The sun set in the distance as the group was atop a mountain, the sky was mostly cloudy. Katara had just finished gathering firewood for Suki to make their dinner for the night. The moments the sticks hit the ground, Smellerbee burst forward, grabbing one with her mouth.
It had come off as a surprise to the group that Smellerbee was with them, apparently as they were taking off, she rushed under Appa and grabbed onto his stomach or perhaps she was under him and panicked when he took off. So, the party of 5, is now a party of 6.
Smellerbee shook her head hard, the stick flew from her mouth and she chased after it. Sokka finished pitching the tent… going over with an inspection. Katara looked over at Sokka, then down at the tarp.
"Aren't you forgetting something" said Katara
Sokka looked over, then down at her feet.
"Right" said Sokka, with a salute
Sokka grabbed the rolled up tarp, and threw it in the tent.
"There" said Sokka
"The tarp goes on top the tent Sokka" said Katara
"I know, but it's the dry season, chance for rain is low" said Sokka "Beside, it makes a nice blanket"
"But what if it does rain?" said Katara
"And what if it doesn't?" said Sokka
Before the fight could escalate any longer, three massive slabs burst up the ground, forming a tent over the tent. Sokka and Katara looked over at Ai, who waved her hand up with a quick peace sign.
"Your welcome" said Ai, sitting down by the soon to be made fire
Suki couldn't help but snort in amusement, Smellerbee blops beside her panting hard after her play. Suki reached down and pat her and she set up the crock pot, then with some fire rocks, started the fire.
The site of fire got Smellerbee somewhat uneasy, she moved closer to it to inspect getting ready to touch it.
"No" said Suki, reaching down a tipping her hand
Smellerbee jumped at the sudden contact, then again at the sound of Appa's below. Ai looked over to see Momo biting at his paw, Appa was holding down a melon that he found and Momo, being the greedy little bastard he was, was trying to steal it.
"Momo, leave Appa be" said Ai "Our food will be ready soon"
Momo looked over, chattering loudly at Ai as he flew over to Smellerbee, and started to groom her. Aang came diving down from the sky, basket in hand as he twirled his staff.
"I got some veggies for the ramen" said Aang, mushrooms being the most of them
Ai looked over
"You were suppose to go fishing" said Ai
"I know, but t's just" started Aang
"I got bored" said Ai, Sokka, Katara, Suki, and Aang
Everyone laughed at Aang as his face turned red, he turned his head in a huff. The rest of the night was quiet as they all ate in peace with Smellerbee being the exception as she buried her face in the bowl. Ai had also refused to eat claiming that the foul demon known as mushroom, had ruined it.
And let this day be marked in history an Uzumaki, has refused to eat ramen.
=x=
"The Yu Yan archers stay here. Your request is denied Commander Zhao" said the higher soldier
"Colonel Shinu, please reconsider. Their precision is legendary. The can shoot a fly from hundred yards away, without killing it. There talents are wasted here." said Zhao
"Their my archers, and they have protected this fortress from many invasion attempts." said Shinu
"But my search for the avatar is priority." started Zhao
"You mean you're failure, your vanity is getting to you. We are in a war here, and I can't waist men on a man hunt for a nine year old girl" said Shinu
"She actually ten" said Zhao
"Whatever, the answer is NO" said Shinu
Suddenly a red bird flies by landing on Shinu's shoulder with a message. After untying the message, and letting the bird return home he read the message with horror.
Zhao peeked over his shoulder… also shocked at the news. With Admiral Tanya on her way to the fire nation to recover, another is needed to retain order. As of now, Zhao was an admiral.
"My request, is now an order Colonel Shinu" said Zhao with a smug grin
=x=
The sun peeked over the mountains, bathe all in its warm glow. Ai had been the first to wake, nothing unusual about that, but she had been up for quite awhile. She waited… and waited, eventually she checked on them.
"Guys we're burning daylight, get up" said Ai
"Uhhh can't move" grunted Suki "Hurts so much"
"My stomach" cried Katara
Ai looked around to see her friends practical in the same position, fetal and holding their guts. Ai moved forward and knelt, placing her hand on Katara's head and she had a fever, odds are the others did to.
Ai went back outside for a moment making a stone staircase to board Appa, then one by one helped them all up. She packed up the camp all on her own, sat atop Appa's head and snapped the reign.
