EDIT: I made some minor little changes to how Pennywise reacts in the world of Avatar. Don't worry, I'm coming back to this! I WILL!
EDIT 2: More subtle little changes!
EDIT 3: Made an ending scene of the Avatars talking in this chapter! :)
Nine Years Later...
. . . . . .
...It awakened at the start.
How long had it been sleeping?
Nine years...not very long at all...
Not long whatsoever. It felt like yesterday when it ate that vagrant...it was hungry when it arrived here on this world…
...It had to escape that other-dimensional reality. Escape from those wretched...filthy, inferior animals! They were barbarians! They think they were superior to it? It is the Eternal! It cannot die!
"Tch...those worms were nothing but nuisances anyway..."
It may have been defeated by those mortals from that dimension, but it was still alive and well. A little bit of its consciousness has survived the onslaught and it decided to leave that plane of existence to go to another one. By traveling through the deadlights, it found another dimension close by in what seems to be within the same Verse, the one known as the Universe. It was another dimensional reality where there were more of these inferior humans. It didn't care where it was at the moment, it needed to recover...and eat. As long as this reality had food, it was content.
...Although, this world feels quite different indeed. Usually, it can hear the inner voices of the humans back on the other Earth once it slept for twenty-three years. But this world...it had an interesting presence...while the humans have inner voices here as well, there were other voices that sounded grand...important...authoritative…
...Feh. It doesn't follow ANY authority...except maybe its Creator…
But HE cast it out! Letting it reside on a planet that he wished not to be in! ...But it changed its mind when it smelled that insatiable smell...that delicious smell...
When it landed in this reality and ate that scared vagrant, it looked for a place to sleep, letting it get used to its surroundings. It was in a sewer, which was fine for it. However, it didn't want any trespassers to sneak up on it while it slept. Once it found a perfect place to hide and rest, it let its web stretch as far as it could go while it sleeps...it appeared it landed in a rapidly growing city. The buildings looked different from the other reality, almost tall and elegant...it looked like it landed near a shore...and the humans...
...These mortals can control the elements...
When it first found this out...it was...mildly impressed. It formed a mouth and grin, baring its razor-sharp dagger teeth.
"Interesting..."
Not only that, but there were oddly hybrid-looking animals...as well as creatures known as Spirits...
Then...there was this person called the Avatar...
Its grin broadened.
"...Very interesting indeed..."
A being that is both inferior and superior than the people here, as well as it?
"Hm, hmm...how cute."
No mortal is superior than it...
This only made it all the more hungry, though. It didn't care if these mortals have powers that are beyond anyone's understanding. One of the many things that it can do that makes it so superior, is that it can adapt. It also already knows every single one of these maggots' weaknesses.
All it cared about was one thing...to eat.
And now it has finally awakened...
"...Hmmm...something happened just now..."
A murder...one involving blood manipulation.
"Ooooh, now that sounds sublime..."
But most importantly, it could smell it. The intoxicating aroma...
Fear.
It was all evident in the city.
It chuckled darkly.
Now wasn't the time to feast, though...it has to wait...wait for the right time to appear.
It will wait...and it will enjoy all of the delicious, ripe, scared flesh!
Yes...it will be hunting season all over again...
"Heh...heh...heeeeh..."
Two weeks later, on the thirteenth day, nearing the end of the first Summer month...
Toph was exhausted.
Sitting in her office at the back of her wooden ornate desk, she slouched on her metal chair with her arms on each of the armrests, her elbows propped each one of them as her fingers press against the sides of her forehead. She took a deep breath and sighed in frustration, her sightless eyes closed tightly as she rubbed her temples.
'Spirits, this is getting out of control...'
The RCPD is working tirelessly on the streets of Republic City. The city had grown rapidly during that time; earth-benders building multiple-storied stone buildings, fire-benders working at factories and receiving out electricity to power up supplies, and water-benders working on the plumbing in the newly constructed sewer system. It seemed the elements were working together to make this city a prosperous place to live...however, as the city grows, crime was evident. And Toph, the Chief of RCPD, has to clean up some of the mess, whether it be property damage, petty theft, or any other small crime.
This crime, though, was much more extreme. Throughout last week, there have been mass murders, probably the first ones since the city's building. It was caused by one man, a water-bender who used blood-bending on his victims ever since Katara made the initial ban of not using blood-bending on the streets except only for medical purposes and environments last month.
