Author's Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you. Oh and this is the "The Fortuneteller" episode/chapter. Sorry for the sudden changes!
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist. She is my buddy, a sister-figure, and a great person to talk to. This story is for you, WRA (a.k.a. Winter Rose Alchemist)! And to my: readers, reviewers, and friends.
-Unwritten Things-
"Must we come here?" Artymis asked in a murmur. She looked to Katara, who had an anxious face. She looked around to Sokka, a not-so-anxious face.
"Well," Katara started, "I just wanna see this Aunt Wu person."
"To see who she's gonna marry and how many kids she'll have." Sokka muttered angrily.
Katara stopped and glared at him over her shoulder, "No."
Sokka rolled his eyes, "Right."
"Enough," Artymis said sternly. Ever since they entered the village, they heard non-stop of a fortuneteller named 'Aunt Wu'. Artymis, still not recovering from her recent encounter with Prince Zuko, was not in a mood for fights or jokes. Artymis was back in her white outfit, and this time, she pulled on her gloves. She was glad she changed before her friends were completely well, because they would've asked why her kimono was ruined and torn and dirty. Artymis had thrown the kimono away, she decided it wasn't for her.
"What's up with you?" Katara asked.
"Nothing." Artymis muttered.
"Don't lie to me." Katara said.
Sokka caught up with the girls and turned to Artymis, "You haven't been yourself for two days. What's wrong?"
Artymis sighed. It was no point in hiding it now, she hid for a long time. "Well, I - "
"Duck!" Katara whispered, she pulled them to an alley.
"What's up?" Artymis asked. She was half glad that Katara and Sokka were off her case. But, she was half mad because she wanted to tell them badly.
Katara press a finger to her lips. She pointed around the corner. Artymis leaned forward and took a peak. Her emerald eyes widen and she press her back against the wall again. She was breathing hard.
"Geez, Artymis." Katara said, "I didn't know you be this panicked to see Zuko."
Artymis chuckled, but very uneasily. "Yeah," her voice was weak. She took another peak.
Prince Zuko and his uncle Iroh were coming out of a building. Zuko looked grim as always, but Artymis saw he had mixed emotions if you took a good look at his expression. Artymis could've sworn she saw a mixture of happiness and trouble in his expression. She watched him mumble something to his uncle. She felt her palms get sweaty, and she felt her heart beat faster. It skipped a beat when Zuko's eyes wander from his talking uncle to her eyes. Both of them held their gaze on each other. Artymis moved from his sight and press herself against the wall again.
"Did he see you?" Sokka asked in a whisper.
Artymis shook her head, "I don't think so." She whispered back.
"Take another look, see if he's still there." Katara said.
Artymis nodded her head, she took another one. She straighten up and looked around. Zuko and his uncle were nowhere in sight. "They're gone." Artymis whispered.
"What?" Sokka then moved Artymis, "Let me see!" He did. "Alright," he turned back to the girls, "we'll go to Aunt Wu and stay there for a while. So scar-head won't get us."
"Alright." Katara followed her brother as he walked back in the light.
Artymis started following them, when she stopped and looked around. She scanned her eyes around herself for Zuko. "I guess not." She muttered, and caught up with Sokka and Katara again. They passed barely passed the red doors when a voice said:
"Aunt Wu is expecting you." A man's voice said in a monotone. The group turned to see a white-haired man in dark clothing, standing in front of two red sliding doors. He extended out a welcoming hand towards the doors, "Please, come inside."
"Really?" Katara asked, surprised and astounded. "This is Aunt Wu's?"
"Yes."
The group entered and were greeted by a ten-year-old or so girl. She had dark hair in two braids and brownish eyes. When she smiled, one of her front tooth was missing. The little girl was wearing a pink kimono with purple lining.
"Hello, my name is Meng." The little girl said in a cheerful voice, "I am Aunt Wu's assistant. Here," Meng pointed at three cushions on the floor. "have a seat. Aunt Wu will be with you right away." The three friends sat down on the cushions, and the girl Meng ran to fetch some tea.
"I wonder why Zuko was here," Katara whispered.
"Maybe to see when he's gonna die." Sokka whispered back, "And he'll tell us, and we'll send him flowers."
Katara rolled her eyes, she looked to Artymis, "What do you think, Art?"
Artymis paused for a moment, "Maybe he wanted to see where we'll heading next." She guessed.
Sokka laughed, "Ha! Like that Wu lady would know!"
"Aunt Wu." Katara corrected him with a frown, "And you should at least look like you're enjoying yourself."
"But I'm not!" Sokka argued.
Artymis sighed as they argued back and forth, she wished Momo was here to make her smile. But, Momo stayed behind with Appa and Anduril.
You arrived to this fortuneteller's place safely? Anduril asked Artymis.
