Earth Kingdom Forest, Near Gaipan; Reylea
Qui-Gon POV...
"I won't be long R5," I tell the astromech. "You can keep the ship running, but locked up."
He beeps in confirmation, although adds a question at the end, to which I answer.
"My food supplies are low, so I'll be getting some things from the nearby village," I explain, and he beeps in understanding.
Satisfied, I exit the shuttle and start walking into the forest with my gray poncho on in order to cover up the unusual attire of my Jedi outfit and lightsaber beneath, and R5 closes the shuttle ramp behind me.
Walking through the forest allowed me to take a breath of fresh air and marvel at the beauty of this planet. It was currently the winter season in this planet's hemisphere I was currently in, but being close to the equator it wasn't as cold as other areas. Instead the temperature was more of a cool autumn climate, and the leaves of these trees were all a vibrant orange and red color. Wildlife and other unfamiliar creatures scurried throughout the forest, completely unbothered by my presence, and I had to wonder if they were sensitive to the Force as well.
Of course, every living thing shared a connection to the Force, but Reylea's power is amplified at least ten times stronger than most planets, even compared to the Jedi Temple. Here I could feel the peace and balance in the Force.
I could feel everything. Every tree, every animal, everything within at least a mile around me, and it filled me with absolute awe. I could even feel the deep roots far underneath the ground that go around the entire planet, all connected to the great swamp tree that has stood for so long. It was no surprising to me that this tree was filled with Force energy, exclusive only to Reylea. Because of this planet being so strong in the Force, it also amplified my powers as well, to levels greater than I could've imagined reaching.
While I continued to marvel at the planet's environment and Force energy, something else came to my senses. I was currently walking hrough a dirt pathway towards the village known as Gaipan, and several people were following me up in the trees. And they didn't seem very friendly.
I almost sighed when their leader jumped onto the ground a few feet in front of me, a threatening glare on his face. Years of anguish and turmoil from the Fire Nation, as well as a traumatic experience I could sense have made him bitter and cold. It made me sorrowful.
"What are you doing in our forest you leech?" He demands harshly, pulling out two hooked swords.
"I'm merely a traveler that wishes to shop at Gaipan village," I reply calmly.
"Oh you aren't going anywhere," he says with a smirk.
A few more people drop down behind me, a large man built of pure muscle, a young teenage girl with short hair and face paint beside the leader, and a couple others. I could also sense an archer crouched on one of the branches above us, aiming an arrow at me. I give them all a calm, cautious glance before facing the leader again.
"I don't mean you any harm. Let me pass in peace," I state firmly.
"Peace? You mean the peace the Fire Nation destroys?!" he snarls. "You know nothing of peace!"
"I know all about peace," I say in reply. "It is what I strive to keep."
He scoffs in pure disgust, glaring at me. "Pipsqueak, take care of him. Then we'll search his belongings."
"I almost feel sorry for you," the hulking man says in mock pity, bashing his knuckles together and stalking forwards.
I turn around and face him, tending up slightly and getting into a defensive stance. There was no need for me to use my lightsaber. At least, not yet. Getting a good look at the man, whose apparently named Pipsqueak of all names, I note his large size and great strength, taking it into consideration. He would tower over most, and while I'm not as tall as him, I'm only a few inches shorter, and more swift.
Pipsqueak raises a meaty arm and then swings down at me, expecting an easy knockout. However to his surprise I swiftly evade his attack. Frowning, he swings again, and I dodge out of the way again. I could sense his frustration building, and he starts swinging and punching at me faster and more furiously now.
I continue to evade his attacks with ease, upsetting his balance and finally spin around him, knocking him in the head with an elbow. I then use the Force to subtly shove him to the ground away from me, where he grunts in pain, sliding across the dirt.
The rest of the group were staring at me in disbelief and bewilderment, before the leader scowls at me.
"Think you're so clever huh?" he snaps.
Raising his hooked swords, he sprint for me and slashes them with a yell. I backpedal away from his swiping attacks and then vault over his back, rolling underneath a follow up knife attack from the girl. A third teenager, also a girl, tries swinging an axe at me, but I quickly grab it and use their momentum to twist her around, shoving her away. The leader is on me again in an instant, swiping and slashing his swords with murderous intent, while I continue to deflect his swings with my forearm or lean out of the way. He then manages to briefly surprise me by kicking out a foot, knocking me back slightly.
The girl then leaps in with quick and furious knife strikes, aiming for my feet or head in quick succession. Once again I evade the attacks and then, grabbing her by the wrist, flip her over me and onto the ground. The leader then hooks his swords together and starts swinging them at me with greater distance. I jump over a few swings and duck underneath another, sensing the two girls surrounding me, and finally the hulking man recovers, charging for me from behind.
