Chapter 5: Chapter 5
The entirety of Avatar: The Last Airbender and franchise is creation of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and product of Nicktoons Network (Nickelodeon/Viacom). This story is a unique fictional derivative of the original work written by an Avatar enthusiast.
A/N: The words with subs(0) are foreign language with meanings below. I figured explanation in text would just add clutter. I won't be doing this too often. Any concrit is welcome.
Avatar Journeys
Chapter 5: Spread the Word
Iroh had the crystal statues of the Fire Lord and Lady installed in the Throne room the next day. The resident Earthbenders were glad to help. Zuko had the room redecorated to emphasis the gold more than the burgundy and red. Combined with the bluish glow of the Omashu crystals, the Throne Room was a spectrum of gold, green and blue. Textured in muted reds and historical reliefs of heros, dragons and former lords. It inspires awe and reverence instead of fear and anguish, Aang thought looking around as he entered the room. He walked further in and took in the draconian columns and flamed boarded walls. He had nightmares about this room. It seemed so long ago since the end of the war. Longer still since his nightmares but he remembered them.
The war didn't end immediately. It took time to get everyone on a standstill and even then no real negotiations took place between the nations; the world was silent and separated, each nation tending to their own wounds. Team Avatar split up eventually: each heading back to home to help, seeing each other here and there. Aang was the busiest of them. They kept in touch mainly through messages. After a year the Earth Kingdom was ready to work on peace terms with the Fire Nation. Aang saw no point in excluding the Water Tribsmen and began a tradition he would soon regret: he called a summit. I was no fool though, he thought, I knew that the Tribesmen terms would be easier to negotiate that the Kingdom's. And it was, in comparison to the Earth Kingdom so far. Zuko, Chief Arnook and Master Pakku worked steadily on the terms due the mediation of Katara and Sokka. And that's how it all began, as his thoughts drifted on Zuko and Katara.
They had resolved themselves with the Tribesmen. Sokka took Suki and they served as contacts for the Southern Tribesmen. Katara stayed in the Fire Nation; her reason being that Hono(1) Palace was Aang's second home (the first being Appa's saddle) and she decided to help Zuko where she could while they were apart. He looked at the front of the room. He often wondered why it was called the Throne room since the Fire Lord didn't sit on a throne but a pedestal that was elevated well above the rest of the room. He looked at the stairs leading up to the pedestal. He'd be lying to himself to say that he didn't see it coming. He saw it like he saw the room he was in. That day when he walked in, quiet because he was tired. His duties took him away from her. Katara and Zuko spent more time together. They shared similar scars. They both had passions that ran deep. They were either going to be all or nothing to each other. Even Sokka warned him. So when he walked into this room months ago and found them there on the stairs in an intimate silence, he knew. There was a look in their eyes whenever they saw each other that clenched up his stomach and killed whatever fight he had left to try to keep Katara. He sighed, think about something else.He began searching through his robes.
There was a reason for him being here. When he awoke that morning he found a card along with his breakfast. It had two words on it: Throne. Noon. On his way there he was sure would he'd be stopped and checked by guards along the way but the closer he got to the Throne, the less traffic he encountered. Now that he thought of it, looking around the room. He hadn't seen anyone at all the last 15 minutes. He eyed his surroundings.
"Twinkle toes?"
He looked over and found Toph standing in the open door.
"Toph," he said a bit surprised, "what are you doing here?"
"I was invited here by Iroh for tea. What are you doing here," she said crossing her arms and walking toward him.
"I got a note saying to come here at noon."
"From who?"
"I don't know. It was there with my breakfast."
She looked up and tilted her head, then stomped her foot.
"Well there's no trap but there are a couple of people approaching us," she said.
"Who?" Aang said positioning his staff defensively.
"Relax," she waved, "It's Sokka and Suki." She walked closer to the stairs leading up to the throne. She stomped her foot again and said, "Why do they call it a Throne Room?"
"Beats me, Toph. I've wondered about that too."
"Hey, what are you two doing here?"
They looked back. Sokka and Suki stood in the door both fully decked in Chief and Kiyoshi uniform.
"And so casual," Suki said.
"I was invited by Iroh," Toph said over her shoulder rather importantly.
"And I got a letter to come here," said Aang.
"So did we," Sokka said descending the stairs with Suki in hand, "We got ours at breakfast."
Aang nodded.
"So why are we here?" Sokka asked.
Aang shrugged. Then he noticed that everyone was looking at him expectantly. "I don't know," he said.
Poof.
"What was that?" Suki asked.
Fire appeared before the throne.
"The reason we're here," Toph smiled her back still to the group.
