Chapter 29: Rui Zi's Warning
Sokka: Hi..Uhh.. Yeah.. My names Sokka.. I'm Katara's sister.. Ahh no! I mean't Brother. Katara's my sister.. I'm her BROTHER.. Yeah Uhh.. She's dating the Avatar.. He's the guy in the middle of the crowd with the blue arrow tattoo on his head.. He is not hard to miss.. Anyway.. Yeah.. So.. Uhh.. Brunetteangel95 has a message for all of you. *Takes out note and clears throat dramatically* Brunetteangel95 states that she does NOT own Avatar the Last Airbender.. That is all. *Scoots off stage*
Previously on Avatar: the Journey Begins...
...
"Now that Katara knows of her ability, we should tell her about the limitations and requirements." Pi La began. Rui Zi, Bi Long, and the other four council spirits nodded in agreement.
"Who will tell her?" Bi Long asked looking at the council spirits.
"I will.." Rui Zi offered causing everyone to stare at her....
"Do your mission, and don't return until it is finished." He ordered and shoved the box in the young man's hands. Chang looked at the wooden box with saddened eyes. That thing inside of the small wooden box was his freedom and village's safety. That small box held his entire future..a girl, the Avatar's girl, holds his future.
...
'I'm going to get Aang to be mine eventually..' OnJi thought to herself as she continued to eat her food.
...
...
"They probably are at Kyoshi Island...Azula is there right now." Sheng answered much to Sokka's horror.
"WHAT?" Sokka screamed causing the firebender to flinch. "Oh those two are so going to get it! Come on Sheng.. We are going to Kyoshi right now!" Sokka said as he grabbed Sheng's arm and drug him over to one of the small watertribe ships.
...
"I know how you feel.. Katara and I lost our mother in a raid, but she's alive now. That is all thanks to my sister's ability to bring people back from the dead. I know.. It's weird. Anyway whenever my mom died the first time, I was only about 7... A few months after her death my dad left too. Even though we had Gran-gran.. It still wasn't the same. Katara was really strong about it and helped me a whole bunch. She was still so vulnerable at that time, and Dad left me as Katara's protector. I guess I've grown up looking at her as my responsibility to protect. That's why I hate it whenever she leaves me behind. I have to keep her safe." Sokka statement caused Sheng to look at him in curiosity and sympathy.
...
And Now..
"Wow... I haven't had this dream in years." Katara mused to herself as she walked along the edge of a magnificent river. The water was crystal clear and had an angelic glow to it. Along the river, there were thousands of gorgeous flowers captivating her with their hues of reds, whites, pinks, blues, and yellows. The air was crisp and refreshing as a cool spring breeze fluttered through the air. Katara used to always be in this same exact place whenever she would dream of Rui Zi. Although Rui Zi would generally only appear for a second and then vanish without saying anything. However, this time was different. Rui Zi had a message. A message of warning.
"Hello Katara." A heavenly voice greeted the young girl. Katara spun around to see Rui Zi floating before her.
"Spirit Rui Zi. It is a privilege to be honored with your presence." Katara humbly stated with a respectful bow. "Come now Katara, there is no need for such formalities. We spirits are not near as serious natured as most mortals portray." Rui Zi remarked with a soft laugh. The young waterbender smiled brightly at this comment. She couldn't help but feel comfort when around this highly esteemed spirit of life.
"Why am I here?" Katara finally asked while glancing around at the familiar scenery she had seen so often in her childhood.
"I am here to inform you more about your ability to return life. I will not tell you everything until you are completely ready and have mastered this ability; however, some of the information cannot be placed aside for that long." The angelic spirit answered, her face growing more serious.
"What is the information?" The curious waterbender inquired. If there was any information on her rare ability then she was eager to learn about it.
"Katara, what did you have to do to be able to access the ability?" Rui Zi started by asking the young girl.
"Well, I had to open my heart." Katara answered curiosity filling her voice.
