~~~~~~~~~~~~~*`~~: Chapter Twenty Two: ~~`*~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ally sat down on a large orange pillow, and looked at Aunt Wu expectantly. Aunt Wu sat down in front of her; she smiled like a grandmotherly at her, "It's good to meet a descendent of mine; it's been too long." She said.
Ally looked at her weirdly, "I don't think you understand – I can't be a descendent of yours. You see I'm a tad older then I look." The woman wasn't even born when Ally came into the world for great spirits sakes!
The woman laughed and Ally was seriously thinking this woman needed a slap of reality. "No young one, it is you who doesn't understand." She smiled at Ally's bewildered expression, "Think Ally, you have a keen mind; use it. Who are your descendents? What gifts have you inherited from them?"
"Well, I'm connected to Aang on a spiritual level because my great, great, great grandmother was Avatar Yangchen."
Aunt Wu inclined her head, "continue."
"That gives me a connection to the spirit world and the connections enhanced by my Nomad teachings and meditation." Ally offered, she looked down at her hands, "And, the Air Spirit was possessing for a while, but his not at the moment. He had to regain his energy after he healed a serious wound with his own. And now my chi is a little on the wild side."
Aunt Wu raised an eyebrow, "That's not all, explain your visions."
Ally blinked at her in surprise. "Well I can only see into the present events that are happening in other places. I can also will visions to happen, but that was after the cosmos energy healing." Ally looked at her hands, "The gift has been passed down because the Spirit of Destiny was incarnated into human form, and she's my great, great grand-mother or something, I'm not entirely sure how long ago she..." Realization flashed across her face she looked up, "but… how? That's…" Ally gapped at the elderly women, she must be over four hundred years old! She hardly looked over sixty! "You…" Ally said staring, "you're the Spirit of Destiny?"
Aunt Wu smiled, "I reincarnated myself again fifty three years after the war began; it's easier to keep track of people that will make a difference in the tides of war."
"Whoa," Ally muttered then looked up at Aunt Wu as she placed a hand on her shoulder.
Aunt Wu smiled, "The Elemental spirits have forbidden all spirits to bring to light on what your destiny in this life is, or help you for that matter." she winked, "But theoretically I am not a spirit at the moment." She took a deep breath, "many of your past lives have been difficult and complicated, and always you are born just before a war starts; you're soul had many destinies and cross roads in times of crisis, and you have always made influences in world, either as an animal or a human. Every time, except for once, you died protecting the ones you love."
Ally looked curious, startled, proud, and worried all in one, it must have been an interesting facial expression, she had thousands of questions, but finally she settled on one "That one time?" Ally asked quietly.
"You committed suicide because you couldn't protect everyone." Aunt Wu admitted sadly, Ally cringed as those words felt like knives to her heart, even though they weren't spoken harshly. "But that was ninety-seven life times ago." She said abruptly. "I want you to know that destinies are just guide lines, it is yours to morph and shape however you want it, just like everyone else's. Shape your own future. Destiny isn't set in stone."
Ally sat there and nodded, "I'll keep that in mind, but…" Ally hesitated, her eyes flashing unexpectedly to liquid fiery eyes… Ally blinked. "Something's been bothering me… Could you tell me… about my love line?"
"His worthy of you," Aunt Wu stated.
Ally frowned. "Can't you tell me anything else?" she asked.
"I could." Aunt Wu said smiling, "but wouldn't you want it to be a surprise?"
Ally smiled a simular smile, "Life is suppose to be like a river, calm one day and active the next." She stood up and bowed, "Thank you, though the question about him will keep me awake at night."
Sokka huffed, "I still say that fortune telling is big, stupid hoax." When they had all had they're fortunes read.
"You're entitled to your own opinion." Ally said before a petty argument between siblings could start up. "Any way I'm going to get my hair cut, it's starting to annoy me." She pushed a long strand of dark brown hair out of her eye.
"Is they're a particular style you want?" asked the hair dresser after she had sat down. The hair dresser threw some fabric over her clothing, tying it up at the back of her neck.
