Tang could still hear the roar of the airplane engines and the screams of his friends as he plummeted through the clouds. His heart had raced with fear and determination when he'd stood up to the hijackers, but his bravery had come at a cost. Everything had happened in a blur—the struggle, the gunshot, the sensation of falling into nothingness—and then, there was only darkness.
When he woke, Tang wasn't in the twisted wreckage of the plane or floating in a sea of clouds. Instead, he found himself lying on a soft, cool stone floor beneath an ornate ceiling painted with swirling clouds and sky bison.
He blinked, confused, and slowly sat up, clutching his head."Where am I?" he murmured, his voice echoing in the vast chamber.
The last thing he remembered was the chaos on the plane, the gunshot, and then… He looked down at his body. He was dressed in simple robes, his hands smaller and more delicate than he remembered.
"Are you awake?" A gentle voice startled him. Tang turned to see a bald monk with a kind smile standing in the doorway. "You've been out for two days. We were worried."
"Two days?" Tang repeated, feeling more lost than ever. "What is this place?"
"This is the Southern Air Temple," the monk replied patiently. "Your brother, Aang, has been by your side since we found you. He's quite relieved you're okay.""My… brother?"
Tang's mind raced. Aang. The name stirred a faint memory, like a half-remembered dream. The monk stepped aside, and a small boy with a bright smile and wide, grey eyes bounded into the room.
"Tang! You're awake!" The boy's voice was filled with joy. He had a blue arrow tattoo on his head, and his whole presence radiated energy and excitement. "I was so worried! The monks said you were really sick, and I didn't know what to do!"
Tang stared at the boy. He looked exactly like the character from the TV show he'd watched so many times back home. "Aang?" he whispered, disbelief flooding his senses.
Aang nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it's me! I'm so glad you're okay, Tang."Tang's heart pounded. This couldn't be real. He must be dreaming—or worse, he'd gone mad. But the room felt too solid, Aang's concern too genuine to be a hallucination. Somehow, he had ended up in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender—and not just anywhere, but as Aang's twin brother.
"Uh, Aang, can I—can we talk alone for a second?" Tang stammered, glancing at the monk, who smiled and left the room.As soon as the door closed, Tang grabbed Aang's shoulders. "What's going on here? How am I here? I'm not supposed to be here!"Aang looked puzzled. "What do you mean? You've always been here, Tang. You're my brother. You're… well, you don't have bending powers, but the monks said it's okay because you're still special."
Tang felt his stomach drop. No bending powers. Of course, he wouldn't be a bender. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary person, and now he was stuck in this world, surrounded by powerful benders without any way to protect himself."Special, right…" Tang muttered, feeling a surge of hopelessness. "I'm just a waste of space here, Aang.""Don't say that!" Aang protested. "You're not a waste! You're my brother, and you're brave and strong in your own way."
Tang gave a weak smile but didn't feel reassured. If he couldn't bend, what could he possibly do to help in this world? And then it hit him—the timeline. He remembered the story. The Fire Nation would attack soon, and everything would spiral into chaos. He had to do something, anything, to prepare.
The next morning, Tang woke up with a determination he hadn't felt in days. He couldn't just sit around and do nothing while Aang was in danger. If he couldn't bend, he'd have to rely on his physical strength and knowledge.
He pushed himself out of bed and started working out—push-ups, sit-ups, and whatever exercises he could remember from his previous life.
Aang watched him with curiosity as he floated in the air, using his airbending to spin lazily."What are you doing?" Aang asked, tilting his head."Training," Tang replied, panting slightly. "I may not be a bender, but I can still get stronger. I need to be able to protect you, Aang."
Aang laughed, flipping in the air. "You're so serious! But you're right. We should both train. I want to show you how to fly with my glider!"
Tang smiled despite himself. Aang's enthusiasm was infectious. As they headed outside, Tang's mind raced. He needed more than just physical training. If only he had some kind of power, like those protagonists in the novels he used to read…As they reached the training ground, a sudden sound echoed in Tang's mind. It was like a soft chime, followed by a gentle voice.
Ding! Proficiency System activated.
Tang froze, his heart pounding. "Did you hear that?" he asked Aang, but his brother just looked at him in confusion.
"Hear what?"
The voice continued, sounding like it came from inside his head.
Host: Tang. Current Level: 1. No bending abilities detected.
Proficiency System will provide skill-based growth.
Tang felt a surge of hope. A proficiency system? This was exactly what he needed! He focused, trying to understand the interface in his mind. A transparent screen appeared, filled with empty bars labeled with different skills: Martial Arts, Weapon Mastery, Strategy, Agility, and more.
"Okay," Tang muttered to himself, excitement bubbling up. "If I can level up these skills, I can be useful. I can get stronger."Aang watched him curiously as Tang clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his new purpose settling over him. He might not be a bender, but with this system, he had a chance to change things.
"Let's start," Tang said, determination blazing in his eyes. "We have a lot of work to do before the Fire Nation attacks."As he and Aang began their training, Tang couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. His journey had just begun, and he was ready to carve out a path for himself in this world, not just as Aang's twin, but as someone who could stand by his side and fight for what was right.