Chapter 5: Preparation Banishment
….
Sokka looked at Katara and Aang with an angry look in his eyes. His hand tightly gripped the whale-bone spear in them. Katara had never seen her brother angrily like this.
"Katara, you know just how dangerous it is to go on that ship," Sokka explained with an eerie calm voice, "Right now any Fire Nation ship close by that has seen it will be on alert because of it. Soon we will be having some Fire Nation soldiers visiting us no doubt."
The young waterbender's heart froze in fear and her face contorted in fear. She remembered the last time Fire Nation came to the Southern Water Tribe… they had killed her mother.
"It was all my fault, Katara had nothing to do with it!" Aang came to her defense, "I was the one who convinced her to take me to the ship."
Sokka frowned at that, truthfully he didn't mean to hurt his sister with words so much. He didn't have Sokka's memories so to him any mention of his mother will get the same emotional response as if you told him that a woman on the other side of the world died… complete indifference.
"I understand that," reasoned Sokka, "But Katara should have known better."
Gran-Gran looked at her grandson with surprise, not expecting the young man to handle such a situation with a calm mind. She half expected Sokka to blow up on Aang and Katara.
"Sorry…" said Katara as she looked down in shame.
Sokka nodded and observed Aang, for the first time, the Airbender felt like there was more to Sokka than his dry sarcasm and jokes.
"Aang, I am sorry but we can't have someone like you around," he said while maintaining eye contact with the Airbender throughout the whole ordeal, "I hope you understand, you just put our tribe in big trouble. So I have to ask you to leave. At least for now, if the Fire Nation found out that we were sheltering an air nomad… I don't know what they might do to our tribe. We are currently in a bad position, so I hope you don't take this the wrong way."
"I understand, I will leave." Aang seemed distraught as he turned around to leave.
"Hey! Sokka, don't act like that." Katara came to Aang's defense. "He didn't know that would happen."
"You did." He snapped at her, "Katara, are you so naive as to forget what happened the last time the Fire Nation attacked us!"
"If you are kicking Aang out, then I am going with him to the North to find a waterbending teacher." She insisted, her eyes resolute as she walked towards Aang. But Sokka could see through her like a hawk.
"Katara, are you going to choose him over your family?" Sokka frowns. This immediately stopped the young waterbender and caused her to turn around.
Sokka understood that while Katara was at an age where she could be a little rebellious, he knew that she would stand with her family.
"Sorry," Aang apologized, "Katara, I don't want to get between you and your family."
-Sokka POV-
Watching Aang walk away, I couldn't help but sigh. I didn't want to do something like this, but it was needed. Normally I would be worried for any village who dared house the Avatar, but Zuko isn't necessarily evil and even if he was, Iroh would hold him back.
Katara seemed like she wanted to say something, but I only put a hand on her shoulder and shook my head. Leaning closer to her I whispered. "Don't worry, we will find him later. But this was needed to be said in front of the others in case the Fire Nation decides to investigate the light that shot up when Aang was freed."
She seemed excited when she heard that and hugged me tightly. "Thanks, Sokka."
"Not in front of the others!" I whispered back to her. Anyway, I needed to find some weapons, both to handle Zuko and the future. Because a fish-bone spear won't be enough.
I looked towards the direction of the Fire Nation ship because while abandoned, that place had weapons, I am 100% sure of that.
Looking at the children of the village, and the worried faces of the adults I couldn't help but sigh.
"Everyone, please go outside of the village for a bit. I will meet the Fire Nation here." Telling them that, everyone looked worried at me. I smiled at them reassuringly. "Don't worry everyone, I will protect you all."
"Sokka…" Tiga looked at me worryingly, "Let's just all stay away for today. Who knows… After all, we could just pack our tents and move to a new place."
This was the lady which I provided fish, meaning that her opinion of me must be higher than most of the other village people. Even though they all probably have a close relationship with me, such a small group must have everyone look after each other.
Still, I knew that they know just how fearsome the Fire Nation is, and I would probably run away with them if it was any other ship that would visit this place. After all, they killed people for breakfast, in no way would I want to get involved in this.
"Don't worry Tiga, I am not going to get hurt," I remarked while having a confident smile on my face. I knew that they would be worried anyway, but I also knew that showing them a confident smile and making myself seem like I know what I am doing will inspire confidence. Because that is what a leader does, act like he knows what he is doing even when he doesn't. Sure, I might be confident in my plan right now, but who knows… there were still many things that could go wrong.
….
When everyone left, I went towards the Fire Nation ship and understood something as soon as I got there… How the hell am I gonna get inside? Aang and Katara did so with the former's airbending, but me? I don't have any bending.
So with that in mind, I took out two knives from my inventory and started climbing the iceberg that surrounded it.
[You have got a new skill: Climbing]
The skill offered me a 5% increased speed in climbing while the skill was at level 1. A very useful skill, but I probably won't level it up too much since I have a plan to level up a skill that would help me in fights.
