DISCLAIMER!!
I DO NOT OWN AVATAR NOR DO I OWN THE CHARACTERS! ONLY THE MADE UP CHARACTERS.
Book One: Water
Chapter Three: The Avatar Returns – Part II
The inside of a Fire Navy ship was nothing more than walls and walls made of metal and hot…extremely hot. He'd visited many places in his lifetime, courtesy his nomadic lifestyle, but never inside a battleship. He'd always seen such vehicles as means for senseless violence, not for transportation, and against his teachings and practices as a devoted Monk. Although minutes ago, he was also involved in an irrational battle, but that battle was purely defensive. He only returned to help once his conscience returned to his possession and his anger dissipated. He knew he had a responsibility to those people since the Fire Nation was after them because of him.
Once he noticed the Fire blasts not too far from where he and his bison resided, he knew that the village needed some help. He ran like the wind, despite how they previously treated him and how jerky he acted. He arrived at the scene of where a firebender was storming the injured man that came to warn this village of them. He acted on instinct, which was rescuing the defenseless. He blew a strong wind, creating a small snowstorm that pushed the scarred firebender backwards. He knew why they were here and what he had to do to protect this village.
"Looking for me?" He said holding his staff.
The firebender recognized him and a smirk played on his lips. "You're the airbender? You're the Avatar?"
He nodded. "That's right." He looked behind him and saw a bewildered Katara and an aghast looking Sokka. He knew that's how they'd react – surprised and slightly scared. Their impression of him was bound to change drastically. He just had to endure another emotionally draining rejection.
He and the scarred firebender circled each other, waiting to attack. "I've spent years waiting for this moment. Training, meditating. You're just a boy!" Zuko yelled. He didn't know whether he was meant to be disappointed or thrilled that the Fire Nation's greatest enemy was just a young teenager.
Aang rose a brow, questioningly. "I could say the same thing to you, man."
Irked by the Avatar's reply, Prince Zuko attacked. Aang blocked it easily with the help of his staff, not yet attacking. Zuko continued attacking him but once he noticed he couldn't get a hit, he directed his flames to the innocent people behind the Avatar. He ordered his men to harass the poor people, thinking that it would urge the Avatar to surrender. And Aang did.
"Wait!" The firebenders ceased fire. "If I go with you, do you promise to leave everyone alone?" Aang asked.
The people stared at their savior in terror. How could he just offer himself to the Fire Nation without a fight? It was practically a death sentence. And knowing he was the Avatar wasn't a benefit either. They could imprison him, torture him or worse…kill him. He life wasn't worth this selfless act.
The prince nodded and they began cuffing him, leading him to the ship.
"Aang, No!" Katara protested running after him but was stopped by Tarik. She couldn't just let them take him to where his life was uncertain. She couldn't let them take someone else she cared about! The Fire Nation had taken enough from her already. Even Sokka objected to them taking him but was prevented by his grandmother.
Aang looked back at the rest of them and his eyes landed on Katara. He smiled sadly and mouthed, "I'll be okay."
She shook her head. He wasn't going to be okay, not at the hands of those heartless maniacs – and she knew that. No matter how good he was at airbending, he couldn't defend against ten firebenders. No one could. Tears stung her eyes as the ship closed and began departing. No.
Tarik placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know he was your friend but—
"We can't just let them take him! He saved us and now we need to save him!" Katara argued.
Gran-Gran shook her head. "Katara, you have to calm down. What do you expect us to do? Go after them? How? He's the Avatar, he can handle himself." She pointed out.
Katara clenched her fists. "That is exactly why we need to help him. Aang is the Avatar! He's our only hope and we need to make sure he survives!" she tried convincing her people. She turned to Sokka for support but he looked away. She closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. "You're all just a bunch of spineless good for nothing asses!" she hissed and walked away.
