Ok guys, Becka and I noticed how close we are to getting 100 reviews. We have set that as our goal and request your aid to reach it. So please review the chapters!
The lone couple returned to Gaoling around midday to find the Bei Fong residence empty. They wandered around the house finding each and every room empty. No furniture, no paintings, no people and no Toph.
"This is weird, where is everybody?" Katara asked.
"I wonder where they could have gone."
"Come on lets go find out." Aang and Katara, curious of why there was nothing, left the house and asked the townsfolk.
"Excuse me sir can you tell us what happened to the Bei Fongs?" Aang asked a nearby blacksmith, the same one Sokka had purchased his new sword from.
"They moved about a week ago. Said something about some military types from Ba Sing Se requesting their daughter's presence." The old black smith said.
"Do you know why they asked for Toph?" Katara asked him.
"I'm sorry but no, you know as much as I do now."
"That's ok, thank you for your help." They left the blacksmith and returned to where Appa was.
"Well if Toph's in Ba Sing Se then we can return there to see her and deal with the post war updates." Aang said.
"Sounds good, do you want to head out now or latter?" Katara asked as she lay down on the bison's paw. Aang joined her on the massive paw.
"Well we could stay awhile longer, I'm sure that Appa wouldn't mind the rest." Aang received a low groan from the bison in appreciation.
"Alright then what do you want to do? We've pretty much got the town memorized after last time."
"How about a picnic on the hill? We haven't done that yet." Aang said pointing to a large hill behind them that overlooked the town.
Sounds great but first we'll have to get some food, a blanket and a basket." The two went back into the town past the blacksmiths shop and bought a variety of fruits, a small wooden basket and a green blanket. They decided to make this a very simple yet tasteful lunch. They returned to Appa and flew him to the top of the hill where Aang pulled out the blanket they had bought. He set it on the hill as Katara placed the basket of fruit in the middle. Katara sat down as Aang grabbed a few leechi nuts and a watermelon and gave them to Momo and Appa. He went back to Katara and sat down next to her.
"You know, as many times as we're up here we've never seen what all of this looks like in the day; it's beautiful." Katara said enjoying the scenery that was in front of them.
"Yeah, it sure is." Aang said as he stared at Katara who, at first, didn't notice him. She turned to see Aang giving her a weird smile.
"What? Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"Oh, I was smiling?"
"Yes, you were and that doesn't work on me anymore, so what were you thinking about?"
"Just what you said, how it's beautiful up here."
"And? You haven't even looked at the view yet. You've only been staring at me…Oh." Katara began to blush now understanding what Aang had said. Aang laughed and they had their lunch. After lunch Katara relaxed in Aang's arms and watched the small, peaceful village as he stroked her hair.
"I know it's normal for you and I like it too but maybe sometime you could let your hair down for me instead of keeping it in your hair loopies." Aang asked as Katara turned to face him but remained in his arms.
"You do know that my hair loopies are actually called something right?"
"Yeah but it's more fun to call them hair loopies."
"Alright then that's what I'll call them, but just because you're so much more cute when you have fun. As for your request I'll think about it. It's easier to keep my hair down but I don't like that it gets in my face every time there's a small wind current. And that tends to happen a lot when my boyfriend's an Airbender."
"Wow I'm just getting everything my way right now…I kind of like it."
"I guess you deserve something going towards your way instead of the worlds every now and then."
"I got you to come my way and that's all I will ever need." Aang leaned in and met her lips. The perfect kiss surged through them both, melting each other away. Neither of them wanted to break it, yet the lack of air demanded for it. They both panted heavily, both knew it was well worth it. They stood up and decided to continue their way to Ba Sing Se to find Toph and Iroh. Aang had decided to head along the eastern mountains of the Earth Kingdom, feeling that after leaving Guru Pathik for a second time in the same manor he would hold a grudge. Common knowledge told Aang that he's a guru and holding grudges isn't in his nature. However Aang's worries told him that Pathik would hate him. Thus he decided to stay to the mountains. Around nightfall Katara and Aang were about to land for the night.
