Chapter 1
Ready to Take On the World
Aang hopped around the different levels of the southern air temple, it had been four years after the war ended. He entered and ran through the dormitories were the monks used to sleep, looking for one room in particular. Finally he found it, he stood in front of the door of the room he was looking for, written on the door in fading paint was "Master Gyatso". He took a deep breath, turned the handle of the door, opening it, and then walked inside. The room was round and mostly plain, except for the walls, which were covered in faded painted Air bison and lemurs. There was a bed next to the only window, which was broken, years of rain water hitting the bed left it's bedding stained yellow and stiff. There was a large cupboard on the far wall. Aang walked over and tried to open the cupboard, after failing many times he gave up. After looking the cupboard over he noticed on the side was an air puzzle like the ones on the doors to open the chamber full of Avatar statues. Except it was miniature sized, he cupped his hand on it and sent air through it. After a few tumbling sounds, the cupboard flew open revealing it's contents, there was a staff and a note. He picked the note up first and read it,
Aang, If you are reading this I am probably gone,
I am sorry that we didn't get to complete your training,
I want you to know that I understand why
you left and that I do not blame you.
The weight of the world was thrust upon you way before you
were ready, I have left this staff,
it is my hope that it will help you in your quest for peace,
also on the back of this note is the recipe
to my Super Secret Recipe Cake! May you enjoy my cake for years to come!
-Gyatso
"Gyatso..." Aang said out loud, wiping away his tears "Thank you,"
He grabbed the staff and examined it further, it was definitely a glider, he tapped it against the ground letting wings loose and letting it extend. It was lighter than his original staff, and a lot more lighter then his replica staff. He also noticed a small red button on the side when he pressed it spikes shot out of the top and hit the ceiling, he was surprised. He had to show this to Katara, so he hopped back down to the level they were staying on. When he arrived and walked inside her tent, it was completely empty of except a scroll in the middle of the floor. He walked over and picked up the scroll and saw that it was addressed to him. He opened it up and immediately recognized the handwriting to be her's, there were tear stains all over the note which made it difficult to read,
Dear Aang,
Don't try to follow me, if your wondering why
I left, well I believe you know Aang, you try to
ignore people's plea for help because you don't want to
"mess with the order of peace" which is a lie
you just don't want to follow out your duties as the Avatar,
also your still so childish Aang, it's impossible for you
to take anything serious but I-
He dropped the scroll he couldn't stomach reading anymore. He couldn't believe it, she left him, it took him awhile before he even moved. He grabbed the scroll and stuffed it into his over-shirt pocket. He walked out of the tent, Aang fell on his back, trembling. It felt like his heart was torn out and stomped on until it was dust and thrown in the wind, he felt hopeless. How could this have happened they were just having so much fun. But he knew that wasn't true, she had been nagging him to help for weeks now, but he didn't listen and now she was gone. He had just kept using the same excuse she had mentioned in the note that he didn't want to mess with the order of peace. He tried to fight back his tears but after a while he couldn't any longer, slowly he cried himself to sleep. In his sleep he had a dream,
"Aang," said a familiar voice,
When he opened his eyes and he was sitting in front of Avatar Roku, on top of a cloud covered mountain in the spirit world.
