Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the song "When I See an Elephant Fly" from Dumbo, lyrics by Ned Washington.

Author's Note: I got the lyrics from a songbook, so I don't recall if they're exactly what were used in the movie. The grammar has obviously been revised, no doubt for the sake of political correctness. Here, we return to the happy, carefree days of Book 1 with a light piece.

When I See an Elephant Fly

I saw a peanut stand,
Heard a rubber band,
I saw a needle that winked its eye.
But I will have seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly.

Sokka had seen a number of strange things in his life. The ocean contained many secrets, and the various creatures his fishing pole brought up were occasionally astonishing and fascinating. However, he was completely convinced that only birds and insects could fly. Fish with the right modifications to their fins could sometimes glide, but that was it.

Certainly, nothing as large as the fuzzy bison he and Katara had found along with this strange kid could fly. It didn't even have wings! For it to fly would defy all of the physical laws he knew, and if there were anything Sokka respected more than a warrior's prowess, it was physical laws.

I saw a front porch swing,
Heard a diamond ring,
Saw a polka-dot railroad tie.

It was hard enough for Sokka to accept that he was meeting an airbender for the first time. Finding a bald kid with arrow tattoos on him in an iceberg was hardly an everyday occurrence by itself. Throw in airbending and a giant monster that he claimed could fly, and Sokka was willing to believe he was going crazy. These things just didn't happen, especially not to sensible people like him.

Katara had always listened raptly to their grandmother's stories about airbenders and the Avatar, but Sokka had been more interested in following in his father's footsteps, thinking that dwelling on the past was a waste of time. And since their father had left the South Pole with the other warriors, it had been up to Sokka to become the man of the village, a responsibility he'd taken seriously despite being only 13.

But I will have seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly.

Sokka didn't give much thought to the fact that this boy, Aang, appeared only a little younger than Sokka himself was when the village had been essentially handed over to him and his sister, who was even younger. Sokka had learned to be suspicious of any stranger, especially one sending bright lights into the sky, and he didn't like the fact that Katara seemed so ready to trust him. He didn't particularly care for the way Aang looked at her, either.

Therefore, Sokka did feel a certain sense of vindication when the bison leapt into the air only to splash into the water and start swimming.

"Wow, that was truly amazing," he drawled sardonically.

I even heard a chocolate drop,
Saw a bicycle shop,
You can't deny the things you see.

The next day, Sokka found his assumptions challenged even more. It turned out that Aang, at least, could fly, with the help of his glider. Still, that could be explained. He knew a little about bending, being the brother of their village's only waterbender. If you allowed for the existence of one airbender after they were thought to have been wiped out, it made a certain amount of sense that controlling air currents could allow one to fly.

In a way, Aang's glider was a little like a sail, which could move a boat along. So Sokka could accept that it could also lift a person. Anyway, it was hard to deny something he'd witnessed with his own eyes. It still didn't mean that large pet of his could fly.

But I know there's certain things
That just can't be.
The other day, by chance,
Saw an old barn dance,
And I just laughed till I thought I'd die.

Sokka's skepticism persisted after Aang gave himself up to the Fire Nation, and Katara insisted on using the bison. Needless to say, Sokka was less than enthusiastic about using this mode of travel again, and he wasn't convinced that it was any faster than their canoe.

So when they launched into the air after he came up with the right command word, he couldn't contain his surprise and excitement. Only his sister's smug expression reined him in. He hated it when she was right, but he realized he could get to appreciate flying.

After all, it was a fast and efficient way to get where you were going, and Sokka was nothing if not pragmatic.

But I will have seen about everything
When I see an elephant fly.

--

Member of the Boomeraang Squad: charleegirl, Jesus.Lives, Liselle129, Strix Moonwing, Avatarwolf, MormonMaiden, libowiekitty, Snows of Yester-Year, La Vixen de Amor, chocolatecoveredbananacheese, Aangy, and honorary member SnakeEyes16

Author's Note: This was just a really short one I'd been thinking about for a while. I'm still taking some of your requests under consideration, and now that my multi-chapter stories are done, I should have more time for these little collections.

Review responses:

airnaruto45: Thank you.

Fusion Blaster: You're right, I haven't really written any bonding between Aang and Sokka since I finished Destiny's Call. I'll give that some thought. And thanks for the compliment.:)

MavsGirl22: I don't think it was any more out of character than the show had Aang and Katara acting toward the end. I mean, Katara choosing to go with Zuko instead of being there to support Aang when he returned? Personally, although I admit it wasn't my best, I liked my scene better!

Wishing Only Wounds the Heart: After the lack of fluff in the real finale, have you changed your mind on the last chapter? I thought about making it more angsty but decided against it.

Sanna Lan: "Out There" could be for Toph, but it could also apply to Aang – just wanting to be an ordinary person. I'm not sure yet. And Chit Sang was the co-conspirator at the prison that they escaped with and conveniently got rid of in the next episode.

RedRoseRebel: Thanks!

Loupami: Well, I'm glad I could bring you back to those days.

Jad the dog: Actually, no, that hadn't occurred to me, although I was thinking that Jack's song about being The Pumpkin King would be fun to use for something. I hadn't figured out what yet, and it does have a lot of lyrics to account for.

ilovekataang: Thank you, and I'll add your suggestion into the strange and unpredictable hopper that is my brain.