Chapter 3
As the sun peaked over the mountains, reflecting off a small river. Near the river's edge, sat a campsite. Katara sat in Appa's saddle, sorting out their luggage, while Aang tightened the reins on Appa's horns. Zuko walked up to the bison, to see if he could help, having just finish his morning fire meditations. Sokka was wrapped up in his sleeping bag, still asleep
It had been about a day since they left Iroh back on the Wani, after Aang insisted they go to the Southern Temple. Iroh was going to watch the ship and leave a false trail, while Zuko travelled with the Avatar and the Water tribe siblings.
"Do you need any help?" Zuko asked, looking up at Katara. Despite being human again, he still had his wings and tail out. He had explained the day before that he liked to do his fire meditations with them out, because there was just something about the feeling of the sun on his scales. That and he felt a deeper connection with his element when he did.
"No, I've got it," Katara replied, smiling at the half-dragon teen before finishing fiddling with the supplies
"Wait 'til you see it, Katara!" Aang exclaimed excitedly. "The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!"
"Aang, I know you're excited," she said cautiously. "But it's been a hundred years since you've been home"
"That's why I'm so excited!" He smiled broadly
"It's just that…" Katara exchange a nervous and worried look with Zuko, before turning back to Aang. "A lot can change in all that time."
"I know," Aang said happily as he jumped off Appa, landing softly with his airbending. "But I need to see it for myself." He then walked over to the still snoring Sokka. "Wake up, Sokka!" he exclaimed. "Air Temple, here we come!"
Sokka awoke slightly, before turning over, groaning. "Sleep now. Temple later," he said as he fell asleep again, not noticing the mischief smile growing on Aang's face.
Aang picks up a stick and starts moving it up and down the sleeping bag, exclaiming in alarm, "Sokka! Wake up! There's a prickle snake in your bag!"
"Ahh! Get it off! Get it off!" Sokka screams and starts hopping around in his bag. Katara giggles and Zuko smirks amusedly as Sokka fell over, face planting the ground
"Great!" Aang said happily. "You're awake! Let's go!"
(Scene break)
Soon they were flying over mountain ranges. While he didn't mind riding Appa, Zuko had decided to fly along side the bison in his full dragon form. He looked over at Sokka, who was sitting in Appa's saddle, when he heard a very loud growl.
Sure enough, Sokka was clutching his stomach, looking annoyed. "Hey, stomach?" he told his own stomach. "Be quiet, all right? I'm trying to find us some food." Sokka started going through the luggage and pulls out a bag. He tried getting food out of it but found nothing but crumbs in it. He turned to where Aang and Katara were sitting on Appa's head. "Hey! Who ate all of my blubbered seal jerky?!"
"Oh, that was food?" Aang asked surprised. "I used it to start the campfire last night. Sorry."
"You what?" Sokka exclaimed, then he remembered something and groaned. "No wonder the flames smelled so good." He glared over at Zuko when he heard what sounded like a dragon version of a laugh. "Shut it, dragon boy," he said
"Dragon boy?" Zuko gave him a sharp toothed amused smirk. "That's all you got. I've heard better"
"What?!" Sokka was insulted. 'My nicknames are the best,' he though. Before he could say anything else he was interrupted by Aang
"The Patola Mountain range!" Aang exclaimed. "We're almost there!"
"Aang," Katara said uneasily, getting Aang's attention. "Before we get to the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders"
"What about 'em?" He asked cheerfully, oblivious to the atmosphere
"Well," Katara started, looking sad.
"I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation can be ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people"
Aang thought for a moment, before saying hopefully, "Just because no one has seen an airbender, doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped!"
"I know it's hard to accept," Katara tried again, placing a hand on Aang's shoulder
"You don't understand, Katara," Aang said cheerfully, as he shrugged her hand off. "The only way to get to an airbender temple is on a flying bison, and I doubt the Fire Nation has any flying bison! Right, Appa?" He gave the bison a pat on the head before tugging on the reins. "Yip yip!"
