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This chapter is back onto script and changes. We hope you've enjoyed everything we've done so far - 3 Lady Ryuka and RaeDyn Rae 3
A koala-otter calmly floats on its back on the water, purring slightly in the sunlight, happy and at peace. It notices something approaching to its right, turns its head, chirps, and dives underwater as a large shadow passes by. The large shadow is Appa flying overhead. Sokka hangs lazily over the side of Appa's saddle. Grumpily, he says, "I'm not one to complain…" "Yes you are." "You love complaining." "Just last week, you went on for like 20 minutes about Spirits knows what." "If I complain so much, why don't you know what I was complaining about?" "Cuz ya do it so often, it's hard to keep what you're complaining about straight." Sokka rolled his eyes at Aang and Katara ganging up on him. "Ahem! If you'll let me finish… Can Appa go ANY higher?" Sokka's words barely left his lips as Appa loses more altitude and his paws drag through the water momentarily, before rising again, getting his paws out of the water. Katara looks bored laying on her stomach, propping herself up by her elbows, and staring out into the distance at nothing in particular. Aang looks peeved. Irritably, he said, "I have an idea! Why don't we all get on your back," pointing angrily at Sokka, "And YOU could fly us to the North Pole!?" Sokka got up and started shaking his butt, pointing to his back. "I'd love to! Climb on, everyone. Sokka's ready for take-off!" A chirping Momo was all too happy to hop on Sokka and he glared angrily at the happy animal. Everyone else glared at Sokka. Katara was the first to calm down. "Look, I think we're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight." Sokka flops down, crossing his legs, and Momo crawls from his shoulders to his lap, kind of annoyed. "And for what? We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here but ice and water." "Kinda reminds me of home. Kinda makes me miss Gran-Gran." "And her baked Arctic hen." Sokka added, his mouth watering at the thought. "Leave it to you to ruin a sweet moment." Katara said, rolling her eyes. "Oh. Don't get me started on her sweet meats!" Sokka interjected, now drooling. Katara slumps her head back down on her hands, upset that Sokka wasn't getting the point. She looks up- in wonder when she hears a strange yet somehow familiar sloshing sound. "I'd know that sound anywhere. Waterbenders! Those are waterbenders! We found the Water Tribe!" She gets up from her laying position, only to see six Water Tribe boats surrounding them.
Zhao is standing in front of a large map in the Fire Navy base in the Fire Nation harbor. "He's heading North. The Northern Water Tribe. The Avatar needs to master waterbending. He's looking for a teacher." "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get him!" "Patience, Captain Li." Zhao said while putting a hand on Li's shoulder. "This isn't some little Earth village we can just march into. The Water Tribe is a great nation. There's a reason they've survived a hundred years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous, the landscape itself is an icy fortress. We'll need a massive invasion force."
Everyone, still on Appa, but in the middle of the Water Tribe boats, is being escorted to the Northern Water Tribe. The magnificent wall of the city comes into view much to everyone's amazement. Aang hops up, happily and pointing, "There it is!" To which Sokka and Katara look up in awe. "We're finally here." A portion of the icy wall is lowered, allowing them to enter the city. Canal workers use waterbending to transport the group into the city. Katara's eyes sparkle in awe. "I can't believe how many waterbenders live up here!" Aang waggled his brows, happily, "We'll find a master to teach us, no problem." The team passes through the channels of the city, garnering the attention of several civilians who run over to catch a glimpse at the outsiders. Aang waves happily at the people. As they continue their trek inward, Sokka notices a young lady going by on a boat, capturing his attention. He blushes at the sight of her and leaps onto Appa's tail as her boat pulls away. "This place is beautiful." Katara gasped in awe. "Yea… She is." Sokka said, still staring back towards the girl's direction.
It's nightfall on Zuko's ship that docked in a port. Members of the crew have gathered for music night. Iroh played the Tsungi horn and sang and Lhy Tu played a pipa, unwilling to sing, but happy nonetheless. Iroh sings as Shang and LaMai dance happily around the deck with him. "Winter, Spring… Summer, and Fall… Winter, Spring… Summer, and Fall… Four seasons… Four loves… Four seasons… For love." As he ends his song, Shang pulls LaMai closer to him and gives her a gentle kiss on the forehead. The music stops as everyone, one by one, notices Admiral Zhao boarding the ship with two soldiers on his heels. The crew looks surprised at the admiral. Zuko looks pissed and leaves. And Iroh just looks disappointed that music night might be cut short. LaMai looked at everyone confused because she did not know who this Admiral was. Upon looking at everyone's faces, she decided that she didn't like him. But didn't let him know that with any facial clues at all. Instead she simply asked if he'd like to join in music night.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, the team is being honored with a feast, hosted by the tribe's chief. Men play drums and a giant crab is set in a pool of water. Chief Arnook stands up, addressing the crowd. "Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe. And they have brought with them, someone very special, someone who many of us believed disappeared from the world, until now… The Avatar!" The crowd erupts in cheers and rapturous applause. "We also celebrate my daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!" She stands up and addresses first Chief Arnook, then the crowd. "Thank you, Father. May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times!" Chief Arnook says, "Now, Master Pakku and his students will perform!" before taking his seat once more. Pakku and two students bend significant blobs of water, captivating both Aang and Katara. They merge the three blobs into one stream, bending it around each other. Yue approaches Sokka. "Hi, there. Sokka, Southern Water Tribe." She smiles and bows slightly. "Very nice to meet you." They share an awkward glance for a moment. Sokka, nervously, is the first to talk. "So… uhh… You're a princess. Huh?" She nods and smiles. "Ya'know… Back in my tribe, I'm kind of like a prince myself." Katara overhears this, spits out a little of her juice laughing, and asks, "Ha! Prince of what?" "A lot of things! Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here." Katara wiped her face with her napkin, still giggling, and sarcastically responded with, "My apologies, Prince Sokka." He huffs, nods, and goes back to talking to Princess Yue. "So… It looks like I'm going to be in town for a while. I'm thinking… maybe we could… do an activity… together?" Yue laughs, slightly confused. "Do an activity?" Sokka was embarrassed and sweating, smiling broadly, and Katara, who was just on the other side of him, laughed so hard she snorted, clearly enjoying her brother's attempt at courting. "Very smooth…" After Master Pakku and his students were done with their performance, the Chief stood up again, and made introductions. "Master Pakku, meet your newest student. The Avatar!" Aang stands up and bows. Pakku simply narrows his eyes and says, "Just because you're destined to save the world, don't expect any special treatment." "My friend and I can't wait to start training with you! After we relax for a couple of days." "If you want to relax, then I suggest visiting a tropical island. If not, I'll see you both at sunrise. Good night."
