Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Duty Versus Love ❯ The Aftermath ( Chapter 41 )
[ 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: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 452 | 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: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 452 | Status: Work In Progress
LES: So… the vote was for the next chapter, pretty much overwhelmingly. (One reviewer even wrote: “No companion fics until you finish this one!!!) Don’t worry those of you who wanted a humorous companion fic. I’m still planning on writing it. Anyway, I apologize if something was not clear in the last chapter. I purposefully avoided coming right out and saying it because I thought it was obvious.
Aang’s memories of cheating with Mitsuko behind Katara’s back are NOT REAL. Those memories were planted in him by Azula for the sole purpose of tearing Aang and Katara apart.
This chapter is split into two parts. Part one is with Katara, and part two is back at the Southern Air Temple.
Chapter XIL: The Aftermath
Katara
The entire island of Kyoshi had been shocked when Katara, Anil, Tenzin, Kya, and Neela showed up there without any sign of the rest of the ‘Avatar Clan’ and with Aang nowhere in sight. Their misgivings increased when Anil helped everyone unload and, giving an embrace to his tearful mother, took off once again, leaving the others behind while he began to head south back to the Temple.
Normally, when she came to Kyoshi Island, she was allowed to stay in the Avatar’s home, it was only natural to allow her to stay there since she was married to the Avatar. However, when the village’s headman offered her the stately villa, Katara refused to stay there and insisted on rooming in her brother’s house instead.
Sokka was more than happy to take his sister in, but understandably confused by the reason and circumstances for her visit. His feelings of disquiet increased until they finally burst when, as soon as she was out of the public eye and the tearful children were put to sleep, Katara burst into unrestrained tears, holding onto her brother with all she had.
“Katara? Katara! What happened?” Sokka asked. “I got the feeling you didn’t want to talk about whatever’s bothering you in front of the village, but you know that you can always tell me anything.”
“I’ll get some tea.” Suki said, running off to get some with her daughter, Michiko.
Sokka picked Katara up in his arms and carried her over to one of the couches, and she continued to sob into his chest.
“Oh, Sokka…” She finally began. “I’ve never thanked you enough for always being there for me.” She said tearfully.
“We’re siblings.” Sokka said. “We may get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but you know that I’ve always got your back. Now, tell me, what’s wrong?”
“I’m a failure, Sokka.” Katara cried. “In the entire history of the Avatar, there has never been an instance of the Avatar’s marriage failing.” Katara snorted sorrowfully. “Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Sokka asked. “Did you and Aang…?”
“Separate?” Katara finished with a sob. “Yes, I left him.”
“But… I don’t understand.” Sokka began. “You two were so happy together. I’d never seen two people more in love than you two… unless it was me and Suki. What could have possibly happened?”
“We were happy together.” Katara said. “I wish I could still be happy with him. I’d wish for nothing more than to go back to the Air Temple, fall into his arms, and tell me that everything’s going to be all right. That’s the worst part, Sokka… I still love him… even after what he’s done to me…”
Sokka felt his rage growing, and he grabbed Katara’s shoulders. “What did he do to you?”
“Do you remember when I was pregnant with Tenzin and Kya?” Katara asked.
“Yes.” Sokka said.
“He made me a promise the night I told him about my pregnancy. He swore on everything that made him the Avatar that he was finished with the repopulation plan and that I would be the only woman to ever know him as a husband from that point on.” Katara said. “But he lied to me.”
“He…” Sokka began, putting the pieces together even as Katara erupted and spilled everything.
“He flat-out lied to me! He went behind my back and had a child with another woman. That was pretty clear when this woman showed up to the Air Temple with a gray eyed child in tow, begging for Aang to take him… to take care of his son.” Katara said, hysteria creeping into her voice. “I don’t know how long it’s been going on… four or five years at least.”
A powerful rage came over Sokka, and for several moments, all he could see was red. He was one of the people who had misgivings about the whole repopulation plan, but he had eventually come to accept that it was not about the novelty of having sex with many women for Aang, but simply a way to bring his people back when no other options existed. But… it turned out he was wrong about that monk. Aang had finally proven himself to be a hormonal bastard, just like the many other pathetic souls who were not worthy of his sister.