Apparently, this person didn't like the ban and decided to take things into his own hands, creating havoc as a statement, like a terrorist to be precise. The serial killer is emitting fear into the people of Republic City, letting them lock their doors to their houses and checking behind themselves when they walk outside. Even the city has a curfew now to remind them to return to their homes if they don't want to be the next victims. Thirteen days in, deaths have been reported throughout the city, with each of the victims' autopsies relating to snapped necks and loss of blood from exploded parts of their skins. It was a gruesome scene, which makes Toph glad that she's blind whenever she comes to the crime scene. These murders had been happening at night, but some murders happened during the day...
Either way, they have to find this person before he or she claims another victim.
'Twenty-seven deaths...this has to stop,' Toph thought resolutely as she opened her sightless eyes. 'If it doesn't, then who knows who this killer will target next...' her eyes narrowed as she thought of another horrible possibility, '...if this person harms Katara or any of my friends, then I will break this person's bones...'
Toph sighed, "What a time to go to the Eastern Air Temple for two weeks, Twinkletoes..."
'Aang...I wish you were here.'
It was then she heard frantic footsteps coming up to her office.
The doors opened to reveal an officer who looked out of breath. "Chief! The suspect has been spotted!"
Toph raised her head up in surprise and stood up, "Where, Shin? And how do you know if it's really the person we're looking for?"
"The person, which is a male, is a water-bender for one thing, and...well, Avatar Aang is fighting him right now!"
Her eyes widened in shock, 'Twinkles...' "He's back?"
"Yes, ma'am. He spotted our suspect as he was flying home on his air bison," the officer known as Shin said, "He saw him using blood-bending on someone and he intervened!"
"Well, don't just stand there, lead me to them!" Toph ordered.
'I got to find a safer place to fight!' Aang thought as he bent the water that was on the street to aim it at the water-bender, trying to freeze him. It proved fruitless as the water-bender directed the frozen particles away from himself, swinging them together to form an icicle, which he launched back at him.
Aang stomped the ground and shot up a piece of earth from it to shield the incoming projectile as it shattered. He shot the same piece of earth towards the water-bender, hoping it'll hit him so it can immobilize his attacks.
However, the water-bender jumped out of the way and flung sharp frozen water darts at him. Aang conjured up some fire from himself and swiped away at the darts, melting them instantly. The Avatar came into a fire-bending stance.
"Why are you doing this!? You were using blood-bending on that poor woman!" Aang exclaimed to the man.
"Because everyone should see the use of blood-bending! Your wife should've never banned it! And you shouldn't have come back here so soon!"
"Well, now I'm here!" Aang remarked, "And you leave my wife out of this!"
The man scoffed, "Tch, she would've been my first target, but she wasn't even at her home as well as your brat son!"
Aang's gaze on the man suddenly grew cold, a hard glare on his features, "What is your name?"
"My name is Yakone," the man said, a smug grin pulling up his mouth.
"Well, Yakone, you will not harm anyone here in this city anymore," Aang then used an air-bending stance as he pointed at his closed flier staff at Yakone, "including my family!" he exclaimed at the last part.
Yakone gave out a twisted smile, "Just try and stop me, Avatar!"
"I intend to!" Aang said as he twisted his body, opening the tail of his staff as he swung it at Yakone, creating a huge airwave missile. Once it hit the waterbender, he let his feet slide on the leftover rainwater that's on the streets. He kicked upwards to send small ice spikes hurling toward Aang, which he nimbly dodged from left to right.
Yakone then froze the water that was on the street, and with the remaining liquid on the soles of his shoes, he slid and skated over to Aang at a fast pace. As he got closer to the Avatar, he brandished a dagger from its sheath on his belt and prepared to swipe the dagger at him.
Aang had the time to bend backward from the swipe, and twisted his body to his right to give Yakone an air push on his back with his left hand. It knocked the water-bender off his feet a bit, but he regained his footing as his feet slid and froze more water on the street, making him slide to face the Avatar once more.
"Come on, Avatar, fight like a man!" Yakone exclaimed angrily.
Aang swung his staff in his right hand down, "Says the coward who blood-bends innocent people!"
"Hmm...you're right," Yakone said in a tone that sounds unnervingly calm, "I should probably use my blood-bending on people who aren't so innocent," he smirked viciously, "How about I use it on you, a veteran of war!?" he then put his outstretched hands out in front of him.
Aang tensed...in fact, all of his insides tensed! His face expressed horror as he realized what this feeling could be.
He's being blood-bent!
