Chapter 25

Change Begun

I was trapped, with no control over my own body as I stared at the man in front of me. His right hand useless from the blow I had dealt him. Except instead of trying to kill me this time he was begging for his life.

"Please, I have a family, they need me." I wanted to stop, wanted to send him on his way with the best of luck but my hands moved against my will and the arrow imbedded itself in his neck. Just as suddenly in his place was a face that I recognized all too well. Long chestnut curls that fell to the shoulder, soft baby blue eyes, worn jeans and a red plaid shirt.

"Maddi, how could you?" I shouted in shock and rushed to his side.

"Joe, I'm so sorry here-"

"I'm dead Maddi, at least, dead to you anyway." He stated calmly, despite the blood seeping down his neck and into his shirt.

"No you're not. I love you."

"We're in totally different worlds. You'll never see me again, and I will never see you."

I woke up with a dry sob. I stared up at the hammock above me as I tried to calm my racing heart. At least I hadn't woken up screaming.

Ever since we had taken off on this boat I had discovered just how hard war hit people. Everyone seemed to wake up with nightmares that would then wake the entire ship. There were only three who were exceptions. Katara, who hadn't been part of the battle. Pakku, who was so dry, bitter and sarcastic that it was impossible to tell if he didn't have nightmares or had learned to deal with them, and Sokka. I wasn't sure why Sokka wasn't bothered but something within me said that both he and Katara would be okay, no matter what they were going to face. I slipped out of my hammock and up to the deck. Four men manned the ship and not one even took a second look at me. The occupants of the ship often came out for strolls to clear their heads from whatever memory haunted them. It was mutually understood that you didn't bother someone if they came up before sunrise.

I leaned out against the side of the ship, breathing in the cold, salty air and looked at my hands. Wrapped in bandages they were stiff and hard to move. Twice a day Katara would pull me aside and practice her healing on them. There was going to be scars for the rest of my life but they wouldn't effect my mobility after the first two months as long as they got regular treatment. It was a constant reminder of not only my promise but my mistakes.


I woke up with a scream, my voice pitching up an octave so it sounded like a little girls. Shaking myself I clambered out of the sleeping bag, walking over to the stream we had camped near. I splashed my face, shaking. The nightmares hadn't stopped for me but Aang was now over them since his spirit meeting with Roku. It had been three days since the beginning of book 2 and I was feeling drained.

I had a new bow, gifted to me from the water tribe made out of some sort of whale bone but the replacement of my weapons wasn't enough. I was scared. For the first time since I had came here I had truly understood that I could die here. Death had seemed like it wasn't truly reality, like it was some sort of dream here. But the killing of a man and seeing the funerals of the dead had really been a kick in the head. And now I was terrified of the journey I had began. I had been a stupid naive girl and now I was paying for it. With a sigh I crawled back to my sleeping bag and lay on my back, looking up at the stars. They gazed down cold, heartless as if I was nothing to them. To the stars I was little more then an insect to be watched.

"You know I never saw you as the philosophical type Madison."

"Hello Nut." I replied in a dull voice, "Stay a while, please." Nut snorted and sat down beside me, her lack of a physical form making it look like the tiny blades of grass were supporting her.

"I know sarcasm when I see it. That doesn't mean I'm going to listen to it." She replied lightly, leaning an elbow on one knee to look at me.

"I owe you a debt Madison, you made sure that I remained foremost handmaiden of the sky. That is a debt I cannot repay easily." I sighed and sat up, looking right back at her. For some reason Nut had lost her little girl form and she now appeared about my age.

"I just have some things I need to work out on my own, I don't need your help." Nut nodded, her skin glowing as she stood.

"So be it, but is you ever need my help, just call." It was my turn to nod, allowing the spirit to leave, vanishing into the forest as if she had never been there in the first place. I flopped back down into my sleeping bag, knowing full well that I wasn't going to sleep for the rest of the night.

I pulled myself out of the warmth of my bag as the sun began to rise. My friends would wake up soon and we would continue on our way to Omashu in a few hours. To get ahead of the game I packed up my bags and put them away on Appa's pack. While I was doing that Aang sat up, rubbed his eyes and began his morning meditation. He remained carefully focused on the matter at hand. I understood that feeling and let him focus on his routine. While I rekindled the fire Sokka and Katara slowly roused.