Katara looked over to Zuko, who had been listening in. When he saw her looking at him, he simply bowed his head a bit, with shame and guilt, confirming what she thought. Though, she thought sadly, he really shouldn't carry the shame and guilt of his ancestors. He wasn't even born when the air nomads were killed off. They finally made it over a mountainous ridge to see a large temple among the mountains.
"There it is." Aang said excitedly. "The Southern Air Temple"
"Aang, it's amazing!" Katara exclaimed in awe.
"We're home, buddy!" Aang patted Appa's head again. "We're home!"
(Scene break)
"So, where do I get something to eat?" Sokka asked, clutching his stomach, as the four teens walked up a trail to the temple, after leaving Appa chewing on grass.
Katara gave him an irritated look. "You're lucky enough to be one of the first outsiders to ever visit an airbender temple, and all you can think about is food?"
"I'm just a simple guy, with simple needs," Sokka countered, shrugging. He looked down when a pale hand, held up a small bag in front of him
"Here," Zuko said, smiled. "There's some dried fruit in there. That should tide you over until we can find some actual food"
"Man, Zuko, I'm so glad we brought you along with us," Sokka said as he started stuffing his face with the fruit, causing Katara to roll her eyes. They walked around a corner where Aang started pointing at things and explaining them to his new friends.
"So that's where my friends and I would play airball," he pointed to a stadium consisting of many tall poles. "And over there is where the bison would sleep, and…" Aang trailed off, sighing.
"What's wrong, Aang?" Zuko asked as he walked up to the younger boy
Aang looked around sadly as he replied, "This place used to be full of monks and lemurs and bison. Now there's just a bunch of weeds. I can't believe how much things have changed."
The older teens looked at each other with a look of sympathy. Then Zuko and Katara watched as Sokka cheered up Aang by getting him to teach him how to play airball. After a while, it ended with Aang happy winning and Sokka being blown through one of the 'goals' and in a pile of snow. Zuko smirked, while Katara giggled at her brother.
"Making him feel better is putting me into a world of hurt," Sokka muttered painfully. As he was getting up, he spotted something in the snow near him. He pushed the snow away to reveal an old Fire Nation helmet. "Katara, Zuko, come check this out"
The two teens walked over to see the helmet. "Fire Nation Army," Zuko commented, knowing what some of the older versions of the armour looked like.
"We should tell him," Sokka suggested
"Aang!" Katara called him over. "There's something you need to see"
As Aang got closer, looking very happy as he played with the ball, Katara decided against telling him at that moment. With a swift movement of her hands, she manipulated the snow to fall on top of the helmet, covering Sokka and Zuko in the process. Much to their displeasure
"What is it?" Aang asked, looking at the snow-covered boys, who were currently sending annoyed looks at Katara
"Uh…" Katara holds her hands behind her back, trying to look innocent. "Just a new waterbending move I learned"
"Nice one!" Aang smiled. "But enough practicing, we have a whole temple to see!"
"You know," Sokka started, as he brushed off the snow, while Zuko simply melted the snow off and drying himself. "You can't protect him forever."
The trio walked behind Aang, who had rushed ahead of them. Zuko watched as Sokka continued trying to convince his sister to tell Aang truth. "Katara, firebenders were here. You can't pretend they weren't"
Of course, Katara remain stubborn. "I can for Aang's sake. If he finds out that the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated"
"Hey guys!" They looked over at Aang, where he was standing in front of a statue of a monk. "I want you to meet somebody!"
"Who's that?" Zuko asked as stood next to Aang looking at the statue
"Monk Gyatso!" Aang explained excitedly. "The greatest airbender in the world. He taught me everything I know." He went on to explain some of the mischief he got up to with the elderly monk, from making fruit pies to throwing them at some of the other elder monks, while Gyatso gave him advice on different things, including the whole Avatar thing.
"Sounds like he would have gotten on well with my uncle," Zuko commented, smiling down at the young monk, who smiled back. "You must miss him"
"Yeah," Aang's smile fell from his face as he walked away.
"Where are you going?" Katara asked after him
"The air temple sanctuary," He answered looking back at them. "There's someone I'm ready to meet"
He led them in and down a long hallway, telling them about what Gyatso had told him about the sanctuary. They reached the end of the hall, where large ornate doors with a set of pipes on the front sat.
