Sorry guys! Ive been caught up in College app's and what not. I have a nice break for thanksgiving so expect another chapter or two and a one-shot possibly. Also I've decided I'm going to extend the chapters a bit so as to get a better fill and more detail and so it wont be 100+ chapters. Probably between 4000-6000 words now. Anyways, on with the awaited chapter!
Chapter 5: Two in One Day
Everyone jumped, Aang quickly turned serious. "Let's go. We can't let them get away, who knows what kind of trouble they could cause." Everyone nodded and took off quickly towards the front gate to the courtyard.
Two Dai Li agents appeared in the opening. Toph moved quickly and broke the rock armor hands and feet the Dai Li always carried. Aang followed up Toph's attack and froze the two agents is a solid block of ice, preventing them from moving at all.
The group flowed past them leaving the disabled Dai Li agents to be contained by the oncoming swarm of guards. Appa rolled back over as the group approached him and Aang quickly jumped into the saddle, fetching his staff. "I'll search the east side and then move south. You guys check the west side, meet back at the palace if you capture any of them. And make sure someone checks the prison, there may still be a few there."
Aang spun his staff, quickly deploying the hidden wings and handles with his bending. Sokka nodded as he commanded Appa into the air, Bumi and Iroh remained behind to check the palace.
Iroh and Bumi ran quickly into the catacombs below the palace, checking the cells. Most of the Dai Li agents were still contained, but about six or seven managed to escape. Iroh walked into the last empty cell, he looked around to find no one inside. He sighed, his head down.
King Bumi rambled over to Iroh, clearing out some of the awkward rock formations the Dai Li used to fight their way out. "Did you find anything?" he asked hopefully.
Iroh turned, "No, nothing." He walked out of the cell and looked down the hallway. "Why would only six escape though? Wouldn't they free the other agents as well?"
"Yes that is quite puzzling…" Bumi continued.
"Let's go help the others find the agents." Bumi nodded at Iroh and followed him down the hallway quickly. A stream of guards flooded down past them as they returned to the surface.
Several minutes passed and Aang returned from his search. "Did you find anything in the cells?" Aang asked trying to clue together any possible pieces of the puzzle.
"Nothing, but only six of the agents escaped. All the others remain detained in their cells." Iroh answered.
"Hmm. That is strange… Anything else?" Aang asked hopefully. Iroh shook his head.
"There!" Suki called out, pointing down towards two Dai Li agents riding a wave of rocks out of the wall. Sokka quickly guided Appa down, landing a short ways in front of the agents. Zuko was the first one off, followed quickly by Toph and Suki then the rest of the Gaang.
Zuko quickly initiated the duel with a fierce fireball that ripped apart the ball of earth the agents rode, sending them flying into the ground just in front of Toph and Zuko. Toph, again, broke the rock armor the Dai Li wore.
The two agents jumped back quickly avoiding several fireballs fired by Zuko. They built a large wall between the group and themselves, but it was quickly demolished by Toph and another fire blast from Zuko. Toph charged after the agents who tried to take advantage of the wall's delay and quickly caught up with them as she returned the favor with a large wall in the faces of the Dai Li.
Katara rushed up and froze one to the wall as he stumbled to recover himself while the other agent continued to try to make a break for it. But he was cornered by a wall of fire from Zuko and was forced to backtrack to the wall once again.
The group encircled him against the wall, "Surrender now!" Zuko yelled angrily.
The agent looked up at him; a wry smile struck his face. The agent quickly bended himself into the ground and tried to travel underneath the group to escape, but Toph could still feel where he was underground and launched him out and against the wall with a loud grunt.
Katara used her remaining water to freeze the Dai Li agent to the wall next to the other. Zuko melted the ice against the wall so they could move the captured agents and Katara bended them up to Appa's saddle. The group climbed back onto the saddle and started back to the palace with the agents pulled along with some help of Katara's ice bending.
Zuko questioned the prisoners, but to no avail. They didn't reveal anything, event their faces remained completely expressionless. Zuko's temper flared as they refused to talk, he continued to yell at them, demanding answers. "How did you escape? Where are you planning on going?"
He was once again met with blank stares and silence. He shied away growling angrily. "It's no use Zuko, they won't talk." Katara met his anger.
