Jet:
In the forest, Momo pounced on some nuts that were on the ground. Tha was when he got stuck in a trap. Uh oh for Momo.
"Where's Momo?" Aang asked.
"I thought I saw him head over there." Lin said. It was then they could hear Momo's yelling and they walked farther into the forest, seeing Momo hanging in a tree.
"Hang on, Momo!" Aang yelled and jumped into the tree. Aang managed to get Momo down while Ember opened the small cage enough for Momo to squeeze out of before letting it snap back in place. Momo ran to the nuts as soon as he was free.
"Of course, the animal always gets to eat first." Lin sighed. The hog monkeys, also caught in traps, cried sadly.
"Alright, you guys to." Aang said and jumped up to a nearby branch.
"This is gonna take forever." Sokka said, reaching over his shoulder, he grabbed his boomerang and threw it, slicing through the ropes and letting them fall to the ground. Aang, in the process of climbing the tree, smiled.
"That works." The hog monkeys ran.
"Oh, they were so sweet." Lin pouted.
"Sure Lin." Ember sighed as Aang hopped back down.
"What is it, Sokka?" Aqua asked, leaning over his shoulder to get a better look at the animal traps.
"These are Fire Nation traps." Sokka said.
"How can you tell." Ember gulped.
"You can tell from the metalwork." Sokka said. "We'd better pack up camp, and get moving."
"We can never stay in one place for to long." Aqua sighed depressed.
"No flying this time." Sokka demanded when they were about to board they're animal friends. Ruby and Sapphire glared.
"What?" Katara asked as if he hadn't said what he said.
"Why wouldn't we fly?" Aang asked.
"Yeah, how else are we suppose to get around?" Ember asked.
"Think about it." Sokka said. "Somehow, Prince Zuko and the fire nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa, Ruby, and Sapphire, they're just too noticeable."
"Yes! Ground!" Lin exclaimed. Everyone looked at her. "What? I'm never near my natually element."
"Appa, Sapphire, and Ruby are not too noticeable!" Katara snapped.
"Appa 's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head. Sapphire and Ruby are two very large different colored dragons, need I remind you, dragons are extinct! It's kind of hard to miss them." Sokka explained.
"I guess he's right." Aqua admitted.
"Sokka's just jealous cause he doesn't have an arrow." Aang smiled.
"I know how he can get one." Ember grinned wickedly.
"Um, stay away." Sokka said and hid behind Aqua, crouching to hide under her slightly smaller height.
"I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk."
"Who made you the boss?" Katara asked.
"I'm not the boss. I'm the leader." Sokka said.
"What's the difference?" Lin asked.
"That's beside the point." Sokka said.
"You're the leader?" Katara asked. "But your voice still cracks!"
"I'm the older and I'm a warrior." Sokka's voice cracked. He coughed and tried to deepen his voice. "So I'm the leader!"
"What about one of us? We're the guardians!" Ember insisted.
"If anyone's the leader, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar." Katara said.
"Are you kidding, he's just a goofy kid!" Sokka protested.
"But we're all kids." Lin reminded him. They all looked to Aang who hung upside down, using Appa's horns.
"And Aang is still the youngest physically." Ember reminded them.
"They're right." Aang said.
"Why do boys always think someone has to be a leader?" Katara huffed, putting her hands on her jutted out hips. "I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl." Sokka bluhed deeply as he glanced at Aqua who was also blushing just as red, if not redder.
"I-I've kissed a girl. You just don't know." Sokka stuttered.
"Who? Gran-gran?" Katara teased. "I've met Gran-gran."
"No, beside's Gran-gran." Sokka insisted.
"Okay, let's stop talking about Sokk'a love life." Lin said. "We have more pressing issues."
"Listen, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."
"Okay, we'll try it your way oh, wise leader." Katara teased. Aang hopped over to them with a bookbag on his back.
"Who knows, walkiing might be fun." Aang said. Lin and Aqua smiled at the young boy's innocence and Ember groaned.
A few minute's later, "Walking stinks!" Aang groaned. "How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?"
"There are other ways to travel, Aang." Lin reminded him.
