The story starts up 2 months later as Summer draws to a close, and Autumn is approaching.
Thank you all again for your comments and support!
Book 4 – Air
Chapter 3 – Union
The changing of seasons was not something that affected the Fire Nation, it was always hot, and the weather was always similar, warm days and cool evenings, but on occasion they could get fierce storms. Tonight was one such night, lightning was filling the night sky, the winds were howling, and the rain was falling fast, as if each drop was racing to the earth.
He was standing on a shielded balcony, looking off into the distance. His mind was still on his last conversation with his father. He had the information he needed. He looked back at the map in his hands, after so many years of travelling in the Earth Kingdom, to never know that she may be there. It was a start. He knew where to start his search. Suddenly he heard a voice from behind him.
"I've always liked thunderstorms," Mai said in her usual tone as she stepped onto the balcony. She walked up next to Zuko, and placed one of her arms on his shoulder and the other on his waist.
Zuko was pulled back to reality and turned his face towards her, "I thought you didn't like anything?" He said playfully.
"Well I like you," she said smiling,
"And I like you too," Zuko only half smiled though, his thoughts were still on his mother.
"What's the matter Zuko?" Mai questioned.
"It's about my mother," he started, "I have some new information about where she was taken, but I'm torn between what to do, I want to find her, but I can't abandon my duties as Fire Lord." Mai let out a yawn.
"Well we are leaving to go to the Earth Kingdom tomorrow aren't we?" she said. Zuko nodded his head without replying. "Well there's your answer, after we meet with the Earth King and King Bumi, we'll set out to find your mother."
"Well I would argue with you and say you should come back here, but I know that's pointless." Zuko said smiling at Mai.
"Finally you're starting to get it," she flashed him a devilish smile, "Now come back inside."
Zuko followed her into their bed chambers, at least for tonight, he would think of nothing else but her.
He was worried about leaving his tea shop, but Iroh had taught his entire staff well and was sure that things would be fine upon his return to Ba Sing Se. He had been called away for business in Omashu, as a favour for King Bumi, who was he to refuse a request of a fellow White Lotus member. The meeting was merely a ruse for a get together of White Lotus members, their only serious topic, was how to recruit more members and young members at that. Despite his lack of understanding, Iroh said that he would ask his nephew if he would be interested in learning their ways, he knew that Zuko didn't have much faith in them, but he was still going to try. The day before he was to leave, Iroh received a messenger hawk with a note that read: Dear Uncle, I am going to be landing in the Earth Kingdom, and would like you to meet us, Zuko. Attached with the note was a map of where he would be landing.
Iroh set off on his journey the next day, Bumi had offered to travel with him, but Iroh declined and said he would like to travel by himself. It was nearing nightfall, when he heard some noise in the bushes. He stopped and called out,
"Hello? Is anyone there?" After a few moments with no response, he shrugged and dismissed the noise as an animal. After a few steps 4 figures jumped out from the shadows and had him surrounded on all sides.
"Hand over all your money Fire Nation scum," Said a tall, well built teenager.
"Now why do you think I'm from the Fire Nation?" Iroh said calmly. After that comment he could tell they relaxed a little but still held their weapons firmly. "You all seem a little young to be travelling by yourselves."
"Wait I know you," said the girl in the group she was holding two daggers, "We saw you on the boat to Ba Sing Se."
"It's nice to see you again, SmellerBee was it? And Longshot, nice to see you again." Iroh did remember these two individuals, "And who are your other friends?"
"My name is Pipsqueak, and this here is The Duke." Said the big teen, as he pointed out a short boy with a helmet on.
"Someone else is coming," The Duke said. They were all about to go and hide when Duke said, "No wait it's that lady again."
As the lady came into view, Iroh could see that she was a slender lady, with black hair, and had a warm face.
"It looks to me like you've made a new friend kids." The lady said.
"We've met before," SmellerBee said, "Do you need any help?" She went to move beside the lady to grab a few of her packages.
"That would be nice. So would your new friend like to come for supper?" She had turned towards Iroh smiling.
"It would be my pleasure to dine with you all this evening, and my name is Iroh."
