"It all started, with four elements."
"Water... Earth... Fire... Air."
"When I was a little girl, my uncle used to tell me and my brother stories about the old days, a time of peace. A time when the Avatar kept balance between the four elements respective nations. The Water tribes, Earth kingdom, Fire nation, and Air nomads... But that all changed a long time ago, when The Water tribes did the unthinkable and betrayed the world... Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, only he could stop the ruthless, and blood thirsty Water tribes when they went on the war path... but when the world needed him most, he vanished..."
" A hundred years have passed since then, and the Avatar has never resurfaced, all the while the formerly known Water tribes, now known as "The Mizu Empire" are on the Verge of victory and conquest over the entire world. Two years ago, my father and the other men of our secluded refuge in the southern Earth kingdom, headed off to join the Earth kingdoms last bit of Resistance against the Empire in the war. Leaving me and my brother to look after our fellow refugee's... Some believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air nomads, and that the cycle was broken. But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow, some way the Avatar will return to save the world."
BOOK 1: REAWAKENING THE FLAME.
The ice cold air of the southern pole chilled to the bone. It's icy wastelands, mesmerizing to one's eyes. The peace, the tranquility, the quiet cold air. One could almost swear, it was... therapeutic.
Suddenly the peace, and quiet is disturbed by a sudden and loud explosion, in the near distance. The magnitude of said explosion, was enough to cause a large shock wave, strong enough to create cracks in a large ice pillar. The cracks and the weight of the ice was enough for the large pillar to come crashing down into the water. As pieces of ice began to rise back up to the surface, a particular chunk of ice rose to the surface. The large iceberg that arose to the surface was almost perfectly round, cept for the bottom half still underwater, and emanated a light blue glow. A few minutes later, the water began to ripple as something made its way to the surface. Then from below the water's surface, a large set of fingers and claws, gently hooked the iceberg with it's claws and just as gently dragged the iceberg back down under the water. A few more ripples and a dark shadow showed how something large made its way north from under the water.
The small village was like any other refugee settlement in the Earth kingdom, a few small shacks, tents, and even some small apartment buildings. The only thing that made this small village different than others, was that this one was on the southern coast of the Earth kingdom, in a small clearing surrounded by trees overseeing the sea and a few islands. On the water, a small row boat with two siblings could be seen, with the two siblings currently making an effort to catch some fish for their dinner.
"Watch and learn Azula, this is how you catch a fish." Said Zuko as he dropped his fishing line in the water.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the line be a little farther out away from the boat Zuzu?" Azula asked after seeing how her brother had simply dropped the hook in front of him only a foot or two from the boat.
"Nope, its fine right where it is." Zuko answered quickly and stubbornly.
Azula just simply rolled her eyes at her older, yet 'not' wiser brother before speaking again.
"Whatever you say... you know I find this really to be a waste of my time," Azula said in a matter-of-factly tone. Zuko momentarily looked back at his sister, an inquisitive look on his face before turning back to the water. "I mean think about it, I could be doing something more productive with my time. Like helping uncle with chores that need to be done around the village, or practice my fire bending with my class, or... something, anything that isn't this." Azula finished with a faraway look as she stared at the water.
Zuko turned again to look at his sister, he was about to counter his sisters statement, when he noticed the look in her eye, he knew exactly what was wrong with her.
"Azula, you know its okay to be..." Zuko started in a assuring voice but was quickly cut off by Azula's quick response.
"I am 'NOT' afraid, zuzu! I simply just don't see why i have to be here." Azula looked at her brother with irritation before looking back at the water. She would never admit it, especially to Zuko, but Azula did feel fear towards water. Ever since she was a child, Azula feared going into the water. Zuko knew well enough this as well, he had his doubts when their uncle had requested for Azula to accompany him early that morning, but until now everything had been fine, what changed?
As Zuko asked himself these questions, he then came up with a bad idea to maybe ease the mood a little... and to mess with his little sister.
Zuko smirked suspiciously as he turned back to the water. "Okay, if you say so." He said in a sing-song voice, while putting his fishing pole down, and grabbing the edges of the small boat. Suddenly he began to shake the boat from side to side, making Azula instinctively grip the edges of the small boat with her hands like a vise. Letting out a loud gasp of fear she began to yell and beg for her brother to stop. Zuko began laughing as he continued to rock the boat.
"PLEASE, ZUKO STOP, PLEASE!" Azula begged one last time, her eyes wide in fear of falling over board.
Zuko finally relented to his sisters plea's and stopped rocking the boat, chuckling as he took a hold of his fishing pole once again. " So, not afraid huh?" Asked Zuko looking back at his sister still chuckling. Azula gave Zuko a frightening glare, that froze Zuko with one look."Uhhh... Azula..."
"What... is... WRONG WITH YOU!" Azula shouted in pure rage, making Zuko jump and almost dropping his fishing pole.
"It was just a joke..." Zuko stated but was cut off by Azula's yelling.
"NO, THAT WAS NO JOKE YOU DAMN IDIOT!" Azula shouted with even more rage. "WHAT MAKES YOU EVEN THINK THAT WAS REMOTELY FUNNY!" Azula yelled once more, only this time flames began to flare from her nostrils.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, i was just trying to lighten the mood a little... Sorry." Zuko began to counter, but was again cut off by Azula.
"WHATEVER!," Azula snapped, before taking a few calming breaths, and before speaking again in an irritated yet all to calm voice."Just... shut up and leave me and the situation alone!" Azula then hugged herself softly looking out to the water once more.
Zuko gave his sister an apologetic look that she didn't get to see. Zuko decided it best to do as Azula asked... or demanded...or, whatever. And looked back out to his side of the boat where his fishing line still sat, undisturbed.
Zuko and Azula both stayed quiet after that for a while, when Zuko finally decided to reel up his fishing line, and throw it abit farther. Both siblings were unaware of the large knot in the water that made its way towards them, slowing down and becoming less visible as it got closer, and closer to their boat before going completely underwater once it was only seven feet away.
Both Zuko and Azula were minding themselves when both siblings felt how their boat suddenly jumped.
"QUIT IT, WILL YOU!" Azula yelled in surprise and irritation letting go of her arms and gripping at the boat sides once more.
"That, wasn't me!" Zuko countered just as surprised as his sister. Azula gave him a look that clarified she wasn't convinced. "I'm serious, Azula, it wasn't me!" Zuko and Azula exchanged looks, before once more feeling the boat jump."I told you it wasn't me!" Zuko stated, before he and Azula felt the boat jump again, this time whatever hit their boat hit them hard enough to almost make them both fly over board.
Azula and Zuko both regained their stability, gripping the edges of the boat. Azula and Zuko searched frantically around themselves, trying to spot whatever it was that was ramming them.
"Do you see anything?!" Zuko called to his sister, keeping his eyes on the water for any signs of movement.
Azula studied the water, trying to make out any shapes in the water. As she did this, she saw how a large shape made a loud splash before going underwater. Azula's eyes widened, this thing was as big if not bigger than their boat.
"Zuko, we have get out of here!" Azula stated her eyes still fixated where she saw the creature go under. Zuko looked back at Azula, he followed her gaze, when he saw it. A large knot in the water making its way towards them at a frightening speed. Before either sibling could react, a large armored reptile missing its back legs,with a finned tail and large dorsal fin on its back, jumped right over both the boat and the siblings heads. Both Azula and Zuko tried to maintain their boat from rolling, as the creature landed on the other of water.
