Nobody reviewed the last chapter. I know it's only been 4 days, but I'd had hoped that at least one person would have. It's been read by a few, as per FF's count.
But, we hit 100 "followers", so I'm swallowing my hurt pride and posting again.
I promised myself I would finish this story by the middle of the year (so, by its 1 year anniversary), and even if we stay at 37 views, I will hold to that promise.
That being said, I'd be even happier to do so if you let me know what you think!
/
Despite the time spent apart, it did not take long for Aang and Toph to update the rest of the gang on their journey to see the guru. They hadn't even moved from Appa's stable, instead opting to sit around in a circle to his side, Sokka and Katara leaning up against Appa's leg while the others settled on the floor. Toph's first request upon landing was to have something to eat, and Katara happily supplied fruit and eggs for breakfast. Zuko poured them tea, and the six young warriors caught one another up to speed.
"So, did you… you know…" Sokka began, voicing the question hovering on everyone's lips. Toph shook her head solemnly, answering the question before Aang could utter a syllable.
"Guru Banana Onion said the key to it all is here. On this island." She postulated, waving her arms in emphasis.
"Guru… Banana Onion?" Zuko snorted, earning a punch in the shoulder from Toph.
"You try eating nothing but Banana Onion juice for what seems like forever and come up with a better name Sparky." She shrugged, and Aang laughed.
"Yeah, he has the worst diet." Clearing his throat, his expression fell once again. "I meditated, for hours, every day. I did my sets. I spent so much time connecting with my past lives I almost forgot who I was myself. I did everything. Yet, after everything… I was told to come back."
"Well, that means your time at the air temple was up. I haven't been with you guys the whole time, but I know that you're always where you need to be, Aang." Suki offered, and Aang thanked her with a smile.
"So, what next?" Katara asked, sipping at her tea. "We had it planned that, should you return and the swap still stands, we would leave as soon as possible and utilise what bending we do have, and some hand-to-hand combat, to attack Ozai."
Aang and Sokka spoke at once.
"I don't really – "
"I had an idea –"
Aang took a deep breath.
"You first, Sokka."
"Ok. I had an idea. We still have three days, right? Getting to the Caldera will only take a few hours, and our cover is as good as it's going to be here on Ember Island. Now we have the group back together, I say we have one last good training session, as a group. I even have a name for it." He grinned, holding a piece of discarded watermelon skin to his face, the elliptical shape forming an ominous smile.
/
As dusk fell, Operation: Melon Lord began.
"In order to take out the fire lord – or, in this case, the melon lord – our timing has to be perfect. First, Suki and I will distract him, and hopefully any defenders he has – archers, Dai Li etcetera – and draw their attention away.
Next, Zuko and Katara will go forth with some liquidy hot offence, knowing that even without his bending, the Melon Lord will be a force to be reckoned with. Finally, Aang will swoop in and bang, deliver the fatal blow."
Aang visibly swallowed hard at this, but tried to keep his composure.
"We'll also need you, Aang, to bend some soldiers for us to fight, until Zuko and Katara are close enough to help you fight the fire lord."
"OK. I can do that."
"Um, what about me?" Toph asked, dreading the answer.
"If things were normal, I'd have you throw flaming rocks at everyone, to make it feel authentic." Sokka shrugged. "Seeing as this isn't an option for now, I want you to judge what's going on, and tell us where we are failing."
"Sokka, you know I still can't see, right?" Toph harrumphed, crossing her arms and blowing her bangs from her face. She didn't see the smirk that crossed his lips.
"That's not how I hear it. In fact, I want to hear it. You told us you can see when you scream, right? Well, the Melon Lord isn't going to go down quietly, now is he?"
Toph's maniacal grin was enough to strike fear into every warrior around her.
"Sweetness."
/
Toph stood before the statue of the Melon Lord, and felt true glee as she screamed I AM MELON LORD repeatedly.
"Toph, surely you could just make a noise, right?" Sokka whined.
"I am not Toph! I am MELON LORD… and I can see that you nearly got your head chopped off from a rock soldier. You aren't as light on your feet as Suki. Be forceful. I AM MELON LORD!"
Suddenly, a ring of soldiers surrounded Katara and Zuko. Popping the tops of his water canteens of, Zuko drew two whips into his hands and flayed them at the earth made opponents. Katara circled around him, and sent two fire punches forth, effectively incapacitating their enemy. They ran in unison towards Toph and a hastily made Melon Lord figure, and simultaneously sent a fireball and water whip at him.
