Author's Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. Oh, and if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.

Dedication: This story is dedicated to Sayko and Mara. Both are my buddies, sister-figures, and great people to talk to. This story is for you guys! And to my: readers, reviewers and friends.


-Bloodbender-

The group sat in a cluster of tall trees by a mountain and a field of red flowers. Appa and Anduril slept in a cave, well hidden, while the four friends were gathered around a campfire. They were all exchanging "scary stories".

"Suddenly, they heard something down the hall, in the dark. It came into the torchlight. And then they knew… the Blade of Wing-Fun was haunted! Aaah-ah…" Sokka withdrew his blade and wailed like a ghost.

Artymis, Katara, and Toph looked at him, very unimpressed.

"I think the man with a sword for a hand was way better than that." Artymis confessed.

"Water Tribe slumber parties must stink," Toph muttered under her breath.

Sokka frowned at them all. "You guys have no sense of scary-ness!"

"Actually, that'll be you." Artymis corrected with a laugh.

"You guys, wait." Katara said, "I've got a scary movie. And this is a true Southern Water Tribe story."

Sokka sat down crossed-legged. "Is this one of those a friend-of-my-cousin-knew-some-guy-that-this-happened-to-stories?"

Katara shook her head. "No, it happened to Mom." Everyone focused their attention on her, a little shocked that she mentioned her mother - which didn't happen that often. Katara waited a few seconds before starting, "One winter, when Mom was a little girl, a snowstorm buried the whole village for weeks. A month passed when Mom realized she hadn't seen her friend Nini since the storm. So Mom and some others went to check on Nini's family at their house. But when they got there, no one was home. Just a fire flickering in the fireplace. While the men went out to search, Mom stayed in the house. As she stood there alone in that house, she heard a voice -" She changed her tone so that is resembled a little girl's. "It's so cold and I can't get warm." Her voice changed back, "Mom turned and saw Nini standing by the fire. She was blue, as if she was frozen. Mom ran outside for help… But when every one came back, Nini was gone."

Artymis and Toph clung to one another, frightened quite a bit. Sokka wrapped Momo's ears around his head, scared to hear or see anything. He gathered the courage to ask, "Where'd she go?"

"No one knows," Katara spoke barely above a whisper. "Nini's house stands empty to this day. But sometimes, people see smokes coming up from the chimney. Like little Nini is still trying to get warm."

"No more!" Artymis suddenly cried out. "That story is going to give me nightmares!"

"Wait, quiet!" Toph placed her hand to the ground. "Did you hear that? I heard people under the mountain, and they're screaming!"

"What did I just say?!" Artymis yelled.

"Nice try, Toph." Sokka regained a calm posture.

"No, I'm serious! I heard something." Toph insisted.

"Y-You're probably just jumpy from the ghost stories." Katara suggested.

Toph was quiet. "It came back - but now it just stopped."

"All right, now I'm getting scared." Artymis rubbed her arms and huddled closer to Katara and Sokka.

"Hello, children."

The four friends screamed theirs heads off and all huddled to the opposite side of the fireplace. They all clung to one another and relaxed when they saw an older woman with thick white hair and dressed in old-fashioned dress. Her hair hung loosely around her wrinkled but kind face.

"Oh, I'm sorry to frighten you." She said. "My name is Hama. You children shouldn't be out here in the forest by yourselves at night. I have an inn nearby, why don't you come back there for some spiced tea and warm beds? I'm sure that'll be more comfortable than being out here in the cold."

When they all agreed to, the four friends followed Hama to her Inn. Artymis informed Anduril of the new arrangements and he said that he and Appa will stay where they were for now. The group walked up a slope and entered the Inn after Hama. She had them all sit around a square table in the dinning room. The room was lit by a single lamp. Hama poured hot tea for the young friends.

"Thanks for letting us stay here," Artymis said sweetly.

"You have such a lovely inn." Katara complimented.

Sokka and Toph rolled their eyes at the suck-ups.

"Aren't you all sweet?" Hama smiled, finishing up pouring Katara tea. "You know, you all should be more careful. People have been disappearing in those woods you were camping in." She sat down in her chair, cradling her tea cup. "When the moon is full, people walk in but they don't come out." She sipped and suddenly said in a cheerful voice, "Who wants more tea?"

