Book One:

Water

Chapter Ten:

Jett

Long ago, bending in its purest form did not occur in people naturally. No, if one wanted to bend and control the elements at that time, then they had to go to the guardians of bending. The Lion Turtles.

It was somewhere far west, that one such being existed. This lion turtle granted those who were worthy the gift of firebending. It was the little village that was nearby, that the first Avatar was born and lived.

His name was Avatar W-

"Where's Momo?"

Aang's voice drew me out of my book. I had become very engrossed, so engrossed that I hadn't noticed that I was now placed on a soft blue sleeping bag, rather than sitting cross-legged on Appa's saddle.

I folded my book and ran my fingers over the soft material under my fingertips. I recognized it as Sokka's. He must have lifted me down from Appa and placed me on his sleeping bag, not wanting to disturb my concentration. I smiled, at the sweet gesture though was befuddled at how he managed to move me without my noticing.

Somewhere far off was a screech that sounded a lot like Momo.

I got to my feet, Raiu chirping in distress from where he sat curled about my neck.

We went looking for Aang's stray lemur.

0o0

Momo was held suspended in the treetops in a metal cage. There was also two hogmonkeys trapped up there with the lemur.

"Hang on Momo."

Aang airbent himself to the top of the red trees and began to lower the rope that held the cage suspended towards the ground. Sokka and Katara held open the metal bars and Momo flew out, to curl up in my arms.

The two hogmonkeys chattered in distress, and Aang resolved to get them down.

"This is gonna take forever." Sokka took out his boomerang and threw it, cutting the other two animals down. "These are Fire Nation traps, you can tell from the metal work. We'd better pack up camp and get moving."

I nodded "Yeah, I d-don't want to be around if Fire Nation s-soldiers turn up."

Sokka took my hand and began leading me away, Aang and Katara following behind us.

0o0

Sokka had decided it would be best if we walked.

"Nuh uh no flying this time," He said taking the rolled up sleeping bag from Aang's hands, as the younger boy asked why not "Think about it, somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa he's just too noticeable."

"What? Appa's not too noticeable." Katara protested.

"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him."

Appa groaned in response, as Aang patted him on his head from where he sat "Sokka's just jealous because he doesn't have an arrow." Aang consoled the bison.

"I know you all wanna fly, but my instincts are telling me we should play it safe this time and walk."

I hummed in agreement, Raiu purring from my arms "Sokka's right. Appa is a flying bison and they're not exactly c-common anymore. We would be s-safer walking today."

Katara huffed, and turned to Sokka with her hands on her hips "Who made you the boss?"

"I'm not the boss, I'm the leader." Sokka retorted, after giving me a smirk and a pleased look.

"You're the leader?" Katara snorted, "Your voice still cracks."

Sokka scowled "I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior," He must have noticed the higher pitch he used, for he lowered it deeper "So I'm the leader."

"If anyone's the leader it's Aang, I mean he is the Avatar. Mina would be a good option as a leader too, she's the same age as you Sokka and is a Master Airbender. "

I snorted, and Sokka raised an eyebrow gesturing to Aang who was hanging from one of Appa's horns "Are you kidding he's just a goofy kid."

"He's right." Aang smiled.

"And besides," I shrugged my shoulders, shifting on my feet "A Master Airbender I m-maybe, but I know nothing about the world n-now. Anything I did know from my studies and travels w-won't be any use since things tend to change after a hundred years."

"Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader? I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl."

I titled my head, shifting to fully face Katara, confused "What does k-kissing a girl have to do with anything?"

"I've kissed a girl, you just haven't met her." Sokka protested

"Who? Gran-Gran? I've met gran-gran."

"No besides gran-gran!" Sokka retorted back, hands in the air "My instincts tell me we'd have a better chance slipping through on foot, and a leader has to trust his instincts."

Katara had her arms crossed, a frown of displeasure on her face "Ok we'll try it your way oh wise leader."

"Who knows walking might be fun." Aang popped up, backpack on.

I sighed and shook my head. This was going to be a long day.

0o0

"Walking stinks! How do people go anywhere without a flying bison." Aang complained.

I rolled my eyes from where I was walking up front with Sokka.

Aang hadn't stopped complaining for the better half of the day, and it was starting to bug me. Yes, walking sucked, and it wasn't any fun and it seemed like we were getting nowhere, but it was necessary, and moaning wouldn't do anything but make things worse.

"I don't know Aang, why don't you ask Sokka's instincts? They seem to know everything."

And the cause of most painful headaches rears its ugly head. Younger siblings and their snark.

