The Avatar State.
I heard about it from my tutors back at home, but I never thought I would witness it. My teachers said that the Avatar State was a defense mechanism, triggered by extreme danger or emotional stress, that would summon the power of all the past Avatars and channel it through one person. That one person, the current Avatar, would then become extremely strong, if not invincible. It's an awesome thought, but also quite scary.
Now I know: it's a lot scarier than it sounds.
Ever since Appa was captured, Aang has changed. He's not the same fun-loving, carefree monk that I've come to know. I did all I could, but I still feel guilty…I never realized that Appa meant so much to him. And as much as it hurt when he yelled at me, I tried to understand how he felt. Unlike Aang, I've never had a close friend…and I've certainly never lost one.
Then we met the sandbenders. I revealed who the thief was, and what they had done to Appa…I never imagined that it would affect Aang the way it did. The Avatar State has been activated, and suddenly, I don't know him anymore. He screams at the sandbenders with a demonic voice…and now I realize that there's no going back. He is uncontrollable now, his judgment completely clouded by rage. I can feel the wind picking up, and although the sand obscures my sight, I know that Aang is at the center of it.
The power of all the past Avatars is surging through his body, and I realize that he could easily kill us as well as the sandbenders. I want to run, but discover that my legs won't move. I am completely rooted.
Terrified.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The last time I saw Aang like this, he destroyed an entire Earth Kingdom base.
It was a hard-learned lesson: something so powerful should not be taken so lightly.
I wish I could take back the last twenty-four hours. I regret that I had been hallucinating in my own little world when I should have been here, supporting him through this hard time. And a hard time it's been.
My relationship with Appa has grown in the months that I've known him. He's not just a ten-ton magical monster anymore; he's become my friend as well. But my friendship with him is nothing compared to Aang's, who has been with him most of his life. And now, Appa is gone, and Aang is angrier than I've ever seen him.
I see his tattoos start to glow, and suddenly, I remember…the Southern Air Temple. The Temple of Avatar Roku. Admiral Zhao's fleet. General Fong's Base. All had been decimated by this power. I see Gashuin, still trying to reason with Aang, and suddenly, I hate him with a bitter hatred. After what he's done, he actually thinks he can calm Aang down? I see Toph, standing still, completely petrified. And with good reason…Aang is dropping his staff, and a ball of energy is beginning to swirl around him. I know what's coming next, and we will all be killed if we stick around. In the Avatar State, Aang probably won't even recognize his friends.
I run forward, grabbing Toph and running with her. "Just get out of here!" I yell at the sandbenders. "RUN!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, no.
I've always hated seeing Aang like this…ever since he found Monk Gyatso's skeleton in the Southern Air Temple. Now, he's in the same position that he was then…he's lost a lifelong friend.
I see him start to rise in his ball of energy, and I see Sokka and Toph running away, along with the sandbenders. Part of me wants to run with them, to get away from here as fast as possible. I meant what I said back at General Fong's base…seeing him in this much rage and pain is really scary. But as I watch him, I realize…he needs me now more than ever, and I'm not about to just leave him.
The wind picks up, making it difficult for me to run toward him. As I get closer, I see that he is completely focused on the fleeing sandbenders. There's no reasoning with him in this state, but I just have to get his attention. If I could just grab his arm…
I do, and he turns toward me, eyes blazing with anger. He's been through so much, and I can feel his pain. I plead with my eyes, deeply saddened by the pain he's in right now. It reminds me of the pain I felt when my mother was killed. Hoping that he doesn't attack me, but not caring even if he does, I gently take his other hand and pull him back to the ground. I wrap my arms around him, hugging him with all my might. The wind begins to die down, and I can feel his tears on my arms. I cry with him, remembering how I felt…back then.
I know, Aang…I know.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rage.
No other word could describe it. The rage of losing someone, my best friend…and now, having the person responsible at my mercy. My eyes are filled with white light, and I know that I have entered the Avatar State. I don't care…my only desire now is to make him pay.
I drop my staff, energy swirling around me. I hate them all. Gashuin, for stealing Appa. Sokka, for not caring. Toph, for letting it happen. Katara, for defending Toph. I begin to rise in my ball of energy, now blinded by my fury. I know that I'm no longer in control, and for once, I welcome it. They will regret the day they crossed the Avatar.
I feel someone grab my arm, and I turn to face them. Who dares to try stopping me? But when my eyes focus, I realize that it's Katara. I see deep sadness in her eyes, and suddenly, my mind begins to clear. What on earth am I doing? I can't lose control, or innocent people, including my friends, could die.
I fight to regain consciousness. I feel Katara pulling me back down, and she wraps her arms around me. I remember how I've been acting, and I realize…I haven't been the only one suffering during this time. I remember Gashuin's expression of fear when I first threatened him. I remember Toph, as she sadly turned away from me after I blamed her for Appa's capture. I remember Sokka, running away from me in terror as my rage took control. I remember Katara, doing everything she could to keep our group together, in spite of the difficulties. Most of all, I remember Appa…
The wind finally dies down, and my ball of energy disperses. The glow leaves my eyes, and I am left, exhausted with grief. I weep silently in Katara's arms.
I just want my friend back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note: I may turn this into a series of oneshots. For now, I hope you enjoyed this one. :)
