Sorry for the late update

Book II: Earth OR Book II: Love in Full Bloom

Writerswand's
Boiling Water
The Avatar State
The Cave of Two Lovers
Chapter 14

The Avatar State

Aang's grey eyes shot open and he sprang up, now sitting. He looked around him and saw Sokka, Jet, Kinto, and even Jojo all still sleeping like the heavy sleepers they are. Aang sighed. He had wanted to talk to someone about this…but he decided not to bother anyone. He stood up and walked outside for some fresh air.

The next day Jet and Jojo stood by Appa awkwardly as they waited for the rest of the group to finish saying their goodbyes.
Master Pakku carefully handed Kinto an icicle-shaped amulet filled with sacred water from the oasis that is capped with a crescent-shaped lid. "For emergencies, is that clear?"
"Yeah, whatever," Kinto shrugged, pocketing the gift.
Pakku turned to Aang and placed a box of water bending scrolls in his hands. "To help with your training"-he eyed Kinto-"Keep him out of trouble."
Aang grinned and nodded. "I will, and thanks!"
Lastly, Sokka walked up beaming, expecting similar gifts, but instead he received a pat on the shoulder. "Take care of everyone Sokka."
Sokka frowned a little but quickly changed his expression to a somber one. "Yes, sir." Afterwards, Master Pakku instructed them to head east to the Earth Kingdom Base where General Fong would provide them with escorts to King Bumi in Omashu. There, Aang will be safe and able to learn Earthbending.
"Oh, I already have an earthbending teacher!" Aang exclaimed, happily.
"You do?" Pakku questioned.
Aang nodded. "Yeah, Jojo. The best earthbender ever! Though, we decided to wait until I learnt waterbending to start earthbending."
Jojo shifted her feet uncomfortably. "I'm not THAT good…"
"What are you playing at? You're amazing!" The rest of the group agreed.
Pakku eyed the green eyed bandit. "Well, I wish you luck, you will need it, I think."
Aang smiled and thanked him and the travelers climbed aboard Appa. In the air Sokka leaned over the side to call out to Pakku. "Say hi to Gran-Gran for me!"

*Katara*

Pink cherry blossoms fall lightly on a town located on top of a river, where Uncle Iroh was receiving a well-deserved massage after "three weeks without food and water and sea vultures ready to pick out their liver." Zuko was sitting down and leaning against the wall, wearing a large hat. I sat next to him, a hand on his knee comfortingly. He seemed lost in thought, but when I asked him about it, he said he didn't want to talk. I frowned slightly.

Our travelers landed on the east coast of the Earth Kingdom. Jojo automatically jumped off of Appa and landed on the solid earth, digging her feet in with ease. She fell backwards with a hard, loud thump! and began making earth-angels. She jumped up and shot herself in the air, rising large spikes of earth from the ground beneath her before landing on one a hundred yards away. As she jumped to each, making her way back to the group, she earthbended them back down, making the ground level once again. When she finally jumped back onto the ground Aang ran up to her, excitedly.
"So can I learn earthbending now?" he asked her, beaming.
Jojo was taken aback. "Wh-what? I mean, don't you still have water bending training? You aren't nearly a master yet…"
Aang shrugged. "Well yeah…but, I thought I could learn both at the same time! I'm already fairly good at water bending anyway. Better sooner than later, right?"
Jojo shifted uncomfortably. "I agree but…I'm not sure I'm the best teacher…" her green eyes flickered to something on the right. "Besides, I should be going now, anyway."
Sokka, who had just walked up after getting off of Appa with a large pack on his back, frowned. "Jo, if you think you've outstayed your welcome you're wrong."
Jojo was surprised that he actually spoke to her. He hadn't the whole flight here. He hadn't even looked at her. Part of the reason was that he was moping the loss of Yue, but still…
Aang nodded. "You can travel with us for as long as you like!" he beamed.
Kinto let out a loud snore from Appa's saddle.
"Oh will someone shut this kid up!" Jet cried, annoyed. He rubbed his eyes and jumped off of Appa, before jogging over to the group. "What's going on?"
"Jojo wants to leave the group," Sokka informed him. "Without thinking of the implications too. She's supposed to teach Aang earth bending."
"I'm not supposed to do anything!" Jojo snapped.
Jet's eyes widened. "Jo, you can't go—"
Jojo threw her hands up in the air. "You guys just don't understand. I'm a bandit, a rouge! I live on my own, take care of myself. I don't stay very long at all in one place, and especially not in a group. This is getting way too cozy for my liking." She turned to Aang. "Kiddo, go to General Fong like the old man Pakku said to. Find an earth bending master willing to teach you; he probably won't be as great as me, but surely a better teacher." She turned to walk off.
"But Jojo—"
"I believe in you, Aang!" She called as she launched herself in the air, away from the boys.

