Book 4 Air
Chapter 98 Spiritual Energy
Aang opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by a mountain range covered with swirling mist. How did he get here? Is this a dream?
Aang then heard a soft voice, "Hello little one…"
"Avatar Yang Chen!" Aang said happy to see his former self. "Where's Avatar Roku?" Aang asked as the woman closed her eyes.
"He is battling with the dark energy that is threatening your life. He is the source of your inner fire. Like every firebender before him, he is fueling the energy to keep you from losing your fire bending." Yang Chen said as Aang blinked.
"Inner fire…I remember Zuko saying that once. What is inner fire?" Aang asked as Yang Chen explained.
"It is the source that makes a firebender bend. Without it they lose that power, along with their lives. Just as the airbenders have spirit and the earthbenders have drive, and the waterbender have passion. All these energies are what make a bender bend. Is they lose that ability they lose a part of themselves." Yang Chen said with wisdom as she opened her eyes. Aang nodded his head as he started to understand.
"Is that what happened to Fire Lord Ozai?" Aang asked, "When I took his bending away…I also took a part of him too?" Aang asked as Yang Chen nodded her head.
"Remember young Avatar. A spirit who is strong enough to possess the power to take that away will also be a threat to you as well." The woman said as Aang shouted. "Do you mean Koh? That's why I wanted to Roku! How do I destroy him?" Aang asked as Yang Chen closed her eyes.
"You can not kill a spirit but you can take away their power. Take his power and he will lose his ability and only then will he be defeated." Yang Chen said as Aang nodded his head.
The view of a dark bedroom was seen as the front door opened casting the outside light into the room. Iroh stepped in as he spoke out with concern. "Ursa? Are you resting?" Iroh asked as he closed the door behind him. The second the door clicked shut a form quickly shifted off the bed. Iroh tried to focus in his eyes as he spoke again. "Ursa?"
The dark outline of a woman was seen. She neither spoke nor moved. The woman then opened her eyes. Iroh the gasped, the woman's eyes glowed like a cat's iris. Iroh then formed into a stance.
"Who are you?" Iroh called out as the figure shifted to the right side then to the left. The woman stepped closer to the old man as Iroh called out again. "Stop! Not a step further!" Iroh said as he clenched his hand into a tight fist.
The woman appeared to be a daze as her hand rose up. Her delicate long fingers stretched outward as the scene then focused on her lips.
The woman spoke yet nothing was heard through her silent chant. Iroh then narrowed his eyes as he prepared for an attack.
Quickly Iroh shot his hand out, grabbing the woman's wrist and pulled her in. Ursa's body appeared unresponsive as she flowed with the man's movements. Her body fell onto his chest as he caught her, holding her up. "Ursa! Have you returned? Ursa!" Iroh called out as he lightly shook her.
Suddenly her hand flinched before gripped on his shoulders. Her head lifted revealed a wicked snarl. "I will have your soul!" the woman said as the voice sounded dark and vengeful.
Iroh tried to push her away as she struggled against him. The woman then gripped tighter on the man's shoulder and robes as he grunted. The spirit smiled through the woman's features. Before Koh had a chance Iroh lifted his arm able to grab something from his inner robe. The woman gasped as the sight of a strip of paper was seen. "No!" the woman screamed in horror as Iroh placed the sutra on Ursa's forehead.
The woman released her hold of Iroh as she felt back screaming in agony. Iroh then snapped his finger igniting the candles in the room to see more clearly. Ursa was seen on the ground as a dark energy rose from her body. The shadow then fled into the walls away from the light.
Iroh then ran to Ursa's side, "Ursa!" the old man called out as the woman slowly opened her eyes.
The soft honey orbs looked up at him. "I-Iroh?" Ursa managed to say as Iroh smiled. "It's alright Ursa…You're safe now." Iroh said as the scene back away slowly.
The sight of the infirmary room came into view as Katara was seen getting a glass of water while Toph sat by Aang's side watching him. Then suddenly from Zuko's bed, the young man shot up crying out in pain. Katara jumped as she dropped the glass of water and a nurse came rushing in.
"Hold him down!" Hold him down!" the doctor shouted as he entered into the second room.
The nurse tried to hold down the frantic teen as he started shout out, cursing out in an outrage.
"Damn it! Ahhh! Damn it!" Zuko cried out as he kicked his legs and arms in the air.
Another nurse ran to the bedside and held down his arm as the doctor rushed back in the room with a needle in his hand.
As the doctor gave him the shot, Zuko screamed out. "No! You fool! No! Ah! AHH!" Zuko yelled out as his body slowly stopped kicking and punching into the air as he groaned out.
The young man then calmed down as his heavy breathing eased and his eyes closed.
