Chp.21 He'e Nalu
Captain Jack Sparrow. A black horse. Darth Vader. A panther.
Four surfboards stood with their noses in the sand, just ten feet away. I smiled at Lynx.
"He'e Nalu?"
"He'e Nalu," he replied with a grin. I shed my armor fast. Lynx then started to take off his armor, so did Haru & Zuko. My Jedis still hung around my waist.
"Did you find us a ride?" Sokka called from behind us.
"Yeah, on the Hawaiian."
"Roller."
"Coaster!"
Left, right, left, right. I paddled out on my board with Zuko behind me. It'd been forever since I'd ridden double.
"Zuko's with Seabiscuit, that way when Biscuit wipes out & the board hits her in the head, we don't have to worry about her because Zuko'll save her," Lynx explained.
"That only happened once," I protested.
"Twice," the Dalton & Lynx said.
"I hate you."
A swell rose & I duck dived.
"Could you have warned me?" Zuko yelled as we came up.
"Sorry! But can you help me paddle?" Once we were far out enough I stood with my left leg in front. I looked to my left & saw Katara, on her left was Lynx with Haru. On my right was the Dalton, surfing goofy-footed, with Sokka. A good-sized wave rose behind us & I managed to catch it. I heard the Dalton singing.
Aloha e aloha e
I recognized it at once, so did Lynx.
'Ano 'ai ke aloha e
Aloha ae aloha e
A nu ay ki aloha e
We grinned at each other.
Lynx & The Dalton:
There's no place I'd rather be
Me:
Then on my surfboard out at sea
Lynx & The Dalton:
Lingering in the ocean blue
I whipped my board sideways to catch the barrel, nearly sending Zuko flying.
Me:
And If I had one wish come true
Lynx was surfing so close to Katara, if he wasn't careful they'd both wipe out.
Lynx & The Dalton:
I'd surf till the sun sets
Beyond the horizon
Me:
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu
By the second "lohi" Katara had joined in. The rest of the guys got it on the next part.
All:
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Girls:
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
La we mai iko papa he na lu
Pi'i na nalu la lahalaha
O ka moana hanupanupa
Lalala i kala hanahana
Me ke kai hoene i ka pu'e one
Helehele mai kakou e
Lynx:
Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Boys:
There's no place I'd rather be
Girls:
Then on my surfboard out at sea
Huan-Lang was only 300 yards away at that point, not a lot of distance, even for a bunch of groms.
Boys:
Lingering in the ocean blue
Girls:
And If I had one wish come true
All:
I'd surf till the sun sets
Beyond the horizon
Girls:
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu
Just one little problem, Fire Navy ships were all over the place.
Lynx:
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
All:
Hang loose, hang ten, howzit, shake a shaka
No worry, no fear, ain't no biggie braddah
Cuttin' in, cuttin' up, cuttin' back, cuttin' out
Frontside, backside, goofy footed, wipe out
One of the closest ships had spotted us, judging by the looks on their faces they hadn't seen a lot of surfers.
The Dalton:
Let's get jumpin', surf's up and pumpin'
Coastin' with the motion of the ocean
Whirlpools swirling, twisting & turnin'
Fireballs came flying at us. Without thinking, I launched into the air, grabbed the nose with one hand & pulled back. A fireball hit the bottom of the board but I forced it down into the water as I landed the jump.
Me:
Hawaiian roller coaster ride
I followed the Dalton into a narrow gap in between two of the ships. Katara & Lynx appeared from the other side.
Girls:
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu
Now it was only 150 yards, Zuko was blocking the fireballs as best he could. I was starting to rip just to avoid them.
All:
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Aloha e aloha e
'Ano 'ai ke aloha e
Aloha ae aloha e
A nu ay ki aloha e
There was a huge splash behind us & the next I knew, we were tubed! Which was great because the Fire Navy couldn't see us!
Lynx:
Hawaiian roller coaster ride
The others had managed to get in too, it was a tight fit but we were safe!
