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 7
Sokka and the Bandit
Act I. – An ostrich horse with no name
The heat of the desert shows no mercy to the unsuspecting soul. Colonel Domo knows it too well, he learned it the hard way. When he and his Shark Rays started the raids in the Earth Kingdom, they used arctic mounts, creatures that succumbed to the heat not long after. They had since switched to dromedary antelopes, fast animals with vast water reserves that lasted them days. He had found the creatures more than rewarding, developing something of a bond towards them.
His thoughts shift quickly as Karapu makes out a target. An old man that must've gone lost in the treacherous heat, dry, rocky surfaces offering little room for foliage. He smirks with a greedy smile, signaling the other Shark Rays to assume formation.
They charge the old man quickly, forcing him to stop as they circle around him. Domo finds it odd to see the man not frightened at all. Moreso, he raises an eyebrow at the fact that he is apparently blind.
DOMO: You are speaking to Colonel Domo of the Shark Rays. We patrol these lands in the name of the Great Chief. State your business.
Everyone readies their weapons - Jakar shows off his Golok sword - Morshu takes out an explosive ready to ignite - Karapu readies his staffed club - Mekameka spins his iron bolas - Domo taps his patch of water hanging from the saddle.
The blind man wears scrappy Earth Kingdom attire, possibly a former soldier, as well as a straw hat and a white mustache. He chuckles warmly.
WANDERER: Well, it's nice to meet ya, Colonel. I was just wandering around, minding my business. Was hoping to run into a settlement soon.
Domo begins to question if the man is truly blind or not.
DOMO: Really? A helpless old man is wandering the desert on his own?
The Wanderer scratches the scalp hiding under the straw hat.
WANDERER: Well, I suppose it does look rather concerning to an outsider. But let me reassure you Colonel - I am doing perfectly well on my own.
He taps the stuffed bag hanging around his shoulder, almost in a provocative fashion.
KARAPU: What's in the bag there?
WANDERER: This? Just my supplies for the travels. I'm afraid I can't share any though, fellas.
A suspicious frown forms on Domo's face.
DOMO: What else is in there?
The Wanderer chuckles again, his head continuously in a still position.
WANDERER: I don't see why I should tell you, Colonel. You're gonna have to come and take it if you wanna find out.
To everyone's surprise, the old man assumes an earthbending stance.
Domo is the first to launch his water, reacting with shock as the Wanderer dodges, lifts up a boulder, and slams it in his face. Karapu decides to jump off his mount with a howling roar, his weapon raised.
As his boot touches the earth, time slows down. In a circular pattern, the man's vibrations travel all around until they reach the Wanderer, who can correctly decipher where he is standing and what his next attack is. Before Karapu can land a hit, the Wanderer already flings him upwards with a stone pillar. The old man creates a rumbling to upset the animals and a cover of dust, allowing him to get away, where to the mercenaries can't tell.
On the first part of the journey Sokka ran into an estranged ostrich horse that had somehow found its way into the forest. It still had a saddle and reins on it, leading him to assume that maybe its rider was attacked by Jet and the other Vultures. Or maybe killed. He wouldn't have been surprised by that either. It took him a few minutes to tame it, his winning strategy ultimately being a soft, non-threatening approach that finally calms the animal. That and he gave it some food he stole from the hideout before leaving.
He was curiously looking at all the nightlife as he finally made his way out of the forest. Aang and the others had either passed him already or abandoned the search. He didn't care either way. He didn't want the Avatar to fail, he wanted Aang to succeed and restore balance, take down his father and perhaps be able to return to his own reality. He scoffs. Still such a ludicrous story. But suppose at this point there was no point in questioning it. He found it easier to accept truths nowadays rather than to try and work out a different solution for it. It started with accepting that his father had banished him, and solidified as he finally accepted that Kenora would never like him the way he liked her.
There were plants and birds and rocks and things, sand and small hills in this landscape, half-green, half-barren. A mix of reddish oranges and dark fauna. Only the strongest plants are able to survive out here, drawing water from places most other life forms wouldn't be able to have gotten it from. In a way plants are the only peaceful waterbenders, drawing the liquid merely for their own survival and not to spread and conquer. They had been told as kids that the Water Tribes were also only doing this for their own survival, that it was an injustice created by man that the Tribes were banished to the poles, that the spirits had envisioned them to correct that mistake. In recent times Sokka had noticed just how every story and reason to justify this war contradicted each other. On one hand, the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation were ruthless and vicious, able to strike and wipe out the Tribes if they had gotten the chance to, on the other, their enemies were weak and spineless, plagued by their lack of spiritual guidance and hedonistic passions. They were a sad and lonely people oppressed by lords and kings, just waiting to be liberated and enlightened by the grace of the Great Chief. Sokka scoffs, also in part due to the fact that he only has a few chunks of bread left. He stops his mount next to a bush, allowing the both of them to rest for the night, rising with the earliest sunbeams and continuing his journey onwards. He has no goal in mind other than somewhere he could get supplies. Perhaps he would just settle there and live his life out as a commoner. The heat was hot and the ground was dry but the air was full of sound.
Bandit already regretted leaving. She usually doesn't regret her own choices, usually she does the right thing. Jet may have been family but... she sighs as she slides through the rough mountain terrain via earthbending. The Avatar had eyed her with an expression of disappointment - her best guess was that Toph... meaning this other version of her, was a better earthbender than her. At least that's what Aang must've thought based on his weird looks. She should've kicked his butt before leaving, alongside Jet's.
She hates lying. When you're out on the street, waking up every day unsure whether or not you'll go to sleep hungry... trust becomes a valuable resource. She had spent many years alone before meeting Jet. Occasionally she would befriend other orphaned kids, all of them would end up betraying her. It wasn't until she haphazardly taught herself some street level earthbending that she was able to fend for her own. Life was lonely before Jet. For a while it was just them, before this whole freedom fighter thing - before the politics. Was that really enough of a reason to-
She trips, her rock avalanche breaking apart, leaving her to stumble into the dirt, rolling over a few times before getting back up with a few bruises and scratches. She grunts, stomping her foot into the ground and breaking off a piece of a boulder next to her. She sits down for a moment, thinking all of it over. She could go back still. Jet would probably welcome her with open arms...
But then what? She knows Jet - she knows that he is just as stubborn as the rest of the Vultures. He wouldn't stop his pointless crusade. He... he would probably kill again, or at least try.
She didn't want to be a part of that. It wasn't his decision to make. Taking a life just... just...
A rush of emotions rising to the top, Bandit instead opts to create her camp for the night. A few sticks are quickly collected, and two shapes of earth make for a tent that's passable enough. She only wished that her forms were a little straighter, more precises and not so crude. It took her years to master creating a tent where the bits and pieces wouldn't just break off half the time.
As she lights the fire and warms herself under the night sky, she thinks back to Jet telling the story of when her parents died. Maybe he was right. Maybe all that pain and anger can't go away - maybe it's only fair to inflict it back on the Water Tribe, or the Earth Kingdom. Maybe the cycle of violence never ends.
She lies down on her blanket serving as a mattress and drifts off into dreamland.
Brighter pastures. Sunnier days. A valley green and calm, surrounded by spiky rocks, acting as a kind of shield. It feels protective, reassuring to look out her window and spot a mountain range. She would tell herself that they're here to protect her in those days, that the war could simply not reach her or Gaoling. For now, she has to get up, put on her silly outfit with the matching head dress, and be taken to earthbending school.
A sandy courtyard, the main training grounds for the Earthbending Academy.
YU: There's our pretty little flower!
Master Yu, a sleazy-looking man with fancy robes and an even fancier beard, strings running down his side as if the mustache was painted spaghetti. Bandit, or Toph back then, didn't really like him, though he always acted overly friendly towards her.
TOPH: Hello. Sorry I'm late...
She was in a class with lots of other pupils, mostly older kids that looked at her funny. She knew that nothing was going to happen to her, her family more or less in charge of the city thanks to their wealth. But she didn't like it regardless. She wanted to be respected. She wore the same uniform with the same, dumb hat that obstructed her view. Master Yu seemed to be aware of this, reacting with zero negative emotions as she was once again a few minutes too late. As Bandit grew older, she realized this was because her parents paid him ridiculous sums of money.
YU: Take your stances!
He directs the students to stand across each other, instructed to perform a firmly-rooted pose meant to lift a small rock in front of them.
YU: Now, strike as if you're punching through your opponent's head!
