Katara woke the next morning feeling light headed and woozy. When Aang had brought her inside, she had fallen asleep almost instantly. She sat up slowly with her hand on her head, her tummy ached a little bit and she looked at the night stand. The fruit bowl that Jojo promised to get was there with moon peaches and berries. Katara leaned her feet over the edge, touching the cool stone floor. She grabbed a peach and bit into it, letting the delicious juices run down her chin. It was heaven. Then something caught her attention, a sound. She slowly stood up, bending backwards to stretch her back, before taking her first step and falling back onto the bed. Her legs were weak as if all the muscles had disappeared.
Aang came running in then, "You're awake!" he cried, sitting next to her.
"I'm awake?" Katara asked confused.
"You've been asleep for a day. I was starting to panic," he said holding her hand.
"A day!" she exclaimed.
"You've had a fever." Suki explained, walking into the room, "We tried dripping some of the fruit juices down your throat but you'd start coughing. It's a good thing you're awake now."
"But I feel," she started before a small wave of dizziness hit her, "mostly fine."
"Lay back against the wall. Hakoda and Pakku should be here tomorrow. Pakku is bringing healers and Gran Gran…well, Gran Gran is bringing herself because she said she wouldn't be left behind," Suki told her sitting next to her.
Katara smiled rubbing her stomach. Aang glanced at her hands then frowned. Katara looked at Aang, seeing his downcast eyes…he knew. She instantly felt sad about keeping this from him.
"Can you give us a minute?" Katara asked Suki.
Suki nodded and left the room as Katara beckoned Aang closer. Aang obliged, not looking directly into her eyes. Katara used her hand to lift his face to meet hers, seeing a steady stream of tears lining his cheeks.
"I should have told you…I just didn't know how," she started wiping away his tears while her own spilled out.
Aang took her soft hands in his and kissed them, "I understand why you didn't." he said simply.
"Aang, I'm sorry. I so, so sorry…I didn't mean to," Katara began tears dripping from her eyes.
"No," he looked up at her kissing her lips, "This is not your fault…none of this is your fault. I should have kept you here where you would be safe. I should have left you better protected. I should have done so many other things but…I didn't."
"I should have just kept my mouth shut. I shouldn't have stayed alone. Aang, I should have stayed with you," Katara said.
They both cried together for a bit longer, holding each other close, before Katara got control of herself.
"When did you know?" she asked.
"Toph told me." Aang sniffed, "But I confirmed it when you didn't wake up the next day."
Katara closed her eyes, breathing deeply, "I told her not to tell you."
"I'm glad she did, not knowing what was happening…Azula is going to pay for this," he added harshly.
"That's my fight," Katara responded with vigor, "If anybody gets to put that…woman down, it's going to be me."
Aang looked up at her feeling her anger and smiled at her, "As you wish."
Katara smiled back at him wiping away the last of the tears, "Can you carry me outside…I need some fresh air."
Aang lifted her gently and carried her out into the courtyard. Malu and Jojo were also there practicing their bending. Aang set Katara down on a bench by the columns and she squished her feet in the grass.
"Again Malu," Aang said folding his arms.
Malu sighed and turned back to him, "Which one were we on?" she asked, lazily.
"Tier 20, again," he prodded smiling at her dismay.
Malu sighed then got into her bending stance. In another instance, she took a giant breath then released it. The air echoed in the halls, sending a soft hum around the temple.
"Better," Aang said, "Now you can move onto the next one."
"I already know all of these…" Malu started whining.
"But in order to get your tattoos they need to be perfected, and I need to know that you can do them," Aang replied.
Malu turned, hands on her hips, "Are you saying I'm not a good air bender?"
"No, I'm saying you haven't had much need to use the typical style of air bending. You've only really had to use your parent's style. So to be considered a master, you need to be deemed worthy by another master, and I'm currently the only master air bender present in this world," Aang replied folding his arms but keeping the smirk.
Jojo bounced up to Malu's side, "Oh lighten up. Aang isn't saying you're bad, only that you need more practice in this style."
