The gang decided to take a rest from flying for a bit and take a short walk through the woods. Azula would rather continue flying to the North Pole but even she agreed that a chance to stretch her legs was more than a little convenient. She was walking next to Katara when they came across the boys looking around through some bushes. "Did someone lose something?" Katara asked. "No, we found something." Aang told them as he looked through a bush.
"Found what, exactly?" Azula asked. "He found this." Sokka said, holding up a knife. The blade was made of whale bone. That could only mean one thing…it was a water tribe weapon. Azula and Katara's eyes widened in surprise. "Give me that!" Azula shouted. She took a close look at the weapon in her hand. "Katara, you don't think….." Azula asked Katara. "I don't know. Let's keep looking." Katara told Azula as they joined in the search for anything else they could find.
Sokka picked up an arrow from the ground and felt the tip. "It's burnt." Sokka looked around and began to piece things together. "There was a battle. Water tribe warriors ambushed a group of fire benders. The fire benders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill." Sokka ran down the hill and the others followed him downhill to a beach.
"So then what happened?" Aang asked when Sokka stopped at the end of the beach. "I don't know. The trail ends here." Azula looked around the beach from where she was standing and spotted something she hadn't seen in a long time. "No way, LOOK!" Azula said as she pointed to a beached water tribe boat.
"It's one of our boats!" Sokka shouted. The group ran up to the boat and inspected it. It was a little damaged but still more then sea worthy. "Is this dad's boat?" Katara asked. "No. But it's from his fleet. Dad was here."
The group decided to make camp by the boat. It was now night time and Katara and Aang were sleeping. Sokka and Azula were still awake, with Sokka keeping the fire going by poking the logs with a stick and Azula not being able to stop thinking about the last time she saw Hakoda.
Flash back start
Azula watched as the men of the village boxed up food and supplies for the boats. Her uncle had sent her here so she could grow up to be happy. To be away from the war. She supposed all good things ended eventually as she watched people say goodbye to their kids and loved ones. Hakoda already said goodbye to Gran Gran, Katara, Sokka and her already. Azula had seen Sokka quickly rush to the boats with war paint on his face, holding a sleeping bag. Did he REALLY think Hakoda was going to let him join the war with him? Azula let out a deep sigh as she thought about what this will do to the village. 'Hold on….' Azula thought to herself. At that moment Azula got an idea. She ran as fast as she could back to their igloo and snatched some paper. She had to hurry.
As soon as she was done she ran as fast as she could to the boats, praying to Agni that she could make it in time. She got there to see Hakoda walking away from Sokka, presumably explaining to him that he was not coming with them. She wasn't too late. "WAAAAAIIIITT!" Azula shouted as loud as she could. Hakoda stopped and turned around to see Azula fastly approaching. She was completely out of breath by the time she caught up with them.
"Azula, you're not coming along either." He told her. "Tha-that's no-not why….im here….." Azula said in-between breaths. She took a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "I made this as quickly as I could. I want you to have it." She said as she handed a folded piece of paper to Hakoda. He took it and unraveled it. "What's this?" he asked. "It's a map of all the fire nations' points of interest. Navy routes, supply routes on both land and sea, prison camps, strongholds. And all things in-between. I hope it helps." Azula explained to him. She knew she wasn't going with them to fight in the war, but she could at least still help with this.
Hakoda slimed as he looked at Azula. "Of course this will help" he said as he folded back up the paper and put it away in his parka. He put his hand on Azula's shoulder. "Azula…even though I'm not your father by birth. I want you to never forget that I love you just as much as I love your brother and sister. And I'm proud of the person you've grown up to be." Hakoda told Azula. Azula couldn't control herself, tears ran down her face as she hugged Hakoda. "I'll miss you…dad." Azula said as more tears flowed down her face. "I'll miss you too. My little spitfire." Hakoda said back.
