3. Air
Appa made good time over the plains and the Kolau mountains. They arrived at the foot of mount Oahu on the afternoon of the second day.
Aang lay on the grass, watching the sun near the mountaintops.
"You haven't said much during the trip." Katara sat down beside him.
"There were so many things I should have said in the library – things I should have asked."
"About Laput?"
"I don't know whether it would be worse to find out I really am the last airbender or not to. What kind of Air Nomad would help Zuko do this? Are they blackmailing him? How could they just stand there and let Sozin…" Katara held him close.
Mai coughed behind them. "Sokka spotted a giant cloud approaching." Aang wiped away his tears. "Thank you for doing this," she said.
"Don't thank me yet."
Appa flew towards the odd cloud formation, the winds growing stronger as they approached. Aang stood on Appa's head, bending in unison to compensate the sudden gusts.
Appa broke the cloud cover. Before them, the impossibly floating island held an Air Temple greater than any on land. The setting sun still touched the highest spires, and waterfalls turned to mist below. No one spoke.
"Toph," said Sokka at last, "if only you could…"
"I get it, probably cooler than Si Wong. Can we go now?"
"Maybe we should wait until dark and…" They were surrounded by a group of air bison.
Grey-robed riders bearing the golden spiral motioned for them to follow. They landed on one of the courtyards.
Aang jumped off. "I am Avatar Aang and these are my friends. We wish to request an audience."
The lead rider removed her hood. She spoke with an odd accent. "Your bison was the only reason you were not shot out of the sky. He will be attended to. You are to come before the Council immediately."
She led the way. For the first time the others entered an Air Temple that hadn't been abandoned for a hundred years.
"Aang," said Katara, "it's beautiful."
"I feels like home." he replied with a smile.
Sokka noticed Toph walked more slowly. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah… can you feel the ground disconnected from the core? Sokka, if only you could…"
"I get it, no more patronizing other people's perception…"
They were taken to the Council chamber at the top of the Temple. The five Elders sat in a crescent.
"Thank you, sister Aura," said the Head Monk. "Avatar Aang, we were expecting you."
#
"Welcome to Laput. I am monk Aeolus, Head of the Council."
"Head Monk," said Aang "we come here in search of Fire Lord Zuko. Someone impersonating Laput was involved in his disappearance."
"Indeed, Avatar, the Council ordered the capture of the Fire Lord."
"What?"
"Since arriving, however, Lord Zuko has remained of his own free will."
"You lie," spat Mai.
Aeolus' look soured. "Walk with me."
He led them out of the chamber and into the hallways. Aura and another rider brought up the rear.
"Why was the order given in the first place?" asked Aang.
"Laputa's severing from the earth was not an accident. Our ancestors wished to depart the evil in the world to live a life of contemplation - those who stayed behind became nomads. We were not even sure you would find us."
"I had a little help from my friends."
"Clearly. The Fire Nation's air fleet was a rude awakening. We could no longer rely on air and clouds alone. After strenuous debate, the Council decided to interfere."
"By kidnapping the Fire Lord?" asked Sokka.
"In the caos of a succession crisis the Fire Nation's air capability will be systematically destroyed. Each faction will accuse the other of sabotage. The genie will be returned to the bottle."
"Did you consider talking to Zuko?" asked Toph. "He's not like his father, you know."
"Even if Lord Zuko were willing to give up this power, what of the nobility? Man is weak. Capabilities must be restrained, for intentions are depressingly predictable.
"What of the suffering that will follow?" asked Katara.
"That is the lot of worldly life. We cannot presume to have such influence over the consequences of our actions as to take responsibility for the evils of the world. We are doing the least we can to ensure our survival, hoping not to be contaminated in the process."
You may be too late, thought Aang.
They came to an ordinary room in the monks' wing. A grey-robed figure was meditating on the floor.
"Zuko!" Mai gasped.
He stood up and stared at his friends. He looked tired.
"You shouldn't have come."
"Why are you saying this?"
"I am finally free of my destiny. I am at peace." Zuko closed the door.
