Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last air bender
Author's note: This chapter is more of background story, and the bridge to Azula entering the story. And still, I have one problem. I find it very hard to create a title! So, sadly, you have to expect lame titles XD And as usual, review, favourite and follow!
Background story
Riko's POV
I let out a long sigh. Here I am, standing in front of Toph mansion's gate, somehow I felt awfully nervous. My legs felt like jelly and my hands were clammy. Taking a really deep breath, I pressed the intercom. Before I even say a word, the gates opened and with shaky legs, I cautiously stepped inside. I walked on a stone path that divides the garden into two. On one side, there is an amazing arrangement of flowers and different animals, most of them are wild. I saw rabbits, cats, dogs, deers and many other beautiful creatures. On the other side, there was a mini waterfall. Many trees grew here, scattered, but it somehow looked really beautiful. Birds chirped from the trees, singing their happy little song, the fishes in the water danced about, jumping into the air once a while. After awing at the scene, I strolled on, taking in the fresh air that swept away my previous nervousness.
Now I felt something amiss. Previously, I could see the mansion from the gate, though it was partly blocked by the trees. But now all I see is a forest. Soon, I came to the end of the path. What happened to them? My heartbeat quickened significantly. After a short while, the ground beneath me turned into a slide.
With a scream, I landed on a couch. I looked around. The seven teens sat beside me laughing. Even the gloomy couple grinned a bit. Toph and Sokka were rolling on the floor. I felt my face heat up a bit. I faced away, stomping in 'frustration' in a random direction and crossed my arms. Once again, the majestic house made me feel really impressed. Whitewashed walls stood at around us, a few hallways stretched out leading to different rooms, so far away I could not see the end. There was endless flights of stairs circulating around the walls, leading to even more hallways and rooms. In the middle of it hung a big chandeliar. Now that I actually think of it, This whole place seems like a maze. By the time I got out of my daze, I heard a heated discussion whether to chuck a rock at my face or just splash me with water. Obviously, leading these two teams were Toph and Katara. Aang was sticking to Katara's choice, which is to jsut splash me in the civilized manner.
Though it'll be entertaining to watch the ladies bicker, but I am indeed the tiniest bit offended.
"Shut up I'm awake!" I screamed. Suddenly, like a balloon that just got poked by a needle, I shot out words like a machine gun "What-the-heck-are-you-guys-why-do-you-have-so-much-money-how-can-Toph-sense-seismic-virbrations-is-she-really-blind-why-is-this-mansion-underground-why-the-heck-is-Toph-so-attractive?" I panted vigorously. Then I realized the last question I asked. Oh holy. Blood rushed up to my cheeks again. I realized I kept blushing a lot around them. Good thing neither of them seemed to notice my slip up. Or either they are ignoring it.
After a few glances exchanged between the gang, Toph spoke.
"We are actually from another world, where some people can control the element their born in at will. Water, Earth, Fire and Air. They are separated into different nations, a concept similar to what people here call 'race'. There was an Avatar, the keeper of peace. He is the only one that can control, as what we call bend, all four elements. He was also the only one that can enter the spirit world at will, and the only spirit that reincarnates.
Katara took over. "Long ago, the four nations live together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the fire nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements could stop them. But when he was needed most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I found Aang. He may be excellent in air bending, but he still had a lot to learn before he could save anyone. But I knew then and now, he can save the world"
"Wait wait wait... So you're the Avatar?" I asked, shocked. Grey eyes looked at me with those eyes that seemed to fill with childlike happiness. But now then I noticed something under those covers of innocence. It held a thousand lifetimes worth of wisdom.
"So, I was found by Katara and Sokka at the south pole. Together, on my flying bison, we went around the world to search for a teacher to teach me all the elements. Katara was my water bending teacher, Toph earth bending and Zuko is fire bending, Sokka, Suki and Mai did help us much in our journey" Aang got cut off as Sokka screamed "The Gaang! The most awesome gang heard in the history of gangs!"
"Well" Aang continued "I defeated the firelord finally, but I know it is wrong to take away a life. Both him and his daughter is too dangerous to be left in our world, where there is little technology. So with the help of the moon spirit, she sent us here to keep the prisoners. I had taken away the firelord's bending, so I doubt he will be of much threat. But I kind of worry about his daughter. Since their defeat, her daughter, Azula, has gone psychotic. But to make sure, we installed this safety precaution to make sure she does not hurt us if she breaks out before we can plan out something to catch her"
It still feels weird to be casually standing in front of heroes of a world. They just seem so... Normal. I think I'm suppose to cheer or scream or generally be excited by their presence, but all I can feel is how useless I am. Just a regular kid. How useless.
After their story, Aang, Katara and Toph led me through uncountable number of hallways, twist and turns so many I got a headache trying to remember. We reached a room which has a swimming pool in it. Wow, that's awesome. Beside the pool is just plain space. About the size of the living room, which means humongous. They demonstrated bending an we talked about random stuff. Katara and Aang went out of the room a while later to do generally what couples do. Toph showed me all the rooms, the kitchen, the training hall, the bedrooms, guest rooms etc. Though there was one room in which she did not allow me to go. I wonder what it has, but my fear of losing Toph's trust ruled over my curiosity. The rest of the day was spent with me and Toph hanging out. We talked, laugh and played around. We even figured out a way of combining both her metal bending skills and my art skills to make a portrait of me and her together. I just trace my finger on the metal and she can sense and make an imprint on it.
Well, night fell and I had to go home. We waved goodbye as I reluctantly trudged back home. A random passerby asked me for directions. Hmm... It is weird that there would be a person to go visiting a rich person in this hour, considering she asked where the street I walked out from is, which is the street for rich people. But little did I know that this girl, is the Azula from the story.