Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Have you ever experienced a sleep so peaceful that you feel like you could build an entire house the next morning? Or a sleep so restless that everyone who speaks in your vicinity is just hellish? Well, that's exactly how you felt at the moment, but like both at the same time.

You felt the somehow warm coldness around you dissipate, letting you finally stretch. Have you been sleeping all night weirdly? Why did you feel so stiff? Wait…

The fight. The attack. Destruction. Village. Father. Uncle. Syed. Fire soldiers. Fight. Protect. Wake up. Ocean. Wake up. Ship. Family.

Aang!

There was something more important to worry about. You couldn’t let your mind swallow you into a pool of sadness just yet. He needed you.

You tried opening your eyes and sitting up at once, but a bright light didn’t let you; you opted for sitting up slowly first, letting your back crack and your dizzy mind settle. Finally, through your eyelids, you noticed the bright light died down to a tolerable one. You dared open your eyes now, and you found daylight.

You look around, the first thing your head registers is not remembering how the hell you got to an iceberg. All the blue and white was blinding, but beautiful in a way.

Behind you, Appa lay still in a deep sleep. Your dagger was close to your legs. And looking up just in time, you saw Aang falling out of the crater of ice. Then you registered the voices.

You instantly reacted, thinking the worst. Maybe fire nation soldiers had found you both. You shot up to your trembling legs. Why were you so weak? Doesn’t matter; you needed to get to Aang. With a quick stretch and feeling more stable, you realize there was an opening to your right. Deciding to round it to catch by surprise the danger from behind, expecting to see ships and fire, just to come across two kids close to Aang.

“Would you go penguin – sailing with me?”

“Uhh… sure, I guess.”

You were about to dismiss them as dangerous till you saw the one your age holding a spear too close to Aang’s face.

“Aang! Are you okay? Back off, you two.” They jumped back at your voice. You rushed to stand between Aang and them.  After a moment, Aang used his air to stand up behind you, making the blue-eyed boy that was around your age look frightened and raise his spear higher.

“I’m okay. What’s going on?” Aang inquired as he looked around at the icy scenery. You didn’t take your eyes off the fellow.

“You tell us!”  The boy said, eyes flickering to Aang and you rapidly. “How did you get in the ice?! How are you not frozen? And why are you dressed like it’s not freezing?” He tried touching you with his spear. By instinct, you wanted to use fire. However, when you tried, your hand remained empty; opting for deflecting with your dagger, which was rather easy against the boy.

Aang mindlessly put a hand on your shoulder to make you settle while looking around more. “I’m not sure.” 

“What is happening?” It was your turn to mutter this. Trying to light up your hand again and again.

“Is there something wrong with her hand or something?” Ponytail fella asked in a hushed tone the girl beside him.

Your baffled state was interrupted by a growl that instantly caught yours and Aang’s attention.

Aang rushed to climb back into the crater. You, using the same way you came to this side, caught sight of Aang jumping to Appa’s head, “Appa! Are you alright?”  He tried opening his eye, then tried to make him lift his giant head by hoisting his mouth.

You've got to Appa’s side. “He’s still very drowsy.” Your voice let your worry show as you petted the side of his head. “Come on, big guy.”  That coming out as a whispered beg.

“Uh?!?” You heard the boy behind you yelp as they followed after you, their eyes instantly landing on the furry bison. With a big yawn Appa finally woke up. This made you and Aang sigh in relief.

 “Yeah! You’re okay!” Aang squealed with a laugh as he was blown to Appa’s head.

“Got me worried for a second there, big friend.” You smile, taking a step back as Appa stood, stretched, and shook his fur.

“What is that thing?”

“Can’t you see it’s not a thing?!”  You scold the blue-eyed stranger.

Aang chimed with a friendlier tone. “Yeah, this is Appa, my flying bison.”

“Right. And this is Katara, my flying sister.”  He said with sarcasm and pointed to the girl behind him. You rolled your eyes at his comment.

The girl, Katara, was about to answer when some growling and a warning “Look out!” made you step out of the way just for Appa to sneeze and cover the boy with mucus. You couldn’t help but laugh lightly and cringe at the disgusting sight.

“Don’t worry. It’ll wash out.” Spirits blessed his positive way of saying that while the boy tried wiping his face on the floor.

“How is that for a thing? Anyway, you two are from around here? Because I’m lost.”  The boy raised his spear at you yet again.

“I am not lost! But, are you from around here?” Aang chimed, mostly looking in the girl’s direction.

“Don’t answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light? They were probably trying to signal the fire navy.” Ponytail accused and made you scrunch your face.

“Oh yeah, I’m sure they are spies for the fire navy, especially because of that evil look in his eyes.”  Katara defended with sarcasm, making Aang put on an innocent smile. Then she turned to you two. “The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You never told us your names.”

You hesitated for a moment; you were having trouble reading people beyond physical language at the moment, thankfully, they didn’t give off strong threatening vibes. So, in the end, you offered your name.

“And I’m aaah…ah? Ah! Aah! Ah-choo!”  Aang sneezed, blowing air and himself high in the sky before coming down as if nothing had happened. To you, though, this was a normal occurrence, had happened more time that you could count but the pair of siblings looked totally shocked.

You, unfaced, offered a bless you that he nodded to acknowledge before turning back to Katara. “I’m Aang.”

“You just sneezed and flew 10 feet in the air!” Of course the boy- Sokka has to point out the obvious.

“He has gone higher than that before.” You muttered, glancing at Aang, who gave a triumphant grin.

“You’re an airbender!” This time, the exclamation came from Katara.

“Sure am.”

“I thought it was obvious by the polished bald where hair should be.”  You pinch Aang’s side, making him laugh.

 “Giant light beams, flying bison, weird girls, air benders…I think I have midnight sun madness. I’m going home where stuff makes sense.” Sokka turned to leave, but he realized what you also did. How was he going to go anywhere with no boat?

And it seems like Aang noticed this fact too, “If you guys are stuck, we could give you a lift!” Air circled as he flew to Appa.

“Oh? Are we now? Last time I checked, we have people to get back to, Mister.”  You climbed Appa by using his horn as leverage, then sitting on the saddle.