"Besides, some people like to walk." Aqua said.
"I don't see how." Aang said, clearly exhausted.
"Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts, they seem to know everything." Katara said.
"Haha. 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?" Katara asked.
"Sokka's instincts!" Lin, Aqua, and Ember laughed.
"That's a great idea!" Aang said, taking the idea seriously. "Hey, Sokka's instincts, would you mind..."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Sokka said. "Look guys, I'm tired too. But the imporant thing is that..." He pulled a branch away.
"We're in trouble again." Ember said. Fire Nation soldiers turned to them. They had wondered straight into a camp.
"This wouldn't have happened if we have flown." Lin sighed.
"Run!" Sokka yelled. They dropped they're bags but a fire bender lit the bushes behind them. "We're cut off!"
"Sokka, your shit!" Aang exclaimed, Sokka's sleeve had caught fire.
"Ah!" he yelled panic.
"Stand still!" Aqua said and put the fire out.
"Thanks...Aqua." Sokka gasped.
"All in a day's work." Aqua shrugged with a gentle smile.
"If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you." Sokka said.
"What are you doing?" Katara whispered.
"Bluffing?" Sokka guessed.
"You?" the captain asked. "Promise not to hurt us?" The captain stopped and fell forward, collapsing.
"Nice work, Sokka! How'd ya do that?" Aang asked.
"Uh, instint?" Sokka guessed again.
"Look!" Katara pointed to the tree.
"Someone's in the trees!" Ember gasped. Someone dropped from the tree, kicking two soldiers down. It was a boy, a boy about the guardians and Sokka's age. He wore dark green clothing with a red vest. The boy had messy brown hair and a twig between his teeth but because he moved so quickly, his eyes were unnoticable. It wasn't soon that he sent a few more groups of soldiers falling.
"Lin! Look out!" Ember gasped as a soldier snuck up on them. Ember pushed Lin out the way of the and in a flash, Ember had a dagger in her hands and blocking the sword, despite the super small blade.
"When did you get your dagger back?" Aqua asked.
"I've always had it. Never seen any reason to take it out." Ember struggled, she always kept the dagger hidden in her waist scarf. Ember kicked the guy down, knocking his out as he hit with the hilt of his sword.
"Hey! Move!" brown haired boy said, his twin hook sword out. He grabbed her around her waist, tucking her head under his chin and holding her close so her back was in his chest. He took one of his hooks and pushed the soldier down.
Ember looked up, her ember hair swishing around down her back as her copper colored eyes met with his serious brown eyes, watching her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Y-yeah." Ember stuttered. Lin and Aqua shared a smile. Ember couldn't help but love the warmth his arm provided that her inner fire never did. A soldier rushed at the young man.
"Look out!" Aqua gasped and froze him where he stood.
"They're in the trees!" a soldier yelled as a small boy about eight jumped onto his shoulder, spinning the helmet around so he couldn't see.
"This is a fight!" Lin exclaimed and earth bended a man off his foot.
"Come on girls," Ember said, stepping away from the boy. "let's show them what we got!"
On a tree, an archer sat and and let two arrows fly, knocking swords out of the hands of two soldiers.
Sokka ran at one with a battle cry, holding his boomerang high over his head.
"Sokka, you don't sneak up behind someone by yelling." Aqua sighed as he ran past her. But twig boy knocked the soldier down.
"Hey, he was mine!" Sokka complained.
"Gotta be quicker next time." he smirked and rejoined the battle. Ember ducked a flairing sword and fell down to the ground, kicking the guy's feet out from under his legs.
Ember turned her head behind her, her hair flying, just to gasp as a sword came down on her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the pain that never came. When she opened her eyes, the boy stood over her, tan hand outstretched.
Ember gulped and took his head, allowing him to help her up.
"Hey." he smiled.
"Hi." Ember said, staring into his chocolate brown eyes.
"You just tok out a whole army almost single-handed!" Aang said awed, ruining the special moment. Aqua and Lin groaned, pushing him down.
"Army?" Sokka scoffed. "There were only, like, twenty guys!"
"You're just jealous you couldn't take down twenty guys." Aqua teased.
