Chapter Four

The only two airbending masters in the world – father and daughter – slowly went through the motions, completely in sync, gliding and turning and moving their bodies as if they were one. The dust in the air, on the statues and fountains, was being blown away, and the stone looked nearly good as new.

They worked in silence, but as soon as they were done, the daughter let out a huge sigh. "I think I'm bleeding," she said, passing a hand over her shoulder. Her father took her arm and inspected it carefully.

"Just a little red," he said. "I told you it wouldn't take long to heal." Kana smiled. Aang looked around. "Good job," he said sagely. "Although your Three Cranes Windkick could have been higher."

"I know, I know," she said grinning. "I always do that."

There was a screeching noise from above them, and Aang looked up. A hawk was circling above them.

"Is that a Fire Nation hawk?" asked Kana, shading her eyes from the sun and looking up. Aang squinted at the sky.

"I think so…" He held out an arm, just as the bird descended. It perched lightly on his forearm. Aang took a small roll of paper out of the container on its back. "It's for you," he said, smiling and handing the paper to his daughter.

She grinned and rolled the paper open, reading it quickly. "It's from Gyatso," she said, her eyes scanning the page. "He wants to know if we'll be able to make it to the New Moon Festival at the North Pole."

Aang appreciated that his daughter said we instead of I. He knew that his son would have only asked about Kana, but Aang's daughter had the sense to make it sound as though Gyatso cared about his father, and not only his sister.

"You'll be there," said Aang. "Unless you'd like to stay at court and listen to old men argue."

"The Earth King isn't old. And neither are you, for that matter."

"But Zuko is."

Kana laughed. "I'll write back when we're done for the day."

Aang glanced around. "We're done. Write back, now."

"I don't have any parchment."

"Stop making excuses," said Aang, grinning. "Go to your room, and write back to your brother. Make sure to mention that I haven't died yet."

"Aw, but I don't want to depress him any more."

Aang raised an eyebrow, and Kana knew she had made a mistake. "I mean – not to say – look, I didn't mean to suggest that he's already depressed, it's just an expression-"

"Tell him I love him," said Aang quietly. "And that I miss him. Alright?"

Kana looked at her father, then shook her head. "He already knows that-"

"He just doesn't want to believe it. I know. Tell him anyway. Please."

The daughter nodded.

Aang turned and stretched his arms expertly. It had been a long time since the temple had looked this good…he had forgotten the familiar feeling he got whenever he stood on these stones. The feeling of… strength. Belonging.

It was the same feeling he used to feel when he held Katara.

No. Not used to. Aang loved his wife just as much as he did on the first time they ever kissed. More, if possible. But something about their relationship had changed after their children grew out of their dependent childhood phase. Realizing a new generation was taking over wasn't the hardest part: it was trying to make sure that same generation were taught how to be moral and right and honest that was the problem. Aang and Katara's marriage had stayed the same, but their friendship had… Aang didn't know how to describe it. Waned? Gotten harder, tenser, and colder? Completely disappeared? He had no clue. All he knew was that nothing was the same.

Except for this temple. This beautiful, wonderful stone temple that stood with the dignity of ancient times. Aang traced the carvings on the wall with a reverent finger. This structure would outlive him and his children, and his children's children. It would be thousands upon thousands of years until this place was unrecognizable.

Almost subconsciously, Aang took a few deep breaths and began to bend. Air, first, in soft twirls and spheres. Then water, elegantly, pulling the clear liquid up, out of the fountain, then into shapes that sparkled into the sun, then dropped back into the pool. After that, earth, stone columns rising from the ground and moving, twisting, quickly, with the power of a hundred men. Lastly fire, slowly, with control. He had tamed the passionate, scorching beast a long time ago; fire was no longer an element Aang feared, but instead he honored it, he respected it for its raw energy and might.

Kana stood hiding behind a corner, watching her father move with such majesty and grace that she had never seen. Despite spending years at the Fire Nation capital, and seeing members of the court firebend every day, she still shivered when she saw the power that a single man could hold; the power to, with one small movement, destroy all indications of her very existence. She knew, of course, that her father would never do this, and that was why she felt safe enough to step forward and say, "Show me lightning."

Aang jumped when his daughter spoke. He had been so focused on his bending that he had forgotten where he was for a moment. Then he smiled and shook his head. "No," he said simply. "It's too dangerous."

"I think I can hold my own with you," she replied, stepping into a defensive stance. Aang stood straight up and shook his head again.

"You can go ahead and stage a mock battle with your brother anytime, Kana," Aang sighed, "but I have had enough violence for this lifetime."

