Chapter Three
The teenagers set out to fish that day on board a boat that could hold all four of them. When they reached the area where the fish tend to congregate, Sokka and Zuko prepared their preferred methods of fishing.
"Watch and learn girls," Sokka said as he readied his spear, "this is how you catch a fish."
"No way," Zuko countered as he lowered his fishhook with bait into the water. "Hakoda said this is the better way to catch a fish."
Azula rolled her eyes at their banter. "You two couldn't catch a fish even if it lands in your laps."
Sokka's eyebrow twitched. "Why don't you show us how it's done Azula?"
"I would but I don't have anything to use," Azula said before she looked at her best friend Katara. "Or appropriate bending," she said with a smirk.
Katara smiled and investigated the water for a fish to catch. After spotting one, she moved her arms to bend the water around it and brought it to the surface. She smiled while Azula smirked.
"Look boys," Katara said, "I caught one."
"Quiet," Zuko said as he focuses intently on the water.
"Yeah, I'm trying to concentrate," Sokka said as he readied to spear a fish.
"Seriously?" Azula said. "You two dolts aren't going to-?"
But she was interrupted when Sokka raised his spear and the back of it broke the bubble of water around Katara's fish, causing the water to splash all over him while the fish smacked Zuko on the head before it fell back into the water. Both the boys glared at Katara, thinking she did it on purpose.
"What was that for?" Sokka demanded as he tried to ring out his clothes.
"What did we do this time?" Zuko added while he rubbed his head.
Katara huffed at them. "You two were taking forever catching fish and I decided to use my waterbending to finish the job for you."
"And you call yourselves men," Azula jabbed.
Before either Sokka or Zuko could defend themselves, a powerful current overtook their boat and takes them deeper into the ice fields. Sokka and Zuko attempted to control the boat while Azula and Katara shout at them to go in a certain direction.
It was to no use however, when two ice sheets crushed the boat, causing its occupants to abandon it and land onto an ice sheet near a large iceberg. They came to their senses and realized they were stranded.
"Oh this is just perfect!" Sokka shouted.
"Well what did you expect Sucker?" Azula shouted back at him. "You two are idiots!"
"Sucker?!" Sokka shouted in shock. "Don't call me that!"
"Well it seems pretty fitting since you and Dum-Dum are always being idiots!" Azula shouted louder.
"We're not idiots!" Zuko shouted in turn.
"Well you two did a marvelous job of getting us stranded!" Katara snapped back.
"Well if that's the case," Sokka demanded, "why didn't you just waterbend us to safety?"
"So it's Katara's fault," Azula said dangerously.
"I knew we should've left you two at home," Sokka grunted. "Leave it to girls to screw things up."
Azula and Katara stared daggers at the nonchalant Sokka. Zuko gulped and thought that his best friend went a little too far this time. But before he could say anything to defuse the tension, Katara went on a rant.
"Ugh you are the most sexist, immature nut brain-!" she shouted at Sokka while waving her arms around, stirring the water around them. "I'm embarrassed to be related to you!"
Sokka tried to ignore her but he took notice of the water beginning to rise and make the ice sheet heave back and forth.
"Uh, Katara…," he said but was ignored.
"Shut up!" Azula snapped at him before looking and pointing menacingly at Zuko. "And you're no better than him Dum-Dum!"
But Zuko had greater things to worry about, such as the rising water caused by Katara. "Uh, Katara please settle down…," he pleaded.
"Not happening!" she shouted back. "You two are constantly off playing soldier while Azula and I have to clean up after you! Well we're done!" She waved her arms more, causing the ice sheet they were on to heave more. "From now on, you two are on your own!" She sent a powerful wave behind her and cracked an iceberg in several places, causing it to break apart.
Only then did Azula and Katara noticed the damage done. The iceberg split apart into several pieces, causing the ice sheet they were on to be pushed away, forcing the teens to hang onto the sheet.
When it settled, Sokka, Zuko and Azula started at Katara in amazement.
"Okay," Sokka said, "you just went from weird to freakish Katara."
"I can't believe I did that…," Katara said in mild shock. Even Azula and Zuko were shocked at what Katara accomplished, never seeing anything like this from her before. Soon a bright blue ball emerged from under the water and the teenagers stared at it in confusion. Katara was particularly interested in it, given how she caused it to rise to the surface. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, noticing a human form within the frozen ball.
She then gasped when the human form opened its eyes.
"There's someone in there!" she exclaimed. "We have to help them!" She grabbed Sokka's club slung on his back and ran towards the ball while Zuko withdrew his twin machetes he grew to favor over the years.
"Let me help you!" he shouted as he ran after her. Sokka grimaced in mild fear while Azula scowled at her friend's and brother's foolhardiness.
"Get back here you two! We don't know what that thing is!" Sokka shouted as he and Azula ran after their siblings, who were already smacking and hacking at the ice.
"Do you two think that's a good idea?" Azula reprimanded.
Her plea went ignored as Zuko and Katara kept striking at the ice. They were soon stopped when a burst of air out of the ice forced them back.
But before any of the teens could say anything or do anything, a bright blue light shot out from the iceberg and into the sky.
Colonel Mongke stood on the deck, fuming after spending nearly five years looking for what had to be the most elusive woman in history.
After questioning the captain and his crew, the Rough Rhinos set out to where Ursa and her children set off for only Mongke and his men to run into a dead end. They spend the next years going from village to village in the Earth Kingdom, questioning everyone they could find to no avail.
In their rage, they left a trail of destruction in their wake.
Mongke was the worst perpetrator of it, knowing if he failed, the Fire Lord will have his head.
But he will not give up. If he had to, he would spend the rest of his life on this mission.
Before he headed inside, Mongke spotted a bright light shoot from the horizon and into the sky. He narrowed his eyes and concludes that it was irregular.
"Set course for that light," he ordered.
"Sir," Kahchi advised, "that could be just the celestial lights."
"We've seen those before," Mongke grunted. "This is different."
Kahchi nodded, knowing best not to question his commanding officer, especially when he was getting desperate.
Mongke scowled at the sky, knowing if he did not find any traces of Ursa this far south, he would likely go on a rampage.
As the light continued to linger, a boy emerged with glowing eyes and tattoos. Sokka held up his spear while Azula took up a firebending stance.
"Stop right there!" he shouted.
The boy continued to stand as if unimpressed, but the light from his eyes and tattoos faded and he started to stumble. Katara rushed up to him as he fell to the ice. Zuko started at the boy in confusion while Azula and Sokka stared in mistrust. The latter began poking at the boy's head with the blunt end of his spear.
Katara glared at her brother for his rather rude act. "Stop it!" she reprimanded as she pushed the spear away. She looked back at the boy, who slowly started to wake up.
He slowly opened his eyes and inhaled deeply at the sight of the pretty girl holding him and was even more enamored when the breeze gently blows her braids.
"I have to ask you something…," he said in a weak voice.
"What?" Katara asked with concern.
"Please… come closer…," he asked. Katara leaned in.
"What is it?" she asked again, worried that he was as weak as he sounded.
His eyes suddenly shot open with excitement. "Will you go penguin sledding with me?" he asked in an excited and normal voice.
Katara looked at him in confusion. "Uh… sure I guess" she answered, confused by the sudden change of the boy's behavior.
