The Guardian
Chapter 5: A Guardian Failed
(A/N: Now, it's been a while since I've seen the episode where Aang explains to Katara how and when he ran away from the temple. I'm not sure how long of a time period it was from when he found out that he was the Avatar to when he left, but for the purpose of this story I'm going to make it a month. I apologize if I am incorrect, but please, can we just go with it? Thanks! Enjoy and review!)
When I returned to the Upper World, I found Leo waiting for me. He seemed to be nearly as lighthearted as I was, giving me a large smile when I entered my residence.
"How did it go, Delaine," he asked me brightly.
I smiled and sat down next to him on my bed. "It went all right, I think. Aang is having a bit of trouble grasping all of this, but I think he'll come around soon. It feels wonderful, you know? To have the feeling of fulfilling your life's purpose. I'm glad I can finally do what I was created for."
"I know what you mean," said Leo, nodding. "Prince Bumi…well, actually he had no trouble accepting me. He said that I was perfectly welcome to be his Guardian." Leo laughed. "It was almost like he knew I was coming, the way he turned around and remained perfectly calm. He's strange but I like him."
"What did he say to you?" I asked.
"Oh, something like 'Ah, come in and have a seat, will you? Care for a cup of tea?' It was much different than I expected. I would think humans would be rather startled when we just show up and tell them that we're beings created to protect their souls. Not exactly immediately believable, hm?" Leo laughed again. "I'm looking forward to protecting this one."
I nodded. "Well, Aang's reaction to me was a bit closer to your original prediction. He was frightened and disbelieving at first. He asked quite a few questions and I told him he would simply have to trust me. I think I got him to believe me by the time I left, but the boy has a lot to sort out. He's young, he's recently been told that he's the Avatar, and now he's got me to deal with in his life as well. I do hope hee's all right. I rather like him."
"I can't believe we were so nervous," said Leo, laying back. "This isn't frightening at all. It feels…right."
I simply smiled. Leo and I sat in comfortable silence for a few moments until I heard a whisper.
"Delaine," it said. "Delaine, can you hear me?"
It sounded like Aang. "Aang?" I thought. "Yes, I can hear you. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I…I'd like to talk to you, though. I feel like I should apologize for how I acted earlier. I was just surprised, that's all…"
I smiled, and Leo seemed to notice, as he looked somewhat confused. "It's perfectly all right, Aang. I understand. I would have done the same thing if I had been in your place. I'll be there in a moment and we can talk."
I broke the connection with Aang and turned back to Leo,
"Aang?" he asked and I nodded.
"I have to go," I said. "He said that he's ready to talk to me. I think this is going well, Leo. Do you think the Council will be pleased?"
Leo nodded. "I think you're doing fabulously, Delaine. You had no reason to be afraid."
I hugged Leo tightly. "I'll see you in a bit, Leo," I whispered. In the blink of an eye I was gone, and found myself standing behind Aang, who was staring out a window.
"Aang," I said, and he was not startled this time.
"Hello," he said quietly. "Thank you for coming."
"Aang, I assure you, anytime you call me I will be here immediately. I am completely at your service. I will always be here for you."
"At least I have two people who will always be there for me," he said with a smile.
"Who is the other?" I asked.
"His name is Monk Gyatso. He lives in this temple too."
"I know of him," I said. "A friend of mine, Enzo, is the Guardian of Monk Gyatso. Enzo only mentioned him once to me, but he spoke very highly of him."
Aang grinned. "Monk Gyatso is the only one around here who seems to realize that I'm a kid, not just the Avatar. All of the other monks seem to think that I should spend all of my time in Avatar training, but Monk Gyatso saves me from it whenever he can."
"Aang," I said. "Are you happy?"
"I suppose so," he said with a sigh. "Not as happy as I used to be, though."
"Why's that?"
"Well, ever since it was announced that I would be the next Avatar, all of the other kids around here have been avoiding me. They won't let me join in games because they said whatever team had me would be at an unfair advantage. Then the monks barely give me enough time to eat and sleep regularly. I guess I'm just getting really sick of it."
I put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Aang. It must be really hard to be born into this, and not have a choice in your own destiny."
Aang nodded. "Isn't it the same for you? I mean, you said you were created for the sole purpose of protecting me. You were born into this mindset that you can't take any other road in life than being my Guardian. It's like we don't have any free will…"
"My situation is different, Aang," I said, though I didn't sound quite convincing. I bit my lip. "Free will is a right that humans have. I'm not human, so I'm not entitled to that right. I have to fulfill my purpose as a Guardian. If I were human, it would be a different story, but…"
"What do you mean you're not human? You seem pretty human to me."
"I am modeled after humans. My race spends the majority of our existence in the company of humans, so we have developed near-human emotions and tendencies, but just because we act like humans doesn't make us so. It's like if a small child acts like a dog, that doesn't make them really a dog. It's all playacting. Being human-like allows us to better do our jobs."
"Still," said Aang, looking back out the window, "I think everyone should have the right to make their own choices."
Aang and I spoke for hours. I sat there and listened to him with all of my heart. It hurt me to hear how much pain he had gone through in such a short time. He had barely found out he was the Avatar a week ago, and already it had hurt him in more than a few ways.
By the time I left, I felt a much stronger connection between Aang and myself.
THREE WEEKS LATER
It was that dreadful morning that I could feel it. Aang was in grave danger. He was about to make a decision that could cost him his life.
I went to him as quickly as I could. When I appeared, he had his staff in hand, and was standing outside with his bison, Appa.
"Aang!" I called. "Aang, what's going on?"
He sighed. "I can't do this anymore, Delaine. I can't stay here. I have to leave."
"Aang, what do you mean?"
"I don't want to be the Avatar anymore," he said sadly. "I'm leaving and never coming back. I'll go into hiding."
"You can't," I said. "People need you. You can't do this."
He turned to me. "I thought you understood, Delaine! I thought you knew what I meant about free will and the ability to make your own choices. Well, this is my choice. Don't try to stop me."
I hesitated, but ran after him when he began to walk away. "Aang, I'm sorry," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."
He laughed harshly. "You're only saying that because you're my Guardian. If you weren't created to protect me, you wouldn't care so much."
I froze and Aang walked on. An unpleasant feeling spread through me. The things Aang had said caused some kind of emotional reaction in me…yes, hurt, that was what it was. I remembered Enzo talking about it during one of the visits Leo and I frequently made to him.
I watched silently as Aang mounted Appa and took off. I focused on being able to follow him, and I found myself hovering in the place between Aang's world and the Upper World, still able to see him perfectly. I trailed behind Aang silently, intent on making sure no harm would come to him. There came a time when he faltered, and he and Appa fell to the frozen water below.
My eyes widened and I broke out, back into Aang's world, but not fast enough. He was already nearly drowned.
If hoped with all of my being that the rumors were true, and that I could tap into Aang's powers. I raised my hand, closing my eyes, and the water froze around Aang and Appa. When I opened my eyes again, they were frozen solid, but not dead. I had been able to keep them alive.
I felt something wet on my cheek. Crying. That was what the humans called it. It was something they did when they were sad. And I was sad.
I didn't know how long Aang would be frozen. He was alive, but I had suspended him in hibernation. The world would be without an Avatar until he came out of the ice. Who knew what would happen now? People could die, and I would be the cause of it. I had been unable to protect Aang from hurting himself, and so had thrown off the cosmic balance.
I had failed the Council.
