Sector W7, Part 3

Chapter 3: Aisa, the Shandian Who Could Fly

Sector W7 Treehouse

Another peaceful morning over Water 7. It had been 3 days since Aeincha's injury, and the Lilliputian's legs were healed. Already, she was trudging down the hall in her pajamas, rubbing her tired eyes on her long journey to the kitchen, to begin her morning exercise. When she arrived at the living room, she caught notice of a familiar, white-capped barefoot girl sitting on the balcony, on her knees. Aeincha quietly approached her friend Aisa, who stared dreamily at the white, puffy clouds in the heavens.

Aeincha sat down beside her friend's left foot and spoke, "Hey, Aisa!"

Aisa flinched lightly and looked down behind her left. "Oh, hey, Aeincha. I never hear you there!" she smiled.

"That's why I'm tiny!" she grinned. The two friends exchanged in laughter. Aeincha then asked, "So, whatcha staring at?"

"Oh… just the clouds." Aisa said, staring back up at the sky.

"Oh… hm hm!"

"Aeincha… ever wondered what it looks like above the clouds?"

"Well, I wouldn't know. I'm not the one with wings!" she beamed.

Aisa looked at her with a frown.

"Oh…" Aein frowned, "That's right… you can't-"

"Yeah." Aisa looked away. "I don't really get it either. I was born here on Earth, but my parents told me we were Nimbi. But I was told that all Nimbi are born airbenders… so if I'm a Nimbi, how come I'm not an airbender? Why can't I fly? I've always wanted to see what it was like above the clouds…"

"Well, you don't need wings to fly, Aisa. The Kids Next Door has plenty of jetpacks."

"It doesn't work that way, Aeincha!" Aisa looked at her with furrowed eyes. "Ever wonder why airplanes or helicopters could never see Skypia? The only way to find Skypia is to use wings or take the natural entrances. And most of the time, you need airbending for that, anyway."

Aeincha stood up and gave a smile. "Well, let's try to make you fly! Come on, I'll help you!"

"Don't you think I tried?" Aisa asked, standing up.

"It doesn't hurt to try some more. Come on!" she ran off excitedly, and Aisa rolled her eyes.

"Aaaaannnnd GO!" Aisa began to dash hurriedly around the couch, not stopping for a second as she tried to gain speed. Her bare feet quickly became sore, but she needed as much momentum as possible. "Aaaannnnd FLY!"

Aisa turned, ran toward, and jumped off the couch, frantically flapping her arms in midair. "OOF!" In the end, she plopped to the floor on her front. Aeincha approached her giant face with a sheepish smile.

"Heheh, heheh. Ooookay. Maybe you don't need a running jump."

Later, they were in Aisa's room, and Aeincha sat on her nightstand, her head moving up-and-down as her Nimbi friend bounced and bounced on her bed. Since running speed wouldn't get wind under her wings, they decided to try jumping. Aisa seemed to get slightly higher, as Aeincha yelled, "Okay! NOW you can try it!"

With a few more jumps, Aisa took a mighty leap forward. "OOF!" She plopped down on the floor with a thud. Aeincha grinned sheepishly at Aisa's dizzy face.

They decided to try a more gentler approach as Aisa was bent over on all fours while a box-fan was blowing forcefully against her, forcing Aisa to squint. Aeincha could see her wings blowing slightly, and she suspected her friend would have liftoff. "Maybe just a BIT more…" With that, Aeincha turned the fan's setting from "High" to "Supah Crazy." The fan blasted wind with incredible force, and she was forcibly pushed backward, going out the window and plopping onto the balcony below.

This gave Aein an idea, and Aisa was now backed against the living room wall, upside-down as the top of her head touched the floor. The blood was rushing to the uncomfortable Aisa's head, and in time she would be lightheaded, so maybe that would enable her to fly. After a while, she got up, and was feeling quite dizzy. Aeincha stood on the floor and watched her friend with excitement, hoping she may fly. But as Aisa wobbled her way, she turned and dizzily fell back, crushing Aeincha under her rear. She was too dizzy to feel her friend's squirming.

