Author's Note:Thank you all so much for your comments! When I started writing this story I never believed it would amount to anything. Even months later I wasn't even sure if I was ever going to post this story. In the end, and a few years, I created something I am proud of (although I have endeavors to rewrite it and improve upon my own work) and something so many people love. Here we are, we have made it took Book Three: Fire. Thank you for joining me on the rollercoaster that was Book Two: Earth. I am sorry with how we have left things, but even this has its reasons as well, and through this pain we learn Mira does not need lover nor a lover to feel whole, complete, and loved. She will survive, she will be happy, and most importantly, she will have nothing in the way of her growth. Both as an Avatar and a woman.
This is not only a story of her romance with Zuko, it is also a story of love, finding your belonging, and that sometimes your chosen family can be more important than the one you were born into. Also, your love for your chosen family doesn't mean your love for the family you were born into doesn't exist. Everyone has a different story, all equally valid.
But this is Mira's story, and in Book Three: Fire we learn more about who she really is, the Mira we met in the very first chapter. We discuss darker themes such as mental illness, and we pull no punches with the horrors of war. I hope you enjoy it and I promise this is not the end for Mira and Zuko.
The song in this chapter is 90 Day's by Pink.
~Book Three: Fire Start~
~Chapter 1 Start~
I awoke with a pounding in my skull and sick to my stomach. I rolled over, coughing up bile and blackened blood. I attempted to open my eyes, finding them painfully sensitive to the light. I wasn't sure where I was, but knew from the slow ebb and flow that I was back on the water. It didn't have the same comforting feeling as before, and so I vomited once again until I was just dry heaving. My back wracked with upheaves as the chill of the room swept over me and I felt the sweat rolling down my neck. I was acutely aware that my skin hurt, every movement stinging with some unseen injury. Quacking in a hunch I felt tinier than I ever had, even as a child.
"You're awake." I heard a voice state.
I attempted to open my eyes and managed to stare through the pain. There was Katara, although she was blurry, it was very clearly her. She was seated next to my bed, relaxing comfortably. I attempted to clear my throat, but merely ended up coughing and then dry heaving once more.
"I—" I croaked out as I broke into a fit of coughs.
"Here, you've been unconscious for a week." She said quietly, handing me a cup.
I took greedy sips until the tickle in my throat was gone. I inspected Katara then, trying to see if I should be wary or not. She seemed sad, tired, and angry. But, the question was if she was mad at me. She was appraising me, watching my movements with tight eyes. I knew she was ready to knock me flat if I tried anything, as if that was even a possibility. I felt worse than I ever had in my life and twice as scared.
"Thank you." I bowed my head, my matted hair hanging around me in an oily curtain.
"I think you and I need to have a talk, Mira was it?" Katara asked as she leaned over.
"Yeah, it's Mira." I confirmed, raising my eyes to meet hers.
"I'll get straight to it since I'm sure you're not feeling well. Who are you really and why did you help us" Katara demanded.
"My name is Mira, Mira Walters. I'm the Avatar from a different time. I ended up kidnapped and used in an experiment to time travel by some really evil guys. They intended to come here and learn to bend the elements since in my time that knowledge was lost. They intend to use the war to take over the world themselves. It's entirely possible at this point they are helping the Fire Nation, I have no idea...the truth is I've been guided by a spirit as the experience that initially left me...dead, I guess. I'm meant to help Aang and stop Sadar and his men." I rushed out, unable to keep any of it in anymore.
The taste of my last name on my tongue felt bitter sweet. I wasn't sure I was ready to go back to being me, still caught up in acceptance. Denial seemed better, but I doubt Katara, or my current situation, would wait. A strange stirring hit my stomach as I told her my story, the freedom of the truth slipping past where it had once stuck so hard against my teeth.
"What? You're the Avatar? So you...really did bend fire and water against Azula." Katara gasped.
"Yeah...I'm really and truly on your side. I thought I was meant to help Zuko and...I was...very wrong..." I trailed off as the tears began to sting my eyes.
"You and Zuko..." She began to ask.
"Are nothing. I was probably just another tool for him. He didn't know I was the Avatar until you guys did. He betrayed me, he betrayed you, and he betrayed the world." I growled as my cheeks grew wet.
It felt easier to deny us, to deny everything. Perhaps I wasn't quite at acceptance yet, or perhaps saying it was nothing until it was true felt easier. Find a new sense of false security in a world where I had nothing. In a way Katara and I had that in common. We both had the Fire Nation rip everything we knew and loved away from us. The difference was, Katara wasn't literally sleeping with the enemy; I was.
"This is a lot to take in." Katara admitted with a sigh after a moment's pause.
"I know...I understand if my being here is too hard." I said, hanging my head low.
"Your being here isn't hard, it's just a shock is all. We don't want you to go anywhere, but we do need answers." Katara soothed as she placed a hand on my arm.
"Thank you, Katara." I sniffled.
Curling into her arms I felt reminded of my mother and sobbed even harder. Muffled by her thick clothes I clung to her as the past year poured out. It was cathartic in a way, and perhaps Katara needed this too. Proof I wasn't a monster, proof I was human and someone she could possibly trust. If Aang was right, I wouldn't be alone, and as Katara's arms held me tightly against her I understood the truth of that statement.
~Break~
"Wait, you're seriously telling me she's also the Avatar?!" Sokka said, shocked.
After I had calmed down, Katara had taken me to get some food. Which consisted of broth and a piece of bread. She didn't want me to put too much food on my empty stomach, and as the ship rocked too far left taking my stomach for a ride, I knew she was right. Afterwards, she brought me to her brother, Sokka. He seemed to be the one who made the plans, so she felt it was important we told him first. It wasn't lost on me that there were a large amount of adults on board she bypassed to find Sokka.
"Yes. It appears she came from the future to help us, but that's not all." Katara explained.
"What?" Sokka asked, realizing how serious Katara had gotten.
"She wasn't the only one to come back and whoever did is most likely helping the Fire Lord because they came back with the intention of using this war to take over the world." Katara admitted.
"You're saying a bunch of bad guys from the future have come back in time to help the Fire Nation?" Sokka gasped.
"No, we're saying it's possible they have, or at the very least will use the Fire Nation in their plans." I spoke up finally.
The siblings finally turned to look at me and I sighed. It wasn't as if it bothered me to be talked about as if I weren't in the room, but they didn't have to look shocked that I actually spoke.