The boy leapt up while the air around him twisted outward away from him, causing Sokka to shout in surprise while Zuko looked at the boy in amazement. Azula raised an eyebrow, wondering if…
No that's impossible. They've been extinct for a hundred years, she thought to herself. A pang of guilt poked at her heart, but she set it aside, believing it was not her fault for what happened long before she was born.
"Where am I?" the boy asked as he scratched the back of his head.
"Don't you know?" Zuko asked.
"Uh, no I don't. That's why I asked," the boy said.
"Why don't you tell us?" Azula asked mistrustful.
"Yeah, how'd you get into the ice?" Sokka added. "And why aren't you frozen?"
"I have no idea," the boy said defensively. A loud grown erupted from the ice above the group. The boy smiled happily and jumped up to where he emerged from. The teenagers followed where they spotted a large furry creature with six legs. Zuko and Katara were amazed by it while Azula eyed the creature with distrust, believing it to be dangerous; Sokka's jaw comically fell in shock.
"Appa!" the boy shouted as he hugged the creature's head. "Are you okay? Wake up buddy." He lifted one of the creature's eyelids in an attempt to wake it. The creature stirred and got up.
"Ha-ha you're okay!" the boy said gleefully.
"What is that thing?" Azula asked.
"That thing could feed the whole village for a week…," Sokka whispered callously. The boy did not hear him but Katara elbowed her brother for saying such a crass thing.
"This is Appa, my flying bison," the boy said proudly.
"Right," Zuko said unconvinced. "And this is Azula, my flying sister," he said in a poor attempt to jab at his sister.
"Actually," Azula said thoughtfully, "I probably could fly." She smirked at her brother, who pouted knowing that she probably could with her firebending.
Suddenly, Appa began inhaling deeply and sneezed, spraying Sokka and Zuko in mucus. Both of them panic and tried to rub the mucus off of them. Azula laughs at them while Katara dreadfully thought about cleaning that out of their clothes.
"Don't worry," the boy said casually. "It'll wash out."
Sokka rubbed mucus off of his face and grimaced at the sight. Zuko fared no better as he wiped the mucus off himself.
"You two are washing that out yourselves," Katara warned. She turned to the boy. "I'm Katara. This is my best friend Azula," she said as she gestured to her. Azula nodded, still unsure whether or not the boy can be trusted. But she had to admit he seemed innocent enough so she can give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Don't tell him who we are!" Sokka said suddenly. "He was trying to signal the Fire Navy with that light."
Azula rolled her eyes at Sokka's ridiculous accusation. "Sure he was," she said sarcastically. "You can tell by that evil look in his eye."
The boy smiled innocently in turn.
"The paranoid one is my brother Sokka," Katara said.
"And the one with the ugly scar is my brother Zuko," Azula added while Zuko eyed her given how she was still insensitive about the worst day of his life. "You still haven't told us your name."
"I-I-I," the boy said before inhaling deeply. He sneezed loudly and flew high into the air. He landed gracefully and wore a look that indicated it was an everyday thing.
"I'm Aang," he said before sniffling and rubbed his nose.
"You just sneezed," Sokka said shocked. "And flew ten feet into the air."
"Really?" Aang asked. "It felt higher than that."
"How did you do that?" Zuko asked.
"Because he's an airbender Dum-Dum," Azula answered for him.
"An airbender?" Katara said hopefully.
"Yep, I'm an airbender," Aang said with a smile.
"Giant beams of light, so called flying bison and now an airbender," Sokka said disbelieving. "I think I've finally got Midnight Sun Madness. I'm heading home where things make sense."
"Oh yeah?" Azula asked skeptically. "How are you going to do that Dummerang?"
"Dummerang?!" Sokka said aghast while Azula smirked at him. Katara laughed at him while Zuko was secretly relived that he was not the only one with a mean nickname from Azula.
"Well, if you guys are stuck, Appa and I can give you a lift home," Aang offered before jumping atop of Appa and taking the reins.
"We'd love a ride!" Katara exclaimed before climbing abord. "Thanks!" Zuko shrugged and climbed aboard while Sokka and Azula remained skeptical of the bison.
"You really want to trust that thing?" Azula asked.
"Yeah, I'm not getting on that giant snot monster," Sokka said scornfully.
"Do you have any other choice?" Zuko asked his best friend. Sokka was about to say something but he had nothing to argue with and reluctantly climbed aboard Appa. Azula remained stubbornly on the ice.
"Please Azula," Katara pleaded her best friend. "I don't want you to freeze out here."
Azula frowned at that, knowing her firebending can keep her warm. But her rational mind kicked in and reasoned that she could not do that forever as the temperature dropped significantly. And even if she could fight the cold, she will likely starve to death before reaching the village.
Even more reluctant than Sokka, she climbed aboard and sat down in the back of the saddle with him. Both wore deep frowns at having to trust someone and their animal with getting them home. Zuko was unsure what to think but Katara was rather excited to see Appa fly.
"Alright first time flyers, hang on tight!" Aang shouted with excitement. He shook the reins tied to the bison's horns and shouted, "Appa, yip-yip!"
Appa used all the might in his six legs to launch himself into the air. Katara shouted in glee while the boys grimaced in anticipation of the impact they expected. Azula remained unimpressed, believing that the bison cannot fly.
As always she was right when the bison splashed into the water and began swimming through the water.
"Wow, that was really impressive," Sokka said sarcastically.
"Yeah, it's amazing to finally experience the joy of flight," Azula added with her own sarcasm.
"Don't worry," Aang said unfazed by their comments, "Appa's just tired. When he's rested he'll be soaring through the sky."
"Looking forward to it," Katara said with a smile. She was about to turn to sit in the saddle but noticed Aang was staring at her.
"Why are you staring at me?" she asked.
"Oh," Aang said self-consciously, "I was staring?"
Azula laughed at that, guessing their guest has a crush on her friend. Sokka groaned at that, thinking the same thing.
Zuko on the other hand, remained oblivious to all of that. He raised his eyebrow at Azula.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"You don't see it Zuzu?" Azula asked. "I guess your eye must be more affected than what Kanna diagnosed."
Zuko scowled at his sister but then heard Aang snicker.
"Zuzu?" he said.
"It's what Azula calls Zuko," Katara explained. "She also calls him Dum-Dum."
Aang's smiled waned at that. "That's not nice."
"Well it's a little sister's job to be a pain in the ass for their older brothers," Sokka groaned. "Believe me."
"I wouldn't know," Aang confessed. "I didn't spend too much time with girls around my age."
"That's obvious," Azula said, causing Sokka to laugh. Azula glared at him. "Like you have any better experience than him." Sokka scowled at her, causing Azula to smirk in turn.
"Why didn't you spend any time around girls when you were growing up?" Katara asked.
"The monks believed that keeping boys and girls separate during our training would be better," Aang said.
"But how would you learn to interact with girls?" Zuko innocently asked. "You didn't do such a good job just a few minutes ago."
Aang was taken aback by that. However Zuko intended for that to sound, it gave Aang a sour taste in his mouth.
"Well I just have to start learning now," he snapped before looking back over the sea in the direction Appa was swimming.
Zuko was confused by Aang's reaction but he was too tired to ask any more questions.
As dusk approached and Appa made his way back to the village, everyone largely remained quiet, tired from the day's excitement. Zuko collapsed onto the saddle floor within an hour of them taking off while Azula and Sokka held a silent competition on who can stay awake the longest. Azula won but just barely as she collapsed onto Sokka's shoulder after he fell into a deep sleep. Katara kept wondering about what Aang knew about the Avatar and debated on asking him.
