Thank you for the reviews. I was really hoping to keep the overall tone of the show and I'm happy that I got close. I have no idea how it's gonna be forward, but keeping my fingers crossed. Work and home life is keeping me busy but I try to write when I can.
Finally we're at the start again. Now the table has been set and we can slowly begin going into the main alta storyline. There's gonna be a lot taking from the original story since, well I like it, but with some small changes. I need this for later… I hope… You'll see! You'll all see!
As Gene Wilder sang: Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you'll see into your imagination
Chapter 5
"And then you got angry at me and chased me through the temple" Hari finished, looking at the three, staying at him.
At some point they had gotten very quiet.
Aang was sitting with big teary eyes and a quivering lip looking like he was about to cry.
Katara was looking at him with a mixture of empathy and admiration, her hands over her heart.
Sokka was staring, not having chewed the last bite he took for some time. With a big gulp he swallowed, opened his mouth and was beaten to the punch by Katara leaning forward and saying "You have been through so much!"
Sokka humphed, looked at Haru, took a breath and was cut by Aang sniffling "Poor Minnie. Probably the last skybison to live here…"
"If it even is true!" He got out. They all looked at him as he leaned back, taking a piece of fruit with him. "I mean seriously, this story is just crazy. Travelling worlds, being raised by skybison, being able to cook!" He pointed at Hari. "I mean do you have any proof?"
"Nope!" Hari said, popping the 'p' with a smile. "I told you that it might seem strange, farfetched and even crazy and if you think i'm bonkers, loony or crazy, it's okay." He looked down at his food, seeming lost for a moment in a memory, his smile never truly leaving his face. "I'm used to people thinking that."
"The Air Nomads have stories of people like you," Aang said, wiping his eyes and gaining everyone's attention. "They called them 'wanderers'."
"Why haven't we heard about this?" Katara asked.
"Because the Air Nomads protected them. They had nothing and one of them didn't even know our language. They were completely lost. I've only heard about two, ever. I was told about them by Gyatso. They spent most of their lives trying to find back but,"
"They never did." Hari finished. "I thought so much." He nodded.
Sokka humphed again, crossing his arms. "That still doesn't prove that you're one. You could've read it somewhere."
"Funny story! About that, I can't read anything here." Hari chuckled.
"WHAT!" Is it still stereo if it's three people shouting, Hari wondered.
"How can you not read if you can speak?" Katara asked.
"Didn't you learn how to read back home?" Aang asked.
"There, the text on that wall, right there, what does it say?" Sokka asked and pointed.
"Third, I can't read the text on that wall because I have never learned your written language. I don't know if it exists where I come from. Might be, since we have many different ways to write depending on the language. Second, I did but I used letters not characters and first, I think I answered that in the last two questions. But to put it simply. If I could I would but I can't, that's why I don't."
"I can teach you!" Now the heads turned to Katara, whose cheeks got a little red and looked down at her plate. "I mean if you'd like to learn…"
"That would be great! Thank you!" came the very enthusiastic reply.
"I'm still not convinced… I mean I don't think you're a bad guy. You make good food, you didn't poison us… I think…" Sokka said thoughtfully.
"I think if he poisoned us you'd definitely be dead by now with how much you ate." Aang laughed. The two others joined him as Sokka grumbled.
"Also, Appa seems to like him and he is a great judge of character, aren't you buddy?" Aang looked over his shoulder at Appa who grunted and nodded.
"Well, if the avatar trusts him and his companion trusts him, then I trust him." Katara said.
"It is true that Appa is a great judge of character. I mean he liked me immediately, so he must be. You know what, I'm giving you a chance but if you try something funny!" Sokke ended, pointing at Hari with the vegetable he was eating.
Hari bowed his head, "Thank you." Then he clapped his hands twice, "Now! What is your story? I get why an… air nomad was it? Thanks, an air nomad came here, but you two, no offense, look like you're from the north pole."
"Actually that's where we're going. We're from the south pole." Katara said.
"Really? Wow, how is it to live there?"
Katara looked at Aang who shrugged and then Sokka who still looked skeptical even after deciding to trust Hari.
