Rael: Whew! I'm almost done with Kingom Hearts Remake 2. All that's left is Radiant Garden (MCP and Sephiroth), Twilight Town (Struggle Tournament and the Mansion), and The World That Never Was (Final Bosses, "small thieving time", and the Climax).
nightelf37: Good. Remember, only the plot, the Shisnos, and a few other characters belong to me.
Chapter 12: The Storm
In a dream…
In a peculiar cream colored sky, Aang flew on Appa. To his left, Sokka was flying gracefully on Aang's glider. Sokka, smiled at Aang, who smiled at Sokka in return. Aang looks over to his right to see Katara and Aixata on an enormous Momo. They waved at him. Aang looked above him to see Idano with his Glider Wings on and his mask off, revealing a handsome face. (1)
"We need you, Aang.", Katara said.
"I need you too.", Aang replied as he looked straight ahead—and said ahuge, black storm cloud gathered ahead.
"Be careful, guys!", he called to the others, but there was no response.
"Guys?", he repeated. He looked around to see that everybody disappeared. Everybody except for Idano, who, in the physical world, was probing Aang's dream with his Thoughtbending. As the two approached the storm quickly, a cross-legged Monk Gyatso dropped from above to rest just above Appa's head.
"Gyatso?", Aang gasped.
"Why did you disappear?", he asked.
"I didn't mean to."
Aang leaned forward to touch his old master, but before he can, Gyatso turned grey as ash and began to blow away starting from the head down. Soon, he was gone. After 'Gyatso' disintegrated, Aang realized he was too close to the storm clouds. Idano was out of his sight, but was still there, observing Aang.
"We need you, Aang.", Gyatso's voice rang out.
Inside the cloud, lightning illuminateed the sky. It was pouring rain and Aang screamed as he held on to Appa for his life. Both of them plunged into the sea in a replay of his accident a century ago. As Aang relinquisheed his hold on Appa and began to drift away in the water, many voices were heard, saying, "We need you, Aang. We need you."
At the end of the last sentence, a vision of the Fire Lord, wreathed in flame, was visible for an instant in the afterglow of a lightning strike. At this horrifying vision, Aang woke up instantly from his dream with a start. It was night at their most recent camp. Since Momo was on him, the lemur jumped away to Aang's left, waking up Katara, Aixata, and Sokka in the process. Shyu, Sneers, and Idano were at Aang's left, the latter probing the airbender's head and he stopped the moment he woke up. Sokka was ready with his machete and boomerang when he was awoken.
"Huh? Uh…what's going on? Did we get captured again?", Sokka muttered groggily.
"It's nothing, I just had a bad dream.", Aang replied. "Go back to sleep."
"Don't have to tell me twice.", Aixata said as she rolled over back to sleep. As Aang lay in a fetal position, looking pained, Katara asked, "Are you all right, Aang?"
"I'm okay."
"You seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately.", Idano noted. "You wanna tell me about it?"
"I think I just need some rest."
Sneers then sat up, excited, and said, "You guys want to hear about my dream?" He was answered with stone cold silence. "That's okay, I didn't wanna talk about it anyway."
S—K—I—A—A—S—S
The following morning…
As Appa yawning, ready to fly, Katara and Shyu packed up the group's stuff. Aang sat atop Appa, and Sokka, Sneers, and Idano were on the saddle.
"Look at those clear skies, buddy!", Aang said. "Should be some smooth flying."
Shyu examined their now-empty food bag and told Aang, "Well, we better smoothly fly ourselves to a market, 'cause we're out of food."
Sneers froze in alarm as Shyu and Katara boarded Appa. "Guys, wait, this was in my dream, we shouldn't go to the market."
"What happened in your dream?", Aixata asked.
"Food eats people!"
Idano and Aixata gulped in fear and Sokka giggled from such a funny joke. But Shyu, Katara, and Aang were not impressed.
"Also, Momo could talk.", he continued, then faced the lemur. "You said some very unkind things."
S—K—I—Z—I—A—M—A
Somewhere in the sea…
The Seeker was sailing northward. As Zuko looked out of a telescope, Iroh sniffed the air and observed the birds. Rance and Moritz were also at the ship's deck, playing "RPS-7". (2)
"There is a storm coming. A big one.", said Iroh.
"You're out of your mind, Uncle. The weather's perfect. There is not a cloud in sight."
"The weather isn't predicted merely from the sky, Prince Zuko.", Moritz called. "There are other methods, athough you wouldn't know about it since you're from the Royal Family, and thus don't travel a lot.."
"The storm is approaching from the north.", Iroh continued. "I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."
"We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so we will do the same.", Zuko reminded.
"Prince Zuko, consider the safety of the crew."
"The safety of the crew doesn't matter!"
Zuko then realized that Lt. Jee overheard as well as Rance. Zuko went up close to the lieutenant and walked up until his face is right in front of him.
"Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety.", he continued as he entered the ship and shut the hatch behind him.
Iroh went next to the Lieutenant and said, "He doesn't mean that. He's just all worked up."
S—K—I—Z—I—A—M—A
Somewhere at a harbor…
While Appa lay in the water next to one of the jetties as if he were a ship, Aixata was examining a fruit that reminded her of a watermelon. The shopkeeper was clearly exasperated at Aixata's suspicion of the fruit's quality.
