After reading the previous chapter, I realized that I had missed inputting two somewhat important characters. Sorry! XD I also realized I don't often put dialogue for Sean and Lily. I decided to change Sean's characteristics for the sake of the story, so don't be too surprised. I have a feeling you guys might dislike him though.
Sorry about the wait, but this is going to be how long you have to wait for each chapter. High School is so much work, especially when you are just getting used to it. I don't think I can post every week.I don't know. Just have to see. Hope you enjoy this chapter! And please review!
I don't own Avatar Last Airbender nor Legend of Korra, and I did most of this before season 4. I can't wait for more Korra episodes! I wonder how Toph is going to help Korra.
Book 1:Wondering
Chapter 9: Runaway
Mako's POV:
By the sound of thumping, we could tell she went upstairs. Most likely her room, only the guest rooms are up on the second floor. Branyt stood up to go after her, but Akina shook her head 'no'. I knew what she was thinking. Branyt's concerns contradicted Cheryl's ways, and talking it out between them two would only make the situation worse.
I decided to check her out, just in case. I mean when Korra, and Aang had emotional concerns they went AWOL. What if the same thing happened to Cheryl? Her last sentence before leaving the dinner table 'I'm sorry' concerned me. Was she abandoning her job? I hoped not, I knew the world needed their Avatar. In both Korra's and Aang's time, when they were gone, power hungry people had taken control. We couldn't let that happen again.
When I got to the top of the stairway, I heard faint sobbing coming from Cheryl's room. I took a deep breath before making the action of knocking the door and going in.
Cheryl's POV:
I ran to my room after the 'talk'. Tears were threatening to fall from frustration, so I quickly went to the balcony to relieve myself. The breeze from the balcony usually helped.
I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, but in the end I did.
I knew that my friends wanted to protect me. But I'm the Avatar, I should be the one protecting them. If they got hurt or... even killed trying to keep me safe ….. I could never forgive myself. Everything happened because of this stupid Avatar title, and I'm the Avatar. ( A/N: I know she got violent.)
Too bad Sona or Fluffy wasn't here, I would usually talk to them about my true fears since they are pets. Tears kept streaming down my face, why couldn't they understand that I'm trying to keep them from harm?
I head a knock, and then the door creaked open. It was Mako, his face was full of empathy but some concern too. Normally, I wouldn't cry in front of others, but something told me it was okay to to when it came to Mako. I looked into the horizon. Mako silently stood next to me, and placed his hand on the rails.
"You know, the Avatar isn't always the all powerful person." He said to break the silence. I continued to remain quiet. Where was he going with this?
"She's human too." I stared at my palm, I had a feeling he was talked to Korra once about this too...the words did seem...somewhat familiar.
"Being strong doesn't always mean keeping in the feelings, it's accepting your flaws and allowing others to help you with the mistakes you make." I simply nodded, the speech was nice. However, it only solved half of my problems, the other half was something I needed to discover myself. I gave him a hug, and a small smile before saying thanks. I then used my acting skills to make me seem that I felt whole from his words in the simple conversation we had next about the adjustment of life. I actually felt the opposite.
When he left, I quickly wrote a note onto my desk. Next, I took a green parka and blue cloak from my closet and put them on. I put on the hood of the cloak to conceal my head. I quickly took a look down from the balcony, about an 10 feet jump to the ground. I took a deep breath and hoped I would do the air cushion correctly. I balanced myself on the rails, and then jumped towards the ground below me.
I spun around to create an air cushion, and managed to create a tiny one, but I twisted my right foot on the landing. I knelled for moment to have the throbbing pain to stop. I think I sprained the ankle, but I had worse before, so I endured the pain. Quickly, I looked from right to left before reaching the palace walls. Each step had pain, but I disregarded it. I then melted part of the ground with my firebending and created a tunnel. When I came out the other end, I leaned against the snowy wall to camouflage with it. Good thing my cloak was blue. I then quickly enhanced my speed with airbending and speed away from the palace walls. My right foot still hurt, but I could endure it for some time. I stopped to catch my breath against a tree on the outskirts of town, and I stared at the black sky filled with stars. It felt so peaceful to be away from everything...just like the old days.
Katara's POV:
Mako had came down saying that Cheryl was alright after his pep talk, and after that they actually had a simple conversation, and she seemed fine. Almost like 100 percent, not too cheerful but not too unhappy.
"You didn't!" I turned my head to Akina's sudden outburst filled with horror.
"Did you leave her to her room alone after that conversation?" She asked next in controlled yet worried tone.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Mako asked confusingly.
"She acts that way when she's going to leave to place for a couple of days instead of the normal few hours!" Akina replied panicking tone. We gave each other shocked expressions before rushing to her room. We found the place empty.
"Where is Cheryl, Daddy?" Alex tugged his father's arm sleeve.
"Is she under the bed?" Ivy adds. The two children check under the sheets, mattress, and frame before giving up.
"Dear all, I've decided to take a little break." We all crowded around Lily, who is reading from a paper. I notice Cheryl's signature at the bottom.