Aang nodded in agreement. Katara laughed drawing all eyes to her.
"See, no harm no foul," Jojo said ruffling Malu's messy hair. Malu swatted her hand away then shot a stream of air at Jojo. Jojo ducked and danced her way over to where Katara was sitting.
"Base!" she called linking arms with Katara.
"Base! That is so lame," Malu grimaced, stomping her foot. Jojo laughed alongside Katara at Malu's attempt at being angry at Jojo.
Toph and Haru walked up to the two on the bench.
"Nice to see you awake again Katara," Toph said standing next to her.
"Thanks Toph," she answered grabbing the younger girl's hand.
"I guess Aang told you…" Toph started.
"It's ok." Katara answered squeezing her hand, while giving Aang a quick glance, "We're over it now."
Toph smiled at the couple, and then glanced in another direction. Aang looked as well seeing Sokka run up to them.
"Ships!" he said out of breath, "Ships are at the base of the mountain."
"What nation?" Aang asked.
Sokka smiled, "Water tribe."
Katara's spirit was soaring when Sokka told them the news, "Where did you see them?" she asked, as Aang picked her up.
"Suki and I were walking and we were at the landing spot, you know that round…thingy we always land on. Anyways, I saw some ships near the coast with water nation symbols. I think Pakku is here."
"How many ships?" Aang asked.
"Just two," Sokka answered, leading them through the main entrance.
Once they were all on the platform, Suki waved them over to her, "Right there she pointed between some of the broken clouds.
Jojo squinted, "You guys must have great eyes because I can't see a thing."
"I see them, Sokka, watch her," Aang said, as Sokka put his arm around Katara.
Aang jumped into the air and shot off with his glider. He gently flew to the coastal edge a couple miles away. Aang swirled above them before landing on the deck.
Pakku walked up to him, "Nice of you to notice us. We were just about to send a hawk up there."
"Thanks goes to Sokka, he spotted you and came and told me," Aang answered smiling.
"Well, would you like us to make port here?" Pakku asked.
"No, stay in the boats. I'm going to bend the ocean up to the base of the landing platform and you can make port there. That way they boats won't get tossed around either," Aang replied.
Pakku nodded as Aang took to the air again. Aang flew back up to the landing spot collapsing his glider.
"Toph, once the ships reach the base of this platform we need to bend ports and ship holders," Aang said, standing at the edge.
"Whenever you're ready twinkle toes," she replied, cracking her knuckles.
Aang smiled as he calmed himself. He took another deep breath and as he released it, he entered into the Avatar state. Everything was amplified and his body surged with energy. Very steadily Aang reached out to the water and pulled. The water began to rise above the coastline slowly as Aang prompted it forward. The ships followed the flow of the current as it led them to the base of the landing platform.
"Toph," Aang said softly.
She approached his right side, sliding her feet. A couple seconds later, she stomped them twice having a platform shoot up between the two ships. With another couple of stomps, the ships were secured and Aang released the water back into the ocean. Katara felt the entire process. The power that radiated in his soul made her breathing quicken. Once he released the flow, she came back to normal.
"Now that was cool," Jojo commented with a wide smile.
Aang smiled at her, "Come on Haru, we gotta bring them up."
Another second later, a section of the platform collapsed, sending the earth benders down to the ships. Most of the occupants had disembarked and were waiting for them. Aang spotted Pakku accompanying Gran Gran off the ship while others unloaded supplies. They bowed to Aang as he passed them and made his way over to Gran Gran.
"Glad to see you're feeling better," Aang said smiling.
"Hello my son," Gran Gran replied her voice a little raspy, "It's nice to see you happy, unlike your last visit."
Aang's smiled faded as he looked at her and Pakku, "I hope I didn't cause too much damage…"
"Nonsense," Gran Gran interrupted, "If any of us were in your position then we would have done the same. It just shows how much you love my granddaughter."
Aang smiled at her kindness and helped them load the remainder of the supplies on the earth lift. Toph stood waiting with Haru and the other water benders.
