Chapter 7

As the Benders and warriors put away their Keyblades, Ahsoka, Padme and Obi-wan rejoined them along with Senators Farr and Organa. Padme: "Is everyone alright?" Katara: "Yeah, we're fine. How are the senators? Were any of them attacked by those Heartless?" Padme: "No, you've managed to eradicate all of those creatures before they could even get near anyone." Ahsoka: "Thank goodness you guys were able to finish off those things." Aang: "Yeah, it was a long battle, but we hung in there." Obi-wan: "I think you kids did and fantastic job, especially you, Anakin. Way to run in there and nearly get yourself killed by those things." Anakin: "Don't pin any of that on me! I needed to step in after SOMEONE ran off screaming instead of staying in the fight!" Sokka: "Hey! I managed to return and fight those things…mostly." Anakin: "We are going to have a long talk after all of this is over."

Sokka folded his arms and groaned. At that moment, Senator Organa approached them as he applauded. Organa: "Bravo! That was quite a feat you kids have displayed." Sokka: "Um…who are you?" Padme: "Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Senator Bail Organa; a good friend of mine. He is a representative of Alderaan. Senator Organa, these are our new friends, Katara, Toph, Zuko, Aang, Suki and this is Sokka, Katara's brother." Organa: "A pleasure to meet all of you. I must say, those fighting skills of yours were quite impressive. What was it they were called again? Bending?" Katara: "Yes, it's very common where we come from." Organa: "Yes, I have heard that you kids are from another world." Padme: "We're taking them around Coruscant to teach them about our world." Katara: "It's so amazing. I have never seen so many different kinds of people before." Organa: "Yes, every representative from every star system is gathered here." Toph: "Every representative, from every star system? Wow! That's a lot of people!" Padme: "These kids were brought here to protect our galaxy from those ruthless creatures; they're called Heartless." Organa: "Well, I wish each of you the best of luck." Katara: "Thank you, Senator Organa. We'll…probably need it." Farr: "I must say, you kids have my forever gratitude. You're doing a great thing, sacrificing your time to help out several thousand strangers that you have never met before." Suki: "Yes, well…actually, the longer we stay here, the less you guys seem like strangers." Anakin: "Great, sorry to break up this little conversation, but we still have a lot more things we need to teach our young friends." Padme: "Anakin is right. We need to show them around the senate so that we can teach them about many other things about our world." Farr: "Ah, yes, well, don't let us hold you back." Katara: "You're more than welcome to join us, senators." Organa: "I would be honored to accompany the young, new friends of Senator Amidala." Katara: "Great, let's go."

They walked around the senate building. Inside, they chatted with Senators Farr and Organa. Organa: "So, there's an entire culture that's based on these…bending abilities?" Padme: "Yes, they are from a unique world where a large group of people, who call themselves Benders, can control and manipulate each of the 4 elements to their will and that was exactly what you saw them do." Farr: "I see, and what these…horrid creatures you call… Heartless?" Anakin: "Those creatures, from what our friends tell us, are not from they're world or any particular world, at all." Obi-wan: "They have unusual powers to cross in and out between dimensions. They can also ruin them with their presence." Katara: "Our world is already at the brink of deterioration. We're hoping to end the threat here before your world begins to deteriorate, as well." Organa: "Well, you have our appreciation and our condolences, as well. We're sorry for what's happening to your home." Farr: "Yes, we would hate to have the same thing happen to our homes. Please ensure that our world does not succumb to these creatures." Katara: "You don't need to worry about a thing, we'll handle it." Farr: "Thank you. Now then, about your world, tell me, what is it like?" Katara: "Well, to simply start out, our world is split into 4 nations: the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads. It's more than just Benders; there are also the spiritual aspects to it, such as many different beings from the spirit world. Some of them crossed over to our world from the Spirit World and manifest themselves in mortal forms." Farr: "Oh, can you tell me of one of these spirits you know?" Katara: "Sure, there's Aang here and he is the most important spirit of all, or at least the spirit, itself is contained within him." Obi-wan: "Yes, that which we all know as the Avatar."

