Huge thanks to Kimjuni2 and Kelev for their reviews of last chapter, and Wavebreeze and Inkbender for reviewing chapters past. Here we are moving onto another major character, and it's everyone's favourite Avatar goofball Sokka! Even though the show portrayed him somewhat of a bumbling idiot, I feel his humour actually masks a deeper side of him. Despite the goofiness, I see a sophisticated character that is also going through some internal turmoil, much like Toph did in the last chapter, and the rest of the characters that I will visit in later chapters. Let's see if you like this interpretation of Sokka.

Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.

Sokka's POV

I had never felt this tense since my father and the other men left our village to fight in the war, but knowing what was about to arrive at our shores, I concentrated extra hard. Even my usual sarcastic side took a back seat as I placed on my armour, face paint, and weapons, knowing that lives were at stake. I was the only man left, and it was my responsibility to defend my tribe. If these Fire Nation soldiers dared to set foot here, they would be making the mistake of a lifetime.

As I stepped out onto our ice fortress, there was an eerie silence. Being winter, I usually expected some wind howling past, or even penguins squawking in the distance. But today, I heard nothing and saw even less, my breathing smothered by this thick blanket of fog. I tried training the boys, which apparently was more troublesome than I envisioned. How could anyone demand for a potty break in the middle of a battle? If that happened for real, I would be sure that the kid would be taking the last pee of his life!

An ominous dark shape loomed before me, accompanied by a soft hum. Twists formed inside my stomach, even though I already had plenty to eat. I tried holding my ground as snow and ice cracked and chipped beneath my feet. Even with my club held high, I had a strange feeling that I was losing altitude, slowly sliding down from the walls even as I posed before the giant ship now docking at our shore. Suddenly, I felt like an ice sculpture of sorts being carried away. Since when did I become that famous?

As if trying to humiliate me (and in turn the rest of our tribe), the Fire Nation ship lowered their deck right at me, knocking me off just to avoid being speared. Snow and ice blasted around, burying my now collapsed body as the humming halted. As I strained to get up, I was going to make sure these Fire Nation guys weren't about to get off easy. Nobody made a mockery out of me and got away with it!

Just as I thought things couldn't get worse, it did. It always felt like the world was out to get me as the leader of this Fire Nation team threw me aside and off the ramp like yesterday's garbage. I had no idea how he could kick away my club and then me off the ramp all in one motion with the same leg. Was I seriously missing something here? Now I was totally buried in metres of snow, my face stung nonstop by the white stuff all the while my legs kicked around helplessly. How embarrassing could this get?

But the fact still remained that here was this fire bender threatening my tribe. A man ought to provide for his women and children, and that's what I had to do. Digging myself out of the snow, I raced at the team leader, swinging my club ferociously. Even when I was thrown over the guy's shoulder, I battled on, grabbing a spear from a nearby kid and charging again. My father and the other men taught me to never be afraid of death. But that didn't mean not to be afraid of humiliation, as that's what was happening right now. After snapping my spear into several pieces, the snob poked me with the blunt end of that thing. While I stood there like a mannequin, not able to move forward or back, the Fire Nation guy had to throw more salt on the wound with his fire blades. As I was flung into the snow again, I really wonder if there was any chance.

Yet who came to the rescue? Yup, the source of our problems, a bald kid named Aang who carried a staff, had an arrow tattoo on his head, and was more interested in distracting the kids from warrior training. Aang slid in on his penguin and cut that guy's legs from under him, making the first hit by any of us. And of course, he ended in a flourish by skidding the bird, whipping up a snowstorm at, without a doubt, me. "Hi, Aang," I muttered, wiping the snow off my face, "thanks for coming." Great, now I was being shown up by some goofy boy who was locked in a block of ice earlier.

"You're the air bender? You're the Avatar?" the Fire Nation team lead asked in shock. My head involuntarily perked up as I watched them circle each other. There was no way that hyper goofball was the long-lost saviour of the world! I lost my faith in bending, having grown up in a village with few benders. When the Fire Nation raided us in years past, I was under the impression that all benders were taken prisoner. Except for my sister Katara, who had basic knowledge of water bending, no one was familiar with it. So to have the most powerful bender in the world before me was a bit hard to believe.

In seconds, fire met staff as the Fire Nation teen blasted away, only to have Aang twirl his staff and block a lot of shots. I was completely helpless with no fight left in me, ducking away as the children behind me screamed in fear. I thought he was going to burn the whole place down. At this rate, I might be remembered as the warrior who found the Avatar and then let his village be burned to a crisp. Some hero I would be, huh?

Then, in what was either the bravest move to sacrifice himself for the safety of our tribe, or the dumbest move by letting the last hope for the world be captured, Aang offered to go with the Fire Nation, on the condition that we were left alone. For the first time since my father left the tribe, I was left speechless, with not even one witty remark from my mouth. I couldn't quite erase the last image as the Fire Nation troops escorted Aang onto their ship, the boarding bridge closing and Aang's look of uneasiness was burned into my brain. Given how he just saved our tribe, now it was our job to save him.

Originally, I was only going to pack in a canoe, given it was the only source of transportation new got. Even as our grandmother Kanna came to remind us how this was the only chance we had for hope in our world, I couldn't help but think Katara was right when she criticized my move (even though she was the one who demanded it in the first place). "There's no way we're going to catch a war ship with a canoe," she stated. Biting my lower lip, I racked my brain hard. There had to be another option, right?

Then a huge white furry creature lumbered into our path, the same one that made its greeting with me by covering me with snot. Appa, Aang's Sky Bison, was left behind when Aang was captured. Given how Aang told us it could fly, maybe that was what we required. Although I had never seen it take flight before, presumably because it was tired after being in that block of ice with Aang for a hundred years, maybe it was worth a try. "You just love taking me out of my comfort zone," I commented, both in exasperation and in relief. Grabbing our stuff, we headed straight for the six-legged beast.

But the confounding creature just didn't want to listen to us, opting to paddling its way through the water after the war ship. I could only throw my head back and clench my face, wondering why nothing seemed to go my way. "Go, fly, soar," I muttered, crossing my arms in disgust, "up, ascend, elevate." I was quickly running out of words to say to this annoying beast, who didn't seem to care that its owner was the one in danger. Maybe we should use it for bait to catch a whale or something like that. That was bound to get us enough to eat for months, provided it moved fast enough to reach the Fire Nation before Aang got executed! "What did that kid say? Yip yip?" I asked.

Before long, I was thrown straight into the back, with only the saddle preventing me from falling off. I took one look below and realized we weren't in the water anymore. "He's flying! He's flying, Katara!" I shouted in excitement. Whatever doubts I had about how insignificant flight was got fully erased, as this was the experience of a lifetime.

By the time we caught up to the Fire Nation warship, we saw the most amazing thing ever. A huge whirlpool of water swirled violently near the ship before it created a waterspout, with Aang at the centre. My jaw nearly fell into the ocean as Aang's arrows and eyes glowed ominously, propelling him straight onto the ship's deck before sending water in every direction, either freezing soldiers in blocks of ice or knocking them into the sea. "Now that was some water bending!" I commented, my mind still in shock.

We quickly landed onto the deck, with Katara grabbing Aang while I scoured for his staff. It gave me quite a shock when the Fire Nation team lead tried to climb back onto the deck by reaching for the staff at the same time I took it, but I gave him an old-fashioned poke to the head, the same way he poked me with the broken spear earlier. As he dangled on the anchor, I taunted him, "That's from the water tribe!"

