K, I just wanted to make it clear right now that Alex is NOT based off of me, I got a weird PM accusing me of basing her off of myself, therefore automatically qualifying her asa Mary Sue. I have to admit, there are a few Mary Sueish qualities about her, but in the words of someone who I just forgot their name "There are several amazing books with Mary Sues, and they're great!" so yeah, I can cope with that.
Here is a little contest for you, the first person to get it right will get to have their name of the name of their character be placed as a villager who comes in later. ready?
What award winning animated movie is the name "Haku" from?
just put your answer in a review, I'll PM you if you get it right. it isn't that hard people!
"Wait, did you hear that?"
Josh rolled his eyes and kept on forward, "Kyle, that's the third time in the last five minutes you've said that. Face it, you're imagining things."
Kyle looked over his shoulder at the barren forest. Nothing moved. Still, he had the oddest feeling they were being watched, followed, or both.
Katara stopped them, "No wait, I do hear something."
They made no sound as they listened.
"I see you've walked right into my trap, thank you for saving me the trouble."
Fire nation soldiers jumped from the trees, watched smugly by Azula. Soon the three of them were chained up, and angry at that.
"You'll make fine bait for the avatar and his friends," she said the last word almost sarcastically.
Katara and Kyle fought against the chains, trying desperately to free themselves. Katara tried to bend some water from her canteen, which had fallen to the ground. But Azula spotted this desperate act and threw the canteen to a soldier, who walked away with it.
Josh, however, was watching Azula silently. He made no move to escape, only watched.
Azula motioned to her soldiers, "Take them to the edge of the capital! We'll wait for the avatar there." As they were led by she smiled, "I'm sure you'll keep my uncle company until then."
"Haku, we've been walking for hours," Tina said grumpily, "I don't know about you, but I'm hot, tired, sweaty, and dirty. Can't we stop somewhere?"
Alex looked forward at Haku's back, "she's right, we should rest."
Haku turned and glared at both girls, "We'll stop in a few minutes, there's a remote place up ahead. Now quite your whining, you don't see Aang whining do you?"
Aang shrugged, "I'm hot, tired, sweaty, and dirty too. I could use a rest."
Haku grumbled something and pushed his way through more trees.
Zuko and Luke were following obediently behind. They had long given up any chance of escaping. The chains delivered a nasty shock when one tried to bend, and they couldn't run away either, they were fire nation in the earth kingdom after all.
Haku led them to what seemed like the hundredth clearing. He eagerly threw his bags on the ground, followed by the others who exerted sighs of relief.
"Now come on, this is the best part," he motioned for them to follow him again.
Sokka pointed at a log in the clearing, "Sit, stay," he ordered the two captives.
Zuko spat something about not telling him what to do, but Sokka ignored him and followed.
Tina was the first one to see it, "Oh my god!" she squealed in delight.
Alex, Haku, Aang, and Sokka were right behind her. Alex let out a small gasp.
Before the five of them lay a vast, sparkling clear blue lake. Along the borders fern trees swayed gently in the cooling breeze.
Tina, among all of them, was the most excited, she turned to Alex, "hold this," in one fluent motion she pulled off her shirt, pants, and shoes. As she threw her clothes at a startled Alex, she ran into the lake in her undergarments.
After a second the dry ones began to laugh. Tina yelled at them to come in.
"It feels great!"
Alex smiled, dropped her friends clothes, and did the same. Once she had jumped into the water she splashed her friend playfully, starting an all out war.
Sokka and Haku ran in after the girls, after first discarding their clothes also.
Engaging in the splash fight, they had forgotten about Aang.
"Hey, where'd Aang go?" Tina asked.
"CANNONBALL!" a voice said from above.
All looked up to see Aang, who had leapt high into the air, and was now coming down rather fast.
Screaming and laughing at the same time, all moved out of his way as he crashed down, sending a huge wave to sweep over the teens' heads.
"What do you think they're doing?" Luke asked wondrously, as it had been several hours since the others had left.
Zuko was trying to figure out a way out of his binds, and ignored his question. "I think I figured out why it shocks us," he shook them, as if to test their strength, "They must be coated with a layer of ice or water. So when we try and firebend, it shocks us."
Luke rolled his eyes, "That would create steam."
Zuko glared at him, "I don't see you trying to help get us out of here,"
"Get out of what? It isn't like we need to run—"he stopped and stared as the remainder of the party walked into the clearing, all dripping wet and laughing.
Upon seeing the perplexed looks on their faces, Aang and the others burst out laughing, and set about starting a fire.
"Do you really think you can keep us here?" Kyle demanded.
Azula shook her head slowly, smiling smugly. "Of course I don't—in fact, you're going to be out with the rest of the Fire Nation's army. You'll be torn apart by the people you so long to protect."
"Aang will stop you," Katara said quietly. She had long lost her voice from screaming threats at the princess,
"That's what I'm counting on," she turned on a heel and walked away, "I'll see you all in the morning then." As she turned to close the door she smiled wickedly again, "Pleasant dreams."
The door closed, engulfing the three into darkness. They were chained to the wall, hung by their wrists and dangling three feet above the ground. At first they had struggled to free themselves, but soon found that they needed their energy to keep their blood circulating.
"They'll save us, you'll see," Josh said, trying to stay positive.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Kyle replied silently.
Later that night, they sat around a roaring fire, talking with each other. It was then that Tina brought up a tender subject.
"Aang, have you already learned earth bending?"
Aang nodded, "I met masters in the villages we passed on the way here, I'm learning really quickly."
"Then—isn't it time for you to learn firebending?"
Everyone stopped their own conversations suddenly, turning to see what Aang would say. Alex moved uncomfortably in her seat.
Aang hesitated, "I don't think I can find someone to teach me, I need a master."
Tina looked at her friend, "what about Alex?"
Before Alex could reply, Haku – who was seated next to her – replied quickly, "she isn't a master."
Tina glared, "Neither are you."
Alex cut in softly, "No, I'm not a master."
Luke frowned, "But on the ship—"
She turned at him angrily, keeping herself back from crying, "On the ship I was declared a master. But when a master pronounces someone of the same title, they must register them with the bending council of their nation. As I recall, Master Dang was murdered before he had the chance to."
She stared right at the two boys. It was then that they both realized that they had killed everyone else aboard the ship.
"But even then, you're still the most quail—"Tina started.
Alex stood violently, "NO! I WON'T TEACH HIM! HAKU CAN!" she shouted, turning and walking back in the direction of the lake.
They all were silent, surprised at her sudden outburst, some looked angrily at the two captives, others at the fire.
Aang gulped, "I won't learn then"
Haku closed his eyes and sighed, rubbing a finger against his temple, "no, Aang. You need to learn firebending. To defeat fire, you must know fire. I will teach you."
