Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender.
Water, earth, fire, air… Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But, when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed and the new Avatar, and air-bender named Aang, was discovered. Now travelling by his side are Katara and Sokka of the southern water tribe, the blind earth-bender, Toph, and Ashlynn: an ex-member of the Fire Nation, and Prince Zuko's lifelong companion…
Author's Note: Hello, my readers and fans. I regret, yet am proud, to announce that this chapter marks the beginning of the end. This is the last Book in the series. I've come so far, yet I don't want to begin to end it! I realize I have so much more to write- but in comparison to all I've written, it's not so much after-all. I want to thank each and every one of you for reading thus far, and I hope I can please each one of you in the chapters to come. Perhaps I'll start a new fanfiction after this one- who knows!
I'd like to give an extra special thanks to WritingSchizo101. She's been my most detailed reviewer, and has helped me to flourish into the writer I am, and are still growing into. She's just started a wonderful Last Airbender fanfiction of her own, and I suggest each of you run along and read that. It's worth it, I promise! Thank you for all of your reviews, you've been a great help!
Anyways, enjoy!
Day 1
"We need a course of action. There's no telling when Aang will wake up! We can't just fly around on Appa waiting for Aang to get up and tell us what to do. That's like letting the Fire Nation walk right into villages without us so much as lifting a finger to defend them. We need to start planning out our invasion of the Fire Nation."
Only a single day had passed since Katara had healed Aang with the mystical water from the spirit oasis. Aang had barely stirred once the evening before, but had ceased to awaken since. He slept peacefully and quietly, exhaling every so often. They paid careful attention to his breathing patterns, for it helped reassure them that he was still with the living.
Ashlynn relieved herself of a large yawn. She was exhausted, and there was no doubting that her companions were too. They hadn't slept the evening before; instead, they flew Appa to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se. Once there, they kept a watchful eye on Aang. They had nearly let his life slip right through their fingers, and they weren't about to let that happen again.
"What exactly are you suggesting then, Sokka?" Ashlynn pondered aloud after she'd completed her yawn. "We can't possibly have the Earth King's support now. His city is under control of the Fire Nation. We're lacking troops."
The team had met up with the Earth King during midday. He had taken up hiding outside Ba Sing Se as well. He had swiftly explained to them that, since he could no longer rule over his own kingdom, he'd rather travel around the world with his bear.
"With all due respect, your Highness, but you'd stand out like a sore thumb," Ashlynn had said to him. Thus, he produced his newfound attire, and proceeded to tell them that he'd be traveling in disguise. He hadn't left them much choice, otherwise, nor was he of much use to the team now that he'd lost his city. So, they relieved him of his promised duties to them.
"Whatever the plan is, we need to think of it fast. The Fire Nation will no doubt be swarming through Ba Sing Se soon. We need to get out of here," Katara jumped in. She glanced over at Aang, who was lying peacefully several feet away. His chest rose with a single inhale, and Katara averted her gaze when she saw this.
Sokka perked up, suddenly. He stuck one finger up in the air as he announced triumphantly, "I've got an idea."
Day 2
"Look, there they are!" Sokka pointed downwards as Appa flew over the sandy shores of a lake. Ashlynn peered over Appa's saddle, and saw several southern water tribe ships anchored down below. Many tents were set up, and a whole fleet of men were walking about the campsite. One of the men jumped as he noticed Appa, and then, much to Ashlynn's surprise, began to cheer. The rest of the men looked up as he pointed the furry bison out to them, and they too began to cheer up at them.
Appa landed softly outside the campsite, and released a deafening roar that marked his entrance. Sokka was the first to leap from the beast, and he didn't glance back at them as he ran towards the group of people that were from his tribe. Toph was the second to leap from the bison, although she took a bit longer than Sokka had. Flying through the air on Appa made her queasy, and she was careful to not upset her stomach even further.
Katara began to lift Aang's limp body, but Ashlynn put her hand upon Katara's to stop her. "Go. Your father is waiting for you… I can take care of Aang," Ashlynn murmured to her. Katara bit her lip as she pondered Ashlynn's statement, and then nodded softly. She clambered down from Appa, though it appeared to be with reluctance. Ashlynn propped Aang up, and lifted him up as she stood up. She used her air-bending to create a light barrier between her arms and Aang's body. This made it so that he was not as heavy for her to carry.
