I don't own Star Wars Rebels or anything associated with Star Wars in general which belongs to Disney and Lucasfilm nor Avatar the Last Airbender which belongs to Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This story is strictly being done for pure fun and in no way is an attempt to profit of the properties involved.
Hey everyone. Belated Happy New Year to you all. Sorry it's been awhile since the last chapter. Christmas was one of several factors that kept me busy but as I said before I've also been kept busy by things I'd rather not talk about but whenever I'm able to get back to my stories I will do so. My reasons has nothing to do with the fact that this was the most hated Avatar episode in an attempt to avoid it that wasn't it at all. In fact I didn't know this was the next episode until I checked to see what it was. I know I could easily skip it as even the show makes fun of it but I'm going to do every episode no matter what. To all those who have reviewed so far then thank you. If there's anything I'm doing wrong or you think could be improved upon please let me know. Anyway if you're still reading or are reading for the first time then I hope you enjoy.
The sun was setting behind some tall rock outcroppings. The sky was mostly cloudy and the clouds reflect the light of the dying sun. Inside the Ghost Ezra was sleeping restlessly. He was having a dream or vision of some kind.
In his dream Ezra was standing in a winter environment. Looking up at the sky he saw Aang in the air his tatoos glowing. Ezra felt a tremor in the Force as he saw Aang's power before suddenly the area changed. Aang was still in the air but they looked to be in an underground temple of some kind that was green in colour. The area then changed again what almost looked to be a dead world as he saw what looked to be a laser emitting from a temple and Aang and Ahsoka facing Vader. Finally he saw a battle between a fleet of ships while he could see Aang facing someone else on a volcano surface.
"Ezra?"
Suddenly Ezra woke with a startle as he saw Hera sitting beside him with a look of concern in her eyes "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just lack of sleep." Ezra answered.
Hera looked at Kanan who was standing by the door his arms folded. She didn't entirely believe him but knew there wasn't time to waste as she got up "Okay then. Sabine, Rex and Zeb were joining Katara on a journey to get some firewood and they should be back now."
Hera then left the room leaving master and apprentice alone.
"Are you sure things are okay?" Kanan asked sensing his apprentice wasn't being entirely honest "Did you have a vision?"
Seeing that there was no arguing with his master Ezra decided to tell him as best he could what he saw "Yeah but I only saw fragments. I saw all these battles and Aang was at the center of them all. He and Ahsoka were fighting Vader." Ezra answered "Kanan. Why were we sent here? Was it to help Aang?"
"I felt the Force calling us here when we went through that gateway." Kanan said trying to wonder "Perhaps we were? But now that the Empire is here it's our fight no matter what. The only way we can end this I guess is to help Aang and win the war."
"And maybe we can defeat the Empire too and Vader and his Inquisitors?" Ezra asked trying to think "This is how we free not just one world but all of them?"
"I don't know. We just have to be there no matter what." Kanan said as he put his hand on Ezra's shoulder.
"I'll do my best." Ezra said giving him a bow.
Meanwhile a patched up tent was being jostled about from the inside with a rolled up tarp laying next to the tent. Sokka was inside a tent, trying to assemble it and could be heard grunting and fussing about as he tried to finish setting up the shelter. Katara walked up behind him with a pile of fire wood in her arms.
"Um, aren't you forgetting the tarp?" Katara asked noticing his mistake
"Right, got it ..." Sokka said as he tossed the wrapped up tarp inside the tent.
"Sokka, you're supposed to put the tarp on top of the tent. You know, so we don't get rained on?" Katara said as she continued to point out his mistake.
Sokka then began gesturing widely as he replied to his sister. "Ordinarily, you'd be right, but seeing how it's the dry season, you're not. Besides that tarp makes a pretty warm blanket."
"But what if it does rain?" Katara asked
Sokka then spread his arms wide in exasperation as he continued to make his point "What if it doesn't? Then I would have put up the tarp for nothing."
"You're infuriating!" Katara angrily responded.
As the siblings continued to argue Zeb, Rex and Sabine witnessed it with mixed emotions having follwed Katara back. Zeb looked about fed up with their behaviour as he dropped his firewood down in frustration "I've got a right mind to knock some sense into this kids."
"Easy big guy they don't need things to get even uglier than they look." Sabine said warning him to step away.
"I had to break up a few squabbles with my brothers in the War but I don't think any of them were this bad." Rex said as he observed the conflict.
"Katara, why don't you worry about gathering firewood, because that kindling is looking pretty sorry." Sokka said dismissing and mocking her.
"Well, if you don't like my firewood-" Katara said as she angrily threw the sticks at Sokka who shielded himself from the wood.
He then stood in anger after the hail of sticks subsided as he angrily responded "Fine by me, if you're not gonna do your job-" He then proceeded to tear the tent down and the two stare at each other angrily as Aang approached them.
