Thanks to all of you who are still around reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.
This may already be old news for some of you, but I just found out "The Legend of Korra" is airing on April 14th! It looks like an exciting sequel and I'm going to give it a chance. How about you?
Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA.
The Northern Air Temple had been…strange. And its inhabitants even stranger. Sokka had been absolutely fascinated with the Mechanist's inventions. Aang had been shocked about the changes, then angry, but after the Fire Nation had been taken care of, he decided it would be alright for the Earth Kingdom refugees to continue living there.
Katara was glad they were safe, but the battle with the Fire Nation had left her stomach in knots. She'd watched in horror as Aang had used airbending to blast tanks down the mountain. Aang had taken pride in his Air Nomad beliefs, stating how killing was wrong and shouldn't be done. Did he realize there were people inside those tanks, and that they probably all died in that fall? And the explosion Sokka had created with the war balloon furnace had been impressive, sure; but it likely killed many more Fire Nation soldiers.
Katara knew the Fire Nation was the enemy and that it was wrong for them to attack. But after her three weeks on Zuko's ship, she had to admit they were human. She still wanted to think they were monsters, but human monsters.
Katara shook her head. The thoughts in it made no sense anymore. Maybe it was from being in the high mountain altitude.
"I don't mean to complain" Sokka said, in a whining voice, "but are we there yet? I mean can't Appa fly faster?"
"Hey" Aang snapped. "Appa's flying as best he can. How 'bout we climb on your back and you fly us to the North Pole?"
While Sokka responded with a sarcastic comment, Katara looked out over the continuous ocean they were flying over. It made her homesick-infinite amounts of blue water and sky, occasionally broken by huge chunks of ice. She had a sudden longing for bowls of stewed sea prunes and roasted arctic hen, sitting around a campfire while Gran-Gran told stories, or even sitting on her father's lap as a child while he carved jewelry out of whale bone for-. No, stop she told herself. She wasn't at home, she was on the other side of the world, and there was a war, and they hadn't seen their father in years…
Katara swallowed and fought back tears. She knew it was pointless to sit and cry over a lost childhood. They had more important things to worry about.
For a moment, her mind flashed back to the night on Zuko's ship. Do you pray? he had asked her. She hadn't as much as she should have. If the spirits were really there and listening, why was there still so much suffering in the world? Why was there an endless war dragging on and on?
Without thinking, she looked down and started to pray.
Um, Tui, La, are you there? It's Katara. Please, please help us. Give me the strength to be able to master waterbending. Help Sokka become a better warrior. Give Aang the ability to fulfill his destiny. Look out for all the people suffering in this world. Keep us all safe. And please watch over Gran-Gran and the rest of the tribe back home, and my father and the other men. And…watch over the Fire Prince, Zuko, and his uncle and crew. I think Zuko might be lost and hurting and I think he needs guidance. I don't know if you'd help firebenders, but…please. I think there's good in him. Thanks.
She opened her eyes and realized Aang and Sokka were still arguing and stepped in. "Look guys, we've been flying for the past three days and nights and haven't gotten a lot of rest. I know we're all tired and cranky, but we can't be arguing. We have to focus on finding the Northern Water Tribe."
Sokka opened his arms wide and gestured around him. "There's nothing out here! We could fly around in circles for months and never find them!"
The words were barely out of his mouth when a huge block of ice shot up from the water. Aang flicked the reins, encouraging Appa to swerve and fly faster as more pieces of ice erupted from the water. They hadn't gone very far before Appa was left stuck in the ice, roaring in frustration.
Dozens of elegantly carved boats appeared from behind the ice, each filled with half a dozen or so men, making Katara tense in case there was a fight.
After a brief interrogation and some nervous introductions, the Water Tribe warriors were satisfied enough to belief Aang was the Avatar and escorted them to the Northern Water Tribe fortress.
Katara's mouth fell open in awe at the sheer size and beauty of the ice city. Dozens, no hundreds, of canals and walls formed an intricate maze. Fantastically decorated buildings lined the canals and curved bridges stretched over them. Water poured out of walls to collect in pools and lantern's light reflected in the water. An entire city at the North Pole, jutting out of an icy cliff, made completely of snow, ice, and water. It was an unimaginable, ingenious feat of architecture.