We lifted off in a hurry, not even bothering to look back. Even as the Fire Nation launched two shots, Aang whipped his staff around and blasted wind at the icebergs, burying the Fire Nation ship in a mountain of snow and ice. With the threat stabilized, it gave us time to plan our next move, but also for me to give everything some thought. Even though my faith in the bending arts faded, I still had to acknowledge how powerful that was. I was not a bender by any means, but it showed me that, with this war still going on, there was always a need for bending. And despite having no bending, I was willing to help Aang out in any way possible. I was a warrior, and I had to make my tribe, but especially my father, proud. If I could bring world peace in the process, then it was a journey I was itching to make, even if it meant stepping out of my boundaries for good.

Sokka's POV

"I would be honoured if you would teach me," I requested, getting onto my knees and not lifting my eyes an inch off the floor. I never imagined that I would be like this to a bunch of girls, but they sure taught me a lesson. It was only a little while after we left the Southern Water Tribe with Aang, arriving at the Southern Air Temple only to find it completely empty and destroyed by the Fire Nation. It was with the discovery of the body of his former mentor Gyatso that Aang again showed us the power of the Avatar State. It took everything my sister and I had to calm him down, and only then did Aang realize that he was truly the last air bender left in the world.

But Aang's self-discovery mirrored my own, as just like Aang had to pull out of his naïve, fun-loving self to confront the reality, I had to do so as well. After going to the Southern Air Temple, Aang took us to Kyoshi Island, with the original intent of the visit being riding the large koi in the bay. We weren't too keen on staying in an island we weren't familiar with, so it only made things worse that we got captured by its natives. But when the defence team of this isolated spot was nothing more than a bunch of tough-talking girls, it definitely got on my nerves. The way I saw it, women were made to stay at home, tended to food and family, and served their men. Defence and security were jobs for males, so what was this wannabe warrior doing claiming to throw us to the fish?

"I teach you? Even if I'm a girl?" Suki, the leader of this group, the Kyoshi Warriors, retorted. Each word she threw at me stung more than the icy waters that Aang was in earlier. I wasn't too impressed by this team at first, and wanted to teach them a lesson. Unfortunately, I kind of let my own arrogance get to my head, as it was Suki who taught me the lesson of a lifetime. Even though it still pained me to return to this place, where these blasted girls were bound to rub it into my face, it was a price I was willing to pay. If this could open my mind, maybe I could use this knowledge to help the world.

A brisk winter breeze whizzed past the open door behind me just as I prepared to respond. I could feel my whole notion of men superior to women being slowly peeled away like burned skin as Suki's eyes bore into me. It was one thing that led me to this humiliating confrontation, and even though I tried not to think about it, I realized it had to be done. "I'm sorry I insulted you. I was wrong," I replied, bowing my head in shame, "I won't let you down." By this time, my forehead was touching the cold floorboards.

To my surprise, Suki and her teammates agreed to teach me. At least I knew for today, I could atone for my mistakes. I felt relief wash through me completely, until the Kyoshi Warriors pulled out one of their uniforms for me to wear. "Do I really have to wear this?" I asked as they pulled the uniform over my head, "It feels a little, girly." There was no way the main warrior of the Southern Water Tribe would be caught dead seen in this uniform. Maybe feeding me to the sea monster Unagi wasn't a bad idea now.

But Suki would have none of it, as she claimed this uniform signified all of Avatar Kyoshi, one of Aang's past lives and this island's namesake. Stressing that I must fight with honour and bravery, Suki then started me on my lesson. I had to admit that the only saving grace here was that her team was about to head home for the night, or else I might be further embarrassed by my lack of skill in my first lesson. Why couldn't I be carefree and frolic in the snow like Aang is currently doing with his new fan club now?

I used every ounce of energy to concentrate on Suki as she went through the basic steps with me. At first they felt heavy and awkward as I half-marched and half-danced my way through the sequence. Add the fan to my outfit and I honestly was in another world. "I think I'm starting to get it," I pivoted and spun, gathering my strength and whipped the fan. Unfortunately, it sailed out the open door and struck a tree, knocking out all the snow on its branches. Suki took one look out the door, and I knew her patience must be tested to the extreme. Why should she waste her time teaching a bozo like me?

But Suki didn't sound angry at all. Instead, there was a genuine patience in her tone, almost like she was encouraging me. "Think of the fan as an extension of your arm," she explained, getting into position across from me. I mimicked her posture, all the while absorbing her word, "wait for an opening, and then…"

The second Suki advanced, my instinct kicked in. Hearing Suki's description and watching her movement made it second nature to me as I jabbed my fist right into her right armpit and knocked her off balance. I had to admit that I was in shock to see Suki on the ground, with her expression as stunned as mine when I first arrived. Soon, my shock wore off and my funny side resurfaced. "I got you! Admit it, I got you!"

Surprisingly, Suki took it fairly well, as she replied sarcastically, "It was a lucky shot. Let's see if you can do it again." Before long, our sparring got more complex, mixing complex Kyoshi moves with some moves I created myself. As we circled each other, advancing shots and blocking the opponent, I truly bonded with Suki. Maybe girls were just as formidable fighters as guys, and my own prejudice blinded me to that fact.

But the friendly sparring had to be placed on the back burner as Oyaji, the village elder, informed us of an emergency. Fire benders came on shore, and a fleet of Komodo Rhinos was parked right before the village. "Come on out, Avatar! You can't hide from me forever!" A loud voice boomed. Without even looking, I knew who it was: Prince Zuko, who led the Fire Nation to my village wanted to repeat his deed on Kyoshi Island.

I raced down to the village with Suki, ready to defend the inhabitants. There was an eerie silence as houses were completely closed off, the people too fearful to come out. "You haven't mastered the advanced set of Kyoshi techniques yet, so you shouldn't take on them right now," Suki pointed out. I didn't even have time to grab my usual items. Without my weapons, I was at a disadvantage. "Go around each house and make sure the people are safe. If possible, try and find Aang and Katara, and see if they can help."

I barely had time to ask if Suki would be alright before she ran off. Several Komodo Rhinos advanced, only to be ambushed by Kyoshi Warriors. The girls held their own against the fire benders while Suki went after the Fire Nation prince, dodging his fire balls along the way. Seeing her move against the backdrop of the sun setting sun behind the mountains, her steps smooth and effortless, and her posture so composed even, it truly made me reflect upon my nastiness towards her earlier. I couldn't last two kicks against that guy, and now Suki was dodging fireballs? Who was I to say that girls couldn't fight?

But soon enough, the Fire Nation teen proved how tough of an opponent he was as he whipped the rhino around and slammed into the leaping Suki. Even without being near her, I could tell she was hurt. Every muscle in my body urged me to go forward to help Suki, pushing myself through the dust cloud and straight into the line of fire as the enemy blasted her. Lifting a hand, I remembered everything Suki taught me about using the fan. Squeezing my eyes shut, I whipped it as hard as I could at the rider.

Then to my total surprise, the hit worked! Not only were there no flames near Suki or me, but it stalled Zuko a bit, giving the other warriors just enough time to kick him off the rhino and regained the upper hand. I stood there for a few more seconds, completely stunned by that move. "I guess training's over," I murmured, looking over to check on Suki, before charging in to help the others.

Yet the second I reached the others, I was met with a fiery leg whip, lighting the whole ground on fire. Apparently, this Fire Nation jerk wanted to light this whole place on fire, and only Aang could stop him. As our bodies hit the floor, Zuko got back up and marched to the centre of the village. "Nice try, Avatar, but these little girls can't save you!" Gritting my teeth, I peeled myself off the ground, all the while shooting a death glare at the assailant. Boy, with his arrogance, I'd love to smack some sense into him.

