Chapter Four. The Avatar
It was time. It was time for him to return home. He had to ensure the safety of his people and the only way that he could do that was to be there. He wondered how Katara would react, seeing him again. Would she forgive him for what he had done? He was worried for her. He just had to be sure that she was safe. So he began his journey home. He met no one along the way, keeping to side roads so that he wouldn't be discovered. He did not want to get into a fight. He was trying to get to the south pole as fast as he could.
It was a difficult journey but he made it. As he approached the last drift that separated him and the tribe he began to wonder what would he say to Katara, what could he say? As he hit the top of the drift he stood there proudly facing the village. He spread out his consciousness to find the village and he gasped. There was no village. Well there were the remnants of a small fortress and maybe twenty people but everyone else was gone. He raced down the hill determined to figure out what was going on. He ran by a couple kids younger than him, they all stared at the strange newcomer but he didn't pay attention. He was determined to figure out what had happened here and the children were too young to know what had happened. He kept running scanning the huts determined to find Katara, Sokka or their parents but he found nothing. He then looked around for anyone that he knew and he finally found her. She was a couple huts away and he walked over unsure where to begin. He took a deep breath, opened the door, walked in and said, "Hi Gran-Gran"
"Nazca, is that you? My, it's been a long time. Why come in please and have a seat. Katara and Sokka are just out fishing right now. They should be back soon."
Nazca sighed, relieved. So they where here, just fishing. But that didn't explain the disappearance of more than half the village.
"My how old are you now?" Gran -Gran asked curious.
"Fifteen, it's only been three years."
"Still three years is a long time."
"What happened here?"
"Well," she began, "Soon after you left all of the men left to aid the earth kingdom's war efforts and our tribe depleted extremely."
"There are no more men hear?" Nazca asked surprised.
"Only Sokka and he isn't really a man yet."
"Wow. Umm are you guys here all right. I mean no one has been bothering you right. Katara, she's okay, right?"
Gran-Gran smiled, "Your concern is appreciated but everything here is going well. Nothing has really happened."
As if on cue Nazca suddenly felt an outburst of energy. It was raw power. It was coming from a great distance and yet he still felt it.
"What was that?" he asked.
Gran-Gran shrugged. They both walked outside to see what the commotion was. When Gran-Gran walked outside she gasped.
"What is it?" Nazca asked, unable to see what the disturbance was.
"Can't you see it?"
"No, actually I'm blind. I thought that you had figured that out by now."
"What!?"
"I'll tell you about it later but now I need to know what is going on."
"There is a giant source of light over to the south."
"Point which way." She did and he nodded.
"Do you know what or who could have caused that?" she shook her head, and then she gasped.
"Katara and Sokka went fishing in that direction!"
"I'll go check it out." he said getting ready to go.
"No, whatever it is I am sure that they will be fine."
Nazca felt something. A sudden force pushing him away. It was determined to send him away. He felt like never been here in the first place, like this journey was a huge mistake.
"I don't know why but I shouldn't be here. I'm going to leave now and I don't want anyone to know that I was here. So please Gran-Gran, don't tell anyone, not even Katara that I was here."
"I promise that no one will know that you where here. Good luck Nazca at whatever you are doing."
"Thank you," Nazca said bowing to her. He then turned and left. He silently left the tribe making sure that no one saw him. As he boarded his boat he sadly thought back to all the times that he had spent with Katara. Although he wanted to stay the force was too strong he would punish the nation that interrupted his life. He knew that the nation was not evil it was just corrupted by the selfish men who ruled and he would make sure that they would stop with this pain and suffering that they had thrust upon the world. He would avenge them all. He began to set sail unsure where he was going but he now had a purpose. He decided he would first train as a water bender at the northern water tribe.
He had been sailing for a day when he felt it, a ship sailing towards him. It was a big ship. He quietly picked up his stuff and prepared for the worst. As the ship approached he reached out with his mind to try to figure out who was on this ship. It was the uniforms that gave them away. If they had not been wearing the classic fire nation armor they would have been fine, but they were. Time to put his skills to the test he decided.
