A/N – I'm sorry for the long delay between chapters folks but I just want to make sure I can keep this story interesting rather than just pumping out chapters every week. I thank everyone who is still here and for their patience!
Book 4 – Air
Chapter 7 – The Order
Bumi had led Sokka and Aang away from the camp and into a smaller camp ground. Sokka recognized the tents, they were all from the Order of the White Lotus. They approached a large tent that was centered in the middle of the camp ground. As they entered they all saw familiar faces: Pakku, Piandao, Jeong Jeong, Iroh, and Zuko. Iroh smiled at the new comers and said: "Ah it looks like we're all here, now we can begin." Sokka, Aang, and Bumi took the open seats and waited to see what this was all about.
"As you know we are all part of an ancient and secret society," Iroh started "As you also know and have pointed out on numerous occasions we are all old." Bumi started to laugh and snort. Iroh smiled and turned back to the three young men. "We would like to induct you three into the order, we need new members that are strong, smart and those that can transcend the nations."
Aang looked towards Sokka, than Zuko, he turned back and said to the men sitting in front of him, "We are honoured at your request and we would like to join the order." All of the old men smiled, they were happy that they didn't refuse.
They all split into smaller groups, where they would learn about the order. Sokka wasn't quite happy about learning more information, but felt it would help him become a better leader. Bumi had pulled Aang aside and handed a small bag. "What is it Bumi?"
"Just open it and you'll see." Bumi replied.
As Aang opened the bag a Pai Sho tile fell into his hand, it was a White Lotus tile. Aang had a confused look on his face and Bumi said, "I bet you're wondering why I would give you this, well it belonged to a friend of yours."
Aang's eyes began to water, it belonged to Gyatso. "But how did you..."
"After you left the Air Temple, and before the war began," Bumi said, "Gyatso came to Omashu and gave me the tile, but now since you're here I think you should have it." Aang hugged Bumi and thanked him for the gift. As they entered the room, he saw Sokka transfixed on scrolls and Zuko was sitting at a Pai Sho table with his uncle.
Iroh called out for Sokka and Aang, "Now there are many of us around the world, and the easiest way to see if you have found another member is to play a game with them." Zuko smirked he had witnessed this before, but at the time he never fully paid attention to what they were doing. With a lot of practice and multiple tries each of them were able to learn how to make the White Lotus with the tiles on the board.
"You three are by far the quickest studies we have ever witnessed." Piandao said.
"But you still have much to learn." Pakku interjected.
"Even though you three are only initiates if you take the order seriously you can progress quickly through the ranks," Jeong Jeong said.
"But this isn't a contest, we all work together." Bumi cut in.
Time had passed quickly for all of them, it had been two days, but it only felt like hours. They were each given scrolls as to learn more about the order and what they would have to do, but the masters believed that they should learn it on their own. As they were walking back to the camp Sokka yelled out, "Hey if we can hurry we can meet up with the girls and Earth Rumble Seven!"
"I should probably let my advisors know..." Zuko stared, but then he grinned slyly, "But where's the fun in that?"
Aang laughed, he pulled out his bison whistle and was about to blow into it when the all heard a loud thud behind them, and Aang felt a warm, and wet tongue lick him. "Appa, you were waiting for us weren't you?" Appa let out an acknowledging grunt, they hopped on top of Appa. "Yip, Yip." As they took the sky, Aang felt as if something was watching him, as he looked around he saw nothing, but for some reason the tile he had in his pocket seemed to be warm, he could almost feel as if Gyatso was there with him.
As they approached the cave where Earth Rumble was to take place they all noticed a long line. "Well it seems it's gotten a lot more attention now that the war is over." Suki said. They walked into a clearing around the cave to see that there wasn't just one line but two, one was for admission, and the other was to register for the tournament. There was a sign up that said Benders Only Allowed to Register. Both Suki and Mai let out a sigh of disappointment, but went to the admission line and waited with the rest of the crowd. Mai and Suki started to share different attack strategies. While the Freedom Fighters were trying to find a way to sneak into the cave.
Katara received a quick punch to her arm, "Come on Sugar Queen, let's get registered." Katara looked back and Toph and said,
"Just you wait until we're in the ring, I'll get you back for that." They both laughed and waited in the line, they saw a lot more faces than last time. Also there was some men from the Northern Water Tribe, and some men and women from the Fire Nation, but everyone here didn't seem to mind them at all, which was nice to see. As they reached the front of the line and older Earth Kingdom man, saw Toph, "I see the Blind Bandit has come back." Toph smirked and nodded. He waved Toph through, and then said to Katara, "And your name is my dear?"
"Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe."
"Well that's not an interesting fighting name." The old man replied. Then from around the corner came a voice.
"Just call her Sugar Queen." Toph said snickering
"Alright, done!" The old man said with a big smile. Katara was angry, but she decided that it would be much sweeter if she could beat Toph.
The matches were set up that each participant would receive a number, after your initial match if you won you would proceed to fight the winner of the fight before or after you. The first rounds consisted of sixteen fights, and both Toph and Katara won their fights. Then it was the second round. Toph was matched against a fire bender, which proved to be a bit more of a challenge, he was quick and agile and was able to avoid most of Toph's attacks, but Toph was able to form quick sand under his feet and when he was trapped, she lifted a piece of rock with him in it out of the ring. Toph missed the roar of the crowd.
Katara's second match was against another water bender. Katara estimated that he was in his late twenties, he was tough looking, but what he had in muscle he lacked in his bending, Katara was easily able to redirect his attacks. In a move of desperation he was able to bend all of the water around the ring to his side, he was trying to make it so she had nothing to bend. Katara let out a small smile and she remembered what Hama had taught her, she made some flowing moves with her arms and hands and was able to pull water from the air, she formed it into and ice ball and shot it at the other bender, knocking him out of the ring. The crowd cheered loud enough that the cavern started to shake.
Both Katara and Toph would have to win their next match to make it to the finals. Toph had the first match of the semi finals, and she was pit against a water bender. Since Toph could only feel how the other person was doing it was always hard to tell where the water was exactly in relation to her. She was fighting a female water bender, and her opponent knew to try and take out Toph fast, she shot multiple water blasts towards Toph, but Toph knew this was a distraction but had a plan, she acted like she was falling for the trap, and when she was in position the female bender formed an ice ball much like Katara's save it was bigger and shot it towards Toph. Toph was able to whip up some cover, but as the ice ball entered the smoke the crowd hears a noise as if someone was hit by the ball, and all they saw was something fly out of the dust cloud, it looked as if Toph had lost. The female bender was about to start cheering when from behind her Toph popped out of the ring. "Surprise!" Toph said giggling, she quickly moved her hands in a quick jab and was able to slide the bender out of the ring. As Toph left the ring she looked over at Katara and said, you better win, Sugar Queen I want a match with you." Katara was about to say something when a mean looking Fire Nation man stood in front of Toph.
"Well you're just going to have to wait until next year, because she's never getting by me!"
Toph just waved her hand at the man and said, "Yeah sure whatever you say."
One of the new additions to the arena was that they made a skylight so the dust had a place to escape and for fresh air to come in, the sun had set and the moon was out and almost full tonight. As Katara entered the ring, she could feel the moon's glow, but it was nothing like when the moon was full. As her opponent stepped up she saw that his body was covered in scars, he was most likely a soldier, one that liked to get close to the action. The bell rang and the match had begun. He quickly shot fire blast after fire blast at Katara. Luckily on the side lines other benders were stopping his blasts from hitting the crowd, he seemed to be wild and shooting without aiming. Katara was easily able to avoid his attacks, but just as she was about to attack, something landed at her feet, it was smoke bomb, it went off right into her face. Katara was struggling for air to breathe, coughing and gasping. She was able to make it into a clear part of the ring, but it was right by her opponent, he was laughing and had a fire ball ready in his hands, Katara knew she shouldn't but he had to be taught a lesson. She breathed in deeply and took her stance, he was about to release the fire ball when it extinguished and his hand turned back on itself.
"What's going on! I can't control my own body." The man said.
Katara was still standing and was able to make the man dance off the ring. Once he had control over his body he was about to shoot a fire blast at Katara, but he was subdued by the guards on hand. As she left the ring, she heard Toph's voice, "Well he definitely deserved that, no weapons are allowed in these fight, just promise one thing."
"What's that?" asked Katara.
"Don't use blood bending on me." Toph said with a bit of worry in her voice.
"Don't worry, Toph, I only use that on really bad people." Katara said heart fully.
There was an hour break from the last fight until the final match, they were able to meet up with Suki and Mai, and The Duke was there too.
"Congratulations you two, those were some impressive bouts you had." Suki said.
"It's just too bad they won't allow non benders in, we could still show you a thing or two." Mai interjected with a slight smirk on her face.
