LFTS Chapter 22

Part Two Begins!

TW emetophobia in the first paragraph, just skip if you don't want to see.

Sakura

If she had to pick her favorite form of travel, by sea aboard a ship would not be it. Even if she had traveled by boat several times, it seemed Sakura was born without sea legs. The first few days, she had a bout of vicious seasickness. Sakura didn't know how traveling on Appa was any different, but alas, her body disliked the rocking of the boat. She spent a large portion of her time leaning over the railing, emptying the contents of her stomach.

That night she was returning from her latest visit to the head, and saw that Aang was climbing the ladder to the upper decks.

"Aang?"

He stopped for a moment, slightly startled that she was there, before continuing on in silence to the railing.

Sakura frowned and walked up to join him, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Nah. Just a nightmare."

She stood there silently for a few minutes before Aang continued talking.

"I was in the Avatar state, but...I was outside my body watching myself? It was scary. I was scary."

Sakura felt like putting a hand on his shoulder to comfort him, but decided against it.

"I know it probably won't make you feel any better, but I had a horrible dream last night, too."

He didn't say anything so Sakura continued, "I was back home in Omashu. My family was still alive, I had gone forward in my earthbending career in the King's court, and life was perfect. And then I came home to my parents, gave them a hug that night, and while we embraced, their bodies turned to sand. They fell right out of my arms, and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

She didn't tell him what they whispered as they dissolved between her very fingers.
"You abandoned us."

…

The next morning they arrived at their destination, which wasn't really a destination in and of itself, but the furthest the ship from the Northern Tribe could take them. Before they departed Master Pakku and several other men from the tribe joined them on the deck as a send-off before parting ways. Everyone lined up before Master Pakku started talking.

"Katara, I want you to have this." He approached her with a small amulet with a crescent moon on its top as a stopper, "This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis. The water has unique properties. Don't lose it."

His face relaxed into a smile.

"Thank you, Master Pakku." Katara hugged him, and stepped away, climbing into Appa's saddle as they prepared to leave.

Sakura was next in their line, "Sakura, we had little time together, and as a result I don't know you very well, but even so, you've proven yourself a friend of the Water Tribe by giving everything you had in protecting the Ocean and Moon spirits. This is for you." He placed a similar amulet to Katara's in Sakura's hand, "Like Katara's, this amulet contains earth from the Spirit Oasis, I have no idea if it will help you or not on your journey, but may you feel the warmth of the earth around you always."

Sakura wasn't really sure what the etiquette should be for receiving gifts from a master, so she bowed and thanked him before joining Katara on Appa.

Master Pakku skipped over the rest of their group before giving them instructions for their journey.

"Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you'll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi," and then he muttered to himself, "though I don't see why you don't just have Sakura teach you…"

Sakura turned back to the master, "I'm a horrible teacher, all right!? Plus Aang knows King Bumi, so why shouldn't he learn from an old friend and master?"

No one questioned her and Master Pakku just shrugged off her comment. Sakura waved to the crew as they took off.

"Say hi to Gran Gran for me!" Katara yelled back as they departed.

Sokka pouted a bit at his being left out of the gifts, but Kakashi told him that he should consider himself a very lucky man.
When he asked why, Kakashi just gave him a curious look and pointed up at the sky, you'll always have the gift that is Yue in the moon, every night.

Sakura thought the boy might cry.

Too soon.

…

While they flew to the fort, Katara and Sokka took the opportunity to get some rest while Kakashi and Sakura kept a lookout for the fort.

"Hey, Sakura." Kakashi nudged her leg with his foot.

She turned away from the edge of the saddle, "What's up?"

He appeared to be a bit embarrassed, "I've… ehh got something for you." Kakashi scratched the back of his neck absently.

"Oh?"

He pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with thick string. She accepted and untied the strings holding it together.

"I've been holding onto it for a while, just hadn't found the right time to get it to you… and with what happened at the Oasis, I didn't want you or I to die before I had the chance to."

Though a bit morbid, his words were kind. Inside the parcel was a new notebook along with a velvet drawstring bag. She opened it and a small bottle of perfume was tucked inside.

"When did you…?"

"I may have convinced one of the Sisters at the Abbey to help me."

