(Sorry it took so long...5 months I think lol. I was busy with school plus I got really sick. But now I have every intention of putting the last few chapters up. Ok then...enjoy!)
An hour past and the fire nation soldiers waited patiently for the avatar to return. Avani stood near her friend, watching him in his glory. He stood in the setting sun, waiting patiently for Aang to return. It was at that moment when she realized how much she had missed him. She didn't want to leave him. She wanted to go home and be with him forever. But with her past, it would be difficult.
The hush of the deck was suddenly interrupted by an alarm horn. Everyone looked around, and there, soaring above, was Aang. In an instant flames were soaring through the air and Aang was fighting his way on board.
Avani turned to Hakan and whispered, "Let him get down below, it'll make capturing him easier."
Hakan nodded in agreement. He knew that below deck Aang would have little room to run.
Of course the fight was minimal on deck. Before they knew it Aang was heading down to save his friends and Hakan and Avani were following.
Aang was in the midst of freeing his friends when a fire ball came flying down the hallway. Aang jumped into the air, avoiding the flames by just an inch.
It was apparent now that he was cornered. Avani had gone a different direction and was on the opposite side of the hallway. Aang had nowhere to run. But now his friends were nearly free and in one last blow they would be able to help them out.
Katara, blew gently and froze the locks then in a solid kick Sokka shattered them to pieces. Now the odds were even, if not in their favor.
Katara quickly froze Hakans feet to the floor and the three comrades ran past him. But of course Avani was still on their tail.
Since all the guards were already down getting off the vessel was simple. Aang threw his glider into the air, while the other two climbed onto Appa's back. But to Aang's dismay Avani leapt into the air and grabbed him, sending him down to the ground.
After they crashed, and had their ground the real battle began. Aang took fighting stance, facing Avani, turning in circles around one another.
"We're in my element now. Are you ready?" Avani asked, continuing to circle around him.
"You bet. Of course we're always in my element!" Aang yelled back right as he sent a gust of wind blowing her way, knocking her off her feet.
"Avani!" Hakan yelled running off the boat. He quickly jumped then slid his foot into the ground, sending a trail of fire in the direction of Aang.
Avani twisted around and stood to her feet, landing with a large thud. In an instant a rock wall was forming between Aang and the fire blast, preventing it from hitting him.
Hakan, who was still running toward her, stopped dead and stared past the strands of hair and into his friend's eyes.
Appa landed behind Avani letting Katara and Sokka join in the fight. Aang quickly ran to join his friends. It was a stand off now. The three of them, Avani, and Hakan.
"Avani…what is going on?" Hakan asked, still staring into her deep brown eyes.
"Hakan you need to leave." Avani snarled, glaring at him with hooded eyes.
"Where did that rock come from? Who here is an earthbender?" Hakan continued, not listening to Avani's warning.
Avani lowered her stance and began to walk towards him. She knew what she was doing was right, but it was hard. Hakan had been her best friend for years and the only one to ever understand her. But if saving the world meant giving him up, then that is what she would do.
Hakan took a step back. He knew the answer to the question, even if he didn't want to admit it. He had known for years what she was. Deep down he knew every time there was an earthbender attack, or a strange earthquake, it was her. The circumstances behind it were always the same. Avani would be angry, or upset, and suddenly it would happen.
Avani stopped a few feet from him and dropped her head. "I'm sorry Hakan. This is why I left. I didn't belong there."
Avani then looked back up at him with tear filled eyes. She hated this. She wished that he had never come. That she had been born a fire bender. That her mother would have been faithful. But the fact was she couldn't change it. She was an earthbender and there was nothing she could do about it.
Hakan clenched his fists and glared at her. "You lied to me!" He yelled. "Why didn't you just tell me!"
"She didn't lie!" Katara yelled, interrupting. "She knew you wouldn't understand."
Hakan turned to look sharply at Katara. "Shut your mouth! Stay out of this!"
He was acting like a child, confused and afraid. Everything he knew was suddenly a lie. Everything was changing. His childhood friend was not who he thought she was.
Before anyone could react Hakan was charging at Avani, fists flying and flames soaring towards her.
Aang quickly jumped between the two, and shot a strong gust towards Hakan sending him flat onto his back.
"That's enough!" Aang cried. "I can't believe this. Have things really changed that much in a hundred years? I used to have friends everywhere, including the fire nation! Why is that so hard to do today? Why does everyone have to fight?"
"He's right Hakan," Avani agreed through a sob. "There's no reason we can't still be friends."
Hakan snarled and shot his fists down to his sides, forming two daggers out of fire. He then started running towards Aang. He was going to attack the Avatar.
Without thinking Avani moved the earth beneath Hakan, tripping him up once again but this time knocking him out momentarily.
Avani quickly ran towards her fallen friend and kneeled down next to him. She didn't want to hurt him. She wanted him back. But if this was how it had to be then so be it.
Hakan lied on the ground unconscious. In his mind he could see flashes of his childhood. Playing games with his friends. Learning to fire bend from his master. And during it all he could see a young girl, alone and afraid, growing up beside him. He remembered the day she left. She didn't say goodbye. She just left. When he asked what had happened to her, the kids teased him. They told him she was dead. Or that the earthbender's got her. Little did he know that earthbender's hadn't gotten her, she was one of them.
After a few moments he began to stir. His head was whirling, and his vision fuzzy. As his sight cleared the first thing he saw was that young girl, staring down at him. He missed her so much while she was gone. She looked different now, older, less afraid, but it was still her. He blinked a few times and the face cleared completely. She looked concerned and afraid for him. He knew she never wanted to hurt him, but the fact was she had.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" He asked through a cracked voice.
"I wanted to. I really did. But I didn't know how you would react. I…I didn't want to lose my only friend." Avani explained as a tear dripped down her cheek.
Hakan felt the wet tear hit his face, and he knew she was sincere. He slowly got up and realized his head was throbbing. He cringed, but continued to rise, just a bit slower.
Avani helped her friend up, but was shrugged off. She looked him in the eyes. They looked sad but determined.
"Leave." Hakan said shortly. "This is your only chance. If I catch you…any of you again I won't hesitate to stop you."
Avani sighed the nodded. "Alright. I hope you have a good life." She said nothing else. Just simply turned around and walked away.
Katara and Aang were now standing side by side, watching the event. Sokka walked towards the two, looking just as sad as they did. It wasn't what any of them wanted, but in the end the plan had worked. They managed to wipe out an entire fleet of fire nation soldiers, and get them out of the forest but at the cost of Avani's friendship. It was a bitter sweet moment.
Avani walked past them not saying a single word. Hakan just stood back and watched. His ship was totaled, the rest of his fleet destroyed. He really had no where to go. He would have to make his way to the nearest fire nation camp. For now he would just sit and wait.