Chapter Ten
Momo watched his prey, a large beetle, carefully, waiting for the opportunity to catch it for a meal. When the beetle turned away from Momo, the lemur swooped down and made a grab for it.
When he inspected his paws, he found the beetle slipped from his grasp. He then spot it flying off and continued his pursuit up a tree, then back down to the base. When Momo landed on the ground he spotted a pile of red nuts and lost interest in the beetle. He approached it and picked one up…
Only to find copper slats snap shut around him and violently lifted him into the air, finding several other traps with hog-monkeys barking madly in their prisons.
Momo began screeching as loudly as he could for help, hoping his owner and friends can hear him.
As the gang began finishing up packing their gear, Aang took notice that someone was missing. "Where's Momo?" he asked. Everyone gave various gestures that said they had no idea.
Aang got his answer when he heard several animal sounds, including Momo's yowling, echo through the forest. Aang jumped into action, and concerned for his wellbeing, the gang followed close behind. Aang followed the howling and soon found Momo entrapped in the copper cage.
"Hang on Momo!" Aang shouted as he airbent himself onto a tree branch where the rope from Momo's cage led. Searching around, Aang found a pully system and toyed with it. When the rope released, he carefully lowered it down to the ground. When it touched the ground, Sokka and Zuko worked together to release Momo, who jumped out and proceed to eat the nuts that baited him without a care. Sokka groaned and slapped his forehead at the lack of gratitude on Momo's part.
When Aang reached the ground, he heard the hog-monkeys beg for their own release too. "Alright you guys, you'll be set free too," Aang said before leaping up back into the trees to repeat the process he did for Momo.
Azula frowned at how long it would take for the airbender to release each one. "This is going to take too long," she said before launching her boomerang at the traps before Aang can reached them. The boomerang cut through the ropes just as Aang reached the pullies.
"Well, that works…," he said, concerned for the wellbeing of the hog-monkeys. He noticed Sokka's boomerang cut through the other ropes, causing the remainder of the cages to fall to the ground. The gang worked together to free the hog monkeys, who ran off into the forest. One turned and barked in what appeared to be out of gratitude before following the rest of its pack.
"Well at least someone is thankful," Sokka said with a hint of resentment at Momo, who continued to eat the nuts without a care.
"Let's just get going," Katara said as she led the gang back to Appa. After they finished loading their gear, Aang and Katara make to mount up on Appa, before Sokka began waving his hands.
"Ah-ah, no flying this time," he said to them.
"Why wouldn't we fly?" Aang asked him.
"Think about it," Sokka explained. "Whenever we fly, Mongke, Iroh, or someone else from the Fire Nation manage to find us. It's because they spot Appa, he's just too noticeable."
"What?!" Katara said offended on Appa's behalf. "Appa's not too noticeable!"
"His white fur can camouflage into the clouds," Azula told him.
"But the clouds are full of water," Zuko told her. "We'll get soaked and eventually end up sick with pneumonia."
"Yeah, and Appa's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head," Sokka added, "kinda hard to miss something like that!" Appa groaned in protest, causing Aang to rub his furry head gently.
"Sokka's just jealous `cause he doesn't have his arrow on his head," Aang told him, making Appa groan more gently this time.
"I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we need to play it safe and walk this time," Sokka told him.
"Agreed," Zuko said. "I rather walk and not be attacked than fly and end up with fireballs flying my way."
"So, who's the one in charge here?" Katara asked them.
"I am," Sokka and Zuko said at once before they looked at each other with frowns.
"Hey, I learned military strategy back in the Fire Nation," Zuko said to his best friend, who scowled at him.
"Well, my dad was Chief back in the Southern Water Tribe, so I learned how to be a leader from his example," Sokka argued, causing Zuko to feel offended.
"Hey, I learned the same thing from him too!" he shouted, causing Sokka to bare his teeth.
"I was learning from him since the day I was born!" Sokka shouted. "You met him when you were eleven!"
"Yeah, and that actually makes me older than you, making me the leader by default!" Zuko shouted back.
"Ah that's pig-bullshit!" Sokka shouted. "I'm only-!"
"ENOUGH!" Azula shouted over them, causing the boys to silence themselves. "Let's just start marching so I don't have to listen to Dum-Dum and Sucker argue over who's the more stupid." Sokka and Zuko did not know whether to feel elated or offended by Azula harsh words as they shouldered their packs to relieve the stress on Appa.
"I honestly believe that if anyone here should be the leader," Katara said as she checked over her pack, "it should be Aang."
"Really Katara?" Azula said as she shouldered her pack. "The goofy kid who's trying to delay our trip at every opportunity?"
"Yes, really. He is the Avatar after all," Katara defended. She turned and to her disappointment, found Aang hanging upside down from one of Appa's horns to prove Azula's point.
"She's right, Katara," Aang said with a smile, causing Katara to sigh that she would have to defer to either Sokka or Zuko, assuming they can decide on who is the leader.
"Why do boys always believe someone has to be the leader of anything?" Katara challenged. "I bet you two wouldn't be so bossy if you had kissed a girl."
"Hey, I've kissed a girl," Sokka bashfully said. "You just haven't met her yet." He remembered that since all the towns in the Southern Water Tribes came together, it would be impossible for Katara to know all the other teenage girls in the larger community.
"Who was it?" Katara pressed. "Was it Gran-Gran, or Ursa by chance?" she teased to Sokka's mild grimace. "I've met them." Azula chucked at the idea while Zuko raised an eyebrow, finding it rather disconcerting at the idea of anyone kissing his mother, even if it is not out of romance.
"Sokka, there's no shame in having not kissed a girl yet," Zuko said.
"Concerned that he kissed Mother Zuzu?" Azula teased. Zuko frowned and turned away.
"Let's just get moving," Zuko said as he began probing for a trail the gang can follow with Sokka. Azula laughed at how embarrassed Zuko appeared.
"Well I guess we'll do it your way," Katara said before saying in a teasing voice to Sokka and Zuko, "Oh Wise Leaders."
"Yeah, who knows?" Aang said after shouldering his pack. "Walking might be fun!" Everyone fell in behind Sokka and Zuko, while Appa followed at the rear, seemingly happy not to be flying, though the happiest of all was Momo, who was perched atop of Appa's head.
But after just a couple hours of marching, Aang cried out, "Walking stinks! How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?"
"By walking and using non-flying mounts," Azula said to him with a frown.
"That might be true," Katara began to say in a teasing voice. "But why don't you ask Sokka and Zuko's instincts to confirm that? They seem to know everything and what's best."
"Hilarious," Zuko said with an annoyed voice.
"Yeah, very funny Katara," Sokka added with his own annoyed tone.
"I'm tired of carrying this pack!" Aang continued, causing Azula to roll her eyes.
"Then toughen up and you'll be able to carry it without trouble," she told him.
"You know who you should ask to carry your pack for a while Aang?" Katara continued to tease. "Sokka or Zuko's instincts!"
"Okay, okay, I get it," Sokka said in defeat. "I'm tired of walking too, but me and Zuko are right to think walking is the safer way to keep moving."
"Actually…," Zuko said, "I think it would have been better to fly."
Sokka looked at his friend in indignation. "You can't be serious…"
"Appa is still expending energy walking, and so are we," Zuko said with reason. "Maybe it would've been better to only let him tire himself out." Appa groaned in protest. "And despite getting soaked, we can use the clouds to cover ourselves."
"Even if that means catching pneumonia Zuzu?" Azula teased. "I actually am growing to the idea of us marching through the woods. It toughens one up." Aang raised a finger to protest before Azula silenced him with a glare.
Sokka sighed and trying to appease everyone, he said, "Look everyone, I'm tiring out too. But we're safe from the Fire Nation Army, and" he said as he pushed through the bush in front of him, "that's the… important thing," he finished with a disappointed voice. Everyone joined him and found the last thing they wanted to find.
A platoon of roughly thirty Fire Nation soldiers who made their own camp in a forest clearing.
"RUN!" Sokka shouted before he and the rest of the gang dropped their packs and turned tail. One of the soldiers, bearing a captain's insignia, launched a fireball toward the gang. They nearly dodged it, but the bushes they were running towards were lit ablaze.
