A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed and put alerts on! But remember, if you see something I could use work on, I don't know unless you review, and ideas are always welcome. Hope you enjoy and R&R!
Also, if you haven't read Lava yet, go read it! It's crucial to this story! )
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 2
"They're what?!" Katara asked as she jumped to her feet.
Toph followed her example and also stamped her foot down. A cry of pain came out from the tent Sokka was in.
"They're running back, and being followed. And it doesn't feel like they want company."
Katara saw the look of worry on Toph's face change to one of determination before the earthbender turned to face the path to Omashu in a fighting stance.
"Snoozles! We've got company, and it's not the good kind!" Toph shouted over her shoulder.
Katara turned and saw Sokka staggering out of the earth tent, looking angry, but as soon as Toph's comment reached his ears, he turned back inside and came out with his black sword strapped to his back. Katara ran to the saddle and picked up her water pouch, tying it to her waist as she hurried back to Toph's side. She secretly wished for a river or creek close by when she saw Aang and Zuko crest the peak.
Zuko was running full tilt and Aang was easily keeping stride with him. Before they disappeared as the path dipped down into a gully, Katara saw Aang turn and stomp his foot down before he turned to catch up with Zuko. The sound of cries of surprise and what sounded like a landslide reached Katara's ears long before she saw a sign of the pursuers.
She gasped as fire nation troops crested over the peak. There must have been nearly a hundred in the waxing moon light. Toph held out her hands, concentrating before she raised them. It looked like she was bringing up a great weight as Aang and Zuko came back into view about a hundred yards from where they stood.
Katara saw a series of walls come up abruptly in the path, and she saw a smile appear on Toph's face as the sounds of frustration came from the path behind the first wall. Aang and Zuko reached them moments later. Zuko looked out of breath and worried as he halted just in front of them. Aang continued past and to the saddle, quickly airbending it onto the flying bison.
"C'mon guys, we need to go!" Aang said as he gracefully flew onto Appa's head.
Katara followed Sokka and jumped up to the saddle, grabbing the rail with both hands and pulling herself up onto the saddle. Zuko landed next to her on his knee as Toph landed on her other side. Dirt sprayed her as they landed, telling her that Toph had earthbended the two onto the saddle.
She held onto the rail as Appa took off. She almost smiled as Zuko looked pale for a moment as they took off, but couldn't as she struggled to hold on as they shot straight up. Appa dodged as a fireball came from below on his right.
"Katara, I need some help," Aang said as he stood and started moving his arms in a circular motion.
Katara nodded and moved so that she was kneeling before she started to copy Aang's movements. She felt the water in the air coalesce around them and change into visible vapor as dense clouds formed around them. She felt Aang start to push the water vapor down and followed his example, creating a thick fog that fell to the ground.
She shifted her weight as Appa dodged another fireball, but kept the motions going until a sea of thick fog obscured the soldiers from their view. Aang stopped and turned to smile at her. She smiled back at him as she felt her stomach fluttering again.
"So what was that all about?" Sokka asked as Appa leveled out.
Zuko sent a stern look at the warrior before Aang jumped back onto the saddle and landed in a sitting position next to Zuko. He laid a hand on Zuko's arm and smiled at the firebender. Zuko nodded and his face turned expressionless as Aang started speaking. Katara was curious about what was said between the two, but wanted information as well.
"We went to investigate and saw that the city is indeed under earth kingdom control again. However, it's being besieged by the fire nation. We tried to see who was in control, but were spotted by a pair of soldiers. Zuko was able to knock them out, but not before one had called out. We hurried back and now we have to get to Omashu."
Aang bowed his head as his face fell into a frown.
"We overheard several soldiers," Zuko said when Aang remained silent. "They're planning to attack Omashu with a new weapon at dawn. We need to warn them."
"What type of weapon?" Sokka asked, worry in his voice.
"An army of gliders and a large war balloon. Along with a new type of bomb. It's supposed to arrive tonight," Aang whispered.
Katara felt her heart break as she heard the pain in Aang's voice. She wanted to wrap him up in a hug to ease away the sorrow that no child should ever have to endure. He brought his head up and his gaze met hers. Their eyes locked and she felt a jolt as if electricity had passed between them. He smiled at her and she felt a small smile cross her face.
Somehow she knew that he knew what she had wanted to do. And that it wasn't his fault that the fire nation was now using air nomad technology.
"Oh, please," Sokka sighed. "I said no funny stuff."