She brought a current of air up from underneath her feet, and used it to leap off of Appa's saddle. A similar current acted as a pillow for her feet as she landed on the ground. Using this technique, she was able to maintain her balance when performing such acrobatics while carrying the Avatar.
When she approached the campsite, a few of the men came to take Aang from her. "We'll put him to rest in one of our finest beds," they reassured her. She felt cautious and reluctant. The men eyed her like she was the enemy, or some kind of monstrosity. It was obvious, then, to her that the scars upon her face either worried or scared people. Yet, she eventually allowed them to pry him from her fingers. She watched silently as Aang disappeared into a nearby tent. Her throat felt dry and her stomach was in knots. Sokka, Katara, and Toph had vanished and instantly become a part of the group. She was left to stand alone, watching as people attempt to inconspicuously get a good look at the wound upon her face.
Ashlynn finally summed up the courage to approach the one man who had his back turned to her. One of his arms was bandage, and the bonds wrapped tightly over his shoulder and across his chest as well. She tapped him on his 'good' shoulder and muttered, "Excuse me?"
The man spun about, and she was surprised to see that it was Bato. She'd only met him once before- back when their group separated because of a silly mistake Aang had made. She was almost glad to see that she knew at least one person. "Ashlynn," Bato said, and gave her a soft smile.
She couldn't help but grin up at him. Not once did he take a moment to glance at the wounds on her face. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he waited for her to say something. "Bato, it's wonderful to see you again! Though, I was hoping you'd be able to direct me to wherever Sokka and Katara might be," she explained. Bato nodded, and turned his gaze towards a nearby tent. He pointed two fingers at the largest tent in the area. Ashlynn nodded her thanks, and paced towards the tent.
Before she approached it, Sokka emerged from the doorway into the tent. "Ash! I was just coming to get you. Come on, I want you to meet my father!" Sokka grabbed Ashlynn's hand excitedly, and dragged her into the tent. Ashlynn was reminded slightly of how Zuko had done a similar thing when he'd wanted Ashlynn to see The Jasmine Dragon. It took every ounce of power within Ashlynn to keep herself from crying from anger and depression as she thought of Zuko.
"Dad, this is Ashlynn," Sokka exclaimed happily. He drew Ashlynn up beside him. Ashlynn stared up into the deep eyes of an older man that stood only a few feet away from them. Like Bato, he did not take a second to stare incredulously at her scarring. However, he did glance down at her hand. For a second, she did not understand why he had done this. That's when she noticed that Sokka had intertwined his fingers with hers, and was tightening his grip on her more and more with each passing second. She was reminded of Zuko once more.
"Ash, this is my dad- Hakoda," Sokka beamed.
Hakoda appeared to be every bit of Sokka and Katara's father. He had the same sapphire eyes, and the same brunette hair. Like Sokka, he kept his hair up, though it was only some. The rest of his hair flowed down past his face and hung lightly on his shoulders. A thick line of facial hair covered his chin. He had the same soft smile that Sokka had, and the same furrowed brows that Katara would get whenever she was frustrated, or contemplating.
Ashlynn decided that Sokka took more after Hakoda than Katara did. Hakoda's ears stuck out, and his face was more square than round- much like Sokka. She concluded that Katara must've taken after her mother. Ashlynn regretted with a heavy heart that she'd never have the honor of meeting the mother.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Ashlynn responded gently. She drew her hand away from Sokka's and held it out for Hakoda. He grasped it firmly, and shook her hand lightly before releasing the hold he had on her. She let her arm fall limply to her side, and not even Sokka made a move to touch her again. The stood rigid side-by-side as they waited for Hakoda to continue speaking.
"I'd love it if you all stayed with us, here. I'm most interested in hearing about this invasion plan of yours," Hakoda said sternly. He eyed Sokka as he said this.
So- Sokka and the team had already spoken to Hakoda about future plans. Ashlynn forced a grin to spread across her face before Hakoda turned away from them.
Day 6
"Hakoda! The scouts have just reported several Fire Nation ships down the coast. We need to leave immediately, or we're sure to be found."
Hakoda didn't say a word, but instead dismissed his fellow warrior. The man bowed respectfully, and departed from the tent. Ashlynn felt pride as Hakoda commanded this. He was a respectable man- one who wouldn't flee at the first sign of battle. It was likely that the Fire Nation ships would be easy ones to take down. Katara, however, didn't seem to have the same state of mind.
