BOOK 2: EARTH
CHAPTER 18: THE EARTH KING
The vast waters of Lake Laogai. Team Avatar has stopped on a tiny islet in the center of the lake. Aang is embracing Appa, happy upon reuniting with him.
"So you're the flying carpet known as Appa, right?"
Asura sat in front of the Sky bison. The see what his new friends have been talking about. Appa is indeed big and furry, with a few sniffs of Asura Appa seemed okay with the newcomer.As for Aang he was spending his time embracing Appa, happy upon reuniting with him. "I missed you more than you'll ever know, buddy." Momo flies into Appa to hug him too. Appa licks Aang, which causes Aang to laugh.
Sokka and Griffon watch the two rekindle their friendship. Griffon for one didn't hesitate to voice his opinion. "Awe, that is so sweet … like stepping in puke."
"Yeah, but you didn't mind it." Sokka added.
The two approach the rest of the team who were sitting comfortably near the shore. "Look, we escaped from the Dai Li. We got Appa back. I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll." Sokka said.
Valen looked up from his book upon hearing that odd statement. Katara rolled his eyes. "One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll."
Sokka nodded. "We can build on it. If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we'll need the Earth King's support."
Toph rolled her eyes. "What makes you think we'll get it? I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our little gang."
"I know, but I've got a good feeling about this. This time will be different." Sokka with utmost surety.
"Jesus . . ." Dante exhaled while rubbing his forehead in exhaustion.
Katara decided to spell it out for her brother. "Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city. His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. I think we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us."
"I'm with Sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se." Toph Raises arms and opens eyes wide for emphasis. "And I can't even see!"
Asura and Aang choose this moment to come over adding his two cents to the debate. "But now that we have Appa back, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth. About the conspiracy and the War!"
"See?" Sokka said putting his arm around Aang and smiles. "Aang's with me."
Katara needed a second opinion upon losing ground. She turned to Asura wondering what his thoughts are. Considering he's an immigrant from a country that is hostile to the Earth Kingdom, if the Dai Li found out about him they mey capture him. "Asura?"
"As much as I like to go see the King of Pebbles, I like to keep a low profile if you don't mind."
Katara then turned to the next person. "Dante?" she asked.
"I there is one thing that I hate more than another, it's turning back when we are so close to the edge. Sorry Kat."
Three people voted to stay and see the King and three voted to leave the city. There has to be a tiebreaker. Everyone turned to Valen was currently finished his readying and looking out at the scenic lake.
"Valen, what do you think?" Sokka asked.
"I think … I finally learned how to skip rocks perfectly across the water." Valen replied.
Everyone blinked from a moment as his response was not an answer what either party was looking for.
"Okkkkkaaay." said Sokka bring himself back to reality. "Katara, it's the whole reason we came here in the first place. We have to try."
Katara put her palm to against her chin and thinks for a moment. "Well, I guess if the Earth King knew the truth, things could change."
Toph stands up. "I don't trust the new positive Sokka. Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he!?" she points at Sokka in an accusing manner.
Aang noticed something out the corner of his eye. He ran to the edge and saw three ships on the lake, a patrol mostly likely.
"That's probably the Dai Li searching for us." Sokka turned to Katara. "So?"
"Hold up a moment!" said Griffon, he and Shadow decided to chime in. "You didn't ask how we of the fur and feathers feel about this. We are people two!"
"Well … what say you?" Aang asked.
"Well, Shadow and Nightmare are all for it. BUT, as the only voice of reason among this trio we must think of V's safety."
"What's wrong?" Toph asked.
"Oh nothing, just that if V dies then we have no place to be comes someone' tattoos. It's our home, so to speak." Griffon then flapped over to Valen. "V … you're a clever, poetic fucker. But in a sticky situation it wouldn't take much to wipe you out, given you illness. I'm just saying running away is okay. It's always okay to run away, if you're not up for it!"
Valen smiled, Griffon is a smartass, but he speaks with smart words, some of the time. Valen pulled out his book and opened to a chapter he was reading. ""He who desires but acts not, breeds pestilence." So it is written."
"Okay Shakespeare . . ." Griffon sighed.
Katara thinks for a moment before looking at Sokka. "Let's fly." She said with determination.
They fly toward the Palace, now with no saddle, holding onto Appa's fur for dear life, especially Toph. The fact that Appa's fur sheds from time to time causes worry that at any moment the fur she's gripping would come lose and she will go flying off in the air.
"Can we please buy a new saddle? Riding bareback is terrifying!" she buries face in Appa's back.
