Book One:
Water
Chapter Seven:
The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part One)
"Those clouds look so soft, don't they?"
It was a calm and clear day, and there was not a sign of any trouble, danger or even so much as a grey cloud in sight. It had been a long time since they all had had time to relax, and it was nice to finally catch a break.
I looked up from my book, and smiled at Katara from across Appa's saddle, as she lounged, gaze intent on the clouds that floated lethargically by us as we flew.
"Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big soft cottony heap."
"Maybe you should give it a try?" Sokka spoke up from what where he sat, whittling away at a small piece of wood he was carving.
Katara wrinkled her nose and gave him a look while rolling her sapphire eyes at her older brother "You're hilarious."
Suddenly my eye caught movement from up front, as Aang sprung to his feet "I'll try it." then laughing like a lunatic he leapt off of Appa, glider staff in hand and fell below into the blanket of white clouds.
I shook my head, and said in a mockingly despaired filled voice "Some t-things never change." From where they had been staring over the side Aang had gone, the two Water Tribe siblings then turned their attention to me.
I smiled and explained "Aang w-was always getting us into s-such trouble," I rolled my eyes then "He once w-went sledging on the temple's roofs using a lychee barrel lid," I shook my head again "We w-were grounded for a month and made to clean the entire t-temple top to toe. Boys."
Katara grinned at me and agreed with me in a tone that clearly said she was used to the antics of males and their utter stupidity when it came to showing off and rushing headlong into reckless and dangerous stunts. Sokka looked offended, but I swore I saw the left corner of his lips twitch despite himself.
"Turns out clouds are made of water," Aang's voice sounded from behind us. And there he was, dripping wet a smile on his young face. He pressed his fists together, and using his airbending, blasted the water off, drying himself.
The sudden force of air hit Momo from where the lemur had been perched on the rim of the saddle and his white fur puffed up and made him look twice as big as normal. I hid a smile behind my hand at the sight.
I looked away, and then my attention was caught by something else. My smile faded away, and I got to my feet and leaned over the front rim of Appa's saddle gazing intently at the land below "Aang, I think you should see this." I called over my shoulder
"What is that?" Katara queried as the other three joined me.
"It's like a scar." Sokka exhaled, tone confused.
I frowned, hopped down onto Appa's neck and took the reins "Whatever it is, we had b-better look into this. H-Hold on." I flicked the reins and we began to decent.
0o0
Grey. That was the only colour for a mile around. Grey earth, grey plants, and blackened stumps of trees. It was clear the longer I searched all around me that the land and all that grew on it had been burned to nothing more than ash and dead plant life.
There was only one thing that could have caused such devastation to the earth in such a cruel and uncaring way. Those that had control of fire. Those that could shape it to their malicious and hateful will. Firebenders.
"It's so quiet," Sokka said, his voice filling the empty air and land, and making the place all the more empty and sad "There's no life anywhere."
"Aang? Are you ok?" I heard Katara ask gently as Aang wandered a little way by himself.
I could smell the ash and smoke, and it made me feel sick and made me want to cough. It was a suffocating smell and I hated the very scent of it. I slipped over to Sokka as he knelt to the ground to inspect the footsteps he had found trodden into the soil as clear as dawn.
I reached out and gripped his shoulder in a tight grip "It's c-clear who caused this." I spat out, only half-surprised at such a tone.
I had never felt such an emotion as hate or extreme rage or anger before. I was raised on the Air Nomad's view of life. That everything and every life is worth kindness, and respect and a chance to prove that its cover may not show what is on its inside.
But right now, looking at such destruction, I was angry. And I don't think the others blamed me for it. So far all I had learned and saw and heard about firebenders since me and Aang woke up from the ice near on three weeks ago was nothing good.
But somewhere, deep, deep, very deep down, there was a part of me that clung to the idea, the hope that not all of the firebenders in the world were like the ones I had come to meet so far.
Kuzon, mine and Aang's friend from 100 years ago, was Fire Nation, and proof that the world wasn't always this dark and hopeless. I hoped that there were some were like Kuzon, people who weren't all bad and like the Fire nation soldiers or Prince Zuko.
Yet looking at the land all around me now, I could slowly feel that hope start to slip away, bit by bit, piece by piece, every day I saw such things that the Fire Nation had done.
I knew that someday, and someday soon by the looks of things my Airbender's way of seeing the world would no longer stretch to include the hope that some firebenders were different.
And it was that fact- for it was a fact- that saddened me more than anything else.
"Fire Nation!" I jumped a little at Sokka's sudden outburst "Those evil savages make me sick, they have no respect for-"
Katara suddenly shushed him, and looking at where she had been looking I saw why and walked away from the angry Water Tribe boy.
"What? I'm not allowed to be angry?"
