Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada... yada...
Authors note: Sorry about the long wait for the next chapter, everyone. I'm working so much overtime right now, I barely have time for anything else. I'll update as often as I can, thanks for being patient. : )
Chapter 33
Aang left for Kyoshi Island the minute he received word that there had been trouble, although, he hadn't finished Katara's necklace. His family was more important, and the necklace would just have to wait. Not wanting to alarm Hakoda, he made up a flimsy excuse for his early departure and told him that he would contact him soon. Sokka's message was vague and he only knew that whatever happened involved Tenzin, and that was enough. When he arrived at the cottage on Kyoshi, he landed Appa in the front yard and dismounted quickly then went to the front door and knocked loudly. Never having been to the cottage 'officially' he didn't feel right just barging in.
Katara's face lit up as she lunged forward and threw her arms around Aang's neck when she answered the door and realized who their visitor was, shouting with delight and relief. " Oh Aang! I'm so glad you're here!" She exclaimed.
" Me too. I missed you guys." Aang replied softly, squeezing her tightly.
" Um... Katara? Can I come in?" He asked after a few minutes in her arms, still standing on the porch.
" Oh, yeah... sorry." She said sheepishly, gesturing for him to enter.
Sokka and Suki were seated on the couch when he entered, while the children played quietly on the floor. Tenzin turned toward the door when he heard it shut, then smiled brightly and squealed with glee as jumped up and ran to Aang then jumped in to his arms. " DADDY!" He shouted happily.
" Hey there little guy." Aang said smiling brightly, lifting his son up and hugging him tightly.
" Come on daddy... come and see what me and Kya are making!" Tenzin said squirming out of his fathers grasp and down to the floor, then grabbing Aang's hand and pulling him over to where his cousin was sitting.
" Oh, okay." Aang replied, following along behind him.
" Tenzin, I'm sure daddy would love to see what your making, but he has just arrived and we need to discuss a few things. Why don't you take your cousin and - " Katara said.
" I know, I know, go in the other room so you 'grown-ups' can talk." Tenzin said grumpily. " Come on Kya." He added as he clumsily picked up his cousin and left the room.
" Hey guys." Aang said, waving to Sokka and Suki.
" Hey Aang." Sokka and Suki replied simultaneously.
" Have a seat, Aang." Katara said gesturing toward one of the chairs, then sat down in the chair next to him.
" What's going on guys?" Aang asked curiously.
" Well, the trip home was pretty uneventful, but after we got home... someone tried to kidnap Tenzin." Katara said matter-of-factly.
" WHAT?" Aang exclaimed as he jumped up from his seat.
" Calm down, he's fine. They didn't succeed." Sokka said putting his hands up.
" What? Who? Why?" Aang quickly blurted out. " Were they Ozai's supporters?" He added.
" No, apparently they thought that 'The Avatar's' kid would bring a hefty price for a ransom." Sokka replied calmly, hoping that his tone might settle Aang down a bit. Katara sat nervously wringing her hands, glad that her brother had taken the lead to tell Aang what happened.
" Who was it?" Aang asked with a scowl on his face as he paced back and forth.
" I recognized a few of them, they were some of the pirates we encountered when Katara took that waterbending scroll." Sokka said.
" Pirates! How dare they? Take me to them!" Aang shouted angrily, stopping dead in his tracks and facing Sokka.
" Calm down, Aang. They're in custody. Don't go flying off half-cocked." Sokka said calmly.
" What? There gonna wish they were dead when I'm through with them!" Aang shouted angrily, glaring at Sokka.
" I know how you must feel, Aang - " Sokka said, but was cut off mid-sentence.
" You have no idea how I feel! It wasn't your kid that they tried to kidnap!" Aang exclaimed angrily.
" No, it wasn't! But he's my nephew!" Sokka shouted angrily back at him.
Aang looked at Sokka with astonishment for a few seconds, then with shame. " I'm... I'm... sorry, Sokka. I didn't mean it like that, I know you care about Tenzin." He stammered.
" It's okay, Aang, you have every right to be upset. I just think that you need to calm down before you do something you'll regret." Sokka replied, regaining his composure.