"DEAR AGNI AND ALL SPIRITS ABOVE, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Zuko yelled in a mixture of shock, confusion, and fear.
"I think it was an arctic Sharkidile!" Azula stated as she looked around, calmly scoping out where the large animal could be lurking. Thats when a loud splash was heard behind both siblings, they both felt how their boat suddenly under a large amount of weight lopsided to the right side. Azula fell onto one of the stools inside the boat, almost rolling of said boat, she then turned and saw how the large animals head alone, was what put their boat in an uneven position, both Azula and Zuko found themselves pushed towards their ends of the boat trying everything they can to keep the large animals jaws away from them.
The large armored reptile released a gurgling hiss as it opened its jaws and as quick as a bolt of lightning snapped them shut, nearly trapping Zuko's leg in its mouth. Every time the Sharkidile moved to try and grab either one of the two siblings, the boat kept shifting more, and more to that one side the large animal was posted.
The Sharkidile continued its attempts to make an easy meal out of the two teens, but neither one of his prey would allow that to happen it seemed.
Azula noticed how a creaking and cracking sound emanating from under the large Sharkidile, made it obvious the large animal attempted to get its huge body onto their boat.
Azula knew that at this rate, either the boat would give out under the animals weight, leaving them to its mercy in the water or, it would succeed in boarding their boat and either it would attack her or Zuko first then the other after. Either way, they would not survive. Thats when Azula noticed how the Sharkidile seemed more interested in Zuko more than her. Thats when an idea struck Azula, she had little room but it was enough room to do what she planned.
Azula rose to her feet, extending her right arm pointing her index and middle fingers strait at the back of the animals head, she knew there was a slight chance of what she was about to do would back fire, but she had to do something. Azula closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, Azula felt how all her energy built up in her belly, made its way to her chest, and into her arm. Azula then opened her eyes and released a large stream of orange fire from her extended fingers.
The large Sharkidile went into a raging frenzy once the fire hit its armored head. As the large creature lashed out snapping it jaws now at Azula, it gave Zuko an opportunity to help his sister who was now on the boats floor trying everything she could to keep the reptile away from her, including shooting fire at the animal. Zuko took a stance and he himself began to shoot streams of fire at the Sharkidile, attempting to get its attention away from Azula. Now with both siblings attacking at the same time, the arctic Sharkidile was now on the defensive, clamping its jaws shut all it could do was back off into the water as quickly as it appeared. Both Azula and Zuko wasted little time, after seeing the damage the Sharkidile had delivered to their boat, both siblings looked at each other with worried eyes.
"We have to get to shore!" Zuko stated the obvious as he began to look around searching for any signs of nearest land. Zuko then spotted a nearby island his eyes lit up."Over there, there's an island. We have to try and make it over there!" Zuko stated in a hopeful tone.
Azula looked at the island her brother had just spotted, her eyes like Zuko's lit up, that is until she realized something neither of them had until just now.
"That would be our best solution, yes... but we have a slight problem my dear brother." Azula said in a mater factly type tone.
Zuko looked at his sister with a confused expression.
"Whats the problem?" He asked abit in frustration.
"We, my dear brother, seem to have, oh how do I put this... LOST OUR ROWS!" Right when Azula said that, Zuko looked at where the arctic Sharkidile had been only minutes ago. All he found was his hatchet and the boats rowing sticks completely destroyed.
Zuko let out a shout in frustration. Things had gone from bad to worse, their only hope to get away from the armored reptile was only a short distance away, yet they had no way of getting there.
"What should we do then?" Zuko asked looking at his sister again, hoping that maybe she had some kind of idea.
Azula looked at her brother with confusion and irritation before answering.
"Why do you always assume I have all the solutions for our problems?" Azula asked, Zuko shrugged before trying to think of a way to get the boat moving.
As Azula did the same an idea struck her.
"Zuko, get over here now!" Azulas demand brought Zuko out of his thinking, he quickly made his way to the back end of the boat where Azula took a strong stance. Zuko looked at his sister with confusion, Azula noticed this and rolled her eyes.
"Well, are you just going to stand there or are you going to help me get this worthless heap of wood to that island of yours?" Azulas question only seemed to further her brothers confusion.
"What do you mean?" Zuko's question made Azula roll her eyes once more .
"I mean, we're going to fire bend this piece of shit away from here and to that island before our armored friend comes back for round 2, thats what I mean!, now hurry up and put as much energy as you can into it!" Azula stated and demanded.
Zuko seemed to finally understand, his features became serious as he nodded stating he got the message.
Both Azula and Zuko grabbed a hold of one of the boats stools firmly with one hand, while with the other they made a tight fist. Both siblings took a deep breath, cocking their arms back they took another deep breath, then thrusting their arms forward released two large jet streams of orange fire into the water, as soon as they did this their boat launched itself forward. Both Azula and Zuko held on to the stool with an iron grip, doing their best not lose their grip and fall off.
They were making little haste, the island seemed to get closer and closer, thats when Zuko noticed something peculiar about the island, for a second he thought he saw... a face...
"ZUKO, LOOK OUT!" Zuko was brought out of his examination when Azula's shout of fear reached his ears. Zuko wasted no time turning his head slightly he caught only a flash of what happened, The Sharkidile shot up out of the water, its armored jaws wide open releasing a gurgling roar it snapped its jaws shut, taking out a large part of the boat and nearly catching Zuko's arm in its jaws. Zuko instinctively flung himself away from the animal while still keeping fire flowing from his hand, Azula pushed her brother back to his side of the boat once the Sharkidile went back underwater, neither one wasted time they both put more power into their fire. Both looking back ever once in a while watching how the large reptile was right behind them keeping a safe distance from the fire. Both were to distracted to notice something emerging from the water, something... glowing.
Both Azula and Zuko found themselves tiring from the excessive use of their fire bending, and also found that their boat was slowing down, the large reptile was closing in fast on them, they witnessed how it made its way to the surface its enormous jaws opening in order to catch its prey. Thats when the boat came to sudden and violent stop after colliding with something, both siblings were sent flying off the small boat, Zuko went crashing into a small pillar of ice while Azula rolled violently to a stop a stinging pain in her left arm. Azula looked at where the boat had stopped, it was still in one peace, then the large Sharkidile came crashing through the small boat wrecking it to pieces, once it laid eyes on Azula it let out a gurgling roar and proceeded to make its way towards her, Azula tried to pick herself up to fight or at least run, but the pain in her arm didn't allow it. Zuko was brought back to consciousness after hearing the animals roar, he wasted no time seeing how the animal made its way to his sister, he picked himself up and launched a fire ball at the creature. The Sharkidile swung it large armored finned tail around and swatted the attack, and unlike before stayed put, unfased by his attacker. The animal hissed as it launched a piece of wood from the destroyed boat towards Zuko, knocking the teen over.
The large reptile continued to make its way towards Azula who was defenseless at this point, Zuko could only watch in horror as the large animal was about to close its jaws on his sisters head, but then something pulled on the reptile, pulling it away just in time. Both Zuko and Azula watched as the Sharkidile went into a fit of rage and fear, hissing, biting and shaking in order to escape somethings grasp but failing to do so. Then in an instant something dragged the reptile back underwater, only this time there was no sign of it coming back up.
Zuko sat there for a few minutes making sure it was safe, once he deemed it so he ran to his sisters side.
"Azula, are you okay?" Zuko asked his worry for his sister evident in his voice.