Luckily, Aang showed up, which distracted that angry psycho away from us. It gave me enough time to grab Suki and pulled her to safety. I knew both of us suffered some injuries, and it would be a matter of time before things got worse. "There's no time to say goodbye," Suki told me, insisting that I got the Avatar to safety. With things the way they were right now, Kyoshi Island would be burning rubble in minutes.

"What about 'I'm sorry'?" I replied. Seeing how well Suki defended her village, and how much she changed my perception of the other gender, I truly felt I owed her this phrase. Right now I was a bundle of shame sitting before her. "I treated you like a girl when I should have treated you like a warrior." That line was from my heart, and I sure hoped it could at least let Suki realize that I was willing to change to make things better.

But despite the make-up on her face, I knew nothing could mask how Suki truly felt as she leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I am a warrior, but I'm a girl too," she stated. I couldn't help but raise my hand, rubbing the spot her lips grazed earlier. Was this truly the beginning of my acceptance of the other gender?

But I had no time to think about this, as Suki insisted that we left while she held off the fire benders. As we boarded Appa, my mind swirled nonstop by the drastic change I experienced here. Not only had my courage been tested, but my perception of the world had also changed. Reality wasn't what I perceived it to be, and I guessed as my journey with Aang continued, it would continue to shift. Even as Aang jumped into the bay to fetch the Unagi, hoping to use it to spray out the fires, I couldn't help but think about what new surprises would head my way. I would probably still be running into walls, but at least, for the first time in my life, I could say that was a good thing.

Sokka's POV

"I didn't see any knife!" I yelled, feeling the leaves outside rustle. The days after the Kyoshi Island incident weren't exactly easy for us, as we seemed to get ourselves in one dilemma after another. From being imprisoned on an offshore rig, to being chased by pirates hired by the Fire Nation, we couldn't seem to do anything smoothly. The weirdest one was when Aang and I were trying to save a village from being attacked by a panda spirit, and I was kidnapped by said spirit and taken into the Spirit World. Who knew the Spirit World had no place where I could urinate? Boy, did I have to go when that panda bear released me! Next time, I would make sure to relieve myself before any battle.

But this latest twist of events irritated me the most, when we were finding our way out of this forest and heading for the Northern Water Tribe. Aang managed to get some information from Avatar Roku in his temple on Crescent Island in the Fire Nation, and told us that there would be a comet coming this summer, giving the fire benders an unlimited amount of power. With time of the essence, the only way we could beat the Fire Nation was to learn all four elements as soon as possible. Everything was going okay until he showed up, and absolutely monopolized Aang and my sister.

"There was no knife!" I shouted again, my frustration level building. "He" was Jet, this outlaw wannabe who stashed himself up in these woods with a bunch of kids claiming to rid the area of fire benders. We met when I mistakenly led my group into a Fire Nation military campsite. This guy literally swooped in from nowhere and swept my sister off her feet, putting on enough charms to make me puke. Even though we had the same enemy, I didn't trust Jet. While I was willing to fight the Fire Nation army, Jet took it one step further by attacking an elderly harmless civilian. Did he have any decency?

But boy, did Jet put on the act. Insisting that the old man brought a knife with poison to assassinate him, he got Aang and Katara hook line and sinker. "I'm going back to the hut and packing my things," I growled, not wanting to waste another second of my time on this garbage. I actually did feel I bonded with Jet when he asked me to join his scouting mission, but when he started bullying that old man, things got out of hand. The senior was harmless and begging for mercy, but Jet harassed him non-stop. I might hate the Fire Nation, but no way would I do that to their people, especially an elder. I had morals I would never break, so it alarmed me when Jet stepped across the line so easily.

As I gathered my belongings, ready for a morning departure, a few words Katara said came back to me. She felt one reason I was bitter at Jet was that my leadership skills were weaker than his. To an extent, it was true, as I never commanded a large group like Jet. Even when dealing with the young kids at the Southern Water Tribe, it was evident that I had trouble with them. If Katara were to continue, she would claim my instinct was always wrong, and I ought to rely less on that. Given my instinct marched us straight into a Fire Nation camp, maybe Katara was somewhat justified in making that statement.

But unlike Jet, I knew what a real leader must have: morals and principles. I knew it was wrong to attack innocent civilians, and I knew it was wrong to make up lies just to cheat and manipulate others. While Jet had the charm and charisma to lead, his methods were underhanded and unethical. There was no way I would submit myself to such a leader, and there was no way I would use these methods to lead. Leadership was about building trust and respect. I might still be a ways away from getting both, but I knew what I had to do to get it. Unlike that weasel Jet, I was willing to use my own two hands and my head, and proved to people that I could lead, rather than using only hocus-pocus.

Before long, I found myself leaning against the hut's wall and drifting to sleep. I still had reservations regarding how Aang and Katara supported Jet unconditionally. They claimed Jet wanted them to fill a reservoir to prevent the Fire Nation from burning down this forest. If that were the case, then I would offer those two an ultimatum: either they stopped what they were doing and left with me, or I went on by myself. And had it not been the faint sounds of talking outside, my speech was all planned out.

Wait, talking? During these late hours? This was getting just a little too suspicious for me. I tried squinting into the darkness, with nothing but trees and branches around. For a winter night, it was surprisingly calm, with no cool breezes to speak of. This was really getting uncomfortable as I climbed out of the trees, following several shadows of different sizes dance around the branches before dropping to the ground below. They all headed to a remote corner of the woods, where a cart was being filled with barrel after barrel of blasting jelly, the same stuff they raided from the Fire Nation camp. It seemed like filling up a reservoir was the least of Mr. Slick Talker's concerns right now.

To my horror, everything I guessed turned out to be true. Jet and his team took the blasting jelly and marched all the way to the dam before the reservoir, unloading and shipping them down to the dam. "We are not to blow the dam until I give the signal," I heard Jet order, "if the reservoir isn't full then the Fire Nation troops could survive." Had it not been the need to stay covered, I would go out there and strangle that guy right now. Did this lunatic think about all the innocent civilians he would kill along the way? Did he think they were pawns in his sadistic game? What kind of a leader would allow such loss of life to happen? If my father were here, he would school this moron for sure!

But that also gave me another idea. If I could get Aang and Katara out here before sunrise, maybe I could let them catch Jet in the act, and convinced them he wasn't a good person. That way, even if I couldn't stop Jet by myself, I had two more allies to turn to. Figuring that was the best move, I decided to finish hearing out their plan before moving back to camp. Who said my instinct and quick thinking were useless now?

Suddenly, I felt my hair being pulled, a wave of pain overcoming me as a blade was jabbed into my face. "Where do you think you're going, ponytail?" a female voice demanded as I was thrown into the open. I lifted my head just in time to see that ever-arrogant face glaring at me. Dawn was just about to break, giving me just enough light to catch that sneer. If Jet wanted me to surrender, he better be ready for a fight.

"I heard your plan. There are people living there, Jet. Mothers, fathers, and children," I spat, slowly rising to my feet. It didn't matter that there was a circle of Freedom Fighters around me, not did I care that I had no weapon. Making sure I was at eye level with Jet, I stated my case, "You lied to Aang and Katara about the forest fire. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want. You can't do this!" I concluded emphatically, jabbing a finger in Jet's face. It was time the Freedom Fighters saw the truth, and that their leader was nothing but a two-faced, manipulative thug.

