Chapter 6: The Air Nomad Sanctuary
The Avatar looked very small as he stood before the massive doors to the Air Nomad Sanctuary. He stared up at the intricate scrollwork of inlaid pipes on the thick wooden doors.
"These ones look different from the other Air Temples." Katara said.
"They are, but I've been studying them. The three chamber locks have to be opened at the same time and in perfect balance." He pointed to circular insignias on the doors and the three tubular structures curling around them. "This design would normally take three Airbender sages to open them."
"Can you do it?" Katara asked.
Aang nodded. "I think so."
Closing his eyes and breathing deeply in, he then started to form an airball, manipulating the current faster and faster. It grew bigger until its mass was nearly the size of the Avatar himself. He then threw the air ball upwards and did a double fisted punch. It split into three exact smaller replicas, and with lightning speed, he propelled them forward, one into each of the three pipes simultaneously.
Resonating tones rushed through the brass pipes and the three circular locks rotated inward. A gush of air released, and the massive doors slowly swung open.
Soft bluish light illuminated the interior. Aang slowly entered first, followed closely by the Watertribe siblings. Zuko trailed behind.
The sanctuary was circular in design with massive cathedral arches that disappeared into the shadows. In the center four enormous stone statues stood in a large circle facing outward. Below each statue there were strange symbols.
"Great! More statues! Why am I not surprised?" Sokka commented, and then yelped as his sister elbowed him in the arm.
"Little respect here," Katara muttered.
Sokka shrugged. "Hey, I'm just saying it would be nice to find something else interesting in these places beside a bunch of dead guys carved in stone. No offense to your former selves, Aang." Katara shot him a warning glance. "Okay, okay….I'll be nice."
"Do you know who they are, Aang?" Katara asked.
Aang looked up into the faces of the statues in awe and nodded. "These are the Avatars of the first Avatar cycle," he said. "When the Spirit of the World took on a mortal form."
Aang pointed to each one and told them their names, which came from an ancient language long since forgotten but translated to: Fierce Fire, Harmonious Air, Benevolent Water, and Strong Earth.
"How do you know that?" Zuko asked.
Sokka raised his hand, waving it nonchalantly. "Trust me, he knows. It's just one of those creepy Avatar things you're going to have to get used to if you're going to hang with us."
"They are my beginning." Aang told them. "The Avatar Cycle of Fire, Air, Water and Earth was formed to maintain balance between the Four Nations so that no one was meant to become stronger over the other."
"Guess they forgot to tell the Fire Nation that," Sokka snickered at Zuko.
Zuko glared back.
They continued to walk around the perimeter of the room.
"Hey guys, check this out," Aang said.
"What is it?" Sokka asked.
All along the wall were a series of beautifully painted mosaic depictions of the Air Nomads. "It's the history of my people," Aang replied.
Zuko bended a ball of fire in his palm to illuminate the wall a little better. Having little actual knowledge of the Air Nomads besides what he'd learned from his uncle, he looked curiously at the panel that showed a group of flying bison.
"The bison were the first Airbenders." He explained to Zuko. "By studying them, my people learned how to manipulate the currents. The arrow tattoos of a Master Airbender were adapted as a way to honor them."
"For Waterbenders, it's the moon and the ocean spirts." Katara added. "Toph said the first Earthbenders were the badger moles."
"For the Fire Nation," Zuko replied. "It was the dragons. They were the first creatures that learned to harness the power from the sun."
"Like Avatar Roku's dragon," Aang said, smiling.
They moved on. The next few panels showed the Air Nomads in various martial arts positions. "The first human Airbenders were called the Wind Walkers."
Aang went on to explain there were thirty-six levels of airbending, each building upon the one before. To become a Master Airbender, one had to pass each level and invent a new form of airbending. "I learned thirty-five of the levels with Monk Gyatso but I got my Master tattoos a lot earlier than most of the other kids my age when I invented the air scooter."
"That hardly counts. I mean, you are after all the Avatar," Sokka said. "Those other kids didn't have a chance."
"So what's the thirty-sixth level?" Zuko asked.
Aang looked at Zuko. "I don't know. When the monks told me I was the Avatar…I was confused and scared and…I…ran away….Then Appa and I got caught in a storm, and the next thing I knew Katara and Sokka found me in the South Pole, frozen in an iceberg a hundred years later."
"So that's what happened to you," Zuko replied. "I always wondered why my great-grandfather, grandfather and father never found you. And why, when I eventually did, you weren't some shriveled up bald-headed old geezer."
"Well, you got the bald head part right anyway," Sokka jested.
Aang grinned boyishly as he ducked away from Sokka, who tried to rub his head.
They continued to walk along the wall and Aang would occasionally comment on the various aspects of the Air Nomad's life, which was mostly peaceful and in harmony with nature.
Another showed children under the falling leaves of the trees, encircled by loving hands of adult Air Nomads. "Most of us are born in the Fall as the winds bring forth the changing season. Because there are so few Air Nomads born at a time, my people treasured each life as a gift."
However, one of the last depictions puzzled even Aang. It showed a Master Air Bender in the clouds, drawing what looked like wind, lightning and rain within a fierce funnel of darkness. His features were unlike any other of the serene depictions. Instead his face looked ominous and dark and menacing.
"What's that one mean?" Zuko asked.
"I don't know. I've never seen any type of airbending like this." Aang replied uneasily.
"Maybe that's the last level?" Katara suggested.
