IV/ Sharing tales in the sky
Elsa and her new friends joined back at the place where Appa was resting, accompanied by the winged lemur, now affectionately called Momo by Aang. As they settled in, Momo couldn't resist the temptation of a nearby peach in Sokka's hand. With a mischievous chirp, he swooped down and snatched it, evoking laughter from the group as the water tribe boy's protests were met with amusement.
After a satisfying meal and some light-hearted banter, they decided to spend the night near the temple. The next morning, they gathered their belongings and prepared to depart. With a mixture of excitement and determination, they climbed onto Appa's back, Elsa marveling at the sensation of flying for the first time. The wind whipped through her hair, and she felt a further sense of freedom, unlike anything she had experienced before.
As they soared through the sky, Momo glided nearby, occasionally swooping close to the sky bison's head before darting away again. Elsa couldn't help but smile at the sight, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the little lemur.
"Looks like someone is enjoying the ride," Katara commented, her voice carrying over the rushing wind.
Sokka scoffed a bit, even though he didn't sound irritated as he was eyeing the horizon. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe he should be our navigator."
Elsa chuckled at the suggestion, enjoying the playful banter of her new friends. "I think Appa's doing just fine on his own."
As they flew, the young queen couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the world unfolding beneath them. "This is incredible," she remarked, her voice filled with awe. "I never imagined I'd be flying through the sky like this."
Aang, hearing her comment from the front, turned to smile at her. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it? Just wait until you see some of the other things the world has to offer."
Elsa titled her head toward the young airbender, appreciating his enthusiasm and innocence. Her smile then faltered slightly as she thought about her sister, Anna, and how much she would have enjoyed this experience. It brought a pang of sadness to her heart, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for leaving her behind.
Katara, noticing her reaction, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Elsa hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's just... I can't help but wonder how Anna would have felt if she was here with us."
Sokka and Katara exchanged curious glances, intrigued. "Anna?" The water tribe boy asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"My sister, my friend..." Elsa replied, her gaze turning distant as she thought about Anna.
Aang's eyes widened with curiosity, eager to know more. "What's she like? Does she have powers like you?"
Elsa's smile softened as she thought about Anna's infectious energy and unwavering kindness. "Anna is... she's amazing. Fun, sometimes awkward, but brave, determined and kind," she replied. "And no, she doesn't have powers like mine. She is in some ways like Sokka", she answered Aang, looking in the direction of the young airbender. "But she doesn't need them. She's strong in her own way. Nothing would stop her, not even distances and storms. She would cross the world to find me or to follow me."
Katara and Sokka exchanged impressed and intrigued looks.
"Wow, she sounds like quite a person," Sokka commented, a hint of admiration and a pinch of disbelief in his voice. "I can appreciate someone who's determined and doesn't let anything stand in their way. And she'd cross the world for you? That's some serious dedication for a girl."
Elsa nodded, a fondness for her sister evident in her eyes, even though she frowned slightly to the water tribe's boy last words. "Yes, she would. Anna has always been there for me, and I would do the same for her," she declared with a mix of fondness and of emotion in her voice.
"Sounds like you two have a special connection," Katara remarked, her voice filled with warmth.
Elsa nodded, feeling a sense of kinship with her new friends. "We do. Anna and I... we've been through a lot together. But no matter what, we always have each other's backs."
Her thoughts dwelled a short instant on the years she had wasted cutting herself from her sister when she was afraid of her own powers. Even now, she still regretted the mistakes her parents and she made after the accident and all the isolation policies they implemented to help her to control her powers.
Aang's eyes shimmered with empathy as he listened to the discussion. "I really hope you will see her again soon," he said with a small smile, his voice carrying hope and compassion.
Katara nodded. "Yes. I can't imagine how you feel being so away from her," she said with a kind voice, even though Elsa could sense there was something else in her tone.
Elsa smiled gratefully, feeling a sense of warmth and acceptance wash over her. "I hope too," she said softly.
