Note: I split the last chapter up so it wasn't too long.
Ch.50 Aang's Best Day
The Council of nine eagerly welcomed the Avatar and his entourage on the viewing balcony at the cities entrance. There they were all taken to a separate banquet hall where they feasted on good food and talked freely from both sides. Aang learned more about the council's structure like how it was comprised of two Fire Benders, two Earth Benders, two Water Benders and three Air Benders; while the council learned more of the Avatar's plans for their people. Aang made sure he was clear that he wouldn't make them do anything they truly didn't want to do, but that he was strongly hoping for their support. Sokka gave a brief description of their ideas and they were all happy that for the moment their idea seemed acceptable.
Two hours later, after the food had long since been eaten, the councilmen took their leave. Katsu especially made sure to firmly shake Sokka's hand in a way that spoke of a connection they were not allowed to speak of.
Zuko stretched out his back once they were gone. "Man that started to feel like a full fledge meeting," Zuko said clearly drained. He had to answer nearly half of their questions due to all of their worries.
"You said it!" Aang agreed.
SuhaNur was curled up in Zuko's lap full and happy while Momo was sprawled out under the table completely stuffed.
Mai began to twirl one of her blades. "At least they didn't try and attack us although that could have been fun if they had tried."
Suki disagreed. "No, I think things are going great. It looks like they'll accept your proposal Sokka," Suki encouraged.
"Well it is one of my better plans if I do say so myself," Sokka gloated.
Katara elbowed her brother. "Cut it out. You know the basics were Aang's idea. Don't be taking all the credit now."
A knock then suddenly drew everyone's attention to the entrance.
"Um excuse me," a young man interrupted timidly. The gang quickly saw the white arm band and knew the kid was an Air Bender.
"Yes what is it?" Teji asked for the group.
"Ah, I don't mean to d-disturb you but I have b-been requested to escort the Av-Avatar to meet with s-some of the elders," the kid nearly fainted trying to speak in the presence of the Avatar and Fire Lord.
Aang openly sighed. He was dead tired already.
Zuko shrugged a little. "And this is why we kept ourselves a secret," Zuko needlessly stated.
"Yep," Sokka agreed for Aang.
"Alright," Aang said as he mentally prepared himself for whatever was next. "Lead the way."
Teji walked over to the poor kid and got the info needed to dismiss him before he flew into a pillar or something.
"So where are we going?" Aang asked Teji once the kid darted away as fast as possible.
"The upper levels actually," Teji said as he pondered the fastest route when with non flyers. He then snapped his fingers. "I know what we'll do," Teji said confidently.
Leaning over the short railing just a bit, Teji whistled three simple notes towards a few Air Benders crossing two levels down; a low note then a high note then a note somewhere in the middle.
The gang watched as the Air Benders below looked up then changed course to head in his direction. Teji did the same thing to two others flying over on the north side. To everyone's surprise, the strangers all landed on their walkway.
"Need a lift?" one asked.
A few of the Air Benders elbowed each other as they realized who was standing in front of them.
"Yes if you wouldn't mind," Teji answered. "We all need to get up to level three west side."
"No way!" Toph called out. "What craziness are you planning now?" Like Toph hadn't already figured it out.
"It's easy Toph," Teji encouraged. "You just ride on top of their gliders. It's much faster than walking the hallways, staircases, and bridges."
Katara smiled. "I do it all the time," she also encouraged.
"You've done it before too Toph," Aang reminded. "On the day of Black Sun I carried you and Sokka over that lava river… remember."
"DON'T remind me!" Toph threw up her hands. "It's not like we really had a choice back then," she grumbled.
Aang was ready to go so Katara got into position behind him. "Ready when you are," Aang told Teji.
All of the Air Benders, who were excitedly standing there, picked out a person to carry. They could tell everyone was going to need a ride because none of them had a white arm band.
Zuko offered a slight bow. "Thank you for giving up your free time to help us out."
