I hoped to explore Aang's past in a little more detail while still staying true to the original plot. The chapters will start to divert from the original storyline later on but for now, I want to keep true to Aang's original roots.
Let me know what you think!
Several weeks had passed since the Elders revealed to me my true identity, and nothing had been the same ever since. My days were filled with intense airbending training, even though I had already earned my mastery tattoos, and my friends had slowly distanced themselves from me, coming up with excuses like 'We're too busy with airbending practice' or 'I have to study' or 'Sister Iio is looking for me'. I was just about ready to pull my hair out.
After a long day of 'Avatar training', I went outside to find my friends all balancing on their own air scooters, whizzing around at a dizzying pace. A broad smile found its way onto my face and I ran excitedly to join them. "Hey, not bad! You guys have been practicing!"
Jie rode up to me with a look of delight on his face, "Not only that! We made up a game you can play with the air scooters!" He said, circling me on his air scooter.
"Great!" I formed and hopped on my own air scooter, excited to learn about the new game they had made up. But as soon as I hopped on, everyone had stopped riding and landed on the ground, looking slightly uncomfortable. "What's going on?"
"Now that you're the Avatar, it's kind of an unfair advantage for whichever team you're on." Chen looked away, as if ashamed.
"But I'm still the same. Nothings changed." I flashed them a smile that never really made it to my eyes. I hoped they could see that regardless of me being the Avatar or not, I was still the same person they grew up with. I was still Aang. "So, what? I can't play?"
"That's the only fair way." Chen shrugged, still not meeting my eyes.
"Oh, okay." I hopped off my air scooter and the ball of rushing air disappeared. I walked away, my head hung in shame. It's not fair. It's not my fault I'm the Avatar! I didn't want any of this! It's not like as soon as the Council of Elders told me I was the Avatar, I suddenly became a master of all four elements. I was still just Aang. I was still the same kid. Why couldn't they see that?
I started walking around the temple, trying to distract myself, but I couldn't seem to stop thinking about how my friends. Barely any of them could look me in the eye. Not even Jie! I haven't hung out with them at all since the Elders spoke to me. How did they even find out? I sure didn't tell them. And it's not fair, the way they started treating me differently! I wouldn't have treated them any differently if I found out any of them were the Avatar!
Ever since I found out, everything's been different. My friends don't treat me the same way, the monks treat me like I'm some sort of breakable relic, the Elders train me day and night until I'm exhausted, my world has flipped upside down! It's like Aang disappeared and what was left was 'The Avatar'. The only one who didn't treat me any differently was Monk Gyatso. He's the only one who still treated me like Aang. I only felt myself when I was talking to Gyatso. Speak of the Monk, as I was walking, I heard him call to me.
"Aang, you look like you have some free time. Why don't you join me in a game of Pai Sho?"
"Sure." I said unenthusiastically, the treatment from my friends still irking me.
We played the game in silence, in one of the temple's side rooms, one that was converted into Gyatos personal Pai Sho room. In the center was Gyatso's Pai Sho table with his personal set of chips. Only me and a select few were even allowed to play in here. I moved the fire tile toward the center of the board with disinterest, my hand holding up my face which was barely facing Gyatso.
"Very interesting move young one."
"What do you mean?" One eyebrow shot up in confusion. All of a sudden, I felt air behind my back, pushing my shawl up over my head, blocking my sight of the board. When I finally pushed back my shawl, I saw that Gyatso had switched our chips, giving him the advantage. "Hey!" I exclaimed accusatory, unable to stop the smile from curling my lips. Gyatso started to heartily laugh and I couldn't stop myself from laughing as well. I felt the burden upon my shoulders slightly leavening as Gyatso chuckled with the mischievous look in his eye that I had come to love. Just as I felt myself relaxing, Monk Tashi opened the door and made a sound of exhaustive distain.
"You're playing games with her? The Avatar should be training!"
My name is Aang.
"Aang has already trained enough for today."
Monk Tashi looked at me with a stern eye, "Come with me. Time is short. I must test you on some high-level techniques." I started to reluctantly rise from my seat when Monk Gyatso interjected.
"No, as long as I am her guardian, I will decide when she trains," Gyatso kind eyes shifted to me. "and when she gets her butt kicked at Pai Sho." I felt a surge of warmth and affection for my guardian and father figure.
"Hmpf!" Monk Tashi stormed away, exasperated. He must have gone to High Monk Pasang to complain because it was not long until Gyatso was called to the sanctuary for an 'urgent meeting'. Me, being curious by nature, I stealthily followed, using my glider to land on the sanctuary roof to listen in through the vines.
"Monk Gyatso, we have to discuss your relationship and involvement with the Avatar and her training." High Monk Pasang spoke evenly without a shred of malice in his voice. "The Avatar must be ready to face the impending peril that threatens us all."
My name is Aang.
"Aang is still a child, only 14. She needs to have freedom and fun. She needs to grow up as a normal girl." Gyatso voice was just as even tempered, although I could hear the worry starting to strain his voice.
"Hmpf. You cannot keep protecting her from her destiny." Monk Tashi's voice was piercing and full of distain. He always was at odds with Gyatso. They were complete opposites. Gyatso has always been tranquil and caring and a tad bit mischievous while Monk Tashi has always been strict and unrelenting.
"Gyatso, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the girl cloud your judgement." High Monk Pasang was even and gentle. Even I could hear he was slightly reluctant to speak about this to Gyatso.
"All I want is what is best for her." Gyatso bowed ever so slightly, pleading with the High Monk.
"But what we need, is what is best for the world." High Monk Pasang lowered his head and looked pensively at the ground. He paused for a brief moment, and my heart paused as well. "You and Aang must be separated. The Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete her training." Monk Gyatso eyes widened and then closed in defeat as he bowed to his senior.
Meanwhile, hidden behind the vines, my heart stopped, and my eyes started to water. How could they do this to me? They have already changed most everything in my life and now they want to take Gyatso away from me? He's the only person still anchoring me to the ground. He's the only one who treats me the same! He's my only family.
Before I knew it, I started to run. I released my glider and soared as fast as I could to my room. I hadn't even thought about what I was doing when I packed a few of my things and left a note for Gyatso, explaining why I was leaving. As the sun lowered below the horizon, I called to Appa, my flying bison, and left, not knowing where I was even heading.
Storm clouds started to form above me, but tears were already clouding my eyes, thinking about how the Elders could betray me like that. How could Gyatso just accept our separation? I never wanted to be the Avatar, and now I never have to be. Wherever I land, I could start a new life, and nobody had to know who I was. For all they knew, the Avatar just skipped a cycle. No big deal.
Heavy rain started to pour and Appa growled restlessly, but I didn't pay any mind. All I could think about was the temple and everyone in it that I was leaving behind. The wind was starting to pick up and the drops of rain began to sting my skin. Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed and Appa was struggling to maintain flight.
Realizing the danger we were in, I struggled to guide Appa through the storm. My heart raced as we lost altitude at an alarming rate. I felt myself scream as we hit the surface of the ocean. We were dragged underneath the massive waves and Appa was weak against the current that tugged us below. As the last breath of air left my lungs, I thought, 'This is it. I'm sorry Gyatso.' As my eyes closed for what was to be the final time, I thought I saw my tattoos glow.