Chapter Fifteen
"Hey, look!" Aang shouted as he spotted something embedded in the ground. "It's a whale's tooth." He picked up the whale's tooth, curious as to why there is a handle attached to it.
Sokka and Zuko approached Aang, suspecting what the Avatar found. "Let me see that," the former said before rudely taking the knife. "No way," in disbelief.
"It's one of our weapons," Zuko observed with matching disbelief.
"Weapon?" Aang asked with curiosity.
"It's a whale's tooth forged into a sword. It's what we do in the Water Tribe," Zuko told him as he took the weapon from Sokka. "But why was it left here?"
"Probably in a hurry," Sokka surmised. "Start looking around, see if we find something else." Zuko and Aang did as instructed, searching through the bushes and shrubs. Azula and Katara walked up to them, curious as to their behavior.
"Did someone lose something?" Katara asked.
"If it's your minds you've lost, there'll be no luck finding it," Azula teased.
"Very funny Azula," Zuko said with a frown, before handing her the sword. Her eyes widen in surprise. "We found this in the ground, we're looking for anything else to recover."
"Hey, I got something," Sokka loudly said, bringing everyone to him. He held up a blacken and broken arrow. "It's burned."
"Looks like a firebender burned it from the air," Azula said, knowing she would use the same tactic to defend herself. She looked around and saw several arrows embedded in the nearby trees, while other trees bore burned marks. "There was an ambush."
"Yeah and looking from the angle of the arrows and the burn marks," Sokka said as he examined the battle marks, "it looks like a group of Water Tribe warriors used the high ground to ambush a Fire Nation Army patrol."
"And it looks like our warriors had the upper hand, forcing the patrol down the hill," Azula said as she led everyone down the hill onto a beach. The gang followed the footprints towards the water, where a large skirmish took place, evident from the disturbed sand and blood stains.
"And the skirmish ended here," Sokka finished, and he and Azula looked around for more clues.
After a moment of silence, Aang asked, "Then what happened?"
"We're not sure, there's nothing else to go," Sokka told him.
"Except that boat," Azula said, pointing toward a large boat obscured behind large rocks, moored on the shore. The gang rushed toward the boat to examine it closely, finding it to be a Water Tribe warboat.
"Is it dad's boat?" Katara said, partially dreading the truth but also hopeful because it could mean Hakoda is nearby.
"No, it's not dad's boat," Sokka told her.
"But it's from his fleet," Zuko added. "It's Bato's boat." He faintly remembered when he first met Bato and that it was this very boat that took him to the Southern Water Tribe.
"But where is he?" Azula asked, reminding the group that Hakoda took Bato and the other men of the tribe to war.
And that some of them, Hakoda and Bato included, might not return to the tribe.
General Iroh and Lieutenant Jee breathed deeply before drinking their morning tea and to discuss their next move. "Have you decided on our next course of action, sir?" Jee asked Iroh.
Before Iroh had a chance to answer, the ship jerked slightly, followed by several shouts of fear and anger. Iroh and Jee take off for the main deck to investigate. "Look out!" they were warned by a firebender, moments before a large creature leapt onto the deck, howling in excitement. A woman rode aboard the creature, and she shouted, "Get back! There's a stowaway aboard!"
"There are no stowaways aboard this ship!" Jee shouted in anger.
The woman smiled at him, before snapping her whip and forcing the creature to tear open the deck, much to Jee's chagrin. The creature's tongue snapped down into the hole, forcing a large yelp to emerge from it. The creature reached down into the hole and pulled out a man who was indeed stowing away aboard the ship. The creature dropped the man onto the deck, who remain motionless yet alive.
"He's paralyzed," Iroh said, knowing the kind with which they were dealing.
"Only temporary," the woman said in a silky voice as she leapt down to the deck and picked the man up with incredible ease. "The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then I'll have money and he'll be in jail." She tossed the man onto the saddle and climbed aboard herself.
"But how did you know where precisely he was aboard this ship?" an irritated Jee asked her.
The woman smiled again at him. "My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away. If you'd like to more handsome, I'll meet you at the tavern closest to the jail. Me and you can talk more about it later." She smiled one more time at him before directing the shirshu off the ship and into town, leaving screaming people in her wake.
"Did she just," Jee began to ask in disbelief, "ask me out on a date?"
"It most certainly sounded like it," Iroh said deep in thought. "Though I have a feeling she would also be interested in another bounty contract."
"You're seriously thinking about hiring her?" Jee asked in dread about dealing with her.