The others mumbled their thanks as well while the girl who had picked Toph was trying to sooth her fears.
Without further warning Teji, and the man helping him out, dove off the edge with Aang and Katara closely following. Soon the others were in flight as they quickly ascended the many levels of the city. Momo and Suha had lazily followed.
Toph was all too happy to land and they all thanked the Air Benders once more for being nice enough to give them a lift.
"So you whistle and Air Benders come?" Mai asked incredulously once the good Samaritans had gone.
"It doesn't always work," Teji sheepishly explained. "It's only a request call. No one has to answer it and for the most part people, like me, try and not abuse the system and overly call for a ride."
Zuko was impressed. "That's still pretty cool."
Looking around, the gang found themselves standing in an open viewing balcony equipped with several benches and potted plants that could thrive in the artificial light. Sitting far off to the side were three very old looking Air Benders. Aang immediately walked over to them leaving the others to wait at the edge behind him.
Aang stopped in front of the three elders and bowed. "My name is Avatar Aang," he said unnecessarily due to his appearance. "Am I to assume you wanted to meet me?"
Looking closer now, Aang eyed the two men and one woman carefully. His eyes then went wide when he realized that their arm bands were white AND gold!
"Yes, Avatar Aang we did," the woman informed with a knowing smile.
Aang took a few shaky steps back. 'It can't be,' his mind reeled.
The three old benders stood and the two men took a step towards him.
"It's been a while hasn't it… Aang?" one man spoke with his own all knowing smile.
"YOU GUYS WERE BORN IN THE AIR TEMPLES!" Aang yelled out.
Katara upon hearing his outburst thought screw the respectful distance and sprinted over to Aang's side along with the rest of the gang.
"What's wrong Aang?" Katara asked as she eyed the old benders suspiciously.
The two old men ignored the others for the moment.
"I don't think he recognizes us," one said to the other.
"No I suppose he doesn't," the old Air Bender with a long mustache answered back in playful banter.
Aang just stood there wide eyed. Bumi, he had thought, was the only one of his friends old enough to remember him. Aang finally let the shock subside and began to smile mischievously. The clean shaven Air Bender and Aang seemed to be having a staring contest as the others just stood there a bit dumbfounded.
"Jenang? NO! You're Tenzin aren't you?" Aang guessed with the biggest grin ever… if that was even possible. He had been smiling a lot these days.
Tenzin laughed freely and the two men shared a hug.
"Seems I've been figured out," Tenzin chuckled.
"And you'd be…" Aang turned to look at the other Air Bender with the mustache. "Ngari?"
Now both men laughed. "I guess the wrinkles weren't enough to fool you!" Ngari chuckled.
The old woman now stepped into their circle.
"Avatar Aang," she spoke, "We may have met when you visited the Eastern Air Temple to choose your bison, but I wouldn't be able to recall. We were all very young then. My name is Shiwa."
"It's an honor to meet you," Aang bowed. He couldn't believe it. This really was the best day of his life! Aang turned to his family.
"Guys, meet Tenzin and Ngari… two of my childhood friends!"
The gang blinked a few times as they all realized once again how old Aang really was. Knowing the facts and actually seeing it were two different things.
Teji spoke their thoughts. "Wow, it's hard to believe you are all the same age. You'd never know by looking at your appearances!" he awkwardly stated.
All four Air Benders laughed freely. Tenzin, Ngari and Shiwa had heard Aang's speech earlier so they knew their friend had been frozen all these years.
"Actually," Tenzin spoke up, "Aang is a year older than me," he reviled devilishly.
Sokka's jaw dropped. Something's still remained unbelievable. Now everyone shared in the laughs. It was great to be able to share yet another special moment with Aang.
"So are there any others?" Aang asked eagerly.
Tenzin shook his head. "That depends on your context. On the day Fire Lord Sozin used the comets strength to wipe out our people all of us kids were evacuated before the first strike. Chetsang, Jenang, Gyalo…"
Ngari continued, "Sengi, Galme, Chimi, Kukula…"
"Don't forget about Jinju," Shiwa added.