I ignored that, and knelt beside my best friend in the ash-covered earth, as he fell to his knees with a sigh filled with sadness and defeat "Why would anyone do this?" he wondered, ashy earth slipping through his fingers "How could I let this happen?"
I sighed, and placed my hand over his "Aang you didn't let this happen," Katara said, "It has nothing to do with you."
From the look on the younger airbender's face, I knew he completely disagreed with that "Yes it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But I don't know how to do my job."
I huffed out a breath, and pulled his hands away from his face where he had been leaning his chin in them, and therefore making him look at me "Aang, t-this is not your fault."
He frowned and opened his mouth to protest some more but I got there first "The Fire Nation h-have forgotten the true purpose of their bending. They have forgotten t-that love and passion are supposed to fuel it, rather than hatred and anger."
I gestured all around us, to the destruction, as I continued "Fire, it is pure light and warmth in this world, and the Fire Nation h-has forgotten that. They are filled with hate and d-darkness and cannot see it through their p-pride and rage."
I smiled slightly to reassure him as I continued "You may b-be the Avatar Aang but you cannot control the w-wills of other people. This is n-not your fault."
Aang blinked up at me with those grey eyes and seemed almost convinced with my words and reasoning, and then he sighed "But that still doesn't help me with the fact that I don't know how to be the Avatar Mina."
"That's why we're going to the North Pole," Katara spoke up, helping me "To find you a teacher."
"Yeah, a waterbending teacher," Aang spoke up and looked at the Water Tribe girl over his shoulder "But there's no one who can teach me to be the Avatar. Monk Gyasto said that Avatar Roku would help me."
"The Avatar before you? He died over 100 years ago, how are you supposed to talk to him?" Sokka questioned dubiously
Aang sighed "I don't know."
0o0
"Uncle! It's time to leave! Where are you?"
Somewhere a little ways away from the group of four and the scarred burned land, a young teen with a scar on the left side of his face, was shouting as he stormed through the bamboo stalks in the middle of a slight forest.
"Uncle Iroh!"
It was clear by the tone of annoyance and frustration the young firebender was at the end of his patience "Over here." An older voice sounded and he turned in that direction
There, lounging in a naturally made bath-tub of sorts was an older man with grey hair. He looked relaxed and the air all around was filled with steam from was obviously the hot spring.
The young teenage simply shook off the strange sight and got to it "We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail. And I don't want to lose him."
"You look tired Prince Zuko. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles."
The scowl on the banished prince's face was thunderous "My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!"
But it seemed his uncle was either not listening, whether on purpose or not Zuko had no idea "You should take your teacher's advice, and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself." then using his bending, with steam coming out his nose, the water heated up some more.
Zuko was not impressed and slashed away the steam with a hand "Enough. We need to leave now. Get out of the water."
General Iroh suddenly looked very amused and said "Very well." and did as Zuko bade him.
Realising his mistake, Zuko quickly lifted a hand to cover the sight of his unclothed uncle and turned away with his eyes screwed tight shut "On second thoughts, why don't you take another few minutes. But be back in the ship in half an hour or I'm leaving without you."
General Iroh sighed in relief and bliss as he sank back down into the warm water, and lounged back at the side, a smile on his face and eyes lightly shut.
With his own eyes still averted, Zuko walked away as quickly as was possible without losing his dignity.
0o0
"Can't you do something to, oh I don't know, bring him out of it."
It was sometime later and the silence was all there had been to hear after our conversation. I was sat, legs tucked neatly under me, with Raiu in my lap, purring as I stroked under his left ear. I hadn't even noticed Sokka had come to sit beside me until he spoke and startled me out of my thoughts.
I sighed and shook my head "N-No. Sometimes, when Aang's in this kind of mood, its best t-to leave him to think. He'll come around on his own in a little while."
Sokka didn't look pleased but said not a word further, and did not argue with me. I was glad for that, I wasn't in the mood myself, and I especially didn't want to argue with anyone right now, worst of all Aang.
Aang sometimes got into these moods, where nothing and no one could bring him out of it, not even me. Before, when we were younger and I hadn't known any better, I tried to jolt Aang back to normal, and it had always ended in us having an argument.
I learned after several failed attempts, that Aang just needed some space to breathe, and to think and to come to terms with his thoughts and feelings. As soon as he did, he was back to his usual cheery, crazy self and it was if it never happened.
"Hey, Aang, ready to be cheered up?"
"No."
I looked up and frowned as Katara stood a little ways away from Aang, a smile on her face. I was about to tell her to not bother, not because I didn't care about Aang, and to leave him alone when...SMACK! She threw an acorn nut at Aang's forehead
"Hey, how is that cheering me up?" he questioned her.
Sokka chortled under his breath but was loud enough for us all to hear "Ha, cheered me up." SMACK THWACK!
