Avatar The Last Airbender
The Chronicles of Ian
Book 1
~Water~
The Fire Nation Attacks
Part 1
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter One-0-0-0-0-0-
It was a clear day in the Northern Tribe. The sky had only a few light clouds drifting over head.
Katara had been dueling her peers all morning. Sangok was her next match up.
"Pupil Sangok, widen your stance, and prepare yourself." Pakku instructed.
Sangok got in his position, and glared at Katara, shivering with hesitation.
"Begin!" Pakku called as he lowered the small ice hedge between the two students.
Sangok lifted a block of ice into the air.
Katara sent a smirk his way, noticing his weak stance.
Waving her arms, Katara pulled the ground just below Sangok, then erected him into the air.
Sangok threw himself out of the ice formation, and came at Katara with spears following him.
As the spears grew closer, Katara waved a hand, forcing them all to fall, and just before Sangok was about to land on top of her, she spun around, pulling water from a pool behind her, and splashed Sangok on his back, freezing him between the ground and the mass of collected water.
"Nice work Katara. Sangok, you can head over to Master Ian, along with the rest of you." Pakku waved to the group of boys that had just been humiliated by Katara.
"Katara, you have advanced very quickly." He praised.
"Thank you, Master." She bowed.
"Master Ian, do you think The Avatar could demonstrate what he's learned?" Pakku pondered.
"Absolutely. Aang, come duel with Katara." Ian instructed. "I think you'll be impressed Master." Ian said to Pakku.
"We'll see, he isn't very focused." replied Pakku.
Aang took his stance in front of Katara.
"Good luck Aang." Katara smiled sarcastically.
Aang put his game face on, and drew up his hands.
Ian whipped a small hedge up between the two, while Pakku shaped an arena around them.
A questionable face was shot Ian's way from Aang, which was reassured with a strong nod from Ian.
You could feel the tension grow as Aang and Katara eyed one another warily.
"This should be good." Pakku whispered to Ian.
"Begin!" Ian called, lowering the ice hedge between the duelists.
Aang spun a 360, pulling water in a circular motion around him, then shot ice shards Katara's way out of the circular typhoon.
Katara quickly pulled up an ice wall. The Ice shards were shooting through the air so fast that they managed to shoot through the shield, barely missing her stomach.
She quickly lowered, spinning a kick out of the bottom of the erected wall towards Aang.
He grabbed the bolting block of ice skidding across the ground, bending it up into the air, then splashed it onto Katara.
Katara stood, dripping in water.
She looked up to see Aang sliding toward her on a slide of ice, then he jumped into the air spinning, taking the water from the side, and shot it her way.
Katara was shot across the arena, laying flat on her back.
Aang continued toward her, collecting water on the way, spinning it around himself.
Katara was determined to win. From her back, she focused intently on where Aang's next footstep would be placed, melting the ice when he took his step. This caused him to stumble, to lose his concentration on his collected ring of water spinning around him. Before he was able to get his foot out of the formed hole in the ground, it was refroze by the girl. Katara leapt upright, raising a clenched fist before her as a formation of ice encased Aang's lower leg, restricting him to one foot in the ground, on a knee. She then froze a formation around his neck, immobilizing him.
"I can't move!" shouted Aang.
"That's the point." replied Katara haughtily.
"Aang, can you get out of that?" Ian asked.
Aang spun his right arm, and kicked his left leg in a desperate attempt, but wasn't successful. "I don't think so." he sighed.
Pakku began to reshape the training grounds to their original setting, as Ian freed Aang from Katara's well made restraint.
Aang stood, rubbing his neck.
"Wow Katara, you got good." Aang complemented.
Katara sent him a unemotional glare. "Thanks." Then she walked away, trying to avoid him.
Ian placed his hand on Aang's back. "You're getting a lot better buddy."
"Thanks, that's because I have such a good teacher." Aang shrugged.
"What's the matter Aang?" Ian noticed something was bothering the boy.
Aang sighed. "Katara and I went on a date I guess, and she ran out crying."
"Why, what happened?"
"Well, I guess because I tried to get her drunk and kiss her."
"Aang, she's probably hurt about it."
"Oh, I know she is. What should I do to make it better?" Aang looked up at Ian.
"I would try giving her the space she needs. She'll come around, Aang." Ian patted Aang's back.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Two-0-0-0-0-0-
"So they don't have palaces in the Southern Tribe?" Yue asked Sokka who was balancing himself across the ledge of a bridge in the inner city.
Sokka plopped down, and rested his head on his hand. "Are you serious? I grew up in a bock of ice. It's not exactly what you would call a cultural hub."
Yue giggled as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
Sokka looked at her and smiled.
Her eyes began to water as she removed her hand.
"Yue, whats wrong?" asked Sokka.
Yue held her forehead. "Sokka, this is wrong."
"What's wrong? We're just taking a walk." He reminded.
"I'm engaged, this just feels..." Yue turned away, wiping the falling tear from her cheek.
Sokka hopped to his feet. "I know what you need. You need to meet my good friend, Appa." He smiled.
Yue turned to him with a tilted head. "Who?"
"Come with me." Sokka took Yue's hand, and lead her to the stables where Yugoda had the bison housed.
Sokka lead Yue to the biggest area of the stables, where the large bison was eating some cabbages out of a trough.