The guard's death was quick and painless. Nazca quickly disguised himself using the guard's armor. He was now infiltrating a fire nation navy ship. Time to take out headquarters. He searched the ship mentally looking for the captain's quarters or the quarters of someone powerful. He found them both empty. He searched the ship for someone who seemed to be in charge. He found a couple men not in uniform. One was the operator of the boat, presumably the captain, another was an old man who was playing some game with a group of non-soldier personnel, another was the chef and the last was a lone teenager standing on the bow. Nazca assumed that the eldest of the men must be the head of command and the teenager must be his kid along for the ride. Nazca approached the old man's location and just as he was about to reveal himself to him he heard something. He heard the kid at the deck yelling to change their course. The old man grumbled something but then said to the teenager, "I will be in my quarters changing if you need anything."
The teenager then yelled, "Guards, get in formation. We are about to invade the southern water tribe. It shouldn't be much of a fight but after we defeat them we will arrest the avatar. He will have had over a hundred years to train so be prepared for the worst!"
The avatar was here. That must have been the source of power Nazca concluded. He had heard stories of this master of all the elements, he had heard that he was the only one who could defeat the fire nation but for some reason he vanished leaving the world helpless to the fire nation's wrath. When he was younger he had believed such tales but recently he had seen them as mere fables used to raise the hope of the desperate. But he was real. And he was about to be attacked and imprisoned. Nazca knew that he would have to do something if they succeeded in capturing the avatar. He had a dramatic shift in priorities. He couldn't let this old man be defeated. He was the only true hope of defeating the fire lord. Sure he had believed he could assassinate the fire lord but he knew that the fire lord was too powerful and too well guarded. sex How did he know
He couldn't intervene now because if he failed the avatar could still be captured. He would have to wait to see the outcome of the battle and free the avatar if necessary. Sure it was risky but it was his best shot. As they approached the tribe the soldiers went into battle formation. Nazca mimicked them and took his spot at the end of the line. He noticed that the young teenager seemed to be in charge rather than the old man. Then, the moment of truth. He felt them crash through the walls of the small fort and he felt the people flee. One kid; Sokka, he realized, had positioned himself right in front of the ship and was about to be ran over. Sensing imminent doom Nazca pushed the ice that Sokka was standing on back a little so that he was out of range of the ship. Nazca smiled as the ship came to a halt after crashing through the insignificant barriers of the fort, Sokka would be the one kid who would try to stop a full size ship.
Then the gate opened and revealed them to the outside world. As soon as the steam had cleared Nazca and the other fire nation soldiers began to march out of the hull. Sokka foolishly charged at the young teenager who easily blocked his attack and tossed him effortlessly into the snow. He and the rest of the guards marched on the villagers a group of fifteen or so with at least half of them being woman who all stared frightened at the teenager. The teenager walked forward and asked them, "Where is he! I know your hiding him." Seeing no response from the villagers he reached out and grabbed Gran-Gran yelling, "He would be about this old, master of all four elements!"
Once again no response came from the villagers and he released her. Then once again Sokka foolishly charged at the teenager. He was easily tripped and his weapon skittered away. He got up again grabbing a spear and charged. The teenager broke the spear in multiple pieces and tossed Sokka to the ground. As a last ditch attempt Sokka threw something at him but missed. Nazca smiled at this clever weapon. The teenager took a step forward to hit him but the boomerang flew back and nailed the teenager in the back of the head. Nazca smiled and then froze. There was that energy again and it was coming fast. Nazca knew that he couldn't be out here and he quickly stole into the ship unnoticed. He felt the strange energy approaching the feeling that he had to get out of here growing stronger. Then a small boy riding a penguin otter seemed to appear out of nowhere and swept the teenager off his feet. He heard the kids of the water tribe yell, "Aang!" at the newcomer happily. The kid named Aang stood up and faced the teenager. Nazca was confused. This kid seemed to be source of the energy and the vibe telling him to leave. His confusion was soon answered. The kid sent an unseen force at the teenager. The force of air. The remaining guards where cast off in the flurry of wind and Aang said,"Looking for me."