Yes, she answered as the girl Meng brought them three cups of tea. I can't believe though, I came!
Perhaps, Anduril explained, you like to know about... Zuko?
Artymis nearly pit out her sip of tea, but she swallowed it instead. Me wanna find out about Zuko? Artymis rolled her eyes, If I wanna know that - I would just have to ask you.
Anduril, Artymis could feel, made a small smile. Yes, that is true. But, you might want to ask about... His voice drowned.
Ask about what? Artymis asked, wondering where Anduril was getting at.
About... love?
Artymis felt her heart stop. She coughed, Anduril, you feeling ok?
I was just saying...
Anduril? Artymis interrupted.
Yes? Anduril responded.
Don't ever say that, please. Artymis begged. Oh, by the way, we did see him. He didn't see us thought - I think.
Anduril paused, Alright, be careful, he got back quickly on the love question, just wanted to see if my baby sister would be with the right man and she'll be happy -
I get the point, Artymis stopped and gave in, Fine, I'll ask about love - only for your sake!
I am satisfied, Anduril left her mind.
Artymis suddenly found herself wishing to see 'Shang'. Then again, she thought after a while, we didn't have a happy meeting last time. When I find him, I hope to we can be friends again.
Her thoughts were cut off when a old woman came before them in a yellow and white kimono. She had her gray hair up in a bun and a golden plate on her hair as a design. Her dull green eyes had a cheerful feeling in them. She spread her arms out, "Which one of you is next, dears?"
"Aunt Wu?" Katara guessed.
"Yes, correct." Aunt Wu said and she pointed to the room where she had just emerged from, "Would you like to go first?"
"Um..." Katara looked to Sokka, he shook his head, then to Artymis.
"I'll wait." Artymis said.
"Alright then." Katara got to her feet and walked behind Aunt Wu, the door closing behind them.
"She's desperate." Sokka said after five whole seconds.
"Maybe," Artymis muttered, she looked to Sokka. "I need to ask Meng something, I'll be back." She got to her feet.
Sokka looked up at her, "Or to see Zuko?" He lightly teased.
Artymis was walking away, when she sent a glare over her shoulder. "Of coarse not!" She said, she turned around and was out of Sokka's view. "He's a heart-breaker." She muttered under her breath.
Zuko stopped in his tracks when he was far from the village, he had just exited the building of the fortuneteller Aunt Wu with Uncle Iroh. He never expected Artymis to be in the village. He never expected seeing her for a few months. But when he saw her hiding in the shadows, Zuko felt a strange feeling again. He wanted to hug her, but he remembered
I need to talk to her, he thought
"Well, that lady was very nice." Iroh said, "And she had good tea."
"She wasn't much help." Zuko mumbled angrily.
"Why not?" Iroh asked him.
"She said so much crap about my future." Zuko said.
Iroh shook his head, "Well, tell me yours. And I'll be the judge of whether it's bad or wonderful."
Zuko sighed, "She said I will... faulnove." He made the last words sound very foreign.
Iroh rose an eyebrow, "I did not hear you, Prince Zuko."
Zuko grunted, "She said I would... fall in love."
This certainly brighten Iroh's day. He smiled very widely and made a warm laugh. "Prince Zuko, that is wonderful news!" He then asked, "Did she say who?"
Zuko shrugged, "She said I would fall for a powerful young woman. She said she would be difficult, but if we're both true, the love will work out."
"That is all?" Iroh asked, curious.
Zuko paused, "Yes." He lied.
Iroh pretended to sigh, "Well then," He turned back towards the village, "Let us go back and ask Aunt Wu."
"No!" Zuko panicked.
Iroh turned to him with a smudged smile, "Alright, tell me who this young woman would be."
"Why?" Zuko asked angrily, "It's not like it will happen!"
"I just want to see if my nephew will be with the right woman, and that he'll be happy." Iroh said, "And if I'll be a great-uncle."
Zuko lost it at the last sentence. "I"M NOT GOING TO FALL IN LOVE! LET ALONE HAVE CHILDREN!"
Iroh frowned, "Alright, alright." He then asked, "Tea back on the ship?"
Zuko grunted and marched back to the ship.
When he was out of earshot, Iroh muttered "That is what everybody says, even your father said that."
Artymis was walking down the hall when bumped into Meng. "Oh, hello Meng." Artymis said softly.
"Oh, hi!" Meng said.
"Um, can you tell me something?" Artymis asked in a low voice, Meng nodded. "Who was that young man with a scar?"
Meng paused, "Oh! Him!" She said a little too loudly, Artymis lowly shushed her down.
"Please, don't." Artymis begged quietly.
"Oh, sorry!" Meng whispered lowly, "Um, I heard Aunt Wu calling him Zuko, and the old man Iroh. Zuko said he was looking for a girl."
