Chapter Text
It was so clear now, yet it seemed the events were playing in reverse. The massive form of the ocean spirit wiping out the Fire Nation Navy with naught but a wave of it’s hand, then it’s walk through the Northern Water Tribe, eliminating all who did not bow before it’s resplendent might, followed by it’s rise…now descent…into the pool it made its home with it’s now-dead counterpart, the empty sky hanging above them, devoid of the moon’s glow.
As Aang found himself stepping out of the pool and looking down at the black koi fish, everything began to play forward again. All voices around him drowned out, as they did in the moment, and he couldn’t stop himself from making eye contact with the Ocean Spirit in mortal form. As it’s eyes glowed, Aang could not help but enter the Avatar state as it’s voice entered his mind, drowned out in the sheer rage he felt in the moment…but tonight, the voice comes unhindered.
“Raava, I cannot forgive this transgression. Combine your energies with mine.”
There was…an understanding. An acceptance. Much like Roku coming forward at the Fire Sage’s Temple, or how Kyoshi would later manifest within the site she first made her island, something stronger…something older …made themselves known to Aang in that moment, just for a second. They entered the pool, using a method of power that had not been utilized in just shy of 10,000 years. Energies combined, the Light energy of the Avatar Spirit preventing Aang from being permanently disfigured by the Ocean Spirit.
An understanding that some spirits were allowed to stay in the mortal realm, for their loyalty to an older force and a respect that force had for them. Tui, La, Agni, the Lion Turtles…all with the understanding that the Avatar would remain the bridge. The portals were closed, darkness had left…La knew the only way to prevent falling to that horrid being’s darkness was to combine with Light itself.
The attack played out once more, of reverence, of destruction, and of the abduction of the horrible human responsible for this. La would return to the spirit world with Yue, so that they could cast Zhao into the one place he would never bother anyone- human or spirit- again.
---
Aaang awoke with a start, panting heavily as his dream insisted on remaining fresh in his mind. He stepped from his bed, and he looked out his window. The Air Acolytes were going about their business…the restoration of the Southern Air Temple had been completed just under a year ago, and now Aang had every intention of visiting them all to experience their former glory. However, ever since he began this journey with his friends, the nightmares had come harder than ever.
Aang had always had nightmares regarding the Avatar State. They never really stopped, he just got better at not showing them when he woke up. However, ever since the war ended, they started getting more intense. Nightmares of hurting people, of being out of control…of what might have happened if he didn’t regain control as the Avatar State was ready to end Ozai where he was bound.
Considering all of this as he walks through the restored halls of the Southern Air Temple, Aang is hit with waves of nostalgia and guilt. It’s all so much like what it was back then…but the chatter around him is not offset by wayward airbending, or the laughter of children on air scooters. However, as he makes his way to the dining room, where his friends are all enjoying this meals, he can’t help but smile.
“Sokka, wait for Aang to come before you eat!” Katara scolds.
“I can’t help that this Airbender food is so good!” Sokka defends, already stuffing his face with one of the fruit pies that were once Gyatso’s signature recipe. “Besides, Toph’s doing it, too!”
“I’m doing it because he’s here , Captain Boomerang.” Toph huffs as Aang smiles in the doorway.
“Sorry I’m late, everyone.” Aang says as he sits down, rubbing his eyes. “It’s just…nightmares, again.”
Katara frowns, getting a worried look on her face. “Are they getting worse?”
“No! No…not really. Maybe.” Aang says meekly.
“The Fire Sages were able to help me with my nightmares.” Zuko suggests, drinking some tea. “It wouldn’t be hard to set up a meeting.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine!” Aang smiles. “I just want to see the Air Temples, meditate, and enjoy some peace and quiet with my friends.”
“I did clear my schedule for this…” Toph says cockily, picking her ear.
“We all did, Toph.” Zuko rolls his eyes with a bit of a smile.
“If you’re so sure…” Katara frowns, worried about Aang.
---
Within the Hall of Avatars, the Acolytes were cleaning the old avatars while Toph was working on sculpting a metal statue of Aang for the lineup.
“Quit moving, Twinkletoes! I want this to be accurate .” Toph scolds as she stomps on the ground, starting her inaccurate (by Toph’s standards) statue over from scratch.
