Conclusion to the Air Spirit Saga. Did Aang make it out of the valley? (of course he did!) but how bad is he hurt. And where's Katara?! What will he have to do to get her back? Aang-sty Aang cusses several times. but you get to see Zuko and Sokka! First *real* appearance of anyone other than Aang and Katara. Not just flashbacks.
The suggestion of tapping Hei-Bai belongs to Kalaong thank you!
Enjoy! Please review! I write faster when there are reviews!
Spirit Moon- Air Part 3
thump…thump…thump…thump.. . THump. THUmp. THUMp. THUMP
He could hear his heartbeat sliding into rhythm inside his own head. Soft and weak at first, but then faster and stronger. He couldn't will his eyes to open or limbs to move yet. He could make out hushed voices and shuffling feet as his other senses pricked back into existence. He could feel soft cushions under his body, like lying on a cloud. The air was warm on his skin with a slight breeze. He must be near a window, wherever he was. His skin… it hurt so much he suddenly realized. But he didn't care. He could smell the spring lilac bushes in full bloom. 'Katara loved the lilacs,' his mind told him drowsily. 'She loved all flowers because there weren't any at the South Pole.' A hot tear stung his face as it rolled from the corner of his closed eyelid, down across his temple and towards his ear. He slowly opened his eyes, recognizing that he actually had water in his body again.
"He's awake," a deep and gentle voice whispered. "Send for the Firelord. He wanted to be notified immediately."
Red. That's all his eyes could discern through his blurry vision. It slowly came into focus. There were oranges and blacks and yellows too. Fire Nation. He must be in the Fire Nation. Meanwhile Katara was gone. He tried his limbs and they fought against him, but shifted slightly. His eyes shot wide open, stressing at the sudden pain. Every muscle was screaming at him. He let out a dry moan of anguish that tore at his throat.
"Don't move, Avatar!" Cool fingers were laid on his bare chest. He could feel healing energy slipping inside him. It was unfamiliar. And weak. Katara was the only healer who had ever touched him. He had no idea before how good she was! "You've been badly injured and dehydrated. Here, drink this. Little sips. It's warm."
A strong hand slowly assisted Aang into a sitting position. A cup of warm tea was pressed to his lips. The herbs soothed his dry throat. Piercing blue eyes marked the healer as water tribe just as much as the dyed furs and healing abilities. What Aang didn't expect was to see was the bearded face that smiled warmly. His beard was long enough to have two pointed braids hanging from it… with a pair of white carved beads knotted into it.
"Thank you, sir," he whispered carefully between sips to the man. "I didn't know there were male healers. What's your name?"
"Nilak, Avatar. My name is Nilak. We didn't used to. But Master Katara changed that for us," the man replied politely. He was about the same age as Katara, maybe just a bit older. Wide, sturdy water tribe features graced his face. His eyes were gentle, comforting. He took some more water from a nearby basin and energized it over his hands. "I was at the North Pole when you and her came and defended us against the Fire Nation attacks over a decade ago. It's a good thing you did- I was no good at fighting but pretty good at healing. I was actually in warrior training class with you."
"I'm… I'm so sorry. I don't remember you…" he responded sheepishly. Aang cringed. He didn't remember the man at all. Nilak chuckled lightly as he ran the water over Aang's limbs. He could see scorch marks on his pale skin.
"I wouldn't expect you to… I was nothing special…" he replied casually, clearly taking no offense to the slight. He moved the water along Aang's arms, pushing the energy into his torn muscles. "Plus you were with Master Katara whenever you weren't goofing around. We were all just kids." Nilak was focused on healing Aang, but he could feel the unasked question lingering in the air. Where was Katara?
Aang was going to evade that conversation as long as possible. It hurt too much. He had no good response for Nilak and talking just injured his throat more… but he knew if he didn't make some kind of small talk, then the question would come up.
"So… are you married, Nilak?" he quietly asked, eyeing the beads in the other man's beard.
"Yes, I am. Not many outside of the Water Tribes know the custom." Nilak touched his beads gently and smiled. His icy gaze tracked to the beads still tied at Aang's wrist. "But of course you would…being… the Avatar and all…" Nilak carefully finished. He was being very professional.
"You don't have to call me 'Avatar.' It's too formal. Just call me Aang," he sighed. "I didn't think the beads could be worn anywhere but in the hair." Aang tested his arm. He could move it better now. He ran his hand along his scalp. It was perfectly smooth still. "Hey, have you guys been keeping my head shaved?"
"Of course, sir. We know how important it is to your culture." Nilak skimmed more water along Aang's legs. The burns were fading, but he had the feeling there would be some scaring. He hadn't received a single scar since Azula had shot him with lighting. Katara had always healed him perfectly. She was so wonderful. "But when you were brought here, The Firelord said to leave your beard. That you had grown that on purpose."
"Man… how long was I out *this* time?" Aang wondered aloud, frustrated.
"Four days as far as we know." The voice came from the doorway. It was a bit gravelly, but familiar.
"Hey, Zuko," Aang smiled weakly.
"Firelord Zuko," Nilak bowed his head respectfully, the beads in his beard swinging and tinkling against each other. "I believe there is nothing else I can do for The Ava… for Aang today. I shall take my leave at your permission."
"How many times do I have to tell you, you don't have to be so formal, Nilak?" Zuko smirked at the healer.
"Habit, sir," Nilak smiled warmly back. He bowed again to both Aang and Zuko before leaving.
"Nilak's our chief healer," Zuko said offhandedly after the young man closed the door behind him. "I'm glad I was able to hire him on- We had a tough time convincing any healers to come. And every female master outright refused. Something about spending too many years under the service of men..." Zuko chuckled at the memory of the story Katara had told about their time at the North Pole. And about how she had thoroughly trounced him under the full moon with minimal training.
Zuko pulled a chair over and sat next to the bed. He took Aang's hand gently and waited. He knew something had gone horrendously wrong, but he wasn't going to push the issue. His best friend had just returned from his honeymoon beaten and battered worse than he had ever seen him. And without his wife. There was also the matter of the disturbing and cryptic message that had been tucked into Aang's blue belt.
Aang stared out the window. Sunshine was streaming in, tinted purple by the lilac bush just outside. Tears started falling silently down his face.
"I lost her, Zuko." He could see her, perfect and beautiful in his mind. Captive in the void. "But I'm not done fighting for her."
"Does it have anything to do with this?" Zuko asked carefully, drawing a folded scrap of cloth from his sleeve pocket. Aang recognized it instantly. He thought he had lost the message.
"Yeah. It does." Aang slumped forward painfully and wiped his hands across his face. "I'll tell you everything. But first, how did I get here? The last thing I remember is collapsing in the Gufeng Valley."
