Okay, guys, this is going to be a longer chapter (my longest chapter yet) as I am combining both of the episodes of The Winter Solstice, which would also explain why it took me longer to get this one out. I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. It belongs to Nick. Enjoy.
The Winter Solstice
The group had been flying around for a while. Everyone was stretched out in Appa's saddle, minus Aang who was leaning back comfortably in the driver's seat. The comfortable silence was broken by Katara pondering out loud.
"Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft cottony heap," she said.
"Maybe you should give it a try," Sokka suggested.
"You're hilarious," Celina replied sarcastically.
"I'll try it!" Aang jumped up excitedly. He jumped off Appa, hurtling down through the clouds. The Water Tribe siblings tried to relocate him once he disappeared, only for him to land next to them on the glider, soaking wet. "Turns out clouds are made of water."
"No kidding," Celina commented, bending the water from the young monk. Throwing it over the side of the saddle the group noticed the below them, around the floor of the valley was a darkened spot amongst the vegetation.
"It's like a scar," Sokka observed.
A scar. Whenever she heard the word Celina couldn't help but think of a certain prince who had been hunting them down. Why wouldn't she with a scar that prominent? Celina often wondered how he got the scar. It was clear that someone gave it to him, she figured that out one night when she couldn't sleep. Celina was just staring at her hand, thinking, before it hit her. Lifting her hand to her eye it fit perfectly like Zuko's scar. Someone gave it to him but who? Who would scar a prince?
"Fire Nation!" Sokka shouted. They apparently landed while Celina was lost in her thoughts. "Those evil savages make me sick!" Celina took the chance to look at the surroundings. Sokka was right, everything was finally charred, leaving the once lush setting to ashes. Celina dismounted from Appa and joined her siblings and Aang.
"Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happened?" Aang mourned ashamed.
"Aang, you didn't let this happen. You were trapped in an iceberg for Spirit's sake," Celina tried to reassure him.
"But it's the Avatar's job to protect nature and I don't know how to do my job," he said.
"That's why we're heading to the North Pole, to find you a teacher," Katara added.
"Yeah, a waterbending teacher, but there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me," Aang sighed. Celina shivered thinking back to the room of past Avatars. Sure the statue of Avatar Roku didn't make her feel as uncomfortable as the other statues but he still made her feel uneasy. She slunk back over to Appa and ran her fingers through his fur, trying to calm herself down. Appa let out a rumble, trying to comfort the distressed girl, as he nuzzled his head into her side. Celina smiled, thankful for the air bison's kindness as she began to hum. A couple of minutes later, after an inspirational everything-will-grow-back-from-these-acorns speech from Katara, an old man appeared and walked right up to Aang.
"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible, but those markings… are you the Avatar, child?" he asked. Aang nodded in response. "My village desperately needs your help."
o
The group followed the old man back towards his village for the rest of the afternoon. When they finally arrived it was sunset. The group looked around at the burned and destroyed buildings. The old man led them into one of the remaining undamaged buildings where he introduced them to the village Chief.
"It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence," the chief bowed.
"Nice to meet you too. So… is there something I can help you with?" Aang asked.
"I'm not sure..." the Chief answered looking disheartened.
"Our village is in crisis, he's our only hope. For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei-Bai, the black and white spirit," the old man explained.
"A spirit? Why is he attacking you?" Celina asked. "There has to be a reason, spirits don't typically attack unless provoked."
"How do you know that?" Sokka questioned.
"Honesty, Sokka, you really should have paid more attention to Gran Gran's stories," Celina sighed.
"We don't know," the Chief answered. "But each of the last three nights he has been abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near." Celina froze in fear; she forgot the winter solstice was coming up. Sokka looked over at his sister worried. The winter solstice meant the worst of her nightmares. Looks like she wasn't sleeping anytime soon.
"What happened then?" Katara asked.
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely," the old man explained.
"Hei-Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here there is no telling what will happen," the Chief added.
"So what do you want me to do exactly?" Aang asked.
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits," the Chief replied.
o
Everyone waited in anxious silence as the sunset. Celina, Sokka, and Katara stood by the window as they watched Aang exit the building and walk towards the entrance of the village.
"This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up," Sokka said.
"If anyone can save us, he can," the old man told Sokka as he walked up to the Water Tribe siblings.
"He still shouldn't have to face this alone," Sokka stated. The environment darkened as the sun fully set.
"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei-Bai? Well, spirit, uh, I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace!" Aang shouted into the air. He twirled his staff around and then planted it on the ground like it was a protection spell. A bad feeling filled Celina's gut as Aang turned to walk back to the safe house. That feeling came true as a massive, six-legged, black and white, spirit emerged from the forest. Seeing a shadow cast over him Aang looked up and gave the spirit a nervous smile.
