Book 4 Air
Chapter 95 Hidden Resolution
Katara and Zuko shielded their eyes from the blinding light, shortly the beam died down. The two teens then saw Aang floating above the dining table; his tattoos and eyes were glowing bright white as a ball of air encircled him.
"Aang!" Katara called out as Toph, Suki and Sokka stepped aside. "What happened?" Zuko asked through the deafening swirls of air surrounding the airbender as glasses and trays fell on the floor shattering and scattering all over.
"He was trying to reach Roku. I don't know what went wrong!" Sokka yelled out as the whirl wind of air grew bigger casting nearly the whole room. Everyone exited out to the doorway unsure what to do.
"Fire Lord Zuko!" Ryuan yelled as he run up to his lord.
"What is happening?" Ryuan asked loudly as Zuko turned to the Imperial.
"We're not sure…You there! Close these doors!" Zuko ordered as the servants quickly shut the thick red oak doors.
The loud whirling winds were blocked and everyone calmed down slightly. "My lord…Is the boy entering into the Avatar State?" Ryuan asked once hearing rumors of the powerful airbender becoming almost God like during his so called 'Avatar State'.
"I'm not sure…It seems like it though." Zuko said.
"He must be protecting himself from Koh while trying to find Roku." Toph said as she paused for a moment before speaking again.
"You never give a hundred percent to any task, or your become vulnerable to your surroundings. Making you an easy target due to distraction. Aang must be protecting himself with that air ball, so he can then focus on finding Roku." Toph said as everyone nodded their heads in understanding.
"Besides…I think the dining room is the perfect place." Toph said as she placed her hands on her hips.
"With all of those pipes lined up per inch of that room along with it being concealed in the center of the whole palace. There's no way Koh can reach him." Toph said with a smirk.
"But the pipes are in the inside of the walls…So then how?" Zuko mumbled as his eyes then widen.
"The chambers…" Zuko said as the group looked at him.
"What was that Zuko?" Katara asked concerned.
"There are secret chambers in the whole palace..." Zuko said.
"Secret chambers?" Suki questioned as Zuko explained. "They're for emergency purposes…But no one has used them. At least not till the last solar eclipse happened. I remember playing in the chambers a lot with my sister when I was a kid. The chambers are dark and haven't been kept at high maintenance for a while." Zuko said as he recalled the vast empty rooms.
"Of course! That's it!" Sokka exclaimed.
"What is it Sokka?" Suki asked as Sokka pointed his finger upward, "What better place than a dark empty chamber!" Sokka said as some of the members were confused.
"Just get to the point Sokka." Katara said as Sokka waved his arms. "The spirit is hiding in the secret chambers!" Sokka said flustered by the group's slow brains.
Everyone gasped as they then turned to the two doors. "Do you think Aang will be alright?" Katara asked as Ryuan nodded his head.
"For now…Miss Bei Fong was correct about the location. Metal pipes were constructed in this central area to conserve energy for water and steam. The walls are durable and will not crumble easily by mere force." Ryuan said as Zuko then turned his attention to the Imperial.
"Ryuan, please take everyone to the guest house by the upper ring." Zuko said Toph yelled out.
"I'm not leaving Aang!" Toph shouted as Zuko sighed. "I'm staying here, I'll be sure to protect him." Zuko said calmly before Katara spoke out.
"No! I won't leave you…" Katara said as Zuko turned to her. "I have to insure everyone's safety…I'll be fine. Please Katara, you have to leave. You'll be safe there." Zuko said trying to reason with the girl as she shook her head. "No!"
Just then the palace then quaked as the ground rumbled. Toph cried out as she felt the strong vibrations hit her feet violently. The shaking then stopped as Zuko turned to the Imperial.
"Ryuan please reason with her…Meet me by the western wing afterwards!" Zuko said as he then kissed Katara before pacing down the hall into a full run. Katara cried out as Ryuan held her back.
"Please Miss Katara we have to go…" Ryuan said as the palace then shook again into another violent quake.
As the group ran to the entrance hall Toph cried out, "He's here!" Toph exclaimed as she felt the quick taps within the walls. "He's going back to Aang!" Toph cried as she stopped running and turned back.
