Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ The Great Air Spirit ( Chapter 28 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter XXIIX: The Great Air Spirit

On the way back to the Southern Air Temple, the newest additions to the Avatar's family cried almost non-stop. All the children were well aware that Aang was their father. They had been taught to address him as their father on his visits. They cried because they were being separated from their mothers. They had all developed the understandably powerful bonds with their mothers, and were devastated to have that taken away from them.

Naturally, they gravitated to the one parent they had left. During the day, Aang held the children to himself, telling them that everything would be all right.

During the night, Aang held Katara to himself and assured her that the children would be fine. "I was about their age when I was taken from my parents." Aang whispered to her as they soared through the clouds on Appa's back. "I was probably just as distressed as they are, and I turned out just fine."

"It's still hard to see them like this." Katara said. "Will they ever accept me as their mother?"

"Yes." Aang said, giving her a gentle kiss. "Just as I came to see Monk Gyatso as my father, they will eventually see you as their mother."

Katara hummed as she returned Aang's kiss. As they kissed, Katara felt his hand drift down to her lower abdomen. She smiled into his kiss, knowing that he was still enamored by the news that she was pregnant with their second child.

She pulled away from him briefly and met his eyes as her fingers met his. "I love you." Katara whispered, pulling him into another kiss.

"Katara…" Aang whispered breathlessly.

"So, my love, when should we tell the children about their new brother or sister?" Katara asked.

"As soon as we'll be okay with them asking where babies come from." Aang responded.

"Is that a vote for never?" Katara asked jokingly.

Aang laughed. "They'll have to be told sometime. Why can't we tell the watered down version first?"

"Is that how you learned?" Katara asked.

"The monks gave us a pretty little speech filled with flowery language, metaphors, and euphemisms." Aang said. "A lot of it didn't make any sense until our first time together."

"Hmm… It must be a cultural difference. In the Water Tribe, we are told quite frankly about se… 'It' well before we hit puberty. It's so that we are prepared for the changes that happen in our body."

Aang could see the merits of such an approach. He remembered that he had started puberty with no knowledge of it. He had been terrified that he had some sort of terrible disease and that he was dying. It wasn't until he ran to Gyatso in tears that the facts of life were explained to him.

"So, Aang, you were taken away from your parents when you were three years old?"

"Yes." Aang responded.

"Why? Were all the Air Nomad children taken away from their parents?" Katara asked.

"No. Only the Avatar is required to be given to the monks. It was to encourage our state of being unattached. I was taught to view everyone as an equal and to never give one life more importance than another. I guess you could consider it the ultimate equal treatment to value a stranger's life as much as you would value the lives of your family. We lost our relationship to our blood kin, but gained the entire world." Aang grinned at her. "I have broken this rule. The monks wouldn't have been pleased with me about falling in love. Gyatso probably would have understood… but the others…"

"What about the other boys at the Temple?" Katara asked. "Your friends. Why were they at the Temple and not with their parents?"

"Their parents gave them to the Temple voluntarily." Aang answered. "All Air Nomads could Bend, but not all were Masters. The best way to Master Airbending was to learn it from the monks. When they came of age, they could decide for themselves whether or not to join the Temple or rejoin their families to become a Nomad. Most stayed at the Temple." Aang stared down at their intertwined fingers. "I never told anyone, but Gyatso told me one thing about my parents." He paused, but Katara didn't pressure him to speak. "They wanted to keep me." He said.

"Aang…"

"They begged the monks to let them raise me and teach me as much as they could about Airbending. Then they would be willing to turn me over to the monks to complete my education. The monks refused because my education required more than Airbending, and they took me away."

Katara embraced him, pleased that he had shared that with her. "We'll make your parents proud, Aang. We'll give them wonderful grandchildren… you've all ready given them a wonderful daughter-in-law." She said playfully.

Aang playfully nudged her shoulder. "They would probably be upset that you're not a 'nice Air Nomad girl' and you're going to corrupt their son with your frank tribal ways." He said jokingly while Katara giggled. "Though, on the other hand, at least you're not a Big City Earth Kingdom ruffian. My parents probably would have put their foot down."

"But they would come to realize that their son is very much in love with this Water Tribe girl despite her frank tribal ways." Katara said playfully, kissing him.

"Yes, he is." Aang agreed. "I love you."

"I love you too, Aang." Katara replied.


They made it back to the Temple in due time. Even though there was room for each child to have their own room, Aang knew that it would be better for them to not be alone. The rooms that once belonged to the novices had two beds each. Since there was an uneven number of children, Anil got his own room on the merits of being the oldest. But that would probably only last until his brother or sister was born. Sho was put in with Ammy, Sora and Hitomi were kept together was per their mother's wishes, and Megumi and Toshi were in the same room.

