Brawl 1 Water: Chapter 14 The Future-Telling

On the journey to the North Pole, they had made a rest stop and at that stop was near a pond. In the pond was a fish that was jumping around. Sokka looked at it and saw a cocky look on its face and said. "He is taunting us."

"It's fish Sokka. Don't let it bother you." Hoshi said and Sokka didn't listen to him. Sokka then pulled out the fishing rod, but the string was gone. "Hey, where's the fishing line?" Sokka said to everyone and Aang said. "Oh, I didn't think you would need it, Sokka."

"And what did you do with it?" Miguel said and Aang showed them a necklace with a flower he made from the string. Sokka then said looking at it. "Ah, it's all tangled."

"Not tangled, woven. I made you a necklace, Katara. I thought since you lost your other one…" Aang said to Katara and Katara said as she took the necklace from Katara. "Thank's Aang. I love it."

"Great, Aang. Maybe instead of saving the world, you can go into the jewelry-making business." Sokka said and then Saida said. "Aang could do both Sokka. After all it's a nice neckless." Sokka then attacked the fish, even if it taunted him. Katara then put on the necklace and said. "So, how do I look?"

"Great, right Aang?" Phaedrus said and in Aang's eyes Katara was more beautiful than ever. "Aang are you ok?" Saida said to Aang waving her hand in front of his face. Hoshi understood and said. "I got it." Hoshi then hit Aang in the back of the head. Aang snapped out of it and said to Hoshi. "Ow. What was that for?"

"Katara asked how she looked?" Hoshi said and then Aang said to Katara. "Oh. You mean, all of you or just your neck— I mean, because they both look great."

"Smoochie smoochie. Someone's in love." Sokka said as he caught the fish and then the fish escaped from Sokka. As Aang tried to find the words, Katara said to Sokka. "Stop teasing him, Sokka. Aang's just a good friend, a sweet little guy, just like Momo."

"Thanks." Aang said as Katara pet Momo. "That's got to hurt." Hoshi said and then Miguel said. "And you would know that." Hoshi looked at Miguel and then Waterbend Miguel in the face. Miguel then said as Eenoch got him a towel. "I deserved that."

"Why did you deserve that?" Saida said to Miguel as Eenoch arrived with the towel. Before Miguel could answer, they heard the sound of something growling. They moved to the sound and found a man in blue and sky blue robes, who wasn't panicking being attacked by a bear with a platypus peck and tail. The man dodged the attacks and once the man saw them, he said to them. "Well, hello there. Nice day, isn't it?"

"Nice day!? You are being attacked by a Platypus Bear!" Hoshi said and then the man said. "Yes, but everything is fine."

"This guy must be crazy." Centipod said as he turned into a ball and everyone rolled out their Bakugan. The Platypus Bear was scared of the Bakugan and ran away after it laid an egg. After the Bakugan returned to Ball Form, Sokka picked up the egg and said to the man. "Lucky for you we came along."

"Thanks, but everything was already under control. Not to worry."

"Under control? That bear almost killed you." Saida said and then the man said. "Aunt Wu predicted I'd have a safe journey."

"Aunt who?" Aang said and then the man said. "No, Aunt Wu. She's the Fortune-Teller from my village. Awful nice knowing your future."

"Wow, it must be. That explains why you were so calm." Katara said and then Sokka said. "But the Fortune-Teller was wrong. You didn't have a safe journey. You were almost killed."

"But I wasn't. All right, have a good one." The man said before he started to leave. But he stopped and said. "Oh, and Aunt Wu said, "If I meet any travelers, give them this." The old man then gave Aang and Miguel a gift before he left. Katara then said to everyone. "Maybe we should go see Aunt Wu and learn our fortunes. It could be fun."

"Oh, come on. Fortune-Telling is nonsense." Sokka said and then Saida said. "Yeah, like they are real." Aang and Miguel then opened the gift and they were umbrellas. Then a few moments later it started to rain. Everyone got under the umbrellas, minus Sokka and then Katara said. "That proves it."

"No, it doesn't. You can't really tell the future."

