To The Edge Of The Earth
Chapter 3

He tried not to fidget too much as Generals and Aristocrats moved past him with practised ease, wine glasses in hand and sweeping robes and dresses trailing on the ground behind them. Aang has to clench his fist to stop his fingers from reaching up and pulling at the collar of his tunic. The stiff clasps and rigid laces had taken a lot longer to arrange around his body than he cared to admit. The saffron, orange and burgundy formal robes were definitely suiting of his position as The Avatar, but Aang felt ridiculous – he felt more comfortable in layers of shoulder wraps and short trousers than this get up. Aang had known that formal dinners and galas would become a regular part of his life as the Avatar and that he would be expected to enjoy himself but he knew he was going to find it difficult when he was just so uncomfortable.

The urge to pull at one of the clasps rose through his chest like an itch and he winced. Two noble women who had been strolling past him had given him a strange look as his expression had twitched. Aang sighed – no one had approached him in the last twenty minutes. He had happily chatted with Lu Ten when he had arrived and had moved on to politely ask Lord Bei Fong about his health. He wasn't sure if people were avoiding him because he was the Avatar or if it was because he was horrendously awkward.

Sokka stalked through the crowd, smiling at Aang as he passed and throwing a wave over his shoulder as he made his way to the Northern Tribe's delegates. Aang glanced back towards the direction Sokka had came from, hoping his new friend's father would make an appearance and perhaps take pity on him. He wasn't sure whether to be pleased or distressed that it was Katara who appeared from the throng of people, a pale blue silk dress wrapped around her frame for the party. Her eyes caught his and she seemed to stop for a moment, an internal debate raging, before heading in his direction.

"You don't seem to be enjoying this at all," she said, stopping only a few steps away from him.

"This wasn't my favourite part of the Lotus' training," Aang answered honestly, the wine glass clutched tightly in his hand. He gave Katara a weak smile, tipping the glass towards her own. "You must be used to it though."

"Oh?" She quirked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged in reply. She laughed and it was music to his ears. "We don't really go in for this sort of stuff at home. Parties in the South Pole are more feasts and music and less small talk and gossiping. Less fancy dresses too."

"Sounds familiar," Aang replied, sipping from his glass. They stood in an awkward silence, both unsure where to look. He covertly stole a long look up the length of her body, noticing the subtle silver embroidery over the hem of her dress and on the navy blue obi around her waist. "You look lovely by the way, Princess Katara. Just great."

"Thank you," Katara answered graciously. If it hadn't been for the pretty flush blooming along her cheeks and the way her eyes hadn't been able to meet his as she uttered her replied, Aang would have thought that the Southern Princess received such compliments on a regular basis. She cleared her throat and her eyes darted around the room for a moment. "I'm normally quite unpopular at these events, as you can imagine, but it seems that you've usurped my position. Why does no one want to talk to you, Avatar Aang?"

"Because I'm just a stupid kid," he replied evenly, trying to avoid her penetrating blue gaze. She laughed and he looked up, raising his eyebrows. "What?"

"That just wasn't the answer I was expecting," Katara explained as she continued to stare at him. Her gaze was heavy and concentrated, as though she was trying to read him like a difficult to comprehend book. A small smile curved her mouth. "I guess you were pretty serious about proving my opinion on you as being wrong, huh?"

"Right now it's just a bonus," Aang answered with a shrug. He looked back out towards the room, trying to ignore the few pointed stares being thrown his way by a certain Fire Nation General. "What were you expecting me to say? That no one wants to talk to me because they're in awe of my immense power."

"Maybe," she offered sheepishly. Her own delicate shoulders rolled into a shrug when he gave her a wounded look. "Or perhaps that you would bend them into dust with an awesome display of the four elements simultaneously."

"Well… that's my party trick for later ruined," Aang replied with a straight face. Katara stared at him for a moment, disbelief flashing across her features before she laughed again. Aang struggled to push the heat of embarrassment from his face as Iroh definitely sent him a thumbs up from across the room.

The music changed, the large band striking up a more upbeat tempo. Generals around the room placated their wives, lacing their hands together to pull them to the dance floor. Aang glanced at Katara warily, watching her brows furrow as she became overly interested in her glass.

He coughed, a hand coming up to rub nervously at his throat before he turned to Katara with his other hand outstretched. "Would you like to... uh... dance?"

