5 weeks ASC

Aang and Katara spent a few more days in Ba Sing Se. It was a bit of a vacation per se and more "down time" together. Aang decided it was best for Appa to rest more than 1 night before taking off again for the Northern Air Temple to find Kuei. Finally though, it was time to go. Two days after leaving Ba Sing Se, they arrived at their destination.

"Wow, not much has changed at all!" remarked Aang. Just as there had been when they first saw the temple nearly one year ago, flying machines could be seen in the air surrounding the mountaintop.

"I wonder if Teo and his Dad are back. I would think they would be by now," replied Katara.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he were one of these air walkers out here now. He always did love to fly," said Aang.

Momo was looking out at the air walkers. He spotted something and ran to Aang, chirping.

"What is it, Momo?" asked Aang. Aang looked where Momo was looking and not surprisingly, there was Teo in his glider.

"Teo!" shouted Aang.

"Aang! Katara!" was the reply from the glider.

In a repeat of the past, Aang jumped off of Appa and started flying with Teo using his own glider made by Teo's father. The two had a grand time showing off their skills to each other, just as they had done months before. After about 10 minutes, the two landed. Katara and Momo were already on the landing area patiently waiting for the two show-offs to finish.

As Teo's glider was dismanted from his rolling chair by some folks who were manning the runway, Aang gave him a one-arm embrace. "Ha, ha! I forgot how much fun that was!" said Aang.

"Yeah, it's always fun to fly with you, Aang. There are so many things you can do as an airbender that I'll never be able to do," replied Teo. "I just love watching you."

The friends made their way into the main room of the temple. To Aang's surprise, the room looked different.

"Teo, I was telling Katara earlier how much this place looked the same as it did when we were here before. But that was only the outside. What's going on in here?" Aang asked.

"Ever since you left us the first time, Dad has spent some of his time restoring some of the paintings and statues that he destroyed over the years," replied Teo. "I think you inspired him on your first visit. He still loves inventing new things, but I think he now has a newfound respect for history, art and architecture. He isn't giving up on technology, but wants a better blend of the two."

"Wow, this place looks so much more like it used to when the airbenders were still around," said Aang. "I made peace with what he had done, but I'm still glad that he wants to bring back some of its old glory."

Just then, Katara spotted him. Kuei walked into the main hall where the kids were standing. He saw them and turned around and walked out, hoping not to be spotted.

"Aang, I just saw the Earth King go out that door. If you hurry, you can probably catch him," said Katara as she pointed at one of the hallways leading out of the room.

"I'm on it," Aang replied as he started walking.

"Teo, do you mind if I have a word?" asked Katara.

"Not at all," said Teo. "What's on your mind?"

"Well, I'm sure he doesn't realize it, but Aang's birthday is tomorrow. I would like to do something for him. Since we are at an air temple, I was hoping that you may have come across the recipe for fruit pies at some point," she said. "He always comments about how much he loved the fruit pies while he was at the Southern Air Temple."

"Oh I love fruit pies!" exclaimed Teo. "Dad told me he found it in an airbender cookbook in the air temple library when I was still a toddler. We still make them on special occasions as a matter of fact."

"Great!" Katara said excitedly. "Would you mind if I used the kitchen tomorrow and baked Aang a fruit pie? I may even make a few – I'm sure Momo and Appa would love one too."

"I'll go one better. I'll spread the news that it is Aang's birthday and we'll throw him a party tomorrow. I'm sure there are some folks who would love to throw a party – and that means decorating and baking. You wouldn't have to lift a finger!"

"Wow, that would be great. Thank you so much," replied Katara.

"Just bring Aang into the sanctuary around 5pm tomorrow afternoon," said Teo. "I'll make sure the rest is taken care of."

"The sanctuary? I thought it was destroyed with all the fire nation weapons your Dad created," said Katara.

"Oh, you'll see. Trust me," replied Teo.

OlOlOlOlOlO

"King Kuei!" Aang shouted as he hurried after the man who had just left the main hall. "King Kuei! I need to talk to you!"

The Earth King did not stop. He even seemed to be moving faster once he heard Aang calling after him.

Kuei rounded a corner and by the time Aang got there, he seemed to disappear into thin air. The only thing there now was a closed door.

Maybe he ducked in here, thought Aang. Aang tried the door. It was locked. Yup, I bet he thought I'd just keep going but I'm pretty sure he's in here.

Aang closed his eyes and put his hand up against the stone wall next to the door. He could feel a single heartbeat in the next room.

"King Kuei, I know you're in there," shouted Aang. "I really need to speak with you. Please don't make me blow down the door."

Click! The door was now unlocked. "It's unlocked," Aang heard from the next room. He tried the door handle and it now opened.

As Aang entered, he saw the Earth King scowling at him.

"Why did you run from us?" asked Aang.

"Because I do not want to go back to Ba Sing Se," replied Kuei. I have finally found my place in this world and I'm not leaving."