"That what I hear but once you get on the rodeo it not so bad." Dante shouted.
"Someone catch me if go flying." Toph said before returning her face to Appa's fur.
They begin their decent closer to the palace. It is large surrounded by walls packed legions of guards.
"There it is! That whole thing is the palace! The Earth King's chamber should be in the center!" Sokka informs. He could hardly wait to touchdown below.
"We have to be careful. Long Feng's probably warned the king that we're coming." Katara reminds her eager brother.
"Why would you assume that? If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in and - Aahh!"
A giant rock suddenly appears and almost hits them.
"Shit!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Toph exclaimed.
Sokka looks down and sees more being launched. "Surface-to-air rocks! MORE INCOMING!"
They dodge a few more rocks. Valen then decided to make the situation less intense by singing.
I need air
Where only stars get in my hair
And only eagles stop and stare
I need air
Oh, the world is mad and I have had my share
I need air
I need air
One gets launched right at Aang, but he destroys it with his hand. Another is launched at them head on, but Aang slices it cleanly in two by swinging his staff at the rock to augment his earthbending.
He launches himself from Appa to the front of the palace and slams his staff into the ground, generating a massive earthen wave to knock back the palace guards. Appa lands and roars at the captain's ostrich horse, which causes it to drop the captain and run off. Everyone gets off and assumes their battle readiness as they continue toward the Earth King, more guards appear and launch earth cubes at the gang. Toph and Aang use earthbending to block the attacks, while Katara uses waterbending to subdue the guards. Periodically when there is an opening in the defense and the earth soldiers would try to charge in only to be stopped by Dante or Valen who counter and send them flying backwards.
Katara water whips two guards. "Sorry!" Katara turns around and strikes down more guards with her waterbending sending them I a jerk of motion as they fly through the air, though closes her right eye in a sympathetic flinch for a moment as she does so. "Sorry! We just need to get through to see the Earth King!"
More guards appear on the opposite end of a bridge and launch two giant statues at them. Toph and Aang create an earth igloo to block the statues. Katara creates an ice ramp to jump to the other side of the bridge and water-whips the guards into the water. Aang freezes them in the water as the rest all jump across. More surface-to-air rocks appear as guards are coming down a giant staircase. Toph uses earthbending to change the stairs into a ramp, causing them all to fall. She and Aang use earthbending to escalate themselves up the stairs.
"Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side!" Sokka pauses for a moment to consider what they are doing to them just to get to the King. "Sorry."
"I'm sure they will fine." Dante said before hearing a guard scream past him and turn to look down the ramp.
More guards come and Aang and Toph push them away with earthbending.
They enter the palace and come to an area with three doors. More guards appear and Toph easily defeats them all. But the fight wasn't over yet.
"Toph, which way to the Earth King?"Sokka asked.
"How should I know? I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se." she said.
In her seismic sense she could see the whole palace. But having never been here she is clueless. More troops arrived prompting Dante and V to take the places beside Toph and Aang.
Dante jumped kick at one of the guards, spin flipped to the side and sweep the guard off his foot to take his spear. He needed the spear for crowd control. With a twirl around his head he knocks two guards of his feet and with the butt-end hit another in the chest. Finally he spun around sweeping the three guards up and slinging them around to four others of their feet. V commanded Shadow to use his tail to whip and smack the guards in the head. Katara leaped on shadows back and the two jumped from one wall to the other, giving the guards a true ass whoopin'.
While all this mayhem was going on Sokka opens the doors to find the Earth King. The first room is empty, as is the second; outside the second door, a royal guard goes flying to the right off-screen. Sokka bursts into a third room, startling a woman who was in the middle of dressing.
"Burglar!" she screams, tries to run, trips, and falls flat on her face.
Sokka shuts the door. "Sorry. Wrong door."
Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh return from Lake Laogai. It was a trying hour but everything seems to be okay.
"You did the right thing. Letting the Avatar's bison go free." Iroh said, satisfied that his nephew's choosing.
"I don't feel right." Gets dizzy and passes out.
"Zuko!" Iroh quickly rushes to his side.
Back at the palace, the team arrives at a pile of rubble from the battle.
"Are you sure we didn't kill anyone in the process of getting the far?" Katara said.
Dante shrugged. "Don't know, don't care. We crossed the threshold so there are no refunds at this point."
Sokka climbs atop it and sees a gigantic majestic green and gold door. "Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere." Drops down from the rubble and attempts to kick the door open. "Yaaah!" The door does not move even slightly and Sokka drops to the floor like a leaf. Sokka starts trying to push it open, but to no avail.
