Avatar : Echoes of the Heart

Chapter 4: Reckoning With Emotions: Part 2

Sokka and Zuko stared down the large animal, the cold air smoke emitting from the beast's mouth as it growled at the two. Suddenly, at the snap of someone's finger, the beast lunged at Sokka and Zuko. Toph and Mai noticed the group of men and women behind the beast and smirked, Mai grabbing her knives and Toph was able to find the earth beneath the ice, boosting herself off and starting the mayhem.

"Mai!" Zuko yelled, chasing after her.

Suddenly, Zuko was crushed into the ground by a large amount of water. Looking up, Zuko saw a tall, muscular man with a battle axe in hand, smirking at him. Anger now rising within Zuko, his eyes suddenly turned to a dark orange as they narrowed. The man smiled wickedly, getting into a battle stance as Zuko blasted towards him. Katara watched in horror as the spirit's festival she once loved was being destroyed before her very eyes. Looking out into the distance, Katara noticed her brother was fighting some large animal. However, this all couldn't take her mind off of the large earthquakes being caused by the clash of Aang and his opponent. But for now, she'd follow his orders and go rally everyone to bring them to safety.

Aang and this mysterious man with glowing eyes went back and forth, and for some reason, they were very much on equal terms of water bending skills. Aang ducked a punch and flew underneath him, sending a stream of water at the man's leg, tightening the stream around the man's ankle and slamming him into the mountain. Aang floated in the air with a stern glare at the man as he rose to his feet. The man looked up with an expressionless look, but then smiled.

"How about we introduce ourselves. You go first." The man offered. After a brief pause, Aang spoke.

"I am Avatar Aang. Born in the Southern Air Temple." Aang said, his voice backed by a thousand more.

"Fascinating. Well then, allow me to introduce myself and my crew. The large polar bear dog is named Nala, a strong female that was abandoned by her pack and mutated by a group of non benders. Nulak, a proud water bending warrior who was left alone after his parents were killed. My group of followers who support my ideals." The man explained.

"And that is?" Aang asked.

"To rid this cursed world of non benders, make a world of complete benders." The man said, his face now serious and angry.

"That would break peace. And as the bridge and the keeper of the world's peace, I can't allow that." Aang responded.

"Peace?! The Avatar is a peace keeper now?! In my era, the Avatar was viewed as a god! Not some low life peace keeper. But I guess, times do change. Isn't that right, Szeto?" The man said, smirking.

Aang's body suddenly shook, and he collapsed onto the ground and clutched his stomach. Aang questioned the Avatars on who this man was, but the formers didn't know anything, except for Avatar Szeto. He wouldn't talk, however. He instead insisted that Aang leave the Southern Water Tribe and never return.

"Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Avatar Gun! But as far as Avatar history goes, I'm known as the Devil!" Avatar Gun exclaimed, Aang looking up with a look of fear and shock.

Sokka ducked and dodged the flying blocks of ice that were being thrown at him by the large animal. He jumped over a large ice block and used his momentum to spin around and kick another one at the beast. Sokka ran back towards it and climbed onto it's back, wrapping a rope around it's neck and trying to force it to black out. However, as Sokka did this, the polar bear dog suddenly howled into the air. Sokka, becoming alarmed, turned and watched as multiple crazed and clearly mind controlled polar bear dogs came from a cave and began attacking the festival.

"No.." Sokka muttered, tightening his grip on the rope as the animal finally passed out.

As Sokka released his grip, he immediately jumped off of the animal and ran back towards the festival. Behind him, the polar bear dog opened her eyes and watched as Sokka ran back. As he got closer, he was stopped by six of the polar bear dogs, and heard the large one walking up behind him. Looking around and realizing he wouldn't make it, his sight was set on his sister.

"Katara! Get everyone to safety!" Sokka yelled out to her.

"I did! Watch out!" She yelled back, Sokka looking up and dodging a swipe from one of the polar bear dogs.

Katara jumped into the circle with Sokka, the two standing back to back as they prepared to fight off the wolves. They didn't want to hurt the animals, but they posed a threat to them. However, flying throughout the air, Zuko was burning off chunks of the land while trying to fight Nulak.

