AN: I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY FOR NOT GETTING BACK IN LIKE THE LONGEST TIME! DO YOU ALL FORGIVE ME? ;;;; I'm soooo sorry. One thing followed another and with a mix of procrastination, it just totally...never happened! I'm so sorry. :begs forgiveness from readers: Oh, and btw, I've kind a lost my muse so I'm gonna take another break, trying to regain the spirit of this fic. Trust me, I want to finish this as much as you all want to finish reading it. I've never finished a fic before. NEVER. In my life. This will be my first complete one (I'm not including the oneshot in my profile. Oneshots are always finished.) So, please, bear with me as I trudge through these next chapters. I'm also going to the mainland in a couple of weeks, so I don't know how much computer access I'll have and then it's...dun, dun, dun...Junior Year. :squee: Maybe I'll get to chapt. 10 before then. ;;;;

I am sooo sorry, but on to more ficcy:D Again, if you have any questions, additional comments or constructive criticism, you know where to find me!

3, Kai

Chapter Seven:

Landings

The Island of Siempre doesn't exist.

That's what the majority of people born after 1484 thought. They had heard legends and stories from the Elders about the Land of Peace, the Land of Opportunity. But they never heard about it outside the contents of a bedtime story. The Fire Nation destroyed it in an early raid, they always said. It wasn't a major threat--it was what it represented that pushed the Fire to take over the people.

According to the legend, the Island of Siempre was formed by the Elements, the children of Light and Dark. During the Batalia de Noche y Dia, the Elements wanted a safe ground. Earth and Fire came together and formed a volcano. The Water calmed the hot sands and created hard ground. Air, a creation of Fire and Water, further hardened the land. Earth sprouted forth vegetation. The Elements had a place to convene safely and secretly. The Sun and Moon helped keep the Light and Dark from knowing about the Elements place. It was on this Island that Fire and Water met outside battle and fell in love.

According to the legal documents, held in each Country's Archives, the Island of Siempre was inhabited by people. These people were not registered as benders and they held their own culture and physical appearance, independent of the other Four Nations. They were completely self sufficient, creating thier own culture and striving without too much international interaction, save for Bamau, a small port city on the Eastern side of the Earth Kingdom

Aside from folklore and a few inventory notes, the Island of Siempre hadn't been uttered in word for 40 years.

And that's how the islanders liked it.

In 1484, the island was attacked by the Fire Nation. With their primitive weaponry, the islanders didn't stand a chance. However, with the help of Bamau and some earthbenders, they drove away the Fire Nation.

Siempre slipped slowly into the depths of history and wasn't discussed for years. However, when the war pushed further and further on, it emerged through folklore as a safe haven for refugees and displaced persons. Through song, dance and epic poetry, the island of Siempre returned to the thoughts of the everyday citizen. They flocked to the harbor, and the people accepted them with open arms.

Siempre, translated roughly from the One's language, means ''Always,'' for it is always sunny, always temperate, and always peaceful.

''Land…anytime now…all we need is some land,'' Sokka said, staring out at the open, calm waters below him. Appa was flying at a steady rate; Katara had fallen to slumber and Aang was playing with his marbles again. ''Doesn't he ever get tired of that?'' Sokka asked himself.

''How much further to land, Sokka?'' Aang asked. Sokka turned from the water and opened his bag. He pulled out the rustic parchment and traced their path with his index finger for what seemed like the billionth time.

''We should see something in about two hours.''

''Finally. I'm starved,'' Aang said. ''What place should we be hitting?''

''I don't know. I think it says 'Bamau,' it's really hard to tell with the map. It's pretty old.''

''We should buy a new one when we get into town.''

"Yeah," Sokka nodded. Images of the past few day's events flashed in his inner eye. He looked away.

''What's wrong, Sokka?'' Aang asked. ''You've been kinda…down…since we left the North.''

''It's…nothing,'' he replied. ''It's nothing.''

''If its about your mom, I said I was sorry. It just kind of happened.''

''I know, I know.''

''Ok. Well, if you ever want to talk, you know where I am.''

Just at that, Appa gave a shudder and started to move downward rapidly. Momo flew from Katara's hands as she woke up. The three humans clasped to Appa's saddle, screaming as they descended too quickly.

''What the hell's going on?'' Sokka screamed above the rushing winds.

"I don't know!" Aang shouted back. "There's no land here! Appa, up!" The words were useless. The giant bison, unable to move freely, continued his forced path to the cerulean seas.