Later…

"My head hurts…" Aisa said.

"Let's go to the bathroom, I'll wash your hair." Aeincha offered, hopping off the couch.

"Ohhh… my head hurts, though."

"Let's go to the bathroom, I'll wash your hair." Aeincha offered, hopping off the couch.

They were later in the bathroom as Aisa sat in a chair, backed to the sink as she bent her head back into the sink. Her cap was off, so her hair was under the faucet as Aeincha turned the hot water on. She climbed onto the soap bottle and jumped on the lid to squirt the substance into the sink. Afterwards, she got down, gathered some soap in her tiny hands, and began to scrub Aisa's scalp as hard as she could. It helped to relieve the pain on Aisa's head, even though she could barely feel Aein's scrubbing. "Siiiigh." Aisa breathed. "Maybe my wings were never cut out for flying."

"Maybe you're an earthbender!" Aeincha beamed. "That's why you're barefoot!"

"I tried earthbending already. That didn't work either."

After Aisa's hair was washed, Aeincha was seated on her shoulder as Aisa walked through the living room. "Maybe your wings are just stiff!" The Lilliputian figured. "Bend over, I'll try to flap them!" Looking unsure, Aisa bent over, and Aein got on her back as she gripped her left wing. The tiny girl tried to haul her wing up and down, but it was surprisingly heavy. At one point, Aeincha tried to forcefully tug on it, and-

"AHHH!" Aisa screamed, quickly standing back straight as Aeincha flung off.

Aeincha got up and rubbed her head. "Okay… you can still feel your wings."

"Siiigh. Maybe it just isn't in Shandian blood. But thanks for trying to help, Aeincha."

"You're welcome." Aein frowned, standing and brushing off. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."

"It's okay." Aisa smiled as she picked her friend up. "Why don't we grab a bite at Grandpa Banban's?" She set the Lilliputian on her shoulder and approached the balcony.

As they were about to walk down the balcony stairs, a chilly wind suddenly came by and blew past their hair, and Aeincha had to hang tight to Aisa's dress. A bright smiled appeared on Aein's face. "That's it!"

"Hm?" Aisa looked curious.

"Maybe the reason you haven't flown is because you never bonded with your natural element!"

"Hmmm… well, now that you mention it."

"Come on: let's try ONE last time!" she gestured Aisa to head back up, and she did so.

The Shandian now stood before the balcony's railing, eyes closed and her arms spread out as the peaceful winds chilled her skin. "Aeincha… I don't know. I mean, it's too dangerous to jump-"

"Quit worrying." She cut her off, seated on the railing with a smile. "And you're not gonna jump. Just clear your head of worries, get adjusted to the air, and when you feel the motion in your wings, that's when you fly." Of course, Aeincha just based all this from how she thought elements work.

Aisa just stood there. The wind continued to blow her hair and dress. It was a good feeling, hearing only the sounds of wind and the streaming of the massive fountain's water. Their treehouse was stationed directly on top the fountain, and the view of the expansive city was marvelous. Hundreds of miles above the ground.

Aeincha nodded, feeling that her friend was getting it. In only a few moments, she would be off her feet. However, another forceful wind suddenly came by. "Whoooa-oo-oo!" The Lilliputian lost her balance on the railing. Aisa shot her eyes open wide. "Aaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

"AEINCHA!" Aisa's friend went falling over the balcony to the hundred-mile drop. The Nimbi immediately jumped off, arms stretched directly downward. "UNGH!" She successfully gripped her falling friend, but she herself was about to come in contact with the ground below. Aisa held her friend close and shut her eyes tight. The drop seemed inevitable.

But just before she fell past the buildings' roofs, she felt a sudden brush of air, and she continued to fall. Aisa squinted her eyes open, but was surprised when there wasn't ground up ahead. Instead, the ocean's great horizon was drawing closer. She looked down, seeing the town underneath, and looked back, seeing the great fountain draw further from beyond her feet. She faced ahead again, and a wide smile appeared on her face. "Hahaha-HYEAAAAHH!"

