Samurai Jack shout out in this chapter. See if you can spot it.
"Good day, children. How does it find you?"
"How do you think, old man? We're stuck in a cell surrounded by Fire Nation murderers!"
"I am sorry to hear that young man. However, I do take offense to the concept of Fire Nation Murderers. There are killers on other sides as well."
"Killers in self-defense! We didn't start the war! We didn't come to your shores!"
Iroh opened his mouth in response but stopped. He knew they were right. He had seen the error of his ways. If it were up to him, he would never have taken them. Unfortunately, he wasn't in charge. This wasn't his mission.
"Uncle, have they said anything useful?"
Speak of the devil.
"I am not interrogating them Zuko. We have nothing to learn from them, and no need to keep them here. Why don't we let them go?"
"They're water tribe peasants! What do they have to go back to? This is an improvement for them I'm sure."
"I may be a peasant, but I'm still more manly than you in every way!" Sokka shouted back.
"You question my manliness? I am prince Zuko! Heir to the Fire Nation! Soon to be capturer of the Avatar! You're just a savage from an ice shelf!"
"You ever tried living on an ice shelf? You wouldn't…. wait. Prince? As in the son of the fire lord?"
"That's right peasant! You address royalty! Grovel and beg for mercy!"
"If you're the prince, what are you doing out here associating with us savages? Why aren't you in your fancy palace?"
Zuko was silent for a moment. "I…. my father sent me on an important mission. I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"You're right pal, I don't understand. I don't understand how the fire lord could trust an important mission to a dweeb like you."
"Be quiet…"
"I mean seriously, look at you! Acting so high and mighty with that ridiculous ponytail! And how'd you get that scar? Daddy burn you by accident or something?"
Zuko's face went white as a sheet, before he turned around and ran out of the room. Sokka could have sworn he saw tears on his face. But that's ridiculous. Monsters don't cry.
Iroh looked at the siblings with a frustrated expression before walking out of the room.
"Boy that sent him packing. See that Katara? That's how men talk!"
Katara had been silent through this exchange, barely listening to the boy's ridiculous chest-thumping. She mostly stared out the window in their cell at the sea rocking the big metal ship they found themselves trapped within.
"Hey Katara. Hang in there ok? We'll get out of here, I swear it."
"And how do you propose we do that? Do you see a key anywhere?"
"I'll think of something. I always do. Just give me some time, ok?"
Katara didn't look convinced, so Sokka placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Hey come on. What happened to your hope? Talks of the future? We've made it this long, haven't we? Just hold on."
Katara gave reluctant smile, though her heart was not very hopeful right now. She looked back out the window, longing for home.
"You remember what tomorrow is Sokka?"
"Uh…. No."
She sighed. "I told you this morning! You never listen!"
"Hey I'm a busy guy! I can't keep track of everything! So, uh…. Please remind me?"
"The summer solstice."
"Oh!... Wait. What is that?"
…
"What do you mean you don't like it?"
Frisk blew another puff of smoke and bent it to form the words. "It's not cool."
"Not cool!? Not. Cool!? Look again! Look!" Aang spun the top around on his hand and looked once more to his companion with bated breath.
She bent the smoke to say one word. "No."
"How can you not think that's cool? It's like the coolest thing in the world! Gah! You're hopeless!" Aang threw his hands up in exasperation. "I suppose you think what you're doing is cool? Smoking dog residue?"
She smiled and nodded. "It gets you high."
"You're an airbender! You don't need a bong to soar!"
Frisk chuckled at her friend's naivete. How did this kid get picked for something as important as the Avatar?
They settled down for the night on a hill overlooking a small town. The town lay on a small island on the outskirts of the Fire Nation. After this, they had to fly straight for a few days until they could let Appa rest on the remains of the Southern Air temple which had crashed into the ocean somewhere between the Fire Nation and Southern Water Tribe.
"Oh, poor Appa," Aang cooed as he stroked his friend's head. "He's not going to like flying across all that water. Maybe we'll get lucky and find a ship to let you lay on. What do you think Frisk? Frisk, are you ok?"