"You showed up three days ago on Appa." Zuko poured another cup of tea for Aang and pressed it to his friend. He poured a second cup for himself and sipped it before continuing. "You were laid out along his horns like he had scooped you up. No saddle or supplies or anything. Just you and your animals. I sent a messenger hawk to Sokka as soon as I saw you. He should be here in another day or so. You were dehydrated almost to the point of death. Nilak and the other healers had to force water into your system. You were beat up so badly. But Nilak said all of the damage came from within. Your muscles were torn up. The burns across your body were really weird. I'd never seen anything like it. Like fire had been channeled along you and through you. Not just *at* you like a fire fight."
"The Gufeng Valley…" Aang replied, sipping the tea, still staring out the window. It was the only thing he could concentrate on. The sway of the flowers in the breeze, the hot herbal drink quenching him. Air and water. All of the horrors came back to him. "I had heard rumors of it being in bad shape and wanted to go help… It's bad. So bad, Zuko. The Fire Nation had a mining operation there during the war. Like the note says. I found the remains of easily three dozen people, sealed in the factory to hide its existence. There was an Air Spirit there… he was so angry…he took Katara as some kind of reparation… because of the mines… something had gone wrong and they were on fire. Had been burning for more than a decade underground. It killed the whole valley."
Zuko's heart dropped. He had read the message a hundred times in the last few days, but didn't want to believe it. He had never heard of this before. Some secrets were so deep that he was still trying to unravel the mess. How was he going to clean up an underground mine fire that had been raging for decades? Where would the resources come from? The Fire Nation was nearly tapped out after the years of work on the Restoration Movement and then Republic City.
"But I put out the fire," Aang sighed heavily, bringing Zuko's attention back to his friend. "And cleared all of the smoke and pollution from the valley…"
"What?!" Zuko's eyes bugged out as he coughed in shock, nearly choking on his drink. He knew Aang was immensely powerful and had seen his displays of might several times… but to take on a natural disaster of that magnitude… and defeat it… was unthinkable. "I went over maps of the valley. It's huge. Bigger than Roku's Island was. How is that even possible?"
"Heh, heh, heh," Aang laughed hoarsely. "It's what tore me up so badly. It took everything I had. But it wasn't enough. The Butterfly wouldn't give her back…"
"The…Butterfly?" Zuko arched a questioning brow at his friend.
"Oh my Elements… It was the scariest Spirit I've ever met. Worse than Koh even. At least Koh can be reasoned with," replied Aang, unable to ignore Zuko's stifled snigger. Aang knew it sounded ridiculous but he still hissed at his friend. His head snapped towards Zuko, stormy eyes flashing, "Laugh it up, buddy. That thing took Katara. It was the size of a small dragon. It made this sound that made my brain feel like it was melting. It was an Air Spirit. And it thought I had abandoned it… I guess I had…"
"I'm sorry Aang, you're right." The Firelord composed himself. If this spirit had taken Katara and terrified Aang, it must really be awful- even if it was just a butterfly. "Why won't it give her back if you stopped the fires? Which, by the way, is AMAZING!"
"Because the valley is barren," Aang continued his head in his hands, calm again. "It's an absolute wasteland. Everything is dead. Water needs shipped in. Vegetation needs replanted, animals need relocated. It's an ecological disaster."
Aang heard Zuko draw a sharp breath and looked over to see a strained grimace cross the Firelord's face.
"Aang… that sort of thing takes a lot of money and resources and … time…" Zuko's mind was racing. How could he help his friends? How could they get Katara back? What could he possibly do that wouldn't tax his already strained nation further?
"I know… It's Fire Nation soil. It was Fire Nation citizens that were left to die alongside Earth Kingdom slaves that I had to put to rest…" Aang looked desperately to his friend. "Zuko… They ate each other in the end … that note was written in blood."
Zuko's face paled at the statement and he dropped the scrap of cloth on the ground, mortified. Then he slumped. Just another horror to add to the pile of atrocities committed by his father. What could he tell his council, his people? What could he tell the Earth Kingdom?
Nothing.
He decided right then to tell them nothing.
"Aang… this has to stay buried. It has to stay secret," Zuko admitted. "I can't have this coming to light after all these years. We're at peace. A very tentative peace, but peace. This could ruin everything; send the nations into war again."
"But Zuko!" Aang began. How could he keep this secret? It was terrible. People had a right to know!
"No Aang. There's been enough pain at the hands of my family's war," Zuko cut him off with a glare, turning his scarred side towards Aang to illustrate his point. "I take your counsel all the time. Now you'll take mine. You laid the bodies to rest. There is no record of this mine or refinery- I looked. It was hidden too well. We have no way of knowing who died there or what really happened there. We leave it be."
"But the people. And Katara!" Aang was panicking. He could feel his heart quickening and throat tightening.
"This is for Katara," Zuko bit back. "If we delve into the slave and murder issue, it will take years to fix the valley- maybe forever if it sends us into another war! I'll talk with my advisers about what I can do to restore the valley. But it has to be careful. It has to be … profitable… to the Fire Nation. I know it sounds awful, but it's the only way. It's the only way to get Katara back."
"What right do I have to deny people the truth just for Katara?!" Aang felt sick. Families that had lost loved ones would never know what had happened. "I'm the Avatar! I have to put the needs of the world before my own… I have to let her go…"
"Is that fair to Katara?" Zuko knew Aang was battling inner demons: duty versus personal needs. It was a scenario he was well acquainted with. "Why did you go poking around that valley to begin with?"
"Because I wanted to atone for sins committed against the spirits," Aang answered solemnly.
"If we're plunged into another war, won't that negate what you and Katara were trying to do now? Whose side are you on for this one? Who's in the right and who's in the wrong? The humans or the spirits?"
"You know… Katara had asked me something similar when we set out. The Butterfly was satisfied with the humans I laid to rest. It's the restoration of the valley that it still wants." Aang looked over to his friend, defeated. "For the Spirit… and for Katara… Do what you can Zuko. Please."
Aang spent several more days in the healing room while Zuko conferenced with his advisers. A message was sent to Toph as well. The message was vague and coded because Aang knew it had to be read to her, but they had developed a system for private communication years ago. She was worried, but was reassured a trek away from her duties in Republic City was unnecessary. There was nothing she could do to help at this time.
Sokka made it in on the third day after Aang awoke. Aang explained that he and Zuko were working on a way to heal the valley so they could appease the spirit and get Katara back. Sokka was understandably distressed when he found out his sister had been taken but couldn't contain himself when he found out Aang had been bested by a butterfly.
