Those That Wait
For #20: "Can't this wait?"
Character POV: Guru Pathik
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I have been blessed in my lifetime to have seen many things, and speak with many people. My life, however long it is, has been very rewarding.
The things that my heart has seen and my spirit felt few others left have witnessed.
I have traveled the vast desert, and met with the great Wan Shi Tong. "He who knows ten thousand things" has graciously offered to tell me all he knows; to unravel the secrets and mysteries of the world through use of his library. Free of charge, too!
I am proud to say I refused. The secrets and mysteries of this world are to be learned through experience not through the knowledge of others. For each riddle hidden within this world has a different answer for each heart that would seek it. One cannot teach what the other must find for himself.
I would tell you of my adventures, but that would be best for another time. Now, I think it would be best to tell you a story. No, it's not very long. It happened many years ago, when I was still a young man.
This was the first time that I learned, that no matter how old you may be, there is still much for you to learn.
I was a young man, as I've already said. My path had taken me to a Ba Sing Se. Then it was still as beautiful and powerful, but not as corrupt. Summer had come and the city was bustling with life and tourists. Everywhere the eye looked there were stalls open, merchants begging for business. Oh, it was a living, breathing world of its own.
Back then, I had a fondness for living life on the street. Much like I do now. It was the philosophy of the matter, I believe. To know that at any time you can just up and go where the wind would will you. It was a wonderful feeling, and still is.
One day while roaming the streets in Ba Sing Se, I came across an elderly gentleman buying candies for some poor children. The sight of it made me smile. Something of the man made me believe that I had seen him somewhere before, or that I would again someday in another life.
He came with a confident stride and stood beside me on a wall I leaned against. No words were spoken, but there seemed a connection that announced no words were needed. It was peaceful.
Minutes passed with us just listening to the fast paced living of the city. The calls of friends to one another, the shout of merchants showing their wares, and the sounds of thousands running quickly to and fro met our ears. The latter, these people with a destination that seems like it cannot wait for a mere second, had caused an ache in my heart.
Smiling, I leaned over to the elderly gentleman still at my side, and spoke, "These men and women will be the world's downfall. Those whose hearts are growing cold because they can't for a second stop to enjoy the minute they have left of life. It makes me wish I had a hat to beg of their lost time."
The man gave a hearty chuckle. "Then perhaps we could return them their time." His voice was old, yes, but much older than he looked. He was an ancient soul.
Smiling at this ancient soul, I waved a hand across the streets. "Ah, but they haven't even time for beggars."
"I suppose you are right," he said. "How do you know this so well, young traveler?"
I remember laughing sincerely at this comment. I clasped his shoulder, and winked to him secretly. "Because I myself have walked that path."
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AN: Surfing my lifesaver, Wikipedia, today I looked up the Avatar characters to find more unknown or unused characters. I found an interesting tidbit that Guru Pathik is 150 years old. This means that he was roughly 38 when Avatar Roku died, which makes it quite possible that they had met. Pathik also means traveler, I believe the site said.
Just my thoughts on the Guru and Roku, don't know if they're exactly canon. Also, Guru Pathik is officially my favorite A: TLA character, well next to Iroh anyway. I don't know why, but I just love the funny old geezer.
Thanks for the reviews, and drop me some more. I don't bite…I give free monkeys. Also, I may not be able to update very quickly anymore. I run on dial-up and my phone lines are kind of screwy at the moment, so it may be a while before we can get someone to actually take a look at it. But, Oh well. That's life.
-mycrazylife