Chapter 15: Lessons and Sandy Vacations
Zuko and Iroh were sitting together after sharing some tea. Zuko attempted to make some earlier, but realized he wasn't exactly studied in the matter. He was actually surprised how good his uncle's tea was, despite their limited resources.
"Now then Zuko," Iroh started to get his nephew's attention. "The first thing you need to know about lightning is how it is the purest and most difficult form of firebending. It requires no aggression. No rage or emotion. Because of this, some call it the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly, just as your sister. To perform this technique, you need peace of mind," Iroh said.
"Azula? Peace of mind?" Zuko asked skeptically. His sister was many things and had many talents. Peace of mind was not one of them.
Iroh nodded to him. "Peace of mind does not mean you are a peaceful person. It means you are at peace with yourself in that moment. It means you have no inner turmoil. Azula very much fits this definition of the phrase," he said.
Zuko nodded in understanding. "But still, you are saying you must not use emotion or aggression?" he asked.
"Indeed. If you ever pay attention to your sister when she uses lightning, you would notice she takes on a clear and calm demeanor, even if only for that moment. With enough practice, a moment is all you need to generate this power," Iroh said.
Zuko looked to his uncle in determination.
Iroh stood up and led Zuko outside. "Before you can try this, you must be able to feel the energy around you in a way. It is both positive and negative, Yin and Yang, working together in harmony. To bend lightning, you must separate these two energies and create an imbalance. Only a select few, are able to do so," he explained.
"You must realize this goes against the very nature of energy. It wants balance and harmony. Energy will restore it. This means once you have separated the energies you are in essence merely holding on to it temporarily and you act as its guide when releasing it," Iroh said.
He stood there and tried his best to generate lightning slow enough for Zuko to see it. It was not easy, but Iroh remained calm. He built up the energy and gave it release. A massive and powerful bolt of lightning shot from his fingers. It was so great the surrounding area seemed to glow blue despite it being so early in the day. He had no choice but to build up a lot of it.
Zuko watched in awe. "I'll give it a try, but I don't know if I can do it," he said.
"Oh? Why is that?" Iroh asked in surprise.
Zuko lowered his gaze. "After my time alone, and the things I saw. I have a lot of inner turmoil. I want to do better and I still have my pride as the prince I am. But I feel… guilt as well," he admitted.
"Guilt? For what?" Iroh asked. He was starting to think his nephew grew even more than he realized during their time apart.
"Inaction? Maybe? I'm not sure. Maybe I just feel it as a part of the Fire Nation. I was focused on getting the avatar and regaining my honor, which I still want to do. But I never once fully thought of the consequences caused by everything," Zuko explained.
"The war is not your fault, Zuko. It isn't even fully my brother's fault. Though he hasn't helped the situation," Iroh said.
Zuko shook his head. "That isn't it. Well… maybe that's part of it. I was mostly meaning the things I've done myself in my hunt for the avatar. I also hate how despite wanting to do more, I can't. Especially as an exiled prince," he said.
Iroh was in thought. Zuko had grown a lot. He supposed it should have been all the more obvious after what happened recently. He gave a nod. "It takes both wisdom and maturity to realize such things, Zuko. You have grown so much," he said clasping his nephew's shoulder.
Zuko gave a slight smile. He then sighed and said, "Doesn't change the fact I have a lot of inner turmoil."
Iroh looked to his nephew sincerely as he said, "Then I will instead skip straight to teaching you how to redirect it. I wanted to teach you how to bend lightning first, so you might better understand it. But I think you are more ready to learn how to redirect it than I thought. As I'm sure you know, you will be the second to know my technique." He gave his nephew a smile.
Zuko nodded and said, "I am honored, uncle."
Iroh gave a chuckle. "I am the one who is honored. I get to pass on my own personal technique to a worthy successor," he said grinning to Zuko.
He then picked up a stick from nearby and sat down on a log. He started to trace out a design on the ground. Zuko came over and squatted next to him to get a better look.
Iroh drew a firebending emblem. "Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, along with the drive and energy to achieve what they want."
He drew an earthbending emblem. "Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are strong and determined. They are persistent and ever-enduring. This is why some say they are the most stubborn of folk."
He drew an airbending emblem. "Air is the element of freedom. The air nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom in doing so. This is why they are monks and why they didn't have an actual nation and instead had scattered temples. I've also heard they were quite the jokers and always in the mood for a good laugh. That is why they were oft described as flighty," he said with a grin.
Zuko groaned as his uncle chuckled.
Iroh turned serious again as he drew the waterbending emblem. "Water is the element of change. The water tribespeople are very adaptable. They face challenges by adapting and changing their outlook of a situation. They have a strong sense of community which holds them together through all they face."
"What are you telling me with this?" Zuko asked as he went over the words.
