Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ The Final Good Bye ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter IXX: Final Good-Bye

 

Both Aang and Appa were probably very thankful when they arrived at Omashu. Aang was an Air Nomad, so he had grown up knowing that, while the Southern Air Temple would always be his home, he would spend most of his life travelling. But even the Air Nomads had a limit when it came to travelling. Very few Nomads would have ever travelled from one side of the world to the other and back as quickly as Aang had. And then, to make it worse, he was turning right back around to head to Omashu in the Earth Kingdom.

Needless to say, both Appa and Aang were reaching their breaking points.

Sokka and Suki were nearly as cranky as Aang was. Or, rather, Suki was cranky, and Sokka was cranky because she was cranky and taking it out on him.

Only Katara and Anil seemed to be happy. Katara was glad to be travelling again. Though she was not a Nomad like Aang, she enjoyed travelling. She had desperately missed flying with Aang on Appa when her newborn son had kept her grounded.

But, judging by Anil's reaction to the trip, he probably could have travelled a lot sooner. He spent the whole trip in a perpetual good mood, only acting fussy when he was tired or hungry.

This managed to please Aang. “Travelling is in his blood.” He said. “The Air Nomads didn't travel so much because we felt we had to. We travelled because we loved it. In fact, most of the Air Nomads never stopped travelling and only came to the Air Temples for major events.”

“Sounds like a sad existence to me.” Sokka said. “Travelling is good and all, but I couldn't imagine not having a home to return to.”

“The whole world was our home.” Aang said. “Besides, a home is not a building; home is being with the people you love. The Air Nomads may have roamed continuously, but they did it with their families.”

“What were the Air Nomad families like?” Katara asked, leaning against him.

“Very large.” Aang said. “Travelling families were made up of dozens of people.”

Sokka sat up. “Whoa. Back up. Are you seriously saying that one couple would have dozens of children?”

Aang laughed. “No, no. In the other nations, parents encouraged their children to leave the house and begin their own lives. But Air Nomad parents did not do this. It was not uncommon for a group to have three or four generations of a family present. Children only left when a woman married. She would join her husband's family.”

“Oh.” Sokka said, leaning back against the edge of the saddle. “That makes a lot more sense.”

“Did the women ever get to see their families again?” Katara asked.

“Of course. There were a few times a year when every available Air Nomad would gather at the Temples. And on the Autumn Equinox, the Temples would house our entire nation.” Aang explained.

“But if the Air Nomads always travelled, how was Sozin able to destroy them all during the comet's passing a hundred years ago?” Suki asked. “When Sozin's comet last came, it only lasted a few hours. That's not enough time to hunt down an entire nation of people spread thinly all over the world.”

“Comets don't always arrive at the same time of year.” Aang said. “A hundred years ago, the comet came at the worst possible time. I ran away just before the Fall Equinox, and the comet came just days after it. Sozin was able to strike during the only time of the year that my whole nation gathered together. Easy prey. My people probably didn't even have a chance to defend themselves.”

Aang trailed off sorrowfully, his head bowed. Katara moved closer to him and embraced her husband. Anil cried, the only time he did so without reason for the entire trip.

~~~~~~~~~~

As usual, their arrival to Omashu came with great fanfare. Generally, the Avatar was welcome wherever he went, and Omashu was no exception.

When they landed, Aang gave Sokka and Suki the directions to his house in Omashu and told them to take it easy and recover from the journey. He also told Katara to take Anil and get some rest. But Katara refused.

“You need me right now.” She said. She held Anil closer to herself, glancing nervously at the people gathered around them. They looked torn between trying to get a glimpse of the Avatar's firstborn son and giving the Avatar and his family some space. “Besides, King Bumi might want to see our son before…” She trailed off.

Aang sighed. “You're right.” So they separated. Sokka and Suki began to head towards their lodgings, with Sokka leading Appa; and Aang and Katara, holding Anil, when up to the Palace.