"You can't be serious! You're going to stand here and waste away what little of the fleet you have left? You're being swallowed by your own pride. I can't believe you'd sacrifice your own men this way. Why won't you just take them to a safer place? I'm sure they'd be happier," she spat with malcontent. She stood up, and before her father could respond she was well out of the tent.
Ashlynn had already begun to guess that Katara had something against her father. They were subtle hints, but hints nonetheless. She'd never actually spoken to her father out of her own free will until now. She never looked him directly in the eye. She never smiled at him. Ashlynn's assumptions were proven correct in hearing what Katara had just dared to utter towards her own blood and family. What her motives were, however, she was unsure of.
"Katara misunderstands me- perhaps too often. I do not mean to stand and fight," Hakoda began to explain. However, Sokka swiftly interrupted him.
"Then what do you plan to do? You can't possibly consider fleeing! They're likely to be weak ships. Ash is an air-bender, Toph is an earth bender, and Katara can bend water! We could easily take them," Sokka argued. Ashlynn could see that Hakoda was growing tired of being interrupted. Clearly, fleeing and fighting were not options he'd considered.
"No, we're not fleeing. Instead, I say we commandeer one of their ships," he responded calmly and firmly. Toph's eyebrows rose up as she heard the words he'd said. Sokka's mouth opened slightly, but he shut it instantly. "If you want to invade the Fire Nation, then this is a perfect place to start. I'll send my fleet on their way after this last incursion, and I'll stay behind to help you guys figure out an invasion plan. The Fire Nation won't bother us if we're practically living in the same quarters as they."
For the first time in nearly a week, Ashlynn felt happiness stir within the depths of her heart. She couldn't help but grin broadly at Hakoda. The man was clever, and his mind seemed to work much faster than the average brain. He really was a seasoned version of his own son. What better idea could one person have possibly had in such a situation?
"When do strike?" Sokka questioned.
"Tomorrow- before dawn."
Day 7
It was still dark out when Hakoda woke Ashlynn. He merely nudged her, and then moved on to awaken the others who would journey with them. She rubbed her eyes and tried to adjust to the darkness. She rid herself of her blankets, and fumbled around in the darkness in search of her staff. Once she'd felt the wooden rod resting nearby, she stood up and departed from the tent.
Katara and Toph were already outside, although they appeared to still be waking up. Sokka was nowhere to be seen, and Hakoda was speaking with Bato. Katara approached Ashlynn and handed her a maroon-colored cloak. "Here- it'll conceal us well when we approach the ship. With any luck, they won't notice us until we're actually onboard." Ashlynn grabbed the cloak, and pinned it about her neck. It was light, but comfortable, and loose-fitting. She swayed back and forth slightly as she admired the way it rolled with the morning breeze.
A familiar yawn came from nearby, and Ashlynn averted her gaze to the side to see Sokka emerge from the nearest tent. "It's way too early to be doing this," he grumbled miserably. Ashlynn forced a half-smile at him, although she hardly felt the need to actually smile. What was there to be happy about? Aang hadn't even re-awoken, yet.
"Ready?" Hakoda whispered as he neared them. He was careful to keep his voice quiet, so as not to awake the men of his fleet. Only two other men were awake; Bato, who was helping with their seizing of the ship, and a man who was keeping a night watch. The group nodded at Hakoda, and tugged the hoods of their cloaks over their head. Ashlynn followed Sokka closely, and he followed Hakoda.
It was hard to make out what lay before them through the mass of darkness that stood before them. Yet, there was no denying the massive shapes of three Fire Nation ships that were anchored at the shore. Ashlynn occupied her time and mind by bending small bubbles of air beneath everyone's feet. Not only did it prevent tracks in the sand, but it prevented any sounds to be made from footsteps.
Hakoda decided it was best to take over the smallest ship. The crew would be smaller, and it would be harder for them to get the attention of the other ships. In addition, it was likely they wouldn't mind having to leave a smaller ship behind. So, they quietly darted over to the ship of his choice. Hakoda threw a rope up and over the rim of the ship. The metal hooks attached to the rope made a small clank as it collided with the other side and latched underneath the rim. Hakoda tugged on it for reassurance, and then pulled himself up and over the edge.