"But Aang," Katara said. "No one could have survived in there for a hundred years"
"It's not impossible," Aang pointed out. "I survived in the iceberg for that long"
"Good point," she conceded, placing a finger to her chin
"Katara," Aang looked at her hopefully.
"Whoever's in there might help me figure out this Avatar thing!"
"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious, cured meats!" Sokka said, rubbing his hands together and drooling. He charged at the door and tried everything to open it, much to Zuko's amusement. After finally giving up he turned to Aang.
"I don't suppose you have a key?"
Aang walked up to Sokka. "The key, Sokka, is airbending." They watched as Aang sent a blast of air through the tubes and unlocking the doors. They walked in and found a massive room filled with statues. "Hello?" Aang called. "Anyone home?"
"Statues?" Sokka complained. "That's it? Where's the meat?"
"Who are all these people?" Katara asked as she, Aang and Zuko stopped in front of a statue
"I'm not sure," Aang answered. "But it feels like I know them somehow"
"That's because they're your pasts Avatar lives, Aang," they turned to where Zuko was standing in front of a statue of an old man in the middle of the room
"How do you know that Zuko?" Katara asked as they moved over to where he was
"Because this is the previous Avatar, Roku," Zuko pointed at the statue. "Remember, I told you about how his spirit helped in making my curse more bearable and that he was my great grandfather on my mother's side"
"Oh, yeah," Aang smiled up at him and looked back at the statue. "You did, didn't you?"
They then heard something moving behind them. They hid behind some of the nearby statues. A shadow could be seen moving closer. Sokka was readying his club as Zuko stood behind him, sniffing the air.
"Firebender," Sokka whispered. "Nobody make a sound."
"You're making a sound!" Katara whispered back, annoyed
"Shhhh!" Sokka and Aang both place a finger on their lips
"Um, Sokka," Zuko whispered, trying to get his attention.
"Shhhh, Zuko," Sokka glanced at him before turning back to the shadow. "That firebender won't know what hit him"
"But Sokka," Zuko tried again. "That's not a firebender"
"What?" They all looked at him. They then looked at the shadow and, sure enough, it wasn't a firebender. It was a…
"Lemur!" Aang exclaimed excitedly
"Dinner!" Sokka drooled at the little creature
"Don't listen to him," Aang said reassuringly, glaring at the still drooling Sokka. "You're going to be my new pet"
"Not if I get him first!" Sokka yelled. The two boys lunge at the lemur at the same time, scaring the lemur and causing it to make a break for it
"Wait!" Aang shouted as he ran after the lemur.
"Come back!"
Sokka was following close behind. "I want to eat you!"
They chased the lemur through the temple. Aang gained the upper head, by using his airbending, especially when the lemur showed that it could fly.
"Hey!" Sokka exclaimed, annoyed, as he watched Aang fly off after the lemur. "No fair!"
"Hey! Come back!" Aang said as he followed the lemur behind some old, decaying drapes. "Come on out, little lemur! That hungry guy won't bother you anymore." Aang stopped short at finding skeletons, most dressed in Fire Nation uniforms. "Firebenders? They were here?" He was shocked. He then noticed the skeleton in the middle of the room had a familiar wooden necklace around its neck. Aang was devastated. "Gyatso."
"Hey, Aang! You find my dinner yet?" Sokka asked as walked through the drapes, only to find Aang on his knees, his head in his hands. "Aang, I wasn't really going to eat the lemur, okay?" He tried to reassure the boy, until he saw the skeleton of the monk. "Oh, man." He placed a hand on Aang shoulder. "Come on, Aang. Everything will be all right. Let's get out of here."
Suddenly, Aang's tattoos and eyes started to glow. A tornado started to form around Aang, pushing Sokka away. Back in the sanctuary, Katara and Zuko had been admiring the Avatar statues, especially Roku, when suddenly the eyes on all the statues started to glow.
