I am SO sorry that this is so late!!!! My computer had a virus and we had to wipe the disk clean—TWICE!!! But here it is-- finally!!!
Chapter 5: The Spirit Cloud
Katara's shout was a mere echo to Aang-- she wasn't close enough for him to make out the words. But Aang knew that voice anywhere. Looking straight up, he saw a fluffy white dot. The Spirit Cloud he thought. The one Roku told me about.
By impulse, Aang took out his staff and changed it into a glider. He jumped, only to crash painfully on the ground.
Avatar Roku then appeared in front of him. "How am I supposed to get up there?" Aang asked with desperation, pointing upward.
Avatar Roku smiled. "There may not be air in the spirit world, but who's to say there isn't Water, Earth or Fire?"
Avatar Roku vanished. But Aang hadn't noticed. He was too busy creating a staircase out of the earth around him.
Sokka stared at the dead body of his sister, and the glowing body of the Avatar. Holding back tears, he began to talk to himself. "C'mon, Sokka. Remember how you lost it when Mom died. Dad would want me to be a strong warrior." He choked. "Don't- cry-" Not being able to take it anymore, he burst into tears, and knelt down next to Aang and Katara.
When his own tears had stopped, Sokka heard whimpering sounds. Turning around, he could see Toph sitting hunched over her lap, her head buried in her hands.
"Toph?" he said with hesitation.
Toph raised her head, and Sokka could see tears running down her cheeks. "Why are you crying?" Sokka asked.
"Who wouldn't cry when they lose a friend? I was only holding it all in for Aang." Toph said
"Then, you knew?"
"That he loved Katara? Of course. It was always very obvious. I could detect a little waver in his voice when he talked to her."
Sokka paused for a moment. "But could you detect the little waver in my voice?"
"Huh?" Toph said, blushing.
"You're like the little sister I never had."
"But Katara was your sister."
"Well, you're the sister that isn't crazy."
Toph laughed. Sokka sat down next to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and leaned against her. Then, the two just sat there and cried together.
Katara was still in tears at the edge of the Spirit Cloud, facing away from the edge. She hadn't heard Aang making the staircase. But the voice she heard so suddenly was a perfect miracle.
"Katara?"
She turned her head, and saw the one thing that would get her home.
"Aang!"
Katara ran up and hugged Aang, almost knocking him off his feet. Aang smiled happily and hugged her back.
Katara pulled out of the hug, her hands still on Aang's shoulders. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Aang took her hands in his. "Well, apparently there's a way for the Avatar to bring someone who's dead back to life," he said passively.
Katara couldn't believe it. "You mean, you can bring me back?" she said in disbelief.
"Not so fast!" Boomed a voice.
Katara and Aang turned their heads. An old glowing woman with a flowing white dress and long silvery hair came into view.
"The Spirit Guardian," breathed Aang.
The spirit guardian's attendants were the elite spirits of the elements. There was the spirit of the sky, the spirit of the sun, the spirit of the earth, and the spirit of the ocean and moon. The spirit of the sky was a carefree little girl with gray hair, eyes, a gray dress, skin the color of the sky, and puffy white clouds serving as wings. The spirit of the sun was a red old man with fire for hair and an orange robe, whose eyes glowed bright yellow. The spirit of the earth was a young woman with brown hair, green eyes and leaves for clothing. The spirit of the ocean was a light blue merman. And the spirit of the moon was Princess Yue.
When the six spirits reached Aang and Katara, Yue smiled knowingly at her old friends. In response to that, Aang raised an eyebrow, and Katara blushed a little.
"What's the meaning of this? A mere mortal venturing into the spirit world and stealing a soul that's rightfully mine? What do you have to say for yourself, mortal?" shouted the Spirit Guardian.
"Um… I'm the Avatar?" Aang said hesitantly.
The Spirit Guardian laughed. "You? A mere boy? Ha! The last Avatar died 100 years ago."
"That's not true, Master." Said Yue. "The so-called 'mortal' that stands before us is indeed the Avatar. I know because he came to the North Pole and helped save us from the fire nation." When Yue mentioned the fire nation, she glared at the spirit of the sun.
"Hey! You can't blame me for what the mortals are doing!" The Spirit of the Sun scoffed.
"Well, Avatar or not, you still have no right to take a soul that is rightfully mine…" said the Spirit Guardian.
Katara and Aang looked down, sad, their hands still clasped in one another's.
"…at least, not without a few tests."
Katara and Aang looked back up, their eyes wide with excitement.
"If you pass, the girl may return to the physical world."
Katara and Aang hugged again.
The Spirit Guardian leaned down. "You were right. Love IS the most powerful spirit of all," she whispered to Yue.
Yue nodded, tears streaming her eyes.
Ta-dahhhhhhh!! I gave you a nice, long chappie, so I hope you're happy!!! Chapter 6 will be here sometime late February- Early March. Late March at the VERY LATEST. C ya!!!