'No! Darn it! I should've stopped him while I had the chance!' he thought in a panic. He did not want to have the feeling of being controlled from the inside again!
Yakone used his hands to grasp the air and pulled them to himself, which made Aang's leg skid forward. Grunting at the controlled pull, the airbender tried to regain control of his body.
"Hah! Not even the Avatar can try to fight the use of blood-bending!" the deranged water-bender exclaimed.
But then, someone was coming up from behind the Avatar in a bursting wave of earth. When the person was getting close to the fight at hand, that individual shot up and flew upward in the air and went down to land on the hard earth, causing an earth shockwave. The shockwave caught Yakone off guard, making him lose his balance and concentration.
Soon, Aang's whole body felt relief as he wasn't being controlled by blood-bending anymore. He shook his leg and arms to get the feeling back into them, looking up to greet the new arrival with a smile, "Toph!"
"Hey, Twinkles," Toph said as she turned her head back to speak to him with a grin, "Welcome back!"
Aang chuckled, "Good to be back! Thanks for saving me back there!"
"Don't thank me just yet!" Toph said as she directs her attention to Yakone, "So this is the maniac that's been blood-bending people?"
"I would think so. His name is Yakone," replied Aang with a nod.
Yakone, after regaining his balance, glared at Toph, "Well, it looks like you found me out! But I won't stop until everyone knows the value of blood-bending! In fact, I'll make you into a statement, Chief Bei Fong!"
Toph then slid her left foot in front of her on the ground and stomped on it, making a piece of earth shoot up and hit Yakone upside the chin, which caused him to fly backward and land on the ground with a concussion.
"How about not?" Toph said sarcastically.
It was then the rest of the police force arrived by Toph's side. Two of the officers helped Yakone up and contained him with metal orb-ish-looking cuffs that not only encases his wrists but his hands. The water-bender was dazed a bit, seeing stars as he was staggering onto his feet.
"Yakone, I place you under arrest for the countless murders you've committed," Toph said in an authoritative tone as she crossed her arms and made a glare at him, "You have the right to remain silent. If you can't be silent, then I'll aim lower to keep you quiet."
The two officers cringed at the threat, while Yakone shook his head to clear away the stars that are swirling in his head. Yakone then scowled at the Chief of RCPD and look like he was about to say something until he heard another voice say, "You better do as she says."
It was Aang who came up to Toph's side. Seeing his hard glare along with Toph's made him shut up instantly. He said nothing but kept his look of contempt on them.
"Take him away," Toph firmly said, still holding onto her sightless glare. The officers complied and roughly took him to the arriving jail carrier that was dragged by an ostrich horse.
"Countless murders?" Aang asked Toph once Yakone was out of sight. He sounded guilty about it.
Toph's glare was gone as it was replaced by a sad frown. "Yeah..."
"...How many of them?" he asked the dreaded question.
Toph cringed, "Do you really want to know that?
Aang went silent...until he said, "It wasn't a lot, was it?"
"...About twenty-seven. Twenty-eight if you haven't stepped in," Toph answered.
Cringing at the amount, Aang shook his head and sighed, "Spirits..."
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Twinkletoes. You didn't know."
"I still feel like I should've helped out though..." he looked at Toph, "I'm so sorry, Toph."
Toph sighed solemnly, "Hey, what happened already happened, Twinkles. Don't think it's all your fault. You didn't know some maniac was gonna start blood-bending people."
Aang frowned. "Still..." However, he remembered something, his eyes widened, "Are Katara and Bumi alright?"
"Don't worry, Twinkletoes, they're fine. They're at Snoozles and Fan Girl's place along with their kids. I made sure they're safe."
A sigh of relief came out of Aang's mouth as he smiled at Toph, "Thank you so much, Toph."
"Hey, no prob." Toph turns to him with a smile. "Actually, I should be thanking you for finding our guy for me."
Chuckling at that, Aang said, "Well, I guess it's a good thing I finished training the air-benders and the air acolytes so early then."
"How is that, by the way?" Toph asked him.
"It's going pretty well! The air acolytes are getting there with the bending aspect of it, while the air-benders are doing good on learning the advanced techniques. Now if only they know how to master the air scooter." Aang as he scratched the side of his face sheepishly.
Toph chuckled, "Well, either way, it's good to have ya back, Twinkles." she said as she put a hand on his shoulder.
Aang smiled gratefully, "It's good to be back."
Toph smiled back...she then lifted her hand off his shoulder and brushed her fingers on his face.