''Look! I see something!'' Katara said. ''It's a small island.''

''Sokka, you said that we weren't supposed to hit land for another two hours.''

"We're--" Appa splashed into the water, enveloping them with bitter salt water. "--Not," Sokka concluded. The giant bison swam slowly to shore, tired from the fall.

''What was that all about, Aang?'' Katara asked. Aang shrugged his shoulders, the same look of puzzlement etched on his face.

''Magic…'' they heard Sokka mutter. They glanced for a moment to see Momo float down and settle on Sokka's head.

''Where are we?'' Katara asked, glancing around. Aang swooped down from the saddle and scaled the area around them. He turned and created an air bubble for Katara to walk down from.

"No idea," he said, after eyeing the area in front of him.

''Is this Bamau?'' Katara turned to ask her brother, who was having some difficulty releasing himself from a tangle of ropes, resulting in him dangling from Appa's saddle. It was all Katara could do to prevent herself from laughing outloud.

''I have no idea!'' Sokka spat in return. ''I haven't had a real good look at this place from upside down, now have I? Could someone kindly let me down?''

''As you wish,'' Katara said. She reached for the ocean's Core, tightening her fingers around solid air. She gracefully moved with the ocean's waves, merging with her own Core. She pulled back her right arm, moving a slice of water with it.

''Not like that! Katara!'' Sokka screamed. Katara, already in her zone, willed the water to be icy and sharp. It obeyed her command. She shot the water towards the ropes, which snapped on contact. Sokka fell into the water. He reemerged, not too happy.

Katara fell into a giggling fit. Sokka squirted a mouthful of water out.

''That's not funny, Katara,'' he said.

''Yeah it is,'' Aang said, thoroughly enjoying Sokka's predicament; not to mention seeing how well Katara maneuvered her element. The gleam of power in her eyes…her strong, tanned arms…

Aang…snap out of it, he thought.

Sokka made his way to shore, and shucked the water off of his damp clothes. The three stood in awe at the tall tropical trees in front of them, staring at them as if they were unwelcome. Dark shadows crossed over, giving it an all knowing feel.

''So…who wants to go in first?'' Sokka asked.

''I'm not going in,'' Aang said.

''I think the shore will prove to be a very convenient place to camp in,'' Katara replied, fear causing her voice to waver a bit.

They were silent for a moment.

Then began to frantically pull their equipment from Appa's saddle and set up their ''camp'' (unrolled sleeping bags, a small hole for a fire later (''Where's a firebender when you need one?'') , a sack filled with food (''Momo, get out of there!''), and Aang's glider-stick rammed deep into the sand (''I proclaim this Avatar Island!'').

Rustle…

The two Water Tribe siblings continued to laugh at Aang's antics.

Rustle, rustle…

''Guys…'' Aang said, worry hanging in his words.

''What?'' Katara inquired.

''I hear something.''

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

Momo lifted his head and flew up, alert and ready to defend his masters.

''Oh…come on! We just got the fire started.''

Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle…

Aang grabbed his glider-stick in defense. Katara's left hand hovered over the water flask on her waist. Sokka pulled his weapon from the leather sheath on his back.

They were ready.

The rustling stopped.

Then…

A young girl stepped out from under a menacing vine.

''Hi!'' she said, smiling.

The three retreated, confusion etched on their faces.

The girl was quite peculiar. Her auburn hair was pulled into the Water Tribe traditional style (two long bangs pulled down to the collar bone and whipped into a rolled bun with the rest down), she wore Earth Bending boots (thick leather hide tied together with sinewy strings to keep them on). Her body was adorned with clothes of the Fire Nation (a black overcoat, with two gold buttons with a Fire Nation symbol sewed in on the side).

Her eyes were dark, almost black, brown. Her dark skin and slanted eyes told them she was from the Earth Kingdom.

Why in the name of the One would she wear Fire Nation clothing?

''Hola,'' she repeated. ''Estan jovenes de agua?''

Aang started to say something. Sokka merely cocked an eyebrow. Katara had never looked more confused in her life.

''You're not?'' the girl asked again. ''Too bad. You looked like nice people.'' She whipped out two daggers from her belt, inside the black overcoat.

The three retreated.

''Wait! Don't hurt us!'' Aang said, holding up his arms defensively.

''Dead men don't talk, mister,'' she said. ''Sorry. I don't make the rules, I just enforce them.'' She moved closer to them, swiping the air menacingly.