Back on Zuko's ship, Iroh enters Zukos room. "For the last time, Uncle, I'm not playing the tsungi horn!" "While it would be lovely if you did… You were always an excellent player… That's not… umm, quite what I came for." "Then what is it, Uncle?" "It's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." "What's the probl…" Zhao entered the room, cutting Zuko off. "I'm taking your crew." Zuko looked shocked and shot up from his seat. "What?" "I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." "Uncle, is that true?" "I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone…" He holds his head in sadness and adds, "Even the cook." Zhao smirked and said, "Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way… Again." Zuko gets furious with Zhao and lunges in anger, but Iroh stops him. "No!" He all but hisses in Zuko's ear. Zhao notices a pair of swords on the wall. His face swells up with anger as he recognizes the blades. He takes one off the wall and studies the blade, as well as Zuko's face. Zuko keeps his composure, knowing what Zhao must be looking at, or for, and Iroh, standing behind Zuko now, doesn't know the danger they could be in. Zhao looks for a moment, then begins practicing with the sword he removed from the wall. "I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." "I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko said, keeping his face straight and his tone even. "Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh?" "Just rumors. I don't think he's real." "Oh. He's real all right." He hands the broadsword to Iroh. "He's a criminal and an enemy of the Fire Nation. But I have a feeling that justice will catch up with him soon." He narrows his eyes and turns to leave. "General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands… if you change your mind."
On deck of the ship LaMai was standing there trying not to cry as she watched Shang and the rest of the crew head off the ship. LaMai glared as Zhao followed behind them. Shang was pissed off about them all being forced to go with Zhao. Since they were threatened to either go with or never be able to go home if they were a bender or not. Zhang sighed as he noticed all of his men were pissed off or in Jee's case excited. "If she is with the General she will be safe." Lhy Tu told Shang as he came to stand next to him. "Oh right, that is supposed to make me feel better knowing that we are going into a war and I could die before I even get a chance to tell her that I love her." Shang snapped. "Oh my little Shang here is in love! That is wonderful." Yhu Wy teased as he was trying not to think of what was going on. TenZou chuckled as he was walking behind those three. Fragwa was trying not to listen to Ling being annoying still since he had to put up with him in the brig. Jee was excited to be working for Admiral Zhao. He was the ONLY one excited to. Anyone who heard his comments went to hit him or tripped him. "Also, I hope a bird poops on Jee." Yhu Wy added as he was teasing Shang. "We all do." Lhy Tu said. Just as that was said a Messenger hawk was flying by and pooped and it landed on Jee's head. Jee felt it land on his head and he groaned. The men laughed even Zhao laughed at that which had surprised everyone.
The next morning at the Northern Water Tribe, Katara and Aang are entering Pakku's domain. Katara clasps her hands together and excitedly tells Aang, "I've waited for this day my whole life. I finally get to learn from a real waterbending master!" Pakku is bending a stream of water. Aang breezes in happily. "Good morning, Master Pakku!" He drops the water, and annoyed, he mumbles, "No. Please march right in. I'm not concentrating or anything." "Uhh… This is my friend Katara. The one I told you about?" Pakku looked up and then scrunched his nose, almost in disgust. "I'm sorry. I think there's a misunderstanding. You didn't tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn waterbending." Katara looked pissed, and if she were a firebender, would be steaming right about now. "What do you mean you won't teach me? I didn't travel across the entire world so you could tell me no!" Pakku crossed his arms and sassily replied back, "No!" "But there must be other female waterbenders in your tribe!" "Here, the women learn from Yagoda to use their waterbending to heal. I'm sure she would be happy to take you as her student, despite your bad attitude." "I don't want to heal. I want to fight!" "I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules." "Well, your rules stink!" She practically yelled. Aang, just as angrily, shouted out, "Yeah. They're not fair! If you won't teach Katara, then…" "Then what?" Pakku asked, with a hint of malice in his voice. "Then I won't learn from you!" "Well, have fun teaching yourself! I'm sure you'll do a great job." Katara looked frantically between the two of them. "Wait. Aang didn't mean that!" She walked closer to Aang to talk to him. "You can't risk your training for me. You have to learn from Master Pakku, even if he IS a big jerk." Aang nods solemnly as Katara walks away. Pakku smiled smugly. "Why don't we get started, then?" And whips a water blast at Aang.