"Appa and I go way back," He said to Yue as they walked up to Appa. "don't we boy?"
The bison quickly ran to Sokka, having not seen him in days. Appa pushed him to the ground with his front two paws, licking Sokka, covering him in slobber.
"No Appa, bad boy, down, or up!" Sokka squirmed under Appa's hold.
"Looks like you haven't been giving Appa enough attention." Yue giggled.
Sokka managed to crawl out from under Appa. "He's just, a big ball of fun."
Yue grabbed a towel from from the hand washing fountain, and handed it to Sokka. "If you want to keep talking to me today, you're going to have to get all that slobber off of you." She laughed.
Sokka snatched the towel from her hands. "Gee, thanks." He blushed as he began to wipe the bison slobber off his clothes.
Yue stepped close, and grabbed the towel from him. "Here, let's clean this pretty little face of yours." She chuckled as she wiped the drool from the boys face, and out of his hair.
Sokka backed away, trying not to conflict the over-emotional princess. "Okay, now that I'm clean, wanna fly on this big guy?" Sokka said as he patted Appa on the side.
Yue looked at him skeptically. "Fly? He weighs tons, there's no way he can fly."
"Just get on, I'll show you." Sokka urged as he climbed into the saddle, grabbing Yue's hand, he assisted her into the saddle harnessed to the bison.
"So... How does this work?" She asked skeptically.
"You hangin on tight?" asked Sokka.
"Mhmm." Yue nodded.
Sokka grabbed the reins, "Yip-" he looked at Yue. "Yip." He commanded with a whip of the reins.
Appa hovered off the ground, then slapped his tail, soaring into the air.
"Oh, Maker!" Yue called holding her hood up, as they flew into the sky.
"I can't believe you guys do this everyday." She blushed, as she looked over the ledge at the glistening water beneath them.
Sokka stretched into the air. "Yeah, we pretty much live up here." He said nonchalantly.
Yue scooted close to Sokka. "Is it always this cold in the sky?"
Sokka stared into her eyes. "Not when you're with someone."
She allured herself into his eyes, leaning in for a kiss. "It's beautiful up here."
"Yeah, it is." He said, as he met her soft lips with his.
Sokka pulled away quickly, trying not to offend the princess.
"Phew, yeah... Pretty day today." He acknowledged as he scooted away from the romantic tension.
Yue's cheeks blushed some more as she scooted away.
"So, you're getting married." Sokka stated awkwardly.
"Yep."
"Are you excited?" He poked.
"Well, sort of-" Yue began, until she noticed the falling snow become black.
"What's happening?" She questioned.
"Oh no.." Sokka sighed. "We have to talk to your father, now."
Sokka lead the bison down, landing on the front gates. He hoped off Appa, the went to inspect the darkened snow that rested on the ground.
"What is this, Sokka?" Yue asked, shaking with fear.
"It's soot, I've seen it before." Sokka growled.
"What does it mean?"
"It's the Fire Nation." He began to explain. "They've closed in on the North Pole."
"Oh no... We better go warn my father." Yue suggested, as Sokka and her were already running to the Palace.
The white snow was tainted black. A cloud of smoke was in the horizon.
Water Tribe citizens back stepped in horror as black water spilled from their towns' fountains.
The warning drums began to beat, sending the town in panic.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Three-0-0-0-0-0-
Under the hurricane size smoke cloud, the Fire Nation was sailing towards the North Pole.
The red flags waved violently as the metal ships sailed onward.
"This is truly one for the history books, General Iroh." Said Zhao, a tall, muscular man. "Just think, centuries from now, Fire Nation students will study the great, Admiral Zhao. You're lucky that you're here to witness this." He declared.
Iroh closed his eyes, and lowered his head. "Be careful of what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to it's subjects." The heavy man warned.
Zhao widened his eyes with hatred at Iroh's truthful words. "I suppose you speak from experience," He stepped forward. "but rest assured that this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se."
Iroh opened his eyes at the sound of the harsh truth. "I hope not, Zhao... For your sake." He frowned.
Zhao stepped toward the railing of the immaculate ship, picturing his victory at the Northern Tribe that set in his view. "Tell the captain to prepare for first strike." He ordered Iroh, without taking his eyes off the horizon. "Also, tell your nephew to meet me in my quarters. I'd like to get some pre-victory jitters out of my system."
Iroh scrunched his eyebrows in anger as he started to the captain.
Zuko, a tall, athletic built, black haired teen, met his Uncle in the hallway. "What's the news, Uncle?" He asked.
"We are about to prepare for first strike." Iroh answered with a hateful tone.
"What's wrong with you? This is going to be a glorious day." Zuko poked.
"Your Admiral wants you to meet him in his quarters." Iroh sighed, continuing his steps to the captain, shouldering Zuko out of the way.
Zuko pressed against the wall of the narrow hallway, allowing Iroh passage. "Uncle," He began.
Iroh continued walking, but raised his hand above him. "Just giving you crap, Zuko."
Zuko smiled, and walked onto the upper deck. He paused for a moment, watching Zhao take in the upcoming victory.
"You wanted to see me Zhao?" Zuko placed his hand on the admirals shoulder.
Zhao turned to address the banished prince. "Ah, ZuZu, would you please head to my quarters? You're going to need to be undressed."