Sokka watched his exasperated sister walk further into the tundra and sighed. The truth is, he now felt very guilty. He wasn't directly the cause of them taking Aang but he felt partially responsible. He treated him poorly despite Aang being nice to him. Aang even saved his life – twice! He banished him for doing nothing and for a village he couldn't protect. Aang sacrificed himself for them regardless of what they'd said and done to him. He was a much more better person than Sokka perceived him to be. He had to repay him, one way or the other.
He was tossed roughly into the prison hold, where they locked him in a metal cage. His staff was taken from him and the prince meant to give it as a present to his father. He held on to the bar angrily as the prince admired his delicately crafted instrument.
"This would make an excellent gift for my father." Zuko eyed the Avatar. "I suppose you wouldn't know of fathers, being raised by Monks."
Aang scowled at him. "What do you want from me?"
Zuko chuckled in disbelief. "Are you seriously asking me that? Without you, our glorious nation's dreams would be accomplished." He leaned in closer to Aang's face. "Without the Avatar, the Fire Nation will become the greatest Nation on the planet." Zuko was careful enough not to explain to the Avatar why he really captured him. It seemed irrelevant. Why would the Avatar want to know if he was banished and trying to restore his honor. He only stated the general facts.
Aang suddenly blew a strong wind out of his mouth, pushing to scarred teen to hit the metal wall. He laughed at the Prince's humiliation.
Zuko stood up, dusting his armor. "Blow all the air you want. You aren't getting out of here. Not while I'm still here." Zuko said calmly as he walked away.
Aang sighed, sitting on the floor of his cell, thinking of how to escape. If only he had a key. He sat there in silence for a while, lost in his own unsure thoughts. He'd never see Katara or her obnoxious brother again. Even if he were to escape, would they accept him back, lift the ban? Would they want to see him again? He had no business in the South pole anyway – except to go get Appa. After that, he'd probably go back home, like he'd intended to do before he got sidetracked and ended up here.
He didn't know how long he sat there. If felt like hours as he thought about what he'd left behind and if he'd ever escape this place. He also thought about why the hell there was a war in the first place. What exactly did the Fire Nation want to accomplish? What could world domination possibly give you? Why do these things when they'd only fill you with the inability to cherish life and poison your mind?
Interrupting his train of thoughts, a guard passed by and he heard the faint jingling of keys. That was his ticket out of here. He smiled cunningly before coughing, catching the guards attention.
"Hey, uh, you okay?" How could people this stupid take over the world? Aang thought as he moved closer to the guard. The only barrier between them was the metal bars enclosing Aang.
He pretended to have a hoarse voice. "Water.." he whispered.
He guard shook his head. "Sorry but Prince Zuko strictly ordered us to keep all elements away from you, since you're the Avatar and stuff.."
Aang nodded. "Well you're doing a bad job." He said darkly.
"What?"
"I still have air!" Aang quickly sucked the man towards him, his face pressing against the bars painfully. Aang then took the keys off the man still being suctioned to the bars. He opened the cell and threw the guard in, locking the bars.
He ran as fast as he could, searching frantically for his staff so he could get out of there. He checked every room except one. This one has an ominous feeling to it. He stepped in and saw his staff. He gladly took it but heard the door close behind him. He turned around and locked eyes with "Zuko".
They stared at each other of a few minutes, Zuko meticulously watching him. "Looks like I underestimated you."
Aang didn't reply as he waited for an attack. He would never attack first, according to his principles, he was primarily a defender not an attacker. As predicted, Zuko attack first, sending him a first full of flames. Aang deflected the flames by whirling his staff around. They continued in that manner of attack-and-dodge until Zuko got frustrated and set fire to the whole room. Aang winced in pain as the fire touched his skin, burning s part of his shirt. He rounded Zuko slowly and then finally attacked. He hit the firebender on the wall the blast of air and then another to the roof, knocking out the angry prince. He used the opening to escape and ran towards the control center, where he found an opening to the outside. A smile of relief overtook his face as he threw his staff open, transforming it into a glider, and jumped on it, ready to fly away. Before he could properly bend the current, he felt a weight on him, dragging him back down to the ground. He fell and hit his head on the metal deck, temporarily knocking him out.