"Oh no! I, the Melon Lord, am caught up!" Toph yelled, hearing how close the duo were to her.
"Now Aang!" Sokka screamed, and all the rock soldiers disappeared.
Aang emerged from behind the Melon Lord's podium, his staff in hand, gliding effortlessly at a high speed towards the figure. Swinging down, he faltered at the last second, guilt heavy in his stomach.
"What is wrong with you! Do it!" Sokka screamed, racing up the podium.
"I can't." Aang sighed dejectedly.
"You have to! If this was real, you'd be full of lightning right now! You barely know how to deflect it!" Zuko yelled, his temper rising to meet Sokka's.
"I'm sorry! It just didn't feel right! I didn't feel like myself."
Aang was cut off by the swinging of Sokka's sword, sloshing through the watermelon head before him.
"That is how it is done."
/
During dinner, Aang expressed his problem with taking Ozai's life. He voiced that, in his training with the Guru, he was taught over and over to be true to himself and his cultural ways, to be in touch with himself and to stop fighting against what was in his nature. The group fought back, openly expressing that it was what was needed to be done.
"I know Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person, but maybe there is another way!"
After a horrible suggestion involving glue bending, Katara had had enough.
"We are trying to help you Aang."
"Then when you figure out a way to take out the Firelord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!" He yelled, storming off.
"Don't run away from us Aang!" Katara retorted, marching for him. She could not believe he was acting like such a child. She wanted to follow him, snap some sense into him. They were so close. So close.
A cool hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
"Let him go." Zuko's calm voice shocked even Katara. Out of everyone, she thought he'd be the most upset. "He needs time to figure it out on his own."
"Are you sure?" She asked, her voice much less agitated.
"Let him go." He repeated. She sighed, and had to resist the urge collapse into him.
"If you say so." She murmured, petting his hand on her shoulder.
Toph made a mental note to tease the two of them later about how much they sounded like a couple.
/
Later that night, as he fell asleep meditating, Aang's entranced body left Ember Island once more, leaving behind his staff, his friends, and his promise of never running away again.
/
"OK, that's everything!" Sokka sighed, securing one last pack to Appa's saddle. Foregoing breakfast, the group had begun packing under the watchful eye of schedule master Sokka. So far, everything was going to schedule.
"No, it's not." Toph muttered, clearing her throat. "Where's Aang?"
There was a moment of pure stillness, as no one dared to make a sound.
Then, they ran.
The rooms of the house were empty, and it was Sokka who found Aang's staff. After checking the beach, they noted his footprints, barely washed away from the morning tide.
"Maybe he ran away again." Toph sighed, her hands grazing the sand. If only she could see. Then she'd know if he had truly left.
"Nuh-uh. He left his glider! And Appa!" Sokka retorted.
"Then what do you think happened to him, oh sleuthy one?"
"It's pretty obvious. Aang disappears before an important battle? He's clearly on a spirit journey!"
"Then wouldn't his body be here?" Zuko asked ,effectively deflating Sokka in one swift blow.
"Oh… yeah…"
"Let's split up and look for him – he has to still be on the island, right?" Katara asked, and before she could blink, Toph had latched on to Zuko's arm.
"I'm going with Zuko!" She exclaimed with glee. Sensing the questions, she shrugged. "What? Everyone else has gone on a life changing field trip with Zuko. It's my turn!"
/
Toph concluded that it was the worst field trip ever.
/
The entire day disappeared quickly, and Aang was nowhere to be found. Anxiety riddled, Sokka found himself in Appa's mouth, thinking that perhaps Appa had eaten Momo, and maybe even Aang. Panic truly clouded judgement.
"Appa didn't eat Momo." Katara sighed. She didn't have the energy to properly reprimand her brother. She knew he was terrified, beneath his goofy exterior.
"Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka." Zuko sighed in turn, and once again Toph made a mental note to tease them about essentially becoming mum and dad to the group. The gravity of the situation hit them again, and the five remaining members of the gang were at a loss.
"What do we do, Zuko?" Katara asked. Zuko stood up, and waited, not paying attention to the fact that she posed her question at him. He stared down at Sokka, who was still covered in Appa's saliva. He looked at the girls before him, and to his surprise they were all looking at him – not Sokka.
"Wait, why are you all looking at me?" He asked, realising all eyes were on him expectantly. He looked at Katara, and could tell the look in her eyes was one of apology.
"You… are kind of the expert on tracking Aang." Katara said softly.
Oh.
/
Until next time!