CHAPTER ONE
The Most Unlikely of Reunions
As Aang and his friends Sokka, Kattara and Toph are getting ready for a new day they notice
smoke in the distance. Sokka immediately suspects Fire benders and wants to ambush them.
Kattara agrees with Sokka that the source of the smoke is most likely from Fire bender soldiers
but wants to leave as quickly as possible. Toph agrees with Sokka and wants to ambush them
saying that she's "ready for action" Aang being the happy optimist that he is tries to convince his
friends to go meet whoever started the fire. "After all" he says "they could be just travelers like us,
and I always like making new friends." "Besides what's the worst that could happen? If they are
fire benders I can take them on because I'm the Avatar."
Kattara, Sokka and Toph go along with Aang but not without taking their worries with them.
Kattara keeps her thoughts to herself, but Sokka voices his out loud saying "Every time we do
what you want to do we end up getting in trouble." Aang correctly replies "Yes but I also get us
out of trouble, and we have had lots of interesting adventures." Sokka can come up with no reply
to this so just says nothing and grumbles to himself; but Aang and Kattara see a small reminiscent
smile play across his face and a glaze in his eyes. Toph cannot see Sokka doing this because she is
blind, but she knows what's going on because of Kattara and Aang They all chuckle at this which
brings Sokka out of his reverie. Sokka sharply asks them what they're laughing at. Aang
unconvincingly says "nothing" but Kattara sarcastically but not untruthfully says that she was
laughing at all the trouble Sokka has managed to get into by himself throughout the years. Toph
says nothing but laughs all the same, Sokka's face becomes sour and he pretends not to have
heard what Kattara had said. When he finally speaks again he says that he is the most responsible
guy he knows and that Aang, Kattara and Toph should treat him with the respect that a warrior
deserves.
Kattara mockingly says "I'm sorry Sokka the Great and Noble Warrior of the Southern Water
Tribe. Please forgive our impertinence if it be your will." Sokka's scowl on his face drops lower
by the second. He can barely restrain himself from lashing out before he remembers his father's
last words to him before he went off to war. "Sokka your responsibility is to stay where you are
most needed and that is here to take care of your sister." This memory brings tears to Sokka's
eyes but luckily he manages to hold them back so Aang, Kattara, and Toph do not notice.
The four friends keep on walking towards the smoke when they are greeted by a welcome but
most unexpected surprise. Around the campfire is a small group of Water Tribe warriors and not
just any Water Tribe warriors; but Sokka and Kattara's father and next to him Bato whom the trio
had met previously when Aang and his friends were being chased by a female Bounty Hunter
named Jun along with Prince Zuko and his uncle Iroh. And the most unlikely person to be there
because he was a fire bender was Shyu the Fire Sage who had helped Aang speak to Avatar
Roku, when Aang and his friends had to journey to a fire temple that was located on a crescent
shaped island. Shyu had told them that the temple was built by Avatar Roku himself. After Aang
had successfully conversed with Roku he had also destroyed the temple to save Aang from the
enemies that awaited him.
As soon as they had seen who it was Sokka and Kattara simultaneously cried "Dad" their father
whose name was Hakoda who had not seen them looked up in shocked surprise. As soon as he
saw them his face widened with joy. They all rushed to each other and hugged and didn't ever
want to let go. Bato, Aang, and Toph were being completely ignored but they all understood they
just watched and smiled.
Aang was having mixed feelings watching this, he was happy that Kattara and Sokka had been
reunited with their father but their reunion brought up memories of Gyatso who was both at the
same time the grandfather and big brother figure in Aang's life. Gyatso was an Air bending monk
and Aang's chief caretaker. Gyatso helped Aang transition into the knowledge of being the
Avatar. Aang was told that he was the Avatar when he was just twelve years old. Usually the
Avatar is told of his/her identity when they are sixteen years old. But the monks fearing war with
the Fire Nation told Aang and relentlessly coached and trained him. Aang who previously before
this knowledge had been very popular with the other boys at the Air Temple where he lived was
suddenly abandoned by them. The only person to treat Aang normally was Gyatso who managed
to train Aang by mixing in some fun at the same time, such as having Aang launch cakes and other
harmless things at the other monks.
Aang overheard the other Monks telling Gyatso that Aang was to be sent to the Eastern Air
Temple which was just for women and girls. After hearing this Aang decided to run away,
tragically Aang did not know Gyatso had no intention of having him taken away and left without
saying goodbye. Aang went out into a fierce storm and was almost drowned but his Avatar Spirit
saved him by cocooning him in a bubble of air which turned the water into ice. Aang was
reawakened from suspended animation a hundred years later by Kattara and Sokka who soon
after left with him on his journey to become a fully trained Avatar.
