The Beginning
Chapter four
The Turning Point
The biting cold winds of the poles were the second harshest reminders that Prince Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire lord Ozai, was a banished prince. The harshest being the angry red scar given to him by his own father. The young man was currently looking out over the cold seas of the South Pole. An area where the water had frozen over. He was on an early model of the Fire Nation war ships his country had been using to out maneuver the slower wind sailing ships of the earth kingdom and water tribes. They had the advantage of being steam powered allowing them to quickly traverse the waters. Only water tribe ships were faster and only if they had a few water benders constantly adding speed through their bending. But when they were doing that. They couldn't attack or defend themselves as effectively, while the fire nation war ships could attack and defend their quick moving vessels with ease. Plus fire nation metal trumped the inferior wood crafts every time.
Prince Zuko pushed off from the railing of the observation deck and turned around to address his uncle. "Uncle, we will be breeching the walls of the barbarians dwelling soon. Will you be joining me and the rest of the crew in the landing party?"
Prince Zuko's uncle was the brother of the current Fire lord. He had earned much renown throughout the world. Every general in the world knew of the exploits of the once great general nicknamed The Dragon of the West. His breeching of the outer walls of Ba Sing Se was the greatest highlight of his career. It was also his last. Shortly after his breeching of the walls his only son Lu Ten perished in a small skirmish. He fled from the front and vanished for many years.
In that time he lost his birthright to the throne. Only years later to return to his country's royal palace. He came back the same tea-loving man who more often fancied a game of Pai Sho rather than practice his exceptional fire bending, but there was a great sadness that would sometimes ebb into his face and posture.
At the prince's question, a look of concentration passed over his features. He doubted that the Avatar would be here at the pole but he would never send any of his men let alone nephew without the utmost precautions.
"Prince Zuko, it would be most unwise to send all your men down into unknown territory, avatar or not. I recommend instead you take with you the most adept soldiers only. While I and Lt. Jee each direct out own contingent in reserve." Iroh recommended from his vast experience.
Prince Zuko weighed his words in his mind, his uncle had brought along many scrolls on combat and tactics. Prince Zuko had often found himself waking with several spread across his bed when he fell asleep reading them.
"Yes that would be a good idea uncle. I want you and Lt. Jee to do just that but I want you to hold off from assisting us unless the need is dire. If I can capture the Avatar single handedly. I will get my honor back and so much more. My banishment will be abolished as if it had never happened. I will finally be in the good graces of my father." Prince Zuko steeled his features and made his way into the bridge and descended into the hold of the ship to wait.
Iroh let out a large sigh.
Katara and Aang continued making their way back to Katara's tribe. They had just sent off a flare of the old fire navy vessel. If there was any fire nation in the area they would likely come to investigate. The flare was also seen by Katara's tribe.
The entire village was currently at the outskirts of the tribe and was looking out at Aang and Katara with mistrust. Except for the children of course. Sokka looked ready to throw a punch at the young boy.
"I knew it! You signaled the fire nation with that flare!" he accused pointing his finger at him.
"Stop it Sokka. It was an accident." Katara said.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to do it. There was this booby trap and we just. boobied right into it." Aang offers weakly.
From behind Sokka, Gran-gran scolded the two," you shouldn't have been there. Katara you know it is forbidden to go near that ship.
"Don't blame Katara. I brought her there." Aang says trying to get her out of trouble.
"Ah ha!" Sokka exclaims in triumph. "The traitor confesses! Warriors away from the enemy." The warrior children walked back to their mothers. "The foreigner is banished from our village."
"Sokka you are making a mistake."
"No. I am keeping my promise to dad. By protecting you from threats like him."
"I can take care of myself Sokka!"
Sokka knew she could. She was getting really good at her blood bending. Sokka and she had been training her control and power with it for years. So far Sokka could only resist her slightly. But if she really wanted to get him to do something there was no stopping her. If she met someone who didn't have the tolerance for Blood-bending Sokka didn't think they had a chance. A group of people couldn't take her down so long as they didn't get a drop on her.
"Aang is not our enemy." She continued. "Don't you see? Aang brought us something we haven't had in a long time; fun."