"Then I sure am glad you're here." Sokka said after the shock of my talking wore off.
"Well...there is one problem. The only elements I can bend are water and fire. I still need to learn air and earth." I sighed.
It was a bitter truth that felt like I was somehow letting everyone down. I was older than Aang and knew almost nothing compared to him. I wasn't sure what kind of edge I could give anyone in a war.
"Well, it's a good thing we have an earthbending master on board," Sokka grinned as he placed a finger to his lips. "But first, you said other people came back with you right? Since they kidnapped you they know who you are and what you look like, which means..."
Sokka started to gesture towards my head and I looked up as I placed a hand onto my messy hair. Slightly confused I looked around before settling my gaze back on Sokka. Katara brought her hand to her chin and once again she was appraising me with her eyes.
"What?" I asked.
"Your hair, it's really unique you kind of stick out. If we want everyone to think you've died along with Aang we are going to need to change that." Sokka explained.
"You are literally the first person we've seen with that hair colour, plus the Fire Nation probably not only knows what you look like, but also your name." Katara said, agreeing with her brother.
"How?" I asked, removing my hand from my head.
"There are a few different plants you can find that women here use to bring out different colours or highlights in their hair, I'm sure it would work to darken yours." Sokka explained.
"Wow, who knew you knew so much about beauty, Sokka." Katara scoffed as she shot him a look.
"I call it being prepared, I'll ask dad to grab some next time we dock." Sokka sighed, trying to ignore his sister's grin.
"Funny hearing that from the guy who once called sewing 'women's work'." Katara said smugly.
~Break~
"So there's a second Avatar?" Toph asked.
"Yup." Sokka said.
"And you need me to teach them as well?" Toph confirmed.
"If you didn't mind." I coughed.
"Are you kidding me?! How many people get to boast they trained one Avatar in their life, much less two!" Toph cheered with a grin.
"That...was easier than when we had to ask for Aang, how is that fair?" Sokka cried.
"Eh, you guys just caught me at a bad time." Toph shrugged.
Sokka was now pulling at his hair as Toph intentionally bugged him. It was a really cute dynamic, and not one I was used to. Everyone here was so much more open, so much more free. It made me realize just how stiff Zuko was and I had to squash the thought before I started crying again.
"It's nice to meet you officially, Toph." I bowed.
It seemed that Toph did remember me, and she was rather fond of both Iroh and I. She grinned as I walked in, once more mentioning how light on my feet I was. Despite the fact that it seemed like they had to convince her to join them, I felt lucky. There was a warmth that came from being surrounded by people who cared about you, liked you, and acted like friends. No, this group didn't just act like friends, they acted like a family. Something I never knew how much I craved since I had lost mine when I first appeared in the past.
~Break~
"Is Aang ok?" I asked as Katara led me back to my room.
"He should be, but he's still unconscious...I'm worried." Katara admitted.
"If I woke up, that means he should as well." I tried to comfort her.
"Thanks. I'll get you something else to eat, slowly. You should clean up and rest so you can start learning earthbending tomorrow." Katara smiled outside the door of my room.
"Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me...you didn't have to save me." I admitted as I opened my door.
"No, I didn't. But I'm glad I did." She smiled as she turned and walked away.
~Break~
It was night now and I had time to really digest everything that happened. My stomach sank when I realized that not only had I lost Zuko, but I had lost Iroh as well. I felt the burn in my chest as it ached. The tears came next, and I felt my chest start to heave as I curled in on myself.
I couldn't get a grip, I was drowning. Every gasp was agony, and through my heaving panicked cries, I couldn't catch my breath. I was hyperventilating now, my eyes shut tight as everything became overwhelming. The noise of the boat, the light, my own sobs. The feeling of needles spreading along my chest as my limbs became so heavy I became trapped.
I wanted to rip my own skin off and began to scratch into my forearms, nails sinking in and rubbing them raw. The pain grounded me as I felt my arms become wet. My eyes were too blurry to see and all I could see on replay was Zuko betraying me. His eyes haunted me, and as I closed my eyes the look he gave when Azula had killed me was burned in.
"Shut up." I sobbed as my muscles spammed.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and shook harder, trying to scramble away. I felt arms encircle me as a soft voice shh'd me. A small melody on their lips as my hiccups quieted. I felt a warmth in my chest and found it within myself to breathe in deeply.
After a few minutes I had calmed enough to open my eyes. I found a disheveled Katara holding me as she sang a sweet lullaby. She was petting my hair and rubbing my back. I looked at my arms to see them red and raw, but thankfully not bleeding. The wetness I felt was from my tears.
"Katara" I asked, my voice cracking.
"Yes?" She asked quietly.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"You're welcome." She whispered into my hair as she held me tighter.
~Break~
I awoke with my head pounding and found that Katara had spent the night holding me. Her arms were lightly round my shoulder, but otherwise we had rolled some distance between us in our sleep. I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I remembered last night. I felt embarrassed and wondered how Katara not only knew what to do, but had known I was having one.
"Feeling better?" She asked, sitting up as well.
"I..uh...yeah I am actually how...?" I started to ask.
"I could hear you. My room is next to yours because I wanted to be the first person who spoke to you when you woke up." She shrugged sheepishly.
"Oh, well, thank you again." I smiled.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I, uh...had a panic attack I guess..." I swallowed.
"Do you know what caused it?" She asked in this understanding way.
"You know what panic attacks are?" I asked.
"Well, of course I do. There's a war going on. Wouldn't be the first time I saw one." She smiled warmly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I...never thought of that. Thank you, for being there...you didn't have too." I whispered, placing my hand over her's and squeezed.
"Of course I did, no one should have to suffer alone." She squeezed my hand back.
~Break~
"Wait, what the hell are you guys doing?" Sokka asked as Katara and I walked past him.
"Girls night. We're grabbing Toph and spending the day together." Katara responded tartly as we rushed towards Toph's room.
"And let me guess, I'm stuck covering your guys' chores?" Sokka asked, throwing his hands into the air.
"Thanks for offering, we would really appreciate it, Sokka!" Katara yelled back as I laughed.
~Break~
"Girls night is going to be too girly...is it?" Toph asked as she eyed Katara suspiciously.
"Define 'too girly'." Katara responded.
"We're going to mostly hang out, maybe do some bending, and ask me awkward questions about the future. The only girly thing we need to do is dye my hair." I said with a small grin.