Toph stares across into the sharp eyes of her fellow pupil, a dorky boy with freckles and a mean old glare. He stomps his foot and drags his extended arm upwards in a jagged motion, lifting the rock alongside the others. Toph frowns in fear initially but manages to react with a defensive stance the master showed them yesterday. As the chunk grows bigger, she shoves her hand forward, a brave attempt to pulverize it. She does manage to split it in half, yet the force was apparently too much for a girl her age. She falls backwards, landing in a ceramic pot filled with sand for a different exercise, shattering it in the process. She examines her hand, which looks slightly bruised. That's when the tears start running down her face. The other pupils begin to giggle as Yu rushes to her help. He bites his nails as she gets up on her own. She isn't shaking or wheezing, but she is crying regardless.
YU: Oh no, your parents will be furious...
Back at the Beifong estate, Toph's parents sit upon throne-like seats overlooking a visitor's area, currently glaring at the stammering Master Yu. Toph barely remembers how her parents looked, other than nicely trimmed and wrapped in the most expensive garments available. She remembers the warm smile her mother passed to her as the situation was unfolding.
LAO: I entrusted you with the instruction of my daughter because you promised me you would not try anything too dangerous.
Yu shakes his head and raises his hands in an innocent fashion.
YU: Let me reassure you - I am keeping her at a beginner's level. Basic forms and breathing exercises only. This little incident today was... out of the ordinary.
He scratches the back of his head while Lao takes a sip from his steaming tea, a firm expression directed towards the master.
LAO: Clearly I've let Toph have far too much freedom.
His frown shifts over to his quiet daughter.
LAO: From now on you'll be cared for and guarded twenty-four hours a day.
While she was small and helpless back then, Toph was never afraid to speak up.
TOPH: No!
Her parents react with slight shock, though an argument like this is far from surprising.
LAO: Toph, this is not a discussion. You are a little girl, not a fighter.
Toph stomps the ground, making the floor beneath the green carpet uneven.
TOPH: I am! I love fighting! I love being an earthbender! I like training with other kids!
Unfortunately for her, Master Yu decides to involve himself.
YU: It is not a bad thing for her to train alongside peers. However, I do not need to remind you that almost all of the other students are older than you.
Toph pouts angrily, making the man uncomfortable. She decides to appeal to her mother, who has remained mostly quiet so far.
TOPH: Mom, please. I'm almost five now. I want to make friends...
The room takes on an eerily quiet note. One of the guards walks to the doorway and stops.
GUARD: Sir, the general wants to speak with you.
The news unsettles her parents. Back then Bandit didn't know what any of it meant.
LAO: Tell him I'll be there in a minute.
The guard bows and subsequently leaves.
LAO: I suppose we can give you private lessons, Toph. But as long as you're a little girl we'll have someone observing.
He nods over to Master Yu, whose face displays a greedy smirk.
LAO: Do you offer private lessons, master?
Yu bows in an overly polite fashion.
YU: Absolutely. We can start tomorrow-
Thunder rumbles in the distance. All the adults share uneasy looks with each other. Toph feels left out. As Bandit grew older, she grew scared of the sound of thunder too.
TOPH: What's... what's going on?
Her parents give each other an affirming look, apparently a cue to act a little calmer.
POPPY: No need to worry, darling. The men are going to talk about it while we eat dinner.
Toph smiles briefly, looking curiously after her father as he and Master Yu follow the guard into some other room. This was the last time she saw him.
Drizzle had started blowing over Gaoling. Toph found that odd, as it usually didn't rain at this time of year. Bandit cursed herself later in life for being too naive to not understand what that meant. For now, she was tucked in her bed while a servant shuts the window flaps and leaves.
POPPY: Does it hurt still?
She gently grabs Toph's wrist, examining the bandaged knuckles.
TOPH: Nope. It didn't even hurt that much.
Poppy gives her a warm smile. She was always more understanding of Toph's rougher side.
POPPY: But Master Yu told us you cried.
She shrugs, her shame revealing itself in a treacherous blush.
TOPH: Yeah. But not because it hurt. I think I was just surprised.
Poppy smiles again. Bandit realized years later why her mother showered her in love that night. She got an extra serving of desert, was allowed to stay up late. It was an attempt to ease her into the literal storm brewing in the distance. Perhaps her mother knew what was coming and wanted to adequately say her goodbyes.
TOPH: Mom?
Poppy nods.
POPPY: Yes honey?
TOPH: I've been thinking about the war. I don't think the Water Tribe can get here.
Poppy scoffs in shock, surprised to hear her daughter having these thoughts.
TOPH: We have aaaaall these mountains around the city. How are they gonna get past that? I think we're safe.
In that moment Toph didn't understand why her mother reacted that way.
TOPH: Why are you crying?
Poppy tries getting it back together.
POPPY (teary): Oh I'm... I was just surprised to hear that.
Toph smiles innocently.
TOPH: Just like me!
Poppy nods. She gives her a loving, long smooch on her forehead, caressing her cheeks as Toph closes her eyes.
POPPY: Toph?
TOPH: Mhm?
She's halfway drifting off to dreamland, still able to hear her mother speak.
POPPY: The... other earthenders might train later tonight. If you hear any noise... don't... don't be scared, okay? If you're scared just go find me or dad or one of the guards. Understand?
Toph nods.
TOPH (half asleep): Why do these nitwits train at night...
Poppy giggles quietly at her daughter's comment, happy that she is about to fall asleep and has her eyes closed. The concerned mother starts full-on crying as she leaves the room, though she purposefully tries not to make a sound. This was the last time Bandit remembers seeing her mother.
She opens her eyes again in the middle of the night, a strange rumbling alerting her. As she (literally) opens her tent and stares out into the night, she can make out some kind of animal is close by. The embers of her campfire illuminate the outlines of something enormous, hissing and snarling as it eyes Bandit. Still stuck sideways in her memory, she performs a quick maneuver, flicking her wrists and shoving a pile of rocks towards the thing, upsetting it even further. She can finally make it out to be a sabretooth moose lion, a humongous creature currently pawing the dirt in preparation for an attack. Bandit readies herself. Why exactly she remembers one of her earliest earthbending lessons right now remains elusive. The creature finally charges her full force - the girl waits for the optimal moment before shoving her hand into the ground and lifting up a huge boulder against which the creature rams its head, breaking off one of its antlers. The attack was enough to scare it away.
Bandit blows some loose hair out her face, briefly grunting in pain and examining her hand. It looks slightly bruised but it's a relatively small injury, nothing that wouldn't get better in a day. She decides to head back into her stone tent and spent the last few hours before sunrise lying down. Though she doesn't find much sleep from this point on.
After two days in the desert sun Sokka's skin had taken on a shade of red. The nameless mount had also begun loudly complaining, though Sokka didn't particularly mind this. At least not anymore.
He stops, the dead grass below him only present in patches. He looks ahead at a riverbed, sad to think it was gone. Possibly Water Tribe meddling. He was told growing up that waterbenders would only interfere with the climate to help people, farming and so on. Of course that wasn't true either.
He carefully navigates the animal to cross the wobbly bridge, bad memories of the labyrinth he crossed with the nomads resurfacing. As his mind wanders, the ostrich horse breaks one of the flimsy planks, Sokka pulling back its reins in time to prevent it from falling into the dirt below. He quickly races it to the other riverbank, sighing in relief as they reach it.
The hours pass. He takes the last sip from his water pouch, the droplets melting on his tongue like snow on a campfire. He has since reached a more mountainous part, the greens and grasses coming back stronger and brighter than before, though it is ultimately still a very rocky valley.
He briefly halts. Before him lies a former battlefield, littered with dropped equipment and pouches - giant wheels of stone used by the armies of the Earth Kingdom. Most of the useful parts have been looted already though. The heat continues to be relentless.
Sokka grows dizzy. He closes his eyes, picturing the vague memory of his mother waving him goodbye abord a ship as she departs for the colonies. No... the Fire Nation... Ember... Ember Island...
He falls off his ostrich horse and lands on a soft bush. The silhouette of a person riding an animal had begun closing in on him.
The sound of the ostrich horse's gallop is replaced by the trembling of tiny boots running across snow. Sokka is about seven and playing with a bunch of other royal children in the Southern Palace, the adults inside discussing various things ranging from trade to the war effort to possible marriages. He hated the idea of that as a kid, being told to marry some stupid girl when he was older. Yet another reason not to grow up. And so, with the many other boys ignoring the weird non-bender prince, he was sitting alone on the edge of a botanic display, rare, arctic vegetation growing on it. His little sister runs up to him.