“Oh come on _________, we can’t leave them stranded!” He turned as he gave you frog dog eyes he knew you wouldn’t refuse.

You tried to keep a solemn face to no vail. With a sharp exhale you budge.  “Agh… fine, whatever. We can take them home. But we have to hurry; everyone must be worried.” Everyone…

Hearing this Katara finally said, “Thanks! We ‘d love a ride.” Aang in his feet in a second to help her up.

“Oh, no! I’m not getting on that fluffy snot monster.”  Sokka whined.

“First of all, Appa is not a monster; don’t ever call him that ever again. Second, it’s either him or whatever other animals live in these waters. Leaving out the fact that you could also freeze to death. Pick your chance, ponytail.” You said, leaning on the saddle with a knowing expression.

Sokka gave an exasperated sigh finally giving in. When he was finally settled between Katara and you, Aang shouted, “Alright to the first-time flyers hold on tight! Appa, yip-yip!”

Appa gave a growl and a big jump… just to fall back into the sea, opting for swimming than flying.

“Wow.. that was amazing.” Sokka’s comment dripping with mockery. Katara crawled to the front of the saddle closer to Aang.

“Give Appa a chance; he must be tired.”  You defended by giving a scolding glance at him while patting Appa’s side.

“Yeah! A little rest and he’ll be soaring through the sky, you’ll see.” Aang backed you up with in a kinder tone than yours, then he just stared at Katara with a big smile. You raised your eyebrow at the action.

Katara questioned it. “Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“Oh, I was smiling?”

You shrug low, shaking your head. Sokka, on the other hand, groaned with annoyance.

The travel was serene. After a while Sokka lay down and Katara went up to Aang, asking if he knew the avatar. After their hushed conversation, Katara said good night and then you went up to Aang sitting beside him.

“Hey you.” You kept your voice low. Then, seeing the face Aang was making, you asked gently “You good?”

“Oh yeah yeah, all great, all…excellent.” You didn’t believe him at all but you let it slide for now.

“So, I noticed a little something..”

“Hmm, what?”

“Congratulations on your tattoos, Aang” You hugged him by the shoulders, feeling like a proud mother hen. “They look amazing on you!”  Cupping his head you turned him side to side to get the details, making him laugh softly.

“Thank you..”  His voice still held sadness.

“Hey… What is bothering you? I thought you were excited about getting them…”

“No. I mean yeah I was, I am. I guess I’m just still tired even after that ice nap.”

“Hmm makes sense, I am also getting drowsy. We should also rest a bit too. It’s weird to say this with the sun still out, but Good night.”

You both chuckled, you went back to the saddle and Aang stayed on the front. After a while you were woken up by Katara who announced you had arrived. You tried waking up Aang but he was in a very deep sleep. This troubled you.

Carrying him inside a tent that Katara pointed to, you carefully put him down. An old lady came in shortly after to check on him. You stayed as she took off some layers of clothing to better check him, and after a bit she deemed him alright and left. You tucked him in and went outside again to let him rest. Here, the cold was sharper, biting into you.

“So… you.” Sokka came up. The dagger that you left on the saddle was now in his hand. “What are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you are carrying a weapon that looks like too much for a girl, and why are you dressed like that?” He pointed with an exaggerated manner to your clothes, “You are showing too much skin, a decent woman shouldn’t do that...”

Your face darkened. With a small scowl, you spat sharply. “These are the clothes we use in my tribe. I come from the sun warriors! The way I dress doesn’t define my honor. And that dagger is mine. Give it back.”

“Uhh, a Warrior, sure. Yeah right, because you know how to fight.”

“Sokka!” Katara cut in as she came closer and heard her brother’s words. “You are such a jerk. With what face can you say that to her when you can barely fight yourself!” You then notice the clothes in her hands. She turned to you with an apologetic look, “I’m really sorry about him. Here, I realized your clothes are a bit burned and scratched I brought you a change. Not that you have to cover up but here it is really cold I woul-”

You gently cut her rambling taking the clothes from her hands, “It’s okay, Katara. I get it. Thank you.”

“Oh, now we are giving our clothes away too?” Katara cut off Sokka’s complaint with a smack on the back of his head. You gave a frown to Sokka, taking advantage that he was distracted, you snatched your dagger back, and disappeared into the tent.

Checking on Aang, you found him still asleep. Silently, you changed there. Katara had an eye for this, because they fitted you perfectly.

 “So, I’m sorry that I eavesdropped, but… You said you come from the sun warriors? I have never heard of your tribe before.” Katara said from outside. It took you a moment to answer while you finished dressing, but eventually you stepped out.

You could easily pass as part of the water tribe.

 “I would be surprised if you had. We are pretty much hidden away… or… so I thought till we were attacked.”  Memories of the fight, the loss, the argument, all flood your brain.

This gained a sympathetic look from them both, but Katara was the one to speak while Sokka looked down, “oh, I’m sorry…”

“If you’ll excuse me.”  You walked away as you felt tears prickling your eyes. Getting away from the small settlement, close to the freezing shore. There, you took a moment, no longer able to simply… ignore.

Goro, one of the few people who treated you like a human, not like an heir or a freak. One of the few to care for you was now gone. You thought about how the conversation with your father would be after you get back to that calamity of a village.

You thought about your fire. How, for years, you thought of it as an inconvenience, and now that, for some reason, you couldn’t use it you felt hollow. That feeling led to think about Syed. She, who helped you almost open your chakras, who guided you to find peace of mind amid the turmoil of your village, who taught you to read someone beyond just words. And now, without your fire, you couldn’t even do that.

You didn’t know how long you sat there looking away into the horizon, but your thoughts were interrupted by Sokka’s whiny voice close by. “Katara get him out of here. This lesson is for warriors only.”

Quickly, you dried your tears; you didn’t want to talk about what happened, not so soon. Deciding to join back to let your mind and heart rest, you walk up to find Aang playing with the kids on Appa’s back, using him as a slide, laughter filled the place. A joyful sight for a sore heart.

Sokka groan, walking up to the play area to take away the spear that was holding Appa’s tail. Buzzkill. “Stop. Stop it right now. We don’t have time for fun and games with a war going on.”