"Yes, her shirshu could easily track down scents," Iroh said as he pulled the wrapped necklace from his pocket. "The Water Tribe girl will not easily leave the Avatar's side, while Prince Zuko would not easily leave his side either."
"I still cannot believe your man on Mongke's ship managed to get it to you," Jee said. "And now I can't believe we're going to trust that bounty hunter with it."
"We will go with her," Iroh told him. "Unless you wish to make a certain lady friend?" Jee groaned in dread, knowing that the general made up his mind about using the bounty hunter's shirshu to track down Prince Zuko.
Jee sighed in defeat. "Let's find that tavern."
Having much on his mind, Sokka volunteered to stand watch over the fire while everyone else slept. He thought back to when his father left for the war, how he and Zuko begged to go along, only to be denied because they were needed at home. Sokka briefly wondered if somehow Hakoda suspected the boys would be called on for a greater purpose, but Sokka casted those thoughts aside, reasoning that his father, like most people, had no precognition of the future and it was merely good fortune that Sokka and his friends found the Avatar.
But then again, if Sokka did not rouse his sister, she would have never split that iceberg apart and awoken Aang. Perhaps there is a thing called destiny…
A sudden rustling noise brought Sokka out of his physiological thoughts. He drew his boomerang and shouted, "Who's there?" Azula, light sleeper that she was, jumped up from her sleeping bag, her own boomerang in hand with her other ready to firebend if necessary.
A tall man with white bandages covering his chest emerged from the shadows.
"Sokka?" he said in surprise.
"Bato?" Sokka and Azula asked in unison.
"Who-to?" Aang asked, after finally waking up.
"Bato!" Katara and Zuko exclaimed and shot up to great their surrogate uncle.
"Sokka! Azula!" Bato said in excited disbelief. "Katara! Zuko! It's so good to see all of you!" He hugged each of them, surprised by their growth from children into teenagers. "My how have you four grown."
Aang walked up to Bato and bowed. "Hi, I'm Aang."
Bato blinked in surprise but then bowed himself. "It is an honor to meet you Avatar."
"How did you deduce he is the Avatar?" Azula asked.
"Hakoda took a trip back home to return our wounded and gather reinforcements," Bato explained with a hint of sadness. "Kanna and Ursa told him that you four found the Avatar."
"How is Gran-Gran?" Katara asked.
"How's our mother?" Zuko asked on behalf of himself and Azula.
"And where's Dad?" Sokka asked.
"Your Gran-Gran and mother are doing fine," Bato told them. "Your father and the other warriors should be in the Eastern Earth Kingdom now, guarding the most vital sea approaches to the capital."
"And who's that?" Azula asked, pointing toward the young man approaching Bato.
The gang looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. He stood at about Zuko's height, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He had an athletic but muscular build, certainly a warrior with a round shield slung on his back and a knife at his hip.
"Everyone, this is Ruan," Bato announced. "We found him wondering the forest alone trying to survive. He's staying with me until I heal up."
"Hey," Ruan said, unsure of what else to say to the gang.
"Hi," Aang said to him, while Katara waved friendly at him. Azula, Sokka, and Zuko eyed him with curiosity, wondering what his story was.
A sudden breeze came along, causing everyone to shiver slightly. "This is no place to explain everything. We should head inside." The gang, spurred by the prospect of sleeping inside, hurriedly gathered their gear and followed Bato and Ruan to a village. "After I was wounded, your father carried me here. The sisters of this abbey have cared for me since." He approached an elderly nun and said, "Superior, these are Hakoda's children. They've been traveling with the Avatar as he claimed."
The elder nun smiled brightly at Aang, finding it true that the Avatar had returned. "It brings us great joy to know you are back young Avatar. Welcome to our abbey."
"Thank you, and you can just call me Aang," he replied humbly.
Not long after entering the abbey, Azula's eyes closed almost involuntarily as she sensed a wonderful smell in the air. "Hmmm, what is that smell Bato?"
"Yes, it smells wonderful," Katara observed.
"The sisters here make perfumes, cologne, and ointments here," Bato explained. "Thanks to their healing ointments, I'm making a fast recovery."
"Also, smelling nice is always a plus," Ruan pointed out.
"Yeah, especially for the ladies," Sokka boasted.
"Like any woman would find your stench attractive," Azula teased.
Sokka looked at her with indignation. "Oh yeah? Which cologne is your favorite Azula? I'll wear that and drive you nuts!"
"There is no soap, much less any cologne, which can make you appealing to me," Azula teased.
"Why you-!" Sokka said before Azula and he began arguing.
Bato leaned down to whisper to Katara and Zuko. "Do they always act like that?"