Her eyes darted between his outstretched and his own nervous gaze. Over the Avatar's shoulder she could see a number of other couples whirling around the dance floor, her own brother and an unrecognisable Toph included (though it looked as though Sokka was limping painfully).

"I – uh – I'm not sure, I don't really – this dress isn't really-"

"Oh, okay, never mind, it was stupid to ask and-"

"But if you really want to, I guess," Katara looked up from the depths of her wine glass and worried her lower lip between her teeth, a flush of embarrassment colouring her cheeks. "I mean, I've never really danced at one of these things since I'm not very popular and-"

"Then I suppose tonight will be a first for both of us," Aang replied, reaching out for her glass and placing both drinks on to the tray of a passing waiter. He turned to face her and held out his hand again, a sheepish smile on his face. Katara paused, her lips pursed, and Aang was sure for a moment that she had changed her mind and was about to politely decline his company.

But she surprised him. Her pout melted into a small smile – a shy smile, one which did not match the attitude that she had previous shown to him. Katara's hand was tiny compared to his own, Aang mused as it rested in his palm. Her skin was surprisingly smooth and soft and for a fleeting moment he wondered what she thought about the rough and calloused skin of his own hands. As quickly as the thought had crossed his mind, Aang shook it off and wrapped his fingers around Katara. He pulled her closer as he led her to the space of the dance floor, rolling his eyes as they passed Toph and Sokka who was most definitely limping.

As he turned towards Katara there was a flash of fear – he had danced before, the ghastly old men who had been training him since his sixteenth birthday had made sure he knew exactly how to behave in high society. But this was the first time he was dancing with a woman, and not one of the Sages who thankfully would ignore his blazing cheeks as he corrected the Airbender's posture.

Though Katara had claimed that banquets in the Southern Water Tribe were nothing like this extravagant affair she seemed to know exactly where her hand should rest on his shoulder and how high the other should grasp Aang's own. He easily fell into the waltz that the rest of the couples (save perhaps Sokka and Toph) were doing on the polished dance floor, leading Katara around in time to the music.

"I must admit," Katara started quietly, so only he could hear her words, "that I didn't think you would want to talk to me tonight. I've not been very pleasant to you."

"That doesn't sound like much of an apology," Aang joked, raising an eyebrow as they locked gazes.

"It's not," she replied. Their conversation stopped for a moment as Katara spun away from him. Aang's responding tug pulled her close to his chest – much closer than they had been only seconds before – and they both froze. Katara took half a step back, dropping her hands from where they had been pressed against the hard plane of his chest and cleared her throat as Aang stuttered to find their rhythm again. She had been surprised by the intense heat that had soaked through his robes. "I mean, I'm still not convinced that you're not going to be like Pakku or Wang before long. You're young – these men are going to warp you before long, especially if you don't want to be eaten alive at these meetings."

The song ended and they pulled away from each other, carefully bowing as etiquette required. The band rested for a few moments before striking up the next song. Aang held out his hand again and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not going to be one of those men, but guess I'll just have to convince you otherwise."

"I don't think you have the time for that, Avatar Aang," Katara replied, twirling under his arm. "There are only a few days of meetings left and then I'll be heading back to the Southern Water Tribe. It could be a very long time before we cross paths again."

"We'll just have to wait and see."

…

The meeting the morning following the gala was subdued to say the least.

Most of the Council members were slightly worse for wear and the first few hours of discussions had passed painfully slowly. Eventually a mid-morning recess had been called and everyone had bustled off to gulp in the fresh air to try and rejuvenate themselves. The rest of the morning had been reserved to discuss some minute detail about the Ba Sing Se train efficiency that had let most of the delegation zone out of thankfully.

In the middle of a long rant about the lateness of the morning trains, a rumble cut General Wang off mid-word. Had the ground not started to shake those assembled may have written it off as a change of weather beyond the walls of the hall. Glasses of water and pots of ink rattled off each other as the shaking became more severe, the loud rumbling growing closer.

Aang frowned as he looked around the others assembled. King Kuei looked like he was about to soil himself and the Avatar managed to restrain a sigh of contempt. Chief Arnook and Hahn seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes. He locked eyes with Sokka and shrugged, as he tried to feel something through the stone floor using his feet.

