Destined Girl
Ch.11: Northern Air Temple
We were soaring into the clouds, on our way to the Northern Air Temple. Last night a storyteller told of a great story about his great-grandfather coming across man flying in the air, what only meant one thing. Airbenders.
The temperature dropped faster and faster every time we soared a mile. I began to feel myself shiver, I pulled out my blanket and wrapped it around me. The blanket hardly blocked out the cold breeze that the wind brought me. I tried to warm myself up by breathing into my hands and rubbed my hands together, fortunately it didn't work.
"Whew! Man I forgot how cold it can get up here" I said. Aang smiled. Katara looked at me.
"Are you going to be alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine" I said. "Thank god we visited that town few days back, I needed a new blanket"
She smiled. We made a pit stop at a town days back and I bought myself a better blanket since my other one was wearing down.
"Hey look!" Aang pointed out, we looked on and saw dots flying around like fireflies.
"Hey that man was right!" Sokka said. Aang sat back and crossed his arms.
"No they aren't" he said.
"Are you kidding me they're flying!" Sokka fought.
"Gliding maybe, not flying" he said. "They have no spirit"
All the sudden, someone soared above us as he had a joyous laugh.
"I don't know Aang," Katara said. "That kid seemed pretty spirited"
I smiled at the site. Aang soon got up and picked up his glider. He snapped it open and soon took off.
"Show 'em Aang!" I howled.
Aang flew in the air, naturally. It sometimes wished I had my own glider, I would love to soar those skies and fell that wind brush across me as I make series of movements, I'd laugh and smile at the wind kissing my face fiercely.
I noticed Aang took a landing while we followed closely on Appa. We landed on the entrance to the temple. I was astounded.
"I remember this place," I said as I looked at the brilliant structure of the temple, towers pointing up to the heavens and rocks budged against the towers. I looked at my brother. "We came here a lot when we were younger"
"I remember" he said. I chuckled, remembering the good times. The kid who nearly took off our heads earlier rode up to Aang in what looked like a wheelchair, I frowned a bit, feeling sympathy for the boy.
"I'm Teo" the boy introduced. He pointed to Aang. "You're really good"
"I know" Aang said, in a slight cocky tone. I rolled my eyes.
"You're the Avatar!" Teo pointed out. "I heard stories about you"
I walked up to my brother's side.
"And you too!" Teo said as he pointed at me. My face flushed as I looked at the boy, he had dark black hair, shaggy and messy, he also had chocolate brown eyes and pale skin. I smiled. "I heard that you fended off six fire nations soldiers on your own!"
I rubbed the back of my neck as I recalled that memory. Sokka came up to Teo and the glider that another man was holding.
"So you made this?" Sokka asked.
"No my father did" Teo said. I looked at Aang, his eyes were still showing sad and a bit of hurt. I set my hand on his shoulder and just gave him a smile, he smiled back, seeming most of his expression went away.
"Wow" Sokka said, impressed.
"If you like that, wait till you see the other things my dad invented" Teo said. He led us into the temple, the walls and tiles looked familiar but the spacing in the rooms caused the room to be foreign to me. Pipes and steam connected into the walls.
"Good God," I sad as the loud puffs of steam blew. "This room is so unfamiliar now"
Aang looked at me.
"We were born here," he told me. "We lived her for three years, it looks so different"
I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Been a long while," I told him. "A lot can change"
Aang looked around.
"Unbelievable" Aang stated .
"Great isn't it?" Teo boasted with an upbeat attitude.
"No just unbelievable" Aang said as he continued to walk. I looked around as Katara told Teo that Aang used to come here years ago.
"Well the place may change" Teo had began to say as he reached down and pulled up what looked like a hermit crab. "But the creatures here seem to like it"
Teo handed Katara the crab and I looked at it.
"Let me show you something" Teo said. We followed him to the sanctuary hall. We looked at ie.
"Well all be" I said as I put my hands to my hips. I snuck a glance at Teo. "Sure nice to see something still the same"
I looked at Aang, he admired the door.
"I always wondered whats inside" Teo said, dropping hints that I caught.