KATARA: Hey big brother! Wanna have a snowball fight?
The boy frowns and shakes his head. A young Suki stands timidly next to the princess.
SUKI: Why is the prince so angry?
SOKKA (angrily): I'm not angry!
He shakes his fist, continuing to cross his arms right after.
KATARA: He doesn't like that father is choosing a future wife for him. He thinks all girls are icky!
Suki giggles innocently. Sokka only frowns.
SOKKA: Girls are dumb! I don't want to marry a dumb girl!
Katara smirks.
KATARA: Well, maybe we should tell father then. Perhaps he can find a cute prince for you.
Sokka grunts and gets up.
SOKKA: Girls are crazy!
As he runs away, Katara protests.
KATARA: Sokka, wait! I didn't mean it!
Too late, as he is already out of ear shot.
SUKI: Maybe we should apologize to him later.
Katara nods, her guilt washed away with optimism.
Sokka angrily wanders off to some remote part of the palace, a structure made entirely from ice, though the hallways are all just huge pillars, forcing everyone to wear thick parkas. Once you're actually inside the palace the architecture becomes more insulated. He aims to walk over to a corner overlooking the Great Cove, dozens of ships departing and docking. As he stares into the distance, the sound of crying echoes through the hallway. He decides to investigate, finding a girl roughly his age a few pillars down sitting on the ground, her face dug into her lap, sobbing and wailing with much vigor. The boy starts feeling really bad for her, getting down on his knees, taking on a much more compassionate tone.
SOKKA: Hey, are you alright?
The girl looks up in shock, her ocean blue eyes drenched in salty liquid. It seems she didn't even notice his presence until now. She shakes her head, her arched lips showcasing her continued sadness.
SOKKA: Did something happen? Was someone mean to you?
She shakes her head, starting to sob again. Sokka, merely a little boy, gently grabs her shoulder.
SOKKA: It's okay. You're safe here.
He smirks semi-confidently.
SOKKA: I'll protect you.
The girl doesn't seem to be convinced. She finally responds with an all-too-familiar lisp.
KENORA (teary): My daddy is gonna make me marry some dumb boy.
She snivels, her breath sounding frantic. Sokka is shocked to see the other side of his own issue.
SOKKA: Oh. That sucks. Especially if he's really dumb.
He sticks his tongue out. She finally giggles a little. Sokka smiles.
SOKKA: I don't want my father to pick someone for me. I want to choose myself when I'm older.
He sits down properly, leaning against the wall just like Kenora. She wipes the tears off her face, having calmed down a bit.
KENORA: I don't want to get married never, ever, EVER! I don't even like boys! They're icky!
Sokka giggles, which seems to make the girl nervous.
KENORA: Don't laugh at me...
SOKKA: No, no! I wasn't laughing at you. I just think you're right. Boys can be pretty icky...
He scratches the back of his head in an innocent fashion. Kenora smiles.
KENORA: You're not. You're nice.
Sokka smiles back at her.
SOKKA: What's your name?
She takes a moment to respond.
KENORA: Kenora.
Sokka wakes up frantically, the vertigo in his ears making him feel like he's flying a looping on Appa. He looks around, his eyes taking a few moments to focus. He finally spots a woman with broad shoulders and brown hair, a stuffed platypus bear on her shoulders making him assume that she's probably in charge. He grunts as he massages his temple, still having a dizzy spell from the sun.
ZUZHANG: Take your time, boy. You've been out in the sun for too long. Another day and I wouldn't have needed to take you here at all.
She gives him a crooked smile, making him feel uneasy. The woman is wearing garbs with an intricate pattern, though all in a shade of brown.
SOKKA: Where... where am I?
She scoffs, coming off as a little prudish.
ZUZHANG: You're in our village. I found you and your ostrich horse out by the valley.
He rubs his eyes. As he looks down, he realizes that he's still wearing his Water Tribe outfit. And that this is probably an Earth Kingdom village. He gulps.
ZUZHANG: What's your name?
Act II. - Salvation
Toph opens her eyes again in the middle of the night, a strangle rumbling alerting her. The little girl tries going back to sleep, rolling over in her bed as the noises won't go away, in fact, they increase in volume and frequency. She rolls over to the other side, rubbing her little eyeballs and tasting her dry lips. Tired and confused, she decides to get up. Mom had said something about the earthbenders practicing at night, but she didn't think it was going to be like-
She freezes up, the screams of a person echoing outside. Her heart pounding against her chest, she takes careful steps towards her window, a reddish flare illuminating her room. She flaps them open, barely able to lean her chin on the windowsill. She starts wheezing in fear.
In the distant city center, fighting has erupted. Houses are being burned, despite the heavy rain fall that is washing over Gaoling. It feels like a scene from a nightmare.
After taking her head off, she rubs her eyes once again, harder this time. It's a painful realization to her that this is not a dream. She panics.
TOPH: Mom...
The little girl storms out the door, hastily waddling around the empty mansion, falling down once in the pitch-black darkness.
TOPH (teary): Mom?!
She slams open the door to her parents' bedroom. The quietness of the empty mattress stands in the stark contrast to the sounds of battle and slaughter, which seem to creep ever so closer. Maybe they're outside helping the others escape?
Her tiny feet tapping on the stone floor, she reaches the front door, fancy and shaped like a circle. Opening it an inch, her body freezes up again, seeing the guards that usually protect her fighting tooth and nail against soldiers clad in blue. In a hurry, she runs back to her bedroom, slamming the door and pushing a tiny nightstand in front of it. It would never stop them from coming inside. And they are coming for her, they are inside the premises which means...
She cowers under her blanket, tears streaming down her face at the horrific thought. Bandit would later accept that her father was killed in action, having made an effort to actually fight. Her mother apparently suffered some kind of injury and died soon after.
The little girl hears men shouting in the hallway. It wouldn't be long till they get to her. She looks over to her window, deciding it's her last possible option. Putting on slippers, she runs to the window, sloppily climbing over the sill and landing in a puddle of muddy water. The grass looks washed up and dark, almost having taken a shade of black. After a few steps, Toph spots a man.
The soldier is huge, broad shoulders and an intimidating spear firmly held with both arms. His expression, despite being the face of a hardened soldier, is anything but brave. This girl is not much younger than his own daughter. Toph thinks this is the end when...
He mouths the word "Go!" multiple times, provocatively shaking his weapon as if scaring away a cat. Toph finally has the brains to make the run for it, racing over the hill and out of sight.
A nameless soldier looks out Toph's window.
SOLDIER: Lieutenant Puwati, we've beaten the last of their defenses. They're willing to surrender.
Puwati puts his spear down like a flagpole.
PUWATI: Good. Report to the captain.
SOLDIER: That's the thing sir, he asked you to make a decision with him.
Puwati takes a deep breath. Hopefully the girl made it.
Her unpleasant dreams dunked in memories fade out quickly. Bandit feels like being submerged in cold water, having suddenly risen to the surface. She blasts open her tent, finding herself surrounded by five soldiers riding dromedary antelopes, all with unique designs and weaponry. Their leader appears to be a waterbender with a long ponytail on a bald head and a gaping scar running through his right eye, the other man wears chains over his exposed gut and a scrappy beard on top. Two of them appear to be twins, looking pretty much identical, minus the one tossing a bomb in his hand rocking a sleazy mustache. Lastly, the one guy with only a short machete wears some kind of strange, red mask.
She stomps the dirt, shaking the ground a bit.
BANDIT: Who are you boneheads?!
Domo tries to intimidate the girl with a crooked smirk. Bandit doesn't take the bait.
DOMO: You got a big mouth.
Bandit scoffs.
BANDIT: At least one of your eyes still works.
The smirk disappears.
DOMO: We're looking for an old man. An earthbender. Seen any?
BANDIT: You guys all have ride animals, but you can't catch an old man?
She blows loose strains out of her face.
BANDIT: You must be the grandpa battalion then.
The Shark Rays get ready. Bandit decides not to wait for too long, kicking the ground and launching a boulder towards the colonel, who easily breaks the projectile with water turned ice-scythe. Immediately after, he launches the ice weapon toward the girl, who blocks the attack with a rock pillar. As this goes down, Jakar hopped down his steed and lands a few jabs against Bandit's shoulder. A cold shiver runs through her body as the masked man hops aside. She tries launching a rock at him too, shocked to discover her bending... stopped working.
