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
Book 2: Earth
Episode 2
The Princess Squad
Act I. – The Sword
Kenora curses, kicking her dressing table. How hard can it possibly be to take a few strains of her hair and wrap them in blue cloth?! She grunts.
Katara suggested this. Since Kenora's hair is now starting to grow down her shoulders, giving it some kind of styling couldn't hurt. Katara's reasoning was that the other Water Tribes soldiers would be more accepting of her if she looked more feminine. Kenora thought that was a bunch of nonsense. But hey, two little braids on each side covering her ear and underlining her cheeks? Why not. Could look cute.
That was the thought process anyways. Kenora just couldn't do it. Whatever. Her hair was probably too curly for it. Maybe there's some different thing she could do with it. For now, she had abandoned the idea, as to not hurt her toe a third time.
A knock on the door to her room. All the furnishings are wood and fur, yet the entire hull, the floor, the walls, the ceiling - it was all a brilliant silver metal. Quite a change to the Matariki.
KENORA: Come in.
Suki enters and the otherwise tough captain's heart skips a beat.
KENORA: Hey.
Suki quietly places folded laundry on her bed. It's a brilliant, deep blue, a dark shade reminding Kenora of the ocean at night.
KENORA: What is that?
SUKI: Our uniforms. The Crown Princess designed them.
Kenora frowns with surprise at Suki's apparent politeness. The stern girl's big lips form a pout. Her hands fold behind her back with eerie symmetry.
SUKI: You are staring.
Kenora blushes ever so slightly.
KENORA: I guess...
On her way out, without saying goodbye of course, Suki stops, having almost stepped on one of Kenora's hair bands. Her foot standing perfectly still at a 25-degree angle, she moves it aside, picking up the cloth. She admires it quietly, leaving Kenora with an obnoxiously curious stare.
SUKI: You dropped this.
She turns around, handing her the hairband.
KENORA: Yeah, dropped isn't the right word.
Suki expresses confusion, but only slightly.
SUKI: Do you need help?
Kenora scratches the back of her head.
KENORA: No, I'm fine.
Suki's face morphs back into the blank stare of a clothing store mannequin. She swiftly leaves her room again...
KENORA: But thanks for the-
...closing the door quickly, though without a loud bang.
KENORA: Offer.
She puts the hairband away and walks over to her bed. Grabbing the blue attire by the shoulder parts, she lifts it up above her head, allowing the thing to fully spread out. It's a one-piece, deep blue with thin golden strains running down on the edges. It almost has a dress-like quality, leaving Kenora to wonder if she could even move in that thing. As she puts it back down with a dismissive snort, she spots the belt that goes with it. Hard leather, black, golden edges and proudly displaying the coat of arms of the Water Tribes, a crescent moon with waves. Supposedly, Kenora guesses, this thing has to go above her waist and over the uniform.
KENORA: Yuck.
Yue likes the new uniforms. She isn't exactly sure why they gave her one too, but she appreciated the gesture. Although she would prefer wearing her parka over it. Katara had said that being a princess herself, there is no reason she shouldn't be included in the squad. It's not like Yue could fight, especially with her weak lungs, but then again, Katara wasn't much of a fighter either. Apparently she is an extraordinary healer though, one of the best in the South, even at her young age.
Yue and Katara never grew up together, they weren't exactly best friends, but Yue remembers her well enough. She doesn't forget a face. Katara is... quite simply put - less fun, though not as stern as Kenora or this Suki person. A lot more serious. More focused. She remembers playing with her in the Northern court whenever the Great Chief came to visit. The Crown Princess would constantly do silly stuff, goofy faces and gestures. She was the center of attention among the young princesses, and she loved it. She doesn't remember ever meeting Kenora as a kid.
With the Pāpaka fiercely slicing through the more abrasive waters of a river going south, Katara stares over the railing out into the distance, mostly just looking at some trees, though what exactly the Crown Princess is looking at Yue can't tell, as her back is turned towards her. Then, finally, Katara turns around with a smile as soon as a set of boots announce themselves on deck.
KATARA: Finally, you're-
Her voice fades out and her smile disappears. Kenora is still wearing her baggy pirate outfit, including the blue coat. Kenora feels like the metal floor below her is turning to quicksand - everyone is wearing the same new uniform. Katara, though hers looks slightly fancier, Yue, who isn't even one of the fighters, and Suki. When did she change?!
KATARA: Why aren't you wearing the uniform?
Katara looks genuinely hurt over this. Kenora panics.
KENORA: Uh... I thought it was a combat... thing. Do we have to wear it all the time?
Deafening silence, and a clear answer to an embarrassed-looking captain. Suki manages to distract from the awkward situation by clearing her throat.
SUKI: Anyways, we were waiting for you, captain.
Kenora's heart skips a beat, and her cheeks flare up hot red. Captain. This is the first time someone has referred to her as such. She keeps her head high and marches over to the other girls, who are standing around a small wooden table placed on deck. Suki points at a river going from the Northern Sea inside the Earth Kingdom.
SUKI: We are here, as you instructed. Going at this pace, we should be able to reach the Serpents Pass in a week or two.
Kenora nods.
KENORA: Alright. Well, since our friend has been spotted on the Earth Kingdom's Northern coast...
She drags her finger down to the Earth Kingdom's relative center. Her once very delicate fingers are now much more bruised and coarser.
KENORA: ...I'm guessing that he's going to go more inland. He'll avoid water and stuff.
She brutely slams the desk with her fist. Yue flinches slightly.
KENORA: That's when we'll get him.
To Kenora's surprise, no one is nodding.
KENORA: What? You got a better plan?
Everyone's eyes wander over to Suki, as if waiting for her to break the bad news. And so, she does.
SUKI: He's not going inland.
Suki points at the last place Kenora wanted her to point.
SUKI: They're going to Ba Sing Se.
Kenora's already weak confidence disappears in a flash.
KENORA: What?
SUKI: They've been spotted by three different sources along the Northern Clique. That's a clear pattern.
Kenora ponders, emitting a quiet grunt.
YUE: Why is he going to Ba Sing Se?
KATARA: Maybe he's trying to make an alliance with the Earth King?
Kenora's head shots up very abruptly.
KENORA: He's looking for an earthbending teacher.
Everyone looks back towards Kenora. The captain nods frantically.
KENORA: Yeah. That's why he went to the Golden City first. It's Air, Fire, Earth and Water. That's why he's going to Ba Sing Se.
As soon as she speaks out her realization she slams the table again, this time as a sign of frustration.
KENORA: Shit!
YUE: If he's going to Ba Sing Se, we're screwed.
Kenora is unable to respond, nor does she feel like making eye contact with her secret ex.
KATARA: We're not.
Everyone's gaze now wanders over to the Crown Prince, who seems awfully quiet and a little more timid than Kenora had expected.
SUKI: How so?
KATARA: Well...
She walks over to the map, looking down at it and gesturing calmly with her right hand.
KATARA: The way I see it, we're only screwed if he stays in Ba Sing Se.
She looks at everyone else for reassurance.
KATARA: Who says he will?
Kenora sighs dismissively.
KENORA: Who says he won't? And who is to say he won't leave in two months after having mastered earthbending?
She forces Katara away from the desk via invading her personal space.
KENORA: We need more allies...
KATARA: Actually...
Kenora turns around.
KATARA: I arranged for us to meet a potential new member of the squad. I already told the helmsman to dock, it's only an hour away.
Kenora nods, but then raises her eyebrow.
KENORA: Wait - you told the helmsman to change course? You didn't ask me first?
The tone and seriousness of her question seriously gives Yue the chills. Katara might be a little different from what she remembers - but Kenora changed after the Golden City. Katara giggles nervously.
KATARA: Do I need to ask you first?
Kenora does not smile.
KENORA: Yes.
Katara's smile disappears. She nods.
KATARA: Okay.
KENORA: Everyone is dismissed.
Suki and Yue nod, with the swordswoman keeping a close eye on the Kenora/Katara situation. Kenora turns back towards the desk as the other girls walk away.
KENORA: Except you.
Unsurprisingly, all three turn around, with Suki crossing her arms. To their surprise, Kenora too turns around, with a cheeky smile attached to her face.
KENORA: I'm talking to Katara.
Katara is baffled for a second.
KATARA: W- why?
Kenora grunts with enthusiasm.
KENORA: For your waterbending training.
Blue fire clashes with red. Azula tries utilizing some of the airbending moves she picked up from Aang and Ty Lee, allowing her to successfully dodge and retaliate against Aang's more force-based blasts.
AANG: Impressive.
She smiles. With cat-like agility, she bounces off a tree, shooting a series of quick flame bursts from her left fist, then her right - then she somehow manages to spin mid-air, creating a flame swipe with her leg, landing on her elbow and rolling over, adding a fiery spiral exiting her fingers. Aang is pushed to the extreme, having limited himself to exclusively using firebending to defend himself. Her attacks are sharp and precise. Deadly. More like the attacks he's used to from the other Azula.
Zuko watches all of this unfold with curious eyes. While pretending to read a book on changed Earth Kingdom geography, he secretly reads one of Adithya's firebending scrolls, while simultaneously keeping a close eye on the other firebenders. "Other". He quietly chuckles to himself. There's no way he can tell them. No way without Azula flipping.
TY LEE (in the distance): Zuko honey, can you help me out with Appa?
He puts down his literature, running to her aid.
AZULA (reacting): "Honey"? Yuck...
One of Aang's flames almost hits her, though she just barely manages to block it.
AZULA (angrily): Hey!
In a dense forest near the northern mountain passages, the Dream Team is now split into the two firebenders training and the couple cleaning Appa. The beast growls quietly.
ZUKO: What do you need?
As soon as he asks, he can already tell that this was a false pretense, as Ty Lee is more than capable of cleaning between Appa's toes by herself. She looks at him with a very concerned stare, her mouth stretched to form an almost perfectly even line. Zuko sighs.
TY LEE: You have to tell them Zuko. It's not good to hide secrets like that. We learned that before.
He scratches the back of his head.
ZUKO: I know. I just... I want to be absolutely sure that I'm a firebender. Otherwise...
He looks back, spotting Azula in the distance, her raging blue fire directed with near perfect precision.
ZUKO: I would make a fool of myself next to her.