Two long rows of soldiers stood in formation aboard a large Fire Nation ship, facing each other. A door opened and four men carried out a covered sedan chair. Two of them pulled back the front curtain and an attractive girl in Fire Nation apparel stepped out. She motioned for the soldiers to rise, and continued to explain to them how her brother and uncle have disgraced the Fire Lord and brought shame to all of them. "You may have mixed feelings about attacking members of the royal family, I understand. But I assure you, if you hesitate, I will not hesitate to bring you down. However, as my father strictly informed me, you must not lay a single scratch on our water bender. She must be returned to my father unharmed. Is that clear?"
The soldiers nodded affirmative.
Princess Azula nodded. "Dismissed."
As the soldiers depart, the captain walked down and reported to her that the tides would not allow them to dock before night fall.
"Would you care to explain why this is?" She asked, obtusely. "Do the tides command this ship?"
"I do not understand, princess—"
Azula's amber-colored eyes flared angrily. "Are you talking back to me sirrah? I command this ship; not the enemy, not the ocean, not anybody but me. If you don't have the intellectual capacity to understand this I have no use for you." With a swift kick she sent the man flying off the side of the ship.

Meanwhile, Appa soared through the sky carrying a group of very grumpy boys. They almost missed the Earth Kingdom Base, nearly flying over it, but Sokka pointed it out just in time and Aang brought them down. A circular stone wall surrounded it with a pagoda in the center. When they landed, they were greeted by General Fong and his twenty men who addressed them all with respectful titles. Fireworks then suddenly burst into the sky from green capsules shot by Earthbender soldiers.

In a dimly lit room at the top of the pagoda, General Fong divulged his knowledge about the Northern Water Tribe attack and how Aang single-handedly took out the Fire Navy fleet.
"Not quite single-handedly…I still had a lot of help," Aang said, modestly.
"Doesn't matter! It was mostly, and by mostly I mean practically entirely, just you, was it not? Either way, you are certainly ready to face the Fire Lord."
Aang looked flabbergasted and stumbled over his words.
"Sir, whilst Aang is very powerful even now, he still has yet to master all four elements," Sokka pointed out.
"If the Avatar is powerful enough to wipe out hundreds of battleships in minutes, he can defeat the Fire Lord now-" General Fong persisted.
Kinto interrupted the conversation. "But, Aang can only do that in the Avatar State, right?" he asked, looking at Sokka, who nodded firmly.
Jet leant against an earthen wall, picking at his nails.
"I am well aware that the Avatar's eyes and tattoos glow and when in that state he possesses unbelievable power," Fong continued. "With power leading the way, with you as our ultimate weapon, the Earth Kingdom soldiers could go straight to the heart of the Fire Nation."
Aang hesitated for a moment too long. "I don't know how to get in or out of the Avatar state," he confessed.
"It's decided then," Fong said quickly. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State and then you'll face your destiny."
"Sir, we already have a plan. Aang will face his destiny in his own way, in his own time," Sokka countered, defensively.
"I know you may not be fully aware of this, but whilst the Avatar is wasting time learning all the elements the war goes on." Fong ushered Aang over to a window and showed him the wounded soldiers returning from the infirmary. "Those are the lucky ones. They came back. People are dying, Aang. You could end it. Now."

Nearing sunset on the Fire Nation ship, Azula trained on the deck while two identical old ladies with their gray hair in buns scrutinized her every movement. She shot a beam of lightning into the open air and one of the ladies replied "Almost perfect." The other old lady confirmed this by stating; "One hair out of place."
A crazed look enters Azula's eyes as she glared at the misplaced hair. "Almost isn't good enough." She pushed the hair back behind her ear. She does the lightning attack once more.

That night Aang approached General Fong. "I'm in. I'll fight the Fire Lord in the Avatar State."
Fong nodded, satisfied. "Thank you, Avatar. You will have served us a great honor, the greatest."
Aang nodded in response and returned to bed to tell the boys. They all agreed—for once—to some extent.
Sokka shrugged. "If that's what you want to do. Well, to be honest, you are pretty incredible when you get your glow on," he smirked.
Aang managed a small chuckle. He turned to Jet. "Jet, what do you think?"
Jet looked up, a piece of wheat falling out of his mouth. "Eh?"
"The Plan. General Fong. Avatar State."
"Oh right." Jet picked up his piece of wheat. "Well, I was kind of knocked out when you were in the state back at the North Pole, so I dunno what the fuss is all about, but it sounds powerful, so go for it."
Aang smiled a little and nodded. "Thanks Jet."
"No problem bro."
At that Kinto let out a loud snore and hiccupped in his sleep. Sokka sighed. "Guess we should follow his example and get to sleep. You better bet Fong-y's gonna give you a long day tomorrow Aang."

The next day Jet woke up a bit late. Even later than Kinto, this was a surprise. That boy did not like to wake up in the morning. He yawned and grabbed a handful of oats and began munching on them before leaving the sleeping quarters. Outside Fong seemed to be having Aang do endless tests, which Sokka and Kinto helped with, or supported Aang, occasionally. More often than not they complained about it. Not wanting to get involved, Jet decided to take a walk. Just to be somewhere quiet, to think, maybe to train a bit. The sun was gaining in the sky, but it would still be a few hours until midday, before it got too uncomfortably hot. Yeah. He'd like that.