Katara decided it was best she go last. Only one guard stood watch, and he currently had his back turned. However, if he saw them, Katara would be the swiftest at dispatching him before he could call for help. She kept a whip of water drawn up by her side, preparing to knock the guard out if necessary.
Sokka grabbed Toph and tugged himself up the rope next. Ashlynn, not wishing to be seen, kept her glider closed, despite how much she desired to use it to get up onto the ship. Instead, she created springs of air beneath the soles of her feet, and propelled herself to the top. She looked down, and motioned for Katara and Bato to come up. Bato had Katara take the lead so that he could cover the rear.
"You kids cover the quarters of the ship. Do not let anyone call for help. Knock them out, or cover their mouths with a cloth. We're taking their uniforms, and their weapons. Tie them up, and bring them out here. Bato and I will take care of the watchman, along with the men down near the furnace and engines. Go!" Hakoda whispered to them. Then, they split up.
Ashlynn followed Sokka, Katara, and Toph down into the interior of the ship. She kept her staff out before her. If someone attacked, it would be easiest to strike them across the head and render them unconscious. Katara kept her whip out, and Sokka held his club out. He stopped at the entrance of a hallway, and glanced at Toph.
"There's a group of men playing a game in the second door on the left. There's no one in the first room, nor any in the third. The fourth has a man sleeping in the room in both the left and the right, and the door at the end of the hallway has another two people in it. I think it must be the captain's quarters," Toph muttered to Sokka.
"How many in this room up here?" Sokka questioned.
"Six. One for each room that doesn't have a man asleep in it…" Toph sighed, wishing Sokka would've caught onto that simple fact. He nodded, and began to think of ways they could go about this.
Six men were a lot to take on for a team of four. How could they prevent them from calling out for help from the men further down the hallway? If they called them in, then they'd surely be ten on four. More or less, they'd be outmatched and outnumbered. "How should we go about this?" Ashlynn whispered.
"Let's go from the end of this hall and up. Take out the captain first, and then the other men that are asleep. We'll take out the group here last," Sokka quickly devised. They nodded, and silently paced down the metal hall. Ashlynn continued to keep the air pads beneath their feet to help them remain silent.
When they reached the door at the end of the hall, Sokka prepared to open the door. "Wait!" Toph hissed. She put a hand on Sokka's arm and motioned for him to wait.
"What is it?" he murmured under his breath. Toph pressed her ear to the door, and frowned as she pulled away. Curious, Sokka pressed his ear to the door as well and listened intently. After a few moments he pulled away with a large frown upon his face. "Don't tell me…" he muttered, and all Toph did was nod. "Aw, come on! That's disgusting," he groaned.
"What?" Katara spat, growing impatient.
"It's a man and a woman in there," he explained quietly.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me," Ashlynn murmured as she realized what was going on. If they busted in on two people caught in the throes of love, it was likely the woman would scream. They were awake, and there was no getting around the fact that the woman's scream alone could awaken the crew members of the other ships.
"New plan… Let them finish… That… While we take out the men in these two rooms here," Sokka explained, and motioned towards the nearest doorways on their left and right. "Katara and Toph get the left- Ash and I will get the right," he whispered. Katara nodded, and they paced over to the left.
Sokka motioned at the door that lay before them. Without saying anything, he was able to tell Ashlynn that she should open the door so that he would be the one to beat the soldier over the head. Ashlynn nodded in understanding, and she inhaled deeply. Trying to remain as silent as possible, she cracked open the door. Sokka tip-toed through when it was open enough for him to squeeze into, and crept over to the mans bed. The man stirred, but was unconscious once more before he had the time to react.
Ashlynn tore a line of cloth from the sheets on the bed and used it to gag the soldier in case he woke up. Sokka patted the soldier down to make sure he had no weapons concealed. Ashlynn pointed out his suit of armor piled into a corner. The man was a slob, she noticed. Clothes were strewn about the dimly lit room. A plate with half a slice of bread sat on the floor with an empty mug of what used to be ale next to it.
"Let's take this man up top," Sokka said. Ashlynn looked down at the soldier and saw that Sokka had already bound his hands and feet. She nodded, and helped him carry the man out of the room. Katara and Toph were dragging the man from the other room, too. Together, the four of them brought the two men they'd captured outside.
"That's all you've managed so far?" Hakoda and Bato questioned as they dragged two men across the top of the ship. They laid the men beside three other men that they'd dispatched.
