"You what?!" Sokka shouted, grabbing my shoulders with utter worry. After the Fire Naval ship I'd managed to run back to the village. When I got there I was out of breath and still shaking from the sight of the massive vessel. Sokka was the first to spot me and he looked very concerned. When I told him what happened he was astounded and disappointed. "That ship is dangerous! What were you guys thinking?"
Wincing, I said, "It wasn't our fault. We were just penguin sledding and somehow ended up at the spot. Katara knows better Sokka. I'm sure she didn't go on the ship. I- I'm sure she left just like me."
My brother sighed. "Sorry… I guess this whole airbender thing has me on edge. If the Fire Nation finds out we have Aang here they'll destroy this village."
"They won't find out," I promised. "The Fire Nation has no reason to come-"
A sudden light shot up toward the sky and Sokka and I turned in surprise. The direction I'd just run from now had a ball of fire flying up toward the sky, and I felt dread fill inside me. "No Katara… You didn't…"
Sokka suddenly snapped, "She did! And I bet it was that airbender's doing! I knew we shouldn't have trusted him!"
"Sokka… Calm down," I said. "It was probably an accident."
Sokka turned and looked at me annoyed. "Do you know what this means? If any naval ship is near here they'll be at our door in a second!"
My eyes widened at his words and I covered my scar with shaky hands. Sokka noticed how much his words affected me. "Crys… I'm not going to let them hurt you again," Sokka suddenly whispered, grabbing my hand from my face and pulling me into a hug, I hugged him back but my heart pounded heavily.
Sokka then turned away from me. "I'm going to round up the villagers. We're sending that boy away immediately."
His words surprised me. "What? You can't just send him away!"
Sokka was already running away from me, back toward the other villagers who were gathering to see the flare in the sky.
About twenty minutes later we watched Aang and Katara approach the village. We were all gathered at the entrance and Sokka was in front ready to lay down the law. Katara looked at me with question and I dropped my gaze unable to believe I was letting Sokka go through with this.
"I knew it! You signaled the fire navy with that flare!" Sokka accused, pointing at Aang with fury.
Katara stepped in front of the boy looking annoyed. "Aang didn't do anything! It was an accident!"
"Yeh, we were on the ship and there was this booby trap and well...we "boobied" right into it," Aang said, rubbing his bald head sheepishly.
Gran Gran looked disappointed. "Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now we could all be in danger!"
Aang immediately defended my sister. "Don't blame Katara. I brought her there. It's my fault."
"A ha! The traitor confesses!"
"Sokka! Stop!" I ordered, deciding this was getting way out of hand. Grabbing my brother by the shoulder, I said, "Aang's just a kid. He and Katara were just having some fun. I'm sure they had no idea they'd send off that flare."
My brother shrugged me off. "Stay out of this Crystal!" Then he turned back to Aang. "The foreigner is banned from our village!"
Katara gasped while I shook my head in disbelief. This was wrong. Aang was just a kid. "Please stop Sokka. You can't make him go out in the world on his own. He has nowhere to go."
"That's his problem, not mine!" Sokka snapped.
"Sokka! You're making a mistake!" Katara cried, tears falling from her eyes.
Sokka spat, "No! I'm keeping my promise to Dad. I'm protecting you and Crystal from threats like him!"
As Sokka continued to shout at Katara and Aang, I looked out toward the sea. It was then I noticed in the far off distance, a dark shape on the horizon. What in the world…
"Then I'm banished too!" My sister suddenly cried, and I looked back with wide eyes. My sister stomped over to Aang grabbing his arm. "C'mon Aang, let's go!" She started to pull him toward the giant beast known as Appa.
"Katara!" I cried. She looked at me, then quickly looked away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sokka snapped, stepping forward as if to grab her if she really did get on Appa.
Katara held her head high as she said, "To find a waterbender! Aang's taking me to the North Pole!"
"I am? Great!" Aang exclaimed.
Walking forward, I decided it was time to be a sister. "Katara… Would you really leave us- your family- to go with him? You can't abandon us like this. You know mom would want us to stick together."
My sister held her head down in shame, and I saw Aang look troubled at this whole ordeal. He pulled from her hand saying, "Katara, I don't want to come between you and your family."
