literature

TMotI: From Eternity to Here

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Literature Text

*visions are in italics*

From Eternity to Here

 

Aang threw his hands up “See Bumi! This is why I don’t play Pai Sho with you anymore. You are such a cheater.”

Bumi laughed and slid Aang’s piece back to him across the table “Wanna play again?”

“Ha. You know I do.”

They started their game, pushing pieces across the board, talking and laughing as they sat in the shelter created by the hanging branches of a huge tree. Aang felt content in the quiet. It had been so long since just he and Bumi hung out. The hiding out, the constant worrying about when or if Ozai would find them, it had gotten tiring. That seemed like a distant memory though, like it was eons ago. All there in this place was peace.

“Stop studying it so hard Bumi. You can’t beat me this time, I’ve got you.” a cool breeze blew and Aang looked up to see his guardian pushing away the branches and stepping in “Hey, Gyatso. I didn’t know you were coming.” he glanced back on the board and saw that the piece had moved “Hey!” he said the looked up at Bumi who was looking at the old man with a sad expression “Bumi? What’s wrong.”

The young king looked at his friend with a smile, but sad eyes “Oh, nothing. I was just thinking the old man is about to kill my winning streak” he gestured for the monk to sit down.

Aang slid back “I’ll just let you two cheaters play each other. I’m tired of getting beat.”

Aang laced his fingers behind his head and laid back in the cool grass. Bumi looked across the table and mouthed “I’m sorry.”

Gyatso smiled a bit and held up a hand “It was time.” he whispered “I should be telling you that.”

Bumi shrugged “All in the line of duty.”

They started playing and Gyatso leaned across the table “He doesn’t understand where he is, does he?”

Bumi shook his head.

The two played quietly for a while until Aang sat up with a worried look on his face “Gyatso. I need to talk to you about something.”

Gyatso turned to him “What is it Aang?”

“I’ve been having all these weird visions every once in a while. The last one really freaked me out.”

The king and the monk looked at each other knowingly, then they turned back to him “What did you see?” Gyatso asked.

“You.” Aang said solemnly “You were talking to me, I couldn’t make it all out. But before you left you whispered ’Goodbye’ in my ear. I mean, I know it sounds like no big deal, but it just felt…” he looked up at his father figure “It felt so final. Like you were saying goodbye forever.” he held his head down “It felt real.” he shrugged “But then you showed up and I knew everything was okay.”

The man held his head down and stroked his beard. He sighed deeply then look at Bumi “I suppose we have to tell him the truth.”

Bumi nodded “Yeah, we do.” he took a deep breath “Look buddy, that battle…I didn’t make it, and-”

“Wait?” Aang interrupted “Battle? What battle? What did you mean you didn’t make it?”

Bumi spoke calmly “Ozai took Azula and Kuzon. We went after them. You got hurt and I..” he bit his lip and took another breath “I died.”

Aang’s brow’s furrowed “That’s not funny Bumi. Why would you say that?”

“He’s not joking. My Boy.” Gyatso said, placing a hand on Aang’s shoulder.

“No.” he pulled away and stood up “That’s not true.” he looked around at where they were; the haunting beauty, the unnatural calm “It…this can’t be.”

The other two men shook their heads apologetically “It is.” Gyatso responded.

Aang looked at him and considered his last vision “D…does that mean your…” he pressed his fingers to his lips and thought “am I-”

“No,” Bumi said quickly “You’re alive. You just” he juggled his hands around “Kinda in a coma.”

Aang’s face dropped “Kinda in a coma?” he snapped “What do you mean kinda in a coma?”

Gyatso stood “Your physical body went into a sort of stasis, so it could heal, but your spirit came here. You will have to decide when you return.”

Aang sat down and took a deep breath “I’m not going back.”

Bumi raised an eyebrow “Wha’daya mean you’re not going back.”

Aang shrugged “It’s peaceful. You guys are here. I like it here.”

Gyatso tucked his hands in his sleeves and shook his head “Aang, I need you to remember what you are leaving behind. Focus on your visions.”

A song plays in the background.

When there’s trouble you know who to call…Teen Titans!

“She’s amazing Aang.” Zuko says as he fluffs Aang’s pillow “And she really cares about me.” he sat down in the chair next to Aang’s bed “I never thought I could feel like this again. I thought Mai was the only girl that would ever look past this thing and see me. Suki doesn’t care about it. She cares about me. You need to see how great she is.”

“Zuko’s happy.” he said with a smile on his face.

“Zuko misses his brother.” Gyatso said.

Toph sat like she always did when she was listening, with her hands tucked between her knees and her head down. When the door finally closed she spoke.

“You got some good folks.” she said “If you weren’t the Avatar you would have still been okay. I used to think you were a goody-goody because of the monks, but I guess it’s hereditary.”

A tear dropped from her eye. Everybody misses you Twinkle toes. Hell I miss you. You gotta wake up.”

Aang held his head down and rubbed his temples “Toph is crying.”

“She loves you.” Bumi answered “She’s not the only one.”

Tseten hummed an old Air Nomad song as he gathered a pile of sheets. He kissed Meela on the side of the head and he smiled “I’ll take these down to the wash and I’ll be back.” he looked at Aang “I’ll see you in a little while.”

Meela sat at the foot of the bed and patted Aang’s leg “He’s still a big sweetheart.” she sighed “I think he’s really happy to have all you kids around; even if the reason isn’t exactly ideal.”

“They all miss you Aang. They all need you.” Gyatso spoke from behind him

Sokka rolled Aang to his side and steadied him “You know, I haven’t forgotten that I owe you a ass kicking. I guess I just have to wait until you get better to do it.”

