A. N. : I was so hyped for the Nintendo E3 direct that I almost forgot today was chapter day, and then when I saved this one I saw the number 100 and I fucking lost it again. Holy shit guys. But also (mostly), I'd like to thank all of you for your support. I never expected this project to become this big, but here it is, and here we are. Hope to see you all sticking around until the end, and if not, I hope you had fun ! Think we'll reach the 200 ?
Roku called for Aang.
There is a story you should know, he said, and now Appa is flying all of them to an island Zuko said has been mostly deserted ever since a volcanic eruption destroyed the harbor and killed the Avatar.
Aang is heading to the place Roku died. He's not quite sure how he feels about that.
It's one thing to know Roku is dead, a Spirit, Aang's past life – it's another to be confronted to it. To literally stand on the ashes of the past.
It brings back bad memories.
But Roku said there would be a story, and Aang has faith it will be a good one, entertaining and with something to learn from, just like Gyatso's lessons – always Aang's favorite among the other monks' teachings, because he knew how to make things fun and not boring. And because it was Gyatso, too, mostly.
Once, he had all the novices build something with blocks of wood all coming from a huge, single box, and when they were done, he said to build more. Of course, by then, there weren't enough materials left to make anything. They were all pretty confused, but then Gyatso asked why they weren't using these bricks, and pointed to what they had built before.
The world changes, he said, all things are transient, and the destruction of the old can lead to new growth. In fact, Guru Laghima's teachings are that destruction of the old is necessary for new growth to take place.
Also legend says Guru Laghima could fly and spent forty years of his life without touching ground even once.
Aang smiles at the memory – flying sounds so cool too, maybe he should try someday. If Roku's story is even half as good as Gyatso's, this day will be great. Even if the story isn't a happy one, what matters is that it's well told. Just that is enough.
And – destruction of the old. That's what Aang is trying to do, isn't it ? Putting an end to a war that went on for a century – that's pretty old ! Wait, does that make him old too ? Ehh –
Oh well, young or old, Aang will keep on changing and growing, and still be an Air Master and himself. Not everything has to go. There is a middle ground.
There is no middle ground between war and peace though. The things that are normal now, that have been normal for a hundred years, these things need to go entirely. Only then will new growth be possible, peace and balance and fun.
The world could learn a lot from the old Gurus, he thinks.
Good thing he is still around to teach, then !