Chapter Twelve
He felt happy. For the first time in quite a while, Aang felt genuinely happy.
He rode atop of Appa through cream-colored skies. Aang smiled as he glanced around himself. As illogical as it appeared, Azula, Sokka, and Zuko were flying gliders effortlessly. Aang laughed and smiled at them, who all returned the smiles, Azula's being the biggest one.
But what made Aang the happiest is when he saw Katara. She rode atop of Momo, who grew to the same size as Appa, carrying Katara without strain. Katara smiled at Aang and said, "We need you, Aang."
"I need you guys too," Aang said to her. He looked forward and saw a sickly black storm cloud had formed up ahead, an omen to a terrible flying route. "Guys, get aboard Appa! Now!" he shouted as he tighten his grip on the reins. But when he noticed that his friends disappeared, he feared the worst. "No!" he shouted as he frantically looked around, before noticing someone else has appeared.
"Gyatso?" Aang said, confused that his deceased mentor and caretaker had appeared.
"Why did you leave us Aang?" Gyatso asked with sadness. "Why did you disappear?"
"I just needed time alone to think," Aang explained. "And I didn't mean to disappear." Aang reached out to hug Gyatso, but the elder monk turned grey as ash and blew away as such. Aang stares in shock as he and Appa fly deeper into the storm cloud.
"We needed you, Aang," Gyatso said, implying that Aang should have been there when the temples fell. Inside the storm cloud, lighting flashes all round, followed by booming thunder. Rain began to pour as if someone had opened a reservoir. Aang screams as he held on to Appa for dear life. They plunge into the sea as they did a century earlier. Aang's vision began to fade as he let go of the reins.
All around him, he heard everyone he held dear tell him, "We need you, Aang. We need you."
As he drifted deeper into the sea, Aang saw a flash of lighting fill the sky in the shape of a person wreathed in flames…
Aang gasped loudly and shot up from the ground, causing Momo to leap from his chest and jump from him to Katara's abdomen, to Zuko's head, to Sokka's groin. Before Momo could land on Azula, she sprung up from the ground with her boomerang at the ready, causing the lemur to cower at her feet in hope of protection.
"What now?" Azula growled as she surveyed the area. Sokka groaned in pain as he attempted to alleviate the pain he felt.
"Ugh, did we get captured again?" he whimpered.
"No," Zuko replied. "Momo freaked out and woke us up."
"For no reason I'm sure," Azula said before eyeing the lemur at her feet, who scurried away in fear.
"It's my fault guys," Aang apologized. "I had a bad dream. We should go back to sleep."
"Don't have to me tell me twice," Sokka said before rolling on his side. Azula laid back down into her sleeping bag but was still eyeing Momo with annoyance.
Zuko sighed as he laid down. "Figures that I would be rudely awaken while having a great dream," he complained.
"Maybe if you had bad dreams, Airhead wouldn't in exchange," Azula teased. Zuko laughed with audible sarcasm.
Katara paid no attention to the others as she watched Aang with concern. "Are you all right, Aang?" she asked.
"I'm okay," he said defensively. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought."
"You seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately," she said gently. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
"I just need some rest, Katara," Aang said sadly. He wanted to talk to her about it, but he also did not want to disappoint her for the reason he was having nightmares. "But thanks Katara."
"Do you want to hear about my dream guys?" Sokka asked with excitement.
"No," Azula said flatly while Katara looked at him in annoyance. "But I'd like to hear about Zuzu's dream. Was it about the brave warrior leader of Kyoshi Island?" she teased.
Zuko's cheeks flared red. "Go to sleep Azula," he said defensively as he turned his back to her. She chuckled in amusement at Zuko's reaction, believing that her brother was crushing on Suki.
Katara looked back at Aang who curled up with his back to her. She knew something was troubling him and it appeared it was getting worst by the day.
But she resigned to wait until he was ready to talk to her. She knew that nothing would come from forcing him to express himself.
Despite his horrifying dream, Aang was optimistic about the day. After checking that Appa's saddle was secure, he studied the skies with a smile. "Look at those clear skies everyone!" he said with satisfaction. "We'll be having some smooth flying today."
"Assuming we don't fly ourselves into our enemies' sights," Azula said grimly, making Aang grimace slightly.
"Well we better fly ourselves into a market," Katara told them after checking their food stores. "We're short on food."
At her mention of a market, Sokka shot up in alarm. "Wait, we shouldn't go to any market because something terrible happened at one in my dream."
"What happened in your dream?" Zuko asked with mild concern.
"The food ate people!" Sokka said with bugged out eyes.
Azula, Katara, and Zuko looked at him with unimpressed looks, though Aang chuckled lightly. "Food eating people. That would be something."
