BOOK TWO: EARTH
CHAPTER TWO: THE CAVE OF TWO LOVERS
The Sun is like a perfect lover that you meet every now and again. Warm, inviting and it promises that it would return when the veil of night has run it course.
Somewhere on the road to Omashu our heroes decided to take some rest at a river. They didn't have swimwear so they used what they got. Aang pulled off his shirt and rolled his pants, Katara and Sokka had on their wrapped undergarments, Dante had on black boxers and Appa and Momo just had their fur. They jumped in and found the water to be cool and refreshing as the season of spring.
Dante went into the deep and took a deep breath and ducked underwater. The water was clear as glass with the sun's ray's shine down, shifting by the rippling water above. He enjoyed the serenity of being underwater greatly. The water may plug up his ears but that means he doesn't have to listen to Sokka's incisive whining. A few bubbles escaped his mouth and surfaced the water after he accidently hit his foot on a rock. Meanwhile Katara decided to teach Aang a new form in Waterbending while Sokka floated about on a leaf he found that is strong enough to support him. Momo slept curled up on his chest.
"You guys are done to be done soon, right? We got a lot of ground to cover if we are going to make it to Omashu." Sokka remind them.
"What, like you are ready to go right now, naked guy?" Katara asked sarcastically. Sokka moved his long hair out of his eyes. "I can be ready in two minutes. Seriously, whenever. " Of everyone's undergarments Sokka's was the most revealing due to its size.
Dante came back into the shallow and sat down on the shore looking at some rocks he found at the bottom. "Right. You know what the army would call you readiness? First to be in the grave."
"So . . . you were showing me the octopus form?" Aang want to get back on track.
"Right. Let me see your stance." Katara instructed.
Aang took a stance but it was too wide. Katara came over to correct it by moving behind him and grabbing his hands. "Your arms are too far apart . . . See if you move them closer together – you protect you center – you got it?"
Aang blushed at how close she was to him, how he could feel the warm of her body in the sun. "Oh, yeah, thanks" he answered sheepishly. Dante smirked and chuckled quietly to himself.
Katara returned across from him and to a fighting stance. "Okay let's see what you got!"
Aang went lower and gathered the water together. He then threw it out creating watery arms of an octopus on his left and right. The idea of mastering this form of Waterbending is that when one surround by enemies can their defense is the whipping tentacles. When projectiles are being thrown the broad arms can shield from attack. Katara launched a barrage ice spikes from the water like throwing darts. Aang used the arms to block the incoming projectiles. Then he saw and opening and took it; sending one of the tentacles out and wrapped around Katara's leg. Taken by surprise, effectively exploiting the opponents opening in attacks and fluid octopus grace in his form, "You make a fine octopus, pupil Aang." Commented Katara with a satisfied smile, Aang responded by dancing the octopus dance by bending the water to form the head of and holding his breath.
Momo awake and his big ears caught the sound of lute, flue and drum music and someone singing. Sokka moved the ear apart to see before falling off his giant leaf as the words of the song reached everybody else's ears:
"Da-da-da-da-da
Don't fall in love with the traveling girl.
She'll leaving you broken-broken hearted."
Out of the tree line a troupeof colorfully dress hippies (that appear to be dancing on sunshine to the song) strode past and stop at the sight of people in the river. The leader is a tan guy dressed in an outfit that reminds Dante of a type of Polynesian style robe and hat. "Ha-hey, river people!" he greeted them with a wave.
"We're not river people." corrected Katara.
"You're not? Well then what kind of people are you?" asked the hippie asked.
"Just . . . people." answered Aang.
"And that's all there is to it." Dante added.
"Aren't we all, brother. Whew!" the hippie acknowledged with a stung on his lute.
Sokka, the unofficial critic of life walked out of the deep was and pointed a finger at the colorful strangers. "WHO are you?" he asked.
"I'm Chong, and this is my wife Lily." He introduced, "We're nomads - happy to go wherever the wind takes us." Chong briefly shredded on his lute while making random hippie noises.
"You guys are nomads? That's great! I'm a nomad!" Aang said with joy.
"Hey, me too!" Chong said.
"I know . . . you just said that." Aang reminded him.
"Oh . . . NICE underwear" Chong complemented the kid on fashionable Watertribe underwear. Sokka quickly grabbed Momo and censored himself from the eyes of the hippies . . . and that of the readers.
But elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom, Iroh gasped at an extraordinary sight: A white flower with red on the inside of the flowering petals. Out of the brushes Zuko stumbled out frustrated at his current circumstances, but the good thing his hair was starting to grow back. How he missed having a full head of hair.
"I didn't find anything to eat. I can't live like this. I wasn't meant to be a fugitive - THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! " Zuko exclaimed his complaint to . . . NOBODY!
