A/N: thanks again to edboy4926 and Dimensional Wanderer for the reviews. I wonder how long this chapter will be. Also, blame finals and Netflix for this chapter taking so long to get out.

Covenant

John watched Zuko and his soldiers ride by while Katara tried to wake Aang. She was frustrated, all of her attempts not working. Shaking was not doing a thing, nor was talking to him. The SPARTAN put his hand over the boy's mouth. Nothing.

"There's some water blocking his trachea and heading for his lungs. We need to get it out before he drowns." Katara looked down at Aang for a second before holding her hand above his chest. John watched as she moved her hand towards the Avatar's mouth. Her hand pulled away from his mouth and a blob of water came out of his mouth. Aang began coughing as Katara tossed the water away.

"Don't ride the unagi. Not fun." Katara smiled down at him before glancing over at John. He nodded and she sighed.

"Zuko's here, Aang. He's heading into the village to capture you," Katara said. "We need to go." The Avatar tried to stand up, by John stopped him.

"Do you have a plan?"

Aang glanced over at Katara, smiling. "Of course I do. I'm just going to fly into the village," he turned to face John, "and send Zuko and his firebenders back to their ship."

Chief stared at the Avatar for a second before turning around. "I'm going back now. They'll need help in the village. I don't care how good those girls are, help is always needed." He glanced back at them as he walked away. "I learned that the hard way." Looking forward, John called back, "go show them what you're made of, Avatar."

John heard a fast swoosh of air past by before spotting Aang glide overhead. He smiled before picking up his pace, Katara sprinting to catch up. They continued running until they reached the outskirts of the village, slowing down to take in the sight. Fire Nation soldiers were spreading out, setting buildings on fire. Zuko, among on a strange rhino, was calling for the Avatar to face him. His men moved forward into the village.

"Get the villagers to safety, Katara. I'll deal with the soldiers." John started for Zuko, but paused. The girl warriors were moving around the roofs, getting into position to attack. They went straight from their positioning into an attack, taking out half of the riders. Their leader was removed from his ride as the warrior's leader charged past, heading for the Fire Nation prince.

Katara was slipping along the backside of the village when Chief moved. Zuko sent a fireball at the Kyoshi warrior leader, who dodged the attack. She jumped to go for an aerial strike, but the lizard was faster and swept her away with its tail. John began running, seeing the prince's arm pull back. He drew his sword as a fireball was released from Zuko's hand. I'm not going to make it.

One of her warriors jumped in front of the fire, blockings it. Another one knocked Zuko from his steed. John glanced at the defender. It was Sokka, dressed in their garb. He glanced down at the leader. "I guess training is over." Stepping away, he spotted John. "Nice of you to join us, Chief. You seen my sister? And what about Aang?"

John didn't have the time to answer. Sokka, the leader, and the other warrior circled Zuko. He spun on the ground, using fire to push the girls back. He tried the move again on Sokka, who leapt over it. However, he was taken down with a quick trip on landing. The prince then jumped into the street, right in front of Chief.

"Get out of my way," the prince ordered.

"No."

"What did you say?" Zuko asked, contorting from anger and frustration. "Tell me where the Avatar is. None of you can save him from me!" John stared him down, preparing to strike.

"Hey, over here!" echoed across the village. Zuko turned to see Aang, staff in hand.

"Finally," Zuko said, turning away from John. He launched a fireball at the Avatar, which he dodged with ease. Chief grabbed the prince and threw him to the ground, aiming his blade at the boy's neck.

"Leave him to me," Aang shouted. John glanced between the Avatar and Zuko for a second before walking away, the other soldiers deep into the village. However, they weren't fairing well against the Kyoshi warriors. He looked for Katara, spotting her shepherd kids towards a house. He ran over, watching Aang deal with the Fire Prince. His work was simple, using two fans to air blast Zuko into a house.

"Why aren't you dealing with those soldiers?" Katara asked.

"They were already being dealt with. Nothing there for me to do, other than kill them. However, I doubt they'd like that, having to dispose of those bodies." Katara rushed the kids indoor before turning on John.

"What do you mean by killing them? Sure, they're Fire Nation and they follow Zuko, but they don't deserve that."

"So you're defending them."

Katara looked shocked. He guessed she assumed that he'd never suggest such a thing. "I'm not defending them. I just think they don't deserve such severe punishment for something they can't control."

"Things aren't that simple, Katara. This is a war. You kill, or die along with all of the other unfortunates." Chief watched Aang descend. "I was taught it during my training. The lesson was reinforced by battle." The Avatar landed next to them, looking down.

"Look what I brought to this place," he said, glancing up at them.

"It's not your fault," Katara said, reaching out to him. John stopped her, shaking his head.

"Yes, it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me." Aang glanced back at a group of warriors fighting off Fire Nation soldiers. Smoke filled the air, a sickly infection. The renovated statue of Kyoshi was blackened, sections scared from the uncontrolled firebenders.

