Chapter 11: Calvary

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or any of the characters from the show. Nor do I own the poem "A Dream Within A Dream". That one belongs to Mr. Poe.

"Ugh, this is taking forever," complained Sokka. He slumped further down in the small boat that they had rented. It was a dinky little craft, with one sail and a couple of paddles. They were making good time, but you could only travel so fast in such a compact boat.

"If you want to get there faster, why don't you start rowing?" Katara challenged her older brother.

"You kidding? I rowed all morning. I'm so tired, I feel like my arms are going to fall off," he moaned.

Aang was perched on the helm, looking out at sea. His happiness at finding out where Appa was had soon been turned into worry. What if they didn't get there in time? The prophecy had hinted at something grim, and the bison could be in danger.

Momo was perched on Aang's shoulder, filled with the exact same thoughts. If something bad happened to Appa, it would be his entire fault. He had left his best friend in a cage, sailing towards possible doom, while he escaped to safety.

"Hey, look!" said Katara, pointing off into the distance, "I see something, some dark spot on the horizon."

"Maybe it's the island," Aang said, perking up.

"No," said Sokka, squinting, "I think it's a boat. See, you can make out the sail."

"If we ask real nice, they might give us a ride. That boat looks a lot faster," Katara contemplated aloud.

Sokka adjusted the sail, aiming them towards the ship. It was only when they were within a stone's throw of the craft that they realized their mistake.

"Uh…does this boat seem familiar to you guys?" asked Aang.

"Counting wooden nickels!" came an all-too-recognizable cry.

"Oh, give me a break!" moaned Momo, "Of all the boats on the ocean…"

"Avast, who goes there?"

"No one," Sokka replied hastily, "there's no one here."

"Oh, real convincing, Sokka," Katara hissed.

"Cap'n, looks like we found ourselves a trio of troublemakers and their mascot, returning to the scene of the crime," remarked a crew member.

"Well, don' just stand there," replied the captain, "Bring 'em aboard."

"What should we do?" asked Sokka, almost in a panic.

Katara surveyed the ocean, looking for an escape. She turned to Aang and said, "If we work together, we might be able to bend enough water to get us out of here-"

"No," Aang said simply, "I don't think we should run."

"What!" Sokka exclaimed, "Are you crazy?"

Aang shook hi head and muttered, "This ship's too slow. Maybe they can help us."

Sokka and Katara looked at him incredulously, but they didn't argue. Ropes were lowered, and the small boat was hoisted up onto the larger one. A large circle of pirates enclosed the kids, making any chance of escape impossible. Katara and Sokka both stood nervously in the center of the circle, as far away from the marauders as possible. Aang, on the other hand, was unfazed by the jeers and scowls thrown in his direction.

Walking calmly up to the captain, Momo perched on his shoulder; he spoke unwaveringly to the older man.

"We need your help," he said, "and I think you need ours."

Laughter snaked itself through the ring. Them need help from him? The idea was absurd. Obviously the boy was making it up, trying to save his own neck.

"Now, what gave ye that thought?" the captain asked, looking him up and down.

"Leizuy is up to something, something very bad. If we don't stop him, he'll unleash evil, all over the world."

The laughter stopped. The pirates still thought Aang was crazy, but they, being superstitious, couldn't help but shiver at the mention of evil. Leaving Leizuy on that island hadn't set well with the crew. Legends of dragons and Armageddon shrouded Viera Tiera Inseli, and if Leizuy knew some key to unlocking the island's past…

Aang could see he was getting g through. Encouraged, he continued, "Please, he wants to awaken a beast. A terrible beast. You've got to take us back there; our ship's not fast enough. We have to stop him."

"So say's ye. How can I trust ya, after ye stole from us?" the captain asked.

Sighing, Aang lowered his head. "You can't. I just hope you will."

The captain tilted his head, considering. After what seemed an eternity, he said, "Well, I'd rather risk trusting you than not. Boys, turn this ship around. We're heading back to Viera Tiera Inseli."

Silently, swiftly, the men set about the tasks required them. None of them seemed happy, but they, too, would rather trust Aang than risk letting loose a monster.

"Nice negotiating, Aang," Katara congratulated him.

"Yeah, real smooth talking," added Sokka.

The Avatar blushed at his friends' compliments. Turning out to sea, he said, "I just hope we get there in time. This all seems…so surreal."

"Is all that we see or seem/ But a dream within a dream?" cried Talon from the crow's nest.

Momo let out a pained groan, "I can't wait to get off this ship!"

LATER

"What are they doing with Appa?"

"I don't know," mumbled Katara, "but it can't be good."

Aang, Katara, Sokka, Momo Talon, the captain, and a few other pirates were crouched in the shadows outside of the clearing.

"It's er initiation ceremony," the captain explained, "fer celebrating the arrival of a newcomer. At least, that's wat it looks like."

"The arrival of who?" asked Sokka.

"Do you really have to ask?" said Katara sarcastically, "Who could it be but Omighta Anima?"

Momo twitched nervously. He couldn't understand why the humans weren't doing anything. Appa was right there in sight, they could save him!

With a squirk of annoyance Momo sprang into the trees. Aang hissed for him to come back, but he didn't listen. He climbed onto a branch reaching out into the clearing.

Leizuy was standing in middle of a circle, making some sort of speech. Gathered around him were four animals. Four Beasts. Peering closely, Momo saw only a few men holding Appa's chains. If the lemur could distract them for an instant, his friend would be home free.

Abraubtky, Leizuy's speech stopped.

And the four swords rose.

Momo leapt to the sky, bent on saving his friend, but despair filled him as he realized he was too far away to do anything.

HA, another cliff-hanger. Actually, it's the same cliff-hanger I used last time, just with more depth. If I get at least ten reviews I'll post the next chapter within a week. If not…you'll have to wait. Oh, and the next chapter is the long-awaited confrontation between Momo and Talon. You'll never guess what happens. 