They both looked at each other in shock and worried. "Aang!" They said at the same time. Zuko quickly shifted into his dragon form and pulled Katara up onto his back before he started running fast on all fours.
Unbeknown to them, across the world, in other shrines, the eyes of previous Avatars started to also glow, shocking many sages and wisemen. Including the Fire Nation, where a sage, upon seeing the glow, turned to another sage and ordered, "Send word to the Fire Lord immediately! The Avatar has returned!"
Back at the temple, Sokka was trying to get Aang's attention, "Aang! Come on! Snap out of it!"
He screamed as he was almost thrown off the cliff if it was not for Zuko catching him. Sokka looked up to see his sister clutching the dragon's neck as even Zuko was having a hard pushing through the wind, flapping his wings hard. Zuko finally managed to land just behind a nearby boulder, he placed the water siblings behind it and then dug his claws into it, holding them all in place.
"What happened?!" Katara managed to ask over the howling wind
"He found out firebenders killed Gyatso!" Sokka answered
"Oh no!" Zuko shouted, recognising the situation from years of study. "It's his Avatar Spirit! He must have triggered it!" He then noticed Katara inching towards Aang. "Katara! What are you doing?!"
"I'm going to try and calm him down!" She shouted back as she got closer to where Aang was suspended in a sphere made of air
"Well, do it!" Sokka yelled, as he turned around to cling to Zuko's chest. "Before he blows us off the mountain!"
"Aang!" She yelled, trying to get his attention. "I know you're upset and I know how hard it is to lose the people you love! I went through the same thing when I lost my mom!" Zuko, with Sokka now on his back, managed to claw his way to where Katara was standing. "Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family!" She gestured to the boys. "Sokka, Zuko and I! We're your family now!"
Aang finally lowered to the ground, losing the glow. "We aren't going to let anything happen to you. Promise," Sokka said gently as he got off Zuko
"I'm sorry," Aang sadly apologised
"It's okay," Katara assured.
"It wasn't your fault"
"But you were right," Aang countered.
"And if the firebenders found this temple, that means they found the other ones, too. I really am the last airbender"
"If anything," Zuko looked at Aang sadly.
"It's I who should be apologising for what Fire Lord Sozin did to your people"
"But you weren't even born yet, Zuko," Aang pointed out.
"It's not your fault"
"Even so," Zuko guilty looked down.
"He was my ancestor. His blood runs through my veins. So, on behalf of my ancestor and people, I humbly apologise to Airbender Aang for the destruction of the Air Nomads"
"I accept your apologises," Aang smiled at him, knowing he would keep apologising for something that wasn't his fault unless he accepted the apology
Zuko looked over at the water siblings. "I extend the same to you. Since it was my people who made you the last waterbender of the Southern Tribe"
"Well, I too accept," Katara nodded at him, having figured out the same as Aang.
Aang then reached up to scratch the dragon prince behind his unscared ear. Zuko simply melted into Aang hand and started to purr deeply, cause the others to laugh a little. It soon ended with Sokka, Katara and Aang hugging Zuko as shifted to his human form.
Soon it was time to go. Katara found Aang looking up at Roku's statue. "Everything's packed," she said. "You ready to go?"
"How is Roku supposed to help me if I can't talk to him?" Aang wondered out loud
"Maybe you'll find a way," Katara suggested. They both turned when they heard a noise and found the lemur with an armful of fruit. It carried the fruit over to Sokka and laid it by his feet. The lemur then scurried up onto Zuko's shoulders, where it started purring when Zuko scratched it behind the ears. Sokka started to eat the fruit at a fast pace
"Looks like you made a new friend Sokka!" Aang commented, watching the scene
"Can't talk!" Sokka said around a mouthful of fruit. "Must eat!"
Aang walked over to Zuko and scratched the lemur's other ear. "Hey, little guy!"
