That Magical Realm You've Always Dreamed Of

Water, Earth, Fire, Air

watercolor, papercut

EDIT: Sword, Fans, Knives, Chi

It's so beautiful and painful to read about how the Air Nomads lived and were perceived by others before the genocide. You know that famous post that said that Sozin killed the very embodiment of fun when he killed the Air Nomads? Well, it was also so much more.

Air Nomads were beloved and considered good omens in most parts of the world. A blessing from a monk or a nun was considered a rare gift by people.

No stupid rules of hierarchy and manners applied to them. People of all ranks freely approached them without any formalities, which is huge given how elaborate the traditions and manners of the other nations were (what a breath of fresh air for them, huh?)

People would stop fighting because of the mere presence of an Air Nomad, out of respect for their teachings. Sightings of sky bison were every child's dream, and the Air Nomads always passed by with cheerful waves and smiles for them.

In the original show, we know that Aang travelled a lot as a child and had friends like Bumi and Kuzon. Imagine the happiness of a small town when a bunch of giggling bald children visited. Imagine the special (vegetarian) snacks they would have prepared beforehand for them. Imagine the absolute chaos their own children would get up to with them.

Air Nomads resolved disputes. They carried messages to far off relatives for no cost. They were the link through which all of the nations communicated. They embodied fun, happiness, and hope.

The wide spread reverence across all the countries for Avatar Yangchen, a figure of love and compassion, a beacon of peace.

The way the monks held all life so sacred that even the act of killing of the bad guys, even indirectly (the winds at sea), in defence of a helpless group was morally reprehensible, a concept most people so easily push away in favour of letting the hero do hero things.

The way, even at the risk of their life, the airbenders aim to disarm, incapacitate, never kill, even if the enemy is obviously going to exploit this weakness. Because it's not a weakness, it's a testament of their strength.

Being gentle and kind in the face of hardship takes a tremendous strength of will and these teachings are what let Aang persevere centuries later in the face of a catastrophe so huge it would have consumed another with grief and vengeance.

Sozin wiped out so much goodness from the world, so much learning and kindness.