Sokka then chimed in with a lighthearted comment. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll see her again."
Elsa looked at him with warmth. After a short silence, Katara commented with a kind glance, "Your parents must be proud of you two."
Elsa's smile faltered slightly at the mention of her parents, her thoughts drifting back to the shipwreck she had discovered just before coming to this world. "Yes, they would be," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
The young waterbender noticed Elsa's reaction and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Elsa?"
Elsa hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. She glanced at Katara, then at Sokka and Aang, before finally deciding to open up. "It's just... I lost my parents some years ago. They were traveling by sea, and..." Her voice trailed off, emotions welling up inside her.
Sokka and Katara exchanged knowing glances, their memories of loss stirring within them. "We understand," Katara said softly, her eyes reflecting empathy. "We lost our mother to the Fire Nation..."
As Katara trailed off, her expression down and forlorn, Sokka continued, "And our father... well, he left to fight them in the Earth Kingdom two years ago. We haven't seen him since."
Elsa's eyes filled with sympathy as she listened to the siblings' words. She could sense the pain and longing in their voices, echoing her own feelings of loss. A part of her understood now why they were there as they didn't have their parents in one way or another. Another wondered who had taken care of them since the departure of their father and why they had been left on their own in the wild.
"I'm so sorry," she said sincerely, her voice filled with compassion. "Losing loved ones is never easy. It leaves a void that can never truly be filled."
Sokka nodded, a mix of sadness and determination in his eyes. "But we keep going, right? We honor their memory by fighting for what's right and protecting those we care about."
Aang's eyes shimmered with understanding as he listened. Elsa nodded, grateful for their understanding. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "It means a lot to me."
The conversation hung in the air, a weighty silence settling over the group as they processed their shared experiences of loss and longing. Katara, ever the empathetic one, broke the silence with a gentle inquiry. "Elsa, what can you tell about your home?"
Elsa answered with a little smile, glad to think upon another topic, even though a pang in her chest could be felt. She also felt concerned for the safety of her people, wondering what would occur to them in her absence. She hoped Anna would guide them.
"It is a little kingdom named Arendelle," she started, her voice tinged with a hint of homesickness and concern.
Sokka, ever the inquisitive one, leaned forward with curiosity. "A kingdom, huh? What's your position there?"
Elsa paused, hesitating to reveal this element, but she decided otherwise. "I am the queen there," she revealed.
A stunned silence occured as she said those words. All the three children looked at her with a stunned expression, not expected it. Sokka's eyes widened in surprise and shock, while Katara was both curious and stunned. Aang looked back at Elsa with mesmerized eyes as if she was a wonder of the world. Elsa felt a bit uneasy, but understood that this revelation was likely unexpected from their perspective.
Silence was finally broken with Sokka who was still looking at Elsa with a stunned expression and mouth agape, still processing what she had just said. "Wow, a queen? That's... impressive," he remarked, his tone tinged with respect but Elsa sensed he was conflicted as if the idea contradicted something he believed in. A part of her suspected it was due to how he seemed to consider girls.
Aang commented with a light voice, his eyes wide opened and impressed. "A queen? That's so cool!"
Elsa shook her head at the airbender's words, considering the burden of duties her position had, even though it was also true that in her case, it was also full of fun with her sister, their friends and their people.
"Your father must have been a leader too," Katara observed, her voice filled with understanding and intrigue, her eyes full of curiosity.
Elsa nodded, a pang of longing stirring in her chest at the mention of her father. "Yes, he was," she confirmed, her voice soft with emotion. "He ruled Arendelle with wisdom and compassion and taught me everything I know about leading with kindness and strength."
She also thought of the mistakes her father made in dealing with how she could learn to control her powers after the accident in the library.
Sokka nodded, a newfound respect for Elsa blooming within him. "I understand the feeling. Dad was the same with me. At least before leaving to fight the Fire Nation."
