Disclaimer. I do not own anything except my original characters.
"Maybe this isn't a good idea Tara. If we get to the air temple and its in ruins, I'm worried what that will do to Aang" Akaya looked from her crouched position, refilling her waterskin in the stream they had camped beside.
Nearly a week had passed since the group had left the South Pole, their destination the Northern water tribe. While it was imperative they needed to make the journey as quickly as they could, Aang had voiced his desire to visit the Southern Air Temple. The siblings and Akaya were wary of this. They had heard the stories of what had become of the Air Nomads during the war. Both Katara and Akaya were worried about what his reactions would be, seeing first hand what they had tried to gently tell him. But Aang held steady.
"I need to see my home. I need to really see if what you all have said is true." He had said, a hint of sadness hanging on his words. After that, the destination had been altered.
"I know. But Aang is determined to see for himself. I just hope its not as bad as I fear." Katara said quietly. The two waterbenders moved from the stream, making their way back to where they had set up camp the night before. Aang was busy getting Appa ready, the large sky bison contently chewing at the grass below him as Aang chattered on to his companion.
Akaya held back a chuckle, taking note of Sokka sill hunkered down in his sleeping bag, his mouth wide as he snored, a sliver of droll dripping down his cheek.
"Your back! We can head out soon." Aang stated, his voice filled with a sense of hope that twisted up Akayas stomach. The girls quickly packed up their supplies, climbing up onto Appa to get them situated.
"I can't wait for you guys to see it. The air temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world." Aang continued, moving to secure Appas reigns.
Both girls glanced at one another before Katara turned to Aang's direction. "Aang I know you're excited but its been a hundred years since you've been home." She said as Akaya slowly nodded.
"That's why I'm so excited." The hopeful smile he wore did not falter as he looked at the girls.
Akaya sighed a little, pushing some loose hair from her braide. "A lot can change in all that time Aang. Your home...it might not be what you expect."
"I know. But like I said I need to see it for myself." He looked from Katara and Akaya. They both knew, deep down, this was something that needed to be done. Even if they believed it would not end well.
Aang floated down to the ground, making his way over to the still sleeping Sokka. "Wake up Sokka! Air temple, here we come!" Aang shouted, causing Sokka to groan, before quickly rolling over onto his side.
"Sleep now. Temple Later." Before he could fall back asleep, a large splash of water fell directly onto his head, drenching both him and the sleeping bag. Quickly sitting up, he glared daggers at the two waterbenders atop Appa. Katara tried to hide her laughing, Akaya leaning against the saddle, twisting the cap on her water skin closed. "AKAYA!"
"Good your awake. No time to dilly dally let's go." Aang airbended up, landing on Appas head as Sokka grumbled, gathering his supplies before slowly climbing aboard Appa.
"Your not my favorite anymore." he grumbled, Akaya and the others laughing as Appa took to the skies.
Akaya found she quite liked flying. While she had found it quite terrifying in the beginning, scenarios of everything that could go wrong running through her head, she now understood why Aang liked it. Leaning on the edge of the saddle, her eyes looked over the sea of clouds that lay before them, reflecting against the blue of the sky above them. She closed her eyes, the wind ruffling her as she let out a content sigh. Yeah she could definitely get used to it.
The silence was rudely interrupted by a loud rumbling. Turning her head, she saw Sokka, his face scrunched in discomfort as he clutched his stomach. "Really? Your hungry again? Do you ever not stop eating?" Akaya said as Sokka continued to dig through his pack.
"Hey, don't tease a man whose hungry. I'm a warrior and we have big appetites." he countered, his digging becoming more frantic. After a moment, he pulled a sack out, dumping the contents onto his hand to be met with only crumbs. "Hey! Who ate all my blubbered seal jerky?"
Aang sheepishly shrugged, giving Sokka an embarrassed smile. "Oh that was food? I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry."
Sokka's eyes widened as his mouth fell open in shock. "YOU WHAT!" Sighing he sat back on the saddle, his eyes starring crestfallen at the crumbs still in his hands. "Aww. No wonder the flames smelled so good."
"You'll live Sokka don't worry." Akaya said, patting his arm as he grumbled lowly.
"The Potola Mountain Range!" At Aang's exclamation, the group sat up more alert, seeing the mountain range that appeared before them. "Where almost there!"
"Aang, before we get to the temple I want to talk to you about the Airbenders." Katara brought up the conversation slowly, knowing it was one that needed to be addressed sooner than later.
Unaware or choosing to ignore the seriousness in her voice, Aang continued to smile. "What about them?"
Katara continued on. "Well...I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The fire nation is ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people."