"Wha-Toph?" Aang said in shock and blushed red.
She then snickered, "You still have that beard on you? Come on, Twinkletoes, you know Katara can't stand that thing!"
Blinking, Aang realized that Toph was just feeling the beard stubble on his face. Laughing nervously, he said, "Hey, I like to think I look rugged with this beard."
"Sorry, Twinkletoes, but when I think rugged, I don't necessarily think you," Toph said as she placed her hands on her wide hips with a smirk.
Aang pouted, "Hey, you don't even know what I look like. And are you ever gonna stop calling me by that name?"
Toph laughed softly, "Touche'. And nope, afraid not, Twinkletoes."
Rolling his eyes, but having a smile on his face, Aang said, "Anyway, you really did clean this whole situation up pretty nicely, Toph."
"Hey, it comes with being Chief of Police," Toph shrugged with a grin.
"I still can't to this day, believe you're involved with police authority," Aang commented with a smirk.
"Eh, people change over time," Toph said with a wave of a dismissive hand.
Aang laughed, "For you, some change."
Before Toph could say anything else, reporters came up to them suddenly with an ink pen and a notepad. "Chief Bei Fong! Avatar Aang! You both have captured the maniac who's been blood-bending everyone! What were his motives?"
"Avatar Aang, you've returned from your two-week trip to the Eastern Air Temple! How has training the air acolytes air-bending been going?"
"Why have you returned home to Republic City so early, Avatar Aang?"
"Alright, alright!" said Toph, "Give him some room! My side will answer the 'maniac' questions, while the Avatar's side answers the 'trip' questions."
The reporters complied and each side asked the other their questions, leaving Aang and Toph to answer each one.
'It's good to be back,' Aang thought with a smile as he answered a question.
'It's good to have you back, Aang.' Toph thought with a smile as well before answering a question.
"And then, the little turtle-duckling quacked to his mommy," Katara read from the children's book, and imitated the turtle-duckling, "'Momma, why do I look different from everyone else?', and then the momma turtle-duck said, 'I don't think you're different, darling. You're just like everyone else. Although, I would think you're a very special little turtle-duck'."
Katara was seated and read a page from a children's book to three kids that were in front of her. She read it with such devotion to the three kids that they were enthralled. From oldest to youngest, the children's ages ranged to eight, seven, and four, which the oldest being a tanned-skinned boy with brown hair, the middle child a boy with lightly tanned skin with darker hair, and the youngest being a girl with shoulder length brown hair, and her skin being tanned also.
The children sat there quietly, listening to the story told by the waterbender. The middle child looked up at Katara with a smile as he rested his chin on his hands, while the oldest leaned back on his hands with a curious look on his face. The youngest girl looked up at the adult with awe as Katara lets her and the boys look at the pictures that were in the book when she finished a page.
While Katara kept reading the story to them, Suki was standing by looking at the scene with warmth. Her sister-in-law certainly can captivate a younger audience, as well as make a charming story for children. Her very first children's book that she made entitled "The Little Turtle-Duck" flew off the shelves in literature stores and made their homes to families who love a good wholesome story for their kids. It was about a little turtle-duck who looked different than all the other little turtle ducklings but made friends in the most unlikely places.
As Suki stood there, the sound of a mechanical ring came into existence. Averting her attention away from the sweet scene, she went to her and Sokka's very own telephone that they installed months ago. The telephone was really a miraculous invention, made by a small but revolutionary company called Future Industries. Only a few of the wealthy and elite had these luxury items, and she and Sokka were one of the lucky customers to buy the gadget.
As soon as she went to the phone, she picked up the handle and lift it up to put the receiver to her ear and the speaker to her mouth. "Hello, this is Suki."
"Heya Fan-Girl!"
"Oh, Toph!" Suki said with a smile, "How's it going, Little-Big Girl?"
"Ugh, Suki, must you always call me that whenever you greet me?" Suki could hear Toph's eyes rolling.
"Hey, you call me by my nickname sometimes, and I call you by yours. Just be happy no one is using it in your station, hence this phone business," Suki said with a smirk.
"Heh, if they ever did, I'll be damn well demoting them all."
Suki giggled, "I don't see how you're not getting any addresses over there. I mean, I know you're their superior, but still."
"I like to think they're intimidated by me." Suki could imagine the smirk on Toph's face, "Okay, enough of the girl talk. I actually called to let you know that the serial blood-bender that's been killing everyone is taken into custody."