She moved toward the front of the saddle and spotted Aang laying on Appa's head with his legs elevated on the bison's neck. He stared at the blue sky but spotted Katara peer over the saddle's edge.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," he replied with a small smile, happy that she was taking an interest in him.
"I was wondering…," Katara began, "since you're an airbender, do you know what happened to the Avatar?"
Aang's eyes widen at that, not wanting to answer that, mostly because of his fear of the truth.
"Uh no," he lied. "I don't know what happened to them."
"Oh, okay," Katara said with mild disappointment. "I hoped you would know but it's okay. I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Aang said. After Katara turned away, he grimaced in guilt for lying to her out of fear.
Lightning flashed and thunder resounded. Aang woke with a start on top of Appa's head. He glanced about and soon saw his mentor appear in front of him.
"Monk Gyatso?" Aang asked.
"Why did you leave us Aang?" Gyatso replied.
"I didn't mean to," Aang said shamefully.
Monk Gyatso dissipated from the air and soon Appa was being tossed about through the chaotic sky. Aang shouted and attempted to direct Appa into a safer direction but it was fruitless…
Aang woke with a start inside an igloo. He glanced about and remembered where he was headed after he was broken free from the iceberg.
The girl who found him came into the tent and smiled brightly.
"Aang!" Katara exclaimed. "You're finally awake."
"Yeah," he said, trying to hide how rattled he was. "When did we get here?"
"Late last night," she said. "It took a while to calm the elders down after seeing Appa."
"They didn't hurt him did they?!" Aang shrieked in fear.
"No, no," Katara reassured. "He's fine." Aang breathed a sigh of relief. "C'mon, get dressed," Katara continued. "I want to introduce you to the whole village."
"Okay," he said as he grabbed his clothes. Katara paid close attention to the blue arrows tattooed on Aang's arms and legs. If Gran-Gran said was true, Aang is a master airbender. Maybe the only one in existence.
After he finished dressing, Katara grabbed him by the arm and led him outside. When they exited the igloo, the village's women, children, and old men stared in a mix of awe and suspicion.
"Aang," Katara began, "these are my neighbors. Everyone, this is Aang."
"Uh, hi," he said awkwardly as they continued to stare at him. "Why are they staring at me like that?" he whispered to Katara. "Do I have something on my face?"
An elderly woman with a striking resemblance to Katara and another woman with features similar to Azula stepped forward. Sokka, Azula and Zuko stood nearby, the former two mistrustful of Aang while the latter stared in uncertainty.
"No one has seen an airbender in a hundred years," the elderly woman said. "We thought them extinct."
"Extinct?" Aang asked.
"Aang, this is my grandmother," Katara said.
"Call me Gran-Gran," Kanna replied with a smile.
"Okay," Aang said. He looked over the woman with features striking similar to people from the Fire Nation. In fact Zuko and Azula had those same features as well. "Who's this?"
"This is my mother, Ursa," Zuko said while stepping forward. "And in a way, she's Sokka's and Katara's stepmother."
"I wouldn't quite put it that way Zuko," Katara said with a lopsided smile. Ursa froze slightly, wondering if her and Hakoda's children had suspicions on the extent of their relationship.
"C'mon she's been helping out Hakoda since we got here!" Zuko defended.
"Doesn't make her our stepmom!" Katara exclaimed. "They'd have to get married. And they don't see each other that way."
That comment hurt Ursa, but she understood why Katara would believe such a thing. It also put her at slight ease knowing Katara was under the impression that Ursa and Hakoda had no feelings for one another.
Aang stood there in confusion, not sure what to make of this strange family. Sokka strolled up to him and took his staff away.
"What is this?" he asked. "Some kind of weapon? You can't stab anyone with this."
"Not all weapons have sharp edges Sucker," Azula said condescendingly after rolling her eyes.
Aang laughed at their spat. "My staff isn't for stabbing, it's for airbending." He twirled it about, and wings emerged quickly from within. Sokka yelped at that, causing Azula to laugh at him.
"Magic trick!" one of the children exclaimed with excitement. "Do it again!"
"It's not magic, it's airbending," Aang corrected. "I use it to control the air currents around the wings to allow me to fly."
Sokka rolled his eyes at that. "Last time I checked; humans can't fly."
"Check again!" Aang said before grasping his staff by the wings and taking off into the sky. Everyone was amazed at how Aang maneuver through the air effortlessly. Even Azula was impressed and became determined to find a way to use her firebending to fly as well.
Aang smiled in glee at how everyone was amazed that he can defy gravity. But it cost him his attention and he crashed into a watchtower made of snow. It collapsed with him, burying him but he was unharmed.
Sokka and Zuko starred in disbelief, their hard work gone to waste.
"Our watchtower!" they said in unison and ran towards it, with Katara and Azula in tow. The former was concerned for Aang, while the latter was amused at how the boys were upset to see their precious tower destroyed.
Aang popped out of the snow with little effort. He smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm a lot better at airbending than that. I just got distracted."
"Great," Sokka grumbled. "Katara's a waterbender, Zuko and Azula are firebenders. You four can just have one giant bending fest."
Aang's eyes widen and he looked between the girls and Zuko, the latter trying to figure out how to help Sokka, who was desperately trying to find their equipment buried beneath their tower.
"You three are benders too?!" Aang shouted in excitement.
"Uh?" Zuko said absentmindedly. "Yeah we are." He began digging through the snow, which caused it to fall onto Sokka. Azula and Katara both began laughing at their misfortune. Aang smiled awkwardly but turned his attention back to the girls.
"So what are two firebenders doing in the South Pole?" he asked.
Both the girls became silent at that, knowing the answer was rather complicated and sensitive.
"We can discuss that later," Ursa said gently. "I have breakfast ready. Hope you're hungry too Aang."
"I'm starving!" he said, forgetting his question in an instant. "Hope you have plenty of fruits and veggies."
"Oh," Ursa said with mild regret. "As an Air Nomad you're a vegetarian."
"That's right," Aang said proudly. "Is that a problem?"
Ursa smiled at him. "No dear, it's just we only have seaweed and steamed sea prunes. You can have the boy's share."
Sokka suddenly burst from the snow. "No veggies for me? Great!" He took off towards the igloo in excitement. Zuko was a bit put off that his friend would place food over salvaging their equipment, but it was no surprise given his disdain for vegetables and love of meat. He followed everyone else into the igloo while all the villagers returned to their homes to have their own breakfasts.
Everyone was aware of the elephant-moose in the room but Aang paid no notice to it due to having difficulty in eating the steamed sea prunes. While he thoroughly enjoyed the seaweed, he could not for whatever reason stomach the prunes. And obviously he was not going to eat the fish or other meat products.
"You don't have to eat the sea prunes if you don't enjoy it dear," Kanna said with a kindly smile.
"No, no I-I actually enjoy them!" Aang said but the grimace on his face as he swallowed said otherwise.
Katara giggled at his attempt to show kindness. "Are you still interested in penguin sledding Aang?"
Aang perked up at this. "You bet! When are we going?"
"We'll go after our meal," Katara said with a smile.
"I'll go with you too," Zuko said after finishing his fish.
Katara rolled her eyes at him. "After what you did today? I don't think so."
