Behind These Painted Masks
Chapter 9
Mango
"So where is Azula?" Sokka demanded, looking over the side of the saddle as though Azula would be walking along a forest path. Midnight claimed the sky, Yue shining brightly above while Spirits of past Avatars sparkled around her creating a shimmering sky.
Zuko and Sokka were on Appa's saddle while Katara was steering, the ropes tied expertly around the bison's horns. Zuko seemed to be asleep while Sokka aws looking agitating and paranoid.
"I don't know Sokka…" she clicked her tongue and Appa sped up, "But I know who does."
"Who?" Zuko opened one eye inquiringly.
Katara giggled, "You'll see Zuzu."
The village had barely changed since the last time they were there.
The man was still wearing the red shoes, the panda lily couple were happily married, the Earthbender and his twin were as goofy as ever, the man still hadn't hadn't taken a bath and the white haired man still guarded the entrance to Aunt Wu's house. Katara approached, leaving the two skeptics to watch Appa, she bowed "I'm here to see Aunt Wu."
His voice was deep and harsh, "Aunt Wu is taking a long needed vacation," Before Katara could speak again, "She told me to give you this and to tell you to have a nice trip." He handed over a scroll and a knapsack.
"How was the fortune?" Sokka asked, arms crossed doubt written all over his face.
"She wasn't there…she gave me this, Katara showed him the scroll, "Where's Zuko?"
A sly grin crept over his face, "With an old friend of ours," he pointed over his shoulder where an adoring Meng was fondling over a distraught looking Zuko.
"Zuko! We're going!" Katara signalled to him, trying to ignore the tiniest tinge of envy.
He bid the fawning girl a brief goodbye and whispered to Katara, "Thank you."
She squeezed his arm in response, causing a red tinge on both their cheeks.
Sokka groaned in the background.
"What does it say?" the clouds were swirling around them and Katara read them the letter, Appa floating casually above the ground.
-
Hello children
I'm sorry I couldn't see you. I'm spending the month on Ember Island with Li and Lo.
I will offer you some advice; go to the Southern Air Temple.
Love heals even the deepest hurt.
See you later
Aunt Wu
P.S save the mango
P.P.S I hope they fit!
-
"Save the mango?" Zuko grabbed the note, "is she insane? What mango?"
Katara shrugged, "Southern Air Temple it is then."
Sokka opened the back taking out 4 items. A mango and 3 sets of clothes.
"Is this normal?" Zuko whispered to Sokka.
The Water Tribe boy looked the Prince right in the eye, their noses an inch away, "Every single day. For the past 5 years."
An eye twitching, Sokka went back to his corner of the saddle, where Zuko eyed him warily, concerned for his own safety and for the sanity of his longtime friend.
"Aang what are you doing here?"
He smiled, "You could call it unfinished business." he dragged a finger casually against the iron bars separating him and the captives.
"You can't be Aang." Toph's thinking was unclear, "prove it." She smiled crookedly, unseeing eyes daring him.
A blast of hot air came through the bars throwing Toph against the wall, were she slumped unmoving. Aang stood back grinning maliciously.
The little girl approached the Airbender, "You're not Aang." she stated innocently touching her heart, "he's right here." her eyes flashed slightly, thousands of voices being reflected in the pure blue eyes.
Aang snorted, "Whatever, like I care. You're just a Water Tribe girl with no family or friends, you're a freak!"
"That's where you're wrong." Toph coughed slightly, her milky eyes catching Aang's grey ones, "She's got me."
The statement hung in the air, defiance etched in each letter. Aang strode away leaving the little girl to care for the blind Earthbender.
"Can you heal?" Toph asked, clutching her side in pain, the wall had cracked slightly from the force of her contact. She gingerly pressed on her side, the pain conferming at least three broken ribs.
"..." the little girl brought her shoulders forwards, as if protecting herself from Toph's brutal personality.
Toph bit her lip to stop a cry escaping, "Well CAN YOU!?" she yelled her voice echoing through the cold, dark hallway.
Determination took over the little girl's being, "Yes, I can."
The Air Temple was overgrown, vines becoming one with the stone. The building crumbling from age and lack of care. A lone tiger-cat prowled, hunting for a mid-morning snack. It strolled on the rooftops and nimbly jumped from tile to tile.
On the top of the temple sat a girl, dressed completely in white, black hair pulled into a ponytail. Her legs were crossed, hand placed calmly on each thigh, a image of complete serenity.
The tiger-cat jumped onto her lap, where it fed on its prey.
Out of nowhere the wind picked up, tossing her hair around, her eyes were closed in concentration and she was mumbling. It whipped around her, unrelenting in it's battering of the girl. She didn't move but tilted her head as though she was listening to the gale.
It died down and her hair returned to sitting calmly, she opened her grey eyes. She began stroking the beast, ignoring it's protests of it's meal being interrupted.
"They're coming Saki."
A/N
I will have an OC here and there but nothing to major.
The reasoning behind my lack of updates and the complete deletion of some of my fics.
I was banned, apparently some of my fics didn't abide by the guidelines so I was banned for 3 days.
And Space Ninjas were involved but I won't go into detail.