Avatar: The Last Airbender

Part 9 (The Northern Air Temple)

"So, travelers, the next time you think you hear a strange, large bird talking, take a closer look. It might not be a giant parrot, but a flying man. A member of a secret group of air-walkers, who laugh at gravity, and laugh at those bound to the earth by it." The man finished, and stood suddenly, walking around with his hat, asking for money.

"Aren't airbender stories the best?" Aang asked. Sokka elbowed you, jerking you awake. You were leaning on him, sleeping. It was a light sleep, where you could still hear what was going on, but you still didn't want to wake. You sat up and yawned, rubbing your eyes.

"Was it realistic? Was that how it was back then?" Katara asked him.

"I laugh at gravity all the time." Aang answered, giving a small chuckle. "Gravity." This brought a small smile to your lips, glad that he was happy. The man offered his hat out to Sokka.

"Jingle jingle." He said, asking for money. Sokka reached into his pockets and pulled out crumbs and a bug. You made a face.

"Sorry."

"Aw. Cheapskates." The man said, walking away. Aang stood up and walked after him.

"Hey, thanks for the story."

"Tell it to the cap, boy." The man replied, still not facing him, but holding the hat out. A coin fell out and Momo picked it up, placing it back in. The man turned, just in time to see Momo put the coin in.

"Much obliged, little bat thing." He said, petting the lemur's head.

"It means a lot to hear airbender stories." Aang started. "It must have been a hundred years ago your great grandpa met them."

"What are you prattling about, child? Great grandpa saw the air walkers last week." He told him. Aang's eyes widened.

"Really? A-Are you sure?"

"Of course. I-"

Aang didn't hear him finish. He ran back to you and the siblings. "We have to find them. There might still be airbenders!"

You all shared looks, shrugging. "I don't see why we can't go and check it out." You told him. Aang leapt into the air with glee.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, you were eating breakfast while flying, because Aang didn't want to wait for you to finish.

"We're almost to the Northern Air Temple." Aang informed. "This is where they had the championships for sky-bison polo."

"Do you think we'll really find airbenders?" Katara asked, leaning next to her brother, who was carving....something....with his knife.

"You want me to be like you, or totally honest?" He asked her, not looking up. You coughed, choking on the food going down your throat in a laugh. Everyone turned to you, watching you hack your brains out.

"I'm fine." You wheezed, holding up your hand. Katara turned back to her brother.

"Are you saying I'm a liar?"

"I'm saying you're an optimist. Same thing, basically."

"Hey, guys! Look at this!" Aang shouted. You all turned and saw the temple on the top of a mountain. There were a bunch of figures floating around it. Your eyes widened.

"It can't be."

"They really are airbenders!" Katara exclaimed.

"No they're not." Aang replied sadly, crossing his arms and leaning back.