"I'm fine zuzu, just a little scratch is all," Azula stated pushing away her brother from her pain stricken arm. "What happened?" Azula asked now looking at where the aquatic predator was only minutes ago, wondering what in this world could be bold enough, and large enough to, what it seems like, make a meal out of one of the apex predators of the ocean.
"I don't know, it looked like something dragged it under... what that something could be, i have no idea." Zuko answered looking at the very spot Azula was fixating her stare, while also helping his sister back to her feet.
Azula yet in pain still found it in her to roll her eyes and retort her brother. "No shit, detective dum-dum," Zuko frowned at the nick name his sister always turned to call him when she felt he said something stupid. "I mean, what happened that made us crash, we were no where near the island. So why... did... we..." Azula trailed off when she noticed the ice under her feet, she looked around herself and realized they had crashed onto a glacier.
Zuko seeing his sisters reaction noticed the exact same thing she did, but unlike her he asked himself one question.
"Where in the name of Agni did this thing come from?" Zuko mumbled, just loud enough for Azula to hear him.
"What, are you mumbling on about now?!" Azula asked abit in frustration.
"This glacier, where did it come from?" Azula's eyebrow shot up at that before a glow caught her attention, as she went to examine the source she left Zuko to his ramblings.
"This glacier wasn't here before, so where did it come from, further more wheres the island, i cant see it anywhere, Azula do you see anything... Azula?" Zuko looked around for his sister, he found her eying a glowing sphere in the middle of the large glacier.
Zuko himself found the sphere odd, and eyed it closely. Thats when they both noticed something really odd, a shape of a body inside the sphere, both siblings gave the figure a closer look, then the unthinkable happened, the figure opened its eyes.
Both Zuko and Azula took a few steps back when they saw this.
"Stay away from it Zuko, its probably some trick of the Empire!" Azula stated getting into a fighting position, to her left Zuko ignored her, curiosity seemed to get the best of him. He released an extra hatchet from his waist and got closer to the glowing sphere. "We should just get out of here and... ZUKO, STOP!" Azula exclaimed when she witnessed her brother as he raised his hatchet to the sphere, striking it with a mighty blow, cracking the sphere. Zuko struck it once more and the sphere exploded making Azula and Zuko fall to the ground and cover their faces from the shards of ice, but then they had to cover their eyes from a bright blue light that reached the highest clouds.
A light that reached the eyes far and wide...
Far off the coast to the East, on the deck of a large ship sailing through the calm waters, a young woman in sophisticated silver and blue clothing, a long braid with loopies framing her face, her lips shaded with a light pink color, looked up at the blue light in the sky, her light blue eyes wide before narrowing dangerously her brow furrowing. "Finally!" the young woman whispered to herself. "Bato, Master Pakku, do you know what this means!?" The young woman exclaimed.
"That we wont be able to finish our game, and lunch?" Sighed a middle aged man in a blue tunic, as he turned to face the young woman head on, another elderly man in front of the first, with a white mustache and goatee and a balding head of hair, looked up from the game board before him, now making eye contact with the young woman as well.
"No, it means that my search will finally come to an end!" The young woman replied rather aggressively. "That light had to have come from a powerful force, it has to be him!"
"Or maybe it is a mirage, a trick of ones mind," The elder man suggested. "Being at sea for too long will do that to a person." The man added but received no answer. "We've been over this Princess Katara. I believe it best to not get your hopes up again over something that could very well be nothing." The elder man continued, but again received no answer.
"Master Pakku is right Princess, you should just relax and have some lunch." Bato suggested.
"Relax?, RELAX!?" Katara shouted in disbelief. "I will not relax until I have what I have come searching for, and what I'm searching for seems to have finally shown its face! I will relax once I have it in my grasp!" Katara stated before storming off to where a large, behemoth of a man clad in silver and blue armor, his face covered by a mask that resembled that of a demon, that showed his glowing eyes, stood overseeing the crews work. "Yasei!" The behemoth turned when he heard his name called. "Set a course for the direction the light came from!" Katara commanded.
The behemoth nodded in Kataras direction before turning toward the deck of the ship and shouting orders in an unusual language. The deck of the ship showed how warriors used their water bending to move the ship forward, not an easy task though manageable, these men and women heard the orders and immediately knew what needed to be done. Shouting could be heard from the warriors in the same language the armored behemoth had used, the ship gained a much quicker pace.
Both Bato and Pakku frowned at this.
When the light finally seemed to decipitate, Both Azula and Zuko tried their best to adjust to the light, thats when they both saw how a boy emerged from where the sphere once was. Azula readied herself for an attack, rising to her feet as quickly as she could, Zuko on the other hand just sat there, mouth open wide as he looked at the boy with glowing eyes and arrows.
The boy then seemed to have directed his gaze towards the siblings.
"Stay back!" Azula ordered, her right fist engulfed in fire and a fire dagger emanating from her left.
The boy looked at her unfaised... before dropping to the ground in a dead faint, the light that he emanated going out as he fell.
Azula has no idea what drove her to rush and grab the boy before he hit his head on the ice, but she did. Zuko, finally snapping out of his trance, arose to his feet picking up his hatchet he had dropped and placing it back on his waist, he then approached Azula and began prodding the boy with his foot.
"You think he's dead?" Zuko asked while continuing to prod the boy.
"How would I know?!" Azula stated, gently placing the boys head on her coat. "Would you stop that!" Azula demanded after her brother kept prodding the boy.
"What? I'm checking to see if he's alive." Zuko defended himself with his hands in the air.
Azula simply glared at Zuko, before both of them brought their attention back to the boy who began move slightly and moan. He moaned softly as he opened his eyes, the boy was met by a worried look on Zuko and an unsure look on Azula.
The boy kept looking at Azula before speaking.
"I... need to tell you something." The boy muttered weakly.
Azula frowned slightly "What is it?" She asked a bit wary.
"Please, come closer..." The boy asked of her.
Azula hesitantly obeyed, she has no idea who this boy is, for all she knew he could be a scout for the Empire. Yet she found herself waiting patiently for the boy to speak.
"Will...," The boy croaked, Azula still waited patiently.
"WILL YOU GO PENGUIN SLEDDING WITH ME?" The boy said grinning slightly and looking as if nothing was wrong with him.
Azula slightly startled and taken aback by the boys sudden outburst, lifted her brow in an inquisitive fashion before answering. "Uhh... I'd happily be obliged, but... we don't have any penguins here."
The boys grin disappeared and was replaced by a confused pout. "What, no penguins," The boy said in a disappointed tone. "How do you not have penguins in the south pole?"
"South pole?" Both Azula and Zuko questioned but the boy paid it no attention.
"Oh well, I guess I'll have to find something better to do." The boy said as he rose to his feet, a content smile on his face.
"Whoa, wait just a minute," Zuko began. "First, 'who' are you?, second, 'how' in Agni did you get in that ball of ice?, and third, 'why' did you assume you were in the south pole?!" Zuko asked obviously confused. Azula herself was slightly confused and wanted answers.
The boy looked just as confused as the two siblings, as he dusted off his shoulders of the ice he answered, "To be honest, I have no idea how i got inside the ice. Its weird, the last thing I can remember was me and..." The boy paused as he began to look around, seeming to look for something in particular. "Where is he?" The boy said to the wind.
"Where's 'who'?" Azula asked, this boy was acting strange for her.