"We brought warriors as well as healers, in case something happens," Pakku explained, answering Aang's unspoken question.
"Are we ready?" Toph asked.
"Yes, on three," Aang answered, "One…two…three."
Toph, Haru, and Aang launched the lift up back where it started. Once it was settled Pakku led Gran Gran over to Katara.
"Oh my darling," she said softly embracing her granddaughter.
"Gran Gran," Katara whimpered, "I thought I lost you."
"Now now my child, it'll take more than fire to knock me down, you know that."
Katara laughed as she looked at Gran Gran's smiling face. Aang walked up to Katara's other side while Gran Gran kissed Sokka and Suki on the cheeks.
"We need to get you sitting down again," Aang whispered, kissing Katara's forehead.
She sighed, "You're probably right."
He smiled, feeling her annoyance but wisdom, "You know I'm only saying this because I love you right?"
She smiled back, "I know, I love you too."
Aang picked her up, "If everyone will follow me I'll show you to the rooms you'll be staying in." He led the way up to the temple.
Malu bounced ahead with Jojo on her back, "Last one there is a rotten platypus bear egg!" Jojo called back to the group.
"Who are these women?" Pakku asked.
Katara laughed, "Good friends of ours, we met recently."
"Is that…another air bender?" Pakku asked, stunned.
Aang smiled at him, "Yes she is."
As they made their way up, many of the water tribe's citizens would gasp at the beauty of the temple, occasionally asking questions.
"Aang, my dear, this is a beautiful place," Gran Gran commented.
"Thank you," he responded.
As they made their way up to the main entrance they stopped by Gyatso's statue.
"This is my air bending teacher, guardian, and father, Monk Gyatso," Aang said, bowing slightly to the statue.
The others did the same as they continued walking to the rooms. Malu and Jojo were both sprawled on the grass while Momo flew above them.
"Took you guys long enough," Malu said bending up.
"Pipe down," Jojo said throwing a rock at her.
"Now now child," Gran Gran chided, "We old people don't move as fast as you young folk."
Malu stopped eyes wide, while Jojo smiled, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, you must be Katara's grandmother." Jojo said curtsying.
Gran Gran smiled at her, "I am, and your name?"
"I'm Jojo, and this impatient child is Malu."
Malu glared at her while Jojo tried to keep a straight face. They both broke out in laughter causing some of the guests to laugh as well.
Aang set Katara down on her bench kissing her forehead, "This way," he said laughing.
Aang showed them to their separate rooms placing the few couples together.
"I'm sorry that they aren't very large accommodating rooms, we never spent much time in them as students."
Gran Gran smiled, "They are well suited for our purposes."
"The couples can stay in the larger rooms; they do have bigger beds than the student rooms do."
Aang led Pakku and Gran Gran to the room adjacent to theirs, "Make yourselves comfortable, we'll be out in the courtyard whenever you want to join us."
"Thank you my boy," Pakku said letting Gran Gran lie down.
Aang walked back out to see everyone doing their own thing. It was late afternoon and there was a light breeze echoing in the hallways. Aang felt a small disturbance and followed his sense to see Toph and Haru bending near the air ball court. Sokka, Suki, Katara and Jojo were watching them chuck rocks at Malu as she trained, but instead of using her primary air bending technique she learned from her parents, she used regular air bending. Aang felt other people wandering around the temple but ultimately coming in this direction. Aang got an idea.
"Malu!" he called to her.
"What?" she asked.
"How would you like to learn the game of airball?" he asked slyly.
"Oh oh oh!" Jojo started bouncing up and down in excitement.
Malu smirked back at him, "It would be my pleasure."
Aang walked into a side room and found the airball he and Sokka played with when they were there. When he walked back out Jojo was leading some of the water tribe guests to the airball court. Aang bent himself up onto the wooden poles and Malu followed him.
"Now," he said spinning the ball in his hand, "pay attention. This is an important rite of passage for all air benders."
