Ch 19 the western air temple
No-one said a thing as they walked towards the western air temple. Aang said that they'd be safe there for a while. Olivier doubted that. If the fire nation found the temple before, nothing would stop them from sending those zeppelins after them.
"This is humiliating." Katara said.
"Getting thoroughly spanked by the fire nation, or walking to the western air temple?" Sokka asked.
"Both." Katara said.
Now that was something. Usually, Katara had a comeback to Sokka's sarcasm. The fact that she didn't showed just how much despair Katara was in.
The gang approached a cliff edge, and Toph announced they were here. Olivier looked over the ledge and saw only a steep cliff.
"Where is this temple?" Olivier asked.
Olivier was given her answer when Appa, carrying them flew downward and she saw the temple, inside the cliffside. It was hanging upside down.
Jumping off the bison, Olivier sat against a wall and fell asleep. She was exhausted after the invasion.
The gang discussed their new plan.
"So what's the new plan?" Aang asked.
"Our new plan, is the old plan. You just have to master all four elements and confront the fire lord before the comet comes." Sokka said.
Olivier shook her head. If they couldn't come up with a decent plant, they shouldn't come up with a plan at all. It would just get them all killed.
They were always counting on Aang. If they trained themselves to be stronger and better, they'd have a better chance of surviving. But like Olivier said, she no longer wanted to help them on any of their stupid quests. And this took the icing of the cake.
Where the hell where they gonna find a fire bending teacher that would teach Aang fire bending this late in the war? And they were already out of time.
Olivier heard footsteps and surmised the kids had left. Finally at peace, she contently slept.
After an hour Olivier heard another set of footprints. Looking up, she saw a teenager with scruffy hair, a nasty scar, and a pair of Dao swords.
Olivier looked into his eyes and saw no maliciousness. Taking a chance, she introduced herself.
"Olivier."
"Zuko."
"What you doing here?" Olivier asked.
"I wanted to join your group, and teach the avatar fire bending." Zuko said.
Olivier noticed how tense he was.
"Sure thing." Olivier said.
With nothing to do, the two waited in awkward silence. When the gang came back, Olivier stood up and put a hand on her sword, waiting to see what would happen.
"You're gonna love the all echo day chamber." Aang said.
"I think that's gonna have to wait." Toph said.
Appa moved and revealed Zuko and Olivier. Olivier only smirked as she saw their horrified faces. It looked like they'd seen the deepest parts of hell itself.
Who knew Sokka could turn purple?
"Hello. Zuko here."
Everyone immediately went into defensive stances.
"Olivier, come here! He's the son of the fire lord." Sokka said.
"Really?" Olivier asked, and looked at Zuko again. She quickly compared him to Azula. There was no way the two were related. At all.
"Olivier, he's Azula's brother!" Sokka shouted.
"I know that. But I almost killed Azula at the drill, remember? I can handle him." Olivier said.
"What are you doing here Zuko?" Katara asked.
"I know you're surprised to see me here-" Zuko started.
"Not really. Since you chased us all over the world." Sokka said.
"Look. Zuko here wants to join the family and teach Aang fire bending." Olivier put out.
"You wanna what now?"
"You can't possibly think any of us can trust you. How stupid do you think we are?" Katara asked.
"Yeah! All you'd ever done is hunt us down and try to capture Aang." Sokka added.
Olivier rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Guys, listen. We're out of time and ideas to fight this war. He's the fire lord's son. He said he wants to teach Aang fire bending. We need all the help we can get right now." Olivier said.
"Olivier, he's pure evil!"
"I don't know if you're on our side anymore!" Sokka howled.
Olivier walked up to Sokka, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"I would rather live with men, then kill them. Which is why you and your gang are still alive. I could have refused to come on this mission. Azula might have killed Aang at the drill, and then everyone else. I also could have deserted the group many times to fight the war on my own. None of you would have made it far against the fire nation elite. You don't know evil at all. I've seen some truly evil shit that would make the fire nation look like innocent toddlers." Olivier spat.
"Ask Toph. She'll know if he's lying or not." Olivier said, who went to pack up her things.
After a few seconds, Toph spoke.
"He's telling the truth."
"That's right, mother fuckers!" Olivier shouted.
"How the hell did she hear that?" Sokka asked.
But Zuko was forced to leave towards his camp. That night, Olivier and Toph went to him.
"Who's there?" Zuko asked.
"Me and Toph." Olivier said.
"Hey guys. Thanks for sticking out for me." Zuko said.
"Don't worry about it. They can be jerks sometimes." Toph said.
"Or they're fucking incompetent." Olivier spat.
"So you have an idea? You know for me to teach Aang fire bending?" Zuko asked.
"Not at the moment. It's rather sad that they're letting their personal feelings get in the way." Toph said.