Dante jumped in from behind and bust the door down with his earthbending, knocking Sokka forward in the process. He starts rubbing the back of his head. "Gol-ly, a little warning next time?"
They arrive in the Earth King's chamber of His Majesty, Kuei, sitting in his throne. Long Feng and his Dai Li agents stand in their way. The team takes fighting stances against them.
"We need to talk to you." Aang states getting right to the point.
"They're here to overthrow you." Long Feng explain to the King.
"No, we're on your side. We're here to help." Sokka says.
"You have to trust us." Katara says.
The King Kuei found this hard to believe, he stands up with a rising aggravated tone. "You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?"
"He has a good point." Toph points out.
Kuei decided to give them a chance to prove "If you are on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down!"
They look at each other for a moment. Aang drops his staff, Katara puts her water whip back in her water skin, Asura tosses a guard's sword aside, Sokka drops his machete, Toph drops the boulder she is levitating, Dante dismisses Rebellion and V snaps his fingers recalling Griffon and Shadow back to him. Aang smiles kindly. "See? We're friends, Your Earthiness." He gives a slight nervous chuckle with his cheeks blushing. Dante took one step to the right.
The king says nothing and just continues to frown grimly. Long Feng signals the Dai Li to cuff their arms with rock gloves. "Detain the assailants!" Long Feng ordered and the Dai Li rush behind Team Avatar. Everything seemed to go down the toilet at this point until Sokka opened his big fat mouth (which is something one can say was a good thing at the end of the day).
"But we dropped our weapons. We're your allies." Sokka protested.
"Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again." Long Feng said causing the king to look at him shocked.
"The Avatar?"the king points at Sokka. "You're the Avatar?" he asked.
"Uh, no. Him." Sokka nudges his head at Aang.
Aang effortlessly breaks free of his earth cuffs and raises his arms, thanks to Toph's Earthbending lessons. "Over here." he says before he re-attaches the cuffs.
"What does it matter, Your Highness? They're enemies of the state." Long Feng says in earnest.
Kuei sees Bosco sniff and lick Aang, who laughs, and smiles at Long Feng. "Perhaps you're right. Though Bosco seems to like him . . . I'll hear what he has to say."
Aang walks forward to give his testimony. "Well, sir, there's a war going on right now. For the past one hundred years in fact. The Dai Li's kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you."
"A secret war? That's crazy!" Kuei says in disbelief.
"Completely!" Long Feng agrees.
"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our sky bison to blackmail us. And blackmail is the least of his crimes; he brainwashed our friend!" Aang added.
"All lies. I've never even seen a sky bison, Your Majesty. Frankly, I thought they were extinct." Long Feng said.
Kuei sits down, "Your claim is difficult to believe. Even from an Avatar."
Long then walks to the king and whispers in his ear. "These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction."
Kuei looks shocked at what Long Feng is telling him. He thinks for a moment before coming to a verdict.
"I have to trust my advisor."
The agents start taking the team away, but Sokka stops for a moment and turns to face the king with a big smile. "I can prove he's lying. Long Feng said he's never seen a sky bison. Ask him to lift his robe."
"What? I am not disrobing!" Long Feng protects.
"What cha thinking dude?" Dante asked leaning his head out.
Aang and Sokka smile slyly and nod at each other. Aang blows a large gust of air at Long Feng's legs, lifting his robe and revealing a bite mark left by Appa. "Right there! Appa bit him!"
"Never met a sky bison, huh?"
"Mark left in folly, never heal quickly." V commented.
Long Feng lowers his robe. "That happens to be a large birth mark. Thanks for showing everyone."
Asura almost laughs. "What? Were you bitten by a demon cow in womb?"
"Well I suppose there's no way to prove where those marks came from." Kuei commented.
"Of course there is!" Sokka said.
The group gets Appa and brings him in. He opens his mouth. Aang points at the bison's teeth and at Long Feng's mark.
"Yup. That pretty much proves it." Kuei says
Team Avatar cheers with the joy of a crowd in a sports coliseum.
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory." Kuei adds.
Team Avatar becomes downcast.
"Though, I suppose this matter's worth looking into." Kuei concludes.
Team Avatar look at each other approvingly, while Long Feng glares at the king before walking away with his agents.
Back in Iroh and Zuko's apartment, Zuko is asleep. He wakes up.
Iroh dips a cloth in water and places the cloth on Zuko's forehead. "This will help cool you down."
