Chapter 264 - Disturbance Among The Celestials {4} A Reunion To Be Remembered (1/2)
Another sunny day and Amell was strolling through the streets of Republic city while humming on a light-hearted tune. The streets were really crowded and loud so on one could really pick up on his humming, but what he could never escape was his height. Wherever he went, that was always one thing that would ensure he would be stared at. He could always change his height, but he had been this tall for so long that it had become a part of his identity and he felt no need to change it. Plus, nowadays he wasn't as appalled by fame as he used to be. He actually didn't mind people recognizing him, as long as it didn't go further than a smile. He would still not even consider writing autographs or anything of that sort.
”This world has really advanced since the last time I was here. It's amazing that they have cars now.” His eyes were tracking the vehicles filling up the two big lanes on the street. They weren't as modern or nice-looking as his old world's vehicles, but they still got people from point A to B. In the end, that was their purpose.
He had come here for two reasons. One of them was investigating the mysterious presence inside Kya. He had come to take a look at the boy that was her best friend. But, unfortunately, any trace of him was gone. This led Amell to only two conclusions. The first one being that this boy was the entity that poisoned Kya, this was the least likely option in his opinion. The more likely one being that the boy got possessed and is now lying dead in a ditch somewhere. The second reason for coming to the city was of course to meet Toph, the other disciple he had in this world.
”I wonder if she remembers me, hope so or this meeting might be really awkward.” He was walking around without paying much attention and he bumped into a man that had been pacing back and forth. Amell, of course, was fine but the man got knocked down on the ground, and a gun fell out of his jacket.
”What the hell!? Watch where you're going, or I'll kill you!” The man collected himself and looked up at Amell only to feel his blood freeze. Those calming, yet terrifying silver eyes looking down on him almost had him in tears.
”Why would you stand there? That was a bit clumsy, wouldn't you say so?” Amell looked down on him expecting an answer, but he heard a gunshot instead. And, the doors to the jewellery store right next to him flung open and three people came running out.
”Why the fuck are you not in the car?! GET IN!!” The leading man yelled while he and the other two robbers in black hoods jumped into the car. ”He stuck his head out of the car window and yelled, ”We screwed up, there are two benders inside! GET IN THE CAR!” He was yelling to the man sitting on the ground, but that poor bastard couldn't move because Amell was still looking at him.
”Uncle Amell?!” Suyin and Lin came running out of the store, ”What are you doing here?” Suyin asked hurriedly until her eyes caught the car and the people in it. ”OH NO! You're not getting away!”
”Shit! Fuck him, just go!” The wheels on the car screeched as it took off, leaving the lonesome robber sitting paralyzed in front of Amell.
”Lin, take care of that guy, I'm going after them!”
”No way, you got the last car chase. I'm getting this one!” The sisters started butting heads, and Amell stood there with a look that expressed his confusion.
*BANG* ”Monster!”
”UNCLE AMELL!” Both sisters yelled at the same time. Suyin ran up and kicked the gun out of the robber's hands, then she delivered a savage kick to his face, breaking his nose and knocking him out.
”Phew, close one. Thanks for the warning girls.” Amell gave them a smile as he dropped the bullet on the ground.
”Y-You caught the bullet?! How is that even real?” Lin said. Suyin didn't say anything as she was still working on believing what she was seeing.
”Just in time mind you. Scary stuff, those guns.” Suddenly and without warning, the car was dropped in front of them on the street.
”Just in time,” The three looked up and saw Appa approaching, and he landed beside the car. And, four people jumped off.
”Anyone wanna explain what happened here?” A firm, yet somehow caring voice rang out, and the sisters tensed up at the sound of it. Lin turned around with a smile, which Amell had yet seen on her until now.
”Mom, w-we weren't crime-fighting, just at the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all!” Lin and Suyin that had expected a scolding of a lifetime were only met with silence.