Ducking underneath one more sword swing, I twirl around before calling upon the Force. It surges to me with incredible strength and, crouching, I slam my palm into the ground to release the energy in a wave.
The fighters are all blown away at least ten feet from me with surprised yells, and I stand back up to my feet. The archer then finally makes a move, and releases an arrow that zips straight for the side of my neck. Reaching underneath my cloak, I pull out my lightsaber and then spin around, easily slicing through the arrow and standing there.
There was silence as the fighters all stared at me in shock, some fear and wonder prevelant in their faces, but in the leader it was mostly replaced with a sense of furious disbelief.
"Who are you?!" he demands.
I stand back up to my full height and calmly deactivate my lightsaber, setting it back on my belt underneath my cloak.
"That, I'm afraid I cannot tell at this time," I state.
Scowling, the leader rips a few pellets from one of his pockets, which I sense to be some form of grenade, while the archer readies his bow again, the arrow holding the same substance. The grenade pellets are then all sent flying at me but I was prepared for it, and use the Force to jump high into the air and onto one of the branches above them. I sensed shock from all of them, but to his credit the archer didn't let it phase him and shot more arrows in my direction. I jumped across the branches in the canopy to leave the area quickly, faster than they could follow.
They attempted to give chase, but I had soon disappeared into the foliage out of their reach, leaving them behind.
After the skirmish with those teenagers, I continued on my way towards Gaipan, arriving not much later. The town was small and simple, resting in a small valley before a dam that housed their water supply. Something that was prevelant though was the presence of Fire Nation soldiers, meaning I was have to be extra cautious.
As I strolled down the market street, I couldn't help but notice and be pleasantly surprised by the interactions of the inhabitants here. The Earth Kingdom citizens and Fire Nation soldiers seemed to be getting along, or were tolerating of each other. Sure there was bitterness or dislike from the citizens, but they posed no ill will towards the soldiers. Likewise, the soldiers showcased stern toughness and authority, but did not needlessly bother the citizens either, like I've heard about in most towns.
Approaching a vendor shop, I surveyed the food selection for a few moments before making my choices.
"Can I help you sir?" the vendor asks.
"Yes, please," I reply kindly, pointing out what I wanted. "I would like to purchase a bag of these fruits and vegetables, as well as a small package of chicken meat."
The vendor gathers up the different food items and places them in a bag, adding the sealed package of chicken with it before setting it on the counter.
"That'll be five silver pieces," he requests.
I reach down and retrieve the money from my pouch, unintentionally revealing a partial view of my lightsaber to him, which he notices.
"What's that on your belt?" he asks.
I mentally scold myself for my simple mistake but respond to his question.
"Oh this? Just a simple family heirloom I received years ago," I offer as an explanation.
"Huh. Well it does look rather interesting, but well kept," he remarks with a nod of his head, and accepts the money I give him, pushing the food bag over. "Thank you for shopping."
"Thank you as well good sir," I reply with a smile, taking the bag and moving off.
I sling the strap of the bag and start to make my way out of the town, ready to head back to the shuttle when something gets my attention. I spot an old man garbed in red Fire Nation clothing with a cane, accidentally dropping a bag he was carrying. The contents spill out on the ground, and he sighs sadly, moving to pick it up, but struggling.
"Here, let me help with that," I offer, crouching before him and gathering up his items for him.
"Oh, thank you so much sir," he says gratefully.
I stand back up and return the bag to him, which he accepts with a grateful nod.
"There you are," I tell him.
"Your kindness is gratefully appreciated sir," he replies, observing me for a moment with a smile. "You aren't from around here I imagine?"
"No, merely traveling around the world to see the sights," I offer in explanation. "The forest here is quite beautiful."
"Yes, the trees are lovely," he says in agreement. "Tomorrow morning I'm actually planning to take a stroll through the forest pathways. Nature is always a great wonder."
"That sounds wonderful," I reply, a little concerned when I hear his destination. "However it may be risky, as a few people live in the forest that are not fond of the Fire Nation, and might not like you being there."
He lets out a sorrowful sigh. "Yes, the Freedom Fighters. They wish to rid this valley of the Fire Nation presence here, but they don't understand that everyone is content."
"Maybe they will see that someday," I offer reassuringly.
"I hope so as well," he replies in agreement. "I never did catch your name?"
"Jinn. Qui-Gon Jinn," I answer.
"Hmph," he hums in amusement, smiling good naturedly. "An unusual name. You definitely aren't from around here that's for sure!"
