XXV/ Hot flying!
For Elsa and her friends, planning their departure from the village for their journey into the Fire Nation territory had been swift thanks to the help of Elder Jioran and of his people. Elsa earned the greeting of Appa and Momo who had seemed to appreciate her return, even though being licked by the sky bison was something Elsa didn't hope to see repeated in the future, even if it earned her Sokka's amusement. Gathering the new supplies and money on Aang's companion and joining the saddle had been a matter of a short moment before Appa took off with them.
During the flight, Elsa took advantage of the moment to take a rest after the time spent in the spirit world. The lack of time reference and the differences of environement and rules within this reality affected her, even though the toll wasn't as big as she had feared. A part of her wondered why, even though the thought that being the fifth Element did help to assuage the toll her body could have taken crossed her mind. She wasn't sure if it was the case. While she was certain the Fifth Element was to her realm what Aang was to his world as the Avatar, she was uncertain their similarities could justify her being no affected in the same way as the other villagers that had been taken there .
That was a mystery, especially as it had been enhanced by the echoes she heard in her mind. She was certain she had heard this voice, but it wasn't like her mother's call. It was something else, more ethereal. And for some reasons, she felt it was tied to Aang or rather the role she could play for the young airbender as a protector and mentor.
The young queen finally awoke and stretched on the saddle, her hair swaying gently in the wind. Katara and Sokka, who had been peering at her with concern, let out sighs of relief.
"Elsa, you alright?" Katara asked, her voice laced with worry. Her blue eyes, so similar to the ocean they were flying over, held a hint of apprehension.
The young queen blinked, her vision clearing. The vast expanse of the ocean stretched before them, an endless canvas of blue that shimmered under the afternoon sun. "I am well, Katara," she replied, as she stretched, her body protesting slightly. "Just a bit… disoriented."
She looked around, taking in the scenery. Appa soared majestically through the air over the vastness of ocean. Momo, the winged lemur, perched on Sokka's shoulder, chittered excitedly, his large black eyes sparkling with curiosity and relief as he approached Elsa. The young queen stroked him, making the winged lemur purr in pleasure under the fond eyes of Katara while Sokka rolled a bit his eyes.
"Where are we?" Elsa asked, turning to Aang, who was piloting Appa with practiced ease.
"We're nearing the Fire Nation territory, Elsa," the young airbender explained as he looked at her, "We'll be at this crescent island before dusk."
The young queen nodded, sensing some foreboding feelings they might encounter big challenges. Moving toward the territories of the Fire Nation was very risky. And while she knew she could hold her own, she wasn't certain of how many firebenders they would face as it would impact her ability to protect her friends. But she knew they were on an urgent mission as time was running out for Aang to be able to contact his previous life. Hopefully, he would find answers about what to do as the Avatar and why she was here and how she could return home. A part of her was however determined to support and help the young airbender. She couldn't allowed herself to let those children into danger, no matter how skilled they were.
"Elsa, what was it like in the spirit world? We were so worried about you." Katara's question broke the silence.
Sokka scoffed. "Come on, Katara, how exciting could it be? Probably just a bunch of wispy white spirits and whispering trees."
Katara shot him a playful glare. "Don't be disrespectful, Sokka. I want to be sure Elsa is alright. It's not like everyone can enter that place." She turned back to Elsa, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Elsa sighed, knowing they wouldn't let it go until she explained. "It was...strange. Everything felt different, but I think I managed to find my way back."
Sokka nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "See? I told you she'd be fine."
Katara shook her head, giving her brother a playful shove. "Sokka, be serious. Elsa could have been in danger."
Sokka's expression softened, and he looked back at Elsa with genuine concern. "Sorry, Elsa. We were just worried about you."
Elsa smiled gratefully, touched by their concern. "It's alright, Sokka. I appreciate it. And I'm sorry to have made you worried. It hadn't been my intent."
Just as the tension began to ease, Katara's gaze shifted, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon behind them. "Hold on, something's not right," she muttered.
Sokka followed her gaze, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What is it, Katara?"
Katara's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "It's... it's Zuko."
Sokka followed her gaze and his eyes widened in recognition. "Oh no, not again," he muttered under his breath.
Elsa followed the siblings' glances and her eyes widened as she saw the steel ship moving fast behind them in the ocean in an obvious move to pursue them – a small yet menacing warship with a billowing red flag emblazoned with the Fire Nation insignia.
"That's not good," she murmured, her mind racing with possibilities.
Katara's voice was urgent as she turned back to Aang. "Aang. We've got trouble!"
