The ship grew closer and closer to the North Pole. The snow began to come down heavier everyday and it got colder with every conquered mile. Then ice burgs began to appear out of nowhere. The ship was constantly being steered away from the perils, and it kept Captain Sienna busy. Leiko and Tara changed into their thicker warrior outfits to keep themselves warm. It didn't do too much, but it did enough. Leiko was determined to get done what needed to get done and leave for Omashu. She wanted to get a start on her revenge as soon as possible. And she was convinced that nothing would get in her way.
The ice bergs grew bigger as Captain Sienna, Tara and Leiko were standing at the front of the ship. They watched as they saw a landmass in the far distance. A man shouted down from the crow's nest, telling them that they would be reaching their destination soon. Sienna smiled at the girls. "You ladies are in luck. Nothing feels better than getting healed. You lose all your scars and feel a million times better." She said.
"I just wanna go and leave." Leiko said firmly. Tara punched her shoulder.
"Leiko, this is another great adventure for us. You should be excited." Tara said. Leiko just looked back ahead.
"I have only one objective on my kind at the moment."
"They could heal your arm, Leiko." Sienna stated. Leiko looked down at her forearm, which was in a cast.
"Not that you need it healed." Tara but in, "You fight fine with it. But then again getting healed would be a great experience."
"Maybe." Was all Leiko replied with and she looked on with the others. There was a moment of silence, until Sienna brought up a good question.
"Do you think we'll see any firebenders there? You know, Zhao, tried to conquer the Northern Water Tribe not too long ago. They could still be stationed there."
"I doubt it. The Avatar chased them away, or at least that's what I've heard." Tara said.
"My father was a lunatic to think that he could overthrow a strong tribe such as this one. He doesn't have the brains nor the strategy to pull it off." Leiko told them, making them smile.
"But I suppose you do." Sienna said with a smirk.
"I've defeated entire armies with no more than 30 men, I think I'm pretty capable for whatever there is to expect." Leiko said as she looked down at the water, and as she did more nausea came upon her. She held her breath and closed her eyes, trying to hold down her breakfast.
Suddenly, a bunch of canoes came out from behind ice bergs and got in the path of the boat. In the canoes were water benders. One of the canoes pulled out front of the boat, forcing them to stop. "State your name and commerce!" one of the men called up.
"I'm Captain Sienna of Kyoshi Island, and I'm not here on business! My crew and I have come to be healed before battle with the fire nation!" Captain Sienna yelled down to the man.
"What do you have aboard?" he asked.
"Just some food, a little bit of wine…and two firebenders." Sienna said. The man looked at Leiko and Tara and glared.
"Why do you bring them along?" he asked.
"I promised to take them with me to the battle field, where they will help us defeat the fire nation at Omashu." Sienna informed them. Leiko was thinking to herself that she had no business fighting the fire nation, just the King of Omashu. But she would keep quiet to avoid any conflict that would keep Captain Sienna from fulfilling her agenda.
"Who are they?"
"The great warriors Tara and the daughter of Zhao, Leiko Sikari." The man looked shocked and glared more at Leiko.
"We will not invite in the daughter of the man who tried to conquer our tribe!" he said. Leiko balled her fists in annoyance. Why was it that her father created her reputation?
"She means no harm, if anything she will help. This is Leiko Sikari; she defeated her own father in an Agni Kai. She won't be any trouble." The man took one last look at Leiko.
"Very well." He said. And he raised a hand. Some other water benders began to bend the icy wall and make it open up for the ship to pass through. "You may proceed." And Sienna waved to thank him and the sip began to sail in.
As the ship made its way inside and up to the dock, people ran to the great wall to see the ship that had arrived. Tara and Leiko looked up and watched as people and children gathered and looked down upon them. They began to chatter when they saw the way the girls were dressed. The ship came to a stop at a dock and everyone on board walked off. Leiko took her first step onto the fluffy, white, soft substance that seemed to be everywhere. She had never seen snow before like this. She had seen some falling from the sky on her way towards the South Pole once with Zuko, but this was everywhere. Tara looked around and gaped her mouth. "Wow." She said. "Have you ever seen anything like this?"
"No, not yet at least." Leiko replied and they walked up to Captain Sienna, who was talking to the head of the tribe. They stopped talking and looked at Leiko.
"It is a great honor to meet you, Leiko Sikari." He said in a deep voice. "We have heard many tales of your adventures." Leiko bowed.
"Thank you. Please, the honor is mine." She answered. Tara bowed as well. "Oh, this is Tara, a friend of mine. I hope you don't mind two firebenders staying in the North Pole." The man smiled.
"I understand your stories, and I do not see the two of you as a threat. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how welcomed you are. Please, make yourselves comfortable with our hospitality. I can imagine two warriors such as yourselves would enjoy being healed." The man said the last part looking at Leiko's arm. Leiko hated people feeling pity for her, but she had to admit the experience would be one to remember.
"Thank you for everything." Captain Sienna said with a bow. The man bowed and walked away.
"So, what now?" Tara asked.
"We're only staying for a day. I suggest you girls so see what this place has to offer, and get healed before we leave." The girls nodded and walked off together to see the sights.
For the rest of the day, the girls saw what the North Pole had to offer. It was amazing, everything was made out of snow and ice, and yet it was so sturdy. The most magnificent sight was the palace. It was enormous, and it made them wonder how it stayed standing over all these years. There were also waterways that winded and twisted and turned in all sorts of directions, and in them were canoes of civilians carrying out their daily business. Leiko and Tara took a ride in a canoe for the experience and they went all around the North Pole in it.
Night time came quickly, and the sunset was amazing. The sun was an orange, glowing orb that set over the ocean, tossing its reflection into the water. The water danced and glittered with crystals from the stars that had begun to show. The sky was split in two horizontally, one part warm colors, the other part cool colors with the glistening stars. As it got darker, the sun was swallowed up by the ocean and its never ending currents. Leiko stood on the main wall and watched. Captain Sienna walked up to her and joined her in admiring the sight. Just as the sun disappeared completely, rays of different colors began to glow and dance in the sky. Taking diverse shapes and turning all which ways. "The spirit rainbow." Sienna said.
"I like to think that my husband is up there, looking down on me. Watching as I grow closer to reaching my goal." Leiko replied. Sienna looked down at Leiko's broken arm.
"You're still not healed. You should hurry. We're leaving in the morning." And then she walked away. Leiko thought for a moment before she sighed and walked back to the main part of the village and into a large hut. There was a plump old woman with silver hair standing in there. Leiko slowly approached.
"Excuse me." She said and the woman looked at her. "I'd like to be healed…please." The woman smiled.
"Of course dear, please, come in and get comfortable."