Fire. Earth. Water. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Water Tribes attacked...
Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his bending skills are great, he is haunted by the memories of his world...
But I believe Aang can save this one.
Avatar: The Last Firebender
Based on Distorted Reality by Ogro
Written by Carrotine Clara
Proofread by CowTrain
Book 1: Fire
Episode 20
A Siege of Gold Part 2:
Fulfill your destiny
Act I. – The Sulfur Fields
Another knock on her door Ty Lee chooses to ignore. She had been cowering in her bed all night and she isn't going to get up now.
The knock is repeated. Ty Lee sighs quietly.
TY LEE (weak): Go away please...
AANG (from outside): Ty Lee you need to get up! Azula is in trouble!
The acrobat is finally inclined to roll over.
TY LEE (weak): What is it?
Against her will Aang enters, his aura and expression enough to shake Ty Lee up from her bed.
In the time it took Aang to get Ty Lee down into the sanctuary Sabachi has also returned, her nap in Adithya's bed replaced with a nap on Azula's lap. Ty Lee is initially confused at the sight - Azula unconscious on the grassy floor, Sokka and Adithya next to her, and Kenora knocked out with her hands tied behind her back somewhere in the corner. Based on Sokka's aura she doesn't suspect any harm, yet under current circumstances she doesn't feel like she owes him a smile.
TY LEE: What happened?
ADITHYA: Aang tried to go into the Spirit World. When we came down Azula kept acting like she had a migraine attack. Soon after he entered... Azula collapsed.
AANG: And I was kicked out.
The acrobat on her knees and gently stroking Azula's forehead, she looks back at Aang with a concerned frown attached.
TY LEE: Kicked out? What did you do?
Aang shrugs.
AANG: That's the thing. I didn't do anything. I was in for two minutes and saw nothing.
Ty Lee returns to feel around Azula's face.
SOKKA: I uh... also showed up. Kenora wanted to capture Aang, but I betrayed her. I want nothing to do with the Water Tribes anymore.
Ty Lee and Adithya kindly ignore him. The only one paying attention is Aang, who exchanges a quick look with Sokka, shaking his head.
ADITHYA: Can you read her aura?
Ty Lee hums a note while focusing on the firebender, her hands on both her cheeks.
TY LEE: Sort of.
AANG: Is that bad?
Ty Lee nods to the side.
TY LEE: I can't say. I can feel her. She's definitely still alive. But it's... it's like only a part of it is here.
Everyone quickly shares some concerned looks to better deal with the unsettling news. Even Sokka is included.
ADITHYA: The other part?
Ty Lee pouts calmly at the princess.
ADITHYA: I see.
They all stare back at Azula as if that could wake her up again.
AANG: I guess she's looking for the Shishi now...
Breath enters her nostrils. Her eyes snap open. Waking up usually involves a few minutes of warming up your brain, getting your thoughts in order, your senses calibrated right, your nervous system correctly adjusted. No one ever wakes up and immediately jumps out of bed without experiencing serious vertigo. For Azula, that process never took longer than ten minutes. Still, it is usually a process.
As she awakens again now, she is immediately active, her brain and senses like a switch that was just now turned on. She requires no help to get up. Though despite all of this, she still feels like she's dreaming.
AZULA: Adithya?
She looks around, calmly at first, then frantically.
AZULA: Oh no.
The sanctuary is nowhere to be seen. No grass, vines, none of her friends or firefly hummingbirds. Instead, she finds herself in a seemingly endless field of smaller rock formations and small pools of a steaming liquid in a green-ish/blue-ish color. The red color of the rocks mixed with this substance have an almost fluid quality, the colors appearing washed together like an oil painting. She looks above her and finds the sky in a chaotic mix of all the colors on the ground. If she can even call it that. This is clearly no rock, or water, or sky.
AZULA (quietly): Shit. Shit!
She looks around a bit more, almost accidentally stepping into one of the pools. If this is where she thinks it is then...
AZULA: Come ON!
Punching her arm forward does nothing. Striking her fingers forward does nothing. Repeating moves from the Dancing Dragon does nothing. No bending.
AZULA: Oh no...
She was obviously put into the Spirit World against her will. Again. But why? Did Aang drag her here? Does she need to go with him again?
AZULA: Aang? Aang! Aang, can you hear me!?
Her voice echoes in rhythmic waves. She sighs, her non-existent breath growing heavier and her face slowly turning into that of a scared child.
AZULA (fear): Aang!? AANG?!
While Aang takes on Azula duty (meaning placing her head on his lap and checking if she's still breathing) Adithya tries to comfort Ty Lee.
ADTIHYA: How are you holding up?
Sokka, still feeling completely alien, decides to sit down on the empty platform-
ADITHYA (angrily pointing at Sokka): Do NOT sit down there! That is a holy site!
He freezes up comically, removing himself and sitting down next to Aang.
SOKKA: Okidoki...
Ty Lee sighs.
TY LEE: I'm not doing well. First Zuko, now this stuff with Azula.
Sabachi quietly purrs on the firebender's stomach. Sokka looks over to Aang, mouthing the word "Zuko?", specifically as a question. Aang is unable to answer in discomfort.
ADITHYA: We can't lose hope. Not now. She will come back. And we will rescue Zuko.
Sokka decides to go for it and gets up.
SOKKA: Was he... taken prisoner?
Both girls glare at him with a burning hatred.
ADITHYA: I don't know why this concerns you.
As Sokka is unable to continue, Aang decides to step in, only figuratively, as he is still holding Azula's neck.
AANG: Guys...
They all pay attention to him.
AANG: I know Sokka means something different to me than he does to all of you. However... I think he's trying to help. Give him a chance.
It is eventually Ty Lee who takes the first step.
TY LEE: What do you know?
Sokka takes a confident breath before answering.
SOKKA: I don't know if Zuko was taken prisoner. But if he was, I know where he is now.
Ty Lee's pupils widen, and her face finally relaxes somewhat. Sokka meanwhile spreads open a map of Krakatoa Island and the surrounding areas. He points at a few specific spots not far from Dibuang while explaining...
SOKKA: This is where the ironclads are. They won't be used until the city has been taken. Right next to it is a smaller wooden boat. It's used as a prisoner transport for the non-benders.
TY LEE: Great. Let's go.
Her words are so incredibly sharp and serious that it immediately confuses the others.
ADITHYA: You can't go. It's too dangerous.
TY LEE (angry): Zuko would do the same for us!
Her cheeks puffed and her brow pulled into a furious frown, she grabs Aang's staff. After a few seconds she calms her rage, eyebrows changing angles into a sorrowful tone.
TY LEE: He would do the same for me.
No one objects. Quite the opposite actually.
ADITHYA: I will go with you.
AANG: Wait - no!
ADITHYA: Yes, Aang!
She calms down when looking at the boy again, a hint of a blush crawling onto her face.
ADITHYA: From my point of view, the more divergences we have, the less likely we are to repeat the stuff from your world.
Aang is convinced adequately and nods.
AANG: Be careful.
Azula continues to tread through the strange environment for a bit more. Minutes? Hours? It's hard to tell in the Spirit World. Clenching her hands tightly onto her elbows, she wonders if heading in a straight line would even have any effect. A liquid bubble explodes in a pool next to her and she flinches. Surprise quickly turns to anger.
AZULA (angry): Why is it always me?! Hey spirits! Aang is the Avatar! Why don't you get him involved in this nonsense instead of me?!
DEEP VOICE: YOU CALL MY HOME NONSENSE?
The weird voice echoes through the fields as if there were multiple walls reflecting it.
AZULA: Um... no? I was... talking about somewhere else.
A rumbling in the rock next to Azula alerts the girl. She steps back as the strangely shaped part of stone breaks off, revealed to be an actual face. The rest of this spirit creature breaks off from parts of the rock that are visible and parts that were hidden. The creature is reddish-brown, silver and orange. Its body is broad like that of a toad, with legs sticking off the side like a gecko. As it starts speaking, two holes in the front start glowing yellow, giving its head the appearance of a skeleton. Somehow, it can speak without a mouth, as it stares at the girl, roughly the size of a car.
CREATURE: YOU... ARE NOT THE AVATAR.
She purses her lips and looks into the air.
AZULA: That... depends.
CREATURE: ON... WHAT?
AZULA: Well, are you going to eat me if I'm the Avatar? Because in that case I'm definitely not.
The creature hums dissatisfied.
CREATURE: YOU... TALK A LOT. TELL ME YOUR NAME.
She gulps. Suppose there's no point in arguing.
AZULA: A- Azula.
CREATURE: TELL ME AZULA... WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOME?
She exhales comically nervous.
AZULA: I um...
Would be awkward to admit she has no idea why she is here. So why not go with something else instead. Apparently Aang isn't showing up anytime soon.
