Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ You're What? ( Chapter 10 )

LES: It has been several weeks, and the Gang has returned to the Southern Air Temple. Things are pretty much the same as before except, as Aang's wife, she's in his room now. And since they are newlyweds, everyone else moved their rooms as far from theirs as possible. Aang and Katara are still the only ones who know about her pregnancy… but not for long! (Evil grin)

 

Chapter X: “You're What?!?”

 

The fateful day when the rest of the gang discovered Katara's pregnancy began normally enough. It was the middle of spring, and the weather was perfect. But, that morning, there was one couple less inclined to enjoy the beautiful weather that blessed the Southern Air Temple during the mild spring.

Katara could say with absolute certainty that she'd had better mornings. Her morning sickness had started about a week ago as simple nausea. She hadn't actually purged anything yet, but this morning was different.

She had woken up as usual, with a feeling of nausea. But, a few seconds later, her saliva glands went into over-drive, she tasted bile in the back of her throat, and her diaphragm contracted horribly. Her body was sending its message loud and clear: `get out of bed. You're gonna puke.'

She swiftly rolled out of bed, waking Aang up with her movement. “Katara, what…?” He trailed off as she rushed to a large bucket set in the corner of the room, knelt before it, and instantly vomited into it. “Katara!” Aang repeated, this time with alarm in his voice as he quickly jumped out of bed, rushed over to her, and held her hair back as she dry-heaved into the bucket.

The bucket had been in the room ever since her nausea began, and Aang would often wake up to find her hovering over it nervously. But, so far, nothing had come of it… until this morning at least.

Aang knew better than to ask her a stupid question like `are you all right'? No one in their right mind enjoyed vomiting, and dry-heaving was even worse. So he simply was there for her, holding her hair back and rubbing her back until he felt her diaphragm stop jumping under his fingers.

When she was done, she turned and embraced her husband, sobbing lightly into his chest.

Aang returned her embrace. “Shhh. I'm here for you, Katara. I'm here.”

“Easy for you to say.” Katara said a little bitterly. “Why is it women have to suffer through pregnancy and childbirth while the men only do the fun parts?” Aang didn't have an answer for that, even after living a thousand lifetimes. He could faintly hear all the previous female Avatars agreeing heartily with Katara's words, and all the previous male Avatars urging him to just agree with her. “I thought I was going to be lucky… only getting a little nauseous. I guess whatever spirit is in charge of pregnancy doesn't like me very much.”

“If you want, I could go to the Spirit World, hunt down this spirit, and tell them to take it easier on you.” Aang said.

The words sounded like a joke, but Katara could tell from his tone that he was completely serious. He succeeded in getting a small smile out of her. “Could you get me a cup of water, please?”

“Of course.” Aang rushed out of the room, leaving Katara alone.

Now that they had almost two months since their marriage, she was positive that she was pregnant, and that Aang's vision on their wedding night hadn't been some fluke. She had missed her last menstrual cycle, and her morning sickness proved it to her beyond a shadow of a doubt.

But, now that she knew she was pregnant, that brought on all sorts of new questions and feelings. Would the child be a boy or girl? Would it take after herself or Aang, the Airbending thing aside? Would they be good parents? Not to mention that she felt a little weird knowing that there was new life growing inside her. But, perhaps, that was something all pregnant women felt.

Another though occurred to her, just as Aang came back into the room, holding a cup of water. Katara accepted the cup from him gratefully and used the water to get the lingering taste of bile out of her mouth. Then she drank the rest of the water in small sips to avoid triggering her nausea.

“Aang?” She asked when she was finished.

“Hmm? What is it, Katara? Do you need more water?” He asked.

“No, I think I'm fine now. My nausea never lasted long before.” Katara assured him. “I'm just wondering how we will be able to tell.”

“Tell what?”

“That our child is an Airbender?” Katara finished. “We'll need proof before we make any sort of announcement. I mean, we can't just say that our child is an Airbender because you had a vision of the future.”

“Huh. I've never thought about that…” Aang trailed off thoughtfully.

“So… what were the signs of Airbending that your people looked for in their children?” Katara asked.

Aang shrugged, looking utterly stumped. “Sneezing, I guess? I'm not sure. The Air Nomads never tested their children for Bending powers.”

“What? Why?” Katara asked.

“Because the Air Nomads were the only Nation that didn't have any non-Benders. If the child was born to Air Nomad parents, then they were an Airbender, no question. There are only a few times in the Air Nomad history when a non-Bender has been born, and they were the results of cross-cultural marriages.”

“Like ours?”

“Yeah, like ours. I guess we do need to come up with some sort of test.” Aang trailed off thoughtfully once again. “I guess our sneezes would be the most obvious sign of Airbending powers. It is the most pure expression of Airbending. Even newborns can do it, although the results are not as powerful as in a Master Airbender.”