"He isn't lying," said Toph.
"He doesn't know he's lying," said Mai.
"You have seen your friend," said Aeolus. "You will depart in the morning, never to return. We count on your discretion. Sister Aura, please take them to their rooms."
#
Aura led them through the hallways.
Aang was grave. "So the survival of every other airbender in the world didn't warrant interference?"
"I am truly sorry for your loss, Avatar." She stopped and changed direction. "Let me show you something. We do not seek forgiveness, but perhaps understanding."
They descended a spiraling staircase. "It might help to know that the Council was divided on the matter, and that some riders escaped to assist, knowing they could never return."
"Laput chose to meditate while the world fell apart?" said Toph.
"For what it is worth, I believe the case for intervening was stronger a century ago than it is today. Lord Zuko's capture was an odd decision for Monk Aeolus to support."
"Just as it was odd for Zuko to attack Aang," said Katara, "or for his chakra to be blocked. Can't you see something is wrong?"
"Perhaps. Or had he already had a change of heart?" Mai glowered. Aura went on. "I am only an initiate myself, but aren't chakras blocked by one's own emotional turmoil? Regardless, we do not hide for contemplation alone."
"Then why?" asked Aang.
"Laput was sundered not to keep the world from getting in, but to keep something from getting out. You know of the cataclysm?"
"We know an owl spirit who was actually there," said Sokka.
"Good for you. When the four peoples rose against the capital they might have been defeated like so many before them, were it not for a spirit-bender princess. Living in the provinces, she had mastered the four elements and embraced their cause. She sacrificed herself to destroy Aethir, leaving the world broken but free. She was reborn."
"You started out a girl?" teased Sokka.
"Wanna take it up with Kyoshi?" replied Aang.
"Nah, we're cool."
"However," Aura continued, "Emperor Akmon escaped through a gate and was sealed in the spirit world."
Aura raised a glowing crystal as they crossed a windowless corridor. "Please restrain your firebending, Avatar. There are dangerous fumes in the lower levels."
They stood at the entrance to a grand room, an empty stone gateway in the center. "The Aethir gate was destroyed, but four others exist. The other cities may have fallen or forgotten, but Laput continues its vigil."
"There's certainly something weird about the room," said Toph.
You will fail. "Did you hear anything?" asked Aang.
"Just saying it's a weird room."
"I will now take you to your chambers," said Aura.
#
Mai lay still, listening to the other two sleep. When she was satisfied she slowly got up and headed to the door. Still no reaction. She exited into the hallway and started walking to the monks' wing.
"Need a glass of water?" asked Toph behind her.
"We're not letting you do this alone, you know," said Katara.
Mai turned around. "I… thanks."
Aang and Sokka were waiting for them. They walked down the hallway.
"I'm thinking Dai Li mind-bending," whispered Sokka.
"And they met at the last secret society festival?" Toph whispered back.
"It's not impossible. There could be similar techniques."
They came to the room.
"We have to jog his memory," said Sokka.
"My healing water worked on Jet," said Katara, "at least for a while."
Mai stormed into the room, startling Zuko. She slapped him, hard, and kissed him. He resisted, then kissed back.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"You ran away. Again. I might have to kill you this time – you know, reputation." She smiled.
"Good to have you back, sunshine," said Toph, "can we go now?"
Zuko donned his grey robe and joined them.
"What's the last thing you can remember?" asked Aang.
"The coronation ceremony… the banquet… everything else is a haze. Sorry. Who's behind this?"
"I don't trust monk Aeolus," said Sokka, "and I don't buy his story. Maybe Akmon was able to influence him from across the gate, maybe he's just crazy enough to try to release him for his own reasons."
"But why now?" asked Katara. "Why Zuko?"
"And in that case shouldn't we be going up to the Elders' chambers?" asked Toph.
"I'm working on it. I think we should check out the gate first."
"Who are you talking about?" asked Zuko. "Why are there just clouds outside the window? Why do I only have grey clothes? It's not really my color."
"Easy, tiger," said Mai. "We'll fill you in on the way."