"Yip Yip" said Ai, getting Appa to take off
=x=
"So good of you to visit Zuko, Iroh" said Zhao with a smirk "Especially in my soon to be grandest hour"
"Visit? Your men escorted us here after we docked" said Zuko "And what are you talking about?"
"Why today I plan to capture the Avatar" said Zhao
Zuko scowled at this, while Iroh simply stroked his beard.
"Really, how so?" said Iroh
"Why, with the Yu Yan Archers, there's not a shadow of a doubt they'd be able to do it" said Zhao
"The Yu Yan Archers, how have you come into their command?" asked Iroh
"After my promotion" said Zhao, with another smirk "With Tanya being defeated, The Fire Lord needed someone to take her place. And being a Admiral, i simply ordered Shinu to lead them to me"
"It'll take more then some archer to assist you" said Iroh "Need i remind you Tanya was an Admiral as well. And her soldier were some of the best under her order."
"Tanya was an impatient fool… she rushed into things without thinking. She may have been strong, but she was anything but a master bender" said Zhao
Iroh sighed as he resumed playing with his beard.
"Yet she was still an Admiral before you" said Iroh, getting Zhao to scowl at him "My Brother, Your Fire Lord saw what she could do… what she could become. Her tactics weren't what brought her defeat it was the power of the Avatar. Don't let the aid of some of the best Archer cloud your judgment"
=x=
"Food poisoning" said a elderly lady "Your friend merely ate something that didn't settle right with them"
Ai nodded her head, being as smart as she was knew it had to have been what they had for dinner last night… with the foul mushrooms being the deliver.
"Thank you" said Ai "Would it be ok to leave them here til they get better?"
"Of course, anything for the avatar" said the lady, then pulled out a wanted poster "Do you think I could get an autograph"
Ai smiled and gave her what she wanted, assuming that was her pay, but was willing to pay if needed. After telling her everyone's preference in food, she explained she was gonna go have fun a walk, just in case her friends would ask.
Ai left the building, as she did she had a feeling that someone was creeping up on her someone was watching her. Ai closed her eyes, feeling ill intent from her attackers. Ai stood still in the street, many people passing her.
Far away, outside of the town the Yu Yan Archers watching closely as Ai stood there, then she turned her head… and looked towards them. The two Yu Yan Archer's looked at each other for a moment, wondering if she knew they were there, but she couldn't have known, could she?
They looked back into the telescope only to see that she had vanished. Then suddenly her eyes were the only thing to be seen. Both jumped back, readying their bows only to see nothing there.
Both looked at each other, hearts both racing and beating like drums
"How did she do that?" gasped the 1rst
"This is the Avatar we're hunting." said the 2nd
Both looked back into their scopes and saw Ai back in the town walking the opposite direction. Both readied to relocate, they grabbed what few things they had and started to move neither knowing of the fire bombs on there back, until they started to hiss.
=x=
Ai stopped at a stand, ordering a tasty fried treat to start her journey. She took a bite out of the fried Tuna-Squid and deeply enjoying the chicken like taste. Ai looked back towards the duo as she heard screams, smiling as she went her way in the other direction.
'2 down unknown amount to go' thought Ai, venturing into the woods
It wasn't long until Ai felt herself being followed and once more a smile crept to her face. Ai wander around aimlessly, acting like she was lost until she went into a large cave. The Yu Yan archers wait for her to come out and they waited and waited.
The Yu Yan archers looked at each other, both coming to the conclusion that the cave was empty so they rushed to corner her. As they rushed in, Ai came around the side setting up a rope to trip them.
Ai suck her head in slightly.
"Olly olly oxen bitch!" yelled Ai
A roar was heard immediately after, followed by two screams. One of the archers, whom was faster than his friend tripped on the rope, his friend seeing this jumped over him and never look back.
The first stumbled to his feet, but was too slow the beast slammed its hooves down onto his back, breaking it with ease. Now broken, he had no way to escape and was ultimately dragged to his fate. Ai walked out of the cave, but the moment she stepped out she quickly threw her head to the side, dodging the arrow that was fired at her from only 100 feet away.
