Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Chapter Twelve: The Northern Water Tribe
Ellie decided that she hated being on Zhao's ship. She couldn't practice firebending, she never saw Zuko, she hardly saw Iroh, and every time she was in the same vicinity as Zhao, she wanted to punch him, kick him, or burn that annoying smirk off his face. He was always one of the villains in the series that she had really hated. She had never hated Zuko, she loved Azula and sometimes felt sorry for her, and Zhao…she always hated.
This was why she spent most of her time in her cabin. Because of the explosion, Ellie only had three outfits. Her Fire Nation dress she had been wearing when the ship exploded, the black outfit she had packed in her little bag, and her original outfit (which was way too thin to wear in the cold waters near the North Pole.)
Ellie knew that they were nearing the Northern Water Tribe. For this she was glad for. If she spent much longer on that ship, she probably would've gone insane. Currently, she was laying back on her bed, playing with a blob of water. She made it bounce up and down and swirled it around her head. Then, she held the water above her right hand and conjured a flame in her left hand. The teen put the two different elements together. Then, steam issued out between her hands and filled the room. Ellie played with the steam for a little while, causing it to swirl around. Then, she heard a door open.
Frightened, she splayed her hands apart, causing the steam to dense into droplets of water. Then she swirled it together and quickly placed it back in her teacup. Ellie looked up to see Iroh standing in the doorway.
"You really should be more careful," he said.
Ellie looked down at the floor and gritted her teeth. "I know."
"I see you are getting better at waterbending as well as firebending," Iroh said to her.
"Do you really think I've mastered firebending?" she asked.
"I think you are as close as you will ever be for right now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that for now, you are good enough to start learning air."
Ellie nodded. "So, I'll need to leave after we leave the North Pole?"
Iroh nodded. "Do you have any plans?"
"Some," Ellie replied.
"Are you going to tell my nephew that you are the Avatar?"
"Not until he's ready."
OA
Sokka steered Appa downwards and they landed with a soft thwump on the snow. He, Aang, and Katara had reached the North Pole just over a week before. Sokka had taken an instant liking to the chief's daughter, Princess Yue. So, he was showing her what a ride on a sky bison was like. Then, the southern warrior stopped when the snow went from fluffy white to sooty black. He bent over and felt the black snow with a mittened hand.
"What's happening?" Yue asked.
Sokka showed the black snow to her.
"It's soot," he replied.
"What?" Yue asked. She had obviously never seen any before.
"I've seen this before," Sokka informed her. "Right before my village was attacked. It's soot mixed with snow."
"But why?"
The black snow started falling quicker and heavier. More and more of it appeared.
"It's the Fire Nation. They've closed in on the North Pole and from the looks of this stuff there's a lot of them."
OA
"This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh," Zhao said. He, Iroh, and Ellie were standing on the bough of the ship, looking at the enormous icy wall of the Northern Water Tribe. "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao, who destroyed last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."
"Be careful what you wish for," Iroh replied tersely. "History is not always kind to its subjects."
"I suppose you speak from experience, but rest assured. This will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se."
"I hope not, for your sake," Iroh replied quietly.
Then, Ellie followed as Iroh walked down below deck. The two of them headed directly to find Zuko. Luckily, it wasn't too hard.
"We'll be landing soon," Iroh said, quietly, coming to a pause as he stood beside his nephew, but not facing him. "Do you have a plan?"
Zuko removed the mask that was covering his face.
"I'm working on it, Uncle," he replied before sliding the mask back in place.
Iroh started moving and as Ellie passed the prince, she whispered, "Good luck."
Once they got close enough to the wall, every ship on the front line started blasting fireballs at it in an attempt to break it down. Some of them hit, but most were blocked by waterbenders. As the moon climbed higher in the sky, less and less damage was being inflicted on the icy city.
"It's almost twilight, Admiral," Iroh said, voicing Ellie's worry. "As your military advisor, I must advise you halt your attack. The waterbenders draw their power from the moon, and it is nearly full tonight. You should wait and resume the attack at daybreak."
"Oh, I'm well aware of the moon problem and I am working on a solution. But, for now, daybreak it is."
The ships all dropped their anchors and stopped firing. That night Iroh snuck away from the admiral to help Zuko escape into the city in order to go after the Avatar. Ellie came with them. Iroh commandeered a boat for his nephew and once Zuko climbed inside, lowered it to the water.
"If you're fishing for an octopus my nephew, you need a tightly woven net, or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape," Iroh said urgently.
"I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle," Zuko muttered.
"I'm sorry. I just nag you, because, well," his voice broke and his eyes filled with tears. "Ever since I've lost my son…"
"Uncle, you don't have to say it," Zuko said.
"…I think of you as my own," Iroh finished.
Zuko's expression softened. "I know, Uncle. We'll meet again."