It seemed me and Katara had had the same thought at the same time. She threw another nut, hard at her brother, and not a mere second later I whacked Sokka upside the head myself "Ow!" He rubbed the two sore spots and shrugged to himself "Yeah I probably deserved that."
"Oh, you m-most definitely deserved it," I smirked and he frowned at me
"These acorns are everywhere Aang," the Water Tribe girl said, getting down to one knee "That means the forest will grow back. Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday," she then placed the acorn in Aang's hand "And all the birds and animals that lived here will come back."
Aang then smiled "Thanks Katara."
I blinked, and breathed out "Whoa," I was so stunned I didn't stutter. Sokka left his frowning and raised an eyebrow at me, and I explained "T-That's the first time I've ever s-seen someone bring him out of one of his moods, not even I've m-managed it. I'm impressed." And I was.
Sokka snorted, and I knew I saw him smile in response. Suddenly Katara gasped, and we all got to our feet as an old man made his way towards us.
"Hey, who are you?"
"When I saw the flying bison I thought it was impossible," the old man said, walking forward with a cane in his right hand "But those markings. Are you the Avatar child?" he came to a stop in front of Aang and asked.
Aang looked to me, and then to Katara and when we both nodded, Aang nodded his assent to the old man.
"My village desperately needs your help."
I exchanged a look with Sokka, and I knew the exact same thought went through our heads "Things just got a whole lot more interesting"
0o0
The sun was just beginning to set when we finally got the old man's village, and instantly I knew the man had been telling the truth. He did need Aang's help, our help.
On the left side of the village, quite a few buildings were in ruins. Smashed to pieces, the roofs caved in, and timber work scattered across the ground. Whatever had happened to this village, it wasn't good.
We entered a large building, what I guessed to be the great hall, and the old man spoke up in a clear voice "This young person is the Avatar."
Another man, younger with dark brown hair turned and came over "So the rumours of your return are true," he bowed "It is the greatest honour of a lifetime to be in your presence."
Aang bowed back, and smiled politely "Nice to meet you too," Aang then gestured with his hands as he asked next "So, is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm, not sure." the old man spoke up, saying that the village was in crisis and Aang was their only hope. The younger man nodded.
"For the last few days, at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hy-Bai, the black and white spirit."
Sokka asked why the spirit was attacking the village, and it was a question I had been wondering myself.
"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near."
"What happened then?" Katara asked,
The old man opened his mouth, but I was already speaking and telling them all the answer "As t-the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit w-world draw c-closer and c-closer together, until the b-barrier between the t-two is blurred and t-thinned completely."
I got surprised looks for that but none of the others questioned my knowledge for now. The younger man, whom I assumed was the leader of the village said "Hy-Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen."
"Sooo, what do you want me to do exactly?"
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the spirit world, then the Avatar himself. You are the great bridge between man and spirits." the old man answered Aang's question.
"Riiiiight, that's me," Aang said, one eyebrow raised, and his eyes looking towards the sky in dubiousness.
"Hey great bridge guy, can I talk to over here for a second?" I grabbed Aang's elbow and towed him after Katara so the four of us could talk in relative privacy "Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this."
"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world," the two siblings shared disbelieving looks and then turned back around to Aang, Katara with wide eyes and Sokka with a frown "It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff," Aang exclaimed hands on hips.
I patted his shoulder "It's alright Aang, no one knows m-much about the spirit world anymore. Not since your f-first past life, the first Avatar c-closed the spirit portals 9,928 years ago."
I got even more surprised looks for that, and Aang turned to me, and I knew what he was going to ask and I quickly dispelled the hope "I only k-know what I've read in ancient scrolls and b-books, and most of it was vague, and it w-wouldn't help."
Aang sighed, and deflated "So, can you help these people?" Katara shrugged
"I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just, come to me." he smiled and Momo then hopped onto his shoulder.
"I think you can do it Aang."
"So do I."
Both Katara and I spoke up reassurances and encouragement. Sokka on the other hand...? "Yeah...we're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster." did not.
I reached out and smacked him hard on the arm, making him yelp and rub what was clearly the sore spot. It seemed that the action was becoming an automatic reflex.
I had the feeling it would only become more so as time went on.
0o0
"Who's there?"
General Iroh had fallen fast asleep in the hot spring due to the relaxing steamy heat, and he was awoken some hours later by an ominous rustling that was being caused by...
"A meadow vole. I should have known. You startled me little one." now knowing that there was no danger, the grey-haired older man relaxed once again, with the little creature held gently in his palm.
"It seems I've dozed off and missed my nephew's deadline," he almost seemed to shrug without worry, and let the little furry creature down to scurry around the hot spring's earthen rim "But it was a very sweet nap."
Suddenly there was an ominous, great thundering noise, and the earth seemed to shake and quake. The older man was startled truly now, as dust flew up around the makeshift bathtub he was in, and he let out a grunting exclamation of surprise as the earth burst upwards into spikes, trapping him where he sat.