I held up a small jar that Sokka had brought me earlier this afternoon. Katara snorted as Toph gave me a strange look.
"If you're holding something up I can't see it." Toph deadpanned.
"That is why I said we are dying my hair, you're here for moral support more than anything else." I laughed.
"Moral support? Why?" Toph asked.
"Well, in my time it's common for people to change their hair when they go through a breakup. The most common thing to do is to dye it, which I kind of am." I said with a bitter smile.
"Breakup?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, Zuko...it technically was a breakup, although it sure was a hell of one." I said sourly.
"Sokka thinks her hair colour is too conspicuous so we are dying it so she can blend in." Katara explained.
"To specify, everyone around here has dark hair, mine is pretty damn light. It sticks out." I explained, since Toph was blind.
The last thing she would ever notice was my hair colour. That thought soothed my soul as I rationalized the change of the last remaining piece of my old life I had left. That somehow, despite changing the last thing I had left of my old life, to Toph I would look just like I did now.
"Alright, count me in then," Toph said as she got comfortable and threw her feet onto a table. "After you tell us about this whole 'dating Zuko' thing."
"You're not serious," I said as I stared at Toph, mouth open like a fish. "Is she?"
"I dunno, I'm kind of with Toph on this one, seems like you owe us a story if we are going to do this breakup ritual with you." Katara said with a grin.
I stared at both of them, comprehending that I was being ganged up on. With a small sigh, and a soft smile, I acquiesced. I told them the start of my story with how I had ended up here. I told them how I met both Iroh and Zuko, how slowly over time Zuko and I chipped away each other's armor. The trope of enemies to lovers heavy on my tongue as I hit the siege of the North Pole. I pushed forward into our adventure of making it into Ba Sing Se, and the pain of my own failings when I saved that babe. I started to silently cry as I regaled them with how we freed Appa, worked at a tea shop, and became what some would call lovers.
I never had to tell them about the fall in those crystalized caverns. Instead I slipped off, my voice falling into the nothing I felt after admitting everything. Katara pulled me in close once again, her arms anchoring me in the now. Toph was silent, an unreadable expression on her face as she seemed to digest my words. I was thankful for that, I wasn't sure if I could take any more pity right now.
"Dying your hair makes a lot more sense now." Toph said simply, her feet falling from the table.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Yeah." Toph grinned as she held the jar of dye up.
"Perhaps I should be the one applying it though." Katara said quickly, taking the jar from Toph.
"I'll give you moral support then. Zuko's a dick, fuck him." Toph deadpanned.
"Language!" Katara gasped.
"Come on, he deserves that kind of language. Dungheap head doesn't have the same ring to it." Toph grinned.
"I keep forgetting you're literally twelve." I said with a smile as I shook my head.
"It's still not an appropriate way to speak." Katara said with a shake of her head.
"Hey, I know how to speak all proper, I just don't wanna." Toph shrugged.
"Sounds like there's a story there." I grinned.
"Toph comes from a prestigious noble family." Katara explained when Toph didn't.
"Nice, I'm a commoner, or peasant. Whatever you call that here." I chuckled.
Katara moved behind me, taking care to untie my hair from it's braid. Slowly, she drew a comb through it. Hitting the snags softly, and using her fingers to help undo any small mats she encountered. It was soothing, feeling her fingers move through the strands. My scalp began to tingle as she drew the brush against it, until she was satisfied it was knot free. Her hands began to part my hair, moving the bulk across my right shoulder. I heard her open the jar before a cold substance was smeared onto my scalp.
"What about you, Katara?" I asked.
"Oh, we didn't really have nobles or peasants in the Southern Water Tribe." Katara explained, moving the dye towards the ends of my hair.
"Aren't you the Chief's daughter?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, but that doesn't really mean anything." Katara explained.
"So I am literally the only nobody in this room." I laughed.
"Eh, I wouldn't call you a nobody, you are the Avatar after all." Toph said with a wide grin.
"It's weird to think of myself like that, considering I spent my whole life thinking I was completely unremarkable. Couldn't even bend." I said.
"What do you mean?" Katara asked, as she moved through my hair with the dye.
"Hmm, well no one reveres the Avatar anymore, they don't even know who the Avatar is or that they even exist. Truth be told, my time is a time of science and technology. Everything is so focused on that, and money. It's amazing, and I do miss some things, like the internet and coffee, but mostly..." I explained, biting my lip to try and find the right words. "No one knew who I was. More people know who I am in your time than my own. I had friends and family, I loved them and they loved me but...shit here the Fire Nation knows who I am, you guys do. Sadar and his men know me, I am so recognizable that my hair needs to be changed. It just feels surreal sometimes. I didn't even truly believe I was the Avatar until I bent my second element for the first time."
"What element was it?" Toph asked.
"Air, and of course Aang was there." I chuckled, the memory surfacing like a breath of sunshine.
"Aang was there? Where was this?" Katara asked.
"Back when I was still traveling with...Zuko on his ship. One night we found out that General Zhao had caught the Avatar, so Zuko and I went to rescue him...sort of." I coughed.
"Sort of?" Katara asked.
"Well, I went to save Aang, Zuko went to capture him for himself. The escape ended up not going smoothly, so we had to fight our way out. I can't remember every precise detail anymore, but we ended up falling through the air at some point when I felt my stomach drop and I bent the air to stop us from smashing into a wall. It was amazing to be honest. Anyways in the end I made sure Zuko let Aang go so..." I said, finishing my story feeling numb.
"You know, Aang always told us we should trust you. He said he felt a connection between you two, that he just knew you were being truthful and genuine. I guess now we know why, huh?" Katara said after a moment's pause.
Her hands began to move through the rest of my hair, before piling it atop my head and stepping away. Giving my hair one more look over, Katara joined Toph on the couch across from me. My hands began to nervously twitch, nails scraping against the sides of my fingers to ground myself into the moment. I wasn't with Zuko anymore, or anyone that could hurt me; I was safe.
"The first time I bent water my mother was both so proud and horrified," Katara declared in the silence, filling it comfortably. "I was too young to understand at the time, but being a waterbender is a great honour. But after all the raids the Fire Nation did, it was also a curse. She feared what could happen if they ever discovered I was a waterbender."
