Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ The Master ( Chapter 32 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Light-Eco-Sage 
Avatar is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, not me!
Non Anime: Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Romance / Supernatural / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 02.02.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 700 | Status: Work In Progress
Avatar is owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, not me!
Non Anime: Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Fantasy / Martial Arts / Romance / Supernatural / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 02.02.2013 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 700 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter XIIL: The Master
It was a rare day that it was quiet at the Southern Air Temple. This was not one of those days.
Almost every Airbender and a few of the non-Airbenders were gathered down at the Airball field with only a few of their number missing.
When Aang had first met his future wife and brother-in-law all those years ago, he had tried to show them what Airball was like. However, one Airbender playing against one non-bender did not do the game justice. It was only now that Aang’s children were nearly grown that they saw the game as it was meant to be played.
Sokka would have never stood a chance against Aang. Airball was fast paced and mobile, and was just as much about the player’s ability to control the air on the field as it was about passing the ball between team-mates. The larger the Bender’s sphere of influence, the more control they had over the ball’s movement and the game.
Their father could easily override all his children’s control over the whole field and almost always win. Only Anil, his eldest, stood a chance against the Avatar, having beaten him at Airball once, a feat that made him greatly admired among his siblings.
Neither Avatar Aang nor Anil was present. Aang was giving Anil private lessons, which no one understood since he had mastered Airbending several years ago.
Anil was now sixteen years old and considered an adult, though he stayed close to his parents out of love. The first of the new generation of Airbenders had proven himself a true prodigy by mastering Airbending at age twelve. So he hadn’t quite matched his father’s record of mastering Airbending at ten, but it was still a highly impressive feat when most did not master Airbending until they were sixteen.
Now most of Anil’s time was occupied between secret training with his father and training his siblings and half-siblings.
But there was no sibling-training to attend too. Once the young Air Nomads got into an Airball game, there was no stopping them. Those who were not Airbenders could only sit on the side lines and watch the action.
A vast majority of the players were fifteen years old, with a few younger ones thrown in, but it was clear the younger ones were having a hard time keeping up with the skill of their older siblings, who were nearly masters.
One of the younger boys managed to take possession of the ball, but promptly lost it when one of his older siblings sent a blast of air at him, taking command of the ball, knocking the boy off his perch, and sending the ball through the scoring hoop.
The young boy hit the dirt rather harder than the average Airbender because he hadn’t been quick enough to cushion his landing. The boy frowned as the one who knocked him down appeared above him, grinning down at him. “You know, Tenzin, in a real Airball game, you would have been disqualified for falling off the posts.”
Tenzin frowned and he pushed himself up off the ground. “Maybe I wouldn’t have fallen if someone hadn’t over done it on their Air Blast!”
A teenaged Sho, with his strong Fire Nation features and undeniably handsome, laughed and reached down to the younger boy, grasping his hand and pulling him back up onto the posts. “Come on, little brother. I just got a little too excited. You know how I am at Airball.”
“Yeah, we all know.” A younger girl named Kya said as she rolled her eyes. She and Tenzin were the second and third children born to Avatar Aang and Katara… as twins, which came as a shock to the parents who thought that Katara’s larger stomach was just due to it being her second pregnancy and having more cravings.
Kya, being their first daughter, was named by Katara, who gave the young girl her mother’s name. Tenzin was named by Aang after one of the most famous Air Nomad Avatars who ever lived, several dozen lifetimes ago. The strong name did not appear to be helping his Airbending training. He was not a prodigy like his older brother, and had to struggle to attain the level he was at now, many levels below his older siblings, and even a few below Kya.
Kya glanced sadly at her twin. “Ten, are you all right? You fell so hard that even I felt it.”
“Tenzin!”
Tenzin groaned and turned around to face the caller, who was his mother. “I’m fine, Mom! I just fell!”
In Katara’s defense, she loved all their children and just wanted what was best for them. Sometimes, however, that translated into over-protectiveness. “Are you sure that you don’t want to come sit with Ammy, Hitomi, or myself?”