Later Aang stood with the lemur and Appa, looking up at the temple. He turned to the lemur. "You, me and Appa; we're all that's left of this place." Gesturing to the temple before turning around to when the others were fiddling with their luggage. "Katara, Sokka, Zuko," getting their attention, he motioned to the lemur. "Say hello to the newest member of our family"
"What are you going to name him?" Katara asked
They watched as the lemur stole the moonpeach Sokka was about to bite into and jumped back onto Aang's shoulder, nibbling at the peach. After watching the lemur eat his peach, Aang figured out a name, "Momo." He, Katara and Zuko laughed at Sokka's expression after he realised what happened.
Finally, at dusk, they were on their way. Aang leaned against the back of the saddle where the luggage was, watching as the Air Temple faded from view. He felt a nudge to his shoulder and looked over to see Zuko in his dragon form due to it being nightfall. Aang smiled and relaxed as he started petting Zuko, who was more then happy to lay in the saddle to keep Aang company as Katara and Sokka flew Appa
(Scene Break)
The group were sitting on the shore of an island, taking a break, again. "We just made a pit stop yesterday," Sokka pointed out. "Shouldn't we get a little more flying done before we camp out?"
"He's right," Zuko agreed, as Aang was obviously looking for something. "At this rate, we won't get to the North Pole until spring"
Aang looked at Appa. "But Appa's tired, aren't you boy?" Appa barely moved, only letting out a small grunt. "I said, aren't you boy?" Aang tried again. Appa grunted louder and opened his mouth in an obviously fake yawn
"Yeah, that was real convincing," Sokka rolled his eyes, before eyeing Appa. "Still, hard to argue with a ten-ton magical monster."
"Look!" Aang suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the bay. The older trio looked out to see giant elephant koi were jumping out of the water. "That's why we're here," Aang started taking his robes off. "Elephant koi, and I'm gonna ride it. Katara, you've got to watch me!" He dives into the water, only to jump out. "Cold!"
They spent the next couple of minutes watching Aang riding the koi. Katara looked on impressed, while the two boys were not impressed. Aang waved at them, causing Katara to wave back.
"This is not a good idea," Zuko spoke up. "We should really get a move on."
"Oh, in a bit, Zuko," Katara waved him off. "Let Aang have his fun. Besides, he looks pretty good out there"
"Are you kidding?" Sokka lazily gestured at Aang. "The fish is doing all the work"
"No, Appa," Zuko had noticed the bison getting into something he shouldn't. "Don't eat that!"
The water sibling continued to watch Aang until they spotted something in the water following him. "There's something in the water!" Sokka exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Zuko ran up to the Sokka, having heard the shout.
"Aang's in trouble," Katara replied. "Aang!" She tried to get his attention, only for him to think they were cheering him on.
Zuko shifted to his dragon form, having recognised what it was that was following Aang. "Shoot! It's the Unagi!"
"What?!" The sibling asked as once, but Zuko ignored them as he jumped into the air and flew to where Aang had finally realised the situation he was in. Zuko grabbed him out of the water and flew back to the shore, where Aang started to get dress and Zuko shifted into human again
"We should really get going," Sokka said, which the others agreed with. Just as they were about to get ready, they were ambushed by warriors clad in green kimonos. The warriors surrounded the quartet, taking them out one at a time, although Zuko didn't put up much of a fight like the others thought he would. Soon, they were bounded and blindfolded. "Or, we could stay a while"
They were taken to be tied up to a large wooden pole. They heard an elderly man stepped forward. "You four have some explaining to do"
The leader of the warriors stepped forward, and said in an obvious female voice, "And if you don't answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with the Unagi"
"Show yourselves, cowards!" Sokka challenged as their blindfolds were taken off, to reveal that they were now in a village. Standing in front of them were five girls in green kimonos and white and red face paint. "Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?" Sokka asked aggressively
"There were no men," the leader said, gesturing towards the other four girls. "We ambushed you."
"Wait a second, there's no way that a bunch a girls took us down," Sokka said amused, not noticing Zuko eye roll.
"A bunch of girls, huh," the leader grabbed Sokka by his collar. "The Unagi's gonna eat well tonight"
"No, don't hurt him!" Katara pleaded apologetically. "He didn't mean it. My brother is just an idiot sometimes"
"Yea, Suki, he's an idiot," Zuko smirked at her, ignoring his companions' looks of surprise. "Besides, the Unagi might get indigestion from eating him"
"If you say so, Zuko," Suki smirked back. She gestured to the still surprised trio next to him. "So, who are your new friends?"
