Fight 36: The crossing
Early dawn, Appa arrived at the place where the spire of the Library had once stood and landed in the crater. He started pawing at the sand before collapsing onto his belly and bellowing in despair. After resting, the shackled bison flew above the desert. Hungry, he spotted a large egg lying on the sand. He landed next to it but as he was about to lap it up, a lizard snatched it and fled into the rocks with the egg held high. The big one noticed a Jackelope standing next to a small cactus in the distance and swooped over, frightening off the small creature. He bit off the entire cactus and spat it out, roaring in pain because of the stabbing thorns and wagging his hurt tongue. After more flying, he arrived at the large stone mesa and descended into one of the many openings in the gigantic mud hive built on top. A moment later he rocketed back out, hotly pursued by an angry swarm of buzzard-wasps. Wheeling about in the air, he sent them crashing down with a great gust by a sweep of his tail. The defeated buzzard-wasps slowly turned back. Gasping and panting, Appa landed dripping in sticky gold substance he hungrily lapped from his fur.
A peaceful sunny afternoon in a box canyon... A waterfall was cascading into a deep pool... Sokka was sitting on a rock studying a scroll while Momo observed from his shoulder. Toph was splashing her feet from the pool's edge. Aang, who was swimming on his back, encased his body in a block of ice and floated along peacefully. Katara was standing as the highest point of the canyon and preparing to dive. She screamed "Waterbending bomb!" and jumped. She curled up in a cannonball and her fall into the pool sent up a massive column of water that washed Aang ashore, shattering his ice block, and drenching everyone. The two other benders laughed with delight. Only her brother complained... as usual...
"Sure, 5000 year old maps from the spirit library, just splash some water on 'em." He held out the dripping map. She apologized as she came out of the basin and wrung the water out of her hair. Then she bended the water out of the map. Everyone gathered around him when he spread the map out on the ground. He had figured out the route they should take. They had just got out of the desert and they needed to go to Ba Sing Se, which was on the other side of that inner sea, and the only passage connecting the South to the North was this sliver of land called the Serpent's Pass. Toph doubted it was the best way. She didn't like the name of that pass. "It's the only way, I mean I's not like we have Appa to fly us there." He bluntly shot back. His sister scolded him in a hushed voice. Couldn't he at least try to be sensitive? They glanced up at Aang who calmly reassured them. He was ok now. He knew he was upset about losing Appa before, but now he just wanted to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se, and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse. Katara looked surprised and awkwardly said she was glad he was doing better. Sokka rolled the map. "Then to Ba Sing Se we go, no more distractions." But just as the words left his lips, a trio of Earth kingdom civilians appeared.
"Hello there fellow refugees!" The man, Tahn, greeted them cheerfully. He looked in mid to late twenties and was accompanied by a teen-aged girl and a young woman in the latest stage of her pregnancy. Sokka's expression turned to discontent at the new distraction. The group started a conversation. The three were also heading to Ba Sing Se... and trying to get there before the man's wife, Ying, had her baby (he rubbed her large belly).
"Great, we can travel through the Serpent's Pass together!" Katara exclaimed. The three travelers recoiled in horror.
"The Serpent's Pass ?! Only the truly desperate take that deadly route." Ying told them feafully.
"Deadly route..." Toph hit Sokka's arm painfully. "Great pick, Sokka." She praised him sarcastically.
"Well, we are desperate." The Warrior justified himself. Tahn offered them to come with them to Full Moon Bay where ferries took refugees across the lake. It was the fastest way to Ba Sing Se. His wife agreed. It was hidden so the Fire Nation couldn't find it.
"Hmmm, peaceful ferry ride... or deadly pass?" Katara wondered ironically.
One of the two earth nation guards lowered a wall section behind them, revealing a hidden tunnel. After a good travel, the Avatar's group had arrived at this gloomy cavernous inlet, Full Moon Ferry Landing, where three large wooden ships were anchored past a fortified wall. Behind the harbor wall hundreds of people had gathered on a stone landing. Aang and his friends and new companions emerged from the tunnel. Katara couldn't believe how many people's lives had been uprooted by the Fire Nation.
"We're all looking for a better life... safe, behind the walls of Ba Sing Se." Tahn said.
The middle ship departed. Iroh was standing on its deck and looking out at the water.
"Who would have thought, after all these years, I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace..." He began solemnly. "...as a tourist! " He turned to the teens and grinned ear to ear as he put on a straw hat adorned with pink flowers.