"You must be the Hei-Bai spirit. My name is…" But Aang didn't get the chance to finish as Hei-Bai sends a blast of blue energy from its mouth, blowing Aang's staff to the ground. The blasts of energy continued but this time the blasts were directed at the village. Aang tried talking to the spirit but it wasn't having any of it, choosing to ignore Aang and continued with his destruction of the village buildings.
"The Avatar's methods are… unusual," the Chief noted as they watched on.
"It doesn't seem too interested in what he's saying. Maybe we should go help him," Sokka suggested.
"No, only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei-Bai," the old man shot down.
"Aang will figure out the right thing to do, Sokka," Katara tried to reassure him.
"I'm not so sure about that?" Celina muttered to herself. Sokka waited only a couple more minutes before Hei-Bai swatted Aang away, throwing him into the roof of a building. The young airbender slide off the roof and collapsed to the ground.
"That's it! He needed help!" Sokka exclaimed and then climbed out the window.
"Sokka wait!" Katara cried out.
Katara tried to follow but Celine held her back. "Katara, it's not safe out there."
"But Sokka –"
"We need to trust that he and Aang will take care of it," Celina told him. "The more people Aang has to worry about the more likely that Hei-Bai will only cause more destruction. I don't like it either but we just have to stay here and let them take care of it."
Celina and Katara watched on as Sokka and Aang confronted Hei-Bai. Celina couldn't help but facepalm when Sokka threw his boomerang at the spirit only to have it hit it's butt, having no effect on it whatsoever. The girls let out a gasp as within a flash Hei-Bai grabbed Sokka and ran out into the forest. Aang followed after them.
"Sokka!" Katara cried out. Celina jumped out the window and ran towards the entrance of the village, forgoing what she said to Katara earlier. Celina stood at the entrance, just staring out at the forest. Katara walked up next to her and gave Celina a hug.
o
The girls waited by the village gate all night, hoping that Aang would come back with their brother. The old man from before came up and gave them a blanket. Celina handed it off to Katara. There was no way that she would be sleeping anytime soon with what just happened, along with the winter solstice coming up. Besides, Katara needed rest more than she did.
"You should get some rest," the old man told them. "Your brother is in good hands. I would be shocked if the Avatar returned without him."
"Celina, Katara, I lost him." Celina whipped around to see Aang walking towards them distraught. But there was something different about him, it's like he wasn't completely there. Katara and the old man didn't seem to notice him though which very much confused Celina.
"The sun is rising. Perhaps he will return soon," the old man suggested.
"What are you talking about he's right there," Celina said, pointing to Aang. Katara and the old man looked at her like she was crazy.
"Is she okay?" the old man asked Katara.
"Yeah, she gets like this whenever something extreme happens. We think that she thinks up imaginary beings to cope with the pain," Katara explained, trying to whisper to him but clearly Celina still heard.
"Guys! We're right here! We can hear you!" Celina shouted.
"We should just leave her to her imagination, she should be back to normal in an hour or two," Katara suggested as her and the old man went back inside the village.
"What?" Celina and Aang said confused.
"It's a good thing you can see me, Celina," Aang sighed in relief.
"Yeah, but why?" Celina asked confused. The rising of the sun helped to answer their question as the light helped reveal the blue glow that surrounded Aang. He looked at his hands surprised.
"I'm in the Spirit World!" Aang realized.
"What?!" Celina exclaimed.
"But then how can you see me if I'm in the Spirit World?" Aang asked.
"I…" Celina paused. How could she see him? Was she always able to see spirits? It would explain why everyone thought she was crazy back home in the South Pole. They always thought that she was talking to nothing whenever she was talking to one of her animal friends. So she could see and has been talking to spirits. It explained how her friends would suddenly appear and disappear. "I guess I've always been able to see spirits."
"Huh, that's… interesting," Aang said, trying to give her a smile. Celina felt a stab of sadness. Sure she had been made fun of and called a freak her whole life but that didn't mean she was used to it. And now having it come from her friends… it hurt even more than the years of bullying back at the village.
"So what are we going to do now?" Celina asked, pushing her hurt feelings aside.
"I'll figure something out. Like they said, I'm the bridge between the worlds. All I have to do is… figure out what I have to do. But once I do that, no problem!" Aang tried to pass off. Celina just raised an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe I need help. Avatar Roku, how can I talk to you?"
Celina tensed, feeling a distinct change in the air. Her and Aang turned and looked into the forest, hearing a rustling.
"Sokka?" Aang asked. A bright light shined through the foliage and suddenly a blue spirit dragon came flying towards them.
"That's not Sokka," Celina shrieked. Celina and Aang cowered as the dragon stood towering over them.