“What war? What are you talking about?” Aang question made you grimace. They must have attacked your village before his mountains. But why was he in the middle of the sea that night, then?

“You are kidding right?” Sokka said with a sober expression. In that moment, Aang saw a penguin in the distance and tried to run off.

Catching him by his collar before he could get far, you scolded, “Not so fast, Arrows. We have to go home.”

“Oh please let me go sledding! I haven’t been to a pole in a while. They are so cute and it’s so fun to sled on them! Come on, please please please.”

You were about to cut off Aang's begging when Katara tenderly cut in. “I can go with him and make sure he comes back really fast. I promise.” Eyeing her honesty and the big pleading eyes of Aang, you let go of his collar.

“I really shouldn’t… but fine.” They scrambled away really fast. “Be careful!” You were curious about the penguins, too, but right now you didn’t have the mind for it.

You turn to find Sokka trying to get his “warriors” to go back to training. You needed to talk with him about that war he mentioned, so taking a deep breath, you made your way and called his name.

“What?”  He spat his frustration with the kids towards you.

Raising your hands in a gesture of peace. Is not like you were eager to talk to him, but he had the answers to your questions. You close up. “I wanted to talk.”

“I don’t have time to talk. I have warriors to teach.”

With a sigh, you lowered your voice and hands. “Look, my village was attacked, I need to know more about this war you mentioned, alright?”

He finally turned to you, rubbing his face. “I have teaching to d-”

“Look, I get it. I can help you teach actual fighting moves if you want, but I have never heard of war before, just the possibility of it-”

“How do you even spend the hundred years that war has been going on without hearing about it?”  He cut off. “Do you live under a rock? Besides, girls don’t fight.”

Deciding to ignore the stupid comments with an eyeroll, you went right to the point. “What do you mean by a hundred years? The fire lord has not attacked till last night.”

“HA! Unless you were in that ice for a hundred years, then you must be blind and deaf because they had attacked for a LONG time now.”

Could it be possible? Could that have happened? A hundred years buried under the sea…No. Impossible.

“Do you know where it started?”

“Nop. Heard it was south, but don’t know where in the south.”

“What about the avatar? Shouldn’t they help with the war?”

“Girl- The avatar has also been gone for a hundred years. No one knows anything about him. How long were you in that ice, really?”  Sokka shrugged, walking away.

You were rooted in place, unable to process. “I…don’t know.”

Maybe the fire nation attacked other places before your village, and your father simply never told you that part, just about them being eager to find the avatar and the eternal flame, and that’s it. Yeah, that must be it. Aang would come back, and you two would get back home, and everything was going to be fine.

You took a deep breath and a moment to finally detail the water village. The place was smaller than you had imagined. Only a couple of tents and a small ice wall circling them, with what used to be a tower of snow that now lay knocked down.

You paced the area very slowly, taking in how there only seemed to be women and children, “Men went to war.”  Thoughts slipping out of your tongue out loud. You noticed how they looked a bit uneasy at your presence, the water tribe's clothes doing little to hide the fact that you weren’t from around there. The clothes you now wear echoed theirs, deep and light blues, purples and white, and a lot of furs to fight the cold.

Your thoughts were broken when you saw their eyes land behind you, with gasps and hurrying children to hide inside tents, you turned on time to see the beam of light. Close by, a mother muttered something about being attacked by the fire nation, then you saw Sokka walking to the back from where the light came from, for a second you thought he was going to check it out, until you heard familiar voices

 “I knew it, you signal the fire nation with that flare. You’re leading them straight to us, aren’t you?” Sokka shouted. He seemed pissed and apprehensive.

Katara stepped forward, trying to defend your airbender friend. “It was an accident.”  

“Yes, we went to the ship, and there were bobby traps that…I bobbied right into.”

You finally made your way to them, standing near the water tribe people pilling up to hear as Katara’s and Sokka’s grandmother scolded too, “Katara, you shouldn’t have gone to that ship, now we could all be in danger.”

“Don’t blame Katara, I brought her there. It's my fault.” Eventually, you reached Katara and Aang, as the latter tried to take all the blame. The kids had run up to him too, relieved to see that he was fine, till Sokka shouted again.

“A-ha! The traitor confesses! Warriors, away from the enemy, the foreigner is banned from our village.”  You grabbed Aang’s shoulder. Sokka’s words had hurt him.

“Sokka, you are making a mistake.” Even with Katara trying with all her might to make her brother see reason, he wouldn’t budge.

“I’m keeping my promise to dad.”

“He’s no traitor-“

“You too. Surely you stayed to distract us.” Sokka cut you off with yet another accusation.

Katara stepped back into the discussion before you could defend yourself, “Can’t you see? He has brought us something we haven’t had in a long time…fun.”

“We can’t fight firebenders with fun!”

“You should try it sometime...” You squeezed Aang’s shoulder; he was not helping his case.

“Get out of our village. Now.”

“You can’t do this.”

Again, the old woman stepped into the discussion between the siblings, taking the brother’s side. “Katara, you knew going onto that ship was forbidden.”

Then Katara did something that really took you aback. “Fine! Then I’m banished too. Come on, let’s go.”  She took Aang‘s and your hand to pull you towards Appa. You were familiar with wanting to explore and expand horizons. You couldn’t help but feel a pang of pride and respect for her bravery to stand her ground like this. But also…grief.

I WON’T LET YOU LOCK ME AWAY AGAIN WHILE THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK HIM AWAY RUN FREE.

Behind you, everyone was equally, if not more surprised than you two. And that was backed up by Sokka’s shout, “Where do you think you are going?”

“To find a water bender, Aang is taking me to the North Pole.”

“You are?”  “I am?”  You asked at the same time as Aang.

“Katara! Would you really choose them over your tribe? Your own family?” Well, that was low. Hitting you, even if it wasn’t for you. You watched as Katara froze, looked down, and stayed quiet.

Aang also noticed this fact, and immediately, his compassionate self took over. “Katara... I don’t want to come between you and your family.”

“So, you are living the South Pole... this is goodbye?”