"Learning and taking wisdom from different sources is important. It is how you unlock more of your true capability along with just what bending can truly do. Learning from just one source limits who you are and what you can become," Iroh said as he drew a cross between the emblems, thus dividing them.
He then drew a circle around them all. "Understanding the elements and the other nations unlocks a great many things. You learn the possibilities can be rather endless. It will make you strong and powerful," he said.
"Like the Avatar?" Zuko asked.
"Yes!" Iroh said in pride. "The Avatar's understanding of each element is what makes them so strong and powerful, especially since they can use all four. But the Avatar is not the only one who can come to understand all of the elements. Learning and understanding waterbenders is how I came up with my technique."
He then stood up and got ready to demonstrate the movements for his nephew.
[-] [-] [-]
"Whoa!" Aang yelled as he tumbled from a rock pillar. He landed on the ground harshly, but not enough to cause any real injury. He sat up and let out a groan.
Harry cracked open an eye from his meditation and almost chuckled. "Doing alright there?" he asked.
"No…" Aang said as he stood up. "This earthbending stuff isn't easy…" he said as he gave a stretch.
"Well… They do say Earth is the most stubborn of the elements," Harry said with a shrug.
"I get that. I really do, but even so it still isn't easy," Aang said with a frown.
"You've made progress," Harry said.
"Yeah! He can almost move the boulder properly now and lasted a full fifteen minutes," Toph called from nearby with a laugh.
Aang gave a huff and said, "I still don't see what moving a boulder slowly has to do with my Earthbending. After what happened with Sokka, I can launch a boulder in the air and slam it back down."
Toph slid down the cliff using earthbending in a manner similar to snowboarding. She left little more evidence of her Earthbending than a small cloud of dust. "That's basic beginner baby stuff. It relies more on momentum and force than actual Earthbending."
"It was only yesterday…" Aang said with a frown.
"And if you weren't going up against the Fire Lord before the Summer Solstice… Maybe that would be enough progress. But hey. What do I know? I'm just the Earth Bending Master here," Toph said flatly, but still with her usual sarcasm.
Aang took in a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He then opened them and nodded to her.
Toph gave a smirk to him. "There's that Earthbender look of yours again. Let's get back to it," she said.
"Yes Sifu Toph!" Aang said with renewed determination.
"You know. I still don't see how something so monstrous and terrifying starts out so small and cuddly," Sokka said from next to Harry.
He was thinking back to his encounter with the baby moose-lion. He would be more careful how he looked at potential meat dishes in the future.
"You'd be surprised how often the most fierce of beasts start out that way," Harry said.
He was thinking back to Hagrid's baby dragon in first year. It was both ugly and cute when it hatched. It still was a fast-growing fire hazard in animal form. Especially, since Hagrid's hut was made of wood.
[-] [-] [-]
"Yes! That's how you do it," Iroh said with pride as Zuko performed the redirecting Lightning move with perfection. It had taken some time, but Zuko didn't complain. He knew how dangerous this move was. One wrong move, one small detail off and it would be over for him.
"Thanks, Uncle," Zuko said in reply. He then looked to his uncle and said, "I don't suppose you would give me a real-life test for this move."
"What?!" Uncle Iroh said in shock. "That would be far too dangerous!"
"Thought so…" Zuko mumbled to himself. He briefly looked to the sky and the storm on the horizon with interest.
"Tea?" his uncle asked hoping to get his nephew's mind off dangerous ideas.
"Why not," Zuko replied. He was thirsty and the storm was a way off still.
When the storm finally arrived, it was fierce. It was a downpour with loud thunder and many lightning bolts dancing across the sky. Once it passed, everyone in the area would agree it was probably the most intense storm they had in a long while.
To Zuko. It was perfect for his plan.
He made his way to a nearby hilltop as the storm raged. He knew why his uncle wouldn't throw lightning at him and he couldn't fault him. The thing was. He also knew he had to be sure he had it down. He had to test it in some way, no matter how dangerous or foolish it might be.
Sending lightning back at its source was a powerful and rare skill. It was dangerous and important. This was why he did not want his first time experiencing it to be when he faced his father or Azula in combat. He did not need the excitement and thrill of first experiencing something so powerful to distract him.
He threw aside the cloak he wore on the climb up. He looked to clouds above in a daring manner. "As much as I want to rage, yell, and demand the storm to strike at me. I know it is meaningless to do so," Zuko said in a manner akin to daring the spirit of storms itself.
As a flash of Lightning struck in the distance, Zuko remained vigilant.
The storm put on an even grander display of light and thunder. It was as if it answered Zuko in an equaling daring manner, as if it was mocking him.
Zuko still remained impassive.
The storm then seemed to grow fed up with his insolence and sent a lightning bolt his way.
Zuko instantly took his stance. He went through the motions and remained as calm as his uncle instructed him.