"Well, I'm sorry dad, but we were temporarily distracted by the fact that there's a couple 'getting it on' in one of the rooms, and that another room is occupied by six men. This is all we were able to get," Katara hissed angrily at her father. Hakoda sighed, by kept his cool as he pondered how to take care of their problem.
"Women don't usually travel at sea with the men…" Hakoda began to say.
"Aside Ashlynn!" Sokka piped up as he recalled that he'd originally met Ashlynn because she was sailing with Zuko and Iroh.
"…Right. Aside Ashlynn. What I'm trying to say is, she's probably a prisoner of theirs. Someone they captured from the earth kingdom refugees that the captain is using for himself. If we go about this the right way, she won't be alarmed. We'd be rescuing her," he explained.
"Have the four of them take out the room of six. Let us handle the captain," Bato suggested. Hakoda nodded in agreement.
"I was going to suggest that. We've dispatched many soldiers. Bato and I can dress up as men from the crew, and simply interrupt the captain. Alright, you kids get a head start. We'll go put on the uniforms," Hakoda said.
The four turned without a word of complaint or disagreement.
"Let's just have Ash open the door and let Katara and I knock out the soldiers. She can cover their mouths while I take 'em on," Sokka explained. Toph frowned, unsure of what she should do, but she didn't complain.
Ashlynn approached the door, and waited for Sokka to signal for her to open the door. Katara nodded that she was ready, and Sokka nodded at Ashlynn. Ashlynn breathed inward, and busted the door open. It was loud, and caused the men to jump up in surprise.
They were crowded around a small table, each with cards in their hands. They didn't say anything as the group swiftly moved into the room. Katara used water to cover the mouth of one man, though he hardly struggled. Much to her surprise, as well as everyone else's, the men began to laugh hysterically.
"This is too much! How much did you put in our drinks Hayato?" one man roared as he peered down into his own mug, as if he expected to find more alcohol. He let his cards slip from his other hand, and laughed as he watched them spread across the floor. "Oops! I guess now you all know what hand I have," he howled even louder. The men around them burst into more laughter.
Ashlynn shut the door behind her, not wishing their laughter to reach down into the captain's quarters and disturb him. "These men are more than drunk," Ashlynn told Sokka. Currently, Sokka was pacing over to the nearest man with his club held high. He had the means of knocking the man out, and the man didn't appear to notice.
Toph, finding it hysterical, sat down on the nearby bed and laughed with the men. They didn't so much as glance as her, which made it all the more funny for her. Katara approached the man that she had within the grasp of her water. Soon, he would pass out from lack of oxygen. The other drunken men still didn't seem to think they were in reality.
Sokka finally summed up the courage to strike a man across the back of his head. His eyes rolled back into his skull, and he fell into the lap of another soldier as unconsciousness took over him. His partner cackled as he slurred, "Good Gods, th' mans drunk himself stiff!" His fellow soldiers followed him with laughter.
"Tell me, is there a little lady beside us?" one man asked, and shot a thumb behind him in Ashlynn's direction.
"I sure hope so, Taro, cause I see her!" another man chortled. Taro, who appeared to be the youngest of the group, turned towards Ashlynn.
Ashlynn held her staff out defensively. Sokka leapt behind another man and struck him down. The other two men seemed to finally be noticing something wasn't right, but their minds couldn't exactly comprehend how to prevent it. Taro was fixated on Ashlynn, however, and was oblivious to all else. "Put that rod away missy. Sit, and have a drink or two!" he laughed heartily as he motioned back at the other men. They chuckled in response as they tried to listen to both him and ward Sokka and Katara off at the same time.
Ashlynn was frozen as she watched the young man Taro stand up and stumble towards her. "I said put that away," he grumbled. Ashlynn swung her staff, but the man caught it within one hand. He gripped it tightly, and tugged it clear from her hand. He tossed it to the side and closed in on Ashlynn, who continued to back up until she was pressed up against the cold, metal wall.
Taro tripped over his own feet and fell forward. He stopped himself from collapsing upon Ashlynn by putting his arms out and catching himself on the wall that Ashlynn was pressed up against. Now, he was too close for comfort. Ashlynn's nose curled in disgust as her nose was filled with the smell of ale and rancid meat. If the man weren't such a pig, perhaps he might've seemed attractive. His muscles were well toned, and his eyes were a vibrant color.