Thats when Azula, Zuko, and the boy felt and heard an animalistic roar emanating from behind the mound that once was the boys prison. "Thats him!" The boy smiled and ran up the mound disappearing on the other side. "Your okay, thats good." Azula heard the boy say, cautiously Zuko peaked around the corner followed closely by Azula, thats when they saw it.
Zuko's jaw fell open in a comical way his eyes so wide it seemed as if they would pop out, Azula herself was shocked to see the giant furry beast. "What is that?" Azula managed to say, not making any sudden movements, she had already had to delay with a giant animal, she definitely doesn't want to go for round three with this thing.
"Hmm, oh this is Appa," The boy explained. "My flying bison."
Azula snorted skeptically. "Of-course... and this Zuko, my flying fire monkey." Azula stated a hand on her hip, while the other pointed her thumb at Zuko.
Azula's comment seemed to snap Zuko out of his trance of shock, and he shot a glare at his sister who paid it no attention.
Appa began to huff, then sneezed a large ball of mucus in the siblings direction, Azula quickly grabbed Zuko's arm and used him as a shield. The bison's snot covered most of Zuko, who began to twitch in disgust, before running off to find something to remove the snot from his red and yellow clothing, and from the hair on his ponytail.
Both Azula and the boy paid Zuko no attention as they continued their conversation.
"Do you live around here?" The boy asked with curiosity.
Azula hesitated in her answer, still unsure of this boy. "Maybe... why do you ask?" Azula asked, she most definitely wont take her chances.
"Just curious, I've never seen people like you in the south pole before." The boy answered a smile on his face.
"Well, maybe you should look around, your not exactly in the south pole," Azula stated." Actually your currently in the waters of the southern coast of the Earth kingdom."
The boy looked at his surroundings and found that indeed he was not in the south pole, which only confused him. "Huh, well thats weird." The boy said.
"Yes, yes it is." Azula agreed.
"I think i finally got all that crap off of me, what did i miss?" Zuko came from around the corner, looking clean, yet drenched in water.
"Oh I was just asking if you guys live around here?" Said the boy.
"Oh, yeah we live north of here, on the southern coastline right over their." Zuko answered.
Azula shot her brother a glare of disbelief."Why would you tell him that, we don't know who he is, for all we know he could be some scout from the Empires armada!" Azula stated.
Zuko winced, yeah he definitely hadn't thought of that."Well... I'm sure he's not... I mean look at him." Zuko defended and waved over to him.
The boy gave a goofy grin, accompanied by a twitchy eyebrow.
Azula rolled her eyes, well whats done is done she thought.
"The overly paranoid one is my sister, Azula." Zuko said. "We never did get your name."
"Oh, I'm Aaaaa..." The boys introduction was interrupted, when he began to huff then sneeze, in a flash the boy went from being on solid ice, to flying eight or nine feet up in the air!
Again Zuko and Azula were struck with shock, Zuko looking up to the sky wide mouthed, and Azula looking at the spot the boy had been only seconds ago, her eyes wide and her mouth opened slightly.
Slowly and gracefully, the boy came floating down only inches from where he had stood before.
"I'm Aang." The boy continued unfazed, as he snuffed his nose rubbing it with his finger.
Zuko shot his head down back at Aang before shooting it back up then back down. "W-WHAT THE, YOU JUST SNEEZED AND FLEW TEN FEET!" Zuko stuttered in shock. Azula could be seen beginning to regain her composure, though her eyes remained wide with surprise.
"Really?" The boy questioned, placing his hand on the back of his neck, looking up at the sky. "Huh, it felt higher." The boy pointed out.
Zuko just stared at Aang in disbelief.
"You're... an air bender, aren't you?" Azula asked as realization hit her like a stampeding komodo-rhino. Aang smiled and nodded. "Yup." Aang replied.
"So, first a glacier in the shape of a sphere, then blinding blue lights," Azula began to ask herself still unable to believe what was being realized. "Then a flying bison, and now... air benders? Nope, non of this makes any sense," Azula concluded. "I 'Refuse' to believe any of this. So you know what, I'm gonna go home, have some of uncle's tea, then take a well deserved nap."
Azula turned to leave, thats when she realized and remembered one very specific dilemma. Azula was met with the sight of miles and miles of water, water that she just now remembered, has sharkidiles. And... Azula had no idea how to swim.
"If you guys are stuck, me and Appa can give you a lift." Aang offered.
Both siblings looked at Aang skeptically, and began voicing their uncertainties about the offer.
"C'mon, It'll be fun, and I'll have you guys their in no time." Aang bargained.
Zuko sighed as he decided it best to take the offer. "We'd really appreciate that, thanks." Zuko smiled slightly and began to walk towards the giant furry beast, but was stopped when Azula's voice broke in.
"Oh, no, no, I'd rather take my chances here than take my chances with another giant animal that could eat me, thank you very much." Azula stated crossing her arms, but wincing when she felt the stinging pain in her left arm.
Zuko frowned and rolled his eyes. "C'mon Azula, don't so paranoid... or stubborn for that matter." Azula glared at Zuko. "Look at it this way, It's either this giant monster, or you can wait here until the ice melts little by little and have to deal with the sharkidiles, your choice." Zuko stated going up Appa's tail onto the large saddle on his back, Azula didn't seem fazed until Zuko added. "Also, you can't swim remember?"
A few minutes later, Azula was on Appa's saddle, cursing under her breath about her situation.
"Ok, all first time flyer's please hold on, it may be a bumpy ride," Aang commented as if he were the spokesmen for a ferry. "Ready Appa?" Appa grunted as he leaped into the air and... landing in the water, less than a few meters away from the glacier.
"Huh, you know I was actually expecting this thing to fly," Azula commented unimpressed. "So i must say, I'm actually quite disapointed."
"Whats wrong buddy?" Aang asked the flying bison, while petting his head.
"He's probably just tired." Zuko commented.
"Yeah, maybe." Aang decided.
Azula snorted as she rolled her eyes. "If you two say so." She said, unconvinced. Turning to look at his two passengers, Aang couldn't help but steal a glance at Azula.
"What are you looking at?" Asked Zuko startling Aang.
"Uuhh... the... sky, yeah the sky, just looking at the sky." Aang replied with a blush, and sheepish grin.
Zuko looked unconvinced, he looked at Aang and then at Azula then back at Aang. "Uh-huh, whatever you say." Zuko said turning his back to Aang.
On the ship off the coast, Katara stared aimlessly into the waves, her blue robe billowing in the nights cool breeze. Katara could hear a few steps behind her, she knew who it was but paid them no attention.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Bato announced, giving a yawn. "Every warrior needs their rest."
Katara ignored him, gracing the hilt in her hands with the tip of her fingers. She was anxious for the fight that she knew is soon to come.
Bato frowned. "You should rest as well, Katara," Bato advised.
Katara snorted in disbelief and amusement. "Rest, really? I thought I told you earlier, that I would not rest until i have what I've come for, I've spent the past four years of my life looking for him and I've finally found him, I will not rest until my hands are at his throat." Katara stated coldly.
"Even if you 'have' found the Avatar," Bato reminded. "you will most likely be unable to capture him. Your father, his father, and his father... they all attempted this, and failed."
"Thats because they didn't have their honor," Katara insisted. "their pride, their very position in the Empire, wasn't depending on it." Katara tightened her grip on the hilt in her hand at her last statement.
Bato tilted his head down in resignation, a small frown on his face, he quietly left the Princess to her thoughts.