"What if you leave?" John suggested. "If you're so sure that they're here to get you, then leave."

"I agree with Chief," Katara said. "Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us. I know it feels wrong to run, but I think it's the only way."

"I'll call Appa, then," Aang said, defeated. He led them behind the line of buildings before calling for the sky bison. The Avatar popped up into the air, sticking close to the skyline. Katara and John raced after him, ignoring the escalating battle around them. An angry voice echoed across the village, calling for the Avatar to come out and fight.

Katara ignored Sokka and the warrior leader, dashing up Appa's tail. Aang dropped down onto the beast's head, glancing back at John. He stopped, noticing the leader kiss Sokka on the cheek. He waited a second before sweeping in.

"Come on," John said, grabbing Sokka's collar. "We're leaving. Now."

"Hey! Watch the hands!" Chief ignored him, dragging them into Appa's saddle.

"Appa, yip yip!" Aang said, pulling the reins. The sky bison lifted up into the air. The sounds of battle stop, the Fire Nation soldiers pulling back to chase after the Avatar.

"Aang, I know it's hard, but you did the right thing," Katara said. She pointed at the village. "Zuko would have destroyed the whole place if we had stayed. They're going to be okay."

John watched the Avatar, ignoring Sokka's attempts to remove the face paint. What are you planning? Before he could ask aloud, Aang leapt off, not using his glider to slow his fall.

"What are you doing?" Katara shouted, leaning over the side of Appa's saddle.

"He's going to put out the fire," John said. Sokka opened his mouth to question Chief's statement, but they all watched as the unagi appeared. With Aang riding it, using the whiskers as reins. He pulled back, firing a spray of water over the village. He held the blast until the fire was put out. Done, he leapt off the beast's head and soared up into Appa's saddle.

"I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous," Aang said, looking down. John glanced at Sokka.

"Yes it was," Katara said. "But it was the right thing to do." She hugged Aang, who smiled. Sokka looked away, sneering.

"So, Avatar," he began, "where next? I hope we can make it to the North Pole before summer comes around. I've heard that their city isn't as impressive during those hot months." Katara elbowed his side.

Aang pulled out their map. "I was thinking we could go to Omashu next. I have a friend there who developed a way to use their transport system for…other purposes." He looked up at them, smiling. "It'll be fun."

"Do you have time for fun?" John asked. His head leaned back and eyes closed. "It's not like you have that much time to win the war."

"And how would you know that?" Katara asked. "It's not like the Fire Nation has conquered Ba Sing Se yet. There is still hope to win the war. Even if it takes years."

You could plug me into Appa. They found records of what happened to Cortana. Just plug the vessel behind you into the bison. John narrowed his eyes and checked behind his back. Just as Chakas had said, a vessel was behind him.

"Uh Chief? What is that?" Aang asked, standing on Appa's head.

"I'm not sure," he said. John slid it into Appa's fur until it touched skin. It flashed blue before turning to dust. Chakas appeared in the middle of the saddle.

"That wasn't hard," he said. "Don't worry…Chief. I'm still in your head. This just allows me to communicate with the others. Oh, and track Appa should anything bad happen."

"What did you do?" Sokka asked, staring at the hologram.

"I had Chief inject nanites into Appa. Don't worry, they'll dissolve over time. Hopefully, we won't need to reapply the treatment. However, I should explain the information I gave Chief." Chakas coughed, pretending to be human. "The UNSC uploaded everything we know about the planet and its people into my program. I know how the war was started, so long ago.

"100 years ago, near the end of summer, a comet pierced the atmosphere, bathing the world red. The current Fire Lord, Sozin, attacked the Air Nomads, using the comet's enhancement of firebending, to wipe them out. They later discovered that the Avatar wasn't there. Little fact: it took 23 over powered firebenders to take down Aang's master, Gyatso, friend of Avatar Roku, a friend of Sozin who he betrayed."

"Wait," Sokka began, "you're telling us that the previous Avatar was friends with the Fire Lord who started the war? That makes no sense."

"I don't understand it either. Some of the history has been white washed, but there's more. Sozin's Comet, as they call it now, is on its way back. It'll return at the same time it did 100 years ago. You must defeat Fire Lord Ozai by then, or the world will be Fire Nation. Forever." Chakas paused, glancing up. "That's something the UNSC can't have. A peaceful world is what they want, one that they can have some influence over. They could never do it with Ozai's victory."

"So this is just a grab for power, isn't it?" Sokka said, turning on John.

"I didn't know any of this," Chief said. "I was just deployed with a single mission: guarantee the Avatar's success."

"I don't like it, but it'll pass. For now." Sokka turned away and glanced up. "Hey guys, does anyone know of a flying thing that's purple? And larger than Appa?"

John glanced up. His eyes widened, recognizing it. The Covenant had arrived.

A/N: I know you'd want me to keep going, but I have big plans for the beginning of the next chapter. Primarily just a demonstration of the Master Chief for the Gaang.