Zuko glared at Zhao with an eyebrow perched up. "That's what you called me for? No, not going to happen."
Zhao's face reddened with anger. "We are about to go to battle, and you are going to get you ass in my quarters." He squeezed Zuko's arms, and pulled him close.
Zuko could feel his Admirals erection pressing against his leg. "I said NO, Zhao." He pushed away.
Zhao through his arms beside his leg in a fit of rage. "Zuko, we're about to head into battle. I need to relieve some stress. I'm sure you do to." He attempted to convince.
"Zhao, I'm not as sexually driven as you are. Can't you go jack off or something? I need to ready my departure." Zuko reminded.
"Departure? What departure are you talking about? You're leaving?" The admiral stepped back.
"You forget why I'm here. I have to capture The Avatar, you know that. I plan to canoe toward this city, and sneak in."
"Zuzu, please, your attempts at capturing The Avatar have always failed. What makes you think you'll get him this time?" Zhao mocked.
Zuko stomped his foot, and shot fits of fire out of his fists. "Zhao! Why'd you jinks me, ass hole!" The prince stormed to the escape deck.
Zhao called to Zuko as he watched him storm off. "So, is that a no?"
Zuko stopped in his footsteps, and turned, glancing at Zhao. He raised his fist, and slowly let up his middle finger. "Could this be more clear?" He asked as he continued to his awaiting canoe.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Four-0-0-0-0-0-
The warning drums where beating loudly on the roof of the palace. Water Tribe people where running in terror to the Great Hall, the same hall Yue had her engagement party.
Sokka and Yue ran hand in hand up the palace stairs, Sokka leading the way.
Yue stopped, and pulled her hand out of Sokka's grip.
He turned to address her. "Yue, what's wrong? We have to go!"
"No Sokka, wait." She wiped a tear from her eye. "I can't see you anymore, not at all."
Sokka's face lit up with shock. "What? We're just friends, common lets go!" He pushed.
She closed her eyes. "I wish we could just be friends, but I like you too much, and it's too confusing to be around you. I'm marrying someone else."
Sokka slummed his shoulders. "You don't love him do you? You don't even seem to like him."
Yue turned away from her true love. "But I do love my people."
"You're not marrying them." He reminded.
"You don't understand, I have duties to my father, to my tribe. I have to do this." Tears began to fall down her cheek. "Goodbye." She ran past Sokka, running to join her father in the great hall.
The city was gathered in front of the head counsel. Chief Arnook, Jaime, Yugoda, Master Pakku, and Princess Yue took their seats in front of the crowd. A waterfall soothingly crashed behind them.
Chief Arnook stood to speak, raising his hand to hush the panicked crowd.
"The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our door step. It is with great sadness that I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to banish from our tribe, but they will never banish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our survival, Jaime, let us call upon the great spirits."
Jaime rose from her seat, and met Arnook center stage. Her tribal markings tattooed on her hands began to glow. She waved her and, displaying a portal-like aura in front of the chief; a portal to send messages to the spirit world.
Chief Arnook stared into the magical ball of light floating before him, and saw colors of blue and silver shimmer in the light.
"Spirit of the Ocean, Spirit of the Moon, be with us in this time of need. Watch over our people and keep us safe from our appending battle." He called into the spirit world.
Out of the portal came a loud but faint call of what sounded like a harmonious hum. When the sound hushed, the portal shined bright blue beams of light.
When this happened, Aang's tattooed arrows began to glow, and Yue's hair began to do the same.
The portal closed, sending a beam of white light across the room.
"The spirits have heard you, Arnook." Jaime teared.
Arnook smiled, and readdressed the crowd. "I'm going to need a few volunteers for a dangerous mission."
Sokka stood strongly, clinching his fists. "Count me in."
Jet joined Sokka. "I'm in to." He looked at Ian, who closed his eyes preventing tears from falling.
Other men in the tribe stood as chief Arnook continued.
"Be warned, many of you will not return. Come forward and receive my mark if you accept the task.
The brave men started toward the chief, one by one bowing before him as Arnook painted three red, vertical, zig-zagged lines on their foreheads with his fingers.
After Sokka received his mark from the Chief, he looked at Yue, showing no expression on his face.
Yue held her chin high and closed her eyes, unable to hold her tears.
Aang stood and walked outside. He looked over the city, clinching his fist tightly.
This will not happen to the Water Tribe. He thought to himself.
He held his staff behind his back, and closed his eyes to meditate.
After Arnook finished inside the palace, he joined Aang outside.
"The silence before battle is unbearable, such a quiet drid." The Chief acknowledged.
"I wasn't their when the Fire Nation attacked my people. I'm gonna make a difference this time."
Katara joined him, and placed her hand on Aang's shoulder.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Five-0-0-0-0-0-
The warriors stood ready for battle on the city gates, preparing themselves for what was to come.
Katara stood next to Aang, who was mounted on Appa.
No words could be spoken. Nothing could break the silence that was killing everyone inside. The men with Arnook's mark stood on the front lines.
Ian, Jet, Sokka and Pakku stood in the center of the gate, behind Appa.
Ian looked at Jet with worry. Jet looked back, giving a comforting and reassuring wink.
Sokka's face was determined and ready.