"You don't happen to know where Sokka is, do you?" Aang asked the dragon. The dragon in response bent down and touched his forehead with one of his whiskers. Celina watched as Aang's eyes glowed a bright blue. She couldn't help but tense up when the dragon looked at her. There was something about him that reminded Celina of the Avatar statues. The dragon's gaze turned back to Aang as the glowing in his eyes stopped.
"You're Avatar Roku's animal guide! Like Appa is to me," Aang said to the dragon.
"No wonder you make me uncomfortable," Celina muttered. Aang and the dragon shot her a look, the dragon more so glaring at her. "Sorry, but your past lives make me super uncomfortable. When we were in the Air Temple Sanctuary I just felt their eyes on me, just trying to stare me into the ground." The dragon's eyes softened for a reason that Celina couldn't figure out why.
"I need to save my friend and I don't know how. Is there some way for me to talk to Roku?" Aang asked the dragon. The dragon nodded and then bends his neck down. Aang jumped aboard and he and the dragon took off into the forest.
"Aang!" Celina called out. She took off after them into the forest, trying to keep up the best she could. But she was not only up against a dragon but a spirit dragon at that. It didn't take long for her to completely lose them. Celina kept running until she came upon the burned portion of the forest. She let out a gasped when she saw Aang sitting on top of a bear statue.
"Aang?" She got no response. "Right, he's in the Spirit World." Moving up to the statue Celina ran her fingers over the darkened wood. Bringing it away she looked down at her fingers to find ash left behind. Looks like the statue didn't completely escape the Fire Nation's flames.
"Maybe that's why the spirit's so angry," Celina mused. She sighed and looked back up at Aang's body. There was no way she was leaving Aang's body out in the open with no one to defend it while he was in the Spirit World. Finding that she wasn't going anywhere until Aang got back Celina sat down next to the statue. Her thoughts turned to her brother. Sokka must be freaking out, most likely being trapped in the Spirit World. But she knew the thing he'd be freaking out about the most was that he wasn't back here with her the closer that the Winter Solstice arrived. The Solstice was when the worst of her nightmares happened and Sokka would always be there to comfort her. Celina admitted that she was freaking out with him.
Before she had time to dive deeper into her thoughts Roku's dragon came rushed towards the statue with Aang. Celina immediately got up to her feet as Aang's spirit entered his body and the dragon disappeared into the statue of the bear. Aang jumped down off the statue, grabbed Celina's hand, and took off towards the village.
"Come on, we have to get back," Aang told her.
"Aang, what's going on? Where did you go? Where's Sokka?" Celina questioned. He didn't bother answering her, his main goal was to get back to the village as fast as they could.
Celina and Aang made it back to the village around sunset. Katara was at the entrance of the village when they arrived and gladly rushed to hug Aang. Momo flew up and perched on Celina's shoulder, giving her cheek a small lick.
"You're back!" Katara exclaimed. "Where's Sokka?"
"I'm not sure," Aang admitted sadly.
o
Night had fallen and Aang once again stood at the gate. Celina and Katara were watching him from inside the safe house. He waited at the gate for some time before heading back into the village. The airbender walked up to a house with wind chimes, only to have the angry spirit burst through the building's roof. Hei-Bai let out a roar and then sent an energy blast towards Aang, who in turn got knocked to the ground.
"Aang, what are you doing? Run!" Katara called out. Celina sprinted into action, as she jumped out the window to help Aang. "Celina!"
"I'm not letting anyone else get taken again!" Celina cried. She rushed over to Aang and helped him up to his feet. Hei-Bai went to send another energy blast at them but stopped. The spirit bent down and sniffed Celina's head before backing away and sitting down in front of them. Suddenly something clicked in her mind.
"You're the spirit of this forest aren't you?" she asked. The spirit nodded in response.
"Now I understand. You're upset and angry because your home was burned down. When I saw the forest had burned I was sad and upset. But my friend gave me hope that the forest would grow back," Aang said and then pulled out an acorn, offering it to the spirit. Hei-Bai looked over at Celina, almost asking her if it was alright to take. Celina nodded. The spirit took the acorn and transformed into a panda. He turned and walked out of the village, sprouting a thicket of bamboo as he exited the gate. Moments later people exited the bamboo looking confused.
"Sokka!" Celina and Katara shouted as they ran up to hug their brother.
"What happened?" Sokka asked.
"You were trapped in the Spirit World for 24 hours," Celina explained.
"How are you feeling?" Katara asked.
"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom!" Sokka answered and then went off to go pee.
Aang walked up to the girls as Katara turned and asked Celina a question. "What happened back there? What did you do?"
"I… I'm not sure," Celina admitted.
"She's able to see and communicate with the spirits," Aang informed the younger waterbender.
