When All Hope Is Lost

But He's Just A Kid!

Auretta was taking a walk around the air temple. It was a beautiful day what with the sun shining, a gentle breeze flowing through, the lemurbats flying overhead; nothing could ruin this perfect day. The young girl sighed, feeling true peace, as she reached her hand up to let a falling leaf land in her hand. She smiled softly at the brown piece of the tree in her hand, knowing that this leaf had fallen to make room for new life next spring.

Winter was coming.

"Auretta."

The brunette turned to the person who called out to her, only to see monk Gyatso. "Monk Gyatso." She bowed respectfully. "How may I help you?"

Gyatso smiled at his pupil, but the old man held a seldom look in his eyes. "The other monks and I need to speak with you." Auretta nodded and followed her elder to where the rest of the monks were. Gyatso didn't speak a word to her the whole way there. That wasn't like him at all.

Once Gyatso had taken a seat, Auretta bowed to the other monks before kneeling on the floor. "You all wanted to speak to me?"

"Your brother, Aang, is the avatar." Monk Pasang said.

Auretta's eyes widened. "Are you sure? If that is the case, then shouldn't you wait to tell him until he turns sixteen?"

Gyatso sighed. "Under normal circumstances, yes. But this time it's different."

"We feel there is a war upon us. We need to begin his training now."

Auretta's head was spinning. Aang is strong yes, but is he ready for this responsibility? He's just a child. He would have to let go of his childhood earlier than he should have to. She's not sure if she's ready to let her brother do that. However, she knew he had to, for it is his destiny. That doesn't mean she was happy about it.

"Are you sure? He's just a child!" She tried to reason.

"I wish I could say differently, but it is his destiny. If he doesn't begin his training now, the whole world could be in danger." Monk Pasang stated, shaking his head.

Auretta looked down to her hands with sadness in her eyes. "I understand. Would you like me to tell him?"

"No, Auretta. Please bring him here. We wanted to let you know beforehand in case Aang doesn't take the news well." Gyatso states, smiling softly at his pupil. Auretta sent back a small smile, nodding her head, and bowed to the others as she left to find her younger brother.

...

After some time of searching, she found her brother teaching some of the other kids how to ride on an air scooter. She giggled as one of the boys fell off of his scooter, and smiled as Aang told another boy he made up the air scooter trick. Her smile faltered when she remembered why she was even looking for him in the first place. That didn't stop her from smiling at him as she called his name however. "Aang!"

Said boy turned and smiled as wide as ever at his older sister. "Oh, hey Retta!"

Auretta smiled at the nickname, and wondered if he would still call her that after finding out his childhood is over. "Come with me, little brother."

Aang waved goodbye to his friends and joined his sister on the staircase. Auretta linked her arm with his, and they began to make their down the path. Auretta watched her brother as he watched the leaves falling from the trees around them. She hoped the sparkle would never leave his eyes; that always stayed as big and bright as it always was when he looked at her; she hoped he kept laughing that same laugh that makes everyone around him smile and laugh too. She hoped he would stay a kid. Even just for a little while longer.

But she knew that was just a selfish wish. The world needed him. But at what cost from himself?

"Are you ok, Retta?"

Auretta shook the negative thoughts from her mind, and smiled down to her brother. "I'm alright, Aang. The Council of Elders want to speak to you."

Aang sweat dropped. "Did I do something wrong?"

Auretta laughed and patted his head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong, Aang."

When they arrived at the council of elders' chambers, Auretta released her grip on her brother's arm, and sent him a reassuring smile. "I'll be right out here, Aang." Aang modded his head, and made his way inside.

While she waiting, the young brunette couldn't help but chew at her nails as her anxiety grew. She new her brother. He wouldn't take this well. He'd put on a brave face, but she knew this was going to hit him hard.

Auretta waited for what felt like hours, but in actuality was mere minutes, when her brother finally emerged from the doorway. He was looking sadly down at the floor, but quickly snapped back to a smile when he knew his sister could see him. She frowned internally at that, but smiled nonetheless. "How did it go?" She asked as she once again linked her arm with his, and they began to make their way back to where Aang's friends were.

"Well, I'm the avatar, so that's cool I guess!" Aang smiled at his sister, but she could still see the sadness in his eyes.

Auretta frowned at this and tightened her grip on his arm. "And how do you feel about that?"

Aang looked ahead of him, and smiled bittersweetly as he answered. "I don't know. It's my destiny, so I'm happy I have a part to play." He paused for a moment, before his smile grew wider. "I'm really happy, Auretta!" Auretta couldn't help but smile along with him, but felt a bit of her heart break when he called her by her full name.

Soon, they arrived back to where Aang was playing with his friends before, only to find them all riding their own air scooters! Aang smiled, and left his sister to join the others. "Hey, not bad! You guys have been practicing!"

One of the younger boys circled around Aang while riding an air scooter. "Not only that- we made up a game you can play with the air scooters!"

"Great!" Aang exclaimed excitedly as he air-bended onto his own air scooter, only to see the other boys release their air scooters and stand there staring at him. Aang frowned. "What's going on?"

"Now that you're the avatar, it's kind of an unfair advantage for whichever team you're on." One of the older boys shrugged.

Auretta frowned at that. How did they already find out?

"But I'm still the same. Nothing's changed!" Aang faltered. "So... what? I can't play?"

"That's the only fair way."

"Oh. Ok." Aang released his wind scooter and walked away with his head down.

Auretta sent a small glare to the boys below before air-bending herself down next to her brother. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder, and pulled him into a side hug. "Can I take back what I said earlier? I don't feel happy at all." Aang said as he lent his head on his sister's shoulder. She felt her heart break, as a lump formed in her throat. She couldn't say anything, so she opted in wrapping her other arm around him, and holding him tight as they walked.

Auretta felt droplets of water fall onto the sleeve on her arm, and heard a sniffle come from Aang. She felt his shoulders start to shake, so she hugged him tighter and planted a kiss on the top of his head. She felt her own tears threaten to fall as Aang's cries filled the empty alleyway.

This is exactly what she was afraid of.