"Aang?" Katara asked in a soft and gentle voice. Aang bowed his head.
"I'm sorry," he said. He looked up at us. "I want this sanctuary to stay the same"
Good choice lad. I gave Aang a smile and he seemed to smile back at me, proud of his saying.
That day, I met Tero's father but Aang still seemed to be a little angry at this change. Well into the afternoon, I was given a glider to borrow. I snapped it open and tried my hand at is. I soared the air as Aang and Teo tried to convince Katara to try gliding.
As I soared in the air, the feeling was exilierating, I felt as if I was controlling the skies, it felt good to be in control I'll tell ya. I laughed a bit at this new experience. I heard Aang's shout.
"You're doing great Katara!"
I smirked as I took a sharp left and then dipped down a bit , the wind skimmed my face as my clothes and hair blew in the wind. My bangs were just barely covering my eyes. I couldn't help but keep grinning. I flew up and took a safe landing. I landed on my feet with a small thud and shut the glider. I still smiled. I walked up to Teo's father.
"Where'd you find this?" I asked. "It doesn't look like the others you brought out"
"Indeed" he told me. "It was my inspiration for my gliders"
"So you found this one?" I asked. He nodded. I handed it back to him but he lifted is hand up.
"Keep it" he said. "You need it now more than I do"
"Thank you" I said, really grateful, looks like I won't be riding on Aang's back anymore. I watched Aang and Katara about to land, they landed on the ground and Aang walked up with a large grin on his face. Teo rolled up to us.
"I've been thinking" Aang began to Teo. "If you want me to open the sanctuary door, I will"
Teo smiled as I put a hand on Aang's shoulder. We both joined in on our well known grins. We walked up to the sanctuary. Aang breathed deeping in front of the doors and sent air into the tubes that unlocked the door. The door opened as we walked in.
Once in, my jaw dropped, I clenched my glider harder in horror and just stared at the shocking display.
"Oh my god" I said slowly in complete shock and getting near anger.
Red. Red everywhere, deocrotating the room where spears, swords, daggers and everything else that represents the Fire Nation, including a big flag hanging on the walls.
"This is a nightmare" Aang said, just as horrified as me, maybe more.
My eyes were plastered on the insignia on the flag and I got closer to the weapons.
"You don't understand" came a pleading voice. We turned and saw Teo's father walking up to us.
"You make weapons for the Fire Nation!" Aang claimed, pointing his staff threatening at the man.
"Why?" I howled. "Why are you doing this?"
"When we sided here after the flooding of our village. The Fire Nation found out and wanted something in return or the worst would come, so the only thing I could offer was my services" The man explained. He looked at Teo, who looked away in shame of his father. "I did this for you"
We just walked away, we found Sokka and explained everything. He began to get furious.
"We can't let the Fire Nation do this" I told Aang.
"Well, what should we do?" Katara asked.
"We will stand our ground" I said, boldly. They looked at me. I felt a bit of worry pang at my heart. We, Aang and I, quickly found the Mechanist. We walked up to his office. He looked at us, looking at us with much shame.
"You need to stop giving the Fire Nation weapons" Aang told him.
"I can't" Teo's father said.
"Yes you can," I said. "You make weapons for murder, it's time to end that. Stand our ground"
"I know but-"
"Stand our ground" Aang repeated. "Stand your ground"
He looked at me, it was a cold silence. We all looked at each other.
"When are they coming?" I asked. He turned to a flickering candle light, it made series of pops.
"Soon," he said. He looked at us. "Very soon"
"Say no," I told him. He just looked at me. We heard a noise.
"Hide" he alarmed us. We quickly hid behind several big chests, huddling in a corner. I was crouched down, my eyes barely peaked over the top of the chest, but I could see the scene unfold. I held in my breath. The trapdoor open and in came a man dressed in the Fire Nation robes. I got lower and now I could vaguely see. We heard the bellowing voice of the Fire Nation man.
"We are here for our next order"
"Very well"
I glanced at Aang who glanced back at me.