"You don't want to know," Zuko said drearily.
"It's like those two have it out for each other in way," Katara mused as the argument between Azula and Sokka intensified. "Like they're trying to outdo the other."
Bato chuckled at that. "I can see that. Those two were always and still are quite competitive." He thought for a moment and for one reason or another, he can imagine Hakoda and Ursa behaving the same way at that age. He smiled at that thought, wondering if Hakoda will get the nerve to ask Ursa's hand in marriage, while also wondering if Sokka and Azula would end up together in the same manner.
Though that last thought was dashed when Azula stomped on Sokka's foot to shut him up. "Alright you two, I think that's enough," Bato asserted, prompting the teenagers to ceased arguing. "Let's go to my hut. I was teaching Ruan how to make stewed sea prunes."
"Stewed sea prunes?!" Katara said with a smile, longing for proper Water Tribe dishes. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Bato laughed and led the gang back toward his hut, where the sea prunes were kept at a low boil.
"Would one of you mind heating this up?" Bato asked Zuko and Azula. The two looked between each other innocently before Bato said, "Don't worry, Ruan knows you're firebenders."
Both firebenders looked at him with curiosity. "What else does he know?" Azula asked with suspicion.
"That you're a talented firebender who bends blue flames and Zuko has a lot of potential to be a good firebender himself," Ruan said as if it were fact.
"Is that all you know?" Zuko asked.
"Is there more to know?" Ruan countered.
"Nope," Azula and Zuko said in unison, leaving Ruan confused.
"I'm certain that you think Ruan bears hateful feelings towards the Fire Nation," Bato began to explain. "But I assure you he bears no ill feelings towards you two."
"How are you so certain?" Azula asked, uncertain to believe Bato's words. Ruan looked of Earth Kingdom decent and given the past one hundred years, it was more believable he would be unforgiving toward firebenders.
"A firebender saved my life when I was younger," Ruan explained. "When my village was attacked."
"How can a firebender save your life when he was attacking your village?" Sokka challenged more than asked.
"He wasn't attacking my village," Ruan told him. "He was defending it."
"Okay, now I'm confused," Aang said.
"When I was kid, a unit of sick and wounded Fire Nation soldiers came to my village seeking aid," Ruan began as he passed out bowls to everyone. "Instead of attacking, they simply asked if they could receive aid from our village. Our village mayor made a deal with them; as long as they report that our village was neutral and had no interest in the war, we would help them as best we can. So for a few months, we lived in a peace of sorts. It wasn't easy at first, but we grew to tolerate each other. You might even say we grew to like each other over time."
"That sounds wonderful," Aang told him.
"Yeah it was to a point I suppose," Ruan said before staring into the fire. "That until the Earth Kingdom Army got word of our treaty and sent a unit of their own to punish us."
"And the firebenders fought back?" Katara asked.
"Not right away," Ruan continued. "They tried to leave quickly and draw the earthbenders away but when they heard our village mayor begging for the lives of our people, they decided to surrender in hopes of sparing the village. But when the earthbenders saw one woman cry out for a firebender's safety, they executed her on the spot."
"Oh spirits," Katara said horrified.
"That spurred us on to fight back, knowing we were considered traitors," Ruan said. "But we were outmatched. Those earthbenders moved like nothing like I've seen before, fast and precise, despite their flowing robes and disk helmets. We didn't stand a chance."
The gang watch Ruan in sympathy, with Sokka and Katara being most sympathetic because of their own experience with raid on their village. "How did you get away?" Zuko asked.
"When my parents were killed in front of me, a firebender scooped me up and carried me to safety," Ruan pressed on. "It was the captain of the group, a kindhearted man who turned out to be rather cynical about the war. He told me to run and he'll hold them off as long as he could. So I did as I was told and I ran as far and as fast as I could."
A moment of silence passed. "Did anyone else survive from your village?" Azula asked.
Ruan was silent for a moment longer. "I doubt it," he said sadly.
No one spoke for a few moments, until Katara said, "I'm really sorry that happened to you Ruan. I can't believe earthbenders would turn on their own people like that."
"If there's one thing I learned from that, is that war brings out the worse in people," Ruan told her as he stirred his sea prunes.
"But you're with Bato now, and I can tell he's a good guy," Aang reassured him.
"That's because he is a good guy Aang," Zuko scolded with a slight smile before shifting his focus to Ruan. "And you'll be with Hakoda and the other Water Tribe men soon. They'll take good care of you, just like they took good care of me and Azula."
