Chapter 3

Aang's room couldn't even really be called a room. It was in the very center of the building, but it was outside. And it was huge. It was like an indoor/outdoor field of grass with a few trees here and there. Above was the sky, the sun shining down. This was where Zuko led her, and this was where they found Aang, working on his earthbending with Toph. Appa was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Momo.

How is it everyone else can bend? Kichi wondered, confused.

Both Aang and Toph stopped right when they entered, and both Aang and Toph looked quite shocked that she was there.

"Heeey, it's Miss Invisible," Toph said, her shock now completely gone and replaced by her usual superior grin. "I was wondering when you'd finally come to see us."

Kichi opened her mouth to retort quite nastily, but Zuko interrupted her very bluntly. "We need to talk to Aang," he said.

Aang, who had remained quite so far, looked even more confused. He glanced from Kichi, to Zuko, to Kichi again, then nodded.

"Fine. But don't think you're training is done just because Zuko and little Miss Invisible interrupted," Toph said, looking pleased with herself. He linked her hands behind her head and proceeded out the door on the other side of the room.

When she was gone, Zuko walked toward Aang and Kichi automatically followed.

"It's nice to see you again, Kichi," Aang said genuinely to her, holding out his arms as if to hug her. But she jerked out of the way, which seemed to surprise him, and she hoped, hurt him. She couldn't believe they were acting as if she were a long lost friend, and not some family member that they hadn't bothered to talk to in a year. As if it were HER decision to have left. She felt like ripping his happy little face off.

"Aang. Kichi has some bad news for you," Zuko said, not looking at her.

Aang looked confused again and glanced at Kichi.

For a second she didn't say anything, still so mad. Then, instead of bothering to open her mouth, she just proceeded to show him what she had already shown Zuko. No air came from her waving hands, no earth moved at her feet, no fire shot from her fist. "And I'm not the only one," she said at Aang bewildered face. No one else outside this building can bend, either.

It was here that she decided to actually take in what she was looking at. Aang had grown much taller since she had last seen, and somewhat more broader. He still resembled a monk, though, bald head. And his voice was now that of a teenage boy, deeper.

"What do you make of it?" Zuko asked. She didn't fail to notice how Aang shot him a knowing and worried glance.

"Roku did warn me about this last year," Aang said, though he said it as if just bringing Kichi up to date. By the looks of it, Zuko did not find this news news.

"What's going on?" Kichi demanded, practically stomping her foot.

Aang turned from Zuko and looked at her solemnly. "The world is changing," he said.

She stared. It was the most stupid thing she had ever heard come out of his mouth. "No…" she said sarcastically. "I had no idea!"

Aang stared right back at her, a little puzzled. "What I mean is, the world is evolving. People don't need their bending as much as they used to, so the Spirits are taking it away."

This is exactly what she had been thinking about earlier. But it didn't make her feel any better to hear it confirmed. "But you guys can still bend! I just caught Zuko firebending with Ozai. And I just saw you and Toph earthbending not more than five minutes ago."

"Yeah…" Aang looked to Zuko as if for help, but the young firebender said nothing.

"How come I can't bend anymore?" Kichi was feeling desperate now. Nevermind her anger that she had for her friends. Why would she lose her abilities and not them? She loved bending more than life itself, and used it every day.

"I don't know," Aang answered, this time looking confused. "Roku mentioned that since the war is over, people don't need their bending anymore. But we were the ones who helped in stopping the war, so we got to keep our bending, in case the world has need of us again."

"Yeah. WE. I was there, too! Why did the spirits take away MY bending?" She felt like crying.

Aang shook his head. "I'll talk to Roku about it. Give me a few hours." He turned and walked away, coming to rest under the nearby tree and getting into a meditative stance.

"Come on," Zuko said, looking at Aang and then turning to leave.