After the kiss between Aang and Katara at Zuko's palace at the end of the war, an Earth Kingdom solider came up to them with some disappointing news.
"Avatar Aang"
"Yes"
"The Earth King has requested a favor from you."
"Yes, what is it?"
"He requested that you come with me back to the Earth Kingdom, so you can start a mission to rebuild the Kingdom's most treacherous region."
"I'll do anything to help."
At the sound of the Avatar's response, the solider took a step back, and took in a deep breath for what he was about to say.
"Avatar I'll be honest with you this wont be a quick trip. The region is torn apart both physically and spiritually. The rebuild will take at least 8 years, because of its remoteness. Don't get me wrong, this region is one of our most scared lands, it is the birth place of the badger-moles the original earth benders, we don't want it to parish. On the other hand, helping us could mean giving up a part of your life. Only experienced earth benders can reach this place. I just want you to think and discuses it with you loved ones before giving me an answer. I'll be leaving tomorrow; I'll need an answer by then."
The solider bowed to Aang and Katara, then turned and disappeared into the crowed.
"Not now. Anytime but now. Not when we can finally be together. No I can't leave you." Aang said then embraced Katara.
Katara had never looked more beautiful to him then at this very moment. Even though she was crying, he couldn't help but notice how good she looked.
"Aang," Katara said with tears in her eyes, "you need to go. You're the Avatar; you need to restore the balance of the world. Just because the war is over doesn't mean the land has healed. I love you, I always will, I will be here when you get back."
Aang said goodbye to all his friends that day. As he broke the news to his friend, he couldn't help but think he was never going to see them again.
"Well if master earth benders can go, I will!" Toph exclaimed
"No Toph I won't allow it. You haven't seen you parents in a long time you need to return to them. I'll write all of you."
Sokka was the most emotional one of the group, "NO! Little buddy I can't let you go, we just reunited. We're supposed to live happy ever after. You know like in the stories Gran-Gran use to tell us."
"Shut up Sokka! Can't you see it's hard enough for him already? He has to do it, he's the Avatar." Suki said as she slapped him in the back of the head.
"Sorry Aang." Sokka said as he began to rub he new wound
"I'll write you as soon as I get to the site. I'll pick up a hawk at Ba Sing Se. I'll miss you all." Aang hugged his friend and then went to his guest room to sleep.
Aang waited till the next morning to say his goodbye to Katara. By the boat, Aang and Katara embraced one more time.
"Where is Appa?"
"He is already on the boat, he deserves a rest. When we get to Ba Sing Se he's going to stay at the palace stables. Momo is going to stay with Sokka."
"That's going to be hard for the both of them."
"It's going to be hard for me too, but I am going to be in and out of the spirit world. It is not fair to them. It's not fair to you either. 8 years is a long time are you sure you don't want to end this here."
"My mother once told me that true love never dies. Even though we are separated the love we have for each other will never die. If we are destined to be with one another, we will be. It is only a matter of time."
Aang was relived to hear that answer, "I swear to you the minuet I am done. I will rush to the south pole as soon as possible."
"I'll be waiting."
They kissed for one last time, and as soon as their lips touched the boat's whistle blew to say they were leaving. Aang quickly jumped aboard the ship. He watched with tears in his eyes and waved back at Katara till he couldn't see her anymore.
"As soon as possible I'll be back for you Katara I swear."
"I'm sorry." The solider said to Aang, "This can't be easy for you. I know it wasn't easy for me when I had to leave my wife."
"How long has it been since you last saw her?"
"It has been over a year."
"A year that must have been hard for the both of you, when are you going back to see her?"
"Never, she died in a rock slide a few months ago."
"Oh, I am sorry."
"It's ok. I have my moments now and again when I just can't believe she is gone and I'm never going to see her, but during those times I hear her whisper in my ear and I know she is close by. She is always with me. Avatar this time apart maybe hard right now, but when we you see each other again the relationship will be that much more important to you. Please excuse me; I have to go talk to the captain and report for my duties."
"I look forward to talking to you later."
Over the boat trip, Aang got to know the young solider. He became great friends with him. It was a long journey when they got off the boat and had to walk, and it was nice to have someone to talk to. After weeks of on and off boats, they finally could see the massive wall on the horizon.
Aang hadn't seen the walls in months. He immediately looked at were the drill use to be. If you hadn't had known a drill used to be there, nothing would seem off to you, but there was something off about it to Aang. Like there was a scar there, but you could barely see it.
Inside the wall, the city changed a lot. The interior walls were reinvented. They were no longer walls. Now they were just tracks for the trains. The city now feels more alive. The Earth King listened to Aang, now he has a real kingdom to rule.
The first stop in the city was the stables. First Katara, now Appa, this was a real test for Aang, losing both his love and his best friend in a mater of weeks. But he knew he needed to help the kingdom. Aang then asked a favor of his own.
He turned to the solider, "Shan, could I ask something of you?"
"Anything I can do to help, Aang."
"Appa needs someone he trusts to come and fly him around every now and again. You two have gotten close, would you do this for me?"
"It would be my pleasure Aang"
"Thank you"
Aang and Shan then walked to the king's chamber. Last time Aang was here is seem so dark and cold in the chamber. Now it was more lambs, and it looks like he had some earth benders make some windows in the room. At first it seemed like no one was in the room, then all the sudden in a flash of green and yellow the Earth King was right in front of Aang.
"Avatar, it's so good to see you. Did you just get in? I just got back a few weeks ago myself. Oh I so loved traveling all over the kingdom. I went everywhere. I went to Kyoshi Island; boy those girls are good with those fans. Then I went to the desert. Oh the desert it was just…" The King paused for a second, "Well to be honest, the desert isn't all that great."
"Sir I don't me to be rude, but I like to start this mission as soon as possible."
"Oh I'm sorry Avatar; I skip to the point in my journey where you will be heading soon. So I was traveling along the northern mountain region, where the tallest mountains are located. I saw so much destruction, I couldn't believe it. I came across a powerful earth bender who lived her life in this region. She told me of how the birth place of earth bending was located at the very top of the tallest mountain of this region. This birth place is the epicenter of the tie between the Earth Kingdom and Spirit World. The bender said that the land has been dying ever since the war had started. Avatar if these lands fail, earth bending as a whole could disappear as well. I need you to heal these lands, Aang. It's been over 100 years since the land was alive and well. It needs a deep spiritual clean and physical rebuild. Will you help us?"
"Yes, I will."
"Thank you so much, Avatar. Now is there anything I can give you before you leave."
"Well I like a messenger hawk that is trained to deliver multiple letters to multiple locations, and lots of parchment and ink."
"No problem we always keep lot of those types of hawks around Ba Sing Se. Your request will be filled shortly; you can wait outside the palace. As soon as you have your items, you can proceed to the wall and join up with the ostridge horse caravan. They will lead you to the mountain where the birth place is located. There you will meet up with the earth bender who will lead up the mountain, and join you on the mission. Any questions Avatar?"
"Just one sir, what is her name?"
"The earth bender's name is Kia. Good luck Aang, see you later."
"Thank you sir, see you later"
Aang and Shan left the palace. As soon as the hawk arrived, the two friends said their goodbyes and departed ways. Aang was at the caravan in no time. He mounted an ostridge horse, and the journey began.