There we were, on our first day together on this journey. We decided to make camp in a forest due to Appa needing to take a few breaks from flying. It was really kind of tiring for him. Also we need to make some stops to eat or sleep. It all seemed peaceful until I hear something clang.
"Where's Momo?" Aang asked as he looked around.
Even though the others didn't seem to care, I looked around and saw the lemur was gone. We all then heard him screech and went out to find him. We managed to find cage traps hanged by rope on tree limbs. In one of them was Momo.
"Hang on, Momo!" Aang said as he went off to help the lemur.
I went off to help the other animals in the other two cages. We used our airbending to jump from tree to tree to get to the cages. What I found were two hog monkeys. While Aang lowered Momo's, I used my strength to open the other cages, helping the hog monkeys to escape. Luckily the cages weren't embedded with Vengestone. I watched as the hog monkeys gave their thanks to me and ran off. I looked to see Momo's cage on the ground and, climbing down, I watched as Sokka and Katara opened the cage. After doing so, Momo ran out with a lychee nut in his mouth, got on his hind legs, and ate it like nothing happened, much to Sokka's frustration. Everyone gathered around as I examined Momo's cage.
"These are Fire Nation traps," I said as I recognized it, "you can tell by the metalwork. We better pack up camp and get moving."
We then went back to camp, gathered up our things, and were about to load them on Appa. But Sokka stopped us before we could finish.
"Uh-uh." Sokka said, making us stop packing on Appa. "No flying this time."
"What?" Aang asked, confused by what Sokka said. "Why wouldn't we fly?"
"Think about it." Sokka said as he took the sleeping bag from Aang. "Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us."
"Yeah. What's your point?" I asked.
"It's because they spot Appa, he's just too noticeable." Sokka answered.
"What?" Katara said, angrily. "Appa's not too noticeable!"
"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head!" Sokka condescendingly said, pointing dramatically at Appa. "It's kinda hard to miss him!"
The bison only yawned like Sokka didn't really said that. He had a point. It wasn't like there was anyone else with an air bison.
"Sokka's just jealous ʹcause he doesn't have an arrow." Aang said to Appa as he sat comfortably on the animal's head.
"I know you all wanna fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk." Sokka said as he stood next to Tadaaki.
"Who made you the boss?" Tadaaki asked with a scowl.
"I'm not the boss, I'm the leader." Sokka said to him, pointing to his chest.
"You're the leader?" Tadaaki said, laughing. "But you're voice cracks!"
"I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior, so…" Sokka said. When he realized his voice cracked, he deepened it and said "I'm the leader!"
"Oldest?" I said to him. "You and I are the same age! Besides, if anyone's the leader, it's me and Aang. I mean we are the Avatars."
"Are you kidding?" Sokka said to me. "He's just a goofy kid!"
"He's right." Aang said while he hanged upside-down from Appa's right horn with his feet sticking out in the air.
"Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader?" Katara said as we all looked to her. "I bet you wouldn't be so boss if you kissed a girl."
"I've kissed a girl." Sokka said defensively. "You just haven't met her."
"Who? Gran-Gran?" Katara said amused. "I've met Gran-Gran."
"I think he means Suki." I said to her. I then looked to Sokka. "By the way, a kiss on the cheek doesn't count as kissing a girl."
"Like you would know!" Sokka said, throwing his arms into the air. "Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."
"Actually that is a good idea." I said. "We've been able to avoid the Fire Nation soldiers for years by going on foot. Until the Fire Nation loses our trail, we might need to walk."
"Walking might be fun." Aang said as he stepped over, wearing a backpack with Momo on top.
"Then it's settled." I said as I got my bag. "We're walking."
With this, we gathered our bags and began walking with me leading the group. Though it was only sometime later that there were some complaints from Katara and Aang, who were trudging along with Sokka and Appa.
"Walking stinks!" Aang said. "How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?"
"Well, I don't know, Aang." Katara said sarcastically. "Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts? They seem to know everything.
"Ha, ha, very funny." Sokka said sarcastically.