Sokka smiled lightly that he made Aang feel a little better after his nightmare from last night. Hoping to capitalize on that, he added, "Also, Momo and Appa could talk!" He looked between the two as they stared back at him. "You two were not nice to each other!" Momo chittered a protest while Appa groaned with apparent indifference. Aang laughed louder at the idea of Appa and Momo talking like humans, making Sokka's smile larger at his success.
Azula rolled her eyes. "That's all we would need. More chattery airbenders."
Iroh studied the skies intensely. There was not a single cloud in the sky and the waters were much too calm compared to a normal day. "There is a storm coming, lieutenant," he said to Jee. "A large one I fear."
Jee studied the environment and reached the same assessment as the general. "Which way would this storm approach from sir?"
"From the north," Iroh replied. "Have the crew prepare the ship for rough seas. Use whatever means to ensure their safety."
"If that is the case sir," Jee said tactfully, "wouldn't it be better suited for the crew's safety if we changed course to the southwest?"
"It would be, but we must remember our mission," Iroh said solemnly. "It is more important than even my own safety." He turned and walked toward the tower. "I will be in my cabin preparing for the storm." Jee breathed out, conflicting emotions coursing through him.
"Is it true that we are going through the storm, sir?" Jee heard the bridge officer say behind him, making him turn to face her.
"Yes Lieutenant Zoka, the general has made his decision, though he is no less happy about it than either of us." Zoka stared at the somewhat gloomy Jee in disbelief and though she and Jee were both lieutenants, Jee was essentially Iroh's right hand and must be obeyed just the same.
"Aye aye, sir," she said reluctantly before heading off to relay the order to prepare the ship for rough sea conditions.
Katara examined the melons with a skeptical eye. The gang had found a fishing village that also grew fruits and vegetables in nearby fields. While the others went looking through other market stalls, Katara elected to purchase fruits, though she was becoming more skeptical as she shifted through the melons.
"They're all good to be eaten, girl!" the shopkeeper yelped. "It's perfect, I tell ya!" Katara shakes a melon, finding it making a swishing sound.
"I don't think melons making a swishing sound means it's edible," she said.
"It means it's ripe!" the shopkeeper said, growing impatient. "It's all them delicious ripe juices swishing around."
Azula, who was examining the apples and was overhearing the conversation, rolled her eyes. "Sure it you want a juice drink," she sarcastically said. She noticed the boys approach with baskets loaded with vegetables, dried meat, and bread. From some of the prices she saw through the market, she summarized that the gang was just about out of money.
"So, are you going to buy it or not?" the shopkeeper asked impatiently.
"Actually, we're going to have to pass on these lovely fruits," Azula said with a sarcastic smile. "We're out of money." The shopkeeper groaned as Katara put down the questionable melon, grateful to have an excuse to stop being heckled.
As the gang sorted through their food, Sokka sighed with mild depression. "With this amount of food, we'll last only a few days and we're out of money. What are we supposed to do now?"
"You could get a job, mister I have a plan for everything," Katara jeered with sarcasm, earning a laugh from Aang and a proud smirk from Azula.
"That actually wouldn't be a bad idea," Zuko said before examining the docked boats around the jetties. "I bet at least one of these fishing trawlers can use an extra set of hands or two."
"Did you forget the last fishing trip we went on?" Azula asked him.
"Yeah, we caught the biggest catch ever," Sokka said with grin, "the Avatar!" Azula rolled her eyes and scoffed while he smiled proudly at his witty remark.
As the gang discussed other possible ways they could earn some money, an old fisherman was being scolded by his wife. "You shouldn't go out there Tisro!" she exclaimed. "You're crewman were right; a terrible storm is coming. The fish can wait a day."
"Don't tell me you bought into their craziness, Wo," Tisro said with a sigh. "It's a beautiful day. No clouds, no winds, nothing. It's going to be fine."
When he heard that a terrible storm was possibly approaching, Aang recalled his dream and fearing the worst, said to the gang, "Maybe we should find some shelter from the storm."
"Shelter from what storm?" Sokka said. "There's no storm coming."
"Old man Jinx said his joints were aching," Wo continued to press her husband. "That happens before a storm comes."
"And it also happens when he works his farm too much," Tisro replied. "And he's been wrong before."
"Still, one day not fishing doesn't mean the end," Wo pleaded. "Especially since you don't have to pay for the crew for their effort."
"I'm sure I can find some deck hands at the last minute," Tisro said to her.
"Right here!" Sokka said as he ran up to the fisherman, with Zuko close behind. Not wanting to be outdone by them, Azula also ran up and jumped right in front of them, showing her eagerness for the pay.
Tisro stared at them as if he could not believe his good fortune. But he smiled and said, "Alright, you three are hired." Wo sighed in resignation, still fearful that she will lose her husband, along with three well-meaning teens.
