Chapter Two: Earth
Author's Note: This is a re-make of the TV hit "Avatar: The Last Airbender" when Aang is a girl and this is the sequel to "Chapter One: Water" (which I reccomend you read before reading this, the sequal). Also, I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.
Full-Length Summary: The young Avatar named Artymis continues on her journey to master all four elements, she has already mastered air and water, the next step is earth. With her friends: Anduril, Katara, Sokka, Appa, and Momo - Artymis tries to master earth as spring is here and summer only months away. She journeys to the Earth Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se, to help battle and aid the nation in the war against the Fire Nation. But along the way, the group meet a new enemy: Princess Azula. The group run from the Fire Nation princess and her devious friends, and head to their goal. Yet, like their first journey, trouble crosses their paths and they must fight it as a new member joins their group, Toph. Toph, a blind but highly skilled Earthbender, has agreed to teach the young Avatar earthbending. Artymis, though she has matured, learns she must soon start to grow up from a teenager. But her feelings to see Prince Zuko grows more and more as the days and weeks pass by. Meanwhile, Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh face problems of their own. Zuko's younger sister, Princess Azula, hunts them as well and Zuko longs to see Avatar Artymis. He now must accept that things can never return to normal as he and his uncle face difficulty, but cross their path with the most unexpected people. Can Artymis aid Ba Sing Se and master earth, while fighting her urge to abondon everything and search for Zuko? And, if she masters earth, who can teach her fire? But a love is put to it's very first test, and will it survive? Artymis and her friends - old and new - must go through challenges again or they face the destruction of the Earth Kingdom, as well as old friends.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist. She is my buddy, a sister-figure, and a great person to talk to. This story is for you, WRA (a.k.a. Winter Rose Alchemist)! And to my: readers, reviewers, and friends.
-The Fury of the Avatar-
Avatar Artymis' legs were frozen. She couldn't move. She was having the same dream again. Artymis backed away from the figure that had it's back to her. The figure turned and glared at her with glowing eyes and glowing tattoos on her forehead and arms. She lifted a hand and slashed her arm down with angry white eyes. Water rose and slammed down where Prince Zuko was, he was thrown across the deck of his ship. Artymis screamed when water started to rush towards her and suddenly found herself in Avatar Roku's temple. She saw herself in front of Roku, his eyes glowing just as hers. She saw herself mimicked the older Avatar's moves and brought the temple down. Artymis turned on her heel and saw herself cry at the sight of Gyatso's skeleton. She saw herself in a rage of anger and revenge in the next scene, hovering in an air ball. Artymis turned away and began running into darkness, afraid to see herself anymore. She let out a scream when two strong hands grabbed her arms from behind...
(Dream Ends)
Artymis sat up with a scream. It quickly died when she realized that she was in hers and Katara's cabinet on their traveling Water Tribe's ship. She sighed and buried her face in her hands. She heard footsteps descend from the wooden stairs. Artymis looked up and saw Katara pop her head out.
"Artymis, are you alright?" She asked, "I heard you scream."
Artymis nodded her head, "I'm fine. It was just a nightmare, that's all."
Katara walked towards her and asked, "Do you wanna talk about it?"
Artymis shook her head, "Really, I'm fine." She lowered her eyes, then lifted her eyes. "We might wanna head out for the Earth Kingdom right now." They had traveled with Master Pakku and other Northern Water Tribe members on a ship, because Pakku had agreed to help re-build the Southern Water Tribe. It had been three weeks since the assault of the Fire Nation on the North Pole.
Katara nodded, "I think we should. Meet you up there!" Katara ascended the stairs.
Only when her footsteps were distant, did Artymis get out of her sleeping bag. She stood up and stretched. She opened her pack and pulled on a new and different outfit. She wore a pair of long and a bit wide white pants with her same white boots. She had a long white tank-top on and her belt slung around her waist. Her Avatar necklace tied around her neck, as well as her piece of the necklace that she and Zuko shared. The white piece with the black dot was tied around her neck but stayed under her tank-top, where no one would see. She had taken her dark brown hair, which reached her elbows, to a low and loose pony tail. Since her hair was still a bit loose, the red suitor's rose that Prince Zuko had given her three weeks ago was in her hair behind her left ear.
Artymis leaned against the wooden wall of the ship and thought of Zuko. She thought of what happened between them in the North Pole, and how he kissed her. Artymis shook her head and thought, I want to see him, but my duties... She paused and silently asked herself, Is he thinking of me now?
Artymis? Anduril called out to her telepathy.
Yes, Artymis responded.
I think we need to head out now, he said.
Alright, I'll be there, Artymis said. She grabbed her pack and slung it over her shoulder. She reached the deck and looked around. The sun had already rose and there was a gentle breeze. Artymis walked towards Master Pakku, who was watching Katara and Sokka pack their things on Appa's saddle. "Master Pakku?" Artymis called out.
Master Pakku turned to her, "So, someone finally decided to wake up?"
Artymis bowed her head, "I'm very sorry."
"Well, better late than never." Pakku said, "As you know, you will meet General Fong at an Earth Kingdom base, from there, he will take you to Omashu. There, you will be learning earthbending from King Bumi."
Artymis nodded and helped her friends pack the things up. She smiled when she knew she would see her best friend, Bumi, once again. Boy, he and I have a lot to catch up since our last meeting! she thought and paused, Especially if Anduril spills the beans about Zuko and me...
Thinking of Zuko again, I see? Anduril sounded amused.
