Book 4 Air
Chapter 80 Underestimate
Part One
'Damn that man!' Koh thought as he hidden into the chamber shadows, away from the opposing threat of the sacred sutra. His body trembled from the side effects of the powerful purifying seal. The spirit cursed for underestimating the old man.
'How could have I forgotten that mortal who entered into my lands. Looking for his lost son…' the face stealer said as turned into the boy's face, as his face echoed a cruel chuckled. Dark and wicked, the spirit laughed through the boy's lips as his segment body lengthened out slightly with his legs twitching.
Looking out the window in daze, Ursa continued to feel the emptiness inside her heart as her depression started to consume her.
"He's dead!"
Iroh's words rang through her thoughts as Ursa gazed down at the garden below. Leaves trailed across the vestibule and danced in swirls from the invisible wind guiding them. The woman's eyes narrowed as she then tilted her head, resting on the sill of the window.
Just then the door opened and someone stepped in. It was Iroh.
"Here…Have some of this. It will make you feel better." Iroh said in soft, light words as he handed Ursa a cup of hot chocolate with coffee.
Ursa then smelled the sweet aroma of the creamy coco in her hands as she gazed down at the cup.
Lifting it to her lips, Ursa took a moment to smell the scent again before drinking it lightly.
The warm drink filled her stomach as her cheeks tinted with pink. "Thank you." Ursa said lightly as she took another sip.
Iroh smiled warmly. The delightful contents of the chocolate and strong coffee always seemed to get Ursa in a better mood; no matter how hurt she was feeling. It comforts her, and Iroh knew it.
"Well, I leave you to enjoy your drink." Iroh said as stood up then turned. After that, he then hears the soft almost childish tone behind him.
"Wait…Hn…Stay with me, please…" Ursa said as she lowered her head, wanting some company.
Iroh turned with a gentle smile, "Of course, princess…" Iroh said as he then grabbed a near by chair and sat with her.
Scurrying down the empty chambers, Koh then heard children' laughter in the room beside him, he smiled widely as he quickly peered through a nearby crack.
Gazing from right to left, Koh's narrowed eyes then widen as he saw the earthbender. His teeth grinded against his jaw as he then smirked a wicked smile.
Chewing the inside of her cheek, Toph became aggravated. Then she started to tap the chopsticks on the table. Slow at first then, she tapped the sticks louder and louder until everyone looked at her. Un-noticed by the stares, Toph continuous tapped the chopsticks like a drum, rhythmically beating the sticks to a slight beat.
"Toph…Stop that! You're being rude…" Katara said as she leaned over and whispered to the earthbender.
"So much tapping…" Toph said in a low tone.
"Ah, yea…You're the one doing the tapping." Sokka said in sarcastic tone.
"No…Don't you feel it? All those vibrations…All those tapping sounds…like foot…steps…" Toph said as she then dropped the sticks then sucked in a lungful of air before jumping out of her chair. Toph screamed in agony as she then gripped her head violently.
"AHHH! He's here! He's here! No! Nooo! WAHHH!" Toph cried out as she wobbled back and forth.
Aang quickly rose from his chair and tried to help the distressed girl. "Toph!" Aang cried out as he wrapped his arms around the girl as she tried to push him away.
Servants quickly ran in to assist as Zuko called out for a doctor. Two servants stepped in from Aang and held the girl down as she struggled. "No! Nooo! Let me go!" Toph cried out frantically as a doctor came racing in.
"Hold out her arm." The man instructed as he pulled out a cylindrical tube with a small tipped needle. The man then placed the needle into the girl's arm as she cried out. "What are you doing to her!" Aang yelled out in confused and concern as he became angry at the man for causing Toph pain.
"I'm giving her something to calm her down." The doctor said as Sokka asked what the tube with the needle was.
"It's called a syringe. A special tool designed by an inventor in the Northern Air Temple. It was a medical breakthrough for us, doctors. Thankful now, our patients can have comfort."
"The Mechanist!"Sokka said out loud, both surprised and impressed.
"Yes…Now, please help me take this girl to the infirmary." The doctor said to the servants as they carried the now unconscious earthbender.
Aang and the other helplessly looked back as Toph was taken away. The airbender then slumped into his chair as everyone took a moment to remember the girl's frantic words.
"Who could be here?" Katara asked softly as the others thought for about it quietly.
"Koh…" Aang said as everyone looked at the airbender in surprise.
"But uncle sealed off the gates. There's no way he could have passed through." Zuko said as Aang turned his head.
"Then he must have found another way to enter into our world." Aang said wisely as he then sat up and started to walk out the door.
"Aang, where are you going?" Katara asked as the airbender slightly turned his head back.
"I'm going to watch over Toph. He's not going to take her ever again." Aang said as he then left the dining room.
Everyone else remained in their seats, pondering the idea of the Avatar's claim.
"Could it be possible…Did he really get through here?" Suki asked as Sokka rubbed his chin. "I don't know…Should this be something we should worry about?" Sokka asked as Zuko narrowed his eyes. "This explains it…" Zuko mumbled to himself as everyone else looked at the Fire Lord.
Zuko lifted his head as he spoke in clear and firm voice, "I reviewed a report not too long ago about Mai disappearing. Maybe it has to do with the spirit returning, if that's even the case, I don't know if we should have to stall the dance because of it." Zuko said as Katara looked down in disappointment and Sokka narrowed his eyes.
Everyone stayed in silence thinking over Zuko's concern, and then Sokka spoke out.
"This sucks…I was looking forward to that dance…But it's better to be safe than sorry." Sokka said as he lowered his head.
"Yea…" Zuko said as he then turned his head to Katara.
The view of the man fuming through papers was seen in an office surrounded with scrolls and books.
"Where is it? Where is that scroll!" the man yelled out as he continued to scan over the documents.
Just then a man dressed in royal clothing walked in, "Sho…What are you doing…?" the man firmly said as Sho backed away from the papers.
"Ah, Imperial Ryuan…I was just looking for some documents for General Iroh." Sho said as he tried to hide the nervousness in his voice.
"Hmm…Under what obligation do you have for this? Your right and title as general as been remove, why would General Iroh ask for your services?" Ryuan asked as skeptically gazed at the man.
"That's none of your business; it is classified information, Ryuan!" Sho said in a rushed tone as the Imperial guard smirked.
"Why so rash, Sho…? Unless you have something to hide…" Ryuan said as he stared at the man.
Intimidated and anger by the guard, Sho hustled himself out the door. "You know nothing…" Sho mumbled as he left the room. Ryuan simply watched the man go as he then turned his attention to the papers on the table. His eyes narrowed as he read through one of the documents.
"Ghosts and spells to wear off demons?" Ryuan said out loud as he then looked back.
'Sho…What are you planning?'
I know it's really short, I'm going to break this chapter into two parts. PLEASE review for a super fast update! Thanks for reading...Also what could Sho be planning? What happened to Toph? These answers and more next chapter!