"A girl?" For some reason, jealously rose in Artymis. But she kindly asked, "Who, which girl?"
"Um..." Meng tried to remember. She snapped her fingers, "Oh! I forgot, I need to clean the closet!"
"Oh!" Artymis said, "I'm sorry!"
"No," Meng said, "it was me. Well, it was nice talking to you!"
"Nice talking to you too." Artymis said. She returned to her seat next to Sokka. She sat down and said, "I couldn't find her."
"Right." Sokka said again.
Artymis looked to him, "That's getting really old, you do know that, right?"
Sokka was about to argue when Katara came out, looking very happy.
"What happened?" Artymis asked her once Katara sat down.
"So much!" Katara said happily.
"Glad to hear it." Artymis whispered.
"What?" Sokka yelled, "You haven't even read my palm yet!"
"No one needs to." Aunt Wu said, she turned to Artymis. "You next, dearie."
She led Artymis to a room where there was a small fire in the middle, the basic color of the room was red. Reminding Artymis of blood and Fire Nation. She shivered and looked to Aunt Wu, who pointed to a seating cushion across her own seating place. Artymis sat across Aunt Wu.
"Pick a bone." Aunt Wu presented her a bowl of bones. "This is the most reliable method on fortune telling." Artymis nodded and picked a bone. She pulled out a normal-looking one from the bowl and showed it to Aunt Wu. "Throw it in the fire, now." Artymis did. "When there are cracks on the bone, I read them and tell you of your future and destiny."
Right, Artymis thought as she saw a large crack form on the bone. Suddenly, there were many different tiny pieces of the bones lying around. Artymis had a feeling what the lady would tell her.
"You will - I never seen this before - battle a great war between good and evil! A war which will - " Aunt Wu was cut off.
"Yeah, yeah. I know that." Artymis interrupted, "But, I..." Her voice drowned.
"What is it?" Aunt Wu asked.
"... Wanna know about love." Artymis manage to say. She felt stupid now.
Aunt Wu was taken back, "You want to know more about love than the war?" She asked, shocked.
"Actually, I know that war part." Artymis said.
A short pause.
"Oh." Aunt Wu said, "Well, let's see about love." She surveyed the tiny bone pieces. Her face changed.
"What?" Artymis asked, "What is it, Aunt Wu?" Please, tell me there's no love in my life! Please!
Aunt Wu answered her, "It says you'll going to be in love with a powerful young man. A young man who has already guarded and guided you."
"What?" Artymis muttered. "I don't get it."
Aunt Wu ignored her interruption. "It says here that you will have a strong bond of true love. And though there are troubles along the way, your heart will be happy as the pain is left far behind."
Artymis stared at her, "In other words... that means I have a true love in my life?"
"Yes," Aunt Wu said, "but beware, the bones say that misfortune will befall on the bond and only if both you and your true love are true, will the love survive. Otherwise - leading to that war - everyone's fate can be affected if the bond does work out or not."
Artymis nodded and asked, "Does it tell you who this young man is?"
"Apparently this man will have many skills, he may seem hard, but he is soft. And that's all." Aunt Wu said, when she turned to Artymis, Artymis had a tired expression. "Anything wrong, dearie?"
"N-no." Artymis said, she got to her feet, "Thank you, Aunt Wu." She got up and was about to walk away, when she felt a hand softly grasp her wrist. Artymis hair whipped around as she turned her head to see Aunt Wu staring at her right hand. "Wh-what is it?" Artymis asked.
"This ring..." Aunt Wu said thoughtfully.
"What about it?" Artymis asked, she had worn the ring over her gloves sothe ringstood out more.
"It will bring you misfortune." Aunt Wu answered.
Artymis claimed her hand back, "Yeah, I know that already."
(Later)
The group left Aunt Wu's building and started to look around as a break before journeying again. They stopped when they reached the villagers gathered in a small crowd.
"What's going on?" Katara asked a villager.
The villager turned to her and explained, "Aunt Wu is going to predict what kind of year it will be for us. And to see," he looked up to a volcano that oversaw the village. "if the volcano will erupt this year."
"Sounds interesting." Katara said.
"Oh it is!" He said.
Artymis nodded and turned on her heel, "Alright, let's go."
"I'm with you!" Sokka said.
Katara turned to them and asked, "Don't you guys wanna see Aunt Wu's performance?"
"I'll pass!" Artymis said, she wasn't in a mood to hear any fortune telling by Aunt Wu. She didn't want to believe about her love life, though a part of her wanted to believe. What Artymis really wanted to know was who was her true love. Not that I'm interested! she silently kept saying to herself.
"Oh please!" Katara clasped her hands together. Her eyes lit up, "Please?"