Artymis rolled her eyes, Shut up, like he and I will ever be a couple. She threw him a smile over her shoulder, Oh, wait! That already happened, right under your nose too! HA!
Anduril sent her a glare, You're lucky I didn't fly off and kill him.
I never talk to you if you did, Artymis said.
I will, though, tell Bumi... Anduril revealed.
Artymis spun around to him with wide eyes, What? NO!
Bumi and I made a deal, remember?
Artymis groaned, knowing she couldn't win this fight. She turned her face away and finished her task with low angry mumbles.When they were done, they climbed off of the saddle to say their good-byes.
Pakku looked to Katara and said, "Katara, take this." he handed her a small blue crystal bottle with some liquid inside. "The water inside comes from our Oasis, make sure to keep it and use it well."
"Thank you, Master Pakku." Katara bowed down respectably and climbed back on Appa's saddle.
"Artymis," Pakku turned to her now, he gave her a small wooden box. Artymis opened them and saw a few waterbending scrolls inside. "these are waterbending scrolls, to help you learn waterbending a bit more. But, remember, they can never replace a master."
Artymis looked over her shoulder and up to Katara, who smiled. "I'll remember that, and thank you." She bowed down and got in the saddle with Katara.
Sokka came forth, ready for his gift. "Sokka," Pakku said, then patted him on the shoulder, "take care, son."
Sokka made a fake smile, but inside he was yelling. "Geez, thanks." He got onboard with the girls.
Artymis turned to Anduril, Ready?
Yes, he lifted off the deck and into the sky. He stopped and waited for the others.
"Good-bye!" Artymis said, she took Appa's reins, "Appa, yip-yip!"
"Say hi to Gran-Gran for me!" Katara called out as they set off their course to the sky. She laid back down and said, "A new day." Katara wasn't the only one who had a different outfit now. She no longer had her dark long sleeves from under her blue simple kimono, she took them off since winter was over and wrapped tape around her wrists. She had wide dark blue pants and she wasn't wearing her coat. And she was told she got about an inch taller.
There was a short pause, "I'm hungry." Sokka whined.
In an Earth Kingdom town, where the Fire Nation had power, Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh hid in a spa. Iroh was having his back massaged while Zuko sat in a corner, looking down. Zuko had to change into a red robe that the spa had given him, because his clothing from before looked suspicious. He also wore a hat. Iroh smiled as he received his first massage in three weeks.
"After three weeks..." He muttered. He took a small peek at what Zuko was doing. He stopped the massagers and walked over to Zuko, he sat down and asked, "It's the anniversary, isn't it?" But he knew the answer.
"Three years ago, my honor was taken. My father banished me." Zuko lifted his gaze, "I thought it wouldn't matter anymore though, not since Avatar Artymis and I fell in love." He reached for his black piece of the necklace that Artymis gave him. "Yet, I feel worthless. I do have her love, but what can I give her? I want to give her more than my love."
"You have given her more than she'll ever know, Zuko." Iroh said, "You have given her something that is very rare and very precious."
"Uncle," Zuko started, "I know that. But, I'm a prince. I should be able to give so much more: jewels, dresses, a throne."
"Zuko," Iroh said a bit sternly, "I'm not so sure she wants that."
Zuko listened to his uncle's words and blinked. "You're right, I just thought..."
"No need to explain." Iroh said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He stood up, "I think tea would be good for you."
Zuko groaned, "I hate tea." He muttered, but Iroh didn't listen. Zuko looked down at his side and fingered the necklace around his neck. He wondered if Artymis wore the other piece and thought of her. Will she stay true, just as I have? he asked himself in his mind, Will she block me out? He stopped, No, we've gone too much to become unfaithful.
"Zuko, here's your tea." Iroh said, passing him a cup.
Zuko took it anyway even if he didn't want it. He didn't sip it though, I wonder if she's in the Earth Kingdom right now...
Out in the ocean, a Fire Nation grand ship was sailing. A young beautiful woman was standing on the deck, her narrowed golden eyes looking from side-to-side at the soldiers. Her long black bangs that framed her face was slightly being pushed by a gentle breeze. She walked with a straight back and a demanding aura. Her black hair was pulled into a bun and a Fire Nation ornament was placed there. Princess Azula was her name.
Azula was, of coarse, daughter to Fire Lord Ozai and Lady Ursa. She was younger sister to Prince Zuko, and niece to Iroh. But, Azula was far more advanced in the art of firebending than her older brother, and she was proud of it. She was a prodigy and loved to brag about it. Azula though was given an important task, and as she talked to the soldiers, she smirked at the idea of her brother at her hand.
"I understand that you have mixed feelings of attacking members of the royal Fire Nation family, but if you hesitate..." Her eyes and voice harden, "I will not hesitate to bring you down. Dismiss." She stuck her chin up and heard the soldiers walk away.
"Princess." The captain said, stopping about three yards behind her, "I'm afraid the tides will not allow us to pass into the Earth Kingdom town or anywhere else."
Azula turned to him and rose an eyebrow, she turned her face away and walked to the rail of the deck. "I have a question for you, captain."
"Yes, princess?" The captain said, ready to answer her.
"Do the tides command this ship?" Azula asked.
The captain answered her, feeling uncomfortable, "N-no, Your Highness."
"Then, what's making you hold back?" Azula asked, her voice hardening very much. "I'm sure the tides will not hesitate to hit you against the rocks when I throw you overboard."
The captain gulped and said, "I'll bring us in."
"You do well to do that." Azula said. The captain hurried to the control room. Azula glared at him and thought, I control this ship, and no tides will stop me to complete my task.
