Chapter 2 - The Water Duel

Aang was lying on Appa's head, Katara was hanging over, and together they were practicing Waterbending. Aang splashed Katara a little bit, and she waterwhipped him. "OW!" Aang said, and went back to practicing. Sokka was staring at the moon, as he did ever since Yue, and Zana was clutching the saddle, white and looking like she was gonna be sick. Katara went over to Zana. "Here, it's great while you're waiting to get used to flying." she handed her a small herb, which Zana ate eagerly. She choked.

"EW! That's disgusting!" Katara laughed, and saw Sokka staring at the moon. She felt sorry for her brother, and went over and squeezed his hand. "It's alright." She returned to practicing. Then the sun rose. "What a beautiful sunrise!" Katara said. Sokka nodded, and wiped a tear from his eye. He smiled, and like he did after every night, returned to his normal self. Aang yelled, "LOOK!" They all gasped. There stood a beautiful capital city. It was gleaming white, and they had never seen a more beautiful city. "It's beautiful! This is how it was before the attack!" Zana choked again. "Attack?" "Yes...oh! I forgot! It was the Fire Nation soldiers! It's not your fault." Zana smiled weakly. "They destroyed our city, and killed my mother. This necklace is all I have left." Zana's smile disappeared. She looked down, and yelled. "Look! It's some Waterbenders!"

Katara and Aang glanced at each other. "Master Pakku!" Aang landed Appa. They all got off. "Ah! Master Katara, and her pupil." Master Pakku had gone over to them. "Hey! I'm a master now, too!" Aang said. Pakku raised his eyebrows. "Well, forgive me Aang. But there is still one more thing left to determine if you truly are a master. Come meet me at sunrise tomorrow. Now, look what we've done! We've completely rebuilt the city!" He swept his arm across. Katara and Sokka looked very happy. They were about to enter the city when they heard a scream. Some Waterbending warriors were holding Zana.

"We found this Fire Nation spy by the Avatar's belongings. She is claiming to be traveling with them. Should we throw her in the dungeons?" Pakku opened his mouth, but Katara and Aang exclaimed, "ZANA!" Pakku looked surprised, "You know this girl?" Aang nodded. "She is an outlaw also. She is traveling with us." Pakku nodded. The warriors released Zana, and she ran over to them. Sokka said, "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I want to go in the city!" He started for the doors. "Wait up!" Zana followed after them, and Katara started, but she stopped after Aang went over to Pakku, who was staring at the city.

"Master, why aren't you coming?" Pakku sighed. "You don't want to see Gran-Gran, do you?" He nodded, "I have been here for a month or two, but haven't set foot in the city. My students did the inside." Katara smiled sympathetically. "You'll never know until you try, Master. Please join us for dinner tonight." He sighed, and nodded. They walked into the city.

Pakku walked into the village. Katara went over and saw Gran-Gran. "Gran-Gran!" She and Sokka hugged her. "Gran-Gran, there's someone here for you." She pulled Pakku over to them. Gran-Gran's eyes widened, "Pakku?" Pakku nodded sheepishly, "Kanna." Gran-Gran smiled. "How are you? I haven't seen you for years!" Pakku got angry. "For years? You left me at the altar!" he grabbed Katara's necklace ("Hey!") and showed it to her. "I...Kanna...I made this for you. How could you do that to me!" Gran-Gran looked at the necklace, and then ran into the house crying. Pakku threw the necklace on the ground. "I should have never came in here!"

Katara and Aang nudged him into the house. They watch them start to argue. "Let's just let them catch up." and they both nodded, and left. "So, Katara, what do you think Pakku wants me to do?" she shrugged. "I don't know." Then they saw Sokka and Zana. They were arguing over something. "Hey! Hey! What's going on?" Zana and Sokka glared at each other. "HE is saying I was trying to steal! I was merely trying to see what fruit was the best for our trip! I was about to pay when he started saying I was a Fire Nation thief!"

"She had no intention of paying at all!" they growled. Aang blew them both apart. "Let's just put this behind us! It's in the past, and NO ONE will talk of it again!"
They both were steaming at each other.

They returned to the village. They went in the house, and found Pakku and Gran-Gran talking and remincing of the old days. Katara and Aang grinned at each other. "Looks like you guys are getting along fine!" Pakku looked up. "Kanna and I were just talking about when we were both friends. Aang, bed. You'll need your rest for tomorrow." Aang groaned impatiently. "What am I doing tomorrow! Why won-" "BED!" Aang slouched to bed, and Katara and Sokka and Zana followed laughing.

The next day, Aang got up and dressed. He went out and found Pakku and Gran-Gran talking. He snuck back in and went into the girls' room. Katara and Zana were laughing and giggling about something. "Um...hello?" Aang said hesitantly. They looked at him, and laughed harder. "What? Did I say something? Did I forget to wear my pants again?" They shook their heads.

"Just...get...out...we'll...be...out...in...a...second..." they breathed. Aang rolled his eyes, and went into the boys' room again. "Sokka! Get up!" He went and shook him. "Thanks for the wake-up call." he yawned. "Get dressed." Aang threw Sokka's clothes at him. Sokka got dressed and put his hair back. "Come on! Let's get the girls." They went into the girls room, and found them doing their hair. Zana looked at Sokka, and then Katara laughed crazily. Zana glared at her, and then whispered something in her ear, and Katara shut up quickly and returned to doing her hair. Sokka and Aang looked at each other and shrugged. The girls finished and they went out. Pakku had left, and Gran-Gran sat their drinking tea, with a weird smile on her face. She noticed the teens, and said, "Master Pakku is waiting for you, Aang, on the edge near the sea."

