Binas: Sorry for the really long wait. My computer was out of commission AKA I had to get a whole new operating system. It took a bit, but mom managed to get me Windows 7. While my computer is not at full potential for it, it can still handle it. Well, what matters is that I am back, baby! (°▽°)
Also, I am excited for Book 3 of Legend of Korra. It seems so awesome and everything. I can't even put it into words.
Sorry if the chapter is short. I wanted to give you guys this chapter as soon as I could.
Review time!
Cyber Orteck: I am good at making a balance between humor and awesomeness. I guess it runs in the family because my family has some good writers but they never published anything. Glad you love it like you do! Loyal faces are great to see on review pages.
Guest 1, Chapter 6, June 5: I get what you mean. I am not going to have the suicide bombing clone in the story. Like I said, it would ruin the story. Besides, he has barely made C3 at this point. Besides, I don't want to have him overpowered. I would lose a lot of readers if I did. I already had a few flames on another story where someone thought some of the characters were overpowered.
zomgonozdinosaurs: I am glad you think so. I love seeing new faces. ^.^ There is bound to be more now.
Now my friends... LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!
Trivia: If someone says something tastes like chicken, don't trust them (Unless it's boar meat). PROVEN BY THE MYTHBUSTERS.
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After a few hours of flying, Appa and Deidara's clay bird came to a beach that had several tents. All of which were blue. There was a large main tent with an insignia on the 'door way'. The insignia was a blue wave of water with a white outline.
Appa landed on a rocky formation, kicking some dust up. Deidara followed the suit but his bird landed on the sand.
"You haven't seen your dad in almost two years! I bet you are really excited!", Aang said.
"You might want to take a second look.", Deidara said cringing in disgust at Sokka's green face, "I wouldn't call that excited."
"I know I should be excited, but I feel like throwing up.", Sokka said as he held his mouth and stomach, trying desperately from throwing up.
Deidara got off his bird and silently hoped Sokka didn't throw up. He did not want to see what Sokka had eaten for breakfast in the form of digestive juices and indigestible remains. The thought of it was slightly sickening and almost made him want to as well.
Sokka's stomach made a sour noise, indicating that the flight and nerves weren't best buddies. Aang looked back at Sokka with a supportive grin.
"Don't be so nervous Sokka. He's going to be glad to see you!", Aang said.
"So what about you? Are you nervous about meeting that guru guy?", Sokka asked, his nerves easing up enough to make his stomach calm down.
"Not at all. I am ready to master the Avatar State and take the next step in the Avatar Journey.", Aang said with a determined look as Sokka got off, "See you both in a week. Yip yip!"
Appa flew off, causing some dust that laid on the rocks to rise. Sokka and Deidara walked into the large camp. Many of the Water Tribe Men in the camp looked at the two.
A few of the men came forward to Sokka. One held out his right arm, which was slightly bent. Sokka did the same thing and grasped the man's elbow. The Water Tribe Men smiled and the one that approached Sokka gave him a rough nuggie. Sokka gave a big grinned and pushed his head against the nuggie.
"It's so good to see you, Sokka!", One of the men said.
The men gestured to the largest tent, which had the insignia. Sokka and Deidara entered the tent to see two men inside. One of which had a long face and a large, red scar that took up the entirety of his left arm. To his left was a man with a short beard and a similar hair style to Sokka's. However, the sides of the man's head were not shaved and were chin length. Like everyone else int he camp and Sokka, they were wearing blue outfits.
As both men were studying a map, the man with the scar nudged the man to his left a bit with a smile. The man who got nudged looked up and saw Sokka and Deidara.
"Sokka.", The man said and approached Sokka.
Sokka embraced him in a big hug.
"Hi, dad.", Sokka said.
"I see you brought a friend along.", Sokka's dad said and approached Deidara with an out stretched hand, "I'm Hakoda, over there is Bato."
"I'm Deidara, hm.", Deidara said shaking hands with Hakoda, doing his best to keep the palm mouth shut.
"We were just reviewing battle strategies, want to join us?", Bato asked.
Deidara and Sokka walked over and observed what was being planned. Many of the plans seemed interesting. Some were defensive, and others were offensive. Sokka even discussed the current invasion plan to Hakoda and Bato. Somehow the discussion was led to a memory from something called the 'Great Blubber Fiasco'. Deidara couldn't help but chuckle at that part of the discussion.
After the brief overview of the current strategies and the update on the invasion plan, Sokka, Hakoda, Deidara, and Bato exited the tent. Many of the warriors were filling large animal skin spheres with some foul looking substance. Deidara cringed at the smell. It was one of the most foul smelling things he had ever smelled. Right next to the stench of one of his former clients.
'What the heck is that foul stench?!', Deidara thought.