"Pleased to meet you Iroh, my name is Jin"
They all walked to Jin's home which was up a hill and surrounded by trees, it was a good cover as the trees were thick and the smoke from her fireplace rarely made it above the trees and with the help of the new Freedom Fighters, they were able to divert the smoke away. They had a wonderful supper, all exchanging stories, how they met back up, and how the new group was working to help stop rebellions and keep the forests clear of trouble. At one point Iroh did ask them about their other companion he had met back in Ba Sing Se, all the kids looked to the floor with heavy eyes.
"I'm sorry to bring that up, my apologies," Iroh said.
"It's ok, we're all just glad that he was able to move on not being under some Dai Li spell or full of anger." Longshot said.
They all held up their glasses and made a toast to their lost leader, Jet.
Jin insisted that Iroh spend the night, and wouldn't hear any of his objections to the matter. Iroh accepted but said he would have to leave in the morning as he was meeting his nephew in a few days.
"What is your nephew's name?" Jin asked Iroh.
"His name is Zuko, and he is the new Fire Lord." Iroh said while making some tea.
"What happened to Fire Lord Ozai? Was he killed?" Jin questioned.
"No he wasn't killed, he was in a fight with the Avatar, and the Avatar took away his bending, he is in prison now." Iroh said calmly.
"You must be proud of your nephew for becoming the new Fire Lord." Jin added.
"He is still young, but he will make an excellent ruler." Iroh said as he poured them both some tea. "So, tell me about yourself..." They both continued to talk for a few hours before both going to bed. Morning came early and Iroh said his goodbyes and informed the Freedom Fighters of where he was going and they asked to accompany him. He accepted.
Jin watched them leave and after they were all out of sight went back into her house. There was a note on the table addressed to her. She opened it and it read:
It was great to see you after such a long time, Ursa. Your son is looking for you, but I will not tell him where you are.
She fell to her knees and was crying, but they were tears of joy, not sadness, she had a feeling that he knew but thanked him for not saying anything. There was a map that was left with the note, it pointed out a landing site, and a date when he would land.
The voices in her head came and went, but it didn't matter, they were all certain of one thing, escape. Azula was trying to plot out the movement of the guards but when she seemed to know how a guard acted, they would change. It was maddening. The meals were sub standard and no one ever came to visit; No one, except the voices. When her cell opened she strained her ears as best she could and was able to overhear a conversation between two guards.
".....landing.....few days......Earth Kingdom......city.......Union..." Try as she might she was unable to focus on their words but just as her door was about to close she heard the words "....Fire Lord....speech..." So Zuko was taking a trip away from the Fire Nation. Then came the same voices but now they were whispering, but she could still make out a few words,
"Heard.....rumors....news.....about the Queen."
What? He had found out about mother, but how? She then thought to herself, oh father, I see losing your bending has made you weak, you caved and told him what he wanted to know, why? Out of love? Such a silly emotion, just like trust. She had all the information she needed. She would spend a few more days, plotting her escape.
"Why would you wait a few more days," said a voice in the darkness, "Now is the perfect time to strike, you just had your meal, and you know it will be another few hours before they come back, besides by the time news got out of your escape Zuko will be either in the air or at sea."
Out of all the voices and images in her head this was the one that she listened to the most, it had no body, only a set of glowing yellow eyes that would appear when she needed comfort. It was right, she must make her escape, she had to find her mother before Zuko, and with that she would use her to regain the throne, and kill anyone who stepped in her way. She inhaled deeply and started to separate the positive and negative energy in her body. She was unable to do the movements, but no matter, she would try something different. She felt the energy moving through her body and she directed it towards her mouth, she opened her mouth and there was a loud crack and lighting escaped from her mouth and hit the wall then rebounded to her shackles, they came loose, she had control of her arms once more. Now just her leg shackles, she used her hand to melt the chains, she would worry about the shackles later.
Guards were running to her cell, just as they were about to open the door, the door started to glow red hot, and it flew off of its hinges, fire started to emanate from the room and started to consume the hallway. All the guards could hear was a hysterical laughter, and a shadowy figure moving towards them.
"Ready or not Zuko, here I come!"
These past few weeks had been memorable for Toph, she was able to work on her relationship with her parents, mainly with her dad, he was starting to be able to let her go, and he was able to see past her being blind. As much as he was learning about her, Toph learned about her dad as well. They had a similar childhood, he was head strong, and tough, and they had the same sense of humour. Even after many years of not using it, Toph was starting to bring it back out of her dad. Her mother was trying but since she was a tom boy and an earth bender they didn't share a lot in common. They did go to a spa one day, she had asked Katara to come but on the day she was mysteriously busy. The only thing that got to Toph was now that she was a hero, her mom wanted to pair her up with someone.