The teenager stumbled, "You're the Avatar."
The villagers gasped at the seeming to be new information. So this kid was the avatar. That explained the extreme energy searing from him. Suddenly the teenager attacked. The kid Aang seemed to be better than him and easily blocked and dodged most of the teen's blows but after a wave of fire threatened to hurt some of the villagers he surrendered himself as long as the rest of the village would be left alone.
They bound Aang and brought him aboard the ship. They soon set sail.
They brought Aang to the dock where all the soldiers grouped together.
"Zuko, what would you like us to do with the prisoner." one of the guards asked the teenager.
"Take him to the prison hold," the teenager called Zuko responded. The guard gestured to Nazca to help him with Aang and Nazca agreed. The other guard took the lead as Nazca followed behind them both. They were walking down the corridor underneath the deck when Aang said, "I bet I could beat you with my hands tied behind my back."
Nazca smiled but the other guard said, "Quite!"
Nazca felt the whole thing happening and he could have easily stopped it but he instead just stood there appearing to be oblivious. He felt the sudden inhale and the stance take place. He then felt the kid blow a huge amount of air out sending Nazca flying back and the other guard smacked into the door in front of him. He would have been fine but something strange happened. Aang brushed up against him. Being so close to Aang earlier almost had Nazca wanted to vomit but when Aang touched Nazca that was all he could take. It felt like white hot metal on his flesh causing him to quickly lose consciousness and before he hit the ground he was out.
When he woke up he felt that their ship was in a port somewhere. He was lying in a bed with the old man sitting across from him. He shifted his body into a sitting position and faced the old man.
"You took a rather large hit from the avatar," the old man said talking to him.
"Some of your friends thought you weren't going to wake up at all but with proper sleep I was able to restore your health."
"How long was I unconscious for?"
"Three days. Like I said you took a big hit."
"No, I didn't," Nazca said quietly, "the avatar blasted me with wind but something else knocked me out. What happened? Why did he feel so powerful?" Nazca asked the old man.
"After the avatar escaped from you two he retrieved his staff and began fighting my nephew. Then he entered a super powered state known as the avatar state and easily defeated us. Two people from the water tribe one a boy, the other a girl came with a flying bison, and then they flew away. Right now we are getting repairs for our ship. The avatar blocked a fireball we sent at him and caused a large mound of snow to land on our ship." Sex really? You need to repair fracking SNOW damage? Try ice or something more manly. Like rocks.
Nazca stretched himself out. He was about to get up but then he realized that his helmet wasn't on. The old man must have noticed he was blind. He tried to think of some way to explain how he could see. He decided he would have to just leave if they asked him about it. He reached for his helmet to put it on when the man said, "I am the only person on this boat who knows the current condition of your eyes and your age and if you want I will keep it that way."
"That would be much appreciated, thank you," he said bowing, "What is your name?"
The old man laughed, "You have been here how long and still do not know my name?"
"It seemed to have slipped my mind, I remember you saying something and I think it started with a "Z" but I am unsure what it actually is."
He laughed again, "My nephew's name is Zuko. My name is Iroh."
So the old man's name was Iroh and it was his nephew, Zuko, who was trying to capture the avatar and was the authority aboard the ship. Nazca stood up and put on his helmet. Iroh then said, "You'll have to excuse me I'm going to help my nephew find someone who can help us with our ship."
Later that day a group of soldiers boarded the ship. Nazca felt them corner each member of the crew alone and interrogate them. They slowly made their way to Nazca's position. Nazca sat down and waited for them to come. As they rounded the corner Nazca heard one of them yell, "There's the last one." They walked over to him and said, "We have a few questions to ask you."