Appa continued his gentle swim in the water, thankfully shakidiles had not bothered them, leaving the three young ones with a tranquil set of mind. Zuko had fallen asleep with the gentle rocking motions of Appa swimming, Azula though feeling quite sleepy herself, couldn't manage to find a way to sleep comfortably. Azula looked at Aang, and decided to ask a question that had been biting at the bit since she learned Aang was an air bender. She made her way to the front of the saddle.
"So... Aang is it?" Azula asked, a bit uneasy.
Aang smiled and nodded. "Yup, thats me." He stated cheerfully.
"If you really are an air bender, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Azula asked.
"Shoot." Aang smiled.
"Would you happen to know what happened to the Avatar, would you?"
"No," Aang replied a bit to quickly for Azula's liking. "I mean, I knew people that knew him, but I, uh, didn't... really know him."
"I see," Azula said unconvinced, and a bit confused 'That wasn't my question.' she thought to herself. "I suppose I should settle in, and get some rest. Good night, Aang."
"Good night." Aang replied with a smile, but as soon as Azula's back was turned, his expression became stricken with guilt.
Aang awoke to the thundering sound of lightning striking, he found himself soaring through a storm on Appa. Beneath him, though not visible, he knew was the sea of the South pole. The winds were too strong, the rain was pouring to hard, Aang did his best to try and get him and his friend away from the storm, but it was to late. The strong winds hit Aang and Appa like boulder, sending them both spiraling out of control into the sea below. Aang gave a panicked scream as they hit the water, Appa roared in fear, the waves were to strong they kept pushing the two under but they both came back up, until a large wave came crashing down on them, knocking them both unconscious.
As both of them sank deeper and deeper into the cold waters, Aangs eyes glowed white with the power, and wisdom of the past. He crashed his fist together creating a ball of air around himself and Appa, the waters cold temperature mixed with the ball of air, made it possible for the wind to turn to ice. That was the last he could remember, being encased in ice.
"Hey, Aang! Wake up!" A young male voice called. Aang awoke with a start, gasping for every breath he took, on a small mattress on the floor. Out a small window, Aang could see a few towering tree's nearby, rocking gently in the wind. Aang looked around the small room, and saw Zuko by the window and Azula leaning against the doorway, her left arm bandaged.
"We're back in town," Zuko explained. "this is our home, we were gonna wake you when we got here, but we decided to let you sleep for a while."
"Thanks." Aang smiled.
"But now, we need for you to come down stairs," Azula commented. "everyone's been 'dying' to meet you."
"Oh, ok." Aang replied, getting up to put on his tan colored tunic.
As Azula turned to leave, she couldn't help but notice when Aang stood the arrow tattoo's spiraling down his body. Azula raised a brow, then decided to leave.
Moments later, Azula leaned against the wall of the small building, summoning a ball of fire in her hand then extinguishing it, then repeated the process, before Zuko accompanied by Aang came out the sliding door entrance to the building.
A crowd of people clad in red and green clothing, were gathered outside the building, waiting patiently for them.
"These, are the refugee's of the southern coast village," Zuko introduced. "This, everyone, is Aang."
The crowd began to mumble and whisper to eachother, eying Aang with both amazement and distrust.
"Why are they all staring at me?" Aang asked abit self conscious.
"Well," Said a short, stouty yet chubby, old man taking a sip from a cup of tea. "It may have to do with the fact, that no-one has seen an air bender in more than a hundred years. We'd all thought they'd gone extinct, up until my niece and nephew found you." The old man finished, taking another sip from his cup.
"A... hundred years?" Aang replied, baffled.(How could that be?)
"Aang, this my uncle," Zuko introduced. "Iroh."
"But if you'de like, you may call me uncle as well," Iroh smiled warmly. "Would you like some tea, I made it myself, it's quite delicious, if I do say so myself."
"No thanks." Aang replied.
"You shouldn't be so welcoming, uncle," Azula advised making her way towards Aang and Zuko. "I still don't think we can trust him, whats this?" Azula asked taking a hold of a staff Aang was carrying. "Some kind of weapon, or a walking stick?"
"Neither," Aang replied taking his staff back. "although, it could be used as a walking stick I suppose. But it's actually made for flying!"
Aang twisted a small lever on the staff, that released two sets of orange kite wings. Grabbing a hold of the handles, he placed the glider on his back, then pushed himself up with a gust of wind, and began soaring through the air like a bird. Azula looked on in amazement, she had to admit, not many spies would be able to take to the sky and fly, she was impressed.
Many of the children amongst the crowd laughed in amazement, and began chasing him from the ground. Aang looked down at them and gave joyful laugh, but when he looked ahead again he was met with the sight of a tree's trunk. Aang crashed face first with an 'oof!' everyone who witnessed him crashing winced, as if feeling the boys pain. Aang began to slide down the tree in a comical fashion, Azula rolled her eyes but smiled as she rushed to Aang, followed closely by Zuko.
"Well that was entertaining," Azula commented, a small smile still on her face. "but it is obvious you need practice."
"Who are you to judge Azula," Asked Zuko. "I mean you and I are fire benders, yet the most we can do is heat our tea."
"Wait, your 'both' fire benders!" Aang said said with excitement.
"Well... sorta," Zuko replied. "uncle saise that we're both good at bending,'some more than others.' Zuko added grudgingly. "But we have never been able to truly work on bettering our skills."
"Speaking of work," Iroh interjected. "Their is much that needs to be done, Zuko take Aang as a shadow on your duties with you, Azula come with me."
"So, what do you think?" Azula asked once inside the apartment. "Can he be trusted?"
"I cannot say," Iroh frowned, placing his cup of tea down. "he seems to be faithful, but sometimes, what you see isn't always what it seems."
Both Azula and Iroh stood there thinking.
"So what should we do?" Azula asked.
Iroh contemplated the question, he sighed. "We will allow him to stay, but we will have to keep a watchful eye on him," Iroh conceded. "I will not allow any danger to befall our family or the people of the village, but as of right now, the air bender is one of us."
Azula nodded understanding. "And who will be the one watching him?" She asked curious.
"You, my dear niece." Iroh replied simply.
"What, why me!" Azula protested. "Why not Zuko, or someone else from the village?"
"Because, I trust you can handle this more than your brother," Iroh replied. "Plus I know you wouldn't lie to me about anything the boy might do to prove he has an ulterior motive."
Azula frowned, yet understood. She to did not want anything to happen to this village, her family had been run out of their home once already, she wouldn't want that to happen again with their new home. The Mizu Empire's reign of terror had driven many to hide, while others tried to fight but fell to the Empire's might, and some were just unlucky. She herself had never had a true encounter with an Oni warrior or an Akuma, and by the grace of Agni, she was truly lucky to have never encountered the wrath of the Mahkai, yet she'd heard the stories from those who had, stories that seemed to be made to scare children, adults, elders, warriors and spirits alike, stories that gave her nightmares as a child, and sometimes as a teenager today. Sometimes she considers herself lucky to not be able to remember the day her family ran from the former Fire nation, and landed in the Earth kingdom. Yet even the Earth kingdom were hanging on by a thread, so yes Azula understood, and if the air bender proved to be a threat, she, herself would burn him to a crisp.
"Then, it is best we begin our daily duties," Iroh stated. "I will leave you to it then." And with that Iroh went back out side, Azula stood their for few minutes before deciding it was time to leave, and find her brother and their new 'friend'.