"A butterfly? Really Aang?" Sokka tugged his wolftail tight against his scalp while laughing. "It's just not manly to lose to a butterfly."
"Go fuck yourself, Sokka." An incredibly perturbed Aang was still confined to his bed, taking only short walks between healing sessions with Nilak. "It was a super powerful, huge Air Spirit butterfly. And for the record, it was technically your sister who lost to a butterfly. I literally tore myself apart fighting an ever burning fire that encompassed an entire damn valley trying to get her back!"
"Hey! Easy there kid!" Sokka gave him a good natured shove to the shoulder as he plopped down on the bed next to his brother-in-law. Aang winced in pain from the jab. "That's the most I've heard you cuss…ever… Even when Toph steals your prayer beads for target practice with her metal bending trainees at the police academy. Where's your monk tranquility?"
"Where's your fucking sensitivity," Aang continued quietly and turned away, arms across his chest. The scorch marks that marred his skin had diminished greatly. A few more healing sessions and they'd be almost gone. But he knew they'd always be there. Faint scars to remind him of his failure.
"With Katara…" Sokka replied just as sadly, his head down and his hands folded between his knees. His scruff of a goatee was starting to fade into a full beard. He hadn't shaved in days. Come to think of it, with the exception of his scalp done by the healers, neither had Aang. Sokka looked worn. More like nearing forty instead of only thirty. Aang's expression softened. Sokka was just as worried about his sister as the Avatar was worried about his wife.
"I'm sorry, Sokka," Aang said gently, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know you tease and joke to hide when you're really upset."
"I'm sorry too," Sokka admitted. He unsheathed a hunting knife from his boot and fidgeted with it anxiously. Aang recognized the nervous energy. "I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through too…"
"When I meditate, I can see her. In the void. Held just beyond my reach. She's fine. She's healthy and perfect. But she's silent. Her life force is nearly at a standstill. She's in this deep sleep, but I can't save her." Aang thumbed the beads at his wrist. They were still on the tattered strip of cloth he had torn from his belt sash. "I love her so much."
"Yeah, we both do. But when we get her back, don't tell her I told you that." Sokka smirked at the bald monk. And then rubbed his palm over his brother's smooth dome. It nearly squeaked. He pointed the blade of his knife at his sister's beads. "Whatchya gonna do with those now, Mr. Arrowhead?"
This kind of teasing Aang could take and enjoy. A welcome diversion.
"I dunno… think I could pull off the Nilak look?" Aang looked to Sokka with bright eyes and stroked his growing beard. Sokka reached over and grabbed Aang's hand and held his wrist up to his chin, considering.
"Now that…" Sokka laughed heartily, trying to picture it, "would be pretty manly there bro."
It took another week for Zuko to convince the Fire Nation Heads of State that the Valley of Gufeng was worth looking into for use. As suspected, it had been kept so covert that no one had heard of the destruction of the valley. And dignitaries seldom bothered themselves with observing every inch of their land.
Aang was as healed as he was going to get, his burn scars faintly striping his skin like a tiger-seal. He spent most of his time training and meditating. There had to be some sort of answer to this disaster that he was missing, something that would help.
After some debate, Sokka decided to return to the Southern Water Tribe. Hakoda had been hinting at stepping down as chief and it was only natural that Sokka would take his place. He also had to tell their father and aging grandmother in person that Katara was missing. Not missing, Aang knew exactly where she was. And they were going to get her back.
"Send word as soon as you find out what work will be done on the valley," Sokka had said to Aang and Zuko, grasping each man's forearm in a warrior's farewell. "I'll send able bodies to help with the process."
"Sokka, this isn't a Water Tribe problem," Zuko had responded, although touched by the gesture.
"It might be Fire Nation land and a Fire Nation disaster… but it claimed the Southern Water Tribe Princess in the process," Sokka gritted his teeth bitterly. "I honestly couldn't care less what happens to that Jerk-Bent Valley. This is for Katara. I expect to get her back." Sokka narrowed his eyes at Aang accusingly. Eyes that looked so much like his sister's, only the slightest bit paler.
"As do I," Aang retorted as Sokka shouldered his light pack and turned to walk up the gangplank on the ship that would carry him south again.
"Three more weeks?!" Aang cried at Zuko when they got back within the Royal City walls.
"It's the best I can do, Aang!" Zuko shot back. His formal robes flowed out behind him in the blacks and crimsons. He pushed his hair out of his face, retying it in a tight top not. He had veiled his face with his hair - hidden his tell-tale scar- and donned common garb whenever out in the city. He had found over the years, going out like that was actually safer than trying to be escorted by guards. "The valley wasn't destroyed in a day. I have to go through all the proper channels to make sure this is done right. Environmental engineers, mechanists, biologists, chemists, every –ist you can think of. Benders from each discipline. Not to mention the bureaucrats and red tape and paperwork. You were there for the last decade while we put together Republic City. You know this takes time. Especially with the fact of how secretive the whole project originally was. I have to backchannel a lot of stuff. Plus I have, you know, the rest of a nation to run too."
"I know. I know." Aang grabbed at his face with both hands in frustration. "It's just….AARG! This is such a disaster!"
"I think Katara's rage has rubbed off on you, buddy," Zuko laughed a bit. "You remind me of… well, me about a decade ago. You'll restore your honor."
"Screw honor, I'll take Katara's rage. I'll take any part of her I can grasp," he scowled. He shrugged his own heavy hooded cloak off and just left it in a pile on the ground. Someone else could deal with it. He could feel the light air currents tickling across his scalp. Zuko was right. He was too angry again. His emotions were swinging back and forth wildly. "I need to get away. Clear my head a bit. I'm going gliding."
Aang stomped off, leaving little earthbending tremors in his wake.
The ground far below and the clouds above were a welcome comfort to the airbender. He traveled west, out past the capital's volcanic mountain range. Toward the Western Sea that separated the Fire Nation from the Earth Kingdom's eastern shores. It was the same path that the Fire Nation swiftly took to annihilate the Eastern Air Temple. He left the city and the people and the world behind him.
His Katara, his world, was lost. She was gone. Really gone. He was at the mercy of an angry spirit, and the world that the spirit was angry with. He and his wife were just pawns, caught in the middle.
The wind licked at his face as he whipped through clouds. His mind ticked back to when he had reshaped clouds with Katara. He had loved her so even then. That was just a few days after he had first given her a necklace. It was woven of fishing line and a pink flower. But she had kept it always. He replaced the withered pink flower with a hand carved one on her eighteenth birthday.