"You answered correctly my dear. You had to open up your heart to be vulnerable and susceptible to breaking once again. In the spirit world your heart is in the form of a door. The reason for this is because your heart is the door to the spirit world. Since you are a part of me, you are also the Spirit of Life. The spirit of Life draws her power from the air chakra, which is located in the heart. Therefore, the only way to have access to you or for you to have access to us is through the your heart." Rui Zi began to explain.
"Wow... That is kind of like what Aang was telling me about. Except he had to unblock seven chakras in order to master the Avatar state." Katara stated in fascination.
"Yes, this is true. The Avatar is very fortunate to have access to all seven of his chakras. Majority of spirits can only grant access to one chakra in a mortal, which is unfortunate if it is to become blocked." Rui Zi responded with a grave look suddenly flashing across her face.
"Why is it unfortunate?" The young waterbender asked while examining the spirit closely. Rui Zi was silent a moment as she watched some quail-fish swim about in the river.
"Since you have opened your chakra you have had constant cosmic energy flowing through the door to your heart. This gives you the ability to heal and return life to people. For the rest of your life you will be able to access this ability with the great spirits permission. However, you must be very careful and examine the state of your heart. If your chakra is blocked and you try to access your ability then very serious consequences will follow." Rui Zi warned the young girl. Katara then looked at her with curiosity and fear.
"What will happen?" She asked the spirit while moving a little closer to Rui Zi.
"If you attempt to return life back to someone when your chakra is closed.. You will lose all memory of who you are and all of your past. You will forget the ability to return life and the ability to waterbend." The Great Spirit answered with a solemn look on her face. Her hair grew grey and the flowers in her hair turned red. "The worst of it all is you will forget the ones you love, and the ones who love you. Be careful my child; be constantly aware of the state of your heart." Katara took a few steps back in horror at the terrible warning. Before she could respond Rui Zi disappeared. The water turned a smokey grey hue and the flowers withered away to nothing. The once crisp air was now humid and suffocating. The beautiful blue sky turned black as the night on a new moon, and a ghostly fog floated around in the air.
"Rui Zi!" The terrified girl screamed only to have her voice echo a reply in the now barren oasis.
"Ahhh!" Katara yelped as she woke up in a cold sweat. Her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest as she gasped for breath. "It was just a dream..it was just a dream." The scared girl convinced herself while laying back down on her pillow and attempting to find rest.
...
In another bedroom just down the hall, a wide awake young man laid silently in his bed. His blue eyes were fixed on the ceiling above him while he mind skimmed over multiple ideas to complete his mission.
"Ugh! How am I going to complete this mission when she's so in love with the Avatar." Chang mused to himself as he stood up from his bed. Realizing the fact that he wasn't going to be getting any sleep for a while, the powerful bender grabbed his night cloak and walked outside.
"Oh, Spirits..what am I going to do?" Chang asked himself as he walked down a forest pathway. The slight cool spring breeze caused the young man to shiver. It was a chilly night, but it was very beautiful, silent, and peaceful. However, the silence was soon punctured by the sound of a girl growling in frustration. Chang immediately ran to where the sound was and braced himself for an attack.
"Ugh! How am I going to make him love me?" The voice cried out while flinging a bright flash of fire into a rock. "That stupid waterbender! I wish she wasn't even here! All she is doing is make my job harder!" OnJi yelled while blasting another fierce fireblast into a log.
"So I take it you don't like Katara and the Avatar being together either?" Chang spoke up causing the surprised firebender to blast a fireblast at him. The skilled waterbender counteracted the blast with some water before walking up to her.
"What would make you think something so ridiculous?" She asked as she tried to make him think he misunderstood her ranting.
"Oh don't even try to pretend. I heard you raving about Katara and the Avatar's relationship." Chang told the girl with a clearly amused smile. OnJi sighed a defeated sigh.
