The Mysterious Traveler

Hey guys! So sorry for the late delay in updating. Been busy with a lot of stuff and it's only getting busier with the holidays coming. But I was able to get this chapter finished and ready to go.

Hope you all are enjoying the story and it's other two installments as well.

This chapter will be completely origin, similar to the previous. Like I said, I wanted to take liberties on this one. I will be doing the same with future chapters ahead.

Please enjoy Chapter 19!

Chapter Nineteen:

The Burning Hideout

As the sun began to lower over the village of Giapan, Commander Rin-Shaw walked amongst his men of the camp they had setup at the entrance of the town. Since arriving with his forces, they kept everything under lockdown.

"Are the men well rested and ready?"

"Yes, sir!" responded one of his lower ranking officials.

Nodding, he turned to face them, "Good. Because we start-"

He paused at the sound of an explosion from across the valley, making everyone stop what they were doing. Soldiers picked up their spears and swords, ready for an attack. The villagers ran back into their homes, closing their doors and windows.

A few second passed in silence, until a new sound began to reach the ears of everyone in the village. Getting louder by each second.

As everyone turned towards the direction it was coming from, Rin-Shaw's eyes widened. Some of the men began to drop their weapons and attempted to run away, while others remained frozen where they were.

Rushing towards the village at incredible speed, a large body of water was flooding the valley, devouring everything in its path.

Pushing aside the moment of surprise, Rin-Shaw slightly smiled as he began putting the pieces together.

Sighing, he closed his eyes.

I should have known! Well played, Freedom Fighters.

But just as he accepted his seemingly defeat, he frowned when he realized that the wave never struck him in the moments that followed. Opening his eyes, he was left shocked by the sight of the water being held at bay by some invisible force, protecting everyone within. His eyes followed the water as it went around the village in a circle.

"Sir... how is this possible?" one of his men asked, unable to believe what they were all witnessing.

Rin-Shaw forced himself to focus and turned towards them, keeping a firm authority in his voice, "Get the soldiers ready now! We're burning the forest after the water recedes! I want everyone searching for those kids! This was their attack to wipe us out, and they nearly succeeded! We must retaliate as soon as possible!"

Though still in shock, they all nodded and began dispersing among the soldiers, giving out their orders.

Looking back towards where the dam used to be, his eyes narrowed towards the forest that lied beyond.

As everyone walked back to the hideout, an awkward silence filled the air around them. While no one talked, the tension was there. And even Severus felt uncomfortable by it.

Katara tried to keep a good distance from the Freedom Fighters, forcing Aang, Sokka and Severus to keep up with her.

"Um, Katara, you're kinda leaving them in the dust," Aang pointed behind them with his thumb.

"Good!" she hissed, making Severus worried.

"While we have a the moment to ourselves, I think we should decide what to do now," Sokka whispered.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked.

"What I mean is that we should start talking about what just happened and what action we should take concerning it. Jet manipulated all of us, including me, and then tried to flood an entire village behind our backs. Staying with them any longer would not be a good idea."

"Glad we could agree on something," Katara replied, angrily.

"Yeah, even I agree that what they just tried to do does disturb me," added Aang.

Severus remained quiet as he lost himself deep within his thoughts, turning to look at the Freedom Fighters behind him. He saw their heads hanging low, with the presence of regret and sadness surrounding them. Just the sight itself reminded him of how he would spend his private moments.

Conflicted, he pushed aside his emotions and turned his attention back to the three of them.

"We should help them," he said out loud, feeling a little humiliated and unsure of himself in expressing such an opinion.

Slowing down their pace, they turned to look at him in shock.

"What do you mean, help them?" demanded Katara, her eyes full of anger.

"I'm saying that we should stay a little longer and help them," he locked eyes with hers, refusing to look away.

"Uh, no! I say we should leave as soon as possible" Sokka declared.

"They aren't good people, Alex!" Katara glared at him. "Those were mothers, fathers, children, and families down there! They were going to wipe them out!"

"I'm not saying that they are," he continued to stare deep into her eyes. "But I'm also believe that they aren't bad either. They're all young, angry kids, who've had the worst in life. Nothing but bad experiences."

"And that makes everything alright?!" she shouted.

"No, it doesn't!" he felt his patience running thin. "Their actions can never be justified in what they just tried to do!"

"Then why are you defending them?!"

"Because they if no one helps them now, then who will? We can't just criticize them and then just leave."

"What do you see in them?!" Katara cried out.

Severus closed his eyes and formed fists with his hands, raising them in frustration.

"What is it you want me to do, Lily?! Just ignore them like others do to me?!"

Aang, Sokka and Katara stared at him, their mouths wide open.

"What did you call me?" Katara asked, her anger replaced with confusion and curiosity.