Back at the tranquil village, Uncle Iroh dropped his bag and shells he collected poured out onto the wooden table. He picked some of them up, examining them and playing with them in his hands. "Ah…I'll definitely enjoy these for years to come," he smiled, blissfully.
"Ooh! That's a pretty one!" I exclaimed, picking up a smooth, clean white shell shaped like a crescent moon, but with long, thin waves across it.
"You do realize we have to carry everything ourselves now? Silly seashells are not necessary whatsoever," Zuko scolded us.
I was about to retort a reply when a familiar, feminine, but strong, voice greeted us. Well, them, she practically ignored me, like always.
"Brother! Uncle! How nice it is to see you both here!" Azula called from across the room.
We turned around to view her smiling face. "What are you doing here?" Zuko asked.
She walked toward us. "You know, in my country, pleasant hellos are exchanged before asking question. Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that," Zuko said through grit teeth.
I took hold of his wrist gently and began rubbing the inside soothingly with my thumb. "No fire, Zuko…" I murmured. Especially when around Azula…she provokes it half the time anyway.
"He means, he'd appreciate it very much if you would refrain from using silly pet names when you're just siblings, not lovers, and when you haven't even seen each other in years. Or at least, not unless he can too, Zules…or would you prefer Azu-Azu?" I gave her a little smirk.
Her amber eyes glinted as she glared at me. "And I would appreciate it very much if you only spoke when spoken to, peasant."
I scoffed. We were raised almost the exact same way, well, since we were seven at least. "Peasant?"
Before I could continue I felt a hand on my shoulder and Iroh entered the conversation in a more respectful tone. "Hello Azula. I see you are looking good. May I ask what you want us for?"
"It must be a family trait to get straight to the point." Azula, whose fingers were running along the tabletop, crushed one of his shells. "I come with a message from home. There are rumors of plans to overthrow father, and, honestly? Family are the only ones you can really trust, you know." She turned to face Zuko directly. "Father realizes he gave you this…quest to find the Avatar, but he would really like…" her eyes flickered over to me for a very brief second. "You to come home," she finished.
"Azula, you know I can't do that. I can't go home without the Avatar. I need to prove myself to father, to show him what I'm capable of," Zuko explained.
"You don't need to prove to him anything," I mumbled.
Azula laughed out loud. "Do you really still believe what I told you when we were kids Zuzu? That father was going to kill you? I was scaring you Zuko!"
Zuko didn't respond.
"You do! Don't you? Oh my, am I good or what?" She obviously found this hilarious.
"Quite evil, actually," I whispered, faintly.
Azula's head shot over to me. "What did you say?"
"Nothing ma'am," I gave her my sweetest smile.
Her eyes narrowed but she turned to Zuko. "He's not going to kill you Zuzu. You're his firstborn, his son, his heir. He respects that, despite the man flaws in your character."
"Zuko has no flaws, or at least, nothing out of the ordinary…extraordinary."
"If you speak out of turn one more time peasant—"
"What? Will you shoot me with lightning? You can't. I've had a lot of time to think Azula. If your father didn't want to keep me alive I would have been killed years ago."
Azula snarled, but I knew I was right. She lifted her hand and slapped me hard across the side of the face, using the back of her hand rather than her palm.
I lunged at her, but unfortunately didn't get far as Iroh held me back. So I spat instead. She sidestepped, sadly.
"Azula!" Zuko exclaimed.
Azula spun around on her heel. "Zuko! Are you coming home or not?"
Zuko stumbled over his words for a bit, tangibly upset. "Give me some time to think Azula!"
Azula straightened herself out and nodded shortly. "I'll be back tomorrow."

Back at the Earth Kingdom Base, Aang shot up in bed from a terrible nightmare. He crawled over to Sokka and shook him awake. "Sokka, Sokka, please wake up," he pleaded with the sleeping boy.
"W-What?" Sokka asked groggily. He sprang up and looked around. "What? What's happening? Are we being attacked? Is it Zuko?"
"No…I had a nightmare…"
Sokka sighed and sat down. "Aang, you're not a little kid anymore, can't you handle nightmares on your own? The sleep kind, anyway."
Aang nodded. "I know…it's just, I don't want to bring on the Avatar State anymore. Do you think the General will be mad?"
Sokka shrugged. "What can Fong-y say? You're the Avatar; who knows better than you?"
Aang nodded slowly, still uncertain.
Just then Jet emerged into the room and swiftly walked over to his bed.
"Where were you all day? We could have used you!" Sokka demanded, followed by a loud Kinto-snore.
"Taking a walk," Jet said shortly.
"Why?"
"Because I felt like it."
"Without telling anyone?"
"It's none of your business Sockface, now if you don't mind; I want to get to sleep."

