The Rift, Part 1

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rift Part One occurs years after the last book. Based on their height, I would say that Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph are around 15-16 years old. It shocked me that Aang is now taller than Katara and Iroh, and Katara is taller than Iroh. Most of Team Avatar are at the ceremony along with Iroh and the Air Acolytes. Iroh informs Aang that Zuko is giving a tour to Noren, Ursa, and Kiyi, so he can’t be here, even though Zuko has a massive part in making Yu Dao a city led by both Fire Nation and Earth King representatives. Kori proudly announces the new coalition government of Yu Dao. When everyone enters the building, Aang notices a person dressed in the Air Nomad robes. Aang asks one of the tattooed Air Acolytes, Xing Ying, if one of her friends arrived late. Xing Ying tells Aang that everyone is already here. Aang airbends around the crowd to pursue the mysterious Air Acolyte and offers her a ride. Aang is shocked to discover the mysterious woman, Avatar Yangchen, trying to point something out to him. Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, Sokka tries to convert the Air Acolyte Yee-Li from a vegetarian to a meat-eater. Toph discusses her overwhelming number of students with Katara. Toph has so many students she has to make earth tents to provide them with a place to sleep at night. Toph wants to expand the academy and refuses to charge her students for her metalbending teachings, which is so sweet of her. Katara walks onto the balcony to find Aang trying to meditate. Aang explains spotting Yangchen during the event and how she was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t hear her. Aang is trying to use his meditation beads, the same ones with all element emblems except the fire one that Aang burned years ago, to connect with Yangchen. Katara talks Aang into joining the celebration. Aang asks Team Avatar and the Air Acolytes to join him on a mini-field trip. The next day, they fly on Appa. Despite Sokka’s complaints of this interfering with his shopping spree, Aang is pumped to celebrate Yangchen’s Festival after a hundred years and explains each part of the festival. Aang reminisces about his time during the festival with his friends and mentor, Monk Gyatso. When they get there, something Aang says triggers Toph’s painful memories about her father. Toph refuses to bow to this mysterious female statue. Although Aang is frustrated with Toph’s snarky comments, he teaches his Air Acolytes to let the anger flow like the wind and embrace the peace. The new Air Acolyte Jingbo carries the meal and supplies while Aang, Xing Ying, and Yee-Li play their musical instruments. Toph is not in the mood because she metalbends Yee-Li’s cymbals. When they get to the meadow to share an Air Nomad meal, Aang discovers a town where the meadow is supposed to be. Walking through the town, Aang shares his disappointment with the destruction of the sacred meadow with Katara. Katara tells Aang that a lot can change in a hundred years. While Sokka, Toph, and Momo search for some meaty food, Katara reunites with an old friend from the Southern Water Tribe, Niyok. While Niyok warmly embraces Katara, Niyok’s sister, Nutha does not. Aang spots Yangchen behind a refinery, so he investigates it with his friends. Aang earthbends and airbends Katara and the Air Acolytes over the fence to discover the source of the foul odor. Aang believes Yangchen was trying to inform him about the polluted river. Aang quickly incapacitates the guards who come to arrest the Avatar for trespassing. The Air Acolytes and Satoru, the refinery’s engineer and temporary leader, are easily impressed. Satoru is a massive fan of all of Team Avatar, especially Toph. After praising Toph, he offers to give her and her friends a tour of the refinery. Satoru explains the history behind the refinery, like how his Uncle Loban started it. Aang tries to get a word in but can’t because Satoru only talks to Toph. It’s evident that someone has a crush on Toph. Most of