”Toph? Are you okay?” Katara, Sokka and Aang, as well as the sisters watched as Toph stood paralyzed without even blinking. ”Did mom die?” Suyin whispered to her sister. Lin just shrugged her shoulders.
”I don't know. I have never seen her this quiet before. It makes me a little uneasy.”
”You're back? You said you wouldn't come back!” The first words out of her mouth confused the entire group.
”It was an unexpected visit, I didn't think I would be back.” All eyes turned to him in hope of an explanation. ”It's good to see you again, and I'm not gonna lie. I am very glad that you still remember me.”
”You made it pretty difficult to forget you. Someone should tell you that you're good at leaving a lasting impression.”
”Oh my god! Is mom crying?!!” Suyin whispered not so quietly.
”You're right! Now, I'm very interested!” Katara followed up and said not so quietly.
”Toph and I have a history. Like you, Aang, she is also my student.”
”Ohhhh... Wait! That doesn't make any sense, you're an air bender, right? Why would she become your student?” Lin asked.
”How about this, we go somewhere more private. This isn't exactly the most ideal place for this conversation.” Amell suggested and Aang immediately agreed.
”Everyone, get on Appa.” And, everyone did just that. Amell grabbed the sisters and leapt up onto Appa. They sat down and Sokka immediately asked Amell to continue his explanation.
”Right, where to begin.”
”How about you tell us how you met?” Aang said.
”We met when I was six years old. I got lost in a large cave system next to my home town. In there, we stumbled upon each other and after that he became my earth bending master. He taught me how to use Seismic sense. You girls always ask where I learned that, well, that's where.” Toph looked at her daughters with a smile. Her strict and stern police chief persona was slowly melting away.
”But how? Only the Avatar can use more than one element.” Katara was listening with interest. She wanted to get to know him because he was like a closed book, filled to the brim with mysteries she wanted to solve.
”Little lady, you may have helped save the world. But, when it comes to the art of bending, no one compares to me!” Amell created a rock above his palm and summoned, fire, water and air around that small rock. ”There are secrets in bending not even the ancient Lion Turtles know about.”
”WOAH! AMAZING, UNCLE!!” Suyin jumped up in delight, ”Teach me that! I want to bend fire too!” She punched the air in excitement. Appa was approaching air temple Island, and high up above him, Orlando was soaring with Valerie on his back, but only Amell was aware of their presence.
”Bending multiple elements aren't as easy as I make it out to be. Ask your uncle Aang, he can do it because he is the Avatar, but I also explained the concept around it from my perspective and he still hasn't figured it out.”
”Hurts my pride to admit that, but it's true. If I wasn't the Avatar, I'm not sure I could ever practice the bending that Master does. It's freakishly complex.”
”So, it's hopeless for me? That sucks!”
”Not hopeless, but the chance of you succeeding in your life is minimal at best.” Amell saw the hope die out inside the girl, but what else was he gonna say to her. He couldn't say, ”try your best, and you will succeed.” because that just wasn't true. He wasn't even sure he could teach the cosmic bending to anyone. Valerie and her brother had the ability because they had his bloodline, but for anyone else, he wasn't sure it could be taught. Though to be fair, he hadn't tried teaching someone seriously, and if he could learn it, maybe anyone could, he wasn't sure.
”Where have you been all this time?” Toph asked. She hadn't reverted to that hot-blooded, yet innocent little girl she once was, but her daughters had never really seen her this calm before. Her tone wasn't strict either, which was surprising to them.
”Here and there,” Amell said and smiled. ”But, I'm guessing that is not the detailed answer you were looking for.”
”Uncle Amell!” Suyin interrupted. ”How was mom as a kid?”
”SU! Cut it out or you're gonna burn both of us!” Lin whispered to her sister in a threatening tone, while Toph looked over with those very familiar disciplinary eyes.
”She was the cutest kid ever, used to cry whenever I left the cave after our training sessions.”