"Come on miss, won't you keep a man's bed warm?" he garbled as he ran one clumsy hand down Ashlynn's midsection to her waist. Suddenly, as she had feared, he fell upon her and crashed his lips onto hers. She tried to cry out for Sokka or Katara, but he took the opportunity and attempted to shove his tongue into her mouth. She shoved him back off of her and spat in his face. The soldier was shocked, and without thinking he backhanded her.
Suddenly, the soldier Taro went stiff. His eyelids shut, and he became limp a moment later. He collided with the ground, unconscious, and Ashlynn looked up at Sokka, who was standing over the limp body with his club raised high. "Sokka, I-" Ashlynn tried to say, but Sokka ignored her for the moment. Instead, he brought his club down on Taro's head once more. Then again, and then a third time before Katara finally forced his club away from him.
Sokka looked up at Ashlynn, and she gulped as she saw the fierce anger that flashed through his eyes. She'd never seen him so angry before. Even his eyebrows and lips seemed to twitch and quiver. His hands were balled into fists, and he nearly punched Taro once more with his bare fists, except that Katara and Toph and begun to pile him with the other unconscious soldiers.
Ashlynn shut her mouth as she glanced up at Sokka. Without saying a word, Sokka grabbed her arms and pulled her into him. She felt the side of her face land softly on Sokka's chest as he wrapped his arms around her back. She could hear his heart beating rapidly with adrenaline, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. She couldn't be sure what exactly was flowing through his mind, nor how to make it better, but that didn't stop her from hugging him back.
They stayed in their silent embrace until Hakoda came to get them.
Day 11
Disguised as Fire Nation Soldiers, Bato and Hakoda told the other two ships that their ship's machinery was malfunctioning, and needed some time to repair it. The ship's granted them permission to stay anchored on the shore for one week, and then they'd send someone to bring them back to the Fire Nation fleet. So, their time on the shore was limited.
They moved what was necessary onto the ship, and they spent their time cleaning it up to their liking while still maintaining its appearance as a fire navy ship. Aang was given the captain's quarters, for it was the largest and had the most decent bed. Most of the team could cram into the room if they wished, though they never did. They took turns checking in on Aang, to see if he'd awoken, and to make sure he was still part of the realm of the living.
There was a large grate meant to hold supplies built into the interior of the ship. During the day, Appa was near forced to stay in the holding cell in case ships passed by. If another fire navy ship spotted Appa they'd be discovered for sure. Momo spent most of his time keeping Appa company. Sometimes, however, he'd lay by Aang's side.
The soldiers they'd dispatched of were allowed to go free, if they gave their word that they would let them commandeer their ship. The men agreed instantly, although Taro was the only one to protest. Ashlynn wondered if perhaps he recalled the other early morning, but she never found out. Hakoda, knowing that he couldn't trust their word, left them stranded in the middle of nowhere, miles away from Ba Sing Se. That way, at least, they'd get a head start in fleeing the area.
It also turned out that Hakoda had been right about the woman- she had been stolen out of the group of refugees in Ba Sing Se, to be used entirely for pleasure. She had been grateful towards the team, and offered them all the food and money she had in return. Hakoda, being the respectable man that he was, refused to accept anything from the woman. He set the woman free in the nearest village, and didn't look back on it.
Afterwards, they set sail. Hakoda decided it would be best if they travelled west for the time being. The further they were away from the Fire Nation, the safer they'd be. A few of Hakoda's fleet chose to come with them, while the rest departed in their water tribe boats.
Katara hadn't changed much- she was still bitter towards her dad, and refused to strike a conversation with him. She continued to keep her eyes away from her father's, and it frustrated him now more than ever. Sokka appeared to have forgotten about Taro over the last several days, and his mood improved significantly. He spent many hours of the day pondering ideas for invading the Fire Nation. Mostly, he kept to himself as he did this. Hakoda, however, knew someone had to take the initiative.
"Look, I know we're all not in our highest spirits, but we're here to figure out what to do about an invasion on the Fire Nation. We may not have the support we need from the Earth Kingdom now, but surely you guys have many allies around the world," Hakoda stated firmly. Katara listened, but kept her arms crossed as she looked away from him. Sokka seemed distant as he thought about what his father was saying.
"What are you suggesting?" Ashlynn questioned so that he'd elaborate further.
