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eleventh whirlwind. VIDEO/ACTION. BACKDATED TO THE 3RD.
[ Welcome to a clearing a little ways away from House 56. This is the Airbending Gates clearing, and they're sort of visible in the background. There's a few trees, too, and the one nearest Ikki has Soren in it. Ikki's sitting crosslegged, a box on the ground in front of her. Her journal's propped up against something - a rock? It's just not clear - to leave her hands free.
After she's sure the thing is on, she grins. ]
Hey! This is Ikki! I'd say you know that already but you might not because I don't know everyone and anyway it's New Feather season so there are probably lots of people I don't know. I guess those people don't have to listen to this because I dunno if they'd care although I'll answer questions if they want? Oh, not that ANYONE has to listen to this but I mean I know I listen to things that look most interesting to me and this might not look like that to some people. [ As always, this is all in one breath. Her mile-a-minute chatter has yet to change. ]
Anyway! Guess what?? Tomorrow? Is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ...Not that I mind school, Sifu Raine, Sifu Layton! But that means every day I'll be free! Well except in mornings with grandpa and then sometimes with Rapunzel and Lee and the art club and you know everything else I do but it's still pretty great! I think I'm allowed to be excited about it because that's what you DO when school gets out, right? I mean I never went to a proper one at home because I learned from Daddy at the Island but I talked to some of the kids from the City and I think that's what you do. Oh, and the day after tomorrow is Katara's birthday, which is also pretty exciting! Everyone should say hello to her then, okay?
[ Another pause for breath. Surprisingly, she does actually have to breathe. ...Today is a year since arrival, and apparently that means... ] Today I'm going to share something special with you all. [ That's said as though she's telling a secret, although this isn't at all filtered. ] The secret is inside this box! This box was something Katara and I got, last year. A long time ago! Inside it are very, very special things! Normally I don't show ANYONE it, because that's how you keep secrets, but I'll show you all today. These are my treasures!
...That is, I'll show you if you ask! And then, if you ask, I'll tell you about one of my treasures that you get to see. You have to pick one! And if you pick the RIGHT one, I'll give you a present. [ Because apparently this is a game? Yes, that seems to be the case. ] If you don't get it right, then you don't get a prize!
Oh, and if you're new and listened to all that, you should drop by the school on the fourteenth, 'cause that's the next Art Club meeting and we're always recruiting!
[ Ikki can be contacted about her treasures either in person near the gates or via video. GOOD LUCK, anyone who wants to play guessing games with seven year old children. ]
After she's sure the thing is on, she grins. ]
Hey! This is Ikki! I'd say you know that already but you might not because I don't know everyone and anyway it's New Feather season so there are probably lots of people I don't know. I guess those people don't have to listen to this because I dunno if they'd care although I'll answer questions if they want? Oh, not that ANYONE has to listen to this but I mean I know I listen to things that look most interesting to me and this might not look like that to some people. [ As always, this is all in one breath. Her mile-a-minute chatter has yet to change. ]
Anyway! Guess what?? Tomorrow? Is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ...Not that I mind school, Sifu Raine, Sifu Layton! But that means every day I'll be free! Well except in mornings with grandpa and then sometimes with Rapunzel and Lee and the art club and you know everything else I do but it's still pretty great! I think I'm allowed to be excited about it because that's what you DO when school gets out, right? I mean I never went to a proper one at home because I learned from Daddy at the Island but I talked to some of the kids from the City and I think that's what you do. Oh, and the day after tomorrow is Katara's birthday, which is also pretty exciting! Everyone should say hello to her then, okay?
[ Another pause for breath. Surprisingly, she does actually have to breathe. ...Today is a year since arrival, and apparently that means... ] Today I'm going to share something special with you all. [ That's said as though she's telling a secret, although this isn't at all filtered. ] The secret is inside this box! This box was something Katara and I got, last year. A long time ago! Inside it are very, very special things! Normally I don't show ANYONE it, because that's how you keep secrets, but I'll show you all today. These are my treasures!
...That is, I'll show you if you ask! And then, if you ask, I'll tell you about one of my treasures that you get to see. You have to pick one! And if you pick the RIGHT one, I'll give you a present. [ Because apparently this is a game? Yes, that seems to be the case. ] If you don't get it right, then you don't get a prize!
Oh, and if you're new and listened to all that, you should drop by the school on the fourteenth, 'cause that's the next Art Club meeting and we're always recruiting!
[ Ikki can be contacted about her treasures either in person near the gates or via video. GOOD LUCK, anyone who wants to play guessing games with seven year old children. ]
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[ CHOOSE WISELY, YOUNG AIRBENDER. ]
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Yeah, that's gotta be it!