Aang shook his head as so many memories flooded into his mind. Each name brought about different emotions but hearing Jinju's name made him laugh all over again.
Tenzin also smiled at his own memories of everyone. "In any case," he continued, "we all made it to this island however out of all the Air Benders who weren't masters… we are the only ones still alive."
Aang didn't mind too much. Seeing Tenzin and Ngari again was more than he'd ever ask for. However the looks he was now getting made Aang feel there was something they weren't telling him.
The old Air Benders smiles grew as they watched Aang's face morph into one of playful suspicion.
"You're not hiding anything else from me?" Aang asked out right. He had been side swiped way too many times on this island to trust them.
"It seems he suspects something," Ngari said to Tenzin.
"Seems so," Tenzin answered back.
"Alright guys!" Aang crossed his arms. "What are you keeping from me?"
Zuko was starting to believe all old people weren't to be trusted.
Everyone under the age of a hundred just stood behind Aang not sure if they should be a part of this reunion or not.
Shiwa warmly laid a hand on Aang's shoulder. "Follow me," Shiwa said.
Aang looked back to the others.
"Just you please," Tenzin added.
"Fine, but Katara is coming with me," Aang compromised. Tenzin might have been his best friend once but that was a long time ago and he didn't know what they had in mind.
Tenzin looked to Shiwa who nodded that that was fine.
"Very well," Tenzin easily consented. "We're just going into the house next door."
Shiwa led the way as Zuko, Sokka, Mai, Suki, Toph and Teji all sat down on one of the many benches to make themselves comfortable. They'd most likely be there for a while. Sokka grabbed Momo's tail as the lemur attempted to follow Aang. After trying to escape him, Momo gave up and was released as he sat down on his haunches next to Sokka to wait for Aang to return.
"Avatar Aang," Tenzin said at last as they now stood in front of a bedroom door. "Meet Master Kokoro."
Aang stepped into the room with Katara following. Inside there was a large bed in the center of the room with an old lady propped up with a bunch of pillows. Aang became numb as he approached and automatically moved to sit in the chair next to her bedside table.
"My my," old Kokoro marveled at the young man now sitting next to her. "Are my eyes playing tricks on me?" she said with mirth.
Aang was just dumbfounded. Here in front of him was a woman with Air Bender tattoo's!
"I thought I was the only one," Aang mumbled. Silent tears were streaming down his blank face.
"I never thought I'd live to see you again Avatar Aang," Kokoro said. She had known Aang's true identity, all the monks and sisters did, prior to them revealing it to Aang who was too young at the time to understand his destiny.
For Aang, he didn't remember Sister Kokoro specifically. He had met many people when he had chosen Appa. It was just seeing another Air Bender with Air Bending tattoos that gave him the strangest warm feeling inside. It was as if he was finally home.
"The others told me what happened to you," Kokoro continued. "You were frozen in ice?" she asked for herself.
Blinking back his reality, Aang finally acknowledged the old master. "Yes, that's right. Appa, my bison, and I got in over our heads in a bad storm over the southern oceans." Aang felt his mouth go dry and felt more nervous than ever. "We got knocked down into the sea. I guess the Avatar State saved us. It took nearly a hundred years until someone finally found us."
"I see," she answered. "And now you've returned and set things right." There was no need to go into any more details of his past. Kokoro had heard about his running away but clearly that was long since past. "The war is over," she said. Those words sounded so strange to her. "And now… what will you do Avatar Aang?"
The question seemed to be asked on so many different levels that Aang felt his mind wanting to jolt into random directions but after looking into her soft wrinkled gray eyes he knew his answer.
"I'm going to take you home."
Fifteen minutes later Toph, who was laying flat on one of the benches, pointed a foot towards one of the balconies hallways.
"Someone's coming back," she nonchalantly informed.
Everyone sat up and turned just in time to see Katara rounding the corner.
