savedtheworld | Book 14: Autumn Breeze

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Book 14: Autumn Breeze

[Action]

[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.]

[Video]

[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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

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

[With your family]

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 don't have much planned. I was going to go to the Welcome Center to leave some treats for New Feathers and try to work on finding anyone else who might've arrived today. Then I'll be home in time for dinner and I'll probably end up playing with Ikki until bedtime!

Well that sounds like a lovely day. If possible I'd like to see how you are coming along with your fire bending.

Oh, of course! I'd be honored to show you. And you know, I do have time while I wait for this next batch to finish.

Very good. Shall we step outside then?

Sure!

[He takes just a moment to make sure the bakery won't burn down, then he heads over and holds the door open for Iroh.]

After you!

Ah, thank you.

[Iroh walks through to the outside, and after walking for a little bit, there is an open space without much in the way of foliage nearby. A good place to fire bend. He takes a seat in a good position and waits]

[Seems like a good enough spot. Aang's confident in his abilities to an extent - he has been practicing his firebending almost daily in all the time he's been in Luceti, often with Zuko's instruction. He's still feeling a little nervous, though - Iroh's even more of a master than Zuko, after all.]

Alright... [He turns to face Iroh and clasps his hands together to do a Fire Nation-styled bow.] Here goes!

[He starts off showing off some basic firebending forms and movements.]

[Iroh observes with a critical eye. Zuko had followed well and focused on the basics first, he had a good grasp of them. He notices a small mistake in a form and immediately corrects]

Try that attack pattern you did again, but this time be more mindful of your breathing while you do so.

[He pauses as Iroh instructs and then he nods, eager to please.]

Okay. Just to make sure... should I be doing more breathing or less?

I would say more controlled breathing. The amount was fine, the rhythm was off.

[Iroh gives a nod]

Again!

Yessir!

[He says quickly as he launches back into the form, this time making sure to keep a better handle on his breathing.]

[Iroh gives a nod of approval. Aang was a quick learner as to be expected from the Avatar.]

[Having had lots of time to practice here helped too. But then, as he's finished them up, he's ready to show Iroh something special.]

I have something else to show you, too! It'll be a little weird with just me, but I hope it still looks good!

Oh yes? Well, I would be interested to see then.

[If its firebending and involves two people, he has a rough idea]

[Yep. There he is, just one monk acting out his half of the Dancing Dragon.]

[Iroh looks on with approval]

The Dancing Dragon is a good connection to the spiritual side of fire bending.

[And soon he stops on the last move - which looks just a little weird without Zuko next to him.]

It is, isn't it? Not to mention lots of fun, like dancing! Me and Zuko, we learned it from some friends of yours.

I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure it was an incredible experience for you.

[That was really the only way to describe the dragons]

It really was. Before that, I had been afraid of learning firebending. I had thought that it was all just destruction, especially because of the one time I burned Katara. [And Jeong-Jeong's jaded view on firebending drove it in.] But what the dragons showed us... it taught me that firebending is more than that. It's energy, and life.

Fire is destructive, but the greatest source of fire is the sun, without that the world could not exist.

That's a good point! Did you know that's why those guys called themselves the Sun Warriors?