Thank you, EpicAndStrange, DayMoon89 andlove4anime for reviewing or alerting… Here is Day three of Taang week 2011. The word is Jewel. I do not own Avatar or anything to do with it. But I did make up the little story within the story. This chapter takes place around 15 years in the future.
As always, please read, review and so on.
Jewel:
Warm, flickering light glowed into the hallway from the doorway at the end. Aang could hear his two children whispering and laughing as he approached their door.
"Why are you guys still up? It's getting late. You were supposed to be asleep almost two hours ago," Aang entered his children's bedroom. Eight year old Xiang and four year old Jie were on the floor, playing with and probably harassing an annoyed and elderly Momo.
"I'm not tired." Xiang protested, standing up with a gust of air. Xiang was the only air bender out of Aang's two children, his skill quickly filling his father's footsteps.
"Yeah daddy, I'm not tired too," Jie echoed her brother, but walking to her futon regardless.
"Can you tell us a story? Pleaseeee?" The four year old asked, while she coaxed Momo to her side of the room.
"Alright, only one though," Aang sat down on the ground between the two children. "Which one do you want to hear?" Jie rolled onto the floor and got a scroll from the shelf.
"This one!" she presented to her Father. Xiang groaned.
"Whenever Jie picks out the story, it's always something babyish and girly." Xiang grumbled.
"I like Mom's stories better," he added. Aang smirked at his son. Jie's bright green eyes glared at her older brother; a look she learned from her mother.
"Last time your mother told you a story, you had night mares for days about evil turtle-ducks and cannibal Earth Benders," Aang pointed out took the scroll from Jie. Xiang had no response.
"The Hidden Jewel", Aang read. He opened the scroll and began.
"A long time ago, there was an Earth king in a small kingdom in the Earth Nation. The name of this king was Jian Fu. He was a greedy man, who cared much about getting money, gold and jewels. Jian Fu only had a daughter, a beautiful girl named Shuchun who he loved very much. When Shuchun turned seventeen, her father decided that she was of marrying age. Back then, it was the father who choose who married whom. Jian Fu said: "Who ever offer the most valuable jewels will get to marry Shuchun". Many men throughout the city offered their best, but Jian Fu was not impressed. Meanwhile, Shuchun met a man while in the city. He was a common man; the son of a miner. His name was Da Ling, and he was a very wise and intelligent man. The two young people quickly got to know each other and fell in love, without Jian Fu knowing. Da Ling wished to marry Shuchun and asked for her father's permission. Jian Fu asked: "What do you have to offer?" Da Ling presented him with five smooth rocks, all a grey- white in color. Very ordinary looking. Jian Fu laughs at the man and attempts to send him on his way. Da Ling is very adamant about marrying Shuchun. He tells the king, "In three days, the rocks will turn into very valuable jewels." The king is amused by this and agrees to the arrangement, doubtful though.
"If they turn into something of worth, you may marry my daughter." He says and he places the stones on a small table in the throne room of the palace.
Three days go by. Jian Fu is becomes angry. Impatience is getting the better of him. He believes that he was tricked by Da Ling, a commoner. In a flash of anger, he takes the rocks and throws them as hard as he can on the hard stone floor. Upon impact, the rocks crack open and begin to glisten in the light. Curious, Jian Fu picks one of the pieces up. He discovers that there were many little jewels and crystals inside the rocks. Da Ling was right! In three days, the rocks did turn into jewels. Da Ling was allowed to marry Shuchun. And they lived together very happily. Jian Fu learned an important lesson, Something that seems plain and boring, like a rock, can be beautiful and is worth waiting for." The End.
"Why when ever Dad tells us a story, I feel like I am listening to one of Uncle Iroh's proverbs or something," Xiang complained, slouching down against his futon.
"It was Jie's turn anyway," Aang reasoned. The man stood up and kissed his daughter's forehead. Xiang ducked out of the way when it was his turn. Aang smiled and reached over to dim the oil lantern with fire- bending.
"G'night, daddy," Jie said before lying down.
"Goodnight you two," Aang softly said as he left the room and quietly slid the paper screened door shut.
"Are they asleep?" Toph asked her husband as he entered their bedroom. She was sitting on their low bed, trying to run a comb through her dark hair; a habit she devolved with age.
"Yeah, finally after I told them a story," Aang peeled off his monk robes, wearing only a pair of pants similar to what he wore when he was younger. He slid into the bed next to her.
"You really should have me tell them a story more often, than that wimpy stuff you read them. Give them a backbone," Toph teased the man next to her. She seemed to give up on her hair as she threw the brush on the floor.
"Hey, I'm teaching them good morals!" Aang protested well humouredly.
"Like what?" Toph smirked.
"That, I quote: "Something that seems plain and boring, like a rock, can be beautiful and is worth waiting for." Kind of like you" Aang smiled at his wife.
"Are you calling me a rock?" Toph questioned as she leaned back against her pillow.
"No I'm saying… Never mind," Aang put out the oil lamp, allowing the moonlight to stream into the room through the open window.
"I was saying that you're beautiful..." Aang mumbled.
Toph smirked in the dark. "Go to sleep Twinkletoes." They slowly drifted to sleep.
That took me a while to write. Like I said earlier, I did make up the little story. So please tell me how I did. Also, fun fact: The names in this chapter have real meanings. Aang's children, Jie and Xiang mean "cleanliness" and "Soaring", respectively. The name Jian Fu means literally, "Strong Money". The name Shuchun means pure beauty and the name Da Ling means "Intelligent".
So please review!