We both chuckle in amusement, and I can't help but muse on how right he was. If only he knew how far away I really did travel...
"Well, I must be getting off," I tell him.
"Of course, of course. Safe travels!" he says, gesturing with his cane in farewell.
"And to you as well my friend," I reply with a smile, raising a hand to wave and then heading out.
Yes, the people in this town truly are what the rest of the world should be like, and what I hope to help them all acheive with the Avatar. Perhaps his is more hope for quicker peace between the Nations than I originally thought.
I hope those Freedom Fighters can understand this as well, before someone gets hurt.
I was almost back to the ship near dusk when my comlink beeped, signaling a message from R5. I plucked it from my belt and held it up to my head, answering.
"What is it R5?" I ask.
My brow furrows in concern and worry when I hear his urgent response, not liking what he was saying.
"A group of fighters found the shuttle?" I question, and he beeps in confirmation. "Alright. Keep it locked up, I'll be there very soon."
I end the transmission and shoulder my bag of supplies briefly before continuing towards the shuttle, although at a quicker pace. It took me about two more minutes before I arrived at the landing sight in its small clearing, far enough away from the main path that nobody would investigate.
Apparently not.
A group of Freedom Fighters were huddled outside of the shuttle, examine it and also attempting to figure it a way inside. Some of them were banging on it with their weapons briefly, others were searching with their hands.
"Think it's Fire Nation?" a boy asks.
"Well of course it's Fire Nation, they make the machines!" a girl snaps at him.
"Well excuse me for asking Suru!" the boy retorts. "This thing doesn't even look like anything the Fire Nation has made!"
"Shut it you two!" an older boy says firmly. "Jet wants us to figure out what this is, and what's inside it, and that's what we'll do!"
Jet must be the name of the boy leading the Freedom Fighters then, the one with the hooked swords.
"If he wants us to open it, why didn't he just bring the Avatar to do it?" Suru demands.
Aang, Katara and Sokka are here? Maybe it would be better if I stayed here a little longer. Perhaps I could introduce myself formally, and try and reason with Jet about how he fights the Fire Nation.
"You clearly don't listen to anything smart-mouth," the first boy retorts mockingly, causing her to glare at him.
"We can't let the Avatar and his friends know about our plans to rid the valley of the Fire Nation. They wouldn't understand, and would try and stop us," the oldest boy says, and I narrow my eyes suspiciously. "Now help out!"
"Fine!" Suru says angrily, but helps the group of eight to continue searching the shuttle.
From this distance I could see R5 in the cockpit, watching the intruders warily with concern. They hadn't yet noticed him, which was probably a good thing. I raise an arm out of the bushes to get his attention, and he flashes his red sensor at me, letting me know he saw. With that done, I decide to put my plan into affect, and step out of the bushes.
I call upon the Force once again, and it swirls around me in great levels of power, accepting me as its guide.
"Hey, you!" one of the teenagers calls out, having spotted me.
Before the Freedom Fighters could do anything, I close my eyes and calmly stretch out my arm, waving with it brief gestures and bringing the Force on their minds.
"You will leave this area," I tell them.
All eight of them straighten up as the Force affects all of their minds, the mind trick working flawlessly.
"I will leave this area," they all respond.
"You will return to your base and report that this machine was gone," I say.
"I will return to my bass and report that this machine was gone," they repeat.
"You will forget about this encounter," I add.
"I will forget about this encounter," they reply.
"You may leave now," I say in finality, dropping my arm.
"I may leave now," they repeat.
Opening my eyes, I watch as the group all wordlessly gather their things and leave the area, dispersing into the forest in the direction of their hideout. I was satisfied.
Delving into the Force on this planet made me capable of doing things that would otherwise be impossible elsewhere. Affecting eight people with a Jedi mind trick all at once is unheard of, except from only the most powerful Jedi. At most I can only affect one regularly, maybe two if possible, but never eight. With all of this power, I'm wondering if it would be possible to even influence a strong willed person!
However with such great power, the danger of others sensitive to the Force with ill will reminds me how important my job is. And I must also make sure to remember not to abuse this power or take it lightly, lest I lose myself. I serve the Force and the Jedi, first and foremost, to guide and protect others who cannot help themselves, to be compassionate.
Reaffirming myself with my thoughts I head back towards the shuttle, and R5 opens the ramp to allow me entry.
3rd person POV...
Sokka was crouched in the branches of one of the trees with Jet, surveying the dirt trail below them. He still wasn't fond of Jet, and didn't trust him one bit, but if there was a chance to knock some Firebenders out then he was all for it.