Lieutenant Zoka had finished overseeing the last activities of preparing the ship for rough sea conditions. But when she saw the looming storm clouds appear over the horizon, she felt dread that the storm would be much more powerful than the general thought. When she saw Iroh appear on the bridge with Lieutenant Jee, she immediately approached him. "Sir, your ship and crew are prepared for rough sea conditions," she reported before pressing on. "But as your naval officer, I advise you to reconsider your decision and that we sail parallel to the storm."
Iroh looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "I respect your advisement lieutenant, but I regret I must go against it," he told her. "Finding Prince Zuko is of the utmost importance to the Fire Nation and we cannot let anything, including the forces of nature, delay us." After finishing his spot inspection of the bridge, Iroh turned to leave. "I will be in my cabin Lieutenant Jee. You have command."
"Yes sir," Jee replied as Iroh left the bridge, leaving a concerned bridge crew in his wake.
"I can't believe he's making us do this," the helmsman whispered to Zoka. Before she could reply, Jee spoke up.
"Man your station sailor. You have your orders."
"But sir-!" the helmsman protested before being interrupted by Zoka.
"You heard the lieutenant!" she bellowed. "Man your station!" The helmsman complied, though he did not hide his reluctance to do so.
Zoka leaned closer to Jee and whispered, "I apologize for my crewman's insubordination."
Jee gave her a small and reassuring smile. "I accept your apology and understand the reason behind his behavior."
Zoka's eyebrows rose in surprise at his patient reaction. "Sir?"
"We've been at sea for a long time, perhaps one can argue for too long," Jee told her. "I'm sure a bowl of noodles for everyone will help keep the morale up despite the circumstances."
Zoka sighed in relief. "Of course sir. I'll see to it that the crewmen are fed." Jee nodded in acknowledgement and left the bridge to conduct spot inspections.
As Aang watched his friends assist the fisherman, he noticed a dark looming cloud approach from the sea. He approached his friends and said, "Guys, going fishing right now isn't a good idea. Look at the sky, does it like its worth the pay?"
Azula rolled her eyes. "A few storm clouds isn't grounds for being a coward."
"I'm not being a coward," Aang said defensively. "I'm just saying that the pay isn't worth your lives."
"Aang, we agreed to do this job," Sokka said after coiling some rope. "We can't back out just because the sky doesn't look friendly."
"Yeah," Zuko said as he looked at the clouds. "For all we know the storm looks worse than its going to be. Besides I'm sure we'll be fine."
"I would listen to your friend," Wo lectured them. "The boy with the tattoos has some sense in him."
Tisro put down a crate and quizzically looked at Aang. "Boy with tattoos?" He approached Aang and studied him, recognizing the way Aang's tattoos fit the description of the legends Tisro heard of. "Airbender tattoos. Well if the rumors are true, you have to be the Avatar."
Katara smiled, glad that word has spread of the Avatar's return. "That's right. The Avatar is back and he's going to put the world back into balance."
"Well don't be too excited by that," Tisro said with scorn. "After turning your back on the world, I doubt there's anything you can do to save it."
Katara's smile turned into an enraged expression. "Don't you dare say that to him! Aang would never turn his back on those who need him!"
"He had to have turned his back on the world," Tisro said bitterly. "Otherwise I wouldn't have fought in the war, losing my best friends. And that's after losing countless others in the decades before we fought in this damned war."
Aang's chest tighten when he heard the man's words. He felt guilty before for being gone for so long but hearing it from someone who had suffered so much was too much to bear for the young Avatar. His hand gripped his staff much tighter as he felt the overwhelming instinct to run away. Again.
"Aang is the most selfless person I know!" Katara shouted at the former soldier. "He's bravely helped other people and save their lives since we've met him. It's not his fault that he disappeared a hundred years ago. Right Aang?" Katara turned and saw the fearful expression on Aang's face. Her anger receded and was replaced by concern. "Aang, what's wrong?"
Aang did not say a word as he turned around and quickly flew off on his glider, much to the heartbreaking of Katara.
"Yeah that's right!" Tisro shouted. "Keep flying away boy!"
Katara's rage returned to her. "Fuck you old man! You're no better than the enemy you fought!" Katara ran over to Appa and mounted him with Momo on her shoulder, the waterbender urging the sky bison to take off after Aang.
Azula, Sokka, and Zuko watch as Appa flew off into the sky. "Well then," Azula began to say, "the least they could have done is wish us luck."
"Guess your friends aren't so polite," Tisro said with a hint of bitterness.
"Tell me about it!" Sokka exclaimed. "This one time-."
Tisro interrupted Sokka by handing him some tools. "Get these below deck and get ready to sail. You can share you story when we're fishing."
"I doubt you'd like his stories," Azula said with a mocking tone. "They are just him whining about his misfortunes as a kid." Sokka pouted at Azula, earning a smirk from her while Zuko sighed.
