Yes, I skipped a couple episodes. Only some pointless filler ones, though. I skipped 'The Deserter' and 'The Northern Air Temple.'
Tikaani's POV:
After meeting Jeong Jeong and traveling to the Northern Air Temple, we were heading towards the North Pole. A vast expanse of ocean waves surrounded us and ice jutted out of the water.
"I'm not one to complain, but can't Appa fly any higher?" Sokka chastised.
"You complain all the time, so I don't want to hear it." I retorted. "I mean how do you think Appa feels? How would you feel if we all got on your back and made you fly us to the North Pole?"
"I'd love to!" Sokka cheered sarcastically. "Climb on everybody, Sokka's ready for take off." In response, Momo leaped onto Sokka's back. Sokka glared at the small creature in annoyance.
"Look, we're all just a little cranky because we've been flying for two days straight!" Katara intervened.
"And for what? We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here!" Sokka grumbled. I bent some water out of the ocean and made a snowball before chucking it at Sokka.
"We have water and snow and ice!" I chimed. "That's not-" I was interrupted by a shout as an iceberg appeared out of nowhere. Appa swerved to avoid it, but his foot got caught on a piece of ice and he began to head full speed towards the water. As soon as we were safely floating, the water around us froze and some boats came out from behind some icebergs. They were steered by waterbenders.
"They're waterbenders! We found the Water Tribe!" Katara exclaimed.
"Actually, they found us." I corrected. The waterbenders led us through the water until we spotted a massive icy wall in the distance.
"There it is!" Aang exclaimed. I looked at the walls. Is my dad really here? I wondered as the waterbenders in the boat let us through. They created an opening in the wall big enough for Appa to swim through and we entered the North Pole. We sailed through the water streets of the city. It was an icy version of Venice. People crowded around the icy sidewalks as we sailed passed. Aang waved happily to the crowds. I didn't join in.
I watched Sokka as Yue's boat went passed. He stared at her and his cheeks went scarlet. Yes! She should keep me off his mind for a couple episodes. I thought happily. I wish I could prevent her death, but there's nothing I can do. If Zhao doesn't kill Tui, then La won't kill him. If Zhao lives... I shook my head slowly. There's nothing I can do to prevent Yue's death. Zhao has to die. He deserves it...
"This place is beautiful!" Katara mused.
"Yeah… she is…" Sokka sighed happily as he watched Yue. I rolled my eyes as we sailed on. The boats stopped when we reached a large ice palace. Ice stairs lead up to the ice palace. We were beginning to climb the stairs to the ice palace when I noticed a man pushing his way through the crowd of onlookers. He stopped when he emerged from the crowd and stared at me. My eyes started to water. He looked exactly like my dad- my real-life dad. Of course he had been Water Tribe-ified, but it was him.
"Tikaani?" He asked in the voice that I recognized. I hadn't heard that voice since I was twelve years old, since before he lost his mind. "Is it really you?"
"Dad!" I exclaimed, running forward and wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. Tears threatened to fall to the frozen ground, but I wouldn't let them. This was a public place with millions of people watching. I wasn't going to cry in front of them! I suppose I didn't have a choice, as the tears were already making their way down the side of my face. I knew he was crying too. "I missed you so much…"
Ryuu's POV:
"Winter, spring, summer and fall. Winter, spring, summer and fall. Four seasons." I strummed away at my pipa as Iroh sung. Music night was one of my favorite nights on the ship. A fire burned and some other crewmembers danced around it. "Four loves, four seasons. Four love-"
"Hello, General Iroh. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." I cut the music as Zhao stepped onto the ship. He was flanked by two guards and I wondered what he could possible want. "I'm taking your crew."
"Its not my crew!" Iroh laughed.
"Then I need to talk with Prince Zuko." Zhao ordered. Iroh and I unwillingly agreed. We led Zhao to Zuko's room. Iroh opened the door and walked in. I followed.
"For the last time I'm not playing the Tsungi horn." Zuko snapped.
"No, it's about our plans." Iroh explained.
"Zhao's-" I began to explain, but the stuck-up admiral interrupted me.
"I'm taking your crew." Zhao informed. Zuko's good eye widened.
"What?" He shouted in dismay.
"I've recruited them for a little expedition for the North Pole. You can keep your peasant, though." Zhao sneered, looking at me in disgust.
"Uncle, is that true?" Zuko asked, looking at Iroh.
"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone. Even the cook!" Iroh cried, burying his face in his sleeve.
"No, not the cook!" I wailed. "We're all gonna starve!"
