Book 4 Air
Chapter 44 Old Enemies
"We're sorry but one is to aboard the ship at this time." A man in an Earth kingdom guard uniform said loudly as he held out his hand in protest.
"But we already bought our tickets…We have to go!" Aeron said in a demanding tone.
"I'm sorry, but there is a storm brewing in the far North. We can't risk any tribulations for the passengers." The man said firmly.
Aeron huffed out in annoyance as she turned to Cole. "Now what are we going to do?" Aeron said as she sighed.
"Don't worry, we'll either just have to wait for the storm to clear or find some other route to the Fire Nation." Cole said as he narrowed his eyes.
"Did you say you two are going to the Fire Nation?" a feminine voice spoke as the two teens turned their heads.
Behind them was a woman dressed in brigand type clothing with black leather and a skull ornament wrapped around her black ink hair bun.
"Yes, what about it?" Aeron asked as she watched the woman smile.
"I can take you there free of charge." The woman said as she crossed her arms.
Cole narrowed his eyes, "What's the catch?" Cole said as he stepped closer.
"Oh, there's no catch. I'm simply doing a good deed for the people. That's all." Jun said as she turned revealing her tattoo on her left arm.
Aeron and Cole's eyes widen, it was the seal of the purple snake. Their arch enemy who was deeply hated from their people, the dragonfly village of the Shin-Ko Clan.
Cole stepped in front of Aeron in a protective matter as he grabbed his dagger from behind his green haori.
"Don't worry I'm not your enemy. Your people won the battle long ago…" Jun said in defense as she flipped her hair back.
"Then why help us?" Aeron asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"I guess to settle that stupid quarrel between our people once and for all…Besides, it's not like I'd follow my people's traditions, anyways. I left them and now I follow my own rules. So, are you coming or not?" Jun said as she started to walk out of the under ground cave.
Aeron and Cole looked at one another.
They had a choice, to either wait for the storm to pass or take a faster way to the Fire Nation.
They nodded, deciding their decision.
"Ok, we'll go with you…" Aeron said.
"Good…Meet me outside in five minutes." Jun said as she left the two.
"Be on your guard, Aeron. I still don't trust her." Cole said as he whispered to the girl.
"Don't worry…" Aeron said as she whispered back.
The sound of water filled his ears, as bubbles rose to the surface. The view of dark blue darkness surrounded the airbender as he sunk deeper into the depths of the ocean. Slowly opening his eyes, he thought he heard something…Someone calling for him.
"Aang…Aang!" the voice echoed as the Avatar's lungs filled with salt water.
He was gradually suffocating, as it became harder to hold his breathe under water.
His mind fogged as he tried to move his limbs, kicking and padding upward. Aang tried to reach the surface, yet he still was sinking. Then he heard the voice again, "Aang! Aang!" the voice called out almost pleading.
What was it? Who was it?
Was Aang hallucinating? Was he dying? He didn't know for sure.
"Aang!"
'Who are you? Why are you calling me?' Aang thought as his eyes closed once more, he couldn't recognize the voice. Why?
The boy's body became heavier as his form slowly rose to the surface. Breaking out from the watery depths, Aang choked and coughed violently as a sudden waves crashed down on him.
Padding his arms aimlessly, the weak and tired airbender tried to swim. Distancing himself from the constant waves and hollering winds.
It was no use; he was trapped in a current. Growing weaker by the second, Aang became desperate. He could go into the Avatar State, but what if he couldn't break away from the storm? He would drown from exhaustion.
He had no other option…He had to try.
Aang sucked in a deep inhale of air as his eyes and tattoos glowed brightly. Rising from the water in a twirling water whirl, the airbender sailed along the ocean. Wave after wave, the Avatar broke through the currents a trail of foam flowed behind him.
Every time Aang gone into the Avatar he always had the same experience.
It was like he was out of his body, watching himself from a far as he traveled along the sea.
Aang felt his spiritual energy rise as he continued to soar over the storm. In the distance he saw a large beige object floating over the waves. It was Appa. Aang called out for the bison as the large animal roared. Lifting himself out of the water, the flying bison caught Aang into the saddle. Nearly collapsing, Aang crawled over to the reins. Gripping on them tightly, the airbender shouted to the top of his lungs. "YIP-YIP!" Aang screamed out as Appa soared up into the clouds.
