Aang
We had been flying all night. Although I managed to get some sleep, I couldn't really sleep through the night. Usually someone else would steer Appa so the others could sleep and I felt comfortable sleeping that way, but being alone, it's harder.
I had been awake for some time before I could finally see the air temples. The sun was just rising and it was shining beautiful on the temples.
„We're home." I said to Appa. I took his reigns and lightly steered him to a stop where he could land. We landed where all the sky bisons used to roam. The bisons always looked clustered but now the space looked so big. Appa looked tiny in comparison. I got off and Momo flew on my shoulder.
This was our home.
Although the Eastern air temple was closer, I wanted to start rebuilding the Southern air temple first. I hadn't been here in just under a year. Last time I was here was when we flew here with Katara and Sokka. Not much had changed. It looked abandoned. I had a lot of work to do.
Last time we were here, we hadn't really explored the temple that much. I began walking through all the places I walked upon when I was a kid.
Even though it had physically been 100 years since I had been here, to me it still felt like I was here one year ago when it was still filled with airbenders. Everything felt surreal. I walked through the halls and it was so quiet. It was never this quiet when everyone was here.
After walking for some time, I had reached the door where the avatar statues stood. I quickly opened it with airbending and stepped inside.
„Do you remember this, Momo? It's where we met." I said scratching his head. He flew alway and landed on Rokus head. Well, his statues head. I stepped forward and looked at Yangchens statue.
„I will restore this place. I will undo my mistakes, I promise." I looked down. I believed what I said but I had no idea where to start. There was so much to do. I guess I shouldn't be wasting time.
I walked back outside with Momo following close by. I started with dusting the whole place with airbending. It made things a lot easier but the place was so big that it took several hours until I was done. I was tired and hungry. I hadn't eaten anything all day. Although I was often fasting and I wouldn't get hungry so quickly, after tiring myself out, I was starved.
I rembered flying over a town before we reached the air temple. I guess I could find some food there. I walked towards Appa and hopped on.
„Let's get some food, Appa." I said and we started flying towards the town. It wasn't too far. It was still in the earth kingdom but the closest point of civilization.
After flying for some time, we arrived. I landed on an empty space at the entrance of the town. Some people gathered to see what was going on. A woman jumped up.
„I can't believe it. It is Avatar Aang. It is an honor to have you visit our humple town, Avatar." She bowed her head in respect as the other villagers followed.
„You don't have to bow, please. It's an honor to be received in this way." I smiled and looked at them.
„What is the purpose of your visit, Avatar? Our town doesn't have much to offer." She said looking at me questionably.
„I was just searching for a meal." I said walking towards the crowd.
„Then you have come to the right place. I happen to know the best cook in town. Please come this way." She hurriedly walked deeper into the town urging me to follow. I obliged and we soon arrived at an inn.
„Guanyu! Prepare some food. The Avatar is here." She shouted to a man behind a counter.
„The Avatar, you say. I shall make the greatest meal in town." He quickly disappeared into the kitchen, I suppose. The woman walked me to a table and I sat down. She smiled and went into the kitchen as well.
I searched for the washroom and washed up before returning to my table where they were already setting the food down. I got closer and was shocked."
„This could feed the entire village. Thank you but you do too much." I chuckled slightly. She laughed.
„Don't you worry. It's the least we can do for the savior of the world." I blushed.
„Well, then please join me. I would love to share this food with you." She raised her eyebrows and spoke.
„Oh no we couldn-„ She was interrupted by the man from before.
„If you insist." He sat down and began eating from a platter. The woman sat down as well and looked at the man.
„I'm Nuan and this is my husband Guanyu. We've been running this inn for 20 years. There have been hundreds of travelers but your the first avatar. Say, could we get a photo of you to put on our wall?" I looked up at her and swallowed the food before answering.
„Sure." I said before returning to my meal. Guanyu raised an eyebrow and looked at me.
„So what are you doing here, Avatar? Strange that you would be in our tiny town instead of , I don't know doing what Avatars usually do." He said between bites.
„Well, I came to rebuild the air temple. I just stopped here to get some food." I answered after drinking some water.
„Wait, you've been up there already?" Nuan stopped eating and looked up with a confused look.
„Yeah, why?" They both looked at each other.
„Our towns mayor has been trying to get up there for years but he never could. They were always to high up and he could never make it up there." He said and I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
„Why would he try to get up there?" I stopped eating and looked at them.
„He says he wants to make the temples great again. He says it's a waste that something so beautiful and hidden away from the rest of the world is just rotting away in the sky." I looked down and took that in.