Artymis leaned against the rail of the saddle. She looked down below with a bored expression. She buried her head in her arms and felt a gently tap on her head. She looked up and saw just in time Anduril looking away. She looked at his tail, which just drew away. Anduril! she whined.
Someone has to keep you awake, and I highly doubt Sokka can do it, considering that he's already asleep, Anduril said.
Artymis looked over her shoulder and saw Sokka already asleep. "Lazy bum," She muttered.
Told you.
Artymis smiled and looked down below again. She yelled excitingly, "We're here! We're in the Earth Kingdom!"
"Finally!" Sokka said, waking up and stretching his arms.
Katara smiled, "That's wonderful!"
Artymis went to the front of the saddle and took Appa's reins gently in her hands, "Come on, Appa and Anduril! We're here!"
I can see that, Anduril said.
Artymis looked at him as she lowered Appa down. Ah! The little dragon is mad? she teased in a mocking child's voice. He looked at her with amusement. She smiled and jumped off when they landed, Katara and Sokka jumped off. She stretched her arms and turned around when a few Earth Kingdom guards stood by a general. The Earth Kingdom general wearing a green and brown high-ranking outfit. He had brown hair jumbled up at the top of his head with a gold band. His beard wasn't that long though.
"Welcome!" He rose his hands in welcome with a deep voice.
"Hi." Artymis said with a small smile, "I'm - "
"I know." The general said, "The Lady Avatar, Artymis." He looked at Appa, Anduril, and Momo. "Of coarse, Appa, Anduril, and Momo." His gaze then to Sokka, "The Brave Sokka - " He then looked to Katara, " - and the Mighty Katara."
"'Mighty Katara'?" Katara repeated, sounding pleased.
Artymis looked at her and said, "Yeah, think no one's gonna know you? I think Haru - " Katara gave her an unnoticed kick at the ankles. Artymis fell silent. "Well," She said, with a slightly thin voice, "I am pleased to meet you, my friends are too." But I'm not! she thought, still feeling the kick Katara gave her.
"Where are my manners?" The general asked himself, "I am General Fong. Please, follow me." He said. The group followed General Fong away from the courtyard and into the building of the base. Appa and Anduril stayed behind.
Tell me everything that happens, Anduril said to Artymis.
She nodded, I will. Momo jumped in her arms. She broke contact and followed the general and guards.
Sokka grinned and whispered to the girls as they walked, "Fong? That's a funny name!" He muffled a laugh.
Katara glared at him, "At least he gives you the credit on our trip." Referring to 'The Brave Sokka'.
"Besides," Artymis whispered with a smirk, "I told you: the day you become Sokka the Great or Brave, it'll be the day I marry Fire Lord Ozai. And I don't see myself in a bridal gown or a ring or the Fire Lord." She looked at Katara, "And I don't see Katara in a pink dress."
"Oh, and what credit, Sokka, do you deserve?" Katara asked.
Sokka glared at them and turned his face away, muttering angrily to himself. The girls looked at each other and giggled. They finally came to a large room with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was at the far end, with a large banner showing a green circle and a brown square inside of it hanging from the ceiling - the Earth kingdom symbol.
General Fong seated himself behind the desk. He looked to the three teenagers, who knelt on a wide soft mat. "I must say, Avatar," He began, "I was very impressed when I heard your events in the North Pole. Taking out an entire fleet of Fire Nation single-handedly."
"Actually," Artymis said, "that was the Ocean Spirit. I really didn't - "
"I know you must not try to think of it." Fong ignored her.
Artymis looked at him, What the heck is he saying? I didn't take out the fleet of the Fire Nation navy! Why is he saying I did? "I don't," She said, "because I never - " She held herself back, he wasn't going to listen. Instead she closed her mouth.
General Fong looked at her for a moment and said, "Avatar Artymis, you are ready to fight the Fire Lord."
"WHAT!" The three friends shouted.
Artymis stood up and asked, "What do you mean? I'm not!"
"In the Avatar State, you are." Fong answered.
"Avatar State?" Artymis repeated. "Is that when I get all glowy and scary-like?" She looked at Katara and Sokka.
"Yeah."
"Ok." Artymis said, looking from them and back at the general, "I can't fight the Fire Lord yet, I haven't mastered all four elements!"
General Fong shook his head, "You don't need to if you are at your most powerful in the Avatar State."
"But I - " Artymis stopped, she sighed and continued, "I do want to fight him, but I need time!"
Fong frowned and stood up, "Come with me, Avatar, may I show you?"
Artymis looked at her friends, who encouraged her. She followed General Fong to the balcony and he pointed a finger at below them. Artymis obeyed. She saw badly injured soldiers slowly walking in the courtyard. She instantly felt pity for them.
"Look at them." Fong said, "Those soldiers are the lucky ones, they returned from the war against the Fire Nation. They are the lucky survivors. Don't you see?" He asked, looking at Artymis, "People are dying. You can stop it: all the suffering and pain."
Artymis avoided his eyes and remained silent, staring at the injured men.
"It is your choice, though." Fong said, walking away.
Anduril? Artymis contacted him after a minute.
Artymis? He responded, What is it?
I have a question, and I need an answer...
Zuko was laying on his bed and was staring up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes, then opened them. He sighed. He sat up and looked up when a feminine voice said, "Hello, brother."
Zuko blinked and jumped to his feet, his hands in fighting position.
"So uncivilized you have become." She said from the shadows.
"Azula." He hissed when a golden-eyed young woman came from the shadows.
"Zuzu." She said, with a teasing voice.
