[A/N: hey I'm back again! I won't be able to upload anything until maybe Tuesday because my weekend is pretty packed but I hope I do get time to write some more stuff before then so I have something to give to youse. Next week will be pretty busy and I'm thinking of writing a Christmas special so the story might be delayed for a few days but we will all have to wait and see. As always I will see you at the bottom. Thank you all for reading my story and for all the reviews it means a lot]
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last airbender, its world, people, animals, or places and I certainly own no rights.
Nearly a week had passed since Sokka and Katara had sent the messages to their friends. Earlier that day two messenger hawks had arrived carrying location updates from their expectant guests. The fire lord along with Aang and their crew would be arriving about an hour or two before the earth king, Toph and their crew because they had taken a side trip to pick up all the other people attending the occasion from throughout the widespread earth kingdom.
Bato stood on the lookout wall to the north of the city with his signal horn in hand. He couldn't help but admire the now setting suns somewhat warm rays. The summer sun made the water sparkle and the whole city and its surroundings gleam. The aged warrior had been on duty since around midday and was starting to get anxious. Time flew by today as the evening sun hit the horizon, and everyone was waiting patiently for the arrival of their guests. Bato was now getting fidgety as his shift was nearing its end. He began to think to himself, 'where are they? Everyone is startin' to worry' then he caught a glimpse of a humongous black metal navy ship. As the ship grew nearer Bato pulled a telescope from his pocket, he focuses it on the flag flying from the ship with the fire nation's royal seal upon it. "They're here!" he sighed with relief.
The massive ship was profoundly quiet as Avatar Aang walked through it in his full ceremonial attire. As he opened the cold iron door, a girls scream filled the still air and as the echo of it died down the mighty Avatar apologised "I'm so, very sorry miss I didn't mean to I umm got the wrong door!" then he cringed out of the room with haste, 'that poor girl I can believe I just embarrassed her like that, forgive me...' Soon enough he had founds what he was looking for, Zuko. As he went to stand by his friend one of Zuko's servants came up to him and bowed a kowtow "fire lord sir, I have a message from the captain..." the man made a gesture as if to say rise, the servant did "he said we will be reaching the dock in ten minutes, sir!" he nodded "thank you."
Up on deck the water tribe was just in sight, as the Avatar and Fire Lord looked over the edge of the ship. The waves were endless , blue and pure; the penguins were sliding on and off ice flows while the sight was mesmerizing Aang couldn't help but wonder what would happen once they got there ; he was wondering how much everything and everyone had changed, how much she had changed . Zuko noticed Aang's thoughtful expression and bet he knew what he was thinking "hey buddy don't worry it'll be fine" Aang just gave the firebender a vacant look "just because you haven't seen them for a while don't mean that they're going to feel any different about you we are all still friends and that's all that matters" Aang flashed a smile of thanks to Zuko 'I am defiantly getting good at that' he mused to himself.
As the large fire powered ship drew nearer to its destination the occupants couldn't help but marvel over the two giant wolf head carved in the ice above their heads, they stand for the many warriors courage and pride in hopes that the tribe's ancestors will look over and protect the city. Aang and Zuko could now clearly see the tribe "wow, it is defiantly not just a few igloos now" Zuko exclaimed and the two friends chuckled. As the ship docked and the ramp was laid down the two were met by a friendly familiar face "Suki!" Aang yelled as he bolted down the ramp to give her a hug "hey guys" she said "just, ah, follow me ok and stay close there is no need for youse to go and get lost" smiling she walked off. It was quite a site to see the Kyoshi warrior, the Avatar, the Fire Lord, their personal guard and the many servants carrying belongings.
Toph stood motionless on the deck of the crowded earth kingdom boat. Although they had brought three ships, with all the people along with luggage, supplies and gifts there was a lot of movement and not a lot of space; And well let's face it she was never good with boats or submarines so she was feeling just a little bit queasy. Amongst the crowd an old general made his way to the budding woman "hello my young friend" Toph knew that seasoned voice "Uncle Iroh hey!" she waved in the direction she thought his voice was coming from. Iroh stood next to his friend who was leaning over the edge staring into nothing "are you alright you seem a little quiet" Toph sighed still gazing unseeingly at the ocean " I guess it's just all the movement and honestly in not that good on water" the elderly man smiled 'Zuko used to get like that as well sometimes, I miss that boy so much' he turned to his companion "how about I fix you some tea I have a special blend that will help you with the seasickness" the little blind girl just nodded.
A few moments later Iroh arrived with a tray on which situated two cups and a teapot, he poured some in both cups and handed one to the petite earthbender, making sure she had a good grip on it "here drink up" she eagerly downed the whole cup in seconds "Mmm, thank you" she placed the cup back on the tray nearly missing it "it kinda tastes like the tea sparky would give me before we left on Appa, though this one is a lot better" she threw a smile the generals way, he gave her one back although see couldn't see it. Then a thought occurred to her in all the excitement about seeing her friends again she near on forgot that Katara lived on ice. Noticing her sudden change in expression Iroh asked "what is wrong my friend?" she turned to face him this time "Iroh, how long until we arrive?" he thought about this for a moment and judged by how far away the frozen village looked (it was just in his sights now) "not long probably twenty to twenty-five minutes, why do you ask?" she turned back to the side of the ship clasping her hands together and resting her forearms on the rim of the wall, her head hung so her long bangs covered her face and unseeing eyes "I won't be able to see them..."
Once the signal horn had sounded everyone gathered around the town centre, a big water fountain maintained by waterbenders so that it doesn't freeze up, that was basically the chieftain family's front yard. Seeming as this was a formal occasion the chief and family had to stand at their home stairs to wait for their honoured guests. As a result Suki volunteered to greet them at the wall where the docks were.
A considerable amount of time had passed until a loud uproar of squeals whistles and applause rang thought the air. Red yellow and black figures could be seen clearly amongst the sea of white and blue clad crowd; The group slowly making their way to position themselves in front of chief Hakoda and his children who were standing behind and to either side of him. And Hakoda announced in a voice loud and clear "I chief if the southern water tribe am please to have Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang to stay and be my honorary guests" and with that the crowd went wild.
[A/N I know that I said that I was going to work on the length but I figure as long as I keep uploading every day or two you guys won't mind. So I'm making all the chapters (excluding the Prelog) around 1200-2000 words, I again hope you don't mind. As always please review your opinion, and I hope you had an enjoying read; I know that I enjoyed writing it for you guys]