The thing that made it worse was that Aang had only shown his true colors after seventeen years of marriage, leaving his once strong, proud sister heartbroken and an emotional wreak.
I should have realized. Sokka realized, remembering the night of their reunion, how Aang had snuck away from the party and returned without any good explanation. Was he sneaking out and having his way with the woman of Kyoshi as well?!? Some of his old fangirls were still around, and many would probably be happy to lay with him, given the chance, married or not.
One thought rung clear and true in his rage-filled mind. He had long ago promised Aang that if he hurt his sister, he would beat him so hard that his past lives would end up with the bruises. It was time to make good on that threat.
Sokka pulled his sister into an embrace. “Don’t worry, sis. I’ll take care of everything.” He pulled away from her, and stormed out of the house, intent on taking the next ship to the Southern Air Temple. He had a little bit of unfinished business with his ex-brother-in-law to deal with.
After Sokka left, Suki came back into the room, carrying a pot of tea and some cups. She noticed her husband’s absence right away. “Where’s Sokka?” She asked, and Katara shrugged.
“I don’t know.” Katara said hollowly.
“Hey…” Suki said, sitting next to her and pouring her a cup of tea. “I know that things look bad right now, but Sokka and I will let you stay here for as long as you like. Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Nothing is going to be all right, Suki.” Katara said. “You see, I haven’t even told you the worst part of all this…”
“Worse? What could possibly be worse than an unfaithful husband?” Suki asked, confused.
“Do you really want to know?” Katara asked, pressing her hands to her lower abdomen. “I’m pregnant with my unfaithful husband’s child.”
Suki did not… could not respond to that. She realized that Katara was right… there were worse things than having an unfaithful husband.
Aang
In the days after Katara’s departure from the Air Temple, life seemed to come to a stand-still for the young clan of Airbenders still living on the mountain.
Anil returned to the Southern Air Temple to find his siblings confused and bored, but mostly concerned for the state of their family. It took only a few questions for Anil to find out why all life seemed to have deserted the Temple.
After Katara had left, Aang had spent the entire night in the same place Anil had left him, crouched down on the Temple floor, alternating between sobbing and entering the Avatar State at random intervals. However, as the sun had risen at the Temple, Aang had relocated himself to his room and had stayed there.
He did not come out, he did not move, he did not speak, and for all accounts, he did not give a single sign of life at all. He seemed content to sit in bed and stare at the blank walls for hours on end, refusing food, sleep, and company.
It was clear to Anil after trying one time to get his father out of the room, and Aang only responded with an angry yell for him to get out, sent a strong gust of wind at him, knocking him out of the room, and sealing the door and windows with Earthbending; his father had falling into a deep depression.
But the world did not come to a halt just because Aang’s world had stopped. Letters and summons for the Avatar continued to pour into the Temple, asking for advice and assistance. No matter how much Anil pleaded with his father through the earthen blockade to do his duty as the Avatar, he could not rouse him.
Losing Katara had broken Aang, and Anil became all the more convinced that there was something not right about what had happened the day that that woman showed up.
If his father did not care about his mother, then why would he sink into such a deep depression upon her leaving? And if he supposedly loved this woman and her child, why was he making absolutely no effort to connect to them? Something was just not adding up.
Anil was absolutely sure that his father had not cheated on his mother, but if that was true, why was his father acting like he had. He had seen the look of guilt on Aang’s face that day just as his mother had. The more he thought about it, the fishier the whole situation smelled, and Anil had never liked fish.
In light of his father’s depression, Anil decided he would hold off going to one of the other Air Temples and step into his father’s shoes as much as possible. He could run the Temple, train his siblings, and even give some advice in his father’s place, and he did very well in those things. But there were things he could not do: be the Avatar and be a father.