Tenzin just barely managed to hide his shutter at the thought of sitting with Ammy. Tenzin was the self-proclaimed fearless one, but there was one thing he feared: his older sister Ammy. The way that she continually glowed like the full moon or the way that she knew things that she shouldn’t… and especially the way that she seemed to read his mind even before he could form the thought himself. She was confined to her room most days, being weak and unable to walk for distances, but she still scared the living daylights out of the young Airbender.
“No, Mom, I’m fine.” Tenzin said, blushing and turning his attention back on the game, determined to do better.
~~~~~~~~~~
No one was more surprised than Anil when he became a Master Airbender and his education continued. He knew as much as his father about Air Nomad culture and Airbending, even the highly dangerous final level of Airbending, but his father continued his strict study habits. Now Anil was learning politics, diplomacy, law, and economy. Anil did not know why he was being forced to study these things. They were not subjects that most Air Nomad monks studied. In fact, it was only the Avatar who got taught these subjects in Air Nomad society.
Anil sighed and rubbed his eyes to refocus on the highly dull philosophical text he was reading about the complicated relationships between the ruling class and the governed. He could hear his younger brothers and sisters out in the courtyard playing an energetic game of Airball, and that was making it difficult to concentrate on the words written by an ancient Avatar.
His father sat on the other side of the room, meditating in the Spirit World, his eyes closed and tattoos glowing brightly. He had been that way all morning without moving a single muscle. His father’s focus amazed the young Master continuously. Of course, Anil had to learn how to meditate for hours on end in order to earn his tattoos, but he had always found it difficult to stay still for that long. But perhaps having your soul removed from your body made it easier to sit still for hours.
Anil began to focus on the paper again but only managed to read a few more words before the ambient glow of the room faded and his father returned from the Spirit World.
Avatar Aang stood up without betraying a hint of soreness. “How was your trip, father?” Anil asked, pleased for the distraction from the dull text.
“Pleasant.” Aang answered. “Of course, it’s been many years since we’ve had a real crisis.”
“I don’t know, Dad.” Anil commented. “I hear that the anti-Bending revolt is picking up steam.”
“The anti-Bending revolt is still nothing more than a small movement at this point.” Aang said. “They are not violent. They only fear that Benders, especially myself, have far too much power over the fate of the world. After all, the Hundred Year War was really a war against the Avatar and the Spirits I represent.” Aang smiled at his son. “But I can sense you stalling, Anil. Have you finished reading?”
“Um… basically.” Anil said.
“Then what was Avatar Yang Chen trying to say?”
Anil sighed, trying to organize his thoughts when his brain felt like a wrung sponge. “She says that the world of government is organized in a circle. The governed give their approval to a leader, thus granting him or her the power to rule over them. It is, therefore, that leader’s responsibility to use that power in the best interest of the People they govern. If the leader does his job well, the people grant him even more approval and power and thus do both grow in strength. However a leader who abuses his power will stir up the anger of those he or she governs and face being overthrown in a revolt. And thus do both grow weak. The governor and the governed rise and fall together.”
“Very good.” Aang said, sounding pleased. “And how does this system differ for the Avatar?”
Anil sighed. “She said that, unlike others in positions of power, the Avatar does not receive his power from the governed, but from the Spirits. The position of the Avatar is ordained by the Spirits and the chosen one will retain the position for their entire life, be they good or evil. It is therefore doubly important for the Avatar to seek the approval of the governed.”
“Why?” His father asked. “If the Avatar is only accountable to the Spirits residing in the Spirit World, why should I care if the people approve of me or not?”
Anil swallowed a hard lump in his throat. “Because… because if the people hate the Avatar enough, they will murder him or her to quicken the arrival of the next Avatar. Several Avatars, drunk on their own power, have turned into evil tyrants and were all brought low by those they oppressed.”
“Because the Avatar is not a God.” Aang recited from memory. “The Avatar does not see all or know all. The Avatar is susceptible to making mistakes just like the rest of mankind, and those mistakes led to the downfalls of the Black Avatars.”
