Aang was having fun learning the scroll with Katara. They would go back and forth with theories, taking turns holding up the precious parchment. They knew that sooner rather than later, Ayaan was going to come to get them to head out, and they wanted to get as much as they could in before then.

But as time passed, he was starting to notice a shift in her. It was a slow, steady build-up. Her stances became more rigid, a sigh or a scoff would escape her. He could see the pride in her eyes when he managed to learn, and it made him feel confident in himself that she was so happy for him.

Even so, there was something else, something bitter when she returned to her own practice, not seeing nearly as much progress.

Hours went by, and he could see that her progress had stagnated somewhere. He'd gotten the basic moves down by then. While not perfect, it was enough for him to feel satisfied. He'd learned authentic waterbending! He may not have been in a great rush, but he understood that learning the elements was important for him.

He was a step closer to becoming who people see him as. He wanted to live up to the trust those people put in him as the Avatar. They spent one hundred years praying for a miracle; even if he couldn't make that happen, his role as the Avatar certainly could help, right?

Everyone thought so. As the Avatar, that was something he should be able to do. It was a lot of pressure, which is why he'd been so anxious about starting his training somewhere.

Bumi told him how important his existence was. It was a real eye-opener seeing his friend, wisened by age, explaining that. But it hadn't truly sunk in until Ayaan spelled it out for him.

As much as he wanted them to have fun, now wasn't the time for games.

As much as he wanted to keep them safe, life wasn't predictable.

The burns on his skin weren't done as an accident. People were hurting right now. People were dying right now. And the person that they pray for? If it's not the spirits, it was the Avatar. This mythical person was said to bring peace to the world. Stories of them were told to children before bed, and believed in by the elders who still had hope in their hearts.

That person was him, but he was far from ready to take the mantle. Ayaan pointed all of that out, plain and simple. His training constantly reminded him that he had room to improve. He wasn't like the others, expecting him to rise to the occasion in an instant. Ayaan was patient, thorough, and honestly, a little terrifying sometimes.

Especially when he says he's the enemy for ten minutes. Those are brutal.

But even so, he never tested him in the ways an Avatar would probably be able to spar. No, he critiqued what he was right now. Just Aang. He improved on what Aang had to offer. He helped him build up his foundations, from his skills to his mind.

That was Ayaan's teaching. It had nothing to do with being an Avatar. All of this was so that he could be the best version of Aang he could be. And he'd adjusted his training to be a bit different than Sokka and Katara's. While he still wanted Aang to go on the offensive sometimes, he let Aang focus on building his defensive skills.

He even managed to come up with some cool moves! He was Super Aang! And his body had built up some definition. He even grew a bit taller! A whole centimeter! It was fun to compare his arms to Sokka, who described it as "testing manliness levels" or something. No, it was fun to talk about how far they got in their individual spars with Ayaan, and how much closer they seemed to get in their goals compared to yesterday.

<"While saving the world is definitely a goal an Avatar should have, I guess, it's too far and hard for you right now." Sokka said, "So, start small. What can you improve on right at this moment? What is something that can be better by next week? Next month? Think of goals like that, and you will steadily get to where you want. At least, that's what I do to reach my dream of Ayaan-level manliness.">

They'd never beat Ayaan though. They were twigs compared to him. But still, it was nice to dream, and Sokka's advice was great! He did see the improvements, and seeing it helped him build confidence in his skills! He was proud of himself for reaching his goals.

He was certain he wouldn't be this productive without Ayaan. He was one of the most unique individuals Aang had ever met. He wasn't one for fantasies or dreams, always focusing on what could be improved at the moment. He prepared for every possibility as best he could, rarely relaxing.

Even if it's only a step, he works to make real things happen. He learns and grows, and he never lets himself stop. Aang was in awe of how steady Ayaan was. He wanted to be stronger, too, to be braver. With Ayaan as his guide, Katara and Sokka as his companions, Appa and Momo by his side, and all of the allies they'd made thus far... he felt that was possible.

