Reborn In Water || ATLA

Tension

The Waterbending Master - Part One

"I wake up every morning, bright and early, roll out of bed but I'm never quite alone. Tension is pulling me in all directions and all of these problems use me as their own." - Avenged Sevenfold

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"I'm not one to complain..."

"Since when?"

"Don't push it Kenshin."

"Or what Sokka, gonna sick your instincts on me?"

"I'm gonna choose to ignore that." Sokka huffed from his spot at the back of the saddle. "Can't Appa fly any higher?" The bison groaned and his six feet skirted the top of the chilly waters below. It was true, flying in the middle of the iceberg-infested sea, Appa was far lower than normal. They had been searching for the Northern Water Tribe for days to no avail. Sokka faced Appa's tail, Aang his head, and the girls looked out into the vast sea West to East, each one just praying for a sign of life at this point. Aang quite frankly wasn't in the mood for Sokka's pessimism.

"I have an idea." The monk turned around and shot back. "Why don't we all get on your back and you can fly us to the North Pole?"

"I'd love to. Climb on everyone," The older boy pointed over his shoulder and wiggled his hips. "Sokka's ready for take-off." Mushu took must've taken the statement seriously, or had simply grown tired of napping on Aelita, and scurried up Sokka's back. Momo followed the suit. Aang glared.

"Can you two please knock it off?" Katara muttered as she rubbed her temples.

"No let them go, I love when Aang gives in to his inner sass and I really love when it's directed towards your brother."

"Aelita you're not helping." Katara sighed. "Now, now, we're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight."

"And for what?" Asked Sokka. "We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe? There's nothing up here."

"There's plenty of ice, that doesn't count as nothing."

"So help me spirits another word Aelita and I'll throw you into the ocean."

Aelita was on the verge of another quick quip when the sound of cracking ice echoed around them. As the four looked to see where the noise came from, a jagged wall of ice appeared out of nowhere just yards from Appa's face. The Avatar jerked the leather reigns and the bison pulled hard to the left to avoid a collision. Sokka, Katara, and Aelita all had to hold on to the sides of the saddle with their full strength just to make sure they didn't fall off. Just as Appa began to right himself again, another surge of ice rose from the water, this time nearly latching onto his feet. This sent him spinning and falling directly into the frigid waters below, almost losing all his riders. As soon as Appa came to a stop on his stomach in the water - the others somehow still dry - ice encased the entirety of his body's edge. From behind the tall icebergs that surrounded them, five shallow blue and white long boats emerged. Inside each boat was four men in furs and parkas similar to the very ones Sokka and Katara wore.

"They're waterbenders!" Katara realized with a huge smile. "We found the Northern Water Tribe!"

"A sky bison." An older man in the boat closest to Aang observed in amazement. "The stories must be true then. You with the arrows, are you the Avatar?" Aang placed a fist to his palm and bowed towards the man who spoke.

"Yes sir, but please call me Aang." The monk grinned as he rose, then gestured to the others. "My friends and I come to you in peace. We're searching for a waterbending master."

"And who is it you travel with?" The man asked with a raised brow.

"Katara and Sokka of the Southern Tribe," Katara replied, mirroring the same motion as Aang.

"The children of Chief Hakoda," Sokka added, sounding more formal and respectful than Aelita had ever heard him speak. The waterbender turned to face Aelita last.

"Then the stories we've heard about you thus far are true. That must make you the Akira. The firebender." The waterbender spat the word in disgust and it didn't go unnoticed by Aelita. It was the same way Bato had greeted her upon their first meeting but he quickly came around. Hoping the Northern Water Tribe would do the same, she ignored the malice and smiled warmly. She nodded her head yes and then bowed with more grace and poise than the others.

"Aelita Kenshin sir. I'm very honored to meet you all."

Sokka couldn't help but notice her diplomacy. For a moment he found himself wondering how many times she had practiced that exact introduction as a child in the Fire Nation. But what he noticed more was the way every man around them stared at Aelita as if she were a threat.

"I wish I could say the same." The waterbender said before looking at his men. "Seize her."

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Incredibly short chapter just because it happens sometimes.

Drop a comment down below and tell me your thoughts so far.

Which ship are you rooting for? Zuko x Aelita? Sokka x Aelita? Or are you sticking cannon along the lines of Zuko x Mai and Sokka x Yue/Suki?

Tell me your favorite scene or quote thus far.

Let's roll on y'all. Thanks for everything!