Zuko looked away again, "I know. I've dealt with the likes of them before."
Suki looked between Katara and Zuko, "Maybe Aang could contact Kyoshi? Didn't she start the Dai Li? Maybe she could help stifle their rebellion." Suki suggested.
"I don't know if it would work, but it's certainly worth a shot." Sokka joined in. "Tell Aang as soon as we land."
Appa set down on the stone court yard in the palace nearby Aang and Iroh. Katara bended the two captured agents down as the rest of the group jumped off and walked over to Iroh and Aang. Suki walked up to Aang and suggested talking to Kyoshi.
"Hmm. That is a good idea; maybe she could provide us some insight into their background so we can get a better understanding of why they choose different alliances other than Ba Sing Se like they had originally sworn to." Aang agreed.
A messenger ran up to Aang, "Avatar, we have captured another Dai Li agent trying to escape. He is contained and being brought back as we speak. The prisoner should be here in a few minutes."
Aang nodded and the guard ran off. "Well that makes three that are still loose."
"Six escaped?" Sokka asked confused.
"Yes, only six escaped. The rest remain detained in their cells along with Long Feng." Iroh answered.
"That's strange, why only six? Wouldn't they all break out if they did try to get out?" Sokka questioned.
"It is weird, but maybe they didn't have time to break the rest of them out so they escaped for their own sake." Aang replied.
A carriage with a metal box rolled up into the court yard. Two guards kicked the container off onto the ground with a loud clang. Toph turned around to face the container, "Were those dents there before you captured him?" Toph demanded from the guards.
They looked at each other, "No they weren't."
Toph spun around quickly facing Aang, "See? It was only a matter of time before someone other than me developed metal bending skills! You need to remove his bending before he gets a chance to develop it anymore and use it against us!"
Aangs face contorted, "Removing peoples bending isn't something I can just do as I please, Toph!" he yelled, "I can't go parading around killing and taking peoples bending as I please! That's not how it works!"
Sokka repeated his already spoken comment before they attacked Ozai, "You're the Avatar, so yeah you can. I'm sure that the universe would forgive you."
Aang grew angry again, "No I can't Sokka! I have to maintain the balance of the world, and running around and killing people and removing peoples bending will certainly not help that!"
Katara moved to explain what Sokka meant but Zuko spoke before she did, "Aang, Sokka is right. You should remove his bending; we can't risk him developing metal bending any further and possibly spreading it to more Dai Li agents!"
"No! I won't remove his bending. He is not a misbalancing threat." Aang yelled back in response, ending the argument. "I will talk with Kyoshi and see if there is anything she has to suggest." His tone mellowing.
Everyone fell silent, not wanting to continue arguing with the Avatar. Even Katara refrained from interjecting his argument. The guards took the captured agents and returned them to their solitary confinement.
King Kuei appeared from his hiding, "I hear that you managed to capture three of the escapee's?"
"You heard right." Aang answered sourly.
Kuei ignored his attitude, "Well that's good that we at least caught some of them. What should we do about the others that escaped?"
Aang cut Sokka off, "Leave them. They will turn up." He took a deep breath, "Do you have a garden I can meditate in?"
Kuei nodded, "East of the Palace near the Royal Palace wall. I will have a guard show you the way."
"That won't be necessary." Aang cut sharply. He spun his staff, deploying his glider again and took off towards the garden. Zuko stared at him as he flew off and out of sight.
Aang flew over the garden looking for an open spot to meditate and contact Kyoshi. He found an open spot surrounded by pink rose trees and landed gently in the center. Aang set his staff in front of him and closed his eyes, focusing on moving into the spirit world.
His tattoos glowed and faded lightly as he managed to cross over. He opened his eyes and found himself in a large white marble hall. The ceiling arched a ways above his head accompanied by trusses of beautifully carved white marble. Aang turned his attention back to the ground; a large off white table of marble stretched the length of most of the hall. Dark red wood chairs lined the table every few feet. Several sets of candles and flowers littered the length of the table. He looked to the end where he saw the armored figure of Kyoshi sitting peacefully. He walked over quietly and sat in the chair nearby her.
"Hello Avatar Aang, what brings you?" she asked peacefully.