The following morning about an hour or two after sunrise Aang told General Fong that he had decided not to go through with the tasks anymore.
The benevolent face of General Fong looked disappointed. "Are you absolutely certain?"
The general sighed. "I was afraid of this."
Suddenly he sends his desk flying into Aang who is sent out of the top of the pagoda. Completely taken by surprise, but fortunately with fast reflexes, he manages to airbend to soften his fall and rolled out of the desk's path just before it crashed to the ground.
"Attack the Avatar and his friends!" Fong ordered his soldiers.
Aang glanced around at the gathering soldiers in disbelief and Fong jumped out of the pagoda and used earthbending to land safely.
"What are you doing?!"Aang asked him.
"We're about to get results." Fong answered, simply.
Desperately, Aang dodged giant coin-shaped stones, with a square hole in the middle, that were propelled at him from every direction.
Sokka was held captive in the pagoda by two soldiers. He kicked back with his heels to force the men to drop and release him and ran out.
Kinto ran out of the bunkroom hearing the commotion and quickly gathered what was happening. He bended water out of a nearby bin and started whipping earthbending soldiers ferociously.
Jet was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Aang air scootered around and dodged stones and earthen walls jutting out of the ground. He scootered up the wall surrounding the city, but two Earth soldiers riding ostriches pursued him. As the air ball ran out out he continued running up the wall, but the two soldiers swung their weapons ahead of him and he back flipped onto the ground once more. He dodged their attack again and ran across the field when stone coins rapidly rise up around him and pull him in front of General Fong.
"You can't run forever!" the General yelled.
"And you can't fight forever!" Aang exclaimed.
At this Sokka emerged riding an ostrich and ran it toward Kinto, who was being swamped. He drew his war clubs and began beating away any earthbender who got too close.
Aang continued to dodge the giant stones sent at him.
All of a sudden two giant boulders come colliding together—their target being Sokka and Kinto. They start to sprint out of the collision zone but are too late—fortunately the boulders stop in midair, just pinning the two water tribe boys. Kinto whipped the boulders with his remaining water, to no avail, and they could do nothing but watch as the dirt beneath their feet rose up, quickly turning to mud. They shouted and struggled to get free, but it was no use; they were sinking. By the time they had sunk halfway the boulders were whipped out of the way, making them visible to Aang, which Fong had made sure was paying attention.
Aang's grey eyes widened, and they started to water. "Please, don't do this!" he begged.
The sinking was happening rapidly, and now only' Sokka and Kinto's heads were above the ground. Aang fell to his knees. "You don't have to do this!"
"Apparently, I do," Fong said, as Kinto and Sokka are completely sunk into the earth.
Aang lunged for them, but it was too late. He was alone. Alone with Earth Nation soldiers and their wicked General. His family. His whole body shook uncontrollably and when he turned around to face Fong, his eyes and tattoos were glowing and a look of pure hatred and rage showed clearly on his face.
The general grinned with delight and triumph that it worked, but his expression quickly morphed to one of utter fear when Aang sent him flying into a wall.
A massive dirt tornado surrounded Aang, picking up speed.
"You can stop now! It was all just a trick to trigger the Avatar State! Your friends are fine!" Fong called out to Aang over the noise.
Sokka and Kinto were brought out of the earth, breathing heavily as Aang descended down, sending a powerful earth force that obliterated the area. Suddenly his spirit separated from his body and rose into the sky where Avatar Roku on his dragon swooped in and picked up Aang. "It is time you learned," Avatar Roku stated.
The two were taken among the yellow clouds and Avatar Roku explained to Aang the purpose of the Avatar State: it is a defense mechanism, designed to empower him with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars. "At the Avatar State, you are at your most powerful." When he explained the glow, four images are shown: one of Kyoshi levitating gargantuan statues; another showing a waterbender sending a tidal wave; a third showing an airbender directing wind powerfully against grass and trees; and a fourth showing a firebender sending magma flying out of volcanoes.
"But, you are also at your most vulnerable."
Reincarnations of his former self appear among the clouds. The previous avatars then line up and one by one disappear. Avatar Roku explained that if Aang is killed in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist.
Aang now understood the importance and caution he must take when in the Avatar State. His spirit descended down into his body that was surrounded by an air shield, and Aang gazed shamefully at the devastation he had caused.
Kinto and Sokka ran up to him. "Are you all right?" Sokka asked.
Aang nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
At that moment, General Fong walked up. Sokka and Kinto spun around, guarding Aang from him. "Don't you even think of coming one step closer," Kinto snarled.
Fong ignored them and looked directly at Aang. "You're Avatar State was almost perfect. Now we just need to find a way to control it. It'll take time, but I know we can do it!"
In his fervor, General Fong didn't notice Jet riding in on an ostrich and knocking him unconscious from behind with his tiger-hook swords. "I've wanted to do that for a while now." He looked over at the soldiers. "Anyone have a problem with that?"
They all quickly shook their heads no. The boys were ready to depart for Omashu.