Artymis blinked. Katara really wants to see this, Artymis sighed. "Alright, we'll stay here - just for a couple of minutes!" She said bitterly.
"Oh, thank you!" Katara gave her a short hug.
Sokka's jaw fell and he nearly fell, "Art - why!" He cried.
Artymis didn't get to answer because Aunt Wu came passing by them. She stepped on a small square stone. She looked up to the clouds and she looked down at a chart. "It'll be a good year for crops. A good year for twins. And the village will not be destroyed by the volcano!" Aunt Wu announced, there was a cheer.
Artymis looked to Katara, "You saw what you wanted, now let's go." She turned on her heel.
"What?" Katara asked.
"Finally!" Sokka took his sister's hand and began to drag her. "Enough with this fortune telling!"
"But - but - " Katara started.
"No buts!" Sokka said over his shoulder.
"Ok, ok, ok, ok!" Katara said, "But can I please visit Aunt Wu for one second! Oh please?" Katara begged.
Artymis stopped.
"No, Art, no!" Sokka begged.
"Sokka," Artymis turned around, "Come on, let Katara have some fun."
Sokka sighed and Katara embraced Artymis. "Oh thank you!" She ran back to Aunt Wu's place.
"You just unleashed evil." Sokka said.
Artymis rolled her eyes, "Whatever." She muttered lowly, she looked up after a moment. "I'll be looking around." She said to Sokka.
"Be carefully, otherwise Anduril's going to kill me." Sokka joked.
Artymis made a very weak smile. "Yes, sir." She joked.
"Finally!" Sokka rose his arms, "The old Art is back!"
"I'm always back!" Artymis said, she walked away. She walked around the village and when she looked up from the ground, she gaped and his behind a building. Artymis' heart skipped a beat. He's here... again! she thought, and she took another peak around the corner. Prince Zuko was back in the village with his uncle. He was standing next to his uncle, as Iroh talked to Aunt Wu. Zuko was looking the other way.
Artymis hid behind the building again and she tried to think how she could walk around unseen by him. She sighed, Apparently I have to be secretive, or as Sokka calls it 'secret agent'! She took another peak and this time, came face-to-face with Prince Zuko. "Zuko." Artymis whispered.
Zuko just stared at her, and Artymis realized this time, it wasn't with hatred or anger. But with confusion and sorrow. She stared at him and balled her hand into a fist. With her fist, Artymis punched Zuko in his stomach. She felt bad afterwards when she knew it wasn't fair: Zuko didn't have any intention of harming her, but she did to him. "Sorry!" Artymis whispered and ran past him, and his uncle who had finished talking to Aunt Wu who left already. Artymis kept running and she came to a stop when she went in a circle in the village. She stopped when she saw Sokka.
"What's up with you?" Sokka asked her.
"Nothing!" Artymis lied, "Just thought I should run for exercise!"
Sokka rose an eyebrow, "Whatever you say, Art."
Zuko clutched his stomach in pain. Damn! he thought, She sure could punch hard! He opened his eyes.
"Prince Zuko!" Iroh came to his side.
"I'm fine!" Zuko gritted through teeth.
"No, you are not." Iroh said, "Come, let us return to the ship."
"No!" Zuko held up his hand.
"You are injured." Iroh protested.
"I am not!" Zuko stood up with his back straight, his eyes wince at the pain of stretching up. "The Avatar is here and I need to capture her - now!"
Iroh shook his head, "No, you are not. A man needs his rest."
"I don't need any rest." Zuko said, looking at his uncle.
Iroh sighed, "Zuko, please."
Zuko groaned, "Alright, but next time, I'm going to throw fire at her." He swore.
Iroh and him were walking out of the village. Iroh looked to his nephew, "What did you do to make her punch you?" He asked.
"Nothing." Zuko said.
Iroh rose an eyebrow, "You absolutely did nothing?"
"Yes, why?" Zuko asked.
Iroh shrugged, "You usually do something to make her attack you. Like insult her or try to attack her." Iroh shot a glance at him, "I'm surprised you didn't do anything to her."
"Why are you surprised?" Zuko asked in a low voice.
"Because you would usually do." Iroh then asked him, "Why didn't you?"
Zuko hesitated. He had no intention of attacking Artymis, and he knew she didn't. He wanted to talk to her, but she had acted too fast. "The ship is that way." Zuko ignored his uncle's question and walked quickly up to the ship.
Iroh frowned, "Enough secrets, Zuko, please."
The group returned back to their campsite and stretched out the sleeping bags.
"I can't believe you took for almost two hours with that lady!" Sokka complained, giving Katara a look.
"I did not!" Katara argued.
"Actually," Artymis said, "you kinda did."
"What?" Katara said.
"Ha!" Sokka pointed a finger at his sister.
"Artymis!" Katara looked to her.