Katara broke her gaze away from Aangs' and scowled at her brother. He had his head tilted back as he stared straight up. He lowered his head and turned his gaze to Katara.
"What I'd do now?" he asked her.
She sighed. "Nothing you haven't done before."
Toph smiled at Katara and the waterbender felt better that Toph understood her. She turned her gaze back to Aang and Zuko.
"So what now?" she asked them.
"We're almost to Omashu. We need to see King Bumi right away and try and find a way to help," Aang replied.
Katara smiled as she saw his strength return to his eyes.
"Is that it?" Zuko asked as he pointed ahead of them.
"Yep," Sokka said as all except Toph turned to follow Zuko's direction. "That's Omashu."
Katara remembered both times she had seen the city in the past, once with wonder and excitement, the other with dread and despair. So much had changed in the near year since she had met Aang. She glanced at him and saw hope and excitement in his face. So much had changed, and yet so little.
Appa started to descend as they neared the palace. Katara made out a figure standing in a courtyard of the palace, waiting for them.
"Bumi!" Aang shouted as he snapped out his glider and flew down ahead of Appa.
Appa landed moments later and Katara smiled as Bumi wrapped Aang in a hug. Toph and Zuko jumped down first. Sokka followed and Katara surveyed the scene before following her brother. The old king was standing tall in simple pants and a clean linen shirt, none of his usual flamboyant robes or frills in sight
"King Bumi," Aang said as he turned to Toph and Zuko, "this is my earthbending teach, Toph Bei Fong. And my firebending teacher..."
"Prince Zuko," Bumi stated.
Katara turned as Bumi stated Zuko's title with a cold, flat tone. Zuko was meeting Bumi's gaze, and it looked like they were having a contest of wills, and that Bumi was winning. Zuko broke the connection and stared at his feet as Toph walked up beside him and slid her hand into his.
"Ha! He's better than his sister. Good choice, Aang," Bumi said, laughing with several snorts intermixed.
Katara smiled and sighed as Zuko stared at Bumi, shock on his face. Sokka laughed and Katara saw him roll his eyes at the old king's sense of humor. Bumi turned to Toph and bowed his head.
"And it is an honor to meet you, Toph Bei Fong, daughter and heir of House Bei Fong, and the Blind Bandit. I am glad Aang took my advice and found you."
Katara saw Toph smile and duck her head as she blushed before she bowed her head back to the king. Bumi turned to her and Sokka.
"And my two favorite water tribe people!" He hurried to them and wrapped them in a bone crushing hug.
"As long as he doesn't have any more of that creeping crystal," Sokka whispered to his sister after Bumi had released them and turned back to Aang.
"I agree," Katara whispered, trying to hold back a giggle as they followed the king to the Avatar.
"Now, what brings you and your friends to my doorstep this late hour?" Bumi asked Aang.
Aang's face fell before it hardened as he turned serious.
"A war balloon is coming," Aang told Bumi. "And an army of gliders and smaller balloons with a new type of bomb. We faced the balloons after the eclipse and this past week. They're planning to attack at dawn. We heard and we're here to help."
Bumi brought his hand to his chin, thinking.
"Hmm, I've heard rumors of these balloons." Bumi studied Aang. "Do you know what type of bomb?"
Aang shook his head. "No, but we're here to help and stop them."
Bumi nodded. "Please follow me then," he said as he started walking inside, gesturing them to follow.
Katara followed the others behind Bumi as they entered the palace. Aang stopped abruptly and Katara almost walked into him before she saw what had stopped him. The sight of the people before her stopped her as well as everyone else.
The king of Ba Sing Sae stood up next to his bear as the group entered the room. Beside him were the former governor of Omashu from the fire nation along with his wife and son. Also the leader of the resistance from Omashu and the earth kingdom general who had tried to induce Aang into the Avatar state, along with a handful of others that were unfamiliar to Katara.
"What…? How…?" Aang started as he stared at everyone.
"Welcome to the White Lotus Society of Omashu," Bumi said, grinning. He turned to the group that continued to stand. "My friends, Avatar Aang has brought grave news."
He waited until all of their attention was on him before he continued.
"The fire nation army is bringing a war balloon and an army of gliders, much similar to the Avatar's to invade at dawn. As well as word of a new type of bomb."
"What does this balloon look like? And how can we stop it?" one of the men asked.
"And what are you doing here, your highness?" the former governor asked, keeping his gaze on Zuko.