Everyone stared at her with fearful expressions.

"Don't worry; you'll all be completely safe here." Hama set her cup down, "Why don't I show you to your rooms, and you can get a good night's rest?"

(Next Day)

Hama handed the money to the merchant and walked alongside the children as the merchant smiled and waved goodbye.

Katara turned to her host, "That Mr. Yao seems to have a thing for you."

"Maybe if we go back, he'll give us some free komodo sausages." Artymis teased with a wink.

"You would have me use my feminine charms to take advantage of that poor man?" Hama seemed crossed about this but she chuckled. "I think the three of use are going to get along swimmingly."

When she said "swimmingly", Artymis rose an eyebrow and side-glanced at Katara who didn't seem to really bother about it. The airbender found is peculiar that a Fire Nation inn keeper would use that word - then again, Isabella On Ji was a surprise too.

While the girls and Hama walked ahead, Sokka and Toph stayed behind, eavesdropping on interesting conversations:

"You won't have any ash bananas till next week‌?" "Well, I have to send the boy to Hing-Wa Island to get them, and it's a two-day trip." "Oh, right, tomorrow's the full moon…" "Exactly, I can't lose another delivery boy in the woods."

Sokka grew suspicious and expressed his opinions to the young earthbender. "People disappearing in the woods, weird stuff going on during full moons… this just reeks of spirit world stuff." He then called out in a loud whisper, "Art!"

Artymis heard him and walked back a few paces to match Sokka and Toph's. "What's up?" She asked.

"Can you sew up this little moon-disappearing-mystery Avatar style?" Sokka asked her in a low whisper.

"Helping people," Artymis sarcastically laughed. "That's what I do, huh?"

"Sure seems enthusiastic about it," Toph joked.

Hama stopped and turned to the children, "Why you all take those back to the inn? I still have a few more errands to run. I won't be long."

"You know," Sokka started. "This is a little mysterious town you have here."

Hama simply smiled, "Mysterious town for mysterious children."


In the kitchen of Hama's Inn, the four friends unpacked the groceries and stored them.

"That Hama seems a little strange," Sokka told the group. "Like she knows or is hiding something."

"That's ridiculous. She's a nice woman who took us in and gave us a place to stay." Katara said, "She kind of reminds me of Gran-Gran."

"Don't compare her to Gran-Gran." Sokka snapped.

"I have to say, Sokka does kind of have a point there." Artymis said.

Katara turned to face her with a dismay expression, "Oh, no. Not you too!"

"Kat, come on. What did she mean by 'mysterious children'? It sounds like she knows something." Sokka pressed.

"Gee, I don't know." Katara said sarcastically, "Maybe because she found four strange kids camping in the woods at night? Isn't that a little mysterious?"

"Think what you want," Sokka said. "But I'm gonna take a look around." He walked out of the kitchen and up the flight of stairs.

"Wait!" Katara yelled, "You can't just snoop around someone's house!" When there was no reply, she groaned and turned to two remaining friends. "What do you think?"

Artymis shrugged.

"We can't trust her fully but we can't be so-over-the-line-suspicious." Toph said.

Katara sighed in relief. "Thank the spirits…"

"But snooping is neutral!" Toph cried out and ran after Sokka.

Artymis, because curiosity got the better of her, said, "I'm gonna keep an eye on them." She followed Toph.

Katara stood there, mouth open. "Wait! Guys!" With another groan she ran after her friends. "This isn't a good idea!"

"It's not like we're doing anything bad," Sokka said.

"Invading her privacy is bad!" Katara hissed. Sokka, you're gonna get us all in trouble, and this is just plain rude!"

Sokka made his way up to the attic. He crossed the room and tried to open one of the doors but found it locked. "Just some ordinary innkeeper, huh?" He turned to Sokka. "Then why does she have a locked-up door?

"Maybe to keep people like us from snooping in her things, genius," Toph coolly said.

Sokka peered in through the keyhole. "Its empty except for a little chest." He announced.