"Sorry." Artymis apologized, leaving Sokka and Katara to their fight. She looked to Anduril and telepath him: I asked the fortuneteller about my love life.
And? Anduril asked, What happened?
She... Artymis paused for a moment. She said I would fall in love with a young powerful man. And that our bond will be true love, and when the troubles come, and if the we both are true, the bond will survive. She paused, She said that the man - I guess I already know him - guarded and guided me before and will in the future.
What? Anduril looked around, Where is he? He's stalking you now, huh?
Artymis smiled and hid a laughter, Calm down! I highly doubt he's here right now.
Hmph, Anduril laid his head back down, Just, watch out.
I will, Artymis said, then told him: Oh, and I hit Zuko.
Anduril's eyes lit up, Where? In the stomach?
Yes.
Darn!
What? Artymis asked him.
I was hoping you went for his face, Anduril paused then added, then again, his face needs no more damage.
Artymis held back a laugh, and scolded him. That wasn't very nice!
And laughing at it isn't nice? Anduril asked.
Alright, Artymis said. She looked over her shoulder, "You guys done yet?"
"Yes!" Katara said, obvious still mad at Sokka.
"Ok, then," Artymis smiled, "let's get some sleep."
Katara looked at her, "Glad to see you're back."
"I never was away." Artymis protested softly.
"It certainly felt like it." Katara said.
Artymis smiled, "You know you'll miss me even if I'm away for five seconds!" She joked.
"We be happy!" Sokka muttered, a small rock hit his head and he fell on his sleeping bag unconscious.
"I say we give Sokka the torture later." Artymis said.
"You're right!" Katara yawned. She laid on her sleeping bag. "Good night, Artymis."
"Good night," Artymis paused. "Kat."
"What?" Katara asked. "what's 'Kat' for?"
"New nickname." Artymis shrugged, laying on her sleeping bag.
"Oh," Katara said, "Well, good night, Art."
"Sleep well, Kat." Artymis aid, her eyes closed. Good night, Anduril.
Good night, little sister.
Artymis smiled and closed her eyes, she immediately fell into a strange dream...
(Later that Night)
"Artymis!" A pair of hands were shaking Artymis. She woke up with a start. She looked up to the sky and realized the sun was arising now.
"Wh-what happen?" Artymis asked, laying back down, "Did Momo eat our breakfast again?"
"No! Artymis, there's smoke!" Sokka's voice answered.
"What!" Artymis jumped to her feet and she looked up. Sure enough, there was smoke erupting from somewhere.
"Is it the village?" Katara asked.
"It could be," Sokka said, "Prince Zuko was there earlier. He could've - "
"No he didn't!" Artymis burst out. Her friends gave her a peculiar look, "He wouldn't because... he'll know we'll go after him and kill him!" Artymis made up.
"Ok." Sokka said, then looked up to the smoke, "We need to know if it is the village."
"What?" Katara asked, "you know how long it takes? It'll be completely burnt down if we go on foot!"
"Well, if we can fly!" Sokka argued.
"Anduril and I will go." Artymis volunteered, "We can fly there and we'll report back."
Katara and Sokka nodded. Artymis told Anduril what was going to happen, she saddled on him and looked back at her friends. "We'll be back!"
"Be careful!" Katara said, as Anduril sped off in the sky.
Anduril flew in the sky as fast a she could. It was difficult though, since there were black dust in the air. Making it difficult for Anduril to see. It made Artymis hard to breathe without worrying if there was some going in her mouth. She ducked her head and held onto Anduril. I can't believe I defended Zuko back there! she thought, remembering her recent outburst at the camp, Why did I do that?
Maybe - Anduril started.
You quiet, you have to concentrate on flying! Artymis wasn't in a mood to get advice on Zuko from Anduril.
Just saying, Anduril said.
Artymis thoughts drifted from Zuko when she and Anduril were close to the volcano. Her eyes grew wide when she felt heat, and she looked up. Aunt Wu was downright wrong. The volcano was active. Smoke was coming from it. Anduril, Artymis asked, Can we get a bit closer? We need to know if it's gonna blow soon or not!
I'll try, Anduril said. He tilted a bit and they got as close as they could.
Artymis used a bit of airbending and they managed to get even more closer. Artymis saw lava and it looked really, really, really hot. Artymis shut her eyes.
We need to go back, Anduril said and he made a u-turn and headed back to the camp. he landed and Artymis jumped off.
"What happened?" Sokka asked.
"It's not the village." Artymis said, "Aunt Wu was wrong, the volcano will erupt."
"What!"
"Until when?" Katara asked.
Artymis looked to Anduril, How long do you think it'll take for the lava to flow down?
About two days, maybe even three, Anduril answered, The volcano was probably getting active yesterday, and the most the lava will come down is two - possibly one.
