Chap. 20

The Final Gathering

Aire looked up at the mountaintop above and sighed. Despite all his efforts this morning, his destination was still damningly far away. The winds blew hard, as he shivered and wrapped himself in his cloak. He had been traveling up this mountain for almost two days, after his long travels through the Earth Kingdom. He'd separated from Hierro almost as soon as the two were out of sight from the rest of the Army, and had started flying north, to the very northernmost point of the Earth Kingdom, one that nearly bordered the North Pole. Once he'd arrived, he had begun asking the few that lived in these cold lands about the mountain ranges he knew that he had to find. Finally, one family had pointed him in the direction of the range that led to Mt. Kilijimo, the tallest mountain in these parts. Despite the cold, Aire smiled briefly as he remembered the warnings he'd heard as he'd left, that Kilijimo was haunted and that the spirits would not tolerate intrusion onto their sacred mountains. The falcon had replied that he had nothing to fear from the dead.

No, what Aire feared now was the wrath of the living. As he leaned on his staff and continued to climb up the winding mountain trail, the falcon thought about what he was going to do if he was successful. He had been sent here to find the last part of the Army, a difficult task in itself. But Aire believed that he would be able to accomplish his task. Over the course of his journey, his mother Aeris, Architect of the Winds, had visited him in his dreams. She had told him about those he was searching for and how to deal with them. With her guidance and the instruction from his brothers, Aire believed himself reasonably confident that he would be able to succeed, as long as he followed the path they had given him. Left to his own devices, Aire knew that he would make some immature mistake, which was always his greatest fear. He hated to be seen as a child by his siblings. Unfortunately, he was the youngest in mind if not body, and it was a title he had a difficult time escaping. He had caused many problems through his relative immaturity, and he knew that he had the capability to cause one more if he was successful. He knew that Aang would have a difficult time accepting what Aire was doing, and that he might not ever forgive him for the secrecy involved.

"But what else could I do?" Aire wondered aloud, as he continued to slog up the trail. There was so much danger involved in this venture for everyone involved. Everything hinged on the Army being ready and without these people, it could not happen. Aire's journey required even more secrecy that the others' did, because his was a journey that no one would even suspect. And to keep it that way, no one could know about it.

Aire sighed again, and paused to rest his body against the mountain, as he looked to the top. The thoughts in his head were tiring his mind as much as the journey was tiring his body. If this had been another quest, he might've just flown up to the top and gone from there. But flight was too risky. If he was seen, then his journey would have been all for naught. So he was forced to travel on foot, no matter how long it would take.

"Why couldn't I have just asked someone else to do this?" the falcon muttered. "Des could've just turned into sand and gotten up. Or someone could've flown Appa…. Aw, what am I saying?" Shaking his head, Aire began to push and get back to his feet. But as he left the stone wall, Aire suddenly heard a strange clicking noise. Before he could react, the wall suddenly flipped around, throwing the falcon inside the mountain with a thud. He landed hard on the ground, his cloak flipping in front of his face. With a grunt, he pulled it off, and saw that he was inside a large cavern, that was strangely lighted and warm. As he got to his feet, he looked around in wonder at the torches and stalactites all around him. However, his wonder was not enough to prevent from hearing the footsteps coming towards him.

Time to get to work. He thought to himself. With a simple thought, he altered his shadow-magic disguise to present him as a young Earth-Kingdom man of the region. He slipped his staff under his cloak, just as two men entered the cavern. They were dressed in dark red and gray outfits, and carried long spears in their hands. Seeing Aire, they pointed their weapons at him, as the taller of the two barked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't know this place w-was h-here." Aire stammered, doing his best to act fearful of these two men. "I-I was just t-traveling up the mountain to find a b-birds' nest, t-to get f-food for my f-family. I-I swear, t-that's all!"

"Your name?" the tall one asked again.

"M-My name is Reiu. Please, d-don't hurt me sir."

"I think he's ok." The bearded, shorter man said. "He seems earnest and terrified."

"We can't take the chance." The taller man snapped. "If he leaves and tells others about this place…"

"I-I swear sir, I won't t-tell a soul." Aire said, as he fell to his knees in 'fear.' "I swear it on my honor. No one would ever believe me anyway."

"See, he's promised." The bearded man said. "Let's just let him go. Besides, he's right. Who would believe him?"

"Someone who could destroy us!" the taller man snapped. "We have not survived this long by being careless. We will take him to the mistress and allow her to judge him. Prepare him."