"Ha ha very funny."

"I'm tired of carrying this pack," Aang whined.

"You know who you should ask to carry it for a while? Sokka's instincts." Katara replied cheekily.

I huffed, took Sokka by the arm and sped up dragging him with me. Maybe if we got out of hearing range we could avoid an argument or a headache depending.

"Just ignore t-them," I uttered to him, rolling my eyes "They're b-being bratty little siblings, trying to get a rise."

He nodded, smirking at what I called our two other companions.

"That's a great idea. Hey, Sokka's instincts would you mind-"

"Aang knock it off!" I scolded the boy who was my annoying little brother in all but blood.

"Ok ok, I get it. Look, guys, I'm tired too, but the important thing is that we're safe from…the…Fire Nation." He trailed off as we emerged from the bushes in front of us.

There was a camp, and it was filled with Fire Nation soldiers, and all of them turned to look at us as we stumbled into their camp.

"Monkey feathers!" I swore.

"Run!" Sokka shouted dropping his pack and grabbed my wrist pulling me with him.

The soldiers shot fire, burning the bushes in front of us.

"We're cut off!" Sokka said, hauling my back from the flames.

Aang pointed out that Sokka's shirt was on fire, and I quickly put it out with a quick and powerful gust of air.

"If you let us pass we promise not to hurt you," Sokka said.

We had all gotten in defensive stances, Aang and I with our arms raised and waiting to let out blasts of air, and Katara with a hand on her water pouch.

"What are you doing?" His younger sister asked in disbelief.

"Bluffing?" Sokka replied.

The man who seemed to be in charge looked amused and stated so in a sarcastic remark. Then he collapsed to his front, still and silent. I blinked and tore my gaze around the clearing. What was that?

"Nice work Sokka, how'd you do that?" Aang chattered excitedly.

"Uh, instincts?" The Water Tribe boy spoke with a questioning tone as though he wasn't quite sure.

"Look!" Katara yelled pointing into the trees.

A boy mine and Sokka's own age jumped down from the trees. He had tanned skin, brown hair and eyes, and wielded two hook swords with the ease and experience of a master. He landed on two soldiers, before taking out another two with his weapons.

"Down you go."

I wasn't impressed with this smirking cocky boy.

The boy took another soldier out, arrogantly smiling all the while. More kids dropped down from the treetops, one boy riding on a Fire Nation man's head, laughing with glee. I looked up as three arrows took out more soldiers, and saw another young boy with a bow shooting while hanging upside down.

Katara used her waterbending to take out a soldier of her own, as Aang used his bending to drag a man around the clearing in the dirt. I heard Sokka letting out a battle cry before I got distracted with an opponent of my own.

The man charged me sword drawn. I slid on my knees under his legs, spinning to stand behind his back. I then began to twirl my hands, palms up creating a small vortex, before whipping out my right hand, causing the air to wrap around the soldier's middle, restraining his arms.

I pulled my arms inwards towards my body, twisting on my heels as I did so. The soldier went flying off, to crash into a tree.

I slashed out with my right hand in an air swipe, and sent a tidal wave of air outwards, taking another three men down.

And soon the little battle was over.

I straightened from my defensive crouch, and strode over to my friends, discreetly looking for any injuries on them. Thankfully there were none.

"You just took out a whole army almost single-handed." Aang was in awe.

"Army?" Sokka scoffed arms crossed "There were like twenty guys."

I huffed "Sixteen, but who's c-counting."

"My name is Jett and these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke, and Pipsqueak."

They were all just kids, children. What were they doing in the middle of a forest, alone, fighting off Fire Nation Soldiers?

Aang walked forward and started to joke about how Pipsqueak's name was funny. The broader, taller, more muscled older teen glared down at Aang, asked Aang is he thought his name was funny too which the young Avatar said it was hilarious. My friend was knocked to the ground when Pipsqueak began to guffaw and patted his back a little too hard.

I just rolled my eyes. Little brothers.

0o0

It was sometime later as the Freedom Fighters began to take stock of the abandoned camp that I stood to the side with Sokka.

Katara had gone to thank Jett for saving us, and frankly, I wasn't impressed.

Sokka could've taken two or three men on his own, I took out three men myself, and Katara and Aang took one out each. We could've handled the rest, we had gone up against Zuko for spirit's sake! Jett and his gang of kid followers may have helped but we weren't completely defenceless.

Jett was saying how his group had been waiting all morning for a distraction to take the soldiers down, and Katara responded that we were relying on instinct. Jett replied that we'd get ourselves killed doing that, to which I huffed and turned away from the conversation.