Katara watched with regret as Aang walked over to Appa. In the end Aang left, Appa walking away from the village who watched the giant beast go with regret. After that Katara was distant from Sokka and I. She was angry that Sokka sent Aang away and mad at me for not being more supportive.
While she moped I walked to the edge of the village to try and clear my head. It was when I did this that I saw it in the distance. The once small shape on the horizon was getting closer, and I could make out it was a ship. A very big ship. Turning, I ran back to warn the villagers, memories of the past flooding back to me.
When I got to the village, I shouted, "The Fire Nations coming!" Everyone looked terrified by my words, and I saw my brother immediately prepare for battle. Katara got out of her depressed state enough so we could gather all the children and get the women and elderly in their homes. After making sure everyone was safe, Sokka and I headed toward the fort Sokka made, and we climbed to the top so we could get a better view.
There was nothing but fog, but I had a feeling beyond it was a ship that was most likely approaching our tribe. My whole body trembled at the thought of seeing those fire nation savages again. Last time I saw one was when the killed my mom and burned me. "What do we do?" I fearfully asked my brother.
Sokka had his war paint on, and he pulled his club out ready to fight. "We aren't doing anything. You're going back to Gran Gran while I fight."
Scowling, I spat, "That's suicide Sokka. You'll be killed on the spot!"
Sokka looked at me and said, "No I won't. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm not letting you fight." When he said this, I saw him look at my scar. Immediately I looked away not wanting memories to come back. "Just stay out of danger this time. I don't want to see you hurt again." Sokka practically begged, and I felt his brotherly hand trace across my scar.
Nodding, I smiled weakly at him. "Okay… Just for you." Then I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a tight hug. "Be careful."
He sighed. "I will."
Turning, I slid back down the fort and returned back beside Katara. She smiled weakly at me when she saw how scared I looked. "It will be okay sis. No one will be hurt."
"I hope you're right," I whispered.
The ship hit land about twenty minutes after we prepared for battle. Everyone screamed as the ground shook below us and our snow fort began to crumble. Katara and I watched Sokka with deep worry as he continued to stand on the crumbling fort. Then a massive shadow came out of the fog, and I looked at the fifty foot ship with utter terror. We were dead.
"Sokka! Get out of the way!" Katara cried, seeing the ship was going to hit our brother. Sokka held his ground, and the ship hit the fort completely toppling the wall over and sending Sokka sliding down with a scream. Katara and I ran over as he fell on his back, and then we saw with terror the enormous vessel open its front which slowly lowered to be a ramp.
As the ramp stopped right in front of Sokka, Katara and I both backed away with terror. Six figures began to come down the ramp, and I could see the one in the front was wearing fine armor that showed he was higher up than the other five men. As I stared at the fire navy soldiers, I was surprised at how furious I was. Instead of being fearful and terrified for my life, I tightened my fist as my insides boiled in rage. Here came six fire nation soldiers, and they were probably here to kill more of our people. This time I wouldn't let them.
But if you waterbend you'll reveal yourself to Katara.
It was something I was willing to do. Katara could be mad at me all she wants, but there was no way I was allowing these monsters to hurt my family again. There was no way I could protect my mom, but I would protect my brother and little sister. Whoever these men were, and why they were here, I'd stop them from hurting anyone.
As the six men walked down the ramp with the leader in the front, I watched with disbelief as Sokka grabbed his club and ran up the ramp toward the leader. The man easily kicked my brother off the side of the ramp sending him down into the snow pile below. "Sokka!" I cried, and then turned to glare at the man with hatred. It was as I did this I noticed it wasn't a man at all.
From behind the red fire nation helmet, I was bewildered to see a guy no older than sixteen, his gold eyes staring at our tribe with pure determination. Though I couldn't see what his body was like under all that armor, I could tell he was a good seven inches taller than me. When he got even closer I saw on his left eye a very nasty scar. It looked like he'd gotten his from a burn as well.
Katara and I backed away from him, standing protectively in front of our people. My mind tried to bring back the memories of the monster that hurt me but I quickly pushed them back. This was a new monster, and I couldn't show I was afraid.
The teenage guy stopped in front of us, his soldiers spreading out in a line so none of us would try to escape or try anything else. As the guy scanned the crowd, I noticed his gold orbs meet mine for a split second then shoot to my scar. Glaring at him, I tightened my fist and he scowled at me looking away. Katara grabbed my arm, her hand shaking, and I placed my hand over hers letting her know it would be alright.