Flash back end
Azula smirked a bit as she recalled that moment with her step dad. However her moment of reminiscing came to an end as noises could be heard in the distance. Sokka and Azula stood up, Sokka drawing his boomerang and Azula getting in a fighting stance. "Who's there?!" Sokka shouted. The figure approached and Azula was sure they were in for a fight when suddenly.
"Sokka?" A very familiar voice called out to them as they came close enough to where his face could be seen. "Bato?" Sokka and Azula said in unison. The others were starting to wake up from the commotion. "Who the what now?" Aang asked, rubbing his eyes. "Bato!" Katara said in surprised excitement as she recognized her fellow tribe's member.
"Sokka! Katara! Azula! It is so good to see you!" Bato said as the three siblings ran up to hug him. "You three have grown so much." Bato told them. Aang approached and introduced himself to Bato and before Bato could introduce himself to Aang, the three siblings bombarded Bato with questions. "Where's Dad?" "Is he here?" "Can we see him?" The three asked Bato. "No. He and the other warriors should be in the eastern earth kingdom by now." Bato told them. Their faces dropped upon hearing this. Their dad wasn't here. Azula was going to ask why Bato was here when a strong gust of wind suddenly blew, making everyone shiver. "This is no place for a reunion. Let's get inside." Bato said as he led everyone away from the boat.
Bato brought everyone to an abbey that was filled with nuns. "After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey. The sisters have cared for me ever since." Bato explained as they entered the abbey and approached some of the sisters. "Superior, these are Hakoda's children." Bato said to the head sister. The three women turned to them and smiled. The head nun in question looked to be about her uncle and Gran Gran's age. "They've been traveling with the avatar. I found them by my boat." Bato told them.
The superior stepped forward and gave a quick bow before speaking. "Young avatar. It gives me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our abbey." She said. "Thank you. It's truly an honor to be here." Aang said with a bow. "If there's anything-" Aang was cut off by Sokka. "What smells so good Bato?" Sokka asked. Now that Azula thought about it, there was a strong scent in the air. It didn't smell like food but it did smell very good, whatever it was.
Bato pointed to some jugs off to the side. "The sisters craft ointments and perfumes." Bato explained. Azula made a mental note to herself to remember to pack some for the road later. "Perfume? Maybe we could dump some on Appa. Because he stinks so much. Am I right?" Sokka said as a joke, only to receive unamused looks from her, Katara and Bato. "You have your father's wit." Bato told him.
Bato brought them into the room the sisters gave him. Immediately, Azula was hit with a wave of nostalgia as she saw the saw all the water tribe decorations on the wall and the fur pelts on the floor. "Bato, it looks like home!" Katara said excitedly. "Everything is here, even the pelts!" Sokka said with excitement as well. Azula was at a loss for words. It really was just like back home. "Yeah, nothing's cozier then dead animal skins." Aang commented, earning a hard elbow from Azula.
Katara lifted the lid from the pot in the center of the room to see what was cooking. "No way! Stewed sea proons?!" Katara said excided. "Dad could eat a whole barrel of these things." Sokka commented. "Help yourself." Bato told them. As they each took a bowl full of proons, Azula decided to ask a question that she had been wanting to ask since they met Bato.
"Hey Bato? I want to ask you something." Azula said. "Sure, what is it?" Bato asked back. Azula took a deep breath before asking. "Did the map I gave you guys help?" Azula asked. Bato chuckled before responding. "Did it help? That map saved our lives more times than I could count!" Bato said with a laugh. "Really?" Azula asked. "Oh yes. Thanks to that map you gave us, we were able to set up several ambushes. We were able to strike several blows to the fire nation. Even raid an entire Fire nation prison camp and liberate all of its prisoners. Every time we plane to make a move, Hakoda only ever uses that map." A smile formed on Azula's face and a tear started to form but Azula wiped it away before it could fall. "I'm glad I helped."