Iroh took a deep breath as he smelled the aroma of the flower. Zuko noticed that Iroh had said anything about being grateful for being alive. "Uncle, what are you DOING?"
"You are looking at the rare White Dragon Bush. Its leaves make a tea so DELICIOUS its heartbreaking . . . That, or it's the White Jade Bush which is poisonous." Iroh really didn't know since it been a while since he study things of the flora kingdom.
"We need food, not tea. I'm going fishing." Zuko turned and walked to the nearby river.
Iroh still pondered his puzzling mind on this puzzle before him: "Hmm, delectable tea . . . or deadly poison?"
Appa groaned as he saw giant white braids the Hippies done. Whether it was a happy groan or not no one was sure. Everyone else rest on the fluffy cuddly Sky-bison; Aang got flowers made and placed on his head, Katara was getting her hair braid in a new style and Dante enjoy a little bit of the relaxing weed the hippies had, puffing circles in the air like a mellow magic dragon.
"Hey Sokka, you should hear some of these stories, these guys have been everywhere!" said Aang.
Chong corrected him. "Well, not everywhere, little Arrow-head. But where we haven't been, we heard about through stories and songs."
Aang continued. "They said they will talk us to see a giant night crawler."
"On the way there's a waterfall that creates a never-ending rainbow." One of the hippies added in the bliss of the memory.
Sokka on the other hand decided be the voice of reason, again. "Look I hate to be the wet blanket here, but since Katara is busy and Dante is in his happy place, I guess it's up to me." Katara and Dante gave him annoyed glare. "We need to get to Omashu. No side tracks, no worms and definitely not rainbows" Sokka seems really prejudice against rainbows.
Chong was surprise at the uptight skinny boy attitude. "Whoa. Sound like ones got the case of 'destination fever'. Heh, you worry too much about where you're going."
"You got to focus less on the WHERE and more on the GOING." Lily added.
"O-MA-SHU!" Sokka annunciated their destination to the happy idiots.
Katara agreed with her brother. "Sokka's right. We need to find King Bumi so Aang can learn Earthbending somewhere safe."
"Sounds like you're headed to Omashu." Chong stated, causing Sokka to smack his head in frustration.
Suddenly Chong is reminded of something pertaining to Omashu, "There's an old story about a secret pass – right through the mountains."
Aang 'OOH-ed at Katara who was skeptically. "Is this real or a legend?" she inquired to Chong.
"Oh it's a real legend and it is as old as Earth bending itself."
Chong began to play a pretty tune while rocking his body side-to-side sing the song. Aang, Katara and Dante rocked with him with happy expressions on their faces. Chong's wife played the flute while the big guy played the drums on his back.
Two lovers, forbidden from one another
A war divides their people
And a mountain divides them apart
Tunnels a dark path to be together. . .
. . . Yeah I forgets the next couple of lines but then it goes . . .
SECRET TUNNEL! SECRET TUNNEL!
Through the mountain!
SECRET SECRET SECRET SECRET TUNNEL! Yeah.
Everyone clapped and Sokka remained stubborn as the mountain. "Think we will just stick with flying. We dealt with the fly nation before. We will be fine."
Aang agreed. "Yeah thanks for the help but Appa hates going underground, and we need to do to whatever makes Appa most comfortable."
That was the idea. Making Appa most comfortable. They got on Appa and soared over the mountain ridges.
"Launch!" the Fire Nation commander ordered the catapults to fire at the fly beast the Avatar is reported to ride on. The fire screamed toward them forcing Appa to take evasive maneuvers. Everybody including Momo screamed for their lives. Dante instead cheered as he enjoyed the ride. It reminded him of riding the Earthbending ride called The Wild Mouse.
The hippies rest at a mossy log and looked up and saw Sokka and his gang walking past covered in soot. "Secret love cave . . . let's go." He said in defeat.
Having an idea and trying to execute it because it would be comfortable for the party doesn't always work.
Zuko returned to uncle with a long sharp stick with a tiny wiggling fish impaled on it. He guessed that early fisherman gets the giant bass.
"Zuko?" Iroh asked his nephew when he returned, "Remember that plant I thought might be tea?"
Zuko knew that sound in his uncle's voice, it mean when he was sure about something only to discover that he was actually wrong – DEAD wrong! "You didn't . . .?" Zuko asked.
"I did . . . and it wasn't."Iroh said and turned around to reveal pink rashes on the side on his head. Zuko jumped back in disgust at the sight of it.
Iroh was scratching his cheek, neck and behind his back for it was like having tiny needles rub his skin from underneath. "When rash spreads to my throat, I will start bleeding. BUT LOOK WHAT I FOUND!"