"Fun?! You can't fight fire benders with fun!" Sokka retorted.
"You should try it sometime." Aang says ineffectively.
Sokka ignored him," get out of our village!"
"Grandmother please. Don't allow Sokka to do this."
"Sokka is right I think it best for the air bender to leave."
"Fine! Than I am banished too! C'mon Aang." Katara says in a fit and began pulling him along towards Appa.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To the north pole, Aang is taking me there to find a teacher!"
"I am? Right!"
"Katara! Are you going to choose him over the tribe?" The water tribes are a closely knit culture. The men and women worked together in one of the harshest environments in the world. They need to rely on one another to stay alive. A person putting themselves before the community was a terrible taboo. What Katara said was practically grounds enough for her own banishment, daughter of a chief or not. Fortunately for Katara Aang stopped her from making a mistake. Whether she liked it or not.
"Katara, I don't want come between you and your family."
Saddened Katara asks," so this is it? You are leaving the south pole."
"Thanks for playing with me. It was nice meeting you." Aang said smiling up at Katara but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Where will you go?"
"Maybe to the southern air temple. I will go find the other monks. I haven't cleaned my room in a hundred years. I am not looking forward to that." With that he air bent him on top of Appa and grabbed the reins. Saying to the rest of the tribe," it was nice meeting you!"
"Let's see your bison fly, air boy." Sokka said.
"C'mon Appa yip-yip!" the bison slowly climbed to his feet and lumbered away.
"Yeah thought so."
"Ahhh! Aang don't go I will miss you!" Miko said, she was one of the smaller girls of the tribe and she had tears pooling on her eyes.
"I will miss you too." He said but he found his eyes resting on Katara and not on the little girl.
Appa and Aang began their slow trek across the snow and ice away from the village. Kanna came up behind Katara and said," Katara, you will feel bette-"
Katara rounded her grandmother incensed that she would do that to her friend. "Are you happy now? There goes my one chance at becoming a water bender." She fumed and walked away. Kanna was strickened that her granddaughter would speak to her like that. Sokka began mobilizing the tribe as best he could.
The tribe did the best they could do to defend their home but they knew if any fire navy did show up they would be doomed. Sokka was currently standing on an ice wall looking out into the fog where the bay usually was visible. Katara had her hands clasped together praying to Tui and La that nothing would happen. Seeing her brother in full warrior paint made her prayers seem futile.
The splashing of waves was what the tribe heard first, but it was the cracking and popping of ice that made them know something big and dangerous was coming. It wasn't long before a towering black ship penetrated the fog. The ship was so large that it plowed through the ice making a huge crack through the village center. Katara rescued a child from falling into the ice cold waters, where the child would surely have been lost.
Sokka was frozen in place staring up at the massive ship.
"Sokka get out of there!" Katara creamed worriedly.
The fire navy ship slowly came to a stop but not before bumping into the wall causing an avalanche of snow. Sokka managed to keep his balance. Only for the front of the ship to fall forward and nearly flatten Sokka.
The entire tribe was now standing a few paces behind Sokka as he stared into the darkness of the hold. Three spearman and three fire benders in full fire nation issued armor strode out following a man who was only a teen. The teen somehow looked more daunting than the six burly men behind him and for good reason.
The point was proven when Sokka charged up the loading ramp and was skillfully dispatched with two strikes; sending Sokka head first into the snow. The six muscled soldiers didn't even slow their march down the ramp. They were completely unfazed by the altercation.
The apparent leader approached the rest of the tribe who were now cowering together.
"Where are you hiding him?" he asks vaguely.
Complete silence
…
…
…
Quick as a flash he reached out and plucked Kanna from the group. Gesturing to her he said," he'd be about this age master of all elements."
The silence persisted. The leader shoved the woman forward into Katara's arms. Katara could only shoot him a glare before he swept his arm out at them producing a flame that was more bark than bite. It served its purpose. The tribe was cowering even more.
"I know you are hiding him!"