Jet cupped his hands to his mouth and whistled a bird call. Several trees down, Pipsqueak and Smellerbee also whistled their own calls, stepping out into view of them. Pulling out his knife, Sokka also used his own surveillance trick by stabbing it into the tree trunk and pressing his ear against it, listening intently.
"What are you doing?" Jet asks.
"Shh... it amplifies vibrations," Sokka whispers back.
"Good trick," he replies in approval, admittedly a little impressed.
"Nothing yet," Sokka whispers, listening to the contractions in his knife. He then picks up a small sound, narrowing his eyes. "Wait! Yes, someone's coming!"
"How many?" Jet asks quietly.
"I think there's just one," he replies.
Jet whistled another bird call out to Smellerbee and Pipsqueak before glancing at Sokka.
"Good work Sokka. Ready your weapon," he tells him.
Sokka pulls his blade out of the tree trunk and looks down determinedly, moving to pull out his club before stopping, spotting the person that was approaching.
"Wait, false alarm. He's just an old man," he tells Jet.
However, Jet ignores Sokka completely and glares fiercely down at the old man. Whipping out his swords with a swipe, he then jumps down from the tree branch and lands in front of the old man, standing up with a cold, furious glare.
"What are you doing in our forest you leech?" Jet demands coldly.
Sokka widens his eyes in shock, watching the scene playing out in horror.
"Please sir, I'm just a traveler," the old man says nervously.
Jet stomps forwards and then swipes his sword, sending the man's cane flying away. The old man backs away in fear and attempts to run, but when he turned around he ran right into Pipsqueak, knocking him right to the ground. Pipsqueak looms over him threateningly, and places his foot on the man's back as he attempted to crawl away.
"Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families?" Jet snarls. "Do you?!"
"Oh, please let me go... have mercy!" the old man pleads.
"Does the Fire Nation let people go? Does the Fire Nation have mercy?!" he roars.
Jet swings his foot back in preparation to kick the old man in the face, but before he could his foot was snagged by Sokka's club. Having arrived just in time, Sokka held Jet's foot back and caused him to stumble before releasing him.
"Jet, he's just an old man!" he exclaims.
"He's Fire Nation!" he retorts, as if that was all the explanation needed. "Search him!"
Pipsqueak holds the old man up while Smellerbee searches him for his belongings.
"But he's not hurting anyone!" Sokka tries to reason.
"Have you forgotten that the Fire Nation killed your mother? Remember why you fight!" Jet argues angrily.
"We've got his stuff Jet," Smellerbee says, holding up a bag.
Pipsqueak throws the man back down to the ground, and the group begins to head out, while Sokka stares at them in disbelief.
"This doesn't feel right!" he tells them.
"It's What has to be done," Jet says firmly. "Now lets get out of here."
The Freedom Fighters all disperse to head back to the hideout, but Sokka continues to stare down regretfully at the old man, his eyes filled with pity and a sense of shame. The old man looks back at him sadly.
"Come on Sokka!" Jet yells.
With great reluctance, Sokka slowly turns away from the old man and runs to catch up with the others.
Back at the Freedom Fighter's hideout, Aang and Momo were playing with the ziplines once again. He grinns happily as he leaps to a platform that Sokka was on, who was currently sulking.
"Sokka! Look what the Duke gave me!" Aang says excitedly.
He pulls a small pellet from the satchel he was wearing, and with a sly grin, he tosses it on the ground next to Momo, where it explodes with a pop. Momo puffs up like a startled cat and screeches angrily, before leaping at Aang and grabbing the satchel. He then sits on Aang's shoulder and tosses pellets at his feet, causing Aang to dance around with startled yelps.
"Ow! Quit it!" he protests.
Sokka However wasn't paying any attention, sitting with his back to the trunk and staring at the platform before him, frowning. Katara walks up, looking around inquisitively.
"Hey Sokka. Is Jet back?" Katara asks.
"Yeah he's back. But we're leaving," he says firmly.
"What?" Aang asks in confusion.
"But... I made him this hat," Katara says sadly.
From behind her back she pulls out a cap made out of stitched leaves with a flower on top. Sokka gives it a brief glance of annoyance, not impressed.
"Your boyfriend Jet's a thug," he says angrily.
"What? No, he's not," she protests.
"He's messed up Katara," he states.
"He's not messed up, he's just got a different way of life! A really fun way of life," Aang offers as an explanation.
"He beat and robbed a harmless old man!" he exclaims.
"I wanna hear Jet's side of the story," she retorts, glaring at him.
"Sokka, you told them what happened. But you didn't mention that the guy was Fire Nation?" Jet questions.