Severus slowly realized what he had just said and turned away, cursing himself for losing control like he did.

The rest of the way was led by awkward silence from everyone as the sun lowered on the horizon.

Once arriving back at the hideout, the group immediately retreated to their hut and quickly made the decision to leave in the morning, hoping to get some rest for the night. And although Severus was against the decision, he didn't speak since his fight with Katara and kept to himself in the corner of the hut.

As the hours went by, sleep refused to come to Severus as he stared at the ceiling above him. Hearing the snores coming from Sokka, he sighed and got up, stepping outside for some fresh air. Walking towards the edge of the platform, he stared out into the darkness of the forest before him.

The peacefulness of the night calmed him as he stood there.

As time went by, he failed to notice a figure approaching him from the side.

"Hey," a voice called out.

Severus turned and saw Jet.

"Couldn't sleep?" the boy asked, feeling uncomfortable with the silence between them.

Though a little annoyed by the disturbance, he nodded and turned away, hoping he would leave.

However, he heard the boy's footsteps approach and stop, feeling his presence just a foot away from him.

"So, I'm right to assume that you're leaving in the morning?"

Severus sneered, "Yes."

Jet nodded, feeling sad at the thought.

Severus sighed as he felt irritated by the boy's presence. He wanted nothing more than for him to leave. But he refused for anything negative to leave his lips.

"What you said back there," Jet began. "About feeling angry at the world and how life isn't fair... I've never had anything explain my life like the way you put it. And it wasn't just the words, it was the way how you said them. It almost sounded as if I was saying right back at me."

Severus slightly shook his head, sneering.

"If you hadn't saved the village, I would have been a murderer... a killer. Just like those firebenders." He turned to look at him with gratitude. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," he whispered. "It's not necessary."

"It is for me."

Frustrated, he turned to face him, "What the hell were you thinking?!"

Jet's face dropped as he averted his eyes in shame.

"I get why you did it, but you seriously never gave thought to the people you would have hurt by flooding the village? Did you seriously believe that killing innocents would be justifiable in getting your revenge? For this one simple goal? Because let me tell ya, one simple goal in life doesn't just make everything better once you're achieved it!"

"You think I don't know that now?" Jet muttered, looking back at him. "I was stupid, angry and blind! I admit it, alright! All I could think about was what they took from me and how they were allowed to go about without punishment. All I saw was people who were living amongst the enemy who started this war that has taken so much from us. I just... I just saw targets to satisfy my need to make them pay, no matter the cost."

Severus's eyes and heart softened at the boy's word. He was reminded of what he had gone through. But even his past experiences could never amount to what Jet and the others had lived with.

Jet sighed, "I've decided to disband the Freedom Fighters. I'm going to tell the others tomorrow, and go our separate ways."

Severus's eyes widened, unsure how to respond.

"You're sure this what you want?"

Jet shrugged, "It's not what I want. It's more about atoning for my mistakes. To make things right."

Severus stared at him.

Before long, he began to chuckle and shake his head.

Jet frowned, "That wasn't suppose to be a joke."

"Oh, I'm well aware. I'm just thinking of how terrible of an idea your plan for atonement is."

Jet narrowed his eyes at him, angered by his reaction.

Calming down, Severus stared at him with serious eyes.

"Disbanding the Freedom Fighters won't help you atone for anything. In fact, it'll only destroy any good you've done so far."

Jet stared back at him with confusion.

"I don't know what other mistakes you've done, and quiet frankly, I don't care. It's none of my business. But what happened at the dam wasn't one of them. Maybe you're at fault for attempting such a thing, but you never went ahead with it. No one got hurt, with the exception of the firebenders who were really responsible."

Jet lowered his eyes, letting his words sink in.

"Disbanding this group is a terrible idea, because it's based on your need to make yourself feel better. It's nothing more than a selfish reason... like my decisions have been."

He felt so exposed in opening up the way he did, making his Slytherin side rant within.

Jet looked back up at him.

"The Freedom Fighters aren't just about you and this little gang of yours, it's about all of these kids who are just like you. You took them in when they had no home, and defended them when no one else would. You created something that works. Something they desperately need right now."

He took a step forward, staring deep into his eyes.

"If you throw all of this away, you'll leave them at the mercy of those who will hurt them. You want to do something about that anger?" he pressed his finger against his chest, feeling his heart pumping. "Then use it to help those who can't defend themselves."

The two stared at one another, letting the moment pass between them.

But then Severus smelt something that made him turn his head to the forest. He sniffed the air, trying to get a good scent. Then his eyes widened at the recognition of the smell.

Jet frowned, "What is it?"

His question was quickly answered as he smelt it too, quickly arming himself with his hook swords.

It didn't take long for the smell to get stronger with each passing second. The sound of wood burning got louder, and a orange light began lighting up the darkness ahead. Animals were running on the ground, sensing the danger that was heading their way.