Malu scoffed, "Ok seriously, just because you have an audience doesn't mean you need to try and be all mystical about it."
Aang laughed, "What? I'm just teaching."
Malu sighed dramatically, "Whatever, get on with it before I get bored."
Aang smirked at her and glanced at Katara to see her smiling in anticipation. He turned back to Malu.
"Alright then, here are the rules: first, only air bending is allowed. Second, the amount of poles you hit are your points and you have to make it through your opponent's goal in order to score those points. But if the opponent deflects and sends the ball back, the count starts over. Any questions?"
Malu crouched in front of the goal, "I'm ready."
"Air swipes and such are the best forms to use…"
"Alright, I get it, just start!" she said impatiently.
Aang took his position in front of his goal. He began spinning the ball in his hand, sticking his tongue out slightly. Katara laughed at his face as Aang jumped into the air sending the ball whizzing towards Malu. It bounced off 6 poles before Malu sucked the ball towards her and shot it directly back hitting three poles. Aang hopped a couple poles to the right kicking the ball back at Malu, sending it to her left. Malu readjusted, hopping lightly to the ball. She caught it in her hand breathing deeply.
Aang was ready and waiting, "Holding the ball longer than 10 seconds counts as a point for me," he warned her.
Malu's eyes furrowed together at his taunt "Stop it!" she yelled at him.
Malu launched the ball using a jet stream straight at Aang, hitting 5 poles. Aang smiled at her, swooping low, below the poles, before vaulting himself up taking the ball with him. Aang swung the ball with him then spotted his opening. With another blast, he launched the ball straight into the middle of the arena. Malu dove forward to snatch it from him but at the last second Aang changed the ball's trajectory sending it straight at her hoop hitting 7 poles. Malu's eyes went wide as she stared at her spinning goal, then she turned back to Aang glaring. Aang was all smiles as he landed easily in front of his own goal.
"Aang 7, Malu 0," he said giggling to himself.
Cheers erupted from the watching crowd; he looked over to see Katara's beaming face. Jojo was jumping up and down with excitement next to Sokka, who was doing the same thing. Aang also noticed that Gran Gran and Pakku had made their way over to enjoy the festivities.
Malu looked back at Aang, "Another round Aang?" she asked, folding her arms.
"I think that might have to wait until after dinner," Aang indicated to the fading lights.
"Chicken," she said bending off the arena and up towards one of the towers.
Aang followed her with his eyes laughing at her, "Oh, come on Malu, it's only the first game! I learned that move from Sister Io, the best airball player in the world!" he called after her.
"Leave her be Aang, she's a sore loser, as you have seen," Jojo said.
"Now that's real airball," Sokka said patting Aang on the back.
"Couldn't agree with you more Sokka," he said, walking up to Katara.
"Yeah yeah," Toph commented; Aang just smiled in her direction.
"That was amazing," Katara said pulling him into a kiss.
Aang laughed, "How are you feeling?"
"I think you're right about dinner," she answered holding her arms out.
Aang picked her up and led the way to the kitchen while everyone followed him. The kitchen area wasn't large enough for the amount of people in the temple so Aang had Haru bend another large table out on the adjoining patio. The water tribe women began preparing the dinner meal while everyone just enjoyed the cool evening air that whispered in the hallways.
Aang let Katara lean against him since the air temple wasn't stocked with chairs. He rubbed her shoulders while she breathed deeply melting into his hands. Aang worked on the knots in her shoulders tenderly and when they started to loosen, he would press harder to smooth them out. They were all enjoying a peaceful evening when a hawk flew into the temple, landing on the ledge.
Sokka reached in the carrier pulling out a scroll, "It's from Dad. He will be here tomorrow afternoon and he has," he squinted trying to decipher the handwriting, "I can't read that, can you?" he asked handing the scroll to Pakku.
Pakku took the scroll, "He has news or something to that regard. Doesn't matter, he says also he'll be here by noon tomorrow and to look out for his ships. Most of the warriors are going home but he's bringing some here."
Katara laid her head on Aang's shoulder. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her, kissing her forehead, "Tired?" he asked softly.