" Okay, okay. Tell me what happened." Aang said putting his hands up in defeat, then sitting back down.
" Well, Tenzin was outside playing in the back yard when these goons snuck up on him and nabbed him. I came home and saw someone lurking in the bushes and went after the guy, but one of his buddies saw me and got me from behind and knocked me out." Sokka said. " But, Katara and Suki saw what was going down, and sprung in to action. Wiped 'em all out while I was unconscious." He added proudly.
" With Tenzin's help, he was amazing! You should have seen what he did!" Suki added grinning widely, but Katara shot her a dirty look and she quickly shut her mouth.
" Really? What'd he do?" Aang asked Suki curiously.
" Um, guys... I think maybe Aang and I need to talk alone, now." Katara said.
" Oh, okay. Sure." Suki said standing up.
" Yeah, okay. I'll see ya later, Aang. Glad you're back, buddy." Sokka said smiling as he stood up.
" Glad to be back, buddy." Aang said smiling. " See you guys later." He added as Sokka and Suki left the room.
" What's up, Katara?" Aang asked, looking concerned, when Sokka and Suki were out of the room.
" Aang, something else happened. Nothing bad, so don't freak out." Katara said. " Tenzin did something... incredible. I wouldn't have believed it, if I hadn't seen it myself." She added.
" What'd he do, Katara?" He asked curiously.
" Well, he was fighting off the pirates, too... using his airbending, and doing an amazing job I might add." She said. " But... then... he used... waterbending, Aang." She added.
" Wh - what?" He asked dumbfounded.
" Well, you see, I sent a waterwhip at this guy that was about to attack Tenzin, but got knocked down by another guy so I missed him... and Tenzin... just... sent a wave of water at him... and wiped him out." She said.
" But... that's not... that's impossible, Katara. No one can bend more than one element except 'The Avatar'. You must have been mistaken." He said skeptically.
" No, Aang... I saw it. And he told us he did it." She replied.
" But... I don't understand... how is that possible?" He asked.
" I don't know. I was hoping maybe you could answer that." She said.
" But... me? How would I know? It's not like this has ever happened before." He said defensively.
" I know... I just thought maybe you might have some idea why." She said.
" Not a clue, I didn't even think it was possible." He replied incredulously.
" Well, apparently it is." She replied.
" Apparently." He said.
" So, how do we find out?" She asked.
" Huh? Oh, I guess I could take a trip to the spirit world to see what I can find out. Are you sure he used waterbending?" He queried, cocking an eyebrow.
" I'm sure, Aang." She said annoyed.
" Okay. But, I want to talk to Tenzin, first." He said.
" Okay, I'll go get him." She said, then got up and left the room and returned a few minutes later with Tenzin.
" Tenzin, come here for a minute, I want to talk to you about something." Aang said.
" Okay." Tenzin replied then went over to his father, who promptly lifted him up to sit on his lap.
" Tenzin, momma told me that you used waterbending to fight off one of the bad guys that attacked you the other day... Is that true?" Aang asked.
" Yeah." Tenzin replied matter-of-factly.
" Do you know how? Did you know that you could do that?" Aang asked.
" I don't know how, daddy. I didn't know I could do that, but I knew that I felt close to the water." Tenzin replied.
" Close? What do you mean?" Aang asked curiously.
" Like it was part of me." Tenzin said.
" I see. Have you ever tried to waterbend before?" Aang asked.
" No. Well... sometimes I make waves in my bath for my boats." Tenzin said shrugging his shoulders.
" Waves? Really? When? I thought we were always with you when you were in the bath." Aang said.
" Yeah, but you and momma talk alot." Tenzin said. " So, I play." He added.
" Interesting... Thanks Tenzin, you can go play now if you like." Aang said.
" Will you come and play with me, daddy?" Tenzin pleaded, giving Aang his 'puppy-dog-eyes'.
" In a bit. I have something I need to do first, okay?" Aang replied.
" Okay." Tenzin said dejected, then climbed off of his fathers lap and left the room.
