Hello everyone. I'm back from my break and here we are at the start of Book Two! Now, I know the biggest discovery happened at the end of Book One but there's a reason I'm calling this Book Two: Earth & Discovery. There's so much more Celina has to discover about herself as well as what's going on in the Earth Kingdom. Anyway, I don't own anything. Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nick. Enjoy!
The Avatar State
The trip back to the Earth Kingdom was a long one as Master Pakku offered to accompany them as far as he could while he and other Northern Water Tribe members were off to the South Pole. This left Celina little places to go when trying to avoid her siblings and Aang's questions. She had yet to tell them anything about what happened in the Spirit World and killing Zhao. Celina knew that she'd have to tell them eventually but she was still trying to get her head around it herself.
She was a spirit and she was sent to earth in order to stop the 100 Year War. No pressure right? Now she knew how Aang felt now about living up to his Avatar status. In order to avoid questions from Sokka, Katara, and Aang she spent her time practicing her waterbending with Pakku, hiding away with Appa, and sleeping. With the discovery of her heritage, Celina's insomnia disappeared, mainly thanks to the fact that Koh was no longer able to haunt her dreams. Every time she went to sleep her parents would use their newfound connection to talk to her in the Spirit World. Celina didn't understand how she managed to get a full night's sleep if she was spending it talking to her parents but didn't question it, happy to be rid of her nightmares.
Currently, she stood out on the deck. The gang spent a lot of time sailing and Appa was getting stir crazy so Aang decided that they would fly the rest of the way there. Before they left though they needed to say goodbye. Master Pakku stood in front of them with a bag of gifts. The first thing he pulled out was an amulet.
"Katara, I want you to have this. This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties. Don't lose it," he said presenting it to Katara.
"Thank you, Master Pakku," Katara said respectfully. She hugged him before walking off to board Appa. Pakku reached into his bag and pulled out an intricately designed box.
"Aang, these scrolls will help you master waterbending, but remember they're no substitute for a real master," Pakku told him. Aang looked over at both Celina and Katara before moving to join Katara.
"Sokka. Take care, son," Pakku told him before patting his arm. Sokka stalked off, disappointed that he didn't get anything.
With the other three gone Pakku reached into his bag and pulled out another amulet of water from the Spirit Oasis. "How are you doing?" he asked, handing her the vial.
"I'm… moving forward," Celina told him. Pakku gave Celina a soft smile before embracing her in a hug.
"You're an amazing young woman, Celina. I'm happy that I got to know and teach with such a talented Waterbending Master. I know that you'll do great things," he told her. Celina pulled away, hoping he didn't notice her shift uncomfortably. "Good luck to the four of you."
"Thank you," Celina said and then climbed up on Appa with the rest of the gang.
"Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you'll be safe to begin you earthbending training with King Bumi," Pakku told the group. Aang nodded.
"Appa, yip yip!"
The waterbending siblings turned back and waved goodbye at Master Pakku as Appa took off. "Say hi to Gran Gran for me!" Katara shouted down to him. Once they were away from the boat the group turned their attention to Celina. "So, what did Master Pakku give you?"
"A vial of Spirit Water like you," Celina answered, holding up the vial to show them.
"You two spent a bit of time talking," Sokka said, referring to her and Pakku's talk.
"We were just talking about Waterbending Master stuff," Celina lied. Katara and Sokka shot each other a look before looking back at their sister.
"If something happened back at the North Pole you can tell us, you know that right?" Sokka told her.
"I know, I know," Celina said, feeling a bit foolish that she hadn't told them anything yet. "It's just that… there are things that happened that I still need to get my head around."
"Maybe talking to us about it will help you," Katara suggested.
"No, this is… I need to get a handle on this myself because I'm positive you guys are going to have questions that I might not be able to answer," Celina said.
"What are you hiding from us?" Sokka asked worried.
"Just give me a few more days, then I'll tell you three everything," Celina replied.
Sokka and Katara gave Celina worried looked but nodded in agreement. At least she was being a bit more open with them about things. They remembered at the very beginning of their adventure when Celina revealed that she was a waterbender. The both of them felt hurt that she couldn't come to them about it. Katara especially feeling hurt. Now though she acknowledged she was keeping something from them and asked Sokka and Katara to give her more time to think about things. She promised she would tell.
o
They continued flying for a while in silence as Celina and Aang weren't really up for talking, which bored Sokka beyond belief. That's why he was so excited when they finally made it to General Fong's walled up base.
"There it is!" he announced. Once they arrived Appa landed inside the wall and a bearded man in brown and green armor stepped forward to greet them.