"I was lost and crying when I learned. I was never an obedient kid, so I used to always wander off alone. Blind or not, I hated being coddled. But I got lost in a tunnel, so turned around I don't even know how long I was lost in there. I know I was hungry, scared, and tired by the time I ran into the badgermole. I felt him bending the earth, his nose and whiskers tickling my face as he sniffed me and licked my tears away. I did the same thing he did, extended myself out into the earth and bent it. I got home that night and was never lost or scared again." Toph admitted, despite smiling fondly at the memories.
"Wow, do any benders have nice 'I learned to bend' stories?" I scoffed with a shake of my head.
"Nowadays, I think only in the Fire Nation." Katara admitted sadly.
"Yeah, I'll bet. Just by being a firebender they accepted me as one of their own. What a sad realization about our world." I said with a far off look.
"Wow, things got dark fast." Toph said awkwardly.
"Did you two know that the stars we see have probably already burnt out by the time the light reaches us?" I asked.
"What?" Toph asked with a short blink.
"Stars, big burning balls of gas in space. Because of how far away most of them are, and how long it takes light to travel to us from where they are, many have already burnt out, died, eaten themselves up." I supplied.
"Wait, stars are made of gas?" Toph asked.
"Huh, guess that wasn't a useful fact to share considering it requires a certain amount of assumed knowledge..." I said with a small blush of embarrassment.
"What else do you know?" Katara asked.
"You can heal the human body right? Well, I can tell you about what everything inside a person is, and what it does. For the most part, I am not a doctor nor a teacher so..." I began to gush.
"How advanced is the knowledge in your time?" Katara asked.
"In my time you can reattach lost appendages in a small period of time, and if nothing is too damaged. We can reconstruct the human body in many ways, we can even change it. We can do open heart surgery, brain surgery, and all while the person is unconscious and feeling nothing. We can stop certain diseases with vaccines, we understand how people get sick and by what. It's almost infinite what you can learn about it to be honest, I wish I knew more than what a medical science anime about the human body taught me." I admitted.
"Wow," Toph said with an impressed look, "what else?"
"My time has all sorts of technology to entertain or help make life easier. Like phones, you can contact anyone anywhere at any time and speak to them as if you were with them in person. We can take photos and capture moments in the blink of an eye for eternity, and no one needs to paint anything. You can travel by land, sky, and sea with just a machine alone, and they are nothing like what the Fire Nation has. These things are prettier, faster, and comfier. Man, I wish I could show you the kinds of airplane seating you two would get had you been born in my time. Chief's daughter or not Katara, that would hold weight, and money, in my time." I said, finding it easy to gush about my time.
"Sokka would love to hear about this." Katara said with a smile.
"Torture him by not telling him." Toph grinned.
I burst out laughing, any pain I had previously felt falling away like the blonde in my hair.
~Break~
The girls night we had was still a recent memory. I felt joy swirl in my gut as I stared out into the sea. Mostly everyone was resting now, the rare person staying up as a night watch. I felt sorrow sitting on my coattails waiting for me to stop, for a moment to creep back in. I couldn't escape Zuko, no matter how far I ran. My feelings for him had always been an inevitability. Staring out into the sea I wasn't sure what to feel, or even think of. The creeping feelings of loss kept hitting me like the waves rolling along the ship. I missed Iroh desperately, and the lack of music nights on this Fire Nation ship felt oddly horrible. I opened my mouth, the words filling it instantly. Although my voice felt hoarse and squeaked at the start, I pushed forward.
"No-no-no no-no-no, we're driving in a black car, and we're blacked out, and we're spinnin'. We're listening to 'Fast Car', and you're driving fast, and you're singin'. Don't want to tell you what I'm feelin', don't want this night to hit a ceiling. I'm wearing dirty white shoes, a white t-shirt and your jacket. I'm laughing, but I'm lying, when you're smiling, I'm the saddest. I hide my face so you don't see it, I think out loud hope you don't hear it." I sang, the washing of the waves my only melody.
Tears started to roll down my face as my voice felt strained. I could feel my throat close up slightly as I choked on a small sob. I just had to keep going and I knew I would be okay.
"It's going on eighteen months now and It's fucked up, but I'm falling. I feel it every day now, but I'm stallin', but I'm stallin'. I'm here, but I'm in pieces, and I don't know how to fix this, and I don't know how to fix this, no." I continued to sing.
Taking a small pause I took a deep breath, grasping to remember the words. I faltered on the first word as I tried to remember what came next. Music was the only anchor left of my world; my home. If I could hold onto this, the loss of the hair I inherited from my father would scab over.
"If I'm just somebody that you're gonna leave, and you don't feel something when you look at me. You're holding my heart, mmm whatcha say? Just let me down slowly, I'll be okay. If you're just some habit that I gotta break, I can clear my system in ninety days. You're holding my heart, mmm whatcha say? Just let me down slowly." I took another breath at the end, remembering what little I could from my vocal instructor.
I opened my throat up in an almost yawn and focused only my breathing instead of my fears and anxieties. In a way, perhaps I was singing my empty sorrow filled feelings out. Screaming to the sea seemed easier, and more feasible, than yelling all of this at...him now.
"I get up, turn the lights out and it's four o'clock in the morning. I close my eyes, I can't sleep. A hotel room in New York and, I feel the space that's in between us. Convince myself that this is real love. 'Cause you made this shit so easy and I told you my secrets. So I don't know why I'm tongue tied at the wrong time when I need this. I'm here, but I'm in pieces and I don't know how to fix this, and I don't know how to fix this, no." With a sobering breath I sang on, despite the tears.
The boat rocked to the left, and then the right as a larger wave sloshed against the sides. I held the railing tight, white knuckled, as I leaned over the rail. If I never knew the man I shared my bed and heart with, could I trust myself?
"If I'm just somebody that you're gonna leave, and you don't feel something when you look at me. You're holding my heart, mmm whatcha say? Just let me down slowly, I'll be okay. If you're just some habit that I gotta break, I can clear my system in ninety days. You're holding my heart, mmm whatcha say? Just let me down slowly." I sang on.
I wasn't sure how to sing the next part. The next part was more of a duet with a lot of trills.
"I-I-I, I-I-I, I-I-I. Ooh, no...We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car. We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car. We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car. We're drivin' all night. We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car, yeah. We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car, yeah. We're drivin' in your fast car, your fast car, yeah. We're drivin' all night." I felt a presence behind me and I turned to find Katara looking at me with a curious look.
