No reviews again, and that doesn't make me a happy man. Either way, I'm about to wrap up this story. This is the second last chapter on the major character, with one more to go before all the characters I want to have addressed are addressed. Let's see if I get better luck in reviews in this chapter.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
Aang's POV
"The needle on this compass doesn't seem to be pointing north, according to my charts," Katara's voice cut in through the breezes I was shooting out. We had this idea of going into the Si Wong Desert in the Earth Kingdom to search for a sunken library, where we found out that a solar eclipse was about to happen this summer. Given that fire benders would lose their abilities to control their element without the sun, we felt it was the perfect time to attack them. With this new information at hand, we were intent on going to the Earth Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se, to inform the Earth King, and hopefully got his support for the effort.
Unfortunately, we ran into a slight problem, as Appa's dislike of dark, cramped spaces meant he had to stay outside the library. Toph stayed outside with him, but ended up having to take her attention off Appa when the spirit in charge of the library, Wan Shi Tong, decided we were misusing his knowledge and sank that place in the sand. While Toph tried to prevent the library from sinking, sand benders came and took Appa away. Words could not describe how devastated I felt when I found out what happened, and I ended up saying some things to Toph that I really shouldn't have said. I knew Toph didn't like Appa in the beginning, but was I going a bit overboard when I accused her of purposely letting Appa be stolen?
But even though we were lost in the middle of the desert, with no food or water and only an abandoned sand sailer as our way of getting out, I didn't feel myself calming down. Even when Toph and Katara were excited about seeing a huge rock, thinking maybe they could find some water there, I could only respond in a murmur, "Maybe we can find some sand benders." Even though I knew it was against my beliefs, I had the sudden urge to put a hurting on those guys. Nobody ought to take away the ones I loved the most, especially Appa.
By the time we reached that rock, it was already daybreak, meaning the scorching temperatures were about to return. Katara was the one who suggested we traveled at night to avoid the heat, and I was impressed at how calm she was during the entire situation. While Toph was disabled with the shifty sand, and Sokka was intoxicated by drinking cactus juice, Katara was the only one with her sanity intact. But again, in my anger, I ended up snapping at her as well, blowing her off when she requested that I flew up to a cloud to absorb some water for her. Hello, it was a desert cloud? Did she expect to have a lot of water in that thing?
But either way, this experience was by far the hardest thing I ever had to go through, even harder than leaving the monks at the Southern Air Temple. Whereas that was something I chose to do with my own freewill, this one I had no control over. The sand benders ambushed Toph at the most unfortunate time, and led to Appa being taken away. At any point in time, someone could have done something to prevent it from happening. Toph could have came in to fetch us, Toph could have released the library and fought the sand benders herself, we could have come out faster rather than wasting our time fending off Wan Shi Tong. Whatever the case, it was totally preventable, and if I ever found the sand benders, they would pay for stealing Appa.
Katara found a cave for us to go into, hoping to find some water in here. The dark and damp feel to the cavern did indicate some moisture, but I doubted there was enough for all of us. Sokka had to lick some weird substance sticking onto the walls, and Toph claimed there was something unusual about this cave. "Something's coming for us," she stated, sounding uncertain. Squinting deeper into the cave, I could only wonder what was in store for us.
We waited no further to make an escape, as a line of Buzzard Wasps zipped out after us. Apparently, this was a Buzzard Wasp nest, and we weren't exactly welcome visitors. We were entirely helpless as Sokka was still too woozy to fight, and Toph had trouble attacking things that were in the air. With Katara out of water, the only thing we could do was make a run for it. My heart pounded as I gathered everyone, hoping to make it out of here in one piece.
But before I could even react, a Buzzard Wasp dove in and snatched Momo. As the wasp flew off into the distance with Momo squirming under it, I felt a sudden surge of anger through me. I already lost Appa, and I wasn't intending to lose another being. I didn't care what that wasp was thinking when it snatched our lemur, but I was intent on getting Momo back. Telling Katara to go on without me, I flipped open my glider and took to the air.
I had tunnel-vision like never before as I focused solely on the Buzzard Wasp holding Momo, pushing my glider to limits never seen before as I sought to get the lemur back. Why was everything around me trying to take away those that I cared about? First Appa, then Momo? Enough was enough, as I flew underneath the wasp, flipping my glider so that I faced the bottom of the creature. With a high kick, I whipped a blast of air at it, slamming straight at the Buzzard Wasp, who could do nothing more than flutter away while releasing Momo from its grasp.
But somehow, I wasn't satisfied with just letting the wasp go. Even though my mind urged my body not to do it, I landed on the sand and pulled my staff back. I really wanted to teach that Buzzard Wasp a lesson for taking Momo, and before I could even control myself, I sent a blast of air straight at the wasp. The air slice sailed into the sky and slammed into the wasp, sending it spiralling into the ground and landing in the sand. I wasn't sure how injured it was, nor did I care. Right now, I was on the warpath, and I didn't know how much it would take to stop it. Seriously, if that wasp became too hurt, I doubted the monks would forgive me.
When I returned to my friends, it was a whole new story, as a group of sand benders arrived at the nest. It took every ounce of energy, plus some of Katara's own special skills, to prevent me from going ballistic on these filthy beings. I was willing to bet one of them took Appa, and did all sorts of unspeakably horrible things to him. If anyone of them dared to harm a hair on Appa's head, I would make sure they got a beat-down that they would never forget!
Luckily for them, Katara tried to keep everyone calm, explaining to the sand benders that we found the sand sailer abandoned in the desert, and were using it to get out after Appa was stolen. I didn't care for their small talk, instead looking around the equipment the sand benders brought just to see if there were any traces of Appa. One of the younger sand benders wasn't too happy that we were telling them about Appa being stolen. Hey, if you were so upset about it, why didn't you go to your buddies and find him for me then?
But Toph unleashed a bombshell, claiming the younger man who spoke was the one who took Appa. Hearing that, I didn't want to hear another word coming out of anyone's mouths. Clutching my staff, I stalked up to the sand benders. "You stole Appa. Where is he? What did you do to him?" I demanded, glaring at the cowering sand benders.
The sand bender Toph identified refused to answer directly, claiming that we were the thieves who stole their sailer. So he didn't want to do it the easy way, then how about doing it the hard way. Turning to one of their sailers, I blasted it to bits with an air slice. The longer they would stall, the more sailers I would destroy. The worst case scenario was that they would be stuck in the desert with us, and that would force them to give Appa back to me in order to get everyone out safely. How much longer could you stall now?
Then, the last straw came when Toph made one more accusation, claiming she heard the young man saying he wanted to put a muzzle on Appa when he captured my bison. If taking Appa from me wasn't bad enough, now he had to tie him up like a prisoner? Did these sand benders have no decency? "You muzzled Appa?" I screamed, feeling my emotions take over my body. There was no doubt about it, the Avatar State was about to come out.
The young man was really stammering now, claiming he sold Appa to a merchant, and that he was probably in Ba Sing Se now. The sand benders even offered to escort us out of the desert, but did that matter? The fact that Appa was in the hands of some stranger who probably had no idea how to handle him, and was putting him through immense pain, was too much for me to handle. Dropping the staff, I felt myself hovering into the air, my mind no longer in control of my body anymore as winds whipped around me, sandblasting everyone nearby. If they didn't treat Appa well, then they would pay the ultimate price.
I couldn't see where anyone was at this time, the sand swirling too violently for me to locate them. But before I could do more, I felt a hand latch onto my wrist. I turned around to see Katara standing below me, her face emotionless and stoic as she pulled me back to the ground. Without saying a word, she pulled me into a tight embrace, almost like she was coaxing me out of the Avatar State. Even though I was still an emotional wreck, I could feel the tension easing, at least to the point where I was no longer on the path of destruction.