The lightning connected and flowed through him. Zuko felt a rush of power course through him. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. He felt more alive than ever, but even closer to death's door in that brief moment.
Zuko let out a mighty roar as he shot the lighting back into the sky at the clouds above. The energy collided with a charged cloud as the lighting dissipated throughout the sky above. The cloud seemed to explode as the energy rushed outwards.
The storm then started breaking apart despite how impractical it seemed given the sheer ferocity of it.
As the light of the setting sun shined through the clouds once again, Zuko would swear he saw what looked like a mighty dragon of lightning gaze at him before disappearing. He then felt exhaustion over take him as he sunk to the ground in lethargic relief.
Uncle Iroh looked to his nephew in both astonishment and worry. "That was mighty foolish of you, Nephew," he said quietly.
"I know…" Zuko started in a quiet manner. "But it was also necessary," he finished as he leaned on his uncle.
"You better not do such a thing again on my watch," Uncle Iroh said more to himself. A part of him understood his nephew. A larger part worried for the closest he had to a son since his own died many years ago.
"Lu Ten…" he thought to himself. Iroh looked in the direction he knew where Ba Sing Se lay, even if it was many upon many more miles away.
[-] [-] [-]
Azula woke with a sudden and far too sensual gasp as she sat bolt upright in her bed. She was panting a little for a moment as she came to reality. She looked under her covers and frowned as she noticed her now damp crotch.
"Again?" she thought with a frown.
Ever since Harry bested her and the others once again, she had been having dreams of a certain mature nature. In these dreams, their confrontation took on many different endings. Each of them had one thing in common… Harry properly taking her.
She was of mixed feelings on the matter. Despite how much she hated them, she couldn't deny she enjoyed those dreams. Thankfully they weren't happening every night since then, but they did happen far too often.
Azula then heard a soft moan as Ty Lee stretched and seemed to wake up as well. Her mighty chest seemed more prominent as she did so.
"Is it time to get up?" Ty Lee asked in a tired but still alluring voice.
"No… I just need to take care of something," Azula said as an excuse.
"Okayyy…" Ty Lee replied with a sleepy yawn and fell back to sleep.
Azula felt she had no choice but to excuse herself to the restroom. As she took care of personal matters, she couldn't help but think over the last few days. She had been a right mess at times, even if it didn't keep her from fulfilling her important duties as Princess of the Fire Nation.
When she re-entered her bedroom, she looked to a very naked Ty Lee. Azula felt she turned to masturbation far too much for one of her status, especially since it was beneath her. She had been instead resorting to more sexy challenges with Ty Lee, even if they were sometimes light on the challenge side.
Ty Lee had very much been an eager and willing participant. Azula fully enjoyed their sessions in every way. She was excited, or better said, pleased to have come to know Ty Lee's taste, feel, and even scents in such an intimate way.
She also kind of felt what some might call guilt.
The almost guilt was an odd sensation to her. It wasn't because she was tricking Ty Lee or anything. The acrobat fully understood and knew what it was between them. Ty Lee was more than happy with this arrangement and she never saw it as anything more than the princess did.
Due to this, Azula couldn't fully place why she felt how she did. She only had guesses. One of those guesses was maybe she felt there should be more meaning to such activities or something.
She shook her head to clear it. She needed to get back to sleep. Azula laid down and instantly Ty Lee seemed to detect her. Ty Lee pressed her warm and naked body against Azula as she snuggled in and continued to sleep.
Azula understood this for what it was. Some might think it was this love business or something. The truth was Ty Lee loved snuggling in general when she slept. It still gave Azula a feeling of some kind she couldn't fully describe.
"This puberty stuff everyone goes on about is both more interesting and annoying the more I experience it," Azula thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep again. Lucky for her, Harry didn't appear in dream form to delightfully intrude on her sleep this time.
[-] [-] [-]
"What is the point of this again?" Sokka asked with a frown. He wasn't at all attempting to hide his frustration.
Aang sat on a mound of earth with several holes around it. He was holding a wooden flute. If you didn't know any better, you would think he was in the midst of some advanced form of meditation.
Toph placed a hand to the ground. "Wow… There's hundreds of…" she started only for Aang to hush her immediately.
"Don't ruin the surprise," he said to her. He then started playing notes on the flute.
The surprise was with each note a corresponding groundhog popped out of a hole and seemed to sing in reply. Harry had to admit it was rather impressive.
"Oh yeah! Best Animal Orchestra ever!" Aang shouted in glee.
Appa let out a roar.
"I know. I know. Next time I'll make sure you get to have that solo you've always wanted, buddy," he said.
The air bison gave a snort of approval, while Momo chittered away.
"You can do backup vocals! I bet you're really good, Momo," Aang said to the lemur. Momo seemed excited by this, or it could be Momo being Momo.