The four were currently in one of the lantern-lit huts of the hideout. Jet was sitting on a hammock-bed while the others were standing. Sokka was standing as far away as he could get, grumbling irritably while Aang was wearing the hat Katara made.
"No, he conveniently left that part out," Katara says with a glare.
Sokka throws his arms in the air angrily. "Fine! But even if he was Fire Nation, he was a harmless civilian!"
"He was an assassin, Sokka," Jet retorts calmly.
He pulls out a knife and thrusts it into a nearby block of wood. On the butt of the knife there was a ring, which Jet pulls open to reveal a compartment filled with red liquid.
"See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife. He was sent to eliminate me. You helped save my life, Sokka," Jet explains, putting on a show of thanks for Jet.
"I knew there was an explanation," Katara says confidently.
"I didn't see any knife!" Sokka protests.
"That's because he was concealing it," Jet retorts. "It's not the first time either. Before you arrived there was another man walking through the woods and wearing a poncho."
As Jet was talking, the others listened intently.
"You'd think he was some sort of monk: long brown hair, cryptic speech patterns, but he almost killed us. He was an assassin, just like the old man," Jet tells them all firmly. "Unfortunately he escaped before we could apprehend him, but it is what it is. Since their first attempt failed they sent the old man as a different tactic, concealing this knife to backstab me."
"See Sokka? I'm sure you just didn't notice the knife," Katara reasons.
"There was no knife!" Sokka states fiercely. "I'm going back to the hut and packing my things."
The other two watch him go, Aang feeling sad while Katara was more indifferent, when Jet got their attention again.
"Tell me you guys aren't leaving yet. I really need your help," Jet says hopefully.
"What can we do?" Aang asks instantly.
Jet smiles in apparent relief. "The Fire Nation is planning on burning down our forest. If you both use water bending to fill the reservoir, we could fight the fires. But if you leave now, they'll destroy the whole valley."
Aang and Katara both look at each other in concern before nodding in understanding.
Back at the hut Sokka was packing his things in quiet anger, tying up his bedroll on the floor. Aang and Katara both enter the room, and the former moves to confront him.
"We can't leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!" she says.
"I'm sorry Katara. Jet's very smooth, but we can't trust him," he replies with quiet firmness.
"You know what I think? You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader!" she snaps.
"Katara, I'm not jealous of Jet!" he argues irritably.
"You were willing to trust the other man when we escaped from Zuko and the pirates! That was no different!" she argues.
"Wh- that was completely different, he actually helped saved us from the waterfall!" Sokka retorts. "And if I'm gonna be honest, Jet's description of the other 'so-called assassin' feels suspiciously like that guy!"
"Oh really?" Katara says doubtfully.
"What makes you think so?" Aang asks curiously.
"Think about it! Long hair, a poncho, seems like some monk?" Sokka points out. "Not to mention he put up a good fight against Jet and his posse."
"I guess it does sound like him when you put it that way," Aang admits with a shrug. "I would like to meet him again though!"
"That's ridiculous," Katara scoffs. "Just because it sounds like him, doesn't mean it really was. Besides, you conveniently forgot that the assassin was trying to kill Jet, and I doubt that man would ever want kill someone."
"I know he wouldn't, which is why I'm suspicious!" he exclaims, trying to get his point across. "It's just that my instincts—"
"Well my instincts tell me we need to stay here a little longer and help Jet!" she interrupts angrily, storming out of the hut. "Come on Aang."
Aang offers an apologetic glance before leaving as well. "Sorry Sokka."
By himself, Sokka steams silently, but also feels a little bit of hurt at them not believing what he was telling them.
"Let's go."
Sokka was woken up by the sound of Jet's voice, and footsteps moving quickly across the wood. He pulls the door flap aside enough to see some of Jet's followers descending on the rope lines. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, he leaves the hut and quietly follows them, taking a rope line down to a lower branch. He watches as Jet directs the group to push along a loaded barrel of blasting jelly.
Following the group, Sokka hides behind a large clump of bushes as they stop near the edge of a cliff, the town visible below them, as well as a large dam to the side.
"Now listen. You are not to blow the dam until I give the signal. If the reservoir isn't full, the Fire Nation troops could survive," Jet says.
The Duke jumps off the wagon, looking uncertain and doubtful.
"But what about the people in the town? Won't they get wiped out too?" he asks in concern.
Jet places a hand on the Duke's shoulder, looking at him with a sympathetic expression.
"Look Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the Fire Nation," he says, and then looks towards Longshot. "Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal. Got it?"
Longshot nods in understanding. Hidden in the bushes, Sokka listen to their plan incredulously, shocked that Jet would eve go this far! At the sound of leaves rustling, he frowns before crying out in pain and surprise as Pipsqueak appears, yanking him up by his hair.