"Zuko we can't go back to the Fire Nation," I begged him.
Iroh was playing Pai Sho with an elderly man inside and Zuko and I sat leaning against the wall outside, in each other's arms.
"I know," Zuko told me.
"No, not just because you want to find the Avatar. I fear your father has plans for me, bad ones."
"How do you mean?" the prince genuinely asked.
I inwardly sighed. He could be so thick sometimes. "Do you not remember what Admiral Monkey-face said, when he came with supposed-permission from your father to take your ship, men?" I asked. And me. Of course I remembered. I could never forget.
"Not…quite. I kind of blocked it out," Zuko frowned.
"'Yes, even you, as the Fire Lord considers you a valuable asset, and technically, you were supposed to be a soldier anyway. I honestly don't know why his majesty allowed you to come.'" I quoted.
Zuko looked astonished. "He said that?"
I nodded. "I think…sorry for bringing up a sore subject, but I think your mom prevented him from training me. And then…your uncle. With Iroh in the palace, I was safe. With Iroh there, Ozai could not touch me. Then you decided to pick him to go with you and he probably got excited for a moment, until…" I trailed off.
"Until…?"
"Until you picked me as well."
"Oh…right."
"It doesn't matter though. He got what he wanted anyway," I said, miserably.
"Has he…?"
"Have you not heard what people say about me? 'The waterbender who fights like a firebender.' They're right. Ozai's won."
Zuko shook his head and drew me in closer "He hasn't though. You hate him. You're not brainwashed. You're able to think of your own free accord. Unlike me, anyway. Better than me."
I frowned, looking up into his amber eyes, which stared off into the distance. "You're not brainwashed, Zuko?"
"I might as well be. I know I should hate him, yet I can't help but to…well, love him. He's my father Katara, he raised me…well, kind of. Every little boy looks up to his father…and when he's the most powerful man in the world? Well, yeah."
"The Avatar's the most powerful man in the world."
"The Avatar is but a boy, and he hardly knows even two elements."
I sighed, but, I suppose what he said was true, for now.
Zuko stood up, pulling me up alongside him. "Well, I guess you're right. We shouldn't go back. If not for my desires, for your safety. I won't let anyone take you from me Katara."
I gripped his hand tighter. "I know."
Zuko took a quick glance around. "Now let's get Uncle and get out of here before Azula gets back. I don't want you to get hurt…now don't argue with me, I realize you can fight, and very well, but Azula is a monster. We'll need to at least train you a bit more before we even think of facing her head on."
I nodded, reluctantly.

In the tranquil village, an hour later, Azula cursed herself for not acting sooner. She held up a wanted poster with the faces of Zuko, Iroh, and Katara and warned the villagers that if anyone were to harbor these traitors, they would face the Fire Lord's wrath.

Between a patch of sakura trees, we still ran onwards until we reached a glade. Here we knelt down to rest by the river. Solemnly, Zuko took out a knife engraved with Fire Nation symbols on the blade and hesitated, before cutting his hair, chopping off his ponytail. He passed the knife to Iroh who did the same. I watched silently, glad they didn't ask me to cut my hair. Honestly, I don't think short hair would mask my appearance much, and I liked my hair.
They dropped their cut hair into the river and we stand together in the glade; three outcasts; three refugees.