"Yeah…I need to lie down," she answered.
Aang stood up taking her hand and helped her up. He held his hands out to carry her but she waved him off preferring to walk.
"Goodnight everyone," Katara said smiling at her family.
They called goodnight to them as they started the slow walk back to their room. When they got to the halfway, Katara felt a sharp pain in her abdomen that sent her to the floor.
"Katara!" Aang gasped, slowly easing her to lay down while the pain continued. Her breathing was shallow as her hands gripped her large belly. Aang held her securely against him as he felt people rushing up. Toph was leading the way and she was followed by the healers. Katara whined for another couple of minutes before the pain subsided.
"She needs to get into a bed," one of the healers told Aang. He scooped her up instantly and walked quickly the rest of the way to their room. They quickly attended to her by propping her body up with pillows and giving her water to drink. Two of the women left and came back with more water from a nearby well. The healer closest to Katara bent water onto her hands and placed them on Katara's stomach. She stayed there for a few seconds before moving on to the other parts of her body. Katara gripped Aang's hand, not permitting him to leave her side. He curled up as close to her as he could while the healers worked on her. Katara relaxed as the healing water passed over her tired limbs. Gran Gran and Pakku hurried inside the room, to her side.
"Katara dear, are you ok?" Gran Gran asked, stroking her head.
She opened her eyes, "I'll be ok Gran Gran."
"That's not the answer I want child," she chided.
Katara could only smile at her when the healer took her hands off of her, "May I speak with you a moment?" the healer asked Aang.
Aang glanced at Katara and she nodded at him, he kissed her hand and stood up following the healer. They exited the room and stood off in the corner.
"I just wanted to let you know that while I was healing her I felt something abnormal," she started, trying to be sensitive, "It was over the fetus and it was either a very large infection or there is something wrong with the baby."
Aang's sad smile gave her the hint that it was the latter, "What's your name?" he asked her gently.
"Alana, Avatar," she answered bowing.
"Alana, what I'm about to tell you…we don't want it to be public knowledge until the baby arrives," he started.
"Yes sir," she said.
"No formalities are needed with me," he waved at her before continuing sadly, "Right now; Katara is carrying a dead child. Toph recognized it first when she couldn't hear the heart beat."
Alana bowed her head, "That explains it then…her body is starting to reject the baby."
"What can we do…to spare her of this pain?" he asked, his eyes pleading.
"Nothing Avatar, we have to wait until her body delivers the child then it can begin healing."
"How long will that take?"
"She may carry it the full term but I'm guessing it will be premature."
Aang nodded and slowly began walking back inside the room to find Katara asleep with Gran Gran next to her. The healers had gradually left the room after a wave from Alana, leaving Aang, Gran Gran, Katara, and Pakku alone in the bedroom.
Pakku walked up to Aang who was leaning against the wall, "You alright?"
Aang sighed, "I will be…"
"You should go distract yourself while she rests," he advised.
Aang bowed his head breathing deeply, "Perhaps you are right."
With a gentle nudged both Aang and Pakku walked out of the room leaving the women to rest. Aang wasn't two steps out of the door when he nearly ran into Suki and Sokka.
"Well?" Suki asked, anxious.
"She's asleep and not in pain," Aang answered with a small smile.
"Were they able to heal her?" she pried.
"Suki, I'm sure she's fine…just recovering from her kidnapping," Sokka said pulling at her arm.
"No Sokka! This is the second time this has happened, and last time she didn't wake up for another day!" she argued.
Sokka's face fell, "I'm worried too Suki, but can you not see this bothers him just as much as it bothers you?"
Suki looked back at Aang's haunted eyes, "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"
"It's ok," he answered, walking away.
Aang bent himself down to one of the remote meditation spots and sat with his head in his hands. He started crying, letting all of his pent up guilt and anxiety flow down his cheeks in his tears. He wished he could change back time and make all of her hurt go away. It wasn't right for someone like her to suffer this much. He just wanted her to be happy, to see that glow return to her eyes and not be haunted anymore. A second later, another form joined him silently.