He leaned forward and hugged his uncle. He turned to Ellie and raised a hand in farewell. Ellie paused before instinctively throwing herself forward and wrapping Zuko in a hug. "Be careful," she said before backing away and keeping his gaze. "Of course it wouldn't be too bad if you don't come back," she kept smiling to make sure he knew that she was joking.
"Don't worry, I will," he said before turning. "After I have the Avatar."
And with that, he maneuvered the boat away from Zhao's ship.
OA
"The spirits!" Aang exclaimed. "Maybe I can find them and get their help!"
Yue started. "You can do that?" she asked.
Katara walked up to the princess.
"The Avatar is the bridge between our world and the Spirit World! Aang can talk to them!"
Yue turned to the airbender. "Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!"
"Or maybe they'll unleash a crazy spirit attack on the Fire Nation!" the young boy exclaimed, throwing his hands up in excitement. Both girls looked at him oddly. Then he added hastily, "Or wisdom. That's good too."
"The only problem is last time you got into the Spirit World by accident. How are you going to there this time?" Katara asked,
Yue smiled in excitement.
"I have an idea," she said. "Follow me."
OA
Zuko rowed all the way to the wall, but couldn't figure out a way in. Water Tribe Warriors were all marching above on the wall, making sure that no one snuck into the city overnight. The prince rowed further and stopped to see a bunch of seals surrounding a hole in the ice. Zuko looked back up at the wall before rowing over to where the seals were. As he approached, they dove through the hole.
The teen bent over it and looked at the clear blue water inside it.
"Where are they going?" he asked. "There coming up for air somewhere…"
He pulled the cloth that was covering his face off, took a deep breath, and then plunged head first into the icy water.
OA
Yue led them to a small wooden door that was close to the heart of the city. Aang walked up to it, before turning to Yue and asking, "so this is the way to the Spirit World?"
The princess laughed. "No. You'll have to get there on your own. But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the North Pole."
She opened the door and the three of them went inside. Aang looked around in awe at the lush green grass, the blooming tree, and the pond of water that was in a small enclosure in the middle of the city. Beyond the pond, he could see the rest of the tribe stretching out to the ocean. Aang ran forward and rolled in the grass.
"I never thought I'd miss grass this much!" he exclaimed.
"It's so warm here," Katara exclaimed, taking off her coat as she spoke. "How is that even possible?"
"It's the center of all the spiritual energy in our land," the other girl replied.
She took her coat off as well and Aang sat down in front of the pond.
"You're right, Yue. I can feel…something. Its so tranquil."
OA
Zuko emerged through the water through another hole in the ice and dragged himself out, shivering. Then, he lay on the snow, gasping for breath. After he started breathing evenly, he breathed fire to warm himself. The turtle seals he had followed started barking at him.
"Be quiet!" He snapped and they quieted.
The teen stood up and pushed his way through them and found an opening in the ceiling where water was pouring out. Zuko braced his foot against the wall of the cave before propelling himself up and into the stream of water. Then, he pulled himself up with some difficulty.
"Maybe we should get some help," Yue was saying. She and Katara were sitting on the grass behind Aang, whose tattoos were glowing.
Katara smiled. "No. he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him."
"Well aren't you a big girl now," came a raspy voice from behind them.
Yue and Katara turned, startled to see Zuko standing there behind them.
"No," Katara said in dismay.
"yes," Zuko replied. "Hand him over and I won't have to hurt you."
Yue ran off, most likely to get help, while Katara shifted into a defensive stance.
Zuko then kicked blast after blast of fire at her, but she deflected all of them with ease. Then, she conjured a stream of water from the fish pond and hit Zuko while he was preparing to strike again, knocking him over.
"I see you've learned a new trick," he said.
He tried shooting fireballs at her again, but she still stopped them all with water shield
S before she weaved her arms in and out around her, causing water to spiral around Zuko and freeze, binding his hands and feet.
"You little peasant," he snapped. "You've found a master, haven't you?"
The sun began to rise and Zuko felt his chi well up within him. The ice around hi began to melt and Katara stepped back with worry.
"You rise with the moon," Zuko said as the sun peeked out over the palace. "I rise with the sun."
OA
Zhao smiled at the sun.
"It's daybreak at last. Let's write history."
OA
Aang opened his eyes to see that he was in some sort of swamp. The boy was sitting cross legged on a platform that was surrounded by shallow water and large trees. Aang stood up and looked ho his left to see a spirit that resembled a monkey sitting on another platform that was practically made of the tree that surrounded it. The monkey was also sitting cross legged; meditating. Aang walked up as it let out a comical hum.
"Oaahhmmm," it said.
"Hello?" Aang asked, stopping right in front of it. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I just really need to find the Moon and the Ocean Spirits."
