Chapter Nineteen
Calm Before the Storm
Sokka traversed the vaults of his mind. He had entered the void, and he inspected the memory he had sealed away. Now that he was there, he saw that the chest had become unlocked. More than that, the lid wouldn't stay shut. He forced the lid down and turned the key in the lock. The chest popped open again.
Sokka considered the thing, tilting his head to one side. Now that he couldn't keep it locked away, he considered taking it back into the annals of his memory. He opened the chest fully, as it had only been ajar, and looked at the memory. Looking at it, he understood fully what it was. He knew now why he had locked it away, and suspected that he couldn't keep it hidden forever, or even much longer. In time he would come to know the truth fully, even outside of the void. Without the detached clarity of the meditative trance, he wasn't sure how he would handle the information. He had known it subconsciously for some time, and he wondered if that would take some of the edge off. Perhaps he had grown accustomed to it and had started to accept the reality of the thing.
Sokka shook his head, before closing the lid as much as he could. It remained open perhaps a finger's breadth, and he could faintly see the light shining from the memory within. He placed the memory again where he had hidden it, and pondered the issue. Perhaps he could find a way to separate the emotion from the fact? He didn't know how he would go about doing that, perhaps he ought to go into the spirit world and ask Laghima. No, he couldn't do that, he had promised Katara he wouldn't use Koh's shadow unless he had too. He wasn't sure that this was strictly necessary.
He felt something brush against his shoulder, his real shoulder and not the shoulder he had manifested in his mind. He began to exit the archive of his life and opened his eyes. Hahn had been nudging him where they sat outside the practice ring used during warrior training. Sokka gazed at Hahn, unblinking as rested within the void. Hahn looked taken aback at Sokka's stare, and so Sokka left the trance.
Cocking a mirthful crooked smile at his friend's reaction, Sokka spoke. "Cat-shark got your tongue?"
Hahn's eyebrows furrowed. "No, dingus. Why do you do that? That empty look you get sometimes? Bah, anyway, I woke you from your nap because we're up next."
"I wasn't napping!" Sokka said indignantly, his voice cracking. "I was meditating."
"Ha! Yeah, and I can fly around like an airbender!" Hahn said with a laugh.
Sokka rolled his eyes at the other warrior in training. The two had become fast friends since Sokka had joined in the martial training of the northern Water Tribe. Originally, he had been apprehensive at the idea of spending so much time with Yue's rejected match, but Hahn had proved a ready companion. Sokka was inwardly glad that he was already on such good terms with a high-ranking nobleman, for it would make the transition for their separate nation's merger that much easier.
Hahn's father, Laluk, was a rather skilled waterbender. He had trained under master Pakku in his youth much as Katara and Aang were now, and he didn't seem to be disappointed that his only son wasn't a bender. From what Sokka understood, the benders of other nations were often disappointed when their children were not born with the power. That it didn't seem to be the case in the north was a relief, for it implied that they didn't treat non benders as poorly as they did in some cultures. He had read that in certain noble families in the Fire Nation, it was seen as a great dishonor. Which was odd, considering that there were many noble families in that country with no benders at all.
Hahn stood up and Sokka followed, and they were ushered into the ring. It was a square dias, going twenty feet across. They met in the middle and shook, before taking up their practice weapons. Spears this time.
"Wooo! Kick his but, Hahn!" Called out one of their fellow trainees, and it elicited a round of laughter from the other side of the ring.
"I hope you didn't place money on him, Hak, because Sokka's going to win!" Shouted Kordak, another trainee from behind Sokka.
"In your dreams, you big eared loon!" Hak replied, and his insult generated a wave of good natured laughter from the entire class.
"Alright, alright, stuff it you two!" The veteran instructor said, glaring from one young man to the other. He waved impatiently for Sokka and Hahn to begin, and they soon did.
Hahn lashed out quickly with the head of his spear, which Sokka deftly stepped under. He stabbed his own spear at Hahn's stomach, but the man stepped aside and trapped Sokka's weapon under an arm before wrestling it from his grip. Sokka disengaged and rolled away, avoiding Hahn's strike. Hahn's supporters cheered and Sokka's groaned in dismay as Hahn threw Sokka's spear out of the ring.
Sokka fought back the urge to smile as Hahn lashed out at him with the spear, and he stepped within his guard. He broke Hahn's grip on the weapon and kicked him squarely in the chest before turning the spear around and placing the padded tip onto his opponent's neck. Hahn glared at him while the other trainees hooted and whistled.
"Always the show off, aren't you?" Hahn said bitterly, and Sokka was taken aback at his anger. He extended a hand and Hahn took it, allowing Sokka to haul him to his feet. The two of them exited the ring and the next pair took their turn. Hahnh's anger seemed to have disappeared. His face was again bearing the jovial expression that he always wore. Sokka frowned, because it didn't quite reach his friend's eyes.