"I'm tired of carrying this pack." Aang complained.
"You know who you should ask to carry it for a while? Sokka's instincts." Katara said, making Sokka to look at her irritated.
"That's a great idea." Aang said. He then looked to Sokka. "Hey, Sokka's instincts, would you mind…"
"Okay, okay, I get it." Sokka said.
"Guys, mind being a little quiet?" I said as we headed through a bush. "Speak any louder and you'll might attract the Fire… Nation."
We all then stopped and saw a Fire Nation campsite with a lot of soldiers. Most of them were seated or crouched near the fire with bowls in their hands and a couple of them sat close to the tents, which had the Fire Nation emblem on the door flap. One of these soldiers had a patch over his left eye. When they noticed us, I told everyone to run. We turned to run, but we were blocked by a Firebender setting the plants behind us on fire along with Sokka's shirt which Katara managed to put out with waterbending.
"If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you." Sokka said to the soldiers.
"What are you doing?" I asked in a whisper.
"Bluffing?" he whispered to me.
"You promise not to hurt us?" the eye-patched soldier said before he somehow got knocked out.
"Nice work, Sokka!" Aang said, amazed. "How'd you do that?"
"Uh, instinct?" Sokka said, just as unsure as I was.
That was weird. How did that soldier get knocked out? It couldn't have been any of us. This left question on who did that.
"Look!" Katara said as she pointed up a tree.
That was when I got my answer on who knocked out the soldier. In that tree, I saw a man wearing shoulder guards, leg guards, black pants, a black, long sleeve shirt with a red, no sleeve shirt on top of it, with brown scruffy hair and brown eyes. He looked close to my age and wielded two hook swords. Though this only left to find out whether he was friend or foe. He then jumped and took down two soldiers. He then ran forward to two more.
"Down you go!" the man said as he took them down. While Katara, Hiriko, and Kioko were amazed and Aang was shocked, me and the guys were just confused on who this guy was and why he was helping us. A complete stranger actually helping us like this was pretty strange. Another soldier charges at him, but he is defeated by the man.
"They're in the trees!" a soldier said.
Then a young boy landed on top of the soldier and turned his helmet around while laughing. Another boy launched arrows at the soldiers while more boys came out of the trees. We joined the fight and I managed to see Sokka hold up his boomerang and yelled as a soldier approached him, but stopped when that man took him down first.
"Hey, he was mine!" Sokka said, frustrated at the man for taking his victory.
"Gotta be quicker next time." The man said as he went off to rejoin the battle.
Sokka looked dismayed, so I looked away and watched as a huge boy fell out of the trees and easily took down two soldiers as the man skillfully took down one more, causing that soldier's weapon to hit another soldier, who was going to battle Sokka, in the head and made the soldier fall down.
"Man!" Sokka angrily said for he didn't fight any soldiers.
I then watched as the man disarmed another soldier and ran up to Katara.
"Hey." The man said to her with a smile.
"Hi." Katara said with a gentle smile.
After this, the entire camp was now empty.
"You just took out a whole army almost single-handed." Aang said amazed.
"Army?" Sokka disdainfully said. "There were only like twenty guys."
"Sokka's right. That was only a squadron." I said. I then looked and walked toward the man. "Okay. Who are you guys?"
"I'll be asking the questions. Starting…" the man said before he tripped me and put the blade to my throat. "What are you doing in our forest, Firebender?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I said, trying to fix the misunderstanding. "Hold on! I'm not your enemy!"
I then revealed my tail and he looked at me with shock. He then removed the blade and put both his swords away.
"My mistake." The man said as he helped me up. "I didn't know you were the Avatar."
"It's fine." I told him. "Get that all the time. My name's Roku. This is Tadaaki, Sokka, Seiichi, my cousin Hiriko, Kioko, Katara, Aang, and Yosuke."
"Nice to meet you." The man said. "My name is Jet and these are my Freedom Fighters: Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke, and Pipsqueak."
