XVIII/ Bringing back home
The journey back to Haru's village was indeed swift. Elsa, still recovering from the exertion of the fight and freezing the prison rig, sat huddled in a corner of Appa's saddle. Despite the lingering fatigue, a spark of defiance flickered in her ice-blue eyes. While a part of her worried about the consequences of her actions, the sight of the Fire Nation soldiers mistreating those earthbenders still left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Punishing an entire nation for the crimes of some, however, wouldn't solve anything. How could a lasting peace be achieved if it was built on hatred? Elsa pondered this dilemma, knowing now well her companions wouldn't readily entertain such philosophical discussions. And she didn't know much of the world, even less of the Fire Nation, to consider how to find a suitable solution to such an issue.
Chasing away those thoughts, she glanced towards the barges carrying the freed earthbenders. Their faces were marked by a newfound determination and hope. That sight made her smile a bit. While the situation was challenging and dangerous, seeing those people that had been humiliated and imprisoned having that fire again to fight for their lives and those they love was a sight to see for Elsa. In some way, it reminded her how she felt once she realized how she could handle and control her powers. Like her, they weren't chained by fear anymore. Not only were they free, but they were ready to fight for their homes once again.
Her gaze drifted back to the barges as she noticed Katara interacting with Haru and Tyro, which brought her a smile, especially as it was also thanks to Elsa's determination that those people were freed. Seeing Haru interact with his father and the other earthbenders brought warmth to her heart. A pang of longing for Anna then pierced her heart, though it passed as she focused on thinking on now. She couldn't however prevent herself from imagining how Anna and Katara would react if they were able to meet each other, considering their shared fiery spirit and strong protectiveness. A part of her thought that Anna would be ecstatic to meet someone like Katara as she was both committed and yet kind and fun.
"Elsa? You alright?" Aang's gentle voice broke her out of her reverie.
The young queen offered the young airbender a wan smile. "Yes, Aang. Just a bit tired."
Sokka, ever observant, furrowed his brow. "You look exhausted. You might have used your snowy powers a bit too much."
"Perhaps," she admitted, "But I think it might also be because I'm in your world now and not mine."
The young avatar's curiosity was piqued. "Really? How so?"
"I've noticed that my powers seem to take more out of me here than they would back home," she began, "In my world, I could manage a lot without getting too tired. Once, I ran for miles without stopping to take a break." Her smile faded slightly as she remembered her flight from Arendelle during her coronation day. The memory was still a bit painful.
Aang noticed her change in demeanour. "Is everything alright? You seem... sad."
Elsa quickly regained her composure, her smile returning. "It's just a bad memory from my past. Nothing to worry about now."
Sokka and Aang exchanged a glance, both understanding that while Elsa was powerful, she also carried her own suddenly fluttered over to her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek as if to comfort her. She gently patted the lemur, a soft smile playing on her lips. The ocean breeze ruffled their hair as Appa's steady flight continued, the vast expanse of water stretching out beneath them.
"Look," Aang pointed ahead, "that's the seaport village."
Sokka squinted, relief washing over his face. "Finally. We can soon resume our journey."
Elsa nodded but hesitated. "Actually, we promised Nara we would bring her son back. We've brought more than just Haru, and perhaps we should help them liberate their village first."
Sokka's brow furrowed in thought. "We need to get to the North Pole as quickly as possible, but..."
Aang chimed in with a smile. "I think that's a good idea. You told us that helping them could give us more allies, aren't you? It might be worth it."
Elsa smiled at the young airbender, sensing he had taken her advice on the need to have allies in their current task.
Sokka pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright. You're right. Let's help them."
The queen of Arendelle smiled at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sokka. This means a lot."
The young water tribe boy made a small tilt of the head and a small smile. Aang was delighted by the fact they would help Haru to have his village back. Elsa looked at the two boys with a fond smile.
As their whole group approached the seaport village, the docks came into clearer view. Elsa knew that the presence of Earthbenders on the barges would attract attention and while she felt they would be able to withstand any firebender, they needed to be swift and efficient. Thinking quickly, she suddenly had an idea. "Aang, could you inform everyone that I'll cover our approach?"
The young airbender reacted with a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Sure thing!" He used his staff to glide first to Haru and Tyro's barge.
Katara was intrigued by his presence. "Aang, what's going on?"
He answered, "Elsa asked me to inform everyone she's about to cover our arrival to the village."
