Chapter 26: Cause & Effect

With my action of having knocked away the Dai Li's grappling hooks, all eyes were shifted to Monk Gyatso and I, including the one in charge, who was sporting an arrogant and angry expression. The Dai Li quickly surrounded the young man in a protective formation as they stomped their feet on the ground, causing a cone shape to emerge as they tried to detain us, though we knew better than to stay on the ground when facing earth benders.

The instant they had seemingly attacked us, both Monk Gyatso and I created a vortex around our lower half, lifting us several meters into the air, giving us more than enough time to react in case they attacked us once again, since despite being capable of bending the very air itself, one's bending heavily relied upon one's movement. If constrained and unable to allow the chi to properly flow through the pathways in your body, even the strongest bender will become severely weakened, and I'm no exception to such a rule.

Of course, while we are pacifists, we weren't pushovers, and with a wave of our hands, we created a spherical vortex around the many Dai Li's along with several vortexes that lifted them off the ground, preventing them from attacking us, though once again, the Dai Li weren't your run of a mill earth benders and consisted of some of the best earth benders. Even though they were no longer connected to the earth, they could still attack us with small bricks of earth, which carried more than enough power to knock the air out of our lungs.

'Tsk, enough of this.' Mused Aang in slight anger as he suddenly hit his fists together, manifesting a massive vortex surrounding him and Gyatso.

Enlarging the spherical vortex until it enveloped everyone who was involved in this incident, which ended up being even larger than most buildings, I created yet another vortex underneath as I lifted us high into the sky, essentially creating a tornado as we ascended nearly a hundred or so meters, or at least until the point where none of the Dai Li were capable of attacking.

"W-Who are you!? D-Don't you know who I am!?" Exclaimed the young man fearfully as he helplessly floated in the air while eyeing Gyatso and Aang, with the latter eyeing him in anger.

"No, nor do I care." Replied Aang angrily as he narrowed his eyes at the young man, only for Gyatso to suddenly rest his hand on his shoulder.

"I know you're angry, but calm yourself, Aang. Appa wasn't harmed, merely frightened; nothing unforgivable has happened." Said Gyatso softly as he deeply looked at Aang, who clicked his tongue before suddenly folding his arms.

"Tsk. I suggest you speak with them, Monk Gyatso; I'm not thinking correctly." Remarked Aang calmly as he looked at Gyatso before glancing at the young man, who was too frightened to speak.

"Yes, that is probably for the best. Just meditate for now; calm your spirit." Said Gyatso softly as he advised Aang before approaching the young man in the distance with the help of his vortex.

Although I very much wished to vent my anger on that man for trying to capture Appa, I listened to Monk Gyatso's advice and began meditating; of course, I kept the vortex stable, as while I was angry, I wasn't planning to kill anyone. However, instead of calming my spirit, I used the anger that fueled my system to try and communicate with my past incarnations, though way through my attempt to establish a connection, I realized how foolish my thought process was.

'What is speaking with Kyoshi going to do? She's long dead, not to mention, she was me; if anything, this is essentially my fault.' Mused Aang lightly as he stopped himself from establishing a connection with his past incarnation.

Despite my desire at wanting to blame someone else, there wasn't anyone else to blame other than the people in front of me, which only further intensified my anger, inadvertently causing the vortex that enveloped us to grow in strength, though only for a few short seconds as I took a deep breath and slowly calmed myself.

'Calm your spirit, Aang.' Thought Aang lightly as he took deep breaths, using this respite to regain his former calm demeanor.

Monk Gyatso didn't talk for a long time with the young man, so when he returned next to me, I was far from my usual state, but I was much calmer than before.

"Could you lower us, Aang?" Asked Gyatso softly as he gestured towards the ground, causing Aang to nod as he moved his arms downward.

After a few moments, we finally reached the ground, causing the tornado-sized vortex to disperse along with the massive spherical vortex that enveloped all of us and as for the several Dai Li, who seemed nauseous, we also freed them from their vortex prison. There were many people surrounding us, all curious about the large tornado that suddenly appeared in the middle of Ba Sing Se, though when most glanced at the young man who was the cause of everything, they slightly bowed.