"I guess you really did overhear me..It's just I like Aang.. I'm the one who is supposed to be with Him.. Not that watertribe girl.." The firebender stated while glaring at the ground. 'This could be exactly what I need to complete my mission." Chang thought to himself. "I know how you feel.. In fact, Katara isn't even supposed to be with Aang." He remarked with a frown. This statement caught OnJi's attention.
"Why is that?" She asked while tilting her head to the side. Chang was silent a moment before pulling the small wooden box out of his pocket.
"The reason is simple.. Katara is my intended." The master waterbender replied while opening the box revealing a gorgeous shining blue betrothal necklace. Onji gasped at this news, and a huge smile formed on her face.
"So Katara can't be with Aang!" OnJi exclaimed in excitement only to frown when she saw the downcast look on the man's face. "What's wrong?" She asked the solemn looking waterbender.
"It's just that Aang is the Avatar. I can't just take Katara away. She would have to break up with him in order for us to safely be wed." Chang explained while looking at the ground.
"Well, the only way for Katara to end her relationship with Aang is if he is caught being unfaithful." OnJi responded thoughtfully before her whole face lit up. "I have an idea." She exclaimed with a mischievous grin. Chang looked at her in curiosity.
"Like I said, the only way that Katara would possibly break up with Aang is if she catches him cheating... or if it looks like he is." She continued while placing one of her hands on her hip.
"I'm listening." Chang encouraged the girl to continue while crossing his arms and leaning against a tree.
...
The Next Morning
"We are here!" Sokka exclaimed while pointing to the coast of Kyoshi Island. Sonyi and Sheng soon ran up to where the young warrior was standing in order to gaze upon the small village. The morning sun had barely risen over the mountain tops casting beautiful rays of pinks, yellows, and pastel purples across the southern sky.
"Wow..It's so pretty!" Sonyi marveled in awe. Sokka and Sheng just laughed at the girls enthusiasm.
"Sonyi, you haven't seen beautiful until you have travelled to the Northern Watertribe or Ba Sing Se. Those places are beautiful." Sokka piped up while leaning against the boat.
"Well, I can't wait to travel with you guys and see all the gorgeous places." The watertribe girl stated with a huge smile.
"Wait, Hold on a minute. What makes you think you are going anywhere with us after this?" Sokka inquired while crossing his arms. Sonyi just smiled at him and placed one hand on her hip.
"I just am. I have been dying to get out of that stupid tribe for years. I'm already traveling with you all so I don't see a reason of stopping now." She responded simply before loosening a rafter.
"Oh no! You, Missy, are going straight home after we get Katara." Sokka told her in a stern voice as he flung his hands around in front of him.
"Ha! We will just see about that Sokkie Wakki." Katara's close friend taunted causing Sheng to die laughing.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Sokka screamed his cheeks turning bright red which only made both of his traveling companions laugh harder.
"Is that Sokka's nickname?" Sheng asked through laughs.
"Yeah, Katara and I always used to call him that when we were little.. Well before her mother died. Katara actually came up with the name." Sonyi replied while giggling herself.
"You know what? You two lower the anchor and get ready to dock the ship." The watertribe warrior ordered as he stormed off to into the ship's sleeping chambers.
"Sure thing Captian Sokkie Wakki." Sheng mocked with a mischievous grin plastered across his face.
"Grrrrrrrrrr!" Sokka growled as he slammed the door behind him. This action threw the two mockers into brawling laughter.
"Hahaha! You gotta love Sokka." Sonyi giggled as they obeyed his orders.
"Yeah, he's a pretty funny little guy." The firebender agreed while helping the young woman prepare to dock the ship.
...
"Hey Aang, do you think we can go out and practice some firebending later?" OnJi asked in her innocent voice. Aang smiled nicely at the girl's question.
"Of course. We will probably have to be leaving to go find Azula again since she escaped. At least, Chang told me she did... So you are going to need more training just in case we have to fight." The young Avatar replied while finishing eating his breakfast of rice and vegetables.
