Double Bender

Part 17

Turns out I wasn't the only one who had a vision of someone from their past. Apparently, Aang had a vision from Avatar Roku, the Fire-Nation Avatar who came before him. And Roku told him that he needed to learn about his past if he wanted to end the war and to go to his home island on the day of the summer solstice. So that's where we headed. We saddled up Appa, packed up our stuff, and flew off.
Roku's home was a large, blob-shaped island. But it didn't look like a place where an Avatar would live. It looked grey and barren. "This is Roku's home?" Sokka said as he hopped down. "But there's nothing here," Toph and Geo hopped down and I came last. "Yes, there is,"said Toph. An entire village covered in ash," I scratched my head. "That doesn't make sense," I said. Aang hopped up onto an ash-covered hump. "Maybe Roku will tell me." With that being said, he sat down, criss-crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. And we waited. And waited, and waited. Not much happened in those hours, well, I did learn that there are no bathrooms in the spirit world. Gross. Anyway, Aang opened his eyes around the time the stars started to fade. "So what happened?" Katara asked. "I should start from the beginning," Aang began.
"First, Roku showed me a memory of his childhood friend, Sozin." "Wait a second," said Sokka. "Sozin? The Sozin? The Sozin who later became Fire Lord and started the war with the very comet that's coming at the end of this summer? That Sozin?" "Yes," said Aang casually. "Sokka?" "Yes?" Sokka replied. "Try not interrupt," Sokka rolled his eyes. "Your brain still there?" I asked. "What brain?" Geo commented. As we cracked up, Aang continued. "He showed me him and Sozin having a mock-battle." I pictured two boys playing in a courtyard, laughing and throwing balls of fire at each other even though it wasn't meant for pain. "Then he showed me a memory of his sixteenth birthday, the birthday he shared with Sozin. That was when he found out he was the Avatar," I pictured two boys standing next to each other and then a group of men coming up to the boy and telling him that he was the Avatar. I pictured the scared look on his face. I pictured everyone bowing to the scared boy even though he didn't want them to. "Then, Roku showed me a memory of Sozin coming to him right before he left and he gave him the royal artifact that was only to be worn by the crowned prince. Then they hugged and he left. Next he showed me him training. First he went to the air temples to study air-bending. And believe it or not, he actually knew Monk Gyatso." "Who?" I asked. "I'll explain later. Then he went to the Northern Water-Tribe and then to the Earth-Kingdom. It was twelve years since he left and when he came back, Sozin was Fire Lord. But they were still best friends and about a month or two later, Roku got married. But at the wedding, Sozin told Roku that he wanted to spread the wealth of the Fire-Nation to the rest of the world, and that made Roku suspicious. But it wasn't until several years later when he found out that Sozin already moved ahead with his plan," I pictured Roku seeing a Fire-Nation banner over an Earth-Kingdom town and getting enraged. "Then, Roku confronted Sozin." "Please tell me that Roku killed him," Sokka begged. "Actually, no," said Aang. "Roku showed him mercy and let him live." I pictured Roku sealing Sozin's body in a mound of earth and just before he delivered the final blow...he left him there. He let him live on account of his past friendship. Aang went on. "Then, on Roku's home island, where we are now, there was a huge volcano eruption. And it was up to Roku to save his home. But he couldn't do it. He thought he was going to die there but then Sozin came to help him. But it was getting difficult with all the lava and the toxic gas wasn't helping either. Just as they were about to escape, Roku got blasted in the face with toxic gas. Then Sozin realized with Roku gone, he could move foreword with his invasion plan. Then Sozin left and..." Aang became grim. "...Roku died." I pictured Sozin flying off on a dragon and leaving Roku falling to the ground and being encased by smoke. I shuddered. "You mean that even after all they'd been through, even after Roku showed Sozin mercy," Toph said, "Sozin still let Roku die?" Aang nodded. "It's like these people are born bad," Sokka said. "I don't think that's what Roku meant," said Aang. "Remember, Roku was just as much Fire-Nation as Sozin was. I think Roku meant to tell me that anyone can change. And that when friendships are real, they can last more than a lifetime. Remember, Roku was friends with Monk Gyatso just like I was." Toph looked sadly at the ground. "Do you really think friendships can last more than one lifetime?" Aang took her left hand and Katara took her right. I took Aang's right hand and Geo took mine. "I don't see why not," Aang said. But of course, Sokka just had to ruin the moment. "Well, scientifically speaking-" "Sokka, just hold hands!" Katara said, getting annoyed. Still keeping a hand on his chin, he took Katara's remaining hand and we turned to watch the sunrise.
Another thought popped into my head. Anyone can change? Even people from the Fire-Nation? Even Zuko? Maybe he has changed, I thought. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on him. Alright, here's what I'll do; If he's truly changed for the better and he's sorry, I'll forget about my anger and forgive him. It seemed like a good plan. But little did I know I would later break my own promise.

Once again, it's really short. But I've been pretty busy. In other news, I just hit over 150 reads for this story! Leave a comment and vote. Luv you!