Additional Note: So sorry, the original posting of this turned out to be awful! I missed a step in my upload process where I have to re-copy everything to delete some of the messiness. Also GREAT catch on the Hakoda vs. Arnook error! My mind was on upcoming chapters so that was totally my bad. Hopefully I've made all of the fixes. If you see anything else please please let me know. Here is the MUCH cleaner version of the chapter.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the reads, favorites, and reviews that you all have been giving this story. Excited for this chapter and the chapters to come!
Aang made his way over to his door to find it was Yianna knocking. "Good morning!" Yianna started, "I hope I wasn't bothering you?
Aang smiled, "No no, I was just meditating. I've had a lot on my mind lately and needed to find my balance a little."
Yianna tilted her had a bit "They say Waterbending and Airbending go hand in hand in terms of forms and learning… But immersing yourself in the art of any one bending skill or culture can begin to separate you from your roots."
Aang nodded in agreement "Not only that but I imagined I'd be learning Waterbending very differently than I am now."
"Not a fan of Master Pakku I take it? Not many people are" Yianna began to laugh.
Aang quickly fumbled with his words "Oh no! Master Pakku is great! He's tough on me and I'm definitely not his favorite student but I think we've gotten to the point of respect on my part and tolerance on his".
At this Yianna seemed confused "Then what's different?"
Aang sighed, "I guess my perception of how things would have gone over the past few months were supposed to go very differently than they had." If I hadn't lied to my friends they'd still be here with me.
"Why is that?" Aang cringed.
"Let's get going to the healers hut, we can talk on the way there" Aang said.
Yianna shook her head, "Not today, let's go to the courtyard instead. We can practice forms there for a bit."
Aang rolled his eyes as Yianna's readiness to not be trapped in a stuffy hut for hours. Being an Airbender himself, he much rather preferred to be outdoors anyway. He readily agreed to the change of pace.
As Aang and Yianna walked through the palace halls, Yianna touched his shoulder and spoke "So why is it different then you had thought it would be" she began.
Aang sighed, hoping that she had forgotten his comment already "Well. I started my journey out with two friends who became my family and I ruined it with a lie." Aang stopped walking at this, his head down in shame.
"What did you lie about" Yianna asked, stopping with him. Surprised at his confession.
"Their father had been away from them for years due to the war. They had gotten a message delivered to them providing a location to their father's camp and I HID that message from them."
"You were afraid of losing them!" Yianna began, attempting to make Aang feel better.
"I was being selfish. I didn't want to be alone and in the end, I destroyed everything and ended up alone for a time anyway." Aang said, tears starting to build in his eyes.
Yianna grasped his shoulders, pulling him in for a hug. "You made a mistake Aang, we all aren't perfect but they made the choice to leave. Stop blaming yourself for something that is no longer in your control. That will only continue to bring you down. Waterbending brings life and renewal Aang. Why can't you let it renew you?"
Aang hugged her back. "I know I need to let this hurt go, I just wish I had been smarter about my actions."
Yianna rolled her eyes at this "You're 12 Aang, it's not like you have the whole world figured out or anything. You're still a kid."
At this Aang released Yianna from the hug, "Well you're just a teenager" Aang shot back.
They both laughed at this and continued to the courtyard for their training. Once at the courtyard Yianna instructed Aang to take up a defensive stance. Aang spun and pulled water from the pots surrounding them to form 8 long tendrils. He had chosen the octopus stance. It was a stance that Pakku had taught him earlier on. It was a well-rounded defense that covered him from all angles. At first Aang struggled to maintain focus enough to hold the 8 tendrils up much less move them to block attacks.
Yianna raised an eyebrow at this, considering how she would attack. She took a stance and began running towards Aang, forming icicles and throwing them at Aang. Dodging some easily Aang spun and redirected others back at Yianna, "Good! Use my attacks against me!" Yianna continued her assault, this time forming a massive wave at Aang. Seeing this Aang took his tendrils and formed a wedge to divide the water that was coming towards him. Once dissipated, Aang took his stance again ready for the next attack but she wasn't there. Where did she go? Aang thought as he spun around waiting for the attack.
All of the sudden he felt a chill run down his spine as he looked up to find a wave of water crashing down on him, freezing him in place. Yianna had used the wave as a distraction to attack him from above. "I thought you were an Airbender Aang, gotta look to the sky every once in a while" Yianna started with her hands on her hips in front of him enjoying her handiwork with a smile. "The octopus stance is a great all around defense. It covers you on all sides but one" she said as she pointed above her.
Aang rolled his eyes at this as he struggled to get free "Ha. Ha. Very funny. Looks like I still have a lot to learn." Aang said as he was finally able to unfreeze himself from his ice prison. Yianna laughed again closing her eyes for a split second. Aang used this opportunity to send a small wave of water at her in retaliation. Drenching her in the process. At this Aang laughed and Yianna scowled. "Hey!"
Aang shrugged, "And here I thought you were a Waterbender. Gotta expect the unexpected." Got her at her own game. Aang proudly thought to himself. As Aang and Yianna were laughing black snow began to fall. Light and unnoticeable at first quickly falling hard and fast leaving a black dusting on the ground. What the? Aang thought but quickly turning to panic as he looked off in the distance. Noticing a line of black specks and smoke on the horizon.
A horn went off at the wall. Fire Nation Fleet off in the distance! The voice called. Yianna quickly grabbed Aang's hand. We gotta go! Aang agreed breaking off in a run towards the barracks with her.
Why are they here? They must have known I would come North. Aang thought as he was running. Knowing he was likely berating himself Yianna quickly responded "Don't blame yourself for this, the Fire Nation would have coming eventually regardless of you being here or not."
Aang responded "But they are here NOW because of me."
"No time to think about that now, we gotta defend the tribe AND see what we are dealing with out there." Aang agreed. As they made it to the barracks, Aang saw the rest of the team had already arrived. Arnook addressed the men and women in the room. "The Fire Nation has left us alone for decades during this war but now they have arrived to take our home, to take our families, to take our freedoms… We are the Water Tribe, we are WARRIORS! Defend your homes, defend your freedoms, and defend your NATION!" At this a roar of applause rang through the room as men and women fitted themselves with armor and gear.
Aang kept his gear relatively light to allow for mobility as did most of the members within the unit he was in. His armor was a mix of orange and blue, fashioned with a crest of an Airbender and the Water Tribe in a Ying/Yang design on his chest. It was beautiful and Aang appreciated the thought when they created it for him. Aang picked up his staff and ran outside with Yianna and the rest of the group in toe.
When they made it to the wall the Fire Nation appeared to be firing off at something in the distance but at what? He gasped when he realized what it was.
Hope you all enjoyed this Chapter! Excited for what's to come!