A small hand touched his back, "Aang…I'm sorry," Malu whispered.
"It's alright Malu," he told her not lifting up his head.
"No it's not…I've been ungrateful, insensitive, and…well I guess I didn't realize how much you were actually suffering. I feel a little guilty," she said sitting next to him.
Aang wiped away his tears before looking up at her, "Well, I had been a little bossy with the air bending…"
"Yeah just a little," she said laughing to herself, "but I understand why…you were trying to distract yourself, weren't you?"
Aang took a deep breath then let it release through his mouth, "Yes, in a way. I just can't let this press on me anymore than it already is. I need to keep my own spirit 'happy' so she doesn't suffer along with me."
They sat in silence, both closing their eyes listening to the stillness of the evening. The sky was dark and the only light came from faint sources around the air temple. Aang looked to see Malu's faint outline meditating, legs crossed and arms out. He decided to mimic her getting into his own meditative posture.
"You know, I never really grasped the concept of meditating until we got here," she said quietly.
"It definitely is different meditating here than in the outside world," he answered just as quietly.
"It's like I can feel peace and…desire here. Like it all makes sense."
Aang smiled, "As air nomads we detached ourselves from worldly things in order to attain spiritual wisdom and to better understand out element and what it fully means, which is probably why your isolation didn't bother you as it may have bothered another person because of your heritage. Even though your parents traveled, being in one place or having only one place to call home is born within us, as well as in other nations. But being away from other society enabled the younger air benders to learn the ways of our culture in a less stressed environment. True peace, in my opinion, can only be attained here if you're an air bender, because at the air temples, you are home and at peace."
Malu took a deep breath, thinking about everything Aang was saying.
"Just listen for a moment," he told her, "listen to the wind. Hear how it echoes through the temple, making it come alive,"
She took another deep breath and did as he told her, she listened. She could hear the faint humming as the wind vibrated through the hallways. She reached out, and felt the pull of the air around the temple. It danced around the courtyard before swirling its way up the towers and out into the freedom of the air. She caught onto another stream of air that sucked her back towards the ground but before she hit it she was taken away, down one of the hallways leading towards the base of the temple. It was like the wind itself was its own person dragging her everywhere, showing her everything. She took another deep breathe, releasing the connection, bowing forward grabbing both of her knees.
Aang opened his eyes to look at her, "I know what just happened to you."
"What was that?" she asked looking at him.
"That was spirit, the most powerful and important thing we posses as air benders. Without it, you are just a person you can jump to high heights. That right there, that personable trait of spirit, that's the first step to becoming a true air bender. Air bending is who we are…we don't control the air because it's free. It can take us to where ever it wants."
Malu's breath came out more rapidly; "This is why the monks could meditate for days…they went on journey's…" her hands were on her chest trying to control it.
"Don't control it," he grabbed her hands setting them on her lap, "Let it take you…let the air around you become you."
Malu kept her eyes forward as she tried to slow down her breathing.
"Don't fight it," he told her again closing his eyes.
Malu resettled in her position breathing rapidly. Calm, peace, freedom…she thought to herself. She listened again to the air around the temple, how it moved, what it was trying to tell her. She felt herself get taken away again except this time she saw something…a hand? She extended her spiritual self so that the hand closed around her own and she was swept away again. This time she was more prepared for it, at least she thought she was. It started again with the temple taking her places she had and hadn't seen, showing her new sights and feelings. She loved every moment of it. The air took her outside of the temple and around the surrounding mountain range. Her breathing slowed but the pace at which she was being dragged didn't ease up. It seemed to happen easier, effortless. It was when she was swirling around one of the peaks that she realized the wind wasn't pulling her anymore, she was doing it herself. She and the wind had become one, a single entity, never to be separated again.
Yeah i know...kinda depressing...but i am insanely curious about what people think about this last part. i kinda came up with it on the fly so i would enjoy your opinions about it as well as your general review. happy reading!