The doctor and two nurses all sighed as they pulled away. "What was that?" Katara asked startled and concerned as the doctor turned to the girl.
"It appears he is fighting the force within. Such an outrage could only mean that whatever Fire Lord Zuko is battling. It is angry." The doctor said as he lowered his head.
"I know in my profession, I am not supposed to think in such a matter. But in all of my studies, I have never seen a medical disease of any kind show something like this. So my only conclusion is that it is a higher force that we are dealing with." The doctor said as Katara thought of the man's words before noticing the broken glass on the floor.
"Oh! I am so sorry…" Katara said as she bent down trying to clean up the mess. One of the nurses stepped in to help.
"No, it's alright…I got it." Katara said as the nurse insisted on helping her. "No, Miss allow me. Please attend our lord's side." The nurse said kindly as Katara nodded her head. Standing up, Katara then walked over to Zuko's side and sat down.
Toph sighed as she looked down at Aang, "Do you think the same thing is happening to Aang?" the girl asked as the doctor turned his attention to the bedside.
"I am not sure…The only thing we can do now is wait." The doctor said as he then left the room.
Katara then sadly looked down at the young man before touching his forehead. 'Zuko…' Katara said as she lowered her head.
Just then Toph cried out as Katara looked up. "What's wrong?!" Katara exclaimed as she saw Toph smiling.
Katara then looked at Aang to see his eyes half way open. Quickly she ran to Aang's side and smiled brightly. "He's awake!" Katara said thankfully as Aang groaned out. "What happened?" Aang mumbled out as he slowly sat up.
Just then Katara heard another groan behind her. Her eyes widen as she turned around to see the Fire Lord already sitting up rubbing his head. "Zuko!" Katara cried out as she hugged. Zuko looked at her in a daze before saying the wonderful thing Katara ever heard.
"Katara? What's going on? Where am I?" Zuko asked as the girl pulled away. "Zuko! Do you? Do you remember me?" Katara asked as she looked deeply into the young man's eyes. Zuko blinked as he then nodded his head.
"Of course I remember you…What happened? Why am I in the infirmary?" Zuko said as he tried to get off the bed.
"Please my lord, remain seated so the doctor can examine you." The nurse said as she entered the room with a few bits of cloth in her hands.
Aang then turned to Toph as he was going to ask her what happened to Zuko. But before he had the chance to say any more the girl wrapped her arms around him. "You idiot! Don't ever scare me like that again!" Toph cried out as she hugged him. Aang blinked as he hugged her back.
After the doctor finished examining both of the boy's external and part internal functions, he stated a final evaluated that they were now fine. Katara and Toph smiled happily as Sokka walked in over-hearing the news. "That's great!" Sokka exclaimed as Zuko and Aang slowly started to get up and fully dressed in their outer robes. "You guys gave us a really big scare." Sokka said as Aang sheepishly apologized and Zuko merely nodded his head.
As Zuko stood up and looked at Katara he noticed a sort of softness in her features as she smiled at him.
"Katara?" Zuko questioned before she lowered her head. "Its times like this…That I start to realize how fate is proved." Katara said as Zuko tilted his head. "I am grateful to be here with you and to have shared so many things with you." Katara said deeply as Zuko smiled.
"Same here…Katara." Zuko said as the girl's smile widened.
"Hey, since everyone is feeling better…Who's hungry?!" Sokka said as Katara rolled her eyes.
As the friends ate a small meal in the separate dining room, Aang then told them his conversation with Avatar Yang Chen. Zuko narrowed his eyes as he spoke clearly to the Avatar. "Aang are you sure you want to do this. He can risk taking your bending abilities, all of them." Zuko said as Aang gave a serious expression.
"It's the only way I can stop him from hurting anymore people. I need to do this." Aang said with determination as the group sighed with worry. Just then Iroh entered into the small room. He spoke in a stern voice, "I have terrible news. The spirit Koh has struck again." Iroh said.
"Who was it uncle?" Zuko asked as Iroh bared a grim expression. "Your mother."
Zuko jumped up from his seat and called out, "Is she alright?!"
"Yes, she is stable…But unfortunately she has fallen and is in the same state as your sister." Iroh said as Aang stood up from his chair.
"That's it…This is going to end." Aang said more confident that usual as he started to walk out of the room.
"Aang, where are you going?" Katara asked as Aang looked back. "I'm going find him; he must still be here in the palace." Aang said as Toph stood up.
"I'm coming with you…We'll find him easier with two earthbenders." Toph said with a smug smirk as Aang smiled.
"Alright then…" the Avatar said as they left the room.
As the two couples of Suki, Sokka and Zuko and Katara left the room then down the halls, they both divided to their bedrooms. Suki and Sokka held hand and hand as Katara kept her distance from Zuko. The Fire Lord was still confused about what happened and why Katara was so worried.
