Book I: Water

Chapter XIII: Leaving the North

Apartment 40

A day later.

Kuzon woke up the next morning with a yawn. He then walked to a changing room to get dressed. As he put the fur boots on, he heard Katara calling out his name.

"Kuzu. Are you up?"

Kuzon called out. "Yeah I'm in here changing. Just give me a second." He put on the boots and tied on the laces.

Katara then came up and gave the firebender a kiss on the check. "Good morning Kuzu."

Kuzon turned to her and nodded, yawning.. "Good morning."

Katara then took him by the arm. "The others are already downstairs. Shall we join them?"

Kuzon gave her a nod.

As the two walked down arm in arm, Sokka let out a wisecrack. "Well well look who finally made it out of bed. I was wondering what it would take to wake your lazy ass up."

Kuzon narrowed his eyes at the Water Tribe Warrior. "Hey for your information. The Chiang Shi takes a lot out of you. I was tired. At least I was the one leading. You were over there looking like a deer in the headlights."

Katara then burst into laughter. "He's got you there Sokka."

Sokka just blushed and grumbled to himself. "Fair enough."

He then sighed. "So what is the plan now? The Fire Nation is beaten but we can't vacation like this forever."

Kuzon then smirked. " It's simple. We bring the revolution to the Earth Kingdom."

Aang glanced at the Avatar with worry in his eyes. "You sure about that? You haven't even mastered waterbending yet."

Kuzon then gave his best friend a nod. "I am. The Fire Nation will come back for us. We need to be ghosts in the wind. We can't afford to stay in one place."

Katara nodded. "He's right Aang. We need to keep moving."

Aang nodded. "Of course. I trust your judgement, Kuzon."

Yue just sighed sadly. "I will miss you all."

All of them gave Yue a nod.

Sokka then took his hands into hers. "You could always come with us."

Yue sighed and smiled ruefully. "I wish I could. Nothing would make me happier but I am needed here. The line of succession must be followed."

Sokka just nodded with a sad look on his face. "I understand."

Katara then took the girl's hand into hers. "Thank you for everything Yue. We couldn't have done any of this without you."

Yue then smirked at Katara. "Well us Water Tribe girls have to stick together after all."

The two girls each gave the other a knowing nod and smiled at one another.

Tikkuk Harbor, Agna Qel'a, Northern Water Tribe

A day later.

Chief Hakoda, Chief Arnook, Princess Yue were seeing the Avatar and his friends off.

Chief Hakoda was busy conversing with the firebender. He then put a hand on the firebender's shoulder. "Kuzon. I just wanted to thank you."

Kuzon stared at him in confusion. "For what?"

Hakoda then added. "I wanted to thank you for saving my children and my people. I have been fighting in this war for a long time. I lost my beloved and had to abandon my children because of this war. We all thought the Avatar had died. We all thought that the war would never end."

The older man then half-grinned at the boy. "You saved the peoples of the Water Tribes from extinction and have given us our first victory in this godforsaken war. Your name will be hailed in the history books for years to come." Kuzon then kneeled before the man and lowered his head dutifully. "Thank you but your praise is unnecessary. I was only doing my duty."

Katara glanced at her boyfriend with a adoring look in her eyes. That is why I love him. So brave and yet so humble.

Master Pakku smiled at Katara. The man then rummaged in his pockets to find the three hidden scrolls he had stored away for his two pupils. "I have something. It is a small gift. I was given these three scrolls by a Southern waterbender many years ago. They are the last lessons you and Kuzon have left."

He then smiled warmly at her.

Katara's face brimmed up with pride. Katara glanced at him with a gleeful smile on her face. "Master Pakku..I don't know what to say." The girl was caught totally taken off guard by the gift.

Master Pakku then put a hand on her shoulder. "I am unable to accompany the two of you on your journey so I am entrusting the rest of his waterbending training to you. You are now a master. You and Sokka hold the future of the Water Tribe in your hands. Your destinies are intertwined with that of the Avatar. Guard him well. We need him to win this war."

Katara let out a chuckle and smirked. "Why of course. Don't you worry Master Pakku. Kuzon is in good hands" The waterbender then shot her boyfriend with a knowing smile."I plan to whip him into shape."

Kuzon just shrugged. "Sure. Give it your best shot. I promise you that I can take anything you throw at me."

Hakoda chuckled at the Avatar's prideful tone. Maybe those two are meant for each other after all. His nonchalant and calm attitude suits her warm and flirty personality well. Those two remind me of me and Kya long ago. Maybe I should ask if he would like to call the South home after this war finally ends. He then turned to his daughter and laughed. "Well if anyone can train the Avatar…It is you Katara."

Katara turned over to her father and smiled. She was honestly honored that her father was seeing her as a warrior now. It honestly meant the world to her. She then hugged her father. "Thank you. I will miss you Dad."

Sokka joined in on the hug. "So will I." Tears ran down both Sokka and Katara's eyes. Hakoda then enveloped his two children in a hug. "I will miss you both as well. You both are making me so proud. More proud than you realize."

The two siblings were swelling with pride.

Kuzon smiled at the three of them. I'm happy for her. I'm happy for both of them. He then wrapped an arm around Aang's shoulder and grinned. "Thanks for everything brother. I couldn't have done any of this without you."

Aang chuckled. "You and I are two peas in a pod flamey-o. I got your back."

The airbender then airbended the two of them up on Appa. Aang took hold of the reins and glanced at Katara and Sokka "Come on guys. We've got to get ahead of the Fire Nation."

Katara turned over to look at him. "Got it!" She then waterbended herself onto Appa." Sokka sighed irritatingly with a grin. "I'm coming. I'm coming. Hold your horses." Yue then smirked at him. "Not so fast." She then turned him around and kissed him on the mouth with both hands.

Chief Arnook grinned. I am glad she is happy. Hopefully he survives all this so they can one day get married. I've been dying to hold a wedding.

Katara sighed with happiness. I'm glad he has found someone. I'm very happy for my brother. Yue is a good girl for him.

Yue then smirked at her boyfriend. "That was just a little something to remind you to come back to me alive."

Sokka then grinned at her and kissed her hands. "Consider me reminded. I'll be thinking of you..always." He then ran onto Appa and pulled out his sword as if he were leading a battle charge. "Okay gang! Let's go! Onward to the Earth Kingdom!"

Everyone let out a laugh.

Aang then shook his head grinning. " Sokka you are hilarious! Appa yip yip!"

The bison roared and lifted off the ground.

Chief Hakoda sighed sadly. "And there they go…I hope they will be safe."

Chief Arnook put an arm around his shoulder. "Don't worry Hakoda. They are traveling with the Avatar. He will protect them. He gave you his word."

Hakoda just nodded. He then turned to Arnook and smiled. "Maybe. I will still worry though. My men and I will have to go as well. We need to go back to protect the South."

Chief Arnook then gave him a nod. "I understand brother. Thank you for all you have done for us. It will not be forgotten. You and your men will always be welcome here." Yue then bowed in front of Hakoda. "It was an honor to meet you sir!"

The Southern Chief bowed in return. "You as well your highness!" He then turned to his generals. "Let's go! We have people to protect!" The men roared in agreement and raised their weapons in unison. They then marched off to where the Southern Fleet had docked its ships.

Chief Arnook put an arm around his daughter. "The Avatar has brought us hope..after so long." Yue smiled up at her father. "Yes. He has."