Book 1: Water

The Avatar Returns;

Chapter 1 - The Children in the Iceberg

Everything is white.

The last time I remember this white was when I was just as upset as last night. And the storm. I wasn't thinking and in my recklessness, I brought danger to myself and my best friend and his Bison. It was stupid and crazy of me but I wasn't thinking, I just needed to leave.

I hadn't want to leave and stop seeing my brother forever.

Which is what lead us here. Where we were. Where the white slowly faded away, letting me witness a blue sky. And the sudden coldness that makes me shiver let me know we're somewhere... Well, cold.

The ground under me is soft and blinking twice, I realize I'm still on top of Appa.

Speaking of Appa...

"Aang?" I called out worriedly. If something happened to him I wouldn't forgive myself. I slowly sat up, crawling closer to the edge of Appa's saddle, looking down, sighing in relief seeing Aang in one piece "Aang!"

Aang looked up, beaming "Kai!" With a swift jump bending the air to jump higher, he jumped to my side and hugged me tightly "Look! We're on the Water Tribe!"

I peered down at where he pointed, seeing a girl and a boy, staring at Aang in disbelief. They both wore blue clothes, their hair is brown and they have striking blue eyes from where I can see.

I beamed "Well, we made it"

Aang smiled happily "Told you I have an amazing sense of direction"

I chuckled teasingly "You? I doubt it. But Appa?" I patted Appa's back lovingly "He has the greatest sense of direction, don't you boy?"

Aang laughed "Come on! Let's meet them properly"

While Aang jumped down from Appa smoothly, I slid down from his tail landing with a soft thud on the snowy ground, straightening up and walking closer to the Water Tribe people. Now being closer, I could tell they looked similar. Were they siblings?

"Hi!" I greeted with a wave, beaming

The girl smiled slightly, waving back

The boy seemed wary, pointing a large spear between me and Aang aggressively, then pointing at behind us, "How did you two get in the ice?" I looked behind us, eyes widening as I noticed we had walked out of an iceberg, the only thing is that it seemed it had been destroyed, letting only a crater where I could see Appa "And why aren't you frozen?"

He poked Aang in his side with his spear.

Aang lazily pushed the spear away, looking at me in confusion "I'm ... not sure. Kai?"

I shrugged "Your guess is as good as mine" Appa growled gruffly making me smile. "Aw, we haven't forgotten about you, buddy!"

Aang jumped, running toward the crater of iceberg, hugging Appa's big head, realizing he seemed asleep "Appa! Wake up buddy!"

I smiled at the siblings, walking toward Aang "He is probably tired, Aang. He flew a great deal last night"

The siblings walked closer from behind me, stopping in shock, jaws opening in disbelief as they saw the large fluffy bison with an arrow-shaped marking on his forehead, the same Aang and I carried. Difference was, my dark brown hair and bangs covered it almost completely. The only thing that told I was Air Nomad were my clothes, my grey eyes and the arrows marked in my body.

Appa slowly woke up, opening his mouth, licking Aang with his giant tongue. "Ha, Ha! You're okay!"

"What is that thing?" The boy asked in disbelief

"That's a Bison" I smiled at their expressions, "Aang's Flying Bison named Appa. I wonder where Bea is"

Aang heard me, turning to face me "Probably still at the Temple with Kyo"

I nodded in understanding

"Bea?" The girl asked

I smiled "My own flying bison"

The boy blinked sarcastically "Right, and this is Katara, my flying sister"

The girl, Katara shot him an odd look.

Aang and I looked at him questioningly for a moment, when we suddenly heard Appa starting to inhale deeply. We shot wide eyed looks at each other before ducking, just in time for Appa sneeze, sending a large blast of green flying directly onto the boy, who became completely covered in it. He squealed in disgust, beginning to frantically try to clean it off, rubbing his face in the snow under the amused gaze of his sister.

"Don't worry" I told him cheerfully "It'll wash off"

Katara covered her mouth in disgust, eyeing the green slime still hanging from her brother's face to his glove, dripping down as he retracted his hand.

"Do you guys live around here?" Aang asked curiously

The boy pointed his spear accusingly again at us making Aang surprised to see that thing being pointed at us again while I eyed it in curiosity "Don't answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light?! They were probably trying to signal the Fire Navy!"