By the time he got them settled, it was getting dark and they were tired.

"Daddy?" Megumi asked as Aang tucked her in.

"Yes, Megumi?" Aang asked, kneeling next to his daughter's bed.

"Am I gonna live here from now on?" She asked.

"Yes." Aang said, catching the anxiety in her voice. "But you don't have to be afraid. Daddy's here to protect you… Daddy's wife too. We won't let anything happen to you."

"I want my mommy." Megumi sniffled.

"Your mommy is very proud of you." Aang said. "Next time she sees you, she'll want you to show off all the Airbending skills I'll teach you."

"Really?"

"Yes." Aang promised. "Now sleep, my darling." He whispered, stroking her hair, and spoke a blessing that the monks used to say to him. "May the winds calm your mind and bring you sweet dreams." He kissed her forehead and stepped out into the hallway to rejoin his wife.

"You need to give one last blessing." Katara reminded him, smiling with a hint of lust in her eyes.

"Indeed." Aang said, playing along as he lifted her bridal style. "Although I believe you require a different sort of blessing. Perhaps it is a blessing of the flesh that you require?"

"What a virtuous monk you are, my husband." Katara whispered, kissing him.

They made it to their quarters and shut the door, stripping each other of their clothing as they kissed and meandered their way to bed.

Katara pulled away from him briefly as she helped him loosen his pants. "Sit down, My Lord." She whispered. After so many years of marriage, it came as no shock that they had developed their own special code. Aang recognized the words for what they actually were. Katara only called him 'My Lord' in private when she wanted to pleasure him, either by hand or by mouth.

"Yes, Milady." Aang replied, letting her know that he would return the favor.

Katara smiled at him, and he dropped his pants and underpants, freeing his erection. He sat down on the edge of the bed and she knelt down between his legs. She placed her hands on his knees and spread them gently, giving her better access to the prize at the fork of his legs. She gave him one last grin before she leaned forward and ran her tongue along the tip of his shaft. She made sure to tilt her head in a way that gave him a perfect view of what she was doing. The results were immediate.

Aang let out a soft moan of pleasure, which grew slightly louder as her teasing strokes became firmer licks, and that eventually transformed into her taking his throbbing shaft into her mouth.

Aang's fingers dug into the blanket below them as he felt his sensitive flesh slide down his wife's throat until she had taken him all in. It had taken practice for her to be able to deep throat him. The first time she tried, she had nearly thrown up as his manhood triggered her gag reflex. She had continued to gag the next few times, but she had eventually learned how to relax her throat enough that deep throating became possible.

Following Katara's cues, he began to thrust slowly into her mouth. He knew that if he was too rough with her, he could make her sick or injure her. "Oh, Spirits, Katara…" Aang panted as he tangled his fingers in her hair. "I love it when you swallow me!"

Of course Katara didn't answer, but continued her task until her husband moaned loudly and he released his seed down her throat. She swallowed it without complaint and pulled him out of her mouth.

Aang fell back on the bed, panting, and shaking with the force of his orgasm. It took a minute for him to recover, and he glanced at her with hooded eyes. "Milady." He whispered, reminding her of his earlier promise to return her favor. He sat up and gestured to the bed beside him. "Join me on our bed, my love." He invited.

Katara grinned at him, and crawled onto the bed. Aang guided her until she was lying on her back, waiting for him.

He grinned as he removed her undergarments, which were all ready soaked through with her arousal.

"Which will it be, my husband?" Katara asked, breathlessly. "Will you bless me by hand or by mouth?"

"Do onto others." Aang replied. "You gave me the gift of your mouth, so I shall bless you with mine."

"You are generous." Katara whispered, leaning back and spreading her legs for him.

Aang positioned himself down between her legs, his lips mere inches from her womanhood. Katara arched her hips towards him face as his hot breath puffed over her sensitive flesh. "You're beautiful as always, my wife." He said before he kissed her folds.

Katara arched her back, and moaned loudly. "Ah! Oh, Aang… Oh Spirits, Aang!"

Aang pulled away from her. "Tell me what you want, Milady."

"Aang…" Katara moaned pleadingly.

"Tell me, Katara." Aang said playfully.

Katara wrapped her legs around Aang's neck, locking him in place. "Make me scream now, Avatar Aang!" She growled.

"See? Was that so hard?" Aang asked as he began to lick her womanhood, paying special attention to her clit.

Katara's head fell back on her pillow, her mouth gaping open as pleasure coursed through her body.

"Oh, Aang… ohh… you are so good at this!" Katara moaned.