Toph started jumping up an down on her feet. "Oh, maybe its treasure!"

Sokka began picking the lock with the tip of his sword and opened the door wide when he heard a click. "Yes!" He whispered.

Artymis bit her lip, "Maybe we shouldn't be doing this."

Nevertheless, the entire group went inside the empty room. Sokka lifted the chest and made failed attempts at opening it. "Its locked!"

"Let's just leave!" Katara pleaded.

"Give it to me." Toph took her armband and gripped it tight. She bended the space earth piece into the shape of a key and pushed it inside the chest's lock. She turned it but it didn't open. She struggled to unlock it.

"Come on, come on, come on!" Artymis whispered.

"You know.." Toph said through gritted teeth. "This isn't as easy as it looks…. I got it!"

Everyone crowded around the twelve-year-old, even Katara. Sokka grabbed the chest and slowly lifted the lid, as if something would pop out if he wasn't too careful.

"I'll tell you what's in the box."

Everyone yelled in fear and alarm. The four spun around to see Hama standing in the doorway. Sokka hid the chest behind his back. "What box?"

Hama extended her hand out and Sokka, guiltily, handed her the chest. She opened it and pulled out simple blue comb made of what bone. Hama smiled, her eyes watered.

"An old comb?" Sokka slumped his shoulders in disbelief.

"It is my greatest treasure," Hama told them. "Its the last thing I still own from growing up in the Southern Water Tribe."

Everyone gaped.

"You're from the Southern Water Tribe?!" Katara asked after overcoming her shock.

Hama nodded, "Just like you."

The Water Tribe siblings blinked. "How'd you know?" Sokka asked.

"I heard you all talking around your campfire the other night."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Artymis asked.

"Because I wanted to surprise you. I bought all this food today so I could fix you a big, Water Tribe dinner. Of course, I can't get all the ingredients I need here, but ocean kumquats are a lot like sea prunes if you stew them long enough." Hama smiled at them.

"I knew I felt a bond with you right away," Katara held her hands together with a bright smile on her face.

"Sorry about secrets and sneaking around," Sokka muttered.

"Apology accepted. Now, lets get cooking." Hama led them all back down to the kitchen.

They all sat at the table as Hama placed the soup bowl on the table. Artymis reached for the large spoon to serve the soup but to everyone's amazement, the liquid shot into their empty bowls. All eyes were on Hama.

"You're a waterbender!" Sokka cried in astonishment.

"I've never met another waterbender from our tribe!" Katara felt so honored at that moment.

Hama lowered her face. "That's because the Fire Nation wiped them all out." She said in a sad voice, "I was the last one."

"So how did you end up out here?" Toph inquired.

"I was stolen from my home."

Artymis gripped her spoon as she felt something strong come from Hama. It took her only a few seconds to realize that she was touching on Hama's strong emotions. Quick and brief images flashed in her mind. She gripped the spoon even tighter. No one noticed.

"It was over sixty years ago when the raids started…"

Artymis saw longer clips of Hama's memories but she didn't understand why she could see this. She saw a younger Hama and a younger Gran-Gran hanging out. Then, their faces twisted in fear. A series of clips followed, each lasting around five seconds. Long enough for her to decipher what was going on in each fragment of memory.

"…They came again and again, each time, rounding up more of our waterbenders, and taking them captive. We did our best to hold them off, but our numbers dwindled as the raids continued."

Stop! Artymis screamed. She saw Hama panting and trying to fend off firebenders by herself. She was losing badly.

"Finally, I too was captured."

The last image lingered on her mind: Hama surrounded by guards as she saw the last of her home. A feeling similar to Artymis' feeling when running away.

"I was led away in chains - the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe." Hama looked at Katara, "Until now." Katara rose from her seat and placed her hand on Hama's shoulder. "They put us in terrible prisons. I was the only one who manages to escape."

"How did you get away?" Sokka asked her, "And why did you stay in the Fire Nation?"

Hama shook her head, "I'm sorry." She stuttered. "Its too painful to talk about anymore."

"We completely understand." Katara consoled. "And I can't tell you what it means to meet you. It's an honor, you're a hero."