~~~~~~~~~~

If there was one word that could be used to describe the state of the Palace, it would be `depressed'. The Avatar and his family only received a half-hearted welcome from the herald before he led them through the Palace. Those who were employed to work at the Palace tended to their duties, but they moved to their duties, but they moved slowly, dragging their feet from their grief.

The mood was contagious.

Aang's dark mood only sank further when he saw the state of his friend. He had gotten regular letters from Bumi's chamberlain, so he knew that his friend's health had been failing for some time, but he didn't expect this.

When Aang had first seen Bumi again when he was twelve and Bumi was one hundred and thirteen, he had been extremely fit, still the powerful Earthbender. But now Bumi was bed-ridden, pale, and painfully thin.

“My Lord, Avatar Aang and his family.” The herald announced and quickly left. Aang thought maybe it was because he couldn't bear to see his King this way.

“So, Aang, this is what it takes to get my old friend to visit Omashu?” Bumi asked with all his old good humor. “If I had known, I would have gotten sick years ago.”

“I'm sorry, Bumi.” Aang said, moving over to the elderly King's side. “It took a lot of work for the rest of the world to be at peace, and Omashu was always in good hands.”

Bumi looked over Aang. “How old are you now, Aang?”

“Nineteen.” Aang said.

“You still have your whole life ahead of you, while mine is nearing an end.” Bumi said. “Do you remember when we were boys, looking towards the future with hope?”

“Of course.” Aang said. “But you were always better at seeing the hope and potential in a situation, especially after I found out I was the Avatar.”

“I told you that you had a rare opportunity.” Bumi said nostalgically. “Many people dream of making the world a better place, but you had been born with the power.”

“You said we would make the world a better place together.” Aang finished.

“Oh, how I love being right.” Bumi said. “You did make the world a better place. Though you found a new set of friends to help you with that.”

“You helped too. Don't sell yourself short.” Aang said.

Bumi stared at Aang for a while. “I can see the sorrow in your eyes. Aang, you really should know better than anyone that death is not the end. I will simply travel to the Spirit World when my body fails me.”

“I know.” Aang said. “But it is still hard to lose the people you care about.”

“Indeed.” Bumi agreed. “But I can assure you that I have lived a long and full life. Not many could live to be one hundred and twenty during wartime. Besides, I got to live to see the birth of your firstborn. You made me wait one hundred and seven years for it, but I suppose you being a monk… it could have been worse.”

Katara took that as her cue. She stepped forward. “Hello, King Bumi.” She said.

“Ah, the Lady Katara. The Water Tribe people prove themselves once again. You look very well-adjusted for a woman who just recently gave birth.” Bumi said.

“I'm fine.” Katara told him. She moved to Aang's side and passed him their son.

“So this is your son, Anil?” Bumi took one look at the infant before she spoke again. “He's an Airbender.”

Aang and Katara stared at Bumi, shocked. So far, Anil had given no actual signs that he was an Airbender, and their only real evidence was Aang's vision the night Anil was conceived. “How do you know?” Katara asked.

“Besides yourself, Aang, there are very few people alive who still remember the time when the Air Nomads roamed the world. I can count myself one of those lucky few.” Bumi said. “But, unlike you, I am not an Airbender myself. An Airbender has a very special feeling to them, something a fellow Airbender or someone who only has known one Air Nomad can know. Your son feels like the Air Nomads used to feel. This is a child who was born to taste the sort of freedom that only air can provide. Have there been any physical signs of Airbending?”

“Not yet.” Aang said. “But it should be soon.” He paused. “Bumi, I want to thank you for your friendship. You were one of the few people who treated me like I was simply a normal Airbender and not the Avatar. I can't tell you how much that meant to me.”

“I was simple returning the favor.” Bumi said. “You were one of the few people who didn't treat me like a Prince.” Aang chuckled. “So, Aang, how long will you be staying?”

“As long as I have to.” Aang said. “The world can function without me for a while. Being here for a friend is more important to me right now. Besides, I can help you.”

“I see. So the Great Bridge between our world and the Spirit World will personally guide my way to the other side?” Bumi said. “What is the Spirit World like?”

