Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Water, earth, fire, air... Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the fire nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed and the new Avatar, an air bender named Aang, was discovered. Now travelling by his side are Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, and Ashlynn... An ex-member of the Fire nation, and Prince Zuko's lifelong companion...
Ashlynn couldn't quite tell how many days it had been since her group took off from the fortuneteller's village before they made a break for some serious rest. She believed it was no more than two days, since Appa couldn't take much straight-forward flying.
"We should take a look around, see if we can find anything," Katara suggested after lunch.
They'd landed in a secluded forest that was on the top of slightly elevated land, surrounded by certain steep cliffs that ran down to a beach. Sokka and Aang nodded in agreement with Katara, and got up to scavenge for lost goods. Ashlynn trailed slowly behind them, uninterested.
"Hey look! A sword made out of a whale's tooth," Aang exclaimed excitedly after fifteen minutes of weak searching. The sword was staked right in the middle of a small open clearing in the forestry. Sokka gasped and slid down the first downhill section and halted next to Aang. He snagged the sword from his friend and examined it.
"That looks like a water tribe weapon!" Katara exclaimed to Ashlynn, and she slid down the small hill as well. Ashlynn carefully stepped down, trying to make sure each foot landed on a firm rock and not just slippery shrubbery.
"You're right Katara; this IS a water tribe weapon!" Sokka stated firmly. "Let's see if we can find anything else," Ashlynn responded, and quickly scanned the area. Everyone took off in separate directions, but made sure to stay within everyone's line of view, in case something was found.
"Look you guys, these trees here have been scraped," Ashlynn said, and ran a hand along the slight cuts of the aged tree. Sokka ran over to her, ran his hand along the tree's wound, and then looked down at the floor. "Look, an arrow!" he said, and picked up half of an arrow that had been snapped in half. He felt the tip of the arrow and some of it instantly began to crumble in his hand.
"It's burned," he remarked. "There must have been a battle," Katara followed as she closed in on them. Aang stared back at them, listening intently.
"Yeah- It was an ambush. Water Tribe warriors ambushed a group of Fire Nation soldiers. They fought back, but the Water Tribe fighters drove them down this cliff," Sokka said and pointed at the faint footmarks that led down the cliff. Ashlynn sighed, realizing that they'd have to climb down the rest of the elevated ground till the trail ended.
Her, Katara, and Aang followed Sokka as he took off at a quick speed down the hill. He didn't stop till he reached the beach that they'd seen and heard from atop the cliff. The water slapped against the rocks that bordered the edge of the cliff and the beach.
"Then what happened?" Katara asked Sokka as the group caught their breath. "I don't know... The trail ends here," Sokka murmured disappointedly.
"No, look at that!" Ashlynn shouted suddenly as she spied a small boat several yards down the coastline. "That must be one of the Water Tribe ships!" Sokka said, perking up immediately. He ran down the beach, and Katara and Aang ran after him. Ashlynn calmly walked and observed them from afar.
"Is this... dad's boat?" Ashlynn could hear Katara ask. "No, but it's from his fleet," Sokka responded with a smile. "Then... dad was here!" Katara grinned.
"This would be a perfect place to make camp," Ashlynn told them as she caught up to them. "Good idea. It'd give us a good rest, especially being along this peaceful beach. We could fish, and maybe whomever this ship belongs to will come back to get it," Sokka agreed without hesitation.
"Alright, I'll go bring Appa down here," Aang said as he opened his glider. When a gust of wind blew by he jumped up into it and air bended his way up the hill. "While he gets Appa and our supplies we should gather food and wood," Sokka said.
"Right, Sokka and Ashlynn you guys go fish. I'll gather the best wood I can manage to find," Katara grinned. She took off running back into the forest. Ashlynn drew her twin swords and tossed one to Sokka. "Well, we don't exactly have a fishing pole at this moment so let's make do with what we got," she smiled. Sokka nodded, and together they walked down the beach in search of a decent fishing spot.
Aang returned with Appa just in time for them to make dinner. Katara had already made a fire; all she needed was dinner-making essentials.
"What took so long, Aang?" Katara asked as she began to gut the several fish Ashlynn and Sokka had caught. "Oh, Appa's just so tired... I didn't want him flying down here," Aang grinned and rubbed his head sheepishly. "Oh, right, no problem," Katara smiled back.
Sokka tended to the fire, and Ashlynn set up each of their beds around the warm fire.