"Okay, I got the grub if you guys got the-" Aang began as he noticed the the siblings turning away from each other in anger with their arms folded. "Hey, where's the campfire? And what happened to the tent?"
"Why don't you ask Miss Know-It-All, Queen of the Twigs." Sokka mocked
"Oh yeah? Well, you're Mister Lazy Bum, King of the" Katara mocked in response as he picked up and threw a twig at Sokka's head. "Tents!"
Sokka turned around, looking angrily at her as Hera walked up with Kanan and Ezra following behind.
"Okay then you two that's enough. Your sibling rivalry isn't going to get us anywhere." Hera said as she got between them "Now either you two apologise and move on or we're never going to get to the North Pole and the Fire Nation and Empire will catch up with us."
"Okay, listen guys Hera is right, harsh words won't solve problems, action will. Why don't you just switch jobs?" Aang asked trying to offer a solution.
"Sounds good." Katara responded
"Whatever." Sokka responded disinterested as he suddenly noticed Hera standing over him with a stern look of disapproval "I mean yeah sure right away. No harm done Katara?"
"Yeah" Katara said agreeing with him not wanting to get on Hera's bad side given she knew that look well as she would also use it and it would be best not to be on the receiving end of it.
Aang however thought he solved the problem as he gloated "You see that? Settling feuds and making peace, all in a day's work for the Avatar."
"Someone is in denial" Sabine said turning her head to Ezra as she saw Aang turn his head to see Momo and Appa fighting over a watermelon. Momo continuously was trying to fly away with it, while Appa pinned it down. Aang then proceeded to take the melon and use his airbending to slice it. Momo however seemed to be complaining about how he got the much smaller half and Appa got the bigger half.
"Come on, Momo, that's fair. Appa's got five stomachs." Aang said trying to reason with him as Appa began to eat his half of the melon.
Time passed as the group was now standing on the edge of a huge canyon.
"There it is, guys, The Great Divide." Aang said pointing out their next destination.
"Wow, I could just stare at it forever." Katara said amazed
"Yeah I know" Ezra said sharing her amazement
"Okay, I've seen enough." Sokka said feeling disinterested
"How can you not be fascinated Sokka? This is the largest canyon in the entire world." Katara said annoyed at her brother's lack of respect.
"Then I'm sure we'll be able to see it very clearly from the air while we fly away." Sokka said making a point.
"Yeah that's true." Hera said as she contacted Chopper "Chop we're not moving yet but be prepared to move when I contact you again."
The droid grumbled on the other side as she then disconnected contact.
Suddenly someone shoved past Sokka in an attempt to get to the front "If you're looking for the canyon guide, I was here first!"
"Ooh, canyon guide? Sounds informative." Katara said pretending to sound impressed.
"Believe me, he's more than a tour guide, he's an earthbender, and the only way in and out of the canyon is with his help, and he's taking my tribe across next." The Gan Jin tribesman said with a hint of arrogance and finality unaware Sokka was behind him and mocking him.
"Calm down, we know you're next." Sokka said trying to reassure him.
"You wouldn't be so calm if the Fire Nation destroyed your home and forced you to flee! My whole tribe has to walk thousands of miles to the capital city of Ba Sing Se." The Gan Jin tribesman said trying to making him understand.
"You're a refugee!" Katara said in realisation.
"Huh, tell me something I don't know." The Gan Jin tribesman said as he saw Hera walk up to him as he moved back startled "What? Who are you?"
"A friend. We've all been affected by the Fire Nation and the Empire. We understand." Hera said trying to make him understand he wasn't alone.
"I've never heard of the Empire but so long as I get across the better for me and my people. You need to not be concerned you strange looking creature." The Gan Jin tribesman said dismissing her as she gave him an annoyed glance.
A large group of poorly dressed people suddenly walked toward them as Katara pointed them out "Is that your tribe?"
"It most certainly is not! That's the Zhang tribe, a bunch of low-life thieves. They've been the enemies of my tribe for a hundred years." The Gan Jin tribesmand answered as he whistled to them "Hey, Zhangs! I'm saving a spot for my tribe so don't even think about stealing it!"
"Where are the rest of the Gan Jin? Still tidying up their camp site?" The Zhang leader responded.
"Yes, but they sent me ahead of them to hold a spot." The Gan Jin tribesman responded.
"I didn't know the canyon guide took reservations." The Zhang leader responded feeling unthreatened.
"Ha, of course you didn't! That's the ignorance I'd expect from a messy Zhang. So unorganized and ill-prepared for a journey." The Gan Jin tribesman mocked.
"Great we're in the middle of a clan war. Like I needed to be reminded of home." Sabine said with disapproval as she saw the Zhang tribe members yell out in protest behind the other tribesman. All of this reminded her of the warring clans back on Mandalore divided from a Civil War from the Clone Wars that now carried on with the Empire's rule with those siding against the Empire being branded as enemies. Katara and Aang looked at each other worriedly sharing her concern as did the rest of the Ghost Crew
Suddenly they turned around to see a large pile of rocks being levitated up and thrown away. The canyon guide was standing behind where the rocks used to be as he began speaking to them "Sorry about the wait, youngsters. Who's ready to cross this here canyon?"