AZULA: I'm looking for someone. A spirit.
CREATURE: A SPIRIT?
Azula nods.
CREATURE: WHAT IS A SILLY LITTLE HUMAN TO DO WITH A SPIRIT?
She crosses her arms but tries not to talk back to the big spirit creature.
AZULA: I need his help. A city full of innocent people is under attack. We need someone to help us beat back the invaders.
The creature hums again.
CREATURE: SO, YOU NEED THE STRENGTH OF A SPIRIT TO WIN? TO BE BETTER THAN YOUR FELLOW HUMANS?
AZULA: No. No! I mean-
She sighs halfway through her retort, absolutely furious at herself for stuttering like Zuko would.
AZULA: Maybe it seems like that to a spirit. But to a human, we are fighting for our survival. We're defending our home - you would do the same if a spirit army came and invaded this place.
CREATURE: SPIRITS DO NOT ENGAGE IN WAR WITH EACH OTHER.
She bobbles her head.
AZULA: Okay, sure. But just imagine if you did. You would do everything you could to save your home, right?
CREATURE: NOT EVERYTHING.
She falls into silence for a bit. The strange creature does obviously not emote whatsoever.
CREATURE: BUT I UNDERSTAND.
Azula exhales in relief.
AZULA: Wonderful.
CREATURE: I WILL HELP YOU FIND THIS SPIRIT. BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS YOU.
She raises her brow in suspicion.
AZULA: Me?
CREATURE: YES. YOU ARE UNIQUE, AZULA. YOU HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE AVATAR.
She almost chokes on that. Not that she could in spirit form.
AZULA: Uh... sorry, I'm what?
CREATURE: YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE AVATAR SPIRIT IN MORE WAYS THAN YOU THINK.
The girl is speechless for a second.
AZULA: Well, I did travel with Aang to Kaiyuko's temple. On his weird cat/dog thing.
CREATURE: INTERESTING.
For a second, she wonders if spirits know what sarcasm is.
AZULA: Cool. Do you... also have a name?
CREATURE: I HAVE BUT MANY NAMES. BUT TO HUMANS I AM KNOWN AS KRAKATOA.
Grunting with pain and coughing up the salty taste in his mouth, Zuko attempts to overpower his severe vertigo and gain back agency over his own body. As he finally feels fully back to his strength and vision, he realizes why he is unable to move, the main problem being heavy chains around both his limbs and torso. The dim torchlight hanging on the iron wall in the small chamber immediately gives him a bad feeling. The last few things he remembers are blurry images of battle, murder, and his sister, looking scared.
The massive steel door opens slowly and gently.
KANNA: It seems that everywhere we're headed it is always you kids that cause our problems.
The old woman brings a second torch with her, hanging it on the other side of the wall and closing the door right after. To Zuko's surprise, she hands him a wooden cup of tea, which he only reluctantly accepts.
KANNA: You must be exhausted.
After his thirst is quenched, she removes the cup from his lips and puts it on the ground, before sitting down across from the boy.
ZUKO: Where are the other prisoners? Am I-
A shiver runs down his spine.
ZUKO: Am I the only prisoner?
KANNA: No.
He exhales at ease.
KANNA: You have a kind heart to care about your fellow man like that.
He finally grows a backbone and glares at her.
ZUKO: If only I could say the same thing about you or the Water Tribe.
Confusing him, her facial expression changes to a sad frown.
KANNA: I suppose I can't argue against that.
He starts to get a strange feeling about the old woman. After all, Ty Lee did mention that she helped them escape from Puwati's ship, on which he probably is now, based on the metal room.
ZUKO: Why am I here?
She tilts her head to the side with her arms folded below her parka.
KANNA: Probably because you didn't escape fast enough.
ZUKO: No. That's not what I mean. Why am I here?
She hesitates to answer. Zuko guesses right on the mark why that is the case.
ZUKO: I'm not here to be interrogated about intel. I'm here because of you-
KANNA: We don't have much time before the Vice-Chief finds out about this.
Now Zuko reacts speechless.
KANNA: You are right. I brought you here.
ZUKO: Why-
KANNA: Don't think I'm here as your friend.
While Kanna is trying to draw a line, Zuko suspects she might be lying to herself. In the end, he agrees to it.
ZUKO: But?
KANNA: The Vice-Chief is planning something terrible. And I need to know if I can trust the Avatar's judgement.
ZUKO: Aang's judgement?
KANNA: As you know, he is the bridge between the Spiritual-
ZUKO: And the material world. I know.
She nods.
KANNA: Then you know that our two worlds work in symbiosis. Which is why I need to know something about the Avatar...
Zuko again correctly predicts the next question with nervous anticipation.
KANNA: I need to know if he even is the bridge in our world. Or if he is the bridge in another.
The large spirit continues to trample its three-toed legs upon the alien rocks of this strange place. They even occasionally cross a shallow pool of sulfur, forcing Azula to hold her breath as to be protected from the smell. How exactly she still smells while in her spirit form is unknown to her. She gets fed up with the silence after a while and decides to chat up her temporary mount.
AZULA: So... have you met this Shishi? Is he as talkative as you?
KRAKATOA: HE IS A SPIRIT MUCH MORE ANCIENT THAN MOST SPIRITS, INCLUDING ME.
AZULA (mumbling to herself): I assume that's a no...
The altitude begins to rise out of nowhere and Azula has to hold on tight to Krakatoa.
AZULA: Where exactly is he?
KRAKATOA: HE IS HERE, AND HE IS NOT.
She frowns in confusion.
AZULA: Wait – you don't know where he is? Where are we going then?!
KRAKATOA: HE IS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD, AND HE IS NOT. MUCH LIKE YOU.
She figures out the cryptic phrasing on her own.
AZULA: So... a part of him is the Spirit World, and a part of him is in the physical world? In the sanctuary?
KRAKATOA: YOU ARE SMARTER THAN YOU LOOK.
Her initial proud smirks turns into an angered pout.
AZULA: What does that mean?
KRAKATOA: WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO HIM.
She swallows her pride and tries to act a bit more serious. That's when she remembers something that Krakatoa said earlier.
AZULA: Hey, uh... what did you mean when you said I'm connected to the Avatar?
The Krakatoa is initially silent.
KRAKATOA: IT IS A DIFFICULT CONCEPT TO EXPLAIN TO A HUMAN. THE WAY THE SPIRITS PERCEIVE THINGS IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM YOU. YOU MIGHT SAY WE... SEE THINGS YOU DON'T.
She is not satisfied by the vague response.
AZULA: Yes. But... what... did you see?
The Krakatoa hums. The slope has now stabilized into a 45-degree angle.
KRAKATOA: I CAN'T... FULLY EXPLAIN. PARTIALLY, BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY HUMAN. BUT ALSO... BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER MYSELF.
She audibly gulps.
AZULA: Do I need to be worried?
KRAKATOA: NO.
A small assurance, but assurance, nonetheless.
KRAKATOA: WHAT I CAN EXPLAIN IS THAT IT IS NOT MERE COINCIDENCE THAT YOUR PATH CROSSED WITH THAT OF THE AVATAR. ANYTHING MORE YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT YOURSELF.
She scoffs.
AZULA: Great...
KRAKATOA: WE ARE HERE.
The angle very abruptly changes back to zero, with the Krakatoa spirit stopping at a plateau overseeing the Sulfur Fields.
KRAKATOA: FROM HERE ON OUT, YOU MUST MOVE ALONE.
He tosses her down like a rebellious horse, though she manages to barely stick the landing.
KRAKATOA: I WILL LEAVE YOU NOW.
AZULA: Wait!
As he slowly transforms back into solid rock, his face continues to stare at her.
AZULA: I wanted to thank you. For your help.
KRAKATOA: I APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS, AZULA. I WON'T FORGET YOU.
And with that, his head vaguely resembling the shape of a skull transforms back into solid rock watching over the plateau. She takes a deep breath, finally admitting to herself how scared she is.
Walking a few corners around the plateau filled with small hills, she finally arrives at a platform reminding her much of the one she saw in the sanctuary. Only this one isn't empty. Upon it sits the stone statue of what she assumes is the spirit she has been looking for. The statue suddenly starts to glow with a hauntingly beautiful yellow light and Azula comes to a hold. The stone, as if it were a thin layer of paint, melts off of the statue, revealing Shishi in his full, imposing size and glory.
Act II. - The Beast Dog
The glowing subsides and Azula immediately falls down on one knee. Not that that would do anything, just that she learned from her brother to conduct herself this way in the presence of spirits. At least ones such as this.
Standing at an imposing 13 feet tall, the four-legged canine-like creature is colored orange, with black stripes running across its body in an intricate pattern. A golden mane covers almost the entirety of his face, only leaving the sclera and ears open. The hair also runs down his chest, giving it the appearance of a puffy, muscular torso. The eyes of the being are in the shade of a shiny blue, piercing through Azula's very soul.