The first order of business was dealing with Mitsuko and her child. While Anil was gone, his siblings were smart enough to keep her away from Aang. And when Anil got back, even when Aang was not locked up in his room, he had refused to let her have contact with him.
“But maybe I could help him.” Mitsuko said.
“My father has not called for you, so I will not send you in.” Anil said firmly. “I have doubts about the truth of your story and as far as I can see, sending you in there will just make things worse for my father and my family. Therefore, as long as I’m the leader of this Temple, I will not allow you a single glimpse of my father.”
Mitsuko began to cry. “You can’t send me away! I’ll die! My baby will die!”
“I never said anything about sending you or your child away.” Anil said. “Until your child’s fate is decided, I will claim him as my own and take full responsibility for him. For now, I am the father. Do I make myself clear?”
Mitsuko trembled. “Yes.”
“Good. Now go back to your quarters. I have a mess to clean up.”
Anil dedicated himself to filling his father’s shoes. He worked with his siblings in the morning, and then attempted to catch up on all his father’s work in the evening. Even with his specialized training, some of the situations where advice was asked of him went far over his head, and he often had to ask his siblings’ advice.
Ammy was the most helpful, who used her gift of being able to travel to the Spirit World to help her older brother whenever possible. Of course, she could not travel whenever she wanted, but when she did, she remembered what problems were bothering Anil and were able to ask the Spirit’s advice.
“What does the Spirit World look like, Ammy?” Anil asked one day, knowing that one of his father’s duties was to monitor the Spirit World.
“I don’t know.” Ammy confessed. “I’m not much of an expert on the Spirit World, but it seems… darker… gloomier than normal. I ran into Avatar Kuruk today, but he did not respond to me. He was… just like Dad.”
Anil paused thoughtfully before answering. “Do you think it’s possible for the Avatar’s moods to affect the Spirit World?” Anil asked. “Do you think all the Spirits are falling into a depression because of Dad?”
“That would certainly explain it, even though I’ve never heard of it being possible.” Ammy said. “I can certainly imagine the former Avatars being affected first, and then the rest of the Spirit World.”
“There’s something else.” Anil said. “People from all over the world are sending in reports of Bending getting weaker. Some people in certain places have lost their ability to Bend all together.”
“Bending power comes from the Spirits.” Ammy said. “This much I know.”
“There is some precedent to Avatar moods affecting people’s ability to Bend.” A new voice said. Anil looked around and saw that it was his Waterbending half-sister, Hitomi. “I hope I’m not interrupting something? I just came to give Ammy her healing. I think Sho was about to punch me if I didn’t come any faster.”
“No, go ahead.” Anil said, just as concerned for his little sister as the rest were. Hitomi was doing everything she could, and Anil truly appreciated her help, but she was just not powerful enough. Under Katara’s care, Ammy had been able to leave her bed and go on short walks every day. But now… she had not been able to leave her bed since Katara left.
Hitomi moved over to Ammy, took out some water, bended it onto her hands, and began to heal Ammy as much as she could. “I’ve heard stories about Avatar moods affecting Bending.” Hitomi said. “It was in a book Katara gave me, Legends of the Water Tribe. After Avatar Kuruk lost his wife to the Great Spirit Koh, he sank into a deep depression that lasted so long that almost everyone, except the most powerful, had lost their ability to Bend. I’ve… noticed my Waterbending declining in power.” She confessed.
“My Airbending too.” Anil said.
“There has to be something we can do.” Hitomi said. She trailed off thoughtfully as she finished healing Ammy.
“Oh!” Ammy gasped. “Maybe you can send out a call for help to Dad’s friends.”
“What?”
“You know… Aunt Toph, Uncle Duke, Uncle Zuko, the Order of the White Lotus…” Ammy said. “At the very least, they should know what’s going on. You can’t keep pretending that you’re the Avatar forever, Anil.”
“I know.” Anil said, and then a thought occurred to him. “Hey! Maybe Aunt Toph can come! She could use her Earthbending to discover if Mitsuko is lying! Oh man! If we could prove her story a lie, that would help fix everything!”
