Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar or any of its characters. I'm just a silly fangirl, with only about two other hobbies…leave me alone…:sniffle:
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A Strange DiscoveryThe cool wind brushed against the young waterbender's skin as she tried to sleep. The night was cool and fresh, leaving her with no desire to fall asleep. Her cerulean eyes stared up at the full, white moon that hung so gracefully in the sky. Oh Yue, if only you were here in person…
Katara turned over onto her side and was about to fall asleep when a groggy voice re-awoke her senses.
"Hey, Katara? You awake?" Sokka asked, sleepiness pouring over his words.
"Well, I was about to fall asleep." Katara whispered.
"Oh, I'm sorry. What were you looking at?" Concern had spread across his young face. The moonlight that was cast over his shoulder gave him an eerie glow. He looked almost mysterious and spiritual.
"I was just admiring how beautiful Yue is tonight…" Her voice trailed off as she witnessed her brother's reaction to her words. His face grew solemn, and yet it nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, she really is beautiful tonight isn't she?" Katara felt guilt for reminding her brother that the girl he loved was now the moon. She slowly sat up and repositioned herself so that she could hug him. He needed it, and she could tell. As soon as she wrapped her arms around him, he started to cry. It wasn't loud or dramatic. It wasn't a sob or a moan. It was silent, still, and true. Tears rolled down his face as he held onto his sister like a safety net. He didn't want to loose anyone else. He knew that he had to protect her and Aang. It was his duty as a brother, and as a friend.
"Is everything okay?" Aang asked as he sat up. "I heard some noises, so I woke up."
"Nothing's wrong." Katara said. "We were just talking about the moon." She turned and smiled at her brother, who smiled in return. "Let's get some sleep you guys. We have a lot of traveling to do!" The three teens laid down and got settled. Just as everyone was falling asleep Sokka whispered something to Katara.
"Thank you."
The sun shown brightly the next morning as the three travelers walked down a forest road. Even with the trees blocking most of the sunlight, they still had to shield their eyes once in a while.
They finally came across a bulletin post and decided to see how many had their faces on them. This was one of their favorite pastimes. They had come to accept that they were criminals, because they knew that only the Fire Nation thought so. And who cared what they thought?
"Hey guys look at this." Aang said with delight in his voice. Katara took the piece of paper from him and studied it with one hand on her chin.
"A festival! I haven't been to one in forever! Can we go?" Katara's face beamed with excitement. She had always loved festivals, and almost never passed one up. She loved dancing and singing with all of her friends.
"A festival huh? I don't know. It looks suspicious. Besides we should keep a low profile. Parties are dangerous for us to be in. Someone could recognize us."
"Sokka's right. We really shouldn't."
"Oh fine! Be that way!" Katara pouted. Aang looked upset too, he hated it when Katara got upset. He was always fond of her. She was so motherly and kind. She was honest and true, in other words, his ideal woman.
"Besides Katara, look here at the bottom. It says that the festival is hosted by the Fire Nation!"
"Well, I guess it's a good thing we're not going! Thanks for talking me out of it Sokka. A festival hosted by the Fire Nation? What could be worse!"
"I don't think it would be bad at all, as far as parties go." Aang said. "I mean, I would go if it were safe. The Fire Nation really isn't as bad as you guys think. Before this whole war broke out I had a lot of friends from the Fire Nation. They were always kind to me. I think you guys need to meet a firebender who isn't hunting us down." The other two teens looked at him with suspicion. It seemed that whenever they talked about the Fire Nation, he became defensive. Maybe it was just his natural liking of all the nations. Being the Avatar, and controlling all four elements probably helped him to see the good in all nations. Not just his own.
The sky was dark and red in the Fire Nation. The stars glowed brightly as the sun began to set. A girl with fiery red hair stared off into the darkening horizon. Her deep mahogany eyes scanned the distance as if searching for something.
"Hinoiri! Where are you! It's getting dark!" A tall, black-haired girl with scarlet eyes approached the red-haired girl. "He's not going to come. You know that right?" Her stern expression was unwavering. Her eyes seemed to pierce into Hinoiri's soul.
"You're wrong Karasu. He'll come. I know he will. He promised he'd come back."
"He was banished two years ago. There's no way he can return without endangering himself and us. He's smarter than that Hinoiri. I'm not wrong about this. He wouldn't return unless he were captured and dragged here. Now come inside. It's late." Karasu turned and headed back to their Fire Nation village. Her scarlet dress flowed behind her. She didn't look back at Hinoiri.