Out on Zuko's lonely ship that is docked at a small harbor, LaMai and Zuko are both in bad moods as they sit and wait for Iroh to come with the breakfast he was making. LaMai looked as if she had been crying all night while Zuko was just pissed off that Zhao stole his whole crew. Iroh soon came into the small dining room with their breakfast. It was oatmeal and some tea. "Let us all try to think of the positives in this situation." Iroh said, sitting down. "What positive? I have the possibility of never seeing Shang again and never knowing if he is alive or dead!" LaMai said as she started crying again. "I just lost my chance at restoring my honor and returning home with the Avatar!" Zuko snapped. "The positive is that we are still together as a family." Iroh said with a sigh.
In another part of the city, Sokka catches up with Princess Yue. "Princess Yue. Good morning! How about that picnic last night? Oh boy." He whistles. "Your dad sure knows how to throw a party." "I'm happy you enjoyed yourself." "Well… I mean… It wasn't much fun after you left." They both blush at each other. "So… I'm still hoping that maybe… if you're not busy, that is… maybe we could… umm… see more of each other." "Do an activity, you mean?" "Yes… at a place… for some time." "That would be lovely. We could meet at the bridge at sunset." "Now THAT sounds lovely. I'll see you- Ah!" Sokka cuts himself off by falling into the water. Yue laughs and says a quick, "Sorry." Sokka climbs out of the water and shakes himself kind of like a polar bear dog, flicking water on everything around him, including Yue, who giggles. "That's ok. Totally worth it. See you tonight." He says before he winks and walks off, awkwardly stiff from the water left on his clothes trying to freeze. "Warmth. NOW!" He muttered to himself as he tried to run to where the GAang was staying. Yue continued to giggle for several minutes before she herself turned and headed for her home.
Back at the Fire Navy base Zhao talks to a pirate captain, THE pirates that the GAang stole from and defeated before. "I'm very impressed. You all seem highly qualified for the mission I have in mind." The pirate captain pulls a small chest toward him and opens it, a dim glow radiating from within. Pirate Barker takes a piece of gold from the chest and bites down on it. "That's some tasty gold." "What do you need us to do?" Zhao narrowed his eyes and grinned menacingly. "I believe you're acquainted with Prince Zuko."
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, Katara enters the healing hut. "Uhh… Hi. Are you Yagoda?" "Are you here for the healing lesson?" Katara looks at all the young girls between Yagoda and herself, sighs, and says, "I guess I am." To which the woman beamed and said, "Welcome, welcome!"
Back at Pakku's class, Aang is working a stream of water, just the same as he did with Katara when they practiced. "You're moving the water around, but you're not feeling the push and pull." "I'm trying. It was a lot easier when my friend, Katara, was showing me." "Well, she isn't a bender, so whatever she 'taught you' is of little consequence." He slurps his soup. "You're right. You were taught by a girl. That move MUST be too advanced for you. Why don't you try an easier one?" Aang slams the water down in frustration.
Back at the healing hut, Katara starts up a conversation with Yagoda as the younger girls take their leave. "Thanks for the lesson." "So who's the lucky boy?" "Huh?" "Your betrothal necklace. You're getting married. Right?" Katara looked shocked for a second, then grasped at her neck, giggling. "Ah… No. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. My grandmother gave my mother this necklace, and then my mother passed it down to me when I was about five or so." Katara said, trying her hand at healing a full body, something more advanced that they waited for the younger girls to leave before practicing. Yagoda looked at Katara's neck once more and gasped. "I recognize this carving! I don't know why I didn't realize it sooner. You're the spitting image of Kanna!" Confused and furrowing her brow, Katara asked, "How do you know my Gran-Gran's name?" "When I was about your age, I was friends with Kanna. She was born here in the Northern Water Tribe." "She never told me." "Your grandmother had an arranged marriage with a young waterbender. He carved that necklace for her." "If Gran-Gran was engaged, why did she leave?" "Hmm. Beats me." Yagoda said, shrugging and motioning for Katara to get back on task. "Well, I know you weren't asking me… But if I may put in my two cents." "Oh, Princess." Yagoda started, "You may put in whatever you would like. As our princess, and my star pupil, you are always welcome to speak freely in my presence." "That's great. I'm so tired of holding my tongue all the time." Princess Yue started. Then, looking at Katara, she said, "If your Gran-Gran lived here, and knows our customs, but sent you to 'learn waterbending' anyway, she MUST have a hidden agenda." Katara looked confused and cocked her head to the side. "I've never known my Gran-Gran to have a hidden agenda." "You also never knew her to have been born and raised here in the North." Yue shot back somewhat lightheartedly, somewhat seriously. "Also, great technique. You're a natural." "Thank you." Katara said, blushing a little at her genuine, heartfelt compliment. "The first time I ever did it, I didn't know that I could. Nor did I think it was only for girls to learn." "But seeing as you're the last waterbender of the Southern Tribe, it kind of WAS for a girl to learn." Yue said, half encouragingly and half saddened by something else entirely. Katara noticed it in her eyes.