Elsa looked at him with sympathy as she noticed his longing look. He then bounced back with a genuine tone, "Well, it sounds like you come from a pretty amazing place."
Elsa's smile widened at the genuine compliment, a warmth spreading through her chest at the acceptance she felt from her new friends. "Thank you," she said sincerely, her voice filled with gratitude. "And what about you? Where do you come from?"
Katara took a moment to gather her thoughts before answering. "We come from the Southern Water Tribe," she replied, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "We live in a small village located near the South Pole."
Elsa's eyebrows lifted in interest as she glanced at the map Sokka was holding. "Could you show me where it is?" she asked, curiosity coloring her tone.
Sokka nodded eagerly, pointing to a spot on the map with a sense of pride. "Right here," he declared, a hint of excitement in his voice. "It's not much, but it's home."
Elsa studied the map for a moment, her eyes tracing the coastline of the south pole of this world. Memories of her own kingdom flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of connection to Sokka and Katara's homeland.
Looking up from the map, Elsa's gaze shifted to her new companions. "What about the other places?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. "What are they like?"
Katara smiled warmly, eager to share her knowledge with Elsa. "Well, there's the Earth Kingdom," she began, her voice animated with enthusiasm in showing the big mainland on the map. "And then there's the Fire Nation," her voice turned a bit sour while indicating the archipelago in red on the map. Seeing the place, Elsa pictured it as a naval power like Great Britain, but with people that could manipulate fire.
"And where are we going?" she then asked, her curiosity growing with each passing moment.
Katara exchanged a knowing glance with Aang at the front before answering. "We're heading to the Northern Water Tribe," she explained, her voice tinged with determination while showing a land at the top of the map. "Aang and I need to find a waterbending master to help us on our journey."
Elsa's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of curiosity and concern flickering across her features. "But why?" she questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Aang spoke up, his voice calm and reassuring. "Because I need to learn how to master the elements," he explained, his tone carrying a sense of purpose. "Right now, I only know airbending. But to truly fulfill my role as the Avatar, I need to learn water, earth, and fire."
Katara added, "And I am the last waterbender of the South Pole."
Elsa nodded in understanding, a sense of solidarity washing over her, especially as she felt there was more about Katara's situation, tied to what happened to her tribe and the Fire Nation. "I understand," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy.
Sokka then commented, "We also have to deal with an angry ponytail jerk."
Elsa looked at the Water Tribe boy with confusion while a bit nonplussed by the choice of words and in spite of herself a bit amused. "Angry ponytail jerk?"
Katara spoke up, "Yes. A Fire Nation guy called Zuko. He went to our village to find the Avatar and threatened Gran-Gran and our village if Aang didn't surrender himself to protect us."
Elsa's brows furrowed in concern as she processed Katara's words. The mention of someone threatening their village and loved ones stirred a protective instinct within her. "That sounds terrible," she remarked, her voice laced with sympathy. "Is everyone in your village alright?"
Katara nodded solemnly. "Yes, thankfully," she confirmed, a hint of relief in her voice.
Elsa turned her glance on Aang, "How did you escape him?"
The young airbender reacted with a sad smile, "The Fire Nation didn't know how to fight an airbender anymore…"
Elsa looked at him with empathy, understanding how painful it must be for the young boy.
Katara looked at her and declared, "We escaped his ship but he seemed very obsessed to find Aang. That's why it's important for Aang to master the elements and fulfil his role as the Avatar."
Elsa titled her head in understanding, concerned to the fact there was someone who wanted to capture and possibly harm Aang. She looked at the young boy with further determination and protectiveness. She wouldn't let anyone harm this child.
Sokka chimed in, his tone serious. "Exactly. We need to be prepared to face whatever challenges come our way."