“Well, then, what are you waiting for? Go!” Hitomi urged.
Excited at the possibility that this entire nightmare could be over soon, Anil ran to his father’s study and pulled out two separate pieces of parchment. To his uncle Zuko, he simply informed him about his father’s depression, asked for him to take care of things in the Fire Nation for a while, and a plea for advice. Anil attached the note to a Dragon Hawk and sent it flying towards the Fire Nation.
The second note was written to his uncle Duke, who was sure to read the note to his wife, Toph. He explained to Toph about his father’s depression, and sent a plea for her to come to the Southern Air Temple to detect if Mitsuko’s story was a lie or not.
Once he finished writing the letter, he set off for the training ground, where he found his half-brother, Sora, practicing on his Airbending.
“Sora!” Anil called. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.” Sora replied. “Will it get me away from this gloomy place?”
“For a while.” Anil said, handing Sora the letter. “Can you please find Aunt Toph and deliver this letter to her? If at all possible, convince her to come back with you.”
Sora stared at the letter for a while and then tucked it into his robes. “I’ll do it. Last I heard she was in Gaoling.”
“Good. That’s close.” Anil said. “Sora… fly fast, please.”
Sora nodded. “I will.” And, with that, he headed down to the Bison stables to get ready for the flight.
Anil glanced up at the sealed windows that marked Aang’s room, and sighed heavily. “Please, Aunt Toph… you have to come help us. Please.” He turned and went back into the Temple. He had hundreds of more scrolls to answer in his father’s name, and he knew he had to get started now.
LES: Do you guys remember how I said that Azula’s plan used to be different? And, boy, after seeing people’s reaction to Azula’s meddling in Aang and Katara’s marriage, I have seen that it was a wise decision to change my original idea, for it was much more hard-core. I also promised that I would tell you guys what the original idea was when I revealed Azula’s plan.
Instead of revealing what it is right now, I’ll give you a little hint.
Azula’s modified plan was to plant false memories in Aang and make him think that he had cheated on Katara. This is because a Soulbender is capable of making someone do or think whatever they want. Azula’s modified plan focused on the ‘thinking’, her original plan was pretty much the same as the modified plan, since it involved a possible affair and an illegitimate child, but it focused on the ‘doing’ instead.
Aang’s memories of cheating with Mitsuko behind Katara’s back are NOT REAL. Those memories were planted in him by Azula for the sole purpose of tearing Aang and Katara apart.
This chapter is split into two parts. Part one is with Katara, and part two is back at the Southern Air Temple.
Chapter XIL: The Aftermath
Katara
The entire island of Kyoshi had been shocked when Katara, Anil, Tenzin, Kya, and Neela showed up there without any sign of the rest of the ‘Avatar Clan’ and with Aang nowhere in sight. Their misgivings increased when Anil helped everyone unload and, giving an embrace to his tearful mother, took off once again, leaving the others behind while he began to head south back to the Temple.
Normally, when she came to Kyoshi Island, she was allowed to stay in the Avatar’s home, it was only natural to allow her to stay there since she was married to the Avatar. However, when the village’s headman offered her the stately villa, Katara refused to stay there and insisted on rooming in her brother’s house instead.
Sokka was more than happy to take his sister in, but understandably confused by the reason and circumstances for her visit. His feelings of disquiet increased until they finally burst when, as soon as she was out of the public eye and the tearful children were put to sleep, Katara burst into unrestrained tears, holding onto her brother with all she had.
“Katara? Katara! What happened?” Sokka asked. “I got the feeling you didn’t want to talk about whatever’s bothering you in front of the village, but you know that you can always tell me anything.”
“I’ll get some tea.” Suki said, running off to get some with her daughter, Michiko.
Sokka picked Katara up in his arms and carried her over to one of the couches, and she continued to sob into his chest.
“Oh, Sokka…” She finally began. “I’ve never thanked you enough for always being there for me.” She said tearfully.
“We’re siblings.” Sokka said. “We may get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but you know that I’ve always got your back. Now, tell me, what’s wrong?”