"Look around, we're not tourists, we're refugees." His nephew reminded him grimly. He took a sip from a wooden bowl and, disgusted, spat it back in the sea. "Ugh! I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt... I'm tired of living like this." He leant on the rail despondently.
"He just wanted to cheer you up. He must have been tired of that permanent scowl on your face. Easing up once in a while won't kill you." Chenlian half joked with a smile before turning serious again. "Well, I might have seen and been through worse, but it's true that the higher-ups treat the refugees too poorly. I wonder if something can be done about it. Surely, we aren't the only ones feeling like that this." She was sitting on the rail and staring pensively at the people.
"You're right. We all are." A young male voice said. The girl's amber eyes widened in horror as she recognized the owner. She quickly clamped her hands on his mouth and like this kept pushing him away until they were out of earshot.
"What are you doing here, Jet? What do you want with me?" She asked him menacingly. He grasped her wrists and lowered her hands so he could talk.
"It's good to see you too, Chenlian." He replied sarcastically. "We're going to Ba Sing Se to start anew, so don't worry, you might find it hard to believe me but I don't intend to hurt you or your friends. Also... I'm sorry about back then... I wanted to tell you that." He sounded really contrite and sincere.
"That's indeed rather hard to believe, especially given how we parted ways. People might change but it takes a long time, and with your hatred and resentment being so deep... I'm much more enclined to believe that you're waiting for your chance." The girl eyed him suspiciously.
"Then I'll show that it isn't the case. But although your mistrust was within expectations, I didn't think you'd be this hostile... is it because of that guy? Who is he? And what about the Avatar and Katara?"
"I haven't betrayed them if that's what you're implying. They found an earthbending teacher. I'll fly back to them if they need me, and when it'll be time for Aang to learn firebending. It's just that right now, there's someone who needs me more..." Chenlian gazed at Zuko so softly, tenderly, wistfully that Jet instantly guessed her feelings... and was rather conflicted about it. "Also call me Meiling from now on. He knows my real name but since I started travelling with them and we're both on the run from the Fire Nation, I took another name for the sake of practicality. We just want to stay low, so don't do anything that would disturb our peace once we're in Ba Sing Se, and don't concern yourself with us either, or you'll pay for it. Don't forget to tell that to Longshot and Smellerbee." She warned him.
"Does that mean you're accepting me for now?"
"You'd still stay even if I tried to chase you away, right?"
"Yeah." Jet affirmed strongly.
"See? Then do what you will. And you're right. I reserve my judgement. I don't believe. But I will see for myself. Until I take a decision, consider your matter in abeyance. Besides, you seem intent on doing something about the refugees' current predicament, that's why you called out to us despite the mistrust you expected me to have, right? I can at least listen to you." The young woman smirked. With better food, Zuko should also be in better mood. The two returned to the others. Jet introduced himself and his two freedom fighters to 'Mushi' and 'Lee' who curtly greeted them... Lee who had not exactly appreciated his girlfriend's closeness to that guy... Jet had heard that the captain was eating like a king, while them refugees had to feed off his scraps. Didn't seem fair, did it? Iroh asked what sort of king the captain was eating like .
"The fat, happy kind." The leader of the freedom fighters replied, causing Iroh's mouth to water. "You want to help us liberate some food ?" He offered. Zuko stared down into at the disgusting food in his bowl, then at Chenlian. He thought for a moment before hurling the bowl far out in the lake.
"I'm in." He said. Now that it was decided, Meiling wanted to go over the details while waiting for the night. After all, she couldn't think the captain would just listen and say 'yes' if they complained, and it would be bad to make him keep an eye on them. "No, you are not going, you'll be waiting here." Lee told his lover who snapped back at him. Why should she have to wait? Jet agreed with her and put his hands on her shoulders. He could vouch for her abilities. Zuko glared at him, grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her away and towards his uncle. "Because it'd be bad if what happened at that flower shop were to happen here again at the wrong moment." He looked straight at her.
"It's not like it happens so often, and there are always symptoms-like things so if I feel it, I'll have the time to get away. I'm not that weak! I know my body better than anyone. I'm coming." Chenlian argued but Zuko wouldn't hear any of it. When he'd recall just how weak she had actually been, he truly felt that he had to protect her and take care of her. He wanted her to rest as much as possible, live without stress, and eat well. He wanted her to be healthy, live a good life, and smile, and be happy. He wanted to provide for her and be the one to make her happy. But he voiced none of that. And Chenlian, despite having an inkling, was put off by his way of phrasing things, and instead of appreciating his concern for her, was aggravated by his overprotectiveness. She was not a weak little girl who had to be coddled! She knew how to take care of herself and didn't need anyone to tell her what she could or could not do! And she was going whether he wanted her to or not, if that was what it took for him to understand that she was fine.
