When You're Gone

The rain fell silently as a group of white figures stood around a stone marker. It was raining today in the Fire Nation, which was odd, since it was summer. The group of five was completely still, and they huddled close to each other; not from the rain, but from sadness. No one made a sound. No one moved. The birds didn’t sing. The wind didn’t blow. The earth was silent, too

Two of the figures, a man and a woman, placed a wreath of fire lillies over the marker. “Goodbye, Aang,” the man said. Zuko and Katara moved back to the group. Katara was crying silently. Zuko put his arm around her. “Aang was the most kind, tender-hearted, most courageous person I ever knew,” Zuko said.

“He always tried to help others,” Sokka added.

“He risked his life to save the world,” Katara whispered.

Toph sniffed loudly. “He was the only one man enough to take me on in Earth Rumble 6.”

“We’ll miss him,” Zuko said softly. Just a week ago, Sozin’s Comet had returned. While he and Katara had fought Azula, and Sokka, Toph, and Suki and taken on the Air Ship Fleet, Aang had fought Firelord Ozai by himself. And then one of Ozai’s shots of lightning had found it’s target...

“I just can’t believe he’s gone... forever...” Toph said softly. Zuko put his other arm around her.

“We should start back to the palace. The memorial ceremony is going to start in about an hour,” Zuko said.

The five of them- Zuko, Katara, Toph, Suki, and Sokka- started back towards the city. Toph looked over her shoulder at the marker surrounded by dozens of flowers. “Goodbye, Aang. I’ll miss you,” she said as a tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. The rain fell harder as she turned and walked away.