"These are Katara, Aang and Sokka," Zuko introduced them. "Guys, this is Suki, leader of the Kyoshi Warriors"
"So," Suki walked up to Aang and had a good look at him. "This is the Avatar"
"What?!" Sokka exclaimed. "How did you know that?"
"Because of me," out of the gathering crowd walked Iroh. "Hello nephew and friends"
"Uncle?" Zuko was confused, before he looked as well as he could behind him. He could just make out a red flag on an old ship fluttering in the distance. All Zuko could say was, "How did I miss that?"
"So, it's true…" the elder, Oyaji, looked at Aang in awe. "You are the Avatar!"
"Now…" Aang said after he was untied from the pole. "Check this out!" He did his spinning marbles trick, much to the crowd's delight.
Zuko walked over to his uncle, asking, "So, uncle, how is everyone?"
"Everyone is just fine," Iroh smiled at him. "We've managed to buy you some time before anyone becomes suspicious. Especially Zhao"
"Captain Zhao, huh?" Zuko rubbed his chin in thought
"It's Commander Zhao, now," Iroh corrected.
"He was promoted," Zuko was now annoyed. "Great!"
Soon, they were all sat in a very nice house, being served all sorts of desserts. Aang and Momo were very delighted to see the display of decadent desserts, while Katara was less impressed
"All right!" Aang exclaimed ecstatically, as he and Momo dug in. "Dessert for breakfast!" Katara on the other hand took her time checking the different desserts. "These people sure know…" Aang said with his mouth full. "…how to treat an Avatar! Mmm…" Aang offered one of the desserts to Katara. "Katara you've got to try these!"
"Well, maybe just a bite," she tried the dessert and found it to be to her liking. As she ate another, her attention was drawn to the sound of laughing children. She looked over to see some of the younger village children climbing all over Zuko, who was currently in his dragon form. She giggled as she watched Zuko move his tail just out of reach of two toddlers, making a game of 'catch the tail', much to the little ones' asked how he knew the Kyoshi Warriors, he had explained that Kyoshi Island was one of the places he brought refugees for safety.
Aang looked over at Sokka, who was sitting in a corner, with his arms crossed while staring at nothing. "Sokka, what's your problem? Eat!"
"Not hungry," Sokka replied, sulking
"But you're always hungry!" Aang exclaimed, surprised
"He's just upset because a bunch of girls kicked his butt," Katara said mockingly
"They snuck up on me!" Sokka protested
"Right," Katara smirked at him. "And then they kicked your butt"
"That's the Kyoshi Warriors for you," Zuko commented as walked on all fours towards them, somehow managing to balance five kids on his back. "They're known for their fighting skills and stealth"
"You! Zip it!" Sokka pointed at the dragon, annoyed. "Sneak attacks don't count! Tie me up with ropes! I'll show them a thing or two." He grabbed a pastry from the table. "I'm not scared of any girls. Who do they think they are anyway?" He took a bite out the pastry as he walked away. "Mmm… this is tasty"
"What's he so angry about?" Aang asked excitedly. "It's great here. They're giving us the royal treatment!"
"Hey, don't get too comfortable," Katara said, watching the kids throw some of the desserts into the air for Zuko to catch, who sometimes pretended to miss and look confused, causing a round of giggles. "It's risky for us to stay in one place for very long"
"I'm sure we'll be fine," Aang insisted, offering Momo a pastry.
"Besides, did you see how happy I'm making this town? They're even cleaning up that statue in my honour!" He gestured to the Kyoshi statue in the middle of the village
"Well, it's nice to see you excited about being the Avatar, Aang," Zuko commented. "I just hope it doesn't all go to your head." Katara nodded in agreement
"Come on," Aang assured them. "You know me better than that. I'm just a simple monk"
Zuko and Katara exchanged concerned and unconvinced looks as Aang walked out to a crowd of girls cheering at him in delight and admiration. For the rest of the day, while Katara and Zuko sorted out supplies, Aang spent it hanging out and doing tricks for the group now following him. Meanwhile, Sokka was walking out of the house where the Kyoshi Warriors trained. He had just been humiliated again by the women, and he had a lot to think about as he went to find somewhere to sulk
Katara and Zuko were in the middle of picking out food, when Aang came bouncing up them. "Hey Katara! Hey Zuko!"