Zuko stood, "So?" he asked.
Katara smiled. "I'll let Aang tell you when he's done," she answered. After seeing that everything was fine, Aang had asked if Katara would go back and tell the others everything was all right. He didn't want them to worry but he still wanted to talk to Kokoro a little longer. So here she was now taking a seat next to Suki to wait along with everyone else.
Everyone was curious to say the least but considering everything that had happened to them in the past few weeks they all accepted what would surely be a short lived mystery.
It was an hour later when Aang and his three old friends returned.
The gang had each taken a bench to lie down on, but all quickly stood up and wiped away the sleep from their eyes now that Aang had returned.
Aang had red eyes which concerned his friends only a little.
"I got to meet someone pretty special," Aang said exhausted but happy.
Katara could see he wouldn't mind the help so she jumped in. "Aang got to meet an Air Bender, woman named Kokoro, who has Air Bending tattoos! She's 128 years old, pretty lively but is bed ridden now a days," Katara summed up the gist of what she knew.
"I'm not the last old master," Aang marveled again. It was the coolest thing in the world.
Suki moved to give Aang a hug. "That's great Aang!"
"Wow," Sokka commented. "There are all sorts of Air Benders coming out of the crevasses* around here."
Teji flinched a little. "Oh yea, sorry about that Aang. I should have remembered about the original Air Benders."
"That's all right Teji," Aang easily forgave, but Toph slugged him in the arm on Aang's behalf.
Tenzin now tapped Aang on the shoulder. "I also have something to apologize for," his old voice spoke.
"What is it?" Aang asked. He didn't have a clue what his old friend could be talking about.
"I know it's long overdue Aang, but I apologize for not letting you play with us as children once we found out you were the Avatar. Games are meant for fun rather than winning. You had every right to be included in our air scooter game and excluding you bothered me greatly as a child." Tenzin sighed as he relieved the old memory. "Never fully understanding why you disappeared, living on this island without you… it all made me realize we should have treasured the times we had together while we had the chance."
Aang was blown away. It all was still rather fresh in his mind because it all happened only five years ago in his mind. But Aang was no fool and he knew that that was all in the far distant past for everyone else. The fact that it had bothered his best friend Tenzin spoke volumes.
For Katara and the others, they once again were in the dark and could only stand by respectfully and give them space. Even Sokka was able to keep his snappy comments to himself.
"It did hurt," Aang surprised everyone by admitting. "But I wouldn't be a very good monk if I couldn't forgive all of you, right?" Aang smiled. It wasn't as if he hadn't already forgiven them.
Tenzin and Ngari were smiling both happy and sad smiles. It was a mix of emotions for all of them. Regardless of time past; Aang was still their friend.
"So what now?" Mai asked.
Aang took a step back and looked at everyone. Seriousness returned to Aang's face. "Sokka, Zuko, everyone, tomorrow you all will get with the islanders and begin preparing for our big plan of action. If we have figured correctly, that will take about a week to prepare for. Katara, take one of their sky bison and head to Ammon with a few black bands for support. I'm sure the locals will be surprised to see a bison who's not Appa," Aang reasoned. "Send messages to the Fire Nation palace informing them Fire Lord Zuko's plans to be in meetings for a week then an additional week of traveling to various kingdoms before returning to the palace."
"Right," Katara accepted.
"Then bring Houndy back after the message has been sent out." Aang then looked back to Sokka and Zuko. "I know you guys can handle things here for a week without me," Aang surprised them by saying.
"And you'll be where?" Zuko asked.
Determination flickered across Aang's eyes. "I will be taking some of the Air Benders back to the Eastern Air Temple with Appa."
"What? Why now?" Sokka jumped.
"Look guys, the old plan is still in effect, but for people like Kokoro, Tenzin and even people like Guru Pathik… they don't deserve waiting any more. My plan is to just take them, and a few others who can support and help them, back to the Eastern Air Temple. I'm going to take them home."
