(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Eighty-Three

Appa flies through the sky. Pikachu sat on his head with Momo and Aang. Rana is sleeping behind them, Sokka and Katara sat close to her, keeping an eye on her. Aang starts to smile as he takes something in, seeing something in the distance.

"Hey, we're almost at the Northern Air Temple!" Aang shouts, Rana jerks awake and then instantly regrets it. Her hand shoots to her side and she cries out in pain. Aang cringes a little and offers an apologetic smile. "This is where they had the championships for sky bison polo" Katara sits next to Rana and touches her arm in question, to make sure she is okay.

"Do you think we'll really find air-benders?" She asks.

"You want me to be like you, or totally honest?" Sokka counters, Rana and Katara look at him. Katara folds her arms over her chest.

"Are you saying I'm a liar?" She asks him.

"I'm saying you're an optimist" Sokka defends. "Same thing basically" Aang looks ahead, smiling brighter.

"Hey, guys, look at this!" He points out. Appa flies them towards the Northern Air Temple. It sits atop a sheer peak similar to its sister temple down south. Unlike that temple, however, there are people or things flying around this one. Cut to a closer shot of the temple. Smoke rises in lazy pillars from a couple of places among the spires. Around the temple fly many gliders. Aang's smile turns to a slight frown.

"Huh! They really are air-benders!" Katara points out. Aang leans back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest unhappily.

"No, they're not"

"What do you mean they're not?" Sokka asks. "Those guys are flying!"

"Gliding maybe, but not flying. You can tell by the way they move. They're not air-bending. Those people have no spirit" As he finishes, Katara and Sokka almost get their heads taken off by a glider as it passes over their heads. The glider pilot laughs. Rana groans and drops her head back. Katara points at the glider.

"I don't know, Aang. That kid seems pretty spirited!" The wheelchair glider makes another pass. Aang looks at him and gets a competitive look on his face. He jumps into the air, unfolds his glider and takes off. The other gliders now fly in formation around Appa. Katara falls backwards, crashing into Sokka.

"We better find some solid ground before it finds us!" Sokka points out as Rana slides across the saddle when Appa tries to avoid the gliders. Rana curls around her side and cringes.

.........

Appa lands gracefully on one of the temple's outer terraces. Pikachu bouncing along his back to get to Rana as Sokka helps her down from the back of the sky bison. Unsteady on her feet, Rana keeps an arm around herself, Sokka holding her up as they watch Aang in the sky. Katara picks up Pikachu and slides from Appa's back to join them. Aang soars upwards through the sky behind the glider boy that he's challenging.

"Go, Teo! Show that bald kid how it's done!" Sokka snorts and looks at the boy that shouted up at the sky. Aang continues his pursuit. Teo hits his brakes, loops backwards and ends us behind Aang. They twirl around each other in a controlled dive. Aang breaks his descent, turns and shoots straight upward. He comes back to one of the temple's towers, lets go of his glider, and starts running along the side of the tower. Then he produces an air scooter, jumps on it and rides it along the outside wall of the tower, his glider still running alongside him. He lets the air scooter die and then jumps back on his glider and soars back into the sky. Something then glistens against the sun, almost unnoticeable except for Aang who turns his head to seek out whatever it is. It's red and grey and it's darting through the sky in the distance, moving in closer to the temple. Aang's eyes narrow at it before he moves to intercept it. But it's fast and agile and determined. Managing to out manoeuvrer Aang.

"What is that?" Sokka asks as they watch from the temple. Rana's eyes widen.

"Wait!" Rana yells as she watches. "It's a pokemon!" She shouts at Aang who looks surprised before he stops chasing the Talonflame, allowing it to fly towards Rana and the temple. He lands in front of Rana, staring at her before he pushes the satchel towards her.

"Is that for me?" Rana asks.

"Talon" He answers and inclines his head before pushing the bag again. Sokka moves and picks up the bag before returning to Rana, holding it up to dig around, knowing that she probably won't have the energy to do so all by herself. Sokka hands over a letter before he goes back to the bag.

"Your book" Sokka comments as he pulls the tome from the bag. Rana looks down at the letter and smiles slightly. "What?" Sokka asks her.

"Nothing" She whispers. She's actually touched that Iroh sent Talonflame to check on her, for Zuko, but still. To give her book back too. She moves closer to the Talonflame, struggling slightly. She falls to her knees and cringes, clenching her jaw tight to stop the cry of pain. Talonflame nudges her and helps her upright. She touches his neck feathers and gives him a thankful smile. "Will you stick around?" She asks him. "So I can write back?"

"Talon" He answers softly and nods.

"You're really beautiful" She whispers. She says it rather a lot about pokemon, but they really are all beautiful and amazing and she's in awe with every single one she comes across. Aang lands next to Katara and Sokka, folding his glider. Teo lands his glider right behind, skidding only a bit before he applies his hand brake and comes to a stop. A bunch of kids come up and detach the glider from his wheelchair. He then wheels over to Aang and his friends. Sokka then moves to Rana and touches her shoulder. She lets out a shaky breath and then allows him to help her up to her feet. Talonflame leaps up, and lands on Sokka's head, leaving him unamused. Teo moves closer to the group.

"Our friend" Katara starts. "She's injured, is there anywhere..."

"I just need a quiet corner..." Rana stops Katara. "I'm fine...." She adds when she notes Katara's concerned gaze. "Look, I'll stay out here with Appa" Appa makes an agreeing noise. "Go, find out what you need to..." She and Aang share a look. "I'll be here" He gives her a soft smile and nods.