Iroh joyfully revealed to his nephew a branch that has pretty pink cluster of berries, "These are Pakkuey berries – known to cure the poison of the white jade plant. THAT or Makuey berries that cause blindness."
This was getting ridiculous as a loony bin. Zuko did the smartest action in grabbing the twig and hurling it away into the bushes. "We are not taking any more chances with these plants! We need to get help."
"But where are we going to go?" Iroh asked while scratching in dramatic poses, "We are enemies of the Earth Kingdom, and fugitives from the Fire Nation."
"If the Earth kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed." Zuko pondered, "If the Fire Nation discovers us, we will be turned over to Azula." Iroh scratched.
The choice was an obvious: "Earth Kingdom it is." Zuko stated and the two started off.
The best thing about hiding among your enemies is the anonymity. No knows who they are, Zuko never thought in a million years his scar could pass him off as a refugee.
After all there are fates worse than death.
After Dante tied his braided hair back in a warrior tail that went down his back he decided that some music was needed for this trip. "So you guys heard of some songs?" he asked Chong.
"Yep, Mr. Snow-hair, thru the songs we hear, we cruise like a leaf on the wind." Chong answered.
"Well if I had my lute that I had a while back it could play a song. Oh well." Dante sigh.
"Bummer. But hey, we play and you can sing! A how about it?"
Dante shook his head.
"Please?" asked the other hippie girl.
"I'm not in the mood." replied Dante.
"Come on, you're scared?" teased Katara.
"N-O. NO!" Dante repeated with an intensity of a grumpy cat he saw in the Earth Nation.
The hippie girl then got an idea "If you do then I'll . . ." she whispered something in his ear that apparently changed his mind.
"Well all you had to do was a please, Song, but . . . okay." after they got the rhythm Dante began to sing:
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high.
The style was different from what everyone was accustomed to but they adjusted. They wondered if the song was about him or not. It wasn't but Dante added to the soundtrack of his life.
Carry on my wayward son!
There will be peace when you are done
Lay you weary head to rest.
DON'T YOU CRY NO MORE!
Afterwards the hippies lead the Avatar and his friends to mountain pass with ruin columns on both sides, weathered remnant of a forgotten city.
"How far are we from the tunnel?" Sokka asked Chong.
"Actually it's not just ONE tunnel; the lover didn't want anyone to find out about their love so they build a whole labyrinth."
"LABYRINTH!" Sokka shouted out loud. Actually thinking this would be a piece of cake.
"I'm sure we'll figure it out." Chong gestured with a smile.
"All you need to do is trust in love, according to the curse." Lily added.
Sokka stopped dead in his tracks while everyone walked on past. Dante looked behind to see what Sokka was going to do. Sokka briefly insane as his body bent out of sharp and his one of his eyes bugging out before he returned to normal. To Dante, he always heard of people having a conniption, but he never truly seen until now. He was glad that everyone else didn't see it.
"CURSE?" whined Sokka like a two-bit brat.
. . .
"Hey-hey, were here!" exclaimed Chong upon reaching the entrance to the labyrinth which is guarded by the rows of animal-headed war deities of old.
"I've hunted and killed these bastards before; they were tough to kill, fiery war-like and shouting: BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD - SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"
"Scary." commented Chong.
"What exactly is this curse?" inquired Sokka wanting to know what they are dealing with.
"The curse says: "that only those that trust in Love can make through the caves". Otherwise you be trapped in the forever."
". . . And die." Lily added.
"Oh yeah and die. Hey just remember the rest of that song . . ." Chong walked forward to the entrance and finished to song with a haunting echo: "AND DIE."
Sokka decided to put his foot down. "That's it! There is no way we're going thru some cursed hole."
"What are you chicken?" taunted Dante.
"Hey someone's making a big camp fire." The Moku pointed out.
"Shit!" cursed Dante.
"That's no campfire, Moku." corrected Katara.
"It's Fire Nation. They are tracking." Sokka added.
Dante smacked Sokka hard upside his head. "No shit, Sherlock! It we did go airborne, like you decided, they wouldn't have caught our scent!"
Sokka rubbed the back of his head grumble at the cold hard facts.
"So all you need to do is trust in love to get thru these caves?" Aang asked Chong.
"That is correct, Master Arrowhead."
Aang looked over at Katara and pondered on that notion. Dante noticed and looked at Katara as well. It was obvious that this young woman of Southern Water Tribe has impacted their lives in a huge way. For Aang she got him out of an iceberg and brought him into a changed world but into the circle of people who care about him.
For Dante it would start on the same time when he reunited with his best friend at the South Pole; at that time Dante was hired to assist with the Avatar's capture, in return he would rewarded greatly. When Aang agreed to go with Prince Zuko Dante along with the soldiers escorted Aang aboard. But when the two looked back at the sight of Katara on the verge of tears, Dante wondered if he was truly doing the right thing.