It was instantly clear that Aang wasn't going to change his mind on this.
"They've been gone long enough," Aang added solemnly.
"We get it," Katara reassured. "I know we can manage without you for a few days."
"Yea," Sokka now encouraged. "We'll get the snowball rolling here while you swoooosh off to the Air Temple and by the time you swoooosh back everything will be set and ready to go!"
"Thanks guys." Aang knew he sounded a little selfish, but he needed to do this now for his old friends and was once again happy that his incomparable family understood him.
"Avatar Aang," Shiwa now spoke. "I know it's getting rather late, but you and your friends are all welcome to come to my house for some tea before you head back to the inn."
"What do you say guys?" Aang asked. They were tired but Aang would easily give up sleep to talk with his old friends some more.
Toph smirked. "I don't know about you all, but I'd love to hear some embarrassing stories of little Aang!"
"Uh-" Aang raised a finger.
"Yea!" Sokka called out. "I'd bet Tenzin here knows some real good ones! –ouch!"
Suki smacked him upside the head. "Be respectful! That's Master Tenzin to us!"
"Tenzin is fine," the old bald man replied. "Too many people are overly stuffy around us anyways. And we know many stories about Aang."
"Absolutely," Ngari agreed.
"Sounds like fun," Zuko commented.
"So which way are we going?" Teji asked.
Aang was clearly a little mortified at the direction of the conversation but he was playfully ignored.
Shiwa pointed across the way. "My house is directly across from us. We can take that bridge over there to cross."
"Sweet," Toph commented all too thankfully.
The gang all filed off towards Shiwa's house leaving Aang standing there with Momo.
"Some family they are," Aang playfully scoffed. "We'll I guess we have no choice Momo."
Momo's big green eyes blinked back.
"Come on!" Aang finally said jumping from the edge with his glider in hand. Momo was instantly soaring by his side. Why walk over to the bridge when you can fly across.
The gang then enjoyed two hours of laughter and stories. Good tea and better company. Eventually Mai, Sokka, and Toph were becoming exhausted along with the others. It had to be after midnight. With the exception of Aang and Katara, the gang called it a night with all around agreements not to wake anyone else until noon. Momo was out cold by this point, so Sokka took the fur ball with him.
The remaining five now all took a deep breath as the quiet enveloped them.
"I must say," Tenzin began again. "That you have chosen some pretty remarkable people to be your friends," he acknowledged.
"They're more than friends," Aang corrected. "They're my family."
Aang and Katara continued to share stories with Tenzin, Ngari and Shiwa into the early hours of morning. For Aang and Katara, they were used to a little sleep deprivation. As for the old Air Benders, they had the will to stay awake. Too much time had been taken from them already and the desire to stay with their old friend was enough for a few more hours of conversation.
It was the dead of night when Aang and Katara finally stepped from the mountain and out beneath the starry sky. The two walked silently side by side for awhile. Aang's mind was going a mile a minute which didn't surprise Katara in the least. She was completely tired but entirely happy.
"Hey Katara," Aang quietly spoke.
"Yes Aang." There were so many things he could say next.
He took a deep breath as he worked to get his thoughts straight. "Do you want to walk down to the beach with me?" Aang asked a bit randomly. "I know it's late but I think I need to walk a bit more before my brain can shut off and sleep."
Katara took his hand in hers with a little squeeze. "Of course Aang… I could use a short walk myself."
"Thanks," Aang mumbled as his mind drifted off again.
In no time at all they were standing on the deserted beach. The darkness seemed to consume everything making the sounds of the crashing waves all the more powerful. There they stood hand in hand looking up at the bright twinkling stars and crescent moon before Aang finally dropped his eyes to Katara's face.
She smiled up at him.
"I can't believe how much things have changed," Aang finally spoke. "And after tomorrow..." Aang let the thought hang in the air. He didn't have to explain himself. Katara understood him better than anyone else.
"You know it's a beautiful night," Katara switched topics. Aang didn't need to be stressing about the fate of the world any more for tonight.