"If I'm just somebody that you're gonna leave, and you don't feel something when you look at me. You're holding my heart, mmm watcha say? Just let me down slowly, I'll be okay. If you're just some habit that I gotta break, I can clear my system in ninety days. You're holding my heart, mm watcha say? Just let me down slowly." I finished as Katara came to stand beside me.
"That was pretty, a song from your time?" She asked.
"Yeah, it is." I smiled.
"So...what's a car?" She finally asked.
I burst out laughing at how absurd the question sounded to me, and went on to explain for another hour the technological advances from my time.
"I'm surprised you didn't chastise me for saying fucked." I smiled despite the tears.
"Well, don't tell Toph, but sometimes there just is no other word to use." Katara said with a soft grin.
~Break~
The first lesson with Katara felt clumsy as I found myself wracked with anxiety. She stood across from me with a comforting smile, her outer clothes wrapped around her waist. It was a hot afternoon, as were most. Summer was starting to come on and boy could we feel it. Her arms were crossed, waiting for me to show her some of the forms I knew. I felt like a knobby-kneed child under her stare. Moving my arms up, I showcased my best form of the water whip, moving into pulling the water up around me in protective layers, before freezing it into ice. I pulled it back down, forming a circle before my fingertips.
"Not bad. I've seen you firebend and waterbend, but it's still strange to see someone other than Aang do it." Katara said as she pulled half the water towards herself.
"How is my form?" I asked.
"Good, but undisciplined. I'm not surprised, since you've only been formally trained in firebending. Some of your footwork definitely shows that you're trying to fill in blanks or missing knowledge with that of your firebending. But, despite all that, you have a strong base. Go into your first form again." Katara instructed as she walked around me.
I moved into position as Katara placed her hand on my shoulder, pushing it downwards.
"Move your foot back, roll your shoulder and extend your left arm further out. The whip needs to have a ridgid form, as well as a strong one. To get the most range you need to extend as far as you can and push the water to do the same so it is taught." Katara explained.
"Like an actual whip, so obvious." I said with a small chuckle.
I did as she instructed, finding my whip hitting further out with a wicked snap. Katara gave me a proud look and let out a small whoop. Somehow impressing her felt like a proper accomplishment.
"Your next form wasn't wrong per say, when you pulled the water around yourself. But the pattern of your hand movements was very different from how I was taught." Katara explained, taking her own water and drawing it up around herself.
I watched as her hands moved in less circular and languid manners, instead more intricate and strong movements. Like the pull of a current, rather than the ebb of the tide. I realized then, that while they accomplished the exact same result, they were very clearly different forms. Another distinct difference was how my form was more squared off with a small stance. Hers was like an unbreakable wall of waves, stable and sound.
"Where did you learn to waterbend?" Katara asked.
"In the Earth Kingdom I met an old woman who ended up being a waterbender. She caught me practicing and ended up teaching me for about a week or so. Where did you learn?" I asked.
"The Northern Water Tribe, where was this woman from?" Katara asked.
"The Southern Water Tribe, wait are you saying I learned your people's style of bending but you didn't? That sucks a lot, I'm so sorry," I said as I realized that the reason was because of the Fire Nation raids. "If you'd like, I could teach you the forms I know?"
"I'd love that, thank you." Katara said with a soft smile and wide eyes.
Her age was never always apparent. She acted much older than she was; it was easy to forget. But in that moment she truly looked like the child that she was. She had endured too much too soon and it wasn't fair. That was something that seemed to cement my bond with each member of Aang's group; we were all the production of unfortunate circumstances. What kind of world needs children to save it? It wasn't fair to any of us, myself included.
~Break~
It was a lovely night to be at sea. I was hanging out with Toph on deck as we chatted about my training. We had both been too restless to sleep so we decided to hang out and talk, so I had started a pot of tea. We had a shared bond with Iroh over that, and it seemed to make it easier that Toph and I couldn't really start on any earthbending yet. We were stranded at sea until Aang awoke, and as the days went on I also grew worried he would never waken. I hadn't seen Spirit Aang since, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the damage, because he was avoiding me, or because Aang got hurt even worse than any of us thought. What if my being there caused Aang to take more damage than he normally would have?
"Once we can get to some land we can do some real earthbending." Toph nodded as we sipped our tea.
Her voice shook me from my somber thoughts, and I shook off the self pity to instead be hopeful. Spirit damage took time, it took me a week to recover from mine and I wasn't even the one hit. Of course Aang would need more time, I was growing anxious again.
"Sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for helping me." I smiled despite myself.
"You must miss Iroh, huh?" She asked, astute as ever and reading my emotions with ease.
My friendship with Toph was easy, it was as if we had always been friends. There was a brave surety about herself that reminded me of Naia. Toph didn't take any warming up, her trust came easy as she extended out a kindness I rarely saw in either time. She trusted me without holding anything back. The first few days I knew Katara was trying to make me feel comfortable, but I knew she still hung onto her old pain from when her view of me was very different. She didn't blame me, no one did. But there was a reservedness, almost cautious way she, and everyone else on board, handled me. Everyone except Toph that is, and it made the days it took to fall into that with everyone else that much easier.
"I do. Making tea makes it feel as if he is here in some small way." I admitted.
Just as I finished speaking, Aang ran up on deck looking frightened. He slid to the ground and blinked, finally calming down. Or, at least what appeared to be calming down. The first thing I noticed was how thin he had become, his tiny ribs were heaving in and out with his panicked breaths. His brown hair, the same colour as Spirit Aang's beard, had started to cover most of his iconic arrow. Underneath his eyes held heavy purple circles. Aang looked like living death, and judging by the fact he had actually died, he was.
"Momo?" He asked as Toph and I rushed over.
"Twinkle toes, that's gotta be you!" She cheered.
"Toph?" Aang asked, turning to face us.
"Welcome back." I waved.
Katara rushed over to us with a relieved smile. By this point almost everyone had convened on where Aang had fallen. The air became heavy as everyone began to chatter to, and about, Aang.
"Aang you're awake," Katara shouted as she rushed over, tears staining her eyes.
"Are you sure? I feel like I'm dreaming." Aang whispered as he rubbed his eyes.
"You're not dreaming. You're finally awake." Katara spoke as she hugged him.
"And I can finally answer your questions." I grinned, my hand falling to his shoulder.
"Aang, good to see you back with the living, buddy." Sokka said walking over, fully decked out in Fire Nation armor.
