Book 4 Air

Chapter 79 Memories of Another Life

The sight of the summer house was seen along the sandy shore as a small boy walked across the beach. His chubby hands and feet wobbled as he made his way to two welcoming arms. The soft mumbling sounds of her son warmed Ursa's heart as she fixed his trousers, wiping sand off.

"There they are!" a young voice called out as Lu Ten raced to the bottom of the hill and met with the Ursa and baby Zuko.

Just then a tall stature of a man was seen on top of the sandy dunes, his long black hair swayed in the breeze as a faint smile crossed his features. After that, another figure appeared. The bulky General Iroh with a darker shade of hair, walked up, laughing warmly. Slowly the taller man made his way to the child and mother. Ozai leaned in and kissed Ursa on the cheek then he patted the young boy on the head.

The small baby lifted his head with his hands reaching out to his mother; he spoke out, "Ma-Ma."

His first words…The woman smiled gracefully as she held her baby close, while his feet dangled below her swollen belly. The warm sunlight casted over the family as the distance sound of waves crashing grew fainter.

The sight of a royal bedroom came into view as the scene drifted to a figure looking out the window. The black haired woman was seen dressed in a heavy white silk robe as her hair fanned out over her shoulders passed her breasts. Her hands neatly folded over her lap as her face appeared dim with puffy eyes.

"Would you like anything, miss…?" Miki asked again as she bowed her head.

The servant girl then sighed inaudibly as she looked up at the mourning woman. She noticed Ursa's tear stained face and flushed nose. It was heart-aching for the girl to see her Highness so depressed. Miki did everything she could to help the woman, but nothing worked.

"I will be right outside if you need me, miss." Miki said as she kept her head low as she walked out the room.


"Oohh…Where's the food? Ah, I'm so hungry…" Sokka said as he held on to his stomach.

"Haha, you're always hungry, Sokka." Aang said as he laughed.

The six friends all laughed as the servants then entered into the dining room with different silver and copper trays. As they placed the trays down then served them to the guests, the five teens were in awe of the many varieties of the food before them. The Fire Lord kept a straight face as he then turned his gaze to the head servant waiting patiently. Zuko nodded his head in approval as the servant bowed then left to inform the head chef of the lord's compliments.

The scene then drifted to the many foods laid out on the table in front of the hungry teens.

From smoked komodo sausages to peeled exotic fruits, everything was neatly and colorfully decorated in a sumptuous fashion.

Turning their heads, everyone waited for Zuko to take his first bite. The Fire Lord took his chopsticks and leaned over, picking a sliced champoo fruit. After he bit the crunchy apple like slice, everyone else causally took their piece and placed them on their plates. Aang picked a guava while Toph beside him grabbed two dumplings stuffed with komodo chicken and vegetables. Sokka quickly grabbed the smoked komodo sausages and warm wheat buns. Suki giggled at Sokka as he chopped down on the buns. Suki then turned to her plate as she lightly chewed on komodo chicken eggs seasoned with pepper and salt.

Katara smiled at her friends enjoying the food as she then turned and smiled at Zuko. Zuko returned a smile to the joyful waterbender as he then reached under the table and held her hand. Katara's smiled widen as she squeezed her hand into his.

Just then more servants entered into the room with trays holding glasses and cups for the guests.

One servant placed down a pitcher of lemonade mixed with grapefruit giving it a pinkish appearance which made it look appealing and flavorful. The next servant placed two porcelain tea pots on the table, one close to their lord then the other in the middle of the four friends.

Everyone was comfortable with their delicious meals of hot and cold foods to enjoy.

"Would you like some rice?" Aang asked Toph as she lightly blushed.

"I can get it myself!" Toph said as she then grabbed the utensil called a shamoji, which she used to scooped up more than enough of rice and plopped it on her plate.

Aang chuckled as he then returned to eating a piece of sliced watermelon.

As Toph picked at her food she then looked up at Suki and Sokka on the opposite side of the table.

"Here baby, try this." Suki said as she lifted her chopsticks with a sushi roll in between the utensil. Sokka opened his mouth with glee as Suki fed him the food. "Mmm, that's good, thank you, sweetie." Sokka said with a big grin on his face as he chewed.

Blushing at the sight, Toph then became frantic as she roughly grabbed a temaki then turned to Aang.

"Try this, Aang!" Toph said as she then stuffed the hand roll sushi into the airbender's mouth.

The contents gushing out the corners of his mouth, as he tried to speak and chew the food at the same time.