“I’m a failure, Sokka.” Katara cried. “In the entire history of the Avatar, there has never been an instance of the Avatar’s marriage failing.” Katara snorted sorrowfully. “Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”
“What are you talking about?” Sokka asked. “Did you and Aang…?”
“Separate?” Katara finished with a sob. “Yes, I left him.”
“But… I don’t understand.” Sokka began. “You two were so happy together. I’d never seen two people more in love than you two… unless it was me and Suki. What could have possibly happened?”
“We were happy together.” Katara said. “I wish I could still be happy with him. I’d wish for nothing more than to go back to the Air Temple, fall into his arms, and tell me that everything’s going to be all right. That’s the worst part, Sokka… I still love him… even after what he’s done to me…”
Sokka felt his rage growing, and he grabbed Katara’s shoulders. “What did he do to you?”
“Do you remember when I was pregnant with Tenzin and Kya?” Katara asked.
“Yes.” Sokka said.
“He made me a promise the night I told him about my pregnancy. He swore on everything that made him the Avatar that he was finished with the repopulation plan and that I would be the only woman to ever know him as a husband from that point on.” Katara said. “But he lied to me.”
“He…” Sokka began, putting the pieces together even as Katara erupted and spilled everything.
“He flat-out lied to me! He went behind my back and had a child with another woman. That was pretty clear when this woman showed up to the Air Temple with a gray eyed child in tow, begging for Aang to take him… to take care of his son.” Katara said, hysteria creeping into her voice. “I don’t know how long it’s been going on… four or five years at least.”
A powerful rage came over Sokka, and for several moments, all he could see was red. He was one of the people who had misgivings about the whole repopulation plan, but he had eventually come to accept that it was not about the novelty of having sex with many women for Aang, but simply a way to bring his people back when no other options existed. But… it turned out he was wrong about that monk. Aang had finally proven himself to be a hormonal bastard, just like the many other pathetic souls who were not worthy of his sister.
The thing that made it worse was that Aang had only shown his true colors after seventeen years of marriage, leaving his once strong, proud sister heartbroken and an emotional wreak.
I should have realized. Sokka realized, remembering the night of their reunion, how Aang had snuck away from the party and returned without any good explanation. Was he sneaking out and having his way with the woman of Kyoshi as well?!? Some of his old fangirls were still around, and many would probably be happy to lay with him, given the chance, married or not.
One thought rung clear and true in his rage-filled mind. He had long ago promised Aang that if he hurt his sister, he would beat him so hard that his past lives would end up with the bruises. It was time to make good on that threat.
Sokka pulled his sister into an embrace. “Don’t worry, sis. I’ll take care of everything.” He pulled away from her, and stormed out of the house, intent on taking the next ship to the Southern Air Temple. He had a little bit of unfinished business with his ex-brother-in-law to deal with.
After Sokka left, Suki came back into the room, carrying a pot of tea and some cups. She noticed her husband’s absence right away. “Where’s Sokka?” She asked, and Katara shrugged.
“I don’t know.” Katara said hollowly.
“Hey…” Suki said, sitting next to her and pouring her a cup of tea. “I know that things look bad right now, but Sokka and I will let you stay here for as long as you like. Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Nothing is going to be all right, Suki.” Katara said. “You see, I haven’t even told you the worst part of all this…”
“Worse? What could possibly be worse than an unfaithful husband?” Suki asked, confused.
“Do you really want to know?” Katara asked, pressing her hands to her lower abdomen. “I’m pregnant with my unfaithful husband’s child.”
Suki did not… could not respond to that. She realized that Katara was right… there were worse things than having an unfaithful husband.
Aang
In the days after Katara’s departure from the Air Temple, life seemed to come to a stand-still for the young clan of Airbenders still living on the mountain.
Anil returned to the Southern Air Temple to find his siblings confused and bored, but mostly concerned for the state of their family. It took only a few questions for Anil to find out why all life seemed to have deserted the Temple.