"Really?" Suki said in surprise, "Oh, that's great, Toph! Oh, thank goodness!" she sighed in relief, "The kids, especially Katara, will be happy to know that!"
"Well, actually, I can't take all the credit. Twinkletoes is here, too. He spotted the guy while he was flying Appa."
"Aang is here?"
"Yep. He came home a little early..." There was soft chatter on the other line, and Suki can hear Toph saying something away from the speaker of her phone, "Keep your robes on, Twinkles, I'm gonna give it to you," she then spoke into it again, "Are Katara and Bumi there? He wants to speak with them."
"Oh, yes, they're here! Katara is reading her book to Bumi and the kids. I'll go get them."
"Thanks! I'll give it to Twinkles once they're on the line."
"Okay then! Hold on," Suki placed the phone handle on a counter and made her way to the living quarters to find Katara still in her 'story time' mode, "Katara, Bumi! Someone's on the phone who wants to speak to you two!"
The middle boy, whose name is Bumi, turned in his sitting position to look at his aunt(along with her other kids), while Katara looked at Suki curiously.
"Oh? Who's that?" Katara asked.
"Well, Toph is on the phone, but also, Aang is with her,"
"Aang?" Katara said in surprise.
"Daddy?" Bumi said with a hopeful smile.
Suki smiled, "Yep! He came home early!"
Bumi smiled big, "Yaaaay!" He got up and dashed over to where the phone is, all the while passing Suki, saying a quick "Excuse me!". He went to the phone handle that was on the counter, and on his tiptoes, he grabbed it. Placing the phone next to his ear, the speaker below his mouth, he said, "Dad?"
A feminine chuckle came from the other line, "Hey Squirt! Not your dad, but he's standing here right next to me eager to talk to ya!"
Bumi's smile grew wider, "Alright! And thanks, Auntie Toph!"
"No prob! Here he is."
Soon, after some rustling, another voice came on the line.
"Hey, Bumi!"
"Hey, Dad!" Bumi grinned, hearing his father's voice.
"How's it going, little man? I decided to come home early! I hope you've been a good boy while I was gone?"
"Yep! I've been really good! I looked out for Momma and everything!"
Aang chuckled, "Fantastic, Bumi! I'm sure you would handle anyone with your water-bending, just like your Mom! Hey, Bumi, guess what? Auntie Toph and I just stopped a bad guy this afternoon! He's been doing really bad things and your Auntie Toph knocked him square in the jaw with her earth-bending!"
"Whoa! Really!?" Bumi asked in awe.
"That's right!" Aang said with a smile towards Toph, who smiled as well as leaned back on her desk. "She took care of him with a stomp of her foot!"
"Oh, come on, Twinkles, I can't really give out all the credit here," Toph raised her voice to let Bumi hear her, "Your dad did pretty alright himself! He stalled him enough for me in time to get my men there!"
"Toph..." Aang blushed.
"Wow! You fought the bad guy too, Dad? That's so cool!" Bumi said in excitement.
"Well...heh, it's all in a day's work for the Avatar," Aang said sheepishly.
"Awesome! I wish I was there to see it along with Auntie Toph!"
"Oh, no Bumi. You wouldn't want to be where the bad guy was. He could try to threaten you and I wouldn't live with myself if anything happened to you," Aang said seriously.
Toph's smile faltered as he said that. She lowered her head to 'look' at the floor in her office, silent as she heard Aang talk to Bumi.
"Hey, I can take him! Mom taught me water-bending techniques!"
Aang shook his head at Bumi's naivety with a chuckle, "Well, you don't have to worry about the bad guy anymore. Are you at your Uncle and Aunt's house?"
"Yep! I'm in Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki's house! Me, Hako, and Kana were listening to Mom read her book!"
"Awww, that's great! Your mother made a precious story out of it."
"Yeah! And it's about turtle-ducks! I really love them!"
Aang chuckled some more, "How about we go to the park this afternoon and see them at the pond?"
"Really!? Alright! That'd be great!"
Smiling at his enthusiasm, Aang said, "Alright then! I'll be over there in just a bit. I'm at the police station right now, so I'll swing by and we'll get to the park!"
"Okay, Dad!"
"Hey, Bumi, can I speak to your mother for a moment? I need to see if she's okay as well."
"Okay! I'll get her! Bye, Dad! See you then!" Bumi put the wired phone handle on the counter and went over to his mother who was standing next to the kitchen entryway, where she overheard Bumi and Aang's conversation. "Hey, Mom! Dad wants to talk to you!"