Katara sat quietly throughout the conversation between Aang and Tenzin, only half-listening to what was said. Her mind was on her recent episodes of nausea and vomiting and her missed cycle. She wasn't certain if she was actually pregnant, yet, but thought that now wasn't the time to tell Aang about her suspicions. They had other things to deal with right now, like getting to the bottom of Tenzin's mysterious ability to bend air and water.
" Katara?" Aang asked.
" Huh? Did you say something, Aang?" She asked, snapping back to reality.
" Um... yeah. I asked you if you've ever noticed Tenzin making waves in his bath before." He replied.
" Oh, no... I haven't. Why, did he say he did?" She asked.
" Um... yeah, haven't you been listening?" He asked incredulously.
" Oh... sorry. I guess I was thinking about something else." She said sheepishly.
" What were you thinking about?" He asked curiously.
" Oh, nothing important. So, what did Tenzin say about making waves in his bath?" She asked, quickly trying to change the subject. Aang looked at her suspiciously for a moment, then just shrugged it off.
" Well, he said that he felt like water was 'part of him', and that he sometimes makes waves for his boats in the bath." He answered, slightly annoyed that she wasn't paying attention to their conversation.
" Hmmm... I never noticed him doing that, did you?" She asked.
" No, he said that we talk alot and that's when he would do it. I guess to entertain himself while we talked." He replied shrugging his shoulders.
" So... what do you think?" She asked.
" I'm not sure what to think, really. But at least now I know that he really can waterbend, or at least he thinks he can." He said.
" How many times do I have to tell you, Aang? He can. I saw him do it. And since I was the only other waterbender around, I know no one else did it." She said irritated.
" I know, I'm sorry. I just don't know what to make of this. I think I need to go to the spirit world to see if I can find out anything." He said.
" I agree. Do you want to get washed up for supper while I go help Suki finish cooking?" She asked.
" No, I think I'll go to the spirit world now. I won't be long, I promise." He said, then stood up and helped her to her feet then kissed her passionately, leaving her breathless as he opened the door and went outside.
The sun had set and the stars were shining brightly in the twilight sky as Aang walked down to the beach. He found a spot near the edge of the water, then sat down on the sand and closed his eyes and assumed the lotus position to meditate. Soon after, his tattoos began to glow and he found himself being transported into the spirit realm, but was disappointed to find that no one was there waiting to greet him. He wandered around a bit looking for someone that might be able to help him, or at least tell him who could, and was startled by a familiar female voice behind him.
" Hello, Aang." She said smiling, as Aang spun around to face her.
" Yue... Hey, you scared me." Aang replied, chuckling nervously.
" I'm sorry. What brings you here, Aang?" Yue asked.
" Well, Yue... it's Tenzin. Apparently he's able to bend air, and water. I was hoping that I might be able to find out how that could be possible." Aang replied.
" I see... my, my... so soon. How unexpected." Yue said smiling softly.
" So soon? What do you mean, so soon?" Aang asked confused.
" It's just that, we weren't expecting that he would show his... talent... so soon." Yue replied.
" You mean that you knew that he would be able waterbend? And who's we?" Aang asked.
" Hello, Aang. It's good to see you again." A handsome young man with jet black hair said with a smile as he joined them, seeming to emerge from the mist out of nowhere.
" Um... hello. Do I know you?" Aang asked suspiciously, cocking an eyebrow.
" Yes, you do. We were once united as one." The mysterious stranger replied, smiling softly as he took Yue's hand in his.
" Huh? United?" Aang asked confused.
" Yes... I am La, the Spirit of the Ocean." The man replied.
" La? Oh! The siege at the North Pole!" Aang exclaimed with revelation, smacking his palm on his forehead.
" Yes." La replied smiling.
" So, you knew that Tenzin would be able to waterbend, too?" Aang asked.
" You could say that." La said chuckling lightly.
" But, how? Why is he able to do it?" Aang asked.
" We were once one, Aang. I am a part of you, and you are a part of me." La replied.
" I don't understand." Aang said confused.
" I am the Spirit of the Ocean, Aang, and when our spirits united at the North Pole, a part of my spirit was left with you and a part of yours with me. And because of this, you were able to give your son the gift of the ocean... the gift of waterbending." La said smiling. " I'm sure that his mother had something to do with it, too, though." He added chuckling.