It was late at night with the moon full. The weather had become harsher and the villagers retired to their tents. Katara was no where to be found and Sokka grew worried so as her fiancé. They decided to head out that night in search of the impulsive waterbender.
Both Water Tribe warriors strolled the snowy South pole, combing it for her. They walked in silence, only speaking when necessary. Sokka was scarily silent as he thought of how he'd help the airbender rather than focusing on finding his sister. He was invested in finding Katara but sometimes thoughts of what they might be doing to Aang crept into his mind, filling him with a feeling of apprehension.
Tarik noticed Sokka's expression and tried to alleviate his stress. "Don't worry Sokka. I'm sure she didn't run away."
Sokka remained the same. "Katara doesn't run away from things. She gets mad at them."
Tarik nodded. He still didn't understand why she was so upset about this more than anyone. He also felt bad that the airbender or…Avatar had to be taken for their safety but she was being overdramatic. "I honestly don't understand why Katara's being so overdramatic. It's like she's forgotten about the rest of us because the Fire Nation captured some stranger."
"Aang sacrificed himself for the safety of our tribe. He isn't a stranger anymore, he's a hero." Sokka found himself defending Aang, who he criticized for always being defended. He laughed mentally at himself. The irony.
Tarik shrugged. "I've put myself in danger defending my tribe too, she was never this triggered."
"It's just that…Katara's had this weird obsession with the Avatar and since Aang is the Avatar, she might feel obligated to help him. But even when we didn't know he was the Avatar, she always took his side. I mean, she'd only known him a day—
"A day?!"
Sokka nodded. "I haven't seen anyone become so close in the span of a day. She's liked him since we broke him out of that iceberg," he paused once he noticed Tarik's displeased expression. He laughed nervously, "I don't mean like in that manner but as friends. She said it herself. 'I don't like him, Sokka'" he gulped, hoping not to offend his senior.
"I think we should split up." Tarik said blankly. "We'll find her faster that way."
Sokka silently agreed and parted ways with him. Honestly, he wanted to split up a while ago but refrained from doing so to avoid unwanted dispute; Tarik was the arguing type. He walked for miles and miles until he heard faint sobbing coming from near the river where they discussed Aang. He followed the sound and was lead to his sister, bent over, her eyes buried in her palms, sobbing loudly. He crouched down beside her and placed his gloved palm on her back, assuring her that he was there for her.
It pained him terribly to see his sister in tears like this and he not being able to make it stop. He felt incompetent as a warrior, as a leader and most importantly as a brother. He could protect his sister from the Fire Nation and he couldn't protect her from her own feelings. It hurt…badly. He was tasked with taking care of his sister once their mother passed and their father went to fight in the war and yet, he couldn't do that. He just wanted her to feel better. To not feel depressed or hopeless. He wanted to tell her about his impossible plan of rescuing the Avatar. He wanted her to just not be…like this.
He knew words wouldn't mitigate the situation but he'd try either way. "Katara, he's going to be fine."
She spoke from inside her palms. "They're going to kill him, Sokka." She sounded so disheartened. Thus wasn't like her at all. Katara was usually the one trying so hard to keep everyone on the hopeful side. She never gave up on anyone or assumed their fate for them. She sounded really broken. This was the only time, aside from the period their mother died, that she'd acted so despondently.
Sokka looked away. It was uncertain but likely the truth. The Fire Nation knowing he was the Avatar would get him killed instantly, no doubt.
"He doesn't deserve this." She whispered in-between sobs.
"He doesn't but, he may still be alive, or better, he might have escaped!" Sokka tried to think positively, something he wasn't known for. "He's a really great bender!"
"The Fire Nation killed mom! What makes you think they won't do the same thing to Aang?!" she yelled, lifting her head.
Sokka sighed. "I know I didn't trust him at first. I treated the kid badly and banished him from our village and I regret it! He doesn't deserve anything that's happened in the last couple hours which is… which is why I'm going to rescue him. To apologize to him." He announced. Maybe if she heard he was planning a rescue mission, she'd feel better.