Frisk was lying partially on her side, staring blankly up at the stars. Her gaze suggested she was in another world. She didn't even respond when the dog Momo licked her.
"I told you not to smoke that stuff! We've got a big flight ahead of us tomorrow and you're sniffing dog droppings!" Aang was annoyed but fit her with a pillow and blanket they had taken from the temple. Frisk looked at Momo groggily and made weird kissing noises before she flopped asleep.
"Serves you right you oaf. Thought you were the big one here." Aang smiled shaking his head. He made ready to lay down himself when he heard screams rising from the town below. Aang rushed over peer down but in the darkness couldn't make anything out.
He bit his lip. This was Fire Nation territory, home of the people who had destroyed his own. But then he remembered Gyatso's (admittedly annoying) words about the Avatar and balance and all that.
"Damn it old man. Guess you rubbed off on me. Momo watch over Appa and Frisk. I'm going to check it out."
Momo was crawling all over Frisk, trying to wake her up, apparently to no luck. She was after all, high.
…
Aang flew down to the edge of the village. In the darkness, he wasn't worried about being seen. When he touched down, he creeped up to the nearest house. Before he could assess the situation, a face popped out and looked at him in shock.
"What are you doing out here? Get inside now!"
"Oh hi! I'm uh… uh."
Before he could decide on a fake name, the woman grabbed his arm and pulled him into the house. He heard something whizz past him at a fast speed. He couldn't see what though.
"What do you think you- Wait. I don't recognize you."
"Yeah, well. I'm not from around here."
"I'll bet. What's with that getup? And what were you thinking? Painting these ghastly tattoos?" She rubbed his head harshly, almost as if she were trying to scrub them off.
Aang had one of his urges to smack someone. But remembering his training, he politely pulled away.
"Look, I'm here with my…. Sister. We were headed east to… fish. We just thought we'd stay for the night."
"East? That's the boundary of Fire Nation territory! There's nothing but war and savages out there!"
He gave her an odd look and was about to correct her before someone else stuck his head around the corner.
"Merebeth, who's this? And where did he learn to dress like that?"
"That's what I was saying! Your mother must have been mad, letting you run around like that!"
"I… never knew my mother ma'am."
"Well, it certainly shows! Kids these days! I swear…."
She never got to finish her sentence as something came whizzing through the window, hitting the man in his shoulder.
"Gabe!" The woman grabbed the man and dragged him into the other room as another object came whizzing and just missed her. Aang crouched down and followed her into the other room, not stopping to check.
"Daddy! Are you ok?" A little girl rushed over to help her father. "Mommy, what happened?"
"He's hurt sweetie. Quickly, go get the bandages and tweezers."
"Who's he mommy? And what's he wearing? He looks funny!"
"Never mind him, ok? Go get the things, quickly!"
The girl reluctantly turned away from Aang and rushed to get the supplies. He just stood there taking in all the madness going on around him.
"Hey! Fisher boy! Or whatever you are! A little help?"
Aang snapped out of his funk and rushed to aid. The sight of blood made him a little queasy. Not that he hadn't seen it before of course. He knew it all too well.
"Good job sweetie. Just hand the tweezers over."
"Allow me," Aang said, moving to wrap the wound.
"Not yet. I need to get it out. Stand aside." Aang complied and found the girl staring at him again.
"What are you? You look like a monster!"
Aang stared at her bewildered.
"How on Earth could you look at me and think of a monster?"
"Because you look really weird! You don't look like us!"
"Kid take it from me. Appearances can be deceiving."
"I don't know," the mother talked over her shoulder. "You seem pretty fragile to me."
The old Aang would have lashed out possibly with violence. But this was the new Aang, so he tried the pacifist method.
"I thought this was a peaceful island. What's going on here?"
Almost in response, more screams were heard outside. The mother looked about in fear then towards the Airbender.
"This unfortunately is the summer solstice."
Aang's eyes widened with glee. "The summer solstice! I didn't realize I'd woken up so close to that time! It's my favorite time of the year, along with the winter solstice, when the human and spirit worlds intersect! I remember when…." In his eager recollection of the past, he had overlooked the other people's apparent fear and distress.
Some Avatar I am, he thought to himself.