We gotta act fast then, Artymis placed her hands on her hips. "Anduril said the most: two days, possibly three. But it can always erupt tomorrow."
"That's great." Sokka said with sarcasm.
"Yeah, it really is." Artymis said.
"We should go to the village." Katara said.
"I agree." Sokka said.
"Alright," Artymis said, "that means you'll going to have to ride on Appa."
"What about you?" Katara asked.
"I'll ride on Anduril." Artymis answered, "He and I will keep an eye out on the volcano."
"Sounds good to me." Sokka said.
"Alright then, Sokka and I will go warn the village and Anduril and Artymis will go to the volcano." Katara said.
Artymis nodded, "Let's go!" She said, she ran back to Anduril. Ready?
Anytime, Anduril said.
"See you in a bit!" Artymis said, "Good luck with village and be careful!"
"Aren't we suppose to say that to you?" Sokka asked, a smile on his face. He and Katara were already on Appa.
"My turn!" Artymis said, she turned back to Anduril, Let's go!
Alright! Anduril took off, Appa beside him. Soon, Appa and Anduril went their on paths to their different destinations. Anduril made his way flying over the rocks, and up to the volcano. While Appa landed nearby the village. Katara and Sokka jumped off of Appa and said good-bye. They rushed back into the village and Sokka ran on top of the stone that Aunt Wu stood upon yesterday.
"Everybody!" Sokka said loudly, "Aunt Wu was wrong! The volcano is going to erupt!"
The villagers who heard this, laughed. "Yeah, we all know you hate Aunt Wu." Someone from the crowd said. "Aunt Wu said the village wouldn't get destroyed!" Another said. "I heard her with my own ears!" Someone else yelled.
"Well, we saw the lava in the volcano with our own eyes!" Sokka shot back.
Katara rolled her eyes, knowing it would take a while. She, instead, stepped up. "Everyone, look up at the volcano!" She pointed up at the volcano.
Everyone did. "And?" A voice said.
Katara looked at them, "I wish Aunt Wu was right, but she isn't!" Katara said, "We all have to face the facts, I'm sorry!"
There were shouts from the crowd. Katara and Sokka sighed, it was going to take them a while.
"It looks like it's getting worst, Anduril!" Artymis said, squinting her eyes from the burning lava.
I know, Anduril said.
Great! Artymis said. She made a short scream when a lava ball shot right past Anduril. He moved, but with an ill presence. Anduril? Are you ok! Artymis held onto him.
Barely! Anduril replied.
We have to turn back, then! Artymis said, You won't live with these flying lava balls!
I'm sorry, Anduril said and made a swift u-turn.
Don't be, Artymis said. They flew back down, above the rocky ground. I hope Sokka and Katara have better luck than us, Artymis thought. They landed back, next to Appa. "I'll be back!" Artymis said over her shoulder.
Be careful! Anduril warned.
I will! Artymis replied back. She rushed into the village, and easily found Katara and Sokka at the entrance of Aunt Wu's building. "Please tell me you convinced the village!" Artymis said, stopping in front of them to catch her breath.
"No, we didn't." Sokka said.
"They still believe Aunt Wu." Katara said.
Artymis straighten up, "So, what do we do now? The volcano is throwing at more dark dust. Do you know how hard it is to breathe?"
"We know! We know!" Katara said, "But Sokka has a plan!"
"Ok, let's hear it." Artymis said.
"Ok, here's the plan..." Sokka began.
After hearing Sokka's plan, Artymis decided she should go in Aunt Wu's room. She went inside, since that white-haired man wasn't anywhere in sight. Sokka and Katara stayed outside, to keep watch and warn Artymis if anyone was going to go inside. Artymis entered the room where she and her friends had waited for Aunt Wu. She quietly walked towards the sliding doors, where Aunt Wu's stuff was. But when Artymis got close to the doors, she heard voices. She silently yelled, "No!" She quietly went up close to the doors, kneeled down, and pressed her ear against the door. She could tell who Aunt Wu was talking to.
"I see, your nephew, you think something is troubling him deeply?" Aunt Wu asked.
"Yes," Artymis heard Iroh's voice reply, "I don't know what, but apparently it must be big."
"Well," Aunt Wu said, "I have a method for revealing this sort of stuff."
"I had hoped you would." Iroh said.
Artymis listened intently, she wanted to know what made Iroh come to Aunt Wu for Zuko. And a part of her worried about Zuko. Artymis shook her head, No, I have to focus on what I need to do: Get Aunt Wu's chart! She tried to think of something. She turned around at the sound of soft footsteps.
It was Meng.
Meng? Artymis mouthed.
Meng nodded and pulled out a chart from behind her. You might want this. She mouthed back.