"Great! So I'll see you at the lake around dusk then?" OnJi suggested while standing up from her seat next to Suki.
"Umm.. Alright. See you then." Aang responded nonchalantly before taking another bite of his food. OnJi smiled brightly before turning and walking out of the house.
"Well, OnJi sure does seem like a nice girl." The Kyoshi warrior remarked while drinking some freshly brewed Jasmine tea.
"Yeah she is, surprisingly her and Katara don't get along very well though." The airnomad said with a sideways smile. "It gets pretty hard to keep them to from killing eachother sometimes." He continued with a sigh. Suki just smiled at the Avatar's remark.
"Well, you are the Avatar, and it's pretty obvious that OnJi likes you. What girl wouldn't? Just give Katara some time. She will get over her insecurities after seeing you don't like OnJi that way." The wise warrior remarked while placing a gentle hand on the young Airbender's shoulder.
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks Suki." He said before standing up and placing his empty bowl in the sink.
"No Problem." The warrior nodded before wincing a little and rubbing her temples with her fingers. Aang noticed this immediately and came and sat next to the girl.
"Your head still hurting you?" Aang guessed the obvious. Suki nodded her head with a slight frown.
"Yeah, Azula hit me pretty hard. I'll be okay though. This tea should relieve me of some pain." The warrior stated with a smile.
"Here let me heal your head a little. It might relieve some pressure on your brain." A voice offered from behind the two friends. Aang and Suki turned around to see Katara standing behind them.
"Katara, how long have you been standing there?" Aang asked hoping she didn't hear their previous conversation. His girlfriend yawned before waterbending some water out of the air and starting to heal Suki's headache.
"I just walked in right when Suki was complaining about her headache." Katara responded with another yawn.
"You seem awfully tired for someone who slept in the most..well besides that new guy staying here." Suki observed as she felt the tension around her brain disappear.
"I know.. I just didn't sleep well last night." Katara admitted with a slight frown. Aang immediately noticed the frown form on his lover's face.
"Why didn't you sleep well?" Aang asked Katara as she finished her healing session on Suki. The young waterbender was silent a moment.
"I don't know. I just didn't. It's nothing to be concerned over. We all have those nights." Katara lied before quickly going into the kitchen to fix herself a bowl of rice. As soon as she returned and sat down next to the two heroes, the door to their house burst open.
"SUKI!" An all too familiar voice exclaimed as the female warrior jumped to her feet and ran toward the door.
"SOKKA!" His girlfriend called back in joy as she tackled him in a tight embrace and kiss. "Oh I have missed you so much!" She continued while tightening the embrace.
"I've missed you too. I came all the way here just to see my beautiful girlfriend.. And also to kill Aang and Katara for LEAVING ME BEHIND!" He yelled the last part once he saw the frightened couple sitting at the table. Before Suki could ask any questions, Sokka was out of her arms and storming up to Katara and Aang.
"You two have a WHOLE bunch of explaining to do." He growled while pointing his finger near each of their noses and giving the couple the evil eye.
"Sokka, I'm sorry we left you behind.. It was my idea. I didn't want you worrying. You had already been through enough stress this past week.. Neither of us could have the heart to tell you that Azula was at Kyoshi." Katara explained as she moved her brother's finger out of her face.
"So you think that leaving me without warning or a note is going to make me feel less stressed? I had no idea where you were Katara!" Her brother yelled while also moving closer to his sister's face.
"I have Aang to protect me! He's the most powerful being in the whole universe! Why should you be worried if I'm with him?" Katara argued while she also lifted her voice.
"Because I'm your brother and I'M supposed to protect you! Not AANG!" Sokka was not in a rage which surprised his little sister.
"Dad left me in his care!" She reminded her overprotective brother while crossing her arms in aggravation.
"And that's the exact reason Koh tried to STEAL YOUR FACE! Aang's responsibility is to the world. My responsibility is to protect you! It always has been.." The sincerity in his voice on the last sentence caused Katara to take a few steps back. She finally understood why he was being so protective.