The bearded man nodded. Lowering his spear, he walked forward to Aire, who knelt there trembling.

"Don't worry, it'll be ok." He said, as he pulled something from his back pocket. "The mistress is a good and fair lady. I'm sure she will let you go free, once she has heard your story. But to take you to her, I need to blindfold you. Is that all right?"

Aire nodded, and the man stepped behind him and drew a cloth over his eyes. As he helped Aire to his feet, the falcon continued to tremble, but inside, he was smiling that everything was going to plan.

The two men led Aire through a long stretch of cavern, making various left and right turns as they moved through the twists of the cave. The bearded man stayed with him, helping him over the holes and stalagmites, while the taller man yelled at them to hurry. Aire kept up his act the whole way, making sure to seem frightened and overwhelmed the whole way. Fuego had taught him very well before leaving, and the falcon had taken everything to heart. Finally, the shorter man pulled him to a halt, and said, "We're here." Aire felt hands at the back of his head and then the blindfold fell away, revealing their destination. Aire looked out upon a huge hollowed out area of the mountain, at least five times as large as the cavern he'd entered through. But what was truly impressive was all the lighted windows the falcon saw in the rock walls, and all the homes they were connected to. As Aire watched, he saw people climbing in and out of their homes and moving about the caves. They were all dressed identically to the two men the falcon had encountered, and they were all of different ages.

"I never imagined…" Aire began, but then the tall man pushed him forward. "Come on, the mistress is waiting." He snapped, as they began to move forward again. Aire looked around at everything as they moved past. He saw that this region was not simply a hollowed out mountain, but rather a city in itself. There were people selling food at stands. There were people cleaning out their homes. Families walked everywhere, and children roamed the street. The falcon was truly amazed that so many people could have survived within the mountains. But as he walked forward, something else took his attention. Before him, there was a huge doorway carved into the stone wall, decorated with various designs. Around it, there were windows, awnings, and even balconies.

"This is where the mistress lives." The bearded man said. "Give us a moment and you'll be able to meet her."

"Goody." Aire said, as the tall man moved to the side of the door. Knocking on it three times, he then stepped back as the doorway opened with a rumble. The trio walked inside, as Aire was lead through a variety of elegantly carved rooms. Finally, he was led to one room in particular, one that was large and spacious, decorated with many different banners and symbols. A group of men stood in front of them, discussing something with an unseen figure. The tall man stepped for and said, "Mistress! We have brought an intruder for you to judge!"

Almost instantly, the men before them stopped speaking, then moved away, as the two men bowed in respect. But Aire just stared straight ahead. In front of him was a stone throne, and sitting on top of it, was a young girl dressed in red and yellow. She looked to be about fifteen to sixteen years old, with purple hair that was tied into a ponytail. Aire also noticed with some discomfort that she bore a rather strong resemblance to Azula.

"Does something about me surprise you?" the girl asked suddenly, breaking Aire's gaze.

"Well, with all due respect,….. you're the leader of these people?" Aire asked.

The girl chuckled and said, "My, I've never heard that one before. Yes, I am, now that my father has passed on. Now, I have a question for you. What are you doing in our realm?"

Aire quickly related the false story of how he had come to the mountain, emphasizing that he had arrived here by accident. The girl listened intently, her eyes narrowing as she thought it all over. When Aire finished, she sat back in her throne and said, "I believe your story Reiu. You seem far too meek to be an enemy. I will allow you to leave, but first, I need your vow that you will not tell any of what you have seen."

"I promise, mistress, that I will never tell a soul of you or your people." Aire said humbly.

"Mistress, I must argue with this." The tall man said. "We know nothing about this man, or his true intentions."

"What do you propose then, Huin?" the girl asked. "It is beyond dishonorable to kill him. We have given our word to uphold life, and we cannot abandon that vow. This man has given us his word, and we must take him on it. Fear not, he will be given the treatment."

"Treatment?" Aire asked.

"Our monks learned long ago how to affect the mind. You will be taken to them, and put through their tests. If you pass, then they will wipe this place from your mind."

"But… then why did you bring me here? Why did you….."

"Because otherwise you would've been imprisoned here. I may believe you, but I know I can be wrong. And my people and I have not survived this long by being careless." The girl said. "You will be fine. Although, the monks have, on occasion, wiped a few other memories away, but those were all accidents. Now, take him to them."

Huin grabbed Aire and began to drag him out of the room. Aire knew then that this was his time to act.