Despite flying as fast as he could, Appa could not keep up with his owner. But Katara was determined to catch up to Aang and continued to fly Appa in the general direction Aang took. It became more difficult to see as the sky darken and rain began to drizzle and then downpour. Katara shielded her eyes and noticed a large cave in one of the mountain sides. Believing that Aang would take refuge in a cave, and wanting to do so herself, Katara landed Appa and entered the cave, using her bending to dry herself.
Scanning the cave for any inhabitants, she noticed a human shape towards the end. As she approached, she was relieved that it was Aang, though he looked downcast and refused to turn around.
"I'm sorry for running away," he said in shame.
"It's alright," Katara reassured him. "That fisherman was out of line and had no right to say that to you."
"He has every right to say that to me," Aang replied.
Katara's brow rose in hurt confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You don't want to hear it," Aang told her as he shrunk in his frame.
"Of course of I want to hear it, that's why I'm here," Katara said gently, before remembering how Aang was shocked awake this morning. "It has to be about the nightmares you've been having." When Aang did not respond, she knelt next to him and place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Please talk to me," she said gently.
Aang sighed, knowing Katara would continue to work to get him to open up. "Alright, but it's a long and complicated story." Without warning, Momo ran up to Aang began chittering, while Appa groaned and nudged Aang from behind. Aang felt somewhat better that his animals still cared for him and he felt even better when he saw Katara smiling gently at him.
"I'm going to get a small fire going," she said before gathering some wood around the cave and using spark rocks to start a fire.
Aang gathered his thoughts as Katara stoked the fire. "I'll never forget when the monks told me I was the Avatar," he said.
"Okay," Aang said to the other airbending kids, "first you form a ball, then hop on quick!" He demonstrated the move and flew around the courtyard with expertise.
"Alright," Chogo said, "here goes!" he formed a ball and attempted to get on but fell on his behind instead. "Uh, what did I do wrong?"
"You need to balance on it like it's a top," Aang told him.
"Where did you learn this trick?" Chogo asked.
"I invented it," Aang told him. "It's how I got my tattoos." After coaching a few of them to do it correctly, his mentor and caretaker, Monk Gyatso called for him.
"Aang, come with us please," Gyatso said with a serious tone, much unlike him. "We need to speak with you." Aang blinked while feeling concerned, wondering what it could be to cause Gyatso to behave this way. But Aang nodded and followed Gyatso to the elder monks' council chamber. Aang sat down before them and realized that this was serious.
"Aang," the abbot of the monastery, Senze, began to speak, "do you remember these?" He airbent a package over to Aang. When the latter caught it, he opened it up and saw the four familiar toys inside of it.
"These were some of my favorite toys!" he exclaimed as he examined them, remembering the fun he had with them.
"You chose them from among thousands of toys Aang," Senze told them. "The toys you picked belonged to past Avatars. Your past lives."
"What?" Aang said in shock. "Are you saying I'm the Avatar?"
"Yes Aang, you are the Avatar," Gyatso said sadly. "Under normal circumstances we would have told you when you turned sixteen. But there are troubling signs as storm clouds are gathering."
Taddir, one of the more serious elder monks, spoke, "War is upon us Avatar. You must begin training in the other elements immediately."
Aang was shocked to learn he was the Avatar and he felt the responsibility bear heavily on him. Yet he tried to remain positive, thinking of the opportunity to bend the other elements.
When he returned to the courtyard to see how the other kids were doing with their air scooters, they rushed to gather around him, pestering him about being the Avatar, asking if he could bend the other elements. At first Aang was flattered about the attention, but when they began saying how much he was a hero and the most powerful bender to live, Aang quickly began feeling uncomfortable about the idea of having so much power and began having second thoughts about being able to bend the other elements.
Over the next few days, Aang was tested on some advanced airbending techniques, which he demonstrated with proficiency. When he was alone, he meditated on his Avatarhood, feeling conflicted about his role in the world. Deep down he knew he had a duty to preform, yet all he wanted was to live a simple life as a monk.
But when Aang found out he was going to be sent to the Southern Water Tribe without Gyatso, that was when he truly felt he did not want to be the Avatar.
"But why can't you come with me?" Aang protested.
"Because you will need to focus on your waterbending training," Gyatso told him. "I will only be a distraction.
"No you won't!" Aang protested again.
Gyatso sighed. "I know this is difficult Aang. But as the Avatar, you must place the needs of the world above your own."
Aang trembled as he realized that he was leaving everything he knew and love behind. He felt tears flow down his face as he stared at the ground.
Gyatso noticed and brought him in for a hug. "I will miss you Aang. And you may see me again one day, when you've mastered the elements."
"You'll wait for me?" Aang croaked.
Gyatso smiled and rubbed Aang's head. "Of course I will."
Aang waved goodbye to everyone after taking his place on Appa's neck. Aang felt relieved that at least he was allowed to take his bison with him, yet it did not ease the pain entirely.
