Book Two: Earth
Chapter Thirteen: The Serpent's Pass
Xena finished feeding a stream of water into her water pouch, sitting next to Sokka on a rock beside the lake. He was looking at one of the maps he took from the library, tracing a route to Ba Sing Se. Her swords lay between them, holding the top edge of the map flat. After they had gotten out of the desert, they all had sunburns that needed to be healed with waterbending. Her tattoos had started to come off in the process and Xena had removed the rest of the paint along with the sandy grit stuck to her clothes. She had decided not to repaint them afterwards and had also left her arms unbound, revealing the pale scars.
"Waterbending bomb!" Katara shouted suddenly before jumping off a small waterfall into the lake. "Yeah!"
A large wave rose up before splashing back down, pushing Aang to shore and soaking all of them.
"Sure, five thousand year-old maps from the spirit library," Sokka grumbled as he held up one of the soaking wet maps. "Just splash some water on 'em."
"Sorry," Katara apologized sheepishly as she wrung the water out of her hair before bending water from the map. Glaring at her once more, Sokka moved the map onto the ground so the others could see what he and Xena had discussed.
"So, did you figure out what route we're going to take?" Aang asked, pulling his knees up to his chest.
"Yep," Xena says, leaning back slightly.
"Okay, we just got out of the desert, so we must be around here and we need to go to Ba Sing Se, which is here. It looks like the only passage connecting the south to the north is this sliver of land called the Serpent's Pass."
"You sure that's the best way to go?" Toph asked skeptically.
"It's the only way," Sokka said firmly then shrugged. "I mean it's not like we have Appa to fly us there."
"Shush up about Appa," Katara hissed. "Can't you at least try to be sensitive."
Aang stared at them both blandly. "Katara, it's okay. I know I was upset about losing Appa before, but I just want to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse."
"Oh…" Katara said in surprise. "Well, okay. I'm glad you're doing better."
Sokka rolled up the map along with the others. "Then to Ba Sing Se we go. No more distractions."
"I'm not so sure about the no distraction part," Xena commented dryly, motioning behind her.
"Hello there, fellow refugees!"
The other four turn around and stare at the two women and a man, who was waving enthusiastically at them.
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"So, you guys are headed to Ba Sing Se, too?" Aang asked the man curiously.
"Sure are," He confirmed rubbing his wife's pregnant belly. "We're trying to get there before my wife, Ying, has her baby."
"Great!" Katara said happily. "We can travel through the Serpent's Pass together."
"The Serpent's Pass?" Ying asked in shock. "Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!"
"Deadly route," Toph mused sarcastically then punched Sokka in the arm. "Great pick, Sokka!"
Sokka pouted and rubbed at his bruise. "Well, we are desperate."
"You should come with us to Full Moon Bay," The man suggested. "Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se."
"And it's hidden," Ying added. "So the Fire Nation can't find it."
"Hmm…" Katara pretended to think. "Peaceful ferry ride or deadly pass?"
Sokka huffed and crossed his arms. Xena smiles slightly and taps the hilt of the swords at her hip.
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"I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation," Katara said after two earthbenders opened the tunnel that led into Full Moon Bay.
Xena mumbled an agreement as their temporary traveling companions step past them.
"We're all looking for a better life, safe behind the walls of Ba Sing Se," Ying's husband comments before they wave and join the other refuges.
The five teens head to join the long line for tickets and Xena glances at a couple of people as they pass. They're dressed like all the other refuges, but the feral gleam in their eyes reveals that they are used to living in the wild and on the streets unlike most of the refuges here. When their eyes linger on her group, she straightens and lays a hand on a sword hilt, meeting each set of eyes fearlessly until they look away.
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"Who would have thought after all these years, I'd return to the scene of my greatest disgrace."
"Look around. We're not tourists, we're refugees," Zuko snapped as he took a sip of food from the bowl in his hand only to spit it out a moment later in disgust. "Ugh! I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt. I'm tired of living like this!"
"Aren't we all?"
Zuko glanced at the young man behind him. He was about Zuko's age, wearing dark red leather armor and chewing on a piece of wheat coolly. Several refuges shoot glances at him, worried about the color of his clothes. Zuko turned back to the ocean, unimpressed.