"My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighter, Sneers-" It was a boy who was eating from one of the soldiers bowls. "-Longshot," was also a boy, the archer, who lifted his head at his name. "-Smellerbee," was a girl with messy brown hair and clothes that made her look like a boy. "-the Dude and Pipsqueak." he finished. It was a boy that was pretty big for a teenager and had the little boy on his shoulders.
Aang walked up to the little boy. "Pipsqueak, that's a funny name." Aang chuckled.
"You think my name is funny?" the tall boy glared.
Aang gulped but smiled widely, "It's hilarious!"
"I'll never understand boys." Lin said as the three boys laughed. Pipsqueak slapped Aang on his back that knocked him off balanced, unfortanetly or fortently, however you look at it, fell grabbing Ember's knee's, forcing her back and into Jet's arms.
"And, don't I get to know you're name." Jet smirked.
"I'm Ember."
Lin and Aqua coughed.
"Oh," Ember blushed. "And these are my sisters, Lin and Aqua and our friends, Sokka, Katara, and Aang."
"You don't look a-like." Jet commented.
"We get that alot." Aqua said.
"We just been through a lot and sort of bonded. We started looking to each other as sisters instead of just friends before we met Katara, Sokka, and Aang." Ember explained. "We have a fourth sister named Jade, but she's on a little...vacation."
"Um, thanks for saving us Jet." Katara interupted. "We were lucky you were there."
"I should be thinking you. We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning, we just needed the right distravtion. And then you guys stumbled in.
"We were relying on instincts." Katara glared towards Sokka.
"You'll get yourself killed doing that." Jet said.
"Trust me, wasn't our idea." Ember interupted, eyes bright.
"Oh, Sokka. Calm down. You know we love you." Aqua giggled.
"Hey Jet, these barrels are filled with blasting jelly." The Duke said.
"That's a great score." Jet said.
"Blasting jelly?" Lin asked.
"And these boxes are filled with jelly candy!" Pipsqueak exclaimed.
"Also good." Jet said. "Let's not get those mixed up."
"Wow, you have to be they're leader." Ember said.
"How'd you guess?" Jet smirked.
"Just the way you hold yourself and everyone asking for you." Ember smiled.
"Do you have a leader?"
"Not currently." Ember said. "It's all messed up. We're all pretty different, at least my sisters and I."
"How so?"
"Well, Jade is a free bird, doing her own thing and is practically one with the wind. Aqua here, is a go with the flow. She moves like a river and rivers may be calm, but they can also be rough and deadly. Lin is a sensitive but strong girl. Mess with people she cares about, and you're in trouble. With her earth, she is an unbeatable force."
"And you?" Jet asked.
"Wh-what about me?" Ember blushed, sliding her hair behind her ear.
"How are you in you're group?"
"Well, I guess I'm the hothead." Ember admitted. "I may be calm now, but trust me, I'm protective of my sisters and friends, probably because I'm the eldest of my sisters."
"I noticed Aqua and Lin can bend, can you bend?"
"Maybe I can." Ember said, choosing her words carefully. She didn't want to reveal she was the Avatar's fire guardian. That's a firebender and who knows what he would think.
"But you used a dagger?"
"An element of surprise." Ember said. "If they don't suspect you can be, it's the perfect chance to win."
"I guess I can't say nothing to that."
"We'll take this stuff back to the hideout." Pipsqueak said as they put the barrels into a wagon.
"You guys have a hideout?" Aang asked.
"You wanna see it?" Jet asked.
"Yes, we wanna see it!" Katara exclaimed.
"How about you, Ember?" Jet asked.
"Oh, um, sure. We'll love to." Ember stuttered but nodded.
A few minutes later, they walked through the forest.
"We're here." Jet stopped.
"Where, there's nothing here!" Sokka yelled.
"Hold this." Jet said, handing Sokka a rope with a loop on the end.
"Why?" Sokka asked, taking it. "What's this do?" His questioned was answered when the loop fell onto Sokka's hand and he was yanked into the tree.
"Sokka?" Aqua asked.
"Here you go." Jet said, handing her another rope. Aqua took it and calmly rode up. Jet handed one to Lin and another to Katara who both went up.