The ships deck was quiet, as five warriors clad in silver, black, and blue armors stood motionless, surrounding Katara who herself was clad in a black and blue armor, with the engravings of waves and spirits. Bato and Master Pakku, stood on the sidelines along with Yasei, observing the scene with keen experienced eyes. "Ready yourselves!" Bato commanded. Three of the warriors bended water from the nearby water jugs on the sidelines, while the other two unsheathed twin blades from their backs, all five warriors got into their respective positions. Katara bended the water from one of the nearby jugs and readied herself, she eyed the five with keen eyes searching for a weakness. They all stood their patiently, waiting for the order to be given. "Begin!" Pakku's voice thundered. The warriors wasted no time in attacking, one of the water benders spinned, his arms commanding the water spin with him, he used the water as a whip, spinning it in a motion and speed that would have allowed the water whip to decapitate Katara, but the young woman evaded the attack with ease and countered with an attack of her own, with a few motions of her arms she launched a bulk of water at the warriors legs. The warrior was not quick enough to dodge or counter, which resulted in his legs being taken from under him, and he landed face first on the metal floor of the ships deck. Another warrior, this time one of the non-benders, closed in on Katara, giving her no chance to attack, the man swung his blades in a fashion that was meant to cut at the throat and the gut, Katara was dodging the blades motions, left and right, but the closeness the warrior had to her disallowed her to do much else, then she saw her opening. For just one second, the warrior hesitated in his attack, thats when Katara took her chance, crouching down and spinning her leg around, she took the warrior down, and used the water from the first warrior's attack to freeze the mans arms to the floor.
Katara's two victories were short lived, as two more warriors, the first a male water bender, the other a female non-bender, came charging at Katara, the male attacked with water whips, while the female came in close and attacked relentlessly with her twin blades. Katara was having more difficulty now than before, when one attack from one enemy failed, another enemy came in with a different attack, all she could do was evade, when what she wanted to do was attack, her frustration was building. She was at her braking point, but thats when she noticed the female warrior was slowing down, her energy was reaching it's limit, Katara smirked this was her chance. But before she could act, the female warrior withdrew behind the fifth warrior, another water bender, who began an attack with icicles. Now Katara was facing an attack from a water bender with whips, a water bender with ice, and a non-bender who could come in close range and attack with her twin blades. Katara's frustration finally caved in, she lashed out countering one of the whips from the water bender to her left, freezing the water and snapping the sharp end and launching it towards the warriors to her right, the female warrior leapt to the air, cutting down the flying projectile before it could reach the second water bender.
Both Bato and Pakku frowned in disapproval.
Katara attacked with a fury, attacking both sides trying to succeed and gain the victory she craved, but in her frenzy she failed to notice how the first warrior she had defeated regained his composure and began to bend water from the jugs, she also failed to notice how the warrior she had froze to the floor only three feet from her, broke free from the ice. The first warrior sent a snake like stream of water to Katara's feet, the water wrapped around her ankles before solidifying. It was to late by the time Katara noticed, the bender pulled on the solidified stream taking Katara down. Katara attempted to rise to her feet but was fuarted when the warrior behind her did a hand stand on her back, grabbing a hold of Katara's armor, then landed firmly in front of Katara and with a fury of power, catapulted her straight down onto the metal floor. The battle seemed over at that point, but Katara would not let it end that easily, with what little energy she had she bended a bulk of water with her legs and used it to launch the warrior flying towards a metal wall. Katara was about to continue her attack but she stopped when she felt the cold steel from the female warrior's blades at her throat, and could see shards of ice before her. She had lost, she panted in frustration and strain.
"Enough!" Bato's voice boomed, his tone and features showing how unpleased he was with the showing.
Pakku stepped forward his features matching Bato's. "Water bending, is not about how much power one possesses, or how much fury you contain," Pakku lectured the Princess."water bending, is about how you react in battle. We water benders gain our power from our state of mind, we must be calm and patient in battle like the ocean waves, to be able to strike with the fury of a hurricane and gain our victory." Pakku added making motions with his arms bending a bulk of water into separate balls of the element, at his last statement, he thrust his arms forward, making the multiple spheres launch forward solidifying into sharp icicles, stopping inches away from the Princess face, but she did not faze. "That is what this training sparring match is for, yet you failed, therefore you must do it again!" Pakku demanded returning to his spot on the sidelines.
" You've had me do this DAMN practice all morning," Katara growled in frustration and anger. "I know how to keep calm in battle, I know how to use my abilities for long distance defensive fighting, what I need to know now is how to be on the offensive, I need to know the next step, how to fight with close range weaponry!"
"Master Pakku is right Princess Katara," Bato stated firmly. "A warriors weapon, is like water to a water bender, in order to gain a prowess in close range fighting you must be able to control your emotions, your frustrations. If you cannot do so, your enemy will defeat you easily, and your skill with the weapon would have been worth nothing."
"And so, I repeat," Pakku commanded. "Again!"
Katara huffed, and in a fit of rage, bent a large bulk of water into a sharp spear like icicle, and hurled it straight towards one of the warriors behind her with a furious war cry, the large projectile impaled the man killing him on impact, then shattered when it hit the metal wall a few feet away. No-one seemed fazed, or bothered by this. Bato and Pakku eyed the Princess.
"No!" Katara roared. "The Shamans and priests tell us that the Avatar must be over a hundred years old by now, he's had half a century to master all four the elements, which means I need all the skills possible to be able to defeat him!" Katara got right up into Bato's face as she said this, in the background Yesai could be seen making his way towards where the carcass of the slain warrior laid. "There for, as Princess of the most powerful empire in the world and all of history," Katara commanded, behind her Yesai grabbed a hold of the fallen warriors armor, lifting his limp body with ease. "I order you to teach me everything their is to know about close range fighting!"
Katara and Bato shared heated glares that rivaled the others. Pakku, and the warriors could only watch the silent debate, Yesai looked on as well, carcass in hand.
After a few seconds, Bato gave a heavy sigh in defeat, looking the Princess straight in the eyes he said. "Very well then, I will teach you the skills necessary to be a close range fighter," Katara smirked in approval, all the tension desitating once Bato spoke, far to the wall Yesai continued what he was doing, removing the fallen warriors helmet and blades, before tossing him aside overboard to the water then made his way back to where Pakku and Bato stood. "But first," Bato insisted, making Katara frown."we must eat, all this training has me starving." Bato turned and headed off to the dinning area of the deck, followed closely by Pakku, Yesai, and the warriors. Katara looked on in disbelief, shaking her head in frustration, before following her teachers.
"Alright," Zuko said in a serious tone, looking at the group of small boys and girls that had gathered in the center of the village before him. "Our fire bending is energy, that comes from the breath," Zuko lectured, inhaling deeply through his nose and exhaling through the mouth. The children gathered before him, were the children of fire benders, the only one's to posses the ability. It was Zuko and Azula's obligation to teach the children the abilities needed to be able to fire bend, today was Zuko's turn."When we breath, we are able to turn that into energy, and turn said energy into fire." Zuko finished his lecture, by displaying his power, releasing a small ball of fire and setting alight to a lantern.
The children looked on in aw, their eyes wide. Zuko smiled, proud and pleased with his little display. "This energy, this power, will help you in dire time, when you most need it," Zuko said his seriousness returning. "but in order for that to be so, you must all devote yourselves to the art of fire bending. And when your father's return I can assure you they will be filled with pride of your skills. Now do you have any questions?"
A short chubby boy in the front row of children raised his hand.
"Yes." Zuko acknowledged, gesturing for the small boy to speak.