Nearly as amazing was the amount of waterbenders here. She and Aang marveled at the amount of them. Surely there would be at least one able and willing to teach them!
Appa swam along through the canals, following a boat with the captain of the men who'd found them in it. As they moved along, dozens of people, men and women, young and old, looked out of windows and stopped along walkways to see them. Some of them waved and Aang and Katara waved back. Katara noticed Sokka was at the back of Appa's saddle, staring out at a boat they'd just past. She looked to see who was in the boat, but only got to glimpse the back of someone with long, white hair.
Katara lost track of the turns they made as they went deeper into the ice city. Finally, they stopped and were ushered onto a massive square courtyard, made of a sheet of ice of course, then up a long, wide staircase and into one of the largest buildings.
The building was so large Katara was sure the entire village back home could have fit in it. Columns, carved with faces of animals and spirits, supported the arched ceiling. She wondered how masterful a waterbender one had to be to build something like this. Perhaps when the war was over, she would have learned enough waterbending that she could make actual buildings at the South Pole!
They stopped in front of a tall dais where three people, two older men and a young woman, sat. The young woman had white hair. Was this the same person Sokka had been gawking at earlier? She stole a glance at her brother, and sure enough, he was staring again now.
The man in the center looked to be a little older than their father and had a stern face, as if he had seen far more than he wanted to in his life. His clothes were a deep blue and he wore an intricate necklace made of whale bone.
His voice was deep and sounded as if it belonged to an older man. "So, you are the Avatar we've waited so long for?" he said, looking directly at Aang.
The boy grinned. "That's right. I'm Aang." He gave a quick, respectful bow. "And these are my friends Katara and Sokka from the Southern Water Tribe."
"I am Chief Arnook." He gestured to the woman. "My daughter, Princess Yue," he then gestured to the older man on his other side, "and this is Master Pakku. He is the greatest waterbender in the North Pole."
The man gave them a firm nod of greeting, but didn't smile or say anything. He may be the best waterbender in the world, but he seems awfully grouchy, Katara thought.
Arnook was speaking again. "We welcome are cousins from the South and the Avatar. We will let you rest from your long journey and tonight we will hold a feast in your honor.
Sokka was very happy about that.
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Zuko sat down on his bed and leaned his back against the wall. He'd been feeling irritable lately and music night certainly wasn't going to help. He absolutely wasn't going to admit that a teeny, tiny, insignificant, almost unnoticeable reason for his irritancy was that Katara was gone.
No, damn it, he did NOT miss her! It was ridiculous to think that he'd appreciated and enjoyed her company and wanted her back.
Hyo, who was lying next to him, placed his head on Zuko's leg and thumped his tail. He could sense his master's discomfort and didn't like it.
Zuko heard his uncle's familiar footsteps in the hall on the other side of the wall. The bedroom door swung open. Zuko sighed. He'd already told his uncle three times he didn't want to participate in music night.
"Prince Zuko, it seems there will be a change in our plans."
They'd been heading north, following the Avatar's trail, but had been forced to stop at the northernmost port of the Earth Kingdom, where unfortunately most of the Northern Fleet was docked, to restock on some supplies. Even more unfortunate was that Zhao had, when he was made Admiral, been placed in command of the Northern Fleet.
Zuko's personal thorn in the side entered the room. "I'm taking you crew." Zhao announced smugly.
"WHAT!" Zuko yelled. He was seething as Zhao haughtily explained how he'd been given a mission of upmost importance at the North Pole, blah blah, he was going to be a great conqueror and annihilate the Northern Water Tribe-wait, what?
The Avatar was at the Northern Water Tribe. And so was Katara. If Zhao got there first, he could possibly capture Aang. That couldn't happen.
Zhao had finally stopped talking and was staring intently at the wall…where Zuko's broadswords were hanging.
Shit! Spirits, please don't tell me he's smart enough to figure it out!
