Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "The Last Goodbye" by Billy Boyd
Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence
Chapter 5: Kyoshi Island
The road is calling
And I must away
"Are we there yet?" Aang asks, falling back against the saddle with a dull thud.
They've been travelling for three weeks now, making their way through the Earth Kingdom as quickly and under-the-radar as possible. Their supplies ran out after the first week, so they've been finding out of the way little farms and offering to help in return for a hot meal while Appa slept. He's been flying as fast as possible, but even flying bison have their limits.
Luckily no one asked them too many questions. They made up story about how they were refugees looking for a place their people could settle. Katara isn't sure how many of the farmers actually believed them, but in times of war, a lot of people go by the "don't ask, don't tell" principle. As long as the kids worked hard and didn't show any signs of a threat, they were welcomed.
But Katara has to agree with Aang - living on the road like this, working hard every day and trying to sleep while flying every night and often only having one or meals a day is starting to wear on everyone's physical and mental health, not to mention moral.
And she herself is particularly frustrated. She feels like she's supposed to be doing more as the Avatar, not just hiding and evading the Fire Nation. But how can she do her duty as Avatar when she isn't entirely sure what she's supposed to be doing?
"Oyaji keeps the shrine of Avatar Kyoshi," Suki had told her in the first few days of their journey. "He knows more about the Avatar than almost anyone else. He'll be able to help you."
Katara really hopes so.
"Hopefully, as long as this tailwind holds up, we should be there by lunch," Sokka says brightly.
"Lunch," says Aang mournfully. "I don't remember what that is."
Suki laughs. "Don't worry. When my people hear that the Avatar has returned, they'll throw us a huge feast. Then you can eat as much as you want."
That does not reassure Katara at all. Everyone has such high expectations for her. What if she fails? What if she disappoints everyone?
She leans on the side of the saddle and looks out at the ground passing beneath them. Soon she'll be able to sleep on a real mattress and not on a saddle in the air, even if only for a few nights. That's what she's looking forward to most.
"Whatever we decide to do next, I vote we camp on the ground when we sleep," she says. "No offense to Appa, but I'm not a huge fan of sleeping like this."
"Agreed," Sokka says.
"Look!" Suki exclaims. They all climb over to where she's sitting and look in the direction that she's pointing. "You can see the island in the distance!"
Sure enough, Kyoshi Island is laying in the middle of the water, a green colored blip in the horizon. Only a couple more hours and they'll be there.
"This is gonna be the longest two hours of my life," Sokka cries. He lays his head down in Suki's lap. She plays with the end of his hair.
"We're almost home," she says with a small smile.
Zuko has grown into a routine in the past few weeks at Boiling Rock. So when he goes into the yard and Guang, Yung, Mu, Jie, and Shang are nowhere to be seen, he's a little puzzled.
He stands in the middle of the courtyard and turns in a circle. Little groups of prisoners hang out around him like they normally do. But something is off. He has a bad gut feeling but he can't place exactly what's wrong.
His eyes dart around the yard. There are guards walking around the upper walls of the prison, like normal. The Earthbenders in the east corner, like normal. The door to the cellhouse is closed, like normal.
So why does he have such a bad feeling?
He notices several things at once: the other prisoners are glancing at him. They never took notice of him before. The group of prisoners that he had identified the first day as nobles have tucked themselves against a far wall. And the guards that normally roam around the yard are mysteriously not here.
Zuko turns and suddenly a sharp pain spreads across his face. He staggers backwards, holding his throbbing and bleeding nose. He looks over to see Guang staring him down. Her hand is still in a fist.
"What's going on?" he demands.
She narrows her eyes. "Why don't you tell us, pretty boy?"
Zuko is shoved from behind. He turns to see his opponent.
"Shang?" He looks back across at Guang. "What are you guys doing?"
"We don't like it when people lie to us," a deep voice says. Zuko identifies it as Yung.
He closes his eyes for a half second. They know. They know the truth. They know who he is. And they aren't happy.
"I didn't lie," he says. "I told you my name."
"You're the crown prince," Guang spats. "Hundreds of people named their sons Zuko after your birth was announced."
"We trusted you," Mu says. They're all closing in around him, aggressive and angry expressions on their faces.
Zuko puts his hands up in front of him. "You can't blame me for not telling you things you never asked."
Jien scowls. "We asked you how you ended up in here. You said treason. Why would the crown prince betray his own throne?"
"Because I disagree with the way my father rules."
