Chapter 28
Sokka, while his family was asleep, had taken another midnight drive to Suki's place because again, he felt like she needed him. They had hung out for most of the night. He knew it was dangerous, knowing who was after him, but it was worth the risk to see his girlfriend again. As long as they were happy, it didn't matter what happened to him as long as Suki was happy and safe.
Earlier this morning, the couple had had breakfast made by Lin, who was always happy to see Sokka. Ever since her best friend had died that night years ago, she felt the need to stay close to Sokka and Katara, to make sure they were safe. Since then, they practically became her children.
After breakfast, Sokka and Suki drove in their respective cars over to Zuko's place like they had planned the previous night on the way home. Suki picked Toph up along the way. When they had gotten over to his place, Mai already there since she arrived in the morning, the group of friends had sat in the living room watching TV. Then Sokka did something stupid. After coming out of the kitchen yet again, he had a bag of gummy worms that almost looked like the real things. He had the idea involving a scare. Sokka knew Mai hated worms, so had crept close to the couch where she lounged by Zuko. Toph sat on the floor, playing her music when she felt the vibrations and raised an eyebrow. But she had a good idea about what Sokka was up to so she kept quiet.
When Sokka was close enough, he placed a worm behind Zuko's shoulder without alerting him. Mai had been looking out the window, thinking about how the colors of the trees made her want to throw up. Then she had looked at Zuko to tell him something when she saw the worm. Her shriek was so high pitched it didn't sound human. Everyone jumped at it, and Mai, hating the little creepy crawlers, had swung her hand out to send it away from her. Her hand had hit Zuko's shoulder, making pain explode forth like a cannonball.
He had grabbed it with a pained cry as Mai smacked at the candy, sending it flying away. It was only when her screams and the flying hands stopped that Sokka laughed out loud, along with Toph. They clutched their sides as they fought for breath; even Suki had a hard time keeping her chuckles in. After a while, Sokka finally wiped his eyes and choked out, "You guys should have seen your faces! I knew it was going happen like this!"
Zuko and Mai stared at him before glancing at the worm. As they focused on it, they realized it was nothing more than a piece of candy. Zuko became angry really quick. He looked at Sokka with deadly calm. "You mean to tell me, that it was a gummy worm from my pack, you placed it on the couch behind me, caused Mai to lash out and hit me while trying to get it away, all the while knowing it would happen?"
Sokka nodded, grinning like an idiot. "Yep!" he answered cheerfully, backing towards the door, knowing what will happen now. Zuko stood up and slowly followed him. Then he threw his fist out, aiming for Sokka's gut. Then something happened.
When Sokka dodged it, thanks to the lessons, Zuko's fist missed and fire blew out. Luckily the room was spacious, so nothing ignited. But when the flame was gone, everyone gaped at his smoking hand, including him. He turned his hand over and over again and suddenly grinned evilly. "You better run," he said menacingly before stalking foward. That was when Sokka gulped and ran to his car, jumped in, started the engine and drove away, back to his house.
Now the group sat at the long table, Zuko on one end and Sokka on the other with Suki sitting on his left and Toph by her. Aang and Katara were on the opposite side, listening to Sokka's story, Aang playing with a marble. When Zuko had been about to barge into the house to get his revenge, Katara had run out and said, "Put your fire out! Right now!" She hadn't looked surprised to Zuko control the the dangerous element; in fact, she had seem to expect it. He was always the hot headed one, so it really didn't surprise Katara at all. Aang, on the other hand, had gaped as the fire went out from the older teenager's hands and Katara ushered him in. A few minutes later, Suki, Toph, and Mai had shown up.
When Sokka was done explaining, Aang and Katara sat in contemplative silence, wondering what to tell the others. Aang said, 'We need to tell them now; about my powers.'
Katara pressed her lips together but finally nodded, cleared her throat, and said, "We have something to tell you guys."
"Before you do," Zuko said, interrupting, "I want to melt Sokka's face off!"
