Chapter 18- Trip Through The Desert

"Sorry to break it to ya Air monk, but this place... kinda stinks," You blankly said as you all stared up at the "ice spring" that Katara chose for her mini-vacation, was nothing but a block of ice that was melting.
"Must've changed ownership since I was here," Aang weakly chuckled, and you all walked through the town.

"There's a place to sit around," You pointed out and as you walked passed some sandbenders, one spit at Sokka, barely missing him. You spat back, grisly lowly and pulled Sokka inside.
"You gotta be careful with those kinds of benders Boomerang, nothing but cruel thieves," You whispered to him, and looked around.

"I don't see anything wrong with having one of those fruity beverages while we plan our strategy," Sokka said and motioned to a ice cup with mango juice. A man who ordered the mango drink turned to walk away, but he accidentally bumped into Aang.
"No worries, I clean up easy," He smiled and used his bending to clean himself up.

"You're a living relic," The man gasped.
"Thanks, I try," Aang smiled and shrugged.
"An Air Nomad, right in front of me. Professor Zei, head of anthropology at Ba Sing Se University," Zei proceeded to ask Aang a bunch of questions, all the while examining him closely, making you snort.

"So Professor, you're obviously a well-traveled guy. Do you have a more current map? Ours seems to be a little dated," You asked him while shaking the map slightly.
"Certainly," Zei smiled and showed you all multiple maps, but none with Fire Nation.
"What, no Fire Nation? Doesn't anybody have a good map of that place?" Sokka whined, but tilt his head to face you.

"(Y/N), please tell me you know the Fire Nation inside and out," He asked, but you just shook your head.
"No dice Boomerang, I don't exactly have a photographic memory, and it's been a long time since I've been there," You apologized and Sokka sighed.

"You've made a lot of trips into the desert," Katara noted and traced her finger on the desert map.
"All in vain, I'm afraid. I've found lost civilizations all over the Earth Kingdom, but I haven't managed to find the crown jewel: Wan Shi Tong's Library," Zei excitedly explained.

"You spent years walking through the desert to find some guy's library?" Toph raised and eyebrow.
"This library is more valuable than gold, little lady. It is said to contain a vast collection of knowledge, and knowledge is priceless," Zei smiled, making Toph hum.

"Hmm, sounds like good times," You snorted at Toph's words as Twig secretly grabbed bits of mangos from Aang's cup.
"Oh, it is. According to legend, it was built by the great Knowledge Spirit, Wan Shi Tong, with the help of his "foxy" knowledge seekers," Zei told you all as you raised an eyebrow.

"Foxy seekers? If you mean attractive, how attractive are we talking about?" You grinned mischievously, but then felt the jealous glares of the Gaang, so you quickly closed your mouth.
"Wan Shi Tong and his knowledge seekers collected books from all over the world, and put them on display for mankind to read, so that we might better ourselves," What Zei said made Sokka think for a moment.

"If this place has books from all over the world, do you think they've got info on the Fire Nation? A map, maybe?" He asked the scholar.
"I wouldn't know. But if such a thing exists, it's in Wan Shi Tong's Library," Zei suggested, and made Sokka stand up straight.
"Then it's settled. Aang, I do believe it's my turn. I'd like to spend my vacation at the library!" He dramatically shouted.

"Aww, what about me and (Y/N/N)? We haven't chosen yet, and it's Loud Mouth's turn," Toph complained, making you scratch your neck.
"I actually don't mind a library, not unless you all are fond on visiting a volcano," You simply said, shrugging your shoulders.

"... library it is!" The Gaang agreed.
"Of course, there's the matter of finding it. I've made several trips into the Si Wong Desert and almost died each time. I'm afraid that desert's impossible to cross," Zei sighed, making you all look at each other with a grin.

"Professor, would you like to see our sky bison?"

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"Sandbenders, shoo, away from the bison!" Zei shouted at the sandbenders who were checking out Appa, with Twig jumping off your shoulder and started to hiss and scowl at them. They just stared and slowly walked off to their desert riders.

You cautiously watched them and you all got onto Appa, making him fly off and you all started to look over the desert, excluding Toph of course.
"Tell me, sky bison, are you the last of your breed?" Zei's question made Appa make a growing noise.
"Delightful! I only wish I spoke his tongue. Oh, the stories this beast could tell," He scratched his fur with fascination.

"Wow, shouldn't be too hard to find a place like this out here," Aang said while looking at the picture of the library.
"Does this place even exist?" Toph sighed at the heat of the sun.
"Some say it doesn't," Zei replied, making you wince at his words.

"Shouldn't you have mentioned that before?" Toph groaned and laid on her back, making you pat her head, which cause her to stick her tongue out. A few moments later, you still haven't found anything, but then Toph shouted.
"There it is!" The Gaang looked over to where she pointed at, which of course, nothing was there since Toph can't see at all.

"That's what it will sound like when one of you spots it," Toph blankly said, making you cover your mouth at that.
"It shouldn't be this hard to spot a giant, ornate building from the air," Katara sighed and brushed sweat from her head, but out of your eye, you saw something.

"Look, over there!" You shouted and pointed to a single tall tower. Aang led Appa to the tower, and you all stood there to confirm the sight.
"Forget it. It's obviously not what we're looking for. The building in this drawing is enormous," Just then, from the horizon you saw a fox creature with a scroll in its mouth.

"What kind of animal is that?" Sokka asked, and the fox creature then ran up the tower and into a window.
"I think that was one of the Knowledge Seekers, we must be close to the library!" Zei excitedly said.
"No, this is the library- look! It's completely buried," Katara pointed the tower on top of the library.

"The library is buried?! My life's ambition is now full of sand," Zei cried out, but took out a shovel.
"Well, time to start excavating," He then began to dig up the sand, but Toph placed her hand on the tower.
"Actually, that won't be necessary. The inside seems to be completely intact. And it's huge," Toph pointed out while feeling the tower.

"That fox thingy went in through a window. I say we climb up there and give it a look," Sokka pointed out and Toph shook her head.
"I say you guys go ahead without me," He said.
You got something against libraries?" Katara asked with crossed arms.

"I've held books before. And I gotta tell you, they don't exactly do it for me," Toph replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, right. Sorry," Katara looked away as Toph walked a few steps away.
"Let me know if they have something you can listen to," She said as the rest grabbed some rope to climb in.

Just as you started to grab the rope, Twig whimpered and hopped off your shoulder, biting your pant leg and started to pull.
"What's wrong Twig? You never get scared when going to new places," You said, picking up him, but he kept on making worried whimpers.

"Okay okay! If you're scared, I'll let Appa and Toph protect you," You kissed his forehead and allowed him to hop onto Toph's head.
"Protect him please Tophy, we won't be gone for long," You told your rock buddy and went to grab the rope again.

"Alright Twigster, nothing is going to happen to ya,"
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Oh no, oh nononononononononononononononono-

This ain't good at all.

Stay healthy and stay tune.