XLI/ Trust lessons

As the sky bison was flying through the sky, passing near Gaipan and the forests and hills below, Elsa and her friends fell into a contemplative silence. The sky around them was a gradient of deepening orange and purple, dusk painting the horizon with the last light of day. The air was cool, and a few wispy clouds floated by, untouched by the tension that lingered among the travelers.

Elsa felt conflicted toward Jet. His actions and the fact he reminded her of Hans was a sore topic, even more so considering he had attacked her. The bruise on her neck was still fresh and soring. And yet, she couldn't help but feel pity for the young man as she thought upon what might have led him to turn that way. Even during the time she was isolated, her parents were always for her and when they were gone, Kai and Gerda had been loyal and supportive during the three following years till the coronation day and the Great Thaw. For Elsa, Jet hadn't the chance for such support and had been on his own as a child for too long in a warred world.

Looking at her friends, she felt that once again, even with the terrible things that befell them, they had the luck of having people they could rely on and rely on each other.

Elsa then noticed that Katara was sitting with her head bowed, her expression troubled. The young queen could sense the turmoil within her friend—she had seen the world in a new, painful light today. Betrayal, especially from someone she had trusted, weighed heavily on her heart. The young queen was saddened that the waterbender found out in such a way a truth she needed to learn, but she was also glad she didn't experience what Anna lived through, considering how it almost cost both their lives.

She looked at Sokka and noticed he was also solemn. She wondered whether it was because of what Jet almost did or of his sister's demeanour. She knew he didn't trust Jet and his instincts turned out to be true, but sensing what was off and experiencing it was sometimes different. Memories of the events of the Great Thaw and Hans echoed in her mind on that thought.

"Katara," the young queen called gently, leaning slightly forward, her voice soft but steady against the wind. The waterbender lifted her head, meeting Elsa's gaze with troubled eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her tone filled with concern and warmth.

Katara bit her lip, her hands clenching in her lap. "I should've listened to you," she said, her voice tinged with regret. "You warned me about Jet, and I... I didn't listen to you. I trusted him, and now..."

Elsa shook her head, her expression understanding. "It's not your fault, Katara. Jet is charming, I can admit that, and he has a way of making people believe in him."

"But I was so harsh with you," Katara continued, guilt etched into her features. "I talked down to you, even when you were just trying to express your concerns."

Elsa reached out, placing a comforting hand on Katara's shoulder. "You wanted to help, and you believed Jet was someone who could make a difference. There's no shame in that. We all make mistakes when we're trying to do what's right."

As she said those words, the young queen thought about the mistakes her parents and she made and how it almost cost everything.

Katara looked up at the young queen, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just... I feel so stupid. How could I have been so wrong?"

The young queen's expression softened further as she offered a reassuring smile. "You're not stupid. You have a kind heart, and you want to see the best in people. That's a strength, not a weakness."

The young girl nodded slowly, still visibly shaken but comforted by Elsa's words. "Thank you, Elsa. I'm really sorry for how I acted."

"There's nothing to apologize for," Elsa replied kindly, squeezing her friend's shoulder. "We all face challenges and doubts. What matters is that we support each other and learn from our experiences."

The waterbender managed a small smile, the weight on her heart easing slightly. She leaned into Elsa's comforting presence, grateful for her understanding.

Sokka, sitting nearby, had been listening quietly. He caught Elsa's eye and gave a small nod, his way of expressing gratitude for the way she had handled the situation. The young queen returned the nod, understanding the unspoken communication between them.

As Appa was soaring higher into the darkening sky, Aang turned back to look at his friends. The tension had lessened, and a sense of calm was beginning to settle over them. Momo, sensing the shift, fluttered over to Katara's lap, nuzzling her cheek with a soft chirp. The young water tribe girl's smile grew a little brighter as she stroked the winged lemur's fur.

"Elsa," Aang began softly, turning around on Appa's saddle to face her fully, his expression thoughtful. "How did you know how to deal with it? You know...when someone you trusted let you down?"

The young queen hesitated, her eyes reflecting the fading light of dusk as she looked away, deep in thought. But she felt it might help her friends. "My sister, Anna, experienced something similar. But... she learned the lesson in a much more painful way," she admitted, her voice carrying a weight that resonated with both pain and resilience.

Katara's eyes widened slightly, her attention fully captured by Elsa's words. "What happened?"

Aang and Sokka also leaned in, their curiosity piqued. Momo, sensing the seriousness of the conversation, nestled closer to Aang, his large eyes blinking attentively.

Elsa took a deep breath, her gaze drifting to the horizon. For a moment, she hesitated, weighing whether to share this part of her past. But as she looked at the young faces around her, she realized that perhaps her experience could help them understand the complexities of trust and betrayal.

"Do you remember when I told you about my insecurities regarding my powers?" she asked.

Sokka nodded, his usual sarcasm absent. "Yeah, you mentioned being afraid of them once."

"That's right," Aang chimed in, his voice soft with understanding. "And how your sister helped you overcome that fear."