"Well this is going to be fun. We haven't camped out in a very long time." Aang said looking to the bright side of not having a warm bed.
"Maybe we won't have to look up there." Katara said pointing to a small, brightly lit, village. They landed Appa in the forest nearby and walked into the village. A large festival was going on and they both remembered the last time they entered a festival.
"Wow this is really cool I wonder if we can ruin this festival up like we did in Chin Village." Aang said sarcastically.
"Yeah it's fun ruining evil festivals. Come on let's look around." They wandered around the small village looking at different street performers, game booths, and merchant carts. There were no signs or posters saying what type of festival it was so they decided to ask around.
"Excuse me sir what's the reason for this festival?" Aang asked a passing man as he laughed and continued on.
"Ugh ok let me try. Miss, why is everybody celebrating today?" Katara asked a lady selling small colorful rocks. She, like the man before her, laughed at her and shooed her away.
"Something tells me that these people don't get many visitors." Aang said as he and Katara continued walking around the village. They stopped at a food merchant and bought some…thing.
"What is it?" Aang asked the man. He, like the two before him, laughed at them.
"What is this laugh-in-your-face village?" Katara asked Aang who took a bite out of his…thing. Katara looked at Aang who had a variety of expressions on his face.
"How is it?" She asked.
"It tastes new, weird, good, and bad all at the same time; try some." He urged her. She did as he asked and received the same response.
"Wow this…thing is really…different." Katara tried to say finding it hard to describe the odd thing. Aang quickly whipped his head around when he heard a familiar voice in the distance.
"Katara look over there, that guy is that?"
"No way, it is. What's he doing here?"
"I don't know but let's go find out." the couple made their way over to him to find he was talking with a middle-aged woman with dark hair and gold eyes.
"Hello king Kuei how have you been?" Aang asked as the king turned around.
"Aang, Katara it's good to see you both well again! What brings you to laugh-in-your-face village?" He asked them as he stood up to great them properly.
"Wait so this place is really called laugh-in-your-face village?" Katara asked him.
"Well no, but if you ever come through here as a traveler the people here laugh in face at every comment you make."
"So where are we exactly?" Aang asked.
"You are at the Ostrich Horse festival in Be Ying (pronounced Bay not Be) village."
"Ostrich Horse festival?" Katara asked.
"Yeah I'm not a big fan of it; I personally think that ostrich horse meat tastes gross."
"Tastes? What does it look like?" The curious Avatar asked.
"You're holding it." Kuei said calmly as Aang's face went pale and he fainted. Aang woke up the next morning in a bed. He got out of bed and cautiously walked over to the door and listened for noise on the other side. Hearing nothing he opened the door slowly and was startled by a sudden voice.
"Oh good your up, I was beginning to worry about you." Kuei said.
"Ah! Oh it's you, what happened last night, where are we, where's Katara?"
"In order? You fainted, were at my friend's house, the one I was talking to last night, and she's out with my friend shopping."
"Oh...who is your friend?" Aang said wrapping his head around the information.
"Her name is Rusa; she's a very nice lady. When I first came here Bosco and I were weak, hungry and out of money. Rusa offered for me to stay at her place until I got back on my feet. I decided to stay so I built a house not too far from here and am now a part of this village."
"Ok, she looks really familiar though. Where is Bosco?" Aang asked wondering where the rather strange animal had gone off to.
"He should be outside with Appa and Momo." As Kuei finished the door opened and the two ladies returned with their arms full of groceries.
"Oh good your back, look who's awake." Kuei said informing the women.
"Aang you're awake, you gave me quite a scare last night you know." Katara said as she set the groceries down on a counter top.
"Sorry, I guess the whole eating meat thing really threw me for a loop."
"I guess so; Oh Aang you have to meet Rusa she's a really kind and sweet woman." Katara said pulling Aang toward the kitchen and Rusa.
"Rusa this is Avatar Aang when he's not fainting. Aang this is Rusa."
"Hello young Avatar it's an honor to meet you." She bowed to Aang as he returned the gesture.