As he flew south, he began to really feel that he did not want to be the Avatar, as everything was changing for the wrong reasons.
As he was so lost in his thoughts, he did not notice that a storm suddenly formed, forcing him to struggle to keep Appa in the air…
As the storm gained intensity, Lieutenant Zoka walked about the ship, checking on working crewmen and ensuring those non-essential to ship operations were secured in their cabins. The last of her stops was the engine room, where it was widely considered the most dangerous part of the ship, even without a raging storm rocking the ship.
At first glance, all was well in the engine room, until she heard some grumbling from one of the technicians. "Ugh, I can't believe we're going through this storm."
"It's the general's orders," Zoka told him as she marched down the gangway toward him. "You best remember that."
The crewman scowled. "With all due respect to him, I'm growing quite sick of chasing after his nephew. I haven't seen my family in five years. Who does he think he is for taking us away from our families so he can be reunited with his?"
Before Zoka could reprimand the crewman for his insubordination, she heard a voice from the shadows say, "Do you really want to know who the general is?"
She turned around and noticed Lieutenant Jee emerge from the shadows with a neutral expression on his face. "Lieutenant Jee!" Zoka said in shame. "I was just about-!"
Jee raised a hand to silence her. "To reprimand a homesick crewman, who is right to feel the way he does, as does the others." He noticed the nearby makeshift table and gestured toward it. "May I?"
"Of course sir," the engine technician said. Jee took a seat at the table and waved everyone to join him.
"You must understand, General Iroh is a complicated man," Jee explained. "He has suffered much since the Siege of Ba Sing Se…"
Sergeant Jee stood outside of the command tent, ensuring no one of unimportance disturbed General Iroh as he formulated the next stage of the siege. They had just broken through the outer wall and it was time to keep the momentum going and breach the next wall.
Yet when the sergeant saw the young officer approach the tent, he knew that there was always one person in the world who can disturb the general at leisure.
"Captain Lu Ten," the sergeant said as he stood at the position of attention. "It is good to see you sir."
"And it's always good to see you too Jee," Lu Ten said with a friendly smile. Despite his rank, Lu Ten had a talent for making any subordinate feel like they are talking to an actual human being, rather than another aloof officer. Just like his father. "Is General Iroh available?"
"For you sir, he's always available," Jee said before parting the tent flap to allow Lu Ten to enter. Over the next few minutes, Jee heard a few barks of laughter as he can assume the father and son were sharing some tales of the recent battle. Then the laughter stopped as it can be assumed the conversation turned serious.
After about twenty minutes, Lu Ten emerged from the tent with a determined look on his face.
"A new mission sir?" Jee asked of the captain.
"We'll be attempting another breach soon," Lu Ten said. "But first we need to know of the enemy's composition. My orders are to lead a nighttime raid on Earth Kingdom lines and recover whatever intelligence we can."
"A most daring operation," Jee said with mild envy. "Wish I could go along with you sir."
Lu Ten smiled at the sergeant. "I wish I could bring you too. They wouldn't stand a chance against the both of us."
"They don't stand a chance against you alone sir!" Jee exclaimed, causing him and Lu Ten to laugh.
When they composed themselves, Lu Ten held his hand out. Jee hesitated for a brief moment but took Lu Ten's hand. "Good luck, sir."
Lu Ten smiled and said, "I'll be back before you know it Jee. And then we'll march onto Ba Sing Se, together!" Lu Ten let go of Jee's hand and marched off for his mission.
The next morning, Sergeant Jee waited for Captain Lu Ten to return. In the distance, he saw a formation of soldiers with slumped shoulders and carrying a stretcher. At first, Jee thought they were carrying a wounded man, but when he saw the blood-soaked sheet, he realized the soldier underneath it was long dead.
And that Lu Ten was not part of the formation.
"Where's Captain Lu Ten?" Jee asked, terrified of the answer.
The lead soldier looked at him with hollow eyes, before quickly turning away in fear, as General Iroh approached and saw the blood-soaked sheet.
When he realized who it was, he felt as if his entire being died as well…
"I never saw a man break down like he did," Jee said as he finished his story. "After that, General Iroh saw no point in continuing the siege and lost all interest in it and the war itself."
"So that was the reason why he discontinued the siege," Zoka said in empathy, not being able to truly comprehend what it would feel like to lose a child. "He lost his only son and perhaps realize that he was doing the same for countless others."
"On both sides of the conflict I'm sure," Jee said. "After seeing to it that his army would be sent to a place to rest, he disappeared on a spiritual journey. He never fully told me what it was he found, but he said he found greater purpose, one that will benefit the Fire Nation."
"And it involves his nephew, doesn't it?" Zoka asked.