By the time the Avatar State subsided, I let my tears flow freely from my face, sobbing loudly into Katara's arms as she held me close. My legs were so weak that I could barely stand, and almost had to be dragged by Katara aboard the sand benders' sailer. It must have been really pathetic to see the Avatar in this state, but when you just lost the one you bonded with for your entire life, you couldn't help but feel powerless. Now, the only thing I could hope for was that we could get to Ba Sing Se, where we could hopefully find Appa, and informed the Earth King of the solar eclipse. If there was a low point in my Avatar career, I would say this was it.
Aang's POV
"You know, it's okay to miss Appa," Katara's soft voice echoed in the night. It had been a few days since the incident at the desert, and I wasn't feeling any better about the situation. I realized that my Avatar State reappearing really shocked my friends, to the point where they were avoiding talking about Appa like a disease. I had to admit that thinking too much about Appa was bad for the entire team, as we had more important things to deal with, such as getting to Ba Sing Se. Because of that, I just pushed Appa's issue aside, burying it deep within my mind and wouldn't deal with it at any cost.
"What's going on with you?" Katara asked again, "In the desert, all you cared about was finding Appa, and now it's like you don't care about him at all." That comment did touch a nerve with me, as Katara seemed to be hinting that my priorities somehow changed. To an extent, it was true, as on our way to Ba Sing Se, we met this family of refugees who planned on taking a ferry there. At the terminal, we also ran into Suki, who offered to join us in guiding the refugees through the Serpent's Pass when they lost their passports and tickets. Staying overly hopeful about finding Appa would be fruitless now, as the refugees' safety was our first priority. Besides, the Serpent's Pass entrance had a sign that told us to "abandon hope." Staying hopeful didn't bring Appa back, and it sure wouldn't get us to Ba Sing Se.
But regardless of the situation, I had to address Katara's point. She had been supportive of me from the first day, and I at least owed her an explanation. "You saw what I did out there. I was so angry about losing Appa I couldn't control myself. I hated feeling like that." I responded to Katara. Usually, her presence was very comforting, but for some reason, her words weren't getting through to me today. It was making this conversation more awkward by the second.
"I know sometimes it hurts more to hope, and it hurts more to care," Katara continued, "but you have to promise me that you won't stop caring." On any other day, I would be the first to agree with Katara. She had been the most caring person I had ever met, and she was the one to establish that one of my roles as the Avatar was to always be caring. Heck, even the monks told me that I had to care for all life, so why wouldn't I take her side on this?
But today, I just couldn't find it in me to care. It wasn't the case that it hurt more to care, but that caring and hoping brought me all the pain in the world. I cared for Appa, and I hoped every day that Appa was back by my side again, but I knew it wouldn't happen. Even when Katara offered me a hug, I couldn't find it in me to accept. Giving her a curt bow, I wandered back to camp and away from the cliff. The moon shone brightly enough that I could still make my way out, but it felt like I was being put as centre of attention right now. Why was it that I couldn't even deal with my problems in my own way?
I didn't speak to Katara or anyone else about this issue for the rest of the night. By morning, we were ready to move on, taking everyone, including the family of refugees, across the Serpent's Pass once more. There was a small section that led underwater, and that was when Katara and I had to work together. Normally, I would jump at the opportunity to water bend with her, but this time I did so almost begrudgingly. I had no idea why it was eating away at me like this, even when I didn't want to talk about Appa anymore. It felt like the more I avoided the issue, the more it was tearing at me from inside. The monks always said to push aside our attachments, and tried not to tackle something head-on if there was an alternate path. So if I was feeling like this, then were the monks wrong, or was I doing it the wrong way?
But any further progress on the underwater section of the pass would have to wait, as the namesake of this pass just showed up. Watching a gigantic, green-scaled, hissing water beast snarling at us wasn't exactly what we had in mind, and I had to do something to deal with this. After I lost Appa, I promised myself I wouldn't lose anyone else again. Toph blasted us out of the water by elevating the rocks we were standing on, but the family of refugees, including the pregnant woman, had to go first. Grabbing my staff, I flipped it into a glider once more. "I'll distract it. Katara, get everyone across," I instructed my group.
I lifted off into the air, flying around in random formations and hoping the Serpent would focus only on me and not anyone else. Everything went well until Katara jumped into the water, hoping to help me with the monster. She first tried to freeze it in place, but the sheer size and strength of the beast made that move unsuccessful. Even when we tried to pull it away from the ice bridge Katara created, it managed to smash the ice to bits. Figuring there was no way to stop the Serpent unless it was demobilized, I had to think of something drastic.
Sticking my staff into the water, I raced around the Serpent in a circle, hoping to trap it in a whirlpool. Just like when I was rescuing Momo in the desert, I had tunnel-vision to the extreme as my mind focused only on the beast. To me, failure was not an option, as no other life ought to be lost because of these senseless and perfectly preventable situations. It was either this Serpent stopped its pursuit of our group, or I would stop it myself. Luckily, Katara was here to help me out, making the whirlpool stronger and faster. Before long, the Serpent was trapped in the vortex.
Soon enough, the Serpent wore itself out in its attempt to escape. It carried too much momentum and slammed its body along the mountainous pass, knocking itself out and leaving us to be on our way. As we moved past the final parts of the pass, I thought a bit about the earlier battle against the Serpent. Just like what happened in the desert, I didn't feel any fear or regret about taking that action. I couldn't quite explain why, but when I was creating that vortex, it was like my mind was no longer in control of my body, as I was merely acting out my actions in an emotionless way. Had I become that desensitized to the world that I was reacting to nothing anymore? Even if it were my goal to push my feelings aside, why did I feel so empty then? The situation was getting more and more confusing, and I was powerless to stop it.
But I had no time to dwell on that thought, as Ying, the pregnant woman within the group of refugees, was about the give birth. I was nothing more than a spectator as Katara took charge of everything, ordering me to get rags while Toph created an earthen tent for her to tackle the delicate operation of delivering a baby. I was still in my dazed, somewhat-hypnotized state, not sure what to do or think as I followed Katara's orders. Just as I stepped into the tent with the rags, I heard Katara call to Ying, "Get ready to push: one, two, three!"
Just then, the most beautiful sight came into the world, as Ying delivered a baby girl. Seeing the birth after all that we had been through suddenly put everything I experienced in the past few days into perspective. Even though these refugees went through all this hardship, trying to escape the war by taking this dangerous journey to Ba Sing Se, they still refused to give up hope. And now, if we succeeded in winning the war, their baby would be among the first people to grow up in a peaceful environment in a century. Despite all the losses they had, having to leave their homeland just to be safe, they still chose to soldier on, even though they could have given up at any time. If these regular folks could do it, then how come I, the Avatar, couldn't? Was I truly trying to be strong by bottling up my emotions and refusing to address the issue with Appa? Or was I just running away again, even though I swore I wouldn't run away anymore?
I felt tears pouring from my eyes as Ying told me she wanted a special name for the baby. It was then that I told her my story. "I've been going through a really hard time lately," I began, thinking back to the desert incident, "but you've made me hopeful again." Perhaps this birth was representative of the rebirth that was going through me, telling me that even though there were still hardships, it was possible to overcome them. If I could get through this incident with Appa, that meant I could get through any situation.
After everyone had a chance to clean up and saw the baby, which the family named Hope, I pulled Katara aside for a private talk. I truly regretted the nasty way I spoke to her last night, and was hoping at least she would understand what went on inside my mind. "I thought I was trying to be strong, but really I was just running away from my feelings," I described, "Seeing this family together, so full of happiness and love, it reminds me of the way I feel about Appa, and how I feel about you." Katara might not know it from the way I behaved around her in the last few days, but I still cared deeply for her. There was no one in the world more supportive than her, and the way I acted in reaction to her was downright irresponsible.