"So thirsty." Zuko sits up, but Iroh makes him lie back down. Grabs a bucket with a spoon in it; takes out the spoon. "Here's some clean water to drink. Stay under the blankets and sweat this out." Zuko grabs the spoon from Iroh and drinks the water. He tosses the spoon aside and grabs the bucket. He drinks from it, while spilling some out. He tosses the bucket aside and lies back down. Iroh pulls the covers more over him.
Indra watches the two from a corner. Considering Zuko's current condition and his suspicions of what he believe he sensed at Lake Laogai … it was time to make his move. But first things first he promised Zuko powers to help capture the Avatar and he was going to fulfill it.
Meanwhile, on a train, passengers are shocked to see the Earth King, who is standing in the middle of the cart surrounded by guards.
"So this is what a train is like?" Kuei feeling strange from exposition. "I didn't realize it would be this ... public."
"So you've never been outside the Upper Ring before?" Katara asked.
"I've never been outside the palace." Kuei answers.
Katara and Sokka look at each other; the Earth King looks outside and sees Aang and Dante flying on Appa. "Now that's the way to travel. So, may I ask where we're going?"
"Underneath Lake Laogai, Your Kingliness. To the Dai Li's secret headquarters. You're about to see where all the brainwashing and conspiring took place."
On the shores of Lake Laogai. The team stood on the shore beside the Earth King and his guards. Toph steps to the edge of the water, and with a hop, reveals the secret path to the hatch door entrance, though discovers it has been destroyed.
"It's gone!" Toph exclaims.
"Oh don't tell me- !" Sokka then gives a thumbs up and a fake smile. "That's okay. Still got my positive attitude."
"The Dai Li must've known we were coming and destroyed the evidence!" Katara said.
Kuei looks suspicious "Hm ...That seems awfully convenient." He says sarcastically.
"Hey, if anything, this proves the conspiracy exists even more." Sokka looks over to Asura and Dante for support, the two smiles and nod. "Yes your majesty. Whatever Sokka says it must be true." Asura said sarcastically.
"See I told – Hey!" Sokka objects.
"Tha'da boy." Dante high-five's Asura.
"You're not helping!" Katara hissed at the both of them.
"Okay, okay, we'll stop." Asura raising his hands innocently.
"Long Feng was right. This was a waste of time." Kuei turns to leave. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to the palace."
Katara smiles with realization. "The wall. They'll never be able to cover that up in time."
Aang hops in front of the king. "If you come with us to the Outer Wall, we can prove to you that the secret war is real."
"No Earth King has ever been to the Outer Wall. I don't have any more time for this nonsense." Kuei walks past Aang who looks depressed.
Sokka runs up to them. "If you come with us, this time you can ride on Appa." The Earth King stops as Appa lows in the background. A pleased smile grows on his face.
En route to the Outer Wall the Earth King is riding on Appa, holding on for dear life and screaming at the top of his lungs in fear, his clothes flapping in the wind. Dante decided to take to the air by once again shape-shifting into a Eagle.
"First time flying?" Toph asked.
"It's both thrilling and terrifying!" Kuei said.
"Yeah." Toph smiles. "I hate it, too."
"I have to be honest with you: part of me really hopes that what you're telling me about this war isn't true." Kuei said.
"I wish it wasn't." Aang said.
Meanwhile at the apartment, Iroh again places the moist cloth over his feverish nephew's forehead. Zuko is having a dream that he is the Fire Lord, with no scar on his eye. One red and one blue dragon appear and start circling around the pillars on each side of him. The blue dragon starts circling around Zuko.
"It's getting late. Are you planning to retire soon, my lord?" the blue dragon asked.
"I'm not tired." He replied.
"Relax, Fire Lord Zuko. Just let go. Give in to it. Shut your eyes for a while." the blue dragon said seductively.
Zuko slowly starts to shut his eyes but widely opens them upon hearing the other dragon. "No, Fire Lord Zuko! Do not listen to the blue dragon. You should get out of here right now. Go! Before it's too late!"
Both dragons are poised to either side of Zuko. The rolls of guards rise to their feet with thunderous step.
"Sleep now, Fire Lord Zuko."
The dragons disappear, and the room they're in, as well as the guards watching Zuko, crumble to nothing. The blue dragon reappears in front of him. Two golden eyes appear, followed by the face of the blue dragon, which closes rapidly upon him.
"Sleep . . . Just like MOTHER!"