He raised his fist and Sokka ducked with a frightened yelp. But before he could fire off a shot, Katara grabbed his arm and said sternly, "No Firebending inside the house!"
Everyone stared at her; even Sokka came out of his hiding place to look at her strangely. "Fire-what?" he asked dumbly.
Katara sighed and played with her long hair. "Well, Aang came up with the name Bending, and I just put the word 'fire' in front of it. So, Zuko's ability could be called Firebending. Which leads to what Aang wanted to tell you." She gestured to him and he took a deep breath. He knew Sokka wouldn't believe him, even when the guy saw Zuko throw flames at him. His brain might fry up from the knowledge; but it would be better if he knew.
After thinking on how to tell them, action seems better. So he said, "Watch this." Having the marble in his palm, Aang concentrated on it. Then a little current of air lifted it from his palm, and the silver marble started floating. When it was level with his head, Aang moved his fingers around and the tiny sphere flew around the table. Sokka, Suki, Mai, and Zuko stared at it as it passed each of them.
Toph grunted. "Okay, I'm confused. What are you showing? Can someone please explain what's happening to the blind girl?"
Aang looked sheepish as the marble flew into his hand again. "Sorry, Toph. Here, this might help. Open one hand." She did so, and he placed the ball there. "Now I want you to focus on the marble, and feel what's happening." Toph nodded, and Aang started Airbending the marble again. Her face slowly filled with astonishment as she felt the slight air current and the marble disappeared from her hand. Aang grinned and lowered the ball back into her hand before grabbing it.
They sat in amazed silence as the realization of what Aang did sunk in. "Whoa," Toph said. "That was so… cool." She grinned. "Now I have a real reason to call you Twinkle Toes."
Aang grimaced as everyone grinned. "And we're back to that," he said shaking his head. He looked at her. "Did you have to bring that nickname up?"
"Why, yes," Toph replied. "I had to."
Their friends laughed as Aang frowned at her; then shrugged and sat back, playing with the marble in a new way. After the laughing dwindled, Zuko lifted his hand and a small flame ignited in his palm. Sokka flinched and he rolled his golden eyes. "Stop flinching!" he demanded. "I'm not going to roast alive; not unless you do that trick again." Sokka nodded quickly and Zuko smirked. "Okay," he said, distinguishing the flame. He turned to Aang. "So how did we get these powers? How are they going to help us?"
Aang shrugged. "Katara has an idea." He nodded to her, and she started explaining about the dream, leaving out the scary part. She talked about how her and Sokka's mother's ghost showed up, telling her that she and Aang were not the only gifted ones here. Sokka had looked dubious; but he believed her after Toph confirmed she was telling the truth; he even shed a few tears. But the Blind Bandit knew Katara was only telling half of the dream. However, she remained quiet, letting Katara finish.
"And she had said that Toph has a talent too, and if I could hazard a guess, it would have something to do with earth. About how we got these skills?" She shrugged. "It's anyone's guess. Mine being that the Spirits blessed us with them. Either that or we were born with them but didn't know about it."
Sokka crossed his arms and frowned. "What about me and Suki? Are we the only ones without powers? That's totally unfair!"
Katara scoffed. "You wouldn't have even believed this was real unless there was proof. And even then you had a hard time believing. Now you're jealous?" She snorted. "Typical."
Toph laughed. "She's got you panged, Snoozles."
Her friends laughed with her as Sokka pouted and Suki rubbed his shoulder, grinning despite herself. She didn't mind being a regular fighter. After the laughing stopped, Aang cleared his throat. Everyone looked at him. They became serious when they saw his somber expression. "But we have to keep this quiet. If people found out, we would either be experiments or tools. And if the Black Mamba found out, they could use our secret to-"
"Make use to their advantages," Suki finished.
Aang nodded. "Exactly."
The mood was destroyed by these facts. Aang and Suki were right. There are a number of things the Black Mamba could do to get the Gaang on their side, and one of them was to threaten them by exposing who they really were: kids with extraordinary powers.