Aang turned from Katara, his eyes staring straight ahead before him. That had seemed to finally get through to him. After a moment, he looked back at Katara, smiling a little. "Just because no one has seen an airbender doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped.
Aakaya moved to the front of the saddle, looking at Aang. "Aang I know it's hard to grasp…"
"You guys don't understand." Aang quickly interrupted her, "The only way to get to an airbender temple is on a flying bison, and I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison. Right Appa?" Appa let out a low rumble, answering Aang the only way he knew how.
The group fell silent for the rest of the journey, taking in the scenery of the mountains passing them. Once they passed the peaks, Akaya stopped, her eyes locked a head at what greeted them. Sokka and Katara did the same, neither one saying anything. The only person to speak was Aang, a sense of longing in his voice."There it is, the Southern Air Temple."
Aang had told them about the Temple, at the beauty and grandeur of it all but seeing it in person, his stories had not done it justice. The buildings were built within one of the mountain ranges, covered in a thin layer of snow from the high altitude. Akaya was surprised how intact it still seemed, even after a hundred years. Looking over at Aang, seeing his eyes filled with emotions, a part of her hoped that his optimism was true.
"Aang it's amazing." Katara exclaimed, her own eyes taking in the scenery before her. All Aang could do was smile, a flood of emotions coursing through him as the familiar sight laid before him.
"We're home, buddy. We're home."
Akaya couldn't stop the small smile on her face as she watched Aang race ahead of them. The moment they had landed, Aang was up and off, eager to explore his old home and show them around.
"Where can we get something to eat?" Akaya sighed rolling her eyes as she looked over at Sokka, Katara also giving him a look.
"Your lucky enough to be on of the first outsiders to ever visit an airbender temple, and all you can think about is food?" Katara exclaimed as Sokka just shrugged.
"I'm just a simple guy with simple needs." he stated as they caught up with Aang. They moved to stand beside him, taking in the views of the temple grounds. While still held up, the passage of time did show. Weeds had grown as foliage had started to creep over.
"So that's where my friends and I would play airball, and over there is where the bison would sleep, and…" Aang sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly as his eyes roamed over the area. He had remembered the place when i had been full of life, full of love. Now, there was nothing.
"What's wrong?" Katara asked softly when she noticed Aang's shift in demeanor.
"This place used to be full of monks and lemus and bison. Now there's just a bunch of weeds." Aang said sadly his gaze falling down. "I cant believe how much things have changed."
The trio glanced at one another before Sokka stepped forward. "So, uh, this airball game-how do you play?" He asked. At the question Aang's ears perked up as the smile returned.
"Oh it's so much fun. Come on I'll race you down." Aang quickly jumped into the air, using his bending to propel his body down towards the airball field.
"Thanks for that Sokka." Akaya said, squeezing his shoulder as the group headed down the pathway.
Akaya laughed, watching Sokka get tossed back once again, the airball sending him flying to the ground. Once Aang had explained how to play, him and Sokka had started, Aang instantly taking the lead.
"I don't think your winning this one oh warrior." she teased as Sokka glared up at her. Before he could retort, something shining on the ground caught her eye. Moving closer, she felt the air leave her lungs at what laid in the snow. A Fire Nation helmet.
"Guys look." She said, the siblings moving over to where she stood. When they saw what had piqued her interest, Katara gasped.
"Fire Nation." she whispered, closing her eyes.
"We should tell him." Sokka said solemnly. Akaya turned her eyes from offending object before traveling to the young boy still unaware. As she heard Katara call for him to come over, something shifted in her. This boy, who moments ago was laughing at a game he loved, still had some hope to cling onto. She needed to help him hold onto it a bit longer.
As Aang grew closer, Akaya quickly moved her hands to the snowfall above, concentrating before moving her hands, causing the snow to tumble down the rocky slope, covering both the helmet and Sokka. "What's up?" Aang asked, still unaware as he looked at the group.
"I just...I wanted to show you the waterbending move I've been practicing. Cool huh?" Akaya said, forcing a smile onto her face.
Aang looked at her curiously before smiling. "Good job Akaya. But you and Katara have been practicing enough. We have a whole temple to see." Aang said, turning on his heel to head up to the rest of the temple.
"Why did you do that?" Katara questioned as Sokka stood from the snow, quickly dusting it off.
"He's going to find the truth out eventually. I want to give him a little more time to hold onto that hope." Akaya said quietly. Both siblings looked at her knowingly before following after the airbender.
The group continued on, exploring more of the grounds as they went. Luckily, they had not run into anything that was Fire Nation.
"Guys as much as I don't want to hurt him, firebenders where here. We can't pretend they weren't." Sokka stated, looking at the two waterbenders.