The Cave of Two Lovers

Jet was sitting on the shore of a small lake, leaning back on his elbows, as he chewed on a piece of wheat, sunbathing and just thinking. Sokka floated in the middle of a lake, relaxing, as Aang and Kinto practiced waterbending in the shallows. Due to their immature, childishness, half of it appeared to be just splashing around playfully, or at least that's what it seemed like to Sokka. Aang was really warming up to Kinto. Sokka and Jet still found him annoying. Perhaps part of the reason was that they were sleepy half the time due to inadequate night sleep because of Kinto's obnoxiously loud snoring! And Jet thought Sokka snored loud…
Aang dropped the water he was bending and pointed ashore to something behind Jet. "Hey, look at that!" he called out.
A small group of musical instrument-slinging Earth Kingdom nomads were walking along the shore playing and singing some silly song about love and peace.
Jet stood up and stretched. "You do realize there's a war going on, right?"
The man who appeared to be the lead nomad spoke whilst still playing his guitar. "And you do realize that you're only wearing underwear, right?" The man laughed out loud, obnoxiously.
"Well…yeah, I suppose I am?" Jet scratched the back of his head, awkwardly.
"And so are you, you, and you!" A girl behind the lead nomad giggled, pointing to each boy.
After our group dried off and dressed they went to properly meet the friendly music group.
"Well…I'm Sokka, and that's Aang, Jet, and Kinto," Sokka introduced the group. He went over to shake the leader's hand.
He went forward and hugged Sokka instead. "Helloo! I am Chong, the leader of our traveling music group of nomads!" he introduced them all, in an excessively bubbly manner.
"Hey, I'm a nomad too!" Aang said, excitedly.
"Well Aang," Chong grinned. "You are all the welcome to travel with us! And your friends too."
Aang scratched the back of his neck. "Well, at the moment we're trying to get to Omashu to meet with an old friend of mine," he informed them.
"There's a shortcut through a tunnel passing under that mountain over there," Chong casually remarked, nodding his head over to the mountain.
Aang's eyes widened. "Let's go then! Come on guys!" He turned toward the mountain.
Sokka leaned in closer to Aang, his eyes narrowing toward the nomads. "I don't think we should go that way Aang. I don't trust these guys," he whispered.
"Well, then what do you suppose we should do Sokka?"
Sokka motioned to Appa dramatically. "We could FLY over the mountain!"
Aang sighed and looked disappointedly at the nomads. "Okay…"
As the boys were preparing to climb on Appa they heard a shout. They turned to see troops upon troops of Fire Nation soldiers advancing toward them, with at least half a dozen tanks and other war machines.
"That's the Avatar's bison men!" a man who appeared to be in charge exclaimed.
"It's a buffalo sir," another man corrected him.
"Does it matter?" the leader asked, annoyed.
"No, I suppose not sir."
"As I was saying-that's the Avatar's bison! Get him!"
"Craaaaap!" Sokka shrieked. "Into the cave, into the cave!" He ushered the group, including Appa and the nomads, into the mountain.
"Oh! And I forgot to mention- These tunnels form a very confusing labyrinth protected by a curse!"-he wriggled his fingers spookily at the word-". Only those who put their trust in love can navigate through the maze; those who do not will be forever lost." Chong "wisely" decided to inform them as they ran.
"Uhh…maybe we should turn back and try fighting the soldiers then?" Kinto suggested.
But it was too late, once they entered, the group of pursuing Fire Nation soldiers in tundra tanks blew up the entrance to the tunnels, trapping everyone inside.
The nomads lit a handful of torches and handed them about, so they could see.
Appa started freaking out, running about inside the cavern.
Aang jumped into action, airbending his way onto Appa. "Hold it boy! It'll be all right!" He assured Appa, petting him soothingly. He turned his head to the group. "He doesn't like being underground. He likes the air, you see."
"No shit," Jet mumbled. "He is a FLYING bison."
"Don't worry, I got this!" Sokka exclaimed, if a bit nervously. He handed his torch to Jet roughly. "All we need is some logic." He tapped his head and knelt on the ground, unfolding a large piece of paper he pulled from his bag. He began crudely drawing on it. "I'll make a map to mark our progress while traveling through the labyrinth. We should get out in no time."
"Great idea Sockface. If anyone can read that chicken scratch of yours anyway," Jet said.
Sokka stood up, holding his map out in front of him. "I can read it fine!" He snapped.

Zuko, Iroh, and I were trying our best to survive on our own. Things soon proved rough for our formerly pampered selves. Well, I wasn't during my early childhood, except that was a completely different way of life than this. And colder. Much colder. I knew how to light a fire! Though, they were firebenders, so that talent didn't matter much. I could cook though. …If we actually had something to cook in the first place that is. I can't magically produce food, unfortunately. That's what Zuko was trying to do at the moment actually—no, not magically produce food, find something edible for us to eat. Meanwhile, I sat with Iroh as he made a pot of tea for us.
"Thi is the legendary white dragon brush, which makes tea so delicious, it's heartbreaking," he told me as he produced two cups.
I licked my lips in anticipation. Boy, did I love tea.
He poured me a cup and I carefully picked it up, gently blowing on it before taking a sip. It tasted a little funny, but not wanting to offend Iroh I drank it anyway. It was still pretty good.
On my third cup I started to feel ill. I was having a little difficulty breathing, like I just ran for a while. I flung the cup away from me and knocked over the tea pot, emptying out the rest of the tea, before snatching away the cup in Iroh's hands.
"What are you doing!?" Iroh gasped, straightening the kettle. "Wh—" He faultered. He reached for my hands and held them. "What's this?" He pushed up my sleeve a little and I noticed a bad rash—and it was spreading, we figured out when he moved my hair and noticed it was along my throat as well.
My eyes widened. "You have it too!"
"My girl…do you think it was the tea?" Iroh wondered.
"I'm not sure…possibly, I mean, that's all we…" I trailed as Iroh scurried off. "Where are you going!?" I called after him.
"Stay there! I'll be back in a minute!"
He was right—he was. He handed me a branch with berries on it. "We passed these on the walk to this clearing. I knew I recognized them. They'll cure us."
I nodded and copied him as he rubbed the berries on the rash. I faltered as I glimpsed Zuko approaching. "Zuko!"
The prince noticed something was amiss and he quickened his pace to reach us. "What's wrong?" He asked, frowning.
"I made Miss Katara and I some tea…unfortunately I must've mistaken the dangerous white jade bush for the legendary tea-making white dragon bush. Fortunately I found the cure! …I think. These are either bacui berries, which will cure us, or maka'ole berries, which will blind us." Iroh explained to his nephew.
I shrieked and threw the branch far away from me. "I don't want to go blind!"
Zuko swiped the branch away from his uncle. "We cannot take anymore chances in the wilderness!" He hesitated. "I…I suppose we should go find a nearby villiage for medicine."
My eyes lit up, despite the dangerous of going into a village as wanted "criminals." "And food?" I asked him.
Zuko nodded. "And food."

