fear to get what he wanted this time. He burst through the door. "I need information!" he called as he stepped over the broken door. Those inside chuckled and got up all of them surrounding Kei, each one obviously a Sandbender and they each seemed to be more ignorant then the last. Clearly, word of his master had not spread to these fools, as they all made jokes at the symbol on his chest. "Some kind of Gardening club kid? Why don't you just turn around and walk away before we smash you!" Came the largest one's voice, clearly they were not only ignorant, but just plain stupid as well. He turned his back to the big one, which made him face the outside again. "That's right, get outta here you to bit piec-OOOOOOO!" was his next statement as Kei sent his foot right into the man's gut, this caused him to flip backwards and land on his face, his eyes rolled back.

"Next?" Kei taunted, as three more came at him, he lifted one over his shoulder and flung him to the ground at his feet, the next he punched square in the jaw, spinning him away. The one at his feet groaned and made to get up, but Kei caught the third and set him headfirst into firsts back, knocking both out. At last, the remaining 6 came at him at once. These he matched with via a series of grapples and kicks until the last one came running at him in fear. He didn't bother to attack really, but punched forward, shooting a stream of flame next to the man's head burning his ear a bit. At this he turned and dove out a window to the left. Kei then turned to the unnoticed man in a large chair toward the back; clearly the elderly man was the leader of this tribe. And he seemed to know what the symbol meant. "So you work for Him?" his cracking voice echoed around the arid room over the moans of his men. "What is it you want?" he asked before Kei reached him.

"I merely was wondering if you had seen anything odd in this area over the past year? Like a sinking tower in the desert." Kei asked calmly as he bowed to show some respect. It was clear to him that this man did not need to be enticed to tell him what he wanted to know, all he needed was the question to answer. The old man's slight grin vanished "Yes… but it is long since gone, sunk deep into the sand below… I am sorry, but your journey was for naught." He stated as though he had rehearsed this answer.

"Oh, I don't need you to lead me to it exactly, just tell me: east, west, north, or south…" Kei stared the man down, so as to see any lie he might have told.

A few minutes later, the Bat took off again, fully supplied and purposeful. Kei glided in a circle over a large area some 20 miles away, where the desert seemed to have funneled sand down into a hole, the crater of which was almost a mile across. In the center was a curiously tightly packed area of the sand, this was where he put down and then felt the sand, breathing in the air about him and closing his eyes as he meditated for a moment on the spot.

"It is here…" he said suddenly, then raised two fingers to the sky, he began to move both hand in the sky, forming ornate figures of energy in the air, slowly, he climbed onto the top of the bat, the energy still dancing about his arms. Carefully, the machine raised him until he was almost 250 feet in the air, and that was when he brought his fingers together. He cried out as he shoot a bolt of massive lightning into the sky above, which had been darkening with clouds for several minutes. The lightning dances across the bottom of the cloud, a thin stream of it still connected to his fingers. He then pointed down to the ground below, which caused several things to happen. First, a massive beam of energy fell from the sky and struck the point of hardened land. Second, the sand about the crater was swept away in a whirlwind of air displaced by the massive strike; this blew in a circular patter outward for several miles before dissipating and settling down. Finally a massive wave of thunder rolled across the entire land, so loud and continuous, that people in Ba Sing Se 100 miles to the north cowaring in fear from the sky above. Kei breathed heavily, looking down he saw it there, the entirety of the library had been uncovered, and the tower had been destroyed by the bolt. Kei smiled and then fell unto his back, so as to sleep as the Bat continued to circle around the area autonomously.

Kei awoke with a start. His body at last regenerated from the use of so much of his energy. He quickly glanced at his time piece in his left hand, which indicated he had slept for almost 4 days. He quietly revitalized himself and then landed, striding to the front of the library and entering without a moment's hesitation he gazed about at the tomes and scrolls that packed the massive building. He walked calmly through to the center of the building, where a pile of rubble lay, then he heard it, the sound of breathing. He turned suddenly and saw nothing, but as he turned around again there stood a great black owl to bar his path. "Who are you to enter my home?" came the owl's deep and booming voice.