"Yahhh!" Sokka yelled rushing at the backs of the soldiers. Spending so much time training with Katara made him strong and fast but the leader was too skilled in hand-to-hand combat and simply flipped Sokka. He landed on his bum with his back to the soldiers. He quickly righted himself and rolled away from fresh a gout of fire and threw his boomerang all in one smooth motion. He managed to throw it pretty accurately too but the leader just barely dodged it.
One of the young boys tossed a whale bone spear to Sokka and said," show no fear!"
Sokka charged at the leader again spear raised. Unfortunately the spear point was skillfully snapped by the leader's forearms. Sokka hopped to the side surprised at the removal of the lethal point. Swinging the spear turned staff at the leader hitting his shoulder however the armor was too strong for the weapon and snapped shorter. The leader grabbed the remnants from Sokka's hands and snapped, it kicking Sokka away and tossing the shards into the snow.
The leader looked down at Sokka, rolling his shoulder where Sokka landed a blow, as if he were a bug and only deserved the absolute minimal amount of attention.
Far in the distance a flash of blue metal came hurdling back and slammed into the leaders head jarring him. Being this close to the leader Sokka could finally see past the shadow of his helmet at the angry red scar that covered his left eye.
The leader looked very angry. Fire began shooting out of his closed fists as fire daggers.
Out of nowhere Aang and a penguin came sliding in crashing into the leader sending him bottom up, with his helmet resting on his bum. The tribe cheered at the display. Aang covered some of the younger tribesman in snow. They came to a stop and the penguin bucked Aang off its back.
"Hey Katara hey Sokka!"
"Hi Aang, thanks for coming." Sokka said.
The leader rose and signaled his soldiers to circle around the threat. Aang air bended a mess of snow at the seven men to make them keep their distance.
"Looking for me?"
"You're the air bender you're the avatar?" he said incredulously.
"Aang?" "No way." Katara and Sokka said.
The two in near combat began circling each other.
"I have spent year training, meditating, preparing for this. You're just a child!"
"Well you're just a teenager."
The teenager in question became incensed and began bending flames at Aang. Twirling his staff Aang was able to dissipate most of the flames unfortunately some flared behind him. The heat scared many of the children.
"If I go with you. Will you promise to leave everyone alone?"
A tense silence passed over the group. Until finally the leader put his posture at ease and nodded. A fire bender and spearmen approached Aang and took him by his arms and led him up the ramp.
"No Aang don't!" Katara said.
"Don't worry Katara. Take care of Appa for me!"
The leader began making his way up the ramp. Katara was feeling extremely angry that her friend was being taken away by the fire nation scum. She couldn't blood bend this many people. She had been able to easily bend over a dozen fish at the same time but seven men was beyond her abilities. So she did the best she could discreetly. As he was walking up to the ramp she reached forward and pulled. The leader fell forward so quickly and violently he couldn't get his hands under him. His face slammed hard into the metal ramp busting his nose. Blood was already pouring out.
He futilely wiped away the red liquid and sneered angrily like it was the tribe's fault he fell.
For a long time Katara just stood at the bank of the bay looking out over the sea. Aang and the fire nation ship were far away and could not be seen. She hadn't helped putting the tribe in order after they had left. Sokka was walking behind her bringing several bundles to a canoe.
"We have to go after that ship Sokka. Aang saved our tribe. Now we have to save him."
"Katara I-"
"Why can't you realize he is on our side? If we don't help him no one will. I know you don't like Aang but we owe him-"
"Katara! Are you going to talk all day or are you coming with me?" he said gesturing to the canoe with several bags of supplies.
"Sokka!" She says elatedly.
"Get in we are going to save your boyfriend."
"He is not my-"
"Whatever."
Katara was just about to hop in the canoe when they heard a chorus of voices behind them. Gran-gran, Etha, Galda and Matana were carrying several bundles and sacks.
"What do you two think you are doing?"
Sokka and Katara turned and tried to look innocent.
"We know what you were just going to do Dear." Galda said to Katara.
"Miko told us Sokka was up to something." Etha informed.
Matana step forward," You two are going after that boy who may or may not be the Avatar." She accused lightly.