"You could have just said that," said Aang.

"I was afraid you'd make me go back if you caught me," said Kuei. "After all, you are the all-powerful Avatar. That's what your friends said anyway."

"No, I would never force you to do something you didn't want to do," said Aang. His thoughts drifted back to when he ran away after eavesdropping that he was being taken away from Monk Gyatso. "I do need to talk to you though. But we don't need to do it right now. I can see you are upset, but let me assure you, I'm not like that."

The Earth King didn't reply. He grabbed his chin between his fingers and thumb of his right hand and rubbed it a few times as if pondering the current situation.

"Let's just meet tomorrow over lunch and maybe we'll go flying together or something," said Aang. "I heard you really like to fly."

"Yes. Yes I do," replied Kuei. After a few silent moments, Kuei nodded in agreement. Aang could see he would need to gain his trust again. He also wondered why Sokka and Suki would tell him that he was going to force the Earth King back to Ba Sing Se.

"I'll see you tomorrow then. At mid-day, for lunch," said Aang. He turned and walked out of the room.

OlOlOlOlO

The next day Aang and the Earth King met in the dining area for lunch. Aang had decided not to press the immediate matter with the king. Rather he wanted to take his time. He knew something had happened to the king since the last time they were together when Ba Sing Se fell. He had been so cordial to him before. But now, he was being downright unfriendly.

"So Kuei, how did you get so into flying?" asked Aang.

Kuei's expression showed that he was not expecting that question out of Aang's mouth. "Ever since I've been here, my life has been so different." He paused, then continued, "No, actually, I take that back. Ever since the fall of Ba Sing Se, my life has been so different. Flying is just one of the many passions I have discovered."

"What is your best move?" asked Aang. The banter slowly turned friendly as the conversation went on.

"I'm partial to barrel rolls," replied Kuei. "I know they aren't the most difficult move out there, but I just feel so free when I do them. Teo is really good at the loop-de-loop, but they still make me nervous. I'm just a beginner compared to Teo."

"He's been doing it a lot longer. He may be young, but he's spent years flying," said Aang.

Over the course of the next hour, Aang and Kuei talked about all the moves they like to do while flying. Aang told Kuei of the glider surfing move that Monk Gyatso had shown Avatar Roku. It was something he wanted to try, but just hadn't had the chance yet. Kuei talked of his first landing on the landing pad – a crash landing. Quite funny in retrospect, but not so much at the time. The two exchanged stories and maneuvers as they at their mid-day meal.

After lunch, they both made their way to the landing area and did some flying. As he had done with Teo, Aang spent a few hours playing with Kuei in the air. The two of them had a marvelous time. Aang was hoping that Kuei was starting to let his guard down – he sure seemed like he was to him.

As dinner-time approached, Aang and Kuei landed in the landing area.

"Great job out there," Aang said to Kuei.

"Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment coming from an true airbender," replied Kuei.

Aang folded his glider back into his staff. Kuei was busy packing away his glider when a dark-haired woman came up and embraced him. "Kuei, I've missed you today," she said to him.

"I've missed you, too," he replied and gave her a peck on the lips.

Kuei turned to Aang. "Aang, I'd like to introduce you to Fei Yen," he said. "I met her soon after I departed your group all those months ago.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Fei Yen," said Aang as he bowed in front of her. Strangely, she seemed familiar to Aang. "Will you two please excuse me? I would like to go find Katara and make plans for dinner."

"Of course, Aang," replied Kuei. "I'll see you around. We should definitely do this again."

Aang turned and walked into the temple.

OlOlOlOlOlO

"So how did it go?" asked Katara when Aang walked into their room.

"I think it went very well," Aang replied. "And I really enjoyed flying with him today, too."

"It has been a long time since you just went flying just to fly and have fun," noted Katara.

"You should see his girlfriend. She's beautiful. Dark flowing hair…and gray eyes," said Aang.

"He has a girlfriend?" asked Katara.

"Yup. Except I don't remember her when we were here the first time," he said. "I wonder where she came from."

"What's her name?"

"Fei Yen," he replied.

Both Katara and Aang were busying themselves with tasks in their room while they had this conversation. Pretty soon, their tasks took precedence and neither one of them said anything for about 5 minutes. Katara put away her sewing (she was working on some of the worn clothes that she and Aang regularly wear). Aang had picked up a scroll from the nightstand and was reading it intently.

"Wait. Did you say gray eyes?" Katara said to break the silence.

"Yes, they were definitely gray. Pretty striking actually," replied Aang.

"Aang, don't airbenders typically have gray eyes?"

"Yes, it is the most common eye color for airbenders, but there are others besides airbenders who have gray eyes," he replied. "But it isn't common."

"Now I'm curious," said Katara. "I'm going to have to find out more about Miss Fei Yen."

"Are you ready for dinner?" Aang asked.

"Let's go," Katara replied.

The two then walked out of the room to the dining hall.