'He always had to be my protector.. It's his responsibility that he has grown up with.' The waterbender thought to herself.
"Sokka.. I'm sorry. I tend to forget that you've been the one trying to protect me pretty much all of my life. I'm sorry I left you alone. I was just trying to lessen the stress on you. That's all Aang and I were trying to do." Katara said softly as she hugged her brother. Everyone stood dumbfounded by Katara's sudden mood change. Even Sokka was surprised.
"It's okay.. Just next time please let me know so I can go with y'all. I have too." Sokka mumbled while hugging his sister back.
"We will." Katara agreed then she broke the embrace and went and sat back to clean the kitchen. Sokka stood there a moment before turning to Aang.
"Thanks for keeping her safe buddy. You can work on your Avatar stuff now that I'm here. I don't want the spirits to send another crazy spirit after Katara just because you aren't doing your responsibilities." Sokka told his best friend as he pat him on the back. Aang smiled gratefully at the young man.
"I don't think we will have to worry about that anymore. Koh was a one of a kind spirit, but I'm not going to risk it just in case. Thanks Sokka." The Avatar stated while giving him a quick bro-hug.
"Who are you?" Sokka asked as soon as Aang and him exited the hug. The warrior was referring to the drowsy watertribe man standing in the hallway.
"Sokka, this is Chang. Chang this is my best friend and Katara's brother, Sokka." Aang briefly introduced the two young men to eachother.
"My names Sokka. It's nice to meet you." Sokka greeted with a hand shake. Chang nodded and smiled while returning the hand shake.
"Likewise." The male waterbender responded before his attention turned to Sonyi and Sheng.
"Oh and this is Sheng. He's a friend of ours." Sokka continued to introduce as the men exchanged the formal greetings. "And this is Katara's best friend, Sonyi." He continued as he pointed to the beautiful girl. Chang stood there a moment mesmerized in her beauty. Katara was gorgeous, but this girl had something more than just beauty in his eyes. She glowed like the full moon does on a crystal clear night. "It is my pleasure to meet you, Lady Sonyi." Chang greeted with a bow in which Sonyi returned.
"Thank you. I'm pleased to meet you to." Sonyi responded with a slight blush. Chang's heart melted inside his chest at the sound of her voice. There was no doubt in his mind. He was in love with this angelic woman.
"Sonyi!" Another beautiful voice exclaimed. However, this voice caused his heart to sink into his stomach. Reality hit him straight between the eyes as Katara ran over and tackled her close friend.
'There is no doubt Katara is twice as beautiful, but there is just something about Sonyi... Ugh! Why me? Why do I have to fulfill this mission?.. I have to for my people.. A ruler must sacrifice for his villagers safety.' Chang reminded himself as he observed the two cheerful girls reunion. 'Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, Katara.. Treasure it.." Chang continued thinking to himself before turning around and walking out the door in order to escape the sickening feeling that was enveloping him.
"Oh Katara, by the end of the night everything is going to change for you and I both.. I just wish there was another way." Chang whispered as he kicked some small rocks around on the ground.
...
Can someone say "Uhh Ohh"? X_X Katara can't heal anyone if her heart is blocked by pain or anger.. If she does she will lose her memory and forget all the people she loves.. Now OnJi and Chang are brainstorming to try and split the couple up.. Shino's plan is finally revealed... Chang has to marry Katara in order to save his village! He's murmuring that tonight Katara's World will be turned upside down! WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? This is all So tragic! Oh, and Sokka's back with some more funny Sokkaness.. Well I hope it's funny. I HAD to add another goofy name for Snoozles...hehe XD I know these past two chapters have been very long. That because i have combine 4 chapters into 2 chapters.. I simply cannot keep you guys waiting with short little chapters. Are these chapters too long though? If so I can go back to the regular ones. Please Review! :)