Anil set down the parchment. “Dad, I don’t like reading about this stuff.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because I love you.” Anil said, standing up and facing his father. He was just as Anil remembered him for most of his life. Bald head tattooed with the same blue arrow that topped Anil’s head, except Anil had allowed his hair to grow out over the tattoo. Bright grey eyes that seemed to reflect all the wisdom of his father’s thousand lives. Bright orange, yellow, and red robes layered over his body in the fashion of an Air Nomad monk, albeit with much better material. “Dad, do you know how it torments me? The thought that one mad person who disagrees with you could sneak in here and snuff out your life? You said it yourself. The Avatar does not see all or know all. You have the scar on your back to prove it. What if someone takes your back again?”
Aang sighed. “I cannot promise that I will allow no one to take my back, Anil, you know that. Nor can I promise that I won’t die. Death is as much a part of life as birth is, and it is something that everyone faces in the end. The Avatar is no exception to that. But I can promise that I’ll be around as long as possible and I will not leave the world unprepared for my death.”
“You mean leaving behind a Master Airbender to continue the tradition?” Anil asked. “Well… you’ve got one. Does that mean you’re ready to die?”
“Of course not.” Aang said. “Anil… have you not wondered why I make you study these things? Diplomacy? Economy? Law?”
“Well… of course I wondered.” Anil said. “They are not subjects that the average monk learned. Only the Avatar learned these things, and I am not the Avatar.”
“No.” Aang said. “It was not just the Avatar who learned these subjects. Anil… the average monk did not learn these things… but the extraordinary monks did: those monks who were destined for greatness. I will not relinquish the position of the Avatar until I die, but there is another position that I fill that must be filled by another as soon as possible. That is what you are studying for.”
Aang fell silent, allowing his son to work out the special position for himself. Anil stared down thoughtfully at the parchment for a while, and then he glanced up at his father in shock. “The Head Monk of the Air Nomads?”
Aang smiled and nodded. “The Avatar was never meant to also occupy the ruling seat of a single nation. Both jobs are too demanding for a single person to fulfill. It’s the sole reason that I’ve got premature wrinkles.”
“Mom still thinks you are handsome.” Anil said playfully, but also grinning at the news his father told him.
“My Avatar duties have taken a back seat while I worked on training you and your siblings. The world understood this and allowed me to work with you. But you are a Master now, and are fully capable of taking over their training yourself. Soon, you will have the knowledge you need to become the leader of the new Air Nomad nation. I was planning on making the official announcement when you turned eighteen, but it’s about time you knew the method behind my madness.”
“I never thought you mad, father.” Anil said, standing up and embracing his father joyfully. “Thank you, I don’t know what to say.”
“Promise me that you’ll take care of your brothers and sisters if ever there is a time that I’m gone.” Aang said. “Promise that you will pass on knowledge of the Avatar and insure that the Avatar system continues the way it always has. Promise that you will make all your decisions with wisdom and love.”
“I… I promise, father.” Anil said, feeling his father return his embrace. To say that he was energized by the news that his father was hand-training him to become the new leader of the Air Nomads was a vast understatement. He pulled out of his father’s embrace and picked up the next scroll. “What are we studying next? Economy? Law?”
Aang smiled and took the scroll out of Anil’s hands, and set it down on the table. “I believe that you’ve earned a break. What do you say that we head down and show your siblings how two Master Airbenders play Airball?”
“Only if you promise to not use the Avatar State.” Anil said. “You always do that.”
Aang laughed. “Okay. I promise.” Though little did Anil know that his father didn’t need the Avatar State to defeat him in Airball, which is precisely what happened.
~~~~~~~~~~
Katara sighed tiredly as she made her way back to her room. There were days when she felt like she was once again in charge of organizing the Gaang on one of their frequent trips in the past. There were, of course, her children with Aang: four of them. Anil was the eldest, and then Kya and Tenzin, and finally Neela, the youngest. While the three eldest seemed to take after their father in terms of their physical appearance, Neela seemed to have the most Water Tribe in her. She, alone, out of the children had inherited Katara’s blue eyes, which was the inspiration behind her name. Neela was five years old and just beginning her Airbending training. And then there were the children that her husband had fathered with others: Sho, Ammy, Sora, Hitomi, Megumi, and Toshi. Ten children in all, and seven of them were teenagers. It made for a hectic life.
But as she walked into her room, Katara was reminded once again why she choose this life.