"That is so sweet of you!" Sakura uncorked the top and waved the scent past her nose, the perfume was made with cherry blossoms and smelled divine. If she could bathe in a vat of the stuff, Sakura would have asked for a tub to be prepared immediately.

"It smells so good Kakashi," She put the cork back in the bottle and stowed it away in her pack along with the notebook, "thank you so much!"

Sakura hugged him tightly. For just a second he seemed surprised, before he gingerly put his arms around her. I hope we never have to deal with death as closely as at the Oasis. That was a hard day for everyone. She took a breath and let him go. Her cheeks were a little hot, but when she looked at Kakashi's, his were much worse, the red tinge spreading to the tips of his ears. It's kind of cute, actually. I'll make sure to break in that notebook right away.

A few hours later they arrived at the fort.

Sokka leaned over the side of the saddle and shouted, "There it is!"

Appa landed on a large open portion of an upper wall. A burly man came to greet them, dressed in heavy green and earth-toned Earth Kingdom armor and accompanied by an entourage of soldiers.

"Welcome, Avatar Aang!" The man bowed in welcome, along with several troops behind him.

"I am General Fong. And welcome to all of you, great heroes! Appa, Momo, brave Sokka, the mighty Katara! Earth Smasher Sakura, and Clever Kakashi!"

"Mighty Katara? I like that." Katara responded, pleased with the assessment.

Sakura wasn't going to argue with the name she'd been given either, but there was a tiny inkling of suspicion mixed in with the pleasure. Sure the man could just be complimenting them, but he also could be trying to butter them up… it wasn't like a completely stranger to just pass out title like candy...

Fireworks exploded in the distance, announcing their arrival at the fort. Four earthbenders stepped forward, pulling up small green boulders from the ground and launching them with their fists. When she looked at the rest of her party, everyone except Kakashi and herself were awestruck by the display. Their actions only hardened her distrust of the General and his men.

…

General Fong led them to a large briefing room. He sat behind a large desk at one end of the room, while they were seated behind a long table opposing. Columns lined either side of the open space, lanterns hung on each one. Everywhere you looked there were huge Earth Kingdom banners. If they hadn't been explicitly told they were in friendly territory, she would have felt quite suspicious at the overbearing display.

As it was, Sakura was right, General Fond did want something.

"Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole," the General stroked his beard, plotting, "I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power," the beard stroking stopped, "It's an awesome responsibility."

Aang seemed uncomfortable and tried to play off the praise, "I try not to think about it too much."

General Fond smiled, and with it, Sakura could see there was more madness in his eyes than she had originally suspected. She itched to tell Kakashi and Aang, but saying something might get them in more trouble than good. Instead she settled for a poke to Kakashi's leg and an instant of quite pointed eye contact. It was clear the man felt the same way, but they knew to keep their mouths shut.

"Avatar… you're ready to face the Fire Lord now."

Aang flipped out, "What!? No I'm not!"

Katara attempted to explain, "Aang still needs to master all four elements."

The General wasn't having it, "Why," he rose from his desk, "with the kind of power he possesses-power enough to destroy hundreds of battleships in a matter of minutes-he could defeat the Fire Lord now!"

His voice was a commanding boom, shocking everyone for a moment.

Sokka raised his hand to speak, albeit timidly, "But, sir, the thing is... Aang can only do those things when he's in the Avatar state."

Sakura nodded and Aang tried to elaborate, "See, it's this special state where—"

Fong cut him off, "I'm well aware. Your eyes and tattoos glow and you're able to summon unbelievable power. Without you we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores," he stabbed at the map in front of him before continuing, "but with you leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation."

With his hand still on the map he drew a line from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation. Not that Sakura could see it very well, but she assumed that's what he was trying to get at.

"Do you realize he cannot fully control it?" Sakura chimed in.

Kakashi also too the moment to speak, "Plus at the moment he can't really distinguish who's who, so many of our own people could be possible casualties."

Sakura could tell the words stung Aang, but he knew it was the truth, just as they all did.

"Right…" He seemed even more uncertain than when the conversation began, "I don't even know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do once I'm there."

General Fong completely ignored their arguments, "So it's decided then. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar state, and then you'll face your destiny."