At the Ferry Landing, a cruel-looking woman stood at a podium, stamping papers. She angrily told off the familiar cabbage merchant who looked up at her in desperate denial. No vegetables on the ferry! One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se! She called the security and he screamed in horror as a platypus-bear, dressed in a uniform, destroyed his precious vegetables and cart. The poor man fell to his knees, paralyzed in despair. Two guards picked him up by the arms and carried him away. Next, Aang requested tickets but no one told them they needed passports. Sokka tried to use his friend's Avatar title but the bureaucrat replied she saw fifty Avatars a day, and by the way, his was not a very impressive costume. She pointed over at a motley group of boys in avatar costumes lounging together. Besides, no animals allowed. Again she threatened to call security . Momo cowered on his shoulder. But the child backed down. No need to call the security. Toph was next to try. She showed a document bearing her family emblem and requested four tickets. The woman was awed.
"Oh! The Golden Seal of the Flying Boar! It is my pleasure to help anyone of the Bei Fong family." She bowed with a flourish.
"It is your pleasure. As you can see I am blind, and these three imbeciles are my valets." The little girl said arrogantly as she gestured back to the others who were grinning foolishly in a group hug.
"But the animal..." The crone hesitated.
"...Is my Seeing-Eye Lemur." The earthbender replied. Momo hopped onto her shoulder.
"Well, normally it's only 1 ticket per passport, but... this document is so official, I guess it's worth 4 tickets." She rapidly stamped four papers. Toph thanked her, took the papers and walked off.
"Alright, we scammed that lady good!" Sokka cheered, closing the line. But suddenly he was grabbed from behind and spun around by an attractive young woman in Earth kingdom uniform who held out her hand and firmly asked him to show her their tickets and passports. "Is there a problem ?" The boy inquired, intimidated.
"Yeah, I've got a problem with you." She menacingly poked a finger at his chest. "I've seen your type before, probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious, and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar."
"Do I know you ?" Sokka questioned, narrowing his blue eyes.
"You mean you don't remember ? She grabbed his collar and yanked him close. "Maybe you remember this." The girl placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Suki!" The warrior of the Water Tribe exclaimed elatedly. They hug. Suki was just as delighted to see him. She took them to covered watch tower on the harbor wall overlooking both sides so they could enjoy their reunion more privately. Katara noted she looked so different without the makeup... and the new outfit.
"That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them. And look at you sleeveless guy. Been working out ?" The young female guard looked at Sokka approvingly.
"I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then, nothing major." He stretched and flexed casually before patting his bicep. Aang asked about the other Kyoshi warriors. They were all around. After the guys had left the island, they had wanted to find a way to help people, ended up escorting some refugees, and they had been here ever since. Momo jumped up next to her. She greeted and petted him. Then she was curious to know why they were getting tickets for the ferry since it would be easier to just fly across on Appa. Everyone else suddenly looked down. The waterbender explained that Appa had gone missing, and they were hoping to find him in Ba Sing Se (she looked over at Aang, who looked away). Suki was sorry to hear that and concernedly asked Aang if he was okay.
"I'm doing fine. Would everybody stop worrying about me!" He snapped, annoyed. Suddenly, Ying, Tahn, and the other girl called them and begged the Avatar for help. Someone had stolen all of their belongings. Their passports, tickets... Everything was gone! Ying started crying and her husband comforted her. Aang went to talk to the lady for them. She scowled and stamped his arrow in response. No passports, no tickets! He kept pleading. She was pregnant, and all of their stuff was stolen! She had to make an exception!
"No exceptions! If I just gave away tickets willy nilly to anyone, there would be no more order, and you know what that means. No more civilization!" The bureaucrat shouted implacably. She also refused that they gave those people their tickets. Nothing could be done. That woman wouldn't budge. He reassured the couple and their companion though. He was going to lead them through the serpents pass. They'd get to the city safely.
Aang guided his friends and Tahn's family through the refugee camp.
"I can't believe we gave up our tickets, and now we're going through the Serpent's Pass." Sokka grumbled. His feelings were understandable. First, he had decided they'd go through that pass, then they'd got that nice ferry ride thanks to that family, and now they had to go to that dangerous pass, his original idea, because of that family. But still...
"I can't believe you're still complaining about it." Toph remarked his pettiness.