Earthbenders, wearing the Earth Kingdom uniform that soldiers donned appeared almost out of nowhere, and surrounded him "He's a Fire Nation soldier." one said, looking at the clothes that had been hung up on a low hanging tree branch.
"He's no ordinary soldier. He's the Fire Lord's brother. The Dragon of the West. The once great General Iroh. But now, he's our prisoner." the two shared smirks of satisfaction.
General Iroh could nothing but frown at them.
0o0
The sun was now setting in the little village by the forest, and the doors of the main hall squeaked shut, behind Aang, as he stood outside, his glider staff in hand, giving them a look before descending down the three stairs in front of him.
"Hellooo? Spirit? Can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking." he called as he neared the front gates "I'm here to try to help stuff"
Inside the main hall, Katara, Sokka and I watched anxiously as Aang continued to call out to the spirit. I was biting my lip, and wringing my hands frantically unable to help the nervous gesture, as we stood staring out one of the windows.
"This isn't right," Sokka suddenly said, "We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up."
"If anyone can save us, he can." the old man said
I whipped around and gave a good glare- or at least my best effort at a glare, airbender's were peacemakers after all- and Sokka huffed under his breath "He still shouldn't have to face this alone."
The sun slowly began to dip, and soon it disappeared behind the green hills of the horizon entirely. I had crossed my arms, in an attempt to stop wringing my hands, and cracking my knuckles, and finally, fed up, I threw them up with flair.
"T-This is ridiculous! I'm g-going out t-there to h-help," I strode over to the doors, but the headman took a hold of my arm and pulled me to a stop "Let g-go of me p-please."
But he shook his head, and pushed me back to my place on Sokka's left at the window "Just wait for a little dear girl, give the Avatar some time." the old man said to placate me
"Time to d-do what? To b-be k-killed?" I questioned stonily. My hands were shaking like leaves, and I started to crack my knuckles on my right hand "We c-can't just s-stand here."
A warm, steady hand covered mine, stopping me from my nervous gesture, and I turned to see Sokka, smiling down at me slightly with reassurance "We won't. I promise if and when something goes wrong, we'll go."
I nodded and fell silent, but I didn't release my hold on Sokka's hand, in fact, I tightened my grip, and surprisingly, he squeezed back. I gave a wan smile in turn and then looked back out the window again.
Outside I heard Aang call out loudly "The sun has set, where are you Hei-Bai?" there was no answer from the spirit "Well, uh, I hereby please ask you to leave this village peace," after holding out a hand he spun his staff and hit it back to the ground "Ok, well, I guess that's settled then."
I let out a sigh of relief as the younger Airbender boy turned from the main entrance to the village and began to walk back towards the main hall. The exhale of relief turned to a gasp of surprise when I saw something move in the shadows in the forest beyond.
Aang hadn't noticed the giant black and white two stories high creature behind him, and I shouted out "Aang! Behind you!"
He whipped around, and seemed to freeze before it, before straightening, and giving what I was sure was a smile "You must be the Hei-Bai spirit" by his tone I knew he was smiling "My name is-"
But the spirit didn't give him time to tell his name, for he opened his mouth, shot a bright blue beam of energy in Aang's face, before rearing on its back legs and roaring as it stalked forward.
"My name is Aang, I'm the Avatar and I would like to help!" the spirit ignored him "Hey wait up!"
The creature began to destroy more buildings in the village, roaring as it did so. Aang was running back and forth, trying to get a word in between all the noise, but wasn't having any such luck.
"The Avatar's methods are...unusual." the headman spoke before we all ducked as debris flew our way.
"It doesn't seem too interested in what he's saying," I squeezed Sokka's hand as another CRASH sounded, and he gave me a nod before turning to the two men "Maybe we should go help him."
"No! Only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei-Bai." the older man protested
"Aang will figure out the right thing to do Sokka," Katara reassured her older brother and me.
I winced as another two crashing sounds were heard along with a roar, and Sokka gave his sister a narrow-eyed stare that clearly said 'before or after the village is destroyed'. I could only agree.
"Please, would you stop destroying things and listen," Aang called, hopping onto a house roof using his airbending "I'm just trying to do my job as Spirit Bridge. Excuse me. Would you please turn around?" finally Aang seemed to lose his temper "I command you to turn around now!"
The creature swung at him, and my best friend went flying and hit a roof, before sliding down to the ground, cushioning his fall with an air blast. I gasped, and then feeling a surge of determination, I spun on my heel headed for the door
"That's it, he needs help!" Sokka exclaimed before I followed with
"That does it!" I pushed the doors opened and raced out.
"Mina! Sokka wait!"
Neither of us paid the younger Water Tribe girl any attention. I wasn't sure if Sokka was following me, to stop me from getting into trouble, or to help me help Aang but either way we were both running for Aang.