Katara's eyes sparkled with understanding and acquiesced. Haru and Tyro looked intrigued, having witnessed Elsa's power during the battle.
Aang then glided to the other barges, informing the earthbenders of the same. He then returned to Appa. As he landed, he said to Elsa, "They're all informed."
"Thank you, Aang," she said warmly.
Sokka, ever the strategist, asked, "How do you plan to cover our approach?"
Elsa stood on Appa's saddle, raising her hands. "Like this." She concentrated, summoning her powers. Flurries began to rise, and soon, a tame form of blizzard surrounded them, masking their presence.
Aang and Sokka watched in awe as the snowy clouds grew, creating a protective veil around their approach. On their barge, Katara, Haru, and Tyro observed the spectacle.
Haru, impressed, commented, "If you didn't mention that Aang was the Avatar, I'd think Elsa was."
Katara looked surprised but smiled proudly. "She's incredible, isn't she?"
Tyro nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
With the blizzard shielding them, their group moved closer to the seaport village. The inhabitants and Fire Nation guards stationed there were taken completely by surprise. The soldiers, initially alert, were now confounded by the sudden icy fog that descended upon them.
"What's happening?" one guard shouted, squinting through the swirling snow.
Elsa seized the opportunity of her diversion to strike. With a swift motion, she directed focused blasts of icy energy toward the bewildered Fire Nation soldiers. It forced them to dive for cover or slip on the frost-covered ground, disrupting their attempts to regroup and respond effectively.
Aang, seeing Elsa in action, swooped down on his glider to assist. He used his airbending to amplify the blizzard's effects, whipping up gusts of wind that further disoriented the guards and kept them off balance.
Sokka, not one to be left out, wielded his trusty boomerang with precision, targeting the distracted soldiers and creating additional chaos among their ranks.
As the barges arrived at the docks, Tyro, taking the lead, led the earthbenders. "For the Earth Kingdom!" he shouted, his voice echoing over the chaos.
At his call, the former prisoners left the barges in a jump and started to earthbend against the disorganized guards. Katara deftly used her waterbending skills to create small splashes around the soldiers, keeping them on edge and preventing them from regaining their footing in addition to Elsa's ice and the rocks bent by Tyro and his countrymen or Aang making them fall with his airbending when they weren't knocked out by Sokka's boomerang.
Some of the guards, notably the few Firebenders tried to counter the attack but found themselves overwhelmed by the combined efforts of the earthbenders, Elsa's precision blasts, Aang's airbending, and Sokka's strategic strikes.
"Retreat!" shouted one of the guards.
The Fire Nation soldiers started to flee without waiting for the rest. Elsa was relieved and glad they left the place as the fight didn't take long and without too much damage. As the dust settled, she saw the villagers leaving the shelter of their homes and a shout could be heard, "For the Earth Kingdom!"
The scream was repeated by many other villagers before the whole crowd chorused it as it rushed to greet their liberators, embracing the returning earthbenders with heartfelt gratitude and joy. Tyro, his face etched with pride, stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
"For too long," he boomed, his voice echoing across the harbor, "we have lived under the tyranny of the Fire Nation! But no more! Thanks to the Avatar and his brave companions…," he gestured towards Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Elsa, "…we are free once again!"
The crowd roared its approval, their cheers resonating like thunder. Aang waved awkwardly, a blush creeping up his neck. Sokka was looking moved and proud by the praises and acclaims.
Katara, her eyes shining with tears of joy, shared a warm smile with Elsa. At that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. They were more than just allies; they were a team, bound together by a shared purpose – to fight for freedom and restore balance to the world.
Tyro continued, his expression resolute. "It's not over yet. We intend to retake our village and drive the Fire Nation out."
The crowd fell silent, absorbing the gravity of his words, before responding with new fervour. Tyro turned to Aang, Elsa, Katara, and Sokka. "Will you help us in this next battle?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with hope.
Aang stepped forward, his youthful face serious. "Of course, Tyro. We're here to help."
Elsa nodded, her voice clear and confident. "We promised Nara we would bring back Haru. We're not leaving until your village is free."
Haru, who had been standing quietly beside his father, looked up at Elsa, surprised. "You promised my mother?" he asked, his voice a mixture of astonishment and gratitude.
Elsa smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We did, Haru."
Tyro's eyes softened with gratitude as he looked at Elsa and her companions and then at his son. "Thank you," he said simply, but the weight of his appreciation was palpable.