Jet, however, barely moved a muscle. In seconds, I felt two sets of arms grab my either side. I saw it was Smellerbee, the female warrior, and Pipsqueak, a giant of a man, marching me back into the forest. With two skilled fighters around me, I knew my time was running out. Glancing around the trees, I thought of anything that could let me get out safely. Why couldn't I be like Appa or Momo, and tried flying out of here instead?

Wait, Appa and Momo! That was a perfect idea! When we first entered these woods, Momo was caught by one of the Freedom Fighters' traps. So why not catching these two in one of those? Tilting my eyes back and forth, I realized we were awfully close to that same spot where Momo was trapped. Returning to the Freedom Fighters, I challenged Jet's leadership. "If that's how Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn!" With that, I charged off, sprinting straight at the traps. If I could get them close, then maybe…

Wham! Wham! My plan worked perfectly as I edged just close enough for the two to step into the animal traps, encasing them and leaving them hanging in the air. As Smellerbee protested, I had to move onto the second part of my plan: Appa. My heart raced nonstop even as my pursuers were disabled. With Jet about to detonate those explosives, hundreds of lives in that Earth Kingdom town downstream would be lost. As I scaled the trees to reach Appa, I could only wonder where Aang and Katara were. "That slime ball better not hurt my sister and my friend, or I'll take him out myself," I hissed.

I never thought the feeling of Appa's fur under my feet was a welcoming scene, Even though I doubted Appa's abilities when we first freed him from that iceberg, I was so thankful to have him around. It was amazing how I doubted so many things, only to eat my words later on. My instincts might not be always right, but I still hoped they were right enough to guide me on the right path. At least during the war, I hadn't resorted to killing innocent civilians yet, so it was obvious I hadn't strayed off my morals, right?

It wasn't long before I reached the town. The Fire Nation presence was apparent, as two guards clad in red stood at the gate. Landing Appa a short distance away, I hoped off the bison and meekly approached. Even though I wasn't fond of the Fire Nation, I realized I had to communicate with the guards in order to save the town. Moistening my lips, I stepped up to the gate. "Uh, I have an important announcement to make," I told the guards, my whole body jittery, "this is going to affect everybody's lives."

All I got were two downward casting sets of eyes, making me more nervous than ever. If nobody listened, how could I save them? "Look, you have to believe me! There are these guys who want to blow up the dam and flood this whole village. If we gather everyone now, we might still make it out alive!" I ranted, waving my arms frantically. My stomach twisted as panic set in, feeling like the whole world was now in my hands.

One guard cocked an eyebrow while the other glared menacingly at me. "And how would you know that?" He challenged, "Maybe you're a spy from that renegade group, and you're just luring us out so you can slaughter us yourself!"

I found myself face-first against another spear, my second one this morning. For some reason, my face seemed awfully attracted to these sharp objects, which didn't make me feel too comfortable. "I'm not lying to you, it's the truth!" I insisted, trying to get that thing out of my face, "What will it take for you to believe me?"

Suddenly, an elderly voice could be heard calling from the village. "Hey, I know you! You're the boy I ran into in the forest!" I turned my head just in time to see an old man with a cane and a beard. Without even hesitating, I knew it was the same one Jet's group attacked in the forest. Was he trying to report me to the authorities for abusing a senior? If yes, then I guessed I might as well plead guilty.

Luckily, he didn't do anything of that sort. "You prevented those thugs from hitting me. Thank you!" He spoke with total sincerity and gratitude, which caught me by surprise. I knew back in the last Earth Kingdom town, where earth bending was banned by the Fire Nation authorities there, an old man saved by earth bending chose to rat out the bender that rescued him rather than showed gratitude. So for this to happen, I was in awe. "Please, listen to what this young man has to say," he suggested to the guards.

My body literally melted when I got one vote of confidence from this elder. I truly felt there was no Fire Nation citizen that was deemed trustworthy in my eyes, but at least one person here proved otherwise. Now, with the issue of gaining their trust off my back, I could focus on the more important task: saving the town. "I must have everyone in here evacuate immediately," I instructed the guards, gesturing at the citizens going about their daily business, "the dam will burst any minute, and we have to get everyone to higher ground right now if we all want to survive. There's not much time, so let's hurry."

The old man was one step ahead of us as he already began knocking on doors, telling the villagers to flee. By the time the guards were assembled, the citizens were all packed and ready to go. I surveyed the scene before me, amazed by how this crazy plan all worked out. "Thank you for everything," I turned to the senior now leaning on his cane next to me, "I couldn't have done any of this without you."

The old man only nodded. "It's the least I could do after what happened in the woods with those other kids," he replied, his tone calm and steady but oddly contained a sense of authority, "you're a good person, and I know you can convince your friends to change their ways. Part of being able to lead is to know when going too far is too far. For you to show that restraint and spoke up against them, it was really brave of you."

Those words truly touched my heart, as I found out what leading really meant. So not only must I show my team with my skill and heart, I had to know when to stop and just let things go. These were words that I was sure to keep with me for the rest of my life should I rebuild the water tribes after the war, but for now I had a bigger mission. "I have to go back now," I informed everyone, "my sister and my friend may be in danger from that gang. I have to rescue them before things got out of hand."

As I boarded Appa, my mind returned to facing the very person who claimed to be a better team lead than me. Jet might have a bigger team than mine, and he might be able to mobilize them better, but he forgot one thing: in his blind desire to destroy the Fire Nation, he neglected to look out for the needs of innocent civilians, the true victims in this war. In my view, not only did this prove he wasn't a good leader, but it showed he was a downright traitor. I would be sure to do anything possible to halt Jet's madness, and stopped him altogether should he do anything to Aang and Katara. Hopefully, when Aang and Katara saw Jet's true colours, they would realize what was wrong, and would distance themselves away from that phoney.

Katara's POV

"Ice Dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery, and trust," Bato, a close friend of our father's, explained. We were getting oh-so-close to the North Pole now, following along the coastline of the north-western part of the Earth Kingdom when we ran across a battle scene. Burned arrows, whale bone scimitars, and other scorch marks on the nearby trees indicated a fight between Fire Nation soldier and Water Tribe warriors, hinting to us that perhaps some of our allies were nearby. Maybe they were from the Northern Water Tribe who could take us to our final destination?

But it was a familiar face that we ran into, as we found a water tribe ship on the shore. Recognizing it as part of our father's fleet, we waited all night at the vessel until the owner showed up. It was none other than Bato, who worked closely with Dad on the war effort. He told us that during the fight with the fire benders, he was severely burned, leaving half his body bandaged. Luckily, his team managed to find an abbey of nuns that specialize in perfumes for him to stay in, at least giving him some shelter and a place to heal up while the others marched on. From what Bato told us, it seemed like our father was nearby, and they planned to rendezvous with him in the near future. How exciting could that be? Sokka and I hadn't seen him in two years, so we were very anxious.

But right now, a more serious task was at hand, forcing me to wipe Dad off my mind. As Bato marched up and down on his vessel, which now departed the dock, I could only listen intently as he gave Sokka the ultimate test. "Ice Dodging is done by weaving a boat through a field of icebergs," Bato described, our ship tilting as it entered the open ocean. I looked over at Sokka, who was standing straight and tall, but also had a slight waver in his lips. Boys were supposed to go through this with their fathers at the age of fourteen, but our father wasn't present during Sokka's fourteenth birthday, meaning he never went through this rite of passage. Now, for him to lead this expedition, even with a modified version (without ice, given the warmer climate), I knew it meant a lot to him.

"You'll be dodging those," Bato pointed to the bow of the ship. My eyes trailed his finger, and suddenly my mouth turned into steel, locking into place and feeling very heavy. There was a series of finger-like rocks jutting out from the foamy waters, with waves slashing around them and creating a very dangerous obstacle course. "Sokka, you steer and call the shot. Lead wisely." Bato instructed, placing a hand on Sokka's arm.