Ruan smiled back slightly. "I know," he said before focusing on Azula. "Now, can I see this blue fire of yours? Hakoda told me all about it."
Azula smirked and raised up two fingers, conjuring a single blue flame and causing Ruan to stare in awe. "That's really cool. I mean, really hot, heh."
Azula ceased bending and said confidently, "I know what you meant, and thank you." Ruan smiled at her in appreciation.
Wanting to lighten the mood after Ruan's story, Sokka ask, "Bato, is it true that you and dad lassoed an arctic hippo?"
"I never heard this story," Zuko said.
"Well Hakoda dragged me along at first, only for the hippo to do it later," Bato admitted, causing everyone to laugh. Bato went on to tell other stories, much to the amusement to everyone.
Though after a time, Aang felt excluded from the group. Being the Avatar meant he was the center of attention but this time, a man from his friends' past is taking center stage. When Aang tried to relate to Bato's stories, he was shut down by one of his friends. Aang soon withdrew from the group and sat in silence while trying to be amused by Bato's stories.
After a while, Aang excused himself from the group, though Ruan, worried about his new friend, followed Aang. "Are you alright Aang?"
Aang turned and said, "I'm fine, really."
Ruan crooked an eyebrow. "You don't look fine." He thought for a moment and said, "You feel your friends don't care about you anymore do you?"
"How can you tell?" Aang asked him.
"Look, they haven't seen Bato in years and have a lot of catching up to do," Ruan told him. "Just because they met up with someone from their tribe doesn't mean they'll stop being friends with you."
Aang sighed. "Yeah I guess you're right."
"Besides you're the Avatar," Ruan continued, "who wouldn't want to be friends with you?"
Aang chuckled at that. "Yeah I guess you're rights."
An ostrich horse was soon heard approaching with an Earth Kingdom soldier mounted atop it. Ruan tensed up involuntarily, though he remained calm as he remembered that the soldier was technically his ally now.
"I'm looking for Bato of the Water Tribe," the soldier said.
"I know Bato, I'm traveling with him," Ruan announced.
"Here's a message for him," the soldier said and handed Ruan a scroll before riding away. Ruan began to walk back to Bato's hut with Aang.
"What does the message say?" Aang asked, wondering if Ruan will open and read the message.
"We'll find out soon enough," Ruan said as he entered the hut. "Bato, a messenger from the Earth Army gave us this." He held the scroll out to Bato, who took it and unwrapped it.
"It's a map that leads to Hakoda's assignment within the Earth Kingdom fleet," Bato announced. "We are to guard the entrance to Chameleon Bay, on the outskirts of Ba Sing Se. I am to sail there with Ruan and meet Hakoda."
"So that's why your boat is moored on the shoreline," Zuko pointed out.
"Oh, was there another reason Zuzu?" Azula teased, making Zuko groan.
"We can go and see Dad!" Sokka said, perking Zuko up greatly while causing Aang's eyes to widen in panic.
"It would be great to see Hakoda again," Azula said sentimentally.
"It would but we can't just yet," Katara objected.
"Why not?" Sokka whined. "Don't you want to see Dad?"
"Of course I do, but we already have a mission," Katara told them. "We have to get Aang to the North Pole. It's much more important than seeing Dad again, as much as I hate to admit."
Aang looked at Katara in joy, relieved that his friends, or at least Katara, will not abandon him. He felt like giving Katara a tight hug as a thank you, but decided against it, wanting to respect her space.
"Your father will understand, and he is so proud that you four are helping the Avatar," Bato said with a proud smile of his own.
"What about you?" Sokka asked. "Are you fit enough to travel?"
"As fit as I'm going to be. And I have Ruan to watch my back. You've got nothing to fear," Bato reassured.
"But he isn't Water Tribe, how can you trust him?" Sokka challenged.
"Wasn't there a time we weren't Water Tribe?" Azula asked him with a frown.
"You grew up there, you and Zuko are just as much Water Tribe as I am," Sokka said.
Bato rubbed his chin in thought. "I might have a way to have Ruan prove himself to be Water Tribe."
"What do I have to do?" Ruan asked with determination.
"I will explain in the morning," Bato told him. "You six should get to bed soon. You will need for tomorrow."
It did not take long for Iroh and Jee to find the tavern the bounty hunter describe; the shirshu resting outside was a dead giveaway. The men entered the tavern to find the bounty hunter sitting alone enjoying her drink, that is until a burly man attempted to fight her. With graceful moves, the bounty hunter dodged the attacks and landed a single blow that knocked the man flat onto his back, again a testament to her strength.
