The Emerald (Part 2)

"A...AA...Aang?! Avatar Aang?"

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To understand how this happened, we must first begin the story from our heroes' point of view.

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(POV Aang)

The first rays of the sun entered my room through the open window, illuminating everything in soft colors. It was nice. I slowly opened my eyes, expecting to wake up to breakfast, except that . . .

"Aang! Get up lazy bones!"

"Aaaah!"

. . . Sokka had decided that my morning should start differently. He had hit me with a bucket of water to the face!

"Sokka! I told not wake me up like that! I'm soaked!" I caught my breath and regained my composure. Stifling a yawn, I asked, "What are you doing here Sokka?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just that my sister wants to see you. You know, just the routine."

I got on my feet and ran to the bathroom. I washed quickly. I only grabbed an apple to eat and then sped away to... Where was I going? I returned to my room and Sokka told me where to go.

I flew like a flash, taking shortcuts, running over rooftops, riding air scooters, and even carts to reach the Fire Nation royal palace.

Strangely, I could not find Katara there. Yet it was the right place. I was a little early, because Sokka told me... I slapped my face, "Of course!"

I used my airbending to get to the roof. Bingo, Katara was there. I was behind her. She was there waiting for me, but as I made no noise she did not know that I had arrived.

I whispered in her ear, "Hi Katara, I'm here."

She jumped, laughing. We both dissolved into a fit of laughter. After a while, we calmed down.

"What did you want? Why did call?"

"I just wanted to spend my day with you."

"Really?"

"For once, we aren't needed to maintain the peace. There is no Avatar business to attend to."

She was right. For a long time we had lots of problems to solve. It had been two years. I had thought one day, but I never imagined that Katara and I could have a day to ourselves because either we had no time or I did not have the courage to make time.

I took Katara into my arms and kissed her. She responded eagerly. The moment could have lasted forever. It could have, except we needed to come up for air.

We were gone the whole day, without telling anyone so we would not to be disturbed.

When the beautiful day was over, I felt uncomfortable, as if we were being watched.

Upon our return, Sokka jumped us, yelling that he was worried sick.

"All joking aside," cried an old man. "I have bad news. The sacred emerald has been stolen!"

Zuko seemed distraught because there was green smoke rising out from under our feet and moving toward the palace! We ran all to the palace to see if there was any damage.

"Hey! I found a trapdoor," shouted Toph, thanks to her earthbending.

In fact, the trap door led to a basement. To the location of the emerald the old man spoke of.

We opened the heavy door and found a guy who seemed a bit big and about thirteen to fourteen years old.

He shouted, in a voice mixed with amazement and astonishment, "A...AA...Aang?! Avatar Aang?"