I glanced nervously at Sokka as he gripped the rudder, his knees slightly bent and his eyes tilting back and forth between bow and stern. It was evident Sokka lacked a lot of the recognition and respect given to a true leader. While he did save us many times, and continued to be a part of our greater goal, I knew all he wanted was to be seen on equal footing with the older warriors, namely our father. It was a difficult goal, given the high standards Dad set, but if he could pass this test, then I felt he was one step closer.

But Bato wasn't finished yet, as he assigned Aang and me the tasks of helping Sokka out during this ritual. I took hold of the ropes on the main mast while Aang did the back sails. "For this to be done right, I cannot help," Bato stated, taking a seat at the front of the ship, "you pass or fail on your own." Great, now I was put into the hot seat too! Well, given how much this meant to Sokka, I was determined not to fail as well.

Before I could even get into position, the rough waters already battered our boat. It took all my lower body and leg strength just to avoid being toppled as Sokka told me to keep a steady hand on the main sails while Aang ought to ease up. I couldn't see clearly what exactly was ahead of us, but I figured that the first formation was getting closer. With all my muscles straining, I struggled to stay in position, even as cold water splashed onto my clothing and skin. And I thought polar water was cold, this was even worse!

Now the entire world around me spun furiously as the ship was slammed back and forth, threatening to throw me overboard. My head whipped in dizziness while my knees were near the point of buckling. The only feeling I still had in my body belonged in my hands, which squeezed the rope in a death grip, more out of protection than navigation. Sokka's words were nothing but slurred screams as the waves around me thundered to improbable volumes. At the rate we were going, I thought we were all going to die.

Then, as violently as that turn was, it slowed considerably. I finally had the courage to reopen my eyes to see Sokka standing at the rear with a huge smile on his face. "Great job," he congratulated us on passing the first set of rocks. With his spirits lifted, I could breathe a sigh of relief. At least we knew he passed the test, right?

Yet how wrong could I be, as Sokka insisted that we shoot through the second set of sharper, higher, and more rugged set of rocks ahead of us. One look at the mountains thrusting menacingly out of the waters before the boat, and I knew he was losing his mind, "There's no way through!" I exclaimed, insisting that we turned back.

But Sokka was adamant about trying it, even against the advice of Bato. "Aang, I want air in that sail. And Katara, I want as much water as I can between us and those rocks," he instructed. I couldn't help but notice that Sokka seemed more confident, his tone strong and leader-like. Perhaps this bonus trick was something he could use to not just pass the Southern Water Tribe test, but his own personal one?

Nonetheless, Aang and I jumped to his orders. Burst after burst of air launched into the sails while I stretched my arms to each side of the boat, whipping at the waters below us. Before long, I felt a punch from underneath as the boat lifted higher and higher. I didn't even bother judging if there was enough room, only keeping my arms moving even as my muscles ached and my shoulders threatened to dislocate on me. As we peaked from that wave, I could only let my arms drop and let the boat ride it out. As we literally flew through the rocks, I could only grip tight to the ropes to prevent being thrown out.

After the gut-wrenching ride, I managed to straighten myself from the now soaked boat. My clothes, skin, and hair all received the dousing of a lifetime, but I could tell from Sokka's expression that his experiment was a success. His face was a combo of relief, happiness, and achievement all at once. Even at the bow of the ship, Bato was on his feet, applauding us all for a job well done. "Now, the mark this coming-of-age ritual for you," he stated, "turn the ship back for the coast."

The entire time Sokka led us back to shore, I couldn't help but beam. I admitted that in the past, even I had doubts about Sokka's maturity and leadership skills. During the time when Dad was off fighting in the war, it was Gran Gran and me who kept the village together. While Sokka was in charge of defence, he wasn't exactly proficient in keeping the village running. So hopefully, by passing this test, we could truly step forward together, and helped Aang make the world a better place to live in.

With some cultural paints, Bato proceeded to drawing ritualistic figures onto our foreheads. He gave Sokka the sign of wisdom, the same sign Dad had when he passed the test. I was given the sign of bravery, with Bato telling me that my courage inspired the whole team. Lastly, Aang was given a sign as well; the sign of the trusted, making him a honourary member of our tribe. Standing between Sokka and Aang, I could see Sokka had a smile on his face, directing it straight at Aang and me. This rite of passage was so important to him, and for him to go through it with us, I knew it meant everything. So from now on, with these marks, maybe we could become a new family of sorts.

But what Aang said next truly shocked me. Reaching for his forehead, he wiped off the mark Bato bestowed on him and claimed he wasn't trustworthy. I saw his entire body shrivel, his head drooping so low that we couldn't even see his eyes. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, claiming it was for Bato. "I was afraid you would..." he stuttered just as I unfolded the sheet.

I was about to analyze it when Sokka beat me to the punch. "This is the map to our father!" he shouted, his hand gripping the side of the sheet, shaking it so much that I nearly had my wrist torn off as a result. "You had it the whole time? How could you?" Sokka demanded. I had to admit that I was shocked too, not just because my good friend hid something from me, but also due to Sokka's reaction. Shouldn't he at least calm down and tried to figure this out first? "Well, you can go to the North Pole on your own!"

I remained frozen, not sure what to think. I knew how important Dad was to both Sokka and me, but for him to totally abandon Aang didn't seem right to me. I had to admit that we probably didn't make Aang feel comfortable during our reunion with Bato, isolating him and shutting him out while we recalled Water Tribe stories. Our overly zealous attitudes might have made Aang think we would abandon him for Dad, when really Sokka and I intended to stay all along. So while I was disappointed at Aang's actions, I felt we caused part of it. Shouldn't we at least hear Aang out?

But Sokka's mind was set, as we packed our bags and left the abbey with Bato. Aang was left all alone with Appa and Momo, looking downtrodden and worn out as he slouched on Appa's saddle. As I wished him good luck, I thought about what this meant for me, but especially Sokka. I knew Sokka really wanted to prove to everyone that he was a leader, and could battle for our tribe as well as the other men. Throughout the two years when Dad was absent, he did everything he could to act as the tribe's new leader. He might not have Dad's experience and expertise, but Sokka truly put in his full effort. So for him to see Dad again, it wasn't just for reunion sake, but also to show Dad he truly did grow up. Given that I also grew up a lot, I could see why Sokka was so excited.

Yet at the same time, I was extremely concerned with Sokka's attitude. He was completely controlled by his emotions, to the point where he lost his original goal of assisting Aang. I admitted that at the beginning, Sokka was the voice of reason guiding us back whenever we let our emotions get out of control. The most prominent case was when he saved a village from being flooded while I was overly smitten by Jet; had he not done that, those villagers' blood would be on my hands. But now, Sokka was completely blinded by his anger towards Aang, to the point where he considered abandoning him. I felt Aang made a poor choice, but didn't we all do that at some time? I chose to trust Jet while Sokka disrespected females, and it took separate harsh lessons before we realized our mistakes. So why couldn't we be there to teach Aang rather than admonish him?

Suddenly, an animal's cry in the distance got our attention. It was long, sad, and mournful, sounding more like a wail rather than a call for battle. "This wolf has been separated from the pack," Bato explained, waving at the surrounding tress and trying to pinpoint its source, "I understand that pain. It's how I felt when the Water Tribe warriors had to leave me behind. They were my family." Bato's face was sullen, with both cheeks tightening and his lips pursed.