Her eyes widened and she snapped her head to her brother. Did she hear right ? "Sokka, are you being serious?" she knew her brother wasn't the type to apologize for something so easily. Maybe he felt that bad.
He looked her in the eye, a resolved look on his face. "I won't let the Fire Nation oppress us any further. They won't take Aang from you, I promise."
Abruptly, she hugged her brother tightly. She'd been feeling so helpless and unable to do anything since they took Aang. It hurt her that they captured him and the thought of them torturing him was sickening. It caused her to fall into a temporal state of depression. But hearing her brother's rarely spoken words of optimism, she felt like there was still a glimpse of hope. And she was willing to take it.
"Let's go save Aang!" she said happily.
Sokka smiled but shook his head. "You aren't coming, Katara. It's too dangerous for you to come along. I'll be fine by myself."
She gaped incredulously. How could her brother exclude her like that? Aang was her friend too, she had to save him. "You aren't changing my mind Sokka. I want to save him and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Sokka rolled his eyes but gave in. He knew there wasn't any stopping her. "Fine."
She trapped him in another tight, heartfelt embrace, blessing him in the name of the moon spirit.
The two siblings started sneaking back to the village when they heard a low growl from behind them. They slowly turned around, praying they weren't met with a polar bear-tiger. They saw the silhouette of a large animal with…six legs! Sokka stood in front of his sister, shielding her from whatever attack the creature could sent them. The animal moved closer, their cold palms began sweating and Sokka took a fighting stance.
It came into the moonlight and was revealed to be Appa, Aang's bison. They immediately let their guard down and petted the large furry creature.
"Hey Appa! We're going to find Aang, will you help us?" Katara asked as she scratched behind its huge ear.
"No, no, no!" Sokka was back to his pessimistic self. "We can't take him with us. He'd blow our cover!"
Katara sneered. "And how do you suppose we get there? On a canoe? Sorry but I don't think a canoe can catch up to a Fire Nation ship!" she smiled as she lead the animal to their village. Sokka groaned. She had a point.
They left Appa a safe distance away from their village as they packed supplies. Things like ropes, daggers, spears and food if they needed it. Katara finished packing her belongings and was about to leave her tent but was shocked to find her Gran-Gran outside, waiting for her. Behind the old woman stood Sokka, who'd already been caught, with a rueful expression on.
"Where do you think you're going young lady?" she questioned.
Katara looked down at her feet. "No where." She lied.
"Oh, sorry, then I guess you wouldn't be needing these." Her Gran-Gran showed her some sleeping bags then was about to put them away.
Katara stopped her. "Wait! Gran, are you really letting us leave?"
"I wanted to wait to tell you this, Katara. From the moment I saw that boy, I knew something was special about him. I thought it was because he might be a threat but I might've misinterpreted my intuitions. Now that we know who he is, your destines are intertwined with his. You have to rescue the Avatar, Katara, and help him return balance to the world. Our messiah will need all the help he can get on this mission." The woman explained.
Katara wiped the silent tears falling. "But Gran-Gran, I'm not even a waterbender yet. I can't help him in anyway. Besides, I'm too young to be fighting in a war—
"That boy is even younger than you, Katara. That is why you should help him. This journey is going to be a tough one both mentally, emotionally and physically. But I trust you Katara. You've taken care of our village since you were a little girl. I know you can be the rock of this team." Gran-Gran encouraged, handing her the sleeping bags.
Katara smiled, embracing her grandmother. "Thank you grandmother. I'll miss you."
"Good luck my child." She whispered in her ear before letting her go with her brother. "Take care."
Katara and Sokka made their way to Appa, loaded their stuff on him and were about to leave when they heard a weak voice speak.
"Katara?" she turned around. It was Tarik. He looked confused. What was she doing? "What's going on?"
She sighed and climbed down from Appa. "I-I'm going to rescue Aang."
"Why?" he sounded more confused than hurt.
"Why?! Because if we don't, he'll be burned alive by those monsters!" she half yelled.