She winces as Mekameka throws his metal bolas and ties her to the very rock pillar she created. The Shark Rays start howling with laughter as Bandit struggles to get free.
BANDIT: You guys are total jerks!
Domo gets off his mount and walks up to her.
DOMO: Now, let's see if you-
Snarls from a nearby bush alert the animals first, then the humans. Another sabretooth moose lion. Why it didn't attack her earlier, Bandit can't fathom. She might've had the upper hand with her rock tent.
DOMO: Steady...
He gestures for his comrades to be careful. The stakes are raised when another sabretooth moose lion appears, then two more, a fifth standing on top of a hill.
A brief moment of silence. Bandit wonders if her earthbending would come back in time to make her grand escape. With a roar, one of the beasts launches at Domo, who dodges skillfully. Full-on fighting breaks out, with each member of the Shark Rays having a somewhat equally difficult time defending against these massive beasts. One of Morshu's bombs is accidentally knocked back by a paw, almost blowing him up in the process. Meanwhile Karapu chases after one of the beasts who comically tries to run away with Jakar in its mouth, the masked man's pants caught in the animal's jaw. Domo starts getting the upper hand against one of the predators, almost landing a finishing blow when he is rudely knocked back by yet another sabretooth moose lion. The same animal also bumps against the back of Bandit's rock pillar, breaking it in the process allowing the girl to free herself. She briefly makes eye contact with the animal. It's there when she realizes that it's missing an antler. The beast snorts and turns its attention back towards one of the Shark Rays.
With Bandit on the run, Morshu attempts to stop her with dynamite, though the trajectory of his explosive is pulled away via animalistic intervention, knocking him off his mount. The bomb hits one of the canyon's side, breaking off an avalanche and creating a wall just as Bandit makes her escape.
Domo grunts angrily after the girl, the scythe in his hand having melted.
Sokka considers all the options he can muster, cartoonishly twiddling his thumbs as the stoic woman crosses her arms.
SOKKA: Uh...
He poses like The Thinker and finally has an idea about what to say.
SOKKA: I am... a travelling...circus-
ZUZHANG: You're the Crown Prince.
Her facade not fading, Sokka decides to showcase his surrender via a sigh.
SOKKA: Kind of. It's complicated.
To his surprise, the Chief scoffs.
ZUZHANG: So you are but you're also not. What does that make you?
The boy hangs his head down low, the void in his soul only ever growing. He has nothing and no one - no home and no Avatar. He chooses to go with the most honest answer.
SOKKA: Nobody. I'm nobody.
Zuzhang gets back up on her feet.
ZUZHANG: Alright then, Nobody. You can stay with us for a while. But only if you make yourself useful.
Sokka nods. She proceeds to throw a pile of laundry at him, the same brown dresses that the Chief is rocking as well.
ZUZHANG: Just make sure to get changed. I don't want my people to be scared of you.
She leaves the tent with that. Sokka sighs once again, washing his face with the small bowl of water provided for him. He isn't a particularly big fan of the idea of wearing what is essentially a one-piece dress. But suppose he needs to blend in. He'll choose this over chains any day of the week.
Stepping outside (and enjoying the soft breeze on his legs) he is in awe to discover such a beautiful, secluded little village. Hidden in a small valley, several dozen tents are erected on hillsides and elevated chunks on the rocky walls, a soft cover of green grass engulfing the entire thing. They even have access to a little waterfall and accompanying river, although creek is probably more accurate.
ZUZHANG: You are looking at Zhang Jin. Our people found this patch of land five years ago.
She gestures to the villagers engaging in many different activities, blacksmith and tanning among them. Sokka takes note of how some members of the village wear animal furs, others have long hair and a fancy top knot. He tries not to ask any disrespectful questions.
SOKKA: So uh... you guys found this. Did you... migrate?
The Chief sighs with a heavy heart.
ZUZHANG: For many decades, our two tribes used to fight amongst each other. Some historical wrong that plagued both of us.
SOKKA: Two tribes? So you... used to be disunited?
She nods.
ZUZHANG: The Gan Jin and the Zhang used to share a river valley close to the Great Divide. We considered ourselves safe there. But one day, the Water Tribe marched through our lands. We didn't resist, fearing retaliation. The armies of the Earth King decided it would be best to bury their forces in an avalanche, our two tribes alongside with it. Many of our people died, including the old Patriarch of the Gan Jin. After that, our two peoples decided that we had more in common than we think. We've been a united tribe ever since.
Sokka thinks about the unity of the North and South Pole, and how many amongst the elite in the south consider their sister tribe a mere puppet. Maybe that's why everyone keeps pronouncing it "Water Tribe" rather than "Water Tribes". If anyone shares this observation it would be the supposed enemies of the South Pole.
SOKKA: That's... nice to hear. I mean - the fact that you overcame your differences. Love and... all of that.
She eyes him with a curious expression.
ZUZHANG: You seem odd for a Crown Prince.
He shrugs.
SOKKA: Yeah, I'm not exactly popular at home. Or anywhere...
She pads his shoulder.
ZUZHANG: I had a suspicion. After all, I did find you alone in the desert with an ostrich horse.
Sokka blinks comically.
SOKKA: That reminds me, what happened to it?
Zuzhang scratches the back of her head.
ZUZHANG: Well... our last few hunts were not that successful and we already have our own mounts so...
She points at a communal fire pit down below, where the villagers are preparing a giant feast with the plucked remains of his ostrich horse.
ZUZHANG: I... supposed we could call it payment for your stay here. I hope you weren't too attached-
SOKKA: Attached? Nah, I was thinking about eating it too.
He greedily rubs his hands together and licks his lips.
SOKKA: I can't wait to finally have some proper meat again...
Bandit doesn't usually like getting helped, but she does like the idea that her former animal foe somehow returned to rescue her. After all, she did beat him fair and square...
For now, she's hiding inside a small cave, the patches of green increasing in frequency. Hopefully those Water Tribe goons would leave her alone for now, it's not like she poses much of a threat. She's a nobody.
With a heavy exhale, she leans back against the cave, pinching the muscle in her forearm. Whatever that pinhead with the mask did to her blocked her bending. Shoving her arms foreward, she can feel her abilities slowly recovering. Relief, it was only temporary. It took way too long to teach herself bending for her to just loose it against some ballet dancer playing dress up.
There's at least one silver lining - this isn't the first time she's been on the run. Or alone. Or a nobody. She closes her eyes and drifts off.
"Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues starts playing over images of a small child wandering aimlessly through rocky terrain. If the Water Tribe was to hunt her down, this would slow them down at least a bit. Toph wasn't exactly a proper earthbender yet, but she'd have more than enough time to perfect it now. Bandit remembers spending a few dozen nights in caves with strange creatures, which she later found out were badger moles. Though she liked their presence and they hers, living in caves was not her preferred lifestyle choice. She scoffs. Maybe this other Toph from Aang's world would've like it more there. But alas, she moved on.
Toph learned quickly that the streets were not much preferable to a life with badger moles. Small villages did occasionally provide her with food and clothing, but it wasn't exactly a whole bunch of kindness. Most folks would avert their eyes and look away as a dirty little kid begged for a few coins to buy her next meal. She soon found a clique of other kids but discovered that they often tricked her out of her rations, thinking they could stomp on her for being the youngest. After knocking out their leader with her awesome bending, those kids ran off to a different city, leaving her once again to be stranded alone.
She never told anyone her name. Sometimes she thought she forgot it, having to remind herself on occasion. She couldn't trust anyone, and she didn't want to. The only people who deserved her trust were her parents, and they were gone forever.
This led to an incident in which a girl slightly older than her invited her over for dinner after treating her injuries. Toph agreed reluctantly, planning to leave after dinner. She can carry her own weight and needs no one to give her a handout. Agreeing to stay for the night in the living room, Toph snuck out while everyone else was asleep, half of the family's money in her pockets, which wasn't a lot to begin with. The older girl caught her as she ran, shouting after her with a mixture of anger and disappointment.
SONG: Hey, come back you bandit!
Toph would introduce herself as Bandit ever since.
More years passed. A small girl made herself a name as a pickpocket in Gaipan, a city that grew mostly from the refugees of Omashu and Gaoling.
It was there one night when Bandit chewed on some old leftovers, which she had carefully picked from the trash of a local restaurant. The abandoned building wasn't exactly warm, but it served as shelter. After consuming her dinner, she leans against one of the damp walls, her eyes slowly closing and her mind starting to slow down.
