Chapter 18: My name is ...
In the conference room, four figureheads from across the globe had sat in discussion over the recent turn of events. The Chiefs of both the North and Southern Water Tribe, Chief Arnook and Hakoda had sat on opposite ends while Earth King Kuei and Fire Lord Zuko had too sat opposite of one another. They had been discussing the intended revival of the Fire Nation and its people, while also discussing the dreading fact that Avatar Aang had returned without the compassion over the world he once held dearly in his heart.
"The matter remains unanswered!" Zuko had slammed his hands frustratingly at the table before rising to his feet. "My people are suffering! Our home has been taken from us! The entirety of my army has yet to land in the harbor of the United Republic, and the economy of this newly fledged government does not have the resources to sustain the rapid amount of refugees that are still pouring in!"
Hakoda had rested his elbows on the table, entwining his fingers together as it partially concealed his lower face. "I understand, but the winter season is upon both of our tribes. That makes food, medicine, and other necessities that much more valuable to us. I'm sorry, Lord Zuko. But we don't have resources to spare."
Chief Arnook nodded, agreeing with his family tribe. "He's right, during this season we are much more conservative in what we possess. I can't spare any until I'm sure we are able to survive with what we have."
All eyes had turned to Earth King Kuei. His input had yet to be said, and for the most part he had remained silent for almost all of their interactions. Kuei had gently closed his eyes as he thought of the current condition of the Earth Kingdom, its primary source of prosperity being Ba Sing Se itself. Out of nowhere, the rise of poverty and recession had been leaving them in a tight corner. Many wealthy companies and organizations had left without his knowledge, and because of this, unemployment rates had drastically risen.
"I..." He inwardly sighed, he knew that the Fire Lord would not like his answer. "I'm afraid I am unable to help either. I can not afford to spare anything due to the growing recession that has been creeping at our gates. I'm sorry."
Zuko's fist had been shaking in disbelief and anger. "So this how it's going to be, huh? After spending nearly the last two decades trying to repair the wrongs of my culture by helping your Nations prosper, this is how we're repaid!"
A small silence had formed between them all. Chief Arnook had crossed his arms as a tinge of annoyance had grown in the back of his head.
"That still leaves eighty more years of terror you've yet made up for." He muffled softly.
Zuko's ears perked. Despite the softness of the mans voice, he knew better that this was an insult directed to him and his people.
"Care to say that again?" He slowly inched towards the Northern Chief.
Arnook glared and stood from his chair displaying his own acts of aggression. "I said, that still leaves you eighty more years of terror that you and your pathetic excuse of a Nation had yet to make up for!"
His hands had sparked with flames. "Why you-"
Before the two could attack each other, Hakoda had restrained Zuko from behind while Kuei had done the same to Arnook. As they struggled, the two spat insults at each other.
"I'll burn that filthy mouth of yours! You ungrateful bastard!"
"I'd like to see you try without any hands!"
The two who had restrained the others from fighting had pulled them into separate rooms where they would cease to interact with one another. None of them said it, but they knew that this meeting had been adjourned.
Once they were clear of the other two, and Zuko had shown that he had calmed down enough to not start any fires in the building, Hakoda had released him.
"Zuko, my boy." Hakoda had rested his arms on his shoulder forcing the Fire Lord to confront him. "A lot has happened lately - most of it ending up as overwhelming pressure for you and your people, but this isn't like you at all."
A helpless sigh escaped his throat. "Then what am I supposed to do! Everything we've struggled to build is starting to fall apart Hakoda. Is peace and cooperation between us all really an impossible future? Do you think of me and my people the same as Chief Arnook has displayed?"
Releasing his grasp on the Fire Lord, Hakoda looked away. A look of sadness and shame had covered his face.
"I... I have." He hesitantly said. "I understand that your rule has differed much since the conclusion of this war, and don't get me wrong, I do hold a deep respect and gratitude for all you've given me and my people. But, some things are just hard to let go."
Leaning against an empty table, he reflected back to when they lived in this devastating and nightmarish era of war.
"Your people had nearly ended the existence of the Southern Water Tribe, just like you had to the Air Nomads in the beginning of this war. I was relieved to hear that when this all ended, but even then the damage that was caused had remained a permanent scar on our lives. My people, my tribe... my wife."
He choked at the mention of her. Taking another breath, he relaxed his heart from sobbing at the thought of his beloved.