“I remember the first time you sneezed.” Katara said nostalgically. “You flew about fifteen feet into the air. And then you got that cold a few years ago and single-handedly almost destroyed an entire wing of the Temple.”

“Don't worry; a child's sneeze would be more like a gentle breeze rather than my explosions.” Aang assured her. “And… um… oh! You can tell if a child is an Airbender from the way they move.”

“From the way they move?” Katara asked, confused. “How?”

“I've seen it a hundred times, but I haven't thought about it since I was a child. Air Nomad infants and toddlers move differently from children born to other nations. Hmm… it's gonna be hard to explain this to a non-Airbender.” Aang paused, thinking. “I guess… well, to most people, the air around them is something intangible. They can't see it, touch it, and they can only feel it when there is a breeze. But it's different for me. I can feel the air around me all the time like it's a tangible thing. I can touch the air, grab it, and even see it if the wind is strong enough. That's how an Airbender harnesses the power of air; by being aware of the air around us, taking control of natural air currents, and bending it to our will.”

“Sounds like Waterbending.”

“It is a lot like Waterbending.” Aang said. “Okay, I've got it. Being an Airbender is like being submerged in water all the time. Air kind of feels like water to me, and most people move differently when they are in water.”

“So an Air Nomad child makes motions like they're swimming through the air?” Katara clarified.

“Yeah.” Aang said. “It really becomes obvious once the child starts walking. They start to move around like this.” Aang mimicked a motion that Katara would normally associate with someone walking through chest-high water: walking normally, but using his arms to gain extra momentum through a thick substance.

“And how long did this habit last?” Katara knew that Aang had lost the habit sometime before he was twelve, because she had never seen him walk like that. She probably would have noticed it if he had.

“It depends. I guess it's whenever the child comes into contact with other cultures. Children who are raised by their Nomadic parents and not the Temples probably lost the habit a lot sooner than us wards of the Temple. I didn't make my first trip away from the Southern Air Temple until I was five. It was a trip to the Fire Nation, and when I first met Kuzon. He was the one who commented on the way I walked. It was the first time in my life that someone said I walked weird, so I forced myself to let go of that old habit. I still had to endure one more year of strange looks from people who couldn't understand why Air Nomad children were compelled to move that way.”

“Then it will probably be worse for our Airbender children.” Katara said. “Back when you were a child, people were more familiar with Airbenders then they are now.”

“Well, we can hope that no one would dare make fun of the sons and daughters of the Avatar.” Aang said hopefully.

“I suppose you're right. None of those people knew you were the Avatar back then.”

“Well… they knew that I was a candidate to be the Avatar.” Aang said. “The monks knew that I was the Avatar since I was about two; but the rest of the Nations and the normal Air Nomads only had a list of children who had been born one week after Avatar Roku died. I guess they used that list as a betting pool for people to bet which one of us would be the Avatar.”

“In that case, you must've been the favorite because you Mastered Airbending so young.” Katara said.

Aang chuckled. “Actually, I was the second favorite. There was another boy who was three days older than me, born the day after Roku died. His Airbending wasn't as good as mine, but he was still the general favorite.”

“Why?” Katara asked. “It should have been obvious with your skill in Airbending that you were special.”

“Well… I suppose it's because we all competed against each other continuously. Katara, what do you think you would do if there was a chance that you were the Avatar?”

“Well, I suppose I would try to Bend an element besides my natural element.”

“That's what we did at every opportunity. Technically, we weren't allowed to even try to Bend the other elements because a successful Bending would prematurely expose the Avatar. The monks would punish us whenever they caught us at it.” Aang said. “He claimed that he was able to Bend Water and Fire. I saw it myself, and after that, I gave up the thought of being the Avatar.”

“But… how?” Katara asked. “Only the Avatar can control all four elements, and you were the real Avatar.”

“It's simple. He cheated. The monks knew right away that he was cheating, but I didn't figure out how he did it until I was told I was the true Avatar and I began to think how someone could Bend Water and Fire with just Airbending. He used Airbending to create ripples on the surface of some water. And, as for the fire, he used an Advanced Airbending move that allows an Airbender to adjust the density of the air. The more air there is for a fire to feed off, the bigger the flame.”

“Wow. I didn't know an Airbender could do that.” Katara said, amazed.

“Very few Airbenders could do it. There are thirty-six levels to Mastering Airbending, and that move is that the thirty-fifth…” Aang suddenly trailed off.

“Aang, what is it?” Katara asked, slightly concerned.

Aang jumped slightly. “Nothing. Just a thought.” He kissed her. “Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I'm feeling better now.” Katara answered, still confused by Aang's actions.