Katara rose, irritated, "No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way."

Fong narrowed his eyes at them, belittling them like the children he thought they were. Kakashi and I aren't children, asshole, and we won't let you take advantage of Aang like this. Sakura couldn't help but make a fist against her thigh. She wanted to beat the idiot General to a pulp.

"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?"

Aang reluctantly joined Fong and they walked to a giant circular window on one side of the room. Sakura could overhear what they were saying, but just barely.

"That's the infirmary…soldiers are the lucky ones… came back…Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! … end it, now...!"

When General Fong mentioned the Fire Nation taking lives, they all stiffened a bit. The evil scouring their world was a sore spot for everyone, there was no getting around that. They separated and Aang walked back to them. Kakashi was the first to try and reason with him. The General's words may have had some truth to them, but they were more manipulative than anything.

"Aang, it is not your fault that this is happening, that a war is happening, that people are getting hurt. You can't blame yourself for the actions of an asshole Fire Lord against the world. Just... know that."

He had placed a hand on Aang's shoulder, but when the silence grew he knew Aang wasn't listening. Kakashi's hand dropped.

…

Late that night, Sakura and Kakashi were walking around the base. It was a beautiful night, and now that they weren't in the North Pole, the temperature was kinder for an evening stroll. She was tempted to take Kakashi's hand as they toured the fort, but she wasn't sure how he'd react. You really shouldn't be thinking about a romance at a time like this anyway. Maybe after…

She felt her cheeks warm at the thought. They were coming up on the briefing room their earlier argument had taken place in, and while they assumed it would be dark, the space was anything but. Voices could be heard through the doorway and the lamps were still lit. They crept up to the nearest pillar and listened.

"Have you thought about our discussion?"

"I'm in. … I'll fight the Fire Lord."

Sakura looked to Kakashi and saw him shake his head sadly.

Kakashi leaned forward, and for a brief second she thought he might kiss her, but he just whispered in her ear, "He's taking on too much responsibility. The General needs to remember he's just a twelve year old boy."

Her cheeks burned, and she was glad for shadows of the pillar hiding her face. Sakura nodded and made a motion for them to leave. Kakashi agreed silently and they turned back to their quarters.

The two had just gotten in when Aang came back; the commotion waking Sokka and Katara as well. He looked glum, and Sakura knew he really didn't want to do this.

"I told the general I'd help him… by going into the Avatar state." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Katara gasped, "Aang, no. This is not the right way."

Sokka on the other hand didn't seem bothered at all by the plan, "Why not? Remember when he took out the Fire Navy? He was incredible."

"There's a right way to do this. Practice, study, and discipline."

Sokka picked some food bit out of his teeth, "Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord."

That only made Katara angrier, "If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!"

She stormed out of their room. Sakura sighed and moved to follow her, but Aang was quicker.

"Katara, I'm just being realistic. I don't have time to do this the right way." The statement was thick and heavy with the boy's sadness. He just needs a hug and for you to tell him it's all right, Katara. Just be supportive for once.

Kakashi snapped shut the book he had been reading, "Maybe… if you would all just shut up for a moment? If we spent less time arguing about the right or wrong way to do things…Aang would have more time to practice and do it the right way…"

They were all silent. Though what response does anyone have for that? Sakura climbed into her bunk and went to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.

…

A new day filled with bullshit. They spent the morning trying different and increasingly-idiotic ways to induce the Avatar state. From tea concoctions to relic rituals, nothing worked. The only thing General Fong's ideas and methods induced was a giant headache for Sakura. She was ready to be out of this place and on their way.
She wasn't the only one.

…

Later that afternoon, Sakura joined Katara and Aang on a balcony.

She put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey can we talk?" Sakura asked.

"Sure."

Katara turned to her friend, "Do you remember when we were at the air temple and you found Monk Giatso's skeleton? It must have been so horrible and traumatic for you. I saw you get so upset that you weren't you anymore. I'm not saying the Avatar state doesn't have incredible—and helpful power. But you have to understand, for the people who love you, watching you be in that much rage and pain is really scary."

Sakura gave them a sad smile, "You don't have to do it this way Aang, we can get on our way to Omashu and get you started earthbending instead of wasting so much time here trying to induce the Avatar state. You're trying so hard for something so chaotic that it could hurt more people than help as a side effect."