Sokka and Hakoda approached one of the animal skin spheres and kneeled next to it. Bato picked up a large sack as Hakoda opened the empty sphere. Bato poured the foul substance into the sphere.
"This bay leads to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se. We have been using these Tangle Mines to prevent the Fire Nation ships from landing here.", Hakoda said.
"Your father invented Tangle Mines himself.", Bato said.
Deidara grasped his nose as he and Sokka inspected the Tangle Mine. Deidara felt the sphere, feeling the groves and framework underneath.
"Destructive, buoyant, and...", Sokka said and leaned in towards the mine.
"Sokka, I wouldn't-", Deidara began but it was too late, Sokka was already smelling the sphere.
"GAK! Terrible smelling!", Sokka shouted in repulse.
"I tried to tell you, hm.", Deidara said with a sigh.
"Very perceptive. These mines are filled with Skunk Fish and seaweed. When the mine detonates, the seaweed tangles up the propellers, keeping the ship from moving, and the foul smell forces the crew to abandon ship. I call it 'The Stink and Sink'.", Hakoda explained as he placed the cap on and cleaned up the edges of the Tangle Mine.
Sokka burst out laughing as if he heard a joke. Bato and Deidara sighed, not amused by the slight goofing off.
"You are definetly your father's son.", Bato said dryly.
One of the Water Tribe Warriors came running forward. He had a look of slight concern.
"Hakoda, our scouts have spotted four Fire Nation vessels nearby.", The warrior said.
"Bato, get these mines loaded up! The rest of you men, get ready for battle!", Hakoda said.
The warriors went running for the weapon storages. Sokka looked around slightly lost.
"Um, dad? What should me and Deidara do?", Sokka asked.
"Didn't you hear me? I said 'the rest of you men, get ready for battle'.", Hakoda said.
Sokka grinned and went rushing for one of the weapon storages. He was ready to show he was a great warrior to his dad. Deidara, much to some of the warriors confusion, didn't really do anything for prep. All he did was fix his scratched headband a bit and dust the sand off of his clothes.
"Aren't you going to get ready for battle?", Bato asked as he lifted one of the Tangle Mines up.
"I already am.", Deidara said as he gestured to his clay pouches.
"Those pouches don't exactly look like they are holding a lot. Are you sure you don't need a weapon just in case?", Bato pointed out.
"I'll be fine, hm.", Deidara said shrugging it off, "Besides, it will get in the way of my style and art!"
"Suit it yourself.", Bato sighed, shaking his head a bit.
"Whatever, hm.", Deidara said and walked off.
Later at sun down...
Everyone was finishing the last of the packing and preparations for fighting the Fire Nation ships. Many of the warriors wore gray, black, and white face paint that would make them look feral and intimidating to their opponents. One thing that all the warriors had were dark blue armor that was made of large dense bones and had the Water Tribe insignia painted on the front.
One of the warriors offered Deidara the face paint and armor, but Deidara rejected them. When the warrior questioned this, Deidara showed the mesh armor he had underneath and giving a clever remark, only to receive a sigh from the warrior.
Deidara jumped onto his bird, grabbing a small bit of attention. He gave a look at the ones he got attention from.
"Have you been living under a bunch of rocks?" , Deidara said, "This is barely half of what my art is, hm."
Sokka grabbed his club at his side as Hakoda approached. Hakoda gave a light smile.
"Ready to go knock on some Firebender heads?", Hakoda asked.
"You have no idea how much this means to me, dad. I will make you proud and I will prove how much of a great warrior I really am.", Sokka said.
"Sokka, you don't need to prove anything to me. I have always been proud of you.", Hakoda said.
"Really?", Sokka asked.
Deidara tapped his foot, slightly loosing his patience a bit. He was eager to show off his art to the warriors and more of the Fire Nation.
"Why do you think I trusted you to protect the tribe when I left?", Hakoda asked, placing a hand on Sokka's shoulder.
Sokka smiled brightly, filled with his father's words of encouragement. The heartfelt moment was cut short when a growl was heard. Sokka, Deidara, and Hakoda looked up. It was Aang and Appa. Aang turned and faced them with distress and concern.
Deidara silently cursed to himself, he knew this meant not being able to blow up some Fire Nation rears.
"This can't be good...", Sokka said.
Hakoda gave a reassuring look.
"It's okay. Go help Aang. The real fun will be at the invasion.", Hakoda said and gave Sokka a good bye hug, which Sokka returned.
Sokka went and climbed onto Appa's back. Appa took off on command for the sky. Deidara followed behind on his bird, not liking where this was leading. He saw parts of his bird crack immensely, but thankful didn't fall apart.
'I typically don't believe in omens, but this seems like a really bad one...', Deidara thought.