"I guess you're not really getting wet, then." Katara said before Sokka lost his hold on the egg, it flew into the air, and then landed on his head. After walking for a while, Sokka said still cleaning off the egg. "Of course she predicted it was gonna rain. The sky has been grey all day."

"Just admit you might be wrong, and you can come under the umbrella." Katara said as she, Aang and Phaedrus were under one. And under the other one were Hoshi, Saida, Miguel, Centipod, Pyravian and Eenoch. Sokka then said to them. "Look, I'm gonna predict the future now. It's going to keep drizzling." Then the rain stopped. "Man, the universe loves to prove you wrong." Hoshi said as they put away the umbrella and walked away. Sokka stood still and then Appa dried his fur next to Sokka.

Soon they reached the village the old man was from. The village was next to a volcano, a river, and was your standard Earth Kingdom town, but all of the people inside the town were very happy. Katara asked for directions to Aunt Wu's place. They gave her directions and once they reached the place Katara made everyone enter the building. Inside, a girl about Aang age with pigtails walked up to them and said. "My name is Meng, and I'm Aunt Wu's assistant."

"Hello, I'm Hoshi and these are my friends. Katara, Sokka, Saida, Miguel, Centipod, Pyravian, Eenoch, Phaedrus, and Aang." Hoshi said, pointing to each of them and then Meng noticed Aang. And while he wasn't looking his best, to Meng it was love at first sight. Meng then said to Aang. "Well, hello there Aang."

"Hello." Aang said, not feeling the same as Meng. Meng then said to them. "Can I get you some tea or some of Aunt Wu's special bean curd puffs?"

"I'll try a curd puff." Sokka said to Meng and Meng said to him. "Just a second." Meng then said to Aang. "So your name is Aang right?"

"Yep, that's me."

"And that rhymes with Meng. And you've got some pretty big ears, don't you?"

"I guess." Aang said, not understanding why she said that. Sokka then said to Aang. "Don't be modest. They're huge."

"No bigger than you're Sokka." Hoshi said and the others laughed at Sokka. Meng then said to Aang. "Well, Aang, it's very nice to meet you— Very nice."

"Likewise." Aang said as Meng walked into the kitchen. "I can't believe we're here in the house of nonsense." Sokka said not caring about this place. Katara then said to Sokka. "Try to keep an open mind, Sokka. There are things in this world that just can't be explained. Wouldn't it be nice to have some insight into your future?"

"Katara. The future is costly in motion, so no one can see the future." Saida said as she also didn't like this place too. Meanwhile Meng was getting the food, a female guest who just had her fortune read by Aunt Wu. The guest told Meng that she would meet her true love when he gives her a rare Panda Lily. Meng thought it was romantic and wished Aang would give her a rare flower. The guest then mentioned that Meng was going to marry a man with big ears in the future. And that is why Meng thought Aang was her true love.

Then after the guest left, Meng gave everyone a drink and some bean curd puffs. An old woman wearing a yellow robe and had a fancy crown walked up to them and said. "Welcome, young travelers."

"Are you Aunt Wu?" Hoshi said and then the woman said. "Yes. Now, since we have a big group, we'll go like this. First will be you." She pointed to Miguel. "Then you." She pointed to Hoshi. "You." She pointed to Saida. "You." She pointed to Katara. "And you will be last." She pointed to Aang. Sokka then said to Aunt Wu. "Hey, what about me?"

"Your future is full of struggle and anguish, most of it self-inflicted."

"But you didn't read my palms or anything."

"I don't need to. It's written all over your face." Aunt Wu said before everyone laughed a little. Aunt Wu then made Miguel follow her to her fortune chamber.

For Miguel's fortune, Aunt Wu saw him fighting people using other people for evil desires. But he wouldn't be alone. He would be with a woman, but she couldn't see this woman. But Aunt Wu knew that she was wrapped in chains and that she only had one arm. Miguel left and wondered who that one-armed woman was?