"My name's Jet and these are my Freedom Fighters," Jet introduced gesturing to a short haired girl and a young archer behind him. "Smellerbee and Longshot."
"Hey," Smellerbee greeted while Longshot nodded his head silently.
"Hello," Zuko muttered in reply.
"Here's the deal," Jet stated never losing the cool tone in his voice - or the wheat much to Zuko's annoyance. "I hear the captain's eating like a king while the refugees have to feed of his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?"
"What sort of king is he eating like?" Iroh asked curiously.
"The fat, happy kind," Jet replied, noticing Iroh's large belly.
Iroh practically drooled as Jet turned back to Zuko. "You want to help us liberate some food?"
Zuko stared down at the bowl of food in his hand for a moment before tossing it over his shoulder into the water and fully turning towards Jet. "I'm in."
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"I told you already, no vegetables on the ferry!" The ticket lady barked at the cabbage merchant in front of her. "One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se! Security!" The cabbage merchant watched in horror as a security platypus bear destroyed his cart.
"Wasn't he in Omashu?" Xena asked Katara quietly, recalling vaguely the shouts for the loss of their heads.
"Yeah, he was also in a village we stopped at while you were gone," She said and then suddenly giggled. Aang destroyed his cart."
"I wonder if his cabbages are indestructible or something?" She joked lightly.
"Maybe we could get a few for Sokka to wear as armor," Katara replied and both girls laughed as Sokka turned to glare at them.
Xena held a hand out to Katara and the younger girl highfived it.
"Next!" The ticket lady shouted as two security guards carried the merchant away.
"Um…" Aang stammered, stepping up to the booth. "Five tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please."
"Passports?"
"Uh… No one told us we had to have passports," Aang stated nervously.
"Don't you know who this is?" Sokka asked as he threw his arm over Aang's shoulder. "He's the Avatar!"
"Ah, I see fifty Avatars a day," The ticket lady stated dryly then she leaned over to look down her nose at Aang. "And, by the way, not a very impressive costume."
She gestured to the left where several young boys were dressed as the Avatar. Aang nodded in admiration and Momo peeked over his shoulder.
"Besides, no animals allowed," The ticket lady snapped then smirked. "Do I need to call security?"
"That won't be necessary," Aang said backing up.
"Next!" Toph started to step forward, but Xena drops an arm in her path before stepping forward herself.
"I got this," She says confidently.
The ticket lady frowns down at her.
"Oh right," Toph said, realizing what Xena is getting at as she straightens into her no-nonse stance.
"You say you've seen fifty Avatars a day, but how many of his Guardians do you get?" She asks brushing her bangs to the side to reveal her tattoo as well as letting her eyes silver over. The woman gasps in surprise.
"But if you need more incentive." Xena drops her passport, one over a hundred years old, onto the counter in front of her.
"The golden seal of the flying boar!" The ticket lady gasped again. "It is my pleasure to help anyone of the Bei Fong family."
"So five tickets then?" Xena asks, tilting her head slightly.
"But, the animal-"
"Is my seeing-eye lemur," Toph cut in behind her as Momo jumped onto her shoulder.
She dropped her own passport next to mine.
"Well, normally it's only one ticket per passport, but these documents are so official…I guess they're worth five tickets," The ticket lady stated then happily stamped five tickets.
"Thank you very much," Xena says with thinly veiled sarcasm as she grabs them and the passports.
"Where did you get a Bei Fong passport?" Katara asked.
"I was unofficially adopted into the Bei Fong family," Xena says and then sighs. "Unfortunately due to living in the Water Tribes, I never had a passport so they gave me one."
"Well, I'd say you scammed her pretty good," Sokka says, catching her in a one armed hug.
She grumbled slightly and was relieved when someone pulled him off of her.
A female security guard stood in front of him sternly. "Tickets and passports please."
Is that...?
"Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, I got a problem with you!" the security guard snapped and poked Sokka in the chest, "I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious, and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar."
Sokka's expression turned to confusion and slight suspicion. "Do I know you?"
"You mean you don't remember?" The security guard demanded as she grabbed the front of Sokka's shirt. "Maybe you'll remember this!"
Sokka's eyes went wide in disbelief when the guard suddenly kissed his cheek instead of the expected punch. His dumbfounded expression turned into one of happiness in realization.
