I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender but there are a few direct quotes from the show that have been woven into this chapter where it made sense for it to happen. Thanks All!

It had been a grueling night at sea. Hakoda had been worried that any light at all would set off the Fire Nation fleet off in the distance behind them to attack. They had kept their lights doused because of this. But keeping their lights doused came with its own risks. They had a few close encounters with icebergs that threatened to tear the ship apart. Better to risk an iceberg then to risk the Fire Nation. Hakoda thought.

Just then Sokka came to his side. "We are almost there I know, but what happens if we don't reach them by daybreak… Those Fire Navy Ships are much faster than we are."

Hakoda sighed because he had been thinking the same thing throughout the night. It would be morning soon.

Dawn broke and Katara stepped out into the open air. It was much colder now, and she was thankful she had her parka on now as she shivered slightly. Her hands still covered with bandages. She had been improving but they all new that she was teetering on an infection for weeks. She hated being constantly looked at with worry as if she would break. Though her mood had been improving over the weeks, she still felt so lost. Lost without Aang. She was almost startled at her realization, but it was true. Being separated from him was like torture to her. She had regretted her actions almost immediately, leaving him was the biggest mistake that she had made yet. She hoped he had made it to the North Pole and was already well on his way to Mastering Waterbending. Though a small part of her hoped that he was no longer there in the hopes he could avoid the invasion force.

Just as the sun was rising, they could see a massive wall out in the distance, she could barely make out an insignia… of the WATER TRIBE. "We've made it!" She yelled out as the rest of the deck watch ran to the front of the boat to see the majestic Northern Water Tribe wall off in the distance. Though they could make out the wall from the distance, they were just that… a distance still away and it appeared as though the Fire Navy ships had started again behind them. Soon they would be spotted.

"Let down all the sales!" Hakoda yelled. We might not be faster than them, but we have a head start at least. Hakoda thought. With any luck that would carry them to the Northern Water Tribe safely. After an hour of being on high alert the worst came, the Fire Navy ships had gotten close enough to open fire. The ships trebuchets were loaded, set on fire, and launched at the small Water Tribe boat. The first few volleys were too short, but they were quickly gaining.

"Maybe I can Waterbend around the boat to go faster!" Katara yelled. She attempted to begin to remove her bandages but Hakoda stopped her. "You're hurt" he began "don't remove the bandages, we will get through this." It was then that a massive projectile landed in the water directly to the left of their boat sending a massive wave over the deck knocking Katara and Hakoda over.

I hate being powerless. Katara thought. I want to be able to fight!

"Look!" Someone yelled pointing to something coming towards them off in the distance. "APPA!" Katara yelled. Excited that where Appa was, Aang had to be close behind.

Aang perspective:

Aang was shocked to see a Water Tribe boat off in the distancing being fired upon. He turned to Arnook "Do you know of any boats out right now? How many people may be on that boat?" Arnook shook his head at this and responded, "I was not even aware of any boats out currently and that design… it doesn't match any of ours." At this Aang paled… It couldn't be…

Aang shook his head from thinking that it was from the North's sister tribe because he couldn't afford to go down that line of thinking right now. Too much was at stake.

As the team stood around him for a moment Aang took a deep breath and spoke. "Alright we need to get to that boat out their and save the crew. We will have two teams. Bakkor I want you on Appa flying in to get the crew to safety. Nulen, Masiro, and Zada, I want you to go on offense against that scout ship. Me and Yianna will defend and join you after once they are all to safety. Agreed?"

Everyone quickly nodded at the plan and ran towards Appa. Once everyone was on, Aang yelled "Yip yip!" With a low rumble Appa lifted his great tail and slammed it against the ground to lift them into the air and towards the Water Tribe boat. Briefly and to Aang, thankfully the ship took aim at them for a few brief volleys as they were coming closer. Appa dodged them easily. "Alright! Time to break off Aang yelled. He and Yianna were the first to jump from Appa quickly followed by Nulen, Masiro, and Zada who road Waterbended waves towards the Fire Navy ship.

Bakkor directed Appa towards the ship, landing on the main deck. "Everyone on Appa now!" Katara was so excited to see Appa but her excitement was quickly dashed when she saw the person sitting on Appa's head wasn't Aang. "Where's Aang!" She yelled over to Bakkor in all of the commotion of men grabbing supplies and weapons from the ship and loading it onto Appa. Bakkor quickly pointed over to a figure in blue and orange who were riding waves in the water circling the boat in a defensive posture.

He was Waterbending! Katara thought excitedly. Which means he had found a master afterall. For a brief moment she was filled with joy until someone screamed behind her "look out!" She quickly turned in the direction of one of the warriors to see a giant fireball coming their way. Before it had a chance to reach the boat Aang and another girl came gliding towards it over the water. Together they formed a massive ice wall that caught the fireball before it reached the ship. Though a second one crashed a little to close to the boat for comfort, knocking everyone over in the process with a wave over the bow. Someone grabbed her by the arm pulling her towards Appa. As she got on Appa she saw Aang jump on the boat from the water.

