𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 [ᴢᴜᴋᴏ]

Chapter 3

Episode 2, The Avatar Returns

The entire village stood in front of the entrance to the village and waited for Katara and Aang to come back. I was still holding onto Sokka's arm when I saw them approaching us in the distance. The children were happy to see Aang again but I don't think that the village want him to stay here anymore.

Sokka got out of my grasp and stepped forward, "I knew it. You signalled the Fire Navy with that flare. You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?" Sokka said but I don't think that Aang has anything to do with the Fire Nation. "Aang didn't do anything. It was an accident." Katara affirmed my thoughts. "Yeah, we were on the ship and there was this booby trap and, well... we boobied right into it." Aang added scratching his neck nervously. Not good. Out of all people here Katara should know that we aren't allowed to go on that ship.

"Katara you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now we could all be in danger." Gran-gran sounded disappointed and worried. "Don't blame Katara. I brought her there, it's my fault." Aang admitted not wanting Katara to get blamed for his actions. "Aha, the traitor confesses. Warriors, away from the enemy." Sokka demanded from the children, "The foreigner is banished from our village." He announced.

Katara interjected, "Sokka, you're making a mistake." Great, now they're about to argue again. They always find time for arguments in situations like these. "No, I'm keeping my promise to Dad. I'm protecting you from threats like him." My brother corrected Katara's statement. "Aang is not our enemy." Her voice more high-pitched now. "Don't you see? Aang brought us something we haven't had in a long time: fun." Katara tried to defend the young boy but to no avail even though she has a point. The children were happier than ever and I never thought they would have a great time since our fathers left the village.

But Sokka is not having any of it, "Fun? We can't fight fire benders with fun" he exclaimed throwing his arms in the air out of frustration. "You should try it sometime." Aang tried to ease the tension but that comment made my brother angrier. "Get out of our village now." Sokka growled at Aang. Katara still didn't give up, "Grandmother, please, don't let Sokka do this." As if she doesn't know Gran-gran. Of course she will be on Sokka's side on this.

"Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden. Sokka is right. I think it's best if the air bender leaves." Gran-gran told Katara, the others of the tribe silently agreeing to Gran-gran's opinion by nodding their heads. "Fine, then I'm banished too." Katara balled her fists and turned around to grab Aang's arm, "Come on Aang, let's go." She walked towards Appa ready to go. I can't believe she said that, I mean it's Katara we're talking about. The over motherly, caring, family type person Katara, and she wants to leave us just like this. Okay, I am 100% sure I'm dreaming.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sokka yelled and brought me back to reality. Nope, I'm not dreaming. "To find a water bender. Aang is taking me to the North Pole." Katara answered his question. So that's what this is all about: bending. Now I decided to speak up, "Katara, come on, don't be childish. Calm down." I tried to get her to change her mind, but that didn't go so well. She turned around and threw her hands in the air, "Oh, I'm sorry that I am not always so unemotional and uninterested in everything like you. Maybe you're right, maybe I should become more like you and not help my loved ones when they are in danger or are in help." she hissed.

Ouch, that one hurt, not gonna lie. She meant my mother and that I didn't get help as soon as the fire bender entered our tent. She's gone too far with that comment and I couldn't stop my mouth from saying what I did, "Oh yeah, you know, at least I am not the actual reason mom died." I yelled and my hands grew very hot. I was afraid that there would come fire out of my hand so I made my way through the crowd quickly and back into my tent. Katara looked so hurt after I said that, but I didn't care at that moment and I wasn't actually wrong. My mom died because she said she was the water bender to protect Katara and me. I needed to calm down before I burned my tent to ashes. I peeked out my tent to see if there was still anyone, they were still standing there and watching Aang go.

Aang... I didn't even get to say goodbye to the cute Avatar boy. I waited a bit longer until all the villagers were back in their tents. I needed to release the energy before I go up in flames so I made my way to Sokka's tent to tell him I need a bit alone time but before I knocked I heard him and Katara talking about Aang and that he, indeed, was frozen in the ice for over a century. I called it. He is so the Avatar. Katara told Sokka that she was going to apologize to me, but I quickly made my way to my secret training place.