"I am merely a seeker of knowledge, and have come to find the answers I seek." Kei bowed in his usual respectful manner. "I bring a gift. And offering to add to your collection, in return for the answers I seek…" Kei had read on the customs of old, and knew that the Owl was here, and that it would want a book.

"The days when men could walk my home for a mere book are long over child. Leave now; I shall not be swayed to trust a human again!" Sounding distinctly put off, the Owl whistled and a number of dogs came from corners and growled at the man. Kei however merely drew a very old looking book from his ouch and held it out to the Owl. The Owl seemed to anger, but curiosity still made it look at the book. "A gift from the new Earth King, the diary of the King Fre Godon, this surely would make a great addition to your library… please consider this" Kei stopped as the Owl stood tall and raised its wings.

"Even for so great a price, I will not allow my home deviled by mankind again." The bird clicked its beak and Kei grinned.

"Pity, I thought that would be your answer…" He raised one hand which became breathed in flame and took aim to the nearest shelf of tomes. "Now then, I shall be taking a particular scroll from your library Spirit, or I shall burn your home to the ground…"

"You have not the power to do so!" The bird rose up and prepared to strike until Kei called out louder.

"Don't I? The man that uncovered your home singlehandedly, I say again, you may have this trade, or have nothing at all!" he barked in an ordering way. He breathed steadily, but his mind raced. The Owl stared him down like a lion would a gazelle before it pounced. He felt as though his soul was being read like an open book. The dogs growled and barked and closed in causing Kei to tense, he never broke eye contact with the spirit but still readied to launch a bolt of fire and sprint to the exit. Just as he loosened his muscles to move, as the dogs were now close enough so he could feel them breathing on his legs, the Owl raised itself once more and spoke.

"Very well…" the Owl conceded after only a few moments of thought. Kei exhaled and let the flame diminish, but not extinguish. He then strode to the area he knew to find the scroll. It was here he found the item upon a silver pedestal, and here he swapped the diary for the scroll and took his leave.

Once he was onboard his Bat again and was well out of sight of the library he began to hyperventilate. He sweated profusely as he contemplated how close to death he had been. His bluff had worked, even though he could never have burned the library before the bird had killed him, he had fooled the ancient spirit and succeeded in his mission. He glanced back to see the large shape that he had thought he had left appear behind him. The Owl was giving pursuit, flying fast toward him. He climbed to the top of his Bat and took his stance, letting the machine hold course toward Ba Sing Se. he began to move his arms in circles, overlapping each other as energy built in the air around him and the bird. The Owl began to dive and twirl in the air, sensing the impending attack. Until at last it stuck, flying forward at massive speed its beak open. Kei had lost focus, his energy had dissipated, his fingers quivered. The bird coming ever closer, it reared a final time. And struck…

At the moment they met face to face, Kei smiled, and his fingers came together. He extended his arm, and the large black bird was enveloped in Blue energy. The cry of the spirit shook Kei to the bone, but his smile never failed. The spirit plummeted out of sight and mind, to the desert below, again fooled by Kei's poker face. A face that had fooled Long Feng, fooled the Sandbender chief, and fooled the Spirit of the Library.

(Present)

"I see Kei… Most impressive… worth of the man to marry my daughter… Yet I must ask where were you… You have accounted for a week of your journey; 10 days remain to be told." Ozai had penetrated Kei's calm face with this question, he had expected it, but he still did not know what to say. He felt terror again, greater then when the Owl had flown to him.

"If it's all the same to you Sir… I would prefer to keep that to myself…" Kei answered honestly.

Ozai seemed to falter at this, he looked like he was ready to push, but as Kei stood, he seemed to let it slide, and turned back to the scroll with greedy eyes.

Kei exited this room and walked half way down the hall to another door on the left. He knocked three times and entered. "Azula… are you awake?" he asked hopefully, only to see her lying in the bed asleep, he walked over to her and sat on the side of the bed, then brushed a lock of hair from her sharp cut face. "Aaaaaazuuuuuula." He called lightly and playfully, causing her to sir and sit up.

