The Avatar Returns

Ch.2: Sheng's Visit

"And you want me to go why?" Hahn asked. Sheng airbended her bag up to her bison's saddle.

"Because," Sheng said with a shrug. "I want company on my ride to the Temple"

"Last time I checked, I'm not an airbender" Hahn said.

"I'm not a waterbender and I travelled with you to your tribe" Sheng fought.

"That was because visitors are welcomed" Hahn reminded.

"And visitors are welcomed at my home," Sheng said. "What? Are you scared?"

Hahn rolled his eyes at his friend's taunting tone.

"No, I'm not" Hahn said.

"Then come along" Sheng told him. Hahn thought for a moment, he shrugged.

"Eh," he said. "I got nothing to lose"

Sheng smiled as she airbended herself onto her sky bison's head and Hahn clambered into the saddle. Sheng lifted the reins and with a flick her wrist and her command, the bison sprang into the air and soared the skies.

Hahn rested his back against the end of the saddle, he stared at the clouds, his arms folded across his chest. He was pretty bored, he groaned. Sheng looked over her shoulder and saw the boy staring at the clouds. She smiled fondly at the bored boy and turned her attention to steering.

After eight hours of flight, Hahn and Sheng agreed to find a clearing to rest for the night. After landing, and freaking Hahn out from the turbulent descend, Hahn fell onto his back and gave a grateful sigh. Sheng rolled her eyes as she pulled out Hahn's canteen. She tossed it over to him, it landed on his stomach and he gave a startled jerk and saw what was resting on his stomach.

"I'll get the firewood" Sheng told him. "You get some water.

"Okay Mom" Hahn joked as Sheng rolled her eyes and strode into the forest. Hahn rolled up into a sitting position, his arm draped over his bent knee. He smiled at his friend disappearing into the dark forest.

Sheng returned about 15 minutes later with an armful of wood. Hahn returned just at the same time with a canteen full of fresh water from the nearby stream. Sheng began to make the fire, she rubbed two sticks together, concentrating on a spark flying out into the wood pile. It took her a few minutes but she finally managed to spark up a fire. She smiled proudly at her work and tossed the two sticks in to help keep the fire going. She stood up and strode over to Hahn who was already examining a map. He had a hand to his chin, thinking deeply.

"Hahn, we don't need a map" Sheng said as she rolled her eyes. "I know where we're going"

"Oh so then where are we?" Hahn questioned. Sheng froze for a moment, earning a snicker from Hahn.

"Well do you know?" Sheng threw back, smirking.

"We're right here, near the tip of the Earth Kingdom" Hahn said. "One day's worth of travel and you'll be home"

Sheng smiled and nodded.

Later that night, the two teens went to sleep, a good distance away from each other. They weren't touching but they were close enough to know they were both in reach of each other in case of emergency, this arrangement was created a habit over the months they traveled together.

When the morning came, Sheng and Hahn found themselves packing up the camp, putting out the fire, of course with Hahn's waterbending, and Sheng saddling her sky bison, Anji, up. Hahn climbed up on Anji and Sheng airbended herself onto her head and soon commanded Anji to take flight.

Sheng focused her eyes onto the horizon, the air was still nice and humid considering the temple was located near the Fire Nation. Sheng took in her surroundings and realized they were already here. She landed on a cliff overlooking a narrow river miles below. Hahn looked around.

"Where's the temple?" he questioned.

"Underground" she proclaimed.

"Underground?" he asked.

"Yeah," Sheng said, flicking Anji's reins again. The bison took off and descended, landing in the courtyard of the temple. Little kids came running out.

"Shengy!"

Sheng looked around as she jumped down. Hahn following after. The kids ran and a couple of them hugged her legs. Hahn laughed.

"Good with kids aren't you?" Hahn questioned. Sheng laughed and she greeted the little airbenders. A nun came up, Sheng looked up. Sheng lifted her arms, pressing her fist into her other hand's palm and bowing.

"Master," she greeted with much respect.

"Young Sheng," she greeted, bowing in return. Sheng rushed to her master's arms and hugged her. "It is so great to see you"

Sheng let go of her and smiled.

"I see you have grown up," the nun claimed, placing a hand on the girl's head. The nun noticed Hahn's appearance. She removed her hand from Sheng's head. "And who is our new friend?"

"Master Jin, this is my friend from the Southern Water Tribe, Hahn" Sheng introduced. "Hahn this is my airbending teacher, Jin"

Hahn bowed in respect.

"It is an honor to meet you" he said.

"Well aren't you a polite young man," Jin stated with a wide smile. Hahn looked up and smiled, blushing a bit. "Come you must get yourself settled in"

Sheng smiled as she followed the nun further into the depths of the temple. Sheng walked to her room and Jin led Hahn to a guest room further down the halls. Sheng closed her door and set down her bag, before joining her airbending friends in the temple.

The airbenders were found in one of the training rooms, practicing an old move that Sheng learned from the past. The Air Scooter.

One girl was struggling in tremendously, another girl was riding on it, laughing with boastfulness and pride. Sheng hoped he lose his balance and fall. Everyone noticed Sheng's appearance.

"Sheng!" they all yelped, they all ran to her at airbender's speeds. Sheng laughed as she hugged each and every one. They kept asking her questions and Sheng tried to get them to all ask one question at a time.

"What was the most recent place you visited?"

"Are you still friends with that waterbender?"

"Do you still live in Ba Sing Se?"

So many questions, Sheng smiled and answered every single of them.

"Ba Sing Se, yes and yes" Sheng answered met with a bubbling laughter.

"I heard your turning 16 Sheng, is that why you're here?" asked one of her friends.

"Yup, the Nuns wanted me to come over for my 16th birthday" Sheng said. "To celebrate with all of you"

They all hooted in laughter and Sheng smiled.

"Hey Sheng can you show us that scooter trick you learned?" asked one of many. It was met with everyone encouraging her to do so. Sheng smiled and swung her arms around in a circle, creating a ball of air and then hopping upon it. She rode it passed them, weaving in and out of the group. The door creaked open and Sheng slammed into the visitor. They both slammed to the ground, Sheng landing on top of the victim. She rose herself off the man, and realized it was Hahn, she blushed a deep crimson and she heard a few 'oohs' and followed by several comments on how they look cute together.

"Sorry Hahn," Sheng said, airbending herself up and reaching out a hand to her fallen friend. Hahn took it.

"No problem" Hahn stated as he tugged on Sheng's hand to get himself to stand upright. He looked at the girls, all of them looking at him with dreamy smiles. Hahn raised a brow, he looked at his friend with the brow still raised high in confusion."Why are they looking at me?"

"Maybe because they never seen a waterbender before?" Sheng asked with a shrug and a still heated blush. Hahn found himself blush a little bit. Sheng took Hahn's hand and pulled him out of the room. "I'll show you around"

Hahn glanced back at the girls but then shrugged it off with his trademark smile.

To be continued.