Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: None of them.
Zigzagdoublezee: The Earth Kingdom are no slouches in combat, no. But it's true they suffer from institutional weaknesses that put them at a disadvantage against the Fire Nation.
As Always, Please Review!
Gembul touched down in the middle of the village, and Sokka and Rinzen slid off his back. They were met in the square by Yue and Katara, as the marines and a few Kyoshi Warriors set about putting out the few small fires that had been started and rounding up prisoners. Now that the battle was over, the atmosphere felt a lot less tense. Villagers were emerging from where they had been hiding, and a few of them were going up to marines to offer their thanks.
"The fleet is taken care of," Sokka spoke as he approached them. "But they didn't put up much of a fight. I've sent prize crews to the ships which can still move by themselves, and they'll tow away the ships that can't."
"Lucky. It was much harder going here," Katara shrugged. "There was an ambush. But we won."
Rinzen looked around.
"It did look very intense from where I was sitting."
"Well well," a voice called from the other side of the square. "It turns out you Southerners are good for something after all."
Sokka turned to see Suki coming towards their group, a huge smile plastered across her face. Her makeup was running slightly.
"Or as we say in the South, 'thank you'," Sokka retorted. "And you're welcome, by the way."
Suki reached them, and for a moment they just stared at each other. Then she flung herself at him, and Sokka was rather alarmed to find himself being bearhugged.
"Thank you," she muttered in his ear. Sokka relaxed into the hug at that. This was nice, actually.
"You're welcome," he repeated.
Then Suki separated herself from him and turned to the others. Both Katara and Yue had taken a step backwards, and were looking at them as if what they had just seen was mildly disgusting.
"Oogies," Katara muttered. Sokka rolled his eyes at his sister's immaturity. It was his job to point out oogies, not hers.
Suki paid it no mind, kneeling in front of Yue.
"Thank you, Avatar," she said. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that I'm enormously grateful for your efforts in liberating us."
She stood up again.
"If I might ask, though, what now?
Yue shrugged.
"I need to carry on learning the elements," she said, "and the next one in the cycle is earth. So find an earthbending master."
"And we need to stop the Fire Nation too," Sokka added.
"I see," Suki nodded. She seemed to be considering something. Then her face set.
"Let me come with you," she said, startling Sokka.
"Wait, really?"
"Of course!" Suki told him. "Your predecessor, Kyoshi created and named our order. Our duties are to protect women, to teach them to protect themselves, and to serve the Avatar."
She bowed.
"I would be proud to uphold my duty by helping you and your friends on your journey."
Yue looked unsure.
"Well," she said, "obviously I would be grateful, but..."
"But what?"
"It'll be dangerous."
Suki snorted.
"I'm counting on it. Besides, the Fire Nation invaded my home. Forced me into hiding as they brutalised my community. Revenge would be nice too."
"I think we should," Rinzen said. "Gembul has room for one more."
"Think of it as a thank you for liberating us," Suki added quickly.
"What about this island?"
"The rest of the warriors will still be here," Suki said. "And it's not like I'll be leaving them forever. Just until this war is done."
"What if the Fire Nation comes back?"
Suki's smile flickered for the first time.
"I don't want to sit around here and take the chance," she said. "I want to be out there doing something about it."
Sokka saw the expression of hope on her face. He nodded.
"I say we bring her," he said. Yue looked at him, and then back at Suki. She nodded.
"Alright," she said. "Is that truly what you want?"
"Since you came the first time," Suki affirmed.
Yue smiled, warmly.
"Then welcome to Team Avatar," she said. Suki beamed, and bounced up and down on the soles of her feet in excitement.
"You won't regret this!" She said. "Is it alright if I bring my weapons?"
"How many weapons have you got?" Rinzen asked.
"Well, there's my fans, my swords, my armour, and my shield," Suki listed them off. "So not that much."
"Swords? You have more than one?"
"A long one and a short one. Different situations need different blades."
Then she hastened to add a further detail, anxious to impress.
"I'm also trained in the use of polearms and the bow."
Rinzen didn't look like he approved of that, but he nodded.
"I think we would probably prefer it if you did," Yue told her. "You never know when we'll need them."
"What specifically are we going to do?" Suki asked. "Find a master, I know, but what else?"
"Oh I don't know," Sokka grinned. "I was thinking we could go where the wind takes us, wherever people need our help, and wherever we can cause the most trouble for the Fire Nation."
"You know, I like that plan," Suki nodded approvingly.
"Or, we could just go to Ba Sing Se," Yue folded her arms, trying, and failing, to look stern. "We aren't going to win by being free spirits."
"That too," Sokka nodded. "But I have a feeling we'll be taking the scenic route."
And just like that, four had become five. Team Avatar (Sokka still had to think of a catchier name. Yuad, maybe?) had a new member.
"Is there anything you need to take care of here before we leave the island?"
Suki considered for a moment.
"I've already told my warriors that this is what I'm planning," she said, "although I probably will need to go and grab my stuff. But that shouldn't take too long."
She smiled at them, an excited smile that Sokka couldn't help but return. Suki's enthusiasm for this was infectuous.
"So," she said, "when do we start?"