"Katara…What happened to me." Zuko asked as Katara stopped walking. "It's not important…" Katara said as Zuko yelled out. "How is it not!? Don't pretend like it never happened!" Zuko said becoming angry with the girl. 'Why is she behaving this way? So cold and distant again?'
"Y-you…Forgot about me Zuko…Everything we shared together…The good and bad. All gone." Katara said as she lowered her head daring not to look at the young man behind her.
Zuko's eyes contacted as he gasped out. "Katara…" Zuko said in disbelief.
'I forgot about her…? How could I have?' Zuko thought as he then took a step then wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"So that's what you were saying talking about in the infirmary…Yes, it is fate…" Zuko said as he nuzzled her cheek with his.
"Katara, you are so precious to me…I will never ever forget you." Zuko said as tears filled up in the girl's eyes.
"I was so scared! It was like it wasn't even you anymore! Yet you were there…and-
"Shhh…It's alright. I'm right here." Zuko said as Katara closed her eyes and placed her hands on his arms.
"Zuko…" Katara managed to say as he held her close to his heart.
Aang and Toph paced down the hall, their earthbending on the floors vibrated along the walls searching for the hiding spirit.
Toph then felt something or rather saw something with her bending. A large mass hiding behind a metal barrier, "Aang I think I've found something." Toph said as she ran to the side of a wall with a huge painting in front of her. "What Toph?" Aang said as Toph cursed lightly. 'That's right…He's not a metal bender.' Toph thought as she then pulled on the walls calling forth the metal pipes.
A loud creaking was heard as Aang took a step back. The screeching sound then stop as a sudden boom was heard as six metal pipes broken through the walls arching in Toph's grasp.
As Toph yanked the pipes away she then busted through the metal wall, creating an entrance for her and airbender to go in to. As the two pre teens entered the empty chamber, Toph felt the tapping vibrates echo to her feet. "This way!" Toph exclaimed as she ran down the hall.
Aang followed hastily making his way through the dusty rooms. As he ran by he noticed a covered window the size of a whole room. He kept a mental note as followed Toph.
As they entered into a dead end, Toph cried out in frustration. "Argh he must have just missed him." Toph said as Aang then sighed. Looking around Aang then thought about looking up. He then gasped as he saw the creature hiding over a hanging lamp. Aang acted quickly.
"No! Toph, watch out!" Aang said as he pushed the girl out of the way as the long segment body landed on the ground.
Toph turned then coughed as the dust filled her lungs. "Aang!" Toph exclaimed as she saw the segment body curl and sway before the head was seen. "It's no use little girl. I crushed him with my body. Haha!" the spirit said as he laughed wickedly.
Just then a sound of drilling was heard as the boy popped out from the ground a few feet away from the spirit. 'Thank goodness there was a form of earth underneath the wooden planks.' Aang thought as he then ran the opposite way. "Haha! Fool! There is no escape!" koh yelled as he charged at the Avatar.
Running to the large covered windows, Aang pulled the fabric away. Warm sunlight beamed into the room as the spirit screamed out in pain as he curled away. The airbender then jumped up on the creature's head and placed his hand on the Noh's mask's forehead. "You wretched child!" the spirit screamed as he tried to shake him off. Aang held on tightly as he then took a breath before summoning the power.
The spirit then cried out as a gray light covered his whole body and a bright blue light covered Aang's. Toph watched in amazement as the blue light over powered the spirit's haunting aura.
Soon the whole room surrounded in Aang's spiritual energy and blasted into the ceiling. More sunlight beamed down on the spirit as he screamed in anguish as his body hissed with steam slowly cooking his flesh.
Then the light faded as Aang felt to the floor, Toph raced to his side and held him protectively. The spirit cried out and screamed as he shook violently. Then as soon as it happened the spirit suddenly vanished.
The dead end wall then opened revealing a hidden door as Zuko, Katara and Suki, Sokka, plus five guards and Imperial Ryuan with Iroh were seen.
"Aang!" Katara cried out as she ran by his side with Toph and checked any internal damage. "Thank goodness." Katara said as she then turned to Toph and the others. "He's alright." Katara said as two guards entered to help the boy up. As they picked him up, Aang mumbled. "Aang!" Toph cried out as he opened his eyes. "Hey Toph…" Aang said in a weak voice as Toph cheered. "You defeated Koh! You squashed him like the worm he is!" Toph said as she smiled.
"Way to go!" Sokka called out as the others clapped in respect of the Avatar. "Come on…Let's get you to your room." Katara said as the guards carried the hero out of the chambers.
Koh was defeat! So, does that mean the dance will continue? What if more problems arise at the ceremony? Stay tune and find out next chapter! Please review!!!