"Don't call me that!" Zuko nearly yelled.
"What is going on?" Iroh's voice called out from the door. He came in and was surprised to see the princess. "Azula." He said.
"Hello, uncle." She said, with not much joy.
"Why have you come here?" Zuko asked, cutting in.
"So rude, but must be a family trait." Azula muttered then raised her voice, "Father now sees that family is important." Her face and voice unexpectedly soften, she looked away at first, "Plots against him, treacherous ones." A pause. "Father wants you home." She looked at her brother with a blank expression, "He regrets your banishment."
Zuko stared at the ground, entering everything what Azula had said into his mind. He wants me back? he thought to himself, He actually wants me back? I can't believe it.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Azula asked, a bit irritated. "I didn't have to come all across the ocean to tell you this, I'm not a messenger."
"Father..." Zuko slowly asked, "...Wants me back?" He looked up to Azula, hope in his eyes.
"Yes," Azula said and waited. "I still haven't heard my thank-you."
"Your brother, I'm sure, is very happy. But he might need time - " Iroh was cut off.
"Uncle, don't interrupt!" Azula snapped and looked back at Zuko, ignoring the way Iroh's face darken. "So?"
"I don't know what to say." Zuko said, and it was indeed true. After three long years of banishment and disappointment to his father, his father wanted him home. It made Zuko happy. "I - "
"I'll wait for you 'till tomorrow morning, if you wanna come home or not." Azula said, walking out. She stopped and picked up one of the seashells on the floor, one of Iroh's seashells that he had accidentally dropped. She smirked and broke it with her fingernails and left.
Iroh glared after her. He looked back to Zuko, "Zuko?"
"I can go home." Zuko said, a small smile on his lips. "I can finally go home!" He said happily. He breathed, Things are going to be different now.
Artymis leaned against the rail on the balcony, her back to the setting sun and the pink sky. She was facing Katara. Katara looked to her friend with concern.
"So, what have you chosen?" Katara asked her.
Artymis' face went pale, "Well, he did have a point. You know, about those people still suffering. I think - "
"You're going to waste everything we worked so hard for?" Katara's expression harden as well as her voice.
Artymis stared at the ground and shook her head, "No, Avatar Roku said I had to master all four elements, I'm halfway through."
"What are you gonna tell the general?" Katara asked her, returning to her calmness. She went up to the rail and stood by Artymis.
Artymis jumped on top of the rail to sit. She turned her face to Katara, "Tell him that I need just a little more time." She suddenly looked over her shoulder, at the small hut where the wounded soldiers were staying. "But, the again..." She started, "I'm a hundred years late, maybe I should take his offer."
"Artymis," Katara said, her voice calm. "You can't risk getting yourself in the Avatar Spirit, you can't. I get scared when you do, it's like you're not Artymis anymore."
Artymis gave her a confusing look, "I scare you? What about the others?"
"I think they feel scared too." Katara said, "It's not only how your eyes get glowy, it's how you act. It just scares us."
"I didn't know." Artymis said, staring at the ground, "I never wanted you and the others to fear me so."
"Well," Katara said, "you never asked, besides, we didn't want you to worry."
"But it does!" Artymis pressed on, "Knowing that I'm scaring my own friends - my family - it drives me mad when you guys don't tell me!"
"Ok, I promise to tell you next time." Katara promised.
"Promise?" Artymis looked at her and held her pinky finger up.
Katara laughed, and did the pinky promise with her. "Promise!"
"Good." Artymis felt calm now. She lifted her face to the sky and closed her eyes. Enjoying the peaceful moment.
"So, how's Zuko?" Katara lightly teased.
Artymis nearly fell over the rail, but she gripped it to maintain balance. She threw Katara a panicked look, "What do you mean? How am I suppose to know?"
"Oh, I think you do." Katara grinned slightly.
Artymis bit her lip and turned away, "No, I don't!"
"Then what's that rose in your hair?" Katara asked in a teasing voice, pointing at the red rose.
Artymis lifted a hand to it and stuck her chin up, "Nothing, just a gift."
Katara smiled. At first, she was uneasy about her friend falling for a Firebender, least of all the one who constantly tried to kill them and was a prince. Over time, though, she grew to know that Zuko was true to Art. Katara accepted it, but she knew she would still have to get use to it. Yet, both girls were sworn never to tell Sokka. Otherwise he go berserk.
"Or should I tell Sokka?" Katara asked, "Since you told me that Anduril already knows."
Artymis' eyes shifted to her friend, she rose an eyebrow. "You wouldn't dare?"
"Dare me?" Katara asked.
Artymis shook her head after a short pause, "Nah, I don't dare you."
The girls laughed and gazed at the setting sun.
Princess Azula was in fighting position on the deck of her ship. She had her feet wide apart and she stared out, not looking at anything in particular. Her two teachers were sitting at the top of the steps. Both were identical twins and were great tutors of the art of Firebending. One would finish the other's sentence as if both were one person instead of two. Azula breathed and moved her right hand. She lifted her index finger and slowly moved as blue sparks began to fly. She did an advance move and aimed out in the open, slightly to the setting sun. She had done the lightning attack perfectly, except...
"Almost perfect..." One of the old sisters said.
"...One hair out of place." The other finished.
Azula saw a strand of her dark hair had fallen from her bun and was in front of her face. her golden eyes narrowed as she brushed the hair away from her pale face, "Almost isn't good enough!" She groaned and did the technique again, this time, she got it perfect. Azula smirked.
"Perfect." The two elderly sisters said.