“Is this really necessary, Toph? It doesn’t have to be totally accurate…” Aang suggests.
“This is gonna be the first metal statue of the avatar made by the best earthbender in the world! It’s gonna be perfect.” Toph insists.
“Is it just me, or has Toph become a bit of a perfectionist lately?” Katara notes.
“I blame Zuko.” Sokka says confidently.
“Huh- what’d I do?!” Zuko exclaims.
“You fed her ego by making her a police chief.” Sokka says nonchalantly as he walks down the lineup of avatars, smirking as he’s met by embarrassed silence. “Hey, Aang, we should really work on making plaques for these guys. I get that the airbenders were gonna teach you about like… all of these guys, but you gotta admit it can be confusing. The farther back you go, the more similar most people look.” Sokka scrunches his face.
“Yeah, the monks told me that there used to be some kinda ‘Avatar Attire’ before the kingdoms were properly established.” Aang says. “That was thousands of years ago, though. After the kingdoms, the Avatar became known for wearing clothes from their original kingdom.”
“Yeah, some of these are even made of wood, before stonework without earthbenders, I guess.” Zuko strokes his chin as he looks over some of the early avatars.
“Oh, that explains all those spaces that seemed empty down the line. It’s just wood!” Toph chuckles as she keeps working. “Aaand done!” She puts her hands on her hips triumphantly as she admires her work.
“Oh, thank the spirits.” Aang lets out a sigh of relief as he allows his body to relax, sitting down on the ground.
“Which Avatar is this?” Katara asks, and Aang opens an eye to see her near the center of the statues.
“Lemme see.” Aang summons up an air scooter, leaning over it like it were an exercise ball, and he lets it carry him over to Katara. The others walk forward as well, Zuko summoning a little bit of fire to his palm to illuminate the darkness around the statue.
The statue itself is made of wood, showing that it had rotted over time. It was likely a man, but his arms had fallen away, likely being cleaned up absentmindedly. His face had become nothing more than the eyes, and all around him was a whirling mass of… something. It was impossible to tell what exactly they were looking at.
“I…have no idea.” Aang blinks.
“What? Aren’t you linked to like, all the avatars? You knew who Roku was the first time we came here.” Sokka exclaims.
“It’s easier to link to the more recent avatars. I can try to link to the older ones, it’s just…harder.” Aang shrugs. “Besides, Roku’s been a pretty good spiritual guide for me during the war, and after it Kyoshi and Yangchen have given me good advice.”
“Hang on…” Katara looks around them. “Guys, look around us. There’s no avatar before this one…this must be the first avatar !” She exclaims.
“Seriously?!” Sokka blinks. “Well, now I’m really curious!”
Aang stands up and looks at the statue. “The first avatar…” he mutters, and he holds his meditation medallion- the three wooden ones, and the one of iron. “Who were you…?” he mutters.
“Stand back, he’s gonna-!” Toph demands as Aang’s eyes and tattoos begin to glow, and Katara catches him before he falls back. Behind them, leading up to here, the other statues begin to glow as well, all the way up to this avatar, the eyes glowing ominously while an ominous glyph- a face - appears on the mass behind him.
“He’s in the Avatar state?” Sokka asks as Katara gets Aang into a meditative pose.
“Aang has had his worries about being the avatar ever since he was first told…maybe now he can get some closure.” Katara says, and they all wait patiently as Aang enters the spirit world.
---
Aang gasps as he finds himself in a place oddly familiar. A barren field with a massive tree in the center, something writhing within it. A spherical gate on one end, a blocked pool on the other.
“Where am I?” Aang says, astounded.
“Welcome, Avatar, to where it all began.” said a voice, and Aang turned to see the spiritual form of the man that was the statue, meditating behind him.
“You…you’re the first avatar!” Aang exclaims.
“The knowledge of our story was lost when the Fire Nation wiped out all they could when the war began. Those few good that remained did their best, but now the world has forgotten our story.” he explains, and begins to glow with a pure, white energy. “Follow me, Avatar.” he holds out his hand.
Aang takes his hand, and the two begin to rise through the sky. “Who are you…?” Aang asks as the comforting energy envelops them.
“My name is Wan,” the man says, “And I will show you how I became the first avatar.”