Her love of children played a part, of course, but she really did it for her husband and for his smile. He was laying on their bed, waiting for her, and she smiled at him before joining him on the soft mattress.
The hard life that he led as the Avatar had caused him to age a little faster than he normally would. In fact, most could never guess that he was younger than his wife. The difference was pronounced by the fact that Katara seemed to be aging very gracefully.
But Katara did not care about the laugh lines that appeared on her husband’s face. She loved him unabashedly, and the lines only made him appear wise. Key word: ‘appear’.
Katara crawled along the surface of the mattress until she reached her husband, gripped onto the fabric of his tunic, and pulled it open to reveal his chest. Though his face was getting lined, his body remained as fine as ever. The vigorous martial arts had kept Aang’s body in its prime. Katara gasped as she ran her hands firmly along his chest and leaned into his body to kiss him.
Aang wrapped his arms around her body and returned her kiss. His hand drifted from her lower back and under the hem of her shirt, caressing the skin of her back.
“How was your day?” Katara asked softly against his lips.
“It went very well.” Aang said, kissing her repeatedly. “I told Anil today.”
“Told him what?”
“About how he’s going to be the new leader of the Air Nomad nation when he turns eighteen.”
“How did he take it?”
“He’s excited.” A few more exchanged kisses. “We’ve raised him well, and he’ll be ready for the responsibilities.”
Katara sighed in happiness as Aang’s lips moved down to her throat and began to nip and suck at the sensitive skin there.
“Katara?” Aang breathed softly against her skin.
“What?”
“I want another baby.”
“It has been a while.” Katara commented, and then she froze. She sat up swiftly and Aang sat up with her. “But… Aang… its spring.”
“So?”
Katara gasped. “If we conceive a baby now, that child will be born in winter. Our plan to only have children in the fall has result in every single one of them being an Airbender. But winter is the season of the Waterbender.”
“We have four Airbending children.” Aang said, kissing her. “But those children are not wholly Air Nomad. You are Water Tribe, and I think it’s about time that we honored your heritage by having a Waterbending child.”
Katara let out a happy sob, and embraced her husband. “I love you. Oh Spirits, Aang, I love you! Yes, let’s have another baby.” She hastily pulled off her shirt and exposed her breasts. Aang embraced her tightly and they kissed passionately.
It was a rare day that it was quiet at the Southern Air Temple. This was not one of those days.
Almost every Airbender and a few of the non-Airbenders were gathered down at the Airball field with only a few of their number missing.
When Aang had first met his future wife and brother-in-law all those years ago, he had tried to show them what Airball was like. However, one Airbender playing against one non-bender did not do the game justice. It was only now that Aang’s children were nearly grown that they saw the game as it was meant to be played.
Sokka would have never stood a chance against Aang. Airball was fast paced and mobile, and was just as much about the player’s ability to control the air on the field as it was about passing the ball between team-mates. The larger the Bender’s sphere of influence, the more control they had over the ball’s movement and the game.
Their father could easily override all his children’s control over the whole field and almost always win. Only Anil, his eldest, stood a chance against the Avatar, having beaten him at Airball once, a feat that made him greatly admired among his siblings.
Neither Avatar Aang nor Anil was present. Aang was giving Anil private lessons, which no one understood since he had mastered Airbending several years ago.
Anil was now sixteen years old and considered an adult, though he stayed close to his parents out of love. The first of the new generation of Airbenders had proven himself a true prodigy by mastering Airbending at age twelve. So he hadn’t quite matched his father’s record of mastering Airbending at ten, but it was still a highly impressive feat when most did not master Airbending until they were sixteen.
Now most of Anil’s time was occupied between secret training with his father and training his siblings and half-siblings.
But there was no sibling-training to attend too. Once the young Air Nomads got into an Airball game, there was no stopping them. Those who were not Airbenders could only sit on the side lines and watch the action.
A vast majority of the players were fifteen years old, with a few younger ones thrown in, but it was clear the younger ones were having a hard time keeping up with the skill of their older siblings, who were nearly masters.
One of the younger boys managed to take possession of the ball, but promptly lost it when one of his older siblings sent a blast of air at him, taking command of the ball, knocking the boy off his perch, and sending the ball through the scoring hoop.
