"Top of the morning, Momo!" Aang called cheerfully as he bounded around the place, full of energy from his rest. Good, at least we won't have anymore hallucinations now. Everybody had changed into their old outfits, Sokka and Katara into their Water Tribe gear and Toph into her Earth Kingdom outfit. I still dressed in my usual Fire Nation clothes, though Katara had done my hair up for me in the braided bun then plaited the rest of my hair down my back with two Water Tribe style braids that looped from the front of my face up into the braid, in a similar style to hers as a nod to my father's heritage. I rather liked it, I think I'll keep my hair like that from now on.
"Sounds like you slept well." Katara said as she finished handing out the tea I'd brewed to everyone as I drank mine and checked my two batons which I'd secured with long strips of red ribbon which I had stitched small metal plates onto just for these to make the ribbon a little stronger but still fully flexible.
"Like a baby moose-lion. I'm ready to face the Fire Lord."
"So what's your strategy for taking him down? Going to get your glow on and hit him with a little Avatar State action?" Toph asked whilst making the action as I stood up and twirled the batons, making the ribbons spiral outwards as I tested the weight and movement of them both.
"I can't." Looking down dejectedly at his feet, Aang explained that he couldn't enter the Avatar state any longer because of what Azula did to him. "When Azula shot me with lightning, my seventh chakra was locked, cutting off my connection to all the cosmic energy in the Universe." Toph didn't understand a word that came out of his mouth, and I wasn't too sure what he meant either by chakra, so we both just shrugged at each other. "By the way Kayo, what are those dance thingies for? Are you planning to distract the Fire Nation with your dance moves so we can hit them with a sneak attack?" Aang asked as he sprung over, taking one of the batons to play with it.
"You guys said that one of Azula's friends, Ty Lee, was able to do something to a person's bending right? Well, since neither she nor Mai use fire bending, the eclipse won't affect them at all so I wanted to have some weapons on my side in case my bending gets blocked. See? I can use these for long distance attack and the metal batons to block anything Mai throws at me." I explained, twirling one through my fingers before sending up into the air, spinning. "Pretty neat huh? I think it's elegant, sophisticated and functional. The metal plates will help keep the silk from being torn, just in case they get caught by a knife or something." I explained.
"That's awesome Kayo. You really thought ahead! But are you not going to wear something else? You might get mistaken as someone from the Fire Nation if you wear that." Toph said to me, knowing that I hadn't changed at all. "It would really suck if you got taken out by friendly fire by accident."
"I'm pretty sure people will know what side I'm on when they see me water bending." I chuckled as I started to wind up the ribbons around the batons then took the other back from Aang, doing the same before I slipped them into the quiver-like pouch I'd made to hold them on my back, adjusting the strap before I then picked up the two water canteens I planned on using to carry water around with me. "Besides, I have you guys to watch my back." Katara was out overlooking the ocean, eagerly waiting for her dad's return when she noticed a thick layer of cloud rolling in.
"Oh no. Sokka, do you think the fog will delay the invasion?" Looking up and frowning, it didn't take long for Sokka to realise what it was.
"No, that is the invasion!" Immediately we all rushed down to the bay where Aang and Toph made docks by extending the earth, allowing all five ships to pull in and for the passengers to get down easily. Katara and Sokka ran to their father to meet him, Katara jumping into his arms as he opened them to her, pulling her close with a loving embrace.
"You made it Dad!"
"Were you able to locate everyone I told you to find?" Looking up at Sokka with a smile, Hakoda nodded his head before frowning.
"I did, but I'm a little worried, Sokka. Some of these men aren't exactly the warrior type." Looking behind him, I leaned out in order to take a look at who he meant to see a couple of guys wearing…leaves. They were wearing leaves. For clothes. They had to be the swamp people the guys told me about before, no doubt about it, one of them even pointed to a rock and asked what it was. "Is it just me, or are those fellas a little loose in the leaf head?"
"I just wish they would wear pants." Bato said, both of them looking a little worn out from the swamp dwellers' company for so long, though one of them scratched his belly and spoke rather softly.
"Pants are an illusion and so is death." Okay…well I'll be keeping my pants, thank you very much. Shaking my head, I was brought over with Toph by Aang to be introduced to more people, the first being a young earth bender and his father.
"Toph, Kayo, this is Haru. When we met him, his town was controlled by the Fire Nation. So we had to hide his earth bending." We all bowed in greeting as he smiled, looking at Katara who blushed at Haru's words.
"Katara inspired me and my father to take back our village."
"You helped us find our courage, Katara. Now we're here to help you." The father, Tyro, said to Katara warmly who beamed happily. Beside me I suddenly felt Toph stiffen, registering something with her feet.
"No way…" Before she could get properly into her defensive stance, Toph was lifted off the ground by this massive guy who made me squeak as he raised Toph up above his head.
"Hippo happy to see Blind Bandit!"
"You guys here for a re-match?" Another guy was with this massive man, Hippo or something, addressed himself as The Boulder.
"The Boulder and The Hippo no longer fight for others' entertainment. Now, we fight for our Kingdom!" Blinking, Toph then grinned.
"Sweet." Laughing awkwardly, I sidestepped before quickly moving away, scared I'd accidentally get crushed by one of them stepping on me. After that, I met the Mechanist and his son Teo, who had been experimenting with the incendiary capabilities of peanut butter which turned out to be a flop. I bowed to them both, introducing myself as Kayo as the Mechanist adjusted his glasses to look at me properly as Teo tilted his head at me.
"Are you from the Fire Nation?" I smiled at him.