"Uh, one of them, I think." Katara said as she pointed out the Zhang and the scout.
The Gan Jin tribesman suddenly rushed forward. "I was here first, my party's on their way."
"I can't guide people who aren't here." The Canyon guide responded as the Zhang was now filing past the three kids, the Ghost Crew and the fuming Gan Jin scout.
"Guess you guys will have to make the trip tomorrow." The Zhang Leader mocked.
"All these people are doing is giving me a headache. Can't we just fly away already and ignore the tour?" Zeb asked not wanting to travel with them.
The scout's eyes were now twitching in anger as he ignored Zeb's remark. Suddenly another tribe began entering the canyon entrance area as the scout points to them in triumph. "Wait, here they come!"
A group of clean, finely dressed people then came toward them.
"You're not seriously gonna cave into these spoiled Gan Jins? I mean we're refugees too! And we've got sick people that need shelter." The Zhang Leader said turning to the canyon guide.
"I ... uh ... well ..." The Canyon guide was now unsure what to say as he tried to argue with her.
"We've got old people who are weary from traveling." The Gan Jin tribesman said trying to make his own case.
"Sick people get priority over old people." The Zhang leader responded back trying to make a case of her own.
"Maybe you Zhangs wouldn't have so many sick people if you weren't such slobs." The Gan Jin tribesman leader mocked.
"If you Gan Jins weren't so clean, you wouldn't live to be so old." The Zhang leader mocked back.
"Look there's no need to be petty about this" Hera said voicing her opinion. "I understand you have history but why not come to a compromise?"
Katara seemed to notice the two arguing tribes feuding as well as she turned to Aang "Well Aang, ready to put your peace-making skills to the test?"
"I don't know, a fight over chores is one thing, but these people have been feuding for a hundred years." Aang said unsure what to do "Maybe Hera can solve it?"
"Actually Aang I'm beginning to agree with you. I've dealt with Chopper, Ezra and Zeb together and these people are still the most stubborn people I've encountered" Hera said folding her arms in disapproval.
Katara stepped forward as she tried to get their attention "Everybody listen up! This is the Avatar, and if you give him a chance, I'm sure he can come up with a compromise that like Hera said will make everyone happy."
"Uh, you could share the earthbender and travel together?" Aang asked hesitantly.
"Absolutely not! We'd rather be taken by the Fire Nation than travel with those stinking thieves!" The Gan Jin tribesman said denying his request.
"We wouldn't travel with those pompous fools anyway!" The Zhang leader said also not agreeing.
"You spoke like a real master negotiator Aang." Sabine said with dry sarcasm as the two tribes began to shout at each other again.
Aang then began shouting as he came up with a new plan "All right here's the deal, you're all going down together and Appa here will fly your sick and elderly across! Does that seem fair?"
"And if there are any who can't travel with Appa due to lack of space I'll carry some in my ship" Hera said agreeing with Aang's plan.
Both leaders nodded in agreement as the sick and elderly began boarding Appa and the Ghost.
"Sorry, Appa, you'll have to do this on your own." Aang said speaking to him.
"Actually Aang the people could use some company and in case they get worse on the journey someone should keep an eye on them." Rex said offering his help.
"And I'll do the same on my end." Hera said agreeing with him.
"Well that's kind of you Rex. Thanks." Aang said as Appa went up and licked Rex.
"Okay fellow we've been over this. You'll get it in the beard." Rex said rubbing his face and clearing it off Appa's saliva.
"Aang, this feuding tribe stuff is serious business. Are you sure it's a good idea getting involved in this?" Sokka asked unsure if they should do this.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not sure. But when have I ever been?" Aang asked grinning broadly.
"He's the Avatar, Sokka, making peace between people is his job." Katara responded
Sokka however was dismayed knowing what this meant "His job's gonna make us cross this whole canyon on foot isn't it?"
"Hey now what's the harm in a little walking for a strong leader like you Sokka?" Sabine said trying to make him understand as he perked up.
"Of course I like walking. Come on team let's go." Sokka said as he marched forward.
"He's about as easy to mess with as the kid." Zeb said with a chuckle.
"Yeah." Sabine said as Ezra walked by her as he looked at her annoyed.
After a few minutes the two tribes and the others were now gathered as the Canyon guide was discussing the rules of the journey. "Okay, now comes the bad news. No food allowed in the canyon, it attracts dangerous predators."
Both tribes yelled out in protest at this "No food?! This is ridiculous."
"Oh, you babies can go a day without food? Would you rather be hungry, or dead?" The Canyon guide asked as he raised an earth pillar to tower over the rest. He then continued, to cup his hands to his mouth to amplify his voice. "Now, we're heading down in ten minutes. All food better be in your gut or in the garbage!"
