drunkenpandaren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-29 01:56 am
drunkenpandaren) wrote2009-08-29 01:56 am
Entry tags:
Power Rangers A.D.S. - Chapter 6 "Ranger Yellow Part 1"
I'm such a bastard to cut this into two parts. But as epic states, it must happen.
Ranger Yellow Part 1
“Aang, breakfast!” called out Katara. “Aang?”
Looking around, she peeked into Doctor T’s command area and asked, “Doctor T? Have you seen Aang?”
“He left early this morning,” replied Doctor T. “Said he had something to do at the library.”
“Huh, okay. Well, I’ll leave something for him provided Sokka and Zuko don’t eat it all. Honestly, what’s their obsession with waffles anyhow?” groused Katara.
As Katara left, Doctor T’s screens blipped off as a small figure in the booth behind the screens leaned back in concern.
“Somethings up with that kid,” mused Doctor T. “And I hate not knowing what’s going on.”
“Scrolls? They’re in the back,” said the librarian. “What are you looking for?”
“Stuff on the Avatar,” replied Aang.
“Oh pssh, you want to know that? You can find it on the internet. Here, let me show you.” Getting out from behind his desk, he grinned and said, “I’m Teo.”
“Aang,” replied Aang, shaking the librarians hand. “Oh I didn’t know…”
“Don’t worry,” said Teo, patting his legs. “I don’t even notice these days. C’mon, I’ll show you what you need to know. First time using a computer?”
Aang nodded as Teo lead him to a computer. It was a little less advanced than the one he used at the garage in order to learn what he needed to know, but it still worked the same. “It was shocking to me when I first used it,” explained Teo, logging in with an administrator password. “To think this sort of technology could be used here in Ba Sing Se after so many years of war.”
“How many years has it been anyhow?” inquired Aang.
Teo looked at him curiously. “You really don’t know? Azulon’s attack robots have been marching across the world for a hundred years. Everyone knows that.”
The mention of time made Aang’s hackles rise for a reason yet unknown as Teo logged into the internet. “Got it. Here we go, a history of Avatars.”
“The Avatar is the embodiment of the four elements, Water, Earth, Fire and Air. It is said that when one dies, a new one is born at the exact moment. Scientists believe this is through the cause of a higher power. Those who believe in the old ways cite that the Avatar will one day rise up and deal with the imbalance to the world.”
“That’s what most people say, the ones older than my dad,” explained Teo. “They say that the Avatar can bend mountains, move rivers and heave fire from the depths of the earth, and pull the very air from your lips.”
“But… it’s a legend, right?” inquired Aang.
“No, it’s real. Look, here’s some accountings of past Avatars. Avatar Kiyoshi, the founder of Kiyoshi Island. To this day, that place is still said to be protected from Azulon incursions by a group of warriors who follow the avatar’s path. She’s fairly notable. But the one that came after her was Avatar Roku.”
Rokurokurokurokurokurokuroku…!
Aang pinched the bridge of his nose as the name fired like a gunshot in his head. Teo hadn’t noticed his discomfort and added, “Avatar Roku was a great man who pressed the advance in technology we use today. It’s said he developed the first computer, and then the first defences for all of our worlds. But when he died, something strange happened. Without warning, our newfound methods of defence fell ill, one by one. We called it a computer virus who by then, took our world apart.”
“He didn’t mean to…” whispered Aang.
“Did you say something Aang?” inquired Teo.
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Go on.”
“Well here’s the weird part. There hasn’t been a mention of another Avatar since then. And with the Air Nomads either scattered or extinct…” Aang’s breath caught in a hitch and Teo looked at him. “In fact, the clothing you’re wearing now must have belonged to one, cause there’s no way that thing was mass produced.”
Aang nodded. “T-thanks Teo. By the way, can you um, tell me where I might find someone who was from the Air Nomads?”
“Hard to say,” said Teo. “You could ask my dad but he’s at his workshop. Dad’s a bit of a mechanist. If you want, check the local records at the library. I hear they’re reclusive but it’ll be a start?”
Aang nodded. “Thanks, you’ve been a great help.”
Heading out of the library, Aang pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stem the throbbing of his head. “I should get more sleep,” he mused.
“Sorry. The only sleep you’ll be getting is a long dirt nap,” sneered Azula who had shown up with her pack of Grinders.