"Sir, I'm not one to openly criticize your decisions," Jee said as tactfully as possible, "but this is a terrible idea."
"You're just saying that because you're nervous to meet her," Iroh told him with a smile, much to Jee's chagrin and embarrassment. Yes Jee can admit the bounty hunter was gorgeous, but what little of her attitude he saw left much to be desired.
The bounty hunter smiled when Iroh and Jee approached. "Well, isn't it mister handsome and his old man. What can I do for you?"
"You can tell us who you are for starters," Jee asked.
"Oh so forward," the bounty hunter said with delight. "I like that in a man. I'm June. What's your name handsome?"
"Jee, and this is General Iroh of the Fire Nation," Jee answered in a serious and formal tone. "He has a contract for you."
"Your shirshu has damaged my ship and I demand compensation for it," Iroh began.
June hummed in thought before saying, "I don't have that kind of money. Besides, if you knew that stowaway was aboard that ship, you would have thrown him overboard and we never would've crossed paths. So who's fault is it really?"
"You could've just told us there was a stowaway," Jee fumed.
June smirked. "Would you have believed me?"
"He might not have believed you, but I would have," Iroh told her. "I know how capable your shirshu is at finding prey."
"Why am I not surprised you sound so certain of what Nyla can do," June said.
"So will you take the contract or not?" Jee asked.
"Sure," June said, much to Jee's surprise. June stood up and approached him. "But only if you and I spend a night together." She bite her lower lip seductively, much to Jee's mild discomfort.
"You have a deal," Iroh said.
"What?!" Jee said aghast.
"Good," June said before wrapping an arm around Jee. "What's the contract?"
Iroh pulled the necklace from his sleeve and unwrapped it. "You are to track the owner of this necklace."
June studied the necklace and noted that it belonged to someone from the Water Tribe. "What happened old man? Did your Water Tribe mistress run off on you?"
"Oh I am much too old for the owner of this necklace, but she is not the target," Iroh explained. "It is the young Fire Nation man she is traveling with."
"If that's the case, you want him alive, so you will have to pay your weight in gold for that," June told him.
"You've got to be-," Jee began to say before being interrupted by Iroh.
"Deal," Iroh said with certainty, much to Jee's chagrin and June's delight.
Bato awoken the gang the early the next morning before the sun was even up. Despite their exhaustion, they were eager to see what Bato had in mind for them. He led them to the Water Tribe warboat moored on the shore and he rubbed the hull in thought. "This boat is sentiment to me. It was built by my grandfather, who passed it down to my father, then to me."
"It looks like a well-built boat," Ruan commented.
"Yeah, it's seen it share of the seas," Bato said with a smile. "My father took me ice-dodging in it; even still bears the scar to prove it." He paused then turned to Sokka and Zuko. "You two must have good stories when Hakoda took you two ice-dodging."
"They didn't go," Katara told him, much to Sokka and Zuko's embarrassment. "Dad left before he take them."
"Oh that's right, you two were much too young," Bato said. "Guess I forgot how much you've changed in that time."
"What's ice-dodging?" Aang asked.
"It's a rite of passage for young Water Tribe members, taken at the age of fourteen," Bato said before a thought comes to mind. "Originally I was only going to have Aang and Ruan take this test, but I see now that you four are here for the same reason."
Azula, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko's faces lit up. "You're taking us ice-dodging?!"
"That's right," Bato said proudly. "Let's get this boat into the water!" The gang and Ruan run to the boat and began pushing it while Aang and Katara used their waterbending to guide into the lake.
Once they were all on board and sailing, Sokka asked, "How are we supposed to ice-dodge with no ice?"
Bato smiled slightly and pointed. "You'll be dodging those." The gang turn to look and see groups of rocks, many sharp and jagged, stick out from the water, a perfect substitute for ice bergs. "The first group will consist of Sokka on steering and making command decisions; lead wisely. Katara, you will be on the main sail. The winds will be brutal, so be brave. Aang, you control the jib. You must have a steady hand, or else we will go down. Your position is about trust."
Aang nodded. "I understand," he said with a burdened sense of responsibility, much like his duties as the Avatar. He took his position on the jib and realized that what he does will make Katara's role on the main sail easier or harder. He sees this as an opportunity to show that she can trust him.
"Aang, ease up on the jib, Katara hold," Sokka commanded while holding the steering rod steady. The boat eased to the left, passing a group of rocks. "Aang, less sail. Katara, give him room to work." The boat then shifted back, avoiding another group of rocks. "Katara, shift the portside! Aang, give us more sail!" Sokka pushed the steering rod as hard as he could to avoid a large group of rocks on their starboard side. "Switch!" Sokka shouted, forcing the steering rod in the opposite direction while Katara and Aang shifted to starboard side, forcing the boat to the left, avoiding more rocks.