After Katara had left, Aang had spent the entire night in the same place Anil had left him, crouched down on the Temple floor, alternating between sobbing and entering the Avatar State at random intervals. However, as the sun had risen at the Temple, Aang had relocated himself to his room and had stayed there.
He did not come out, he did not move, he did not speak, and for all accounts, he did not give a single sign of life at all. He seemed content to sit in bed and stare at the blank walls for hours on end, refusing food, sleep, and company.
It was clear to Anil after trying one time to get his father out of the room, and Aang only responded with an angry yell for him to get out, sent a strong gust of wind at him, knocking him out of the room, and sealing the door and windows with Earthbending; his father had falling into a deep depression.
But the world did not come to a halt just because Aang’s world had stopped. Letters and summons for the Avatar continued to pour into the Temple, asking for advice and assistance. No matter how much Anil pleaded with his father through the earthen blockade to do his duty as the Avatar, he could not rouse him.
Losing Katara had broken Aang, and Anil became all the more convinced that there was something not right about what had happened the day that that woman showed up.
If his father did not care about his mother, then why would he sink into such a deep depression upon her leaving? And if he supposedly loved this woman and her child, why was he making absolutely no effort to connect to them? Something was just not adding up.
Anil was absolutely sure that his father had not cheated on his mother, but if that was true, why was his father acting like he had. He had seen the look of guilt on Aang’s face that day just as his mother had. The more he thought about it, the fishier the whole situation smelled, and Anil had never liked fish.
In light of his father’s depression, Anil decided he would hold off going to one of the other Air Temples and step into his father’s shoes as much as possible. He could run the Temple, train his siblings, and even give some advice in his father’s place, and he did very well in those things. But there were things he could not do: be the Avatar and be a father.
The first order of business was dealing with Mitsuko and her child. While Anil was gone, his siblings were smart enough to keep her away from Aang. And when Anil got back, even when Aang was not locked up in his room, he had refused to let her have contact with him.
“But maybe I could help him.” Mitsuko said.
“My father has not called for you, so I will not send you in.” Anil said firmly. “I have doubts about the truth of your story and as far as I can see, sending you in there will just make things worse for my father and my family. Therefore, as long as I’m the leader of this Temple, I will not allow you a single glimpse of my father.”
Mitsuko began to cry. “You can’t send me away! I’ll die! My baby will die!”
“I never said anything about sending you or your child away.” Anil said. “Until your child’s fate is decided, I will claim him as my own and take full responsibility for him. For now, I am the father. Do I make myself clear?”
Mitsuko trembled. “Yes.”
“Good. Now go back to your quarters. I have a mess to clean up.”
Anil dedicated himself to filling his father’s shoes. He worked with his siblings in the morning, and then attempted to catch up on all his father’s work in the evening. Even with his specialized training, some of the situations where advice was asked of him went far over his head, and he often had to ask his siblings’ advice.
Ammy was the most helpful, who used her gift of being able to travel to the Spirit World to help her older brother whenever possible. Of course, she could not travel whenever she wanted, but when she did, she remembered what problems were bothering Anil and were able to ask the Spirit’s advice.
“What does the Spirit World look like, Ammy?” Anil asked one day, knowing that one of his father’s duties was to monitor the Spirit World.
“I don’t know.” Ammy confessed. “I’m not much of an expert on the Spirit World, but it seems… darker… gloomier than normal. I ran into Avatar Kuruk today, but he did not respond to me. He was… just like Dad.”
Anil paused thoughtfully before answering. “Do you think it’s possible for the Avatar’s moods to affect the Spirit World?” Anil asked. “Do you think all the Spirits are falling into a depression because of Dad?”
“That would certainly explain it, even though I’ve never heard of it being possible.” Ammy said. “I can certainly imagine the former Avatars being affected first, and then the rest of the Spirit World.”
“There’s something else.” Anil said. “People from all over the world are sending in reports of Bending getting weaker. Some people in certain places have lost their ability to Bend all together.”
“Bending power comes from the Spirits.” Ammy said. “This much I know.”
