Appa was flying through the sky with a peaceful expression on his face. The handsome sky bison was hiding during the intense battle with Gai. He was scared of the lava. But now he was at peace in the air. After all the air was his element. Gai struggled to get loose but without his bending he found that he was incredibly weak. Way weaker physically than he was when he was a bender. It was almost like he lost a piece of his identity when Aang took away his bending. He was upset that he failed Haiko. Gai hoped Haiko succeeded in getting the scale. At least then him losing his bending would've had some good come out of it. But now he was the Avatar's prisoner and he wondered what would happen to him? Now he wouldn't have to worry about not getting a job because he himself was a non bender. He was now the one thing he hated the most. Appa roared as Aang saw land. They were near Republic City. Close to the bay.
Suddenly out of nowhere a stream of fire shot straight at Appa and almost hit him. Appa yelled his fur singed. Aang looked around to see where the mysterious fire bending was coming from. He saw a figure standing on a distant hill. Aang made Appa go closer but more to the right. He was trying to get a good look at his attacker. The bender shot the stream of fire again. It zoomed past Appa's head missing it by inches. Now Aang knew what this mystery fire bender was. He was a combustion bender. Was it combustion man back from the dead? Aang could've sworn combustion man blew up back at the western air temple. No it wasn't combustion man. It was a new bender with the ability to combustion bend. He was younger than the assassin that bothered them during the war. He had long hair and it was tied behind his head in a long braid. He had no bangs and sure enough in the middle of his forehead there was the third eye tattoo. The mark of combustion bending.
Gai looked at the bender and instantly knew who he was right away. It was Mushin . He was probably sent by Haiko to help Gai. Gai was touched that Haiko cared enough about him to send someone to rescue him. Aang was in over his head. He was menacing Mushin and he wanted Gai and he was going to do anything to rescue him. Mushin was targeting Appa. Aang was worried about Appa cause Mushin was sending barriage after barriage of Combustion blasts at Appa trying to blow up Aang's best friend. Aang was not having this. He needed to protect Appa so he did something he couldn't do last time he fought a combustion bender. He entered the Avatar State. The power Aang possessed was unbelievable. Mushin was blown backwards by the Avatar's sheer presence near him. Mushin knew when he was beaten. He couldn't fight Aang in this state so when Appa flew past him Mushin reached up and grabbed Gai off of Appa's saddle. Then he carried him towards the back side of the mountain. Aang couldn't get to him even in the Avatar State cause Mushin used a combustion blast to blow open the mountain like hill and disappeared inside what looked like a hidden passageway underground. Aang deactivated the Avatar State. He hopped off of Appa and peered in the hole. It ran deep. Aang knew he couldn't follow. Appa hated being underground and Aang didn't want to upset Appa. And he didn't want to go in alone cause he had no idea how many benders where hiding in there that worked for Haiko. Aang turned away and jumped back on Appa's head and said the magic words Yip Yip to make the sky bison soar. Aang needed to get back to Republic City to see what Katara found in her adventure.
Katara had already gotten back to the city and was waiting patiently for Aang. She had beaten him back. She hoped he found the lion turtle. Her arm still ached her. She flinched. Katara had attempted to heal it twice. It felt much better now but the injury was still there. She was worried about the world. The Planet Eater was soo powerful. Its power was unimaginable. Also the information about her being related to Lyra. There was some relief in that knowledge that Haiko wouldn't be able to get the last scale without her.
Katara squinted and saw Aang coming towards her. He looked soo happy when he saw his beloved that he sprinted towards her. He grabbed her in the most passionate hug he could muster. Katara hugged him back. His warmth made her feel safe. She flinched while she was hugging her soulmate. Aang quickly noticed something was wrong. He released her from the hug and Katara quickly reacted by hiding her left arm behind her back. Aang looked into her eyes and saw they weren't full in color. They weren't the brilliant blue they usually were.
"Hey Sweetie what's wrong?" Aang asked concerned. "Is there something wrong with your left arm?" Aang tried to grab Katara's arm but she was doing her best to keep it away from him. She didn't want him to see it. Also she didn't want to tell him the events of earlier because she didn't want him to know she failed to keep the scale key away from Haiko. Aang won keep away and managed to grab hold of her arm. Katara howled in pain. Aang was horrified by what he saw. Katara's arm was covered in a large grey wound. It looked weird for an injury. Aang never seen anything like it before.