"If you go after him, then you'll be burned alive!" he shouted back. He shook his head incredulously. "I can't believe you're willing to risk your life for him. Come on, we're going back to the village." He took her arm and tried to drag her back but she pulled away.
"No! I'm going to find my friend. Don't you realize how important this is? He's the Avatar!"
He face twisted in anger. "I am your future husband, Katara! You will listen to me!" he yelled. "It doesn't matter who he is! You are not leaving this village!"
Katara was taken aback by his attitude towards her. She shifted slightly and shifted her gaze elsewhere. "Maybe I don't want you as my future husband anymore." She said, taking out the betrothal necklace from her pocket and handing back to him. "It's over Tarik."
He couldn't believe his eyes. Katara was breaking off their engagement because of this? "You're leaving me because of that- that airbender?" He said the last part with disgust.
She shook her head. "No. I'm leaving you because agreeing to be with you was a mistake in the first place. I'm sorry Tarik, but I don't feel the same way as you do."
"But you can—
"Didn't you hear her?" Sokka interfered angrily. He couldn't stand to see his sister get yelled at unjustly. "She wants nothing to do with you! Take care of the village while we're gone." He said, helping his sister on the bison.
"Wait! If you're going on a mission to rescue the Avatar, then I'll help you!" he insisted.
"You don't want to help the Avatar, Tarik. Stay here and look after our village." Katara said. "Goodbye." She said plainly.
They'd probably been swimming for hours, according to Sokka's exaggerated words. Both of them couldn't figure out the command to get Appa to fly and it was getting frustrating.
"Up, ascend, elevate…" At this point Sokka was just saying any uplifting words.
Katara bent down to Appa's ear, petting him silently. "Come on, Appa, don't you want to save Aang? Sokka doesn't believe you can fly, but I do." She said earning a low growl from the animal.
Aang had mentioned a command to get Appa to fly when he was taking them back to the village and when he was leaving the village but Appa didn't fly either times because he was tired. Now they couldn't remember the command. They are on a super dangerous mission to rescue the Avatar from the Fire Nation and this was the level they were stuck at. It was humiliating.
"Go, fly, escalate…" Sokka continued trying. "What exactly did that kid say again? Wahoo? Hoo-ha? Uh…yip-yip?" They knew the last words were the command as Appa started rumbling and lifting his tail. Suddenly they were in the air as the bison was…flying!
Sokka immediately felt elated as the command finally worked. "He's flying! Katara I can't believe it, he's flying! He's—
He stopped when he saw the smug expression on his little sister's face. "Big deal, he's flying." He tried to contain his joy.
Now that they were in the air and had a good chance of catching up to Aang, Katara started to feel anxious. What exactly were they going to do once they caught up to them? Attack an entire ship? How? They were only one mediocre waterbender and boomerang guy. She'd just embarked on this rescue mission without thinking it through. That was very unlike her. She was just so desperate to find Aang that she stopped thinking and just did. Now she was blank. What was she going to do?
"Uh, Katara, you're sweating. In this weather!" Sokka pointed out.
"That's because I'm anxious, Sokka! How exactly are we going to rescue Aang? We can't fight!"
Sokka sighed. "Calm down sis. I have a plan. Stealth. We sneak into the ship and silently but effectively rescue Aang and fly out of there!"
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no problem!" She said sarcastically.
Sokka sighed, again. "Don't worry. The plan's much better when you see it in action."
"I hope so…" she reluctantly agreed because she couldn't think of any ideas to counter her brother's. She could only hope against hope for Aang's safety.
Aang got up, groaning from the head trauma he sustained due to his fall from the balcony. He blinked, turned around and saw Zuko running towards him with a line of fire generated from his hands. Aang barely dodged the first attack, still recovering from the fall, and Zuko released simultaneous fire blasts, pushing him backwards and he was now leaning against the edge of the ship, barely able to remain on the ship. Finally, Zuko blasted him again, burning his already tattered outfit and knocking him into the ocean.