Senator Farr seemed a bit startled. Farr: "The… Avatar?" Katara: "Yes, he is the spirit of our world manifested in the form of a human being. He is the protector of our world and the only human being who can control and wield all 4 elements." Anakin: "That…kind of makes the Avatar special." Katara: "There's more than just that, he is also known as "The Bridge between our world and the Spirit World"." Ahsoka: "I still don't know what that means." Aang: "It means that I can cross over between both worlds at will. I can even see my own past lives." Organa: "Past lives?" Ahsoka: "The Avatar is an immortal spirit, so from what I can tell, when his human form dies, he is then reincarnated into the nation in this Avatar Cycle; which goes in a complete circle." Farr: "So, how does this Avatar Cycle go?" Ahsoka: "Well, let's see, if the Avatar dies as an Air Nomad, he is then born in the Water Tribe, if the Water Tribe Avatar passes on, he is then replaced with someone from the Earth Kingdom, if the Avatar from the Earth Kingdom perishes, then the Avatar is born as a member of the Fire Nation and if he goes, too, then he is reborn as an Air Nomad again. Did I get that right?" Katara: "Yes, that's exactly how it goes."

Ahsoka seemed very stoked. Ahsoka: "Terrific!" Sokka: "Yep, the Avatar Cycle is pretty much an endless circle that has been going around for many generations." Farr: "Fascinating, truly fascinating!" Obi-wan: "Oh, I agree on that much, senator." Toph: "We're also capable of adapting our abilities to new surroundings. When in an unfamiliar environment such as this entire planet, we learn everything we can about it and find what we need to do to take advantage of it. Luckily, I learned how to bend metal like it's earth." Organa: "Well, you truly are a unique group of kids and I look forward to seeing more of these…bending abilities of yours, but it's time for us to move on." Farr: "Yes, we still have a lot more work to be taken care of." Katara: "Sure thing, it was great meeting you Senator Organa and you too, Senator Farr." Farr: "You, too." Organa: "Farewell, my friends and thank you again, for everything." Zuko: "Farewell, senators, we look forward to seeing you again."

They smiled and walked off. Aang: "Hopefully, we'll be able to see them on their home world." Toph: "Grrr! All this talk of other planets is seriously getting me pumped! I want to go to them now!" Ahsoka: "Maybe later, Toph. But right now, we still have lots more to see and do around here." Padme: "Come on, let's get moving."

They walked along the hallways and saw many more people, especially some that were non-humans. Sokka looked at each of them with an awestruck look on his face. Sokka: "Whoa! I don't think it really matters how much you guys prepare me, I still can't get use to this." Padme: "I know, it is a lot to take in, but you will, in time." Katara: "Well, we did get use to Ahsoka." Sokka: "I know that, but Ahsoka is very human-like, so, she was a lot easier to adjust to, but everyone else is…less than easy, like that guy over there who looks like an elk with 3 eyes." Padme: "That's Senator Kharrus. He is a representative of his home world, Kinyen, his species is called Gran."

Katara pondered for a bit. Katara: "Gran, huh? I think I can remember that."

Sokka looked over and saw a senator with 2, long hair tails growing out of their head. Sokka: "Hair tails…hey, guys, that person over there! They have hair tails, too."

They looked over and saw the person, too. Sokka: "That person's a Twi'lek, right?" Ahsoka: "That's right, wow, Sokka, you're really catching on." Anakin: "Well, that, I don't think that happens very often with you."

Sokka made another irritated look on his face. Ahsoka: "Oh, look, there's my friend, Senator Chuchi. Hey, Chuchi, over here."

Chuchi stopped to notice her. Chuchi: "Hmm? Oh, Ahsoka, hi!"

She walked up towards everyone, she then stood along with them. Chuchi: "It is so good to see you again, Ahsoka." Ahsoka: "You, too, how have you been?" Chuchi: "Oh, just the same old things. Hardly anyone would want to listen to a young senator, although some are acknowledging me, so that's good, I guess." Ahsoka: "Well, at least life isn't boring for you." Chuchi: "Yeah, life's never boring when you're a senator." Ahsoka: "The same way with the Jedi." Chuchi: "True."

