Brawl 1 Water: Chapter 12 The Storm of The Past

Aang was riding through the clear sky and on his left side was Saida riding Pyravian, Miguel riding Eenoch, Sokka, who somehow was using Aang's glider. And on his right side was Katara riding a giant Momo, and Hoshi, who was riding Centipod, who could fly. All of them were having a good time and Katara said to Aang. "We need you, Aang."

"I need you, too." Aang said before noticing a very bad storm coming their way. "Be careful, guy!" Aang said, but no one responded to him. Aang looked around and didn't find his friends, but then Gyatso appeared in front of Aang. Aang looked at Gyatso and said. "Gyatso?"

"Why did you disappear?"

"I didn't mean to." Aang said before trying to touch Gyatso. Gyatso then disappeared and Aang flew right into the storm. The storm was too powerful for Appa, so he and Aang crashed into the water. As he drowned in the water, he kept hearing Katara and Gyatso say they needed him, and an image of the Fire Lord. Lucky for Aang it was a nightmare. So he woke up and it was over. But when Aang woke up, he woke up everyone. Sokka then said with his weapons ready to go. "Huh! What's going on? Did we get captured again?"

"It's nothing. I just had a bad dream. Go back to sleep." Aang said and Sokka went back to bed. Everyone looked at Aang and Katara said to him. "Are you all right, Aang?"

"I'm ok." Aang said before Phaedrus said to him. "Really. You've been having nightmares mostly every night nowadays. Please tell us what's wrong?"

"I think I just need some rest." Aang said before going back to bed. Phaedrus looked at the other and everyone knew Aang was lying. The next morning after patching up camp, Aang said to Appa. "Look at those clear skies, bubby. Should be some smooth flying." Saida said to everyone after giving everyone an apple. "Enjoy, this is the last of our food supplies."

"How can we be out of food?" Sokka said before eating the apples. Hoshi then said to him. "It doesn't matter. We need food. Oh, right." Hoshi then turned to Saida and said. "How much money do we have, Saida?"

"Zero." Saida said and Miguel said. "So we have no food and no money. Great."

"What do we do now?" Katara said and Hoshi said after finishing his apple. "First we go to the town, do some work, get paid and then we by food." Hoshi then got on Appa and Sokka said. "Aren't we supposed to get Aang to the North Pole? Can we really stop and work for a while?"

"It will just be for the day. And while we could forge for food. We need money for other stuff. So let's get going." Hoshi said and they all got onto Appa and flew to a town.

Out on the, on Zuko's ship. As Zuko was looking at the path the Aang and the others were taking, Alex was keeping an eye in the sky. Iroh sniffed the morning air and said to Zuko and Alex. "There is a Storm coming."

"Really? What size?" Ryerazu said, jumping out of Alex's pocket. "A big one, Ryerazu." Iroh said before Zuko turned to Iroh and said. "You're out of your mind, Uncle. The Weather is perfect. There's not a cloud in sight."

"Uh, Master? Where is this storm coming from?" Alex said as he stopped his job and looked at Iroh. "The storm is approaching from the north. I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."

"Ok, I'll tell the helmsmen." Alex said and was going to the bridges, but Zuko stopped him and said. "No. We will stay the course."

"Why?" Alex said before Zuko turned to him and said. "You stupid Hex. We know the Avatar is traveling northward, so will do the same."

"Prince Zuko, Consider the safety of the crew." Iroh said to Zuko and Zuko said to Iroh. "The safety of the crew doesn't matter. Finding the Avatar is far more important than any individual's safety." Zuko then walked away, and walked past most of the crew that had just walked onto the deck. Once Zuko was gone, Iroh then said to everyone. "He doesn't mean that. He's just all worked up."

"Master, no disrespect. But your nephew is going to kill us all one of these days." Alex said as he and the crew left the deck.

Back with Aang and the gang, they were able to find a port town, but they weren't able to find a job. Until they heard an old man and an old woman arguing. "We shouldn't go out there. Please! The fish can wait. There's going to be a terrible storm." The woman said to the old man and a hint of fear was shown on Aang's face. Phaedrus noticed Aang's face, but before she could say anything, the old man said to the old woman. "Aw, you're crazy. It's a nice day. No clouds, no wind, no nothing, so quit your nagging woman."