His mind slipped into a meditative state from the altitude and the concentration. He was an airbender. In tune with the spirits even if he hadn't been the Avatar. His people, though dead and gone for over a hundred years, were so peaceful and existed in a living nirvana of detachment from worldly possessions. But not detached from each other. They loved each other and life as fiercely as any other race. Maybe even more so because it was the only thing they truly valued.
The sky was a crystal clear blue, exactly the same color as his lost wife's eyes. He could see her whenever he wanted to enter the void of limbo. Somewhere between the mortal world and the spirit world. On the plane of pure cosmic energy. But she wasn't really there either. The only place she truly was, was in his own heartbeat. He could feel her in his own blood, in his spirit.
He would continue to fight to get her back and restore the Gufeng Valley, but in his heart, he was already accepting her loss. The air nomad race would truly end with him. He would take no other lover. He would never stop morning her. He would work tirelessly, and when his life was done, he was done. The world had changed and was moving on. Maybe it was time for the Avatar cycle to be done.
"Zuko's right," Aang whispered to the clouds, "The valley wasn't destroyed in a day. Regrowing and revitalizing it won't just take months, it will take years! A forest can't be born overnight."
"But what if it could, Avatar?" a voice overlaid by a hundred lifetimes whispered in his mind. "If the conditions were right, could a forest be reborn in a day?"
Aang's vision clouded with a blue light. It wasn't the Avatar spirit he was seeing with. The only element in his vision was water. He could see each droplet in the clouds, the stream far below, the molecules in the very air. This energy was cool and comforting, while it wrapped warmly about his heart. It felt like Katara's healing energy. It was so much stronger than Nilak's.
"Katara?" Aang asked the nothingness that felt like everything. "Genjin?"
"Avatar. I am a part of you as you are a part of me. We have been together for thousands of years. No matter what happens, I will always be with you." The soothing voice caressed his soul lovingly. "I know you. And I know you can solve this riddle. If you make fertile the ground, who can impregnate it?"
"A Forest Spirit," he replied to himself, gliding silently. "Hei-Bai."
"Hei-Bai."
Aang was left alone with his own thoughts again, swirling his glider and throwing himself to the mercy of the winds.
The sun had set long before Aang had slipped silently back to the Fire Nation Palace. Only a handful of people in the world knew where he was and he wanted to keep it that way. He snapped his glider closed and nimbly raced across the roofs. The sky was dark and nearly moonless, just the faintest sliver of light. As gracefully as a cat, he danced through the open window to his room and hurriedly scrawled a message.
He blew across the ink to dry it and rolled the parchment up carefully. He tied a few items together in a bag and scurried back out the window. He ducked and weaved between the roof's precipices, evading the view of guards easily.
Zuko's window was open, his sheer red curtains waving gently in the spring breeze. The room beneath him was silent. Aang reached over the side of the terra cotta roof and palmed the stone wall. He closed his eyes and rapped on it with his staff. He felt nothing but the footsteps of distant guards. Either no one was there, or they were quietly sleeping in the bed and not touching any stone surfaces. He flipped himself through the window and his boots landed silently on the floor.
Zuko and his wife were inside, fast asleep. Zuko's back was to the window shielding the Fire Lady protectively. Aang smiled wistfully at his friend and swallowed down a stab of jealousy. He pulled the note from his sack and checked it one more time.
Zuko, I can't stay here. I have… something I have to do. Three weeks. I will meet you in the Gufeng Valley then. I'll send word if I find anything else worth noting.
~Aang
He rolled it back up and set it on the side table beside the extinguished evening candle.
At the window he flung his glider open and dove into the night sky.
Appa was quietly dozing in the stables. There was nowhere that was fitting for the giant beast inside the Fire Nation Capitol to roam free. It was one of the reasons Aang disliked staying in the city. Both he and Appa needed open sky and a natural setting. Momo didn't care. He liked anywhere that had an unending buffet.
"Hey buddy," Aang whispered to his old companion. The sky bison's great brown eye slid open and rolled, focusing on him. "I haven't gotten the chance to thank you. You really saved my can back in that valley."
"Mrrrrph," he rumbled at Aang and gave him a great big wet slurp.
"We're getting out of here," Aang said while grabbing some rope from the nearby workbench. He saw several water bloats lining the walls along side saddle bags and other supplies necessary for travel. "Perfect!" Aang exclaimed and slung two of the red Fire Nation emblemed water bags over his shoulder. "I always count on Katara to have the fresh water, but I'm on my own for now. I need to travel a bit, and then I'm sending you to the South Pole for Sokka."
"Rawwrph," Appa replied disgruntled.
"I know buddy, all they have is seaweed and sea prunes there for you to eat," Aang continued, tying the rope to Appa's horns. "It's why we could never live there even if Katara asked us too. But the South Pole has more for you to eat than where I'm going to be staying. Sokka will take good care of you. I can't ask you to sacrifice for me too."
Appa growled sadly at the waterbender's name. He may have been a great big lumbering animal, but he had just as much a soul as his human companions. He knew she was missing and was dejected as well.
"I know. I miss her too," Aang absentmindedly thumbed the beads at his wrist. He went to the water pump station and filled the ballasts to the brim, the leather squeaking from the strain. Aang jumped up lightly onto Appa's head and called out for Momo. "You coming old monkey? You can stay at the South Pole for a while too. You eat anything."
The lemur happily chattered at Aang and flapped his way to his shoulder.
"Appa, yip yip."
The forest outside of the Senlin Village in the Earth Kingdom was lush and vibrant. Verdant trees had grown back, overtaking the burnt out path of destruction the Fire Nation had cut through the woods years ago. And it had grown back thicker and faster than it should have with straightforward succession. A forest that should have been simple pines and shrubs was actually full of young oak and hickory. With Hei-Bai's intervention, the forest had grown back in no time at all. If ten years compared to fifty counts as no time.
Aang circled the forest several times looking for the clearing that had the idol of Hei-Bai. He finally spotted it and steered Appa down toward the sanctuary. Appa set down as gently as a ten ton magical creature could. Momo bounded off into the trees in search of fruits and nuts.
There it stood. Over ten feet tall. A perfectly carved statue of the peaceful aspect of Hei-Bai: a panda. Not a panda-cat. Not a panda-horse. Just a panda. The spirits could be so odd.
Aang reverently padded into the circle of small bowing stone worshipers. There were over a dozen smaller panda statues circling the Great Spirit. Aang gingerly touched one of the stones, searching for spiritual energy. It was quiet. A gentle breeze tugged at his robes as he sat in front of the great sculpture.
He tucked his legs into a lotus position. A smile passed his lips and he shook his head a bit, thinking of Katara. No matter how hard she tried, she could never sit lotus. Her hips and thick muscled thighs wouldn't let her. It always annoyed her. By sixteen, puberty had broadened her curves in all the right places. No matter how many times Aang told her she was beautiful and perfect, she always thought she was too heavy. No one ever sees their own splendor.