Artymis stared at her, How did she...? She stopped her thought and took it, Thanks, she mouthed back. Artymis smiled and quietly returned to Katara and Sokka. They turned to her when she emerged from the building.
"So?" Sokka asked.
"Got it!" Artymis said.
"Great!" Katara said.
"So, Katara and I will re-shape the clouds and Sokka, you get Aunt Wu out here and have her look at the clouds." Artymis said.
"Sounds good to me." Sokka said.
"Alright." Katara said, "Let's get in our positions."
Artymis and Katara ran back to Appa. Sokka waited where he was and looked up to the clouds for his signal. Katara and Artymis hopped on Appa, Anduril watched them take off and fly above the clouds.
"Since water and air are clouds combined," Artymis said, "A Waterbender and Airbender should do the trick!"
"Here's the sign for volcanic doom!" Katara said, showing Artymis the chart. "Let's get to it!"
The girls stood up on Appa's saddle and moved their arms in the same way. They began to re-shape the clouds and Appa flew in the clouds so the girls could make it their best.
Sokka burst in Aunt Wu's building and knocked on her sliding doors, "Aunt Wu! Aunt Wu!" He yelled.
"What is it, boy?" Aunt Wu opened the doors, Sokka didn't notice Iroh in the room, he was too busy trying to pursue Aunt Wu out of her room.
"Come outside!" Sokka said, "It's an emergency!" He pulled Aunt Wu out of her building and dragged towards the center of the village, where many villagers were gathered. "Look at the clouds!" Sokka pointed up towards the sky.
"What?" Aunt Wu asked, "There shouldn't be anything in the clouds - " She gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh my!"
The clouds had formed the sign for volcanic doom, a skull.
"But that's - that's not possible!" Aunt Wu said, "There shouldn't be any danger!"
"But the clouds never lie." Artymis came around with Katara, "And we need to act fast because the volcano is going to erupt."
"Sokka has a plan." Katara said.
"Right!" Sokka began explaining his plan to the village. "Any of you that are Earthbenders, follow Artymis," He pointed at Artymis, then to himself, "The rest of you bring a shovel and follow me."
Within an hour, the village had built a wall between the volcano and the village. The villagers returned to their village for safety. Artymis, Katara, and Sokka stood on top of the wall. Momo came and perched himself on Artymis shoulder. She turned and smiled at him.
"The volcano erupted a day earlier." Sokka whispered, looking up to the lava popping from the volcano like popcorn.
The group watched the lava escape from the top of the volcano and flow down the rocky ground. The lava got to the wall, but the group knew it wouldn't hold for long.
"It's not gonna hold!" Sokka yelled, shielding his eyes from the burning heat.
"He's right!" Katara was also shielding her eyes.
Artymis squinted her eyes from it, "But when things heat up, someone had to cool them down." She whispered and turned to Sokka and Katara, "Get out of here!" She yelled over her shoulder. Sokka and Katara jumped off and looked from below up to Artymis. Momo looked at Momo with his big green eyes. "You too, Momo." Artymis whispered. Momo made a low growl and flew off to Katara.
What's going on? Anduril asked.
I'm going to stop the lava, Artymis answered.
Artymis! Don't! Anduril said, Lava can't be stopped!
I have to try, Artymis said. She closed her eyes and began to move her arms and the wind acted out her intentions. She spun around and slashed her arms down. She breathed hard and opened her eyes right when the lava rose like a wave form the ocean and was about to jump over the wall. I don't think so! Artymis thought and she perform, more airbending tricks. She stopped when the lava wave was turned to hard rock. She lower her arms down and breathed slowly.
"You know," Sokka said, looking at the hard-rock lava, "I forget what a powerful bender that girl can be."
Katara nodded, "Yeah, it's kinda hard to think sweet and caring Artymis did all that."
Artymis jumped down and walked up to her friends, "Is everybody ok?" She asked, out of breath.
"Yeah."
The group looked up to the sky when the dark clouds disappeared, and the sky brighten up. The group smiled and returned to Aunt Wu at the village's center along with the other villagers.
"I hope this all taught a lesson to everybody to not rely on fortune telling too much." Sokka announced.
"But, Aunt Wu's prediction was right," A man said, "the village wasn't destroyed."
Sokka glared at him, "I hate you." He muttered.
"Calm down, Sokka." Katara grinned.
The villagers began to leave, and Artymis went up to Aunt Wu. "May I ask you something?" She asked.
Aunt Wu nodded, "Anything, honey."
"Did you just say all that love stuff, 'cause I wanted to hear it?" Artymis asked, "Or was it because it's true?"
"Let me tell you something, young lady." Aunt Wu said, "I did indeed see love in your future, but it matters to you if you want to be with him. If you want to take a chance at a happy ending. It's all in your hands." Aunt Wu paused, and continued. "I don't see everything. There are things that can't be determined. Unwritten things. It's all up to you, if you want a life of love or independence."