"Yes," Jee confirmed. "General Iroh believes Prince Zuko is the future of the Fire Nation, one where it will end this war for good." Jee did not go into full detail about what Iroh told him about Zuko's legacy and how it fits into the world. The others had no need to know; they only needed enough to motivate them to keep searching for Prince Zuko.
Before anyone could continue on, a sudden force rocked the ship, followed by a loud boom of thunder. Jee stood up and marched to the ship's intercom. "Lieutenant Jee to bridge, report."
"Direct hit!" someone shouted into the intercom. "Lightning strike! Need help!"
With no further need of information, Jee and Zoka began running toward the gangway leading up into the bridge, determined to save as many sailors as they could.
"After entering that storm," Aang continued with his story, "the next thing I remember is waking up in your arms after you guys found me in that iceberg."
"For a hundred years," Katara said, remembering that Aang was still hurting from the loss of his people. "I'm so sorry Aang."
Aang rubbed his forehead. "I know I told you I never wanted to be the Avatar, but that's because I just felt so overwhelmed by it all. I didn't know where to start or who to turned to and the monks wanted to take away the one person who was always there for me." Aang paused as he felt regret at leaving his people. "And what's worse, is that the Fire Nation attacked my people and the world and I wasn't there to protect anyone."
"Aang…," Katara said gently.
"That fisherman was right in a way," Aang interrupted. "I did turn my back on the world."
"Aang, I can understand how overwhelmed you felt when you were told you are the Avatar," Katara said with empathy. "When my mother died, I knew I had to step up to take care of my family. But I didn't know where to start and I felt overwhelmed." Aang looked at her, realizing he was not the only one who was crushed by weight of responsibility.
"But I had help," Katara said with more optimism. "I had Gran-Gran, and then Ursa to help. I think if you give yourself enough time, you'll find others to help you. You already found others willing to help you as the Avatar, and as a friend."
Aang saw the warm smile on Katara face and realized that she was right. Katara, Azula, Sokka, Zuko, they were risking their lives for him because they all believed in him.
Momo chittered next to Aang, making him realized he had him and Appa for help too. Aang scratched Momo behind the ears and said, "Thank you Katara."
Katara continued to smile warmly at him. "I know this is hard for you, especially when you lost your people, but I know this is meant to be. If you had stayed, the world would've lost you for good. And I can't imagine this world without you Aang." Aang's chest tighten at that, but not in a painful way. It was a more pleasurable feeling.
If Katara felt he was meant to be in her life, maybe she was meaning not just him as the Avatar, but him as Aang. He smiled warmly back at her, grateful that one great thing came after being frozen for one hundred years.
For a time, Aang and Katara sat in silence, enjoying the moment of being vulnerable with each other.
"Help!" a woman's shriek broke the silence. "Please help!" Aang and Katara looked toward the cave entrance and saw it was Wo. The two rushed toward her and helped her into the cave.
"It's okay," Katara reassured her as he she bent the water from her clothes. "You're safe now."
"But my husband and your friends aren't," Wo said with a croaked voice and teary eyes.
"What do you mean?" Katara said with concern and dread. "Where are they?"
"They haven't returned to the jetty," Wo said. "They should've been back at least two hours ago. The storm is turning into a typhoon and they're caught out at sea. Oh I knew Tiso shouldn't have gone out there!"
"I'm going out to find them," Aang with resolve.
"I'm going with you too," Katara said with the same resolve.
"It's going to be dangerous," Aang warned her. "I don't want to risk losing more people."
"I know, but you're going to need a waterbender," Katara told him. "And I'm at least a little better than you." Aang looked at her and saw the tiny smirk at the corner of Katara's lips. He realized that she and Azula were truly best friends if the latter had that kind influence on the former.
Aang smiled at her. "Alright let's go." He looked at Wo and said, "You'll be safe here and we'll be back with everyone. I promise."
"Please hurry!" Wo said with urgency. "There's no telling how terrible it is out there."
Aang and Katara climbed aboard Appa and took off with Momo close behind, heading directly into the raging storm at all speed.
In the years searching for his nephew, Iroh found solace in meditation, reflecting on his past for any lesson he can learn to apply it to the present. For quite some time meditation felt fruitless until he confirmed that his nephew was still alive and appeared healthy. He felt elated that Zuko was assisting the Avatar, yet it concerned him that Azula was also part of the group. He feared that Azula would become tempted by the power she would gain when she will return to his brother's fold. Iroh remembered when Azula was born, firebending the moment she took her first breath.
Iroh continued to meditate on how to separate Zuko from Azula without alienating him, as it appeared Zuko wished to remained at her side. Perhaps if Iroh taunted Azula to reveal her true nature-.
A violent rocking of the ship interrupted his thoughts, followed by a defeating booming of thunder. Iroh's eyes shot open and he felt a small but noticeable surge of lightning travel through the ship.
He rushed out of his cabin onto the deck, where he spotted Jee and Zoka emerge from below deck. "Where were we hit?" Iroh asked.