That's good enough, Azula thought.
It was morning, and Zuko had just finished packing. He paused after closing his bag. He went and stood by the window, What about Artymis? How can I tell her that I can go home? Artymis had been in his mind for some time. He now knew he could give her everything: jewels, fine clothes, money, a throne. But to tell her and how, was a problem. He stared out into space. I want her to come, to convince my father to stop this war and the hunt for the Avatar. I really want -
"Zuko?" Uncle Iroh interrupted his thoughts.
"Uncle," Zuko turned around to him.
"I've been wondering," Iroh started in a matter-of-fact tone, "the reasons why your father wants you home, may not be the reasons you wish for."
"I don't understand." Zuko said, his expression harden.
Iroh sighed, "Your father - my brother - may not regret your banishment. Your sister looked slightly pleased if you ask me."
Zuko's hands balled into fists. How dare he says my father doesn't love me! he thought angrily. "I don't understand." He muttered, trying to keep his anger under control.
"My brother is not known as the forgiving type." Iroh said, "I am afraid that you are going to get hurt, Zuko."
Zuko lost it. He leaned forward as he yelled, "You know what I think? I think you're jealous!"
Iroh gave him a confused look, "Jealous?" He repeated.
"Yes, jealous!" Zuko yelled, "Jealous that your brother is the Fire Lord, instead of you!" With that, Zuko turned to the door and stomped his way out, leaving Iroh behind. He went out and found a quiet place to sit and think. He sat in the tall green grass and stared out into the blue ocean. Just because his own father chose mine to become the Fire Lord doesn't mean he can make me think I am unloved by my father, he thought.
Then again, a little voice in his mind said, your own father banished you. And now all of a sudden, he wants you back? Your uncle is trying to protect you and you don't even see it.
"He had no right to say that." Zuko muttered to himself, answering the voice.
And you had no right to say he was jealous, when really he isn't.
Zuko groaned in frustration and laid on his back. He stared up at the perfect blue sky, but wasn't really looking at it. He thought about what Azula said. Was she lying? She was known for it in a way. Yet, maybe she wasn't. Zuko sighed and closed his eyes. "I wish I could talk to someone... Artymis." He paused and continued, "No, she probably is too busy with earthbending right now." he lifted a hand to finger his black piece of the Ying and Yang necklace. "If I convince my father to stop the hunt for her, maybe she could come and learn firebending without a worry. Maybe she and I can have an open relationship." He stopped and sat up, "I should get my back and head down to Azula's ship if I want to go home."
He stood up and went inside the room that he and Iroh shared. he picked his bag up without looking at his uncle. Zuko headed out the door and soon found himself walking down the stone steps to the port where a steel Fire Nation ship was. He stopped and stared at it.
"Zuko!" A voice called out, "Wait!"
"Uncle?" Zuko turned around and saw his uncle running down the steps to reach him, a bag slung over his shoulder. "You came."
"Family sticks together, am I right?" Iroh asked with a gently face and voice. He laid a hand on his nephew's shoulder.
Zuko made a small smile hearing these words, a memory suddenly came to his mind. A memory he was thinking of during the storm that brought up painful memories. But this memory was a good one: it was the memory when he was a child and was running in the grass, and a hand laid on his shoulder as he stared out happily in the distance. He returned to the present and walked with his uncle down the stone steps, not noticing the dark look that Iroh gave the Fire Nation ship waiting for them.
Artymis stood before General Fong in the building of the base once more. He sat behind his desk, waiting for her to speak. Artymis bowed and lifted herself up, "Good morning, general."
"Good morning, Avatar." Fong said, "Have you decided an answer to my request?"
So eager to get to the point, Artymis thought, but nonetheless, she nodded.
"And?" Fong asked, an edge in his voice.
"I... I'm sorry." She said, "I can not join you now. I do want to help all those people, but I need to do what Avatar Roku wants me to do: master all four elements. I'm halfway through, I'm on my third element. I'll learn them all fast, I promise, and I'll return to help you." She paused and bowed down, her eyes closed. "I am very sorry."
Fong remained quiet, the expression was hard on his face to read but his hands gripped the edge of his desk. He relaxed his fingers and finally spoke, "I am truly sorry to hear that."
Artymis lifted her face and opened her eyes to him.
"Yet..." Fong leaped to his feet and punched in the air.
Artymis felt herself being thrown by a powerful force. She shut her eyes and felt herself fall from a great height but it felt so short. She hit her back on the stone ground and groaned from the sharp pain. She sat up, "What the heck was that for!" She yelled, looking up to the half-torn balcony where General Fong was.
He glared down at her, "Men, attack the Avatar!" He shouted.
"What!" Artymis yelled, her eyes wide. Earth Kingdom soldiers enclosed all around her, I cannot believe that today just isn't one of those good days! Artymis jumped to her feet and looked around to the soldiers. She breathed hard and held her fists in front of her and smirked. "Give me all you got!" She dared, determination in her eyes.
Zuko and Iroh reached the plank to the ship. They stopped and soldiers, in what seemed newly designed Fire Nation uniforms, were two perfect lines on either side of them. Iroh glanced at them somewhat darkly, a warning growing inside him. Azula's captain stood in front of, facing them then turning upwards the plank. There, on the deck looking at them, was Azula. She had her hands behind her back and her expression was unreadable. Zuko stopped and looked up at her, something inside him warned him to look again at his sister.
"Brother! Uncle!" Azula said with a happy tone and smile, "You decided to come, I see." She looked below to her captain. "Captain, set our course for home."
