I Do Not Own Avatar or Miraculous.
Chapter Fifty: The Awakening.
Aang peeled his eyes open. He was hurting everywhere. He wasn't sure why or how. All he knew as that he was hurting.
"...What… Happened?" He mumbled. His eyes adjusted to the dim lights in the room he was in. Slowly, he blinked away the blurriness in his eyes and sat up. He instantly regretting doing so, gasping in pain and clutching his stomach. He managed to raise his head to get a full view of the room. His eyes caught on a crimson red with black embroidery and he immediately gasped when he settled on the Fire Nation insignia hanging above his head.
"Oh no!" He cried. He got to his feet, ignoring the pain that it caused. He needed to escape. He needed to get out of there. He spotted his staff leaning on the doors frame and snatched it up, using it as a crutch. He hobbled his way out of the room and made his way through the halls when he noticed two Fire Nation soldiers. One was very large and the other was barely as big as Aang. The big soldier carried a very menacing club over his shoulder. He shrank back, considering his options. Go around or fight. Unfortunately, his choice was made for him.
"Do you hear something?" The taller one asked, preparing to round the corner Aang was hiding behind. Aang growled and gathered the little strength he had before sending a gust of wind at the pair the second they came around. They gasped, blocking the wind the best they could with their arms. Aang used the distraction to dash past them as fast as he could with his injuries.
"He's awake!" They soldiers called, "Stop! Wait!" Aang wasn't about to stop. He had to run. He needed to get away. The world needed him. He managed to get to the deck, despite the two soldiers running behind him. The second he emerged outside, he saw his pet flying lemur, Momo fly past him. Aang stopped, staring in surprise as Momo landed in front of two Fire Nation soldiers. One of the soldiers knelt down and started to feed the lemur as if it was normal to take care of a prisoner's pet.
"Momo?" He managed. Momo jerked away from the soldier the instant he heard Aang's voice and chattered in delight, flying at Aang and landing on his shoulder.
"Twinkle-Toes! That's gotta be you!" Aang glanced over to see Toph, Katara, and Marinette stand up. Katara and Toph where both wearing Fire Nation cloaks over their normal clothes. Katara's traditional Water Tribe tunic was completely ruined and covered in sut and tears. Marinette was in the red Fire Nation outfit she'd been wearing the day Aang had first met her. The two soldiers from below deck came out. Aang now recognized them as two of Jet's former Freedom Fighters, Pipsqueak and The Duke. Two more soldiers joined the ones who'd been feeding Momo. One took off his helmet to reveal locks of messy golden hair and bright green eyes. It was Adrien. At the edge of the group was Gabriel, staring warily at Aang with a red cloak tied over his decorate purple Kimono. Katara instantly was with him, hugging him happily.
"Aang! You're awake!" She said happily.
"Are you sure?" Aang asked, staring in confusion at all of his now red clad friends, "I feel like I'm dreaming." She pulled away, holding his shoulders tenderly.
"You're not dreaming. You're finally awake." She promised. That's when the only soldier with a helmet on approached Aang happily.
"Aang! Good to see you back with the living buddy!" The soldier said. Aang recognized the voice.
"Sokka?" He asked in a wavering tone. He suddenly felt the exhaustion of running on his many injuries catch up with him and he moaned, falling forwards.
"Uh-oh! Somebody catch him, he's gonna-" Aang didn't hear the rest because everything went very black. A moment later, he opened his eyes to find Katara, Adrien, and Gabriel gathered around him in a circle. He moaned and made another attempt at sitting up. Adrien forced him back down.
"Don't push yourself kid. You've been through a lot." He said with a gentile smile, "Trust me, it's better to just rest now. Almost dying takes a lot out of you. I would know." He sighed and resolved to sit up anyways, leaning against Appa, who was behind him. He realised he was now in a red robe.
"You okay Aang?" Marinette asked in concern.
"...I'm fine… just really confused. Why are we on a Fire Nation ship. Why is everyone dressed this way? And am I the only one out of it?" He asked quickly before groaning again and clutching his injuries.
"You need to take it easy, okay? You got hurt pretty bad." Katara said gentilly before pausing and adding another comment, "I like your hair." Aang froze before feeling his head to discover he did in fact have hair.