Katara attempted to follow, but the headman stopped her "It's not safe!"
Sokka and I skidded to a stop, and Sokka shouted pulling out his boomerang "Hei-Bai! Over here!" he threw it, and it barely made a dent on the creature, flopping onto the ground.
We rushed forward, despite Aang's protests "Sokka! Mina go back!"
I shook my head, and scoffed "No way."
"We'll fight him together Aang." Sokka agreed with me.
As the two boys began to talk, I noticed what was coming up behind Aang, and coming up fast. I tugged on Sokka's sleeve, and said in a nervous tone "Sokka..." he didn't listen to my warning and neither did Aang.
"I don't wanna fight him unless I-"
Suddenly I was swept off my feet with a yelp, and Sokka clearly got the same treatment because I heard a grunt of surprise from him, and then all too quickly we were taken from the village.
Hei-Bai had grabbed us both and was now racing with us in tow into the forest. I heard Katara behind us, calling her brother's name before the trees surrounded us.
0o0
"Uncle? Uncle where are you?"
Somewhere in another place, a young scarred firebender was searching the area for his missing older grey-haired relative. It was night now, and Zuko had ordered his uncle to be back at the ship in half an hour and that was hours ago now.
"Sir. Maybe he thought you left without him?" one of the soldiers suggested
"Something's not right here. That pile of rocks."
"It looks like there's been a landslide sir." Another one of masked soldiers said
The banished prince shook his head at that "Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally."
Then, putting all the pieces together the prince straightened and stated: "My uncle's been captured by earthbenders!"
0o0
"Aang! Over here!" I could hear Sokka shouting out.
"Aang!" I called out myself.
I was terrified to struggle, or try to break free of the creature's grip, for we were travelling so fast I knew if I got free I'd fall to the hard ground and I knew that the result would be broken bones.
We broke the tree line and entered the barren burnt-out wasteland we had first seen from Appa earlier that day. I heard Sokka calling for help, and turned to him. I heard Aang calling for us to hang on.
The younger Airbender flew closer and closer, and Sokka and I stretched out our hands, and Aang his, trying to reach for each other. I turned around, and saw something up head and yelped out in fright. "Sokka, Aang hurry!"
Sokka barely grasped Aang's hand and then...everything faded away, and I knew no more.
0o0
Aang watched as his friends simply vanished right into thin air. In his shock and surprise, he lost control of his glider and with a yell, he fell to the ground.
He remembered feeling his body hit the dirt, and then nothing but black.
0o0
"Sokka! Mina!" When Aang came to the first thing he did was call out for his friends.
He noticed he was alone and felt defeat "I've failed."
0o0
In another place somewhere else in the Earth Kingdom, General Iroh was chained hand to foot and was wearing nothing but a rag around his waist to keep his modesty intact. Not that there was anyone around to see him, in the dead of night in the middle of nowhere.
"Where are you taking me?"
"We're taking you to face justice." the captain of the group said in answer to the general's question
"Right. But where specifically?"
"A place you're quite familiar with actually. You once laid siege to it for 600 days, but it would not yield to you."
Suddenly it became clear "Ahh, the great city of Ba-Sing-Sa,"
"It was greater than you were apparently." the captain retorted
"I acknowledge my defeat at Ba-Sing-Sa. After 600 days away from home, my men were tired. I was tired," he yawned "And I am still tired."
He slumped against the man's back in front of him on the ostrich-horse they were riding, and then fell to the ground. The earthbenders picked him up, put him back on the ostrich-horse and mounted themselves before they continued on.
No one of them noticed the sandal left behind on purpose on the ground.
0o0
"I'm sure they'll be back."
"I know."
Katara was sat outside the entrance to the village, knees to her chest, and arms wrapped around them. The old man stood at her right side, keeping her company at the late hour.
"You should get some rest." the old man suggested kindly while placing his shawl over her shoulders.
Katara gripped the edges of the shawl, with Sokka's boomerang in her right hand "Everything's gonna be ok." she tried to reassure herself, and then failing, she turned from the forest.
The old man knelt at her side "Your brother and friend are in good hands. I would be shocked if the Avatar returned without them."
Neither of them noticed that Aang had come trudging up to them filled with defeat and exhaustion "Katara? Katara I lost him," then he sniffed a little "I lost them both."
Neither the old man nor Katara said a word to him.
"The sun is rising. Perhaps he will return soon."
Aang was instantly confused "What? No, I'm right here." He let out a groan of frustration and proceeded to wave a hand in front of their faces as they gazed at the rising sun.
He stopped when he noticed he could see through his hand as he held it up to the light. Suddenly Aang knew what was going on and why neither Katara nor the older man could see or even hear him.
"I'm in the spirit world." This was so not good, he thought.