The young boy hit the dirt rather harder than the average Airbender because he hadn’t been quick enough to cushion his landing. The boy frowned as the one who knocked him down appeared above him, grinning down at him. “You know, Tenzin, in a real Airball game, you would have been disqualified for falling off the posts.”
Tenzin frowned and he pushed himself up off the ground. “Maybe I wouldn’t have fallen if someone hadn’t over done it on their Air Blast!”
A teenaged Sho, with his strong Fire Nation features and undeniably handsome, laughed and reached down to the younger boy, grasping his hand and pulling him back up onto the posts. “Come on, little brother. I just got a little too excited. You know how I am at Airball.”
“Yeah, we all know.” A younger girl named Kya said as she rolled her eyes. She and Tenzin were the second and third children born to Avatar Aang and Katara… as twins, which came as a shock to the parents who thought that Katara’s larger stomach was just due to it being her second pregnancy and having more cravings.
Kya, being their first daughter, was named by Katara, who gave the young girl her mother’s name. Tenzin was named by Aang after one of the most famous Air Nomad Avatars who ever lived, several dozen lifetimes ago. The strong name did not appear to be helping his Airbending training. He was not a prodigy like his older brother, and had to struggle to attain the level he was at now, many levels below his older siblings, and even a few below Kya.
Kya glanced sadly at her twin. “Ten, are you all right? You fell so hard that even I felt it.”
“Tenzin!”
Tenzin groaned and turned around to face the caller, who was his mother. “I’m fine, Mom! I just fell!”
In Katara’s defense, she loved all their children and just wanted what was best for them. Sometimes, however, that translated into over-protectiveness. “Are you sure that you don’t want to come sit with Ammy, Hitomi, or myself?”
Tenzin just barely managed to hide his shutter at the thought of sitting with Ammy. Tenzin was the self-proclaimed fearless one, but there was one thing he feared: his older sister Ammy. The way that she continually glowed like the full moon or the way that she knew things that she shouldn’t… and especially the way that she seemed to read his mind even before he could form the thought himself. She was confined to her room most days, being weak and unable to walk for distances, but she still scared the living daylights out of the young Airbender.
“No, Mom, I’m fine.” Tenzin said, blushing and turning his attention back on the game, determined to do better.
~~~~~~~~~~
No one was more surprised than Anil when he became a Master Airbender and his education continued. He knew as much as his father about Air Nomad culture and Airbending, even the highly dangerous final level of Airbending, but his father continued his strict study habits. Now Anil was learning politics, diplomacy, law, and economy. Anil did not know why he was being forced to study these things. They were not subjects that most Air Nomad monks studied. In fact, it was only the Avatar who got taught these subjects in Air Nomad society.
Anil sighed and rubbed his eyes to refocus on the highly dull philosophical text he was reading about the complicated relationships between the ruling class and the governed. He could hear his younger brothers and sisters out in the courtyard playing an energetic game of Airball, and that was making it difficult to concentrate on the words written by an ancient Avatar.
His father sat on the other side of the room, meditating in the Spirit World, his eyes closed and tattoos glowing brightly. He had been that way all morning without moving a single muscle. His father’s focus amazed the young Master continuously. Of course, Anil had to learn how to meditate for hours on end in order to earn his tattoos, but he had always found it difficult to stay still for that long. But perhaps having your soul removed from your body made it easier to sit still for hours.
Anil began to focus on the paper again but only managed to read a few more words before the ambient glow of the room faded and his father returned from the Spirit World.
Avatar Aang stood up without betraying a hint of soreness. “How was your trip, father?” Anil asked, pleased for the distraction from the dull text.
“Pleasant.” Aang answered. “Of course, it’s been many years since we’ve had a real crisis.”
“I don’t know, Dad.” Anil commented. “I hear that the anti-Bending revolt is picking up steam.”
“The anti-Bending revolt is still nothing more than a small movement at this point.” Aang said. “They are not violent. They only fear that Benders, especially myself, have far too much power over the fate of the world. After all, the Hundred Year War was really a war against the Avatar and the Spirits I represent.” Aang smiled at his son. “But I can sense you stalling, Anil. Have you finished reading?”