"Aang?" Jet asked, handing one to him.
"I'll get up on my own." Aang declined. Momo climbed onto Aang's shoulder and Aang jumped up with the help of his airbending.
"Grab ahold of me, Ember." Jet said and pulled her close. Jet grabbed a rope as Ember clutched onto him when they left the ground. Finally, they reached above and into the leaves where many houses made of wood stood around them. This place didn't look fire friendly.
"Nice place you got here!" Aang laughed as he rode by on a rope. Aqua, Sokka, and Katara were looking around, Sokka mostly pouting while Lin was talking to the Duke and Pipsqueak.
"It's amazing." Ember gasped.
"I'm glad you like it." Jet smiled. Ember held her stomach. Why did she feel so strange? "Are you alright?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. I guess I'm not used to being in the trees. I'll get use to it." Ember lied. "You want to know what the best part about being so high up?" Jet asked.
"Yeah." Ember nodded.
"The fire nation can't find us up here." Jet smirked.
"That's...convient." Ember smiled. What would he do if he learned she was fire nation, the one who gifted the benders.
"Hey, why are you wearing those scarfs?" Jet asked.
"Huh?" Ember froze. She had forgotten about her red scarfs with the fire nation symbol around her waist and the other around ther forehead.
"They have the fire nation insignia on them." Jet said.
"Well, I just like the color red." Ember smiled nervously.
"What nation are you from? You don't look like you'll be from the earth kingdom." Jet said.
"Maybe we'll keep that a secret as well." Ember sighed.
"The fire nation would love to find you. Wouldn't they, Jet?" Smellerbee asked.
"It's not gonna happen, Smellerbee." Jet smirked.
"Why would the fire nation want you?" Ember asked.
"I guess you could say I've been causing them a little trouble." Jet said. "See, they took over a nearby earth kingdom town a few years back."
"Earth kingdom." Lin said, walking up. "I'll show them what they deserve for messing with my nation."
"Calm down, Lin." Aqua said. "We'll get them, you know we will."
"Fine." Lin huffed.
"We've been ambushing they're troop, cutting off they're supply lines, and doing anything we can to mess with 'Pipsqueak confessed.
"One day, we'll drive the fire nation out of here for good and free that town." Jet said.
"I think the fire nation deserves to be there just as much as anyone else." Ember said, sticking up for her people. "I don't think they should take over the town, but live there peacefully without torturing the others who live around them, yeah."
"The fire nation deserves nothing. Every fire bender or fire nation member don't even deserve to be alive." Jet snapped.
"Well, it's good to know how you feel." Ember glared and walked away to Aqua and Lin.
"So, you all live here?" Katara asked.
"That's right. Longshot over there, his town got burned down by the fire nation. We found the Duke trying to steal our food. I don't think he ever had a home."
"What about you?" Katara asked and Jet stopped.
"Fire nation killed my parents. I was only eight yeara old. That day changed me forever." Ember froze. So, that was why he was so mad at the fire nation.
"Sokka and I lost our mother to the fire nation." Katara confessed.
"I'm so sorry, Katara." Jet said.
"Jet, I'm sorry about what happened to you, Jet." Ember said.
"So am I." Jet said. "Why are you so happy with fire anyways?"
"Because," Ember started. "It's an element. Every element is important. Each can cause death and life. Air is what we breath, having us live but a tornado could also kill us. Water is what we drink, we need that to survive, but could also drown us. Earth is what we walk on everyday, but it could also kill us with an earthquake or landslide or something else. And then there's fire. Fire is what we need to survive as well. It's heat. Although it could kill us, it is also what we live on. Our do you think the water nations haven't die let. With they're jackets, they also need fire. You also need fire to cook most things. How can you say fire is destructive and dangerous, when you also need it, as well as any other element, just to survive." She walke off, leaving him to stare after her.
A few minutes later, they sat around a large table with food in front of them.
"Today, we struck another blow against the fire nation swine." Jet said. "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 wold hog monkey.
"Now, the fire nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees. Maybe they're right." The other freedom fighters booed. "Or maybe they're dead wrong." he glared deadly that left Ember gulping. If this was how he thought of fire benders, she didn't want to think about it.
