Aang landed on the airship's deck, his breathing ragged. His clothes were soaked, his chest rose and fell with difficulty, and a superficial cut on his cheek bled slightly. But his eyes shone with the euphoria of triumph.
—Katara! We did it!
Katara was on the gondola floor, resting on one knee, catching her breath. She had just prevented the airship from crashing into the sea, and every muscle in her body protested from the effort. Hearing Aang's voice, she looked up. Her blue eyes, instead of relaxing at seeing him safe and sound, ignited with a spark of fury.
—What were you thinking?
—I was clearing the tornadoes to make a path —Aang replied, bewildered by her tone.
—The ship almost crashed, Aang —Katara stood up, her fists clenched—. We could have died. What if you get yourself killed? You're the Avatar. This is too risky. We have to turn back now.
—No!
Taga had just landed on the deck. He stepped between them, his beard dripping water and his eyes gleaming with intensity.
—We're almost there. We just need to reach the eye of the storm.
—Aang, no —Katara insisted, her voice now tinged with pleading—. This is too dangerous.
—The staff is out there —Aang said firmly—. And the Renegades are after it.
—Do you really think they could get through this storm?
—We're almost there. That staff can bring my people back.
—I understand how much you want that, but...
—You don't understand —Aang's voice rose—. None of you do.
—Aang...
Katara's eyes grew sad. Her fingers, which had been clenched into fists, slowly relaxed.
Aang closed his eyes. The wind blew around him, stirring his orange robes, and the roar of the storm seemed to fade for a second. When he opened them again, his eyes had become resolute.
—We're moving forward.
From atop the airship, Noah clicked his tongue in silence.
—Tsk, tsk. A leader blinded by a selfish desire, leading his companions toward possible death. If it weren't for their fates as protagonists, these guys could have easily died on this expedition.
The two airbenders looked at each other. No more words were needed. Taga nodded, and both launched themselves upward, their bodies piercing the curtain of rain like two orange arrows.
—If we generate enough air, we can break through —Taga said, his voice barely audible above the roar of the storm.
Aang's eyes hardened. Without a word, he raised his arms and unleashed a powerful air current that joined Taga's. Both circled around the airship, maintaining a steady flow. The wind began to open a corridor between the clouds, pushing them aside on both sides. The rain stopped battering the ship, and the lightning was left behind.
The opening grew until it revealed a stretch of clear sky illuminated by sunlight. The airship crossed the corridor and left the storm behind.
And then, calm welcomed them.
The storm raged behind them, but ahead there was only calm. The sky was a pale blue, without a single cloud, and the setting sun reflected off the calm waters stretching beneath them like an infinite mirror.
Aang and Taga landed on the deck.
—We did it. Thank you, Taga.
Taga smiled and placed a hand on Aang's shoulder, looking at him with a warmth that seemed genuine.
—It was you, Aang. We're here because of you.
—Yeah, we're having a great time too —Sokka's voice echoed from the hatch, dripping with sarcasm.
He came down to the deck followed by Zuko, who advanced with his arms crossed and a frown.
—You could have told us we were flying into the Immortal Storm —Zuko said coldly.
—I know it was dangerous —Aang replied—. But we had to take the risk.
—We? —Sokka let out a dry, humorless laugh—. Ha, ha. I don't remember when "we" voted on that.
—There was no time. I had to make a decision...
—Friends, please, don't blame Aang.
Taga stepped forward, interposing himself between Aang and his companions.
—This is all my fault. I knew it would be difficult. But Aang believed in your strength as a team. And I am honored to be part of it.
Despite his words, the wariness did not leave the group's faces.
—Everyone, look.
Aang's voice, laden with wonder, broke the tension. He pointed forward, beyond the airship's bow.
—These islands... they were lion turtles.
In the distance, silhouetted against the golden horizon, rose three enormous islands. But they were not just any islands. Their shape was unmistakable: colossal shells, covered in vegetation and trees, emerging from the ocean like the remains of creatures as ancient as the world itself. The surface of the shells was marked by wrinkles of rock and moss, and on their edges, if one looked closely, the faint shapes of animal skulls could be distinguished.
—Whoah —Sokka murmured, his anger momentarily forgotten—. It's beautiful.
—Long before my time —Taga said, his voice taking on a reverential tone—, the lion turtles granted humans the gift of bending. These are their final resting places. This is where Sonum came to learn their ways. I'm sure she left her staff here.
—Where do we start looking? —Aang asked, his eyes scanning the three islands impatiently.
—Aang, you must connect with her.
—But no one can connect with Sonum.
—The spiritual power of the turtles is still concentrated here —Taga patted him on the shoulder—. Let me guide you. We'll set out immediately.
—Actually, Taga...
Katara stepped forward.
—We could really use your help here. If the Renegades are close, we need to be prepared.
—Yes —Zuko added—. And we're going to need more than Toph's metalbending to fix this airship.
—The repairs can wait —Taga replied—. Aang needs me.
—Taga, please.
Aang's voice interrupted him.
—Stay and help my friends. I'll be fine on my own.
Taga held his gaze for a long moment. Then, he sighed.
—As you wish. We'll begin repairs for our journey home.
Aang nodded. His body began to slowly rise above the deck, weightless, floating above his friends. The light of the setting sun enveloped him, tinting his orange robes a warm gold.
—Everyone... I know I've asked a lot on this journey. But we're about to achieve something that will change the world.
Without waiting for a response, he leaped from the airship. His body plunged downward for a few seconds, his clothes fluttering and the wind whistling in his ears. Then, a familiar bellow echoed from below, and Appa emerged from the low clouds, catching Aang on his back. The flying bison beat his six legs and began to glide toward the interior of the largest island, disappearing from sight.