After thirty more minutes of hard effort, Sokka led the boat safely out of danger.
"Excellent work Sokka!" Bato shouted as they exited the rock field. "Your father would be proud." He turned toward Azula, Zuko, and Ruan. "Now it is your turn. Azula, you take Sokka's spot. Zuko will take Katara's while Ruan takes Aang's." Much to his surprise, Zuko did not protest when he was not placed in command of the vessel; perhaps he recognized that Azula is a capable leader in her own right, or he simply will not question a respected Water Tribesman's decision.
It was not long before Azula was leading the way back through the maze Sokka went through, though there was one problem…
The winds picked up and began forcing the boat into directions Azula did not want. But she refused to quit. "Ruan, give Zuko some room to work! Zuko, give us more sail!" The young men did as told but the winds would not relent, almost forcing the boat into a group of rocks.
Knowing that they would crash, Azula turned to Katara and Aang. "You two, waterbend! Keep us from crashing!" Katara and Aang reacted and bended a large gush of water that cushioned the boat against the rock.
"How are we getting out of here?" Ruan asked.
"There's a way out through those rocks," Azula pointed toward two large rock formations that were dangerously close together at their bases.
"We'll never make it through that!" Aang said.
"Yes we can," Sokka said confidently. "Katara, bend as much water as you can between us and those rocks. Aang, bend air into the sail, maybe that give us some extra lift."
"Hot air is know to rise above cool air," Azula said thoughtfully. "Zuko and I can heat up the air around Aang."
"Good idea, let's do it!" Sokka shouted before taking the steering rod. "Ruan, forget the jib, get on the mail sail."
"I can do both!" he shouted back, holding onto both ropes with as much strength as he could muster. The benders soon did as they were told, Katara rising the water level while Aang bent the warmer air into the sail, causing the boat to rise above and over the rocks safely.
When they were done, Bato wore the proudest face they ever saw.
When they were back ashore, the gang and Ruan stood shoulder to shoulder while Bato spoke. "Let the Spirits of Water bear witness to these marks. For Sokka and Azula, the Mark of the Wise. The same make Hakoda earned." The two teens stood proudly as Bato used ink to mark their foreheads, feeling more prideful than ever. "For Katara and Zuko, the Mark of the Brave. Your courage and resilience inspire us. And for Aang and Ruan, the Mark of the Trusted. You two are now honorary members of the Water Tribe."
"Great job you two," Katara told them, making Aang blush.
"Thanks everyone," he said.
"I feel like I'm at home again," Ruan said softly. "Like I'm a part of something again."
"Know that wherever you go, you are now a member of the Water Tribe," Bato told him. "Now, we have to set sail ourselves to make to the rendezvous point." Ruan nodded and gathered his things.
Aang breathed deeply, feeling more alone than he had in quite some time. He knew Appa and Momo would stay with him, but to see his friends about to take off…
"Oh how I wish we can go with you," Katara told Bato before hugging him.
"What?" Aang said softly.
"Yeah, I wish we can see Hakoda again," Azula began, "but we can't leave Airhead to his own devices for more than a day."
"Airhead?" Bato said with an awkward smile.
"She means Aang," Zuko told him. "You know Azula has to have a mean nickname for people that have a tendency to annoy her," he finished that sentence in a grumble while Azula smirked proudly at him for his comment.
Bato barked a laugh. "Yes Azula has always been that way. I guess that's just her way of expressing her love." Azula huffed stubbornly before Bato laughed again and bringing Azula in for a hug, who playfully refuted before giving in.
"Besides, we mentioned this before," Sokka began to say, "our place is getting Aang to the North Pole so he can master waterbending."
"And don't forget that I'm going to master waterbending too," Katara told him.
"Yeah, yeah all so you can freeze me in any weather," Sokka grumbled, much to Bato's humor.
"You four are certainly something special," Bato said. "Aang is very lucky to have you for friends. Isn't that right Aang. Aang?"
Everyone looked at Aang, who looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Aang, are you alright?" Katara asked.
"I-I thought that when you guys found out where Hakoda is…," Aang said before choaking on tears.
"That we would leave you to see him?" Katara said before approaching him. "Aang, we would love to see him again, but he would tell us that getting you to the North Pole is the most important thing we need to do."
"Yeah, buddy, we're not abandoning you," Zuko affirmed.
"Not yet at least," Azula teased.