Shang rolls his eyes. "Likely story, princey. I bet you're here undercover to rat us rebels out."
"Can't rat us out if you're dead," Guang agrees.
Zuko spins. They've formed a tight circle around him. None of the other prisoners look interested in helping. There are still no guards in sight. Zuko is all alone. And he has no doubt these guys will make quick work of him.
If he fights back, other prisoners will join in. Other than the small group of nobles, everyone else here probably hates him. If he uses firebending, he'll be in big trouble.
"I'm not here as a spy," he says quickly. "I swear. I broke the Avatar out of prison and I got captured."
"The Avatar disappeared a hundred years ago," Shang argues. "Don't think we're going to believe your made up story."
"If you're going to make a cover story, you should at least make it believable," Mu says.
Zuko shakes his head. These guys are so blinded by their hate of the Fire Nation that they can't think straight. No noble person, and especially no crown prince, would go undercover in the most dangerous prison just to rat out some dreaming rebels. Their accusations make no sense. But they aren't listening to reason anymore.
He's just a target for their anger at the Fire Nation.
Zuko can't blame them. He's done the same thing himself. When he was banished, he deflected his anger at his father on his uncle. Uncle Iroh, who was nothing but kind and encouraging and patient. And Zuko treated him so cruelly.
Maybe he deserves this.
"Any last words, your highness?" Shang spits. He's right in Zuko's face.
Zuko remembers all the times he yelled at his uncle. All the times he slammed the door in his face. All the times he rejected his wisdom and supportive words.
He deserves this.
They begin to beat him. He doesn't fight back. He doesn't defend himself. He feels every blow. And yet his guilt is strong enough to go against the natural defense instincts of his body. He just takes it all.
The punches and kicks don't hurt as much as his chest does when he thinks of how he treated his uncle.
"Ooh, ooh, land on the beach!" Sokka begs.
"Why?" Aang asks. "Shouldn't we land by the village?"
"It's just a couple more minutes," Sokka insists. "Please?"
Aang steers Appa over the treeline and to the sandy beach. The flying bison lands gently on the sand. Sokka leaps out of the saddle and lands on his knees. The others disembark slower. As soon as Suki climbs down, Sokka wraps his arm around her waist.
"See that spot right over there?" Sokka points to a pretty general area of the waterline. "That's where I saw Suki for the first time."
Katara face palms. Suki smirks and swats his arm lightly.
"What a dork," she says.
"Suki!"
A dozen young children burst through the treeline, making their way straight for the warrior. She detaches herself from Sokka and kneels down, catching the first kid in her arms and picking him up.
"You're back!" one of the kids says.
"I'm back," she agrees.
"Come!"
The kids take her hands and pull her away. She glances back with an apologetic look in her eyes as she's dragged out of sight. Katara thinks it's cute. Her chest also aches a bit as she remembers the children in her Water Tribe village. She thinks of Hama and wonders sadly at how fast those kids must have grown up - the ones that survived, that is.
"Remember when you were in charge of teaching all the kids in our tribe basic fighting skills?" she asks Sokka. "You tried so hard but they just wanted to play with you."
He sighs. "Do you have to remind me?"
"Of course!"
Aang is watching the water carefully. He turns around slowly. "Did I just see the fin of an Unagi?" he asks, his eyes big.
Sokka nods seriously. "Almost got eaten by one when I was here for the first time."
Aang jumps up. "Cool!"
Sokka stares at him with concern. "Did you just say 'cool'?"
"I've always heard stories about riding the Unagi! Now I can actually do it!"
Katara frowns. She doesn't think that man-eating fish are something to mess around with.
"Let's follow Suki," she suggests.
They follow the path from the beach into a small village. Sokka leads the way. A large group of the villagers are gathered in the center of the village, a large open area overshadowed by an old wooden statue of a warrior.
"That's Kyoshi," Sokka says, pointing it out.
Katara stares at the intimidating female warrior. She couldn't feel more different than Kyoshi if she tried.
"That was you in another life," Aang points out.
"Sokka!"
They all turn as an older man approaches.
"This is Oyaji," Sokka explains. "Oyaji, this is my sister, Katara, and our friend, Aang."
"Nice to meet you," he says. He turns back to Sokka. "Thank you for bringing her home to us."
Sokka grins. "I think you should be thanking her for bringing me home," he jokes.
Suki disentangles herself from eager kids and walks over. "Oyaji," she says, "I have some news that will make you very happy."
"And what might that be?"