I grabbed Sokka's tunic sleeve and drew him away from the two "Just ignore h-him, he's not worth it." I muttered, to which Sokka replied with a nod and a scoff of his own.

Apparently, Jett and his followers had a hideout. Jett asked if we wanted to see it, to which Katara swiftly agreed.

I frowned but held quiet. I didn't like this one bit. Something didn't feel right about this, and for all Katara and Aang's mocking attitudes earlier, I did listen to my instincts, and they were screaming that there was something fishy going on.

And going off his expression, Sokka felt the same.

0o0

I was now in Jett's little hideout, and despite myself, I was impressed with it.

There were little houses in the trees, each connected by simple rope and wooden bridges, and there were a few levels of houses dotted here and there, and a few zip lines too.

Sokka and I had gotten up by a pulley, and it had surprised us both. Jett had given a loop of rope to Sokka and told him to hang on tight, and when my friend went shooting upwards into the trees, I quickly grabbed hold of him out of reflex.

Sokka had pulled me close, one arm around my waist, and my own wrapped his neck. I flushed warm pink at being so close to him, but it was quickly over, as we came to stop on one of the platforms.

"It's beautiful up here."

"It's beautiful but more importantly the Fire Nation can't find us," Jett replied to the Water Tribe girl.

"They'd love to find you, wouldn't they Jett?" the girl fighter said, smirking

"It's not gonna happen Smellerbee."

I scoffed. I seemed to be doing that a lot lately, in this boy's company. He was an arrogant little toe rag. He wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long; someday the Fire Nation would find him, especially if what happened this morning was a common occurrence. Eventually, the soldiers would catch on.

"Why does the Fire Nation wanna find you?" Katara asked baffled

"I guess you could say I've been causing them a little trouble," Jett smirked, "See, they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back." Pipsqueak gave in detail how Jett and his group had been messing with the soldiers "One day we'll drive the Fire Nation outta here for good. And free that town."

"That's so brave." Katara was blushing.

She was blushing! I gave her a dirty look. I had seen braver, and so had she. Her own brother had gone up against Prince Zuko by himself with only a club as a weapon. All four of us had fought against the Fire Nation in the past few weeks, alone with no aid or a little hidey-hole to escape to.

Jett was cunningly smart, and he could fight I'd give him that. But there were plenty of people out there who could boast the same. And Katara was blushing and fawning over this boy as if he was the only one. As if he had hung the very moon itself.

"Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a tree house."

I choked as little as I tried to hold back laughter at Sokka's witty quip.

"Don't pay any attention to my brother."

"No problem he probably had a rough day."

I glared at Jett for that. Seriously this arrogant boy was driving me crazy. I don't know why exactly I distrusted and disliked him so, but I did.

"So you all live here?"

"That's right. Longshot over there, his town got burned by the Fire Nation, and we found The Duke trying to steal our food, I don't think he ever really had a home."

"What about you?" Katara asked.

Katara and Jett stopped in the middle of the bridge, and I was happy to keep going with Sokka and the others. I wasn't interested in the conversation anymore.

I looked back once towards the pair, and in my distracted daze, tripped over a loose bit of wood. I would have gone flying over the edge if a pair of strong arms hadn't caught me and pulled me back to relative safety.

"Hey careful, you could fall."

Sokka's blue sapphire eyes were locked on my own. It would be normal to compare the colour to the ocean, but his eyes were so much deeper, so much more alive than words could possibly express.

I flushed, and turned away with a shy smile "Thank you."

He laughed "No problem, just be a little more careful."

I nodded and hummed out in agreement before we carried on.

We were shown to a little treehouse that we would be staying in for the night, and while it was small, it wasn't confining. It seemed cosier than anything else.

I set my sleeping bag up against the far wall, and Sokka set his things down next to me, blocking the exit. I had the feeling he was doing this so I would feel safer, knowing that anything dangerous that might occur would have to go over him to get to me, and I was grateful for the sweet thoughtful gesture.

I took out my book again, ready to become immersed within it once more.

I jumped, startled, when Sokka's head suddenly fell into my lap. I gazed down at him, eyes wide and confused, only to see he had his own eyes closed. I was tempted to shove him off, but I was comfortable, and the weight of his head and warmth of his presence was comforting in this strange unfamiliar place.

So I let him be and continued where I had left off.

His name was Wan. And in time he would come to be known as the greatest of all Avatars who came after. For it was he that came to create the Avatar's very existence, the one who made the Avatar's powers and purpose even possible.

It started almost ten thousand years ago.