"I came inquiring about the Dai Li. As I understand it you started the agency to keep the peace and cultural prosperity of Ba Sing Se." Aang answered gently.
Kyoshi opened her eyes, "I did start them for that reason."
"Well now they seem to be the cause of much strife in the world, and in Ba Sing Se. I'm not sure what to do or how I could fix this." Aang bowed his head concernedly.
"Avatar Yangchen is right. You are a gentle spirit, but you must do what must be done to keep the peace and balance of the world. Avatar Koruk and Roku both made this mistake; they were not decisive and announced. You must solve this on your own; I cannot help you because you must learn this lesson before it is too late and because this is your time." Aang looked away but turned back as she resumed speaking, "You must make your actions and intentions clear to the world. They must know that you are committed to keeping balance and defending Katara."
Aang looked at her surprisingly, "How do you know about Katara?"
She smiled, "You forget that I can talk with the other avatars?"
"But I never told any of the other avatars about Katara either?"
"Oh right, and Guru Patik." She grinned lightly.
"Wait, you can talk with Guru Patik? But how?" Aang asked, confused. Kyoshi did not answer, she only smiled as Avatar Yangchen, Koruk, and Roku walked in from the dark hallway behind her.
"Hello Aang." Roku's familiar voice greeted softly.
"What's going on?"
"You should be asking her." Roku motioned gently to a vision floating lightly at the end of the table. The vision showed Aang meditating as he was in the spirit world and Katara walking up behind him. Aang turned back to Roku, "Listen to Kyoshi and Katara, Aang." He sat silently, glancing back over at the physical world through the vision. Katara put a hand on his shoulder with a small smile and sat next to him.
Aang got up and walked out quietly, not pleased with what Kyoshi told him once more. "Remember what I said Aang. You must be decisive. You must be keen and seen." Kyoshi echoed as he walked through the door where he first appeared.
Katara looked at Aang as he took a deep breath, returning from his spirit journey. She smiled as he slowly opened his eyes and turned to her, "So did you find out anything?"
"Just that I need to be decisive and keen, that I need to figure this out myself and without my past lives." he waved his hands in the air mockingly.
Katara's lips pursed, thinking if she should say something. She decided against pushing the topic, "So you think we shouldn't go after the agents?"
"I stand by what I said. If they become a problem they will show their faces again and we will deal with them." Aang said confidently.
Katara shrugged unnoticeably, something told her that the escaped agents would show up again. "So… now what?" Katara wondered aloud.
"Now we continue our plans as we had in the meeting." Aang helped Katara to her feet, "I'm going with Zuko to remove Azula's bending. I don't trust that she will not attempt to rebel."
"I get that feeling too. I want to come with you." she demanded airily.
"Okay!" he smiled happily, knowing that he would still be with her.
Aang followed Katara up the steps to the Jasmine Dragon as the sun started to set, meeting Zuko off to the side. "I'm going to come with you and remove Azula's bending. I don't trust that she will be contained as she is."
Zuko nodded, "Should we take Appa? He would probably be faster."
Aang hesitated but agreed, "Yes the sooner the better, let's leave tomorrow morning."
Zuko nodded and the three of them walked over to join the others at the large table on the right side of the Jasmine Dragon. Sokka sat with his arm draped around Suki's chair as Toph sat with a small cup of tea in her hand. Iroh walked in from the kitchen with several more cups of Jasmine tea. The group talked quietly about plans after Aang returned from removing Azula's bending and crafting her new prison.
Another guard ran up the steps towards the group. Aang felt him coming up the steps and rolled his eyes, grumbling, "Ugh, now what!"
The messenger walked up to Zuko and bowed. "Firelord Zuko, King Kuei demands your presence immediately in the war room."
Zuko frowned, "What for?"
"I don't know sir, he didn't say." the guard answered quickly.
"Fine." Zuko grumbled. He got up as the guard ran off and started towards his palanquin.
Aang followed behind him quickly, "I'm coming too." Aang suspected that something was up.
Zuko shrugged and climbed aboard his palanquin. Aang called Appa over and followed above Zuko as they made their way to the Palace war room.
Zuko walked him with Aang following shortly behind him. Kuei was surprised to see Aang but did not hide his displeasure that he showed up. "I got this from the mayor of one of your colonies just a few minutes ago." Kuei threw a scroll of paper across the war table to Zuko, a look of displeasure in his face other than that from Aang's presence.
