Yangvik Week Day 1 - Past Lives "A Lesson from Yangchen."
Aang paces around the outskirts of Wolf Cove, deep in thought.
He had told Katara, who was currently sleeping in her home within the village, that he was going to be up late speaking with his past lives to try and find advice on how to handle several worldly affairs such as port systems for the United Republic and how to calm the public to prevent future rebel groups from rising. That he needed to do so in a quiet, secluded space.
Katara hadn’t thought much of it, Aang consistently contacted his past lives for aid in worldly affairs so asking for help in port management wasn’t new, Avatars such as Szeto and Yangchen had been experts in their day, and Avatar Kyoshi was the ultimate peacekeeper. So there was nothing for her to question too deeply.
But Aang hadn’t told her the truth about the wisdom he was actually seeking. He did not need guidance on ports or peacekeeping. He needed wisdom for her.
The Gaang has been traveling the world for years, rebuilding the Earth Kingdom and reestablishing peace amongst the three nations. But it always took up a large portion of their time, the Gaang always talked about going on more adventures despite everyone being consistently out of time, and Aang was worried he was letting Katara down with how often he had to travel.
Aang finally took a seat in the snow, it was cold at first but he soon adapted. With his legs crossed, he pressed his fists together and closed his eyes, focusing all his energy into balling within him then projecting it outward. “Avatar Roku. I need your wisdom.”
There was another temperature shift, a turn in the winds, the air became more still, and the ground beneath the young avatar seemed to disappear.
“Hello Aang,” the voice boomed through the empty space around them. The wisdom of the croak could be heard deep within. Aang opened his eyes to the familiar face of Avatar Roku. “It is good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, Roku.” Aang smiled at his predecessor who had always been by his side, even if he didn’t deserve it. “I need your advice… advice for Katara.”
Roku stroked his beard and nodded for Aang to continue. This certainly isn’t the first time Aang has asked for relationship advice, but Roku was attentive to any question his successor may need answered.
Aang pulled a blue pendant with intricate carvings of the Water Tribe and Air Nation symbols from his robes. “I want to propose to Katar, but I don’t know the right course of action. I can’t ask Sokka, he won’t say anything but he will get excited, and that will be noticed by Katara.” Aang glanced down from Roku to the pendant. He sighed as he tucked the stone jewel back into his robes. “And marriage in general, does that go against the Air Nomad teachings? Does it go against my lessons with Guru Pathik to cut off worldly and emotional desires? I’m asking you because you were married despite doing the same, did it impact your spirits? Did your connection change? Did-”
“Aang,” Roku cut him off from spiraling further, “while I do understand your worries, I do not believe I am the one you should be asking these questions.”
“Then who?... Kuruk?!” It made perfect sense, a Water Avatar would know all there is to know about water tribe proposal customs.
Roku shook his head. “While Kuruk does know much about the Water Tribe, he is not from the Air Nation, and cannot tell you the rules of marriage of the Air Nomads.”
“So I have to ask an Air Nation Avatar? Does Kyoshi count?”
“No,” Roku shook his head, “she was raised in the Earth Kingdom and married a Fire Nation woman. The information you seek comes from a generation further, and Air Nomad with a Water Tribe acquaintance as she likes to put it.”
“You mean Yangchen?” Aang raised his eyebrow and looked at the wise old Avatar in confusion. “I do respect and honour the teachings of Yangchen, she’d understand and can guide me in the rules of marriage within Air Nomad society, but what would she know about proposals? Her records never mention a lover, or even any relationships beyond platonic.”
“Yangchen was private, young avatar, and you’ll find that what is recorded in history is not always accurate to the event.”
Aang nodded and bowed his head to Roku, “I will check then. Thank you, Avatar Roku, for your wisdom.”
Roku returned Aang’s bow before dissipating away.
“Avatar Yangchen," Aang called out into the blue void, “I need your wisdom.”
The temperature shifted once again as Aang felt a new presence take form in front of him. When he opened his eyes, the spiritual form of Avatar Yangchen was sitting in front of him.
“Hello, Avatar Aang,” the nun greeted Aang, “from what I’ve heard, you are requesting relationship advice; that is not a conventional request of past lives, but it is effective when your past lives aid you in some of the average life's paths.”
Aang grimaced for a moment before returning to a face of serenity to match the Nun. “Avatar Yangchen, Avatar Roku informed me that you may have the answer to my questions, that you have experience in the fields I’m aimless in.”
Yangchen looked at the young man and hummed to herself before coming up with an answer, “Airnomads are free to marry if they so chose. It was not common practice, but if your spirit feels truly connected to someone, in this scenario Katara, then it is celebrated.”
“But isn’t it different because I’m the Avatar?”
The air grew silent for a moment as Avatar Yangchen thought. “No,” she concluded, “many avatars- nearly all avatars- have had deep rooted romantic relationships, if marriage did not affect their spirits it will not affect yours. Many times, these relationships healed their spirits in ways meditation cannot.”
Aang nodded, he understood what Yangchen is saying, but he was still confused. “Thank you, Yangchen, but this all seems like common knowledge that Roku could’ve answered- no offense- why did he say to speak with you?”