"Where are you hiding him?" the teenager finally spoke, stepping forward so he was right in front of me, Katara, and Gran Gran.. None of us answered, but that was mainly because we had no clue what he was talking about. Who was this him he spoke of? The only men at our tribe right now were Sokka and the kids.
He growled when no one answered, then reached forward as if to grab Katara. Instead he grabbed Gran Gran and yanked her forward. Katara and I cried out, but soldiers immediately stepped in our paths as if to warn us to stay back. The guy shoved my grandma in front of him, then yelled, "He'd be about this age! Master of all four elements!" No one answered again, and he furiously shoved Gran Gran forward. She stumbled and Katara and I quickly caught her.
Master of all four elements… He couldn't mean the avatar right? Why would the avatar be here? The Avatar hadn't been seen for over a hundred years!
The teenager was enraged that no one had answered, and I watched with horror as fire shot out from his fist above our heads. We all screamed, and I shut my eyes trying to block out the picture of the hot flame.
A loud warrior cry rang out then, and we all looked up to see Sokka run at the guy with his club in hand. The guy looked annoyed and turned dodging my brother and flipping him over his back. Sokka flew on his butt, and shrieked when the guy threw fire at him. Grabbing the boomerang from his back, Sokka threw it hard but the guy easily dodged it. The guy turned back to Sokka with rage.
"Show no fear!" A young boy named Hura cried, and he threw a spear toward Sokka. My brother caught it easily and jumped up from the snow. Then he shouted again and charged at the guy, but the enemy ended up breaking Sokka's spear and hitting him in the head with it. Sokka dazedly fell back in the snow, and I saw the teenage dude smirk at my brother. Then something shined in the sun and flew at the teenagers head. His helmet got knocked around and he stumbled forward from the shock. Sokka's boomerang landed at the teen's feet.
Rushing forward, I quickly helped Sokka up as the teenager glared furiously at him. Then he lit fire daggers in both his hands as if he were about to attack both Sokka and I. Something shot in front of us though, and the teenager fell flat on his face as a penguin slid around the village. On that penguin was Aang, and the children all cheered with delight.
Stopping in front of me, Sokka, and Katara, he grinned at us. Then the penguin bucked him off its back and waddled away. Aang collected himself looking at the three of us. "Hey Katara. Hey Sokka. Hey Crystal."
Smiling at him, I was relieved to see him. He'd just saved our hides. Sokka was even grateful. "Hi Aang… Thanks for coming."
There was a growl then, and we saw the teenager had collected himself and got into a fighting stance. His helmet was off now, and I couldn't help but stare at his face. He was pretty cute in a way, but I would never dream of ever falling for a monster. Aang jumped up with his staff in hand, and then got into his own fighting stance. "Looking for me?" Aang snapped.
"You're the airbender… you're the Avatar?" he asked in bewilderment, and my eyes widened in shock. Aang!
"No way," my brother muttered beside me.
The teenager looked annoyed. "I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating… You're just a child!"
Aang looked confused. "Well you're just a teenager."
The teenager really didn't like this, and he lit fire in his hands. No! He'd hurt Aang! Aang didn't seem concerned when the guy shot fire, using his staff to airbend the fire from him. The fire however blew toward us, and we screamed as heat licked at our skin. Aang heard this and quickly surrendered. "If I go with you, do you promise to leave these people alone?"
The guy nodded, and immediately soldiers grabbed onto Aang's arms.
No! They couldn't take him! He was the world's last hope!
"No, Aang!" I cried, and ran forward. "Let him go!"
"Crystal!" Katara and Sokka cried in terror, but I ignored them.
Quickly I threw my hand upward at the guy who had turned toward me in surprise. Water flew up at him and knocked him roughly on his back. Then I picked up more water and froze the shocked guy to the snowy ground. The soldiers had all turned to see my attack, and I saw Aang stare at me bewildered. Looking back at Katara, I saw her eyes widen with amazement. Sokka looked shocked and hurt I hadn't told them. I frowned and said softly, "Sorry…"
Turning back to the soldiers and the teenager, I saw he was no longer shocked but determined. Melting the ice around him, he stood and sneered. "So… The water tribe has been keeping secrets, huh? I thought we'd captured every last waterbender here!"
"Looks like you guys missed one," I hissed.