''W-wait! He's the Avatar!'' Sokka said in Ojuay, poking Aang's head (''Ow!'').

The girl lowered her daggers.

''Avatar, huh?'' She replied in the Water Tribesmen's native tongue. She rubbed her chin, contemplatively thinking. Her brown eyes sparkled with mischief. She looked at them once more. ''If Tattoo-Boy is the Avatar…who are you?''

''We're his friends. We've been traveling for months now. We need to teach him earth bending,'' Katara said, hiding her internal emotions of fear quite well.

''And fire before the summer,'' Aang piped in.

''And fire? Like…more than one element?''

Sokka slapped his forehead with the base of his palm.

''You've come to the right place! Welcome to the Island of Siempre!'' Her arms flung out in a V-shape, welcoming them.

''Siempre? No way, that place was destroyed by the Fire Nation long before either of us were even thought of, let alone born.''

''Oh really?'' the girl asked playfully. ''Well, since you're so caught up with your history, you won't mind me leading you inside…since there's nothing there.''

''Well…''

''Shut up, Sokka.''

''What's your name, by the way?'' Aang asked, hope oh-so-apparent in his eyes.

''Kari,'' she smiled.

''Do you earthbend?'' Kari snickered and scoffed (at the same time).

''I can earthbend about as much as your horse thing can speak.'' His face fell, but perked in a second.

''Horse thing?''

''Whatever the big white fluffy thing is with the arrow on his head. Yeah…that thing.''

''That's Appa. My flying bison…but close.''

''So…this is the mysterious Island of Siempre. Where its always warm, always sunny and always peaceful?'' Sokka asked.

''Looks like you've picked up our brochure,'' Kari snickered. ''Come on. I'm going to get butchered for bringing in NoSpeakers, but I trust you guys.'' She moved into the brush, using her hand to push hanging branches out of her face.

''NoSpeakers?'' Sokka inquired.

''Yeah. That's what we call those who don't understand the Ancient Language. It's our key to know if you're an enemy or not.''

''Clever,'' he replied.

The brush eventually pulled away to a rocky, solid path. The heat from the sun trapped itself in the hanging trees and the air's moisture, causing the three new explorers to bake.

''Is it always this hot?'' Aang asked.

''Once we get out of here, it's much cooler. Especially with the trades,'' Kari said. ''Don't worry, we're almost there.''

With that, Kari moved one last tree branch from the way.

''Welcome to La Ciudad,'' Kari said. Seeing the blank expressions on their face, she translated. ''The City.''

There wasn't much to say about the City. The three had never seen anything quite like it before. It was a circular area with shops and stores and stands nestled peacefully. Some were blue, others were red and a few were green, each representing their respected country. Some were blended, like the fish store. The part where the fish was sold was blue and where it was cooked, red. Food and random arrays of useless junk hung from the wooden roofs and tents. Children ran through the streets, clad in different clothing.

Among the normals, there were a select that looked different than the rest. A couple passed them on the right, chasing a blur of a child. They were dark skinned with strait, frizzy black hair, slender figures, a flattened nose, and wide eyes. He wore loose beige clothing that didn't match any particular Nation.

''Keoni! Get back here!'' The older male shouted. He didn't look much older than Sokka. He stopped to catch his breath and noticed the three puzzled travelers. ''Kari, these the new kids?'' He spoke in an odd language; it wasn't the Old Language, at least that's what Sokka concluded.

"No. The scouts are still out there by Omashu," she replied in the strange language. "But, Kekoa, this is the Avatar and his compadres--" Kari turned to the three. "Names?" she asked in Ujuay.

"Sokka and my little sister, Katara," Sokka replied

"Sokka and his little sister, Katara of the Water Tribes," The four exchanged their salutations as best they could with that bothersome language barrier.

"Avatar, huh?" Kekoa asked, stroking his chin very similarly to Kari had earlie. "Chief is gonna wanna see this, yah Kari?"

"Shoots. I'd be there already if I hadn't run into you on the way." Kekoa's face was draped with hurt, but his eyes still gleamed with playfulness.

"You know, if I wasn't courting you and you weren't a girl, I'd kill you." Kari playfully shoved him away.

"But you love me!" She flashed her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Perhaps. It depends on how much you believe." Kari pushed him away again.

"Have you seen Chief Kalakaua?" She asked sternly, hands balled in fists, resting on her hips.

"I think he's still in or might be with the men fishing. You know how much he likes to do that.''

''I know.'' She turned to the three. ''Ready to walk some more?''