He then turned to the assembled earthbenders, organizing them into two groups. "Those who will help retake our village, follow me. The rest of you, stay here and prepare defenses to the seaport."
In a few moments, the earthbenders divided themselves between the different groups. Among those joining Haru and Tyro were many who lived in the village. The others stayed behind to assist the seaport inhabitants.
As the earthbenders prepared for their mission, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Elsa gathered their belongings, ready to accompany Tyro. Appa, with Momo fluttering around him, waited patiently at the docks after having shaken himself dry. Aang patted the bison's side affectionately. "Ready for another adventure, buddy?"
Appa grunted in response, and Momo settled onto Aang's shoulder, nibbling on a piece of fruit. The group climbed onto Appa's saddle, Elsa helping Katara, Sokka and her to settle on the sky bison while Momo flitted around before landing next to Katara, who stroked his fur absentmindedly. Elsa stood poised, her icy powers ready should they need them.
"Yip yip!" Aang commanded, and Appa lifted off the ground with a powerful beat of his six legs. The group in the sky kept pace with the earthbenders below, moving quickly toward the mining village.
As they approached the place, Aang looked down at the group below and then at his friends around him. "This is it," he said, his voice a mix of determination and hope.
Elsa's eyes narrowed as she focused on the task ahead. "Let's bring them home."
The village came into view, its buildings battered and scorched from years of Fire Nation occupation. Tyro's group, visible from above, approached the entrance cautiously. The villagers watched anxiously from their hiding places, their faces a mixture of hope and fear.
As they neared the entrance, Katara leaned forward, her eyes scanning the scene below. "Elsa, do you have an idea of how we can help them?"
The young queen's brow furrowed as she considered their options. "This is Tyro and the earthbenders' fight. We need to support them without overshadowing their efforts."
Sokka looked at their position atop Appa and then at the approaching village. "What if we use our height advantage? Aang can airbend to create confusion and chaos among the Fire Nation guards, and Elsa, you can use your ice powers to freeze their weapons or create barriers."
Aang's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea, Sokka! We can make it harder for them to fight back without taking the lead away from Tyro and his people."
Elsa nodded thoughtfully. "That could work. Aang, do you think you can manage the airbending from here?"
The young airbender grinned confidently. "Of course, Elsa. I'm ready."
Appa descended closer to the village entrance as Tyro, Haru, and their fellow earthbenders initiated their attack against the few Fire Nation guards stationed there. Elsa raised her hands, sending ice blasts that provoked slippery ground beneath the guards, while Aang created gusts of wind that disarmed others and provoked confusion.
The Fire Nation guards, overwhelmed by the coordinated assault, quickly found themselves retreating in disarray. The earthbenders pressed forward, their spirits lifted by the support from above.
As the last of the guards fled, the villagers soon erupted in cheers. Aang guided Appa to land in the marketplace center, causing a stir among the villagers. He used a burst of airbending to land gracefully on the ground, while Elsa created icy stairs to help Katara and Sokka disembark.
As the commotion began to settle, Nara, hearing the excitement, emerged from her shop. Her eyes widened in disbelief, shock and hope as she saw the Earthbenders greeted as heroes by the other inhabitants and more importantly, her husband and son standing together.
"Tyro! Haru!" she cried, rushing forward.
Her voice cut through the joyous chatter, and all heads turned towards her. Haru's face lit up with recognition.
"Mom!" he answered back, his voice thick with emotion.
The family embraced, tears of joy and relief streaming down their faces. Haru wrapped his arms around his mother, his own eyes glistening.
"I can't believe it. You're really here, " she cried, tears streaming down her face as she embraced them both.
Tyro held his wife tightly, his eyes filled with emotion. "We're home," he whispered.
Elsa, Aang, Katara, and Sokka watched the reunion with warm smiles, their hearts lifted by the sight. Momo perched on Katara's shoulder, nuzzling against her cheek as if sensing the joy of the moment.
Katara wiped away a tear, her voice soft. "This is what we fight for. Moments like these."
Aang nodded, his expression resolute. Elsa placed a hand on Aang's shoulder, her eyes reflecting the same determination. Sokka grinned, crossing his arms. "Well, we make a pretty good team, if I do say so myself."
Elsa smiled at the young Water tribe boy. While he might be preoccupied by specific priorities, he was also moved by what they could achieve and she sensed he was slowly finding out that even small victories and detours like that could be worth the effort.
