Chapter 13

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Chapter 13 On the way back to the city, I stopped and picked up Sokka. Then we spotted Toph below, surfing a wave of earth. Appa swooped down and we picked her up too. Sokka told us about how great it was to see his dad, and Toph told us that she learned how to bend metal! First I just thought, Gosh, she's such an amazing Earthbender. But then I thought about my visions with the guru, and how I'd seen Toph bending metal in one of them when I was trying to cleanse the Light Chakra. The Light Chakra is blocked by illusions, and just like the Waterbender from the swamp and the guru told me, time really must be an illusion, because the vision I saw in the swamp of Toph laughing and the vision I saw just a while ago of her bending metal both came true! And all of this means that my vision of Katara must be real—she must really be in danger! It also probably means that the guru is right—my seventh chakra is blocked. Well, first things first, I guess. Both Toph and Sokka were upset when I told them about the vision of Katara, and we sped off for Ba Sing Se as quickly as Appa could take us there. They asked me how my experience with the guru went. I lied to them and told them I completely

mastered the Avatar state. As much as they love Katara, they won't understand my choice. They'll think I abandoned my responsibility. And maybe I did. I don't know. But what I do know is that I have to make sure Katara is okay. I also know that I had to lie about this. I don't feel good about it, but I can't deal with all this now. First Katara, then I'll figure out how to make all the Avatar stuff right—I hope. We landed in Ba Sing Se and hurried to the king's throne room. But to my surprise he told me that Katara was off with the Kyoshi warriors and doing fine. We headed for our apartment, where I was greeted by Momo—but no Katara. She IS in trouble. I knew it. My vision was right. Then a knock came at the door. Toph threw open the door and there stood Zuko's uncle, Iroh! This is the last thing I need, to battle Iroh. Is Zuko with him? Maybe they have Katara.… It turned out that Toph and Iroh had met before, in the woods when Toph ran away from us, and they'd become friends. "Toph, I need your help," Iroh said. "Princess Azula is in Ba Sing Se." Azula! SHE must have Katara. Now I'm really worried. Azula nearly killed me the last time we fought. She's crazy, and super dangerous. How are

we going to save Katara? Iroh explained that Azula had captured Katara and Zuko. "We'll work together to fight Azula and save Zuko and Katara," I said. Sokka was shocked when I said we'd rescue Zuko. I guess I was a bit surprised myself. But I'm willing to do anything to save Katara, and after dealing with Azula, Zuko really didn't seem so bad. Iroh brought along a Dai Li agent he had captured. The agent told us that Azula and Long Feng were plotting to overthrow the Earth King! He also said that Katara was being held in the crystal catacombs of old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace. Toph Earthbended a tunnel beneath the palace, then we split up. While Sokka and Toph went to warn the Earth King about Azula's coup, Iroh and I headed into the tunnel to rescue Katara and Zuko. First I started actually feeling sorry for Zuko, now I'm trusting his uncle, a retired Fire Nation general. Boy, it's strange how things change. You think you have stuff all figured out, who's good and who's evil, and then people go and surprise you. Toph's tunnel led us into a crystal courtyard, a wide-open plaza with waterfalls and a stream running over beautiful crystal rocks. I used Earthbending to

open sections of the courtyard's walls until I finally found Katara's and Zuko's prison. "Aang! I knew you would come!" Katara rushed over and hugged me. Thank goodness she's okay! Now I know I made the right choice. Just then Zuko rushed at me, but Iroh stopped him. Those two had a lot to talk about, so Katara and I left them and headed off to find Sokka and Toph. But before we got out of the crystal courtyard, Azula attacked! She fired bolts of blue lightning. Katara countered by Waterbending water from the stream as I used Earthbending to block Azula's blasts and knock her off balance. Azula may be too much for me alone, but working with Katara, I think I'm going to beat her. Wait, Zuko's back! Did his uncle convince him to help us or will he join Azula against us? I wonder what he'll choo— BAM! Zuko just sent a fire blast headed right at me! So much for people surprising me. Same old Zuko. Only now he's teamed with his ruthless sister! I hope we have what it takes to beat them.… Oh, no! Katara's hurt. She just fell down into the stream.… Azula must have zapped her as she

stepped into the water, shocking her! I didn't save her! I rejected Guru Pathik to save her and I still failed. Now a troop of Dai Li agents are joining in the fight, throwing Earthbending attacks at me. There are too many of them. I can't stop them all AND beat Azula and Zuko. Guru Pathik is right. I'm holding on to my earthly attachment and ruining everything. There's only one way to make this better: I have to let her go. I'm sorry, Katara. I Earthbended a protective crystal shell around myself, and then I began to meditate. I'm back on that bridge, walking toward the giant version of myself in the Avatar state.… Don't hesitate this time; just walk toward the giant Aang. Accept your fate.… It's working! I'm slipping into the Avatar state! I feel more powerful than I ever have before! BOOM! What's that? What hit me? Oh, no. The bridge, it's crumbling beneath my feet.… I'm falling.… I could hear Katara's voice drifting softly through the darkness. Then I felt myself slowly waking up. In my mind I saw a glowing band of golden water