"Don't we have more important things to do? Such as making plans?" Sokka said with an annoyed frown. If the situation was different, he would be interested to see this Orchestra of Aang's.
"We did make plans. We're each taking a mini-vacation," Toph said.
"That is true," Harry said in a neutral voice.
"This is a waste of time," Sokka said with a huff.
"I'm learning the elements as fast as I can. I've been practicing my arrow off every day before taking a moment to teach Harry Airbending," Aang said.
"He does have a point. Burnout would be pretty bad," Harry admitted. It was true. Harry had to admit their pace in all things had been pretty hectic lately.
At the same time, he partly agreed with Sokka. Their mini-vacations had started off well and good enough. At this point though… It was starting to seem more like procrastinating than taking a break to rest and recharge.
"You learning all of the elements isn't enough. We need a map and other intelligence on the Fire Nation. We can't just go in there half-cocked and wing it all," Sokka said.
Harry nodded as he said, "Perhaps we should split up the mini-vacations. Sokka is right. We need to learn about the Fire Nation and hopefully find allies of some kind. We can't expect you take on the entire Fire Nation military with just the four of us as backup, Aang."
"Learning the Fire Nation's weaknesses and coming up with a plan will help with that," Sokka added.
Aang was giving a thoughtful frown.
"The battle at the North Pole was bad enough. That was with the entire Northern Water Tribe by our side facing only a portion of the Fire Nation's military," Harry said.
Katara frowned but nodded in agreement. "How about this?" she started to get their attention and keep them from potentially getting deeper into an argument. "I'll pick my mini-vacation next and then we'll look for information on the Fire Nation. That will be more or less a half way point."
"Sounds good," Sokka agreed a little reluctantly. He decided not to argue more and make things worse.
"Where do you want to go then?" Aang asked as he brought out his map.
Katara was in thought for a moment before placing her finger on the map. "Misty Palms Oasis. Sounds very relaxing and vacationy," she said.
"Oooo! I've been there before! It's a pristine natural Ice Spring. It's one of the world's natural wonders!" Aang said excitedly.
[-] [-] [-]
Aang frowned as he and the others looked at what was little better than a pile of slowly melting ice. The place around it was very much the picture of a run down village.
"For once, can something not change drastically from how I remember it?" Aang asked with a frown.
"Well… you were kind of gone for a century or so… No offense," Toph said as they made their way to the only non-residential looking building.
"You can say that again. Did you know he was childhood friends with King Bumi?" Sokka said to Toph.
"From Omashu?" Toph asked for clarification.
"The one and only," he replied.
"Wow... That guy's ancient! Even if he's probably the only Earthbender who could give me a run for my money," Toph said.
Aang let out a dejected sigh. Katara placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a weak smile as she said, "It has a certain… charm… to it."
"Those mango drinks look good. That's got to count as something," Sokka said as he headed over to a bar just as a man wearing safari clothing left holding a drink but not looking where he was going.
The man then bumped into Aang. His drink spilled all over the Avatar. The man gave a gasp. "I'm so sorry!" he said.
"No worries! I clean up quickly," Aang said. He used Airbending to remove the drink from his clothing. "See?" he asked with a wide grin.
"You're a living relic!" The man said.
"Ummm… thanks?" Aang replied a little puzzled.
"An Air Nomad! Right here of all places!" the man said as his eyes seemed to glow in excitement.
Aang was feeling more uneasy.
"Sorry again. I forgot myself. I'm Professor Zei. Head of Anthropology at Ba Sing Se University," he said.
"Nice to meet you…" Aang said. He was only a little more at ease knowing the man was a scholar.
The others came back with their drinks just as the man was measuring every part of Aang he could. Harry was instantly reminded of Ollivander's measuring tape, except this man used calipers.
"You must tell me everything!" Zei said excitedly.
"Heh heh… I'll try?" Aang replied nervously.
"So, professor. You seem to be a well-travelled man," Sokka started. He was looking to kill two birds with one stone as they would say. The man stopped bothering Aang and turned his attention to Sokka. "Do you have a map? The one we have is more than a bit dated," he said.
"Oh yes indeed. Have at it," Zei said as he handed Sokka his map.
Sokka looked it over. It was very much more update than Aang's. However… "Really?! No Fire Nation? Does no one know where it exists?" he asked in a frustrated huff.
"I've heard of controlling information, but this does seem… excessive." Harry said as he looked over the map as well. He just didn't see how an entire nation would been invisible on every map. Well… Outside of using magic that is.
"You've been to the desert a lot," Katara said as she took a sip of her drink while noticing the professor's notes on the map. "Mmmmm…" she couldn't help but express as the flavor hit her tongue. This Iced Milked Mango juice was very delicious.
"Sadly to little effect outside of a severe sunburn or two early on," Zei said.