"I'm coming too!" Suki rushed to them, clad in her Kyoshi warrior garb and makeup. Sokka cautioned her. Was it really a good idea? "I thought you'd want me to come ." She replied, surprised.
"I do, it's just..."
"Just what?" The young woman was growing impatient.
"Nothing. I'm glad you're coming." He smiled and silenced his feelings. His first love walked past him angrily. He hung his head and followed.
They arrived at the Serpent's Pass, a narrow sliver of peaks rising jaggedly out of the water and extending out across the great lake. Sokka had believed it would be windier, like a serpent. It had probably been misnamed. Ying looked at the writing on the large wooden gatepost. It was awful. Katara read it outloud for Toph. It said "abandon hope".
"How could we abandon hope? It's all we have." The pregnant woman moaned as she buried her weeping face in husband's chest.
"I don't know. The monks used to say that hope is just a distraction. So maybe we do need to abandon it." The Avatar pointed out, his tone even. Katara couldn't believe her ears. What was he talking about?! "Hope isn't going to get us into Ba Sing Se, and it's not gonna find Appa. We need to focus on what we're doing right now, and that's getting across this pass." Aang passed through the gate.
"Ok, if you say so." She somberly and reluctantly agreed. And everyone followed.
As the group walked single-file along a perilously narrow path high along the cliff face, Suki explained that the Fire Nation controled the western lake. Rumor had it they were working on something big on the other side, and they didn't want anyone to find out what it was. And indeed, a Fire nation battleship was cruising off in the distance. Everyone glanced at it nervously. Suddenly the path gave way under Tahn, who was caught by a quick earthbending move from Toph. Her rock protrusion flipped him back to the path and into his family's arms. He reassured them. He was okay. However, the rocks falling into the lake alerted the ship of their presence and it shot a boulder on fire towards them from its deck catapult. Everyone started to run... except Aang who leapt and launched off of the cliff face, toward the fiery projectile. He batted it back with an arch of air into the warship's smokestacks. The vessel caught fire but the soldiers could still launch another another attack from its second catapult. This one crashed into the cliff side above, and Sokka shoved Suki forward as rocks tumbled down toward them. Toph bended out an awning of stone to divert the rocks away from her friend. Safe, Sokka ignored his savior and rushed to Suki.
"Suki, are you ok ? You have to be more careful! C'mon!" He grabbed her hand, helped her up and led her away.
"Thanks for saving my life Toph. Hey no problem Sokka." The earthbender muttered the exchange that should have taken place. She ran after the others, Aang flying hot behind her.
The sun was setting. Everyone had set camp for the night. A fire was burning in their midst. Tahn was massaging his wife's feet as she lay propped up. The Kyoshi warrior was spreading out her bedroll a bit further away when Sokka came and took it and told her not to sleep there; this ledge could give way at any moment. She tried to tell him she was fine and to stop worrying, but he was only half listening. He put her bedroll near his.
"You're right, you're right. You're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself...Wait!" He abruptly leaped between her and the bedding. "Oh, never mind. I thought I saw a spider, but you're fine." He patted her shoulder reassuringly. His overprotectiveness only served to annoy her though.
A guard passed by with a lantern on the upper deck of the ferry cruising beneath the moonlit sky. As he did, Zuko stealthily led Chenlian, Jet and Smellerbee upstairs and around a corner. They paused to look through the kitchen window then slipped around the back. Jet forced the lock while Smellerbee kept watch. Chenlian and the two guys burst into the kitchen. Jet swept several hanging bird carcasses into a sack. The prince used his swords to nimbly stack eight bowls of food together, securing the stack with a ribbon. And Chenlian cut the strings from which the fruits were hanging and caught them in a bag too. They shouldered their sacks and turned to the doorway just as Smellerbee warned them that the guards were coming. The four of them rushed to the balcony edge while below Longshot fired a line-strung arrow into the railing. The bundles slid down the line, followed by the chivalrous thieves. The arrow was pulled free just as another lantern-bearing soldier walked past. Two levels below, the youths furtively returned.
Aang was standing on an outcropping, staring out across the lake. Katara walked up to him. It was ok to miss Appa. But what was going on with him? In the desert, all he cared about was finding Appa, and now it was like he didn't care about him at all. Back then,
he had been so angry about losing Appa that he had been unable control himself. He hated feeling like that. The girl argued that now he wasn't letting himself feel anything. She knew sometimes it hurt more to hope, and it hurt more to care. But she wanted him to promise her that he wouldn't stop caring. She offered him a comforting hug that he needed but he turned her down with a polite bow. He thanked her for her concern and walked away. Katara watched him leave with a worried look.