The teenager growled and jumped forward to grab me. With fluid movements I dodged and grabbed more snow. Shooting it at him, I watched it hit his body and cause him to fly back once more. As this occurred soldiers shot at me and restrained my arms. Screaming, I tried to pull from their holds.
"Let her go!" Sokka cried, running forward. A soldier who wasn't holding me down, shot fire at Sokka who had no choice but to back away.
"Hey! You said you'd leave these people alone!" Aang cried, trying to pull from the soldier that was holding his shoulder.
The teenager was standing back up and stalked toward me. "I'll leave them alone, but this girl is coming with us." Glaring at him, I tried to pull from the soldiers holds and kicked at the sneering teenager. He dodged continuing to speak. "Just think how much honor I'll receive when I bring home the Avatar and the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe."
"No!" My sister and brother both cried, but Zuko was already heading back up the ramp and the soldiers were shoving Aang and I along with him. "Crystal! Aang!"
Aang looked back. "Don't worry Katara. I'll take care of her! You just take care of Appa for me!"
The ramp began to shut then, and the teenager shouted orders about preparing the ship for departure. As soldiers scrambled to go relay his orders, I stared at the ship with dread. The hall we were in was cold and made entirely of steel. Candlesticks were the only lighting as the sun left us.
"Take the Avatar up on deck. I'll be there in a moment," the teenager ordered, and the two soldiers restraining Aang began to force him down the hall. Aang looked back worriedly, shouting, "You better not hurt her!"
The teen ignored him and looked at the two soldiers behind me. "Leave us. I want to speak to the girl alone. Don't tell my uncle about this." The soldiers bowed, and then excused themselves heading in the direction of the other soldiers.
My eyes were wide with terror as I stared at this teenager who could probably chop me down in no time flat. Backing away, I found myself hitting the ramp wall of the ship that was now closed tight. There was no escape. "Please… Just let me and Aang go," I said, my voice shaking from the fear coursing through my veins. "Aang's just a kid and I-"
A fist punched right beside my head and I cried out in terror, cringing away. "Not so tough now, are you?" he hissed, his body too close to me for comfort. It was dark but I could make out his eyes. They were narrowed and irritated. "You're pretty good for a waterbender who's had no training. I have to say I'm impressed. You definitely bruised me up with that last hit."
Glaring with utter hatred, I hissed, "Good! I taught myself so that one day when I met a firebender like you I wouldn't be so weak!"
He was taken aback by my words, and I saw his eyes shoot to my scar once more. They immediately filled with understanding and sympathy. He quickly covered it though, snapping, "Well your bending just got you in a lot of trouble. Now you're my prisoner and I'm taking you and the Avatar to my father so he'll give me my honor back!"
My eyes widened at his words. "Your father?"
He smirked. "Oh, I haven't introduced myself have I?" He held his head high. "My names Zuko, crown prince of the Fire Nation."
My blood went cold, and my breathing hitched. My body fell back against the wall as I stared at this prince in terror. He was the Fire Lord's son… I was prisoner to the Fire Lord's son! I had the worst luck in the world!
He saw my horror and looked pretty smug. "Definitely struck a fear there, huh?"
In the end Zuko grabbed me and pulled me through the halls. I cringed in fear and also disgust at his touch. "Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to mask my fear with rage. I grabbed at his hand trying to release his grip. He only tightened his hold on my arm.
We went down a few flights of steps till we reached a hall that had prison cells. Zuko opened one which creaked loudly and shoved me inside. Turning in terror, I saw him close the door and lock it with a key he just so happened to have. "Don't worry. The Avatar will be joining you soon."
He then turned and left, taking the keys with him.
"You can't just leave me down here!" I screamed after him, grabbing the cell door and shaking it hard to try and open it. Zuko ignored me and left, and I watched him go with fear. Falling to my knees, I let gasps escape me. What had I gotten myself into?
The ship suddenly lurched forward and I grabbed onto the cell door to keep from falling. Oh no… We were moving, and that meant we were headed toward the fire nation. Backing against the wall of my cold cell, I pulled my knees to my chest and cried. I'd only been this scared once in my life, and that was when I was burned.
It seemed like an hour passed by when suddenly I heard footsteps run down the corridor. "Crystal!" A familiar voice cried out, and I looked up in shock to see Aang come into view.