For Hoshi's fortune, Aunt Wu couldn't see him. Hoshi asked why and Aunt Wu said that he was in the center of a storm connected to many people. This storm let Aunt Wu know that Hoshi's future was encased in unknown factors and it would be a long time until this storm was over. But Aunt Wu did see two people in the center of this storm with him, but could not see who they were. Hoshi left and wondered who those two people were.

For Saida's fortune, Aunt Wu saw her building. Building things for the people. Building new homes. Building a way for everyone to connect to one another. And building a family. That last part surprised Saida and Aunt Wu saw that her future partner would be a great leader of something new. Saida then left, and believed Aunt Wu was just telling her what she wanted to hear.

For Katara's fortune, Aunt Wu saw her being a beacon of light. This beacon would make sure that the one she is destined for would not fall into darkness. Katara asked who was the one she was destined for and Aunt Wu knew who it was, but chose to give Katara a small detail. And that detail was that the man she was going to marry would be a very powerful bender. Aang heard everything after he pretended to go to the bathroom and was very happy thinking that he and Katara were destined to be together. Aang then went back to the others before Katara returned.

For Aang's fortune, Aunt Wu saw him in a great battle. An awesome conflict between the forces of good and evil that will shake the world to its very core. And the victor will determine the fate of the whole world. Aang knew about that and asked if she saw any love in the future, but she didn't see any love. Aang was sad and Aunt Wu noticed that and pretended to see love in his life, he just needed to trust his heart to find love. That made Aang happy and then he left her.

Once everyone got their fortune's they all left and Sokka said to everyone. "Well, now you got to see for yourselves that fortune-telling is just a big, stupid hoax."

"You're just saying that because you're gonna make yourself unhappy your whole life." Katara said and then Saida said. "I agree with Sokka. That woman just told me that I already knew what I was going to do with my life."

"Yeah and my life will be calm and happy and joyful!" Sokka said a little angry and then kicked a rock and that rock bounced off a sigh and hit Sokka in the back of the head. Miguel then said to Sokka. "Nice job Sokka, you just proved her right."

"That doesn't prove anything." Sokka said and then Katara said. "Well, I like my predictions, certain things are gonna turn out very well."

"They sure are." Aang said believing that he and Katara were going to be together. "Hey what's going on over there?" Hoshi said as he noticed all of the people standing in the center and looking at the sky. "What's with the sky?" Katara said to the old man from before and he said to Katara. "We're waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds to predict the fate of the whole village."

"That cloud kind of looks like a fluffy bunny." Aang said looking at the clouds and then the old man said. "You better hope that's not a bunny. The fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction."

"Do you even hear yourself?" Sokka said to the old man. Saida then said to the village. "But why is this so important?"

"The cloud reading will tell us if Mount Makapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt." A woman of the village said to them and then Saida said to them. "Why don't you go up the mountain and check for yourselves?"

"We used to have a tradition once a year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves, but ever since Aunt Wu moved to the village 20 years ago, we have a tradition of not doing that."

"I can't believe you would trust your lives to that crazy old woman's superstition!" Sokka said, but Katara silenced him as Aunt Wu appeared with a book in hand. As everyone waited to hear Aunt Wu's prediction. Meng said to Aang. "Hey, Aang, don't you think that cloud looks like a flower, huh?"

"Sure, I guess." Aang said to Meng, before he said the same to Katara, but Katara didn't listen to Aang and made him go quiet. Aunt Wu then read the clouds and told everyone that the village would get a nice big harvest for crops, twins would have a great year, and the village will not be destroyed by the volcano.

After that, Katara went back to Aunt Wu's place to get more of her predictions about her future and Saida was trying to convince Katara to stop seeing Aunt Wu. Sokka was trying to convince people to stop listening to Aunt Wu, and Miguel watched Sokka fail and get angry then tripped on everything, causing him to fall on the floor. As for Hoshi he was getting supplies with Aang, who was sighing. And after a few sighs, Hoshi said to Aang. "Aang? Why are you sighing?"

"It's just that I don't know how to tell Katara how I feel." Aang said and that caused Hoshi, Centipod and Phaedrus to freeze. Phaedrus then said to Aang. "We know you have a crush on Katara, but why do you want to tell her now?"