As she stretched her arms, still holding Aeincha in her left, the Lilliputian opened her eyes as well. Powerful winds brushed past their hair as she saw the city passing by from below. She turned around, seeing Aisa's whole body, from her head to her feet, touch nothing. Aeincha stretched her arms, and she felt the sensation, too. "WAAAHOOOO!"

Aisa set Aeincha on her back, and the Lilliputian held tight as her Nimbi friend soared excitedly around the air. She did a few spins as she soared down just above the rooftops, then back to the sky. They both looked back, seeing the water town draw farther and farther away. They faced ahead again, and the puffy clouds were drawing closer. In seconds, the two were above the clouds, and both their minds were filled with excitement and wonder.

Aisa's smile couldn't be more wide, and her eyes never much joy. It was incredible. "I…I can't believe I'm flying!"

"Seeee?? You can do ANYthing you set your mind to!"

"Ha ha ha ha!" Aisa flew down and blew through some clouds, getting herself and Aeincha wet. "I don't understand… how did it happen?"

"I don't know!" Aein said, holding both arms straight out. The tiny child has never felt this much excitement. "Maybe it just happens when you're in danger! …WAAAAHEEEEEEYYYY!" Aisa did a few more twirls through clouds, but her little friend stayed on her back.

"But this… I'm flying!" Aisa couldn't find the words. "It's just!... so… great!... It's the most wonderful feeling in the world!"

"Well, where you gonna fly TO???"

"I…I dunno!" Aisa began to look worried. "If I land… what if I can't fly again??"

"Don't show fear!" Aeincha cheered. "Just keep flying!"

"Says the girl who's relying on me not to drop her!"

The two continued to fly for several more minutes. The only sounds were that of the wind blowing against their faces.

"If you can only see Skypia if you have wings, shouldn't we be seeing it?" Aeincha asked.

"I dunno. Most clouds in the sky are just plain Island Cloud. There could only be so much in the White Sea."

Eventually, the Nimbi child soared to a random cloud, taking a soft land on her feet. She wiggled her toes on the soft, white substance and bounced a little. She's never felt anything more soft. Feeling clouds under her feet was much more relaxing than earth, or any other solid substance.

She proceeded to walk forward, Aeincha seated on her shoulder as they looked around with wonder. Almost every direction was pure white with cloud, except the bright blue sky above them with the sun lighting up the sea of clouds. They never imagined being up this high; not counting in their ships. Aisa was afraid of stepping into an opening and plummeting both of them to the great sea below.

"Oh?... What's this?" Aisa perked when they found an opening inside a small mount of the cloud. They exchanged curious looks, and Aeincha jumped off her friend's shoulder to go in first. Aisa crouched down and crawled after her, watching as her friend jumped down a series of small footholds. They entered a dark cave inside the Island Cloud, and Aisa watched her little friend run toward a set of ruins. Aisa stepped next to her as both girls looked around marvelously. They didn't expect this to be inside any Island Cloud.

"It's… old ruins." Aeincha spoke. The stone carvings were ancient and withered, depicting images of an Indian race, with wings. There were also writings below the images, in a strange language. Aeincha approached the symbols and studied them closely. "Is it… Skypian?"

"It's Ancient Skypian…" Aisa studied as she stepped forward and squatted down to study the markings. "But I… can't read it." It was too bad, thought Aisa to herself. These images looked so familiar. They seem… like her. …Aisa flinched, suddenly feeling a nearby presence. Her attention directed to the entrance. "Someone's coming!"

"Oh?" Aisa snatched her friend in both hands and went to hide behind a ruin. Aisa sat with her back against the monument, clutching a hand over Aeincha's tiny mouth while squeezing her own lips shut. A figure was climbing down the entrance, walking across the soft cloud floor in only sandals. In their right hand, they were clutching some kind of rod. The cave was still too dark to see the figure clearly, but it was a girl, a Nimbi. The girl stopped before the monument and began to stare at the images. Aisa and Aeincha carefully turned around to peek behind. They recognized the girl.