The Shishi gets down from the platform, walking a few steps on its mane-covered legs, placing itself down in front of the girl and staring down at her with unknown intentions. The creature's tail, which is either covered in the golden fur or consists only of it, waggles to the side a few times, and as Shishi exhales from his elongated snout it finally speaks, once again without moving his mouth.
SHISHI: AVATAR!
She hesitates for a few moments, then finally deciding to get back up on both legs and stare up at the creature.
AZULA: No. I am Azula, a friend of the Avatar.
QA-CHEROUGH!
The horrifically loud roaring of the creature howls like thunder and echoes through the plateau, probably a lot further. Azula shuts her eyes, her corporal body back in the sanctuary probably just skipped a beat there. Despite surprising her with this terrible howl, the creature decides to sit down like any old dog would.
SHISHI: AZULA!
She nods awkwardly.
AZULA: Yes. I am here to ask for your help.
SHISHI: HELP! HELP!
Her spine tingles with unnerve at the spirit.
Zuko hesitates to answer, which already tells the old woman everything she needs to know.
KANNA: You kids assume that we don't talk to each other here in the Water Tribes.
Zuko scoffs in a smug fashion.
ZUKO: I doubt the Water Tribe, Puwati or the Great Chief know about it. It's only you and Sokka...
Her brow shoots up.
ZUKO: ...so good luck getting that story anywhere.
KANNA: Sokka knows?
She has the upper hand again.
KANNA: Hm. Curious. I wonder why he didn't tell me...
ZUKO: If one of your own doesn't trust you, why should I? Why should Aang?
Now she is the one who scoffs.
KANNA: Again, not here to make you like me. And Sokka isn't just anyone, he is my grandson.
Her confident smug turns into a sad frown.
KANNA: The truth is... I need your help. The Vice-Chief is about to cause irreversible damage and we need to stop him.
Zuko grunts angrily.
ZUKO: Oh, so the destruction of my people is fine and dandy but NOW you're drawing a line!
She is incapable of responding, as the hypocrisy is as clear as day to her now.
KANNA: You are right...
She gets up, taking a few seconds before turning towards Zuko again.
KANNA: I have committed to do better. I am powerless to stop this war. But I can stop Puwati from killing a spirit.
Zuko's shock is an adequate expression of his realization.
ZUKO (quietly): Shishi...
KANNA: The Vice-Chief is convinced that the Beast Dog resides within the city, and that, if the battle got desperate enough, they would use him.
The boy can't lie. All he is able to do is avert his face from Kanna, already giving away what she wanted to know.
KANNA: So, the Shishi is there...
ZUKO: If Puwati kills him... the balance between humans and spirits would be even worse than it already is.
KANNA: Think about me what you want, but the Water Tribes do care about the maintained balance between our worlds.
ZUKO (angry): Really? What do the spirits think about a war like this? And why are we even talking about this in secret then? Clearly you are the one that cares to protect the spirits in your stupid tribe!
She sighs quietly.
KANNA: My son would never approve of something like this. But Puwati... he is determined to end the fighting as quickly as possible.
Zuko's anger does not subside, forcing Kanna to sound more desperate.
KANNA: Please understand that I don't want any of this! But if I am to betray my nation, I need to know if taking the side of the Avatar is the right thing or not.
He averts his eyes, and the old woman can feel her frail, old body shine through.
KANNA: My good boy - please! Don't you realize that this whole thing is far bigger than either of us!?
ZUKO: I do.
He exhales with visible unnerve.
ZUKO: Don't you realize that I won't help you unless you treat me as my equal?
With only a few seconds of hesitation, she finally cuts Zuko free from his iron chains, allowing him to properly stand up.
KANNA: I did my part, now-
ZUKO: Aang is from a world in which the Fire Nation started the war.
Her eyes sparkle with excitement and dread combined.
KANNA: Oh my...
ZUKO: If Sokka didn't tell you about it, then who did?
Kenora's breath undoes Sokka's continuing worry that he may have hit her a bit too hard in the head. As he politely leans the unconscious, tied up girl against the rock wall, he walks right back over to Aang, who admires Azula and the little lemur on her. Sabachi briefly chirps at a little spasm from the firebender but calms right back down as the girl returns to normal. Sokka sits down next to (but a short distance away from) Aang, his mind racing with what exactly he should say.
AANG: Why did you do it?
Aang eases that problem for the prince.
SOKKA: Well... I've had this feeling for a while. Actually, ever since my dad... sort of banished me.
The parallel worries Aang once more.
SOKKA: I thought I wanted to be a prince... a great captain... to catch you...
Sokka sighs with a clearer mind than ever.
SOKKA: But I don't really want any of those things. To be completely honest - I don't really know what I want.
He looks over to Kenora, Aang's head following him.
SOKKA: But I saw what ambitions did to her. If capturing the Avatar or becoming a captain again means going that far then... I don't think I want it.
For a very short moment Aang allows himself to feel joy from hearing those words.
SOKKA: Plus, there's this... weird "other-worldly" story that you keep telling, and I'm starting to think that it's worth hearing you out.
He smirks at Aang, the monk boy returning the favor.
SOKKA: So, who am I? In your world?
His stomach turns warm with the beautiful memories of his Sokka.
AANG: In my world Azula and Zuko didn't find me. You did.
Sokka flinches comically.
SOKKA: Me?!
AANG: Yes. You and Katara.
Hearing his sister's name uttered by Aang seriously shocks Sokka.
SOKKA: Oh wow. You know my sister then...
Aang tries his hardest to hold back a blush.
AANG: Yes. The three of us traveled to the North Pole to find a waterbending teacher for her and me. That was many years ago...
His somber tone indicates many things to Sokka.
SOKKA: So... why did you come to this world then?
Aang's happiness vanishes again.
AANG: I wish I knew. After years of running away from the Fire Nation I tried to talk to my past lives. But instead... I ended up here.
Sokka nods affirmatively.
SOKKA: I see.
For a moment they both just kind of awkwardly stare down at Azula.
SOKKA: If it makes you feel any better... I think it probably has a reason.
Aang frowns, intrigued by his words.
AANG: How come?
SOKKA: Well, I'm not really an expert, but if I had to guess then... probably, yeah. If you were just some random boy, then you would probably be stuck here but being the Avatar and all... it has to have a meaning. I don't know. Just my instinct.
A big, bright smile immediately appears on Aang's face.
AANG: Thank you, Sokka.
Sokka nods...
SOKKA: Thank you...
...then comically freezes up.
SOKKA: ...um...
AANG: Wait... do you even know my name?
Sokka scratches the back of his head.
SOKKA: Uh... you probably mentioned it once. Was it... something that starts with a "Ty"?
Aang is humored by this. He performs an Air Nomad gesture of good will towards Sokka, something Aang has not performed in a long while. Probably longer ago than egg custard tart. Sokka nods respectfully, re-enacting the gesture as best as he can.
AANG: I'm Aang. Nice to meet you.
The Shishi sniffs Azula scent against her will. Or is it her spiritual scent? Who knows.
SHISHI: AZULA!
Azula starts getting a little annoyed, though it's probably for the best if she manages to keep her composure with something called "The Beast Dog".
AZULA: Yes... that's me. And we need your help, Shishi. The people of Dibuang are in danger-
SHISHI: HELP! NO! NO HELP!
She finally dares a frown.
AZULA: What do you mean "No help!"? Why can't you help us? Aren't you the protector or something-
SHISHI: AZULA! NO AVATAR! NO HELP!
Azula's jaw drops, and her arms cross in anger.
AZULA: Oh, so it's me? It's my fault that you can't help?
SHISHI: NO AVATAR!
It appears her body language alone does not have the same effect on spirits as it does on her friends, as the spirit walks back over to this statue.
AZULA: Wait! Please wait!
Her more kind words have no effect either and so she decides to switch strategies.
AZULA: What about the firebenders? Aren't you their guardian?
The Shishi finally turns around at that, removing his paw from the stone.
AZULA: Yeah? Yeah? Well, pretty much every single firebender lives in that city, and they would probably like it if you helped them.
SHISHI: AZULA? FIREBENDER?
She stutters trying to decipher his question.
AZULA: Me? Are you asking... if I'm a firebender?
He places himself down again like a domestic little pup. Azula assumes that she's right. But what now?
AZULA: I... can't bend while I'm in the Spirit World. I could show you if you came to the physical world...
Her little attempt to persuade him only earns her a head shake, the beast scratching his head with its hind legs. Azula ponders some more. She needs to come up with a solution soon. Or else...