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would meet another southern waterbender." Hama murmured, "I'd like to teach you what I know. I would like you to carry on the Southern Tradition when I'm gone."

"Yes!" Katara clapped her hands in excitement. Her voice was so loud and high that her friends winced at the volume. "To learn about my heritage - that would mean everything to me!"

Hama smiled. "I will teach you then." She turned to Artymis, "And I think your friend the Avatar would as well."

Everyone gasped.

"How did you know?" Artymis asked her.

"When you're my age, you pick up a few things here and now." Hama answered. She sipped her cup. "Would you like to learn alongside Katara?"

Artymis hesitated. Earlier, Hama's memories and emotions had given her quite a fright. But, who wouldn't feel so strong about their kidnapping and their leaving their home. She nodded, "It would be… nice."

Toph and Sokka noticed the hesitation, but no one else did.

Artymis snuck into the barn where Hama had lend Anduril and Appa. She brought them and Momo some food. Momo bit his bread down, Appa ate his watermelons, and Anduril ate his prey slowly. The dragon looked at the sixteen-year-old.

There's something on your mind. He said.

Artymis blinked; she had been staring out into space. She looked at him. "Huh?"

There's something on your mind, he repeated. What is it?

Earlier tonight, Hama was recounting the events of the raid on the Southern Water Tribe…

And? Anduril pressed.

I could see and feel all that. It was... Frightening.

The dragon gave her a long stare. You could see what had happened? You could feel it?

Yes, it felt so very real. Is it because I kind of share the feelings and because she felt them so strongly?

Perhaps, and you are the Avatar.

But that doesn't mean I could feel all that. She shuddered. Her head jerked up when she felt something move her hair back.

Go to bed. Anduril told her, Its been a long night.

Artymis took it into consideration. "Good night, big brother." She kissed his snout. "Good night, Appa." She kissed his nose. "And, good night, Momo." She petted his head and walked out of the barn.

(The Next Day)

Artymis and Katara followed Hama onto a rock hillside outside her inn.

"Working outside your home at the South Pole proves to be very difficult," Hama told the girls.

"I know," Katara said. "When we were stranded in a desert, it felt like there was nothing I could do."

"You did much more than needed, Kat," Artymis comforted. Katara smiled at her.

"Even so, you have to learn to control water wherever it exists." Hama instructed.

Katara instantly remembered the time she used sweat to escape with Toph from the wooden prison.

"Did either of you know you can even pull water our of thing air?" Both girls exchanged wondering expressions. "Watch." Hama threw her hand out and created a circle over her head with her fingertips, collecting the moisture in the air. Water formed around her fingertips and she held it still for her students to see. "There's water in places you never thought of." She turned the water into icicles which she threw behind into the trunk of a tree. Her accuracy was perfect. 'Follow me." She led the girls through a field of red flowers.

"These are so beautiful!" Artymis gasped. She gathered a handful in her hand and breathed in their scent. Their smell was heavy and almost intoxicating, but it brought a small happiness.

"They are," Katara breathed.

Hama sat down on the flowers. "They're called Fire Lilies. They only bloom a few weeks a year, but they're one of my favorite things about living here." She grazed her hands on the flowers. "And like all living things, they're filled with water."

"We met a waterbender who lived in a swamp," Katara mentioned. "And he could control the vines by bending the water inside."

"And you can take it even further." Hama stood up and waved her hands in a large circle, bending the water right out of the Fire Lilies. The flowers turned dry, black, and they shriveled. Hama bended the water towards a boulder. The water passed right through the boulder, slicing off four pieces cleanly.

"That's incredible!" Katara looked like an excited child. However, when both girls looked down at the flowers, they became somber.

"Its a pity about the lilies, though." Artymis held her bountiful close to her chest.

Hama walked over to the two, saying, "When you're a waterbender in a strange land, you do what you must to survive." She leaned in, "Tonight, I'll teach you both the ultimate technique of waterbending. It can only be done during the full moon, when your bending is at its peak."

"I thought that was dangerous…" Artymis glanced at Katara for some help.

"I did, too." Katara said. "I though people have been disappearing around here during the full moon."

