Book 5 Water
Chapter 14 Complex
Pacing down the narrow hall, Aang reached the room where Toph was staying. He opened the door and spoke out.
"Toph listen I think we should talk-" Aang said as he then looked at the scene pausing briefly.
It was only for an instance that the young man glimpsed at the half naked woman before him.
Toph stared at him while her cheeks tinted to the reddest shade he ever saw. Blinking for a moment, Aang then staggered a rambling apologize as Toph then yelled at him.
"Get out!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Aang said as he ducked his head low before covering his eyes expect for a small split between his two fingers.
"Then why do you just stand there?! Get out of here!" Toph cried out as she then covered herself while stomping up to the blundering male as she forcefully pushed him back out of the room.
Aang then stumbled backward as Toph gave him a final glare before slamming the door hard in his face. The wooden entry shut with a loud bang as Aang fell on his bottom.
Blowing out a deep sigh, Aang then pushed himself up. As the young man stepped out into the open grounds, flashes of the noblewoman's body flood into his mind.
Her bare back was a creamy white complexion; her breasts were a perfect size. Trying to recall further, Aang then remembered the color of her nipples. They were a soft pink, dainty circles of flesh against her petite frame when he saw her turn to him.
While Aang walked down the path to the courtyard, he chuckled when he remembered the young woman's expression.
Her eyes were wide and her face brighten redder than a cherry. Her black strands of hair were damp and curled on the tips like a beautiful waves of meshed silk.
Grinning to himself, Aang folded his hands behind his head as he strolled down to the airball game field where the tall wooden poles still stood. Trying to shift his thoughts else where. Aang then looked around to find a lightweight wooden ball by his feet. The young picked up the old ball that was used in the game above him.
Spinning the ball on the tip of his finger, Aang then toss it across the court as it passed through the goal. Smirking to himself, Aang applauded that he still was the best airball gamer in the whole temple. Well, really the whole world to be exact as he then narrowed his eyes.
Even after all these years, it was hard to believe he was the only airbender left.
In his youth after the war, Aang knew one day he would have to repopulate to save his heritage and culture as an airbender Nomad. But no airbender has ever been with someone else other than another airbender. Thus his chances of having children blessed with the ability to bend air were reduced greatly. Of course, the young man got over that almost frantic point in his life when he took responsibility of helping bring balance to the world.
Throughout his journey he saw the love and joy from other families around him. Even Katara and Zuko's commitment was inspirational. It was something rarely seen in the life of a monk. Yes, there were mentors that could be deemed as father figures. But Aang never truly had parents. He, himself never even knew his parents. Since the day he was born he was taken to the Southern Air Temple to train as a nomad monk.
His only contact with any females was when he visited his friends like Bumi or Kuzon. Their mothers would welcome him with open arms and at the time Aang never considered the thought of his own mother. Of course now, Aang felt an empty tug in his heart of a mother's love.
At that moment, a flash of someone came into his mind. It was a girl dressed in blue clothing.
Aang's eyes widen slightly when he remembered the first time he saw Katara. Perhaps, she was the one that filled the void of a mother's nurturing care?
Hitting his palm against his forehead, he finally understood what it meant all those years ago. It happened on more than one occasion when the rebellious earthbender, Toph joined the group and often fought with Katara. Yelling at her about acting like an adult rather than a kid.
Back then, Aang simply thought Katara was just kind. Yet at the same time, it proved how mature the waterbender really was…
How she always seemed to mother the group and care for their needs. Such as sewing or tending to their emotional turmoil.
What about her? How did she cope with her problems…?
Aang thought back on how the young girl managed through the months during the war. She seemed like her normal self until Zuko came into the scene and wanted to join them in their group and help defeat Ozai.
It was only then he saw a drastic change in personality from the fierce waterbender. Her once kind features turned bitter and cold. She became almost distant with everyone and focused on important matters.
She was maturing at an astonishing rate before Aang's eyes and he didn't even see it.
The only time she truly smiled was the day she forgave Zuko after they returned from the week old trip. When Katara was dealt with the decision to face the man who killed her mother.
Aang knew that was seven years ago, but the memory of his first love still ran deep. He felt foolish that he didn't see how much she was hurting. Then again, there was someone there by her side to help her. Zuko…
Aang lowered his head as he felt ashamed how he assumed that Katara would be his after the war. How he blindingly and selfishly took her away from someone who cared for her and possbily understood her more than he did.
Toph then flashed in his mind...Where was she in all of this? Aang grind his teeth while he tried to brush the thought aside.
Aang then lifted his head and sighed. The strange theory of having some sort of mother complex for the waterbender seemed too much for the young man to comprehend. Along with his mixed feelings of Toph during his long journey six years ago. Yet now, in a twisted way it made sense to the airbender as he kicked the dirt underneath his boot. Everything fell in place. He was where he wanted to be with someone that he loved.
Aang's thoughts then returned back to the earthen noblewoman.
Turning his head, while glancing at the temple behind him, Aang smiled.
He could see a life with Toph. Starting a family with her and rebuilding his home to its formal grandeur of a sacred place.
While forming new traditions of keeping a family and still practicing the ways of a priest rather than a monk.
Closing his eyes, the young man felt confident as he kept his inner feelings in check. Inhaling the crisp morning air, Aang opened his eyes feeling as though a heavy weight was lifted off him. The young man then placed his hand over his heart as he subconsciously forgave himself and let go of the guilt he had for his first love and moved on to the one person who was important to him.