"HOW CAN SHE DODGE AT THIS RANGE!" screamed the archer in fear
Ai rushed towards him, vanishing from his sight and appearing behind him with her back to his, her momentum still carrying her.
"Cause I'm awesome." said Ai, holding up her bloodied blade
=x=
Viktoriya bowed to the Fire Lord and Fire Princess, her admiral Tanya salted as well and then flinched in pain.
"I see so the Avatar has returned, and has even matched you" said Fire Lord Ozai
"Yes however she made a mistake and that was letting me live" said Tanya "Once i recover, and master that damn technique she used… i'll crush her"
Azula leaned in slightly, interested in her teacher discovery.
"Go on?" said Azula
Tanya turned to her Princess slightly, nodding and regaling what had happened and what she saw.
=x=
Ai stood outside the fortress from a distance, she scanned the area closely taking note of all the soldiers, and very few archers. Ai could only smirk at their reduced numbers, but soon her eyes fell on Zhao, barking orders as he usually would.
Off to the side was Zuko, scowling and brooding, while Iroh was sipping on some tea. Ai sat on the branch, rubbing her chin, thinking of her plan of attack. Past experience with these men told her one thing, they're idiots, so fuck plans and just go in.
Ai slammed her hands together, then flew high into the air. Seemingly upbeat music played throughout the fortress, getting everyone on high alert. Thought they didn't know what it was, the music started with a keyboard, followed by drums and electric guitars
A deep fog rolled in, at the snap of Zhao's fingers his soldiers readied themselves for an attack.
'This is your time to pay
This is your judgment day
We made a sacrifice,
And now we get to take your life'
Ai pulled out her kunai, holding them to the side grinning.
The soldier glance around, holding their swords and spears at the ready, with the archers glancing around the blind spots. The firebender under command readyed a flame at the end of there fist… waiting for any sign of an enemy
'We shoot without a gun
We'll take on anyone,
It's really nothing new
It's just a thing we like to do'
Ai practically flew off the branch towards the fortress, hitting the side of the wall and scaling it quickly. The archer closes to Ai looked over the edge, and were quickly taken out as she flew up and above the wall towards the courtyard.
'You better get ready to die
You better get ready to kill
You better get ready to run
'Cause here we come'
Ai landed in the center of the yard, with a demonic grin… the party was about to start.
Zuko fires several fireballs at Ai, Ai however found the attack underwhelming and merely sidestepped the attacks to avoid them, not even hair of hers was burned. Zuko then did several spinning kicks on the at Ai's legs and head to try and confuse her, Ai ducks and jumps over each attack as if it was a child's game of jump rope. Zuko then fires a large stream of fire, to avoid it Ai jumps to the right and out of the attacks path, but when she did Iroh was in front of her with a friendly smile of his face.
"What the hell." uttered Ai.
Iroh merely put his hand up as to waive to her.
"Hello young-"
Ai interrupted Iroh by punching him in the face but instead of him flying back he merely slide back a few feet. Ai was a bit shocked to see how Iroh had handled her attack so well. Ai was about to try and use a jutsu but Iroh put his hand out.
"Can you please surrender?" asked Iroh.
"No." said Ai plainly
Zuko jumped over Iroh and performed an axel kick down on Ai, she caught it but when Iroh jumped back and away, Zuko hen used firebending as he kicked down at Ai with his other foot, but Ai countered the attack by creating water nature chakra dowsing the flames. Ai breaks her guard, disengaging, and kicks Zuko in the stomach and sends him back several feet with Iroh catching him.
"Prince Zuko!" said Iroh in concern. Zuko then got out of his uncle's grasp.
"I'm fine uncle let me capture her myself!" yelled Zuko.
Ai saw this and tilted her head.
'Someone likes this guy and he cares about them, guess there has to be one.' thought Ai
Zuko then takes in air and breaths a large stream of fire at Ai, there was far more effort put into this attack than normal and the abnormal heat was enough to make that apparent . Ai quickly forms hand signs and performs a jutsu, her mouth fills up with water and she fires a torrent at Zuko's attack
"Water style: Water Torrent jutsu!" thought Ai.
The wave of water collided with Zuko's attack and the attacks canceled each other out creating a cloud of steam that consumed Ai, Zuko, Iroh, Zhao and everything in the courtyard.