"Suki!" He exclaimed and hugged her.
"Sokka, it's so good to see you!" Suki said, pulling out of the embrace to smile at him.
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"You look so different without your makeup!" Katara said in surprise. "And the new outfit."
"That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them," Suki explained as she leaned against the wall. The Kyoshi Warrior then turned to Sokka with a flirtatious smile, "And look at you, sleeveless guy. Been working out?"
"Ahhh, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then. Nothing major," Sokka replied flexing his muscles.
Xena rolled her eyes at his antics.
"Are the other Kyoshi Warriors around?" Aang asked curiously.
"Yeah, after you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees and we've been here ever since," Suki explained. Momo jumped up onto her shoulder and she scratched his ears. "Hi, Momo! Good to see you too!"
"So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry?" Suki asked curiously. "Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?"
Xena bowed her head as Katara answered, "Appa's missing. We hope to find him in Ba Sing Se."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Suki said sadly then addressed Aang. "Are you doing okay?"
Aang looked up and snapped, "I'm fine. Would everybody stop worrying about me?"
Xena looked up and frowned at him about to say something.
"Avatar Aang, you have to help us!" Ying cut her off before she could begin. "Someone took all of our belongings. Our passports, our tickets, everything's gone!"
"I'll talk to the lady for you," Aang said with a determined expression.
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"No passports, no tickets!" The ticket lady barked and stamped a 'denied' stamp on Aang's forehead.
"But she's pregnant and all of her stuff was stolen!" Aang exclaimed pleadingly. "You have to make an exception!"
"No exceptions! If I just gave away tickets willy-nilly to anyone, there would be no more order!" The ticket lady shouted. "You know what that means? No more civilization!"
"What if we gave them our tickets?" Aang tried again.
"No!"
"But-"
"Next!" The woman shouted loudly.
Aang sighed and walked over dejectedly wiping the ink from his forehead.
"Don't worry, you'll get to the city safely," Aang reassured. "I'll lead you through the Serpent's Pass."
The family nodded hesitantly and Aang began walking. Sokka starts complaining about their tickets behind them and Xena slaps the back of his head to get him to shut up. He glares at her but she ignores it as she senses Suki behind them.
"I'm coming to," She declares, back in her Kyoshi uniform.
Sokka looked at her worriedly. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Sokka, I thought you'd want me to come," Suki said in confusion.
"I do," Sokka replied hurriedly. "It's just-"
"Just what?"
Sokka sighed and looked at the ground slightly. "Nothing. I'm glad you coming."
Suki frowned slightly and walked past him till she was walking next to Xena. She glanced at her and noticed the small frown.
"It's complicated," She says, causing the other girl to look at her in surprise. "Just give him time."
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"This is the Serpent's Pass?" Sokka asked as he looked at the pass. "I thought it would be a little more wind-y, you know, like a serpent. Huh, I guess they misnamed it."
"Look at this writing!" Ying suddenly exclaimed looking at the sign. "How awful!"
"What does it say?" Toph asked curiously.
"It says, 'abandon hope," Katara read aloud.
"How can we abandon hope? It's all we have!" Ying wailed and her husband hugged her as she began to cry.
"I don't know," Aang stated quietly as he looked at the others. "The monks used to say that hope was just a distraction, so maybe we do need to abandon it."
"What are you talking about?" Katara asked him worriedly and Aang shrugged.
"Hope is not going to get us into Ba Sing Se," Aang said coolly as he turned away. "And it's not going to help find Appa. We need to focus on what we're doing right now and that's getting across this path.
"Okay, if you say so," Katara muttered.
Aang began walking towards the pass and Xena frowned slightly. It worried her that he was acting like this.
"You're wrong, Aang," She finally said and he stops short. "Hope is something that you should never give up, no matter how dark the situation becomes."
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Xena walked in front of Suki behind Katara as far as she was willing to be separated from Aang. She glanced out over the lake at a Fire Navy ship in the water. Suki notices it as well.
"The Fire Nation controls the western lake," She comments quietly. "Rumor has it they're working on something big on the other side of it and don't want anyone to find out what it is."
They continue walking, ignoring the ship for now. Suddenly part of the pass gave out under Ying's husband, Than, and he gasped as he began to fall.
