A/N: Oh. My. God. I am just so shocked right now because I got so many reviews. Thank you so, so, so much! I didn't think I would get that many, seriously. Well, it's good to know there are more than six authors that make up the Avatar: The Last Airbender community at fanfiction dot net. Some of you other fans: help the fandom grow and post your own stories! I think you'd get lotsa reviews.

Well, thanks to: White-foxx, Rebecca Hamlet, 3301, Saphire Sprite, Danielle, marina, angelpup, Freedom Isn't Free, Tamurl, hanyo-girl, Annie, kilala63, Lilyhammy, HarrySlytherinson, Squish, renyun, outlawarcher, The Power Within, anna mei, ashley, Vivi Highwind, Mutant Chick17, and conspiracy-emperor22. Yeah. That is a LOT of reviews. You don't know how happy I am right now.


Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Oh yeah, there are two extras in this chapter that I'm sticking in because of requests of two reviewers. The characters are Mika and Angel. Mika is copyright hanyo-girl and Angel is copyrighted to me, though the character is loosely based off the reviewer angelpup. I also own Ai and Chaisu, but I hope they aren't too Mary-Sue-like, as brought to my attention by yet another reviewer. I'll try not to make 'em Mary-Sues!

The Art of Waterbending

Chapter Two


Chaisu tugged Ai along, who tried to resist, but wasn't strong enough to pull away. Even if she had mastered Waterbending, she still had little upper body strength. She yelped as Chaisu pulled her limb quite suddenly.

"Chaisu!" yelled Ai. Ai groaned in pain, and tried to keep up with Chaisu's speed.

"Don't you think this is a little dangerous?" shouted Ai.

"I thought you were always up for an adventure, Ai!" retorted Chaisu.

"Well, not now!"

After they ran for nearly ten minutes, the two friends stopped. There, not fifty yards in front of them, was the largest creature Ai had ever seen. It had thick tan and brown fur, and six limbs that might be considered legs. The creature had a monstrous tail and brown arrows streaking its head and back. The symbols of Airbenders. Odd.

"Wow," commented Chaisu. She gasped in amazement. "I thought flying bison were supposed to be extinct!"

Ai turned her head to Chaisu. "You know what that is?"

"Yeah, my grandfather always used to tell stories that his father told him. His father had many friends of the Air Nation."

"Hmm," mumbled Ai. She noticed something move, and she summoned water to swirl around her in midair.

Chaisu had apparently heard it too. She in turn put her limited Waterbending skills to use, and summoned snow into the air.

There was a crunch of a shoe on ice, and then many footfalls and crunches. The large flying bison grunted, and a lemur flapped around a bit on the bison.

Abruptly, a young teenager with a boomerang came charging at Ai and Chaisu, yelling bloody murder. Ai screamed and pushed her hands forward, causing the water to knock back the teen that was charging at her. He fell over, soaked to the bone and shivering. Ai noticed he was wearing garments much like her own, and realized he belonged to a Water Tribe.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Ai. Chaisu giggled at the situation.

Ai held out her hand to help the teen up, but he turned his head and got up without her aid. Now erect, he stood a full head taller than her. He had brown hair and heavy winter garments perfectly suited for the Arctic climate.

"You scared us," commented Ai.

"No, you scared her," declared Chaisu, gesturing towards Ai. Ai frowned.

"Very funny, Chai."

Chaisu laughed again in response.

The teen just stared at the two with shock and annoyance. Then, he perked up.

"Do you have any food? Meat? Fruit? Nuts?"

"Sokka!" yelled a girl about Ai's height. She was next to the flying bison, and dressed in clothing much like the teenager's. A boy stood beside her dressed in orange and yellow, and had the distinctive blue arrow markings of an Airbender on his head and arms.

The girl and the boy ran over toward Ai and Chaisu and the teen, and the girl couldn't help but laugh at the teen, who was drenched and begging for food from two strangers he had just attempted to attack.

"Katara! These girls have food!"

"Is that all you ever think about?" moaned the girl, Katara.

"Hey, I'm just a guy who wants to survive."

"And thinks with his stomach," added Katara. The teen, Sokka, frowned.

"Katara!"

