Balance | Old Version

Chapter 18 (Winter Solstice, Part 1)

Elua's POV.

Appa moves slowly around the clouds as we fly through the bright blue sky.
"Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft cottony heap." Katara says as she lays on her stomach, looking out at the clouds.
"Maybe you should give it a try," Sokka says sarcastically.
"You're hilarious," Katara says rolling her eyes. Aang and I look at each other with the same idea in mind.
"We'll try it!" We shout as we grab our gliders and stand up.

"Wooo!" We exclaim as we jump off Appa. As we fly through the clouds I feel my clothes begin to stick to me, I open my glider and begin to fly up. When we land back on Appa, I look down and see Aang and I are soaking wet.
"Turns out clouds are made of water!" Aang tells Sokka and Katara as we airbend ourselves dry.
"Hey, what's that?" Katara asks as she points below us, we look over and see a dark spot in within the trees and grass.

"It's like a scar," Sokka says as we descend to the ground and land with the dead forest. "Listen, it's so quiet. There's no life anywhere." He states as we look around.
"Aang, are you ok?" Katara asks worriedly. I look over and see Aang standing there looking down at the dead land.
"Fire Nation!" Sokka suddenly shouts as he looks down at footprints on the ground. "Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for-" He starts to say but is interrupted.
"Shh!" Katara shushes her brother.

"What? I'm not allowed to be angry?" Sokka asks in a quieter tone. Katara points to where Aang is. He sighs as he sinks to his knees and sits on the black ground.
"Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?" Aang asks sadly.
"Aang, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you." Katara tells him.
"Yes, it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But, I don't know how to do my job." Aang states.

"That's why we're going to the North Pole to find you a teacher," Katara reminds him.
"Yeah, a waterbending teacher, but there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me." Aang tells her.
"The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago, how are you supposed to talk to him?" Sokka asks in confusion.
"I don't know." Aang states. Katara walks around and looks at the land, she suddenly smiles.

"Hey Aang, are you ready to be cheered up?" Katara asks as she picks up an acorn.
"No," Aang says simply, but Katara throws the acorn at him.
"Ow!" Aang exclaims as the acorn hits him in the head. "Hey, how was that cheering me up?" He asks confused as he rubs his head.
"Hehe, cheered me up," Sokka says laughing as he sits on the ground behind us. Katara turns to him and throws an acorn at him hitting him in the head too.

"Ow!" Sokka exclaims as he looks at his sister annoyed.
"You deserved that," I say as I look over to him.
"Yeah, you're probably right," He says rubbing his head.
"These acorns are everywhere, Aang. That means the forest will grow back," Katara tells Aang. "Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back," She explains as she places the acorn in his hand.

"Thanks, Katara," Aang says smiling. We suddenly hear a startling sound behind us, we turn around and see an old man walking toward us.
"Hey, who are you?" Sokka asks as he stands up.
"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible," The old man says as he walks closer to Aang. "But those markings...are you the Avatar child?" The man asks Aang, who nods his head. "And you, are you the Nadir?" He asks me. I look at him surprised but, I nod as well.

"My village desperately needs your help." He tells us. We agree to help him and he leads us to his village. We look around and see a few buildings had been destroyed, the man leads us to a building where most of the villagers are gathered.
"These young people are the Avatar and The Nadir." The man tells another man, most likely the chief.
"So the rumors of your return are true. It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in both of your presence." The Chief says bowing to us.

"Nice to meet you too," Aang and I say as he bow back.
"So...is there something we can help you with?" Aang asks him.
"I'm not sure," The chief says with a pained expression.
"Our village is in crisis, he's our only hope," The old man says as he walks over and stands beside him. "For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei-Bai, the black and white spirit." He tells us.
"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka asks. The Chief moves to the entrance of the doorway that we just entered through.

"We do not know, but each of the last three nights he has abducted one of our own," The Chief states. "We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near." He says.
"What happens then?" Katara asks.
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely." The old man tells us.
"Hei-Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here there is no telling what will happen." The Chief says as he turns to us.

"So, what do you want me to do exactly?" Aang asks him confused.
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the spirit world than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits." The old man says smiling.
"Right...that's me," Aang says nervously.
"Hey, 'great bridge guy', can I talk to you over here for a second?" Katara asks us. Aang nods as we follow her over to a window away from the other two men. "Aang, you seem a little unsure about all this," She says in a hushed tone.

"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the spirit world," Aang states, Katara and Sokka look at him worriedly.
"It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!" Aang says frustratedly. I fiddle with my fingers in nervousness, I sigh.
"Actually, there is," I tell him as I look away for a moment and then back at them, they all look at me confused. "I'm meant to help you with that, It's what I was trained for," I tell him nervously.
"And you're just telling me this now!?" Aang shouts in anger.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think I was ready to help you with it," I tell him sadly, he sighs and shakes his head.
"So, can you help Aang help these people?" Katara asks me.

"I have to try, don't I?" I ask her.
"I think you both can do it," She tells us smiling.
"Yeah," Sokka says nodding his head. "We're all gonna get eaten by a spirit monster," He says smiling in a strange way, I roll my eyes.
"Thanks, Sokka," I say sarcastically. Aang and I exit the building and walk over to the entrance of the village awkwardly as the sun begins to sets behind the trees.
"Hello? Spirit, can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm...here to try to help stuff." Aang says as we walk out of the village gate, I look at him confused.

"That's not gonna work," I tell him shaking my head.
"Then what do we do?" He asks me.
"I'm not sure," I tell him as I look around for the spirit. The sun quickly sets and there's no sign of Hei-Bai, it was silent, the only noise being the rustling of the wind in the trees.
"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei-Bai?" Aang asks, but still nothing. "Well, spirit, uh, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" He shouts as he puts his hand out. We look around for a moment, still nothing. "Okay, well I guess that's settled then," He shrugs as we start to walk back to the village.