"While I'm glad you enjoy this time of year, it's no holiday for us. During both those times, every year for many years now, we have been haunted by a spirit of incredible sadism and cruelty. It torments us, destroys our crops, kills our inhabitants, laughing at our expense! We've tried to kill it, but we're mere villagers! What chance have we? Maybe if we had some troops, but the Fire Lord refuses. I suppose he's right to refuse. After all, it's not like we matter…."
At this, she broke down sobbing. The girl rushed to hug her mother. And while she held back the tears, she too was shaking.
Aang took a look at the people who had mocked him for his clothing, taking in their grief, their despair. And suddenly his fear was replaced with determination.
"Well I think you matter. I may not be a soldier, but I'm the next best thing." Aang turned and made his way to the door."
The woman looked at him with shock. "Do you have a death wish? Get back here you fool!"
But Aang continued on, not entirely thinking rationally perhaps. But damn it he was the Avatar! This was his job!
He stepped outside looking both ways then proceed towards the center of the village. He could see people looking out through the windows at him. Their expressions baffled.
"Who's the new kid?"
"I don't recognize him!"
"I think it's a girl!"
"Wow what a freak! He dresses worse than Scaramouche the Merciless!"
Aang ignored them and walked forward. Not like he knew who Scaramouche was anyway.
Strangely, there were no shots fired at him while he walked forward. He stepped into the town square and looked all around.
"Spirit! Come forward! The embodiment of harmony would have words with you!"
"Wow, nice. Did you just pull that out of your bum or what?"
Aang turned around, his staff raised ready to fight. But to his surprise he found nothing.
"Show yourself spirit! Don't make me angry! You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!" His voice was firm, but inside he was shaking.
"Down here genius!"
Aang complied and looking down found to his surprise…
"A… flower?"
"Not just any flower! I'm Flowey the flower! Nice to metcha!"
Aang just stared. Even in a life filled with flying bisons, floating cities, and a century spent in ice, this was something new.
"Why the surprise? You must be new to the village. I haven't seen you before. Say…." The flower looked closer frowning.
"What gives buddy? Don't you know it's disrespectful to steal from other cultures?"
"Uh… pardon?"
"Hello? Those are Airbender tattoos! Those belong to a dead race! You're disrespecting them by wearing them? Didn't your papa teach you better?"
Aang's blood pressure instantly went up. His face went red.
"My… father….. was the worst father in the history of fathers…."
The flower's face took on a more somber expression.
"Hey I didn't mean to upset you there buddy! I'm just saying you should respect the dead you know?"
"Respect…. The dead?"
"Golly, you seem so confused. Someone ought to help you relax. Here's some love!"
Several little white objects arose from the ground and hovered in the air.
"These are "friendliness pellets." That's how spirits share love. Here, catch!"
Aang was still focused on his painful memories and not in his game phase. Hence, he was not quick enough when one of the "friendliness pellets" soared at him and right into his shoulder.
He screamed in pain and fell over. Gritting his teeth, he looked up at the flower who was now grinning menacingly.
"You idiot. In this world it's kill or be killed. Why would anyone pass up an opportunity like this?"
A multitude of pellets then rose into the air and the flower started laughing with glee.
"And by the way. Those fake tattoos? They totally blow. Now DIE."
As it looked over for Aang, he heard a bark followed by Momo flying at the evil plant. The flower was totally taken by surprise and launched the pellets at the dog who dodged them with surprising skill.
"A flying dog? What the deuce? And I'm a talking flower!"
As the dog performed target practice, the woman from the house rushed out and pulled Aang's arm around her shoulder.
"Stupid kid! Relying on a dog to save you! Come on! Get up!"
Aang obliged, struggling to his feet and running with the woman as fast as they could. Momo followed them behind while the flower, now clearly annoyed launched more pellets.
The woman shrieked as she got one in the leg and tumbled to the ground. The two almost went down until another villager grabbed their hands.
"Get inside quick, both of you and your…. Flying dog?"
Momo barked in response and flew in with them just in time to avoid another hail of "friendliness pellets."
Great job so far thought Aang as he collapsed on the floor
…
"Guards! Guards get in here quick! My sister is choking!"