…
…
It took about fifteen minutes to climb up the ship and about five to get everything that I needed. During this, I also got three new skills.
[Trap Detection (Passive) Lvl 1 Exp: 1.0%]
[A skill that helps detect traps within a 1-meter radius.]
[Sense Danger (Passive) Lvl 1 Exp: 1.3%]
[A natural survival instinct. It allows the user to sense when a bad thing might happen. The higher the skill level, the earlier it can sense danger. Currently can sense danger 0.1 seconds before it happens.]
[First Aid (Passive) Lvl 2 Exp: 89%]
[A technique to administer first aid. With greater mastery, you can do so to any creature with different body types. 10% increase in first aid admission speed.]
At the end of it, I got some spears, a couple of swords, and two bows. That behaviour lasted till I remembered that I have something called Inventory... and took every damn thing in here. Fireworks? Weapons? Fishing equipment? Boats? Maps? Armour? Yep, I took every single thing that I got my hands on.
At the same time I learned Bow Mastery and Sword Mastery skills by swinging a sword and shooting a bow.Which at level 1 weren't useful, but I still planned to level them up in the future.
Currently, the only skill I was going to concentrate on leveling up would be Spear Mastery because it was the best combat skill available to me that offered both long-range, short-range, and damage attacks. One can just throw a spear and it will become long-range. Also, they are easy to make.
If I had more time, learning other skills would be useful too, but sadly I am in a rush, I need to raise this skill to at least Level 90 before Sozin's Comet or else…
Sadly I didn't find any firebending scrolls… which was a shame because I wanted to try and see how bending would have partaken with the Gamer Interface. Would I be able to learn all four elements? Was there some limit? Or maybe conditions need to be fulfilled?
[Your Intelligence in increased by 1]
[Your Wisdom in increased by 1]
Hm? Oh, I see, so thinking about the future, planning and learning new things seem to increase my intelligence and wisdom. Well, these stats will need to be increased a lot too. Because there was one huge difference between me and Han-Jee Han. Because he needed points to increase his intelligence. I am unlike him, I like to plan the future very carefully and contemplate my actions, and as a 'Game Character' doing something like that would increase my intelligence anyway.
Chapter 6: Zuko
….
Zuko looked at the sight of the village in front of him with foreboding. Finally he felt like his journey had come to an end and he could find the avatar. Currently he was wearing fire nation armour and a red fire nation helmet that showed his face.
He could feel it in his body, finally the time for him to fight the avatar had come. Though he would never admit it outside, he still felt nervous. Because while the Avatar might be an old man and a coward unwilling to fight the Fire Nation, he still was a master bender, likely having mastered all four elements already.
"Zuko, you should rest, we are almost there now." Iroh's wise words rang through as he sat on a stool behind the prince. He was here just in case he needed to interfere and save Zuko too. Because the man known as the Dragon of the West wasn't confident in beating the Avatar at full power, even with his lighting. But he was sure that he could save Prince Zuko, even at the cost of his life.
"No uncle, I have no need for rest. Especially on this glorious day, it will be known in the future as the day I gained my honour back and caught the Avatar." Zuko's words made the old general sigh, not in disappointment, but in sadness as Zuko could lose his way.
This nephew of his was unguided and partook in a fate predetermined by someone else. Just like Iroh had when he was younger. He too had followed his father's orders and tried to take Ba Sing Se, partaking in a fate that he hadn't chosen. It took losing his son to understand something like this.
…
As the ship broke through the iceberg and let down the front rover of it, creating a landing platform. Zuko walked ahead confidently with two firebenders by his side.
Iroh just looked at this from above and frowned once he saw a young man around Zuko's age standing calmly in the middle of the village with a spear in his hand.
The old general immediately felt something was off about the young man. He was too calm, not even a ripple was happening in his Chi with an unreadable and calm look on his face.
The ship itself seemed like a giant goliath in front of this small village, yet the young man wasn't protruded at all. This brought worry to Iroh, because calm people like this were the worst opponents for someone like Zuko, who let his emotions rule his bending.
"How may I help you fine gentlemen?" Sokka asked calmly as Zuko and his soldiers landed on the snow.
"Tell me where the Avatar is!! Where are you hiding him?!!" Zuko demanded, the young man unable to control his feelings at the moment. He was so close to completing his mission, he could feel it.
"Avatar?" Sokka raised an eyebrow questionably, "He has been gone for a hundred years. Why would he be here?"
"I know you have him!! Where is he?!!" Zuko snapped as he pulled his fist backwards and shot flame towards Sokka. But the latter only twirled his spear, which had a three pronged tip and casually guided the flames to the side, hitting the snow harmlessly.
"You done?" Asked Sokka nonchalantly.
"Agh!!" Zuko yelled in anger, getting ready to shoot a torrent of fire at Sokka, but before that could happen Iroh hand appeared in front of his nephew and dismissed the flames, scattering around till they sizzled out.