"Hey Jet, nice speech." Katara said.
"Thanks." Jet nodded. "By the way, I was really impressed with you, Aang, Aqua, Lin, and Ember today. That was some great bending I saw out there today." Ember gave a jumped when she heard her name.
"Well, they're great." Katara blushed. "He's the Avatar and they're..."
"Shh!" Ember, Aqua, and Lin hissed, covering her mouth.
"What?" Katara asked, her voice muffled.
Lin was the closest one to her. "Remember," she whispered in Katara's ear. "They don't like firebenders. Remember what element Ember bends."
"But..."
"No exceptions." Lin said and they removed they're hands. Jet looked curious.
"Well, they're just good benders." Katara smiled.
"Avatar huh?" Jet asked. "Very nice."
"Thanks Jet." Aang smiled.
"So, I might know a way that you, Aang, and Aqua could help in our struggle..." Jet trailed off.
"That only depends on what it is." Ember said, despite her name not being mentioned.
"Oh, I have something else for you." Jet said. Ember glared.
"Unfortunately, we have to leave tonight." Sokka stood.
"Sokka, you're kidding me!" Jet complained. "I needed you on an important mission tomorrow."
Sokka froze. Of course, that would get his attention. "What mission?"
The next day, Sokka and Jet stood on a branch while Ember sat on it, letting her legs dangle. Jet cupped his hands and made a whistle that sounded like a birdcall. A call answered him and Sokka jamed his knife into the truck of a tree.
"What are you doing?" Jet asked.
"Shh, it amplifies vibration." Sokka answered.
"Good trick." Jet said, clearly impressed.
"I think someone's coming." Ember noted.
"How many?" Jet asked.
"I think there's just one." Soka said.
"Good work. Ready your weapons." Jet said. Sokka pulled his knife out while Ember placed a hand on her waist, ready to defend herslef if needed. What came out of the woods wasn't what Sokka and Ember were expecting. It was an old man walking on a cane who wore a simple red robe.
"Wait, false alarm. He's just an old man." Sokka said but Jet didn't care. He jumped from the tree and landed in front of him.
"What is he doing?" Ember asked, going to climb down the tree.
"Where are you going?" Sokka whispered.
"What does it look like? I'm going to stop Jet." Ember said.
"But..."
"Listen, he is part of my nation and I will not let him be harmed." Ember said and jumped down.
"What are you doing in our woods, you leech?" Jet asked.
"Please sir, I'm just a traveler." the old man pleaded. Jet reached out, ready to force the man down as his cane clattered on the ground but Ember stopped him from going farther.
"What are you doing, Ember?" Jet asked.
"Preventing you from being stupid." Ember snapped. "You can't hurt him. He's just an old man, who cares of the nation."
"I do!" Jet glared.
"I don't!" Ember glared. Jet glared at her.
"Jet, he's just an old man!" Sokka reasoned.
"He's fire nation!" Jet snapped. He was unaware of Ember helping the old man get away.
"Thank you so much, Fire Guardian." the man said.
"Think nothing of it." Ember smiled. Her smile froze. "How did you know."
"You might want to have your head scarf a little tighter. I can see you're tattoo." he said.
"Oh." Ember blushed. "Please, call me Ember."
"Alright, Guardian Ember." he said. Ember sighed and let the old man on his way. Ember quickly ditched Jet and Sokka and went back to the hideout.
"Hey Sokka, is Jet back?" Katara asked when Ember finally reached the hideout.
"Yeah, he's back. But we're leaving." Sokka said.
"And for once, I agree with Sokka." Ember said.
"What?" Aang asked.
"What makes you want to leave?" Lin asked.
"But I made him this hat." Katara asked, pulling a hat made out of stitched leaves with a flower on top.
"He'll love it, Katara." Aqua lied.
"You're boyfriend Jet's a thug." Sokka said.
"He's right." Ember said sadly.
"What?" Lin asked.
"But I thought you were getting along so well." Aqua said.