"Ah, it's good! It's perfect, I'm telling you!", she insisted.
Aixata shook the fruit which made a swishing sound.
"I don't know if I like the sound of that swishing."
The shopkeeper came around the stand to face Aixata. Shyu, Idano, Aang, and Sokka waited behind her. Katara and Sneers were elsewhere, being joblers (3).
"Swishing means it's ripe! It's the ripe juices swishing around, eh?"
"I think it's true, Aixata; swishing means it's ripe.", Aang agreed.
The lightbender returned the fruit, saying, "I just realized we're out of money anyway."
S—I—A—A—S—S—I—A—A—S (Sokka, Idano, Aang, Aixata, Shyu)
"What made you think this was a good idea?", Katara asked.
She and sneers had accepted an errand to do sentry duty while the guards meant to be posted were off duty. The pay was good, but it was boring as heck.
"Het, we need money for food and supplies. We've just about ran out.", Sneers replied. "And "I'm not a big eater, I swear!"
"I never said you were!", Katara replied. "It never even crossed my mind."
"I know. It's just that I'm conscious of my figure."
"Even though you're surprisingly strong for one your shape?"
"Yeah. I really hope something exciting will happen."
Upon saying those words, bandits emerged from the bushes a stone's throw away from the entrance.
"You just had to say it, didn't you?", Katara scolded Sneers as she got her water skin ready.
K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S (Katara, Sneers)
"Out of food and out of money.", Sokka complained. "Now what are we supposed to do?"
He and the others were at the dock, thinking of what to do next.
"You could get a job, smart guy.", Idano suggested.
"His sister and Sneers are already doing that.", Aixata cut in.
Just then, they overheard an old fisherman and (presumably) his wife walking behind them.
"We shouldn't go out there!", the woman said. "Please, the fish can wait. There's going to be a terrible storm."
"Ahh, you're crazy!", her husband scoffed. "It's a nice day. No clouds, no wind, no nothing, so quit you're naggin' woman."
Aang turned to his friends and suggested, "Maybe we should find some shelter?"
"Are you kidding?", Sokka asked. "Shelter from what?"
"From the storm?", Idano answered. "My 'weather forecast' said there'd be one."
Meanwhile, the two old people continued their argument.
"My joints say there's going to be a storm!", the woman warned. "A bad one."
"Well, it's your joints against my brain.", the fisherman replied.
"Then I hope your brain can find someone else to haul that fish, cause I ain't comin!"
"Then I'll find a new fish hauler and pay him double what you get! How do you like that?"
Sokka ran up to them and volunteered, "I'll go!"
The old man pointed at Sokka and said, "You're hired!"
Aixata followed Sokka and said, "I'm coming, too!"
"You're hired as well!"
When the other three looked at them with worried faces, Aixata turned around and said, "What? You said 'get a job' and he's paying double."
The fisherman looked at her as if she were an alien and yelled, "Double? Who told ya that nonsense?"
"Um…you did?", Aixata answered flatly. "When your wife told you she wasn't coming?"
"And who told you that old crone was my wife?"
"Nobody. I just assumed it."
"Well your guess is right. You two, come with me!"
S—K—I—Z—I—A—M—A
Meanwhile, on board the Seeker…
On the ship's deck stood Lt. Jee, and Prvs. Moritz, Lodge, and Larch. As they watched storm clouds rolling in, Zuko came over a distance away. Upon seeing him, Jee turned, folding his arms across his chest, to address the Prince.
"Ugh! Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all.", Jee said.
"Lucky guess.", remarked said uncle as he came over.
Zuko crossed to Jee and said, "Lieutenant, you'd better learn some respect." he then pointed at his chest with two fingers. "Or I will teach it to you."
Zuko walked past the Lieutenant, who can no longer contain his contempt for the Prince. As Jee spoke, Larch was making decapitation motions with his hands, trying to head off the conflict.
"What do you know about respect? The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard working crew to your esteemed uncle shows you know nothing about respect. You don't care about anyone but yourself! Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince?"
Zuko stopped in mid step shortly into the Lieutenant's speech. Larch sighed and puts his hand over his face, resigning himself to the brewing disaster. By the end of the tirade, Prince Zuko's eyebrow was twitching. He was clearly stung by the accusations as he turned and assumes a firebending stance. Lt. Jee followed suit.
"Easy now.", Larch tried to say, hands up in gesture of calming.
"Uh oh.", Lodge gulped.
"Aiyaiyai.", Moritz groaned.
Zuko and Jee fnially crossed wrists, indicating that the ritual of combat has begun. When they crossed, the sound of steel on steel was heard and smoke curled from where they meet. Iroh went between them and broke their wrists apart in a neat movement.
"Enough!", he said. "We are all a bit tired from being at sea so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better."
The Prince and Lieutenant glared at each other a moment longer, then both turned and walked away in opposite directions.
"I don't need your help keeping order on my ship.", Zuko told his uncle.
"He knows that.", said Moritz as Larch and Lodge entered th ship with Jee. "He just wants to."