Aang groaned. “Look I’ve had a bad morning. Can we skip the witty banter and get right to the violence?”
“If you want. ATTACK!”
“A.D.S. MAX DRIVE!” in a blast of yellow light, Aang flew into his opponents, kicking, punching and dragging up wicked blasts of air to throw enemies about. Soon he was matching blows with Azula who wore a wicked grin on her face.
“I thought you were a pacifist,” she smirked.
“Even pacifists have bad days,” grunted Aang as he flipped her over and hurled her twenty feet away. The girl landed like a cat and Aang was on top of her with another series of blows.
“Glider Staff!” yelled Aang as the staff materialized in his hands seconds before Azula launched a barrage of flames. Popping it open, he flew upwards and prepared to come out of the sun in a swooping attack. Suddenly, a barrage of words and sounds struck him and he cried out, holding his head.
His grip lost, he plummeted to the ground like a rock and Azula lined up a blast. But before Aang could hit the ground, water cushioned his fall as Azula found her arm wrenched up by Zuko. “Missed me?” he quipped before the pair were locked in a heated brother-sister battle.
“Never Zuzu. Did you get that shiny new toy from daddy yet?” quipped Azula in which flames were traded.
“You okay?” said Katara as she lowered Aang to the ground. The boy groaned and sat up.
“Is it possible to have the worst day ever and it’s still only 9:14?” he replied.
“Yes. Sokka does it all the time.”
Between the extra Rangers and Zuko’s unrelenting bursts of flames, Azula was forced to retreat in a flash of light. “You know I always wondered if we could teleport. It would make deployment so much easier,” said Sokka.
“Ranger Series Yellow. While I am concerned for your well being and performance in the biohardware, I must confess I am concerned for your actions as well.” Said Doctor T.
“Yeah, I mean you hate fighting. But then you just tore into Azula’s goons,” pointed out Sokka. “What gives?”
“I haven’t been sleeping well for the last few days,” admitted Aang. “Bad dreams. Really bad ones.”
“The health and psychological welfare of the Ranger Operators cannot become an issue,” said Doctor T. “I am relieving you of your morpher until you manage to pull yourself together.”
“Hey that’s not fair! We need him on the battlefield,” protested Katara.
“And without his morpher, he becomes a big glaring target. What’s he going to do; stay in the garage all day?” added Zuko.
“That is precisely what I desire,” said Doctor T. “As your advisor, I am ordering Series Yellow to rest up, and stabilize his mental state before he proceeds with deployment once again.”
Aang nodded and pulled the cell phone-like device from his hip. “Just for a while,” he said, placing the device into its compartment which shut with a click.
In the uncomfortable silence, Sokka proclaimed, “Who wants tacos? I need a fish taco.”
“Go and order for us Sokka,” said Zuko. “In fact, lemme come with you. You always forget Aang doesn’t eat meat.”
As the pair bickered over tacos, Katara sat down beside Aang. “Anything you want to get off your chest?” she asked.
“Not really.” Aang wilted under her stare and he sighed. “I keep having these weird dreams. People and faces I can’t make out. Sometimes it starts all right, like I’m flying in the air or something. And then there’s a storm, a violent one. Then it always ends with needles and pain and I wake up.”
Katara frowned. “Doctor T?”
“The needles and pain are consistent with possible suppressed memories of his imprisonment. I would not put it past Azulon to torture humans who he has captured,” said the screen.
“All right, so we know what that is. But question is, where do you remember the good part of the dream?”
“I…” Aang tried to think and he tapped his head. “I just… augh!” Mussing his short black hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. “This is all wrong.”
“What is?”
“My appearance,” said Aang. “I keep thinking something needs to be missing from my reflection.”
“Series Yellow, I have a suggestion for you. If you go to the address I am printing for you now, you will meet with an old fortuneteller. While you may or may not believe in it, there is a point: she is NEVER wrong. Also, she is a licensed therapist of the mind. A psychologist.”
Aang took the printout and looked at the writing on it. “Aunt Wu’s House of Fortunes?”
“Aunt Wu? I’ve always wanted to go see her myself!” proclaimed Katara. “But the waiting list is miles long!”
“Is she really that good?” inquired Aang.