"We're cut off!" Zuko shouted. He took up a bending stance to part the flames, but Azula stopped him, gesturing him to remember that they cannot revile their identities so carelessly. Zuko grunted and drew his machetes to fight off the soldiers.
"Sokka, your shirt's starting to burn!" Aang shouted. Sokka looked at his arm and noticed that some embers landed on his sleeve and began spreading. He shouted in fear before Katara bent water to put it out. Sokka sighed in relief and drew his club and boomerang.
"If you let us pass," he said to the captain, "we won't harm any of you."
"You?" the captain said before barking a laugh. "Like you stand any chance to-." His words were cut short when an arrow appeared through his throat from the back of his neck, spilling blood all over the ground in front of him. Aang recoiled at the sight, still not fully accepting that there was a deadly war going on.
"What just happened?" Zuko asked as the soldiers stared in shock at their fallen captain. One soldier tried to help his captain but found there was nothing that could be done.
"Look!" Katara shouted before pointing up toward the trees. "Up there!"
A man stood on a thick tree branch and drew his twin hook swords before leaping down to a branch below him. But instead of landing on it, he used his swords to catch himself and propelled himself forward toward the stunned soldiers. He landed in the middle of their group and ran toward the gang, slashing at soldiers with practiced speed. Before reaching the edge of the platoon, he latched onto the ankles of two soldiers to flip them head over heel. When the soldiers landed harshly on the ground, the man stabbed at the soldiers' necks, certainly killing them.
"Down you go," he said with a cocky voice that also lacked remorse.
The gang stared at him with a mix of relief, awe, and disbelief; Katara though looked at the man with a degree of enamor.
"They're in the trees!" a soldier shouted before an arrow shot through his sword arm. He yelled in pain before a small boy landed on him and stabbed him through the neck. A few other fighters rushed out from the bushes, surrounding the soldiers and taking advantage of their confusion. One fighter, an incredibly muscular one, used a log to smash in soldiers' heads. The gang sprang into action, striking at soldiers with less gruesome attacks, none of them willing to kill, especially Aang. He and Katara were careful to disarm the soldiers with their respective bending and launch them into the woods, hoping they would realize that retreating was a better chance of survival.
In another part of the fight, Sokka was moving to strike a soldier from behind with his club, and just as he was about to land the blow, the stranger came out of nowhere and struck the soldier down. "Hey, he was mine!" Sokka shouted. The stranger looked at him and gave him a smug look.
"Gotta be quicker next time," he said with cockiness before running off. Sokka scowled and moved out at all speed to fight another soldier, only for another fighter to take out the soldier.
"Dammit!" Sokka shouted with frustration.
Despite not being able to use their bending, Azula and Zuko managed to hold their own against the soldiers with the help of a couple of the ambushers. The royal siblings were amazed by the combat prowess of the fighters but seeing how they were ruthlessly cutting down the soldiers, they both knew they needed to keep their identities secret more so than before.
With only one last soldier, the stranger took him on personally, smashing him into the ground and used his own momentum to land before Katara. Katara looked at him and realized he was about her own age.
"Hey," he said nonchalantly to her.
"Hi," she said shyly and with a mild blush.
"That was pretty impressive work," Azula said as she sheathed her boomerang.
"Yeah, taking out a larger force with only a handful of fighters," Zuko added after sheathing his own weapons.
"There was, like, thirty guys," Sokka said in frustration, feeling that he did not contribute to the fight.
"Taken out by six fighters using ambush tactics," Azula commented. "You stand to learn something from them Sucker." Sokka frowned at her, though she eyed the fighters with caution. Who knew how they would react to finding out she and Zuko were firebenders, much less being the Fire Lord's children?
"My name's Jet," the stranger finally said, "and these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers," he gestured to one large fighter with a serious expression, "Longshot," the archer, "Smellerbee," who was taking stock of all the weapons, "The Duke and Pipsqueak." The last two fighters were the small boy who landed on the soldier's head, while the other one was the one who used a log to smash in some soldiers' heads.
Aang walked up the boy and chuckled. "Pipsqueak, that's a funny name."
The boy spat out dark juices, a sign he chewed tobacco, while the other glowered at Aang. He leaned down and said in a voice that can surely boom, "You think my name is funny?"
Realizing his mistake of misidentifying the pair, he smiled and said, "It's really hilarious!"
Pipsqueak rose an eyebrow in skepticism, before bursting out laughing to prove he indeed had a booming voice. Aang and The Duke also began laughing before Pipsqueak slapped Aang on the back, unintentionally knocking him over. The Duke stopped laughing and before he could reprimand his friend for being so careless, Aang rose up and chuckled, The Duke patted him on the shoulder with an apologetic look while Pipsqueak continued to laugh.
After composing themselves, the gang and their newfound allies began scavenging through the camp, looking for anything of use. Jet choose to watch the perimeter, wary that any soldiers that managed to escape might come back for their equipment.
After taking a few moments to work up the courage, Katara walked over to him and shyly said, "Thank you for helping us out Jet. We were really fortunate you and your team were here."
"I should be thanking you," Jet replied with a sly smile. "We were waiting till those soldiers bedded down for the night. And then you guys stumbled in and distracted them."
"Well I guess that's what happens when someone relies on instincts," Katara said. "Like we did."
"You'll get yourselves killed doing something like that," Jet replied.
Sokka was close enough to hear them. He continued to scavenge for supplies while huffing in frustration. "Asshole," he finally whispered when he was far enough away from Katara and Jet.
"Jealous that he's better than you?" Azula teased. Sokka scowled at her, causing her to smirk.
"No I'm jealous," Sokka said. "I just got a bad feeling about him."
"The kind of feeling that, I don't know, causes one to become aroused?" Azula continued to tease.
Sokka grimaced at such a suggestion. "Uh-uh. I have nothing against people who swing that way, but I'm not one of them."
"Shame," Azula said. "He does seem quite the charmer, seeing how Katara is talking to him."
Sokka's eyes popped wide open, and he glanced over to where Katara and Jet were standing, and sure enough, Katara did appear enamored by Jet. "Okay, now I got a really bad feeling about him."
"Why not give Katara some competition then?" Azula told him with a smirk.
"Why don't you give Katara some competition?!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Tempting," Azula said thoughtfully, "but I'm not one to get in the way of true love." Sokka gagged at the idea of Katara and Jet being together.
"What are two arguing about this time?" Zuko asked when he came over with their gear.
"Oh Sokka's just jealous of Jet is all," Azula said as she continued to tease Sokka, who smack his head against his rucksack in frustration, making Azula laugh. Zuko raised an eyebrow in confusion and was about to ask what she meant before deciding he did not want to know.
"Hey Jet!" The Duke shouted across the camp drawing his attention away from Katara. "These barrels are filled with blasting jelly."
"That's great find The Duke," Jet replied.
"And these boxes are filled with jars of black powder," Pipsqueak added.
"Also a good find," Jet said before walking into the middle of the camp, seeing that any useful supplies have been gathered.
"Looks like we found everything that'll be useful Jet," Smellerbee told him. "Best we get it all back to the hideout."
"You guys have a hideout?" Aang asked, curious to see it, though he was rather apprehensive about meeting more Freedom Fighters.
Jet smiled with self-assurance. "You wanna see it?"
"Yes we wanna see it!" Katara said on behalf of the gang. Sokka groaned, wanting to get away from Jet and his Freedom Fighters. But seeing how the others are taking a liking to them for their own reasons, he had no choice but to go along with them.
Jet led everyone through the forest, with Katara eyeing him with bashful eyes and looking away when Jet looked back at him, causing her to blush. Sokka was scowling the whole time and making his ill feelings toward Jet stronger and stronger. He was certain he was not jealous in a way; he even toyed with the idea in his head.
No, there's something… wrong about him, he thought to himself. Better keep a close eye on him.
"Sokka, what's wrong with you?" Zuko quietly asked him. "You've been staring daggers at Jet the whole time. Don't tell me you're really-."
"No, I'm not," Sokka replied with certainty. "There's just something about him that doesn't sit well with me."