Charges at Zuko and opens its mouth. Inside the dragon's mouth, Zuko sees his mother, Ursa. Within that darkness is Ursa, who drops her hood.
"Zuko! Help me!"
A distraught Zuko is seen in her eyes. Suddenly blood splashes on Zuko's face. He looks down to see Ursa run through the abdomen with a blade.
Zuko gasps in horror as the blade retracts letting Ursa fall to the side. Zuko runs to her aid he looks up to see an army in front of him lead by Indra in a hood and cloak hold the sword that kill Ursa. Indra turned around to the army to ask them a question.
"Are you afraid of death?"
Zuko disappears through the floor. The last thing he sees was Indra form change from a young boy to a young man with ember yellow eyes staring at him with his sword's blade igniting in a crimson energy. Outside the dream Zuko starts sweating while Indra stands over him, observing and waiting.
Meanwhile, Team Avatar arrives at the Outer Wall, finally, and sees the drill.
Aang points at the drill. "It's still there!"
"What is that?" Kuei shocked at what he was seeing.
It's a drill. A giant drill made by the Fire Nation to break through your walls." the king was understandably horrified.
On top of the wall, they're looking down at the drill."It's a lot bigger up close, would care to see it?" Dante asked.
"No, no. I'm good it's just I … I can't believe I never knew." Kuei looks to his right as he hears something.
Long Feng appears on an earth elevator with two Dai Li agents. "I can explain this, Your Majesty. This is nothing more than ... a construction project."
"Really? Then perhaps you could explain why there's a Fire Nation insignia on your "construction project". Katara asked sarcastically.
"Well it's imported of course. You know you can't trust domestic machinery. Surely you don't believe these children instead of your most loyal attendant?"
Looks at Team Avatar, who stare back innocently, then at Long Feng, who is glaring back. As far as Kuei could see Team Avatar was loyal to present the facts while Long Feng chose not to deliver them. "Dai Li! Arrest Long Feng! I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."
Long Feng and Team Avatar look shocked. The two agents behind Long Feng share glances, then launch shackles onto his arms and pull him in. V notice this an d wondered why they hesitated.
Long Feng protect to his king. "You can't arrest me! You all need me more than you know!" and with that he is taken away.
"Looks like Long Feng is long gone! Ha! Ah, yeah, I've been waiting to use that one." Sokka says happily. Aang smiles at him and Katara gives him an unimpressed look. Asura simply picks his nose to that.
That night at the Palace, the Earth King is talking with Team Avatar.
"I want to thank you, young heroes, for opening my eyes. All this time, what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools. And that makes me the king fool." Kuei buries his face in one of his hands, in defeat. "We're at war. With the Fire Nation."
"That's why we came to Ba Sing Se, Your Highness: because we think you can help us end the war." Sokka said.
Momo climbs up Kuei's arm as Aang continues. "We don't have much time. There's a comet coming this summer. Its energy will give the firebenders unbelievable strength. They'll be unstoppable." Aang adds.
"But there is hope. Before the comet comes, we have a window of opportunity: A solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be completely blocked out by the moon, and the firebenders will be helpless."
"What are you suggesting, Sokka?" Kuei asked.
"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation. The Day of Black Sun." Sokka states.
"I don't know. That would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable." Kuei said.
"You're already vulnerable. The Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Sing Se falls. You can either sit back and wait for that to happen, or take the offensive and give yourself a fighting chance." Sokka states with firmness.
"Or you can wait until they build another drill and tunnel through up into your bedroom." Asura adds.
Kuei thinks for a moment as everyone waits anxiously. "Very well. You have my support."
Team Avatar celebrates. "Your Majesty. I apologize for the interruption." A man walks up to Team Avatar and bows to the king.
Kuei introduces him to Team Avatar. "This is General How. He's the leader of the Council of Five, my highest ranking generals."
"We searched Long Feng's office. I think we found something that will interest everybody." Team Avatar looked at each other.
In Long Feng's office, a soldier is carrying a box of papers to the desk. "There are secret files on everyone in Ba Sing Se. Including you kids." General How states.
"Secret files?" Aang asked.
Kuei takes out a scroll and reads the side. "Toph Bei fong." Hands the scroll to General How, who hands it to Toph, who hands it to Katara. Opens the scroll and reads it. "It's a letter from your mom. Your mom's here in the city. And she wants to see you."
Toph's eyes widen with shock before shakes her head. "Long Feng intercepted our letters from home? That's just sad."
Kuei takes out another scroll and hands it to Aang. "Aang?"
