Book 02
Earth
The Earth Kingdom is like a labyrinth. Some will get lost and others will find each other. Not everyone looks in the same direction. There are many traps and dark corners. Still, hope and love will light the way. But in what can you trust when things you believed set in stone turn out to be made of quicksand? We will learn that the most dangerous enemy is not the one before us but the one inside us. Yet, we can't be allowed to lie still, we must keep walking, and our paths keep twisting, turning, crossing... and separating. We can't escape unscathed from the labyrinth.
Fight 25: Things aren't what they seem
The Southern Air Temple... Aang ran around, looked around... pulled a tattered curtain... it was the ruined building where he had discovered Monk Gyatso's skeleton. But he was surprised to see himself sitting there in the flesh. The other Aang turned around. His eyes and the arrow symbol on his head were glowing blue and fury was etched onto his face. Obviously, that was his Avatar Spirit. Aang gasped. The wind blew violently and he saw the Avatar surrounded in an orb of wind. Sokka and Katara were there too, shielding themselves. The Avatar slammed his hands together and a bright light envelopped them. Aang was hit by the powerful blast of wind and thrown backward into the Fire Temple. He screamed as he fell and landed. He watched as the intricate Fire Temple door open, revealing the glowing Aang hovering behind it, full of rage. The Avatar opened his mouth and fire shot out. He performed a slashing motion with his hand, causing the ground beneath Aang to melt and split apart. Aang fell into the chasm and landed on the deck of a Fire Nation ship. He looked up and saw the Ocean Spirit with him in its center revealed in his wrath, approaching the ship. Stunned, the airbender watched as the Spirit struck the ship.
Aang gasped awake and breathed hard. He was in a fur hammock beneath the deck of a Water Tribe ship. There were four hammocks, two on each side. The boy was sitting on the upper left, with Katara lying asleep in the lower right. He jumped down and climbed a ladder. But with the noise, Katara had woken up. She watched him worriedly and joined him on the deck. It was still night. She asked if he wanted to talk about it but he refused, saying it was just a nightmare. He still told her about his nightmare though, how scary it was, how scary HE was... while looking so unsettled... She put a comforting hand on his shoulder as they looked over at the ocean.
The next morning, Master Pakku was on the deck with several other men from the Northern Water Tribe. He reached into a bag and pulled out a triangle-shaped phial. Its plug was decorated by a crescent moon. It could be worn like a necklace.
"Katara, I want you to have this." The Master said, his tone serious and ceremonial. "This amulet contains water from the Spirit Oasis." He handed the amulet to Katara. "The water has unique properties. Don't lose it." His face softened. The girl respectfully thanked him and embraced him before walking away. The little monk stepped forward. The old waterbender gave him an ornate wooden box. "Aang, these scrolls will help you master waterbending, but remember they're no substitute for a real master." He advised. Aang looked up at Katara, who was on top of Appa. Both benders had a small smile on their lips. He gratefully bowed and joined her. Now it was Sokka's turn. "Sokka." Hearing his name, the young warrior looked at him proudly and expectantly. "Take care, son." Pakku dismissively patted Sokka's arm, giving him nothing. The boy's expression melted into a very dejected and embarrassed one. "Fly straight to the Earth Kingdom base to the east of here. General Fong will provide you with an escort to Omashu. There you'll be safe to begin your earthbending training with King Bumi."
Aang gave Appa the flying command, pulled the reins, and the bison lifted off. Katara called back to her master, asking him to say hi to Gran Gran for her.
In the northern part of the Earth Kingdom, on a mountain covered with blossoming cherry trees, a certain bathhouse was stretching over a wide river. Iroh was lying belly down on a table of that bathhouse and sighing contentedly as he was being massaged by two attendants.
"Aaahhh this is what I've been missing. Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense? Ah, no, we'd be dead already. It's all thanks to your lovely childhood friend who fished and hunted and cooked for us. She really saved us back then." The old man glanced over at his nephew who was sitting to the side, his face hidden by his conical straw hat, and his back against the wooden pillar. He looked so sullen. Iroh walked over to sit beside him on the floor. "I see. It's the anniversary, isn't it?"
"Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all." The boy began dejectedly before suddenly looking up. "I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, I want my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless."
"I'm sure he doesn't! Why would he banish you if he didn't care?" His uncle tried to reassure him. However, that did not have the desired effect due to his poorly chosen words and exaggerated optimism that screamed 'false!'. Zuko stood up and walked away. "Ugh, that came out wrong, didn't it? Wait! You got Chenlian back like you wanted, right?!" Both looked at the mahogany-haired girl meditating under the twin cherry trees. "But what are going to do with her? If you present her over to your father, he will surely allow you back at his side even if you don't have the Avatar. Or do you want to keep her at YOUR side like before?" The retired general wondered outloud. Zuko didn't answer, only stared at her with a conflicted expression before going away and blowing fire out of frustration. Chenlian opened her eyes and watched the scene, her expression unreadable.
