(Kari's voice) Previously Valgo went on his own to find answers after all the things Zuko has told him. He helped out a small farm family, but when they found out Valgo was a blood bender the village despised him. Meanwhile Armis found the last piece to the jewel.
Chapter 9: Infiltration
Out in a place in the earth kingdom Armis, Flint, and Ron stood out in the middle of nowhere.
"What are we doing here and why isn't Aquaro here?" Flint said.
"Aquaro stayed in the South Pole for a little assignment I asked for him." Armis said. "As to what we're doing here you'll see." He took out the multi colored jewel.
"Are we finally going to pull out your plan?" Ron said.
"No it was to be at the right moment." Aquaro said. "However we can still use a SMALL part of its power for what we need to do." He held up the jewel and it began to glow. Then something started to come out of the ground.
…
The South Pole
In the South Pole Cody was holding up a metal brace. He tried to squeeze on both ends and was able to squeeze it together.
"I did it!" Cody said.
"Alright Cody I knew you could do it." Armadillomon said.
"Let me see." Toph said. Cody handed her the metal and she felt it was bent. "Nice work junior. A little more practice and you'll be a metal bender in no time."
"Well I have a great teach to thank for this." Cody said as he bowed to her. Tai was going through the movements on his energy flow, the way Zuko showed him.
"You're still doing that?" Sora said.
"I want to be ready the next time that Flint uses his lightning." Tai said. Sora saw him train hard and then saw Katara playing with the kids.
"Katara can I ask you something?" Sora said.
"Of course Sora." Katara said.
"You're married to Aang. Have you ever had to decide between him and another guy?" Sora said.
"No." Katara said.
"Well let's say you did, but you didn't want to upset the other guy if you knew he had feelings towards you. What do you do?" Sora said.
"I know what this is about." Biyomon said. "You're still thinking if you should be with Matt or Tai."
"Biyomon!" Sora said with her face all red from embarrassment.
"Oh so that's what this is about." Katara said.
"Eww romance stuff I'm out of here." Bumi said as he ran off.
"Katara I really like Matt, but I there are times I feel like I'm hurting Tai." Sora said.
"Sora I can't tell you what to do." Katara said.
"Especially when you hold the crest of love." Biyomon said.
"I know I'm just worried on how Tai is feeling." Sora said.
"Well this is something for you and Tai to discuss." Katara said. Then a hawk carrying message flew in on Sokka's arm.
"Hey there Hawky." Sokka said petting it.
"A hawk?" Ross said.
"It's got a message." Aquamon said.
"It's probably from Suki, she misses me." Sokka said as he took the message, but found out it wasn't what he thought. "No name. That's strange it says that a fortress made out of stone appeared out of nowhere in the earth kingdom."
"A stone fortress?" Aang said.
"This seems like something to check out." Cody said.
"Yeah I got a bad feeling about this. With a capital A for Armis." Ross said.
"You think Armis is behind this?" Davis said.
"With all the crazy that's happened it wouldn't surprise me." Tai said.
"Yeah let's go and take him down." Bumi said with him jumping around.
"Well I suppose we could drop the kids off at Zuko's palace with Mae and Aunt Suki watching them." Katara said.
"What?" Bumi said.
"Did you really think we be going with them?" Kaiya said.
"Don't worry I'll stay and watch over them until you get back." Kari said.
"Kari this could be our one way ticket back to our time as well. It might be better if you come with us." Tai said.
"Tai has a point there." Veemon said.
"So it's settle we'll drop the kids off somewhere safe and we'll see once we take Armis down if we can head it back to our time." Davis said. They all got on Appa and flew off, but Aquaro rose from the snow with his bending and was smirking.
"That's it step into our trap." Aquaro said.
…
The Earth Kingdom
They dropped the kids off and were flying through a mountain valley and they saw a fortress made out of stone.
"Where did this thing come from?" Zuko said.
"Appa you can land right here, we can walk it." Aang said. Appa landed down and they walked it to the fortress. When they arrived at the front entrance the gates opened.
"Hello is anyone home?" Davis said.
"Please don't do that Davis." Sokka said.
"Why not?" Davis said.
"We don't know who could answer." Sokka said.
"Oh what is the biggest toughest warrior of the South Pole scared?" Davis mocked.
"Hold on a group is coming out way." Toph said.
"Can you be more specific?" Tai said.
"It feels like people made of stone." Toph said. They look further in the fortress and saw soldiers in rock armor coming their way.
"Who are they?" Cody said.
"I think the question is what are they?" Sora said.
"Maybe they came out to greet us." Aang said. "These could be a new earth kingdom army force." Then all of the soldiers pulled out stone swords.
"I seriously doubt that." Ross said. Davis and Zuko launched flames to knock a few soldiers down, but more came and they started charging. Toph and Cody both used their earth bending and pushed them back by launching some rocks.
"Ross and I don't have any water to bend." Katara said.
"Aquamon!" Ross said.
"But my water is digital water, you might not be able to bend it." Aquamon said.
"I don't think we have a choice." Ross said. Aquamon sprayed water on the ground. Ross tried to bend it normal water. One soldier was about to attack him.
"Ross look out!" Gotsumon said.
"Water Shot."
Aquamon shot water from his hand and hit the soldier in the head.
"So much for that idea. Oh well there's more than one way to fight." Ross said as he reached for his D3. "Guys!"
"Right!" They all said as they all reached for theirs.