"Maybe we should find some shelter." Aang said to everyone, but Sokka noticed the sacred look on Aang's face. "Are you kidding? Shelter from what?" Sokka said before Hoshi said. "Sokka, this might be the calm before the storm. We should find shelter before the storm hits."

"My joints say there's going to be a storm, a bad one." The old woman said to the old man and the old man said to her. "Well, it's your joints against my brain."

"Then I hope your brain can find someone else to haul that fish, because I ain't coming!"

"Then I'll find a new fish hauler and pay him double what you get. How do you like that?"

"I'll go." Sokka said and the old man hired Sokka. Hoshi looked at Sokka and said. "Sokka, I don't think going with him is a good idea."

"Hey you said we need money, and he's paying double." Sokka said before the old man said. "Double? Who told you that nonsense?"

"I have a bad feeling about that guy." Centipod said and the Bakugan agreed with him.

Back on Zuko ship, everyone was on deck seeing the storm coming their way. Alex then said to Zuko. "Looks like Master Iroh was right about the storm after all."

"Hex! You had better learn some respect, or I will teach it to you."

"What do you know about respect? The way you talk to everyone around here, from your hard-working crew to Master Iroh, shows you know nothing about respect. You don't care about anyone but yourself. Then again, what should I expect from a spoiled prince." Alex said and something he said that caused Zuko to get into a fighting position. Alex did the same and before either one of them could lance and attack, Iron got in between them and said. "Enough! We're all a bit tired from being at sea so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better."

"Fine." Alex said as he and the crew left. Zuko then said to Iroh. "I don't need your help keeping order on my ship." Iroh tried to talk to Zuko, but he pushed Iroh away and went to his room.

Back at the port town the storm clouds had reached them. "Sokka, maybe this isn't such a good idea. Look at the sky." Aang said to Sokka, who was putting gear below deck. Sokka stopped and said to Aang. "I said I was gonna do this job. I can't back out just because of some bad weather."

"The boy with the tattoos has some sense. You should listen to him." The old woman said to the old man. After hearing that, the old man went over to Aang and said. "Airbender tattoos. Well, I'll be a hog monkey's uncle. You're the Avatar, ain't you?"

"That's right." Katara said and Aang put a smile on his face. The old man then yelled at Aang. "Well, don't be so smiley about it. The Avatar disappeared for a hundred years! You turned your back to the world."

"Don't yell at him! Aang would never turn his back on anyone." Katara said getting in between them. The old man then said. "Oh, he wouldn't huh? Then I guess I must have imagined the last hundred years of war and suffering."

"Hey! Aang is one of the bravest person we know!" Hoshi said, also joining Katara. "He has done nothing but help people and save since we've meet." Saida said joining Katara and Hoshi. "Besides, it's not his fault that he was gone for over a hundred years." Miguel said joining Katara, Hoshi, and Saida. However what they didn't see was Aang backing away. "Aang? What's wrong?" Phaedrus said before Aang took to the air and flew away. The old man then made another rude remark as Aang flew away. Everyone then got on Appa and flew after Aang, after Appa gave the old man a big splash of water. Sokka missed everything, so he thought they had left without saying goodbye.

Just as the storm started to kick up, they were able to find Aang held in a cave. Once they all entered the cave, Aang said to them. "I'm sorry for running away."

"It's ok. That fisherman was way out of line." Katara said as they all got closer to Aang. Phaedrus was the first to reach Aang, and Aang said. "Actually, he wasn't."

"What do you mean?" Hoshi said as they all reached Aang. "I don't want to talk about it." Aang said before Phaedrus said. "It has to do with your dream, doesn't it? Talk to us."

"Well, it's kind of a long story." Aang said before Miguel said. "Well, we are not going anywhere for a long time. So let's hear it."

"I'll start a fire." Saida said as she made a fire pit and was able to start a small fire. As they all took a seat around the fire, Aang started to tell his story. "I'll never forget the day the monks told me I was the Avatar. I was playing with some other kids just outside the south wall. I was trying to teach them how to do the Air Scooter." About a hundred years ago, at the Southern Air Temple, all of the kids didn't have any Airbending Tattoos. And Past Aang was showing his own original Airbending trick to the other kids, Gyatso and three male, elder monks appeared. "Aang, come with us. We need to speak with you." Gyatso said and Past Aang went with the elders. They all went to the elders room and told Past Aang that he was the Avatar. Past Aang looked at the elders and said. "How do you know it's me?"