The Princess's royal barge was a royal-class battleship, and being customized to her liking, it was very, very massive, intimidating, and heavily ornamented. Two lines of red armor-clad Fire Nation soldiers were standing on the deck, and fell to their knees as the elaborate cabin opened at the edge of the ship. Four servants carried a palanquin between the lines of soldiers. They stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled apart the curtains, revealing Azula. She stepped out and examined her soldiers. She raised a hand and looked at the two rows with an extremely sharp and cold-hearted gaze. They rose.
"My brother and my uncle have disgraced the Fire Lord and brought shame on all of us." She addressed them. "You may have mixed feelings about attacking members of the royal family; I understand. But I assure you, if you hesitate, I will NOT hesitate to bring you down. Dismissed." On her order, the troops quickly returned to their positions. Only the ship's captain approached as he has a remark to make...
"Princess, I'm afraid the tides will not allow us to bring the ship in to port before nightfall." The man informed her respectfully. The young woman did not turn to him and only walked to the left.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but I do not know much about the tides. Can you explain something to me?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Do the tides command this ship?"
"Uh? I'm afraid I do not understand."
"You said the tides would not allow us to bring the ship in. Do the tides command this ship?" She developed condescendingly.
"No, Princess." The captain answered, looking over at her nervously.
"And if I were to have you thrown overboard, would the tides think twice about smashing you against the rocky shore?"
"No, Princess." The man gulped fearfully.
"Well, then, maybe you should worry less about the tides who've already made up their mind about killing you and worry more about me, who's still mulling it over." She turned to him at last.
"I'll pull us in." The captain bowed and quickly left. He had no doubt that she could and would do exactly as she had said. Despite being only fourteen, she was known for her cruel and vicious ways when removing anything that stood in her way, and for bending everything to her will through fear, schemes, or force. Her threats were never empty ones.
Sokka was boredly leaning on the edge of Appa's saddle when he suddenly stood up, looking excited. Withing the mountainous landscape, a circular, walled tower came into view. Appa landed inside. A man with a long beard and wearing a green cap and brown and green armor stepped forward. Sokka was stretching, Katara bringing their supplies down from Appa, and Aang was rubbing his behind. They stopped to look at him and the numerous soldiers behind him. He introduced himself as General Fong and bowed deeply along with his troops before graciously welcoming Avatar Aang all of the great heroes, Appa, Momo, brave Sokka, the mighty Katara. The waterbender mentioned how she liked the way she had been called. Her brother too was looking smugly appreciative at having been called 'brave'. They were almost treated like kings and exploded behind them, and the three turned to look at them. A group of four earthbenders stepped forward, lifting small, green orbs from the ground and launching them into the air with their fists where they exploded in showers of sparks. The trio was amazed. Sokka especially seemed to enjoy this welcome.
The group was inside the base, in a large room with green-lit columns on each side of a central walkway. A desk was seen at the far end, with a large banner showing the Earth Kingdom's national emblem, a green circle with a small square in its center, just like a chinese coin or the 'rock' pai sho tile. Aang, Sokka, and Katara were sitting in the center of the room on a mat, with Fong at the desk.
"Avatar Aang, we were all amazed at the stories of how you single-handedly wiped out an entire Fire Navy fleet at the North Pole." Fong stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I can't imagine what it feels like to wield such devastating power. It's an awesome responsibility."
"Actually, Chenlian took care of about half of them. And I try not to think about it too much." Aang humbly corrected him. But then, the general smiled, as if he had not listened to a thing that had been said, and suddenly told the Avatar he was ready to face the Fire Lord now. "What?! No I'm not!" The monk exclaimed in alarmed and utter disbelief. Katara agreed. Aang still needed to master all four elements. But the general couldn't see the point in that. The Avatar already possessed enough power to destroy a hundred of battleships in a matter of minutes, so he could defeat the Fire Lord now! Sokka timidly pointed out that Aang could only do those things when he was in the Avatar state. However, Fong was already well aware of that. His eyes and tattoos glowed and he was able to summon unbelievable power.
"Without you we'd be slaughtered before we even reach their shores. But with you leading the way as the ultimate weapon, we could cut a swath right through to the heart of the Fire Nation." He pointed at the map, drawing a line with his finger from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation. However, the uncertain child didn't know how to get in or out of the Avatar state, much less what to do once he was there. "So it's decided then. I'll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar state, and then you'll face your destiny." The man turned to the trio who stood up. Aang was surprised and Katara angry.
"No, nothing's decided. We already have a plan. Aang's pursuing his destiny his way." The waterbender affirmed, her arms crossed. How dared that man call her friend a 'weapon'?!
"Well, while you take your time learning the elements, the war goes on. May I show you something?" Fong and Aang walked over to a circular window overlooking two orange-roofed buildings. A large crowd was standing outside one. "That's the infirmary, and those soldiers are the lucky ones. They came back." It was war. During war, people died. Even during talks, the fighting was still going on somewhere, and more people died. Aang looked down sadly. "Every day the Fire Nation takes lives. People are dying, Aang! You could end it, now! Think about it."