"Bato, is it true that you and dad lassoed an artic hippo?" Katara asked. "It was your father's idea, he just dragged me along. Well, the hippo did the dragging." Bato admitted. "Hey, I ride animals too! One time there was this giant eel and I-" "So, who was it that came up with the great blubber fiasco?" Sokka asked, unintentionally interrupting Aang. "You knew about that?" Bato asked with a chuckle. "Everyone knows about that." Katara told Bato. "Yeah, me and Niyok talked about it for weeks." Azula added. "What's that story?" Aang asked. "It's a long one Aang, some other time." Sokka told him.
"You and dad had so many hilarious adventures." Katara said. "Not all of which were hilarious at the time, but everything's funny with hindsight." Bato told them. "So was it you or dad that put an octopus on your head and convinced Gran Gran you were a water spirit?" Azula asked. "Your dad wore the octopus but, I did the spooky voice." Bato told them.
The four of them continued on like this for a bit. Telling stories of back home and reminiscing. They even shared stories about some of their own adventures. "There's something I should tell you kids. I'm expecting a message from your father." Bato told them. "What?!" Azula said in surprise. "When?!" Sokka asked. "Any day now. Your father said he'd send a message when they find the rendezvou point. If you wait here till the message arrives, you can come with me, and see your father again." Bato told them.
"It's been over two years since we've seen dad! That would be so incredible!" Sokka said happily. "I've missed him every day. It'd be great to see dad." Katara said. "It's been far too long, hasn't it?" Bato asked. None of them noticed that Aang had left. "Guys we can't. As much as I want to see our father again, we can't." Bato chuckled upon hearing Azula say this. "What's funny?" Azula asked. "Oh, it's nothing. I just remember when you first called Hakoda your dad on the day we left. I could tell by the look on his face alone that he was the happiest man in the world, when you called him your father." Azula smiled as Bato told her this.
"Well, Azula's right. We have to take Aang to the North Pole first." Sokka said. "Even if we COULD wait for the message to arrive, who knows how far we'd have to travel. We don't have time for a long detour." Katara added. "I'm sure your father would understand. And be proud that his children are helping the avatar." Bato told them. The four continued talking for a bit until they heard the door open and saw Aang walk back in. "Hey guys, sorry I was gone for so long." "Oh, hey Aang. I didn't even know you left." Katara said. "Yup, and now I'm back. Sure could go for some delicious sea proons." Aang said as he stuffed his face with proons. Everyone looked at him questionably as his tone and behavior was a little weird, but everyone thought nothing of it in the end.
In the morning Bato took them back to his boat. "This ship is sentimental to me. It was built by my father." Bato told them. "Is this the boat he took you ice dodging in." Sokka asked "Yup, it's got the scar to prove it." Bato told them with a laugh. "How about you, Sokka? You must have good stories from your first time ice dodging." Bato asked. "Dad never took before he left." Azula told him. "Oh, you were too young, I forgot." "What's ice dodging?" Aang asked. "It's a wright of passage for young water tribe members. When you turn fourteen, your dad takes you….you know what?" Bato put a hand on Sokka's shoulder "Your about to find out." "Oh, this is gonna be fun." Azula said with a bit of excitement in her voice.
As the five of them were on the boat sailing across that coast, Bato explained ice dodging to Aang. "Ice dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery, and trust. In our village, it was done by weaving a boat through a field of ice bergs." "How are we going to ice dodge without ice?" Sokka asked. "You'll be dodging, those." Bato said as he pointed at the giant rocks along the coast. "Sokka, you steer and call the shots. Lead wisely. Katara, Azula, you two control the main sail. The winds will be rough so be brave." "Oh, don't worry about me" Azula said strongly. "Aang, you control the jib. Without your steady hand, we all go down. Your positon, is about trust." Aang looked at Bato nervously. "I know that! Why wouldn't I know that?! I'm the avatar! I know about trust!" Aang told him. 'What's up with him?' Azula thought to herself as she gripped the rope tightly. "For this to be done right I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own." Bato told them as he sat down at the front of the ship.