“She has NEVER been wrong before,” said Katara. “Even when she lived in her small town near the coast of the Earth Kingdom, her fame was legendary.”
“Back! And I ordered fish tacos!” proclaimed Sokka, interrupting the discussion. “Back off get your own taco!” he added as Zuko snagged one out of the bag.
Zuko smirked as he said, “I’m like a ninja. You don’t see the taco being stolen.”
“Well this is it; Aunt Wu’s House of Fortune.” Said Katara as they pulled up to the building.
“That’s some line,” said Aang as he gazed down the street, watching the line wrap around the building. “How are we going to get to see her?”
“Bar Grinder attack…” Katara waited and then her expression fell as no Grinders showed up to spoil the day. “Nurtz. Was hoping that’d work.”
Shrugging, Aang walked up to the nearest man. “Excuse me sir, my friend and I need to see Aunt Wu. Can we just cut in front of—“
“Look kid,” said the man, cutting him off, “I’ve been waiting in line for the last three weeks. No way you’re going to get cuts.”
“Ooooo-kaaaay.” Moving up the line, Aang tried again. “Sir if you…”
“Leave me to my pain.” Droned the man. Aang wisely backed off.
“Excuse me ma’am? This is official Ranger Business, can we slot in front of you please?” inquired Katara of a morbidly obese woman.
“Heaven’s NO,” said the woman. “I have been worried sick about poopsie, and I want to make sure she’s all right.” The rabbit-dog in her purse gave a weak cough.
“Psst,” hissed a man, waving them over. The pair walked up and he said, “You wants to see Aunt Wu?”
“We do, can you get us inside?” inquired Aang.
“Oh yeah, yeah, I gotcha covered. Take a look at dese babies!” And the man threw open his jacket.
Katara averted her eyes in horror and Aang stared. “Does that come in instalments? It kinda looks big.”
“WE’LLBEGOINGOVERHERETHANKYOUVERYMUCH!” Katara hustled Aang away who added, “But doesn’t that look like it’s pump action?”
“Series Yellow and Series Blue? What have you two been doing all day?” inquired Doctor T.
“We have been TRYING to get in to see Aunt Wu,” snapped Katara over the communicator. “So far we’ve been brushed off by smelly guys who’ve been in line for 3 weeks, encountered fat women who’re trying to get advice for a nearly terminally sick rabbit-dog—“
“Don’t forget about the guy with that neat piece and the jacket,” said Aang and Katara made a full body shudder.
“Can’t you pull some strings or SOMETHING?” pleaded Katara. “Five more hours of this and I’m going to go INSANE. And not in the good way. In the way that results in Series Blue getting her morpher taken away!”
“Calm down Series Blue. First of all, I’ve been working on the situation but due to her popularity, it is difficult. Bar a Grinder attack… hold please.” Muzak filled the line and Katara let out a barely controlled scream of rage as she stomped around, trying not to go nuts. Quickly, the line resumed and Doctor T added “Sorry. There was a deployment needed in Sector 2. Sokka and Zuko are on the way there already. It’s a simple platoon of Grinders.”
“Just… please… help me. Before I go nuts…”
“I am working on it. Give me time and I’ll figure this out. Doctor T out.”
“No. NO! No—aw…!” Katara bit off an angry tirade as she slumped down next to Aang who was sitting on the curb. “How do I even keep this team together?”
“Practice?” Said Aang. He wilted reflexively as Katara glared at him. “Don’t hurt me,” he squeaked.
“Excuse me you two, but are you here to see Aunt Wu?” inquired an elderly woman dressed in a simple shirt and pants. She was holding a plastic bag from the corner store.
“Yes, and if you’re selling something weird just please go away,” said Katara, her voice muffled from her face being buried in her hands.
“Oh I’m not selling dear. However, a runaway Cabbage Cart is due to arrive any second, and will scatter the people. Then you can enter.” Soothed the woman.
“A runaway what?” echoed Aang.
“MY CABBAGES!” cried a familiar vendor as a cart came careening over the hill, scattering people everywhere. Many of them muttered and soon the crowd dispersed as said cabbage vendor chased after his cart.
“See? Like clockwork. He should learn to get a ostrich-horse. Come children, Aunt Wu awaits.”