Iroh placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder, but Zuko rudely shoved him off as he walked to the bow, where it was clear the storm clouds now filled the sky.
S—K—I—Z—I—A—M—A
Back at the harbor…
Aixata was loading a fishing boat opposite Appa, who was still wallowing in the water. Aang looked up into the sky in worry, which was clearly full of black storm clouds. The wind has picked up as well. Katara and Shyu were beside Aang as he looked.
"Aixata, maybe this isn't such a good idea.", Aang reasoned. "Look at the sky."
"I said I was going to do this job.", Aixata responded. "I can't back out just because of some bad weather."
The fisherman's wife, who was behind the boat, said, "The boy with the tattoos has some sense. You should listen to him!"
The fisherman put down the boxes he wa holding on the ship. As a question forms in his mind, he said, "Boy with tattoos?" He then turned to Aang and looked at him. "Airbender tattoos? Well I'll be a hogmonkey's uncle! You're the Avatar, ain't ya?"
"That's right.", Shyu agreed with a nod and smile.
"Well don't be so smiley about it. The Avatar disappeared for a hundred years." The fisherman then jabbed Aang's chest with his forefinger. "You turned your back on the world!"
Idano came to Aang's side, clearly angry from the man's horrible attitude. "Don't yell at him! Aang would never turn his back on anyone!"
"Oh? He wouldn't, eh? Then I guess I must have imagined the last hundred years of war and suffering."
As the old man made this damning pronouncement, Aang was filled with sickening guilt. Idano stepped between Aang and the fisherman, clearly irate.
"Aang is the bravest person I have ever known! He did nothing but help people and save lives since we met him. It's not his fault he disappeared, right Aang?", Idano continued, not realizing Aang was backing away as he spoke.
Shyu caught his attention by tapping her shoulder and thumbing behind. He turned to see him open his glider.
"Aang? What's wrong?", Idano asked.
Aang didn't answer as he took off towards the mountains.
"That's right! Keep flyin!", said the fisherman as the Avatar flew out of sight.
"You're a horrible old man!", Idano scolded as Shyu got on Appa, ready to take off. Once Idano got on as well, they took off from the water, drenching the old man in the process. Sokka emerged from the hold just as the fisherman shook off the excess water.
"Hey, they left without saying goodbye!", Sokka noted.
"You're friends ain't too polite, are they?", the man asked.
"I know! This one time I was—", Sokka began to say, but the fisherman handed him a box, saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, get below deck."
S—I—A—A—S—S—I—A—A—S
"That was a close one!"
Katara just knocked a bandit senseless. As the bandit teetered, he landed on a pile of his comrades, whom she and Sneers beat up. The original sentries came over and saw this.
"Whoa!", one guard gasped. "You managed to knock their heads all by yourselves?" (4)
"Yeah…pretty much.", Sneers replied.
"Amazing!", said another guard as he approached the two. "Here's some money as a reward."
"Thanks.", Katara answered as she took a pouch filled with gold pieces.
"We had problems with these goons twice a month.", the second guard continued as the others took the bandits away. "Now we can rest a bit easier with them behind bars."
Just then, everyone saw the storm clouds coming as it stated to rain.
"Well, you kids better seek some shelter.", said the first guard. "We'll take it from here., Besides you guys can use some rest."
"Okay.", Sneers answered.
K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S
Sometime later…
Idano and Shyu were riding Appa at high speed amidst the stormy weather. As they serched a mountain face, they saw a cave in the rock face with an exposed parapet, and a stone staircase leading up to it from the shoreline below. They headed there, entered the cave, and saw Aang, sitting with his hands in his lap, looking rather downcast. (5) He didn't turn to look at the two as they entered.
"I'm sorry for running away.", Aang apologized.
"It's okay.", replied Idano. "That fisherman ddn't deserve to say such insults."
"Actually, he did."
"What do you mean?", Shyu asked.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"It has to do with your dream, doesn't it?", Idano realized as he walked over to Aang, knelt by him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. Talk to me."
"Well, it's kind of a long story."
Suddenly, Momo, who was on Appa all this time, ran in, chittering, and Appa himself entered as well, nudging Aang.
"I'll get a fire started.", Shyu said as he arranged some stone into a circle. He then took out a bundle of firewood Aixata offered him before he parted with them at the Great Divide, and unwrapped the string tying it up. (6) As Appa went deeper into the cave to keep out of the rain, Shyu arranged the sticks around a circle of stones, and then shot an ember at the wood, starting the fire. With the fire ready, he, Idano and Aang huddled around it with Momo resting on the latter's lap.
Before Aang started to narrate, Idano took out a sphere and laid it close to the fire. (7) He then also probed Aang's mind.
"I'll never forget the day the monks told me I was the Avatar.", Aang began.
-flashback-
At a stone plaza in the Southern Air Temple, back in its heyday…
A number of young airbenders were playing games, just outside the south wall. Aang was among these kids as he was trying to teach them how to do the air scooter. Many of the kids seemed to be Aang's age or younger, one was taller and probably older.
"First, you form a ball.", Aang instructed. "Then you gotta get on quick."