On her ship, Azula was practicing her lightning bending. Two old women – twins – were watching her from the top of the stairs. They were Li and Lo, her firebending teachers, although they were not firebender themselves. The sun was setting. Keeping only her index and middle finger from both hands extended and drawn together while closing her other fingers into fists, Azula swung an arm around, electricity sparking from her left hand, and brought it around in a circle, then moved her right hand in a similar way. She brought her fingers together, and then lunged forward, launching a lightning bolt from her left hand. The lightning arched over the edge of the ship. Her fingers were smoking and a single strand of hair was dangling in front of her face. Her teachers commented almost perfect performance. She had one hair out of place. The girl angrily glared at her strand of hair.
"'Almost' isn't good enough!" She snarled fiercely and started training again after putting her hair back into place. She was a perfectionist, just like Chenlian who was going through the exact same training. In his room of the bathhouse, Iroh woke up with a start and looked out the doorway. He had a bad feeling. And for a similar reason, Chenlian decided to stop there her lightning generation training for the day and practice healing through the infusion of chi. Well, that said, both were quite taxing on her chi and energy reserves.
Night had fallen when Aang came to talk to General Fong who was studying a map at his desk. Although still uncertain, Aang had decided to go along with his plan and to fight the Fire Lord. He returned to the dimly-lit room he shared with the Water Tribe siblings. He sat down on his bed as Katara sat up on hers, Momo on her lap. The monk quietly informed her of his decision to help the general by going into the Avatar state. The girl expressed her disagreement. This was not the right way. Her brother didn't see why not though, as Aang had been incredible when he had taken out the Fire Navy. The waterbender insisted. There was a right way to do this: practice, study, and discipline.
"Or just glow it up and stop that Fire Lord." Sokka remarked. Katara rose from her bed and went to the boys.
"If you two meatheads want to throw away everything we've worked for, fine. Go ahead and glow it up!" She stormed angrily and left
"Katara, I'm just being realistic. I don't have time to do this the right way." Aang justified himself as he stood up too and started after, sad, almost ashamed, needing her understanding, her approval.
The next morning, in an open-air building atop of a cliff away from the base, a man was brewing a rare chi-enhancing tea known as a natural stimulant. In an ordinary warrior it improved strength and energy ten-fold. But in the Avatar, it might induce the Avatar state. Fong, and the watertribe siblings were there too. He poured Aang a cup the boy drank. He began to race around the small structure on his air scooter while the others remained motionless.
"Is it working, is it working? I can't tell! Somebody tell me if I'm in the Avatar state 'cause I don't have a good view of myself! Am I talking too loud?" The monk spoke in a fast, high-pitched, hyper voice while zooming everywhere. Sokka suggested, obviously bored, that Aang could talk the Fire Lord to death... before his airbending friend collided with a column, almost knocking himself out. They changed location and went to the entrance gate to the base. Aang and Katara were kneeling on the ground while Fong was standing behind them, stroking his beard as usual. Sokka was before them, his hands clasped behind his back. His idea was to shock Aang into the Avatar state. The little one cheerfully replied he loved surprises. Katara covered his eyes with her hands. When she removed them, Momo's head has replaced Sokka's. The monk screamed in frigh, but that was all. No glowing. Sokka lost his balance, and both he and Momo toppled over noisily. The general shook his head: second plan, second failure. Now on to the next one.
Aang had been forced to don a ridiculous and mismatched attire over his airbender outfit: an Earth Kingdom hat with long leaves, a blue Water Tribe cape lined with white fur, and a red Fire Nation skirt. The General, Sokka, and Katara were watching from the sidelines as a fake-looking priest started his spell, saying the Avatar was wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations, and that he (the priest) was going to join the four elements into one. As he mentioned each element, he threw water, dirt, and a torch into some sort of large bowl, and blew air into the mixture he then threw at Aang, splattering him with mud. Again, no reaction, since it was really just mud. The priest gave the boy an odd look, asking if he truly didn't feel anything. The airbender's nose began to twitch. He lifted up a finger, causing a hopeful expression to appear on the faces of the onlookers. But then, Aang sneezed, splattering them in mud.
"We have to find a way." Fong said determinedly as he wiped the mud from his face. The third plan had ended in a third failure.
At the bathhouse, Iroh emptied a bag of seashells on a table and he lifted a few, inspecting them, impatient that Chenlian would come back from training so he could show them to her. He didn't know yet that had she been there, she would have found them pretty, yes, but instead of keeping them (as they broke easily and weren't of any use really anyway) she would have made them into jewelry and sold them, or traded them. But since she wasn't back yet...
"Look at these magnificent shells! I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come." He told his nephew.
"We don't need anymore useless things. You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now." The teen reminded him. Iroh sighed. With both Zuko and Chenlian being so practical, with whom should he contemplate the simple beauty of things?
"Hello, brother. Uncle." A voice suddenly greeted them coldly. Azula was sitting at the table on the other side of the room. She was holding a seashell. The two males looked surprised, and then angry.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko stepped forward and questioned accusingly.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasant 'hello' before asking questions." She replied arrogantly, utterly unaffected by their glares, and sliding in a snide undertone implying that despite being the same family, her country was no longer theirs. She stood up and walked over to face her brother. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
"Don't call me that!" Zuko yelled furiously.