The guy called Iroh walked in to see Katara making odd choking noises and lying on the ground. He looked at her for sometime then looked to Sokka unimpressively.
"Please do not test my intelligence young man. I have been in the field long enough to tell an enemy faking injury to let me get close."
The two siblings looked at each other. Katara then sighed and rose up from her fake position.
"Look, you seem like a reasonable guy. Why can't you let us go? You must know we don't have anything useful to give."
"I know, but it's not my call to give orders. That is up to the prince."
"That wacko with the scar? Isn't he your nephew? Can't you talk to him?"
"I've tried but my nephew inherits his family's stubbornness."
Katara finally spoke up. "What will happen to us?"
"I wouldn't worry too much. Zuko is merely relishing over the fact he has something to show for his banishment. When he realizes you have nothing to offer, I think he will he more susceptible to releasing you."
"You expect us to trust the brother of the Fire Lord himself?"
"Maybe if I provided some tea?" Iroh smiled.
Katara looked long and hard. "You're a strange guy. Not at all how I pictured someone from the Fire Nation."
"Keep an open mind my dear. It will serve you better than weapons. Well, if you change your mind about the tea." The old man then left.
"Sheesh, we agree on that at least Katara. What a freak!"
"We can't trust him. He's probably trying to manipulate us with kindness. We need to get out of here, before they have their way with us. We need help."
"Help….. need….. help?"
The siblings turned in shock to the window to find a massive creature with twinkling eyes smiling in on them.
"Crap!" Sokka jumped back in surprise. "It's happening! The squid is back to avenge its brethren we caught!"
"Squid?... I'm not a squid… I'm Onionsan! Onionsan, y' hear!"
The siblings stared in shock, unable to make sense of what was happening. Here they were, imprisoned on a ship miles from home, chatting to a giant talking octopus.
"What…. Are… you?" Katara found herself talking like the octopus.
"Visiting from the spirit world, huh! It's great here huh! You love cages, huh!"
"What…. I…. No, you giant sack of kalamari! We're prisoners!"
"Sounds neat huh! Me too! I'm like, a prisoner of the spirit world, huh! Except around this time, huh! It's a madhouse, y' hear! A madhouse, y' hear!"
"Stop talking!"
"I'm gonna get out of there permanently someday, and live here in the ocean, y' hear! I'm gonna be all up in this b*ch y' hear!"
"Stop!"
"What's all this commotion?" Zuko came running in. "You're prisoners! You should only be screaming under torture!"
"Onionsan here, huh! Golly, that's quite a mark there, huh! You drop some jam on your face, huh!"
Zuko just stared, his expression unreadable, before slowly backing up out of the room, without a word.
"Wow, you actually shut him up. Not bad squid face."
"I'm the best y' hear! The best y' hear!"
"The best?" Sokka thought hard for a moment. "Nah, I don't buy it."
"You don't buy it, huh!"
"I don't, huh! Because if you were the best, you'd be able to break us out of here and take us far away from here, y' hear!"
The octopus' cringe-inducing friendly smile was replaced by a look of determination.
"A challenge, huh!
…
Aang was having his own brand of trouble. He found himself standing in the village abandoned, save for the monster floating and staring at him.
"A dragon!?That's awesome! I haven't seen one of you since…. Well that thing with Kuzon! I mean, you probably wouldn't like that but…"
He leaped back in surprise as the dragon landed in front of him. He took a fighting stance, preparing for battle. But instead the dragon kneeled down before him.
"You.. you want me to climb on? Are you still mad ab- Oh wait. You're probably not the same dragon, huh?"
The dragon continued to look expectantly at Aang, who eventually relented and climbed on.
"Ok, dragon…. Yip-yip?"
He yelped in surprise as the dragon responded and took off into the sky. He found it hard to be excited as it was much harder to hang on than Appa. No fur to grab onto.
"Woah, easy boy! Or girl! Where are we going?"
Turns out they were flying toward a great temple by the ocean. Aang's senses immediately flared up. This was familiar territory.
The dragon settled down within the temple before a great statue of a man. Aang squinted for a minute trying to remember where he had seen the familiar visage.