"Veemon digivolve to…Exveemon"
"Biyomon digivolve to…Birdramon"
"Agumon digivolve to….Greymon"
"Gotsumon digivolve to….Monachromon"
"Aquamon digivolve to….Tsunamimon"
"Gatomon digivolve to….Angewomon"
"Whoa that has to be the coolest thing I've ever seen." Sokka said. All the digimon started stomping and swinging around knocking the soldiers down. As the fight went on Valgo saw the whole thing and snuck away. Sokka reached for his sword and clashed with one of the soldiers and sliced right through it. "Wait a minute these aren't even people, they're completely made out of stone."
"Which means Cody and I can do this." Toph said as she used her bending on two of them and had them clash together. Sora blew them all away, but one was coming up behind her and was about to attack her when Tai jumped in and sliced it in two with his fire bending.
"You okay?" Tai said.
"Yeah thanks. Listen Tai I have to talk to you." Sora said, but one of the rock soldiers cut them off, but Sora blew it away.
"It will have to wait." Tai said.
"This has to be Armis' doing. Tai, Cody you're with me. We're going in." Davis said. "Cody let's make a path." Both of them used their earth bending and pushed them all away with the three of them running inside.
"Which way now?" Tai said. Cody placed his hand on the wall.
"There's a chamber this way." Cody said as he led the way. He led them straight to a giant door to which they assumed Armis was behind.
"I guess they had this place set up as their main base." Davis said.
"Well we're knocking it down." Cody said as he kicked the door open thanks to his bending, but when they looked inside Ron was the only one there.
"Hello children." Ron said.
"Ron, why are you just here? Where's Armis?" Davis said.
…
Armis
Armis and Flint were walking away from the mountain valley, but they were cut off when Valgo jumped in front of them.
"Valgo you're back." Armis said.
"Oh great." Flint said with sarcasm, but Valgo had a look that made him look serious. "What are you doing here?"
"About to speak my mind and this time you will listen." Valgo said.
"This should be good." Armis said.
…
The Fortress
"Where's Armis?" Davis said.
"What am I not good enough for you?" Ron said.
"You better tell us where he is or else." Cody said.
"What could a puny runt like you do to me?" Ron said.
"What's the deal with this place?" Tai said.
"We were able to find the last piece of that jewel." Ron said. "It's power built all of this as well as the stone soldiers outside. We knew you would come after us giving me the chance to do this!" He used his bending and launched stone rods at them, but they moved out of the way. Tai launched flames and Davis tossed air, but he brought up a rock wall blocking them. Then Ron pounded the ground creating a rock wave, but they jumped over it. Cody tossed a rock, but Ron was able to stop it, but Davis was about to land his foot on fire, but he jumped out of the way.
….
Valgo
"So what is it?" Armis said.
"I finally see the truth, father." Valgo said. "The truth about bending. You told me that it was a curse, but it's not. My kind of bending is. At first I was angry that I lost my mother to one, but if she was still alive she would be disappointed in what I became. Something you turned me into."
"Get to the point." Flint said.
"I see now that everything you ever taught me was a lie." Valgo said. "You used my bending for your own reasons and put me through such much pain to block it. What kind of father does that to their kid? Now I know where I belong and I'm going to make this right."
"How so?" Armis said.
"By joining the Avatar, next time you see me will be in battle." Valgo said.
"Why wait?" Flint said as he launched his lightning, but Valgo jumped and disappeared in the smoke.
…
The Fortress
Ron had rocks rise from the ground to stop Davis and the others, but Davis was able to jump over it. Ron created a rock wall to block him and slid against the walls outside the door with them going after him.
"Wait a minute." Tai said having them stop. "Guys don't you see he's only stalling us for Armis to getaway."
"Oh you think so." Ron said.
"You're just wasting all our time." Cody said.
"Uh I think your friend just said that and since you're so short you should tell I'm rolling my eyes." Ron said.
"I'll roll you're whole head." Davis said.
"Forget him, it's obvious Armis isn't here so let's get out of here." Tai said. However Ron created a spike, but Cody felt it. He opened the wall next Ron and used his bending to push him in and then slammed it closed on him and they couldn't believe it.
"Cody did you just…." Davis stuttered.
"I…I panic…I didn't know what else to do." Cody said.
"It's okay Cody let's just get out of here." Tai said as they ran out. Aang and the others finished the soldiers with Davis and the others running out.
"What happened?" Sora said.
"It was all a trap. Ron knew we would come and set this whole thing up for us." Tai said. "Ron's no longer a problem, but let's go. Armis isn't here."
"Alright then there's no reason to stick here." Ross said. Once they left they started walking back to Appa.
"Tai can we talk now?" Sora said.
"Sure about what?" Tai said.
"I've been wondering something. Are you okay with what's been going on between me and Matt?" Sora said.
"Why do you ask that?" Tai said.
"Well there are times I wonder if you are. I knew you thought there was something between us and I'm starting to wonder if you're upset or something." Sora said.
"Sora you and Matt are my best friends. It doesn't bother me at all and if you ever do want us to be something just let me know. I'll be waiting." Tai said. "However stick with Matt you're way happy with him."
"Tanks Tai." Sora said and gave him a peck on the cheek and when she walked away he placed his hand on it.
"Tai come on." Davis shouted.
"Right coming." Tai said as he ran for them, but none noticed that Valgo was watching them and could be joining them.