"Welcome, Avatar Aang!" General Fong welcomed them graciously. "I am General Fong. And welcome to all of you, great heroes! Appa, Momo, Master Celina, brave Sokka, and the mighty Katara."
"'Mighty Katara'? I like that," Katara smiled.
Fireworks exploded behind them, causing the gang to turn around. Aang, Katara, and Sokka looked amazed by the fireworks while Celina just gave an awkward smile, finding their welcome to be a bit over the top.
"Not bad, not bad," Sokka said, clearly not finding it as over the top as his sister.
After the fireworks ended General Fong ushered them into his office inside the tower. The gang sat on a floor mat in front of General Fong's desk. Celina looked around. It was a large room with a large Earth Kingdom banner hanging behind General Fong's desk.
"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. I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility," General Fong said.
"I try not to think about it too much," Aang admitted humbly.
"Avatar… you're ready to face the Fire Lord," General Fong said. Shocked faces spread across the whole of the gang, Aang being the one in the most disbelief.
"What?! No I'm not!" Aang replied alarmed.
"Aang still needs to master all four elements," Katara told General Fong.
"Why?" he asked, becoming worked up. "With the kind of power he possesses – power to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes – he could defeat the Fire Lord now!"
"But, sir, the thing is Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar State," Sokka said.
"See, it's this special state where…," Aang went to explain before General Fong interrupted.
"I'm well aware. Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power. 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."
"But his actions at the North Pole were a huge exception to the normal Avatar State. The Avatar State was brought on with the help of the Ocean Spirit because the Moon Spirit was killed. He was pretty much possessed by the Ocean Spirit when he took out the Fire Navy fleet," Celina informed him, remembering when Aang told them what happened back in the North Pole.
"She's right and besides I don't know who to get in or out of the Avatar State, much less what to do once I'm there," Aang said.
"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," General Fong decided without asking the gang.
Celina suddenly became very angry with General Fong thinking that he could help Aang achieve such a spiritually involved thing as the Avatar State. Katara was also angry, as the gang stood up.
"No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way," Katara said irritated.
"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?" General Fong asked and led Aang over to a window. "That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones. They came back. Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now! Think about it." Celina and Katara glared at the general, knowing what he was doing before going over and grabbing Aang. The gang then left to the quarters they were provided.
o
Celina was getting ready to go to bed after spending the rest of the day with Katara in the infirmary. The two decided to help around by using their healing abilities to get the Earth Kingdom soldiers back on their feet. So they were all ready to head to bed until Aang came in.
"I told the general I'd help him… by going into the Avatar State," he admitted quietly.
"Aang, no. This is not the right way," Katara protested.
"Why not? Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? He was incredible," Sokka added in as he lounged on his bed.
"Did you not listen to anything I said about the Ocean Spirit?" Celina glared at him, taking Katara's side.
"There's a right way to do this. Practice, study, and discipline," Katara told Aang.
"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord," Sokka suggested.
"If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!" Katara shouted before leaving the room.
"Katara, I'm just being realistic. I don't have time to do this the right way," Aang tried to explain as she left.
"Really because it doesn't sound like Avatar Roku would want you to skip the important steps of learning the elements," Celina commented and then turned over in her bed. She was too tired to storm out of the room like Katara. Instead, she simply chose to ignore Aang and her brother by going to sleep.
o
"And then he had the gall to say that he could teach Aang how to go into the Avatar State! I mean the nerve of that guy. How could he possibly know how the spiritual process of going into a state that allows Aang to connect to his past lives? And Aang agreed to it! He agreed to skip mastering the rest of the elements to go along with that general's stupid, selfish plan!" Celina complained as she sat down next to Bishamon's bedside, talking to both him and Ai.
"That general is ignorant to believe he could accomplish that," Bishamon said. "It would be better for you to teach the Avatar about gaining control of the Avatar State."
"You think I could do that?" Celina asked surprised.
"Of course, you are a spirit. You would be the best to teach the Avatar about how to control such as spiritual state," Bishamon answered.
"Plus it would rub it in his past lives faces'," Ai added in with a smirk.
"Honey," Bishamon slightly scolded.
"But how could I teach Aang when I hardly know anything about my spirit powers? The only time I've used them was at the North Pole and I had zero control over them. I barely remember what happened and then passed out right afterward," Celina asked.
"Uh… that might be partially my fault," Bishamon admitted.
"What?" Celina asked confused.
"Bish," Ai scolded, upset that he possessed their daughter along with him using up more of his already depleted energy.