Katara giggled, "I heard," she patted his head and gave him a kiss on the forehead, which Bumi reacted with an "Eyuck!". Laughing softly at her son's reaction, she went over to the phone that was resting on the counter and picked it up, saying into it, "Aang! You're back home early!"
"Heh, yep! Ended training lessons quicker than I thought, and on a good note! The acolytes and the air-benders are doing all they can to start a new era of air-bending!"
"Well, that's great! It's so good that these last remaining air-benders decided to come out of hiding. And who would've thought the air acolytes would even know how to bend?" Katara commented.
"I know, heh! But hey, now I'm back and I'm ready to see both of you after two weeks!" Aang was silent for a second, "Are you doing okay though, Katara? I heard about the blood-bender that had been terrorizing Republic City for the last two weeks."
"Oh, don't worry, Aang. Bumi and I are just fine. We've been staying at my brother and Suki's house this week before it got too serious in the city."
"...Still, I'm so sorry I wasn't there to stop anything."
"Oh, Aang, don't blame yourself," Katara said in a soft tone. She then softly smiled and said, "I heard from Bumi that you and Toph caught a 'bad guy'? I'm hoping that's the maniac who's been blood-bending people."
"It was. He was trying to look for you and Bumi..."
Katara frowned at the silence, "Aang-"
"I don't want anything to happen to you two...I still feel like it's my fault. I should've been there for you and for my son."
Katara winced, "Aang...we're okay. That's all that matters."
"I know. I just...I just don't want Bumi to feel like...like I'm not there for him. …Actually, I haven't been there for Bumi lately."
"Aang, you didn't know all the air-benders were gonna come out that day." Katara tried to reason.
"I know, but..." Katara heard Aang sigh, "They came out before Bumi was even born. I was so focused on my people that I...almost neglected you and Bumi. I mean...I came home when he was three! And I wasn't even there for his fourth and fifth birthdays, because I had to make and arrange peace negotiations with the surviving airbenders and the Fire Nation. I'm just glad I was there for his sixth birthday, just to have a break! I'm also glad Zuko was there with me during those times, but...I don't want him to grow up not knowing anything about his father..."
Katara grimaced...she took a deep breath and let it out. "Aang. Don't worry about it. He doesn't think anything less of you. He loves you and I know you love him. I tell him you're a sweet and kind man, and you have a lot on your shoulders. Besides, you're here in time for his seventh birthday in two days! He's just happy that you're home...and so am I."
"...Thank you, Darling...I needed that."
She smiled warmly, "Anytime...so, when are you coming over here?"
"Huh? Oh, well, I can come over there right now."
"That would be great! We'll wait for you! And...I'm really glad you're back Aang. Bumi is too," Katara said with a smile. "I love you."
"Heh. I love you too, Katara. I'll see you soon as well. Bye, Dear."
"Sure thing...bye," Katara said as she hung up the phone.
Aang gave the phone to Toph, who still had her head lowered. Aang blinked, "Toph?"
"...Heh, way to go, Twinkles. It looks like you're doing well on realizing what's important," Toph said, with a sly smirk as she took the phone out of Aang's hand and placed the phone handle on the electrical box on her desk.
Smiling at his friend and chuckling, Aang said matter-of-factually, "Hey, you always keep my head in place."
She chuckled as well, "Then I guess I'm doing my job right. An enforcer of the law always has to give people a push in the right direction."
Aang shook his head, "Still, to this day, I don't know how you woke up one day and said to yourself, 'I want to be a police officer'.
"Hey, it's fun to bark orders around here."
Aang chuckled once more, "Hey, you know, how about you come with me and see the kids along with Suki and Katara? You could use a break right now, can you? The kids would love to see you."
Toph grinned, "Heh, I'm betting Bumi and Hako would love to see me even more."
"Well, you are kind of their hero. That and..." Aang briefly glanced at her chest and back at Toph's face with a sheepish smile, "Well...boys will be boys."
Toph laughs, "And these," she points to her endowed breasts, "Are my girls."
Aang blushed and chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
Toph snickered, "But seriously, I'm glad to be their role model, even for little Kana. Perhaps I should teach em' some of the stuff I did back in my old days back in Gaoling?"
"Uh, Toph, we don't want them to be compulsive gamblers."