"We were." Ember said. "Until I realized just how deep his hatred for firebenders were. And I stood up for that old man. But I couldn't just stand there and watch him hurt someone I should be protecting."
When they entered Jet cabin, Jet glared at her with accusing eyes, a hand going to one of his swords and tightening. Ember gulped wit uncertainty.
"Sokka, Ember, you told them what happened but you didn't mention that the guy was fire nation?" Jet said.
"No, they conveniently left that part out." Katara glared.
"But even if he was fire nation, he was a harmless civilian." Sokka snapped.
"And I thought I told you, I don't care about nation. Water, fire, earth, and air. They'll all the same to me." Ember glared. His hand tightened on his hook, surprising since he already had a death grip on the hook already.
"He was an assassin." Jet glared. Jet pulled a knife out and took out the ring on the handle of the knife. "See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife. He was sent to eliminate me. You helped save my life."
"I knew there was an explanation!" Katara smiled.
"I didn't see any knife." Sokka glared.
"That's because there wasn't." Ember said.
"That's because he was concealing it." Jet said.
"See Sokka? Ember?" Katara asked. "I'm sure you just didn't notice the knife."
"There was no knife." Sokka said.
"I believe you, Sokka." Aqua said softly.
"I'm going to the hut and packing my things." Sokka said.
"Tell me you guys aren't leaving yet." Jet said, narrowing his eyes at Ember again. "I really need your help."
"What can we do?" Aang asked.
"The fire nation is planning on burning down our forest-" Jet said and Lin gasped horrified. "If you, Katara, and Aqua use water bending to fill the reservoir, we could fight the fires. But if you leave now, they'll destroy the whole valley."
"We can't let that happen." Lin said.
"She's right." Ember said. "The fire nation has already destroyed plenty of forests before we've seen that, we're not letting them take another." Jet lifted his head surprised. Why did she seem to be fighting against her own element? Why would she be traveling with the Avatar anyway? Wasn't he supposed to save the world?
"We can't leave now with the fire nation about to burn down a forest." Katara said. "Ember is right."
"I guess I'll stay. We have to do what we can to help." Aqua said.
"I'm sorry girls." Sokka said. "Jet's very smooth, but we can't trust him."
"You know what I think?" Katara hissed. "You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!"
"Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet. It's just that my instinct…" Sokka trailed off.
"But you're instincts have gotten us in trouble before." Lin said, crossing her arms.
"My instincts tell me we need to stay a little longer and help Jet. Come on, Aang." Katara glared.
"Sorry Sokka." Aang apologized and left with Katara.
That night, "Let's go." Jet said. Ember, already awaken, watched as Jet disappeared. She poked out and notices that the Jet had also woken Sokka up. They nodded to the other and followed the Freedom Fighters. They walked until Jet and his friends stopped at the edge of the dam.
"Now listen, you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal." Jet said. "I the reservoir isn't full, the fire nation troops could survive." Sokka put a hand over Ember's mouth as she gasped.
"But what about the people in the town. Won't they get wiped out too?" The Duke asked and Jet placed a hand on the young boy's shoulder.
"Look Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the fire nation." Jet said and turned to Longshot. "Now, don't blow the dam until I give the signal, got it?" Longshot nodded. Sokka frowned and a rustle was heard behind them, making both teens tense.
It was Smellerbee who had snuck up behind them and tossed them out into the open.
"Sokka, Fire Nation, I'm glad you decided to join us." Jet smirked.
"Fire nation?" Ember gulped.
"Tie her up." Jet commanded. "Make sure to get her hands and feet nice and tight."
Smellerbee and Longshot quickly tied her up, Sokka trying to get to her and Jet holding him back.
"I heard your plan is to destroy the earth kingdom town." Sokka said.
"Our plan is to rid the valley of the fire nation." Jet said.
"Why are you doing this, Jet?" Ember asked.
"Why? WHY!" Jet yelled. "Maybe it's because the fire nation destroyed my life!"
"So, you're goal in life is to destroyed others. Those fire benders also have families waiting for them to return and the ones who live in that town also have lives and dreams that you'll destroy."
"Of course, a firebender would never understand." Jet said.
"What do I being a fire bender have to do anything?" Ember asked, hurt in her voice.
