Well, it's finally here! Sorry it took so long. I've been busy with vacation and getting ready for school. (Which for me starts in 2 days. Ugh!) Hope you like it! Please Review!
Chapter 11: The Grand Patriarch
"Good bye Toph," said Katara, giving Toph a friendly hug. "Give Mrs. Bei Fong my best wishes,"
"Alright Katara, don't get all sentimental on me now," Toph said. She had her bags all packed, and was waiting for Master Yu to pick her up. "I won't be gone for too long. Just long enough for my mom to recover."
"Good bye, Toph," said Sokka. He was still trapped in the ice, though he was beginning to fit back with the group, engaging in friendly conversation and discussing plans. "I hope your mother gets well soon."
"Thanks, Sokka. And, take care of yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing you and Ty Lee when I get back." After saying good-bye to all of her friends, she turned around to see her former, slightly incompetent earthbending master, Master Yu, standing before her.
"I can see you're ready to go," Master Yu commented. "Now, please get into the wagon. Your parents are eager to see you again." Toph did as she was told and got into the wagon. She could tell that this was the same wagon he and Xin Fu had used to capture her the last time she had seen him. However, this time, Toph was not held captive in a metal cage, and instead she was sitting in the front seat next to Master Yu.
When the wagon was gone from view, Aang and the others mounted Appa's furry back. This included Sokka, who was only restrained by his upper body, allowing him to walk. The bison flew for many hours, until the sun finally began to set. As Toph was absent and Sokka was barely talking, no one was complaining about the long flight, which was unusual for the group.
"It's Mount Hemadri!" exclaimed Aang. "The Eastern Air Temple is right at the peak. That means the Order should be somewhere near the bottom." He then pulled on Appa's reigns, causing the bison to descend toward the mountain. Aang then searched the mountain until he found a small village on the south side. He pulled on the reigns once again to bring Appa to the ground.
When the children entered Hanoriko, they were alarmed to see that the village was much more populated than they had imagined. Not only were there dozens upon dozens of citizens and tourists, but there were also shops and markets at every corner.
"Hey, check this out!" exclaimed Aang to Katara. He was looking at a calendar on display in a shop, with the date July 9th circled. Katara ran over to Aang to see what Aang was looking at.
"What is it, Aang?" Katara asked.
"Today's July 9th. It's my 13th birthday!" Aang shouted. Aang's enthusiasm turned to solemnity when realization dawned on him. "This is my first birthday without the Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders."
"I'm so sorry Aang," responded Katara. "But at least you have all of us. We're all here for you."
"Thanks Katara, that means a lot. It's just going to be really hard to deal with. Every birthday, Monk Gyatso I would make a dozen fruit pies, and then we would launch them at the monks' heads." A tear came to his I as he recalled these fond memories. "I can't believe it will never happen again. I'm never going to spend my birthdays with Gyatso again, annoying the monks and laughing." His story was interrupted by Zuko's voice.
"Here it is," stated Zuko. He was standing before a man at a Pai Sho table. Behind this man was a building, which had the image of a lotus flower on the near wall.
"Welcome, stranger," the suspicious man said. "Might I interest you in a game?"
"Certainly," Zuko replied. Zuko placed his first piece, the lotus tile his uncle had given him, in the center of the board.
"The white lotus tile," commented the man. "Very interesting." He then placed his piece in one corner of the board. The two of them exchanged turns until the pieces took the shape of a flower. Both men stood up and bowed to each other.
"What's going on?" Smellerbee asked, but Longshot put his index finger to her own mouth, indicating for Smellerbee to keep quiet as they watched the strange scene unfold.
"Welcome, Prince Zuko, nephew of Grand Master Iroh," said the man. "The White Lotus opens wide to you and your friends." Suddenly, the petals of the wall lotus began to spin around and vanish beneath the center of the flower, which in turn swung open, revealing a doorway.