The Ghost Crew then handed their food over to Hera while the Zhang tribe quickly whipped out and shove food into their mouths, which stood in stark contrast to the Gan Jin tribe, who were eating slowly with chopsticks.
Aang meanwhile was talking to the people on Appa and assuring them of their safety "Appa's going to take good care of you 'till we get there. See you on the other side, buddy! Yip yip!"
Rex however was confused "Yip Yip? What does that-"
Rex was suddenly cut off from speaking further as Appa suddenly roared and then proceeded to take off leaving the former Clone Captain a little surprised. Over by the ship the last of the sick and elderly who could board the Ghost boarded, as Kanan was about to say goodbye to Hera "You going to be okay?"
"Yeah I'll be fine. Honestly Appa and I probably have the easier job. Honestly you sure you don't want to board?" Hera asked him.
"While I would like it to be just the two of us we won't exactly be alone together." Kanan said as he saw Hera look at him annoyed "But I think I can talk some sense into them."
"Good luck." Hera said as she turned around and boarded the ship.
"You too" Kanan said with a smile as Hera closed the door to the ship as it then flew away following behind Appa.
"Come on Kanan you can day dream about her later let's go!" Sokka yelled breaking him out of his thoughts as he turned around to join the others.
After gathering their bearings both groups of people began climbing down into the canyon as the tour guide then proceeded to earthbend to form a bridge in a gap in the path.
"Nice bending!" Aang complimented.
"Yeah. We've seen earth bending in action and it's pretty great. I wonder how long we'll have to wait before someone travels with us that can do earth bending?" Ezra wondered.
"The job's much more than bending, kid. Folks want information." The Canyon guide explained as he turned to the travelers. "Many of you are probably wondering how canyons are formed. Experts tell us this canyon was most likely carved into the ground by earth spirits who were angry at local farmers for not offering them a proper sacrifice."
"What does that mean?" Zeb asked confused and a little worried. Katara and Sokka seemed to share his worry but as they looked up an avalanche of rocks suddenly came falling toward them, and the canyon guide earthbended it away from them.
"He he he, guess the spirits are still angry! Hope you all brought sacrifices." The Canyon guide joked
"If this is what we're going to deal with I should have gone with Hera." Zeb moaned as he folded his arms.
"Yeah but then you'd be sick or worse they would try and cook you and kill you thinking you're a monster. Besides if the Jaloopa didn't want you I doubt the spirits would" Ezra joked as Zeb gave him an annoyed glare.
Time passed as the group was now at the bottom of the switchback trail having just entered the canyon floor. The guide was now standing in front of the two tribes, remaining Ghost crew members and the kids. Katara, Aang, and Sokka looked at each other in exasperation which the Ghost Crew seemed to share as they were now standing at the bottom of the canyon next to a huge boulder.
"Okay, everyone stand clear of the wall." The Canyon guide warned as he proceeed to throw the boulder and destroys the bridge he had made earlier.
"Why'd you do that?" Aang asked
"These people are fleeing the Fire Nation, aren't they? Gotta make sure we can't be followed. We'll be safe now." The Canyon guide said before suddenly being picked up by a huge animal. Aang then proceeded to blow away the dust to reveal a canyon crawler.
"We gotta help him!" Sokka said as he proceeded to throw his boomerang at the crawler, which then dropped the canyon guide and proceeded to come after Sokka instead. "Okay, now we gotta help me!"
Sabine and Zeb proceeded to fire on the crawler in an attempt to distract it as Katara then came to Sokka's aid and proceeded to do a water whip on the crawler, but was quickly thrown aside. Aang then proceeded to jump down with Kanan and Ezra as he then proceeded to send a multiple blasts of air at the crawler with Ezra and Kanan using the Force successfully driving it away.
"What was that?" Aang asked the canyon guide.
"Good question kid." Zeb said giving the canyon guide a glance wondering if they should trust him.
"Canyon crawler." The Canyon guide called from the ground as he groaned in pain. "And there's sure to be more!"
"Your arms, they're broken!" Katara said noticing his injury
"Without my arms, I got no bending. In other words-" The Canyon guide began to explain.
"We're trapped in this canyon." Aang said finishing his sentence.
"Karablast" Zeb groaned in frustration.
Time passed as everyone was now closely grouped together.
"I thought the whole point of ditching our food was so we wouldn't have to deal with things like canyon crawlers." Sokka said confused.
"It's the Zhangs! They took food down here even after the canyon guide told them not to." The Gan Jin leader said trying to pin the blame.
"What? If there's anyone who can't go without food for a day, it's you pampered Gan Jins!" The Zhang leader accused back.
"I hope you're happy. We're stuck in this canyon with no way out." The Gan Jin leader bemoaned.
