Book 6: When the Well is Dry [Voice/Action - Dated to 08/19]

[savedtheworld]

[It started off as another ordinary day for Aang. After firebending with Zuko, he headed up to the other Avatar House for Airbending training with Tenzin and the kids. But he arrived to find only Jinora. There was no sign of Tenzin; his room was as bare as Suki's had been. Aang knew what that meant. He felt that there was so much he could learn from his elder son, but that time was over. At least he could take care of his family... except that Jinora was still here. Looking over the blankness of the room... his heart tightened as he went to check the other absence.

Jinora had told him that she woke up alone in the room that she shared with Ikki. He checked her bed and found only the prayer beads that he had given to her. He gripped them tightly as he exited the room and crumpled onto the floor outside the door, as he did after Suki had left, but this time he felt so much more crushed. He knew he should feel happy for her. Ikki was just a child, and she was going back to her family before this place could do something horrible to her. But he felt so much emptier without the other Airbender around. Unlike with Suki... Aang already knew that he would never meet her. Yesterday was the last time he'd see her, and he wasn't able to give her a last goodbye. There was so much he still wanted to tell Ikki and teach her.

Is this how Gyatso felt?

No, it wasn't the same. Gyatso couldn't have had any idea that Aang was alive after he ran away. But Aang knew that Ikki was still alive back home, safe and sound. Korra had saved the day. With his grip still bearing the prayer beads, he made a prayer that she had found her way home safely, and that their family would be okay. That things really were on the road to peace back home. And he reflected on their times together... first meeting at the fountain, bending her nightmares away, reading her beautiful drawings, watching her antics at Katara's birthday, getting lemonade with her from the Pokemon trainers, introducing her to Moro and cheering her on at the volleyball game... Ikki had been the first person he met from the future, the one who had first told him everything about this beautiful family. If it weren't for Jinora staying... he'd be left wondering if any of it was really real.

He took some time to try to comfort Jinora, despite how overwhelmed he felt. He was possibly accosted by any of the remaining housemates as he left, but he eventually bolted off and spent most of the day sailing aimlessly on Appa. No adventure this time, just an escape.

There was still something he knew he had to do. He thought about all of Ikki's friends, and he opened his journal with trembling fingers, before he started to record a message. He only took the foresight to filter it from Jinora, so that she would be spared any further pain.]

[Voice / Filtered from Jinora]

Ikki has gone home. A lot of you know have known her by now, so I... I thought you should all know. She wasn't here for long, but she made so many friends. Out of all the people I know she's met here, there wasn't one person who she didn't like. That's the kind of person she is.

She didn't go alone, either. Her f-father Tenzin has also gone back to take care of the family. We... we should be glad that Ikki was sent home before this place could really hurt her. I know that she has a loving family waiting back home. And a... a wise and kind father who has gone with her. It's where they belong. From what I know of the future... they're going back to a happy time. I just want to thank all of you who listened to her and gave her a chance as a friend, and to ask you to just remember her... okay? [In case I get sent home and back again and forget all this.] I didn't know her for long, a-and I may never get to meet her back home, but I know she's going to be a great Airbender, and I'm already proud of her. She earned the title of Avatar princess without even trying and I miss her already.

Her older sister Jinora is still here. The only person left... from [my] that family, and I hope that you show her the same kindness you showed Ikki.

Comments

1/2

[endgames]

[-oh jeez. This is some sober news to come back to, even though he knows he should be happier that Ikki's back home. She was a great kid.

Oddly he doesn't regret that he got to know her, even if chances are he won't see her again.]

[voice]

[endgames]

[...and Tenzin too. This probably sucks double for Aang. Shikamaru sits on this for a bit, before coming back later.]

Oi, Aang. What're you doing tomorrow?

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

I am sorry to hear that Ikki returned home. She was a bright and lovely young girl who was very, very kind to both myself and Grandmaster Sunrider. I will wish her well in my meditations, and endeavor to help Jinora as much as I can.

Aang, if you...need to talk, or want something to take your mind off this, I'm willing to listen. I know...what you're going through.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

Thanks, Luke. You were really nice to her.

You do? But, I... I'm not sure if I feel like talking more.

[filtered]

[frost_jewel]

She's a wonderful little girl, Aang. I do not think it is possible for us to forget.

[filtered]

[savedtheworld]

[He feels some heartwarming when he considers the impact that little girl had. But he still responds quietly and weakly.]