"I heard that Katara is going to marry a powerful bender in the future…"

"And you think it is you?" Centipod said and Aang nodded yes. Hoshi sighed and said. "Aang, I wouldn't tell her your feelings right now."

"What? Why?" Aang said and Hoshi went silent. Centipod then jumped onto Aang's shoulder and said to Aang. "My partner knows what you are going through, because he has a long time crush on Saida."

"Really, I didn't notice."

"Hoshi has been hiding it, but he does love her with all of his heart."

"Then why doesn't he tell her?" Aang said to Centipod and before Centipod could answer, Hoshi said to Aang. "Because if I tell her and she doesn't return those feelings. Then our relationship will never be the same. Plus if she does find someone she loves and it's not me, I will let her go ans not plage her mind with a choose. And you might have to do the same."

"What do you mean?"

"The prediction was that Katara would marry a powerful bender right?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, just because you're the Avatar, doesn't mean you are the only powerful bender out there." Hoshi said as Centipod jumped back onto Hoshi's shoulder and Hoshi left with the supplies. Aang then went to find Sokka and Miguel, hoping they would be able to help him. Aang and Phaedrus found them after Sokka talked to a man who met his true love if he wore red shoes. Aang walked up to them and said. "So, guys, you know some stuff about ladies, right?"

"Some stuff? You've come to the right place. What can I do?" Sokka said to Aang and then Aang said, trying to avoid telling Sokka and Miguel Katara's name like Hoshi. "Well, there's this girl…"

"Oh..." Miguel said and then Sokka saw Meng close by. "I think I know who you mean." Sokka said not knowing about Aang's crush on Katara and thinking it was for Meng. Aang thought Sokka knew and said. "You do? And you're ok with it?"

"Of course I am." Sokka said and then Miguel knew which girl Aang was talking about and said. "And you want to tell her how you feel."

"Yeah. I asked Hoshi for advice, but he told me to keep quiet."

"He is an idiot, after all you two would be great together. Plus she likes you too." Sokka said to Aang, still thinking it was Meng. Aang, still thinking Sokka was talking about Katara, said with much joy. "She does?"

"Oh, yeah. She's crazy about you." Sokka said before Miguel said pulling Aang away from Sokka. "Alright, Sokka, stop talking."

"What? I'm trying to help."

"You're confusing him." Miguel said to Sokka before he said to Aang. "Aang. Sokka is not talking about your crush. He thinks you're in love with another girl."

"Oh, so she doesn't love me?"

"I didn't say that. But I'll give you the advice I gave Hoshi when he fell in love. Just follow your heart, it will know the way."

"That's terrible advice." Sokka said to Miguel and then Miguel said to Sokka. "And how many dates have you been on?"

"Well. I…"

"So, none. While I have had a few myself. And that makes me better for giving Aang advice over you." Miguel said and that started Sokka and Miguel to fight over how to ask someone out. "You better leave Aang. I feel like this will last a while." Eenoch said to Aang and Phaedrus and they left Sokka and Miguel to they're conversation.

As Aang and Phaedrus traveled through the town, they saw the woman from earlier get a Panda Lily from a guy. It was the most romantic moment Aang has ever seen. So he ruined the moment to ask the man of this new couple where he got that lily. The man told Aang that it was close to the summit of Mount Makapu. As Aang and Phaedrus flew up and saw Hoshi ride Centipod in his normal form climbing up the mountain. They land on Centipod and Aang said. "Hoshi, why are you climbing up the mountain?"

"You first."

"Well, I am getting a Panda Lily. My heart is telling me that if I get it, Katara will return those feelings. And after seeing it in action, boy, does it work."

"Did you see the moment when a guy gave a girl a Panda Lily?"

"Yeah."

"Aang. It was because of Aunt Wu's prediction, not the flower."

"How do you know?"

"I heard a woman talking about in town. She said how she would meet her true love when he gave her a Panda Lily."

"So Aunt Wu was right again."

"Aang, she's not right. She is just telling people what they want to hear, but gives them each a weird hint so it looks like she was right."