"Oh, you girls!" Hama smiled. "Two master waterbenders and the Avatar beneath the full moon? I don't think we'll have anything to worry about."


"Despite it being the Fire Nation, I don't see anything that would make a sprit mad around here - at least, no tree chopping or burning." Sokka surveyed the land, "For the other stuff like ruining everyone's lives, I understand."

Toph, knowing it'll get on his nerves, said, "Maybe the moon spirit just turned mean."

Sokka turned to her. "The moon spirit is a gently loving lady who rules the sky with compassion and… lunar goodness!" He snapped furiously.

Toph doubled over in laughter.

Sokka frowned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a traveler walk by. "Hey!" He ran up to him., "Can you tell us anything about the spirit that's been stealing people in the middle of night during the full moon?"

The traveler shrugged, "Can't say much but only one man ever saw it and lived: Old Man Ding."

Toph tugged on his sleeve. "Where does Old Man Ding live?"

After receiving directions, Sokka and Toph walked around town trying to find Old Man Ding's address. When they came across an old man hammering boards against his house, they knew they found him.

"Yo, Old Man Ding?" Toph called out.

Old Man Ding lost concentration on his hammering the nails and instead hammered down his own thumb. He yelled in pain and dropped the hammer, clutching his hand.

"Gosh darn it!" Old Man Ding glared at them, "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy? Got a full moon rising. And why does everyone call me 'Old"? I'm not that old, you know." He crouched down to life a board but there was a small crack. "Ok, I'm young at heart instead. Toph lifted the board and handed it to him. He took it and board it on the window. "Not ready yet to be snapped by some moon monster."

"We wanted to ask you about that." Sokka proceeded to hammer the board down for the elder. "Did you get a good look at the spirit that took you?"

"Didn't see no spirit. Just felt something come over me, like I was possessed. Forced me to start walking toward the mountain." Old Man Ding pointed at the mountain closet to the village. "I tried to fight back, but I couldn't control my own limbs. It just about had me into a cave up there. And I looked up at the moon, knowing it would be the last thing I would see but then, the sun started to rise. And I got control of myself again!" He seemed proud, "I just high-tailed it out of there right after that!"

"Why would a spirit want to take people to a mountain?" Sokka muttered to himself.

Toph gasped. "Those people I heard screaming under the mountain - the missing people!" She grabbed Sokka and started running towards the mountain. "Its them, Sokka!" She took him to the foot of the mountain.

"I can't see anything down there!" Sokka protested.

"That's why you have me!" Toph pointed out.

She led him through the darkness of the cave and they halted when they reached a metal doorway with two lit torches beside. Toph stomped her foot down hard and punched the door with both fists, knocking the metal door off its hinges. They ran into a new chamber. Sokka stopped and stared at the dozens of men, women, even children chained to cave walls with little torch light. Toph immediately began breaking the metal chains.

"Saved at last!" A prisoner cried out.

"Who did this?" Sokka asked them. "A spirit?"

"It was no spirit." A young woman said, rubbing her aching wrists and thanking Toph.

"More like a witch." Another said and there were sounds of agreement.

"I'm not getting it," Sokka told them.

"She seems like a normal little old lady," A prisoner told him. "But she controls people like some dark Puppetmaster."

"Who?" Sokka asked them again.

"The innkeeper!"

"Hama!" Sokka and Toph yelled together.

"Yes!" The woman nodded.

Sokka snapped his fingers at Toph, "Told you there was something creepy about her."

"Go stop her," Toph told him. "I'll get these people out of here."

Sokka nodded. He gave a freed prisoner one of the torches and left running.


"Can you feel the power?" Hama asked the girls. "Can you feel the power the full moon brings?"

Katara and Artymis didn't answer her. They were more creep out by the dark trees around them in the woods with nothing but the moon as their light.

Hama inhaled deeply, like the moon had an addicting scent. "For generations, it has bless waterbenders - allowing us to do incredible things." She outstretched her arms, flexed her hands and the girls saw her veins pop out. "I've never felt more alive."

Both of the girls felt something out of place. Somewhere in the night, a cat-owl hooted.

"What I'm about to show you, I discovered in that wretched Fire Nation prison." Hama said.