Aang shifted uncomfortably, thinking of his wife, and refocused. He set his staff in front of his knees on the ground before him. He didn't take his prayer beads out. He wasn't searching for wisdom from past lives. He knew exactly who he needed to speak with. He laid his hands upon his knees, palms peacefully up in meditation. His eyes slid closed as he tried to clear his mind.
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
Breathing even. Concentrating on nothing but the flow of his own life rhythms. Relaxing every single muscle and joint in his body, starting from the soles of his feet to the tip of his head. He focused on each chakra, releasing and accepting each of his downfalls and drawbacks. Letting go.
"Avatar," a calm, soft voice sounded in his head. Aang opened his eyes.
The world was heavy and murky. Everything was tinged slightly chartreuse. He was still in Hei-Bai's forest, but seeing it from the inside. From the Spirit World. Aang felt like gravity was pulling at him more than usual. He knew his bending abilities were gone. The control over air that always made him light on his feet left behind in the Mortal World. Aang was nervous, holding his breath. His mind told him he had nothing to fear, that The Black and White Spirit was a friend and ally. But Aang's heart was pounding against his ribs in alarm anyways. He'd made so many mistakes with the spirits recently. He had overestimated his own importance.
Instead of a stone statue, the giant black and white spirit sat calmly in front of Aang. Deep brown eyes peered at the Avatar from within his furry black mask. Aang bowed his head respectfully. He had never heard Hei-Bai speak before. The voice echoed inside his mind like The Butterfly's, but it was soothing and caring instead of harsh and angry.
"Thank you for coming to me, Hei-Bai," Aang spoke reverently.
"Of course. I will always be at your aid," the Panda replied. "You reminded me of hope and ended the war. Which ended the destruction of my forest. I unjustly took my anger out on the town that deserved it least. But you are not here to reminisce. You are troubled, Avatar."
"Very," he sighed and relaxed. This spirit didn't hate him. "I wanted to help the Gufeng Valley. Do you know of it?"
"Yes, the Air Spirit Hong-Die is the caretaker of that valley." Aang could feel sadness in Hei-Bai's words. "He considered the valley his mate. He cared for it more lovingly than even I do here. I know he was broken by the destruction of the valley. He was once so kind and peaceful."
"He took Katara from me as retribution," Aang responded quietly. "He said as long as his valley was dead and barren, then my wife would be too."
The Panda sat silently for a bit. Aang didn't know what else to say. He couldn't ask for Katara back and he couldn't outright ask Hei-Bai for help. He had to put the needs of the valley and Spirits before his.
"Avatar…the spirits… we can't directly interfere with the actions of one another and their choices with the mortals," he finally whispered though Aang's consciousness. "That's why we have the Avatar… I can't return your Genjin."
"I know, I know," Aang was getting frustrated- there was that name again. "I stopped the fires, cleared the valley of pollution. Nearly killed myself doing it too… but it wasn't enough. Hong-Die? That's his name? He said he's keeping her until the valley is restored. To regrow an entire forest? That could take a century!"
"Ah-ha…" the Panda chuckled. "So that's why you visited my forest… no no, do not look so worried Avatar. I offer my services freely. This is something I *can* do. You say you cleared the valley? As long as it is made fertile, I can bring back the forests. The seed must be present for life to emerge. Hong-Die should not have taken the Genjin, as I should not have taken the villagers all those years ago. I cannot make him give her back, but I can help fulfill his wish. Which may in turn convince him to return the Genjin."
"Oh thank you, Hei-Bai!" the young man jumped up and threw his arms around the furry white neck of the spirit. His black ears twitched he returned the embrace with a huge ebony paw.
"I will be able to enter his valley on the Summer Solstice. We can only enter a mortal place outside our own domains on the year quarters," Hei-Bai continued, looking hard at Aang. "Hopefully the valley will be ready by then and we can satisfy Hong-Die and he will return the Genjin. But you must realize that she may be beyond your reach for the rest of this lifetime."
"I have already begun to accept that fact," Aang responded somberly, then continued and cocked a brow at the ageless spirit. "One more thing, if you don't mind… What in all the elements does 'Genjin' mean? It's been in the back of my mind for years now and all the spirits and even my past lives know it, but I'm clueless!"
"Oh that's simple, Avatar!" Hei-Bai tilted his head curiously at the man, like a puppy watching something interesting. "It's the name of the man you were first married to. Nearly ten thousand years ago. Your love was so strong that it transcended lifetimes and bound your souls. The Genjin has been the soul mate of the Avatar since the 6th cycle."
"Wow," was all Aang could say quietly. He ran his thumb across the beads at his wrist. "No wonder I've always been so drawn to her. And could hear her in my soul. Thank you again, Hei-Bai. I will see you in one month at the Summer Solstice at the Gufeng Valley."
Hei-Bai reached out and touched a single black claw to Aang's arrow. In a flash, the Avatar was back in the Mortal World, blinking up at the blue sky and sunlight filtering through the green leaves. He fell back into the soft leaf litter of the sanctuary, feeling lighter and happier than he had in weeks.
Early the next morning Aang snuck into the Senlin Village. He pulled his hood down over his arrow and slid his hands into a pair of long fingerless fighting gloves Sokka had given him years ago for just such occasions. It had been many years since he had been to this village. Aang hoped the addition of his age and beard would hide is identity well enough. He stowed his staff in the forest and instructed Appa and Momo to stay out of sight.
The village hadn't changed much over the years. It was still small, but vibrant, the damage caused by Hei-Bai long repaired. The late spring fruits and vegetables at the market looked particularly plump and bountiful. Aang suspected Hei-Bai had something to do with it. A few silver pieces later and Aang had a small supply of nuts and dried fruit. A gold piece secured a discrete message to the Fire Lord by messenger hawk. No one there recognized him.
Firelord Zuko,
I have acquired aid in our ecological renovation project. It will be incredibly helpful in completing the task in a timely manner. As you know, time is of the essence. The subject of the aid will only be available on June 21st. I know you had told me that work on the project would not begin for another three weeks. This would only leave about a week and a half of preparation before the additional assistance will be accessible. I must press upon you the importance of speeding this project along. The land must be prepared and fertile by the time summer arrives. I will be staying at the rendezvous point awaiting your arrival. Message will have been sent to our southern beneficiary as well.
