~~~~~~~~~~~~~*`~~:Chapter Eight:~~`*~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ally, I made a three dozen custard tarts for your journey." Kin said, as she handed a pile of bowls stacked on top of each other.
"Thanks Kin." Ally smiled as she put the bowls neatly into a large sack that also held a assortment of fruits and vegetables. "You know custard tarts are mine and Aang's favourite."
Kin laughed, "Then save some for him."
"I will." Ally promised, also laughing. "If he knew that I had eaten them for myself he'd throw me into the air with a tornado."
Tane and Jin laughed, they were grooming Snow-fire's fur and Tom was checking the reigns for strength. Lyra was helping Ally pack everything Ally needed for the journey. Damien had just finished helping Koiki check that Snow-fire was healthy; the Ermine-wolf was given the clean bill of health.
"Make sure you give him a hug and a kiss from all of us." Jin told Ally sternly.
Ally smiled, "I'll give him a hug but a kiss would get awkward."
Keoni snorted, "Ally and Aang sitting in a tree K - I - S - S - I - N - G," Hori, Hika and Kaimi, Malu, Audrey and Sophie joined in. "First comes love, then comes marriage... Then comes the baby in the baby carriage!"
Ally hid her expression behind her long brown hair, "Shut up. Wait!-" she looked around. "-Where did they learn that?" she hissed to Tom, who suddenly rearranged his amused expression into a innocently guilty face.
Ally would have thrown him off the mountain side had it not been for Teo and the other occupants moving towards them, Teo moved his wheelchair over to Ally, who threw a half-hearted glare at Tom before she jumped down and softly landed on the ground in front of Teo.
"Here." said Teo, handing her a large bag of money. "It'll help you on your journey."
"I can't take this." Ally said uncomfortably. "It should be used to rebuild the temple."
"We'll find another way, Ally," said the Mechanist kindly, "It's the least we can do, after you and the other air-benders gave us freedom."
"Ally, you're going to need the money." Damien said seriously.
Ally sighed and nodded, putting the large sum of money into one of her pockets. "Thank you." Ally said sincerely to the Mechanist and the others. She bowed respectfully with the air nomad hand sign.
"And also I've made a staff holder," the Mechanist said, holding up a brown strap that had a slot perfect for sliding her staff in, "It works a lot like those sword holder things." Ally bowed again and allowed the Mechanist to slip the strap over her head and slung it over one shoulder, she then fitted her staff into the holder.
"Thank you." Ally repeated sincerely.
Ally said goodbye to the other air nomad's giving Sophie an extra hug and also gave her a woven necklace. "Look after yourself Sophie." Ally said quietly to her teary cousin.
Ally Air-bended herself onto Snow-fire's head and looked over to her old and new friends she was about to leave, "Look after yourselves." She called. Nyx and Neo sat on her shoulders.
Damien walked up to her and handed a box to her, with a message pinned on it. "The box contains scrolls of the last level of air bending, so when we meet again I want a mock duel." Ally grinned. "The note attached to it has words of advice that are designed to keep you up at night."
Ally laughed and bowed her head.
"Go on then, Aang awaits your presence." Damien said.
"Snow-fire, yip, yip!" Ally called. Snow-fire lunched into the sky, behind her people called out there last second goodbyes. Suddenly fire-works sprang into the air above the temple and Ally grinned in awe at the colourful fire display. Then all of the gliders swooped up and into the air, and surrounded her like a guard of honor.
Ally waved at them and they waved back, Teo waved goodbye at her as they started to fall back.
When they were out of sight Ally looked at the box then turned over the note that was pinned to it. It wrote;
...
Review past lessons to discover anew. ~ Kin
The world is the traveller's inn. ~ Jin
Don't bypass a town where there's a friend. ~ Tom
If it were not for hope, the heart would surely break. ~ Lyra
Wait long, strike fast. ~ Tane
A clever person turns great problems into little ones and little ones into none at all. ~Koiki
Those who ask is a fool for five minutes, but those who do not ask remains a fool forever. ~ Damien
Good Luck. ~ Everyone.
...
Ally smiled at they're words of wisdom. Then she jumped of Snow-fire's head and onto the saddle, putting the box and their note into a sack that contained a map, a compass and three pairs of fighting fans.
Ally took a pair of green fans that matched the colour of her glider then slipped them into her belt. Nyx and Neo looked at Ally as she jumped back onto Snow-fire's wolfish head. Nyx climbed onto her lap while Neo curled around her neck. Ally picked up Snow-fire's reigns and moved Snow-fire in the direction of Omashu.
Ally laid back and Neo climbed onto her stomach, his green eyes showing disapproval for disturbing the peace. Ally chuckled "Sorry Neo." her hand came up behind the long black ears and scratched. Neo purred in content, clearly forgiving Ally as he curled on top of Ally's stomach. Nyx yawned, her blue eyes still closed.
Ally looked over the side of Snow-fire's head; they were still over a wide vast ocean. Ally sighed and looked back up to the sky. Snow-fire snorted/growled at her impatience. Ally laughed softly, "I know, I know." she reached out and scratched behind one of Snow-fire's triangle wolfish ears.
Ally watched as the lemurs were now flying in the sky playfully about an hour later, "Are we there yet?" Ally asked Snow-fire.
Snow-fire growled in annoyance. It was mid afternoon and Ally had grown increasingly board and twitchy.
Ally looked down below, and saw that they were heading for land. "Finally!" Ally exclaimed. "Nyx! Neo! Common it's time to land!" Ally pulled the reigns lightly and snow-fire suddenly dived head-first.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Ally screamed in surprise, "Snow-fire, you big, stupid-!"
Snow-fire twirled down in a spiral, cutting off whatever Ally was about to shout. Snow-fire pulled up to land gracefully and Ally rolled off her and onto the merciful ground.
"Snow-fire you crazy, idiotic, mad... Ermine!" Ally groaned. Snow-fire gave the impression of being very smug of herself, complete with a growl-like chuckle. Ally sighed in defeat as the lemurs landed next to her, chirping as though they found that hilarious. "Ha ha." Ally murmured drily.
She air bended herself onto her feet and looked around. Promptly stunned by the gigantic waterfall and the river next to her, "Nice choice you intelligent, almighty wolf." Ally cooed rubbing Snow-fire's wolfish snout, a gigantic tongue licked her. Snow-fire gave the impression of rolling those large yellow eyes in amusement, a large tongue licked her face and Ally laughed.
She air-bended the saddle off Snow-fire's long back and set it down on the ground gently. Snow-fire eagerly leaped into the river and started to soak in the last of the afternoon sunlight. Nyx and Neo were playing around nearby.
Ally smiled and eagerly brought out the box filled with the final stage of mastering air-bending. She unscrolled the first one; 'the triple air slice tornado' it looked difficult... but doable.
She dedicated the rest of the afternoon to training on the last level of mastering air bending.
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Author Note; That's it for this weekend! Now... Remember - Reviews=Happy Author=Faster Updates. So Review!