"Fire. Earth. Water. Air. Long ago these four elements lived in harmony, but then everything changed when the Guardians arrived! Only Aang, the Avatar, master of all four elements, could end their interference and restore the elemental balance. But when the world needed him most, he was elsewhere. Time passed, and the Guardians' most valuable object and the greatest force the world has ever known, the Heart of Candracar, fell into the hands of our most hated enemy, endangering everyone on the planet! Although the Guardians mean well, and still possess great power, they have a lot to learn before they can save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world."
Previously, on W.I.T.C.H. In The World of Avatar...
"...It was a girl!" thought Aang. "A flying, fire bending girl! But fire benders can't fly!" fretted the young Avatar...
"...Where did all this water come from?" said the mystified Water Tribe girl. "...Water benders can't create water out of nothing!...Sokka, do you know what this means?" said Katara...
"...A plant spirit!" thought Toph. "An actual, real, live spirit of the plant world!"
Toph never would have believed it herself, if she hadn't felt it with her own two feet...
Chapter 24: The Guardians Meet The Avatar
For the Guardians, the last few days had been...memorable.
After being the toast of Avatar Town, with fireworks (or, rather, earthworks) in their honor, the girls collected supplies for their mission and then came a most important task - shopping!
All new robes, courtesy of Irma's haul in the Arena (she negotiated a piece of the concessions, dontchaknow!).
Plus jewelry. Shoes. Etc.
Irma picked out a darling blue and white number, the front of which was decorated with her signature flowers, and accessorized with a dark sash. Kind of Water Tribey (just don't tell Irma that!), but in an Earth Kingdom way. Cornelia selected a rich-looking green outfit (except it didn't cost nearly as much as it appeared - Irma really knew how to cut a deal!) that she added an earthtone cape and belt to, and topped it off with a stylish piece of Earth Kingdom headgear. It all went together very nicely - wearing it, the regal Corny looked as if she had just stepped out of an Earth Kingdom High Society bash (or even the Royal Palace!) Will, however, got a simple, comfortable purple and turquoise tunic (yes, the same colors as her Candracar costume - the girl has no imagination!) that looked a little like the Avatar's clothes, Hay Lin thought, but she kept that little tidbit to herself. Hay Hay didn't see any reason to embarrass her friend. Besides, maybe Aang would find it flattering! Taranee, for her part, went with a hot red two piece (similar to her dance outfit back home) that emphasized her fiery qualities, but in a decidely warm, un-Fire Nationy way, and paired it with an ethnic kente belt. And Hay Lin wore an orange & tan kimono, similar to the native dress of the Air Nomads of long ago, but different, too (the ancient air race wore red and gold). Hay Lin wanted to make a positive impression on the last air bender, but without doing anything morbid.
They had to look their best, the girls told themselves - they were going to meet the Avatar, closest thing this world had to Superman!
And thanks to Taranee's smarts, they finally had a way to find him.
Scrying for someone like Hay Lin, they pinpointed a person with air powers in the northern area of the Earth Kingdom. And who else could it be but the Avatar, the last air bender?
Hay Lin's abilities really came in handy for the trip, too. She used her power over air to negate gravity, enabling the grounded Irma and Cornelia to 'fly' with them all the way to the town of Placid Springs.
And when they got there, they discovered word had spread fast!
Everyone knew who they were!
It was a mob scene!
They never had to deal with anything like this back home, that's for sure.
While satisfying autograph requests and the occasional 'spirit blessing', Will and the others managed to ask a few questions.
For instance, "What is this place called?"
"Has anyone seen the Avatar?"
And "How does my hair look?" (Sorry. That last one was Cornelia's. She had been trying a new conditioner that she got from a peddler who claimed it restored life to hair, and was made with ginger blossoms. Never mind).
The Guardians received answers to most of their questions, including confirmation that Aang the Avatar was in town.
They tried to be as gracious as they could with their adoring fans, but not everyone was thrilled with the crowd of gawkers.
A few people asked Cornelia to bless their crops/seeds, in hopes of ensuring a fruitful harvest.
Corny was only too happy to comply.
Finally, a young lady asked the 'Plant Spirit' to bless her baby.
"Sure!" replied the smiling Cornelia.
Then the woman parted her robe and presented her belly to the Earth Guardian.
Cornelia, seeing the condition the woman was in (totally preggers!), fell back, aghast at the notion. What bothered Corny was, not so much the woman's request, but how she herself was perceived by the populace.