"Years ago," she told him. "Come on, please."

"What good would it do?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes comically as if her father were being insufferably stupid. "It would prepare me in case I ever actually do get attacked by a firebender, duh."

Aang felt every muscle in his body tense. "Why do you say that?" he asked, with an edge in his voice that Kana barely recognized.

The daughter shook her head. "No, no, I don't mean I expect to be attacked, of course I didn't mean that. All I was trying to say was that it might help me."

Aang shook his head and turned away. "Go," he told Kana. "Write to your brother. Now."

This time, when Kana left, she actually did go to her room, and she took some parchment and ink and began to write to Gyatso.

The Avatar opened the doors to the temple's most sacred room. He stepped in slowly, hearing the doors close behind him.

"It's been a long time," he said out loud.

The statue of Roku in front of him did not move. He hadn't expected it to anyway.

The empty spot next to Roku teased him, loudly in the silence. There was no statue there yet. After all, there were no true Air Nomads left, and who was supposed to continue building the statues if they were all dead? Or did the spirits take care of that? Did a statue magically appear in the room when an Avatar died?

Aang wondered who would be the next Avatar after he passed away. Preferably he would have many, many years before his time came, but when he did, a member of the Water Tribes would become the next Avatar. Aang wished he knew that the next Avatar would be wise and clever, but then again, Aang couldn't ever remember being wise, or clever for that matter, so maybe that hope was irrational.

He closed his eyes and lost himself in the powerful aura of the room and all his previous lives.

Kana, meanwhile, wasn't sure what else to write. Gyatso's letter had been short but to the point. 'Will you be home in time for the New Moon Festival at the North Pole? Yue's going to be there. I hate mom. I hate this place. Come home soon.'

Gyatso's voice seemed to whisper into her ear, muttered the words he didn't write. I miss you. I love you.

Kana and her brother were best friends. She didn't have any qualms about admitting it, and though Gyatso would probably deny it with a, "I don't have any friends," or "If anyone, Ozu and Yue." But, being brother and sister, Gyatso and Kana had a sort of bond that neither of them would ever be able to maintain with anyone else. Kana had been the old who told her brother their father's story: the way Aang had gone missing for one hundred years, than had been revived by Katara, their mother, and then mastered the four elements in less than a year. There had never been a real public statement on what happened during that year, so there were far too many rumors abound – there was one that even claimed that Aang and Fire Lord had met a real, live dragon – preposterous! Kana had told her brother everything that Katara had told her when she was a little child. Before Kana grew up and Katara started to hate her.

Kana sighed but forced these thoughts from her mind. It was the sort of thoughts that Gyatso had all the time. She loved her brother very much, but she really didn't understand him. How could he be so depressed all the time? Did he never open his eyes and see the wonder and beauty of the earth and the world? Waterbenders were supposed to be naturally kind and peaceful. Gyatso was neither of those things.

Yue, their cousin, was a very, very good friend for Gyatso. She was the exact opposite of him in every way; cheerful, optimistic and shallow. Although Kana had no real love for the kid, she suspected that Yue had helped Gyatso in ways that even Gyatso himself didn't know.

There was a whooshing sound and Kana looked around. Another hawk had landed on the window. She stood up and took the message out of the carrier. It was addressed to Aang.

"Why didn't you take it to my father, you silly bird?" she asked absentmindedly, petting the hawk once. She left the room to find her father.

As she walked, she noticed the Fire Lord's imperial seal on the message. She paused, glanced around, then unfolded the letter and smoothed it out.

Aang-

No doubt Katara or your son has already written to you about the North Pole's New Moon Festival; however news has just reached the Fire Nation palace:
Arnook, the North Pole's chief since our day, passed away a few days ago. I've never heard of the man who has succeeded him; his name is Hahn and he has never been on any of Arnook's councils. He's wasn't even an advisor, but from what I've heard the people like him well enough. He's no older than I am, but judging also from the letter he wrote to me personally, he sounds like Arnook. Same old policies and politics. All the same, I would like an ambassador from the Fire Nation to be present at the Festival to show our support in this new leader.
Azula was already planning to go with Roku, Lu Ten, Ozu and Gyatso, but given her reputation I think it would be better if someone else went.

Kana wasn't sure what Zuko meant when he said given Azula's reputation, but she thought she knew where this was going all the same.

