I gotta write faster! I only have 1 chapter in reserve and I'm so busy I can't write anymore. Updates probably won't be daily anymore. Sorry! Hope you still enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 8:

Katara kept her promise and was at the arena at dawn, she barely made it but she was there at least. Mako heard master Pakku explain that at the end of the lesson, everyone would participate in at least 1 sparring match with Katara. Mako knew that Pakku was impressed with her fighting, but to let her fight everyone in a row? It could be a little too much for Katara.

During class, Mako saw Katara improving at a rate that could match the avatar's. She picked up on things so quickly it was kind of frightening. When class was almost over, Pakku announced that it was sparring time.

Mako quickly realized that he was mistaken in Katara's abilities, because she made quick work out of every opponent that crossed her path. At the moment she was battling a nervous Sangook, who was known to be very jumpy. Hesitant in his attack, the pupil made a simple ice ball and threw it at Katara.

Shaking his head, Mako knew that that wouldn't cut it. Katara confirmed his thought by taking over the ball and turning it back to her opponent, freezing him in place in a wall of ice.

"Nice try pupil Sangook. A couple of more years, and you'll be ready to fight a sea sponge." Pakku commented on Sangook's attempt with a great deal of sarcasm.

"Okay Mako, you're up." Pakku informed him it was his turn to fight the still undefeated Katara.

While Pakku walked past him, he whispered something Mako could barely catch. "I expect more from you."

Mako was happy his teacher believed in him, so he stepped up to stand across from a still smirking waterbender. "Don't expect me to go easy on you!" he yelled from across the courtyard, not thinking he would need to after having seen what Katara could do.

"Oh don't worry about poor old me! I'll be just fine!" she yelled right back, still having that smirk on her face.

And so the battle commenced. Katara started off with a medium sized wave of water, aiming for Mako's body. He countered effectively, parting the wave by holding his hands in a V-shape. Following up with an attack of his own, Mako created a type of snowstorm that was trapping Katara within its center.

Katara knew that her only way out was through a hole in the ice, so she bend one and let herself fall in. When she heard the tornado stop, she emerged nearly 2 meters from Mako's current position. She knew this was too close a distance for effectively executing complicated waterbending moves, so she bend herself a water wip.

Upon seeing her weapon, he in turn bend himself some razor sharp daggers made of ice. They charged at each other with a great deal of ferocity, both not wanting to relent. Katara was at a disadvantage using her water whip, because Mako's daggers would slice it right before she could hit him. Seeing this as an opportunity, Mako froze her feet in place and ran straight for her.

Not being completely immobilized, Katara made some arm movements throwing obstacles Mako's way. Hitting him in his left leg, Mako couldn't keep his balance and collided with Katara. He fell on top of her and managed to grab hold of her hands on the way down. Using his weight to pin her down, he knew she wasn't going anywhere. " Give up?" he asked in a cocky voice.

Blushing because he was sitting on top of her, she stubbornly said "Never."

They were both smiling at each other when Mako noticed that there was black snow falling around them. Katara saw his frown and was getting worried. "What's wrong, Mako?" She used his lack of concentration by putting her legs around his waist and flipping the two of them over so she was straddling him. "I win." she informed him with a smile.

He was surprised that she would play dirty by using his distraction to gain the upper hand. "I guess you did." saying it with a smile displayed on his face.

"Oh no, soot!" Katara instantly recognized the black snow that was falling around them. She quickly got off of Mako and helped him up while telling him what the black snow meant.

She turned to master Pakku who was looking at the soot intently. Running up to him, he already knew. "The Fire nation is heading this way! All of you, come with me to the palace!" He left no room for discussion, so everybody did what he was told.

Mako threw a concerned look at Katara, who returned it with equal measure.

Katara, Mako and Aang met up with Sokka at the palace's great hall, when Arnook was ready to begin addressing his warriors.

When Mako heard that the Fire nation launched a full scale attack on his tribe, he believed that they had to be mistaken. The Fire nation never even dared to attack the tribe once during this 100-year war, and now they plan to annihilate them in one strike. 'They used the same tactic with the air nomads. But without Sozin's comet, they now rely on sheer numbers.' Mako understood what the Fire nation was trying to do, and he would use every muscle in his body to prevent them from succeeding.

