A/N: Sorry I took so long to update. This one's a bit longer than the last. Be happy.
Disclaimer: Note that the name of the site is FANfiction? That should pretty much be self-explanatory.
The Engagement Necklace
The canoe sliced through the calm waters silently, like some unnoticed little seal seeking a fish for an evening meal. But what the one moving the canoe forward did not long for a meal nor a fish; no, she yearned for freedom, a kind of liberty that few women of the world had. But she would find that freedom, and come to teach any sons she had to respect women as equals.
She plowed the paddle into the glazed-over water, with each stroke getting closer and closer to freedom. What would happen once she reached the nearest Earth Nation town?
Musing all the possibilities, Kana finally decided to stick to one plan. She would disguise herself as a nomadic non-bender with affiliation to none of the four Nations. Traveling the world, she'd meet new people, see new places, tell stories of the Ancient Times for money or take up odd jobs here and there. And people would start to speak of the Woman of No Nation, the one who was perhaps a spirit, alerting the people of the world of stories long forgotten, when peace reigned.
All she'd ever heard were stories. Kana had never known peace. War was always occurring, men dying, people going into hiding. It was normal. But it was scary. The war had already been going on for twenty-four years when she'd been born.
She noticed ripples in the water, and raised an eyebrow. Kana looked up and scanned the horizon. First, she saw nothing. But then—it only took a few minutes to see the massive black hulks of metal in the distance. And that only meant one thing.
Fire Nation.
Lost, drained of any emotion, Kana wondered if she should go back and notify the city of the looming danger. But the ships were so close and she was so helpless—her efforts would be in vain if she were to head back to the city. So, she paddled as quietly as she could into the shadow of a tall iceberg and prayed to the Ocean Spirit and the Moon Spirit and the gods of no names, who had been lost to her culture for many, many years.
But her mother had told her wonderful stories of the Spirits, of the gods of no names, of great men and women and heroes who led the Northern City or those who saved some unnamed Earth Kingdom town. Stories of the Ancient Times, foolish idolatry that fascinated her all the same.
The black ships moved slowly but consistently through the Waters, on a course for the Northern City. Kana knew that the Fire Nation wouldn't attack during the night, for the moon was out, and that was when the Waterbenders were at their strongest.
Oh. Oh. How terrible it would be if the Firebenders harmed all those innocent people. She'd could let that happen. She was the only one around who could stop the fiery, vengeful Firebenders. She would stop them, even if it took her life.
For then, she would join those famed heroes and heroines of the Ancient Times; stories would be told about her selflessness, about how she was so oppressed but instead took destiny into her own hands.
Kana would become a legend.
Getting onto the ship hadn't been easy. She'd waited for the perfect moment, carefully following the small fleet. The fleet had stopped a bit ago, and a few of the men had gone out in a lifeboat to fish. They'd had difficulty seeing, but Kana could see all; the moon shown with brilliant life tonight, lighting up much of the world.
When the men fishing turned their backs, she swam quietly to the edge of one of the ships and dragged herself up the side of the ship with the aid of a rope—the same rope that had let down the lifeboat. She found a spare spear and cut the rope so that it fell to the cold, clear ocean below, trapping the fishing men in their little lifeboat.
The Spirits and the gods of no names had been with her so far. She felt that it had been destiny she'd chosen tonight of all nights to make her great escape. Paku's proposal had been the last straw.
Stealth came easily to Kana that night under the smiling moon. I am Tui the Luminescent, pronounced the moon in its brilliance, And I light the entire earth with aid of my friends the stars.
Likewise, the ocean reflected the moon's brilliance. I am La the Endless, and I shall swallow up all of my enemies, proclaimed the sparkling ocean.
She reveled the brilliance of both Tui and La, sending a prayer to each. Kana crept then into the labyrinth of the black ship, thanking Tui for her light and La for his kindness.
Day broke bright and early on the Northern City. The sky framed the flaming red sun that demanded the attention of all that looked upon the world. It was in this flaming red sun that Yogota saw only anger and hate, so opposed its counterpart the moon, who was ever so bright and beautiful. In that sun, Yogota saw daylight determined to reveal Kana as she escaped. It was an evil thing, the sun, and she cursed it.
"Yogota!" called a loud, full voice. Yogota turned around. It was Paku.
"Yes?" she asked indifferently, knowing what Paku was going to ask. Yogota averted her eyes to the ground, determined not to give Kana's secret away.
"Have you seen Kana? She never came home from what her parents told me and I haven't seen her at all. I don't know what happened to her, if anything did."
Yogota clenched her teeth together, burning holes in the snow on the ground with the intensity of her gaze of determination. "No," she stated quietly, hoping it was enough, that Paku would leave her be.
"Oh," Paku responded. But it wasn't really a response. More of a moan of genuine sorrow. Yogota curled her toes in her boots, trying her best to not speak more than she needed to. It was so difficult to deceive someone that was honest in his motives. She was beginning to hate herself for lying to him. The only one she'd ever loved.