"Can you cut it up to my elbows?" Ally asked, "I still want to be able to plat it. And as for my fringe I don't really care as long as my arrow is seen and I can still fight without it getting in the way of my eyes."
"Alright then."
When Ally looked at the finished result she couldn't help but smile in approval, it made her look nice, it suited her. She tied her hair up in a plat, leaving her shoulder length fringe as curtains that cascaded down the sides of her face in small waves, her arrow still showing proudly. Her plat ended at the end of her shoulder blades. "It looks great." Ally smiled at the hair dresser then payed the twenty silver pieces.
"I'm glade you approve." The hair dresser bowed her out of the shop. There was a commotion as people started to gather around the towns square.
"Hey Ally," Aang said, "Nice hair cut."
Ally smiled, "Thanks Aang. I was actually thinking of shaving my fringe but… we both know that doesn't look good on me." Aang and Ally shared a laugh at the memory of when Ally tried to shave her fringe off her self; when she was six years old.
She was six and wanted to look like Sister Iio!
"So what's going on?" she asked.
"They're waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds to predict the fate of the village." Aang said. Sokka scoffed while Katara glared at him.
Ally nodded to Aang, "sounds… neat." Reading the clouds? Surely that's just a cover up to hide that Aunt Wu already knew what was coming, the air was unpredictable and could change course anytime it pleased and it never stayed still.
Destiny isn't set in stone, Aunt Wu had said to her.
Or maybe the clouds could reveal the future?
"The cloud reading will tell us if Mount Makapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt." a woman said, who had been close to them to hear their conversation.
Suddenly the man who had been attacked by the platypus bear stepped next to Ally, "We used to have a tradition once a year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves, but ever since Aunt Wu moved to the village twenty years ago we have a tradition of not doing that."
Ally nodded, this village must be one of the safest in the world with the Spirit of Destiny at its heart.
Sokka looked so annoyed its a wonder he didn't attack the man. "Do you even hear you're self?"
"Shhh!" Katara said, "She's coming."
Ally smiled at 'Aunt Wu' as the spirit in disguise walked up to the centre of the town and looked up at the sky. Ally watched in fascination as her great, great grandmother pronounced a good harvest, a good year for twins, and above all that the volcano will not destroy the village this year.
Ally clapped with the rest of the crowd and slipped away from her friends to walk next to Aunt Wu, "It must great to know that you keep this village safe." Ally said.
Aunt Wu smiled mysteriously, "All isn't as safe as it appears young one. Keep that in mind. Oh and if your still interested, the negative fighting class begins in an hour just down the road."
The Spirit of destiny disappeared into her home, leaving Ally bewildered and nervous. Frowning she walked away towards the negative jing fighting class.
"Ahh," said an old man with a round stomach and white beard. "Aunt Wu said you'd be joining this class for the day." He gestured to the floor that was scattered with pillows, where some children were sitting. "Come, take a seat."
Ally sat down on a yellow cushion in the middle of the small group. The lesson was nothing like her fun Nomad teachings, but it was okay. Most of the time they just dodged around attacks, occasionally blocking something they couldn't dodge.
Soon Ally was feeling pretty much happy that she wasn't such an offensive fighter anymore, but that didn't mean she'd resort to positive Jing when her friends were in trouble.
The teacher was actually happy to say that there was nothing wrong with using Positive jing when a Negative jing fighter, "As long as you don't intend to kill, that's what Negative fighting is all about."
She wasn't going to forget that statement anytime soon.
It was an hour passed midday that the lesson ended and Ally was walking to go and feed Snow-fire when Aang came walking up next to her.
"Ally, you're a girl." He started, Ally laughed.
"Well spotted, Aang."
Aang blushed, and looked at her pleadingly, "I – I didn't mean it that way – I."
Ally smiled at him, "relax Aang, I'm not mad at you. What's up?"
"Well I went to Sokka on girl advice," Ally kept a knowing smile off her face when Aang blushed, "and he said that the biggest mistake is… being too nice?" He said rubbing the back of his bald head looking confused as Ally raised a sceptical eyebrow. "It didn't work so… I was wondering, what do girls like?"
