WCWG? Part II- Chapter 24

                                                    New Things

       At breakfast the next morning, Aang and Sokka kept itching at the stubble on their heads because they weren’t used to having that hair. Katara giggled. Her hair was back in its normal braid this morning, but the hairpiece sat on the dresser in her room.
“Well, I pray you all slept well after your shopping spree yesterday,” Kuei said.
“Very well, thank you,” everyone replied.
“And your new clothes are being delivered to your rooms as we speak. So, feel free to try them on. And though I doubt you’ll have trouble getting them on, just ask your other friends if you need help.”
When they were done, the gang split up to wander around. Aang and Iroh went to go play Pai Sho, and Ursa went to keep an eye on them. Zuko went to go work with Sokka on his sword skills. Katara decided the girls should have a day in and just do girl things. So the girls all changed into some bath robes and went into Ty Lee’s room. Toph sat on the floor with her arms crossed and Mai sat in a chair. Katara and Ty Lee got the things they needed. Katara looked at Toph when they came back and saw that she looked kind of upset.
Katara kneeled down in front of her. “Toph, what’s wrong?”
Toph sighed. “I’m not feeling very well, I guess.”
Katara looked at her friend. “Is anything else wrong?”
“I’m not good at this kind of stuff. When we went to the spa, people did it for us. But we’re not at a spa. I can’t do anything because I can’t see,” Toph said.
“We’ll help you,” Katara said. “We’ll have fun, I promise.”
For the hours in between breakfast and lunch, the girls did each others nails and hair. Manicures and pedicures were given to each girl. Katara and Ty Lee switched hairstyles. Katara showed Toph how to braid hair by touch. Once Toph got the hang of it, she braided Mai’s hair. Ty Lee got a couple of pink flowers from the vase on her dresser and braided them in. Mai did two pigtails and braided them on Toph. After the girls did each other’s make up, Toph was smiling and Mai was grinning slightly. A knock at the door startled them and a servant came by to tell them it was time for lunch.
The girls all put on their clothes and headed to lunch.
“All you guys did was each other’s make up this morning?” Sokka asked.
“We’re allowed to have fun,” Katara said.
Later that night, when everyone was asleep, Toph woke up to horrible stomach pains. She went into the bathroom and was nervous when she walked back out a minute later. She walked out of her room and padded down the hall. She knocked on the door and went in quickly. Toph walked over to the bed and did a little gentle shaking.
“Toph? What is it? What’s wrong?” Katara asked, rubbing her eyes and sitting up.
“I need your help. I think I might be hurt, but I’m not sure.” Toph told her about the stomach aches and what had happened in the bathroom.
Katara laughed lightly. “You’re not hurt Toph.”
“I’m not?”
“No, you’re growing up is all.” Katara told her what she meant and Toph began to blush. “You’ll be fine,” she said.
“I, I still need help. I don’t know what to do,” Toph said.
“Hold on a second,” Katara said, getting out of bed and going over to her bag.
She reached in and grabbed a small roll of bandages and put them in Toph’s hand. Once Katara told her what to do, Toph went into Katara’s bathroom and followed her instructions. Toph walked back out looking relieved.
“Now, as for the pains, I know what’ll help, because it always helps me.” Katara heated some water in a pot on her dresser. She put some tea leaves in a cup and poured the hot water on top. Katara walked over to Toph and put the cup in her hands. “Drink this,” she said simply.
“Tea? What’ll this do?”
“It’s ginseng tea. Ginseng is a natural muscle relaxant. So this will relax your muscles and ease the pain,” Katara explained.
Toph drank some. “Thank you for your help Katara. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t here. I probably would’ve thought I was dying.”
Katara put a hand on Toph’s shoulder. “Anytime, Toph. You can come to me for anything. I hope you know that.” Toph nodded and continued to drink, feeling the rather quick work of the ginseng. “Good, now, you finish your tea and go back to bed. We can talk more in the morning if you’d like. Good night.”
“Good night, Katara,” Toph said and walked out of the room with her cup of tea.
At breakfast, Katara noticed that Toph had asked for ginseng tea and smiled. Toph was like a little sister to her.