Aang looked into the horizon as the first Fire Nation ship became visible. There was no time for words before everyone's face light up with fear.
A fireball was catapulted off the ship, soaring toward the city. It smashed into the front gate, rippling a shock effect that sent everyone on the front lines flying backwards off the gate.
As the ship said closer, another fireball was sent flying toward the city, demolishing the bridge Sokka and Yue walked on.
A third fireball was fired, smashing into the front gate, almost crushing Aang.
"Yip-Yip!" He called, sending the bison into the air, barley dodging the impact.
The front linemen regathered themselves, as the fireballs continued to smash into the city.
Sokka pulled himself up, calling to Ian. "Where's Katara?"
"I don't know, where's Jet?" Ian yelled back.
"I don't know." Sokka shrugged. "Katara?" he called.
He turned and noticed a pile of snow rummaging. As he walked closer, snow flew past him as Katara freed herself from the immersion. She pulled Jet out behind her, then Sokka sent a thumbs up to Ian.
Aang soared through the air, watching fireballs beneath him shoot into the city.
Another fireball was fired, this time higher in the sky, aimed to reach the inner city.
Aang directed Appa head on with the fireball. His trusted voice echoed over the icy water as he swung his staff sending a quick sweep of wind into the grenade. The air deflected the fireball into the glacier off to the the right of the city.
"Alright guys, Aang's going to wreck this ship, and we need to be out there when he's done." Ian called to his subordinates.
The brigade of waterbenders quickly boarded their canoes, sailing toward the Fire Nation ship.
"I'll take it from here boy." Aang patted Appa on the head, and leaps into the air. As he free fell toward the metal plated ship, he opened his staff. Grasping onto his glider, he flew onto the ship. He landed on the deck, swinging his now closed staff in a circular motion blowing the group of Fire Nation navy-men back.
He jumped onto the catapults bolted to the deck, balancing as the Fire Nation soldiers came at him with hammers. He stood at the top of the catapult, and jumped into the air as the navy-men swung their hammers, only to smash them into their own catapult. As Aang began to come to gravity, he raised his staff, and slammed a blast of air on the top of the damaged catapult. The final blow collapsed the arbalest, and Aang landed with a sweep of wind blowing the soldiers against the ship rail.
He hurried to another catapult the ship boarded, and grabbed a hammer set aside it. He bashed away at the release bearings, until the men charged him.
He kicked the activation lever, and the catapult began to hurl, but the fireball wasn't released, causing it to smash into the deck in front it. The navy-men who chased Aang was blasted with another air sweep, sending them slamming into the ship rail.
Aang took hold of the release chains of another catapult, and knotted it with the chains of the other in front it. Aang salvaged the time he had, and ran to the front catapult, activating the propelling motion, which caused the arbalest to pull the behind catapult from its bolts, crashing it into the other.
Ian and his brigade where now next to the ship. The waterbenders whipped the unconscious navy-men against the ship rail overboard, as Aang began to hammer at the last remaining catapult aboard the ship.
As he swung the heavy hammer, his hands where almost crushed as the captain of the ship hurled a retractable hammer attached with chains at him. He dodged the captains hammers, and hid on the other side of the ballista. The chained hammers spun around Aang as directed by the captain, squeezing him captive against the catapult.
Appa landed on the ship, and grabbed the Fire Nation navy captain by the head. The bison effortlessly tossed him overboard, crushing the mans skull under it's helmet, and also breaking the chains that bound Aang.
"Appa!" Aang ran to the bison. "Thanks for the rescue buddy!" He hugged his friend.
Ian shot a water spike through the bottom of the ship, demolishing the last remaining catapult as the spike continued upward.
"All right guys, bind this ship." He called to his subordinates.
The team of waterbenders froze the water around the ship, and raised the metal vessel out of the water.
Aang mounted his bison, and flew into the air. As he looked into the horizon, the only thing in his view was a mass of Fire Nation Navy, easily more than five hundred strong. The Navy stretch as far as the eye could see, and that's all that filled the horizon under the polluting smog.
Aang widened his eyes in horror. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Six-0-0-0-0-0-
In the city, Water Tribe soldiers marched the front gate.
Yugoda and the other healers courted as much of the city as they could into the safety caves burrowed in the glacier behind the palace.
The citizens should be safe there, those that chose to stay in their homes, and protect what they had could only be prayed for.
Chief Arnook took the volunteered men into a barrack. Jet and Sokka stood strong with the other determined men.
"Men, you'll be infiltrating the Fire Nation Navy. That means you'll all need one of these uniforms." Arnook extended his arm, displaying Hahn, who walked in wearing Fire Nation armor.
As Hahn stood displaying the uniform, Sokka busted out a giggle. He quickly covered his mouth, stopping any more laughter from escaping his tongue as everyone in the room turned to him.
Jet, who was standing next to Sokka, elbowed him in the arm. "Dude, get a hold of yourself." He whispered.
"What's your problem?" Hahn snapped at Sokka, who still had his hand over his mouth, chuckling behind it.
"He's laughing because Fire Nation uniforms don't look like that." Jet covered for Sokka.
"Of coarse they do. These are actual Fire Nation uniforms captured from actual Fire Navy soldiers." Hahn barked.
Sokka took his hand from over his mouth. "When? Like, a hundred years ago?" He laughed.