"Azula," Zuko sternly said, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Fine, we won't leave you," Azula said in feign disappointment before smiling just the slightest in a gentle way toward Aang.
"Well since you three are staying with Aang, I guess I can go see Dad all by myself!" Sokka exclaimed, before Azula swatted him on the back of the head.
"Uh-uh, if we have to suffer because of the Avatar, so do you Sucker," Azula warned him.
"Fine, fine, I'll stay," Sokka said, before winking at Aang, causing him to smile.
"Thanks guys," he finally said relieved to know his friends are staying with him.
After a moment, Bato said, "Well I guess this is goodbye for now. Good luck to all of you."
After helping get his boat back into the water, the gang waved goodbye to Bato and Ruan, feeling grateful that Hakoda will learn that his children are alive and doing the best thing they could, helping the Avatar.
After providing the smell sample to Nyla, June took off with Jee and Iroh onboard. They tracked the smell through several small villages and an abandoned temple peak. When they came to a village at the base of the volcano, Nyla spent much time sniffing around a building where an elderly woman rested and calmly enjoyed her tea while her village was in a panic because of the shirshu.
"What's taking her so long?" Jee asked.
"The girl must've spent a lot of time here," June told him. "Nyla will pick up the scent again. Unless you'd like to stop for a drink."
"No thanks," Jee stubbornly refused, making June laugh.
"Tell you your fortunes handsome?" Aunt Wu asked of Iroh.
"At my age, my fortunes are best left to be found the old-fashioned way," Iroh said with a smile. "But thank you."
Nyla picked up the scent again and took off sprinting through the woods, finding an ambush site and growling like crazy.
"What is she doing?" Jee asked.
"The girl is close," June said.
"And so is Prince Zuko," Iroh said. "Remember June, I need him alive and unharmed."
June looked over her shoulder. "For your handsome lieutenant, I'll gift wrap your nephew for free."
After making their way back to the abbey, the gang gathered their things when Momo began acting erratic. "What is wrong with that lemur?" Azula asked.
A terrified scream was her answer, causing the gang to look toward the gate where a large vicious creature sprint through with a fierce looking woman aboard.
Along with Iroh and his aide.
"Uncle," Zuko said in disbelief. "How did you track me here?"
"With the help of this bounty hunter Prince Zuko," Iroh said. "Now come with me. This is your only warning."
"No way," Zuko defiantly said. "After tracking me to the Fire Sages' temple then hiring pirates to capture me, I don't think you're as great as I thought."
"Please Prince Zuko, I am desperate to be reunited with you," Iroh told him.
"So desperate that you hired pirates and bounty hunters to track me!?" Zuko shouted.
"He must be pretty desperate Zuzu," Azula told him. "He obviously only cares about his own emotional wellbeing than your safety."
"You be quiet," Iroh hissed at Azula.
"Think about it Zuzu, if Uncle Iroh truly cared, he wouldn't resort to such dangerous methods to find you," Azula reasoned. "Those pirates would've delivered you to him all beat up, and who knows what this bounty hunter and her pet will do to you."
"I said for you to be quiet," Iroh warned for the last time.
Zuko thought about Azula's words for a moment, realizing that she was right. "Azula's right uncle, if you really cared for my safety, you wouldn't have hired pirates or bounty hunters to track me down."
"But there was no other way," Iroh pleaded.
"You could've found a way!" Zuko roared. "But instead you were so desperate to fill the void left by Lu Ten's death that you lost sight of who you are!"
The words shook Iroh to his core. He began to doubt his reasons for wanting Zuko at his side, that maybe he was desperate to replace Lu Ten.
And it was all because of Azula, and the influence Ozai had on her.
"Then you leave me no choice nephew," Iroh said. "June, if you would."
June smirked and cracked her whip, causing Nyla to whip her tongue at Zuko, paralyzing him. He fell to the ground before he realized what had happened.
Azula snarled and launched a barrage of her blue fire at Iroh, who defended himself but was taken aback by how strong she was.
Jee leapt off of Nyla and launched several attacks at Aang, knowing he was the bigger threat than the Water Tribe siblings. June directed Nyla to launch her tongue at the siblings, paralyzing Sokka before he could toss his boomerang and after a brief fight, the shirshu paralyzed Katara.
With Aang distracted by Jee, Nyla whipped her tongue at him, forcing him to the ground.
Despite her enhanced fire, Iroh noticed that Azula had learned her bending on her own and still had to much to learn. If not for his experience, she would have likely defeated him swiftly.