"Why don't you thank yourself, food hider?" The Zhang leader mocked.
"Look, sticking together is the only way to-" Aang tried to reason before being cut off.
"I'm not walking another step with the likes of them!" The Zhang leader declared.
"Now there's something we can agree on." The Gan Jin leader said with a tone of finality.
"Look I know you guys are upset but arguing over who did what won't get us anywhere. The important thing is we find a way out of here" Ezra said getting between them.
Aang agreeing with Ezra turned to the tour guide "Any ideas?"
"No bendng ... we need to get out of this canyon ... I won't die down here! I won't become part of the food chain!" The Canyon guide bemoaned in anguish.
"See! We're going to become part of the food chain because of you!" The Gan Jin leader said pointing to Zhangs.
"Sure, unjustly blame the Zhangs like you always do!" The Zhang leader accused back.
"Gladly." The Gan Jin leader agreed.
Kanan shook his head in disapproval. The Jedi often helped warring tribes during the Clone Wars. As keepers of the peace they often would help people in an effort to end such conflicts. However Kanan felt this would be more difficult then he anticipated.
Aang seemed to share his frustration as he angrily jumped onto a tall rock and exclaimed "Enough! I thought I could help you guys get along, but I guess that's not gonna happen. We should split up, Gan Jins on this side and Zhangs on that side. We'll travel in two separate lines."
The two leaders nodded at each other and began to start walking. Aang then jumped down to, the Ghost Crew, Sokka and Katara as he then spoke to the siblings. "Sokka, you go with the Zhangs and Katara, you go with the Gan Jins. See if you can find out why they hate each other so much." He then turned to the Ghost Crew "So what will you guys do?"
"Ezra and I will go with Sokka and the Zhangs while Zeb and Sabine will go with Katara and the Gan Jins." Kanan said making a decision.
With decisions made everyone then split up and proceeded to walk separately from one another.
Time passed as Sokka was now with Ezra and Kanan in the Zhang camp.
"So, you guys aren't going to put up your tarps?" Sokka asked
"What for? Its the dry season." The Zhang leader responded confused by his question.
"Exactly!" Sokka exclaimed happy someone agreed with him.
"Besides, we like to use the tarp as a blanket." The Zhang leader responded.
"Finally, someone gets it!" Sokka said with a smile
The Zhang leader then turned to Kanan and Ezra "So you say you're from the stars?"
"Yeah." Ezra responded
"And this Empire you spoke of has allied with the Fire Nation and is controlling and opressing the rest of the galaxy?" The Zhang leader responded
"Yes. We've spent our time trying to fight back rallying many systems to our cause to fight against it." Kanan answered.
"You say your also the last of the Jedi? Who were they? What were they like?" The Zhang leader asked curious.
Meanwhile over at the Gan Jin camp, they were in the process of putting up tarps over their tents. Zeb and Sabine were overlooking any supplies they could carry as Katara walked up and asked the leader "You really think it'll rain?"
"No, but you can never be too careful, right?" The Gan Jin leader responded leaving Katara to smile in response.
Eventually nightfall came, where they were now sitting around their campfire. The Gan Jin leader looked around and noticing the coast was clear proceeded to pull a piece of bread out of his sleeve. Katara looked stunned to see all the other tribe members doing the same. Sabine and Zeb seemed to share her shock.
"Would you care for some bread, Katara?" The Gan Jin leader asked.
"You gotta be kidding!" Sabine exclaimed shocked at his lies.
"So it was you guys who had food!" Katara exclaimed in surprise and anger shared by her friends.
"Oh come now, you really think that tribe of thieves isn't smuggling food? Why should my people go hungry when the sneaky Zhangs are stuffing their faces?" The Gan Jin leader said trying to argue as he suddenly cowered upon seeing Zeb standing over him angry.
"You wouldn't mind if I shook you down to see how much you really got in there do you?" Zeb threatened.
Katara however stepped into stop him as she then hesitated before responding "Well, I guess it's okay if everyone's doing it." She then proceeded to take the bread and then ate.
The Gan Jin leader then handed Zeb and Sabine a piece "No hard feelings right?"
Both took a piece each although Zeb still gave him a glare that indicated he'd be watching him.
"So, why does your tribe hate the Zhangs so much?" Katara asked trying to find the route of the problem.
"You seem like a smart girl Katara, I bet you would enjoy hearing some history." The Gan Jin leader said before he began to explain "The patriarch of our tribe, Jin Wei, was an earthbender warrior who was assigned an important duty, transporting our sacred orb from the great eastern gate, to the great western gate. Taking the orb from the east to the west represents the sun's rising and setting. It was our tribe's ancient redemption ritual. But as he approached the gate, Jin Wei was attacked by one of the Zhang, a vermin named Wei Jin, who looked at the orb with envy. That coward Wei Jin knocked Jin Wei to the ground, and stole our sacred orb. Our people have never forgotten. You can never trust a Zhang."