"All fire benders care about is war and destruction." Jet said.
"Jet, did you forget everything I told you?" Ember asked. "All nations are deadly but life. It was just the fire nation who started the war but any other nation could have done it as well."
"Wait a minute!" Sokka exclaimed. "You lied to Aang and Katara about that forest fire!"
"Jet," Ember gasped. "you didn't."
"None of you understand the demands of war. Not like you and I do. But, she's also just a firebender, probably from a colony or something." Jet said. Ember's eyes widened as she realized something. Jet thought she was just you're everyday firebender. He didn't know that she was the avatar's fire guardian. That would be an interesting surprise to tell him.
"I do understand." Sokka glared. "I understand there's nothing you won't do to get what you want."
"I was hoping you'd have an open mind, but I can see you've made your choice. You can go with the firebender." Jet said and grabbed Sokka. Pipsqueak picked Ember up, not all the gently, might I add. "I can't let you warn Katara and Aang. Take them for a walk, a long walk."
"You can't do this!" Sokka yelled.
"You don't understand!" Ember yelled.
"Oh, I understand everything. You betrayed me Ember." Jet said.
"How? How did I betray you?" Ember hissed. "Because of what nation I'm from. I'm proud to be fire nation. One day you'll see, not all firebenders are bad. Someday, things will happen and the world will change."
"Take them away." Jet glared.
At the hideout, "Jet, I'm sorry about how Sokka's been acting." Katara said.
"No worries, both him and Ember already apologized." Jet said.
"Where are they, by the way?" Aqua asked.
"I think I saw them going for a walk in the woods a few minutes ago." Jet said.
"Oh." Aqua sighed, lowering her head sadly. Lin narrowed her eyes. She was an earthbender and a master of deception.
Finally, they walked to an area near a river. "Alright, we're here." Jet announced. "Underground water's trying to escape through these vents. I need you guys to help it along."
"I never used bending on water I can't see. I don't know." Katara said.
"Katara, you can do this." Jet said. "And Aqua to."
"What about me?" Aang asked.
"I know the Avatar can do this." Jet said confidently.
"Jet, remember, Aang may be the avatar but he's still a kid." Lin glared protectively.
"Oh, of course." Jet said, avoiding Lin's accusing and narrowed eyes. And so, working together, Aang, Katara, and Aqua managed to do what was told.
"Good job!" Jet exclaimed. At least he was excited about something. "This river empties into the reservoir, a few more geysers and it'll be full."
"Look," Aang pointed. "There's another steam vent." And the three benders ran in that direction, Lin following behind.
"Okay, you three keep it up. I'll go check on things at the reservoir." Jet said and started to walk away.
"When we're done, we'll meet you over there." Katara said.
"Actually," Jet said. "probably better if you meet me back at the hideout when we're done." And he left.
A few more geysers later, "I bet that's enough and I'm not just saying that to be lazy." Aang siad.
"So, I guess we can go to the hideout now." Aqua said.
"Where else is there to go?" Lin asked.
"Let's catch up with Jet at the reservoir." Katara smiled.
"I don't know." Aqua sighed. Lin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I thought we agreed to meet Jet back at the hideout." Aang said confused.
"Well, we finished early, I'm sure he'll be happy to see us." Katara said.
In the forest, Ember being carried by pipsqueak and Sokka who was walking beside them, his hands tied.
"Come on, move along!" Smellerbee shoved Sokka.
"How can you stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out a whole town?" Sokka asked.
"Hey, listen Sokka, Ember, Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says and things always turn out okay." Pipsqueak glared.
"Just because he's you're leader, doesn't mean that you have to listen to what he says." Ember said. "A true leader listens to the ones they're leader and take they're suggestions into hand. Not ignore them and go along with a plan he thinks will work. You won't get far doing that."
"And if that's how Jet leads, he's got a lot to learn." Sokka said and ran off. Ember threw herself out of Pipsqueak's arms as he and Smellerbee ran after Sokka.
"While you two are up there, you might want to practice your knot-work." Sokka said, holding up his bindings. Ember held up her own and sneezed, burning the rope around her legs.