Suki nods Katara's way. "The Avatar has returned. Katara is the Avatar."
"The Avatar?" Oyaji says, much too loudly.
Katara instantly wants to shy away from all the attention suddenly brought her way. Everyone within earshot turns and stares at her. The entire village suddenly grows quiet.
Beside her, Aang nudges her arm. "Don't be afraid," he says. Katara finds that his faith in her gives her the courage to speak up.
She addresses the village: "I am Katara, the last Waterbender. And I am the Avatar. I was asleep for a hundred years, but now I'm here and ready to do my duty to restore balance to the world."
For a long moment, it's silent. Her heart beats so loudly that she's sure everyone can hear. And then the entire village erupts in cheers and applause. A relieved smile breaks out across her face.
Then everyone starts swarming around her, all eager to introduce themselves and speak to her. She loses Sokka and Aang and Suki in the crowd. For the next hour she returns respectful bows and introductions.
"We have hope again because of you," a tearful old woman says, grasping her hand tightly. "Thank you."
"I was afraid the war would never end," a man tells her. "Now our suffering has an end in sight."
"I prayed for years to Kyoshi that the Avatar would return in my lifetime," another woman says. "My prayers have been answered."
Katara doesn't feel assured or confident. She feels more and more overwhelmed. Everyone is putting their hopes and futures in her hands. It's a heavy weight to carry. What if she fails? What if she can't restore balance?
After some time, Oyaji finally breaks up the crowd. "Is this how we treat the Avatar after she's crossed the entire Earth Kingdom to visit us?" he demands. "Begin feast preparations!"
The people scurry off to do their assigned tasks. Katara finds Sokka and Aang.
"Where's Suki?" she asks.
"She's catching up with her warriors," Sokka explains. "There's been some other attacks at other villages on the island."
"Don't worry about that now," Oyaji interrupts. "Boys, why don't you find something useful to do? I know a group of children that are running amuck right now. Perhaps you can entertain them for a while."
"Ooh! I can show them some of my cool airbending tricks!" Aang exclaims.
"And I can teach them how to make their own boomerangs!"
Sokka and Aang head off in search of the kids, leaving just Oyaji and Katara.
He observes her sympathetically. "Suki told me that you're feeling a bit in over your head right now."
Katara lets out a pent up breath. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do," she admits. "I didn't even know I was the Avatar until a few weeks after I woke up from the ice. I had a dream and the former Avatar reincarnations visited me and told me it was my destiny to restore balance. But I have no idea where to start. We kept our eyes open for potential Earthbending instructors on our way here, but I don't know what I'm looking for."
Oyaji nods. "You have been given a great honor. But it is also a great responsibility. Come with me."
He takes her along a path that leads to a small shrine. "Here is where we keep all the artifacts from Avatar Kyoshi," he explains. "Perhaps you can learn a bit from her."
Katara enters the temple. A green Kyoshi warrior dress is hung up in the very middle of the back wall. In display cases are her fans, shoes, headband, and other various artifacts. Katara takes her time examining each one.
She's disappointed to not feel anything special. This was her past self, apparently, but she feels no connection to it.
"The priests say the relics are still connected to her spirit," Oyaji says. "Can you feel it?"
Katara shakes her head. "Can you tell me about Kyoshi?" she asks. "I don't really know anything about her."
Oyaji points to a pair of boots in another corner. "She had the biggest feet of any Avatar," he says proudly. Katara has to admit she doesn't get what's so important about that, but she files away the information anyway.
"And here," Oyaji says, leading her over to a huge painting that takes up an entire wall. "This is called the 'Birth of Kyoshi'. It was painted at sunrise on the day this island was founded. Three hundred and seventy years ago."
Katara can feel her eyebrows raise. "Really? How did it happen?"
She reaches out a hand and touches the image of Kyoshi on the painting. Suddenly the room spins and a second later everything is still - and she's now standing out in the open by an Earth Kingdom temple. A man in fancy garb is standing in front of a Kyoshi Warrior. No - not a Kyoshi Warrior. He's standing in front of Kyoshi herself.
"Chin, the conqueror," Kyoshi declares, her voice deep and full of authority. "You are a horrible tyrant. You've been expanding your army across all corners of the continent. Do not think that we, the last untouched peninsula, will give up so easily."
The man, Chin, narrows his eyes and points at her. "You will surrender immediately!"
"No. And I will not stand by and watch as you take our home. I have sat passively for far too long already."
