-Inside the Jasmine Dragon-
A soft silence fell over the crowed teahouse as they soaked it in.
"Xi'an always walked a thin razors edge when it came to his anger. Rather than let his past go, he bottled it deep within him. Most times he could control it but after his exile he found it harder and harder to keep it contained and this time it got him into trouble" said Iroh
"But didn't his anger just save his life" asked Hui
"No, his anger helped him win the fight but put him in grave danger. Anger boils and flows the blood and with his injury that wasn't a good thing." explained Iroh
"But I thought Xi'an had the a piece of the crystal phoenix" said Hahn "The piece that granted immortality."
"He didn't know what he had, and even if he did, it wouldn't grant that gift without the other two pieces" said Iroh
"Well couldn't he get any help?" Asked Tai hopefully "What about the others?"
"Sokka and the girls were the other side of the forest following the plan. They had no idea the danger he was in.
"Looks like Xi'an failed his half of the plan." said Lan sadly
"Well, not quite..."
Chapter 11
-To The Spirit World-
Kip barked and nudged at Xi'an with his head, trying to wake him up with out any success. The pup whimpered in defeat as he laid his chin on his master. He knew Xi'an was in bad shape
The rustle of leaves and branches filled the air, caused Kip's rounded ears to stand up. Spinning around the small pup saw the huge form of Hei Bai walk into view. Compared to Kip the thing was a giant, about the size of Appa. But it didn't matter, Kip had no intention of letting this animal any where near Xi'an. Growling and barking at the spirit, the pup tried to get the animal to back away.
The Panda Spirit tilted it head slightly in confusion,why would one of his animal brothers protect one of these despicable hunters. Intrigued, the spirit gently pushed the puppy out of the way, making his way toward the unconscious young man. Taking his paw, he touched the boys head with one of his claws. He sensed a great deal of respect for the the forest in him. Never leaving his mark nor taking more than needed to eat. And his great deal of love for the little Pup
Noticing the boy was lying in a pool of ever growing blood , the spirit licked Xi'an's shoulder, the arrow wound closing it he did so. Turning the boy over on his back the spirit noticed the crystal around his neck. This must be the one Kyoshi sent him to find. The air shimmered around the three as Hei Bai took both to the spirit world...
The beautiful quiet Landscape of the eastern Air temple was a welcome sight. Nestled on three separate mountains was the beacon of air nomad architecture. The temple boasted amazing wonders, waterfalls ponds and a the largest flower garden anyone has ever seen. It was a place of peaceful solitude and calm reflection. At least it was...
"WHAT!" yelled Katara at the top of her lungs "Why didn't you tell us!"
"What was I supposed to say?" Aang yelled back "The people needed a symbol of hope, I couldn't be one if they knew I was getting weak"
"So you lied! To preserve your preserve your valuable image? said Katara angerly tears welling up in her eyes "I cant believe you'd be so selfish!"
Aang pulled her in for a hug, she struggled at first but Aang held her tight.
"I"m sorry Katara, I should have told you"
Your all I have left now" she said sobbing
"Don't say that...The others are alive, I know they are" said Aang
"Do you really believe that?"
Azula watched from afar as she made camp feeling a bit of jealousy. She had once felt things like that but it was so long ago the concept so alien to her. Still she wished there would be someone to hold her like that...Someone like him...
"UGH!" She thought angerly to herself "Emotions like that are nothing but signs of weakness. Father said it was so. I'm NOT weak ...I'm strong "
Vowing herself not to get trapped into the same cycle that Zuko did, she continued to work on her tent. Speaking of Zuko, she noticed the twins had him cornered probably annoying him to death. A small bit of fear entered her mind... He wouldn't turn them against her too would he?
"So, your Mei Li's brother, huh?" asked Ye
"Well her name is really Princess Azula" said Zuko "But yeah she my little sister"
"She's really a princess?" asked Te "So that makes you a prince then"
"Actually, I'm Firelord" said Zuko getting confusing looks from the girls "It kinda like a King"
"Oh!"said Te
"So, just out of curiosity" said Ye "If Azula were to marry someone like say, our brother, would that make us princesses too?"