"Wait, I've seen this statue before….!"
At that moment, he was assaulted by visions of fire and something great streaming through the sky.
"Think he's dead?"
"Stupid kid. I say we pick his pockets."
"Already checked. He's got nothing."
"Where would he put his stuff anyway? This outfit has no pockets!"
"Such horrendous coloring to! What kind of parent lets their child go strolling through the fire nation dressed like this?"
"Not a very good one I reckon. His daddy should be a little more forceful with him."
Aang was drifting in and out consciousness, until he heard someone suggest that. At which point, he opened his eyes with rage and reached for the man's throat.
"Gack! Leggo, leggo!"
"Agni! Pull him away!"
Aang quickly realized what he was doing and pulled back. The man who had insulted him pulled back, eyes wide.
Deep breaths, thought Aang. Deep breaths. It's what Gyatso would want.
"Damn kid…. Should have left you with the flower."
Aang slowly got on his feet. His shoulder was bandaged up, but still hurt.
"I was just... trying to help. Sorry you don't like being helped…."
"You're not helping if you just run out into danger without a plan! It's like you want to end up like Scaramouche the Merciless!"
Aang leaned against a wall and tried to smile to lighten the mood.
"So, how's everyone doing?" The attempt was not appreciated.
"How do you think, whackadoo? That thing is still out there, laughing at us, trying to kill us all! No thanks to you."
"You're blaming me for trying to help?"
"Some, help. Getting yourself shot in just over a minute."
"Well, I'm sorry but I'm new at this. I wanted to see what we were dealing with, and now that I've seen it, I won't screw up again."
Aang sounded confident outside. But within, he wasn't so sure. This did not go unnoticed by the others.
What to do, what to do. Aang thought long and hard how Gyatso would resolve this. Alas, he came up with nothing. Aw hell with it!
"All right. I'm going back out! Momo, follow behind!"
"You're going to fight that thing?" The mother from before stood in front of him. "With that arm? Don't you have fishing to do?"
"I lied ok? I came here to help people. I didn't come to fish."
"Well, no surprise there sonny. I mean, honestly with that getup, I don't know how you could catch a single fish! My own little girl would fare better than you!"
Aang grinned sheepishly. "Yeah she probably would. But fortunately, I'm not here to fish! I'm here to restore balance!"
He puffed out his chest with his hands on his hips. He must have looked ridiculous because quite a few people snickered.
"Seriously kid, who raised you?"
Aang sighed and walked towards the door with his dog floating behind him.
"Wait! You're not going out there are you? Look at your shoulder!"
"It's all right. He took me by surprise. That won't happen again."
"As if! Look kid. That thing has beaten all our best men and women! What shot has a kid like you with your fake tattoos got?"
Aang looked hard at the woman stoically. "These tattoos are not fake. And I am no ordinary kid. I'll show you."
After saying this, he immediately took on a smile and ran out. "Flameo hotman!"
The people in the house looked at each other.
"Flameo?"
…
Flowey the Flower continued popping out and launching pellets, cackling as he did so. Though on the inside, he was starting to get bored.
"Come on out! We've only got 2 days before the solstice ends, and I've already killed 5 of you! You really need to step up your game!"
The misanthropic plant cackled. "Tell you what. Send out that idiot with the fake tattoos, and I'll spare you for a few hours. Give you time to bury your dead, pray to Agni. Whatever future corpses do."
Speak of the devil. A gust of wind barreled out of nowhere and hit him strong enough to tear his roots out of the ground.
"Gack! What the weed?" He attempted to reinsert his roots back into the ground but was hit by another gust knocking him several more feet away.
"Grr! When did you pests grow a spine? Gahh!" He was hit again.
"That's it! You are a seriously messed up person! You need some love! Ow!"
But it was no use. He kept getting blasted by gusts of air, again and again, too fast for him to respond. Again, and again he was tossed about like a weed. Which technically he was.
Meanwhile, the town residents, who up until this point had been looking out with fear, found themselves watching with awe. How could one kid (with such a horrible fashion sense they might add) defeat the bane of their existence with such ease? How was he doing it anyway? A giant fan?