"To what do we owe this honor?" Iroh helped his nephew.
"Hmm... must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point." The princess shattered one of Iroh's shells with her sharp nails on this last word. The former general grew suspicious at this small outburst. "I've come with a message from home. Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him... treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust." Her voice and expression softened. "Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home." She concluded. Zuko looked down quietly, unable to answer anything, too scared to believe her, to raise his hopes, for fear of having them smashed. He turned to the window and looked outside. "Did you hear me? You should be happy, excited, grateful. I just gave you great news..." She developed with such a pleasant expression.
"I'm sure your brother just needs a moment to-" The previous crown prince spoke before being angrily interrupted by Azula.
"Don't interrupt, Uncle! I still haven't heard my thank you. I am not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way."
"Father regrets? He… wants me back?" The exiled prince repeated his sister's words in quiet disbelief. Azula acknowledged he still needed time to take things in and informed him she would come to call on him the next day. She bid them good evening and left. She shouldn't be too forceful and impatient now and risk ruining things. Luring him was a better strategy when it came to her brother. She knew that better than anyone. And she knew exactly which of his strings to pull, when, and how.
At the Earth Kingdom base, Aang and Katara were standing on the wall. She needed to talk to him. This time at the air temple, when he had found Monk Gyatso's skeleton, it must have been so horrible and traumatic for him, she had seen him get so upset that he wasn't even him anymore. She admitted that the Avatar state possessed incredible and helpful power. But he had to understand, for the people who loved him, watching him be in that much rage and pain was really scary. The boy thanked her for her honesty but he still need to do this. However, Katara didn't understand why.
"No, you don't. Every day more and more people die. I'm already a hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it." He explained himself. But even though she accepted his decision, it didn't mean she approved. She quietly told him she couldn't watch him do this to himself. She wouldn't come anymore.
"We're going home! After three long years... It's unbelievable!" Zuko was happily and excitedly packing his things this night. His uncle was standing by the window and thoughtfully looking down. Chenlian was leaning against a table, her arms crossed, with a sealed expression. They had told her everything when she had returned. And now she was watching and listening silently as she was aware she wasn't in the best position to talk. She felt it was safer to leave things to Iroh.
"It IS unbelievable. I have never known my brother to regret anything." The previous crown prince noted sceptically.
"Did you listen to Azula? Father's realized how important family is to him. He cares about me!" At first he sounded surprised, and then forceful.
"I care about you! And if Ozai wants you back... well, I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine." The old man tried to mitigate his nephew's hopes, in vain.
"You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything." Zuko retorted defensively, and stiffened as he turned his back on his relative.
"Zuko, I only meant that in our family, things are not always what they seem." Iroh said gently, but that only served to anger him more.
"I think you are exactly what you seem: a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother." The male teen nastily accused his uncle as he whirled around furiously to face him, leaning in. That was more than what Chenlian could endure... she walked up to Zuko and slapped him.
"Don't you dare talk to Iroh like this. Given their age, Iroh spent much more time with Ozai than you, and knows him much better than you too. Just because he prefers to love, respect, and enjoy life more than killing and trampling on others and is tired after all he has endured, you can't go treating him like this, even though he has showered you with so much love. When have your father and sister last shown you love, huh? If you can use past actions to judge someone, then they can't be trusted! They don't have feelings for anyone, family or friends they will use them and throw the bones to their faithful dogs. And Azula always lies, you also know that! It certainly wouldn't be the first time she tricked you. Think a little, be objective: why would they want you back? Iroh was a military adviser during the siege of the North Pole, they must blame him for the defeat there and siding with the Water Tribe during the Moon incident. And they must see you as a failure for not having captured the Avatar. They're not-" But she had been a little too earnest, too passionate...
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! So don't YOU dare speak about them like this!" Zuko shouted, full of rage and bitterness again. "YOU destroyed half the fleet at the North Pole! And YOU stopped me time and time again from capturing the Avatar! If they see us like this, that'd be because of YOU! You're really a traitor who tries to beguile me and set me up against my father! You're just using me as a tool for your revenge!" He stormed. The girl recoiled slightly, clearly stung, but recovered the next second. Her face darkened.
"Is that really what you think?" She asked; calm and cold again. "I can't blame you for saying that I'm a traitor. But to think you'd actually believe I'm just beguiling you and using you..." She looked truly hurt and self-derisive for a time, and the prince faltered for a second. But then, her face grew hard and implacable. "Indeed, I had a hand in the North Pole and the protection of the Avatar. And I'd do it again. I found things more important than me. But you... you travelled so much, and yet you didn't see anything. Didn't you feel anything witnessing the state of this world, or Zhao killing the Moon? I was with the Avatar because I've had enough of all this destruction. I returned to you because I thought you were still the kind and sympathetic boy to whom I made this promise. But it seems I was wrong. I'm going back to the Avatar. Will you try to stop me and capture me? Will you sell me to Azula?" She probed him, her golden eyes boring straight into his. He turned around and said nothing, as if pretending it couldn't be helped since she had escaped while he wasn't looking. "I see. Well, thank you, I guess. Next time we meet – if we do – we'll be enemies. Goodbye, and good luck." She took her stuff and left. So at least, he was letting her go free.