Boys:
There's no place I'd rather be
Girls:
Then on my surfboard out at sea
Boys:
Lingering in the ocean blue
We shot out of the tube & we were clear of the ships.
Girls:
And If I had one wish come true
A southbound current had caught us, taking us towards the island & away from the ships.
All:
I'd surf till the sun sets
Beyond the horizon
Lynx motioned to ride in. I looked where he was pointing, there was a single Earthbender taking on 3 Firebenders.
Girls:
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
A wiki wiki mai lohi lohi
Lawe mai i ko papa he'e nalu
Flyin by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Lynx:
Hawaiian roller coaster ride
Lynx sang the last part as he landed. I brought my log in as smoothly as I could but I was having trouble because Zuko had a death grip on my back leg.
"You can let go now," I said gently, he obviously didn't like water. He looked around & let out a huge sigh of relief before diving onto the sand. Katara jumped off her board & raced toward the Firebenders, a stream of water at the ready. Lynx had already pulled his nunchucks out & was dueling one. I threw my left arm back & brought it up, sending my Jedis flying into the air. My bending caught them & they started to spin. I darted forward just as a Firebender shot a blast at the Earthbender. I threw one of my Jedis just in time to block it.
"Thanks!" the stranger cried.
"No problem!" I yelled as I dropped my other Jedis & did a complicated punch that turned the ground under the Firebender into quicksand.
"You're a master?" he asked me.
"Kinda," I replied with a shrug as I snatched up both my Jedis. Katara & Lynx had already killed the other two so I slid them back in their sheaths. Sokka turned to the Earthbender.
"We're looking for the Avatar, do you know where he is?"
"He's inside the fortress with the healers," the Earthbender replied.
"Can you take us to him?" Haru asked.
"Sure!" We followed him farther along the beach & then up a path. After a few minutes we had reached a wall, the Earthbender swung his arms out & a doorway opened. He led us around 7 or 8 turns, through 3 more walls, & through 4 hallways. Another wall/door & we were in the infirmary. Aang's bloody body was laying in the middle of the room on a king size bed.
"Oh Aang," Katara said & rushed forward. Suddenly an old lady in all green appeared.
"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!" She threw herself in between Aang & Katara.
"What's wrong?" Katara gasped as she tried to get around the lady.
"THE AVATAR IS IN HIS LAST HOUR! HOW DARE YOU COME HERE! THIS IS A SACRED PLACE!"
"We're here to save him, we've traveled with him for months! He's our friend," Katara protested.
"FIRE NATION SPIES!" the lady shrieked, then she saw the Earthbender.
"YUHI, HOW DARE YOU BRING THEM HERE!"
"I'm sorry, Grandma!" the Earthbender cried & tried to push us backwards, out of the room.
"Grandma?" Lynx asked with a laugh.
I ignored him, "Look Lady, we're here to save him. Don't make us force our way though!"
"I'm a Waterbending Master! I'm a healer!" Katara added furiously.
"GUARDS!" The Lady screamed. "FIRE NATION INFILTRATORS ARE AFTER THE AVATAR!"
"Oh good grief," the Dalton muttered. I swung my arm back & up, bringing out my Jedis. I used the flats to catch Yuhi & the old lady & gently forced them against the wall.
"Now be quiet & let Katara work," I said & nodded to her. She pulled water out of a nearby vase & fit it to her hand. As she put her hand on each of Aang's wounds, they started to vanish. A hole suddenly appeared in the wall & another old lady walked in, wearing all white.
"Oh my!" She exclaimed as she saw us, then she looked towards Aang & saw Katara. A smile lit up her face.
"Amiboshi finally did something right."
"He did?" I asked.
"KIYOKO! STOP THEM! THEY'RE FIRE NATION INFILTRATORS AFTER THE AVATAR!" The old lady I had pinned against the wall shrieked.
"Oh be quiet, Nori. Can't you see this young lady is a Waterbender & a healer? They must be the squad Amiboshi sent," Kiyoko said.