The villagers began to gather around, their faces filled with gratitude and admiration. Tyro stepped forward, addressing the crowd with a voice that carried both strength and warmth.
"Thanks to the Avatar and his companions, we have our village back. But this is just the beginning. We must rebuild and protect our homes. Together, we will ensure that the Fire Nation never takes it from us again."
The crowd erupted in cheers, their spirits buoyed by Tyro's words. Some villagers looked at Aang and his friends with awe, while others' eyes lingered on Elsa, captivated by her regal presence and powerful ice magic. Momo, sensing the crowd's energy, fluttered onto Aang's head, chirping excitedly.
The three children exchanged proud smiles, while Elsa's serene demeanor remained steady as she took in the villagers' reactions. She felt a sense of belonging and purpose she had long sought, now found among these new friends.
As the cheers subsided, Tyro and his family approached the group. Nara, tears still glistening in her eyes, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Thank you," she said, her voice hoarse. "Thank you for saving my son. And for bringing back my husband. And..." she faltered, her eyes glancing nervously towards the sky, "for freeing our village from the Fire Nation."
Katara smiled warmly, her motherly nature evident. "It was the right thing to do and I couldn't stand your people to suffer."
Elsa nodded, her expression softening while Sokka acquiesced with a small grin. Aang beamed, his eyes shining with hope. "We'll do everything we can to keep helping."
Haru, standing beside his mother, spoke up. "Katara's determination and Elsa's power made a huge difference. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to free the village."
Nara looked at Katara and Elsa, her eyes filled with gratitude and awe. "Thank you," she repeated, her voice trembling with emotion.
Tyro nodded in agreement before turning his glance at Elsa. "You know, if Katara hadn't mentioned Aang was the Avatar, I would have sworn you were one yourself with the way you controlled those ice blasts."
Nara looked stunned and confused at her husband while Haru nodded in agreement. A surprised gasp escaped Sokka's lips. Aang's eyes widened, while Katara gave a small amused smile as she remembered Haru's words back on the barge. Elsa, for a moment, was speechless, her cheeks flushing slightly. A part of her felt also nervous as this depiction wasn't untrue, considering the fact she was the Fifth Element back in her world.
A pang of irony shot through Elsa. Here she was, a being who bridged the elements, being mistaken for the very entity who could manipulate them all here. It wasn't entirely inaccurate, but the weight of that title, the responsibility it held, felt like a crown far too heavy for her to wear. And she wasn't sure how to deal with a situation where she would be confused for what Aang was supposed to be. She didn't want him to be too burdened due to his age and how he was as a person, but she wouldn't take away something that was specific to his world, not when she was having a similar status back home and would have to come back to her world.
Regaining her composure, she chuckled nervously. "Well, that's very kind of you to say. But I assure you, I'm no Avatar. I simply have a different set of skills."
Tyro, a wise man, studied Elsa intently for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "I know," he said slowly, his voice thoughtful. "But your powers... they are unlike anything I've ever seen."
Elsa acquiesced in understanding. Aang leaned forward, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "But wouldn't it be amazing if she were? Having another Avatar fighting by our side would be a huge help!"
While he spoke in a fun and hopeful tone, Elsa could sense the underlying weight in Aang's words, understanding that her being an Avatar would have eased his burden. A part of her wanted to mention she was something akin, but she wasn't sure it was a good time and she wondered how to present it. She nevertheless placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I understand. But I believe in you, Aang. You may still have a long road to become who you need to be, but you have that strength and faith that can transport mountains."
Aang had a small smile at her words. Katara's smile widened, appreciating Elsa's support. Sokka, crossing his arms, added with a mix of humor and concern, "Yeah, but let's not give the Fire Nation any more reasons to come after us."
Aang looked confused. "What do you mean Sokka?"
Sokka explained, his tone serious. "Think. If people start assuming Elsa is the Avatar, the Fire Nation will come after her just as fiercely as they come after you, Aang. That could put her in a lot of danger and all of us on the same occasion."
Aang blanched in worry and concern as he looked at Elsa. Katara looked conflicted, between scolding her brother for his paranoia but being aware he was right and looking at Elsa with concerned but trustful eyes. The young queen put again her hand on Aang's shoulder in a comforting way while pondering on the implications of her being confused for the Avatar.