"Wait! I do know things I'm not telling!" He yelled as he was dragged out. Looking back at the girl, he said, "Like your name- Malu, the Ghost Witch!"

The men by the throne gasped, as the newly named girl's eyes widened. "Stop!" she called out, and Huin halted in his steps. Malu jumped off her throne and moved over to the falcon.

"How do you know me?" she asked.

"You've been known around these parts for years." Aire answered. "Ever since you were a child, you've stayed around these mountains, frightening travelers away. No one ever saw you, but they always heard the horrible screech of a woman. And so they named you-Malu, Ghost Witch, a woman who had died on the mountains and sworn to destroy any who invaded her lands. But I didn't hear that from the people here."

"Then who told you?" Malu hissed.

"The same person who told you about me." Aire answered again, looking right into the girl's eyes this time. "You seen her before. A woman, dressed in white robes. Short white hair. Eyes that seem almost colorless, they are so pale. You know whom I speak of. You've dreamed about her for almost a week now."

Malu stared at Aire hard, no longer out of anger and surprise, but with a strange kind of reverence. "She told me he would come in the form of a traveler would come. She said that he would bring with him power undreamed of, and a new chance for my people." She whispered. "Are you…"

"I am." Aire whispered back. He opened his hands, and suddenly a blast of wind erupted around him, blasting Huin back. He flew into the wall with a thud, as the falcon ended the shadow-spell, and revealed himself to Malu.

"I am Windrider." He said, standing at his full height. "Son of Aeris, Goddess of Wind, Knight of the Air."

Malu and her five advisors gasped, and then instantly fell to their knees in worship. But Aire said, "Raise, Malu. I am not one to be worshipped, believe me."

Malu slowly came to her feet, and said, "I am sorry. I did not know. I didn't believe….. even though my father….."

"He was a good man." Aire said. "He always believed that one day, my mother would come and liberate you. I am sorry it took so long."

"If you do come from Aeris, what is her message?" Malu asked.

"Your people have been in this mountain for decades." Aire said. "Today, I am offering you a chance to leave, and regain the place in the world the Fire Nation stole."

"And how do you plan to do that?" One of the advisors asked.

"The Avatar."

There was silence a moment, then a hard, dark laugh from behind them. Aire turned to see Huin standing near the impact crater.

"What Avatar are you speaking of?" he sneered. "The last Avatar was slaughtered with the Airbenders. The cycle has long been broken."

"So it was believed." Aire said. "But the Avatar run away from the temple before the attacks. He was trapped in a storm and frozen in the waters of the South Pole until a few months ago. He is almost ready to lead the final attack on the Fire Nation, but he needs your help."

"What help could the Avatar possibly need, if he is alive?" Huin asked.

"Silence Huin!" the bearded guard yelled suddenly, sidestepping his friend. Looking at Aire, he asked, "What do you need from us?"

"I need you." Aie replied. "I am not the only Knight here. We have been helping the Avatar to form an Army the world has never seen- the Army of the Avatar. It is formed of Waterbenders, Earthbenders, even Firebenders. And they are all against the Fire Lord. I came here to ask that your people come and join this army."

"Are you mad?" one the advisors said suddenly. "You ask for us to align ourselves with Firebenders?"

"I have to concur." Malu said. "What you are proposing is dangerous for my people. Survival has been difficult for us, and I cannot participate in something that may destroy us."

Aire paused here, surprise on his face. The falcon had expected that the words of his mother and his presence here would be enough to convince these people to join. But now, he would have to think of something and think of it quickly. Looking at Malu, he cleared his throat, and began to speak, hoping that what came through would be enough.

"Malu, you're right. I am asking you to put your people in danger." Aire began. "But I am also asking if you really want to spend the rest of your life inside this mountain. I know this place is safe and comforting to you. But it is not where you belong. You belong out in the world, experiencing everything that is there is. I am offering you a chance to go out into the world, to take back what the Fire Nation took from you. The Avatar has suffered the same losses as you, but he is still fighting. He still believes that he can help the world over himself. And I promise you, if you come with me, if you join this Army and battle the Fire Lord, that you will receive all that was taken from you. You will find the peace you once knew."

"I ask you now," he continued, turning to face all those in the room. "Do you want that peace again? Do you want to see the world again?"

"Then I ask, what say you?" he asked again, looking at Malu now. "What say you?" he asked again, stronger this time. Malu looked at him a moment, then looked at her advisors, then, with a new look in her eye, said….