Katara remained silent, but her posture relaxed slightly as she acquiesced in turn.

Elsa took another deep breath. "Well, there's more to that story. When I was afraid of my powers, my parents tried to help, but they... they made mistakes." She paused, her voice tinged with sadness. "They shut the gates of the castle, separating Anna and me."

Aang's eyes widened in shock. "They separated you from your sister?"

Katara gasped softly, her anger forgotten. "But why?"

Elsa's gaze dropped to her hands. " It was supposed to protect us and to help me to control my powers, but it only made things worse. I pushed Anna away because I was so afraid of hurting her again."

The three children exchanged shocked glances. Sokka leaned forward, his voice softer than usual. "You hurt Anna?"

Elsa's breath caught for a moment, memories of that fateful night flashing through her mind. She finally nodded, her eyes glistening. "It was an accident when we were children. After that, I was terrified of hurting her again. I shut her out, thinking it would keep her safe."

Sokka and Aang exchanged a glance, their expressions troubled as they processed Elsa's words. The idea of being isolated and afraid of oneself was something they couldn't fully grasp, but they could see the pain in Elsa's eyes. Katara's expression softened further, empathy and sadness obvious in her eyes. "Oh, Elsa..."

"But it didn't work," the young queen continued, her voice steady despite the pain in her eyes. "Shutting Anna out only hurt her differently. She grew up feeling alone, not understanding why her sister, her best friend, had suddenly shut her out. It made her vulnerable, desiring to find affection and companionship and that led to... to people who would take advantage of her vulnerability."

Aang tilted his head, curiosity evident in his voice. "What do you mean?"

Elsa sighed, her mind drifting to memories of coronation day. "There was a man named Hans. He was a prince who came to Arendelle for my coronation. Anna... she wanted to marry him, even though they had just met."

"What?" Katara exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But that's..."

"Crazy?" Sokka supplied, earning a sharp look from his sister.

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Elsa couldn't help but chuckle. "That's exactly how I reacted when they came to me to ask for my consent. I refused to give them my blessing, and we quarreled. It led to... it led to a series of events that led to Anna discovering the truth about Hans in the most painful way."

Katara leaned forward, her earlier anger completely forgotten. "What happened then?"

"Hans... he took advantage of the situation. He manipulated everyone, including Anna. It wasn't until much later that Anna discovered his true nature and by then..." She trailed off, her voice catching.

Aang's eyes widened with concern. "By then what?"

Elsa looked at each of them, her gaze intense. "He betrayed her, almost destroyed both of us. He wanted to take over our kingdom, and he nearly succeeded. Anna found out when it was almost too late. Hans left her to die, and it was only through sheer determination and love that she survived and prevented him from taking Arendelle and killing me."

A silence settled over the group, the weight of Elsa's story sinking in. Aang looked up at Elsa with wide, sympathetic eyes. "That's terrible," he said softly, his usual cheerful demeanor subdued. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you and your sister."

Sokka, who had been sitting nearby with a serious expression, nodded in agreement. "It sounds like he really messed with her head," he added, his tone somber. "It's no wonder you didn't trust Jet."

Elsa titled her head. "You're right," she replied. "His charm reminded me of Hans and when I saw how you acted around him," she continued as she looked at Katara, "that feeling grew stronger."

The waterbender, her eyes now filled with understanding, reached out to take the young queen's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Elsa," she said, her voice sincere and full of compassion. "I didn't realize you'd gone through something like that."

Elsa offered her friend a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay," she replied, squeezing Katara's hand in return. "I just wanted to protect you from experiencing the same kind of pain. But you have a good heart, and that's something to be proud of. Just remember that not everyone deserves your trust."

Katara nodded slowly, the lesson sinking in as she reflected on the day's events. "I'll remember that," she said softly, her voice filled with a new sense of resolve. "Thank you, Elsa."

Sokka was however intrigued. "But how can you know who to trust?"

Elsa looked at him, understanding why he asked it, considering how cautious and vigilant he was.

"Trust is... complicated," she started to answer. "It's something that has to be earned, not given freely. But… there are some things you can look for."

Sokka leaned forward. "Which ones?"

Elsa took a deep breath, her blue eyes reflecting the fading light. "Someone who truly cares about you will show it through their actions, not just their words. They'll be there for you, even when things are difficult. They won't try to manipulate you or push you into doing something that feels wrong. And most importantly, they'll respect your boundaries and your choices."

Katara listened intently, her brow furrowed in concentration as she absorbed Elsa's words. "So, it's not just about what they say, but what they do?"

"Exactly," Elsa nodded. "Actions often speak louder than words. It shows their true character."

Aang, who had been listening intently, piped up. "But what about when we meet new people? We can't always wait to see what they'll do."

A small smile tugged at Elsa's lips. "You're right, Aang. Sometimes we have to rely on our instincts. Pay attention to how people treat others, not just you. Look for consistency between their words and actions. If something feels off, it's always worth investigating further. It's better to be cautious than to ignore your gut feeling."