Toph raised her hands. "Wait a minute!" she said. "I get that we have to keep these powers on the down low. But how do we know I have any abilities? I've never experienced them."
Katara said, "Because my mom mentioned you too, Toph. The first three elements have already been shown: Air, Water, and Fire. Earth is the only one I can think of."
"Not to mention that you're hard headed," Sokka added.
Toph frowned. "Shut up, Meat Head," she muttered. "Because if it turns out that I can control Earth, you'll be the first to know by experience."
Sokka gulped. "I'll remember that," he squeaked.
Toph grinned madly. "You better. You never know when that 'experience' will happen." They laughed as Sokka sank into his seat with wide eyes. He knew better than to get on Toph's bad side.
Afterwards, Katara said, "So remember: no one is to know about this, not even our families. The less people to know, the better." There were some murmurs pf agreement and she nodded before standing, Aang following her lead and taking her hand. "Now then; I say we get out of here for a while. I feel like having a salad and a Burger." There were a few shrugs as everyone stood up to follow the couple out.
As they were heading to the cars, however, Zuko said to Sokka, "But really, I haven't forgotten about that prank. This isn't over yet." And Sokka decided maybe driving with Suki would be the best course of action.
Later that night, Aang and Katara lay on his hed. His uncle Gyatso was already asleep. It was midnight, and the boy hasn't been able to fall asleep. So he contented himself by watching his angel sleep, fiddling with his Air amulet again as he did so. He also thought about earlier today's revelations. Something that Katara had said had ignited a faint memory from his childhood. ' We were born with them but didn't know about it' she had said. What was that memory? Something to do with a glass bowl.
Aang shrugged, letting it go for now, and looked at the clock again. Twelve ten in the morning. He sighed, sinking into the pillows. His movement roused Katara. "Aang?" she asked sleepily. "Are you okay? Why are you still up?" The concern in her voice warmed him.
Touching her hair, he replied, "Couldn't sleep. But I'm about to right now. It's okay; go back to sleep."
Katara frowned, but then yawned and nodded, taking his word for it before lying on his chest again. She was out like a blown out candle, her breaths turning into a lullaby. Aang, listening to her breathing, started closing his eyes, suddenly sleepy. Once they were shut, he was out quick too. And then, he had a dream.
His gray orbs opened to white, nearling blinding him with its radience and causing him to flinch. But when his eyes became adjusted to it, he looked again. No; not just white. It was a rainbow of pinks, blues, greens, and yellows too; but they were shimmering and very pale. Looking around, Aang could see the stuff, clouds they seem to be, floating everywhere for miles. It was beautiful; he felt at peace, real wonderful, weightless peace. But what was this place? Where was he?
As if to answer his question, a woman's echoing voice said, "We are in the Realm Of Dreams."
Aang whirled around, but there was nothing except shimmering colors. Then a piece of cloud seemed to form into a shape right in front of him. Aang took a step back, wondering if this was danger. Nothing in him gave warning, so it was nothing to be afraid of. The cloud dispered to show a young woman, beautiful soft features and kind eyes. Aang's breath caught as he stared at her. There was something faniliar about this person…
"And we are here to give two messages," a male's voice said, a tenor's voice, strong but not too deep. A cloud cocoon whirled next to the woman, and when it dispersed, a man stood there, his features sharp; but they appeared soft when he stared at the teenager in front of him. Aang studied him. Again, he felt he knew these people. He looked more closely at them. The woman had curly hair going a little behind her shoulders, a slim body, and loving face. Comprehension dawned on him as he looked at the man, the man with messy hair like his own, strong and lithe, protective.
The boy swallowed as tears filled his eyes. Looking from one to the other, he said, "Mom? Dad?"
Maria stepped closer. "Yes, my son. It's us. My, you have grown."
Aang walked up to them to hug her, but like Katara from her experience, he received a shocking coldness that zapped into him. He backed away with a sad expression. Finally able to see his parents after two years, and he couldn't even greet them properly. His father stepped forward. "You can only see and hear us, Aang," Alan said. "We're here give a message; from the Great Spirits and from ourselves."