“Thanks for going penguin sledding with me.”

If they kept this up, these two were going to make you cry your eyes out so hard. “Thanks for the clothes, I’ll find a way of making it up to you…” You said gently to her, then mounted Appa.

She gave you a light smile before looking back to Aang. “Where would you go?”

“Guess I’ll go back home and look for the airbenders…wow I haven’t clean my room in a hundred years, not looking forward to that.” Of course, Aang was trying to joke around even in this moment, “Nice meeting everyone.”

And of course, Sokka was still being obstinate behind you three. “Let’s see your bison fly now, airboy.”

“Come on, Appa, you can do it. Yip-yip!” Appa started walking. You two looked at each other, sharing a look of amusement. You also glanced back, Katara was yelling something at her grandma, while, if you looked closely, Sokka looked regretful.

The small stretch of ice Appa walked was mostly silent between the two of you. You certainly noticed the mood Aang was now in. You needed to talk to him, see how he was doing aside from the sore of leaving the water tribe behind.

“Hey we can try and come back in a few days, maybe by then Sokka will forgive us and let you hang around in here…”

“Yeah…maybe. We should stop here, let Appa rest for a bit more if we are going to cross the sea.”

“Right.”  He made Appa stop under a circular ice thing. Appa lay down, falling sleep almost instantly. Aang, on the other hand, after helping you up, sat with his legs close to his chest, holding his staff close.  

You leaned back, eyeing the ice wasteland. It was so lonely, yet so full of life, different animals crossing the water, other penguins sledding by. You look up at Aang with a smile when one sled really close, but his eyes were down, lost in thought.

“Hey… you okay over there?”

“She was nice…”

“Yes, Katara is a really great girl, strong-willed too.”

“Mhmm.”

“But I don’t think that’s the only thing on your mind.”

“She…she told me something at the ship, about how long we were down there.”

“Aang…..” You took a deep breath that condensates in the air. “Surely there is a confusion. Sokka also told me about it, and… it must likely be a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah, you are right… You know?  You look weird in water tribe clothes.” You both cackle, relaxing slightly. “Were you cold? I thought your tribe couldn’t feel it.”

“I shouldn’t. My fire is acting weird since we woke up.”

“Don’t worry. A meditation with Gyatso will help you with that for sure.” Aang big smile made you relax; at least he wasn’t feeling down anymore.

“Now that I remember, I owe you a pastry and a gift. You did get your tattoos after all. And just being 12?”

“Crazy, right? I-” A sound in the distance caught both your attention. You tensed right away at the sight of it.

“A Fire Nation ship.”

Aang wiped his head towards the water village. They were going towards it. “The village!”

“Appa can’t run right now.”

“Come on. Appa, stay here! ________ grab my ankle!”  In less than a second Aang was on his feet and in the air. You jumped, grabbing his ankle just in time before he urgently shoved air into the orange wings to make it go faster.

The earth shook as the ship cut through the stretch of ice between the wall and the shore. After the ship docked, a front hatch opened into the ice borders of the village. From a distance, you saw 3 fireman walk out first, shouting something. Four more followed. All in black and red uniforms, spiked helmets high on their heads.

You felt your skin crawl as memories ran through your brain. You saw a smaller figure trying to fight one of the fireman, “Aang!”

“On it.” Your dagger, which all this time has been tied to your waist, was now in your hand at the ready. The glider angled and now you were quickly going down.

When close enough to the ground, you drop and roll, jumping to your feet straightaway and running towards the black and red uniform man.

When Aang swiped down, he went under the feet of the fireman currently shooting fire, making him fall back and drop his helmet. Quickly, he stood back up, with a sign of his hand, his soldiers rounded up everyone. Now you got a better look, he had a scar on his left eye, big and angry, more defined by his prominent scowl.

He tried attacking again, but Aang deflected it with a spout of wind. “You were looking for me?”

“You are the airbender? You are the avatar?”  The scar boy asked, but it sounded more like he was yelling facts.

No. Impossible too.

They started circling each other. “I’ve spent years preparing for this encounter, training, meditating. You’re just a child!”

“Well, you are just a teenager.” Now that Aang pointed it out, you noticed this too; this boy had to be your age.

Beside you, a fireman soldier was getting too close to a mother, making you recollect the past. You bare your teeth, trying with all your might to use fire. To kill the soldiers and free these people, this was to no avail; not even a small blaze came out.

With a small bark of irritation, you stepped away from the fire course and tried using your dagger to close up to them. The woman protected their kids behind you, who screamed in fear as fire flickered too close to them. Aang deflected what he could with air, but hearing the screams made him stop the fight.

His words made you halt. “If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone?”

“Aang, no!” you shouted. No. Not him. The fire fella raised his hand to stop the other soldiers and nodded. In the blink of an eye, two firemen took Aang.

It was now Katara’s turn to step forward. “No, Aang! don’t do this.” 

“Don’t worry, it will be okay.” Aang is pushed into the ship, making you try to follow with a groan of anger. A fireman threatens you with his spear and sends a whirl of fire, and you jump to the side and try to bolt forward again, until a hand grabs your arm. Sokka is stopping you.

At the top of the steps, Aang shouted, “Take care of Appa for me until I get back.”

The boy with golden eyes only spares you a glance, a brief moment where angry gazes connected with one another, before shouting over everyone, “Head a course to the fire nation! I’m going home.” Tiring your eyes away and back to Aang, you saw him attempt a reassuring smile just as the hatch closed all the way.

For a couple of defeating minutes, you sat in place watching the ship go. At some point, Sokka let go, and you didn’t even notice in your panicked and shocked state.

You just let Aang get captured, you let Goro and Syed die, and if what Sokka said is true, your father was probably dead at this point, too. Your breathing ragged, making you feel like there was not enough oxygen in the world for just your lungs.

The same rage that clouded your mind at the attack in your village was slowly making its way to your heart once more, wrapping around it with a dreadful embrace. This time, you could do something; you have to save him.

“Appa..”

You stood shaking your head and drying your tears. You tied your dagger to your waist again, oh how did you miss the scabbard. You turned, noticing everyone was getting the place back up. You wanted to help them, but also, there was no time to waste.