Zhao took down one of the swords and swung it around experimentally. It was obvious he wasn't used to using metal weapons and Zuko secretly hoped he'd poke one of his eyes out.
"Are you familiar with the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?"
"I've heard the old stories about-"
"No! There are rumors going around the countryside about vicious spirits attacking Fire Nation soldiers and raiding their storehouses. The Blue Spirit along the west coast and the Red Spirit moving towards the eastern colonies."
"Oh that," Iroh said. "I only heard the rumors. I don't think it's real."
"It's real General, believe me. But they're not spirits, I'm sure, just a couple of low life criminals." He handed the sword to Iroh and glanced at Zuko. "I'm sure justice will catch up with them and give them what they deserve."
Zhao moved to the door. "Remember, my offer still stands, should you change your mind." Then he left.
Zuko sighed. "Uncle, I'd like to be alone for a bit."
With his Uncle gone, Zuko sat down on the bed and pulled out a writing desk. He dipped the brush in the ink and scribbled a quick note.
RS,
Someone highly-ranked knows our secret. I may need your help. Meet me in the cellar when the second half moon is over the full moon. Until then, watch your back.
BS
The Red Spirit would know what it meant. Zuko blew on the ink to dry it, rolled up and sealed the note, and got their messenger hawk. Once the letter had been sent, he returned to his room. There was a bad feeling in his gut that this night was only going to get worse.
A few hours later, the crew left for their new assignment. Zuko knew they didn't have a choice; if they'd refused they'd have likely been in trouble for refusing to obey the orders of a commanding officer. Still, he couldn't help but feel betrayed.
Uncle came back to his room after the crew had left, suggesting a walk might help clear his head. Zuko refused, but Hyo seemed to think a walk was a wonderful idea and followed Uncle out, leaving Zuko alone.
For a little while he lay in his dark, quiet bedroom. He realized he'd never been completely alone on the ship before and it was a strange feeling. It was too quiet; you could hear every little sound in the ship, like the hull door opening-.
The door opening when no one else is on the ship?
It's probably just Uncle, Zuko told himself. But instinct, coupled with a slight paranoia, insisted it wasn't, so he got up to investigate.
He moved silently through the hallways, hands up, in case he actually ran into someone looking for a fight. What if Zhao had sent someone to spy on him? It wouldn't be surprising.
He headed upstairs into the main room of the tower. The windows held the view of a dark, almost eerily silent harbor. Zuko frowned and rubbed the back up his neck, wondering if he was just being paranoid.
Suddenly, a shudder went through the entire ship. Zuko felt what caused it long before he saw it. Fire. Lots of fire. A massive inferno shot up into the tower as the ship exploded.
Zuko yelled in surprise and instinctively threw his hands up and bent the flames. The Shield of Fire. It was an advanced move that Uncle had taught him several years ago, but Zuko had actually learned it surprisingly quickly. Now he was grateful for it as he bent the fire around. But while the shield might have prevented some of the fire from burning him and from being hit by pieces of debris, it couldn't withstand the force of energy from the explosion.
Zuko felt himself being lifted up and sent through the air, not unlike when the Avatar had blasted him away when Katara was taken. He flew backwards and struck the glass window, feeling it shatter behind him as bits of the glass dug into his skin. The blast forced him out the window and down, down, slamming his side into the edge of the ship before falling limply into the cold water below.
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As the sun rose over the Northern Water Tribe, Katara and Aang eagerly made their way into the courtyard where they'd receive their waterbending training.
Katara's heart pounded in her chest. She was so excited; the only reasons she'd been able to sleep at all last night was that she'd been tired from the long trip and full from the amazing feast Chief Arnook had thrown them last night.
"Good morning, Master Pakku!" Aang shouted, interrupting the man's practice.
Aang introduced Katara, having told Pakku about a friend that wanted to learn waterbending.
Pakku raised an eyebrow and said gruffly, "You didn't tell me your friend was the girl. Women do not fight in our tribe."
What?
"Well, technically, she's not from your tribe. She's from the South." Aang tried to point out.
