I used to be able to write new chapters pretty frequently, but everything changed when school work attacked. I am so sorry for not updating this story sooner. Since school has started, I haven't been able to get a break from it. And on top of that, I had very bad writer's block.
But this story will be finished. I'm not abandoning it.
Thank you all for your support and reviews! Reading all of them makes me want to continue writing!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or any of the characters.
Hakoda and Sokka sit at a table that is covered in maps and other document left behind by the crew of the ship.
"So we eventually got the Earth King's support, and we thought that nothing was going to stand in our way of planning an invasion on the Day of Black Sun. But that was before Azula snuck in." Sokka explains.
"We still have the eclipse's advantage even if we don't have the Earth King's army. But we don't have enough warriors. We'll be wiped out, even if the firebenders don't have their bending." Hakoda says.
Sokka gets an idea, "We don't necessarily need an army."
Hakoda gives his son a confused look.
"We've met people all around the world. I'm sure they want to help us stop the war." Sokka explains further.
Haokda adds on, "I know of an island that we can use as a rondevu point." Hakoda points to a small island on the map. "It's surrounded by rocks and uninhabited."
"Sounds perfect," Sokka replies.
"Let's plan out the route we should take." Hakoda suggests.
"If we go through the Serpent's Pass…" Sokka begins to mark places on the map where their friends are.
Over the next few days, the father and son plan out the invasion, but they stumble across an issue.
"The Great Gates of Azulan." Haokda reads aloud from a document, "They're lit on fire, and there's no possible way around them."
"What about under them? Fire can't go underwater." Sokka suggests.
"Well I guess it is possible. But I don't know how we'd get everyone across. We aren't fish."
Suddenly, an idea strikes Sokka, "What about submarines?"
"That's a great idea, Sokka, but I don't know how we'd acquire any. We don't have enough money or any supplies to build them."
"I know a mechanist at the Northern Air Temple who can help us out."
Sokka draws out the finished plans: a submarine that will look and move like a fish, and waterbending will be used to ensure that the submarines don't sink to the bottom of the ocean.
The ship stopped at the nearest Fire Nation town, so Sokka can send the plans, via messenger hawk, northward.
On his way back to the ship, the young warrior stops dead in his tracks. A conversation between two men has caught his attention.
"… so we'll win this war for sure." One man says.
"What makes you say that?" The other man asks.
"Haven't ya heard? The Avatar's dead, and Ba Sing Se's been captured. There's no way the Fire Nation can lose." The first man replies.
Sokka, alarmed, quickly walks back to the ship.
Katara heals Aang's wound with shaking hands. Her brother had told her what he heard while in town. Even though he pointed out that, "It's the break we needed. The Fire Nation won't be hunting us down anymore." The thought of any of it coming true sickens Katara.
The waterbender returns her focus to the boy laying in front of her. The infection has been slowly disappearing, but Aang still has a lingering fever.
Soft, incoherent mumbles escape from the airbender's lips. Katara uses a cloth to wipe away the sweat that's making his hair stick to his forehead.
As Katara thinks, the room starts to feel too small. She needs air. She covers Aang's wound with bandages.
"I'll be right back." She whispers to the boy.
Katara walks up to the deck of the ship, and breathes the wet, salty air. The sun has long gone down, and everyone has gone to bed.
She wanders toward the railing, and looks into the dark water below. Her element.
A memory hits her like a boulder.
Four years after Kya's death, Hakoda leaves to fight in the war. After saying goodbye to his children, Hakoda engulfs them in a hug. He lets them go, and after looking at them one last time, he turns to leave. Twelve year old Katara looks up at her brother. Sokka stares after their father, then grabs a packed bag, and runs after Hakoda.
Katara sits with her now-open wounds that have long ago scarred over.