Katara pushed her brother's spear away again, looking at him sarcastically. "Oh yeah, I'm sure they are spies for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in their eyes" Aang flashed them an earnest grin. I smiled sweetly, rocking on my heels "The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You never told us your names"

"I'm Kai" I waved with a smile

"I'm A..." Aang began to inhale deeply. I placed my hands in my head, holding my hair in place, giving the siblings a grin, knowing what was to come next "a-a-a-Achoo!"

Aang sneezed, creating an air blast that sent him soaring into the air. He then landed on the ground, unharmed. "I'm Aang" he told them, sniffling a bit.

Sokka looked at him in total disbelief "You just sneezed ..." He pointed to the sky. "And flew ten feet in the air!"

Aang and I looked toward the sky questioningly, squinting our eyes

"Really?" Aang asked "It felt higher than that"

"It was higher than that" I confirmed, nodding lazily.

Katara gasped in realization "You're airbenders!"

Aang beamed "Sure we are!"

Sokka began walking away, "Giant light beams, flying bison, airbenders. I think I got midnight sun madness. I'm going home to where stuff makes sense" He stopped, looking around at the water as if looking for something

"Well, if you guys are stuck, Appa, Kai and I can give you a lift" Aang told them, airbending himself onto Appa.

I airbended myself toward Appa, looking at the siblings "Come on!"

Katara smiled, "We'd love a ride! Thanks!"

Katara ran to the side of Appa

"Oh, no!" Sokka shook his head "I'm not getting on that fluffy snot monster!"

With the help of Aang, Katara climbed on top of Appa, briefly looking at her brother from her shoulder "Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home? You know, before you freeze to death?"

Sokka opened his mouth in defiance, pointing at Katara ready to retaliate, but he couldn't think of anything, sighing and bowing his head in consent and defeat.

I couldn't help but flash Sokka amused smiles as soon as he got on Appa, watching him be with his arms crossed in front of him with a sulking expression while Katara looked to be the completely opposite, full of excitement and anticipation.

"Okay, first time flyers, hold on tight!" Aang announced "Appa, yip-yip!" Aang whipped the reins making Appa growl in response, moving his tail up and down, taking a huge jump into the air. He soared through the air for a mere few seconds, before he belly-flopped into the water with a splash, begging trudging through the water slowly. Katara crawled to the front of the saddle while Aang tried to get Appa flying, whipping the reins again. "Come on, Appa. Yip-yip!"

Sokka looked at us sarcastically. "Wow, that was truly amazing"

Katara shot Sokka an angry glance

"Appa's just a little tired" I informed calmly, laying stomach down on Appa's saddle, my eyes feeling heavy suddenly as I yawned.

"A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky" Aang added, "You'll see"

Katara smiled at Aang, who returned the gesture.

I smiled to myself closing my eyes for a few seconds.

~8~

After a small nap, which I was good at while flying on a bison, i opened my eyes to see Aang laying lazily next to me on his back, his arms tucked under his head

"You seemed tired" Aang told me when he realized I was awake. I blinked tiredly "We let you sleep"

"Thanks" I said yawning, standing up in a siting position.

Katara crawled closer to us toward the front of the saddle, leaning on it, resting her head on her arm. "Hey"

"Hey" Aang smiled "What'cha thinkin' about?"

"I guess I was wondering, you two being airbenders and all, if you had any idea what happened to the Avatar?" Katara asked

I shifted uncomfortably as Aang stuttered, glancing at me "Oh, no. We didn't know him" I looked back at him, surprised "I mean, I knew people that knew him, but I didn't. And Kai lives on the Eastern Temple so she didn't either. Sorry"

I smiled weakly at Katara.

"Okay. Just curious" Katara sighed, seeming disappointed for a second as she closed her eyes. She then opened them before smiling at us, "Goodnight"

Katara turned around, returning to her brother.

I looked away guiltily

"Are you okay, Kai?" Aang asked softly

I bit my lip, "Y-yeah. Um, why not?"

Aang closed his eyes, "You're not alone in this, okay?"