Zuko read through it quickly with Aang reading over his shoulder, "What! This couldn't be from one of my mayors; they would never speak with such temper!" Zuko spat, his anger flaring. Aang remained quiet standing behind Zuko.
King Kuei glared at Zuko, "I trust that you will fix this quickly."
"Oh I will." Zuko answered bluntly. He turned sharply and walked out, tossing the scroll on the table. Aang stood silently for a moment before turning gracefully and followed behind Zuko. Aang's normal air bender pace caught up to Zuko quickly.
"What do you plan on doing to quell this?" Aang inquired, still only moderately concerned.
"I don't know yet, but he will move out of the city." Zuko fumed.
"Zuko, hold on a minute." Aang stopped him, "Don't start this way. Don't start this way, don't start as the new Firelord and role model of the Fire Nation with anger; you need to think about how you are going to approach this. Remember what your uncle said, you don't think things through before you do it." Aang consoled him.
Zuko stared at Aang for a minute, "You're right. I'll think about the best way to deal with it while we fly to the Boiling Rock." He said with a sigh, releasing some of his pent up anger.
Aang smiled lightly and encouraged Zuko to keep walking. "Good. Now off to better matters." Aang smiled.
Zuko stopped again, "Yeah sure… better." He looked at the floor, "Aang promise me something."
Aang was surprised by his tone but he stood by him, "Anything."
"Promise me that you will stop me if I turn into my father. Promise me that you will do whatever need be to keep me from being my father." Zuko stood quietly, still looking at the ground.
He looked into Aangs eyes as he absorbed what he said. Aang stepped over to the edge and leaned against the railing of the hallway and looked out through the stone arches over the city. Zuko turned, facing him as he walked to the edge. Aang looked down the face of the palace at the grass and stone a few feet below and spoke slowly, "The Avatar is tasked with keeping peace and balance with the world." He paused, looking back at Zuko. "I can promise you that Zuko." Aang gauged Zuko's response, but he didn't answer. Zuko stood pale and tall in the middle of the corridor as Aang continued to explain, "But I won't promise it to you because I know that you won't turn into your father, you would collapse on yourself before you turned into your father. So would Mai, even though I don't know her all that well I know that she wouldn't let you slip into that route so easily. The other thing is as your uncle said, you've been through so much strife that you have learned your own way of right and wrong and that is what you follow."
The friends stood in silence for several minutes as Zuko stared blankly at Aang, not knowing how to respond to Aang's reply. Aang stood looking over Zuko, gauging his reaction. Zuko opened his mouth but nothing came out. Aang laughed lightly trying to lighten the mood, "Come on, let's get going. We have to get up early tomorrow so we can have our little visit with Azula." Aang motioned for Zuko to follow him out.
Aang said goodnight to the others and walked into his room, shutting the door quietly and collapsing on his bed. He laid quietly thinking about the day, about the mayor who refused to move from the colony back to the fire nation, and about the escaped Dai Li agents. Someone knocked on his door, "What do you want?" Aang asked grumpily.
Sokka walked in, "I want to ask you something." He asked a little nervously.
Aang heard him quietly shut the door behind him, "Ask away." He said tired, wanting to get whatever it is over with.
Sokka stood next to his bed, "So ah… I am of age to ask Suki to marry me now. So I'm going to ask her tomorrow and when we get married I want you to be my best man."
Aang sat up quickly, "Really? You too?"
"Well yeah." He said a little confused, "Besides you're one of the few guys I know well enough. It's been months since I have been with any of the other guys at the South Pole so…"
Aang smiled, "I'd love to! Where are you thinking of getting married? Certainly not here?"
Sokka coughed, "Oh no not here. I hope we get married at home, the South Pole, at the end of next month. I want to get married fast in case something comes up, as it usually does." Aang froze. Sokka looked at him curiously. "What is it?"
"That's when Zuko and Mai are getting married."
"So?" Sokka questioned, not knowing Aang was asked the same question by Zuko.
"So, Zuko asked me to be his best man at his wedding with Mai at the end of next month already and I accepted." Aang argued.
"Oh… Well which one are you going to go to?" Sokka asked demandingly.