He lost consciousness and sank. He heard his name being called at a distance in distress. It was Katara. As the last air bubble left his lungs, he felt his body become warm. It was the same sensation he felt when he got trapped in an iceberg with Appa. Suddenly, an angry expression plastered on his face and his eyes and tattoos begun glowing an incandescent white. This wasn't him and he knew it. He felt like someone else that was a part of him but wasn't really him had taken over – it made no sense.
Instinctively, he bended the water around him into a long column, taking him out of the ocean and towering over the ship. He then landed on the ship and bended the large column of water over the crew and Zuko, sending them into the ocean. The glow faded and he instantly felt dizzy, falling to his knees. He was caught by Katara who just landed Appa on the ship.
"Hey…" his whisper barely audible. "Thanks," he smiled, looking up at her weakly.
Katara didn't respond as she helped him to get on the bison, a determined look on her face. After she helped him, she saw some guards climb up from the water and ready to attack. She gasped and tried to freeze them but accidentally froze her brother's, who was retrieving Aang's staff, feet instead. She took a deep breath and tried again, this time from a different direction, successfully freezing the soldiers in place. That was the first time she'd ever used her waterbending in combat and it felt…fulfilling. Was this how she'd use her waterbending from now on?
Sokka joined both of them on the bison, yelling the command desperately and they took off. Just as they were in the sky, an enormous fireball came their way. Aang managed to gather enough strength to deflect the hot ball with an equal blast of air, destroying the Prince's ship and escaping in the process.
Zuko growled at the sight of his defeat. "That fucking bastard!" he cursed.
His uncle approached him and put a hand in his shoulder. "Don't think about it too much, Zuko. You should be happy, in fact. The Fire Nation's greatest treat is just a young, naïve little boy."
Zuko scoffed. "That little boy, uncle, just did this." He gestured to his ship half covered in snow. "I won't underestimate him again. The Avatar will never escape me again, even if I have to kill him. I don't care if I offer him dead or alive, I will have him!" He growled, breathing fire from his lungs and walking back into his ship.
Far away from danger, they drifted silently across the golden clouds in nerve wrecking discomfort. Katara had so many questions for him. How was he the Avatar? Why didn't he tell them? What was that thing he just did with the water? Why did his eyes and tattoos glow? Could she mend his clothes for him? Didn't his burns hurt? Why did he look so depressed? There were just too many. She took a deep breath and decided to take it slow.
"Are you ok—
She got interrupted by her impatient brother. "Aang, my brother, I don't know what you did with those waters but it was amazing! You sure showed those scumbags who's boss, huh?" Sokka praised the younger boy with an arm around his neck.
"Yeah.." Aang barely answered.
Sokka looked at him more seriously. "But seriously bro. Are we okay?" He still felt the need to be on good terms with the airbender, mutually.
Aang smiled faintly. "Yeah, we're good. I forgive you Sokka."
Sokka smiled and decided not to ask any more questions. Katara went and sat by the dejected airbender. She opened her arms and he hugged her. He closed his eyes and allowed all his emotions pour out into the hug. He'd hoped she'd understand and not ask him any questions. They stayed like that for a while before he finally let go. Her hand was still on his back, comfortingly.
"Aang, why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?" she asked worriedly.
He looked away, pushing her hand off him. "Because Katara, I never wanted to be.." his voice was quiet as he closed his eyes, tears falling from his grey eyes.
Katara felt the urge to hug him again but decided against it because she knew he'd push her away this time. She swallowed and continued. "But Aang, the world's been waiting for the Avatar to return and put a stop to the war!"
"You think I haven't figured that out!" he snapped at her. He pulled back and buried his head in his hands. "I'm sorry." He whispered apologetically.
She sighed. "Aang, we need you. I need you. The whole world needs you!" she wished she were exaggerating. But she wasn't and the world was in turmoil and the Avatar she'd dreamed of saving them all from this bloody era was an unsure teenage boy. It was discouraging but also pitiful. She felt the need to help him.
Aang shook his head solemnly. He felt discouraged, unable and not ready for any of this. "I can't do it Katara. I can't end a war! I'm not ready!"