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[ BZZZZZZZZZ. Although he wasn't wrong about what it was. ]
That's what it is, but that's not the "right" answer! ...Actually, I think you know this story already, but did you want me to tell it to you anyways?
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[ let's pretend rightest is a word, grandpa. She's pulled out the two items he already picked, by the way: the coiled wire and the seashell braceley. ]
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Which story do you want first, grandpa?
[ Wire, seashell bracelet, or prayer beads? ]
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Yes! I'm so glad I won!
[It was really sad when he thought he had lost. But he comes to a landing and calmly wraps an arm his granddaughter with a warm smile.]
How about the beads, first?
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Once upon a time - [ Because that is how all stories start. She's learned that here! ] - there was a little girl who lived on an island with her family. On this island there was a temple - or really the whole island was a temple. It'd been made a long time before she was ever born by her grandpa and his friends, so that she and her daddy and her mommy and all the nomads they lived with would have a place to live and grow.
It's called an island and it is but really it was in a harbor and the mainland was right there. And what was also there was anther island. The little girl and her family could see it from their home, and it was a huuuuuuuge memorial statue. Once when she was learning how to ride a glider they flew over to it even though daddy said we're not supposed to play on the statue and to get down from his daddy's face, but that's not this story.
That statue was of the little girl's grandpa, who she hadn't got to meet on account of there was a new Avatar before she was ever born. But he was everywhere on the island 'cause he built it, and everywhere in the city 'cause he and his friends helped build that, too. But even though that was true, whenever the little girl's uncle and aunt and daddy and grangran would tell her and her sister and brother stories about him, or when her sister would read stories to her at night, she still wanted to meet him someday.
And then one day she woke up somewhere different! After a lot of other stuff that really doesn't matter right now 'cause that'd take FOREVER and long stories can be BORING sometimes. The place she woke up was sunny instead of cold like grangran's place, and she was near a fountain, so she did the smart thing and played in it! And when she was playing in it, she bent air 'cause that's how you play 'cause it's fun.
When she bent the air someone else saw her and came over, and although she thought he was an actor at first on account of everything, she figured he was her spirit guide after he said who he was, and he took her home and got her an apple and took care of her for a long time!
These beads are from one of those times, when she had nightmares about... [ Urgh. She still doesn't like talking about that, even though there's been a year of memories not related to Amon. ] ...stuff that happened to her at home. And when she heard about someone she knew dying. And he said as long as she had them on, they'd keep her safe.
[ The serious look fades into a grin. ]
And they have! He has. And that's the story about the prayer beads, and you and me.
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That's a really good story, Ikki. I love it. I think you're the best storyteller, and I'm always gonna be glad to have met you.
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That's a good choice, Ikki. Now make sure you're sitting down. Because this story? It's extra magical.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who came from the sky. She was an Avatar princess, and she was more magical than anyone. Anything that her heart touched was part of her kingdom. She landed in a fountain and met a humble monk. He was gonna be her grandfather one day, and he swore to take care of her. He just wanted to be a loyal and good knight for the princess. The princess connected to the future, so she brought all kinds of news about what would happen and what wouldn't. She told the monk that things would be alright with his friend, and that his people would be around again. He was happier than ever.
And the princess made their entire house part of her kingdom, because everyone loved her. That included the toughest of the knights. She could only see with her feet, but even she was no match for Ikki- I mean the princess! For the princess's heart. The knight couldn't see those arts that the princess made with her heart. So instead? The princess managed to turn her love into metal and twisted them so that they became art the knight could understand. That was how she struck the knight's heart, and she swore to be the princess's faithful aunt. They were a family that was big, and happy.
One day, the princess disappeared. She'd gone back to her castle in the sky. Everyone loved her and missed her. The monk loved that she was safe in her castle but he was sad that she was gone. But... the knight came to cheer him up. She showed him the metal arts that the princess had left behind. It was like the metals were speaking their own language, telling them that she really does love them back, and they'd all meet again and have fun. It made the monk smile, because he loved the Avatar princess as much as he knows the best families must love each other. One day, she came back, and... [And we started worrying all over again.] Everyone's smiles came back. No one could hug the princess enough. Her metal's still here, too, even if... the knight's gone. But her love's still here. So the kingdom's still complete.
[And he hugs her again, with a kiss to her forehead, smiling brightly.]
And one day? Everyone in that kingdom will have their own babies and... and they'll live happily ever after.
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[ And listening. She loves stories, and no one else had offered to tell her stories about her own treasures.
...and he's even got it right. Though Ikki giggles as soon as Aang kisses her forehead, wrinkling her nose at the babies ever after part. Not that she wouldn't have done it herself... ]
Right! That's a memory of Aunt Toph.
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[ Of course she is taking this hug she will never not take grandpa hugs. ]
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