You ran out of the village into the vast ice wasteland, freezing air biting your face because of the tears unwillingly rolling out. Spirits know how long you ran for without stopping. Aang made it seem like you left Appa closer. It was far, but in the blur of your racing mind, you made it to the bison before it was “night time”.

“Appa! Come on, buddy. You gotta wake up.” Quickly, you slid on the ice for the last stretch to get to  Appa. “Comeoncomeoncomeon. Appa you have to stand.”

With a growl, he finally opened his eyes, sluggishly turning and waking up. A rumble coming from his chest marked his stretch, the lowering of his head for you to get on. “There you go, good boy. As soon as we can I’m getting you a treat.” Helping yourself with his horn, you got to his head.

You turn Appa in the direction of the ship, but then a thought crossed your mind. How will you fight all of them with just your dagger? You needed help. Sokka could hate you because you “squimed” against them, but you were sure his sister didn’t.

“Let’s save flying after we get Katara.” With a flap of reins, you hurried Appa back to the village.

When you got near the village, you spotted three figures: Katara, Sokka, and their grandmother standing by a small stream of water near a boat. You call out before stopping Appa, “Look, Sokka and Miss Grandmother, I know you don’t want me here, but I need Katara to get back my brother. My bending is not working, but I can fight. I can’t do it alone-“

“_______!” Katara cut you off. “It's decided, we are going. Let’s get Aang.” You sighted and helped her get on.

“Wait…we?”

“Yes. Let’s go, Sokka. Get on Appa.”

“You just love taking me out of my comfort zone, don’t yah?”

When you were all settled, you noticed them waving at their grandmother before you made Appa run and flop on the water again. After meters of Appa just swimming, even you were getting impatient. “Come on, handsome, don’t do this to me..”

And for long minutes this didn’t change, maybe it actually didn’t take long, you just were in a hurry. Even Sokka started saying every word in his dictionary, trying to make Appa fly, which was getting on your nerves a little.

“Come on, don’t you wanna save Aang?” Katara said to the bison.

“Sokka, those are not the words.” You deadpanned.

“Oh, right here comes the warrior expert to make the bison-”

“Is not warrior expert! Is Sun Warrior.” You snapped and turned back forward, grabbing the reins. “Come on, big guy, you can do it.” Taking a quick deep breath, you hollered “Appa yip-yip!”

Finally, with a big flap of his tail, Appa leaped into the sky. Ascending was a bit rocky, but this was so much better and faster already. You all cheered, you in relief, they in surprise.

Behind you, the usual impressive Sokka showed his real colors as he exclaimed with excitement, looking down from the saddle, “He’s flying! He’s flying! Katara he’s-” He turns to see both of you watching him with a knowing grin. “I mean..big deal, he’s flying.”

“Now let’s get Aang!” You cheered. This bright feeling lasted little to no time when you finally spotted the ship in the distance, your smile dying down when you got close enough and saw Aang falling from the ship into the water.

Your mind wandered back to the thunderstorm, by instinct making you want to dive into the water after him, just to be stopped by Katara.

“You can die from the shock of the cold water!” Katara tried to reason. You basically snarled at her, a moment from jerking your arm away to go after Aang, when a flash of bright light stopped you. A whirlpool shooting from the ocean. Aang was waterbending.

He was waterbending…

When your eyes focused, you notice he was producing the light, his eyes and tattoos glowing, his expression focused, bordering on anger. With a move of his hands, he got back into the ship and threw some fire soldiers into the water and others against the walls.

With a final look around, his tattoos and eyes deemed, falling to his knees. Katara finally letting go of you, took the reins and made Appa fly down to the ship, the three of you jumping from him as soon as you were close enough to do so, running to Aang’s side in an instant.

“Hey guys…thanks for coming...” Aang’s voice was weak, but at least he was conscious.

“Well, I couldn’t let you have all the glory.” Sokka joked, making Aang smile and look around.

“I dropped my staff.”

“Got it.” Then everything happened in a second.

The fire soldier with the scar tried to jerk Sokka to the ocean. Katara froze Sokka’s feet trying to protect you all, and then finally, the soldiers’. In the middle of this, you helped Aang up to the saddle, then jumped back down, yelling at Katara to get the reins.

In the blink of an eye, you were by Sokka’s side, a very small burst of white flames flying out from your hand, weakening the ice enough for just one stab of your dagger to break it. With the same momentum, you kicked a fireball towards the scarred soldier that had climbed back up to the deck, to throw him back just enough for you and Sokka to run back to Appa and Katara to make him fly.

If you had looked back in that moment, you would have seen the surprise in the golden-eyed boy who had just been attacked with white firebending by a girl in water tribe clothes.

Despite that, when you all were just a few meters in the air, you looked back down just in time to notice the scarred boy and an old man sending a united blast towards Appa.

You knew you were not yet strong enough to deflect such an attack, but damn it all if you were not going to at least try… just for Aang to jump and, with a flick of his staff and a swirl of air, send the fireball to an iceberg. All the ice debris and snow now covered the ship.

You all cheered, jumped, and celebrated. You helped Aang sit back down, giving him a playful polish-like rub on his head. “That was amazing!”

Then Katara jumped to Aang, giving him a big hug, making Aang rapidly blush. You chuckled earnestly. Sokka gave another exasperated groan, but you saw the smile he was trying to hide.

For a while, the only sounds were the wind and a couple of polar orcas down in the ocean, growling and playing between them. You sat with the reins.  Aang had sat himself on the front of the saddle, deep in thought. Katara and Sokka were back at the saddle, appreciating the view.

Until eventually, Katara broke the silence. “How did you do that with the water? It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

You glanced over your right shoulder at Aang to see his expression contorted. “I don’t know. I just sort of did it.”

Then, the possibility you were praying for wasn’t real, came to life.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were the Avatar?” Katara tried to ask as gently as possible.

It was Aang’s turn to glance at you, then down. “Because I never wanted to be.” There was a moment of silence, even you felt yourself tense at it, preparing for the next words.

And again, Katara was the carrier of words and reason, trying to make him see her point of view. “The world has been waiting for the avatar to return and finally put an end to this war.”