''Food…'' Sokka managed to spit out. ''I like food.''

''Take them to Katana's. They make great sushi.''

''Sushi? I don't think our worn world travelers would appreciate simple…sushi. How about J and J? They've got the best plate lunches on the island.''

''They've got the only plate lunches on the island. I thought you didn't like the kalbi ribs.''

''I don't. I do like teriyaki though.''

''Maybe I should take you someplace then,'' Kekoa moved closer to Kari, smiling.

''Stop, your sister is over there,'' Kari said, pushing him away playfully but moving in at the same time.

''Don't mind my sister,'' he said, leaning in.

''But please mind the starving Avatar and his friends,'' Aang said, translating their language and speaking it.

''How does he understand us?'' Kekoa asked, blushing like mad.

''Long story,'' Aang replied. ''I'm hungry, Sokka's hungry, and I'm sure Katara's hungry. Can we please find someplace to eat and then meet the Chief guy?''

Kari had turned bright red. ''Sorry,'' she muttered. ''I'll see ya around Koa?'' she asked. The boy nodded and returned to his search for his younger brother.

''Boyfriend?'' Katara asked. Kari nodded and continued the walk.

''What are you guys hankering for? I like J and J's, but that's more local food.''

''Looking around, doesn't look like there's much to the term local,'' Sokka stated.

''Yeah. Except for that guy and his sister. They were different,'' Aang said.

''Yeah. He's 100 Siempreneese. They're the local bunch. They've been here for a while, the Siempreneese I mean.''

''Are they benders?''

''Nope. The borders are open for those who are refugees and fleeing their country.''

''You even accept firebenders?'' Katara asked, memories of her mother charging her words.

''Why not? They're human too.''

''It just seems…weird, you know?''

''That's what I like about Siempre. There really isn't a lot of racism. Oh sure, we've got the occasional outbreak in the Square, but for the most part, we're pretty peaceful.''

''Like the slogan says,'' Sokka piped in. Kari laughed and rolled her eyes.

''Right. Just like the slogan says.'' They walked for a few more feet. ''There you go. Class A Water Tribe restaurant right there.'' She pointed to a wooden building. It was tall, slightly bigger than the standard one story, like many of the restaurants they passed, it had an awning. The two Water Tribe siblings drank the familiar home smells. Aang tried his best not to gag.

''I AM NOT PAYING THAT MUCH FOR THAT SCRAP PIECE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?'' A young girl's voice echoed down the strip.

''Listen, you either pay that or you don't get it. It's a rare valuable,'' a drawling male's voice replied.

''I BEG TO DIFFER! LOOK AT IT! THIS ISN'T A VALUABLE!''

''What do you mean, look, you're freaking ---'' the drawling man's voice ended there. What was followed was choking and gagging sounds.

''Don't you dare speak of that again. I'm a better earthbender than you can ever dream of being. Now, leave before I have to hurt you again.''

The four gaped at the image. What they saw--a small, blind twelve year old girl beat the crap out of an older man…that was something odd even for Siempre standards.

''Uh…anyway, hope you like stewed prunes,'' Kari said as she escorted the three into the restaurant.

They sat down at a table under the awning. A waiter gave them water in polished wooden cups.

''Who was that?'' Katara asked. ''That's kind of…creepy.''

''Her name's Toph. She came from the Southern Earth Kingdom city of Lang Pao, escaping her parents. She's a pretty damn good earthbender, but I've never seen her get like that before.''

''Earthbender?'' Aang perked. ''Do you think she could teach me?''

''If you can break her demeanor for two seconds, maybe. If she doesn't kill you after doing that, you're in,'' Kari said.

''You know a lot of people, Kari,'' Katara said.

''It's something that happens when you live on an island, especially one of refugees. It's fun. It's like we're this big, huge happy family.'' A smile was added here. ''I just hope this war ends soon. We're running out of room and scouts keep getting recruited to the armies of either side.'' She nodded her head toward the opening where Kekoa and his sister and little brother were playing. ''His older brother, Akoni, was found and is fighting for the Earth Kingdom. But our friend Ren, he's on the Fire side. Both were scouts, both were good friends…'' Kari sat back and took a long swig of water.

''War sucks…'' Sokka said, swirling his water.

Aang looked into his water, not glancing up. He knew if he did, someone would make a remark about the Avatar and how that he was back, the world would be safe.

Him. Only him.

I'm gonna need something stronger than water, he thought.