"Hey… it's Jesbi! Supreme Skypian Leader!" Aisa whispered.

Hearing a sound, Jesbi looked to her right. "Prithee, what hath been spying on me?"

The girls flinched slightly, so Aisa put Aeincha on her shoulder as she walked out. "Sorry…" she said. "I was just… flying by and-"

"I am aware." She cut off. "Pray tell… dost thou know the story behind yon carvings?"

The three looked at the images again. "Uhhh…"

"These be the ancient Nimbi race called the Shandians. They were a race of Indian Nimbi whom were bound to the earth, rather than clouds. They made their home on what is now known as America. But 'twas fair Shandia in their time. But alas, settlers come and banish fair Shandians from the land. 'Twere forced to find a way and make a home in the sky."

"So, there were Nimbi that lived in Old America?" Aeincha asked. "How come that wasn't mentioned in the history books?"

"'Twas mentioned at first, but across time, none ever believed men with wings ever existed. So, the books were changed. But when the Shandians moved to the sky, they were shunned by the Nimbis of the air, too. So, they were ordered by yon king to live in Skypia's outlands. Soon, matters settled below on the earth. Some Shandians chose to remain below, while others in the sky. They mated with various peoples. Some Shandian descendants take the form of humans, while others hold Nimbi wings. But 'tis a shame, really. To be hated by thine own kind. I, myself, am part Shandian. I do not know wherefore such past hatred for other beings hath sparked. Mayhap the disappearance of the fair Skypian princess, long long ago. Sparked a great hatred and distrust of beings not of the air. Things are not entirely different now, but 'tis better. Thou art lucky to have friends like thine. From girl of dolly size to one of giant mouth." Aisa and Aeincha exchanged sheepish grins.

"So… is that why I couldn't fly?" Aisa asked. "But how did I fly now?"

"Shandian Nimbi gain their ability to fly by alighting their inner fire, so I've heard. Thine desire to save yon friend must hath sparked it. But thou shalt have a more difficult time now."

"Then… can you help us?" Aisa asked. "I wouldn't wanna risk Aeincha's life again."

"I shalt supply you. Let us leave hither." The Nimbi leader walked out first, and Aisa followed.

They climbed out of the cave, and Jesbi handed Aisa a pair of conch-shells with holes like shoes. "These art Jet Dials." Aisa slipped the shells on her feet. "They wilt function like fair jetshoes and allow thee to fly without wings. 'Tis not as satisfactory as unleashing yon true Nimbi spirit, but rather than yon landdweller jetshoe, it leaves a trail of cloud, not smoke."

Aisa tapped the buttons inside with her toes, making the shoes thrust her forward a little. "Well… they'll come in handy. Thanks, Jesbi."

"My welcome to thee." And with that, Aisa soared away using her new rocket shoes, leaving a trail of clouds as Aeincha held onto her shoulder. Jesbi watched until they were behind the clouds, and flew away.

Sector W7 Treehouse

Aisa came in for a calm landing on the balcony, then pulled her Jet Dials off as she walked in. "They're not so bad. Pretty fun." Aisa said.

"It isn't the same as flying normally, is it?" Aeincha said.

"No… nothing will be the same as that. Oh well… at least these Jet Dials will be helpful. Come on, let's go see what everyone else is up to!"

She took a few steps forward through the living room when the rest of Sector W7 ran in. "Oi, there you are!" Chimney exclaimed. "Where the heck were you on'nanoko-chans??"

"Gyom, gyom!"

"Hm hm hm!" Aeincha smiled. "We were just out!"

"You can say we had our heads in the clouds!" Aisa beamed.

"Oi, head in the clouds?? Wha'does that mean??" Chimney asked.

"Oh, Chimney! Don't act so paranoid!" Apis grinned.

"Who wants to go down to Grandpa Banban's??" Aeincha exclaimed.

"YAAAAEEEEHH!" the girls (except April) cheered ecstatically and scampered down the treehouse.