"How so?" Katara asked.
"I've found countless lost civilizations all across the Earth Kingdom. And yet…" He slammed a frustrated fist on the table. "I have not found the shinning crown jewel of maybe this entire planet."
"What's that?" Katara asked with keen interest.
"Wan Shi Tong's Library," he said in a way as if he expected them to gasp and tumble out of their chairs.
"You've spent years looking for a library in the desert?" Toph asked in disbelief.
It was not the reaction Professor Zei expected, even from a group of children. "Not just any library, young lady. No. No. Far more than that," he finished with a chuckle.
Harry was sure Lockhart would greatly approve of this man's delivery, if he hadn't forgotten everything about himself.
"This library was built by the knowledge spirit itself! Wan Shi Tong! And his legion of 'foxy' knowledge seekers," he said.
This man at least seemed to know what he was talking about. He wasn't just of to write fanciful self-indulgent books while stealing credit from others.
"So, these seekers of his are rather... attractive?" Sokka asked with more than a passing interest. He was hoping this place would be filled with beautiful girls wearing sexy little outfits.
Katara frowned at her brother. "I think he means they look like foxes," she said to him with a stern look.
Sokka was about to say something regarding girls wearing cute fox ear headbands with fox tails attached to their lovely backsides.
"They are rather handsome little creatures," Zei started suddenly.
Both Katara and Sokka looked to him in confusion.
Zei then pulled out a drawing of the library. "These knowledge seekers travel all over the world to collect books for mankind's perusal and store them here."
"Sounds like this place would have a Fire Nation map," Sokka said.
"Indeed. I doubt there is much you couldn't find in Wan Shi Tong's Library," Professor Zei said.
"That's it then! We have to go there now," Sokka said. He nodded and added, "We can even count this as my mini-vacation."
"No complaints here. That just means we get to my turn sooner," Toph said.
"I'm tempted to say you need to be around for at least 60 days before you qualify for vacation time," Sokka said.
Toph frowned to that as she folded her arms and gave a pout. It was surprisingly cute given her usual rough and tumble attitude.
"I'm mostly joking. Don't worry," Sokka assured her.
"You better be," Toph said while still pouting.
"How though? I've been through the desert over several years and I've lost count of how many times I've nearly died. That doesn't even factor in how little my progress has been," Professor Zei said.
Aang and Sokka looked to each other and grinned. "We have our ways," Sokka said as Aang grinned wider.
[-] [-] [-]
"Fascinating! Utterly Fascinating! I'm riding a Sky Bison! Ha! If only my fellow academia nuts could see me now!" Professor Zei shouted in glee as they flew above the desert.
He then sighed. "It's still a pity of my five languages, Sky Bison isn't one."
"They offer a course on speaking Sky Bison?" Harry asked in surprise. He had heard stranger things, and Aang seemed to always understand Appa.
"Well… No. But my point still stands," the professor answered.
It was what felt like far too long later when Toph finally voiced her growing frustrations. "Does this place even exist?" she asked with a frown.
"Some say it doesn't," the professor answered matter of factly.
Toph let out a groan. "You could have mentioned that earlier…" she grumbled.
[-] [-] [-]
Uncle Iroh stood up and nodded to himself. He had come up with a number of reasons for what he was about to suggest to his nephew. He wanted to first be sure such an important decision wasn't based solely on his own desires.
"I think we should head to Ba Sing Se," he said rather seriously to Zuko.
"How would we even get there?" Zuko asked.
Uncle Iroh blinked in surprise. "I expected you to first ask why," Iroh admitted.
Zuko shrugged and asked, "Why then?"
"I feel it is the one place we could go and not have to worry about the Fire Nation. Even I at my prime, couldn't breach their walls. The city is large enough we could actually get a fresh start," he answered.
He gave a slight nod to himself again. "I also have my own reasons," he added.
Zuko looked his uncle over for a moment. He felt he could understand what his uncle meant by his own reasons. This plan would also give him some time to really think on what he wants to do now.
"That just leaves the how," Zuko said in reply to his uncle.
Uncle Iroh gave a silent happy sniff at that. He was glad his nephew didn't press for more details. "I have connections who can help us," he answered with a now mysterious smile.
Zuko shook his head a little at his uncle's antics. "Head out in the morning then?" Zuko asked.
"Sounds like a plan," Iroh replied.
[-] [-] [-]
"It's buried… It's buried! My life long goal… Buried forever!" Professor Zei groaned in defeat.
They eventually found what remained of the long-lost library. All they could see was the top of the highest dome.
"Huh…" Toph said in interest as she placed a hand on the little amount of stone exposed. "It's actually intact on the inside. No sand seems to be leaking inside."
The Professor sheepishly returned his small shovel to his pack. He was just about to claim they start excavating.