I arrived at my training place, but I wasn't alone there. "Appa? Aang?" I mumbled under my breath, "No way." I smiled. "Hey, kiddo!" I yelled putting my hands around my mouth and running up to my circle-hole-shaped iceberg. Aang turned around and smiled from ear to ear after he saw me. I climbed up to the highest hole and sat beside Aang, both of us looking at the ocean. "I am glad to see you here. I thought you left without saying goodbye to me." I smiled still looking in the far distance. I don't know why but since I first saw him, I felt a connection to him. Like a younger brother connection, I feel like I can trust him with everything, and I feel the need to protect him. It's crazy, I've never felt this way before especially not to someone whom I met a few hours ago but I kinda like it.

"You don't hate me?" Aang asked looking at me with wide eyes. How could someone hate this kid? "What? No, of course not. Accidents happen, four elements." I looked at him and smiled reassuringly. He smiled back but his smile soon fell, "Four elements?" he asked no one specific, "Wait, you know?" he turned back to me. A small smile played on my lips as I turned my head back to face the horizon. "Yeah, it wasn't that hard to find out. I am actually surprised Katara doesn't know after you guys found out you had been frozen for so long." I explained, "but don't worry your secret is save with me." I added. "Thanks. You know, I never wanted to be the Avatar that's why I ran away from home." He told me looking down in shame.

I felt bad for him, he is only a kid and has that huge responsibility of stopping the Fire Nation from winning this war. I put a hand on his shoulder, "I am not good at comforting people, that's always Katara's job, but I can tell you this: everything happens for a reason, don't forget that." I tried my best to be as Katara-ish as possible but I failed, "So, if I, for example, fall down into the ocean and drown, it's because that's my destiny and I was made for being able to handle my drowning destiny." I nudged his side with my elbow, but he only raised an eyebrow at me. "Okay, yeah, that was a bit of a bad example." I admitted and face palmed. Aang put a hand on my shoulder, "If it makes you feel better, I know what you mean." He laughed at my attempt to be wise. I looked at him, raised an eyebrow but then began laughing too.

"I don't think I have ever laughed so much after my mom died." I wiped away tears from laughing so much. "Oh, I am sorry for your loss." Aang said, "Don't be. It's not your fault." I whispered looking down in my lap. "You know, I actually have the feeling that I don't belong here. I mean, look at me I don't even look the same as my siblings and beside that I am weird." I began opening up to Aang. What am I doing? I never do that, but I just went on with my little rant, "I am not normal at all. Do You know what I can do? I can bend water and fire." Aang didn't interrupt me he only listened. Oh my, it's nice when someone listens to you why didn't I opened up about this before? "When I first found out about that I really was afraid for a while because I thought I was the Avatar." I chuckled at that memory and looked up to the horizon, "You know, I have never told that anyone before. You are the first one to know this." I looked back at Aang and shook my head, "Dear Fire Lord. I am so sorry I am so weird. I normally don't talk about my feelings." "It's okay but you're not weird. I personally think you are a pretty strong girl." Aang responded putting a hand on my shoulder. Now, I noticed my cheeks were wet. Oh no, I cried. I turned away from Aang and wiped away the tears with the sleeve of my jacket.

That's when I saw it. I stopped in my tracks and watched the Fire Nation Ship coming towards the village. I quickly turned my attention back to Aang and grabbed both of his shoulders, "Listen four elements, you need to leave, right now. Don't come back. Don't let the Fire Nation catch you. The world needs you more than it needs us at the moment, so don't you dare come back, okay. Now go and don't look back." I ranted, climbed down the iceberg, put on my hood and looked back at Aang one last time, "Thank you. Stay safe kiddo." I yelled waving at him then turning around and running to my village.

AN - I hope you guys like the story so far. Please vote and comment if there are any mistakes. 

- Love RoboSanz :)