A few images poured in Artymis' mind. She blinked and gripped her kimono sleeves.

"The guards were always careful to keep any water from us. They piped in dry air and had us suspended from the ground." The elder waterbender narrated, still gazing up at the moon. "Before giving us any water, they would bind our limbs so that we couldn't bend. Any sign of trouble was met with curel retribution. And yet, each month, I felt the full moon enriching me with its energy. There had to be something I could do to escape. Then I realized that where there is life, there is water. The rats that scurried across the floor of my cage, were nothing more than skins filled with liquid. And I passed years developing the skills that would lead to my escape." Her voice took on a dark tone. "Bloodbending."

Upon hearing that, the girls' eyes widened in horror.

"Controlling the water in another body. Enforcing your own will over theirs…"

Katara stood close to Artymis, frightened by this new power.

"Once I had mastered the rats, I was ready for the men." Hama continued and another memory plated in Artymis' mind: a Fire Nation guard trying to control his body, then Hama walking out of her cage with unbalanced legs like the living dead. The airbender leaned on Katara's side. "During the next full moon, I walked free for the first time in decades. My cell was unlocked by the very guards assigned to keep me in!" She threw her head back and laughed. "Once you girls perfect this technique, you can control anything and anyone."

"But to reach inside someone and control them…" Artymis bit her lip. She knew that the power would be useful when confronting enemies. To control the Fire Lord was like a bonus. But, controlling him? Others?

"The power exists and it's your duty to use the gifts you've been given to win this war." When seeing she wouldn't get through to the airbender, Hama instead turned to Katara, "Katara, they tried to wipe us out, our entire culture…your mother!"

"I know." Katara whispered, her eyes watering.

"Then at least you should understand what I'm talking about!" Hama said in a hoarse voice, "We're the last waterbenders of the Southern Tribe. We have to fight whenever we can and wherever they are by any means necessary!"

"Enough." Artymis took Katara's arm. "Let's go. I think we've heard enough."

Hama glared at the girls. "They hurt every one you loved - and they threw me in a prison to rot along with my brothers and sisters! They deserve the same!"

Realization hit both of them at that second. "Its you!" Katara pointed at the old woman, "You're the one who's kidnapping the villagers during the full moon with your blood bending!"

"You must carry on my work!" Hama said. "Katara you have to unleash your revenge on them! And Artymis, control the Fire Lord - I know that is something you want!"

Artymis shook her head. "Its not right, Hama. And we won't use bloodbending like you! We're going to use other methods!"

"And we won't allow you to keep terrorizing this town!" Katara shouted. She gasped sharply when her arms twisted to the sides and behind her back. "What's happening?!"

Suddenly, Artymis lost control of her limbs as well. She tried to command them but Hama's bloodbending was effective. Both girls stood still, arms at side and back straight.

"You both should have learned the technique before you turned against me." Hama said, "Its impossible to fight your way out of my grip. I control every muscle and every vein in your body!" She threw the girls from side to side, twitched their bodies, and jerked them erratically. Hama, after having her little fun of being Puppetmaster, she slowly brought her hands down with a sadistic smile. Artymis and Katara were forced down on their knees.

"Please…" Katara whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Stop… please…"

Hama cackled sinisterly.

Artymis breathed hard. She clenched her fists, gripping the grass and. She glanced at Katara and glared at Hama. She stood back up while lifting her hands. Hama stopped laughing upon seeing this.

"You're not the only one who draws power from the moon." Artymis hissed, "My bending is more powerful than yours. Your tricks are useless on me and my friends!" She lifted her arms up and bended the water from the grass around her and Katara and bended it into a ring around her. She flung the water at Hama who took it with her own bending and redirected the attack back at her. Artymis spun it back around but Hama extracted water from the trees to create a more effective counter-attack. The sixteen-year-old took a step back and pressed her hand forward, blocking the attack. She glanced behind at Katara, who was slowly getting the feel in her limbs now. Artymis turned back to Hama and ran forward, circling her arms inward and absorbing the water from the grass again. She bend the water into two thick ropes and spun Hama with them in mid-air, then letting her fall down with a cry.