Arnook slummed his shoulders. "Eighty five years ago, actually." He sighed.
Sokka stepped forward. "The Fire Nation doesn't wear shoulder spikes anymore. Their new uniforms are more stream lined." He said as he flicked the flimsy metal that spiked off the shoulder plate.
"How do we know we can trust this guy? Such bold talk for a newer recruit." Hahn snarled at Sokka.
Arnook had a displeased expression take over his face. "Sokka is from our Sister Tribe, Hahn, he is a capable warrior, and I value his input." He scolded Hahn.
"Yeah, what about this joke?" Hahn pointed at Jet.
Jet leaned back, raising his left eyebrow and crossing his arms.
"Jet has been around the world. He has far more experience than you could think of. You will learn to show respect, Hahn." Arnook snapped.
The chief turned to address the group of men. "Now, our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer."
Jet leaned off the wall, and dangled his arms beside him. "His name is Zhao."
The men sent Jet a puzzled look.
"Middle aged, big sideburns." Jet continued, motioning the shape of Zhao's sideburns on his own face.
"Bigger temper." Sokka added.
Arnook smiled at the two boys. "Sokka, Jet, I want you two to tell everything you know to Hahn. He'll be leading this mission." He turned to Hahn. "Hahn, you will show these two your respect. I should expect nothing less from my future son-in-law." Arnook ordered as he left the room.
Sokka's jaw dropped. "Princess Yue is marrying your ass?" He pointed at Hahn.
Hahn jerked his head back with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, what of it?"
Sokka turned away from Hahn. "Nothing," he slummed. "congratulations."
Hahn turned and waved for the group of men to follow him. "Okay guys, I want all of you to go get cleaned up and ready for battle."
Ian walked in as the brigade of men where leaving the barracks.
"What was that about?" He asked Sokka and Jet.
Jet pecked Ian on the lips, as Sokka explained. "Hahn is the one marrying Yue." Sokka pouted.
"Yeah, I know." Ian held Jet close, wrapping his arm around his waist.
"You know?" Sokka asked with surprise. "Why'd nobody tell me?"
"I thought it was obvious." Jet budged.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "I'm going to take a bath." He said as he stomped out the barracks.
"So, how'd it go out there?" Jet asked Ian.
"Not good. We only took out a handful of ships, but there is just so many." Ian explained.
"How's Aang doing out there?" Jet sat on a bench in the center of the room.
"He's doing fine. My men are exhausted, we had to come back in. It's brutal out there." Ian joined him on the bench.
"Well, I'm going to get cleaned up. You wanna help me?" Jet smiled at Ian.
A blush came over Ian's cheeks. "Are you a dirty boy?"
Jet leaned to meets Ian's lips. "Yeah." He replied, only pulling away from the kiss for a moment.
Ian giggled, and rose from the bench. He held Jets hand and pulled him off the bench. "Common, lets get you clean."
Jet was pulled by the wrist, following Ian to the bath house.
The fireballs continued to be catapulted into the city gates. Pakku and a group of experienced waterbenders stood defending their home.
"Stop those fireballs!" Pakku called.
He and his benders erected the water into the air, catching the flaming hurls of rocks like a catchers mitt, successfully stopping them in their flight, assisted with the power of the rising moon.
The Fire Navy was sailing closer toward the city as the sun began to fall, and the moon now beginning to rise.
Iroh stepped into Zhao's quarters. "It is almost twilight Admiral. As your military consultant, I must advise you to halt your attack until day break."
Zhao looked over his shoulder with an angry look.
"The waterbenders draw their power from the moon, and it's nearly full tonight." Iroh continued.
The Admiral looked back at the city in font of his view. "Oh, I'm well aware of the moon problem, and I am working on a solution."
Iroh stroked his beard in confusion.
"But for now, day break it is." Zhao agreed.
The ships anchored in front of the city, and the fireballs seized fire.
Katara and Yue stepped out of the palace.
"They stopped firing." Yue stated.
Katara pointed into the sky as Aang began to guide his bison down. "Aang's back!" She called.
The girls ran to Aang, seeing him rest his head in his knees. "I can't do it." He pouted. "I can't do it."
"What happened?" Katara asked.
"I must have taken out a dozen Fire Nation ships, but there's just too many of them." He lifted his head.
"But you have to. You're The Avatar." Yue pushed.
"Look, I'm just one kid." Aang slummed his head back into his knees.
Katara knelt beside him, and placed a hand on his shoulders as Aang began to cry. "It's all right, Aang."
He looked up at Katara. "No it's not. How am I supposed to protect all these people? I'm just a kid! All I know is airbending, I can't do it."
Katara placed her hand on his cheek, moving him to look her in the eyes. "I believe in you, Aang."
Yue knelt beside him and placed her hand on his knee. "We all do." She smiled.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Seven-0-0-0-0-0-
The moon was now high in the sky as the sun diminished below the horizon.
Zuko was preparing his canoe for his departure when Iroh walked up behind him.
"You're fishing for an octopus my nephew. You need a tightly woven net, or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape." Iroh warned.
Zuko lowered his head. "I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle."
Iroh stepped forward and closed his eyes, feeling the tears begin to build. "I know. I just nag you because, well," He felt a tear run down his cheek. "ever since I lost my son," Tears ran down his cheeks.
