Ria
We kept flying to the earth kingdom. I had gotten pretty well adjusted with everyone, especially Katara. We talked for a long time about girly things. It felt good, seeing the only company in the cave I ever had was my brother. I could tell she appreciated it, too, traveling with boys and what not. Aang and Sokka still seemed a little freaked out over the fact I'm a dragon, but other than that things seemed to be going well. I cast a glace over at Zuko. He looked mad. More mad than usual. I sighed and decided to go over to him.
"Hey." I said realizing this was the first conversation I had with him in years. I looked into the clouds ahead until I heard his reply.
"Hi."
"It's the anniversary right?" I said. I didn't even have to remind him.
"Yeah."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Just leave me alone."
I felt anger burn in my chest. I glared at him again.
"Sorry I'm no help." I said.
"I said leave me alone." He repeated again.
I shot him the most hateful look I could muster up. "Good. Not like I wanted to talk to you anyways."
I folded my arms and walked back to my place next to Katara and sat down with an annoyed huff.
She cast me a confused glance.
"Well excuse me for trying to help." I snapped.
Katara just gave a small laugh and changed the subject back to our shopping spree we were planning.
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I looked into Ria's face. She looked so mad. I knew she was just trying to help, and I didn't mean what I said like the way she took it.
Way to blow your chance at apologizing, idiot. I mentally kicked myself.
We finally landed at the earth kingdom, where we were welcomed with fireworks.
"Welcome Brave Sokka! And Wise Katara! And of course, the avatar! But… I am afraid I do not know these… two." General Fong said as he cast a glance at Ria and I.
"Oh! Umm... of course! These are our newest members! This is Uhh... Lee! And he… is… really good at using swords!" Aang stammered awkwardly. I felt my hand make contact with my forehead.
"And this here is Ria." Aang said, know there wasn't any harm in using her real name. "And she is our... animal specialist…?"
"Your… Animal specialist?" General Fong said, sounding rather confused.
"Yeah! This huge harry beast doesn't clean up after himself, ya know!" Aang said and patted Appa. "And Momo goes nuts if Ria isn't with here." He said as Momo seemed to nod in agreement.
"Right!" The general said. "Well welcome to you, too, Ria and Lee." He said with a smile.
We all made our way to the court room. We sat as the general went behind his desk.
"We were all amazed about the stories on how you single handedly whipped out a fire nation army. I can't imagine what it must feel like to hold such devastating power." Fong said as he stroked his beard.
"Well… I try not to think about it too much." Aang said.
"Avatar… you're ready to face the firelord now."
"What?! No I'm not!" We all looked at him in horror.
"Aang still needs to master all four elements!" Katara said in confusion.
"Why? With the kind of power he possess… power to destroy hundreds of battle ships in a matter of minutes, he could defeat the firelord now!" He said as he slammed his fist on his desk to make his point clear.
"But sir... Aang can only do those things when he is in the avatar state." Sokka tried to explain.
"The avatar state is when-"
"Yes! I am well aware what the state is." Fong cut him off. "Your eyes and tattoos glow and you are able to summon unbelievable strength." He said as he turned towards the map that hung on his wall.
"Without you we would be killed before we could even make it to the shore…" he said with his back turned towards us.
"But… with you leading the way… we could cut right to the heart of the firenation!" he said as his finger slid across the map, right to the sign that symbolized the firenation palace.
"Right… but I don't know how to get in or out of the avatar state…" Aang said.
"So it's decided then… I'll help you learn how to get in the avatar state… and then you will face your destiny." He said, sure that his plan was going to work.
"That has got to be the stupidest thing I ever heard!" Ria cried as we all stood up.
"Yeah! Nothings decided." Katara piped in. "We already have a plan. Aang is going to master all four elements!"
"Aang is going to do his destiny his way." I added.
"Well… while you take your time learning the elements… the war goes on. May I show you something?" he said as we were beckoned to the huge round window.
We all looked out. "That is the hospital. And those men are the lucky ones." He said as solders limped into the small room. "Every day the fire nation takes lives… people are dying, Aang, you could end it, now! Think about it." and with that he walked off, leaving Aang to ponder his words.
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It was late when we saw Aang again. He told us he wanted to try this whole avatar sate thing. After some arguing among ourselves, we finally agreed to let Aang try it. My mind was on other things though; I cast a glance at Ria. I had to try and find the right time to talk to her.
Katara and Ria seemed to agree that they wanted nothing to do with all this avatar state junk, so they went off to do their own thing. I didn't know what to do, so I sided with the girls on this one. I felt Aang had to do this the right way… and I also wanted to try and get the chance to talk to Ria.
I walked into the room we all shared and saw her sitting on her bed, making small puffs of smoke with the palm of her hand. I took a deep breath and walked over to her.
"Hey, I was wondering if we could maybe talk for a second." I said as I sat down next to her.
She gave me a skeptical look but nodded.
"Well I just thought I should tell you-"
I was interrupted as the door flew open and Katara came rushing in.