"Is that really alright?" Iroh asked his nephew. In response, Zuko screamed, turned, and with a fire-enhanced heel drop, destroyed the table against which Chenlian had been leaning.
"Is that really alright?"Guang worriedly questioned his host who was angrily marching up the mountain among the cherry trees. He knew how much Chenlian wanted to be with Zuko. Even though he continually hurt her, for some reason, being separated pained her even more. It was irrational. Personally, there were times when he'd love to tear that man's body and spirit to shreds and gobble him down so he'd never hurt her again, but that was something he couldn't do.
"Of course it's alright! That was their choice, and that was mine. Or what? I should have captured them and used force? That would have had the opposite effect. Unless you're suggesting that WE should get captured instead and return to that cage?"
"So you're simply letting Azula take them away?"
"Isn't it good? Let them merrily walk straight into her trap. Aang will no longer have to worry about being pursued by Zuko. And with Azula after him, it wouldn't be too much to add my firepower to his group. We should return to him without wasting time. If we bother with someone who regards us with such resentment and lacks judgement and care to this extent, then no matter how many lives we have, it won't be enough. And maybe spending some time in a cell will serve to get that guy's head straight again. After all this time, he should know better than to trust her. He needs to learn his lesson. In this world, you can't get by if you remain an idiot who trusts too much. You'll get eaten. Or are you telling me to still cling to him after everything?"She was angry, and with reason.
"And still, rather than hand you over to Azula, he set you free. Just like it cannot be helped that you're still attached to him despite all the pain he puts you through and hope that he changes and turns to you, it also cannot be helped that he clings to his family and hopes that they accept him. His naivety, his persistency, his capacity to keep trusting after being betrayed, to believe, to forgive, his kindness... aren't they what endeared him to you? That still hasn't changed-"
"I know! But then what am I supposed to do?!"She interrupted, slowing down.
"You're right. His being tricked by Azula is nothing new. So as usual, you just need to be there for him and comfort him when he realizes his mistake. And I also agree that we can't waste time, and we can't force them. One day. Tomorrow, they'll go to Azula. Let's watch them for a day. If nothing happens, we'll leave and return to the Avatar. If something happens..."They stopped and looked over in the direction where Azula's ship was moored.
The Avatar exploded from the river between the icy cliffs in a tall column of swirling water. He turned down toward a Fire Nation ship with the Aang standing on the deck. The Avatar landed on the deck and swung his vortex of water like a whip, knocking Aang overboard like he had done with the Fire Nation soldiers, months ago at the South Pole. He then turned towards Zuko behind him, who, after briefly assuming a defensive stance, ran away. But then, the Avatar, no, Aang, no longer glowing, launched a slicing jet of water at him, as if to cut him in two. Aang woke up with a start, gasping. He woke Sokka up and told him about his change of mind. He didn't think they should be trying to bring on the Avatar state after all. And since he seemed to be sure, Sokka shrugged and accepted it. The airbender was scared that the general would get mad though. His friend tried to reassure him. What could he say? Aang was the Avatar. Who knew better than him?
His bag over his shoulder, Zuko was climbing down the stairway outside the bathhouse. He paused for a moment and looks down at the Fire Nation ship in the bay below, then went on... Before Iroh called him urgently, asking him to wait and not leave without him. He was quickly descending the stairs with his own bag over his shoulder. Zuko was happily surprised that his uncle had changed his mind.
"Family sticks together, right?" Iroh put a comforting hand on his shoulder. The boy smiled gratefully.
"And Chenlian?" The prince could not help but ask hopefully, looking around. The old man shook his head negatively. Zuko looked down. Well, of course. Chenlian was a traitor, if she came, she'd be thrown into jail right away, never to see light again. And he was the one who had let her go, or maybe who had made her leave. He did resent her. But despite everything, he still didn't want her to go through that again, and he also wanted to prove her wrong, that even without her or the Avatar, he could still be warmly welcomed by his loving family. But no matter how much he rationalized, he still couldn't help but feel this disappointment, this emptiness, this absence, that seemed to be slowly growing, eroding his heart. He looked at his sister's ship. "We're finally going home." Surely, once he was home, this hole would be filled. He continued walking down the stairs but his uncle cast a second glance at the ship... a dubious one...
At the Earth Kingdom base, Aang was explaining his point of view to the general. He didn't think they could ever be able to trigger the Avatar State on purpose, so guess it was over. Fong looked disappointed and asked if he really couldn't change his mind. But no, unfortunately, Aang could only reach the Avatar state when he was in genuine danger.