"We're still assessing the damage sir!" Jee reported.
"The bridge!" Zoka shouted while pointing up. "The bridge took a direct hit!"
Iroh and Jee looked up and saw that part of the observation deck was damaged.
"Go," Iroh ordered. "Retrieve all crewmen from the bridge and take them to the infirmary."
"Yes sir!" Jee shouted before he and Zoka rushed up to the bridge. When they arrived, they found that the navigator and helmsmen were in emotional shock but appeared physically fine. Zoka assisted the helmsmen back to their station, while Jee asked the navigator, "Where's the signalman?"
"He-! He was on the observation deck!" the navigator cried out. "Along with two watchmen!"
Jee stood up and went out onto the deck, finding one watchman was laying facedown on the deck. Jee checked for a pulse but found none. He sighed in remorse but he mentally reminded himself there will be time to mourn later.
"Someone give me a hand!" he heard someone shout from the opposite side of the deck. He rushed over and saw the navigator laying over the side and trying to push himself up. When Jee came to his side, he found that the navigator was clinging onto the second watchman. Jee reached for the watchman without hesitation and pulled him onto the deck. He then assisted the two men back to other side of the deck to reenter the safety of the bridge.
But just as they were overlooking the deck, they saw the most amazingly unbelievable sight.
A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky right toward the deck. Iroh looked up and raised his right hand, catching the bolt and with fluid motions, redirected out his left hand into the open water, sparing the ship from being struck by lightning again.
Jee and the two bridge crewmen stood in awe.
Iroh breathed out, himself amazed his own technique worked as he intended.
He made his way up to the bridge to examine the damaged done. He felt relief that his ship appeared operational as Lieutenant Zoka was calmly directing the crew. Yet when Iroh saw the fallen watchman, he felt severe remorse that he caused yet another son to be lost. He dreaded the letter he would write to the man's family.
"Sir!" Jee called out to Iroh. When the general approached, Jee pointed out the window toward a large white being flying through the intense storm.
"Prince Zuko!" Iroh cried out as he realized that it was the Avatar's bison and that Iroh's nephew was foolishly flying through this storm.
"What are your orders sir?" Jee asked.
Iroh wanted to pursue them, he needed to.
But recalling the dead watchmen reminded him that foolishly continuing their pursuit in these conditions would do more harm than good.
"Let them go," Iroh said calmly. "There will be another day to find them. We must get this ship to safety."
"Then I recommend that we head into the eye of the storm," Zoka said. "It will be the safest place to be."
"Very well lieutenant," Iroh said. "You have command."
Zoka nodded, yet she noticed that the navigator and the watchman stared in awe of the general. She made a mental note to inquire them later about it.
When she did, she could not give the story enough credit. Until Jee confirmed it.
From then on, Zoka and her crew were fiercely loyal to General Iroh.
Appa struggled against the fierce winds and rain of the typhoon, but he fought hard against it knowing his rider's friends were out there and in danger. Katara worked hard to keep the rain at bay with her waterbending but she still struggled while trying to keep an eye out for the fishing boat.
Aang shields his eyes from the rain and noticed something bobbing violently on the water. He scrutinized it and realized what it was. "There!" he shouted before directing Appa into a dive.
Within moments, they find the missing fishing boat, with Azula, Sokka, Zuko, and Tisro clinging to whatever was secured to the boat.
"I'm too young to die!" Sokka shrieks.
"I'm not young, but I'm not ready to go out just yet!" Tisro added.
Zuko clings to some netting next to Azula. "Does this remind you of that one trip we took?" he shouted.
"The one where you were so seasick that you were useless?" Azula snapped back. "That was a much more fun trip." Zuko groaned but could not help but agree with Azula that was a much more preferable trip.
Suddenly, he spots Appa hovering above the boat. "Aang!" he shouted, the aforementioned jumping down onto the deck and quickly assessed the situation. As he was doing so, lightning struck the main mast causing it to fall over. Aang reacted quickly and airbent it into the sea, saving Sokka and Tisro from a grisly fate.
Aang tied rope around each person aboard the boat. "Hang on to those! It's about to get rough!" He leaped back onto Appa and tied the ropes down to the saddle with Katara and Momo's help. When the ropes were tightly secured, Aang directed Appa to lift them into the air, pulling the fishing crew with them just as the boat capsized. With a harsh shake, Appa whipped the crew into the air, causing them to land into a heap in the saddle.
"That HURTS!" Sokka shouted at the bottom of the pile.
"Shut up and be grateful you can still feel anything!" Katara berated him before directing her attention to the others. "All of you!" Zuko, Tisro, and even Azula had varying degrees of sheepish looks as a result of Katara's reprimand.