Katara sighed as she followed after Aang, who was up a head of the group. "I can for Aang's sake."
"Katara's right. If he finds out they invaded his home, he'll be devastated." Aakaya stated. "Let's just...let him be a kid for a little longer."
"Hey guys!" The trio looked forward as Aang called from a head. He stood in the courtyard beside a statue. The statue was weathered, showing its obvious age but still in good condition, a light dusting of snow covering the top of it.
"Who is that Aang?" Akaya asked as Aang turned his focus back to the statue, his eyes filled with happiness.
"This is Monk Gyatso, the greatest Airbender in the world. He taught me everything I know." Aang turned to face the statue before bowing respectfully before it. Akaya moved forward as the others did the same. She closed her eyes, following Aang's bow, Katara and Sokka (after a discreet nudge from Katara) followed suit.
"He was my mentor, and one of my best friends." Aang said softly, a hint of sadness taking over his tone.
"You must miss him." Katara said quietly, laying her hand gently on his shoulder.
"Yeah." he agreed, before moving towards the the entrance to the temple itself.
"Aang where are you going?" Akaya asked as he turned back to the group.
"The air temple sanctuary. There's someone I'm ready to meet." He didn't give anymore explanation before continuing inside. The group looked at each before following.
"Did he say someone to meet? There's no one here." Sokka questioned as they continued down the deserted hallway.
"What do you mean someone to meet?" Akaya asked as they continued their journey.
"The monks told me that when I was ready, I would be told everything I needed to know when I entered the sanctuary." Aang replied, before turning the corner. At the end of the hall stood a large entryway. The door was sealed shut, an intricate centerpiece taking up most of the space.
"But Aang, no one could have survived in there for a hundred years." Katara said as they stopped before the doors.
Aang shrugged a bit, looking up at the doors. "It's not impossible. I survived in the iceberg for that long."
"Good point." Katara agreed.
"Katara, whoever's in there might help me figure out this Avatar thing." Aang stated before Sokka quickly moved forward.
"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious cured meats." Licking his lips and rubbing his hands together, Sokka darted forward. Akaya found it comical, watching as Sokka attempted to open the door, the wood not giving an inch. "Don't suppose you have a key?" He looked over to Aang, giving up on his task at hand.
"They key Sokka is Airbending." Akaya moved to help Sokka to his feet before moving to stand beside Katara. They watched as Aang sood before the door. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward, bending the air forward. It moved, pushing through the pathways. They watched as the locks turned as the air passed through. Once the last lock was broken, the doors slowly swung open.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Aang called out as the the room opened. Silence was all that they met. The group slowly moved towards the entrance, stepping into the sanctuary. The light streaming from the entrance gave them enough to see, and they all paused in their steps. Before them, and above, stood statues. Akaya couldn't count exactly how many there were but from what she could see, it looked like hundreds. They moved further into the room, weaving through the statues, taking them in as they did. All were of people, both men and women from what Akaya could see.
"Statues? That's it? Where's the meat?" Sokka complained as Akaya stopped before one statue in particular. It was a man, and from his clothing, she deduced he was from one of the water tribes.
"Who are these people?" Katara asked as she looked upon the statues before them.
"I'm not sure, but it feels like I know them somehow." Aang answered, looking at the statue before him. "Look this one's an airbender."
"This one over here looks like a waterbender." Akaya called, pointing to the statue she was in front of.
"It looks like their lined up in a pattern." Katara said, moving to the next few. "Air, Water, Earth and Fire." she pointed out.
Something seemed to click with Aang as he smiled. "That's the Avatar cycle."
"It is. I remember your mother telling us a story about it when we were kids. All of theses statues, their Avatars, their your past lives Aang." Akaya said, walking over to Aang and Katara. She couldn't believe she hadn't made the connection sooner. It had been one of her favorite stories that Kya had told them when they were younger.
"There's so many." Aang said in wonder, moving through the statues, taking each and everyone of them in.
Sokka walked over, looking bewildered between the two girls. "Past lives? Do you guys really believe in that stuff?"
Akaya crossed her arms, staring at Sokka. "Yes because it's true. When an Avatar dies, their reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle. That's how it's been for thousands of years." A nudge to her side made them look over at Aang, who stood before one particular statue, almost in a daze.
Katara tried calling his name, but he remained still, his eyes not moving from the statue before him. She moved forward, her hands moving to his shoulders. "Aang, snap out of it." she tried again, Aang finally shaking from the daze. "Who is that?" She asked, nodding to the statue.
"That's Avatar Roku. The Avatar before me." Aang answered, Sokka and Akaya joining them.
"You were a firebender? No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met." Sokka said as Akaya laughed a bit.
"Also cause your paranoid as well." she said, Sokka rolling his eyes at her comment.