Breakfast was quick, eggs and wild peppers that Aang had found. I was very thankful that the airbender wasn't vegan, it had been hard enough finding him food in the North Pole that fit his mandate. After breakfast was over we clambered onto Appa and took off. Aang, Katara and Sokka chatted and told stories, played games and various other activities to pass the time. I allowed myself to think on what had occurred back five days ago when we had arrived at General Fong's place.


Five days earlier

The fireworks were delightful I mentally admitted, watching the bright sparks burst and form in a variety of colours and shapes in honour of our arrival. General Fong himself had left his war room to come greet us. To him we were heroes, brave Sokka, mighty Katara, Madison the Wise. He was a natural speaker and he had an air that caused people to like him. Even though I knew what he was going to do I found myself entranced by his eloquence and charisma. To top it off he wasn't bad looking either. Somehow he reminded me of Napoleon, short, charismatic and fairly attractive.

After he had given us the tour of the tower, including the stables and our new quarters until he could have his escort ready which he said would only take two or three days at the most.

"You're ready to fight the fire lord now, Aang," he stated, leaning over his desk to peer at the young avatar.

"No he's not," Katara protested, "he's only mastered air and water. We need to find him earth and firebending masters first." Aang nodded vehemently, nervously eyeing the general.

"Why not? Look at the power he wielded in the Northern Water Tribe, with that kind of power we could cut a straight line into the heart of the fire nation." Fong lent over his desk, dark eyes determined.

"We could save so many lives, Avatar Aang, stop this war right now. Do you know how many people die everyday from this war?" He looked so sincere, so earnest and I understood what he meant. I too wanted to end the war quickly but the Avatar state would only play a part. It was my turn to speak up.

"Even if Aang agreed to fight in the avatar state what makes you think he'll be as devastating as he was at the North?" I pointed out, "In the North Pole it was not the avatar state that controlled that beast, it was Tui, the spirit of the oceans. Aang did not choose to wield that power and even if he called upon the spirits to give him an equal ability who is to say that they will listen? The spirits have their own ways." General Fong paused, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"Maybe you're right, he will not be as strong as the North, however even the regular avatar state should be good enough for our purposes. With the avatar leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we would win in a matter of days." I glared and stood. I knew that it would be seen as disrespect but this needed to be listened to and if I had to do something shocking to get the attention I needed then that was what I would do.

"Yes, make a twelve year old boy the ultimate weapon. Send him into battle at his most venerable and just hope that he takes down the enemy. Do you even know what would happen if Aang dies in the avatar state? Here's a hint, the avatar state connects him to the spirits of the previous avatars and the spirit that gives the avatar the ability to be reborn." There was silence as Fong, his generals and my friends took this into consideration.

"I don't understand." Fong admitted, looking confused. I shook my head sadly and sat back down, the choppy bangs waved in front of my eyes.

"You don't need to, what you need to know is that Aang is not going to fight for you. He needs to learn his own way. Now are you still willing to give us that escort to Omashu or can we leave now?" The shocked silence instantly told me that perhaps I had taken this one step to far. My guess turned out to be right when Katara and Sokka made quick apologies and asked to talk to Aang and I alone.

I was dragged into a small storage room, it was dark but not dark enough I couldn't see the faces of my friends.

"What are you talking about Pala?" Katara asked sharply, "I mean, I agree with you Aang needs to learn all the bending forms first but-"

"Katara," Sokka cut in. He had an intense look in his eyes. Reaching over he grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to look at him.

"Are you saying that if Aang gets killed in the Avatar state there will be no more avatars?" Katara gasped, her eyes darting between Aang, Sokka and I in alarm. Aang had gone unusually pale as he thought about it a stricken look on his face. I nodded once.

"What was supposed to happen?" Aang asked me in a shaky voice. The young airbender looked utterly shaken. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose and I told them. I told them about how Fong wanted the avatar's power and how he would slowly lose it, eventually attacking Sokka and Katara to force Aang into the state. At that point Roku would contract him and tell him what I had just told my friends. If Aang was killed in the avatar state it would be the end of all avatars.

"Well I guess the choice is obvious." Sokka pointed out. He too looked bothered by the revelation I had just given them. I noticed Katara's hand reach for the small vial of spirit water now attached to her mother's necklace. Aang nodded, still looking shaken. I touched his shoulder gently.

"Maybe you should contact Roku, just to talk to him about it?" I suggested. Aang gave me a wane smile and agreed.