"Prince Zuko, you must stay calm in this situation. Because the better fighter is never angry." Advised Iroh, giving a side glance to Sokka and saw the young man's hidden knife. If Zuko had attacked again, who knew where that knife would be sticking in.
Zuko took a deep breath at this and calmed himself down. "Sorry uncle, I lost control there."
"Your mind is like water Prince Zuko, when it becomes agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear." Iroh's sage-like advice rings through.
Even Sokka is taken aback by this. "You really give some good advice old man."
Iroh smiles at him. "Well, the only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself."
[Your Wisdom has increased by 1]
Sokka looked at the notification that appeared in front of him and wished he had his own uncle Iroh. His Wisdom would increase like crazy.
But he dismissed that thought and decided to go on with his plan. "Anyway, old man, and… Zuko right?"
"Prince Zuko." Corrected the banished prince.
"Okay, Zuko, so how about we talk about this calmly. I understand that you need to find the Avatar, but we have no old man who can use the four elements in this village of ours. As you can see, we barely have anything in here." Sokka pointed towards the tents and the igloo in the middle. "I have already evacuated the people, since the last time the Fire Nation came… they killed my mother and many other people."
Iroh looked at the calm young man with a pitying look. "We understand, there will be no attack on the village as long as you give us any information on the Avatar and the bright beam of light that shot out recently."
"Sokka!" That was when Katara ran in and rushed towards Sokka, she had seen the giant ship and had decided to come and make sure that her brother was okay.
"Katara?" He looked at her surprised. "Why are you here?"
"Sorry, I was just worried." She cried while burying her head on his chest.
-Sokka POV-
I sighed at Katara's antics and patted her head. "C'mon now sis, don't be a crybaby."
"I was worried, you idiot!" She yelled out and hugged me.
I looked at Iroh and Zuko, the former had a smile on his face while the latter seemed to start getting angry again.
But still, with Katara here, my plans just changed again. Originally I was just gonna say that I don't know anything about the Avatar, but there was an airbender that came out of the iceberg. Obviously Zuko's response to that would be predictable. But now I can't say any of that in front of Katara because her view of me would worsen. While Sokka originally was an idiot, at least he wasn't a coward. That was what my strategic play would seem in her eyes.
I looked at Iroh and tried to mention him with my eyes. But the old man just shrugged. "Want some roasted duck?" He asked me before pulling a bowl of roasted duck meat.
Ah… he totally doesn't even have the slightest idea what I was mentioning towards. Well, whatever, gotta say something before Zuko gets angrier.
"Anyway, that bright beam of light was just the Celestial Lights." I told them, but Katara's flinch was enough to show even the usually dense Zuko that I was lying.
Iroh sighed at this. "Yeah, I was sure that it was something like that. So how about we board back on the ship and keep looking around."
"No… that peasant girl is lying!" Zuko yelled out once more, getting angry and shouting fire towards us.
I tugged Katara behind me and used my spear to break the fire appart. My HP still dropped as the fire licked my fingers, but no outward injury was shown so that was good.
"And here I thought we were getting along, scar guy." I taunted Zuko, which caused him to try and shoot out even more fire.
But in such a cold climate, even as it was almost evening and the sun was around. The firebending would still be weakened by the cold, and as soon as it became night and the moon rose… well… then even Iroh will have to be careful around me.
[Zuko (Lvl 29)]
[Iroh (Lvl ??)]
Because while the old man had a high level, he was still human, he had no Gamer's Body one good hit with a knife and he would start bleeding. Plus I intentionally made them walk in a spot of the ice that if they kept using firebending… it would melt and cold water would swallow them whole. Let's see how good firebending would be then.
Fwosh!
And was when Aang just came sliding in a dolphin, covering all of us in snow.
"Hey Sokka, hey Katara." He greeted us as he stood up and the penguin walked away.
"Hey Aang." I waved at him casually.
"You are the Avatar?" Asked Zuko, surprised at Aang's age.
"He is the Avatar?" I questioned back, seeming as surprised as Zuko.
Iroh just shrugged and went walking towards the ship while snacking down on his roasted duck. "Anyway, I will let you young people handle your own things. Call me over when you need something."
That old man… he was something else. But still, looking at Aang's ready stance to fight. I knew that he could handle Zuko with relative ease, especially if he utilized all of the snow around us. The battle wouldn't be in the prince's favour at all. On top of that Aang was still 19 Levels above the prince.
But after that battle, Iroh would have to get involved and then the only way Aang could beat the old general would be if he entered the Avatar State… that would ruin the whole village, leaving the tribe homeless and in the cold. So the decision here was pretty obvious.
So I stood next to Aang and whispered in his ear. "Go with them, that old man is dangerous. We will come and get you out. Trust me on this."
Zuko shot fire towards Aang who used airbending to change its direction and away from me and Katara. Unlike me who got hurt doing something like that, Aang did it casually.
Aang nodded and put his hands up. "Okay, I am the Avatar. I give up."
I had to hold back my laugh when Zuko's face scrunched up.