"It was an accident!" Zuko protested. "Besides, I've never gone penguin sledding."
"And you never will because you're a clutz," Katara teased. Azula smirked in pride at how great Katara was giving Zuko a hard time.
"Hey!" Zuko exclaimed before Katara began laughing at him. "That's not funny!"
Aang took notice of Katara's teasing of Zuko. He once heard that if a girl likes a guy, she will tease and even torment him to get his attention. Bad news for Aang if he wanted a chance with Katara.
"Yeah, maybe you shouldn't go Zuko," Aang said. "You might get hurt."
"No I won't," Zuko scowled.
"Even so, you're not going," Katara teased again. It really did not matter to her if Zuko went or not, she kinda wanted him to go so he can learn to sled on a penguin. She just found it fun to torment Zuko just as much as her brother. It occurred to Katara that Azula rubbed off too much on her.
Zuko growled in frustration, prompting both Katara and Azula to laugh. Sokka paid no heed to the ensuing argument, more focused on the extra meat and fish Aang did not want. Kanna and Ursa both sighed at Katara's refusal to let Zuko go with her and Aang.
"You should let Zuko go with you Katara" Kanna said. "If you don't, he'll just go off on his own and do it anyway."
"Yes," Ursa agreed, "I much rather he go with you for safety."
"But-!" Katara began.
"No buts young one," Kanna sternly said. Katara silenced herself, knowing better than to contradict her grandmother. Zuko smiled in triumph, even though his victory over Katara was rather hollow.
"Fine," Katara said in feigned defeat, still indifferent to Zuko going with her and Aang. Though the idea of Zuko crashing made it appealing to let him come along. She bite down on the inside of her lower lip to hide the smirk from everyone, who had no idea what she planned to do.
Except Azula, who knew that Katara can have a mean streak like her. Azula looked forward to hearing the story.
"What about you Azula?" Katara asked. "Do you want to go?"
Azula sighed. "I wish I could, but someone needs to keep this oaf in line," she said while gesturing towards Sokka. He finished his meal and was now paying attention to the conversation.
"Oh, what? You think I can't be left alone?" he asked with a frown.
"Nope," both Azula and Katara answered in unison. Sokka groaned at their response while Ursa and Kanna sighed deeply, wondering how these four teenagers manage to balance arguing and working together.
Soon after the dishes were cleaned, Katara led Aang and Zuko to the grounds where the penguins liked to congregate. When Aang spotted them, he shouted in glee and began pursing them. Katara giggled at him while Zuko gave a lopsided smile.
"He sure is rather carefree about life and all," he commented.
"Yeah, he sure is," Katara said as she watched Aang attempt to jump and grab a penguin to no avail. "Certainly, a welcomed change to the village since…"
She remained silent for a moment, not wanting to say what that change was.
"Since Hakoda left for the war?" Zuko asked carefully.
"Since before that," Katara said sadly. Zuko understood who she was referring to and knew better than to bring it up.
Zuko watched Aang as the airbender once again attempted to catch another penguin. He managed to get his arms around one, but it slipped out of his grasp. To Zuko amazement Aang thought it was funny rather than frustrating.
"Do you think he knows what happened to the last Avatar?" Zuko asked to change the subject.
"I asked him about that, and he said no," Katara said. She thought about that brief conversation she had with him. "But I can't help but wonder that he does know something."
"And he's not telling?" Zuko said with a smirk. "You've hung out with Azula way too long. You're starting to pick up some of her talents about lying. Both good and bad."
"Well mostly the good talents," Katara said with a sly smile while Zuko dreaded what she meant. She noticed Aang still struggling to catch a penguin and decided it was time to help him. "C'mon, let's give him a hand." She led Zuko over to Aang, who was laughing hysterically about the penguins, who were more curious than scared.
"I guess I don't quite have a way to charm these guys like most animals," he sheepishly admitted.
Katara giggled at his supposed guilt. "The art of catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art," she said wisely. She pulled some small fishes from one of her parka's pockets. "Observe," she said before tossing the fish towards the penguins, who gathered around her to receive more. Katara than tossed a few to both Aang and Zuko, who then had penguins surrounding them.
Within minutes, the three of them were riding the penguins down a slick hill of snow. Katara and Aang were both shouting and laughing in glee.
"I haven't done this since I was a kid!" Katara shouted.
"You still are a kid!" Aang shouted back before laughing.
In contrast to their fun, Zuko was grimly trying to get his penguin to slow down, as he was quickly surpassing both Katara and Aang. He was the first to reach the bottom of the hill and instead of letting the penguin come to a complete stop, he let go and flew several feet through the air and landed face first into a pile of soft snow. Katara and Aang came to his aid but laughed at his misfortune when they saw he was alright.
"I'm never doing that again," Zuko sternly said while brushing the snow out of his hair and parka.
Katara giggled at him while trying to help him with her waterbending. "You should've let the penguin come to a complete stop before getting off Dum-Dum."
Zuko groaned at Katara using his own sister's nickname for him, causing Katara to laugh even more. Aang watched their interaction and cannot help but feel slighted that these two have a connection to one another, when he felt that it was him and Katara that had a connection.
He frowned and looked away, spotting a dark and imposing metal structure incased in the ice.
"Hey, what's that?" he said to get their attention off of each other.
Katara and Zuko looked towards where Aang was looking and spotted the abandoned Fire Nation warship. Katara looked at it in dread while Zuko looked away in shame.
"A Fire Navy ship," Katara began, "and a really bad memory for my people."
"And a shameful one for mine," Zuko added.
"A shameful bad memory," Aang repeated thoughtfully. He began walking towards the ship to the dismay of Katara and Zuko.
"Aang you can't go in there!" Zuko shouted.
"Yeah, there might be booby-traps!" Katara added.
"Aren't you two benders?" Aang asked, to which the other two nodded. "Then to be a master bender, you must first master fear." He led the way into the ship, totally oblivious to the dangers while the others followed him reluctantly.
As they explored the ship, Aang was amazed by the technological advancement of the ship but was also put off at all the weapons onboard.
"What's with all these weapons?" he asked as he picked up a spear, dreading as to whether if it was used for its intended purpose.
"It's a warship Aang," Katara said. "It was part of a raiding force from years ago."
"Years ago?" Aang asked. "How long ago did this war started?"
"My nation started this war a hundred years ago," Zuko explained in shame.
"You mean the Fire Nation started a war?" Aang asked. "I don't remember a war being started by any of the four nations."
"How long were you in that iceberg Aang?" Katara asked.
"I don't know," Aang said unsure. "A few days maybe?"
"Then how do you not know about the war that's being raging for the past one hundred years?" Zuko asked.
"It's because he was frozen in that iceberg for one hundred years," Katara said with realization.
"What?!" Aang said with shock. "That's impossible. Do I look like a hundred year old man to you?"
"Maybe that blue light kept you and Appa safe somehow," Katara theorized. "But you need to think this through Aang. How do you not know about the war that's being happening for the past one hundred years?"
The reality of the situation sunk deep into Aang. He was gone for one hundred years. And it was during a time when the world needed him the most.
He collapsed against the bulkhead and fell to the deck. "A hundred years…," he said depressed and shameful. Katara knelt down beside him a put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay Aang," she said. "We'll help you through this."
"Yeah, we got your back," Zuko added.
"Who knows?" Katara added. "Maybe some good can come out of this."
