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The Chong Sheng Trilogy: War by rachelthedemon
 | Appa |  |
Disclaimer: I own not, you sue not.
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The Chong Sheng Trilogy
PART I: War
Chapter 11: Appa
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Aang tried as much as he could to quell the flutter in his stomach as he followed Shen down what felt like an endless tunnel, but if his insides weren't shivering, his limbs were. More out of good anticipation than fear. Toph trusting him was more than enough for him, considering how much she trusted people anyway even when she could tell they were lying. If the "friend" Shen mentioned was who he suspected, this was a risk he was more than willing to take.
He looked over at Toph now, murmuring under his breath. "You picking up anything?"
She shook her head. "The chamber's kind of far, though. But he's taking us the right way at least."
Aang gulped, looking ahead of them again. The tunnel was definitely widening. He could see that in the firelight from Shen's hand. And the air itself was getting warmer, like it always got if he stood too close to someone. Not exactly uncomfortable, but not the same as the heat of a candle. This felt...alive. Charged with a familiar energy that drew him as nothing else in his life ever had. He walked faster, almost on Shen's heels as the tunnel finally opened up into a yawning cavern.
He sucked in a breath. Even with all he'd seen, it was hard to imagine this kind of vastness harbored right underneath a bustling metropolis, even if it was almost two hundred feet down. The far wall was only visible because of the phosphorescent crystals sprouting from it, bathing the room in a wash of blue-green and deep shadow. Despite the cool colors and depth of the cave and lack of a heat source other than Shen's hand, it was warmer than the tunnel.
He looked up, biting his lip and his heart thudding with anticipation. "Is this it?"
The man nodded, waving his hand and brightening the flame a bit. As though trying to attract attention. Aang followed his gaze to the far end of the cavern, rubbing his eyes in the darkness.
It was there. Large, slow, calculated movement, and a soft rustle against the rock. His heart gave a slight, giddy flutter of anticipation, fairly pounding when he got a good look at the creature as it moved into the blazing light from Shen's hand. He knew that ten-ton furry shape anywhere. Didn't need to see the arrow on its head. Just the glint in his eyes was enough. With a happy squeal, he sprung across the cavern in a flying jump, landing square against Appa's side and trembling as he nuzzled into the thick fur.
"You're back," he sniffled, not even caring that he was getting his friend's coat all wet as that familiar lowing purr answered him. "I missed you so much, buddy."
"He missed you, too," Shen confirmed, smiling softly as he came up behind him, Toph in tow. "If he could talk, I swear he would've asked me where you were, if you were okay. Too bad I wouldn't have been able to tell him."
Aang turned around, wiping his eyes. "H-He was down here the whole time and nobody could spare a word?"
Shen sighed. "It was too risky, Avatar. Soldiers like us are...not welcome in the Earth Kingdom. Or anywhere for that matter. The authorities would have us executed immediately, and the Fire Nation would have us brought home for interrogation and very probable torture."
"It's complicated."
Both of them turned to the voice, confused. Aang knew it sounded familiar, but couldn't place exactly who it belonged to, mind too clouded with elation at seeing his friend again.
"Up here," she said, and he found himself gazing up into that signature makeup pattern as she perched atop Appa, Momo sitting on her shoulder and trilling excitedly.
"Suki!" he called, waving to her. She chuckled, sliding down Appa's side to the ground.
"We got separated during the chase. Thanks for noticing."
Aang blushed, turning to Toph, who frowned thoughtfully. "So how do we find the Earth King's chambers now that we have Appa?"
She arched a brow at him. "You're gonna bust into his bedroom with a flying bison."
"Well...yeah." He paused, frowning. "I'm not leaving him behind if that's what you mean."
"I don't know if that's such a great idea," Jin's voice called from halfway across the cavern, making all of them look up as she hobbled toward them using another soldier's bo as a walking stick. "There's much you need to hear before you go rushing off to do your thing." She frowned. "I asked you to trust me blindly before, and well...that was pretty stupid of me given your position. You can't go trusting anyone without a reason, and I think it's time you know why."
Shen was at her side in moments, draping her arm over his neck to support her. "I think we should go to the camp for this one, then. Trust me, you'll all want comfortable seats."
"What about Appa?"
Shen smiled. "He can join us. You two need not be separated any longer."
* * * *
A short while later found them near the back of the Taifeng camp where the tunnel widened, Appa curled up against the rocky wall, surprisingly content for being underground though Aang suspected the reunion was part of it. The rest of them circled the campfire, watching Shen put on the kettle for a pot of tea while Jin arranged her injured foot on a piled-up blanket.
"So..." he ventured. "What's this about...um...not trusting people?"
Jin pulled a cloak tight about her shoulders, looking up at Shen, who nodded. She turned back to Aang. "I know you still have a lot of questions about me. How I knew where Zuko was going. How I know about the tunnels. Why I know so much about the White Lotus. I can't answer them all, but I'll tell you enough." She sighed, staring into the flames.