The steam made it impossible to see anything and anyone, Zhao decided to use this to is advantage and shoots a small fireball into the air. The archers see the signal and look for Ai in the steam. Zuko and Iroh stood there ground a mist the chaos rather than stumbling in the dark.
"Uncle be careful, she might escape!" said Zuko.
"Do not worry about me, use your training to find her Prince Zuko, keep your senses heightened." said Iroh in a warning tone.
Meanwhile Ai had already been able to sense where everyone was in all of this, however she was wondering if she should escape now or stay and disable Zuko and Zhao to keep them of her and everyone else's trail, now would be the best time to do so.
"Everyone is sick, anything could happen to them right now, so if I find a way to keep these guys from following me I better do it now." thought Ai.
Ai then heard a whistle in the air, that of an arrow cutting through the wind, on instinct she tilted her head dodging an arrow that was fired at her head. The arrow hits the ground and immediately a fire attack is launched at Ai, she quickly dodges out of the way of the attack.
Back where Iroh and Zuko where standing the attack that was meant for Ai heads in Iroh's direction, it was about to hit his back but Iroh spins around and disperses the attack. Seeing this Zuko looks back at his uncle.
"Are you okay, where did that attack come from?!" asked Zuko.
"I'm fine, the attack felt as if though it was bent." said Iroh. He then pointed in the direction that it fired from.
Back where Ai stood she could hear footsteps approaching her, she then ducked an on coming attack, she then sees a silhouette of Zhao trying to attack her.
"There you are!" yelled Zhao as he jabbed at Ai's head.
Ai ducks the attack ,but as she was about to counter hears another arrow coming her way and catches it with her bare hand. Zhao then kicks down at Ai's leg but she evades the attack causing him to stomp on the ground with a burst of flame rising from the ground. Ai flips back to avoid it but to her surprise several arrows were already fired at her and inches away as she was flipping.
'Slippy bastards' thought Ai
She then spun around on her hands to stop her flipping and evaded the arrows only to have them cut her clothes near her knew, sides and her legs. As she was about to get back on her feet, in a literal sense, Zuko arrives and tries to strike Ai while she's vulnerable but she blocks the attack with her foot and focuses lighting chakra release in her legs and strikes Zuko in the shoulder and breaks his armor.
Zuko jabs at Ai as Zhao does the same and blocks both attacks, Zuko then tries to strike Ai's chest and Zhao aims for her legs with firebending but she misdirects each attacks away from her and hits both opponents in their sides with hard and fast taijutsu and breaks pieces of their armor off. She then charges at Zhao and steps on his foot to mess with his footing and quickly punches him in the stomach with a blow so painful it makes him keel over.
"Now for the crazy prince." said Ai
With blinding speed she kicks Zuko in the face, he blocks it but he his sent rolling back and landing on his feet.
"You won't beat me again!" yelled Zuko
"We all have are delusions." said Ai.
A couple of arrows fly toward and but she catches them without even looking.
Hearing Zuko's outburst, his loving uncle Iroh tried to warn him.
"Prince Zuko calm down!" yelled Iroh.
Zhao sees this as an opportunity and fires 3 shots in the air and a myriad of arrows fly at Zuko and Ai, more than what was fired before, enough to take out a platoon. Ai uses fire nature release to burn them to ash as they flew toward her and Zuko did the same with his firebending. The ashes and remains of the arrows fall to the ground as they burn to a crisp.
"What's was that for, your archers nearly killed me!" yelled Zuko as he stared down Zhao
"Silence you bastard exile prince. Leave the Avatar to me and go cry in a corner in shame!" yelled Zhao back.
Zuko finally having enough of Zhao firebent a fireball at him and Zhao responded in kind.
Zhao and Zuko then began to fight each other, while this happened the steam began to clear and Ai began to lose her patience, she realized now that the archers were skilled enough to try and take her down from a distance if she ran away. She made some hand signs and she sunk into the ground while Zuko and Zhao fought. Iroh noticed this and soon Zhao and Zuko noticed Ai's absence.
Where did she go!" yelled Zuko looking around.
"I've no clue." said Iroh.
Zhao then looked back at his archers with a furious face.
"LOOK FOR HER!' yelled Zhao.
The archers did as they were told and climbed down the tower at quick pace, they dash past Zuko, Iroh and Zhao toward their target.