Ty Lee lets the branch go, walking over to her beloved and holding his right hand with both of hers.
TY LEE: Don't kid yourself. They'll be excited. I mean, Azula would give anything to train you-
His aura shifts in synch with his facial expression.
TY LEE: Oh...
ZUKO: Yeah... that's my main concern.
Their awkward silence is thankfully interrupted by one former Water Tribe prince.
SOKKA: I got us firewood. Do you guys have a pile or something?
Much to his misfortune, Azula decides to pause the training temporarily, seeing an opportunity to ridicule Sokka. Aang already expects the worst.
SOKKA: Hey! How is firebending practice going?
AZULA: Sokka, why don't you worry about gathering firewood, because that kindling is looking pretty sorry.
He looks down at his arms holding a few sad-looking sticks.
AANG: Azula, come on.
AZULA: No, I'm just trying to give feedback. Our prince has to make himself feel useful, doesn't he?
She flicks her brows at him. Chime. Sokka frowns.
SOKKA: Well, I'm sorry for trying.
Appa's growl not only ends the sorry bickering, but also alerts everyone, especially Azula.
ZUKO: That doesn't sound healthy.
AZULA: Say that again, big guy.
Appa lets out another pained grunt, rolling over to the side and coiling up. Azula gently touches his forehead.
AZULA: Oh no. He says his stomachs hurt.
Aang, deeply concerned by this, starts petting his bison too. Sabachi meanwhile emerges from the flipped saddle, chattering angrily.
TY LEE: What happened?
Zuko quickly flips through one of his medicine books.
ZUKO: It looks like he ate some nettle tree leaves. It's not deadly, but I doubt he'll be able to fly today.
Appa grunts again.
AANG: Who was in charge of feeding him?
Slowly, but surely, and definitely not surprisingly, everyone's gaze wanders over to an embarrassed Sokka.
SOKKA: Uh... which one is the nettle tree?
Azula grunts.
AZULA: Typical. I'm just surprised you haven't started sabotaging us sooner.
Sokka drops his stack of "firewood".
SOKKA: Hey, I didn't sabotage anyone! I'm just trying to help!
TY LEE: GUYS!
The two bickering teens shut up. Ty Lee shakes her head, indicating to Azula that she's wrong. The brat crosses her arms dismissively.
AZULA: Whatever.
A strangely familiar noise grabs Aang's attention immediately. Ty Lee of course is able to read it right away.
TY LEE: Aang?
After seeing his dead stare, they all get combat ready.
SOKKA: Is someone coming?
AZULA: This probably happened in his world before. Aang, who is it? The Water Tribe?
Aang sighs.
AANG: No. It's worse.
The others are finally able to determine the strange noise as the sound of a lute.
CHONG (singing): Da, da, da - don't fall in love with the traveling girl. She'll leave you broke and brokenhearted.
The exact same music nomads Aang encountered in his world appear from the woodwork, though now it's three instead of five.
CHONG: Hey, forest people.
AZULA: We're not forest people.
CHONG: You're not? Well then what kind of people are you?
TY LEE: Just... people.
CHONG: Aren't we all, sister?
Azula looks over to Aang and sees him pinching his brow ridge.
ZUKO: Who are you?
CHONG: I'm Chong and this is my wife, Lily. We're nomads, happy to go wherever the wind takes us!
He suddenly strums his lute-like instrument in a crazy fashion much like a rock star would strum their guitar.
Aang doesn't want to speak. He doesn't want to engage in this kind of adventure again. Especially if Azula is going to take Katara's place this time...
Kenora mumbles to herself. She does not stop mumbling to herself. Just how in the world is she supposed to teach someone waterbending? It's a no-brainer that she would help Katara with it. They're already understaffed in the manpower department (or I guess womanpower), and they would need every fighting princess they could get. Kenora also saw it as the right thing when she offered it. Any girl in the Water Tribes that doesn't know how to properly stand up for herself - how to fight back, would always receive the short end of the stick. It's why Yue broke up with her. She never learned how to fight back against her father. Perhaps she should've showed her a thing or two...
KATARA: Um... are we going to start?
Kenora turns back around to spot a relatively modest-looking Katara, wearing the short-sleeved blue uniform that is still slouching over her bed. The Crown Princess has her hands folded behind her back and her head tilted to the side. Kenora clears her throat and tries to collect her thoughts.
KENORA: Alright uh... to be completely honest with you - I don't really know where to start. I've never taught anyone else waterbending before.
Katara's arms move forward and cross as the two girls look at their separate barrels filled with ocean water.
KATARA: Do you remember first learning waterbending?
Kenora thinks back to some of her earliest childhood memories. She would watch the ocean outside their estate on Whale Tale Island, stare intensely at the waves as they crept closer and then went away at night.
Having gotten the right idea, she positions herself. Katara follows suit.
KENORA: This is a pretty basic move, but it still took me a while to figure out. So don't get frustrated if you don't get it right away.
Katara nods, though with a hint of skepticism.
KENORA: Just push and pull the water like this. The key is getting the wrist movement right.
She performs a rather simple and nonchalant move with her hand, moving the water in the barrel back and forth in a small wave. The delay between her movement and the element following suit is almost non-existent. With a confused expression, Katara imitates the motion. Nothing happens. She just kind of wobbles back and forth and moves her wrist at a weird pace.
KENORA: That's almost right. If you keep practicing, I'm sure eventually-
The water makes a tiny splash as Katara gives up with a very angered grunt, stomping her foot on the metal ground. She takes a deep breath and tries to deal with her anger in a mature manner. Kenora wonders if this was the first time she exposed herself like this to someone in a while.
KATARA: I'm sorry but - what exactly am I supposed to be doing? You're just doing a movement with your hand. You're not explaining anything.
Kenora shrugs.
KENORA: I don't know. I just... move the water.
She scratches the back of her head, an impatient princess standing next to her.
KENORA: Have you uh... have you tried grabbing ahold of the water?
Katara frowns in utter bewilderment at her captain.
KATARA: Grabbing it?
Kenora sighs. Having no idea what else to do, she walks up behind Katara. I guess physically shoving her limbs to make a correct pose is easier than having to go through the trouble of explaining it. It's also much more... intimate. Kenora averts her face and tries to play down her blush.
KENORA: Close your eyes.
Katara follows suit reluctantly. Very awkwardly, but gently, Kenora grabs her wrist, pointing it directly at the barrel of water ahead.
KENORA: Even when you can't see it you can... feel the water.
Her eyes still shut, Katara looks very focused and attentive.
KENORA: It's like a... weird sensation in your fingertips. It crawls up all the way and through your whole body. Your chi it just... it knows that it's there and that you have a connection with it.
Katara's expression grows fiercer, and her arms starts trembling.
KENORA: There's a moment when you start to feel the water. It's not anywhere near you but it feels like your arm is submerged. That's when you grab it.
The Pirate Princess watches closely, her ocean blue eyes moving from left to right and back - arm to barrel and back. Finally, Katara moves her wrist. Much, much more elegantly than Kenora.
Bloop!
KENORA: You did it!
A tiny little splash came from her efforts and Kenora acts way more excited than she actually is, purely out of guilt of being so uncommunicative. Katara seems more than let down.
KATARA: Was that me?
KENORA: Yeah.
Katara pouts more than she smiles, but she very much appreciates the enthusiasm from her... special teacher.
MESSENGER: Captain.
They turn around towards a boy roughly their age.
KENORA: Yes?
MESSENGER: We'll be reaching shore in half an hour.
KENORA: Good.
The boy stands there, as if awaiting command.
KENORA: Uh... prepare everything for... our landing.
He pounds his chest.
MESSENGER: Yes, captain.
As he walks off, Kenora smiles. The title sounds nice in her head.
KATARA: Oh...
Katara seems to have completely misinterpreted the smile.
KENORA: What?
KATARA: Nothing.
Her mischievous smirk quickly disappears as she continues to try and tame the water, with Kenora mostly just standing around and continuing to give horrible feedback. She'll get the hang of it. It's what she always does.
As Aang had feared - the nomads stayed. They would indulge them in boring songs and stories, with only Ty Lee and Zuko interested in it. Even as the gang leaves the dense forest, the nomads would stick around.
TY LEE: Hey, Azula, you should hear some of these stories. These guys have been everywhere!
AZULA (arms crossed, eyes averted): Mhm.
CHONG: Well not everywhere, little acrobat. But where we haven't been, we've heard about through stories and songs.
MOKU: Close by, there's a legendary pond that's supposed to sparkle.
AANG: We don't have time for sparkles. We need to get to Ba Sing Se. No sidetracks, no ponds-
As he says ponds, his voice very obnoxiously cracks. This has been happening for a while now, a sign that this body finally catches up with his mental age.
LILY: Woah, the arrow boy has a second person speaking from within.
Aang and Azula share a quick glance at the accidental match.
CHONG: You got to focus less on the "where" and more on the "going".
They all stop in their tracks. The group plus nomads are starting to enter a very foggy rock environment.
AANG: Ba. Sing. Se.
AZULA: Aang's right. We need to find the Earth King and an earthbending teacher.
Aang pouts in silence.
CHONG: Sounds like you're headed to Ba Sing Se.
While no one responds, Sokka smacks his forehead in the background quietly.
CHONG: It's a good thing we're headed to the Zhangjiajie Path.
ZUKO: Zhangjiajie Path?
CHONG: It's an ancient system of suspension bridges that runs from mountain pillar to mountain pillar. It's said to be the fastest path to Ba Sing Se from the north. It's also apparently a labyrinth.
AZULA: Is it real or a legend?
CHONG: Oh, it's a real legend. And it's almost as old as earthbending itself.
They stop once again and Chong starts strumming his lute, his two... companions joining in with their own instruments.
CHONG (singing): Doomed lovers, forbidden from one another, the war divides their people. And the mountains divide them apart! Build a path to be together...
He stops.
CHONG: Yeah, I forgot the next couple of lines but then it goes-
He resumes.
CHONG (singing): Wobbly bridges! Connect the cliff ends! Through the mist and across the wobbly wobbly wobbly wobbly bridges! Yeah!
Ty Lee claps enthusiastically, Zuko joining her with a significant delay.
Coincidentally, they have reached the Zhangjiajie Path entrance.