He stepped back and put his hands on his hips “That should do for a little while.” he pulled the chair over and sat down “You know, Katara is killing me with all the craving runs. That’s your job, you know. You owe me.”

“Katara,” he scratched his head “Katara …is….Katara is” he rubbed his hand down his face and groaned “Katara’s pregnant. How could I have forgotten so much. We got married and Katara’s pregnant.”

The tears started pouring from his eyes “How could I have forgotten all of that.” he looked up “I have to go back.”

.~.

Tseten pulled the second footie onto Aang’s foot, looked around and sighed “Alright , I forgot your shirt. I’ll be right back.”

He got up and left the room.

There in the stillness of the room, nothing but soft chants playing in the background, Aang’s head rolled from side to side. He groaned a bit and squeezed his eyes together tightly, then opened them slowly.

Above him stood an IV rack. He turned his head, his eyes following the thin, metal pole to the nightstand beside him where a basin with a folded washcloth slung over the side sat. Next to that sat a sealed bag of plastic tubing. Aang scowled at the bag, though he wasn’t exactly sure why.

He scanned the room, his room at Meela and Tseten’s house. He wondered how he’d gotten there. Aang went to lift his hand to scratch his head. It felt heavy, weak. Then his fingers brushed hair…lots of hair. He grabbed a handful and his wrist brushed a sideburn. He lifted his other hand and felt around his face, feeling a full mustache and beard.

His finger tips went to massage his forehead as he tried to gather his thoughts. So may questions rolled around his head.

Aang sat up and turned. He attempted to stand up, but he was finding it hard to get to his feet. He placed his hand on the nightstand to push himself up, but then he noticed his staff leaning against the headboard.

.~.

He made his way out of the room and down the hall a bit, leaning against the wall and using his staff as a cane. Aang tried to call out for someone, but he couldn’t yell very loudly.

“Where is everyone?” he huffed as he pressed his back against the wall.

Tseten came out of a room he’d just down the hall with a white t-shirt thrown across his. He stopped in his tracks and his eyes grew wide “Aang?” he gasped, his hands dropping to his side “Aang.” he went to his son and took him into his arms, hugging him. “It is so good to see you awake.”

“It’s good to see anyone.” Aang said, patting his father’s back “I was starting to think I was here alone.”

Tseten laughed “We wouldn’t leave you.” he placed Aang’s arm around his shoulder “Come on, lets get you back to bed, then I’ll get everyone.”

“No.” Aang said quickly “I’ve got the feeling I’ve been in there for a long time.”

The older man smiled and patted his son on the chest “Okay, lets go into the den.”

.~.

They walked up to the door Tseten started to say something, but Aang stopped him. Sokka and Suki were playing a video game, Sokka slumped in frustration, Suki grinning triumphantly. Zuko sat on the other floor and laughed and Toph laid back in the recliner with her hands folded contently on her stomach.

She sat up a bit and twisted her nose “I smell hospital soap.” her eyes opened and she jumped over the chair arm “Twinkletoes! You’re up!”

They dropped everything and ran to him, but the stopped just short so the wouldn’t overwhelm him.

“Good to see you back with the living, Buddy.” Sokka said with a smile and a pat on the shoulder as Toph hugged him.

Toph stepped back and Zuko stepped in “You sure know how to make an entrance.” he hugged the younger man.

“Well, I do my best.” he said with a smirk as Zuko stepped back and Suki gave him quick hug “Where’s Katara?” he asked as she stepped back.

“She and Meela went down to the clinic for an exam.” Suki answered “They should be back any minute now.”

Aang gripped onto his staff “I’m going down there.”

“No you’re not.” Zuko brooded “You look like you can barely stand up. You’re going to sit here and wait until one of us go get them.”

Aang pursed his lips “Well hello Dad. I’ve been waiting for you to show up.”

Zuko huffed “Well, I may not be your father,” he looked at Tseten “But he is. Go on, tell him he can’t go.”

Tseten shrugged his shoulders “If he wants to go, let him go.”

Aang stuck his tongue out at Zuko and turned carefully before he started hobbling out of the room. Sokka got beside him and steadied him to help him walk. The others followed, but Zuko paused when he got to Tseten “Really?”

Tseten turned and they started walking “He’s a grown man. What was I going to do, tell him to go to his room?”

“Meela would have.”

Tseten stopped in his tracks “Monkeyfeathers. She’s going to kill me.”

“You caused it on yourself.”

.~.

Katara stopped when they reached the yard and held her head back letting the wind blow through her loose hair.

“Are you okay?” Meela asked.

She turned to her mother-in-law “I’m fine. I just want to enjoy this breeze for a while.” and turned back around.

Meela smiled at her “Ok, Darling. Come in soon, Toph said dinner would be ready when we got back..”

She turned and started to the short path that lead to house and stopped short. Meela’s hand went to her mouth when she saw Sokka and Zuko helping Aang down the steps. She took her hand away and opened her mouth to call out to Katara, but Aang gave her a sly smile and put a finger to his lips. She went to him and put her hands on either side of his face, looking him over before she hugged her son,

~

Katara heard the gravel in the walk way shift and she laughed “Okay, Meela. I’m coming.” she turned and saw Aang leaning on the little fence and the tears started running down her face.

“I don’t look that bad, do I?” he joked rubbing a hand down his facial hair.

She chocked back a sob “You look wonderful.” she said before she went to him as fast as she could and hugged him.

Look, he woke up.
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musicbender4's avatar
Gosh! Wow the long awaited awakening! Well I can't wait for Sokka to give Aang his ass-kicking! :D