He felt that becoming the Avatar was possible if they were with him.

Though he still did not like to fight, and he would never kill anyone if he could help it, he was no longer hesitant to attack. He wasn't hesitant to protect. He was still avid about peace, to use words before using force. He was hopeful that one day, his dream would come true. He would make it come true.

And the first step to that was to learn the first element on their list: Waterbending.

He was ecstatic that Katara managed to snag this scroll, though not telling them she was going to do something like that, and the result of it... he was glad no one was hurt. Ayaan was right when he said that it put them all in danger, but the most danger it posed was for Ayaan himself, and after that, him.

He still remembered that pendant Yon showed them that made him feel that sense of wrongness. He couldn't imagine what Ayaan was feeling, having met someone with that thing in person.

When Ayaan came to get them later, Aang would make sure to make sure that he was okay. He could sense that he hadn't wanted to talk much right then, and Aang was definitely a patient person. He could wait for when he was ready, and he'd give him the greatest airbender hug ever.

Ayaan had always been that person for him, always listening to his worries and problems. He wanted to be someone Ayaan could talk to, too. He had to think of lots of ways that could help him feel better.

Oh! He'd let him drive Appa on their flight out. He knew he enjoyed having the reigns, and Appa always seemed so content when he'd guiding. Surely that would help him feel better! Yep, that was the plan. Appa and hugs or the win. For now, though, he would concentrate on learning with Katara!

Aang was the type to make the best of what is, and aside from the mess it made, this was a major plus for them. All of them could learn more authentic moves and study the forms, which could create other moves for them to use! They had a true baseline they could build off of.

Maybe through studying the genuine forms, they could see what was different between their style and Ayaan's style. That was just him thinking though. He still wanted to see what made that crazy move before! It was awesome!

As a bender well versed in his native element, Aang knew what he was doing when it came to the study of forms. Heck, he created airbending moves by knowing and understanding the bases of other moves that were taught. His mastery was how he earned his tattoos. He worked hard for them, and had fun doing it!

He knew they could do the same with this, and he wanted to help Katara, who he knew didn't have any formal training like he had. Air and water had similarities, and, as much as he dislikes the fact, Air feeds Fire, which also makes them compatible, too. The only element he knew he'd be no help in at all was Earth, and they were enemies with fire nation so... yeah. He had no idea how they were going to find a teacher for him for that.

But that was waaayyy off in the future. He'd worry about that later. He had time, right? His concentration was on water, and helping Katara out! Being frustrated while learning isn't fun. While he wanted to help her out, he also wanted her to have fun while doing so!

Aang was the ambassador of a good time. He was the fun guru, and he was going to find a way to make this so. Maybe when they find a safer place, they could help Ayaan out, too! He always seemed stressed out when he wasn't quiet and overthinking! He needed to let loose! Get wild! And be a kid sometimes!

Even though he was older and acted way more mature than them, they weren't that far apart in age. He was still a kid! A big kid, but still! He was going to do it.

Maybe he would be less tense... less stressed... if he could let it go for a while, and be like them.

A kid.

Katara's thoughts, opposite of Aang, were steady and focused on the tasks at hand. Of course, she was worried for her brother. She'd seen it, and wanted to ask about his well-being. But he made it abundantly clear that the moment he came for them they wouldn't be practicing with this scroll for a while.

She wanted to prove to him that she hadn't done all of that for nothing. She wanted to prove that this wasn't a waste, that she hadn't put them in unnecessary danger. If she could learn from this, as she could feel she slowly was, then she could show him. She could prove her worth.

"What's going on guys? How're your splashes coming along?" The familiar and slightly irritating voice of her second elder brother disrupted her focus. Looking up, she spotted both of them making their ways toward them.

Ayaan, though silent, was asking the same question through his gaze.

