Avatar: The Last Air Bender- Memories.

Chapter 5: A new chief.

Three and a half years pass and the young family grows one stronger with the arrival of Aang and Katara’s third child, another boy. Tenzin was born three years and two months after Kya. It was a difficult birth for Katara and unfortunately Tenzin’s nose was squashed for the first few months of his life and his older siblings would poke fun at his pig like nose for years to come. Aang and Katara start to train Kya shortly after Tenzin’s birth. The family travel to the Southern water tribe to see Sokka be sworn in as the new Chief. Appa lands in front of the town hall. Sokka pushes Hakoda out in his wheel chair. Kya and Bumi run over to their Grandfather, he picks them both up and puts them on his knee. Aang helps Katara down from Appa’s back. Hakoda looks up at his daughter then to Kya. “She reminds me of you Katara.” Katara smiles and looks to Aang, who is now cradling their newest son. “Who’s this strapping young fellow?” He pats Bumi and Kya on the back signalling them to get down. They both lean forward and peck his cheeks before running off towards Sokka. Aang passes Tenzin to Hakoda. “We’re hoping he’s an Air bender like Aang.” Aang puts his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “He’s perfect my dear, congratulations.” Hakoda shifts his attention to the scrap going on behind his daughter and son-in-law. Kya bends ice up to encase Sokka’s right foot while Bumi swings his leg back to kick his uncle in the shin. “Hey no bending! That isn’t fair!” Sokka chips away at the ice with his boomerang. Katara turns around. “Bumi! Kya!”

“Just like you mother.” Sokka mutters to himself before trying to pull his foot free. Katara bends the ice back to water and Sokka falls backwards. “I give you the future Chief of the southern water tribe.” Aang Smirks and leans towards Hakoda. “You still have time to choose someone else right?” Hakoda laughs and passes Tenzin to Katara. “Sokka may be a bit dim…”

“Hey!”

“But he has proved himself to be a good leader. Come on let’s get inside out of the cold.” Hakoda turns himself round and heads for the door, the rest of the family follow.

The following morning Aang and Katara are woken by Tenzin crying, Aang pats Katara. “Sweetie.”

“I’m going.” She stretches and stands up, she pads across the room to the small ice crib. Katara picks Tenzin up and pats his back. “What’s wrong with him this time?” Aang sits up and Katara sits next to him.

“He’s hungry.”

“Oh, how can you tell?”

“Because I changed him last time.” She lays Tenzin on her lap and pulls her top down. Katara leans forward and picks him up, she holds him to her chest and latches on to suckle straight away. “See?” She looks at Aang, he smiles and leans in to kiss her. “Not…While…I’m…Feeding…Tenzin.” She says between kisses, Aang puts his forehead to hers. “I love you mummy.”

“I love you too daddy.” Aang kisses Katara’s nose and gets out of bed. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to check on the hoodlums, I won’t be long.” He leans down and kisses her one more time before leaving the room and walking down the corridor to Kya and Bumi’s room. He pokes his head round the door frame, Bumi is star-fished across the bed with the sheets and pillows on the floor, Aang shakes his head and looks to Kya. She’s curled up in a ball sucking her thumb, Katara puts her hand on his shoulder and whispers in his ear. “Are they still asleep?” Aang turns around and nods.

“Yeah, they are.” The pair head back to the bedroom and climb into bed. Aang rolls over to face Katara. “You’re so pretty, dream girl.” She smiles and kisses him. “I miss you when you’re away.”

“I miss you too.” Half an hour later and the children wake, they barge into their parents’ room and the day officially begins.

The town hall is decorated for the grand occasion, it isn’t every day a new Chief is sworn in. the streets are lined with bunting and lanterns. Katara and the children follow Sokka and Aang into the grand hall, the walls are lined with the tapestries of the ancestors they will be honouring today. Hakoda is sat at the front of the hall, by his side are the elders. Aang walks with Sokka down the aisle and leaves him at the base of the steps leading to the stage. He pats his friend on the shoulder before joining his family in the pews. Sokka smiles and takes the few steps towards his future. He takes a knee in front of his father. Hakoda nods and opens his arms. “I would like to welcome you all to this momentous occasion. From this day forward my Son will be the Chief of this fine tribe and will lead us into the future. When he was born he was so tiny but I knew he would one day lead us. He may seem a little under qualified for this position but that is my fault, I had to leave him when he was so young and eager to learn. Sokka didn’t let this stop him, he is head strong and full of wonderful crazy ideas. I firmly believe that my son is ready to follow in the footsteps of the Chiefs before him. He is ready to lead a nation.” The elders nod and pass Hakoda the headdress, He places it on his lap and wheels a little closer to Sokka. Sokka bows his head and his father places the headdress upon his head. “Rise Sokka so you may take the oath.” Sokka stands and glances at his sister, who by this point is in floods of tears. “Place your right hand on your heart and raise your left.” He follows Hakoda’s instructions. “Repeat after me. I Sokka take this oath.”

“I Sokka take this oath.”

“As my ancestors before me.”

“I will honour them, protect our heritage and our people.”

“I will do what is right for the tribe above all else.”

“With the people and ancestors as my witness I pledge my life to the ice.”

Sokka turns to his people and bows, the hall erupts into applause and Sokka looks down at his father. “Well done my son.” Sokka puts his hand on his father’s shoulder. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” The festivities go on for a few days. The Avatar and his family have to leave for Republic city to see the opening of the new college.