The Mysterious Traveler
Hey guys, back for another chapter of the story. :)
Oh, I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing reviews. They've been a great help and encouragement for me in writing this. Please keep 'em coming! ;)
And just a disclaimer: "I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or Harry Potter. All rights go their rightful owner (though I wouldn't mind taking them off their hands ;)).
Enjoying reading Chapter 11!
Chapter Eleven:
A Race For The Fire Temple
The sun began to rise in the distance of the never-ending sea. The night receding from its light. Where it should have been peaceful and beautiful to witness, it only made things more terrifying for the Avatar and his friends as they flew on Appa's back for Crescent Island. They were still hours away from the Fire Temple and the Winter Solstice was scheduled to end by the time the sun began to set at the end of the day.
"Come on, boy," Aang called to his bison. "We've got a long way to go. Faster!"
The flying animal grunted as it picked up its speed.
"Aang, how do we know for sure that Roku can help us?" Katara asked, her voice full of worry. "Even if we do make it, how can he rescue Alex from the Spirit World? We can't lose an ally like him, not after everything that's happened."
"Don't worry, Katara," Aang called back. "We've seen Alex do amazing things, and I'm sure he'll be able to get himself out of this mess. And Roku has been in the Spirit World for over one hundred years. He'll be pretty knowledgeable in knowing how to get him back."
"That reminds me, why didn't Hei Bai give him back like me and the others?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know," the Airbender replied. "Maybe he escaped. Either way, we're going to get him back."
Both brother and sister nodded in agreement.
After learning of where the Avatar was heading, Zuko and his mean, including Iroh, rushed back to his warship. He didn't even bother making a headcount or give a fair warning as he climbed aboard, immediately ordering for the ship to set sail and make way for Crescent Island. He made sure that the ship was going at its top speed, moving across the sea with a purpose.
Zuko was so determined to capture the Avatar and also the one known as Alexander Blackwater, that he completely ignored his uncle's warnings of journeying into Fire Nation waters.
"Of all the foolish things you've done in your sixteen years, Prince Zuko, this is the most foolish of them all!"
The Fire Prince was looking through a spyglass, "I have no choice, uncle."
"Have you completely forgotten that the Fire Lord banished you?! What if you're caught?!"
"I'm chasing the Avatar!" he turned to face him. "My father will understand why I'm returning home."
"You give him too much credit. My brother is not the understanding type."
Looking back into the spyglass, Zuko spotted the flying bison in the air.
"There they are!" he exclaimed, turning to helmsman above. "Helmsman, full steam ahead! And bring up the catapult! We're shooting that bison down!"
From the middle of the ship a catapult was immediately brought to the surface, being readied by the men.
"Really, Prince Zuko, couldn't you shoot them down with something more fragrant?"
Ignoring his uncle, the Fire Prince lit the hot sticker with his firebending, setting it ablaze, "On my mark. Fire!"
The catapult launched the blazing sticker into the air, heading directly at the flying bison.
"FIRE BALL!" Katara screamed.
Aang stirred Appa to the right, barely missing the ball of fire as it flew past them.
The smoke from the sticker made a terrible smell that forced them to cover their mouths.
"We need to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot sticker at us!"
"Can't you make Appa go any faster?!" Sokka struggled to breathe.
"Yeah," Aang's eyes widened at the sight before him. "But there's just one little problem."
Sokka and Katara gasped.
"A blockade!"
The moment Zuko saw the line of ships around the bordering lines of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom waters, his fears rose within, knowing that time was running out.
"Technically, you're still in Earth Kingdom waters," reasoned Iroh. "Turn back now, and they cannot arrest you."
"No, I won't back down! Maybe the Avatar will have some sense not to do something this foolish!"
"You mean, like you?" Iroh raised an eyebrow.
After a few moments of waiting for a change, it became clear that the bison would continue on its current course, having increased its speed.
"He's not turning around!" Zuko declared. "If they're planning to go through, then so am I!"
"Please, Prince Zuko," Iroh pleaded. "If the Fire Nation captures you, there will be nothing I can do to protect you. Do not follow the Avatar!"
Zuko closed his eyes, feeling his stomach tie into a knot within, "I'm sorry, uncle."
He turned to his men.
"Run the blockade!"
As they got closer to the blockade, a series of hot stickers were launched from every platform of every ship there was, heading directly towards them. Dodging fire balls from every corner, the bison struggled to keep from being hit.