"Okay, Sokka, do you have any idea where we're headed at all?" Jet asked, annoyed.
Sokka's eyes frantically moved about on the map before he finally threw it down in frustration. "Guys…guys I think the tunnels are continually changing around us."
Before Jet could retort how idiotic that sounded an attacking wolfbat swooped down and caused a frenzy. Someone, Jet didn't quite catch who, carelessly threw a burning torch. It scared the wolfbat away, but unfortunately landed only a couple feet away from Appa, who panicked and starting running around like mad.
"Control your pet Aang!" Jet shouted.
"I'm trying!" Aang shouted back.
Suddenly a loud thundering noise boomed and rocks began falling down all around them.
"Cave in!" Aang yelled as he quickly jumped into action and airbended everyone away, sparing them from certain death by rock-crushing.
Unfortunately, the group ends up divided. Aang, Appa, and Momo winded up together, Kinto with the nomads, much to his dismay, and Sokka and Jet was forced to travel through the tunnels with but each other.
Whilst one could audibly hear Sokka and Jet shouting, blaming each other, Kinto groaned loudly, nearly as audible himself.
"Don't let the falling rocks turn your smile into a frown!" Chong assured him, grinning.

In a nearby town the three of us come across a girl about my age. She had fair skin, brown eyes, and long, dark hair that was tied back. She was a pretty girl with a nice smile, friendly too, and caring, it seems, as she ran over to us with a worried expression, seeing how Iroh and I looked.
She led us to a small building where she kindly told Iroh and I to lay down whilst she applied this oozy green paste to our rashes, after inquiring to what they were from.
"Not very often do people in these parts mistake the white jade bush for the white dragon bush these days anymore, I take it you aren't from here?" the girl laughed, a sweet thing.
Iroh laughed nervously, obviously embarrassed. "We're from…the west side of the Earth Kingdom, fairly small town, you wouldn't have heard of it."
"You've traveled far then! I'm Song, by the way, and you?"
Zuko spoke for him. "I'm Lee, and this is my uncle…Mushi, and, uh, Terumi."
Iroh shot Zuko a quick glare, obviously displeased. "He's named after his father, so we call him Junior, isn't that right Junior?" he smiled up at his nephew.
"Terumi means ocean," I blurted out.
Song looked up at me as she was applying the paste to my rash. "Oh? Is that so?"
I nodded slightly and looked up at Zuko with a slight frown. It was a pretty name…but really? He named a water bender…after water?
Zuko gave me a small shrug in response.
I sighed softly. Original, Zuko.
Song laughed. "Would you all like to come eat dinner with my mom and I? It gets lonely with just us…and she always cooks too much food for just the two of us." She smiled.
"Yes, please," Iroh jumped at the opportunity.
That evening the five of us, Zuko, Iroh, Song, her mother, and I, crowded around a small table inside a modest house eating her mother's stew.
"This is delicious, ma'am," I told her mother politely, when the conversation came to a lull.
"Thank you dear. I, I don't believe we've ever had this many people over at once, not since…" She trailed off. She stood up. "Excuse me." She walked into a separate room.
"I'm sorry for that. She hasn't been the same, none of us have, since the Fire Nation attacked," Song began. "You see, the Fire Nation raided our village years ago, they captured my father," She explained before turning to me. "Is your father fighting in the Hundred Year War?"
My father… I nodded. "Yes. He left when I was small. I…I haven't seen him since. My mother was killed soon after, in an attack on our village, saving me." I had to stop myself. I had the sudden urge to tell this girl everything. It wasn't so often we came across a girl my age I could talk to. But I bit my tongue.
Song nodded to me, smiling sadly. "I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you see your father again."
"You too." I attempted a small smile, but quickly got overwhelmed with emotion. My father…my brother…I blinked to hold back tears.
Song turned to Zuko. "And you?" she asked again.
Zuko nodded grimly as he stared at the contents of his bowl.

After dinner Zuko and I sat on the front porch of Song's house, holding hands. We didn't speak; we just stared at the stars in the night sky. Soon,
Song joined us, sitting on the porch step next to Zuko. After a moment she spoke. "The Fire Nation hurt you, didn't they?" She asked, lifting her hand to tenderly touch his scar.
I felt a pang of jealously in my stomach. I didn't want her touching him…!
He rebuffed her, gently moving her hand away from his face.
Sympathizing with him, I assume, she lifted her skirt too much for my comfort to show him a long, burn scar up her leg, the result of a fire bending attack, probably not much less severe than Zuko's. I winced.
Zuko's face expressed surprise upon seeing her injury. I suspect mine mirrored it.

