Well, in the last chapter, many readers wanted to know why Aang was crying. in case some of you didn't get it, here are the reasons why:
1. He hated to see Katara like this.
2. He is afraid that things might not change, or they could in the wrong way
3. pretty dramatic, eh? Or that's what Aang thought.
Disclaimer- I do not Own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Sorry I didn't update quickly. School starts tomorrow, and I have to prepare a lot of things
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"I want to go to sleep…" And with that, Aang rudely turned his back to Katara and pretended to softly snore. He heard Katara sigh again, and as she stood up, he swore he had heard Katara say something. He wasn't sure what it was that she said, but he could detect a hint of sadness in the voice.
She spoke up again, this time louder for Aang to hear.
"I know that you can hear me, Aang. I really, really want to help you, but since I don't know what is wrong with you, I'm afraid that I can't. I'm afraid you'll have nightmares again, and so I try to help you, but you have to tell me what's wrong. You know that I can't stand to see you like this, Aang. Please, tell me what's wrong, or promise that you will be able to solve it by yourself if you don't want to tell me. I know that you heard me and Sokka yelling, and maybe that's what's bothering you. And whatever you feel about me or Sokka, just know one thing; we are and forever will be your family. And who knows, maybe one day it could change..."
Aang silently cried.
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The next morning, Aang woke up before all the others. He saw that Katara was on the chair beside him, her head leaning sideways and softly snoring. He quietly got up and headed for the stream to waterbend.
After a couple of hours of basic moves and reflexes, Aang decided to try out the move that Katara wanted to teach him the day he was injured. Think, Aang. Remember what Katara told you.
Aang slowly remembered what Katara had told him. Inner body strength. Fluid body motions. He practiced the movement for a couple of minutes, and started to look for a target to attack. Soon, he found a log, and moved it into an upright position on the dirt beside the stream. He exhaled, and slowly bended water into the shape of a whip. He then lunged his left hand forward, which sent the water whip straight at the log. It knocked the log down, and with his a curl of his fist, the water started to wrap around the log. Eventually, the log was completely covered, and the water quickly turned into ice. Aang was surprised that he got it on his first try.
"That's great, Aang!" Only then had Aang noticed that Katara had been standing there all along, watching him perform waterbending.
"Oh, um… thanks."
"Can I join you?" Aang blushed.
"Of course!"
The two waterbended until lunchbreak, when Mrs. Worheilmer called them for lunch.
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After lunch, Aang went to where the town leaders supposedly resided for the day. He had told Katara that he was going to look at the shops, and Katara hadn't suspected anything. Only Mrs. Worheilmer knew that Aang was going to try to thank Katara, because it was her who told Aang about the location in the first place.
Aang knocked on the door of the biggest house in the entire village. When the person answered the door, he was shocked to see the Avatar. "What brings you here, Avatar? Come in, come in! Please take off your boots, though." Aang did what he was told and stepped inside. There were pictures of people on both sides of the wall, as the person told him about the house.
"Those pictures are the pictures of past leaders of this town. There are 5 leaders, and it is a tradition that when one dies, the other four die. I do not know why, but it is the customs of the Kai-Ping."
"What's a Kai-Ping?"
"Not a Kai-Ping, the Kai-Ping. The Kai-Ping were the people who had built this town, over five hundred years ago. Of course, over the years we have greatly improved the architecture."
Aang was getting impatient. The history of the Kai-Ping was fascinating, but he needed to achieve his real goal before Katara or Sokka go looking for him.
"Excuse me, but may I talk to the village leaders?"
"Of course! Oh, and one thing. They love Pai-Sho. Maybe if you could get their spirits up, you could have better luck with whatever you want to do."
"Thank you." The man led Aang to the biggest door in the entire house, and then he turned and left. Aang took a deep breathe, and knocked on the door.
"Who is it."
"It's the Avatar, sir."
"Come in."
Aang opened the door to see 2 sets of Pai-Sho on a big table. One was watching, while the other four were playing.
"Close the door." Aang did as he was told.
"So, Avatar, what brings you here?" Aang was nervous, he never had a good way with words.
"Um… I was wondering…Maybe we could throw a festival to thank Dr. Worheilmer?"
"You are not telling the full truth. I can tell by the hesitancy in your voice. Spit it out, boy."
"Well, what I actually wanted was… maybe we could throw a festival to thank the people who had saved me? Like my friend Katara and Dr. Worheilmer?"
Another leader spoke up. "That could be arranged, seeing as the world would be doomed if it wasn't for them." Aang smiled.
"However, you will have to beat all five of us at Pai-Sho." Aang forced himself to calm down.
Don't worry, Aang. You can take them. You used to play all the time with Gyatso, remember?
Yeah, but I have to beat all five! And the person said that they loved Pai-Sho, so they must be really good.
I hate it when your like this. You have to think of the bright side of things, not the dark side.
Alright, I just hope that I can win.
"Alright, I accept. When will we play?"
"Right now."
"But my friends will be looking for me!"
"It is now…or never."
It's for Katara, it's for Katara, it's for Katara.
"Let's play. I am ready."