Ally tilted her head, "Well, my personality isn't really like the girl your thinking," Aang's eyes widened at her, Ally rolled her eyes, "Aang, do you honestly think I wouldn't notice how you blush and glance at her every couple of minutes?"
"Err…" Aang's eloquent response was; he was blushing of course.
"What about flowers?" Ally said kindly. "Its one of the most popular ways of telling a girl you like them without coming on too strong. I wouldn't mind at all if a boy gave me a flower to say he liked me."
Aang's brow furrowed, "I've never been in this part of the world before - I don't know what types of flowers grow here."
"Lucky for you I have," Ally smiled, "Sister Iio took me to a village like this one a few miles away from here and told me about the nature around these parts, mostly fruits and animals. My best bet is that you get a panda lily. It's by far the most attractive flower here and its smell is sweet, kind of like honey."
"Where do I get it?" Aang asked excitedly.
"Sister Iio said that it grows on volcanos." Ally said looking at the closest volcano that overlooked the village. Aang's gaze followed hers, Ally said "Give Sokka a good hit across the head from me." he looked at her in surprise, Ally smiled, "You can never be too nice. It's what girls look for, along with humour and other things."
"Thanks Ally!" Aang said, before running faster then the wind towards where Sokka was trying to convince a few villagers that Aunt Wu was wrong. Ally smiled after Aang's figure and laughed as he actually hit Sokka lightly over the head, she didn't think Aang would actually do that.
Deciding to meditate she sat down on a fallen tree on the edge of the village. Closing her eyes she let her soul explore nature, feel the forest in front of her, the dead tree beneath her and the lively insects in it, but something just wasn't right. The animals were too quite…. The forest should be full their noisy harmony … so why were they…
All isn't as safe as it appears young one. Keep that in mind. Aunt Wu's voice rang in her ears.
Ally reined in her awareness of life around her and opened her eyes with a worried look exploring the forest before her; the animals always knew when something big was going to happen. She stood up and focused, willing her vision to tell her the source of trouble. Her stormy blue eyes flashed a brilliant bright blue;
Ally looked at her outer body and looked at herself. She was blue in colour and slightly transparent. She started to concentrate even harder as she fought against the band that wanted to snap her back into her body. Then she didn't feel that tug, it was as if she was off a leash, she was pulled off through the forest and then up the volcano with dizzying speed, faster then an air bender, she couldn't control this at all. Bewildered Ally looked back as she passed Aang and Sokka, who were half way up the mountain.
She stopped just at the volcanos lip that was surrounded by Panda Lilies; she gasped, in the volcano was lava… This volcano was going to explode any minute! And Aang and Sokka were heading straight up it!
Ally slammed back into her body faster then flying bison snot.
Ally pulled out her staff and jumped into the air, spinning her staff open into glider mode she ignored her still healing wound on her stomach that throbbed painfully and pushed hard toward the volcano. "Aang! Sokka!" Ally shouted, she pushed air from her feet and zoomed forwards she landed in front of them, they looked bewildered.
"Ally?–" Sokka asked.
Ally cut him off, "Get off the volcano! It's going to erupt! Now! Now! Now!" She started pushing Aang and Sokka back down the mountain. "Go! No! No buts! Aang get on that glider and take Sokka! Warn the village! I'll do my best to stall the eruption."
Aang looked startled and tried to protest, and then the volcano started to shudder… Ally spun and was knocked backwards by the blast from the volcano top. Ally spun a wall of air around Sokka and Aang as ash pelted down on them.
She spun out of the shield and catapulted the two boys down towards the village. She turned back to the volcanos mouth, a hard, determined glare edged onto her face.
Ash and smoke belched from the mouth of the volcano and Ally found her self thinking quickly, how could she prolong the inevitable? She placed her staff in its holder that was slung over her back and pulled out her fans. It was then she noticed the totem poles aligning all the way down the mountain where the grass was, carved out of stone.