"What!" Sokka exclaimed having returned from his bathroom break.
"So those imaginary friends that you talked to weren't actually imaginary? They were spirits?" Katara asked.
"Wow, you're not crazy anymore, just weird," Sokka commented. Katara slapped the back of Sokka's head for Celina.
"Wow, thanks, Sokka," Celina rolled her eyes, trying to push past the hurtful comment.
The Chief of the village walked up to them. "Thank you, Avatar. If there only were a way to repay you for what you and your friend have done."
"You could give us some supplies and some money," Sokka suggested.
"Sokka," Katara exclaimed, elbowing her in the arm.
"We do need some supplies. We can't keep trying to live off the land now with winter," Celina backed him up.
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey," the Chief said and then went off to make preparations and gather supplies for them.
"There's something I need to tell you guys," Aang said to the group. "I need to talk to Roku and I think I've found a way to contact his spirit."
"That's great!" Katara smiled.
"Creepy, but great," Sokka commented.
"There's a temple on a crescent shaped island, and if I go there on the Solstice I'll be able to speak with him," Aang told them.
"But, the Solstice is tomorrow," Katara pointed out.
"Why do I have a bad feeling that there's a catch?" Celina asked.
"This island is in the Fire Nation," Aang said.
"And there it is," Celina sighed as terrified looks graced her siblings' faces.
It was clear that neither of them were happy about this information and protested as Aang and Celina headed over to Appa who was packed with supplies from the village. "Please don't go, Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation," Katara pleaded.
"But I have to talk to Avatar Roku to find out what my vision means. I need to get to the Fire Nation Temple before the sunset on the solstice. And that's today," Aang explained.
"Don't remind me," Celina shivered. Celina had been on edge ever since midnight came around. She was tired from staying up all night but there was no way that she could fall asleep during the solstice. Aang helped Celina onto Appa and they were about to take off when Katara and Sokka stood in front of Appa.
"We're not letting you go into the Fire Nation, Aang," Katara told him.
"At least not without your friends. We got your back," Sokka smiled. Celina helped her siblings onto Appa as the Chief came up to them, carrying a parcel.
"You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck," the Chief wished, handing the parcel over to Aang.
"Thank you, for your…" Aang went to say.
"Time to go," Celina interrupted, taking hold of Appa's reigns. "Yip yip!" Appa took off into the air as the group headed to the Fire Nation.
o
The sun was rising high in the sky as they raced towards the Fire Nation though Celina was having a difficult time staying awake. Katara begged that she get some sleep while things were still calm. Sokka took awhile but agreed with Katara, saying that he'd be there to comfort her when the nightmare became too much. So Celina gave in. Closing her eyes she succumbed to the sleep that had been calling for her.
Her dream started off back at the burned down forest, completely different from the past solstice dreams which took place back in the tundra of the South Pole. Everything was darker here as the sky was completely black. Celina shivered, feeling a familiar dark presence enter.
"Hello my dear, Celina. It's wonderful to see you again." Celina didn't respond, instead, she tried to shrink down into herself the best she could. "What? No hello for your good friend?"
"You're not my friend," Celina squeaked.
"Oh, but why not? I mean, we've known each other for such a long time. I would think we'd be friends." Once again she remained silent but HE wasn't having it.
"The silent treatment huh. Well if you're going to be a bitch, then I'm going to treat you like one." Celina screamed as she was beaten by multiple arms, slashing through her clothes and into her skin. "Look at that face. What a pretty little pained face."
Everything went dark and there was nothing but pain.
Celina let out a shriek, thankfully waking herself up. Sokka immediately rushed to his sister's side, cradling her in his arms as she cried. "It's okay, Celina. I got you, you're safe," he soothed.
"Uh, guys, we got trouble," Aang informed everyone, noticing Zuko's ship following them.
"And it's gaining fast!" Katara added. Celina didn't have much time to gather her composure as Zuko's ship sent a giant fireball soaring towards them. Aang managed to dodge it by steering Appa's reigns sharply away from the projectile. The Water Tribe siblings clung to the saddle.
"We have to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot stinker at us!" Katara shouted to Aang.
"Can't you make Appa go any faster?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah, but there's just one little problem," Aang said. Celina looked up in front of them to see a blockade of Fire Nation ships.
"If we fly north we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way," Aang told them.
"There's no time," Katara pointed out.
"This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. It's too dangerous," Aang said.
"And that's exactly why we're here," Celina said, furiously wiping the tears from her face. "Let's run the blockade."
"Appa! Yip yip!" Aang ordered. Appa let out a growl as he stormed swiftly towards the blockade of ships. Everyone screamed as fireballs came soaring after them from every direction. Aang did his best, steering Appa to avoid the fireballs. Unfortunately one of the fireballs managed to graze Appa's back. The bison let out a screech of pain. Celina quickly drew water from her skin to put out the fire. "Appa! Are you okay?" The bison let out an affirmative grumble.