Dumbstruck, the pair followed the woman into the building where she closed the door behind them. Inside the building was similar to one of the old-style homes one would find in the Earth Kingdom, despite the modern exterior. “Like it?” said the woman who lit a fire in the middle of the room in a small depression. “I had it rebuilt just the way I like it.”
Katara stared for a long moment and then her mouth finally worked. “You’re Aunt Wu aren’t you?” she exclaimed.
“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” chuckled the woman who was now identified as Wu. “Sit down for a spell and let my predictions help you in life.”
“Wow,” said Aang as she served up tea. “Even the preparation is like from the old days.”
“I’ve never been much for the convenience of modern technology,” explained Wu. “And it never gets cold enough here to really have one of those new homes built even though I can afford one ten times over. However, I do love my soaps so I do have electricity.”
“And a big screen tv?” inquired Katara, eyeing the black screen that was peeking out behind a set of sliding doors.
Wu smiled. “They look so much better when the telly is large. Now then, I hear from a old friend of mine that you are in need of guidance young man. Care to explain the situation?”
Aang nodded and told her about the dreams, about the flying and the storms and the needles. After he was done, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. Reaching into a pouch, she withdrew a few bones. “Cracking the bones and reading fortune from it has been the key to—dear you need to get that.”
Katara winced as she picked up the phone. “Sorry,” she whispered before turning to her conversation. “Yes?”
“Zuko and Sokka are in over their heads. They need a megazord configuration.”
“Of course,” groaned Katara. “Just when it was getting good.” Holding her hand over, she opened her mouth to explain but Wu held up a hand.
“Go ahead and put that giant robot of yours together.” Said Wu moments before the Giant Robot Battle Siren wailed. “Go go, shoo!”
Stammering a thank you, Katara rushed out and then poked her head back in. “Aang, let me know how it goes.” And without getting a reply, yelled “A.D.S. MAX DRIVE!”
“Now then, where were we? Oh yes; your fortune.” Holding up the bones, she said, “Casting the bones has been a tradition. Lets see what your future holds.”
Throwing it into the fire, the bones sat there, slowly singing. Suddenly, it started to crack loudly as it erupted into a pillar of smoke and fire before exploding. Wu jumped as with Aang as the fragments catapulted itself and fell into a pattern.
“Well? What’s it say?” inquired Aang.
Wu shakily examined them. “Fragments. Pieces. Everything you remember, everything you trust are in shambles. A great and terrible power arises… and the balance must be restored. But…” Wu shook her head. “I am getting an image. An image of…”
Without finishing her sentence, Wu got up and hurried over to a set of books on the shelves. Flipping through them rapidly, she went through ten before holding up the picture. “Here,” she said, pointing to a glossy photograph of a tower in the middle of nowhere. “Here is where the answers begin. But where they end, I cannot say.”
Aang took the book and looked at the image. “Can… I take this book? To show Doctor T?”
Wu nodded. “In fact, you should go. Immediately. And quickly.”
“I will.” Rushing out the door, Aang paused and bowed before heading out.
“Now I have to say that that was our best battle yet,” said Sokka. “We finished it off quickly as soon as we zorded up.”
“It would have been over if you took my advice sooner,” grumbled Zuko. “Hey Katara, where’s Aang anyhow?”
“I left him at Aunt Wu’s,” said Katara. “He should be back by now.”
“You brought him to a fortunetelling crockpot?” inquired Sokka. “I can’t believe you believe in that nonsense!”
“And here we go again,” sighed Zuko, facepalming as Katara inhaled to defend herself.
“THIS IS IT!” cried Aang from inside of the garage, forestalling an argument. Aang came running out, waving a printout around. “Guys, this is the place I saw in my dream!”
Sokka looked at the image shoved under his nose, took the picture and held it out. “The Southern Air Temple?” inquired Sokka.
“Yeah!” exclaimed Aang. “Aunt Wu saw something in my future or past or something, and she found the image. It matches what she saw and what I see in my dreams! If we can just go to the Southern Air Temple I’m sure we’d—“
“Aang, hold on a moment.” Said Katara. “The Southern Air Temple… we can’t go there.”
“Why not? I mean its outside the dome and all but…”
“You don’t understand,” said Zuko, cutting in. “NONE of you do. You might think it’s just a building but its not.”
Everyone looked at him. “What do you mean it’s not just a building?” asked Sokka.