"Okay."
One man, an older man with a shaggy beard who seemed as though he was in his forties stepped forward, pulled a nearby barrel in front of him and sat down. He sighed then said, "I have already questioned the rest of the crew and I just want to get one more opinion of what transpired over the course of the past week. So tell me, do you have any idea about the existence of whereabouts about the one called the Avatar."
Nazca smiled, "To tell you the truth I really have no idea."
"Liar," the soldier snapped.
"No seriously I've been unconscious for the past three days."
The guard looked at him quizzically, "Have you heard anything from the rest of the crew?"
"I just told you I've been unconscious for the past three days I haven't exactly heard anything."
"Very well," the man sighed, he then stood up and signaled to the other soldiers to follow him. Nazca felt them walk away and wondered what the other guards had told him.
He walked down to the crew's quarters where most of the men where. He stepped inside the room and realized the men were eating.
He walked over to grab a bowl of soup when one of the men grabbed his arm and pulled him down to face level. He looked at him in the eyes then said, "What's up?"
"Nothing much."
"Gees man," the guard said kicking his feet up on the table, "Relax a little bit take off your helmet and enjoy your break. Zuko's going to be back soon and he's gonna' be pissed seeing as we all ratted about the avatar," The man laughed, "All he ever thinks about is the avatar, now he has some competition." Sex is this the Canadian guy from atas?
Nazca smiled then took off his helmet.
The one man laughed, "I should have known you where a newbie. So welcome to the ship, the name's Quan. This here is Vahn," He said pointing to a heavily bearded man, "Feln and Zilk," He said pointing to two men playing some game, "and this is Hevh." He said pointing to a bulky man sitting in the corner, "He doesn't talk and don't worry he won't hurt you unless you piss him off." he said laughing.
Nazca smiled, "I'm Nazca," he said, grabbing a bowl of soup.
"So your part of Zuko's guard huh,"
"Yeah guess so," he said sitting down.
"Hah," Quan said, "Hate your job already and you haven't been here a day. So what did Zuko have to do to get you? Sleep with Zhao?"
Nazca laughed, "Nah, I was just tired of sitting around doing nothing so I asked Zuko is he needed an extra man, turns out he did and now I'm hired."
"Well good for you," Quan said.
Then they heard a door slam somewhere and someone yelling.
Quan sighed, "Guess Zuko's back. C'mon let's go. Stick with Feln, he's a guard too, smart too. He'll tell you what to do."
Nazca got up and went over to Feln, "So what are we supposed to do."
Feln smiled, "Just stand around and do nothing, if we ever encounter the avatar again follow me and pretend to be trying."
"Seems easy enough,"
"It is."
They were heading to Kyoshi Island. Zuko had just gotten word of the avatar's location and they were racing to capture him. He heard one of the men that they had almost reached land. He got up and followed Feln out to the unloading area. They had picked up some beasts that they were going to raid Kyoshi with. Nazca felt them hit land and they got ready to invade. The ship's hull opened and they began the raid. They quickly covered the distance between the village until they were right at the head of the small cluster of huts. Zuko told them to search the houses and Feln who was steering their beast they were both riding on began to move forward. Nazca heard him whisper, "The avatar probably already left but might as well act as if we're trying."
Nazca smiled then opened up his mind. He smiled. Then he felt them jump down and knock Feln off the beast. He jumped off the beast and ran over to the nearest house and jumped inside. He was immediately confronted with a group of people and then one girl, a Kyoshi warrior. He smiled then said, "Hi Sonja."
The stepped back surprised, "How do you know me?" she demanded.
Nazca reached up and pulled off his helmet, "I'm back."
"Nazca!" She yelled giving him a hug, then she frowned and stepped back, "Why are you with the fire nation?"
"I'm trying to protect the avatar in case this idiot captures him." he said with a smile.
He expanded his mind searching outside and felt the avatar was back.
"So he is here," Nazca said with a smile.