After an hour the fish was finally ready. Each ate their meal with gratitude. Aang fell asleep upon Appa's warm fur, and Katara curled up in her warm sleeping blankets as well. Ashlynn laid back upon her bed and dozed off as well.
Ashlynn felt like only an hour had passed when a cold breeze flew by, waking her up. Man, should fall asleep IN the bed... It's so cold, she thought to herself as she rubbed her eyes and sat up. She then noticed that the fire was still crackling, and Sokka was still awake, staring deep into the heart of the burning flame.
Ashlynn blinked a few times to clear her vision, and then bit her lip and stood up. Sokka didn't appear to notice her get up, as he continued to stare into the flame. Ashlynn could tell something was bothering him. She watched him shiver as another wind blew by. She picked up a blanket, then walked over to him.
"Can't sleep?" she asked quietly. Sokka jumped at the sound of her voice, looked up at her, and then looked away while shaking his head. "Here," she said, continuing to keep her voice low so that Katara and Aang didn't wake. She tossed kneeled down by Sokka and put the blanket over his back and shoulders. "Thanks," he said without a smile, and hugged the blanket around him tighter.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked. Sokka shook his head, so she seated herself next to him. They said nothing for a long while, but merely stared at the fire in twin silence.
"My tribe... They left me behind," Sokka whispered suddenly, breaking the lengthened silence.
"What do you mean?" Ashlynn pondered quietly, and shivered as another large gust brushed past them. Sokka scooted close to her and wrapped the blanket around her too so that they'd both be kept warm. Ashlynn blushed at the closeness, but kept her face turned toward the fire so Sokka wouldn't notice.
"When my father left, I was more than ready to join them and help, and fight. They all put me down, and said I was too young. They abandoned me," he whispered while still keeping a stick to the fire, making sure it didn't burn out.
"I'm... sorry," Ashlynn whispered back, and looked up at him. "I'm not angry, I'm just anxious. This is the closest I've been to them since that day. Just... so close..." he whispered back, his voice quivering. Ashlynn reached up suddenly with her hand and grasped the hand that he had rested upon the legs he had curled up to his chest. She grasped his hand tightly in hopes that he'd feel comforted and more secure.
"I'm sure you'll see them again someday," she whispered reassuringly, and continued to look up at him. He suddenly turned his face to look back at her. Ashlynn was frozen, realizing she'd got stuck in an awkward position that'd be difficult to get out of. She studied the feeling of loneliness in his eyes and wished she could comfort him in a better way.
Suddenly, a noise came from the bushes nearby, dragging their awkward gazes apart. Sokka stood up from the blanket suddenly and drew his weapon. "Stay behind me Ash," he ordered protectively. Ashlynn wrapped the blanket tight around herself as her breath stopped suddenly at the sound of her nickname.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Sokka demanded. Ashlynn could hear Katara and Aang stirring from the sudden noise.
An older man wrapped in blue clothing and bandages around his chest entered the light of the fire so that everyone could see him better.
"Bato?" Sokka said with disbelief suddenly, as he recognized the man. "Sokka!" the man responded in a deep voice. "Bato!" Katara exclaimed, and Ashlynn looked over at her and saw the grin spread across her face. Ashlynn became aware of Aang giving her a confused look, and wondered if he knew how close she and Sokka had just been. She looked away from the two.
"Sokka, Katara!" the man Bato cried as the siblings ran to him and hugged him. "It's so good to see you," he murmured to them as he hugged them back.
Ashlynn stood up as Aang did, and together they walked over to the reunited friends. "Where's dad?" Sokka asked Bato as they broke the embrace. "He's not here. He and the rest of the fleet should be in the Earth Kingdom by now," Bato said. He and everyone else shivered as the largest gust of wind yet went by. "Come on, I'm staying in a small town nearby. It's much warmer there," he said, and turned around to guide everyone back. Ashlynn trailed behind, feeling randomly left out. She could tell Aang felt the same.
"I was wounded in the ambush. Your father carried me to this abbey, but they had to leave me behind. I was in no shape to continue my fighting. The sisters here have cared for me since then, and I've had a marvelous recovery," Bato explained as they entered the small abbey.
"Superiors, these are Hakota's children. They've been travelling with the Avatar," Bato explained to the curious women of the abbey.