Sokka's panic was palpable as he added, "Yeah! And it's gaining, fast!"
Aang's expression mirrored their concern as he glanced over his shoulder, taking in the sight of the Fire Nation ship. "We need to move quickly," he said, his voice firm with determination.
Elsa nodded, her mind already strategizing their next move. "Agreed. Let's prepare for whatever comes our way."
As Appa picked up speed, Elsa's gaze remained fixed on the approaching threat. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. As the ship drew nearer, she braced herself, readying her powers for whatever came their way. Her previous encounters with the Fire Nation made her ready to handle this new threat and she would do everything to allow her companions and her to join their destination safe and sound.
Just as she steeled herself for the confrontation, a sudden yell from Katara shattered the tense atmosphere. "Fireball!"
Elsa's head snapped in the direction Katara was pointing, and her heart raced as she spotted the blazing projectile hurtling towards them. The fireball, a blazing inferno hurtling towards them, erupted from the warship's deck.
Reacting with lightning speed, Elsa whipped her arm forward, conjuring a powerful blast of ice that met the fireball head-on in a mid-air collision. The resulting explosion sent a shower of sparks and steam raining down on the ocean.
"Thanks, Elsa!" Katara shouted, her voice laced with relief as she watched the remnants of the fireball dissipate harmlessly.
Sokka chimed in, his voice regaining its usual bravado, "Yeah, nice one! Way to show those Fire Nation hotheads who's boss!"
Elsa offered a curt nod before turning to Aang, she addressed him directly. "Aang, try to make Appa move as fast as he can. I'll deal with whatever they'll send our way," she told him.
Aang met her gaze, a flicker of worry crossing his features. "Alright, but there's just one little problem," he said, gesturing towards the front.
Katara, Elsa, and Sokka followed his gaze, their hearts sinking as they beheld the daunting sight before them. A two-row line of Fire Nation ships stretched across the ocean as far as the eye could see, forming a formidable blockade. They were trapped.
"That's not good," Elsa murmured, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon her.
"Whoa!" Sokka exclaimed, his bravado momentarily replaced by a look of pure panic. "What do we do now?"
Aang's expression mirrored their concern. He glanced back at the approaching Fire Nation fleet, then turned to his companions, his voice resolute. "We need to move quickly," he declared. "If we fly north, we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade! It's the only way."
"There's no time!" Katara countered, her voice rising with urgency.
Elsa, however, remained calm, her mind racing as she assessed their options. Force. That was one only answer if they wanted to reach their destination as quickly as possible.
She straightened, her regal posture radiating a newfound sense of authority. "Then we force our way through," she stated, her voice firm.
Sokka, emboldened by her conviction, thumped his fist against Appa's saddle. "Yeah, let's run this blockade!" he declared, a grin splitting his face.
A mischievous glint sparked in Katara's eyes, mirroring Sokka's newfound confidence.
While warmed by the confidence of the two Water tribe siblings, Elsa scanned the vast expanse of the Fire Nation fleet, her brow furrowed in concentration. The odds were stacked against them, but she wouldn't back down. Not while Aang, Katara, and Sokka were depending on her. She wouldn't let fear cripple them. Drawing a deep breath, she steeled her nerves, ready to face whatever came their way.
"Appa, yip-yip!" The urgency in Aang's voice spurred Appa forward, the sky bison roaring with determination as they surged ahead, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Appa soared forward, the sky suddenly became littered with flaming fireballs fired from the blockade. Elsa's heart skipped a beat at the sight, her eyes widening in alarm to the threat and its scale. Aang, Katara, and Sokka screamed in terror as the fireballs rushed towards them, ducking instinctively and clinging tightly to Appa's saddle.
Appa evaded numerous fireballs with agile movements, some exploding mid-air in a fiery display. Momo, nestled between Sokka and Katara, let out a startled yelp and burrowed his head deeper into Katara's shoulders, his brown eyes wide with terror.
Without hesitation, Elsa reacted. Her long, platinum blonde hair whipped around her face as she rose to her feet. Summoning waves of icy blasts, her arms moved with practiced precision despite the unsteady footing on the saddle. Her strikes found their targets, causing explosions of steam and sparks as the fireballs exploded when struck by her blasts. It was far more intense than her fights on Kyoshi island or the prison rig or even when dealing with Bruni in the Enchanted Forest.
As one particularly large fireball hurtled towards them, her concentration intensified. With a determined expression, she unleashed a powerful blast of ice, intercepting the fireball before it could reach them. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but they emerged unscathed.
"Elsa, can you keep this up?" Katara's voice was laced with concern as she glanced at her friend.