Three shadows grew behind the flames, steadily shrinking until the men that cast them appeared: Iroh, Piandao and Jeong Jeong. They were dressed in the blue and white orders of the White Lotus.
"Master Piandao! How ya doin'? I got married," Sokka said holding up Suki's hand which she promptly snatched down.
"Do you know why you are here?" asked Jeong Jeong.
"When you guys show up its something serious," Sokka said.
"It is serious indeed, Chief Sokka," said Piandao, not seeing Sokka chest swell at his title, "and because of that we must know that you are ready."
"Ready for what?" asked Aang.
"Initiation," said Iroh.
"WHAT?" said Sokka.
"Awesome," said Toph grinning.
"Whoa," said Suki, "Initiation? Into what?"
"The Order of the White Lotus," answered Jeong Jeong.
"Even me?" Suki asked.
"You have proven to be an adept fighter, Suki," began Iroh, "but more than that you are courageous and think of others before yourself. We think that you would be an excellent addition to the White Lotus."
"Why now?" asked Aang, "is something wrong?"
"Yes, Avatar," said Iroh, "There is something wrong." Iroh pulled the gold phoenix from his robes and held it before the group, "Inscribed upon this is the word JUNWA. King. I received this visitor yesterday morning."
They were quiet taking in the information and piecing together the implications. The flames rumbled over the room. There was more than mere contention in the Fire Nation: there was fully formed rebellion afoot.
"The Fire Nation is divided and the imbalance of may consume the world again in the throes of war; It must be stopped," said Jeong Jeong.
Aang closed his eyes and sighed. "I don't understand. Why would they do this? I defeated Lord Ozai and Zuko defeated Azula. Why continue to fight progress?"
"I am afraid, Avatar," Iroh began, "that Azula has escaped." Aang sighed again.
"WHAT?!" said Toph.
"Awesome," said Sokka.
"We have not announced it publicly yet, to maintain moral and dissuade would-be loyalists but we will have to put the word out soon," said Iroh.
"And this is where you come in," said Piandao, "This class of The Order of the White Lotus is comprised of prestigious and reknown members from all nations; that standing limits our abilities to maneuver freely."
"That and our age," said Iroh with a smirk, "we can only maneuver in so many ways. But you all have youth and relative anonymity that will allow for more freedom which will be of great use in dispelling the rebellion."
"We already have a network of supporters ready to help. All that is needed a new class in the order. You," said Jeong Jeong.
A thoughtful silence hung over the young group.
"So how do we get in?" said Toph. The others waited.
"Simple," said Jeong Jeong, "do you accept the responsibilities and duties of the Order of the White Lotus?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes," finished Aang.
"Then, you are in," said Jeong Jeong.
They were quiet.
"Umm," began Suki, "Is that it?"
"Well, I had something more elaborate in mind," said Iroh grinning, "but, we don't have the time."
"You are now Sepals of the White Lotus. There are six others to join your class, five of whom will be initiated tomorrow-,"said Piandao.
"Question," said Toph.
"Yes," said Piandao.
"Are two of those Zuko and Katara?" she asked.
"Maybe," he answered. Toph was silent.
"They will remain anonymous for now but we will show you the way to identify other members and how to find supporters," said Piandao.
"I hope you all enjoy paisho," said Iroh.
"Well, what happens now?," asked Suki.
"Now," said Jeong Jeong waving his arms out and down in front of him. The flames died.
"Now you receive your first order."
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The room was dark and cool when she opened her eyes. The low hum of the engines reached her ears. Light came in from a small, high window, casting its light over Sokka's gear and her own. He was warm next her. A loud snorting left his mouth and she smiled. As much as she complained about his snoring now that she was going to be separated from the sound she tried to appreciate it. It vibrated in his chest. She pulled closer to him, put her face into his chest and ran her hands over him. Once, Sokka had been tall, stringy and incredibly cute. He was taller still, stringiness was replaced with muscle and shehated rto admit it but the budding beard was giving his cute a handsome edge. She squeezed him thinking how proud she was of him and everything they had accomplished.