I became deeply immersed in my book.

I didn't notice that my free hand was unconsciously playing with Sokka's hair. And I most definitely didn't notice the little smile on Sokka's lips at my absentminded actions.

I was lost in my own little world.

0o0

"Today we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine!"

Jett was stood on the table and was making a speech. The rest of us were sat, cups and plates before us, listening as the leader spoke his words. Well everyone else was listening, Sokka and I were pretending we were.

"I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face when The Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hogmonkey." The kids began to cheer as the kid in question took a victory run across the table "Now the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees. Maybe they're right."

There were boos from the kids all around at that.

Jett suddenly got a dark look on his face and growled out in a low threatening tone "Or maybe they're dead wrong!"

I jumped, startled. I especially didn't like the emphasis on the word dead in that sentence. It rang loud and ominous alarm bells in my mind.

Sokka's hand came to hover over my own. I gave him a wan smile in thanks for the comfort, which he returned before he quickly settled an unimpressed glare at Jett as his younger sister told the boy leader how impressive his speech was as he sat next to her.

"Thanks. By the way, I was really impressed with you and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today."

"He's great, he's the Avatar. I could use some more training." Katara flushed in embarrassment.

Sokka's squeezed my hand, before grounding out "Mina was impressive too. She took out three guys all on her own."

I was thankful for Sokka being on my side, and for trying to make my own bending impressive and awe-inspiring, but I didn't like how Jett turned to look at me at my friend's praising words.

Jett smirked as he gazed me up and down "You were impressive too Mina. Quite the slick moves you've got. And just as an Airbender too."

I frowned. Just as an Airbender? What was that supposed to mean? Sokka glared death at him for that and opened his mouth probably to give Jett what for, for the insulting dismissive comment about my bending, when Aang spoke up

"Oh yeah, Mina's been a Master Airbender since she was twelve. She's had a few years to learn and master even more right Mina?"

I nodded but said not a word. Jett's intense staring was making me uncomfortable. Thankfully he turned away from me.

"The Avatar huh? Very nice."

"Thanks, Jett." Aang beamed.

"So I might know a way you and Aang can help with our struggle."

I felt utter dread at that. Going by Jett's words that meant he wanted us to stay longer than one night. I would rather spend a day with Zuko then be here for a minute longer than I had too.

I turned to Sokka, and gave him a wide-eyed pleading look "Unfortunately we have to leave tonight."

He pulled me to my feet, and I followed after him, smiling my relief and thanks towards the Water Tribe boy who held my hand. And then Jett had to ruin it by saying he needed my friend on an important mission tomorrow.

Sokka halted in his tracks.

"Sokka, p-please don't-"

He didn't listen "What mission?"

0o0

It was midafternoon now, and Sokka had been gone all morning.

I didn't like it. Not one bit. Jett had taken him off on some important mission, something to do with patrolling the woods, and I had this bad feeling in my heart that something was going to go wrong.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Katara asked.

She was sat weaving what looked like a hat, from leaves with a flower on top. It wasn't exactly pretty looking but considering the options for materials, it wasn't bad either. She was watching me with concern as she constructed the hat.

"You like it?" She questioned, forgetting about her previous question. I nodded not wanting to hurt her feelings "I'm making it for Jett. Do you think he'll like it?"

I frowned but didn't answer. Katara seemed, oddly attached to Jett all for having known him for so short a time "You really l-like Jett, don't you?"

She blushed "Oh well, I ummm…I don't know."

I raised an eyebrow, getting a suspicion in my mind "You don't k-know? Then why are you blushing s-so hard?"

Katara stammered and stuttered going even redder "I'm not-!"

I huffed and rolled my eyes "Yes you a-are. Come on s-spill."

Katara choked for a moment, silence filling our little tree-house. I patiently waited for her to speak in her own time. I had had enough practice with Aang to know that simply waiting in silence usually made people uncomfortable enough to talk without thinking, in order to fill the quiet.

"Well, Jett and I…I mean he may have…kissed me last night." My eyebrows rose right up to my hairline, which she noticed and went even redder "That was my first…kiss I mean. And it was nice. So yeah I think I do really like him."

I had nothing to say, and thankfully I didn't have to. As I heard Sokka's voice outside the flap that covered the door.

I got up, and raced out, leaving Katara and the awkward topic behind.

I smiled wide, relieved to see my friend "You're back. I was w-worried." Sokka didn't speak, but the expression on his face was troubled, upset "What's wrong?"

Aang was getting pelted by Momo with little spark bombs that The Duke had given him earlier as a gift. I shook my head, patting Raiu who had flown into my arms, purring for attention.