Quiet footsteps alert her. She immediately rips the ground up, her opponent dodging skillfully with a roll. The boy is much older than her, yet a kid himself. He smirks as he chews on his wheat straw.
JET: That's how you always disappear.
She gets up and assumes an amateur bending stance. Jet smiles.
JET: I've been watching you for a while now.
Her frown doesn't go away, yet Jet seems to be relaxed.
JET: So... I've been thinking. With my skills and your earthbending... we could make real money. Don't you think?
Bandit finds the odd character mesmerizing. She slowly lowers her arms.
JET: I know, you probably don't trust me.
He scoffs, daring to step closer.
JET: You don't need to. I also work alone.
He extends his hand. Something about his combined shady character mixed with a certain level of... genuine care... it intrigues the little girl. She nods, bluntly grabbing his hand and shaking it.
JET: What's your name?
She pulls away her hand.
BANDIT: Bandit.
She expects mockery but is greeted with a smirk.
JET: Cool.
He takes out his wheat straw, making it look like the smoke pipe of an adult, Bandit thinks.
JET: I'm Jet.
For many years Bandit and Jet ran something of a crime syndicate in Gaipan. They would defraud every single street heckler and scam artists, until they eventually took over and became the scam artists. Over time they would recruit more orphans, who would eventually join the Vulture Clan.
In one instance, Smellerbee would hide a pebble under one of three shells being moved around, with Bandit bending it under her sleeve at the last second, leading to them winning every single game.
Another trick, Jet's idea, was a test-your-strength-game. First, Pipsqueak lifts a large hammer, hitting a mechanism in an attempt to hit a bell at the top. He of course fails, Bandit stepping in as the obvious subversion candidate. Jet and Smellerbee would haggle and bet with random rich assholes, only for Toph to use her earthbending to smash the top of the tower, leaving everyone shocked and out of money.
Bandit's favorite scam was pretending to get hit by ostrich horse carriages, using a bump of earth to simulate impact. Ah yes, blackmailing rich pompous dicks. The good times.
After many years, the General-Governor caught wind of the whole thing, declaring war on the gang of criminal kids, forcing them to flee and re-settle in the woods, far away from the influence of the Earth King.
Bandit had liked the idea of joining the war effort in some way. Kick some waterbender butt. Really make a difference-
Quiet footsteps alert her. Bandit opens her eyes again, a shadow briefly passing by her cave and putting her on high alert. After a few seconds and getting on her feet again, she realizes that it couldn't possibly have been one of those Water Tribe jerks. But then who-
The figure steps into the cave, chuckling heartly.
WANDERER: My oh my, and there I thought I was all alone in these parts. Didn't think I was gonna be running into a stranger.
Toph's instincts tell her to keep her guard up, the friendly attitude of the old man suggests the opposite. Bandit feels conflicted.
BANDIT: Who are you? How did you-
Baffling her enough, she lowers her bending stance. As the old man steps closer, she can make out that he's blind.
Early in the morning, Sokka makes the decision to walk down the creek, a bit removed from the village. He'd been spending a few days here now, helping out with some minor tasks and even tracking down some dinner. He took a knife he got from the Chief with him, stopping at a non-specific part of the river. He looks at his image in the water, his face too blurry to make out anything. Maybe these people are his calling, maybe he went through all this trouble to end up living as one of the Zhang Jin. It's not like his father would ever want him back. Kenora certainly hates his guts, and the Avatar...
Aang may have been his friend elsewhere, but here he treated him like a commodity. Zuko had been more than kind to him. He's the only one he really misses. And then there's of course this Mai girl...
He sighs. What's he gonna do? Walk back to Ba Sing Se? Blend in? Find her? All pointless endeavors to Sokka now.
He takes his knife and removes his wolf tail first, followed by carefully scrapping off the rest of his hair, an action leaving him with only a thin layer of stubbles across his almost-bald scalp. Talk about a sidecut, ay? He chuckles at his own joke. As he stares back at the water, for some reason, he is reminded of a younger version of himself.
Ah, yes - his first ship. The good old... uh... what was it called again? Whatever, it burned down like two weeks later. He remembers Bato's angered frown as he boarded. He probably expected to be rewarded a bit more than to be made Sokka's lieutenant/babysitter.
As he stands on the main deck and overlooks the Great Cove, he longs for glory and treasure - a way to prove himself. Make himself worthy in the eyes of his father. It's way too depressing here anyways. With mom gone and Katara in shambles... perhaps it was better this way.
KANNA: Mind another passenger?
The young boy looks to his right, an old woman having snuck on board without him noticing, although he wasn't paying attention that much really.
SOKKA: Gran-Gran?
She gives him a warm smile.
KANNA: Excited to leave?
To her surprise, he sighs.
SOKKA: I don't know. I'm...
He wishes to finish the sentence with "scared", but chooses to swallow down his fear.
SOKKA: We'll see. Maybe I'll stumble over some adventure.
She decides to comfort him by putting her hand on his shoulder.
KANNA: Whatever you put to your mind, I'm sure you'll achieve.
She manages to get a smile out of him.
SOKKA: We'll, I won't be alone on my journey.
Kanna nods.
KANNA: Of course. You will never be alone, Prince Sokka.
He opens his eyes again. The cold, harsh reality of the creek water snaps him out of daydreaming. He watches with a somber expression as his hair washes down.
On the side of a mountain cliff that's a bit rockier, but warmer due to its position in the sunlight, the Wanderer has prepared a pot of tea over a makeshift stove. How he is able to perform all of these tasks despite his apparent disability is a question that burns on Bandit's mind throughout the whole procedure. She obviously can't blur out the story of the other Toph - a blind girl using earthbending to see. The similarity is pretty frightening to her.
WANDERER: Here is your tea.
She firmly clams the cup with both hands, waving away the steam before taking a small sip.
WANDERER: You seem a little too young to be traveling alone.
Bandit bounces her eyebrows up, a piece of body language that the Wanderer couldn't possibly pick up on.
BANDIT: You seem a bit too old.
The old man chuckles before drinking half his cup. His dead stare into the empty distance looks a bit ominous to the girl.
WANDERER: I know what you're thinking... I look like I can't handle being by myself.
BANDIT: No, I wasn't actually.
She stares into his face - a warm smile hiding under a bushy mustache.
BANDIT: You're an earthbender, right?
The old man nods.
WANDERER: That I am.
BADNIT: And you can... see... with your feet, right?
This catches him off guard.
WANDERER: My, you are quite a perceptive little girl, aren't ya?
Bandit pouts at the belittling comment, but quickly shakes off her pride.
BANDIT: I... heard a story once. One about a girl who was born blind. Learned earthbending from the badger moles and used the vibrations of the ground to see.
He scratches his chin.
WANDERER: Well, that is quite a unique tale. Seems if anyone should've heard about it, it ought to be me, huh?
He laughs again. Bandit gives him a crooked smile (which doesn't do anything but oh well).
BANDIT: So... how did you...
WANDERER: Learn to use earthbending to see?
He appears to be very open to the idea of talking about it, finishing his cup of black tea first.
WANDERER: I was a guide down at the canyon for many years. The Great Divide became a little easier to cross after Ogro's Storm raged almost a hundred years ago. Eventually, some folks from the Water Tribe took issue with my services and... well, let's just say... they didn't show much hospitality...
He scoffs.
WANDERER: I'd rather have spent a night with a canyon crawler...
BANDIT: So, what happened?
He blows wind through the tip of his mustache covering his upper lip.
WANDERER: Well, many years passed. I got some kind of infection and lost my eyesight. The Tribe figured that without vision, they could put me in a regular jail surrounded by earth.
Bandit raises her brow in confusion.
BANDIT: Who would put earthbenders in an earth jail?
He chuckles softly.
WANDERER: Suppose they would. Either way, the more time I spent on the ground the more I started listening.
BANDIT: Listening?
He nods.
WANDERER: Despite the fact that I'm blind, I have no trouble seeing. I can see you, that tree...
He points to a nearby tree, shocking Bandit.
WANDERER: ...even all those little ants crawling around.
She checks the area, spotting no ant hill in sight.
WANDERER: Eventually, I managed to escape their prison. I've been wandering the Earth Kingdom ever since, looking for a nice place to stay. Maybe that's why people call me the Wanderer.
Bandit is still occupied, nay, overwhelmed by the contents of his story. The old man takes note of this.
WANDERER: I hope my story didn't upset you too much, little lady.
She shakes her head.
BANDIT: No, it's just...