Aang looked back around him. It was in fact a nice night but that wasn't where Aang's head was at.
"You know I had a good talk with Master Kokoro this evening," Aang began again.
"I imagine you did. She seems like a pretty interesting woman," Katara marveled. Having seen the tattoos was cool to her as well.
"Yes she is," Aang agreed. Aang looked all around him. He saw the large canopy trees in the distance, the jagged rocks surrounding them, the crashing waves, white sands, and looking back up the moon and stars shown clearly without clouds to hinder them. "We talked about all sorts of things," Aang said with his heart rate increasing.
Katara noticed that Aang was getting anxious and it started to concern her. What had the old woman told him?
"And, well… I asked her about some of our old customs," Aang's mouth went dry. He had been thinking about this for months.
"And…" Katara coaxed. The palms of Aang's hands were beginning to sweat.
"And well…" Aang then dropped to a knee on the sand while still holding Katara's hands in his. "I asked her what I should do if I asked you this…"
Katara's eyes went wide and her breath caught!
"Katara, I swear by the stars above me that I will love you and treasure you for as long as I live… if you would accept me this night."
Aang couldn't help but find her beautiful. The moonlight caused the white bits of her dress to glow and with the light shining off each of the pearls in her hair she truly seemed to shine like the stars he swore by.
Katara's heart was pounding to say the least! She had known this day would come eventually, but she had thought she would have seen it coming. Aang had caught her completely by surprise.
Aang felt nearly sick as he waited for her to reply. She was his whole word in most cases. Regardless of his duties he knew he couldn't really live without her. There was so much he wanted to say... he wanted to tell her how much she's meant to him... tell her how amazing she was for saving his life... how her courageousness was greater than his own, but all Aang's mind seemed blank as he waited for her shock to subside.
"Yes Aang… of course Yes!" Katara nearly yelled as she finally found her voice!
Aang stood and pulled her close and kissed her like he had been wanting to for hours. Their tight embrace made words unnecessary. They'd been through hell and back together but more than that they knew they were in love and no amount of time or trials would ever change that.
Aang had asked Kokoro what their people's customs were for proposal if they chose not to be monks. Aang didn't want to carve a necklace like the Northern Water Tribe and risk making Katara chose his necklace over her mothers.
Kokoro had been thrilled to tell him about their custom. Not being a materialistic people, the way they proposed was to drop to one knee and swear your undying love on something around you. Something only the couple would know of. One could swear by every lovely purple flower on the hilltops of their unmatched love. If accepted, that couple would always remember their promise and devotion every time they'd see that flower. For Aang he couldn't help but see the stars above all else and knew in his heart he'd swear by them.
The two walked back to the inn side by side with the biggest smiles ever. Tomorrow Aang could finally say that Katara was not just his girlfriend but his betrothed.
From seeing Iroh, Appa and Momo again, to seeing Katara's new dress, to revealing himself to the people he had grown to love, to seeing Momo's place of birth, to meeting with old friends, and finally ending the day with his proposal accepted… this truly was Aang's best day ever.
Aww mushyness.
Now I know not everyone is for Katang but in sticking with the cannon series you know this had to happen at some point! I never planned on Aang proposing in my entire story. It just sort of popped into my head... like most of this ends up doing. I'm happy with the result.
Looking back I saw that I commented in the ch. 20's that the end was getting closer... wow now on ch.50 my mind is still coming up with more. Clearly I'm not to be trusted ;)
Yea for old Air Benders!
(*Crevasses: are large cracks in the ice. When I got to go hiking in Antarctica, there was this 7 mile trail loop to Castle Rock that was marked with red or green flags on bamboo poles. There were a few black flags marking where the cravasses were so we could stay away from those spots. If you walked over there the top snow would give way and you could die from falling in. Ah, good times! It was beautiful down there. Chock that experience up to being in the Coast Guard.)
Everything is coming to its conclusion!