"There's no writing. How do you know his name?" Katara questioned as Aang shrugged.
"I'm not sure, I just know it somehow" Aang replied, Sokka repeating how weird Aang was. Before either Akaya or Katara could come back with a retort, a noise caught their attention. Quickly turning their heads, they started at the entrance, the sound reverberating around the walls.
"Someone's here. We need to hide." Akaya whispered, the group quickly moving to hide behind the statues. She found herself crouched behind Avatar Roku's with Aang, Katara and Sokka across from them. They waited, the sounds of footsteps echoing off the walls as the figure drew closer. Peeking out from their hiding places, they could make out the silhouette of someone nearing the entrance.
"Firebender. No one make a sound." Sokka whispered, quite loudly if Akaya were being honest.
"Sokka shut up." Akaya snapped, her voice lower than Sokka's as he quickly shushed her along with Aang. She moved her hand to the side of her water skin, her fingers moving against the cap to be ready.
"That firebender won't know what hit him." Sokka stated, gripping his weapon tightly as the group prepared for a fight. Quickly standing and on Sokka's signal, they moved from their spots. Expecting to see a firebender, they faltered a bit. Before them stood a small animal, it's ears standing tall against its small body. The animals eyes darted from person to person, its head twitching to the side comically.
Aang brightened, his eyes widening as he took in the little creature before him. "LEMUR!"
"Dinner." Sokka muttered. And the chase was on as the lemur bolted from the room, both boys hot on is trail. Akaya and Katara looked across at each other, before bursting out laughing.
"I'm not going after them. Will let them figure that out on their own." Akaya said as Katara agreed. The girls continued to stroll through between the statues, taking them in detail. It really was something, seeing just how far back the Avatar lineage went.
The glowing eyes made both girls jump back. Katara and Akaya looked at each other, before turning back to the statues again, watching as every other statues eyes began to glow.
"Somethings wrong." Akaya said, Katara's eyes widening as she turned to the entrance.
"Aang." Nothing else needed to be said as the two girls sprinted out of the room, heading down the halls to find Aang and Sokka. The shaking of the ground made them stumble, a sound that resembled strong winds leading them to the direction they needed.
Getting to the courtyard both girls were pushed back from the strong gusts. They pushed forward, quickly getting to Sokka who crouched behind one of the crumbled walls. Akaya gasped, her eyes moving to Aang. Suspended in mid air, the air violently whipped around him, the tattoos covering his body glowing bright against him.
"What happened?" Katara yelled out over the rushing air as they gripped the stone wall to stabilize themselves.
"He found out firebenders killed Gyatso." Sokka called back to them. Akaya felt her eyes water, quickly looking back to Aang.
"Seeing Gyatso, I think it triggered his Avatar spirit. We need to try and get him out of it." Akaya yelled over the rushing winds.
"Preferably before were blown off the mountain." Sokka yelled, his feet slipping slightly against the cobbled path.
"Katara what are you doing!" Akaya yelled, seeing Katara move towards Aang's body. Both Sokka and Akaya watched as she drew closer, straining their ears to listen to her as she tried to calm him down.
The words must have gotten through, the boy slowly lowering towards the ground. Akaya slowly moved, noticing the winds that had been violently rushing past them fell to a gentle breeze. The group cautiously approached Aang, Katara moving to catch him before he could hit the ground.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, his eyes closing as Katara hugged him. Akaya moved to his other side, her hand moving to his shoulder.
"Aang it wasn't your fault. Were so sorry you had to find out like this." Akaya said, Aang's grey eyes moving to her.
"You were right. If firebenders found this temple, they found the other ones as well. I really am the last airbender." Aang finally understood, as painful as it was. The others didn't know what to say. All they could do in that moment was comfort their friend, and show him he was not alone.
It felt weird to Aang, stepping into what had once been his room. Dust covered every available surface as vines slowly climbed up through the window. Moving over to the window, he looked out, his eyes roving over he temple below him. Guilt flooded him as he closed his eyes. He wished he would go back. If he had not run away, if he had stayed and accepted his destiny, maybe his people would still be alive.
"Aang." Turning his head, he wiped at his eyes, giving Akaya a small smile. "Were almost packed up. Are you ready to leave?"
"I think I am." He said quietly, his eyes turning back to look out the window once more. Akaya moved further into the room, moving to stand beside Aang, starring out as well.
"What Katara said back there, she's right. You're family now. Your not going to go through this alone. Where going to help you and where going to end this war. Together." Aang smiled, turning back to her before moving his arm around her. Without hesitating she returned the hug.
Pulling away, the two made their way to the door, Aang taking one last look at the room before closing the door behind him.