"I am sorry Katara for chasing away Aang. Had I known he was the Avatar and was willing to give himself up to avoid harm coming to us and the little ones. My actions would have been very different." Kanna said.
Katara smiled and hugged her. "Be safe my little water-bender. I know you will be a master the world has never known. Who couldn't after you embarrassed that boy with the scar."
Katara gasped," How did you know I did that?"
"All Gran-grans make it a point to know everything about their grand kids. And you Sokka don't think I wasn't impressed with you either. In a few more years with a little practical experience you will be a pride of our tribe just as much as Katara."
"Okay… did I miss something? What is she talking about Katara?"
"She saw me trip the boy you were fighting."
Sokka let out a huge laugh," You did that?! That is amazing. He didn't even notice. (Sigh) my little sister gave another guy a bloody nose (sniff) I am not going to cry." He said but he definitely looked close to shedding tears of joy.
Galda approached the two and said," There is no way you are catching Aang in that." She gestured to the canoe.
Matana continued, "That is why when the Avatar's bison came back to the village we brought him to you."
Appa was currently staring at the six people with absent interest.
Hefting one of the ruck sacks she handed it to Sokka" You guys will probably be on the run as soon as you save the Avatar and won't have time to come back. So Sokka here are the hides from the polar wolf from that day as well as enough leather chord to make some armour for yourself. If you ask nicely Katara might even help you make it. Spirits know you shouldn't be around small sharp things."
"Are you guys ever going to let me live that down? Because it is getting really old."
All five women looked at each other and shook their head the negative. Sokka seeing their action sighed deeply. "Fine, make fun of Sokka. Don't mind him it's not like words hurt a true warrior like myself anyway." He said while flexing his biceps.
Loading up Appa with all their supplies of cured meats, hides, tent and sleeping rolls the two climbed aboard Appa. With katara taking the reins. Kanna stood at the side looking on at her grandchildren.
"You and Sokka found Aang for a reason. After finding him your fates became intertwined with his. You two are destined for great things." Kanna said.
"We will miss you Gran-gran."
Appa walked into the bay and began swimming after the leaving fire navy ship. the one thing fire navy ships didn't have was stealth. In the daytime their smokestacks pumped out a ton of black smoke. Appa was currently making a much greater pace than a canoe but it was not fast enough to catch a war ship.
"Well even if this big fluff ball can't fly it will be better than the canoe. My arms are strong but not that strong." Sokka boasted.
"Well let's find out." Katara snapped the reins," Let's go Appa and save Aang!"
Nothing new happened.
"What did he say? Hi yo? Up up? Yah yah? Err yip-yip?" Sokka asked.
Appa made a bellowing roar. Raising his tail he slapped the water making a large wave. Sokka and Katara suddenly found themselves ascending through the air. Sokka was understandably very excited at being in the air. Katara shot him a knowing look. Sokka tried to play off his excitement but he went back to being elated very quickly. They flew along for a few minutes getting closer and closer to the edge of the South Pole. In another twenty or so minutes the ship would have cleared the last of the glacial barriers and would have quickly reached the fire nation.
Katara and Sokka could now see the fire navy ship. They could also see that Aang was currently fighting a fire bender on the deck of the ship. And by the look of it they saw he was losing ground. The fire bender was firing off more and more fire blasts getting strong and stronger. Until finally Aang's staff was ripped from his hands hurdling towards the bow of the ship. Aang was getting sloppy with dodges and found himself precariously perched on the port side of the ship. Until finally he fell into the ice cold waters, disappearing from view.
"Aang no Aang Aang AANG!" Katara wailed from the sky atop Appa.
Katara was currently thinking about the tragedy that she had just witnessed. The last air nomad had fallen into the ocean. The water was so cold that if he didn't get out in a few seconds the blood in his limbs would reach his heart and send him into shock. Aang was also the Avatar. The last hope to put an end to this war that didn't end in the decimation of all but one of the great cultures of the world.
Just as Katara and Sokka were about to mourn a friendship they would never know a torrent off water burst out of the water. The tower of water swirled and tipped, however the most amazing thing of this phenomena was the person at the top of it. Aang was alive and water-bending more water than Katara had in her whole life.