Later that night, at Zuko's ship, a crew member tells Iroh, "Good luck!" And he pops his head into Zuko's room. Zuko is lying in bed, on his back, with his hands folded behind his head. "The crew wanted me to wish you safe travels." Zuko looks pissed and bitterly spits out, "Good riddance to those traitors." Iroh looked saddened for a moment, then coughed to clear his throat, and said, "Do you really think if he had an option, that Shang would leave LaMai's side?" "Well…" "And Yhu Wy, do you think he'd rather be fighting or hitting on women?" Well…" "And you know for a fact that Lhy Tu would rather be reading!" "Or writing something new in one of his journals… Fine, Uncle. They aren't ALL traitors." Zuko said, still pissy, but more understanding. Iroh looked down for a second, then picked himself up. "It's a lovely night for a walk. Why don't you join me? It would clear your head." Zuko rolled over toward the wall and sighed. "Or just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy." Iroh walks out of Zuko's room, cracking the door behind him. Outside the door, LaMai asked if he would be joining them for a walk. "Don't get your hopes up."
Back at the Northern Water tribe, Katara found a small creek that was more or less unoccupied by people. During the day, waterbenders bent supplies and ships down this creek, but at some point, they must punch out and go home. Because around sunset every night, there was no one around. First she started with simple things, like trying to move and control more and more water. But after a while, that got to be tedious. So she started practicing her water whip, trying to make it faster and bigger each time she did it. She practiced well into the night almost every night, often coming back to their room tired and a little sweaty. She usually just passed out in her bed, sometimes not even changing clothes from sheer exhaustion.
The pirates make their way onto Zuko's ship, bringing up blasting jelly. "Careful with that, you blasted numbskulls!" The captain shouted, chuckling at his own joke. Zuko shot up straight in his bed. "Uncle? Uncle, is that you?" He walks around the ship, confused and looking around, not finding anyone. One of the pirates lit the blasting jelly and the ship exploded. Iroh and LaMaid see this from the shore where they are walking. "Zuko!" They start running back to the ship. "Zuko!" Iroh screams out, tears staining his eyes.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, Sokka walked up to Princess Yue, who was standing on the bridge they decided to meet up at. "Hi, Princess Yue. I made you something. I carved it myself." He shows her a roughly crafted creature with a lot of weird painstaking details. "Oh. It's a bear." She said, rubbing it over in her gloved hands. "Actually, it's a fish." Sokka said, turning it 'upside down' which was really right-side-up. "See. It has a fin." Sokka says. Yue sees what he means and starts giggling. "So. What are the 'activities' you have planned?" "Well. I kind of have nothing planned since I know basically nothing of your Tribe's foods and dating customs." He said, waggling his brows. "Care to watch me fish? Then we'll eat what I catch." Sokka said with a giant grin. "I'm more of a soldier, but I can be a provider." Yue looked at him with her head cocked to the side. "Thank you, Mr. Provider." She giggled out. "But we could also just go to one of my favorite restaurants." She led him down three streets that he's never seen before and came across a place that looked like a little hole in the wall. "They have the BEST shrimp! And it's so quiet and quaint." They walked in. "Hello, Princess. The usual?" One of the servers asked. "Yes please, Jaques. Make it two." She turned to Sokka. "You're gonna absolutely love it!" In practically no time at all, they had two bowls of steaming hot shrimp ramen in front of them. "Be careful. It may be just a little hot." She said. Sokka said, "That's fine. I like hot." He looked at Yue and waggled his brows. "I mean, you should know this, cuz I like you." Princess Yue giggled at this, and started to break her chopsticks apart. Sokka broke his apart in one fluid movement and took a big slurp of the broth along with a bite of shrimp. As he swallowed, his face turned red, and he stammered out. "Oh-ho-ho-yea! A little hot." She didn't just giggle at this, she full on snort laughed. She took a big sip of her broth and smiled grandly. "I love it." Sokka sighed and mumbled, "I love you too." And then tried to backtrack and eat his words. He also ate more of the ramen. "It's delicious." He said, crying a little at the sheer amount of heat. "Somehow. This is hotter than Flaming Fire Flakes." "Hotter than… wait, what?" "These!" Sokka said, taking a bag of Fire Flakes out of his pocket. "Hmm." Yue took a handful and stuffed them in her mouth. "Delicious!" "You can have the whole bag!" Sokka said, happy to see someone else liked this snack too. They sat and talked for the rest of their meal. Afterwards, they went on a walk in the moonlight. Sokka told Yue that the moon was beautiful, but not as beautiful as she was. She giggled and blushed. Next, they went to a secluded area, much like a park, where there were ice slides and swings made with bones. Sokka pushed Yue on the swing, and when she was high enough, he joined her on his own. They then proceeded to have a contest over who could swing the highest. Yue swung the highest, and Sokka, not wanting to seem like a loser, then jumped off the swing and did a flip, landing with his arms outstretched, like he was saying 'ta-da' after doing a cool trick. Which he did.