“Um… basically.” Anil said.
“Then what was Avatar Yang Chen trying to say?”
Anil sighed, trying to organize his thoughts when his brain felt like a wrung sponge. “She says that the world of government is organized in a circle. The governed give their approval to a leader, thus granting him or her the power to rule over them. It is, therefore, that leader’s responsibility to use that power in the best interest of the People they govern. If the leader does his job well, the people grant him even more approval and power and thus do both grow in strength. However a leader who abuses his power will stir up the anger of those he or she governs and face being overthrown in a revolt. And thus do both grow weak. The governor and the governed rise and fall together.”
“Very good.” Aang said, sounding pleased. “And how does this system differ for the Avatar?”
Anil sighed. “She said that, unlike others in positions of power, the Avatar does not receive his power from the governed, but from the Spirits. The position of the Avatar is ordained by the Spirits and the chosen one will retain the position for their entire life, be they good or evil. It is therefore doubly important for the Avatar to seek the approval of the governed.”
“Why?” His father asked. “If the Avatar is only accountable to the Spirits residing in the Spirit World, why should I care if the people approve of me or not?”
Anil swallowed a hard lump in his throat. “Because… because if the people hate the Avatar enough, they will murder him or her to quicken the arrival of the next Avatar. Several Avatars, drunk on their own power, have turned into evil tyrants and were all brought low by those they oppressed.”
“Because the Avatar is not a God.” Aang recited from memory. “The Avatar does not see all or know all. The Avatar is susceptible to making mistakes just like the rest of mankind, and those mistakes led to the downfalls of the Black Avatars.”
Anil set down the parchment. “Dad, I don’t like reading about this stuff.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because I love you.” Anil said, standing up and facing his father. He was just as Anil remembered him for most of his life. Bald head tattooed with the same blue arrow that topped Anil’s head, except Anil had allowed his hair to grow out over the tattoo. Bright grey eyes that seemed to reflect all the wisdom of his father’s thousand lives. Bright orange, yellow, and red robes layered over his body in the fashion of an Air Nomad monk, albeit with much better material. “Dad, do you know how it torments me? The thought that one mad person who disagrees with you could sneak in here and snuff out your life? You said it yourself. The Avatar does not see all or know all. You have the scar on your back to prove it. What if someone takes your back again?”
Aang sighed. “I cannot promise that I will allow no one to take my back, Anil, you know that. Nor can I promise that I won’t die. Death is as much a part of life as birth is, and it is something that everyone faces in the end. The Avatar is no exception to that. But I can promise that I’ll be around as long as possible and I will not leave the world unprepared for my death.”
“You mean leaving behind a Master Airbender to continue the tradition?” Anil asked. “Well… you’ve got one. Does that mean you’re ready to die?”
“Of course not.” Aang said. “Anil… have you not wondered why I make you study these things? Diplomacy? Economy? Law?”
“Well… of course I wondered.” Anil said. “They are not subjects that the average monk learned. Only the Avatar learned these things, and I am not the Avatar.”
“No.” Aang said. “It was not just the Avatar who learned these subjects. Anil… the average monk did not learn these things… but the extraordinary monks did: those monks who were destined for greatness. I will not relinquish the position of the Avatar until I die, but there is another position that I fill that must be filled by another as soon as possible. That is what you are studying for.”
Aang fell silent, allowing his son to work out the special position for himself. Anil stared down thoughtfully at the parchment for a while, and then he glanced up at his father in shock. “The Head Monk of the Air Nomads?”
Aang smiled and nodded. “The Avatar was never meant to also occupy the ruling seat of a single nation. Both jobs are too demanding for a single person to fulfill. It’s the sole reason that I’ve got premature wrinkles.”
“Mom still thinks you are handsome.” Anil said playfully, but also grinning at the news his father told him.
“My Avatar duties have taken a back seat while I worked on training you and your siblings. The world understood this and allowed me to work with you. But you are a Master now, and are fully capable of taking over their training yourself. Soon, you will have the knowledge you need to become the leader of the new Air Nomad nation. I was planning on making the official announcement when you turned eighteen, but it’s about time you knew the method behind my madness.”