Hinoiri sighed and decided to pay no heed to her friend's words. He is coming back…I just know it…
Aang had started to walk a little ahead of the group. Ever since Appa broke two legs trying to stop a landslide, traveling became tough. They often had to walk and drag Appa on a mat at the same time. The only reason he couldn't fly was because he could barely take off, and even when he did, it hurt him to land.
Katara and Sokka were walking side by side while enjoying the soft breeze that fell upon them. Katara sighed as she listened to the singing birds that flew overhead. Sokka looked over at his sister and wondered how she could be pleased so easily.
"Hey Katara?"
"What?"
"Have you ever noticed how defensive Aang is about the Fire Nation?"
The two fell silent. Katara had in fact wondered why he defended the Fire Nation with such passion. At times, she even thought him to be more loyal to the Fire Nation than to the Air Nomads.
"Yeah, I have noticed it. Why do you think that is? I mean, all that the Fire Nation has ever done for us is cause trouble. Those friends that he always talks about must've been some pretty good friends."
"Yeah, really…" Sokka said with a chuckle. Appa groaned as they pulled the mat he was lying on. Aang turned around to see what was wrong.
"I think Appa wants us to rest. Right boy?" Once again Appa groaned and Momo ran up and sat on Aang's arm. "Why don't we set up camp?"
Katara, Sokka, and Aang started a fire and rolled out their sleeping bags in clearing a little ways away from the road. This was just to be safe and away from other travelers who were using the road. As they sat down to eat, they heard a commotion.
"I'll go check it out." Sokka said. Katara and Aang waited patiently for him to return. A few minutes had passed with no sign of Sokka anywhere. Katara was starting to get worried about her silly older brother. It always seemed like he was getting into trouble.
"What do you think is taking him so long?" Katara asked with worry.
"I honestly have no idea." Aang said with his mouth full of food. He was about to make an assumption when Sokka suddenly came through the bushes out of breath.
"Hey guys…" he said between pants, "You better come and hear this. We're needed." Aang and Katara looked at each other with confusion.
The three ran to the main road where they found some earthbenders. They were all talking very intently until the three friends came out of the woods.
"Avatar, we need your help. A nearby Fire Nation village has captured one of our earthbender soldiers. If we don't hurry and get him back, who knows what they could do to him!" Aang thought for a moment while Katara tried to comfort the poor Earth Kingdom captain. Then he looked up at them with a strange expression on his face.
"Hey, Sokka? That festival thing we saw, was it in a nearby village?"
"Yeah I think so, why? Do you think he's there?"
"You bet I do. What better way to keep people away from a prisoner than a festival hosted by the Fire Nation? Only people from the Fire Nation would attend."
"The Avatar makes a very good point!" All of the earthbenders looked at the 12-year-old boy in wonder. They had no idea that he could be so clever at such a young age.
"I guess that settles it! We'll have to attend that festival. I don't want to cause a commotion though. We'll need some disguises. Could you guys possibly get some Fire Nation outfits for the three of us?"
"That we can do!" The earthbenders exclaimed.
A few hours later Katara, Aang, and Sokka were all dressed in traditional Fire Nation garb.
"I hate this stuff!"
"Stop complaining Sokka! Be thankful that we even have these!"
"Come on guys it's just up ahead."
As they became closer and closer to their destination, they heard music. They finally pushed away some brush and saw the Fire Nation village right before them! Lanterns and kites hung in the air. Belly dancers with ribbons and shimmering bangles danced to loud and strange music that the three weren't accustomed to. There were fireworks and vendors too.
"Wow, look at this place…" Katara said with wonder.
"Pretty amazing isn't it?" Aang said enthusiastically. "I remember when I went to my first Fire Nation festival. It was so much fun that I didn't want to leave!"
"I think you guys are crazy this doesn't look fun at all! It looks totally and completely annoying if you ask me!"
Katara and Aang just rolled their eyes as Sokka continued to complain about the Fire Nation. As Katara searched the crowd she noticed someone that looked very familiar…
Mwahahahaaaaa! Cliffhangers are my favorites! Please review! I really can't express it enough you know. I really love hearing from you guys. Everyone who has reviewed to me on my other story has been so supportive! My next chapter is coming up soon, so be on the look out! Bardiel Angel