"Well I did get to meet you," Aang said, his optimism returning as he smiled at Katara, who returned it.
"Hey what about me?" Zuko asked. "Are you glad to meet me too?"
Aang smiled at him, but also felt a twinge of a wish that Zuko was not here to ruin his chances with Katara.
But he still appreciated Zuko's offer of friendship. In a way, Zuko reminded Aang of his old friend from the Fire Nation, Kuzon.
"Yeah, I am," Aang finally said with a smile.
They continued to search through the ship, much to Katara's and Zuko's protest.
"Aang, we should leave, it's getting spooky in here," Katara said.
"Yeah, and we might set off some booby-traps," Zuko warned.
"I need to know more about this war," Aang said determinedly before rounding a corner and felt his ankle tug at a string. He tried to back away from it, but it was too late…
The three benders heard a shot go off and rushed to a nearby window, where they watched in horror as a flare flew high into the sky before it exploded in a bright red ball.
"Uh-oh," Aang said with mild fear.
"We need to go!" Zuko shouted. "Now!" He led the way out of the ship with Katara and Aang close on his heels. They came to an open hatch and found that no gangway was there to let them down.
"Hang on!" Aang said before grabbing Katara bridal style and jumping down from deck to deck onto the ice. He turned to go back for Zuko. "Hang on, I'll be right there!"
"You two get going!" Zuko shouted back. "I'll get down on my own!" He took a running start and leapt through the hatch aiming for the ice. Right before impacting the ground, he shot out a powerful blast of fire, slowing down his decent and landing softly.
"Nice landing," Aang compliment. "Worthy of an airbender."
"Thanks," Zuko said with a smile. "Let's get going. Who knows who spotted that flare." The three benders took off running towards the village, hoping no one with any hostility saw that flare.
But their wish would prove futile.
Colonel Mongke used his field glasses to take a closer look at the abandoned ship. He spotted what looked like a man carry a woman bridal style jumping from deck to deck with flawless grace.
But it was the second man, who used powerful firebending, that caught his attention.
"Get the rhinos and the grunts ready!" he ordered his men. "I believe we've found our quarry," he finished with a malicious smirk.
It did not take long for Katara, Aang and Zuko to reach the village. Kanna, Ursa, Sokka, Azula and several others waited by the main entryway, the teenagers there with weapons ready.
"What did you three do?" Sokka demanded.
"You went on that ship," Azula reprimanded before glaring at Katara and Zuko. "I told you two that it was booby-trapped."
"Yeah," Aang said with guilt, "and we boobied right into one."
"Katara, Zuko," Kanna sternly said, "you two know going abroad that ship is forbidden."
"We know," Zuko said with shame. Katara shared that same feeling.
"It's my fault," Aang admitted. "I was insistent that we go because I wanted to see the truth about the war."
"Well you're about to get a real good example for that," Sokka growled. "For all we know a Fire Navy ship is on its way!"
"You should leave," Azula said to Aang with daggers in her eyes. "You are responsible for what happened."
Katara was appalled at that. "So, what? Aang is banished like that?"
"That's right," Sokka confirmed. "The foreigner is banished from our village."
"Fine!" Katara shouted. "If Aang is banished than I am too!" She grabbed Aang by the wrist and pulled him away. "C'mon Aang, we're heading to the North Pole."
Aang felt a flurry of excitement at the idea of traveling with Katara alone. "Really? Great!"
"Katara," Azula said, "you would really turn you back on your family? On your tribe?"
Katara halted at her friend's words, knowing she was right. Katara just could not do that, no matter if that would mean becoming a master waterbender.
"Katara," Aang said gently, "I would never ask you to turn your back on your people. I'll go on my own."
Katara looked at Aang pleadingly. "You're leaving? Just like that?"
"I'm afraid so. I think it's time for me to return home," he said with a smile, which turned into a small grimace. "Man, I haven't cleaned my room in a hundred years. Not looking forward to that."
He turned towards the villagers, specifically Kanna and Ursa. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said while bowing. "I hope you all stay safe."
He jumped aboard Appa and urged him to begin walking away from the village.
Katara watched Aang and Appa leave the village with sadness. Kanna walked up behind her. "Katara, please come back to the village. We may need your help." Katara nodded and walked back with her grandmother.
Sokka began organizing the teenagers to defend the village. "Alright, armor up and get your weapons! The Fire Navy can be here any minute!"
The teenagers began running to the armory to do as ordered. Zuko also ran in that direction but was stopped by Sokka.
"You, Ursa and Azula should hide," he warned. "The Fire Nation may still be looking for you guys."
"So what?" Zuko protested. "I'm ready to fight!"
"Zuko," Ursa urged, "he's right. If we hide, maybe Sokka can bluff and tell the Fire Nation sailors that we're not here."
Azula rolled her eyes at the idea of Sokka bluffing. "Like he can do that."
"I can bluff!" Sokka squealed.
"Like a cow-pig can fly," she teased. Sokka growled but Ursa spoke before he could.
"That's enough. We are hiding Azula, no argument." She grabbed both her children by the arm and headed into their igloo. Azula and Zuko both fumed in disappointment and anger but maybe if Sokka can pull this off, maybe their home will be spared.
The village remained tense as they waited for the inevitable. Not far away, Aang and Appa rested atop a snow hill, realizing that the latter cannot fly just yet due to exhaustion.
Appa groaned suddenly; Aang took this for him missing Katara.
"Yeah, I miss her too," he mused. He turned his head towards the sea, where he spotted a more advanced looking Fire Navy ship heading straight for the village. He gasped when he spotted menacing looking men running about the main deck.
Sensing they were looking for Ursa and her children, he sprang into action, planning on giving himself up to save them.
"Appa, wait here!" he shouted before flying off on his glider. Appa groaned but did as he was told.
Sokka and his warriors waited at the edge of the village, waiting in a mixture of anticipation and dread for the Fire Navy.
They did not have to wait long when a Fire Navy ship began plowing through the ice cap like a knife. The vibrations of it making it difficult for the Water Tribe warriors to keep their balance, but they held themselves in place, despite the ship getting closer and closer.
"Oh man," Sokka said to himself but held his ground.
"Sokka!" Katara shouted to them. "Get out of the way! All of you get out of the way!"
The teenagers did as they were told but Sokka stubbornly remained in place. Soon a large snowbank forced him back. He still held his ground but was finally forced to move with a yelp when a ramp fell forward.
Five rhinos came marching down the ramp with riders, four of which carried weapons, but it was the lead rider that was the scariest of them all.
"I am Colonel Mongke of the Rough Rhinos and we are looking for a traitor named Ursa," he shouted. "She is wanted for high treason against the Fire Nation."
"Never heard of her," Sokka defiantly said before charging forward. The man on the rhino laughed and launched a fire ball at the ground, forcing Sokka to halt. In response, he launch his boomerang at the man, who dodged it with ease before he bark a laugh.
"Is that all you got boy?" he challenged.
"Wait for it…," Sokka said smugly.
Mongke crooked an eyebrow, wondering what the boy meant. He soon got his answer when the boomerang smack him on the back of the head on its return trajectory.
He growled in anger before launching several fire blasts in front of the village.
"You think this is a fucking joke boy?!" he shouted.
Sokka yelped in response and he tried to dodge the fire.
Zuko and Azula stood by the doorway of their igloo, unable to stand watching their village under attack.
