Greetings, avid readers!
I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!
I am currently exhausted out of my mind, and yes, I'm putting all the blame in Dommie, it's his fault. I don't care that I was the one that suggested it, you should have known better and stopped me. Is my trainwreck of decision-making history not enough for you?
Dommie, did you forget who I am? For just a fickle moment? I thought you knew me better. Honestly I kind of understand. Aang is the kind of person to always play it like everything is okay, so people... forget he's actually hurting on the inside.
Brain Fart, first of all, I love your username. Appa is goals, I can't.
This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.
Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter III: The Target
X—X
"Are you sure this is where she was heading?" Katara looked up to Aang.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now hush, or you're going to get us caught." The airbender sighed.
He had returned to Katara and Appa as quickly but as quietly as he could. Two days had passed since then, and Katara was worried they had lost her trail, but Aang was confident. He was always confident, and sometimes that was the problem. He trusted too easily, and it was Katara's job to make sure he didn't get himself in trouble. She was about to speak up again when she saw it.
A head of messy brown curls appeared from under a straw hat. She saw her place the hat on a bush, look around, and sneak inside the dense forest. The same dense forest the locals had warned them against entering. Aang looked excited, but Katara fixed him with a look. He pursed his lips and frowned. He moved through the shadows to get closer, but Katara hissed his name.
"Fine. Go get Appa. I'll wait here."
"…you're going to follow her the second I turn my back, aren't you?"
"Kataaaara…" he whined.
"I'm going with you." She glared.
"Okay!"
They dropped to the floor and entered the forest. It was not long before they realized why the villagers had warned them against entering it. The wind was strong, and it was pitch black in it. Aang's fickle flame barely survived against the wind, and Katara clutched to him. But they managed not to lose sight of her and for that, the waterbender was grateful.
The last thing they needed was to get lost in a windy dark forest.
The wind suddenly stopped as they stepped into a clearance, and Katara immediately pulled Aang behind a tree. He was about to question it when he saw it: a great wind barrier, smack in the middle of the forest, quite possibly large enough to guard an entire village. Aang gasped and watched as the young woman stepped up to the barrier and placed a hand on it. She then stepped back and waited.
Aang and Katara watched, amazed, as the wind barrier opened. From inside stepped out a young girl with dark hair and dark eyes, who smiled at the young woman. The latter took a knee and pushed a lock of hair behind the youngling's ear. But what surprised Aang the most wast not the impressive display of the wind barrier, nor the little girl that stepped out from behind it.
It was the colors of the clothes that the little girl wore.
Air Nation colors.
"Katara," Aang whispered, eyes wide. "We found them."
"Aang…" she gasped. "You were right."
"Hey there." The little girl smiled. "You took a bit longer this time."
"Sorry." The fake-Avatar pouted. "Had a bit of an issue with this... fun police."
The little girl giggled. "Did they arrest you?"
"They tried." She let out. "But remember that little trick I taught you that I used to get out from that elder meeting?"
"You used it?!" she gasped.
"Obviously! I wasn't about to be caught by the fun police. I'd miss you too much." The young woman poked her nose.
"I missed you too!" she hugged her. "Did you bring it?"
"Of course I did."
"So, this is where you ended up." Katara declared, stepping out from behind the tree.
Aang followed her cue and watched as she straightened up. The little girl gasped and hid behind her, eyebrows hunched in fear. She took a defensive stance and Aang raised his hands, placing one on Katara's shoulder. Her silver eyes jumped from Aang to Katara, and the Avatar watched as she pushed the girl further behind her.
"Wait. We don't want to fight. We've been looking for you." He declared.
"Leave. And forget this place." She steeled her jaw.
"Why? What stops us from calling the soldiers to storm this-!"
"Katara! Enough." Aang called. "She doesn't mean it."
"Aang-!" she tried, but he cut her off.
"Katara. Please. Let me do what I'm good at." He turned back to the two. "Forgive us. Let us try again, okay?"
There was a beat of silence, and Aang continued. "My name is Aang. This is Katara. May I know your names?"
The little girl moved to speak, but the young woman simply grabbed her arm. A move that Katara could appreciate if they were not on opposite sides. "We've been trying to find you to ask you a few questions; if that would be possible?"
"Last time, you were all but ready to fight." The young woman glared.
"I know. I'm sorry. Can we please talk?" Aang bit his lip.
"Is this… the fun police?" the little girl asked.
"Part of it, yes." A small grin tugged at the corner of her lips, and Aang smiled.
"I can agree that simple curiosity may have turned into a chase, and I apologize for that." He stepped forward and was relieved when they did not step back. "We really just wanted to know how you did that."
"And give the money back?"
"…if possible."
"No. It's not. I earned it. A street performer making quick coin out of blowing people's minds if you'd rather." She raised her chin.
"And impersonating the Avatar?" Katara frowned.
"I never said I was the Avatar. People saw me perform and assumed. I simply… never corrected them." She shrugged. "Now, please. Leave."
"…do they have to?" the little girl asked.
"Yes, they do!"
"But…" the little girl pointed at Aang. "He wears our colors."
"I do." Aang smiled. "I'm an airbender."
"Me too! I'm Tenna!" she grinned.
Aang gasped. "R-really?"
"So is everyone!" she ran to Aang. "Come, come in!"
"S-sure!" Aang grinned, taking the little girl's hand.
"Wait." The young woman worried her bottom lip. "He can come. She can't."
"Why not?"
"No offense, but Droplet is a waterbender." She took a deep breath. "We can't have any outside benders entering the village. Sorry."