"Everything's going great!" Aang answered enthusiastically. He was a ray of sunshine as he gushed about their findings with the precious parchment. "This scroll has all of the basics on it! It even has some crazy moves! Right, Katara!"

"Yeah, it's better than I initially thought. This is a true starting point for us." While the basics of it they'd gotten together, Katara wanted to do more. There was a move that caught her eye immediately, but no matter what she couldn't get it quite right.

"Yeah, yeah." Sokka still dismissed it, much to Katara's irritation.

Shaking his head, Ayaan decided to speak up, "We leave in an hour. After that, we leave." Appa was taking a nap, and he wanted the large beast to get some well-deserved rest for what would most likely be a lengthy flight far away from here.

Something in Katara seized. That wouldn't be enough time! But she knew there was no getting out of it. She was glad that he was willing to give them even that, with how he stormed off. Sokka must have said something that eased him, and while she would not admit it to his smug face, she was grateful for it.

"Okay!" Aang wasn't deterred at all. They could just practice more as they got closer to the north. Every stop would be fun, and they'd be learning! They already do that with their physical training with Ayaan, anyway. He was feeling like Super Aang! There wasn't much of a change in that aspect.

"Should we head to Appa now, though?" He asked, much to Katara's horror. "We could find another source of water in a safer place. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable being close to the market, Ayaan."

Ayaan was pleasantly surprised by how mature Aang was. He was growing. "Appa took a nap. I wanted him to get some rest before we left." Ayaan explained, to which Aang nodded. "If you feel that way though, I'm sure Appa wouldn't mind—"

"No!" She exclaimed but quickly reigned herself in. "Uh, No, not yet. I-I'd like to try this first. You see this move?" She pointed to the set of forms on the scroll. Now that his anger and confusion had settled, he took it in more intently. There were many forms on it. Easy to understand, conceptually. As someone that already learned a set of forms, and created some for his spear art, he could see how his way of bending differed from the norm.

Shifting his weight through stances, flowing with the tides and currents, push and pull... The forms were subtle, gentle, and smooth. It was guiding the water, a sort of controlled freedom in it that created the results they saw with the water. This was especially demonstrated with the move she was pointing to.

"The single water whip?"

"Yeah!" There was a shine in her eyes as Ayaan listened to her. "It's an offensive move, but there are a lot of applications for it once I get it right! With what you've already taught us about self-defense, I could add it to how I normally fight! Right?"

"Hm." He nodded. If she could perfect it, it would easily be her most versatile weapon. It was a perfect skill for her to learn.

"It looks doable, unlike the other moves on there..." The other set of more complicated moves the scroll had were just that, complicated. While she could definitely attempt them, she didn't see herself having much success with them like the water whip. It reminded her of streaming the water, the move she'd been working with that Ayaan unknowingly performed.

"I just want to try this one move first and then I'll be ready to go." When Ayaan nodded, approving of her motive much to her delight, she turned to Aang, "Can you hold it open for me, Aang? Please?"

"Sure!" Aang was more than willing to hold it. He'd gotten loads of practice in with it anyway. He was satisfied with what he'd accomplished for the day. If this helped her, he was more than happy!

Ayaan watched as she practiced the skill. It was clear that she struggled, but was determined. Once she mastered the forms, she put them to the test. Everything was going relatively well in the first half, the water rose as it did in the illustration.

But the next moment, when she tried to direct it, it would go in an entirely aloof direction.

Again.

And again.

And again.

One could clearly see her frustration grow with every failure. But even if she was struggling now, he was not going to give her more time to practice it.

And hour. That was it. After that, they were leaving. He wasn't going to amend that even if she was on the cusp of a breakthrough.

Aang knew that too. He knew that Katara really wanted to get this. Practicing wouldn't be fun if she was so stressed out! Maybe he could help her? Yeah, he could try! He'd noticed the little thing she was doing wrong, as Ayaan had seen in the scroll. It was her weight. When she would shift it, it wouldn't be in the direction she was trying to get the water to go. The water followed the shifts in her movement, not the movement herself.