"Well, I think he'll be a good ally to have," Zuko told him. "We can use all the allies we can find."
"Even if they're bad guys?" Sokka asked.
"It's the Fire Nation that's the bad guys," Zuko said, before realizing what he said. He leaned over to Sokka and whispered, "I know what you're going to say, so don't say it."
"I wasn't going to say it," Sokka said. After a pause, he added, "For now." Zuko glared at him but knew that it was in Sokka's nature to poke fun at people's mistakes.
"Alright, we're here," Jet announced when the groups were led into an area surrounded by tree trunks of incredibly size, even larger than Appa.
"There's nothing here," Sokka said unimpressed.
Jet smirked and took a rope hanging from the trees. "Here, hold this," he said as he held it out for Sokka.
Sokka took it from Jet and eyed it skeptically, especially the loop formed at the end of the rope. "What the hell is this for?"
He got his answer when the loop tighten around his wrist and he was quickly pulled up into the trees, yelling obscenities the entire way.
Jet grabbed another rope and offered it to Aang and Momo. Aang shook his head and said, "We can get up there on our own, thanks." Momo took off from Aang's shoulder and flies high into the trees, while Aang used his airbending to leap from tree face to tree face, then onto the branches themselves. Jet admired his skill, thinking of the advantages his Freedom Fighters would have if Aang joined them.
He turned toward Azula and Zuko, who were already taking hold of ropes of their own. Unlike Sokka, they expected to be lifted into the air, though Zuko lost his grip and fell onto his backside harshly, causing Azula to laugh. He scowled at her and secured himself more firmly when his rope was lowered back toward him, certainly implying that someone was pulling the ropes up to the treetops.
Katara watched in curiosity as the others were lifted up into the trees, wondering if there were enough ropes for everyone.
"Grab hold of me Katara," Jet said to her. She held out her hand and Jet pulled her closer to his chest, causing her to blush. Unlike the others, she and Jet were lifted gently up into the trees. Katara looked up at Jet, admiring the handsome and heroic rogue.
Jet and Katara reached a platform made from planks high up in the tree canopy. The whole structure was well built and span between trees, including several structures that housed the Freedom Fighters. The rest of the gang were already on the platform, with Sokka berating the rope operators, who laughed at his chiding, causing him to growl in frustration. Azula also laughed at Sokka while Zuko covered his eyes in disappointment.
Aang looked around and admired the expansive hideout, reminding him of the Air Temples to a degree. "You have a nice place here," he complimented to Jet.
"It's beautiful up here!" Katara exclaimed, more enamored by the hideout.
"It's beautiful...," Jet agreed. "And more importantly, it serves as our secret base to strike at the Fire Nation Army."
"We've been here for years, and they haven't had any luck finding this place," Smellerbee said. "But they have been stepping up their efforts lately."
"Don't worry Smellerbee," Jet said with confidence. "They'll never find this place." Jet began leading the group to the main gathering area of the hideout when Katara asked him a question.
"Why does the Fire Nation Army want to find you?" she said.
"You can say we've been causing them a large headache," Jet boasted. "They took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back and have been using it as resupply point for their armies heading east to the frontlines."
"We've been ambushin' their troops, cutting of their supply lines, and doing anything and everything we can to fuck with 'em," Pipsqueak added before sharing a high five with The Duke. Sokka frowned that Jet and his cronies have been doing more damage to the Fire Nation than the gang.
"One day, we'll drive the army out of here for good, and free this forest," Jet said with certainty, drawing skepticism from Sokka.
"Yeah, nothing like a guy and his pals causing only delaying action for an unstoppable army," he said, doubtful that Jet and his Freedom Fighters would really do what they sought to do.
"Don't pay any attention to him," Katara said before glaring at her brother, who rolled his eyes. "It's really brave of you to stand up and fight the Fire Nation."
"I know," Jet said with a slight cocky smile. He turned toward Sokka and said, "You just a rough day yesterday, but you showed guts fighting those soldiers." Sokka grunted inwardly at Jet's hollow compliment.
"Other than driving the army," Azula began, wanting to know more about Jet and his crew, "why else makes you fight the Fire Nation?"
"Personal reasons you can say," Jet told her. "Longshot over there, his town got burned down by the army, same for Smellerbee and Pipsqueak. We caught The Duke trying to steal our food, so we took him in assuming the same thing happened to him."
"And what about you?" Zuko asked, starting to be wary of Jet and his reasons for fighting the Fire Nation.
Jet paused on the platform and gained an expression mixed of both remorse and anger. "The Fire Nation was murdered my parents in a raid. Some guys on rhinos burned my whole town and its people when we couldn't answer their questions."
The gang shared a wary look between each other, knowing that it was Mongke and his Rough Rhinos that were responsible for that. Wanting to be sure, Azula asked, "What did these men look like? What questions did they ask?"
"I remember vaguely about them asking about a woman and her children," Jet said. "But I remember their leader. He had ponytail and a weird looking goatee, but what stood out the most was his firebending and cruel smile."
"Colonel Mongke," Sokka said.
Jet looked at him in shock. "You know him?"
"We've ran into him a few times," Zuko said. "Attacked our home too."
"And he wasn't the only one," Katara added. "Years before, Sokka and I lost our mother in a Fire Nation raid."
"I'm so sorry, Katara, Sokka," Jet said in sympathy before smiling. "But we have something in common; attacking the Fire Nation for payback for what they did to us."
"Yeah, payback sounds sweet," Azula lied, not sharing the sentiment with Jet. She looked at Zuko with a meaningful look, causing him to nod in understanding.
If Jet found out they were firebenders, especially if they were the children was the reason for Mongke burning down his home, he would certainly try to take revenge on them.
Later that evening, the Freedom Fighter hosted a celebration for another successful mission. Jet began a speech. "Today, we struck another major blow against the Fire Nation swine." Aang became uncomfortable at how Jet and his people ruthlessly killed the soldiers. Even though Aang understood that there was a war going on, the idea of ending people's lives still sat uncomfortably for the pacifistic monk.
Jet's followers cheered loudly at his speech. When they settled down, Jet continued. "I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face, when The Duke dropped down on him, riding him like a wild hog monkey while stabbing at his neck." Now it was Azula and Zuko were the uncomfortable ones. While they did not share Aang's pacifism, they did not like the idea of fighting and especially killing their own people. How they loathed this war could not be expressed easily for either of them.
The Duke stood up and rose his fist into the air in triumph, causing the fighters to cheer loudly again.
"Now," Jet continued, "the Fire Nation thinks they don't have about a few kids hiding in the trees." He took a drink from his cup. "Maybe they're right…" His followers booed at that idea. "Or maybe… they are dead wrong." His face gains an enraged expression, caused by his deep desire for revenge. His followers cheered wildly. Jet took a seat next to Katara and Azula.
"That was a nice speech, Jet," Katara complimented.
"Yeah," Azula added with no heart in it, "really nice."
"Thanks ladies," Jet told them. "By the way, I was really impressed by how you guys fought today, especially with the bending you and Aang showed today," he said while looking at Katara particularly.
"Well, he's the greatest, being the Avatar," Katara said before blushing in mild embarrassment. "I could use some more training."
Jet's attention shifted to Aang. "Avatar huh? We can use that talent of yours in our fight."
"Uh, thanks Jet," Aang said, feeling uncomfortable by what Jet has in mind for him and his airbending.
"No problem," Jet said before continuing. "So I might know of a way you guys can help our struggle."
"That's unfortunate," Sokka interrupted before standing. "But we're leaving tonight."
"Yeah, we have lot of ground to make up," Zuko said as he followed his best friend's lead. "Let's find Appa and get to flying."
"Thanks for the offer Jet," Azula said politely. "But for one of the few times in their lives, the boys are right." Sokka and Zuko looked sourly at Azula, but were grateful that she agreed with them, especially since she wanted to get away from Jet as soon as possible.
"You guys are kidding me!" Jet said in exasperation. "I need you three on an important mission tomorrow."
The trio stopped and looked at each other before facing Jet. "What mission?" Sokka asked with skepticism.