"But why did he want the Orb? What was so special another tribe wanted it for himself?" Sabine asked feeling there was some holes to the story.
"Even we don't know that Sabine but all we know is it's importance to our history and that the Zhang stole our history and all we want is it back and for them to pay one day for their mistakes." The Gan Jin leader answered.
Sabine still however was unconvinced as she looked over to Zeb who felt a similar vibe of something being off.
Katara however seemed to believe the story as she glared at the Zhang's camp who were sitting around their campfire with Sokka, Kanan and Ezra.
"Care for some meat?" The Zhang leader asked Sokka showing she did smuggle food of her own.
"Would I!" Sokka responded without a second thought as he took the meat and began to bite down on it hungrily.
Kanan however shook his head in disapproval at the woman's carelessness.
The Zhang leader seemed to notice as she began to explain "I know what you must be thinking, we're horrible for endangering everybody by bringing food down here."
"Hm-hmm." Sokka responded happily eating away.
"Yeah because of you we have to do things this way in the first place." Ezra bemoaned.
"The Gan Jin think so badly of us, they probably assumed we brought food in and decided to bring food in themselves. That's why we brought food in." The Zhang leader answered.
Sokka still eating responded "Hmm."
"But why do something they anticipated? Why show you're the better person by following the rules that were setting up? What happened between you?" Kanan asked trying to get answers.
Much like the Gan Jin leader the Zhang leader proceeded to explain her side of the story "Our conflict with the Gan Jin goes back over a hundred years. Our forefather Wei Jin was leaving the western gate of our village, when he saw a figure in the distance. It was a man of the Gan Jin tribe, Jin Wei, collapsed on the ground. Noble Wei Jin stopped to help him. Jin Wei was transporting a sacred orb, a very powerful relic used in his tribe's redemption ritual. Wei Jin tried to tend to the man's wounds but Jin Wei insisted the orb was more important, and asked him to take it back to his tribe. Kind Wei Jin promised to send help for the man as soon as he could, but as Wei Jin crossed the border to return the orb into Gan Jin territory, he was arrested. Instead of thanking him for his kind and selfless deed, they sentenced him to twenty long years in prison. We Zhangs will never forget that injustice."
"That's just terrible." Sokka said as he looked at her piece of meat. "You gonna finish that?"
Kanan rolled his eyes as he looked at Ezra and gave him a nod "Go on Ezra you can take some if she'll let you."
The Zhang leader then handed Ezra some meat as he then began to eat it. Kanan however was still confused "This orb they had. What was so sacred about it that the man would risk his own life for it to be safe?"
"I don't know Master Jedi but all I know is we Zhangs will forever hate them for their selfishness. And no form of convincing will do us otherwise." The Zhang leader responded.
Meanwhile Aang was sitting with Momo far from both camps to illustrate him being in the middle of both. "Sure would be nice to be sitting around one of those campfires, telling stories and laughing. Its okay Momo, we'll be out of here soon enough, and then we can eat our weight in leechi nuts!" Momo quickly jumped up and snatched a bug out of the air and ate part of it before offering the rest to Aang. "Nah, I'll wait for the leechi nuts."
Noticing how alone he was the Canyon guide slowly approached Aang "Lonely isn't it, being impartial?"
"I wish I could help these people get along, but it just seems impossible. Anyhow, I guess our biggest problem is getting out of here." Aang said thinking over their situation
"I'm not so sure the two problems are unrelated." The Canyon guide pointed out.
Aang looked away sadly upon hearing this. If he was to be the balance of peace and couldn't help these two tribes work out their differences then how was he going to help others?
The next day the two tribes were now traveling again in daylight.
"All clear, we're almost to the other side." The Canyon guide said as he led them off.
Aang then jumped down to the Ghost Crew, Katara and Sokka. "Well guys, will these people cooperate long enough to get out of the canyon?"
"I don't think so, Aang, the Zhangs really wronged the Gan Jins. They ambushed Jin Wei and stole the sacred orb." Katara said relaying her part of the story.
"What are you talking about?" Aang asked confused.
"Yeah Katara, what are you talking about? Wei Jin didn't steal the orb, he was returning it to their village gate and was wrongfully punished by the Gan Jin." Sokka said relaying the other side of the story.
"Not punished enough if you ask me." Katara said not feeling convinced.
"What do you guys think?" Aang said asking the Ghost Crew.
"Well if I'm going to be honest Aang I felt there was holes to the story." Sabine said giving her honest answer.
"Something doesn't add up." Zeb said agreeing with her.
"Well I felt bad for them" Ezra said giving his thoughts "But I think they could still get along if we found out the importance of the orb beyond it being sacred."
"I sensed anger and distrust in both sides. Both are frustrated and I feel even they don't know the whole truth behind the story and only have fragments having been passed down to generations. More of it could have gotten lost along the way." Kanan said giving his own thoughts.
