Balance | Old Version

Chapter 38 (The Waterbending Master)

Elua's POV.

We had been flying for two days straight, Appa was exhausted, we all were, and everyone kept getting annoyed at the smallest of things.
"I'm not one to complain, but can't Appa fly any higher?" Sokka asks as Appa flies across an ice field in the open ocean. He is clearly tired seeing as he was gliding lower than he normally would, his feet brushing the water as we glide slowly.
"I have an idea, why don't we all get on your back and you can fly us to the North Pole?" Aang asks as he turns to Sokka angrily.

"I'd love to! Climb on everyone Sokka's ready for takeoff!" Sokka says sarcastically.
"Look," I begin to say. "We're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight," I tell them, they sigh knowing I'm right.
"And for what? We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here," Sokka states as he motions to the ice and water. Suddenly, we hear a noise ahead and ice is beginning to move swiftly towards Appa. Aang pulls on the reins and Appa leans to the right, avoiding the ice, the sharp turn almost tipping us off the saddle, but we hang on for dear life.

Appa then leans to the left as another jet of ice ejects out of the waves, but this one slams into Appa making him fall in an uncontrolled spin into the water. Out of the icebergs, several elegant wooden boats surround Appa, everyone in the boat is wearing water tribe clothing.
"They're waterbenders! We found the Water Tribe!" Katara states as she smiles widely at the people. They seem to realize who we are and bend the ice away before beginning to guide us through the icy water.

"There it is!" Aang says with a wide smile as we come up to an ice wall with towers and turrets.
"The Northern Water Tribe," Katara says beaming up at the wall.
"We're finally here," Sokka says in disbelief as the waterbender team bends in unison. They remove a semi-circular opening of the wall to reveal a tunnel that leads into the city, one of the waterbenders motions us forward and Appa begins to swims. We all look around in awe, there we so many waterbenders, buildings, towers, and everyone seemed at peace.
"I can't believe how many waterbenders live up here!" Katara says happily.

"We'll find a master to teach us, no problem!" Aang states as we continue to look around in wonder. We see small crowds of people begin to stare at us from their houses and bridges, Aang waves at them as we pass but they seem too shocked to wave back. The city is filled with beautiful streams, waterfalls, and fountains all around.
"This place is beautiful," I say as I smile.
"Yeah, she is," I hear Sokka say dreamily. I turn to him and see him staring at a young woman in a boat. She has white, elaborately styled hair and a slightly purplish coat rather than the traditional blue.

Later That Night.

Sokka, Katara, Aang and I were sitting beside the Chief of the Northern Tribe as he speaks to many of his people.
"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe," The Chief says as he motions to Katara and Sokka. "And they have brought with them two very special people whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now. The Avatar and Nadir!" He announces and everyone begins to cheer.

"We also celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!" The Chief states as the girl with the white hair walks up behind the Chief.
"Thank you, father," The girl, Yue, says smiling. "May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times," She says to her people.
"Now, Master Pakku and his students will perform!" The Chief says as he motions towards three men who now stand on a stage in front of us.

The man standing in the middle of the other two men is clearly the eldest with the top of his head being bald, but long white hair on the sides. They begin waterbending water from three large pots in front of them. The crowd begins to cheer in excitement and awe as they watch them. I look at Aang and Katara who look at each in absolute delight while they clap. As the waterbending show continues, I see a figure walk behind Sokka and sit down next to him. Princess Yue. Sokka tries to strike a cool pose as he looks over to her and smiles smugly.
"Hi, there. Sokka, Southern Water Tribe," Sokka states.

"Very nice to meet you," Yue says with a small smile.
"So...uh...you're a Princess!" Sokka says awkwardly. "You know, back in my tribe, I'm kinda like a Prince myself!" He tells her smugly.
"A Prince?" I ask with a frown of confusion.
"Ha! Of what?" Katara asks in amusement.
"A lot of things! Uh, do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here!" Sokka says in annoyance, making Katara and I roll our eyes.

"Our apologies, Prince Sokka," I say with a mock bow.
"So...it looks like I'm gonna be in town for a while," Sokka tells Yue, who nods. "I'm thinking maybe we could...do an activity together?" He asks awkwardly.
"Do an 'activity'?" Yue asks with a confused laugh. Sokka, nervously sweating, pauses then shoves food into his mouth, making Katara and I laugh at his lame attempt at romance.

The Next Morning.

Aang, Katara and I were walking to a training area where master Pakku was going to be teaching us waterbending.
"I've waited for this day my whole life!" Katara says smiling in excitement as we walk. "I finally get to learn from a real waterbending master!" She says. We walk up a tall staircase and see Master Pakku shaping a blob of water in his hands.
"Good morning, Master Pakku!" Aang shouts, startling Pakku and making him lose concentration and drop the water from his hands.

"No, please, march right in, I'm not concentrating or anything," Pakku says sarcastically as he turns around.
"Uhh...this is my friend, Katara," Aang states as he motions to Katara. "And my sister Elua, she's the Nadir," He says as Katara and I bow in respect.
"I'm sorry. I think there's been a misunderstanding," Pakku states as he sits down. "You didn't tell me your friend was a girl, and I didn't know the Nadir was a girl either. In our tribe, it is forbidden for women to learn waterbending," He tells us, we look at him in shock and confusion.

"What do you mean you won't teach us?" Katara asks as she becomes angry. "We didn't travel across the entire world so you could tell us 'no'!" She shouts as she walks over to him.
"No," Pakku says simply.
"It wasn't like that a hundred years ago!" I say in annoyance as I walk over to Katara. "And I know there are other female waterbenders in your tribe!" I shout.
"Here the women learn from Yugoda to use their waterbending to heal. I'm sure she would be happy to take you both as her student despite your bad attitude," Pakku tells us as he glares.

"I don't want to heal, I want to fight!" Katar tells him. "And Elua has to learn to fight!" She states.
"I can see that. But, our tribe has customs, rules," Pakku tells us.
"Well, your rules stink!" Katara shouts.
"Yeah! They're not fair," Aang says as he walks over to us. "If you won't teach Katara and Elua, then..." He trails off.
"Then what?" Pakku challenges as he stands up.
"Then I won't learn from you!" Aang shouts as he turns to walk away.

"Well, have fun teaching yourself. I'm sure you'll do a great job," Pakku says sarcastically.
"Wait! Aang didn't mean that" I tell Pakku as I quickly walk over to Aang. "You can't risk your training for us. You have to learn from Master Pakku," I tell him as I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Elua's right. Even if he is a big jerk, you have to learn waterbending," Katara tells him. Aang nods glumly and swings his body around lazily to face master Pakku, while Katara and I walk away sadly.