For a moment their eyes met each other. Aang was stunned for a second. She's here! Was she hurt? Aang quickly thought as he saw the bandages on her hands. He quickly pushed those thoughts down as another fireball landed in the water next to the boat. Aang took an Earthbending stance blocking the brunt of the water from hitting Appa and the rest of the Water Tribe men and women. Unfortunately, he took the brunt of the wave, but he remained steadfast.

Katara's breath caught in her throat as the wave hit Aang but he stood steadfast. Pulling the water off himself and turning back to Appa after it had hit him as if it was nothing.

"Bakkor get them out of here! Me and Yianna will cover your escape!" Aang yelled. Bakkor nodded at this. "Yip yip Appa!" At this the bison began to take off from the boat. He was slower taking off due to all of the weight from his full saddle. He wouldn't be able to dodge the fireball coming his way in time. Everyone closed their eyes tight expecting a blow that never came. Aang had seen the fireball coming and jumped high into the air to redirect it away from the bison.

Katara couldn't stop staring at Aang even as he grew smaller and smaller off in the distance. He had changed so much. He was more grown up, self-assured. And a Waterbender! She wished he were guiding Appa back to the fortress and not going head long into battle. Katara turned to Sokka and noticed that he to couldn't tear his eyes away from what he had seen. "He's one powerful bender" Sokka began. "Did you see him make that ice wall? That was incredible" Sokka said in awe.

"He took that wave without even flinching" Hakoda said.

"Did you see him redirect that fireball?" Sokka continued.

Bakkor spoke at this "He's the Avatar, he's a very powerful bender. He can take it as much as he can deal it."

Hakoda tore them from their mussing as he pointed to a fireball coming towards their boat. When it made contact it collapsed the main deck and sail, setting it ablaze on contact. It began to sink. But they were safe for now, heading back to the stronghold that was the Northern Water Tribe.

Aang and Yianna however moved on the offensive towards the main boat in conjunction. "Freeze the boat in place!" Yianna yelled over to Aang.

Aang nodded at this, stopping its advance would prevent initial damage to the wall. Aang flanked on the left and Yianna on the right. Taking up a stance on a block of ice each bended ice out of the water up the sides of the ship, holding it in place. Just then a massive explosion could be heard and seen from the ship's deck. The rest of the team had destroyed the last of the trebuchets, sending a fireball through the ships hull into the water, effectively disabling the ship. Aang and Yianna bended themselves onto the deck.

"Good work everyone" Aang began. Before he could finish a fireball came crashing down on the deck, barely missing the group. They turned towards the horizon to see what appeared to be an endless amount of Fire Navy ships in front of them.

They're firing on their own ship! Zada yelled as another fireball destroyed the main bridge above them. "Quickly! Everyone in the water!" Yianna said as they all ran towards the edge of the deck, the ship beginning to turn over on itself. We need to take out as many as we can! Aang yelled, the group nodded at this and split into two teams towards the army of ships as they all jumped into the water, landing softly as they began to surf towards the other ships before they came into range of the Northern Water Tribe Wall.

As they made their way back to the now sieged city all Katara could not believe the size and grandness of it all. It was one hundred times the size of the south pole. She leaned over Appa's saddle to see hundreds of benders and warriors below them running about to their positions preparing. They finally landed in a courtyard in front of the palace. Two guards along with a finely dressed woman met them there, this way please she began. They were taken to a large building to the right of the palace. It was spacious inside with plenty of seating. It was ordained with furs on the walls and floor. It felt Southern Water Tribe but at the same time it held its own distinctive nuances.

Sokka could not keep his eyes off of her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

The woman began: "My name is Princess Yue. Please wait here, my father Chief Arnook will be with you shortly."

Hakoda nodded at this.

Princess Yue and the guards left and were replaced by cooks coming in with food and other supplies which was much appreciated. Sokka grabbed some of the artic hen and sea prunes, devouring everything in his path. He turned to the group who was staring at him "what? All this activity gave me an appetite. I'm starved!"

At this Arnook walked into the room and spoke: "activity is putting it lightly" Arnook began. "There would be a much warmer welcome for our Southern Water Tribe brothers and sisters but that would be under much different circumstances. We will provide you shelter, food, and medical attention as needed." Arnook said.

Hakoda walked up to Arnook. "My name is Hakoda and I am the chief of the Southern Water Tribe, we would like to help you in your defense of your Tribe." At this the rest of the warriors in the room nodded in agreement.

"Very well" Arnook began. "Tomorrow is where the real fight will begin. We will hold a dinner tonight in the palace, you are all welcome."

At this Katara interrupted, "Will Aang be there?"

Arnook faced the girl with a bit of surprise "The Avatar will be present." Noting the way she had called him by his actual name as apposed to his title which was uncommon to say the least.