"Can't you move it? I mean Zuko already asked me and I would like to attend both of your weddings!" Aang asked hopefully.
Sokka stood firmly, "Well… I don't know. I don't think so, I've already told my dad and started setting things up."
Aang sighed, "Fine. We'll work something out." Sokka walked out and left Aang to his thoughts once again. He laid back in bed thinking quietly in the airy peace of his room, how was he supposed to attend both weddings if Sokka was going to be so stubborn? If neither of them changed their wedding day which one would he go to? Aang sat up and paced around the room quietly for several minutes before deciding that it was petty to think about it now.
Sokka closed Aangs door quietly and tip toed over to Katara's room. He knocked lightly. "Come in." Katara called lightly.
Sokka stepped inside and closed the door. Katara instantly looked displeased and resumed her attention on her hair. "I need a favor."
"Why should I give you one? You apparently can't give me one and give me some privacy when I'm with Aang." Katara answered sourly.
Sokka's face puckered, "Fine. Let me rephrase that. Give me moms necklace."
Katara spun around angrily, "Why the hell do you want it! It's all I have to remember my mother by!"
"She's my mother too! And I need it for something." Sokka answered meeting her ferocity.
Katara looked at him questionably, "You're going to ask her to marry you aren't you?" she reasoned.
"Give me the necklace, Katara!" Sokka demanded.
"So you are going to ask her!"
"Yes, I am! Now give me the necklace." Sokka yelled.
"Will you two shut up and go to bed!" Toph yelled angrily from the next room.
"Fine." her voice dropping. Katara took off her mother's necklace slowly. She held it in her hand looking upon it as hers for one last time. Sokka stood by the door waiting, she tossed it to him and he walked out. Katara stood from her chair and walked over to the bed, falling flat on her face in tears.
Sokka walked blindly past Aang who stood hiding in the shadowed corner next to Katara's door. He watched as Sokka stormed back into his room, slipping Kya's Betrothal necklace into his pocket unseen to Aang. Suki walked into the house waving goodbye to the visiting members of the Kyoshi warriors and walked into Sokka's room.
Aang slipped into Katara's room silently without anyone's noticing, even Katara's. He walked silently over to her where she was sobbing deeply into one of her pillows, the bed and pillows shimmered lightly in tears as he walked over. He sat on the bed carefully not to disturb her. Aang watched her cry for a minute. Somehow it wasn't just her, but it was him, and the rest of the world too. He was crying, it didn't show, but he was crying and he didn't know why. Katara felt Aang's hand rest gently on her shoulder and quickly sat up, ready to explode at the repeated intruder, tensing her fists ready to blow Sokka clean out of the house with a burst of water. She saw the gentle expression of Aang as she sat up, he was understanding even though he had not yet learned what Sokka took, and she melted again; Aang wrapped his arms around her as she wept into his shoulder.
Aang didn't know what was wrong with her, only that he needed to help her and to let her know that whatever the cause or reason he would be there to help. Aang slowly ran his hand up and down her back and to her neck. Her skin was still smooth despite her emotion, very smooth he thought, too smooth…. Aang realized that he took her necklace. Aang let her go slowly and she looked up at him, "Did he at least tell you?" Aang asked.
"No. I had to asked him." Katara choked out.
Aang looked up at the ceiling thinking, before he looked back to Katara, "You should be happy Katara, he is getting married. Your mother is still with you even though you don't have her necklace anymore." Aang grabbed her hands, "And I think I can make you another necklace, maybe not a betrothal, least not yet." Aang smirked.
Katara smiled weakly, "Thank you, Aang"
No one in the house heard the quiet sniffle of Toph, staring up into the empty void of the ceiling blindly.
So what do I have to do to get you guys to give me a review?
PS- In the future if I dont post a new chapter or one-shot or something I will update a notice on my latest chapter here and on my Profile so you all will have a better idea when to expect new material. That said, after thanksgiving I have a competition i must prepare for so i will not be as active until Cmas break.
NOT TO WORRY! I will continue writing more oneshots and stories. I extremely busy between ROTC competitions, Battlefield tournaments, and trying to get into air soft tournaments as well. This isnt even including the upcoming homework when i return from break. But i am still determined to finish!