The Earth King's visit is routine and can be handled without you. He is sending his own ambassadors to the North Pole and would surely understand if you left to greet the new Chief. After all, not only are you a representative of the Fire Nation, but of the Air Nomads as well.
I have one more favor to ask of you, then.
Will your daughter, Kana, stay and greet the Earth King while you are at the North Pole? She is an excellent diplomat, I can tell already, and she is close to the Earth King's age, which will hopefully make him feel more comfortable and thus very generous while we update our treaties. It is much more important that you meet the new Chief of the Northern Water Tribe, however, and it is certainly not necessary for you to leave your daughter behind, although that is what I must ask.
(By the way, Sozin insists I mention that it was his idea to propose that Kana stay while you are in the North Pole. I am truly unsure whether or not he should be proud of this or not.)
-Zuko

Kana stared at the letter for a few moments, feeling her blood turn cold. She didn't know what it was, but there was something about this letter that felt…wrong. There was no way she could have known yet, but she was very, very right.

"What's that?"

She turned around quickly. Her father was smiling at her. "A letter from the Fire Lord," she blurted.

"Oh really?" asked Aang, sounding vaguely interested. "Anything I should know?"

Wordlessly, she handed the letter to him.

His face became stonier and harder to read as he read, until finally, expressionless, he looked up at his daughter. "Write back to him for me. Make sure he extends my condolences to Arnook's family. Tell him I'll do go. And tell him you'll stay."

"But Dad-"

"Yes?" he asked her, looking at her with that air of total attention, and legitimate interest. It was one of the things the people loved the most about Avatar Aang. He always looked like he cared.

Kana had nothing to say. She had no proof for her suspicions. Finally, she told him, "I don't like this."

"You don't like what?"

"I don't want to stay at the capital if you're leaving."

Aang sighed and he seemed to understand. "Kana, I promise you, by the time we get back this whole deal with your mother will have blown over, and you have nothing to fear from a few weeks with her-"

"No, it's not about that. I… maybe I shouldn't stay."

Aang realized he didn't understand. "Why not? You would be helping both Zuko and I out a lot."

"…yeah. Okay. I will."

Aang smiled. "Good. Now go on and write that letter…" he paused. "By the way, did the name Hahn ring any bells for you? I swear I've heard his name before…"

Kana shook his head. "I've never heard of him."

He nodded thoughtfully. "It was probably before your time anyway." He kissed her on the cheek and sent her away.

Miles away, the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe was thinking the exact same thing. "Hahn," he muttered. "Hahn. Why does the name sound so damn familiar?"

Suki was sleeping in the room next to the one he was in. She had been sleeping a lot lately, which Sokka took for a good sign, because with her other pregnancies she had been up all night with the pain.

They had been sailing for two days now, and the small fleet was expected to reach land in only a few hours. Sokka couldn't sleep – not since he had received that letter from the new chief of the South's northern sister. It had been simple and stately. Chief Arnook has passed away… I, Hahn, have succeeded him… the New Moon Festival will continue and you are still welcome here…

The name Hahn sounded so familiar, and yet so foreign. But he knew he had heard it before! But – where?

There was a voice in the doorway behind him. "Daddy?"

He turned around. His daughter stood in the doorway, a fur coat around her. The moonlight and twinkling stars were sending dancing light onto her hair.

And suddenly he remembered. "Hahn," he whispered.

Yue frowned. "What?"

"Go back to bed, sweetie," said Sokka, turning back and dipping his pen in ink.

"I can't sleep."

"Hmm. Neither can I."

Yue leaned against the side of the doorway. "Why can't you?"

"Just a letter."

"From who?"

"Zuko."

"What does it say?"

"There's a new chief of the Northern Water Tribe. He's… an old friend."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew him briefly when I was a kid."

"Is he nice?"

Sokka actually laughed. "It's been years since I last saw him. I'm sure he's matured since then."

"So, in other words, he's awful."

Sokka sighed and turned to look his daughter in the eye. "Yue, please. Don't talk about him that way; remember that he is the chief and we respect our sister tribe, especially her leaders."

"Jeez, Dad, it's not like anyone can hear."

He shook his head. "Go back to bed."

She nodded, but lingered for a second. "Daddy?" she asked.

"Yes?" replied Sokka.

She hesitated. "It's just… I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie. Go to bed."

Yue nodded and turned and left. Her father wondered for a moment if I love you was all she had wanted to say, but then went back to international matters, and his daughter went back to her room, wondering why it was suddenly so difficult to talk to her father.

So guess what, I wrote another chapter. This story is turning out to be extremely hard to write, I'm not sure why.

And what's this? FORESHADOWING?!?!? Maybe. Tell me what you think. Thank you so much for reading.