When I got to see them, I saw how different they were from each other. Longshot was a male archer with black hair wearing a conical hat, a blue gi, and a red cloth like a cape. Smeller-bee was dressed in light armor, wore black boots and white gloves, a black headband, and a brown belt. It didn't take me long to realize Smellerbee was a brown hair girl. She had swords and daggers in hand and red lines on her cheeks. Sneers wore Earth Nation armor, a fur coat, and had his hair in a bun. The only people I was confused by was The Duke and Pipsqueak. I couldn't figure out which was which. One of them was a little fella wearing Earth Nation clothing and a helmet and the other was a big fella with a red headband. Though I got my answer when Aang went over and looked at the kid.
"Ha, ha, Pipsqueak, that's a funny name." Aang laughed.
I then watched as the big fella threateningly loomed over Aang.
"You think my name is funny?" the boy said in a low, growling tone.
It surprised me that he was Pipsqueak. That was ironic due to the fact he was so big. I also wondered why that sniffling kid was called "The Duke" for. Aang looked taken aback for a second until he got his grin back.
"It's hilarious!" Aang said upbeat to Pipsqueak.
For a second there it looked like Pipsqueak was gonna pumble Aang. But I was surprised when he started laughing with Aang and The Duke joining them. Pipsqueak then friendly patted Aang on the back, though the hit was hard enough to knock the Airbender flat on the ground. The Duke stopped laughing and we both looked down at Aang sprawled on the ground before his feet, his face flat in the dirt. Though, when Aang raised his head and continued laughing, so did The Duke. We stayed around as the Freedom Fighters began raiding the camp to see if they needed any help, though I wish I didn't have to see Hiriko and Kioko love-dazed over Jet.
"Umm, thanks for saving us, Jet." Katara nervously said as she approached Jet. "We're lucky you were there."
"I should be thanking you." Jet said to her. "We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning, we just need the right distraction and then you guys stumbled in."
"We were relying on instincts." Katara said, eying Sokka.
"You'll get yourself killed doing that." Jet said.
Sokka looked disdainfully at them while The Duke and Pipsqueak looked through the barrels.
"Hey, Jet, these barrels are filled of blasting jelly." The Duke said.
"That's a great score." Jet said to him.
"And there's boxes are filled with jelly candy." Pipsqueak said as he carried a large box.
"Also good, let's not get these mixed up." Jet said.
"We'll take this stuff back to the hideout." The Duke said.
"You guys have a hideout?" Aang said, surprised.
"You wanna see it?" Jet asked.
The girls agreed in an instant in excitement, which made Jet smile at them.
"We're here." Jet said after we gotten to a different spot in the forest, but there wasn't anything around.
"Where? There's nothing here." Sokka said.
"Hold this." Jet said as he gave a rope to Sokka.
"Why? What's this do?" Sokka asked skeptically. He then screamed as he was pulled up into the branches.
"Aang?" Jet said, offering him another rope.
"I'll get up on my own." Aang said. He then began leaping into trees with airbending.
Jet tried to offer me a rope, but I declined and flew up there. I managed to find a wooden platform in the trees. It was pretty impressive and got a good view of the forest. I was soon joined by the others with Katara holding onto Jet. Aang was zip lining through the trees.
"Nice place you got!" Aang said as he passed through with Momo.
"It's beautiful up here!" Katara said amazed.
"It's beautiful…" Jet said. "…and more importantly, the Fire Nation can't find us."
"They would love to find you." Smellerbee said as she landed between Katara and Jet. "Wouldn't they, Jet?"
"It's not gonna happen, Smellerbee." Jet said to her.
"Why does the Fire Nation want to find you?" Katara asked as Aang zipped by again.
"I guess you could say I've been causing them a little trouble." Jet answered. "See, they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back."
"We've been ambushin' their troops, cutting off their supply lines, and doing anything we can to mess with ʹem." Pipsqueak said.
Sokka started hopping around, trying to get past Pipsqueak. I began to give some thought on what Pipsqueak said. It seemed familiar.