Fast forward to the Northern Water tribe; the two clashed once more. Katara with Waterbending and Dante with Firebending and Waterbending, and through it all she stood her ground. Dante decided he was not going to fight her or Aang anymore. How can he fight someone who is his best friend from long ago and how can he kill some that reminded him of another girl who saved his life?
He could not do these things because love prevented it. Not that he loved Katara, he respected her. She had the heart of a true warrior and stood in defiance against any who harm the innocent, be it Nephilim or man. This is what Dante always admired in a woman: The will to fight even when you're outnumbered and the world falls down around you.
"We can make it." decided Aang.
"Everyone into the hole!" directed Sokka.
Appa on the other hand growled his displeasure of going underground but he knew he must if he didn't want to get burned.
"Hold on!" the eye patched command order the Fire Nation panzers in their advancement as soon as they arrived at the mouth of the cave. "It's too dangerous. Haven't you heard the song? Just close them in; the mountain will take care of the rest."
The siege tanks lined up and fire harpoons above the cave entrance, with one good pull in reverse the entrance collapsed upon it trapping the gang behind a wall of huge boulders deep piecing darkness.
Once the dust settled Chong lit a torch to provide light to their dilemma. Appa groaned pawing at the cave wall. "It's okay Appa, well be fine . . . I hope." Katara and petted him in reassurance. But even she wasn't sure.
"We will be find. All we need is a plan. Chong how long do those torches last." asked Sokka.
"Ah, about two hours, each." Chong replied.
"Then we five torches so that ten hours." Lily lit the spiral torches by striking in the floor.
"It doesn't work like that IF THEY ARE ALL LIT AT THE SAME TIME!" Sokka snatched the other four from her hands and stomped them out.
"Oh . . . right." Lily agreed.
"Math skills are once again fallen short due to the lack of common sense." Dante whispered to Appa.
Sokka climbed onto Appa to get a roll of parchment and a writing stick "I'm going to make a map to keep track of exactly where we've been. Then we should solve it like a maze and get through."
Sokka then began to draw the map as they ventured down the tunnel. Then everyone heard Dante humming and singing aloud:
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep, and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.
For ancient king and elvish lord,
There many a gleaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.
The song sounded mysterious and a bit sad. But beautiful at the same time.
"What song is that?" asked Aang.
"Hmm? Oh just a song about a place I visited with a bunch short guys and a wizard that was filled with gold and jewels, that all." Dante replied uncaringly
"Hmm? Maybe you can show me the place something."
"NO!" Dante suddenly yelled at the Sokka, causing a torch's flame roared reacting to Dante's rage jumping into his hand ready to throw it at Sokka. "THAT GOLD IS NOT FOR YOU! Understand."
"Okay, okay I will leave that gold alone." Sokka held up his hands and smiled sheepishly."
Dante then exhaled and returned the flame to the torch. "Good, last thing I need is another Smaug on the loose again."
Chong and his posse smiled. "Hey, you're a Firebender! That's great. If the torches go out we got ourselves a human torch. But don't worry man you secret is safe with us."
Dante looked over his shoulder at the hippies with a miserable expression that only happens when you come in contact with people or Sokka, for that matter. "Thank you." Dante sighed.
The group continued down the dark path through the mountains.
"Can you do a circus trick for us with firebending?" Lily asked.
"What are ya' blackmailing me?" Dante grumped.
In a nearby village on the edge of the woods Zuko and Iroh found a apothecary that took them in right away. Iroh sat on the medical table while Zuko leaned against the wall adjacent trying to not a attract attention to anyone.
"You two must not be from around here. We know better that to touch the White Jade. Much less make it into tea and drink it." explained kind young woman as she applied a salve to counter at the poison of the White Jade.
"Heh, oops!"chuckled Iroh as he learned a important lesson.
"So where are you traveling from?" asked the nurse.
"Yes we are travelers!" Zuko stood up as he was totally unprepared for people asking of twenty questions, even though he readied himself early on for it.
The nurse applied more salve on Iroh's arm. When he started scratching his head in a spot that itched she slapped it away for his own good. "Do you have names?" she asked.
"Names? Of course we have names. I'm . . . Li. And this is my uncle . . . uh, Mushi." Zuko introduced his and Iroh's fake name.
Iroh leaned over and glared at him through swollen cheeks. It they were going to have fake names the least his nephew could do is giving a name that was cool or that didn't suck.
"Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him: JUNIOR."Iroh poked back at Zuko's ego. Zuko on the other hand made the signal on his throat to cut it out.