"Aang!" I shouted with relief, jumping up and running to the door. Aang tried to pull the door open with his hands, but it wouldn't budge.
"Where's the key?" he asked.
"Zuko has it!" I cried, trying to shove my weight on the door.
Aang nodded. "Okay then, scratch the key. Stand back," he ordered. Immediately I did as he said. "I hope this works."
Jumping up, Aang kicked the door hard and his burst of wind sent it flying off its hinges into the wall beside me. Before I had time to blink, Aang grabbed my hand and began to run us down the hall. As we ran down the massive corridors of the ship, upstairs, and down some more halls I noticed Aang started opening door after door. He'd let go of my hand at this point so I was running to keep up with him. "Aang… What are you doing?" I asked as he opened another door.
"I have to find my staff," he exclaimed, grabbing my hand again and pulling me down another hall. We must've gone through at least thirty halls when finally we saw it. A staff sat inside a room, the door wide open as if someone wanted Aang to see the staff.
"Aang, wait! I think it's a trap!" I cried, trying to grab Aang's arm to stop him.
"No it isn't. Trust me," Aang said, then ran into the room. Following him, I immediately heard the door slam shut behind me. We turned quickly only to see Prince Zuko standing in front of our only way out.
He narrowed his gold eyes at Aang and I. "Looks like I underestimated you two," he hissed, then began to shoot fire at us. Aang and I dodged his blasts as much as we could, and as Aang fought with air I tried to stay out of the way. There was no water in the room so I had no ability to help.
"Crystal! Run!" Aang ordered, shooting another blast of air at the prince. Turning as fast as I could, I pulled the lock of the door up and yanked it open. Then I took off running down the hall of the ship toward what I hoped was the way out.
As I ran down the hall I saw a door open and watched with shock as a man came out. It appeared that this man was the cook or something, and he had a tray of tea in his hands. He was totally shocked by my sudden appearance. With a quick thrust of my hand, I caused the tea in the pot to fly up and hit the cook. He screamed from the hot liquid, and while he was distracted I shoved him against the steel wall of the ship.
"How do I get out of here?" I shouted, frantically trying to escape this hellish vessel.
In the end the cook gave me directions and I ran down the hall, took a right, and found myself running up some steel steps. As I surfaced above deck, I was horrified to see Aang and Zuko were on deck too and they were fighting once more. "Aang!" I cried, then used my bending to bring water up from the sea below. It was a challenge to pull the element up from so far down, but I found the strength. Using the water I'd gathered, I shot it in a straight stream toward Zuko. He turned as he heard the water fly toward him and dodged my blast swiftly. Aang took this chance to throw air at the guy and knock him down on the steel deck; he hit the deck hard.
"We have to get out of here!" I cried, running over to Aang who looked satisfied. Just as I spoke this I heard a groan and looked up at the sky with astonishment. A giant furry flying sky-bison flew above us, and on his saddle were two teenagers I knew very well. "Katara! Sokka!" I cried, relief flooding through me.
A hand grabbed me from behind suddenly and I gasped as I was roughly shoved to the ground. A soldier was immediately on top of me, and I struggled with terror as I watched Aang and Zuko continue to fight. My eyes widened when Aang hopped on the ship railing and Zuko threw fire at him. A blast hit Aang harder than he expected it to, and I watched with horror as my friend fell unconscious in the ocean below. "No!" I cried, thrashing to escape my captors hold. "Aang!"
"Hold still!" the soldier snapped above me and suddenly I was yanked back up on my feet. My eyes darted to the sky where I saw Sokka and Katara looking at where Aang had fallen with terror.
"Let me go!" I shouted, trying to pull from the soldier's hold. He held on tighter and I gasped as his armor dug into my back. His hands had my own behind my back almost pulling them out of their sockets. "Let go!" I shouted, trying to kick back at him.
Another soldier suddenly came in front of me as I was restrained, then my eyes widened in terror when I saw him tighten his hand in a fist. It flew at my stomach causing me to cry out, lose my footing, and slump over in my captors hold. "Nice try waterbender," the same soldier hissed. "But you lose." Then I watched him raise his fist and I closed my eyes knowing what was to come next. As something heavy smashed into the back of my head, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my skull and then my body went numb.
As I began to pass out, I heard Katara's voice scream, "Crystal!" That was the last I heard before darkness took me over.