0o0
Now that the sun had risen, Prince Zuko had found tracking his uncle much easier. And his job of tracking got easier still when he found a sandal on the ground, and after a checking sniff- that made him rear back in disgust- he got to his feet
"Yep, that's uncle Iroh."
Then the prince went on his way again.
0o0
Katara had fallen asleep against the stone pillar at the entrance to the village, the shawl still on her shoulders, as Aang sat cross-legged just a little behind her, and said reassurances to her.
"I'll figure this out Katara. I promise. Like they said I'm the bridge between worlds right? All I have to do is...figure out what I have to do, but once I do that no problem."
Appa came up and gave a groan to gain attention, and Katara woke up, as he blew air in her face. Even the flying two-ton flying bison couldn't see or hear him-which Aang proved by trying to speak to him.
"Hey buddy I'm right here, but I guess you can't see me either."
Katara smiled "Its ok Appa," she got to her feet "Don't worry I'm sure they're on their way back. I bet they even found you moon peaches, for a treat." she walked away with Appa following her.
Aang sighed "What am I supposed to do?" he then looked to the sky "Avatar Roku, how can I talk to you?" he certainly wasn't expecting an answer "Sokka? Mina?" he questioned seeing something coming towards him.
But an answer was what he got, and not what he was expecting. It was a large flying dragon, and it was heading his way. Fast. "That's definitely not my friends."
He opened his glider and tried to fly, only to fall to the ground. He frowned then tried to air bend, only to fail "What?" he stared in disbelief at his hands "I can't airbend in the spirit world."
He looked back to see the dragon getting closer, and then he froze as it came to land in front of him. Half in hope, and a half in nervousness he questioned: "You don't know where my friends are, do you?" The dragon lowered his neck and stretched its whisker under its snout to his forehead.
Suddenly a bright light was in front of Aang's eyes and then... he could see.
It was a vision or that very same dragon that was before him now, with bright red scales and wings and body, and sitting behind his horns was an older man with a long white beard, and white hair.
He was dressed in colours and shades of red, and on top of his head, slipped into the topknot that his hair was done in was a golden relic, shaped like a three-pointed flame.
The vision faded away, and Aang knew what he had seen "You're Avatar Roku's animal guide like Appa is to me," Aang stepped closer no longer afraid "I need to save my friends, and I don't know how. Is there some way for me to talk to Roku?"
The dragon lowered its neck fully, and sensing the intent, Aang hopped up to sit behind the dragon's horns. He turned to the village and said "I'll be back Katara," then he said to the dragon "Take me to Roku."
The dragon complied with a will, and they were off.
0o0
It was such a sight, of a young boy with an arrow on his forehead, riding a dragon, both as see-through as glass, that General Iroh was greeted to sometime later. He made a surprised exclamation, and the soldier rising behind, noticed
"What's the problem?"
"Nothing," he quickly but not to quickly denied, before smiling suddenly "Actually there is a bit of a problem. My old joints are feeling sore and achy, and these shackles are too loose."
"Too loose?" the captain said in disbelief at what his prisoner was saying
"That's right. The cuffs are loose and they jangle around and bump my wrists. It would help me if you would tighten them so they wouldn't shake around so much?"
The captain nodded and ordered one of his men to tighten the handcuffs. The man General Iroh was sat behind, halted his mount, stepped off, and reached for the metal cuffs to tighten them.
Just a moment before he did, General Iroh used his bending, breathing heat from his nose and heating the metal, and then holding the man's hand to the burning metal to make sure his hand was injured.
The soldiers let out a scream of pain before General Iroh hopped off and shot a fire blast out of his feet at the other two soldiers, and then the grey-haired firebender rolled away, and down the cliff.
He left chaos in his wake.
0o0
The dragon had brought Aang to a crescent moon shaped island, with a smoking volcano. The dragon flew into the temple and headed for the ceiling. Aang cried out expecting them to come to a sudden and hurtful stop before they went right through the stone.
They came to a stop in a large room, where at the end opposite the great door, was a golden altar. The altar took up a whole wall length. The gold was shaped into large flames, and in the middle was a golden statue of a man.
"I don't understand, this is just a statue of Roku," the dragon showed him a vision of a large fiery comet "Is that what Roku wants to talk to me about? A comet?" He gave the statue a look "When can I talk to him?"
The dragon ducked, and a ray of sunlight shone down through a red crystal, and it was clearly done on purpose as the ray hit a certain point on the statue, and then Aang noticed the tiles below his feet and saw numbers.
The dragon touched his whisker to his forehead again, and Aang saw the passage of time go by in his head, the sunset and rose many times. Then he saw the sun ray's progression around the room until it hit Roku's statue.
"It's a calendar. And the light will reach Roku on the solstice," he stated out loud, the asked the dragon "So that's when I'll be able to speak to Roku?" the dragon grunted in assent "But I can't wait that long. I need to save Sokka and Mina now."