"One day, we'll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that town." Jet said.
"That's so brave." Katara said.
"Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a tree house." Sokka sarcastically said, after main-aging to get by Pipsqueak.
"Don't pay attention to my brother." Katara said.
"No problem." Jet told her. "He probably had a rough day."
"So, you all live here?" Katara asked as Sokka sunk behind them.
"That's right. Longshot over there?" Jet said as we looked to see Longshot and The Duke walking without making a sound. "His town got burned down by the Fire Nation. And we found The Duke trying to steal our food. I don't think he ever really had a home."
"What about you?"
The others passed by while I stood behind Katara and Jet as they came to a halt.
"The Fire Nation killed my parents." Jet said. "I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever."
"Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation." Katara said with a depressed look.
"And my father was executed by the Fire Lord." I said as they turned to look at me.
"I'm sorry." Jet said.
I still had concern about the Freedom Fighters, so I tried to keep an eye on Jet. The hideout had lanterns hanged between the branches with rope. Though I only saw them on a suspension bridge. At dinner, sentries kept watch on the upper levels while we sat at the banquet table. While we ate, Jet stood on the table.
"Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine." Jet said and everyone cheered. The girls and Aang smiled while Sokka just scowled. "I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face when The Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey." The Duke then climbed up onto the table with his arms in the air. "Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees." Jet prepared to take a drink from his wooden cup. "Maybe they're right." The Freedom Fighters gave a very loud and long boo and Jet gave an angry look. "Or maybe…they're dead wrong." The group gave a loud and long cheer.
"Hey, Jet, nice speech." Katara said.
"Thanks." Jet said. "By the way, I was really impressed with you guys. Especially you and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today."
"Well, he's great. He's the Avatar." Katara said as she continued with a blush. "I could use some more training."
"Two Avatars, huh?" Jet said. "Very nice."
"Thanks, Jet." Aang said.
"So I might know a way that you guys can help in our struggle." Jet said.
"Unfortunately, we have to leave tonight." Sokka said as he started walking away.
"Sokka, you're kidding me!" Jet said to him. "I needed you and Roku on an important mission tomorrow."
"What mission?" Sokka curiously asked as he turned around.
It turned out to be recon for any soldiers with me, Sokka, Jet, Pipsqueak, and Smellerbee. Jet and the two Freedom Fighters used birdcalls to signal each other. While on watch, Sokka jammed his knife into the trunk of the tree we were in as a way of hearing vibrations of any soldier. That impressed both me and Jet.
"Hear anything?" I asked him.
"Nothing yet." Sokka said as he had his ear to the handle of the knife. Then he whispered "Wait! Yes, someone's approaching."
"How many?" Jet whispered.
"I think there's just one." Sokka said.
Jet then signaled the others before saying "Good work, Sokka. Now get ready."
Both me and Sokka got ready to fight, but we stood down when we saw it was only an old man.
"Wait, false alarm." I said. "He's just an old man."
But Jet ignored me and prepared to attack the old man, leaping to the ground in front of him. Both me and Sokka watched in horror.
"What are you doing in our woods, you leech?" Jet asked him.
"Please, sir, I'm just a traveler." The old man said.
Jet took a step and, with one swipe, sent the man's can flying from his hand. The old man backed away, but when he tried to flee the way he came, he ran face into Pipsqueak's chest. The force from the impact knocked him to the ground, where Pipsqueak loomed over him. The old man tried to crawl away, but Pipsqueak pinned him by putting his foot on his backside.
"Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families? Do you?" Jet said, aggressively.
"Oh…" the old man said, pleading. "Please, let me go…have mercy."
"Does the Fire Nation let people go?" Jet said, preparing to kick the old man. "Does the Fire Nation have mercy?"
That's when me and Sokka moved in, Sokka stopping the kick by snagging Jet's foot with his club.
"Jet, he's just an old man!" I said, after his foot was released.
"He's Fire Nation!" Jet said to me. He then turned to the Freedom Fighters. "Search him!"