The only course for the girls and the bison to take was above the storm, allowing the full moon to lend them enough moonlight to see clearly ahead. Adithya is studying Sokka's map in the back while Ty Lee fearlessly holds onto Appa's reins in the front.
ADITHYA: We should be there in a few more minutes.
Ty Lee's stern behavior seriously unsettles the princess.
ADITHYA: We're going to get him. Don't worry.
Ty Lee's hard facade quickly breaks with a sigh.
TY LEE: I'm not worried about Sokka. I'm worried about Aang.
Adithya crawls to the front of the saddle.
ADITHYA: Why?
TY LEE: Because he's been through so much already. Every time we'll deal with something similar to his world, he's going to have a breakdown. What if it's too much for him?
Adithya tries to reassure the acrobat.
ADITHYA: I know he can do it. He's the Avatar.
Ty Lee, much to the surprise to the princess, scoffs at that.
TY LEE: I appreciate your kind words. But I'm afraid his aura is telling me something else.
Adithya's brow shoots up.
ADITHYA: That's right, you can read auras. I almost forgot.
Ty Lee nods.
TY LEE: Yours shines bright and yellow every time you're around Aang.
Adithya blushes. Soon, her joy turns into sorrow.
ADITHYA: But... his doesn't? Right?
Ty Lee confirms her suspicion with a sigh.
TY LEE: It's not like he has no reaction. But it's not the same as yours. It's not as-
She almost blurts out a secret she had been keeping to herself.
ADITHYA: Not as what? What do you mean?
TY LEE (awkwardly): Uh... nothing!
Appa protests against Ty Lee stomping her foot.
TY LEE (to Appa): Sorry!
Adithya keeps poking her head and Ty Lee breaks.
TY LEE: Can you keep a secret?
Adithya nods.
ADITHYA: For sure.
TY LEE: Well... there is another aura that reacts strongly to Aang.
Adithya suspects to know the answer already.
ADITHYA: There is?
TY LEE: Yes. But I can't tell you.
ADITHYA: Why?
Ty Lee pauses for a few seconds.
TY LEE: Because she doesn't know it either.
As she looks back, the two share a look that tells her everything she needs to know without uttering another word.
Her head pounding like a drum, Kenora wakes up again in a cold sweat. She tries to feel the back of her head, but finds her arms tied up, her legs in similar condition.
SOKKA: Welcome back.
She sits up distressed and confused, the Avatar pondering over the firebender while Sokka is roaming free.
KENORA: Sokka... what happened?
His lack of answer quickly gives her all the answers she needs.
KENORA (with a glare): Oh... I get it. You don't like not being in the spotlight anymore, do ya? You liked being the pompous prince in charge of a crew.
She tilts her head slightly to the side, causing him to avert his eyes.
KENORA (cold): But where did that get you? Where is your crew now? Are you going to get yourself another thug to do all the work while you get all the praise? Prince?
He sighs.
SOKKA: You are right.
His very sharp response leaves her speechless.
SOKKA: I was selfish. And an ass. And terrible to women.
He finally turns around to face her again.
SOKKA: But then I met you. You taught me to look out for others first. That I'm not the person that matters the most.
She scoffs.
SOKKA: I did like commanding a crew. But so did you. You liked giving orders and planning our route and being stronger than me...
Aang is surprised to hear him admit that.
SOKKA: ...you liked being able to beat up people. And strangle them...
She flares up her nostrils.
KENORA: Get to the point.
He scoffs, a hint of sadness lingering in the exhaling breath.
SOKKA: I don't have one. This is all on you, Kenora.
He turns back around, angering her even more.
KENORA (angry): If I didn't help you on the Boiling Rock, you would still be stuck there! You are nothing without me! I was the one who actually captured the Avatar!
AANG: Only for a bit.
He shrugs sheepishly, angering her even more.
KENORA (angry): You only needed a muscle to do your dirty work! You would've have taken anyone from that prison!
SOKKA: I would not have.
Standing next to Aang, Sokka turns back around one last time.
SOKKA: I felt bad for you. I thought... if we helped each other, we could both be happy.
Sokka takes out a necklace from his pocket, one that Aang can't quite make out as to what it is. Neither can Kenora.
SOKKA: The truth is... back then, I needed you. As a friend. You only needed a ticket out of there.
He finally tosses away the betrothal necklace with bitter hatred for it. It lands somewhere in the corner of the sanctuary. Kenora simply scoffs at that and averts her head. She could probably drain some of the grass to cut herself free. But for now, she chooses to be quiet and wait for her moment to strike.
The night is quiet. Too quiet. As Ty Lee lands the bison next to a small wooden transport ship (as Sokka correctly described) Adithya can't shake the feeling like this is all a bit too easy. She suspects that Ty Lee does not share these fears. A terrifying level of determination has taken a hold of her, instilling a deadly serious side that Adithya hasn't seen yet.
The few guards standing around the ship's deck are quickly and quietly dismantled and knocked out. While Appa is hiding in the distance for his own safety, Adithya walks below deck in search for Zuko and the other prisoners. For a moment Ty Lee quietly admires the awfully quiet night. The rain out here is merely a soft drizzle, giving the air a refreshing quality.
Ty Lee suddenly feels the air change, a cold shiver that alerts her neck. She turns and dodges a dangerously precise ice projectile.
Four waterbender in rhythmically precise coordination land on four corners of the deck, surrounding the acrobat.
Makias draws water from the ocean to engulf his club in ice.
Animo creates an ominous mist of icy winds around himself.
Kuskos creates two equally sized blades from the water surrounding his belt.
Astor flips water on his hand like a coin, glaring devilishly at Ty Lee, who readies herself in the fiercest Baguazhang position she can muster. No member of the Elite Four speaks, they all stare at each other silently for a moment. Ty Lee tries to use her aura reading to determine who could strike first.
In the end, it was her airbending senses that gave her the clue - she backflips away quickly as Makias shoots his water towards her, tossing and catching it with his club like a boomerang. Animo engulfs the ship in more mist, slowly crystallizing around the nervous airbender, who is able to disrupt the attack by creating an air dome, before skillfully spinning her staff in order to block Astor's deadly projectiles.
Kuskos goes in for the close combat, drawing his blades quickly and precisely, putting Ty Lee on edge, especially since she has to coordinate her foot work with her staff spinning. A nasty freezing, another water-boomerang and her staff is knocked out, a blade as sharp as diamond and as blue as the sky nearly misses her head as she dodges. A strain of her hair got cut off again. She decides to momentarily let go off her composure and let her rage reign supreme - like she did back in the Northern Lights, she creates a powerful air spiral, shooting up into the air and blowing away her attackers. This time though, she quickly launches herself down, transforming the momentum into a concentrated funnel, with which she shoots Astor directly in his face. Makias is initially able to block her attacks, though catches a nasty hit from the side as she combines her cartwheel with airbending, launching him against the ship mast.
Animo tries another film of ice, Ty Lee switching into a somersault. As Animo shoots a concentrated beam of ice, she plunges a powerful blow from her feet (mid somersault!), disrupting his ice beam and turning it into tiny shards that harm the attacker. Landing on only her finger, she manages to balance into a wing-like motion, simultaneously dodging one of Kuskos throwing (water-)blades, as well as building up a wave of wind with her feet. Landing on one leg and her back turned towards Kuskos, she stretches her arm out aiming at her opponent with her face upside down. Kuskos can dodge, but fails to deal with her follow-up air kick, which launches him straight into Animo.
Makias attempts close combat as well, swinging his club with the fury of a dozen warriors. Yet, by keeping her mind calm, her hands forward and her legs in motion, she manages to spin her way around this much larger foe, much to Makias' dislike. After missing around twenty blows, she finally knocks his weapon away, forcing him to opt for her throat directly and hold her like that for a while. As he tries to bend up water, the dangling and grunting girl is flexible enough to get her legs around his head, disrupting his bending. Her hands charging up like a pinball quill, she blasts a painful air projectile against his chest. After he finally lets her go, she knocks him out with a daring back flip ending in a split, his head launching again the wooden ship with a loud thud.
As Ty Lee gets up, her mind still racing with the thought of a fight, a sudden feeling takes control of her. It is as if her body was suddenly taken over, as if a long-gone instinct took a hold and allowed her to react with the kind of efficiency of someone who just started the fight. Astor's bullet-like water shot gets easily dodged - Ty Lee backflips right behind the man and hits him five times across his back and in his arm. With a surprised grunt, Astor falls down, unable to move. Ty Lee looks at her fists in pure confusion at... what exactly just happened.
While occupied with her utter imbroglio, the other three members of the Elite Four get back up on their feet, only to be overrun in a comical capacity by an onslaught of freed prisoners, all of them non-benders.
ADITHYA: Ty Lee!
The princess runs up to her, the acrobat still bewildered and unable to react properly.