You cut off without turning around. “No. That’s too dangerous, I’m getting Aang back home.”  You could feel the three pairs of eyes on your back.

“What?”

You were not even sure who said that, but even then, you didn’t turn. “I said, No.” Everybody froze. “Aang is the only family I truly have. I won’t bargain with the chance of losing him to a war I don’t even know if it’s real. We are going to my village first, I have to pack a bag and settle something with my father.”

Your voice was final, cutting off any other possibilities. To Aang you were really important too; your say in this matter meant a lot to him. He could only give an apologetic look to Katara, who sat looking sad beside a quiet Sokka.

Through your mind didn’t even cross the option of just getting the siblings back to their village; you needed to secure Aang first. Control the situation that was already out of hand as much as you still could.

Aang came to help you guide Appa to the right direction a couple of minutes later. Night came, and you all spent the sleeping time on a small island before flying again. The conversation between them was light, pointing out birds you passed or animals swimming in the water below you. But you? You were silent, you just nodded or shook your head if the conversation fell on you at any point, but never really engaged.

Soon, you saw the coast you recognized. It was slightly different, but it was your home. Aang directed Appa to land where sand met dirt.

“We are here? I thought her tribe would have more tents or something.”  Sokka mentioned while taking in the beach and animals then looking at the trees and branches. You ignored him as you jumped from Appa and landed on familiar soil.

Behind you, Aang answered for you, “We are walking there. Her tribe is not… fond of strange people; if we got there on Appa, we could cause a bad reaction.”  You heard as he instructed Appa to stay there and hurried the other to follow you. You took the lead and started brushing branches aside to make way.

“Shouldn’t we wait here then?”  Sokka spoke, this time with a small tremble on his voice.

“It will be fine, you’re arriving with me.” You were not sure what you were going to find. But sure as hell wasn’t this.

The whole village was abandoned. It seemed it had been so for a very, very long time.

You halted at the edge of the forest when your eyes looked up to find not one soul. Breathing becoming erratic. Heart racing. It has really been a hundred years. But even then, where was anyone? The new chief? The people left?

You started running, checking the homes and main areas, nothing, just plants and some animals using the village as their home. Nature taking back its territory. There were no bodies, no skeletons, no clothes or objects left behind.

“They took it all.” The fire nation took it all from you. The temple. You ran to it, hoping that at least something had survived this recon, any hopes for your people.

You shoved your shoulder against the main door that was stuck by the time without maintenance. After 3 hard pushes and with a groan, it finally opened.

There, in the middle of the courtyard, sat the crater for the bunfires your father used to light, now a small pond of water with leaves floating on it. The whole ground full of leaves and branches.

 You ran through the rooms and halls, the carvings on the walls were the only thing they didn’t took away, every room was empty. Even your room sat with bare floors, walls, and ceiling, nothing to retrieve, nothing to remember them by… aside from the pain.

You slowly walk out, eyes unfocused, feet dragging, arms hanging motionless, mind elsewhere. Appalled by the situation. What were you supposed to do now?

You were so inside your head you didn’t notice how Aang, Katara, and Sokka stood by the entrance. The sibling’s praying eyes falling on every surface, taking in the details left on the place, the ruins of your home. Aang, on the other hand, had his eyes on you, showing sorrow.

“They took them.”  Your voice was low, broken. “They took everything.”

They took everything. They took your uncle Goro. They took your teacher Syed. They took your home. They took your culture. They took your father. Oh spirits your father. You never got to apologize. Never got to explain why you did what you did. Never got to show your true self to him. Never got to say you cared. Never…

A gentle touch on your arm and your name being called snapped you out of your mind. Katara stood there, her eyes holding more understanding than you could comprehend, and that you wanted to accept. Sokka, now at a bench, sat awkwardly looking at you. There was a similar understanding in his eyes, but not as warm as Katara's.

Then there was Aang, who rounded Katara and hugged your side. Your mind decided to focus on that.

“I know it must be difficult to process this. I get it.” Katara tried to comfort, and her words would have done more in a different person, or maybe a different moment. You simply didn’t take them.

Maybe it was all the eyes on you, or that you were not used to having friends, but it made you feel too exposed, too vulnerable. So, your head decided it was better to just lock the feeling away, and not show them; it will still bother you, but it won’t bother them.

You shook your head, trying and just partially lifting the fog on your mind. “Thanks, Katara. I’m okay. Let’s get Aang home.”

You pat Aang's shoulder and make him let go of you. “Come on.” Again, you took the lead, this time to get back to Appa. Your mind was emphasizing getting Aang to safety; you could deal with whatever your situation was later.

You didn’t look back at your now jungle of a village. You stepped into that forest with the same security you apparently had a hundred and seventeen years ago.

Behind you, a conversation was taking place, one you didn’t register at all, even when you weren’t that far away from them.

“Has she always been like this?” Sokka asked Aang.

“No. Not like this. She used to be very curious and… lively. To me, we were laughing and playing games in this forest  just a couple of days ago.” Aang answered low, worried. Now walking in the middle of the brothers.

“Kinda difficult to see that. She has been nothing but gloomy since we met her!”

“She just discovered her people are gone, Sokka. Give her time. How did you react when you realized you had to take care of me all by yourself?”

At his sister’s words, Sokka stayed silent for a couple of steps before asking in a kinder tone. “Isn’t this your home too, Aang? Thought she was your sister.”

“Oh no. We are going to my temple next with the other airbenders. She is my soul sister, we are not siblings like you and Katara. We met when I was eight…” Briefly, he told them your story, a bit of context of the past you two shared, and how you always felt like family.

“Now it makes more sense why she was so distraught when you were caught.” Katara reasons softly. With that, they got to Appa a few minutes later than you, who was already sitting by the reins waiting for them, again lost in your head.

They all got on, Aang of course taking the driver’s seat, taking you all to the Potola mountain range in less than an hour. He had a big enthusiastic smile on his face, he was proud of his home and his people, and having new friends to show around made it ten times better.

“In here the views are amazing! I’m going to show you every place possible, you’ll be one of the almost first to see this place.”