Toph guffawed, "Oh, Twinkles!" she smiled at the Avatar, "But as for the invitation, sure! I can use a break after solving this case. Plus, I love to see those little tykes! "
Aang softly laughed, "Well then, ladies first!" he said with a 'go on ahead' gesture as he stepped aside.
"Pfft! Very gentlemen of ya," and with that, Toph walked out of her office. Aang was about to follow her when his eyes briefly glanced at her full bottom.
Shaking his head slightly to clear it, he stood straight and walked behind Toph, looking ahead as he was careful enough to not look at any part of her body.
"...If Toph ever finds someone, he's gonna be one lucky guy."
However, unknown to Aang, Toph is hiding a smirk as she caught his heartbeat just in time to know that he was looking at her 'goods'.
'Heh-heh. Thanks for the heartbeat, Aang.'
Meanwhile, as Katara hung up the phone, she stood there...and sighed.
"Katara?" Suki said as she entered the kitchen. Katara's posture stood straight, so as to not attract unwanted attention, "Is Aang coming over?"
"Oh, yes, he is! I think we're gonna go back to our house now," Katara said with a smile.
"Well, I'll tell you one thing, I'm glad that whole blood-bending fiasco is-"
RIIIIIIIIIING! RIIIIIIIIIING!
The two women blinked at the phone in surprise.
'Well, that's funny..." Suki went to pick up the phone and said to the speaker, "Hello? Suki here."
"Um...hey, Suki."
"Zuko?" Suki said with her eyebrows going up.
"Zuko?" Katara's eyes widened in shock.
"Yeah. Um...I was trying to call Katara a while ago and...she didn't answer. I heard about a blood-bending maniac going around in Republic City and...well, have you heard from her and...and Bumi? And...is Aang there with them?"
"Oh, well, um...are you in Republic City right now?" Suki asked.
"Um...almost. I'm on an airship right now using a phone...and I'm thinking I'm in the vicinity of where the phones can reach Republic City. I uh, I heard about the news on what's happening over there in the city two days ago. Word kind of travels...slow back at the Fire Nation."
"Oh...well, you don't have to worry, Zuko. Katara, Bumi, and Aang are all fine," Suki said, and then asked, "Are you really heading your way over here?"
"Well...yeah. I have to look out for my family and friends...and B-Bumi, you know?"
"Oh, well...that's sweet." Suki smiled, "Do you, uh...want to talk to Katara? She's right here next to me."
"She is!? I mean...oh, okay. Uh, yeah, I would like to talk to her for a moment, if that's alright."
"Sure thing! Here she is!" Suki handed the phone to Katara, who looked at the phone with slight hesitation. After a second, she took the phone out of Suki's hand and said into the phone, "Hello? Zuko?"
"Katara! Hey, um...how are you?"
"Oh, I'm doing fine."
Suki mouthed to Katara 'I'll leave', and left her alone in the kitchen with Zuko on the other line.
"Oh, good! How's, um...how's Bumi?"
"He's doing very well," she said with a soft smile, "He really likes the book I came up with. He says it's one of his favorite stories and I think he's really proud that I made it."
"Well, you do display some warm and natural storytelling. And I would be proud too if my Mother made a children's book that entertains lots of kids."
Katara blushed a tad, "Thank you, Zuko. How is your mother, by the way?"
"She's doing well! She, Iroh, and Azula are coming over to Republic City for summer vacation to see you all."
"Oh, that's great, Zuko!" Katara grinned. She then smirked, "Heh, I guess you're the one who couldn't wait to see us all then, huh?"
"Heh, well...there was a maniac going around in your neck of the woods and I was concerned, so...well, there you go."
Katara giggled, "Well, I'm glad you're coming to Republic City early. Bumi would be so happy to see you."
"...Would he really?"
"Of course, Zuko. He says that you give him the best gifts ever. His words, not mine. He loves you too, you know?"
"...Thank you, Katara."
"No problem," Katara decided to change topics, "So, um...how is Azula, actually?"
"Oh, Azula is getting better and better. She's practically sane enough to walk around the streets and communicate with people. It's been exactly five years since she's been back to functioning in society again!"
"Oh Zuko, that's wonderful to hear!"
"Yeah...if mother, uncle, and I hadn't reached out to her sooner during those years...I don't know what kind of state of mind she'd be in...I rather not think about it."
Katara frowned at the thought. However, she smiled softly and said, "Well then, don't. She's feeling better. I wouldn't be surprised if she already had been healed from the trauma that she had to endure."
