Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.
Rewrite of "The Puppetmaster" originally written by Tim Hedrick.
Hama and Katara walked through a field of fire lilies.
"Wow, these flowers are beautiful," said Katara.
"They're called fire lilies. They only bloom a few weeks a year, but they are one of my favorite things about living here. And like all plants, and all living things, they are filled with water," said Hama.
"I met a waterbender who lived in a swamp and could control the vines by bending the water inside," said Katara.
"You can take it even further," said Hama.
Hama waved her hand in a large circle and wrung the water out of the fire lilies, which made them dry and shriveled. Then she used the water to slice a rock in four pieces.
"That was incredible," said Katara in awe. Then she stared down at the fire lilies sadly. "It's a shame about the lilies though."
"They're just flowers. When you're a waterbender in a strange land, you do what you must to survive. Tonight, I'll teach you the ultimate technique of waterbending. It can only be done during a full moon, when your bending is at it's peak," said Hama.
"But isn't that dangerous? I thought people have been disappearing around here during the full moon," Katara replied.
"Oh, Katara. With two master waterbenders beneath a full moon? I don't think we have anything to worry about."
Katara and Hama walked toward the forest.
Meanwhile, Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko went to Old Man Ding's.
"Old Man Ding?" Aang called.
Old Man Ding glanced back behind him as he brought his hammer down on his thumb causing him to drop his hammer because of the pain.
"Eeh, yeow! Aw, dang nab it! What? Can't you see I'm busy? I got the full moon rising. And why does everyone call me that? I'm not that old," he replied. H crouched down to lift up a board but is too weak. Zuko lifted it up, "Aw...well, I'm young at heart." Zuko and Aang lifted the board to the window. "Not ready to get snapped up by some moon monster."
Sokka took a nail and hammer and nailed the board down. "We wanted to ask about that."
"Did you get a good look at the spirit that took you?" Aang asked.
"Didn't see no spirit. Just felt something come over me, like I was possessed. Forced me to start walking toward the mountain," said Ding, then he pointed to the mountain. "I tried to fight it, but I couldn't control my own limbs." He demonstrated. "It had me for what I thought would be my last glimpse of light. But then, the sun started to rise and I got control of myself again! I just high-tailed it away from the mountain as quick as I could!"
"Why would a spirit want to take people to a mountain?" Sokka asked.
"Like I said, maybe it's not a spirit," said Zuko.
"What could it be?" Aang asked Zuko.
"Well, firebenders rise with the sun, and waterbenders rise with the moon and are stronger with the full moon," said Zuko.*
"Oh no!" Toph startled Aang and Sokka. "I did hear people under the mountain. The missing villagers must still be there."
Toph and the gang sprinted through the woods. She put her hand to the ground.
"I can hear them. They're this way."
They ran to the mountain.
Hama and Katara were in the woods.
"Can you feel the power the full moon brings?" Hama inhaled deeply. "For generations, it has blessed waterbenders with its glow, allowing us to do incredible things," she said as her veins popped out while she flexed her hand. "I've never felt more alive."
Toph, Aang, Zuko and Sokka made their way to the foot of the mountain. They stood at the mouth of the cave.
"This is the place," said Toph.
"I can't see anything down there," said Sokka.
Zuko lit a fire in the palm of his hand, but it was still hard to see further in the cave.
Toph took Sokka's hand. "That's why you have me. Let's go."
Toph lead the the way. Zuko lit the way for the others. They came to a door and Toph broke it down. They entered and discovered dozens of men and women chained to the walls of the cave.
"We're saved," said a man.
They entered the chamber and Toph took off her bracelet and began unlocking each person's shackles.
"I didn't know spirits made prisons like this. Who brought you here?" Aang asked.
"It was no spirit," said a woman.
Zuko and Sokka exchanged looks.
"It was a witch," said another man.
"A witch? What do you mean?"
"She seems like a normal old woman, but she controls people like some dark puppetmaster," said a man.
"Hama!" Sokka said angrily.
"Yes, the inn keeper," the prisoner replied.
"I knew there was something creepy about her, and you were right Zuko. It wasn't a spirit; it was a waterbender," said Sokka.
"We have to stop Hama!" Aang said.
"I'll get these people out of here, you go," said Toph.
"I'll help," said Zuko. He used his foot to break the chains.
Sokka and Aang took a torch with them and left.
"What I'm about to show you, I discovered in that wretched Fire Nation prison. The guards were always careful to keep any water away from us. They piped in dry air and had us suspended away from the ground. Before giving us any water, they'd bind our hands and feet so we couldn't bend. Any sign of trouble would be met with cruel retribution. And yet each month, I felt the full moon enriching me with its energy. There had to be something I could do to escape. Then I realized that where there is life, there is water. The rats that scurried across the floor of my cage were nothing more than skins filled with liquid. And I passed years developing the skills that would I passed years developing the skills that would lead to my escape. Bloodbending. Controlling water in another's body," said Hama. Katara stared in horror. Hama continued, "Enforcing your will on their's. Once I mastered rats, I was ready for men...And during the next full moon, I walked free for the first time in decades. My cell unlocked by the very guards assigned to keep me in. Once you perfect this technique, you can control anything or anyone."
