A couple of hours later, Aang sat watching Sam as she stared into the new camp fire. They'd moved their camp yet again. The soldiers had been tied up and taken to the village to be arrested by the Earth Kingdom military at their earliest convenience. Katara was stirring a pot of calming tea using her bending. Sokka had lain Danny's body down in a stone tent Toph made. Toph, Sokka and Tucker busied themselves with mundane chores as they set up their new camp, fed Appa and Momo who had been tied up by the soldiers, gathered firewood and so on. The truth that they were never going to talk with Danny again hadn't sunk in yet, especially not for Sam. Sam still insisted that Danny wasn't dead. If they looked, his eyes would be green showing that he was just in the spirit world for some reason. But Sam couldn't bring herself to prove it. Because they all knew that his eyes would be blue.
Aang sighed loudly and shook his head. He had so many questions. Why hadn't Roku ever told him about Danny? If they'd known about him sooner, then they might have been able to help each other more. Aang and Danny could have taught each other about the spirit world. Danny mightn't have died! Aang set his jaw and nodded. He had to speak with Roku. Their latest camp was relatively close to the spirit's shrine. He'd go to it and meditate. He'd enter the spirit world and get some answers. Maybe he could change this. Danny was a special case. He got hit by lightning before and survived, maybe he could come back like Sam kept saying he would.
Aang got to his feet and walked out of the clearing, ignoring Katara's confused gaze.
"Aang? Where are you going?" Sokka asked, returning to their camp with a large bundle of sticks.
"I'm going into the spirit world to talk to Roku. I have questions and I'm going to get answers," Aang answered stiffly. Sokka nodded.
"I'll bring these into camp. You go ahead and I'll catch up," Sokka replied. Aang smiled gratefully. He continued to the shrine and sat down beside the stone statue, hardened lumps of wax was all that remained of the candles he and Danny had lit. Aang swallowed down a pang of sadness. He closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. His mind relaxed and his tattoos began to glow as he entered the spirit world.
Aang opened his eyes and got to his feet. He was in the middle of a forest clearing. He filled his lungs.
"Roku! Roku, I need to talk to you! Roku!" Aang shouted as loudly as he could.
"Aang, what's wrong?" A calm aged voice asked. Aang turned to see an elderly man in red robes standing at the edge of the clearing.
"Why didn't you tell me about Danny?" Aang asked avatar Roku, his predecessor. Roku nodded.
"I see. I didn't tell you because you had enough to worry about with the war and later with the spirit problem," Roku answered. Aang shook his head.
"If I'd known about him, we could have worked together," Aang suggested. Roku shook his head and strolled closer to Aang.
"No Aang. Defeating Fire Lord Ozai was your destiny. Quelling the spirits and their rage in the Earth kingdom was Danny's," Roku replied.
Aang shook his head.
"You should have told me. Because I didn't know Danny was all alone facing those spirits and now…" Aang whispered. Roku smiled sadly.
"I see. You're not upset that I didn't tell you about Danny. You're upset that you couldn't save him," Roku realised. Aang looked up at the tall elderly man.
"Aang, sometimes people can't be saved. Sometimes they outlive their destinies," Roku began.
"No! Danny didn't choose what he became. The spirits did. Now they owe him. They brought him back once! Can't they do it again?" Aang shouted angrily, hurt clear in his eyes. Roku pursed his lips and considered the boy in front of him.
"Roku, it's alright. I'll take it from here," A younger male voice called from behind Aang.
Aang twisted around and saw Danny's spirit form, white hair, green eyes, dark clothes. He smiled.
"Danny! You're alive! Sam was right," Aang exclaimed happily.
"You're sure?" Roku asked. Danny smiled grimly and nodded.
"Aang doesn't want answers from you. He wants them from me," Danny answered, not looking at the present avatar. Roku gave him a curt nod before walking away through the forest surrounding them.
"Hey, Aang," Danny greeted the avatar. Aang smiled giddily, relieved that his new friend wasn't dead after all.
"So, why did you come here? Was it a reflex or something?" Aang questioned. Danny shook his head.
"I'm sorry Aang, but I am dead. I'm not coming back," Danny informed him. Aang's face fell.
"But you're here," Aang pointed out.
"So's Roku, and he died," Danny retorted. Aang sank down to the ground. Danny sat beside him.
"It's alright though Aang. I'm fine with being dead," Danny reassured him. Aang turned to Danny.
"You are? But wouldn't you rather be alive?" Aang asked. Danny smiled.
"I've been living on borrowed time Aang. I should have died years ago when I got hit by lightning. Sure, I've loved being able to live and grow up and everything but… since my village got burned down. I can't help but feel that I should have died with them. I guess that Sam was right. I didn't care if I got killed. Because I didn't feel that I deserved to live," Danny explained. Aang stared at Danny in disbelief.
"Can I ask a favour Aang?" Danny asked after a brief silence. Aang started and nodded.
"Of course Danny," Aang answered quickly. Danny smiled and looked down at his softly glowing hands.
"Can you keep an eye out for Sam and Tucker? They have no one else. I wish I could but I'm kind of stuck here now," Danny requested. Aang nodded.
"Sure thing. We wouldn't want to leave them behind anyway," Aang replied. Danny smiled and nodded.
"But I guess we should talk about that spirit problem that village has. Your deadline is tonight at sundown," Danny reminded the avatar. Aang's eyes widened. With all that had happened, they'd completely forgotten that the spirit would return and destroy the village if they didn't fix her fire.
"I had an idea. Those candles we lit helped her fire. If you could convince the village to have a celebration or a festival every year on this day which ended with a bonfire at sundown. Then the spirit would never get so angry again and attack them. Maybe suggest making it a festival dedicated to love or passion and make it a tradition," Danny recommended. Aang nodded slowly.
"That will work?" Aang replied. Danny nodded.
"It should do. And since my death anniversary will be on this day, I might be able to ensure it happens," Danny answered. Aang flinched. Danny frowned apologetically.
"Sorry. I know that this is hard for you guys. But I don't want any of you to stop living, alright. None of you are to blame for what happened. I knew it was a trap," Danny apologised. Aang looked at Danny.
"If you knew, then why didn't you drop to the ground as well, or shout a warning," Aang inquired. Danny smiled.
"I didn't have time. I had to protect you and Sam. I'm unimportant Aang. You're a sign of hope and peace for the world. I'm an imposter. Besides, I can still help you, just from this side. I'll travel through the spirit world and calm down angry spirits. And if you ever need help, feel free to ask me," Danny answered. Aang nodded sadly.
"So, this is goodbye?" Aang whispered. Danny nodded.
"Yeah, I guess it is. At least for now. Aang, please help Sam and Tucker to move on from me," Danny requested. Aang nodded.
"I'll try but I don't know them well," Aang muttered. Danny smirked.
"That's fine. Knowing that you'll try is enough for me. I'll see you around Aang. You need to get back and organise that bonfire. I'll tell the spirit the plan so she can take the fire for herself since it won't be at her shrine," Danny concluded and got to his feet. Aang watched Danny walk out of the clearing before he closed his eyes and began to meditate again.
Yes. I killed Danny. But his spirit continues on.
Fun fact, this story was written around the same time as I wrote The Spirit of Fear. Both were inspired by a writing magazine article about killing characters.
Let me know what you guys think so far.
Not much left of the story now.
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Until the next chapter.