Bumi turned to Zuko as everyone's' attention shifted to the prince. Katara saw Aang give him an encouraging smile and Zuko nodded.
"I guess I'm the best to explain the balloon," he said as he stepped forward. He turned to face the former governor first.
"I am the Avatar's firebending teacher now, Governor Hu. I see a different path for the fire nation than my father, and the Avatar was gracious enough to give me another chance."
Zuko turned to bow to Aang and Katara felt a smile appear as Aang bowed back. She moved closer to Aang as Zuko asked Bumi for some paper. Bumi obliged and called for some paper and ink. They waited, everyone taking their seats, several chairs appearing for the newcomers. Katara sat between Aang and Toph as paper arrived and Zuko started making sketches.
"Did word really spread that fast?" Aang whispered to her as he surveyed the near twenty people in the room. "There's so many, from so many different areas."
Katara shrugged. "I think so. Iroh did have a head start since we were running from Azula. You really think we can trust the general, or the governor?"
Aang reached out and took her hand, giving it a quick squeeze before he let it go.
"You heard Iroh. They come from all walks, all nations, and they all want the war to end. If Bumi and Iroh trusted them, I'm willing to give them a chance."
"I'm sorry my drawing isn't the best," Zuko said from the middle of the room as he laid down his sketches.
Katara turned her attention from Aang to Zuko and saw that the sketches were good, better than most she had seen. There were several detailed sketches of the balloon from several angles, as well as a detailed sketch of a glider that was like the one Azula and her friends had ridden on.
"The balloon's power source is here," Zuko said as he pointed to the middle section. "There are six entrances, with the front port the main and the engineer door at the back the least used."
Katara thought to when they had infiltrated Azula's balloon and entered the engineer door. She also remembered that Zuko's redirected lighting had struck the middle. Her estimation of Zuko grew as she realized that he knew exactly what he was doing when they had rescued Toph and he had struck the balloon. Maybe she should give him another chance.
She shook her head slightly as she brought herself back to the conversation at hand. Several of the men, including a couple of generals were arguing about which way the best to attack a flying target was. Bumi shifted his gaze from Zuko to Aang and back several times before he saw Katara studying him. He gave her a wry smile before he spoke.
"The Avatar and his teachers have faced this weapon before," he said. He waited until everyone had quieted down and turned their attention to him once more before he continued. "Perhaps they have a suggestion."
He turned to them as everyone else followed suit. Aang looked uneasy and Zuko turned to Katara, a wry smile tugging at his mouth before he turned back to the group.
"The balloon itself is made of cloth, while the body is metal," Zuko said. "A well aimed rock, bolt of fire, air or water will pierce the cloth, but the people on the gliders are the problem. The gliders are made of wood and cloth. We also don't know what this new type of weapon is."
He turned back to Katara and she saw his smile spreading.
"Katara, Toph and I have been inside this type of balloon before. We may be able to get inside and find out what new weapon there is and also disable it."
Katara felt that she was going to strangle him as she saw a smirk appear on Toph's face. The generals started talking in excited tones, agreeing with the prince.
"We'd better get going then," Aang said as he stood up. He bowed to Bumi who stood and bowed back.
One of the unfamiliar generals rose as well.
"We'll be ready when they come, Avatar Aang," he said.
Aang bowed and started walking back to the courtyard where Appa was. Katara, Toph, and Zuko rose to follow him. Sokka jumped up and followed them as well. He caught up with them quickly and hurried to Aang.
"I should go too," he told the Avatar. "I helped perfect the balloon and may be the best one to figure out what to do."
Katara saw Toph and Zuko look skeptically at Sokka, but Aang nodded.
"I agree. No, he's right," Aang said when Toph opened her mouth to protest. "C'mon, let's get on Appa, and we'll talk once we're in the air."
Katara watched as Toph, Zuko and Sokka climbed onto the saddle before Aang turned to her. He gave her a smile and she realized she was still frowning.
"It'll be ok," he told her before airbending himself onto Appa's head.
Katara sighed and followed the others onto the saddle. Appa let out a low bellow before setting off again. Once Appa was level, Aang joined the others in the saddle, sitting next to her.
"Sokka did help make the balloon work in the Northern Air Temple with Teo's father. He's also great at ideas and can figure out what this new weapon is."
"Yep, Snoozles is our idea guy," Toph said, leaning back with a smirk. She turned to Aang. "So what are we gonna do?"