"Sokka, we live in a world where people can bend elements and you even called what I'm doing 'playing with magic water' plus you didn't trust Aang in the beginning either!" Katara reminded him.
"Yeah, but…"
"I can bend all elements, I shine blue sometimes and I've been frozen in an iceberg for a 100 years." Aang piped in.
"Okay, now I'm sure that there's a story here." Hari said, his eyes shining with curiosity.
Sokka was sitting with his eyes closed, arms crossed, grumbling unless he let out a sigh, looked up at Hari, then Aang and then his sister, giving her a nod.
She turned her head to look at the fireplace. She closed her eyes while she took a deep breath.
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked…"
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It was dark now and half the group was sleeping. It had been a trying day for everyone, ending with light food and heavy stories. The ones who had fallen asleep were Aang, Katara and Sokka. Momo, Appa and Hari were still up, Hari sitting on the balcony ledge letting his legs swing, looking out into the night. Momo was on his shoulder, leaning up against his head, slowly dozing off while Appa sat beside them.
"Another war, huh." The words were just as much to himself as it was to his companions.
"I didn't know that we were so close to the south pole, so I guess that going with them to the north pole would mean seeing a lot of the world too, so that's something. But joining up with them, knowing what's to come is the same as joining a side in the war."
Something stirred inside of him, something he thought he had left behind.
"Also, a child of destiny, winning over evil, power that others do not. Feels a little too close to home. They don't need me. They don't."
Appa made a sound that sounded like he disagreed with the statement, making Hari look at him. Looking back out and up into the stars he sighed.
Momo chittered at him. "I know they invited but… yeah you're right Momo. I already decided. There's so much I want to see, so much to learn! Katara is gonna teach me how to read, Aang wanted to teach me more about airbending. Who knew there was so much you can do? I don't want to stay but…" Momo poked at him with his tail, not too friendly.
"Really Momo? Alright."
As he stood up Appa looked up at him. Hari smiled back, putting his hand on the skybisons forehead. "Don't worry."
Then he stepped out over the ledge and fell into the darkness below.
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It wasn't early morning when the trio woke up. It was, though, a very nice sleep they had, feeling both warm and full.
One of the first things they noticed was that Hari wasn't there.
They had asked him the evening before if he wanted to join them and he had seemed both happy and reluctant at the same time. In the end he hadn't given them an answer and now he was gone.
Aang and Katara were both looking down, while Sokka didn't care. Nope, no, he didn't care at all, not disappointed at all. Okay, maybe a bit, but no more.
They waited a bit but then started to pack and load Appa with their stuff. As they finished Hari still hadn't turned up. Aang sighed, "Well I guess that's it." They all went up in Appas saddle. "Yip yip."
"Yip yip."
"Yip yip?"
"What's up buddy? You feeling bad?" Aang asked his friend.
"I knew there was something up with that guy!" Sokka stated, "He's done something to Appa!"
"Oh ye of little faith."
Sokka spun around and was hit in the chest with a heavy bag.
"Hari!" Aang and Katara shouted. He had just walked through the doors carrying a couple of bags, Momo walking by his side.
"Goodmorning or rather good day to you. Sorry if I'm a bit late, I was packing my stuff and some provisions since I noticed you don't really have any. But provisions are only for the trustful," he said looking sideways at Sokka.
Sokka grumbled something that sounded a bit like 'blackmail' but he let it go.
"Are you really joining us?" Aang asked.
"Yes. I really want to see more of the world and from the looks of it, you need someone who knows something about cooking, no offense."
"I'm only used to making food from back home and there's not much we have when it comes to ingredients. I even heard that some plants are poisonous, so really, none taken." Katara said with a smile.
"I hope it's okay that Momo is joining too."
"Of course!" Aang said enthusiastically as Momo jumped up on Aang shoulders, getting a scratch under his chin.
Hari shook his head and climbed into the saddle with his bags. "Okay, lets go!"
Aang smiled. Even if Hari wasn't a real Air Nomad, he was still an airbender. Aang didn't feel so alone anymore, like a bit of his culture was still alive in having someone he could share it with.
Aangs smile grew a bit more.
"Yip. Yip!"