I smiled slightly, because of me we were three days ahead of schedule. That same day we had told Fong that we didn't need his assistance, we had gone to Omashu once before without anyone but ourselves. We thanked him for his hospitality and left. All of us had been tense as we prepped Appa to leave, unsure if he would lose it and try to attack us. He didn't and we left without dispute. None of us completely relaxed though until his tower was out of sight. I knew this was going to change things but for once I wasn't worried. What would come would come, I had been making changes throughout my time here and they were eventually going to catch up to me. More changes would only move things along. In my opinion it was a good thing. I had also noticed with interest the information change among my friends. Katara and Aang always had to be water of some kind where they would work on their bending for hours. It got to the point where Sokka and I were doing most of the cooking. Not that I minded as it gave us a chance to add in an extra dish of meat when we could. Fish especially was popular as Aang seemed to have decided to compromise and was now willing to eat fish and other sea foods. I wondered if part of this was from all his time spent around the water tribe whose main diet consisted of sea foods.

Around lunch we landed at a beautiful river, huge stones created ideal places to sunbathe, not that I needed it with my burns from the battle. A two huge stone pillars created a doorway which the water passed through. It was beautiful and I wondered if at one time this was a temple or a spiritual place that waterbenders would come to. While Katara and Aang decided to work on their bending Sokka and I decided we needed some much deserved relaxation and stripped as well. While Sokka floated around in the water, his hair left to hang down with Momo on his stomach I leaned against the cool side of one of the stones, deep in thought. This was the place where if we had come here three days late we would have met the hippies. As it was though, I needed to really think about whether we should take the cave of two lovers or not. I didn't know if the fire nation base was there but it was a possibility. That was when another thought occurred to me. Omashu was probably already taken and I should probably tell them that as well. With a sigh I sloshed back into the sunlight.

"Sokka, Katara, Aang? If you have a moment I need to talk to you." Katara and Aang turned from their bending, dropping the octopus arms and making their way over to me. Sokka grumbled about not having enough time to relax but came over as well, carrying a disgruntled and wet Momo as the lemur had fallen off Sokka when the water tribe prince had stood.

"What is it now?" Katara asked, her blue eyes troubled, darting around.

"We're not in danger of being attacked, not right now anyway. I want to talk to you guys about two things, our path of Omashu and what happens when we get there... if you think I should tell you."

"Is this another part of your story?" Aang asked, placing an elbow on his knee as he leaned in. I nodded firmly.

"Yes, I just recognized this river. We're less then a day's journey from Omashu." I could see the grins on my friends faces as they realized that the journey to Omashu was almost over.

"Okay so is this a big thing or little thing?" Sokka asked. I could see his mind working, trying to figure out what could happen.

"Well that's the hard bit," I admitted, picking up Momo and cuddling him. His damp fur stuck to my skin.

"You see," I continued, "We have two ways to get to Omashu from here, the first is fairly safe and we are guaranteed to get out with little trouble. The second might be dangerous, it depends on whether our being here three days early will make a difference or not." I paused again and looked up at the sky, a pure blue without a single cloud.

"The thing is after this little journey we're going to come across something really big and it's going to change all the plans you guys had before." My friends exchanged nervous glances.

"So... how big? Like platypus bear big or wild moose lion big?" Aang asked, grey eyes anxious. I grimaced and looked away before admitting.

"Actually... it's more of a fire nation big." There was silence as my friends thought it over.

"Well I'm all for the safer route," Katara pointed out in fake cheer. I supposed that meant she didn't want to know. Not that I blamed her, she had been through a lot in the last few weeks. Aang on the other hand suddenly jolted upright.

"Is Bumi okay?" He demanded, looking alarmed. A strong gust of wind nearly blew me over. Wincing from the sudden cold I was quick to calm Aang.

"Bumi's alive and healthy." Aang sighed and leaned back, relief evident on his face. Sokka looked between Aang and his sister with worry burning in his eyes. He stood.

"A few more hours shouldn't change anything. I say we should give ourselves another two hours before heading out. Do you agree with me?" He asked. Despite the general wording of the question, his eyes latched onto mine. He wanted to know just how bad the situation was. If it could wait then we would stay, if not we would eat a quick lunch and leave right away.

"I agree," I replied, meeting his eyes. A few hours would make no difference in what was going to happen.


Hello, Princess Kassie here. I just want to say sorry for the long wait. However I have gotten all the major scholarships that I needed done complete. I should be able to keep updating consistently from now on, there isn't anything that I can think about coming up that will interfear with this story. Anyway let me know what you think of this new chapter.

Once again updating, Princess Kassie Out.