"Aang you need to control your emotions," He said,
"You don't understand, Roku, you don't know what has happened,"
"I do Aang, and she is correct, maybe not for leaving you, but you are neglecting your duties as the Avatar, Aang"
"I already saved the world from the Firelord, and put the world back into balance and peace, what else do I have to do?" Aang asked,
"Aang, being the Avatar is a full time job, saving the world once is not the end to your services Aang," Roku replied, "You need help those in need and defend the peace that you have brought the world,"
"But where do I even start?" Aang asked, "There are so many people to help, I don't even know where to begin, or if I can help at all,"
"Aang I know you can do this, I have faith in you," Roku smiled, "Start in Ba Sing Se, gang wars there have gotten so out of control that most people can't leave their homes for fear of being killed, I have to go now Aang, good luck,"
"Wait Roku I-" Aang said before he disappeared,
When Aang woke up in the real world it was the morning of the the next day, he yawned hoping that it was all just a really bad dream. When he walked inside Katara's tent and saw it was empty, he sighed, and fought back the tears. No! No more crying! He thought It's not gonna bring her back, and it's not gonna help you on your quest to help the world! After packing up everything except for Katara's tent, he couldn't bear even touching it, he hopped on top of Appa. The weight of the world was back on his shoulders, except this time no one was there to help, he was alone. Aang thought about people who he thought could help him through his depression. He could go to Toph's mansion/earthbending school, maybe to Kyoshi island to see Sokka and Suki, or to Zuko in the Fire Nation, maybe even Iroh in his tea shop in Ba Sing Se. After thinking about it, Toph would call him more of a girl then she was, Sokka would, well... be Sokka, Suki might have been able to help but not with Sokka there, and Zuko wouldn't even know what to say, he'd probably try a horrible attempt at an anecdote his uncle might say. He decided he would see Iroh, since he'd know what to say, and he needed to go to Ba Sing Se anyway.
"Yip-Yip," Aang said, and they took off into the skies to Ba Sing Se, the flight had taken all day, when he arrived the sun was setting in a beautiful array of red, yellow and orange, cruel joke compared to Aang's mood. He landed outside Iroh's tea shop and walked up the stairs, inside Iroh was cleaning the last of the tables about to close up for the night.
"Sorry we are closing- Oh Aang come on in and sit down," Iroh said cheerfully, he walked in to the kitchen and grabbed the teapot he was saving for himself after he closed, and returned to him, "So how have you been? Where is Katara? I thought you two were traveling together,"
"Katara is-" He couldn't finish, he looked away from Iroh,
"Oh I see, something happened then, is she alright?"
"Yes she is, she just... left me," Aang said, "And that's not all that's happened to me," He told him about his dream or trip he wasn't really sure which it was, to the spirit world,
"Hmm... I see," Iroh said, "the city certainly has fallen into chaos, but I guess so has the world once again..."
"I came here to ask your help, I'm not sure what to do, with Katara, with the entire World, Roku just sort of appeared and said 'Help people at Ba Sing Se bye!' he wasn't very helpful at all!"
"Aang I know you are confused, but life is like tea, some times it is bitter, cold, and sad, but other times it's sweet, warm, and brings you happiness, the thing that you need to do now Aang is make your own tea,"
"So your saying I need to find my own way?"
"Exactly, while it is good to re lie on others, sometimes doing things on your own is what you need to do,"
"So basically what your saying is that your not actually sure how to help me?" Aang asked,
"Yes pretty much," Iroh replied laughing, "Sorry,"
"Don't be, I think your right,"
"I am? I mean of course I am,"
"I am the Avatar, I shouldn't have trouble saving the world," Aang said, "but on the other hand dealing with Katara..."
"Uncle? Are you in here?" a voice at the door asked,
"Zuko! Come in, come in," Iroh said, when he spotted his nephew at the door "It's good to see you again nephew,"
Zuko hugged Iroh, "Aang it's a good thing your here too, I thought I'd have to chase you around the world to find you again, I came all the way from the Fire Nation and I have to ask you both something-"
"Hold that thought Zuko," Aang interrupted, "Iroh do you know where some of the gangs of Ba Sing Se are?"
"I know a few from gossip but being in the "upper-class" part of town I don't hear too much of gangs, there is the Blue Dragons they are in the southern part of the city, they are the remnants of the Fire Nation army that occupied Ba Sing Se, I hear they have Dragon tattoos on their arms, and in the east there is The Boulders I believe you can guess who the leader of that gang is, I know there is more but I don't know any others,"
"Thanks Iroh, I'll be back later," Aang called back as he ran off,
"Wait Aang I still need to talk to you," Zuko ran after him, "Wait up Aang!"
"You coming too Zuko?" Aang asked, he was already on top of Appa,
"Yeah I need to talk to you about something," Zuko replied while he climbed into Appa's saddle,
"Yip-Yip!" Aang yelled, and they took off towards the south side of the city, the sudden rush of wind of cool near-night air that hit him reminded him of the last kiss he and Katara shared, which made him feel even worse then before,
They were on their way to the north pole and after that they would go to the southern air temple,
"It's really cold," Katara said through chattering teeth, "How did you burn our coats exactly?"