As they sailed toward the rocks, Sokka started giving orders. "Aang, ease up on the jib! Katara, Azula, steady!" Azula kept a firm grip on the rope with Katara as she braced herself for the rocks. "Aang, less sail! Girls, give him room!" Sokka told them. Aang started pulling his rope as quickly as he could as Sokka pulled the steering with all his might. They passed the first set of rocks without a hitch. As they approached the next set of rocks Sokka gave more orders. "Aang, helm to leaf! Helm to leaf!" "What does that even mean?!" Aang shouted. "IT MEAN'S PULL THE ROPE, YOU IDIOT!" Azula shouted as she gripped her rope strongly.
The made it past the next wave off rocks once again without a hitch. "Great job everyone!" Sokka shouted. Azula looked forward and Saw a giant wall of rocks with no way through. "Sokka, there's no way through!" Katara shouted. "We can make it!" Sokka shouted back. "Sokka, you've already proven yourself! Maybe we should-" Bato told Sokka but was cut off by Azula. "A true member of the water tribe never back's down! We can make it!" Bato and Katara both looked at Azula like she was crazy.
"Aang, I'm gonna need air in that sail! Katara, I want you to bend as much water as you can between us and those rock!" Sokka ordered. Everyone did as they were told with Aang air bending into the sail and Katara bending the water and making it rise as high as she could. Azula didn't look away from the rocks. She wouldn't even let herself blink until it was over. As the boat approached the rocks Azula tensed and held her breath as the boat went up….and then slowly went down and kept sailing. They made it! Azula let out a breath of relief as everyone cheered.
When they returned to the beach, Bato brought out a small wooden cup of blue ink. "The spirits bear witness to these marks! For Sokka, the mark of the wise. The same mark your father earned." Bato said as he drew a line that curved upwards on Sokka's forehead with a small dot under the curved line. "For Katara, the mark of the brave. Your courage inspires us." Bato drew a moon on Katara's head. "For Azula, the mark of the determined. Not just today but for all the years I've known you, you have shown an inner strength many of our warriors. You have a will of iron that makes you amongst the strongest people I've ever known. From this day onwards, now and forever, the spirits if the water tribe will always welcome you, as one of their own." Bato told her as he drew the curved line he drew on Sokka but with a small dot on top of the line. In this moment, Azula felt more proud of herself then she ever did, in her entire life. "And for Aang, the mark of the trusted. You are now an honorary member of the water tribe." Bato told him as he drew a single curved shaped line on Aang's head. "I can't" Aang suddenly said.
"Of course you can." Katara happily told him. Aang wiped the mark away and took a few steps back. "No, you can't trust me." "Aang, what are you talking about?" Katara asked him. Aang looked like he wanted to die. He reached into his clothes and pulled out a crumbled up piece of paper. "A messenger gave this to me for Bato." Katara took the paper and opened it. Azula saw her eyes widen as she realized what it was. "You have to understand, I thought you were gonna-" Aang was cut off as Sokka looked over Katara's shoulder to see what the paper was. He realized what it was the second he got a look at it and started shouting. "THIS IS THE MAP TO OUR FATHER! YOU HAD IT THE WHOLE TIME?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
"WAIT, WHAT?" Azula couldn't believe what she just heard. "LET ME SEE THAT!" Azula took it from Sokka and looked at it for herself. Azula's blood ran cold as she looked at the map Aang had hidden from them. The map to the only man who's ever loved her how a father should. "Aang…WHY WOULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM US?!"
