Book 4: Winds from Tomorrow [Action: May 30th-June 1]

[savedtheworld]

[Action: Days 5-7]

[It's odd for Aang, waking up in House 56. What is this, some sort of bunked bed? He can't remember whatever led him to sleep there. Doesn't this violate his decision to maintain some distance from his younger friends? He slips out of the house early in the morning, or tries to. It's possible that anyone else in the household could have caught him before he was able to leave.

Aang spends the rest of the day and the next two days going back to his daily routine. He meditates in the forest near Avatar House. He goes through town, either casually strolling or zipping through on his Air Scooter, to stay social. On Day 5, he also has to set up his tent near his meditation spot again. Where could his old tent have gone?]

[ooc: Aang is aged up (kinda)-canonically to around his 40s. He also remembers Luceti in an alternate way where he was brought here at this age. The shift has also caused some memory fluctuations (who's that Yakone fellow again?), although the possibility always remains that he's actually from a somewhat alternate version of canon (aka my handwave if my few assumptions get jossed)

Replies come from beardofbalance.]

Comments

[beardofbalance]

[He breathes a little easier, knowing that Katara and everyone still live.]

I believe in you all. I know that you can... still make a difference in the world. The world will have t find balance without the Avatar. But I couldn't think of a better group of people to make it happen. Just, still... make sure you take care of yourselves.

[He still holds onto her, afraid that she'll suddenly be yanked back to that horrible world.]

[rockspurt]

[She misses this kind of council, so she hugs him a little tighter. It's reassuring. She just wishes she could take this back to her world with her.]

...It's so good to see you again. [She chuckles.] Er--you know what I mean.

[beardofbalance]

Of course I do, Toph. Still, it would have been funny to be the one to have to remind you for a change. [He laughs.]

[rockspurt]

[She takes a step back, her tone somewhat hesitant.]

...What's your version of the world like? A lot must have changed.

[beardofbalance]

[Aang's a bit hesitant himself, unsure if his account will bring hope or just make her lament her situation more.]

Well... we won the war. Our first invasion plan failed, but we were able to defeat Ozai and Azula during Sozin's Comet. With the war over, we went our separate ways to work in helping to restore the world. There was some trouble with Zuko a year later which almost spawned a new war, but it instead resulted in a new way of looking at balance amongst the nations. It resulted in the creation of a new city called Republic City, where people from all nations could freely intermingle.

[rockspurt]

[Republic city...it sounds nice. A place where people of all nations could work together without being afraid of each other. Maybe, someday, they could have a place like that.

Someday.]

That sounds amazing. But if all the nations are there...who calls the shots?

[beardofbalance]

Well, we've set up a council with representatives from each nation so that everyone has a say in the decisions. And we have the best security we could ask for: a metalbending police force.

[rockspurt]

[She outright grins at that.]

Really? Metalbending police? I did that?

[Because who else could?]

[beardofbalance]

[He clasps her shoulders proudly.]

Of course. The most fitting job for the greatest earthbender in the world.

[rockspurt]

[That's...awesome. Incredible. Of course she did that!]

I must have had the chance to teach other earthbenders how to use it then, huh?

[beardofbalance]

One of the first things you did after the war was open the Beifong Metalbending Academy. You started off with just three weirdo students, but your lessons were passed down better over time.

[rockspurt]

I'm glad to hear it finally picked up. I've tried teaching it to some benders in my world, but...I haven't had time to focus on it, too much.

[But maybe she should. Maybe that was the way to go.]

[beardofbalance]

If you can find the time, it couldn't hurt to try more. It just might be your calling.

[rockspurt]

[Time...it always comes down to time. And not getting caught.]

We'd get those Fire Nation bullies quaking in their boots.

[beardofbalance]

It's definitely something they're unlikely to be prepared for. Maybe it can even become a really neat advantage.

[rockspurt]

[This information is...pretty refreshing. If only there was a way for her to be sure she'd remember it when she got home...]

Especially if we came right up from under them! That's an advantage we'll always have over them. Earth.

[beardofbalance]

That's right, Toph. There's always a way. There's always hope left, especially when all of you are still around. And... there's someone I hope you can meet one day. Someone who can brighten your world so much.

[rockspurt]

Really? [It feels like something that should remain a mystery with the way he says it. But she has to ask.]

Who?

[beardofbalance]

[He's really afraid that this can end up being false hope. In which case, it would be the most devastating. But he really wants this Toph to know she exists.]

One of the most precious children I've ever known, next to my own. Her name's Lin.

[rockspurt]

[She stops. Forgets to breath for a moment. And finally stutters out a response:]

Lin? She's--Aang, is she my kid?

[beardofbalance]

[He grins broadly, satisfied that there's someone here who can hear this news.]

Yes, Toph. You're gonna have a beautiful daughter.

[rockspurt]

[That's...amazing. And shocking. Almost improbable, from her point of view. Starting a family was something she had wanted to do, but with the way things were, she hadn't given it much thought.]

...What's she like?

[beardofbalance]

She's... precious. She's almost like a little you, just with an extra sense. She's even an Earthbender. And... Lin's shown signs of metalbending, too. She makes a real great little buddy.

[rockspurt]

[Just like her, knows earthbender and could learn metalbending...sounds exactly like the type of kid she'd want to raise.

It's a little dizzying. She needs to focus on something else for a moment.]

And--you? You said you had kids, too?

[beardofbalance]

[He laughs warmly. Considering she's from another future, he feels safe being more open with future info.]

Yes, Toph, there are babies all around. Me and Katara have had three lovely children of their own. Kya, Bumi and Tenzin. They're all wonderful in their ways. And Tenzin... he's an Airbender.