Pipsqueak held him and Smellerbee stepped up to search the poor man.
"But he's not hurting anyone!" Sokka said, just as concerned as I was.
"Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother or your father?" Jet said to us. "Remember why you fight!"
"We've got his stuff, Jet." Smellerbee said as she held up the old man's bag.
The old man was then thrown back on the ground.
"This isn't right!" I said angrily.
"It's what has to be done, now let's get outta here." Jet said as he pushed past me and Sokka and left, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak followed.
I looked to the old man as he was still on his hands and knees in pity. I then used my powers to grab his cane and give it back to him. I told him he should probably get out of the forest and he agreed, thanking me before he continued his walk and used his cane to support him. When Jet called to us, both me and Sokka ran to catch up with the others. When we got back, we were met by Aang who came over to us on the zip line with Momo.
"Hey, guys! Look what The Duke gave me!" Aang said as he showed us a bag he was wearing and pulled out a small pellet from it. With a sly grin, he tossed it next to Momo, where it exploded with a pop. Momo puffed up in fright, then hissed and lunged for the bag. After getting onto Aang's shoulder, Momo began tossing several pellets at his feet, causing the Airbender to dance wildly about. "Ow! Quit it!"
Though it was funny, both me and Sokka ignored him and continued on. We both sat down with our backs to the tree trunk and glared at the ground, still angry for what Jet did.
"Hey, guys." Katara said as she walked up to us. "Is Jet back?"
"Yeah, he's back." I told her. "But we're leaving."
That shocked both her and Aang.
"What?" Aang said as he looked at us.
That's when the others showed up, just as shocked as the two.
"But me and Katara made him this hat." Hiriko said as she showed us a cap made out of stitched leaves with a flower on top.
"That guy is a thug." I said to them, my look unchanged.
"What? No, he's not." Katara said, defiantly.
"He's messed up, Katara." Sokka said to her.
"He's not messed up, he's just got a different way of life, a really fun way of life." Aang said.
"He beat and robbed a harmless old man!" I told them. "We can't trust him."
"I wanna hear Jet's side of the story." Katara said.
When we confronted Jet and Katara told him of what I told her and asked if it was true.
"Roku, you told them what happened, but you didn't mention that the guy was Fire Nation?" Jet said as he sat on a hammock-bed and while the rest of us stood.
Me and Sokka stood as far away as we could get. Aang wore the hat Hiriko and Katara made, which made him look ridiculous.
"No, he conveniently left that part out." Katara said.
"Yes, he was Fire Nation." I said. "But he was still a harmless civilian."
"He was an assassin, Roku." Jet said as he pulled out a knife and thrust it into a nearby stump. It was a sinister looking blade with four spikes evenly along the grip with enough space for the fingers and a ring on the butt of the knife. "See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife." He then pulled on the ring and removed a small glass tube with red liquid. "He was sent to eliminate me. You and Sokka helped save my life."
"The only life I saved was the life of that old man." I said to him. "Nice try, but I know that knife belongs to you and there is no possible way that old man was an assassin. Something you wouldn't care on becoming as much as what you've already became."
"Roku, what are you talking about?" Tadaaki asked.
"Jet and his group are wanted criminals of the Fire Nation." I said.
"Yeah, so?" Tadaaki said.
"The reason they're wanted is because they have beaten and robbed members of the Fire Nation." I said. "Not just soldiers, but dozens of innocent citizens."
This shocked the guys. I knew this information because, while I was still in the Fire Nation, I had heard of bandits that attack and rob anyone from the Fire Nation that enters the forest. These were people I would gladly let rot in jail.
"Now, if anyone of you don't want to join them as they face their punishment, I would suggest we leave and let them dig their own pit." I said. "Anyone with me?"
"I'm with you." Tadaaki said. "You are from the Fire Nation, so I'm gonna take your word for it."
"Me too." Seiichi said.
"I'm up for it." Yosuke said.
"Same goes for me." Sokka said.