"Oh, good!" Katara gestured to the pot full of ingredients in front of her. "Can you help me carry this back to the room? It's a little heavy, and Zuko's arms are full." She pointed at the massive full pot cradled in Zuko's arms
"Actually, I can't right now." Aang rubbed the back of his head.
"What do you mean, 'you can't'?" Zuko raised his only eyebrow at him
"I promised the girls I'd give them a ride on Appa," He gestured to the group of girls nearby.
"Why don't you both come with us? It'll be fun!"
"Watching you show off for a bunch of girls does not sound like fun," Katara said annoyed, as she resumed picking up vegetables and placing them in the pot
"Well, neither does carrying your basket," Aang said disappointedly
"It's not my basket," Katara snapped at him. "These supplies are for our trip. I told you, we have to leave Kyoshi soon"
"I don't want to leave Kyoshi yet," Aang argued. "I can't put my finger on it, but there's something I really like about this place."
Their conversation was interrupted. "What's taking you so long, Aangy?" One of the fangirls called, irritated
"Aangy?" Katara raised an eyebrow at the name, while Zuko simply snorted in amusement as Aang called back to the fangirls to wait a second. "Simple monk, huh?" Katara said sarcastically. "I thought you promised us that this Avatar stuff wouldn't go to your head."
"It didn't," Aang insisted, before thinking for a second. "You know what I think? You just don't want to come because you're jealous"
"Jealous?" Katara felt insulted. "Of what?"
"Jealous that we're having so much fun without you," Aang answered
"Guys," Zuko interrupted, before the two could say something they might regret. "That's enough. Katara, let's get this stuff to the house before it goes bad in the sun. Aang, go and play with your new friends, but just so you know, we will be leaving, we have to get to the North Pole if you want to learn waterbending"
"Fine," they both answered, before Katara finished putting food in the pot and following Zuko to the house, and Aang went back over to the fangirls. Meanwhile, after apologising, Sokka had started getting some lessons from Suki, while wearing the Kyoshi uniform, much to Suki's amusement.
Soon, Aang back to find Katara. He found her practicing her bending on a cup of water. Zuko was currently on his ship, sorting things out with his uncle and crew. It had been decided that they would leave Kyoshi Island on Zuko's ship, in disguise. It was just in case there was other Fire Nation ships in the area.
"Katara," Aang said confidently. "Remember how Unagi almost got me this morning?"
"Yeah," Katara said annoyed, as she continued bending, not looking at Aang.
"Well, I'm gonna go ride it now," Aang bragged. "It's gonna be real dangerous"
"Good for you," Katara commented, showing disinterest
"You're not going to stop me?" Aang was surprised
"Nope. Have fun," Katara said, still uninterested
"I will," Aang said defiantly
And they continued back and forth for a minute until, "Good!", "Fine!" Katara watched as Aang stomped off, as she sat there feeling both annoyed and regretful. Aang stomped passed the Kyoshi dojo, where Sokka had managed to knock Suki onto her behind, much to her surprise, causing Sokka to look smug
"I fell on purpose to make you feel better!" Suki exclaimed, irritated
"I got you! Admit I got you!" Sokka pointed at her ecstatic, only for Suki to grab his finger and twist it, making him grunt in pain
"Okay, it was a lucky shot," Suki released the finger and got more serious. "Let's see if you can do it again." They the continued to practice and spar
Meanwhile, Katara walked pass the fangirls, who had grown bored of just watching Aang in the water. She found him floating in the water, looking annoyed. He became more excited where he spotted Katara on the shore.
"Katara!" Aang shouted. "You showed up!"