"What the hell-" Sokka began, but was hushed by Katara. One by one, the Avatar Team entered through the porthole that was hidden behind the flower, led by Zuko.
"There it is!" exclaimed Aang, noticing a door at the end of the hallway. He then began running toward the door, unaware of the danger that lied ahead.
"Watch out, Aang!" Zuko shouted, bringing Aang to stop in his tracks. This sudden movement caused the ground at his feet to split open. This chasm resonated with an enormous amount of light. Losing his balance Aang stumbled and found himself falling into the bright abyss. Aang thought he was going to die, until he felt a warm, smooth hand grab his.
"Aang, don't let go!" Katara shouted. With much effort, Katara managed to pull Aang up from the wretched void, causing both of them to fall backward to the ground. Both of them brushed of the dirt from their clothing and got back on their feet.
"What do think is down there?" Katara asked, still looking down at the mysterious chasm.
"Nothing good, I'd bet," stated Zuko. "Uncle Iroh tells me that what lies at the bottom of the chasm is a fate worse than death." This statement sent a chill down Aang's spine. To think, he almost fell into the wretched abyss. "I was trying to warn you, the Order uses lots of defense mechanisms to prevent intruders. My uncle tells me that the main hallway uses incredibly powerful mirrors. I don't think there's really a door over there, just a reflection."
"That means the real doorway is somewhere around here." Mai stated. As the other seven searched the walls for an opening, Sokka leaned on the wall in relaxation, too exhausted to search. However, where he expected his back to hit the wall he just kept going and going until he hit the ground.
"There it is!" Katara exclaimed, pointing at the path that Sokka had fallen in to, mistaking it for a wall. The seven teenagers walked through the passageway, followed by Sokka, who was suffering from a severe backache. (A/N: Thank God the ice was right there.) Sure enough, when they reached the end of the hallway, they found themselves standing before two great, golden doors with a lotus symbol on the front.
"This isn't some sorry attempt to capture me again, is it?" Toph asked as she and Master Yu rode along the winding mountain trail. "You've already tried using my mom against me last time, and I would think you were smarter then trying it again."
"Of course not," replied Yu, "After your last escape, your parents requested Xin Fu and I stop tracking you down. They realized you were with the Avatar by choice, not by force."
"Well finally," commented Toph. "I was beginning to think they'd never understand."
"What are you talking about?" Yu asked. "Didn't you get your mothers letter?"
"She really wrote that? I thought you wrote that to try and bring me back home."
"That's not true. Your mother originally intended to visit Ba Sing Se, but she fell ill and wasn't able to come. Xin Fu had found the letter and decided to use it to catch you."
"So you're saying that my mother's been sick for an entire month?" Toph asked in concern. "You said it wasn't serious!"
"I admit, I wasn't telling the whole truth when I said that," admitted Master Yu. "However, I do not believe Mrs. Bei Fong is fatal-"
"Please, don't say it," interrupted Toph. "All that matters now is that I'm going to see my mother again."
As the eight adolescents entered the Hall of the Grand Patriarch, they were filled with awe and wonder. The room was made entirely of the finest marble with a statue in the center depicting the first Grand Patriarch, Toghan Zhu. The walls were adorned with golden picture frames, holding portraits of each of the 286 Grand Patriarch, until they reached the north wall, which held the one's portrait. Sitting on a luxurious wooden throne in front of the painting, was the man they were most eager to meet.
"I've been expecting you," An elderly man said. He had a long, white beard that reached down to his upper torso, and dark, tanned skin. He wwas drest head to toe in flowing robes, decorated with jewels in the shape of lotus flowers. He seemed vaguely familiar to Aang, though he couldn't quite figure out who he was.
"Welcome, Avatar and friends." The Grand Patriarch continued, coming down from his throne and giving each of them a firm handshake. "It is nice to meet each of you. Though you Aang, I have met once before."
"Where did we-" Aang began, when suddenly he remembered. His mind turned back to about a month ago, at the top of this very mountain. "Guru Pathik?"
