savedtheworld | Book 14: Autumn Breeze

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[The day is off to a normal start for Aang, starting with airbending practice. He also spends some of the morning using airbending to play around with the leaves on the front lawn of House 56.

After school, he then spends some time cooking at the bakery. He puts together a mix of cookies, cupcakes and some fruit pies of different flavors, and anyone can pop in while he's working on that. He leaves some at the bakery and takes the rest to the Welcome Center, where he sets them up as treats for visiting New Feathers. He spends some time lingering there to do what Welcome Center-ing work there is to be done. And before heading home for dinner, he takes Appa out for a ride flying in the air over Luceti.]

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[While Aang's at the Welcome Center, he sets up a video. The treats he prepared are visible on a table in the background. Those who met him during the last experiment can probably pick up over the video that he now looks 15-ish rather than 12, although it's easier to tell the difference in person.]

Hello. How is everyone? It's Aang here, and I've got a few things I wanted to say. First of all, isn't it great that it's autumn now? That's like the best time of the year! Does anyone know any fun things you like to do in autumn? I'd like to try out all kinds of new things.

I... also wanted to say something about the way I was a few weeks ago. When I was littler again. I lied and told some of you I wasn't the Avatar, but I really am. I'm sorry about that. [He pauses for a moment.] Other than that... I left some treats out in the Welcome Center to help greet any New Feathers! If you have any questions about this place, one of us there will do our best to help you. I know lots of things can be confusing and unfamiliar in this place. Come to think of it... Is it just me, or is this New Feather cycle going on longer than usual?

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[ Airbending play with leaves? It's like a siren song to his granddaughter, who runs out from the house and immediately sets about trying to catch one. ]

Grandpa grandpa grandpa grandpa! Guess what!

[Aang immediately giggles and twirls his finger around to keep one leaf just out of her reach - but then brings another to a soft landing on her nose.]

Um... You're cute as a button?

I guess it is! And... you're your own way, too. Even if you don't apologize... I'll bet you'll act nice enough to anyone who might have been bothered by the you who had a ponytail that it'll be like you apologized.

You never know, you could be magic in ways you never thought of! Or maybe you just have a magical personality. But I guess that's besides the point. I do have Kipinn too, but I don't use it as much because of airbending. I should try to think of creative ways to combine them.

I hope it stays that way too, Eleytheria. And I'm honored by your gratitude. [His tone keeps wavering between the formality due to spirits and the casualness due to friends. He does give a quick Fire Nation-styled bow before continuing.]

Well I am very interested! I've been working here for a few months now. [He had started filling in after Rapunzel's hair had been cut.] My people, the air nomads, were actually great at baking pastries. Mostly fruit pies, but with what I was able to learn from them, it was a good starting point for learning other things!

That's true. We air nomads, we never were that root-y. Even after... I was apart from my people, I still spent most of my time traveling with Katara and Sokka. Except, here and now... I've been here so long, that I guess it does feel like I'm getting roots here.

[He has mixed feelings about this. Part of him is comfortable with this lifestyle, but on the other hand there's something in this nomad that yearns to keep traveling and to explore the unknown.]

Something wrong?

Well I do try to just be a simple monk! But being the Avtatar? It's complicated. And sometimes it does feel... crazy and larger than life. At first, I didn't want to be the Avatar. It's a lot of responsibility. But now? I've been able to help enough people that I feel like it's worth it. It's still a very hard responsibility, though. It's just one that I don't really have to worry about much in this world.

I like that! And I bring you flowers, too. Lots and lots of flowers! Oh, do you have a king?

[Oh... her life at home. Hearing about it always makes Aang sad, but he gives a soft smile as he talks.]

That's one good thing about being here. You don't have to worry about things like that. All the food and all the sweets you could want are all here. [He didn't really have to worry about it himself at home, either, given the air nomads' love for making pastries. It was only when traveling with Katara and Sokka that he learned about penny-pinching.]</small.

Yeah, that makes sense even with the way cycles have been now. But either way, I guess there isn't a way of telling if the cycles are gonna change, or if this is just some weird one-time thing.

All you can do is just keep aware of it. If something does change, at least you'll be prepared for the next time.

Well, home is not necessarily where you were born, but where you heart lies.

[With your family]

"Well, it's good that you're so laid back about it. I've seen people who let power like that go to their head."

[In fact, he's done it himself. Not that he's going to admit that now.]

I have Wind chi, but in my world it's really just a way of describing someone's temperament.

Thanks! I guess being a monk helps me really be good at it. [He actually has done it a few times in the past. But he also doesn't feel like admitting now - he lives in the present after all.] What about you, Aladdin? What kinds of things do you do back at your home?

[Eley gives a nod in response to that bow. While he felt familiar enough with Aang to treat him as a friend, he also appreciated the respect the boy showed towards him. It was something he missed, if he was being honest...]

Hmm, I see. I have also started trying to learn how to cook myself. While I do not normally eat, being human here has opened up many possibilities and I have begun to enjoy trying new things, including food.

...of course, I would say that I was only a beginner. I have helped others to make cakes and cookies, but that is all. Perhaps I could also learn from you and your people.

[Zuko just side-eyes his journal at that.

Aang might have a point. Maybe.]

Sure, whatever.

Exactly! So how's it going, Zuko? Have you been talking to your uncle and Mai a lot?

Really? Our bending abilities are kind of linked to our temperments as well... and so are the elemental abilities in Shikamaru's world! Maybe there is some kind of air abilities for you and you just don't know it! At least it sounds like you must have the spirit of an airbender.

Yeah... That does make sense! I think the monks used to say something like that. In that case... My heart's had this place has a home since - since I first got here. [And saw how much his friends had missed him.]

Well, that is good to hear, Aang.

[Zuko being here made things a lot easier for him]

So after providing baked goods, what are your plans for the rest of the day?

I see. There's no harm in trying! And I'd definitely be glad to help you. The only other person of my people who's here is my granddaughter, but she's very helpful with baking, too. I'm sure we can help you get on your feet in making some food. [He's not an expert at straight-up cooking, himself.]

"Oh, me? It was pretty boring, I used to be, uh..."

[... A sudden stab of shame goes through him. He was talking to a kindly monk with incredible responsibility, and what was he? A thief. A thief who got lucky.]

"Well, I used to live on the streets. Now I live in the palace and try to help the people of Agrabah."

In my world, having Wind chi means being prone to both creative impulses and absent-minded distraction. I definitely have those.

[Do these traits resemble the "spirit of an airbender"?]

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Book 14: Autumn Breeze

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