"Home." Zuko muttered with a longing in his eyes. Iroh nodded.
"Men, you heard the princess!" The captain yelled over his shoulder, "We're taking the prisoners home."
There was a silence, but a very short one.
At the word "prisoners", Zuko's eyes widen. He should have known! Should've known that Azula would trick him. Iroh was the first to respond, he began to firebend against the soldiers aligned at either side of them. Zuko ran up the plank to Azula, who was too busy glaring daggers at her captain who had ruin her plans. He swings his fire daggers at her ferociously. He swung his daggers at Azula repeatedly, but she simply avoid them. She grabbed his arm and spun him around. He paused only for half a second before charging at her again, without his fire daggers.
"You lied to me!" Zuko yelled, dodging one of her kicks.
"Like I've never done that before!" Azula said, it wasn't really a question. She smirked and managed to push her brother to the deck, while she slowly walked over him. "Father only wants you to return home to lock you up, you know, so you won't embarrass him more than you already have." She smirked and watched her brother get up, panting. She blinked when she saw a necklace hanging around his neck. Her smirked faded, then returned. "What's that, Zuzu?" She asked, reaching for the black necklace.
Zuko put his arm straight out and blocked it. He twisted his hand to grab hold of Azula's ankle and tried to throw her across the deck. He was unsuccessful, though, since Azula was a very quick-thinker.
She landed on the ground with both feet and knees bent. She turned around to her brother, "Please tell me you can do better than that?" She asked, then laughed. "Of coarse you can't, you're just a weakling!"
"Shut your mouth!" Zuko yelled with furious golden eyes. He didn't hear his uncle calling out for him.
"Make me." Azula challenged, crossing her arms. Zuko glared at her and charged forward. He put up a second good fight, but his younger sister was unfortunately as good. She had him down on the ground, groaning in pain. Azula stood on the top of the deck stairs, she spread her feet apart and bent her knees. She began moving her hands in the away as a thin blue spark trailed her two index fingers. She smirked at Zuko, "Watch my new trick." She said.
Zuko's vision was unfocused, but then slowly it came to focus. He saw that blue lightning was trailing from her fingers, his eyes widen in both shock and fear. He stared at her as she continued moving her hands around and stopped to light press the tip of her index fingers together. She lifted her right hand and turned the palm of her left hand to Zuko. She smirked again. But before the blue lightning erupted from her palm, Iroh jumped in and press his left palm against her. He rose his right index finger to the air and the lightning transferred from Azula to him, the lightning hitting the cliff. Right after that, Iroh threw Azula overboard, into the water.
"Zuko!" He said urgently turning to him, "We need to go!"
Zuko, shocked at the attack his uncle just did, jumped to his feet and ran with his uncle through the unconscious guards, around the Earth Kingdom town, and headed for the trees in hiding. The prince thinking to himself while they were running, I now can never go home... Never.
"You can't run forever!" General Fong shouted furiously at Artymis.
Artymis dodged the flying rock discs and avoided the earthbending just barely. She stopped on one knee to the ground and breathed, "You can't fight forever either!" She shouted back. She airbended a shield around her to block off the rocks. She ran out of the air bubble to Katara's side, who had join the fight not long after it had begun. "You ok?" Artymis asked her.
"Y-Yeah!" Katara answered, picking herself up from the ground.
"Watch out!"
The girls turned around as an Earth Kingdom soldier raised his weapon at them. He then fell onto the ground unconscious before he could even swing his sword down. The girls blinked and looked up at Sokka, who joined the fight. "Don't ever miss with my sisters." He said, crossing his arms.
"Sokka!" Katara said, smiling.
"Finally, Soak!" Artymis joked.
Sokka nodded. He looked up and dropped his arms. "Uh-oh..." He muttered, his expression said it all - that something wasn't right.
The girls turned around and their faces fell. Fong was standing about a hundred yards away from them, his expression serious. He rose his right foot and stomped it to the ground, raising his arms slowly as if he was lifting a boulder. About fifty yards away from him, towards his left, thick rock pillars erupt and rose high. The three friends stared in amazement and horror as a rock-made cage came to view. Inside it, there was Anduril and Appa, trapped.
"Appa!" Katara cried in horror.
"Anduril!" Artymis cried out to him, taking a step forward.
"What do you plan to do with them!" Sokka yelled, stepping to the general.
"Unless the Avatar is willing to get in the Avatar State, I'll simply help." Fong said, dropping his arms to his sides and taking his foot back.
"How?" Artymis asked, something definitely wasn't right if both Anduril and Appa were in a cage. She was right, as well as Katara and Sokka.
"I'll simply trigger the State." The general said. He rose his left arm up in the air and pulled it down.
Artymis heard two yelps beside her, she turned to her right and found no one there. Katara and Sokka had disappeared. She gasped and turned to Fong, "What have you done with my friends!" She received her answer when they both appeared before Anduril's and Appa's cage. "Wait! What are you gonna - " She stopped when Sokka and Katara began sinking in the ground. Quicksand. They twisted when Fong ordered the earth to pull the Water Tribe siblings in. Artymis only stared in horror and she looked up to the unconscious dragon and bison, and back to Katara and Sokka. "Stop!" She pleaded.
"You know how to." Fong stated, eyeing her.
"Please! I don't know!" Artymis said, her voice thin. "I don't know how to get in the Avatar State! I don't, sorry!"
Fong narrowed his eyes at her, "Then try!"
"Art!"