Aang struggles to keep Appa directed on course out of the storm. Up ahead, a large looming wave appeared. "Hang on everyone!" he shouted as he pulled hard on the reins. Everyone clung to the saddle as tightly as possible.
Yet despite Appa's best efforts, they were caught by the wave and descended into the ocean.
After what felt like a moment, Aang's eyes open and he sees all of his friends clinging to the saddle and to each other. Fearful that this would be their end, he felt the ancient power within him awaken, where it formed a protective sphere around Appa and allows him to escape the ocean.
After reaching the eye of the storm, Iroh stood on the observation deck and lets the drizzling rain run down his face. He sensed Lieutenant Jee join him. "I am sorry Lieutenant. I should not have risked the crew like that."
"You are our commanding officer sir," Jee told him. "It is our duty to follow your orders."
Iroh felt dreadfully unworthy of such loyalty.
"But your apology is accepted sir," Jee reassured him.
Iroh turned his head and found Jee smiling at him. Even though he felt terrible, Iroh knew he had a loyal crew he can depend on regardless of the situation.
Suddenly, the Avatar's bison burst from the ocean. Iroh looked up and saw both the Avatar and his nephew looking down on him and Jee, as if they were shocked yet grateful to have avoided the general and his lieutenant once again.
Wo waited in dreadful patience after the storm receded. She was about to give into despair when she saw the Avatar's bison appear. When Tisro dismounted from Appa, his wife ran up to him and embraced him.
"Thank the spirits you're safe!" she said joyfully, before her tone turned sour. "But you owe this boy an apology."
Aang smiled bashfully before saying, "He doesn't need to apologize."
"No, I do," Tisro humbly said. "I don't know why you were gone for a hundred years, but I guess if you weren't I wouldn't be here right now. So I am sorry Avatar. I thank you for saving my life." Tisro bowed before Aang, who returned it.
"Well that was rather enjoyable fishing trip," Azula said with notable sarcasm.
"You're still gonna pay us, right?" Sokka asked, earning a glare from Katara which him promptly ignores. Tisro pulled a small satchel from his belt and tossed it to Sokka. He opened it with a gleeful smile, only to find fifty copper pieces. "That's it? This is what we get?" he said in disappointment, earning yet another glare from Katara.
"Sorry young man, but I appeared to have lost my fishing boat," Tisro explained. "Gonna need the money to replace it." Sokka groaned in disappointment, earning a smack from Katara.
Zuko stares out over the sea, prompting Azula to join him. "Do you think he's still going to come after us?" Zuko asked.
"Don't you mean after you?" Azula replied with mild bitterness. "I think uncle has no interest in Airhead. I know he has no interest in me."
"Why would you say that?" Zuko said with a sting of pain.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Don't you remember anything from out short time in the Fire Nation? He always was giving you attention while ignoring me. Hell he gave you that knife while all I got was a stupid doll!"
Zuko recoiled at how bitter his sister felt about how their uncle favored him over her. He remembered a time where their mother doted on him and was more stringent with Azula.
Yet, their time in the Southern Water Tribe proved that Ursa loved Azula just as much as him.
"Look," Zuko began carefully, "I remember a time where you thought mom didn't love you and you were wrong about that." Azula looked away from him, knowing he was right.
"But just as you were wrong about her, I know uncle is wrong about you," Zuko said to her surprise. She suddenly felt his hand on her shoulder. "I won't let him or anyone separate us Azula. I promise."
Azula finally had the strength to look at Zuko and saw the sincerity in him. She felt warm inside knowing her brother indeed cares deeply about her, despite all the hard times she gave him. And will continue to.
"Yes, yes, this is all good, but we need to get going," Azula said while brushing off Zuko, who shook his head yet smiled at knowing Azula was grateful for him. "Let's get moving! We don't have time to-!"
She was interrupted by Appa who shook himself, drenching everyone in the water that clung to his fur.
"Appa!" the gang minus Azula shouted.
"If you weren't so necessary to our mission," Azula began with a menacing tone, "I'd make you regret that bison."
Appa groaned in an uncaring way, knowing that Azula's words were hollow ones.
Even an animal like him can see the good within Azula.
A/N: I am very sorry for the late update. I have been meaning to update if for so long but life has been… rather unkind to me as of late. I'm a veteran of Afghanistan and seeing the chaos of our withdrawal has been very hard on me. So hard in fact that I'm finding trouble getting the motivation to do much besides basic survival, and even then I think of stop doing that.
But I'm taking it one day at a time and I'm seeking professional help.
If you are struggling with your mental health, especially as a veteran, I ask that you find the courage to seek professional help. There is no shame in getting the help you need.
And if you know someone who maybe struggling with their own mental health, do not be afraid to offer your help by simply listening to their troubles and showing you care about them.
Above all else, know your country's crisis line. You do not have to be suicidal to call; their job is to listen and offer support.
I wish you all the best, and I will do my best to continue this story and others as well.