"You're sounding like Sokka."

"Hey, I am not against Fortune Tellers. But she is mostly telling people what they want to hear and it's causing them to stop watching their steps in the present."

"But if they know their futures, why do they need to watch the present?"

"Aang it is like my grandpa said, "If you spend too much time looking at the clouds or looking back, you will not see where you are going."

"What does that mean?"

"If you keep your eye too focus on the future or past, you won't see the present, and that can be dangerous."

"Is that why you are here? To see if the volcano is active?"

"Yes."

"Why? Aunt Wu said the volcano won't destroy the village."

"No. Aunt Wu said the village won't be destroyed. She didn't say anything about the volcano not being active."

"You could be wrong."

"And Aunt Wu couldn't?"

"She hasn't been wrong yet."

"Aang, Centipod and I were getting some herbal plants that grow at the base of Mount Makapu and felt the ground shake. We have to check it out, just to make sure that the people of the village will be safe after we leave." Hoshi said as they reached the summit and Aang saw a Panda Lily at the rim of the volcano. Aang jumped off of Centipod and went for the flower, but the moment Aang picked up the flower, all of them saw that the volcano was not only active, but was about to erupt. Aang then dropped the flower in shock and said. "Aunt Wu was wrong."

"Yeah. We need to get down fast. Centipod return. Phaedrus, go find Sokka, Miguel, and Eenoch and tell them what's going on. Aang, we'll meet up with Katara, Saida and Pyravain at Aunt Wu and tell then waht's going on." Hoshi said as he grabbed Aang's glider. Aang understood what Hoshi was talking about and they both got onto the glider and flew down the volcano.

At Aunt Wu's place, Saida was seated outside of Aunt Wu's place with Pyravian on her shoulder and Katara standing at the door, looking kind of mad. Aang and Hoshi landed next to them and Aang said to Katara. "Hi, Katara."

"Can you believe she won't let me in? And after all the business I've given her?"

"You were being more of an annoyance, asking Aunt Wu about every little thing. Even food to eat right now. Plus her predictions are free." Saida said and before Katara could say anything, Hoshi said to them. "Katara, stop. We have a problem."

"What's wrong?" Saida said as she got up. Hoshi then said to them. "Aunt Wu was wrong. The village is going to be destroyed by the volcano if we don't act soon."

"Hoshi, you are sounding a lot like Sokka." Katara said before Saida said to Katara. "Why would Hoshi lie about that?"

"I don't know, but it's gonna take an awful lot to change my–" Katara said before the ground started to rumble and smoke came out of the top of Mount Makapu. "Will that change your mind?" Hoshi said, pointing to the smoke stack. Katara believed them and ran to the town square. There they saw Sokka getting really mad at the townsfolk and Hoshi said to Miguel, Phaedrus and Eenoch. "What's going on?"

"After Phaedrus told us what you four saw, and Sokka was trying to tell people. But like the boy who cried wolf, no one is listening to him." Miguel said, and as Katara grabbed Sokka, who kicked a rock at a duck which started to attack him, Hoshi said to Miguel. "Didn't you tell them?"

"I tried, but they won't listen to me either. They totally believe Aunt Wu's predictions over what they can clearly see with their eyes." Miguel said and then Saida said to everyone. "So what are we going to do? They won't listen to us, because they won't believe anything that isn't from Aunt Wu."

"Then I will get Aunt Wu to tell them." Aang said as Katara and Sokka joined them. Sokka then said to Aang. "How? By taking her up the mountain?"

"No, but I do need to borrow Aunt Wu's cloud-reading book." Aang said and Hoshi got the idea. As Hoshi and Katara ran to Appa, Sokka, Miguel and the Bakugan went to Aunt Wu's place. Inside Aang snuck into Aunt Wu's chamber, and while she was away looked for the book. Aang looked for the book, but couldn't find it. Then Meng appeared, which surprised Aang and he said to Meng. "Oh! Oh, I didn't see you there."

"You don't like me, do you?"

"Of course I like you."

"But not the way I like you."

"Oh. I guess not."