During the hundred years that the Avatar was gone the Fire Nation waged war on the other
nations, and with the supernatural powers granted them by a comet that was passing by
slaughtered the Air benders. Aang found this out when he journeyed to the Southern Air Temple
and saw Gyatso's corpse surrounded by Fire Bending corpses. Aang grew furious and went into
the Avatar State which alerted the other nations that the Avatar had returned.After the Sokka and
Kattara's reunion with their dad, they introduced Aang and Toph. To Aang's surprise and slight
displeasure Hakoda bowed low to the ground and ordered everyone to do the same. Aang felt
very uncomfortable and grew hot in the face. When at last he felt that he could not stand it any
longer they finally stood up, Aang then told everyone that he was happy to be so warmly received
but that he would appreciate it if he was treated like a normal person. Everyone laughed heartily at
this and Aang laughed with them glad to reduce the crushing silence and tension from everyone's
palpable awe of him.
After this awkward introduction Aang went to talk to the person he most wanted to see the former
Fire Sage Shyu. When Aang began talking with Shyu the topic of how he had escaped from
Admiral Zhao then Commander Zhao immediately arose. Shyu told him that he along with the
other Sages were scheduled to be executed even though he was the only one who had betrayed
the Fire Nation by helping the Avatar. The way Shyu escaped he could not properly explain to
Aang because even he did not know. He did tell Aang that he jumped ship and swam to the shore
of a desolate wilderness. He was eventually apprehended byHakoda and the rest of the small
band of Southern Water Warriors, they could tell by his dress even though his clothes were torn
and ragged that he was a fire bender and thought that he was a soldier who had some how gotten
lost from his unit. After much interrogation because they did not believe his story that he was a Fire
Sage for the Fire Temple or for that matter that he had helped the current Avatar speak with the
past Avatar Roku; they finally believed him because he never changed his story and they could not
catch him in a lie. After the Water Tribe Warriors had heard his story they debated with
themselves about whether or not they should let him go. Hakoda told everyone that Shyu was free
to go, but Shyu begged to stay saying he wished to help them in their fight against the Fire Nation.
They warily accepted but Shyu proved to be a great help in planning the tactical parts of their
skirmishes with Fire Nation Navy ships and Army troops.
Hakoda then told them stories of their raids and skirmishes. The Water Tribe Warriors had
originally been sent to help the Earth Kingdom but the Earth Kingdom was quickly losing territory
to the Fire Nation and the only stronghold left was the grand city of Ba Sing Se. The city of
Omashu which was ruled by one of Aang's friend King Bhumi had also been a stronghold
territory; but it recently had been overthrown and even without a fight. King Bhumi had
surrendered and the city was renamed New Ozai by Princess Azula Prince Zuko's sister. Because
of this Hakoda and his group of warriors only traveled and waged guerrilla warfare by night.
Despite this Hakoda tells them that he has lost many good friends and warriors.
After he his done Hakoda asks his children and Aang and Toph to tell him stories of their
adventures. Kattara begins first saying that she has been declared a Master Water Bender by
Master Pakku from the Northern Water Tribe. She has been teaching Aang many complicated
Water Bending Techniques. She also tells him of the time she stole a Water Bending Scroll from
pirates and proudly shows it to her father who is very impressed. One story that Hakoda and all
his warriors have heard well by now is the time when The Northern Water Tribe was besieged by
Admiral Zhao. "Your participation in that battle is the stuff of legends." Hakoda proudly declares.
Aang and his friends beam at these words. "And my thanks to you Avatar Aang for helping defeat
the Great Fire Nation Navy and for destroying Admiral Zhao. His loss to the Fire Nation is our
gain." Aang grins sheepishly at this because he does not want to be known simply as the Avatar he
just wants to be a normal person.
The attention is drawn from Aang when Hakoda notices that Sokka has become depressed.
Hakoda knows the reason and takes Sokka away to talk with him privately. Sokka is expecting
his father to tell him not to cry for it is not manly, Hakoda instead embraces Sokka and tells him it
is okay to miss the one he has loved and lost and also tells him that Princess Yue will always be
with him and that if it wasn't for her the Fire Nation would have won the war. "She was destined
to do what she did" Hakoda declares. Sokka brightens a little but still feels bad that he didn't finish
his mission to Chief Arnook Princess Yue's father. Hakoda says "nobody blames you Sokka, and
though no one will ever replace Yue you will find someone that will give your life joy and
purpose." Sokka and Hakoda embrace once more and then rejoin the group.
The last one to talk is Toph who is a little upset that nobody has noticed her yet. But Hakoda asks
her to explain when and how she met Aang and his friends. Toph explains that she used to be an
Earth Bending tournament prize fighter and that she went undefeated until she met Aang. She says
that she ran away from home because her parents had always treated her like a baby even after
they found out what she could do. She explains that even though she is blind she can not only hear
better but she can also sense the vibrations of the earth which give her a special kind of sight.
Hakoda declares that in his travels he has met many powerful Earth Benders but none as powerful
as her. "Your talent will come in handy in tight situations" he says. "I make to you a solemn
promise, I nor anyone in my group will never treat you with any less respect than we treat Aang
and my children." Toph smiles and says she is "honored to be here."
After many hours of talking and celebrating Hakoda declares "it is time for rest, for tomorrow we
are rising early. I fear we have stayed here too long and if we stay much longer we will be
discovered by the Fire Nation." Aang, Kattara, Sokka, and Toph go to bed feeling like they wont
be able to go to sleep after all that is happened to them that day. But they are more tired than they
know and fall asleep quickly.