In the creek that Katara frequented, she was there, practicing like she did every night. Sokka and Yue made their way to the creek to stargaze. "The stars shine brighter away from all the light pollution of the inner city." Yue explained. "So around here is where they are the most beautiful." Yue said, kind of dancing as she walked. Sokka got hit by a water whip form Katara who didn't even notice that they showed up. "What the hell was that for, Katara?" Sokka yelled out, making Katara lose focus and drop the rest of her water whip… also onto Sokka. "Well… I didn't know you were here. But now that I do, I don't mind soaking you again. It'll be your first bath in days." She giggled out. "Not true! I fell into the river just this morning." Sokka angrily shouted out, stomping his foot. This made both girls laugh. Yue said they were on a date, and she'd probably walk him home after this, for she had much to prepare for in the morning. So Katara came close to Sokka, held her arms out like she was going to give him a hug, and then closed her eyes. All of the water that coated Sokka started to lift from him, and in a few moments, he was dry. Katara smiled and whipped the water back into the creek. "Have a nice night you two. See you back at our room, Sokka. And always a pleasure, Princess." Katara said with a small bow before she walked off, humming happily to herself, pleased with her training for the evening. After Katara left, Sokka and Yue continued their evening, talking and happily giggling all their cares away. After their date, Yue walked Sokka back to their room and then headed the 3 houses down to her palace. She makes it in and does a twirl in her room, happy with how the evening went. Sokka does a twirl in his room as well, happy, until Katara starts snickering. "Went well, loverboy?" "Actually, it did… How did waterbending training go?" Sokka asked, making Katara growl and slam her fist on an ice-carved table, making it crack down the middle. "That bad?" Sokka asked, slightly afraid. "Master Poophead won't teach her because she's a girl." Aang said, sadly and kind of dejectedly. Sokka shrugged and picked something out of his teeth. "Why don't you just teach her, Aang?" Aang straighted up form his slouched position on his bed, where he was angrily making a bracelet. "Why don't I just teach you, Katara!" "Boy. Why didn't I think of that?" Sokka said, shrugging again. Katara jumped up and down clapping happily, then hugged Sokka. "That's a great idea." When she let go of Sokka, she turned to Aang. "At night, you can teach me whatever moves you learn from Master Pakku! That way, you have someone to practice with and I get to learn waterbending! Everyone's happy!" "Well…" "What do you mean 'well…' Aang?" "Well, could you also teach me how to heal?" "Are you sure you want to learn 'woman's work'?" Katara scoffed. "Where I'm from, work has no assigned genders." Aang said, holding up his bracelet. He may have made it in anger, but it was still beautiful. It was silver with little green gems that reminded Katara of leaves woven throughout with a singular ruby directly in the middle of it, as a focal point. "How in the world do you do that so quickly you were working on that for just ten minutes!" Sokka asked. "Um, because I have done this a lot before?" Aang said, confused. "Ya know, sometimes I forget that you're actually a hundred and not just some little kid." Sokka said, starting to whittle something new. "You guys are doing projects, what am I supposed to do?" Katara asked, sassily with her hands on her hips. "Sew? You have a sewing kit. Why not make something new instead of just fixing things for once with it?" Sokka said. "He is right, you can make tons of cool things with sewing." Aang added. "Oh right, just tell me to sew because it's a womens job to sew." Katara said, aggravated now. "That isn't what we were doing." Aang said. "Yeah you said you wanted a project I thought you could do something with sewing." Sokka said, dropping his knife and wood to hold his hands up in surrender from her anger, and kicking both of them under his bed in fear of her wrath. "Just saying no task is specifically male or female." Aang said as he finished another bracelet this time it was on gold twine that had sapphires going around it with two pearls on it. Sokka sees it and thinks it would make a great gift for Yue. "Hey, can I get that to give to Yue?" Sokka asked. "Sure." Aang said, handing it to him. "Sweet," Sokka said, then giving Aang ten silvers for it. "Um you do…" Aang started. "Yes I do, you MADE it and you WILL receive PAYMENT FOR IT." Sokka said, stressing what he was saying by slamming his index finger into his open palm with every word. "Fine…" Aang mutters, putting the ten silver with the rest of his money. "You know you might need to learn to make jewelry from Aang." Katara said, smirking. "Why?" Sokka said. "Well if you like Princess Yue, and apparently this is the age she gets engaged at, you might have to make her one before we leave to tell her you will be back for her." Katara said. "What does making jewelry have to do with that?" Sokka asked. "This is a betrothal necklace that someone made for Gran-gran. She was from here meaning you will have to make one of these to give to Yue!" Katara said, trying to get through his thick skull. "Betrothal? Wait, you are telling me you want me to PROPOSE TO SOMEONE BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE!?" Sokka said, then yelled. "It IS tradition," Aang pointed out, shrugging and continuing on his fourth bracelet that evening. Sokka just deflated falling onto the floor like a leaf. Katara was laughing at Sokka's reaction and Aang's lack of a reaction, before she straightened up. "Wait, so we know that the Water Tribe used betrothal necklaces. What about the monks?" Katara asked. "Um… I think they made necklaces too. I know I made one for Ty Shi thinking we would be able to grow old together." Aang said with a slight blush present. "So the Monks wouldn't marry though, would they?" Sokka asked. "No they wouldn't. I think the necklaces were more to say 'hey, we are together' for Us Air Nomads. But I am planning on changing that." Aang said. "Well you would be the one who would have to change that since you are the ONLY Air Nomad here." Katara added. "But what about