"Oh, that's what you meant," I said with a laugh, pulling my Jedis back to me & sliding them in their sheaths.
"Uhh," Aang muttered & his eyes flickered.
"I'm afraid your healing won't do much good, he had a very bad time of it. We were going to go out to look for healing herbs but the Fire Navy artillery is preventing us," Kiyoko told Katara.
"What if we went?" Sokka offered.
"Would you be able to find the right herbs?"
"If you gave us a picture, definitely," Haru said. Yuhi snatched a book off of a nearby shelf & handed it to Kiyoko. She flipped through & tore out a page.
"Here, there's only one of these plants on the island & it's far from the fortress, about a mile." Katara took it from her.
"We'll find it," Lynx promised, staring over Katara's shoulder.
"Should all of us go? Wouldn't it be easier to sneak with only a few of us?" the Dalton asked.
"Okay, Seabiscuit, Haru, the Dalton & me will go," Lynx said. Sokka started to protest but Katara cut him off.
"Deal, but be careful." Kiyoko nodded as Katara gave Lynx the sheet of paper.
"Yuhi, take them to the west wall, that'll put them in the right direction." Yuhi bowed & led us out.
"Be careful, & look out for Seabiscuit," Zuko yelled from behind us.
"We will," Haru called as the hole closed up. I glared at him.
6 turns, 3 hallways, 4 walls & we were outside the fortress.
"Good luck," Yuhi said as he went back through the wall.
"We'll need it," the Dalton muttered.
"Come on, we gotta get going," Lynx said, "It's a long walk."
"Who said we were walking?" I asked.
"Biscuit, the elk are on the mainland, we don't have time to get them," Lynx pointed out.
"Who said anything about elk? You got 2 Earthbenders," I retorted.
"Once again, what good does that do us?" the Dalton asked.
"Wrap your arms around my waist," I ordered him.
"Say what?" Haru & the Dalton demanded.
"Oh shut up & do what I say," I growled. The Dalton grimaced & reluctantly put his arms around my waist.
"Hold tight!" I raised my right leg & pawed like a horse, we shot forward about 30 feet.
"WHOA!" the Dalton yelled as Lynx & Haru ran after us.
"Told you, Haru & Lynx can do the same thing & we'll be there in no time!"
In three minutes we were in the herb garden, just one little problem, it was on fire!
"Oh crap!" The Dalton bellowed.
"Biscuit & Haru, start bending dirt on top, that might smother the flames! The Dalton use your Airbending to funnel water in from the ocean!" Lynx ordered & started kicking sand at the fire. More flames were falling from the sky, two ships were floating just off shore & firing on us.
"There's no time to put it out, find the right one & try to save it!" Haru yelled, throwing up a wall to try to block some of the flames. I formed a mass of rock about 4 feet tall. I pushed it straight up in the air about ten feet & whipped out one of my Jedis. As the rock fell, I brought the sword back & used it like a baseball bat to propel the rock towards one of the ships. It went crashing down on the bow but I missed the catapult.
"The Dalton found it! But it's on fire!" The Dalton yelled.
"I'll help him, keep firing Seabiscuit!" Haru cried & shot towards The Dalton. I formed another rock & swung my Jedi, I hit the other ship this time. A moment later I heard Lynx.
"Let's go! The Dalton has what we need!" I turned towards the Dalton, he was standing with a rock the size of a soccer ball in his hands.
"I'VE GOT A BALL OF DIRT! I'VE GOT A BALL OF DIRT!" I laughed but it was cut short, one of the ships had launched another fireball. Everything seemed to go into slow motion: a fireball flew over my head, the Dalton tried to dodge sideways but he couldn't make it. At the very last second he threw the ball of dirt out of the way & took a full frontal hit!
"THE DALTON!" Lynx & I screamed. We raced to his side. The Dalton was still breathing, barely.
"We need Katara!" I cried.