Probably not the best attire to reunite with Aang in, but there was little Sokka or any of them could do about that, they had to remain incognito.
"Sokka?" Aang groaned as he began to faint.
"Uh-oh. Somebody catch him. He's gonna..." Toph tried to say as he dropped to the floor.
"That...could have gone worse." I attempted to look on the bright side.
"Come on, help me get him up." Katara said with an eye-roll.
We got him seated and gave him a robe to wear. Aang finally roused after a few minutes and understandably had some questions. Most of the crowd had dissipated, backing off to give Aang some space to breathe.
"Why are we on a Fire Nation ship? Why is everyone dressed this way? Mira, were you waterbending and firebending? Why is your hair different? And why am I the only one completely out of it?" Aang rushed out all at once
"You need to take it easy, okay? You got hurt pretty bad," Katara eased as Aang settled down. "I like your hair."
"I have hair? How long was I out?" Aang said rubbing his hands across his head.
"A few weeks. Mira was out for a week of it." Katara explained.
"Why was Mira out of it?" Aang asked.
"I guess I'll answer that one, as well as your question about my hair. You see, I'm also the Avatar, but from a very very distant future. Some really bad people used me to get back to your time and stranded me here. I've been following a spirit's guidance to help you as well as stop the men from my time. Since my hair was a unique colour, we all felt it was best if I dyed it so I bended in better." I explained.
"Wait, you're also the Avatar?" Aang gasped.
"Huh, yeah. When you got attacked in the Avatar state it kind of took me out to. The whole regeneration cycle was momentarily broken. It took awhile for my body to recuperate from that much spiritual damage." I coughed, feeling a little embarrassed that Aang was surprised I was also the Avatar.
"That's...a lot to take in." Aang admitted.
"Everything ok?" Hakoda asked, wandering over at the sound of raised voices.
"We're fine, dad." Katara grumbled, looking away.
"I'm Hakoda, Katara and Sokka's father." Hakoda spoke as he offered his hand to Aang.
"He knows who you are. I just called you 'dad', didn't I?" Katara glared.
"I guess you're right." Hakoda sighed.
"Nice to officially meet you, Chief Hakoda." Aang greeted, shaking his hand.
"It's an honour to meet you." Hakoda said returning he handshake
"Great, great. Now you guys have met. Would you mind giving us a little privacy?" She hissed.
"Of course." Hakoda relented as he walked away.
"Are you mad at your dad or something?" Aang asked.
"What? Not at all. Why would you say that?" Katara asked.
Aang shrugged and then hissed in pain. Katara and I rushed towards him, hands on his shoulders. As we both inspected him, Aang's breathing began to steady, the pain clearly lessening.
"I think we need to get you back into bed buddy." I said as I helped him up.
"Maybe I should take him upstairs, I think he needs a healing session." Katara spoke up as I helped Aang stand.
"Alright, hope it goes well." I waved as they walked off.
~Break~
"After what happened in Ba Sing Se, we had to get you two to safety. We flew back to Chameleon Bay, where we found my father and the other water tribe men. The Earth King decided he wanted to travel the world in disguise, so he set off alone. Well, not completely alone. He had Bosco. Soon the bay was overrun with Fire Nation ships. Rather than fight them all, we captured a single ship and made it our disguise. Since then Mira woke up and we've been traveling west while Toph's been teaching her earthbending, well trying. No earth and all. We crossed through the Serpent's pass days ago. We've seen a few Fire Nation ships, but none have bothered us." Sokka explained.
"So, what now?" Aang asked as he was handed a bowl of udon.
"We've been working on a modified version of the invasion plan." Hakoda said.
"It's Sokka's invasion plan." Katara correctly sourly.
"Yes, Sokka's plan," Hakoda relented as he gave her a strange look. "We won't be able to mount a massive invasion without the Earth kingdom's armies, but the solar eclipse will still leave the Fire Nation vulnerable."
"So we're planning a smaller invasion. Just a ragtag team of our allies from around the Earth Kingdom. We already ran into Pipsqueak and The Duke." Sokka explained.
"Good to see you again, Aang." Pipsqueak said with a wave.
"And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage. We have a secret," Sokka whispered as he leaned in close. "You two."
"Us?" Aang asked, giving me a funny look.
"Yep, the whole world thinks you're both dead or that Aang was the only Avatar. Isn't that great?" Sokka cheered as he stood up, pumping his fists.
"I'm thinking great is that last word Aang would pick for this situation." I sighed.
"The world thinks I'm dead?" Aang muttered, starting to have a mini panic.
He stood up and moved towards the rail of the boat. His arms were straining and I could see the muscles twitching as he hunched over, unable to really understand what he was being told. My chest ached for him, knowing the pain of having to hide yourself from, well, everyone.
"How is that good news? That's terrible." Aang cried out.
"No, it's great. It means the Fire Nation won't be hunting us anymore. And even better, they won't be expecting two Avatars on the day of Black Sun." Sokka said.
"No no no no no. You have no idea. This is so messed up!" Aang said as he held his head in frustration.
We were interrupted by the horn of another Fire Nation ship that was approaching. The ship lurched as it started to slow. I looked out at the opposing Fire Nation ship and my throat clenched as thoughts I had managed to avoid for a while hit me like a tsunami.
"I'll handle this. The Avatar is back." Aang declared.
He pulled out his glider and raised it up. Upon doing so he crumbled from the pain of his wound. He continued to groan as he pushed through the pain regardless. I reached out, not sure what else to do, as did almost everyone else.
"Aang, wait. Remember, they don't know we're not Fire Nation." Katara said as she walked towards him.
"Plus, you still need to heal." I agreed as I walked towards him.
"Everyone, just stay calm. Bato and I will take care of this." Hakoda ordered as he placed his helmet on.
We quickly covered up Appa before I took Aang towards the hatch with Toph and Katara. He was reluctant, and several times I had to pull on his shoulder to steer him away from looking back. He was following, but rather reluctantly. I yearned desperately for the right words to say, but I couldn't find any. So, I smiled tightly as I gave him a sympathetic look, hoping I could convey how I felt with something so simple.
"I hate not being able to do anything." Aang grumbled, his eyes reaching mine.
"I hear that. Having to be a secret is kind of boring." I winked causing Aang to smile slightly.
"Hopefully, you won't need to." Toph said as Sokka finally joined us.