"Yes but don't hold it against me. I'm not one of the bad guys." Nodding his head, Teo introduced himself before handing a new glider over to Aang, having made it with his dad. It was interesting to meet everyone as I asked about the stories of how they met the Avatar and everyone else until Hakoda and Bato came up to me. "Oh, hey Chief Hakoda, Bato, it's good to see you again." I greeted, turning around to face them and giving a respectful bow.
"It's good to see you too, Kayo. I just wanted to tell you that I made those inquiries about your father, and I think we might have some success." Instantly I stiffened, eyes widening and heart pumping as I waited with baited breath, my friends all hearing Hakoda's words and listening in. "An old warrior friend of mine, Torak, was able to tell me about when he used to lead raids against Fire Nation ships some twenty years ago. He had this friend who he'd left the tribe with along with several other warriors to raid supply ships in order to cut off supplies from the Fire Nation to the Earth Kingdom colonies. One day, eighteen years ago, they proceeded with a planned raid in Fire Nation waters, having gotten information from an informant of a supply run that was going ahead." Hakoda began before he looked back at Bato who nodded.
"They sabotaged the ship but sustained heavy damages before they were hit by a typhoon. Torak and his men took shelter in a cove, but the ship which his friend captained was lost at sea. They never found the ship, or any survivors, until a year later when Torak's friend returned to their centre of operations in the Earth Kingdom coast with the most unbelievable story." Both of them were smiling at me and I was still holding my breath, praying and hoping that this was all true. "He said that his friend told him of how he had washed up onto a beach only to be saved by the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon."
"A Fire Nation woman, more so, a fire bender who treated his wounds and nursed him back to health, a woman he fell in love with and intended to return to one day when the war was over." Hakoda recounted and I choked on my tears, pressing a hand to cover my gaping mouth. That had to be him, right? It couldn't be anyone else. "Torak told us that for a long time, all his friend would ever talk about was this woman. Azumi."
"That's my mother's name." Beside me Katara was squeezing my arm with excitement, everyone listening as Hakoda continued.
"If this really is the right man, then your father's name is Koda." He informed me and I felt like my heart would explode from happiness as I finally learned my father's real name. "And…he's from the Southern Water Tribe." Katara gasped as Sokka yelped in disbelief as I stared blankly, not expecting that one.
"That's amazing! Your dad is from our tribe Kayo, that really makes you one of us! You're from the Southern Water Tribe!" Katara celebrated, throwing her arms around me as I stood there, still taking it all in which made Hakoda laugh as he reached over and rubbed my head softly.
"I know, it's a lot to process. Just take your time." Blinking myself awake, I cleared my throat and swallowed back the lump that was rising there in order to try and speak.
"Where…where is he? What happened to him?"
"Well, according to Torak, your father is currently leading his own fleet of ships along the southern coast of the Earth Kingdom, defending fleeing refugees from Fire Nation soldiers and wrecking havoc wherever he goes." Hakoda grinned at me. "He's even got a reputation. There isn't a single ship that man can't sink, and he's been doing it for over twenty years. He's known as 'The Wild Beast of the Sea'."
"That is awesome! Your dad is so cool Kayo." Toph grinned as I smiled, rubbing tears from my eyes as I finally breathed. My dad really did sound like an awesome guy, sinking ships with his own fleet, I couldn't to finally meet him, and he was still alive.
"So he's alive? He's okay? Isn't he tired from fighting all these years? He must have left the tribe when he was very young." I said, having a thousand questions come pouring in at once so Hakoda placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I knew Torak and Koda when I was a boy, and they were young when they left, but nothing could stop them from wanting to do their part against the war. They left after one of the raids which took away both their fathers, and their brothers soon followed them." Brothers?! I have uncles?! "I know you must have a lot of questions, and I'm sorry I can't answer them all. Torak wasn't even sure where your father was exactly, but he's promised to send out messages to contact your father and tell him that you exist. Don't worry, you'll meet soon, then you can ask him everything you like." Nodding my head, I drew in a deep breath then bowed deeply at Hakoda, grateful for everything he'd done.
"Thank you. I promise I won't let the tribe down!" I vowed, making him laugh.
"You're already starting to talk like one of us. You'll do well, Kayo. Come on, it's time we give the debriefing, Sokka? Let's get ready." Summoning his son to prepare for the war meeting, Sokka hurried past but not before he clapped me on the back and gave me a double thumbs up.
"Welcome to the family sport, great to have ya!" He grinned before chasing after Bato and his dad whilst Katara hugged me again.
"I can't believe it, now there are two water benders in the Southern Water Tribe, aren't you happy Kayo? I thought you'd be more excited."
"I am…it's just…I never thought I'd actually get the chance to know my dad. It's been seventeen years, I thought he could have been killed or captured since then so I never let myself even hope…" Crying whilst smiling, I hid my face in my hands as Katara and Aang both hugged me, wanting to share in my happiness as Toph punched me affectionately in the shoulder, making me laugh. "Ow."
"This is great, now you know where you come from and who your parents are." Aang said to me comfortingly as I took deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. "You're both from the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe. I think you were meant to be, Kayo, because now you can help be the bridge between the two once the war is over and begin the healing process after a hundred years of war. Maybe this is part of your destiny."
"Maybe kiddo, but let's focus first on winning this war, okay?" I said, pulling myself together and drying my eyes, wrapping an arm around Katara to give her a firm hug as she grinned at me excitedly. "Let's go watch Sokka tell everybody about the plan."
"This ought to be interesting." Toph said as we all walked off together whilst I had a lightness in my heart I hadn't felt in a long time. Koda. My dad's name was Koda. I hope he's found soon, because I couldn't wait to meet him. Would he like me? Be proud of me? I don't know, but until I meet him, I'm going to do everything humanely possibly to achieve something great so that when he looked at me for the first time and hears about all my accomplishments, he'll be the proudest father this world has ever seen.