Aang furrowed his brow. "What's the first message?" he asked, his voice echoing.
It was his mother who answered. "The Spirits wanted you know that Katara was right about a couple of things, one of them regarding Toph and her ability to control Earth. What you call 'Bending', it used to be called 'Wielding'. Nice new name, by the way. It's was about time to have some change."
Alan cleared his throat. "Dear, you're getting off track."
Maria covered her smiling mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry. Even in the Afterlife I still get distracted."
Aang had to laugh. Even in death, his parents were still the same way they had been when they were alive. His parents looked at him and began to laugh too. It almost felt like old times again, like being a family once more. But the laughing died soon enough, and Alan turned toward his son, his expression growing somber. "Aang, another thing. When Katara made her revelations known, she was half right in her guessing involving the origin of your hidden powers. You four were in fact born with them, but the Spirits had kept them blocked."
Aang looked confused. "Blocked? What do you mean? How can the Spirits do that?"
Maria took over. "It was no accident to have discovered your potential. Yes, the Spirits can keep someone's power at bay, either if they have to or from… a request."
He shook his head. "This is so confusing. Are you telling me that I've had these powers for a long time, but they never showed up until now? Why?"
Alan sighed. "My son, you need to listen to us. Yes, you have had this ability for years, basically from the time you were born. Tell us something; do you remember what happened when you were six, when you threw a temper tantrum over-"
"Not getting a candy bar from the store," Aang finished smiling. "I got so mad I was waving my arms around while agitated."
Maria smiled a little at the memory. "Yes." Then her smile disappeared. "Do you also remember the glass bowl on the dining room table? The one that was crystal?"
Aang thought about it for a few moments, and suddenly he remembered the slight memory. As it played through his head he said, "We had just come home after grocery shopping. I wanted this new caramel chocolate bar. But you had said no because it would ruin my dinner. Then I remember throwing a fit, and the next thing I knew, the glass smashed into the wall and I was on the ground." He stared at his parents. "You mean I did that?" he asked slowly.
His father nodded. "That was when we knew what you were. Your mother had the ability, and it passed onto you when you were born. But we also understood the risks if your powers were to get out, so we had to take drastic measures. Do you remember your grandfather?"
"Grandpa Tom? What does he have to do with this?"
His mother raised her transparent hands. "We're getting to that. Just be patient. Thomas was more than you thought. You might not believe this, but Grandpa Tom had a connection to the Spirit World. He was a Shaman, and we had asked hin to talk to the Spirits to keep your powers blocked until it was time to use them in dire peril."
Aang's head swam; it was too much to take in. His grandfather was a Shaman? His mother had had his Airbending ability, and they knew all along? Aang ran his hand through his hair. "It's so much to take in. You guys knew what I was, you knew, and you never told me?" Despite himself, Aang felt a flicker of anger. The idea of his parents hiding what they knew about him irked him. It made him feel like they didn't trust him.
But Maria raised her hand as if to caress his cheek but stopped and dropped her hand. "It's not what you think, Aang," she said gently. "We trusted you; we still do. But if there was a time where you lost your temper during the years growing up, your powers would have reacted. So we had to keep them a secret and to have the Spirits block them. Now you're in need of them, along with your friends, for this assignment."
Aang took all of this in, even though it felt like his brain was going to burst, and thought about their words. It was the last line his mother spoke that bothered him. He got the feeling she was telling something more. He looked at her. "Because we need them now," he said. "Do you mean that, after the threat is gone, our powers will be taken away again? Permanently?" It saddened him to think of going back to the way he was before finding out what he was.
But Alan shook his disheveled head. "It depends on if you want them gone or not." When Aang looked confused, his father added, "When you found out about your Bending, two options opened. One, you can either keep your powers after the fight is over, or you can relinquish them forever."