“No offense taken, young Avatar.” Yangchen smiled to him and herself before continuing, “but you had one more question, about Water Tribe customs, that I may be of help answering. How you ever heard of my dear companion, Kavik?”
“Yes, he was mentioned in many records from aiding the bookkeeping from the Shang System.”
“But he was much more than that.”
The scene changed from a watery, opened void, to the Western Air Temple. This is one of Yangchen's memories.
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“You can tell people to shut up, you know that, right?” Kavik trailed behind the young Avatar as they exited yet another gruesomely boring meeting in Jonduri. “They’d probably never talk again if the Avatar told them that.”
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“Is that him?” Aang glanced at Yangchen, who was watching the scene with a lost look in her eyes. Aang couldn’t quite place the emotion.
“Yes. That is my closest friend, Kavik. In this memory we’re both older than you are now, twenty-eight if I remember correctly.”
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Yangchen rubbed her temples and sighed down the long haul. “Spirits, I would if I could. But that would taint the image of the avatar.”
“Most nobles are already scared of you.”
“Those are nobles, there are regular citizens walking these halls and in those meetings even if they are not who we’re negotiating with.”
Kavik sped up a bit and slowed down once he was on par with Yangchen. “Are you okay? You’ve been off all morning.”
“Tired. It was a long ride here, and it will be another long ride to wherever we’re called next.” Yangchen wouldn’t admit it, but she’s not a fan of boats. She couldn’t borrow any sky bison at the moment with the Air Nomads all being busy with summer solstice ritual preparations coming up. They didn’t have the resources to temporarily let go of a spare.
“The next meeting doesn’t start till one-thirty,” Yangchen and Kavik stepped out into the front courtyard of the building where a small sundial stood.
Kavik glanced at the time, “it’s eleven-thirty. You have time to rest.” Yangchen glared at him. “Or oil your joints, because you seem to like operating like a machine.”
Yangchen rolled her eyes and began walking faster. “I’ll be heading up to the office. I need to get my notes in order before the next meeting.”
“It wouldn’t kill us- kill you to take a rest.” Kavik muttered.
“You were supposed to,” Kavik pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed before catching up to Yangchen. “You have the respect of the four nations, and their leaders. Commoners pray to you, and the nobility obey your every word. Nobody would blame you if you take a break.”
“I understand that, Kavik, and I will take a break later, but right now my attention and presence is required.” Yangchen closed the office door in his face. Absolutely insufferable, she thought to herself. After eleven years of working together- and friendship Yangchen supposed- she would’ve assumed her feelings towards him would have been neutralized. But Kavik surpasses the kind of annoyance you get from a coworker or a friend, he’s just different. More reliable, but gets on her back more.
Closing your eyes couldn’t hurt. A small thought appeared in the back of Yangchen's head. One that was not her own. It sounds quite nice.
“Not you too,” Yangchen sat down and began reading over the papers on her desk. She’d been having less “episodes” as she got older. But they’d sneak up and grab her when she’s sleep deprived.
“I don’t have time to worry about you all when I’ve already got so much with the ports and…” Yangchen yawned. Closing her eyes did sound lovely right now.
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“So was Kavik your friend or not?” Aang asked his distant predecessor. “You seem to think pretty negatively of him.”
“Hmm-? Oh,” Yangchen turned to face the young man, “of course Kavik was my friend prior to this. Dare I say my best.”
“But you brush him off and his concerns- what do you mean ‘was’?”
“Be patient, young Avatar.”
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“She is absolutely insufferable,” Kavik groaned as he walked Jonduri’s market with Jujinta. The adult Jujinta was nearly a head taller and twice the size of Kavik. He’d been scouring the grounds around the meeting hall and inside, his goal was to follow the Avatar, and doing that included protecting her, so Jujinta had somewhat assigned himself as the bodyguard.
“She treats herself like a machine and, while repetitive, it’s painful to watch.”
“Tell me about it.” Jujinta muttered, picking a pear from a market stall before tossing a coin to the vendor.
“All I ever do is try to help her, and she brushes me off in return!” Kavik threw his hands up for dramatic effect. “I just want to help.”
“You groan a lot,” Jujinta said in between bites of his mouth stuffed with pear.
Kavik glared at Jujinta, “thanks.”
Jujinta didn’t react to the glare, didn’t even look back at Kavik. “Just help where you see pockets available. Aren’t waterbenders supposed to be good at adapting?”
“I always help where help is needed.”
“Available.” Jujinta clarified. “When I was working in the association I only took the jobs that were available, not the ones where they requested help.”
“How is Yangchen and your work in the association remotely related?”
Jujinta finished chewing through his bite of pear. “Just get your lunch and get back to your office if you won’t listen.”
They rounded into the market square where another public sun-dial stood. Half past noon. An hour and a quarter till the next meeting.
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Kavik entered the study with two teacups in hand. “I grabbed a few caffeine leaves from the market, so you won’t die in the meeting.”