An absolutely massive set of rock pillars, all of which grow grass on top, towers above everyone, making even Appa seem like an insignificant spec. A massive set of stone stairs leads up the only rock formation that isn't cylinder-shaped, but rather a gate-like formation, with the arc at the top of the stairs signaling the actual entrance to the path. Just tall enough to get a bison through.
CHONG: Wo-hey, there we are! Are you kids coming along or not?
They all look towards Appa (Sokka still forced to stand beside him), as he lets out a pained grunt that Azula is not required to translate. Their eyes then all wander over to Aang who sighs with as little energy as he can choose to muster.
AANG: I don't think we have a choice in the matter.
A massive system of plank bridges stretches across the immense marchlands just south-west of the northern mountain passage. The squad had to dock further up north, travelling to a small town by the water known as Pacifidlog. Katara didn't like the idea of travelling alone very much, but Kenora insisted. Suki and herself would be able to protect them if needed. "Them" meaning Katara and Yue.
They finally reach the town's center, surprised by how much of it is based in the river, and just how much wood they require for logs and piers, serving as bridges and docks for fishermen. The villagers seem confused and or distressed at the sight of four girls, three of which are wearing some kind of military uniform, and one dressed as a pirate. Kenora claims she forgot to put it on as not to hurt Katara's feelings, but in reality, she just didn't want to.
KENORA: Are you sure this girl is here?
She turns back around towards the others, her hands resting on her buckled belt. Katara feels unnerved by all the attention.
KATARA: Well, that's what I read in the reports.
YUE: What reports?
SUKI: Candidates.
Suki's interjection is as sharp and precise as the katana hanging around her waist. Perhaps the weapon is getting them all these concerned looks.
KATARA: Before we arrived at the North Pole I went through some potential candidates. Girls who can fight.
She gives Yue an enthusiastic grin. Kenora turns away.
KENORA: And who don't fight against the Water Tribes.
As a moment of uncomfortable silence kicks in, a stranger arrives. The large, muscular man wears a dark brown coat much like Kenora, though he does not see use in wearing a shirt.
SHIRTLESS MAN: You girls look lost.
Kenora immediately crosses her arms, showing absolutely zero fear.
KENORA: Do we?
KATARA: Actually, we kind of are.
Katara walks past by Kenora.
KATARA: We are looking for someone. A... special fighter.
The shirtless man seems to get her coded message, nodding quietly and leading the way. Kenora is surprised by Katara's intuition. It's more impressive than her waterbending at least...
A bit further inland the logs and bridges lead to a patch of wetland that's walkable without wood.
YUE: Ew...
Yue steps into an especially marshy part of ground, getting half her leg stuck in the mud, before pulling the thing out in complete disgust. Her whining is overshadowed by the enthusiastic shouts of men, who gather around a mud pit, inside which two characters seem to be brawling it out. One of these two combatants moves much faster and lighter than Kenora has seen. Actually, the fighter moves a lot like the Avatar and his acrobatic friend.
SHIRTLESS MAN: Here we are. And a perfect moment, nonetheless. You can see her in action.
The girls all gaze down into the mud in excitement.
Whatever the large, muscled figure was attempting to do to win, all of his punches and swings go nowhere. The fight is finally ended by a powerful blast of wind shoving him into the steep, sludgy wall, knocking him out in a comical fashion.
Akari smiles at her apparent victory.
Act II. - The Airbender
Despite being the fierce Pirate Princess, Kenora does feel a little bit intimidated by Akari. The squad followed her back to a shady pub in Pacifidlog, one where the cold river water flows right below. The athlete has grown out her hair, having switched from a sidecut to a full set of it, though it's incredibly short, reminding Kenora of her awful days as Poko.
Yue and Katara poke out from each side with a comical slide whistle. Suki stands stoically by the entrance while Kenora tries coming up with the right set of words to convince the fighter.
SUKI: So... are you going to ask her or what?
Kenora looks back at the swordfighter, her stern demeanor translating into an active provocation. Kenora approaches the girl with loud thuds-
AKARI: What do you want?
Kenora is stopped right in her path, giving Akari the perfect amount of time to turn around dramatically, taking a sip from her wooden cup. Kenora crosses her arms.
KENORA: I saw you fight. You're pretty good.
AKARI: A lot of people saw me fight. Get to the point.
The frowning captain sits down next to her.
AKARI: Or are you and your girlfriends just groupies?
Akari flicks her eyebrow. The cheeks on Kenora's face turn from embarrassment-red to anger-red.
KENORA: They're not my-
She grunts
KENORA: Whatever. That's not why I'm here.
Akari takes another obnoxiously loud slurp.
KENORA: My name is Captain Kenora of the South.
Akari frowns in confusion.
AKARI: Captain? Like... ship captain?
KENORA: Yes. We're looking for another-
AKARI: What is that accent?
Kenora is stopped in her track again.
KENORA: What?
AKARI (imitating her lisp): Your lisp. The way you talk is funny.
Kenora almost loses it when-
KATARA: Hi.
Akari turns towards the new face.
KATARA: Katara, Crown Princess.
Some faces in the bar turn. Akari is genuinely shocked.
AKARI: Crown Princess?
She laughs.
AKARI: You have got to be shitting me.
KATARA: We're coming to you with a proposition.
Being much more friendly and diplomatic, Akari is all ears from the new princess, while Kenora clenches her fist.
AKARI: Which is?
Katara points at the remaining two princesses in the back of the bar. Yue waves awkwardly while Suki says nothing.
KATARA: Join our squad.
Akari crosses her arms in a very skeptical fashion.
AKARI: Huh?
KATARA: We're on a very special mission headed by the first female captain of the Water Tribes.
She points elegantly towards Kenora, who still looks rather angry.
AKARI: And... you want me to come along because... I'm also a girl. To join your... squad?
KENORA: Princess Squad.
Akari chuckles. The other girls share confused looks.
AKARI: Is that a joke?
KENORA: You're not interested. Good. Let's go.
She gets off her stool, leaving both Katara and Akari at the bar.
AKARI: Hold on, wait.
Kenora stops. Her back turned, Katara and Akari can't see the smirk on her face. The bluff worked out. She briefly meets Yue's gaze and winks, giving her the chills and causing her to shake her head in disgust. Suki finds this rather odd.
KENORA (turns back towards Akari): What?
The athlete taps her fingers on the counter.
AKARI: What's in it for me?
The captain walks up to Akari, a gesture that appears like she's about to headbutt her. She stops right in front of the athlete's face.
KENORA: Anything you want.
Akari leans back, getting off of her chair and away from Kenora.
AKARI: Right, I'm going to pretend like you said, "lots of money".
KATARA: So, are you in?
Akari crosses her arms once again. She is now literally cornered by all four girls.
AKARI: I am. But I won't be available for a few more months.
YUE: Months?!
KENORA: Do you have something better to do?
Akari pouts.
AKARI: Well, even if I was absolutely excited to go with you, which I'm not, I couldn't. I owe a debt to Tsugu. He runs the fighting ring in these parts.
KATARA: It's okay. We can more than compensate him for you.
Akari chuckles, putting all the girls on edge.
AKARI: It doesn't work that way.
How exactly these old wooden bridges hanging from moldy rope are able to carry a full-grown bison is a mystery to Azula. As the beast wobbles and moans across the wobbly and moaning path, Azula simply pictures Appa saving himself from crashing and Sokka being devoured by the fog below. She cackles. The Blue Dragon remains silent.
ZUKO: So how far are we from the exit?
CHONG: Actually, it's not just one exit. The lovers didn't want anyone to find out about their love, so they built a whole labyrinth!
Zuko almost pops a vein. Aang slaps his forehead.
AZULA: Labyrinth?! I thought you said that was a legend.
CHONG: Oh, I'm sure we'll figure it out.
LILY: All we need to do is trust in love. According to the curse.
ZUKO (shocked): Curse?!
The boy pulls out an empty piece of paper.
ZUKO: I'm going to make a map to keep track of exactly where we've been.
TY LEE: I'm sure it's going to be fine, Zuko. We'll just keep moving forward.
She leans in and gives him a quick smooch on the lips.
TY LEE: And trust in love!
She tugs his arm, giggling and pulling him forward towards the Nomad trio, causing him to drop the paper. With Aang visibly annoyed, he spots Azula standing in the middle of a bridge, her hands fondling around her top knot.
AZULA: Can you help me with this?
He too stops, helping her to fix up her headpiece, all the while Appa walks past by them, his guardian Sokka looking even more displeased than the Avatar. Her hair-related issue is solved as soon as the prince is out of earshot.
AANG: We should keep up, we'll lose them otherwise-
AZULA: So, what exactly happened last time?
His brow twitching, he tries moving forward in spite of her, Azula managing a deliberately slower pace. He decides to indulge in it.
AANG: What do you mean?
AZULA: Let's skip the spiel. Tell me the short version.
He sighs.
AANG: It was a tunnel labyrinth, we got separated, Sokka got badgermoles to help, we got out.
She cackles, amused by his past misfortune.
AZULA: Badgermoles? You're kidding. And the nomads too?
AANG: Exact same nomads.
She laughs again. Seeing as it doesn't help him ease the pain, she tries coming off as a bit more serious.
AZULA: Well, the way it sounds, it's simply an unimportant little side adventure. A random spec that happens to be a repeat. I'm sure we'll be in Ba Sing Se in no time.
He neither turns around, nor answers. She starts getting even more suspicious than before.
AZULA: It's not that? What is it?
He pictures Katara's face, illuminated beautifully by the fading torch light. Her soft lips approaching his...
AANG: It's nothing. Let's just go.
He finally escapes her metaphorical grasp and strides back to the rest of the group ahead, leaving Azula alone on a wooden bridge hanging hundreds of feet above the ground, the only things visible in the distance being giant rock pillars, either their grassy top or just their mere middle part. No matter how far her eyes go, she can't possibly see the top of those.
AZULA: What does he want?
Sabachi chirps something in her ear. Unfortunately, not an answer.
TSUGU: What do you want?
He takes a sip from his pipe. His beard stubbles are brown and his oily, black hair shots up in messy spikes. Only Kenora and Akari were allowed to enter his little cabin near the Mud Pit. Akari steps forward.
AKARI: I want out. This one claims to offer a lot of gold to make that happen.