~AA
Aang sealed the scroll with the private emblem known only to the highest ranking dignitaries that it was from The Avatar. The emblem ensured messages were delivered straight away to Kings, Chiefs, and Lords without being lost in day-to-day mail. He slid it into the protective canister on the hawk's back before the falconer released the messenger to the winds. The message was vague enough that if anyone else intercepted it, they would have no idea what was going on. Aang shouldered his small bag of dried goods and slunk back out of the peaceful town.
Two days later the Avatar found himself back in the Gufeng Valley. From the distance, Aang could see the tips of the mountain range. They were devoid of the thick noxious clouds that had circled them the first time he had seen the remote location and Aang breathed a sigh of relief at that. He really did succeed in clearing out the valley.
Skirting over the rocky peaks, Aang could clearly observe the entire wasteland spread out before him. Appa was hesitant to cross the plane of the mountainous ridge and Aang was nearly as apprehensive. With a reassuring pat, Aang encouraged his companion on.
It was nothing but a dustbowl for leagues. From one end of the valley to the other. There were tracks of blackened and scorched earth cutting like rivers across the land. Aang glanced at the faint striping on his own arms, observing the similarities. Burnt from within. Off in the distance stood the dark factory, like a cancerous growth on the land. It was as still as the grave it was.
Aang could make out the single winding stream. It sparkled like a jewel snaking its way through the valley. Apparently without being fed toxic sludge for a few weeks it was able to flush its system. It was a good sign. Aang directed Appa towards the rocky outcrops along the stream that he knew must contain their abandoned gear.
The giant beast settled down near the entrance to the cave and Aang slid off Appa's head with the lemur wrapped around his shoulders. The bison glanced at his jockey and back at the stream. Aang smiled and stooped down to touch the liquid. He pushed some of his bending energy into the water, searching for contaminants.
"It's clean buddy. Safe to drink again," the monk told him. The bison happily lapped at the refreshing stream. Aang examined the banks for the first time. They were flat and wide before tapering up to the surrounding area. "I think this stream used to be a river, buddy. So much of the water was burnt out of the valley. I think we'll have to ship a lot back in, just to jump start the water cycle here again."
"Mmmrawr," was all Appa incoherently replied.
Aang turned to the cave and slipped inside. There were their supplies sitting against the far wall: Appa's saddle, the baskets of food, the extra clothing and bedrolls. Momo was off, tearing into the remnants of the food basket. He chattered in annoyance when he realized he had wiped out the remaining stores weeks ago when the humans had sealed them in the cave. Aang tenderly picked up one of Katara's dresses out of the pack and rubbed it against his cheek. It was soft and still smelled like her, making his heart jump into his throat. He scanned the area and saw the cracks in the stone floor where they had made love for the last time.
"It is what it is, Katara," he choked sadly to the emptiness, rubbing his thumb along the beads at his wrist. "Only time will tell if this works."
He called Appa into the cave and fit the saddle onto his back. He dug though the remaining supplies and found parchment, ink, and a brush and began scribing a message.
Sokka,
I am waiting in the Gufeng Valley for Zuko's arrival. He said the teams to begin work should be here within two weeks. On the Summer Solstice, Hei-Bai will come here to aid in the restoration process. It is vital that the valley is prepared by then. Anyone you can send during this time would be greatly appreciated.
Please look after Appa and Momo and bring them back upon your return. As I am remaining in the valley, there is no food for them.
I know that Katara is the champion of hope, but I cannot place much hope in her successful retrieval. We must place the needs of others before our own in this endeavor or we will not prevail. Please conduct correspondence with Zuko, but leave me out of the planning. It could disrupt the bigger diplomacy between the nations. I'm leaving it to Zuko, his advisors, and anyone else he brings in. I am merely a tool at this point.
I look forward to the completion of our goals.
~Aang
As with the message to Zuko, the monk blew across the parchment, drying the ink and carefully rolled it up. He packed up the message and anything he didn't need onto Appa's saddle. He gave the great beast one last hug and scratched Momo's head. The both looked at him forlornly, murmuring in their own animal ways their sadness and encouragement.
"You guys can't stay here," he said to them. "This is something I need to do on my own. Appa, fly straight to the South Pole and find Sokka. You know where you're going. He'll take good care of you boys. I'll see you again in a few weeks."
Appa nodded his huge head in understanding and pumped his paddle-like tail twice before pushing off into the air. He circled once before he turned due south. Aang could see Momo's bright green eyes glinting back at him and tall white ears poking over the side of the saddle.
Aang pulled his boots off and began walking, glider in hand, water ballasts and a simple bag of minimal supplies slung over his shoulder.
The Avatar spent the next two weeks walking. He was offering himself as penance for the destroyed valley. He would make sure to touch every inch of the valley if he could before work began. It had been many years since the monks had put him through a process like this, but he knew it was something he had to do.
Walk. Meditate. Sleep when it took him, where it took him. Awake and train through all of the different bending forms. He ate very little in fasting and only drank from his fire nation ballasts when necessary. He let the hot sun bronze his pale skin nearly as dark as Katara's.
When he came to the factory he nearly gave it a wide berth, but a splash of blue caught his eye. He had forgotten that in the heat Katara had shucked off her fighting dress. Other than a little dusty, it had been left undisturbed in a neatly folded pile. He added it to his sack.
During his travels he would catch glimpses of other people slowly filtering into the valley. Small Fire Nation balloons with what must have been surveyors and equipment began dotting the sky. Daily messenger hawks could be seen flitting in and out of the valley. He kept out of site for now, marking the passage of time on a small stick he would notch daily at sunrise. He let his hair grow in to help disguise himself for now and would not expose himself until he knew Zuko was here.
During meditations or bending forms he could hear the heavy flutter of scaly wings and clanking, creaking joints around the edges of his consciousness. Watching him.
Finally Aang saw the huge crimson Royal Air Ship skimming the valley. He snapped open his glider for the first time in weeks and took off into the sky. He pushed the air currents beneath the cerulean fabric, twisting and turning and stooping until he was a blur past the cabin windows. A surprised Firelord laughed at his friend's passing form and sent a crew member to open one of the bay doors. The yellow and orange robed form of the Avatar swooped into the opening and landed lightly before several modestly dressed fire nation workers. Aang smirked, partially surprised to see so many faces… in the back of his mind he had expected armored masks. Old memories.
Zuko met him with outstretched arms. Aang could see the concern tight across his friend's face.
"This is terrible," Zuko whispered to Aang as they embraced. "I've been receiving the reports… but seeing it in person... wow…"
"Yeah," was all Aang could reply as Zuko led him to a private chamber. A guard nodded at them and she opened a large heavy metal door for them.