"Yeah, he came by a couple days ago and stayed since. Guess what?" She said with a mischievous smile.
"What?"
"You've got some competition." she said her face spreading in a grin.
"What do you mean?"
"Suki found a new boyfriend!"
"Who?" Nazca asked confused.
She shrugged, "some boy from the Southern water tribe called Sakko."
"Sokka! He's here too?"
"Yeah along with some water tribe girl."
"Katara, Sokka and the avatar. Didn't expect they would venture so far from home."
All of the sudden Nazca felt the avatar getting ready to leave. Then he felt her, Suki kneeling twenty feet away behind a building talking to someone, Sokka he realized. "I have to go," he said to Sonja, getting up to leave.
"Good luck," she said.
He ran out of the room and ran over to where Sokka and Suki where. Then he stopped. He felt Suki lean over to Sokka, her lips puckered. The moment seemed to last a life time. He felt her kiss him. He stopped confused, and then Feln was next to him. "C'mon let's go. The avatar's leaving."
Nazca jumped on the beast confused thinking about what happened. He felt someone, Suki running towards their group then she stopped as she saw it was too late. He felt her collapse, water starting to form around her eyes. He felt confusion flooding his brain, mixed emotions colliding in a maelstrom of chaos. Then Nazca passed out.
He awoke to something smashing nearby. He sat up confused, and then he realized he was back in the crew's quarters. He stood up and expanded his mind. He realized that the noise he heard was in fact an explosion. One of the boats engines had been damaged by something. Nazca began heading upstairs when he realized he had no idea where his uniform was. He reached out with his mind exploring the ship then he felt something fly by the ship. He reached out even farther and realized that they were under attack. He felt fireballs flying through the air crashing in water around them. Nazca realized they might not care if he was in uniform and might just appreciate his help. He sprinted upstairs to the deck. On his way he ran into Quan.
"What's going on?" Nazca asked surprised.
"We're chasing the avatar and it seems as if we're not the only ones after him. Admiral Zhao is trying to shoot him out of the air but we're on the other side of those fireballs and stupid Zuko won't realize that there's no chance of getting through the blockade."
Just then Nazca felt them pass two ships line up transverse to them. Then someone yelled, "Yeah, we got through the blockade."
Nazca coughed trying to cover a laugh. Quan looked at him angrily, "you might want to put a uniform on," he said, "Here let's go get yours."
"Where's the avatar going?" Nazca asked.
"We think he's headed to Avatar Roku's Temple why?"
Nazca smiled, "Just curious."
He followed Quan back down to the crew's quarters. Nazca walked over and grabbed his bag which contained his father's knife, his Kyoshi Warrior uniform and the Black Cloak he had gotten from the Kyoshi warriors.
"Here," Quan said handing Nazca a bag containing his Fire Nation uniform.
Nazca looked at Quan then said, "You have to be a complete idiot to not have realized that I'm blind by now."
Quan looked at him angrily then said, "I was going to say something but I figured it would be impolite to mention it."
"So you figured it was completely normal for a blind kid to walk around like he could see?"
Quan stuttered, "Well."
"Because of the kindness you've shown me I'll spare you life," Nazca interrupted, "but you won't mention my disappearance to anyone, understand?"
Quan stuttered, "What?!"
"I said understand!?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Quan said confused, "But wait, you're leaving."
"Idiot, I'm a waterbender." Nazca then ran up to the dock with his bag over his shoulder and jumped off, only to land on Zuko's patrol ship that had just left the hull.
He landed quietly on top of the boat, crouching as he landed. He felt Zuko inside alone. Nazca jumped down off the roof, snuck into a large compartment, made some room for himself and went to sleep.
When Nazca woke up they were docked at a village, the patrol ship back inside the boat. Nazca snuck off the ship to see if he could find some food. He quickly found a restaurant, snuck in and stole some bread and water. He quickly returned to the boat to grab his bags. As he was getting his bags he felt someone come down in the hull. Nazca quickly stole away into the compartment and waited for this person to leave. Zuko, he realized did not leave but instead got on the boat along with some soldiers and his uncle.