The volcano growled hungrily as more plumes and ash came forth, the earth trembled beneath her. She was currently standing on large boulders that shook violently. Ally jumped forward, practically fifteen meters away from the lips of the volcano, and thrust her fans out, trying to push the air against the rocks; they didn't move, she grunted and pushed harder. Finally they started to move bringing other boulders with them.
She pushed herself off the boulder she was on as the volcano roared again with a mighty blast, she looked back expecting to see lava but sighed in relief as only more ash came, she already out of its way when it came down on the place she was last standing. She glanced up and saw a large… skull being formed out of the clouds… How ironic.
She shook her head and turned to the matter at hand.
Getting a head of the boulders with the air scooter she began to sweep her fans in wide fast arcs and air sliced the bottom of the totem poles nearest her, and then pulled them in a collision course with the landslide she had created. She continued down the slope, cutting the totem poles that came down to the village and yanked them in the way of the place the molten rock was bound to come down, she took down the village stone gate too and pushed it up against the resistance she had made.
Suddenly Aang was with her and then on an air scooter of his own, "Shouldn't I be the one doing this?" He called at her over the rumbling of the violent volcano.
Ally blinked then grinned awkwardly, "I didn't give you a choice." She called back, too true.
Aang rolled his large gray eyes, "When I learn all the elements…" she heard him mutter. Then he shouted over the roar of the volcano, "I've got the villagers to dig a trench around the town! It's going to lead the lava into the river."
"Will it be deep enough in time?" Ally asked worriedly.
"I hope so." Aang said unsurely after a long pause. Then they were in front of the village's trench, they both hopped off the air scooters.
Ally looked at her work down the mountain. The largest block was where she stopped the landslide, and then the totem poles had fallen in arrows pointing up at the mountain for the lava flow to redirect too the sides of the village.
She hoped it was enough.
She grabbed a shovel and started to dig like crazy, ignoring her growing pain in the side of the stomach, manoeuvring her shovels dirt she disposed of the earth at the trenches inner side like every one else.
The volcano exploded again and Ally jumped into the air to see the lava slowly starting to spew over the volcanos brim. Cursing like a drunken sailor, Ally complied with Sokka's 'dig faster, dig faster' demands and pushed her arms faster with no air resistance.
Her stomach felt like it was on fire now; 'feel the burn,' Ally thought wryly with a attempted smile and winced as her healing wound began to bleed through her yellow top, 'great' she gritted her teeth, 'pain is a simple illusion of the mind,' she thought trying to meditate a little.
"Everyone needs to evacuate! We'll come for you when it's safe!" Aang said as he passed with his glider. Everyone ran towards safety but Ally jumped up with her staff and swung it around into glider mode and flew over to Aang.
"What do you think?" Ally asked as she looked at the approaching lava, her blocks were holding up well... but then the lava crawled over the top and Ally watched with a grimace as it did the same too the totem poles, the lava mostly diverted, but that was a lot of lava that was still approaching.
"We should land. Go to Sokka and Katara and cast a shield around them." Aang instructed.
Ally complied immediately, landing in front of Katara and Sokka and quickly dragged them away from the trench.
"Ally, what are you doing? Aang –" Katara began angrily but Ally wasn't listening, she was concentrating; already beginning to make a large dome around Sokka, Katara and her, building it up so she could resist lava, - water was one thing, liquid fire was a whole other story; the fact it was partly made out of thick molten rock was one of the reasons it was more difficult to protect yourself against.
Another explosion rocked the village, the buildings trembled. Flaming rocks began to assault the town, Ally bit her lip as they almost penetrated her shield. Ally looked at Aang as he rushed toward the trench a war cry on his lips; He lunched himself into the air collecting a large amount of air at his disposal, Ally looked at trench with growing horror; it was going to over flow…
Aang however, landed right in front of the lava and with air bending reared it up, then he collected all the air in his lungs, Ally winced; that had to hurt his lungs, then he unleashed his air breath, his breath cooling the lava to stone, forming a shield around the village.
Ally relaxed her shield and it dispatched, the three just stood there, watching as Aang assumed a meditation pose, settling his chi after such a display of air bending… Just like the Monks and Sisters had taught us to do.
