Sound Bender (Avatar: The Last Airbender) #Wattys2017

||Chapter 18 - Mission Coal||

Himoko's POV

He wants me to do... What again!? I crossed my arms, staring Aang down who grinned innocently up at me

"This isn't going to work." I deadpanned. He blew a soft raspberry, not buying it, "Yes it will! You will do fine, just believe~! In yourself!" He quirked, his voice going from normal tone to very high pitched like an opera singer. I shivered at the mental image of Aang as an opera singer, 'That does not suit his looks or personality... And ah, my poor ears...' I grimaced in slight pain

"No, Aang." I told him a breathy sigh, my voice dull with no emotion. He gave me a look

"I just need you to lend me a bit of your air here, that is all! I just need your help to move all of this coal from Point B to Point A!"

"I'm not an earth bender."

"I know that, we are going bend strong gusts of air to hit against the coal's behind to where Katara and Sokka are! That is all~" He informed me, before I could reject, he continued, "I have to go and close the rest of the ventilation air drafts except for this one, when I get back, be ready to send the coal through this one and out with Sokka and Katara, okay?" He told me, his eyes big and full of hope. With a defeated sigh, I nodded reluctantly. He gave me quick grin and pat on the shoulder before flying off on his glider to close off the rest of the ventilation air drafts, giving me time to think this over. I sat down on the cold, hard, metal ground with my knees pulled up to my chest, letting the chilly breeze of before the dawn hit against the front of me, blowing my bangs out of my field of vision. I stared out at the sea, not wanting to do this but for this plan to work, I might have no choice but to- My eyes glimmered in the light, realizing something.

I don't have to air bend like Aang, I can just use my Sound Bending. Only, I need to not use my voice but the sounds around me to make it much stronger to move piles of coal, but it shouldn't be that hard with Aang's help of air bending. I just have to be careful.

Dawn is slowly approaching, but Aang sure is taking his sweet time coming back! I stood up, dusting actual dust off of my trousers before standing behind the piles of coal, narrowing my eyes at the black rocks made for fueling our world

"Come on, Aang. Hurry up... I don't want to do this alone..." I muttered to myself, clutching and releasing my fists repeatedly in slight worry. What if he was spotted? Did he miraculously got himself captured by a guard and left me here to do this all by myself?! I shook my head, 'Stop that Himoko, stop thinking selfishly. You aren't a princess anymore. You are just Himoko out here, the first Sound Bender, the Last Airbender before Aang arrived, now prove to him you can do this. Don't let fear and paranoia control you.' I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Dawn is on the brink of being here, I have to do this, now or never.

3rd Person's POV

Himoko went with her instincts on moving the coal, her ears stretching to hear the voices of the guards on the island, along with the voices of prisoners and the ears crashing up against the metal. The crackle of the burning coal, the wind brushing past her, even the smallest chirp of a passing bird she could hear. She could hear the heartbeats of everyone on the island beating in unison, with one last intake of breath, she moved her hands upwards into the sky, forming a ball of red energy into it. The sounds of the world around her.

Aang was approaching, realizing quickly that it was their que to send the coal down to the deck where Katara and Sokka were. His eyes widened when he managed to see Himoko, only he wasn't Air Bending, but Sound Bending. Even to this day, he was mesmerized by her skill at bending sound, after he finished learning all of the elements, the first person he was gonna go to was Himoko, to finally learn how to Sound Bend. He shook his head, quickening his speed on the glider with a gust of air protruding out of his feet to accelerate, he wasn't going to let her do this alone.