Chapter 34 – The Avatar's Secret
(Some days have passed since the Liberation of Omashu)
In the city square, King Bumi finishes a particularly moving speech.
Many of the residents wipe their tears as they clap furiously. The chain began from those closest to the podium, to those farthest away. There were audience members even populating the rooftops so that they could get a better view.
"Why does it feel like Bumi just took all the credit for our work?"(Nomu)
"Because it was set up as such. At least half, anyway. The citizens saw him fight at the walls, while none beheld ours. He is a descendant of the previous King Bumi, founded the Resistance, has the love and support of his people. The man makes an excellent figurehead."(Kuzo)
"Wah! Figurehead?!"(P'Li)
"Well, yes. It may not seem that way to the citizens, but the rest of the world knows Omashu as my city. And it is. Also Lin, who is my subordinate, is held in as high regard as Bumi himself."(Kuzo)
"Yeah… It probably comes off as Lin defeats the Mayor and Bumi protected the people. And the Avatar 'helped'" (Nomu)
"… You even gave her command of the operation too."(P'Li)
His comrades looked at him with suspicion.
Just how much of this has he calculated? Was what P'Li and Nomu thought.
As if reading their minds,
"It was an added bonus. I intended to give the command to Lin Beifong regardless."(Kuzo)
"AND NOW! LET THE RACES BEGIIIINNN!"(Bumi)
Residents began sliding down the highways of the city, down to the very edge of the walls. Some used Earth Bending to increase their speed, while others had special shoes with frictionless soles. The race was only one of the many events hosted during Omashu's celebrations. Apparently, this would go on for about a week.
"Remember our bet! No going back on your word!"(Nomu)
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be drinking your tears as I take your loot!"(P'Li)
"…Wow…"(Nomu)
"Yeah, I know. My brain just kinda came up with it and my mouth went with it."(P'Li)
"You sure you're not gonna participate, Kuzo?"(Nomu)
"Pointless farce. I have more important matters to attend to."(Kuzo)
P'Li and Nomu shrugged as they ran to the starting line.
Kuzo made his way to Bumi.
"I need to speak with you."(Kuzo)
The two walked a fairly long way from everyone. When the Avatar was sure that no one was around, he began explaining his grand plan. Kuzo left out some of the details as a precaution, but imparted relevant information to bring the King onboard. After all, Bumi was going to fulfill a cornerstone of it.
It was something he, Azula, and Iroh had put together a long time ago. The only others who knew about it were Toph and Ty Lee. The Avatar's grand scheme to bring everlasting peace to the world. The End Game to all the wars. It was a secret Kuzo would never tell even his closest allies, who remained ever in the dark of his true intentions.
When he finished, Bumi was visibly sweating. He didn't blink, his pupils had contracted to their smallest size. His mouth dried to the point where it seemed like he was dying of thirst. The King hadn't even realized he had been holding his breath. Kuzo gave him a moment to absorb the information.
The grown man's reaction was completely understandable. When Azula told Toph, he had never seen her so upset. He could still remember it clearly, even now. The small woman trembled, while grabbing onto Azula. Begging… Pleading that it wasn't true.
His thoughts were interrupted by Bumi.
"Is that really what must be done…?" the King spoke with a strong amalgam of emotions.
The Avatar saw the emotional conflict he was in and nodded resolutely.
"It is a flawless plan. And it is completely necessary."(Kuzo)
"…. Do your allies know what you plan to do?"(Bumi)
"No. And they never will. Not until it is all too late."
While most of the populace were enjoying the celebrations, Lin was preparing the military for the war to come. With a clipboard in hand, she organized the ever growing Third Power, also known as the Avatar Faction.
As she had predicted, once the world knew the Avatar had joined the War, eager new recruits were showing up to join Kuzo's army daily. Many of them wanted revenge on the Fire Empire or even just a better life. The oppression Ozai put all the villages under, practically drove the Earth Kingdom into poverty. If the poor enlisted as soldiers, they would be given a roof over their head, food in their belly, and extra cash to do what they will. It was a difficult offer to pass up. They didn't even consider Kuzo's origins as the former crown prince….
Or maybe they had, and expected if the Avatar won, all of them would be showered with the spoils of war.