"She really is a firebender!" Pipsqueak gasped.
"But…" Smellerbee glared. There were no denying it.
"No, I'm not just any firebender." Ember walked up, placing her hands on her hips. "I am the Avatar's fire guardian!" Smellerbee and Pipsqueak gasped and Sokka and Ember ran from the scene.
On a cliff, Katara, Aang, Katara, Aqua and Lin stood on the edge, watching.
"What are they doing?" Katara asked.
"This doesn't look good." Lin said.
"We have to do something." Aqua gasped.
"Those are the red barrels he got from the fire nation." Aang realized.\
"Why would they need blasting jelly?" Katara asked.
"Because he's gonna blow up the dam." Aang, Aqua, and Lin gasped.
"No, they wouldn't destroy the town. Jet wouldn't do that." Katara insisted.
"Katara, you've only known this guy for a few days. You can't possible know what he's like in the amount of time you've spent with him." Lin said softly.
"I've gotta stop him." Aang said and let out his glider. Before he could glide, surprisingly, Jet was the one to stop him.
"Yes, I would." Jet said.
"Jet, where are Sokka and Ember?" Aqua asked.
"Girls." Jet said. Katara and Aqua angrily, sent Jet flying.
"That's for Sokka and Ember." Lin growled, sending Jet up and pushed against a tree. Aqua froze him.
"Why, Jet?" Katara asked. "I can't believe I trusted you and you're sick and I trusted you!" Katara cried.
"And you most likely broke Ember's heart." Lin glared.
"Please. Ember's a firebender. She has no heart." Jet said. A bird whistle somewhere and Jet whistled back. "You're too late."
"No!" the girls gasped. They were too busy with Jet to stop what was happening at the dam.
"Sokka and Ember are still out there and they're our only chance." Aang said.
"Please. I hope you are both all right." Aqua whispered, her hands clutched to her heart as tears leaked from her eyes.
"No." Katara whispered and the dam blew.
"Sokka and Ember didn't make in time." Aang whispered.
"All those people. Jet, you're a monster!" Katara roared.
"This was a victory, girls." Jet said. "Remember that. The fire nation is gone and this valley will be safe."
"Who will be safe, you killed everyone!" Aqua snapped.
"It will be safe without you." A familiar voice said. To everyone's surprised, Sokka, Ember, Appa, Ruby, Sapphire, and Momo came out of the woods, Sokka on Appa and Ember on Ruby.
"Sokka!" Katara smiled.
"Ember!" Aqua and Lin smiled, more happy then they had been in years.
"We warned the villagers of your plan, just in time." Sokka said.
"What!" Jet yelled.
"At first, they didn't believe me." Sokka explained. "The fire nation soldiers assumed we were spies but Ember did a fire bending move that proved she wasn't out to get them. And one man vouched for us. The old man you attacked. He urged them to trust us, and we got everyone out in time."
"Don't you see what being nice can get you, Jet." Ember said.
"You fools! We could've freed this valley!" Jet yelled.
"Like Aqua said, everyone would be dead so no one could be free." Sokka said.
"You traitors!" Jet yelled.
"Jet, you're the traitor." Ember said and walked up to the boy. She leaned to him and whispered something in his ear. "I have a feeling this won't be the last time we meet. You broke my heart and I'll break yours. But Jet, I'm not just a firebender. I'm the Avatar's fire guardian, just as Lin is his earth guardian, Aqua is his water guardian, and Jade is his air guardian." Ember smirked as Jet's eyes widened in shock. Blowing flames from her fist, Ember did a back flip and landed on Ruby's back. With that, they journeyed from the woods, hoping they would never come there again.
"We thought you were going to the dam. How come you went to the town instead?" Aang asked.
"Let me guess. Your instincts told you to." Katara smiled.
"Hey, sometimes you're right." Sokka said.
"Um, Sokka." Aqua said from Sapphire.
"Yes Aqua?" Sokka asked.
"You're going the wrong way." Aqua smiled.
Lin giggled.
"And sometimes they're wrong." Sokka said and turned them around. Ember looked down at those woods and just wished, that Jet could have seen the truth in the lies.