"Many of us believed that you all should just burn in the fires you have created. I too have at one point started to feel the same. But then, the news of my sweet and beloved daughter being engaged to the newly declared Fire Lord had stretched across the lands. When I heard of it, I did not approve of at first. The very thought of my daughter marrying into the lineage that was responsible for such chaos had torn me. But then I thought about it. If my daughter could find love in her enemy, maybe I could as well. It was a chance to heal these scars that has been left for us to roll in. A chance to finally understand what it means to forgive your enemy. You gave me that opportunity Zuko, an opportunity that many others haven't had even to this day. And then, for a brief moment, you lost it. You couldn't protect my daughter, one of the last remaining beacons of hope that gave me strength on living. My sweet little angel, taken through the effects of childbirth. It's funny, how the strongest Nation in this world didn't have the medical capability in saving the daughter of a Chief, and the fiance to the Fire Lord himself. That night, I never felt so much hate for you and your home in all of my life. You took my wife, and took my daughter. I wanted to see you and everything you represented destroyed. Every last piece of your culture, drowning in flames while being flushed through currents that would take them down into the deepest depths of the ocean. If it hadn't been for the birth of my two grandchildren, I know I would've done something that would continue the war between our Nations. My grandchildren had shined a light where its original beacon could not shine upon any longer. And now, I have come to understand that my granddaughter has been kidnapped by the man who wishes to see this world burn!" He scoffed. "Tell me, Zuko... how many more failures will you go through until you're finally able to understand that your actions have consequences?"
Watching the Fire Lord silently, Hakoda pushed himself off of the table he leaned upon and left the room once determining that Zuko was unable to answer him. Opening the door, he took one last look at the silent Fire Lord before turning down the hall, passing by a woman who had watched him leave from the corner of her eyes. After seeing Hakoda leave, the woman had pushed herself from her position against the wall and made her way into the room she knew Zuko was in. She entered without knocking, and a small frown had grown once she saw his shaken state.
"Well, is it just me or does it look like you've seen a ghost." Her words had startled Zuko from his thoughts.
He blinked a few times before his expression turned into shock.
"Mai?" He asked. "Is that you?"
"The one and only."
Without knowing, a smile etched its way into his lips. "It's been so long, I haven't seen you since..." Thinking back to before, he tried to remember how long it's been since he last seen her.
"Since I left with Ty Lee." She answered. "So, about a year or so after the war."
"Wow." He rubbed his head, an embarrassed smile had grown. "It really has been awhile."
An uncomfortable silence settled in, a silence that had left their toes wiggling in their shoes as they tried to find some topic to spark up a conversation. Thinking of something similar, the two open their mouths simultaneously as their words spoke over the others.
"So how-"
"I wanted to-"
They stopped, and a small giggle escaped Mai's lips. "You go first."
Zuko was about to retort on her words but decided against it after realizing that they would just argue back and fourth as they did in their teenage years. "Some things just never change, do they?" He thought.
"So, how have you been?" He asked. "You must've been busy traveling the world huh?"
"If you put it that way, then yes." She nodded. "I suppose I have. I found myself out of place after the war, so when Ty Lee had claimed that she was leaving with Suki to become a Kyoshi Warrior, I thought it would be a good idea to tag along and see if I could find some other meaning for my existence."
"I see, I'm guessing you have?"
Parting her lips lightly, no noise had been emitted from her vocals. Did she find meaning in her life? This journey of self isolation to a life she once knew, only to be replaced by another that hadn't had the same fulfillment as her first, was it really what she desired?
"I - have." She lied and forced a smile to cover the falseness of her words. "Yes, being away from it all was exactly what I needed."
Zuko smiled in return. "I'm glad."
The two fell into step beside one another as they exited the room and made their way to the entrance of the building that lies in the heart of the United Republic. The tapping of their feet had fell into rhythm with the other, and their eyes remained glued ahead.
"You wanted to tell me something, right?" Zuko mentioned.
Mai lightly tensed, yet it went unnoticed by the Fire Lord.
"Did I?"
"Yeah, when we cut off our sentences earlier. You seemed like you wanted to get something off your chest."
Stopping at the entrance, Zuko turned to Mai who also stopped once noticing his idle figure.
"Mai, is something wrong?"
Yes, something was wrong. It's always has been, and she feared it always will be. Her gaze had fallen to his feet, unable to stare into his eyes for the shame she contained.
"I'm sorry." A shaken response came out. "I'm so sorry, Zuko... about everything. I should've been there, with you - by you - for you. I never thought it would end up like this. Our home, gone. My family, dead. My life, unfulfilling. Hope for the future hasn't been shining down on us lately. For all of my life, I have struggled with coming to terms about where I truly belong in this world. And to this day, I don't have a damn clue as to what I'm suppose to be."