„So he wants to restore them?" She nodded.
„He spent years learning about the air nomads and their culture. Some people thought he was going crazy. He's never going to make it there though. Even if he makes it up, he wouldn't be able to get all the resources from the ground up there. I guess it will always just be a dream to him. He used to say when he dies, he'll be reborn as an airbender ." I raised my eyebrows.
„It's weird he isn't already running to find you. I'm sure the news of your arrival is being spread around town." I frowned upon hearing that.
After we talked for some time and finished our meal, someone barged through the doors. It was a man who appeared to be in his 50s.
„So it's true. The last airbender really is in our town." He came up to me and aggressively shook my hand.
„It is an honor to meet you Avatar. You have blessed our town with your presence. I'm Mayor Junfeng" I awkwardly smiled and shook his hand.
„It's nice to meet you Mayor Junfeng." politely said as he finally let go of my hand.
„I hope the people have shown only their greatest respect towards you." I looked behind me at Guanyu.
„Of course. Nothing but respect." I smiled before he began walking outside of the inn.
„Wait, You still owe me that picture." Guanyu said as I turned around.
„Oh right. Just a moment Mister Mayor." I went with Guanyu and did my airbending trick as he took the picture. He thanked me with a firm handshake and I walked back to the mayor.
„So, Avatar Aang, why are you in our town?" He walked me out the inn .
„I have actually come to rebuild the airtemples and stopped here to get some food." He was walking alongside me.
„You don't say. Rebuilding the air temples? I have been wanting to do that for years but I have yet to reach that sacred place." He looked sad.
„Your dream might be able to come home." I said as we reached Appa. A look of shock washed over his face.
„ I can't believe my that a living sky bison?" He slowly approached Appa.
„It sure is." I said proudly.
„This is truly incredible. I never thought I would ever meet one." I smiled.
„Do you want to fly with one?" I asked him. He looked excited.
„Really? It would be an honor." I airbended him onto Appa and we took off. The sky was clear but the winds were strong.
„This is amazing!" He shouted.
„I know!" I screamed. It made me happy that he cared for my culture so much. We flew for a few more minutes until I landed again and helped him off.
„That is the most adrenaline I have felt in a long time. I can't believe you get to fly like that all the time" He said sounded like a little kid.
„Yeah, Appa takes us everywhere." I said subconsciously.
„Us?" He asked.
„Well, my friends used to travel with me but I needed to make this journey alone." He nodded his head at my answer.
„Oh actually, do you have a messenger hawk here? I need to let them now I arrived at the temple." I said.
„We sure do. Follow me." He walked to a building nearby. We walked in and were greeted by a man.
„Want to send a letter?" He asked. I walked towards him.
„Yes, I want to send a letter to Ba Sing Se." He raised his eyebrows and put his hand out.
„Ba Sing Se? That's gonna cost you a hefty sum, son." He clutched his hand a few times.
„Don't be ridiculous, Gan. This is the Avatar." The mayor said.
„I'm a regular person. I'm still going to pay like everyone else." I said giving the man some money. He looked at it and went
behind the counter. He came back with a scroll and some ink and a feather.
I sat down and began writing.
To my friends,
I have arrived at the Southern air temple on this day at dawn. I am sending this letter from a nearby town and hope it finds you in good health. I don't know how long I will stay here or what I will do next but I will write as often as I can. I hope you are all well and not saddened by my departure. The people are nice and I am happy to be here. They need me here but if you ever need anything, don't forget that I am your friend too. Please don't hesitate to write back. I will make my post known whenever I leave, so you know where to send your letters. Until we speak again.
Yours truly
Aang
I wrapped it up tightly and put the scroll inside the hawks carrier. The man then sent him off and I watched as he flew away.
I thanked him and made my way outside. I had spent the whole day in the city and it was getting dark already. The major had been showing me around town before that so time moved rather quickly.
„Are you already leaving?" He asked as I headed towards Appa.
„I won't be far. The air temple isn't too far from here. I will make sure to come into town again." I yawned.
„Well make sure to come by tomorrow. I want to speak to you about something. I think you will be pleasantly surprised." I
raised an eyebrow and looked at him. I was curious but way too tired to ask him about it. I just agreed and took off on Appa.
By the time we arrived it was dark. At first I wanted to go to my old room and sleep there but it was too dark and lonely. Instead I nuzzled up next to Appa and Momo settled down next to me.
„I'm glad I have you two with me. It makes all of this a bit less lonely." Appa growled.
I wonder what the Mayor wants to talk about.
I wonder what Katara is thinking right now.