Unlike his former younger self in the past, Aang learned to deal with his inner thoughts and feelings. Allowing the deep emotions inside his heart to rise to the surface, reviewing them over and over in his head until finally coming to a conclusion.
At first it seemed kind of crazy, but over time it helped the Avatar stay mentally fit and emotional in tune.
Doing so, made it possible for him to enter in and out of the Avatar state, as though it was second nature.
Turning around, Aang then walked back up to the temple grounds as the scene backed away glimpsing at a few birds flying in the distance.
Closing in across the snow-covered garden, two children stood on the stone floor's edge, inches away from the unfamiliar frost before them.
"What…What is this?" Kuzon said as Kya stepped forth.
"Ah! No Kya! Don't go near it!" Kuzon said as he pulled his sister back. The girl whined out, "But it's the special ice crystals mommy told us about, Kuzu!" Kya said as Kuzon gave a confused expression.
"What are you talking about?" the boy asked as Kya pulled away from her brother and stepped into the icy white specks.
Bending down, Kya picked up the cold clumps then showed it to her brother. "Look closely. They're like crystals in the story! They're just as I imagined." Kya said loudly before softening her tone as she looked down at the small flakes while they started to melt in her hand.
"I am pleased you two came across such an extraordinary event." A voice said as Kya and Kuzon turned to the man behind them.
"What do you mean?" Kuzon asked as Iroh stepped forward smiling lightly.
"It is a very rare occurrence that has only happened twice in the past eight hundred years, or at least from what the tales of Agni have said." Iroh said as he then looked up at the sky.
"Yes, I myself have only seen this spectacle once in my life. Of course that was far from here, where such events always happen during this time of the season." Iroh said as the children blinked, confused about what the old general was saying.
After thinking a little bit, Kya's face then lit up as she then realized something wonderful. Could what her grand uncle be saying; that somewhere in this world. Something as beautiful as snow actually exists just like in her mother's tale?
Kuzon merely scoffed as he then glared down at the frost. It was a nuisance to him, the fact, that something as plain and simple as frozen water be such a great thing. The stupid snow caused him great discomfort and fear the other day. Why even now as he stood by the frozen specks, the element was calling to him. He hated the numbing pricks that the element gave him as he wished to retreat from the scene.
Closing his eyes, Kuzon frown slightly, "Whatever it's nothing but frozen water." The boy said in an indignant tone as he marched off down the hall.
"Kuzu!" Kya cried out as she dependently quietly watched her brother leave.
"Do not worry, Kya. Your brother will come to his senses when the time is right. Now come inside. You'll catch a cold out here." Iroh said as he lightly took the girl's hand and walked inside the palace.
A tall man was seen entering down a narrow hallway to a separate wing of the palace. With the information given, the doctor was aware of the alleged woman who attacked the Fire Lord. She was locked away for further examination. Pulling out a key, the man then opened five locks concealing the princess inside.
The doctor carried a professional yet personally excited view on this new case he was offered. During the claims of disease and supernatural forces that took place around six years ago in the palace and across the kingdom. The doctor never had a chance to fully analyze the first victim of the growing epidemic. After the disease or supposed spirit was destroyed, the woman apparently returned to normal.
The doctor wanted to test her condition at the time, but the Fire Lord thought it would be best for her to live happily on Ember's Island while she slowly healed.
Now with the princess back and showing signs of mental illness, the doctor was pleased to take on the case again.
Opening the door, the man entered and found the woman lying on the bed on her back. Seen stiff and not moving, the man assumed the woman was asleep. Quietly, he entered into the room with his bag containing medicine and supplies needed to start the investigation.
Taking out a needle, the doctor inserted the medication into the syringe and prepared to inject the woman with a muscle relaxant to keep her immobile while he performed the tests.
As soon as he injected the needle into her vein, the woman suddenly opened her eyes and screamed out. Pulling back the man gasped as the woman attacked him. Throwing the doctor against the wall, Azula then ran out of the room.
Entering outside into the side of the palace, Azula managed to be unseen by the guards and she continued onward to the trail leading into the wood. Snow began to fall as Azula paced herself up the steep mountain. At last, she made it to the top of the sacred shrine where a large courtyard came into view. Her bare feet kicked the heavy snow that covered the area as Azula then wobbled nearby the front gates of the graveyard.
Panting heavy, Azula pulled herself up, the young woman tried to gain balance while she opened the gate. Once she passed through, the princess then fell down into the six inch level of snow. Ignoring the bitter cold, Azula pushed on as she then found the tombstone of her father's grave.
Tears stained her face as she cried out, hugging the tall plank of stone. "Take me with you…I want to see you again." Azula whispered as she shivered uncontrollably before the medicine then took affect causing her lose all feeling in her body while she slumped against the stone and collapsed into the freezing snow.
It may seem like similar and rather overly dramatic like my previous story on Azula's condition, but trust me its not the same cause. There's a point to this, and you'll find out later on throughout the upcoming chapters.
I also tried to point out how much Aang has matured over the years and that he's discovering his male instincts along with self awareness for his love for Toph and how much she's changed him. There'll be more action for Katara, Taang limeness and more news on the secret Black Lotus Society!
Stay tune and pretty please review! Your comments motivate me to continue.
I promise I will not disappoint!