"That window up there is where the Knowledge Seeker entered. It looks to be just the right size for us to squeeze through," Sokka said pointing to the small spire atop the dome.
"You guys go ahead. I'll wait out here," Toph said.
"You don't want to enter such an impressive library? Think of all the long lost books it will have," Katara said in awe.
"I've held books before. They really don't do it for me," Toph said as she motioned to her eyes. "They aren't exactly talkers," she added.
"Oh… yeah… ummm… sorry about that," Katara said a little sheepishly.
"Let's get going!" Aang said excitedly as he and Sokka came up with an idea to enter the library.
"Are you going to be okay out here alone?" Harry asked Toph.
She actually blinked a little in surprise to that. "I should be. Everything is kind of fuzzy… But I should be okay," she said as she frowned to the sand below her.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hopefully we won't be too long. If we are, I'll leave early. Libraries make me feel too much like I'm studying for exams," he said.
"Thanks," Toph said as her cheeks pinked a little and she smiled to him. She would never admit it, because she was tough, but it was kind of nice when someone cared for her as a friend every now and then.
Toph wasn't exactly a fan of this trip overall and quickly realized she wasn't fond of sand. It shifted too much. She actually felt… truly blind for once in a long while. Due to her Earth Sense she never actually felt blind before. Here though, the area felt like some faint half-finished sketch the artist kept reworking.
"Seems like it is just you and me, Appa," Toph said as the others made their way inside. She didn't say it, but she was partly worried about that group of people earlier. They were a little too interested in Appa when the group left the oasis.
The professor called them Sandbenders. He said they were sort of like traders for the area, since they could use their specially designed sand crafts to sail through the desert. Toph only hoped they weren't the type to usually work for less than reputable markets. She hoped they would at least decide a large massive flying bison was too much trouble.
[-] [-] [-]
The library was a sight to behold on the inside. Harry felt it easily out did Madam Pince's Pride and only Joy, the Library of Hogwarts. "Hermione would go crazy if she saw this place. She'd never want to leave again," Harry thought with a chuckle as Aang and Sokka giggled far too much as the professor said the word buttresses.
"You too, Harry?" Katara sighed.
"What?" Harry asked in confusion.
"Oh… Nevermind," Katara said as she blushed a little. She felt a little embarrassed to have accused Harry of acting immature just like Aang and her brother. His response made it obvious she was wrong.
As the group touched the topmost floor, they heard a deep voice speak to them. "You'd best turn back now. Humans are no longer welcome here." A large black owl shaped spirit came out of the nearby shadows into view. It did not look pleased at the uninvited guests.
"Ohhh…. Ummmm… Are you the Spirit of this library?" Sokka asked nervously. "Hugeee! Huge!" Sokka thought in panic at the sight of the creature before them. The talons were like half the size of his body.
"Yes. I am Wan Shi Tong. 'He who knows ten thousand things'. The Spirit of Knowledge," the owl creature said to them in a gruff manner. "As I said… Humans are no longer welcome here. Turn back."
"Why aren't humans welcome?" Aang asked.
"Humans only wish to seek knowledge that allows them to destroy their enemies. It is petty and wasteful. Just like that Firebender from a few years ago," the owl spirit answered.
"Ummm… Does it help if we're here with the Avatar?" Sokka asked in a hopeful manner.
The owl looked over them with black discerning eyes.
"That would be me," Aang said sounding as if he wasn't sure that would be enough for such a grumpy spirit.
The spirit then gave a huff. "Very well. I do warn you though. Do not abuse the knowledge you find here, humans. Even if you are the Avatar," Wan Shi Tong said.
The group nodded vigorously to show their understanding.
"However, there is a fee you must pay," Wan Shi Tong added.
"What? A fee?" Sokka asked in worry.
"Knowledge for knowledge. Offer me knowledge of some sort in return. It is more than fair considering all that lies within my Palace of Knowledge," the spirit replied.
"Please accept this tome to add to your great collection, Oh Great Spirit of Knowledge," Professor Zei said in an overly flattering way to show his respect as he dropped to his knees.
"First edition… Not bad," the spirit said as he looked it over.
"I have this authentic waterbending scroll," Katara said as she offered up the scroll they took from the pirates so long ago. She already learned what it had to offer.
"These illustrations are magnificent," Wan said in approval.
Aang sheepishly offered up his wanted poster from the Fire Festival they attended before meeting Jeong Jeong.
"I suppose this will do…" the spirit said in a condescending tone.
"You kept that?" Harry asked Aang in surprise.
Aang shrugged his shoulders in reply.
Sokka looked nervous before he quickly brought out a string. He then attempted to tie a butterfly knot in the most over the top and showy fashion he could. "See! It's a rare knot! Knowledge."
The owl spirit took it and looked to Sokka unimpressed as he said, "You're clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. Are you?"