The avoiding of fireballs continued. Trying to avoid one of the fireballs sent Sokka flying over the saddle and plummeting towards the ocean below. "Sokka!" the group called out. Aang sent Appa diving down to rescue Sokka. Katara caught their brother and pulled him back into the saddle while Celina picked up some water from the ocean, ready to use it to at least douse out flames. She managed to use up half of the water she pulled when they saw a fireball coming straight at them.
"Celina!" he shouted out. Celina ran up to the front of Appa. She looked at Aang who nodded and they both sent out blasts towards it, Aang sending out air and Celina using the rest of the water. The flaming ball exploded from the blasts and created a cloud of smoke and steam. Appa flew out of the cloud and right over the Fire Nation blockade.
"We made it!" Aang cheered. Celina looked back to her siblings who looked extremely shaken up but amazed.
"We got into the Fire Nation…" Sokka said in disbelief before his demeanor changed. "Great…"
"Wow, Celina. That was some smart thinking. I had to admit I thought you'd be down and out after that nightmare of yours," Aang told her. Celina tensed remembering her nightmare. She couldn't help but shiver in response.
"You still look really tired," Katara noticed. "Maybe you should get some more sleep before…"
"NO!" Celina shouted, shocking Aang and Katara with her outburst. "I'll sleep after the Solstice."
"But…" Katara went to protest.
"I've survived off little to no sleep before. This won't be any different," Celina interrupted, sitting back down in the saddle.
"Sokka, please tell her to get some sleep," Katara begged their brother.
"Leave her alone, Katara. She's had enough sleep for today," Sokka told her, as he scooted over to Celina and wrapped his arms around her shoulder. Celina leaned into her brother's comforting touch as she tried to keep the scenes from her nightmare away.
"There it is! The island Roku's dragon took me to!" Aang called out. Everyone looked out and saw the crescent shaped island appear as they exited the clouds. At the center of the island was a large volcano, the smoke and fire spirting out of it marking that it was still active. Appa landed down near the temple, hidden by surviving overgrowth.
"You did it, buddy. Nice flying," Aang praised. Appa groaned before rolling to his side in exhaustion. Celina walked up to the bison and began to rub his tummy.
"Ah, poor Appa. You must be tired," she cooed to the beast.
"No. I'm good. Refreshed and ready to fight some firebenders," Sokka replied.
"I was talking to Appa," Celina told him, raising an eyebrow at her brother.
"Well, I was talking to Momo," Sokka tried to save himself. The lemur in question flew up to Celina's shoulder, chittering happily.
"Come on, let's head inside," Aang said. The group followed Aang up the steep path leading to the Fire Temple. Everyone was on high alert, glancing to their left and right in anticipation that they could be attacked.
"I don't see any guards," Sokka noticed as they crouched down behind a lower wall in the front of the temple.
"The Fire Nation must have abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku died," Katara thought out loud.
"It's almost sundown," Celina pointed out.
"We'd better hurry," Aang said. Celina, Sokka, and Katara followed Aang into the temple as the sun started to set. They were sneakily running through the temple. Once they reached the center of the temple Sokka stopped them, saying that he heard something. Turning around the group saw five elderly men dressed in red robes. Celina couldn't help but jump seeing them sneak up on them, still on edge after her nightmare.
"We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the temple of the Avatar," one of the men spoke up.
"Great! I am the Avatar," Aang smiled.
"We know." The Fire Sages assumed firebending positions and shot fireballs at Aang. The group gasped and Aang deflected the fireballs with airbending.
"I'll hold them off. Run!" Aang told his friends. Celina took her siblings' hands and ran off down the corridor. Katara wanted to protest, saying that they should stay to help out Aang but Celina shot her down. She said that they'd only get in the way and that Aang would meet up with them later. That statement came true as they were approaching a corner and Aang came running towards them. "Follow me!"
"Do you know where you're going?" Sokka asked.
"Nope!" Aang answered. Aang went around the corner on to come running back, followed by a Fire Mage. "Wrong way!"
The chase continued as the group tried to get away from the Fire Sage. Unfortunately for the group, they came to a dead end. Turning around they saw the Fire Sage blocking them from escaping. Everyone got into defensive positions.
"I don't want to fight you. I'm a friend," the Fire Sage said.
"Firebenders aren't exactly our friends," Celina snapped.
The Fire Sage approached Aang but then dropped down to his knees and bowed to him. "I know why you're here Avatar," he said.
"You do?" Aang asked surprised.