The next morning, Sokka, Azula, and Zuko were perched on tree branches overlooking a well-used trail. Jet stood nearby while Smellerbee and Pipsqueak were situated further down the tail overlooking a fork. Jet whistled like a bird, to which Smellerbee did the same, indicating they were in position. The plan was they would warn Jet of approaching threats and then surround them when Jet initiated the ambush.
Next to the trunk of the tree, Sokka rammed his jawbone knife into it. Jet looked at him with a quizzical look. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"Quiet," Sokka whispered before cupping his hands around the pommel and put his ear to it. "It amplifies vibrations."
Catching onto why Sokka would do that, Jet smirked and said, "Sounds like a good trick."
After about ten minutes, Sokka whispered, "Wait…" He felt his knife vibrate with slow but noticeable intensity. "Yeah, there's someone approaching."
"How many?" Jet whispered.
Sokka scrutinized the vibrations. "I think it's just one person."
"It could be more than one," Azula warned. "Disciplined soldiers have a tendency to march in step, even when walking casually."
"Good work Sokka," Jet said. "We'll be careful. Ready your weapons."
Sokka withdrew his knife from the tree, while Azula readied her boomerang with Zuko unsheathing his machetes. They waited for the encroacher to enter their kill zone…
But they were taken aback when it was only an old man in red, using a walking stick, and carrying a bag slowly making his way down the trail.
"Wait!" Zuko said in a low but urgent voice. "It's just an old man."
"Let's let him past and continue-," Azula said, but was cut off when Jet leaped down from the tree and landed right in front of the old man. Sokka and Zuko watched in horror while Azula snarled in anger.
Jet landed before the old man, causing him to fall down. "What are you doing in our woods, you fucking leech."
"Please, sir!" the old man begged. "I'm just passing through! I didn't mean to-!"
"Didn't mean to what?" Jet snarled. "Invade our lands? Seeking to destroy it?"
The old man panicked and tried to run, only to pump into Pipsqueak's massive frame. The old man fell down once again, shocked and terrified that he did not hear the large intimating man. Pipsqueak kicked the man over then pinned him to the ground with his large foot. The old man stared in horror when Jet approached him with a murderous glare.
"Do you like destroying towns?" Jet snarled. "Do you like destroying families? DO YOU?!"
The old man began gasping for breath. "Please… please let me go… have-have some mercy…"
"Does the Fire Nation let people go?!" Jet yelled in rage. "Does the Fire Nation have mercy?!" Before the man could beg for his answer, Jet raised one of his swords to bring it down on the old man's head…
But Azula stopped him by firmly grabbing his wrist. Jet looked at her with an enraged look, receiving the deepest glare Azula ever gave anyone.
"Jet, he's just an old man!" Sokka shouted.
"We didn't have any right to ambush him," Zuko added.
"He's Fire Nation!" Jet snarled. "That makes him our enemy!"
"He may be wearing Fire Nation colors," Azula said with ice in her voice, "but he might have done so to feign allegiance as a means of survival."
"So he's a traitor!" Jet snarled. "All the more reason to- ugh!"
Azula twisted Jet's arm and forced him to drop his sword. "Traitor or not, he's unharmed and no threat to anyone. We let him go."
Jet grunted in pain, surprised by Azula's strength. He attempted to break free, only to bring more pain on himself. "Fine!" he relented. "We let him go." Azula let go of his wrist but watched him cautiously. "Search him," Jet ordered his team.
"You were seriously going to kill an old man for simply walking through the wrong part of the woods?" Sokka asked Jet, who was rotating his shoulder to ease the pain.
"Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother?" Jet said as he picked up his dropped sword. "Don't forget what you're fighting for Sokka!"
"We're here to fight soldiers," Zuko told Jet, "not attack innocent civilians."
"We've got his stuff, Jet," Smellerbee said while holding up the old man's bag. Pipsqueak continued to hold the terrified man down.
Azula shook her head. "This wasn't right," she said. In her mind, attacking unarmed people was a waste of time, energy, and resources. Or maybe it was because of some ingrained morality.
Either way, she stood by her conviction.
"It's what has to be done," Jet said before walking away. "Let's get outta here." Smellerbee and Pipsqueak followed close behind.
The trio lag behind and looked at the old man in sorrow. "Come on you three!" Jet shouted, forcing the teenagers to reluctantly follow someone who may not be who he claimed to be.
Even though they made him feel uneasy given their nature, Aang did find some enjoyment with the Freedom Fighters. He spent a lot of time with The Duke, who showed Aang several items that they have gathered in their fight against the Fire Nation. Aang took a particular liking to small pellets that exploded when thrown to the ground. The Duke said it was useful as distractions, but Aang thought of another use for them.
When Azula, Sokka, and Zuko returned to their hut, Aang became excited to share what he procured. "Guys! Look what The Duke gave me!" he said with a sly grin. He pulled out a few small pellets out from his satchel and tossed them at the ground next to Momo, who shrieked and puffed up his fur. Growling, he lunged for the satchel and began tossing pellets at Aang's feet. Aang danced around wildly and shouted, "Quit it Momo!"
Azula, Sokka, and Zuko ignored him as they began packing up their gear. Katara entered the hut and noticed they were back. "Hey guys. Is Jet back?"
"Oh he's back alright," Zuko sneered as he checked his pack.
"And we're leaving," Sokka said as he finished.
"What?" Aang asked after stopping Momo. "Why?"
"But, I made him this hat," Katara said before holding out a hat she made with questionable workmanship.
Azula furrowed her brow, not understanding why her best friend was enamored with Jet. "Your boyfriend Jet is nothing more than a thug Katara."
"Boyfriend?" Aang asked, uneasy by the idea of Katara having a boyfriend.
"What?" Katara said, more focused on Azula. "No, he's not a thug."
"He's messed up Katara," Sokka added to Azula's accusation.
"He's not messed up," Katara said with a frown. "He has a different way of life as a leader of a resistance group. He's our ally."
"Some ally," Zuko said with sarcasm before becoming serious. "He beat up and robbed a harmless old man who just walked through the wrong forest."
Katara snarled at their accusations. "I'm going to hear Jet's side of the story," she said before marching out of their hut. Sokka growled in frustration before he and Zuko followed her. Azula was close behind, but Aang slowed her down with a question.
"What did you mean by Katara's 'boyfriend'?" he reluctantly asked.
"Why you really are an air head," Azula teased with annoyance. "I can't believe you haven't noticed by now." She continued on her path while Aang felt nauseous at the idea of someone else being Katara's boyfriend.
"But is it true?" Aang asked, before realizing it was an open-ended question. "That Jet really harmed an old man?"
"Yes, it is," Azula said with conviction. "Sokka and Zuko were there too."
Aang felt a sensation of pain in his chest. "If that's the case then Jet's not an ally we want. He's just as a bad as-," he said before hesitating finishing his sentence.
"As bad as the Fire Nation?" Azula said with a raised eyebrow, making Aang gulp nervously.
"Well, he's just as bad as some parts of the Fire Nation," Aang said in an attempt appease Azula.
"Certainly, you're implying that it's the part Zuko and I are from," Azula suggested.
"No!" Aang pleaded. "From what I've seen, you two and your mom are from the best part of it!"
Azula glared at Aang, who stared back in fear. She then smirked delightfully and said, "Thank you for the high opinion of us." Aang sighed in relief, but Azula thought to herself, I just hope the good side is stronger than the bad one. She dreaded to find out.
After arriving to his hut, Katara faced Jet and said, "Jet, they say you beat up and robbed an old man on your mission this morning." Right of cue, Sokka, Zuko, then Azula entered and stared at Jet. Aang arrived last, not quiet against Jet like the others, but it would be three voices against one.
"You guys had the right to tell Katara," Jet said coolly. "But you didn't mention that the guy was Fire Nation?"
"No, they conveniently left that part out," Katara said while glaring at the others.
Azula glared back. "He lives in the Fire Nation occupied town. They must all be required to wear Fire Nation colors because they were essentially annexed."
"Besides, he was just a harmless civilian," Sokka added.