"I have hair!? How long was I out?"
"A few weeks." Gabriel replied. Aang gawked at Gabriel, somewhat surprised to see the Moth Miraculous still pinned to his kimono even though he had claimed he was going to give it back when Zuko, Marinette, and Katara where safe. The tiny purple kwami spirit of generosity and change was peeking out timibly from under Gabriel's red cloak. Adrien's own Kwami was in it's favorite place, napping in the teen's golden hair. Gabriel and Adrien didn't look as uncomfortable with each other as they had been when Aang last saw them. They actually looked glad to be in each other's presence. Aang was happy to see they were getting along, even if Aang was beyond confused. Unfortunately, that couldn't stand true for everyone.
One of the men dressed in the Fire Nation uniforms came up behind Katara.
"Is everything okay?" He asked.
"We're fine, dad." Katara said. Aang arched his eyebrows. This was Katara's father? He did have the blue eyes and dark tan of the water tribes. He had Sokka's smile, Aang had to admit.
"I'm Hakoda, Katara and Sokka's father." He said, offering his hand. Katara's expression went dark.
"He knows who you are. I just called you "Dad" didn't I?" Katara said in aggravation.
"I guess you're right." Hakoda frowned. Aang shook his hand anyways.
"It's an honor to meet you." Aang said.
"Great, now you guys have finally met, so would you mind giving us a little privacy?" Katara snapped.
"Of course." Hakoda said with a curt nod. He left them.
"Um… are you mad at your dad or something?" Aang asked, watching him go. Instantly Katara's annoyed expression vanished to one of confusion.
"What? No. Not at all. Why would you say that?" She asked.
"I dunno." Aang shrugged when the pain suddenly flared again and he instantly groaned, holding his side in pain.
"Maybe we should go inside, you need another healing session." She helped Aang to his feet and led him downstairs.
"So, Adrien and Gabriel are doing better I see." Aang managed.
"Yeah, they've been spending time together, though there isn't much to do stuck on a ship." Katara said her expression aggravated, "And Marinette has been in a seriously great mood everytime Adrien is around. So, yeah, the Miraculous holders are doing great. Gabriel has been using his magic butterfly things to send messages to our allies about the invasion faster. Marinette and Adrien have been working on their fighting skills outside of their transformation. It turns out Adrien is great with swords. Apparently he studied something called fencing back in Paris."
"Is there something wrong with them though? You seem upset with them."
"Oh, it's just… the whole Zuko thing still has me a little annoyed. They all knew he was in Ba Sing Se and chose not to say anything… ya know?"
"Well, they seemed pretty convinced Zuko was a good guy. There's no way they could have known what he was like." Aang said.
"I know, so I don't blame them so much anymore, but it still annoys me that they'd hide something that important from the rest of Team Avatar." Katara paused to open the door to Aang's room and helped him sit down, bending water out of two bowls that were set up inside. She began the healing technique.
"Tell me where your pain feels the most intense." Katara instructed. Aang nodded slightly.
"A little higher." Aang instructed. She obeyed, moving her water higher. Suddenly the memory of him entering the Avatar State flashed before his eyes and his pain flared, only to be quickly numbed by Katara's healing.
"Wow. You are definitely in the right area." Aang said.
"I can feel a lot of energy twisted up around there. Let me just see if I can…" Aang gasped, the pain became more intense as he recalled exactly what had happened. Lighting. Shuttering through his body. His heart stopping. Gasping for breath. Falling. Falling. Then dark. The flashback ended and the aching was subdued. He turned around in alarm.
"I went down! I didn't just get hurt, did I? It was worse than that. I was gone, but you brought me back." He said in fear.
"I just used the spirit water from the North Pole. I don't know what I did exactly.
"You saved me." Aang said incredulously, realising that if Katara hadn't done what she'd done, the Avatar would have died… permanently. Azula had killed him in the Avatar State, but the Spirit water brought him back, saving him and all Avatars to come.
"You should rest." Katara said, "You're still really hurt and rest will do you good." He sighed, laying back down.
"We will explain everything later." Aang smiled.