Aang made an air ball and got on it fast, one foot on the ball. He laughed and began to move at terrific speed across the plaza. He went upside down in a nearby archway under a walking bridge, then climbed a wall and got up on to the bridge, coming back to the plaza by a nearby set of stairs. Aang was exclaiming "Yeah!" and "woohoo!" as he travels. The older boy readied his own attempt.
"Okay! Here goes!", he said as he made a ball.
"Quick, get on!", Aang told him.
The boy did so, but he landed on the ball with his butt and thus, he ended up spinning on it and he fell off.
Aang dismounted his own scooter and advised, "You kinda have to balance on it like it's a top." He twirled his finger to demonstrate.
"Man, that's hard."
A young boy came over and tugged at Aang's shoulder.
"Where'd ya learn that trick, Aang?", he asked.
"I made it up."
"Wow!"
Just then, five elderly airbender monks descended the stone steps leading up to the bridge. Monk Gyatso was among them.
"Aang, come with us. We need to speak with you.", said Gyatso.
Aang obeyed with a look of trepidation on his face, the other kids looking at him strangely.
A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G (Aang, Gyatso) (8)
In a chamber in the Air Temple…
The five elder monks sat cross-legged and serene on five evenly spaced stools. The middle monk's stool rested under an ornate parasol. Most likely, he's the leader or abbot of the monastery. Monk Gyatso was on his right. Aang knelt in front of them, head down. He then lifted his head to address them.
"How do you know it's me?", he asked.
"We have known you were the Avatar for some time.", said the monk on the abbot's left. "Do you remember these?"
He then revealed a rolled up package, which he airbended over to Aang. It landed at his feet and rolled open of its own accord. Inside were four children's toys. They were a little clay turtle, a propeller toy, a wooden little monkey, and a rattle-type drum with yellow and red swirls on its face.
"Those were some of my favorite toys when I was little!", Aang exclaimed as he picked up the propeller toy.
"You chose them from among thousands of toys, Aang.", explained the monk to Gyatso's right. "The toys you picked were the four Avatar relics. These items belonged to Avatars past. Your own past lives."
"I just chose them because they seemed fun.", said Aang as he smiled and pulled the cord on the propeller toy, sending the propeller spinning into the air. As it spun, the monk at Aang's far right said, "You chose them because they were familiar."
"Normally we would have told you of your identity when you turned 16, but there are troubling signs, storm clouds are gathering.", Gyatso explained.
"I fear that war may be upon us, young Avatar.", warned the abbot.
"We need you, Aang."
Aang lowered his head, his responsibility crushing him.
-end flashback-
His head remained lowered as he explained. Idano and Shyu took in all of this information, the former also writing it all down on his diary.
I—A—S—I—A—S—I—A—S (Idano, Aang, Shyu)
At the Engine Room in the Seeker…
As the ship sailed across the stormy waters, Lt. Jee was sitting with a drink in front of a "fire barrel". With him were Ream, Kucharz (the cook), and Moritz.
"I'm sick of taking his orders and I'm tired of chasing his Avatar!", Jee complained. "I mean who does Zuko think he is?"
Iroh (from o.c.): "Do you really want to know?", a voice asked.
Everyone turned to see Iroh at the top of the stairs from the upper deck. They immediately stood in respect.
"General Iroh!", Ream saluted. "We were just—"
Iroh went down the steps with a hand raised in acceptance. "It's okay. May I join you?"
"Of course, sir!"
Iroh approached and sat down with the men. He stroked his beard and began to speak.
"Try to understand, my nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much."
As he started to narrate, Moritz secretly took out a sphere, similar to the one Katara got from Idano. (9)
-flashback-
Somewhere in the Fire Nation Palace…
Zuko was headed to a certain room. He didn't have his scar yet, but his look of determination was the same as his now. Just before he could reach the room, a pair of Fire Nation guards blocked his attempts.
"Let me in!", he demanded. Iroh appeared from his left, putting his hands on the young man's shoulders.
"Prince Zuko, what's wrong?", the general asked.
"I want to go into the war chamber, but the guard won't let me pass!"
Zuko was clearly disappointed from this and Iroh led him a short distance away from the guards and said, "You're not missing anything, trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring."
"If I'm gonna rule this nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?", Zuko responded.
"Very well.", his uncle conceded. "But you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know."
"Thank you uncle!"
Iroh put him around Zuko's shoulders and walked him past the guards, who made no move to stop them.
Z—I—Z—I—Z—I—Z—I—Z—I
In the War Chamber…
The room wa temple-like, with a throne on a dais, wreathed in fire. The back wall was occupied by some sort of huge, ornately carved red statue. Fire Nation generals sat around a map of the Earth Kingdom continent that adorned the floor. Zuko sat among them, next to his uncle. One of the generals on the left was standing to address the general staff.
"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here.", he said. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors, so I am recommending the 41st division."
"But the 41st is entirely new recruits.", another general replied. "How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?"
"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait then fresh meat?"
Zuko jumped up from his position and protested. "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?"
The generals looked back to Zuko, clearly disapproving of Zuko's outburst.
-end flashback-
"Zuko was right, you see.", Iroh finished. "But it was not his place to speak out, and there were dire consequences."
