Story: Through Blind Spirits
Chapter: Blindness Isn't a Weakness to Me
Summary: A journey into the spirit world is quite an adventure for a twelve year old. Especially when you can't see it.
Author's Note: Um…yeah. Enjoy!
Jaang opened her unseeing eyes.
She knew she wasn't in her mother's garden anymore. She didn't even feel the earth below her feet anymore. The soft grass she had felt before was now hard dirt.
But it was weird. Because she was actually blind. It felt like the elements weren't around her anymore. She usually could feel the wind and air around her, the earth below her, the water flowing through bodies, and head from objects. Now everything was just...cold.
"Hello? Where am I?" she shouted nervously. Jaang bit her lip, put her hands out in front of her, and started to walk.
"Hello?" she started to panic. Then, she felt something in front of her. A person...
"Hello Jaang." the voice said softly.
Jaang pulled back and gasped, "Who are you?"
The figure came closer to her and put their hand on her shoulder. She screamed and leapt back, crashing to the floor. "Jaang it's me! It's your Uncle Aang!"
She didn't believe the voice, "My Uncle Aang died ten years ago! You can't be him!" tears rolled down her face.
"That's because you aren't on Earth right now. You are in the Spirit World."
The Spirit World? "No way."
"Yes way." she could just tell he was smirking by the sound of his voice.
Jaang wiped the tears from her eyes. Maybe this is Uncle Aang... "Fine. If you are really my uncle, you won't mind answering a couple of questions, would you?"
"Of course not," he said with amusement in his voice.
"Okay, what are the names of your kids?"
"Lei and Mei. They are twin girls. One is a waterbender and one is an airbender, the last of her kind, except you of course."
"What? What do you mean, except me? I'm not an airbender."
"That's why I summoned you here through the necklace my wife gave you," 'Aang' said. "I need to tell you something important. Something you aren't supposed to know at this age."
Jaang laughed, "How babies are born?"
Aang however, did not, "This is serious."
"Oh." Jaang quickly wiped the smirk off of her face.
"Now then. Do you want to hear the good news, or the bad news?"
She rolled her eyes, "None, because I still don't know WHO YOU ARE."
'Aang' just sighed, shaking his head, "You know I'm your uncle. I can tell that you trust me. Now please, listen."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "Fine. I'll take the good news."
He smiled, "Good. The good news is that you are the avatar."
Jaang's heart skipped a beat, and she felt very dizzy, "I'm the...what?"
"I didn't want to be the one to tell you this. In fact, I wish you would have found out later, when you turn 16."
"I'm guessing this is going to lead to the bad news."
"You're right," he said, with a little sorrow in his voice, "After I died, evil was supposed to be rid from the world. But when there is good, there had to be...bad."
"But there isn't anything bad! I mean, sure, people steal and stuff, but it's not like what you and Aunty Katara had to do!" she sounded upset. She knew Aang was going to tell her something she didn't like.
"Jaang, listen. An evil is uprising. You need to master all of the elements soon. You won't need to use your bending to save anyone just yet, there's still time...I really shouldn't be telling you this..." Even though Jaang could not feel the Earth beneath her, she felt Aang's heart beat increase.
The 'wind' in the spirit world was whirling around the area where Jaang and her uncle were standing. Aang swore under his breath, "Jaang, listen to me, and listen closely. I'm not supposed to be telling you this, or even talking to you. You are the avatar. You need to find masters for each of the elements, and practice hard every day. I have a feeling that you are going to need to know them for a war that is approaching." He put a hand on her shoulder, "But you have to promise not to tell anyone about this. Only your mother, father, and aunt, do you understand?"
"But, we can prepare for it---"
"No!" Aang shouted. "Don't tell anyone about this war. If you prepare for a war that doesn't exist, you will only start it sooner! Do you understand?"
The blind girl nodded. Aang hugged her, and whispered, "I love you so much. I've been watching you grow up from the spirit world. You, your brother, and your cousins." Jaang knew tears were streaming down his face.
"Aang...I just wish you could come back...Katara..." Jaang had also started to cry. It was such a bittersweet reunion. She had never met her uncle, but knew that everyone had loved him very much. She had always felt in the way. Instead of mourning for their friend's death, they celebrated the day of her birth. And now she finally met her dead and heroic uncle, and she couldn't even see his face...
"Do...do you mind if I talk to my wife for a second? I'll just need to borrow...uh...your body for a second. I promise it won't hurt." Aang asked the tiny Avatar.
She looked up at him and said softly, "Of course not. Anything for her. Anything for you."
And the floating feeling came back.
Katara was officially freaking out. Her niece was in a trance, almost like an out-of-world state. Her unseeing eyes glowed, and her body was stiff.
"It's almost like she's in the Avatar State..." Katara whispered to herself. But she shook her head, throwing away the absurd idea.
"Don't, err, move. I'm getting help."
Katara came back with Toph, Sokka, and Zuko. Mai looked after the children, making sure they kept their distance from their 'possessed' family member.
"What's wrong with her?! Jaang!" her father yelled at her, putting his hands on her shoulders and shaking her.
"Stop!" Toph scolded back at him, stopping him from possibly hurting their daughter even more, "She's not on Earth right now. I can't feel her here..." Toph's voice was shaky and worried.
Zuko observed the girl by standing behind her worried parents. He knew that she was indeed in the spirit world. He had seen Aang it in many times, even his uncle spoke of it.
"The girl is fine. Just give her space," he finally spoke. Katara nodded, gesturing her brother and sister-in-law to scoot back.
Then, with a blinding light, Jaang's body floated up. Her eyes were glowing blue, and her hair was floating in different directions. The adults gasped at the site.
She spoke, "Katara?"
But it wasn't her voice. It was Aang's. Tears streamed down her face, "Aa--Aang?"
"I love you Katara. And I miss you so much. Tell the girls I love them too," Toph started sobbing quietly in Sokka's arms, and Zuko stared at Jaang's body with glassy eyes.
"I love you too Aang. I miss you...so much..."
"You are so strong Katara. I'm sorry, but it was my time. I had done my job, and now, Sokka and Toph; it's your daughter's turn. I have to go now. Bye everyone..."
His voice faded, and Jaang floated slowly back to the ground, her eyes turning their normal pale blue color, and her dark brown hair falling on her shoulders. Katara let the young girl fall into her arms as she sobbed. She embraced Jaang as she opened her eyes. Realizing what had just happened, Jaang too sobbed, hugging her aunt back.
"Everything is going to be alright Aunty," she said through choking sobs, "I promise."
Ending Author's Note: Aw. Poor Katara. I imagined her to be strong about Aang's death, but I still see her not totally getting over it. Yeah. Anyways, onto the comedy!