"Yes, it is I," exclaimed Pathik.
"You look completely different. And your accent-"
"A façade, yes. I use that accent as a cover when I go out in public. And as for the clothes, it's amazing what a bunch of robes can do for a person. But all things aside, I believe you have business for me, do you not?"
"Yes we do," replied Zuko. "I need to know the location of my mother, and Sokka needs psychological help." Sokka desired so much to hit Zuko in the arm for his comment but couldn't, as his arms were frozen to his body.
"And, if it weren't too much trouble, I was hoping I could try to master the Avatar State one more time." Instantly, both he and Katara became somber. They knew that when Aang had finished, he would have no feelings for Katara whatsoever, and the two them would be no more than friends, if that even.
"Very well, I will train you once more. However, all three of you have intense work ahand I want you to have a good night's sleep before we begin. I will call on you separately in the morning. Right now, the guards will show you to your sleeping quarters. Until then, pleasant dreams, and good luck on the tasks ahead.
"You called me in, Master Pathik?" Zuko asked, entering the room.
"Yes," Grand Patriarch Pathik responded. "Take a seat if you wish." Zuko took a seat next to the Guru. "Now, I bet you are wondering where your mother is, correct?" Zuko nodded. "Well, Grand Mistress Ursa currently resides at the peak of Mt. Kuma. There's a village Fire Nation deserters there."
"So, is that it?" asked Zuko. "You said that all three of us would have intense work."
"Yes, but your intense work is the journey itself. Mount Kuma is one of the most dangerous mountains the world over. The journey itself can be murderous without proper preparation."
"But, how do you know if I'm ready for this journey?" Zuko asked worriedly. "I haven't had any training."
"You have traveled for 3 years, one of those by foot, correct?" Zuko nodded. "Well, that has been your training. I have faith that you can do it. And if you ever have doubts, remember the reward that awaits you at the end."
"But, how will I know how to get there?"
"A map will do just fine. Now please, send Sokka in." Zuko went up the stairs and headed back to the room in which he and the others were staying.
"You're up, Sokka," he said. Once Sokka had exited the room, Zuko took a seat next to Mai, who was the only person in the room at the time.
"How'd it go?" she asked, taking Zuko's hand. "Do you know where your mother is?"
"Yes," responded Zuko. "She's in a village at the peak of Mt. Kuma.
"Mt. Kuma? You're joking right?" Zuko shook his head in the negative. "Well, if you're going to Mount Kuma, then I'm coming with you."
"Mai, you have any idea how dangerous this is? People die trying to scale the mountain. I love you too much to let you risk your life for me."
"I love you too, and that's why I'm not letting you go alone."
"Ah, welcome." Pathik said as Sokka entered the room. "Please, have a seat." Sokka took a sea next to the Grand Patriarch, who was sitting high up on his wooden throne. "So, from what I can tell, your problem is that there is a person that you really care for, but when you get near this person, you attack them."
"Yeah, how did you know that?" asked Sokka.
"I can see it in your face. You are wrapped with guilt and shame over your actions, something more powerful then if you had hurt an innocent stranger. Yet somewhere, deep inside of you, you feel that this person deserves pain." Sokka said nothing. He hated the feeling that he actually wanted to hurt Ty Lee. "Now tell me, is this person someone you love?"
"Well, not love exactly," Sokka explained.
"But you do have feelings for this girl?" Pathik questioned. Sokka nodded. "Is this girl Fire Nation?" Again, Sokka nodded. "And, have you lost anyone, to the Fire Nation, perhaps recently?" He nodded once more. "Was it someone you loved?
"Yes. Her name was Suki, and she was the love of my life. We had just began dating when she was killed by the fire nation."
"I see," said the guru. "I could say that you feel that it was the girl that killed Suki, and that is why you are after her, but I think it is more complicated than that."
