savedtheworld | Book 9: Refreshed Air [Action/Video]

Book 9: Refreshed Air [Action/Video]

[Action]

[This morning, Aang did not wake up in his bed. No, he woke up some ways outside of the village, with an old friend. It took soe time for Aang and Suki to come to grips, but eventually the facts became clear. Suki had come back to Luceti without memories. At the same time, Aang had spent an overnight trip home. He lived out several days at home, where he saw the Yu Dao conflict through to its end and founded the air acolytes.

And now he was back. In Luceti. He knew who Ikki was again. One of the first things he did upon realizing what happened was scribbling a journal message for everyone at home - assuring them he was still around. It might be hard to tell he was gone if anyone was awake that early. After all, he didn't have many possessions, and his room was shared with Roku who was keeping a more irregular sleeping schedule during the draft. The only visible evidence would be the absence of the prayer beads which he had given to Ikki.

So Aang spent most of the morning helping Suki to adjust, hoping that her memories of her previous stay would be awakened. He wasn't really so familiar to people returning without memories. But eventually they parted ways so that Suki could be reunited with Sokka. Once he saw that only a night had passed during his absence, he had guessed that he might have been the only one to go home. The others might still be there. The same as he left them. So he headed to House 56 to check in with everyone next and give the physical proof of his presence. He came fully clothed in his air nomad robes, wielding a set of prayer beads that were notably missing a Fire Nation emblem.

Once all the bases are touched, Aang tries to go about his daily schedule as usual, probably being late for school and skipping out on the Welcome Center to instead explore the forest. Now that he remembers, he looks around carefully for any sign of Moro's presence.]

[Video]

[And this video message is recorded before dinner, when he stops back at the house between forest treks.]

Hey, everyone. It's me, Aang. This place is really weird sometimes. I used to think when people went home, they stayed home, at least for a long time. But sometimes people have been gone for just a few weeks, and me... I was just gone for one night. I doubt anyone noticed, but I'm still sorry if I worried anyone. And my friend Suki came back too. Really unpredictable, right?

Still, some of you might be pleased to know that at home, only a few days passed, but things are really turning out for the better. Things are even more at peace, and I feel more connected with my people than ever. I hope everyone's having a great autumn, while it lasts.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sokka just nods.]

When Roku first showed up here, I was nice to him. But it was so easy to just want to hate him. I mean, I knew the story you told us. About how he could have stopped the war. How I could have... [Still had a mom...]

I had a lot of time to think about Roku, even after he left the first time. I couldn't blame him for what he did-- will do. If I was him, maybe I'd do the same thing. I mean, I already know first hand I'd make a crummy Avatar. So I can't exactly hate him for it. Especially when he's stuck with a future that he can't change.

[If anything, all of the people in the future just made him feel bad for Roku. The poor guy was stuck with such an awful future.]

[He listens carefully, and this time he puts a hand on Sokka's shoulder.]

I know. It's hard for me to look past that, too, what he'll do. [And he'd still have his people.] But I know it must be hard for him. After all, it's... it's not like he has people like Ikki or Tenzin, to give him hope for his family's future. When I think of the last time I saw Roku back home, I can't tell if I'm more mad at him or sad for him. Because... because of how lonely he must have made himself. I don't think he ever got over how much he feels he let the world down, so he thinks the world in general is so much more important than attachments. Maybe that's why... he never asked about Zuko. Even when Zuko was traveling with us and being friends with us, Roku never asked to see him.

But now that I'm back here again, I know even more why I don't want to be like him. [He brings his hand back and looks down.] When the time comes for me... I know I'd want to see my family. I'd find a way with Korra. I don't want to change like he did. I wouldn't - don't want to be alone.

[Sokka never communicated with Roku as the Avatar. But he was aware of what he did. And it gave Sokka a different sort of context to things that he doubted anyone else really got. Roku killing Sozin, his best friend. What an impact that had. Roku was a villain. For a reason other than the one Aang and Sokka were discussing now.

Damned if he did, damned if he didn't...]

Then we shouldn't tell him. You shouldn't tell him. He's closer to you than any of us. With everything else hanging over his head, I don't think he needs that too, ya know?

You're right. I'm going to be careful with him. I know when Zuko was here, I waited months before I told him about the promise, only when I thought it should be... fair that he knew. But I'm going to be... I'm definitely going to be even more careful with Roku about this.

At least... aside from that, everything back home has been going... really, really swell.

[Ha. Home is swell. Home. Swell.

It's amazing how little that means to Sokka. He puts on a false smile.]

Well... good. At least things are swell somewhere.

Yeah. [A hesitant nod. He tries to think of examples.] Did you ever try that type of tea that has little tapioca balls in it? I think it's called... bubble tea or something. Iroh just invented it at home! [He looks on thoughtfully.] I hope he invents soda soon, too...

[Inventing soda. Ha. It's weird how... Sokka can't even really bring himself to speculate.]

Is it weird, Aang? Being back here?

[His smile fades at this.]

Yeah, it... it is, in a way. I mean, it was only a few days of memories back home, but it's still like having... two sets of memories. And things are still so different now. I already told you about the Roku things. But there's... there's who I returned with, and... and [He looks hesitantly towards the house] Katara.

... yeah. [Katara. This will be so rough on her, won't it?]

You'd have been happier staying there.

We all would. [He states plainly.] We all are, back there.

Aang. That person you left there... me. It's not who I am here. You know that, right?

[He knew Aang did before. But Aang had gone back. And. Well, maybe he'd forgotten.]

[He can already remember that this is a topic he's tried to avoid with Sokka. Ever since Suki had left...]

I... I know. But it's complicated. You're still Sokka. Just... on a different path. You still have to... wanna be happy.

Yeah, I do. [A pause.] Aang, about Suki. There's things she doesn't need to know, okay? Like the engagement.

Her... her memories still didn't come back?

[He shakes his head.]

They probably won't.

Are you sure? What if... What if something important from her last time here could...?

[He shakes his head.]

There isn't. I asked that a long time ago.

[He tried to get Katara's missing memories back too.]

[He's not sure if he wants to know why he asked. So he bows his head.]

I'm sorry, Sokka. I won't... I won't tell her about any of that.

[He nods quietly.]

She'll find out eventually. I know it's unavoidable. It's just. I don't want her thinking she has to live up to all that, you know?

[He's already seen the damage that's done to Katara. He doesn't want to do that to Suki.]

I understand. [All too well. A pause.] When I first got here, I tried keeping what happened between me and Katara back home a secret, even without knowing how... how much that kind of thing could affect someone. [That just... didn't last that long.] I- I really hope you two... can make things work better. [At least those two are both starting out with feelings for each other.]

[... it's a note he needs to reflect on. How explosive will it be when she does find out? How betrayed?

He can't keep it quiet too long...]

Yeah, me too.

She's still... happy to see you, right?

Yeah. She is.

[And he's glad to see her too. But. It's worrying.]

Then that's a good place to start. Try to focus on the now. On being happy with her now. And you can figure out all the details as you go along.

Now you're the one giving relationship advice, huh?

[But there's a bit of amusement in his voice. It's not something he's come to expect from Aang.]