"I'm sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the avatar, but I can't have you getting in my way again." Zhao sneered. Zuko charged forward. It took the strength of both Iroh and I to hold him back. Zhao ignored Zuko's outburst. He walked across the room and eyed the Dual Dao swords hanging on the wall. He picked up one sword and eyed it carefully. Zuko looked terrified.
"I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." Zhao muttered. I laughed and he eyed me.
"Skilled with swords? Him?" I laughed as if he had just cracked the funniest joke I'd ever heard. I wiped a tear from my eye. "Good one, Admiral Zhao! Those are just decorations. Zuko… skilled with swords…" I chuckled and giggled a bit more.
"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit and the Dragon Spirit, General Iroh?" The admiral asked, completely ignoring my laughter.
"Just rumors. I don't think they are real." Iroh responded. If only he knew…
"They're real all right. They're criminals and enemies of the Fire Nation. But I have a feeling justice will catch up with them soon. General Iroh. The offer to join my mission still stands if you change your mind." Zhao stated before leaving the room. I was happy to know that Iroh would never accept.
Tikaani's POV:
"Tonight we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe, the return of Darek's daughter, and they bring with them someone special. Someone who many of us believed disappeared from the world until now. The avatar!" Chief Arnook announced to the people of his tribe. I was sitting alongside my father, Darek. All day I hadn't left his side. He was telling me of his life in the Northern Tribe ever since I left.
At first he had been shunned by many of his friends for falling in love with a firebender. As time went on, he reaffirmed his loyalty to the Northern Tribe. Now, he was a notable, one of chief Arnook's trusted advisors, and he was a master waterbender. It had taken him years of training with Master Pakku to become a master waterbender. He told me how he had never stopped waiting for my mother to return with Ryuu and I.
After his confession, I had to tell him mine. I told him what Ryuu did, how he had lost his memory of our family. I also told him how the Fire Nation assassin sent to eliminate us killed our mother. He took it rather well. He told me he was glad that at least I was able to come back to him.
"We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday." Chief Arnook's voice brought me back to the present. "Princess Yue is now of marrying age."
"Thank you, father. May the great ocean and moon spirits watch over us during these troubled times" Princess Yue said before making her way over to sit next to Sokka.
"Now, master Pakku and his students will perform." Arnook announced, gesturing to the center stage, where Master Pakku and his students were putting on a display of waterbending. I didn't pay attention to the show. I had already decided that my father was going to teach me waterbending. If Pakku was aloud to teach Katara because she's Kana's granddaughter, then my father would be aloud to teach me. I'm his daughter.
Ryuu's POV:
"The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels." Iroh piped up as he entered Zuko's room. I was sitting in the dark corner. I don't think Zuko even knew I was there. I had a good reason to be there, though! I was sulking because I was kind of depressed. I've been flirting with one- or all- of the lady guards and none of them ever took an interest in me! I am one of the most charming, handsome guys I know. I was really hoping for a little lip action before they left.
"Good riddance to those traitors!" Zuko spat.
"It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head." Iroh suggested. Zuko didn't say anything, so I decided to.
"No thanks." I mumbled. No one seemed to notice me.
"Or just stay in your room and sit in the dark." Iroh stated. "Whatever makes you happy." He closed the door and left. Soon after he was gone, Zuko spoke.
"What was that?" Zuko asked. I shrugged.
"I didn't hear anything." I didn't move from my seat either. Zuko got up and looked around.
"I heard something. Uncle?" He opened the door to his room and looked out. "Uncle, is that you?" He inquired. I sighed and followed him. This guy's crazy… He's just hearing things! It's probably a side effect of anger and loneliness. I followed him up to the helmsman's peak, thinking about how pointless this all was, until I looked out the window and saw an iguana bird.
"Pirates!" I exclaimed, pointing at the bird. Explosions echoed in my ears and suddenly, the world around me was fire. I held out my hands to block the flames from reaching me and I looked around. Zuko and I had created a protective wall of flames around us. The world proceeded to shake and fall apart around us, but we kept up the wall of flames for as long as we could. Another eruption sent us flying through the air and into freezing cold water. Debris from the explosion cut our skin and the water around us seemed to freeze our blood.
I peered through the freezing black abyss, but it was hard to tell up from down and left from right. Suddenly, I felt something tugging on the back of my shirt and dragging me upwards. My head broke the surface and I gasped for air. I looked up at the wall of flames that was Zuko's ship. It was hard to hear anything above the crackling flames. I looked up to see who had pulled me out of the water.
"Iroh…" I looked into the old man's kind and worried eyes before the world around me went black.