"Then it's settled." I said. "We're leaving. Come on, let's pack up and head out."
With this, me and the guys left to pack up everything. After getting all my stuff packed and seeing Tadaaki, Seiichi, and Yosuke were ready to go in the morning, I went off to check on Sokka. When I got there, I managed to hear the argument between him and his sister with the girls and Aang too.
"We can't leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!" Katara said.
"I'm sorry, Katara." Sokka said. "Jet's very smooth, but, like Roku said, we can't trust him."
"You know what I think?" Katara said. "You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!"
"Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet." Sokka said. "It's just that my instinct…"
"Well, my instincts tell me we need to stay her a little longer and help Jet." Katara said. "Come on, Aang."
"Sorry, Sokka." Aang said as he and Katara left the hut.
I've gotten the same from Hiriko and Kioko that they didn't want to leave. But that night, while we were sleeping, I heard someone say "Let's go." I wasn't the only one for both Seiichi and Sokka woke up the same time I did. We went outside to see the Freedom Fighters descending on the rope lines. With this, we decided to follow them. We watched as they pushed a loaded wagon out of the camp with Jet leading them. It was strange that they were out here so late, especially with soldiers coming to burn the forest. After going through a dark valley, we followed them to a dam, the reservoir behind it was low. We looked back at the wagon to see the Fighters unloading barrels from the wagon and placing them on the dam. This brought up the question: why would the Freedom Fighters be here?
I was also curious about those barrels they brought. What would they need them for? We listened from a bush to find our answer.
"Now listen, you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal." Jet said to his followers. "If the reservoir isn't full, the Fire Nation troops could survive."
"But what about the people in town?" The Duke asked as he jumped off the wagon. "Won't they get wiped out too?"
"Look, Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the Fire Nation." Jet said as he put a hand on The Duke's shoulder. He then looked to Longshot. "Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal, got it?" Longshot nodded "yes".
This shocked all three of us.
"I can't believe this." Seiichi said quietly. He then looked to me. "Are they seriously gonna blow up the dam?"
"No doubt about it." I said quietly. "And they're using the blasting jelly to do it. I know an Earth Nation village in the valley. If they blast the dam, the village and its villagers will be washed away."
"But what about the soldiers and the forest?" Seiichi asked. "We need water to put out the fire."
"Don't you get it, Seiichi?" Sokka said at the same volume. "There aren't any soldiers. Jet just said that so the forest will be flooded enough to destroy everything upstream. He's going to trick Aang and Katara into helping him."
"And to think you didn't seem that bright." I said, surprised. "We need to warn the others."
Before we could even leave, we ran into Pipsqueak, who dragged us out into the open. Pipsqueak held Sokka by his wolf-tail.
"Where do you think you're going, pony-tail?" Smellerbee sneeringly said as she held a knife to Sokka's throat.
The two dragged all three of us out between them where Jet saw us sitting by the edge of the cliff.
"Guys, I'm so glad you can join us." Jet said.
Pipsqueak and Smellerbee brought us to our knees and we scowled at Jet.
"We heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town." Sokka said.
"Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation." Jet said.
"There are people that live there, Jet." I said. "Mothers, fathers, and children."
"We can't win without making some sacrifices." Jet said.
"You lied to Katara and Aang!" Seiichi said to him.
"Because they don't understand the demands of war. Not like me, Roku, or Sokka do."
"No. You don't understand." I said to him. "This is not about destroying the Fire Nation. It's about saving the other nations. That's the difference between you and us. Do you really think this'll solve anything? If you do this, you'll be responsible for taking dozens of innocent lives! You might think you understand the war, but you don't understand us."
"He's right." Sokka said to Jet. "And we understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want."
Jet gave some thought before giving us a depressed look and said "I was hoping you two would have open minds, but I can see you've made your choice."
That's when Pipsqueak and Smellerbee were about to grab us. Before we could react, Jet used his swords to trip us and allowed the Freedom Fighters to capture us with Pipsqueak carrying me and Seiichi and Smellerbee and Smellerbee and Pipsqueak holding Sokka's arms behind his back as they carried us out.