"You're better with the spear than me." Sokka said, causing Hahn to look at him in confusion.
"What? No I'm not, you just beat me."
"If I had kept my spear, I would've lost. Once I lost mine, I realized what I had to do. If this was a real fight, on the battlefield, I probably would've gotten stabbed. I never would've been able to win like that without getting run through by another warrior. I'm much better with a sword. I only one today because I was able to think quickly."
"Good to know." Hahn said with a smile, "Next time I'll let you keep your weapon. I'll have to think of something terribly cunning to get you with."
Sokka nodded, "Yeah."
He couldn't help but remember his master's words. Weak men make up the difference with cruelty and cunning. Hahn had not reacted well to defeat, but that didn't make him weak, did it? Sokka himself had relied on quick thinking to win the fight, but he doubted that he would be so angry with defeat. He had lost to Hahn a couple of times already, but he always learned from his defeats. Perhaps Hahn would do the same?
It had been three weeks since Yue's birthday. He had been in the north pole for two months now, and Katara would be taking her masters test today. If she passed, then they would leave the north pole to find Aang an earthbending teacher. Sokka excused himself early from training that afternoon, and made his way to the palace. He had made plans to watch his sister's test with Yue, and they were to meet on the palace steps.
The warrior training compound wasn't far from the palace, so he soon arrived to find Yue waiting for him. She was looking down the front steps for him, but he had taken an alternate route, so she didn't see him. With a malicious grin, he snuck up behind her, and wrapped her in a strong embrace, lifting her from her feet. She squeaked in surprise before realizing it was him, and then she berated him.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I got you good though, didn't I?" Sokka laughed.
Yue glared at him, with her hands on her hips. She was pretty mad, but Sokka thought it was cute. He liked the way her nose crinkled. He looked her in the eye before making a goofy expression, which served to make her laugh.
"Okay, you got me. Please don't do it again though."
"Alright, I promise not to sneak up on you again, Moonlight."
"Good, Boomerang Guy. Let's get going or we'll be late. I don't want master Pakku to start teasing us like he does Aang."
Sokka snorted and followed her lead to Master Pakku's own training ground. The waterbenders trained separately for good reason: inexperienced waterbender had a tendency to freeze people by accident. He had learned that the hard way, as Katara had frozen him to things quite a few times during their childhood.
Before long the pair of them came to the training ground where Katara would take her mastery test. Sokka waved at his sister, who returned the gesture. Aang said something to her before coming over to stand beside Sokka and Yue.
"Hey guys!" Aang chirped brightly, sliding to a stop alongside them both. "We worried you might be late!"
"We almost were, but only since Sokka decided to sneak up on me." Yue said, grinning at the Avatar. Sokka shrugged before speaking. "What can I say? She was wide open. Can't let a good opportunity go to waste."
The three of them chatted idly for a while, and gradually more spectators arrived. It usually took years of training before you could even think of taking the mastery test, but Pakku had declared Katara a prodigy, and she had shattered all previous records. Now all that remained was for her to prove herself before a panel of masters.
She would face off against Pakku and two of his instructors, waterbending masters who worked under him. She wasn't expected to win, instead her performance in the battle would be judged and deemed sufficient or insufficient to be considered a master.
Katara walked out to her end of the testing ground. Pakku and his instructors took to their end. The crowd was silent, waiting for the call to begin the test. The gong rang out, and they leapt into action. Pakku's instructors launched a synchronized attack at Katara, who wrested control of the water before returning fire. She bent the water into a massive wave, and it crashed over her three opponents. When the wave dissipated, one instructor was frozen to the ground, but Pakku and the remaining combatant were nowhere to be seen.
Katara closed her eyes, and then with a brisk snapping movement launched herself into the air, moments before the two remaining waterbenders launched out of the ice below. Pakku began rotating his arms around his head, bringing in a massive flow of water to circle around the spot Katara had landed. He brought his arms in front of himself and continued the rotational motion. The remaining instructor began shooting disks of ice at Katara, who had split her attention between keeping Pakku's water from trapping her and dodging razor sharp projectiles.
The circle of water closed in, and Katara had to fend off an even fiercer barrage of ice from the other waterbender. With every projectile she deflected, her resistance against Pakku's trap faltered. Within minutes, the water was barely inches from her outstretched arms.
Aang, for his part, was chewing anxiously on his fingernails. Yue's hands were clasped in front of her, but Sokka wasn't nervous. He had faith that Katara could get her way out of this; she was clever like that. And before long, he found himself proven right.