After traveling for hours on end the two boys began to get tired—and very cranky.
"Will you please give up on that map? You said it yourself; it's not going to work!" Jet exclaimed, exasperated.
Sokka ignored him for once, furiously scanning the confusing map, and managed to walk straight into a wall…or, a door.
Sokka fell backwards and looked up at the large door, illuminated by Jet's torchlight. He jumped up, leaving the useless map on the ground. He put his hands on the door. "Jet, help me open this thing, will you?"
"Maybe if you said please?"
"Jet!"
"All right, all right." Jet carefully set the torch down and helped Sokka shift the door open before picking up the torch again.
They exchanged glances before entering.
Something caught Sokka's eye. He ran over to the wall. "Pass me the torch Jet."
"Here, catch." Jet tossed him the torch.
Sokka clumsily caught it and held it to the wall. "There appears to be cave drawings. They're telling a story, I think." Sokka moved about, looking at the engravings and narrating the story they told. A guy and a girl from feuding towns met atop a mountain, this mountain, probably. Despite the dangers of meeting, the loving couple found a way to continue their relationship in secret. After learning earthbending from the badgermoles…"
Jet chuckled. "What, did these badgermoles actually teach them?"
Sokka ignored him. "…they created this labyrinth, which only they could navigate successfully and served as a meeting place. However, one day the man did not come; he had been killed in the war between their people. The woman initially expressed her fury in a display of earthbending prowess which had the potential to destroy both of the warring towns; however, she instead declared an end to the conflict."
"She should've destroyed both towns. That would've been more exciting."
"…the two villages created a city to honor the couple's love; the settlement was named Omashu, derived from joining the names of the two lovers, Oma and Shu."
"Creative name."
Sokka jumped up and turned around, coming face-to-face with a statue of the lovers, marked with the slogan: "Love is brightest in the dark."
Jet read it and paused. "…I am not kissing you. No way in hell. No way—"
"No…I don't think it's that…" Sokka trailed off, lost in thought.
"If Jojo was here I'd kiss her for sure. You would too, wouldn't you? Hah, she'd kiss you back too, knowing her. I think she did like you, you know. Half the time it was always 'Sokka this' or 'Sokka that.' Most of the time it was complaining about you, but not always. Sometimes I wonder if she even liked me at all."
"Oh will you please shut up for once Jet? Jojo left; big deal. Okay, it is a big deal. We lost our strongest person, with the exception of Aang. Either way, moping around all day is not going to bring her back. Now will you please let me think?"
Jet muttered something to himself but obliged.
"Now where was I…right!" Sokka put out the torch and the room went dark.
"Great going Sockface, now we can't see."
"Shh…"
Soon, the crystals on the floor began glowing, revealing a path, presumably, the way out. Sokka ran forward on it. "Come on Jet!"

Meanwhile, we departed from Song's residence.
"Thank you so much for the excellent meal and for your offer to stay the night, but we really ought to head out," Iroh smiled, expressing his gratitude to the family.
As they depart, Zuko entered the small stable and started readying the ostrich horse for travel.
"Zuko! What are you doing!? We can't steal from this family! They hardly have anything, and they already helped us so much!" I hissed.
"It's an easier mode of travel Katara, and it's faster. Look at his feet; he doesn't even get used that much."
"Nephew, please, listen to the girl, don't steal from this kind family," Iroh pleaded.
But Zuko insisted.
Iroh mounted the beast behind Zuko and the prince hoisted me up; I practically was on his lap. There really wasn't a lot of room on ostrich horses.

Kinto and the nomads continue to incur dead-ends in their quest for the exit. The nomads are seemingly happy, singing songs as they went, which was just annoying for the poor Northern Water Tribe boy.
Suddenly, he heard a noise. "Stop," Kinto warned the nomads. "I said stop!"
Everyone went still. A pair of enormous badgermoles emerged from a tunnel and advanced toward the group, cornering them.
As Kinto backed up he accidently strummed a guitar with his foot.
The angry badgermoles paused, intrigued.
Before placing his foot all the way down Kinto jumped and spun around, scooping up the guitar. He began strumming a beat with his clumsy fingers, trying to pacify the beast.
The nomads quickly gathered what happened and contributed their talents. They were successful in taming, or at least pleasing, the badgermoles, who began transporting them away.
After about five minutes of walking something small flew out of an adjacent tunnel, over Kinto's head. Thinking it was another wolfbat, he dropped the guitar and went to unscrew his water pouch, before realizing it was Momo.
Kinto ran into the tunnel Momo came out of. "Keep playing!" Kinto called back to the nomads. He soon reached Appa, with Aang riding him.
"Kinto!" Aang cried out, happily.
"Aang, come on! I think we found a way out!" Kinto called up to Aang, who led him back to the nomads and badgermoles, who in return, indeed led them out of the labyrinth where they are reunited with Sokka and Jet. The badgermoles departed and the boys bid farewell to the singing nomads, all happy to see them leave, except for Aang.
They finally arrived at Omashu. However, they are devastated upon witnessing that the Fire Nation had taken control of the city.

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