We haven't even sent out army recruiters yet. I need to prepare some representatives to go to the neighboring villages too. And there are the mines along the desert…
The work was endless, but at the moment, Lin welcomed it. The mental consuming tasks kept her thoughts about her mother at bay. Her mind was full of logistics and territorial defense structures.
"Lin Beifong. What is the status of my army?"(Kuzo)
"Growing, Avatar. We're also consolidating a lot of the scattered White Lotus Sects."(Lin)
She handed the clip board to Kuzo, who flipped through the pages. While he did so, Lin contemplated her next words.
"When do we leave for the Swamp?"(Lin)
"As soon as Ty Lee's party arrives."(Kuzo)
"…. Can we leave…sooner?"(Lin)
Kuzo stopped looking through the pages and stared at Lin.
"We should move as quickly as possible, right?"(Lin)
"…I do not disagree with the notion, but Lan is a vital part of our travels. It would be more prudent to wait for her to arrive."(Kuzo)
Lin looked down.
"That's right. I must have forgot."
(At the entrance to Omashu)
"Waaaaahhhh!" Asami's eyes widened upon seeing the intricate highways that looped through the city.
With the child riding on Lan, the other five of the group walked alongside the giant Subun. The soldiers at the wall had given them a warm welcome, and notified Bumi immediately.
"Larger since I was last here."(Sokka)
"We've been gone for a long time."(Ty Lee)
*WHOOSH*
Through the air soared Bumi, leaping off one of the roadways above. He landed on the ground and went into a roll. When the King stopped before the group, he was surrounded by a cloud of dust.
"Hello, I am Bumi," he smiled with a funny look.
They all made their introductions and were led to the King's antique shop. While moving to the back office, the guide constantly hummed a song off tune.
Finally, the party arrived where Team Avatar had worked….
"Of course…." Ty Lee groaned.
The room was completely empty except for some chairs, a large table, numerous stacks of papers, and a few choice bottles of wine. The group walked over and found a note with four distinct writing styles on it.
We're going to the Swamp! (P'Li. Messy hand writing)
Send Lan. (Kuzo: short and neat.)
Military details and procedures are in the packets. (Lin: Formal and aligned)
Enjoy the wine! (Nomu: Swiggly, probably drunk while writing)
""Two lovers, forbidden from one another
A war divides their people
And a mountain divides them apart
Built a path to be together""
""Secret Tunnel~ !""
""Secret, secret, secret, secret TUNNEL!~ ""(P'Li and Nomu singing)
Lin groaned as she began developing a migraine.
"Can you two shut up?!"(Lin)
""Secret Tunnel~ !""
"Grr…." She turns to Kuzo, who is walking unfazed. "Hm? How are you okay with that?...Hello?"
Lin tapped the unresponsive Avatar on the shoulder.
He turns around curiously and takes some clay out of his ears.
"Yes?"(Kuzo)
"You plugged your ears…."(Lin)
*BOOM*
Lan fell out of nowhere and tackled Kuzo. The Subun sniffed the Avatar fondly before backing off. P'Li and Nomu were completely ecstatic and began petting the giant furry head enthusiastically.
When the euphoria of the reunion wore off, the four began looking through the parcels that Lan had brought them. There was food, water, tools, and some particularly special gear.
Kuzo found the note and read it.
IDIOTS. (Ty Lee: Big bold letters)
Hi. (Toph: Barely legible.)
Helmet, Kuzo. Spear, Lin. Hammer, P'Li. Gourds, Nomu. (Mei: Neat and formal)
Thanks for the wine! (Sokka: Squiggly, probably drinking)
P.S. Nomu. Additional rules! (Ty Lee again)
…
"Guh…! I knew your wife would be pissed at me…" (Nomu)
The four all began distributing their gifts.
Kuzo looked at his full helmet that clamped around his head. It had different sorts of designs around the eyes that gave off a demonish impression. Although everyone paused at the sight of it, no one wanted to point out the obvious again.
The Avatar donned it emotionlessly, but they could all tell he was delighted. The note he found on it, indicated that Toph had specifically forged it for him.
P'Li swung her steel hammer through the air. It had a lion's head design with a shaft length of two thirds her height. She read the instructions that came with it and began laughing. Wondering what was going on, the other three turned to her as she swung the weapon towards a boulder.
*FWOOM!*
Apparently, the hammer was able to act as a concentration point for her combustion bending. It took half the time of its normal preparation, and the explosion could be specifically directed, so there was no fear of backlash.