"So what exactly do we do now?" asked Sokka. However, Pathik did not respond, and instead led Sokka up the stairs into a hallway. When they reached the end of this hallway, Sokka opened the door to find himself at the top of Mt. Hemadri, inside the Eastern Air Temple.
Though Sokka didn't know it, he was in the exact same spot that Aang had first had his failed training with Guru Pathik. The full moon was shining bright in the sky as if it were there to watch Sokka's training.
"Today, you will be going on a spiritual journey." Pathik explained.
"Do you mean figuratively or literally?" Sokka questioned. However, Pathik once again fell silent. "Am I going to the spirit world? Will I be a spirit myself? Am I going to see Suki?"
"You will have your answers shortly." Pathik explained. "Now, I would like you to sit in meditative position." Sokka did as he was told, and sat down, preparing himself for his coming vision quest. "Now close your eyes, and think about Suki, and about Ty Lee. Meditate on your troubles." As the guru said this, Sokka found his voicer becoming harder to hear, and his own body becoming lighter. Eventually, he could not hear the Grand Patriarch's voice, and he began hearing new voices, though he could not make out what they were saying. The light was so bright around him that he could not see. Eventually, the air cleared, and Sokka could make out the figures of two of his lost loves. Suki and Yue.
"What's with Sokka?" asked Aang as he end Master Pathik entered the Air Temple.
"Sokka is in the Spirit World." Pathik explained. "He is conversing with Suki and Yue and trying to get to the root of his problems. The reason he attacks Ty Lee not just because he that she indirectly killed Suki, but because he felt guilty about falling for someone so soon after Suki's death. He had felt the same way with Suki after Yue's death.
"Wait, who did Sokka fall for, and what does that have to do with Ty Lee?" Aang asked in confusion.
"You will find out soon enough, I expect. Sokka shouldn't be your concern right now, however. We have work to do."
"Okay, but before we start, I have one question. If it's so important to love, then come I'm supposed to give up Katara?"
"Oh my dear boy, I'm so sorry," The guru apologized, hugely confusing Aang. "I'm sorry I made you think you had to give up on love."
"What? You told my I had to let go of my attachment to Katara,"
"Yes, your attachment, not your love. You are allowed to love, it is Important however, that you do not let love cloud your judgment. If you were to choose between saving Katara and saving the world, you must choose the second. And if anything should happen to Katara, you may mourn, but do not let it affect your quest to defeat the Fire Lord."
"So you're saying I can master the Avatar State without losing Katara? That's incredible!" Overwhelmed with joy, Aang went through the same procedure as last time, and soon found himself become weightless.
He was standing on a bridge of light. The sky around him was dark, and he felt almost weightless. He saw an enormous Avatar Spirit stand before him at the end of the bridge. He then began his walk toward the avatar spirit.
"How long have we been sitting here?" Ty Lee asked, sitting against the wall. She, Ty Lee, Smellerbee, Longshot, and Momo were waiting outside of the Grand Hall, with dull looks on their faces.
"About an hour," Smellerbee answered, looking at her pocket watch. "But it feels more like five."
"I wish we had something to do," said Ty Lee. She then looked to Momo for something, who shook his little head and purred, indicating he was out of ideas.
"I'm gonna go look around for a little while," said Katara, who got up and began wandering the halls of the palace. As she turned a corner, she grumbled under her breath, "So bored."
"Well, let's see if we can change that." Said Kai who pulled her out of sight and put his hand over her mouth.
The walk seemed totake forever as Aang traveled the bridge of light. He saw the stars pass by him, though the Avatar Spirit seemed no closer. After a while, he heard Katara's voice crying for help. He saw her being captured and tied up by Kai and Rong, she was flailing er arms and kicking, but nothing seemed to help.
"Katara!" Aang screamed for a second. He felt like he was about to fail at the Avatar State again when, in a blast of strength, Aang moved forward toward the giant spirit, blocking out Katara's voice. Eventually Aang found himself at the end of the bridge with know idea what to do. The avatar spirit still seemed no farther than it was when he started.