“What I mean is it’s not just an abandoned temple. It’s a Azulon facility. And I destroyed it; saving Aang. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else to go to but smouldering ruins.”
Ranger Yellow Part 1
“Aang, breakfast!” called out Katara. “Aang?”
Looking around, she peeked into Doctor T’s command area and asked, “Doctor T? Have you seen Aang?”
“He left early this morning,” replied Doctor T. “Said he had something to do at the library.”
“Huh, okay. Well, I’ll leave something for him provided Sokka and Zuko don’t eat it all. Honestly, what’s their obsession with waffles anyhow?” groused Katara.
As Katara left, Doctor T’s screens blipped off as a small figure in the booth behind the screens leaned back in concern.
“Somethings up with that kid,” mused Doctor T. “And I hate not knowing what’s going on.”
“Scrolls? They’re in the back,” said the librarian. “What are you looking for?”
“Stuff on the Avatar,” replied Aang.
“Oh pssh, you want to know that? You can find it on the internet. Here, let me show you.” Getting out from behind his desk, he grinned and said, “I’m Teo.”
“Aang,” replied Aang, shaking the librarians hand. “Oh I didn’t know…”
“Don’t worry,” said Teo, patting his legs. “I don’t even notice these days. C’mon, I’ll show you what you need to know. First time using a computer?”
Aang nodded as Teo lead him to a computer. It was a little less advanced than the one he used at the garage in order to learn what he needed to know, but it still worked the same. “It was shocking to me when I first used it,” explained Teo, logging in with an administrator password. “To think this sort of technology could be used here in Ba Sing Se after so many years of war.”
“How many years has it been anyhow?” inquired Aang.
Teo looked at him curiously. “You really don’t know? Azulon’s attack robots have been marching across the world for a hundred years. Everyone knows that.”
The mention of time made Aang’s hackles rise for a reason yet unknown as Teo logged into the internet. “Got it. Here we go, a history of Avatars.”
“The Avatar is the embodiment of the four elements, Water, Earth, Fire and Air. It is said that when one dies, a new one is born at the exact moment. Scientists believe this is through the cause of a higher power. Those who believe in the old ways cite that the Avatar will one day rise up and deal with the imbalance to the world.”
“That’s what most people say, the ones older than my dad,” explained Teo. “They say that the Avatar can bend mountains, move rivers and heave fire from the depths of the earth, and pull the very air from your lips.”
“But… it’s a legend, right?” inquired Aang.
“No, it’s real. Look, here’s some accountings of past Avatars. Avatar Kiyoshi, the founder of Kiyoshi Island. To this day, that place is still said to be protected from Azulon incursions by a group of warriors who follow the avatar’s path. She’s fairly notable. But the one that came after her was Avatar Roku.”
Rokurokurokurokurokurokuroku…!
Aang pinched the bridge of his nose as the name fired like a gunshot in his head. Teo hadn’t noticed his discomfort and added, “Avatar Roku was a great man who pressed the advance in technology we use today. It’s said he developed the first computer, and then the first defences for all of our worlds. But when he died, something strange happened. Without warning, our newfound methods of defence fell ill, one by one. We called it a computer virus who by then, took our world apart.”
“He didn’t mean to…” whispered Aang.
“Did you say something Aang?” inquired Teo.
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Go on.”
“Well here’s the weird part. There hasn’t been a mention of another Avatar since then. And with the Air Nomads either scattered or extinct…” Aang’s breath caught in a hitch and Teo looked at him. “In fact, the clothing you’re wearing now must have belonged to one, cause there’s no way that thing was mass produced.”
Aang nodded. “T-thanks Teo. By the way, can you um, tell me where I might find someone who was from the Air Nomads?”
“Hard to say,” said Teo. “You could ask my dad but he’s at his workshop. Dad’s a bit of a mechanist. If you want, check the local records at the library. I hear they’re reclusive but it’ll be a start?”
Aang nodded. “Thanks, you’ve been a great help.”
Heading out of the library, Aang pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stem the throbbing of his head. “I should get more sleep,” he mused.
“Sorry. The only sleep you’ll be getting is a long dirt nap,” sneered Azula who had shown up with her pack of Grinders.
Aang groaned. “Look I’ve had a bad morning. Can we skip the witty banter and get right to the violence?”
“If you want. ATTACK!”