"Well there goes Sokka's bluff," Azula said unsurprised.
"We have to help!" Zuko said as he grabbed his machetes while Azula grabbed her boomerang.
"NO!" Ursa shouted and tried to hold her children back but it was futile because they were much stronger than her now.
"I have a plan mom!" Azula said urgently. "Stay here!"
"No you two are NOT going out there!" Ursa pleaded.
"Yes, we are," Azula sternly said before she pushed her mother harshly away. Kanna caught Ursa but they still fell to the floor. "Sorry mom, Kanna, but we have to do this," Azula said sincerely before grabbing Zuko and running outside.
Ursa was dismayed with herself for allowing this to happen. After seeing that Kanna was okay, she tried to leave the igloo but Kanna stopped her.
"They're doing this to protect you and the village," she said.
"And how are they doing that by running into a deadly fight?!" Ursa said, her breath beginning to heave as she started to tear up.
"I believe Azula plans on bluffing now," Kanna said before sighing. "We just have to trust her."
Ursa wept slightly but decided to trust her daughter, for Azula had to trust her when it was dire.
Mongke and his men laughed at how Sokka desperately tried to evade the fire blasts. Mongke soon stopped and shouted, "Had enough boy?"
"He might have, so you will have to deal with me," a young woman's voice echoed through the village.
Mongke frowned at that. "Who said that?"
Azula landed in front of Sokka, while Zuko and Katara ran up to him and helped him to his feet.
Mongke eyed the pale teenagers and realized they both shared a resemblance to the Fire Lord.
"So, this is where your pathetic tramp of a mother hid you all these years," he said with a smirk. "Rather clever of her."
The teenagers scowled at how this cruel man referred to Ursa as a pathetic tramp.
"So, where is she?" Mongke asked.
"She died years ago," Azula lied. "Drowned at sea while trying to get Zuko and I to safety."
"Is that true?" Mongke asked.
"Yeah it is," Zuko said, catching onto what Azula was doing. She did not show it, but she was actually proud of Zuko's wit this time. Maybe he is smarter under pressure. Or at least more trusting of her.
Mongke scowled at that, disappointed that he and his men will not be able to witness, or even partake in, the kind of sadist punishment Ozai had in mind for Ursa.
But he will still be pleased to have his heirs back.
"Very well than," he said. "You two will come back to Fire Nation at once. Your father will be pleased to see you."
"I'm sure he will," Azula said with sarcasm, though a part of her was curious if he genuinely wanted them back.
"Like hell we'll go back to him," Zuko said. "We're not going anywhere."
"He's worried sick about you two," Mongke said unconvincingly.
"You're lying," Azula said with certainty. "He doesn't care about us. Not in the way these people have." While she remained loyal to her nation of origin, it was more of an idea of what her nation could be rather than what it is.
And she knew Zuko felt the same way.
"The Water Tribe welcomed us and raised us like their own," Zuko said. "We are not turning our backs on them."
Mongke sighed in frustration. "If you won't come willingly, then we'll take you back by force. Men."
The other men on the rhinos moved to surround the teenagers, intending to take Azula and Zuko while making them pay for their insolence by killing the two Water Tribe savages they were helping, followed by the whole village.
The teenagers formed a tight circle and braced themselves.
But suddenly, a massive gust of air came crashing down onto the Rough Rhinos. After the snow blown up by it cleared, Mongke spotted a boy clad in orange and yellow clothes wielding a staff standing before him.
"Why are you here?" Aang demanded.
"We're here for the Fire Lord's children. He has ordered us to return them home," Mongke said with a deep frown.
"The Fire Lord's children…?" Aang said in disbelief. He glance at Zuko and Azula and suddenly it came to him.
Ursa was keeping them away from the Fire Lord to break the cycle of destruction caused by this war.
"You are not taking them," Aang said with determination.
Mongke burst out laughing with his men. "And who are you to stop us?"
"Because my name is Aang, and I am the Avatar" he said with resolve.
Everyone remained silent at this revelation.
Except Azula, who had a feeling that he was the Avatar. "I knew it," she whispered.
"The Fire Lord's children and the Avatar?" Mongke said thoughtfully. "It is our lucky day. Take him as well men."
Mongke launched a burst of flames at Aang, who twirled his staff to disrupt it, but small amounts of it went towards some of the villagers who screamed in fear.
Aang saw this and decided this was not the place to act against these men.
"Wait!" he said before anyone else could launch their own attacks. "If my friends and I go with you, will you leave this village alone?"
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked in disbelief.
"This is the only way to keep the village safe," Aang told him. "I can and will get us out of this," he then whispered.
Azula was not one to give up before trying her hardest, but realization set in. "He's right, Zuko," Azula said, catching onto what Aang was implying. If her instincts were right, and they were always right, Aang will use the Rough Rhinos' lack of knowledge of dealing with airbenders to allow them to escape.
Zuko furrowed his brow, unsure if he could believe Aang, but knew he was right about keeping the village safe.
"Fine," he growled before surrendering with Aang and Azula. Sokka and Katara were shocked that their friends were surrendering so suddenly.
The Rough Rhinos took their weapons and place metal bindings around Zuko's and Azula's wrist, knowing they were likely firebenders, but they tied Aang's wrists with rope, unaware that they just assisted him.
"Is that it?" Katara said. "You're all giving up?"
"We'll be fine Katara," Azula said with a smirk, the kind of smirk that Katara and Sokka has seen before, when Azula came up with a brilliant plan. They paused for a moment, realizing that this was all part of an escape plan.
They nodded in response, knowing what they had to do.
"Load up the prisoners!" Mongke shouted. "It's time to head home."
After the Rough Rhinos led the Avatar and the Fire Lord's children aboard their ship, it pulled away, with many of the villagers sadden that two of their beloveds were now gone along with the Avatar.
After the ship disappeared over the horizon, Ursa came running out of the igloo that Katara and Sokka were approaching.
"Is it true?!" Ursa said hysterically. "They took my children?!"
"Don't worry Ursa," Sokka said reassuringly. "We'll get them back."
"Including Aang," Katara said with determination.
"How?" Ursa said. "How are you going to catch that ship? The Fire Navy's ships are some of the fastest in the world."
"I'll use my waterbending to catch it," Katara said. "It'll be tough, but I'll get it done."
"Not with all the items you'll need for you trip," Kanna said.
"What items Gran-Gran?" Sokka asked as he checked his weapons. "We're coming right back."
"And they'll follow you," Kanna said matter of fact. Katara and Sokka grimaced at that thought.
"And it is also time for you to fulfil your destinies with Azula and Zuko," Kanna added.
Ursa, Katara and Sokka stared at the elderly woman with confusion.
"What are you talking about Gran?" Sokka asked. He was never one to believe in predetermined destiny, preferring to take manner into his own hands.
"Aang is the Avatar, he's the world's only hope for peace and balance. The four of you found Aang for a reason. And now all your destinies are intertwined with his," Kanna told them with such ancient wisdom that she almost appeared older to the teenagers.
Sokka and Katara looked at each other, feeling the weight of the world pressing down onto their shoulders. Ursa felt a strong pain in her chest, knowing that her children, both actual and adopted, were about to face great dangers and hardships for who knows how long.
But she could not argue with what the Avatar must accomplish. She knew that better than most.