Ai stopped listening to the two teenagers squabbling, and took to observing the Airbender. He had fair skin and gray eyes that glowed somberly. The Airbender's face displayed mixed emotions, from excitement to joy. Even standing near him, Ai could sense the Airbender's hyper aura that he emitted into the air around him.

A thought struck Ai.

"Aren't all the Airbenders gone?" Ai blurted out. All present went silent. The Airbender bowed his head, and Ai could tell he was depressed. She slapped a hand over her mouth, immediately feeling stupid for bringing it up.

"I'm- I'm sorry if I offended you-"

"No, it's- I can deal with the truth," said the Airbender. He rubbed the heels of his palms together, still staring down at the ground.

"Um, o- okay?"

A moment of silence reigned. Sokka shouted out something because he could take it no longer.

"Do you two live in the Water Villages around here?"

Ai nodded. Sokka grinned. "Well, what are you waiting for? I'm hungry and tired and cold, not to mention wet!"

"Sokka!"

Ai could do nothing but crack up as she witnessed the furious Katara lecture Sokka concerning manners. There was no hope for Sokka as Katara mercilessly ranted on and on about his rudeness.

I wonder if those two are siblings, thought Ai.


Back at the village, Katara, Sokka and Aang recieved many none-too-welcoming stares. Sokka shrugged it off; all he wanted was warmth and food and sleep.

It was different for Aang, though. The arrows on his head and arms easily gave him away. He glanced at two Waterbenders that looked to be around twelve or so; they were whispering and pointing in his direction. He perked his ears in order to hear the gossipers.

"Look, Angel! An Airbender!"

"I know! I thought they were extinct, Mika!"

The two giggled. Aang glanced around and notice Ai, Chaisu and his other companions ahead of him. Momo looked at him through curious green eyes from the top of Sokka's head, and Aang ran to catch up to the group. There would be food and beds waiting for them inside of one of the tents, he recalled.

Mmm, food...


Zuko stared out into the looming ocean around him. He had been at sea for too long. He would have to be sure to stay at his father's palace that wasn't near the ocean, after he captured the Avatar.

"Prince Zuko, something is going on in your head," observed his Uncle Iroh. Iroh sipped his tea, still looking at Zuko.

"Uncle, what are the Water Tribes like in the North? Are they powerful? Are there many?"

"I don't know, Prince Zuko. Here, have some tea."

Zuko sighed in exasperation and defeat as Iroh poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Uncle," he muttered hollowly. Zuko closed his eyes and inhaled the entrancing scent of the beverage. It was like bitter herbs and peony blossoms mixed with a dash of cinnamon. Honestly, how could Iroh enjoy the tea so much?

"Drink up, Prince Zuko."

"Yes, Uncle."

But he did not. Zuko set the tea down on the side of the ship, and walked toward the highest point on the ship. It was there he saw it: the mass of chilling, mile-thick ice and snow blanketing the land from horizon to horizon. It was so cold here; he dearly missed the warmth. But to get back to the warm place of the world, his home, he would first have to catch the Avatar. He was so close now.

And yet again, Commander Zhao might be right on his tail, or worse yet, already invading the North Pole Water Tribe Villages. He must get to the Avatar before Zhao, or he could never return to his father ever again. Or more importantly, his home that he so missed. But he told no one of his longing of the warm sun and the rich jungles of his homeland, for many would think him soft. He must not be known as that if he even wanted to ever return.

But I will return, and with the Avatar, he thought confidently.

So far, he had seen Zhao's fleet only once, in passing the Commander's ships and locking his place in the race to the North. Zuko rubbed the reddened scar around his left eye, remembering the painful memory of his first Agni Kai. But then he smirked as he thought of his most recent Firebender duel with Zhao. Sweet, sweet revenge. But he had not killed Zhao, and he wasn't sure why. Maybe it had something to do with honor, like his Uncle Iroh had said.

He came back to the present, and stared out once again at the white expanse in front of the ship. Villages and towns became visible as the ship drew nearer. Zuko was surprised; in the South, there had only been one village, but here, there were at least six or seven, though spread apart. And there were only women and children there, for the men of the villages were fighting the war. A perfect chance to snag the Avatar, and with no resistance, other than the Avatar himself. Perfect.