While she'd gotten the stances themselves, the way she went into them was slightly wrong. That was what was messing up her execution.

She did the move again, but once more, it backfired. Only this time slapping her in her forehead. "Ow! Ugh!"

What was she doing wrong?! She couldn't understand it, and Sokka's laugher at her mistake didn't make her frustration any better.

"What's so funny?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry," No he wasn't, this was gold. Prime entertainment, "But you deserved that." He turned his attention to Aang, who was still holding the scroll up for her, "You've been duped; she's only interested in teaching herself."

"Aang will get his turn once I figure out the water whip." She responded, clearly angry. She went to try again, but her awol whip hit Momo, much to Ayaan's utter horror. The unassuming lemur screeched at the sudden pain, flying into his trusted human's arms.

"Momo!" The eldest carefully held the animal, rubbing soothing circles around the area that had been hit. "You're okay, it's okay." The lemur leaned into the caring touch, purring as he felt a lot better and stayed in Ayaan's protective arms.

Man, he loved this human.

Katara didn't seem to care that she hit Momo, indignant and frustrated, "Ugh, why can't I get this stupid move?"

Ayaan felt that subtle discomfort he'd had from earlier come back. Sure, he understood why she wanted this. He'd lived with her the entire time she'd been alive. But that didn't excuse her behavior. Did she even realize that she just hurt Momo?

"You'll get it," Aang says encouragingly. He'd glanced to check on Momo, not seeing as Katara glares at him. Spotting him being comforted by Ayaan, he begins to demonstrate the moves to Katara, trying to tell her what he'd seen she was doing wrong.

As someone that was well-versed in bending, he knew his fair share. While he'd never practiced it before, he had seen it before. He used to have many friends, all around the world. The monks were nomads that traveled often, and Aang was the poster boy for having fun and making friends.

"You just gotta shift your weight through the stances." Ayaan watched as Aang demonstrated, taking in the differences between what he'd done and what Katara had been doing. Though subtle, but clear, and unlike her attempts, his went as it should have. It was a perfect demonstration that should have been more than helpful for her. "There, see, the key to bending is—"

But Katara had reached her limit.

Once again, effortlessly, Aang had shown her just how inferior she was. How useless she was. How utterly great he was in comparison to her. She'd been at this for almost an entire hour, desperate, longing to get it right. Longing to prove that she had what it took. Longing to prove she could do something right.

And here he was, Aang, a prodigy, effortlessly and easily, within moments, showing her that her struggles were nothing. Like watching a child mimic something an adult did, only to do horribly. It was like he was laughing at her efforts how he was smiling. It was like he was making fun of everything she'd been trying to do.

Deep, deep down, at that moment, she knew that her thinking was wrong. She knew that Aang was only trying to be helpful. She understood that it was his personality. But her anger, jealousy, and inferiority blinded her, and thoughts she had all spilled out in words too fast for her to stop.

"Will you please shut your air hole? Believe it or not, your infinite wisdom gets a little old sometimes! Why don't we just throw the scroll away since you're so naturally gifted!" What was the point? Why'd she even bother? This was a complete waste of time and effort! What help was she being for him? None. He didn't need her. She was just making a fool of herself trying.

"Katara!" Ayaan stepped up.

"What?!" She blasted at him too, even more passionate in her frustration, "You don't even care about it, so what's it matter to you? Waterbending is something you can't stand but use anyway, just as effortlessly as he does!" She screamed, motioning to Aang, "Just as ridiculously gifted, yet you don't even like it! I'd give anything to be even half as gifted as you are, but it won't ever happen, will it? Mister Spirit's Blessed Child. Heaven's Favorite."

When her rant was finally finished, it hadn't sunk in exactly what she'd said. Only turning to Sokka, who was glaring at her silently. "What?"

