Chapter 35

Today was Aang's second birthday and the family had a special day planned. Anila made her favorite desert, an egg custard tart for them. They have been living in a quaint little house Zakai had built for them, it was only a two room structure. Anila, Zakai, and Aang had the room while Karma and Sonam slept in a curtained off portion of the main room. There was also a kitchenette and large fireplace in the main room. Outside was beautiful, Anila had her very own vegetable garden, and its first harvest was large and supplied them with a large variety for the vegetarians. They also had a barn large enough for Chesa, she shared it with their Cow-hippo Babe, their daily supply of milk came from her; they also had a pig-chicken pen for their eggs. The small homestead was on one of the small islands in the Fire Nation, it was surrounded by forest on all sides.

While growing up Anila always pictured herself happiest on the move traveling all over the world meeting new people and seeing anything and everything there was to see in the world. She was wrong she was happier than she had ever been in her life. She was married to a wonderful man that loved her with all his heart. She had a best friend that was the like a sister, and a three year old niece that was a very smart little girl. She had her sweet, smart, happy little boy. Anila had already started to teach the two year old, he was extremely gifted at airbending for his age. In the temples they start training the children at around7 four years of age, just barely able to produce short directed blasts of air at the spinning doors, but with short instructions Aang was already able to create small air funnels among other forms that are usually taught to children around the age of five and six years old. And last but not least Anila was expecting another child in six months.

"Anila," Karma came into the small house. "I can't believe he's turning two already!"

"I can't either! I'm so proud of him! My mother is going to be so happy to see all of us at the Yangchan Festival in a few months!" Anila told Karma.

"I bet she will be excited to see that you are giving her another grandchild!" Karma told her.

"Yeah, she will be so happy!" Anila smiled as she absentmindedly rubbed her the bubble on her abdomen, it was small but still noticeable. "I am! I love my life, our happy, mixed family."

"Anila you have always been a great influence in my life, and tomorrow will be exactly two years to the day we met." Karma reminded her.

"I will never forget the day we met." Anila told her. "How could I? It was the day after Aang was born."

"My Nila!" Anila heard her husband calling from outside.

"Zak's back!" Anila said as she hurried outside, she was flanked by Karma, Sonam and Aang.

"I was able to make us ten gold pieces, I want to have a total of thirty when we go to the Yangchan Festival." Zakai told her.

"You really don't have to go with us." Anila told him as he hopped off of Chesa's head.

"I want to go with you! I want to see what the festival is all about." Zakai told her. After marrying Anila he has taken a huge interest in Air Nomad culture and traditions. He said it was because he was always interested but Anila knew that it was because of her, if they had never met he would probably still be on the run, hiding from his stepfather and alone.

"I love you so much!" She smiled at him as she shook her head.

"I love you more than you know, I love everything you give me." Zakai told her, he placed his hands on the baby bump and smiled "I love you so much" Then he picked Aang up and kissed his cheek, the couple walked hand in hand into their home followed closely by Karma and Sonam.

Once they got back inside the quaint little house Zakai turned his attention to Aang. "Happy birthday big boy!"

"Tank you Daddy!" The chunky little boy said.

"I got you a present!" Zakai told him as he pulled a toy stuffed Sky Bison out of a bag.

"Chesa!" Aang s7aid excitedly.

"No, Chesa is Mommy's. This one is all yours!" Anila told her baby boy. "We can come up with a name later."

"Dinner is done!" Karma said as she removed the large iron pot from its hook above the dancing flames.

"It smells delicious!" Zakai said as he helped set the table for dinner.

After they ate their dinner they had slices of egg custard tart and chilled milk to celebrate the boy's birthday, besides the stuffed bison from his parents Karma made him building blocks.

…

Anila was walking around stretching her legs and back. Sitting on Chesa for long periods of time was making Anila uncomfortable. The bubble on her abdomen had grown quite quickly, she was now a little over six months along but she was much bigger with this one than she had been with Aang.