At one point during his speech, Arnook asked his warriors if they where up to the task of going on a very dangerous mission.

He saw Sokka standing up first, while saying in a very determined voice "Count me in."

"Sokka…" Katara didn't understand why Sokka would volunteer for such a mission.

Mako knew he had a duty to his tribe, so he too stood up. "I'll come with you brother." Mako said while taking Sokka's forearm.

Sokka nodded and they walked up to Arnook to receive the chief's blessing.

Mako was looking back at Katara, and saw a pained expression on her face. 'She's probably sad for her brother.' he thought, not knowing the sadness was dedicated to him as well.

When Sokka and Mako entered the armory, he saw Hahn standing there in a ridiculous Fire nation uniform. Sokka's laugh was infectious and Mako let a small laugh escape his mouth. Hahn heard the laughs and asked the boys what their problem was. Sokka explained to Hahn and the chief all he knew about the fire nation and their commanding officer.

Mako instantly predicted trouble when Sokka saw Hahn. It was only a matter of time before he figured out that the guy leading this mission would be marrying Princess Yue. "Princess Yue is marrying you?" Sokka almost shouted, while his mouth fell open.

'Here we go…' said the sighing voice in Mako's mind.

Sokka managed to stay surprisingly calm. He even managed to congratulate him. Mako put his hand on his shoulder, so Sokka would know he understood his pain.

A few hours later, all the warriors were preparing their weapons so they could get going. Suddenly Chief Arnook walked in and called Mako over. He quickly found his way to Arnook, when he started to speak in a serious tone.

"I'm proud that you volunteered for this mission, Mako. There are a few problems though." Mako didn't like where this conversation was going…

"You can't come with us on this mission." Arnook said in a somewhat disappointed voice.

"What? Why not?" he squealed rather femininely for a man his size.

"We only have a few suits of armor, and you're too tall. You would stand out too much." Arnook explained.

"No… please Chief Arnook, u have to let me go!" Mako pleaded with his chief.

"I have a more important task for you…" Arnook was cut off by Sokka's battle shout. Quickly turning around, Mako saw Sokka rolling on the floor fighting with Hahn. 'Took him longer than I expected.' Mako thought while smiling.

Arnook broke the two up and informed Sokka that he was off the mission. Smile falling of his face, Mako knew Sokka would take that one hard.

After the warriors departed for their mission, Arnook came over to the boys. He saw the huge frown on Sokka's face, so he wanted to tell him why exactly he wasn't going to the Fire nation flagship.

"Sokka… I took you of the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you."

"What you want me to scrub the barracks?" He stopped sharpening his boomerang to turn around, and answer the chief with sarcasm.

Arnook was unfazed by Sokka's sarcastic reply and elaborated. "I want you to guard my daughter, Princess Yue."

Sokka immediately straightened up with eyes as wide as saucers. "Sure… that.. shouldn't be too hard."

Arnook nodded and turned to Mako. "And I want you to make sure the avatar is safe. I don't trust anyone more with this task than you, seeing you're already friends with him." Arnook put his right hand on Mako's shoulder while he was speaking to him.

"Of course, Chief" Mako returned Arnook's look with fierce determination.

"You should get going, it's nearly sunrise. The Fire nation will attack soon." Arnook needed to get his forces ready to defend his tribe. He left the armory in a hurried pace.

When Mako and Sokka left to do their duty, they saw Yue rounding the corner shouting for help. Sokka immediately met her halfway and asked what was wrong. Yue told them that a firebender was at the spirit oasis fighting with Katara over Aang.

"We need to get over there now!" Mako didn't want to lose any time and led the group to the oasis. While running through the snow, they heard Fire nation ships ramming the outer wall. The 3 of them heard the cries of the soldiers while they were pouring into the northern tribe.

Mako heard that the fight wasn't far off and he wanted to get his princess out of there, so he ordered Sokka to go to that furry creature and fly off to the oasis while he held the Fire nation soldiers off.

"I will meet you there! Now go and help Katara and Aang!", he shouted when they hesitated to leave him behind.

Sokka looked back at Mako and nodded to the waterbender. Taking Yue's hand, he led her off towards Appa.

Mako saw that the Princess was in good hands, so he turned around and removed his outer parka. He was ready to do his duty and protect his tribe.

AN: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.