“A.D.S. MAX DRIVE!” in a blast of yellow light, Aang flew into his opponents, kicking, punching and dragging up wicked blasts of air to throw enemies about. Soon he was matching blows with Azula who wore a wicked grin on her face.
“I thought you were a pacifist,” she smirked.
“Even pacifists have bad days,” grunted Aang as he flipped her over and hurled her twenty feet away. The girl landed like a cat and Aang was on top of her with another series of blows.
“Glider Staff!” yelled Aang as the staff materialized in his hands seconds before Azula launched a barrage of flames. Popping it open, he flew upwards and prepared to come out of the sun in a swooping attack. Suddenly, a barrage of words and sounds struck him and he cried out, holding his head.
His grip lost, he plummeted to the ground like a rock and Azula lined up a blast. But before Aang could hit the ground, water cushioned his fall as Azula found her arm wrenched up by Zuko. “Missed me?” he quipped before the pair were locked in a heated brother-sister battle.
“Never Zuzu. Did you get that shiny new toy from daddy yet?” quipped Azula in which flames were traded.
“You okay?” said Katara as she lowered Aang to the ground. The boy groaned and sat up.
“Is it possible to have the worst day ever and it’s still only 9:14?” he replied.
“Yes. Sokka does it all the time.”
Between the extra Rangers and Zuko’s unrelenting bursts of flames, Azula was forced to retreat in a flash of light. “You know I always wondered if we could teleport. It would make deployment so much easier,” said Sokka.
“Ranger Series Yellow. While I am concerned for your well being and performance in the biohardware, I must confess I am concerned for your actions as well.” Said Doctor T.
“Yeah, I mean you hate fighting. But then you just tore into Azula’s goons,” pointed out Sokka. “What gives?”
“I haven’t been sleeping well for the last few days,” admitted Aang. “Bad dreams. Really bad ones.”
“The health and psychological welfare of the Ranger Operators cannot become an issue,” said Doctor T. “I am relieving you of your morpher until you manage to pull yourself together.”
“Hey that’s not fair! We need him on the battlefield,” protested Katara.
“And without his morpher, he becomes a big glaring target. What’s he going to do; stay in the garage all day?” added Zuko.
“That is precisely what I desire,” said Doctor T. “As your advisor, I am ordering Series Yellow to rest up, and stabilize his mental state before he proceeds with deployment once again.”
Aang nodded and pulled the cell phone-like device from his hip. “Just for a while,” he said, placing the device into its compartment which shut with a click.
In the uncomfortable silence, Sokka proclaimed, “Who wants tacos? I need a fish taco.”
“Go and order for us Sokka,” said Zuko. “In fact, lemme come with you. You always forget Aang doesn’t eat meat.”
As the pair bickered over tacos, Katara sat down beside Aang. “Anything you want to get off your chest?” she asked.
“Not really.” Aang wilted under her stare and he sighed. “I keep having these weird dreams. People and faces I can’t make out. Sometimes it starts all right, like I’m flying in the air or something. And then there’s a storm, a violent one. Then it always ends with needles and pain and I wake up.”
Katara frowned. “Doctor T?”
“The needles and pain are consistent with possible suppressed memories of his imprisonment. I would not put it past Azulon to torture humans who he has captured,” said the screen.
“All right, so we know what that is. But question is, where do you remember the good part of the dream?”
“I…” Aang tried to think and he tapped his head. “I just… augh!” Mussing his short black hair, he looked at himself in the mirror. “This is all wrong.”
“What is?”
“My appearance,” said Aang. “I keep thinking something needs to be missing from my reflection.”
“Series Yellow, I have a suggestion for you. If you go to the address I am printing for you now, you will meet with an old fortuneteller. While you may or may not believe in it, there is a point: she is NEVER wrong. Also, she is a licensed therapist of the mind. A psychologist.”
Aang took the printout and looked at the writing on it. “Aunt Wu’s House of Fortunes?”
“Aunt Wu? I’ve always wanted to go see her myself!” proclaimed Katara. “But the waiting list is miles long!”
“Is she really that good?” inquired Aang.
“She has NEVER been wrong before,” said Katara. “Even when she lived in her small town near the coast of the Earth Kingdom, her fame was legendary.”