"Thats cool and all, but when will we have tea and snacks?"
Zuko's face fell with disbelief, 'Did he seriously just ask that?' Zuko thought to himself.
"I want tea." A small girl whined behind the boy.
"Most of us just showed up because you said there'd be tea and snacks." Another child said.
"Did someone say tea?" Asked Aang showing up randomly out of nowhere accompanied closely by Azula, both holding trays with tea cups and small rice cakes. "Uncle Iroh asked me to bring these over, who wants tea and rice cakes?"
"Me, Me!" The children cried in blissful joy as they got up from the floor and crowded around Aang and Azula, kindly thanking them for the tea and rice cakes.
"Aang?" A small girl said, getting the boys attention.
"Yeah?" Aang said cheerfully.
"Can I pet your flying bison?" The small girl asked, and was soon joined by the other children as they begged Aang to allow them to play with the furry beast.
"Of-course." Aang replied with a smile.
"Yay!" The childen cried as they ran off to find the giant furry beast.
Azula witnessed this, with a rather unhappy look on her face. "You shouldn't have done that, you know." She stated mater-of-factly.
"Huh, why not?" Aang asked looking confused.
"Because, these are lessons that must be taught to them," Azula replied making her way to her brother, handing him a cup of tea. "all fire benders must know the basics of the art, or else they will never be able to truly use their abilities to their advantage."
"Oh," Aang said looking apologetic. "i didn't know they were that green, sorry."
"There is no need for apologies," Zuko said with a sigh. "I just thought this time I had them hooked with my teaching method."
"You know, you could always try teaching them with fun activities." Aang suggested.
Both siblings scoffed at the suggestion, making Aang frown slightly. "Believe me Aang, I would give anything for something fun," Zuko explained. "But with the war going on, there is just no place for fun in our lives."
Aangs face went from unsure to utterly confused at that. "What war?" Aang asked, putting the tray he had been carrying on a nearby stump. "What are you talking about?"
"Is that supposed to be some kind of joke." Azula scoffed, Zuko looked at Aang inquisitively.
Aang had a look of concern. But then, something off amongst the trees of the surrounding forest in the distance caught his attention, his eyes widened with excitement. " PANDA-PUPPY!"
The small creature Aang had just cried the name of, looked in Aang direction with worry before running off into the forest. Aang wasted no time, in a flash he went running after the animal, leaving a trail of a dust cloud in his wake.
"Do you think he was joking?" Azula asked Zuko after Aang disappeared from sight a worried look on her face, Zuko merely shrugged taking a sip of his tea and heading off to find his students.
A bemused Azula made her way through the forest, she arrived at a clearing that was known for being the place Panda-Dogs went to raise their Puppies. As she arrived, she witnessed how Aang fruitlessly tried to get his arms around one of the small Puppies who darted out of his grasp.
"Every time I think I've caught one, they get away," Aang noticed. "They're to sneaky... can you help me catch one?!"
Azula chuckled in amusement. "Yeah... I don't think so."
"Oh, c'mon, pplleeessee." Aang begged with big puppy eyes that looked similar to the Panda-Puppies eyes.
Azula rolled her eyes, before allowing a smirk on her lips. "I'll make you a deal, I'll help you catch a Panda-Pup... if you teach me fire bending." She bargained crossing her arms before her chest, but wincing when she felt slight pain in her left.
"Deal," Aang agreed, making Azula frown slightly. "But... their's just one problem, I'm an 'Air bender', not a fire bender, Isn't there someone in your village that can teach you?"
Aangs question made Azula's frown deepen, her eyes glued to two Panda-pups wrestling with each other nearby. "No, there Isn't," Azula answered making Aang frown. "Most of the fire benders here, don't even know the basics. Those who had a good understanding of the art and were abled fire benders had to leave, so they could assist the earth benders in their Resistance. The only ones who stayed were the children and elderly, they allowed for young teenagers to stay as-well to help those who were left." Azula's words brought sad memories for her as she spoke them. "My uncle is a very abled fire bender, but a very old one at that, and much like us he only knows so much, Zuko and I were taught by our uncle, father, and cousin in what we do know, but there is still much that all fire benders now don't know about there art... not like they used to anyway."
"Thats not right," Aang said his frown deepening. "Your people should be able to know and learn more about fire bending than the simple basics," Aang paused an thought for a moment. "Hey, what about the Fire nation capitol? If there are any well knowledge powerful fire benders, its there." Aang said with a smile.
Azula laughed at the idea before answering. "What Fire nation capitol?"
"What do you mean?" Aang asked his smile fading away.
Azula looked at the way Aangs smile fell, and she couldn't help but not explain. "Uhm... nothing, just forget about it." Azula replied staring out to the distance at the orange colored sky. "You know," Azula whispered just loud enough for Aang to hear. "My family originates from the Capitol, but my family haven't been there for more than a century, actually now that I think about it, my family haven't lived in the Fire nation since I was a small girl..." Azula drifted off, portions of the memories she had of the day her family escaped the Fire nation.
Azula stiffened when she felt a hand be placed on her shoulder, she looked at Aang her eye brow raised, Aang simply smiled at her. Azula despite herself smiled as-well.
"Well, I'm sure there's a master out there who can teach you, and I'm gonna help you find them." Aang stated with a reassuring smile.
"Well I don't know about that," Azula said hesitantly. "I've never truly left the village." Azula had the people of the village to think about, her uncle, her brother... she couldn't just abandon them in hopes of finding a master fire bender to teach her. But also... though she loathed to admit it, she feared what may lurk in the unknown.
"Well, you can think about it," Aang said understandingly, he had seen first hand how Azula was close to all the people in the village and vice versa, so yes he understood. "But until then, can you help me catch one of these little guys, I really wanna hug'em." Aang said, once again attempting to catch one of the furry creatures. But before he could even get close, the Panda-puppy bolted away.
Azula smiled and giggled a little despite herself, amused with Aang's upbeat attitude. "Very well," She said placing her arms behind her back, as a teacher would when lecturing a student. "pay well attention, my young pupil. The catching of a Panda-pup, is an ancient and sacred art, that takes some years, maybe even centuries to master. Lucky for you, I found a much faster way years ago, observe." Azula then pulled a rice cake rapped in paper from her back pocket, then proceeded to tear small pieces of the treat handing Aang some before crouching to the ground where a small Panda-pup was hiding.
Clicking her tongue, Azula extended her arm, waiting a few seconds for the small furry creature to lose his fear of her and Aang. Slowly the furry creature made it's way towards Azula, who retreated her arm in order for the Panda-Pup to get closer. Once the Panda-Puppy was close enough, Azula gently picked the furry chubby creature up into her arms, and allowed the little beast his treat.
Aang looked on amazed as Azula began to pet the small animals soft head and fur. "Now you try." Azula said to Aang.
Aang did similar to Azula, and found himself holding two of the furry creatures, who happily ate their treats. In a matter of seconds, a laughing Aang and a giggling Azula were being surrounded by dozens of the small furry stubby legged creatures, crying and pulling on clothing, begging for their own treats.
Both Azula and Aang were haply playing with the Panda-Puppies, when they both felt a gust of wind pushing them forward, surprising them both. With their eyes wide in surprise and fear, slowly they turned around, and found themselves face-to-face with three very large full grown mama Panda bear-Dogs. The large animals looked at Aang and Azula studying them, then the biggest of the three got closer to Azula, making Azula take a cautious step back, but then the large animal sniffed Azula then nudged her giving a light bear roar. Azula was confused for a moment before realizing what the Panda bear-Dog wanted. She slowly let the Panda-puppy in her arms down before digging into her back pocket, and pulling out another rice cake rapped in paper. Azula didn't even get the chance to unwrap the delicious treat, before the large animal devoured the treat in a single bite.