Elsa's uncertainty was evident, but her determination remained unshaken as she kept on striking the fireballs that came too close to them. "I'll do my best," she replied, her voice resolute yet tinged with a hint of exhaustion.
Aang's expression was troubled as he observed Elsa's efforts, reluctant to see her exert herself further. "Elsa, don't push yourself too hard!" he shouted.
Appa, as if echoing Aang's sentiment, let out a powerful bellow, his voice resonating with a deep rumble. As Aang guided him through his reins, the sky bison redoubled his efforts, climbing higher into the clouds, hoping to escape the relentless barrage.
For a brief moment, a sense of calm enveloped them as they soared above the billowing smoke and swirling clouds. A collective sigh of relief escaped the group. But the respite was short-lived. With a sudden burst, fireballs erupted from within the clouds, catching them completely off guard. Katara and Sokka ducked their heads, clinging desperately to Appa's saddle for dear life. Elsa gripped the saddle tightly, her knuckles turning white as she focused on maintaining her balance amidst the chaos.
As fireballs continued to rain down upon them, the young queen's heart pounded in her chest. Her hair whipped around her face, obscuring her vision as she strained to see through the thick smoke. With each explosion, her exhaustion grew, her muscles protesting against the strain of her powers.
Then, as if the skies themselves conspired against them, two fireballs collided and exploded right in front of Appa. The force sent shockwaves through the air, and Sokka was thrown from the saddle, his screams piercing through the chaos.
Elsa's heart skipped a beat as she witnessed Sokka plunging toward the ocean below. Reacting swiftly, Aang cried out desperately, "Sokka!" before whipping the reins down, guiding Appa into a swift descent to chase after their friend.
Appa reached Sokka just in time, allowing Katara and Elsa to grab Sokka's hands and pulling him back into the saddle. The young water tribe boy gasped for breath, his eyes wide with shock and relief as he found himself safely back on Appa. But the dangers weren't over yet.
As the sky bison continued his swift flight mere feet above the ocean, a fish appeared out of nowhere, slapping Sokka square in the face. He recoiled with a yelp, his hand flying to his cheek in disbelief.
Momo, ever the opportunist, leaped up and grabbed the fish, his chittering laughter mingling with the rush of wind around them.
Fireballs crashed into the water all around them, sending up plumes of steam and spray. Elsa, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten, resumed her strikes against the fireballs with renewed vigor. Her icy blasts intercepted the flaming projectiles, causing explosions of steam and sparks. Some of her blasts dissipated into the air, while others found their mark on the ships or the ocean, creating small icy frozen splahes or ice cubes in the water.
But just when it seemed like they might break through the blockade, a massive fire blast was sent hurtling toward Appa. Instinctively, Elsa reacted, sending forth a powerful icy blast to counter it. At the same time, Aang airbent forward off of Appa's head, executing a powerful airbending kick.
The combination of Aang's airbending and Elsa's ice blast collided with the flaming boulder, causing a massive explosion that sent smoke billowing into the sky. As Aang fell back onto Appa's head, Katara and Sokka grabbed him, ensuring his safety. Elsa nearly lost her stand due to the shockwave.
Appa managed to soared safely over the blockade, passing them in a blur of motion. Ela felt a deep relief and some exhaustion as she glanced behind her, seeing the ships fading into the horizon.
With the blockade finally behind them, Appa soared safely onward, passing through the chaos. Aang couldn't contain his excitement. "We made it!" he exclaimed, his voice ecstatic.
Katara and Sokka, though relieved, still wore grim expressions. Sokka muttered, "We got into the Fire Nation."
Katara, with a meek tone, added, "Great."
Elsa, her gaze fixed forward, felt a mix of emotions wash over her. She couldn't blame how her friends were reacting, considering what they had just experienced. Relief at their escape mingled with apprehension about what lay ahead. Her heart swelled with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, knowing that danger awaited them beyond the horizon, especially with them being in. But she was determined to protect her friends, no matter the cost.
Zhao stood tall on the deck of his command ship, his stern gaze fixed on the horizon through a brass telescope as he was observing the sky bison soaring away from the blockade, its large frame just a speck in the distance now. He lowered the telescope slightly, revealing a deep furrow in his brow. It had been so close to catch the Avatar, but it was only a matter of time before he succeeded. The brief glimpse he'd had of the Avatar's companions lingered in his mind, particularly the tall figure of a young woman with striking platinum blonde hair. Someone too unique to be dimissed, especially with what she achieved.