"*sigh* He could've said his plan in a tone of regret and with intent of a noble sacrifice.", Moritz remarked. "But no, he just had to say it as if he were planning to ditch them."
"Yeah.", Kucharz agreed.
I—M—R—J—K—I—M—R—J—K (Iroh, Moritz, Ream, Jee, Kucharz)
Back at the cave…
Idano and Shyu were still listening to Aang's story.
"So you were upset that you were the Avatar?", Shyu asked. "Why wouldn't you be excited about it?"
"Well, I didn't know how to feel about it. All I knew is that after I found out, everything began changing."
-flashback-
Back at the plaza…
The place was full of young airbenders riding on air scooters, laughing, and having fun.
"Hey, not bad!", Aang remarked as he stood among them. "You guys have been practicing!
"Not only that, we made up a game you can play with the air scooters!", one of the kids said.
"Great!"
Aang made his own air scooter, but the young boy looked confused and a bit alarmed. He stopped his scooter and the other young airbenders stopped their scooters as well.
"What's going on?", Aang asked, dismayed.
"Now that you're the Avatar, it's kind of an unfair advantage for whichever team you're on.", eplained another of the boys.
Aang tried to smile and replied, "But I'm still the same nothing's changed. I mean, I haven't even started with my advanced lessons yet."
But the other airbenders just stood there.
"So, what, I can't play?", Aang sighed.
"That's the only fair way."
Aang dismounted his scooter and said, "Oh, okay."
"Sorry, Aang."
The young airbenders look upon as Aang retreated from them, sadness in their eyes.
A—A—A—A—A—A—A—A—A—A (Aang) (10)
Later…
Aang and Gyatso were in a room, playing Pai Sho through an exterior window. Aang absentmidndely moved a "sky bison" tile on the board, in close proximity to a very familiar tile (11). Aang was sad and distracted.
"Very interesting move, young one.", Gyatso remarked.
"What do you mean?", Aang asked.
Behind his back, Monk Gyatso began to bend air in an arch over his head and behind Aang. The wind blew Aang's hood up over his face, giving the old monk time to switch a few pieces before Aang can remove the hood.
"Hey!", Aang said as he pointed at the board, seeing Gyatso's move.
Both began to laugh. Just then, the door opened to reveal one of the other monk elders. He was the one to the abbot's left when they told Aang that he was the Avatar.
"You're playing games with him?", the monk said, clearly displeased. "The Avatar should be training."
"Aang has already trained enough for today.", Gyatso replied.
"Time is short. Come with me.", the other monk ordered Aang. "I must test you on some high level techniques."
Aang got up and began to follow the Elder out of the room, but Monk Gyatso raised his hand in a gesture of cessation.
"No, as long as I am his guardian, I will decide when he trains and when he plays Pai Sho with me."
The other monk goffed in anger and stalked off as Aang turned to smile at Monk Gyatso.
-end flashback-
A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G (12)
Back at the present, in the Seeker…
Iroh continued discussing Zuko's story.
"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him.", he went on. "He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the general was an act of complete disrespect, and there was only one way to resolve this…"
"Agni Kai.", Jee gasped in horror. "A fire duel."
"That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid. But Zuko misunderstood. When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the General. Zuko had spoken out against a general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own father."
"How did it go?", Ream asked, a tad eager, but only just.
"It wasn't as you would think it would be."
I—M—R—J—K—I—M—R—J—K
Back at the cave…
"Then, just when I was starting to feel better, something worse happened.", Aang continued.
-flashback-
At the chamber in the Air Temple…
Gyatso and the monk who came in earlier to interrupt his and Aang's game stood in front of the Abbot, arguing their cause.
"Aang needs to have freedom and fun. He needs to grow up as a normal boy.", Gyatso explained.
"Humph! You cannot keep protecting him from his destiny.", countered the other monk.
"Gyatso, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the boy cloud your judgment.", the Abbot said.
"All I want is what is best for him.", was all Gyatso said in return.
"But what we need is what's best for the world. You and Aang must be separated. The Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training."
As the two monks bowed, it turns out that Aang was eavesdropping through a hole in the ceiling, his eyes wide in alarm and distraught.
-end flashback-
A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G—A—G
"Man! This is a strong storm!", Katara complained.
She and Sneers were inside a house, seeing hte storm outside.
"Well, at least we're safe inside.", Sneers said. "I wonder if the others found shelter."
Suddenly, a sentry guard came in, distressed.
"Please, we need your help!"
"What's wrong?", Katara asked.
"A squadron of Fire Nation soldiers has come here. They're attempting to invade the town."
"We're on it!", Sneers said as he and Katara followed the guard.
K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S
Back at the cave…
Idano and Shyu were shocked fro what Aang had said.
"That's awful, Aang. I don't know what to say.", Shyu said. He tried to put his hand on Aang's shoulder, but he got up, angry.
"How could they do that to me!", Aang screamed. "They wanted to take away everything I knew and everyone I loved!"
Aang's Avatar spirit began to activate, the arrow tattoos on his body beginning to glow and an energy shell (13) beginning to form around him. He shuts it down however as Idano gasped as cinders from the fire swirled around him.
"Whoa! Hot cinders!", Idano gasped.