Then before Aang knew it, they were flying again, away from the temple.
0o0
General Iroh wasn't having much better luck it seemed. The earthbenders had noticed his escape, and stopped him with an avalanche of rocks and came to surround him.
"He is too dangerous Captain. We can't just carry him to the Capitol. We have to do something now."
"I agree," the captain said to the corporal "He must be dealt with immediately and severely."
What they didn't know, was what Iroh was planning, and had no idea what the delay was bringing.
0o0
"It's no use Appa. Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait." Katara said and she directed the bison to fly back the way they came.
On the ground, still tracking down his uncle Zuko saw the familiar sight of the flying bison and knew the Avatar would be close by. He halted for a mere moment, unsure...
Then made a decision.
0o0
Naturally the only person, or rather creature, Aang could talk to in the spirit world wasn't answering his questions on how he was supposed to save his friends. Though he was enjoying the ride.
Until he saw his body sitting atop a large tall wooden bear statue in the middle of the burned land, and that they were heading straight for it. He braced himself for the impact and...
Opened his eyes, back in his physical body.
Then, gazing at the bear statue, things clicked into place, and he flew off towards the village as quickly as possible.
0o0
Katara came running out to meet him, and hugged him tight as she exclaimed in relief "You're back!" then she pulled back and noticed he was alone "Where's Sokka? And Mina?"
Aang bowed his head "I'm not sure."
It was then the two of them noticed it was dark, and that the sun had set.
0o0
"These dangerous hands must be crushed."
For that was what the Earth Kingdom soldiers were planning. They had chained General Iroh down, and the captain lifted a huge boulder to hover above the firebender's hand. And just as it fell...it was kicked away.
Prince Zuko had arrived just in time, and he did not look happy. With his heel, he smashed to chains so his uncle's hands were unrestrained "Excellent form Prince Zuko."
"You taught me well."
"Surrender yourselves, its 5 against 2. You're clearly outnumbered."
General Iroh scoffed at the words from the captain "Ahh, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched."
Then the fight began.
The earthbenders shot boulders and rocks at them. Iroh smashed them to pieces using the end of the chain from his shackles, twirling it expertly, as Prince Zuko knocked them off with flames shot from his heels.
The captain was the last one standing after a few moments. He raised an avalanche of earth and aimed for the scarred firebender. Chains wrapped around his ankles tripped him, and the rocks tumbled onto himself instead.
Prince Zuko smiled in thanks to his uncle, and then said: "Now will you please put on some clothes."
He got a grin in return.
0o0
Aang had waited and waited, for the spirit to turn up, and only the wind answered his silent queries as to where Hei-Bai was. He was scared witless when the white and black spirit suddenly appeared by smashing through a building's roof.
Aang used his airbending to shield himself from the debris as Katara shouted from the main hall "Aang what are you doing? Run!"
The white and black spirit charged the main building, and Aang raced after it. He touched a hand to the spirit's forehead, and a blue glow appeared for a moment, and Aang saw an image in place on top of the creature, showing its true face and appearance.
"You're the spirit of this forest, now I understand. You're upset and angry because your home was burned down. When I saw the forest had burned I was sad and upset, but my friend gave me hope that the forest would grow back."
He held up the acorn and then put down, to which the spirit responded by picking it up itself. And suddenly the spirit wasn't six-legged and huge and scary anymore. It transformed back to its original self. A giant, black and white panda spirit.
Aang smiled, glad it was over, and he had succeeded.
0o0
It was dark. It was very dark, but surprisingly, I wasn't afraid. At least not by much anyway. And then before too long went by, it was no longer dark. It suddenly became light and clear as day.
I was stood in a beautiful place. Two twin beams of light came from either side of me, and it was as if they were both very close and yet, very far away. In front of me was a tree.
This tree looked very old, and it was twisted around itself and had created a hole, shaped almost like an eye in its centre. I found an urge to get closer, and I did. I climbed the large twisting roots and entered through the gap in the trunk.
I knew this tree, yet I didn't know where from. I touched the bark of sides at the entrance as I walked in, and suddenly little globes of light appeared in front of me, hanging in the air.
These lights cleared and turned into what I could only describe as mirrors and suddenly real-life moving images appeared in them. Gazing at them, I realised something. That these multiple visions I was seeing suspended before me, were my memories.
There, on the left was a memory of when Aang and I broke curfew and snuck out to play airball. And there, a memory of my tenth birthday, where Aang 'accidentally' hit Monk Tashi with a fruit pie as he 'tripped' and Monk Gyasto tried to hide his laughter. And there, when it snowed on the mountain, and Aang and I and some of the other novices had a snowball fight.
All around me were my memories. I smiled at the sight of them, finding them reassuring. Another little globe of light appeared, and it floated down to hover in front of me. Curious, I touched it.
A bright light flashed before my eyes, and suddenly I was deep into a vision.
