ATLA AU: Different Destinies Book 2

Chapter 1 - Aunt Wu

The Gaang was camped by a lake, a fish bursts from the surface, leaps through the air, and lands with a splash into the water. Sokka rises to view the spectacle. The fish, a se tu, leaps into the air again, facing the group in mid-jump before landing in the water again. "He is taunting us!" Sokka complained, "You are so going to be dinner!" He grabs his fishing pole from his tent set up nearby and attempts to cast the pole into the water unsuccessfully. "Hey, where's the fishing line?" Aang spoke up sheepishly, "Oh, I didn't think you would need it, Sokka." He holds up an intricately woven necklace decorated with a red flower. Sokka complains, "Aw, it's all tangled!" Aang rises to his feet, "Not tangled. Woven! I made you a necklace, Katara. I thought since you lost your other one..." Katara smiled, "Thanks, Aang." 

Sokka continued to try and catch the fish to no avail. Momo suddenly flies off Aang's shoulder upon hearing a loud noise in the distance. He leaps onto a rock followed by Aang, who observes the scene. He points to the source of the commotion, "Someone's being attacked by a platypus bear!" The creature stands upright on its hind legs and swings at a man clad in blue, who smiles merrily, his hands behind his back. The man manages to avoid the bear's swing by calmly stepping backward. The creature continues its attacks as Aang leaps onto a rock directly behind it. "Well, hello there!" The man dodges another swift swing of the bear's claws. "Nice day, isn't it?" 

Aang suggests the man make noise so the creature will run off, Sokka insists the man play dead. The platypus bear attempts to land a blow, cutting a large chunk of wood from the trunk of a nearby tree, the calm dodging the attack. Aang leaps into the air and lands onto the ground, placing himself between the calm man and the platypus bear. He sends the creature back slightly with an air blast. The platypus bear only rears up on its hind legs further, letting out a loud cry. Appa suddenly appears from behind the bear and bellows, causing the animal to bristle in fear. The bear lays a large, spotted egg and escapes the scene, swimming down the river. 

Sokka joyfully picks up the egg. "Mmm, lunch! Lucky for you, we came along." The man polielty dismissed Sokka, "Thanks, but everything was already under control. Not to worry. Aunt Wu predicted I'd have a safe journey." The others were confused, "She's the fortuneteller from my village. Awful nice knowing your future." Sokka spoke up again, "But the fortuneteller was wrong! You didn't have a safe journey; you were almost killed!" The man smiled, "But I wasn't! All right, have a good one! Oh, and Aunt Wu said if I met any travelers to give them this." He hands Aang a wrapped parcel seemingly containing a long, thin object and leaves mysteriously. Sokka eyes the man suspiciously. 

Katara was excited, "Maybe we should go see Aunt Wu and learn our fortunes. It could be fun." Sokka scoffed, "Oh, come on. Fortune telling is nonsense!" Aang quickly unwraps the mysterious parcel, which turns out to be a red umbrella. He opens it and holds it over his head. "What do you know? An umbrella!" At that moment, the sky darkens and it begins to rain. A low rumble of thunder can be heard. Katara and Zuko bend an arched shield of water over their own heads. Katara then joined Aang under the umbrella, "That proves it!" Sokka holds egg above his head to shield himself from the rain. "No, it doesn't! You can't really tell the future!" Katara teased him, "I guess you're not really getting wet then." Sokka suddenly loses his grip on the platypus egg as it flies through the air. He attempts to catch it, however, it merely flies a few feet into the air and lands on his head, cracking and causing the egg to run down his face. 

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The Gaang is walking as the rain continues; Zuko keeps himself from getting wet by using his bending to keep the water away while Aang and Katara are sheltered under the umbrella. Sokka stays away from them, drenched by the downpour. "Of course she predicted it was going to rain. The sky's been gray all day!" Katara rolled her eyes, "Just admit you might be wrong, and you can come under the umbrella." Sokka refused, "Look, I'm going to predict the future now. It's going to keep drizzling." It's still raining, "See?" Suddenly, the rain stops falling and sky lightens up slightly. Aang tilts the umbrella back to observe the dramatic change in weather. "Not everyone has the gift, Sokka."