The higher the bison flew upward; the more the dark clouds changed into lighter grey then finally into a clear-white puff. They were above the storm. Appa roared a low bellow, as Aang spoke. "Come on Appa just a little further…" Aang said encouraging the bison as the beast flapped his big flat tail downward gaining more speed.
Before Appa could distance himself any more, the animal started to lose altitude. Falling lower and lower, the beast roared out as Aang cried out shutting his eyes.
Before they landed, Aang opened his eyes. The view of sand was seen as Appa crashed into the earth and broke through a forest of bamboo trees. Everything then when dark as Aang lost consciousness.
Suki stood up as she clenched her hand, she knew something wasn't right and she was going to find out what was wrong.
"Suki?" Sokka questioned as he watched the warrior girl start to walk to the door.
"Suki! Where are you going?" Sokka exclaimed as he followed her.
"I'm going to check something out, stay here and protect the villagers." Suki said as she grabbed her cloak and headed out the door.
"Suki! Wait, no one is to leave!" Oyaji called out as the young warrior woman ran out into the rain.
"Suki…" Sokka said softly as he narrowed his eyes.
After Iroh bought enough boxes worth of clothes, antiques and other useless items to fill up the whole palace. Zuko sighed deeply, this trip was beginning to get rather boring, yet he was happy Katara was by his side to make his time more interesting.
As Katara admired the stands and people she then noticed behind her a number of guards following them at a distance. It started to concern the waterbender.
"Zuko? Why are they following us?" Katara asked as she leaned in whispering to the young man.
Looking back, Zuko then leaned in and spoke softly.
"They are to offer any of their services if needed, and to protect us during our outing." Zuko said as he then turned his head back.
"In such times during peace, there will always be someone who wishes to disturb that order. Harming or kidnapping a lord would be one outcome to gain what they'd want." Zuko said as he whispered it back to the girl.
"How awful…" Katara said as she slowly begun to understand their purpose.
"It is a small price to pay for our privacy. Of course I know I can very well take care of myself. I can't help but want you to be safely protected." Zuko said as he narrowed his eyes.
Katara blushed at the Fire Lord's words only then to slightly frown. Does he not think she can protect herself as well? He should know what she's capable of. Then again it would probably best in the end to be well protected. Maybe she'll talk to Zuko about it later…
Brushing the thought aside, Katara and Zuko continued to follow Iroh into the shops.
Inching closer to the village, Mai held her breathe. Every fiber in her being was telling her this was wrong. This wasn't the way to do things in life. To steal from a village and cause such conflict. Looking behind her, Mai saw that the men caught up to them. Slowly pacing up behind the thick branches of bamboo, Azula ordered the men by her side.
"Enter through the back and I'll go to the front." Azula whispered as she pin-pointed her location to the main building sheltering all of the villagers.
Just as the group steadied themselves to the building, Mai exhaled slightly.
Huffing her breathe as she jogged to the shore line, Suki stopped and looked around. The feeling inside her grew stronger as she tried to find out what was calling to her. Looking to her right she saw a huge dent in the sand, a hollowed trail that led to a small bundle of broken bamboo branches. Climbing over the crash site, Suki gasped. It was Appa lying in the mud and sand.
"Appa!" Suki exclaimed as she ran to the bison. Looking down, Suki found the airbender still clinging to the reins as he lay on in the sand unconscious.
"Oh spirits! Aang!" Suki cried out as she kneeled down to the airbender.
Checking the young boy for injuries, Suki turned the airbender on his back as she spoke softly.
"I have to go get help…" Suki said to herself as she stood up.
"Don't worry, I'll be right back." Suki said as she headed by to her village.
'I can't believe this…Aang is here! How did he get here? Did he get lost in the storm?' Suki thought to herself as she ran.
As the two continued their walk down the marketplace, many spectators whispered quietly as they gazed in awe at the couple.
"Hey, Zuko?" Katara started to ask as she looked up at the Fire Lord unaware of the townspeople.
"Yes?"