"Ria! Now's our chance! They have a little market place a ways off, let's go shopping! We can't let people get suspicious of your firenation outfit!" she cried in joy.
"Sorry Zuko… maybe later." She said and walked off with her new best friend.
I sighed.
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Ria came back late. She was now wearing an earth kingdom outfit that cut off just above the belly button. It had a skirt that stopped just above the knees. It was a very dark green, almost black. I couldn't help but smile at how pretty she looked.
I didn't get a chance to talk to her; she and Katara went to bed.
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After about five more failed attempts at trying to talk to Ria, I was just about ready to give up. Aang was still trying to force on the avatar state. I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in." I said as I sat up.
"Hey. I think we need to talk." Ria said as she walked in.
"Ok." Was all I could get out, nervous of what was about to be said.
"Look, I don't want things to be… bad between us." She said.
"Yeah."
"So, let's just… try and forget it, k?" she looked down, her eyes filled with sadness.
"Look, about what happened before… when I saw you those years ago…"
"I don't wanna talk about it, alright?" she said.
"Ria-"
"Look, what you did hurt me more than you could ever imagine. I don't want to go through it again. Just forget it. let's just pretend it never happened. I don't want to stay mad, Zuko."
With that she walked out of the room. I leaned my head back in frustration. I knew that things still weren't ok.
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I walked in the huge court room with just enough time to see the general throw a huge rock at Aang, the force throwing him out the window.
"Aang!" Sokka screamed as I ran to the window to see if he was ok. I felt guards hold me back.
"Men! Attack!"
I saw Ria walk in the room.
"Help Aang! I cried. It took her a minute to understand, but when she did she pulled out her bow and notched an arrow into place. I heard it wiz past my ear at snag onto the guards clothes and pin him to the wall behind him, the arrow lodged itself deep into the wall. Ria notched another arrow as he desperately pulled on the arrow that had him pined. She let another one fly, one after another until all the earth kingdom guards were stuck. We all ran outside so see Katara waist deep in mud.
Ria and I desperately tried to fight off the guards as Sokka tried to pull his sister out of the dirt. I pulled out my swords and knocked down some guards.
Katara sank deeper. "Stop this! You have to let her go!" Aang cried. "You could stop this if you were in the avatar state!" the general yelled.
"I'm trying!" Aang cried with tears running down his face. "Please!"
"Aang, I'm sinking!" Katara cried, desperately trying to get out.
"I don't see glowing!" the general screamed.
"Please!" Katara screamed.
"Stop this now!" Ria cried, a guard holding her down.
"Let us go!" I added to the guard that held me down.
With a flick of his wrist Katara's head went under.
"No!" Aang screamed trying to get her out… it was too late.
When he turned around his eyes were glowing and he slowly rose to the sky in his rage. Wind blew everywhere; I felt my heart skip a beat at how close we were to the glowing monster that had taken over our friend. I heard Ria scream as she tried to dodge a rock that was picked up by the fierce wind from Aang. Her leg was pinned under something so she couldn't get out of the way.
"Ria, move!" I screamed. I jumped up just as the rock slammed into her.
Before I could help her I felt a huge gust of wind slam me into the wall behind us. I got the air knocked out of me.
"Avatar Aang, your friend is safe!" I opened my eyes to see Katara come up from the ground. I tried to see if Ria was ok, but the wind was blinding.
I looked up at Aang who was still high in the sky, the wind he made was causing things to pick up and blow away.
"It was just a trick to trigger you into the Avatar state! AND IT WORKED!" Fong cried in joy.
Aang came crashing to the ground, sending a wave of rocks that knocked over the guards. All the buildings smashed to pieces. I felt terrified.
I again tried to get to Ria, but I couldn't. I saw Aang fall over and felt relief when I realized it was over.
"That was almost perfect!" the general cried. "Now we just have to find a way to control you when you're like that!" he stroked his beard, obviously thinking of all the possibilities.
"You're out of your mind." Aang stated.
"Well I guess we'll figure it out on our way to the fire nation." Just as he finished his sentence Sokka hit him over the head with his boomerang.
"Anyone got a problem with that?" Sokka asked. All the guards shook their heads.
"Ria!" I cried remembering what happened. We all ran up to her, her leg was still under a huge rock. Sokka and I lifted it off of her.
"Ria! Are you ok?!" Aang cried as he ran up.
"Yeah." she mumbled as she examined her foot. It was swollen, but not broken. I let out a breath of relief when I realized it was only a sprain.
"I can't believe I hurt you!" Aang cried with tears running down his face.
"Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault." She replied as she struggled to stand. I let her lean on me as I helped her over to Appa.
"Do you still want an escort to Omashu?" one of the guards asked.
"I think we're all set." Katara replied as she crossed her arms.
We all got back on Appa and were on our way.
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I hope you guys like it! Let me know! Thanks again for reading!
I DO NOT OWN ATLA.
-Allie