Taken by surprise, Zuko had remained still when Mai had thrown herself into his chest and hugged him like he too would disappear if she hadn't done so. Glancing down, she could see the faintness of her tears she had tried to conceal by digging further into his garments.
"Mai." He softly spoke while entrapping her in his grasp. "We'll be okay."
"You don't know that! But... please, say it again. So that I can calm myself in believing that we will."
Gulping the tenseness in his throat away, he tightened his grip around her in a protective manner. "We'll be okay." He repeated.
Allowing the tenseness in her heart and muscles to relax, she marveled in the warmth Zuko's body held. It was comforting and fulfilling to her. And for the first time in years, she felt as if she finally belonged somewhere. She wanted to say so much more to the Fire Lord, but fear of how he would judge her had settled in and flickered out her desires in doing so. So while tightening her grip around him, she allowed the uncertainty of his words replay itself like a record in the back of her thoughts - hoping that she would one day understand its true meaning behind them
"We'll be okay."
The night had fallen, and Zuko had been tapping his fingertips against the wooden desk in the corner of his room. After Mai had calmed herself after venting her crumbling emotions from within, the two had chosen to spend the remainder of their day exploring what this economy had to offer. There hadn't been much, but it was enough to distract them from the issues that lay beyond these boundaries, if only temporary. After the fateful day the two had shared, the sun had began to set as the streets began slowly adjust into a state of emptiness. It was exactly what the two needed, time to recollect their thoughts and emotions about the past, present, and the possible future that would come. Thinking back to their younger days, before the conclusion of the Century War - oddly enough, they found it to be a much more simpler and peaceful time. They had no worries for the future, because they had been too busy chasing a dream that had blinded such concerns. Mai had teased Zuko about how edgy and hotheaded he had once been, and Zuko could only laugh while his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
If only these flourishing emotions could last forever, then maybe this world wouldn't seem as bad as it currently had been in. That is until Toph had shown up, and judging by her mood, he knew he wouldn't liked what she was about to say. Mai had excused herself shortly after the encounter, only because she felt as if she didn't have the right in hearing what matters they would speak of. Once she had left, Toph had informed him about what Tenzin had done, and how they wouldn't be seeing him for some time. Infuriated by this revelation, he screamed and exacted his rage upon her. He felt that she was a fool in letting him do something without his knowledge, and he felt betrayed because of it. The thought of losing another important person in his life had left him distraught, and he could only hope that Tenzin would come back to them with no harm brought upon him.
Now, here he sat. The moonlight soaring high above the sky, and the whistling of a cold and lonely wind had brushed against the windows of his chambers. Sighing in frustration, his eyes had settled upon a book he had been avoiding for quite some time now. The book that Iroh had given him just moments before he engaged those that would take his life. It had remained hidden in the corner of the room, avoiding his general eyesight. But now, his eyes had remained glued onto its shape. Avoiding it would only postpone the inevitable, but it wouldn't be rid of truth that lie within its words. Grabbing the book, he brought it back towards the desk - setting it down in the center as his fingers lightly grazed the cover. Feeling his fingers crack open to the first page, he hesitated for but a moment, until renewed courage had forced him to face the words he's been avoiding.
One Source, Two Beginnings, Two Perspectives, and One Destiny. These would be the words that would wedge into my soul for an eternity...
The night remained young among this quiet sector of the United Republic. Walking among the shadows of the streets, the lone presence of Toph had been the only living person one could encounter. Her cheeks were lightly red, and her expression held a light daze with a smile etched in the corner of her lip. It was a sign of light intoxication when consuming alcohol, something she had been doing just moments after Tenzin left. Just as she said she would.
As she predicted, Zuko had given her a mouthful about her incompetence over the guidance of a minor. Perhaps he was right, maybe she was too lenient with allowing Tenzin to do this. He was only a child after all, still growing and was expected a few more years until he'd reach full maturity. She scoffed lightly at the thought, and a giggle could be lightly heard from her vocals.
"Incompetence, my ass." She muttered. "We were no different at our age."
Despite the sourness between the twos encounter, Toph held no grudge nor bitterness to Zuko. Yes, he may have been annoying at times. His preaches of peace, passiveness, and responsibility for the new generation had left a thorn on her side; but even she knew that his heart was in the right place. He just wanted the best, for Tenzin, Kya and the rest of the world. The only problem was that his methods were too centered over the future, that he failed to truly bond with those who had grown during and before his time.
"So delusional, just as you usually are."
She stopped momentarily, the sound of a person who seemed to be struggling had caught her ears. Pacing herself towards the source, she was able to clearly make out the sound of a rope binding tighter and tighter together while the huffing a woman had too joined in. She came to a halt once hearing the source only inches from her.