None was more overjoyed than I when Katara returned my gesture, pulling me into that hug that I rejected last night. I realized that we could never stop caring or hoping, and that reaching for something that might seem impossible was a part of life. Perhaps, if I could find Appa in that city, I could truly tell Katara how I felt about her, as I could feel my admiration and respect for her grow stronger by the day. She was solid as a rock when she guided us through that desert, and she was passionate and kind when she told me to not lose hope. I would never forget her words as I continued to do my very best in fulfilling my duties as the Avatar, and I would never hesitate in inspiring others to keep hope along the way.
Aang's POV
"You're Guru Pathik, right? The person who attached the note to Appa's horn?" Nothing made me happier than when I found Appa again after arriving at Ba Sing Se. It wasn't easy for us, as we had an invasion of Ba Sing Se via the Fire Nation's large mechanical drill on the first day. This was followed by more interruptions, such as the secret police known as the Dai Li, and our very annoying guide Joo Dee, but none of them weirder than when Jet showed up. The former leader of the Freedom Fighters claimed he had been living in Ba Sing Se the whole time, and seemed completely dazed about his history when he approached us. How could that be true?
But then it became obvious to us that the Dai Li and Joo Dee were more complex than we imagined, as there was a conspiracy run by the Dai Li commander Long Feng, who used the secret police's power to keep the people of Ba Sing Se ignorant of the war. By keeping the Earth King blinded to the outside world, and the Dai Li brainwashing anyone who knew of the war, it was a disaster waiting to happen. We ended up fighting Long Feng after Jet regained his memory and led us to an underwater bunker, and Jet ended up losing his life to Long Feng there. Even though I mourned the death of my new friend, I realized there was a bigger goal at hand, such as informing the Earth King of what really went on in his country.
"In your note, you said you could teach me to gain control of the Avatar State. How?" I asked Pathik after a quick introduction. It was also in that lake that I found Appa again, and my group stormed the palace demanding to speak to the king. After some hard persuasion, we threw Long Feng's plans into the open, forcing him under arrest while the Earth King ordered a search of Long Feng's office. It was discovered that Long Feng withheld letters addressed to each one of us, including Pathik's invitation for me to train with him. With Long Feng in jail, and the Kyoshi Warriors arriving to guard the palace in our absence, we could proceed with our plans.
"You must bring balance to yourself, before you can bring balance to the world," Pathik instructed. He didn't have to say that again, after the destructiveness I showed with the Avatar State in the past. Time and time again, I feared that in my Avatar State, I would hurt someone I loved, like Katara. So if Pathik could give me some balance, I would accept without hesitation.
Before long, we got ourselves started with Pathik offering me onion and banana juice, which was the weirdest thing I had ever consumed. For a guy who claimed to be over a hundred years old and had connections with my former guardian Gyatso, Pathik sure shared my mentor's sense of humour. After asking me to remove my shirt, we got into a meditative position, where he pointed out each chakra in my body. I heard of some of these in the past, but never paid much attention to them. Now, it was like they were front and centre, and Pathik told me what each stood for and how each could be blocked. "There are seven chakras that flow up the body," he explained, his voice echoing off the dim cave, "Each energy has a purpose, and can be blocked by a specific type of emotional block. Be warned, opening chakras is an intense experience."
Taking a deep breath, I agreed to the process. Once I started, there would be no stopping what was about to take place. With that, I concentrated hard on the guru's words as he explained the first chakra to me. Unfortunately, this chakra was blocked by fear, and all of my scariest memories returned to me in an instant. But before I could even react to the flurry of images, one thing stuck out at me: I was in the middle of a burning field, with a silhouetted man glaring right at me. There was no doubt in my mind who this was: the Fire Lord himself. I tried ducking for cover, but to no avail, as the flames licked my bare skin like knives. Why did I agree to the guru's proposal that I removed my shirt for this exercise?
Yet speaking of the guru, there was Pathik's voice, telling me that this was my survival instinct rather than reality. "You must surrender your fears," Pathik gently told me, "let your fears flow down the creek." Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down, imaging that the Fire Lord and the flames around me were flowing away, as Pathik described. By the time I opened my eyes, everything was back to normal. I was back in Pathik's cave, watching the guru as he congratulated me on opening my first chakra.
We would work throughout the night and into the next day, with each chakra becoming more painful physically and emotionally than the last. From forgiving myself for hurting all those people with the Avatar State, to grieving the deaths of my Air Nomad friends, to accepting that as the Avatar I had to serve everyone, including the Fire Nation, I had to conquer each block head-on. Yet, with some, Katara's face kept coming back, both positively and negatively. When I found new love when the Air Nomads died out, I was overjoyed. But when I recalled burning her hands while training with Jeong Jeong, I felt unbelievable shame. Right now, I wasn't sure how to put it, but Katara's presence was definitely making me feel uneasy.
Finally, after a day and a half of nonstop meditation and confronting my past, we were on the last chakra. This one dealt with cosmic energy, and was blocked by earthly attachment. Even though I was intent on doing this, something inside me kept holding me back. I couldn't focus on the guru's words as Pathik told me to think of what attached me to this world. And the second he said that, I was slammed by image after image of Katara, reminding me of all the times she supported me and stuck by me. It felt like no matter what happened, I couldn't let her go. "Why would I let go of Katara?" I demanded, snapping out of my meditative state, "I love her." She was precious to me, and not even all the cosmic energy in the entire universe would be enough to make me let go of her.
But Pathik was persistent, claiming that learning to let go was a requirement for getting the Avatar State. Yeah right, since I bet Pathik himself never had a loved one around the Eastern Air Temple for decades. Moreover, wasn't that contradictory to what he said three chakras ago, when he told me old love could be replaced by new love? The Air Nomads were gone, but Katara was here, so wasn't that good enough? Turning to Pathik, I realized he would never let go of the issue until I did it, so I had to try. Besides, I had come too far to not finish the job, so why not give it a shot? Maybe I could work something out with Katara after we were done?
Soon, I found myself floating in the sky, with nothing but stars and dark matter around me. There was no Katara, no visions of my past, nothing but a strange glowing path that led me forward. I gently balanced on it and slowly glanced up, seeing a gigantic version of myself just floating ominously before me. This giant version of me was like a statue, holding a round sphere of energy while the tattoos glowed. I didn't have to be told what it was, as the Avatar State was beckoning to me right now. I felt so small before it, but so drawn to its energy as it resonated in the darkness, providing a warmth and comfort that I couldn't describe. Without hesitation, I made my way forward, feeling the energy engulf me as I prepared to enter the Avatar State.
Suddenly, a new set of images interrupted my train of thought. There was no denying what it was, as Katara could be seen being tied up and carried off somewhere. I couldn't see her assailants, nor could I see the place they were holding her. But judging from her cries for help, I knew she was in danger. Immediately, I turned around and raced back, not even caring that the Avatar State's energy left me as I hurried to help the one I loved the most. As I fretted over who would do such a thing to Katara, I felt the cosmic bridge below me give way, plunging me into the dark depth of space. I had faced freefall multiple times, but nothing as scary as this. With surprisingly no bending available, I could only scream into the darkness.
I snapped out of my meditation and shot up from my stance. "Katara is in danger. I have to go," I informed Pathik. Without another word, I grabbed my clothes and hurried off the mountain. I hoped to get to Appa and got back to Ba Sing Se as quickly as possible. Based on the letters confiscated by Long Feng, Toph should be meeting with her parents who somehow came to Ba Sing Se, while Sokka was at Chameleon Bay after finding out his father was there. Katara chose to forgo the trip to plan the Fire Nation invasion at the palace, so the sooner I could get my team together, the quicker I could find out what was wrong with Katara.
