Balance | Old Version

Chapter 6

Third Person POV.

"Katara, firebenders were here. You can't pretend they weren't." Sokka says as they follow Aang and Elua through the paths of the Airtemple.
"I can, for Aang's sake," Katara tells him. "If they find out that the Fire Nation invaded their home, they'll be devastated." She tells Sokka sadly.
"I know. I talked to Elua last night, she seemed to have already braced herself for the worst," Sokka states. "But, the longer we hide it from them, the more painful it will be," He tells his sister, she sighs.

"Hey, guys!" Aang shouts to the siblings. "I want you to meet somebody," He says. motioning to a statue of a monk with a necklace around his neck.
"Who's that?" Sokka asks as they all look at the statue.
"Monk Gyatso," Elua answers with a small smile on her face.
"The greatest Airbender in the world. He taught us everything we know." Aang says as he and Elua bow to the statue, memories flooding into their minds.

Flashback.

Gyatso holds a long spatula with a cake at the end of it. He appears to have just pulled out the cake from the mouth of the large oven behind him. He airbends the colorful filling into a swirly in the middle of it and smiles.
"The true secret is in the gooey center," Gyatso says as he turns to Aang and Elua.
"Hmm..." Aang hums not paying attention. Elua looks over to him and sighs.
"My ancient cake-making technique isn't the only thing on your mind, is it, Aang?" Gyatso asks kindly.

"This whole Avatar thing...maybe the monks made a mistake," Aang says as he looks down.
"The only mistake they made was telling you before you turned sixteen. But, we can't concern ourselves with what was. We must act on what is." Gyatso states as he gestures to the world around them. The temple is full of flying bison, plants, flowers, and mostly kind people. It was beautiful, almost dreamlike.
"But Gyatso, how do I know if I'm ready for this?" Aang questions, unsure of himself.

"Your questions will be answered when you are old enough to enter the Air Temple sanctuary," Gyatso informs Aang. "Inside you will meet someone who will guide you on your journey." He continues. Aang excitedly jumps up and turns to face Gyatso fully.
"Who is it?" Aang questions, now extremely curious.
"When you are ready he will reveal himself to you." Gyatso states. Aang sighs heavily in frustration.
"Now, are you going to help us with these cakes, or not?" Elua asks her brother with a playful grin.

"All right," Aang says smiling. Aang, Elua, and Gyatso take airbending stances, with the three cakes sitting on the wall. They move back and forth, creating balls of wind with their airbending skill.
"One...two...three!" Gyatso counts. They release their airballs on the count of three, propelling the cakes high into the air.

They make a whizzing noise as they come down, right where three meditating monks, covering them in the cakes. The monks are soon surrounded by winged lemurs who begin feasting on the cakes that cover them. Aang, Elua, and Gyatso laugh. They all bow to each other respectfully. Gyatso pats his young student's heads affectionately.
"Your aim has improved greatly my young pupils," Gyatso says smiling, making them both smile.

End Of Flashback.

Elua's POV.

Aang and I bow to the statue of Gyatso as we remember certain memories of our time here.
"You must miss him," Katara says kindly.
"Yeah," Aang says. I turn around and look at down a hallway, it feels as though it's calling me. I look over to Aang, he looks up at me and I nod as we begin to walk down the hall.
"Where are you guys going?" Katara asks. I turn to her.
"The Air Temple Sanctuary. There's someone Aang's ready to meet." I tell her as we continue to walk. The Sanctuary has a huge wooden door with three air symbols projecting from its surface.

They are orchestrated in a triangular pattern attached to tubes that end in two horns near the bottom of the wooden door.
"But Aang...no one could have survived in there for a hundred years," Katara states as we look up at the huge door in front of us.
"It's not impossible. We survived in the iceberg for that long." Aang says shrugging. He was right, I don't really know what is and isn't possible anymore.
"Good point," Katara says nodding.
"Katara, whoever's in there might help me figure out this Avatar thing!" Aang says beginning to smile.

"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious, cured meats!" Sokka says excitedly rubbing his hands together in the fevered obsession of the food.
"Sokka, everyone who lived here were vegetarians," I tell him as I shake my head.
"Well, maybe someone got rebellious," He says. I let out a small laugh at him as he rushes forward, running straight into the door. He pushes against the big door to no avail and slides down to the floor in defeat.
"I don't suppose you have a key?" Sokka asks as he looks up to me.
"The key, Sokka, is airbending," I inform him as Aang and I bend air into the tubes and the door opens with a creaking sound, revealing a very dark room.