"It's nice to meet you too but might I say you look really familiar."
"Oh? And whom might I look like to you?" she asked wondering.
"I don't know but when I remember I'll tell you."
"Very well, now have you had anything to eat yet?"
"No ma'am I woke up a few minutes ago."
"Well why don't we make you something, will you help me Katara?" Katara nodded and left to make Aang's breakfast with Rusa. A few hours after midday Aang asked Katara to follow him up to a hill to be alone.
"So what's up, why did you bring me here?"
"I know who Rusa, as she calls herself, really is." Aang said while staring off into the distance.
"What do you mean who she really is?"
"Her real name isn't Rusa, its Ursa, As in Fire Lady Ursa." Aang looked over to Katara who was dumbfounded at Aang's claim.
"Are you positive it's her?" Katara said impatiently waiting his response.
"Absolutely I always remember a face. Well in this case I always remember a painting."
"We should tell Zuko, he misses her dearly."
"Not before we talk to her about it. Tonight at dinner we'll ask her, ok?" Katara agreed with the plan of action and couldn't wait for dinner. The rest of the day seemed to take forever for Katara, who was overly anxious for tonight. The night finally came and the four friends were sitting in "Rusa's" living room.
"So Rusa." Aang said putting emphasis on her name.
"Yes Aang what is it?"
"I remembered who you remind me of. Would you like to know?"
"Of course."
"I'm glad you accept Fire Lady Ursa." Aang said to her, he knew she was Ursa when her eyes widened and she froze then smiled.
"I guess changing the letters around in your name only work for some people, but how did you know?" She quietly asked him.
"I saw the painting of you and Zuko when we at the Royal Palace." This caught Ursa completely off guard.
"Why were you at the palace? If Ozai had caught you, who knows what would happen to the world." Aang and Katara looked at each other rather confused.
"Um, the wars been over for about eight or nine weeks now." Katara informed the Fire Lady understanding that this little secluded town had little contact with the outside world.
"What? Well what happened?" Aang sighed and began to tell the story of how Ozai had fallen and Zuko had taken the thrown and ended the war.
"So Zuko listened to me after all these years. How is he?"
"He and Mai are living peacefully in the Fire Nation, but we don't know for how long. Reports are saying rebellions in the Fire Nation are increasing."
"I wonder if he remembers me."
"Of course he does, you were his drive to keep going ever since he joined us." Aang said reassuring her.
"It would be nice to see him again."
"Well were on our way to Ba Sing Se to see Iroh, would you like to join us?" Katara offered.
"Iroh's in Ba Sing Se?"
"Yes he owns a very successful tea shop there called the Jasmine Dragon."
"I would love to see Iroh again if you wouldn't mind me joining you."
"Not at all, we're leaving tomorrow morning."
"Um, excuse me, forgotten earth king over here. If you wouldn't mind me returning to my city either, I would like to join you." Aang nodded and the group settled in for the night.
The next morning Aang and Katara were out by Appa waiting for their new companions to join them. After the three new guests, King Kuei, Fire Lady Ursa and Bosco, boarded the bison they took to the skies and continued their way to the Earth Kingdom capital.
We are now going to add review responses to each chapter for you guys so any questions you ask will be answered in the next chapter.
Allikittenkat1: We don't think she would either it just seemed like something Aang would panic about.
Mithendel: I'm sure you're not the only one. Zuko just doesn't seem like the eavesdropping type…but he is in this! Haha!
PandaLily22: We always wondered what happens if Katara gets hurt? Who would heal her? So Aang can heal now and take care of her if she ever gets hurt. As for the cloud baby part…now that makes sense but is very weird at the same time. Lol
xCelesx: We've already talked about your review. We put you in here so you wouldn't feel left out.
xxICanSeeYouxx: There you go. Chapter 13 as requested. Not much of a review, but we'll always answer.
The Dark Knight's Revenge: We love it too. It's your basic panic-running circle and now Aang was added to it. Double points!
Private LL Church: Well thanks I guess, nothing to say can be taken both in a good and bad way, but we'll take as a good thing.