"Thank you Katara." He said, looking at her with a slight blush on his face. She nodded and left him be. He rested for several hours. Later, Marinette came and got him and brought him out to the deck were everyone on the ship were enjoying some of Marinette's excellent cooking. There, Sokka and Marinette began to explain to Aang how they'd ended up on the boat. Apparently Marinette's Lucky Charm was for calling Appa which consequently led Adrien to an area where Marinette could pick him up sooner, but Marinette realised her Lucky Charm was wanting them to retreat only after Aang had gone into the Avatar state. By that time, it had been too late and Azula had made her move. When Appa they got to Appa, her luck vision started to work, pointing out Katara's vial of Spirit Water that Katara used to revive Aang. Then, they left the city, dropping the Earth King off where he could hide away safely until the war was over. They met up with the Southern Water Tribe fleet and together, they captured a Fire Nation ship to use as a disguise to travel safely to the Fire Nation.
"Since then, we've been traveling west. We crossed through The Serpent's Pass a few days ago. We've seen a few Fire Nation ships, but none of them have bothered us."
"So what now?"
"We've been working on a modified version of the invasion plan." Hakoda explained.
"It's Sokka and Marinette's plan." Katara corrected.
"Er, yes, Sokka and Marinette's plan. We won't be able to mount a massive invasion without the Earth King's armies, but the solar eclipse will still leave the Fire Nation vulnerable." Hakoda continued.
"So we are planning a smaller invasion." Marinette added.
"Just a ragtag team of our friends and allies from around the Earth Kingdom. We already ran into Pipsqueak and The Duke." Sokka summed up. Aang looked over at Pipsqueak and The Duke. The waved before returning to their meal.
"And the best part is, the eclipse isn't our biggest secret. We have a secret." Sokka said before comedically looking left and right for 'spies', "You."
"Me?" Aang asked in confusion.
"Yep! The whole world thinks you're dead! Isn't that great!" Sokka said cheerfully before Marinette slugged him in the arm.
"Sokka! Be sensitive!" Aang was on his feet in and instant, peering at the ocean in shock.
"The world thinks I'm dead? How is that good news? That's terrible."
"No, it means the Fire Nation won't be hunting us anymore, and even better, they won't expect The Day of Black Sun. It's a tactical advantage. I'm sorry Aang. I can't imagine how this must be for you right now." Marinette said with sympathy in her voice.
"No! You wouldn't! This is so messed up!" He roared before he was interrupted by the sound of a horn. Everyone turned their heads to see a Fire Navy ship coming their direction, "I'll handle this. The Avatar is back." Aang went for his glider but Gabriel stopped him.
"They might not know how you feel, but I can sense your pain and emotions, Avatar Aang. You are unfit mentally and physically for battle right now."
"And they don't know we are not Fire Nation." Katara added. Aang growled but let Gabriel and Adrien help him to cover. Pipsqueak and The Duke hid Appa and the girls took cover. Sokka, Hakoda, and Bato put on their helmets to greet the Fire Navy Captain that was preparing to board.
"I hate not being able to do anything." Aang grumbled to Adrien.
"Hey, you are talking to the guy who was on crutches for a month while the Dai Li were after my tail. I get it." Adrien said with a chuckle.
"Besides, hopefully the Water Tribe men can handle this and we won't have to do anything." Toph added. Three Fire Nation men boarded the ship. They spoke with Sokka, Hokoda, and Bato for a few moments. Toph leaned forwards next to him, listening intently. Finally the Fire Navy soldiers turned to leave when Toph's eyes widened and she came out of her hiding spot, bending the metal on the bridge the Fire Navy men walked on. Aang stared at her. Since when could she bend metal?
"They Know!" She yelled. Instantly a battle began. Aang went to help as Marinette transformed, Katara began to bend water and the non benders began to help Toph aim her rocks at the ship she couldn't see. Adrien grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Not so fast, kid. You'll hurt yourself more. You'll get to fight more later, for now you need to sit out or you'll only get worse." He scolded. Aang sat back down, banging his head on his staff. Why did he have to be injured? Why did the world think he was dead? Why couldn't things be easy for him? Aang waited out the battle. At some point, though Aang could recall when, it ended with the snake from the Serpent's Pass driving the enemy away. When the chaos from the battle ended, Adrien volunteered to bring Aang back to his room so he could rest more. Only Aang didn't feel like he needed rest. Nevertheless, the others insisted, so he went back to bed for the third time that day. He was the rudely awoken by Toph knocking on his door frame. She, Sokka, and Katara were waiting for him.