Smellerbee pops up as well, holding a knife to his throat, sneering at him. "Where do you think you're going, ponytail?"
Jet watches as Pipsqueak and Smellerbee drag Sokka between them. They throw him roughly to the ground, and he looks up at Jet with a glare.
"Sokka, I'm glad you decided to join us," he comments.
He rubs his shoulder, still glaring. "I heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town."
"Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation," he corrects coldly.
"There are people living there Jet!" Sokka tries to reason. "Mothers and fathers and children!"
"We can't win without making some sacrifices," he replies carelessly.
"You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire!" Sokka says accusingly, pointing a finger at him.
"Because they don't understand the demands of war. Not like you and I do," Jet says.
"I do understand. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want!" he states angrily.
Jet shakes his head with a disappointed sigh, giving him a cold look. "I was hoping you'd have an open mind, but I can see you've made your choice."
Pipsqueak and Smellerbee both grab Sokka to hold him. Before he can even react, Jet has his wrist pinned with the hooks of his swords.
"I can't let you warn Katara and Aang," he says coldly, and Sokka is restrained by Pipsqueak and Smellerbee. "Take him for a walk. A long walk!"
"You can't do this!" Sokka exclaims angrily.
"Cheer up, Sokka. We're gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today," Jet declares with a confident smirk.
Qui-Gon POV...
I watched as Pipsqueak and Smellerbee continue to direct Sokka in front of them, keeping myself hidden in the underbrush. I quietly follow them, out of their sight.
"Come on, move along!" the girl says, shoving Sokka forwards.
He stumbles for a moment before catching his footing, glancing back at Pipsqueak and Smellerbee.
"How can you stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out a whole town?" he asks incredulously.
"Hey listen Sokka, Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says, and things always turn out okay," Pipsqueak replies firmly.
"Then it seems Jet has much to learn about leadership," I speak up, making myself known.
The three of them glance over in surprise at me before I blow Pipsqueak and the girl away from Sokka with a powerful Force push. They both slam into two tree trunks and fall to the ground unconscious, while Sokka gapes at me in shock, and then recognition.
"You again?" he asks in bewilderment.
"Indeed," I reply, coming to stand in front of him. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm good," he answers, pulling himself from his bewilderment. "I had actually already freed myself when you came along."
He separates his hands from behind his back to reveal the knotted rope held loosely, which he untied while walking. I smile at him, and he stares back at me, still a little surprised.
"Uh, how did you do that anyways?" he asks.
"Do what?"
"Blow those two away!" he specifies. "It was like you were Airbending! Are you an airbender?"
"No, I am not," I tell him.
"Then how did you do that? I don't get it!" he says incredulously.
"That, can be explained later when we've joined with the others. For now, I suggest we move to warn the town of Jet's plan before it is too late," I advise.
He moves, about to respond with more questions before stopping himself, realizing that I was right.
"Alright, but we've gotta find Appa first," he says in agreement.
I raise a quizzical eyebrow at him. "Appa?"
"Yeah, our giant flying sky-bison!" he replies. "I didn't really believe it at first either."
A few loud stomps suddenly boom around us from our right, and we look over to see the large, six-legged white bison marching towards us, who I assume to be Appa. He growls at us happily, and although I saw him briefly before this is my first good look at him, and he is definitely a strange creature for sure.
"Guess we don't have to look for him," Sokka remarks.
"So it would seem," I reply in agreement.
3rd person POV...
Having arrived at the edge of the cliff, Katara and Aang both look down at the base of the dam, where four of Jet's Freedom Fighters are unloading barrels of blasting jelly from the wagon and arranging them.
"...What are they doing?" Katara questions.
"Hey, those are the red barrels he got from the Fire Nation," Aang notices.
"Why would they need blasting jelly?" she asks in confusion.
Aang thinks for a moment before widening his eyes in horrified realization. "Because Jet's gonna blow up the dam!"
"What?" she asks in bewilderment. "No, that would destroy the town. Jet wouldn't do that."
Nevertheless, Aang snaps his glider open and runs for the ledge, holding it on his back.
"I've gotta stop him!" he says firmly.
"Jet wouldn't do that..." Katara says quietly, trying to convince herself.
Before Aang could reach the edge, Jet suddenly dashes out of nowhere and snatches the glider from Aang. He yelps in alarm, wobbling precariously on the edge for a moment before using an airbending move to correct himself.
"Yes I would," Jet states firmly.
"Jet... why?" Katara asks, hurt.
"Katara, you would too if you just stopped to think. Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother! We can't let them do that to anyone else, ever again!" he says fiercely, a dark look in his eyes.