"I'll go get her! Stay here!" Haru yelled & took off, his bending sending him shooting towards the fortress. Lynx was swearing under his breath but I heard something along the lines of:
"I'll kill those scumbags if it's the last thing I do!"
I looked back at the ships, they were readying another fireball.
"Stay with him, I'll be back," I told Lynx darkly.
"What are you going to do?" Lynx demanded as I stood & turned away from him.
"Making you a bridge!" I stood by the waves, I held out my right arm palm up with two fingers out. Like when Azula use to shoot her lightning. I shoved my arm forward in the direction of one of the ships. A strip of land appeared with the waves bouncing off the sides, leaving him a pathway to the people who had hurt the Dalton. I turned back to the Dalton & Lynx.
"Go, you know its what you want to do," I said as I kneeled down beside the Dalton & held his hand. Tears were starting to slide down my face. Lynx didn't protest, he just nodded & took off running. By the time he was half way there, Haru had appeared. He was shooting towards us, along with Zuko, Sokka & Katara.
"Oh no," Sokka said, he was completely horrified. It made sense, the Dalton was his best friend now.
"Katara help me, boys help Lynx," I said desperately.
"Where is he?" Zuko asked. I pointed towards the ships & the land bridge. The boys nodded & took off. Katara cast a worried glance in the direction her boyfriend had gone but she kneeled down next to the Dalton.
"You can go with them," Katara said. "I'll handle things here."
"No, my battle was when Azula hurt Lynx & Sokka & tried to hurt Zuko. This is Lynx's fight," I replied. "What do we need to do for the Dalton?"
"Just be quiet & let me work," Katara said, pulling out her water. After a few moments his burns were starting to disappear but he didn't make a sound.
"Oh man, he's in a coma," I said suddenly.
"A what?" Katara asked.
"Of course, Aang's in one too! That's what the herb is for, it'll bring them out!" I said happily, this meant both our friends would be okay. Then I looked at the rock the Dalton had tried to save, it was fried & so was the herb.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" I buried my face in my hands.
It had been three days & there was no improvement in Aang or the Dalton. I had just woken up & was lying miserably in bed. Lynx & the others blew the two ships up, Sokka had found blasting jelly. Zuko & Haru took a boat back to the mainland on the first day to get the elk & ostriches. Lynx & I were spending hours on our own. I went to the stable & stayed with Shazzam. I didn't know where Lynx went because I never asked him.
I got out of bed & got dressed, fully intent on heading to the stable for the rest of the day. I left my room, it was Yuhi's but he was staying with one of the soldiers so Katara & I could have a private room. I hadn't taken ten steps when I ran into Lynx.
"Biscuit, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
"Yeah?" I asked distractedly.
"What happened when Azula hit you with her lightning?" Lynx asked. His question snapped me out of my trance-like state.
"Come again?"
"What happened when Azula hit you with her lightning?" he repeated. "We really thought you were dead." I was determinedly not meeting his eyes.
"I might have been. I was on this gorgeous beach, like the one in Hawaii. Then I heard someone talking to me, telling me to listen for you guys." I replied.
"Who was it?" Lynx asked. I met his gaze.
"Casino. If it wasn't for him, & you guys I would have been gone. Then there was this other voice, I don't know who it was but they said every life has a purpose & I hadn't fulfilled mine yet so I couldn't die." Lynx was quiet for a minute, then he slowly said.
"Maybe the reason the Dalton & Aang haven't come back is we haven't been calling them hard enough."
"But I never would have heard you guys if wasn't for Casino," I replied.
"Biscuit, I heard a voice when I was on that ship. It warned me in time to dodge what would have been a fatal blow." Lynx said, turning away from me.
"Who?" I asked quickly.
"It was Piranha," Lynx replied.
"Okay, I've always had a strong bond with Casino. You've always had one with Piranha. They've saved us both. Now we need someone to save the Dalton & Aang."
"For Aang it's gotta be Katara," Lynx said. "& for the Dalton we need-" My voice joined his as he finished the sentence.
"Falcon!"