"It gives me great joy to be in your presence, young Avatar. But what- What is SHE doing here?" one of the elderly women cried in horror and pointed at Ashlynn. Some of the other women began to whisper hurriedly amongst each other.
"What do you mean?" Bato asked. "She's fire nation!" the woman spat. Bato suddenly turned around and eyed Ashlynn more closely. He frowned with anger as he said "You're right, she's a criminal too, and she's wanted!" he glared.
"Bato, women of the abbey, it's fine. She's with us, she isn't fire nation anymore I assure you," Aang promised. "If you say so, Avatar," the woman said, still untrusting of Ashlynn. Sokka and Katara looked back at her with worry. She stared back at Sokka for a moment, and bit her lip as she broke the awkward eye contact.
"If there's anything you ladies need, just---" Aang began to offer when he was rudely interrupted.
"Wow that's a delicious scent! What is it?!" Sokka asked excitedly. Ashlynn could smell it too, and it hardly smelled appetizing at all. In fact, it was like a mixture of two scents in one. On one hand she could smell a soothing perfume-like aroma, but on the other hand it smelled like a fish meal gone horribly wrong. The two smells combined were horrific.
"The sisters craft perfume here. Come on, I got stewed sea-prunes waiting in my room," Bato explained. "No way!" Sokka and Katara gasped excitedly. Ashlynn held back a gag as she realized the 'sea prunes' was the source of the foul scent.
Bato guided them to a room within the interior of the abbey, which happened to look very much like an antique replica of a water-tribe room. There were animal fur rugs, and animal furs mounted on the wall for decoration. In the center was the pot which beheld the cooked prunes.
"Help yourselves," Bato said as he shut the door behind everyone. Sokka and Katara scrambled to the pot and calmly but quickly grabbed a bowl and spooned their share of food. Ashlynn sighed, and sat in a corner of the room. This was hardly of interest to her, but she knew that Sokka and Katara needed their time with their old friend. She fell asleep, exhausted and disappointed.
A very bright light shone in through the window, awaking Ashlynn. The room was thoroughly empty, and she was wrapped in a blanket. She vaguely remembered stirring slightly several hours before momentarily as Sokka attempted to wrap her dozing body in a warm Water Tribe blanket. That explained her having it now. She stretched, and folded the blanket neatly in the corner from which she slept in. Then, she departed from the room.
Wow, what time is it, she thought to herself as she watched the abbey women doing their daily work. It was at least midday, and Bato, Sokka, Katara, and Aang were nowhere to be seen. "Hey, where are my friends?" she asked the nearest abbey lady. "I believe they went back down to the beach just an hour ago," the women replied hesitantly, and gave Ashlynn a forced smile.
"Thanks..." she responded bitterly, entirely annoyed that everyone kept treating her with hostility.
She slowly paced down to the beach and stopped at the edge of the water. She gasped as the cool water lapped over her bare feet for the first time. She grinned and allowed the water to keep doing so. As she did this, she noticed that Bato's ship was no longer docked at the beach, but rather was floating out in the ocean water. She watched, and recognized each of her friends on board. Sokka appeared to be steering the ship through the numerous rocks out in the open portion of the ocean.
It looked like a dangerous task, but Ashlynn sighed in relief as Sokka safely made his way through the rocks. As the ship was water bended over the last portion, it began to steer back to shore. It docked back in it's original place, and Ashlynn happily ran over to greet them.
"You did great Sokka," Katara was saying as they departed from the boat. "Yeah Sokka, that was wonderful," Ashlynn said with a smile. "You saw?" Sokka asked suddenly. "Yeah," Ashlynn grinned. Sokka relaxed, and smiled, seeming so much happier knowing she'd seen his success in steering the boat.
"Come, let us recognize what each of you have accomplished," Bato said. Katara, Sokka, and Aang lined up side by side as Bato produced a bowl with a colored substance within it. He dipped his fingers into the mud, and made a shape above Sokka's bare forehead.
"Sokka, you have the mark of the wise," Bato explained. "Katara- the mark of the brave; and Aang, the mark of the trusted," he said, and finished with Aang's marking. Aang suddenly looked down, and wiped the marking from his face. "I can't accept this," Aang murmured.
"Of course you can Aang. You're an honorary member of our tribe now!" Katara said happily.
"No, you can't trust me," he said, and backed away. "What is it, Aang?" Ashlynn asked as she watched him back away.