The other ship sidled up to us and lowered a plank to walk over. The captain flanked by two soldiers walked over to Hakoda and Bato. Hakoda bowed as they approached, stopping at the edge of our ship. It was good that they didn't board our ship, and simply had a pleasant conversation on the planks. It showed they didn't distrust that this was a Fire Nation ship. Small graces.
"Commander, why are you off course? All western fleet ships are supposed to be moving towards Ba Sing Se to support the occupation." The captain asked.
"Actually, we're from the eastern fleet. We have orders to deliver some cargo." Hakoda explained.
"Ahh. Eastern fleet...Well, Nice of Admiral Chan to let us know he was sending one of his ships our way." The captain scoffed, annoyance palpable in his voice.
"I'm sure Admiral Chan meant no disrespect, sir." Bato spoke up.
"I mean, how hard is it to write a quick note and send a hawk our way?" The captain continued to complain.
"Next time, we'll send two hawks to be sure you get the message." Hakoda soothed as he and the captain bowed to one another.
The men started to retreat, talking amongst themselves as they moved. Toph had her hand out against the deck of the ship when she twitched.
"They know!" Toph shouted, jumping out from our hatch.
She bent the metal, twisting it and their plank, sending the men into the ocean. Katara then bent the water up between our ship, separating us and knocking the enemy ship away. We then took off full speed ahead, placing as much distance as we could between us and the Fire Nation. Our cover was already blown, the best we could do was get out of the area until the heat died down.
"It really does suck having to hide." I sighed giving Aang a look that mirrored his own.
"At least someone gets how messed up this is." Aang sighed.
"Well, we are like the same person so at least you aren't alone," I smiled, "you even have someone to teach airbending to now."
"That, actually sounds kind of nice." Aang said, finally smiling.
The Fire Nation ship began to send flaming attacks at us now, in an attempt to sink the boat. The smell of the oil they always used hit my nose and I frown. Couldn't they just, I don't know, fuck off? My mood was already as sour as my stomach. Getting used to being on the ocean again was not easy for me as it turned out.
"Also, I am really starting to get sick of traveling on Fire Nation ships." I joked, causing him to chuckle.
"Yeah, guess you've spent a lot of time on them, huh?" Aang asked.
"Yup, way too much time if you ask me." I grinned.
We were interrupted as the boat was hit and we were jerked against the wall. Sokka came over and dragged us into the door leading below deck where we peered through the doorway to watch.
"Load the Toph!" Toph shouted as she was given a huge boulder.
She bent a piece boulder and sent it crashing into the other ship's catapult. She bent another piece of the boulder and intercepted another attack before it could reach us. Aang tried to rush out, but Sokka stopped him. He began to hit his head against his staff in irritation and restlessness. I felt the boat get hit once more as we were rocked to the right.
"I'm going to give us some cover!" I heard Katara shout.
Fog began to lift from the ocean and surround us. Another attack landed near us, causing shards of charred rock to hit like shrapnel. I shied away and shielded my face from the smoke and debris. My eyes were already watering as I let out a short cough, trying to stifle my sounds.
"I can't just stand by and do nothing." Aang burst out as he rushed through the door.
"Aang, no!" Sokka shouted as he rushed after him.
"You're still hurt, and you have to stay secret, both of you do. Just let us handle this." Sokka explained, taking Aang's staff away.
"Fine!" Aang replied, snatching his staff back and following Sokka back inside.
They got inside just as another attack hit the boat. Part of the engine was now on fire as Katara worked to put it out. I frowned, leaning against the doorway feeling more drained than I ever had. The ship was smoldering still and I could still smell heavy smoke in the air.
"How we doing?" Toph asked.
"Things couldn't get much worse." Sokka replied as a giant serpent burst from the sea.
"Stop saying things!" I shouted at Sokka who glared at me.
"The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?" Sokka deadpanned.
"You make it too easy!" Toph shouted back.
But it seemed we didn't need to worry as another attack missed our boat, managing to hit the serpent in the face. It dove back into the water, disappearing under our boat and wrapping around the Fire Nation one.
"Thank you, the universe." Sokka called out into the ocean.
~Break~
We had docked for repairs and Aang was finally resting. Toph was drilling me on a few earthbending exercises when Sokka came to find us. It was a welcome distraction, and both Toph and I seem to prefer being on solid ground.
"Come on it's time for dinner, let's see if Aang wants to join since we are docked for the evening." Sokka said, motioning for us to follow.
Katara was waiting for us outside Aang's room when we got there. I gave her a small wave which she returned with a smile. It felt awkward to have all of us inviting Aang to dinner, but as I caught sight of a small red scarf clasped in Sokka's hand I knew the reason for an entourage. Aang wasn't going to like hiding his arrow, in fact his reaction to having hair told everyone it upset him to have it covered.
"How's earthbending going?" She asked.
"Good. I can't wait until I can practice in a bigger area though." I admitted with a small smile.
"Finally, solid earth." Toph sighed in happiness.
Sokka knocked on Aang's door before opening it and we stepped inside. The room was dimly lit and Aang was curled on the bed facing away from us. He stirred as we entered, stretching out on the bed.
"Hey, Aang. We're going into town to find some dinner." Toph said as we all walked in causing Aang to sit up.
"Well, I am pretty hungry," Aang said as his stomach growled. "Maybe dinner's a good idea."
"Here, tie this around your head. It'll cover your arrow." Sokka said as he handed Aang the scarf he was holding.
"I'm not going out if I can't wear my arrow proudly!" Aang scoffed as he lay back down, facing away from us.
"Aang, come on. Be practical." Sokka tried to reason.
Katara took that moment to step past me and put a hand on her brother's shoulder.
"You guys go ahead without us. We'll catch up with you." She said.
"Ok, see you guys later." I waved as we stepped out of the room and closed the door.
"So...what do you guys want to eat for dinner?" Sokka asked.
"Whatever is still open this late." I laughed as I led us off the ship.
~Break~
"So, you and Zuko huh?" Sokka asked.
"Man you are so nosy. I feel like I've had to repeat this story several times over now." I grumbled.
"Oh come on, you told my sister, you had a heart to heart during your girl's night with Toph. What if I want to be included." Sokka pouted.
"Fine fine, I'll answer your questions. Yes, briefly, but then he tried to kill me and Aang so it's safe to say that's over." I sighed, picking at my food.