Toph earthbended a ledge out underneath him and flipped him back up onto the path and into his family's arms.
"I'm okay!" The man exclaimed as his wife and sister embraced him worriedly, the rocks falling into the water.
"They've spotted us!" Sokka shouted when the Fire Nation ship suddenly launched a fireball at them. "Let's go, let's go!"
Aang launched off the pass and swung his staff, batting the fireball back at the ship with an air blade. He snapped open his glider just as the ship launched another fireball. It hit the pass several feet above their heads. Rocks fell towards Suki and Sokka pushed her out of the way. Xena catches Suki as she stumbles into her and watched fearfully as the rocks fall towards him. Toph bends a sloped slab above his head and the rocks roll harmlessly over. She lets go of Suki as another fireball comes towards them. She drops in to a low crouch, kicking a wave of fire out before coming back up to punch two fire balls. The blue and white flames destroy the fireball and continues out until it hits the ship.
"You're a firebender," Suki gasps in surprise.
"Avatar's Guardian," She states in explanation.
"Suki, are you okay? You have to be more careful!" Sokka exclaimed running over to them.
"Thanks for saving my life, Toph," Toph said dryly as she impersonated Sokka, then she shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, no problem, Sokka." Xena shakes her head before hustling them further up the path after the others, glancing once more at the Fire Navy ship where it sat dead in the water.
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The sun had begun to set and they had begun setting up camp for the night. Xena rolled her bedroll out besides Katara's before going to join the other girl by the fire where Katara was making dinner. Sokka was fretting over Suki and moving her bedroll closer to the fire. Xena sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, turning to stare at Aang's back.
"Are you okay, Xena?"
Xena looked over at Katara and shrugged with another sigh. "Not really. He's worrying me."
"Have you tried talking to him?"
"He won't listen to me. He usually doesn't when it comes to stuff like this."
"Do you want me to try?"
Xena hesitated and then nodded.
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Zuko watched the sunset and idly spun Xena's bracelet around his wrist. He was thinking about the storm and how Xena had been there. He wasn't sure why she held him or why he allowed it but he did know that he was glad she did. His life had been so complicated lately and he can't help but wish it could go back to normal. Not that his life has ever been normal anyways.
With a soft sigh he went to join the three Freedom Fighters. Jet nodded at him and Zuko effortlessly took the lead. Everyone except for Longshot crept up to the second level. Dodging guards they snuck close to a kitchen. Zuko pressed against the wall peering around the corner. He nodded to Jet and they ran to the door while Smellerbee kept watch. Zuko unsheathed his dao swords and Jet used his hooked swords to unlock the door. Zuko pushed it open gently before stepping in cautiously. Jet went to cut some type of birds down while Zuko used his swords to stack bowls of food together. Sheathing his weapons, Zuko tied the containers together before putting them in a bag.
"Guard's coming!" Smellerbee called out quietly and they two boys rush silently out of the room.
They ran to the railing and Longshot shot and arrow with a rope attached into the railing. They quickly slide the food down before sliding down themselves. Longshot yanked the arrow from the railing just as a guard walks by. They hurry back to the other refuges with the food.
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Xena watches as Katara talks with Aang and Suki with Sokka. Toph sits next to her and twists her head in her direction.
She frowns slightly before asking, "Does Aang hate me?"
"No," Xena answers easily.
The blind girl nods and looks down.
"It's my fault Appa is gone," She says quietly.
"No it's not Toph. There was nothing you could do," The older girl reassures. "Trust me, okay. It wasn't your fault. If anything it's my fault. I saw the look in those sandbenders eyes when they saw Appa. I should've known they would come after us."
"If it's not my fault then it's not your fault either," She says seriously.
Xena noded in agreement and they fall into a comfortable silence until she decides to break it with an awkward question.
"So who is this Zuko guy exactly?"
Her heart skips a beat before she answers, "The Fire Nation prince. He chased us all the way to the North Pole trying to capture Aang."
"Why?"
"He was banished from the Fire Nation and his father decided that to come home he had to capture the Avatar."
Toph tilts her head to the side and glances at her.
"Do you like him?"
"Um, no."
"Liar," She says pointing at her.