Aang sighed, "I'm really glad you two told me how you feel. But I still need to do this."

"I don't understand." Katara answered.

"No, you don't. Every day more and more people die. I'm already a hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it."

Sakura expected Katara to get angry with him, but she started crying, "I can't watch you do this to yourself. I'm not coming tomorrow," she started walking away, "Goodnight."

Aang looked after her sadly, "Goodnight."

…

In the middle of the night, Sakura lied awake in her bed, the dreams were horrible tonight. Aang across the room had been having nightmares all night and had just woken up from one.

"Sokka. Sokka, wake up."

"wha..?"

"I don't think we should be trying to bring on the Avatar state."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

…

"Okay."

"Do you think the General will be mad?"

She heard Kakashi's voice join the conversation, light and guiding, "He very well might be upset, but what can he really do? You are the Avatar, who should know better about this stuff than you?"

…

The next morning, their group joined General Fong again in the briefing room. Aang explained his position on the Avatar state being a bad idea.

"…So, I guess that's it."

"Sure I can't change your mind?"

"I'm sure. I can only reach the Avatar state when I'm in genuine danger."

General Fong wasn't angry. And that scared Sakura more than any stupid attempts on bringing out the Avatar state. There was something sketchy about his tone…

"I see. I was afraid you'd say that."

In a split second, the General slammed his foot into the ground, forcing a small shock wave to pulse through the floor and catapult his desk at Aang. The heavy wooden furniture rammed into Aang. Sakura winced at the heavy contact. It had happened so quickly she couldn't stop it.

Aang slung the desk away with his airbending, straight through the window. He then jumped through it, with Fong following.

Two guards came up behind each of them and restrained them. I knew something bad was going to happen. I KNEW IT. She stomped her feet, sending pillars of earth into each of the guards attempting to hold her back. She rushed up to Kakashi and punched one of the guards on him in the jaw, and kneeing the other in the nethers with a rock-hardened knee. They both dropped. Kakashi thanked her and they helped free the others.

From the courtyard Sakura could hear a shout, "Men! Attack the Avatar!"

What the fuck had they gotten themselves into?

In the courtyard, Fong was opposing Aang, sending small quakes of earth toward him. The soldiers surrounding them pulled huge discs of earth out of the ground and threw them around the courtyard. Sakura tried to see the best way to intervene, but didn't want to risk hurting Aang while she tried to stop the discs.

"What do you think, Sakura? Should we go for the discs? Or the people behind them?"

"Let's go for people, I don't want to hit Aang."

"Then let's get going."

They jumped from the broken window and landed on a nearby balcony, then a lower window, and an open staircase, eventually getting to the ground.

Aang was dodging their attacks as best he could. As a pacifist monk, there was little choice for him.

"I am not your enemy! I won't fight you!"

Sakura and Kakashi focused on taking out the individual earthbenders. It wasn't too hard, they were all completely focused on fighting Aang and weren't expecting a counterattack from behind. Luckily they both knew how to knock out an enemy without killing them very simply from their warrior training. The soldiers dropped like flies before they even knew what hit them.

She looked up to try and find Aang. He was currently trying to outrun yet another soldier on an air scooter running around the arena wall.

"You can't run forever!'

"You can't fight forever!"

Sakura and Kakashi high-fived, they had taken out almost all of the troops, but their victory was short-lived. On the steps, General Fong was approaching Katara.

"Maybe you can avoid me, but she can't."

The General made a patch of mud and she sank into the ground. He sneered at Aang.

"Aah! I can't move!"

"Don't hurt her!"

Aang tried to hurl the General back with a column of air, but the man threw up an earth wall and made Katara sink further into the ground.

"Aah!"

"Stop this! You have to let her go."

Sakura held back, even if she wanted to pull her from the earth prison, but she knew as well as the General, that in their position, he could make her sink in a second, bury her, cut off her oxygen supply. He could very well kill her.

"You could save her if you were in the Avatar state."

"I'm trying… I'm trying!"

Katara sank lower in the ground and Sakura rushed forward, but only made it a few steps before Kakashi stopped her again.

