Chapter Eighteen
They all crowded into the armor room in silence. Zuko began handing them varies pieces of armor and weapons. There didn't seem to be a lot less since she had last seen it during training when she had masqueraded as a soldier. She wondered if the others had tried to sabotage it since they had been working for Zhao. It seemed so long since she had been here in disguise, like it was just a dream. She ran her fingers along the scar on her cheek to remind herself that it had not been. She looked up as she realized that Zuko was talking.
"Here, there's not much left but we have enough armor to serve as basic protection and some weapons. Before we go, however, I think you should all know exactly what this thing is that Zhao wants and what it can do." He gestured at some empty crates that were lying scattered on the floor. "Sit down. This could take a while." He walked over and sat on one. Katara followed him and sat down across from him. Sokka and Aang hesitated then finally walked over and sat down, Sokka by Katara and Zuko beside Aang.
"So what does this thing do?" Aang burst out, never one to be able to stand suspense for long. "Where did it come from? How will Zhao use it? What-"
"Alright, alright, I'm getting there." Zuko said, holding up a hand to stop the ambush of questions Aang was throwing at him. "Let me start at the beginning. This artifact, I've never actually seen it myself but I've heard enough about it from important Fire Nation officials to know that there is a good chance it exists. About one hundred and fifty years ago, it was created to help the four tribes, water, earth, air, and fire, to live in peace. They each gave up a sacred artifact so that it could be made and if any of the four tribes became to powerful then the other three would activate it and that tribe would be left powerless, all their benders would lose their skills. It was a very powerful item and had to be guarded so that it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"Yeah, and look how well that worked out." Sokka muttered.
Zuko glared at him and continued, "The Fire Nation was to guard it first. After ten years they passed it to the Water Nation. Then the Water Nation passed it to the Earth Nation and finally the Earth Nation passed it to the Air Nation, or the air benders which were led by the Avatar. When it reached the Fire Nation for the second time, however, rumors were spreading that the Water Nation was planning something. The tribes grew restless and began to suspect that the others would activate it without cause. The Fire Nation began to see that the other tribes were weak and that they would all be destroyed if something wasn't done. So they changed the artifact to destroy the Avatar and leave him powerless so they could take over and rule. Otherwise no one would be left. When it was time, however, the Avatar disappeared so there was no need for it. The Water Tribe insisted that the artifact be given to them. That was not possible so there was a battle which the Fire Nation won. After that the war that has been raging for one hundred years now was begun. The artifact was hidden in the temple and forgotten over time but now Zhao is going to try to activate it again. He has to have artifacts from the four tribes to reactivate it and now he does. That's why we must stop him because he could bend it to his will and destroy not just the Avatar but all of us." Zuko stopped and looked at the rest of them. They sat there, looking at him in silence. Katara was thinking about what he had said. A battle between the Water Tribe and the Fire Nation. She thought sadly How can I ever be with him when our people are threatening each others lives a hundred years later?
"Let's do this then." Aang said, in a voice that was far more serious than normal. Katara looked at him and felt like she was seeing him for the first time. For such a young kid, he's grown so much.
"Fine." Zuko stood up and the four of them finished putting on their armor. "It took four groups to start this, four people can finish it." With that he turned and they followed him on deck as the island loomed ever closer.
A/N: Yes I know, it was short. I'm hard at work on the ending, I think there will be two more really long chapter and then an epilogue. I hope you like at and I hope the ending lives up to your expectations. Please tell me if there are any last minute details/events/whatever that I'm forgetting and I'll try to work them in. Thanks!