Sokka frowned and was about to grumble before Katara nudged him and whispered, "Maybe we shouldn't get on the giant owl spirit's bad side."
Sokka huffed to himself, but otherwise remained silent.
"That would leave you," Wan Shi Tong said as he turned to Harry.
Harry was thinking what he could do as a way of getting admittance to the library. He again looked to the professor as he thought what to do. His mind once more reminded him of Lockhart. It was probably because of how showy the professor could be.
Harry could have sworn he then heard distant but quiet laughter. After a few seconds, there was a pop sound. He saw before him a number of familiar books. There was even the signed copy of "Magical Me!" He originally gave that to Ginny because of how disgusted he was by Lockhart.
Over the last summer while he was at the Weasley's house, she saw fit to return it to him. She did so in a manner the twins approved of. Harry woke up late one morning to the sound of sniggers. He instantly realized it was the twins.
"I never thought you were one for late night reading, Dear Seeker of ours." One twin said. It was too early for Harry to tell which, especially without his glasses.
"Its almost cute in a way. He's cuddling it," the other said.
"It seems mummy dearest rubbed off on him a little that summer," the first quipped.
"Indeed. Why else would he choose that book of them all?" they said together before laughing and leaving as one quickly called back to him about breakfast being ready.
Harry looked at the book in his arms and saw it was Lockhart's autobiography. He was horrified and wondered how he had it. He blinked a couple of times and saw the cheeky thank you note for lending it to her. It was signed one Ginevra Molly Weasley.
Harry wanted to be mad and he partly was. At the same time, he kind of appreciated it as the twins did. That whole summer Ginny had been every bit the "Mischievous bratty little sister" Ron always complained she was. Like the Weasleys, Harry saw her behavior as a sign she was recovering pretty well after the chamber ordeal.
Harry nodded as his musing came to an end. He tried not to laugh as he motioned to the books. "The entire collected works of Lockhart's Books for children," he said with a grin. It was a very fitting title for the books.
"Interesting… Literature from another world... This will do," Wan Shi Tong said with almost a hint of fascination.
"You might want to put them under fiction," Harry suggested.
"Not that I needed your advice, but you make a good point. However, the fictional works of a culture can tell you a lot about it," the owl spirit said as he accepted the books.
He looked to them seriously one last time. "Heed my warning… Humans." He then took off without another word.
"Heed my warning humans…" Sokka said in a mocking voice under his breath.
Katara rolled her eyes at her brother. "Let's go see what they have here," she said.
"The Professor already did," Aang said as he pointed to a settling dust cloud where Professor Zei had been on his knees moments earlier.
[-] [-] [-]
The library was very impressive, but there hadn't been much besides passing amusement as far as Sokka was concerned. "Wait a minute…" he said as he reached for a burnt piece of parchment on a display. "The Darkest Day of the Fire Nation," he read out loud.
"It only has a date though…" Harry said as he looked from Sokka's side.
Sokka looked up in thought and then darted down an aisle of books.
"Where are you going?" called Aang as the others followed Sokka.
They raced down the aisles of books until they came to the Fire Nation section. There was a room with two large doors. A sign above them read, "Fire Nation Archive". Sokka quickly threw open the doors. They were far easier to open then their size suggested.
Sokka looked inside with eyes wide and lit in hope. The light of hope left his eyes just as a cloud of ash blew past him. Soon his hope turned to frustration. "You've got to be kidding me!" he growled. He only refrained from shouting due to fear of getting Wan Shi Tong's attention.
"It's all ashes… They burned everything," Aang said in disbelief.
Harry was stunned as well. "I said early how I felt their attempts to control information were excessive… This is far worse… They literally burned it all down," he said.
"It is for sure an effective means… But this is such a blasphemous tragedy! To burn knowledge, just as an overly paranoid way to keep it from others…" Professor Zei said in a horrified and sad voice.
"No wonder Wan Shi Tong hates humans. I bet he doesn't even really care that they were seeking knowledge to destroy their enemies. He probably finds this even more an offense," Aang said.
"What now though…" Sokka whined. He then got an idea and whispered to Harry, "Can you repairo it?"
"If somehow the ash hadn't blown out of here. Even then it would have taken a lot of time," Harry answered in reply. The damage was too severe. Powerful as the spell was, you couldn't repairo from nothing.
They heard the sound of a fox nearby.
"I think he wants us to follow him. The Knowledge Seekers do exist to help after all," Professor Zei said as the group followed the fox, even with Sokka's complaints about foxes being spies.
[-] [-] [-]
"Whoa! I have to hand it to you, Sokka. You picked the best mini-vacation yet. This is incredible!" Aang said in awe as he looked to ceiling above them.
The fox led them to what looked like an old planetarium of sorts.
"Good thinking earlier, Katara," Harry said.