“I never thought you mad, father.” Anil said, standing up and embracing his father joyfully. “Thank you, I don’t know what to say.”
“Promise me that you’ll take care of your brothers and sisters if ever there is a time that I’m gone.” Aang said. “Promise that you will pass on knowledge of the Avatar and insure that the Avatar system continues the way it always has. Promise that you will make all your decisions with wisdom and love.”
“I… I promise, father.” Anil said, feeling his father return his embrace. To say that he was energized by the news that his father was hand-training him to become the new leader of the Air Nomads was a vast understatement. He pulled out of his father’s embrace and picked up the next scroll. “What are we studying next? Economy? Law?”
Aang smiled and took the scroll out of Anil’s hands, and set it down on the table. “I believe that you’ve earned a break. What do you say that we head down and show your siblings how two Master Airbenders play Airball?”
“Only if you promise to not use the Avatar State.” Anil said. “You always do that.”
Aang laughed. “Okay. I promise.” Though little did Anil know that his father didn’t need the Avatar State to defeat him in Airball, which is precisely what happened.
~~~~~~~~~~
Katara sighed tiredly as she made her way back to her room. There were days when she felt like she was once again in charge of organizing the Gaang on one of their frequent trips in the past. There were, of course, her children with Aang: four of them. Anil was the eldest, and then Kya and Tenzin, and finally Neela, the youngest. While the three eldest seemed to take after their father in terms of their physical appearance, Neela seemed to have the most Water Tribe in her. She, alone, out of the children had inherited Katara’s blue eyes, which was the inspiration behind her name. Neela was five years old and just beginning her Airbending training. And then there were the children that her husband had fathered with others: Sho, Ammy, Sora, Hitomi, Megumi, and Toshi. Ten children in all, and seven of them were teenagers. It made for a hectic life.
But as she walked into her room, Katara was reminded once again why she choose this life.
Her love of children played a part, of course, but she really did it for her husband and for his smile. He was laying on their bed, waiting for her, and she smiled at him before joining him on the soft mattress.
The hard life that he led as the Avatar had caused him to age a little faster than he normally would. In fact, most could never guess that he was younger than his wife. The difference was pronounced by the fact that Katara seemed to be aging very gracefully.
But Katara did not care about the laugh lines that appeared on her husband’s face. She loved him unabashedly, and the lines only made him appear wise. Key word: ‘appear’.
Katara crawled along the surface of the mattress until she reached her husband, gripped onto the fabric of his tunic, and pulled it open to reveal his chest. Though his face was getting lined, his body remained as fine as ever. The vigorous martial arts had kept Aang’s body in its prime. Katara gasped as she ran her hands firmly along his chest and leaned into his body to kiss him.
Aang wrapped his arms around her body and returned her kiss. His hand drifted from her lower back and under the hem of her shirt, caressing the skin of her back.
“How was your day?” Katara asked softly against his lips.
“It went very well.” Aang said, kissing her repeatedly. “I told Anil today.”
“Told him what?”
“About how he’s going to be the new leader of the Air Nomad nation when he turns eighteen.”
“How did he take it?”
“He’s excited.” A few more exchanged kisses. “We’ve raised him well, and he’ll be ready for the responsibilities.”
Katara sighed in happiness as Aang’s lips moved down to her throat and began to nip and suck at the sensitive skin there.
“Katara?” Aang breathed softly against her skin.
“What?”
“I want another baby.”
“It has been a while.” Katara commented, and then she froze. She sat up swiftly and Aang sat up with her. “But… Aang… its spring.”
“So?”
Katara gasped. “If we conceive a baby now, that child will be born in winter. Our plan to only have children in the fall has result in every single one of them being an Airbender. But winter is the season of the Waterbender.”
“We have four Airbending children.” Aang said, kissing her. “But those children are not wholly Air Nomad. You are Water Tribe, and I think it’s about time that we honored your heritage by having a Waterbending child.”
Katara let out a happy sob, and embraced her husband. “I love you. Oh Spirits, Aang, I love you! Yes, let’s have another baby.” She hastily pulled off her shirt and exposed her breasts. Aang embraced her tightly and they kissed passionately.