“Back! And I ordered fish tacos!” proclaimed Sokka, interrupting the discussion. “Back off get your own taco!” he added as Zuko snagged one out of the bag.
Zuko smirked as he said, “I’m like a ninja. You don’t see the taco being stolen.”
“Well this is it; Aunt Wu’s House of Fortune.” Said Katara as they pulled up to the building.
“That’s some line,” said Aang as he gazed down the street, watching the line wrap around the building. “How are we going to get to see her?”
“Bar Grinder attack…” Katara waited and then her expression fell as no Grinders showed up to spoil the day. “Nurtz. Was hoping that’d work.”
Shrugging, Aang walked up to the nearest man. “Excuse me sir, my friend and I need to see Aunt Wu. Can we just cut in front of—“
“Look kid,” said the man, cutting him off, “I’ve been waiting in line for the last three weeks. No way you’re going to get cuts.”
“Ooooo-kaaaay.” Moving up the line, Aang tried again. “Sir if you…”
“Leave me to my pain.” Droned the man. Aang wisely backed off.
“Excuse me ma’am? This is official Ranger Business, can we slot in front of you please?” inquired Katara of a morbidly obese woman.
“Heaven’s NO,” said the woman. “I have been worried sick about poopsie, and I want to make sure she’s all right.” The rabbit-dog in her purse gave a weak cough.
“Psst,” hissed a man, waving them over. The pair walked up and he said, “You wants to see Aunt Wu?”
“We do, can you get us inside?” inquired Aang.
“Oh yeah, yeah, I gotcha covered. Take a look at dese babies!” And the man threw open his jacket.
Katara averted her eyes in horror and Aang stared. “Does that come in instalments? It kinda looks big.”
“WE’LLBEGOINGOVERHERETHANKYOUVERYMUCH!” Katara hustled Aang away who added, “But doesn’t that look like it’s pump action?”
“Series Yellow and Series Blue? What have you two been doing all day?” inquired Doctor T.
“We have been TRYING to get in to see Aunt Wu,” snapped Katara over the communicator. “So far we’ve been brushed off by smelly guys who’ve been in line for 3 weeks, encountered fat women who’re trying to get advice for a nearly terminally sick rabbit-dog—“
“Don’t forget about the guy with that neat piece and the jacket,” said Aang and Katara made a full body shudder.
“Can’t you pull some strings or SOMETHING?” pleaded Katara. “Five more hours of this and I’m going to go INSANE. And not in the good way. In the way that results in Series Blue getting her morpher taken away!”
“Calm down Series Blue. First of all, I’ve been working on the situation but due to her popularity, it is difficult. Bar a Grinder attack… hold please.” Muzak filled the line and Katara let out a barely controlled scream of rage as she stomped around, trying not to go nuts. Quickly, the line resumed and Doctor T added “Sorry. There was a deployment needed in Sector 2. Sokka and Zuko are on the way there already. It’s a simple platoon of Grinders.”
“Just… please… help me. Before I go nuts…”
“I am working on it. Give me time and I’ll figure this out. Doctor T out.”
“No. NO! No—aw…!” Katara bit off an angry tirade as she slumped down next to Aang who was sitting on the curb. “How do I even keep this team together?”
“Practice?” Said Aang. He wilted reflexively as Katara glared at him. “Don’t hurt me,” he squeaked.
“Excuse me you two, but are you here to see Aunt Wu?” inquired an elderly woman dressed in a simple shirt and pants. She was holding a plastic bag from the corner store.
“Yes, and if you’re selling something weird just please go away,” said Katara, her voice muffled from her face being buried in her hands.
“Oh I’m not selling dear. However, a runaway Cabbage Cart is due to arrive any second, and will scatter the people. Then you can enter.” Soothed the woman.
“A runaway what?” echoed Aang.
“MY CABBAGES!” cried a familiar vendor as a cart came careening over the hill, scattering people everywhere. Many of them muttered and soon the crowd dispersed as said cabbage vendor chased after his cart.
“See? Like clockwork. He should learn to get a ostrich-horse. Come children, Aunt Wu awaits.”
Dumbstruck, the pair followed the woman into the building where she closed the door behind them. Inside the building was similar to one of the old-style homes one would find in the Earth Kingdom, despite the modern exterior. “Like it?” said the woman who lit a fire in the middle of the room in a small depression. “I had it rebuilt just the way I like it.”