"This scroll was attached to the horn of your bison when the Dai Li captured it." General How said.
Opens the scroll and reads it. "It's from the Eastern Air Temple."
Kuei looked into the box and found a key with an emerald on it. "Strange. This key must open something, but I have no idea what. Perhaps if you look around the office it may reveal something."
"Okay." Aang accepted it.
"Is there a letter for me and Sokka by any chance?" Katara asked.
Kuei looked into the box. "I'm afraid not."
"Oh." Sokka and Katara become downcast.
"But there is an intelligence report that might interest you." General How hands a scroll to Katara who opens the scroll and reads it: "A small fleet of Water Tribe ships."
Shocked, Sokka appears on Katara's side. "What? That could be Dad!"
"Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay. Her and Sokka's eyes widen with excitement as she reads the rest report. "Led by Hakoda. It's Dad!"
Meanwhile at the apartment, Zuko is getting worst. Iroh is pouring tea and feeds Zuko the tea every other moment.
"You should know that this is not a natural sickness, I have seen this before, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying tea." Iroh said.
"What's happening?" Zuko asked weakly as he accepts the tea.
"Your critical decision." Iroh explained. "What you did beneath that lake. It was in such conflict with your image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body."
Zuko coughs continuously and lies down. "What's that mean?"
Iroh takes a cloth and wipes Zuko's head. "You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be."
Iroh knew it shall always be worse before it gets better.
Back in Long Feng's office Team Avatar was sitting on the square to ponder all the secret files they said.
"I can't believe it. There's a man living at the Eastern Air Temple. He says he's a guru." Aang said excitedly.
"What's a guru? Some kind of poisonous blow fish?" Sokka asked, not being familiar with the term.
Aang corrected him. "No, a spiritual expert. He wants to help me take the next step in the Avatar journey. He says he can teach me to control the Avatar State."
"And I can't believe we know where our dad is now." Sokka added.
"I know what you mean. My mom's in the city. And from her letter it sounds like she finally understands me." Toph seconds the issue.
Dante was looking around the book cases to see if there was anything of interest, So far … nothing. But he is persistent.
"This is all such big news! Where do we even start?" Sokka asked excitedly.
"I hate to say it, but we have to split up." Katara said sadly.
That caused the entire room to silent. Even Dante turned around surprised at Katara suggested.
"Split up? We just found Appa and got the family back together! Now you want us to separate?" Aang asked worriedly.
"You have to meet this guru, Aang. If we're going to invade the Fire Nation, you need to be ready." Katara said.
"She's right. You must be like a diamond: adamant." Valen said.
"Well, if I'm going to the Eastern Air Temple, Appa and I can drop you off at Chameleon Bay to see your dad." Aang suggest.
"Someone has to stay here with the Earth King and help him plan for the invasion. I guess that's me." Sokka said and stands up.
Katara objected on a more reasonable opinion. "No, Sokka. I know how badly you wanna help Dad. You go to Chameleon Bay. I'll stay here with the king."
Sokka overjoyed with tears welling in his eyes he stands up and dances happily. "You are the nicest ... sister ... ever!" Throws his arms around Katara and kisses her on the cheek.
"Easy there, big brother ..." Katara Gives a slight chuckle. "Though you're right. I am."
"Yeah we don't want the artist Anaxus any further ideas." V said.
"Who?" Toph asked.
"What?" V asked with an upward inflection.
Dante resumed his search at the book case until he came across an interesting find. "Hey, could everyone including the nicest sister in the world report to this bookcase . . . I believe I made a discovery."
Everyone came over to the bookcase. "What is it?" Sokka asked.
"Look here." Dante pointed out on the wall behind the bookshelf, an emerald and below it is a key hold. "That looks familiar, doesn't it?"
Aang thought for a moment and pulled out the key with the emerald on the end. Aang reached forward and inserted the key into the keyhole. With a good turn there was a click followed by the turning of tumbler. The bookshelf itself began to move backwards like a door revealing a room with a many artifacts, jewels and money inside.
"JACKPOT!" Sokka screamed out loud causing Dante stick his picky in his ear to clean it out due to the vibration of Sokka's voice. He jumped inside the walk in vault and began to roll around on the gold coins. Toph, Dante and Asura began to fill their pockets full of coins and jewels. Katara walked over to a large sapphire to admire its beauty.
V watched around until he found a long rectangular black wooden black with a book on top. V opened the book to find it was talking about an object that rested inside the box: A sword. The rest of Team Avatar stopped what they were doing when they heard V Read something out loud. The fact that it was a warning caused them to come to V to see what it was.
