Book 4 Air

Chapter 99 Setting Warmth

The view of a guest bedroom was seen with Aang resting on the full size mattress in red blankets and puffy pillows. Toph and Katara stayed by the boy's side as Zuko and the others left to consult on Ursa and Azula's condition.

Toph sat as close as possible to the airbender as she watched him with both happiness and sadness. Aang has fought long and hard these pass couple months and had endured more than any normal person should have to bear. But, he isn't a normal person…

He is the Avatar, master of all four elements and also a nomad monk, the last of his kind…

Toph thought as she then frown slightly.

"Toph, did you hear me?" Katara asked as the earthbender was brought out of her thoughts.

"Oh? What is it…?" Toph said almost in a daze as she continued to look down at the sleeping boy.

"I'm going to go and check on the others, do you mind staying here while I'm gone?" Katara asked in a soft tone as Toph shook her head. "No, I don't mind…I'll stay." Toph said as she slightly looked at the waterbender before turning her full attention on Aang. Katara smiled lightly as she stood up from her chair and left the room. Toph then reached out and caressed the boy's soft right cheek.

Before Toph could blink she saw Aang slowly open his eyes. He shifted his eyes to the right and looked up at the girl with a half smile. "Hey lazy bones, you finally woke up." Toph said as she smiled back at the boy.

"Did you sleep well?" Toph then asked showing a rare concerned expression, softening her already delicate features.

Aang blinked again before parting his lips, "Yes, actually…Probably the best sleep I've had in months." Aang said sounding fully rested as he stretched out his arms.

Toph smiled warmly as she reached out and touched his hand, "I'm glad…" Toph said lightly as the airbender slightly gasped at the genuine smile from the girl. "Are you feeling ok?" Aang asked as Toph then pulled away.

"Of course I'm okay. Why do ya ask?" Toph said as she tried to think of why the boy was giving her a concerned look.

Was it something she said?

"You just seem…nicer." Aang said trying to find the right words.

Toph then blushed as she then crossed her arms over her chest, "I was just worried about ya' that's all." Toph said as she darted her eyes to the side looking away from the smiling airbender.

"Heh thanks…" Aang said as he then sat up before hissing out. "What's wrong? Don't move so quickly!" Toph cried out as she saw the hurt expression on the boy's face. Aang lightly chuckled as he grabbed his rib cage. "Ah, it's nothing…Probably just some bruised ribs…" Aang said trying not to worry the girl as she scoffed.

"Idiot…" Toph said.

Aang's smile then faded as his eyes narrowed. He appeared to be thinking deeply before he spoke out.

"Can I ask you something…?"

"Yea, what?" Toph asked as she dropped her arms.

"When Koh gave you your sight back…Did he take something from you in the process?" Aang asked as Toph thought hard about it.

"I don't know…I've always wondered why he did it and in some weird way. I never thought about what it would be like to see. At least not until I met you…" Toph said as she blushed lightly.

"Uh? Why then?" Aang asked as Toph turned her head. "I never met someone so carefree…Someone who was also so optimistic about everything. I started to wonder…What you might look like." Toph said as her cheeks tinted darker. "I've heard stories of the nomad monks once when I was little. In one of the tales I remember the old man said how they used to ambush the Fire Nation army by using quick maneuvers to over power them." Toph said with a smile.

"After hearing that, I decided to practice my earthbending with a bigger range to 'see'" Toph said as Aang smiled. "It worked wonders…" Toph said as she smiled while tilting her head.

Aang chuckled before sighing. "Well, the reason I asked you is…After I took Koh's power away. Something strange happened. All these images flashed in my mind…Things I've never seen before and I know so much more than I could ever imagine." Aang said as Toph lifted her right eyebrow.

"Like what?" Toph said as Aang tried to remember the visions. "Like things that happened long ago or maybe the future. So many things…that I can't even say." Aang said as he tried to make sense in what he was seeing. "Boats that is bigger than a lion turtle or wagons without animals or people to pull them along the road. I-I don't know!" Aang said as he gripped his head.

"Aang, it's alright maybe you just had some weird dream…" Toph said as she reached to him.

Aang then sighed as he turned to the girl, "Yea…Maybe you're right." Aang said as the scene pulled away showing their hands entwined.


Katara walked down the hall as she entered into the western royal wing of the palace. Once down the hallway she turned to the opened door, once inside the room Katara smiled. The scene of Zuko hugging his mother came into view as the teen then pulled away.