"I can't let you three to warn Katara and Aang." Jet said to us. He then looked to the Fighters. "Take them for a walk, a long walk."
"You can't do this!" I said as me and the guys tried to struggle free.
"Cheer up." Jet said with a grin. "We're gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today."
It reached morning and we were still in the custody of the Freedom Fighter who were leading us down a path to who knew where.
"Come on, move along!" Smellerbee said as she shoved Sokka.
Sokka stumbled but kept on his feet.
"How can you stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out an entire village?" I asked them.
"Hey, listen, Roku, Jet's a great leader." Pipsqueak said. "We follow what he says and things always turn out okay."
"If that's the way Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn." Sokka said as he sprinted off in the direction of some leaf-piles.
When I saw the nuts on the piles I realized what he was doing. Smellerbee tried to grab him, but failed.
"Hey!" Smellerbee said as she and Pipsqueak chased after Sokka.
While Sokka avoided the piles, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak ran right into them, snaring them a feet in the air and making Pipsqueak drop us on the ground.
"Good idea tricking them into the traps." I said to Sokka.
"Thanks." Sokka said to me. He then looked at the two caged Fighters. "Hey, while you two are up there, you might want to practice your knot work." He then held the restraints that held his arms behind his back. He then looked to me and Seiichi. "Now, let's save that village."
"But there's no way we'll make it to the dam in time." Seiichi said.
"We're not going to the dam." Sokka said. "Come on."
With that, we then followed Sokka through the forest, leaving the two Freedom Fighters in the snares. We got this from the others. After Aang and Katara were done with flooding the forest, them and the others went off to meet up with Jet at the base of the dam where they saw the rest of the Freedom Fighters unloading the last barrels of blasting jelly onto the dam.
"What are they doing?" Hiriko asked.
"Hey, those are the red barrels he got from the Fire Nation." Aang said as he saw the barrels.
"Why would they need blasting jelly?" Kioko asked.
"Because Jet's gonna blow up the dam." Aang answered, horrified.
This shocked the others for what Jet and his group were doing.
"What? No, that would destroy the town." Katara said as Aang got out his glider. "Jet wouldn't do that."
"I've gotta stop him." Aang said as he got ready to take off.
"Jet wouldn't do that." Katara said, less convinced in what she was saying.
Before Aang could take off, Jet crossed his path from behind and took his glider, causing Aang to wobble precariously on the cliff. Luckily, he used his airbending to stable himself.
"Yes, I would." Jet said as he stood in front of the trees and they all turned to him.
"Jet, why?" Katara asked.
"Katara, you would too if you just stopped to think." Jet said to her. "Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother. We can't let them do that to anyone else ever again."
"This isn't the answer!"
"I want you to understand me, Katara." Jet said. "I thought your brother and Roku would understand, but…"
"Where's Sokka?" Katara said with tears falling from her eyes.
"Katara." Jet said, reaching out and touching her face.
Katara lowered her head and, with a shout, sent Jet flying with the water from her water skin. She drew it back into the skin after she was done.
"I need to get to that dam." Aang said.
He then tried to get his closed glider off the ground, but Jet used his swords to take it.
"You're not going anywhere without your glider." Jet said as he began swinging his swords at Aang, who quickly dodged the attack and retreated into a nearby tree.
"I'm not gonna fight you, Jet." Aang said to him.
"You'll have to if you want your glider back." Jet said, tauntingly.
Aang retreated back into the forest as Jet hooked the branch and pulled himself up. The others followed them from the ground as they saw the battle. Jet attacked ad Aang defended himself with balls of air, which Jet ducked from. Jet attacked head on, but Aang blacked with his arms and sent his opponent flying into a tree trunk with an air kick. Jet combined his swords and advanced. Aang avoided the flail-like move and sent another air blast. Jet stooped down and let the air flow over and past him before lunging. The chase continued through many levels of the forest. Jet caught up to Aang and sent them both freefalling, attacking as they went. They both ended up on a branch. Jet continued his attack and Aang avoided it all. Jet charged again, but Aang hit him with a jet stream of air, causing Jet to fall. Jet recovered, but lost the glider in the process. Before Aang could get to the ground, Jet kicked him into a trunk, where he landed next to his glider.