"We have known you were the Avatar for some time. Do you remember these?" One of the elder monks said using his Airbending to give Aang four toys. One was a pellet drum, a spinner fan, a turtle, and a moose. Past Aang looked at them and said. "Those were some of my favorite toys when I was little."

"You chose them from among thousands of toys, Aang. The toys you picked were the 4 Avatar relics. These items belonged to Avatar's past. Your own past lives." The elder monk said and Past Aang said. "I just chose them because they seemed fun."

"You chose them because they were familiar." The elder monk said before Gyatso said. "Normally, we would have told you of your identity when you turned 16. But there are troubling signs. Storm clouds are gathering."

"I fear that war may be upon us, Young Avatar." The leader of the elders said. "We need you, Aang." Gyatso said and those words hunt him, even to this day. Aang stopped for a while and the other let him take his time.

Back at Zuko Ship, Alex, Ryerazu and a few of the crew men were all deep in the ship around a fire, not wanting to be anywhere near Zuko right now. "You know, if he wasn't the only way I could live without fear of being put into a jail cell. I would leave him in a heartbeat."

"You don't mean that, Alex."

"Yes, I do Ryerazu. I'm sick of taking his orders, and I'm tired of chasing his Avatar. I mean, who does Zuko think he is?"

"Do you really want to know?" Iroh said as he appeared. "Master Iroh, we were just–" Alex said as everyone got up. Iroh stopped him and said. "It's ok. May I join you?"

"Of course." Ryerazu said as everyone took a seat. Once Iroh took a seat, he said to them. "Try to understand, my nephew is a complicated young man. He has been through much." Iroh then told them a tale of Zuko's past. Almost three years ago, Zuko, who didn't have his scare, was walking to the Fire Lord's War Chamber. But the guards stopped him and Past Zuko said to them. "Let me in!"

"Prince Zuko, what's wrong?" Past Iroh said taking Past Zuko away. Past Zuko then said to Past Iroh. "I want to go into the War Chamber, but the guard won't let me pass."

"You're not missing anything. Trust me. These meetings are dreadfully boring."

"If I'm going to rule this Nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?"

"Very well, but you must promise not to speak. These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"

"Thank you, Uncle." Past Zuko said and they both went into the War Chamber. Inside the War Chamber, the Fire Lord and a bunch of old male generals were making plans on how to capture Ba Sing Se. An old general was telling the Fire Lord and everyone his plan. "The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here, a dangerous Battalion of their strongest Earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the 41st Division."

"But the 41st is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom Battalion?" Another general said before the first one said. "I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?"

"You can't sacrifice an entire Division like that. Those soldiers love and defend our Nation. How can you betray them?" Past Zuko said standing up and everyone looked at him. "Zuko was right, you see? But it was not his place to speak out." Iroh of the present said. Iroh then stopped talking and Alex said to him. "Master, are you alright?"

"Yes. It's just when I think about that day, I wish I had never let Zuko inside the War Chamber."

"Why?"

"Because him speaking out had dire consequences." Iroh said and that let everyone know that this story wasn't going to have a happy ending.

Back at the cave, Katara said to Aang. "So you were upset that you were the Avatar? Why wouldn't you be excited about it?"

"Well, I didn't know how to feel about it. All I knew was that after I found out, everything began changing." Aang said before Saida said. "What do you mean?" Aang then told them how after everyone knew that he was the Avatar, the kids all stopped playing with him and the elders were making Aang train in high level Airbending skills. The only one that treated Aang like how he used to was Gyasto. In the past, Past Aang and Gyasto were playing Pai-Sho. After Past Aang made his move, Gyasto said to him. "Very interesting move, young one."

"What do you mean?" Past Aang said as Gyasto used his Airbending to cause Aang clothes to cover his eyes. As Past Aang fixed his clothes, Gyasto switched his piece with Past Aang piece. Aang noticed that, but instead of getting mad, they both had a laugh. But the laughter stopped when the elder that was leading Past Aang training walked in on them and said to Gyatso. "You're playing games with him? The Avatar should be training."

"Aang has already trained enough for today."