"I wanted to make sure you were safe," She called back, concerned. "You really had me worried"
"Back there you acted like you didn't care," Aang commented
"I'm sorry," Katara said regretfully
"Me too," Aang lowered his eyes. "I did let all that attention go to my head. I was being a jerk"
"Well," Katara shouted jokingly. "Get out of the water before you catch a cold, you big jerk!"
"On my way!" Aang started swimming back to shore not noticing the large fin appearing out of the water behind him.
Suddenly Aang is swept up onto the back of Unagi, who looks back at him and shoots a jet of water at him. After a fight with Unagi, Aang hit the water near Katara and came back up, unconscious. Katara quickly ran into the water to save Aang before the giant eel got to him. After saving him, and getting him the shore, Katara used waterbending to bend the water out of his lungs.
As Katara was trying to get Aang to wake up, she heard something else in the water. She peeked over the rock to see a large ship heading to shore. "Fire Nation!" she gasped, as she watched it stop next to Zuko's ship, dwarfing it.
After a few more shakes, Aang finally came through, "Katara…" she looked down at him in relief. "Don't ride Unagi. Not fun"
They were soon running to where Sokka and Suki were. They were sitting next to an open crate, with one of Zuko's crew standing watch. As they got into the crate, they watched at a fire nation soldier, with ugly sideburns on his face, walked boldly up to Zuko and Iroh near one of the stalls.
"Prince Zuko," the man greeted semi-formally. "And General Iroh."
"Commander Zhao," Zuko nodded in greeting. "I hear a congratulations for your promotion are in order."
"Yes," Zhao said, emotionless. "And how is your search for the Avatar going?"
"All I know is that he has returned," Zuko answered, paying the vendor for an apple. "That is all I know so far"
"Really?" Zhao raised an eyebrow, snatching the apple from Zuko's hand, causing the prince to buy another with an eye roll. "From what I heard; the Avatar was last seen here on Kyoshi Island"
"Well, if he was, he's long gone," Zuko said walking towards the village exit, munching on his apple. "Or he's a master of evasion, and he's leading us on a wild goose-pig chase."
"Hmm, I supposed so," Zhao was not convinced. "By the way, may I ask why you are on Kyoshi Island?"
"It's neutral in the war," Zuko answered, following his uncle and the last of his crew as they pushed a couple of crates, one of which was currently hiding his friends. "It's a good spot to resupply and a bit of shore leave for my men."
"Shore leave?" Zhao turned his nose up at such a ridiculous idea. Some of his soldiers behind him, having heard the idea, were starting to rethink who they should work for. Shore leave sounded nice
"Yes, Zhao," Zuko said as they came up to their ships. "Shore leave. My men and I have been travelling a while, we were low on supplies and some of the men needed some down time."
"I see you are still soft, Prince Zuko," Zhao commented, stopping near the ships. "Surely you remember what happened the last time you acted soft?"
"How could I forget?" Zuko narrowed his eyes at the man. "The result is permanently on my face"
"Yes, it is," Zhao smirked.
"Well, if that is all, I should probably get going," Zuko gave a bow in dismissal. "The Avatar isn't going to chase himself. Farewell, Commander Zhao"
"Farewell, Prince Zuko," Zhao turned and stomped up the ramp of his ship, knowing he wouldn't get anything else from the prince.
"Helmsman!" Zuko shouted as he walked up the ramp of his own ship. "Time to set sail!"
"Yes sir!" The helmsman shouted back, the ship's engines coming alive as the ramp was pulled back up. They waited until Zhao's ship had travelled a fair distance before they started moving as well.
Zuko walked to his room, just as the sun went down and he transformed into his dragon form. He investigated his room to see his friends safe and sound, and currently teasing Sokka about his Kyoshi uniform
"Hey, guys," he got their attention. "Are you all okay?"
"We're fine, Zuko," Katara smiled at him. "That was a close one, though."
"Yes, it was," Zuko agreed with her. "But I think we managed to throw Zhao off our scent for now." He looked over to his map on the wall. "Now how about we head to the North Pole, like we are supposed to"
"Sounds like a plan," Sokka said, still trying to look 'manly' in his Kyoshi uniform