Sokka was sitting on a rock beneath a stone arch, staring up at the moon. He was joined by Suki. She commented it was a beautiful moon and he agreed. It really was. She sat next to him. She understood he was just trying to help, but she could take care of herself. He knew that already but then why was he acting so over protective ?
"It's so hard to lose someone you care about." He answered, looking away. "Something happened at the North Pole, and I couldn't protect someone. I don't want anything like that to ever happen again."
"I lost someone I cared about. He didn't die, he just went away. I only had a few days to get to know him, but he was smart, and brave, and funny." The girl mentioned. At this, Sokka became quite worried (and jealous).
"Who is this guy ? Is he taller than me ?" He interrogated her and indignantly rose to his feet. She coyly replied he was about his height. "Is he better looking?"
"It is you stupid!" Suki stood up too, her fists on her hips.
"Oh..." He gazed at her wistfully. The woman leant in. Watched by the moon, they drew closer for a kiss, but right before their lips met, Sokka looked away with a pained expression. "I can't."
"I'm... sorry." She apologized.
"No, you shouldn't be." He turned away and left her. It was his fault, because he still hadn't gotten over his feelings for Yue.
At sunset Appa took off again and after hours reached greener, less desolate lands. Exhausted and bedraggled, he entered the large domed barn of a farm, where he lapped some water, devoured a pile of hay, then flopped down and immediately lapsed into a deep sleep. The bison dreamed about his meeting with Aang at the Eastern Air Temple. A bison mother and four offsprings landed on a platform. An old female Air Nomad was holding a large bowl of apples and telling a group of small boys - including Aang - to choose well as a sky bison was a companion for life. Little Aang approached approached little Appa and offered him an apple, which the calf sniffed before opening his mouth and letting Aang toss it in. The child spread his arms affectionately over the calf's head, who responded by knocking him to the ground and licking his face. Aang laughed guessed this meant they would always be together. Appa didn't know that at their night camp on the Serpent's Pass, Aang was having the exact same dream. But then, the buffalo was roused by a human cry of terror. The farmer mistook him for some kind of monster and waved a pitchfork in his face. The ruminant rose angrily to his feet, his manacles rattling, and growled a warning to the farmer whose wife came to the barn entrance, carrying a bright torch. Seeing the blazing torch, Appa reared in panic and the couple fled, screaming. The bison escaped through the roof of the barn and flew away.
On the main deck, while Jet finished passing out food to the thankful passengers, Iroh tried to strike a conversation with the other freedom fighters. He noted that 'Smellerbee' was an unusual name for a young man, angering his interlocutor who shot back that she was actually a girl. She glared at him and walked off. He called after her saying it was a beautiful name for a lovely girl, in an attempt to correct his mistake and smooth her temper. Zuko looked surprised. Chenlian sighed. Longshot quickly rose and followed her.
"Well, if it bothered her so much to be mistaken for a boy she could always opt for a more feminine appearance and behavior. But if she's comfortable the way she is, I don't really see a reason for her to change." The mahogany-haired girl wondered. The same way, her body of many scars could be considered unbecoming and repulsive, especially for a young lady of the nobility who should have perfectly smooth and flawless skin. She could have treated them or covered them with makeup, make them less conspicuous... But Chenlian was actually proud of it. That hardened body was the result of her past, and the proof she had one, it was proof of her strength and resolve. She was more than a shallow girl who just cared about appearances, guys, or others' consideration. And without a doubt, that girl was the same... Longshot caught Smellerbee with a hand on her shoulder and stepped in front of her, giving her a hard look.
"I know. You're right." The female freedom fighter apologized, contrite. "As long as I'm confident with who I am, it doesn't matter what other people think. Thanks Longshot." Those two were so close friends that she could know what he was thinking just from observing his expressions and body language. And she had also had an inkling about that herself. He nodded a stern approval. The three firebenders were joined by Jet, who sat down with them.
"From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall." Jet told them eagerly.
"It is a magnificent sight." 'Mushi' approved.
"So you've been there before ?"
"Once, when I was a different man." The elder looked away with regret.
"I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of." Jet glanced at Chenlian. "That's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se, for a new beginning. A second chance."
"That's very noble of you. I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances." Iroh shared a meaningful look with Zuko, while the leader of the Freedom Fighters studied them both. A small smile curved the girl's lips as she gazed at her boyfriend but then her face grew hard again.
