Running back to the village, Katara and Aang didn't know what was waiting for them. An angry Sokka, who had all the right to be. He stalked towards them as soon as he saw his sister with the young boy. He pointed his finger right at Aang.
" I knew it ! You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare ! You're leading them straight to us, aren't you ? "
" Aang didn't do anything. It was an accident. " Katara said, defending Aang.
"Yeah, we were on the ship and there was this booby trap and well .. we boobied right into it. "
Replied the young airbender looking puzzled. The kid's grand gran was staring at Katara with sad eyes, shaking her head. Realizing her mistake, the young lady felt bad. She knew she shouldn't have done so, but Aang seemed so secure, like nothing could happen, her new friend being happy and careless. She should've known better not to wander off. Noticing they were in trouble, Aang felt sad, ashamed that his friend was getting scowled at because of him.
" Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now we could all be in danger ! "
" Don't blame Katara ! I brought her there. It's my fault. "
" Aha ! The traitor confesses ! Warriors, away from the enemy ! The foreigner is banned from our village ! "
" Sokka, you're making a mistake. "
" No ! I'm keeping my promise to Dad. I'm protecting you from threats like him ! "
" Aang is not our enemy ! Don't you see ? Aang's brought us something we haven't had in a long time. Fun. "
" Fun ? We can't fight firebenders with fun ! "
" You should try it sometime. "
" Get out of our village. Now ! "
" Grandmother, please, don't let Sokka do this. "
" Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden. Sokka is right. I think it best if the airbender leaves. "
" Then I'm banished too ! "
Katara couldn't believe it ! They were making a big mistake ! It was so unfair, she had to do something. Aang had said he would bring her to he North Pole to find a waterbender right ? But could she leave her family over a boy she just met ? She knew that she wouldn't be able to find a teacher if she stayed, but she couldn't leave her tribe. Aang noticed she was doubting and did what's right; not coming in between her and her family. He airbended himself onto Appa, he's flying bison. He turned and addressed the village, Sokka staring at him all the time.
" It was nice meeting everyone. "
" Let's see your bison fly now, air boy. "
Not far from there, the Fire Navy Ship is steaming towards the village, Prince Zuko's being helped into his armos by some attendants. Ana is staring at him with Iroh by her side. She watches silently the small village in front of her. She could easily see that everyone was afraid and she felt sad. Sure she was Fire Nation, but that didn't mean she had to be heartless. Her eyes went back to Zuko who was now ready. If everything went out like planned, they were sadly going home. She didn't want to go home like him, home was boring. She had nothing and no one to look forward to. When her parents died, Iroh kindly took her in his life and since then, she's been travelling with him. Of course, when Zuko was banished and Iroh decided to go with his nephew, she had no choice but to follow them. She was happy with the retired general, she had an easy life, but traveling around the word in a ship was better than being home with nothing to do but drink tea. Sure, everything had a downfall, being aboard with Princess Zuko wasn't always fun, but when they could get past their differences, which was odd, it was rather nice. Besides, they were great sparring partners. She walked towards him, a small smile on her face.
" So we are going home Zu. "
" Don't call me that ! We have important things to do now, step back if you don't want to get hurt. " he said not even bothering to look at her. He knew where this was going and frankly, he had no time for that.
" Get hurt ? Please, I'm not the one who's ass getting kicked every day by a girl. "
" A girl ? I highly doubt you are considered one. " He said smirking looking ahead of him.
" Oh really now, you spoiled brat, impatient- "
" Hotheaded, short-tempered- "
" Ugly annoying- "
" Stupid useless - "
" Now, now, there's no need for fighting. You both need your strength to fight the Avatar. "
" He started it ! "
" You're such a baby. " They both said while glaring at each others before facing different directions.
Iroh sighed, getting in between both teenagers before things got ugly. He looked at both of them with a sad smile, they grew up so fast, living things that other kids haven't lived at their age. They had no choice, but deep inside, they were just two teenagers. Two lost, hotheaded teenagers in the same ship. Iroh loved them fondly, thinking of them as his own kids. But Ana and Zuko were not like brothers and sisters, no they were more like mortal ennemies, constantly at each others throats while still having each others back.
" Do you really have to wear that ridiculous helmet ? " She said while trying hard not to laugh at how big his head looked with it.
" Safety first ! " said Iroh with a smile, holding a cup of tea.
The ship reached the wall, collapsing into a heap of ice and snow which tumbled back into village, carrying a young man with it. The ship came to a halt, the villagers staring at it with amazement and trepidation. The bowsprit of the ship opens and folds down onto the snow, disembarking Fire Nation troops, Zuko walks down the stairs, followed by guards. Ana stays on the frontdeck with Iroh, staring at the villagers with a sad smile on her lips, hoping that Zuko wouldn't cause too much damage.