"He was an assassin guys," Jet said before pulling out a knife and thrusting it into a nearby block of wood used as a table. Azula, Sokka, and Zuko stared at it and Jet with contempt. "See? There's a compartment for poison in the hilt," Jet said while removing the vile of poison. "He was sent to eliminate me. You three saved my life."
"I knew there was an explanation," Katara said in relief.
"There wasn't a knife!" Zuko shouted.
"Even if there was, why would he store it in his bag?" Azula questioned. "Not a very convenient place to put a weapon."
"And why an old man you've never met before?" Sokka added. "You were suspicious of him from the start, how would he have gotten close enough to you to assassinate you?"
"He would have poisoned my food," Jet defended.
"But how would he get to it?" Azula continued to probe. "From what you told us, the Fire Nation does not know where you or any of your fighters hide, much less which foods you would eat."
"Maybe they followed us," Katara defended. "We might have slowed Jet down after we met him." She grimaced and turned toward Jet. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Jet said with a sly smile to her.
"Well, ither way this doesn't make any spirits-damned sense," Sokka said.
"Sounds to me you're trying to manipulate Katara," Azula said while glaring at Jet.
"I would never do such a thing," Jet said. Azula's glare became harsher, as she knew he was lying. But Katara was deeply enamored by Jet, so convincing her that Jet is no good will be a challenge.
But Azula always loved a challenge.
"Whatever you say," Azula said. "I am going back to our hut to finish packing." She turned and left the hut.
"Yeah we're leaving," Sokka said before he and Zuko left too.
"I can't believe you guys are leaving so soon," Jet said to Katara and Aang. "I really needed you help."
"With what?" Aang asked, uneasy about the situation.
"The Fire Nation is planning on burning down the entire forest," Jet said with a serious tone, causing Aang and Katara to stare in shock. "If you both use waterbending to fill the reservoir, we could use to the water to dose the fires. But if you leave now, we won't be able to do that, and the forest will be lost." Aang and Katara looked at each other and nodded, the latter determined to save the forest, while the former also wanted to protect the forest, though still felt uneasy about everything else.
Katara burst into the gang's hut and pleaded, "We can't leave now guys! The Fire Nation's planning on burning down the forest."
"I'm sorry Katara," Sokka said. "Jet's a pretty smooth talker, but we can't trust him."
"What does the Fire Nation have to gain by burning down the whole forest?" Zuko asked.
"To flush out the Freedom Fighters is the most strategic reason for it," Azula said thoughtfully.
"See?" Katara said. "We have to stay and help."
"But given how large the Fire Nation Army is, Jet and his fighters would barely cause any significant problems for them," Azula continued. "From what I gathered from my maps…"
"Our maps," Sokka corrected.
"There's no significant resources for the Fire Nation to exploit," Azula said while ignoring Sokka. "Other than that town, which serves as a resupply point at best, the Fire Nation has no reason to undertake operations here. They can leave and it wouldn't have any impact on their campaign against the Earth Kingdom."
"Well, we can't just leave on the chance they'll burn down the forest," Katara pleaded before turning toward Aang. "Right Aang?"
Aang hesitated before answering. "I don't know. The Fire Nation does have a reason to burn down the forest, but given what Azula said, it sounds like it would be a waste of time and energy."
"Glad you're seeing my way," Azula said with a smile. "Maybe you're not such an air head after all."
"But still, as the Avatar I can't leave it to chance for nature to be harmed," Aang said, causing Azula to frown now. "I say we stay for a couple days."
"We can't just keep staying in one place for too long," Zuko argued. "We're losing time to make it to the North Pole before spring."
"I've made my decision; we're staying," Aang said.
Sokka groaned and earned a glare from his sister. "Stop behaving that way Sokka! You're just jealous that Jet's a better warrior and a better leader!"
"Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet," Sokka said calmly. "It's just my instincts-."
Katara cut him off by saying, "Well my and Aang's instincts tell us we need to stay a few more days and help Jet." She took off and left the hut, with Aang following behind her.
"Sorry guys," Aang said sincerely. "But we can't let this forest be burned down."
After they left, Azula rolled her eyes. "All of this hassle over her crush on a boy. That is why I have no intention of getting involved with anyone like that."
"But what if you can't help it?" Sokka teased.
"And with that comment, you're part of the reason why I have made my mind up on that subject," Azula said.
Sokka shrugged. "Whatever you say. Maybe you're the jealous one." Sokka flashed her a teasing smile.
Azula glared at him. "Say that again, and you'll have to figure out a way to sew pants from scratch."
The two stared at each other for a moment, daring the other to say something. Sokka groaned and walked away, leaving a victorious Azula in his wake.
Zuko looked between them, wondering what he just saw and hoping it would not be something he would find unsettling.
Later that night, Aang, Katara, Zuko, and Sokka laid down for the night, though Sokka slept uneasy given his distrust of Jet. Azula though remained awake and alert, feeling that Jet was up to something.
"Let's go," she heard him say outside the hut the gang were in. She pulled aside the door flap just enough to see some of the Freedom Fighters getting ready to descend down the ropes. She moved over to Zuko and shook him, though he only responded with a grunt and rolled away from her. Azula softly growled at him.
"What are you doing?" Sokka said to her. Azula whipped her head around and saw him wide awake.
"Jet's taking off with some of his cronies," Azula told him. "I need to follow them and see what they're up to."
"I'm coming too," Sokka said as he checked his weapons. "You might need backup."
"You back me up?" Azula teased, earning a serious scowl from Sokka.
"This is serious Azula," Sokka reprimanded.
"I know, but shut up and follow me," she said before sneaking out of the hut, with a pouting Sokka close behind. They stealthily follow Jet who was accompanied by Longshot and The Duke. He led them to a bare cliff overlooking the town located next to a river with a dam built up it to control the flow of water. Azula and Sokka get as close as possible to Jet and his team to hear them.
"Now listen," Jet began to say to Longshot, "wait until I give the signal to blow the bridge, not before. If the reservoir isn't full, that resupply point might not be destroyed."
"Yeah, but what about the people in the town?" The Duke asked. "Wouldn't they get wiped out too?"
Jet placed a hand on The Duke's shoulder. "Listen The Duke, it's a price that has to be paid for this forest to be freed from the Fire Nation's tyranny." The Duke looked down in dismay. Jet gave a sympathetic smile before turning toward Longshot with a serious look. "Again, don't blow the dam until I give the signal, not a moment before. Got it?" Longshot nodded solemnly.
In the bushes, Azula and Sokka shared a look, and silently agreed they need to warn the others of Jet's plan. As they moved silently, Azula suddenly halted. Before Sokka can ask what is wrong, he felt a strong hand grasp his wolf's tail and dragged him back. Azula turned and saw it was Pipsqueak holding Sokka, while Smellerbee held a knife to his throat.
"Where do you think you're going, ponytails?" Smellerbee sneered. Azula scowled but seeing Sokka was less than an inch from a bloody death, she held her hands above her head. Pipsqueak and Smellerbee cautiously walked over to Azula, the former grabbing her by her topknot. Both she and Sokka grunted in pain by his rough handling while Smellerbee tied their wrists together with rope.
The two fighters escorted Azula and Sokka before Jet and forced them to their knees. Jet looked at them with a slight smile. "Azula, Sokka. I'm so glad you decided to join us," he said mockingly.
"We heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town," Sokka said with a snarl.
"Our plan is to liberate this valley from the Fire Nation," Jet explained.
"But who's going to be left alive to enjoy their liberation?" Azula challenged. "No one," she finished in a grim tone.
"No sacrifice, no victory," Jet said without a hint of remorse.
"Victory at the expense of the innocent is no victory at all," Azula countered rationally.
"They're harboring Fire Nation soldiers," Jet told her. "They're far from innocent."
"Those are people down there Jet," Sokka pleaded. "Mothers, fathers, children, all non-combatants and can't be attacked."
"They're hold up in a legitimate military target," Jet said with finality, much to Sokka's irritation.
"You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire!" Sokka shouted, causing Azula's eyes to widen in realization.
"You plan on using the reservoir to flood the town," she said with certainty. Jet smirked at her.