"I'm not," Xena takes a deep breath before lowering her voice, "It's a complicated story but I ended up as Zuko's prisoner for a while and I kissed him to distract him long enough to escape."
She gives her a skeptical look but Katara joins them and the older girl turns towards her.
"He didn't listen," was all she said before sitting down with them
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Iroh and Zuko sat with Smellerbee and Longshot while Jet passed the food around to the other refugees.
"So, Smellerbee, that's an usually name for a young man," Iroh commented.
"Maybe it's because I'm not a man…I'm a girl!" Smellerbee snapped, slamming her bowl down, and stomping away from them.
"Oh, now I see," Iroh called out after her. "It's a beautiful name for a lovely girl!"
Longshot went after her while Jet rejoined them soon after as they began to eat.
"From what I hear, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se," He said as he sat down. "I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall."
"It is a magnificent site," Iroh commented as he sat his bowl down.
"So you've been there before?" Jet asked.
"Once. When I was a…different man."
"I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se, for a new beginning," Jet said in understanding of what Iroh meant. "A second chance."
"That's very noble of you," Iroh remarked then glanced over at Zuko. "I believe that people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances."
Zuko stared down at the deck for a moment.
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"Great," Xena mumbled sarcastically, looking at the long stretch of water that had submerged part of the pass.
"Everyone single file!" Katara ordered walking past her and bending the water, "Aang, Xena, I need help!"
Aang handed his staff to Toph and stepped into the middle, leaving Xena to bring up the rear as they began bending the water as well. They continued to walk in single file as the went underwater, the three benders keeping the water at bay. Momo chittered excitedly as he looked at the fish swimming past. He dove into the water, swimming after the fish. Momo suddenly jumped back into their bubble of air and landed on Toph's shoulder. Something large swam past them and the froze in surprise and fear except for the benders that had to keep bending.
"What is that thing?" Katara asked.
The monster suddenly swam through the bubble, causing it to collapse. The family screamed as water rushed towards them. Toph quickly stomped her foot and lifted her hands, lifting them to the surface on a pillar of earth. Aang took his staff from her as the large monster swam around their small island. The monster reared up, revealing itself to be a very large and very colorful serpent
"I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass!" Sokka exclaimed then he grabbed Suki by the shoulders. "Suki, you know about giant sea monsters, make it go away!"
Suki slapped his hands away. "Just because I live near the Unagi doesn't mean I'm an expert!"
Sokka grabbed Momo and held him up towards the sea monster. "Oh great and powerful sea serpent, please accept this humble and tasty offering! Thank you!"
"Sokka!" Katara shouted.
Xena slapped the back of his head and he dropped Momo. The lemur quickly climbed up her shoulder and hid in her vest, only his nose poking out. The serpent roared at them and lunged towards them. Aang knocked its head to the side with a powerful air blast.
"I'll distract it. Xena, get everyone across," Aang ordered then he snapped open his glider and took off.
Xena jumped forward towards the opposite side of the pass, sliding her left foot forward and dragging her arms up in a smooth movement, thrusting out to create an ice path from their little island to the other side of the pass. Sokka and Suki led the family across while Katara went to help Aang when it was clear he was having trouble. Toph shifts nervously behind her.
"Trust me?" Xena asks, taking her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.
The blind girl steps forward onto the ice but flinches backwards.
"Toph, c'mon!" Sokka shouted back at them, "It's just ice!"
Toph tentatively put her foot on the ice bridge again only to jerk back.
"Actually, I'm going to stay here on my little island where I can see!" Toph shouted back.
The serpent's body suddenly slammed down behind them, destroying half of the little island.
"Okay, I'm coming!" She yelped in surprise.
Xena put her hand on her upper arm and steps out onto the ice, walking backwards as she guides her carefully.
"You're doing great!" Sokka called out encouraging. "Just follow the sound of my voice!"
"It's hard to ignore!" Toph retorted sarcastically.
"Sokka, shut up," Xena snaps and he falls silent.
Halfway across the ice path the serpent's tail slams down on the path, destroying it. Toph screams in surprise and Xena instinctively pulls her closer as they hit the water
"I can't swim!" She gasps, clinging to her tightly.
"I got you," Xena replied, treading water.
"Toph! Xena!" Sokka shouts and starts to pull of his boot.