"Bring her to me alive, nothing less, the fire lord will want to kill her!" yelled Zhao.
Zuko then tried to give chase but he remembered his past experience with Ai's abilities and he stops, he knew that wherever she was it was long gone.
Just as Zhao seemed confident the tower began to catch fire from top to bottom, as it burned and the soldiers tried to escape Zhao cursed Ai's existence.
As the archers were trying to locate Ai they were quickly struck down from behind by one of their own. The remaining archer exploded in a puff of smoke and was revealed to be Ai she then used fire style to burn the bodies to a crips.
"That will keep them off our trail." said Ai
=x=
Back at the medics home the others were still sick with high fevers, they were not dead but they were in no way good condition. It had gotten to the point where they were able to sleep, though it wasn't helping their sickness and to make matters stranger they all began to experience fever dreams due to their high fever.
Aang was sleeping under a set of blankets, he was tossing and turning with a strange smile on his face and even stranger was that he was giggling.
"Pretty." giggled Aang.
===Aang's dream===
Aang was lying on a cloud as if it was a fully solid object and lounging in it like it was a hammock. There was nothing but clouds in all different shapes: animals, people, talking mushrooms and more. The sky was even stranger, instead of being blue the sky looked like a tie dye t-shirt swirling with a rainbow assortment of colors and somehow the sun had a smile on its face and was smiling for no reason. Nothing about the dream fazed Aang, he didn't say a word and only chuckled.
===Real life===
Aang merely laughed while he slept. As he was laughing Sokka was in the same position with his fever dream. Instead of laughing he was swinging his arm around like he was throwing his boomerang, he was grunting as if he was in a fight.
===Sokka's Dream===
Sokka was dressed in water tribe armor meant for commanders, he had a large boomerang in his hands and fallen fire nation soldiers as far as the eye could see courtesy of his handy work. Before him was Fire Lord Ozai preparing to attack. Sokka then charged at him ready to swing his weapon with a battle cry.
"YAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
===Real Life===
Sokka was groaning loudly and swinging his arms around lazily due to his sickness. Suki was snuggled in her sheets and shivering, her face was flushed as her temperature rose.
===Suki's dream===
Suki was a grown woman now, she was standing in front of a crowd of over a thousand people who came to see her, behind her was a statue of her with her warrior fans in her hands and seemingly earthbending.
"Horay for Lady Kyoshi!" yelled on of the people
"HORAAAAAY!" yelled the crowd.
Suki smiled, but that smile grew larger with a group of women ran up to her with hearts in their eyes to love and worship her. Suki smiled and opened her arms to accept them.
===Real Life===
Suki is smirking to herself as she dreamt. As Suki was enjoying her fever dream Smellerbee was lying on the ground with a fever, she scratching herself as her fever rose. She rolled all over the ground feeling sick to her stomach, trapped in her sleep induced sickness.
===Smellerbee's Dream===
Smellerbee was surrounded by a plethora a fluffy animals trying to smother her, contrary to how it looked she wa very uncomfortable and she kept trying to escape but she couldn't escaped, she tried to bite them but her fangs had no effect due to their fur.
===Real Life===
Smellerbee continued to struggle with her nightmare whimpering like the family dog.
Katara seemed to be dealing with her fever though it was causing her to sweat a lot soaking her clothes, she like the others were delirious and she was suffering from a particular fever dream.
===Katara's Dream===
Katara was standing next to Ai, before them was a giant tidal wave that was about to crash down on them. Then Katara and Ai waterbent the tidal wave with pure mastery and made it into a torrent making it circle them and finally make it path into the ocean. Ai then tackles Katara and begins kissing Katara's body making her go crazy and nearly makes her roll into the ocean
===Real Life===
Katara was smiling to herself and drooling with hearts in her eyes. Unbeknownst to the sick party Ai was standing and watching them with a worried look on her face.
"Don't worry dearie… just dreams induced from the fever. I've given them medicine… they'll be better by tomorrow" said the old lady
Ai nodded as the old lady left to tend to other business. With a yawn, and a quick neck pop, Ai readyed herself for bed… and crawled in with Katara, unaware of the dream she was having.
X
AN: Writes block, SUUUUUUCK.
Extra thanks to Squalo King for helping with this chapter