"UH..I'm not exactly sure it works that way" said Zuko cocking a eyebrow "Why do you ask?"
"No reason" said the two sweetly,obviously up to something
"Zuko" Kang said with a serious expression on his face "Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind I speak to these two privately"
"Of course"
Azula turned her attention back to her tent. Being the favored princess, it was a new and humbling experience, work like this was considered far beneath her. She found herself yelling in frustration as it collapsed for the hundredth time. She finally lost it, blasting the uncooperative tent into oblivion.
"Well that showed it who's boss" smirked Zuko "It will never defy you again"
"Ah, my sulking brother made a funny" said Azula sarcastically over her shoulder "Who knew you had a sense of humor, Zuzu?"
"It's the company I keep" said Zuko "Spend time with my friends and it grows on you"
"Haha. Friends!" Azula laughed bitterly "Let me tell you about friends, they betray you and so does so called family"
"And you don't think you had anything to do with that?" said Zuko "After everything you've done?"
"It's all because of YOU!" said Azula "You took EVERYTHING!"
"Live in your delusions all you want" said Zuko "But for what it's worth I want to help you"
"It's worth nothing! I'll keep this little truce a bit longer only because it benefits me." said Azula walking away toward the gardens. "But when this is over, you and I will settle this once and for all."
Zuko looked in sadly as Azula disappeared into lush green garden. While not as paranoid, she held a lot of anger and resentment. He hoped it would not come to another Agni Kai.
"YOUR LYING!" yelling Te
"IT'S NOT TRUE!" yelled Ye
Zuko looked over to see the twins running toward him.
"Zuko! Tell Kang he's wrong..Tell him its not true!" Ye begged
"It cant be true. Mom was strong!" Te said sobbing
Zuko looked at Kang's sad eyes, he saw it was no was lie. Honestly it's heartbreaking..How do you tell them that their mom is never coming back?
"I'm sorry girls" Zuko said sadly
Wailing they both ran off leaving Kang and Zuko looking on in sadness. Zuko started to follow after them but was stopped.
"Let them go" said Kang "Let them grieve"
"Why did you have to tell them?" asked Zuko angrily "Was it really that necessary?
"If something bad happened to your mother,would you want to be lied to?" asked Kang as he walked away "It's better they know now rather than having their heart broken later"
"I still can't believe you did that Sokka" said Suki "It seems so...dishonest
"Hey, that was 9 hunters ago, besides the guy had it coming" said Sokka shaking the Noble's money pouch "If it makes you feel better, consider it a donation to the "K.U.F.F"
"K.U.F.F.?" asked Suki raising an eyebrow
"The Keep Us Fed Fund" smiled Sokka
"Besides, I think we deserve a little compensation for the mental distress the man put us through, isn't that right Appa?" said Toph "Bleah, I dont think I'm ever gonna forget that smell as long as I live!"
Appa snorted in agreement.
As they walked through the forest the group heard a loud -Snap- Appa lifted his foot to find a now shattered bow. Backing up the bison, Suki knelt down picking it up. Her eyes shifted to the ground as she saw a trail of blood leading deeper into the forest.
"This is not good guys..." said Suki "I think this is Xi'an's bow"
Following the trail their worries increased as the small drops grew bigger and bigger. Entering a clearing, why wandered onto a horrific scene. Sokka noticed a large puddle of blood, with drag marks leading into the woods. Nearby was a unconscious man encased in Earth, his face swollen and bruised. Looking closely Suki noticed it was the same man that Xi'an embarrassed in the restaurant.
"Hey!" yelled Sokka slapping the man across the face "WAKE UP!"
The Man stirred and groaned in pain. Opening his one good eye, the sight of the the little punks friends slowly focused into view. He laughed at looks of anger on their faces.
"AWWWW how cute!" the Man mocked "A skinny twerp and two little girls trying to look tough!"
"Where is our friend?" asked Suki darkly "What have you done with him?"