ADITHYA: Are you okay?
Ty Lee nods quietly after a few more seconds of staring into the distance.
TY LEE: Something... weird happened.
Adithya pouts awkwardly.
ADITHYA: You can tell us when we're back. But we need to go now.
Finally does Ty Lee notice the severe lack of Zuko.
TY LEE: Where-
ADITHYA: Not here. The other prisoners told me they were taking him to the main ship of the fleet.
Ty Lee's lips quiver but her will is not yet broken.
After all the dreadful and detailed information Kanna is sat down while Zuko is the one standing. He wonders if he could simply overpower the old woman and escape but decides against it.
KANNA: I see... so when you found that boy in a volcano, you did not find the Avatar from this world... but from another?
Zuko nods.
ZUKO: Correct. But he isn't trying to get back and leave us behind. Not anymore...
That droplet of doubt seriously raises some suspicions in Kanna.
KANNA: Your name is Zuko, right?
He nods again. The old woman gets back up, folding her arms beneath the blue sleeves of her elegant parka.
KANNA: How can you trust this Avatar after all that happened? Didn't he make it clear that his priorities lie elsewhere? That he would abandon you and this world at the first sight of a way back to his own?
An earth-shattering thought. Zuko does seriously consider the possibility. Even with all the help that Aang has provided, he has in the past shown his distaste for his fate in this reality. He is the one that attacked Azula and caused this Vice-Chief to break his arm like a twig.
After much consideration he decides to go with something his uncle would say.
ZUKO: I trust him.
The old woman raises her brow.
KANNA: But... how?
He scoffs.
ZUKO: I don't really know. Maybe I'm an idiot. Sure, he made the wrong choices, a lot of the time, actually. Ty Lee, Azula and I got hurt a number of times because of his decisions.
He pauses for a second.
ZUKO: But I think it has to mean something. It has to. Right?
Another pause to let the old woman get invested.
ZUKO: In his world, my sister is a monster. And if I'm being honest with you...
A terrifying sensation runs down his neck.
ZUKO: I can see it. She has those tendencies. If some things in our past were different, if we grew up as royals with our father in charge... I could see how that might have turned her evil.
Kanna pictures a world in which Sokka was born with the gift of waterbending, a world where his father loved him and encouraged him to be a warrior like everyone else. She shudders at the thought.
ZUKO: But I don't think evil is something some of us are born with. I think we're all born with it. We all have that seed to spread chaos and only act for ourselves.
He musters up the courage for a smile. Not a joyful smile, not a mischievous smile... it's closer to a bittersweet smirk.
ZUKO: I think in the end what matters are our choices. The more Aang will choose to do the right thing, the more he'll grow in that direction. And I think he is moving towards that path. He's doing it slowly... but he'll get there.
The old woman is completely speechless, having heard the words of a wise old man coming out from this teenage boy.
KANNA: I understand.
Zuko's smirk quickly disappears as she walks over to the door.
ZUKO: Uh... so what now?
KANNA: I'll have to think about it. You go drink some tea.
His attempt to protest is shut down quickly by a cheeky smile from the old woman, right before she shuts the metal door. He scoffs initially, but after looking into his leftover cup of tea his confidence comes back. He picks up the cup and empties its contents into his hand, a small metal key gently dropping into his palm.
Aboard the Koriata, a group of prisoners inside several metal cages get up in confusion at a number of strange noises emitting from the hallway. Silent cries and grunts of pain, mixed with some thuds and what sounds like blasts of fire.
The door finally snaps open with the turning of a key and an airbender girl dressed in beige and yellow enters alongside the princess of Dibuang.
PRISONER (grabbing excitedly onto the bars): Princess! You have come to save us!
ADITHYA: We need to hurry!
She hands the man a key chain, allowing the prisoners in each little cage to free themselves.
TY LEE: Is Zuko here? Did you guys see Zuko?
A different firebender soldier exists the cage, checking his injured wrist.
SOLDIER: Is he that kid with the swords who hangs out with the Avatar?
Ty Lee nods.
SOLDIER: He ain't here.
Ty Lee grunts comically in frustration. Some of the prisoners exchange confused looks.
ADITHYA: Do you know where they took him?
SOLDIER: Some guards showed up an hour ago. I think they said they were taking him to see someone called "Chief-Mother"?
TY LEE: I know who that is.
The two girls immediately head back to the hallway, though wait for a moment at the door.
ADITHYA: Can you guys get out of here yourselves?
The soldier nods.
SOLDIER: Princess... it would be an honor.
Adithya nods with a smirk.
TY LEE: Hold on...
The acrobat runs over to a stack of detained weapons. Amongst its she finds her airbending staff again, the one she received as a gift back in Yu Dao. She looks over to Adithya with a bright, almost comical Ty Lee-smile.
TY LEE (happy): We can go now.
A haze of sulfur creeps around the plateau, cranking up Azula's nervous state even more.
AZULA: But how am I supposed to bend fire while I'm in the Spirit World? I would have to use my physical body! Can you not understand that?!
The Shishi shakes his head like a mastiff.
SHISHI: AZULA! BEND! FIRE!
She gets more and more frustrated, expressing her frustrations through weird noises that a spirit can't interpret. Her non-existent heart races, as does her non-existent... wait... her non-existent...
AZULA: Breath.
With a triumphant expression, she looks over to the Beast Dog.
AZULA: My breath. That's the source of my firebending. Right?
Shishi appears interested in what she has to say.
AZULA: I always said firebending comes from the sun. Which... isn't... completely wrong...
She stops herself from straying off.
AZULA: But the main part is breath. Now... I still... can't... breath in the Spirit World...
A weird thought as she can feel her chest rising and lowering. Probably a visualization of her physical body's lungs.
AZULA: But... I can still pretend to breath. Right?
She looks over to Shishi, who, to her surprise, nods.
Over in the real world, Azula's physical body takes a deep breath, telling Aang that she is about to engage in a difficult challenge.
She smirks and begins her performance.
No flames or fire escapes the palm of her hands, the corner of her knuckles, the tips of her finger, or the sole of her feet. (That's actually a good thing because sulfur is flammable!) However, even without the spectacle part of firebending, even without that missing spark, that feeling of power that Azula experiences every time she performs the skill, she still flawlessly performs the Dancing Dragon, fluently switching over to some other firebending forms, some advanced forms, and then finally something akin to free styling, wherein she displays many strange moves and swipes that she picked up on her journey so far. They are in fact very similar to Aang's and Ty Lee's airbending, now that she thinks of it.
She ends her performance in a mighty roar, although without the fire exiting her mouth it does look rather silly, she thinks. Once finished, Azula looks over the Shishi, who gets back up on all fours.
SHISHI: IMPRESSIVE. MOST IMPRESSIVE.
The barking speech pattern suddenly turns into a smooth, silky voice, speaking perfectly clear to the girl in a pitch much like James Earl Jones. She, of course, crosses her arms in an arrogant fashion.
AZULA: Oh, so you can talk...
SHISHI: YOUR FIREBENDING SKILLS ARE QUITE FORMIDABLE. I HAVE SEEN FEW HUMANS EVER DISPLAY SUCH RAW TALENT.
She allows her ego to feed on that compliment.
SHISHI: YOU STILL HAVE MUCH TO LEARN THOUGH.
The brief celebration of her own person is over.
AZULA: I suppose...
The Beast Dog lowers his head.
SHISHI: YOUR THOUGHTS DWELL ON YOUR FRIENDS. DON'T THEY?
She briefly wonders if the spirit can read minds and subsequently HOPES DEARLY that he can't.
AZULA: Will you help me save them?
SHISHI: HM. SPIRITS DON'T USUALLY GET INVOLVED IN HUMAN AFFAIRS.
She sighs in defeat, allowing her vulnerable side to shine for a moment.
AZULA: But you have to. Otherwise... the world is just going to plunge into more chaos. That can't be good for the Spirit World either, right?
SHISHI: NO. IT ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD NOT...
He places himself back upon his stone platform, his right paw held up into the air as if resting on an invisible object in the front left corner.
SHISHI: I WILL HELP YOU AND THE AVATAR, AZULA. YOU MUST CALL FOR ME IN THE HUMAN WORLD.
The spirit's mane begins to light up, his body slowly disintegrating into tiny light balls that flow away. Some of them start encircling Azula.
AZULA: Wait! But how will I do that!?
SHISHI: ONLY A SPIRITUAL BEING AS STRONG AS THE AVATAR COULD CALL ME. YOU WILL FIND THE ANSWER RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
The Shishi is now completely vanished, the light created from that engulfs all of Azula's body, blinding her eyes as she opens them again...
...the same light that hovers below the ceiling of the sanctuary, as Azula opens her eyes again.
AANG: Azula!