The air went still for a moment, a deep silence descending over the palace. Aang leaned over and pressed a palm flat onto the ground, hoping an extra point of contact would enhance his seismic sense. Something just didn't feel right.

There was a minute movement – so small that Aang was sure he wouldn't have felt it if he had been breathing in that moment. A movement so small, but so dangerous. For barely a second Aang froze, his shoulders tensing.

"Everybody get down! Now!" Aang leapt from his seat, using the currents of the air to propel himself to the back wall furthest from the door. Not waiting to check if the assembled council had followed his instructions, he planted his feet and jerked his hands up, a huge slab of Earth rising up as a layer of defence as a huge explosion of lightning wracked through the wall.

The ground shook and the remaining portion of walls on either side began to crumble. Aang heard yells as people moved around the room, some of the more capable Earthbenders creating support columns for the weak walls. There was a moment of stillness before the intense wave of heat barrelled through the destroyed brick and stone.

He lost count of how many Firebenders appeared in the confusion – there could have been a hundred for the amount of fire and smoke that rose about him. There was a maelstrom of bending all around him as those who were brave enough in the Council jumped to their feet to defend from the oncoming attack.

Glass shattered and rubble fell from the walls and roof as a battle raged around him. He could feel a stinging at the edge of his consciousness as he turned from the hastily risen defensive wall and came face to face with a smirking Firebender.

"I never thought it would be me who got the chance to cut down the Avatar," he cried gleefully, pulling his hands up into an attacking Firebending stance, flames licking at his skin. "Dreams do come true!"

The Firebending lashed an arm out and Aang ducked, the heat of the flame sucking moisture out the air. Aang retaliated, slamming a fist into the ground and knocking his opponent from his feet with a ripple through the groun. He kicked out as he jumped to his feet, a blast of air stopping the Firebender from getting up. A clenched fist drew rock from the ground and trapped the Firebender on the ground, his hands and legs bound to stop him from sending another wave of fire at Aang.

Aang turned and surveyed the rest of the room, thankful that so many of the Earth Kingdom delegates had served in the military – they had a majority of the room under control. Their only struggle was the damage the numerous fires were causing; wooden beams and panels were falling from the ceiling. With a sweeping gesture, Aang pulled as much water as he could sense in the room under his command, extinguishing as many of the fires as he could in quick succession.

He cried out at a sudden searing pain in his right arm, the smell of burning fabric – and to his horror – burning flesh reaching his nose as he dropped the water in his command and spun to see a crouching female Firebender. Her face was emotionless.

"Princess Azula sends her regards," she said, her voice dry and even as she pulled her arm back, readying another hot blast.

Aang lashed out before she could – he could feel a sharp nudge at the edge of his consciousness and he reacted before he was pulled under the control of the Avatar State. His Airbending threw the woman backwards, her body hitting the crumbling wall of the room at an incredible speed and bringing more of it down on top of her. Pain clouded Aang's mind as he peered at her and for a heart clenching moment he feared that he had killed her before he saw the subtle rise and fall of her chest. He clenched his left fist and stomped his foot at the same time, bending the debris to encase the woman much like he had with the first Firebender.

He saw another Firebender out of the corner of his eye and didn't hesitate before entombing the man up to his neck in rock. There was near silence in the hall as he turned once again to survey fight, he winced as pain seared down his right arm and finally dare to look at the mess the Firebender's flame had left.

"They've attacked the rest of the palace!" A guard had finally worked his way into the room, his tunic burned in places and dirt smudging his face. "We need help!"

All thoughts of his damaged arm left his mind as he turned and propelled himself across the hall towards the guard.

…

Sokka found him an hour or so later as he raised support columns in the main entrance of the palace. With a grim smile the Water Tribe Prince clapped a hand on his shoulder, asking him to follow him.

"We have a majority of the Firebenders in cells already," Sokka explained as he led Aang through the now destroyed palace hallways. They carefully picked their way through rubble, Aang extinguishing a few still burning fires with a wave of his hand. "We'll be taking them to interrogation soon but unfortunately it wasn't the entire group. Estimates from palace guards say that around a dozen of the attacking men and women managed to flee."

"This is a disaster," Aang replied, rubbing the hand of his good arm over his face. Sokka nodded before turning into one of the large banquet halls that had remained intact and had now became the command centre.

