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Chapter 9

It was an exceptionally hot day the sun burning mercifully the dry land. The gang is currently shopping for supplies in a small village. You Katara were in charge of the food and water, not really trusting the others of messing something up. On top of that earlier that morning the water bender got in a heated argument with Toph. You had to cut in before they jump at each other throats.
“Can I ask you something, /m/n/?” Katara sudden question took you unprepared. You looked at her, opening your mouth to speak, but no words came out. When you didn’t say anything she continued. “I know it is not my business to stick my nose in your personal life, but I was curious who that Yun guy you mention is. Is he your friend?
Remembering your best and only friend was painful and you felt guilty for not listening to him. If it was not your stupid childish curiosity he would be gone. You make new friends in this time, but you know at some point you have to leave. When that time comes you won’t have anyone to return to-no family, no friends, no place to call home. You sighed, looking away in attempt to avoid eye contact.
“He was indeed my very close friend and mentor. Before I met you e was my only friend. He was the only one who looks beyond my Avatar title and offers me his friendship.” you explained while staring at the bright red fruit in your hand. The tension is thankfully broken by Sokka, who runs over to you with a scroll in his hand.
“You won’t believe what I found!” he screamed excited, unrolling the scroll in his hand to reveal an old map. It was almost unreadable, but you could clearly read the words “Fire Kingdom” on the right down corner. You could tell the parchment was ripped where the fire nation land is located. “It is not much, but it could be useful.”
“Where did you found it?” Katara pulled it out of his hands, observing it carefully. “From an antique shop situated at the end of the street. The old man there sells it on half of its actual prize. Isn’t this cool?” her brother exclaimed overjoyed by his discovery.
“Let me see that!” you pulled the map out of Katara’s hands and lifted it so the sun illuminated the parchment. You could see something written on the back when you turned it around. Your father taught you about invisible ink. You light up a small flame on the tip of your index finger, holding it on the opposite side of the paper. The paper color slowly becomes darker, revealing a secret message. Sokka and Katara’s mouths gaped as the text appeared before their eyes.
“What in the world!?” Sokka jaw dropped while his brain tried to proceeds what just happened. Apparently he didn’t see that coming, yet again Sokka never look beyond the obvious.
“How did you know there was hidden massage?” Katara eyes moved between you and the map. You explained them about what your father taught and how usually the old parchments contain hidden texts on the back with important information. That technique is commonly used in the fire nation army to prevent someone uses their battle strategies against them or when they send an important message to the fire lord.
“We could use that knowledge in our advantage. That way we will have advantage against the fire nation.”Sokka clapped his hands with a wide grin on his lips. “What does it says?”
“It reads: “Under sea of sand lays knowledge forgotten in time. There are no hours, no days or seasons as time stays still. No boundaries exist between ages of peace and war, history of ancient times comes to life. But be were of the sleeping beast in the shadows of the stone tomb.” I have no idea what that means.”
“Maybe the merchant Sokka bought it from knows something.”Katara suggested, glancing at her brother. He took the message, feeling a bit stupid all of a sudden. After both you and his sister stared at him intensely he gave up with a groan motioning for you to follow him.
The shop was not so far from the market place. It was quite small, but there were way too much stuff you could barely pass by without pushing something.
“Welcome young travelers! I see the young man from earlier brought some friends.” An old man appeared from a back room. You exchanged a glance with Katara before you stepped forward with the map.
“We found a hidden message on the back of the map our friend bought from you. We were wondering if you know what it means.” You handed him the map as he fixed his glasses on his nose. It took him a few moments, before he returns the map to Sokka.
“This is an old riddle. It is about an old library holding knowledge beyond the human imagination. I heard about it, but I know just as much as you do. Still I am pretty sure this will help you find it.” he reached to a shelf near the wall, pulling another map. “This one I will give you for free.”
You took it from him, looking down to see what is on the map. All you saw was what looks like a desert in the middle of which was drawn a building looking like a palace. That must be the library. You thanked the merchant before you left with Katara and Sokka on tool.