Aang smiled and glanced at Katara.
"Appa and I will take you to the engineer door. If they spot us, we'll keep them busy while you guys work. Just like the drill, find where you need to go, and disable or weaken the weapon before the balloon. I'll stay outside until you guys are ready."
"Drill?" Zuko asked.
"I'll explain later," Toph replied with a smirk.
"Aang, are you sure about this?" Katara asked the Avatar.
She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. Scared of what they might find on the balloon and scared most of all for Aang. What if he was captured or hurt? He smiled at her, a reassuring smile.
"Yeah," he answered her. "C'mon, we need to make some cover."
He continued to smile at her as he stood up. She followed his lead and stood up as well, feeling the wind rush past her robe. She smiled as the thought of the Painted Lady striking another balloon crept into her head. Aang smiled back at her as they started the movements to create clouds.
She felt the same rush as when they had first moved together to create and move clouds over the fortune tellers' town as they moved in rhythm. The water came out of the air and surrounded them, swirling around them in the moonlight.
She spotted the balloon in the distance as she twirled, moving the clouds. She focused her will and moved the clouds steadily towards the balloon, and smiled as she felt Aang doing the same. The clouds soon obscured their view of the ground and the balloon except for occasional glimpses.
Appa soon slowed and Katara saw that the small platform at the engineer door entrance was a short four feet away from the saddle. Zuko jumped the distance and waited as Sokka jumped.
"C'mon Toph, it's not that far," the firebender said as Toph stood at the saddle edge.
She look worried, but smirked at Zuko as he spoke and jumped easily straight at him. He smiled as he grabbed her arms to steady her when she landed before turning to Katara. She was shocked by the emotions in his amber eyes, happiness, hope and worry. She had not seen those emotions in Zuko before.
She turned to Aang and he smiled at her. She walked up to him and wrapped him in a hug, holding onto him.
"Don't worry," he said. "You'll be ok."
Katara backed away from the hug and smiled at him. "I know. Be careful."
She turned to jump, before a thought occurred to her. She waved her arms around her and the clouds obscured her and Aang from the others for a minute. She turned quickly back to Aang and planted a soft, quick kiss on his lips before turning back to the others.
She moved the clouds away from between her and the engineer door and jumped the four feet easily, landing between Zuko and her brother. Katara glanced back at Aang and saw him blushing before he turned to Appa.
"C'mon," she told the boys as she quickly bent some water to freeze the lock. "We need to get moving."
She saw Sokka giving her a funny look out of the corner of her eye as the door opened. Zuko went in first, followed by Toph. Sokka followed the earthbender and Katara brought up the rear as she closed the door gently behind her.
"What was that about?" Sokka hissed back to her.
"You don't want any 'funny stuff', so I made sure you wouldn't see," she whispered back to her brother, smiling as they crept through the empty metal corridors.
Katara heard her brother sigh in frustration, but thankfully he didn't make any more retorts. They went in the opposite direction than when they had rescued Toph, and descended a level, hiding from several groups of guards before they came to a large steel door.
"This is the armory," Zuko whispered. "The new weapon should be in here."
Katara nodded and saw Sokka doing the same as Zuko eased the door open. He motioned the others to follow as he disappeared behind the door. Katara wondered how Toph read him, but remembered the earthbender saying that she and Zuko understood each other, and wondered if that had anything to do with it.
She was startled out of her musing by a soft thud from behind the door. She hurried around the door and saw Zuko and Sokka half carrying an unconscious soldier to the edge of a large room. She looked around and gasped as she saw nearly endless rows of large metal cylinders resting in racks in the large warehouse like room.
The cylinders were about three feet long and a foot in diameter. Each rack held ten cylinders and the room held two racks side by side, and Katara counted at least five racks deep before darkness obscured the rest.
"How can we stop all these?" she said quietly to herself.
"First, we need to find out what they are," Sokka said as he hurried to the closest one.
He started to inspect the three foot long cylinder as Zuko approached it before he found a hatch on the top. He gave a wry smile to the firebender as he started to open it. Katara suddenly felt a sense of dread and put her hand on Toph's shoulder when the earthbender went to follow Zuko.
"What…?" Toph started, glancing at Katara.
"Wait," she replied. "It doesn't feel right."
Sokka opened the hatch and a cloud of yellow dust rose up. Zuko abruptly shoved the hatch closed as Sokka started coughing.
"Toph! Katara! Get out of the room, now!" he shouted as he started to cough.