Akari casually points towards Kenora with her thumb. She hates that. Tsugu eyes the Pirate Princess closely. He barks up a mean-sounding laugh right after.
TSUGU: You're funny. Don't look like a rich girl.
Kenora tries looking more important with her hands resting on her belt.
KENORA: I come from royalty. I travel with the Crown Princess.
TSUGU: Oh. Princesses, ay? What made you come to these parts? Can't be the scenery.
He takes another sip. Akari hates to admit it but... this Kenora girl does pretty well at keeping up a straight face despite the size and age difference. Kenora sighs.
KENORA: For Akari.
The cheesy line confuses the man, as it does the person currently being talked about.
TSUGU: Sounds like you really want her.
Kenora blurts out a heavy sigh.
KENORA: I want her skills as a fighter.
TSUGU: So do I.
In an attempt to scare her, he gets up, revealing his true size.
TSUGU: What makes you think that her services are up for sale? She makes me a lot of gold as a fighter.
KENORA: We're willing to compensate-
TSUGU: You can compensate my profit girl, but you won't compensate my principle. What makes you think you can just waltz in here and buy everything you want? How about you earn it instead?
The only one scared is Akari, who uncrosses her arms and walks to the door.
AKARI: Told you, princess. I ain't going.
KENORA: Deal.
She stops.
TSUGU: What?
KENORA: You said, "Earn it". Deal. I'll earn my right to take her with me.
Akari turns around in shock.
TSUGU: And how do you propose to earn it?
KENORA: In your little pit. In an hour.
And with that, she leaves, almost breaking his door on the way out.
Zuko is truly moved by the scenery. The landscape itself is thousands of years old, having been shaped significantly by the Great Storm that came a hundred years ago. Apparently, these bridges are themselves thousands of years old, though Zuko struggles to believe the stories of the nomads, especially since Chong keeps changing the number of years every time he tells it.
Ty Lee seems to enjoy travelling along theses free spirits. Perhaps it gives her the semblance of the nomadic life she always wanted, not one driven by circus crowds, but one of true freedom. He wonders, just for a second, if that is the life he wants.
SOKKA: Guys?
They all stop, in part surprised to hear a word from Sokka.
AZULA: How many times am I going to have to say it - we are not helping you with Appa's droppings. That's your job-
The bison shuts her up with a grunt, something she very much dislikes.
CHONG: Woah. How long has he been travelling with us?
Aang slaps his forehead. Sokka uses the opportunity to step forth, showcasing the homemade map Zuko dropped earlier. It seems he continued working on it.
SOKKA: We're going in a circle. This is the third time we passed the green top with the edelweiss.
He points towards one of the rock pillars, on which white flowers bloom.
TY LEE: Are you sure?
AZULA: No, he's probably just trying to get our attention. Ignore him.
Sokka very openly frowns at her, no longer politely hiding his disdain for the firebender.
SOKKA: Oh yeah? Do you know where we are going? Does anyone here know?!
They all look at each other in confusion. All except Aang, who just hopes the inevitable separation of their group happens so he can get it over with.
AZULA: You certainly don't.
SOKKA: How about you shut your mouth-
TY LEE: Woah-woah-woah! Everyone, calm down!
She quite literally gets in between the bickering kids, creating a surprisingly serious presence with her tone and body language.
TY LEE: We are not going to find the exit with everyone pointing fingers at each other.
She takes a relaxing breath. Aang is impressed at her abilities as a mediator, at the same time relieved that he is no longer required to fill this role. His opinions on conflict resolution have changed a lot over the past three years...
TY LEE: We are going to get through this as a group. We even have these lovely nomads to help us guide.
She stops, her neck immediately turning to Zuko, like a hawk spotting prey.
TY LEE: What was that?
Zuko, reacting like a guilty man in court, stutters nervously.
ZUKO: Uh... what? Me? Wh- wha-
TY LEE: Your aura just shifted when I said that.
Azula almost bursts out a loud cackle. What a nightmare scenario for Zuko. Or anyone in a relationship.
ZUKO: Uh... um...
He scratches the back of his head, clearly unable to lie to his girlfriend.
TY LEE: D- do you not trust Chong?
Zuko looks over to the musician.
CHONG (picking his nose): She's smart. Is she the Avatar or something?
Zuko looks back at his girlfriend. Unable to say a single word, though he's trying very hard to cough out something. Her face shifts very quickly to a shocked expression, dropped jaw and everything, a dramatic gasp being the cherry on top.
TY LEE: Do you not trust them? Do you not... trust... me?
ZUKO: Of course I trust you. It's just...
Shock turns to anger.
CHONG: Alright, I see what's going on. You two lovebirds are a little tensed up, I understand. Lily and I do that too sometimes. Do you know how we always smooth things out again?
TY LEE: How?
AZULA (under her breath): Oh no...
CHONG: With love songs of course!
All three nomads start playing their instruments and Aang considers jumping off the bridge for a moment.
CHONG (singing): Even if you're lost you can't lose the love because it's in your heart...
Conflicts unresolved, the group continues. Ty Lee and the nomads in the front, Aang, Azula and Sabachi in the middle, Zuko and Sokka in the back with Appa.
Katara runs towards the pit. The mist has mostly cleared in and around Pacifidlog, though it is still present in the very distance.
KATARA: I ran back to get more money - what happened?!
SUKI: She's going to fight her boss.
KATARA: She what?!
She looks over to spot Yue and Akari leaning over a flimsy railing overseeing the Mud Pit. Akari turns towards the princess, who seems visibly angry.
KATARA: How could you let her do that?!
She stomps towards the athlete.
AKARI: Isn't she your captain?
Katara stops.
KATARA: She is.
AKARI: Then you should absolutely know that this was her choice.
With things in motion that cannot be undone, Katara and Suki simply lean over the railing as well. Yue is quietly biting her nails.
TSUGU: Alright, here is how it's going to go...
He takes off his jacket and shirt, revealing a typical earthbender hunk of an upper body.
TSUGU: Whoever gets knocked out first, loses. Usually, these things end a little more bloody, so for the sake of your health I'll allow yielding.
Kenora scoffs. She too takes her coat and shirt off. She's wearing a kind of sports bra, which reveals her bafflingly well-trained upper body, giving everyone quite a strange visual of a young girl with a body resembling a much older fighter. Yue and Akari both blush.
KENORA: "For your health"? Speak for yourself.
He smirks.
Starting off, he heaps up two boulders of solid rock from beneath the mud, launching them at Kenora at intense speeds. For a moment Katara thinks this is it, though Kenora quickly and easily zigzags in between both chunks, slicing them in half with a string of water she absorbed from the marsh.
AKARI: Did she just... suck up water from the ground?
Katara's initial shock turns into enthusiasm.
Next up, two boulders covered in mud grow on each side, attempting to crush Kenora in between. Like she saw Paku do in the swamp, she conjures a pillar of pure water from below, creating surface tension so dense that the boulders are stopped by what is essentially a forcefield. Tsugu gasps. Kenora uses the momentum to spin the pillar really fast, which
1) tosses aside both rocks and
2) allows her to switch into a capoeira stance, cutting the liquid in half and kicking it towards her opponent in two consecutive streams, once of which he blocks with a mud shield.
The other one hits him directly in the groin.
TSUGU (comically and in pain): Oh...
Kenora uses the opportunity to look over to the other girls. She winks at Yue again, who shakes her head angrily.
KATARA: Come on Kenora, you got this!
Katara's cheer distracts from the awkwardness and gives her the strength she wanted from Yue. She launches at Tsugu, a stream of water on one arm-
Stopped in her track, a blunt pole of rock hits her directly in the face. Apparently Tsugu faked his pain in order to sucker punch her.
TSUGU: I have to say, I'm impressed.
Her nose burns with unspeakable pain. As she takes off her hands, she spots blood on them.
TSUGU: But this ends now.
He heaps up one ball of mud after the other, solidifying them and launching them as deadly projectiles at Kenora. She bends a stream of water around her feet, shifting it from side to side, almost like a water-hoverboard, giving her the speed advantage. After the sixth mud ball, she realizes she can just-
Fling!
She dodged that one, pulling towards it and launching it directly towards Tsugu, destroying mud ball number seven and smashing into his face. There was just enough water in those mud balls to use them to her advantage. Katara is more than impressed.
As if the man wasn't already in clear pain, she decides to add insult to injury, literally, blasting the mud-covered walls against him a few times, before kneeling on his chest, her ice-covered fist aimed for his head.
KENORA: Yield.
Without saying a word, he nods.
The girls can't decide if they're impressed or horrified. Well, except Katara, who very clearly liked it.
KATARA: That was AMAZING! Did you guys see that? She was bending EARTH! I mean, not really - but still!
Immediately after finishing her tirade, she jumps at Akari's throat, giving her a hug that the athlete really didn't see coming.
KATARA: Welcome to the Princess Squad! Suki and I will help you with your things! Come on!
The excited princess and her bodyguard are the first ones to leave. Yue follows suit right after. Akari is still speechless at what just happened. She looks over the railing once again. Tsugu is sitting quietly down there, wiping the mud and blood off his face.
KENORA: You're welcome.
Kenora's face, also bleeding and full of mud, has a frighteningly serious quality to it. On that scares Akari a little more than she thought it would.
The metal door bolts open with a loud clank.
SUKI: Here's your room.
A small, dingy living space that looks like a repurposed storage room is not really what Akari expected. To be honest, she didn't know what to expect when she got up this morning.
AKARI: Thank you.
She puts down her rucksack, turning around towards the stubborn girl at her door, standing with her arms behind her back like a soldier.
AKARI: So, uh... Katara is the princess, Kenora is the captain, the quiet girl...
SUKI: Princess Yue. And Kenora is technically also a princess.
Akari nods.
AKARI: Right. I thought that "Princess Squad" thing was a joke, but y'all really are princesses.
For the first time Suki shows a hint of unease on her face.
AKARI: What?
SUKI: I am not. I'm simply Princess Katara's bodyguard.
Akari frowns confused.
AKARI: Why? You're what, 16? That's not usually what girls from the Water Tribes do at that age. Being a soldier.
SUKI: I'm not from the Water Tribe.
Suki looks behind her, as if scared of someone showing up and listening in on their conversation.
AKARI: What?
SUKI: I am. Sorry. Forget about it.
AKARI: No, wait, what do you mean?