The boy immediately hugs her in an awkward fashion from behind, as she gets up, still a little dazed by her journey. Sabachi remains on her shoulder and joyfully licks her ear whenever Azula isn't talking.
AZULA: What...
Her instincts kick back in, and she quickly assumes a fighting stance as she spots Sokka sitting next to Aang.
AZULA: What are you doing here?!
SOKKA: Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah! Calm down!
AZULA: Don't move!
SOKKA (high pitch): Calm down...
AANG: Azula, calm down! He's here to help us!
It's those words that finally moves her to lower her arms.
AZULA: What? How's this dork going to help us?
Aang briefly exchanges shrugs with Sokka.
AANG: You have a point. But he's not here to hurt us. He's... our friend. Kind of.
Sokka is too scared to speak and just nods.
KENORA (sarcastic): I can vouch for him.
The next confusing presence alerts her, though this one is tied up and wiggling her feet in the corner, a truly spiteful cocktail of hatred and resentment expressed in a sarcastic smile.
KENORA: He would definitely not pretend to be your friend and then stab you in the back. He'll only hit in the back.
Kenora gifts her former a smile captain that, more than anything Azula has done so far, reminds Aang of the Fire Lord.
AZULA: Okay... and where are the others?
AANG: Ty Lee and Adithya went to rescue Zuko.
Azula nods bluntly.
AZULA: Okay. Guess I was out for a while.
Sokka would love to shout "What happened?" but continues to remain mute in her presence. Azula meanwhile finds a strange, blue necklace on the ground, picking it up and putting it in her pocket.
AANG: What happened? Were you in the Spirit World?
She nods calmly.
AZULA: That Shishi thing is coming to help us.
Aang sighs in relief, a hint of fear sprinkled in between.
AZULA: But we need to call him.
Aang slaps his forehead, angry at himself for celebrating too early.
AANG: How are we going to do that?
Her eyes are pulled back up towards the ceiling, admiring the flock of firefly hummingbirds, who shine with the same color and intensity as Shishi's mane did.
AZULA: That's what I'm here to figure out.
Once again Zuko finds himself sneaking through the metal corridors of an ironclad Water Navy ship, hoping in that very moment to not have to do this sort of stuff again in the future. Sneaking occasionally around the corner, he tries to spot guards-
GUARD: Hey!
Obviously, he failed.
The guard, in a spectacular, performative fashion, draws his curved saber, spinning it around a bunch in an attempt to intimidate Zuko. The boy smirks, reaching for his belt before noticing a severe absence of throwing weapons, as the last one he used was in the fight against Puwati.
ZUKO: Oh-oh.
He opts for option two, being chased through the vast hallways of this foreign ship. He eventually finds himself in a dead end, and, like scene from Scooby Doo, he shudders at the sword fighter slowly approaching him. In that moment a strange feeling takes a hold of him. Memories of him climbing the Twins and encountering strange spirits at the top. For an (to him) unknown reason, he decides to imitate one of Azula's firebending stances, a very simple one, launching his fist forward and...
...shooting a ball of fire at the attacker. The guard was apparently too surprised and gets knocked out by the red flame. So too is Zuko more than befuddled, staring at his hands as he finally snaps out of the trance-like state.
No time to ponder - he jumps over the guard and races around a few more corners, finally reaching a staircase...
...filled with three more guards, who all cackle comically at him. He decides to perform another stance, launching his palm forward with a determined grin and... only creating a little puff of smoke. The men laugh at him, but quickly get cut off as a blast of air pulls them away from the staircase, landing somewhere unknow to Zuko with a loud metallic thud. The exit is now only blocked by one person - Ty Lee.
ZUKO: Thank Agni...
She yelps briefly from her joy, with the two finally reuniting with each other, first in a long hug, then an even longer kiss, once again supporting Azula's theory that the two have no idea how kissing works.
ZUKO: The craziest thing happened to me.
TY LEE: Me too!
ADITHYA: GUYS!
The annoyed princess merely nods them over to the bison, which waits patiently on deck of the Koriata.
TY LEE: Let's go before more guards show up.
ZUKO: Yeah...
TY LEE: We can make out on Appa though.
His cheeks almost burst from his blush.
The city has officially been breached. In contrast to Arif's assessment, the attacks did continue via brief skirmishes, with the full wave of attackers charging the hills a few hours before sunrise. Not that it would matter in the rain.
The fields lost to the invaders, the fighting has expanded to street brawls, defending each street corner to the bitter end.
For a moment Puwati allows himself to enjoy the apparent victory, though his smile quickly disappears as he sees more of the destruction. The men are to push forward, attempt to minimize casualties and eventually reach the Pagoda Palace. His mission is to head there directly, on his own.
POP-PO BOOM!
An explosion right next to him puts him on high alert. He takes off his new blue coat, as the polar bear dog one was unfortunately lost in the fight against the Avatar.
POP-POP BOOM!
Another massive explosion occurs directly were Puwati was standing just a second before rolling aside. He can finally make out the source of the explosion - a special kind of firebender he has only ever read about glares at Puwati from across the street. The two mean exchange a few seconds to get ready. Arif clenches his metal fist, Puwati grabs onto his harpoon-hook.
POP-POP
Puwati rolls aside again.
BOOM!
Arif grunts.
POP-POP
Puwati takes cover behind the corner of a house.
BOOM!
He decides to be daring. Arif takes a deep breath.
POP-POP-DING!
With a loud clank the beam is redirected with a swipe of Puwati's staff, flying into the air and exploding next to an unsuspecting armored sky bison.
BOOM!
Before being able to retaliate, Puwati's harpoon end flies directly towards Arif, getting stuck in a wall rather than his head.
POP-
Puwati pushes the man's face away.
POP BOOM!
The beam hits a rooftop instead.
Puwati lands two good punches before his throat is caught by the metal arm. Arif takes a breath, but his head is rudely redirected straight upwards by way of Puwati's knee hitting the man's chin.
POP-POP BOOM!
Puwati manages to free himself from his claw-like hand, punching the man in the chest, then using both his fists in a pushing motion, almost like an earthbender, launching Arif against a house wall. Puwati lands another mean gut punch, then proceeds to pick his dizzy opponent up and tosses him into the stone ground, shattering some of the street. A final punch to Arif's forehead directly knocks him out for good.
Puwati takes a few moments to catch his breath, then pulls the harpoon-hook from the wall, breaking off a chunk of the house.
PUWATI: Well... let's go hunting.
The sound of Appa arriving brings more than enough joy for everyone except Kenora. As the bison lands, Zuko quickly jumps down and forces a hug upon his sister, who is still occupied with trying to figure out the solution to the Shishi puzzle, though after finally realizing that it is indeed Zuko in front of her she finally reciprocates the joyful relief and hugs him back.
TY LEE: Azula!
The next one to hug the firebender is the acrobat.
TY LEE: We were so worried! Are you okay?
AZULA: Yes. I'm trying to figure out how to call this dumb Shishi...
Adithya gets off of Appa as well now, finally.
ADITHYA: She found him?
Aang nods.
ZUKO: Sokka?
Sokka still feels very much alien and out of place, for good reasons, though Zuko now finally breaks that spell by gifting his next hug to the prince. Sokka sighs in relief.
ZUKO: I knew you'd come around.
Azula rolls her eyes.
AZULA: Right, now, back to this...
She pauses mid-sentence, her eyes glued onto the empty stone platform in the middle of the sanctuary. Again, not completely empty, as in the front left corner there is a stone ball. She mentally pictures Shishi in his statue form standing on the platform. His massive paw...
AZULA: Aang...
As everyone's eyes are glued onto her, she touches the stone ball.
AZULA: Can you touch this ball please?
ADITHYA: That's the Sun Orb.
A moment of comical silence.
ADITHYA: Ignore me...
Aang slowly walks over to the firebender, carefully placing his hand onto the orb.
The light returns to his eyes and tattoos for a brief second, before he and Azula step away. The flock of firefly hummingbirds on the ceiling buzzing downwards in a spiral, finally engulfing the platform in a Shishi-shaped light, which slowly begins to manifest.
PUWATI: Oh, perfect timing.
They all turn around quickly, weapons and bending stances ready. Though they are all powerless...
PUWATI (aiming his staff): Move an inch and the little doggy dies.
Aang begins to panic.
AANG: You can't do that! You have no idea what kind of damage you would cause-
ADITHYA: Please listen to me...
She steps forward, almost triggering Puwati to throw his weapon in a spear-like fashion.
ADITHYA: The Shishi is not only the source of firebending - he's the source of the sun. The warmth in the world. Destroying the sun won't hurt just the Fire Nation. It will hurt everyone, including you. Without the sun, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world.
KANNA: She's right, Puwati.
Puwati turns around to find Kanna walking down the stairs. Zuko, for all intents and purposes, also saw this coming.