"Um, are you okay?"
Standing to her feet, the woman turned to face Toph.
"Uh, yeah! I am."
Behind her, an improvised backpack struggled to stay compressed with the items that were stored within. The rope snapped, and out came tumbling numerous items that had been packed for a long journey ahead.
An embarrassed chuckled escaped. "...no, I guess I'm not."
Toph smiled, Making her way over, she began to help her in repacking her belongings. While they did this, the two made small talk to get to know the other, something that Toph was sure she partially knew of.
"Sorry for making you help me like this."
"No, it's okay. I had nothing better to do tonight either."
The woman chuckled. "You do have a distinct smell of alcohol, so I'd say you're telling the truth."
Giving her a cheeky grin, Toph laughed. "If you get to know me, you'll see that I'm usually like this."
"An alcoholic?"
"No, a truthful person."
Packing the final item that had fallen out of her bag, Toph made sure that she was able to securely fasten the sack without any errors this time.
"Well, that takes care of that." The woman huffed and stood to her feet once more. "Thank you so much for taking the time out of your night to help me." Standing silent for a second, she extended her arm. "My name's P-"
"Pema." Toph finished. "Yes, I'm pretty sure I know who you are. I've seen you interact with someone that I consider family." Extending her arm like Pema had, she firmly grasped the opposing hand. "My name's Toph-"
.
.
.
And just like that, with a simple contact between their hands, the structure of the world had faded around her. In its place, the same village she was once in, in her dream prior to this had reappeared. However, this time it was booming with life as children and adults walked in the streets like another ordinary day. And just like before, her presence went unnoticed as those who walked towards her passed through her form like she was an ordinary shadow. An unusual sound was heard from above. Glancing up, three Sky Bisons carrying a handful of Air Nomads landed in a respected section of the busy street. They all dressed alike, but only one had the respected markings of an Airbending Master. Hoping off of the Sky Bison, the man widened his arms in delight when another person came fourth. They exchanged hugs, greeting each other with affection.
"Gyatso! It's so good to see you again." The man spoke. "Last time we met, you were under the process of being elected into the Council of Elders. How did it go?"
Gyatso chuckled. "That was some years ago, but yes. I'm in the Council now. But that's not why I'm here. I've been hearing rumors that their have been unusual threats going on in this town. Threats that many have said could not be explained through words. Seeing as how you all live fairly close to the Patola Mountains, close to our Temple, I figured we could be of assistance to our neighbors."
"We appreciate your offer to help, but I'm grateful to say that this threat is no longer among us."
A wave of relief fell upon the Monks face. "I see, that is good news. It seems that our assistance wasn't needed after all. Since I'm already here, it should be good to catch up with each other for old times sake. If I may ask, how is your daughter?"
.
.
.
"...Gyatso." His voice softened. "Can we, speak about this alone for a second?"
The setting had faded into black, leaving Toph even more confused than before. She recognized that man, Gyatso. Yes, he was the same person who took Aang away from this place the night of the massacre. But why? Why is she seeing this? Why her?
"I need your help..."
The voiced echoed around her, its tone was spiritual and somewhat desperate.
"My help?" She repeated. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
"This world, it's out of balance. My name is ... and my link has been severed through the thousands of years of continuous struggle to bring peace."
Her eyes furrowed. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name."
"...It seems that I am unable to introduce myself entirely to those without a direct link to me. But that doesn't matter now. I'm able to speak with you because of this gift you have. This gift that forces you to enhance your senses with the Earth around you, in which its effects has enabled your spiritual connection in a more strengthen and natural state. It's higher than any ordinary person I've ever come across."
For a few brief seconds, she went silent as her next words were muffled and not understandable.
"It seems that my connection is beginning to sway, so please heed my warning. The Southern Air Temple will be the landmark you must go to. Find it, and you will find the forgotten village. Find the village, and you will find the truth. Good luck, you are my last hope to be able to reconnect with ..."
"With who?"
The silence remained, and Toph felt herself slipping back into her own body.
"I said with WHO!"
Her questions remained unanswered as the last thing she saw was a beautiful white spirit with markings engraved around it.
.
.
.
Feeling a hand shake her shoulder, Toph blinked profusely before making eye contact with the concerned look of Pema.
"Uh, Toph. Right?" She asked. "Are you okay? Maybe you drank a little too much."
Pema turned and reached for her pack. She was about to rummage through the baggage in search of medicine and water to be able to give to Toph, but a firm grasp on her shoulder had caused her to jump in fright. She glanced behind, the eyes in the woman behind her was one of the most awe aspiring and determined ones she ever witnessed.