SUKI: Lunch is ready in an hour.
As Akari steps closer, the swordswoman walks away. Akari could chase after her, but she probably shouldn't get her into trouble. Who knows what that psycho captain will do?
CHONG (singing): Don't let the bridges get you down. Don't let the labyrinth turn your smile into a frown. When the fog is as thick yeah that's when you need a clown - hey!
He annoyingly leans over to Zuko, who is pacing a significant distance away from Ty Lee.
CHONG (singing): Don't let the bridges get you down, Zuko!
AZULA: Enough with this.
The firebender separates her brother from the artist, placing herself at the top of the hiking group, stopping them all in their tracks.
LILY: I don't think she likes your music very much.
CHONG: Maybe she just wants a different song-
AZULA: No! No more songs!
She points her index finger towards the man in a very intimidating fashion.
TY LEE: Leave him alone, Azula! We agreed to travel with them, so they get to decide if they want to play music or not.
AZULA: Oh, so we don't have a say in it?
Appa begins growling in a strange pitch. Only Sokka and Aang pay attention to it.
CHONG: Listen little peeps, we can totally put our art on pause for a moment if that's good for y'all.
TY LEE: No!
Azula and Zuko share a confused look.
ZUKO: Why not Ty Lee?
Sokka starts going towards the fog on the opposite side of the bridge. For the first time he can feel the full weight of the height weighing down on him.
TY LEE: Because... because... they're nomads.
A strange moment of silence. The howling of the wind is accompanied by weird scratching sounds.
AANG: Guys?
AZULA: Yes, we know they're nomads, what does that have to do with anything-
TY LEE: It means everyone keeps telling them what to do and they just shut up and take it. Instead of all of you being a little more accepting, you want them to conform to your needs. And I don't want to DO that!
Her second fit of rage quickly quiets down in an expression of shame. Azula, realizing that this is something her brother has to handle now, decides to check on Aang. She spots a strange scene, where a tired Appa is pointing his horns towards the thick fog, with Aang preparing to attack and Sokka missing.
AZULA: Uh... maybe let's put a pause on this.
They... do, redirecting their attention towards the other side of the bridge.
AZULA: Can you tell us what's going on or...
A little shadow appears on the corner of her eye. Just below the bridge a hairy arm with sharp claws slowly creeps above. Azula gestures everyone to watch out, slowly pointing her fist at-
CHONG: Woah! What's that?
A creature appears, hissing towards them with exposed teeth. It has the head of a wolverine tacked onto the body of a baboon. With dark fur, limber arms and sharp claws, it climbs on top and leaps towards Azula, whose firebending is too slow, forcing her to block an incoming attack. The wolverine baboon is then subsequently pulled away by an airbending kick from Ty Lee.
On the other side of the bridge, Sokka bravely runs away from the fog while screaming in fear. Behind him, an entire pack of wolverine baboons is running towards the travel group, crawling on all possible sides of the bridge, making the terrain a shaky nightmare. One nasty critter tries to aim for Aang's eyes, with him whirling it against a rock pillar close to him. Sokka, fighting with merely his boomerang, and Zuko with his broadswords, successfully defend Appa from the attackers, while Azula and Ty Lee are forced to defend the helpless nomads. Azula has to be especially careful with her blue flames, as she could burn down their only path above what is a very sudden death from falling. Actually, I guess from landing? It's a strange semantics argument, really.
AZULA: We need to get away from here!
TY LEE: Where to?
She cartoonishly points in... the only direction there is.
AZULA: What do you think?!
A big mistake, as one of the wolverine baboons grabs onto her arm and bites said finger. She howls in pain, letting go a massive fire blast with uncontrollable rage. Thankfully the attack got rid of the beast and didn't burn down the bridge. Unfortunately, it also scares the crap out of Appa, who starts hopping around in distress, making the already wobbly bridge even more shaky. Paralyzed from her pain, Azula misplaces one of her steps, slipping and falling over the rope railing.
TY LEE: Azula!
Aang isn't surprised that only he has his staff with him, that only he can launch to her rescue. But that is not important right now - he hops off the bridge and opens his-
AANG (distressed): Get off!
Two wolverine baboons have managed to grab onto his glider and while he is able to chase after Azula and grab her in the fog, he can no longer hold on to his unstable staff, leading to it soaring away, the animals on it more than confused.
AZULA: Watch out!
Even with airbending softening the blow, the amount of pillar mountains they clash against is more than enough to completely disorient them.
They finally smack onto an especially low mountain top, almost shaped like a rectangle. They both grunt in pain, Aang clinging onto Azula until his safety air dome subsides. It takes them a few moments to fight off the pain. Upon opening their eyes, Aang realizes just how close their faces are against each other. He immediately (and in a funny way) jumps up on his feet. Azula rolls over and inspects her finger.
AANG: Are you okay?
She nods, hissing with pain. Sabachi lands next to her, having apparently chased after the two in a hurry.
AZULA: Where are we?
He looks around, spotting a few pillars and one narrow bridge close by. The rest of the Zhangjiajie Path is hidden by the oppressive white water in gas form. Azula knows the Avatar well enough to read his face.
AZULA: Oh no, this happened already, didn't it?
His head drops immediately. He sighs.
Nothing feels quite as uncomfortable as healing a broken nose with waterbending. One's own nose, that is. After a while the cold liquid feels like gelatinous sludge on her face and so she stops. A huge cut across her nose is left over, forcing her to cover up the gaping mark with a white band aid.
KATARA: Knock-knock.
Rather than physically knocking at the already open door, Katara leans smugly against the doorframe. Kenora simply nods, forcing her to drop a concerned frown.
KATARA: Do you need help with your nose?
KENORA: No. It's fine.
She eyes herself in the mirror again.
KENORA: I like it.
She can feel a cold aura creeping down her shoulders. That cold stare she has been forcing herself to do all morning briefly shaders.
KATARA: Alright. Whatever you say. Are you coming for lunch?
She takes a moment to process the question and her injury. She wonders if she'll get scars like her father.
KENORA: Uh... no. I'll catch up later.
She looks at the princess with a smirk.
KENORA: You know. For training.
Expecting an enthusiastic smile, she gets a guilty pout instead.
KATARA: Um... actually... I've been meaning to talk to you about it.
Kenora starts laughing in an uneasy fashion.
KENORA: What?
KATARA: I have a... surprise.
Katara silently walks over and grabs hold of his hand. Aang smiles up at her. Her eyes shimmer with the beauty of a thousand stars. The two lean into one another as the last of the torch light fades. Suddenly, the ceiling of the cave lights up revealing thousands of glowing crystals gleaming overhead.
Aang's mind wanders aimlessly, island-hopping from one romantic memory to the next. He opens his eyes again, finding himself back in the morbid reality of their foggy prison.
AZULA: Aang, come check this out.
He distracts himself a little more by walking towards her voice. The narrow wood bridge leads into a large formation of earth pillars, which shoot up from the ground in a slight curve to the sight. Like a stack of branches shoved into a pot. Azula is standing in the middle of this strange formation. The bridge ends here, and the two are able to walk on soft dark grass for a second. Sabachi chirps curiously, her big eyes inspecting the rocks around them.
AZULA: What is this?
Azula's gaze is aimed upwards. A large monument is carved into the rock in front of them, depicting three figures in crude shapes. What appears to be a woman, a man next to her, and a smaller man posing on the bottom in the middle. Aang stares at it curiously, wondering if the backstory lines up with the Cave of Two Lovers.
Azula finally shifts her eyes over to him.
AZULA: Well?
He reacts annoyed.
AANG: What?
He clears his throat, as his voice briefly dropped again.
AZULA: You said you did this one already. What happened in this part?
He sighs annoyed.
AANG: This is not how it works.
She crosses her arms, sassy as she is.
AZULA: It's not?
He sighs in defeat.
AANG: We stumbled into a tomb. It was much larger and full of these mural carvings.
AZULA: "We" as in...
AANG: Katara and I.
Azula falls strangely quiet. Aang continues to study the mural in front of him. The man and the woman mirror each other's pose. He assumes that those are the lovers in this world. He can't quite put this third figure into it though. He v-poses in between on the bottom, upsetting the entire visual dynamic. At least he can figure that the dozens of lines probably represent the bridges.
AZULA: I'm... not going to ask about Katara.
He looks back over to the firebender, who looks much more humble and friendly.
AZULA: That's clearly crossing some kind of line for you. I'm... not comfortable going through the whole charades with you again.
He nods, glad for her understanding.
AANG: You just want to know how we got out.
AZULA: Obviously!
Sabachi comically shakes her fist at Aang.
AANG: Right. Well, that's the part I haven't figured out yet. When we got stuck in the cave, our torches died down.
AZULA: How did your torches die down? You're a fire-
Thinking about it for a few more seconds answers her question.
AZULA: Oh, right.
AANG: Yeah. We thought we were going to get stuck, when...
He remembers his lips briefly touching Katara's.
AANG: Well, with the lights out all these crystals on the ceiling started glowing and showed us the way out. That was it.
She pouts, her mind already working on it.
AZULA: I'm going to go ahead and say there's probably no crystals on that wood.
AANG: Yeah.
He smirks at the memory once again.
AZULA: So, what's with the blushing then?
His cheeks getting red thinking about Katara, the red changes from a love shade to an embarrassment shade.
AANG: Uh...
He tries rubbing it off as if it were concealer.
AZULA: Well?
She too blushes a bit, apparently unable to deal with the situation at hand.
AANG: Um...
He tries to come up with a convenient excuse, that doesn't force him to spill his heart for Katara out.
AANG: When... Katara and I got stuck in that tomb she... got a stupid idea. I just... thought about it. Because it was so embarrassing.
Azula's eyes move back and forth like she's watching an intense tennis match.
AZULA: Stupid idea? Aang, what are you talking about?
He grunts angrily like Zuko.
AANG: Well... she thought, because the curse of the cave said they would be trapped forever unless they trust in love...
He points at the mural for help.
AANG: And in the cave they had this mural with two people kissing...
AZULA: Where are you going with this?
Sabachi briefly flies away, maybe to leave the kids alone for a bit.
AANG: Well, she suggested kissing.
Azula's ridge shoots up.
AZULA: Kissing? Like... kissing you?
AANG: See? It was a crazy idea.