She could still remember when they all arrived in Sokka and Katara's village, Sphatika(2). They came home victorious only to fight another war: for survival. Their village was comprised of only the very old and they very young and they learned it was this way all over the South Pole: the tribes were dying. They had to leave Sphatika. Sokka decided take the survival of the Southern Tribesmen into his hands. He decided he would save them. He banded the remains of the Tribesmen together and made a proposal: bring people in. The tribes weren't long in ther agreement. They all took turns going abroad, Katara and Aang, Sokka and Suki, telling whatever passersby about the South Pole and the Tribesmen culture. They sung of the Tribesmen's hospitality and they would be taught the living of South Pole. They needed people and anyone was welcome. It was a couple of months before the first stragglers arrived, ready to make the expedition to the South Pole, things got more difficult when Aang left. She, Sokka and Katara worked double time until more and more new faces dotted the South Pole. That was their lives for a time. Sokka was recognized as a chief by the elders. They were married in the Tribesmen tradition. Katara took on her first pupil. The first waterbender born in the South Pole: his name was Paalihar(3). Messages came and went with an occasional visit from Aang. Some of the Wanderers, as they were called, were adopted into tribes, some declined but they came and swelled the villages with people. Sokka even pulled some Northern Tribesmen down south to help with the rebuilding of villages. Then the messenger bird from the Fire Nation arrived. Aang had finally persuaded the Earth Kingdom to make peace terms with the Fire Nation. He wanted to set an example with reconciling the Water Tribesmen first. He wanted Chief Arnook, Chief Sokka and other notable Tribesmen to come to his "summit." They all were on a boat the next day.
And now they were here. On a boat again, far from their home, again. Risking their lives, again. Only this trip, she though sitting up watching her husband, will separate us. And I don't know when I'll see him again. Today was the first day of her assignment as a Sepal of the White Lotus. Soon a ship would conjoin with Master Piandao's to retrieve Sokka. He would go ahead to the North Pole to begin his assignment. And she would stay behind to begin hers.
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Her life had been a major snooze after the war. Nothing, absolutely, nothing to do. Even after all she had accomplished, she came home to the same pandering and dismissive parents she had left. I discovered a new form of bending she thought. And they still treated me the same.
It wasn't just her parents either. It was like she never played a hand in ending the war, or trained the Avatar! She tried to help rebuild the some of the damage in the outer districts, specifically the wall. The general had an issue with using children for labor. But she knew he genuinely meant it. She tried to enlist in earthbending schools to learn the "finer" techniques like craftsmanship. But she was turned away as soon as the master realized that he was outclassed. She tried legitimate fighting schools but they were mostly run by men who didn't take to a little girl with too much "sass." She tried to teach other earthbending girls but they were only concerned with hanboks(5) and hoyoijoks(6). She was sullen and bored. One day a lightning storm hit and she had an idea. Iroh had a tea shop in the Second Ring, the Jasmine Dragon. She began to make daily visits to the old general and his tea shop. They talked, she met June, immediately liked her, and Iroh found a scribe for her. She began writing Katara.
On one of her visits, her scribe read a letter from Sokka. He and Suki were coming to the Earth Kingdom and were looking for a familiar face. Toph dictated her response to the scribe, paid her extra to keep herself available and went home. She abandoned her hanbok for her traveling clothes, grabbed some money and headed the outer districts of Ba Sing Se. Everything pre and post-Sokka-and-Suki-are-getting-married was an emotional blur she didn't care to remember, including the wedding, though it was softened by Katara's company. She returned home and found comfort helping Iroh around the tea shop. Then Zuko and Katara's wedding invitation finally arrived. She was better by then. She left for the Fire Nation with Iroh and June.
And now I'm here, she thought, walking into sun lit platform where the airships were launched. Aang and Iroh came along to see her off. She was taking an airship to Omashu to start her assignment. They said it would take her the edges of earth.
She stole a hug from Iroh. He chuckled, "Careful, little bug, you might break something," and returned her hug with a kiss to her crown. She reluctantly let go and gave Iroh a salute. Aang smirked and she punched him in the arm, hard.
"Take care, Twinkle Toes," she said mockingly and gave him a playful jab to the chin.
"You too, Toph," he said rubbing his arm.
She walked across the platform soaking the feeling of the ground before her feet struck metal, each step revealing the vessel's structure and passengers. She couldn't help but feel it was too small a world to be in. She pushed through her fears, after all she'd rather be here than in Ba Sing Se. The platform was raised the doors shut. Toph gripped the metal side with all the calm she could muster. She heard the captain call for the launch. The fires roared. Pipes sighed fumes and gears clinked into action. The outline of Aang and Iroh disappeared and she could only see the ship around her. The winds picked up. And she was on her way to Omashu.