A hefty table was covered in papers and maps. It looked a mess, but was actually a quite organized chaos. Aang silently scanned over the work. Plans for irrigation, planting, buildings. Legal-looking documents and reparations for work to be completed by Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe, and Republic City contractors. This all looked really good. Zuko had put a ton of work into this. Or at least he put a ton of organization into it. Aang knew it wasn't the Firelord who planned all this specifically. He just assigned the right people in the right places and then let them do their jobs.
"You look like crap, buddy! You could nearly pass as a water tribe peasant at this point!" a deep familiar voice laughed from a corner. Aang snapped his head around to see his brother-in-law lounging in a chair with his feet propped up on a second one. "And before you get worried, I left Appa and Momo to be pampered on Kyoshi Island. I couldn't see a way they could be helpful here honestly. Thanks for sending me a ten-ton magical shit-maker and a devious monkey to look after. Like I don't have enough stuff to deal with…"
Aang smiled. He could hear the sarcasm dripping in Sokka's voice. He crossed the room to pull him up into a hug also.
"So you went with the Nilak look, huh?" Sokka laughed and flicked at the beads knotted into the short forks in Aang's beard. "Needs more time. Not quite long enough."
"Yeah, I know. But the fabric broke about a week ago, so I decided to try," Aang spun the beads in the hair on his chin, then ran his fingers through his scalp. "And once this is all done here I'm shaving my head again. I hate this scratchy stuff."
Zuko cleared his throat loudly. Both men glanced over with cocked brows. Zuko just shook his head.
"Anyway," be began as the other two stooped over, "as you can see we have a ton of planning done. I really rushed this when I received your message. Then double timed it when Sokka showed up a few days later on Appa and told me everything he remembered about Hei-Bai. Crews have begun work already. We're going to turn the valley into a huge agricultural hub. I know it won't be a complete natural forest, but I had to sell the bureaucrats something. There are plans for wooded and open grassy areas throughout too, thanks to the environmental engineers I brought in on the project. I hope this will be good enough."
"Thank you Zuko," Aang replied quietly. So much work, secretly just for him. He was speechless and tears were threatening to come again. "There's no way I can ever express my absolute gratitude. All we can do is hope."
The next two weeks were a flurry of activity. Round the clock crews of mixed nation workers and benders were scattered throughout the valley. Toph had sent metalbenders upon Zuko's request and the factory was quickly cleared of the oil and coal refining equipment. It was agreed to be repurposed for agriculture shipping in due time. The deep crypt was left undisturbed upon decree of the Firelord. He had made some speech about the sealed room and about the honor and nobility of the people who had passed away during the war time factory but never divulged the whole truth. Aang and Zuko would take that to their own graves.
Zuko had given him some other clothing and Aang would jump from one project to another, remaining in disguise. Some days he was assisting the waterbenders with the irrigation systems, ponds, and lakes, other days he was helping earth benders create tunnels through the mountains so travel to and from the valley would be easier. Currently the only ways in and out were along the single river feeding the area or over the mountain range by airship.
Some days he didn't even bend much, planting individual trees and crops by hand like a common nonbender and spreading nutrient rich soils that had been carted in. He was no one. All of the work was for the people and for the valley. He had taken to sleeping in the cave he and Katara had shared. It felt like a lifetime had passed in her absence.
He would see Sokka and Zuko in passing, but they respected his anonymity. Sokka was often deep in conference with various engineers, tweaking plans and procedures as problems arose.
On the morning of the Summer Solstice Aang arose early. He created a water-mirror and used a water-razor like Katara had shown him and shaved his head smooth and trimmed along his face so that the only hair he had was his forked chinstrap beard. He packed up his plain clothing and put his gold and orange monk's robes back on. He stepped from the cave and snapped open his glider and launched himself into the predawn pink atmosphere.
The valley was still pretty grim, but here and there Aang could see promise. Large swatches of land had been tilled, sown, and fertilized. Small trees in a diverse array of species had been strategically planted. The scorch marks that had marred the land were long gone, hidden by the productivity. Rain had already fallen twice since the start of the project, encouraging the environmental engineers. This showed that providing additional water to the valley would jump start its own water cycle after being unnaturally drained. The ground was no longer a parched dusty wasteland.
All that was left to do was wait.
When sunrise peaked over the valley walls in the early morning Aang could feel a shift in the Spirit World. Aang immediately landed and waited. There was a loud crack and existence itself seemed to split before his eyes. The great Black and White Spirit in all of his furry glory was there before the bowing bald monk. Early risers in a nearby makeshift camp were greeted by the strange sight.
"We've done all that we can to prepare this valley for you. Water, seed, and soil," the Avatar said respectfully, still bent. "If you can find it in your heart to bless this valley with life, we would forever be grateful."
The giant panda nodded and let out a low rumble of agreement. He touched his great black nose to the ground and let out a snuffling snort. Aang could feel the vibrations rumble through the earth. Hei-Bai was using a seismic sense to feel the valley. Satisfied, the four legged black and white bear began walking.
A great wave of vegetation leapt up wherever the bear passed. Wherever seed and plant had been laid, the earth sprang to life. Plants of every shape and texture and shade of earthy brown and green swam across the valley. Flowers of every hue and size sprouted and blossomed in an array of color and fragrance. The humans who were stirring and rapidly awaking their colleagues stared in wonder as the land bloomed to life before their eyes.
Aang tried to follow alongside Hei-Bai, jogging to keep up, but the spirit was moving unnaturally fast. Aang took to the skies to watch the beautiful transformation. People on the ground were cheering excitedly wherever he would pass. When he buzzed Sokka and Zuko's elaborate tents all they could do was laugh and wave. It was amazing.
By sunset the valley was coated in lush, young foliage and saplings. The trio of friends had gathered around a small fire far away from all of the prying eyes outside Aang's cave. They were tossing food and stories and jokes back and forth like old times. They were laughing a little harder and boasting a little louder than usual. It was a tense, forced happiness. The valley was healed, but there was no sign of the Air Spirit or Katara. They had no way of knowing if all their work had paid off in the most important way.
As the last fading streaks of sunlight dipped below the mountain's horizon there was a shift in energy and pressure around them. The fabric of reality split again to reveal Hei-Bai standing before them. Both Zuko and Sokka fell back a little in shock while Aang stood calmly and bowed deeply to the Spirit.
"Thank you Hei-Bai for helping heal this valley," Aang said graciously. "Only time will tell if this will be what this valley needs."
The Panda nodded and was gone in a second burst of light.
Aang peered into the dimming sky, searching for the other spirit hopefully. The silence was deafening. He felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned to see Sokka's watery eyes.
"We've done everything we can…" he sighed sadly, an uncharacteristic tear rolling down his face. "I'm afraid Katara is gone for good."