"He really didn't say or do anything to indicate he was betraying you and Iroh?" Sokka asked,
"No indication. We were caught by Azula and she offered him a chance to betray us and help her. But he freed us, when he did I thought he had declined her offer. It was foolish of me to assume, I never even asked. Maybe he expected me to instantly help him, who knows." I said, twirling a single noodle around my fork.
"Well, on the bright side you have a chance to get back at him during the invasion." Sokka grinned.
"Hmm, indeed I do, Sokka, indeed I do." I smiled.
"So, what is your time like?" Sokka asked.
"Busy. No one bends anymore, we've all forgotten how too. It's different because we rely more upon technology than nature and spirits. It's sad in that way, but amazing in others." I shrugged.
"Forgot how to bend? Yeah, I don't think I'd enjoy it there." Toph said as she wiggled her toes.
"Oh no, the horror of not being able to bend." Sokka deadpanned.
"Sorry." We both laughed.
~Break~
We were back out sailing once we returned from dinner. Katara and Aang never did make it. I was currently sparring with Sokka, helping him learn swordplay better. He wasn't half bad, but a bladed weapon like a sword was clearly new to him. There was a certain amount of knowledge he had, such as the footwork, but some of the more basic knowledge he lacked.
"Gees, I feel like being the Avatar is already cheating, but you also know swordfighting?" Sokka asked as he caught his breath.
"It's actually what I learned first." I laughed as I rubbed the back of my head.
"Well, I certainly am thankful to have someone else to practice with." He smiled as we resumed.
"You're not that bad actually. Really good reflexes and instincts. I think the biggest issue is your confidence in your strikes and maneuvers, you're not following through with each strike." I explained as I blocked one of his hits.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Envision yourself striking through me, you want your target to be behind my shoulder if what you want to hit is my shoulder. Also, committing to a strike doesn't mean you need to abandon your defence. That's why I have us practice receiving and sending back a strike so often. If the strike isn't going well, you can drop your elbow and angle your sword to catch any attack they send at you. Since your weapon doesn't have a hilt you'll need to deploy more defensive strategy." I continued to lecture as we went through the drills.
"Wow, where did you learn all this stuff?" Sokka asked as he parried my blade and struck back.
"I had an old coach who ended up learning all sorts of weapon fighting styles. We had lots of long conversations about them. He is how I learned to fight with hiltless weapons. It's a lot different, but learning to adapt to it is great. Means anything can be a weapon." I grinned.
"Man, I like you. I wish we had rescued you from Zuko earlier." Sokka grinned.
"Me too, but remember where your fingers are, keep them low and your weapon angled so my blade can't slide down and slice your hands up." I laughed.
"Got it!" Sokka said, obeying instantly.
"Aang is gone!" I heard Katara shout as she opened the door.
"Wait, what?" I asked.
"He left, he thinks he has to do everything alone, we have to go after him." She pleaded.
We rushed onto the deck just as lightning started to strike the sky. I looked up as rain began to pour down, slowly at first, until it grew with the rage of the clouds. I could see the angry colours signaling one hell of a storm, reminded for a moment of the last nasty storm I had been in. I thought of Jee then, my throat constricting as I felt tears sting at my eyes. Clearing my throat, and my thoughts, I turned back towards Katara.
"Shit, and in this rain with his wounds..." I trailed off.
"Can you do anything, Mira?" Katara asked.
"Like what? I know how to firebend, waterbend, and earthbend in theory. I don't have a glider, can't airbend, and I have no idea where he went." I sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
"Come on, Mira, you're essentially the same person. Please, can you think? Maybe connect with a past Avatar like Aang did with Kiyoshi?" She continued to beg.
"I..." I trailed off.
I could try to ask Aang himself. I actually did have that ability. With a sigh I closed my eyes and grumbled. I wasn't sure how comfortable I was doing this. Ever since I had gotten mad at him right after Zuko had betrayed me, he hadn't reached out to me again. It felt childish and petty but I wasn't sure where we stood at the moment, and didn't really want to ask. But we had few other options, and even less time.
"No one is allowed to think I'm crazy...uh, Aang, you there?" I asked.
Sokka was blinking as Katara looked hopeful. Toph was of course waiting, unable to really see a ghost if one showed up anyways.
"Aang?" I tried again, hoping desperately he would answer.
"Yes?" He asked, popping up beside me.
"Oh thank god...we, uh, we need to know where you ran off too." I coughed, looking anywhere but at him.
He looked around at everyone who couldn't see him and laughed. His eyes drew tight as an almost sadness and longing hit his face. I could see he was happy to see his loved ones again, but it pained him that he couldn't reach out and connect with them anymore.
"I don't remember exactly where I went, but I was going after the Fire Lord. I had just passed one of their blockades as I was heading to the mainland." He explained, staring fondly at Katara.
"He's heading to the mainland to stop the Fire Lord on his own. He passed a Fire Nation blockade to get there." I explained, slowly turning to look at Katara as well.
"I think I might know where that is." Hakoda said as he took us inside to show us a map.
"Where?" I asked.
"There is a set of blockades around Ba Sing Se, but only a few near the Fire Nation. This one is the closest to where we are." He explained, pointing towards a small area on the map where a crescent shaped island was.
"Then that's where we need to go." I declared, heading towards Appa.
~Break~
It was morning when we found Aang sleeping on the coast of the small crescent shaped island. Momo jumped ahead, leaping onto his chest as we all rushed over. He looked tired and defeated. I had never seen him so sad before.
"You're ok!" Katara declared, gathering him into a hug.
We all surrounded him in a hug as Appa nuzzled our backs. It just felt nice to feel connected to something again.
"I have so much to do." Aang whispered.
"I know, but you'll have our help." Katara whispered back.
"And you're not alone, you don't have to do any of this alone." I said into his hair.
"You didn't think you can get out of training just by coming to the Fire Nation did you?" Toph laughed.
"What about the invasion?" Aang asked.
"We'll join up with my dad and the invasion force on the day of the eclipse." Sokka explained.
"Hey, what's..." Toph said as she reached behind herself and picked up Aang's destroyed glider. "Oh...It's your glider."
Aang picked it up and looked at it with a sad smile.
"That's ok. If someone saw it, it would give away my identity. It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive." Aang said as he turned around.
He jumped up onto a small hill near the pooling lava and twisted the staff above his head. Bringing it down, he stuck it into the rocks. Jumping back down towards us the glider began to burn. I watched it for a moment, finding the fire cathartic in the moment after a storm.
~Chapter 1 End~