"YOU CAN GO TO THE NORTH POLE ON YOUR OWN! I going to find dad!" Sokka yelled as he stormed off. "I'm coming too!" Azula said angrily. "Now Sokka maybe you should hear him ou-" Bato tried to speck in Aang's defense but Sokka cut him off. "Katara, are you coming?" Katara stared at Aang and was silent for a moment until "I'm with you Sokka." As everyone turned around to leave Azula took one last look at Aang. "That was stupid Aang. REAL STUPID!" She didn't even look at him long enough to see his face after saying that. She just turned around and left with the others.
Everyone returned to the abbey and began packing their things. Aang sat on Appa's head as he watched the other's pack. Katara told Aang one last goodbye before leaving with Bato and the others. Azula still couldn't wrap her head around why Aang would do that. A part of her wished she had punched him. Azula shook her head as she tried to clear these thoughts from her mind. She was now on her way to see her dad. That was all that had mattered. They had been walking for a few minutes when they had then heard the howl of a wolf.
"That wolf sounds so sad." Katara said. "It's probably wounded." Sokka told her. Bato turned around to look at the three of them. "No, it's been separated from the pack. I understand that pain. It's how I felt when the water tribe warriors had to leave ME behind. They were my family, and being apart from them was more painful than my wounds." As Bato said that, a lot of things began to become clear in Azula's mind now. 'So that's why Aang hid the map. He was terrified that his pack so to speak would fall apart. And now it has.' Azula thought to herself. She then remembered the day that the warriors left to fight in the war. Standing next to Sokka as the boats sailed away. Azula let out a deep sigh. "We have to go back." Azula announced.
Everyone looked at her. "Are you sure? What about dad?" Katara asked. "I want to see him too, but Aang needs us more. He's now the wolf separated from the pack. I think that's why he did what he did." Azula told them. "She's right." Sokka told them. "Helping Aang is where we're needed the most." "You two are right." Katara said with a smile. "Your father will understand, and I KNOW he's proud of you." Bato told them. "Thanks Bato." Sokka said. "I know where to go from here." Bato handed Sokka the map. "Take this in case you want to find us. I'll leave a message at the rendezvous point."
"I hope he hasn't left already." Azula said as they walked back to the Abbey. "All the more reason to hur…" Sokka stopped midsentence and a sudden sound could be heard in the distance. Everyone stopped moving as the sound got louder. Suddenly a huge beast appeared in front of them. Jumping out from the trees. Azula recognized the beast as a Sheershoe. She remembered reading about them in school back in the Fire Nation. She looked at the people on it and saw a woman she didn't recognize, her brother Zuko, and her uncle. "So which ones your girlfriend?" The woman asked sarcastically. Zuko slid off and approached them. "Where is he? Where's the avatar?" Zuko asked.
"We've split up. He's long gone!" Sokka told him. Technically he wasn't lying. "How stupid do you think I am?" Zuko asked angrily. "Very stupid." Azula told him with a smile. "Run!" Sokka shouted as he grabbed Katara's wrist and ran. Azula didn't run after. She knew it was pointless. The Sheershoe used the venom in its tongue to paralyze them. They fell to the ground with a thud. Azula watched as they fell and the creature turned to her. "Not gonna run?" The woman asked being smug. "I've read about these beasts once a long time ago. You can take that tongue of its and shove up your AHH!" Azula was cut off as the beast shot its tongue at Azula, its venom coursing through her body, robbing her of her ability to move as she fell to the ground with a thud. She could have fought back, but her uncle was also on that thing, she didn't want to risk hurting him by accident.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Zuko asked frustrated. "It's seeking a different scent. Maybe something the avatar held." The beast started smelling around Sokka's bag and suddenly jerked it head up. The three of them were put on the beast's back and it took them back to the Abbey. Suddenly the beast started walking in circles as it sniffed much to Zuko's annoyance. "What's it doing?! It's just going in a circle!" Suddenly the beast looked up and Aang appeared on his glider souring through the air. The beast shot its tongue at Aang but he dodged and flew right above the beasts head causing it to try to standup in its hind legs to try again, only to lose its balance and fall backwards. Azula, Sokka, and Katara fell to the ground, still unable to move. "Aang!" Katara said. "That kid's got some good timing." Azula mumbled to herself.