PUWATI: Chief-Mother... I have to say I'm shocked to discover your treachery.
KANNA: I'm no traitor, Puwati. The Water Tribes need the sun too - we all depend on the balance.
She pulls out four different strains of water from hidden pockets all over her parka.
KANNA: Whatever you do to that spirit I'll unleash on you ten-fold. Drop your weapon NOW!
He begins to shiver with hesitation. All kids, plus bison, lemur and old lady now point their strength towards him. The Shishi finally appears in all his glory, taking a few seconds to adjust to this world.
In that moment, Puwati finally spots the eighth person in the room with them. Kenora, tied up in the corner, has been longingly staring at her father this whole time.
Puwati lowers his weapon.
PUWATI: ...daughter?
SLASH!
Despite the size and otherworldly nature of Shishi, upon catching an ice spear to the neck it howls in pain like any other dog would. Adithya briefly loses her balance and falls over. All parties stare at the staircase with utter shock.
Bato simply grins victoriously.
KANNA: NO!
Kanna is the first to launch her attack, Bato's left eye engulfed in a scar is now finally cut out. Both the old woman and Puwati immediately chase after the attacker in their anger, leaving the kids down below. Even Kenora gasps at the creature lying on the ground, blood in the color of gold flowing from his neck and drenching the soft grass below. Aang can feel his world collapsing like never before.
AANG: There's no hope now. It's over.
Act III. - A Clash of Blue
The Golden Sanctuary is as dimly lit as the breath of the dying Shishi is weak. Aang can't stop hyperventilating, Ty Lee races up and down with Zuko desperately trying to calm her, Sokka just sits on the ground and sighs in defeat, and Azula stands there and watches everything unfold in utter disbelief. Even Kenora acts a little shocked.
TY LEE: Zuko... you spirits... you know this stuff - i- i- i- isn't there something we can do - anything we can do?!
By the end of her sentence Ty Lee starts crying and the boy is forced to catch her, some tears running down his own face as well. Adithya finally finds the strength to get back up.
AANG: No.
ADITHYA: I have to.
AANG: No!
ADITHYA: I have to!
AANG: No! You can't do this!
He physically stops her from walking over to the Beast Dog.
ADITHYA: Let me go, Aang!
AANG: PLEASE!
He finally collapses onto his knees and starts sobbing uncontrollably, infecting Adithya alongside with it.
AANG (crying): I haven't changed anything, I haven't helped anyone - please don't do this, Adithya! This is all my fault...
She kneels down across from him.
ADITHYA (crying): It's not your fault. It's not your fault, Aang - listen to me!
She grabs his head as to keep it from staring into the ground endlessly.
ADITHYA (crying): You are not that. You are so much more than that. I'm only one in thousands that you will save. Do you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?!
He refuses to listen and just keeps on crying.
ADITHYA (crying): I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I have to do this...
Azula's eyes shift onto Kenora, a thought starting to brew in her head. Adithya gets back up and continues her death row walk.
ADTIHYA (crying): It's what I have to do...
Azula's heart and mind start racing.
ADITHYA (crying): It's my purpose...
Adithya's hand reaches for the dying spirit-
AZULA: Stop! Stop! Get back!
ADITHYA (crying): Azula, I have to-
AZULA: No! No, you don't.
She looks around the confused room, all the attention diverted towards her.
AZULA: She doesn't!
She walks over to the puddle of misery that is Aang.
AZULA: Aang, in your world...
Kenora gasps inaudibly.
AZULA: ...the spirit was dead right? It was already dead and there was no way to save it. Right?
He's unable to respond.
AZULA: Right?
She tries to appeal to the rest.
AZULA: Shishi isn't dead yet, which means...
She finally points her extended arms towards Kenora.
AZULA: We can heal him.
Everyone seems to light up at the thought, even Aang gets it together again. Sokka is the first one to act, pulling up Kenora by her shirt and slamming her against the wall.
SOKKA: You're going to do exactly as we say - got it?
She laughs maniacally at the thought.
KENORA: Or what? Are you going to force me?
AZULA: No, but I will.
She holds a blue flame in her hand dangerously close to Kenora's face. Still, the girl is resilient.
AANG (crying): Kenora, please...
Azula and Sokka back off.
AANG (crying): She's going to die if we don't do anything...
He catches his breath, the hurtful memories of the North Pole coming back to him.
AANG: She'll die just like Yue did.
This is when Kenora snaps.
KENORA (cold): What. Did you say?
AZULA: He's from another world, dum-dum. Everything that is happening right now happened exactly the same. Some princess named Yue had to die to-
KENORA: Stop!
A moment of silence and contemplation. Kenora takes a deep breath, before bending water from the grass below her to cut her restraints.
KENORA: I'll do it.
She points at Aang.
KENORA: Not for you...
She points at Adithya.
KENORA: Not for you...
She points aggressively at Sokka's chest.
KENORA: And definitely not for you.
She looks across the room, over to Adithya who hasn't moved away from Shishi yet.
KENORA: But I'll do it.
Slowly and carefully, she walks over to the whining beast, melting Bato's ice spear and using the water to cover his neck.
KENORA (quietly): Alright... just relax. I'm here to help.
A bright, blue shimmer of light engulfs the sanctuary in its crystal-like beauty. Adithya faints, with Aang catching her just in time. After a few brief moments, the light returns to Shishi's mane in all its glory - a blast of energy knocks everyone over and Kenora across the room. The waterbender uses the momentum to get the hell out of there.
Aang is the first one to stand up, the Shishi, now rocking a scar, staring directly into his eyes and into his soul.
SHISHI: NO. IT'S NOT OVER.
The glowing returns to Aang's body, his tattoos, his mouth, his eyes. He starts levitating above the ground, fusing together with Shishi until the two burst into a flame that escapes the sanctuary and rushes up the stairs outside. Azula immediately runs after it.
ZUKO: Azula, wait!
As Kenora reaches the palace door, a strange noise alerts her - a giant golden flame flies directly towards her. She gets on the ground, only barely being missed by it as it exits the palace proper.
Soldiers from both sides pause their battle as the sky suddenly clears up. The bright early morning sun disrupts and ultimately washes away the rainfall, which has engulfed the city in half a foot of water.
The golden fire circles and spins into forming a goliath, a spirit shaped like the Shishi, as tall as the Pagoda Palace and with bright glowing eyes. Aang, in his Avatar State, is placed in a ball inside Shishi's neck mane.
Bato looks up in horror as he pauses his escape.
BATO: No...
QA-CHEROUGH!
The Dibuang soldiers, firebenders, airbenders and non-benders alike, immediately lay down their arms and fall to their knees. A few naïve Water Tribe soldiers try to attack the Aang-Shishi with ice balls and waves. They all meet their doom in flames spewed from the mouth of the beast, flames that shine bright and golden, flames that do no harm to civilians, no damage to buildings, but who turn the Water Tribe soldiers into a few flocks of ash.
The soldiers finally have the brains to flee, as more fire rains upon them. The Aang-Shishi charges forward, to the edge of the city where the navy lies below. Any wooden ship immediately evaporates into thin air, most ironclads catch fire from the howling flames, or melt altogether. Only The Koriata manages to stand firm, though the impressive shark-alligator decoration melts off and splashes into the water below. The beast briefly stands on its hind legs again.
QA-CHEROUGH!
Azula watches all of this unfold in an abandoned corner of the city. Her head staring at what just a moment ago was Aang, melted into the chest of a giant that is putting an entire army ablaze.
Wet footsteps alert her. Kenora comes to a hold.
...
Azula tilts her head to the side, wondering how her enemy will respond.
KENORA: ...
AZULA: ...
...
Both girls launch their attacks the same time. Both attacks clash and create blue spark in between blue drops of liquid.
Azula immediately goes on the offensive, angrily blasting a barrage of fire balls, fire kicks and fire blasts at the waterbender, who slowly and skillfully uses the water on the ground to block all incoming attacks. She decides to counter with a number of small ice daggers, all of which Azula blocks with her scaly armor. While she is forced to do so, Kenora collects a bundle of water, blasting it into the air and raining a howling collecting of water projectiles towards Azula. The firebender acts quickly - roaring from her mouth and fists, she creates a beam of fire strong enough to vaporize the attack completely. Kenora grunts - the two fire blasts from Azula's arms are launched forward and the girl uses a wave to dodge them. She tries to counter with Pakku's water pillars, surrounding herself and her enemy. Azula blasts one after the other, before shooting five small flocks of fire towards Kenora. Initially confused, the waterbender is smart enough to block with another wave, as the small bullets suddenly explode into massive fire storms, melting a part of her wall. With her other hand Kenora tries to collect enough water for a counter but, upon launching it at Azula, the firebender has already spun mid-air into launching blue flames from her soles and completely destroying the water attack.