She keeps thinking back to Aang.
BANDIT: I can't forget about the story of this... girl. It seems so... similar to yours.
The Wanderer ponder(er)s.
BANDIT: Do you think... it was destiny?
He blows off some steam and scratches his sweaty scalp under the wheat straw hat.
WANDERER: I can't give you the answer to that. To be honest... I'm not quite sure how destiny works sometimes.
Seeing how the girl isn't very satisfied, the Wanderer tries coming up with a follow-up.
WANDERER: I've always looked at it this way...
He pours more tea in his cup.
WANDERER: It's possible that destiny put me close to earth in that prison. It's possible that it was a simple mistake, and I just used the opportunity. Regardless, I'll never truly know the answer as to why it happened. What matters to me is that it happened. And that I was able to free myself.
Bandit puts down her cup and hugs her feet.
BANDIT: So you're saying... destiny is what we make for ourselves?
WANDERER: Hm. If you wanna look at it that way, go ahead. Whatever your heart tells you.
Bandit smiles, getting back up, letting a warm desert breeze blow through her hair.
BANDIT: Thank you.
WANDERER: My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights.
BANDIT: No, thank you for what you said. It helped me.
The Wanderer nods. As Bandit aims to leave...
WANDERER: You never told me your name.
Bandit stops. After careful consideration, she comes to a decision.
BANDIT: Beifong. Bandit Beifong.
Her heart pounds at the response. Thankfully, he politely smiles as her heartbeat slows down again.
WANDERER: Was a pleasure talking to ya, Miss Beifong. Hope to see you around.
Sokka enters his tent after a hard day of work, tossing the rain tarp over to his sleeping spot.
ZUZHANG: It might rain later, you sure you don't want the tarp set up properly?
He shrugs absentmindedly.
SOKKA: I don't know. It's been pretty dry so far.
She smirks, grabbing something hanging around her belt.
ZUZHANG: Here, I got something for you.
He turns around with a curious expression, gratefully accepting the item with his mouth gaping wide open in shock.
ZUZHANG: It's one of our sickle swords. They combine the rough design of the Zhang with the excellent metal work of the Gan Jin.
He draws it from the leather shaft, eyeing the shiny weapon with big eyes.
SOKKA: Bu- but why?
She smiles, crossing her muscular arms.
ZUZHANG: It seems you're enjoying your time here.
He puts the blade back in the holster, putting it down on his bed.
SOKKA: I do. Why? Did I do something wrong?
She scoffs.
ZUZHANG: Quite the opposite. You've been a valuable member of the Zhang Jin. I'm very impressed by your skills as a warrior.
He smiles, averting his face.
ZUZHANG: Is there something wrong?
He sighs, turning back towards her.
SOKKA: It's not often that I get praised like that. Most of my life I've been something of a disappointment.
She compassionately touches his shoulder.
ZUZHANG: Sokka, you're not-
Screams echoing from outside alert the two. Sokka immediately grabs his new weapon, hanging it around his belt, his boomerang on his back.
A strange group of five distinct Water Tribe warriors are terrorizing the other villagers, the few warriors of the Zhang Jin unable or unwilling to resist.
ZUZHANG: What is the meaning of this?
She calmly walks down the path from Sokka's tent, coming to a hold as Domo halts his dromedary antelope right in front of her face. The scarred man smirks.
DOMO: We stumbled across this place on our mission to hunt down fugitives.
With a greedy smirk he eyes the quiet little green paradise in the middle of desolate rocks.
DOMO: It's not on any of our maps yet.
Zuzhang frowns confidently.
ZUZHANG: Well, I'm glad you can update your cartography. Now leave.
He bends water from his patch to form a sickle sword of his own, though his resembles a scythe more than anything.
DOMO: You are not to talk to me that way, woman.
SOKKA: Watch it.
The Shark Rays seem to react especially nasty at the sight of the prince.
DOMO: I think I might be dreaming - I'm looking at the Crown Prince right in front of me.
The other soldiers cackle with deep voices. Sokka, imitating the Chief, also gives him a stern frown.
SOKKA: This village is under my protection. As your Crown Prince, I forbid you from-
DOMO: You must be joking.
He melts his weapon back into his water pouch, grabbing something from the saddle's bag.
DOMO: I guess you didn't get the news out here.
Shattering Sokka's confidence indefinitely, he pulls out a Water Tribe wanted poster, clearly depicting Sokka, his more familiar wolf tail haircut and blue clothes making him look completely different. Sokka pouts angrily.
SOKKA: Hey! My nose isn't that big!
Domo puts the flyer back in his pocket, grabbing his ride animal's reins firmly with two hands.
DOMO: The way I see it, we have an enemy settlement harboring a fugitive. Doesn't look too good for you.
Zuzhang hasn't drawn her weapon yet, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully somehow. Sokka gets an idea.
SOKKA: I have a better idea.
He steps forward, holding up his hands in a showcase of surrender.
DOMO: Kid, you're not in a position-
SOKKA: You don't seem to have gotten the news either, buddy. I'm working with the Earth King's armies now. There's a platoon out east that I've given the go to march here. They'll be here at sundown. If you don't want to be hunted down and captured by General Sung, I suggest you listen to me.
Domo displays his anger via gnashing his teeth.
DOMO: You're bluffing.
ZUZHANG: I wouldn't test it. Should you attack us, we'll fight with the Earth King against you.
Domo backs down a little.
DOMO: What do you want, prince?
SOKKA: I'll send for the general and warn him, tell him the Water Tribe is outnumbering them. They'll retreat and you can take me in alive, I'll voluntarily surrender.
The Colonel sighs in defeat.
DOMO: Good. I have an alteration though.
He snaps his finger, which causes Mekemeka to toss his Bola and imprison Zuzhang, slamming her against the ground and dragging her away.
SOKKA: No!
DOMO: We'll be taking her as insurance. If you're tricking us and planning to run away, we'll flood this place.
He pulls his mount to turn. The rest of the Shark Rays ride off as Zuzhang is dragged behind them, the woman struggling to free herself.
ZUZHANG: Don't do it Sokka! Run away!
Domo smirks at the helpless boy.
DOMO: I wouldn't try anything like that. You have until sunset.
He trots a few steps before stopping and looking back a final time.
DOMO: Oh, and one more thing, traitor - it's Water Tribes not Water Tribe.
And with that, he leaves Sokka completely powerless. No title or throne could help him out here.
Act III. - Double Trouble
Sokka finds the scaly, furry creature known as a Doedicurus Mastiff slightly irritating, yet there's no time for comedic reactions.
VILLAGER: Head south. You should be safe in Goldmouth.
He sighs with a heavy heart, climbing the animal as it whimpers at him in confusion. Once again, the dog head under the giant turtle-like shell seems odd to Sokka.
SOKKA: I can't abandon Zuzhang. Not after your people have provided for me.
He grabs the creature's reins and commands it to start walking rather slowly.
SOKKA: I'll follow them and free her. The main goal is to draw their attention to me and away from you.
The villager is a young man with slightly more elegant garbs and a beard on his chin.
VILLAGER: I really wish we could help you more. Our numbers are just too... small.
Sokka looks around the valley, seeing sad eyes and scared folks. Mostly women and children.
He'd grown more and more aware of the atrocities that the Water Tribe commits, yet he can't think of a more clear example than the helpless villagers cowering in fear, not sure if they'd see the light of the next day. He would not let them down - he'd rather die heroically than to let that happen. At least he would die with a purpose then.
Bandit wasn't sure where to go after her conversation with the old man. She decides to make halt at a dry canyon location, the few patches of grass holding on for dear life in the inhospitable landscape. Putting her bag down, she ponders for a moment about this other Toph, the one twinkletoes was so clearly attached to. She's not Toph. She's not gonna be Toph for Aang. However, this vibration bending... it could be useful. But just how would she...
She taps her foot on the ground, a light stomp making her realize something.
BANDIT: Hold on...
She thinks back to the Wanderer. The man wasn't wearing shoes. If he uses vibrations to see, surely footwear would impair him in that. She shudders at the thought. Having to spend a good year or so without shoes made her grow attached to them, her boots in particular. She thinks back to the day she got them...
The kids had turned the previously abandoned building into their headquarters, keeping up the broken facade to avoid arousing suspicion. Jet hops in through the roof, dropping a pair of leather boots into Bandit's lap.
BANDIT: What's that?
He smirks, swirling the straw in his mouth.