Even from the distance the three were at they could see the glowing Tattoos they had seen the first time they met Aang the previous day. Aang landed on the deck of the ship and bent the water around him creating a barrier from the fire marines. With several fluid motions Aang bent the water on the deck of the ship sending several of the marines over board. Their scarred leader was sent towards the stern of the boat and slammed into the observation deck and bridge.
"Did you see what he just did?"
"Now that was some water bending."
Aang staggered on his feet and slumped down. The Glow from his Arrows faded to blue.
Appa quickly descended onto the deck. Sokka and Katara quickly hopped off Appa and made their way to Aang's prone form.
"Aang! Are you okay?"
Regaining a little consciousness Aang said," Hey Katara hey Sokka Thanks for coming."
"Couldn't let you have all the glory now could I?" Sokka asked.
"I dropped my staff."
Seeing the staff Sokka got up and grabbed it and ran back to Aang.
As Katara was helping Aang up into the saddle the leader and three spearman were advancing on her with the leader leading them.
"This is your last chance girl! I order you as prince Zuko to give me the Avatar!" He said.
Sokka had just come to stand beside his sister as Prince Zuko finished introducing himself. Katara gulped. She doubted she and her brother could take on four with conventional water bending and melee combat. Not even her blood bending could control four people effectively. She could probably kill all four of them if she wanted too but she wanted to save that bit for a special bastard in mind.
The soldiers began advancing on the two again. Sokka had his club drawn and at the ready. Steeling herself, Katara thrust her hands forward and blood bent the three spearman and sent them slamming into the prince. Two of the spearman had their heads slammed harshly into his head, knocking him out.
With the threat nullified the two quickly boarded the bison and with a desperate Yip-yip from Sokka they fled into the sky. The prince was helped to his feet by a portly older man. The two moved in tandem through several fire bending katas and let lost a massive hurling ball of flame. Aang who was at the head of Appa quickly ran along his back and hopped forward using the tailfin of his glider to send the fiery-death ball into the side of a glacier. Causing an avalanche and root the bow of the ship in place with the debris of ice and snow.
The sky was a gentle golden hue. Appa was flying gently through the sky. Aang was currently perched on the railing of the saddle with his staff in his lap. Sokka was leaning at the back looking forward at the horizon which had far less ice than he had even seen in his life. Katara was sitting in the center of the saddle in awe at Aang.
"How did you do that with the water? It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen."
"I don know. I just sort of did it" Aang said looking at Katara sadly.
"Why didn't you tell us you were the avatar?" Katara asked a different question.
"because" Aang looked away unhappy the cat was out of the bag," I never wanted to be." Aang was reluctant to accept this even now. He had just bended an element that wasn't of his country. He didn't want to saddled with the burdens of the world. He was only twelve years old. He wanted to explore the world, ride a few animals he probably shouldn't be bothering and just be a kid for a few more years.
"But Aang the world has been waiting for the Avatar to return and finally put an end to this war."
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"According to legend you are supposed to learn to master water than earth than fire right?"
"That's what the monks told me." Aang confirmed.
"Well if you go to the North Pole you can master water bending."
"We could learn it together!" Aang said happily now that he knew he could learn something together with his new friend.
"And Sokka, I am sure you can knock some fire bender heads on the way."
"I'd like that I would really like that." Sokka agreed.
"Then we are in this together. Like Gran-gran said our destiny are intertwined and I am sure we will do great things."
END of episode one and two of blood bending
AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter I had a lot of fun writing it. As the story moves along with cartoon the characters, state of the war, and most especially Katara will change more and more. I hope you guys don't mind me making some changes to the dialogue. I always felt a little bad that he gets snubbed and over looked just because he wasn't a bender. I am currently enlisting the help of an artist I am quite fond of in making the cover image for this story. She is really good at her stuff and she is also a fan of Avatar. I had actually pitched the idea of this story to her first. And she said it would be amazing in her opinion. So yeah be on the look out for when she gets that done. I think you guys would like it.
Also please review and or follow and stuff nothing makes me want to start typing like seeing those sweet alerts