Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.
Based on "The Southern Raiders" originally by Elizabeth Welch Ehasz.
While Zuko and Katara traveled to Whale Tail Island, Aang continued training.
"I can believe Zuko left again," said Aang as he put on his blindfold.
"Quite your whining. You think this is fun for me?" Toph asked. "It's not like I want to make sure you're doing your fire fists and hot squats and firebending."
"Where are Sokka and Suki?" Aang asked.
"Probably off making out," said Toph as she earthbent at him.
He blocked it with earthbending and sent fire her way. She put up a wall to deflect the flames.
Meanwhile, Sokka was training Momo.
"Come on Momo, you can do it," said Sokka. Sokka gave the lemur a message and Momo flew to Suki and she read the message.
"Aw, that's so sweet," said Suki. She gave Momo an apple and a message for Sokka.
After Momo ate the apple he delivered the message to Sokka.
"Thanks Momo," said Sokka. Sokka smiled as he read what Suki wrote. "Borrowing you for a week has been nice. I'll treat you to moon peaches later."
Sokka walked off to look for the moon peaches and work on making a better necklace for Suki than the one of flowers.
A few days had passed since they left. Zuko was asleep in the saddle, then he woke up and looked up at Katara. Katara flew Appa all night and held the reins tightly with dark circles under her eyes.
"You should get some rest. We'll be there in a few hours. You'll need all your strength," said Zuko.
"Now, don't you worry about my strength. I have plenty. I'm not the helpless little girl I was when they came," said Katara defiantly. She continued, "I still remember that day. I went to find my mother. She was at home, but she wasn't alone. There was a man with her. She pleaded with him and he ordered me to leave. I was scared. Mom told me to find my dad. I ran as fast as I could. But, we were too late. When we got there, the man was gone." Her voice cracked slightly as she added, "And so was she."
"Your mother was a brave woman," said Zuko sorrowfully.
Katara touched her necklace and said, "I know."
They continued their flight on Appa to Whale Tail Island in silence. Zuko took over the reins while Katara slept in the saddle. Zuko looked through a telescope and spotted Sea Raven flags.
"There!" Zuko announced. Katara awoke and popped her head up from the saddle. "See those Sea Raven flags?" He threw the telescope to Katara. Katara looked through the telescope and saw a lone ship in the ocean and finally the Sea Raven flag. "It's The Southern Raiders."
Katara brought down the telescope and said, "Let's do this."
Appa went underwater and Katara bent an air bubble around his head as he swam under the boat, while the soldiers gossiped idly on the deck.
"So there I was and I was like, you know, you could..." said a soldier.
Katara waterbent a stream of water coils round the guard and the others looked on, stunned. He was pulled into the water with a scream. The other soldiers ran to the side of the ship to look. Appa swam up to the other side of the ship. Katara broke through the surface first, followed shortly by Appa and Zuko. Katara waterbent two huge waves on both sides of Appa and sent it toward the ship. One of the soldiers heard the noise and looked back. He grabbed a neighboring soldier's shoulder. The wave slowly closed in on the ship, and the soldiers got hit by the wave and were thrown into the flew onto the deck. A lone soldier managed to stay on deck and he stood up by holding the side of the ship. Appa landed noisily and he turned back. Katara charged forward. She had tears in her eyes. The soldier firebent and was thrown overboard into the ocean by a tunnel of water. The soldiers in the water watched as the last remaining soldier on deck entered the water.
The duo rushed in through a corridor of the ship. Katara has bent water around her arms. A door opened and a soldier brandishing a sword popped out. Zuko grabbed the soldier's arm and held onto the sword as he pushed the soldier back into the storeroom. The soldier landed on a pile of stuff. Zuko closed the door and slid the sword in between the handles. Katara waited for Zuko as they headed deeper into the corridor. They stop in front of a door.
"This is it, Katara. Are you ready to face him?" Zuko asked.
Katara pulled down her mask. Katara turned on the spot and bent the water toward the door with a battle cry. Water seeped through the sides and the door burst open to reveal Katara. Zuko entered the room quickly to dissipate some flames. The Captain continued firebending at Zuko to no avail. Zuko sent a shot at the Captain's feet and the Captain jumped back toward the steering wheel. The Captain stared down at the blast.
"Who are you?" The Captain asked.
Zuko remained in a stance and Katara looked on vehemently behind him. "You don't remember her? You will soon. Trust me."
Zuko firebent again. The Captain moved to the side and breaks the flame. He proceeded to bend. The Captain had his arm out stretched. His arm started to shake uncontrollably.
"What?" The Captain asked, as his arm moved around wildly. He struggled and groaned as he tried to contain it with his other arm. His arm dropped to the floor and his body bent forward. His helmet fell off his head. "What's happening to me?"
Katara was in a bloodbending stance and smiled. Katara brought down her arms and the Captain's body was brought to the floor. Zuko was shocked Katara used that narrowed his eyes and looked down at the Captain.
"Think back. Think back to your last raid on the Southern Water Tribe," said Zuko.
The Captain laid huddled on the floor and replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. Please, I don't know!"
Zuko knelt near the Captain's head. "Don't lie! You look her," he said as he pointed back to Katara, "in the eye and you tell me you don't remember what you did."
Katara brought her arms up. The Captain was brought up to his knees. He looked back, frightened. The anger in Katara's eyes were obvious. The Captain eyes shined in fear. The Captain's eye was light brown. Katara's face softened in realization.
Her eyes widened in shock. She said, "It's not him." Katara dropped her hands. The Captain fell back to the floor. Katara looked back, somberly. "He's not the man."
"What?! What do you mean he's not? He's a leader of The Southern Raiders!" Zuko replied. The Captain stirred behind him. "He has to be the guy!"
Katara turned and walked away. The Captain struggled to his feet. Zuko pulled him by the arm and pushed him against the window in an arm lock.
"If you're not the man we're looking for, who is?" Zuko asked him.
The Captain's face was pressed up against the glass as he replied, "You must be looking for Yon Rha. He retired 4 years ago."
Zuko turned his head to Katara. Katara's face became more determined as her eyes brimmed with tears.
To Be Continued...