Wow. It was all I could say, it was all I could think. As we flew up to the Southern Air Temple, I was taken aback by its beauty. It was all just- wow.
“There it is, the Southern Air Temple, isn’t it magnificent?”
Oh it is, it really is…Wow…I can’t believe it.
As we landed, young acolytes working around us, an older one came up to greet us.
“Master Tenzin, Master Zabri, welcome.”
“Good to see you again, Abbot Shung.”
“Is there anything you two need- water, dandelion greens-perhaps you’d both like to recenter yourselves in the gardens?”
For a man who looked so calm and peaceful, I was nearly 100% sure he was freaking out about meeting us. Not that I minded, may I add. It was nice to have people appreciate you for once… and not just toss you aside to learn how to fight spirits or call air bending boring.
“No thank you, I’m fine.”
“As am I, though thank you for thinking of me.”
“And you must be the honorable, Pema. Please accept these gifts…This is an ancient air bender head shaver refurbished just for you…”
“Oh. Okay, thank you.”
The thing looked more like a torture device, though I did get a small snicker out of the face Tenzin made when he got.
“Here is a traditional female air bender outfit we have made for you, Master Zabri.”
Shung handed me a bundle of fabric, and I took it with a forced smile. Unfolding it, it was harder to keep the smile on. The outfit was hideous. I would never be caught dead in it, even if I was dead! I felt my smile and left eye twitched as I met Shung’s eyes.
“Thank you-so much- it’s lovely. I can’t wait to… wear it…in public… where people can see me.”
“Pema, these flowers once filled the mountain side, now they can brighten up your room.”
I kid you not; the bouquet was larger than her. All I’m going to say.
“That’s… Sweet? You-you didn’t have to!”
“Nonsense whatever you need is yours. Anything for the mother of the next generation of air benders.”
Looking over to the girls, the fought over a book; and then Meelo came swooping showing off his new lemur; Poki. The lemur then broke free of his grip and he went chasing after it.
“Master Zabri, please follow us and we will show you where you can change.”
Following the young female Acolyte, I was led to a large room; filled with female Acolytes. No one really paid attention to me, until I introduced myself. Then they all were rushing to get me into the traditional dress. Not that I wanted to be stuffed into the thing, I just didn’t want to be rude.
I lost count of how many layers and sleeves there were and I was pretty sure I was wrapped up like a gift. The dress was heavy, and hot, and added a good twenty pounds to my body. Though the women did work fast, I will admit that. Some were doing my hair, while others worked on my face and all the others talked; so happy and grateful to be in my presence. I had tried a few times to politely escape, but failed. But then the mentioned about shaving half my head to show my arrow off. THAT was where I drew the line.
Jumping up, nearly fell back down as I fought my way free of the girls.
“No way-oh no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no way is anyone shaving my head!”
Gathering as many of the layers of the dress as I could, I ran through the crowd and out of the room; screaming for Tenzin.
“Tenzin! TENZIN! TENZIIIINNN!”
Stumbling into the court yard where we landed, everyone was still there. Running to Tenzin, I grabbed his arm and clung to it as I nearly fell. I was sure I looked crazy, with only half a face covered in makeup and my hair half way finished.
“Tenzin- they want to shave my head! Tell them my head is fine just the way it is! DON’T LET THEM DO IT!”
~~~
Later, after I got back into my normal clothes, Tenzin led Jinora and the kids and I to the Statue Room. And to be honest, I was kind-of-sort-of superly stoked! Me being at the Southern Air Temple was like a child in a sweets shop.
“This is the most sacred place in the entire air temple.”
I could see why too, it was huge, and amazing, and just-wow.
“Here you find statues of every avatar that ever lived… Where are your brother and sister?”
They floated by, on air balls. Children being Children. Their air balls blew a good amount of wind, and I found myself eating my own hair. Nasty. When Meelo ran into a statue or something like that, Tenzin was quick to act on it. Leaving Jinora and I alone.
We separated, and walked among the statues.
~~~
That night, I had another night mare. Unable to sleep, I walked the ground, stumbling my way and sort-of losing-but finding my way back to the Statue Room. My bare feet paddled along the floor, as I walked among the Avatars before. Suddenly, I got the strangest feeling, the sort-of, but not the same as, the night when I got attacked by the angry spirit. Following, more or less being pulled by, the invisible force, I paused when I heard someone come up behind me. Turning, and ready to defend myself, I relaxed when I saw that it was Jinora.
“Jinora, what are you doing? You nearly killed yourself by sneaking up on me!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to, I just felt… pulled.”
I said nothing. The same force that had pulled me, pulled her.
“Well, you should get back to bed.”
“But look behind you Bri, what Avatar is that?”
She walked on, and I turned to follow. I paused beside her, looking at the… wooden statue.
How strange, it’s made of wood and not stone… and that… spirit, maybe… floats behind him.
Without realizing it, I took a step forward as my head tilted.
“Who are you?”
The statue then lit up- like the Republic City sky line! With wide eyes and a gasp, I fell back a step, holding my hand out in front of Jinora. We stood frozen, until the statue went back to its pervious state.
“What was that?”
“I… don’t…know. But I don’t want it happening again-so let’s just say that we were hallucinating from lack of sleep and if that doesn’t work- well then… let’s say it happens only when you talk to it and agree to not talk to it again. Good? Good. Now let’s hurry back to bed… before something else happens.”
Grabbing her, I more or less dragged her away, keeping my eyes on the strange wooden statue I was so strangely attracted to.
Short, I know. But the episode didn't show much of Tenzin's story. Next Chapter, doe, gonna be good. It gonna be so good!
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The Only Hope
Teen FictionThe world has changed, and continues to do so. Yet the stories of my family, of how they nearly both destroyed and saved the world, continue to live on. Their actions created the future which is my present. Though, it's not a very bright one at the...