"I have an idea. The three of us leave, and fight the war on our own. Those three don't know shit. Zuko comes here, and they conveniently forget that Aang needs a fire bending teacher. If they won't accept you, I suggest we leave them behind. I'd rather not associate myself with the living dead." Olivier spat.
"How'd you know I wasn't lying?" Zuko asked.
"I've been thru a lot. Been with a lot of fake good guys. You pick up real quickly who's the real deal, and who's not." Olivier said.
"I hate to break to you, but the three of us won't do much against the fire nation." Zuko said.
"We can handle ourselves a hell of a lot better than they can." Olivier said.
"No. We need to work with the Avatar. He's the only one who can end this war." Zuko said.
"Aang, Aang, Aang. It's always on him. What happens when he dies from exhaustion, or combat? Are all of you going to throw down your swords and surrender?" Olivier asked.
"Lets just get some sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning." Zuko said.
Olivier and Toph walked into the temple the next morning and Katara interrogated them.
"Where were you two?" She asked.
"Out." Toph curtly said.
"You visited Zuko, didn't you?" Katara asked.
"Yeah. What of it?" Olivier asked, walking away from the water bender.
Katara grabbed Olivier's shoulder and turned her around, only to receive a fist to the nose breaking it. Olivier grabbed Katara by the neck and lifted her up.
"Whatever problems you have with Zuko is in the past! Leave it alone. Have you forgotten that Aang needs a fire bending teacher?!" Olivier shouted.
They had no time to argue or fight, because combustion man suddenly attacked.
"Stop! The mission is over. I'm ordering you to stop!" Zuko shouted, attacking the combustion bender.
That caught everyone off guard.
"You say he's evil?" Olivier smirked, despite that they could die the next second.
"Whatever." Katara shrugged off.
"You're a bitch. You know that?" Olivier asked, even though combustion man continued to bomb them with combustion blasts.
After a few more attacks, Sokka pulled out his boomerang and threw it real hard. The weapon hit combustion man in the forhead, knocking him out.
"Allright, it worked!" Sokka said.
Combustion man gets up.
"Oh fuck. It didn't work!" Sokka replied.
Everyone hid and waited for the next blast. While an explosion was heard, it didn't hit them. Combustion man blew himself up, attempting to force the chi block aside.
Everyone looked in shock as they saw combustion man die. Olivier watched as they went into the courtyard, including Haru, Teo, and the Duke.
Where'd they come from?
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks, Zuko." Aang said.
"What about me, I did the boomerang thing." Sokka said.
Zuko spoke, ignoring Sokka.
"Listen, I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday, I've been through a lot in the last few years and it's been hard. But I'm realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow, my father could return it to me. But I know now that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what's right. All I want to do now is play my part in ending this war, and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world."
"I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher. When I first tried to learn firebending, I burned Katara, and after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But now I know you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love. I'd like you to teach me." Aang said, catching Olivier off guard.
Yesterday, he was bent on not having Zuko teach him. Being in a life-or-death scenario will change your mind real quickly.
"Thanks." Zuko said, bowing to Aang. "I'm so happy you've accepted me into your group."
"Not so fast." Aang said. "I still have to ask my friends if it's okay with them. Toph, what do you think?"
"Sure thing. It'll be nice to mess around with someone else in the group." Toph said.
"Olivier?" Aang asked.
"More the merrier. Maybe he'll teach you guys how to actually fend for yourself." Olivier replied.
"Sokka?" Aang asked.
"Hey, all I want is to defeat the Fire Lord. If you think this is the way to do it, then, I'm all for it." Sokka replied.
"Katara?" Aang asked.
Katara glared at Zuko before speaking. Aang watching the debacle, failed to notice Olivier slowly pulling out her sword.
"I'll go along with whatever you think is right." Katara said, grudgingly.
Olivier put her sword away, but kept an eye on Katara. It seemed like she was the threat everyone should look for, not Zuko. Sokka went thru the same shit she did, and he was more forgiving.
As Zuko got settled into his room, Katara went to talk to him. Olivier stayed outside and listened as Katara basically threatened Zuko. Olivier shook her head. She would try and sabotage Zuko from teaching Aang fire bending. It's fire bending for god's sake! Of course it'll be dangerous!
As Katara walked away, Olivier grabbed her and pinned her against a wall.
"You need to get your shit together, right now. If not, I'll take Aang and Zuko away from the temple and oversee the training myself. If you try to seek us out, I will kill you. Threatening Aang's new fire bending teacher isn't the best way to start things off. Do you want to end this war, or not?"
"Of course I do." Katara said.
"Then why are you acting like the fire lord himself?" Olivier spat, leaving Katara stunned.
Olivier left, brandishing her sword in the process.
Katara had serious problems. It could be what drives the group apart.