'Idiot' Xena thinks before propelling them towards the shore with waterbending. Suki pulls Toph out of the water and Xena gives Sokka a smug look as she climbs out after her. Sokka pouts and pulls his boot back on. Xena turns and watch as Aang and Katara create a whirlpool around the serpent. It screeched before it slammed into the side of the pass. It swam away in defeat and Aang brought Katara back to shore. The family cheered happily.
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"There's the wall!" Sokka shouted as the group came to the end of the pass. "Now it's nothing but smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se."
Ying suddenly groaned in pain and clutched her stomach. "Oh no."
"What's wrong?" Sokka asked worriedly.
"The baby's coming!" She gasped.
"What?" Sokka yelped in distress. "Now? Can't you hold it in or something?"
"Sokka, calm down," Katara chided. "I helped Gran-Gran deliver lots of babies back home."
"This isn't the same as delivering an arctic seal!" Sokka shouted as he began waving his arms around theatrically. "This is a real…human…thing!"
"It's called a baby and I helped her deliver plenty of those, too," Katara replied and then began issuing orders. "Aang, get some rags. Sokka, water. Toph, I need you to make an earth tent, a big one."
Toph made a large earth tent around Ying and her family, leaving a crack big enough to enter.
"Suki, Xena" Katara called over her shoulder. "Come with me."
"I-ugh," Xena stuttered uncomfortably. "I don't think that's a good idea. I've- ugh, I've never…"
"Wait out here then," She says as the older girl trails off awkwardly.
Xena smiles slightly in relief and collapses to the ground. She really doesn't have any experience with that kind of thing and would probably just get in the way.
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Zuko stood at the helm of the ferry, trying to spot Ba Sing Se through the thick fog. Jet suddenly joined him.
"You know, as soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were." Zuko tensed. "You're an outcast, like me and us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other's back. Because no one else will."
"I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path." Zuko stated calmly, thinking about his Uncle.
The two boys watched as the walls of Ba Sing Se finally came into view.
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Xena watched as Sokka entered the earth tent with a bowl of water. Because of her heat vision, she saw the spectacular moment of him fainting. She smiles slightly as Suki drags him out of the tent. Aang stares at him in shock. Several minutes later, after Sokka wakes up they hear the sound of a baby crying.
"It's a girl!" They hear Katara exclaim a moment later.
"So, you want to go see the baby, or are you going to faint like an old lady again?" Toph asked Sokka in amusement.
"No, no," Sokka said as he got to his feet. "I'm good this time."
Xena follows them into the tent and smiles as soon as she can see the baby.
"Aang," Katara says from the entrance. "You have to come see this."
Aang joins them a moment later.
"She sounds healthy," Toph commented when the baby cries softly.
"She's beautiful," Katara added.
"It's so…squishy looking," Sokka said staring at it.
Xena slaps the back of his head and glances over at Aang. A small smile forms on his face as he looks at the baby.
"What should we name her?" Than asks, looking down at his daughter.
"I want our daughter's name to be unique," Ying murmured thoughtfully. "I want it to mean something."
Aang wiped moisture from his face. "I've been going through a really hard time lately, but you've made me…hopeful again."
Ying smiled up at Aang then looked down at her baby. "I know the perfect name. Hope."
"That's a perfect name," Than said. "Hope."
Xena smiled. "This is what we're trying to protect."
Her friends nod in agreement.
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Katara and Aang talk a few feet away from the group. They hug and Xena leads the rest over to them when they pull back.
"I promise, I'll find Appa as fast as I can," Aang said, taking his staff from Xena. "I just really need to do this."
"See you in the big city." Sokka put a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Say hi to that big fuzz ball for me," Toph added with grin then punched Aang in the arm affectionately.
"You'll find him, Aang," She says, pulling him into a hug.
"I know. Thank you." Aang pulled back and snapped his glider open. "You ready, Momo?"
As soon as they were out of sight Suki walked over.
"Sokka, it's been really great to see you again," She said with a small smile.
Katara walks away, sensing that this is about to turn into a private conversation. Xena has to pull Toph away. They watch from a distance as they talk and Sokka suddenly interrupts Suki by kissing her. Xena smiles slightly at them. Everything finally seems to be getting back on track.
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