"This isn't the answer!" she argues.
"I want you to understand me Katara," he replies, turning around to face her. "I thought your brother would understand, but-"
Katara's eyes widen at the mention of Sokka, fear and guilt shooting through her. "Where's Sokka?!"
"Katara..." Jet says sadly.
Tears begin falling from Katara's eyes as Jet reaches out to touch her face. Reopening them, her face contorts to one of fury, and with an angry yell she throws out a burst of water to send Jet flying, quickly drawing it back in.
"I need to get to the dam!" Aang exclaims, dashing for his glider.
Before he could reach and grab it, the glider is pinned by one of Jet's swords, and he yanks it back with his hooks. He places the staff on his back and then advances forwards dangerously, swinging his swords around at him.
"You're not going anywhere without your glider!" he says angrily.
Qui-Gon POV...
Sokka and I both rushed into town, headed for the more populated areas by the marketplace. Once there, Sokka spots a crates and runs over to it, stepping on top and then staring at all of the people around us.
"Everyone, please listen up! You're all in danger!" he shouts at the top of his lungs, immediately getting everyone's attention.
"Any moment now, the dam just up the river is going to break, and this entire town will be destroyed by the flood!" I explain loudly.
"You have to evacuate the town right now!" Sokka adds.
"Hold on a minute, who do you two think you are?" some shouts angrily.
We look over to see a troop of Fire Nation soldiers marching towards us, not looking happy. Sokka gets down from the crate apprehensively, but I place a reassuring arm on his shoulder.
"Please listen to our words. The town is in imminent danger from massive flooding," I tell them.
"The dam is about to explode!" Sokka says.
One of the soldiers scoffs disbelievingly. "That's a lie. The dam doesn't fill up very high at this time of year, and it has withstood even the toughest storms."
"Please, we're telling you that it will happen! Someone's going to blow it up!" Sokka argues.
"If the dam were in danger of exploding then we would be the first to know!" the soldier snaps angrily.
"The group calling themselves the 'Freedom Fighters' have placed stolen barrels of explosives there just this morning, and used the help of a waterbender to fill up the river," I explain.
Sokka's face blanches a little bit at the knowledge that Katara and Aang helped to fill the river, but he remains firm.
"That's preposterous," a soldier disagrees.
"Why are you trying to get us to leave our homes anyways?!" one of the citizen's from the crowd yells out.
"You're trying to make it easier for invaders to take this town, aren't you?" the Fire Nation soldier accuses.
"They must be spies!" another exclaims.
"Wh- no we're not!" Sokka protests.
"We will not be forced out of our homes!" another citizen shouts.
"Please, you must heed our warnings before it is to late!" I try to reason.
"Arrest these two!" the soldier orders.
"Wait, wait!" someone calls out, pushing through the crowd. "You must believe them!"
Everyone looks over to see the old fire Nation man approaching us in support. Sokka widens his eyes in surprise, and a small smile comes across my face.
"Good soldiers, what these two say is the truth!" he vouches.
"What proof do you have of this?" one soldier questions with a frown.
"I have had the misfortune of encountering those 'Freedom Fighters' yesterday morning, and they attacked me!" he says, looking over at Sokka. "But this boy here saved me before they could cause further harm."
"Is that so?" one soldier remarks, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I did," Sokka admits.
"So you admit you are aligned with these terrorists!" he accuses.
"No I'm not!" he argues angrily.
"We do not wish to see lives lost soldier," I tell him calmly. "We want what is best for these people."
"That group in the forest believes that we are nothing but heartless monsters, and wish to see us wiped out," the old man says sadly, and then gestures to me. "This man here warned me against strolling through the forest, but I wrongly believed I would be alright."
The soldiers all glanced at each other while the old man stares at them firmly, standing by us in support. "You must heed their word for the safety of this town!"
3rd person POV...
Aang was headed for the ground, intent on recovering his glider. But before he could Jet swings around and kicks him into a tree trunk. He grunts in pain upon hitting the tree and then falls to the hard ground below, landing with a thud next to his glider.
A small stream of water was flowing beside him, but Aang was slow to get up. Jet then lands on the ground, but before he can take another step, he his hit by a powerful water strike. Katara moves forwards and uses water from the river to throw Jet against the trunk of the tree. she continuously slams him back with furious water blasts, and then with narrowed eyes blows cool air on the water. Jet stumbles back into the tree trunk, grimacing as the water covering him is turned into strong ice, rendering him trapped.
"Why, Jet? I can't believe I trusted you!" Katara says, heart broken. "You lied to me. You're sick and I trusted you!