Katara and Sokka were down to their waists now. Artymis panicked and looked at Anduril, Anduril, please, get up! I beg you! GET UP! Anduril's eyes snapped open and gave out a roar, which woke Appa up. When both of the creatures saw that they were in a small rock cage, they roared and growled. But as they did this, their cage only received more rock pillars. Anduril! Appa! Artymis looked back at the general and beg once more, "Please! Stop!"
"Try!" Fong shouted.
"I'm trying!" Artymis cried out, tears starting to spring in her eyes. She suddenly fell on her knees and palms, breathing hard.
"I don't see any glowing!" Fong said angrily.
Artymis' right hand reached up to her neck, and she pulled her white necklace out of her tank-top. She gripped it with trembling fingers and gasped for air. She narrowed her eyes when she suddenly felt power course through her veins. She stood up and slashed her arms to the side. She glared at General Fong and breathed hard. Her long hair flew in different directions when a strong wind picked up out of nowhere. She balled her hands into fists and her eye glowed a white color. From her fingers and up to the upper part of her arms, there were new tattoos glowing. There were multiple thorn vines covering her arms, and there was a medium-sized rose on the back of her hand on both left and right. Artymis narrowed her eyes when she rose her arms up and, like a tornado but thin, rocks pushed her up, the wind becoming stronger. She rose high and Fong had a large grin on his face.
"It worked!" He shouted with a triumphant look.
The rock cage that Anduril and Appa were in, fell crumbling to the ground. Katara and Sokka found that both could feel their legs and that they were no longer in quicksand. They knelt down and breathed, feeling Appa and Anduril bring them to the wall and shielding them from everything, except for the view of their friend. Katara felt Momo, frightened, jumped in her arms for protection. Sokka squinted his eyes to see the scene laid out before him.
Katara opened and squinted her eyes, looking up at Artymis, Artymis, please stop.
Art, you gotta control yourself! Sokka thought urgently, squinting up at his friend.
Artymis stretched her arms to the sides and she shouted in an otherworldly voice:
"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY FRIENDS!"
She brought her arms in front her, forming an x, and then slashed them to the side. This caused rocks to lift and fly everywhere, making everyone vulnerable to getting injured. Suddenly, she didn't move, but kept very still. The rocks and wind kept roaring and water suddenly seeped from beneath the stones and made multiple ting twisters around.
"Oh my god!" Katara whispered, a hand over her mouth.
"Art - calm down!" Sokka yelled, but his voice went mute against the wind.
Artymis... Anduril lifted his head, staring up at her. His voice concerned and worried.
Artymis opened her eyes, which had returned to their original emerald color. She blinked and felt herself fly through the sky. She saw a thin water twister come straight for her, she placed her hands in front of her and made a fearful scream. She opened her eyes when nothing happened for about thirty seconds.
"It is time." A warm and deep voice said beside her.
Artymis lifted her eyes and looked beside her, she nearly yelped when she saw Avatar Roku sitting next to her, back straight. "Avatar Roku?" She breathed, "Wh - What happened?" She looked down and saw herself riding on his ruby dragon. The dragon lifted his eyes to her.
We meet again, he said in her mind.
I guess so, she said, looking up to Roku. "What am I...?"
"Look there." Roku extended a finger out in front of her, pointing down below them.
Artymis did, and she stared in horror. She saw herself upon a tornado of rocks, a new set of tattoos glowing on her. She was in the Avatar State, and she looked in rage. "Am I in the spirit world?" She asked, looking up to Roku. He nodded. "I let my emotions let loose and I put myself in the Avatar State, right?"
He nodded, "We must discuss the Avatar State, something you should've learned long ago, but was still not ready."
"Am I now?" She asked.
"Yes." Roku's ruby dragon sped upwards. Artymis wasn't ready at all, heck she wasn't ready when Anduril did this. She clutched Roku's arm and held on tight, for fear that she would fall. Roku looked down at the young Avatar, "You should have no fear, you won't fall." He said to calm her down.
Artymis lifted her eyes to him and nodded, "I'm sorry, I still haven't gotten use to this..." She gulped. "... fast speed."
"My dragon will slow down soon," Roku said. Sure enough, the dragon started soar calmly. The clouds surrounding them.
Artymis let go of Roku's arm and relaxed. She looked up and saw distant figures standing in the clouds. She stared at them as they passed by them, "Who are they, Avatar Roku?" She looked up at him.
"They are your past lives." Roku answered, staring up ahead. "The past Avatars."
"My past lives?" Artymis repeated in a whisper.
"Yes, now," Roku said. "The Avatar State - the glow - is where you are at your most powerful. It combines all the powers of your past lives, the past Avatars. The Avatar state is a defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars. Although you are powerful and posses the knowledge and power of the past Avatars, unfortunately, you are at your most vulnerable. If, for whatever reason, you are killed in the Avatar State, the cycle is broken."
Panic rose in her. "What?" Artymis looked up at him, a panic look in her eyes. Flashes of Avatar Kyoshi, Avatar Roku, and two other Avatars with glowing eyes. Each were alone and perform a form of bending one bending of an element. My past lives, she thought and the panic expression faded in her eyes, though not as much.
Roku looked down at her with glowing eyes, "If you are killed in the Avatar State, the cycle of the Avatar reincarnated is broken, and we, the Avatars, will cease to exist. The thread is cut, the thread that bines all four elements."
Artymis' eyes grew wide with fear and shock. Her hand reached up for her Avatar necklace and she held it tight. She now understood that controlling her emotions was important and that she shouldn't allow herself in the Avatar State as she has done in the past months. She felt someone lift her face up to them.