Without opening its eyes, it said in a slightly Indian accent, "Go…away." Aang stood there determined to figure out how to defeat the Fire Navy fleet. The monkey seemed to notice this. It opened one eye before asking, "You're still here?"
"Yes! I need—"
"Oaahhmmm!" the monkey interrupted forcefully, closing its eyes again. Then, a glowing orb flew by. "Perhaps that thing will help you. Go chase it."
Aang eagerly ran after it.
The monkey opened one eye to make sure the boy had really gone. Then, he let out a sigh, "Finally."
Neither man nor spirit seemed to understand how much concentration and quiet he needed. Meanwhile, Aang caught up to the orb of light he was chasing. He caught it in between his hands, but the branch he was standing on suddenly dissolved. The airbender fell to the water below and the orb flew off.
"No, come back!" he exclaimed.
Then a familiar voice said, "Hello Aang."
Aang looked down to see that his reflection had changed to look like the Avatar before him.
"Roku," he said in awe.
OA
Once the sun had risen higher in the sky, Zhao sent some of his men into the city to attack. The rest of them stayed on their ships and sent numerous fireballs raining down. Ellie watched this as she stood on deck with Iroh, who was talking to the admiral. The Northern Water Tribe seemed even more beautiful in person than it was in the show. Ellie suspected that if it wasn't under attack, it would've looked absolutely magnificent.
"I don't need to remind you, we have a time limit," Iroh was saying. "If we don't defeat the Water Tribe before the full moon rises, they will be undefeatable."
Zhao smirked. "I assure you, I have everything under control. I intend to remove the moon as a factor."
Iroh's eyes widened. "Remove the moon? How?"
"Years ago, I stumbled across a great secret. The moon's mortal form."
"What?" the older general queried.
"I was a lieutenant serving under Commander Shu in the Earth Kingdom. I discovered a hidden library underneath the ground. I tore through scroll after scroll. One of them contained a detailed illustration and the words 'moon' and 'ocean'. I knew then that these spirits could be found and killed. And that it was my destiny to do so."
"Zhao!" Iroh exclaimed angrily. "The spirits are not to be trifled with!"
"Yes, yes I know you fear the spirits, Iroh. Ive heard rumors about your journey to the Spirit World, but the ocean and moon gave up their immortality to become a part of our world. And now, they will face the consequences."
OA
When night fell, Zhao left the ship with a team of soldiers on komodo rhinos. Iroh, Ellie could tell, was greatly worried. He paced the main deck until finally, he left to get a boat. Ellie hurried after him.
"Where are you going?" she hissed as he climbed into the boat.
"I can't just sit by and do nothing knowing that he will kill the ocean spirit."
"I'm coming with you!" Ellie exclaimed.
"No!" he snapped, "It's too dangerous! Stay here where its safe."
"I'm coming! You forget, I've been to the Spirit World too. Plus, I don't want to be left behind!"
Iroh looked down and let out a sigh.
"Fine. But you must stick close to me."
"Like a pentapus!" Ellie squealed, hopping into the boat as well.
Iroh steadied it before cutting the ropes that held it with a jab of firebending. Once inside the city, they hurried to follow Zhao. It wasn't hard as they were the only ones on rhinos. While Iroh was following the tracks, Ellie walked beside him, staring around. As the moon had risen, the fire tanks and soldiers stood no chance. Waterbending warriors were taking them all with apparent ease. She watched, wishing that she could waterbend like that. Then, she focused once more as they drew to a halt by a little, round, wooden door.
"They are through there," the Dragon of the West said, pointing to the door.
OA
Sokka, Katara, and Yue were all riding on Appa, looking for Aang. After the sun had risen, Katara had been knocked unconscious by Zuko. When she awoke, both he and the Avatar were gone. As they flew past a cave, a blue flash of light soared overhead before collecting in the cave and flashing brilliantly.
"Look!" Katara cried, pointing to the now glowing cave. "That's gotta be Aang!"
As they landed, they saw Aang flying out of the cave with Zuko running behind slid off of Appa and shifted into a waterbending stance.
"Here for a rematch?" Zuko asked.
"Trust me," she said. "It's not going to be much of a match."
She extinguished the flame he sent at her before raising the snow underneath Zuko, creating a column ten feet tall, freezing it, and dropping him to the ground where he was knocked unconscious. Katara rushed forward to free Aang.
"We need to get to the Oasis!" Aang exclaimed. "The spirits are in trouble!"
OA
As Ellie and Iroh walked through the door, the light coming from the moon turned to a sickly red. Ellie looked ahead to see Zhao holding a red bag that was swaying as the fish inside struggled to escape.
Ellie moaned and put a hand up to her head. She felt as if she had just spent two hours in the summer sun, marching around. Her head felt strangely light and her ears were buzzing.
Iroh rushed forward. "Are you all right?"