Artymis breathed hard. "You forgot one thing: I'm the Avatar."

Hama glared at her, "Insolent girl."

"Hama!" She turned around. "We all know what you've been doing!" Sokka shouted. "Now, give up, you're outnumbered!"

At this, Hama chuckled darkly. "No," She said. "You've outnumbered yourselves!" She raised her arms, stiffening Sokka's bodies, and flung him against unprepared Katara.

Katara gasped and jumped out of the way before Sokka crashed into a tree. She bended the water from the trees and blocked the forced attacks from Sokka.

"Katara, Art, look out!" Sokka warned, "Its like my brain has a mind of its own!"

"We know!" The girls both yelled.

Artymis pinned Sokka to a tree with water and Katara froze the water. "Sorry, Soak!" Artymis said.

"It's alright… I think."

"Don't hurt your friends," Hama teased. "And don't let them hurt each other."

Katara's body stiffened again and she was slammed against the tree. "Art, help!"

Hama pulled Sokka away from the tree and sent him flying towards pinned Katara. His sword was pointed forward, intended to impale Katara. They both screamed.

"No!" Artymis ran towards Katara. She distracted Hama with some water bending. Both Sokka and Katara regained control over their bodies. Sokka panted and redirected his sword at Hama. Katara stood in battle stance. Artymis, on the other hand, took a deep breath and outstretched her hands toward the old woman. Hama's body stiffened and twitched, her eyes full of fear now. The Water Tribe siblings blinked and saw Artymis moving her hands slowly, controlling Hama. She forced her down on her knees and hands. The elder struggled to get back up. "Don't." Artymis told her, "I'm in control now."

"Not for long…." Hama stood back, fighting against the airbender's control.

"Gonna need some help!" Artymis sang.

Katara bit her lip and joined Artymis in her bloodbending. Both girls brought down Hama right when Toph and the prisoners as well as villagers arrive at the scene. A prisoner shackled Hama's hands behind her back.

"You're going to be locked away forever," A used-to-be-prisoner told Hama, the despise clear in his voice. He and another man started to lead her towards the village.

"My work here is done." Hama smiled. She stopped and turned to the two girls standing by Sokka and Toph. "Congratulations, you're blood benders." The villagers pushed her to walk and Hama laughed wickedly.

"Crazy old woman," Someone muttered.

When they were alone, Sokka said quietly, "Anduril and Appa are coming."

Katara had dropped her hand from her mouth and let a sob escape. She dropped to her knees. Artymis and the others knelt by her and tried to comfort her.

"Doesn't it bother you?" Toph whispered to Artymis.

Artymis was silent. Oddly enough, it doesn't.


Author's Note: Alright, here's "The Puppetmaster" chapter. This epsiode was what really sparked my interest back in Avatar since I had personally thought all the previous episodes of the third season wasn't all that good. And no Zuko in this chapter, sorry, guys. But, the next original chapter is dedicated to Mai and him. It'll be the next chapter. So, you know what that means right? VOICE OUT YOUR IDEAS FOR IT PLEASE! I was thinking of putting Mai's thoughts along the lines of Taylor Swift's song, such as "Invisible", "Cold As You", "Teardrops On My Guitar" (of course, not ALL the lyrics will in the chapter. Just a few here and there, ones that really go with Mai's emotions and opinions.) If you haven't heard it, check it out on YouTube - I suggest a video that shows the lyrics. Let me know what you all think of that. IDEAS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND FEEDBACK ARE ALL WELCOME!!

MR11: "The Puppetmaster" was a very good episode in my opinion. That episode was what really brought my attention back to Avatar. I was "WOW!"

Kikan-Moon-Fox-Girl: Aw, thanks.

Madeline: Excellent idea. I shall store that in the inventory.

Jade: I'm keeping it up! lol

Alia: Sweet idea.

ani-sand: Hopefully this will have some Zuko stupidity. lmao

Baby-emo: Thank you!

Princesa de la Luna: More updates coming!

TxiaChucky: Hello, new face! What's up? J

-THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK, SUPPORT, FAVES, REVIEWS, ALERTS, PMS!-