Pathik's voice echoed off the mountainside, claiming that I wouldn't be able to master the Avatar State this way. I hesitated for just one moment, realizing how important this decision to go back would be. I was one step away from the most powerful technique in the world, and it would help end all the fighting and suffering people had been subject to for the last century. Could I just walk away from it right now, even though I had no idea what was going on with Katara? What if I just gave up this chance for a false alarm?
But nonetheless, the thought of Katara in harm's way bothered me too much. Even if it was just a false alarm, I had to make sure. Besides, if I had a chance to meditate again, I was sure to reach back into that last chakra and broke open the gate once and for all. The Avatar State could wait for one more day, as saving my friend was the most important thing right now. With Katara the only thing on my mind, I slid down the hill and boarded Appa, steering him straight at the direction of Ba Sing Se. I could only hope that nothing bad was happening to her right now.
Aang's POV
"Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?" Zuko's voice echoed off the walls of this underground cavern. When I picked up Sokka and Toph, we headed straight for our house in Ba Sing Se, hoping to find Katara there. When she was nowhere to be seen, it was General Iroh, that kind elderly man who had traveled with Zuko throughout that approached us. Apparently, Iroh was aware of the Dai Li conspiracy as well, as he claimed Azula, the Fire Nation princess who imprisoned Bumi and pursued us through the Earth Kingdom with several machines, now had control of the secret police. With Zuko and Katara locked up together, he offered his help in saving them both together.
While Sokka and Toph went into the palace to warn the Earth King, I was left with Iroh. I didn't feel comfortable telling Sokka and Toph that I never mastered the Avatar State, but Iroh just made me feel a lot more at ease. Even though he was from the Fire Nation, there was this calm aura around Iroh that made people of all nationalities feel comfortable around him. And when I told him I gave up cosmic energy for the love of my life, he totally understood, and even claimed it might not be a bad idea. But now, we had to get out of here first.
"Saving you, that's what," I retorted at Zuko, glaring at him. I wasn't too happy that he somehow objected my presence here, and I still didn't trust him. While Iroh had been a lot more respectful and accepting, Zuko was still intent on capturing me and bringing me back to the Fire Nation. The fact that he was in this cave alone with Katara didn't make me feel right. If he was planning anything that would put Katara in harm's way, I would never forgive him.
Nonetheless, cooler heads would prevail, as Iroh told Katara and me to head off first. I was pretty sure that Katara was already aware of the Dai Li now cooperating with Azula, so we had to find our way out of here and into the palace. Sokka and Toph would require all the help they could get, as I doubted even the Earth Kingdom military command chain was prepared for the blindsiding they were about to get. Thanking the older man once more, we hurried away.
As Katara and I shuffled through the dark passages, I somehow couldn't muster any courage to start a conversation with her. It felt almost ironic that before the guru, I insisted that I couldn't let Katara go, to the point where I was professing my love for Katara and offering to give up the Avatar State just for her. But now, with her right beside me, I was at a loss for words. Was I afraid that Katara might not feel the same way about me? Was I afraid of Katara being unhappy with me choosing her over the Avatar State? I knew Katara was the type of put others above herself, so would she have told me to do the same and merely gave her up for the sake of the world? Regardless of how she felt, it wasn't something I wanted to bring up for now.
By the time we exited the dark and narrow passage, we were in a larger chamber, one that was littered with green crystals, making the area fairly bright for an underground catacomb. I could tell the way out was nearby, and Katara and I both quickened our paces. "We've got to find Sokka and Toph," she called over to me as we ran parallel to a pool of water. I was guessing this was the sewage collection drains or something like that.
But before I could take another step, a huge blast of fire came hurtling our way, causing me to turn around and block it with a slab of rock. Even though the flames didn't hit either one of us, it was strong enough to send us back a bit. I took a peek above the rock and realized it was Azula, who had that blue flame which was more powerful than Zuko's. With her on our trail, I knew this would be a difficult match. What did she do to Iroh, I thought.
Well, I wouldn't have the time to figure that out, as Katara's wave of retaliation was vaporized on the spot by Azula's fire. In the midst of the steam, she shot out from the mist and shot fire at us from in the air, causing us to create yet another water shield while she kicked off a pillar and continued her assault. Landing right between Katara and me, she pointed one hand in each direction. I had to admit I was very nervous, as our whole team plus Zuko and Iroh took her on in a deserted town, only for her to still escape. I knew we were all very tired that time, so hopefully, with more energy this time, we would have better luck against her.
The standstill soon tilted, as Zuko sent a blast into the fray as well. Originally, I was hoping Zuko might have a change of heart, and would attack Azula in order to help us escape. Unfortunately, either Iroh didn't get through to him, or he didn't listen to Iroh, as he tilted his fist in my direction and launched an unbelievable amount of fire my way. I found myself on the defensive as Katara was left to the mercy of Azula, who I knew wasn't going to go easy on her.
I did everything I could to stall Zuko, including blasting air at him, hitting the ground around him, and even leaping onto higher pillars and balancing on their crystals just to avoid his hits. None of which worked out for me, as Zuko's attacks came fast and furious on me. Before long, I was under siege from Zuko, who created long fire whips that kept lashing at the high areas. My heart pounded and my skin poured buckets of sweat out of both nervousness and the heat as I tried to dodge Zuko. There was no denying it, Zuko was committed to helping Azula.
But hanging from these rocks gave me an idea, as Zuko would be subject to falling debris from above. If I could at least disable him from above, then maybe it would give me the time it took to help Katara deal with Azula? Besides, when I was in Omashu the first time, one of the tricks I used to retrieve Bumi's lunch box key was to use stalactites, so why not try it out here? Grabbing hold of a huge slab, I cut away its foundation with air and sent it right at Zuko below.
Yes! The slab smacked the ground right in front of Zuko, and blew him back into a pile of crystals. Now I could devote my time to helping Katara, who was surprisingly holding her own against Azula. I dropped down from the ceiling just in time to see Azula being grabbed in one arm and one leg by Katara's water, almost completely incapacitated as Katara controlled Azula's every movement. I tried gathering myself, hoping to get an attack in, but all that was disrupted when another fire slice came through, chopping Katara's water in half. I had to do a double-take at first, but there was Zuko, staggering out of the rubble and ready to fight again.
Katara and I switched positions regarding the Fire Nation royal siblings, with Zuko now sparring against my friend while I tackled Azula. The Fire Nation princess jetted flames from her feet, propelling herself towards me. Thinking back to my earth bending training with Toph, I recalled an earthen suit being used in an exercise that called for having us push each other while preventing each other from crossing a line. But this time, I had more to work with, as these green crystals around me would sure come in handy. Coating myself with them, I dug deep into the ground, remembering to keep my centre of gravity low as I raced towards Azula as well.
Yikes! I knew Toph was hard to push against, but never did I imagine Azula being more forceful than her. Not only did she knock me back, she knocked me out of my suit. I was sent way into the far wall, sailing almost completely across this chamber, before slamming back-first against the rocks. I felt each bone in my body ache, my joints cracked and my teeth chattered as I tried to organize my bearings. With a hit like that, how could one stay in one piece?
Nonetheless, I had to fight on. Even if I couldn't get out of this place intact, at least I had to prevent this Ba Sing Se from being taken over by the Fire Nation. Fighting all the pain in the world, I jumped out from the ledge and sailed straight at Azula. I took another trick I observed from Toph, who rode an earthen wave of sorts when Sokka and I were flying back to Ba Sing Se. So I created an earthen wave of my own, smaller in magnitude and height as Toph's, and propelled myself towards Azula and Zuko. I was completely determined in my task, knowing I had to do whatever it took to stop them. The entire Earth Kingdom's safety rested on my acts.