Katara stared for a long moment and then her mouth finally worked. “You’re Aunt Wu aren’t you?” she exclaimed.
“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” chuckled the woman who was now identified as Wu. “Sit down for a spell and let my predictions help you in life.”
“Wow,” said Aang as she served up tea. “Even the preparation is like from the old days.”
“I’ve never been much for the convenience of modern technology,” explained Wu. “And it never gets cold enough here to really have one of those new homes built even though I can afford one ten times over. However, I do love my soaps so I do have electricity.”
“And a big screen tv?” inquired Katara, eyeing the black screen that was peeking out behind a set of sliding doors.
Wu smiled. “They look so much better when the telly is large. Now then, I hear from a old friend of mine that you are in need of guidance young man. Care to explain the situation?”
Aang nodded and told her about the dreams, about the flying and the storms and the needles. After he was done, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. Reaching into a pouch, she withdrew a few bones. “Cracking the bones and reading fortune from it has been the key to—dear you need to get that.”
Katara winced as she picked up the phone. “Sorry,” she whispered before turning to her conversation. “Yes?”
“Zuko and Sokka are in over their heads. They need a megazord configuration.”
“Of course,” groaned Katara. “Just when it was getting good.” Holding her hand over, she opened her mouth to explain but Wu held up a hand.
“Go ahead and put that giant robot of yours together.” Said Wu moments before the Giant Robot Battle Siren wailed. “Go go, shoo!”
Stammering a thank you, Katara rushed out and then poked her head back in. “Aang, let me know how it goes.” And without getting a reply, yelled “A.D.S. MAX DRIVE!”
“Now then, where were we? Oh yes; your fortune.” Holding up the bones, she said, “Casting the bones has been a tradition. Lets see what your future holds.”
Throwing it into the fire, the bones sat there, slowly singing. Suddenly, it started to crack loudly as it erupted into a pillar of smoke and fire before exploding. Wu jumped as with Aang as the fragments catapulted itself and fell into a pattern.
“Well? What’s it say?” inquired Aang.
Wu shakily examined them. “Fragments. Pieces. Everything you remember, everything you trust are in shambles. A great and terrible power arises… and the balance must be restored. But…” Wu shook her head. “I am getting an image. An image of…”
Without finishing her sentence, Wu got up and hurried over to a set of books on the shelves. Flipping through them rapidly, she went through ten before holding up the picture. “Here,” she said, pointing to a glossy photograph of a tower in the middle of nowhere. “Here is where the answers begin. But where they end, I cannot say.”
Aang took the book and looked at the image. “Can… I take this book? To show Doctor T?”
Wu nodded. “In fact, you should go. Immediately. And quickly.”
“I will.” Rushing out the door, Aang paused and bowed before heading out.
“Now I have to say that that was our best battle yet,” said Sokka. “We finished it off quickly as soon as we zorded up.”
“It would have been over if you took my advice sooner,” grumbled Zuko. “Hey Katara, where’s Aang anyhow?”
“I left him at Aunt Wu’s,” said Katara. “He should be back by now.”
“You brought him to a fortunetelling crockpot?” inquired Sokka. “I can’t believe you believe in that nonsense!”
“And here we go again,” sighed Zuko, facepalming as Katara inhaled to defend herself.
“THIS IS IT!” cried Aang from inside of the garage, forestalling an argument. Aang came running out, waving a printout around. “Guys, this is the place I saw in my dream!”
Sokka looked at the image shoved under his nose, took the picture and held it out. “The Southern Air Temple?” inquired Sokka.
“Yeah!” exclaimed Aang. “Aunt Wu saw something in my future or past or something, and she found the image. It matches what she saw and what I see in my dreams! If we can just go to the Southern Air Temple I’m sure we’d—“
“Aang, hold on a moment.” Said Katara. “The Southern Air Temple… we can’t go there.”
“Why not? I mean its outside the dome and all but…”
“You don’t understand,” said Zuko, cutting in. “NONE of you do. You might think it’s just a building but its not.”
Everyone looked at him. “What do you mean it’s not just a building?” asked Sokka.
“What I mean is it’s not just an abandoned temple. It’s a Azulon facility. And I destroyed it; saving Aang. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else to go to but smouldering ruins.”