" I have part of your spirit... in me?" Aang asked incredulously.
" Yes, Aang. Our spirits will forever be bound." La replied.
" I see. How come I never knew you were... you know... with me?" Aang asked curiously.
" I think, subconsciously, you knew. Did you not wonder why your waterbending abilities were far more advanced than your other aquired bending abilities?" La asked.
" Well, yeah... I guess so. But, I always thought it was because of my special... um... bond with Katara, maybe... I guess." Aang said shrugging his shoulders.
" I'm sure your bond with Katara is strong, but that was not the reason for it." La said.
" Well, okay... thanks, then... I guess." Aang said sheepishly.
" You're welcome, then... I guess." La said laughing, and Yue and Aang laughed with him.
" This is a blessing, Aang, and shall most likely never occur again." Yue said when the laughter subsided, and Aang nodded in understanding.
" We must go now, Aang. It was good to see you again." La said smiling softly.
" Yeah, you too. Thanks." Aang replied smiling.
" You're welcome." La replied, as he and Tui (Yue) turned to walk away hand-in-hand.
" Aang?" Yue said as she stopped and turned to face him.
" Yeah?" Aang replied.
" Tell Sokka... That I'm glad that he's happy. He and Suki have a beautiful daughter, and we're expecting big things from her." Yue said smiling, then turned around and disappeared with La into the mist.
Moments later, when Aang opened his eyes, he found himself back on the beach on Kyoshi Island. Grinning, he airbended himself to his feet and quickly headed back to the cottage, eager to tell the others what he had learned in the spirit world. " Hey guys." He said when he entered the kitchen.
" Hey... how'd it go?" Katara asked smiling as she turned to greet him.
" Great!" Aang replied grinning widely. " I found out why Tenzin can waterbend." He added.
" Really?" Katara, Sokka, and Suki exclaimed simultaneously.
" Really." Aang replied smugly.
" Well, are you going to tell us?" Katara asked excitedly.
" Yeah... after supper." Aang said casually, grinning.
" Aang!" Katara shouted, lightly smacking his arm.
" Okay, okay... " Aang said laughing. " Well, apparently, unbeknownst to me, La, the Spirit of the Ocean... " He added before he was cut off.
" Yeah, yeah... get on with it." Suki said excitedly.
" Alright... Like I was saying... " Aang said annoyed, as Suki rolled her eyes. " La, the Spirit of the Ocean, left a part of his spirit with me when we united at the North Pole... during the siege... and I left a part of my spirit with him. And because of this, I was able to pass the gift of waterbending to my son... our son... with Katara's help, of course." He added.
" Wow... that's amazing." Suki said with awe.
" Sweet... Will all of your kids be able to bend both elements?" Sokka asked incredulously.
" You know, you sound more like Toph every day." Suki said to her husband laughing, and everyone started laughing with her.
" Gee, I don't know. Maybe... I guess they could." Aang said when the laughter subsided, shrugging his shoulders. " Oh... no... wait a minute... Yue said that this would most likely never occur again, said it was a blessing." He added.
" You talked to Yue?" Sokka asked excitedly. " Did she ask about me?" He added eagerly, while Suki frowned.
" Um... sort of... She said to tell you that she's glad that you're happy, and that you and Suki have a beautiful daughter." Aang said uneasily, sensing Suki's discomfort. " Oh, and that they will be expecting 'big things' from Kya." He added smiling.
" Really? Awesome! Our little Kya's practically got a blessing from the Spirit of the Moon, herself, baby!" Sokka said to his wife with pride, grinning widely. Suki smiled softly in return, realizing that his love for her and their daughter had replaced any feelings that he once had for Yue, and wondering what she might have meant by 'big things'.
" Momma, can we eat now? I'm hungry." Tenzin whined, not really understanding exactly what everyone was talking about.
Everyone burst into laughter as Tenzin stood there confused about what he said that they all found so incredibly hilarious.
" Yes, sweetie... we can eat now." Katara said to the confused boy, giggling.