"I see. I was afraid you'd say that." The general said sadly as he stepped back, causing a small shock wave. He pushed forward, sending his desk flying and ramming into Aang, shocking him and his friend. Sokka cried his name and tried to go after him, but was restrained by two guards. The desk crashed through the tower's wall. Aang screamed as he was about to hit the ground before slowing his fall with a gust of air. He tumbled forward, and the desk crashed and broke apart behind him. Fong appeared at the broken 'window' and angrily pointed at Aang, ordering his men to attack the Avatar. The monk's eyes widened in surprise as four groups of three guards closed in around him. The general leapt down and landed, sending a wave of moving earth toward Aang who jumped over it and asked what he was doing. "I believe we are about to get results." Fong replied with a sinister expression.
Fire Nation soldiers had formed two ranks along the pier leading to the ship. Zuko and Iroh walked toward them. Azula was standing at the top of the gangway, flanked by two guards and watching as her brother and uncle marched between the lines of soldiers. Zuko looked content, unlike Iroh who was eyeing them suspiciously. They were surrounded. The princess raised her arms in greeting and bowed to them.
"Brother! Uncle!" She hailed them. Both bowed in response. The old man opened one eye slightly, watching the soldiers beside him. "Welcome. I'm so glad you decided to come." At her words, the two files of footmen closed in behind Zuko and Iroh.
"Are we ready to depart, Your Highness?" The captain questioned.
"Set our course for home, Captain." Azula replied pleasantly.
"Home..." Zuko whispered wistfully. He and his uncle climbed up the gangway.
"You heard the princess! Raise the anchors! We're taking the prisoners home-" The captain ordered before stopping abruptly, realizing his mistake. The 'prisoners' stopped too, surprised. Azula glared at the captain who stammered, mortified. Zuko's eyes widened. Iroh suddenly spun around, backhanding a guard off of the ship and kicking another down the incline before elbowing one and punching another and grabbing yet another, spinning him around and tossing him. All of that in an instant as his nephew threw the captain in the water and stalked up the gangway, furious.
"You lied to me!" He raged.
"Like I've never done that before..." His sister replied smugly and walked away, leaving her guards to launch fire at the royal rebels. Zuko brushed the flames aside and charged forward, screaming.
The six earthbenders on either side of Aang lifted circular discs of earth with square holes in the middle and hurled them at the child who avoided them all thanks to his agility and bending.
"I am not your enemy! I won't fight you!" He insisted with a pleading voice. Four more discs were launched at him, and he leapt over them as they collided right where he was standing. He landed on one of the upright discs, and another flew from the left and knocked it over. As he fell, two of the other upright discs closed in around him, but he had managed to scrunch in the square holes in the discs that began to roll before an earthbender shattered them. Aang went flying and skidded along the ground. He stood up, surveying the troops around him. Sokka was still being held by two guards in the tower. He stomped on the guards' feet and escaped while they fell in pain. He ran to the broken wall that Aang fell out of and looked down. Four earthbenders had the Avatar surrounded and were throwing their stone discs at him. Again, Aang evaded them. He zoomed off on his air scooter and zig-zaged between the walls of earth raised to stop him. He shot past two spear-wielding guards on ostrich-horses that began to chase after him. He went up the wall of the base with the creatures in pursuit. Toward the top, his air ball disippated and he ran, the mounted guards closing in on him and narrowly missing him with their spears. Aang hit the ground and tumbled forward, the creatures jumping down behind him and the spears barely missing him again. But he had stumbled onto one of the disc-shaped portions of the floor... Fong lifted it up with his earthbending skills, trapping Aang in the center hold and bringing him to him.
"You can't run forever!"
"You can't fight forever!" The Avatar shouted back. Fong jumped forward, smashing the ring with his foot. The boy leapt away.
On Azula's ship, Zuko leapt on board, knocking the two guards on either side out of the way with flames before taking up a fighting stance, fire daggers appearing in his fists. Azula remained cool, keeping her back to him, and smirked evily. Iroh was fighting the soldiers on the pier and knocking them off.
"Zuko! Let's go!" He ordered.
"Say, Zuzu, you know Father blames Uncle for the loss at the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar. Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him?" The princess cruelly taunted her brother.
He recalled Chenlian's words... "And Azula always lies, you also know that! It certainly wouldn't be the first or last time she tricked you. Think a little, be objective: why would they want you back?Iroh was a military adviser during the siege of the North Pole, they must blame him for the defeat there and siding with the Water Tribe during the Moon incident. And they must see you as a failure for not having captured the Avatar." They were almost the same, word for word... And, overcome with rage and frustration, Zuko charged. However, as the siblings were fighting – or rather, as Azula was easily containing her brother and one-sidedly controlling the bout – vapour had risen from the sea and was submerging the pier and ship. Just what was happening?! This was clearly not a natural phenomenon! Suddenly, a leg came down on the princess. She blocked with her arms, gritting her teeth from the power of the impact before swinging her arms. The person flipped, landed on their hands and flipped again and assumed a fighting stance. They were dressed in a dark maroon outfit and wearing the half mask of the Dragon Empress. The person smirked and made a beckoning gesture, her countenance exuding disdain. It was Azula's turn to charge angrily after having been so clearly belittled. But that had been just a ploy to monopolize her attention, and it had worked. What more... she and the new comer were battling on equal footing! All of their blows were parried and noone could land a proper hit! However, the royal daughter's expression had changed as she had recognized that person's fighting style... and that mask... And now, Zuko, who had been too shocked to move at first had decided to return and attack his sister again... much to the masked woman's damn who had hoped for him to use the opportunity she had given him to escape.
