Change the World

The Flying Boy

Chapter 2

The Flying Boy

A/N I hope everyone is happy with this chapter. It came so easily it seemed to write itself. To the point where it decided for me two additional points I hadn't been expecting. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the previous.

I couldn't help but stare at Appa. The giant bison seemed to think I was nothing important as he bellowed at me. Turning away, I shook my head and berated myself for turning down Katara's offer to go fishing with her and her brother. Not that there was any way I could have known that within a month of coming here I would be dealing with Aang already. The story I knew seemed to have decided not to wait until I was ready but move at its own time. While that was just like life back home I now was unsure of how to progress from here

        "Pala you'll never guess what happened!" Katara cried as she ran from the tent where a deeply sleeping Aang lay, Sokka close behind. I grinned, she had already told the entire story to Gran-gran so I allowed myself a moment of fun.

        "You found and airbender named Aang and his bison called Appa frozen in an iceberg?" the look on their faces was priceless so I allowed myself a bark of laughter before explaining, "I already heard, you weren't exactly quiet when you told Kanna. Plus," I paused to nod towards Appa, "there's a giant buffalo staring at me" Katara's face fell. I winced.

        "Sorry, you can tell me more if you'd like," I regretted that choice rather quickly as I was given a very detailed summery of the story, all from Katara's point of view with Sokka piping up every once in a while.

I was distracted from the story when I noticed out of the corner of my eye a bald head peer out of the tent. I smiled lightly as Aang slipped back inside. Interrupting a brewing argument over whether Appa really could fly I tapped Katara on the shoulder.

        "Katara? You're guest's awake," Katara's eyes widened. She spun around and took off. I chuckled as Sokka shook his head at her excitement.

        "Someone's happy," I commented lightly. The young warrior snorted

        "Yeah that's all I need another bender," I frowned at him,

        "You should be happy for her, she's finally met someone who can bend as well." Sokka huffed but nodded before storming off to ridicule Aang about his bending. I chuckled under my breath as Aang took his staff back with a concentrated gust of wind. All laughter was forgotten when he took off into the air.

I had watched Katara waterbend before. In real life it amazed me at the sheer beauty of water, floating through air. Moving to the will of one mortal girl. I had forgotten that Katara was little more then a talented beginner, playing at bending. The sight of Aang taking to the air caused me to gasp along with the entity of the tribe.

It really looked as though he was flying. My heart began beating a hundred miles a minute. I couldn't take my eyes off him. There will never be enough words to fully describe the feeling I had when Aang began to glide. It was like a dance. He was the air, free and unrestrained. Just watching him in his natural element I felt free as though my soul was flying with him. I felt a strange yearning build up inside of me. I wanted to fly like that.

Aang's eyes met mine. For a second time froze. Then he smiled, did another loop, flew right over my head before landing behind me. I watched as he approached, my ears suddenly cold. Sometime during his display my hood had fallen off.

        "HI!" he held out a hand, "I'm Aang and you are..."

        "Maddi," I replied breathlessly, reaching out and grasping his small hand in my own firmly "but most people here call me Pala. That was... the most amazing thing I have ever seen," Aang beamed. He was a cute kid, but my mind was focused on replaying the bending.