"Enough! Ok, enough! Uncle! Uncle, or whatever you say!"
"Wow. All that gloating, done after just a few minutes."
To the flower's surprise, the plagiarizer he had taught a lesson to last night stepped out grinning with satisfaction.
"You?" The flower's mouth opened in shock. "How did you do all that?"
The kid simply flourished his staff and made another gust of wind.
"These tattoos aren't fake, and I'm not stealing from anyone. I earned them through trials of determination and strength."
The flower stared at him confused before a look of disgust flittered across his face.
"Oh. I get it. So, they sent you. Finally found out about me huh?"
"Excuse me? They?"
"Not even trying to appeal to my "humanity" are they? Tell me. How did dad find out? How did he react? Sure didn't seem to care when I tried to get his attention. Didn't even give me a glance."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Seriously though. What were they thinking? Sending you out here dressed like that? I know they want to keep the tradition alive, but come on? Using the tattoos? Do they have a death wish?" The flower cackled mirthlessly.
"No one sent me. I came myself. That's what an Avatar does. They help people."
The flower's eyes widened in shock, then he broke out in uncontrollable laughter. Around this time, the villagers had started to step out of their homes and taken a closer look at the bizarre scene, whilst keeping a healthy distance.
"The Avatar? You?" His grin turned maniacal. "The Avatar is dead. And good riddance. He was a stupid kid who failed his nation, the world…. And his family."
Aang's eyes widened in shock at the last bit. He then leaned in angrily to the weed who suddenly appeared wary.
"I was a stupid kid. I did fail my nation and my world. But my family….. No.. I didn't… I mean…. The village was an accident."
"Wait…. How do you know about that?" The flower tried pulling himself up, hard to do when he had no hands. "Who the hell are you kid?"
"My name is Aang. The Avatar, and one of the last two Airbenders alive."
The flower laughed again, much more darkly. His eyes remained on Aang the whole time. The villagers stood staring. This was indeed a Summer Solstice unlike any other.
"What's so funny about this?" Aang pondered. "You lost. Now leave this village and don't come back again."
"Oh, don't you worry about that, Aang. I'll leave this town. But not out of fear. Only because now I've got a much more fun toy to play with…. You."
The flower himself leaned closer.
"See here's the deal Aang. I know all about you. Your tragedy. Your failures. Your crime. And I can tell you plain and simple. Someone like you does not deserve to be Avatar. They belong in a ward. Or better yet, hanging!" He laughed again.
Aang's face went pale. But before he could respond, the little devil spoke again.
"I know about your little…. Outburst. I know how you fled like a coward. And I know about… her."
"Her?"
"Yes." The flower leaned towards his ear and whispered a name. A name Aang had not dared mention for over a century
At this point, he sent another blast of wind which sent the plant flying. To his dismay though, Flowey merely continued to giggle.
"How….. how could you…."
"Don't worry my little monarch. I won't tell. I need to go anyway. The solstice ends tomorrow and I need to get back. But don't worry. When the next solstice occurs, I'll be there to check up on you."
"Wait! How do you know about…"
"Later, Aang! Good luck with saving the world and all that! I'm sure you'll have loads of fun! After all, it's not like you can sink much lower, can you?"
"Stop, damn you! I said stop!" But the flower merely popped under the ground and vanished from view.
He sunk to his feet trembling with shock. His first victory as the Avatar should be a joyous occasion. But of course, it was him. So naturally, it had a very different taste.
"How… How could he know….. Could he have…. I mean… how is this possible?"
All while this was happening, the villagers stood about unsure of what to do. The bane of their existence had finally been defeated. But now before them sat an even greater threat to their existence. The one thing every Fire Lord for the past century had feared above all else.
"Mommy, what should we do?" Merebeth's girl tugged on her shirt.
"I… I don't really know…." And truthfully, she didn't. Because yes, as a member of the Fire Nation, she had a duty to eliminate all obstacles to her country's grand journey. But as a human being who had just been rescued by that same obstacle, she found herself conflicted. And judging by the voices around her, she wasn't the only one.
"Should we grab him?"
"You saw what he did to that thing! I don't think that'd be a good idea."