"Get your Freedom Fighters and wake the others!" Severus ordered. "We need to get a move on, now!"

"No!" Jet shook his head. "We'll defend our home! They won't take this one from us!"

Severus grabbed him by the shoulders, "The idea of the hideout was to hide. It won't be long before they discover this place. Wake everyone and evacuate the area as quick as possible. Only carry what you can."

Though he wanted to protest and fight against the coming enemy, Jet nodded. Leaping off the platform, he used one of his hook swords to slide down a zip-line and landed on another, ringing a bell as loud as he could.

Severus rushed into the hut, shaking Katara, Aang and Sokka awake.

"Alex?" Katara rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Aang yawned as he stretched his arms, "Is it morning already?"

"Ah, ten more... minutes... Gran-Gran," Sokka smiled in his half-awake state, drooling on the wooden floor. "Sleepy... time."

Severus rolled his eyes, "Unless if you want to be burnt to a crisp, I highly recommend sleeping someplace else."

"WHAT?!" all three teens shouted at the same time, immediately on their feet.

"The Fire Nation is attacking the forest and they're heading straight towards us," Severus grabbed his wand from his sleeping spot. "We need to get going on!"

Without having to be told twice, they began grabbing their things and exiting the hut, beginning to make the climb to the top of the trees. Where Appa and Momo were at.

"Wait!" he cried out, making them stop. "We need to help Jet and the others evacuate."

Katara scoffed, "Why should we? They seem to know how to fend for themselves if they were willing to cause such a problem."

Severus glared at her, "How about saving the lives of those who weren't involved with Jet's plan for the village? Are you going to abandon them for your own anger towards him?"

Katara's face fell as she turned away in shame. Sokka approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder, sharing a silent nod between them. She turned her eyes to Severus, "Aright, we'll help."

Severus pointed towards Katara and Aang, "You two will fly on Appa to try and contain the fire! Buy us as much time as you can, while Sokka and I go help Jet and the others evacuate! Got it?!"

"Yes!" all three of them said at once.

While Sokka and Severus headed off to find the Freedom Fighters, Aang and Katara climbed to the top of the tree with their stuff and boarded a sleeping Appa, who awoke with a grunt.

They found Jet and the others helping kids climb down a series of a rope ladders to the ground, telling them to head in the opposite direction of the in-coming fire.

"Alex! Sokka!" Jet cried out to them as they approached. "Go to the bottom and protect the kids from any Fire Nation scout teams!"

Nodding, they climbed their way to the bottom and stood in front of the rope ladders with a few of the other Freedom Fighters who were there with them. Sokka prepared his boomerang and club. Severus took aim with his wand, ready for a fight.

"Can't see a thing," Sokka coughed as the smoke began to cover everything around them.

They heard a roar and realized that Appa was heading towards the fire.

Moments passed as the sound of children crying and the wood cracking from the heat of the fire in the distance echoed everywhere. But then they all began to hear footsteps, and the sound of fire being casted into the trees. And before long, they saw shapes in the smoke ahead.

"There they are!"

"We found them!"

"Charge!"

Readying himself, Severus glared at the figures as they came running out from the smoke, casting a few spells to take them down.

"For the Fire Nation!" one of the soldier shouted, shooting fire from his hands at them.

Sokka judged the attack and threw his boomerang, knocking the attacker out.

Smellerbee, the Duke and Pipsqueak engaged their enemy, shouting battle cries as steel meet steel.

From above, Longshot fired a couple of arrows, hitting his targets with ease.

Severus noticed something from his left side and saw that three Fire Nation soldiers were flanking them, making a run for the children. Turning his attention to them, he took down two with a Stupefy, but missed the third as he shot a fireball at a little girl. Acting quickly, he performed a protection spell, saving the girl's life as the force field kept the flames from touching her.

Casting another stunner charm, he took out the soldier.

The girl turned towards him, shocked and scared, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"GO!" Severus shouted. "Follow the others!"

The girl was still frozen with fear as continued to stare at him. A much older boy grabbed ahold of her and began to run off into the darkness ahead.

Turning his attention to the battle, he dodged a sword that swung for his side, just missing him by inches. He took the soldier down with a stunner charm and rolled to his side, preparing for another attack. But he found that the battle had come to an end in their favor.

Jet dropped to the ground with the rest of the Freedom Fighters.

"That's the last of them," he declared. "Now, lets get out of here!"

Suddenly, they heard a woman screaming from high above.

Both Severus and Jet's eyes widened as they realized who it was.

"Go!" Jet ordered the others. "I'll meet up with you later!"

"Not without you, Jet!" Smellerbee declared.

"Go, I'll be along shortly!" Jet began to climb the rope ladder, being followed by Severus.