The group fell into a contemplative silence, each pondering Elsa's words. As they flew on, the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, giving way to the first twinkling stars of the night.

Sokka finally scratched his chin thoughtfully. "That actually makes a lot of sense. It's kind of like how we've gotten to know you, Elsa. At first, you were just this mysterious ice lady, but now..."

"Now you're part of our family," Aang finished, beaming at Elsa.

Elsa felt a warmth spread through her chest at the young airbender's words. She looked around at the young faces surrounding her, feeling a surge of protectiveness and affection. "And you've all become very dear to me as well," she said softly.

Katara's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"

Elsa smiled softly. "I do. Each of you has shown incredible strength, kindness, and wisdom beyond your years and you accepted me despite the strange circumstances you met me. I'm honored to be part of your journey."

As if sensing the emotional moment, Momo chittered softly and hopped onto Elsa's lap. She stroked his fur gently, earning a contented purr from the lemur.

"So do I," Sokka said, breaking the momentary silence with a lighter tone, "Even if Aang does make some questionable food choices."

"Hey!" the young Avatar protested playfully, turning around to stick his tongue out at Sokka.

The group burst into laughter, the tension of the earlier conversation dissipating. As they settled back into a comfortable silence, watching the sun sink below the horizon, Elsa felt a sense of peace wash over her. She may have been far from Arendelle, but here, among these extraordinary children, she had found a new kind of family. Even if there would be a time she would have to leave to return home, she would cherish the moments spent with them and help them to become the persons they could be.

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky while the air grew cooler. Appa glided through the air as night was starting to grow.

"You know," Sokka said, stifling a yawn, "we should probably find a place to rest soon. It's been a long day."

Elsa nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the darkening landscape below. "You're right. We all need to recuperate after everything that's happened." She glanced at Aang, who was still holding the reins. "Aang, do you think you could find us a good spot to stop?"

The young Avatar turned to her with a reassuring smile, though there was a touch of exhaustion in his eyes. "Of course. I'll find a place for us to rest up." He leaned forward, scanning the landscape below for a suitable location.

Sokka nodded, satisfied with the decision. "Good. We need to keep our strength up if we're going to make it to the North Pole."

"Definitely," Katara agreed, her voice gentle as she shifted slightly to get more comfortable on Appa's saddle. "We've got a long way to go."

Aang's gaze drifted slightly to the southeast as he spotted a familiar landmark in the distance. His eyes lit up with recognition. "How about we make a stop at the Great Divide?" he suddenly asked, his gray eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sokka's brow furrowed. "The Great what now?"

"The Great Divide," Aang repeated, gesturing enthusiastically. "It's the largest canyon in the Earth Kingdom!"

Elsa tilted her head, intrigued. "The Great Divide? That sounds fascinating. Is it on our route?"

Aang's smile faltered slightly. "Well, not exactly. It's a bit southeast of where we are now."

Sokka's eyes narrowed. "Southeast? Aang, that's completely off course! We're supposed to be heading north, remember? To the North Pole? Where Katara and you can learn waterbending?"

Aang's shoulders slumped a little. "I know, I know. But hear me out! It could be a great place to rest and regroup. Plus, it's an amazing sight! Don't you think we could use a little break from all the stress?"

Katara, always quick to support the young airbender, nodded quickly. "It might be nice to see something new. And we have been pushing ourselves pretty hard lately."

Sokka threw his hands up in exasperation. "Am I the only one who remembers we're on a time-sensitive mission here?"

"Sokka has a point," Elsa intervened with a gentle voice. "We do need to be mindful of our main objective." She turned to Aang, her blue eyes softening. "Why do you think this detour is necessary?"

The young airbender's gray eyes met Elsa's, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of the weight he carried as the Avatar. "I just think... we need some time to process everything that's happened. And maybe throw Zuko off our trail a bit. If we keep going straight north, we're pretty easy to track."

Elsa considered this, her brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, she nodded slowly. "You make a good point about throwing off our pursuers. And I suppose a short detour could be beneficial for our morale."

Sokka groaned. "Not you too, Elsa!"

The young queen turned to him with a reassuring smile. "It won't be for long, Sokka. Sometimes, taking a step back can help us move forward more effectively."

Katara chimed in with a mischievous smile, "Besides, didn't you tell us to walk to avoid being noticed by Zuko?"

Sokka sighed, shaking his head but not protesting.

Aang's face lit up. "So we can go?"

Elsa nodded. "Yes, but let's not linger too long. We'll visit the Great Divide, rest, and then continue our journey north with renewed energy."

"Yes!" Aang cheered, immediately taking Appa's reins and adjusting their course. "You won't regret it, I promise!"

As the sky bison changed direction and flew towards their new destination, Elsa gazed at the night-rising sky, a quiet resolve settling over her. She knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but in this moment, surrounded by her newfound family, she felt ready to face whatever came their way