Artymis smiled weakly, "I think I get it."
"And remember: all the pain and suffering, and confusion, can lead up to the most beautiful and happiest ending of your life." Aunt Wu said.
"Thanks, Aunt Wu." Artymis said.
"Anytime," Aunt Wu said. "Oh, and by the way!" Aunt Wu said, "A young man came looking for a girl by your name. Your name is Artymis, right."
"Yes, why?" Artymis asked.
"I can't remember his name," Aunt Wu said gravely, "but he wanted you to return to your camp, I believe."
Artymis' heart lifted. She had a feeling it was 'Shang'. She smiled brightly, "Thank you, Aunt Wu!" She embraced Aunt Wu.
"Your welcome, dearie." Aunt Wu said.
Artymis ran and passed Sokka and Katara, "We gotta go!"
"What?" Katara and Sokka chorused.
"Come on!" Sokka and Katara ran after Artymis.
Artymis could feel a smile on her face and she picked up speed.
"Art - SLOW DOWN!" Sokka yelled.
"Artymis, what's going on!" Katara asked.
"I need to see for myself!" Artymis yelled back. She soon was running far faster than her friends, mostly because she was running with the wind. She arrived before any of her friends, even though Appa and Anduril were flying to the camp too, but they weren't there. Artymis breathed and looked around. "Hello?" She called out, "Is anybody there?" There was no response. Artymis sighed, she was hoping 'Shang' would be here. But out of the corner of her eye, Artymis saw something lumpy in her sleeping bag. She rushed over there and pulled off the blanket.
A Panda Lily was lying on her pillow.
Artymis blinked and picked it up. She stared at the black and white petal lily for a second and looked around. She turned her face back to the Panda Lily and smiled. She pulled a lock of her brown hair behind her ear and placed the lily there. She smiled again and looked up when a breathless Sokka.
"What's the - what's the - " Sokka tried to ask, " - the - the big - big idea?"
"Oh, just wanted to see if out camp was still safe." Artymis lied, turning away as she smiled.
Sokka groaned, "WHAT!" He yelled, "YOU MADE US RUN ALL FORM THE VILLAGE HERE!"
"Hey, Katara!" Artymis waved, changing the subject.
Sokka looked up and his jaw fell. "Katara!" He yelled.
Katara, being smart, took a ride with Anduril, Appa trailing behind. "Sokka, I told you." She said.
"No, you didn't!" Sokka said.
"Oh, yes, I did!" Katara said.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
What happened? Anduril asked Artymis, ignoring the siblings' argument.
Artymis smiled, I just got a flower.
Anduril saw the Panda Lily, I have to start an investigation... He began to say.
Artymis laughed softly and smiled, I wonder how Shang knew I was here, she thought, looking up to the sky. But then again, there are... Unwritten things.
Prince Zuko saw Artymis pick the Panda Lily he left her up, and place it in her hair. He wanted to come out and talk to her. He wanted desperately to talk to her, but he didn't get to, when her friend suddenly came. Instead, he walked back to his ship. And just in time too, he reached there and a few seconds later, his uncle was there.
"Did you went to go see that fortuneteller?" Zuko asked him, as they walked on the ship's deck.
"Yes, I did." Iroh answered, "And you?"
"I stayed here." Zuko lied.
"Well, I'll go make ourselves some tea." Iroh said. Pity, I didn't get a chance to know what is bugging Zuko, he thought.
"I hate tea." Zuko said, and looked to the ocean. I hope she takes that Panda Lily I've given her as a replacement for the rose I destroyed, he thought, And I hope she can see the little things that I've done for her, and still will do.
Author's Note: I changed my mind, this chapter was that "The Fortuneteller" episode. The next it that "Bato of the Water Tribe" episode, then that "The Deserter" episode, then the "The Northern Air Temple" episode. And hopefully the one after that one is one of my own. We'll see. But I hope you like this chapter, I managed to upload this episode on YouTube! -lol- I love Anyways, I kinda had a challenge on this one. When Artymis would have Aunt Wu read her fortune, I had to make it seem not too obvious that her lover would be Prince Zuko. The same with Zuko. And that Panda Lily, when I saw that scene with the woman and the man, I had that idea at the end. If Aunt Wu rememebr the boy's name, aka Zuko, Artymis would be tearing that rose apart. But that was sweet of Zuko to give her a Panda Lily to replace her own, I thought it was. And I did change chapter names again, sorry! Anyways, I like to hear what you all have to say.
Firework: They're slowly figuring it out. Dang, they're slow! Well, we'll see how things change a bit in that "Bato of the Water Tribe" episode, the next chapter. Artymis is gonna do something very, very unexpected.