To anyone reading this: BEWARE THIS BLADE
It is hoped that the only people to this room should be the Dai Li and myself. If anyone else is reading this, please understand the magnitude of your folly, turn around, and never speak of this room or this blade that is within this case to anyone."
It has corrupted and perverted the desires of great men and women. Yet is power is without equal – to kill while your victim smiles at you. Only a demon most foul could have concocted such a malevolent and twisted weapon. But it appears that all who wield it end up with the same crazed eyes of those wild men who roam the hills chattering with rabbits.
It is not to be trifled with. Not even the hottest fires in our forges, or that of the Fire Nation I believe, could melt it; indeed the coals themselves seemed to cool when it was place within, and the blade itself feels cold to the touch when done so. We cannot destroy it, and we would not have it fall into the hands of our enemies. So I keep it, hidden, dark and deep within this fault, never to be used.
Woe be to any who choose to take it.
After V finished reading they all stared at it. Pondering why long Feng would have this in his vault and what should they do with it. V places the book down and places his hands on the box and opened it slowly. They all looked inside to see a black cane sword with a stylized look that almost appeared like a katana.
"Nice." commented Sokka.
"It's more than that," V took the blade out of the box and turned around and slowly unsheathed it. The blade glow blue on their faces and hummed as V moved it back and forth. "It is one of a kind. This is the weapon of our brother, Vergil: The Yamato."
"I never thought to see that here of all places." Dante said.
"The Dai Li seem to be hoarding a lot of secrets." Asura commented.
"Some may be bad for their health, according to that book." Katara added.
"But I will not leave in the hands of the Dai Li. It is beyond their understanding, and I for one am not going to giving the chance to find out. We must take our brother's sword with us." Dante said.
"Do you think that is wise?" Katara asked cautiously. "The book Long Feng wrote say that it could cause people to do many bad things and drives the insane?"
"No … but it's the only thing we can do at this moment. We leave it her for the Dai Li to recover it. And between all of us together we are sane enough to resist killing innocent people, with or without." Dante said.
"Alright … but on the condition we do not tell the king about for his sake."
"Agreed." Team Avatar said in unison.
Asura raised his hand. "Quick question: what do we do with it, now that we have a weapon that can induce crazy?"
"We protect from those who would take it, and use it when we need to defend ourselves." Toph suggested. Everyone shrugged, it sounded like a good idea if any.
Outside the Palace, Team Avatar is preparing to leave. The king walks down to them. Katara is petting Appa. Aang turns to face her.
"Katara? I need to tell you something. I've been wanting to say it for a long time." Aang starts blushing.
"What is it, Aang?" Katara asked.
Aang rubs the back of his head. "Katara, I-" Suddenly he is cut off by Sokka who throws Aang in a headlock." All right. Who's ready to get going on our little men-only man trip?" he noogies Aang. Katara looks at him, annoyed.
The king came down the steps "Aang and Sokka, I wish you a good journey. Ba Sing Se owes you its thanks. We look forward to your safe return."
Aang, Sokka bow in thanks and Sokka starts climbing atop Appa when a soldier walks up to the king. "You're Majesty. There are three female warriors to see you. They're from the island of Kyoshi."
Shocked, Sokka falls off Appa like he got his soul reaped by Death. "That's Suki!"
"You know these warriors?" Kuei asked.
"Oh yeah. The Kyoshi Warriors are a skilled group of fighters. Trustworthy too. They're good friends of ours."
"Then we shall welcome them as honored guests." Kuei declared.
Sokka turned to Dante with a rather odd proposal. "Dante, take care of my sister."
Dante blinked for a few moments. "You want ME to take care of YOUR sister?" Dante asked if heard that correctly.
"Yes. I think I trust you now." Sokka said.
"You THINK?" Dante pointed out.
"I want you to protect her if trouble does arise." Sokka added.
"She seems to take care of herself but … okay, I will use protection." Dante said with hidden slyness.
"If trouble does happen, I need you there to have her back." Sokka said.
"Don't worry, with me, Valen, Asura and Toph here we will have her back, front, sides and bareback." Dante said.
"Good, I knew I could leave it capable hands." Sokka said.
"My masseuse hands." Dante added.
Sokka walked away and Dante just rolled his eyes. Sokka has real bad blind spot for sarcasm, it was just too funny.
With that Aang turns to Appa to begin the journey. "Wait. Aang." Katara said, she hugs him, which startles him, then kisses him on the cheek, causing him to blush.