“You are finally back!”Aang shouted happily when you returned to your camp. He jumps of the bison’s back hugging you tight, rubbing his face in your chest. You smiled, wrapping your arms around him, placing a gentle kiss on top of his head. You caught a movement with the corner of your eye, turning your head to see what it is. Toph crawled out from underneath a rock shell she probably made to hide from the sun.
“Took you long enough!” she grumbled standing on her feet. “What is our next stop?”
“We are going to some ancient library in the desert, because someone thought it is a good idea.” Katara glared at you and Sokka annoyed. You knew what she was thinking, but maybe this journey will help you in your quest. You just ignored her climbing on Appa’s back. You were tired and you planned to take a small nap. You felt Aand slides between your arms cuddling closer to you. You pulled him closer, closing your eyes, falling in a dreamless sleep.
*******
When you woke up, Appa was flying over the desert, while Sokka navigated him. YOU look down at Aang to see he was still asleep. You let go of him carefully, sitting up with a stretch. Katara was busy reading the water bending scroll she bought during the travel to the North Pole. Toph was munching on a fruit opposite from her. With a sigh you crawled over to Sokka, sitting beside him.
“Any luck finding the library?” you asked him not really expecting a positive answer. Looking for a building in the middle of the desert is like looking for a needle in a stack of hey. He shocks his head, furrowing his brows.
“Nothing so far unfortunately! I am starting to think this library doesn’t exist.” He grumbled, tossing the map at you. You catch it thankfully before the wind blows it away. You looked down at it scrunching your nose.
“Look over there!”Sokka shook your arm, pointing down. There you could see a tower rising from the sea of sand. You took Appa’s reins from Sokka. By your command Appa turns that direction; the sudden motion startled the others. Aang woke up, rubbing his eyes. “What’s going on?” he yawned still half asleep. Katara shrugged confused herself. They looked over the saddle to see the tower.
“Guys what is happening? What do you see?” Toph shouted annoyed because she was not apple to see. “I think we found the library!” you explained, pulling the reins back. Appa lowered to the ground, landing right in front of the tower. Everyone descended Appa, you being the last one to do so.
“That doesn’t look like a library to me.” Sokka crossed his arms looking up to the top. You rounded the tower to look for an entrance, but you found none. The only opening was a window at the top.
“I have the feeling this is the library or what is left of it.” Aang pressed his hand to the cold stone wall as he glanced to the top too.
“In that is the case I doubt there is anything left inside. What a waste of time.” Toph pouted, sitting on t sand. “I prefer to be somewhere with a solid ground.”
Suddenly a fox appeared out of nowhere with a book in hand, climbed the wall and disappeared inside.
“Maybe there is a way inside!” Aang concluded, glancing over at the water tribe warrior. “Sokka, you happen to have a rope with you, right?” Everyone’s eyes immediately fall over Sokka, who felt uncomfortable being stared at.
“Let me check real quick!” since he was the closes to Appa he climbed the saddle where he left his bag. After a couple of minutes he lifts his hand in the air, holding a rope in his fists. He threw it at Aang who caught it easily and tucked it in his belt. Opening his glider he took off the ground, up to the top of the tower where the window was situated. He disappeared inside not long after one of the rope’s ends falls down for the others to climb up. Katara noticed that Toph didn’t budge from her sitting position.
“Aren’t you coming?” she quirked a brow at the earth bender. The younger girl shocks her head, stretching her arms.
“Someone has to stay here with Appa. And don’t worry about it /m/n/! I can take care of myself.” she convinced you before you voice out your concern. Sighing, you followed Katara up the rope. For some reason your flying coordination was getting worse after the events in the swamp. Once all of you were up you pulled the rope up to throw it on the other side. First to climb down was Sokka then Katara and you were the last to follow. Aang used his glider to fly down, watching you confused the entire time.
Suddenly a huge shadow appeared out of nowhere, cutting the rope. You act quick catching Katara and Aang grabs Sokka before they fall. You barely reached the bottom before you fall with the water bender on top of you.
