Yin & Yang

Chapter 4.

A full five years had passed since Sozin's Comet and Ozai's defeat. Aang was proud of himself. He had restored peace to the world. Though there were still groups here and there that supported Ozai and his fore-fathers' visions of the Fire Nation ruling the world. They were being taken care of slowly but surely. Not necessarily were these groups killed. In some instances, Aang had to disappoint himself by doing so in his own defense as they attacked him without mercy. He thought back that Giatso would have looked at him with shame. But it made the world a better place that some of these people were gone. So Aang decided that he was in no wrong. "Let's go, buddy!" He urged Appa on in their flight and his orange and yellow robes fluttered relentlessly in the rushing winds. Momo clung to Aang's shoulder and neck as his chirping and purring at the excitement.

Zuko had declaired the war over four weeks after the Comet, and Ozai had been improsoned. Zuko was crowned the new Fire Lord and negociated peaceful terms with the other countries. He'd jumped through hoops to proove that he was nothing like his sire. Below him, Aang saw a stretching line of people roaming the country side heading for the great city of Ba Sing Se. The fifth year mark was past and there was a party declaired. The leaders of all the nations had agreed to throw a party in the surrounding mountains of the city, as it was expected that a vast amount of people were to show up. Many people around the world were there when Zuko had been crowned, when he'd declaired the war over, Aang to be his friend, and Aang had let Katara know that he'd wanted to spend his life with her. As much as she loved him, she requested time to think about it. Aang was going to be busy anyway.

People cheered as he flew above them on Appa. Earth and Water benders walked by the people of the Fire Nation in the same direction without dispute. "They're all of one people, guys." His grey eyes shown happyness and he almost teared. Appa let out a mighty roar in agreement and batted his tail at the air, jolting them foreword again. Soon the hillsides gave way to the mountains that encased the great city. They could now see a large area that multitudes of earth benders had flattened out for this occasion. "Wow! They're going all out!" Aang watched from above as the large stretch was decorated with fabrics, ribbons and bon fires. A large stage had been set up in the middle. Obviously for a play that had been written in a hurry to show the war and then the victory of the Avatar. Much like the play Aang and the others had abused their minds with back on Ember Island, but a happier ending. He began his decent in a more or less vacated area where there were workers seeing to put up a shelter for Appa and other animals used for transport.

Appa immediately landed by a cart filled with hay, fruit and berries. Before Aang could dismount, the large beast began to happily enjoy the cart. Momo joined him by partaking of the berries he could before Appa's large mouth engorged everything. "No! My cabbages!" A man wailed. Aang turned in his direction as an Ostrich-Horse had been startled by Appa's sudden appearance and crashed into the cart the man had, scattering and crushing a large amount of the produce the poor man had. Hopping off Appa, Aang headed in the direction of the man and the ostrich-horse owner. Profuse appologies poured from the man as he tried to satiate the cabbage owner. They stopped when Aang approached and bowed to him. "Avatar Aang! It's an honor." Aang smiled and began to help them pick up the cabbages that were scattered.

When the task was done, he turned to indicate Appa and who to talk to for housing his friend. He staggered and yelled out in surprise when the ground beneath him suddenly rose in defiance and then disappeared from his feet as it fell back down, leaving him to continue to rise. He hadn't thought he'd needed his staff glider, but now he wished he'd brought it with him as he rose higher into the air. Using his hands, he summoned air bursts to slow his decent and he lightly touched the ground. Feeling it rumble beneath him again, he rolled and dodged, running where there weren't many people. He was being attacked?! Here?! "Good job, Twinkletoes. It seems you haven't lost your touch." The attacks stopped entirely as Toph approached him.

"Toph. I should have know it was you." Aang approached her, his arms spread for a hug. She was quicker than he though and punched his arm with that grin of hers. "Ow!" He rubbed his arm gingerly. "Good to see you too." They joined sides and she showed him around the site. At least as best as she could.

"It's not hard to tell where everything is." She explained. "We saved the trees and used earth bending to make the stands for where the food will be. I have been trying to help these numbskulls with metal bending so I didn't have to do everything." She shrugged. "It's like they don't know what I'm saying. Like I'm speaking another language to them or something. So for now, I'm the only one that's helping the cooks make things for the food they're preparing. Like pots and stuff." Aang ooh'd and aah'd at the sites and colors he was seeing. They approached the pavilion in the middle.

A great round stage had been risen from the ground. It's edges were stairs that had been bended into it. Several maidens were perched on earthen poles attaching ribbons of red, orange, blue and green to the tops. Aang nodded approvingly and they walked up the stairs to the middle of the stage. Toph smiled. "We have visitors."

Three people slamed into Aang's body as Toph backed away. "Aang! It's so good to see you!" Suki cried out from behind him. Sokka stood to her left and Katara to his opposite as the three bear-hugged the Avatar. "You have no idea how much we missed you this past month!" Sokka exclaimed. In fake acting, Aang held his hand out of the truffle and gasped for air.

"Toph! He.. help...!" He made fake choking sounds as the hugs grew tighter and he forced himself to the ground. The four people laughed as they landed on the ground. He turned his head to the woman on his left. "Katara.." He brought his hand up to her smiling face. Her blue eyes bright under the sun, her tanned skin shining with sweat. They all stood and embraced individually. Ty Lee joined Toph off to the side and crossed her arms, smiling.

It was hard to believe that they'd all been enemies at one point in time as they were so close now. All the Kyoshi warriors were there, though not dressed in their warrior attire. Hakoda and Bato walked onto the pavilion and greeted the Avatar with a nodding of the head, a wave and a smile. "So where's Zuko?" Aang questioned the group as all of them joined together. "And Buumi?"

Everyone exchanged glances and shrugged. No one had seen them at all during all this preperation. "So far," Hakoda began to explain. "It has taken about a week to get what you see here as it is and it was about three weeks ago that this party was announced. People from all over have been coming in day in and day out to work on this project. It seems that they're all just happy that they can live in peace now and that it's lasted as long as it has." He set his large hand on Aang's smaller shoulder. "It's you they have come to celebrate. And it's your accomplishment that they honor." Aang smiled up at the larger water tribe man.

"What can I do to help?" Aang asked eagerly. He didn't want to sit back and make everyone else do all the work. The ground separated to their own tasks as Hakoda instructed him on some things. The people all around them bowed gracefully to Aang as they passed by and they seemed to have renewed energy because of his presence.

Night soon fell and tents were pitched all over. Laughter filled the air as people shared stories and danced around the ever burning bon fires. The party was to be held the following day and night. It was then, that Aang had decided on making his announcement to the world. Why not? They were all going to be together there. His friends were present, and the people really wanted balance. He walked back to the stables where Appa snored loudly. Smiling, Aang took his place on one of Aapa's large legs and curled up to sleep.