"Very perceptive," Jet said. "Brains and beauty are a pleasant combination." Azula glared harshly at him.
"Don't even try using that no good charm on her you fucking asshole!" Sokka shouted before Azula could respond. He tried to rise up and attack but was held in place by Pipsqueak.
Jet chuckled at Sokka's defense of Azula. "I guess Katara isn't the only one smitten around here." Sokka's nostrils flared, but Jet ignored him and continued, "She and Aang don't understand the demands and costs of war. Not like you two and I do."
"We understand war better than you do Jet," Azula told him. "The Fire Nation has done horrible things to this world, but we can't become them. All it will do is perpetuate the war." Azula rolled her eyes internally, feeling ridiculous as she sounded like Aang.
Jet sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping for you two would keep an open mind, but I now see you've made up your minds. And I can't let you warn Aang and Katara." He turned his attention toward Smellerbee and Pipsqueak. "Take them for a walk- a long walk." They nodded and complied, dragging Azula and Sokka into the forest.
"You're not getting away with this!" Sokka shouted as he struggled against Pipsqueak.
"Cheer up you two," Jet said with a smirk. "We're about to win a great victory against the Fire Nation within a single day."
Azula feigned being more compliant as she calculated a way to escape. She could burn through the rope with her firebending and overpower her captors, but that would reveal what she really was. And it would not help Sokka because he would still be tied up and vulnerable.
Patience yields focus, she remembered Aang saying. She decided to be patient and wait till an opportunity arrived for her and Sokka to escape in one piece.
She also pondered Jet's teasing of Sokka being smitten. Azula dismissed it, reasoning that she and Sokka would constantly argue with one another like children.
Though she felt a brief instant of pain in her chest. She ignored it and focused on her environment, looking for a chance to escape with Sokka alive.
The next morning, the remainder of the gang were off putted by Azula and Sokka's absence. When they exited their hut, they set out to find them, but Jet found them first. "They went out on a scouting mission with Smellerbee and Pipsqueak," Jet said with a smile. Aang and Katara took his word for it, but Zuko had the suspicion that was not the whole truth.
"Wow," Katara replied with surprise. "I thought they didn't want anymore to do with you or your team."
"Yeah, I was surprised too," Jet continued. "They apologized and agreed to stay and help."
That comment caught Zuko by surprise and made him more suscpious. "They apologized?" he said with skepticism. He knew both of them would not apologize to anyone so easily, mostly because they are more stubborn than a pig-mule and more so since they did not trust Jet.
Which made Zuko realize that Jet was lying. But the way Aang and more so Katara acted around him would make it difficult for Zuko to convince that Jet was not the guy they thought he was.
But for once, Zuko held his tongue, not wanting to get into an argument with Katara. Zuko would just have to wait until either Azula and Sokka return with the truth or find the truth himself.
"Yeah, they really did apologize," Jet said, keeping up his cool act. "I got the sense that maybe you and the Avatar talked some sense into them." Katara blushed while Aang wore a proud smile, yet Zuko still scowled a bit, a part of him screaming to speak out against Jet. But he continued to hold his tongue as he followed and listened in to Jet lying to Katara and Aang.
"Yeah, I guess they now understand we need to protect this forest," Aang said.
"I'm glad they cooled off and became the rational people they claim to be," Katara said. "They can be so stubborn sometimes."
Especially when they're right, Zuko thought to himself, clenching his jaw to keep himself from speaking.
Zuko fell last in line behind Jet, Aang, and Katara. Jet continued to regale stories of him and his Freedom Fighters about their campaign against the Fire Nation. Katara was naturally dazzled, though Aang was torn between being amazed their bravery and dismayed by the violence. Zuko continued to scowl in silence, growing more tired of Jet and his attitude.
"All right," Jet said after leading the group along side a gully, "we're here. There's underground water wells trying to escape through these vents." He pointed to several natural holes in the ground where steam was rising out of. "I need you two to help it along, so it fills the reservoir."
"I've…," Katara began with an uncertain voice, "I've never tried to bend water I can't see. I don't think…"
She was interrupted when Jet place a hand on her should. "Katara," he said with confidence. "I know you can do this." Katara blushed deeply and looked away but was inspired by his confidence.
"Hey, what about me?" Aang said.
Jet looked at him with a confident smile. "We all know the Avatar can do this." Aang smiled brightly at Jet's confidence. Aang and Katara stood on either side of one of the many holes and began performing waterbending gestures, feeling for whatever water was below ground. Within ten minutes, water rose from the ground and the waterbenders sent it toward the small stream. They continued to waterbend to maintain the stream until it flowed naturally on its own.
"Great work!" Jet said ecstatic. "Keep this up and we'll have that reservoir filled in no time."
"Look!" Aang said before pointing at another steam vent. "There's another one."
"Well let's get to it," Katara said. "That water isn't coming up on its own." They took off to the next one and began the process again.
Jet looked at Zuko and said, "I have to go on a scouting mission of my own. Want to come with?"
Zuko furrowed his brow, believing that Jet is planning on doing to him what happened to Azula and Sokka. "I'll stay with them and keep watch while they work. Never know when a Fire Nation Army patrol might come through here."
"They normally don't patrol this area," Jet pressed. "The terrain is too hard on them, and they prefer more level ground for their supply lines."
Zuko knew Jet was determined to get him to go along. But Zuko was not the only stubborn one in the gang. "They might send a scouting patrol anyway to see if the terrain is bearable for their supply trains. I'll stay with Aang and Katara," he finished with finality.
Jet stared at him while Zuko stared back, each of them daring the other to back down.
"Uh, guys," Aang said, sensing the tension between them as he worked. "It might be a good idea Zuko stays and watches our backs. It's going to take all of mine and Katara's attention to bend the water."
Jet narrowed his eyes at Zuko, as if saying he will get payback for Zuko's luck. Jet turned and with a smile said, "That actually might be better because he'll probably slow me down. Just head back to the hideout when you're done." Zuko knew that was bait and remained silent while Jet took off running.
"What is with you?" Katara reprimanded Zuko. "You're acting just as bad as Azula and Sokka did."
"I just don't trust him," Zuko said. "There has to be an ulterior motive for him to ask us to do this."
"There isn't an 'ulterior motive'" Katara sternly replied. "We're doing this to protect the forest and that's that." Katara turned and resumed working with Aang to bring the water to ground level. Zuko sighed deeply and watched the tree line for either Fire Nation soldiers or Jet and his followers.
After creating more than a half dozen fountains, Aang spoke up by saying, "I bet that's enough, and I'm not saying that to be lazy." Zuko silently snorted in disbelief.
"Let's catch up with Jet at the reservoir," Katara suggested.
"But he said to meet him back at the hideout," Aang told her.
Sensing that Jet's plan would be exposed, Zuko said, "I think it would be a good thing to meet Jet there."
Katara cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why the change in attitude?"
Zuko shrugged and said, "After thinking about it, Jet and his crew might be as a big of a threat the Fire Nation thinks and really do plan to burn down the forest to get them." Zuko was not one to lie and he hope that he had a glimmer of Azula's talent for it.
To his relief, Katara smiled and said, "Glad you've changed your mind too." She took the lead as Aang and Zuko fell in line, the three of them walking toward the reservoir.
"Come on!" Smellerbee shouted before shoving Azula. "Move along!" After marching for a few hours, Smellerbee and Pipsqueak stopped holding onto Azula and Sokka, seeing how submissive they were being. Azula thought of this as a slight advantage, but Pipsqueak was much too close to Sokka for Azula's liking. If she were to attack Smellerbee, Sokka would be in Pipsqueak's grasp well before Azula could finish her off.
"How could you stand there and do nothing while Jet wipes out a whole town with everyone in it?" Sokka said in an attempt to reason with the Freedom Fighters.
"Yes, you would be a miserable lot of 'Freedom Fighters' at that point," Azula said with seriousness.
"Listen you two," Pipsqueak said to them, "Jet's a great leader. If he says this is what's best, things will turn out alright."
"That town harbors Fire Nation soldiers," Smellerbee added. "They people there are traitors to the Earth Kingdom."