"My father was a high-ranking member of the White Lotus before he died. One of the projects he oversaw was to create a map of these forgotten passages, as the Society was planning to use it again as headquarters once they got word of the Avatar's return. For almost sixty years, they've been forced out by the growing power and influence of the Dai Li, but they feel it's possible to subvert it now with the aid of the Avatar himself. I'm part of that project, and have been for the last three years."
"But the Dai Li aren't afraid of me," Aang told her, frowning. "Heck, they locked me up."
Jin nodded. "But they didn't kill you or even try to brainwash you. That's more grace than they've shown any of Ba Sing Se's citizens."
Shen took the kettle off the blaze once it started to sing, pouring them each a cup of what smelled like dark oolong. "I met her father almost a decade ago after General Iroh's siege was finally broken. In exchange for political asylum, my men were charged with creating the map for the operatives to use."
Toph's brows narrowed. "If you two are White Lotus and you're on our side, why all the secrets?"
"Because of the plan," Shen said. "If word got out of what we were planning to do, the Fire Nation would no longer care about occupying Ba Sing Se. Complete destruction would be their only goal. The lives of millions hinge on absolute secrecy. We're already taking a huge risk just by telling you."
"Then why tell me at all?"
"Because you have to know," Jin said. "You need to be aware that this fight is not just yours. And that there will be more to ending this war than taking out Fire Lord Ozai. The White Lotus has been planning for centuries, passing down its intentions for centuries through nothing but oral tradition. All secrets die with the members. Just as my father told me, so I tell you. Because if I die, someone else must know and be able to help carry it out."
Aang frowned more deeply, looking at the ground. Never was he more unsure of his task than at this very moment. Talking to just two of the many who would come to depend on him to know what he was getting into. The Avatar, the savior of the world, the Bridge to the Spirit World, the one who would restore the balance that had been upset for a hundred years.
Him. A twelve-year-old child.
He wasn't Avatar Roku. He wasn't an old wise man with the experience of so many years to go back on when he needed help. He was Aang. A mere boy so afraid of his own future that he would seal himself away and leave the world itself to fall into ruin.
His frown deepened to one of determination as he finally raised his eyes to meet theirs again. "I let the world down once. The disappearance of the Avatar...my running away...was the trigger that let Fire Lord Sozin make his move. I'm not gonna let you all down again. If you're going to care enough to stand behind me, then I'm going to care enough not to let myself fall."
Toph smiled. And though she said nothing, he knew she was proud.
Shen nodded. "We are behind you, Avatar. In more ways than you could possibly imagine."
"In which case..." Aang went on, "I think it's only fair that I give up my secrets, too. You found my bison and returned him to me. I think I at least owe you the reason I'm down here." He sucked in a breath, determination making his face harden.
"This is the Year of the Comet. The same one that Sozin used to start the war will pass over again at the end of Summer. If we don't end the war on our terms before then, Fire Lord Ozai will definitely end it on his. We have one shot in our favor. We found out through Won Shi Tong's Library that there's a total eclipse scheduled to happen before the arrival of the Comet. I need to tell the Earth King. Because if there was ever a time to strike the Fire Nation, it would be then, when their power is compromised."
Jin and Shen looked at each other, then back at him. "No wonder you want to bust in there with the bison."
Toph nodded. "We have to convince him. There's no way we can make this happen without the Earth Kingdom's support. I mean, if they all want to die a fiery death and be first against the wall when Ozai starts lining up prisoners, great. But the rest of the world isn't too keen on it, yanno? We like living."
"We're currently almost three-quarters done with the full map," Shen said. "While I can tell you where we suspect the Earth King's chamber passage is, I can't confirm anything." He sighed. "The door it leads to requires Earthbending to open it, I'm afraid."
Toph smirked. "You just found the absolute best person for the job, buster." She stood, bowing low. "Toph Bei-Fong, Greatest Earthbender in the World, at your service."
Shen chuckled, returning the gesture. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, young Lady."
Aang smiled a bit, before turning serious again. "Just one thing I need to know before we go giving the poor guy the scare of his life." At their nod, he continued. "If the White Lotus has been around so long, why haven't they bothered to do anything about the war before now?"
Jin's face darkened, solemn. "Before now, there was nothing they could do. If you want revolution, you need change first. Since the start of the Yuan dynasty, there has been no direct heir that would've changed the course of the country or even tried to restore the balance before the fall of Fire Lord Rokan. The Lotus was so desperate to get an heir they could trust onto the throne that they even tried to get one of their own into the line of succession." She looked up, and he found himself cringing inside at the shine in her eyes.
"But they were outwitted by his brother. The one we call Fire Lord Ozai."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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