"I feel lightheaded," she groaned.
Iroh put a hand on her back to steady her and then thy walked forward to where they could hear what Zhao was saying.
"—will talk about the great Zhao, who darkened the moon. They will call me Zhao the Conqueror. Zhao the Moon Slayer! Zhao, the Invincible!" a lemur hopped on his head. "Get it off!"
Ellie chuckled and then looked to see Aang standing with his staff ready to attack. Zhao raised a fist to the bag. Aang dropped the staff and raised his hands in front of him. "Don't," the boy said.
"It was my destiny to destroy the moon and the Water Tribe," Zhao replied.
"Destroying the moon wont just hurt the Water Tribe, it'll hurt everyone," the boy tried to reason with him.
"He is right, Zhao," Iroh said, stepping forward.
Zhao looked over at them, startled.
"General Iroh," he said. "Why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"
"I'm no traitor, Zhao!" Iroh shot back, pushing the hood from his face. "The Fire Nation needs the moon too! We all depend on the balance." Zhao didn't move from his defensive position. "Whatever you do to that spirit, I will release on you tenfold! Let it go now!"
Zhao seemed to realize that he had no choice. He bent over an tipped the bag over, letting the spirit back into its pond. Then, as he straightened up, his eyes hardened and before Ellie could warn anyone, he struck the fish. They all stood there horrified for half a second and the moon disappeared altogether. Iroh then let out a ginormous stream of fire. While the general was taking on his men, Zhao ran off. Ellie turned to see Zuko break out of his ropes in Appa's saddle and run after the Admiral. Not knowing what else to do, Ellie ran after them.
She found Zuko and Zhao standing on a bridge, dueling each other. With a war cry, Ellie leapt forward and blasted Zhao back with a powerful stream of fire. A grin spread across her face. Zuko's eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Then, he quickly joined her and began shooting fireballs as well. Ellie didn't even notice that her fire was now stronger than either of theirs. Her eyes flashed and she danced on her toes as she sent a volley of blasts at the admiral. He was on the offensive and Ellie fought her way closer and closer until she was an arm's distance away. Then, she punched him in the face as hard as she could.
"I've been wanting to do that for months," the girl said with a wolf like grin.
OA
Katara lifted the moon spirit before setting it gently back in the water. Iroh picked it up and held it.
"There's no hope," she said. "It's dead."
Iroh turned and looked at Yue. He took in her white hair.
"You have been touched by the moon spirit! Some of your life is in you!"
Yue looked up. Her eyes were so blue, they appeared to be glowing.
"Yes," she replied. "It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back."
Sokka looked up in shock. She stood up and walked over to him. Sokka shot to his feet to and grabbed her hand. "No!" he shouted. "You don't have to do that!"
"It's my duty, Sokka."
"I wont let you! You're father told me to protect you!"
"I have to do this," she replied with determination and she pulled her hand out of his. Then she placed her hands on the giant burn that marred the dead spirit's side. It began to glow and then Yue's eyes slid closed and she fell into Sokka's arms.
OA
Zhao stumbled back, clutching his face. He looked at her disgust and then readied himself to shoot a blast of fire. As it zoomed toward her, she dropped to a crouch and raised her arms with her fingers splayed out. A giant wave of white-hot fire rose to form a wall and absorbed the blow completely. The force of it caused Zhao to fly back. As he caught a glimpse of the sky, he saw that the moon was in the sky once again.
"It cant be!" he shouted, his eyes widening.
Ellie rolled back and then fell into Zuko as she saw a giant watery hand rise from the channel beneath them. She watched as its claws fastened around Zhao and hoisted him into the air. She and Zuko watched, shocked, as it dragged him into the depths of the sea. Then, the blue glowing disappeared down the channel. Ellie scrambled off of Zuko to look up at the moon.
Then, Zuko put a hand on her shoulder briefly to gain her attention as he walked past. The two of them went to find Iroh. Once they did, they found a waterbending raft and pushed it out to sea. Ellie slumped against the mast and her eyes slid shut. Zuko stood looking at the wreckage of the Fire Navy ships while his uncle was hoisting a Fire Nation flag.
"I'm surprised, Prince Zuko," Iroh said. "Surprised that you are not, at this moment, trying to capture the Avatar."
"I'm tired," Zuko replied.
"Then you should rest," Iroh instructed, resting a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "A man needs his rest."
Ellie smiled, her eyes still closed. He was saying the very words he had said over half a year ago. The day she had fallen into the creek. So much had changed since then. She had changed. Then, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep, rocked by the gentle waves.
So this is the last installment of part one. I've been having a lot of trouble finding time to update since school started, so I am not planning on posting part two until Christmas break. You guys have a nice little cliff hanger to ponder on while I go and cram my brain to the point of bursting. Hope you liked it!
~TTFN