That was when Sokka's body jolted ever so slightly, almost like he had been bitten by a small insect. His eyebrows creased and his jaw slowly dropped, standing awkwardly in the middle of the path just as the wind changed direction. Instead of blowing in from the sea, it twirled around and blew down the hills. I couldn't quite judge his mind, but I knew what he would say when he suggested we returned to the abbey. "I want to see Dad, but helping Aang is where we're wanted the most," he decided.

We bid farewell to Bato, who gave up the map to the rendezvous point, asking us to meet both him and Dad there should we ever get the chance. As we turned back toward the abbey, I finally saw the most important factor in Sokka's growth. Not only should a leader stick with his principles, creating cohesiveness based on respect, but a leader also ought to know when the wrong choice was made, why it was wrong, and found out what to do to rectify the problem. So for Sokka to be able to put aside his emotions, including suspending our visit to Dad, and returned to help Aang, that was really important.

We barely got a few minutes onto the road before a huge beast ambushed us from behind, scaring the living daylights out of me as it hissed and flicked its tongue back and forth at us. To no one's surprise, it was led by our pursuer throughout our journey: the banished prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko. While Sokka managed to distract him for just long enough for us to make a dash for it, it wasn't quite good enough. I felt a whip-like object slash at my body, paralyzing me from that point and spreading throughout my every muscle like wildfire. I could only glance at Sokka, who was in a similar situation. With our bodies now frozen, we could only drop like rocks.

Things went from bad to worse by this point, as we were dragged involuntarily back to the abbey, with Zuko planning to use us as bait to get Aang. It also didn't help that the map to the location of our father, which was once held by Aang (meaning his scent was all over it), fell out from my belongings, meaning Zuko and company had a perfect method of tracking him. With Sokka and I paralyzed, I could only hope Aang either got away in time, or had enough tricks up his sleeves to defend himself.

Just then, Sokka and I were violently lurched off the beast, getting pasted onto the ground as the Fire Nation members were tossed about. The beast was on its hind legs, teetering for balance as it tried swatting something from the air. I barely lifted my head, and saw a familiar red glider. "It's Aang!" I exclaimed, trying to signal to Sokka. No fun trying to resemble a snake in the grass, I would say.

Luckily, a couple of nuns came by and dragged Sokka and I to safety, all the while Aang faced off against Zuko. Appa managed to corner that paralyzing monster, so Aang had the banished prince all to himself. Even though I recognized Aang's fighting style as mainly avoiding, trying to slide away from damaging blows while not really retaliating much, it still didn't make me feel any better. As pieces of roof fell onto us, courtesy of Aang and Zuko taking their battle to the skies, I heard Sokka claim he was getting some feeling back. "If we can move again, then we got to do something."

Suddenly, the very strong scent of perfume pierced through my nose, causing my face to squeeze tightly as the odour overwhelmed me. Through squinted eyes, I could see Sokka react in a similar way. But it was Sokka's following words that got my attention. "That thing sees with its nose, right?" he asked, referring to the animal that paralyzed us earlier, "let's give it something to look at," he suggested, pointing at the nun's perfume.

We hurried to the back and pushed all the perfume pots into the courtyard, where the animal had paralyzed Appa and was ganging up on Aang with Zuko. Even with the tense situation, I couldn't help but be proud of Sokka for thinking up of a scheme this quickly. Not only was he resourceful, he also placed his emotions in check, not hanging Aang out to dry even though Aang deceived us. Assuming we got out of this unscathed, I would convince Sokka to give Aang another chance, but I would also be sure to tell Sokka how much I appreciated his efforts. As the containers formed a semi-circle, Sokka told me to get inside the formation. They would pour the perfume onto the ground while I would bend it at the monster. Taking a deep breath, I prepared for my big move.

No sooner had I gotten into my stance did the strong scent of perfume shot into my face. I held my breath hard, my eyes watered, my face twitched, and my throat itched all at once as I tried not to become nauseated with the cocktail of smells blasting me all at once. Aang's life depended on this, so I couldn't afford to lose concentration. As the perfume gathered into a big ball of sludge, I aimed it at the beast and shot it forward.

Everyone within that area was drenched with the perfume, making it impossible for the creature not to get that combination of scents. I watched nervously as it reared onto its hind legs, tossing its rider off as it tried to regain a sense of direction. Just as Sokka had calculated, the mixture of smells made it impossible to locate itself, which pretty much rendered it blind, for a lack of a better term. As it paced around agitatedly, I could tell it was getting impatient, and was eager to leave the area. Sokka, whatever the inspiration was behind that plan, I was glad you thought up of it.

As the animal went on its rampage, Aang managed to sneak away with his staff. The creature's tongue shot out again and again, stinging and paralyzing both its owner and Zuko. With our foes clearly disabled, we figured this was the perfect time to leave. Boarding Appa, we immediately rubbed at his six legs, making sure he wasn't damaged or paralyzed from his tussle with Zuko's team. Luckily, despite taking several hits, he was in relatively good shape. Although there were doubts that he could fly at full speed or altitude, given the cuts and wounds, we should still make an escape relatively easily.

It was on board Appa that we officially forgave Aang, declaring that he was part of our family as well, and it was wrong for us to abandon him. Aang also pulled off a surprise of his own, returning my missing Water Tribe necklace, which was lost in a previous battle against Zuko that featured pirates. I leaned over and gave Aang a quick peck on the cheek, thanking him for that. Even though I was grateful for the act, and was glad we were on good terms with Aang again, he wasn't the only one I focused on.

As we flew off into the sunset, it was Sokka who crossed my mind. This newest adventure was just another way my formerly close-minded, and probably bigoted (if I were Suki), brother opened his mind and learned to accept others. Whatever doubts I still had before, regarding Sokka's leadership issues, they were completely wiped clean. In this event, Sokka not only showed calm decisive thinking, he also showed sympathy and compassion, especially towards other people's feelings. Empathy and understanding of others were key traits in leadership. If Sokka continued to act along these lines, trying to balance strategy with people skills, things would definitely be looking up for him.

Yue's POV

"Hi, Princess Yue," Sokka greeted me on this bridge spanning the canals here at the Northern Water Fortress. It was a surprise to say the least when the Avatar arrived here a couple of days ago, accompanied by two members of the Southern Water Tribe. Due to the shear geographical distance between us, the two water tribes rarely interacted, so not only was it a surprise to have two allies join us, it was even more amazing to see them with the Avatar. Given how the world lost hope for almost a century due to his absence, we hoped that Aang's presence to learn water bending from us would lead us one step further in achieving victory in this long-lasting war.

But out of the three visitors, it was Sokka that I found myself attracted to the most. For some reason, he had a sense of relaxed nonchalance that was a breath of fresh air to me. Customs ran very deep in the North Pole, and everyone, including the princess, must adhere to them fundamentally. But there was a sense of freedom in Sokka, like he didn't care that the world saw him as a clumsy doofus. Somehow, I felt more relaxed around him, even when he stuttered throughout our first dinner together. He claimed to be a prince-like figure in the Southern Water Tribe, and offered to do an activity with me.

But yet, there were parts of me that knew this wasn't right. Even when Sokka showed me his carving of a fish, which I thought was a bear, I couldn't bring myself to see him. It was going to get him in big trouble, and would threaten my entire tribe. "I made a mistake," I exclaimed, "I shouldn't have asked you to come here." With that, I turned on my heels and sped off, not even wanting to look back.