"If he's lucky, on the way to the spirit world complements of me" the man laughed "But more likely he was taken as a meal for a hungry beast"
"What did you do?" yelled Sokka
"The little punk disrespected me!" His insulted my honor and he got what he deserved! So when the Sage..." The man caught himself
"When the Sage what!" yelled Suki
The man said nothing. Suddenly the ground rumbled as two large sharp shards of earth formed out of the ground stopping just short at the mans throat as his eyes widened in fear.
"ANSWER THE QUESTION" demanded Toph slowly inching the the points closer
"The Sage offered me 20,000 gold to find your friend and kill him!" The man said quickly
"WHY!" asked Suki
"I don't know! He just said he wanted him gone and anything he had on him to brought back to him" said the man said
Sokka rubbed his chin deep in thought. Something didn't seem right about all of this.
"Hey Kid!" the man yelled at Sokka "How does it feel to let two girls fight your battles for you?"
Without any hesitation, the young water tribe boy cracked the huge man in the jaw knocking him out cold again. Toph then released him from his prison, letting him crash hard to the ground.
"What do we do now?" asked Suki
"We go back to the village" said Sokka "Something's not right"
"What about Xi'an and Kip? We cant just leave them here" said Toph
"I don't like it any more than you do, but theres nothing we can do." said Sokka
"So we just abandon them?" asked Suki
"No, we follow the plan. We all agreed if anything seemed funny we head back. Hopefully Xi'an will meet us at west gates at sunset, like he said he would" said Sokka
The three hopped into Appa's saddle. Looking around at the area it didn't seem likely that their friend could have survived. But after traveling with the avatar for so long, they knew that their most valuable commodity was a little thing called hope. That got them through anything , even when things looked their absolute worst.
"Sorry Xi'an" thought Sokka "Hopefully your alright"
"That so called Sage is gonna have a lot to answer for" said Toph
"Appa Yip Yip" said Sokka taking the reigns as the giant sky bison lifted into the sky
Azula wandered the great garden of the air temple, alone with only her thoughts. She had to admit it was beautiful, flowers of every kind as far as the eye could see surrounding a small lagoon that was feed by a small waterfall. She blushed slightly as she thought of it as a possible romantic place. To hold hands, swim while flirting, to maybe...share a kiss with him under a waterfall? She shook her head clear it of such idiotic thoughts, she tried that before on that vacation her father sent her on. What a waste of time... love is for fools.
Still she thought touching her bracelet, one could dream.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA" laughed a voice in her mind "Who'd have thought you of all people would be so sentimental. It would almost be cute if it wasn't so pathetic.
"Shut up! " said Azula softly "Shut up or I'll..."
"You'll what, Huh?" mocked the voice "Hurt me? Banish me? HAHAHAHAHA"
"You're not real... You're not real" said Azula
"Oh?" teased the voice "Believe me, I'm very real. It you who isn't...Mei Li"
Hearing a soft sound of sniffing and sobbing coming from nearby Azula went to investigate, pulling back a nearby rose bush. It was Ye, she was scratched up a bit from the thorns but other wise okay.
"Come here" Azula said gently "Are you okay?"
The little girl shook her head and looked at Azula with the most saddest looking red eyes.
"Leave her, she will only make you weak" the voice said
Ignoring the voice, she took Ye by the hand to the little lagoon. Dipping a small piece of cloth in she started to clean the scratches, almost in a motherly/big sister way.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" screamed the voice
"SHUT UP!" she thought back
"You want to tell me whats the matter? You don't have to if you dont want to." she asked
"Kang said mom died. We didn't want to believe it but its true isn't it?"
Azula nodded slowly.
"We miss her so much Mei ... I mean Azula. Why did she have to go?"
"I don't know, Ye but I know she cared about you two very much" said Azula
"I know, I just wish it didn't hurt so much"
"I know but will get better" Azula said hugging the child "I promise"
"You lost your mom too didn't you?" asked Ye
"Yes" Azula said "I wasn't much older than you. She didn't die but she had to go away. I never got to see her again "
"Did you miss her?" asked Ye
A single tear ran down her cheek as she thought about her mother. She never said goodbye to her only to Zuko. Though she was the perfect one, her mother thought she was the worst kind of monster...didn't she? Did she ever care about her?