She teared up with pride and took Katara and Sokka into her arms. "I AM so proud of you for finding the Avatar with Zuko and Azula. Makes sure to tell them that, and to look out for one another."
Katara returned the hug while Sokka awkwardly patted Ursa on the back.
"We will," Katara said. When Ursa let her go, she hugged her grandmother closely.
"You have a long journey ahead of you," Kanna said. "It's been so long for me to hope, but you and Azula brought it back to me my little waterbender." Kanna let go and turned towards Sokka. "And you my brave warrior… make sure you and Zuko are nice to your sisters." She hugged Sokka tightly.
Sokka hugged his grandmother back. "I'll take care them Gran."
After gathering their gear, along with Azula's and Zuko's, Katara and Sokka approached their new boat, but Katara stopped and stared at it.
"There's no way we're catching them in that boat," she said with doubt.
"Well we don't have any better options do we?" Sokka said.
But then, they heard a loud roar behind them. They turned and spotted Appa approaching them, as if he knew what happened and was telling them they needed him to rescue his rider and their friends.
"Appa!" Katara said with a smile and ran towards him. "Looks like we do have a better option than that boat Sokka!"
Sokka frowned. "You just love taking me outside my comfort zone."
Onboard the now sailing ship, Mongke eyed Aang's staff with disdain. "What kind of weapon is this?" he said with scorn. "Do you just bash it over people's heads?"
"Give it back and I'll show you what I can do with it," Aang said defiantly. He has met some rather unpleasant people in his shortish life, but Mongke and his men took it to an all new level.
Mongke laughed out loud and raised the staff his chest and bent his leg to a ninety-degree angle. Aang's eyes widen in horror as he realized that Mongke was about to break it in two. Aang knew how to do minor repairs to it, but he had no means to reconstruct it. Azula and Zuko also knew that a similar fate awaited their favored weapons too.
"Wait," Azula said sternly. Mongke froze with a scowl, wondering what she would say. "It's true my father will reward you handsomely for capturing us, but wouldn't keeping the Avatar's staff and the weapons of the Fire Lord's children as trophies sweeten the reward?"
Mongke raised an eyebrow in thought, then smirked in delight that he would have a few mementos for capturing the last airbender and finding the Fire Lord's children
"Perhaps you're more like your father than you realize girl," he said as he held Azula's boomerang. Azula was not sure if she should take either comment as a compliment or an insult. Zuko scowled at Mongke when the colonel dragged the twin machetes along the deck.
"Take them below deck," Mongke ordered before turning to his original members, Kahchi, Ogodei, Vachir, and Yeh-Lu. "Let's head topside to celebrate." His men gleefully followed, wanting to drink in what felt like ages, even though they drank just a few days ago.
Mongke's other men, ordinary firebenders from the mainline Fire Navy, dragged Aang, Azula, and Zuko inside and began heading towards the brig in the lower decks. Azula search the men for a key to her and Zuko's bindings and spotted one on the belt of the lead man.
Fool. You should never carry the keys to your captive's freedom when near them. She nodded towards Aang and gestured to the keys, and he understood what she was implying.
It was time to escape.
"So," Aang began, "I guess you guys never fought an airbender before. I bet I can take on all four of you with my hands tied behind my back!"
"Silence," the helmeted leader said.
Aang nodded towards Azula and Zuko. They nodded back, Azula knowing what will happen next while Zuko caught onto what will happen after he noticed Azula eyeing the key.
Aang took a deep breath, causing the key to fly off from the lead firebender's belt towards Aang's mouth. He caught it and jumped up to deliver a powerful kick towards the leader, launching him forward down the corridor. Aang then spun around to trip the soldier who attempted to grab hold of him. The firebender collapsed to the deck with a loud thump.
Azula spun around and twirled in the air, launching a powerful azure blaze of fire at the two remaining guards. They stumbled back in horror, never heard of, much less seen, blue fire before. Zuko took advantage of their back footing to trip them.
The three of them then sprinted back towards where they came from and stopped before the entrance to the main deck. Aang jumped up and slipped his hands under his feet to allow himself to free Azula and Zuko from their shackles. Azula then carefully burned the rope around Aang's wrist to free him.
"Now what?" Zuko asked.
"We get our weapons," Azula said. "Once we have them we can try to take one of their emergency craft."
"Or I can fly us out of here," Aang said.
Azula eyed him with skepticism. "How would that work?"
"Well you two can hang onto the top of my glider while I fly it. That should work," Aang said before scratching the back of his head. "I think."
"You think?" Azula growled, causing Aang to recoil slightly with a bashful smile.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Zuko said, "but I like Azula's plan better."
"Now you grow a brain Zuzu," she replied. He scowled at her before they heard one of the men they fought chase after them. Azula launched a fire blast at him to scare him off. The three of them took off to find their weapons. They soon developed a tactic of Azula and Zuko using their firebending to suppress the crew, while Aang used his airbending to shield them or knock down the crewmembers when the opportunity came.
As they climbed the tower, they came across a rather large bedroom, where their weapons laid atop a table.
"Our weapons!" Zuko shouted before he and Aang rushed into the room. Azula scowled at their lack of focus, not clearing the room before rushing to retrieve their weapons. She jumped through the hatch and checked each corner behind it.
But the room was empty. She narrowed her eyebrows in suspicion. This had to be Mongke's room, so why would he leave it unlocked?
She grabbed her boomerang and spotted several documents on a nearby desk. She grabbed a bag and stuffed as much as she quickly could into it.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked. "We need to go!"
"These documents would be useful to us Dum-Dum," she said after rolling her eyes. They soon left the room and took off. Azula froze when they were running down a corridor. Aang and Zuko stopped and stared at her.
"What now?" Zuko growled.
"We should go back the way we came," she answered.
"You're not serious are you?!" Aang said. "That's the way they're running to find us!"
"Perhaps but Mongke is no fool," Azula said thoughtfully. "He would expect us to think that and choose a different way."
"So you think the way we came would be less guarded," Zuko said.
"Or not guarded at all" Azula replied.
"You don't know that," Zuko said.
"And neither do you Dum-Dum," Azula hissed.
Zuko growled at her while Azula stared at him with daggers.
"Guys!" Aang shouted. "We can't stand here bickering. We need to move. I say we find a hatch that leads outside on this deck and I can try to fly us off this ship. Or at least glide us to an emergency boat."
Zuko and Azula stared at him skeptically, not wanting him to fail and have them fall into the freezing water.
But that idea was the best way to avoid more of the crew.
"Alright, we'll do it your way Avatar," Azula said. Zuko nodded in agreement and they took off to find a hatch that led outside.
When they found one, Aang opened up his glider to allow Azula and Zuko to grab the top of it. Aang took a deep breath and leapt into the air and used all of his power to fly them to safety…
But the weight was too much, and they crashed onto the main deck. When they stood up, they found they had their backs to the railing, while Mongke's men surrounded them.
Mongke ran onto the deck and scowled deeply at his men's stupidity. He swore the next time, he will take prisoners to the brig himself.
"You're surrounded!" he shouted. "Just give it up!"
Aang, Azula and Zuko braced themselves as the men closed in around them…
After Sokka and Katara loaded all the group's gear, they climb aboard the bison's saddle.
"Come on Appa," Katara said, "it's time to save our friends. Let's go!"
Appa roared and jumped high into the air. Katara smiled at the prospect of flying…
Only to be let down when Appa crashed into the water and began swimming.