Argh! Out of nowhere, a Dai Li agent appeared and pushed my wave sideways, sending me sprawling off of the rocks. By the time I peeled myself off of the ground, I realized the Dai Li already infiltrated this part of the catacombs, with at least thirty members standing in the centre. There was no way Katara could handle all these agents by herself, and I was given all that I could deal with. I gave Katara one more look, seeing her frantically hold back at least ten Dai Li agents. I cared too much for her to get hurt, but realized the only way I could help her was if I entered the Avatar State. "The only way is to let her go," Pathik's words echoed in my mind.
"I'm sorry, Katara," I murmured, creating a crystal tent around myself as I got into a meditative state. In the end, the guru's words came back to haunt me, as it was my attachment to Katara that would prevent me from saving her. I guessed it was true, wasn't it? Avatars weren't meant to be in relationships, or have families, or feel loved by others. But no matter what happened, whether Katara and I were meant to be with each other or not, I would protect her to the very end. If that meant fully entering the Avatar State, then I was ready to proceed.
Before long, I found myself back on that space road again, positioned right in front of the same larger glowing figure of me holding the ball of energy. Last time I was here, I ran off just before I could reach the energy, but this time, I would go straight into it. My mind still flooded with images of Katara, wondering how she was doing against the Dai Li, or if Azula and Zuko now turned their attacks on her as well. But instead of letting it eat away at me, I took every ounce of energy to shove that aside and focused on the situation before me. Once my energy fused with the figure's energy, the Avatar State would be accessible.
I felt a sudden surge within as the Avatar State was sparked, the aura taking over my body and taking my mind off whatever pain I was in earlier. Now, I was nothing but a floating being above all in the catacombs, having broken out of my crystal cocoon. The energy was still swirling within my body, but if I could take a few more seconds, then I would...
Yeow! There was an external source of energy penetrating into my body, and whatever it was, it was powerful. It mashed with my energy, and created a complete severing between the Avatar State and me. Not only that, I felt my entire body numbing up and my muscles flailing uncontrollably. As my body in the spiritual path was sent into freefall, I could feel myself slip out of consciousness. The visions became blurrier and blurrier until they turned all black.
Aang's POV
"Hey Aang," Toph greeted me in my room, "We're going into town to buy some dinner." According to Katara, this was the first time in weeks in which I was actually conscious and aware of my surroundings. The last thing I recalled before blacking out was Azula shooting me through with what I was told to be lightning. The Fire Nation princess must have something really powerful up her sleeve to do that much damage, knocking me out for that long. It was an experience that I hoped I never have to go through again.
I rubbed my stomach, which was now covered by layers of bandages. Katara told me that when Azula shot me through, it left a nasty burn through my back, and it would take months to recover from that. But either way, I had to get something into my stomach, given how I hadn't really eaten for days. Besides, a walk off the ship could be beneficial, right?
But Sokka's proposal absolutely drove me off the wall. Insisting that I ought to stay hidden, he handed me a long cloth to tie around my arrow. "I'm not going out if I can't wear my arrow proudly," I snapped, pushing the cloth away. Apparently, my weeks in a coma made it so that I now had a head-full of hair, meaning my arrow was completely covered except for the part sticking out onto my forehead. Apparently, the team thought it was now the best idea to stay hidden, blending in with the Fire Nation and waiting until the solar eclipse before retaliating. That was why Sokka's father Hakoda had us on board this stolen Fire Nation ship, and that everyone had to wear Fire Nation uniforms. Well, they might think it was a fantastic idea to let the world think I was dead, but this was going too far.
"You guys go ahead without us," Katara chimed in, shooing Sokka and Toph out of the room. I lumbered back to my bed, which had a huge Fire Nation flag hanging over it. The more I saw this banner, the sicker I felt, as it was a constant reminder of my failure at Ba Sing Se. I was shot dead, I couldn't protect the city, I couldn't access the Avatar State again, what more was there to say? I wished everyone would just go away and left me alone.
"I think I understand why being a secret bothers you so much," Katara's voice cut into my train of thoughts. Normally, her voice was one that was enough to calm me down, but today, it was not working. I knew she was trying to be kind and understanding by saying that I didn't want everyone to think I failed, but unfortunately, it only hurt more when she said it.
"But the problem is, I did fail!" I whipped my head to her, getting a good look at her face. Katara seemed like she had been through an ordeal as well, as the ever-optimistic expression was replaced by a glummer one, her bright observing eyes now drooped over and tired-looking. I guessed that, being in the same battle as I was in Ba Sing Se, she went through quite the hardship as well, but I doubted she went through the same pain that I did. "I lost, and now the Earth Kingdom has fallen for good," I continued, struggling to get up while using my staff as a crutch. My body was in so much pain that even the slightest movement sent shockwaves through me.
Katara tried to convince me that all was not lost, as we still had the invasion plan, but that only made me angrier. "I hate the invasion plan too! I don't want you or anyone else to risk their lives to fix my mistakes!" I shouted, grabbing the Fire Nation flag and tearing it off the wall. Was Katara that blind to what was going on? I loved her, and I cared too much about her to let her get hurt. I got myself into this mess, and only I would get myself out of it. The rest of these people who offered to help should stay out, just so there was no need for them to suffer the same way I did. "I've always known that I would have to face the Fire Lord, but now I know I have to do it alone. Katara, please, just go." I concluded, beckoning at the open door.
I flopped back down onto the bed, the room now in an ominous silence as Katara scurried out. It gave me some time to think about what really went on. Everything happened because I, the Avatar, neglected my most basic duty to protect people. Just like at the North Pole, where I was completely overwhelmed by the Fire Nation armada controlled by Zhao, I was in total defeat here as well. Back then, I admitted that I was too much of a naive, goofy, fun-seeking kid to truly realize the implications of the siege, and I totally lucked out that the Ocean Spirit fused bodies with me, granting me the great spiritual powers that allowed me to turn back the Fire Nation.
But here, in Ba Sing Se, I supposedly had the experience to handle the situation. I went through my fair deal of hardship before, with Appa being stolen and Jet being killed. I went to a guru who offered to help me with the Avatar State, which would allow me to harness this great power. And lastly, I was supposed to learn to let Katara go, even though I would always love her and care for her. Yet even with all these things considered, I still failed to carry out my duty to protect the city. I was convinced that all this was my fault, and it was better off that I handled this alone, just so no one had to have blood on their hands. This was my burden, my curse, my responsibilities, and I would see that through to the end.
Picking up my staff, I slowly made my way out from the lower decks of this ship to the top. With only a few water tribe warriors on board, mainly doing maintenance work, there weren't too many people who could spot me. I stumbled several times, sending more numbing pain through my battered body, but still soldiered on. I had already put my friends through too much, and forcing them through more suffering would be incomprehensible. Right now, it was best that I split from the group, and found a way to heal myself before saving the world from the Fire Lord. Hopefully, in the future, once this was all over, I would meet up with them again.
It was pitch-black outside as I took off on my glider, making it difficult for me to navigate through this mess. It didn't help that the wind was starting to pick up, making this supposedly warm summer night surprisingly cold. I flew on for a little while, with my thoughts darker than the night sky brooding in my head. By the time I gathered enough strength to block out my pain, there was a line of Fire Nation ships patrolling the seas, causing me to go into the water just to avoid them. Boy, it felt like the entire world wanted to keep me from my goal of not affecting those around me. As I floated back up, I could only grab some driftwood to rest on.
The seas became rougher just as I put my glider onto the driftwood, using it as a sail for me to navigate further. I fought the elements and my own fatigue as waves battered me, making my body even weaker. I tried to jump a larger wave, but to no avail, as it knocked my glider off and sent me straight into the water. Now, with my staff, my board, and my spirits all nearly broken, I was at the mercy of this violent thunderstorm. "I'm not going to make it," I muttered to myself, "I failed." No matter what choice I made, I was the big loser in the end.