"I just got angry when that bastard killed off Tui. Not only did he kill off a spirit but he killed off your waterbending master," Bishamon answered.
"So the only reason I went into that spirit trance was because you possessed me?" Celina asked feeling hurt.
"I just… I just wanted to finally be a father protecting his daughter. Celina, I only wanted to keep you safe," Bishamon explained. Celina's heart softened and she couldn't help but forgive him. Sure it was invasive but he had good intentions. "But believe me, I might have brought it on but you are a powerful spirit, you just need to find your power and utilize it."
"How?" Celina asked.
"Try meditating. Focus your mind and find your spirit power inside yourself," Ai answered. Celina nodded and noticed her body begin to flicker. They'd come to realize that this would happen whenever she was waking up.
"Good luck, my little turtle duck," Bishamon wished.
As her body flickered out for the last time a bright white light invaded Celina's vision for a second before she woke up in her bed at the Earth Kingdom base.
o
Katara and Sokka went with Aang as General Fong tried different ways to get him into the Avatar state. Celina was surprised that Katara went to watch seeing as both of them disagreed with the "teaching" and how she was the one to storm out of the room the night before. Celina chose to find a quiet place and try meditating instead, taking her parents advice on trying to find her spirit powers. She sat in the lotus position for hours, trying to locate her spirit center but couldn't, having a hard time clearing her mind and concentrating.
It was twilight when Celina decided to give up for the day and head back to the gang's room. She paused however when she came upon Aang and Katara having a conversation. Not wanting to interrupt them she kept her distance while listening in.
"I'm really glad you told me that. But I still need to do this," Aang told Katara.
"I don't understand," Katara said.
"No, you don't. Every day more and more people die. I'm already a hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it," Aang replied.
"I can't watch you do this to yourself. I'm not coming tomorrow," Katara said quietly before walking off to their room.
Aang watched her leave, sadness in his eyes. Celina decided to approach. "Hey," she greeted.
"Hey," Aang repeated.
"So, how was Avatar State training with General Fong?" Celina asked, trying to keep her disdain for the general out of her voice.
"Not great. We haven't really gotten anywhere," Aang answered. "So where were you today? Healing more soldiers?"
"No, I was… meditating," Celina replied.
"Meditating? You don't meditate," Aang pointed out confused.
"Yeah well, I have a lot of things I need to get a grasp on and hopefully meditating will help with that," she answered, being truthful with him but not revealing anything just yet.
"Huh, maybe meditation is the key to unlocking the Avatar State," Aang pondered to himself. Celina sighed, not happy that he was still working on this. "You don't agree with this either do you?"
"No. I understand where you're coming from in wanting to stop the war. You feel guilty that you've been gone for a hundred years and feel obligated to make up for it. But, Roku told you that you needed to master the rest of the elements in order to do that. And I agree with him, even though he creeps me out. The Avatar State you can work out along the way once you gain more control of yourself when you are out of it," Celina explained. Aang turned away from her, not liking that she was telling the truth. Celina sighed once again but didn't decide to push him on the subject any further. "I'm heading to bed. Goodnight, Aang."
"Goodnight," Aang muttered, staying where he was.
o
"So how did meditating go?" Ai asked as her followers brought in tea to Bishamon's room.
"Not great," Celina answered, borrowing what Aang said earlier. She took a sip from her cup before continuing. "I just can't concentrate."
"Well you do have a lot on your mind," Bishamon said.
"Maybe you need to move along with all of the changes in your life," Ai suggested.
"What do you mean?" Celina asked.
"I mean maybe a change of wardrobe will help. I know I like to switch up my appearance after a big change happens. It helps show that I'm moving with the changes instead of staying in the past. You've done a little by keeping your hair down instead of putting it back up in that braid," Ai explained.
Celina looked at her hair which remained down ever since the siege at the North Pole. She never thought of putting it back in a braid, finding herself liking how her wavy hair fell.
"You just don't like her robes," Bishamon scoffed.
"They're just so concealing! She inherited my gorgeous curves and it would be a shame to not show them off!" Ai complained before turning to Celina. "Let me just give you some new clothes, please."
"I… I guess," Celina blushed.
"Yay!" Ai cheered before pulling Celina off her chair and dragging her out of the room.
"Nothing drastic, Ai! She's still my daughter and I don't want those human men getting any ideas!" Bishamon shouted after them.
"Yeah, yeah," Ai replied, rolling her eyes at her husband.
Ai shoved Celina behind a rice paper screen before gathering some clothes for her to put on. She set them on a stool and instructed Celina to change. When Celina was done changing she walked out from behind the screen, showing Ai her outfit.