"Uncle, you don't have to say it." Zuko said as he squeezed his eyes close, holding his tears back, knowing that this may be the last time he would see his uncle.
"I think of you as my own." Iroh said calmly.
Zuko wiped a tear from his cheek, and turned to face Iroh. "I know, Uncle. We'll meet again," He said, bowing in respect to his uncle.
Iroh knocked Zuko's hands from prayer press, and hugged his nephew tightly.
Zuko rested his head on his uncles shoulder, then pushed away quickly. "after I have The Avatar."
The prince turned back to his canoe, and stepped inside. He took hold of the drop ropes, and began to descend into the icy water below.
Iroh peered over the ledge of the ship. "Remember your breath of fire, son. It could save your life out there." He said.
Zuko smiled at the sound of his uncles words. "I will." He replied.
"And put your hood up. Keep your ears warm." Iroh called.
"I'll be fine." Zuko called back, lowing his canoe into the water.
Iroh watched Zuko paddle away, feeling his tears run down his cheek into his beard.
In the barracks, the Water Tribe warriors prepared for battle.
Sokka and Hahn where sharpening weapons on the spin wheel, while Jet hammered away at the newly made swards.
"Let me tell ya Sowka, I've courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest. Plus, she comes with the most perks." Hahn said.
Sokka looked at Hahn angrily. "Perks? What does that mean?"
"I mean, Yue's nice and all, but the points I'll be bringing in with the chief aren't bad either." Hahn explained.
"Princess Yue is wasted on a self-centered asshole like you." Sokka barked.
Hahn cocked his head back in surprise at the words that just come out of Sokka's mouth. "Whoa, hang on. What do you care? You're just a simple brute from the Southern Tribe. What would you know of the political complexities of our life style? No offense." Hahn mocked.
Jet stopped hammering and turned to what was about to happen, as the other men did the same. "Oh shit..." He mumbled.
Sokka slammed the axe he was sharpening on the ground, and jumped at Hahn, tackling him to the floor.
He rested on top of Hahn, and through a tightly clenched fist into Hahn's face. "You're just a dick wad without a soul. No offense."
The boys tossed and turned on the ground smashing their fists into each others heads.
"Bitch, get the fuck off me!" Hahn yelled, smashing a fist into Sokka's lip, busting it.
Jet ran up to the fight and pulled Sokka off Hahn.
Arnook ran in and pulled Hahn away by the collar. "Look here, mother fuckers!" Arnook shouted. "Sokka, you're off the mission!" He stormed out the room.
"Dude, chill out." Jet advised.
"No, fuck that punk." Sokka shouted.
Hahn fixed his hair. "All right, fall in men. Everyone listen to what I say, and we'll take out this Admiral Cho in no time, while Sowka here wallows in self pity."
"It's Admiral Zhao, dumb ass." Jet reminded.
"And my name is Sokka!" He added.
"Like it matters." Hahn said as he and the rest of the men left the room. He turned back to address Jet. "Common pretty boy, move it."
Jet slummed his face. "Sorry Sokka." He said as he followed Hahn out the room.
Zuko paddled his canoe through the icy water, maneuvering past ice burgs that peaked out the water. He stealthed his way past watch towers, and began his on-foot part of his plan on an ice formation covered with turtle-seals.
He peered past a rock, and watched as guards marched past view of him.
He turned to see the seals diving in a hole formed in the ice formation.
"Where are they going?" He asked himself.
"They have to be coming up for air somewhere." He told himself as he looked into the chilling water beneath the hole.
He prepared himself for the cold, and took a deep breath before diving into the icy water.
Katara, Yue and Aang lounged on the princess's balcony. Aang slummed, resting his head on his arms over the balcony rail.
Yue looked up at the moon, breaking the silence. "The legends say that the moon was the first waterbender. That her spirit came to our world, and taught the first water tribe people how to push and pull the water as she did."
Katara glanced up at the moon. "I've always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night."
"Our strength comes from the spirit of the moon, and our life comes from the spirit of the ocean. They work together to keep balance."
Aang's face lit up with an idea. "That's it! The Spirits, maybe I can find them and get their help."
Yue looked at him sceptically. "How could you even try to do that without a shaman?"
"Aang is The Avatar, the mortal link between our world and the spiritual world. He can talk to them." Katara explained.
"Maybe they can give you the wisdom to win this battle!" Yue said.
"Or maybe than can unleash an amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation!" Aang yelled.
The two girls looked at him dis-pleasingly.
"Or wisdom, that's good to." Aang continued, leaning back against the rail grinning.
"The only problem is, last time you got in the spirit world by accident. How would you get their this time?" Katara worried.
Yue got out of her chair. "I have an idea. Jaime is always doing this when she needs to contact the Spirit World, Come with me."
Yue led them to the back of the palace. A courtyard with large cauldrons of sparkling water rowed down a pathway that ended with a round wooden door.
Aang looked at the small, mystical looking door. "So, is this the way to the Spirit World?" He asked Yue.
"No." Yue giggled. "You'll have to get there on your own, but this is the most spiritual place in the North Pole." She said as she opened the round door.
Aang crawled through the round door, and was amazed at what he saw.