As his glow faded, Aang turned around. "I'm sorry I got so mad."
"You have a right to be angry after the monks sent you away like that."
"Well, that's not exactly what happened. "
-flashback-
Aang ws looking soberly from his room, seeing his friends hard at play on their air scooters back at the south wall. He clearly longed to be normal again. Aang left his window and flopped dejectedly on his bed.
Later at night, Monk Gyatso approaches his door and knocked.
"Aang, I'm not going to let them take you away from me."
Whn there was no answer, he opened the door to see a rolled up scroll on Aang's bed. When he picked it up and opened it, his eyes went wide in concern and drew an intake of breath to look at the window where it was storming violently. (14)
Somewhere over the ocean…
Aang was riding upon Appa in the storm. Soon, they plunged into the sea during the storm, Aang activated his avatar spirit and they were subsequently encasement in ice.
-end flashback-
"I was afraid and confused. I didn't know what to do. I never saw Gyatso again. Next thing I knew, I was waking up in Katara's arms after she, Sokka, and you found me in the iceberg.", Aang finished.
"You ran away.", Idano concluded.
Aang looked up at him and Idano. "And then the Fire Nation attacked our temple. My people needed me and I wasn't there to help."
"You don't know what would've—", Shyu tried to say.
"The world needed me and I wasn't there to help."
"Aang—"
"The fisherman was right! I did turn my back on the world."
Idano slapped Aang in the head and said. "Aang! Don't be too hard on yourself. Even if you did run away, I'm sure it was meant to be. If you had stayed you may have been killed along with all the other airbenders. And who knows if the cycle would've quickly went to Water or not."
"You don't know that."
"Maybe I don't. But the world needs you now. You give people hope."
Aang slowly smiled, raising his head to look at him, an expression of hope spreading across his face. Momo hopped over to Aang and chittered.
I—A—S—I—A—S—I—A—S
Back at the Seeker…
Iroh continued his story to Jee and the other crewmen.
"When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy."
-flashback-
At the Agni Kai arena…
Zuko had knelt down to his father, who was large, silhouetted, and advancing slowly on Zuko.
"Please, father, I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart!", Zuko begged. "I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!"
"You will fight for your honor.", the Fire Lord ordered.
"I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son."
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!"
"I won't fight you."
"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher."
The Fire Lord now stood a few feet from Zuko, as the Prince raised his tear-filled face to his father. Some of the spectators were obviously, the generals from the war council. There also stood the then-Captain Zhao, General Iroh, looking fearful for his nephew, and a cruel looking young girl in a soldier's uniform who is clearly hoping for the worst to befall Prince Zuko. (15) As she raised her left fist in anticipation of the disgrace her brother is undergoing, Iroh looked away in despair. Everybody (save for him) saw the Fire Lord scar his own son, who screamed in anguish.
-end flashback-
Lt. Jee was abashed after hearing all this. "I always thought that Prince Zuko was in a training accident."
"An accident?", Moritz said with incredulity. "I can't believe you had no idea about this. I mean, before I joined this crew, I heard rumors about this from Earth Kingdom citizens I guarded back at the colonies."
"Allow me to finish.", Iroh cut in, stopping Moritz, then continued. "After the duel, the Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment, he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he return with his honor."
"So that's why he's so obsessed.", Ream realized. "Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal."
"Things will never return to normal. But the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope."
Meanwhile, Zuko was facing an altar in his room, remembering his past. His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a lightning bolt strike the ship's bridge.
Z—I—M—R—J—K—Z—I—M—R—J—K
Back at the cave…
Aang and the others were resting when suddenly, someone entered, the storm still raging outside.
"Help! Oh, please help!", she yelled.
Idano came over to bring the fisherman's wife in.
"It's ok, you're safe.", he said.
"But my husband isn't."
"What do you mean? Where's Aixata and Sokka?"
"They haven't returned. They should've been back by now, and this storm is becoming a typhoon. They're caught out at sea."
Aang stood resolute and declared, "I'm going to find them."
"I'm coming with you.", Idano said as he got Appa out of the cave.
"I'm staying here!", grunted the old woman as she sat down next to the fire.
"I better stay as well.", Shyu suggested as Appa was finally outside.
"We'll be back soon, I promise.", Aang said as he and Idano boarded Appa and took off.
I—A—S—I—A—S—I—A—S
Back at the town gates…
Katara, Sneers, and the (non-bending) sentry guards were defending their post from about three dozen Firebender soldiers.
"Man! Who would've known there'd be an attack during a storm!", Sneers complained as he bashed two soldiers' head at each other, knocking them out.
"Well, at least it's raining.", Katara said with a smile as she slapped her opponents silly with the rainwater falling down. "There's water everywhere."
"Hah! If only they knew a waterbender was around AND there'd be a storm, they'd think twice!", the former Freedom Fighter laughed as they easily dispatched the firebenders in a matter of minutes.
"Thanks for the help, kids.", said one of the guards as his comrades took their foes away. "Here's a reward for protecting this town."
"Thank you very much!", Sneers said with joy.
K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S—K—S
Out at sea…
The Seeker was in danger, battling the waves. Zuko, Jee, Moritz, and Rance were on deck, struggling to stay upright as water drenched them and the deck repeatedly.