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"You don't know where we are, do you?"
They have been flying for quite some time, not seeing much but water and a few scattered islands they had pit-stopped on.
Aang was sitting in front with momo, steering the way, Sokka was looking over the map, Hari was laying half asleep, enjoying the sun and Katara was sewing a hole in Sokkas pants, until a small argument leads to Sokkas pants being thrown in his face.
"Don't worry Sokka, where we're going we don't need pants!"
They dive down to an island where they land on the nearest beach, Aang jumping off looking for something over the water.
"We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn't we get a little more flying done?" Sokka asks.
"He's right. At this rate, we won't get to the North Pole until spring." Katara follows up.
Hari tunes them out while looking around. He might be a guy but he's not stupid, at least at how guys think. It is obvious that Aang wants to show off for Katara.
As Aang is Koi-surfing Hari feels something change. After his old life on the run he always trusted his instincts and right now they were telling him that they were being watched.
It was too late to do anything about it now, so might as well see what happens. Gryffindors charge forward.
He takes a step to the side as Aang flies past him into Sokka.
"What was that thing?" Katara asks.
"I don't know." Aang answers.
Before Sokka gets the chance to say anything they are surrounded by several people dressed in green, tied up, blindfolded and laying incapasitated on the ground.
"Why do I feel like I didn't get the chance to make a joke?" Sokka finally says.
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They were moved and tied to a large wooden pole.
"If you don't answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with the Unagi," a voice told them.
"Show yourselves, you cowards!" Sokka challenged.
As their blindfolds are removed they see five girls in green kimonos with face paint standing in front of them.
Sokka was looking around. "Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?"
Hari let his head drop and before the one who looked like the leader of the kimono ninjas got to say anything, he cut in.
"Sokka, There were no men. They took us down. Didn't you notice anything before they blindfolded ud?"
Sokka scoffed. "There's no way that a bunch of girls took us down."
Green leader grabbed Sokka by his shirt and sneered at him "A bunch of girls, huh? The Unagi's gonna eat well tonight..
"Please don't hurt him," Katara said pleadingly, "My brother is just an idiot sometimes. He didn't mean it!"
"Nah, he did mean it. He just don't know any better, unfortunately."
Katara looked angrily at Hari.
"What? I'm surprised since you seem to have such strong women in your family. How can he still be dense about that? Some of the strongest people I knew were girls!"
Katara softened, as well as some of the greeninjas.
"It's my fault. I just wanted to ride the elephant koi. I'm sorry."
They all looked at Aang.
"How do we know that you're not spies?" An old guy said, probably the town leader. "Kyoshi stayed out of the war so far. And we intend to keep it that way!"
"I know Kyoshi!" Aang piped up.
"Ha! How could you possibly know her?" Old man said.
Before he started on what seemed to Hari as a longer tale, he went,
"Because he's the avatar. Aang, do some airbending and get us out of here."
Aang looked at him and nodded. He bends slightly before shooting up, out of his bindings, past the stature of Kyoshi on top of the pole, backflips and before he lands, pushes air down for a soft landing.
Everything is quiet except for a small 'show-off' from Hari, only heard by the two left bound.
"It's true ... you are the Avatar!" The old guy said, in something that sounded too much like fangirling for Hari's taste.
His fears are proven true when Aang shows them the same trick he tried to show Katara earlier, the people cheered loudly and even one guy frothing at the mouth and fainting. "This is gonna be a problem" he thinks out loud as he shakes his head.
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"All right! Dessert for breakfast!"
Our three friends are sitting at a big table filled with sweets.
Aang is happily stuffing his face, overly happy with the treatment while Katara looks at it with skepticism. While Aang is trying to get Katara to participate in the food bonanza, he looks at Sokka who is sulking at the table.
"What's up Sokka? Eat!"
"Not hungry," comes the reply.
"But you're always hungry!" Aang counters.
Katara looks at Sokka and then at Aang with a smirk. "He's just upset because a bunch of girls kicked his butt yesterday."
Before the teasing-and-denial session even began and before the gang even sat down at the table, Hari was walking the small town on Kyoshi Island. He was used to getting up early, both in his previous life and in his new one, having to get some of the good fruits before the other lemurs took all of them.