“Are you alright?” you asked her to which she nodded, pushing herself up. Aang landed not too far, but not before dropping Sokka, who falls on his butt.
“You guys are not hurt, right?” he landed next to you helping Katara on her feet first then you. No one acknowledged Sokka whining who rubbed his hurting behind.
“What was that thing up there?” Katara wondered, looking up in case it appears again. You have a pretty good idea what it could be. You heard about Wan Shi Tong. He was not very fond of humans and banned tem from stepping foot in his library.
“We shouldn’t stay out in the open. Whatever you do, don’t let the spirit of this library sees you.” You warned, grabbing Aang and Katara’s wrists and pulling them to the nearest roles of bookshelves. Unfortunately before you reached them a giant black-and-white barn owl landed in the middle of the bridge you were standing on.
“I don’t take kind to intruders who sneak in to steal from my knowledge. If you want to live, leave now.” his voice was deep and mysterious. Since you know the most about him you stepped forward to speak for the others.
“We are not here to steal. We just come to look for answers.” You hopped that will help. Wan Shi Tong bends down to look in your eyes like he was searching for something. You felt shivers run up your back under his intimidating gaze.
“The last person who comes to seek knowledge used it for evil. How would I know you won’t do the same?” he doesn’t sound convinced. You have really bad experience communicating with spirits. That is why it took you five tries to reconnect with the previous Avatar reincarnations. But now it was not about you, but the entire world.
“I know why you forbid humans to enter the Spirit Library. But it was your own mistake to let Zhao in. I personally wouldn’t trust that guy.” You stared right back at the owl challenging. You ignored your friend please to be nice and don’t anger the spirit.
“How dare you talk to me like that filthy human? Just because you carry spiritual energy in your veins doesn’t mean I will spare your life if you act so arrogant.” He was angry! Perfect! You were on the right direction!
“What if I told you the guy who wronged you receives a suitable punishment.” As you said that Wan Shi Tong expression softened. He pulled back, now looking at the rest of the company.
“Very well then! I will let you stay for half an hour- no more, no less. The only condition is to not steal. You just have to offer me new knowledge in return. ” He doesn’t sound very patient. Each one of you offered what they have: Katara her water bending scroll, Aang a portrait given to him by one of his fangirls on the Kyoshi Island, Sokka a very bad written poem he made for princess Yue and you offered a Haiku book. After he gathered your gifts he disappeared. Once left alone you split from each other in different directions. You walked between the roles looking at the book title. You didn’t found anything useful the first two or three minutes until you spotted a book about all the Avatars up until Aang. You pulled it out and flip the pages. Some of the pages were missing. You decide to take the book. Sooner or later you will come back to return it. After all you are connected to the spirit world. Quickly stuffing it in your bag you went to find the others. You used the Avatar connection with Aang to discover their whereabouts and walk that direction. By the time you reached a grand observatory hall at the opposite end of the building you saw something that you hopped you never witness. It was a perfect duplicate of a real solar eclipse.
“Our hero is here just in time. We discovered how to defeat the fire nation once and for all.”Sokka grinned triumphantly. You have a really bad feeling your host won’t like this. In answer of that apprehension you felt dark aura looming behind you.
“I knew I couldn’t trust you!” you slowly turned to face very angry Wan Shi Tang. “You are not different than that other human. You will use others weaknesses to come out victorious.
“We need that information to prevent war and further casualties.”Aang insisted, but the harm was already done. The Spirit of the library transforms to a much scarier creature.
“This place will be buried under the sand with you. You should have left when you had the chance.” He attacked you, but you skillfully dodged, running past him, the others right behind you. Wan Shi Tang destroyed everything while he tried to catch you. Sand sipped inside causing the building to sink. You almost reached the place where you fall earlier. But before you get there the angry spirit grabs you in his claws preventing you to escape.
“Your friend will pay with his life for what you did.” He said hitting anther colonel causing more sand to enter from above.
“[M/N]!” Aang screamed reaching his hand to you, but the intruding sand separated you. You couldn’t see him anymore as you were pulled over to the Spirit world.