Momo suddenly landed on Sokka's head with a chitter, causing Sokka to yelp in surprise. Katara and Aang burst into laughter at Sokka's reaction, while Elsa couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. This unexpected situation was a welcome balm to the news Elsa had learnt.
"Sokka, watch where you're going!" Katara teased, reaching out to gently pat Momo's head as the winged lemur glided away from Sokka and landed near Elsa.
Sokka grumbled as he shot Momo a glare. "You little troublemaker," he muttered, earning another round of laughter from the group.
Elsa watched the interaction with amusement, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she reached out to stroke Momo's soft fur. The small creature chirped happily, nuzzling against her hand, and Elsa couldn't help but feel a sense of companionship with the adorable creature.
Once the laughter died down, Sokka turned to Elsa with a curious expression. "So, how did you end up here, anyway?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine interest.
Elsa's smile faltered slightly as she shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure," she admitted, a furrow forming between her brows. "The last thing I remember was being in Ahtohallan."
"Ahto-what now?" Sokka exclaimed, his eyes widening in confusion.
Aang leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What's Ahtohallan?" he asked, his gaze intent on Elsa.
"It's a place of legend in my world," Elsa explained, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "A river of memories, they say. I was searching for answers, trying to understand a situation that was threatening Arendelle."
Sokka scratched his head, trying to wrap his mind around the concept. "A river of memories, huh?" he mused, exchanging a baffled glance with Katara.
Aang nodded thoughtfully, his expression serious. "That sounds a bit like a spiritual place," he remarked, his gaze flickering with curiosity.
Elsa nodded in agreement, a distant look in her eyes. "It was," she admitted softly, her thoughts drifting back to the icy depths of Ahtohallan. The feeling of slowly freezing in the well of Ahotahallan was still fresh in her mind and an experience she wasn't eager to renew. A part of her wondered if that was what Anna had been feeling when she accidentally froze her heart.
Katara looked at Elsa with a mixture of empathy and concern. "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked gently, sensing Elsa's hesitance.
Elsa hesitated for a moment, her expression thoughtful, before offering a small nod. "Yes, I did," she replied quietly, not elaborating further on the subject, knowing it was still a tender spot for her. She wasn't still ready to discuss with those children the truth of her grandfather's wrongs or the fact she was the fifth element, even though she might need to do so at one point, considering that Aang might offer her some perspective due to his position as Avatar. Perhaps she could help him, considering he was so young and likely unprepared for the burden of his position.
Sokka furrowed his brow, noticing the hint of sadness in Elsa's eyes. "Well, whatever it was, we're glad you're here with us now," he said sincerely, offering her a reassuring smile.
Aang and Katara nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with warmth and acceptance. "Absolutely," Aang chimed in, his tone sincere. "We're all in this together."
Elsa's heart warmed at their kind words and genuine acceptance. She had just met this group, but their compassion and willingness to include her made her feel a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm glad to be here with all of you too. It's comforting to know that I'm not alone in this journey."
Aang smiled at her, his eyes shining with understanding. Katara nodded, her gaze gentle. "You're part of our group now, Elsa," she said, reaching out to place a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "We'll face whatever comes our way together."
The group fell into a contemplative silence, the rhythmic sound of Appa's grunts as he flew over the vast ocean. Elsa felt a surge of hope and determination. She knew she joined them because she needed to find a way back home and couldn't allow those children to be on their own if a war was raging out there. But with the perspective to discover a new world, new customs, how similar and different bending was to her powers, and the energy that transpired from Katara, Aang, and Sokka, she felt she felt confident that she could face whatever challenges lay ahead. No matter how far into the unknown she would journey, she felt that she might find something else that would help her to prepare herself for the new position she would likely take back in her world. She just hoped she wouldn't lose too much time there. The longer she would be here, the more likely many things would have occured in Arendelle. Hopefully, Aang and she would find a solution to her predicament. And yet, in spite of the uncertainties and challenges she felt would come, she felt confident to face the dangers that awaited her companions and her.