Thanks, Mia.

[Filtered]

[spiritblocked]

[This was heavy. Korra lived with Ikki and Tenzin back home, and she was related to them through Aang, but he'd never get to see the young girl again. He died before seeing his grandchildren. He died, and she took his place. Korra doesn't know what to say. Is there anything she can say? Man, she'd just screw anything and everything up. How does one handle this situation? She sits there with the book open for a long time before-]

No practice today? [Even though he was already at the house Korra didn't take the time to ask him then. She guessed he needed time to be alone for a while.]

[Filtered]

[savedtheworld]

[Oh... it's Korra. As much as appreciates her, he can't help but look at her selfishly in light of what's happened - not as hope for the new generation but his only hope for seeing them again. He dwells on the thought momentarily until he processes her question.]

Practice? Oh, I'm sorry. I... I musta forgot.

action;

[metalbends]

[Whenever Aang gets back from flying around on Appa, Toph will be waiting outside their house. No, she isn't bending or building sculptures or playing with Momo like she sometimes used to on idle afternoons around here. The idea seems far-off and flippant. She's just sitting, not-quite-meditating but uncharacteristically quiet for hours, waiting. Reminding herself she needs to do this. She needs to be out there for when he gets back.She needs to...be strong. And take this one day at a time.

No matter how painful those days might be.

Lin had gone a couple weeks earlier, so she has an idea of the inestimable pain Aang must be feeling. It had bludgeoned her, made her felt cold for days like a wind that wouldn't stop blowing. She hadn't been able to say half the things she wanted to, she hadn't been able to do half the things she wanted to. But she'd know Lin, someday, when she went back home and grew up. And that distant truth, no matter how unobtainable it seemed at the moment, was a comfort. Aang would see Tenzin again, too, but Ikki...well, she knows what her departure implies. He may never see his youngest granddaughter again. She'd lit up their lives and made their strange predicament almost laughable with her sheer, and now she was gone. Toph is still angry--she's still furious at him, for telling her not to believe in him and seeming scared when she'd needed him to be strong the most. Things hadn't been the same since then, but the resolve of her anger was chipped away by these departures. They'd made her heart vulnerable in a new way.

And after all the anguish they've been through recently, maybe a little healing in the heart could help.

She can do this. She had to do this. So she will wait.]

action;

[savedtheworld]

[Toph is one of the people he's afraid of seeing the most. He had still been showing up for metalbending practice, but he he was painfully aware all this time since her talk that he had been letting her down. He couldn't be hat strong Avatar here, and... now one of the hypotheticals they discussed had happened. As he guessed, he feels as weak and powerless and ever.

He doesn't want a reminder of how low he's fallen. He doesn't want Toph to "see" him like this. But he doesn't expect to have to. Aang quietly touches down with Appa at some point when the sun is setting to consider slipping in for dinner. He doesn't expect Toph to be already sitting near the house.

It was too late to step back the moment he set his feet on the earth. At the moment, he just looks towards her hesitantly.]

voice;

[gleamed]

[Ikki was gone? Her heart sinks. They'd had such grand plans with their art club and she'd been so much fun. She feels for Aang, too, who sounds quite sad about all this.]

She's gone? ...I'm sorry, Aang. Is there anything I can do?

voice;

[savedtheworld]

It's okay, Rapunzel. If there's anything you want to do, just... just don't worry too much about it. Ikki wouldn't like us all getting upset about us being gone. She just wanted everyone to be happy.

written

[pretense]

[So some people are already gone. Tarrlok isn't sure whether to think them lucky or not. But there is one thing certain.]

They have a lot to go back to. They will be fine back there.

[If Korra succeeds as he hopes she did (and as he assumes she did) then yes, everything should go back to normalcy.]

voice

[savedtheworld]

[He's glad to hear another assurance from someone of the same time. It helps him to believe they're really going back to something that might be decent.

But he doesn't feel so good hearing from a bloodbender, even a depowered one. So Aang answers with an edge in his voice, as if talking with someone who had the power to mess up the situation back home if he tried.]

They better be.