He laughs awkwardly, his focus back on the carving in the rock.
A knot inside of Azula loosens, a strange heat moving from her stomach up her neck and into her cheeks. She lets out a quiet breath.
AZULA (quietly): Kissing... you...
He tries to hide his feelings for Katara in sarcasm.
AANG: Yeah, kissing me. What was she thinking?
AZULA: Um...
She hums the note in a weirdly long fashion, causing Aang to turn around, spotting a completely different-looking Azula - on that appears vulnerable, one foot innocently tapping the grass below.
AZULA (blushing): Not to... sound... too crazy but... what if it's how we get out of here?
Much to her disdain, Aang reacts utterly horrified.
AANG: Wh- what?! You want to kiss me?!
Her feelings quickly morph into anger.
AZULA: Oh, well, I didn't realize it was such a horrible option! Sorry for suggesting it!
He starts blushing from embarrassment too.
AANG: I just- Don't get me wrong, but why would that help? It didn't work like that in my world. I just want to know why you said it.
As he rambles on, her angered pout only gets worse.
AZULA: Well, it's not like our worlds are identical. We've had so many different outcomes already. Who says this isn't how we're supposed to do it here?!
AANG: I say!
He stomps away and back onto the wooden bridge. Sabachi decides to come back and land on Azula's shoulder.
AZULA: But WHY?
AANG: Because I SAID so!
His arms waving around like a crazy person, Azula grunts loudly in response. He grunts right back at her.
Sabachi snuggles her on the side. The firebender sighs, slapping her forehead in shame.
AZULA: What is wrong with me...
While dinner is prepared on the main deck (Katara's choice, it's such nice weather and all of that), Yue is gazing into the distance with her arms crossed. They have long left Pacifidlog, docking their massive vessel on the side of Earth Kingdom coastline. Bright green trees linger in the distance. Enemy territory, though in actuality their armies are powerless against an enemy close to water. Them being the enemy. Their strength lies within the land itself. On top of earth and dirt.
Kenora proved today that it doesn't make them invincible though.
KANNA: May I join you?
Yue is almost a little frightened by the sudden appearance, though nods respectfully.
YUE: Of course, Chief Mother.
The old woman scoffs.
KANNA: Call me Kanna. Please.
Yue nods once again. Kanna can tell very clearly that the girl has carefully practiced her "royalty routine", an act of extra politeness she has to display whenever meeting with someone important. Her arms folded, she tries showing some of her warmer side. A more personal side. Speaking of warm...
KANNA: Aren't you hot, princess?
Yue eyes her with a confused look, not having expected the old woman to be this kind. She was of course referring to Yue having put her parka over her Princess Squad uniform.
YUE: No. I know it must look strange seeing someone wearing an extra lair so far south, but I'm terribly sensitive to cold.
She takes another moment to collect her thoughts. Kanna listens in closely.
YUE: To be fair, I've been missing home. I never travelled a lot. Especially this far into enemy territory.
She clutches her fluffed collar.
YUE: I like feeling warmth.
Letting her rest on those words for a moment, Kanna remembers her last conversation with Puwati.
KANNA: What happened earlier? When you recruited that young lady?
They briefly look behind, spotting Akari sitting in a corner eyeing some sort of fighting staff. As she catches their gaze, Akari immediately looks away. The girl probably feels awkward seeing Kanna again after Bato's fiasco in Huoshan.
YUE: Akari? Well...
She sighs nervously.
KANNA: Everything alright? What happened back there with the princess?
Referring to her granddaughter, Yue understood something else. Plus, that something else is clearly on her mind more.
YUE: Ever since the invasion, Kenora has... changed. She and I were...
She almost catches herself spilling the beans, stopping midsentence with a blush. Kanna catches onto it with a curious sparkle in her eyes.
YUE: She and I were close. I knew her. Or... at least I thought I knew her.
She puts her hand around the girl's shoulder, comforting the northern princess.
KANNA: When you're young you think you have everything figured out. You think you know who you'll grow old with and who will be besides you for the rest of your life. But in truth, you're merely making assumptions. People change - especially at your age. You'll have to deal with the fact that sometimes, things can change rather quickly. Even too quickly for you to realize.
Yue turns around with sorrowful eyes.
YUE: Is it even worth trying then?
KANNA: To have friends?
Kanna chuckles heartly.
KANNA: Every friend is a risk. But risks pay off sometimes.
They share a warm smile. The waves clashing-
KENORA: You did NOT say that!
Everyone on deck immediately turns towards a harrowing scene - Katara, apparently scared, fleeing from a shouty, angry-looking Kenora. Scratch that - furious-looking Kenora.
KATARA: I think you're overreacting here, I just-
KENORA: Hiring a waterbending teacher BEHIND MY BACK?! We agreed that I would teach you!
Kanna immediately grabs Yue's arm and drags her away. Suki, her hand firmly on the hilt of her sword, getting in Kenora's way before she can reach Katara. All of the servants preparing lunch stop in confusion.
SUKI: Step down. Now.
KENORA: You do not get to tell me that.
Suki draws her blade.
SUKI: Try me.
Act III. - The Waterbender
Before disappearing inside the ship Yue manages to pull away in time to spectate the confrontation. Kanna, while opposed to this, also stays. Perhaps Yue's actions inspired her a bit.
AKARI: Okay, what is this...
Trying to come off as smug and relaxed, though still carrying her staff with her, Akari approaches the captain and the bodyguard.
KATARA: This is all my fault. I should've told you, Kenora.
YUE: Tell her what?
While she is a significant distance away from everyone, she still decides to contribute to the conversation. Katara gestures for the servants to leave quickly. Suki's blade looks just as sharp as the one used by the Blue Spirit, in Kenora's mind at least.
KENORA: We agreed that I would teach you waterbending.
She takes a step closer.
SUKI: Back off.
If left to their own devices, combat would surely have ensued by now.
AKARI: Woah-woah-woah. Both of you, calm down.
They hesitate. In the end, it's a concerned look from Katara that gets them to calm down. Even Akari is surprised.
AKARI: Alright, now you put your sword down. And you just...
Akari shakes her head in frustration. Kenora continues to frown.
AKARI: Just calm down and listen.
Her expression does not change, though her posture loosens. Next, Akari waves towards Katara, who steps forth.
KATARA: I'm sorry if I hurt you with this. I... didn't want to tell you that you're a bad teacher.
The words are harsh but honest. Kenora doesn't quite know how to take it.
KATARA: I thought if... I thought if I got myself a teacher and surprised you with it you wouldn't be upset. I thought maybe we could train together.
She conjures up an honest smile.
KATARA: Who knows. Maybe there's a thing or two you could teach him.
Kenora doesn't smile back, but nods. With the tension mostly gone, Even Yue and Kanna have dared to step closer.
KANNA: The important thing is that you girls stick together. You're a team now. A squad even.
Everyone but Kenora nods.
KANNA: Now come on, let's help our staff with the lunch. I'm sure all of you are starving.
They all agree, following Kanna inside. Only Kenora and Akari remain. The latter was curious why her captain didn't move.
AKARI: You always get angry like this?
Kenora does not turn around. Her arms are still crossed, and her voice is cold.
KENORA: Sometimes.
Akari scoffs dismissively.
AKARI: Yeah, get used to it.
She puts her hand on Kenora's shoulder in an act of comradery.
AKARI: Things aren't always going to go your way. Captain.
Kenora's fist lands in Akari's face.
It takes the athlete a bit to recover. In the meantime, Kenora bends all the beverages from the table into a ball, freezing it and launching it towards her. Akari manages to hold up her staff in time, creating a huge wind wave to slow down the projectile, shattering it.
The others have caught on to the fight, looking back at the situation.
SUKI: Princess, we need to go.
KATARA: No. I'm not going to run away
Kenora, who was carrying a pouch of water with her this whole time, bends the liquid onto her shoulders, extending her arms. Akari grimaces at her.
AKARI: You're on.
In a fake-out attack, the water wanders from her arms onto her feet mid-air, being launched and pulled back and forth multiple times, all directed with Kenora's capoeira moves, utilizing her legs like a kickboxer. Akari skillfully dodges the attacks in spinning motions, her staff always behind her back and occasionally used to defend her front. She pulls of an impressive counter, in which she collects air on the tip like a bug catcher using a landing net, then holding it on the front and smacking it down with her palm. Upon hitting the ground, the air erupts into a chaotic tornado, disrupting everything in its path and destroying half the table.
Kenora managed to dodge this, creating a film of ice on which she slides to the left and ducks in one move, though it wasn't as graceful as she hoped.
Akari grabs her staff with two arms, turns it, and reveals the mechanism that transforms it into two equally sized baton sticks.
The leftover table serves as the battleground for a series of close combat maneuvers. Akari's attacks are quick, precise and put quantity over quality, combining a kind of boxing routine with her limited airbending and batons. Kenora moves almost as gracefully as a dancer, carefully avoiding attacks and using the momentum to create powerful attacks that travel up and down her limbs, while her body as a whole constantly changes altitude and position.
Finally, Kenora is able to remove one of the weapons with a water sling. Number two is lost to a quick ice projectile. As she tries going for a finisher, Akari creates a dome of air to protect her, tossing Kenora over and onto the deck.
YUE (to Katara): We need to do something. We need to get them to stop.
Katara hectically looks left and right. Everyone is looking towards her for a solution.
KATARA (nervously): Uh... I don't know. What am I supposed to do?
YUE (nervously): Something!
SUKI: Just wait till it's over.
Yue is almost outright frightened by Suki's cold statement.
Kenora rolls over on one knee. Akari starts running but is thrown off-balance by the entire ship being moved by Kenora bending the water below it. Doing Paku's move, a massive pillar of water shoots from the river, a huge body of water that she rolls over the entire deck. Akari managed to jump above it, though the look on the face indicates that it was no easy task at all.
What follows is a series of water orbs, all launching into the air, one after the other. Upon exploding like firework, each one hails a hellfire of water projectiles down below, damaging the ship somewhat but missing Akari, who starts losing her breath from the fight.
Yue looks at the battlefield with concern. In that moment she starts having feelings of guilt. Maybe Kenora is upset about her ending things. Maybe this is her fault.
YUE: Something.
She runs towards the fighters.
KANNA: Yue!