There was a lot of activity in the town, lots of life. He felt like it wasn't something regular. Rebuilding, refurbishing and they were even fixing the statue of Avatar Kyoshi. Yeah, this wasn't regular activity. Them being there created this, which meant others might know too.
But again, who would be chasing them? Maybe that solo… no… choko… alright he's bad with names, but it was something like-ZULU! It was zul… still didn't sound right.
As he was wondering what Zukos name was he heard something that sounded like people fighting and his curiosity got the better of him.
As he neared the building where the sound was coming from he saw the greeninjagirls training. He was guessing that they were fight training. As he got closer they stopped and looked at him.
"So, is the guy here to show the girls how it's done?" One of them said, Greenleader if he wasn't wrong. He might not be good with names but he remembers faces pretty well.
"Are you asking me if I can beat you in a fight? Seems very unsportsmanlike to rile someone up to fight angry, just to beat them." He tutted, making the greeninjas look at each other. He was sure that Greenleader was blushing a bit, since she was sputtering, but he couldn't see because of the makeup.
She took a breath and looked at him. She took a step towards him, put her hand together and bowed. "You're right. That is unrespectful of me. I forgot that you were unlike your companion."
Hari bowed back, "Thank you for your consideration." As he stood up he looked at them, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Hari."
Greenleader looked at the girls who all came forward to stand with her and bowed as well. "Hello Hari, we are the Kyoshi warriors. We are the protectors of Kyoshi Island. Each village on this island has its own band of warriors. We are the Elite and I'm the leader. My name is Suki." After Suki's introduction the other girls introduced themselves.
"It's very nice to meet you all. I have one question though and I know that I've already taken up part of your training time and I'm ready for a rejection, but… could you train me in your art?" He finished with a winning smile. At least what he thought was winning and maybe he wasn't far off since at least two of the girls giggled but that was quickly stopped by one look from Suki.
During their traveling Aang, Katara, Sokka and Hari had agreed to keep his airbending under wraps, only using it if necessary, since suddenly having two airbenders might cause confusion since the Avatar is supposed to be the last airbender.
Suki herself seemed to be mulling it over until she said "You'd have to follow all of our traditions and I mean all of them."
"Done!"
That's how Hari ended up in the typical green dress of the Kyoshi Warriors and sporting the white face paint. He was moving around, testing it out. "Wow this is pretty comfortable and easy to move around in!"
One of the girls, Jie? Yes Jie smiled at him. "Of course it is, how else are we supposed to fight in it?"
"Good point. Well, I'm dressed to impress, let's get it started."
It was interesting for Hari. It was the first time he learned something like this, but with his reflexes and practice, even from a single scroll helped him.
They were going through one of the fan routines in near perfect unison when Sokka popped his head around the corner.
"Sorry ladies, didn't mean to interrupt your dance lesson. I was just looking for somewhere to get a little workout?"
Suki looked over at Hari who was standing among the others silently asking him what he was thinking. Hari looked over at Sokka's stretching, then back at Suki, smirking and giving her a wink as if to say 'do what you gotta do'.
"Well, you're in the right place!" She said in a friendly voice that somehow made the rest of the warriors feel a chill.
And thus began the humiliation of Sokka that in the end taught him the valuable lesson of don't judge a book by its cover and that kicking ass has no gender.
At the same time Aang was letting his fame get to his head, which in turn made Katara disappointed and annoyed with him. She was preparing for the trip and started to wonder where Hari was. In the morning she found a list with things he needed to bring since he was their cook so she had spent most of her time gathering provisions while Aang was fooling around.
In the meantime Hari was changing and washing his face. He felt like he had learned a lot. He was nowhere near mastering the basics but he felt like he had a foundation to build on. He had spent years on a single scroll so this was definitely better.
As he was saying goodbye to the girls, and promised to keep up his training he left the building nearly walking into Sokka.
"Oh hi Hari," Sokka began "didn't see you there."
"Sup, Sokka, seems like there's something on your mind."
"No, it's just I get what you mean. About girls I mean. I don't know what to do."