"The solstice isn't here, yet. I need some time on my own. Don't worry about me, I'm be fine. I'm not going AWOL. From, Cheryl." Lily finished the letter and turned it over to check if there was more, but there wasn't. I hear Akina let out a big sigh, as if this had happened in the past.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Mako apologized. Akina shook her head.
"It's okay. I should have warned you guys first about her acting skills, but I didn't think she would come this decision."
"Acting skills? Like if she is sad, heartbroken, or depressed, she stills seems cheerful, kind and caring to others?" Lily made face expressions as she rambled on with the possibilities. Akina nodded a yes.
"It's because of that, she is able to hide her true feelings easily if she doesn't want others to know. In reality though,she wants comfort from others, but she doesn't want to burden people that aren't directly related to the matter that she is upset about." We all looked down to the ground, Cheryl really put others before her, but to such an extreme lengths that she's hurting herself. I turned to Akina.
"Where would she go?" I asked, Akina knew Cheryl the best out of all of us. Her eyes saddened.
"I don't know. Normally when she goes out for a couple of minutes its a breezy place. But in situations like this, she keeps her mouth shut on the topic. When I ask her, she either ignores what I said, or act all cheerful." I stroked my chin. Was Cheryl's reason for leaving the same as Korra's and Aang's?
"But there is Red Lotus danger out there." We turned to Sean, it was weird hearing his voice since he didn't speak often. The adults nodded.
"But get the kids into bed first, it's getting late." Mako nodded and took the twins to their bedroom. They pouted saying that it wasn't that late, but eventually complied.
"Well, what's our plan then?" Akina asked with despair in her voice. It was like the old times, looking for the Avatar.
"Where's Bolin?" Lily asked out of nowhere. Sean face-palmed himself. While the others all looked at Lily with annoyance, Cheryl was missing and she was worried about Bolin? Bolin was here...with us right? I looked around. Nope, no Bolin.
"Yeah, where is he?" Branyt asked.
"Uncle Bolin's sleeping in his room." Irwin replied.
"Oh." We said in unison.
"Splitting up in twos to search for her would be best." said Sean.
"I could take on bad guys myself!" Lily pouted. Sean patted her head.
"You're a non-bender." He added.
"So? I know chi-blocking, and I'm good with karate and my dagger." Lily pulled out her 3 inch dagger from her belt made fighting movements to demonstrate. Sean still shook his head a 'no'.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Branyt said impatiently.
"What if we don't find Cheryl?" Lily asked worriedly. I sighed, it was true that it was tricky to find the girl. Akina had told me about her past search hunts, and they weren't easy. In the end, the only way they actually 'found' her was when Cheryl came back home by her own will.
"Then we'll look for her in the morning, the daylight will help our search. For now, we search using lamps," Jinora looked over to me "You should stay here, Gran-Gran. You must be tired by now." I nodded, I wanted to help find Cheryl, but I might slow the crew down. Might as well help within the palace.
"Good Luck." I gave Akina a hug before the children took off. It reminded me of the time I let Korra secretly go to Republic City. I slowly went to my bedroom to take a nap, old age doesn't help me any better.
The next morning...
Branyt's POV:
Turns out that we hadn't found Cheryl that night. We looked through alleys, the dock, and even the city. But no luck. I stared out my window, according to Mako, he had talk to Cheryl about expressing concerns, since Cheryl seemed reluctant to receive help. Akina had insisted though, that one of Cheryl's problems were that and had thanked Mako for the advice given to Cheryl. But I couldn't get why she ran away, what else was bothering her? I sighed as I walked down the stairs to the first floor. I found everyone eating breakfast.
"Morning Branyt!" said Jinora cheerfully.
"Morning." I replied back in a grumpy tone. I sat down and started eating waffles (A/N: I just felt like adding them :p). That's when I heard the sound of someone rushing into the dinning area.
"Sir! Princess Ivy and Prince Alex, are nowhere to be found." The guard looked like he was getting ready to be yelled at.
"Where could they be?" Irwin stroked his beard.
"They're not playing hide and seek." Sean replied sternly.
"What's that's suppose to mean?!" I replied angrily, I honestly don't get why he is usually in a bad mood. Everyone looked at me with concern, after I my sudden outburst. Sean simply continued on.
"Their grandma's missing." We all blinked confusingly, it took us a couple of moments to fully comprehend what he said. Lily on the other hand, happily ate her food. I don't think she's listening, but that's just her. Could Korra being telling her grandchildren to help bring Cheryl back? Cheryl is spiritually related to the Royal Family according to Akina.
"It's possible. Maybe if we find the kids, we'll find Cheryl." Akina had hope in her voice instead of despair this time.
"Branyt, use this glider," Jinora handed me a glider, "We'll cover the skies this time, the daylight will help us search for the 3." I nodded. Master Jinora used an airbending jumpsuit, but since I wasn't fully trained, I only knew how to use the glider to fly. Though being in the air felt great. After we got our full of food, we split up like last time, only this time we had guards already looking for the kids in the capital city. I seriously wondered how Cheryl escaped police watch in the past. I picked a pretty high cliff that had an overview of the city, then opened the glider. Hopefully we'll find Cheryl soon, before trouble arrives.