"Sweetie what happened to your arm? What is that strange wound on it?" Katara looked at Aang her face sad and told him the whole ordeal she had with Haiko.
"You confronted Haiko when you investigated the giant ruins to the north? Omg I'm glad your ok. And your telling me you just got grazed slightly by a small amount of the planet eater's power and it did that to you? Thank the heavens your healing powers work on it. I'm sorry what happened but it's all over now."
Aang hugged Katara tightly in a sweet embrace but he was careful when he hugged her cause he didn't want to squeeze too tight and hurt her arm. Katara closed her eyes and rested her chin in the crook of his neck. She inhaled his sweet scent. How she had missed his smell. Being without him even though it was only for a few days wounded her heart worse than her arm injury. Aang released her and told her about his adventure.
Katara raised her eyebrow and seemed very annoyed that Aang was bothered not once but twice by two powerful benders while he was contacting the lion turtle. She was grateful he was able to speak to the lion turtle despite all his interruptions. The news Aang leaned that Haiko could release the planet eater with only two scales frightened her. She hoped Haiko didn't know that information. She put her injured arm on her hip pondering all her thoughts. She wasn't flinching this time. Aang was relieved that Katara's arm didn't hurt her constantly which made him feel much better about her ordeal. He hoped it would heal soon. He didn't like seeing his wife in pain.
"Hey sweetie" Katara said as the sun went down and the lights in the city came on. "Wanna stay in a hotel tonight? I wanna have a view of the beautiful night with all the people walking about enjoying themselves. "What do you think? I know you love our house on air temple island but for tonight let's change it up ok?" Katara had the biggest smile on her face.
"Ok Katara" Aang said. "Let's do it." He was happy Katara had cheered up after all they went through the past few days. "We'll stay in the best hotel in the city, The CraneFish Tower. It will be beautiful just being together again. I missed you soo much."
"Me too" Katara said grabbing Aang's hand and leading her young husband to the fancy hotel. She was kinda surprised Aang agreed to staying at such a fancy rich place like CraneFish Tower. Him being a guy who loves the simple things. But the past few years have taught the both of them that they have to accept change. She was pretty sure he gave in to her wishes because he wanted her to be happy and forget about her failure with Haiko.
The hotel room was gorgeous better than Katara ever imagined. Aang had rented the best room in the hotel.
"Aang this must of cost a fortune my love" Katara said her eyes shining like blue diamonds. Aang was relieved her eyes were back to their brilliant blue that they usually were. She was getting better and that made him happy.
Aang smiled and said "it did Katara but you're worth it to me. I long for your happiness. It's too bad we will have more trouble to deal with soon. I wish we could live a peaceful life my darling. I'm soo sick of being in constant danger all the time."
"We're Team Avatar" Katara said confidently. "Danger kinda comes with the territory besides I love helping people. The good I do outweighs the bad stuff that happens to me."
Aang rubbed Katara's arms while she laid in his lap. She snuggled into his neck while Aang buried his face into her beautiful silky brown hair. He smelled her luscious locks and his nostrils were full of the sweet smell of lilacs. Katara's shampoo smelled amazing and Aang couldn't get enough of her shiny strands tickling his face. He nibbled on her hair loopies. He was giving her all the attention and Katara relished it. She was content. Aang stroked her injury with the most softest of touches. He released her hair and lowered his head and gave the wound on her arm kisses. Katara whined a content whine. It actually felt good what he was doing. His kisses were helping the injury. It didn't hurt anymore.
"Sweetie you're kisses are helping my wound" Katara said giggling at Aang's attention.
"Then I'll do it all the more my beauty" and he continued the affection on her arm. He was doctor Aang and Katara loved being the patient for once.
Then she remembered one important thing she forgot to tell him.
"Hey Aang" she said her face stern. Aang wondered what the news was in the middle of all the love making. "I'm directly descended from the original waterbender that learned from the moon. I'm related to queen Lyra who lived eight thousand years ago."
"Wow" Aang's eyes lite up with happiness at this news. "That's incredible. Amazing."
"Yes it is" Katara said. "It's still a shock to me and it explains why I can open the seals on the doors to the water tribe ruins. Haiko shouldn't be able to get the last scale without me. I'm sorry I let that jerk get away with the second one. I feel horrible about it,"
"It's ok Katara" Aang said while he squeezed her shoulders. "You didn't know he could harness the power of the scale. You did you're best. We'll see him again. Now rest your head my darling." Katara listened to her soulmate and fell asleep on his lap. The two slept peacefully with each other.