Aang pulled out a crumpled bit of paper from within the confinements of his clothing and handed it to Katara. "A messenger gave me this. He said it was for Bato, you have to understand, I..." Aang tried to explain but was suddenly interrupted by an angered Sokka.
"This is the map to our father! You had this the whole time?!" he shouted over Aang's quivering voice.
"Sokka, please..." Aang tried to explain it again. "How could you?! You know what; go to the North Pole on your own! I'm going to find dad," Sokka spat angrily, and began to stomp off away from the group. "Sokka!" Ashlynn shouted angrily. "Sokka, maybe you should think on it..." Bato tried suggesting.
Sokka turned back around suddenly. "Katara, Ashlynn, you guys coming with me?" he asked. "I'm with you, Sokka," Katara said bitterly, and without looking at Aang she marched right to her brother's side. "Ash?" Sokka asked, lowering his voice a little. Ashlynn's heart raced as she was reminded of Zuko asking for her help, using her nickname, making her feel like she had to stick by his side.
After a momentary internal conflict, Ashlynn walked to Aang's side. "You're both acting without thinking. You're only thinking about yourselves, and it's immature. I'm staying with Aang," Ashlynn responded determinedly.
"Fine," Sokka spat. Despite his angry voice, the features on his face betrayed the emotion his voice gave. Ashlynn saw the pain and disappointment flash through his eyes, and she wondered just exactly when Sokka had begun to be protective of her.
Sokka, Katara, and Bato all turned around and walked back towards the alley. Ashlynn put a comforting hand on Aang's shoulder. "Come on Aang," she said, and together they followed the water tribe members.
Back at the abbey, all Katara managed to say to Ashlynn and Aang was 'good luck'. She, her brother, and Bato all departed without another word. Aang looked sadder than Ashlynn had ever seen him. "Come on, let's go..." Aang sighed as he hopped up on Appa. Ashlynn climbed up into Appa's saddle, and Aang reluctantly guided Appa out the gates of the abbey.
"I'm such an idiot," Aang sighed as they walked in the opposite direction of Sokka and Katara. "No, you're not. I didn't know that there was supposed to be any kind of map or anything, but I know that you didn't want to be separated from them. You're not an idiot, just confused, and they let their pride get the better of them," Ashlynn reassured him. Aang said nothing.
After a few minutes they reached the beach, and Aang stopped Appa at the edge of the water as he prepared them for flight. "Aang, look!" Ashlynn said, and pointed towards one of the abbey women she saw running toward them.
"Avatar, you must leave!" the woman said hastily. "I know, I get it," Aang retorted bitterly. "A group of people came to the abbey looking for you," the woman explained, tripping over her own words. "What? Who?!" Aang cried worriedly.
"A fierce woman with a horrible monster, and a man with a scar," she said, her voice sounding rather ominous. "Zuko," Ashlynn and Aang said in unison.
"The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you," the woman followed. "A necklace? Oh- Katara!" Aang cried out suddenly. "We got to help her," Ashlynn said. "I know, let's go Appa!" Aang said, and together they flew back to the abbey.
Back at the abbey, Aang ordered Ashlynn to hide up on one of the rooftops while he floated above, awaiting Zuko's arrival. It was almost certain he'd bring Katara and Sokka back when they began to find Aang's scent, so Aang requested Ashlynn provided safety for their lost companions. So, she hid inconspicuously atop a roof in the abbey.
Sure enough, a beast Ashlynn didn't recognize burst through the abbey gate. Atop it was a woman, whom Ashlynn assumed was a bounty hunter of some sort. With her were Zuko and Iroh, and Sokka and Katara were in bonds, thrown across the end of its back.
Aang flew in from above and glided over the creature. It reared up on its hind legs in an attempt to strike him with its tongue, but instead lost its balance and fell over backwards. Ashlynn hopped off the roof as it did this, and ran towards her fallen comrades. She tried her very best to ignore Zuko as she ran by Sokka and Katara.
The woman got up and whipped her monster, ordering it to get up. She hopped upon its back, and it began to charge towards Aang as he landed upon the stone floor. That's when Appa came in, and charged right into the creature's side, throwing it back into one of the abbey walls.
Ashlynn fell by Katara's side first and withdrew her sword to cut the bonds. "Ashlynn!" she heard her name coming from Zuko and she cut the bonds around Katara's wrists. She turned and saw Zuko stomping towards her. She moved her sword in front of herself for defense, but Zuko quickly kicked it from her hand. She ignored the increasing pain from the impact upon her hand as she rolled away from Zuko when he attempted to grab her.