"Time is short. Come with me. I must test you on some high-level techniques." The elder said to Past Aang. Gyasto stopped Past Aang and said to the elder. "No. As long as I am his guardian, I will decide when he trains and when he gets his but kicked at Pai-Sho." The elder was mad and he walked away. Aang was happy to keep playing with Gyasto. In the present, Phaedrus stopped Aang's story and said. "You know. The more I learn about Gyatso, the more I wish I could have met him."

"So, why did you regret bringing Zuko into the War Chamber?" Ryerazu said to Iroh on Zuko's ship. Iroh sighed and said to them. "After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, The Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said that Prince Zuko's challenge of the General was an act of complete disrespect. And there was only one way to resolve this."

"That fire duel Zuko did when Zhao had me. That Agni Kai thing." Alex said to Iroh and Iroh said to them. "That's right. Zuko looked upon the old general he had insulted and declared that he was not afraid, but Zuko misunderstood." In the past, Zuko was getting ready for the duel in an arena full of people. "When he turned to face his opponent, he was surprised to see it was not the General. Zuko had spoken out against the General's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's War Room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his own Father,"

Back at the cave, Aang told them the rest of his story. "Then, just when I was starting to feel better, something worse happened." In the past the elders wanted Past Aang to keep on training and Gyasto was talking to the leader of the Southern Air Temple. "Aang needs to have freedom and fun. He needs to grow up as a normal boy." Gyasto said to the leader. The elder then said to Gyasto. "Hmm. You cannot keep protecting him from his destiny."

"Gyasto, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the boy cloud your judgment." The leader said and Gyatso said to the leader. "All I want is what is best for him. But what we need is what's best for the world. You and Aang must be separated. The Avatar will be sent away to the Eastern Air Temple to complete his training." The leader said and while Gyasto was sad to hear the result, no one knew that Past Aang had heard the whole conversation. Back in the present, Aang stopped talking and Katara said as she tried to comfort Aang. "That's awful, Aang. I don't know what to say."

"How could they do that to me? They wanted to take away everything I knew and everyone I loved!" Aang yelled, releasing a strong gust of wind. It did cause hot cinders to jump out of the fire. "Aang calm down, hot cinders!" Miguel said and Aang calmed down. Aang then turned to them and said. "I'm sorry I got so mad."

"You have a right to be angry after the monks sent you away like that." Katara said and Phaedrus said. "Yeah, especially since it caused you to be trapped in ice for a 100 years." Aang looked away and Hoshi said to Aang. "Aang? The monks sending you away is what caused you to get trapped in the ice. Right?"

"Well, that's not not exactly what happened. I was afraid and confused. I didn't know what to do." Aang said and in the past, Gyasto said to Past Aang as he entered Aang room. "Aang? I'm not going to let them take you away from me. Aang?" Gyasto then noticed that Aang was gone and the only thing left was a note. Gyasto read the note, which told them that he was going somewhere where he could be a normal kid and not the Avatar. Gyasto gasped before looking outside and seeing a storm starting. "I never saw Gyasto again." Aang said as he Past Self few into the storm. The storm was too powerful and it caused Past Aang and Past Appa to crash into the water. Past Appa tried to fly out of the ocean, but the waves pushed them down. Soon both of them were sinking to the bottom of the ocean. If it wasn't for Aang's glowing Avatar trick creating a ball of air around Past Aang and Past Appa they would have died. And the only reasons they were trapped in the ice was because the currents had taken them to the South Pole and the water froze around them. "Next thing I knew, I was waking up in Katara's arms after you guys found me in the iceberg." Aang said before Katara said to Aang. "You ran away."

"And then the Fire Nation attacked our temple. My people needed me, and I wasn't there to help." Aang said before Saida said. "Aang, you don't know—"

"The world needed me, and I wasn't there to help. The Fisherman was right. I did turn my back on the world." Aang said and Katara said to him. "You're being too hard on yourself. Even if you did run away, I think it was meant to be. If you had stayed, you would have been killed along with all the other Airbenders."

"And the war would still be going on." Miguel said and Aang turned away from them, not listing to them. Hoshi sighed and walked over to Aang. He took a seat next to Aang. Hoshi then picked up a stick and said. "You want to know something, Aang? My grandpa once told me that we all make choice and regret, no matter the size, is born from them. And if you let regret take hold of you." Hoshi then threw the stick into the fire. "It's going to burn you until you let it go."