Chin instantly jumps into an earthbending stance. Kyoshi pulls out a fan and airbends a strong gust of wind that whips off all his jewelry and his fancy robes. Chin doesn't back down. Kyoshi closes her eyes and when she opens them again, they're glowing. In the Avatar state, she whips out her fans and uses a mixture of airbending and earthbending to create a rift in the land, right between her people and Chin's army. A pool of lava simmers at the bottom of the rift and Kyoshi summons it up, providing a further defense for her people. Then she uses a huge blast of wind to blow away Chin's army and, along with waterbending, floats the newly created island away from the mainland.
Chin stands on the edge of the now-cliff and screams in frustration. The weak earth gives out underneath him and he tumbles into the sea below.
Katara returns to the present, where she's still standing in front of the mural. Oyaji is speaking.
"...and so Kyoshi created this island so that her people - us - were safe from invasion."
"Wow," Katara says, still overwhelmed by the weird vision-thing she had just experienced. Oyaji, completely unaware, beams.
"Right? You can understand why we really appreciate Kyoshi - and every incarnation of the Avatar."
Katara steps back. "So that's what the Avatar does?" she asks. "Protects their people?"
Oyaji nods. "It's one of their tasks, yes."
"But…" She looks down sadly. "My people are all gone. I failed to protect them."
"And some might say that Kyoshi failed to protect the rest of the Earth Kingdom when she waited until Chin was here to put an end to his tyranny." Oyaji walks over and rests a hand on her shoulder. "There is no rule book to being the Avatar."
"In my vision, the Avatar incarnations told me it was my duty to restore balance to the world. But I'm not ready to take on the Fire Nation yet. I have no idea where to start."
Katara thinks of the precision with which Kyoshi used the elements. Her waterbending is strong, but she can even levitate a pebble let alone break off part of a continent, and that's only one of the other three elements.
"The Fire Nation is too big of a task for you to manage right now," Oyaji agrees. "You have to start small, work up your strength and confidence. You need to begin mastering all four elements."
Katara stares at her hands. "My waterbending is really good," she offers.
"Then you need to begin learning the next one in the cycle. Earthbending."
She thinks of how she learned waterbending. First she did it without even realizing she was doing anything. That was when she was very young. Then, as she grew older, she found that she could make streams of water levitate a little bit. And eventually, as she worked on it more, her ability to manipulate the water increased. But at the very beginning, it was a part of her. Earthbending is not a part of her. She hadn't even seen ground that wasn't ice until she was sixteen - or a hundred and sixteen, if you count the years she was buried in the ice.
"You must find the right earthbending master," Oyaji says. "Someone who can teach you."
Katara remembers Saura telling her that, too, when she first learned she was the Avatar. But there were no instructions on how to actually find that Earthbending master. She supposes she can just ask. "So, who's the best Earthbender here?"
Oyaji shakes his head. "We don't have any Earthbenders on the island right now. They all left to fight in the war. I'm afraid you'll have to travel a ways to find one."
Leave Kyoshi Island? But they just got here! Katara knows it's selfish, but she can't help but want to stay here in safety until she's ready to take on the Fire Lord. She feels comfortable here, and she knows Sokka and Suki feel at home. And even Aang is delighted with the people and culture.
"It's a lot to consider," Oyaji says, patting her arm. "I understand. Stay here for a few more days and then you can think it over. But tonight, we feast."
Katara follows his out of the shrine, thankful that she can put her worries aside for a few hours. Although she has objections to leaving, she knows that she has to eventually. She has to fulfill her destiny. She can't wait, like Kyoshi, until the danger and the war comes to her. By then it will be too late. The Fire Nation has already taken over much of the world. They've already destroyed her people. Katara has to stop them before they destroy everyone else.
She has to step up and become the Avatar that the people already think she is.
"Do another trick!"
All the children are crowded around Aang, watching with wide eyes as she shows off his airbending skills. Katara, Sokka, and Suki sit on a bench a few yards away and watch in amusement as Aang continues trying to come up with new tricks. Sokka has his arm slung casually across Suki's shoulders. She's resting her head against his neck. The air is warm and they all have full stomachs from an amazing feast put on by the people of Kyoshi.
Everything is perfect.
So why does Katara still feel like she's missing something?