"Everyday" her voice betrayed her
Wiping her tears and the little one's, she had to admit she felt a little bit better. Looking down she noticed Ye was doing a little bit better as well. It would take time but Ye would be okay
"We better head back to camp, everyone's probably worried about you, okay?" She said, taking a small hand in hers and heading back to camp
A small tear trickled from Zuko's eye as he looked on from his perch in a nearby tree. Maybe just maybe. there was hope for his sister yet and maybe there was a chance their relationship could be fixed
One could hope
Katara followed Te into a nearby cave. Where as Ye expressed he grief with sadness, Te expressed it with anger, tears welling up in her eyes as she bent rocks and slammed them into the walls.
"Te?" Katara
"GO AWAY!" yelled the little earthbender
"Please let me help you" said Katara
"There's nothing you can help with" she said slamming another rock into a wall "You wouldn't understand"
"That's not true... I do understand." said Katara "I know exactly what your going through"
"Really? asked Te
"Yes" said Katara sadly "When I was little I lost my mother too"
Te's lip trembled as she finally broke down in a heap of tears.
"Those two took everything from us. Our big brother, our mom and our home" Said Te "Why? What did we do that was so wrong"
"You didn't do anything wrong, Te. It was them and them alone, and they're paying for it now" said Katara
"But we were so mean to her after she sent Mei.. I mean Azula away. I never got to say we were sorry" said Te
"She knows" said Katara hugging the little one "I'm sure of it"
"Does the hurt ever go away, Katara?"
"No...But it does get better with time" said Katara " I know its not the same, but you got us and you know Kang cares a great deal for you right?
Te nodded her head wiping her tears.
"Now let head back to camp okay, I think its time to eat."
The old man and Aang met up with Guru Pathik on the center spire of the Eastern air temple. The kindly old man smiled.
"Aang it has been a while" said the Guru " How are you?"
"Fine, I'm just fi...OW" said Aang yelped holding his butt, glaring at Kang
"You want to try that again?" smirked Kang "Or do you want another one?"
Aang sighed in defeat. He now knew why they sent that old man along with him, he was just as uncompromising as Toph
No...actually I'm not fine. I'm getting weak and I'm getting sick" admitted Aang "And I dont know why"
"Close your eyes Aang" said Pathik
Taking two fingers he traced the chi tattoos on the avatars head. Strange, there was nothing physically wrong with him. Delving deeper, he searched the spirit...Aang...Roku...Kyoshi... Pathik's eyes shot open in pure fear and worry. Taking a step back, he realized the severity of Aang condition.
"What's wrong?" asked Aang
"It's not physical, Its spiritual sickness" said Pathik
"Cant you heal it?" asked Kang "A little spirit magic and make him good as new?"
"Its not that simple, its as if the avatar is being stolen piece by piece" said Pathik
"Stolen?" asked Aang
"I'm sorry Aang but I dont have the answers. I only saw 2 of your past lives when I should have seen thousands" said the Guru
"I'm taking that might have something to do with what wrong with Aang?" asked Kang
"Yes, I'm sure of it"
"So what can we do?" Asked Aang
The guru led the two down a long hallway in front of a large door with an air bending lock which Aang easily opened. Inside there was a hall of a thousand statues of every avatar there ever was, similar to what was in the southern air temple.
"Here you can enter the spirit world,where you might find the answers you seek. However in your weakened state it will be quite dangerous for you, more so than ever."warned Pathik
"Are you sure you want to do this? "asked Kang "I'm sure we can find another way to get answers"
"I'm sure Kang" said the Avatar bravely "but thanks for the concern"
"Good luck, Kid" said the old man squeezing his shoulder
Aang sat down and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he hit his fists together and opened his eyes. They glowed as he entered the spirit world but only faintly as did his tattoos. As Kang and Pathik looked around they noticed each of the statues eyes slowly going out one by one until only Kyoshi's and Roku's stayed lit.
"That's not good is it?" Asked Kang
"No... It is Not...