"Hey Aang! We are going into town to find some dinner." Aang sat up, suddenly aware he was hungry again.
"Well, I am hungry. Maybe dinner's a good idea." Aang agreed. Sokka grinned, pulling out some red cloth to give to him.
"Here, tie this around your head, it'll hide your arrow." He offered. Aang's anger instantly returned.
"I'm not going out if I can't wear my arrow proudly."
"Aang, be practical. Adrien has to hide his gold hair anytime he goes out and we never hear him complaining." Sokka argued.
"Yeah, well, I'm not Adrien. The arrow is a sign on my peoples heritage and shows I am an airbending master. It's shameful to hide it. Adrien was born with gold hair. He didn't earn it like I earned my arrows." Aang replied. Katara glanced over at her annoyed brother and sighed.
"You guys go ahead, We will catch up with you." Katara waited for them to leave before sitting next to him.
"I think I understand why being a secret bothers you so much. You don't want people to think you failed."
"You're fight." Aang said bitterly, "I don't. But the problem is, I did fail."
"Aang that's not true-"
"It is true. I was in Ba Sing Se. I was there, but I lost. And now, the Earth Kingdom has fallen for good."
"Remember, there's still the invasion plan."
"And I hate the invasion plan!" Aang roared, "I don't want you or anyone else risking your lives to fix my mistakes. I've always known that I would have to face the Fire Lord, but now, I know I need to do it alone."
"Aang…"
"Katara, please, just go. Please."
"Is there anything you need?" Katara asked.
"I need to redeem myself. I need my honor back." He muttered. Katara sighed, giving one last sad glance at him before leaving. He waited until he was sure everyone had left the ship for town before coming out of the cabin. He opened his glider and ignored all pain. His mind was made up. He would fix his mistakes. He would redeem himself. He took off into the sky just as a terrible storm began to brew. He flew towards the Fire Nation, ignoring the stinging rain and flying even past a huge Fire Nation blockade before he found himself in the water and unable to airbend out. He found a log and used it as a boat to get further into the Fire Nation territory. But even that failed. He kept at it, despite the pain and the storm. He kept trying to reach the Fire Nation, but he couldn't.
"I'm not going to make it." He lamented, "I failed."
"You haven't failed Aang." Aang looked up, shocked to see Roku in front of him.
"Everyone thinks I'm dead gain. They think I've abandoned them, and I'm losing this war. I'm letting the whole world down." Aang immediately argued with his past life.
"If anyone is to blame for the state of the world, it is me. I should've seen this war coming and prevented it. You inherited my problems and my mistakes, but I also believe you are destined to redeem me and save the world." Ruko corrected.
"...I don't know…"
"You've already saved the world." A female voice interrupted. Aang crane his neck to see Yue and he remember what had happened at the North Pole, "And you'll save the world again, but you can't give up." Aang thought about it. The older Avatar and Moon Spirit were right.
"You are right, I won't give up." He decided. He climbed back on his log and began to waterbend. Yue helped him bend the water and calmed the storm. He landed on an island in the Fire Nation territory and decided to wait for his friends to find him. Hours passed before they came on Appa. Immediately Aang noticed none of the adults or Freedom Fighters were with Team Avatar, not even Gabriel. They immediately went to him and embraced him, checking to see if he was okay.
"The invasion?" Aang asked, wondering about the lack of adults.
"We are joining my dad and Gabriel later. Gabriel is kinda in charge of finding the people on our list and informing them of our plans and the Water Tribe needs to go pick those people up. We are going to scout ahead and find a good place to meet before we start the invasion." Sokka explained.
Aang nodded. That made sense. That's when Toph noticed Aang's broken glider and gave it to him. He stared at the relic for an instant before making up his mind and leaving it to burn. The Avatar was back. No one knew it yet, but hope was not lost.