JET: It's a present. You said it's your birthday. Or am I remembering that wrong?
SMELLBEREE: You can never remember our birthdays, Jet!
The kids innocently hackle at their leader.
JET: What? I got a lot of stuff on my plate.
Bandit chuckles, switching her ripped sneakers for the new brown loafers.
JET: I also found this.
He showcases a wanted poster issued by the Governor-General of Gaipan. On it are crude caricatures of every single kid present. They all gawk at it, not a hint of fear or concern, instead showcasing their pride.
SMELLERBEE: "The Vultures of Gaipan"?
BANDIT: Sounds badass!
JET: It does.
In contrast to everyone's shared enthusiasm, Jet showcases concern.
JET: Regardless, it means danger.
He crumples up the scroll and tosses it into a corner.
JET: We're leaving soon. Settling in the forest like we've been planning.
The gang accepts the dry announcement with little resistance. Bandit shrugs it off, letting her brain rattle for a bit.
BANDIT: We need a name. For our... operation.
Jet's smile is filled with machismo.
JET: Oh yeah? Got any ideas?
Bandit smirks.
BANDIT: How about "Vulture Clan"?
The other Vultures seem to immediately accept the idea.
JET: I hope we don't have to pay royalties to the Governor then.
Bandit chuckles, her tone coming off as rather serious though.
BANDIT: We'll keep the old rules - no lying, no killing, no bedtimes.
Jet nods gleefully.
JET: Deal.
At least two of those were a lie. Bandit scoffs. She has finally taken off her boots and allows her feet to feel the warmth of the desert earth below. After briefly considering tossing them into a nearby creek, she instead stores them in her bag. Who knows when they'll be useful again? On that note, she does wonder where that creek could possibly come from-
A deep snarl, most likely from an animal. She readies herself, closing her eyes and trying to visualize the target with her earthbending alone. It's a shaky visual at best. After making out that it's not a dromedary antelope, she opens her eyes again.
It's Sokka. On some... strange dog thing with a huge shell. While she only briefly saw him in the forest, he still looks almost unrecognizable, having cut his hair short and switched out his blue Water Tribe shirt for a brown one, still in his grey pants.
SOKKA: Toph?
Her curiosity turns to anger, and she knocks him off the mount with a quick rock.
SOKKA (in pain): What was that for...
He grunts in pain, tough Bandit doesn't stand down. The Doedicurus Mastiff seems largely unaffected by this.
BANDIT: I'm not TOPH! My name is BANDIT!
He sits up, wiping the dirt from himself.
SOKKA (in pain): Okay. Sorry. I didn't know.
He stands up, making Bandit all the more uneasy.
SOKKA: I'm guessing you're here with Aang then. Have you come to capture me?
He scoffs at the irony.
BANDIT: No, I'm not with Aang!
Sokka scratches the back of his scalp.
SOKKA: Oh. So... you're out here all alone? In the middle of this wasteland?
She finally lowers her guard but doesn't act friendly towards him whatsoever.
BANDIT: Whatever. I don't need to talk to Water Tribe scum like you.
Sokka undeservingly takes the gut punch. But he hasn't given up yet.
SOKKA: We don't have time for this. I could really use your help.
Bandit blows the strains from her face and waltzes away.
BANDIT: Forget it.
SOKKA: Please, you have to help them!
That's when she stops.
BANDIT: Help out who?
SOKKA: And Earth Kingdom Tribe. They live close by, and their Chief got abducted by these mercenaries. Please, I need to help them.
His voice adequately reflects his unrest, an aspect that Bandit finds more than intriguing.
BANDIT: What's your stake in this? Why do you need to help them? I thought you're some Water Tribe prince.
He averts his face, which clearly displays a lot of pain and frustration. He finally organizes his thoughts into a cohesive answer.
SOKKA: I never wanted to be a prince. I never wanted to be anything. I mean, it was kind of nice to get whatever I want but...
He sighs.
SOKKA: I realized that all those nice things I got came at the expense of innocent people. This whole war is just one big raid, and the Water Tribe is there to kill and plunder.
His speech softens Bandit somewhat.
SOKKA: I can't possibly make up for all the mistakes that my Tribe did. Sedni, I don't think I can even make up for all the mistakes I did...
He takes a good look at his reflection in the boomerang before putting it back. Despite all these changes he still looks like himself.
SOKKA: But I can try. And it starts with these people that need help. So, are you with me or not?
It takes her a moment to respond. After a while, she simply shrugs and purses her lips.
BANDIT: You could've just told me that you wanted to kick some waterbender butt instead of whining.
His discomfort evaporates into a crooked smile.
BANDIT: I always liked fighting some lost Water Tribe forces that made their way into our forest. It always felt like I was really doing something, like I was protecting people.
SOKKA: So why did you leave?
She closes her eyes for a second, crossing her arms and picturing the other Vultures.
BANDIT: People change, I guess. Jet and I have two very different ways of helping others.
Sokka scratches his head in a comical fashion.
SOKKA: So... Jet was the one with the knife or...
Bandit sighs.
BANDIT: I can tell you everything later, but first we need to come up with a plan to deal with theses waterbenders.
SOKKA: Well, luckily, it's just one. The other four guys use other weapons.
Bling.
BANDIT: I know who you're talking about. It's those jerks riding horned camels, right?
SOKKA: Yes! How do you know?
She smirks confidently.
BANDIT: Oh, we're going to have some fun.
The two decide to "store" the slow mount someplace safe before beginning their preparations. Sokka uses his new sword to draw appropriate strategic stick figures in the sand. Bandit is sitting in front of it in a lotus position with her arms crossed.
SOKKA: I counted five soldiers. One waterbender, one guy using iron bolas, an elongated club guy-
BANDIT: Elongated club?
SOKKA: It's like a regular club but longer.
He continues his sketching.
SOKKA: One guy was using various explosives, and the fifth guy I couldn't tell.
BANDIT: Masky? He blocked my bending.
Sokka's pupils dilate.
SOKKA: I see, a Betawi Warrior then. That makes it more difficult...
Bandit shrugs in a smug fashion.
BANDIT: Not really. Those punks got chased away by a pack of sabretooth moose lions.
An idea seems to form in Sokka's mind, displayed proudly by a smile.
In a quick montage Sokka and Bandit prepare for a clever ambush planned out by the prince. Bandit isn't quite sure at first what to think about it, but after some time she starts to trust his idea. Gathering large sticks and branches, bending them into shape and getting into position. The young prince seems to sparkle with pure joy as he figures out the optimal strategy to preparate the canyon passage. Just a good old ambush to knock some Water Tribe butt. Bandit had missed it.
Sundown creates a black silhouette of a single warrior blocking the exit of the small canyon passage. Domo halts, his four warriors following suit. Zuzhang is still in chains, now at least put on the back of a dromedary antelope. Domo squints his eyes and finally identifies the silhouette as once certain Crown Prince.
DOMO: Well, nice of you to be so forthcoming.
Sokka holds out his hand from the sickle blade around his belt, a visual reminiscent of a spaghetti western. A tingle runs through his fingers and a single drop of sweat creeps down his temple. The cry of a vulture eagle sounds through the dry wasteland.
SOKKA: I upheld my part of the deal. Release her.
The tension in this crowded space could be cut with a butter knife.
DOMO: Drop your weapons first.
The colonel gnashes his teeth, his hand hovering over his water pouch.
SOKKA: Release her first.
DOMO: Drop. Your. Weapons.
SOKKA: You scared of a boomerang?
Domo snaps. Zuzhang is dropped in front of his mount.
DOMO: Drop them now or she-
A strange noise echoes through the canyon. In part a growl-like rumbling, in part a gallop-like sound. Sokka stands firmly, the animals not so much. Shortly after, antler-shapes appear in the bushes on top the canyon edges.
MORSHU: It's those sabretooth moose lions again!
Mekameka's ride panics first, chasing back out the canyon where they came from, the warrior unable to get off. The rest of the Shark Rays get thrown off their dromedary antelopes, only Domo and Jakar able to land. The droning continues, until Domo finally sees past the afterglow, able to determine that the antlers are actually just tree branches. In reality, Bandit is responsible for both the sound and visual using her earthbending.
DOMO: It's a trick!