Suddently, she saw the same boy who fell with the snow get up and charge at Zuko who, casually and expertly kicked the weapon out of his hand and kicking the poor kid in the face, who ended up sprawled on the snow. The villagers stepped back in fright, their eyes never leaving Zuko. Ana then noticed a young girl with brown hair and braids staring at her with an older woman besides her. Trying to be nice, she smiled and waved towards her, only to recieve a deadly glare from the other teen. Oh well, she would've done the same, I mean, with Zuko being rude to everyone and scaring them all off. Besides, Fire Nation is all it takes for people to fear you. She sighed when the Prince grabbed the old woman while shouting,
" Where are you hiding him ? He'd be around this age ? Master of all elements ? I know you're hiding him ! "
The young boy once again charged at Zuko and this clearly annoyed him. He dodged and flipped him over his head, blasting flames at the poor boy who got out of the way, throwing his boomerang at Zuko's head, barely missing. A little boy threw a spear at the warrior and he charged back at the Prince who easily broke off the spear shaft with his wrist guards and then proceeded to hit the boy on the forehead with it several times. Ana laughed loudly when the boomerang reappeared, slamming on the back of Zuko's head, knocking his helmet off. He angrily turned around to face the laughing girl.
" That's why you wear a helmet, stupid girl ! " and she knew that if looks could kill, she'd be dead.
" And I was planning on going down to help him. " she said facing Iroh who was staring at the sky.
Ana followed his gaze, only to see a young airbender fly right under Zuko who landed butt up with his helmet on top. This time, not even Iroh could contain his laughter. The villagers cheered as the airbender reached them but it wasn't long before Zuko and his men surrounded him. The young kid blew them off with blasts of air and Zuko wash clearly shocked. An airbender ? The Avatar ? But he's only a kid !
" Looking for me ? "
" You're the airbender ? You're the Avatar ? "
" Aang ? " this time the girl in braids spoke, looking confused. How could she have not noticed the young Avatar ?
" I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training. Meditating. You're just a child !
" Well, you're just a teenager ! "
She laughed once again, already liking the Avatar, but quickly composing herself when she saw Zuko glaring at her, she smiled and waved once again. Zuko fired blast after blast as Aang tried to dissipate each and everyone of them, but he couldn't help as the fire reached the villagers. Then, he said something unexpected.
" If I go with you, will you promise to leave everyone alone ? "
Well that was easy. Ana stared as the young girl, Katara cried, she felt sad. A soldier led Avatar Aang to the ship, taking his staff. They were leaving. Catching the Avatar had been the easiest thing ever. The villagers were sad, but still relieved that they were leaving. She carefully watched Aang's smiling face, trying to comfort Katara, telling her to take care of Appa but his smile dropped when he saw her pain. The Avatar passed infront of her and she smiled at him, a sweet and caring smile, trying to make him feel better and to her surprise, he smiled back, an honest smile. She quickly glanced around, only to be relieved that Zuko wasn't watching. He stormed off after directing orders to escort the Avatar to the prison hold, telling Iroh to take the staff to his quarters. Ana stood on the front deck alone for a few minutes and it wasn't long till she heard shouting and running. Aang had managed to escape and was now infront of her, obviously unaware of her presence, looking for his staff. That's when she felt bad and decided to be nice for the sake of world peace.
" If you're looking for your staff, it is not in Zuko's room which is not sixth door to your right. " she said with a weak smile.
" Thanks .. I'm Aang." he said, smiling at her, confused but still happy that she helped him out.
" And I'm Ana. "
" What are you doing here, are you a prisoner ? Do you need help ? " he said looking worried, not believing that the girl was with Zuko.
" There's no time for that, Zuko is going to be here any minute now, run. "
" Will I see you again Ana ? "
" That you will ! " she said laughing as Aang ran past her.
It wasn't long till she heard Zuko and the Avatar fight in his room and she quickly moved out of the way when she saw him running towards her with an angry Prince on his tail. Knowing that Zuko would kill her if she did nothing, she blasted fire to Aang, who easily dodged. Understanding what she was doing, he blasted air sending her flying, almost sending her overboard. Aang focused on dodging the fireballs from Zuko but he's finally knocked overboard. Katara screamed. Zuko was boiling, but he couldn't see Aang's eyes and tattoo's glow white as he rised back towards the surface, bringing with him an inversted tornado of water. He landed on the deck, bended water around him and then released it blasting everyone overboard. Appa landed on the deck as the glow faded away, Katara and Sokka jumping to retrieve Aang just in time. Finally coming back to his sences, the Avatar searched for Ana in the water and smiled at her before leaving.
Iroh finally helped them up on the ship and Zuko was already shooting fire at Appa, but it was too late. The fireball exploxed, realeasing a huge amount of ice from the cliff which ended on the ship. He was screamming in rage, the Avatar had escaped. His only chance to go back home and to top it all, his ship was damaged and under an avalanche of ice.
" Well this is sad. " said Ana secretly happy about how things turned out.
" Good news for the Fire Lord. The nation's greatest threat is just a little kid. "
" That kid, Uncle, just did this. I won't underestimate him again. Dig this ship out and follow them. And you," he said turning around to Ana, roughly grabbing her wrist, " we're going meditating and then training. "
" Ugh, it's not my fault if Aang escaped, I don't have to pay for that. " she said in a dramatic voice.
" Don't call him Aang and you could have stopped him if you weren't that weak. "
" I'm sorry Princess, but I wasn't the only one overboard. "
" Shut up and let's go, the Avatar is not going to escape us a second time. "
I won't follow the storyline step by step now, because we have all seen Avatar. How boring would that be. Don't worry, we will have plenty of Zuko while still seeing the Gaang. Things really kick up on the next chapter. Thanks for reading my loves !