'Royalty. No wonder he was able to have the Dai Li under his command.' Mused Aang lightly as he gazed at the young man, who stared at him in slight fear before scoffing and quickly entering his carriage.

"Come, let us go." Stated the man as he hid within the carriage, his words causing the many Dai Li to glance at Aang and Gyatso before eventually following his orders.

Watching them leave practically unscathed was a little vexing; I wouldn't have minded hitting him with a few attacks, not like they would've done much to begin with, but still.

"Is he related to the Earth King, Monk Gyatso?" Asked Aang lightly as he looked at Gyatso, who sighed before nodding.

"Yes, he's the third son of the Earth King Yoie, Prince Lichen." Replied Gyatso, his words causing Aang to nod as a glint flashed through his eyes.

"Hmm, I see." Muttered Aang lightly as he fixedly stared at Lichen's carriage before grabbing his bo-staff and turning it into a glider.

As it was still nighttime, most of the people returned to their houses a few minutes later, though by then, Monk Gyatso and I were already flying through the sky in search of our companions, which was easy once he blew the whistle, causing them to head straight for us.

Seeing Appa all safe and sound greatly uplifted my mood as I sat atop his head and gave him all kinds of scratches, causing him to growl in pleasure.

"I think it's about time we leave Ba Sing Se; what do you say, Aang? Unless you wish to visit the Royal Pa-" Asked Gyatso lightly as he glanced at Aang, who firmly shook his head.

"No. I never had much interest in the first place, and while I've got interest now, it's not exactly the good kind." Replied Aang firmly as he glanced at Gyatso, who nodded before gently patting his companion.

"Well then." Muttered Gyatso while gesturing towards the sky, causing his companion to roar lightly as he flapped his large tail, flying through the air with Appa following right behind.

Seeing the direction we were heading in, which just so happened to be the same direction Prince Lichen left in his carriage, we flew for several minutes, even passing his carriage along the way, until we saw a large building like no other, and if I only had one word to describe it, all I could think of…

"Palace." Muttered Aang lightly as he intently gazed at the large palace underneath him.

The palace was elaborate and rather beautiful with its many gardens and temples, though a part of me couldn't resist grabbing my bo-staff while focusing intently on the largest garden I could see.

"Hmm, Aang, what are you doing?" Asked Gyatso with a slight frown as he looked at Aang standing atop Appa's back with his bo-staff in hand.

"I'm just returning the favor, Monk Gyatso; every action has a cause and an effect." Replied Aang calmly as he raised his bo-staff before swinging it downwards, creating a massive and powerful gust of wind that headed straight for the palace ground.

Given the distance between my target, I had to make the attack quite powerful; otherwise, it wouldn't reach. I was even a little worried that I might have restrained myself too much, but I quickly realized I was worrying for nothing, and I couldn't help but smile when I saw a large dust cloud erupt from the palace garden when the two collided. I couldn't see the damage it had sustained, but even if I had only damaged a single petal, I would've been satisfied; it's not about how much damage I actually do; it's more along the principle of the matter.

'No one gets to attack Appa and walk away without suffering some form of punishment.' Thought Aang with a satisfied smile as he placed his bo-staff on his back before looking at Gyatso, who was glancing at him in disbelief.

"That is a funny prank, don't you think so, Monk Gyatso?" Asked Aang with a faint smile, his words leaving Gyatso speechless as he rubbed his face and deeply sighed before ignoring the matter altogether.

"Haa, let us go Aang." Said Gyatso softly with an exhausted expression as he refused to look back while Aang nodded.

"But of course. Though, where shall we be going next, Monk Gyatso?" Asked Aang curiously as he glanced at Gyatso while patting Appa's head.

"We'll discuss that once we leave Ba Sing Se." Replied Gyatso, his words causing Aang to nod as he lay on Appa's back with a content smile.