She then noticed the Benders. Chuchi: "Oh, you have some new friends." Ahsoka: "Everyone, this is Senator Chuchi, she is a representative of Pantora." Sokka: "She's some sort of…blue skinned human-like person." Ahsoka: "Right, she's a Pantoran." Aang: "Another species that's named after the planet they're from." Sokka: "And with pink hair, too. Huh, weird." Katara: "I'm guessing that's normal for her species."

Padme nodded. Padme: "As normal as it is for people of your world and their hair color." Chuchi: "So, who are these other younger people?" Ahsoka: "These are our new friends. This is Katara, Aang, Zuko, Toph, Suki and Katara's older brother, Sokka. They're here to help us against the new threat that has plagued our galaxy recently." Chuchi: "You mean those strange creatures, like the one that I saw outside; those kids were fighting them?" Anakin: "That's right. They're called Heartless." Chuchi: "Heartless?" Obi-wan: "Yes, that's what our young friends told us these creatures are." Chuchi: "Oh, really? Well, I wish you a lot of luck. We all need it." Katara: "Thank you, Senator Chuchi, that is much appreciated."

Senator Chuchi smiled. Chuchi: "Well, I'd better get going, but it was nice meeting all of you." Katara: "You too, Senator Chuchi." Chuchi: "OK, bye." Katara: "Goodbye, I hope we see you again." Chuchi: "Same here. I look forward to hearing more about you."

Senator Chuchi walked off. Katara: "Well, she was nice." Ahsoka: "Yes, she is." Suki: "So, where to next?" Padme: "Hmm…would you kids like to see where we make our negotiations?" Aang: "Um…sure, I guess…judging by all of the senates from many different stars systems, I would say that this room you have your negotiations in is enormous." Anakin: "Oh, you have no idea."

They continued walking on until they reached a pod. Aang: "What's that thing?" Padme: "It's a pod, it's what we use to enter the chamber that we have our negotiations in. This pod is not only used for negotiations, it can also be used as a means of transportation." Zuko: "Why is it important to have something like this?" Padme: "Oh, you'll see."

They all stepped on the pod, some of them sat down while other just stood. The pod then moved and entered the chamber. As it entered, all of the Benders, plus Sokka and Suki, stood in shock over the size of the room. Sokka: "WHOA! THIS PLACE IS HUGE!"

Sokka's voice echo throughout the entire room. Katara: "Just look at this room!" Padme: "This is the Grand Convocation Chamber. This is where every representative from every star system holds all of their sessions." Katara: "This must be the largest room in the entire building!" Padme: "You're right, it is, in fact, THE largest room in the building." Sokka: "Forget that! This is the largest room of any building!" Anakin: "You'd be surprised." Toph: "Whoa! I was able to feel out a massive empty void within this entire building, but I had no idea that it was an enormous room! How big is this place!?" Padme: "It is 100 meters tall and holds over 1,024 pods." Aang: "I can't wrap my mind around how enormous this place is!" Sokka: "No kidding! There's enough room for you to fly around in, Aang!" Aang: "Hmm, you're right, there IS enough room for me to fly around."

Aang jumped up, pulled out his Keyblade gliders and flew around the room. Suki: "I get the feeling that we'll be using this room a lot." Padme: "You may be right, Suki, there will probably be times when you guys need to present yourselves to the senate. It could take a lot of representations to get everyone in the galaxy to trust you like how me and my friends do." Katara: "Yes, that much we understand."

Aang returned into the pod. Afterwards, he looked towards the bottom of the center of the room and saw a large circle on the bottom. Aang: "Hey, what's that?"

Padme looked down and spotted it. Padme: "That is where the Chancellor speaks to everyone in the senate." Aang: "The Chancellor. Who's he?" Padme: "Chancellor Palpatine? He's the leader of the Senate; he's the one who makes the final decisions in the votes." Katara: "Chancellor…Palpatine?" Anakin: "Oh, yes, he's a great guy, a good man, he gives out excellent advice, I think you kids would get along with him." Toph: "Is this Palpatine guy…friendly?" Anakin: "Sure, he gets along with just about everyone, everyone who's not a member of the Separatists, that is." Katara: "Well, that's no surprise. I would love to meet him." Padme: "Sure, I can take you to him."

They went on until they reach Chancellor's office. They stepped into the Chancellor's office. Inside, there was a large chair facing the window. Padme: "Hello? Chancellor Palpatine? It's me Padme, Masters Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi are here too and we brought some new friends."