"Where were we hit?", Zuko asked.
"I don't know!", Jee answered.
"Look!", Rance yelled as he pointed to the bridge tower. Onicus was hanging off some of the rigging.
"The helmsman!", Zuko gasped as he and Jee climbed the external ladder up to the bridge area.
Back at the deck, Iroh sensed something. A lighting strike flared, but Iroh bent the lightning through his body, away from Jee and Zuko, and forced it to strike open water. He stood smoking and looking confused from this, but he was undamaged otherwise.
Moritz giggled a bit from this, then proceeded to use his Soundbending. As the thunder roared and the waves crashed, he collected a fraction off all this into two spheres around his hands. As big waves started to crash on the Seeker, he released these spheres at the waves and they dissipated.
Meanwhile, Onicus couldn't hold on any longer and fell. However, Zuko managed to catch him by the hand. The Prince then brought him down to Jee, who immediately desdended the ladder.
Somewhere out at sea, Idano and Aang were flying on Appa in the storm.
"Where are they?", Idano wondered.
"Come on, Appa!", Aang yelled to his bison.
The two saw a massive wave of water up ahead, which towered above them. Appa couldn't pull up in time, but they busted through its crest with a combination of Appa's strength and Aang's combined bending with his staff, which he used as a 'helicopter blade' (as Idano puts it) to part the water. In the distance they saw a small boat, silhouetted by lighting strikes.
"The boat! It's there!", Aang yelled, pointing to the horizon.
However, the Seeker's crew managed to see Appa in turn.
"The Avatar!", Zuko gasped.
"What do you want to do, sir?", Jee asked.
After pausing for a moment to consider, the Prince dcided, "Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety."
"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm.", Iroh advised.
"Good choice, Prince Zuko.", Moritz remarked silently. "The Avatar definitely won't fight you alone. You'll beed us to hold his friends off."
I—Z—I—A—M—O—J—R (Idano, Zuko, Iroh, Aang, Moritz, Onicus, Jee, Rance)
On the fishing boat…
Sokka, Aixata, and the fisherman were clinging for dear life as they struggled through the storm.
"I'm too young to die!", Sokka screamed.
"I'm not, but I still don't wanna!", yelled the old man.
Aixata was shielding the three with her lightbending and telekinesis. Finally, Appa reached the boat and Aang jumped in. Lighting struck the main mast which broke off. It was about to hit Aang, but he split it in two with Waterbending, the halves falling harmlessly on either side of him. Sokka had a rope in his hands, which Aang grabbed.
"Hang on to the rope!", Aang ordered as he airbended himself back onto Appa, pulling Sokka, Aixata, and the old man with him. The three landed on Appa as well, the old man spitting out some water and smile sheepishly. Behind them, a shadow appeared and the sound of rushing water was heard. A wave was building behind them much larger than before. Appa tried to escape, but the wave was too fast. They were all submerged. The resuting wave knoecked everybdy unconscious, including Aang.
But not Aixata. For some reason, her eyes glowed an eerie purple and when she moved her arms, shadows from the ocean's abyss rose. (16) She then encased everyone, including herself, in it and began to raise them back up out of the water and into the sky.
Back on the Seeker…
Zuko and his crew finally made it to the eye of the storm, which they can see above them. The wind has died down and it was drizzling.
"Uncle, I am sorry.", Zuko apologized.
Iroh smiled and put a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Your apology is accepted."
Suddenly, Aixata's ball of darkness erupted from the sea in front of the prow of Zuko's ship and rocketed into the air. Everybody was spooked upon the sight, even Zuko, but he regained his composure once the ball disappeared to reveal Appa rising up into the eye.
S—K—I—Z—I—A—M—A
Later…
Appa now stood out in the drizzle on the parapet outside the cave where Aang had told Shyu and Idano his story. As Appa's passengers got off, the fisherman's wife ran to embrace her husband.
"Oh, you're alive!", she said, then scolded, "You owe this boy an apology."
"He doesn't have to apologize.", Aang said.
"Mmm, uh, what if instead of an apology I give him a free fish and we call it even?", the fisherman suggested.
"Actually, I don't eat meat."
"Fish ain't meat."
"Technically, it is.", Aixata pointed out. "It just has different nutrients than 'land' meat."
As they talked, Aang approached Idano and said, "Idano, I think you were right before. I'm done dwelling on the past."
"Really?"
"I can't make guesses about how things would have turned out if I hadn't run away. I'm here now and I'm going to make the most of it."
"I don't think you're gonna have those nightmares anymore.", Idano said with a smile.
The fisherman approached Aang and put his hand on his shoulder. "Uh, if you weren't here now, well, I guess I wouldn't be either. Thank you for saving my life, Avatar."
"Do you hear that?", Sokka asked. "It's stopped raining."
Indeed, it had stopped. Every went outside to see the sun starting to break through the clouds. Just then, Appa shook himself off, drenching everyone.
"Appa!", everyone yelled, then they laughed.
"Well, we better get going now.", said Aang as his friends boarded Appa once more.
"Goodbye!", waved the old couple as the Gaang took off.