"It's ok. It's just really hard when you like someone, but they don't think of you that way."

"I know what you mean."

"She's beautiful, by the way."

"Huh?"

"That Water Tribe girl. I can see why you like her so much. She's sweet, she's a bender, and her hair seems so manageable."

"Don't worry. You're gonna meet a great guy who's gonna completely fall for you. I know it."

"Thanks." Meng said as Aang left. "Wait." Meng said and Aang stopped and looked at her. "Don't you want this?" Meng said, pulling out the book Aang was looking for. Aang took it and said. "How did you know?"

"I've kind of been stalking you. Heh."

"Oh, thanks… I guess." Aang said before he left with the book. In the sky, Hoshi was flying Appa as Aang and Katara bender the air and water in the clouds to the symbol for volcanic doom. On the ground the rest of the gang got Aunt Wu and showed her the symbol, which was a streaming skull. After Aunt Wu told everyone what it meant and the others returned to the ground, Hoshi said to the townspeople. "Alright people, we can save the town, but listen carefully, we don't have a lot of time. Since lava will flow down here, we are going to dig a very deep trench around the town. That should cause the lava to flow into the river and save the town. Now benders follow the Avatar, non-benders get a shovel and follow Sokka. And Br… Hexes, follow me, we will unlock your Bakugan powers. That will help us make the trench deeper. Now, move, move, move!"

"Right!" Everyone said and did what they were told. As Hoshi led the Hexes to a core, Miguel said to Saida. "You know what? I can't wait to see what Hoshi will do with his life?"

"Why?"

"Because whatever he is going to be, he is going to be a great leader." Miguel said and that caused Saida to wonder if the partner she was going to marry in the future was Hoshi. Saida shook out those thoughts and focused on the volcano which kept getting closer to its eruption.

With everyone's help they were able to dig a deep trench just before the volcano erupted. The new Bakugan then help the people get out of the town and the only people left were Aang and the gang. Aang and the others saw the lava as it came down the volcano and it was starting to go into the trench, but it was much more than they expected and it started to overflow. As more lava came down from the volcano, Katara and Sokka got on Phaedrus, Hoshi and Saida got on Pyravian, and Miguel got on Eenoch to fly out of the village, the only left was Aang. Aang wouldn't let the village be destroyed, So Aang used his powerful Air bending, and a little bit of his Avatar power to fire air at the lava, which became a tidal wave and was going to crash onto the village. And because of his Air bending and the tidal wave of lava, Aang's was able to create a wall from the cooled down lava and blocked the lava from hitting the village.

In the air, Sokka said as they all saw the lava go into the river and it didn't hit the village. "Man… Sometimes I forget what a powerful bender that kid is."

"Wait, what did you just say?" Katara said to Sokka and then Sokka said. "Nothing. Just that Aang is one powerful bender." And that caused Katara to wonder if Aang was her future partner. Once everything was over, Aang gave Aunt Wu back her book and Aang said. "By the way, we kind of borrowed your book."

"So you messed with the clouds, did you?" Aunt Wu said, taking the book back and sounding a little angry. Phaedrus then said to Aunt Wu. "We are sorry, but it was the only way everyone would know about the danger."

"Ha, ha, ha! Very clever." Aunt Wu said with a smile and then Sokka said to the townsfolk. "No offense, but I hope this has taught everyone a lesson about not relying too much on fortune-telling."

"But Aunt Wu predicted the village wouldn't be destroyed, and it wasn't. She was right, after all." The old man said and the caused Sokka great anger. Miguel then said to Sokka as he pushed him onto Appa. "Alright, clam down were are almost gone, so don't explode right now."

"Can I ask you something?" Aang said to Aunt Wu and then Aunt Wu said to him. "Of course, honey."

"You didn't really see love in my fortune, did you? You just told me what I wanted to hear."

"I'll tell you a little secret, young Airbender. Just as you reshaped those clouds, you have the power to shape your own destiny."

"Thanks Aunt Wu." Aang said as he jumped onto Appa and they flew away, and while they knew a little about their futures now, the future was still unknown and they would have to wait and see what it brings.