"Okay, that's enough of the rock star life!" exclaimed a perturbed Cornelia Hale. "Will, get us out of here!"
Will agreed it was time to get on with their mission, and broke through the crowd to meet Aang and company.
Aang, for his part, had much the same idea, and had begun checking the Guardians out by inquiring about them from their 'biggest fan'.
"So, these 'Guardians' are a group of different benders?" asked Aang.
"Yeah, but not like any benders anyone's ever seen before!" said Jif the fan. "They're incredible!"
"And they're coming this way!" added the excited Jif. "This is so awesome! The Avatar, master of all four elements, meets the Guardians! Oh my spirits!" said Jif, undulating his arms.
"Yeah, uh, could you keep it down there, buddy!" said Sokka.
"Hi, I'm..." began Will, before she was interrupted.
"I know who you are! Oh! Can I do the introductions? Can I??" asked the eager Jif.
"Uh, sure! Why not?" replied the bemused Will Vandom.
"Hey! Nice outfits!" complimented Katara.
"Thanks! We found them at the most darling little shop in Avatar Town!" said Cornelia.
"Really? Where is that? I've been thinking of a new look." said the water bending master.
"Hey, hey! I'm supposed to be doing introductions, here!" said the miffed Jif.
"Fine! You may proceed, oh master of introductions!" said Katara, bowing with a flourish.
"Okay, Aang, everybody, these are the Guardians - Avatar Hay Lin, Plant Spirit and the Winged Fire Benders of Righteousness, who beat the Fire Nation in Avatar Town!" said Jif. "Guardians, this is Aang the Avatar, Katara the master water bender, Sokka, warrior of the Water Tribe and Toph the great earth bender!"
"Hey! What about me?" said the peeved Irma Lair.
"You?? Oh, right, she's that water bender who does tricks." informed Jif. "I heard she can't even make ice without her friend's help." added Jif, whispering to Aang.
"Really?" replied Aang.
"Grrrr!" said the angry Irma, steam coming out of her ears.
"But she can make steam! Good to know!" commented the droll Sokka, who overheard the ice making crack.
"Actually, my friend Taranee is the 'fire bender'. I'm what you'd call a 'lightning bender'. My name's Will." said the leader of the Guardians, extending her hand in friendship.
"The four-in-one." said Aang, in a low voice just above a whisper, with a faraway look in his eyes. Aang didn't shake Will's hand.
"Hey, I know you!" interjected Taranee Cook. "You're that kid who attacked me!"
"Huh?" said Aang, recovering his faculties. "Sorry! When I saw a flying fire bender, I thought the Fire Nation had a new weapon and..."
"They're evil? Yeah, we found that out! I understand." said the Fire Guardian.
"And you're that girl Sokka and I accused of being a Fire Nation spy!" said Katara to Irma. "I apologize for that! The Fire Nation has been after Aang and ourselves for so long, we just assumed..."
"Yeah, whatever! Water under the bridge, and all that!" replied Irma.
" 'Water under the bridge'? Is that what they say in your tribe?" asked the Water Tribe boy.
"Sokka's sorry, too! Aren't you, Sokka?" prodded Katara, elbowing him.
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry I called you a spy!" said Sokka.
"And I'm sorry I gave you that 'suggestion'." said the Water Guardian.
"Huh?" said a puzzled Aang.
"I'll tell you later." whispered Katara to Aang.
"You're the plant spirit? You are! I felt you in the meadow!" said Toph to Cornelia.
"What do you mean?" asked the confused Cornelia.
"I've been blind all my life, so I use earth bending to 'see' what's around me!" explained Toph.
"Really? That's amazing!" gushed Corny.
"Not as amazing as your disappearing act!" said the impressed Toph.
"Excuse me? What disappearing act?" said Cornelia.
"When you ran away from the Kyoshi Warriors, you disappeared! How'd you do that?" asked Toph.
"Um, that wasn't my 'plant spirit' powers. I hid under a yaksheep!" admitted the Earth Guardian.
"I knew it had to be something like that!" exclaimed Toph. "Your powers are still pretty incredible, though! Aang, she's the real deal! I felt her make plants grow right under my feet!"
"Is that true?" wondered the Avatar.
"Yep!" answered Cornelia.
"Wow! We could have used you to calm down Hei Bai when the Fire Nation burned down that forest!" said Aang.
"Hei Bai?" said Corny, seeking clarification.
"The Spirit of the Forest." answered Aang.