“There is some precedent to Avatar moods affecting people’s ability to Bend.” A new voice said. Anil looked around and saw that it was his Waterbending half-sister, Hitomi. “I hope I’m not interrupting something? I just came to give Ammy her healing. I think Sho was about to punch me if I didn’t come any faster.”
“No, go ahead.” Anil said, just as concerned for his little sister as the rest were. Hitomi was doing everything she could, and Anil truly appreciated her help, but she was just not powerful enough. Under Katara’s care, Ammy had been able to leave her bed and go on short walks every day. But now… she had not been able to leave her bed since Katara left.
Hitomi moved over to Ammy, took out some water, bended it onto her hands, and began to heal Ammy as much as she could. “I’ve heard stories about Avatar moods affecting Bending.” Hitomi said. “It was in a book Katara gave me, Legends of the Water Tribe. After Avatar Kuruk lost his wife to the Great Spirit Koh, he sank into a deep depression that lasted so long that almost everyone, except the most powerful, had lost their ability to Bend. I’ve… noticed my Waterbending declining in power.” She confessed.
“My Airbending too.” Anil said.
“There has to be something we can do.” Hitomi said. She trailed off thoughtfully as she finished healing Ammy.
“Oh!” Ammy gasped. “Maybe you can send out a call for help to Dad’s friends.”
“What?”
“You know… Aunt Toph, Uncle Duke, Uncle Zuko, the Order of the White Lotus…” Ammy said. “At the very least, they should know what’s going on. You can’t keep pretending that you’re the Avatar forever, Anil.”
“I know.” Anil said, and then a thought occurred to him. “Hey! Maybe Aunt Toph can come! She could use her Earthbending to discover if Mitsuko is lying! Oh man! If we could prove her story a lie, that would help fix everything!”
“Well, then, what are you waiting for? Go!” Hitomi urged.
Excited at the possibility that this entire nightmare could be over soon, Anil ran to his father’s study and pulled out two separate pieces of parchment. To his uncle Zuko, he simply informed him about his father’s depression, asked for him to take care of things in the Fire Nation for a while, and a plea for advice. Anil attached the note to a Dragon Hawk and sent it flying towards the Fire Nation.
The second note was written to his uncle Duke, who was sure to read the note to his wife, Toph. He explained to Toph about his father’s depression, and sent a plea for her to come to the Southern Air Temple to detect if Mitsuko’s story was a lie or not.
Once he finished writing the letter, he set off for the training ground, where he found his half-brother, Sora, practicing on his Airbending.
“Sora!” Anil called. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.” Sora replied. “Will it get me away from this gloomy place?”
“For a while.” Anil said, handing Sora the letter. “Can you please find Aunt Toph and deliver this letter to her? If at all possible, convince her to come back with you.”
Sora stared at the letter for a while and then tucked it into his robes. “I’ll do it. Last I heard she was in Gaoling.”
“Good. That’s close.” Anil said. “Sora… fly fast, please.”
Sora nodded. “I will.” And, with that, he headed down to the Bison stables to get ready for the flight.
Anil glanced up at the sealed windows that marked Aang’s room, and sighed heavily. “Please, Aunt Toph… you have to come help us. Please.” He turned and went back into the Temple. He had hundreds of more scrolls to answer in his father’s name, and he knew he had to get started now.
LES: Do you guys remember how I said that Azula’s plan used to be different? And, boy, after seeing people’s reaction to Azula’s meddling in Aang and Katara’s marriage, I have seen that it was a wise decision to change my original idea, for it was much more hard-core. I also promised that I would tell you guys what the original idea was when I revealed Azula’s plan.
Instead of revealing what it is right now, I’ll give you a little hint.
Azula’s modified plan was to plant false memories in Aang and make him think that he had cheated on Katara. This is because a Soulbender is capable of making someone do or think whatever they want. Azula’s modified plan focused on the ‘thinking’, her original plan was pretty much the same as the modified plan, since it involved a possible affair and an illegitimate child, but it focused on the ‘doing’ instead.