"We need to do something" I mouthed. Aang sprung up and sent an attack at the man.
"You're leaving empty handed!" came Aang's declaring voice. I stood up and mad my way to my brother.
"Then let the destruction of the temple fall on your head!" the Fire Nation menace declared with a threatening finger. Aang airbent the door shut as the man left. I beamed at him.
We joined up with Katara and Sokka. We explained everything and they constantly looked at each other with feared looks like their faces.
"But we won't let this happen" Aang stated.
"Damn right we won't" I replied in agreement to my brother.
"How can we fight?" Sokka asked. "Clearly they'll outnumbered us if that man knows he's against the avatars"
"We have air," Aang pointed to the sky. "As long as we have air, we can fight"
"I want to help" came a voice. We turned and saw the Mechanist walking up to us.
"Good," Sokka said without hesitation. "We'll need it"
Everyone gathered in the office of the Mechanist as Sokka and him devised a plan, they would build a war balloon loaded with four types of bombs, fire, stink, smoke and slime. We would also create smaller bombs that we can throw while gliding in the air.
I was bored out of my mind during the explanation, so I let my mind wonder. All the sudden, a thought came to mind and my heart sank. I tightened my grip on my glider and clutched it with my other hand, holding it tightly with both hands. As Sokka and the man talked, the more my heart sank. Today I was going to fight dozens maybe hundreds of soldiers, Aang didn't seem afraid and he looked like he was ready…however I wasn't. I may be able to fight a few soldiers at once, but I nearly lost my life for that.
The explanation was finished and we all scattered. I created room in my sack as I loaded it with bombs and I held my glider, we all gathered at the runway. Aang and I stood next to each other, we opened our gliders when a young girl warned us.
"They're coming!"
I set the glider on my back, prepared to take off. Aang's eyes were furrowed and shot a soldier's glare before battle. I breathed in deeply and I finally was ready for takeoff. Before I took off, I looked to the sky.
"Please lord" I begged. I glanced over my shoulder. "READY!"
"Ready!" came the many replies. I looked at Aang and we nodded. I felt ready, my expression changing to "ready-for-battle" look. We turned to the horizon.
"NOW!" I roared. We all took off and attacked the air, Aang and I flew in front while the others were gliding behind.
I took a sharp right when fireballs came up, I glared at the infantry army as I leveled myself out. I threw a bomb down and that's how the battle raged on. After ten minutes, I threw my last bomb and looked at Aang.
"I'm all out!" I shouted. "Does Katara have any left?"
He shook his head. I sighed heavily.
"Great" I muttered. "Where's Sokka and the war ballon!"
We dodged a strong blast of fire.
"We don't know!" Aang shouted.
"I can get lower and attack head-on!" I told him, did I really just say that? I quickly added another line. "But I need support as soon as possible! We must make those infantry soldiers run!"
"I'll get Katara and Appa," Aang said. "You hold them off and we'll come to help!"
I nodded in agreement, I forced my glider down and soared parallel to the mountainous terrain. I jerked my glider slightly upwards when I got closer to my battlefield. I brandished my sword and narrowed my eyes. I still feared the worse however. I courageously held my glider with one arm. I prayed I wouldn't lose balance and fall. I swiftly lifted my blade and sent a chute of air at the enemy. I flew down lower, about six feet from the ground as I swung my sword violently, clanking and clashing them against the armor and weapons of the soldiers. I heard them roar at me as I found a big enough gap with no soldiers, I landed there. I shut my glider and twirled it feeling a lot like my brother at this moment, breaking down the fire balls launched at me. I fought with both weapons furiously, sending many flying and landed in the knee deep snow. I stopped fighting when I saw the worse coming at me. Fire Nation Tanks, and by the looks of it, I say about 30.