Aang grinned slightly and then thrust his tongue up into her, causing her to moan louder.

With him focusing on her clit, it wasn't long before she reached orgasm.

She screamed his name, her back arching off the bed, and she collapsed back onto the bed as her orgasm fading, panting harshly.

Aang continued to grin as he crawled forward along her body, settling himself between her thighs.

"Oh, wipe that grin off your face." Katara gasped, caressing his cheek. "You're not done yet."

"I know." Aang replied, kissing her passionately as his manhood slid into the welcoming embrace of her womanhood. "Shall we make love?"

"Yes, Aang… yes." Katara moaned breathlessly as she grinded her hips against his, forcing him deeper into her core.

He didn't have the will power to resist her or tease her any longer, and he began to thrust into her willing body.

As during her first pregnancy, Aang was gentler on her, never moving at a pace that was too fast for her or being too forceful with his thrusts. Their lovemaking was a slow, loving affair rather than a quick romp.

Katara kissed him desperately as he moved inside her. Katara dug her fingers into his shoulders as his eyes met hers. Silver eyes that were full of lust and passion.

"I love you." Katara whispered, gasping soundlessly with every thrust of his hips into hers.

"I love you too, Katara." Aang said breathlessly. "My Forever Girl."

Their lovemaking was nearly silent, small gasps being the most of it. Even their cries of climax were swallowed within each other's kiss.

They pulled away from each other slightly before kissing each other again.

"I love you." Katara whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

"I love you too." Aang replied with just as much sincerity.

Just as they began to settle down in each other's arms to sleep, there was a small knock on the door. Suspecting that it was Anil wanting a late-night glass of water, Aang and Katara put on some clothing so that they were decent, and Aang opened the door.

However, it was not Anil. It was Megumi, looking frightened with her blanket clutched in her hands. "Megumi…" Aang whispered.

"Daddy, I'm scared." Megumi whispered. "Can I sleep in your bed?"

Aang glanced back at Katara. It wasn't like they hadn't gone through this stage with Anil. Just a few months ago, Anil had slept with his parents every night. "Yes. Of course you can, Megumi." Aang said, picking her up and walked over to the bed.

He settled down next to his wife with Megumi curled up to his chest. "Better?" Aang asked.

Megumi nodded. "Good night, Daddy." She whispered as she yawned.

"Good night, sweetheart." Aang said tiredly as he fell asleep, his daughter pressed to his front and his wife pressed into his back.


Sometime during the night, all five of Aang's newest children came to sleep with their father. By the time morning came around, their bed was overflowing with children.

Katara smiled at her husband over Sora's head, and he reached over to caress her check. "How did this happen?" She asked softly.

"Sorry." Aang said. "I guess our morning fun has to be canceled today."

"I suppose so." Katara agreed.

Their talking started to wake up the children; Megumi lifted her head tiredly from the pillow. "Daddy?"

"It's all right. Go back to sleep." Aang whispered, giving her forehead a kiss. "Sorry, but I have some work to take care of." He told Katara.

"It's all right." She said, leaning over Sora to kiss her husband. "Remember that you have to teach Anil this afternoon."

"Of course." Aang answered. He carefully extracted himself from the bed.

Aang pulled on his robs and walked over to the door, glancing back at his wife with a smile. She started to get up and get dressed herself. Her eyes met his and she smiled back.

Aang turned and walked out of the room, walking the familiar paths through the Temple until he made his way to the highest point in the Temple. Aang closed his eyes and took in the strange feeling that he had sensed all morning.

"Who is there?" Aang called.

All morning he'd had a feeling like he was standing on the edge of the Spirit World. The only time he had ever felt like that was in the North Pole's Spirit Oasis, in the presence of the Moon and Ocean Spirits.

He didn't know how, but he knew that there was a Spirit nearby… a very powerful Spirit.

The feeling got stronger, and a low roar filled the air, vibrating Aang's soul.

He spun around and gasped out loud. The largest Sky Bison that Aang had ever seen landed on the ground in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere. Aang's first thought was that he had no idea how such a large Sky Bison had remained hidden. His second thought was that this was no ordinary Sky Bison. The brown fur of its arrow patterned fur was filled with the images of creatures of the air, eternally flying across the Bison's fur.

Aang took a closer look at the Sky Bison, and he realized that this Bison was the source of the Spiritual energy he had been feeling all morning.

He met the Sky Bison's large, intelligent eyes. "Who are you?" He repeated.

The Sky Bison lowed and transformed, its massive body fading away, leaving the body of a woman. She stood taller than him, wearing a silver wind-blown dress. She had sky blue eyes. No. Aang realized, looking deeper into her eyes. Her eyes are the sky. Looking closer, he could see the glow of the dawn, the blue sky, and white clouds in her eyes.