"You haven't failed, Aang," a voice called to me. I glanced up and saw Roku's apparition floating above me, giving me reassurance that I was doing all I could. "If anyone is to blame for the state of the world, it is me. I should have seen this war coming, and prevented it," Roku continued, "You inherited my problems and my mistakes, but I believe you are destined to redeem me and save the world." Even though he tried to convince me I didn't abandon the world again, I still didn't feel any better. What did he mean by it was his mess?
"You already saved the world," a feminine voice chimed in. I turned the other way and saw the moon glowing brighter, with Yue now appearing in my vision. "You can save the world again, but you can't give up." She floated closer and closer down, almost like she was right at the sea level. It almost felt like she put me in the light, illuminating only my body in this dark night. And surprisingly, it made me feel more comfortable and confident.
Reaching inside, I found the strength it took to gather myself. I couldn't give up on the world, and that meant I couldn't give up on my friends. Katara, Sokka, Toph, and even the rest of the water tribe warriors, I couldn't possibly just leave them like this. The world might think I was dead, but it didn't mean the Fire Nation could do whatever it wanted. Likewise, even though it was still my responsibility to the world, I should accept help from others, and allowed them to help me through this, rather than pushed them away. How could I reunite the world's people if I kept building walls around myself? Getting up determinedly, I vowed not to give up.
I created a series of waves from behind me, propelling me through the rough seas. I still had no idea where I was, but the closest piece of land would be my ideal destination. Hopefully I could get some rest there, before I went back into the ocean to see if I could find Katara and the rest of my team. There was way more I could do with them than alone, and I was certain that, with the team, we could make a difference in this world together.
It would be morning before Katara, Sokka, and Toph found me, after flying most of the night on Appa scouring the seas. Apparently, I washed up at the same island where Roku's temple used to stand, meaning there was lava flowing all around me. I was beaten, battered, and bruised beyond belief, but otherwise I would be alright. The group told me that we ought to travel within the Fire Nation for now, all the while letting Hakoda and the others gather more of our allied before the invasion. Realizing that we would be in enemy territory, I figured it was best to go along with Sokka's plan. "It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive," I stated.
With that, I picked up what was left of my staff and trudged up the hillside with it. Picking a pool of magma, I implanted it into the bedrock, letting the molten liquid eat away at my staff until there was nothing left of it. It wasn't an easy decision for me to make, as I had to let go of my air bender ways temporarily. But for the betterment of the world, it was a decision I had to make. Boarding Appa once more, we prepared to go into the heart of the Fire Nation.
Aang's POV
"Dancing isn't something you think about. It's a form of self-expression that no one can ever take away from you," I lectured to the group of Fire Nation students standing before me in this wide cave. My group's first stop was at this Fire Nation town, and the first thing we did was take some Fire Nation clothing from a nearby clothesline that allowed us to blend in better. It just so happened that I knew some Fire Nation catchphrases, so I was more than willing to show my friends around in this place. They should still be saying "Flameo, hot man" a lot, right?
But my costume kind of made me stand out, as it happened to be a school uniform. The authorities thought I was skipping school, and ended up sending me into a classroom. It was there that I found out the Fire Nation kids were subject to the biggest group of killjoys in the world. All they did was recite allegiances to Fire Lord Ozai, and talked about boring (but more importantly, inaccurate) historical facts. They wouldn't even let me dance during music class, when everyone had to play patriotic songs on their instruments. How could anyone live like this?
And said group of kids was right there, standing around and looking hesitant. It was my idea to Katara, Sokka, and Toph that I invited them here for a dance party, hoping to show these kids some freedom. They were the future of the Fire Nation, and if we wanted to change the world, we had to start with the young. Even though they weren't sure what to do, I was willing to get the ball rolling. "It just so happens that I know several classic Fire Nation dances," I told them, recalling the times Kuzon and I would sneak around town peeping into people's dinner parties. To hide my identity, I took up my old friend's name, calling myself Kuzon in front of these kids. And right now, I better start impersonating Kuzon, who used to love impersonating dancers. "A hundred years ago, this was known as Phoenix Flight," I instructed, bending my knees while moving around in a circle. It was better when two people participated, so that it seemed like two phoenixes were flying, but right now, that would have to do.
The ooh's and aah's continued as I did a strut, waving my arms while leaping to my left and right, ending with a somersault before On Ji, one of the girls I met at the school. On Ji was one of the first students to notice that I had more interesting experiences than the regular kid, and actually wanted to see some moves during school time. Unfortunately, her overzealous boyfriend Hide, who happened to be one of the principal's favourites, decided to come pick a fight with me. Staying true to my air bender roots, I evaded and didn't retaliate, letting Hide tire himself out. Even though that ended with a parent-teacher meeting where Katara and Sokka had to pretend to be my parents, I was hoping things would go better tonight.
With each leap and flip, I was getting thunderous applause, almost like these kids had never seen a dance before. Realizing it was time they participated in it, I strolled up to On Ji, who now had a blush across her face, and asked her to take my hand. The girl hesitantly held on as I pulled her to the middle of the dance floor. Rather than trying a Fire Nation dance, maybe they should see an Earth Kingdom one. "And this is how they do it in the ballrooms of Ba Sing Se," I continued, taking small steps left and right while waving that corresponding hand. This one should be easy enough for anyone to do, so let's see if I could get some participation here.
"That's it. That's the sound of happy feet," I commented as more students joined in. This experiment was turning out to be a success after all, as more people wanted to take part. Like I said to them, self-expression and creativity was a part of life, and it was only right that the kids were allowed to have that. "Everybody freestyle," I shouted. Turning to the kids who brought their instruments and offered to play for us tonight, I told them to play a song with a quicker beat, just to let everyone really let loose. This was to be a night they would never forget.
Just then, I turned around and saw Katara seated to the side, hand holding up her head while looking extremely bored. Immediately I felt really bad, as all the time I spent with the kids I neglected my best friend. She was the one to put me back in high spirits, and now she had to be reduced to a mere spectator? I had to do something to make it up to her, and quickly thought of something. Marching up to Katara, I extended my hand out to her.
Instantly, Katara went from disinterested to nervous. "I don't know, Aang," she stuttered, motioning at her sandaled feet, "these shoes aren't really right for dancing, and I'm not sure that I know how to..." her eyes kept tilting away, all the while her hand rubbed her hair agitatedly.
"Take my hand," I instructed her confidently. It was like I said to her in the beginning, when I first met her at the South Pole. If she wanted to be a successful bender, she had to let go of her fear. Besides, if I made our dance resemble bending more than dancing, then maybe she would feel more comfortable? Dragging her to the dance floor, I leaned into Katara's ear and made my proposition. "Think of it like bending, but without the elements," I whispered, "let's show these kids what the combination of water and air could be like."
We quickly took a bow and began our formation. We started off simple, both sides sticking out one arm, touching at the wrists, and circled each other. This was reminiscent both water bending and air bending, where circular motions were crucial to our forms. We added a twisting turn at the end of each revolution, almost like we were bending clouds on Appa. Even without looking at the crowd, I could see them stop and watch us. This was not unnoticed by Katara, who seemed a bit nervous that suddenly, we were the centre of attention. "Don't worry about them," I gently reassured Katara, "it's just you and me right now."
Soon, we added more complex moves to the mix, with our legs kicking, arms whipping, heads bobbing, and bodies flying. It was like the world was somewhere else as Katara and I danced to the song, completely focused on our movements and each other. This was the type of interaction that I missed all this time, especially when the guru told me to let her go. While I admitted that the thought did cross my mind, I also realized that Katara would always be a part of me no matter what happened with the Avatar State. Since I was still unable to activate the power due to my injury, I might as well live for today and enjoyed my every moment with Katara. And to see her have such a great time, it made me feel good as well.