A majority of the Council, palace guests and palace staff were in the room. Most appeared physically unharmed though there were more than a few women and children crying. Sokka led Aang through the quiet crowd to an area cordoned off by curtains. The Avatar stopped in his tracks as he pushed the curtain aside, nearly dropping to his knees at the site.

The curtain had been hiding a small infirmary. Some of the Earth Kingdom Generals that Aang had only met in passing were lying on makeshift cots, bloodied up but alright otherwise. It was the sight of the Fire Nation Royal family that had caused his stomach to lurch and his breath to catch in his throat.

Prince Ozai was clearly dead. His already pale skin had turned an ashy grey in tone and there was a large rip in his tunic. The skin Aang could see through the frayed fabric was a sickening black. Lu Ten was in the cot next to him and looked no better. Taking a step closer Aang prayed to the Spirits, willing to see his friend's chest rise and fall. He held his breath, waiting in agonising silence. The sob of anguish caught in his throat as he realised that Lu Ten was also dead.

He turned, fearing the worst when he caught sight of Iroh's snowy hair on a cot a few steps over. His breath caught in his throat as he watched Katara move her hands over Iroh's body, the faint glow of healing chi coating their length. She was covered in dirt and soot, her dress ripped in a few places and hair pulled into a messy knot at the base of her skull. Aang took an unsteady step forward, watching as Iroh's chest rose with a rattling breath.

"Is he...?"

Katara glanced over her shoulder, rubbing her cheek absentmindedly against the fabric to try and stop the blood trickling from a small cut near her temple. She shook her head. "He's not dead."

"It was very clear who they were looking for," Hakoda stepped over to Aang, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder and guiding him to Iroh slowly. "Arnook and Hahn are also dead. Pakku remained largely unscathed and the White Lotus are planning to move him and Princess Yue to a safe location – though the Princess wants to return to her mother in the north so they may have some difficultly."

"But then what about them?" Aang gestured towards the two dead Princes, his eyes glued on the large burn across Iroh's chest as Katara continued to push healing water into his skin. "Why would their own people do this? Why are they..."

"The leader went straight for the Royal Family," Hakoda explained, he rubbed a hand over his face and Aang noticed how tired the man looked all of a sudden. "Two of the flunkies attacked the Northern Tribe and then another two targeted us."

"Spirits, are you okay?" Aang gasped, his eyes darting from the gruesome wound to scan over the Chief quickly. "I didn't even think, I had to-"

"We're fine, Aang," Hakoda reassured him with a small smile. "As if a couple of skinny Firebenders are a match for my son and me. I've eaten polar dogs bigger than them for breakfast."

"Gross," Katara sighed out, kneeling back onto her heels and letting the water she had been bending slosh to the floor. She turned to her father and Aang with a heavy stare. "There's nothing else I can do now – I've healed as much of the tissue as I can but I'm not sure how long it'll be before he's back on his feet."

"You've done well Sweetheart," Hakoda held his hand out to his daughter and hefted her to her feet, tucking her into the crook of his arm. She buried her face into his broad chest and sighed. Sokka gave his sister a sad look before turning to their father. "We're not one hundred percent sure but we think this was a coordinated attack."

"From what we've managed to get out of the Firebenders so far, or at least gotten from their bragging, there may have also been attacks in the Palace in the Fire Nation and both Water Tribes," Sokka continued, giving Aang a pained look. He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "But we'll need to complete the interrogations before we have more information."

Aang nodded before moving to crouch at Iroh's cot. He heard the three Southern Tribal members move away behind him, the two men murmuring quietly about plans for questioning the attackers. He stared at the pale face of one of his greatest friends, his heart heavy at the sight of the usually lively General so still and quiet.

During the hard parts of his training when he was sure that he couldn't live up to the expectations everyone placed on his shoulders, Aang had always sought out Iroh. The aging man was more like an Uncle to him than a teacher or an elder and could be counted on to provide a good cup of tea and an ear that would listen with a silent understanding for as long as Aang cared to talk. His advice had always been helpful and the Airbender was willing to bet one hundred gold pieces that he wouldn't be the man he was today without Iroh's help.

He reached out and grasped the dry hand of the injured General. There was nothing he wanted more than to be able to ask Iroh what he should do. It was with this thought that Aang bowed his head, his shoulders shaking as he tried to stop the silent tears.