"Hey Sokka, is Jett back?" Katara asked her brother, having followed me out of the tree-house.

"Yeah he's back, but we're leaving."

"What?" Aang spoke

"But I made him this hat." Katara commentated

I let out a sigh of relief "Oh thank Kyoshi."

Sokka had his arms crossed, where he sat on the platform, giving his sister a dark look "Your boyfriend Jett's a thug."

"What? No, he's not."

"He's messed up Katara."

I stepped forward and agreed "There's something n-not right with him. He s-scares me Katara."

"He's not messed up, he's just got a different way of life, a really fun way of life." Aang defended the leader of the Freedom Fighters.

"He beat and robbed a harmless old man."

I looked to the older boy who I called a friend, and asked with my eyes only if he was telling the truth. Those blue eyes held my own, and as he bobbed in his head in assent I knew that Sokka was telling the truth.

Katara didn't believe her brother "I wanna hear Jett's side of the story."

I huffed. This wasn't going to go well.

0o0

The man that Jett had accosted had been Fire Nation.

It didn't surprise me really, Jett seemed to have a hatred for the Fire Nation above all else. But to rob and beat up an old man, Fire Nation or not was wrong.

I may be thinking with all the innocent hope of my way of life, but surely not all Fire Nation people were bad or evil. I was pretty sure that the women and children from the Fire Nation had nothing to do with the war.

It was the Fire Lord and his soldiers who were to blame, and even then surely some soldiers didn't agree with their ruler and commanders. Surely some soldiers were just following their orders, because they were ordered to and were looking out for their families, for their loved ones.

No, I believed that some Fire Nation citizens were perfectly ordinary good people, and wanted nothing to do with this war.

Jett taking out his hate and anger on soldiers was different. Soldiers were expected and trained to fight and battle and be great with combat. But innocent travellers? Old men, and women and children? They were innocent and didn't deserve to be attacked.

"Fine, even if he was Fire Nation he was a harmless civilian." I thanked the spirits Sokka agreed with me on my mentality.

"He was an assassin Sokka. See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife." Jett twisted a ring on top of the knife, and pulled out a phial of red liquid "He was sent to eliminate me. You helped save my life Sokka."

Katara beamed a bright smile "I knew there was an explanation."

"I didn't see any knife," Sokka argued.

"That's because he was concealing it." Jett's response almost too quick, as if he had prepared the answer beforehand.

"See Sokka? I'm sure you just didn't notice the knife." Katara reassured her brother.

"There was no knife. I'm going back to the hut and packing my things. Come on Mina."

I went to follow, but then I turned, and gave Jett a questioning disbelieved frown "If this assassin w-was an old man, than h-how was he going t-to get all the way up here? Surely if what you say is true, and he had that knife hidden on him, why w-would the Fire Nation send an o-old man, when a y-younger, healthy, stealthier, fitter man w-would do a better job? I believe Sokka, I don't t-think that man meant any h-harm, Fire Nation or n-not."

Then I turned and left.

0o0

Sokka was packing up when I entered our little guest hut.

I wordlessly began to follow his lead, packing up my things, and rolling up the sleeping bag and tying it closed. I placed my book in my pack and settled everything neatly against the far wall.

"Do you believe me?"

His question startled me. I looked to see the vulnerable expression painting his face, and the way he seemed to be bracing himself for my answer.

"Yeah, I do." Sokka's shoulders slumped "Something isn't adding up here. I don't trust Jett, not a b-bit," I bit my lip and fiddled with a trouser leg "He s-scares me a little, Sokka. There's something…d-dark about him."

The Water Tribe boy came over and knelt at my side. He took my hands in his, and gave me a reassuring smile "Hey, he's not gonna come near you, not if I have anything to say about it."

"You're sweet," I told him, shy but sincere.

The moment was ruined when Katara came storming in, not happy "We can't leave now, not with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest."

"I'm sorry Katara, Jett's very smooth but we can't trust him."

"You know what I think?" the younger girl scoffed with her arms crossed "You're jealous that he's a better warrior and a better leader."

I rolled my eyes at that. Katara was acting foolish. She should know her brother well enough to know when he was and was not telling the truth. If I could see that Sokka believed his instincts about Jett were right, then she should trust him. I did.

"Katara I'm not jealous of Jett, it's just that my instincts-"

"Well, my instincts tell me we need to stay a little longer and help Jett."

I let out a moan of frustration before putting my own copper piece in "And my instincts are telling me that Sokka's right and we can't trust Jett. There's s-something wrong with him Katara, and if you got your head out of the Love-coloured clouds long enough you'd see that your brother and I are r-right!"

