Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Note: The Fire Nation has split into the Fire Nation, and the Fire Nation Republic, which has a Prime Minister, and a Parliament. The Fire Nation Republic is the South half of the Fire Nation.
Chapter Four: Present
Aila walked off the cargo ship, wearing a navy blue cloak over her simple tight red shirt and tight black pants tucked into grey leather boots, Aila shivered, adjusting her body temperature to the cold with her firebending. She looked out at the magnificent view. The shining Northern Water Tribe, complete with skyscrapers and snow everywhere. The Water Tribe was not as built up as Omashu, and definitely not Republic City, but it had grown into a large expanse of a city spreading as far as she could see. The view of glaciers surrounding the city, combined with the shining lights, would have made anyone feel better.
If it weren't for the black flags with a white star on them, flying from every building and every street. They meant only one thing: Bae ruled here. Bae was formerly the president of the United Republic, until he became a dictator, and began conquest. Now, the Northern Water Tribe, the Fire Nation, and much of the Earth Kingdom was his.
And Aila couldn't care less. All she wanted was to live a normal life, and now she aimed to do just that. Covering her face, Aila swiftly jumped off the dock, out of sight, using airbending and waterbending to land silently on an ice pathway she bended on the top of the cold water, and ran up, around Bae's guards, and onto the snowy streets of the city.
Making soft clip-clops as she stomped through puddles of rain and snow, Aila held onto her hood, and glanced at the paper again, making sure she had the right address.
She walked up the two steps to the front door of the ice-brick home, and knocked.
She listened to the steps walking to the door. The door creaked open slowly. A man's face peeked out. When he saw Aila, his eyes widened, and he quickly opened the door all the way, and quickly pulled her in, locking the door behind her.
"Aila! What are you doing here? Bae's guards could find you at any minute!"
Aila looked up at her brother with tears in her eyes. "Kenji!" she said, and tackled him with a hug. Her happiness at the sight of him got the best of her and she began to softly cry into his shoulder.
"Shhh, shhh, it's okay, Aila, it's all okay. You're here now. I won't let anything happen to you," Kenji soothed his sister. Aila examined her brother. He still seemed the healthy, great man she knew, but he seemed very tired, and stressed. He was wearing a skin-tight grey shirt, a light leathery thin navy blue jacket, and black pants that covered his boots. The top of his hair was pulled back to a ponytail, and the rest fell to the sides of his tanned face, grazing along the scar to the left of his eye.
Ten minutes later, Aila was recovered, and sniffling. She followed Kenji to the kitchen, where he poured her a cup of hot tea. She snuggled into a warm blanket he brought, and then sat down on the fur sofas of
"So what's up? Why aren't you with Jao in Omashu?" Kenji asked.
"It... Didn't work out. I still can't earthbend. And Jao made it clear he didn't want to train me anymore. I can't blame him," Aila said, and took a sip of tea.
Kenji sighed. "Any visions from Avatar Olan?"
"No," Aila said, "but it could be because I haven't fought anyone or gone into the Avatar state for months now. I just don't have any sense of direction."
"I thought you wanted to defeat Bae?"
"I just tired of all of this. Non-stop fighting and running and training pointlessly, never living a normal life... I can't do this anymore, Kenji. And every time we tried to get Bae, we failed, and I still can't bend earth. Until I bend earth, I'm not making any moves. "
"But that's why you were with Jao. So that you can win."
"Jao doesn't want me there, and it's painfully obvious that I won't learn to bend earth anytime soon, so I left." Aila said, sipping her tea, and looking around the house. "I just want a break, Kenji. I hate this constant running, and trying to fight, but failing every single time. It's been eight years since this started, and Bae is not stopping."
Kenji sighed once more. "If that's what you want. Kana and Mali should be here soon. Kana can't wait to meet her auntie Aila." Kenji smiled.
At this, Aila's mood escalated. She could not wait to see Mali again, and baby Kana for the first time.
- The Next Morning -
"So, Aila," Mali spoke, "it's great to see you. But... What's your plan? What if someone recognises you?"
"I'll just lie low, Mali. Eventually people will forget about me."
"But why do you want them to? Isn't it the Avatar's job to be the hope?"
Aila banged the table with both hands. "For goodness' sake, Mali! The Avatar's job is to be all that, but I don't want- and I never have wanted- to be the Avatar! I just want to rest." Aila bent her head, looking at her food.
"Okay, Aila," Mali said, "If it's what you feel is best." Mali picked up Kana and went to the other room, still looking concerned. Aila took a deep breath.
This new life is going to be hard, she thought.