The sisters of the abbey picked up the three siblings and dragged them out of the way as a fight began between Aang and Zuko. As the two of them fought. Appa was also fighting against the woman's Sheershoe. Meanwhile Iroh was just simply watching. He even stuffed a perfume bottle in his pocket. 'Oh, uncle.' Azula thought to herself as he approached.
"I must admit, the circumstances are less than ideal but, it's very nice to see you again Azula." Iroh said to his niece. "Good to see you too uncle. Always nice to see you." "Likewise. How have you been since I've last seen you?" "Oh, I've been just fine. And yourself?" "As fine as the spring breeze." "Well that's wonderful." "You know, that June woman is really something, isn't she?" Azula gave her uncle a smug look "If I didn't know any better I would say you have the hots for her." Iroh let out a big laugh. "Oh, I can't hide anything from you, can I Azula." "Uncle you dog!" Azula said jokingly as the two of them laughed.
"I hate to interrupt this heartwarming reunion but I think I getting some feeling back." Sokka said before some of the tiles from the wall behind them fell from the fight happening around them and landed on Sokka. "Ow." "You okay Sokka?" Katara asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." "Hey uncle, I think I'm getting some feeling back too. Help me up." Iroh put Azula's arm over his shoulder as he helped Azula onto her feet. "Thanks uncle." "No problem." Suddenly, some of the sisters came out with some bottles. They opened them and put them under Sokka and Katara's noses. The smell helping reverse the Sheershoe's venom. The sisters looked at Iroh and stood where they were. "Don't worry, he's my uncle." The sisters looked at each other and approached Azula and put the bottle under her nose. The smell was strong and she felt her sense of feeling return immediately. "Wow that stuff's strong." Azula commented.
"That things called a Sheershoe. Their blind but they see with smelling." Azula told everyone. "Then we've got to find something for it to smell." Sokka said, rubbing his wrist from where the dubree fell on him. "The perfume?" The sister offered. "Perfect." Azula told them. As quickly as they could, the sisters brought all the jugs of perfume they had and dumped all of it everywhere. The whole placed smelled of strong perfume. Katara used her water bending to take the whole giant puddle of perfume and lift it over the heads of Zuko and the Sheershoe beside him and then dumped it on them. The beast then started to freak out as thousands of different smells began to overwhelm it. The beast didn't know what to do as it fired its tongue wildly, hitting Zuko and its master. "JUNE! NOOOOOOO!" Iroh ran up and caught June as she fell, falling with her. The Sheershoe ran around in circles and climbed the wall of the Abbey, taking off for the forest.
About an hour later, the gang was in the air again. "So, where do we go?" Aang asked, sitting on Appa's. "We're getting you to the North pole." Katara told him. "Yeah. We've lost too much time as it is." Sokka said. "Don't you wanna see your dad?" Aang asked confused. "Of course we do Aang. But, you're our family too. And right now, you need us more." Sokka told him. "And we need you." Said Katara.
"But let's just make one thing clear Aang. Even though we understand why you did it, don't ever do something like that again." Azula made clear. "Right, of course." Aang told her. "I wish I could give you a little piece of home Katara. Something to remind you…" "I'll be okay." Katara told Aang. "Still, a little trinket. Maybe something like….this." Aang said as he held up a necklace.
'Wait a second, is that?" Azula thought to herself as she saw Katara's necklace in his hand. "Aang! How'd you get that?" Katara asked as she put it back on. "Zuko asked me to be sure I got it to you." Aang jokingly said. "Aww, that was sweet of Zuko. Would you give him a kiss for me when you see him?" Katara told Aang. "Sure." Aang said back. Katara crawled forward and gave Aang a quick kiss on his cheek making him blush. Azula had to resist the urge to start laughing.