KATARA: Yue!
SUKI: Stay here!
Suki deliberately stops them from committing the same mistake.
Akari tries pulling off one last maneuver - going in for close combat. While Kenora's punches and kicks hurt, Akari's experience in melee combat gives her the advantage.
YUE: Stop it you two! RIGHT. NOW.
Kenora can get both of Akari's arms in some kind of lock. Too happy and distracted about this, Akari frees herself by headbutting Kenora directly against her nose wound. She stumbles backwards as Yue walks closer.
YUE: You're supposed to be our big, important captain! This is how you deal with things?! Pathetic!
Akari turns around, having finally noticed the third presence of the northern princess. Kenora, having not, uses her opponent's distraction to bend an ice glove over her hand, aiming it at Akari...
YUE: KENORA!
She finally takes note off Yue. Too much actually. Her focus broken momentarily, the glove shatters, and, while Akari can dodge, Yue cannot.
Her scream echoes across the ship and breaks Kenora's fighting stance immediately.
The gash across her face is immediately treated by Kanna and Katara, on the spot. Akari and Suki carefully eye their captain, both holding their respective weapon, the athlete screwing her batons back together to make it a staff again. Kenora doesn't resist. A deep sense of guilt runs from the top of her spine down all the way to her toes.
Despite being the half that travels with singing nomads, the Ty Lee part of the gang is much quieter, having decided to take a short break on a patch of grass. In a weird parallel, their bridge also ended on a rock pillar, though without a mural.
LILY: The grass on here is so soft!
CHONG: That inspires me to sing a grassy-fields tune!
Ty Lee quickly looks over to Sokka and Zuko, who don't resist their terrible musical fate and simply lie down tired next to Appa, as if the three of them were all sick together.
CHONG (singing): Grass-
TY LEE: Please not now.
She falls on her behind and hugs her legs.
CHONG: That's okay my dudette. Lily and I are just going to weave flowers into our hair.
LILY (clapping): My favorite!
They start with their amazing floral activity, also weaving some mountain flowers into Zuko's, Sokka's, and Appa's hair. None of them resist.
MOKU: Can I sit down next to you?
She nods very slightly. The largest of the nomads places himself down with an exhausted grunt.
MOKU: There's clearly something on your mind, little girl.
Ty Lee sighs.
TY LEE: We went to the Northern Air Temple recently. Or, what's left of it.
She pauses.
TY LEE: I lived as a nomad for all of my life. I'm scared of what's going to happen if we don't stand up for ourselves.
Moku giggles.
TY LEE: What?
MOKU: Being a nomad doesn't mean doing anything you want all the time and ignoring other people's wishes. Being a free person doesn't require you to always go your own path. Look at us.
He points at his companions as they continue their strange hair/flower hobby.
MOKU: Sometimes Chong leads the way, sometimes Lily does what she wants. Sometimes even I get to decide, but at the end of the day it really doesn't matter. We're not weighing our decisions into exact thirds. Relationships can't be weighed exactly equally. It's about trusting each other, not owing each other.
Ty Lee is a bit confused by the analogy but starts to figure out that the nomads are not simply companions.
MOKU: Today, we are following the lead of a fellow nomad girl. Not because we have to, but because we want to.
Ty Lee nods once again. She decides to get up and walk over to her exhausted, edelweiss-decorated boyfriend.
TY LEE: Can I lie down next to you?
ZUKO: Sure.
She cuddles up to him on the side.
ZUKO: I'm sorry I don't like Chong's songs. I think we're all a little stressed out.
TY LEE: No, I'm sorry. I tried to force you to like the things I do. I'll try to be more...
ZUKO: Don't. Just be yourself.
The lovers share a cute smile and follow it up with a kiss.
SOKKA: How sweet.
They sit back up. Sokka is leaning against the mighty bison resting behind him.
TY LEE: I'm also sorry for Azula. We really need to tell her to leave you alone.
ZUKO: We really do.
Sokka shrugs.
SOKKA: It's fine. I can deal with her.
A loud grunt and the entire gang's baggage falls off of the saddle, almost hitting Sokka below.
SOKKA: No! Appa! Not again!
Ty Lee helps him getting the stuff back on the beast, while Zuko attempts to calm him down. It's when Ty Lee grabs one of Aang's bags that the bison whistle falls on the grass. A bright smile grows on the acrobat's face.
SOKKA: What is that?
She holds it up triumphantly.
TY LEE: Our ticket to get Aang and Azula back.
Katara nervously taps her foot in the hallway, her hands are crossed, and her lips are pursed as tight as if they were glued to one another. While the Crown Princess is unable to turn her head away from the door of the medical bay, her bodyguard's eyes do not stop staring at her captain in the corner. Kenora understands why, obviously the person in charge of Katara's security would pay extra close attention to her. She would obviously never do a similar thing to Katara. What in the world could she even do to make her upset like that? Sure, going behind her back to get some random man to replace her did seriously hurt her feelings. But she apologized. She would've calmed down by the time they had lunch. But this airbender just had to give her a piece of her mind. Kenora scoffs, which only heightens Suki's flaring expression.
Kanna finally exits the station.
KANNA: Neither of them have any serious damages, but I'm afraid Yue will always carry a scar with her from now on. Her father won't appreciate that very much.
The information relayed, the three look over to Kenora, who's sitting on a box and only now makes eye contact with the others. She immediately gets up, nervous, but confident about her own position. Akari is just some airbender. She is captain. No one will take that away from her.
KANNA: With all due respect Kenora...
KENORA: That's Captain Kenora.
She reads the room correctly.
KENORA: No, I'm sorry. And I know what you're going to say...
KATARA: Kenora, I am so sorry for going behind your back...
Surprisingly, Katara immediately steps forward and accepts the blame, apparently. Suki especially is not too happy about this.
KATARA: It was my idea to get Akari on board. I should never have gotten involved this way.
The Crown Princess more in shambles than her, Kenora start feeling sympathy.
KENORA: Don't apologize. I was the one who acted... foolish.
SUKI: That's an understatement.
KATARA: Suki!
Her firm but carrying voice repels the swordfighter and disrupts any further attempts at contributing to the conversation.
KENORA: It's fine. I may be experienced with missions, but you obviously have more knowledge of resources. Leadership. All that stuff.
Kenora ponders for a moment. A second band-aid is covering her nose, as the wound was split earlier by Akari's headbutt.
KANNA: That's what I was going to suggest, if you had let me finish earlier.
The old woman's tone comes off as much angrier and more serious than Kenora has heard it before.
KANNA: We can excuse this little "incident" as a training injury. But if you are to continue leading this crew, and events like this happen again, not even your father can protect you from punishment.
Kenora nods. Her fist still clenches to hide her anger.
KATARA: What do you suggest then, gran-gran?
Kanna takes a deep breath, folding her arms beneath her sleeves.
KANNA: I suggest that my granddaughter should assist our young captain in her job. Something akin to a co-captain.
Kenora frowns confused.
KENORA: Co-Captain?
Katara turns around, appearing baffled.
KANNA: As the Great Chief's daughter, her authority alone could help legitimize any wrongdoings.
Kenora crosses her arms.
KENORA: And my authority is not enough?
KANNA: No.
Kenora's muscles briefly tense up.
KANNA: Remember who you are, girls. If a male crew comes under any scrutiny, they will likely get away with it. This is the first female-led mission in the history of our nation. We will be under twice as much pressure as anyone else. We need to be extra careful.
Katara nods. Looking over to Kenora, she tries her best to melt her angered body language a little.
KATARA: I just want to do what's right. If this helps, then I'm in. My people managing skills with your brilliant strategy - how can that ever go wrong?
Katara seems to be a little too excited for Kenora's liking.
KANNA: The decision is with our captain.
Once again, all eyes wander back over to the Pirate Princess, who takes one hell of a time to consider the option.
KENORA: Fine. You'll be in charge of all the boring stuff.
Katara jumps up in excitement.
KATARA: Yes! I won't disappoint you!
Her joyfulness quiets down a bit after remembering earlier events.
KATARA: I'll start by talking to Yue about you. I'll tell her you're sorry.
Suki catches onto the very suspicious reaction Kenora has to that statement. Ultimately a nod, her frantic eyes tell something different. This is the third time she has noticed something like this today.
All quiet on the wooden bridge, which, from the naked eye, appears to be coming from nowhere and connecting into some other nowhere. Aang and Azula quietly pass by another rock formation, when the firebender finally stops, forcing Aang, who's walking ahead of her, to stop as well.
AZULA: Can I ask you something?
While every fiber in his body tries to stop it, he nods.
AZULA: When you were stuck in that cave with Katara... did you...
She looks down at the ground for a moment, her thoughts clearly still collecting in her mind.
AZULA: Did you... want to kiss her?
This is clearly very uncomfortable to Aang as well. He sits down with a sigh, Azula placing herself across from him. There is unfortunately nothing to lean against.
AANG: That was all a long time ago. We were different people.
AZULA: Well, you were kids.
She realizes this is kind of a self-own but doesn't elaborate any further.
AANG: I thought that I wanted her for a long time. But it's hard to love in a war. Hard to find that intimacy with a person when you're always on the run.
Azula crosses her arms. She's clearly uncomfortable with this conversation but forces herself to push onwards.
AZULA: I think it's pointless to chase someone like that. Unless she liked you back that is.
He thinks back to some of their shared memories. How he woke up in her arms. How they laughed. Their first kiss.
AANG: Maybe she did at some point. But like I said, that's a long time ago.
AZULA: But you're still in love with her.
She blurts it out so nonchalantly that she immediately regrets it right after. Aang seems to hold firm though.
AANG: I do.
Azula scoffs.
AZULA: Can't you just... stop? Stop yourself from feeling that way? There are so many reasons not to do it.
Aang laughs, a hint of deep-seated sorrow hidden under.
AANG: That's never how it works. Love is an emotion. Emotions can't be argued with.
She flicks her eyebrows up in a gesture of dismissal.
AZULA: If you say so.
The two attempt to move onward but are alerted by Sabachi's sudden shrieking.
AANG: What is it?
AZULA (the lemur is screaming right into her ear): OW! Get OFF!
Sabachi suddenly soars upwards, grabbing onto the side of the rock pillar and climbing upwards, disappearing into the fog.