[Action]

[flameoroku]

[Roku heard the message, but he decided not to say anything right then. He can talk to Aang when he gets back with Appa. Roku will be found on the roof of the house, laying on his back and watching the sky above him, thinking. Thinking about the people leaving, the far future these people came from, how his own time was basically ancient history compare to everyone else at this point, Aang-

...what could he really say to Aang on this?]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang figures that landing on the roof might be a good way to sneak into his room discreetly. But he doesn't quite notice the other Avatar resting there. Appa will still make sure not to crush Roku, even if just narrowly.]

[Voice]

[tailasoldastime]

Ih... Ikki? [That little girl who came to his house? She was so young... they... they take away anyone...]

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

Y-yeah. She... she was my granddaughter.

[Action?]

[airbound]

[It's been a rough day. Jinora's been trying to keep a brave face. But waking up to a half empty room and no sister. Plus finding her father gone, hit her hard. Even Oogi was gone. It's like they were never here.

She's glad for Aang's comfort. While Korra and Asami may have tried, or at least Asami may have. They weren't that great with handling a kid. So tonight the avatar house has one extra occupant. She can be found in the spare room that night. Though she's not asleep. At the moment she's mediating, or at least trying.]

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang had been torn throughout the day between giving her space to process this or being there for her through this. He decided he may as well try the latter. She was the last of his family here, after all, and he wanted to make sure she was still there, too. So he softly raps on her door.]

Jinora?

[ Nothing / Two Days Later Action]

[generalflirt]

[Bah. That's bad and it leaves a bad taste in his mouth. He liked Ikki, admittedly. And this sucks for Aang, but if he tries to say anything, he has no doubt in his mind, at all, that it'll backfire. Hell, even if he were to go to their house it'd probably backfire. He resolves that he'll go and see how Katara and the others are doing in the next few days though. Her and Aang. Not this day though.

And to think he was late on that gift... he feels bad now. In fact, he spends the next two days finishing it. He fell behind during the course of his missioning and... other things. He can't give it to Ikki anymore, but maybe it can be a surprise for the members of her family. So he's going to be stopping by their house two days later. Knocking on the door around noon on the 21st.

He'll take whoever he can get, of course, but he'd hope for a certain set of them]

[ Two Days Later Action]

[savedtheworld]

[It's just Aang who answers the door. He gives the hint of a smile and a lazy wave.]

Hey Masaomi.

[markofthewise]

[Sokka was long gone when Aang discovered the news. He chose not to respond via the journal, because it just didn't feel right. Especially since at the moment, he felt more relief than sadness. Ikki had been downright lucky that her first experiment had been in many ways, harmless. Annoying, yes, but it didn't hurt her. As for Tenzin, well, he seemed like a nice guy. But him being home was nothing to feel sad about. At least as far as Sokka saw it.

But he sure knew that Aang wouldn't be feeling that way.

Later when they finally meet up again, possibly in the evening before or after dinner, Sokka will catch Aang by the shoulder for two utterly meaningless words.]

I'm sorry.

[But they had to be said anyway.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang had been focusing on the ground when Sokka approached him. It took a moment before he looked up to gaze back at him, acknowledging the apology with a quiet nod. He looked away for a moment to wipe his nose with his sleeve before looking back.]

It's... it's okay. They're where they belong now. They can be really happy there.

[ filtered / voice ]

[wise_maiden]

[... Oh, Aang.

There had been so many of these kinds of messages lately, and it was always difficult finding the right words to say. Sometimes there just weren't words. Ikki had been such a sweet girl, and she had met the father briefly, as well...]

I'm sorry to hear that, Aang. [And Katara. And Jinora.] If there's anything I can do for any of you, just let me know.

[She doesn't even expect too much by the way of an answer.]

[ filtered / voice ]

[savedtheworld]

T-thanks, Raine. But... don't worry. You've already done a lot.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[There are two things that could happen here, logistically - Aang finds Katara to tell her what happened before taking off on Appa, or he takes off and comes home late. In either scenario, Katara will be sitting in the living room with a cup of tea in front of her.]

[ action ]

[savedtheworld]

[It was later that Aang quietly slipped back into the house. Part of him wanted to tell Katara first, to see if she could help him get through it... but for the first time in a long time, he chose instead to give in to the part of him that wanted to run away, and he only reluctantly addressed those who replied to him over the journals.

But when he walked in and saw Katara there at the end of the day, after he couldn't run anymore, there was no way he was going to ignore her directly. His eyes flickered towards her as he slowly stepped closer, and he spoke softly.]

Hi, Katara.