Two flaming stickers clashed and sent debris all around, landing on Appa's side. Sokka, Katara and Momo attempted to put out the little burning spots that threatened to set his fur on fire.
"Appa, are you okay?" Aang asked, worried for his bison.
Appa responded with grunt, putting his mind into going faster again.
Flying up over the clouds, they were meant with another surprise as more flaming stickers came flying out of nowhere, which made things even worst since they had no idea where one might pop up from the clouds beneath them. Dodging every fire ball that threatened to hit them, Appa's maneuvering accidently knocked Sokka off and sent him disappearing under the clouds and falling towards the sea.
Heading down, Aang tried to get Appa under Sokka as he was in free-fall, just barely touching the water as Katara reached for her brother, managing to grab ahold of him and pull him onboard the saddle. However, Appa made contact with the water and bounced, making everyone fly up into the air.
Momo managed to catch a fish in midair, happy that he was able to get his dinner.
Sticking to flying just a couple feet above the water, they dodged incoming stickers and were just within reach of freedom. However, one more sticker was sent their way, directly in their path.
Knowing that they couldn't dodge it in time, Aang jumped forward and used his airbending to shatter the sticker into a ton of debris, allowing them safe passage to the other end of the blockade. Katara and Sokka catch ahold of the Airbender as he fell back onto Appa's head, making sure he didn't fall off. The flying bison flew right through the blockade of ship and continued on without any interference.
"We made it!" Aang cheered.
However, both Katara and Sokka had looks of worry.
"We got into the Fire Nation," Sokka swallowed. "Great."
Zuko's warship struggled to make it through the line of fire from the blockade, getting hit in the process and damaging its main engines. Despite the pleas of his men and his uncle, the Fire Prince urged that they pushed on through, believing they could make it. But the moment he saw that the Avatar and his friends made it through, he realized that all of the attention was now focused on his ship. They would be at the mercy of the ships that were much bigger and better.
However, much to his surprise, they didn't fire once as the Avatar passed. In fact, the ships came to a complete stop and allowed an opening for them to pass. Giving the order take the risk on going through, he immediately met the eyes of Commander Zhao on one of the big ships above him, the two staring one another down.
Realizing what was happening, he began to worry of what ulterior motivates the man had for letting them through.
Turning his attention to the bison in the distance, he ordered his men to make repairs while still sailing.
After hours of sailing on damaged engines, Zuko asked the one question that was bugging him.
"What's he up to, uncle? Why didn't Commander Zhao arrest me?"
"Because he wants to follow you," Iroh answered. "He knows that you'll lead him to the prize that you're both after-" He paused. "-The Avatar."
Thinking about his uncle's words, a plan formed in his mind.
"If Zhao wants follow our trail of smoke, then that's exactly what I'll let him do." He turned to his uncle. "Order the men to change course for North after a few hours and sail for the far edge of the blockade."
Iroh nodded, turning away to head for the helmsman.
Turning to his attention to his men, he shouted, "Prepare the spare ship!"
Once the few hours were up and the spare ship ready for his journey, it was slowly lowered into the waters from the back of the warship, with the cover of smoke to hide it.
Jumping onto the spare ship, Zuko turned to his uncle above him.
"Keep heading North," he reminded him. "While Zhao follows the smoke, I'll use it as cover."
Though not convinced of his nephew's plan, he nodded, "Good luck, Prince Zuko."
The moment the spare ship was lowered into the water, Zuko took control and immediately set course for Crescent Island.
The sun was close to setting, making Aang anxious as he made Appa go faster. With each passing hour, the threat of missing the deadline grew. But just as the sun began to turn orange and set in the distance, the island of Crescent appeared. The moment Aang and Momo spotted the volcanic island, they immediately prepared for landing.
Locating the Fire Temple, they landed Appa in a spot that was hidden from view, but just close enough to the structure. While the bison rested, the gang made their way to the temple, following a man-made pathway. Once entering the seemingly deserted building, they found themselves confronted and attacked by a group of Fire Sages, the guardians of the temple.
Though managing to lose them, they ran into another one while trying to navigate through the large temple. When they found themselves trapped between a dead end and the single Sage, they were met with surprise when he bowed to Aang and declared that he wanted to help them get into contact with Avatar Roku. Using his firebending to open a secret passageway, he urged them to follow. And though distrustful of the Sage at first, they ended up entering the hidden passage when they heard the other Sages heading their way.