Before his eyes was a beautiful round patch of grassy land, with a small koi pond in the center. To get to the grass, there was a canal of water for benders, and a walkway on either side.
The grassy island was flush with vegetation. An archway towered above the pond, with bamboo and flower-bloomed shrubs flourishing behind it.
Two bridges connected the island to the walkways, as the canal shaped around the grassland.
Aang ran down the left walkway, and jumped off the bridge onto to grass. He rubbed his hands against the soft grass, rolling around.
"I never though I'd miss grass this much!" He joyed.
Katara and Yue where quick behind him.
"It's so warm here, how is that possible?" Katara asked as she pulled off her overcoat.
"This is the center of all spiritual energy in our world." Yue explained.
Momo, who tagged along on Aang's shoulder, prowled up to the pond, reaching his paw in at the two koi fish swimming. He looked up to be scolded by Katara and Yue. His ears lowered, and he climbed up Katara, to rest on her shoulder.
Aang walked up to the archway, placing his hand on its post. The touch gave him goose bumps. "Yue, what's this do?" He asked.
"That's the portal Jaime used to use to enter the spirit world." She explained.
"Well you're right, I can feel something." Aang said. "It's so... tranquil." He sat down in front the pond, under the archway, and pressed his fist together as he began mediation.
Zuko swam through the bone numbing water, and emerged from the tunnel, gasping for breath. He found himself in a cave, nested with loud-barking turtle-seals. He laid on the cold ground, catching his breath. He quivered and shivered as he blew his breath of fire, warming himself as best he could.
As he got up, drenching wet, he yelled at the turtle-seals. "Shut the fuck up!"
He stomped over to a waterfall in the cave as the seals began to bark again. The icy water rushed down from a canal carved through the ice.
He took another deep breath, and scaled his way up, against the rushing, bone chilling water, through the passage that rushed water from above.
Sokka sat slummed on a dressing bench, sharpening his boomerang in the barracks.
Arnook walked in, and sat next to him. "Is something wrong Sokka?" He placed a hand on the boys shoulder.
Sokka looked at the chief with a frowned face. "Oh no, everything is fine. Hahn and Jet are out there on an important mission, while I'm here sharpening my boomerang."
Arnook looked at Sokka sincerely. "Listen to me, son. I took you off the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you."
Sokka set his boomerang beside him, and turned to the chief. "What? You want me to scrub the barracks or something?"
Arnook chuckled. "No, I want you to guard and protect my daughter, Princess Yue. Your care for her is very strong, I can see that. So, do you think you can you do that for me?"
Sokka stood up with a smile, that he quickly corrected into a serious face. "Sure, that shouldn't be too hard." He eyeballed around the room.
Arnook stood, and placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "Good, she should be in her room with your sister and Aang." He said before walking out the room.
Zuko climbed his way to the end of the canal. He quickly floated up to the top of the water, gasping for air.
After he caught his breath, he looked down into the icy water, noticing another passage way that lead upward.
He poked his head out of the water one last time catching a gulp of air. He dove down into the chilling water, and swam his way through the passage.
As he swam up, he could see light shining into the water ahead. His body became buoyant, and began to lift to the top of the water with little effort.
Zuko was out of breath, he swam as fast as he could to the end of the passage. When he reached the end of the tunnel, he was horrified by the bumping of his head on a frozen sheet of ice, blocking his way to air.
He pounded on the glass with his fists in a desperate attempt to break the ice that blocked him from breathing.
His mouth opened involuntarily, as his lungs longed for air, only to fill them with a gulp of water.
His eyes closed as he began to sink to down into the darkness of the icy waters.
He was determined not to die, not to give up. He opened his eyes, and warmed his hands as he swam up to the ice sheet above him.
His warm hands began to emit blows of fire, melting the sheet of ice.
Buoyancy took over his body, as he swam up for air, he jumped out of the water.
He curled up in a ball, looking around to see his surroundings. He emerged from an ancient safety tunnel near the spirit oasis.
He laid for a moment, catching his breath, and warming himself with the breath of fire as he shivered from the drench of the bone numbing water.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Eight-0-0-0-0-0-
Aang sat in front the koi pond. His legs crossed, and his fists pressed together as he meditated.
"What's he doing?" Yue whispered to Katara.
"He's meditating, trying to cross over into the spirit world; it takes all of his concentration." She answered with a whisper.
"Is there any way we can help?" Yue whispered.
Aang opened his eyes, and flung his hands in the air. "How about some quiet? Common guys, I can hear every word you're saying."
The girls covered there mouths, as Aang's attention was drawn to the fish.
The swam around each other, in a harmonious circle.
The all white fish had just a black spot on it's head, and the black koi fish had just a white spot on its head. They chased each other, swimming in a beautiful dance.
Aang watched and stared, memorized into a hypnosis sate as the two fish swimming faded into Ying-Yang.
Aang's eyes began to glow, his arrows beamed a bright white light.
"What's happening to him?" Yue asked, frantic.
"He's crossing into the spirit world. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body, that's his way back to the physical world." Katara explained.
"Should we go get some help?" Yue panicked.
"No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him." Katara declared.
"Well, aren't you a big girl now." Zuko's voice echoed from the distance.
"Oh no.. Yue go get help!" Katara yelled as she readied her water skin.