Katara said uneasily, "But, to reach inside someone and control them? I don't know if I want that kind of power."
"The choice is not yours. The power exists and it's your duty to use the gifts you've been given this power to win this war. Katara, they tried to wipe us out, our entire culture...your mother!" Hama said.
"I know," replied Katara.
"Then you should understand what I'm talking about. We're the last waterbenders of the Southern Water Tribe. We have to fight these people whenever we can. Whenever they are with any means necessary!"
"It's you! You're the one who's making people disappear during the full moons," Katara exclaimed.
"They threw me in prison to rot, along with my brothers and sisters. They deserve the same. You must carry on my work," said Hama.
"I won't! I won't use bloodbending, and I won't allow you to keep terrorizing this town," Katara said defiantly.
Katara pointed her finger at Hama, but Hama bloodbent her, which caused Katara's arms to twist to one side then the other and behind her back. Katara grabbed her arm and tried to stop it.
"You should have learned the technique before you turned against me," said Hama. She made Katara stand up straight and stiff. "It's impossible to fight your way out of my grip. I control every muscle, every vein in your body."
Hama used bloodbending to twist Katara's body around and threw her from side to side. Hama brought her hands down slowly, while she smiled sadistically. Katara was forced to her knees and she started to cry.
"Stop...please," Katara pleaded.
Hama laughed sinisterly. Katara cried and clenched her fists, and the grass around them shriveled and died. Katara lifted her eyes at Hama in anger. Hama's smile faded an her laughter ended, when Katara stood back up and took a deep breath and lifted her hands.
"You're not the only one who draw power from the moon. My bending is more powerful than yours Hama! Your technique is useless on me!" Katara exclaimed.
The two fought using waterbending. Hama was knocked down when Sokka and Aang arrived.
"We know what you've been doing, Hama!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Give it up, you're outnumbered," said Aang.
"No. You've outnumbered yourselves," said Hama. Hama raised both arms and bloodbent Aang and Sokka and flung them toward Katara. She dodged them and fought them.
"Katara look out! It's like my brain has a mind of its own," said Sokka.
Hama waved her arms to the side, as she controlled Sokka and made Katara back away. Katara extracted more water from the grass and knocked Sokka away with it. Aang was controlled next and forced to attack.
"This feels weird," said Aang.
Katara froze Aang to a tree.
"I'm sorry, Aang," said Katara.
"It's okay," said Aang.
Hama used bloodbending on Sokka to have him attack Katara with his sword. His face was full of fear. Katara froze him to a tree.
"Don't hurt your friends, Katara...and don't let them hurt each other," said Hama. She lowered her stance and brought her hands in and sent Sokka and Aang off the trees and toward each other. Sokka's sword was pointed to Aang. They both screamed in terror.
"No!" Katara shouted.
Sokka and Aang both stopped just before the sword could pierce the airbender. They stared at their hands realizing they had control again. They looked at Hama who stiffened and twitched, and was full of fear. Katara was bloodbending Hama. Katara was shocked at first, then she slowly brought her hand down and forced Hama on her knees. Hama struggled to get back up, when Toph, Zuko, and the prisoners arrived. The prisoners bound Hama's hands in shackles.
"You're going to be locked away forever," said a prisoner.
To prisoners started to lead Hama away.
"My work here is done," said Hama. She turned to Katara and said, "Congratulations Katara. You're a bloodbender."
Katara put her hand to her mouth and cried. Hama laughed evilly. The prisoners took Hama away and Katara dropped to her knees in front of Zuko. Zuko pulled her up against him and held her while she sobbed into his chest. Aang and Sokka put their hands on her shoulders. Toph approached.
"Let's get out of here," said Toph.
Zuko picked Katara up and they headed toward Appa and Momo.
Aang realized how important Zuko is to Katara and how helpless he was during the attack. He decided to regain his connection to the Avatar Spirit.
Zuko helped Katara onto the saddle. Sokka and Toph both got on. Aang got on Appa's head.
"Aren't you getting on?" Sokka asked Zuko.
"I've decided to find out what's going on," said Zuko.
Aang got off Appa's head.
"What do you mean?" Aang asked.
"I've given this a lot of thought and consideration. I'm going home," said Zuko.
"What?!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I won't put you in danger," said Zuko.
Aang eyed him suspiciously.
"I thought you changed," said Katara.
"I have, but I don't want to wait to face my father. It will be the only way to really know what's going on," said Zuko.
"That seems awfully risky. What if they think of you as a traitor?" Toph asked.
"I have a plan. Just trust me," Zuko replied.
"I don't know," said Aang, "but I do know I need to regain my connection to the Avatar State."
"Have you tried meditating?" Zuko asked Aang.
"No, not recently," said Aang. "I'll keep that in mind."
"We had better get a move on," said Sokka.
"Are sure that we can't change your mind?" Katara asked.
"I'm sure. It will help me find the answers I'm looking for," said Zuko.
"Well, we'd better go," said Aang as he got on Appa's head.
"I'll meet up with you later," said Zuko.
"Yip, yip," said Aang and they took off.
To Be Continued...