"Oh, so you've finally become aware that lying, manipulating, deceiving, and sacrificing innocent people are not things a good leader, no, a good person who thinks himself better than others and intends to judge others, should do?" Meiling remarked with a cynical smile. The young man ignored her vitriolic tone and phrasing.
"To think that made you angrier than the fact that I was horrible to you and tried to kill you. You're really a good person." Jet remarked in self-derision.
"Now that you mention it, that thing happened. Well, I'm too used to resentment, hostility and murder attempts to get upset or trouble myself with it now. One more or one less won't make a difference. And I've become friends with people who distrusted me, hurt me and tried to kill me too."
"But Che-...Meiling, it was you who told me about second chances." Jet corrected himself when she glared so fiercely at him. "It was you who said that it was never too late to correct mistakes, that you still wanted to believe in me, that I could change, even after all those things happened. I've come because I believed in you, in your words, because you're that kind of person." He looked straight at the girl who kept quiet and stared back at him with her unwavering, straightforward amber eyes, as if studying him. Zuko glanced from one to the other. He didn't like that.
As a man who was lost, who searched for himself, and who was beginning to change, he could understand that guy's feelings, as well as the need to have Chenlian at their side. Because she was so strong and self-assured, because she was capable of showing such care that she'd persevere and stay by you even when things came to worst, even when you hurt her, because she had such a clear vision of the future and what must be done and didn't deviate from her path... she was like a guidepost, a support, the unbreakable thread to take you out of the labyrinth. That was why notably people in difficulty and difficult people tended to be drawn to her. And since she was kind, she'd try to help everyone. And that was also why Zuko felt easily threatened and jealous. He didn't want anyone stealing her away from him. He wanted to monopolize her. But why, for some reason, was he imagining himself so well in that man's place, apologizing, begging her to believe him and forgive him? Even though he had done nothing wrong... And he disliked that feeling and was even more confused. The exiled prince of the Fire Nation grabbed his girlfriend's hand and drew her to him. Chenlian quizically looked at him. Jet smiled good-heartedly at this show of possessiveness.
The groups separated for the rest of the night. Everyone went to sleep. Iroh roused some time before dawn and approached the rail. Stroking his beard, he looked down pensively. Appa flew over the Serpant's pass, and a boat a little later. The retired general of the Fire Nation lifted his head and gasped when he saw the Avatar's sky bison passing over their ship and heard its low rumble. Zuko woke up, raised himself slightly and asked what he was looking at. Was there something out there? He and Chenlian were cuddled up under the blanket. The girl had woken up too and wanted to know if they had heard something, like a rumble. The old man looked fearful and panicky at first but recovered and said it was nothing. They listened to his advice and went back to sleep. Iroh sighed, relieved. Now was not the time to mention the Avatar and have him separate these two again.
Aang led his party down a steep slope. The group stopped as the path disappeared into the lake to reemerge several hundred yards away. The child sighed. Everyone stood there, stunned, until Katara walked forward resolutely and ordered them in a single file. They obeyed. Bending aside the water in her path, Katara descended below the water level, lifting up walls of water to either side. As everyone fell in behind her, a capsule of air formed around them.
"Aang, I need help." She said. Smiling, he handed staff to Toph and closed the capsule of air. The family stared, amazed, as they moved along the bottom of the lake. Momo, perched on Toph's shoulder, noticed a school of fish passing by, and plunged through the water-wall after them. Suddenly, a massive black form passed near the lemur, frightening him. He leapt back to Toph to cower dripping wet on her shoulder. The titanic bulk of the creature passed over the bubble, only seen dimly from within. The danger it represented however was keenly felt. "What is that thing?" The waterbender questioned. Tahn and his family huddled in fear. Something huge crashed through the walls of the bubble, breaking Katara's concentration and threatening to drown them all. Reacting quickly, Toph bended up a column of rock that rushed everyone to the surface. She gave the glider back to Aang just as the others noticed a long spiny dorsal fin circling their sanctuary in the middle of the submerged path. The seahorse-like whiskered head of gigantic jade sea serpent broke the surface in an explosion of water. Its long tongue lashed like a whip from its maw. The monster roared menacingly.
"I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass." Sokka brilliantly deduced as he pointed at it and another blood-curdling shriek left the creature's toothy jaws. "Suki, you know about giant sea monsters. Make it go away!" He instructed... before putting his hands up in defense and smiling sheepishly when she angrily retorted that just because she lived near the Unagi didn't mean she was an expert. So he switched plan. "Oh great and powerful sea serpent, please accept this humble and tasty offering. Thank you." He beseechingly held up Momo. His sister yelled his name, outraged that he had dared offer a member of their 'family' up as a sacrifice. The Serpent lunged toward them, but Aang forced it back with an arch of wind.