Once the Panda bear-Dog finished the treat, she allowed for Azula to pet her. "I think I have an idea." Aang said smiling mischievously, Azula's eyebrow rose inquisitively.
/
The two large Panda bear-Dogs were sprinting through the forest at top speed. The two young people riding on their back, laughed and cried out in joy. Azula had no clue when it was, the last time she had so much fun like this, she was laughing... Actually laughing, something she never really did. "I haven't had this much fun since I was a child!" She confessed.
"Well, your not a child, but you still are a kid," Aang reminded as the Panda bear-Dogs they rode sped up their pace. Azula and Aang tightened their grip on the large animals fur, as they made their way through the forest. Soon enough though, they were out of the forest and running through a beach of sand and rocks. Then the large animals stopped dead in their tracks, sniffing the air they began to cry to one another.
"They're spooked," Aang said. "Maybe it's their Puppies?"
Azula stroked the large animals fur attempting to calm her down. "Then maybe, we should let them get back to them." Azula stated, dismounting the furry beast. Aang did the same.
As soon as Azula and Aang dismounted them, the two Panda bear-Dog's ran back in the direction of which they came. Thats when Azula decided to scan her surroundings, thats when she realized where they were. It was one of many places no-one in the village could venture to. This was the eastern rocky beach, a place her uncle had warned her of ever since they arrived here in the Earth Kingdom.
"Whoa... whats that?" Aang asked in an amazed yet slightly frightened voice. Azula allowed her gaze to follow Aang's, thats when she saw it, her features darkened as soon as she laid eyes on it. It was the ruins of a large black colored metal ship, with blue tribal symbols on the side along with purple drawings of dark spirits ready for battle, that had both scorch marks and sharp rocks lifting it off the beach. But what really grabbed the attention of ones eyes, was the ships flags.
"It's a Mizu Empire armada war ship," Azula stated coldly. "And a very horrid reminder to the people of our village."
Aang looked at the ship, with curiosity. He had never seen such a machine, not even the Fire nation had any that look like these, thats when he noticed the ships flags. "Hey, Azula, what do those flags mean?"
Azula looked at the flags, the flags were pure black, but the tribal markings on them were a mixture of red and purple. "They call it, the all seeing eye of Vatuu," Azula explained.
Aang looked at Azula inquisitively. "Who's that?" He asked.
"No, idea." Azula shrugged.
Aang looked back at the ship, it was very intimidating, yet Aang felt his curiosity getting the better of his judgment, he approached the wreck with a cautious hop on a rock.
"Aang, stop," Azula warned. "no-one is allowed to be out here, let alone enter there. It could be booby trapped... or worse." Her last statement was a low mumble.
"Oh, c'mon Azula," Aang countered. "Don't tell me your scared."
"I'm not afraid of anything, 'Air head'!" Azula spat, her eyes wild like fire.
"Okay, then c'mon." Aang smiled as he went on. Azula, though reluctantly, followed close behind.
They made their way through the lower deck of the ship, looking at the many items that they have no idea what they could have been used for. They soon turned into a room that could only be described as... haunting. They had entered the armory, it was filled with weapons strictly designed to kill a man. Blades attached to long chains designed for long and short distance attacks, spears designed to disembowel a man, boomerangs with a knife like edge and spinning dagger like handle, and so many other strange and terrifying weapons like the infamous kpinga. There was also the armor, that resembled that of demons, and wolves.
"This place haunts the people from the village, and the Earth kingdom," Azula explained, in a mournfull tone, as she and Aang looked around. "These weapons were used to slaughter innocent civilians, just because the so-called warriors deemed it so. But from the stories those who have been here before my family, and the other refugee's of the village, they've been used for far worse. There truly is no limit to the cruelty of the Mizu Empire."
"Who's that?" Aang asked examining one of the many weapons. "I've never heard about them."
Azula looked at Aang in a mixture of disbelief and confusion. "What do you mean, 'who are they'," Azula asked baffled. "I mean, yes it's been over a hundred years since they were known as the Water Tribes, but still with the war going on..."
"Whoa, wait just a minute," Aang said panicky. "What do you mean they used to be known as 'The Water Tribes', and what 'WAR'?"
Azula looked at Aang now with both confusion, then realization. "Aang," She whispered. "How long have you been inside that iceberg?"
"I don't know... a couple days, maybe." Aang answered, now he looked confused.
"I think, it may have been closer to... a hundred years..." Azula suggested, her last words being whispered, and shocking herself.
Aang looked beyond shocked. "WHAT, do I look like a hundred-twelve year old man to you?!"
"Think about it Aang," Azula insisted, still unable to believe it herself. "The war is over a century old, yet you know nothing about it. Second, The Mizu Empire is just as old as the war, yet you had no idea who they were. All because you were inside that iceberg the whole time." Azula then stopped, realizing something very important, that not only has to do with Aang, but his people. "That must mean... you don't know..."
Aang was on the floor holding his head in his hands, whispering soft denials to himself about his situation, when he heard Azula speak again, he rose his head. "What did you say?" He asked, not truly listening to what Azula had asked.
Azula was about to ask again, but thought twice about it, the boy had just had a bomb dropped on him, she wasn't going to turn this bomb nuclear. "Nothing, just... nothing."
"I can't believe this..." Aang said in a light voice. Azula approached him, a frown on her face. She didn't like to see this boy like this, she had only known him for three days, and yet she found she'd rather see his goofy upbeat attitude, than his beat down attitude.
Comfortingly, like Aang had done earlier, she placed a gentle hand on the boy shoulder, and gave a comforting smile. "You know," She said. "Maybe it's not such a bad thing."
Aang looked up at Azula, a small smile on his face. "Well... I did get to meet you, your brother, and the village." Aang said, returning to his former self.
Azula smiled. "Yeah, I guess you did."
/
After an hour or two, Azula decided it was best for them to get going. "Aang, we should leave, this place is giving me a bad sensation."
Aang had turned to leave, when he felt himself trip. A light wire had been the cause of his fall, the wire was a trigger that made a bunch of gears to start turning, on the deck of the ship, a large tube resembling a cannon, shot up a large ball of light. Both Aang and Azula looked at this in mild confusion, then it exploded, the sound was loud enough to be heard by anyone, or thing in a 10 mile radius, but the explosion also released a strange yet beautiful light show of many colors. Thats when it dawned on the two, it was a distress beacon.
"Uh-oh," Aang gulped. "We have to go!" Azula nodded, before both of them jumped through a hole above them. As quickly as they could, they made they're way off the beach and into the forest.
A few miles off the shore, Katara, with her telescope, and Yasei watched them in the distance. "The last Air bender." Katara said in a disdainful tone, yet with a hint of grudging respect. "He's very agile, for his age." She turned to the armored behemoth, who had also been watching. "Go find Master Pakku, and wake Bato from his nap!" She commanded. "Tell them, I found the Avatar!" Yesai nodded, but before he could go Katara turned back to look at where the Air bender was headed, thats when she saw smoke billowing from the forest. "And his hiding place!" Katara had a cruel smirk on her lips, when she realized, this was going to be fun.