"Yes you do…" This made Sokka look up. "Sokka, you're a good guy, even if you can be a bit backwards, but that's not necessarily your fault, it's your upbringing, but even then you're smart, adaptable and I think you already have the answer to your question."
During Hari's talk Sokka had felt a little offended but listening and mulling it over with what happened, plus the compliments at the end made his back a bit straighter. He nodded at Hari as a manly 'thank you' and walked towards their training hall.
"Uh ... Hey, Suki."
"Well, I believe that's Karma points for me." Hari said to himself as he walked on.
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While Sokka and Suki started to flirt in their own weird way Katara and Aang were having an argument. Aang is telling Katara how he's gonna ride the Unagi again while Katara in her frustration with him tries not to care.
"You're not going to stop me?"
"Nope. Have fun."
"I will."
"Great."
"I know it's great."
"I'm glad you know!"
"I'm glad that-"
"Oh for the love of all skybisons in existence!" came an interruption. "Would you two please stop!"
They looked over to see Hari looking at them with something akin to disappointment on his face. "In the name of my dogfather, what is going on?"
They were about to start complaining about each other but his last sentence caught them off guard with a "what?" and the tension was sapped a bit out of the balloon.
That gave Hari a bit of time to think about his next action. They truly reminded him way too much of his old best friends. Yep, right on the Hermione Ron vibe.
"I mean Serious-ly. I can manage to guess so let me try."
He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
"First of all we have the avatar himself impressed by the impressive impressionable people giving him the overly positive attention by him only existing that, no matter who you are, easily can go to your head, which from my understanding it has already done, thinking about the giggling gaggle group of groupies that seemed to be following you like puppies on a walk, without truly knowing you, who you are and where you come from, but only see the superficial surface and not caring about the character beneath."
He said the whole thing without pause or taking a breath, ending it by exhaling the last bit of air left. Aang was now looking at his feet. Hari went over and put his hand on his shoulder. "What do you think will happen when you can't show them something new or interesting? You probably already noticed you had to do more and more to keep their attention. I know it's nice to be accepted, but it's better that you realize now that they only see the great avatar, not putting time in to meet Just Aang, the smart, funny and kind kid who in the end just wants the best for everyone. And you should know that Katara is probably annoyed with you because you sound like you're putting yourself in danger for others' entertainment."
Aang was now looking up at him, redding cheeks looking a bit embarrassed.
"I went a bit out of control didn't I… I'm sorry"
"It's okay. It can happen to the best of us. We're not adults, it's not like we're supposed to know better, right? We make mistakes, but as long as we learn from them we grow." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Katara smiling and nodding along.
"And you…" Hari drew another deep breath and turned his head in Katara's direction, making her gulp and take a small step back.
"Did you buy everything on the list? Sorry I left it all to you, but I had something I wanted to take care of." He said with a smile.
Both Katara and Aang blinked at this. "What? You thought I was gonna have words with her too? So far, from my understanding Katara, you haven't done or said anything wrong. We can't stay here too long, people have been talking a lot about the Avatar returning, so I bet the word has already spread all over the island and probably beyond. But more importantly. Did. You. Get. Everything. On. The. List. Katara?"
Aang was looking at his feet again, feeling properly chastised, while Katara was nodding. It was weird being treated like a child for her, but in a way she enjoyed it. She was so used to being a mother for everyone, having to clean, cook, fix clothes and everything in between. Since Hari had joined them, some of the weight had been taken off her shoulders. He was more mature, helped with planning, cooking and made her feel safe. He made her feel like a girl, not a caretaker. She blushed thinking about it.
"Great, let's…" He stopped for a moment, "O~kay, I have a weird question. Do you have speed boats? Boats that sail without a sail?"
"The only ones that have boats like that are firenatio- Zuko!" Katara exclaimed.
"Oh that's his name! I thought it was Sumo or something like that!" Hari elbowed Aang. "I was kinda close wasn't I." He said with a smile making Aang chuckle before they were interrupted by Katara clearing her throat.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just been bothering me. Let's go, we should probably warn the village."
Just then they heard a single bell toll. "Or maybe they already know."
While they were running Hari was making a plan.