"Heh heh sorry Katara," He chuckled nervously, "It was an accident I was practicing my firebending and I sneezed, but don't worry I got an idea to keep you warm,"
"Good because I'm freezing!" She chattered, Aang climbed into the saddle and pulled her into his chest, she blushed, "What are you doing?"
"I'm using a technique Zuko taught me to keep warm," Aang said, it was partly to keep her warm and mostly to get closer to her, he raised his chi level,
"O-Oh," She said, her face pressed against his chest, still blushing intensely. He started to get warmer and warmer and soon she was no longer cold at all, she looked up at his face to find him staring down at her and blushing, which in turn made her blush again and looked away, "Shouldn't you be w-watching Appa?"
"He can fly by himself, besides keeping you warm is more important," He said, he pulled her up higher so she was face to face with him, then he pulled her in closer, her chest crushing into his making them both blush even more. Then he slowly pressed his lips against hers-
"AANG LOOK OUT FOR THE WALL!" Zuko yelled, Appa was roaring a warning as well,
"Whoops!," Aang yelped, and he pulled back on Appa's reins just barely pulling out of a head-on collision with the inner wall of the city,
"Jeez! What were you thinking!" Zuko half-yelled,
"Sorry I got distracted," Aang chuckled nervously,
"So anyway what do you think? Do you want to?" Zuko asked when he finally calmed down,
"Want to what?"
"Are you kidding me? You didn't listen to me at all this whole flight?" Zuko yelled angrily,
"Sorry, sorry, I was distracted!" Aang said,
"Err whatever just listen this time, next month I am-"
"Hold that thought Zuko!" Aang yelled,
"Oh what now?" Zuko yelled back, then he yelped as he saw a huge fireball had been hurled at them,
"Hold on!" Aang yelled as he steered Appa to try and dodge it, "I guess we found the Blue Dragons!"
After they touched down he told Appa to fly off, Aang didn't want to lose Appa too. There was 20-30 of them, all with Dragon tattoos and they all looked very "happy" to see them.
"Well, well, well, it's our lucky day the Avatar and the Firelord both show up on our turf," the one who looked like the leader said,
"Look I'm not in the mood for talking so unless you wanna give up-" Aang started, but when they started laughing he smacked his hands on the ground and the Earth opened up and swallowed them all, only their heads were visible. That certainly shut them up,
"That was easy," Zuko remarked, "Anyway Aang, next month I am getting-"
"Zuko you'd better hold that thought," Aang interrupted once again, "We got trouble,"
"Err! Who is it now!" He whipped around to see the biggest man he'd ever seen, he was almost three times his height, what was worse is that he had the same tattoo on his forehead as Combustion Man.
"Run?"
"Run!"
They ducked behind a fountain in the middle of a square, breathing heavily from their sprint down several blocks, explosions were going off all around them.
"Zuko draw his fire!" Aang yelled over the explosions,
"Right!" Zuko yelled, as he leaped into the open and ran like hell, dodging the explosions the best he could, Aang didn't waste anytime though he smacked the ground and covered his hand with the cobblestone of the square. Using his airbending, he launched himself at the new Combustion Man, then using his stone fist and punched him in the middle of his forehead. He went down hard and was stumbling back to his feet while they jumped behind the fountain once again.
"Remind me again why we're doing this!" Zuko asked,
The new Combustion Man tried shooting again but he imploded and was shot into a building,
"For the people of Ba Sing Se, and for..." Aang trailed off, he stood up and looked to see if Combustion Man 2 was coming back,
"For who?" Zuko asked,
"N-Nobody,"
"It's all clear, we better report this to the local authorities," Zuko said, assessing the situation, "By the way where is Katara?"