"My Nila, are you sure you're okay?" Zakai asked.

"I'm fine, I promise, I just need to move for a bit, walk the aches away." She told him.

"Are we going to make it to the festival in time?" Zakai asked her.

"Yes, you dingbat, we left a full two weeks before we needed to." Anila laughed. "I already took into account for all the breaks I'll need. Besides it will only take us a couple more days and the festival is still a week away."

"I just want to7 make sure you're okay." Her husband told her.

"By this point in the pregnancy Air Nomad women are all on their own." Anila told him. "I'm perfectly fine."

"It is all perfectly normal." Karma agreed with Anila. "It's just how the Air Nomads are."

"Well in the rest of the world women are married when they are pregnant, and the farther along you get the more help you need." Zakai told her. "Women are supposed to be taken care of."

"I understand that you think it's stupid but its how the Air Nomads are." Anila told him. "I'm not saying you're wrong, and to be honest I love being married to you and I love that you take care of me, that you want to be here with me, and help me. I really love how much you care about my wellbeing, I prefer it over Air Nomad tradition."

"Well then, I guess I have some serious pampering to do!" Zakai told her. A short time later they were back into the Sky heading to the festival.

…

"I told you w7e'd get here with plenty or time to spare." Anila told Zakai as they started setting up their little camp. Zakai was dressed in the robes that Anila made for him, so he could blend in. "Karma and I are going to take the children and go get us some water." Anila told him then kissed him goodbye.

"You two are so cute!" Karma told Anila as they walked together.

"He is so wonderful, he makes me so happy." Anila told her.

When they got down to the freshwater pond Anila started to kneel down to fill all their water pouches. "Anila, please let me do it." Karma told her.

"No, I'm fine, I got this!" Anila said as she squatted at the water's edge. Anila turned her head as she heard someone approaching, her smile fades and fear rushed in.

"I knew I saw Chesa land." Amitaruci told her. "Are you done with that stupid firebender?"

Anila and Karma collected all the pouches and readied themselves to leave quickly. "Actually, no I'm not!" She said as she stood back up.

His cocky smile contorted into a look of pure anger and hatred the moment his eyes fell on her round belly. "You'll regret telling me no! No woman ever tells me no!" Then he turned and walked away.

"Aang, Sonam, tell your daddy goodbye!" Karma said boldly.

"No my daddy!" The two year old little boy said, infuriating the man even more.

"You don't scare me! I'm not a child anymore!" Anila hollered at him. "You can't manipulate me anymore!"

"Hey My Nila," Zakai said as he saw her walking towards him, as soon as he say the expression on her face he knew something bad happened. "What's wrong, My Nila?"

"Amitaruci tried to talk to us." Karma told him.

"What happened?" Zakai said as he went to his wife and held her body against his, he stroked her hair until her ridged body molded to his.

"He… He got very angry when he saw your baby in my belly." Anila whimpered.

"Don't worry about him, I will always protect my family. You don't have to worry about him." Zakai sat down and she curled up against him in his lap.

…

It was the day before the festival and the site was buzzing with airbenders. The camping area had hundreds of little campsites, cooking fires were burning, and the air was filled with the scent of fruits and vegetables being cooked many different ways.

"I've never seen so many airbenders in one place before!" Zakai said as he stared out into the sea red and yellow and orange, bald heads and blue arrow tattoos. People ranging in ages from newborn babies to elder that had to be over one hundred years old.

"The Yangchan is the most observed and respected holiday for us." Anila told him. "Air Nomads come from all over the world to celebrate. You are lucky, you get to witness our rituals."

"Anila, everyone is going to the statue." Karma told them as she gathered Sonam and a few toys in a bag for her.

"Okay, let's get going too." Anila said as she grabbed a water pouch. "Aang, take Mommy's hand. The group talked and laughed as they followed the migration, saying hello to people they came across during their travels.

"Monk Gyatso!" Anila said excitedly as she saw the kind old man with a group of children. "How have you been?"