the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation?" Sokka asked. "I don't know. You could have asked someone when we were in the Earth Kingdom and maybe ask Zuko the next time we see him." Aang said. "Why would I ask the guy who is trying to capture you about what they do to propose to people?" Sokka asked. "Well you want to know don't you?" Aang asked. Sokka just sighed seeing Aang's point. "Alright well can you teach me how to make the necklace?" Sokka asked with another sigh. "Yeah." Aang said, then pulled out the necklace he had made for Ty Shi. "So all that you have to do is carve a stone like an opal stone that comes in many different shades." Aang started to explain. Sokka took out his whittling knife. "Something a little more delicate than that, Sokka." "Does he even know how to be delicate with something?" Katara scoffed as she started sewing a new dress for herself for when Spring comes around. She started with the sleeves, which were green from some fabrics left over from their time in the Earth Kingdom, and then started on the bodice, which was a light blue, for she had plenty of blue fabric laying around in the room, of many shades of blue. She picked one she remembers someone calling turquoise. It was a blue that kind of had a green tint to it and it went beautifully with the sleeves. She thinks the color of the sleeves were emerald, but they didn't have the shine that the jewel had. It didn't matter, she still loved the color. She grumbled under her breath while glaring at Sokka who was straightening out some silver wire with a weird set of pliers that let him curl bits around in small swirls that reminded Katara of her own necklace. 'Waves.' She thought. Makes sense. "Sokka." She huffed out. "Why don't you put something a little more personal on it that just waves?" "You mean like a fish!" "Umm… Not exactly. Maybe. Does she like fish that much?" "Well, it would be special because I gave her a hand carved fish on our date." ""You gave her one of your monsters?" Katara almost shouted. "NO! That thing I made… The Demogorgon… was the only monster I made. You can look in my bag. I've been whittling in my free time." Katara rummaged through Sokka's bag and pulled out a figure of a woman with wings. "What's this one?" "That's not a monster. That's a… umm… well… I haven't quite named it yet. I dreamed it once. It was a teeny tiny woman who flew around with butterflies on a lazy afternoon in a meadow full of beautiful flowers and no gosh darn poison ivy." Sokka said dreamily, while flapping his hands like bird wings. "It was a beautiful dream." "Can we help you name it?" "Umm… Sure?" Sokka said, kind of confused, but happy that they took an interest in his whittlings. "Maybe you could call it…" Katara started, trailing off at the end while she thought. "Fish…" Aang thought out loud. "We know what a fish looks like, Aang." Sokka said almost dryly. "No. That's not my name for it. I'm just thinking that since you're making a lot of fish, you could name it something starting with an F." "That helps. At least we have a singular letter." Sokka chuckled out. "Fairy!" Katara shouted out. "That sounds cute. Cute enough for your cute flower woman?" "That DOES sound cute." "And her name could be Fae! Isn't that cute?" Katara said, dropping the part of her dress she was working on, clasping her hands together and batting her eyelashes. "That…" Sokka started, staring at his sister blinking almost as heavily as her, processing the new name. "That actually sounds real nice." After they agreed on a name for the new figure, Sokka held up the necklace he was working on. It was a simple silver wire frame that was made to look like waves, with a little charm of two fish swimming around one another, kind of in the form of a heart, and a small blue gem in the middle. Katara thought it was lovely, and Aang thought, 'I'm going to have to clean up the edges a bit before he gives it to her, or she'll cut her neck up.' And he said out loud, "That looks lovely, Sokka." "Now you might want to let Aang smooth it out around the edges." Katara said. "Oh… right…" Sokka said, handing the pendant over to Aang. "Also you never picked a ribbon to put it on, they don't use wire for the whole necklace just to attach it to the ribbon." Aang said, showing him the blues and purples that he had for the ribbon. Sokka looked at the ribbons he pulled out, a royal blue ribbon, a bright purple ribbon, and a teal ribbon. "Hm… these are all nice but the teal one would be better." Sokka said. "Alright." Aang replied as he pulled out the ribbon and then used the necklace he made for Ty Shi for a reference to cut the ribbon. Aang then grabbed a small sanding cloth to smooth the edges of the pendant and the back of it. Sokka watched as Aang worked so that he would know to help any of his children in the future if he had sons. "Once it is smoothed out we will attach it to the ribbon." Aang said as he worked and then gave it back to Sokka once it was on the teal ribbon. "Thanks." Sokka replied. "Don't pay me for this one!" Aang said since this was more of a teaching lesson. "Alright, Alright!" Sokka said, putting his hands up defensively and chuckling softly.
After the Jewelry lesson, Sokka went back to whittling wood. He was a bit distracted this time as he was thinking about Yue now. So while he was whittling the wood he cut his hand on his knife. "OWWWW." Sokka yelled. "What did you do?" Aang and Katara asked, looking up from what they were doing. "I just cut my hand!" Sokka said as his hand bled and he looked at them like really can you not see the blood. "Hey this would be a great time to teach you how to heal, Aang!" Katara said excitedly. "Are you serious! Can we just heal my hand and not talk about this!" Sokka said. Katara just gave Sokka a pointed look and waved Aang over. "Alright so first coat your hands with water." Katara said, opening her water pouch and pouring some into a bowl. Aang did as Katara told him. "Then just put your hands over his wound like I did to you when you were hurt by Zhao." Katara said. "Alright." Aang replied as he put his hands over Sokka's bleeding hand. The water had a greenish glow to it. Once the cut was healed, both Aang and Sokka responded with, "Woah." Katara just laughed at them. "So apparently the Avatar is a Natural healer too," she said.