Too late, as Sokka cuts Zuzhang's chain lock and allows her to break free, the woman drawing her blade and starting her assault against the Betawi soldier, who draws his hidden Golok sword and starts blocking her attacks. Karapu and Morshu finally get back up, the bomb master igniting dynamite, but dropping it on the ground as Sokka hits his hand with the boomerang. They jump aside in time, the explosion breaking off enough rock material to bury and knock out Morshu. Karapu spins his club staff, his back turned as Bandit drops from behind with a roar, having abandoned her earthbending acoustic trick, she simply slams the ground, creating another avalanche of stone that buries the large soldier in front of her, knocking him out as well.
Time slows down. A sensation tingles her toe, telling her that Domo is drawing water from his pouch. She ducks instinctively, successfully dodging the incoming water scythe meant to slice her open pretty badly. Domo grunts, needing to redirect his attention to block Sokka's sickle blade. The two kids surround the colonel on both sides. Domo chuckles like a maniacal diva.
DOMO: This is going to be fun.
He draws the last reserves from his pouch, creating two scythe blades, which he knocks against each other, creating ice sparks.
Bandit is first to lift up a rock and launch it at the colonel, the slender man jumping over it and tossing his weapon, which gets impaled in a defensive rock pillar. Sokka swipes his sickle, Domo dodging and countering the next swing. He pulls back the other scythe, liquifying it and hitting Sokka in the gut with it. Bandit kicks the ground with her foot, shooting up chunks Domo simply bounces off of. She slams her arm into the ground as if it was water, shaking the surface and disturbing Domo's balance. He quickly recovers, shooting one of his ice scythes, Bandit pulling her arm back up covered in stone, able to block the strike. She takes it off and launches it towards them man, him easily blocking it with his weapons crossed. His counter fails though, as Sokka threw his boomerang at the right moment. The two kids have the colonel on his feet again-
A few jabs and Bandit drops to the ground. Sokka looks in shock, realizing that Jakar has won his fight against Zuzhang, having knocked out both her and Bandit with chi blocking. He gets subsequently disarmed by Domo, falling on his behind.
DOMO: What a waste of my time. Tell me prince...
He spins his scythes, melting them and creating one regular-sized ice-scythe held in two hands.
DOMO: Was it worth it?
Images flash before his eyes - his brave sister recovering from the loss of their mother, the anxious Suki finding her strength in a foreign land, his patient gran-gran never giving up on him, the adventurous Kenora he wanted to convince to leave with him, the dorky Zuko taking a chance on him, the stern Mai opening up to him. His mother giving him warm smiles in the darkest of days...
He smiles, getting back up without weapons or a plan.
SOKKA: I don't regret a single thing.
Domo frowns.
A second rumbling noise echoes through the canyon. Before Domo can react, Jakar is pulled into the ground up to his head. The colonel tries to dodge but meets the same fate, his weapon melting and washing over him, finding himself firmly stuck in the ground too. Sokka looks in confusion as a new silhouette emerges on top the canyon. The man jumps down, shocking Domo to his core.
WANDERER: I was hoping that you and your men had learned your lesson, but I suppose this allows me to be a bit more clear.
He stomps the ground with his foot, slightly squeezing the crack engulfing Domo.
WANDERER: Leave this desert and never come back.
Domo frowns, giving no response.
By the time Mekameka finally returns, the kids, Zuzhang, and the old man have long left.
The last few dashes of sunlight allow for a last pinch of orange color illuminating the canyon, villagers celebrating as the heroes return. Sokka helps Bandit off the Doedicurus Mastiff, her and Zuzhang's muscle strength having mostly returned. The Wanderer has also joined them, seating himself on a grassy rock platform he raises from the ground.
ZUZHANG: I can't thank you enough for your help Sokka, no - for all of your help.
The old man smiles, alongside Sokka and Bandit
BANDIT: We only helped in part. You basically freed yourself.
The Chief nods, the young villager from earlier helping her to stand up while Bandit manages on her own.
ZUZHANG (to the Wanderer): You are welcome to stay here for a while. We could need the extra manpower in case any more Water Tribe soldiers decide to show up.
A smirk forms under his mustache.
WANDERER: I would love to.
He loudly exhales, a sense of peace in his voice.
WANDERER: I have been wandering the Earth Kingdom for many years. I couldn't ask for a better spot to finally settle down.
Sokka scoffs quietly, having finally made up his mind.
SOKKA: I also want to you thank you for all your hospitality. But I think I'll be leaving tonight.
Bandit looks up at him with big eyes.
Zuzuhang nods, apparently having expected this.
ZUZHANG: We'll provide you with a mount at some supplies.
She looks over to Bandit.
ZUZHANG: What about you?
The girl is caught off-guard.
BANDIT: Me? Oh... I don't know.
She makes eye contact with Sokka.
BANDIT: Where are you going?
He sighs, not liking what he is about to say.
SOKKA: I'll try to find Aang.
Bandit frowns in shock.
BANDIT: Really? I thought you wanted nothing to do with Aang anymore.
ZUZHANG: Aang? Who's Aang?
WANDERER: He's the Avatar.
They all turn to the old man, Sokka and Bandit in particular looking pretty freaked out.
SOKKA: How did you know that?
The Wanderer pulls up his feet, sitting in a lotus position.
WANDERER: In my years in exile, I meditated countless times. I've had dreams and visions of many other lives that I lived in other worlds. In one of them, I met the Avatar. I helped him in crossing the Great Divide, alongside the people in this village.
He points towards Sokka, his gaze continuing to look straight ahead.
WANDERER: You and your sister were travelling with the Avatar. Your energy is deeply intertwined with his.
He stops pointing.
WANDERER: At least in some other life.
Sokka can't help but to smile, something about hearing that not surprising him in the least.
SOKKA: I suppose I can't fight it then.
He looks over to Bandit, crossing his arms.
SOKKA: I'm not going to ask you to come along. I know you and Aang-
BANDIT: No, I'm gonna come with you.
He backs off.
BANDIT: He's a twerp. But he's obviously been through a lot. I can't be Toph for him, but I can probably teach him earthbending.
She shrugs.
BANDIT: At least after I gave him a piece of my mind.
Zuzhang nods.
BANDIT: It's not like you guys need my help defending yourselves. Especially with the geezer helping you out.
The Wanderer chuckles, then gets up, addressing Sokka and Bandit.
WANDERER: It's been a pleasure and an honor meeting the both of you.
Sokka and Bandit both smile.
The moon shines brightly, making Sokka feel a deep sense of relief that they didn't fight the Shark Rays at night. The two have set up a camp side, two separate earth tents and a third one for the Doedicurus Mastiff tied to a dry tree branch. They sit around the campfire, eating the remains of the ostrich horse Sokka rode a few days ago. He gulps comically.
BANDIT: I'm not sure the haircut suits you. You should grow it out again.
Sokka stays quiet, immediately wanting to change the topic.
SOKKA: It wouldn't bother you so much in the other world.
She scoffs.
BANDIT: Yeah, but Toph would still think you're a dork.
Sokka smiles at the insult.
SOKKA: So why Bandit? Why not Toph?
She lets the question simmer for a bit.
BANDIT: Toph is who I used to be. I'll always be a Beifong, but Bandit...
She thinks to her Vulture family, hoping she would see them again. And that they would apologize to her whenever that happens.
BANDIT: Toph might be my legal name but Bandit is my identity. I chose that name when I was on the run, living in the streets. I grew attached to it. It's just who I am now.
Sokka nods.
SOKKA: Understandable. I think it's a pretty cool name.
She blushes slightly.
BANDIT: So what are you going to do when we defeat the Great Chief? He's still your father.
Sokka hangs his head down low, staring intensely into the campfire flames.
SOKKA: I have to stop running away. Regardless of whether or not people think I'm a good heir or not.
Bandit throws away her leftover bone, allowing their mount to gnaw on it.
BANDIT: I think you should ignore that. The people who don't want you to be a prince? They're like that waterbender douche. If you take the thrown and end the war, the common people will probably like you.
He hasn't considered the option of reclaiming the throne ever since deserting. Yet Bandit's words make a lot of sense.
SOKKA: I never thought about it that way.
Bandit pouts proudly.
BANDIT: You're welcome.
As the campfire lights up the dark night, Sokka gives her a humble smile. Bandit punches him in the arm, which is essentially the same emotion expressed with a different gesture.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Every time I type out the word "Author's Note" I immediately have to think of My Immortal lmao. Thankfully no one is fleming and you guys are leaving good reviows :)
Anyways, this one was a ton of fun to figure out how to do, being a very different story from what I usually write. I'm happy how it turned out.
I think y'all know what the next chapter is going to be...
Make sure to look forward to Episode 8: The Chase.