Yue ran to the palace as fast she could, ignored by the firebending infiltrator.
Zuko kicked a wave of flame at Katara, followed by torching punches, shooting blast of fire at her.
Katara pulled water up in waves, shielding herself from the inferno.
She gathered water from under the bridge, and as Zuko readied another blast, she shot a bolt of water, throwing Zuko into a flip, knocking him to his stomach.
Zuko got up slowly, and glared at Katara intimidatingly.
"I see you've learned a new trick, but I didn't come this far to loose to your peasant ass." Zuko grunted as he swung a kick of fire at her.
She formed a shield of water blocking the fire from hurting her and out-of-body Aang. Katara rushed Zuko with water, pushing him back. She froze Zuko's feet in place.
The power of the moon overwhelmed her, as she rose the water around Zuko into a sphere, waving her hands in a practiced motion, encasing him in a ball of thickly-frozen ice.
Zuko looked past the ice, amazed at Katara's unfamiliar power.
"You little bitch. You've found a master, haven't you?" He said as he built a mass of fire around him, exploding the the ice sphere that encased him.
He jumped out of his frozen stand, and kicked a powerful blast of fire at Katara.
She shot the water at him in tall strikes, unsuccessful as he dodged every move, followed by his own unsuccessful shoots of fire.
Yue ran into the palace, loosing her shoes in the sprint.
She quickly turned the corner and let out a yell as she ran over Sokka, tackling him to the ground.
"Yue, what's wrong?" Sokka asked.
"It's a firebender, he's trying to get Aang!" She yelled as she crawled up off of Sokka.
Sokka scrunched his eyebrows. "Zuko. Common we have to get Appa." He urged, taking Yue's hand, pulling her behind him as they ran to the stables, bumping past palace guards along the way.
Zuko's hands where filled with fire, as he reached for Katara's face.
Katara swooped a dodge, splashing the fire in his hands out.
Zuko danced around her, sending blasts of fire from his punching fists that she put out fiercely.
Katara threw water in his face, only to be tripped by a sweep of Zuko's leg.
He took advantage of his second, and reached for Aang's collar, pulling The Avatar's head back slightly.
Just when Zuko pulled Aang back, Katara gave into her rage, blasting the firebender away from her friend with incredible strength that even she was unfamiliar with.
She swung her arms firmly, pulling massive waves out of the water. She pushed the water at Zuko, raising him in the air, slamming him against the glacier wall. The water rushed Zuko's chest, knocking the wind out of him. She finished him off by freezing the mountain of water, leaving Zuko unconscious at the top.
Pakku watched with Ian and Arnook as the sun began to rise over the raising-anchored Fire Navy before the city.
Zhao stood with Iroh on his ship deck. "It's day break at last." He smiled. "Let's write history."
Zuko awoke feeling the warmth of the sun beam on his face. He opened his eyes as Katara began to walk back to Aang.
He breathed a steamy blow of warm chi in a dragon-style out his nose, melting the frozen mountain of water that held him.
As Katara turned, Zuko landed on the ground, blasting a powerful inferno of flame.
Katara pulled up a shield as fast as possible, only to be knocked back at the impact, slamming her against the archway post.
She began to black out, watching in a haze as Zuko held The Avatar by the collar.
"You rise with the moon," He said. "I rise with the sun."
Katara drifted off into an unconscious state, as Zuko carried Aang on his back up the windy pathway to the top of the glacier that wrapped around the city.
-0-0-0-0-0-Chapter Nine-0-0-0-0-0-
The Fire Navy sailed into the front gates. The sharp pointed head of their ships crashed into the city, and lowered, cutting through the vary wall that kept them out for a century, providing a walkway for Fire Nation foot-men to enter, and claim their victory.
The red armored pick-men rushed the city cutting through the flesh of the Water Tribe front-line men, spilling their red blood all over the icy blue ground.
Zhao sailed forward on his ship, accompanied by Iroh. "The Water Tribe can try to resist the inevitable," Zhao began. "but their city will fall today."
Iroh stepped back from him, shaking his head at the Admirals naive words.
Ian and Pakku stormed the front lines. With the help of the other waterbenders they erected a wall from the ground, and pushed it back, effortlessly crushing the first wave of Fire Nation soldiers against the front gate. Their blood spurred around the gate, and the sound of the bones being crushed amplified as the first wave of Fire Nation soldiers was simply crushed to death.
Katara's ringing ears scared her awake with the sudden realization of what happened. With wide eyes, she sat up from her laid down, unconscious state, as tears waterfalled down her cheek.
Sokka and Yue landed Appa at the oasis, and saw Katara weeping. Sokka quickly jumped off the bison to comfort his sister.
"What happened? Where's Zuko?" He asked frantically.
"He took Aang, he took him right out from under me." Katara sighed, wiping the tears from her face.
Momo curled up where Aang was sitting when he entered the Spirit World.
Sokka looked at the lemur, seeing that Momo knew something wasn't right.
"Where did they go?" He questioned.
High above the oasis, Zuko straddled Aang on his back up the windy pathway to the top of the glacier. He walked into the tundra above the Northern Water Tribe that was being pounded by a violent blizzard. He knew when he made it out of here, he'd return home and regain his fathers love, regain his honor, regain his place on the throne. For now, he was happy that he finally having The Avatar.