Katara scowled, and only gave me a glare, but turning and stalking off "Come on Aang."

"Sorry Sokka, sorry Ami."

I watched them go, before spinning on my heel to face my friend "They're wrong, and eventually they'll see t-that we're right."

He sighed "Yeah, but when?"

I had no answer to that.

0o0

I was woken up later in the middle night to a strange noise.

I rubbed my tired eyes and then noticed that Sokka's sleeping bag was empty, and he was gone. I got a bad feeling. I silently slipped out from under my blanket, then swiftly crept across the platform and out into the night.

I saw Sokka sneaking off into the trees, and I had the suspicion that Jett was up to something and Sokka was following him to find out what.

I jumped off the platform, hurting towards the ground, before quietly using my bending to halt my fall so I could land in a crouch on the forest floor with nary a sound to be heard. I slipped off after my friend.

I just hoped that I would be able to help if something went wrong.

0o0

"Now listen, you're not to blow the dam until I give the signal. If the reservoir isn't full the Fire Nation troops could survive."

"What about the people in the town? Won't they get wiped out too?"

"Look Duke that's the price of riding the area of Fire Nation. Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal, got it?"

I was horrified at what I was hearing. Absolutely horrified.

Jett was planning to the blow the dam, and yes he might take a few Fire Nation soldiers out, but mostly he'd be killing innocent people in the process. And he didn't care about the loss of innocent lives either! I knew there was something wrong with him.

I went to sneak away, to grab Sokka so we could go back to the hide-out together and warn Aang and Katara and leave.

I didn't get the chance. Hands grabbed at me and restrained me. I struggled and kicked and tried to get loose but whoever held me captive wasn't letting me escape.

"Where do you think you're going girlie?" Sneers asked me.

I was dragged out, shouting and cursing, before being thrown to the ground. Familiar hands steadied me than, Sokka's voice uttering soothing words in my ears. Seemed I wasn't the only one who got caught.

"I heard your plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town."

"Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation."

"There are people living there Jett, mothers and fathers and children." Sokka protested, hauling us both to our feet.

"We can't win without making some sacrifices." I let out a laugh then, unable to help it "What's so funny?"

I scoffed and gazed the boy up and down with revulsion "For s-someone who claims to h-hate the Fire Nation so much you sure sound exactly like them. They t-thought a few sacrifices of i-innocents justified the means too."

Jett sneered, and then, surprising me, backhanded me across the face. My cheek throbbed, and a pressed a hand to it, shocked. Commander Zhao had split my lip when he had smacked me, Jett's hit didn't hurt compared to that, not really. It just shocked me.

"I am nothing like them." He growled.

I growled right back "The Fire Nation m-murdered my people, all of them, and justified their genocide w-with the excuse that in order to w-win sacrifices had to be made. Your h-hatred has corrupted you Jett, and now you are j-just like them."

He raised a hand to hit me again when Sokka intervened "You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire!"

"Because they don't understand the demands of war. Not like you and I do."

"I do understand. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want."

"I was hoping you'd have an open mind, but I can see you have made your choice," He signalled Pipsqueak and Smellerbee "I can't let you warn Katara and Aang. Take him for a walk, a long walk."

"You can't do this."

I went to stop them, to get in the way, but Jett grabbed me and held me so tightly it hurt. I knew I would have bruises later.

"Cheer up Sokka. We're gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today."

I kicked out, trying to get loose, and Jett laughed at my efforts. I whimpered when he gripped my wrists and Sokka struggle with his own captors.

"Let her go!"

Jett gestured, and Sokka was soon dragged off.

"No, let go! Let go of me! Sokka! Sokka!"

Soon the Water Tribe boy was out of my sight.

0o0

"Jett I'm sorry about how Sokka and Mina have been acting."

"No worries," he reassured the waterbender "They already apologized."

"Really? Sokka apologized? Mina would, she's nice like that, but Sokka?" Aang muttered, disbelieving.

"I was surprised too. I got the sense that maybe you talked to them or something." Jett shrugged. Katara said that she did, and Jett smiled "I guess something you said got through to them. Now he went out on a scouting mission with Pipsqueak and Smellerbee, and Mina is scouting with Longshot and the Duke right now."

"I'm glad Sokka cooled off, he's so stubborn sometimes."

WHOOSH!

Aang was blown ten feet into the air, and he used his bending to slow his fall and landed lightly on his feet back on the ground.

"All right we're here. Underground water is trying to escape these vents. I need you guys to help it along."