What? No. He is Kana's. But Kana does not wish to be his. And I will not give Kana away. Friendship is worth more than a petty little crush.
It was hard to deny herself the only person she loved (besides Kana), but she would do it. She was strong. Yogota could hold back, and let it pass.
Father was a fool to say that I am weak and unfit to keep his name until I marry, thought Yogota, angered, He was wrong. He was so wrong, as wrong as how much he wronged me. Cast out and living in the streets, that petty little Yogota? Hardly, Father, hardly.
"Yogota?" inquired Paku, calling Yogota back to reality and out of her musings. Yogota met his eyes and kept eye level with him.
"What?" she asked.
Paku stared at her for a moment, getting a suspicious look in his eye. But it passed. "Nothing," he responded, turning away and walking off.
He turned his head to look at her while he strode off.
Yogota still kept eye level with him. Her eyes wouldn't betray her because she was strong. And she wouldn't betray Kana because their friendship was strong.
The young man stared out over the sea, the brilliant dawn reflecting in his glowing golden eyes. He turned around, searching for a companion to speak with. He found a tall man dressed in Firebender armor, motioning for the man to come over.
"Captain," acknowledged the crewman.
The young man with the gold eyes stared into the mask of armor over his crewman's face. The crewman was a great deal taller than he; but on the social ladder, the golden-eyed man was by far much taller. "Have you found anything yet as to why the ships have stopped?" asked the young man, desperately hoping for some reasonable answer to the situation at hand.
"Captain, sir," acknowledged the crewman once again, "Lieutenant Yagos suspects that the engines were damaged. The door to the engine room is jammed shut. Men are attempting to break down the door as we speak."
The young man, the Captain, frowned. He was trying to think of a solution for the predicament; ever-optimistic, jovial, and wise beyond his sixteen years, the Captain was someone that the entire fleet looked up to. Normally, people of the Captain's social status did nothing with their lives but sit around and enjoy the greatest luxuries money could buy. But already the Captain had contributed much and was a great asset to the Fire Navy.
"And do you know why the door is jammed shut?" inquired the Captain.
The crewman smiled, glad to finally give the Captain some valuable information. "Yes, sir; the lock and hinges appear to be frozen."
The Captain raised an eyebrow. "Frozen?"
"Yes, m' lord."
"And have they tried melting it?"
"Yes, they have sir. The ice is different from normal ice—one of the men got a burn from touching it."
The Captain pondered the oddity even more, and then something came to him. "Burning Ice," he said simply. "It had to be a Waterbender—no one else can handle such a thing as Burning Ice."
Eyebrow raised, the crewman seemed genuinely confused. Burning Ice? He'd only heard of it once, in a fairytale where the Fire Lord's daughter had been locked away in a castle with a door of Burning Ice, and whoever rescued the Princess would have her hand in marriage.
How had that tale ended? A young non-bender peasant had saved the Princess by—
"I've got it!" exclaimed the Captain, excited. "Douse the Burning Ice in water and it will melt! Yes, that should work."
The crewman nodded to his superior, amazed at the young man's intellect. He really was something else, the young man who commanded the entire four-ship fleet. The crewman watched as the Captain waved him on, grinning in triumph and pride and joy.
A shadow crossed the corner of his eye, concealed behind the dark shade of the tall upper tower of the ship. He turned, trying to see who it was, but there was nothing there. No one there? But—what, a shadow again? Slipping down into the water with but a miniscule splash—
"Sir!" bellowed the crewman, "There is an intruder escaping from your ship. Sir, sir! We must catch the intruder, quick—the intruder might be the one that destroyed the engines—sir!"
The Captain whipped around into Firebending stance, eyes scanning the deck. He noticed a shadow in the water, and dove in after it.
The shadow swam underwater at a rapid pace, hard for the Captain to keep up with. He spotted a lifeboat full of sleeping Firebenders holding a few fish, and past that, a canoe. That was where the shadow was headed—the canoe.
"Hey! Wake up!" shouted the Captain, and the Firebenders in the lifeboat started. "After the canoe," he ordered, hopping into the boat.
"Captain!" squeaked one of the younger Firebenders, surprised.
"Go!" yelled the Captain, and quickly the men plunged their oars into the water. The chase was on.
Kana heaved herself into the canoe, breathing heavily. So much Waterbending after two years of no practice had taken its toll on her, and rather quickly. Burning Ice was difficult to make, and she struggled with Waterbending Basics. Such a great amount of energy she'd put into creating the Burning Ice. She hoped it wasn't in vain.
She heard oars slashing into the crystalline waters that reflected the red horizon. Becoming worried, she punched the water and propelled her canoe forward, away from her pursuers. Kana inhaled deeply, sucking in as much air as she could. She felt so weak—vaguely, she reached for the paddle, thinking that she wouldn't use Waterbending for a while—but, she was so weakened, so tired—
Kana barely thought of anything but how tired she was as the world faded to black.