The rest of the week and a half went by very fast and was uneventful. The gang trained hard so they’d be prepared. The day before they were due to leave, everyone took a well deserved break and got ready for the next day. The king had feasts laid out for all three meals that day. They were moving out at dawn. At dinner, Sokka realized something.
“What are we gonna do with all of our stuff? Are we taking it with us?”
“But of course,” Kuei said. The eclipse is exactly three weeks from tomorrow. So you’ll be gone for almost a month. I’d definitely advise taking your things.”
That night they packed their bags for traveling and went to bed early. Before the sun’s edges could even be seen, the gang was up and getting ready. They met in the throne room for a goodbye. Kuei stood there with Ursa, Bosco, Appa and Momo. The king started.
“Be brave, young heroes. I will see you again when we have claimed victory in the Fire Nation.” They all bowed to one another. Sokka, Aang, Katara and Toph went up to hug him.
Ursa came up to each of them. “Avatar Aang, I wish you the best of luck and know you will succeed. Toph, be safe and keep watchful sight for this mission. Ty Lee, my only advice; remember your jitsu, it is your greatest fighting asset. Mai, keep hope in your mind and don’t let it slip away. Iroh, I just have to say, make sure you don’t ingest too much tea. Sokka, take good care of your sister and your friends.” She’d bowed to everyone else and spoke her advice to Katara and Zuko. Katara, I see so much of myself in you. Stay true to yourself and be safe. And also, keep a watchful eye on my son. And Zuko, be the best you can be and remember that I am always with you. Be safe my son.” Ursa hugged Zuko and Katara tightly and kissed each of their foreheads in blessing.
The gang all gave a goodbye hug to their animal friends before heading out.
“I’ll be back buddy, I promise,” Aang said to Appa.
“We’ll take good care of them,” Kuei said.
They all bowed once more and waved as they picked up their packs and followed the five generals out. The troops were already on the move and the large group was meeting them at Full Moon Bay so they could exit the through the waterway and get to the ocean. They took several carriages out to the monorail system. Engineers were there waiting to take them out of the city. They boarded in silence, each of them dwelling on their thoughts. After they arrived at their destination, Katara, Aang, Toph and Sokka were kind of happy to be back here.
Refugees were still sleeping in their tents, waiting to get into the city. They made their way through to the service desk. The crabby lady and the portly lady were already at their posts, waiting for the gang and company’s arrival. They were taking two ships out of the bay. One contained the troops, and the other was for the gang and the generals. General How walked up to the crabby lady and asked if the ships were ready to leave. She told him that they were making the final preparations and would be leaving in about fifteen minutes. Her security guards would then escort them to the ship. Sokka, who’d been antsy all morning, finally burst. He walked up to the lady.
“Are the Kyoshi warriors still here?” He asked, looking around.
Mai and Ty Lee looked at each other and looked upset.
The large woman walked over. “They are here, and fortunate. They’d left on a scouting trip. They came back early and were injured and in pretty rough shape. Suki was in the worst shape of all. She told us they’d been ambushed by three Fire Nation girls after helping the Avatar’s bison. They got him out of there, but lost to those girls. Lucky for us they weren’t to far away and were able to make it back quickly.”
“Is Suki okay?” Sokka asked worriedly.
“Well, for a moment, we’d had our doubts, but she’s a fighter, and she pulled through. She’s all better now. She said three of their uniforms were stolen.”
“Where is she?” Sokka questioned the woman.
“She’s up in the guard’s quarters, getting ready,” pointing to a building behind them where lights were on.
Sokka broke into a run and felt something jabbing him in the back, but he didn’t stop. No one bothered to stop him. Once in the building and up the stairs, Sokka found the female guards’ quarters. He knocked hurriedly. A girl about his age opened the door and looked at him. She smiled, taking his wrist and pulling him into the room with her. He looked around, all the girls were doing their hair and putting their uniform shoes and hats on. Sokka looked around for Suki. He spotted her at the other end of the room. She was turned away and doing up her shoes.
The Kyoshi warrior who’d pulled him into the room smiled at him and put a finger to her lips. “Suki,” she called out.
“Yes?” Suki asked turning around slowly as she spoke. She was buttoning her arm guard. “What is it?” She asked and looked up. Suki saw Sokka standing there and her jaw dropped. Her face broke into a smile and tears began welling up in her eyes.
