The Avatar State
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and I crossed paths with the new Avatar, an Airbender named Aang. And although his Airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I truly believe that Aang can save the world."
The Earth Kingdome base came into view and Appa descended, landing on the solid ground. A bearded man in a green cap and brown and green armor stepped forward to greet us.
"Welcome, Avatar Aang. I am General Fong." he introduced, welcomingly. "And welcome to all of you, great heroes. Appa, Momo, Pyrae and Isis. Brave Sokka, Mighty Katara, Fearless Phoenix, the Lovely Fire Lilly, and Fearsome Thomas."
We all exchanged glances at the tittles Fong greeted us with. Fireworks went off as Fong escorted us inside the base.
The room he took us to was large, with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was located at the far end, with a large banner showing a green circle and a brown square inside of it hanging from the ceiling. The six of us, along with our three small animal companions, sat in the center of the room on a mat, with Fong at the desk in front.
"Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole." the General praised. "I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility."
Aang shrugged. "I tried not to think about it too much." he replied, humbly.
General Fong smiled. "Avatar, you're ready to face the Fire Lord now." he announced, much to the shock of the rest of us.
"What?" Aang questioned. "No I'm not!"
"Aang still needs to master all four elements." Katara spoke up, calmly.
"Why?" Fong asked. "With the kind of power he possesses, power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes, he could defeat the Fire Lord now."
"But, sir, the thing is…" Tom addressed, shyly.
"Aang can only do those things when he's in Avatar State." I continued.
"See, it's a special state where…" Aang started to elaborated.
"I'm well aware." Fong cut off. "Your eyes and tattoos glow, and you're able to summon unbelievable power." he went on. "Without you we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way, as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."
Aang blinked. "Right, but, I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar State." he admitted. "Much less what to do once I'm there."
"So it's decided then I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State and then you'll face your destiny." he declared.
"No, nothing's decided." Katara rebuked, irritated. "We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way."
"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on." Fong reminded. "May I show you something?"
We followed General Fong over to a circular window overlooking two orange-roofed buildings. A large crowd was standing outside one.
"That's the infirmary." Fong informed. "Those soldiers are the lucky ones; they came back." he turned to face Aang. "Everyday the Fire Nation takes lives, people are dying Aang! You could end it, now. Think about it."
Two soldiers led us to a large room, spacious enough for all six of us to share. We each claimed a bed and settled down for some much needed relaxation. Aang left, saying he needed to get some air.
I sighed heavily, twirling the red stone of my necklace.
"Something on your mind Nixie?" Lilly asked, stroking Isis' back.
"Three years ago today, I left everything behind." I answered, not meeting her eyes.
"You mean the Fire Nation?" Sokka asked.
I nodded. "I can't believe it's been three years." I scratched Pyrae behind her ear. "Sometimes it feels so much longer."
"Well, at least you're not alone anymore." Katara reminded. "You have Sokka and I. And Aang, now Lilly."
I smiled, "Thanks Katara." I replied.
An hour or so later, Aang returned. He sat down on his bed.
"l told the General I'd help him by going into the Avatar State." he informed.
Katara gasped. "Aang, no." she rebuked. "This is not the right way."
"Why not?" Sokka questioned, his hands laced behind his head. "Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? He was incredible."
I rolled my eyes and sat up, moving my sleeping SaberCat to the edge of the bed.
"There's a right way to do this." Katara continued. "Practice, study and discipline."
"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord." Sokka added, grinning.
Lilly threw a pillow at him, making him yelp in pain.
"If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine!" Katara exclaimed. "Go ahead and glow it up." she stormed out of the room.
"Katara, I'm just being realistic." Aang defended. "I don't have time to do this the right way."
The next day, General Fong began various ways of trying to force Aang into the Avatar State.
"This rare chi-enhancing tea is a natural stimulant." the teacher informed. "In an ordinary warrior, it improves strength and energy tenfold. In you, it may induce the Avatar State."
"Tenfold energy, huh?" Aang questioned, before downing the small glass. Within seconds, he was whirling around on an Air Scooter. "Is it working? Is it working? I can't tell!" he exclaimed, speaking fast. "Somebody tell me if I'm in the Avatar State 'cause I don't have a good view of myself. Am I talking too loud?"
"I guess he could talk the Fire Lord to death." I muttered, rubbing my temple.
We sat in the courtyard for the next exercise of trying to get Aang into the Avatar State.
Sokka chuckled. "Maybe l can shock you into the Avatar State." he suggested.
"I love surprises." Aang chuckled.
"This oughta be good." Tom whispered to me.
"Is Sokka always this crazy?" Lilly asked.
"You have no idea." Katara answered.
Sokka spun around, with Momo sticking up from the collar of his shirt. Aang jumped in surprise, but blinked, looking over his tattoos. "Still not glowing." he informed.
Sokka lost his balance, yelling while Momo chattered as they both toppled over. General Fong, just shook his head.
We stood inside of a temple. Aang stood in the center wearing a ridiculous hat with leaves coming out of the top and a blue cape. The rest of us stood off to the right. A priest was in the distance near a stairway.