"If not you, who else? You're the Avatar, Aang! It's supposed to be your sole duty to restore balance to the world."
"I didn't ask to be the Avatar!" he snapped again.
"And I didn't ask to be a terrible waterbender but I'm living with it!" she snapped back. She breathed and calmed down. "Aang you have to take responsibility."
"Katara, I'm just fourteen. I don't know anything about being the Avatar! I'm a failure and the world is doomed!"
She turned him to face her, grabbing his hand in hers. "Aang, you are not a failure. You are bravest man I've ever seen. You sacrificed yourself for a village that treated you like crap and escaped a Fire Navy ship on your own. You're the definition of a strong, brave and selfless man."
He averted her gaze. "How do you know that when you've only known me for a day?"
"Because I trust you, blindly."
"Thanks Katara but even with your trust, I'm still not a good enough Avatar."
"That's why Sokka and I are coming, to help you end this damned war."
"You guys would do that?" Aang faced them with disbelief. "What about your family, your tribe?"
Sokka shrugged. "We pretty much got permission to do so once Gran-Gran let us come rescue you."
Aang shook his head in unbelief. He didn't want to be responsible for tearing apart a perfectly happy family. He also didn't want to be responsible for what might happen to Sokka and Katara on this journey. If anything happened to them, he'd be unable to bear the guilt. He already felt guilty enough that he abandoned the world for a hundred years, he didn't need Sokka or Katara's death on his list of what he failed to protect either.
"Thanks guys but, I don't want to put you in the face of danger because I'm the Avatar."
"Aang, we aren't coming along because you're the Avatar, although that is a part of it. We're here because we're your friends and we won't leave you to deal with this on your own." Katara said.
"Let us share your pain, man." Sokka seldom spoke in such a heartfelt emotional manner unless he was really sympathizing with someone.
Aang looked at the two of them, tears of gratitude fell from his grey orbs. No one ever saw how lonely and burdened he was as the Avatar. The pressure, confusion, rejection, inability to feel normal, it weighed him down for so long. But that weight felt lifted, slightly, as he found himself in the presence of true friends who actually cared about him. These two people were willing to sacrifice having a concrete home for him despite only knowing him for about thirty hours. He opened his arms and they all engaged in a warming group hug.
"Thank you." He mumbled.
They released each other, exchanging satisfying looks. This was it now. Just the three of them. Aang, Sokka and Katara – all for one and one for all.
"We're family now, Aang." Katara assured him.
Sokka hummed skeptically. "Well, I wouldn't say family…" he trailed playfully. "More like partners!"
"Sokka!" his sister scolded.
He lifted his arms innocently. "What? We're not that close." He still defended his argument.
Aang laughed as they gradually progressed from harmless bickering to a complete argument. He watched as they causally insulted each other and reluctantly apologized, making up in the process. Sibling rivalry was entertaining to watch.
"So, where to from here?" Sokka asked, leaning against the saddle, rubbing where Katara had pinched him on the side.
"Well, according to legend, the Avatar has to master waterbending, then earth, then fire. You can learn waterbending at the North pole?" Katara suggested.
Aang immediately chirped in, his melancholic mood dying down gradually, but not completely. "We could learn it together!"
Katara felt her heart swell at the possibility of her learning waterbending. She always dreamt that one day, when the Avatar returned as majestically as people described him to be, he'd teach her the best waterbending that ever existed. She never imagined she'd be learning with the almighty Avatar. It was even better than she hoped. She nodded excitedly, impatient to start this thrilling journey.
And so, with the return of the Avatar, the world could expect itself to be liberated from living under the tyranny of the brutal Fire Nation.
A/N: Well????
'The Avatar Returns' took a total of 11k words to write. I didn't want it to be too long so I split it.
I don't know if I'm satisfied enough with what I've written but at least it isn't totally trashy, is it? I might do some editing in the near future but for now, please enjoy me test the limits of my creativity.
Updates probably around once or twice a week. It depends on my schedule.
Thanks again.