Sokka caught a barely concealed smile on his sister's face, and he watched as she rotated on the spot with the next projectile, redirecting it towards Pakku. The old master ducked swiftly under it, but in the second he had to divert his attention, Katara stole the water from under his control and changed its trajectory to attack the remaining instructor. The water collided with the man, knocking him off balance. Katara took that opportunity to sink him into the ice, but only managed to sink his hands and feet in before Pakku resumed his attack against her.
She slid under his water whip, barely avoiding being hit in the ear. She took a deep breath, and let it out. As she did so, a thick fog rolled up around her. It spread out through the training ground, obscuring everything from sight. Sokka couldn't see his hand in front of his face, and when he looked around, he couldn't see anyone else. He could hear them just fine, the sound of Katara and Pakku battling raged closer to them every second.
Suddenly the mist cleared, just in time for Sokka to see a water whip slash across his face, leaving a small cut. Pakku had lashed out at Katara, who dodged. The fact that Sokka was right behind her must've slipped them by, at least that's what he told himself.
The blow knocked him off his feet and left him sprawled on his behind.
"Sorry!" Pakku and Katara said in unison, before returning to their duel. Katara looked exhausted, and her hair had come out of its usual tight braid, and Pakku didn't seem to be doing much better. The pair of them rushed at each other once more, but the gong sounded, signaling the end of the match.
Katara and Pakku bowed to each other, and then Pakku and his instructors went to consult with the other masters who were judging the test. Katara jogged over to Sokka, who was still sitting on the ground. Yue was touching the cut on his face tenderly, and he was trying not to wince. Katara pulled some water from the ice beneath them and it began to glow. She pressed the glowing water to his damaged cheek, and it healed quickly.
"Thanks, Katara. Though, I've gotta say, that really would've been helpful when I had two fish hooks stuck in my thumb." Sokka said, rubbing the formerly damaged skin.
"How on earth did you get two fish hooks stuck in your thumb?" Aang asked curiously.
"He tried to get the first one out with another fish hook." Katara said with a smirk, causing sokka to blush in embarrassment.
"Katara!"
They all laughed at his embarrassment, and in a moment, Sokka laughed too. They continued to chat amicably for a time, until Pakku interrupted them.
"It seems that you have a long way left to go, Aang." Pakku said, and the Avatar looked bewildered, as he had not been the one being tested. He looked at Katara, who bore an anxious expression. Pakku continued speaking. "Be sure to continue his training while you travel through the Earth Kingdom, Master Katara."
The group exploded with a mirthful cheer. Aang raced around them on an airscooter, and Sokka picked up Katara and spun her around. Yue laughed with delight, and then laughed even harder when Katara chopped her brother on the head.
"Put me down!" She said, trying to sound serious despite her jubilation.
"Can't do that! I'm too proud!" Sokka said, and then he dropped her when he was soaked in cold water. "Now I'm proud and annoyed."
"Be that as it may," Pakku said, eyeing them skeptically. "I expect that you will begin preparations to set out soon. Sozin's comet is only six months away, so the sooner you master earth and firebending, the better."
Team Avatar sobered up quickly at that, and they returned to their room in the palace. Yue bid farewell, and went to join her father in his council meeting. Sokka brought out his map of the Earth Kingdom and laid it out on the table.
"Alright," He said, as Katara and Aang joined him around the map. "I figured that the best place for Aang to learn Earthbending is in Omashu, with King Bumi. It's one of the last safe places in the Earth Kingdom, and we all know how powerful the mad genius is."
"I was thinking the same thing." Aang said, "We'll spend around a month there, but then we'll have to go to the Si Wong desert."
"Why do we have to go to the desert?" Katara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Roku told me that after I started my earthbending training, I have to go to the spirit library. He told me that's where it is."
"Why do you need to go to the Spirit Library?" Sokka asked.
"There's some kind of prophecy. From what Roku could tell me, Vaatu, he's the spirit of chaos, is breaking free. Apparently that's bad. He didn't have much more information about him though. He said that the answers were in the library."
Sokka remained silent, shocked to hear of Vaatu after so long. Koh had spoken of him in his cave, and said that he was growing stronger. If Aang knew about him too, then he had grown to be a far more serious threat.
"Did he say where in the desert it was?" Katara asked, to which Aang shrugged. "No."
"So then it's Omashu for Aang to learn earthbending, and then the spirit library." Sokka said, quietly, his thoughts still stuck on Vaatu. Katara heard his change in tone, and looked at him curiously. He looked downcast, though she wasn't sure what he was thinking about. She realized that he had never said he would be going with them directly. Had he decided to stay behind with Yue?
"Sokka," Katara said softly, not sure how to broach the subject. "Are you.. Coming with us? I know that you and Yue are…"
Sokka looked over at her, "Oh, yeah, we already talked about it. I'm going with to help fight the Fire Nation. I'm not going to let you go on a crazy adventure with your boyfriend unsupervised."