"Yes. You wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him," the Sage answered, standing up. He reached over to the wall and turned a light fixture that was secretly a lever. A small hole opened up in the wall to which the Sage shot fire into it. A panel in the wall opening up into a secret passage that led into the mountain. "This way."
The group was apprehensive but quickly followed after the Sage when they heard the other Sages coming. They walked through a vast cavernous system of tunnels with magma from the volcano freely flowing on their right. Celina was sweating, Water Tribe clothing wasn't meant for warm climates and being near an active volcano wasn't helping at all. Not to mention that she was in Roku's temple and Aang's past lives always made her uncomfortable.
"Did you know Avatar Roku?" Aang asked the Sage who they learned was called Shyu.
"No. But my grandfather knew him. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this temple long before me. We all have a strong spiritual connection to this place," Shyu explained.
"Is that how you knew I was coming?" Aang asked.
"A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku, its eyes began to glow," Shyu told him.
"That's when we were at the Air Temple. Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there too!" Katara mentioned.
"At that moment, we knew you had returned to the world," Shyu said.
"If this is the Avatar's temple, then why did the Sages attack Aang?" Celina questioned.
"Things have changed. In the past, the Sages were loyal only to the Avatar. When Roku died, the Sages eagerly awaited for the next Avatar to return. But he never came," Shyu told them.
"They were waiting for me," Aang said feeling guilty.
"Hey, don't feel bad. You're only a hundred years late," Sokka said, trying and failing to cheer Aang up.
"They lost hope the Avatar would ever return. When Fire Lord Sozen began the war, my grandfather and the other Sages were forced to follow him. I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord. When I learned you were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other Sages," Shyu continued.
"Thank you for helping me," Aang slightly bowed to him. Shyu smiled warmly at Aang. They began climbing up some stairs.
"We'll follow these stairs to the sanctuary. Once you're inside, wait for the light to hit Avatar Roku's statue. Only then will you be able to speak with him," Shyu told them. They continued on. Once they came to a certain point Shyu opened up a tile in the floor that they exited out of. They looked at the sanctuary only to find that the doors were closed. "NO!"
"Shyu, what's wrong?" Aang asked.
"The sanctuary doors, they're closed," Shyu answered.
"Can't you just open them with firebending? Like you opened the other door?" Katara asked.
"No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise, the Sages must open the doors together with five simultaneous fire blasts," Shyu explained.
"Five fire blasts, huh?" Sokka said, scratching his chin. Celina saw his eyes lit up when he got an idea. "I think I can help you out." Everyone watched as Sokka sat on the floor and began to fill small sacks. "This is a little trick I picked up from my father. I seel the lamp oil inside an animal casing, Shyu lights the oil soaked twin and tada! Fake firebending!"
"Nice thinking, Sokka," Celina praised her brother.
"You've really outdone yourself this time," Katara added.
"This might actually work," Shyu smiled. Once he had all the bags filled Sokka stuffed them into the mouths of the five lion heads that locked the sanctuary doors. Once they were in place Sokka joined Celina, Katara, and Aang behind the nearest column.
"The Sages will hear the explosions, so as soon as they go off, you rush in," Shyu informed them.
"It's almost sunset. Are you ready?" Katara asked Aang.
"Definitely," Aang answered.
Shyu sent a small flame at the twine which instantly caught on fire. He quickly joined everyone else behind the column. Sokka held Celina close to him as the bombs went off and smoke filled the chamber. Aang instantly ran towards the door and pulled the handles but it wouldn't budge. Everyone came out from behind the column as Aang angrily sent blasts of air at the door.
"Why won't it open! Aargh!" Aang shouted.
"Aang, stop! There's nothing else we can do," Katara told him, grabbing his arm and making him stop with the air blasts.
"I'm sorry I put you through ass this for nothing," Aang apologized.
"I don't get it. That blast looked as strong as any firebending I've seen," Sokka mused, looking over the soot on the door.
"Sokka, you're a genius," Celina exclaimed.
"Wait, how is Sokka a genius? His plan didn't even work," Aang asked confused.
"You're right. Sokka's plan didn't work… but it looks like it did," Celina explained.
"Did the definition of 'genius' change in the last hundred years?" Aang asked still confused.
"Just hide behind a column while Shyu goes and gets the other Fire Sages so that they can open the door," Celina said, heading towards a column. She heard the others go "oh" as they finally got what she was saying. Celina couldn't help but roll her eyes as she turned to Momo and asked him to do something.
o
Celina clung to the top of a column. Sokka and Katara said that it was unnecessary but Celina had a gut feeling that they would need another element of surprise in case something went wrong. Katara was amazed by how she was able to climb up it so quickly. How else did they think she procured the fruits she brought back? Everyone quieted down when they heard the Fire Sages heading towards the door. Celina watched carefully.