“Okay, I have to go look something up in the Temple's library. I'll be there today if you need me.” With that, Aang left suddenly.

Katara really grew concerned about him. But she did know her husband well enough that when he was ready to talk to her about it, he would. She just had to be patient until that time.

She mentally tallied up her list of chores for that day, and then set out to first help make breakfast for everyone with Suki's help.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Good morning, everyone.” Katara greeted the gang cheerfully as she set out breakfast in the Temple's common room.

“Good morning, sis.” Sokka greeted, immediately digging into the food that Katara set down.

“Good morning, Katar—oh!” Toph gasped. Then she grinned evilly. “So, where's Aang?”

“He said he had to study something in the library.” Katara answered.

“Oh, that's too bad. Cause I've got three words that will make Sokka wanna kill him. And that's always interesting to watch!”

Katara mentally counted the words it would take to expose her secret. “Toph, don't!”

“Who do I wanna kill?” Sokka asked, swallowing a mouthful of food.

“Aang!”

“Toph!”

“And why would I wanna kill a guy who is like a little brother to me?”

“Because that guy who is like a little brother to you is all ready making you an uncle!” Toph said, grinning. “Katara is pregnant!”

Everyone at the table froze; all attention was suddenly on Sokka, waiting for his reaction. He looked like he was torn between rage and happiness. But, after a few seconds, he sighed and his expression settled on `happy'. “Well, I guess I shouldn't have expected anything different now that you're married. I'm glad for you, Katara.”

“Oh wow! This is such good news!” Suki said happily. “How far along are you?”

“Almost two months.” Katara answered.

“Well, I'll bet that Twinkletoes was over the moon when he found out.” Toph paused. “You have told him, right?”

“Aang knows.” Katara assured her. “He's been very supportive, especially with helping me with my morning sickness.”

“So, when are you going to let the world know the good news? You know everyone is interested in Aang's children.” Suki asked.

“I guess when I start to show. That usually happens around the fourth month.”

“Do you remember those old stories from before the war?” Suki asked. “There were events that the entire world celebrated together, but I never really believed it. Now I think I know what they were talking about. This news will make the entire world happy. And if the baby is an Airbender, then you'll be that much closer to saving the Air Nomads.”

Katara placed her hands on her abdomen. “Of course, I'm really happy to help Aang save his culture, but really, I'm happy to be having his children. Even if I'm getting really sick in the morning.”

“Well, we're really happy for the both of you.” Suki said.

“Yeah, you two will be great parents as long as you don't become over-protective like mine.” Toph said.

Even though Toph had gotten back in touch with her parents after the end of the War, they still tried to baby her.

It all started when they went to visit her parents, and they could seem to do nothing except give vaguely-disguised criticisms of Aang for involving her in the highly dangerous battle against the Firelord. “It was awfully irresponsible for a young man who intends to look after the entire world to take a young, helpless, blind girl into battle.” And things along those lines.

A few days later, their attitudes suddenly made a complete about-face. They started practically sucking up to Aang, giving their thanks for his saving the world, and offering him anything he wished in return for bringing their daughter back home.

It was only later that they were hoping to arrange a marriage with Aang and Toph, which was quite obvious when they tried to offer Aang their daughter's dowry.

After that, it became quite awkward for all involved because Aang and Katara had just started dating, and Toph yelled at her parents a number of times that she had no interest what-so-ever in a Twinkletoes-fancy-pants-fairy like Aang. (“No offense, Twinkletoes.” “None taken.”)

The visit climaxed when Toph's parents cornered Aang and Toph, trying to explain how they would both benefit from a marriage between them. Before Aang could feebly protest that he was dating Katara, Toph had Earthbended a hole in the wall and yanked Aang away, yelling at Katara that they were leaving.

Katara still remembered Toph's words as they raced away from the Bei Fong estate in a rage. “Apparently, being the Avatar's Earthbending Master, the greatest Earthbender in the world, and helping you guys stop the war wasn't enough to get my parents to respect me! I don't need them, and I don't need to marry Aang! Katara, you can KEEP him!”

Katara definitely didn't want to have that sort of relationship with her children. “If I do start to become that over-protective, will you knock some sense into me?”

Toph laughed. “It will be my pleasure, Sugar Queen!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day, Toph made her way alone to the Air Temple's library. She had listened to Katara, Sokka, and Suki marvel at the sheer volume of the Temple's collection of books, and she heard Aang say that the Southern Temple's library was nothing compared to the collection housed at the Eastern Air Temple.

While the other three Temples contained a collection of books relevant to just their Temple, the Eastern Air Temple was the Guardian of the history of the entire Air Nomad culture. There were writings going all the way back to the mysterious time before the Avatar and Bending when a young man befriended a rare Sky Bison, and learned how to Bend the very air; becoming the world's first human Airbender.