The Airbending boy licked his lips, thinking for a moment. Then asked, "Is it the same way for Katara, Zuko, and Toph? Do they have the same choice?"
His dad nodded as his mother said, "Yes. As we are talking right now, Katara is being spoken to by her mother. Toph will be talked to after she uncovers her power."
"I remember Katara mentioning about her Mom earlier this afternoon. She was the one to tell Katara about Toph and Zuko."
"That's correct," Alan replied with a smile. "Now it's up to them if they want to keep these abilities."
"That's pretty much it," Maria said. "Now for our personal message." Aang looked at his mother. He was surprised that she was about Katara's height, maybe taller; but he still towered over her. She looked into his gray eyes, so different from her brown from when she was alive or when in the Spirit World. Sighing, Maria said, "You look so much like your father. You've grown up so much. Me and Alan are so proud of you. It was fate that brought you to where you are now. The friends you have need you, Aang, just like you need them. Keep faith and be strong, my little Air Wielder. Keep fighting for the right side, and everything will be okay." She kissed his cheek; or tried to anyway. All Aang could feel was a cold breeze against his face, but tears fell down his face when she pulled away.
Looking at his father, he saw Alan smiling at him. "You're very brave, my son. I'm proud to have a boy like you." His expression turned sad. "But there is something you need to know. Our deaths were meant to happen."
Aang's eyes widened as he gaped. "What? No they weren't! How could say that?!" His voice had gotten louder with every word. It wasn't true! Maria and Alan didn't deserve to die!
Maria frowned, looking at her distraught son. "I know it's hard to believe, Aang. But if we hadn't died, you and Gyatso wouldn't have moved to where you are, and you would not have made the friends you have now. It was destiny. I know how upset you are at hearing this, but you need to know the truth."
"And we know you blame yourself for bringing danger," his father added gently. "But it isn't your fault. None of this is. We want you to understand that this was meant to happen. It seems unfair, but fate brought you and your friends together. Please don't put extra weight on yourself, especially not now. Can you do that for us?"
Aang hesitated. He knew they were right; he even admitted to his friends that it would have been better if they never met him. However, the weight of his parents' deaths hit him like a rampaging rhino. He shook his head and said, "I don't think I can. If I had been there sooner, none of this would have happened. You guys would be alive, and we would still be living at home and-"
"And you wouldn't have met your best friends and soul mate," his mom interrupted.
Her son stared at her. "How do you know about Katara?" he asked.
Maria shrugged. "We're spirits, Aang. We are allowed to check in every once in a while."
Aang blushed. "Oh," he muttered.
Alan chuckled. "By the way, keep the making out to a minimum, okay? That last thing we need is a grandchild now."
He gaped at his dad as he burned even more. "Dad! Really? Did you really have to bring that up, especially now? We're only sixteen!"
Alan and Maria laughed outright at their embarrassed son. When they stopped, his mother and father grinned and Alan said, "I'm sorry, son. But I couldn't help it. We didn't get the opportunity to pick on you about it when you were fourteen. But seriously, be careful, okay?"
Aang nodded quickly, anything to steer away from this subtle topic. It was so embarrassing, especially when it was coming from his dead parents. It was then that their bodies started flickering in and out of existence. Aang stared at them in despair. "Wait! Where are you going?"
Maria sighed. "This is our time to go, sweetheart. But don't worry. We'll see each other again when this mess is done. We believe in you; remember what we said. We love you!" Alan flashed him a smile; then they were gone.
Aang woke with a start. Heart racing, he looked around himself, and saw his girlfriend asleep. He felt himself relax, sinking back into the pillows as he watched her. She was so beautiful to look at. He will never tire of watching her in a deep slumber.
As he stared at her face, he felt his eyes grow heavy. Seeing his parents had been nice though, however brief. He felt some of his guilt go away; though he still missed them terribly. But knowing they were happy made him feel better. So with this in mind, Aang fell back to sleep, a small smile on his face and no more Spirit visits.
That was fast. Now you guys know some secrets to their power's origin. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know how I did please!