"Jump," a voice whispered, echoing through the whole area. In a leap of faith, Aang jumped off of the bridge and into the air, to find that he was floating. He moved towards the Avatar Spirit, which was rapidly approaching. When Aang touched the Avatar Spirit, he felt his own self merge with the spirit, and his essence mix with the spirit's.
When Aang opened his eyes, he found himself floating, as he was in the dream. The arrow on his head was glowing, as were his eyes. He was in the Avatar State. Slowly, he lowered to the ground, and his arrow and eyes turned back to normal. He was back at Air Temple. He noticed that Sokka was gone.
"Katara's in trouble," Aang stated.
"Well what are you waiting for, go help her!" demanded Pathik, grinning at Aang. Aang grinned back, and sprinted out into the hallway. There he saw Sokka, Ty Lee, Smellerbee, and Longshot fighting off Kai, while Rong held Katara captive.
"Glad you could make it," said Sokka, who was dodging attacks by Kai. He no longer was encased in ice, meaning that his vision quest must be finished. "Mind giving us a hand?"
"I'd be glad to," said Aang. Taking his staff in hand, Aang dashed over to Katara, dodging Kai's throwing stars. When he made it to Katara, he was greeted by fire blasts from Rong, which were reflected with some of his own.
"So, it's you," Aang taunted. "Where's that cute little arrow. Did the crayon wash off in the shower?"
"It was enough to fool you, wasn't it?" retorted Rong. The two kept at the fighting until eventually, Aang managed to send an air blast at Rong's feet, causing him to fall to the ground. As he toppled backwards, Rong found himself falling into the chasm.
"She's at Mt. Kuma!" Rong shouted to Kai, clinging desperately to the side. Aang ran over to offer his hand, but Kai pushed him out of the way to save him himself. But it was too late. The tiny piece of rock that Rong was clinging to broke off, sending Rong into the void. He was gone.
"That's my brother!" Kai roared. "I'll get you for this!" The Avatar Team prepared for another fight, but surprisingly, Kai darted out through the lotus-shaped porthole and out of the palace. When the whole rush of adrenaline had died down, the eight of them gathered over the chasm.
"What do you think happened to him?" Smellerbee asked. Everyone shrugged. Suddenly, Aang pulled on Katara's arm and beckoned for her to follow him.
"Come on!" He said, pulling her into the Grand Hall and up the stairs.
"Where are we going?" asked Katara, but Aang didn't answer. Soon the reached the Eastern Air Temple. "What are you-" Katara was interrupted when Aang put his lips on hers and pulled her into the most wondrous kiss they had ever had. "But wait what about-" Katara became silent again as the arrow and Aang's head began to glow, and the two of them began to rise into the air. A huge smile spreading across Katara's face, she threw her arms around Aang's neck and kissed him once again.
"I love you Katara," said Aang, holding Katara close to him, the two f them still hovering in the air.
"I love you too Aang." Katara responded, giving him one more quick kiss before the two of them reached the ground. As Katara's feet reached the ground, she separated from Aang's arms, happier than she had ever been before. "Happy 13th birthday," she said. "Now I think you have a new birthday tradition."
Coincidentally, while Katara and Aang were kissing upstairs, Sokka and Ty Lee were having a special moment as well. Finally able to get near her, Sokka ran over to Ty Lee and gave her the first kiss they had both been waiting for ever since their date last week. Ty Lee was the only thing that mattered to him, with Ty Lee feeling the same way about Sokka. As the two of them parted, Ty Lee cried tears of joy, knowing that Sokka would never hurt her again.
"The Fire Lady is located at the top of Mount Kuma, your majesty," Kai said into a microphone.
"Very good," Azula replied in her snake-like voice. "By sunset tomorrow, the traitor will be captured and tortured, and the Order of the White Lotus, our last obstacle, will be annihilated."