She thinks on the New Year's festival they attended a few weeks ago in the Earth Kingdom. It had been amazing, and yet everything seemed to remind her of her time on the ship with Zuko. And that frustrates her to no end because of how mixed her feelings are about that whole situation. On the one hand, Zuko had given her a home after hers had been destroyed and had given her companionship when she was at her loneliness. On the other hand, he exploited her for his own benefit and betrayed her. And then, when she had finally made up her mind about how she felt about him, he had to come and helped rescue her, an action which completely shook up her emotions.
Being angry at him for betraying her was much easier than whatever mix she's feeling now. She doesn't want to remember fondly all the moments they had together. She had locked those up deeply. But when he showed up and fought his sister to give her a chance to escape, all the good moments resurfaced again.
She'd been so embarrassed when she'd cried during the fireworks. Embarrassed because she doesn't want to admit that she still has feelings for Zuko and that she misses him. Embarrassed because she should have been able to just enjoy the festival like the others. Thankfully Aang hadn't said anything, but she knows he worries about her. He can't understand how conflicted she is. He just knows the story - that Zuko betrayed her and then came to help. He doesn't understand Zuko's backstory, his motivations, his conflict. And even Sokka and Suki, who at least witnessed Zuko doing something good, can't fully understand the consequences of his decision.
Even she can't fully understand him. But she's seen both his good side and his bad side. She's laid with him under stars and trained with him. She's seen the way his sister acts around him. She doesn't know exactly how heavy the weight on his shoulders is, but she knows how strong he is and yet how much he struggles to carry it.
Katara hopes that wherever he is now, he's doing better. She hopes he's found peace. And she hopes she finds peace, too. She's tired of constantly feeling like there's something missing.
She has a mission now. She's not a lost, lonely girl anymore. She's the Avatar. Her past needs to stay in the past and she needs to focus on the present and the future.
Oyaji told her what she had to do. Now she has to begin her journey. No more running away. No more hiding. Now is the time to fight.
"Water. Did we pack enough water?" Sokka checks the bags on Appa's saddle again. "Yep. We have water. Do we have food? We can't run out of food, you know. Food is important. Do we have -"
"Sokka, please come down and talk to me."
He hears her voice and pauses. The truth is, he knows they have enough food and water and other supplies. They didn't forget the map. They have everything they need. Sokka's already checked three times. Now he's just stalling.
He sighs and slides down off Appa to where Suki is waiting for him. She looks at him sadly. He memorizes what she looks like in this moment.
"You can't check the food bags forever," she says quietly.
"I know."
She takes his hands in hers. "I don't want to leave you. But you know I have to stay. The Fire Nation is getting closer and closer every day. My people need me here."
"I know," he says again, trying to swallow past the lump in his throat.
"You're a capable warrior, Sokka. And an even better strategist. Aang and Katara are powerful, but they need your genius brain. Besides, you know they can't read a map to save their lives."
"No, they really can't."
Suki sighs. "This is hard for me, too. Our paths are leading us in different directions. But I know we're going to see each other again."
Deep down, Sokka can feel it too. He knows that this isn't going to be the last time he sees Suki. It still hurts knowing that he's going to leave her now.
Katara and Aang walk up, carrying the final supplies. Sokka steps back from Suki so the others can say goodbye.
"Thank you for watching over my brother," Katara says. She and Suki hug. "I'll miss having a girl around."
"If there's one person able to keep these boys in line, it's you," Suki tells her with a smile. Then she grows serious. "I believe in you, Katara. You're strong. I see Kyoshi's spirit in you. You're going to be the greatest Avatar of them all."
Katara blushes and mumbles out a thanks and goodbye. Then it's Aang's turn. He bows to Suki in respect.
"Thank you for all your help," he says. "You're the best warrior I've ever met."
"Well, thank you for rescuing me from the Fire Nation," she replies with a laugh. "You're a good kid, Aang. Take care of Katara and Sokka."
"I will," he promises. He and Katara climb up Appa's back. Then it's just Sokka and Suki left. Sokka isn't ready to say goodbye. He never is. But he doesn't have a choice.
"Just...stay safe," he says. Suki pulls him into a big hug. He holds onto her tightly, wishing he never has to let go.
"I'm going to miss you," Suki says. "Don't forget what I taught you. And don't ever lose your sense of humor."
"That's not likely to happen," he promises. He leans down and kisses her one last time. Then he turns and climbs onto Appa before he can talk himself out of leaving.
They all wave to Suki as Appa begins to rise. Sokka watches her until they're so high that she's the size of an ant.
He already feels like a part of him is missing. To keep his mind off her, he pulls out a map and starts planning their journey.
"Next stop," he declares. "Finding Katara an earthbending master."