Azula quickly saw her disadvantage... two against one, with THAT girl as one of her opponents was overdoing it a little. However, she now possessed something the other didn't have, and didn't know she had... The princess tried to get her brother with a plume of blue fire. On instinct, Zuko backed off and tumbled down the incline while the remaining fighter caught her arm, shifted, and threw her away. Azula landed on her feet on the platform while her opponent ran to Zuko. The exiled prince's vision cleared to see that person standing before him, her back to him. His sister was swinging her arms in arcs... only to be mirrored by the other female who was standing her ground. Lightning danced around them, but against all expectations, Iroh caught Azula's fingers just as she was about to strike and redirected the current through his body and to his other hand and shot it away. It hit the cliff, causing a rockfall. He slightly twisted her arm and kicked her overboard. The masked fighter helped Zuko up and the three ran back up the pier.
Aang ran as four discs fell from the sky to crush him. Screaming, he veered left, with a disc rolling after him. Katara was sitting on her bed, her knees tucked up. The room shook and she worriedly glanced down at Momo who had woken up. She wondered what crazy thing they were trying now (unlike Momo who purred back to sleep) and decided to go make sure her friend was okay. She ran the stairs down the tower and met with her brother at the bottom and asked him what was going on. He told her the general's gone crazy and he was trying to force Aang into the Avatar state.
Sokka tossed his boomerang and knocked a soldier out cold, his disc falling over. Suddenly, the spear of the mounted guard who was chasing the monk was cut. He turned and realized Karara had sliced it with her water, and she immediately knocked him off his animal. The Earth soldier unconscious, Sokka slowly and cautiously approached the creature and nervously coaxed the 'good bird/horse thingy'. He grabbed the reins and leapt on the back of the ostrich-horse that took off running. But as soon as he did, Katara, who hadn't moved, found herself the target of many discs, ready to rocket towards her and crush at Fong's will. Meanwhile, the Avatar had left the danger zone and climbed up the stairway of the tower behind him.
"Maybe you can avoid me, but she can't." The general warned. The earthbenders created a v-shaped wall with their discs, making sure that the only means of escape was by General Fong. Katara attacked him with her waterstream, but he raised dirt that absorbed the water, creating a patch of mud. He changed his stance and the girl spun around and sank knee high into the ground. She struggled to escape but was unable to move.
"Don't hurt her!" Aang screamed angrily and leapt down and shot a stream of air at Fong who quickly raised a wall of rock to protect himself. He lowered it and turned back to Katara, who sank deeper into the ground. She cried fearfully. Sokka rode out from behind one of the discs and charged toward the general but the veteran sank the animal's legs and the Water Tribesman got tossed from his ostrich and landed in the hole of a disc. "Stop this! You have to let her go." The airbender begged angrily at he ran to Fong and grabbed his arm.
"You could save her if you were in the Avatar state." The man taunted him maliciously as he glared down at him.
"I'm trying...! I'm trying!" Tears of frustration and desperation flowed from Aang's eyes. The waterbender sank down to chest level. She called the airbender for help, reminding him that she was sinking, as if he couldn't see that himself.
"I don't see glowing." Fong replied mockingly, sinking the girl deeper into the earth, now only her head remained visible. She pleaded, terrified. The Avatar dropped to the ground, still clutching the general's hand.
"You don't need to do this!" He cried hysterically.
"Apparently I do." And the officer made Katara disappear totally into the ground. Aang dived for her, just barely missing her hands. The arrow mark on his head and his eyes began to glow and he turned around. His Avatar State had been activated. He glared furiously at Fong who lifted his fist into the air in victory and exulted until a strong blast of wind hit him and drove him far back. His grin quickly faded as he grew terrified. He had triggered the wrath of someone he shouldn't have. All that power he wanted was now directed against him. Aang lifted himself up in a vortex of dirt.
Azula was in the bathhouse and showing a wanted poster with pictures of Iroh and Zuko and warning the staff and citizens that anyone who harbored those traitors would face the wrath of the Fire Lord. The civilians cowered in fear before her anger and menace.
Zuko, Iroh and their helper had fled into the mountains. They stopped on a path near a small stream. The men collapsed onto their knees. They should be safe here. Well, it was Chenlian who had led them here. She removed her mask. They asked her why she had returned and saved them... and why disguised.