Sokka raised an eyebrow. “Almost first?”

“Yeah, I took ________ here first.” Aang grinned proudly, turning to you, expecting to see a smile that matched his, but your eyes just held nostalgia as Appa curved the mountain, soon to start the rocky surge to get to the temples.

A stomach growling got his attention back to the others and the present, getting back his fervent energy. While Sokka whined about food, “Stomach be quiet. I’m trying to find us some food.” He shook a satchel to find just crumbs. “Hey, who ate all my blubbered seal jerky?!”

“That was food?” Aang flashed an ashamed expression to Sokka. “I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry”

“You what? No wonder the flame smelled so good.”

Katara just cackled at his brother’s wallows. When her eyes went back to Aang, they showed worry. “Aang, I know you are excited, but a lot of things could have… changed in the last hundred years…” She was holding back something, trying to soften a blow.

Judging by how your village was, you could only imagine the sight of his home.

They are looking for the avatar!

Your father’s voice echoed in your mind, making you shiver lightly, just to be interrupted by the still very positive Aang, “That’s what makes it more exciting! I need to see it myself.”

“Some people could have gotten there and..”

“Katara, that’s what you don’t get. The only way to get to the temple is with a bison. Now hang on because you are about to see why!”

Upon beginning to rise through the air, everyone felt the wind pulling them back, having to hold onto the edges of the saddle to feel like y'all were not going to be blown away. And after a few seconds of sharp wind, a view left them… winded.

There, low and behold, perched on the mountain like wind itself carved it, sat the southern air temple. White towers curved upward in a graceful manner rather than being imposing. Open court yards that let the wind pass freely through them, making it seem like the temple itself breathes.

Of course, to your sharp and vigilant eye, the fact that this place was built for laughter, meditation, and movement didn’t distract you from the haunting loneliness that settled on it.

After Appa descended and you all dismounted, Aang didn’t waste a second to show the newcomers around.“So that’s where my friends and I would play airball. And over there is where the bison would sleep.” With a soft sigh, he finally admitted what you had perceived moments ago. “This place used to be full of monks and lemurs and bison. Now, there is just a bunch of weeds. I can’t believe how much things have changed.”

You wished you could have more willpower to comfort him. To bring words that could calm his heart. But none you could think of felt like the right ones to say.  As a result, the blue-eyed brother, after a shared glance with his sister, concluded that distracting him was the best option. “So how is this game of airball?”

Sokka and Aang played for a while. Aang certainly had a bit of an advantage, having played that game a thousand times before, aside from the obvious fact that he could airbend.

You sat on the sidelines. Katara was to your right, now walking to the side of the game area, Sokka soon after being flown that way. The sibling spoke for a moment while Aang celebrated another point, before being called by the former.

“Aang, come see this.” Her tone catches your attention, making you stand and follow after Aang. She eyed the both of you. First landing on your blank expression before going to the curious one on Aang.  “Just a new waterbending move I learned.”

You slightly roll your eyes. Aang was kind enough to not to discourage her. “Nice one, but enough practicing. We have a whole temple to see.”

Then the youngest of you all lead the way towards some steps and archways. You couldn’t help but stand near him, your dagger at the ready on your hip, eyeing every corner for any danger.

“Hey guys, I want you to meet someone. Monk Gyatso. The greatest air bender in the world. He taught me everything I know.” Aang bowed to the statue. You finally took your eyes from the shadows to look at the monk who used to welcome you with soft smiles and bad jokes. You bowed too, something very small in comparison to what your kindred soul did, but with the same respect.

Behind you, noticing the actions and expressions on your faces, Katara muttered lightly, “You must miss him.” Aang stood straight again and began going towards the big hallway behind the statue. “Where are you going?”

“The air temple sanctuary. There is someone I’m ready to meet.”

You all make your way through halls and tunnels that even to you were new and unknown. You came across a giant wooden door with an intricate pattern on it and two horns at its sides.

“But Aang, no one could have survived in there for a hundred years.” Katara voiced your thoughts.

“Not impossible, I survived in the iceberg for that long.” Even if what he said was true, and you were part of that truth, it was difficult to believe someone was alive trapped in there. But Aang continued defending. “Whoever is in there could help me figure out the avatar thing.”

After shoving his shoulder hard against the door to no avail, Aang clarified how to open it. “The key, Sokka, is airbending.”  You took a step back when you noticed him changing his stance to airbend. Sokka and Katara beside you mirrored your move.

Aang then proceeded to blow air into the two big horns, which started making noise, as the air traveled through the tubes with the strange pattern, three shells turned one after the other and when the three stayed in place the door creaked open.

Of course, Aang was the first to go in. You soon followed when the dark inside made you feel uneasy that he was going alone, and the siblings behind you, who were eaten away by curiosity. When all your eyes adjusted to the low light, you tensed, thinking it was people waiting to attack, when in reality it was just more statues of people you had never seen, but some felt familiar.

“Who are all these people?” Sokka didn’t stop his question from echoing in the chamber.

“I’m not sure. But I feel like I know them somehow. Look this one is an airbender,” Aang pointed out, and beside him, Katara pointed to another. “And this one is a waterbender.”

You walk up to the one Aang was standing in front of, “This one is a firebender. There is a pattern.”

Katara then proceeded to show how the pattern was the cycle of the avatar. We were standing in a room full of Aang’s past lives. And, even with everything we were in the presence of, Sokka stood skeptical, “Katara, don’t tell me you are really believing in this stuff.”

“It’s true. When the avatar dies, he’s reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle.” You pointed out. “I have a blurry memory from when I was little of my father talking with his council about the avatar being an old man from the fire nation.”

Aang backed you up, “That’s Avatar Roku, the avatar before me.”

“How do you know that?” Katara questioned softly.

“I don’t know how, I just knew it somehow.”

“You couldn’t get any weirder.”  You rolled your eyes at Sokka before a noise made you all tense, and a spiky shadow, hinting at a fire soldier hat, made you jump behind the statues, using them as hiding places. Sokka took out his weapon as you did yours. Both were getting ready to jump out and attack. Until Sokka picked around the stone, just to see a lemur standing on his two back paws.