Katara blanched "I've never used bending on the water I can't see. I don't know."

Jett placed his hands on her shoulders, crookedly smiling down at her, causing her to blush "Katara you can do this," Aang piped asking about himself "I know the Avatar can do this."

Aang smiled.

They got to work. Using their waterbending, Katara and Aang soon had the underground water overflowing, up and out of the vent and rushing into the stream.

"Yes! Good job," Jett praised them "This river empties in the reservoir. A few more geysers and it'll be full," Aang hurried over to another steam vent he had seen, as Jett smirked, "Ok, you two keep it up I'll go check on things at the reservoir."

Katara watched him leave, before saying "When we're done we'll meet you over there."

Jett paused, and neither Aang nor Katara say the swift panic came over his face before he cleared it away "Actually probably better if you meet me back at the hide-out when you're done."

Then he left leaving them alone.

Sometime later, the two waterbenders had managed to overflow quite a few of the geysers. Aang was pleased with his efforts, and Katara smiled in response.

"I bet that's enough, and I'm not just saying that to be lazy." Katara suggested catching up with Jett, and Aang was confused "I thought we agreed to meet Jett back at the hide-out."

She shrugged "Well we finished early. I'm sure he'll be happy to see us."

0o0

"Come on, move along!"

Sokka stumbled as Smellerbee pushed him forward.

The Water Tribe boy wasn't happy. He had been separated from his friend, and who knows what Jett had done to her. He was worried about Mina. The way Jett had hit her across the face still had his blood boiling.

He had to think of a way out of this. And quick.

"How can you stand by and do nothing while Jett wipes out a whole town?" he asked his captors.

"Hey listen Sokka, Jett's a great leader. We follow what he says and things always turn out ok."

Sokka then noticed as he drifted his gaze across the forest two Fire Nation traps similar to the one that Momo had gotten caged in. He smirked, now he had a plan.

"If that's how Jett leads, then he's got a lot to learn!" then he took off running.

The two chased him, oblivious of the traps until it was too late and they were hoisted high into the treetops, trapped. Sokka smirked up at them, the rope that had bound his hands hanging from his fingertips.

"While you two are up there you might wanna practice your knotwork."

Then he took off leaving them to hang up there.

He had a choice to make now. A difficult one. He could go straight to the reservoir, hope that Jett hadn't blown it up yet, and maybe be in time to stop it, not to mention that was likely where Mina was.

Or he could follow that feeling in his gut and go to the village.

The village, or Mina?

He exhaled. Here's hoping his decision was the right one.

0o0

"What are they doing?" Katara asked as she and Aang stood on the small cliff overlooking the reservoir.

"Hey, those are the red barrels he got from the Fire Nation."

"Why would they need blasting jelly?"

Aang suddenly had a realization, and it was a horrifying one "Because Jett's gonna blow up the dam."

"What? No, that would destroy the town. Jett wouldn't do that," Aang unfurled his glider, promising to stop him "Jett wouldn't do that."

Before Aang could take off, Jett came out of nowhere and snatched his glider from his hands.

"Yes, I would," Katara asked him why "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."

"This isn't the answer." She pleaded him

"I want you to understand me Katara. I thought your brother and your Airbender friend would understand, but…" Katara suddenly began to cry, and he reached out a hand and placed it on her face.

"Where's Sokka? Where's my brother and my friend?"

"Katara."

She suddenly attacked him with her bending, angry and hurt. Aang grabbed his glider, but Jett snatched it with his hook sword and swung it onto his back.

"You're not going anywhere without your glider."

"I'm not gonna fight you Jett."

"You'll have too if you want your glider back."

Then the two took off into the trees, fighting ad leaving Katara behind.

Aang ducked and dodged Jett's swinging swords, and they hopped through the treetops and ran across the branches. Aang was an Airbender, he was agile and quick and steady on his feet, but Jett knew this forest, the trees, and so had an equal advantage.

Aang lashed out, using a strong air current to blast Jett back. The leader of the Freedom Fighters went falling off the branch, just catching himself with his swords. Aang's glider went tumbling to the ground.

Aang and Jett went after it, and Aang was knocked into a tree.

Before Jett could take a swing at him Katara came to his rescue.

She attacked Jett with multiple water blasts, before she grounded her stance, and froze the water that soaked Jett's body. He was soon frozen to the tree right up to his neck.

"Why Jett? I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me. You're sick and I trusted you!" There was the sound of a bird call, to which Jett smirked and gave a bird call in return "What are you doing?"

"You're too late."

