**reviews really would be helpful. if it sucks, tell me. i won't be hurt. (i'll just yell at my friends because they keep telling me its awesome) if it's good, tell me too! really, i want reviews. so thanks!!**
They left that night. They said goodbye to Ashley and Andreea and promised to visit soon. Katara felt right at home on the back of Appa, flying through the cold, night air. Sokka was sleeping next to her, with Momo curled up beside him. Aang and Jessa were flying ahead of Appa on their gliders. Aang was teaching Jessa tricks she could do on it. Katara tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and laid down to sleep. They still had a couple days ride to Ba Sing Se.
"Sokka, wake up. We're here." Katara shook her snoozing brother. He mumbled something a bout cactus juice and cow-sheep, then rolled over onto his other side.
"Sokka!" Aang yelled. Sokka flew up.
"What?! What'd I miss?"! His eyes were wide and his brown hair hung at odd angles around his face.
"We're here." Katara said with a laugh.
"Oh, ok." Sokka scratched his head, yawned and got up. They all hopped down from Appa's back.
"Do you think anyone is up?" Jessa asked. Just as Aang was going to answer, the gates to the palace opened and Toph and Zuko walked out.
"About time you showed up!" Toph greeted, a wide grin on her face. Her hair was out of it's usual bun and was flowing down her back. She wore a forest green nightgown, and had a black cape over it.
"We flew as fast we could!" Aang protested, as everyone hugged Toph and Zuko.
"When did you get here?" Katara asked Zuko. None of them, except Aang, had seen Zuko since the week of his coronation two years ago. The 18 year old had grown about five inches taller, so he stood a head taller than everyone, even Sokka. He wore a red shirt and black pants, which looked travel-worn.
"Just a couple hours before you." He answered, smiling down at Katara, who blushed and looked away. What is wrong with me? she thought. It's just Zuko!
"C'mon inside. The Earth King is waiting for you." Toph led them through the gate and up the stairs inside the Earth King's palace. They reached the throne room, where the Earth King was talking with a man and a teenage boy. Both wore only leaf loincloths and black capes. The man had graying black hair that was braided down his back. The boy had dark brown hair that spiked in the back. They were both tan and muscular, even the older man.
"Welcome back Aang and friends! It's so good to see you!" The Earth King greeted warmly. Bosco was sleeping at the Kings feet.
"You too Your Majesty." Aang said.
"Aang, this is Zak and Sean. They live in a swamp just east of here." Toph introduced the two men in the room.
"Pleasure to meet you, Avatar." Zak said, bowing.
"And you." Aang bowed back.
"Now, why we were called here suddenly?" Katara asked.
"Toph, please go wake Chief Arnook." The Earth King said. Toph nodded and sped out of the room.
"Chief Arnook is here? All the way from the Northern Water Tribe?" Katara asked. Clearly, this was huge news if he called all the major leaders together. A few minutes later Toph came back with Chief Arnook, who still looked like he was sleeping.
"Now that everyone is here, you may tell your story Sean." The boy stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Well, about two weeks ago, the village right outside our swamp was attacked, by fire and Waterbenders. And I don't mean separate benders; I mean one person was bending fire and water."
"What?" Aang asked, shocked beyond belief. "That's not possible!"
"It is. But it gets worse. I suffered injuries from my encounter with them, but they weren't normal injuries. While fighting them, I noticed a strong pain in my gut. I thought nothing of it. Then as the day went on, it grew worse and worse. It felt like my internal body was on fire. I noticed dark red areas over my body, almost like burns but different. Finally, it grew so bad that I was drifting in and out of consciousness. My family finally took me to a creek in the swamp that is said to have magical powers. As you can see, it worked. The only explanation my family could come up with, is that my internal organs were literally on fire, or at least destroying themselves."
"So you're saying that there is a new form of bending that combines fire and water, and they can cause your internal organs to destroy?" Katara asked, horrified.
"Yes, at least, that is what we believe." Zak answered.
"And we have had accounts of two more attacks on villages in the past week. We believe it is the same people. There has only been one survivor from all three attacks. A small boy that Sean rescued." Toph added.
"We had to amputate his leg because it was so badly burned. And he is blind in one eye from the attack." Sean said gravely.
"Is he here?" Aang asked.
"Yes, but he's sleeping. You may talk with him in the morning, but I don't know how much you'll be able to get out of him. He doesn't like to talk about it." said Sean.
"We need to figure out what and who these people are. It's vital. I don't know want another 100 years war." Aang stated fiercely.