They all stood on the water's edge. Aang stepped forward. "Hello? Master Pakku! I'm ready for your...um, well whatever you want me to do!" They stood there when Master Pakku walked forward. "You didn't have to yell. I was behind you! Anyways, what you have to do is..." he looked at Aang. "You must have a Bao Bing Jue Dou with me." Katara gasped, while the others just looked confused. Aang asked, "What's a Bao Bing Jue Dou?" Pakku looked frustrated, "A water duel! Must I explain everything?" Aang gasped. "I have to have a Water Duel with you?"

Pakku sighed and rolled his eyes, "Yes! I just said that! Prepare to battle!" Pakku finally took his coat off. Aang approached. Pakku made the first strike, which Aang blocked with Airbending. Pakku stopped. "Uh-uh, no Airbending. What part of WATER duel don't you get! Let's start over." Pakku made the first strike, which Aang blocked. This continued for some time. "Ah! The typical Airbending evasive manuver. Come on, Aang! You need to FIGHT!" And on the last word, he sent up a huge storm of snow, which Aang had no choice but to fight back. Aang threw up the snow, swirled it around, and caused it close in on Pakku like a cage. "Not bad, not bad. I'm glad to see Katara has actually taught you something."

Pakku brushed off the cage and continued. They took turns striking. The battle was really long. They were both panting. It was easy to see if they didn't end soon, they both would pass out. "I was just warming up." Pakku did as much Waterbending as possible, but Aang threw it all back. Finally, Master Pakku collapsed. Aang stood over him. "Well, you were right." Pakku said, laying there. "You are now a Waterbending master."

Aang jumped in the air, "YES!" He ran over to Katara, and they hugged. They then let go, blushing, when Sokka and Zana started laughing. From out of nowhere, they saw Gran-Gran running towards them yelling, "PAKKU! Pakku! Are you alright? I watched the whole battle! You did wonderfully!" She helped him up. THey continued to hold hands, and they were both smiling. Katara and Sokka were looking at each other. "Gran-Gran?"

Gran-Gran smiled, and pulled down her collar. "You got a new necklace, Gran-Gran! That means..." Katara's eyes widened, and she stared at the both of them, "You two are getting married!" They nodded. "I've decided to take up Pakku on the offer he made me 70 years ago." "So whens the wedding!" "Tomorrow. Don't worry. We have been planning this all night. Everything's ready." Pakku said. "Katara, would you mind being my maid of honor?" She smiled and hugged her grandmother. "Of course, Gran-Gran." "And Aang, would you, urgh, be my best man?" Aang smiled and nodded. "Yes, Master Pakku." Sokka stepped forward, "So, that means that YOU are gonna be my new Grandpa!" They all laughed.

a little later

Aang is getting dressed as a honorary Water Tribe member. He was wearing a Water Tribe formal uniform. Sokka came and painted his face as a Waterbender (because he was!). Sokka was also dressed like this, but differently, because he was 1. not the best man and 2. a warrior. And then we see the girls. Zana is helping Katara get ready. She is wearing a beautiful Water Tribe gown. and her hair is done beautifully with ice crystal flowers she made herself. Zana is also a honorary member. She is also like Katara, but a different way because she isn't the maid of honor. Then we see Gran-Gran. She's dressed in a beautiful white gown. She has her hair done beautifully, and a veil with an ice crystal tiara. Then we see Pakku, dressed in Water Master formal. Then they all step out. IT's time to go to the wedding!

THe men all went to a beautiful area filled with ice crystal flowers. THey shimmered like diamonds. Pakku and Aang stood up by the altar, which was beautiful ice. Sokka stood in the back. The village came in and sat down. THe village elder came and stood at the altar. A villager played on his Water flute. It was used by Waterbending. Then Katara came down the aisle of snow. Aang's eyes widened. She was...so beautiful! She smiled at him, and stood on the other side. Then, everyone stood up. Sokka was escorting Gran-Gran down the aisle. She looked really beautiful. Pakku had tears glistening in his eyes. Then she came up and they took each others hands. The elder took them, as ritual, alone to a private location. It was considered bad luck for the vows to be heard by anyone else. They returned a little bit later. THey were now married. They all chanted the marriage chants, and the newlyweds were carried to their house. The last part was the wedding night. No one was allowed to see them until the morning. Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zana went and slept on Appa tonight.

Aang woke up. He saw something in the distance. He shook Katara up. "ZUKO! We need to leave! NOW!" Katara nodded. She woke up Sokka and Zana. "It's Zuko! We need to leave now so he doesnt harm the new city!" THey all nodded, though Zana looked like she really wanted to stay. "Yip, yip, Appa!" Appa raised up into the sky and they flew away. Meanwhile...

Zuko looked up. "THEY ARE CHANGING DIRECTIONS! MOVE! FOLLOW!" They changed directions. The village was safe.

"Gran-gran and Pakku, what about them?" Katara said, watching the little city in the distance. "We did the best thing, Katara." SHe nodded. Aang turned to face her. "You know, I think Zana hasn't met one of my good friends yet!" Zana looked up quickly, "I haven't?" Aang smiled, "Nope! We are heading to Omashu city!" Katara and Sokka looked at each other with scared looks. "Come on guys, he won't turn you into crystal this time!" Zana's eyes widened. "WHAT? He turned you into crystal!" THey all laughed.