A part of Elsa was aware of that possibility, even more with her action of freezing the prison rig. She knew she crossed a line she couldn't move back but she didn't regret it. And a part of her knew that sooner or later, the Fire Nation would have found out about her, meaning she would have become a target, especially with how powerful she was compared to most people. And it was without even considering her situation as Fifth Element, which would make her the equivalent of Aang.
Tyro stepped forward, his voice resolute. "I'll make sure my people are discreet about the identities of both the Avatar and Elsa's powers. We owe you our freedom and our village. The least we can do is protect your identities."
Nara, tears glistening in her eyes, added, "We'll do whatever it takes to keep you all safe. You've done so much for us."
Katara, her expression softening, spoke gently. "Thank you. It means a lot to us."
Elsa nodded with a small smile, appreciating the support of Tyro and his family. Momo then fluttered from Elsa's shoulder to Aang's, nuzzling against his cheek. The young airbender chuckled, his tension easing as he petted the lemur.
Tyro then turned to the group, his gaze steady. "Will you be staying with us for a while?"
Elsa answered diplomatically, "We appreciate your hospitality, but we have a journey to continue."
Katara confirmed, nodding. "Yes, we need to head to the North Pole to find a waterbending master for Aang."
Tyro, Haru, and Nara all reacted with understanding and support. Haru's eyes showed a hint of sadness, but he nodded resolutely. "I understand. Your mission is important."
Katara then turned to Nara, a hint of gratitude in her voice. "However, I'd like to return the clothes you lent me. They were very helpful in passing as an Earthbender."
Nara smiled warmly. "Keep them. You may need them again. Consider them a gift for all you've done for us."
Katara hesitated a bit, but after a glance at Elsa who nodded encouragingly,
"Thank you, Nara. That's very kind of you," the young waterbender answered, a small smile on her lips.
Elsa looked in approval and smiled at the interaction, both glad that Katara accepted that gift and happy to see how their actions helped Nara and her family. Glancing at her dress, she realized that having clothes like the ones the waterbender and the shopkeeper were wearing would be useful, as much as she loved her dress and could change the design and colour.
Sokka cleared his throat, bringing attention to himself. "We need to retrieve our supplies from Haru's family barn before we go."
Nara nodded, understanding the water tribe warrior's implication. "Of course, I'll accompany you to ensure you get everything you need for your journey."
Elsa then asked, "Nara, could I also have a dress similar to Katara's? It would help keep my own identity concealed."
Tyro, Haru, and Nara turned their gazes to Elsa's current attire, which, though greenish, was not in the Earth Kingdom style, especially with the crystals on it and the fabric. Nara's eyes softened with understanding. "Absolutely, Elsa. The need for discretion is paramount."
Elsa smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Nara."
The older woman bowed slightly in return. "It's the least we can do for all you did for us."
She glanced at Tyro, who nodded. "You can accompany them back to our home. I'll take care of the matters here," he said.
As the group began moving toward the house to prepare for their departure, Aang spoke up, holding out something to Katara. "Here, Katara. I kept it safe for you." He handed her necklace back to her.
The waterbender's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Aang." She put her mother's necklace back around her neck and leaned in to kiss the young airbender on the cheek. Aang blushed, twiddling his thumbs, a shy smile spreading across his face.
Elsa watched the interaction with a thoughtful expression, sensing the innocent affection between them. She admired their budding bond, reminding her a bit of how Kristoff and Anna were at the start of their relationship, even though she sensed that both young children weren't aware of how it could evolve.
Katara turned to Nara, a mix of gratitude and resolve in her eyes. "We're ready. Let's get our supplies and then continue our journey."
The shopkeeper nodded and guided them back to the house. Elsa was glad that they were about to resume their journey. But she was even happier that their actions helped those people and put an end to needless violence and cruelty. She however wondered how to deal with the Fire Nation while having them in the peace process. She didn't know much of the nation outside of their actions and her encounter with Zuko, except for the fact their leader was named Ozai. She needed to know more about the situation and while her friends had been helpful, she knew that Katara and Sokka were biased because of their own experience and Aang was both of a different time and witness of what the Fire Nation did to his people.
The need to know how to deal with the Fire Nation was even more necessary as she knew the Fire Nation would have her among its potential targets, if it wasn't already the case after the Kyoshi island incident, considering that her powers weren't like those of a waterbender. And Tyro's words told her that some people might assume her to be the Avatar in the near future if her friends and she were dealing with new challenges. She needed to consider all those elements to prepare herself and her friends for their next steps.