Roku looked at her, his eyes back to normal, "You must be more wary of your feelings."
She nodded, "I understand."
He paused and said, "You understand that, but not what I had told at our first meeting."
"Huh?" She looked up at him with confused eyes.
Roku held her up white piece around her neck. His eyes showed signs of disapproval, "The one rule I had told you: an Avatar can never be involved with someone."
Artymis remembered about that and said softly but with a slightly hard expression, "I think differently." Before she knew it, there was a blinding light to her eyes, and she returned to her physical body.
The rock tornado slowed down and the rocks fell to the ground, the strong wind disappeared, and the tiny water twisters diminished. Katara and Sokka lifted their eyes and saw Artymis standing before them, back to her normal-self. She was playing with her hands and fingers, a nervous expression on her face.
"Guys... I - I - I'm sorry." She said, almost mumbling. She felt Anduril light lay his chin on her shoulder as a mean for comfort and felt Momo jump in her arms. She heard Appa make a low growl, and looked up when Katara and Sokka came over to her.
"You back to normal?" Katara asked her softly.
Artymis nodded, "Yeah, I'm back to hyper-lazy Artymis."
"That's good." Sokka said, making a smile.
"That was perfect!" A voice, annoying to the group, called out. They could feel the person smile as they said those words. General Fong came over, "You are ready," he said looking at Artymis. "All you have to do is learn how to control it when we go up against the Fire Nation."
Artymis threw him a look over her shoulder. She sighed and turned to face him, Momo jumped out of her arms and stayed on the ground. "You know what I think?" She asked, and put her hands on her hips. "I think you're... CRAZY!"
"You said it, Art." Sokka said.
"I agree." Katara said.
"And you know what is the Artymis State?" Artymis asked Fong.
Fong gave her a peculiar look, "I beg your pardon? Will it be useful in fighting the Fire Nation?" He asked, rushing in.
Artymis blinked and smirked, "Yeah, let me show you." She lifted her hands and used airbending to lift Fong off of his feet.
"Wha...?" He said, shocked at the 'Artymis State'. Artymis dropped him and rose her hand and moved it like she was slapping someone invisible. The air slapped Fong, but hard and slapped him again when Artymis did the invisible slap, on his left cheek. He blinked and fell unconscious.
"Now, that is the Artymis State." Artymis said, smirking again and crossing her arms over her chest. She heard her friends snicker and laugh, she found herself smiling and suppressing a laugh. She looked up when three nervous-looking Earth Kingdom soldiers came over to her and her friends.
"Um, Lady Avatar, would you still like an escort? To Omashu?" One of the soldiers asked her but looking at Anduril and Appa.
Artymis felt Katara and Sokka come by her side, she glanced at them and smiled. Katara looked at the soldiers and shook her head, "No, I think we're ok."
Prince Zuko and Iroh were running by a stream. Zuko stopped and dropped onto his knees, gasping for breath. Iroh fell down beside him. When Zuko finally could breathe properly, he took out something from his pocket. He held the item up in his hand and stared at it. It was a knife. A fine made knife that had writing on one of the sides: "Never Give Up". Zuko read it over and sighed. He lifted the knife and held the blade right under to his ponytail. He shut his eyes and thought over what he had to do. He knew that after this, he would never be able to return to his nation, at least not alive. He inhaled and slowly accepted, but it seemed like an eternity when it really was a minute. He gripped the black hair from his ponytail and slit the blade. Zuko passed the knife to his uncle. Iroh did the same: cit his hair from his small gray bun that was held by a golden band. Zuko tossed his cut ponytail in the rushing stream, Iroh did the same.
The opportunity for me - for me to go home - is now lost, Zuko thought grimly. Iroh and he stayed sitting in front of the stream, while the night slowly spread across the sky.
Artymis, Katara, and Sokka didn't notice how the night was coming so fast. They decided to head out early the next morning. Fong was still unconscious and the teenagers had no intention of seeing him before they leave. The soldiers were extremely nice and cautious around them. When the dark of the night came and the moon was almost full and everyone was asleep, Artymis snuck out of bed and stood out on the balcony.
Anduril rose his head and looked at her, Is something wrong? he asked.
Artymis shook her head, No, just wanted to see the sky. You can go to bed, you know.
If you say so, Anduril said, his eyes lingering on her.
Good night, she said.
Anduril already laid his head down, Good night.
When she made sure he was asleep, Artymis thought about what Avatar Roku said about the Avatar State. How she could end the Avatar cycle if she was killed in the Avatar State. How her emotions can get so easily out of hand and trigger it. But most importantly, Artymis thought about what he said about her disobeying one of the laws. The one she and Zuko broke by falling in love with each other. Her hand reached for her neck and softly gripped the chain of her white necklace. She slipped it off and held it up, next to the moon. She stared at it and said, "I want to see him." She sighed and slipped the necklace back around her neck and under her shirt. "I wish the war wasn't going on." Thinking of the war led her to think about all those suffering soldiers. She narrowed her eyes and promised, "I will help them. I will end this war. I must end this war."
Author's Note: Ok, thank you all for being patience with me and I really appreciate all the support. And I really hope you like this chapter, I think it came out ok, but not my best. I'm so sorry if it took a while though, I needed ideas and school things been getting in the way, so yeah. Anways, I really do hope you like this chapter and if there are mistakes, please tell me. You all should know: ideas are always welcomed! Well, l8ters and I'm sure "The Cave of the Two Lovers" episode will be very interesting, I got this idea eversince I thought of creating "Chapter One: Water" and have seen the episode. Ciao!