"It might be that way from a certain point of view," Azula reasoned. "But the reality is they're just being held hostage."
"Either way, they pay the price," Smellerbee said.
Sokka noticed a few piles of leaves with leachy nuts nearby, in the same manner that concealed the trap that caught Momo. He smirked and said, "Well if that's how Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn!" He took off sprinting toward them, with Pipsqueak shouting at him while chasing after Sokka.
Giving Azula the chance she was waiting for.
With Smellerbee's attention divided, Azula did a spinning kick toward her head, causing her to duck. Azula discreetly burned through the rope around her wrists and freed herself. She launched several jabs at Smellerbee, who deflected them with skill. Azula continued attacking but it was apparent that Smellerbee's skill was the same as Azula's.
Azula needed an edge and decided it was time to reveal herself for who she really is.
She created a pair of fire daggers in her signature blue flames, causing Smellerbee to react with shock. "You're a firebender?!" Smellerbee said, then her expression turned to rage. "You're a firebender!" She drew out her knives and attacked. Azula deflected the knives with her fire daggers, then launched a few fire kicks at Smellerbee and caused her to walk backwards defensively. Azula continued her assault until Smellerbee fell to the ground and dropped her knives. Azula was quick to grab her and held a fire dagger to her throat.
"That's right, I am a firebender," Azula said with a smirk. "Now you move along." Smellerbee snarled but complied. They followed the route Sokka took and found him alone.
"What the fuck?!" Pipsqueak shouted from above, where he was trapped within one of the metal traps. "You're a firebender?!"
"That's right," Azula said. "And now you two will pay the price for your leader's actions." She held the fire dagger close to Smellerbee's throat and prepared herself for taking a life.
"Azula, don't!" Sokka shouted.
Azula stopped short of Smellerbee's throat, causing the latter to feel panic. "Why shouldn't I?"
"Because you said we can't become what they are," Sokka said carefully. "They want to take lives when it's not necessary. We have to better than them. You have to be better than them." Sokka paused for a moment before adding, "You have to be better than your father."
Azula stared at him with an angry expression, never fond of the idea of being compared to her father in the manner of his warmongering.
Even though it pained her just the same.
She grunted and stopped firebending, before shoving Smellerbee onto a pile of leaves. The Freedom Fighter yelped when the trap spung and launched her into the air. Sokka breathed out in relief and smiled at Azula, who scowled in resignation that Sokka got the better of her morally.
"You two might want to practice your knot tying," he said before dropping the rope that held his wrists. He turned toward Azula and together they took off running.
"I hate you," Azula told him.
"For making you do the right thing?" Sokka asked. "I can live that. Now we have to find a way to stop Jet."
"I think we're short on time to stop him from destroying the reservoir," Azula said. "But we have another option."
"What's that?" Sokka asked.
"The town isn't too far from here," Azula said. Sokka's eyes widen and then he nodded in understanding.
Aang, Katara, and Zuko reached the edge of a cliff overlooking the reservoir. Katara narrowed her eyes when she noticed several of the Freedom Fighters offloading a wagon and arranging them at the base of the reservoir. "…What are they doing?" she asked with hesitation, not wanting to believe what she was seeing.
"Those are the red barrels Jet got from the Fire Nation troops," Aang said as he looked closer at them.
"Why would they need the blasting jelly?" Katara said as she recalled what the barrels contained.
"Because Jet's gonna blow up the dam," Zuko snarled in anger, knowing that Jet was really up to no good.
"What?!" Katara shouted. "But that would destroy the town! Jet wouldn't do that."
"But that's exactly what he's doing Katara," Zuko told her.
"I can get down there faster without you guys," Aang said. "I'll stop them." He took off running toward the cliff with his staff and twirled it open into its glider form.
"Jet wouldn't do that…," Katara said, becoming less convinced.
Right before Aang reached the edge of the cliff, Jet burst from the forest and snatched the glider. Aang shouted as he was precariously close to the edge and used an airbending move to save himself.
"Yes," Jet said to Katara. "I would destroy that town."
"But, why Jet?" Katara asked with a pained tone of voice.
"Katara, you would too if you just thought about it for a moment," Jet said in an attempt to persuade her. "Remember what the Fire Nation did to your mother- we can't let them do that to anyone else, ever again."
"By taking other mothers away?" Zuko snarled at Jet. "Along with their families too?"
"This isn't the answer!" Katara shouted, hurt that Jet really was not the guy she thought he was.
"I want you to understand Katara," Jet continued. "I thought your brother and best friend would but-."
Katara's eyes widen with horror when she remembered that Azula and Sokka were most likely prisoners of Jet's. Or worse. "Where's Sokka and Azula?!" she shouted while tears fall from her eyes.
Jet reached out to her and touched her face. "Katara…"
Katara closed her eyes and with a shout, sent Jet flying backwards with a powerful stream of water. She drew it back to her while Zuko unsheathed his machetes.
"I have to get to the dam," Aang shouted before reaching for his glider, which was snatched away by Jet's hook swords.
"You're not going anywhere," Jet said as he tossed the glider aside. He launched several attacks at Aang, who summersaulted to avoid the vicious attacks. Zuko launched himself at Jet and dueled with him, their weapons clanging off each other.
"Aang, get moving!" Zuko shouted. "Katara and me will deal with Jet!" Katara joined in the attack, allowing Aang to attempt to reach his glider.
But Jet was quick to block his path, forcing Aang to join his friends with his airbending. With years of experience fighting against a numerically superior enemy, Jet managed to hold his own against what he presumed to be only two benders and a non-bending warrior.
Despite knowing it was extremely dangerous, Zuko knew that Aang needed to get to the dam immediately. He had the feeling that Jet would be able to continue to hold his own against him and Katara alone, Zuko realized he needed to step up his attacks.
And he was growing tired of hiding who he was and remembered his mother saying he should never forget who he was.
With a roar he launched several fire blasts amplified by his machetes.
Jet reeled in surprise before snarling and focusing his attack on Zuko, giving Katara an opening. She launched all of the water from her waterskin to cause Jet to slam into a tree, then froze the water to trap him against the tree.
"Why, Jet?" she asked, still hurt by his actions. "I trusted and believed in you, and you lied to me!"
Before Jet could answer, a loud chirping sound reached them. Against their expectation, Jet made a sound just like it.
"What are you doing?" Zuko shouted at Jet.
"You're too late," Jet told him.
"NO!" Katara screamed as she realized it was a signal.
Aang recovered his glider and attempted to take off, only to crash into the ground. He looked at the glider's wings and saw that they were shredded by Jet's swords. "I-I won't be able to reach the dam," he said dismayed as Katara rushed over to help
"But Sokka and Azula are still out there," Zuko said as he looked at the town. "They're our only chance."
"Come on guys," Katara said with a croak of a voice. "I'm so sorry I ever doubted you. Please…"
In the sky, she saw a lit arrow soar right toward the base of the dam, where the barrels of blasting jelly where.
"No…," she said with a thread of a voice.
The arrow impacted the barrels and caused a massive explosion, destroying the dam and releasing the massive amounts of water Aang and Katara bended. The water rushed toward the town, swallowing the town whole.
And drowning anyone that would be in it.
"Sokka and Azula…," Aang said as he watched the water rush through the town. "They didn't make it."
"All of those people…," Katara said with horror, before being overcome with rage. "Jet you monster! How could you have done this?!"
"This was a victory, Katara," Jet said with conviction. "Remember, with the Fire Nation gone, this valley will be safe."
"It will be safe," they heard a familiar feminine voice say.
"Without you being here," a masculine voice added.
Aang, Katara, and Zuko turned to the origin of the voices and saw Azula and Sokka rise from below the cliff atop Appa's head with the latter holding the reins. Momo leapt off one of Appa's horns and flew over to Aang.
"Sokka!" Katara. "Azula!"
"Did you guys-?" Zuko hesitantly began to ask before Azula spoke.
"Yes," she said. "We made it just in time to warn the townspeople of Jet's plan."
"What?!" Jet roared.
"At first they didn't believe us," Sokka explained. "The Fire Nation soldiers thought we were crazy and demanded we leave or be thrown in jail."