I nodded gratefully as I closed my eyes

~8~

Appa swam through the vast sea, the sky was gray as I looked around for Aang frantically. Aang suddenly grabbed my arm, looking at me in determination and fear. I held him close as lighting split the sky and a loud rumble of thunder broke through the sky.

Aang and I held the reins of Appa, screaming in fear as we began going down, the three of us splashing into the waters of the ocean. Appa resurfaced growling, but got quickly subdued by another wave. I watched in guilt at Aang and Appa as they slowly started to lose consciousness, trying to wake them up before feeling dark spots in my vision, starting to lose consciousness myself before a white light began forming in the corner of my eyes, relaxing all of my muscles and involuntary slamming my fists together, sensing a bluish-white surround the three of us before I completely lost to the white light.

"Kai? Kai? Wake up!"

I opened my eyes, gasping softly. I shot up, looking around in confusion and throwing the covers of my body. I noticed Aang was sitting next to me, eyeing me in concern "Aang?"

"Hey" Aang said softly "We're on Katara and Sokka's village"

Katara walked inside the tent slowly "You are awake. Good" she gave me a sweet smile, "Get ready. Everyone's waiting to meet the two of you"

I shared a smile with Aang, happily putting my Air Nomad clothes as Aang looked away to give me privacy. Seeing as I spent a lot of time in the Southern Temple with my brother, I got used to changing quickly.

Katara walked inside again, grabbing each of our hands and pulling us aside, without letting me check if my hair wasn't a mess.

Aang and I got dragged out of the tent toward a small congregation of villagers. We walked pass Sokka, who was sitting at the side of the tent, sharpening his boomerang.

"Aang, Kai. This is the entire village" Katara pointed to the line of villagers in front of them. "Entire village, Aang. Kai"

Aang and I bowed respectfully toward the villagers but they cowered away in fear and shock, bringing a surprised look to our faces.

I shifted uncomfortably, "Uh, why are they all looking at us like that?" I looked at Aang "Did Appa sneeze on us?"

Aang looked down at himself frowning, shaking his head "Nope"

An elderly woman stepped forward out of the line of villagers. "Well, no one has seen an airbender in a hundred years much less two. We thought they were extinct, until my granddaughter and grandson found you"

Aang and I exchanged shocked looks

"Extinct?" Aang whispered in disbelief

Katara gestured at the elderly woman. "Kai. Aang. This is my grandmother"

"Call me Gran-Gran" Katara's grandmother told us

Sokka walked toward us, abruptly snatching Aang's staff out of his hands, starting to examine it. "What is this, a weapon?" He asked annoyed, "You can't stab anything with this!"

I shot him an annoyed look but couldn't help the smile that came to my face as Aang used a small air current to get his staff back.

"It's not for stabbing" Aang corrected "It's for airbending" He opened his staff into a glider, making Sokka gasp in fright and cover his head with his hands

I laughed as a village girl smiled in excitement "Magic trick! Do it again!"

"Not magic, airbending" Aang told her, moving his glider around him, visually demonstrating what he was talking about. "It lets me control the air currents around my glider and fly"

I looked around for my own staff, seeing Katara walk closer with it, a sheepish smile in her face, "You left it at the tent" she said giving it to me

I smiled in thanks

Sokka stared at us, mockingly "Ya know, last time I checked, humans can't fly!"

I grinned at the challenge. "Aang?" I opened my staff into a glider, a mischievous glint in my eyes "Let's show him"

Aang smiled "You're on!"

Aang and I pushed ourselves off the ground, producing wind as we made some loops and turns in the sky, easily becoming competitive against each other as usual.

I sped up downward soaring pass the villagers, sending them a wave, grinning. Aang seemed to get distracted, trying to impress everyone, flying sideways, promptly flying head-on into a snow watchtower, causing his head to be stuck in its side.

I laughed loudly, swiftly landing next to him as he struggled to extricate his head from the icy watchtower. "That's what happens when you get distracted, young pupil" I imitated Monk Gyatso's voice

Aang tumbled downward onto a pile of snow at the base of the tower that crumbled from the building as he succeeded to pull his head out of the snow "I know" he groaned

Katara immediately rushed to our side, kneeling next to Aang as Sokka stared in shock at the now ruined watchtower.