Toph kept her hand on his mouth pushing deeper against his face. Shortly Aang nearly swallowed half of the whole sushi before chewing the rest. Toph pulled her hand away as she then asked him in an anxious tone, "Is it good? Tell me it's good!" Toph said as she blushed deeper.

Aang took a moment to finish the food before making a big gulp as the rice and stuffed vegetables lugged down his throat.

"Ah…" Aang said as he rubbed the back of his head. "It was-good…Ah, no it was…" Aang started to say as Toph blushed a darker shade as she looked like she was about to cry.

"Amazing!" Aang said with a big smile as he tried to cheer up the girl.

Toph's light frown soon beamed into a smile, "So, I did ok!" Toph said happily she was proud of herself for being able to copy the same reaction as what the couple shared together in front of her moments ago.

"Haha…Yea, it was great, just next time don't be so haste to chok- I mean feed it to me, okay? I didn't get a chance to enjoy it due to eating so fast." Aang said with a nervous smile as Toph grinned unaware of Aang true thoughts.

'Argh…That was the most disgusting thing I ever tasted…' Aang thought to himself as he held back from gagging. Just then he heard a soft giggled from across the table. Looking, Aang noticed the couple flirting with one another.

'I get it now…She wants us to be like them…' Aang thought as he saw Sokka and Suki smiling mischievously at each other, handing each other bits of grapes.

Katara covered her mouth as she kept herself from laughing at the scene she witness with both Aang and Toph. It was so adorable and funny. Zuko just rolled his eyes as he then turned his attention to Katara. He smiled as he watched her try to keep a straight face.


Crawling in the dark shadows of the empty chambers of the palace, hidden away in secret rooms, the creature made his way passed the cobwebs and dust. Then he sensed it, the distraught emotion and gloomy aura radiating near the left of the enclosed walls. The spirit stepped up to the small crack from the secret doorway to see a bedroom. Koh curled his body with excitement.

"Heh…Heh…Heh…Another lowly soul to corrupt." the spirit said as he chuckled darkly as he peered through to see a woman dressed in white crying on the edge of her bed.

"The Fire Lord's mother…MmmHmm, how interesting…" Koh said to himself as he inhaled the salty air from the woman's tears. "Ah…What sadness…So delicious…" the spirit said as his legs fidgeted with eagerness.

Just then the door opened and an old man entered with a tray of hot tea in his hands. The spirit gasped as he saw the man. 'That man…The mortal who entered into the spirit world tens years ago…Hmm-Mmm, perfect…' The spirit thought as he curled his body ready to control both souls in his command.

As Iroh placed the tea down beside Ursa, he then spoke out softly. "I brought you some tea. Jasmine, I know it's your favorite." Iroh said with a faint smile.

Iroh then froze.

He sensed a dark presence in the room. Quickly he pulled out a hidden sutra from his robe. Lifting it in front of him, Iroh chanted in ancient tongue as the dark presence soon vanished. Iroh sighed out as a bead of sweat rolled on the side of his face.

'The energy was malevolent…' Iroh thought as he turned to Ursa who seemed unfazed from the incident that happened only seconds ago.

Iroh frowned…Ursa was slipping into a deep depression. The old man only hoped she would recover in time.

"I'll send Miki to watch over you, Highness." Iroh said in a respectable tone as he slowly left the room.

As the door closed the scene moved to the sight of the steaming swirling in the air from the fragile porcelain cup.


Iroh walked down the hall as he noticed a familiar face. It was General Jee.

"Ah, General…Good to see you. How are the preparations going?" Iroh asked as he folded his arms in his sleeves.

"Just as scheduled. The ball room should be complete by mid evening." Jee said as he bowed his head to the old man.

"Ah…Good, good…" Iroh said as Jee spoke out.

"Should I notify this report to the Fire Lord?" General Jee asked as Iroh smiled lightly.

"Only if it is good news…I don't want my nephew to worry about small trivial matters. What ever is of dire importance in the report for Miss Aeron or the disappearance of the governor's daughter, please inform me." Iroh said sternly as he then excused himself down the hall. Jee hesitantly clenched his hand as he then turned.

"It's about Azula, General! She's escaped…" Jee said as Iroh turned with a grim expression on his face.


Dun-Dun-Dunnn…Oh no! What do you think will happen next! REVIEW for a quick update!

Also a champoo is the informal term for the rose apple. The fruit is native to the East Indies and Malaya and is cultivated and naturalized in many parts of India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. The skin of a champoo is smooth and thin, with firm yellowish flesh, with a sweet and rose scente. The texture is crisp, almost crunchy when the fruit is ripe and freshly picked.

Thanks for reading and all of the lovely reviews!