Several seconds of chattering, screeching, scratching and other such noises, a comical exchange of looks from Aang and Azula, and voila! Aang's staff drops onto the bridge. Two wolverine baboons drop right after, running away in terror as Sabachi returns to Azula's shoulder.
AANG: You know, we had a lemur in my world. And he was never this violent.
Azula picks up the staff for him.
AZULA: Was he not? Wait – "he"?
She scoffs, tossing the staff to Aang in bypassing.
AZULA: That explains it.
The lemur turns her head once again. After chirping something towards Azula, it once again flies away.
AANG: What is it this time?
Azula runs over to him.
AZULA: She heard your stupid bison flute - chase after her!
He snaps his glider open.
AANG: Hold on tight.
She awkwardly grabs ahold of his side. The first few seconds of flight Aang tumbles a bit, briefly crashing into the fog below, before finding his balance again. For a split second Azula spots another suspension bridge, almost at the bottom of the valley.
Three knocks. Akari snaps open her door.
AKARI: What?!
Suki refuses to flinch. The athlete sighs.
AKARI: If that freak thinks I'm going to stay with her circus for another minute, she has another thing coming.
Suki closes the door behind herself.
SUKI: No, she doesn't.
Akari shouldn't be surprised by the stern bluntness, but alas, she still is.
SUKI: She's royalty. They never get into trouble.
The anger turns to a mixture of concern and confusion.
AKARI: You sound awfully rebellious for someone wearing a Water Tribe uniform.
No change in her body language.
AKARI: Isn't that just another reason to leave? If you don't even trust your princesses?
SUKI: I trust Katara with my life. I've known her for as long as I can remember.
A brief moment of somberness and a small change in Suki's features that quickly disappears again.
SUKI: But this Kenora? She's bad news. I don't want her to influence Katara any more than she already has.
Akari scoffs. Her body is covered in bandages and bruises, though nothing that would render her incapable of moving.
AKARI: Then why didn't you hack her down earlier?
SUKI: I had to protect Katara and the Chief Mother. Their safety is my top priority.
Surprising Akari, Suki sighs.
SUKI: I need to rely on someone else to help me in case something like this goes down again. I can't protect everyone from that psychopath.
Akari frowns.
AKARI: Why should I endanger myself like that? Again.
Suki walks over to the door.
SUKI: Because doing the right thing is more important than your own wishes.
She leaves Akari with that strangely cryptic answer, shutting the door on her way out. Once again, she checks the hallways to try and spot anyone. She lets out a brief sigh of relief. Feeling a panic attack coming up, she manages to keep it down.
SUKI: Just wait till it's over. Just wait till it's over. Just wait till it's over...
Zuko furiously blows into the whistle yet another time. Sokka already seems to lose his patience.
TY LEE: Maybe if we walk around a bit, we can expand the radius.
SOKKA: No. If we move Aang will just fly around in a circle.
CHONG: Maybe we can attract him with music.
TY LEE & ZUKO & SOKKA: No.
Chong shrugs. Ty Lee and Moku share a quick smile.
Funny screams and an unstable glider holding two kids and a lemur eventually appears in the fog and lands rather inelegantly on the not-so-soft grass.
AZULA: Ow.
TY LEE: Azula! Aang!
The Dream Team reunites. At least the four kids, Sokka politely remains with the bison.
CHONG: Wo-hey, they found their way back.
LILY: Maybe they trusted the power of love.
Quick comical eye contact with Aang and Azula. Both blush and get back up.
ZUKO: Where did you go?
Aang scratches the back of his head, taking back the whistle from Zuko.
AANG: We saw a mural down there. Couldn't really figure it out.
SOKKA: What was on it?
AANG: A man and a woman across from each other. And a third person on the bottom.
Ty Lee ponders quietly.
ZUKO: Who was that?
TY LEE: Those were the lovers. Probably the ones who made this path.
AZULA: And the third guy?
TY LEE: Like I said, those were the lovers.
It takes Azula a moment to realize what the acrobat truly means.
LILY: That's so romantic.
Now Azula starts pondering.
SOKKA: And how does that help us get out of here?
AZULA: I know how to get out of here. When we chased Sabachi, I briefly saw a bridge on the bottom of the valley. Aang, do you remember the third guy on the mural?
Aang nods.
AZULA: That was supposed to be a hint. Below all the fog and dead ends, there is one bridge that connects the entry with the exit. I bet it's that.
TY LEE: And only people who understood the lovers know how to find it.
SOKKA: That's great and all, but how do we get there?
A rumbling alerts the entire group. At first confused by its origin, they can quickly decipher that it originated from Appa. The bison looks towards them, his face shivering, when-
BUUUUURP!
The sound echoes through the Zhangjiajie Path and the stench cloud engulfs the travelling group.
AANG (disgusted): Appa!
The beast boasts with another loud grunt, shaking itself with the energy of someone who can manage a solid 8-hour sleep schedule.
AZULA: He says he's feeling better.
AANG: Can you fly again, buddy?
An affirming grunt followed by a second, quieter burp does not require any translation.
TY LEE: What about the secret bridge? The path of the doomed lovers? Do we not want to finish the Zhangjiajie Path?
After a few seconds of exchanging glances amongst each other, everyone agrees to just fly away on Appa.
Azula's theory proved right, as at the end of the path a secret entrance by the side leads to a wooden bridge on the very bottom. Though at this point nobody cared anymore, as they had finally found themselves at the exit, which looks pretty much the same as the entrance. They help the nomads unload their stuff while Zuko gives the bison some kind of herbal medicine.
AANG (asking Sokka): Why is your forehead all red?
CHONG (pointing at Sokka): Nobody react to what I'm about to tell you - I think that kid might be the Avatar!
He slaps his forehead once again, only worsening the state of his hand-shaped mark on it.
TY LEE: So are you guys coming to Ba Sing Se with us?
MOKU: Nope.
TY LEE: Okay. Thanks for everything, Moku.
CHONG: I hope you learned a little something about how love can reveal itself in many ways.
Ty Lee and Zuko share yet another kiss.
AZULA (her arms crossed): Just play your songs.
CHONG: Hey, good idea!
He takes out his lute and strikes up a familiar tune.
CHONG (singing): Even if you lost you can't, lose the love because it's in your heart! Da, da, da...
Everyone chuckles, mildly amused by these strange fellows. Aang is ultimately happy to have met the nomads in this world. Once again, a simple conversation with Azula has helped him feel better. He ought to do more of those.
As he and Ty Lee hop back onto Appa (and Zuko climbs up awkwardly) Azula gazes into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. Sabachi peaks over the saddle's edge and chirps at her.
AANG: Azula, you coming?
She snaps out of it.
AZULA: Yeah.
She waits till he looks away again. What follows is a frustrated biting of the lips, her face expressing some kind of bottled-up problem.
AZULA (quietly, while slightly blushing): Shit.
Before Kenora can enter her cabin, Katara somehow caught up with her.
KATARA: Kenora, wait!
She hides her anger in a crooked smile.
KENORA: Hm?
KATARA: I talked to Yue about you. She said it's fine, but she'd like to not be involved in the strategizing for a bit.
Kenora nods, clearly just wanting the conversation to be over.
KATARA: Oh and, don't worry about Akari. Suki spoke to her. She's going to stay with us.
She opens her cabin door, her answer clouded in a heavy exhale.
KENORA: That's good.
KATARA: If you need anything, just let me know. And don't worry - we'll find the Avatar and free Sokka. I know he must mean a lot to you.
Against every fiber in her body, Kenora nods with a smile. She is about to shut the door when Katara's foot stops it.
KATARA: Oh, one last thing. I know you don't really like them, but can you try on the uniform? Please? It'll look good, I swear.
Kenora looks over to her bed, the blue clothing still on it.
KENORA: I will.
Katara seems satisfied with the answer.
KATARA: Alright. See you later!
She politely closes the door for her.
As she puts on the weird sleeveless uniform with the belt over, she lets a bunch of things pass through her mind. Yue. Sokka. How she had to risk blood sweat and tears to get here, to have the title of captain. At one point she saw it as a simple steppingstone. As captain, she'd be allowed to travel the waters of the world. Look for her mother. Whatever happened to that idea?
She turns left, reviewing herself in the wall mirror hanging from her dresser. The uniform looks ugly and cheesy.
KENORA (talking to herself in the mirror): What happened?
Her damaged face slowly morphs from confusion to anger to rage.
KENORA (talking to herself in the mirror): You want to look for her? Look for your mother who abandoned you?
She steps closer.
KENORA (talking to herself in the mirror): YOU WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME LOOKING SOMEONE WHO BETRAYED YOU!?
She smashes the mirror with her bare fist.
KENORA: BETRAYED YOU LIKE YUE?!
She proceeds to punch the mirror on her desk too. Forming a dagger of ice, she stabs the wood multiple times before stomping on it, tossing it into the air and slashing it with no grace or technique at all. Only force.
KENORA: LIKE SOKKA?!
Her bedsheets, the animal furs hanging down the walls, her clothes inside the dresser, the dresser itself. It all shatters and splinters, wood just as glass, her hand covered in blood and cuts.
KENORA: LIKE THE FIREBENDER?!
After the last few pieces of furniture are smashed into bits, she looks at the mirror again. A small part of it remains, displaying only a part of her waist, forced to wear this stupid uniform. She puts her blue coat over it and slams the door when exiting.
The small piece of mirror now displays only a corner of her room. In that corner, beneath broken glass and shattered wood, her mother's necklace is buried and forgotten.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Apologies for not dropping this in November, had a lot of stuff on my plate recently.
While my plan for 2023 is to stick to one chapter per month, I will state very openly now that
1) Uni is getting a bit harder and
2) episodes are getting more complex to write. Just simply look at how many characters I have to juggle now and understand why this stuff takes time.
Also, because I recently chatted with a reader about this:
I have this entire fanfiction planned out with 60 episodes total. Obviously haven't figured out the details, but the overall structure and where these characters are going is set in stone.
So trust me when I say: The Last Firebender will be finished. Just gonna take a while lol.
Also, according to another reader, apparently this site has troubles with their email notification system for new chapters? Check that out, I guess.
With that said:
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Be sure to look forward to the first chapter of 2023 - Book 2 Episode 3 - Ba Sing Se Part 1: The Council of Five.