S—I—A—A—S—S—S—I—A—A—S—S
Katara and Sneers were back at the dock, waiting for their friends to return.
"I wonder where they are?", sighed Sneers.
Upon saying that, they saw Appa land close to them. After they got on, Appa took off once again, headed to who knows where. As the Gaang sailed through the skies, Idano and Aixata told the two everything that happened, all the way from Aang's flying away from the fisherman to Aixata's 'emergency mode'.
"Whoa. I can't believe you actually ran away!", Katara gasped from hearing about Aang's past.
"And I didn't have any idea that you had something like an Avatar spirit!", Shyu said to Aixata.
"Neither have I.", Aixata sheepishly replied.
"Well, turns out the fisherman didn't have much to pay us.", Sokka sighed in disappointment.
"Too bad for you guys.", said Sneers. "Katara and I took an errand as sentry substitutes and we also ended up rounding up bandits and defending the town from firebenders!"
"Lucky you. Well, where are we headed next?"
"We're still en route to the North Pole, silly.", Idano answered.
"Oh right. *cough* *cough*"
Aang gasped from hearing this.
"It's okay.", Sokka insisted. "I'm fine, really."
"Oh, great.", Aixata mumbled, then coughed as well.
"Dammit…", Idano muttered. "From such a storm, I expected coughs and colds."
"What do you suggest we do?", Aang asked.
"I hope it could be slept off. I also got some medicine, but it's not enough."
"Then we'll have to find a doctor.", Katara suggested. "We can't continue our journey unless we're all healthy."
"You're right.", Idano agreed, ignoring the insistence of the others that they were okay. "Let's go!"
"Yip yip!", Aang ordered. Immediately, Appa soared on in a low altitude. (17)
-There are updates prior to knowing the chaacters more.-
(O) Aang Jelico
The current Avatar and an Airbender remnant. Two people from the Water Tribe and I (Idano) first found him encased in an iceberg. It turns out he ran away from home after learning he was the Avatar and that his ife was gonna change greatly.
Even after learning he was the last airbender, and about his task, he remains something of a goofy, kind kid at heart. I wonder why it is so.
(O) Zuko Fireheart
A banished prince from the Fire Nation. He insulted his father when he spoke out of turn in a war meeting. When he begged for mercy, he was severely burnt and was banished from such a shameful act.
He's relentlessly following the Avatar to restore his honor. He doen't seem to think things through and is quite the hot-head. At least he doesn't go so far as to sacrifice lives just for honor.
Δ Jee
Effectively, the captain of the Seeker. While Zuko and Iroh share command, it is Jee who give orders to the crew when it comes to sailing. He is also quite the skilled Firebender
X Kucharz
The cook onboard the Seeker. Apparently, he's Iroh's favorite crew member.
(1) Remember, this is a dream so anything can happen.
(2) Idano taught this to Aang last chapter. Moritz knows about this game, too.
(3) One who does small jobs. It's a seldom-used word I found in savethewords . org. Also, I can't always just 'put' my OCs on a bus all the time. That's why Katara is away for the moment.
(4) I'll use "knock heads" in place of "kick butt".
(5) While neither Idano nor Aixata are around, they knew of this when Shyu told them later. Also, Idano lent him the Diary prior to getting a job on sentry duty.
(6) With Aixata and Idano beng from another world with futuristic technology, they have just about anything prepared in the event they are stranded in other worlds. Why a portable bundle of firewood is one of their products is anybody's guess.
(7) The sphere was an item that allows those around it to see what somebody is describing as they reminisce about the past. Somehow, Idano was Crazy Prepared with events to come.
(8) Monk Gyatso is quite the notable side character, if even in a flashback.
(9) Apparently, these "Flashback Visualizers" are standard issue for Story Crew members.
(10) Seriously, I skipped the part where the older monk mentioned Jinju. I mean, there is no plot relevance whatsoever.
(11) It's the Lotus tile. There are WMGs (Wild Mass Guesses) at TV Tropes that Gyatso was a member of the {()rd3r 0f 7h3 \/\/h173 L07u5}.
(12) I felt no need to get back to the cave scene as there as no conversation afterward. Hence, then Aang and Gyatso break.
(13) Back at "The Southers Air Temple".
(14) Even when Aang didn't know about this, Idano did since he was somehow able to look all around the area in Aang's mind, even if Aang himself didn't see it. The reason is because he is the Avatar, and has a link to the Spirit World, which emulated everything outside Aang's perspective to Idano.
{Anything in braces is a spoiler, and are typed in Leet.}
(15) Those who have watched the series would obviously know who this is, so I won't tell you if you don't know. Your loss. Although, you'll knw who she is by the end of the first book.
(16) Come on, I can't have Aang saving everybody's ass all the time. As for why it was shadows, you could say I got the idea from what I read about Chakras. While Light, Sound, and Thought were clearly stated, I also discovered that it may also mean Dark, Ether, and Space. So, Aixata is given an 'emergency mode' that allows her to perform Darkbending. It's not evil by any way, just edgy. Idano and Moritz got this 'mode' too, but I'll elaborate on theirs in later chapters.
(17) That last segment is to make sense the event coming in the next chapter.