"Oh! I think I met him! We talked when I was in the forest! Didn't give his name, though. A little rude, but nice!" said Cornelia, speaking of the Spirit of the Forest as if he were just another guy at school. "He told me to 'tend my own garden'. It was actually good advice!"
"You talked...to Hei Bai?" said a dumbstruck Aang.
"Well, yeah! I mean, how many Spirits of the Forest are there?" replied the Earth Guardian. "It's no big deal. On my world, we call it 'greenspeaking'!"
"He's never talked to me!" moaned Aang. "And I'm the Avatar!"
"Oh. Well, maybe he doesn't have anything to say to you?" offered Cornelia. "You are the Avatar, after all, and know all that stuff already, right?"
"Wow. You all know each other. Small world, huh?" said Sokka.
"Except this 'Avatar Hay Lin'! The nerve, calling herself the Avatar! She's not...!" said the angry Katara.
Then the Guardians parted and revealed Hay Lin.
Behind them.
Floating.
In the air.
Without wings, or anything of that sort to hold her aloft.
Except a controlled updraft of air.
"...Oh. My." said the stunned water bender.
The others were equally shocked.
Especially Aang.
"Uh, hi." said the demure Air Guardian, as she hovered above the ground. "Sorry for the whole 'Avatar' thing. I shouldn't have let people call me that, but they were so nice, and I didn't want to upset them." said the apologetic Hay Lin.
"That's okay." said Aang. "Are you really an air bender? Because I thought I was the last one!"
"Sort of. Not really." explained Hay Lin. "Where I come from, I'm the Air Guardian. So I do have air powers. Want to see?" said the compassionate air sprite. Just the thought of someone so young, like Aang, being so alone made her sad, so she wanted to cheer him up.
"Uh huh." said the young Avatar with the puppy dog face.
Hay Lin then demonstrated her powers for the quartet.
She flew through the air, twisting, turning and diving like an air master!
She blew great winds, both hot and cold, through the town!
Then she created a tornado that bore all of the Guardians and Aang's friends aloft, before gently depositing them onto the ground (although Toph didn't enjoy it, they were all impressed!).
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause!
But one didn't cheer, or applaud.
In fact, it almost seemed as if he was going to...cry.
Quickly, Hay Lin took Aang into her arms and embraced him.
"It's okay, Aang." she consoled him, her body shielding his emotional reaction from the public.
"I, I thought I was the last one!" he blurted out, the tears running down his face.
"You're not alone anymore, okay?" she cooed. "It's gonna be alright."
"They make such a cute couple, don't you think?" commented Jif.
"Why are you still here?" said an annoyed Sokka.
"Well, uh, nice meeting you, but we really have to go!" said Katara, in an attempt to separate Aang and Hay Lin.
"That's too bad." said their leader, Will. "Because we really need to talk to Aang. Is there someplace private we can go?"
"Please, Katara!" pleaded Aang.
"I...suppose we can talk. Sure. We're just on vacation, right? Plenty of time for that!" said the water bender, who suddenly felt as if everything she knew, her entire reality, was being turned inside out. A flying fire bender. A plant spirit. A water bender who wasn't a water bender. A lightning bender that Aang called a weird name, four in something. And an air bender, when they were all supposedly wiped out! It was all too strange!
But not everyone shared Katara's reservations.
Over cups of fizzy tea, the two groups talked.
"Did you really beat Azula?" asked Toph.
"Um hm. Pow! Right in the kisser!" answered Will.
"You punched her? Why didn't we think of that?" replied Toph Bei Fong.
"Hey, since you're a plant spirit, could you get a message to my friend? She's a spirit, too!" said Sokka, referring to Princess Yue.
"Ugh!" thought Cornelia. "Why do all the weirdos hit on me?"
Trying to make conversation, the nervous Katara asked Irma "So, uh, what Tribe are you from?".
"I'm not from any tribe." replied the curt Irma. "Never mind, You wouldn't understand. Let's just say we're not from around here!"
After finally prying Aang from the side of Hay Lin, Will and Taranee patiently explained how their mighty object, the Heart of Candracar, was stolen by Prince Zuko, and they have to get it back before he does something terrible with it, like destroy whole towns or even nations, and also so they can defeat another from their world who's up to no good.
Aang listened, but didn't have near the reaction to this bit of bad news as Katara did.
She was horrified!
"Aang, this is terrible!" said Katara to Aang, in private.