"I knew that going into this," Aang cried back, wrapping his arms around his brother. "This was for the spirits and the valley. Hong-Die, the valley, and the people here were grievously injured. It's the kind of justice the Butterfly felt was necessary. It's not a justice we see as acceptable, but… there are things bigger than even me. And we have to accept that."
"IS THAT SO, AVATAR?!" the grating voice ripped through their minds. Sokka and Zuko hit the ground panicked. Aang stood firmly and resolutely as the gale winds swirled around him. He had no fear anymore. Whatever would come would come. The clanking exoskeleton joints reverberated loudly, echoing through the cave behind the trio as the Butterfly touched down before them. "THIS WAS ALL FOR ME AND MY MATE? INCLUDING ENLISTING THE AID OF ANOTHER SPIRIT?"
"Read my mind and my soul, Hong-Die," Aang resolutely replied, unflinching as the immense arthropod creaked towards him. He threw his arms wide in submission and surrender. "Weigh and measure me. I accept your judgment."
"VERY WELL, AVATAR." The Butterfly reached out to Aang with his shortened antennae and touched the center of his blue forehead.
In a flash, Aang's mind opened to the universe. He could see nothing but the blackness of the void. He could feel the Butterfly's consciousness sliding inside his own. It felt heavy and foul and slimy, riddled with anger and hate. The Butterfly was dissecting his psyche and soul, peeling away ambition and guilt, hope and finally acceptance.
But the farther it prodded, the more relieved it felt. The malice was slipping away, replaced with love and gratitude. The Spirit began to feel as light as the air it commanded again. It released Aang back to the mortal realm and his vision cleared revealing the Butterfly and healing valley before him. Aang could feel Zuko and Sokka' hearts speeding behind him.
"All is forgiven," the voice whispered graciously. The Butterfly's great abdomen expanded and contracted, hissing the clean air though its respiration pores. It flapped its bloody teardrop skulled wings once and its whole body shattered like glass. An explosion of a million black or red butterflies were left in its place, fluttering and flitting off into the night. Off to pollinate all of the new flowers in bloom.
And she was there. On her knees holding her head in one hand, left in the wake of the vanishing insects. Perfect and whole in her white underskirt and bindings.
Aang gasped and ran to her, his heart bursting with elation. He couldn't stop himself. He tackled right into his wife, wrapping his arms around her. He had lost control f his strength and speed and accidentally rolled them into the cool stream nearby. She didn't even have time to react as he squeezed her tight, covering her face in wet kisses.
"AANG!" Katara was finally able to yell at him, gasping through the water, "What's going on?! Let me go!"
"You were gone, I thought you were gone forever. But you're back now." Aang grabbed her cheeks and pressed his forehead to hers. Tears of joy and relief were pouring down his face. Her body melded against his and he couldn't believe she was really in his arms again. "The Butterfly took you from me, but I healed the valley and he returned you."
"AHEM?!" Zuko and Sokka coughed behind them.
"Well, of course I had a lot of help," Aang continued. Katara's eyes flew wide at the sight of her brother and friend. Aang led her back out of the stream, water dripping from their clothing. He couldn't take his hands off her, as if he let go she would disappear. But he knew her brother needed to make sure she was real too.
"Hi sis, glad to have you back," Sokka said, hugging her tightly too. Katara could tell her brother was holding back emotional tears.
She looked past them and saw the valley for the first time and gasped in shock. A nearly full moon had risen in the late Summer Solstice evening, illuminating everything. She could see clear skies, clean water, and all of the healthy foliage.
"Is this the Gufeng Valley?" she implored. "The last thing I remember is being in that awful factory and… the Butterfly. Oh Spirits, it tried to touch me. I sliced it's antennae off… and then it screeched and reached out again…." She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered at the awful memory. "And then… nothing… no. not quite nothing... I think I heard you several times Aang... Yes. I remember I could feel you somehow. I... needed to help you... but mostly I was nothing...and now I'm here… What happened?"
"A ton," Zuko answered, finally venturing to interrupt the family reunion. "We have all night to explain."
"Hey Aang…" Sokka butted in, "you were right… that Butterfly was terrifying. I take everything back…"
"Yeah," Zuko agreed, laughing. "Not as bad as Ran and Shaw, but definitely up there."
Aang just gave them dirty looks, reaching out to pull his wife back into his arms. She laid her head against his chest. She fit so perfectly there. He breathed the scent of her hair in deeply, reassuring himself with every sense that she was really here. He'd never let her go again if he could help it.
Katara wrapped herself in her husband's warmth, relishing his strong arms and muscled chest. She could hear his strong heartbeat. It beat in time with hers. After the emptiness of the void she had been able to sense around the edges of her mind, nothing else in the world mattered. Something unfamiliar brushed against her forehead and she looked up inquisitively at whatever had bumped against her. Aang's beard was longer than she remembered and there was a pair of sky blue beads braided into it, making two short points. Her beads. Her heart nearly burst with emotion and she could feel tears stinging her eyes.
"Aang!" she cried loudly as she focused on them and realized what they were. "You're wearing my beads!"
"Of course I am," he smiled and kissed her forehead gently. "I am you husband, aren't I, my perfect Water Tribe Princess…"
"OOGIES!" Sokka yelled at them, mocking them. Katara gave him a dirty look and a rude hand gesture. Aang took it a step farther.
"Hey Sokka, Fuck off," Aang replied and feasted on his wife's sweet mouth while Zuko laughed and Sokka groaned.
Phew! Done! This ended up being way longer than I thought it would be! This chapter was tougher for me to write. I knew where I wanted it to end, but getting there was difficult. And I wanted to give the scenes as much attention and detail as I had in other chapters. So how'd I do in that department? Did you like Zuko and Sokka? My reviewers really encourage me to keep writing. Send me a PM- I love discussing stuff. I'll chat with anyone XD.
Do you folks want more Spirit Moon adventures? What other parts of the world need healing? What needs discovered?
I think no matter what ya'll deserve a hot and steamy interlude ;)
A few comments because I like to talk to myself:
Yeah, I went off- canon with the bead-beard thingy. Don't care. Wanted to do it. Wouldn't have him put the beads in his hair because that wouldn't make sense, but thought the beard thing would be cute. Kind of Viking-esque or old kung fu movies with the wise sensei with the long wispy beard…
I like having the spirits never refer to Aang and Katara by name… because to them they simply are 'Avatar' and 'Genjin.' It's like trying to call a childhood friend's parents by their first name when for 20 years all you knew them by was 'Mr. and Mrs. Jones' or whatever.
For a timeline- Aang and Katara were married in my story on May 1- Beltane. Gold star for you if you know the significance of that day.