He did not expect to stay in the Southern Water Tribe long, but since he was not needed immediately in the Fire Nation, and he felt the age of time wearing down on his body, with the gracious hospitality he received from the locals, the Avatar found himself quite reluctant to leave.
The young Chief of the Southern Water Tribe was a gracious host, his beautiful wife and children at his side as he told many tales. The Avatar loved stories, and hearing the various pranks the chief and his childhood friend would wrought in their village reminded him of his own youth.
The Avatar then in turn was introduced the Chief's children, a little boy and a little girl. The boy had been brief, he was too eager going out and play with his peers than to spend an afternoon with the most powerful man in the planet. As for the little girl, she was rooted on the spot.
"She is very shy." the Chief's wife in an apologetic tone as her child buried her face onto her mother's parka.
The Avatar smiled as he held out his hand, offering her a piece of fruit pie. Coached by her mother, the girl's curiosity overtook her shyness as she took the pie and ate it, her blue eyes widening at how sweet and soft the food was.
As soon as she finished eating it, she took a long look at her guest, and made a brief observation. "You're old."
The Avatar laughed, endeared by the girl's gutsiness and how she unknowingly embarrassed her mother as the older woman tried to apolgize to him. "There's no need," he assured her, "I AM old." He then looked at the little girl, grey eyes sparkling in humor. "I am over a hundred years old." He whispered as if he was telling her a very sacred secret.
He thought the little girl's eyes wouldn't get any larger, but she did. "You're older than Gran-Gran!" She gasped, amazed and impressed. She had never met anyone older than her grandmother.
Chuckling, the Avatar laid a wrinkled hand over her brown curls. "My name is Aang."
The little girl beamed, "I am Katara."
"It's a shame you have to go." Hakoda said, "Katara's taken a liking for you." The old Avatar sighed upon hearing it, he liked hanging out with Katara and Sokka as a doting grandfather. It was one of those moments when he found himself wondering if this was what having children of his own would be like... but he figured he will never discover this in his lifetime. Perhaps he will be lucky next time around.
He smiled at Hakoda "I really need to see the Firelord again. I've stayed too long as it is."
Before he was born Avatar Roku killed his old childhood friend when Sozin threatened the peace of the world, his throne inadvertantly was left empty. Various factions of the military vied for its power, reducing the country in a state of constant civil war. Aang spent much of his life as the Avatar to oversee the Fire Nation's stability, fighting many battles, while searching for a proper leader. His visions led him to search for a man named Jeong-Jeong... a soldier who left his services during the war, whom Roku recommended to be the next Firelord. After finding this man, dragging him back with his hair if he had to, and present him to the dragons, the firbenders' sacred animals. The dragons gave them their blessing, and Jeong-Jeong accepted his destiny, and the world will finally have balance.
... Aang was looking forward for a very long vacation.
"You will visit us again?"
Aang shook his toughts away on a what could have been as he took Hakoda's handshake. "Of course."