"No Miss Bei Fong!" Ryuan called out as the rest of the group slowed down. "Keep going, head for the noble houses!" Ryuan told the others as they followed his orders. Servants and guards ran pass Toph as she paced down to the dining quarters. 'Aang…!' Toph thought with worry as her long hair trailed behind her.
"Uncle!" Zuko called out as he ran into the man who looked tired and almost frantic. "Aang has gone into the Avatar State…" Zuko said as he panted. Iroh's eyes set firmly as he then realized what was causing the violent earthquakes.
"Have you seen your mother?" Iroh asked as Zuko shook his head. "We got separated after the quake…" Iroh said with regret tugging at his voice. Zuko narrowed his eyes as he then spoke out.
"Has everyone else been evacuated?" Zuko asked sternly as Iroh nodded his head. A glimpse of worry shined in his eyes as he lowered his head. Zuko blinked, he never saw such emotion come from his uncle.
"Don't worry!" Zuko said in a determined tone as another quake shook the palace. The ceiling cracked above the two men as they kept their balance.
"I'll check the western wing; go down back to the dining quarters. We'll find her!" Zuko said as he then took off down the hallway as Iroh looked back at his nephew. "Be careful…" Iroh said out loud as he then paced onward.
The sight of a woman dressed in blood red robes was seen. Ursa's long black hair swayed in the gentle breeze as she looked out at the small fountain from the vestibule.
Her face expressed deep despair as she then felt a strange stir in her chest. Then a voice called to her.
"Why are you sad…?"
The voice asked Ursa as she lifted her head and spoke, "Because I lost the love of my life…and will soon lose my baby girl." The woman said in a soft yet lonely tone.
"I can make that sadness go away…I can protect your heart."
"Protect my heart…?" Ursa said as her eyes narrowed softly.
"If you let me…I can make all your sadness…All your regret, disappear."
The voice said lightly as the woman clenched her chest.
"Do possess the power? To make any wish come true?" Ursa asked in a hopeful tone.
A long pause hung in the air as Ursa then spoke again.
"If you were to…could you…Grant my son happiness…?" Ursa asked as the wind swayed her hair softly.
No answer came back to her as she then placed her hands on the stone sill before crying out.
"Please I beg of you! Make all the hurtful memories inside him disappear! Give him happiness!" Ursa pleaded as tears whelmed up in her eyes.
"What about your happiness?"
The voice asked her as she then smiled warmly.
"He is my happiness…My pride and joy. Please will you grant my wish?" Ursa asked as another long pause drifted on.
"I will grant you, your wish…All of his painful memories will disappear. In return…You give me your form and I will protect your heart."
Ursa smiled lightly before she lowered her head, "Yes…I give you my body in exchange for my son's happiness…"
"Good…"
The voice said before laughing wickedly as the sight of the woman's golden eyes were seen closing as her form drew closer and closer before the scene backed away to her mouth parting out harshly. Ursa gasped out as her eyes shot open…The last thing she thought of was her family all smiling and laughing before collapsing to the ground unconscious.
A young man was seen running down the corridors as he opened doors looking for his mother.
Panting Zuko raced down the hall before something hit him hard. Zuko yelled out in pain before dropping to the ground. His chest felt tight as he struggled to breathe. "What's happening?!" Zuko hissed out as he gripped his rig cage. He felt like he was struck by a komodo rhino!
"Ah…AHHHH!" Zuko shouted as his mind suddenly flooded with images of his past.
"Why? Why am I thinking of this now?" Zuko questioned as he then rolled to the side gripping his head.
"AH!!!" Zuko screamed as images of his childhood were seen, then his father, then when he first saw Katara in her village…The images continued on…Viewing everything he had seen and felt during those times.
Before crying out again, Zuko gasped for air as his body flexed tensing in every muscle.
Panting heavily, the young man then reacted on instinct as he unleashed a powerful flame encircling him as he scorched the walls and doors around him. Zuko then curled into a ball coughing violently until he passed out on the carpet underneath him.
"Ursa!" Iroh called out as he raced to the fallen woman on the marble ground. Ursa sat up appearing dazed and confused. "Ursa! Are you alright?" Iroh asked as she slowly nodded her head.
"Come on, we have to evacuate the palace." Iroh said as he pulled the woman up and walked holding her steady as she followed his led. The scene then zoomed in on the woman as she then smiled a cold wicked smile.
UH-OH! What will happen next? Please review and find out next chapter!