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The Gaang walks through the entrance into the village, turkey ducks quacking as they pass. A strange man dressed in a black robe is standing by a round doorway. "Aunt Wu is expecting you," he states. They walk through the doorway, Sokka is expressing his disgust. Next they enter a room, four pillows situated on the floor to the right of the room. The strange man closes the door and A young girl walks into the room clad in a pink robe and wearing her hair in braids that stick out from the sides of her head. "My name is Meng and I'm Aunt Wu's assistant." Her eyes suddenly widen as she stares at Aang. "Well, hello there." Aand says hello back to her bored. 

Aang, Zuko, and Katara seat themselves on the pillows. "Can I get you some tea or some of Aunt Wu's special bean curd puffs?" Sokka brightens up. "I'll try a curd puff." Meng holds up a finger, "Just a second. So what's your name?" Aang introduced himself. "That rhymes with Meng! Well, Aang, it was very nice to meet you." She leaves and Sokka sighs, "I can't believe we're here in the house of nonsense." Katara spoke up, "Try to keep an open mind, Sokka. There are things in this world that just can't be explained. Wouldn't it be nice to have some insight into your future?" Sokka complained, "It would be nice to have some bean curd puffs."

Meng is returning with a tray of bean curd puffs. A door in the hallway opens and a woman clad in green exits. She approaches Meng excitedly. "Oh, Meng! Aunt Wu says I'm going to meet my true love. He's going to give me a rare panda lily." Meng smiled, "That's so romantic! I wonder if my true love will give me a rare flower." The woman leaves and Meng continued to Aang with the tray. She suddenly trips; Aang attempts to help her recover, accidentally holding her hands in his in the process. The two stare at each other for a moment; Meng blushes but Aang doesn't. "Enjoy your snack!" She leaves in a hurry. 

Sokka takes the tray of curd puffs from Aang; he prepares to sample one only to be interrupted by an elderly woman, clad in a yellow robe, who enters the room. "Welcome, young travelers. Now, who's next? Don't be shy." Sokka looks away uninterested and Aang casts a look at Katara. Katara rises in anticipation, "I guess that's me."The two exit; Aang and Sokka sit idly on the floor, Sokka tasting the curd puffs. "Mm, not bad, not bad!" 

Aang stands up, "Well, I've got to find a bathroom." Sokka lies down, relaxed and samples another puff.  While eating it, Momo comes over and sneakily takes the bowl away for himself. Sokka places his hand down to grab another curd puff, only to open his eyes and realize the bowl is gone. Aang, tiptoes down the hallway to where Aunt Wu had led Katara into another room, clearly ready to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Your palms are so smooth. Do you use moisturizer?" Katara corrected, "Actually, I have this special seaweed lotion. I can get you some if you want." Aang sticks out his tongue. "So, do you see anything interesting in my love line?" Aang immediately perks up upon hearing this. "I feel a great romance for you. The man you are going to marry." Katara beams excitedly, "Tell me more!" Wu says the man is a very powerful bender. Upon hearing this statement, Aang smiles mischievously and leaps in the hallway, delighted upon hearing this.

He's back in his seat when Wu and Katara return,  "Who's next?" Sokka stood up, " Okay, let's get this over with." Wu speaks right there, "Your future is full of struggle and anguish. Most of it, self-inflicted." Sokka holds up his hands in protest, "But you didn't read my palms or anything!" Wu speaks again, "I don't need to. It's written all over your face."Sokka resumes picking his teeth in disgust. Aang volunteers to go next but Aunt Wu chooses Zuko. 

He stands and walks with her to the back room. The chamber is a fairly spacious, dimly lit room. Four pillars support the ceiling and four cushions are situated in the center of the room, surrounding a small fire. Off to the side is a jug of bones. "This is the most reliable method of telling your fortune. The bones never lie. Go on, pick one."  Zuko sighes, takes a bone, and tosses it into the fire."The heat makes cracks in the bone and I read the bone cracks to tell your destiny. A large crack splinters down its side.AangWow, that's a big crack. "I've never seen this before!" More cracks keep forming until the bone explodes and sends a burst of flames up to the ceiling. "Oh my! [Cuts to shot of the bone lying in the fire and back to Aunt Wu who is fascinated.] Your destiny! This is incredible. You will be involved in great battles, an awesome conflict between the forces of good and evil. Battle whose outcomes will determine the fate of the whole world!" Zuko sighes, two meaning his father and Azula. He is excused to leave. Aang is excited to get his fortune, he quietly asks Wu about his love life, "Trust your heart and you will be with the one you love."