"Anila! What a wonderful surprise!" The old man bowed to her. "Is that your baby boy?"

"Yeah, Say hello Aang." Anila directed the two year old.

"Hello!" Aang said, he had a huge smile and his silvery-gray sparkled as he bounced in front of the old monk.

"He is a high spirited boy isn't he?" Gyatso ask the girl he watched grow up through the years.

"Yes he is." Anila laughed, "He is already able to perform exercises that five year olds do." Anila told him.

"Oh my, he must be a hand full." Gyatso looked at the visible bubble on her abdomen. "How do you keep up?"

"I manage." Anila laughed.

"Barely!" Karma laughed.

The ceremony started like all the other ones, bowing to the statue three times then they broke off into groups. Anila ran around after Aang while all the other Nomads sat in circles retelling the Story of Avatar Yangchan and the Great Spirit Old Iron.

"Hey little one! Get back here!" Anila laughed as she called to the swift little giggling toddler. Unknown to her she was being watched by a few people, one was the man trying to figure out the worst way he could to punish her for rejecting him; the other was the girl that blames her unhappiness on Anila, and wanted Anila to be as unhappy she was.

After the story was finished being retold the music began and everyone went up to the lush green meadow for lunch. Zakai stayed by Anila's side, seeing her in her native people her native element was amazing. She practically floated as she walked around, running after her happy little boy. After she caught him she sat down with Karma, Sonam and Zakai.

They began eating their very dull meal talking and laughing together. "Anila?" A man said as he approached their little group, behind him stood the last two people she thought she'd never see together again.

"Yes?" Anila answered, confused as to what was going on.

"We have been informed that your son is one of the Avatar candidates." The man told her.

"What? Who?" Anila started to set scared.

"Is this man the father of the child or not?" He gestured towards Amitaruci.

"Well… Technically yes but…" Anila was cut off by the old monk.

"He and this young woman told me that they have seen the child show great talent." The Monk continued.

Anila was starting to get scared. "He's nothing special!" Anila collected Aang into her lap.

"They have both told me the same story… That that windstorm that we had at the Yangchan Festival two years ago was the result of this child's cries. "Is or isn't that true?"

"Yes but…" Anila was growing more and more upset, she was on the verge of crying. She held her little boy tighter.

"We need to test him!" The Monk ordered.

"No! He's mine!" She began crying, by this point the little boy was also crying. The wind started to pick up speed.

"See! I told you he was powerful!" Amitaruci had to yell as the wind speed started rising. "My son is the Avatar! I Told You!"

"Give us the child!" The monk ordered. "He has to be raised and trained in the temples by the monks. We cannot allow you to corrupt him with notions of 'Love'! To be the Avatar the world needs he be trained in the temples!"

No! He's Mine! I won't let you take him!" Anila screamed Clutching the child to her.

"MOMMY!" The boy cried out. "MOMMY!"

"Give him to us. If you do not we will take him and we will punish you severely for your disobedience!" The Monk told her. Everyone in the meadow was now watching the confrontation.

"Please!" She began to beg them. "Please don't take him!" Tears poured down her cheeks.

"Why can't you just let her raise him?" Zakai yelled over the roar of the wind.

"You need to stay out of this! This in none of your business… you're not even an airbender!" A second Monk told him.

"She's married to him!" Karin told them.

"If you hand the child over we won't punish you for going against our teachings!" A nun told her.

"I don't care what you do to me, I won't let you take him!" Anila cried.

The Nun took Aang and tried to pull him away from her. "Mommy! No Mommy!" The boy cried. "MY MOMMY!" He clutched onto her clothing refusing to let go. The storm was so bad that people had to run for cover.

"NO!" Anila screamed. "NO! HE'S MINE!"

"He's not yours! He belongs to the whole world!" The Nun said as she tried pulling harder.

"Please!" Anila cried. "Please let me at least choose who will raise him. I'm begging you just please!" She sobbed into the mess of black fuzzy hair on the baby's head.