Walking through an old staircase, they listened to the Sage, who gave his name as Shyu, tell them about the temple, how it was once Roku's home and that the secret passages were made by him. He then went on to explain that the Sages were the guardians of the temple, but had since been forced to declare their loyalty to the Fire Lord after the death of Roku and the beginning of the war. He also explains how he they became aware of Aang's return due to the eyes of Roku's statue glowing a few weeks back, and that he had been planning his betrayal of the other Fire Sages ever since.
Following another set of stairs to the Sanctuary, they made it to the very top of the Fire Temple. However, their arrival was met with another obstacle.
"Oh no," exclaimed Shyu.
"Shyu, what's wrong?" Aang looked up to see a huge metal doorway, with a five man-made dragon heads and a fire symbol behind their snake-like bodies. Their mouths hang open, with pipes that ran through them.
"The Sanctuary doors... They're closed."
"Can't you just open them with firebending, like you opened that other door?" Katara asked, while Aang attempted to push the doors right open.
"No," Shyu lowered his head. "Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open these doors alone. Otherwise, all of the five Sages must open the doors together. With five simultaneous fire blasts."
"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka's eyes lit up, an idea forming in his mind as he stood beneath a lantern. "I think I can help you out."
After a few moments and materials later, Sokka prepared five animal skin casings with lamp oil, explaining that if they put them into the mouths of the dragon heads of the doors, they can set them off to create fake firebending.
The idea impressed everyone, even Shyu.
Once setting them up, everyone got into position behind some pillars, while Shyu lit the small bags simultaneously with his firebending. Rushing out of the way just in time, the bags went off with a loud series of bangs, echoing through the entire temple. Before the smoke could clear, Aang ran forward and prepared to enter the Sanctuary, only to discover that the doors had not opened.
"They're still locked!" Aang yelled back, after trying to pull on the metal handles. Falling to his knees, he felt a wave of frustration hit him and he immediately started sending blasts of fire at the doors, the sound of metal being hit by the wind.
"Why won't it open?! Uh!"
"Aang, stop!" Katara grabbed ahold of his arm, calming him. "There's nothing else we can do."
The Airbender's eyes lowered in defeat, sighing, "I'm sorry I put you guys through all of this for nothing. Especially you, Shyu."
The Fire Sage looked at him with a sad expression.
"I don't get it," said Sokka as he studied the dust from the blasts. "That blast looked as strong as any firebending I've ever seen."
Momo climbed up one of the dragon heads and poked his head in.
Katara's expression lit up with a realization, "Sokka, you're a genius!"
"Wait, how is Sokka a genius?" asked a confused Aang. "His plan didn't even work."
"Come on, Aang. Let her dream."
"You're right," Katara smiled mischievously. "Sokka's plan didn't work, but it looks like it did."
Aang frowned, "Did the definition of genius change in the last hundred years?"
Katara winked at him, "Trust me, this plan is guaranteed to work."
Okay, please don't hate me for this, but I had to leave it on a cliffhanger. There was more, but I decided to move it on to Chapter 12 instead. The chapter just got so big that I had to cut it. Sure this one is small, but I promise there will be more chapters later.
I apologize if this one is pretty much a rehash of the episode it is from, but I figured I still need to keep true to the source material. I'm trying to find a balance on what to retell, what to change and what to leave out altogether. Complex work here! ;)
I want to thank you guys for the answers you left on your reviews about a possible romance for Severus. And to be honest, I kinda expected the same reaction as the ones from Redemption. I'm still debating on the matter, but I'm hoping I can come up with a way to introduce a romance that fits in with the story, but doesn't rush anything as well. I want it to feel organic and natural.
Message to "Sierra": "Thank you for the review you did. And I don't mind that its long, please keep on doing more of them in the future. Reviews are like candy to us writers. As for your analysis of Severus's relationship with Lily, I do agree with you. There is an 'abusive' nature to it. I feel the same way in my story of 'Redemption' as well (glad your a fan of that story too ;)). Please keep doing reviews. I love reading your opinions."
Message to "geme1": "Thank you for the multiple reviews you leave as well. I'm happy you are enjoying the story." :)
Message to "Great Idea": "Hey, I'm happy to see you've found this story! And thanks for the awesome reviews you've left. It means a lot." :)
Well, that's all folks (Lol, reference!)! See you all in Chapter 12 (which hopefully should be up soon)! :)