"Mushi and Junior, huh, my name is Song. You two look like you can use a good meal." She stopped and slapped Iroh's arm to stop him from scratching. "Why don't you stay for dinner?" Song offered.
Zuko declined her offer. "Sorry but we need to be moving on."
Song understood and pressed anyone with a small hint."That's too bad, My mom always make too much roast duck."
"Where do you live exactly?" Iroh asked when he heard the words 'too much roast duck'.
Back under the mountains that don't lead to Erebor, Dante had done a circus trick by juggling seven fireballs. Chong's wife Lily was impressed and flashed his trade mark wink at her and she returned by blowing a kiss. Things were going smoothly and the two just needs to be in a quiet corner of the cave to scratch that "unscratchable itch". But that seem to be a problem of its own, Sokka has an unscratchable itch– the map. He turned it longways and sideways but some was not adding up.
"Sokka this is the tenth dead-end you lead us to." stated Katara.
"Well that proves a lot about his leadership skills and life, doesn't it?" Dante commented sarcastically.
"This doesn't make any since we already came thru this way." Sokka said puzzled as ever as he walked in the other direction.
"We don't need a map." Chong reminded Sokka of getting thru the mountain. "We just need love. The little guy knows it."
"Yeaah, but I wouldn't mind a map also." Aang replied honestly.
"There's something strange here." Sokka examined the map and tunnels, the way they came and the one that was ahead one last time before closing the map and turning to face the rest. "There only one explanation: The tunnels are changing."
Suddenly a deep tremor throughout the tunnel. Momo to cover inside Aang's shirt. This was not going to be fun. But just in case it did get fun Dante summoned Rebellion on in back.
That night at the well lit home of Song and her parents, dinner was being served to their guests. The dining room had a large opening so the room was cool and the beautiful of the night was before them.
"My daughter tells me your refugees. We were once refugees ourselves." Song's mother sat roast duck on the table.
Song herself sat across from Zuko. "When I was a little girl the fire nation, raid our farming village, all the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father."
Zuko's eyes widened as sadness of Song's childhood mirrored his own. "I haven't seen my father in many years." Said Zuko.
"Oh . . . Is he fighting in the war?" Song asked causing Iroh sucked up his noodles fast and his eyes widened darting to his right to his nephew. It was a touchy question to be sure.
But Zuko sat his bowling down burying in his feelings deep down inside. "Yeah." he replied. The memory of his father was as deep as the burn he gave that scarred the left side of his face. He'll never forget, and he'll never forgive.
Back in the cave for horny people, Chong was freaking out. "The tunnels . . . their changing? I'd – it must be the curse! I knew we shouldn't have come down here."
"Right. If only we listen to YOU." Sokka replied with sarcasm and irony.
Katara then heard something faint. "Everyone be quiet. Listen." she stated.
They there the faint echoing sounds of something screeching in the dark.
Momo who was preached on top Sokka's left shoulder flew off away from the sounds that were now coming down the tunnel in front to Sokka. Then just like that the screeching stopped and unnatural silence filled the air.
"I got a bad feeling about this." Dante stated as ready he gripped the scabbard of Temüjin.
Sokka held the torch in front of him to see what is lurking in the dark.
Then a giant snarling bat flew out, hungry for food. "It's a flying thing with teeth!"
The bat then swooped to the ground and folded its wings back into its front legs and now was stalking them on all fours.
"No it's a Wolfbat!" Moku corrected his friend.
The beast was agile and fast running leaping, bouncing of the walls before spreading its wing and flying. Its tactics were simple; confuse the prey in its movements and as it searched for the weakest amongst them.
And apparently it was Sokka who wave his torch around only to have the Wolfbat knock it out of his hands and onto one of Appa's front paws.
Scared by the pain Appa groaned and stamped around. The Wolfbat got spooked and vanished in the shadows. Appa had enough of being underground and wanted out and charged forward. He hit one wall after another causing the roof of the tunnel to crack and began to collapse. Aang wasted no in Airbending a guest toward Sokka and the Hippies pushing them out of the way of the falling rocks. He then turn to Katara and Dante's direction and tackled the two to the ground just before the ceiling fell on them.
Finally the dust cleared for the moment, and Aang got up helping the two their feet. Appa groan at the mistake at what he done and pawed at the giant rocks that separated the four of them from their friends.
On the other side Sokka ran the pile of rocks and began to franticly dig the dirt away to get to the others before he stopped and the futility of the effort.
Chong came up to Sokka to cheer him up."Yeah, it's no use were separated, but at least you have us."
"NOOOO!" Sokka's wailed and began digging with his bare hands until the rocks on top of the pile burying him underneath with his legs sticking up in the air.
By the light of the over head lamp outside on the porch of Song's Zuko sat alone listening to the crickets chirp and enjoying the coolness of the evening. Alone.