"But one man spoke up," Azula continued. "The old man you attacked Jet vouched for us, urging everyone in the village to trust us."
"And we got everyone out in time," Sokka said. "They lost their homes, but they can rebuild."
"You fools!" Jet shouted at them. "We would've freed this valley from the Fire Nation's tyranny!"
"Who would be free?" Azula said before leaping down from Appa. "Everyone in this valley would be dead. How is that freedom?"
"You traitors!" Jet shouted.
"No, Jet," Azula said. "You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people and decided to attacked them instead. They doesn't make you a Freedom Fighter- it makes you a terrorist."
Zuko sheathed his machetes and stalked over to Jet, who stared at him in rage. Zuko raised his fist and conjured a flame in a manner to burn Jet.
But a hand gripped his wrist tightly. Zuko turned and saw that last person he expected here to stop him.
"We're better than him Zuko," Azula said to him. "We're better than our father." Zuko breathed out, feeling his rage turn to shame. He ceased bending and lowered his fist, walking away to climb aboard Appa.
Azula looked at Jet, who looked back at her in rage. "Since you will find out what I really am," Azula told him, "I might as well show you. You may not quite believe the power of my own flames when your cronies tell you." She held up two of her fingers and conjured a blue flame. Jet stared at her with disbelief before he switched back to rage. Azula smirked before slashing at the side of Jet's face, leaving a vertical burn just behind his left eye. Jet clenched his jaw but kept his raging expression turned toward Azula.
As Azula walked toward Appa, Aang asked, "Was that necessary?"
"It's a reminder that actions have consequences," she told him as they boarded Appa.
Despite his pain, Jet called out, "Katara. Please- help me."
Katara breathed in deeply, never liking to see anyone in pain, but she understood her friend's actions. "Goodbye Jet," she said with finality and boarded Appa.
"Yip yip," Sokka said as he flicked Appa's reigns. Appa rosed into the sky with everyone aboard, all of them relieved that the townspeople were spared, yet they all realized they needed to be careful of who to trust in the future.
"I thought you two would go to the dam," Aang said to Azula and Sokka. "Why did you two went to the town."
"Instinct told us to," Sokka said, causing Azula to roll her eyes.
"The town was closer to where we escaped," Azula said, earning a pouty look from Sokka.
"Can't let me have one win can you?" Sokka asked.
Azula shrugged and said, "Well your instincts about Jet were spot on from the start."
Sokka smiled brightly. "My instincts can be right sometimes," he said.
"Hey, uh, Sokka," Aang said.
"Yeah buddy?" Sokka asked, still enjoying the feeling of being right.
"You know you're going the wrong way, right?" Aang said, causing Sokka to be surprised and making Azula and Katara laugh, while Zuko smacked his forehead.
"While sometimes my instincts can be wrong," Sokka said humbly before turning Appa in the right direction.
After the departure of the Avatar and some of their beloved, the people of the Southern Water Tribe were hopeful that they will succeed and bring an end to this war. Everyone was in a much cheerful mode overall and it showed during the weekly feasts.
But Ursa was often anxious for all of her children, hoping, praying that they were safe, yet she knew that would not be the case given how valuable they were. She continued to do her part around the tribe, to the point she started to take on a leadership position left by the aging Kanna in looking out for the children and assisting the young mothers who gave birth to children not long after their husbands departed. Those children were about two or three years in age by then and required a lot of attention.
Along the coastline, Ursa was leading a small fishing expedition of young and single adults when they spotted some ships on the horizon. Initially, Ursa was fearful that it was the Fire Nation returning.
Instead, it was ships from Hakoda's fleet. Ursa sighed in relief but knew it could be an envoy delivering fallen Water Tribesmen. She feared one of them could be Hakoda…
But against her expectations, Hakoda walked down the ramp, appearing just as healthy as the day he left.
"Hakoda!" Ursa shouted and rushed up to him, embracing him tightly. He chuckled and hugged her back. Ursa stepped back to examine him, choking back tears. "What are you doing here?"
"Not happy to see me, are you?" Hakoda teased with a cocky smile, earning a slap on his shoulder from Ursa, causing him to laugh. Hakoda then gained a serious expression before asking, "We're actually here to return those too wounded to fight on, and to get some reinforcements." He sighed in defeat, knowing that he was taking more sons from the Southern Water Tribe.
"We'll take care of the wounded Hakoda, just… do what you need to do," Ursa said before motioning her group to help the wounded.
Wanting to change the subject, Hakoda asked, "Where's our children? I would've expected them to do the fishing."
"Yes, about that…," Ursa said with hesitation. "We should get back to the igloo." Hakoda rose an eyebrow, but complied and followed Ursa back into the village, where the wounded were comforted as best as possible and the men who were now old enough to fight eagerly gathered their weapons and equipment to join their kin in the war.
"Our children are with who?" Hakoda asked in disbelief after Ursa and his mother told him what happened in the past months.
"They are with the Avatar Hakoda," Kanna said plainly. Hakoda rubbed his head, still not quite believing that the Avatar is alive, and his children are helping him in the war against the Fire Nation.
"Hakoda, I know this sounds awful," Ursa calmly said.
"In some ways it is," Hakoda replied. "But it's a relief that the Avatar is alive; it means that there's a chance that we can win this war."
"But you wish our children weren't with him?" Ursa asked.
"Given the danger, of course," Hakoda said before smiling. "But knowing all of them, they couldn't refuse to let him go alone. I honestly can't think of better people to help him."
"Well, it's good to hear," Kanna said with a smile. "I have faith in them, and it sounds like you do too."
Hakoda nodded and continued to drink the tea Ursa prepared. They sat in silence before Kanna slowly stood up. "As much as it's a blessing to live a long life, it does have its drawbacks. I'll be heading to bed now."
"Do you need any help mom?" Hakoda asked.
Kanna gave her son a reprimanding look. "I am not that old young man." Hakoda smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
After some time Kanna went to bed, Ursa asked Hakoda, "How long are you staying?"
"A week at most," Hakoda said sadly.
Ursa sighed in resignation, wanting Hakoda to stay for good. "You're missed terribly here."
"I can imagine," Hakoda said. "My men and I missed everyone here terribly as well. And I really wanted to see our children but the universe had other plans."
"An unfair plan," Ursa said.
"No argument here," Hakoda added.
Ursa looked over Hakoda, who continued to stare at the table in deep thought. Ursa noticed some scars on his hands and imagined he had others as well under his clothes. Indeed the universe was unfair…
"With the universe being rather unfair to us," Ursa began, "maybe we can be unfair to it."
Hakoda looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean?"
Ursa set her teacup down and feeling daring, crawled over to Hakoda. "The universe fated us to be enemies. Instead we came together to raise children who were meant to be enemies to each other. But we cheated the universe and made something wonderful." Ursa paused and felt her heart sped up in excitement, anxiety, yearning. "Maybe now we make it even more wonderful." She leaned forward and firmly planted her lips against Hakoda's.
Hakoda inhaled sharply in surprise, but firmly returned the kiss. When they ran out of breath they separated to catch it. "When I was a girl, I often imagined myself marrying a wonderful man who makes me fall in love with him every day," Ursa said to him. "Instead the universe denied me that, but I took a chance and-."
"You think you found him," Hakoda said, taken aback by Ursa's words.
"No, I know I found him," Ursa said, anxiety building up in her. "You were there when I needed help and you provided it every day. I-I know you love Kya, but I hope you can love me like that, because I love you Hakoda. I love you so much." She planted her lips on his again and they kissed deeply till they ran out of breath once more. When they parted, Ursa begin realizing that maybe she crossed a line by telling Hakoda he can love her like he did Kya. Ursa felt stupid, incredibly stupid, and expected Hakoda to turn her down, break her heart, and she would never blame him for it.
"I love you too Ursa," he said against her expectations. She looked at him and saw the earnest look in his clear blue eyes. "I thought about you every day, and as much as I miss Kya, I know she wants me to be happy. As she is now, I know she approves."
Ursa smiled and kissed him deeply again. When they parted to catch their breath, Hakoda carried her to his room and closed the bamboo door behind them.