Author's Note: Written for alyssialui's Gender-Swap Boot Camp Challenge over at the AtLA Fanfiction Challenges Forum.
Female!Sokka = Sokanon. No else is Genderbent. Not connected to any of the previous chapters
Took place at the beginning of Book 1, mainly Episode 4: The Warriors of Kyoshi
Disclaimers: I do not own any aspects of Avatar the Last Airbender. All copyrights go to their respective companies and entities. All OCs, thoughts, and musings, when not quoted, are mine though. Some of the dialogues between Suki and Sokanon about their training and the symbolism behind Kyoshi uniform are direct quotes from Episode 4.
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Prompt # 35: Green
Jealousy. The damned feeling coursed through Sokanon as she watched her sister and Aang attempted waterbending for the umpteenth time that evening. For as long as she could remember, it had always been like that, Katara showing off her magical ability while Sokanon watched from the sideline. She knew that her parents loved both of their daughters equally, but it was hard to remember that sometimes when her father had scoured the entire South Pole looking for a waterbending master for Katara and her mother had died to protect their last waterbender.
As the eldest daughter and anticipated successor to her father, Sokanon had been raised a warrior, and when she was old enough to understand, she had chosen that life, even when all of the village's warriors had left and she was without a mentor. However, she had always wondered how much more she could offer her people if she had had the ability to manipulate the element like Katara. Every time she had practiced with her battle club or boomerang, she would wonder if she would be a better protector for her people if she could waterbend. While Sokanon loved her sister with all her heart, that little green monster persisted inside her, sometimes quietly whispering, sometimes loudly shouting.
That little monster had been screaming its head off when they had found Aang. Not because of the fact that he was an airbender (okay, maybe it was a little), but because of the way she had seen how Katara had looked and acted around him. Katara had been so excited and happy to meet another bender that her sister had been willing to turn her back on their village, on her, to be banished alongside the airbender. It had hurt beyond belief that Katara would choose to abandon her for another bender. It had brought back that ever present fear that she was not enough without any bending ability.
That fear had turned to downright distress and panic when she had stood atop their snow fortress, awaiting the imposing Fire Nation ship that was speeding towards her village. With only her battle club and boomerang to help her, she had been scared out of her mind. Before the assault, Sokanon had told Katara to keep the fact that she was a waterbender a secret from the incoming Fire Nation soldiers, not wanting to draw even more attention to their village, but faced with a ship full of firebenders coming her way, she had, not for the first time, wished that she was a bender as well.
"We need to go here!" exclaimed Aang as he pointed to an island on the dated map in front of Sokanon, drawing the girl from her thoughts. "I want to ride the elephant koi there."
"Aang," said Katara as she approached them. "We've been island hopping for days now. We should head to the North Pole to find a waterbending teacher," she urged the airbender.
"But, Katara," Aang whined. "I have to ride the elephant koi."
Sokanon rolled her eyes as she watched her sister caved to the monk and his giant seal-puppy eyes once more.
-s-s-s-s-
The three of them had barely spent any time on the island before they were ambushed by a team of highly trained warriors following Aang's stunt with the elephant koi. When they were finally recognized as allies and released, Sokanon couldn't help but admire her attackers. The Kyoshi Warriors were a group composed of all females, and none of them had any bending ability. That lack of ability, however, was not a disadvantage for any of them as they demonstrated their skills by confidently taking down master benders like Aang.
After the team was comfortably set up in one of the village's houses and shown great hospitality, Sokanon left Katara and Aang to their own devices and made her way around the village, searching for the Kyoshi Warriors. She found the group training in one of the thatched houses near the edge of town. They were in their full costume and makeup, making her wondered how they could fight so effectively in those dresses. Taking a deep breath, Sokanon approached them with some apprehensions, hoping the Warriors would be willing to impart on her some of their wisdom and skills.
Their leader Suki spotted her approach and greeted Sokanon warmly. "Hey. Sorry about yesterday. I hope there are no hard feelings. I didn't know that you were friends with the Avatar, and we can't be too careful what with the world how it is right now."
"Hey, yeah. No, hard feelings," Sokanon smiled. "I definitely understand." Surveying the girls practicing in the house, Sokanon continued, "I thought it was amazing how skilled you all were. None of you are benders from I could see, yet you had no problems taking on experienced benders like Aang."
"Thank you." Suki glowed with pride at the compliment. She was about to head back to training with the rest of her team when Sokanon's thoughtful, but hesitant expression caught her attention. "What's on your mind, Sokanon?"
Fidgeting nervously, Sokanon humbly asked, "I hope it's not too much trouble, but I would be honored if you would teach me." The Water tribe girl dropped to her knees in front of Suki.
Activities around the dojo stopped as everyone waited with bated breath for Suki's decision. Trading a glance with her fellow sister warriors, Suki began, "We normally don't teach outsiders." At Sokanon's pleading expression, she continued in a softer tone, "It is possible that we could make an exception, but you have to follow all of our traditions."
Rising to her feet, Sokanon eagerly accepted, "Of course! I won't let you down." She beamed as she followed Suki.
-s-s-s-s-
Standing in the middle of the dojo donned in the traditional green dress of the Kyoshi Warriors and sporting their white face paint, Sokanon felt a bit silly. Not wanting to offend Suki, she hesitantly voiced her discomfort. "I don't know, Suki," she said as she ran her hands down the front of the silk dress. "Do I really have to wear this? It feels a little...excessive to be fighting in."
Placing a reassuring hand on Sokanon's shoulder, the Kyoshi Warrior spoke with pride. "It's a warrior's uniform, you should be proud. The silk thread symbolize the brave blood that flows through our veins." Touching the designs on her sleeves and gloves, Suki continued, "The gold insignia represents the honor of the warrior's heart." The green and gold of the uniform seemed to glow brighter at Suki's words.
Her training with Suki had barely begun in earnest when a commotion from the village drew their attention. Suki's instinct had been to go to her people so Sokanon followed. At the sight of firebenders attacking the village, she didn't feel the paralyzing fear from before. With Suki and the other Kyoshi Warriors by her side, Sokanon felt the confidence that she had lacked earlier as she took down one bender after another as the village was surrounded by flames.
When there was at last a lull in the battle, Suki pulled her aside behind one of the burning houses. Sokanon spotted Katara and Aang waiting for her on Appa. With a light pushed in their direction, Suki urged, "Go, Sokanon. We'll hold them off."
"No!" she protested. At Suki's immovable expression, Sokanon finally relent. Pulling the girl in for a brief hug, she whispered, "Thank you, Suki, for everything."
Returning the embrace with a quick squeeze, the Kyoshi Warrior replied, "You're welcome, Sokanon." She pulled back and tapped on the gold insignia on Sokanon's gloves. "Remember, you are a Kyoshi Warrior now. Go!"
Giving her friend one last hug, Sokanon took off for Appa.
Once they were safe in the air and a distance away from the island, Katara took in her sister's outfit and lightly teased, "Nice dress, Sokanon."
Looking down at her uniform, Sokanon replied with a smile, "The green silk stands for bravery and the gold insignia for honor."
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AN: Thank you, readers, for your continued support and encouragement. Special thanks to Anonymous Rex (Guest) since I can't PM you. I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter.
Sokanon = Rain (Native American)
Please R&R. :)
Word count = 1,339