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The back and forth of rolling waters, the shrieks of water fowl and the occasional appearance of otterdolfs were a familiar sight to him. In fact, he was beginning to develop a taste for seafaring. Opening the sails, cleaning the decks, fishing, dinner in the galley, all grew on him. But this trip was missing something: Suki. The sun was setting. The sky was all sorts of colors. The sea looked purple. He could always find Suki, elbows resting on the rail, staring at the sunset. He asked her once what she thinking about. She played a game with herself: try to give a name to every color she saw. Names like Sunset Pink and Twilight Gold, he thought with a smile. He would grab her hand, pull her in front of him, wrap his arms around hers and settle in. She would talk about the sky, the birds, the sea. He would rest in the sound of her voice and the smell of her red hair. Now that she wasn't here, Sokka was upset with himself that he didn't retain more of what she said. He reached up to his necklace and pulled a green charm from it and thought about that afternoon.
''Take this," she said removing her engagement necklace and handing it to him.
"No," he said pushing back toward her. It felt too much like a goodbye.
"You have to," she said.
Sokka looked down at the necklace. The ribbon was a dark blue. The gem was jade crystal with blue, green, white and black nuggets inset it. It made sense, unfortunately. And yet, he couldn't take it. Some part of them had to stay with her. Something...He unhooked the charm from the ribbon.
"There," he said leaving the blue ribbon in her hand, "there's nothing suspicious about a blue ribbon."
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deep and hard. Sokka squeezed her tight relishing the moment.
Then it was over. He pulled her hands from his neck, held them, kissed her fingers and walked away. He crossed the little bridge between the ships. It was pulled back to his own. They opened the sails, the steam ship sighed and clinked to life and they began to pull away from each other. Suki stood at the rail on her side, Sokka stood at his. She smiled at him and he returned it. They watched each other shrink away into horizon
He inhaled and looked around. It was actually a beautiful ship, made of some sort of pale wood with petals carved all over the ship and large lotuses at the bow. He was going to the North Pole to see Master Pakku and pass him the news. His next task would come from Master Pakku himself. But his mind was far from that. He looked at the sunset. The night was creeping closer and the sun was red, like the red of her hair.
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Aang sat atop Appa's head as they flew away from Eiko(7) further west. The air rushed against his face. He inhaled, relieved to be in the dense cold air. He looked ahead of him and saw the land pass by. He was surprised how green it was. Lush, green valleys broke the black mountainous landscape. White and grey structures dotted the valleys and mountainsides as they passed by. But nothing moved in or around them. He looked at the horizon of jagged black mountaintops and purple sky and wondered how much longer would it be?
The question resounded deeper than he was comfortable with. He shook it off. Just keep going, it shouldn't be much longer. Jeong Jeong said there was a large valley an hour or so west of the capital. All the valleys he had been passing were pretty small. So Aang and Appa had kept flying but were going on two hours now. His task for the Lotus had been a simple one: to continue his duties as the Avatar. The only addition was stay on guard. He felt cheated since he was doing what he was always doing these days: negotiating, resolving conflicts, advising, flying here and there. Being the Avatar was a lot easier during the war than after, he thought yawning. His obligations were draining. If he wasn't trying to save a village, he was in a room for thirteen hours with quarrelling, stubborn noblemen trying to reach a compromise. He would rather be the one going to Omashu to see Bumi. But he was needed right where he was. If anything the Lotus was just another obligation paired with the new issue of an organized rebellion within the Fire Nation.
"Why do they keep fighting?" he queried. The wind roared in his ears. "It's progress," he said, "it's a good thing." His mind wandered. "Why can't they just let it happen?" A pair of blues came to mind and he shook off the thought. Appa grumbled at him.
"I know Appa," he said rubbing the bison's crown, "I'm tired too."
As if in response to his words the mountains fell back and the ground gave way to green slopes and low mountains and ravines. The white and grey buildings were larger and more elaborate. They twisted up mountains and hugged the slopes. They seemed to glow in the twilight. This must be the valley Jeong Jeong was talking about, he thought. He didn't see anyone or anything down there.
"Well, boy," said Aang twisting he reins, "I guess we're here." They descended into the valley, hoping to find rest.
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A/N: This was long and difficult one for me mostly because I had no particular plan for this part hence a LOT of editing.
Translation Notes (taken from Google Translator):
1. Hono- Japanese honou(rmj): "flame"
2. Sphatika- Bengali sphatika: "crystal"
3. Paalihar- deviation from Hindi pahali lahara: "first" "wave"
4. Kumo- Japanese kumou(rmj): "spider"
5. Hanbok- Korean hanbok: traditional Korean dress
6. Hoyoijoks- deviation (phonetic) from Russian kholostyak: "bachelor"
7. Eiko- Japanese eikou(rmj): "glory"
Next: Chapter 6: In the Hills
Thank you to the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender for creating a world I never dreamed of.
Thank you for reading,
Uitori.