"I'm really gonna miss you guys." Toph said.
"Me too." Katara hugs Toph with Aang. Sokka looks away, crossing his arms.
"Yeah." Aang said.
"Let me gets some of that." Asura said as he hugs both of them. His hands slight went down to Katara butt.
Everyone goes to hug Sokka. "Aahh! Great. That's enough." Smiles. Okay, we love each other." He pats Aang and Katara on the head. "Seriously." Dante gave Sokka the thumbs up.
"Wind fly, everyone." V says as they watch Appa fly off.
"Well . . . there they go." Dante said as he waved.
Back at the apartment, Iroh and Zuko are asleep. Zuko wakes up and walks into the bathroom. He washes his face with water. When he looks in the mirror, he sees himself with no scar, no hair and an arrow tattoo on his head, resembling Aang. He looks horrified. He screams himself awake and breathes heavily. He touches the scar on his face and closes his eyes.
Meanwhile, Appa is flying Sokka and Aang. Sokka is resting across Appa's back. "You see, Aang? A little positive thinking works wonders. We got the king on our side, we got Long Feng arrested, and when we get back, Suki's waiting for me." Sokka said.
"Yeah. Girls are waiting for us. Thanks, positive attitude." Aang replies dreamily.
"Everything is gonna work out perfectly. From now on and forever." Sokka states prompting Aang turn around and smile at him.
Unknown to them a great many things around are about to change. In a prison, Long Feng is sitting in his cell. A Dai Li agent appears outside of the cell.
Slides a tray of food underneath the door. Long Feng grabs some food but look at the agent as he remains. "The Council of Five and the military are loyal to the Earth King, but the Dai Li remains loyal to you, Long Feng, sir." Walks away as Long Feng eats his food while smiling sinisterly.
As long as he has a thousand aces up his sleeve and outside his cell await his command then he is content as he sits in prison.
Meanwhile, at a random house, Toph is outside. Katara and Dante gave her their best wishes as she went to see her mother. She exhales deeply and knocks on the door. It opens on its own.
"Hello? Mom? Anyone home?" she enters, walking to the center of the room. She senses something, but is quickly captured in a metal box. Hey! Who do you think you're dealing with!? She demands in a scared voice.
Xin Fu and Master Yu appear. "One loud-mouthed little brat who strayed too far from home." Xin Fu asked.
On the streets Asura decided to go on a little stroll he entered a busy intersection and waited for an ox cart to pass. When it did he looked and saw someone that made his eyes widen. Standing in the middle of the intersection was the young boy that traveled with Zuko.
Asura was almost lost of words. "Indra?"
Indra greeted him in the usual calm manner. "Hello, Asura."
Elsewhere Dante and Katara walked though a park in the Upper Ring. They stopped to sit a stream to watch the water.
"It's so peaceful here. I can finally relax."
Back at the palace, three Kyoshi Warriors are walking up to the king and bow.
"In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor that I welcome our esteemed allies, the Kyoshi Warriors!" Kuei greeted.
The warriors look up and their leader spoke: "We are the Earth King's humble servants."
A little while later V was sitting on top of the roof of the palace; enjoying some literature from the king's library. Griffon soars into the air and down toward V to given some news. "Hey, Valen yeah busy? Good, listen I got some bad news."
"Pray tell my bird of prey." Valen said.
"You know the Kyoshi warriors, lead by that chic Suki or Sushi or whatever."
"Yes?"
"Well they are not them, but imposters."
"What made you assume that?"
"I took a peak at them while they spoke to the king. The middle warrior has gold eyes, and her voice sounds like that bitch Azula."
Valen paused in his reading. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"My eyes never fail me. Expect that one time but I never forget a face, even if it hides behind whore makeup. And I have a good ear. It's her."
"Fascinating." Valen said closing his book.
"I agree. Now let's go cut and shock them up by the pussy!"
"As much fun that would be I myself need to confirm this."
"What, you don't believe?"
"That's not the question so that's not the answer. The question is this: To be or not to be. If they are then Suki arrived just in time."
"But if they are not?" Griffon asked.
V held up the Yamato and unsheathe with an echoing ring:
"The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity too great for the eye of man."
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Imposters, reunions and relationships, Oh my!
A great many things will change as a great many things will go down.
Will Aang tutelage under the Guru help him master the Avatar State?
Will Sokka see his father, Chief Hakoda?
Will I even reach the cookies at Wal-Mart in time?
Why am I ask you all these questions?
Stay tune to find out. ;3