Ally's eyes stung as the realization truly hit her, Aang was the Avatar. Aang, her best friend was meant to save the world. She realized that she had tried to shield Aang from his duty, when really she just needed to be there for him.
Ally rubbed her eyes, taking away the tears before anyone could see them. Aang was one step closer to losing his innocent nature, one more step to maturity; to becoming the leader he was always meant to be.
Ally ignored Sokka's remark and Katara's question; she always knew Aang was powerful and talented.
When the volcano died down and things became a little more peaceful again Ally walked up to Aang, "Oh, hey Ally," Aang said smiling, then he noticed Ally's expression. "What's wrong?"
Ally said nothing but yanked him into a hug, surprised Aang hugged back, and then tightened his hold. "We need to do something fun." Ally told him, releasing the hug. "Like pull a prank on someone; like old times."
Aang smiled in understanding, "It's been a while since we've pulled a prank." He grinned.
Ally kicked a stone lightly, "I was thinking; we're going to pass the Northern Air temple while going to the North Pole…"
Aang beamed, "It would be nice to visit them."
Ally grinned back, "We can play a prank on Tom." She said remembering that he taught the younger Nomads the teasing love song;
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 an innocently guilty face.
Ally smiled, "Yep, definitely Tom," She said nodding.
Aang looked at Ally strangely, "What did he do?" he asked.
Ally waved it off, "he just needs to be taught a lesson in not getting others to tease for him."
Aang looked amused, "He taught the younger ones the teasing love song, didn't he?"
Ally nodded mutely, Aang burst out laughing. Ally wasn't amused, but let it slide. Her eyes widened, "Oh, before I forget." Ally said, pulling off her shoulder bag, "while everyone was busy doing stuff after the eruption, I took the liberty of going to the nearest volcano and got these," Ally took out a large bunch of panda lilies that was tied in a blue ribbon, Aang looked surprised, Ally nodded towards Katara, who was packing supplies onto Appa's saddle, Ally handed the ribbon tied flowers over to Aang. "Good luck." She said.
"Thanks Ally." Aang grinned; then he looked over at Katara nervously. "But, I think I should wait, I don't think she likes me just as much as I do, at the moment anyway."
Ally nodded and looked at Katara thoughtfully, "Don't keep her waiting too long Aang." She clapped him lightly on the shoulder, and walked away to pack Snow-fires saddle.
Aunt Wu came over to her, "Ally, my dear, I have a feeling you'll need this." Aunt Wu handed her a small container the size of her thumb. Ally looked at the curious purple liquid; it smelled of strong smelling perfume of different smells all rolled into one, it was confusing and gave her a slight headache, and that was when the cork was still on it.
"Thank you." Ally said with confusion, "But why?"
Aunt Wu smiled mysteriously, "You never know when a stranger's gift comes in handy." She walked away.
Ally looked at the small container thoughtfully then back at the Spirit of Destiny with a small smile.
"By everyone!" Ally called as they took to the air, "Take care!"
Sokka leaned back and relaxed, "Finally were gone from that nutty village."
Ally and Katara shared a glance. "I liked it," Ally said, "Everyone was so positive. We should visit the place again when this is all over."
Katara nodded smiling. Sokka groaned, Aang laughed whole heartedly.
Ally yawned, "It's getting late," she said looking at the darkening sky; she leaped onto Snow-fire and lay down on her stomach, "We should get some sleep while it's still peaceful."
Sweet dreams didn't come to visit Ally that night though; the volcano erupting flashed through her mind and Aang bending the lava into a wall, then the picture went dark for a few moments before the scene lit up in an unearthly, red glow.
Below the air temples were on fire, the clouds stained with blood red, the sky an orange blur, the air sweltering hot, the harsh large flames consumed the Southern air temples, and the fleeing air nomad children were just above the horizon.
Suddenly the stained clouds were disturbed and Ally saw herself shoot through the air, her back turned to her, looking beaten and ragged, blood caked her clothing and her shoulder and foot was bleeding profoundly. Then lightning flashed and her body changed, Aang was floating there, Fire Lord Sozin shot through the clouds with a snarl, throwing a mountain sized fire storm at Aang.