"I'm glad you're alright…Mom." Zuko said as the woman smiled. "All thanks to the Avatar." Iroh said as he then saw the waterbender. "Ah, Katara come in…Ursa wants to see you." Iroh said as the girl sheepishly stepped in. Pulling a strand of hair out of her face, Katara then bowed to the woman. Ursa smiled warmly as she spoke, "No need to bow so formally to me, Katara. You will soon become a member of our family." Ursa said in a light tone as she reached out to the girl. Katara's heart swelled as she walked over to the woman giving her a hug. As the girl pulled away, Ursa then spoke to Iroh. "How is Azula doing?"

"Well she seems to still be resting but the doctor says, she make a full recovery." Iroh said with a light smile. Katara lowered her head as she closed her eyes. She was so happy…Everything is slowly falling into place.

"Milord!" a servant called out as he panted by the doorway. Zuko stood up and asked what was wrong.

"Princess Azula, milord! She is gone!" the servant said as everyone gasped. Zuko then marched to the doorway as the servant backed away bowing. "Alert the guards- send out an emergency status on her immediately." Zuko ordered as he left the room down the hallway.

'Why? Why does she keep running away?' Zuko thought as he continued down the hall, marching in a regal and serious matter.

As Zuko passed by a wall of windows he saw a figure casting in front of the crimson setting sun in the courtyard gardens.

Zuko quickly entered into the vestibule and outside. Slowly stopping he stood a few yards behind the girl. Her chopped hair layered behind her back as it swayed in a light breeze. A loose robe was seen on her as it shifted along her form. Azula then spoke out while still gazing at the melting fire ball over the horizon.

"I never realized how simple my life was as a child. I had it all. Skill, talent and title of a royal princess, I was a prodigy in my own right. Still…It wasn't enough for me. I always wanted to be the best even if it meant lying. I thought I was clever and could fool everyone. But in reality…I was the fool." Azula said as she lowered her head. "You had the one thing I wanted most and couldn't have…Our mother's love." The young woman said as the last word rolled off her tongue.

"My own mother feared me…So I used that fear to get what I wanted. But even that wasn't enough for me." Azula said as she continued on.

"After she left, I then used the power of fearing people on my friends, Mai and Ty Lee. It was just like my rare blue fire. I had control over everything. I had that power in my very hands and then…You left. After that father used me to his advantage. I knew he never loved me. He only loved my talent and superior skills in combat. So I allowed him to use me; in the end I soon had my own desires in capturing the Avatar myself since you failed so miserably and dishonored our family by letting history repeat itself. I thought by getting the Avatar it will full-fill my want. But even that wasn't enough. Then…I was betrayed. After that I lost sight, of who I really was…Then the rest, feels like I was in a dream... A nightmare… That voice…The one who led me through this living hell is finally gone and so is that power, Zuzu…" Azula said as her voice tinted anger and frustration then ended with a sigh of relief.

"That power of making people fear me is no more…" Azula said as she slightly turned her head, glancing at her brother. Zuko narrowed his eyes as he let the girl's words sink in his mind.

"Do you despise me, Zuko?" Azula then asked as she then laughed a hollow chuckle. "Of course you do…I've tried to kill you." Azula said reminding herself.

"No…" Zuko said clearly as Azula then turned completely. Facing her brother as the sunlight casted behind her form.

"Liar." Azula said as Zuko then smirked. "Now, you know I'm a terrible liar, Azula." Zuko said as he took a step forward.

"It's all in the past now. Let us return home…" Zuko said as Azula turned her head.

"No! No normal person can forgive someone like me so easily…" Azula cried out as she shut her eyes.

"I turned into a monster…" Azula shouted as she lowered her head. "I am a monster…" the girl whispered as she then heard a soft voice speak out.

"You are not a monster, Azula…" the voice said as Azula opened her eyes then jerked her head up.

Ursa smiled warmly as she walked passed Zuko and in front of her daughter. "You are my little princess." The woman said as she paused for a moment before speaking in a loving tone.

"You were just confused and were led into the wrong path…But now, you are here with us. Let us help you walk onto a road of happiness and love." Ursa said as she widens her arms out as Azula tried to stop herself from crying.

"We love you Azula…" Ursa said as she smiled warmly to her now crying daughter. "I-I love you too…" the girl cried out before running up to her mother and embracing her. The young woman sobbed in her mother's chest as the woman petted her head softly.

"Welcome back…My baby girl." Ursa said as she hugged her daughter tightly letting her sob in her arms.

Zuko lowered his head as tears felt down his cheeks. It was an emotional moment between the royal family as the scene parted away showing the sun finally setting underneath the kingdom and into the sea.


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