Lessons.
Chapter 1 – The needs of many outweigh the needs of few.
This is another attempt of writing an Avatar TLA fanfic. In first one I disgraced myself with writing a Mary Sue, and … let's just say I learned my lesson. In this one there would be none of it, all characters will be canonical. Alright, here goes nothing.
… Aang and his flying bison were making their way above the steepest of mountains in the country of Fire Nation. The flight was long, and Appa was tired, mostly because he had to carry a big load of crates with supplies on his back.
The 100-year war was over, but there was still much to be done. Ozai left the country in poverty, its treasury empty. Because of the treaty new Firelord Zuko had signed, most of the troops were demobilized, and returned home, only to find that no one really wanted them there. Those who spent half of their lives in the army, and were taught only to fight and to follow orders, were out of place during times of peace. They were not able to find any decent work, because of the economical crisis that struck the land…
Aang was supposed to deliver the goods to a very distant village away from the rest of the main cities. It was a fishermen village, but all the big cargo ships were occupied, and sending one for a settlement with so few inhabitants was not worthwhile, and the road through the mountain path was too long and dangerous.
- There it is, Appa! – Aang exclaimed as he finally saw something resembling a landing pad, surrounded by signal fires. There were some people below, although he wasn't able to see them clearly, because of the heights. He made a sign for Appa to go down, and, with a growl, the bison complied, landing on the designated clearing…
… The boy noticed that the people below were mostly children and elderly men, yet they were here to do a certain job, obviously. For some reason, they acted … strange. Aang kept staring at them, but they avoided eye contact, not wanting to say or do anything. "What's up with them?" – Aang thought, but did not voice his question, because one of the elders, wearing robes of a Fire Nation official, approached him.
- You are at the village of Alatao now, Avatar. I see you have brought supplies promised by the Firelord Zuko. That is good, we were in need of those for some time now… - the village elder said dryly and gave his people an order to unload the cargo.
- What, not even a greeting? – Aang muttered as he watched them picking up heavy crates and boxes, carrying them down to the narrow trail back to the village. It was obvious that carrying out the task was hard – the children were not yet as strong as normal adults, while the elderly were not as strong as they used to be when they were younger.
- Hey, let me help you out! – the boy called as he used his airbending to lift a few crates and the wind currents under his control gently carried the heavy things down the trail, where there were a few more villagers to receive them. For some reason, his actions didn't impress the people who were carrying the rest of the cargo. "What's wrong with them?" – Aang asked himself as he lifted another box and sent it flying down the trail. With the Avatar's help, all of the cargo was transported much quicker, and in half of an hour, the bison was relieved of all the heavy boxes.
- Good. Good. Follow me then. You have to put a signature that we have received everything, and fill some documents… - the village elder said coldly and gave the boy a sign to follow him. Aang didn't like him too much, neither had he liked the rest of the village folk. Unlike just about anybody he met, these people were completely ignoring him, and he could have sworn he heard curses from some of them…
As the boy followed the official through the village to the town hall, he noticed in what misery the village was in. Many building were neglected, roofs had holes in them, and several fishing boats were rotting at the docks, which haven't seen repair for quite a long time. The place didn't have enough hands to do all these things.
The Avatar noticed several women and children fixing something, but the strange thing was that he didn't see any men around, and by men he meant young men, those who could be carrying out the hard jobs, to which the elderly and the children were not suited for.
- Excuse me … sir? – he said as he pulled the official by the long sleeve, trying to get his attention. These actions managed to snap him from the kind of a moving trance he was in, as he shook his head in a bit of confusion.
- Yes, what is it? – the elder asked sourly. Hearing the intonation, Aang started to doubt if it was actually a good idea to ask.
- Forgive me for prying, but … what exactly happened here? Since I came here, I never saw as much as a single guard around… - Aang avoided to ask the question directly, but the elder understood what he wanted to say. The next moment he laughed sourly, attracting the attention of the villagers who were busy trying to undo the misery their village was in.
- When we get to the town hall… - he said, and walked faster, with Aang barely able to keep up with him. "What did he mean by that? I hate secrets…" – the Avatar thought on their way to the tall building in the center of the settlement…
… The "town hall" as the village elder named it, was not exactly such. It doubled as a town hall, sure, but it was not the task it was made for in the first place. Aang noticed that this was the only building in the entire village that was upheld in a proper state. It looked like a school of some sort, judging by the size, but the naval symbols on the gates and the columns suggested it was not a public school of any kind.
- What is this place? – Aang asked with amazement. He had a hunch, but he wanted to be sure.
- Naval academy … it was. Now it's our town hall. After you. – the elder said as the gates were opened, and the two went inside.
There were not too many people inside. Aside from the gatekeeper, and a couple of clerks, the place was empty. But even so, even the unused rooms were held in a remarkably well shape. It looked like all the students have suddenly left for a vacation.
The Avatar followed the official through a maze of corridors to what looked like his office, judging by the amount of papers present in the opened closets and on the table. Inside, there was a bunch of kids busy writing stuff on parchments. They were very concentrated on their work, and didn't notice the avatar and the elder coming in. Or maybe they didn't want to.
- Now, you have to sign here, here, and here, and fill this form. Isn't it too difficult for you? – the village elder was obviously not very nice to the Avatar, or at least didn't show him any respect.
- Fine, fine… - Aang muttered as he put the signatures where they were supposed to be and started filling out the form. – Maybe you will explain why everyone in the village acts like a jerk while I'm doing it? It's not like I did anything bad to them I just brought provisions, that's all… – he asked a bit teasingly, but his smile disappeared upon looking on the elder's face, which looked like as if it was made out of stone.
- You're the reason this village suffers. – the elder hissed with hatred he was hiding so far. Aang swallowed as he saw fire burning in his eyes.
- … Excuse me? – he managed to mutter as he backed away. But the official was able to gain control of himself, and suffocated the anger.
- The academy you are currently in was once filled with students, who wished to become navy officers. The village didn't do much in terms of sustaining itself, because of the money they sent to their families. All those young men were participating in a campaign against the Water tribe citadel on the North Pole. You sunk that fleet. They all died. – the elder relied hollowly. Aang's eyes widened, but he regained a determined look soon enough.
- I am sorry for your loss. But I did what I must. Or many more would have died. – he replied coldly.
- We don't care. We would have tried to kill you, but we know we wouldn't stand a chance against someone who defeated Ozai and sunk an entire fleet by himself. Have you finished the form? – the elder asked emotionlessly.
- Yes… - Aang replied dimly.
- Good. Now leave. And I hope we will never meet again. – the official said without trying to hide his hate. As Aang looked upon his table again, he noticed a picture in a small frame. A young man, full-clad in uniform, which looked like the official so very much. "His son…" – Aang thought as he looked upon the elder again. His eyes were at the picture as well.
- I'm sorry… - the Avatar muttered again.
- Leave… - a growl came in response…
… The Avatar left the depressing village soon. He wanted to get as far away from it as possible. He knew he did the right thing back then, at the fortress, but doing right never felt so wrong before. It was the reason why he hated to be the Avatar in the first place. It was because during all of his lifetime he had to follow one single rule:
- The needs of many … outweigh the needs offew…