Ally wanted Aang to run, flee with the other air children. She watched horrified as Aang fought with the fire lord Sozin, who's featured melted into that of an older Zuko without the scar, a simular haircut to Sozin but dark brown.
Fire Lord Ozai.
Ally gasped and bolted upright breathing heavily, she looked around desperately and saw Aang on Appa, looking at her in concern; Ally slumped down on Snow-fires furry head in immense relief.
"Ally?" Aang asked from his spot on Appa, "Are you okay? That must have been some nightmare."
Ally offered a shaky smile, "It's just a nightmare," A realization. Ally shoved that thought away.
"You want to talk about it?" Aang asked.
"It's what I fear the most," Ally muttered. Aang jumped onto Snow-fire's head and sat down next to her. He put a hand on her shoulder. How could she tell him that what she fears the most is him going up against Fire Lord Ozai? Ally sighed softly and wiped some sweat off her face. "I… Instead of me fighting Sozin during the comet," Ally closed her eyes and looked away, she couldn't bring herself to worry Aang, her best friend.
"Hang on!" Aang said, and then noticing Sokka's snore was disturbed, whispered, "You never said you fought Fire Lord Sozin during the comet. You sustained those injuries from him didn't you?"
Ally sighed again, but nodded. "Aang, there is a reason I was so fearful when you said that comet was coming back. That comet has the power of ten suns, the soldiers were more powerful then your average fire master, the fire lord was stronger then them all put together."
Aang's eyes were wide as plates. Ally cringed, but she needed to help him know, not shield him. "I don't want you to go through with that Aang, it's my biggest fear." She continued in a whisper. "I care so much about you that, if you were still back at the temple, and Sozin had found you… I'd have, and still would, gladly jump in front of you so you could live your life." Aang's grip on Ally's shoulder tightened, Ally continued, "I was glade you had left the temple before the attack, but I was scared, what if that sad excuse for a human had found you in that ice sphere? I never showed it to the others but, I was so scared."
She was pulled into a hug. "I'll never leave again, Ally," she heard him say; Ally closed her eyes to stop tears and hugged back, "I missed you too." He added.
Ally released her hold and smiled at him, "Thanks Aang."
"I'm not going to abandon anyone again." Aang vowed.
Ally shook her head, "you didn't abandon anyone Aang," she said firmly, "you needed time and space, there is a reason they tell the Avatar on their sixteenth birthday. It's so much pressure everyone puts on you. Then the Monks were going to take you away from me and Monk Gyasto, I'd have done the same if I were you."
Aang looked down at his hands, "A hundred years though, the world needed me and I wasn't there to protect them."
Ally understood, "You seek forgiveness. Aang, there is nothing to forgive! If you had stayed at the temple that night I'd have blasted your door down and drag you outside then fled with you and the other air nomads." Ally sighed remembering Sozin. "Though, we might have fought Sozin together, but I'd be worried about you all the while; the fight was vicious and not to mention painful. Then the Air Spirit came into the situation. I think this is the way it's supposed to be."
Aang nodded slowly with a sigh, "That's what Katara said."
Ally smiled, "Then I'm merely repeating past words." Ally saw Aang try to hide a yawn. "Get some sleep Aang; I'll keep Snow-fire and Appa on the right path."
"I might stay awake for a few more hours." Aang said.
Ally grimaced, the stuff she had said must have hit Aang hard.
"That's why you pushed us down the volcano to the town. Isn't it?" Aang asked as Ally watched the passing silvery gray clouds.
Ally smiled, "I can't bring myself to regret that, Aang. But it made me realize that no matter the out come, you'll have to stop this war, what terrifies me is that I might not be around to help."
Aang looked worried and sad, "Don't say that Ally. I don't think I could bare it if you…"
"Aang," Ally said softly taking his hand in both of hers, she looked him in the eyes. "Even if I die, I will never leave you, ever – and that goes for being alive too. I'm your friend and nothing will ever, ever, change that." Ally promised.