"….Oh…hohohoho~"(P'Li)
Lin looked at her pitch black spear and read her note. Sokka had written "Space Spear!" and some instructions. It was made out of the same meteorite his sword was and was also forged by Toph.
It was incredibly easy to Metal Bend. It extended and collapsed at great length. She gave it a flick, and it split into five separate shafts, which could be thrown or meleed with.
Nomu looked at his gift, not very impressed. They were two large gourds tied together with a long and thick metal tether. When he picked it up, he realized that the alcohol containers were lined with metal and possessed an absurd amount of weight. He swung one at a nearby tree.
The gourd completely blew the base away. Bark flew through the air as the whole tree timbered.
Additionally, there was a small leather bag addressed to him. In it were earrings designed with gold koi fishes coiling around sapphire. It was in the same style as P'Li's and Lin's, which identified them as trustworthy companions of the Avatar.
He was happy to put them on, but the mood quickly descended as he read a small note included in the bag. Ty Lee had written a scary letter to Nomu specifically and added a few new rules.
"No gambling… No killing… No running away again… No torturing… some other stuff…wegghhh"(Nomu)
"Hmph. Duly noted."(Kuzo)
"So… anyone feel guilty about leaving without any real notice…?"(P'Li)
Everyone stared at her.
"Yeah. Okay… Haha…"
Toph and Ty Lee drank heavily in Team Avatar's former office.
"I can't believe they did that…." (Ty Lee)
"They're just kids. I think sometimes we forget about that. Saving the world and all. And Kuzo being…Kuzo. Speaking of which…" (Toph)
Toph looked down at a passed out Sokka on the floor.
"I heard you bullied my little Kuzo quite a bit… And you made fun of my writing and drawing. Well…"(Toph)
The short woman pulled out a pen and began scribbling on Sokka's face.
So immature… But I also want to do it…
Ty Lee took a second pen and joined Toph.
While writing absentmindedly on the Sword Master's body,
"I was always curious about something."(Toph)
"Shoot."(Ty Lee)
"Did you and Azula ever have a thing?"(Toph)
Ty Lee involuntarily stabbed Sokka's face with the pen. He almost woke up, but began snoring again shortly after.
"… No point in lying, huh?"(Ty Lee)
"I got even better at detecting lies by being around Azula."(Toph)
They both smiled as they continued scribbling.
"Maybe in another place and another time…"(Ty Lee)
"…"(Toph)
"After the prison incident, I never met her again so there wasn't any chance for anything. The only time we reunited was near New Years. I don't think there's any more room to write on."(Ty Lee)
Toph flipped Sokka's shirt up and began scribbling on his belly.
"That's a shame…" Toph said with a sly grin. "The fun the three of us could have had…"
"Pffffttt!" Ty Lee stifled her laugh as hard as possible.
And for a few precious moments, they floated to a time when things were just the slightest bit different. Maybe a place where Azula was still alive, the Fire Nation didn't conquer the world, and Kuzo wasn't the Avatar….
"…You know, right?"(Toph)
The tone was ever so subtle as to communicate the true meaning.
"Yes. Azula told me on New Years. *Sigh* It seems King Bumi knows now as well." (Ty Lee)
Toph nodded.
"…Do you believe Kuzo will go through with it? With all of it?"(Ty Lee)
Although it was in the form of a question, it seemed from the tone, Ty Lee already knew the answer.
Toph stopped writing.
"It's still open ended, Ty Lee. None of us know what Kuzo will do in the end. I want to believe even he doesn't really know for sure."(Toph)
"Yeah… sounds about right."(Ty Lee)
"We can only trust him to do the right thing. I've known that kid since he was learning to crawl and he's been through things that would break anyone else. He's tougher than all of us combined. Mind and body. I don't have any doubts…." (Toph)
"Yeah… Me neither. Tenacious kid would be amazing, even without being the Avatar…" (Ty Lee)
She looked down at her wine cup.
"Kuzo… the one to save us all… But who's going to save Kuzo from himself?" (Ty Lee)
"Heh. Lin? P'Li? Nomu? You or I?"(Toph)
"Rather than assisting him, sometimes it feels like we're here to keep him in check…"(Ty Lee)
Toph shrugged as they both continued to drink the night away.
"The Last Avatar…"