Still, there were techniques that she could not possibly have known. He was proven wrong when Azula ceased bending and began moving her arms in a circular motion…
When Jee saw her doing this, he immediately began running to Iroh's side, but was waved off by the general. "No lieutenant! Retrieve my nephew so we can leave." The lieutenant nodded and began running for Zuko.
But he was distracted when he saw the burst of lightning shot from Azula's hand, right for Iroh. "NO!" Jee shouted.
With mastered calmness, Iroh stood fast and outstretched his arm, allowing the lightning to touch him and flow through his body and out his other arm.
Despite everything she read about lightning, Azula never expected this and was knocked back when the lightning struck the ground in front of her.
Iroh breathed deeply and no one moved a muscle.
"Well, that was… something," June said, having seen nothing quite like that.
"Retrieve my nephew and let us go," Iroh ordered, prompting even the bounty hunter to comply. As the shirshu approached Zuko, Aang was laying on the ground helpless, terrified that the shirshu would eat Zuko.
"Don't hurt him!" he managed to shout, while also feeling his heart rate accelerate.
"Avatar, the last thing I wish is to hurt my nephew," Iroh calmly told him.
"Funny way of showing it!" Aang shouted, feeling power build up inside him. He closed his eyes and felt his past lives take control for a moment, detoxing his body of the shirshu poison and leapt up from the ground. He struck the shirshu first and knocked it back, forcing June to dismount.
"Oh fuck this," she said as she began tending to Nyla. Iroh focused his attack on Aang, who had just exited the Avatar State now that his body was free of poison. He combated Iroh and noticed that he was carrying Katara's necklace and focused his efforts on retrieving it.
As Iroh and the Avatar fought, Jee rushed over to Zuko, seeing the teenager snarl at him. "I'm not going with my uncle," he spat.
"I'm sorry Prince Zuko, but I'm following orders," Jee replied calmly.
"Then as your Prince, I order you to leave me alone!" Zuko shouted, causing Jee to freeze in place, reminding him that Zuko was still technically the Crown Prince and should be obeyed.
As all this was going on, Azula gained her senses and noticed Katara and Sokka nearby, still paralyzed, but began to move their fingers and hands just slightly. Remembering that the sisters of this abbey make healing substances, Azula bet they would have something that can help. She rushed over to one of the sisters in hiding and asked in a demanding tone, "Do you have anything that can cure temporary paralysis?"
One of the sisters handed her a bottle of a strong stench. "Have your friends drink this; it should cure them of shirshu poison." Azula nodded and rushed back to Katara, forcing her to drink the foul substance. Azula grimaced at the disgusted look on Katara's face but was relieved to see her stand up. Wanting to see the repulsion on Sokka's face, Azula forced the bottle in his mouth, causing his eyes to shoot open.
"Ugh! The most disgusting thing I've ever tasted!" Sokka shouted as he stood up and stretched his muscles.
"Shut up and help Zuko!" Azula shouted at him, forcing him to draw his boomerang and launch it at Jee, who ducked at the last moment only to receive a water whip from Katara. Forced to fight, Jee stood up and was slowly pushed back away from Zuko, who was forced to drink the last of the foul cure. He coughed and stood up, grateful to have control of his body. He joined in on the attack on Jee, who was overwhelmed by the teenagers and knocked out.
Despite his old age, Iroh managed to keep pace with Aang, who was desperately trying to grab Katara's necklace. Feeling sneaky, Aang grabbed a bottle of cologne and when the opportunity rose, splashed Iroh's face with it, causing him to lose focus. Aang took the initiative and grabbed Katara's necklace.
When Iroh regained his sight, the last thing he saw was the Avatar blasting him into a wall.
The gang, knowing that the bounty hunter and shirshu were still active, rushed to confront them. The shirshu was still panting in pain while the bounty hunter tender to her. June eyed the gang and said, "Forget it. I wasn't told anything about fighting the Avatar." The gang look amongst themselves and took off, wanting to get away from Iroh and whatever his plan was for Zuko.
After recovering, Iroh resigned to the fact that he had to pay a large sum of gold to June for a worthless effort. And despite the protest from Lieutenant Jee, Iroh convinced him to spend a night with the beautiful bounty hunter.
"Sir, if I don't make it back…," he began.
"You will be fine," Iroh reassured him. "You deserve to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman after my hapless missions."
After counting her money, June snuck an arm around Jee's waist. "Come on lover boy, the drinks are on me tonight."
"I'd hope so, because I'll need them," Jee grumbled, much to June's amusement.
A few hours and a dozen drinks later, Jee found himself wondering why he was so reluctant to go out with June.