"Fascinating! I've never fought a lord of any kind! To show my appreciation, I'll actually give you a fair fight!" Nulak yelled in excitement.

Rising up in a water funnel tower, Nulak sent shards of ice at Zuko, to which he burned easily and used his fire jets to fly at him, punching him in the gut and sending him flying to the ground. Zuko, mustering all the fire he could, took in a deep breath and released it, a large wave of fire being erupted from his mouth. Nulak dodged the blast, taking a stance and watching as Zuko rushed at him. Using his battle axe, Nulak slammed the ground and rose a screen of snow, disappearing from Zuko's sight. While Zuko was looking for him, he heard the sound of his dragon. Looking up, he saw Druk roaring down a blast of fire by the polar bear dogs, separating them from Sokka and Katara. Due to his distraction, Zuko was knocked off balance and slammed into the snow. Nulak took advantage of this and froze Zuko in an ice block. Katara noticed this and grew weary.

"No! If Zuko is frozen for too long, he'll pass out and there isn't enough heat here to keep him alive!" Katara thought, speeding up with Sokka.

"You fought well. I enjoyed this, and I hope to continue what we started. For now, I shall share my name with you, Fire Lord. Nulak." He whispered menacingly, looking towards Katara and Sokka.

"I wouldn't worry so much about your friend if I were you! The Avatar seems like he needs a hand!" Nulak yelled out, whistling to the polar bear dogs to retreat.

In the air, Aang was losing the battle, and Toph and Mai were making their way over. To Katara, it felt like a sword just pierced her heart as she watched Aang and knowing she wouldn't be able to make it in time. Rising a tidal wave, Katara began her way over to Aang, Sokka tending to Zuko to try and get him out of the ice. In the air, Gun ducked a fire blast from Aang and punched him in the gut, grabbing his ankle and throwing him into the ice. Smiling wickedly, Gun propelled himself downwards and nearly impaled himself through Aang's midsection. Toph could see with her seismic sense, and felt Mai stop completely in her tracks as she watched in horror as Aang coughed up a significant amount of blood. Katara's eyes nearly bulged out of her head as she watched the scene.

"Aang!" Toph yelled out, launching boulders at Gun.

"Oh? My vessel has friends?" Gun said menacingly as he appeared in front of Toph.

Before she could react, Gun grabbed her by the throat and flew into the air and let her go, bringing up two ice pillars and slamming them into her ribs and spine. Toph felt her body go numb, and suddenly passed out. Being quick enough, Mai was able to catch her and softly lay her on the ground. Katara landed near Aang and immediately began healing him, tears streaming down her face as her once warm and happy heart of reunion with him was now torn and shattered, reforming her previous broken and distant heart. In the air, Gun laughed maniacally, looking down at the scene before him. A burning water tribe, a destroyed Avatar, a weakened Fire Lord, and what made him happy the most, was witnessing the devastation of the poor girl as she tried healing his vessel.

"Yes. Yes! I truly am a DEVIL!" Gun yelled out so everyone could hear, laughing evilly as it echoed across the ocean.

As Gun began retreating, he yawned and had a thought that when he woke up, he'd return to retrieve his vessel. However, he suddenly felt the presence of the Avatar still breathing. Turning around, he noticed Aang was standing up, still in the Avatar State, yet holding his ribs. Smirking, he turned around and disappeared off, going back to where he came from.

Once Gun left, Aang left the Avatar State and collapsed, breathing steadily as Katara clutched onto his body. Sokka brought Zuko over to Druk and allowed the dragon to heat up his body so Zuko could live. Katara ended up beginning her healing sessions on Toph after Sokka and Hakoda made it over to them so that they could bring him to his inn. Appa ended up sitting outside of the inn, now watching closely over his friend as he wasn't able to protect him, and Momo layed on Aang's chest to make sure his heart never stopped.

As Katara walked back to the village, she looked lost. The same look she had two weeks after her and Aang split. With Aang, his consciousness drifted off towards his memories with he and Katara. But to the both of them, they could finally agree on one thing. They both just had a rude reckoning with their emotions.