"Shoot. I mean he saved us and all, but still…."
"He's the enemy…."
"Well, yeah."
Their confusion was only heightened a short girl about the Avatar's age stumbled into the clearing, clasping her head with her hand, and carrying a bong. She was clearly recovering from a hangover
Frisk held up a piece of paper and showed it to the crowd. It said simply.
"GOT WEED?"
That's when she noticed her friend sitting in the center, shaking. She wrote something else.
"DID I MISS SOMETHING?"
…
"At attention guards!"
The guards indeed stood to attention as Prince Zuko strutted past, though they stifled a laugh at the way he walked.
"Hey! Who do you think you're dealing with? I am the prince of the Fire Nation! Show some respect!"
"Prince…."
"And don't talk back to me with such disrespect! Agni! No wonder we haven't found the avatar yet with men like you!"
He huffed off while the guards did their regular eye roll at the prince's behavior.
"Time to check on our prisoners. Those peasants need to learn respect themselves."
He was rested and had calmed down some. He wasn't sure what he had drunk to start hallucinating. But to see an octopus talking to him, it must have been pretty strong.
He opened the door to the holdings preparing to have some fun, only to find it empty. The wall in the cage had been torn open.
"HONOR!" He screamed to no one for no reason and shot a blast of fire.
A few miles away, the ship shrinking into the distance, Katara and Sokka sat aboard the octopus' (sorry Onionsan's) head. Katara was having the time of her life while Sokka was hollering in fear.
"Woah! Take it easy, you hunk of kalamari!"
"I told you I could do it, huh! I'm Onionsan, the best! The best, y' hear!"
"We really appreciate it Onionsan," Katara responded. "But our home is in the opposite direction!"
"That sucks lady! I don't have enough time to swim all the way back. I'd be pulled back into the spirit world and you'd be lost at sea, y' hear!"
"Oh great, so where are we going then," Sokka grunted while holding on. "Your den for supper?"
"Pretty good idea, huh! But nah! I'll take you to shore on the Earth Kingdom. From there you should be able to find a boat back home, y' hear!"
"That's the spirit! Onward Onionsan! Onward, y' hear!"
"Katara, don't encourage him."
"Onward, I' hear lady! Hang on, huh!"
And on the octopus swam, leaving the Fire Nation ship behind.
…
Aang checked the map again. The villagers had granted a map and pointed out the temple Aang had seen as southwest from where they were. It would take close to a day too reach it. Just in time before the solstice ended. It would also add time to their journey to the Southern Water Tribe, but if Avatar Roku had a message for him, he had to take it. He couldn't shake the image of that ball of fire.
"Ready Frisk? How are you feeling?"
She smiled embarrassed but gave a thumb up. She was still kicking herself for sleeping through Aang's battle with the flower. However, she was also secretly relieved. For reasons she could never tell Aang. At least not now.
"Hey! Monster!" Merebeth's child came running up with her parents reluctantly behind. Aang smiled as their nervousness.
"Thank you for the map. And for not writing to the Fire Nation."
"Yes, well…." Merebeth looked sheepishly at her husband who was still limping from his injury. "Just this once, I suppose."
"Yes. I understand. All the same, thank you."
She elbowed her husband who looked at you embarrassed then simply nodded and said.
"Guess you turned out better than Scaramouche the Merciless, after all. So, thanks."
"You know I have no idea who that is right?"
"I envy you."
"Hey, mister?" The daughter looked up at him.
"Yes?" he kneeled down.
"Thank you….. but you still dress weird!"
"Err… thanks… I suppose… I'll keep that in mind."
Appa made his trademark strange sound and Momo barked. Aang turned and leaped onto Appa's head and looked back at Frisk.
"No dog residue, ok? Not until we speak with Roku."
Frisk nodded, sadly.
Aang turned back towards the village he had saved. The people gathered around. The witnesses to his first victory as Avatar. He gave another smile and then pulled on Appa's reigns and flew into the sky.
As the sun set, announcing the beginning of the last day of the Summer Solstice, the last Airbenders flew on, both lost deep in their minds, fighting guilt. With 24 hours to speak with Roku, they were filled with determination.