"You're a damned idiot, that's what." He pointed to the results of her outburst, and it was then that she noticed the teary-eyed Aang and the expressionless Ayaan.

It was then that what she'd said finally hit her. It was then she realized she'd actually said them, thought them, and believed them for even a moment before the truth revealed themselves.

It was then that she finally felt shame.

"Oh my gosh, Aang, Ayaan, I am so sorry!" She scrambled to console Aang, repeatedly saying her apologies. "I don't know what came over me..."

She'd been so stressed out and frustrated that everything she was feeling attacked the nearest thing, and that had been them. Normally, she was so much more composed than that. She had more control than that. What was she even doing anymore?

Her eyes landed on the scroll, and it all became clear, "But you know what, it won't happen again." She handed it to Aang, placing it gently in his hands. "Here, this is yours. I don't want to have anything to do with it anymore."

"It's okay Katara." Aang was forgiving. Always.

But when she glanced up at her eldest brother, all she got was an icy stare. "Ayaan I—"

"Don't waste your breath."

There was a lullaby softly singing in his ear, trying to soothe him to no avail. He was angry. So very, very angry right now.

"What favoritism do you see?" Does she think he wanted to be blessed? How had that helped him? It hadn't. All he's felt is isolation, disappointment, and anger for the past 5 years. He hates his white hair.

"What effortless talent do you see?" Where? He worked for that shit. He worked hard. Day and night, through snow piles and forests. Hardly resting because if he did, his nightmares would tell him he hadn't done enough to make them stop. Over and over, day in, and day out.

"What do you know of what I suffer?"

She was completely silent. He took the scroll from Aang carefully, before placing it back in Katara's hands. It felt inexplicably heavy to her right now, as the glare she was receiving didn't lessen at all.

She couldn't answer any of the questions he asked.

Not a single one.

"Knowing you, you will pick that thing up the moment no one was looking to practice again." She winced at the fact that he was probably right, "Make this idiocy worth the wasted time."

"Ayaan, wait-!"

He did not.

Unlike Aang, Ayaan wasn't the type to forgive very easily. It took a good amount to anger him. Usually, he was more composed, usually, he saw the reasons for the anger they had and helped them through it. He was their elder brother, that was his job.

But he wasn't one to allow himself to be the punching bag for another's bullshit more than his patience allowed.

Katara ran out of chances. Plain and simple.

She wanted to see him angry so bad? Well, her efforts paid off, and now, before he did something he'd regret, he stormed off leaving a trail of ice, which melted the moment he stepped away.

He was heading off to rouse Appa from his nap. He didn't care for the girl trying to chase after him with her apologies minutes after he was gone from sight. Honestly, he didn't notice. He was so angry he wasn't really sure what to do with himself at the moment.

Everything that he'd been through, just like her, was hitting him right now.

Her hour was up, and he was definitely not going to give her more.

He was too stressed out to give her more than that.

Not that it mattered.

"Hel~lo." Chills crept down Ayaan's spine the moment he stopped to encounter the thing that had called him. The thing he hadn't noticed lurking in the woods just beyond him.

He'd been too in his emotions to notice, and it cost him.

Caught off guard, everything went black with a sharp, precise blow.

"I have you I have you IhaveyouIhaveyou I finally have you."

The others weren't much better off.

They'd been found.

.

•───────•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☾☼☽∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•───────•

.

Hey guys! I'm sorry my update speed is so bad. I've been doing a lot better lately, but my hiatus is still not over. Not by a long shot. I was doing better, so I wanted to upload these already-made chapters for you guys. I love reading the comments, and they help lift me out of my slump. Thank you for loving this story so much! I'll see you guys as soon as I can with the next one.

Stay tuned, it's going to get crazy.

Your author,

-Jenna

If you want to support me in other ways, check out my Linktree at linktr.ee/jhstories101!