Both girls just stare at each other for a moment.
Bato manages to avoid the golden hellfire deluge enough times before Kanna and Puwati finally corner him. He smirks, reading his hunting knife.
BATO: Traitors and cowards united as one!
Puwati firmly grabs onto his weapon while Kanna readies herself.
BATO: I was right. Right from the start. It doesn't matter how hard I tried to be your equal...
He grins at Puwati with an especially strong amount of malice.
BATO: I will never be your equal. I wasn't born with royal blood. But look how far I got!
He looks back and forth at both opponents and smiles even more creepily.
BATO: I slayed the Spirit of the Sun! If we work together, we could do it again-
His speech is interrupted by another wave of golden fire washing over all of them.
Once the fire is gone, Kanna is speechless to find herself still alive.
Puwati reacts in the same way.
They both look at the spot Bato was just monologuing on a second ago. There's nothing. No ash, no corpse, no hunting knife.
The Hunter of the South has been devoured by fire and wiped off the earth.
Their fight has moved to higher grounds, as Azula climbs up from a balcony to a rooftop, all while dodging Kenora's water shards. The waterbender has managed to conjure up a spiral around her waist, allowing her to float above the ground as if she commanded a tornado.
Azula disrupts that balance by blasting blue flames from her fingertips. You'd think that with tiny fingers the attacks would be smaller - the opposite is the case. The large fire blasts force Kenora to launch forward, using up the water left in her tornado to hoist forward. Azula splits the beam with her bending, opting to go for some fire kicks next. Kenora charges her.
The two girls continuously attempt to hit each other with an attack directed with their arms and legs, whereas in the other one constantly blocks and re-directs the moves on a sheer endless loop.
SWOOWSH! Fire flies up into the air.
SPLASH! A wave hits the roof instead.
The two girls clash their legs directly in the air, both the flame and water stream launched simultaneously in the horizon. Kenora finally gets an idea - blocking a series of attacks she grabs Azula with a wateracle, pulling her up by the leg and launching her into an evacuated building.
Azula gets up with pained grunts in the partially destroyed kitchen while Kenora lands on a wave.
KENORA: All this nonsense with the Avatar...
Azula tries to get up but catches a flat-out punch to the face.
KENORA: All this time trying to get away from me. Where did it get you? HUH?!
An impressive spin turns into a devastatingly powerful capoeira kick, which knocks over Azula's head like it would an arcade punching machine. She coughs on the floor, frantically trying to get back on her feet. Bloods runs from her lips.
KENORA: WHERE IS YOUR AVATAR NOW, HUH?!
Kenora launches yet another stream of water turned ice. Out of nowhere Azula manages to perfectly dodge the incoming strike via a spin. Her movement almost instinctively switched over to airbending. She realizes that watching Aang and Ty Lee for so long might've taught her a thing or two.
Kenora howls in her anger, launching attack after attack at an Azula who frustratingly and masterfully manages to dodge every single attack with the speed of an airbending master. After trying a last, desperate ice ball, Azula uses the momentum of the spin to switch over into a straight-up airbending move, creating a funnel of fire which, if it weren't for Kenora's waterbending reflexes, probably would've done a lot worse than just launching her out the apartment.
Azula takes a few seconds to come back to her senses. She runs over to the window and sees a blue dot in the distance fleeing hastily on a wave.
After the last ship has fled the onslaught of the battle, the voice of the Shishi rings inside Aang's head.
SHISHI: IT IS YOUR DESTINY TO RESTORE BALANCE, AVATAR. BUT REMEMBER - YOU ARE NOT ALONE...
With those wispful words, the Shishi shrinks down, a golden shimmer glowing across its entire body. As the hummingbirds fly back inside the palace and its sanctuary, Aang collapses onto the wet stone floor of the Golden City, Dibuang.
In a city recovering from war, a group of kids stand at the food of a towering palace, overlooking the city with a sense of profound relief and in awe at the beautiful sunset.
Ty Lee leans herself against Zuko, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. Azula is scratching her lemur, her eyes slowly wandering over to Aang, who admires his accomplishments next to a Shishi statue at the entry. Appa is resting peacefully next to the kids.
Adithya emerges from the palace, her body wrapped in a beautiful, jewel-crested blue dress.
ADITHYA: The council sends its regards. We're sad to have you leave so soon, but we're happy to escort you to the Earth Kingdom's mainland.
All eyes switch towards the princess.
ADITHYA: They have also agreed to hand the prisoner over.
She snaps at two guards, who drag Sokka in chains towards the kids.
SOKKA: Hi! Is uh... is this really necessary?
Everyone except Zuko and Aang glare at the prince and he nods in shame.
Whatever was able to evacuate the Golden City remains on the partially damaged Koriata. In the sea of survivors and injured, Kenora is leaned over the railing, staring off into the distance, her eyes swollen from the tears she allowed herself to cry in secret. She really wasn't expecting Sokka to betray her like that. Her own father, who she had hoped would comfort her, has locked himself inside his office in shame, part of the men already starting to whisper nasty things about their Vice-Chief.
In this quiet chaos Kanna is of high demand, as she wanders from person to person, trying her best to heal their wounds, at least the ones on the outside.
She finally spots Kenora on accident. Finishing up the shoulder of a swordsman, she quietly approaches the waterbender princess. Kenora didn't even notice the old woman appearing beside her. After a few moments of hesitation, Kenora allows the old woman to engulf her in a compassionate hug.
As the Dream Team prepares for their take-off, Adithya helping out personally with the luggage, Azula walks over to a daydreaming Aang.
AZULA: I'm sure your lack of help has a profound emotional meaning and is not simply you trying to skip work, right?
He looks over to her and appreciates her wit with a smile.
AZULA: Look... I know that the reason why we're doing all of this is so you can get back to your world. But... just so you know...
After a long, deep exhale, she grants him the most honest, and genuine expression she has ever performed. A smile that, for a moment, causes him to seriously flirt with the idea of staying. After all, there's Air Nomads, his new friends, and this new Azula he has grown to like so much more than he ever expected.
AZULA: ...if you do decide to stay... you'll always have us. You'll-
She coughs unnaturally, embarrassed at herself for blushing.
AZULA: Yeah, whatever. Either way you're fixing this mess, wind boy.
He simply responds with a smile, putting his hand over her shoulders.
AANG: Deal still stands.
She nods. Not being allowed to show this much friendly aura on their own, Zuko, Ty Lee, Sabachi and Appa join the two, which creates a group hug warmer and more calming than anything Aang has felt in a very, very long time.
On deck of the Water Navy's flagship, a man sitting on a throne made of bones addresses a girl kneeling in front of him.
HAKODA: Your brother is a traitor and Puwati is a failure.
The girl looks up with calculating, blue eyes.
HAKODA: I have a task for you.
The girl smiles and nods.
KATARA: Yes, father.
Cue "bored&blind" by ella jane.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special shoutout to a few people:
-Ogro, who wrote the original Distorted Reality, which inspired most of this story
-Anonimosx, who always gives me nice feedback after each episode
-CowTrain, who helped me with a lot of the chapters and my terrible spelling
-And finally, you, the reader, either for sticking with the project since January 2021 or for checking it out at a later time. I love and appreciate each and every one of you!
A few important updates for the future of Avatar: The Last Firebender:
Will this fanfiction continue?
Yes. I started writing this story with Books 2 & 3 planned out from the start. A lot of details and character stuff is shit I come up with on the spot, but the overall story arc is something I have been carefully crafting from the start. Whether or not I am able to deliver is a different question.
Will you be taking a break for a bit?
Yes. I intend to take the rest of July and August off, continuing to write in September, and dropping Book 2 Episode 1 possibly in September, or October. I have some other things I need to deal with, some personal stuff, some other project, and properly reading through Book 1 again in its entirety in order to iron out some leftover spelling errors, of which there probably are some. I also need to take some important notes on details I have already forgotten, like, is Lu Ten dead? Is he missing in action? I did actually forget.
What can I expect from Book 2: Earth?
Book 2 will, much like Book 1, take a lot of inspiration from the original show and Ogro's Distorted Reality. It will however have a lot of twists and changes that you might not see coming. I will again try to have an average of about 15k words per chapter but since a lot of stuff will be original material, it might go a little different. We'll see. What I can say is that I am very much looking forward to continuing the story of Azula, Aang, Zuko, Ty Lee, Kenora, Sokka, Appa and of course, Sabachi.
Finally, I'd like to repeat myself by thanking all of you for reading this story. It is a project that's very close to my heart and being able to share it with the world is a feeling I can't quite put into words. I wish y'all a nice summer, and I hope to have you back for…
Book 2: Earth – Episode 1: The Blue Dragon.