"My watchtower!" Sokka cried out in shock

I gave him an apologetic look as some girls ran toward us, smiling

Aang still lied covered in snow at the base of the partially collapsed tower.

Katara offered Aang her hand to pull him out of the snow. "That was amazing!" She smiled at us.

A light blush covered my cheeks, blowing a small piece of hair out of my face, retracting the wings of my glider.

Aang stood up, spinning his staff around to retract its wings, knocking Sokka in the process with a large pack of snow that fell down.

Sokka looked at Aang annoyed "Great. You two are airbenders, Katara's a waterbender. Together you can just waste time all day long"

Sooka wedged himself free from underneath the weight of the snow, stalking off.

Aang looked at Katara in surprise and admiration. "You're a waterbender?"

"Well, sort of" Katara nodded nervously "Not yet"

I smiled at her, curiously.

Gran-Gran walked closer, "All right, no more playing. Come on, Katara, you have chores"

Gran-Gran lead Katara away from us, the surrounding villagers parting to let the duo pass.

I scratched my head, awkwardly "She's a waterbender"

Aang grinned "Yup. Do you think she can teach you?"

I gave Aang a look, looking around "Um, not sure" I looked toward the little kids, staring at us in awe "Why don't we go play?"

Aang sighed at my change of subject but with a look toward the kids, his face lit up, starting to run toward them "Yees! You have to see this"

I smiled softly, looking down, slowly following behind.

Aang began playing around, licking his staff making me and the kids laugh as his tongue got stuck to his staff. "See?" His voice was muffled "Now my tongue is stuck to my staff!"

I tried to pull his staff away used to his silly ideas, groaning in defeat as his staff was very stubborn to stay stuck in his tongue, prompting laughter out of the kids around us.

I smiled in amusement, clapping my hands together "This is why you don't lick your stuff in the middle of snow"

Laughter surrounded us making me smile widely

~8~

I played with the little girls of the village creating Air scooters for them, bending the scooter for them to sit in them, letting them ride it with my bending.

"Woo!" A village girl exclaimed happily as she touched the ground. I bended the air, making the scooter disappear

"My turn!" Another girl jumped in excitement. I laughed, nodding. I bended another scooter for her to jump into, airbending her a few feet up in the air "Amazing!"

I brought the girl back down, letting her jump down from the scooter "That was exciting" I beamed at them, listening to the boys playing with Aang, sliding out of Appa's tail like a slide "Uh!" I gasped, smiling "That looks fun!" The girls looked where I pointed and immediately ran to Appa. I followed behind, trying not to use my bending to win them over. "Wow! You're fast"

The girls giggled.

Katara smiled softly, standing next to me

"They're having fun" I told her, clapping my hands softly

Katara nodded in agreement as Sokka came running toward us angrily "Stop! Stop it right now!" We turned to face him. He was pointing at Aang accusingly, looking angry "What's wrong with you?! We don't have time for fun and games with the War going on!"

I furrowed my eyebrows as the children ran pass Sokka, laughing

"What war?" I questioned softly

Katara looked at me in surprise

Aang slid down from Appa's head "What are you talking about?"

Sokka raised an eyebrow in disbelief, looking between us "You're kidding, right?"

I frowned at Sokka questionably when something caught my eye from behind his shoulder, my face lit up as I began smacking Aang's shoulder "Penguin!" I exclaimed enthusiastically

The Penguin looked up startled at my outburst, quickly waddling off.

Aang looked up at where I was pointing, catching sight of the penguin, "Oh, no! You're not going anywhere little friend!" He began running, giving the penguin a chase, enhancing his speed with airbending

I beamed in excitement "This should be fun!" I followed behind Aang, following his deep trail in the snow, dashing after them with airbending speed.

I failed to notice the siblings' concerned looks after we ran away.

~8~

Aang and I followed the penguin to its habitat where hundreds of otter-penguins were walking or sliding down icebergs.

I sat down on the ground, watching Aang in amusement as he tried and failed to grab one penguin "Come on Aang! Don't let them defeat you!"

I heard Katara looking for us "Aang? Kai?"