"He's inside. Open the door immediately before he contacts Avatar Roku," one of the Fire Sages ordered. The five of them got into position and shot five fire blasts into the lion's head on the door. Smoke appeared around the door jambs as the mechanism began to work. Soon there was a creak and the door slowly opened. Behind the door, instead of Aang, was Momo.
"It's the Avatar's lemur! He must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!" a Fire Sage announced. Momo instantly attacked the Sage's face, knocking him to the ground. Katara and Sokka grabbed two Sages while Shyu took care of the remaining one.
"Now, Aang!" Shyu yelled.
"Aang! Now's your chance!" Katara shouted. Unfortunately, when Aang stepped out from behind the column he was hiding behind, it was with his arms held tightly behind his back by Prince Zuko.
"The Avatar's coming with me!" he told them. Celina watched as the tables quickly turned as her friends and family were taken captive by the Fire Sages, chaining them to the columns. Celina thanked her gut for giving her this warning. "Close the doors! Quickly!" Once she saw Zuko trying to push Aang towards the opening in the floor which led to the secret tunnels she jumped into action. Jumping down from the column Celina landed on Zuko, throwing him off balance and setting Aang free.
"Run, Aang!" Celina shouted. Aang quickly listened, sprinting towards the sanctuary doors which were being to close. As Aang dodged fire blast after fire blast from the Fire Sages, Celina realized that she was still on top of Zuko. "Well… I never expected us to be in this position."
Zuko took a swing at her with a fiery fist causing Celina to roll off him to avoid getting hit. The two teens were in a full out battle with each other. Celina summoned the water from her case, trying to dodge all of the attacks that Zuko threw at her. The Fire Prince would have admitted that he was impressed that the waterbender was holding her own against him but he was too angry that she made him lose the Avatar. Celina was breathing heavily, she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold Zuko off forever, but she just needed to keep him busy until Aang made it into the sanctuary.
"He made it!" Katara shouted as the doors fully closed. Celina instantly stopped with her fighting, putting her hands up in surrender.
"Giving up just like that?" Zuko smirked.
"It's five against one now with you having the advantage. There'd be no point. Besides, I did my job in keeping you busy while Aang got inside," Celina spat. Suddenly a blast of bright white light came from behind the sanctuary doors and Celina felt a pounding in her head. She fell to her knees and fainted as the pain became too much.
"Should we chain her up?" one of the Sages asked Zuko.
"Leave her there for now. She should be out for a while. We need to get the doors open," Zuko answered, moving over to the doors. The four Fire Sages joined him as they took position and shot five fire blasts at the door. But nothing happened.
"Why isn't it working? It's sealed shut!" Zuko shouted extremely aggravated.
"It must have been the light. Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside," a Sage told him.
o
The first thing that Celina saw was Aang standing in front of Avatar Roku. A shiver went up her spine gazing upon the spirit of the past Avatar. She couldn't help but let out a gasp when Avatar Roku glanced over at her. It felt like the air got knocked out of her as everything went dark.
o
Celina woke up to find that Zuko was facing an older Fire Nation man and looked extremely angry that he was there. "Commander Zhao…," Zuko growled.
"And Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort. But your little smoke screen didn't work. Two traitors, in one, day, the Fire Lord will be pleased," the older man smirked. A Fire Nation soldier came up and grabbed Zuko.
"Two traitors?" Celina wondered. "What is he talking about?"
"You're too late, Zhao. The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed," Zuko sneered.
"No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out," Zhao smiled menacingly. She saw worried looks cross her siblings' faces before feelings hands lift her up off the ground.
"Commander Zhao, I found this Water Tribe girl on the floor," the soldier holding her reported.
"Tsk, irresponsible as ever leaving an enemy unchained," Zhao tutted. "Chain them up together."
"What?!" Celina and Zuko shouted. In no time at all the Fire Nation soldier Celina and Zuko chained up next to each other. Celina didn't bother struggling, finding that there was no point but Zuko didn't think that same way. He struggled, causing the chains to rub against Celina uncomfortably.
"Uh, will you stop that," Celina hissed at him.
"Why would I listen to a pathetic Water Tribe peasant like you?" Zuko growled.
"Hey, don't talk to her like that!" Sokka said coming to her defense.
"Oh look, your stupid boyfriend is coming to your defense," Zuko mocked.
"What? Ew!" Sokka and Celina voiced.
"He's my brother."
"She's my sister."
"You're siblings?"
"Yeah."