"Okay, if it's true that this guy is fixated on you, we should get him away from the village so they don't get caught in the fight. Katara, if my guess is correctly, if we leave he'll follow, right?"
"Yes!"
"Aang, do you think you can intercept and lead them north while we grab the surplies, get Sokka and meet you in the air on Appa."
"Leave it to me" Aang said, "but I need my glider."
"Hurry, the village is counting on you."
Meanwhile a certain prince was disembarking his ship on his komodo rhino followed by his soldiers.
"I want the avatar alive." And they rode towards the village, but before they got there a shadow passed them from above and one of the soldiers shouted.
"Prince! An airbender! It must be the Avatar!"
"Follow him!" Zuko shouted.
In the village the kyoshi warriors were preparing, hiding in the shadows of the town, waiting for the firebenders to arrive. Instead they got Hari and Katara running into the village looking for everyone.
"Hari! Over here!" Suki shouted.
Hari and Katara quickly went to her and a kyoshi warrior that looked surprisingly like "Sokka?" Katara asked.
"Oh, no… I'm never gonna live this down will I…" he whined putting his head in his hands.
"Live what down? Wearing makeup or wearing a dress?" Katara asked, making Hari snort, trying to hide his laugh.
"Hi Suki," Hari said, coughing once to clear his throat, "listen, we got Aang to divert them so they won't pick a fight in the village. We're just gonna grab our stuff and go, leading them out to see again."
"You guys go, I'll be right behind you." Sokka said.
Before Katara could question it Hari grabbed her arm and hurried her away.
"What was that about?" Katara asked.
"Oh nothing. Guy stuff." Hari said with a smile. Katara huffed and let herself be pulled towards Appa.
Most of the stuff was already packed by Katara so they just grabbed the last bags and climbed up on Appa. It didn't take long before Sokka came over, still in kyoshi uniform, makeup and a light dust of red shining through around his cheeks.
"Was it a good goodbye?" Hari asked wiggling his eyebrows at him.
"Yeah," Sokka answered a bit dreamly, before he coughed and said a bit more gruff, "yeah, it was fine. You know, warriors don't say goodbye, we do warrior stuff."
"Sure, yip yip!"
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"Stand still!"
Zuko was not having a good day. He finally found the Avatar again and he wasn't gonna let him get away. The problem was that the avatar was more like a squirrel and a warrior and was jumping around between the trees instead of fighting him with honor!
Aang was having a bit of a problem of his own. He got Zuko to follow him but now the forest was on fire. He was worried about it spreading since Zuko and company were very fiery.
Somebody whistled and he peeked through the branches seeing Appa just outside the treeline. Aang jumped to the side, feeling the heat of the fireball just missing him. How to get Zuko to follow… "You better practice your aim, you couldn't hit a hippo cow even if it was tied!"
The Soldiers close to Zuko created some distance from the prince as he seemed to be shaking. Then a flurry of fire was sent in Aang's direction but it was unfocused, unconcentrated and easy to deflect while he bounced between the trees. As he reached the treeline he unfolded his glider and flew the last part to Appa, landing in the saddle.
As Appa turned in the air Sokka said "Nice job Aang! The village is untouched and no one was in danger."
"But they were, because of me."
"It's not your fault Aang." Katara said.
Aang was about to say something when he was cut off.
"I know what you think Aang, and I know what you feel. Zuko came because you were there but that was his decision, not yours. You might be the reason why he came, but it was Zuko's choice to light the forest on fire."
"The forest…" Aang thought out loud before he jumped from the saddle.
"Aang!" Katara shouted.
Aang hit the water and disappeared. Suddenly Unagi shoots out of the water with Aang on top of his head, holding its whiskers and pulling. The Unagi opens its mouth wide and begins gushing water which rains over the forest and kills the fire. Just as the Unagi shakes its head to get rid of the annoying little creature pulling at its whiskers, Aang jumps, landing in Appas saddle again.
"I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous." Aang says, looking a little bashful.
"Yes, it was." Katara says as she pulls him in for a hug.
"Good job Aang. Well make a Gryffindor out of you yet!" Hari shouts over the wind as they pick up speed.
"What?" Three voices shout back at him.