"What about the Avatar, you are both close in age, and he seems like a nice boy." Toph's mom said.
"Eww, no way mom, Aang's like my brother," Toph said with a disgusted look on her face, "Besides he's locked at the hip with Katara." Toph said with a snicker.
"Oh, well in that case what about that other boy in the group, he's a little odd, but seems to be a fine warrior." Toph's mother asked.
"Oh, you mean Sokka.... yeah well me and him.... we're friends and all..." Toph wasn't sure why she was stammering.
"So you do have a thing for him," Toph's mother started, "Well we should go out and find you a nice dress to wear when we get back."
"I don't like dresses mom, I like what I wear, and I want a guy to like me as I am." Toph said with a stern tone.
The rest of the afternoon wasn't terrible, but it consisted more of her mother trying to get her to wear more girly clothes, she had tried to get more information out of her about Sokka, but Toph wanted to avoid that topic, especially after what happened in the barn.
They were approaching the Bei Fong estate, when Toph noticed Aang in the garden.
"I'll see you for dinner mom. I need to talk to Aang." With that she hopped out of the carriage and set off towards Aang.
Aang was sitting in the garden, eyes closed, meditating, suddenly he felt the vibrations through the earth, he pushed himself from the ground using air bending just in time for a rock to shoot up out of the ground where he had been sitting.
"Good work Twinkle Toes." Toph said moving towards him.
"Well you taught me everything you know," Aang said as he glided back to the ground still with his eyes closed.
"Ok enough with the showing off," Toph said as she punched him in the arm.
"Ow, so what's up Toph? Have a good day with your mom?" Aang said now rubbing his arm.
"It was alright, although she wouldn't stop trying to pair me up with guys from around here or you and Sokka." Toph said as she lay down on the grass.
As the word Sokka came out of her mouth, Aang knew something was up, "Alright Toph, what's the matter?"
"Nothing! Why would something be up?" Toph tried to avoid the question.
"Now I can tell you're lying!" Aang quickly said back in a matter of fact tone.
"Ok fine you caught me. I've got a crush on Sokka, there, you happy now?"
Aang could tell that she was serious, and sat down next to her and put his arm on her shoulder, "What's the matter? You can tell me."
Toph spent the next few minutes pouring out her feelings to Aang, how she liked Sokka, and found him handsome even though she couldn't see. How she was torn because Suki also liked Sokka, and he only seemed to have eyes for Suki. Aang started to speak.
"The monks always told me that attachment was like a dance. If both partners are in sync the dance is flawless, but if both partners are hearing different music, the dance will fall apart."
Toph thought about what he had said, and it was true, she started to realize that they were too different, and that if Sokka was happy with Suki, then she should be happy too. On the bright side, they could still hang out and be friends. Toph stood up and said,
"Don't you dare tell him or Suki of this, or I'll break your legs Twinkle Toes!" They both laughed and she turned around, she took one step but she stomped on the ground sending a ripple of earth to a nearby bush. A figure was tossed into the air and landed beside Aang, "The same thing goes for you Sugar Queen." Toph half looked back and had a smile on her face.
"Sorry Toph, I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Katara started but Toph just waved her off, and walked back to the house.
This was their last night at the Bei Fong estate, only a few days ago they had received word from Zuko about his trip to the Earth Kingdom and that he had requested their presence on his arrival. While it was nice to have some peace and quiet, word from around the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation were of rebels, and small skirmishes that continued to rage on. The only problem was now they seemed to be getting increasingly violent. There was talk of something big that was going to be announced at this meeting but no one knew about what. The meeting was taking place at the very site where Ozai's Airships had scarred the land.
Morning came and everyone was getting the last of their gear together, Toph was the first up and packed and was sitting in Appa's saddle waiting for everyone else.
"Come on people chop, chop, let's get the earth out of your pants!"
Mr. And Mrs. Bei Fong came to wish everyone goodbye, they were sad to see everyone leave, except for Sokka and Appa who both seemed to have a bottomless pit for a stomach. They stayed at the entrance to their home waving as Appa took off into the sky. They were both a bit hurt that Toph hadn't given them a hug before she left but just as they were almost out of sight. Toph was looking back at them and gave them each a wave goodbye.