"You guys look nothing alike," Zuko pointed out. He looked over at the girl chained up next to him. Aside from her clothing, there was really nothing about her that spoke Water Tribe. Her skin color was nothing like theirs, skin pale as snow compared to their caramel colored skin. Sure she had dark brown hair like Sokka and Katara, held in a braid, but it appeared to be richer brown than her siblings. And her eyes were blue but they weren't the stormy blue like theirs, her eyes were a pure blue that reminded him of the pond back in his mother's garden. The kind that sparkled whenever the sun hit it just right. But there were dark circles under her eyes that made him wonder if she was getting any sleep. Zuko quickly shook the thought from his head. He didn't care about the strange Water Tribe peasant.
"When the doors open, unleash all your firebending power," Zhao ordered.
"How's Aang going to make it out of this?" Katara wondered, worried.
"How are we going to make it out of this?" Sokka asked, freaking out.
Celina felt something warm go through her body, not a warm of being close to the firebender who has been hunting them for a while, or the warmth of the volcano. No, it was something else. Closing her eyes for a moment she caught a glimpse of Aang and Roku once again and heard Roku ask if he was ready to which Aang responded that he was. Opening her eyes Celina looked towards the door as a blinding light started coming out from behind it like before. A bag feeling filled her stomach as she felt a familiar uncomfortable presence. Smoke leaked out from the bottom of the door as Zhao and his soldiers get ready to attack.
"Get away from the door!" Celina shouted at them frantic. "If you value your lives, get away from the door!"
"What are you talking about girl?" Zhao snapped at her.
"You needed to get away from the door! Aang won't be the one coming out of the sanctuary. It will be…" Celina tried to warn them. But the door suddenly burst open to reveal, "Roku." Everyone was shocked to see the past Avatar standing in the doorway. Zhao and his soldiers sent blasts of fire at him but Roku caught them with ease and sent them back. Zhao and his soldiers were knocked back and the heat from the blast caused the chains holding Celina, Sokka, Katara, Shyu, and Zuko to melt. The Fire Prince instantly ran away while Celina ran over to her siblings. They all looked at Avatar Roku whose entire body was glowing. The Fire Sages ran for their lives.
"Avatar Roku's going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!" Shyu told them.
"Not without Aang!" Katara cried. The temple shook as Avatar Roku raised his arms and brought down the floor, causing lava to rise to the surface. Bending the magma from within the volcano he lifts it, causing lava to violently burst through the temple's structure. Lowering his hands Avatar Roku took a deep breath and is then covered by all the smoke he created. Once the smoke was gone the Water Tribe siblings saw Aang standing where Roku once was before falling to the knees, exhausted. They ran over and help him to his feet.
"We got your back," Sokka said. the airbender.
"Thanks. Where's Shyu?" Aang asked.
"We don't know," Katara answered.
"Probably fleeing the island. We gotta get out of here before it's completely destroyed," Celina told them. Everyone nodded as they ran, making their way out of the temple. They ran as fast as they could but when they approached the stairs that would lead them out they realized that they were trapped, as lava reached all but the top few steps. A column came crashing to the floor behind them. Everyone let out a gasp as they ran towards one of the holes that Roku created. Looking outside they saw that the temple was being devoured by the volcano. The group thought that they were goners until they saw Appa coming to their rescue at full speed. They slide down one of the peaks of the temple and onto Appa's back. As they flew away from they looked back to see the temple sinking further and further into the lava.
"How did you know that Roku would come out of the door instead of Aang?" Katara asked now that they had time to breathe.
"It was the same uncomfortable feeling that I got back in the Air Temple with the statues and the same feeling I got when we first saw Roku's dragon. I just knew it was him," Celina answered.
"Why are you so uncomfortable with Aang's past lives?" Katara continued to question.
"It just feels like they don't like me or something like that," Celina said. Momo flew up onto Celina's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek, wanting to make her feel better.
"Guys," Aang spoke up. "We have a problem."
o
The Water Tribe siblings sat and listened as Aang informed them about he and Roku talked about. He told Aang about the comet that he saw in his vision the night before and how it amplified firebenders abilities. How Fire Lord Sozin used that power to start the Hundred Year War. How the comet will return by the end of summer and that Fire Lord Ozai will use its power to take over the world if nothing is done. How it was up to Aang to master the remaining three elements of water, earth, and fire before the end of the summer in order to save the world from destruction. Everything was silent as the sun fell and the bright moon entered the sky. Aang hung his head, feeling the weight that was placed on him. Katara was the first to move, then Sokka, then Celina, as they moved towards Aang and just hugged him.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to leave me a review and a crazy "So Tell Me About Yourself" answer.
"So Tell Me About Yourself" is an inside joke between me and my friends which started from my one friend's hatred for the typical getting-to-know-you question "So tell me about yourself". She, being so annoyed with the phrase, gave a silly answer that she murdered people in their sleep. When she brought it back to me and my other friend we both gave a silly answer. That is where the idea for my account name came from.