"I'm saying we travel around and see if we can't get some of your friends to join us, and do a smaller invasion," Hakoda explained. Sokka, then, perked up as he heard this. He joined his father's side, and together they sat down to plan out which of their friends might join them.
Day 14
Ashlynn awoke to the creaks and groans of the ship. The distant sound of moving water could be heard, too. The bed beneath her was hard and cold, with nothing but a small mattress beneath her and a few blankets piled on top of her. Having travelled so much, she'd grown used to sleeping on all the worst things, and yet nothing was as bad as the bed she was in now.
She wondered how she'd managed to live so long on a ship with Zuko previously. Those times were so distant now, though, for they had occurred so long ago. She felt a tear stream down her face as she thought of Zuko. She cursed silently to herself to vent some of her anger. The thought of Zuko only brought her pain and anger, now. She brought a hand up to the scars on her face, and traced the rough skin with her fingers. She cried harder as she realized she'd never be rid of that mark- just like Zuko.
How could I be like Zuko, even in this small way? I wish I were rid of this scar, and that he'd stop plaguing my mind.
Feeling overly restless and distress, she finally pulled herself out of bed. She grabbed her smallest blanket and wrapped it about herself. Then, she exited her room and walked down the hallway. She climbed up the stairs to the outside, and was greeted by the hundreds of stars that dotted the nighttime skies.
A cool breeze rustled by her and tousled her hair slightly. She smoothed her hair out as she walked to the rim of the ship. She peered over into the cool waters below her, and for the first time she began to contemplate what it would be like to drown in those waters. Her mind had never been so dark before, and now it scared her more than ever. Yet, at the same time, the thoughts were almost comforting and satisfying.
Ashlynn felt the presence of another person nearby. She spun around quickly, and released a quiet laugh as she realized it was just Sokka. "Sokka," she acknowledged tenderly as he walked to stand by her side. She turned back around to stare down at the dark waters once more.
"Cold?" he asked, and grasped one end of the blanket that was wrapped around Ashlynn. She smiled lightly, and nodded in response. Sokka swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. The silence between them was more than awkward, especially given the fact that they hadn't conversed much over the past couple of days.
"Can't sleep?" Ashlynn questioned, and looked over at Sokka for a moment.
"I heard a door open," he chuckled slightly. Ashlynn couldn't help but laugh as well. She apologized to him, and continued to laugh awkwardly. Sokka never failed to drop his smile as he leaned over the rim of the boat and gazed up at the stars and the moon. Ashlynn wondered if he thought of Yue.
"Don't worry about it," Sokka said flatly after several minutes of silence.
"Hmm?" Ashlynn responded faintly as she began to drift off into the realm of sleep deprivation. She didn't feel as though she was entirely there, but Sokka had enough of her attention for her to wonder what he was speaking about now.
"For waking me up. Don't worry about it. Besides, I like spending time with you," Sokka finished awkwardly, but continued to look away from Ashlynn.
She sighed absent-mindedly, and without pondering her upcoming actions beforehand, she stepped towards Sokka and wrapped her arms about his waist. She felt his body go rigid as she buried her face into his chest. He didn't react, and Ashlynn began to wonder if he was simply shy. He had always seemed warm and inviting to Ashlynn- like he wanted to be close to her. His lack of response, however, didn't scare her off.
Finally, much to her relief, Sokka wrapped his arms about her too. She stood motionless, listening to and feeling his heart beat faster with each passing second. She frowned, and pulled away from him, wondering what would cause his heart to beat at such a pace. It was dark, but with the soft fluorescent light of the moon she was able to make out the lines and shapes of his face. She felt complete comfort as she gazed into his distant eyes, and wondered if the feeling was mutual.
Sokka bit his lip, looked away from Ashlynn, and in one swift motion he grasped the back of her head with one hand and pulled her face to his. Their lips locked, and it hardly bothered Ashlynn. She let her blanket slip off her shoulders as she reached up to wrap her arms around Sokka's neck while their kiss deepened.
Now, she did not think of Zuko.
Day 20
Aang's wounds had begun to heal, and it gave the members of their small crew hope. Sokka was convinced that Aang would be their best weapon, and best shot at taking control over the Fire Nation- more so than he had been before. The news of Aang's 'death' had no doubt spread to all corners of the world. This particular misconception gave them the element of surprise. No one would expect to see Aang at the head of the invasion on the Day of Black Sun.