Despite Aang's many trips into the Spirit World, it always defied his attempts to explain what it was like. “The Spirit World is constantly changing. Most of the time, it exists in its own reality. It resembles our world, except there's no logic or substance. Because there is no substance, Bending is impossible.”

“That doesn't sound like fun.” Bumi said with disappointment. Aang could help but laugh at that.

“But when it is near a solstice, the Spirit World and the Physical World merge together. Invisible spirits walk alongside the living and the more powerful spirits can sometimes cross into our world. But the dead cannot do this, except for the past Avatars channeling themselves through their current incarnation. Also, you'll be able to take on any form you like. Some choose to take the form of Spirit animals, while some remain human, but alter something about themselves. They can appear younger, if they wish.”

“You see, Aang, that was the news I wanted to hear.” Bumi said. “Hopefully you will know what it is like to be one hundred and twenty some day.”

“We can only hope.” Aang said.

“It always seems to be the fate of the Avatar to live either a very long time or to be cut down too soon. I shall pray for the former.” Bumi said, his voice softer than before.

Aang felt it instantly, the Spirit World beginning to leak into the physical world as it always did when someone was near death. “Katara…” He handed his wife their son. “Take Anil and stand back. The Spirit World is no place an infant should be exposed to.”

“Now?” Katara asked, a little shocked.

“Yes, now.” Aang smirked at Bumi. “Were you hanging on just long enough for me to arrive?”

“The will to live is a powerful thing, Aang. I'm ready now.” Bumi said.

Aang went to Bumi's bedside and took his hand. “Death doesn't hurt.” Aang said. “Even a traumatic death. You won't feel any pain.”

Aang fell silent, into a meditative trance. Katara could tell the second it happened, because Aang's tattoos always glowed when he entered the Spirit World, and today was no exception.

Aang and Bumi were travelling to the Spirit World. The only difference was that Aang was able to come back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Aang was more than used to the feeling of crossing over into the Spirit World, so the out-of-body experience didn't phase him at all. The difference was that he almost never took Spirit World journeys with other people.

Once the journey was finished, he glanced over at Bumi, who was now in his ideal form.

Bumi appeared to be about the same age as Aang, around nineteen or twenty.

The two friends smiled at each other and embraced.

“I'll miss you, Bumi.” Aang said.

“Don't worry about me.” Bumi said. “Someday, it will be your turn, and we'll be reunited again. And you'll be reunited with your lost people.”

“Be at peace.” Aang whispered with a hand gesture of blessing.

“Now it's time for you to go enjoy your life.” Bumi said. “Get back to your family.”

Aang nodded. “Good bye, Bumi.”

“Not good bye. I'll see you soon.” Bumi corrected.

Aang smiled and allowed himself to be drawn out of the Spirit World and back to his physical body.

As soon as he became aware of this body again, he released Bumi's cold hand and wept.

Katara instantly came to his side. “Aang?”

Without a word, Aang turned to face Katara and pulled her into an embrace, as if to reassure himself that Katara was still real and was still there for him.

“I'm here for you, Aang.” Katara whispered, kissing his face. “Bumi might be the last friend you had from your childhood, but you still have family and friends. And you have me and Anil.”

Aang kissed her back. “The hardest thing about being frozen in time for one hundred years is waking to up to find all my old friends are dead.”

“I know.” Katara vividly remembered their first trip to the Southern Air Temple following Aang's release from the iceberg, and she remembered his sorrow when he found the skeleton of Monk Gyatso.

“You can stay as long as you want.” Katara said, gently pulling out of his embrace. “I'll go spread the word. Take your time.”

Katara left the room to give Aang a private moment to deal with grief.

The entire City mourned a King's death that night.

 

LES: (hugs Aang) Poor Aang. I know how you feel. I promise, the next chapter will still deal with Bumi's death, but this is the last full-depressing chapter dealing with it. There's humor and new life in the next chapter. And, as cheesy as this is gonna sound, I'm gonna have to quote “Bambi 2”.

Bambi's Mom: Everything in the forest has its season. Where one thing falls, another thing grows. Maybe not what was there before, but something new and wonderful.

LES: … Or something like that.