I saw I was stood in an open courtyard, on an island, and under my feet, there were tiles in the design of an air spiral. It was lovely and peaceful here I knew that instantly.
I heard laughter and turned around. Walking towards me were four people.
One was a girl my age, maybe a year older or so, with tanned skin and blue eyes. On her left, was another girl, who was taller, with raven hair. On the blue-eyed girl's right was a boy my age, with green eyes.
And coming behind them, was another boy and the last of their group. He was taller than all of them, with night black hair, and angular features. He was frowning and had his hands in his pockets.
"Ana, I thought you were too busy to come with us." The taller boy asked, still frowning but now in disgruntled confusion.
I was confused myself. Ana? That was new. I had been called Mina only since I could remember, but never Ana. Strangely, the new nickname didn't sound so bad coming from this odd boy.
The tanned girl looked up, and gave me a confused frown "Ana? But weren't you just-?" She said in a questioning tone but she didn't get to finish.
The instant our gazes locked, I was jolted out of the vision and was once again stood in the centre of the old tree. I was confused, immensely, and suddenly feeling nervous I walked out and away.
"Do not be afraid, young one. One day you will understand." I jumped and gazed around for the source of the voice. It sounded like the voice of a woman, soft and low but filled with warmth and power.
I was then startled by a slight roar and turned to see a huge white and black panda spirit before me. It didn't attack me and gave me a look. I bit my lip, and inched closer to it, and then feeling braver and guessing what it wanted, I hopped on its back. It roared softly, and we left the old tree, and that strange vision I had seen far behind us.
"Since beginningless time, darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light. You are that light, and one day you'll know. One day you'll understand."
The voice faded away, and suddenly there was nothing else but a bright flash of pure glowing blue light.
0o0
Aang watched, smiling as bamboo stalks appeared behind Hei-Bai as he left, and suddenly the missing villagers appeared out of them, and then...
"Sokka!"
"Ami!"
Both Aang and Katara rushed forward and hugged their two returned friends with joy and relief.
0o0
As that bright light faded away, I heard a young happy voice of a boy calling me by the nickname only he called me by when he was extremely upset or worried.
I was suddenly almost knocked flying off my feet. I was confused and was even more so when Aang pulled away and grinned at me.
"What happened?" I heard Sokka ask
"You and Mina were trapped in the spirit world for 24 hours. How are you feeling?" I heard Katara reply.
Now I was really confused and missed Sokka's answer to her question, though I was sure I heard something about the Water Tribe boy 'needing to use the bathroom'. I frowned, and Aang asked me if I remembered anything. I shook my head and then "One day you will understand." I suddenly felt dizzy and swayed a little on my feet.
An arm wrapped around my waist, and a steadying hand was holding mine, and I looked up into sapphire blue orbs. Sokka was frowning at me in concern "Are you all right?"
I swayed a little more, but the dizziness and the memory of the voice, was wiped away and smiled "Got a little d-dizzy, but I'm f-fine now."
I was distracted by the headman, thanking Aang for saving the village and his people, and saying he wished there was a way for him and the village to repay Aang for his deeds.
"You could give us some supplies and some money."
Before Katara could scold her older brother I beat her to it and wholloped him upside the head, dizziness and spirit world travelling forgotten. He yelped, and I glowered at him. It seemed the gentleman act was not to last, and that I had been right earlier about hitting Sokka for his stupidity becoming a reflex.
"Sokka."
He shrugged at me "What? We need stuff"
The head man bowed "It would be an honour to help you prepare for your journey"
I turned to Aang and said "I'm so p-proud of you Aang, you figured out w-what to do all on your o-own," then I grinned and wrapped an arm around his neck and proceeded to rub his head in a noogie "Come h-here you little genius you!"
He attempted to bat my hands away and struggled to get loose but he was laughing, and eventually, I released him. "Actually I did have a little help," then suddenly he stopped smiling "And there's something else,"
"What is it?" Sokka spoke up, his surprised look at my playful manner vanishing.
"Aang?" I questioned, Raiu coming back to perch on my shoulder, after having scurried off when I had been teasing with Aang.
"I need to talk to Roku. And I think I've found a way to contact his spirit."
Katara was beaming "That's great."
Sokka wasn't as pleased "Creepy, but great."
Aang nodded "There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island, and if I go there on the solstice I'll be able to speak with him."
"But the solstice is tomorrow," Katara exclaimed in surprise
He had sounded too cheery all of sudden, and I knew by Aang's tone that there was something he wasn't saying "But?" I spoke up with and at their confused looks I went on further "You c-can speak with Avatar Roku on the solstice, but?" I put emphasis on the last.
Aang took a deep breath "The Island is in the Fire Nation." I covered my mouth with one hand to stop the curse on my tongue from erupting out into the air.
We are so screwed, was my only thought.
0o0