Avatar Book 4: Air Chapter 2: The Last Airbenders
Aang stared bug eyed at the people before him. Up until now, he had thought he was alone, cursed to carry the burden of being the last airbender to his grave. But here stood about 40 or 50 airbenders, clearly masters by the looks of their tattoos. One of the elderly airbenders stepped forward. She reminded Aang of the herbalist he met while he was trying to get a cure for Katara and Sokka. "I am Kumi. We have waited for you, young airbender." Aang looked at her, confused. "You knew I was coming?" The old woman smiled. "We have known this for quite some time. We knew what events would need to occur in order for you to reach us, so we wanted to speed you on your way. That's when we left for the Earth Kingdom." Aang gasped. "That's why you weren't here when Katara, Sokka and I came here during the winter." Sokka interrupted. "Wait, why did you go to the Earth Kingdom?" Kumi smiled at Sokka. "We knew that the Avatar would have to speak to the vine bender in the Foggy Swamp, but you wouldn't land, so we had to do something. Aang's eyes widened in realization. "It was you who sent that tornado that knocked us into the swamp. No wonder it disappeared so fast, it was controlled by airbenders!" Kumi chuckled. "Yes, we're sorry about that." Aang started running round in circles. " Oh my -gosh -there –are- other- airbenders- I'm -not –the- last one- I knew it -Am I talking to fast- I can't tell- I'm not the last one!" He continued to run around until he ran it to a rock wall created by Toph. He fell down. "Thanks." He said. Zuko looked around at the airbenders. "How'd my mom find you?" Ursa stepped forward. "After I was banished, I tried to hide somewhere that I would be safe in case the Fire Nation thought of some worse punishment for planning Azulon's death. So, I went to the Southern Air Temple, thinking that since it was deserted, I would be safe, and not imposing on anyone. Aang looked at her, confused. "But, you need a sky bison to get into the air temple. How 'd you get in?" Toph snorted. "Sozin got in without sky bison, didn't he?" Aang glared at her. Ursa continued. "When I got to the base of this mountain range, I camped inside a small cave a few about a half mile from here. I was sleeping one morning when I was woken up by a big, cold nose". She smiled at Appa. "It was a sky bison, just like yours, young Avatar. I laughed so hard my side hurt. These air monks must have heard me laughing and came down to investigate. I tried to explain to them that I was not in allegiance to the Fire Nation, but it was Kumi who convinced them to let me live with them." "I still think we should have interrogated more…" mumbled a 16 year old airbender boy towards the back. Kumi turned to him. "Quiet, Ariko you must excuse my grandson. He hasn't been the same since his parents, Manu and Sang, were killed at Sozin's hand." Ariko looked away. Ursa cleared her throat and continued. "It was here I waited, wondering if you and your sister were okay. By the way Zuko, where is Azula?" Zuko's features looked grim as Katara lowered her head. "She cracked. Azula went insane. I can still hear her screams"… Zuko's mind flashed back to the Fire Nation courtyard. The flaming byproducts of he and Azula's battle licked all over the buildings as Zuko, still slightly dazed by repelling Azula's attempt to cheat and kill Katara, looked down at his incarcerated sister as she writhed and flailed, wracked with sobs. There was not one ounce of pity on his face, but he still felt sorry. So much talent… so much bitterness… so much evil… He was brought back to the present by the feeling of his mother's hand on his face. "She had to face it, Zuko. She wrote her own destiny. You wrote yours. You need to let it go." Zuko looked away. Aang turned to Kumi. "Why did you want to meet me?" He asked. Kumi's smile faded. "Ah, I fear I do not bear good news, young Avatar. You see, you have not mastered all of the elements." Aang was taken aback at this comment, but then relaxed. "Its okay, a lion turtle already taught me how to spirit bend." Kumi looked at him gravely. "There are 4 earthly elements, and 3 Spirit Elements, two of which only the Avatar can master. You have mastered Water, Earth, Fire, Air, and Energy. You have yet to master Light and Shadow. Aang looked confused again. "Light and Shadow? The monks never told me about those." Kumi sighed. "In the era before the elements, there were but two. Light benders, also known as Neonists, were the true first fire benders. They used the sun's energy itself to create beams that they could bend into any shape. Shadow benders, or Noxists, did the same thing the light benders did, but they used shadows and darkness. The Shadow benders were corrupted by the very nature of their element, and tried to annihilate the light benders, but they were banished into the Netherlands of the Spirit World by two spirits you may have already met, Tui and La." "Wait," Aang stopped her. "I thought Tui and La were the Moon and Ocean spirits." Kumi smiled again. "That is their earthly form. In the Spirit World, they were the Spirits of Balance. Yin and Yang." Aang's eyes widened. "Whooooaaa!" Kumi nodded. Toph blinked. "But, that was over 1,000 years ago. Why do we care?" Kumi frowned. " The Shadow benders' imprisonment is not permanent. They can be unleashed by a powerful energy field, such as…" "Me coming out of the iceberg." Aang finished. Kumi nodded again. "Yes, the spiritual energy released from your Avatar Spirit when you were freed from the iceberg opened a gap in the Veil between the Spirit World and the physical world, allowing certain creatures to escape, such as Hei Bai and the Shadow benders." Aang shrugged. "And?" Kumi looked at him grimly. "The good news is that when the Shadow benders were freed, the spirits were scattered around the Earth Kingdom. If you can destroy their dwelling habitats, you can stop them for good. If you don't, the Shadow benders will be undefeatable." Aang breathed deeply. "Okay, what do I have to do?" Kumi pointed towards the setting sun. You must seek the Elder who sits upon the Eastern Mountain of the Wind in the Eastern Earth Kingdom. His name is Pathik." Aang smiled widely. "Hey, I know Pathik! He helped me master the Avatar State… or at least he tried." Aang's mind flashed back to him leaping from the eastern Air Temple, leaving behind Pathik's disappointed face. "I won't let him down this time." Katara put her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "C'mon Aang, it seems we've got a lot of work to do." Zuko, Toph, Katara, Sokka and Aang boarded Appa and waved good- bye to Kumi. "Appa, yip yip!" Aang cried as they flew into the rapidly setting sun.