"Maybe we can take a walk on the beach for a while?" Katara asked as she gave a warm smile.
"Hmm, yes that would be nice." Zuko said as he turned his attention to his uncle.
"Uncle, we'll be going to the beach. We'll meet you for dinner later." Zuko said out loud.
"Alright, have fun you two…" Iroh said with a big grin as he stood near a stand admiring a china vase.
Zuko rolled his eyes as he led Katara down to the shore.
Walking a short distance as the two teens entered through a landmark of a large gate with an arched doorway, the Fire Lord raised his hand in signal to the guards nearby.
Katara looked at him, admiring his regal posture and command.
Placing his hand down, Zuko then turned his attention to the waterbender. "They'll give us our privacy for a while. Come, the beach isn't far off." Zuko said as he continued down the stone walk way.
Katara looked around her surroundings. Admiring the beautiful clay titles of colorful prints that lay out over the pathway. The stone lane soon faded into white sand as the two teens reached the shore line.
Much to Katara's surprise, no one was here. The clear view of the ocean was seen with gulls flying over head. It was a beautiful sight for the waterbender.
Walking into the sand as it reached up to her ankles, Katara noticed the small details of the beach. Seaweed laced over the small dunes of sand with trunks of polished wood stumps scattered over the area. Overall the beach was very clean and well-maintained for an island.
Katara sighed peacefully as the scent of salt water filled her nostrils and the bright sun warmed her face. It was nice to get outside, away from the palace. Zuko watched Katara as she closed her eyes enjoying the crisp air. Secretly the lord was pleased of his surroundings as well. Soaking up the sun's rays as he admired the blue ocean ahead as waves crashed along the shore roughly and the distant winds in the East picked up strongly.
The soft material of Katara's sleeves and Zuko's pants swayed in the breeze as it promptly flapped against their bodies. It was clear of the storm forming far out the horizon, almost hidden from the thin line of mist from the sea. Katara sighed slightly.
"I hope everyone is alright…" Katara said softly as she looked out at the horizon.
Zuko's brow furrowed a little, he understood her concern. Hurricane Wing was no storm to underestimate. Of course with the Earth Kingdom territories in danger, Zuko as a lord of his nation would do everything in his power to help the earthen people. Before his departure to the marketplace, the Fire Lord ordered a bundle of supplies to be shipped out nearby the local trade route to the Earth Kingdom central base. Hopefully by the time the help arrives, the storm would pass and the people can recover in time.
Zuko then closed his eyes, so much has happened. He only hopes everything will settle out in the end, peacefully. As Zuko remained lost in his thoughts, Katara watched him quietly.
The waterbender's eyes glistened softly as she secretly admired the young man's fine features.
Katara couldn't deny her growing attractions for Zuko nor her feelings. Wanting to make the moment meaningful, Katara parted her lips and spoke a single word to the Fire Lord. A word she's come to adore so much as it rolled off her lips. "Zuko…" Katara said gently as the young man opened his golden amber eyes and looked at the blue-eyed beauty next to him.
No words were needed to be said as the two teens stared into each other's eyes. Lightly Katara raised her slender mocha colored hand up to the lord's scarred cheek. Zuko sharply inhaled as he felt her gentle fingertips guide over his jagged yet velvety soft flesh, Zuko then closed his eyes slowly.
It was her kind gesture that always seemed to make Zuko melt. How the feel of her fingers felt, the closest of her body next to his. It brought peace in Zuko's mind and memories of the first time she ever touch his scar. It was somehow comforting to know she didn't reject him.
'Katara…' Zuko thought as he opened his eyes.
Before Katara could react, she was deeply in the arms of the Fire Lord. She adjusted her body to hug him back as she sighed. Katara loved the feel of his firm chest pressing against her form as she rested her head on his shoulder. Truly, no words were needed… There was no denying their feelings any more; Katara of the Water Tribe has fallen for the young man of the Fire Nation.
'Zuko…' Katara thought as she closed her eyes enjoying the moment.
Yay, little Zutara fluffy-ness! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Also, I know I promised some more action. Next chapter will be more action packed than this last chapter, I swear! Don't forget to comment and review for a fast update!