Yet, Aang had yet to awaken. Katara began to wonder if his comatose state was permanent. Ashlynn would tell her to remain hopeful, but even her faith in such fantasies had begun to falter. Yet, there was a light in the darkness- The team had managed to run into Pipsqueak and The Duke, two lone members of the Freedom Fighters, while they had gone into a town to replenish some supplies.
Sokka had gone with his father and Bato, dressed as Fire Nation soldiers, so the two remaining members of the group didn't recognize them. Sokka, however, could spot them from a mile away. Pipsqueak was one of the largest men Ashlynn had ever laid eyes on, while The Duke was one of the smallest. The two stuck out like a sore thumb. Thus, Sokka revealed himself, and the invasion plan, to them. Without hesitation, they signed up.
Their plans were nearly a solid one, but it would all be for nothing if Aang didn't awake before the invasion. He still had much training to get through if he wanted to face the Fire Lord. "We can't just charge in there without him. You think we could take on the Fire Lord on our own, especially when we've lost some of the little we've got when we invade the city?" Ashlynn had stated sternly as she argued with Hakoda and Bato about the invasion plan. They fought that it was worth a try- after all, when would such an opportunity arise again? Certainly not for some time.
Sokka remained on both their sides. Ashlynn couldn't tell whose side he was really on, and whose side he chose just so they wouldn't be angry with him. It seemed likely that he honestly agreed with his father, but feared that Ashlynn wouldn't talk to him if he didn't side with her.
Yet, they continued to sneak out in the evenings. Sometimes they'd play a game together; while others they'd huddle closely and keep one another warm while gazing out at the shimmering stars. On occasion, they'd curl up by Appa together and take in the warmth his soft fur and tender body provided.. Ashlynn never mentioned Zuko, and Sokka never mentioned Yue. It was almost perfect- too perfect, in Ashlynn's mind. It almost didn't feel right. Yet, she never said a word.
One night Hakoda was unable to sleep, and caught them lying out underneath the night sky together. Since then, the relationship between him and his son had grown awkward. Meanwhile, any connection he and Ashlynn may have had previously had vanished.
The team was almost discovered during the middle of the week when another Fire Nation ship sailed by them. Hakoda and Bato were sporting their water tribe outfits, just as Sokka and Katara did. They were forced to retreat to their rooms and suit up their armor before the captain of the other ship requested an audience with them. Sokka, Katara, Ashlynn, Toph, Pipsqueak and The Duke hid in the confinements of the bottom of the ship as the adults answered the questions that the other ship had to ask. Despite the fact that Appa was already nestled in the holding cell of the ship, they were forced to throw tarps over him to completely conceal his appearance.
The team had grown careless, and had forgotten what dangers could befall them as they sailed over the seas. When the Fire Nation ships had left, Hakoda decided it was best to be more cautious. The women were told to keep their maroon capes hung about their necks. They could swiftly conceal their clothes with it in case of emergencies. Sokka, Hakoda, Bato, and Pipsqueak donned the soldier uniforms that were in the ship, while The Duke wore cloth that he'd stolen directly from a member of the Fire Nation.
"I wish you guys could at least take off that helmet," Ashlynn told Sokka late one evening. The helmet covered all of Sokka's face, concealing any expressions he'd make. His head turned, and Ashlynn guessed he was frowning.
"I can't, Ash. If someone from the Fire Nation sees that I'm not pale-skinned and golden eyed like they are, they might guess I'm not from their nation!" he stated. His voice was muffled, and sounded hollow from within the helmet. Ashlynn sighed, but before she could respond she was interrupted by The Duke.
"You guys, come quick! Aang's awake!" he squealed excitedly. He was running as fast as he could up the stairs that led to the interior of the ship. Katara was the first at The Duke's side, wondering how he knew Aang was awake.
Katara gasped as Aang stumbled into view as he rose from the interior of the ship. He seemed dazed, worried, and confused. In addition, he hadn't taken the opportunity to see that he was surrounded by his friends. He was leaning on his glider, and was staring aimlessly at the floor. After a moment, he fell flat on the floor.
Momo bounded over to him and sat before his head and began to chatter. Aang looked up at Momo quizzically. He raised an eyebrow in confusion as he questioned aloud, "Momo?"
"Aang!" Katara and Ashlynn exclaimed excitedly, and grinned broadly as they approached Aang.
He looked up at the two of them and beamed happily.
Finally, he had awoken.