Even as I retired to my quarters, my actions ate away at me. Sokka had been to me what I wanted (but never got) from all the other males in my tribe. Since my tribe still believed in arranged marriages, I ended up being paired up with a young warrior named Hahn. Unfortunately, this guy seemed more interested in marrying a princess rather than caring for me. He barely knew anything about me, didn't spend any time understanding my needs, and talked like he was about to become ruler of the world. At least Sokka tried to understand others, which I felt was difficult given how isolated the Southern Water Tribe was. With rare contact to outsiders, for Sokka to journey here, meeting and working with countless people, it must mean he went through quite a trial, right?

Yet it was ridiculously ironic that I, a princess, was stuck in my own home, forced to go through customs that I not only didn't like, but didn't agree with. Hahn might be a warrior, but had he gone through Sokka's trials? Had he seen the world and tried placing himself in another person's shoes? Had he tried admitting his mistakes and offered others a chance to correct them? Hahn was so worried about how he would appear to others that he forgot the most important thing about being an heir: the ability to be open-minded. It wasn't necessarily the case that Sokka was overly superior in this regard, but the fact that he was willing to let his mistakes be shown, and took any criticism or even ridicule in stride, that made him a much better person. But then again, given that both my father and Hahn's family consented to the marriage, there wasn't much I could say, right?

Things went from bad to worse in the morning, when I met up with Sokka again. This time, there was an all-out war between Master Pakku, the lead water bending instructor in our tribe, and Katara, Sokka's water bending sister who insisted on learning some water bending techniques. Our tribe's custom stated that women were only allowed to use water bending to heal, not fight, hence Pakku's refusal to allow Katara to join his water bending lessons. Sokka told me that Aang, who started lessons with Pakku just yesterday, tried to teach Katara behind everyone's backs. When he was caught, Pakku threw Aang out of his class, leaving everyone angry and upset. "And now Katara insists on showing her skills with a duel," Sokka explained, eyeing the dangerous situation.

Amidst the crowd's roaring chants, I could see Katara keeping Pakku on edge for a while. That only made me feel even more guilt, as not only was I shown how poorly I handled last night's situation, I found out how brave the southern tribe really was. At least they fought to give women equal opportunity to contribute to the war, but what was I doing the whole time? Why wasn't I brave enough to join Sokka and convinced Pakku that he was wrong? Sokka might be a commoner, but he sure showed that he was more worthy than anyone here, with the support he had for his sister right now.

But the battle quickly ended when Pakku trapped Katara in a fortress of sharpened icicles. I couldn't help but feel disappointment, and saw the same in Sokka when his head drooped. Even though he tried his best not to show it, I knew deep inside he was unhappy with the results as well. As we wondered how we would free Katara from her prison, a sudden change in Pakku's attitude caught my attention. "I made this sixty years ago," he stated softly, picking up a blue water tribe necklace, presumably knocked loose from Katara during the fight, "for the love of my life."

My jaw nearly sank to the ice as Katara claimed she inherited that necklace from her grandmother Kanna. Pakku nearly sank through the ice as he described Kanna was his fiancée from sixty years back. Pakku claimed he truly loved her, carving that for her in hopes of having a long, happy life together. "But she didn't love you, did she?" Katara retorted, breaking free of the ice, "it was an arranged marriage. Gran Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left."

That was the end of the line for me, as I was too washed up in shame to continue anymore. To me, I was in a similar situation, forced to marry someone that I didn't love. It was also too confusing for me, because Sokka's arrival made it impossible for me to not admit that I loved him. I wasn't sure if this was Sokka's first love, but if this was the way to go, then perhaps both of us might have to leave the North Pole heartbroken. As I raced off, returning back to the very bridge where I met Sokka last night, I was at a total loss. Why couldn't it be Sokka that my father chose?

The shuffling of snow boots behind me caught my attention. Without even turning around, I knew who it was. "What do you want from me?" I demanded. My mind was very flustered already, and the last thing I wanted was Sokka to say anymore to me. He was everything I wanted, but couldn't have, and it pained me to treat him like dirt.

But Sokka was more understanding than ever, believing that we weren't meant to be due to our statuses. "You're a princess, and I'm just a southern peasant. It's okay, you don't have to say anything. I'll see you around, okay?" He responded, using that same relaxed tone that made me attracted to him. The more I heard it, the more painful it would be for us both should I reveal the truth to him. Why must things be so difficult?

Plucking up all my courage, I leaned in and sank my lips into his, enjoying every second of this kiss, which most likely would be our last. "I do like you a lot, but we can't be together, and not for the reason you think," I informed him just as our mouths parted. Taking a deep breath, I lowered the collar of my parka to show him my own betrothal necklace, "it's because I'm engaged." I told him before guilt consumed me.

There was no describing the look on Sokka's face, as disappointment, shock, and surprise all blasted through at once. I knew an individual as kind as Sokka didn't deserve this treatment, and I knew I would regret this for the rest of my life. But if I didn't tell him now, I would do an injustice to my tribe. As a princess, I still had duties to my people, even if their happiness might be at the expense of Sokka. But whatever would happen next, I knew deep down that I was the biggest loser of the day.

Sokka's POV

"The spirits are in trouble!" Aang declared just as I cut him free of the ropes. We had been at the Northern Water Tribe for several days now, with Aang and Katara both now part of Master Pakku's water bending class. Princess Yue and I were also seeing each other (albeit only as friends) and enjoying the sights. Yesterday, I took her on a ride on Appa, leading her into the skies and letting her enjoy the scene. Even though she was an heir, she had quite a restricted lifestyle, so hopefully that opened her eyes a bit.

But it was at that time that we saw a huge fleet of Fire Nation ships sailing full steam at us, leading us to believe that they were about to invade. Yue, because of her status as princess, was forced to be at her father's side, even though I made it clear that I wouldn't pursue anything romantic with her. Either way, I volunteered myself to be one of the defenders of the fortress, receiving the chief's blessing marks on my forehead. I failed to defend my tribe when the Fire Nation invaded, so hopefully better luck here.

Even when I joined the defence team, things weren't exactly going well. I met Hahn, Yue's fiancée, for the first time, and I could honestly say there wasn't a single person in the entire universe more shallow and arrogant than him. Throughout the entire time, he talked about Yue like some sort of medallion, claiming that marrying her was for the perks of being a leader rather than for love. I couldn't take it anymore, and ended up getting into an unofficial wrestling match with him. That got me expelled from the team, and left me in a very sour mood. I might be, in his eyes, an uneducated and uncivilized southern peasant, but at least I didn't treat women like tools!

"Wait, we can't just leave him here," Aang pointed out at the now unconscious Zuko, who was knocked out by my sister. While I was thrown out of the defence team, Aang was being overwhelmed by the Fire Nation navy, to the point where he had to seek the spirits for advice. The chief, on the other hand, made me Yue's guardian during the war, just to keep her safe. Given the opportunity to truly play a role in this, I jumped at the chance. But what I didn't notice was that Zuko chose this time to invade the oasis where Aang was meditating, taking his paralyzed body while outdueling Katara with the advantage of the sun. Luckily, it was night, meaning water benders had the advantage. Take that, Zuko! How could you fire bend now with your body encased in ice?

But even as our enemy, Aang refused to leave Zuko behind, claiming that Zuko would freeze to death. So as our friend proceeded to drag the Fire Nation prince onto Appa, I could only wonder what to do next. Somehow, my instinct told me that things weren't about to get any better. As we took off into the night, racing back to the oasis, I could see the moon turn red. Yue was getting nauseous, and constantly leaned over to me for support. "I feel faint," she uttered, clutching the sides of her head.