She ignored Aang's question. "My brother, it is good to see you again."

"Brother?" Aang repeated, confused.

"Ah… forgive me. I've been in isolation so long that I've forgotten that Avatars don't have collective memories. I was unclear. I am in no way related to the physical body you possess now. We are related in Spirit."

"You are the Great Air Spirit."

She nodded. "Indeed. I am Meifeng." She said. Aang couldn't think of a better name for her. 'Beautiful wind' was a fitting name for her. "And you are the Spirit of the Planet. We are two of the Eight Great Spirits who were formed at the Beginning, with you being the oldest and greatest among us."

"Meifeng, how long have you been in isolation?" Aang asked.

"Nearly two hundred years." She answered.

"But we needed you!" Aang said. "For over a hundred years, Appa and I were the only Airbenders left! It's only been recently, when I got old enough to have children that the Air Nomads have started to come back."

"I'm sorry." Meifeng apologized. "A Spirit's life force is bound to their element. The destruction of my creatures left me dreadfully weakened and at the point of death for many years. I could not help… not until now. Big brother, we will bring back the Sky Bison now."

Aang stared in shock. "How?"

"The other Spirits have approved us to create life." The Air Spirit said happily. "Creating life takes a vast amount of power and was only supposed to be done once, during the creation of all things. But the other Spirits agree that the need is dire."

"Okay, so how do we create this life? It doesn't involve sex, does it?"

"Oh, no, no!" Meifeng said. "We'll join our powers, not our bodies. I don't have a physical body anyway. Remember a few years ago, when you merged with the Ocean Spirit at the North Pole?" Aang nodded. He remembered it as an out-of-body experience. "It will be like that. It takes two Spirits to create life. I hold the knowledge on how to create the Sky Bison, but do not have the power. You have the power to create life, but not the knowledge of how to use the power. I should also warn you… you'll be tired after this. Are you ready?" She held out her hands.

"Yes." Aang replied, taking her hands. Without prompting, he entered the Avatar State, and Meifeng's image faded as she melded her spirit with his, drawing on the bottomless depths of power that he had in his body.

Aang got a brief taste of her power. She didn't have the sheer amount of power that Aang had, but her control over the skies were absolute. Aang could feel the air currents over the Northern Air Temple just as easily as he could feel the air currents around the Southern Air Temple. He could sense the presence of every creature of air in the world, from the smallest birds, to Appa, to his children.

Suddenly, he felt such a vast drain of his power that he nearly passed out, but Meifeng gave him enough of her power to remain conscious. Aang had only experienced reaching his limit as himself, and had never before experienced that sort of drain in the Avatar State. Aang knew the limits of his own body, and it unnerved him to suddenly face the limit of the Avatar State.

Meifeng left his body, and Aang almost collapsed on the ground, but she caught him.

"I'm sorry." She apologized. "I know this was tiring. It was even tiring for you when you were a Spirit."

"How many…?" Aang began to ask.

"Take a look for yourself." Meifeng said, smiling.

Aang managed to look up and he smiled at the sight. Meifeng had created about a dozen Sky Bison, all of them the proper age to breed. Aang suddenly laughed. "You were right about how much energy it takes to create life. I don't think I've ever felt so drained, and that's saying something because I was in the Avatar State."

"This many Sky Bison will save the future of Airbending." She said. "Come; let's return you to your family."

The wind picked up and suddenly they were inside the Air Temple. Katara, shocked by their sudden appearance, dropped the plate she was washing. "Aang!" She paused, looking at the woman. "And… who is this?"

"Forgive me. I'm something like your spiritual sister-in-law." Meifeng said. "I am the Great Air Spirit."

Katara froze in shock and then bowed. "Oh, I'm sorry!" She gasped. After all, the only spirits she had ever seen were the Ocean Spirit, the Moon Spirit, and Hei Bei.

"There's no need for that." Meifeng assured Katara. "Your husband needs assistance. I fear that he has been very drained."

"What happened?" Katara asked as she moved over and wrapped Aang's arm around her shoulder to support him.

"We brought back the Sky Bison. There are over a dozen now." Aang said tiredly. "At last… Appa will have a mate." He slumped against her, completely exhausted.

"That's great." Katara whispered to him. "Thank you…" She turned to thank the Air Spirit properly, only to find that she was gone, only a smell of a summer breeze left in her wake. Katara shrugged it off and began to lead Aang to bed so that he could recover.

Outside she could hear the roars of greetings that Appa and the new Sky Bison were sending each other, and Katara smiled.

The Sky Bison were saved!