"What? It's Zuko! We can take him easy!" replied the nonchalant air bender. "Hey, you've go to see this 'photo' thing! Hay Lin had a picture of her trainers in her bag, and they looked like Air Monks! Although she said they weren't Air Monks, but some Council of Candracarny or something."
"That's nice, Aang, but that's not important! Weren't you listening?" said the exasperated water bender. "With this Heart of Candracar, Zuko could beat you without working up a sweat!"
"Do fire benders sweat? Katara, it's just some jewel! How bad can it be?" said the clueless Aang.
"So you're going to help them?" inquired Katara.
"Haven't decided. I'm still on vacation." said the 12-year old Avatar.
"This is serious, Aang!" replied Katara. "These people are very odd! A fire bender who flies. A girl with plant powers. That lightning bender, you called her a four-in-one, or something like that!"
"I did? I don't remember that." said Aang.
"Yes. You did. Plus, that water bender of theirs isn't a real water bender. And she zapped Sokka's mind somehow, back when we first met!" informed Katara. "Their powers are unnatural, and I don't know if we should help them."
"Aren't you forgetting someone?" said the quick-witted Avatar.
"Huh?" said the Water Tribe girl.
"Hay Lin? Something wrong with her, too?" added the testy Aang.
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with her! Only that I'm concerned about what could happen to us if we help them." explained Katara.
"Hei Bai says they're okay." rationalized Aang. "So they're probably okay. Oh. That reminds me. Did you know Hay Lin can turn invisible? Later, we're going to sneak up on skunk bears!" he said, smiling in anticipation of all the fun they were going to have.
"This is exactly what I'm talking about, Aang!" pointed out Katara. "These girls have strange powers! They're not benders at all! Aang, they may look like us, but there's small, subtle differences. They're not like us! Two of them even have wings! Think about that! They're weird, and probably dangerous! We don't even know where they're from! The water girl, Irma, didn't know what the Fire Nation was when I first met her!"
"I thought you cared about me, Katara!" said the hurt Aang. "A real friend would be happy that I found someone like me, an air bender, so I'm not so alone anymore! And not coming up with excuses to get rid of her!"
"But I do care about you, Aang! That's why I'm saying this!" pleaded Katara of the Water Tribe. "Don't be mad at me for that! And I am happy that you found someone. But..."
"Maybe we're just tired." said Aang, stopping the conversation before either of them said something they might regret. "We'll rest now, and tomorrow we'll finish our vacation. We'll decide later if we're going to help the Guardians. Okay?"
"Sure, Aang." agreed Katara. "Sleep well."
From outside the domicile where both the Guardians and Aang & Co. were spending the night, a voice rang out.
"Excuse me! Does anyone have one of those Plant Spirit dolls? The trading post was all out!" asked fanboy Jif.
"Will you get out of here?" yelled Sokka from inside the home. "People are trying to sleep!"
"But I just need..." begged Jif.
"An introduction to my boomerang?" threatened Sokka.
"I'm gone!" said Jif, running away.
Hey, Sokka, don't be so rough on the dude!
The Plant Spirit dolls are very hard to find!
I remember at the Disney Store, hers was the only one sold out!
I mean…never mind. Forget I said that!
I know nothing about dolls. Nothing about dolls…
Next:
The Guardians and Aang's group learn more about each other
when the Guardians learn bending from the masters.
A good idea? Not really.
But first:
Aang has a dream about the Guardians!
Notes
You can see the Guardians wearing their new Avatarworld outfits in a professionally drawn illustration at wwwdotteenheroinesdotcomslashWalkFinal.jpg or use the link to the pic on my profile page.
The powers exhibited by most of the Guardians are rather new and unique to the Avatar's world. Will's 'lightning bending' is rare (and no one does it like her). Taranee's unique because she's a 'good' fire bender (and of course Will and Taranee have wings, which is unknown there). Water benders are fairly common, but none 'bend' like Irma. 'Plant Spirit' Cornelia is in a class all by herself. And then there's the Guardians' 'extra powers' - telepathy, suggestion, invisibility, telekinesis, talking to electrical appliances. The only one with powers similar to Aang's world is Hay Lin, whose air powers are almost identical to an air bender. And everyone loves Hay Lin. She's sweet.
I see Jif as like that excitable guy who always went nuts whenever Aang & friends visited Kyoshi Island, but more verbal. He's standing in for all the fanboys and fangirls who want to see certain characters get together.
I edited the end of Chapter 23 when I wrote this chapter. I added lines where Aang learned about the Guardians, and introed the fan character, so go back and read that if you want to get the full treatment.