Yangchen is sitting silently at her desk, tapping her writing brush up and down in a slow, distracted pace.
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Aang quickly noticed how the air felt wrong. Not wrong, but something was off. That person he was watching in the chair didn’t have Yangchen's energy.
“We are no longer in my memory,” Yangchen said to the young Avatar, sensing his unease.
“But that’s you, and you’re here,” Aang rubbed his head in confusion, trying to piece the information together. “Who’s in the chair?”
“Avatar Gun was. He’s always been a pain in my side, taking over my mind.”
Aang had learned of Yangchen’s “gift” many years ago through past communications and lessons from the Southern Air Temple Monks. “If Avatar Gun is in the chair, then why am I not speaking to him?”
Yangchen hummed for a moment in thought. “I was partially conscious in the moment. Having dazed control over my words and actions. The moment wasn’t clear to me at the time, but it is a memory I often visit.”
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“Yangchen? Are you alright?” Kavik approached his companion who didn’t show any acknowledgement that she saw him. “Avatar Yangchen, I brought tea.”
Yangchen’s head finally turned in Kavik's direction. “Oh, thank you, Kavik.” Yangchen took the tea and brought it to her lip. She took a long, deep sip, letting the warmer liquid sit for a few moments before setting the cup down. “Sorry I didn’t see you, I’m just tired.”
Well maybe you wouldn’t be if you took my advice. “No need to apologize, I get it.” Kavik took a seat on the chair on the other side of Yangchen’s desk. Help when help is available. Jujinta’s advice repeated in Kavik’s head.
Kavik read over a few of his own notes, while Yangchen went through the mountain of her’s. “Are you sure you don’t want me to cancel the meeting?” Kavik prodded again when he glanced up and saw Yangchen half asleep. “We have ten minutes, that’s enough time to get the message out.”
Yangchen stared at Kavik for a moment. There was a slight vacant look to her face, Kavik knows not to question that part.
“That may be the best option right now,” Yangchen rubbed her temples. Her head was still pounding. She knew that Kavik had likely figured out what happened. That is NOT his business right now.
“On it .” Kavik got up and left the room to find another assistant to send out a message.
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Kavik reentered the room. “I sent out the message, luckily nobody had arrived by the time I was actually able to send it out.”
Kavik sat down across from Yangchen again. “You should go back to the zhang quarters, I’ll clean up here.”
“Thank you, again,” Yangchen set her writing brush down. She took a sip to finish off the now lukewarm tea and looked up at Kavik. She didn’t say anything, he looked so cute when he was eager to help, or just be there for the Avatar.
“I’m sorry for being impatient,” Kavik said after a moment. He felt like he was being stared down but there was no malice in her eyes. “I should have gotten the hang of waiting by now.”
“You do groan a lot,” Yangchen grinned at the young man, “but your honesty is what I like about you- as my assistant-” Yangchen quickly added, “many lives, mine and my predecessors, have taught me to be careful with who I trust. And I trust you Kavik, you’re my closest friend. And those same past lives and life lessons taught me that having close friends makes the burden of the Avatar easier. So I appreciate your concern, even when you’re annoying.”
Kavik stared at Yangchen for a moment. “Okay now you’re really starting to freak me out.”
Yangchen rolled her eyes and pushed her chair away from the desk before standing up. “You’re a fool. Let’s go back to the Zhang quarters before I fall asleep in the ink pot.”
Kavik bit back a grin as he stood up to follow Yangchen. “Okay, I’m telling Jujinta, Tayagum, and Akuudan that you called me your closest friend by the way.”
Kavik’s comment was met with a paper being air blasted into his face.
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“That didn’t seem… romantic?” Aang rubbed the back of his smooth head, turning to look at Yangchen.
Yangchen sighed, maybe it wasn’t the best memory to show for this context, but it is still dear to her heart. “This was one of few moments I was truly vulnerable with someone in my life. Someone who I didn’t grow up in the Western Air Temple with, someone who didn’t owe me a favor, someone who wasn’t trying to just follow me around. Kavik was truly my closest friend, his presence made my life as the Avatar easier. Like how Katara makes being the Avatar less of a burden on you.” Yangchen poked the young monk in between the eyes.
“He’s starting to sound like your boyfriend.” Aang grinned as the air around them shifted back into the spiritual, floorless space from before.
“That is information that is not for you.” Avatar Yangchen stepped in front of Avatar Aang, “I hope you understood what I was trying to teach you, young Avatar. You have the answers to your many questions, be wise. Katara is the embodiment of her element, like how you are the embodiment of all four. Water is available when it is needed, be available when Katara needs help, don’t force yourself into it. But still always have her back. With this information, you and Katara will have a very happy life together, young Avatar.”
Aang soaked in the words. He understood the lesson, Avatar Yangchen did a good job teaching it.
“Thank you, Avatar Yangchen,” Aang bowed to the Nun, “for your wisdom and knowledge.”
Yangchen returned the bow before dissipating into the spiritual energy void around them.
A past life fulfilling their duty to advise the Avatar is the more straightforward approach, but a person caring enough to teach a student with their own experience was much better.
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