Arnook continued: "The Avatar has been our welcome guest for some time now but I must take my leave to continue preparations for what is to come tomorrow." He then gestured to chief Hakoda: "Chief, please join me as I make plans to defend my city."

Hakoda respectfully bowed: "It would be an honor."

Katara had so many more questions to ask but before she could, he was gone. I have to talk to Aang tonight. She thought.

"This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh." Zhao began to speak from the bridge of his command ship. He continued "Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it."

Iroh closed his eyes and bowed his head in resignation "Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects."

Zhao scuffed at this "I suppose you speak from experience? But rest assured, this will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba-Sing-Se."

When Iroh just shook his head at this Zhao continued, smirking at his small victory "What is our progress?" Our lead ships were able to destroy a Water Tribe boat that had been out. The remainder of our forces have been unable to press into range of the wall as a group of Waterbenders led by the Avatar has slowed our advance. They have taken out fifteen of our ships."

Zhao was shocked at this "Our ground assault ships?"

Iroh shook his head "They were not the initial targets, though many of our trebuchet ships have been destroyed which we need to soften the wall's defenses. We still have enough ships to continue the assault, we will need to salvage equipment from the sinking or damaged ships which will require manpower and resources this evening."

At this Zhao nodded in agreement: "Place men on perimeter watch, we may stop our attack overnight, but the Water Tribe very well may not. Things are falling into place Iroh, I can taste victory already."

Iroh sighed "I hope your confidence is well placed, for your sake. The Water Tribe are a strong people, there is a reason they have been able to resist our invasion attempts for one hundred years now." Iroh said. "It is nearly a full moon tonight, as we draw our power from the sun, they are strongest with the moon."

"Years ago I stumbled upon a library with an innumerable amount of knowledge. I scoured through parchment after parchment looking for ways to provide an advantage to the Fire Nation until I found a scroll that had the words moon and ocean on it along with an artistic rendering. It was then I knew that it was my destiny to destroy the Water Tribe. Their spirits are in the mortal world." Zhao finished.

Iroh was shocked at this "Zhao you should know not to upset the balance between our world and the spirit world."

"I know you are fearful of the spirits, but I have a destiny to fulfill!" Zhao continued.

Iroh knew he would not win this argument with Zhao, he hoped that he was wrong. If not he would wait for his opportunity to strike. Until then he would continue to be his advisor: "It's almost twilight, Admiral. As your military consultant I must advise you to halt your attack."

Zhao nodded at this. "Informed the other captains to pause their attacks until daybreak." At this Zhao dismissed Iroh.

In the lower decks Iroh found his nephew and informed him of Zhao's plans. "If you are to catch the Avatar you must be quick and decisive!"

Zuko removed his helmet "I know Uncle!" He began before he was cut off by his uncle again.

"Remember your breath of Fire! It can save you at there!" Iroh continued.

"I know Uncle!" Zuko was getting frustrated now. He began to lower himself into the water. "I'll stay safe! Next time you see me I will have captured the Avatar. Good luck Uncle." Iroh nodded and he continued to watch as Zuko's small boat faded into the cover of night towards the Northern Water Tribe Wall.

Aang's perspective:

The Fire Nation had finally stopped their assault towards the tribe. Aang's team along with other Waterbenders were able to hold them just out of range of the Great Wall, disabling as many ships as they could in the process. Tomorrow they would begin their bombardment of the city for sure. Aang thought.

Aang's team met on the deck of one of the now sinking Fire Navy ships. Aang looked around to find wary faces.

Bakkor had rejoined the group and landed Appa near the team. "You guys took so many ships out but there's still so many more, how can we possibly stop them all."

Aang sighed at this because deep down he knew Bakkor was right. "One ship at a time Bakkor, that's all we can do." Aang began, turning back towards the rest of the group. "We can't prevent all of the ships from reaching the city, but every ship we take out is that many less Firebenders we will have to deal with during the ground assault that's inevitably coming."

Zada nodded in agreement: "The more we dealt with today and the more we deal with tomorrow, the less our brothers and sisters will have to deal with during the assault. We are saving lives."

The group nodded at this. "Besides" Yianna began "We accomplished so much today, we can go back and get some rest tonight, so we are prepared for tomorrow."

"Yeah and it looks like we took out a good number of their trebuchets which could limit the overall damage to the city itself." Aang said.

At this the group's spirit began to lift. Bakkor took advantage of the moment: "Besides there's a feast tonight to honor the warriors that fought today and that will go into battle tomorrow. Let's head back! We don't want to miss it."

At this they all climbed into Appa's saddle and set off back to the palace. Aang's mind began to wonder, reflecting on the fact that he had saw Katara today. It had been unexpected to say the least, but he felt more conflicted than anything else. Yianna had noticed the apprehensive look on his face and noted to ask him later in private what was bothering him.

I hope you guys liked this chapter! It's a little longer then usual but I was trying to tie up a lot of plot lines in prep for the upcoming chapters and kinda lost track of the word count. As always, let me know what you all think!