By the time we ended, I was holding Katara, letting her lean her back against my outstretched arm as we stared happily into each other's eyes, all the while breathing heavily. The dance sequence was among the most dynamic thing I had ever done with her, and there was no doubt that the surreal feeling was still sinking in as the kids around us burst into applause. Katara and I brought more than enough attention to ourselves, but it was for a good cause. Hopefully, the kids here all learned a lesson, and could express themselves freely from now on.
But apparently, we also brought the wrong kind of attention to ourselves, as Hide just showed up at the cave with the authorities. The headmaster of the school was none-too-pleased with our party, and now he wanted us arrested! I frantically tried to get my group out of here, all the while the kids ran interference against the headmaster. Some of them even tied their belts on their foreheads the way I did, just to confuse the authorities. Well, if this was the movement they started, learning to break away from authorities when need be, then I said it was a good thing. While I didn't expect them to rebel against authority all the time, at least they ought to have the power to speak their minds and chose their own lives, rather than lived the one chosen for them by the iron-fisted Fire Lord. Waving to my new friends, I sneaked out the back and used earth bending to seal the cave shut from that exit, making sure the authorities couldn't give chase.
As we boarded Appa, I got a chance to talk with my group. Sokka was vehemently against my party at the start, but after seeing the results, he totally changed his mind. Even Toph, the tough-talking one, congratulated me on my work, claiming I taught those kids to be free. But for me, the words I wanted to hear the most came from Katara. "It was some dance party," she commented, leaning over and giving me a peck on my cheek. Within seconds, my face flushed, and if it weren't for the night sky, Sokka and Toph would see bright red on me.
As we flew away from this region, I thought to myself just how important it was for those kids to experience that. The four of us here all had to experience some hardship before learning to open our eyes to the world, and even then we were striving to do more. For these kids, if they were to be important members of the Fire Nation in the future, especially if we could end the war, then this was the openness and receptiveness they required to make their nation great again. I would cherish this moment with them, as for one night, they showed me that the Fire Nation had the potential to do good, even in the face of the war. Maybe, just maybe, I might run into them again one day, and we would be working together for a greater goal.
Roku's POV
"Come, Aang," I stated, grabbing the boy's hand and pulling him onto my dragon. It had been a while since anyone from the Spirit World had been able to contact Aang, given his poor health. While I managed to see him once right after his awakening, I could tell his condition was not one where he could sustain any trip to the Spirit World for a long period of time. So when the condition was right, and his health was better, I invited my successor back to the Spirit World, telling him to fly to my home island where I could reveal some important information to him. It was with this that I hoped he could get what was required to save the world.
"We're going to visit my past," I informed Aang as we took to the skies on Fang, "our shared past." Little did Aang know that I actually had a history with Fire Lord Sozin. That was what led to the current state of affairs. Why not bring him back to my childhood years, when Sozin and I were different people growing up in the Fire Nation?
By the time we flew out of the clouds, we were at the courtyard of the Fire Nation palace. There were two teens sparring, practicing their fire bending basics. Aang and I disembarked Fang and watched as the bulkier teen tricked the taller, slimmer one into tripping over a tree root, ending the battle. "You were friends with Fire Lord Sozin?" Aang asked incredulously.
I nodded. Back then, he was just a prince, but he was my best friend nonetheless. I was happy to have known such a unique individual, given that we shared many things, including a birthday. The scene quickly changed to that of a party, where Sozin and I were greeted by dozens of guests, celebrating our sixteenth birthday. It was also there that the Fire Sages suddenly showed up, claiming they were to announce the identity of the next Avatar. I knew Aang was quite nervous the few days after he was announced as the Avatar, but who could blame him? I was four years older than him when I was announced, so might as well let Aang see how I felt when the Fire Sages approached me. Maybe this would settle Aang's mind a bit.
"It is our honour to serve you, Avatar Roku," the five Fire Sages exclaimed, getting onto their knees and doing a full kowtow. Before long, everyone in the crowd followed suit, including Sozin, who was standing just beside the younger version of me. Because of the bowed statures of everyone in the crowd, it gave Aang a good look at the shocked expression on my counterpart's face, with the wide eyes, dropped jaw, and tense posture. Hopefully, this could show Aang that I was human too, and that the Avatar journey for me was just as complex.
After that, I led Aang on a journey following my experiences with the other elements. Aang was particularly happy to know that Gyatso, his mentor, was one of my classmates when I learned air bending in the Southern Air Temple. I then moved on to the Northern Water Tribe, learning my natural opposite element of water. Knowing Aang had difficulty with earth, I figured to show him some of my own problems with water, hoping he could figure out how to deal with his opposite. And speaking of earth, I ended in the Earth Kingdom, where I finished my journey with earth bending. Just like Aang, I had to go through bitter work just to get to my goal, but if I could do it, then certainly my successor could as well.
But there was another issue that I wanted Aang to see, and that was love. I knew Aang had always been worried about having to make a sacrifice between his Avatar duties and his love for those around him, especially that young water bending girl. While I agreed that part of an Avatar's duty was to the world, having to put the problems of others above his own, it was also true that the Avatar was human, and had to relate to people, no matter what. "When love is real, it finds a way," I explained, showing Aang my wedding to Ta Min, my childhood crush.
But it was at that wedding that things went downhill. I asked Sozin to be my best man for that ceremony, and everything was going well until he asked to be alone with me. Pulling me to the side, he proposed an idea where the Fire Nation could share its wealth with the world. Even without details, I knew it would be a bad idea. Sharing our wealth could only mean invading and taking over other countries, and that would disrupt the balance of the world. "That was my first real test as the Avatar," I described. Last time I spoke with Aang, he really blamed himself for his failure at Ba Sing Se. But if at least he knew the root of the problem, he could at least have a chance to avoid this mistake in the future.
I then showed Aang what happened years later, when Sozin did go ahead with his plans, occupying the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom. I ended up having a confrontation with Sozin in his own throne room, leading to me destroying parts of his palace via the Avatar State. Aang was very worried about his entrance of the Avatar State, and how many people it would hurt. But in a case where a government leader had gone out of line, it was a necessary step to show him what the Avatar was capable of. The Avatar before me, Kyoshi, had done the same thing to the Earth King, and I had to do it to Sozin, my own friend. Perhaps this could put Aang at ease about the Avatar State's power, leading him to realize that it was a crucial component in his arsenal. The Avatar State was always a part of the Avatar, and Aang had to accept it, no matter what.
But it was in the last incident of my life that would highlight what it truly meant to be an Avatar. It was twenty-five years since my confrontation with Sozin, and I hadn't really spoken to him since then. I spent most of my time on my island, living with my wife and looking after my village. I showed Aang what was supposed to be a peaceful night being rocked by a volcanic eruption, the dormant mountain coming to life in the most violent explosion the Fire Nation had ever seen in a century. While my wife got everyone to safety, I stayed behind to fight the volcano to prevent it from damaging our village. "Battling the elements was hard enough, but I had to do it while I could barely breathe," I told Aang as we watched the fumes blasted near me.
Fortunately, Sozin arrived to help me. While Aang was excited to see the Fire Lord and the Avatar working together again, it was not meant to be. I was blasted in the face by more toxic gases, this time suffocating me and causing me to collapse. I had to restrain Aang as we watched Sozin leave me behind, letting the volcanic landslide smother my dragon and me, burying the whole village and our bodies in the rubble. Apparently, the boy was shocked that Sozin wouldn't extend his hand to help his long-time friend from death, instead wanting to use this opportunity to create his empire. I could tell that from his experience in Ba Sing Se, a similar incident also happened to him, when the current Fire Prince chose to side with his sister and fought Aang rather than helped him escape. But there was more to that story than that ending.
We finally returned to the Air Temples, before Sozin could destroy them all. There, we saw the birth of a young boy. "That's me, isn't it?" Aang asked incredulously. Given that Aang was my reincarnation, and the war began right when he became the Avatar, it was appropriate to say that he inherited my mess. I didn't pretend to know what Aang felt about this incident, but at least Aang could rest assured that none of this was his fault. I had full faith in Aang being able to clean up this mess, and brought the world back to its formerly bright state.