"Oh, hey Kei… what is it, what's going on?" he voice surprisingly soft, as she gazed into his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her. Then reached behind his back, and drew something glinting and silver. Azula's eyes widened as he saw the knife, she broke the kiss and gasped as the blade plunged…

Easter Airtemple, Training room

Aang looked out over his friends as they all began their battles. Trio Shu had pulled him aside and told him that he was to train with him personally. Katara was fighting three monks and also aiming for 5 targets a few yards away. He glanced over to Toph who was fighting 6 monks, and winning in a way that made him feel sorry for the monks. Toph was not pulling her punches. This was apparent as she sent one into the wall next to him. "Come Aang, it is time to teach you what you must know…" Trio Shu said as he led Aang to a deck from which the sky was visible. He then began to breathe in and out very deeply, his arms outstretched. The sky about cleared and then became cloudy with each series of breaths. At last he lowered his arms and turned to Aang. "You must learn what was stolen young Avatar… I have long held the secret of the Storm Scroll. And now I must pass the knowledge to you."

Aang did not speak, but instead relived how he had been bested in the library and had lost the scroll. "Master Trio Shu, I thought that the scroll was the only way to master this technique though?" Aang had remembered suddenly his previous master telling him this before he ran, after being told he was to travel here to learn it over 100 years ago. However Trio Shu nodded to this, which confused him "But then… how?"

"You cannot master this now young Avatar, however, you can learn the basics. You will not be able to stop the Arbiter's storms, but you will be able to protect yourself from it even if you cannot protect others." He then moved behind Aang and forced him into a strange stance, it seemed unbalance, his feet pointed out and his weight on his heel and not evenly distributed. His arms spread wide. "Now then, you must focus Aang, and spread your energy into the air around you. You must let the energy of the planet be one with yours, and then you must manipulate it to your whim. Try" Trio Shu coached, and Aang tried. He failed time and again, barely able to make the air cooler of warmer. Until the night had come and they must return to rest.

"Hey Aang! There you are, you wouldn't believe it, but I think I finally got that new move down, the one where I can form a ball to ride like you but out of water!" Katara reported excitedly, telling of how everyone had managed to progress in huge ways that day. Each time she spoke of the achievement she felt worse. "So, how did you do?"

"Um well… I got used to the robes… but…" he looked down, but Katara immediately understood what he needed. As he cast his eyes away she gently layed a hand on his cheek and brought his face to look into her eyes. Then kissed him passionately as she did to melt his entire since of failure away. "You can do it Aang, I know you can, now get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning." Katara giggled "Soka is probably freaking out because I'm not in my room yet. Oh well" she gave him one last kiss goodnight and walked away. Teo then came rolling into the room, and snickered at Aang as he started dreamily after Katara.

"Huh, oh hey Teo… Hey, don't laugh at me; I have seen you and Toph so…" Teo went beat red, but then spun about "look at this new chair I found in the storeroom! It's made of that airfoil stuff and has a bund of compartments for me to hide things in. I think it's also self driven a bit!" He pushed the wheel lightly, but the force doubled and tripled as gears turn inside the chair. "It can fly too!" he said excitedly as he pushed a button to make large wings pop out and fold above him. "These guys sure have helped us out a lot Aang, so, have you figured how to save them yet?" Teo looked around with a smile that faded at the sight of Aang's face. And felt like a buzz kill as the look said it all.

"No, but I won't leave them to die Teo… I promise you that." Aang sighed as he gazed outside the window. He longed for Katara once more. But decided instead to try one more time. He stood up again and breathed slowly. Each breathe the air outside became cloudy, until a small shower appeared outside his window. As Aang saw this he smiled and then looked to Teo and Soka and Zuko who had just appeared. "I will not leave them to die, count on it!"

Well, looks like not all was Lost, but what About Kei and Azula?!?!? You will just have to read to find out. Oh and Review if you don't mind!!! I intend to keep posting every time I can regularly, I got a lot of ground to make up after my long absence! Now then

MEET THE AUTHOR!

"Do you have any Brothers or Sisters?"

Yes actually! I do have one brother and one sister. My sister actually just got married last Saturday!!!

Anything you would like to ask me for Meet the author? Of maybe you have comments and questions for the story. Just drop me a message from my profile and then I'll respond ASAP

I know you want to know what happens next so I'll tell you in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: 15- The Knife in the Dark