"Oh, you look so beautiful," Ai gushed.
"I don't know," Celina said as she looked at herself in a mirror. These clothes were nothing like her robes. Her boots remained the same but everything else changed. Instead of leggings, she wore tight blue pants and instead of her dress she wore a sleeveless shirt that went down right to her butt. It definitely showed off her curves but was a bit too revealing than what Celina was used to. "It's all so… different."
"You'll get used to them. Remember that change is good. Besides, this restricts your movements less than your other robes so it will be helpful with your bending," Ai told her. Celina took another look at herself in the mirror and noticed herself begin to flicker. "Looks like we won't get to show off your new outfit to your father. Oh well, next time. Good luck with meditating and try to relax darling, you'll get it eventually."
o
When she woke up Celina peeled back her blanket to discover that her new clothes transformed over from the spirit world. It was insanely confusing how that worked, Celina hoped that it was a sign that her spirit powers were coming out. Looking around the room Celina was surprised to see that Katara was still in the room. Granted she did tell Aang she wouldn't go with him to his training but Celina thought that Katara would be at the infirmary.
Katara was equally as surprised when she looked over at her sister but for different reasons. "What happened to your clothes?" Katara asked shocked.
"I… I decided that a wardrobe change was in order," Celina somewhat lied.
"Well, you look good but I'm confused, you went to bed in one thing and then woke up in another," Katara said.
Celina winced at Katara's observation but relaxed her shoulders. She needed to relax and accept all the things that happened. Perhaps telling Katara and the other about it would help her. "I think my few days are up," Celina replied. Katara's eyes widened realizing what Celina was about to tell her.
"Should I go get the other?" Katara asked.
"No, I'll tell them later. I just need to get this out. Back in the North Pole, when I was in the Spirit World, I learned that…" Celina began to tell her but paused when the room shook. The two girls looked up at the ceiling, wondering what was going on.
"I wonder what crazy thing they're trying now," Katara muttered.
"Whatever it is I don't think it's good. I can tell you my secrets later. We should go check on them," Celina said. Katara nodded and the two girls took off towards the courtyard. They hurried out, meeting up with Sokka as they exited the tower, to discover that General Fong and his men were attacking Aang.
"What's going on?" Katara asked Sokka.
"The general's gone crazy. He's trying to force Aang into the Avatar State!" Sokka answered.
The three of them watched as Aang ran between two groups of soldiers. Sokka pulled out his boomerang and managed to take out two soldiers. Celina went to take care of more soldiers while Katara targeted General Fong.
"Maybe you can avoid me, but she can't," Fong called out to Aang. Katara threw a stream of water at him but General Fong caught the mud with a patch of dirt, creating mud. He took up a fighting stance and aimed it at Katara who was spun around and began to sink into the ground.
"I can't move!" Katara grunted as she struggled to escape.
"Don't hurt her!" Aang shouted. As Aang moved closer General Fong sunk her lower into the ground.
"Aaahh!" Katara shrieked.
"Katara!" Celina and Sokka cried out. They both went to help her. Sokka went to attack him with an ostrich horse but Fong sank the feet of the ostrich horse which sent Sokka flying into the opening in the rocks the soldiers attacked them with. Celina tried herself but his men turned their attention to her causing Celina to go on the offensive.
"Stop this! You have to let her go," Aang begged.
"You can save her if you were in the Avatar State," General Fong said maliciously.
Aang closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on going into the Avatar State while tears streamed down his face. "I'm trying… I'm trying!" Aang cried.
"Aang, I'm sinking!" Katara called out.
"I don't see glowing," General Fong mocked and pushed Katara further into the ground.
"You don't need to do this!" Aang cried out in hysterics.
"Apparently I do," Fong said and then completely sank Katara into the ground.
Celina and Sokka watched in horror as Aang tried one last time to save her before she disappeared into the ground. With Celina felt a strong spiritual hum as Aang went into the Avatar State. Angry Aang turned and glared at Fong as he stood.
"It worked. It worked!" General Fong celebrated.
A strong blast of wind hit Fong as Aang stood in front of him. Seeing Aang in all his uncontrollable Avatar State Fong's smile quickly disappeared and was replaced by a terrified expression. Aang launched an attack, sending Fong flying back towards the base of the tower. He then proceeded to lift himself up in a vortex of dirt.
"Avatar Aang, can you hear me?! Your friend is safe!" Fong called out to Aang before raising Katara from the earth. Celina and Sokka were quick to rush over to their little sister who was trying to catch her breath. "It was just a trick to trigger the Avatar State, and it worked!"