"I just overheard two officials talking," The Duke said, "It sounds like they might try it next time, that or they may just have two kinds of tournaments, one for benders and one for non benders."
"I think that would be great, it'd be nice to actually watch one of these instead of compete." Toph snickered.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" A voice said from behind them.
"Sokka!" screamed Suki
"Aang!" screamed Katara
"Hey Zuko..." Mai said dully.
They all laughed save for Zuko who looked down that was until Mai, walked over to him and gave him a big kiss. "Stop being so moody, you know I missed you." Zuko wrapped his arms around her. "You always know how to make me feel better." He said.
"Wow, that's amazing Katara!" Aang replied in news of her achievements. "I thought that you didn't like to blood bend though?"
Katara looked down at her feet, "At first I felt so disgusted with myself for knowing such a technique, but there are some advantages, stopping someone attack someone I love..." She was about to continue, but Aang placed a hand under her chin and pulled her face towards his and kissed her.
"I'm just glad that he didn't hurt you, and I'm happy to hear that you are willing to use the technique still, maybe you could show me?" Aang said with puppy dog eyes. Katara laughed and hugged him tighter. "I don't see why not" she said.
The hour was up and it was time for the final match, the rest of the group went back to their seats, while Katara and Toph took to the ring.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Xin Fu said, "This is what you've been waiting for, our final match!" The crowd applauded and cheered, Sokka was quickly able to get into the mood and he was cheering louder than most.
"Come on Sis, show her what you can do!" Just as he finished he was pulled into the ground up to his neck. "Um... You can do it Toph..."
"In this corner I give you the Blind Bandit!" The crowd cheered loudly even being away she still had loyal fans. "And in your other corner I give you Sugar Queen!" The crowd was split in two, some were still cheering and others were laughing, including Toph.
"I'm going to get you for that one Toph!" Katara said forcefully.
"Oooh I'm shaking in my shoes... oh wait I don't wear shoes." Toph said mocking her.
The bell sounded and the match began, Katara was quick to shoot several water blasts around Toph. Toph countered with several rock chunks, as Katara's water blasts landed on the ring floor, she blew out and turned it into ice, Toph quickly lost balance but was able to stay up and bring up some rock to break up the ice around her.
"Nice try sweetness, but you'll have to do more than..."Toph couldn't get the last part out as she was hit with a small ice ball on her shoulder.
"I told you I would pay you back for that!" Katara yelled out.
Aang and Sokka started to cheer louder.
Toph stomped the ground and the ring floor started to shake, she was going to try and shake Katara off, Katara was able to pull some water and shot it at her feet, Toph dodged but the rumbling subsided.
Toph had a trick up her sleeve though, she quickly made another dust cloud and made it cover the entire arena, it was a cheap move but she wanted to win. She was underneath the ring and could feel Katara walking around trying to find her.
"Just a, little... bit further." Toph thought.
As Katara walked into position Toph shot up from the ground, she was planning on catching Katara off guard, but something was wrong, her entire body was encased in ice. Katara was quick to throw the ice cube out of the ring.
The crowd roared with excitement. "Your new champion, Sugar Queen!" Xin Fu yelled out.
Toph got up from the ground and walked over to Katara, "How did you know I was going to be there?"
"Well you said not to use blood bending on you, but I was still able to tell where you were because of it." Katara answered.
"Impressive, well a bet's a bet, I guess I better go and buy some warm boots." Toph said and she made her way to the change room.
Aang was quick to go over and congratulate Katara, with more than just words, luckily Sokka wasn't able to say anything as he was preoccupied with Suki.
It was my first day as a prison guard, I was on the floor above where they are keeping Ozai, and it's been a quiet night, nothing to report. I was in for a surprise though. At about one in the morning I heard some commotion and some fire blasts, and then it came. a horn asking for assistance. There were a bunch of us running, the horn came from the floor below me, and someone was trying to escape. As we reached the floor, cells were broken open and blood was leading out from each. Someone was killing the inmates but why? As we approached Ozai's cell we heard a crazy laugh from behind us. We were all hit by a powerful blue blast. I was sent to a far corner.
I was barely able to open my eyes and I saw someone open up his cell, four quick blasts were shot out and after a few seconds he walked towards the figure, it bowed and said, "Welcome back father."
There was blood in my throat I coughed, I wish I hadn't, they both looked at me and the last thing I saw was a blue fire ball heading towards me.
Some first day.