Tikaani's POV:
"How's warrior training going?" Katara asked as Sokka entered the tent. He responded by kicking his pillow and collapsing onto the ground.
"That bad?" Aang asked.
"No, its Princess Yue. I don't get it. One minute she wants to go out with me and the next, she's telling me to get lost." Sokka grumbled. "So how's waterbending training?" Sokka asked.
"Master poop head won't teach her because she's a girl!" Aang exclaimed.
"Why do you think I train with my dad in secret?" I piped up. "Its against the rules of the city to teach girls how to waterbend. My dad is so awesome! I don't know how I managed to live without him for fo- eleven years." I almost said for years, but this wasn't real life. This was an anime, a show. As much as I hated to admit it... I banned the thoughts from my mind and forced myself to listen to Katara's conversation.
"Your dad is teaching you in secret?" Katara questioned excitedly. "Maybe he can teach me too!"
"No can do. My dad might actually get away with it if we end up getting caught. They might allow it, considering the family relations." I explained. "You on the other hand, could get my dad in real trouble."
"Why doesn't Aang just teach her the moves he learns from Master Pakku?" Sokka wondered aloud.
"That's a great idea!" Katara exclaimed. "Come on, Aang!" They left the tent. A couple minutes later they returned. "We got caught."
"And master poop head is refusing to teach me because I was teaching Katara!" Aang complained loudly.
"Why don't you take it to the chief?" I wondered aloud.
"I will!" Aang declared.
"What do you want me to do?" Chief Arnook asked. "Force Master Pakku to take Aang back as his student?"
"Yes!" Katara snapped. "Please…" She added at the last second.
"I suspect he might change his mind if you swallow your pride and apologize to him." Chief Arnook spat. Katara glared at Pakku.
"Fine." Katara agreed bitterly. She said nothing else.
"I'm waiting little girl." Master Pakku smiled evilly. I wished I had a bag of popcorn. Unfortunately, it wasn't invented yet.
"No. No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you!" Katara shouted. The ground beneath her began to crack and every vase in the room burst open. "I'll be outside if your man enough to fight me!" She challenged before storming out of the room.
"WOO HOO!" I cheered excitedly. "YOU GO, KATARA!" Everyone in the chamber stared at me. I smiled a corny smile before skipping out of the room, singing the 'Underdog'theme song as I went.
"Are you crazy Katara? You're not going to win this fight!" Sokka said as he followed Katara and I. I took a seat in the front row and waited for Pakku to show up. He walked down the ice stairs.
"So, you decided to show up?" Katara sneered. Pakku completely ignored her and walked passed as if he hadn't heard. "Aren't you going to fight?"
"Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong." Pakku retorted, waving his hand as if dismissing her. Katara grimaced. She lashed at him with a water whip as he was walking away. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Fine. You want to learn to fight so bad? Study closely." Pakku blasted a huge spout of water towards her. Katara leaped right into it, completely unaffected.
The fight ended exactly how anyone would have expected it to. Master Pakku trapped Katara in a cage of ice spears. She couldn't move her hands, so she was unable to free herself.
"This fight is over." Pakku growled. He started walking away.
"Come back here, I'm not finished yet!" Katara protested, still unable to move.
"Yes, you are." Pakku replied. He was walking away, but he stopped when he saw Katara's necklace, which had fallen off during the fight. He bent over to pick it up. "This is my necklace…"
"No it's not, it's mine. Give it back!" Katara ordered.
"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life. For Kana." The ice cage around Katara melted as Pakku gazed at the necklace.
"My gran-gran was supposed to marry you?" Katara inquired in disbelief.
"I carved this necklace for her when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long, happy life together. I loved her." Pakku finished sadly. I felt bad for him, even though he's sexist and stuff.
"But she didn't love you, did she? It was an arranged marriage…" Katara felt bad for him too, I could tell. "Gran-gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must have taken a lot of courage."
Ryuu's POV:
"Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." Iroh explained. It was a miracle that Zuko and I had made it out of that ship alive. Now, by some other miracle, we were working as guards on Zhao's ship. Iroh's plan was a clever one.
"You didn't have to do this." Zuko told Iroh, removing his facemask only temporarily. Both of our faces were cut up and bruised badly.
"I wasn't going to let you two stowaway on a ship without some backup."
"Thank you, uncle." Zuko thanked. A door clanged in the distance.
"Someone's coming. Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the avatar will be yours. Good luck." Iroh was about to walk off, but I called after him.
"Think you can sneak me some jasmine tea?" I asked.
"Without a doubt." He smiled.