"It's okay. Katara, would you go get Appa and wait here at the barrier?" he saw her complaint before she let it out. "I'll be fine. Tenna will protect me, won't you?"
She nodded vehemently, and Aang smiled.
"If you don't return in two days, I'm tearing this place apart." She threatened.
"Noted." The fake-Avatar nodded and waved. "I'll see you around, Droplet."
Katara waited, watching as the young woman walked to the barrier, Aang and Tenna on her tail. She opened a passage in it, much like Tenna had done before, and stepped through it. The second the three were behind it, the barrier closed and Katara was left alone.
They crossed the barrier and Tenna tugged on his hand, giggling. Aang smiled at her and took a deep breath, before looking up.
The city that stretched on in front of him was something out of his wildest dreams. It was built on a hill, and Aang saw the curved streets that led up to the tall tower in the center of the city. Houses, big, small, and long sided the multiple streets. Everything was painted in a shade of pale yellow and blue. He saw kids playing on the curved rooftops, gliding down the large stairs in air scooters. People traded fruits for vegetables and clothing for seeds. He stepped forward, biting his lip as tears flooded his eyes.
"You okay?" he felt a hand on his arm and turned his head to see the young woman watching him with caution.
"Y-yeah." he gulped. "It's... it's an Air Temple."
"Yeah, the elders tried to build it as faithful as possible." she nodded. "I've... never been to an Air Temple before, but Elder Shiro said it looks just like this."
"If you want, I can take you to one," he suggested, and she smiled.
"One day."
"Tenna, there you are!" The three turned to see a young man running up to them. "What took you so long?"
"I was helping Aang!"
"Aang?" he frowned and looked up at the young man in question. "Oh hi, there. Never seen you around before. Rea, you know the drill."
"Yeah, I know. I got this." she nodded.
"Alright. Pleasure to meet you, man. Tenna, we need to get home, it's lunchtime. Rea, you're coming to the ring tonight, right?"
"I don't know, depends."
"Come on! Min is due a good beating."
"... I'll think about it," she smirked.
"Alriight. Come on, Tenna. See you two around!"
The two walked out and Aang immediately turned to her. "What's the ring, what's the drill, who's Min and why is he due a good beating?"
She smiled and took his wrist gently. "The drill is everyone new that comes to town is to be presented to the Elders so that they can ensure the safety of our city. By the way, they call it the Air Community, I call it the Air Dome. You know, because of the..."
"Yeah. It's a smart name." Aang smiled.
She led him through the streets of the city, petting children's heads and smiling. She greeted everyone, and they all waved back. The Avatar started seeing her with new eyes. She was not cold or frigid, she was simply not in her element. Out there, in the world, she was an outsider. Here, beneath the blue skies, she was comfortable because she was home.
"The ring is something of an... underground existence. I'll explain it after your meeting, but please don't mention it when you talk to the Elders. They're all about purity and a peaceful state of mind. They sometimes forget that children need to scream and play, and hormone-filled teenagers need to get it out of their system somehow."
"Are you going to the ring tonight? If so, can I go with you?"
"Maybe." she sighed. "Mako did say Min was in need of a reminder of who the champion is."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a maybe." she smiled brightly at the pure excitement in his eyes.
"And... your name?" he tried. "Rea?"
"Yeah, that's what everyone calls me." she pulled him to the side of the road and a group of kids zipped past them in air scooters. "Slow down!"
An echo of 'Sorry Rea's rang in different intonations, and she giggled, shaking her head. "Wow, that is fast."
"They're training for the race," she explained. "Should be next week, I think. Starts at the edge of the dome, around the city, and up to the tower's doors. First to get there wins."
"Sounds exciting." Aang pondered.
"As to the meeting." she turned serious, and he looked at her. "I'll take you to the room. I can't go in with you. You'll have six elders, and they're going to question you. Who are you, how did you get here, your purpose here? They might be a bit pushy, especially the dude with the long-ass Roku beard."
"Why can't you come with me?"
"Because I can 'influence your answers'." she did air quotes. "Remember, they're all about purity and peace."
They arrived at the entrance of the tower and Aang took her hand in his. "I will be seeing you again, right?"
She looked at him, down to their joined hands, and back into his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, of course," she smirked. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily, Avatar."
"Good." he nodded.
"Rea." they turned to see a monk, smiling gently at them. "Meeting with the elders?"
"You know it, Li Mei." she bowed. "Lead the way."
They walked inside the tower, and Li Mei lead them up the stairs. The tower was much larger than Aang had first anticipated, filled with windows and younglings practicing meditation. He smiled when he saw one or two straying eyes. He felt a hand gripping his own and Aang looked at his companion, noticing she watched a young adult receive his master airbending tattoos. He squeezed her hand back and smiled gently.
"We're here," she whispered, and Aang looked up to see the two large doors.
"Rea. Master Airbender." Li Mei bowed. "Please say your goodbyes, I will announce your arrival."
"Thank you, Li Mei." she nodded.
"You're not-!"
"I'll be here when you get out." she smiled gently.
"Promise?"
"I promise, Aang."
"Master Airbender. They're ready to see you." Li Mei pushed the door open.
Aang let go of her hand and the last thing he saw before the doors closed was her reassuring smile.
A/N: Okay, that was fun. It would seem that I am definitely posting this story. But I'll keep it going or drop it depending on your feedback.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!
First to review gets a cookie!
Lots of love from this weirdo,
LoneeWolf :)