The chair turned around and revealed a shriveled old, man in fancy looking clothes. Everyone in that universe recognizes him as Chancellor Palpatine. Palpatine: "Ah, hello, everyone, it's good to see you again." Padme: "It's good to see you again, Chancellor." Anakin: "Your Excellency." Padme: "Everyone, this man is Chancellor Palpatine; he is a great man and a great hero in so many ways." Katara: "Nice to meet you, Chancellor. I'm Katara; these are my friends, Aang, Toph, Zuko, Suki and my brother, Sokka." Palpatine: "Ah, a pleasure to meet you. Any friend of the Jedi and Senator Amidala is a friend of mine." Katara: "Thank you."

Soon enough, Toph began to feel a little uneasy. Palpatine: "So, what brings you youngsters here from…first of all, where did you come from? You're style of clothing, it's very unfamiliar." Padme: "They're from another world." Palpatine: "Oh, another world, you say? Well, then, what brings you here from your world?" Katara: "We were sent here to eliminate the Heartless threat that could possibly tear this world apart." Palpatine: "Oh, dear, you don't say? Would these…Heartless be…those horrid creatures that I saw you kids fighting outside a just few minutes ago?" Katara: "Yes, that's right, unfortunately, our world is at the brink of deterioration because of those things. Our homes could be destroyed within a short period of time." Palpatine: "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that."

He walked up to Katara and patted her on the back. Palpatine: "There, there, my dear, I'm sure everything will turn out for the better." Katara: "Thank you, Chancellor, that was very kind of you."

The Chancellor smiled at her. Sokka: "So, Chancellor, how is it that you're a hero in so many ways?" Palpatine: "Well, that's an excellent question, my boy, as you can see, I have saved these wonderful people so many times." Sokka: "Oh, really? You don't say." Padme: "It's true, such as when my home world was being overrun by the trade federation, I was taken to the senate, hoping they would plead my case, but the former Chancellor refused to hear me out because I didn't have any proof, but I kept fighting back because I couldn't stand letting my own people suffer, so the former Chancellor was kicked off the high chair and Chancellor Palpatine was elected. Since then, he has done so many wonderful things for us, but he really saved us that day by pleading my case with me and ruling in favor of me. That really helped me a lot." Aang: "Gee, that sounds like a really interesting story, you've must have done a lot for Padme; you're a really great guy." Palpatine: "Yes, but enough about me, tell me about you kids." Katara: "Gladly, we come from a world that's split into…"

As they continued on, Toph felt dazed, faint and groggy, she then started to lose balance and near heaved. Palpatine: "Are you feeling alright, my dear?" Toph: "Yeah, fine, just fine, I need to step out." Obi-wan: "I'll step out with her, your Excellency."

Obi-wan escorted Toph out of the room. Outside the room, Obi-wan stood with Toph. Obi-wan: "Toph, are you OK? You don't look well, at all." Toph: "I'm fine, it's just…"

Toph pause for a bit. Obi-wan: "Yes?" Toph: "Look, promise to keep it between you and me but I felt something very strange in there." Obi-wan: "OK, what is it?" Toph: "It's that Palpatine guy, it's the strangest thing, it's likes…he's there…but he's not there. He keeps phasing in and out of my seismic senses, I don't know why but it's making me queasy." Obi-wan: "Hmm…you don't say, we'll keep this to ourselves for now, but I recommend you tell the Council about this when you believe you're ready; I think they would be very interested to hear this." Toph: "Well, if you say so." Obi-wan: "Do you want to come in or you would prefer to wait out here until we're done in there?" Toph: "You go ahead, I feel a lot better away from that guy." Obi-wan: "Very well then."

Obi-wan walked back in, Toph waited many minutes.

Afterwards, everyone stepped out of the chamber. Padme: "Well, it's been great seeing you again, but we really need to get going; we still have a lot more things we need to show these kids." Palpatine: "Of course, don't let me intervene with your…plans." Padme: "Thank you for understanding. Let's go, everyone."

They walked off. Palpatine: "Farewell, everyone, and I hope you feel better, young lady."

Toph talked quietly to herself. Toph: "Oh, it will be a very long time before I "feel better" around you."