But before I let Aang back into the real world, there was one thing I informed him about. "Even though the former Fire Lord betrayed the former Avatar, this incident may not have to repeat itself in the future. If you pay close attention, you will realize that the Fire Lord and the Avatar would cross paths again. And this time, if the right choices are made, the Fire Lord and the Avatar can become friends again." I could see Aang's perplexed expression, the air bender unsure of what I meant. It wasn't with the current Fire Lord Ozai that I was talking about, but the Fire Prince, my great-grandson, whose mother was my granddaughter. In time, Aang would have knowledge to this information, and hopefully he could put it to good use.
With one last line, I reminded him of the importance of today's journey. This wasn't just an attempt for me to reassure Aang that it wasn't his fault things became this way, but also an attempt to inspire Aang to work even harder to ending the war. "Make sense of our shared past, Aang," I repeated one last time before sending him back. He had been through so much since I first met him during the Winter Solstice, and I truly saw his growth throughout this time. He still had a lot more maturing to do, but for now, I was happy to let things stay on course.
Besides, I already summoned Iroh to the Spirit World, informing him of the upcoming events. Hopefully he already met with his nephew Zuko, and informed the Fire Prince that his destiny would be to restore honour to the Fire Nation. Only by helping the Avatar could this goal succeed, and it was with this that I hoped one day, the Avatar and the Fire Lord could cooperate in good faith and spirit. Great things were at hand for the world if those two could find the way.
Katara's POV
"It's like every time I think about how stressed I am, I get more stressed," Aang stammered as he paced back and forth, his arms twitching uncontrollably while his fingers twisted themselves around each other. After what had been a long journey through the Fire Nation, we finally arrived at the rendezvous point where my father would meet us before the invasion. We still had a few days to prepare, so I was intent on resting up and focusing my mind on the task at hand. Aang should at least be relaxing himself as well, given how he would play the major role in this invasion. He had to face the Fire Lord, so that counted for something, yes?
But I was dead wrong, as Aang was more nervous than anything else. He had consecutive nights of sleeplessness, claiming each time he went to bed, he had a nightmare about how he would botch the invasion. I didn't want to pry into his privacy and asked him about his dreams, but it was evident that he was uncomfortable. It didn't help that Sokka had to mouth off on him, claiming he better win against the worst human being in the world or we were all doomed. Giving my brother the biggest smack I could muster across his noggin, I approached Aang, who was shaking so much it almost seemed like he would fall apart.
"You know what? I've got just the thing," I suggested, placing my hands on his shoulders and leading him away, "get ready to be de-stress-ified." We learned from Pakku that water was a calm element and that we should let our emotions flow like the water. So why not do a bunch of exercises near the water and let Aang wash his troubles away?
We climbed down some rocks and into a cave, except this cave wasn't dark and cool. In fact, this was a hot spring of sorts, producing a lot of heat while compounded by the sun shining through from the open top. "These yoga stretches can really work wonders if you do them in extreme heat," I described. The water around was vaporized continuously, so it would only flow out further and faster. "Reach up," I instructed Aang, stretching my arms into the air.
Aang followed suit, and soon we were synchronized in our movements. I didn't doubt the duties my friend had before him, as he had the biggest job in the world. But knowing that I was to be part of him since the beginning, I knew I had to do my part in supporting him whatever way possible. I had seen him grow up in front of my eyes, going from the goofy kid wanting to ride penguins and eels to the almost completely-realized Avatar that he was today. Now, his biggest task was at hand, and I had to do whatever I could to make him be at ease.
"Close your eyes," I continued, getting into a wider stance while dropping my head to the ground. The upper portions of our bodies were now upside-down, our heads between our knees as I tilted my eyes to the left and probed him, "How are you feeling?"
But the results weren't exactly what I expected, as Aang seemed more relaxed, only to go back to his blubbering nervous breakdown. "This heat," he stuttered, struggling to find the right words, "it's like I'm in the Fire Lord's palace and he's shooting a bunch of fireballs at me! And the whole world is being engulfed in flames!" With that, Aang's body crumpled, his stance now gone as he flipped onto his back, completely passed out.
I got out of my stance and glanced at Aang, flat on his back with his tongue sticking out from his mouth. Had it been any regular situation, I would have found it quite comical. Yet right now, there was nothing funny about this, as Aang's problem was deeper than I thought. With yoga exercises useless, what else could he do? "Maybe your stress is the kind you have to talk out," I suggested. Maybe Sokka could get on this case, given how he's always mouthing off.
For the rest of the day, I left Aang alone, hoping to let him sort out his problems with others as well. But even though my teammates were doing some work, I couldn't help but keep an eye on things from a distance, knowing that Aang wasn't going to get through this with ease. There was a large task for someone that young, even though he had grown a lot. I knew if I had to face the Fire Lord, I would be quite nervous as well. Even though I didn't agree with Toph all the time, I knew she was right when she said I was a kid just like the rest of them. And even though we didn't always see eye-to-eye, I knew Toph would support me if I were in Aang's shoes. So given Aang's current situation, wasn't it right that I helped him out?
At the same time, I also looked back at how far Aang came, and realized how things were so different compared to before. If the invasion were to succeed in the upcoming days, there would be a bigger role for the Avatar to play, as the Fire Nation hierarchy would be thrown out of order. This powerful and militaristic nation would be in disarray, leaving its people without a leader and its troops scattered. There would only be more trouble as Fire Nation troops still in the Earth Kingdom might want to continue fighting even though the Avatar defeated their leader. How could Aang handle that uncertainty, and who would he recommend to take over the position of Fire Lord? Which individual in the Fire Nation could bring this militaristic group to peace?
It would be nightfall when I met up with Aang again. Even though he said he felt a little bit better, I could tell the anxiety was getting the best of him. There were dark bags under his eyes, and his back had a pronounced slouch. I didn't want to push the issue any further, as I felt the best way he could deal with this right now was to get adequate rest. As I lied down onto the ground, I tried to clear my mind and get to sleep.
But it was to no avail, as Aang's bloodcurdling scream blasted into my ears. I shot up just to see cold beads glistening off Aang's forehead as he had another nightmare, the worst one by far. "There's only one thing I can do," he decided, "I'm going to stay awake straight through to the invasion." My jaw nearly fell off my head hearing that. Was that the healthiest thing to do, given Aang's fatigue? Surely he wasn't really going through with that, was he?
Aang really stayed to his word, refused to sleep, and stalked around like he was delusional. From imagining Momo speaking to him, to thinking Appa was in a fight was Momo using swords, things were getting out of hand. It got to the point where Sokka, Toph and I had to find some way to make him go to bed. Noticing the Koala Sheep nearby, we used some of their wool to make a bed for Aang, hoping it was comfortable enough for him to sleep. It wasn't much, but at least it would show Aang that we did care about him.
It would be nightfall again when Aang finally found our custom-made bed, and thought it was another hallucination. But this time, the three of us were there, convincing him that this was real. The only way he was going to get any relief from the stress was if he just got some rest, and this was our way of helping him achieve that. "You've been training for this since the day we met. I've seen your progress, and you're smart, brave, and strong enough," I reassured him.
Sokka and Toph both agreed, believing Aang had what it took to defeat the Fire Lord. As I slowly eased him onto the bed, Aang smiled for the first time in days. "I think I am ready," he told us, leaning his head into the soft wool before drifting off to sleep. And seeing the one I cared for the most in his relaxed state, I couldn't help by smile as well. The future of the world would be in Aang's hands, and all the more for him to be ready to face it when it came.
That's all I got now. Once this thing wraps itself up, I have new plans for stories. Hopefully you can join me there as well. Thanks for reading.