I turned my head, seeing her walking closer, gesturing to sit next to me "Come on Katara. Let's watch Aang being defeated by penguins" I laughed. Katara sat next to me, the both of us watching the penguins evading Aang's attempts to grab them "He thinks he has a way with animals"

Katara chuckled. "You know? I can help Aang catch a penguin if one of you teaches me waterbending"

I gave her a sideglance, frowning, "Uh. That could be a problem. Neither Aang or I are waterbenders. But deal" I added quickly at her sad expression. I never liked seeing someone sad. Her expression lit up, smiling "But isn't there someone in your tribe who can teach you?"

Katara sighed sadly "No" Aang walked closer, having heard Katara. "You're looking at the only waterbender in the whole South Pole"

Aang looked at her sadly, "This isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water" He considered for a moment, giving me a thoughtful look "What about the North Pole? There's another Water Tribe up there, right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you"

I nodded in agreement, hoping he didn't mean what I think he means. I'm not ready nor I want to.

"Maybe, but we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time" Katara shrugged "It's not exactly 'turn right at the second glacier'. It's on the other side of the world"

"But you forget, we have a flying bison" Aang told her. He happily pointed between me and himself "Appa, Kai and I can personally fly you to the North Pole. Katara, we're going to find you a master!"

I smiled in agreement "Aang's right. We could"

"That's..." Katara looked unsure yet grateful for our suggestion "I mean, I don't know. I've never left home before"

"Well, you think about it" Aang told her. "But in the meantime, can you teach me catch one of these penguins?"

Katara mockingly imitated a teacher. "Okay, listen closely my young pupil" she inclined her head toward Aang. "Catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art" She pulled a fish out of her sleeve. "Observe!"

Katare tossed Aang the fish. As he caught it with a confused look on his face, the penguins immediately began crowding him. I smiled as he laughed in delight. The penguin swarm over him, pulling him down amidst their ranks.

I shook my head, smiling "Have fun"

Aang looked at me questionably, putting the fish up to his head so the penguin wouldn't grab it "Where are you going?"

"Playing with the little girls" I grinned "They're fun to play with"

Aang beamed "Have fun then!"

I sat up, using airbending to help me up swiftly "You and Katara have fun with the penguins"

I walked away with a smile in my face. They seemed to get along pretty well and I didn't want to intrude into that.

~8~

I returned to the village, starting to play with the girls again when Sokka walked closer, seeming defeated. I peered up at him and the little boys he was supposedly training them as soldiers, seeing them playing with Appa.

"Seems like Appa likes them" I told him cheerfully "And they're having fun too"

Sooka shot me an annoyed look, "These are no times to play. Not with the war"

"You mentioned that earlier" I pointed out. "What do you mean by War?"

Sokka looked at me incredulously "Right. Play the innocent" I stared at him, blankly. Sokka took a double look at my face, "Wait. You're telling me you don't know anything about the war?"

"No" I answered simply

"The Fire Nation?" Sokka seemed to be losing his patience. I frowned "They started the War. Come on! Where have you been?"

"In an iceberg?" I asked awkwardly. Sokka facepalmed "But seriously? A war the Fire Nation started? Come on. I have friends in that place. They're not that bad. Well, mostly they have bad tempers but they're niceee"

"How long were you and Aang in that iceberg?" Sokka frowned

I shrugged "A few days maybe?" I frowned, starting to become concerned "There wasn't a war!"

"If what you say it's true..." Sokka trailed off, looking away in realization "You two were in there more time than you realize"

"I think Appa's slime made you hallucinate" I told him patting his shoulder, sympathetically "Don't worry. Like I said, it'll wash off and you'll be better" i said cheerfully, standing up and walking away, frowning to myself

Was Sokka insinuating that Aang and I missed a big War because we were stuck in ice? If that was true...

I stopped walking, staring straightforward in realization. I let it happen. It was my fault they were in war.

~8~

The sudden realization made my mood go down. I sat on the floor, ignoring the girls' attempts to get me to play with them.

It was in that moment when something behind the village caught my attention as everyone around me began to gasp in fright and whisper among each other. It was a flare of light in the sky.

I frowned at it

"I knew it!" I heard Sokka behind me. I turned around to face him, seeing him pointing straight at me "You and your friend did this! You signaled the Fire Nation!"

"Wait, what?" I widened my eyes in shock. How can he think that we did that?

Why are we suddenly the enemy?