The door opened and out stepped Song wondered where Zuko was. "Can I join you?" she asked.
Zuko remain silent as he didn't want to talk. Song walked over taking a seat beside him.
"I know want you been through, we all been through it. The Fire Nation as hurt you." Song looked over him and as the scar the result of fighting a dangerous firebender. The scar is permanent as is the memory. Song wanted to see if there was anything she could do. The self isolation that Li was in not good, she knew that he needed to know that there is someone else that suffered. She slowly reached up touch his scar . . .
Zuko instinctively grabbed her arm. He is most comfortable when everyone is at arm's length him, and not closer. Song understood that now. "It's okay, they hurt me too." Said Song as she pulled up her right pants leg to reveal a pattern of light burns.
To see another suffering the same fate was comforting that he was alone in the world. But to see one like Song who is affectionate, strong and happy causing Zuko's heart to sank. He didn't care for the war as well as the people who suffered and died on both sides. His agenda in capturing the Avatar was more to him than the war. But he is not chasing the Avatar at the moment thus his mind was more open to the concerns of the world and the people.
Back in the cave of ironic twist and turns, the Chong and his bands played a tune to lift their spirits with Grumpy Sokka in the lead.
"Oh, don't let the cave-in get you down. Don't let the falling rocks turn your smile into a frown. When the tunnels are as dark and that's when you need a clown, hey! Don't let the cave-in get you down . . . Sookkkkaa."
On the other side of the cave in. Katara lead Aang Dante and Appa thru tunnel with the torch until they came to a door. "Guys, look!" she shouted.
"We found the exit." Aang shouted.
"About time." Dante sighed.
The three tried to push the round stone door open but to no avail. Even with Dante's super strength it wasn't budging. Then Appa grumbled and snorted like a bull before charging. Katara and Aang jumped to the side while Dante jumped straight up in the air. The door then side back and rolled to the side to reveal the darkness of a vast chamber; carved with ornate columns, tiled stone floor and more statues of war spirits of the past.
"This isn't the exit." Katara said disappointed.
"No . . . It's a tomb." acknowledged Aang.
The floor of the tomb had to be reached by a ladder made into the wall. Once they climbed down they made the way down the steps to the twin stone sarcophaguses.
"It must be the two lovers from the legend. That's who's buried here." said Aang.
Katara held the burning torch to the glyph on the side of the tomb dais. "These pictures tell their story."
The three huddled close as Katara read the ancient story:
They meet on top of the mountain that divided their two villages.
The villages were enemies so they could not be together.
But their love was strong and they found a way.
The two loves learned Earthbending from the badgermoles: They became the first Earthbenders.
They build elaborate tunnels so they can meet secretly.
Anyone who tried to follow them would be lost forever in the labyrinth.
But one day the man didn't come. He did in the war between their two villages.
Devastated, the woman unleashed a tremble display of her Earthbending power.
She could have destroyed them all, but instead declared the war over.
Both villages helped to rebuild a new city where they would live together in peace.
The woman name was named "Oma" and the man's name was "Shu" – the great city was named Omashu as a monument to their love.
. . .
Dante nodded upon hearing the tale. It was beautiful and sad. He then saw Aang and Katara looking at a giant stone mural of Oma and Shu on their knees facing each other, kissing. Katara read the words that were between them: "Love is brightest in the dark."
Meanwhile Sokka continued to read the map - Or at least tried to, in any case.
"Oh great, your plans have lead us to another dead end." complained Moku.
"At least I'm thinking of ideas and trying to get us out of here – MOKU." Sokka defended himself, casting a glare to the chubby hippie behind him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute – we're thinking of ideas, because I've had an idea for like an hour now." Chong said.
"YES! We're all thinking of IDEAS!" Sokka reminded Chong of what is obvious right now.
"We'll, listen to this – if love is the key out of here, then all we need to do is play a love song." Chong said.
Momo chatter to that idea while Sokka smack his forehead in frustration, again.
Back in the burial chamber of the two lovers, good ideas where in short supply.
"How are we going to find our way out of these tunnels?" Aang asked.
"Sing a stupid song?" Dante joked.
"I have a crazy idea. . ." stated Katara that got both Aang and Dante's attention.
"What?" Aang inquired.
" . . . Nevermind, it's too crazy." Katara decided to abandon the idea.
"If it was too crazy why did you mention it?" Dante inquired with irony.
Aang agreed and continued. "Katara what is it?"
"I was thinking," she began, "The curse say we'll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love."
"Right?" Aang confirmed.
Katara continued to beat around the bush to make her point. "And here it says: "Love is brightest in the dark" and has a picture of them kissing."