Outside near water, Aang and Katara practice waterbending. Aang says, while whipping some water around, that, "Master Pakku said this move is all about sinking and floating." He bends the water her way, and she takes it and starts bending it. "I got it!" The water suddenly shoots upwards. "That was amazing!" Aang said, staring upward. "That… that wasn't me." Katara stammered out, looking around. Master Pakku stood not too far off from them, seething with anger. He had caught them. He takes the water, freezes it, and sticks the ice crystals in the ground. "I was just showing Katara a few moves." Aang said quickly. "You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture." Pakku yelled out. "I'm sorry. I…" Aang started, getting cut off by Pakku yelling out, "You are no longer welcome as my student!"
The next morning, Katara, Aang, and Sokka meet with Chief Arnook, his family, and Master Pakku. Arnook shook his head, and got up from his seat to ask, "What do you want me to do? Force Master Pakku to take Aang back as his student?" Katara stood front and center of the GAang, looked up politely, and said, "Yes please." Arnook stood there for a moment, twirled his hand and then put it under his chin, and said, "I suspect he might change his mind… IF you swallow your pride and apologize to him." "Fine." Katara huffed out, her arms shaking with anger. Pakku smiled, grabbed both handles on his chair, leaned forward, and said, "I'm waiting, little girl." Katara looked up, and started shouting. "NO!" She inadvertently cracks the ice between her and Pakku. "No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you!" Two pots shatter. Aang sticks his finger in the air, wanting to interject. "Uhhh… Katara?" Katara didn't acknowledge him. Instead she whirled around to leave, and whirled back around to tell Pakku, "I'll be outside IF you're man enough to fight me!" Yue gasps, and then the corners of her mouth pick up into a small subtle smile. Katara storms out, grumbling the whole time. As she walked out, one of the pillars to the doorway cracked. "I'm… I'm sure she didn't… I'm sure she didn't mean that." Aang stammered, slowly putting his finger down. Sokka scoffed, "Uh… Yeah. I think she did."
Back at the Fire Navy base, Zhao meets with Iroh over tea. "I'm devastated to hear about Prince Zuko. Just… devastated." Zhao says, putting a hand over his mouth in surprise. LaMai is standing behind Iroh, refusing to sit down, and refusing her cup of tea, with her arms crossed, staring at Zhao. "The Fire Lord will not be pleased when he learns who was responsible." Iroh said, before taking a sip of his tea. Zhao put his hand down from his face and on the table, leaning forward a bit. "You know who was behind the attack?" LaMai kept her mouth shut, but glared at Zhao with a fierceness he hadn't seen in years, nor did he now, since he didn't notice her expression change. Iroh just sat back, patted her elbow, and looked at her as if to tell her to calm down. "We do. Pirates. We had a run in with them a while back. They wanted revenge." Zhao sips his tea and asks Iroh, "So… Have you reconsidered my offer?" "Yes. I accept. It will be an honor to serve as your general. To the Fire Nation!" Iroh ended, raising his teacup. "To victory!" Zhao added, raising his. LaMai was handed a teacup from Iroh and she reluctantly took it, her eyes never leaving Zhao as she took a sip.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, Sokka and Aang start walking outside, looking for Katara, who is standing in the middle of the courtyard, awaiting Master Pakku. "Are you crazy?" Sokka asked. "Well, you ARE my sister… so I KNOW you're crazy… But you're never gonna win this fight!" Katara takes off her coat and throws it at Sokka, "We don't know that. Give me a boost of confidence!" "I'm confident you won't beat this guy!" "ARRRGGG! I DON'T CARE!" Katara shouted out. Aang looked at Katara with puppy dog eyes and said, "You don't have to do this for me. I can find another teacher. It's fine." "I'm not doing this for you!" "Umm…" Aang started, "So why?" "BECAUSE!" Katara shouted out. "Because," she started a little calmer, realizing she was talking to Aang, "Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy." She picked up volume, adding, "And if nobody else will do it, I WILL!" She screamed out, clenching her fists, getting riled up again as Pakku walked out of the building. "So you decided to show up?" Pakku walks away, towards the village center and towards his home. "Aren't you going to fight?" Pakku waved his hand like he was lazily swatting a fly. "Go back to the healing huts with the other women… Where you belong." Katara tightens her fists and sends water whips at him. Pakku stops dead in his tracks, not blocking, but evading the whips with side steps. "Fine. You want to learn to fight so bad? Study closely!" He crouches down and bends two streams of water from nearby pools and sends the both at a charging Katara, who falls back slightly in her advance. He joins the two streams together, encircling both Katara and himself in a forceful ring of water. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you." "That sounds like something someone who would hurt someone would say to someone." Sokka said, scratching his chin afterward to make sure he said what he thought he said. Katara edges away from the ring and redirects the water away. The resulting blast hits Sokka. "SORRY!" Katara yells out, "I didn't mean that." "This time." Sokka grumbled as he tried to wring out his coat. Aang saw him out of the corner of his eye while he was still watching the fight and blew a big gust of air directly at Sokka to help him get dry. Pakku builds an ice wall in defense, which Katara slides up. She lands on a nearby post. He melts the ice and directs the full blast at her. However, Katara freezes her feet down and is able to direct the blast away. "You can't knock me down!" She shouts out to Pakku, angry and determined. Some of the crowd that has gathered to see the fight cheer. Aang shouts