"Maybe…" But Aang withdrew his hand from the wall as if disturbed.
They crossed back to the other side of the room, this time walking through the inner circle formed by the four statues. It was then Aang noticed another depiction, this time on the floor.
It was a celestial being, eyes aglow, a globe of energy held in its hands with rays of light connecting the globe to each of the four statues.
The Avatar knelt down and placed his hand on the globe, palm flat and his fingers outstretched. He closed his eyes and for a brief second Zuko thought he saw the Avatar's tattoos glow ever so slightly before quickly fading.
Aang collapsed onto his knees, his shoulders slumping.
Katara rushed to his side.
"Aang, what is it?"
"The Avatar State. I could almost feel it, Katara, but it's gone. I think I've lost it forever."
"The Avatar what?" Zuko asked.
"The Avatar State," Aang repeated. "It's the pure form of cosmic energy that gives the Avatar immense power. When in the Avatar State, it allows me to tap into the skills and knowledge from all my past lives and to focus and channel the cosmic energy from them through my body." There was great sadness in Aang's eyes.
"So what's the issue then?" Zuko asked. "I mean, it's a good thing, right?"
Katara threw Zuko daggers.
"It's okay, Katara."
Aang addressed Zuko. "Unfortunately, after Azula hit me with that bolt of lightning, she disrupted the flow of energy in my body and locked me out of my ability to enter into the Avatar State."
"Not to mention it almost killed you, Aang," Katara reminded him.
"Yeah, that too."
Zuko digested the information and then looked at Aang sharply. "Wait a minute. The day of the invasion, you knew you couldn't enter into this power, didn't you?"
Aang nodded.
"But you were still willing to face my father alone?"
Aang nodded again. "People had pinned their hopes on the Avatar for a long time. For over a hundred years. I knew the risk I was taking. But I had to at least try. We thought we'd have the advantage with the solar eclipse and the element of surprise, especially since everyone thought I was already dead. But it was a trap. Azula knew we were coming."
Aang looked at the design on the floor again.
"Funny isn't it?" He said to no one in particular "I spent so much time trying to avoid the Avatar State out of fear of its immense power and hurting people, now that I can no longer tap into it, I feel like I've lost such a big part of myself."
Katara knelt next to him and put her hands gently on his shoulders. "We'll find a way to get it back, Aang."
"Will we?" He replied with a sense of hopelessness, his eyes becoming moist.
Katara nodded. "I've never given up hope in you yet, Aang, and I never will."
Aang smiled sadly. "Thanks, Katara. But I just wish I knew how."
"Maybe Avatar Roku can help you," Sokka suggested. "I mean, you've been able to connect with him a few times now, maybe he can help you find the answer."
"Possibly. Though, it's usually the other way around. Avatar Roku usually contacts me," Aang replied.
"Well, what about the rest of your past lives?" Sokka asked. "You have thousands of them, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, can't you contact one of them? Maybe they have some ideas," he suggested.
"I don't know," Aang replied. "I've never really tried. Roku was the Avatar directly before me. I guess I'm able to speak with him the most because his energy I've always felt the strongest."
"That's not entirely true, Aang," Katara said. "You contacted Avatar Kyoshi once also. I mean, you sorta did. Avatar Kyoshi kinda borrowed your body to defend herself when you were put on trial in that weird little town that wanted to boil you in oil for something Avatar Kyoshi did in your past life."
Zuko was getting thoroughly confused by the conversation but decided it best not to interrupt.
"I suppose I can give it a try," Aang said, though he didn't sound very confident.
Aang stood back up.
Sokka looked at Katara with brotherly concern before stepping over to Aang and wrapped his forearm around him in a friendly headlock. "But not today, buddy. I've got something else in mind right now."
"What's that?"
Sokka gave Katara a wink and smiled. "I've finished Teo's glider and he's dying to try it out with you."
Aang smiled. "Then what are we waiting for? I can't exactly disappoint my family and friends, can I?"
Katara threw her brother a forgiving smile for his earlier jerkiness as they led Aang out of the sanctuary.
Zuko lingered behind.
"Aren't you coming, Zuko?" Aang asked.
"In a minute."
Aang nodded and left with his friends.
Zuko walked back over to the Avatar statue of the Firebender. He thought about what he'd learned of his family's past from the archives scrolls he'd discovered, and the conflict and lifelong struggles between his two great grandfathers, Firelord Sozin and Avatar Roku.
Within him, his Uncle Iroh told him, there would always be good and evil. It was his nature and his legacy. But also, Iroh believed, Zuko had the power to cleanse the sins of his family and the Fire Nation and to help restore balance.
He thought of Aang, who had been willing to face the Firelord despite his inability to tap into the great powers of his past lives. He'd done so without thought to himself because that's just who he was…the Avatar.
By allowing Zuko to enter the sanctuary with him, the Avatar had exposed his deepest vulnerability to him, perhaps without even realizing it, or perhaps reaching out to Zuko in trust.
Zuko pulled Roku's headpiece out of his waistband again. He felt a connection. Whether it was a real, tangible thing or just his own thoughts, his own conscience, Zuko still wasn't sure. It didn't matter though. The weight of his family's legacy hung heavy and its meaning sank deep.
Azula had taken away the Avatar's gift and Zuko made a silent pledge to help Aang find a way to get it back.
He left the sanctuary, once again feeling humbled, but more determined than ever to set things right.