"Where are you going with this?" Aang not getting what she meant, while Dante got what she meant.
The idea was starting to make Katara blush. "Well . . . what if we kissed."
"Us KISSING?" said Aang shocked.
"See it was a crazy idea." Katara told them so.
"Us . . . kissing."Aang said to himself with a dreamy look on his face.
Dante did the math in his head "Aang is 112 years old; I can see why you wouldn't what to kiss you – you're technically OLD." He stated with his sledgehammer wit.
"Yes! Us kissing, what was I thinking? Can you imagine that?" Katara laughed at the idea.
". . . Yeah, I defiantly wouldn't wanna kiss you." Aang chuckled before he realized his HUGE faux pas. Then he looked to the side and discovered that Dante had vanished, Aang knew why.
"Oh, I didn't realize it was such a horrible option. Sorry I suggested it!" snapped Katara, insulted for suggest an idea that may or may not work.
Aang waved his hands and shook his head, "No no, I mean, if there was a choice between kissing you and dying -"
"AH!" Katara scoffed, that was a horrible to hear that kind of a scenario.
"WHAT?! I'm saying I would rather kiss you than DIE! That's a compliment." Aang said trying to calm her down
Sure it's a good compliment if you were threatened at gun point, Dante thought to himself.
"Well I'm not sure WHICH I would rather do!" Katara said angrily, thrust the torch in his hands and storming off leave Aang alone by his lonesome.
"What is wrong with me?" Aang asked himself.
"Nothing. Your just feeling feelings for the first time, little bro." Dante said as he came out of the wall behind Aang.
"Where did you go, you could've helped me." Aang sighed.
"If I did, then she would be pissed at both of us." Dante patted his hand on Aang's shoulder.
"I didn't know what to say that could make it sound any better." said Aang.
"Sometimes it's better to not say anything at all. You were raised by monks; they knew silence was better than word that could dig your own grave. She's a girl; she most likely kissed a lot of guys in her village. She probably got a lot of suitors, which she turned down. YOU on the other hand have never kissed a girl or even cared about at them in that kind of respect. But when it comes to girls I'm an expert, not a master but an expert. Come on, I will teach you another lesson."
"Okay." Aang sighed again.
"Lesson One: Sensibility. The key to being a man is being able to know when you're wrong. So apologize to her, sincerely. Lesson two . . ."
Back with the hippies and the dummy thing were going swell as the depression of being separated the others was lifted with the music from Chong's lute and Lily's flute and the backup dancers. Though it was a nice song, Sokka tolerated it because if he tried to go away from the group he may get eaten by a Wolfbat.
In the coolness of night on the doorstep of Song's house, she and her mother said farewell to the strangers they took in for dinner.
"Thank you for the duck. It was excellent." Iron said to his hosts.
"You're welcome." Songs mother replied back with a kind smile to the compliment, handing them the leftovers in small packages. "It brings me joy to see someone eat my cooking with such . . . gusto."
"Much practice." Iroh said patting his stomach.
Zuko turned and was about to leave until Iroh stopped him, "Junior! Where are you matters? You need to thank these nice people."
Zuko turned about and bowed, "Thank you." and continued on.
"I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world. But there is hope, the Avatar has returned." Song reminded him of the truth.
"I know." Zuko replied monotonously. Of all truths he knows that one.
As Iroh and Zuko left through the gate and past the stables, Zuko's heard the noise of a Horsebird. It was tired up grazing on some grass. Theirs for the taking.
"What are you doing?" Iroh silently shouted at his nephew, "These people just showed you great kindness . . ."
"They're about to show us a little more kindness. Well?" Zuko said offering out his hand.
Iroh knew that this was the wrong thing to do. But when you're being hunted you have little to no choice. He accepted his hand and off they went into the night.
Song watched them through the cracked sliding door. She was saddened at what they did but she understood it even if they did say it. They were refuges but they were running. Whether it was the Fire Nation or something worst, the life of being on the run is a chancy one, like her and her mother they too had to take any chance to survive.
The darkness of the cave was grow more around the torch that Aang held as it was slowly starting to go out.
"Where are going to run out of like any second now, are we?" Asked as he stopped and looked at the dying flame.
"I think so." Katara agreed.
"I could Firebend some light. But it would be pointless if there is no path that can lead us out." Dante sighed, he never though he could miss daylight this much.
"Then what are we going to do?" asked Aang.
"What can we do?" Katara asked back.
Katara turned as that crazy idea popped up in her head. She reached out and touched Aang's hand. Aang smile as their eyes met. Dante decided to step back and lean against the wall of the cave and watch if crazy actually saves the day. The two came lean in closer and closer as the fire went out and plunging everything in the deep darkness. Then a on the ceiling of the tunnel a trail of aqua lights the like the cluster of stars in the night sky.