Dragging Katara away from the general the siblings looked up at Aang who suddenly collapsed the vortex, slamming into the ground and causing a cloud of dust to shot forward. Fong was sent flying back while large chunks of earth rose from the ground, sending the soldiers into the air. The wave of rock and dust crashed into the base's building. Celina, Sokka, and Katara clung to each other, hoping to stay together during the blast. When the air cleared Celina looked over at Aang to see his spirit float out of his body and get picked up by Roku and his dragon before flying him away.
"Roku? Fang?" Celina muttered confused.
"What's going on?" Sokka asked.
"Roku just picked up Aang's spirit and flew him away," Celina informed her siblings.
He wasn't gone long though. After a minute or two, Celina saw Fang fly down to the base and return Aang's spirit to his body. Once that happened his body went limp as his Avatar State ended. Katara was quick to run over to Aang and embrace him.
"I'm sorry, Katara. I hope you never have to see me like that again," Aang said tired and remorseful.
"Ha! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that," General Fong said, walking towards them.
"You're out of your mind," Aang glared at him.
"I guess we'll have to figure that out on the way to the Fire Nation," Fong ignored him.
"I am so sick of you thinking that you know everything about something as spiritual as the Avatar State," Celina growled and summoned her water. She used her weight and threw all of her water at General Fong, pushing him up onto a wall and freezing him there. "If you or your men ever try that with Aang or my sister or any of us ever again I won't hesitate to end you. I've killed one military higher up already, don't make that number increase." General Fong nodded rapidly, scared by Celina's threat. Glaring at him Celina released him from her ice and returned it to her water skin. She turned her attention on the soldiers. "Anybody have a problem with that?" The shook their head and backed away.
Celina looked over to see that Sokka, Katara, and Aang were staring at her in shock of what she revealed. "Come on guys. Let's jump on Appa and head to Omashu. I have a lot to tell you," Celina sighed. The three nodded and hurried onto Appa, wanting nothing more to leave the Earth Kingdom base.
Once they were up in the air and flying away Sokka turned to his sister. "What was that back there?! What's going on?! You killed someone?!" he exclaimed. Celina couldn't help but wince at the harshness in his voice.
"Is it true? Did you kill Admiral Zhao back at the North Pole?" Katara asked, shocked that her sister could do such a thing.
"I think I should start at the beginning," Celina said. The three of them nodded, wanting to hear everything that she was keeping from them. "When Aang and I went into the Spirit World back at the North Pole I was taken somewhere else by Roku's dragon, Fang. He took me to this temple where I met… my parents."
"Wait, what?" Sokka asked confused.
Aang's eyes widened, realizing what Celina was getting at. "Your parents are spirits," he stated. "Who?"
"Ai the Spirit of Love and Bishamon the Spirit of War," Celina answered, shying away a bit.
"So you're actually a spirit?" Katara asked.
"Surprised me too," Celina confirmed. Sokka, Katara, and Aang took a moment to stare at her, taking in the information.
"But wait, what does that have to do with you killing Zhao? Did you go into a spirit rampage or something?" Sokka asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, my father possessed me because he was angry at Zhao. He used my spirit powers to kill him," Celina explained.
"That must have been intense," Katara commented, moving over to comfort her sister.
"I barely remember anything that happened. One moment I'm in the Spirit Oasis with you guys and the next I'm waking up in an empty house, somehow knowing that I killed Zhao. It's all been… really overwhelming," Celina said, wiping a stray tear that managed to make its way down her face.
Seeing her becoming emotional Sokka and Katara hugged Celina. She might be a spirit and she might not be their biological sister but that didn't matter. To them, she was their big sister who was going through a lot and needed comfort. Aang got up from the driver's seat and joined them; remembering how overwhelmed he felt when he found out that he was the Avatar. Celina hugged them back as she burst into tears, letting her pent up feelings break free at last.
Check out my profile for the link to Celina's character design or go to DeviantArt and look up "BTED: Main Outfit" by DrawMeLikeYourOC. Also feel free to look up "BTED: Cover" for a larger version of this fic cover.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to leave me a review and a crazy "So Tell Me About Yourself" answer.
"So Tell Me About Yourself" is an inside joke between me and my friends which started from my one friend's hatred for the typical getting-to-know-you question "So tell me about yourself". She, being so annoyed with the phrase, gave a silly answer that she murdered people in their sleep. When she brought it back to me and my other friend we both gave a silly answer. That is where the idea for my account name came from.