The Freedom Fighters and Sokka began making a run into the forest, following the trail of the kids as the fire began to get closer to the hideout. And with the fire, new figures. Lots of them.

Reaching the hut where the screaming was coming from, Jet and Severus entered, finding the Fire Nation woman trying to free herself from her bounds as she struggled to breath.

Cutting her loose, Jet and Severus led her outside of the hut, about to climb back down until she brought her fist into Severus's face, making him fall to one knee. The woman then lounged herself towards Jet, who dodged her. Despite missing him, she grabbed ahold of a knife from his back pocket, holding it in front of her.

The woman glared at Jet, breathing heavily.

"We're not going to hurt you," Jet tried to reassure her.

Crying out with determination, the woman lounged forward with the knife, aiming for chest. However, Jet was too quick for her as he moved out of the way, just inches from feeling the blade touching his flesh. His eyes widened as he realized that the woman's force brought her directly over the edge.

Severus tried to grab ahold of her, but was too late as she went over the platform.

Moving to the edge, they looked down and saw her body on the ground, her back to them as blood began to circle her.

Closing their eyes, they let a moment of silence pass.

Then they saw a figure rushing forwards the body of the woman, being followed a couple of Fire Nation soldiers.

Commander Rin-Shaw led the campaign as his soldiers began burning the forest before them. After many hours of searching and making sure not to leave a single place unchecked or untouched, he received word that one of the scouts had discovered the location of the hideout. With the news in hand, he gave the order for everyone to close in on the location.

The moment they had arrived, he ordered for his men to find Lieutenant Coral before burning the hideout to the ground.

But not long after they began searching the seemingly abandoned hideout, he saw three figures on a plateform high above them, watching as a fight broke out. It was then that he recognized one of the figures by their hair, quickly ordering his men to move in. And then he saw the figure fall from the platform, hearing a thud from where he was.

With his heart racing and his mind focused on one thing, he rushed forward, ignoring his men who begged him to stay with them.

He ran for the figure and his heart broke as he recognized his daughter. Moving his hands under her neck and legs, he shook her, hoping she would wake. But nothing happened in the seconds that followed.

Feeling the tears come, he closed his eyes and held his daughter's body close to his chest. Soon, the tears broke through and he allowed them to flow, falling onto his daughter's head. But in his moment of grief, he quickly remembered the other two figures high above.

Looking up, with his daughter's body still in his arms, he saw the two figures looking down on him.

Immediately, he felt a rage rise within him. He glared at them with deep hatred. And he saw nothing but their faces.

He recognized the description of Jet, the leader of the Freedom Fighters. But the second, he had trouble putting a face to. It wasn't until he saw the stick in his hand and the mysterious robes he wore that he was able to deduce his identity.

The Mysterious Traveler!

He got to his feet, keeping ahold of his daughter as he kept his eyes on them.

"Burn the place to the ground!" he ordered. "And make sure those two go with it!"

His men nodded as they began to set fire to everything, aiming directly at the two figures above.

"RUN!" Jet cried out, making a run for the other side of the platform as fire began to consume everything. Making the jump, he used one of hook sword to catch ahold of a zip-line.

Severus followed, grabbing ahold of a piece of clothe as he jumped off the edge and barely managed to grab ahold of a zip-line. Using the clothe, Severus made it to the next platform ahead, landing next to Jet.

But before they could catch their breath, more fire came their way, cutting them off from all corners. Without any option, the two began to climb up the tree. Looking around, Severus saw the entire forest on fire, like a burning inferno from a painting. He could even hear the wood cracking from the intensive heat.

Once reaching the top, the two looked around, desperately hoping to find a way to escape their situation.

As the flames got closer, they heard a grunting noise and turned to find Appa flying their way.

"ALEX!" both Aang and Katara cried out.

"Over here!" Severus shouted.

As the flying bison flew by them, both Severus and Jet jumped, landing on the saddle as the fire consumed the trees.

"Alright, let's go find the others!" Aang declared as he steered Appa in the direction opposite of the fire.

Relaxing and wiping the sweat from his forehead, Severus sat down next to Jet, both breathing heavily.

Jet turned around to take a final look at the location where the hideout used to be, a sad expression taking over as he closed his eyes.

From the ground, Rin-Shaw watched as the bison flew away, glaring at it until it disappeared behind burning trees and smoke.

As he held his daughter's body, he turned around and began to walk away from the flames.

"Sir," one of the soldiers approached him. "They got away. We believe they maybe heading north."

Rin-Shaw didn't meet his eyes as he replied, "I know."

What ya guys think? Please tell me in the review section below. I really want to know.

Once again, I apologize for the late delay in updating and also for any grammar errors.

Thanks again for the support and I'll see you in Chapter 20!