Pakku looked at both of them sternly. "Women do not fight here, nor are they taught any sort of combat. They are forbidden. It is our custom. If she wants to study waterbending, there are healers who I am sure would be willing to teach her. But if you cannot respect our customs, then I will not be willing to teach you."
"But…"
Katara pulled Aang aside. "It's okay, Aang" she said, feeling both defeated and angry. "You have to learn waterbending, even if Pakku is a big jerk." She paused then said reluctantly, "I'll go practice with the healers. It might be useful for one of us to be able to heal."
This was what she told herself as she went to the healer's lodge Pakku had directed her to. He told her a woman named Yugoda, one of the best healers in their tribe, was taking new pupils.
Katara thought back to when she'd unwittingly healed Zuko on his ship. It was definitely a useful ability to have. She hadn't used it since and had been so overwhelmed with everything else going on she'd forgotten to even mention it to Sokka and Aang.
They had all come here to learn and improve. Aang had to learn waterbending, Sokka was training with the other non-bending warriors, and well, if she couldn't learn to fight with waterbending, healing had to be the next best thing. Maybe she could take what she learned there and somehow apply it to fighting.
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Zuko bit back a groan and he clawed his way onto the rocky shore. The force of the explosion and the impact on the water had nearly knocked him out. He'd gone underwater for a moment, forcing himself to swim far enough away from the ship where he wouldn't be hit with debris. It had taken a lot of energy out of him just to swim a few dozen feet and he'd reluctantly turned over and floated on his back when he didn't have any more energy left. He didn't really remember the rest of getting to shore, only that it seemed to take forever. He might have blacked out a time or two while floating in the water and he was certain he had other injuries.
Zuko crawled a few more feet inland before collapsing down on the cold ground. He was freezing and hurt everywhere. Forcibly, he raised his head a bit and breathed, letting out a small bit a fire. Warmth comfortingly spread through his body.
"Zuko?" a voice called hoarsely over the wind.
Zuko tried to make himself sit up, but couldn't quite do it. "Uncle! I'm over here!"
"Zuko!" Iroh appeared around a corner on the shore, Hyo at his heels. The older man rushed over and threw himself at his nephew's side.
"Ow." Zuko protested weakly as Iroh sat him up and wrapped him in a hug.
"Thank Agni you're alive! I thought I had lost you." He pulled away to look at Zuko's face and Zuko saw tears of relief brimming in his eyes.
His heart suddenly ached more than any other part of his body. Iroh had often said how Zuko was like a son to him and how he couldn't bear the thought of losing another.
Tears started to form in his own eyes and he hastily wiped them away. "I'm okay." He smiled halfheartedly as Hyo licked at his cheek. He wrapped his arms around the dog and buried his face in the fur, so Uncle wouldn't see anymore tears.
"I saw the ship explode. Zhao was behind it." Iroh said angrily.
"You think?" It was a redundant question.
"He'll think you're dead. Most people wouldn't have survived an explosion like that."
Zuko sat up a little straighter and looked his uncle in the eyes. "Well, we'll just let him believe that."
If you're wondering who The Red Spirit is, they will show up in a few chapters. If you want to guess and can't wait until that chapter to find out, send me a PM and I'll let you know if you're right or not. (Hint: They're not shown in the cartoon, but they're not a complete OC either.)
Someone sent me a review for last chapter that I couldn't respond to because it wasn't signed, but they suggested that perhaps the Fire Nation burned up all the Air Nomad bodies at the Air Temples and simply forgot about Gyatso. I hadn't thought of that, and it's a good idea, but what about the Fire Nation bodies we see lying around Gyatso? It makes sense that the Fire Nation would cremate their dead (as we see in "Zuko Alone") so why would their own soldiers be left lying there? Why spend time getting rid of your enemies' remains and forget about your own dead? Honor and respect is obviously supposed to be a big deal in the Fire Nation, so I can't imagine they would simply leave their fallen comrades to rot instead of giving them decent funerals and focus on getting rid of the Air Nomads. There are so many plot holes left in ATLA! I hope to try and fill in some of them with this story. We'll see.