"No," Kara uttered, begging for him to be wrong.

Aang went to take off on his glider, but he fell into the dirt face first. His glider wings were damaged and slightly shredded on the right side. He wouldn't be flying anywhere. Katara rushed to his side.

"Sokka and Mina are still out there. They're our only chance."

"Come Sokka. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Please."

0o0

It was too late. I was too late.

I had managed to get free of the rope that had held me trussed up against the tree. Sneers had gone off to help load the blasting jelly at the dam, and Longshot was stood high on a branch out of sight, and too occupied by lining up his shot.

I threw my hands down towards the ground, using my air bending to lift me into the air, reaching out for Longshot's arm as I did so.

"Longshot don't!"

But it was too late.

The flaming arrow went shooting off with a high whistle, arched into the sky, and hit the blasting jelly barrels.

BOOM!

I was too late.

I crumbled to the ground, landing hard. I knelt on the forest floor, tears running down my cheeks, as I watched as the dam blew, and a tidal wave went rushing for the little Earth Kingdom town.

I was too late.

0o0

"Sokka didn't make it in time," Aang stated sadly.

"All those people," Katara turned to Jett, glare fierce and filled with disgust "Jett you monster!"

The Freedom Fighter leader didn't even look sorry, or ashamed "This was a victory Katara. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe."

"It will be safe."

"W-Without you!"

Katara and Aang turned at the familiar voices, and beaming smiles lit up their faces in relief at seeing Sokka and Mina perched on Appa, with Momo and Raui behind them.

"Sokka!" Katara was never happier to see her older brother.

'I warned the villagers of your plan. Just in time," Jett was happy "At first they didn't believe me; the Fire Nation soldiers assumed I was a spy. But one man vouched for me, the old man you attacked. He urged them to trust me. We got everyone out in time."

Mina was smirking in satisfaction "All the villagers s-survived. Every last man, women and c-child," then she chuckled "Even one little girl's favourite doll Mrs Pretty made it." She and Sokka shared grins.

"Sokka you fool! We could've freed this valley!"

Sokka scoffed "Who would be free? Everyone would be dead."

"All that innocent b-blood on your hands. I told you, Jett. Your anger and rage, has turned you into the t-thing you hate." Mina wisely stated as Aang jumped into the saddle.

"You traitors!" Jett spat at them.

Sokka shook his head "No Jett. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people."

Jett begged Katara to help him. She lowered her head, and pushed back her tears, before saying without even looking at the boy she had once liked "Goodbye Jett."

"Yip yip," Sokka said, snapping the reins.

They flew off, leaving him frozen to the tree.

0o0

"We thought you were going to the dam, how come you went to the town instead?"

Katara smiled, and rolled her eyes, and spoke after Aang "Let me guess, your instincts told you?"

Sokka shrugged modestly, and smiled "Hey sometimes they're right."

"Umm Sokka? You know we're going the wrong way right?"

I laughed at Aang's words. I had known we were going the wrong way for the past five minutes but had decided to say nothing. I wanted to let Sokka enjoying the moment of being the hero.

Sokka sighed in mock annoyance, but there was a warm smile on his face "And sometimes they're wrong."

He turned us around then before he caught my eye as I leant over the rim of the saddle at the front to watch him. He looked…guilty almost.

"Hey, Mina?" I hummed to let him know I was listening "I'm sorry I didn't come back for you first. I just…the town…"

I swung over the saddle rim and slid down Appa's neck so I could sit beside him. I smiled at him "Don't be silly. Saving the town was m-more important. Besides, I can take care of myself."

He let out an amused exhale of air "Yeah I know you can. But still, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you there with Jett," His expression turned a little sour.

I shook my head "You c-came right back for me. And you stopped Longshot from t-taking me and knocked him out when you did. You're a hero Sokka."

He flushed and rubbed the back of his neck "Well I wouldn't know about that. I just didn't want to see you get hurt again. I had to come back for you; I couldn't just leave you there, in Jett's hands."

I gave him a mischievous smile "My warrior hero."

Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.

"Hey, we're starting to turn the wrong way again." Katara's voice innocently spoke up from behind us, ruining whatever moment we had just been having.

"Yeah, how come you're steering us wrong?"

Then again maybe not. Annoying little brothers, honestly.

Sokka and I shared looks, as the Water Tribe boy corrected our course.

"Sokka?" he looked my way "Thank you for c-coming back for me."

Then I leant forward, not knowing where my sudden brash move of courage came from and gave him a bold kiss on the cheek.

I laughed as he flushed red,

And we continued on our journey.

0o0