"Who do you wish to have him go? We reserve the right to say no." The Monk told her.

"Monk Gyatso!" She called out to them. "I want him to be raised by Monk Gyatso!"

"Monk Gyatso!" The Monk called out, "Come here now."

Witnessing the entire confrontation Monk Gyatso came forward quickly. "Yes! I will raise the boy for her!" The old man said.

"Are you sure you will be able to handle this responsibility of training the Avatar?" The Monk asked him.

"Yes, I will be able to handle the responsibility." Monk Gyatso said. "For Anila I will."

Anila stood, hugging her little boy she put on a brave face and whispered to the boy. "Mommy loves you and she always will. Monk Gyatso will raise you for me… Soar peacefully my little one, I'll bring you a birthday egg custard tart every year."

The old monk accepted the toddler. "Thank you so much!" The young woman barely managed as it felt like her heart was torn from her chest. Anila turned away and numbly began walking away, then anger filled the hole left in her heart and turned to face Amitaruci.

"This is your fault!" She yelled. "You worthless…" She threw an air blast at him knocking him to the ground. "Selfish…" She began hitting him with the strongest blasts of air she could manage. "Jerk!" She pinned him down with a forceful but steady stream of are. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Then she collapsed, she was broken inside.

"How could you people live like this?!" Zakai yelled to them as he went to Anila. "How could you tear apart a perfectly happy family?!" He scooped up his wife and carried her to their campsite.

…

A full week had passed and they were still at the festival camping grounds. Anila was weak, she had shut everyone out, she wouldn't talk to anyone, and she wouldn't even eat. Anila please you have to eat something for the baby's sake, please!" Zakai pleaded. "I will spoon broth into you if I have to." Anila just rolled over she didn't care about anything she hadn't even said anything since she attacked Amitaruci.

"Karma!" Zakai yelled. "We have to force her again."

Karma came in and sat near Anila's head, Karma rolled Anila over and supported her head in her lap, propping her up so that she didn't choke on the small amount of liquid they were able to get her to take. "Please My Nila! I can't watch you die! I can't lose two more! I hurt more than you know, and I'm afraid I'm losing you too!"

The next day Karma and Zakai packed up came and headed back to their home in the Fire Nation. Every day they had to force broth in her and every day she refused to talk or even move. Zakai was doing his best to care for her and every day she slipped away more and more.

…

One night, a month and a half later Zakai was awoken by Anila's screams. "Anila!" He yelled. "What's wrong?" She began screaming again clutching his nightshirt. "Oh Spirits! KARMA WE NEED YOU!" Zakai yelled as his wife cried out in pain.

Three hours later she gave birth to a beautiful but weak baby girl. Every time they tried to get her to look at the baby, she turned away. The little girl looked exactly like her mother… and reminded her of the little boy that was taken from her.

"I know you're hurt that they took Aang!" Zakai told her. "I lost him too! I hurt too! But I refuse to lose you or our little girl! You need to feed her you need to eat! If you don't you will lose another child! When I burry her I don't even have a name to put on the marker! I can't do this anymore, and I don't know what to do!" He began to walk out of the room he heard the squeak of an unused voice.

"Minori."

"What?" Zakai asked as he turned back to her.

"Her name… Minori." Anila said softly.

"Please don't make me burry Minori." Zakai pleaded.

"I hurt so bad inside." Anila told him.

"Please come back to me! Please be my happy playful My Nila again." Zakai asked her. He wrapped his arms around her and to his surprise she closed hers around him. "I love you My Nila, I love you!"

"I love you too." Anila told him.

"Minori looks just like you." Zakai said to her.

"She is beautiful." Anila told him as she looked at her daughter. "I think I'm done being sad. Monk Gyatso will let me see Aang... I know he will."

"I'm going to go make you some food." Zakai td her.

THE END

SEQUEAL COMING SOON… ANILA AND ZAKAI'S STORY

A/N Now that you are at the bottom of the page, please take a few moments and leave me a review!