She had stood out amidst the chaos with unmistakable icy blasts, the very air around her crackling with cold as she had struck down his fireballs. It wasn't like any waterbending Zhao had ever seen. She wielded ice with the precision and force of a firebender, needing no source of water to conjure her power. As he watched, her white dress fluttered in the wind, contrasting starkly with the fiery chaos around her. The thought of this mysterious figure, this powerful woman with abilities that defied all logic, sent a shiver down his spine.
"Impressive," he muttered to himself as he thought of the rumours he had heard about the fate of the Mo Ce Sea Prison and of a mysterious waterbender that had helped earthbenders to free their villages. Was that woman the mysterious and powerful waterbender behind those rumours? He felt it was very likely, especially as he remembered the discussion he had with the former warden of the prison when he encountered the latter to understand how he failed to prevent Earthbenders to escape.
The captain of the ship approached cautiously, snapping the commander from his thoughts. "Where do you think the Avatar is headed, sir?" the captain asked, his voice steady despite the tension hanging in the air.
Zhao didn't respond immediately. His eyes, now free of the telescope's lens, locked onto Zuko's ship, which was rapidly approaching the blockade. The vessel was moving with clear intent, its trail of smoke a beacon against the backdrop of Fire Nation waters. "I'm not sure," he finally answered, his tone calm but measured. "But I bet a certain banished prince will know."
As the banished prince's ship drew closer, Zhao's mind raced with possibilities. Here was an opportunity to deal with two of his most pressing issues at once - the Avatar and the exiled prince. And perhaps a third in the figure of that mysterious woman. A sudden clarity seized him—a strategy that would serve his ambitions far better than a mere confrontation. If he could track the Avatar's movements through Zuko, it would be like killing two birds with one stone: eliminating a threat to the Fire Nation and ridding himself of a rival. The thought brought a twisted smile to his face.
"The boarding party is ready to apprehend Prince Zuko, sir," the captain informed him.
Zhao's eyes flicked back to the captain, then to the squad of nine firebenders standing at attention nearby. Their readiness was palpable, each one eager to strike down the prince. Zhao, however, had other plans.
"Wait!" he commanded sharply, raising a hand. The order was unexpected, causing the captain to falter. "Cut the engines, and let them pass."
The captain blinked, disbelief evident in his eyes. "Sir?"
"You heard me," Zhao snapped, his voice brooking no argument. He turned to face the approaching ship fully, his stance firm and authoritative. The captain hesitated only a moment longer before issuing the command. The blockade came to a halt, each ship's engines cutting out in unison. Zuko's vessel glided between the two rows, untouched and unchallenged.
From his elevated position, Zhao locked eyes with Zuko as the ship passed below. The banished prince returned the stare, his expression a mix of defiance and determination. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the two rivals sizing each other up across the chasm of their shared history.
As Zuko's ship disappeared into the distance, now well within Fire Nation waters, Zhao turned back to the captain, who had remained silent but visibly puzzled by the command. "Sir, why did we let Prince Zuko pass?" the captain asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Zhao's response was swift and assured. "Because, Captain, he's going to lead us straight to the prize," he explained, a satisfied smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
The captain's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, I see. Quite clever, sir."
Zhao turned to face his officer. "Prepare a river boat. I'll be following the prince personally, with a small escort."
The captain nodded and hurried off to carry out his orders. As the captain barked orders to the crew, Zhao remained where he was, staring out at the horizon. His mind was already racing ahead, envisioning the moment he would capture both the Avatar and Zuko. The implications of such a victory were staggering—enough to elevate him to a position of unparalleled power within the Fire Nation.
Yet, even as he plotted, his thoughts drifted back to the mysterious woman with the icy powers. Her presence intrigued him, her power undeniable. She was a potential target and threat, but he could only imagine the force she would be in the hands of the Fire Nation—or in his own. Yes, the possibilities were endless. Even more, he had another way to deal with Prince Zuko when he wanted, considering the latter asked the warden not to mention the part of the mysterious waterbender in the destruction of the Mo Ce Sea Prison. Considering the strategic importance of the prison, that could be considered as treason. But that might not be necessary if everything went as planned.
Zhao's smirk deepened as he gazed out over the now-calm waters, the pieces of his plan falling neatly into place. The Avatar, the banished prince, and now this mysterious ice-wielder - three potential keys to power, all within his grasp.
Yes, he thought, the thrill of ambition coursing through him. The Avatar and his companions were within his grasp, and with them, a power that could change the course of the war. All he had to do was wait, bide his time, and strike when the moment was right.
And when he did, the world would know the name of Zhao.
"Soon," he murmured to himself, "very soon."