I could only look on as Yue explained how she had parts of the Moon Spirit inside her, mainly due to the fact that she nearly died during her birth. Had it not been for the Moon Spirit giving her some of its life source, she certainly wouldn't be alive today. It made me truly realize why Yue was doing everything for her tribe, even at the expense of her own wellbeing and happiness. She wasn't just being a responsible person and serving her tribe; rather, she was using her current life to repay the spirits for their actions. This alone made my whole view of the role of women change completely. I used to feel women served men, staying home to mend stuff while we battled. But here, to see the tribe princess taking on that much responsibility, knowing full well that one day she might leave the world, who was I to say that girls weren't worthy? With how much Yue shouldered right now, I was the one who didn't deserve to be here!

By the time we returned to the oasis, we saw the face of the enemy. It was the same Fire Nation admiral who had been tracking us with Zuko the entire time. The fiery temper, and melodramatic speeches, and ridiculously large sideburns, all pointed to one man: Zhao. As we pulled out our weapons, Zhao countered by lifting a bag. "Don't bother," he sneered, raising a fist at the squirming parcel.

We all froze, not knowing what to do. Aang tried reasoning with Zhao, explaining that destroying the moon would harm everyone. Heck, even a Fire Nation general, whom I recognized as Iroh, the one always accompanying Zuko, told Zhao to back off. I didn't see the need to negotiate with this guy. But with the spirit in his hands, it would be a disaster if we tried to pound his lights out now. Oh, where was a witty and clever solution when one was required? Maybe the fish could squirm out and bite Zhao!

For a second, things calmed down, as Zhao placed the bag back into the water and let the fish swim out. I felt all my muscles tense up as the two spirits swam back to their pond, turning the moon back to its usual colour. As I eased my breath out my lungs, a sudden burst of orange ignited the pond. I could only shield my face as I saw Zhao let a fire blade loose, slicing across the water, and presumably where the fish was. Zhao, you murderer! If I got my hands on you, you would not get away with this!

To no one's surprise, the coward fled the scene, leaving the Fire Nation general to take on his troops while we surveyed the pond. Indeed, there was a dead fish, Tui, lying still in the water, with only its companion La circling it body. For some reason, I felt like my body became a boulder, becoming increasingly difficult to move and sinking to the ground with every step. The moon's darkness, coupled by the lack of any wind, even those it was the North Pole and it was winter, made things that much more eerie. I had never really been spiritual, but now I truly recognized the spirits' true power.

Then, as abruptly as the place went dark, it was bright again. Aang's arrows all glowed at once as he entered the pond, coming in contact with La, the Ocean Spirit, as the two amalgamated into one. My eyes were glued to the light now flowing like water, going out of the oasis, through the canals of the North Pole, and into the ocean, where it took the form of a fish-faced humanoid. It's Koizilla, I thought in shock and fear.

As Koizilla went on its rampage outside, our thoughts returned to the dead fish before us, wondering what to do next. My lips pursed tightly as I witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by this war. A culture was about to be destroyed, and in turn angering spirits that unleashed an unbelievable amount of power. Was the world really going to be thrown out of balance? How could we possibly move forward like this? Fire Nation, Water Tribe, did it matter anymore, given how close we all were to death?

Suddenly, Iroh noticed Yue's physical appearance was different than ours, with her white hair and pale eyes. He correctly identified that as a sign that the spirits touched her before. "Yes, you're right," Yue admitted, "it gave me life, so maybe I can give it back." With that, she reached into the pond to grab Tui.

"No, you don't have to do that!" I shouted, grabbing Yue's hand before she could touch the fish. I made a promise to Yue's father that I would look out for her, so I could not just sit passively and watched her sacrifice herself. Besides, Yue meant too much to me, as we truly bonded with each other. She, along with Suki, taught me how women could be warriors as well, and that we all had a role to play in this war, no matter how big or small. "I won't let you," I insisted, gripping that hand harder.

But Yue somehow slid her hand free, stepping up to Iroh, who now had Tui's lifeless body in his hands. "I have to do this," she stated softly but authoritatively. I could only watch helplessly, my mind telling me to stop her but my body paralyzed in place, as Yue placed her hands on the fish. A bright glow later, and the gift of life was exchanged. As Iroh placed the fish back into the pond, Yue fell to the ground, stone-cold dead.

I clutched her body tight, wrapping her in my arms. "She's gone, she's gone," I could only stutter, too shocked to say anything more. A million thoughts raced through my head as I tried to figure out what happened. Was it my fault that Yue was gone? Was there anything I could have done to change her mind? Maybe earlier, before Zuko got Aang, I could have done something to avoid that issue altogether. How about staying here the whole time, and guarding the fish from Zhao? Would that change anything?

My thoughts were shattered as Yue's body disappeared, her spirit sinking into the pond before reappearing before me. Floating in the air was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had all of Yue's beauty, and now all of the Moon Spirit's power. With so much responsibility to bear, maybe it was only right that by being the moon, Yue was truly free. "Goodbye, Sokka," she stated in a clear, echoing voice, "I will always be with you." As she concluded that sentence, she planted her lips firmly onto mine.

As if instinct took over, I could only return the gesture, not even thinking about how it was taboo a few days ago. Yue wasn't just a princess anymore, she was now the spirit of the moon. Even though she was no longer with me physically, she was now with us all spiritually. As I felt our lips part, seeing Yue floating away, I did everything to hold in my tears. The world around me blurred as I focused on the spirit flying away, my eyes never leaving the apparition as it became part of the night sky. Then, just as it passed over the shadowed moon, the round object relit itself, bringing light back into these dark times. Nobody did more to change my views on the world than Yue, and nobody did more to protect her tribe than Yue, so that was a sign that I now must do my part.

The rest of the night was peaceful, to say the least. The return of the moon meant Koizilla need not continue its rampage. Splitting back into La the Ocean Spirit and Aang the Avatar, they had the Fire Nation navy in official retreat, allowing the Northern Water Tribe to stave off the scary siege. Even though parts of the huge ice fortress were in total ruin, I knew the water benders here would be quick to rebuild. We water benders were people who could adapt to any environment or change, and within a few months, this place should be back to running at normal pace. But for me, there was a bigger task at hand, and that was to inform the chief, Yue's father, that his daughter would no longer be a part of the tribe. As I recalled the events to Arnook, I could only imagine what he was thinking about. "I knew this day would come," Arnook told me, explaining how the two spirits gave him a vision that Yue would one day become the moon.

I swallowed hard, realizing that Arnook and I felt the same way. It was obvious that Yue touched us both, and now we both had to give back to the world. "You must be very proud," I replied softly. Arnook explained that he planned to rebuild his own tribe, but also spoke with Pakku, who decided to journey to the South Pole to rebuild my tribe. That way, both water tribes were reborn, and there would be less disparity between us.

But for me, the goal was even bigger than that. Not only was there a culture to save, there was a world to reunite. Aang might have started water bending just now, but there was still earth and fire to consider. We had a whole new place to explore in the Earth Kingdom, with whole new challenges meeting us. I promised myself that I would be a good warrior, and made my tribe and father proud. If helping Aang stop the war was the way to do it, then I was more than willing to play my part. Besides, with so many new environments in the Earth Kingdom, it was bound to be a place to try out new gadgets and ideas. What more fun could a guy have than that?

I'm actually a little nervous how that turned out, because I felt my toning down of Sokka actually makes him less enjoyable. Without his sarcastic, witty one-liners, it almost feels like I ripped out a part of him. But then again, there is more to Sokka than that meets the eye, so hopefully you guys can see what I'm trying to do here. Please tell me what you think of this chapter, and I'll see what I have to work on in Sokka's next part. Thank you for reading!