The sound of a signal call imitating a bird is then heard from the valley, and they both look over in alarm at the noise. Jet then responds with his own signal call, a smug and victorious grin on his face.
"What are you doing?" Katara demands.
"You're too late," he states triumphantly.
"No!" she gasps in horror.
Aang snaps open his glider and runs for the nearby cliff. However the fight with Jet had shredded the glider's wing, rendering him with no air lift and slams back into the ground near the edge. Katara runs over to help him.
"Sokka's still out there. He's our only chance," Aang groans sadly.
"Come on, Sokka. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Please!" Katara pleads against all hope.
That hope quickly died as they watched a fiery arrow arcing down to the base of the dam, courtesy of Longshot.
"No..." she whispers in horror.
The arrow hits the blasting jelly at the base of the dam, causing a tremendous explosion. The dam was blown apart, releasing hundreds, if not thousands of gallons of hot water that floods down the previously small river. It floods into the town, and then a massive wave crashes over its entrance, completely destroying all of the buildings in its path. Large amounts of supplies and debris now clutter the river.
"Sokka didn't make it in time," Aang says in despair.
"All those people..." she whispers, before rounding on Jet with a furious gaze. "Jet you monster!"
"This was a victory, Katara. Remember that," he states calmly. "The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe."
"It will be safe! Without you!" Sokka suddenly says, causing the group to widen their eyes in shock
Sokka rises up above the cliff astride Appa, with Momo in tow as well. Katara and Aang stare up at him joyously.
"Sokka!" she exclaims.
"Not just me," he replies with a smile.
From the trees beside the cliff emerged Qui-Gon, causing them all to stare in even more bewilderment.
"Woah! When did you get here?" Aang asks in amazement.
"YOU?!" Jet shouts in disbelief, glaring angrily.
"Me," he replies with an amused smile.
"All of you get away from that man! He's a no good, Fire Nation thug! He tried to assassinate me and my team in cold blood!" Jet roars.
"Unfortunately for you Jet, lying won't work here," Sokka retorts coldly. "We've already met him before, and he helped us escape from the Fire Nation."
"It is not wise to judge people based on first appearances," Qui-Gon advises.
"That is good wisdom," Aang says with a smile, nodding his head in agreement.
"Oh and just so you know, we warned the villagers of your plan, just in time," Sokka informs Jet.
"What!?" Jet growls in disbelief.
"At first they didn't believe us. The Fire Nation soldiers assumed we were spies," he explains calmly. "But one man vouched for us: the old man you attacked. He urged them to trust us, and we got everyone out in time."
"Sokka, you fool! We could've freed this valley!" Jet exclaims.
"Who would be free? Everyone would be dead," he retorts.
"You traitor!" Jet snarls.
"No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people," Sokka states coldly.
"What you have to understand Jet, is that not everyone in the Fire Nation is heartless as you've led yourself to believe," Qui-Gon says. "To blame an entire Nation only for the actions of a few, no matter how traumatic the event was, will lead you down a dark path."
"The Fire Nation started this war! They've hurt so many people!" Jet roars.
"But that doesn't make them monsters," he tries to reason. "All sides of the conflict suffer during war. It doesn't matter who wins or loses."
Aang, Katara and Sokka all listened intently to what he was saying, marveling at how wise his reasoning was. Jet however was still too lost in his rage to believe him though.
"Katara, please. Help me!" he pleads.
Katara turns her back on him with her eyes closed, trying to hide her hurt feelings of betrayal. "Goodbye Jet."
She and Aang both climb into Appa's saddle, looking down in confusion upon realizing Qui-Gon wasn't following.
"Aren't you coming?" Aang questions.
"Don't tell me you're gonna leave this time," Sokka grumbles.
"Oh I'll meet up with you shortly for a more formal introduction," he reassures them. "I have something else to attend to first, but about two miles for here is an outcropping on the mountain. I'll meet you there."
The gang all glances at each other in confused bewilderment, before eventually Aang nods down at him in acceptance. "Alright, if you say so."
"Yip yip."
At Sokka's words and a flick of the reins, Appa takes off back into the sky to soar amongst a few wispy clouds.
"We thought you were going to the dam. How come you went to the town instead?" Aang asks.
"Lemme guess. Your instincts told you," Katara says with a knowing smile.
"Well, that's actually when the guy came along and suggested we head to the town," he corrects with a shrug, but grins proudly. "But hey, sometimes my instincts are right."
"Um... Sokka? You know we're going the wrong way from that outcropping, right?" Aang points out.
sokka widens his eyes briefly, before turning Appa around.
"...And sometimes they're wrong," he admits.
The formal introductions come in the next chapter! :O