"I- He- We-!" Katara spluttered, and Aang blanched, shocked at Sokka's words.
"I'm kidding! Relax, I was trying to break the tension with comedy." He said, but Katara crossed her arms and looked away from him.
"Alright, you two, let's just get back to planning. This stuff is time sensitive." Aang said, and the three of them resumed planning their exposition to Omashu. After a few hours, they decided on a final plan of action. Aang would speak with Arnook in the morning to arrange an escort from the Earth Kingdom army.
Sokka stretched himself with a yawn, and stood. He picked up his sword and slung it over his back.
"Where are you going?" Katara asked him, as he made his way to the door.
"Yue and I are supposed to meet in the Spirit Oasis tonight, and it's about that time."
"And you're taking a sword?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I want to show her the light-trail."
"The what?" Katara asked, confused.
"Aang can tell you about it. I would, but I don't want to be late. I'll be back soon."
With that, Sokka left them behind. He sped his way through corridors and down stairways, until he eventually found himself in the oasis. Yue was sitting on her knees by a copse of bamboo. She was staring up at the nearly full moon, lost in thought.
Sokka crossed over one of the bridges, careful to make noise that would announce his presence. Yue glanced over to him and smiled sadly. "You're leaving soon, aren't you?"
Sokka came over to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He nodded. "As it looks, we'll be heading out in a week. To Omashu, and then the Si Wong desert. There's a magic library, I guess. Avatar stuff, I don't pretend to understand it."
"That's… good. The war will be over soon." She said
Sokka nodded. "We'll be together again before you know it."
Yue nodded, and leaned her head against his shoulder. They sat like that for a time, and then Sokka stood, drawing his sword. "Well, I did say I'd show you how it looked some time, didn't I?"
Yue's eyes widened in wonder as he swung the blade around. It seemed to glow faintly with the light of the moon, leaving a translucent pale glow in its wake.
"You know," Sokka said, looking between Yue and his sword, "It kind of reminds me of you."
"What? How so?"
"Well, it's elegant, beautiful, and it's been blessed by the Moon Spirit. Plus, you're both pretty sharp."
"Well, isn't that sweet." Yue said, sincerely.
"I still can't think of a good name for it though, since moon-sword's out." Sokka said, tapping his chin in consideration.
"Well, I have an idea." Yue said sheepishly, "Moonlight."
Sokka paused, and smiled. 'Yeah, I like that. That way, it'll feel like you're always with me. Even when we're far away. Although, it would be weird to stab someone with it, since it's named after you."
Yue snorted, and laughing she said, "You just can't help yourself can you?
"What can I say? I'm just a guy who likes comedy."
The young couple sat together and talked for a bit longer, and as they spoke the winds changed. They picked up speed and blew in from the south, and a blanket of clouds began to obscure the sky. Unknowing of the change in weather, the betrothed pair walked arm in arm through the city, talking and laughing and dancing together. When at last they noticed the change, it had started to snow. It piled up around them, and they saw that the snow was as black as the darkest night. The young woman did not know what it meant, but the man did. Their enemy had come, and war was again on their doorstep. The Fire Nation had come to the northern Water Tribe.
Laluk sat in his study, speaking with his only son. Hahn had been tasked with gaining Sokka's trust, so that they might find him with his guard lowered. The boy had made progress. The Admiral would be pleased.
Laluk dismissed his son and begon composing a message to the head of his order.
We have succeeded in gaining his trust. The Firs Son has taken Hahn into his confidence, and so far he suspects nothing. The Sea Wolf has mastered waterbending, and they will set out with the Avatar for the Earth Kingdom shortly. I advise you to move within a few days' time, lest he slip through our fingers.
Laluk sealed the message and attached it to the messenger hawk. Striding to the window, he released the bird and watched it fly by the light of the setting sun.
Admiral Zhao opened the message from his contact In the north. He read it twice, and then burned it. Marching up to the bridge, he ordered the signal be given to sail the last leg of their journey to the north pole.
They had been waiting a little more than a hundred miles from the pole, and Zhao had finally gotten the message from Laluk telling him that his son had earned the Water Prince's trust. Now that the trap was set, he could begin his siege of the Water Tribe.
As the sun set, hundreds of smoke stacks billowed soot into the air, and the smoke was carried northward by the wind.
Author's Note
Perhaps I put too many of these notes in.
Anyway, this chapter is the shortest since chapter two, but it can't really be helped. I didn't really have that much left to tell before the invasion begins, so it came just shy of four thousand words.
It's surprising to me that I've already come to the end of part one, but here we are. Roughly one third of the way through the story.
Cool, I realize that this note is pretty much pointless, but I like communicating with the readers. Even if Y'all don't say anything back lol.