Back with the hippies the sound of a Wolfbat snarling echoed through the tunnels caught everyone's attention. It was a whole pack of Wolfbats flying toward Sokka who screamed like a punk as his tried to fight them off. They weren't attacking, they were fleeing.
"Hey, you saved us Sokka." Chong said gratefully.
"No, they were trying to get away from something." Sokka said, catching his breath.
"From what?" Chong asked.
Suddenly the tunnel shook as two giant creatures busting out into the tunnels, two giant Badgermoles. One put its clawed paws together and closed the tunnel on its side horizontally while the other closed the other side by stomping its front paws against the floor close it vertically. The hunt was over it was time to feast.
The one behind Sokka earthbended the ground, to trap the hippies while the other focus on Sokka knocking him off his feet. He landed and scrambled to get away until his hand accidently strummed the string of Chong's lute.
Sokka wait to be killed until he forced one eye open to see the Badgermoles tilting it's head curiously to the sound the instrument made. Noticing the effect Sokka grabbed the lute and began to charm to creatures
"Hey, those things are music lovers!" Chong exclaimed.
"Badgermoles coming toward me. Come one guys, help me OUT!" Sokka sang asking for backup. He never thought he would even do that either.
Chong took out a spare lute and everyone sang the song of the Badgermoles.
Meanwhile Aang Katara and Dante examine the spectacle above them.
"To me they are some kind of crystals. They must only light up in the dark." Aang deduced.
"That's how the two lovers found each other. They just put out their lights and followed the crystals. And that must be the way out." Katara pointed to a large opening with daylight at the other end.
"So, um." Aang began but she didn't hear him..
"Let's go." Katara said and ran off.
Dante shook his head, "So close. Well there's always next time."
Aang smiled and the two ran off after Katara with Appa overanxious to get outside.
The Appa sprinted out of the dark gloomy cave and into the glorious light. Appa fell backward with his tongue hanging out in the rapture of not being underground anymore.
"What about Sokka?" Dante just remembered.
Then two giant badgermoles busted through the rock with some familiar face on their backs.
"Sokka!" Katara shouted glad to see her brother again.
"Hey, it's Chic and Chong, up in smoke!" Dante said.
Sokka slide down the badgermoles arm and ran to his sister. "How did you get out?" he asked.
"Just like the legend says: We let love lead the way." Aang said with a shrug.
"Really, we let huge ferocious beasts lead our way." Sokka waved as the behemoth guardians of the labyrinth went back in their holes, closing the doors behind them.
"Sweet!" Dante greatly approved.
Momo flew to Appa and asked him if he was okay. Appa was and told him what he saw. Sokka and Katara parted from the hug and she noticed something off and asked: "Why is your forehead all red?"
"Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you: I think that kid might be the AVATAR." Sokka had this red circle on his forehead because of Chong.
Chong lean in close to examine the red mark on Sokka's head.
"So you guy's gonna come to Omashu with us?" Aang asked the rest of Chong's trope.
"Nope." Moku answered simply.
"Okay. Thanks for everything Moku." Aang waved to them.
Chong said farewell to the rest. "Dante, take this small spar lute and mine it lead you to a road that you be able to find your lost lute again."
Dante gave it a small strum and smile as he was now balance out a bit. Though he would prefer to buy on he had to admit the receiving one from a cool dude was just . . . cool.
"Peace out, man" Dante held up the two finger victory gesture, with Chong returning it in kind.
Chong put a necklace of flowers over Sokka and impart to him an important message. "Sokka, I hope you learn a little something about not letting the PLANS get in the way of the JOURNEY." Chong then gave Sokka a bear hug making Sokka uncomfortable beyond reason.
"Just play your songs." Sokka forced out.
"Hey, good plan!" Chong exclaimed and began to play. It was the best plan Sokka all day.
Even if you're lost
You can't lose the love
Because it's in your heart.
While walking up a mountain that leads to the view of the great city, Sokka pondered all they had went through. "The journey was long and annoying. But know you get to see what it was really about: The destination." They finally reached the summit, "I present to you – The Earth kingdom city of O . . . Oh no!"
"Oh my God!" Dante exclaimed.
They saw the city but it was not like the city from before. Now it is covered top to bottom with mechanized smoke stacks that puffed out black smoke. But the most notable feature was the red banners of the Fire Nation hanging on the wall above the gate and flapping in the breeze on flag poles.
Oh no, what our heroes going to do?
Well, there no fun I telling you now, is there.
Anywhere you can probably guess by now is that I'm writing this due to the hearsay of a live action Last Airbender Netflix's show that is helped by the same guys that did the cartoon.
Anyway, see you freaks later then.
;3