"...Yeah...you know Katara, I mean it. You give me so much hope."
Katara blushed, "Ah, come on, Zuko, don't flatter me like this. If anything, you give me hope."
Zuko chuckled on the other line, "Well...it looks like we both give each other hope."
Katara smiled, "Yeah..."
They were silent for a moment...
"...Bumi looks just like his father," Katara said suddenly,
"...I hope not."
Katara frowned, "Zuko..."
"...I'm...I'm sorry for saying that. I'll, um...I'll be landing in two hours. I'll see you, Bumi, and...the rest of the gang soon. I'll...I'll see you all later, Katara."
Katara's frown went deeper, feeling...ashamed. "I...I'll see you later too, Zuko."
"Yeah...well, um...bye..."
"Bye..."
And with that, Katara hung up the phone. She stood there, her frown a mixture of remorse, shame, and sadness on her face.
"Momma?"
Standing straight once more, she shook her head and turned to the small voice belonging to Bumi. He came into the kitchen with a smile on his face.
"When is Daddy coming home?" he asked.
Katara gazed at Bumi for a second until she smiled warmly, "He's coming home real soon."
Bumi tilted his head to the side in confusion, "When is that?"
Katara giggled, "You'll just have to wait and see, Bumi Dear."
Bumi pouted, "Awww, I hate waiting."
Smiling at her son, the water-bender told him, "Well, how about we play a game to pass the time?"
Bumi eyes lit up, "Oh! Can we play Pai Sho?"
Katara giggled softly, "Sure, Honey."
"Alright!" Bumi exclaimed.
"Also, someone else is coming over here, Bumi," Katara stated
Looking even more curious, he asked "Really? Who?"
"Uncle Zuko!" Katara said with cheer.
His eyes widened with shock and amazement, "Really!? But I thought he was coming until a day after Dad comes home!"
"Well, technically, your father is home, and..." she paused for a second until she continued, "and Zuko is coming over here after your father came home early."
Bumi looked at his mother oddly, "But...that means they're here even earlier then."
The water-bender softly laughed, "Well, either way, I'm certain Zuko is getting you something really nice for your birthday soon."
Grinning at the thought of Zuko giving him something cool, Bumi said, "Alright! Uncle Zuko has the best gifts! He's really cool too, and I like how he fire-bends!"
"Well maybe you get to see some of his moves," Katara stated as she smiled sweetly.
"Aw, that would be so cool!" Bumi's eyes lit up with excitement.
Chuckling, Katara said, "Okay, let's play a game of Pai Sho. Maybe your cousins would like to play too."
"Yeah! I'll go get them!" Bumi then rushed out of the kitchen. Katara heard the other kids' voices as she walked out of the kitchen as well
"Hey Hako, Kana! Want to play Pai Sho!?
"Pai Sho? No way! That game's too hard!" Hako told him.
"I'll play!" Kana chimed in happily.
"What!? You don't know how to play, Kana!"
"I do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
Bumi laughed at their little argument, while Katara looked on at the scene giggling.
'Yes...everything is fine...everything will be fine.' Katara thought with a smile.
...Heh...heh...heeeeeh...
These mortals from this dimension surely are...interesting.
The Avatar most especially.
...Hee-heeeee...
And sometimes...interesting can add a great amount of flavor!
But I still must be patient...it is not the time to feast, sadly...
I must wait...
But when it IS time...
...They'll all float.
...They'll...all...FLOAT.
HA-HA-HA-HAAAA!
...It appeared once again. Two times, in fact.
Again?
It appeared just a second two weeks ago in the living world. And it came back again...
What is happening? I felt a sudden...disturbance.
Avatar Yangchen. It seems something has arrived in the living world.
That I can see...but what is it?
That we all do not know.
It appeared in the new settlement of Republic City.
The energy felt...it felt completely...wrong.
Wrong?
It felt...foreign...it seemed it had time to recover from whatever had happened to it.
...What could this thing be?
...We all must know what this presence entails. It's definitely not from the Spirit World.
But, if it's not a Spirit, then...just what in the world is it?
...This thing went away again...we need to observe what this...creature is. If it can attack innocent people...then the Avatar must do something about it.
...Do you think it will strike again?
...I can only hope it won't be too soon...
Okay! Finally got this second chapter up! :D Tell me what you think! Is it any good? I hope it is! Leave me a review, fave, and a follow if you want! :)
Thank you all for reading! Until next time, keep on rocking everybody! ^_^
-TSP