Aang began to think over Kanan's words as he then came up with an idea ignoring Sokka's frustrated growls. "Okay, okay I get it! Now I need your help, I need everyone together at the base of the canyon wall." He then proceeded to take off on his glider and land between the two tribes. "Please everyone, as soon as we get out of here we can eat and then go our separate ways, but I need you all to put your heads together and figure out a way up this cliff."
"Maybe the Zhang can climb the wall with their long disgusting fingernails." The Gan Jin leader mocked
"Oh sorry, I forgot that to the Gan Jin unclipped fingernails is a crime punishable by twenty years in jail!" The Zhang leader mocked back.
"Why, you dirty thief!" The Gan Jin leader accussed back.
"You pompous fool!" The Zhang leader responded as the tribes then began to argue loudly again, accompanied by Katara and Sokka. The Ghost crew just watched the exchange in silence. Kanan folded his arms as he watched Aang try to get their attention.
"Guys, focus! How many times do I have to say it? Harsh words won't solve problems, action will!" Aang shouted to them.
"Perhaps the Avatar is right." The Zhang leader said calming down.
"Yes, perhaps he is." The Gan Jin leader said seemingly agreeing.
Aang grinned happily at this. Perhaps he could salvage this after all.
"Harsh words will never solve our problems." The Zhang leader said somewhat beginning to understand.
"Action will!" The Gan Jin leader exclaimed as suddenly both of them drew their swords. Aang yelled in surprise at this, as they then clashed their swords. "To the death! And let this be the end of this rivalry!"
"You know, I take it back. Harsh words aren't so bad!" Aang exclaimed now stepping back a little.
The two leaders ignored him however as they then began to fight. They are evenly matched, and continued until Aang suddenly blew them apart with a strong gust of air. The two tribes were suddenly sent flying backward, revealing a large amount of hidden food.
Aang was shocked at their carelessness "Is that ... food? Everyone smuggled food down here? Unbelievable! You guys put our lives in danger because you couldn't go without a snack for a day? You're all awful!"
"Aang is right. You should all feel ashamed" Sabine said folding her arms.
Aang however looked in wonder at a custard tart, as his stomach growled at the sight "So hungry. Is that an egg custard in that tart?"
"Nevermind" Sabine muttered.
Aang then turned to see dozens of canyon crawlers approaching, as they then all tried to flee.
"Oh no, that's a lot of canyon crawlers." Katara said suddenly regretting the pointless arguing.
Sokka wasted no time in taking out his boomerang to fight "We barely survived one!"
Ezra and Kanan joined him as they took out their lightsabesr prepared to fight as Sabine and Zeb joined them aiming their blasters.
The Canyon guide was naturally worried by this "They're coming back for me! They've had a taste and they're coming back for me!"
"Sokka, wait." Katara said apologising as she suddenly stopped him as he ran forward. "I don't care about this stupid feud, I just want us to get out of here alive."
"Me too. I only took their side 'cause they fed me." Sokka said apologising as well.
Aang continued to fight off the canyon crawlers, soon having them all in a pile. The crawlers then picked themselves up and began to target the refugees. Though Aang, Katara, Sokka, the Ghost crew and the tribe leaders fought hard to hold them off, they were vastly out numbered.
Aang then looked around to see the crawlers eating the food out of the bags as he then called out to them "Everybody, watch me and do what I do!" He then proceeded to distract a crawler with a piece of food, leaping on its back, and throwing a bag over its snout. The two tribes mimicing him, began working together as he turned to them "Now follow me! We're riding out of this hole!" Aang then proceeded to tie a huge bag of food onto a stick and use it to guide the crawlers up the canyon wall. "Everyone, get off!"
"We made it!" The Zhang leader exclaimed.
As soon as all the people had made it up the cliff, Aang then threw the bag back down, as the crawlers proceeded to follow.
"I never thought a Gan Jin could get his hands dirty like that." The Zhang leader responded feeling apparent guilt.
"And I never knew you Zhangs were so reliable in a pinch." The Gan Jin leader responded feeling equally guilty.
"Perhaps we're not so different after all." The Zhang leader said apologising.
They both smiled at each other as Aang sighed in relief at this.
"Nicely done Aang." Kanan said putting a hand on his shoulder to congratulate.
"Great thinking kid." Sabine said giving him a playful punch on the arm.
"Too bad we can't rewrite history. You thieves stole our sacred orb from Jin Wei!" The Gan Jin leader said suddenly drawing his sword.
The Zhang leader then drew her sword. "You tyrants unjustly imprisoned Wei Jin for twenty long years!"
"Give me a break!" Ezra exclaimed in surprise and frustration. "You guys just worked together why can't you just call it even."
Aang sighed in frustration sharing Ezra's frustration as he suddenly had a realisation hearing that name "Wait a second ... Jin Wei? Wei Jin? I know those guys!"