"I knew he couldn't fly," Sokka said.
Katara glared at him before speaking to Appa with an encouraging voice. "Ignore him Appa. I know you can fly. And you have to fly in order to save our friends. You can do it."
Sokka shook his head. "Go," he said, trying to get the bison to fly. "Fly. Soar."
"Please Appa. You have to fly to save our friends…" Katara pleaded. Appa roared an agreement but did not take off into the sky.
"Up. Ascend. Elevate," Sokka continued to no avail. He thought back to when Aang tried to get Appa to fly. "What was it that kid said before? Yup-yup? Yahoo? Uh… yip-yip?"
Appa groans loudly and suddenly he began to flop his tail against the water. He hops atop the surface of the water and picks up speed. Katara and Sokka look at each other, wondering what Appa was trying to achieve…
And with a mighty heave, Appa soared into the sky.
Katara smiles proudly at Appa, knowing he can do it all along. Sokka shouts gleefully as he looked down at the water and ice, unafraid of the tremendous height.
"He's flying!" he shouted in joy and looked at his sister. "Katara he's-!" he paused as his sister looked at him with a satisfied smirk.
"I mean," Sokka said nonchalantly, "big deal he's flying."
But Sokka was still amazed at the incredible feat of flight, an act he once thought only birds were capable of.
Katara looked toward the direction where the Fire Navy ship took her friends.
"Alright," she spoke with determination, "let's save our friends."
As Aang, Azula and Zuko braced themselves for the end, the men approaching them suddenly stopped and looked into the sky. Some even took a few steps back with looks of disbelief and fear on their faces.
Suddenly, a large roared echoed through the air, causing the trio to turn and look at the source…
To find Appa, with Katara and Sokka atop of him, diving toward the ship at high speed.
"Appa!" Aang shouted with a joyful smile.
"He flies?!" Azula asked in disbelief.
"He flies!" Zuko shouted in confirmation.
Still in the air, Appa spun around before landing on the deck, causing the men to leap back in shock. Then the bison lifted his tail and slammed it against the deck, causing a massive blast of air to knock the men, including Mongke and his lieutenants, to fly back into the bulkhead of the tower.
"Let's get out of here!" Azula ordered before running to climb aboard Appa with Katara's help. Sokka did the same for Zuko while Aang used his airbending to leap onto Appa's head.
After checking to see if everyone was secure before shouting, "Appa yip-yip!"
Appa took off in a hurry, sensing the urgency of the situation.
Mongke gathered his senses and saw the bison taking off.
"Bring them down!" he shouted. "Whatever it takes!" He began shooting several fire blasts into the air, along with several other firebenders and Vachir the former Yuyan Archer.
Aang spotted the incoming attacks and began swatting them down with his staff.
But then a blunt arrow made of animal hide smacked him in the head, causing him to lose consciousness.
He lost his balance and fell into the freezing water.
"NO!" Katara screams in horror. Zuko growled in anger and began returning with fire of his own, with Azula adding her own blue flame to it. Sokka took control of Appa, urging him to fly higher and away from the ship.
"Aang!" Katara shouted toward the water. "Aang! Aang! AANG!"
Hearing Katara's voice awoken something in Aang, for his eyes opened wide and began glowing along with his airbending tattoos. He began waterbending and shot back above the water atop a powerful waterspout. He looked towards the ship and sends a powerful wave of water into the broad side of the ship, causing it to crash into the ice, damaging its bow and forcing it to a complete stop. The Fire Nation sailors aboard abandoned the fight to focus on damage control. Mongke stared at the boy who did this.
"Did you see what he just did?" Katara asked in astonishment.
"I don't believe it…," Azula said in disbelief.
"That was amazing," Zuko commented.
"That was real waterbending," Sokka added.
Seeing that the Fire Navy ship was no longer a threat, Aang's eyes and tattoos ceased glowing and he lost control of the water. He began falling back towards the water, but Sokka managed to direct Appa to allow Katara and Zuko to catch Aang. Appa flew higher into the sky, escaping the clutches of the Fire Nation.
Mongke scowled at the damage that one child did to his ship.
"Good news for the Fire Lord," Kahchi said. "The greatest threat to the Fire Nation, is just a boy."
"That boy Kahchi, just did this," Mongke growled. He stalked towards the tower. "Dig this hulk out of the damn ice and follow them!"
"Sir, we'll need to dock at the nearest port for repairs," Yeh-Lu reported.
Mongke growled in frustration but understood the necessity of it.
"Just get it done! NOW!" he shouted with small sparks of fire escaping his nostrils. He marched into the tower, intending to have a stiff drink.
As the new heroes fly through the sky, four of them stared at the newest addition to their pack.
"How did you do that?" Katara asked with amazement. "With the water down there? It was the one of the most amazing things I've seen after Azula's blue flames." Azula smirked in pride, knowing her talent was on par with an Avatar's.
"I don't know," Aang answered with uncertainty. "I just sort of… did it."
"Why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?" Azula asked rather forcibly.
"Because…," Aang began, not sure if he should say it. But he has to be honest with his new friends. They just risked their lives for him.
"I never wanted to be the Avatar," he admitted.
"But why?" Zuko asked. "Why wouldn't anyone not want to be the Avatar?"
"Because it's a lot more complicated than it seems," Aang said downcast.
"But Aang," Katara said, "the world has been waiting for a hundred years for the Avatar to return and restore peace and balance to the world."
"But how am I going to do that?" Aang pleaded.
"Well since you've already mastered airbending," Azula began, "you now need to master water, earth and fire."
"Yeah," Aang said, "that's what the monks told me."
"Well," Katara said thoughtfully, "if we travel to the North Pole, we'll find a waterbending master."
Aang smiled brightly. "Then we can learn it together!"
Zuko and Azula recoiled at the idea of going to their sister tribe.
"That would be a bad idea," Azula said.
"Yeah, we won't be welcomed all that much there, being firebenders and the Fire Lord's children," Zuko added.
"We'll vouch for you two," Katara said reassuringly. "Especially if the Avatar is involved."
Zuko nodded his head optimistically but Azula remained unconvinced, but she decided to go along with it.
"Alright," she said, "if it will help end this war so I can see the Fire Nation again, so be it."
Katara smiled at her reassuringly, knowing her friend is a lot more hopeful than she lets on.
"And there's a chance we'll see dad again," Katara added.
"That'll be great!" Sokka shouted while Zuko smiled brightly. Even Azula could not contain the joy she felt about seeing Hakoda again as she bashfully smiled.
"Alright!" Aang said before jumping into the saddle and pulling out a map. "But before we get to the North Pole, we need to make some stops." He unrolls the map and points to several locations on it. "Here, here, and here."
"What's all there?" Katara asked.
"Here," Aang said while point to a spot on the map, "we'll ride the hopping llamas. Then waaaay over here we'll serf on the backs of giant koi fish. Then back over here we'll ride the hog-monkeys. They don't like it when people ride them, but that's what makes it fun!"
Katara and Zuko stared at Aang in disbelief, while Azula pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation and Sokka smacked his forehead in frustration.
"This trip is going to take longer than it should," he said.
"Agreed," Azula added.
"Don't be a bunch of sour platypus bears!" Aang said. "It'll be fun!"
But they all had no idea that their journey will take them to places they never thought they would see, where they will meet people they never knew could exist.