"And the world need you now. You give people hope." Katara said and Aang started to feel better.

Back on Zuko's ship, everyone was surprised to hear Zuko was dueling his own father in an Agni Kai. Iroh let that sink in before counting his story. "When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he begged for mercy." In the past, Past Zuko was bowing to his father and saying. "Please, Father, I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn."

"You will fight for your honor."

"I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son."

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko."

"I won't fight you."

"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher." The Fire Lord said as he got close to Zuko. In the stands, Past Iroh looked away as the Fire Lord burned Zuko face, giving him that scare. Back in the present, Alex said to Iroh. "Hold up!? Zuko got that burn from his father and not from a training accident!?"

"It was no accident. After the duel, The Fire Lord said that by refusing to fight, Zuko had shown shameful weakness. As punishment he was banished and sent to capture the Avatar. Only then could he returned with his honor."

"So that's why he's so obsessed. Capturing the Avatar is the only chance he has of things returning to normal."

"Things will never return to normal, but the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope." Iroh said to Alex. In Zuko room, Zuko was also going down memory lane, remembered the good times, the time with his mother. Then a thunderbolt hit Zuko ship and everyone felt the impacted.

Back in the cave, the old woman from earlier appeared and said to them. "Help! Oh, please, help!"

"What's wrong?" Hoshi said as they all walked up to her. "My husband is in danger." The old said before Katara help her to the fire and said. "What do you mean? Where's Sokka?"

"They haven't returned. They should have been back by now. And this storm is becoming a typhoon. They're caught out at sea!" The old said and Aang said to them. "I'm going to find them." Everyone, but the old woman join Aang in the search.

Back with Zuko Ship, they all walked on deck and Zuko said to Alex. "Where were we hit?"

"I don't know." Alex said before Iroh pointed at the bridges with the helmsman holding onto the grade rill for dear life so he wouldn't fall, but he was slipping. Zuko and Alex climbed the outside ladder to reach him. And on the ground Iroh was causing any more lighting bolts from hitting the ship, be redirecting them into the water. As for Zuko and Alex they were all to save the helmsman just as he lost his grip. Just then Zuko and Alex say the Aang and the others looking for Sokka and the fishermen. "The Avatar!" Zuko said and Alex said to him. "What do you want to do, Zuko?"

"Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety."

"Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm." Iroh said and the crew went back inside.

As for Aang and the others had found the boat. On the boat, Sokka and the fishermen were trying to stay alive, but the storm was to powerful for the fishermen's boat. Aang and the other were able to get them off the boat, just before a giant wave appeared taking the boat and causing them all to crash into the water. Aang saw all of his friends knocked out and wasn't going to let history repeat itself. So he used his Avatar trick to not only created an air bubble around them, but used his Waterbending skills to swim to the eye of the storm. In the eye of the storm, Zuko ship had reached it and Zuko said to Iroh. "Uncle, I am sorry."

"Your apology is accepted." Iroh said as Aang and the other came out of the water. Zuko and Aang eyes meet, and they both knew that the second this storm was over the chase was back on.

Aang flew back to the cave and the old woman said giving the old man a hug. "Oh! You're alive! You owe this boy an apology."

"He doesn't have to apologize." Aang said and the old man said. "What if, instead of an apology, I give him a free fish, and we call it even?"

"Actually, I don't eat meat."

"Fish ain't meat." The old man said to Aang and Phaedrus said to the old man. "Actually it is." Aang then took Phaedrus and walked over to the others. And while Sokka was getting his payment in fish, Aang said to the others. "Guys, I think you were right before. I'm done dwelling on the past."

"Really?" Katara said and then Aang said. "I can't make guesses about how things would have turned out if I hadn't run away. I'm here now, and I'm going to make the most of it."

"I don't think you're gonna have those nightmares anymore, partner." Phaedrus said before the old man walked over to Aang and said. "If you weren't here now, well, I guess I wouldn't be either. Thank you for saving my life, Avatar."

"Do you hear that? It stopped raining." Sokka said as the storm was over and the light was shining threw. This wasn't the only storm that past, because the storm of Aang's past had also past and the future was open to them.