A small tributary flew past him and Aang was too slow to get up. Before Jet could take more than a step however, he was hit by a large water strike, which was made by Katara as she used the water from the river to throw Jet against the trunk of a tree. She attacked him over and over, where Jet was unable to cut the water and its force plastered him against the trunk. She then froze Jet from neck to toe.
"Why, Jet?" Katara said, furiously. "I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me, you're sick, and I trusted you!"
She and the group were startled by a birdcall that came from the valley. Jet then gave an answering birdcall, making the group turn back to him.
"What are you doing?" Katara asked.
"You're too late." Jet said.
"No!" Katara said, horrified.
Then Aang opened up hi glider and began running to the cliff. The others soon chased after him. Aang slammed back into the ground due to his glider's wings being damaged. Katara then ran over and helped him to his feet.
"Sokka and Roku are still out there." Aang said, in pain from the fall. "They're our only chance."
"Come on, Sokka." Katara said, pleading. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Please."
The group watched in horror as the dam's base was destroyed, releasing a massive wall of water that got to the village, flooding it and destroying it.
"No…" Katara whimpered in horror.
"Sokka and Roku didn't make it in time." Aang said, depressed.
"All those people…" Katara said. She then turned to Jet and glared at him in rage. "Jet, you monster!"
"This was a victory, Katara. Remember that." Jet said. "The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe."
"It will be safe…without you." Sokka said as him, me, Seiichi, and Momo rode on Appa and showed ourselves to a shocked Jet.
We were hiding under the cliff to add a little flare.
"Sokka!" Katara said, glad to see us.
"Roku!" Hiriko said, feeling the same.
"Seiichi!" Tadaaki said with a bright smile.
"We warned the villagers of your plan just in time." Seiichi told Jet.
"What?!" Jet said, still shocked.
"At first, they didn't believe us." I said. "The Fire Nation soldiers assumed we were spies. But one man vouched for us: the old man I helped after you attacked him. He urged them to trust us and we got everyone out in time."
It was only a thought, but I had a hunch those people were thanking us for saving them.
"You fools!" Jet said, enraged. "We could've freed this valley!"
"Who would be free?" Sokka said. "Everyone would be dead."
"You traitors!" Jet said.
"No, Jet." I said. "You became the traitor when you stopped protecting the innocent people. This is what happens when you're consumed by the pride of winning a war. Just like the Fire Lord, you just lost your heart."
"Katara." Jet pleaded. "Please, help me."
"Goodbye, Jet." Katara said grimly as she and the guys got on Appa.
"Hiriko! Kioko?" Jet said, bur was only met by disaffection turns from the girls as they joined us.
Jet glared at me as we were ready to leave him there.
"Don't worry." I said. "The soldiers will free you once they find you. That way you can take a look back at all your crimes."
"Yip, yip." Sokka said as he flicked the reigns.
With that, we went off into the sky and left Jet frozen on that tree. Once we got to the empty sky, we began talking with the rest of the group with smiles on us.
"We thought you were going to the dam." Aang said.
"We were originally." I told him. "But Sokka got the idea of evacuating the village before the flood came."
"How come you went to the town instead?" Aang asked Sokka.
"Let me guess, your instincts told you." Katara said.
"Hey, sometimes they're right." Sokka said as he shrugged his right shoulder.
"Um…Sokka?" I asked him after seeing our course. "You know we're going the wrong way, right?"
That surprised him, but he recovered with a grin on his face.
"And sometimes they're wrong." He said as he pulled the reigns, turning us to the right direction.
This day was a reminder that trusting your instincts was a valued lesson to have. Without Sokka trusting his, we wouldn't have saved the villagers. Those instincts are what helped us the most.