Sokka smiled at her. “Hi, Suki,” he said.
“Sokka!” Suki cried, running over and throwing herself into his arms. She buried her face into Sokka’s shoulder and then looked up at her warrior. “When those girls attacked, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. But you found me!”
“Of course I did,” he said, kissing her.
Suki’s friends looked on in happiness for their leader.
When he’d finished kissing her, Sokka pulled off his pack. “I have something for you.” He reached in and pulled a bundle of forest green fabric out. “I thought you might’ve missed it,” he said, letting the material unfold and handing it to her.
“My uniform!” She caught a glimmer of gold shining out of his bag. “My headdress and fans too! Sokka, how did you get this?”
“I’ve got my ways,” he said with a grin. Sokka pulled two similar bundles out of his large pack and held them in each hand. “So, who lost these ones?”
Two of Suki’s friends came up and claimed their things.
Suki smiled up at him. “My brave warrior, we can’t thank you enough.”
“Seeing you alive is worth it. I was worried sick when I found out it was Azula and not you in that uniform. And now we’re going to stop her father.”
Suki’s face fell a little. “That’s right. I forgot. You’re going.”
“We have to do this, no matter what happens,” Sokka said.
Something flickered through Suki’s eyes. “We’re going with you.”
“What? Suki you can’t! I couldn’t bear it if I lost you to the Fire Nation!”
“Like you said, this has to be done, no matter what,” she said. Suki turned to her fellow warriors. “Girls, don your uniforms! We’re going to the Fire Nation!”
Ten minutes later, the Kyoshi warriors, dressed with their makeup on and packs ready, followed Sokka and Suki to where the others were waiting.
Suki walked up to General How and bowed at the waist. “We would be honored if we could go with you to the Fire Nation.”
After a few more arrangements and changes, they gang, the generals, and the Kyoshi warriors boarded the ship and set sail. The second ship containing the troops followed in the main ship’s wake. The generals stayed in their quarters and went over the plans. Some of the other Kyoshi warriors got a little seasick and went to rest. The others, seeing what had happened, feared getting sick and went to rest too. A large group sat in a circle on the main deck: Aang, Toph, Katara, Zuko, Sokka, Suki, Mai, Ty Lee and Iroh.
Suki had been looking at Mai and Ty Lee suspiciously. When she remembered where she’d seen them, she’d stood up and confronted them. “I remember you! You’re the ones who ambushed us on our scouting mission! And you!” She pointed at Zuko. “You’re the one who almost burned my village to the ground!” Her face was angry.
Sokka pulled her back to sit. “At least let them explain,” he said to her gently.
Mai and Ty Lee apologized. When Suki learned that Azula was gone, she softened and forgave them. She was just glad that she and her warriors were alive now. Suki turned her face to look at Zuko. He too apologized and explained. After the gang convinced her, she told Zuko that she forgave him also. Kyoshi Island WAS still okay, after all.
“So, what’s the plan?” Suki asked.
Iroh pulled a map out of his robes and showed her the route they were taking to the Fire Nation. Aang explained how they were sneaking in early and sending a signal.
“Wait, how are we going to get the message out?” Katara asked.
Iroh smiled. “You’ve seen messenger hawks before, am I correct?” Everyone nodded. “Well, as it turns out, the Fire Nation isn’t the only place that’s trained these birds.”
“What about the tube it carries for messages?” Zuko asked. “They’re not-”
“It’s been replaced. Don’t worry, it’s been taken care of,” Iroh replied. “Now, who wants some tea?”
Everyone laughed and Iroh called to the cook for some tea. The day wore on, and they passed a couple little villages as they headed towards open water. As the sun began to set, everyone scattered around the ship. Katara went looking for Zuko. She found him at the bow. When she saw him, her heart swelled. The wind ruffled his black hair. She walked up to him and hugged him from behind. He smiled when he felt her there and he turned around.
“Hey,” they said.
“What’re you doing out here?” Katara asked.
“Just thinking,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her waist. Katara looked up at Zuko and her heart flipped inside her chest. She rested her head against his chest and together they watched the last of the sun’s rays disappear on the horizon.