"Earlier, I heard you said you were searching for the Air Acolytes so you can become one, right?"
Pema blinked before nodding slowly.
"I'm not sure where they may be, but what if I can bring you to a place where the chances of them being there would be considerably high?"
If Toph could read the minds of those around her, she would not only be able to read the intriguing attention she gained from Pema, but also that elsewhere in the United Republic, a certain Fire Lord had just closed his book thinking of the exact same thing.
Furiously, Aang marched down the halls in heated rage. He did not show it, but the atmosphere around him radiated its intoxicating aroma. Shaken beyond the thoughts of comprehension, he could only marvel at the thought when he could finally end Vaatu's indirect reign of terror.
Yes, Vaatu - The Spirit of Darkness and everything proclaimed evil - has uncovered a truth that he had been trying to conceal from its tinkering manipulative hands. It had been days since his initial talk with the Fire Princess of the fallen Nation, and during those weeks he had interacted with her much more than he first thought. Being a direct descendant from Katara's blood, this discovery had spiked his interest greatly ever since its discovery. Even then, his curiosity and protective nature did not hold the same obsession as he did with her mother, but regardless of that fact, a sense of possession had sprouted in the bloody soil of his heart - unknowingly caring for her health beyond that of an ordinary stranger.
And now, Vaatu had called to him through telepathic communication, demanding that he appear before him along with the girl he had tried so hard to conceal. This interaction would be one he knew he would not enjoy. Approaching the room he had relocated her too, it was now located higher in the palace with much more hospitality then the cell they had first thrown her into. The two guards who guarded the entrance had once more snapped into attention at his appearance.
"Open."
Stepping aside, the two had done as demanded without another word. Aang stepped inside, his gaze falling upon the Princess who had stood by the window in a more unbinding and free manner. Now standing without the chains that once locked her arms and legs together, instead, she was able to freely move as she pleased. The price for that would be confinement to this room unless supervised by either himself or Azula who he had recently tasked with partial responsibility over. To think that after being given so much freedom, she would at least try to escape by now. Truthfully, she had her reasons for staying.
Firstly, if she had tried to escape, she knew she wouldn't have gone far. Avatar Aang had proven to be more than powerful enough to handle her on his own. Adding an entire army as well as those who the Fallen Avatar had deemed his primary servants of power wouldn't benefit her in anyway. Secondly, she had grown intrigued about her predecessor. He hadn't spoken much about his plans for the fate of this world, but he had declared that it would ensure eternal peace until the end of time. Feeling disgusted with the idea, his words had been filled with nothing but enslavement over them all through an illusion.
Kya had glanced over, still expressing the same demeanor she once held the day they met. The only thing changing was the cold and bashfulness of her words. Instead, it sounded like she was trying to understand and accept the reasons as to why he had brought terror upon them all. She knew that this was wrong, and she could never allow herself to be in support of such animosity. But even then, in some type of way, she kind of understood his cruel and justified actions.
"What do I owe this pleasure?" Her voice hinted sarcasm hidden beneath.
"There has been... complications. I need you to come with me. There's someone that wants to see you."
Turning to make his departure, he began to exit the room. Kya had stood motionless for a second before following. She could hear the anger and annoyance in his voice despite his best in trying to conceal it. Following shortly after he disappeared from her eyes, she could only wonder what has happened to cause a man such as him to stoop to such a level. Yes, she could see that he was angry, annoyed, and way beyond rational comprehension. But she could hear something else in his tone, it was out of character, it was unordinary, it was...
...fear.
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End of Chapter 18
That concludes Chapter 18. These next few chapters is gonna be going into more of the lore behind this story, so we will be digging more into juicy contents in the coming future. Though, I feel as if every chapter has been juicy in their own ways. I hope one of the later ones will take the cake of it all. Maybe the final countdown. Next chapter, Toph and Pema are gonna go on a life changing adventure together with Zuko, or maybe that'll be the chapter after. I don't know, we'll see what my mood is in. I took some of your advice about the renaming of this story. So welcome to the newly named story "A Shattered Legacy that Paves the Path to Destiny." I find it to be really fitting, but there might be a possibility I might change it just one more time. As for now, I love this title. As usual, I would like to hear your thoughts and critics about this chapter. It would surely help where I'm doing well at, as well as where I'm lacking and need to improve on.
Thank you guys so much for reading! And for those who celebrate this holiday, Happy Late Thanksgiving! And as my Sgt tells me every weekend before I'm released from work. Whatever you do this weekend, just don't DIE! Especially on black friday.
...I fought for a couch-
Ciao!
~TheLivingMyth