"It only made sense the dials would be dates," she answered with a blush as she smiled to herself.
Aang was busy looking at every detail of the room. Sokka was trying his best to find out what the date on the parchment was.
"There we go!" he finally said in triumph as the dials clicked into place.
"The sun's behind the moon," Harry said in observance.
"The solar eclipse! It makes perfect sense! It was literally the darkest day in the Fire Nation," Sokka said in excitement.
"Yes! The sun is the source of firebending!" Professor Zei added excitedly.
"Just like the lunar eclipse at the north pole," Katara said.
"Quick! Let's find the date of the next one," Sokka said. "We just have to keep going until the sun and the moon line up again."
Harry got an idea. "Step aside real quick," he said to Sokka.
The water tribe warrior looked to him for a moment and nodded before stepping back.
Harry pulled out his wand. He concentrated and ran through some motions with it. "I never thought Astronomy really had much use as a class at Hogwarts, especially since we have to take it for five years," he said.
The dials were going at warp speed. Harry used a spell they learned back in second year Astronomy. The spell was used on star maps as a way to copy dates for planetary alignments. It also worked on observatories.
Soon the moving planets came to a stop. The sun was again completely blocked by the moon. "That's just a few months away!" Sokka cried out in excitement as he copied down the date. "With this we'll be able to take them out when they're at their weakest!" Sokka could barely contain his excitement.
"Typical humans… Always seeking to destroy!" they heard an angry spirit shout at them as the black owl spirit appeared before them.
"You don't understand! The Fire Nation are evil! They literally killed one of the moon spirits just to attack the Waterbenders at the North Pole! They need to be destroyed!" Sokka tried to reason.
Wan Shi Tong actually paused for a moment in shock at that. He almost wanted to agree with them. He then shook his head. "Humans always find a way to rationalize attacking others! They never change," he argued back.
He then gave what was obviously an owl scoff as he turned to Aang. "I must thank you, Avatar…" he hissed out. "I now know what I must do."
"Ummmm… what is that?" Aang asked as a way to buy time to come up with an escape plan.
"I must ensure my knowledge is never again abused!" the spirit cried out.
Katara's eyes widened as she felt the whole building shake. "He's sinking the whole place!" she called to the others. "We have to go now!" she cried out.
"I can't let you do that. You know too much." Wan Shi Tong said in a far too calm voice. He then launched himself at the group.
"Immobulus!" Harry called out with his wand pointed at the spirit.
The spirit seemed to freeze in place as he looked to them with fury in his owl eyes.
"Time to move people!" Sokka called to make use of the opening Harry gave them.
The group ran from the planetarium, but soon the Professor broke off from the others. "Professor! We have to go," Sokka called to him in concern.
The professor gave them a smile of pure happiness. "I'm not going. I spent all of my life looking for this place. I'm staying here," he said.
He then took on a serious but still happy expression as he said, "I'll happily spend all of eternity here."
"If that's your wish," Harry said gravely.
The professor nodded to show he understood what his words meant. He understood his time may be limited in this Palace of Knowledge. He might be the first target of a crazed and angry spirit once the others escaped.
He was a man who accepted his fate. He was happily at peace with it.
"Let's get going," Katara said as she led the way out. As much as she hated it, they had no time for farewells. It didn't matter she had oddly enough grown fond of the professor during their brief time together.
"Right," Aang said as he quickly gave an Airbender bow to Professor Zei.
[-] [-] [-]
"You could have tried to come up with something convincing. So as not to anger the large thousand years old ancient Knowledge Spirit," Katara complained as they finally managed to escape the sinking ancient library.
"Like what?" Sokka grumbled.
"Ohhh, I don't know. Maybe you could have said you simply wished to better understand Fire bending. Including the strengths and weaknesses. Anything would have been better than dancing a jig celebrating discovering the downfall of the Fire Nation," Katara bit back.
"I wasn't dancing…" Sokka replied with a frown. He didn't want to argue anymore. He got what they desperately needed.
"I'm just glad we made it," Aang said with a sigh.
The entire group was relieved to have escaped the sinking library just in time. However, their mood quickly changed once they saw Toph's mood.
"There wasn't anything I could do!" Toph shouted through tears of frustration and anger. "I couldn't stop them…"
"Stop who?" Aang asked in worry.
"The sandbenders…" Toph replied with a sniff.
A/N: It's been a good long while… Sorry about that… It isn't that I gave up on my stories, but I did kind work on future chapters instead of the next immediate ones.
I also had to figure out how to approach Zuko and Iroh this chapter and Harry's fee for the library. I wasn't too sure about the Lockhart book thing at first, but I decided to go with it because I thought it was a bit funny. Not the best excuses but it is what it is.
I know it was a bit of a cliff hanger, but the chapter was already getting long, so I decided to have Toph's half of things start off next chapter.