"You are wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations." he spoke. "Now, l will join the four elements into one! Water. Earth. Fire. Air." As he mentioned each element, he threw a pan of water, dirt, a torch, and blows air into a mixture. "Four elements together as one!" he threw the mixture at Aang.
Aang blinked. "This is just mud." he stated, slightly annoyed.
"So, do you feel anything?" the old priest asked.
Aang went to say something, but ended up sneezing, which sent the mud mixture in our direction, covering us.
"We have to find a way." Fong said, his voice full of determination.
Due to arising conflicts, us girls decided to sleep in another room. Mostly, Lilly and I moved rooms just to be there to comfort Katara, who was really adamant about forcing Aang into the Avatar State.
"Don't worry Katara." I told her, brushing through my long, black hair. "Everything's gonna be fine."
"I'm sure Aang will snap to his senses in no time." Lilly added, smiling.
Katara weakly smiled and nodded. "I hope you're right." she admitted. She turned on her side and fell asleep.
We stayed in our room the majority of the next day, with Momo, Isis, and Pyrae giving us some extra company. The room started to shake, and we all glanced at each other.
"What's going on?" Isis whimpered, jumping into Lilly's arms.
"An earthquake?" Pyrae questioned, her ruby eyes blinking.
Katara shook her head. "I wonder what crazy thing they're trying now." she wondered. After another rumble, she looked at us.
"Maybe we should just make sure Aang's okay." I suggested, getting up.
We ran out to the courtyard, which is where all the sounds were coming from.
"What's going on?" Katara asked.
"The General's gone crazy." Sokka answered. "He's trying to force Aang into the Avatar State."
Aang ran between two groups of soldiers. Sokka pulled out his boomerang and threw it in the direction of an Earthbending soldier. Right as the soldier was about to throw a disc at Aang, the Boomerang hit his helmet and knocked him out cold.
Aang ran from one of the Ostrich Horses chasing him, with a solider riding it. Katara drew out a stream of water and cut the soldier's spear in half.
"Maybe you can avoid me, but she can't." Fong called, glaring at Katara.
The Earthbenders used their discs to create a V-shaped wall, making sure that the only means of escape is by General Fong. Katara threw her stream of water at Fong, but he raised a patch of dirt, which created a patch of mud when the two elements collided. He took up a fighting stance. Suddenly, Katara began to sink into the ground.
When I ran to help her, soldiers cut me off, surrounding me. I took a stance, ready to fight them. "You really don't wanna get between my friends and I." I warned.
One soldier launched a rock at me, which I destroyed with a fireball of larger size. Then, more soldiers jumped in, trying to best me. I glanced to the side and saw Lilly and Tom in the same situation as me. Even Isis and Pyrae were being cornered by a gang of Ostrich Horses.
We all had our own fights to deal with, but hearing Katara scream and not being able to help was really frustrating. I knocked a few soldiers off to the side and saw Aang on his knees beside Fong, begging him to stop. But, the General wasn't complying. Soon, Katara was completely submerged in the Earth.
Aang dove for her, just barely missing her hands. The arrow mark on his head began to glow, and he turned around, revealing that the Avatar State has been activated. He glared angrily at Fong as he rose.
"It worked." Fong gasped. "It worked!" he raised his hands in victory.
"That's not good." I muttered, staring wide-eyed at Aang.
The glow only intensified as Aang closed the distance between him and Fong. A strong blast of wind hit him, and he shielded himself with his arms. Aang, who was now standing in front of the General, wind billowing around him. General Fong just smiled, but the grin quickly faded as he suddenly realized what had happened. Aang launched a karate chop-like attack, which sent Fong flying backwards. He landed at the base of the tower.
Aang hovered in the air, surrounded by a vortex of dirt. I ran towards Tom and Lilly, and we huddled together, because all we could do was watch.
"Avatar Aang, can you hear me?" Fong yelled. "Your friend is safe." he added, yanking Katara from the ground. "It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar State. And it worked!"
It seemed like a few minutes passed before Aang descended to the ground, the glowing ceasing. Katara ran to him and hugged him tightly.
I sighed in relief and jumped on Pyrae's back. The rest of us made our way to the center of the courtyard, regrouping with Katara and Aang.
"That was almost perfect." Fong exclaimed, with a slightly mad look to his expression. "We just have to find out a way to control you when you're like that."
"You're out of your mind." Aang rebuked.
"I guess we'll figure it out on the way to the Fire Nation." Fong suggested.
"Not gonna happen." I denied, whacking him in the back of the head, making him fall unconscious.
"Anybody got a problem with that?" Sokka questioned. The rest of the soldiers just shook their heads in response.
We packed up our belongings and tossed them into Appa's saddle.
"Do you still want an escort to Omashu?" one of the soldiers asked.
Momo jumped on Aang's shoulder.
"I think we're all set." Katara chuckled.
"Yip-yip." Aang called.
Appa took off from the base and headed towards Omashu.
Learning how the master the Avatar State was something Aang needed to learn if he was to become a fully realized Avatar. He told us that not only is it his most powerful form, but it's also when he's most vulnerable. I knew that it was only going to get harder as we continued this journey, I just didn't know how dangerous it would be as well.
A/N: And so begins Spring's Trials. Hope you all enjoyed it. I'll try as best I can to frequently update the story.
~XOXO Cyber