"I'll distract him. Katara, get everyone across." The Avatar opened his glider and swooped off as the monster went after him. Katara froze a path of ice across the lake surface, connecting it to the far shore. Urging the others past her, she watched Aang elude the creature in the distance. She created a board of ice and surfed to Aang's aid. The waterbender froze a small part of the Serpant's midsection, hampering its movements. But it twisted, broke free, and turned back to chase Katara the opposite direction. Sokka, who was closing the line, noticed that Toph was still stranded on the rock pillar. He called out to her. It was just ice! She wanted to stay on her little island where she could see when a huge coil of the Sea Serpent crashed down behind her, startling her sending her out onto the ice. She began inching sideways along the path. Sokka shouted encouragements at her. However, when she was about midway, the creature's tail crashed through the bridge, shattering its entire
length and sending Toph plunging into the lake.
"Help! I can't swim!" She screamed and thrashed helplessly.
"I'm coming Toph!" Sokka yelled. But as he struggled to remove a boot, Suki dived and swam furiously and rescued Toph just as she was slipping beneath the waves. They gasped for breath.
"Oh Sokka, you saved me." The blind child said dramatically as she planted a big kiss on her savior's cheek.
"Actually, it's me." The Kyoshi warrior pointed out.
"Oh... well... heheh..." She grinned, very embarrassed, before going limp. "You can go ahead and let me drown now." And while she was taken back to the shore, Aang and Katara had started circling the Serpent at great speed, stirring up a whirlpool that it couldn't resist. The spinning monster's neck cracked like a whip against the cliff-side, and it sank back into the lake. Walking up a slope, the others cheered as Aang flew by with Katara.
The walk continued, and finally, the weary travelers arrived on the other side. Then Sokka cheered and pointed excitedly. They could see the wall in the distance, filling the horizon. Now it was nothing but smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se... but again, just as the words left his lips, ying gasped and doubled over, clutching her belly. The baby was coming! Her family eased her to the ground, her back against the cliff, and the boy started panicking.
"What! Now?! Can't you hold it in or something ?!" He screamed. His little sis told him to calm down. She had helped Gran-Gran deliver lots of babies back home. "This isn't the same as delivering an arctic seal! This is a real... human... thing!" He completely freaked out.
"It's called a baby, and I helped to deliver plenty of those too." Katara stared at him blankly, looking slightly annoyed by his antics. "Aang, get some rags. Sokka, water. Toph, I need you to make an earth tent. A big one." She directed everyone. They all obeyed. "Suki, come with me." They both entered the tent.
The ferry was sailing through the early morning mist. Zuko was standing at the prow looking toward the nearing shoreline.
"So you know the truth about Chenlian, huh?" Jet questioned as he walked up to him from behind. Zuko glanced warily at the man standing next to him.
"Yeah."
"You must really be something... since you still decided to date her, and you managed to make her fall for you even though she's such a tough nut to crack. You should take good care of her. She's been through much."
"I know."
"You know, as soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were." Jet said, once more causing Zuko to eye him suspiciously. "You're an outcast, like me, and like her. And us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other's backs, because no one else will."
"I've realized lately, that being on your own isn't always the best path. And the one who made me realize this is Chenlian who had been an outcast and suffered all alone for so long."
"Jet, Lee! Time to get ready. What were you talking about?" Chenlian called them as she approached. The two turned to look at her and stayed silent. She slightly tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, wondering what was up with them. Then Zuko walked to her, grabbed her face and suddenly kissed her. She froze in surprise. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her to him. His love was so ardent that she couldn't help but respond even though her mind told her this wasn't the time or place. Then he drew back. She looked down, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. And his right arm still tightly secured around her waist, they returned to Iroh. As they walked, Zuko glanced back at Jet. Wasn't this something that could be called a 'preemptive strike'?
In the dark interior of the stone tent, Tahn and the girl were each holding one of Ying's hands. The woman was laboring heavily, gasping for breath and sweating profusely. Katara was seated between her blanket-covered legs, her back to the entrance.
"You're doing great Ying." She encouraged her. "Sokka! Where's that water ?" She shouted angrily. "Get ready to push." She said. Her brother entered the tent. "One, two, three... PUSH!" The bender ordered. Ying cried out in effort and Sokka, watching over his sibling's back, fainted.