Cheryl's POV:
I had slept in an earth tent yesterday around the outskirts of the city. When I had awoke, the sun was already up. I think it's like 9 or 10 in the morning according to the position of the sun. I looked out into the open sea,and took a deep breath of the sea's scent. There was still pain in my foot, but once again I ignored it. I sighed, might as well check out town.
I still had my parka and cloak on, so that help me hide from others and the Red Lotus. I rolled the water tribe money in my parka pocket, I could get some noodles for a meal. I quickly set the earth tent back into the ground and placed my hood on before setting foot onto the town.
I roamed around until I saw this Water Tribe Restaurant that had cheap prices shown on the poster on their window. Might as well try it out. I looked inside, it looked beat down. Wood was chipping off the walls, paint was coming off the ceiling, but the tables and chair looked decent. I sat down on the counter and ordered one bowl of normal water tribe noodles.
While I was eating I noticed from the corner of my eye, a 4 year old boy trying to get something on the top shelf of a bookcase. He was getting frustrated, and kept jumping up and down on his ladder. I went back to eating my noddles when I heard his cry.
"Whoa!" He said as his tall ladder crumpled beneath him, I quickly sprang to action and caught the boy. But as a result, my hood fell off when I rushed to his side. I gently placed him on the ground after catching the boy in my arms.
"Thanks!" He gave me a hug and a toothy smile.
A woman from the within the inner part of the restaurant came rushing out and looked at us.
"Johnny, what happened here? Did you get hurt?" She went over by his side and checked to see if he got any bruises.
"Nope! And it's thanks to this sister over here," He replied in a happy tone and pointed at me "When I was just about to fall on the ground, she caught me in time!" The woman gave me a warm smile.
"Thank you so much for saving him." She bowed to me when saying thanks.
"It was nothing, someone else could have done it too. I just saved him by chance. No need to thank me."
"Come come, I'll give you some tea as thanks." She motioned to the counter. I made a no motion.
"Really, I don't need anything extra."
"Oh come on dear, I already have tea ready and there isn't another customer here anyway. I can't let it go to waste." She justified. I sighed and took a seat.
"Well, then okay." She poured a cup of tea into china and gave it to me. She then studied me.
"You sure are young to be traveling alone. Are you 14? 15 dear?" She asked.
"15." She gave me a concerned look and looked behind me as if wondering if I brought along anyone.
"Why are out here alone? It can be dangerous. Surely, your parents are worried about you. You haven't ran away have you?" I looked at the 4 year old boy, I thought back to my parents in Republic City. If a mom was this concerned with a child that was just under wing, surely my parents would have been even more back in the city. Had I been selfish to leave those that cared about me? Mom and Dad had entrusted me into Irwin's hands...I shook away the thought, I'm the Avatar, I can protect myself. I looked back at the mother, she was patiently waiting for an answer.
"I guess they worried?" Her face softened and she sighed.
"Dear, every parent is worried about their children. We grew to love how they grow up. To see one go is very painful." She waited for the words to soak in. But she didn't know that I was the Avatar, a person capable of becoming the strongest bender in the world. When I didn't respond, she searched through my eyes.
"Why did you run away dear? Stress? Responsibility?" I gave her a shocked look, how did she know? She simply smiled.
"I am a mother too you know." She pulled her child towards her with loving care. I looked down at my palms. My mind was racing as to how to reply back.
"Yeah." She then shifted her arms so they weren't wrapped around her son, instead she lifted my chin gently so that I was staring at her.
"Dear, everyone has conflicts. But if you find the motivation to over come them, it was turn out better. For example, the Avatars-" I instantly payed more attention at the mention of my title.
"Everyone looks up to them for peace and balance. Although many people did get frustrated with them, others have realized that they are just one human too, even if they are all powerful. Now with that much pressure, how do you think they felt? It worse then our situations of poverty if you think about it." I tried hard not to smile at the fact that she didn't know that she was talking to the Avatar herself, but her question was something that I had wanted an answer too; so I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't know."
"They all had a motivation, the want to protect, the want to bring justice, the want of bringing balance to world. And their decisions are why we are here like this today, in this era of peace." It was amazing how common people knew so much life, I listened intently. She continued on with her advice.
"That's their drive. If you leave your family now, think about the pain they have. They want to know that you are safe. If the Avatar can handle a bigger package because they have more strength, then regular people can take little packages with their own strength. So please dear, be considerate of the impact you make." I nodded.
"Thank you," I bowed to her and payed her more then needed before taking my leave and waving goodbye to them.
"Come again!" The boy shouted as I left the store. I gave him a warm smile back, before leaving.
Yeah, the chapters are shorter now because I don't get as much time to type them. I wanted to do 'Cheryl Alone' as the title but then again not. You'll see why later. And don't worry, I have the ideas in my head already, but it's just the time to type things up. HW is piling up T.T So hope you guys enjoyed this, and please review.
Also, here are some great fanmade openings for legend of korra:
playlist?list=PLcNZGaw_SsT_oAUQwNs8JBvsTGMcw9Ibr
There is a lot of characters so I tend to forget to put dialogue for them, sorry about that too.