As she rolled he grasped at her and caught her hair. She cried out in pain as he dragged her up off the ground by her hair. She kicked him in the gut and he cried out as well and dropped her. Then, Aang finally turned his attention to Zuko, and bended a gust of air in his direction, sending him flying away from Ashlynn. Ashlynn quickly stood up and ran over to her sword. She grasped it, then ran back to Katara and Sokka, who hadn't moved at all.
"What's a matter with you Katara- cut your bonds!" Ashlynn said as she cut the remaining bonds around Katara's ankles. "We're paralyzed. That creature, its tongue..." Katara tried to explain as Ashlynn cut Sokka's bonds as well. She growled in frustration, and sheathed her sword. She ran back over to Katara, and flopped her onto her back. She then grasped Katara's wrists, and dragged her back over to the safety of a nearby wall. She went back, and did the same for Sokka.
All the while she became increasingly aware of the heated ongoing battle between Zuko and Aang.
She surveyed the scene quickly, and saw the woman upon the creature striking out at Appa. Ashlynn drew both her swords and ran in that direction, ignoring Sokka and Katara's pleas to not go.
Ashlynn let out a furious cry as she closed in on the woman and her creature. Ashlynn made a running jump, and shoved the woman clear off her pet. The woman quickly stood up, and cracked her whip as she watched Ashlynn, preparing for an opportunity to strike. Meanwhile, Appa and the ferocious creature continued to fight, as did Aang and Zuko.
Ashlynn stared at the woman for a moment. She was beautiful, in a fierce sort of way. Ashlynn felt a twang of jealousy course through her, and momentarily wondered if she was Zuko's new companion. Ashlynn gripped her swords tighter, and then charged at her. The woman cast her whip out in front of her, but Ashlynn narrowly dodge it as she closed the distance between the two of them. She struck one sword out in front of her, and the woman bent down low and rolled out of the way. She flung her whip again, and Ashlynn yelled out as it struck her back, tearing through her clothes and skin.
She turned around and charged again. The woman cracked the whip, and managed to wrap it around on of Ashlynn's swords. She made an attempt to pull the weapon out from Ashlynn's hand, but it back fired, as Ashlynn was the one to pull the whip away from her.
Just as Ashlynn was about to run in and give the woman a good beating, the courtyard began to smell heavily of perfume. Ashlynn coughed and cast a protective hand in front of her face, and looked around to find where it was coming from. Katara, no longer inflicted with paralysis, was bending the perfume amongst the courtyard, thus resulting in the clouding of the monster's sinuses. Since it saw with its nose, it soom became blinded by the smells. It slashed its tongue out, and struck the woman. She fell over, immediatly paralyzed. It then struck Zuko, too.
Utterly distraught, the creature retreated from the abbey into the forest.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Aang said. The women of the abbey began to scurry from the protection of their homes, and offered to 'take care of' Zuko, the woman, and Iroh.
Katara, Sokka, Aang, and Ashlynn all mounted Appa, and quickly flew up into the air.
"What do we do now," Aang asked hours later. It was sunset, and the sky was clear and illuminated with a glowing incandescent color.
"We're getting you to the north pole," Katara said with a smile. "Yeah, we've already wasted enough time," Sokka chuckled slightly.
"What about your father?" Ashlynn asked suddenly. Sokka gazed over at her, and then looked away as he said "We want to see him, but Aang's the priority here. He's our family too."
"You need us, and we need you," Katara smiled at Aang. "I really wish I could give you something Katara, something that'd just... really make you so happy," Aang said teasingly.
"I'm fine Aang," Katara grinned reassuringly. "Still, just a little something... Maybe, like this?" Aang said, and proceeded to show Katara that he'd gained possession of her missing necklace.
"Oh! Where did you get that?!" Katara exclaimed, and snatched the necklace from his hand and placed it around her neck, where it belonged.
"Zuko asked me to give it to you," Aang giggled. "Aw, how sweet of him," Katara said sarcastically. They laughed, but Ashlynn didn't find it funny in the least. She ignored it, however, and grinned as Katara kissed Aang on the cheek. She giggled as she saw him blush.
Then, together, the reunited companions continued on their way to the North Pole, complete and whole once again.