"You know as well as I do, we have to stand back on this situation. He could do permanent damage to her if we aren't careful."

"But, Katara…"

Her hands fell and Sakura slumped to the ground, waiting for Aang to make his move.

"I don't see glowing…" General Fong mocked Aang.

Katara sank further, up to her neck.

"Please!"

"You don't need to do this!"

"Apparently I do."

Katara disappeared into the ground. Sakura broke away from Kakashi's hold, but she and Aang weren't fast enough, she slipped under the earth. A chill ran down her spine. She looked up and saw Aang's arrow began to glow along with his eyes.

General Fong raised his fist in victory.

"It worked. It worked!"

Sakura knew they had to get as far away from Aang as possible. In his current state there was no telling what he would do. Aang had lost control, now tearing up the courtyard and sending any still conscious soldiers flying. Sakura thought she might have seen a flicker of fear in General Fong's eye, but it was short lived.

"Avatar Aang, can you hear me?! Your friend is safe!" He pulled Katara back out of the ground. She gasped for breath. Fucking bastard.

Sakura rushed forward to take her arm, "Katara, are you okay?"

She took heavy breaths, "What kind of person does this?"

"I don't know, but we need to move out of the area. I don't want any of us to get hurt."

She pulled the girl along, away from the General's evil clutches.

"It was just a logical ruse to trigger the Avatar state, AND IT WORKED!"

Sakura looked back and saw Aang's spirit leaving his body. He and Avatar Roku were on the back of a dragon and flying out of the area.

Huh. Something to ask about later I suppose...
She pulled Katara along to an area that hadn't been destroyed by Aang's rampage yet, and created a stone hut for them. "We should be safe here, did you see Kakashi?"

When Sakura peeked out of their little hut, she saw a whirlwind-like Aang pass by, effectively shutting off her exit. Across the courtyard, Kakashi was helping a limping Sokka. A piece of debris must have hit him.

"Kakashi!" Sakura shouted, trying to overpower the monumental interference of wind from Aang.

He looked up and saw her. The two hurried across the torn up courtyard and pulled Sokka into the hut.

"Sokka!" Katara pulled her bending water from the skin at her hip and went to work healing him.

"What happened?" The girl asked Kakashi.

"I'm not completely sure, I found him in the middle of some debris from the earth circles they were using earlier. I think it's just a sprain, but he couldn't walk right away."

"Thank you for your help."

Katara pulled away from her brother after a moment. "It's just swollen right now, as long as he's careful for a day or two, it should get better quickly. Can you three go find transportation out of this place? I'm going to try calming him."

"Good luck." Sakura told her.

She and Kakashi helped Sokka up onto Kakashi's back. When Katara and Aang had moved to a far end of the courtyard, Sakura and Kakashi took their opportunity for an exit. In a corner near the exit, Sakura spotted a couple of soldiers trying to calm a couple of ostrich horses. The two approached them.

"Hey."

The soldiers had to have been newer recruits, they looked frightened beyond wit's end. They dropped the mounts' reins and ran away.

"Well that wasn't hard. These two lovelies will do nicely. Wait. What about Appa?" Kakashi wondered.

"Aang has his whistle."

The air around them slowed, the whirlwind had come to an end. Sakura looked back to Katara and then Aang, the dragon and the boy's spirit flew into his body. Aang went limp and he fell to the ground. He woke momentarily, exhausted and Sakura could only imagine, depressed at the amount of destruction he had caused to the fort. She and Kakashi mounted the ostrich horses and rode back to the middle of the square, where General Fong was rallying the remaining conscious troops and attempting to convince Aang to continue their experiments.

"Hah! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that." Fong was treating the situation like it was one big joke.

"You're out of your mind." Aang responded.

The general ignored him, already cooking up his next plan, "I guess we'll figure that out on the way to the Fire Nation."

Behind Kakashi, Sokka took his boomerang out of its sheath and bonked Fong over the head with it. It knocked him out. He looked to the soldiers with him, "Anybody got a problem with that?"

They shook their heads.

Sakura, Kakashi and Sokka carefully dismounted and the birds ran off.

One of the soldiers nervously approached them.

"Do you still want an escort to Omashu?"

Katara gave him a vicious stare, "I think we're all set."

...