"Shit" I cussed under my breath, still trying to become regular. The tanks shot out chains, flying above me and latch onto the cliff side behind me. I inhaled and then exhaled as I lifted my sword. I slammed my sword against the chains, swinging my arm around as I used my other hand to air bend the chains away. They had no chance of groping onto the cliff, however I was losing my strength. I fought off three chains as a fourth one came, I could only turn my head but a fork of the chain slid against my eye, skinning it. Luckily my eye wasn't taken out. I howled in pain as I clutched my burning eye. I felt the wet droplets of blood as I released my hand, seeing the blood staining my pale skin. I didn't know how it was possible but I was cut, deeply. The cut, I later found out, came from the corner of my top eyelid to the bottom of my eye all together. My eye closed in time so my vision was harmed that much. I found the strength to fight again.
"SARO!" Aang shouted. I looked up, Aang was flying down on his glider, Katara right behind him on Appa. Appa fought off the other chains shooting out as Aang landed and ran up to me. He noticed my wound. "Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine" I told him. "It's just a cut"
He nodded as I caught a glimpse at the tanks. I looked at my brother.
"Those tanks are sending chains, trying to latch onto those cliffs" I told him. A chain came back at me and I swung my sword against it, sending the claw to be buried in the snow.
"We need to stop them somehow" Katara said. I snapped my fingers, this was an old trick I remembered from America. Water would always conquer machines. I looked at her.
"Try waterbending" I told her. She looked at me, bewildered. "Just try it, Aang infantry soldiers are having another go, I need help"
"Sokka isn't here yet" Katara exclaimed.
"Then we'll have to hold 'em off until he does arrive!" I shouted. I looked at Aang. "We have to try"
"Geez Saro," Aang said. "I didn't know you had this much courage in you"
"I'm your sister Aang," I added playfully. "I think I know a few courage tactics"
He smiled. He was right though, I didn't really know I had in me. I felt as if I was taken over by the soul of a soldier. Katara tried to freeze the tanks down as Aang and I airbent and waterbent simultainously. We jumped, we kicked, we dodged, we fought together in sync. You'll hear that word a lot during all of this. We continued to fight as I saw a shadow casted over us, blocking out the burning sun. We looked up and smiled were painted on our faces. The war balloon. Sokka. Sokka unleashed the bombs, cutting the ropes with his machete. The bags fell onto the army one following the other. My smile slowly faded as I saw the left over men forming another round through the smoke.
"No" I whispered. I got into a fighting stance, Aang following me. I narrowed my eyes just as I heard Sokka's bellow to escape. We scurried unto Appa's back and took off. I slid my sword back into my sheath as I saw the fuel tank from the balloon plunging downwards. It slammed into the big gap splitting the army and soon ignited, creating a large smoke cloud and I jerked my head downwards, fending myself from any fallen debris. The smoke cleared as I saw the remains of the attackers flee back down the mountain. We claimed victory. "Look at 'em run!"
"We're going down!" came Sokka's pleating shout. Aang jumped off Appa, and flew outwards to the falling balloon. Katara took over Aang's reins to land us. I jumped off Appa once we hit the ground. Aang came back with Sokka and the Mechanist hanging on for dear life on a thin rope. Aang landed and everyone erupted in cheers. I planted a firm hand on my brother's shoulder, shaking him slightly as a sign of good work. He smiled.
Later that day, we prepared to take off. Katara had healed my wound until it was only a scar, it hurt slightly however and it was going to be a lifelong scar. I was standing at the cliff, taking in the beautiful surroundings as I held my glider by my side. It was my first real encounter with over hundreds of soldiers, not eight but may be a hundred. I felt a bit guilty for fighting but I was the Avatar, what could I do? I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked to the side and saw my brother.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned tone. I nodded.
"I'm fine" I told him. I turned my head back to the serene area, fog running along the mountain tops. "Just relieved I made it through"
"You know it's going to get worse" He announced.
"Somehow I know that" I said as I turned to face him, I smiled slightly.
"You can really fight Saro," he told me. "And not just one on one"
I looked at him.
"With your sword and bending and my bending skills," he said subtle. "We can win"
He removed his hand and cleared his throat.
"Let's get going" I told him. We climbed aboard Appa and waved good-bye to everybody. We flew off in the horizon as I snuck a glance at Aang. He was right.
With my sword and bending skills, and his bending skills, we can win.
To be continued.