out, "Go Katara!" While jumping up and down, happily. Chief Arnook and his family stood outside the doorway of the building everyone just left. Yue looked on with stars in her eyes, holding her hands close to her mouth in awe. Katara charges at Pakku and he draws up a wall of ice, which she quickly liquefies. She attempts to land blows, but Pakku ducks them all. He whips water and throws her into a pool, earning a collective gasp from the crowd. Katara emerges from the pool, shakes out her hair, and summons a small pillar of ice, where she proceeds to send a series of ice disks at Pakku. He breaks up most of them using his wrists. One comes very close to hitting him and he looks at her in irritation. Katara, now back on the ground, attacks by sending a stream of water at him. However, Pakku generates it into a larger stream of water and sends it full force at her. Katara is sent back several feet. She's bent over, breathing hard. She rises suddenly and sends two snow pillars down at him which Pakku turns to a dusty mist of snow. The mist clears and Sokka turns to Yue while Katara and Pakku continued to exchange blows. "Umm… well… I… wouldliketo…" Sokka took a deep breath. "I would like to… giveyousomething… toletyouknowhowmuchyoumean… to me." He rushed out with a single breath, nervously. Yue looked at him confused for a second before asking to clarify, "You want to give me something?" Sokka nods as he pulls the necklace out of his pocket to give to her. "Oh it is beautiful!" She said, picking it up smiling as she looked at the necklace with waves and fish on a teal ribbon. Pakku stood for a second, pausing to catch his breath. "Well, I'm impressed. You ARE an excellent waterbender." Katara straightened up, looked him dead in the eyes, and asked, "But you still won't teach me, will you?" "No." Pakku said. Katara bends over sharply, sending a wave of ice at Pakku, who merely raises himself onto an ice pillar. He proceeds to liquify the pillat, charging straight at Katara, who sends a powerful stream of water his way. Pakku avoids the attack, instead managing to freeze Katara's stream of water which he slides across. He surges past her and strikes her down, knocking her necklace off in the process. Katara falls roughly to the ground as Pakku lands onto the rim of the pool, bends a tower of water and manipulates the stream over Katara's head. He deftly freezes the water into several ice shards, which he sends down at Katara. She becomes trapped in a flurry of frozen daggers and appears still for a moment. The crowd gasps in horror. One child buries his face in his mother's dress, not daring to look, out of fear. Katara lifts her head and begins to struggle, attempting to break free as Pakku casually strolls away. "This fight is over." "Come back here! I'm not finished yet!" Katara shouted out as she started liquifying the ice. "Oh, yes you are." Pakku said, unbothered. Then he saw Katara's necklace on the ground. "This is my necklace…" "No. It's not. It's mine! Give it back!" Katara said while throwing ice daggers at Pakku like he had just moments ago. Pakku redirected the ice daggers and made them stab the ground away from the two of them. "I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life… For Kanna." Katara and everyone else looked at him blankly for a second. Yue was the first one to snap out of it. "I KNOW WHAT HER HIDDEN AGENDA WAS!" She shouts out to Katara. "IT WAS THIS ALL ALONG!" Katara scrunched her face up in contemplation. "My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?"
Back at the Fire Navy base, the ships are set to begin the trek north. On board, Iroh meets up with Zuko, who is disguised as a shipman. "Our plan is working perfectly. Zhao doesn't suspect a thing." You didn't have to do this, Uncle." "No nephew of mine is going to stow away on a ship without some backup." "Thank you, Uncle." They hear a door open not far from them. Iroh pushes Zuko's helmet back on and says, "Someone's coming. Stay hidden until we get to the North Pole and the Avatar will be yours. Good luck, and I love you." "I love you too, Uncle." And the two head their separate ways.
Back at the Northern Water Tribe, Pakku explains. "I carved this necklace for your grandmother when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long and happy life together. I loved her." Katara sighed, piercing everything together. "But she didn't love you, did she? It was an arranged marriage, wasn't it? Gran-Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left." From the crowd, Yue shouts out, "AND THEN SHE SENT YOU ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD TO KICK HIS BUTT FOR HER!" Katara looked puzzled for a second, then nodded in agreement. "That may be… But it must have taken a lot of courage." "Speaking of courage, my dear daughter…" Chief Arnook started, while leaning in to talk to Yue. "A lot of guys have proposed over the past week, after you turned 16, and are now of marrying age. But Huan seems to be the best suitor in our tribe. I like him, I think your mother likes him. So I accepted his proposal. This is his betrothal necklace. It would be most fitting for you to wear it." Yue looked at the necklace for a minute, unable to process what was going on, while tugging at the little ying yang fish charm on the necklace Sokka gave to her, sitting on her neck under her cloak collar. Then she took the necklace and ran away from everyone, crying.
The next morning, at Pakku's class, Aang turns a blob of water into a stream and awkwardly sends it off. "Not bad, not bad." Pakku chuckles out. "Keep practicing and maybe you'll get it by the time you're my age." Aang turns around annoyed, but quickly smiles when he notices Katara coming up. "Hey Katara!" He called out brightly. Pakku asks, "What do you think you're doing?" And pauses while Katara looks up at him. "It's past sunrise. You're late." He said with a lighthearted smile. Aang jumped in the air and hovered for a second or so. "Good to see you here." "You, too." Katara smiled back.