At this realization, Sokka saw his opportunity for food, while Aang saw a friend. They both started running after the poor animal, who didn’t stop even when the arrowed boy screamed reassurances. Even jumping out of a balcony to catch up with it.

“Aang! Don’t be reckless.”  Your shout from the middle of the hall falling on deaf ears. You huffed and turned to see Katara watching the statues more closely. Sokka long since gone, scattering to catch up to Aang. “Let’s go, Katara. I don’t like him going blind through this place.”

“Oh yeah, right.”

Then you felt something, a shiver that made you turn your gaze back towards the balcony. It was like a call. A beacon. You run to it just in time to watch as air harshly ruffled a tent in a lower courtyard. Light pouring out of it.

Suddenly, it felt like a shockwave passed through you, making you gasp and fall to your knees, grabbing at the railing for some support.

Another gasp behind you, this one of surprise, made you turn. Katara stood by Roku’s statue, whose eyes lit up. Turning back down, you saw Aang starting to float, the tent flying away, a sphere of air brutally circling him.

Katara ran to you, helped you up, and, noticing the state Aang was in, she pulled you along to get down there faster. When you two arrived, you saw Sokka kneeling behind a rock. Katara questioned his actions and what happened.

The answer made you frown. “He found out firebenders killed Gyatso!”

“Oh no, it's his avatar spirit.” Katara shouted over the wind. You grabbed at a rock too, feeling the air getting stronger by the second. “He must have triggered it. I’m gonna try and calm him down!”

“Do it before he blows us off the mountain!”

You observed as Katara struggled to get closer, deciding to shout over the noise as closing up was not fast enough. “Aang! I know you are upset. And I know how hard it is to lose the people you love. I went through the same thing when I lost my mom.” The soft gaze she gave you early, she lost family to the fire nation, too.

 Taking another brave step forward, she yelled again. You wished the boy could hear her. “Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone… but you still have a family! ________, Sokka and I, we are your family now.”

You felt as the winds calmed down slightly, Aang’s floating form lowering to the ground little by little. Finally allowing you and Sokka to walk up to him, Katara was already at his. His eyes and tattoos were still bright.

“We are here for you, Aang.” Was the best you could muster.

Beside you, Sokka also contributes. “We won’t let anything happen to you. Promise.”

With some hesitance, Katara closed her hand over Aang’s, who, in response after a couple of seconds, dimmed his lights and softened his stance. The avatar spirit slowly lifting his hold on him as Katara’s grew more surely.

“I’m sorry.” Aang’s apology came broken, low. Making you step forward and hug him by his shoulders without making him break contact with Katara, whose reassurance came without thinking twice.

“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.”

Aang was leaning his head onto you, then whispering. “You were right. If firebenders found this temple, that means they found the other ones, too. I really am the last airbender.” You squeezed him closer, trying with all your might to shield him from the world with just your arms and your will.

He hugged you back before slowly letting go of you and Katara, making his way back to the room full of statues. “How is Roku supposed to help me if I can't talk to him?”

“We’ll find a way, Aang.”  The comfort came from Katara, who also put a hand on his shoulder.

You looked down. Both your homes were now lost in time. Taken by the same people, internally, you swore they were going to pay for this. You were going to make them pay.

The lemur from earlier made you all turn back to the entrance. It was carrying some fruits, which he left at Sokka’s feet, who immediately dug in. Then, running and climbing, Aang, sitting on his shoulder, making him laugh.

On your walk back to Appa, the conversation about the journey Aang had to make as the avatar rose again. Katara was explaining that he had to learn water first, then earthbending, and finish with fire. She mentioned how they could both learn waterbending by going to the North Pole.

Your steps halted. Your voice cutting off their conversation, “I refuse to let Aang go on a journey in which he can die because of a war!”

“But ________.”

“No buts, Aang. Can’t you see? Look what they did to your temple. To my people. I already watched Goro die because of them, Syed, everyone. I won’t let you do the same!”

The expression on Aang changed, sorrow at your words, you didn’t just lose your people too, “You were there when it happened?”

“I was in the middle of the ocean that night chasing a ship that had just attacked my village. He… I couldn’t….” You turned away as you felt your eyes prickle. Refusing to cry in front of them, not after Aang went through enough.

The next voice was Katara’s, “You can help us prevent more families from going through the same thing we did. Prevent more children from witnessing such attacks, ________.”

“He is just a kid, Katara.”

“Yes, and he is also the avatar. You can come with us to the North Pole, and when the time comes, you can help him with firebending. You can teach him and protect him.”

You had never gone as far as the nomad beside you has, you only knew your island and his mountain’s temple. And by destiny, now the water tribe of the siblings, but this would be a different kind of travel.

“I need to do this, ________.”

And then Sokka, with no less reason but with almost no tact, said, “There is no one stopping you from going anywhere anymore. What’s stopping you?”

Leaving everything behind. This you didn’t voice; you simply thought how this was your home and everything you had known, but now your only family needed you. He must make this journey, and you were not going to let fire benders hurt him any more than they already did.

Katara tries to convince you once more, noticing your say was important to Aang. “I’m sure you and Sokka will get to knock some firebenders ’ heads on the way! No offense…” That last part was for you of course.

“I’d like that. I’d really like that.”  Sokka said softly.

“See? We are in this together. You won’t have to do it alone.”  Then all six eyes turn back to you, expectant.

You didn’t answer with words, eyes landing on Aang, who watched expectantly. You nodded lightly, and they cheered, continuing your path to Appa.

Then, preparing everything to leave, you saw Aang talking with Appa and the lemur, to then turn to you all and excitedly announce. “Hey everyone, say hello to the newest member of our family. Momo.”

Once you were all settled on Appa, Katara took the reins, and you sat noticing Aang give a sad, nostalgic look at the temple we were leaving behind. You also did, feeling an anxious pull on your stomach. Maybe feeling this uneasiness, Momo jumped onto your lap, giving you inquisitive big eyes. Snapping out of your thoughts, you lightly petted behind his ear before he jumped to Aang to give him the same distracting treatment.

There was a long journey ahead of you all.