"Yes, yes, we're all aware of the story." The Gan Jin leader responded not understanding what he was getting at it.
"No, I mean I really knew them. I might not look it, but I'm a hundred and twelve years old. I was there one hundred years ago on the day you're talking about." Aang said as he began to explain the real truth about what happened. "There seems to be a lot of confusion about what happened. First of all, Jin Wei and Wei Jin weren't enemies. They were brothers, twins in fact, and they were eight; and most importantly, they were just playing a game! The sacred orb from the legend, that was the ball! And the eastern and western gates were the goal posts. Jin Wei had the ball and was running toward the goal when he fell and fumbled it. Wei Jin didn't steal the ball, he picked it up and started running it toward the other goal, but he stepped out of bounds, so the official put him in the penalty box. Not for twenty long years but for two short minutes. There was no stealing and no putting anyone in imprison, it was just a game."
"You're saying the sacred orb was actually a sacred ball?" The Zhang leader asked confused.
"Nope, just a regular ball." Aang answered simply.
"What about our tribe's redemption ritual?" one Gan Jin man asked confused.
"That's what the game was called, redemption. As soon as you got the ball from one end to the other, everyone would yell 'redemption!'" Aang answered as the tribe leaders looked at each other skeptically. "Don't get me wrong, Wei Jin was kind of a slob and Jin Wei was a little stuffy, that much is true. But they respected each other's differences enough to share the same playing field."
The Zhang leader now feeling a new sense of fulfillment turned to the Gan Jin leader. "I suppose it's time we forget the past."
The Gan Jin leader bowed in response "And look to the future."
The Zhang leader bowed back as Aang looked at them happily.
Time passed as they were now standing with Appa and the Ghost with Hera standing there waiting for them.
"Good to see you, boy. Did you miss me?" Aang asked as Appa licked Aang in response. Rex then proceeded to get off of Appa as he rejoined the Ghost crew.
"Hey Rex. So how was riding Appa?" Ezra asked him.
"I've travelled throughout the galaxy on starships and seen the stars and yet that was one of the most exciting things I've ever done." Rex answered as he paused for a moment his tone changing "And I'll never do it again"
"I cannot thank you enough, Avatar." The Gan Jin leader said approaching Aang.
Aang was now covered in Appa's slobber as he answered "Well, you know I try."
Gan Jin leader recoils in disgust upong seeing this "Ugh!"
"Let us travel to the Earth Kingdom capital as one tribe." The Zhang leader said as both tribes cheered in response as they started walking.
The Canyon guide quickly ran forward calling out to them "I'm going too! I'm sick of this place!"
"Nice going there again Aang." Kanan said complimenting him.
"You made a difference in their lives." Hera said sharing his thoughts.
"That's some luck you knew Jin Wei and Wei Jin." Sokka responded agreeing with them.
"You could call it luck. Or you could call it lying." Aang said suddenly revealing his deception.
Sokka was flabbergasted upon hearing this "What?"
"I made the whole thing up." Aang answered simply
"Well you certainly fooled me" Ezra said surprised "You even fooled Kanan."
"Yeah he did." Kanan said feeling somewhat stupid for not sensing Aang's clever lie.
Katara was equally shocked "You did not!" Her tone suddenly changed to devilish admiration. "That is so wrong."
"So really had Aang not done that nobody would have learned anything?" Sabine asked confused.
"So what's the moral here? That lying is a good thing when it's convenient to solving a situation?" Ezra asked confused.
"Perhaps it's best we not talk about it" Kanan said dismissing the situation.
"So from now on let's just pretend it never happened." Hera said as everyone seemed to agree with her.
"Now where is that egg custard tart? I'm starving!" Aang asked changing the subject.
Author's Note: So yeah that's that chapter done. Admitedly I did find this one to write because I found it hard to give everyone a role. Really now that I think about it I probably could have skipped it but again I wanted to try and do every episode. Which should make episodes like Zuko Alone interesting given that's the only one where the Gaang doesn't appear. I'm thinking of something for that.
As for the episode's reputation and what I think? Yeah it's bad but honestly I didn't think it was anything especially terrible until the end with Aang's lie where again as I said here because of that the moral is questionable and had Aang not done it we would have never seen a resolution plus I don't know why the orb was so important beyond being just something sacred. But why is it sacred? Does it have powers? I don't know maybe I'm reading it wrong I also haven't watched this episode in awhile and again I'm following a transcript.
Again my ending while a little bit of breaking the fourth wall considering how the show does it later I think it was the best way I could address it. Again while I'm always critical of my own work and worried how it'll be perceived this is again one I probably would be critical of no matter what.
Anyway I think that's it for now but knowing me I've probably forgotten stuff. To all those who have been reading this story and the rest of my stories I thank you for your continued support. I wouldn't be doing these stories if it weren't for you reading them. This is your friend Steve993 signing off and I'll see you next time.