Time later, Momo was perched overhead on a tree branch, while Aang, Toph and Sokka were waiting outside the tent entrance. Aang was huddled despondently to one side, Toph was leaning on the other side of the entrance and Sokka was sitting next to her, mopping his face with a cloth. Then a baby was heard crying. It was a girl! Toph asked Sokka if he wanted to see the baby or if he was going to faint like an old lady again . He replied he was good this time and the two went inside. Moments later Katara appeared at the entrance and told Aang he had to come see this. The monk stood up and morosely followed her inside. But then his eyes fell on the sleeping newborn Ying was cradling. The mother and her child were surrounded by everyone. Toph commented the baby sounded healthy. Katara was awed by her beauty... Unlike her brother who stared dubiously, finding the 'human thing' so... 'squishy looking'. The Avatar's expression melted into a bittersweet smile. Tahn was kneeling next to his wife. Both were serenely watching their sleeping daughter. The husband wondered what they should name her. Ying turned to him.
"I want our daughter's name to be unique. I want it to mean something." She looked down at her with eyes full of love. And Aang's eyes overflowed with tears of emotion. He wiped them off and approached.
"I've been going through a really hard time lately. But you've made me... hopeful again." He told them softly.
"I know what I want to name our baby now. Hope." Ying declared.
"That's a perfect name. Hope." Her husband agreed. Aang gazed at Katara's back.
The teens decided to let the family rest and stepped outside. The airbender took the water tribe girl away from the others.
"I thought I was trying to be strong, but really I was just running away from my feelings. Seeing this family together, so full of happiness and love, it reminded me of how I feel about Appa... and how I feel about you." He mused before smiling at her. Touched, Katara wiped a tear from her eye and they embraced affectionately. The others walked up to them and they disengaged. Toph returned the staff to Aang. "I promise I'll find Appa as fast as I can. I just really need to do this."
"See ya in the big city." Sokka placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Say hi to that big fuzzball for me." Toph slugged Aang's arm, making him wince and rub it painfully.
"You'll find him Aang." The waterbender gently comforted him. The monk thanked her and took off along with Momo, heading to Ba Sing Se. The four waved at them in farewell.
After that, everyone prepared for the last leg of the trip. Sokka was kneeling over his pack when Suki walked up to him, saying it had been really great to see him again.
"Whoa, hold on. Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye ?" He stood up. She had come along because she wanted to make sure he got through the Serpent's Pass safely. But now she needed to get back to the other Kyoshi warriors. "So you came along to protect me ." The young man realized, stunned.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about last night." Suki bashfully apologized. She looked down. "We were talking, and saying things..." She blushed. "I just got carried away and before I knew it I..." But Sokka surprised her with a tender kiss and drew back.
"You talk too much." He gazed into her eyes. They kissed again, passionately this time as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Appa descended towards forested bluffs, and crashed groggily near a tree-capped mine entrance. He nibbled some grass, before a loud squealing echoing from the mine entrance roused him. He turned just as a large, enraged porcupine-boar charged out of the mine, crashing into him and sending them both tumbling down the hillside. They skidded to a halt below. A number of large quills were already sticking out from Appa's side. The beasts circled one another. Suddenly the porcupine-boar charged his opponent's flank, plowing the bison into a tree that snapped in two. Seizing the tree in his mouth, the buffalo tossed it at the boar driving him backwards into a line of trees. Squealing in rage, the porcupine leaped over the tree and charged again. Rearing, Appa caught the boar, smashed him down and hurled him deep into the forest. The old animal finally fled into the night. Panting heavily from exertion, Appa plucked one of the quills from his hide with his teeth, the ground trembling from his roar of agony. He half flew half stumbled up the hill to the mine entrance, and collapsed inside, utterly spent.
Aang and Momo flew over the barren wasteland to the outer wall. They soared up the vertical face of the wall and through low clouds. They landed on the summit and serenely looked out over the wall towards the city. But then the boy gasped in shock and dismay when he turned to the other side. A giant, monolithic drilling machine with the symbol of the Fire Nation was approaching the base of the wall. It was flanked by two formations of tanks that appeared like ants compared to that machine.
"Sorry Momo, Appa's gonna have to wait." The airbender looked sadly at the lemur perched on his shoulder.
Author's note: Next chapter, we'll enter Ba Sing Se! 8 chapters left until the end of the second season! First, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to those who favorited this story and subscribed to it. Then about the poll on my profile page, Gundam Seed is far ahead with 10 votes, then second is Yu Yu Hakusho with 5 votes and Avatar still last with only 4 votes.