Toph had never set foot in the library herself. Being blind, reading books was a luxury that she could not enjoy; so she had no use for the Temple's vast collection.

But, today, she was interested not in the books, but in Aang.

She found the young Avatar seated in one of the library's chairs, surrounded by books and scrolls, reading from a thick scroll.

“Hey, Aang, what's up?”

Aang jumped slightly. “Oh, hi, Toph. What are you doing here? You always said you didn't have any use for books or libraries.”

“I don't.” Toph said, sitting in the chair next to him. “I'm looking for you, and here you are.”

“Oh, okay. What do you want, Toph?” Aang asked, carefully setting the scroll aside.

“I know, Aang.” Toph said with a smirk.

“Know what?”

“About Katara being pregnant.” Toph said. She leaned over and punched his shoulder. “Congratulations, Twinkletoes! You've officially proven yourself a man!”

Aang rubbed his sore shoulder. “I've always been be a man.”

“No quite. Did you hear that you're still played by a girl in that play?”

Aang groaned. It never failed, every year he was invited by the Ember Island Players to come see the play based on his journey to become a fully realized Avatar and stop the Firelord. But Aang had seen it in disguise, and he hated the play. He heard the playwright changed the ending from Zuko getting killed and Aang dying to Aang beating the Firelord and Zuko becoming Firelord at the new Firelord's request. But even Zuko couldn't get the playwright to change the relationships back to reality. The new play ended with Katara marrying Zuko. (A/N: The playwright's a Zutarian!)

Lots of people had asked Aang what he thought of the play. Aang never answered these questions, but he secretly wondered if there was a polite way to say that he hated the play, and if it was never performed again, it would be too soon.

“So, you excited about being a Daddy?” Toph asked.

“Well, yeah. Of course I am!” Aang said. “But I'm also a little nervous. What if I'm not ready to have my own child? It seems like I was a child myself until just a little while ago.”

“Don't worry about it, Twinkletoes. You're laid back enough that you'll be a good Dad. Besides, what kid wouldn't want to have the Avatar as their father?”

“Well… I guess.” Aang said.

“So… what are you doing in here? Katara said you were rather eager to come here this morning.”

“It's just that… I'm trying to find this Airbending technique…”

“An Airbending technique?” Toph repeated. “But shouldn't you know all the Airbender techniques because you're a Master Airbender?”

“Well, um… not exactly.” Aang said nervously. “There are thirty-six levels to Mastering Airbending, and I'm at the thirty-fifth level.”

“Then why did you get those tattoos? Aren't they only for a Master Airbender?” Toph asked.

“There are two conditions to be fulfilled to become an Airbending Master.” Aang explained. “A novice must master the thirty-six levels of Airbending and invent a new move. After I invented the Air Scooter, the monks decided that I had earned the tattoos. They said something about being concerned that a ten year old was too immature to learn the final level of Airbending.”

“Wow, then it must be a pretty hard move.”

“Or a dangerous move.” Aang corrected.

“Dangerous? But isn't Airbending all about defense?” Toph asked.

“Normally, yes. But there had to be a reason why I wouldn't have learned it until a came-of-age. It must've been a dangerous move the monks wouldn't trust to a child.” Aang said. “I have to learn this move and completely Master Airbending so that I can teach my children to Master Airbending so they can teach my descendants and reincarnations when I am gone.”

“Good point.” Toph said. “But do you really think that the ultimate Airbending technique would be in a book where anyone could read it?”

“Oh, it would be safe in a book.” Aang said confidently. “Long ago, before the Avatar, the Nations were divided by more than just culture; they were divided by language too. All the important books were written in the ancient Air Nomad language which only the monks knew how to read. Besides, these books came from the top shelf.”

Toph `looked' around with her Earthbending vision. It was a massive room, with the shelves stretching all the way up to the top. But she didn't see a single latter or staircase in the whole room.

“Oh, I get it. The better you are at Airbending, the higher you can go.” Toph said.

“Exactly.” Aang said. “The ultimate technique has to be at the top. I'll find it and learn it!”

“Good luck with that.” Toph said, leaving Aang to his readings.

 

LES: Once again, this `Ultimate Airbending Technique' was inspired by the Lost Scrolls on the Air Nomads, which is a great resource book. Here's the actual text from the book:

“One must master Airbending to earn the arrow tattoos. To do this, an Airbender must invent a new move and pass the thirty-six levels of Airbending. Though Aang just only reached the thirty-fifth level before he left the Jongmu [Southern Air] Temple, his invention of the Air Scooter earned him his tattoos early.”

So I started thinking about this missing level of Airbending, and eventually came up with a (hopefully) believable idea.