Aang hesitated before he replied, "She-She left me,"
"Oh, sorry, I didn't... well... know" Zuko apologized awkwardly he wasn't good with these kind of things,
"Don't worry about it, let's go to the authorities,"
"Avatar Aang, Firelord Zuko!" A guard addressed them as he ran up to them and bowed, "All the Blue Dragons have been apprehended my lords,"
"Thank but really there is no need to bow," Aang said rubbing the back of his head, "I'm just a kid,"
"Thank you my lord, but I have a request that is of dire importance for the entire city,"
"Um, okay ask away but please enough with the 'my lord' stuff," Aang said, "I may be the Avatar but it's my job to help people, not stand above them,"
"Right, sorry my lor- I mean Aang," the guard said, "Please Avatar Aang can you find and return his majesty the Earth King to us, the city is falling apart without him,"
"Sure thing but after I clear out the city's streets of these gangs," Aang answered,
"Thank you very much my lor- I mean Aang," the guard smiled thankfully and returned to the other guards who cheered at the news,
"So you wanted to ask me something?" Aang asked Zuko,
"Let's talk about at Uncle's tea shop, it's getting dark, but first let's see if he is alive," Zuko mumbled, looking towards the house the new Combustion Man 2 had been shot into,
They searched the house he flew into but all they found was wreckage and angry residents, they agreed that he would probably try and find Aang again, but he'd be more prepared next time. After returning to the shop and taking a seat at one of the tables, Zuko tried once again,
"Finally, now that all that's over... Aang we may have been enemies for most the time we've known each other, but all and all your the best friend I have ever had, the first friend I ever had actually, and I was wondering if you would be my- Aang? Aang are you asleep?" Zuko asked getting angry, "Err I'm trying to be open to you! Err why is it I'm so bad at this mushy huggy-huggy stuff!"
"You'll get better at it Zuko, have some more tea," Iroh offered,
"Err! No! I don't want anymore hot leaf juice!" Zuko barked, "How could I never catch him when I was bad? Seriously he just fell asleep randomly, who does that?"
"People who have had a long day Zuko, maybe you should sleep too," Iroh said, Zuko after ranting on for a while longer finally gave in and went to the guest bedroom upstairs and fell asleep,
Aang woke up with a stiff pain in his neck, still wishing the past two days were a dream. But it wasn't, he was still in the chair in Iroh's tea shop, the sun was just breaking over the wall in the distance. All he remembered before he fell asleep last night was Zuko saying "Finally-" and then he was out. He dreamed about Katara, they were standing on top of a cloud laughing about something he couldn't remember, but when he got close and tried to touch her, she turned to dust and blew away. I need to do something fun, or see someone fun... I haven't visited Toph in a while... He decided he'd pay her a visit she might even help with the earthbending gangs and it would be nice to see Momo again also. Though she'll probably make fun of how "girly" he is being over Katara. He stood up and rubbed his neck sleeping with his head back on the chair was not a happy thing but it definitely reflected his mood, stiff, agonized. He walked outside still rubbing his neck, he called Appa and hopped on him. As he was taking off Zuko heard Appa roar and jumped up quickly and opened the window, knowing exactly what that sound meant.
"Wait Aang I still need to talk to you!" Zuko yelled,
"I'll be back in a day or two just wait until then!" Aang yelled back,
"Err!" Aang heard Zuko roar angrily as he flew away, he laughed, Zuko should relax once in a while,
He was flying over a forest when Aang finally forced himself to read the rest of Katara's letter,
but I tried to put up with it,
I really did, but if you can't take anything serious
and aren't gonna help, I am.
I'm setting out to help those in need
in the Earth Kingdom. Honestly Aang
this is the hardest thing I have ever done
before in my life, but I want you to know that I still
love you, but we can't be together until the world
is at peace completely, I know the fighting and
crime will never end but the way the world is
now can, gangs have taken over most of the Earth Kingdom,
and without out the Earth King their government is
in chaos. And Gin-Aku has a huge army in the
east ready to storm and take Ba Sing Se,
Gin-Aku is a tyrant and the people in his land suffer,
but maybe, if you can bring the Kingdom and the rest of
the world back into peace, maybe we can be together again,
-Katara
Tears swelled up in his eyes but he wiped them away, his feelings were mixed. He was happy that she still loved him, sad because she was angry enough at him to leave and he didn't even notice, and finally determined. If taking on the world was what it took to get her back, then he was ready! He was ready to take on the world, for her.