Nazca felt the patrol boat leave the main boat and he realized he had a long journey ahead of him so he went to sleep.
Nazca woke up to a sudden jolt. He sat up surprised and smacked his head against the roof. He shook his head clearing it of pain and expanded his sight. He realized that he was about to go over a waterfall. He quickly opened the hatch and stood up on the boat just as it began to fall over. Nazca jumped away from the boat and dove into the water below using waterbending to soften the blow. He then expanded his mind just in time to feel the Avatar and his sky bison fly away.
Nazca smiled. The avatar would be safe for now. Then he began to head north.
One day as Nazca was resting in a temple he felt someone draw near. He felt the avatar approach him along with Sokka and Katara. Nazca immediately realized that Sokka was sick and Katara was getting sick too. Nazca felt the avatar, Aang leave in search of medicine. Nazca was tempted to stop and reveal himself to his friends in the absence of the avatar but he knew that he should try to make sure Aang's trip went smoothly. It didn't. As soon as he had learned what would cure them he was ambushed and attacked by archers. Nazca was able to take out three of them but they were so spread out that by the time he reached the third one Aang had already been captured. Nazca followed the group to a prison where Aang was to be held until the commander Zhao was able to transport Aang to the fire nation capitol. Nazca had no idea what to do. There were way to many guards for him to be able to sneak Aang out and he had no intention of allowing the young avatar to spot him. He tried to come up with a plan that would allow Aang to get out without seeing him but to no avail. Then he realized it. Zuko's passion to capture the avatar would surly push him to try to kidnap the avatar Nazca realized. And he already knew Aang could take Zuko in combat. He then set off to locate the fire prince Zuko.
It wasn't very hard to find him but it took some time. He finally found the coordinates of his boat from a fire navy base. He set off to board the boat and convince him to capture the avatar. When he reached the ship he set a grappling hook over to the deck. He quickly scaled the side of the ship leaving his boat behind to drift in the sea. Once he boarded the ship he set off to locate Zuko's quarters making sure he wasn't seen. He quickly found the young teenager he quietly slipped into his room.
"What are you doing in here?" Zuko yelled at the boy who had intruded into his private quarters, "Who are you!?"
"My name is not important however the information I carry is important for you and you alone and I would appreciate if my presence here was not exposed."
"Well what do you have to say," Zuko asked angrily.
"I bring you bad news," Nazca began, "The avatar has been captured by commander Zhao."
Zuko stared at him wild eyed, "No it can't be. Your lying, I know it."
Nazca shook his head saying, "I wish that it wasn't true but it is."
"My honor. How will I be able to redeem myself now that my only chance of restoring my honor is in the hands of Zhao? What am I going to do?"
"Shut up about your honor and listen," Nazca replied hastily, "just because Zhao has the avatar doesn't mean that the avatar is in the fire nation. You still have a chance."
"What are you suggesting I do?"
"I'm suggesting that you be the good guy. All you have to do is sneak into the camp grab the avatar and get out. He'll believe that you are on his side and will be easy to capture. In the end it all works out in your favor."
"How do I know that this isn't a trick? Why didn't you just capture him?'
"I can't answer that but you need to take my word for it. I know that it isn't much but if you really want to restore your honor you'll listen to me. Besides I brought something for you." Nazca went into the bag he was carrying and pulled out three things. Upon Zuko's examination two of them where broad swords and the other was a mask. A blue mask.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked. There was no answer. Nazca was already gone. Zuko walked over to his bed and sat down staring at the mask. How could this kid know so much? How could he trust him? He couldn't he realized he would just have to go find out for himself. He sat there staring for a couple moments then he took a deep breath, and he put the mask on.
Mission accomplished Nazca thought to himself he then began his journey to the northern water tribe.