"Because Zuko isn't ready to accept me. After all, I am a traitor who has declared herself enemy of his father. I know Azula. I was just waiting to see if there would be any slip up on her side, and luckily as it could be, there was. Besides, I wasn't going to get so angry at you now and completely abandon you simply because you were tricked again by your sister. It happened so often in the past. Anyway, wait here a minute. I'll go get my bag." Chenlian walked away. Guang had been right. He knew her better than she knew herself. She simply couldn't leave Zuko alone. She shouldn't be caring this much about him, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't let go... However, she had barely gone a few yards that her eyes widened and she collapsed, writhing, rolling, clawing herself, clawing the ground, whimpering, panting, sweating, grinding her teeth, her face distorted by the unbelievable strain and pain she was under as desperate as she was trying to keep Guang in check. She had felt his surge of power coming, in the same time as he had warned her, the same she had felt on Roku's island, allowing her, although barely, to put up barriers in time. But the power was leaking out. The glow of her eyes was flickering and the markings slowly appearing as her blood was boiling.
"What's that?! What's happening to you?!" Zuko was panicking. He rushed to her clearly anxious, fearful, and eager to help her.
"Stay back! You can't do anything! You can't help me!" The agonizing girl yelled. The root of her pain wasn't physical so no mixture, word, bending... nothing of the sort could alleviate it. What more, being near her when she was like this was too dangerous. Zuko froze. He understood that she was protecting him again and that she had said that only because there truly was nothing that could be done. He had also understood she had wanted to protect what was left of his reputation, his image, his self-esteem by intervening on Azula's ship as she did. He understood... but...
"Because Zuko isn't ready to accept me."
"You can't do anything! You can't help me!" Even though they were not said with malicious intentions those words had hurt him. Because they were the simple truth, because they reminded him of his own powerlessness, they had stung him deeply. He wanted to do something for her but he couldn't.
"You're really a traitor who tries to beguile me and set me up against my father! You're just using me as a tool for your revenge!" Even though he had said that, she had not abandonned him. She had returned to him, she had returned FOR him. But still, she was putting a distance... she was putting a wall between them. He understood her... he couldn't blame her after these past years, these past months... days... but how could he just watch her in so much pain without doing anything?! And why was his uncle also restraining him?! How could he say it was fine and would subside soon?! So he didn't listen, broke free and tightly hugged her. Chenlian tried to push him away but ended up clinging to him for dear life.
In the Earth Kingdom base, the Avatar was still swirling in his vortex of dust with a very menacing expression. General Fong was shouting at him that Katara was safe (and indeed the girl emerged from the ground, gasping, after he raised his arms) and it had just been a trick to trigger the Avatar state... AND IT HAD WORKED! The earthbender was looking like a madman. However, it wasn't enough to alleviate the Avatar's anger. The vortex suddenly collapsed and Aang slammed into the ground, a cloud of dust shooting forward. Fong was sent flying. Large chunks of earth rose from the ground, sending Earth Kingdom soldiers into the air. The wave of destruction crashed into the buildings around the base, cracking them apart. The airbender was still hovering... before his spirit suddenly left his body. He and Roku were riding Fang and overlooking the wrecked base. They quickly flew away.
"It's time you learned." Roku declared. "The Avatar state is a defense mechanism, designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars. The glow is the combination of all your past lives, focusing their energy through your body. In the avatar state you are at your most powerful... but you are also at your most vulnerable..." He informed in the boy who asked what he meant. "If you are killed in the Avatar state, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist." With these words, Roku vanished. Aang looked away sadly. The dragon spiraled down toward the base and crashed into the child's body and disappeared as did the sphere of wind around the Avatar. Aang's body went limp and fell to the ground, no longer glowing. He glanced at the ruins of the base around him and sat up, his arms around his knees. Katara ran to him, knelt at his side and embraced him, and he hugged her back.
"I'm sorry, Katara. I hope you never have to see me like that again." The airbender apologized, tired and remorseful.
"Hah! Are you joking? That was almost perfect! We just have to find a way to control you when you're like that." Fong contradicted him as he walked to them. Aang said he was out of his mind but was ignored as the general starting talking about figuring a way to control him on the way to the Fire Nation. But then Sokka rode up behind him on his ostrich-horse and knocked him out with his boomerang.
"Anybody got a problem with that?" He looked at the soldiers who all shook their heads in unison. Sokka dismounted. The earthbenders approach the others and bowed. One asked if they still wanted an escort to Omashu. But they turned him down. They were all set.
In the mountains close to the bathhouse, Chenlian was also calming down. As soon as she had recovered a little – just enough to stand and walk - she apologised and went to take her pack. He wanted her to rest more. He tried to persuade her but she refused. They didn't have time. They had already wasted enough of it as it was. She left. She was carrying herself well before them but she staggered as soon as she was out of their sight. Her body was still shaking. She returned soon though, only to stop at a distance when she saw Zuko cut his ponytail and lending his knife to his uncle who cut his topknot. Of course it would be bad to look exactly like your wanted poster but that was not all. She watched silently, respectfully as they 'chose' to remove this symbol, to renounce their title, their social status, their pride, their 'honor' and let them flow down the river. They stood up. The girl approached them. She had changed into more casual clothes. She smiled sadly, warmly and took them into her arms in a group hug. They held her too before the three let go and stared into the distance.